long as the enemie remained there he did by cunning and force so amaze him as the Turks hauing put some supplies into the Castle dislodged without any losse to the Christians And perceiuing his encamping there to be but to small purpose after that he had burnt the Citie he brought backe his troupes to Naples During the siege of Sparta Lauretano besieged Rhodes and did great harme to the inhabitants he spoiled and burnt their farmes and countrey-houses He did afflict them in this manner because that the Rhodians not long before had by force taken forth of the Venetians ships which lay in the hauen certain Syrian marchants with their goods and would in no sort giue satisfaction to the Venetians that carried it This being done he returned to Nigrepont From whence he craued all the Islands on the Aegean Sea without any other memorable exploit for that yeare But at the beginning of the next he did put to Sea and came verie neere to the streight meaning by force of Oares to passe through betwixt the Dardans that hee might afterwards scoure the coast of Galipollis The Dardanes are two Castles iust opposite to one another at the mouthof the streight in which was great store of Ordnance to sinke all enemies ships that should passe that way Mahomet so soone as he had made himselfe master of the Costantinopolitane Empire caused one of these to be reedified which was in a manner ruinate and builded the other from the foundat ons that he might with a continuall Garrison keepe those of Europe from entering into the streight The sleete being come thither as hath beene said Venieri his Gallie which according to the manner went before for discouerie being deceiued by the Admirals signall which as he thought willed him to passe through the streight being driuen forward by the winde and Oares went through notwithstanding all the shot Some say that Venieri craued leaue to be the first to attempt that passage and that the enemie would not spend all his shot vpon this one Galley but determined to bestow his bullets vpon the rest of the fleete that would attempt to passe whereupon the next that followed it being strucke through with the Ordnance and many of her men slaine and in great danger returned the like did the rest of the fleete except the first Galley that went through Venieri who although he was Prouidator of the Gulph did neuerthelesse follow the publike ensignes vnder the commaund of Lauretano being a man of singular iudgement and experience in marine matters did comfort his souldiers and willed them to hope well but in the darknesse of the night he returned towards the enemies sailing faire softly without vse of Oares Diuers câ—…non shot were made at him and to speake truly he did not auoid them all yet at last with the losse of some few of his men he did contrarie to all mens hope returne to the fleete This same Summer Pope Pius determined to set on foot the voyage against the Turks which had beene propounded in the Councell at Mantua and was afterwards neglected by the ambition and auarice of some Princes For although all his associates should haue failed him the Venetians excepted he neuerthelesse resoluing to bring it to passe came to Ancona Vpon the rumour of this holy voyage great numbers of people from Lombardie and both the Germaines were come to Rome before his departure thence But as he passed through the Dutchie of Spoleta and La Marca he met with greater multitudes These men with plenarie remission of their sinnes he sent home againâ—… into their countries because they were come as well without meanes to defray the expences of that iourney as for that most of them were men vnfit for warre Christophero Moro the Venetian Prince came to meete him there with ten well-armed Gallies to the end the Venetians might haue a share in the honour of that warre Two daies after his arriuall the Pope died of a lingring feauer To speake truly he had but small store of money for such an enterprize which by a decree of the Colledge of Cardinals was giuen to Prince Moro on condition that he should send it to Mathias king of Hungarie towards the expences of his ordinarie warre with the Turkes Some thinke that the whole summe amounted but to fiue and fortie thousand â—…uccats But the Venetian did not onely send this sunne into Hungarie to king Mathias but a greater quantitie of gold for many yeares after that he might with his forces stop the incursions of those Barbarians into Dalmatia and Histria After Pope Pius death the Venetians alone did for a long time vndergo the burthen of so great a warre in the view not only of all Italie but of all the Princes of Europe who were not ashamed to be idle spectators whilest the cruell enemie had alreadie ouerthrowne two mightie Empires and many kingdomes and yet it cannot be denied but that king Ferdinand and the Pope did at times send aide by Sea but it was seldome and then when as they had no need of it There was no memorable matter either by Sea or Land done during that Winter in Grecia The next Summer the pestilence being dispersed in Naples Sigismond went into Laconia against whome came ten thousand Turkes but vpon their arriuall he with his souldiers retired to Mantinea After his departure the enemies assailed Pithimia and hauing beaten downe the fortifications entered it by force In the meane time Victor Capello succeeded Lauretano who hauing receiued the flee at Sapienza sailed to Modon from thence departing within a while after with fiue and twentie Gallies he went to Nigrepont and afterwards going into the enemies countrey he tooke Aulida by force which stands in the firme land ouer against Nigrepont with Larsa on the Salonicke Sea Then he took Imbra in the AEgean Sea betwixt Thrace and Samothrace neere to the mount Athis At the last comming to Pirea he besieged the Citie of Athens the noblest of all Greece and hauing made a breach there before day and burnt the Cities gates he entered it It is at this day called Sethina Capel sackt the Citie the bootie whereof was so great as it did enrich the Marriners and Rowers Within a while after the Fleet left Pirea and came to Nigrepont where taking in victualls it went to Modon from whence departing in secret it sailed into the Gulph of Corinth Those of Patras had promised him to deliuer the citie into his hands and to kill all the garrison Capel had three and twentie Gallies and six and thirty other lesser vessells well armed for the fight and besides the souldiers and mariners Nicolao Ragio was there with two hundred men at armes The souldiers who the day before had been grieuously tossed in a tempest and by reason thereof could not hold vp their heads were presently conducted to the citty by Giacomo Barbadico the Prouidator they were in number foure thousand And
ZENO his exploits against the enemie as well in the higher as lower Sea The Venetians besiege Chioggia on euerie side How valiantly they fought at Brondoli neere to the Hauen with the enemie THADEO IVSTINIANO looseth part of the Armie at Siponto The Genoueses being vanquished and almost daunted in a set battaile neere to Chioggia yeeld themselues The Prince hauing giuen the Souldiours the spoile doth recouer the Citie with all the prisoners CHioggia is seated in the middest of the marishes enuironed almost round about with channels and hath within it like to Venice brookes that are nauigable which ebbe and flow with the Sea-waues and without the Towne diuers streames which run through their fieldes and salt-pits whereon the inhabitants do go in little boates as in a beaten way By meanes whereof during the siege there were still men so long as the enemie possessed the Hauen who came those waies by night bringing letters from the Senate to Chioggia and from thence to Venice But these streames can beare no great vessells There is a waie which leadeth from the Hauen to the Citie by which the enemies might haue passed which was before then inclosed by the Venetians They had builded a Fort on the hither side of the Hauen with a good garrison as at Malamoc and had besides placed a ship in the middest of the marishes right ouer against this Fort well furnished with men and munition These lets kept back the enemie who so soone as they had forced the Hauen which is a mile distant from Chioggia did not forthwith assaile the Citie who being encamped neere to the Hauen great forces in few daies came to them For besides the Paduans and the mercenaire Souldiours which Carrario brought the troupes likewise of the Bishop of Aquileia with those of the other confederates came thither to them These perceiuing their bad successe in that place resolued to assaile at one time the Fort and the ship Hauing then put 12. Ganziarolles forth of the Hauen after they had a while rowed vp and down heere and there they came to the shoare of the little Chioggia where great numbers of men drew them by maine strength ouer little hillocks which hang downwards on the shoare into the inner channells They placed moreouer warlike engins on the shoare to batter the Fort at one time before behind and on euerie side Diuers Genoa vessells likewise being come somewhat neere did greatly molest the Venetian with the shot of their arrowes so that they which were within being in this manner tormented by their shot and distrusting their owne small number hauing set fier on the Fort and the ship because the enemie should haue no vse of them retired into the Citie The Paduans with those which were on the opposite shoares so soone as they perceiued the Venetians to leaue the place cried out that the Venetians were vanquished and vndone that their pride was daunted and that they together with their name would be buried in the waues But they not being any iot amazed placed three shipps of burthen well armed and furnished neere to Saint Dominicks Church to hinder the enemies approach And on the other side those which guarded the Citie sallying forth on a sodain on that side of the bridge which leadeth from the citie to the little Chioggia fell with great furie vpon the enemie The fight was for a while equall but the number of the enemies stil encreasing for they were reported to be foure and twentie thousand the Venetians did speedily retire into the Citie hauing lost the other part of the bridge There were three thousand fiue hundred Souldiors in the Citie besides the inhabitants who were commanded by Balba Gallucio the Bolognois Nicholao Gallicano Hircio Pisani and Nicholao Darseria all of the valiantest and famousest Captaines of those times Pietro Hemo was Gouernour and Nicholao Contareni with Giouanni Mocenigo were Prouidatori The Citie was afterward twise assaulted At the first time albeit the assault was verie cruell hauing continued from day-breake till night with great slaughter yet the Citie had no great harme But at the second the Genoueses being mingled among the Souldiours entred into the middest of the Citie It is said that to their force they added cunning for the enemie hauing brought neere to the bridge a small ship-full of vine-twigs and other drie matter that being set on fier the smoake did first choake those which fought aboue and the flame and heat afterwards did enforce the Venetian to leaue the place The enemie would not loose such an occasion but hauing once seized on that place they did presse the Venetian so neerely as giuing backe by little and little they entred pell mell with them committing great slaughter in the Citie The inhabitants and the rest did then begin to flie on euerie side Pietro Hemo being for saken by his people did with fiftie Souldiours for a time brauely sustaine the enemies assault on the bridge neere to the Palace But at the last all things falling out desperate by reason of the great multitude of the enemies he with his Souldiours did shut themselues vp in the Palace which soone after beeing yeelded fell into the enemies hands The Armie afterwards entring the Citie was vtterly spoiled The Genoueses ensignes with those of King Lewis and of Prince Carrario were set vp in the highest place of the Citie and those of the Venetians were throwne downe and trodden vnder foot All the noble women whose honours the victorious enemie would haue to be preserued were with their children retired into the Churches and three daies after being called from thence were sent home to their houses in all safetie Diuers escaped others were taken prisoners those which fell into the Genoueses hands were imprisoned in Chioggia but those which fell to the Paduans and the Forlani were carried elsewhere Chioggia hath on the south side a small Island of the bredth of fiue hundred paces stretching as farre as Brondoli This space of ground is almost wholly tilled with great labour by the inhabitants Therein there is a goodly vineyard to be seen and verie large gardens The inhabitants make great profit thereof notwithstanding that they giue themselues to salt making and to fishing They make great ditches about their inheritances their grounds being alwaies wet and moist There are likewise diuers houses in it here and there some of them builded with moorish matter and the rest with morter and bricke The Genoueses drew a great many prisoners forth of these places which being on all sides enuironed with water could not for want of shippes escape Diuers were found dead on the shore who had carelesly entred into the water Six thousand men were slaine at the taking of the Tower the most of whome were either Townes-men or Venetians In this sort we finde that Chioggia was taken by the Genoueses Nicolao Gallicano and Balba Gallucio being with money redeemed from the
Captaines of the Gallies speedily to prepare ladders the which being made readie he departed from Samos with a gentlegale of winde and sailed to the assault of Satalia Being come to the Islands of Calidonia he receiued supplies of two Gallies sent to him by those of Rhodes The whole Fleete consisted of foure score and fiue Gallies namely twenty which the Pope sent seuenteene from King Ferdinand two from Rhodes and six and fortie of the Venetians The Fleet departing at Sun-set from the Calidonian Islands did the next day by three of the clock in the morning arriue vpon the enemies shoare Mocenigo presently commanded Victor Soranza one of the Prouidators to go with ten Gallies to seize vpon the Hauen and Maripietro the other Prouidator to Land his Souldiers and with them to giue an assault to the Citie on the other side and he commanded the horse-men speedily to make good a little Hill neere to the Citie from thence to send supplies where need should be He did moreouer exhort them to remember their accustomed valour and to consider that they were to deale with an vnexperienced enemie and such an one as was to be taken vnprouided and that they did assaile a Citie which being taken would for euer enrich them Thus beeing full of hope and valour they marched towards the Citie Himselfe with the Captains of the associates tarried in his Gallie to behold the assault The horse-men without delay ranne to take that Hill Souranza with force of oares being come to the Hauen after that he had in the middest of a terrible shower of darts and arrowes broaken the chaine was himselfe the foremost that entred into the Hauen The other Gallies that followed him seized on the Fortes on both sides the Hauen slew all those that were within them then they brake in to the houses in the Suburbes and into them that were neere the walls where the Marchants for the most part dwelt in regard of their trafficke who at the first approach of the Fleete had abandoned their wares and retired them selues into the Citie All the store-houses were full of pepper cinamom ginger perfumes and other costly marchandize All which being taken and brought to the Gallies they set fier on the houses the more to terrifie the inhabitants Then because their ladders were vnprofitable by reason of the great heighth of the Walls the Souldiers fell to the spade and mattock The Generall of the Rhodes whilest inconsiderately with his Souldiers he was busied in breaking open one of the Citie Gates was slaine outright with the fall of a great stone which fell vpon his head His Souldiers carried his body to the Gallies The death of this valliant man did greatly afflict the Souldiers but their fier-workes most of all which being throwne into the aire were by the winde carried into their faces and falling thicke amongst the assailants did grieuously scalde them whereby they weare enforced to giue ouer the assault and to retire to their Gallies Maripietro likewise with his Souldiers fought valiantly on the other side of the Citie which being encompassed with a double wall the first was presently entred by scaling ladders with no meane slaughter of the Turkes but comming to the second and the ladders prouing to short the courageous Souldiers fell instantly to vndermining Our men did many gallant exploits there and it was certainely thought that the Citie would haue beene taken that day had not the darkenesse of the night preuented them which enforced them to retire It is reported that a Dalmatian woman who had a long time beene a slaue to the Turks was so valiant as with cries and exhortations from the walls she encouraged the Christians whereupon some that were not farre off threatning her with punishment she clapt her gowne round about her and leaped downe from the walls where being wounded with the fall she died among her Countriemen The Prouidators hauing left a strong guard in all places neer to the Citie that none might come forth or enter in they retired in the night with the rest of their forces to the Gallies where after that they had well considered among themselues that the Citie being strongly encompassed with high walls and well-manned with Souldiers could not bee taken without great ordnance and that it would bee too long a time to send for any from Morea and very dangerous to bring it thither in regard of the continuall tempests which are vsuall along the coast of Pamphilia exposed to the South-east wind which doth fiercely tosse those Seas they determined to depart the next day hauing first burnt the Suburbs and wasted the Countrie which was the richest of all Pamphilia The Fleete beeing gone from Sathalia did within a few daies after come to Rhoades where whilest it remained the Ambassadour of Vsan-cassan King of Persia came thither He told them that at the intreatie and pursuite of Catharin Zeno a Venetian Gentleman and their Ambassadour in Persia his King had determined to ioyne his forces with those of the Venetians to ouerthrow the power of Ottoman and that his troupes were already entred into the greater Armenia which was subiect to Ottoman and had taken the Citty of Toccata the wealthiest of all the Prouince and some other townes of great worth Hee told them besides that he had great numbers of men and horse That the Persians in their warres did skilfully handle the launce sword and bowe but that they were not accustomed to other armes That he was sent to the Venetians Pope and other Christian Princes to intreate them from the King to furnish the Persian Army with Artillery against their common aduersarie Mocenigo and the rest gaue a willing eare to the Ambassadours discourse and did put him in good hope that he should easily obtaine all his demaunds They shewed him their mighty fleete well furnished with men and armour and told him that it was ready to saile whither his King should commaund it if his pleasure were to imploy it The Persian being in this sort dismissed went towardes Italie and they made themselues readie for some other enterprize wherein to spend the remainder of that Autumne But whilest these things were done at sea Ottoman did inuade the Venetians in sundrie places For the Turkes made incursions into Albania and Dalmatia and entred into Italie They did at the beginning of the warre at a certaine time prefixed make incursions twice a yeare into Albania namely in the time of haruest and grape-gathering neere to Scutarie Lesia Croya and other places with the Venetians held in the Prouince For before the Venetians were open enemies to Ottoman Amurath his father had a long time before made warre in Albania and especially then when hee came to inuade Scanderbeg who in his time was a famous and valiant Captaine and such an one as next to Pyrrhuâ—… who warred on the Romans in Italie Albania neuer bred the like Those which haue seene him in Apulia
Philippo Nefalone Georgio Galesia Giouanni Clericato of Vincenza with diuers others that held an honourable ranke in the Armie They consulted together that night whether it were best to fight with the enemie or onely to defend their owne Forts For it was likely that those Forts being defended the enemie durst not go farre forward for feare least all meanes of returne should be taken from him yet at last they made a more valiant than a discreet resolution which was to oppose themselues against the enemies which way soeuer they should passe They diuided their Cauallerie into three troupes and ouer euerie troupe appointed a Captaine But the Turke in the meane time intending to vse policie as well as force comming to the opposite shoare did about sun-set rome vp and downe with his horse men and at last without any difficultie seized on the Fort neere to the bridge some of the souldiers retired to the bridge resoluing to breake both the ends and to defend themselues in the middest but being on a sodaine ouerwhelmed with great showers of darts and arrowes they were beaten into the riuer This place was foure miles from the campe so that they had no newes of the taking of the Fort till it was late in the night and then they hardly beleeued it Marbeg for so was the Turkish Generall named hauing taken the bridge did send vp and downe to discouer some fit place for an ambuscado and finding one not farre from thence he commanded a thousand choice horse to passe ouer the riuer about midnight at a Ford and to lie in ambush till a signal were giuen them to breake out then to fall on a sodaine vpon the enemies So soone as it was day the Turke caused a troupe of horse to crosse the riuer and commanded them to goe as farre as the enemies campe and to gallop euen to their gates to draw them forth to fight and then to retire by little and little to the place of ambuscado But by the way they encountred Ieronimo and the rest of the Cauallerie which followed him in order of battaile At first they fought valiantly on both sides but the Turkes at last did of set purpose giue backe the Christians pursuing them Ieronimo his sonne a couragious young man made a fiercer pursuit than any of the rest and was seconded by a troupe of young gallants who were as forward as himselfe The politicke old man was displeased with their rashnesse saying that he was certaine that the Turkes would not so easily flie but vpon some speciall aduantage And because they were almost come betwixt two streightes which were much to be suspected Nouello sounded the retreat Then the Turks returning to charge renewed a fierce fight Ieronimo sent for the first squadron to come to his reskew For from the other side of the riuer a companie of men at Armes were alreadie comming to the aide of their fellowes In the meane time a great squadron of Turks had gotten vp on the neerest banks of the riuer where the fight being renewed the Turks were repulsed as far as Graman a little streame running a thwart the vallies Pergotanes But whilest the Venetians were wholly busied in the victorie the signal being giuen to the Ambuscado from the top of the mount Licinicia which was on their left hand the Turkish troupes brake forth and with fearefull cries fell vpon the Venetians who were so terrified wâ—…th the enemies sodaine eruption as one would not haue taken them for those Venetians that euen now fought so valiantly Neuerthelesse perceiuing that the hope of their liues consisted onely in their Armes they were inforced somewhat to giue backe that they might fight more at large But vpon a sodaine the Turkes gaue them so furious a charge as being beaten backe into a streight place they could not haue roome In the meane time the cruell enemy assailed them in front and in flanke and made an horrible slaughter of them so that the first band was in a moment cut in peeces by the enemies great numbers and were all slaine sauing a few men of note who yeelded to the enemie The Captaines of the second squadron perceiuing their fellowes to be inclosed by the enemies gaue backe by little and little towards the Plaine but in such amazement as those in the rereward supposed it rather a flight than retreite Within a while they all beganne in disorder and without Ensignes or Captaines to flie as vanquished into the thickets of the neighbour-forrests the Turkes still pursuing them Some leauing their horse and armour behind them escaped into the Mountaines In this battell died Iâ—…ronimo Generall of the Cauallerie his sonne Giacomo Badoario Anastasio of Romagnia and many other noble persons most of the rest were taken The Turkes likewise bought this victorie at a deere rate Marbeg their Generall was grieuously wounded and great numbers of souldiers slaine who being heaped vp all together were by his commaundement burnt The news of this ouerthrow did much terrifie the whole Country for the people thought themselues scarce safe euen in their walled cities The next day about noone a great smoake was seene in the aire in many places neere to Vdina whereby they knew that the enemie was not farre off and in an instant all the farme houses betwixt the Riuers Lizonza and Taillement were seene to burne It was a lamentable sight to behold so goodly a Countrey filled with cloudes of smoake but most of all when the night following the whole territorie neere adioyning was on fire The Turkes spoiled and wasted all places the same night and by day-breake vniting themselues returned merrily home to their campe beyond the riuer Lizonza loden with bootie and store of prisoners The next day they marched with their Ensignes into the field a dayes iourney from the Riuer making shew to depart but with greater furie than before they came and incamped on the banckes of Taillement and crossing the Riuer they set fire on all places carrying away more prisoners and doing more hurt to the poore inhabitants than at the former time And vpon report that the Venetian forces were comming against them by land and Sea Marbeg raised his campe and left Italie This ouerthrow at Lizonza terrified all men and affrighted the famous Cittie of Verona At Venice the fire of the Countrie houses which burnt by night being seene from the highest Turrets of the Citty did much amaze the inhabitants Many said That it was a great dishonor to the Seigniory to see â—…he pleasantest countrey of the Venetian Territorie burnt and wasted before their faces by a barbarous enemie This caused them presently to dispatch certaine armed vessells along the Sea-coast and certaine troupes of horse and foote through the firme land But they arriued in Friull when the ennemie was gone The two Fortes were for a time without Garrison and some were of opinion to haue them razed The Senate sent certaine Gentlemen thither to view the state
safety for which the Senate did highly commend him he had with him about fiue thousand foot-men foure hundred men at armes and seuen hundred light horse with great store of carriage But come to Cassan which is a place nere to the Riuer Adda he did then fortifie himselfe with strong Rampiers leauing but one way open which was fenced and garded withall necessaries supposing that place to be most commodious to be able with ease to releeue if neede were Pauia and Lauda to offend the enemies and to defend the State of the Signory and besides to fauour if occasion were offered the enterprize of Genoa by sea Wherevpon thinking himselfe to be very safe in that place he would not follow the opinion of Iano Marâ—…a Fregosa who councelled him to retire with his army to Bressia for feare of any inconuenience being not equall in forces to Antonio de Leua He being emboldned by this victory and more desirous to breake the Confederate forces had followed the Duke of Vrbin as farre as Vaury two miles from Cassan which caused some doubt in the Venetians least hee would haue passed the Adda to haue made wast of the Bressan Bergamasque and Creman territories But the Duke reposed great trust in his light Cauallery the which surpassed that of the enemies both in number and valour who by scouring all the neighbour Countries round about did not onelie cut off all the victualls from the Imperialls campe but had so affrighted them as none of them durst any more come forth of the trenches therefore the Duke remayning firme in his resolution to continue in that place would not raise his Campe as well in regard of his reputation as for the victualls that were brought to him from the country neere adioyning which would other-wise haue releeued the enemies and if hee should haue retyred to the Citty hee would haue spent those which were appoynted for their friends Now the two armies being so neere one to an other they did continually goe forth to skirmish on both sides where the Imperialls were still beaten Antonio de Leua supposing to haue some satisfaction for his losses by some other meanes sent Caesar of Naples on the farther side of the riuer Adda to scoure the Territories of Bressia and Crema whereof the Duke of Vrbin being aduertised leauing the Count Gajazzo for the gard of the Campe he tooke with him a good troope of soldiers and went and ambusht him-selfe neere to the place where he knew the enemies would passe the riuer from whence part of them being gone ouer hee came forth vnlookt for with great fury vpon those who stayed behind vpon the riuer shoare ready to passe ouer hauing first of all sent his light Cauallery to intercept their way if so bee that they would haue fled towards their campe But Caesar of Naples beeing troubled with this vnlookt for accident did speedily cause the bridge to bee broken fearing least the Duke for his part would haue come ouer and fought with him wherevpon all those that stayed behind to the number of fifteene hundred were either cut in peeces or taken prisoners by the Duke and among others it fell out that a braue Spanish Captaine was taken by a woman of big stature who in mans attire receiued pay of the Count Gajazzo and the Count hauing for mirths sake called before him on a time the Captaine that was prisoner shewing him Margueriton for so the soldiors called her told him that the same was the soldier that had taken him prisoner the Spaniard looking vpon her answered that he did comfort him-selfe in his mishap for that he had beene taken by so braue a man as hee seemed to bee but when hee told him that it was a woman shame and disdaine did so seaze vpon him as within few daies after he dyed with greefe Afterwards the two armies kept them selues in their quarters for the space of many daies but the Duke of Vrbin calling the Captaines sundrie times to councell and propounding diuers things vnto them did suffitiently manifest his desire to assaile the enemies and to cause them to dislodge At the last he resolued to goe forth with all his forces and to vse meanes by cunning to come to stroakes with Antonio de Leua vpon some aduantage hee caused all the ordinance of the Campe to bee brought into one place and then hee began to march with all the troupes both foote and horse and with three peeces of ordnance meaning to leaue them behind him by retiring so soone as hee had begunne the skirmish fayning flight both for feare and vpon necessity whereby the enemies comming forward to get those three peeces should bee put to rout by the ordnance of the Campe and being so disordred he would againe returne vpon them with greater violence But this designe fell not out according to his expectation because that the Count Gajazzo comming forth sooner then he should with a part of his Infantery and beginning the skirmish too far of from the Campe being not able with those hee had brought with him long to sustaine the enemies fury was enforced not-with-standing that hee fought valliantly to retyre in some disorder Wherevpon the Duke perceuing him to bee in danger did on a sodaine make hast to his reskew and gaue in with such fury athwart the Imperiall Infantery which neerely pursued the Count Gajazzo as hee caused them to make a stand and to turne their backes still pursuing and beating them euen into their Campe. Antonio de Leua lost in this action more then fifteene hundred foote part of them being slaine and the rest taken prisoners where-vpon hee durst no more after that suffer his soldiers to sallie forth of the Campe nor attempt any enterprize continuing in great feare and doubt what hee were best to doe being afflicted with sundry cares and difficulties For on the one side hee could tarry no longer there for want of victualls and then hee perceiued that his aboad there could in no sort profit him on the other side to dislodge and to returne to Milan he thought it would greatly blemish his reputation and that of the whole army as if he should confesse that hee retired for feare being chaced by a number of e-enemies farre lesse then him-selfe That it was to no purpose to enter into the Venetians state but very dangerous all their townes beeing mand with strong Garrisons well fortified and on the other side the people of Milan were beyond measure discontented and in manner desperate by reason of the extortion and wrongs which they had sustayned by the soldiers were ready to make an insurrection and to alter the state calling without controulement for their Duke who lay then with his troopes in Cremona for he doubted not but that the Venetians being desirous to see him installed in his State would hazard all their forces when hope of obtayning that which they so much desired should bee offered
with great difficulty nor afterwards keepe it but with much trouble commanded it to be razed downe to the foundations But the Turkes being aduertized thereof came backe on a sodaine and found the Venetians ruining off the castle who being possessed with feare and terror by the Turkes vnlooked for arriuall did forsake their worke and retired in disorder towards their ships being followed at the heeles by the Turkes who in the end would haue broken and defeated them had not captaine Camillo de Monte the Neapolitan with certaine troupes made head against them whilest the souldiers were imbarked As these deseignes had at first encreased mens courages and hopes euen so the condition of the affaires altering in a short time there was no more speech of the other enterprizes of Nadin Laurana Clissa and Ostrouizza greater difficulties being dayly discouered concerning them those likewise who had shewed most heate and forwardnesse towards the Turkish enterprizes beganne by the same accident to grow could and especially the Duke of Vrbin who had propounded it did alleadge diuers impediments saying that the number of souldiers which he had first craued was not sufficient to enuade those places and withall to keepe the passages against the enemies and that a great number would need so great a quantity of victuals and other prouisions as it would be an hard matter to send them thither by reason that they were to passe thorow the enemies country In these perplexities of minde what was best to be done opinions were very different some supposing that their forces being ready they were to be imployed for the releefe of the people who by that meanes might hope for some better fortune and not to keepe them idle others on the contrary hauing maturely considered the matter were of opinion to dismisse the Lansquenets by giuing halfe-pay to the souldiers and great gifts to the captaines to keepe them stil their friends when need should be and not to passe on any farther against the enemies for feare least by prouoking them they might draw vpon themselues the whole Turkish forces to the entire ruine and losse of Dalmatia seeing it was more expedient to quench that fire then to kindle it in regard that all forraine aide did deceiue them These reasons were allowed of and the Lansquenets were sent home into their country The Turkes after this exploit returned into Hungary hauing first refreshed their Garrisons which remayning quiet the country was for a time at rest All men were in the meane time very desirous to see what would become of those naual armies Barbarossa departing from Candy retired towards the confines of Negrepont not attempting any thing for feare of meeting with the Christian armies The Generall Capello hauing great number of gallies one gallion and diuers ships of war the Patriarke Grimani being ioyned with him with the Popes gallies did waite for the Spanish nauall army which was reported euery day to arriue but none effect thereof was to be seene consuming to the great griefe of all men the fittest time and season for Marine actions The Emperor did promise speedily to send the 30. Neapolitan gallies which lay at Messina to Corfou and fifteene ships of warre with three thousand Spanish foot-men conducted by Don Ferrant de Gonzaga Lieutenant for the King in Sicily who because the Duke of Vrbin by reason of his indisposition could not come to the army was to supply his place he promised moreouer that so soone as he should come to Barcelona he would forthwith send away Doria with two and thirty gallies to saile to Corfou to ioyne with the other army Diuers things neuerthelesse caused men to doubt that it would not so come to passe first because that the Emperor before his going to Nice had ofâ—…en said that it was impossible for him at one time to assaile the Turkes and the French and the assembly of Nice being broken off without any effect by reason of the French there was no great hope in his forces Next his officers at Naples did not only hinder those captaines whom Camillo Vrsino had sent to leauy souldiers in the Kingdome for the defense of Dalmatia but vnder seigned excuses refused contrary to the treaty of the league the Generall Capello a certaine quantity of corne for the entertainment of the army Diuers others deeds and words gaue iust occasion of suspition that the Emperor sought nothing else but to let time ship away vnprofitably not being willing or else able to make warre vpon the Turke as he should hindring on the other side as much as he could the Venetians from agreeing with them for feare least the whole burthen of the war should light alone vpon himselfe The Emperor in the end seeking new meanes of assuring himselfe propounded to the Venetians the renuing of the capitulations of the league the which although it was a superfluous matter in regard of the short time since the agreement was made at Rome they did neuerthelesse satisfie him therein because they would not omit any thing which might serue for the vnion of the armies to let all men know their great desire to pursue the warre The Capitulations being confirmed the Emperor commanded Gonzaga who was not yet gon to saile to Corfou where he arriued with the Gallies only hauing left their ships behind to the end said he that the residue of the foot forces which were not yet come thither might haue shipping But his so much desired comming was to no great purpose because that the Generalls to the Venetians and the Pope hauing made a motion to goe from thence and to scoure towards the Leuant he would not consent therevnto saying that it was no safe matter for the Confederates nor very honourable for the Emperour to execute any enterprize with so few forces wherevpon he was desirous to tarry till the arriuall of the ships which he knew could not much linger The armies remayning in this manner at Corfou the Patriarke Grimani being impatient of so long stay there without doing any thing departed thence with sixe and thirty gallies and sailed toward Saint Nicolao de Ciuita and hauing intelligence by the way that the castle of Preuese was not very well garded he resolued not to let slip such an occasion but to assaile it on the sodaine the place being an assured retreate for the Turkes when they did meane to enuade Christendome the Patriarke going on in this resolution to assaile it hoping to take it by some vnlooked for assault and being come to the Channel of Preuese the galley of Paul Iustinian did shew the way to the rest where all of them being entred he landed his souldiers and artillery in the plaine field a mile of from the castle and because the greatest hope of the happy successe consisted in speed and dilligence without spending time in making trenches and rampiers he beganne sodainely to batter the castle-walles with the artillery himselfe being
in the Hauen of Nista opposite to it where he speedily landed his souldiours and willed them to march on a sodaine to assaile the enemies thereby hoping with ease to surprize them and to seize vpon the place and to this purpose he sent certaine Harquebuziers before and himselfe followed after with the residue of his forces but hauing marched a great while through narrow and difficult waies they did from farre descry the caâ—…tle which they went to surprize being seated on the top of an hill in a plaâ—…e of very difficult accesse 〈◊〉 hauing well considered al matters and finding things to be otherwise then they had beene reported thought it against reason to hazard those troupes which were destined to greater atchiuements and therefore on a sodaine hee turned backe againe although the Prouidator was of a contrary opinion and countermanding the Harguebuziers that he had sent before he marched backe to the Hauen of Nista and returned to Corfou At the same time Marco Quirini came with his Gallies from Candy to Corfou hauing by the way taken the fort of Brazza de Menia which the Turkes held He was presently commanded to go with twenty Gallies and scoure the Islands of the Archipelago wherevpon he sailed to the Isle of Andros one of the renowned Cicâ—…ades Within a while after the Generall Zanne receiued commandement from the Senate to saile with his forces farther vp into the Leuant and by assayling some of the enemies townes to diuert them from the inuasion of Cyprus Wherevpon he left Corfou and went to Modon where Quirin with his Gallies met him and within two daies after he arriued in the Isle of Candy anchorâ—…d in the Gulph Anfialea which at this day marriners call the Hauen of Suda The Generall being there desirous to make speedy prouision of whatsoeuer the fleet needed found great difficulties in it chiefly in recouering suffitient numbers of men to supply the places of them that were dead wherevpon he sailed with forty Gallies to Candace the chiefe city of the Island the sooner by his presence to hasten the necessary prouisions leauing both the Prouidators and Palauicin in the hauen of Suda with foure score Gallies enioyning them to leauy men from all parts Now after that the fleet was sufficiently furnished with souldiers marriners and other necessaries they vnproffitably spent the time and the best season of the yeere expecting the Popes and Spanish Gallies the which according to the Venetians directions being ioyned together were to meet them in Candy At the last toward the latter end of August Marâ—…-Antonio Colonna the Churches Generall and Gioâ—…an Andrea Doria the Catholike Kings being arriued the Venetian 〈◊〉 was merueilous ioyfull of their comming The Generall and fleet went forth of the Hauen of Suda to welcome them where according to the manner they saluted with volies of shot then all of them entring together into the hauen made no long aboad there but after some propositions made the whole fleet retired to Siâ—…hy there more maturely to consult what were best to be done to free the Isle of Cyprus from inuasion Whilest the Christian fleet had spent much time in preparing and vniting it selfe togither the Turkes with greater celerity had assembled all their forces and being mighty at sea had without any difficulty prosperously pursued their enterprize the which was more speedily performed because that Selim who said that hee would in person goe to the army changed his determination and resolued to remaine at Constantinople by the aduise of Mahomet and Mustapha to whose authority and councell all the other Bashas condescended Selim then tarrying at Constantinople made Mustapha his Lieutenant Generall in that warre committing the whole enterprize by land to him and all marine actions to Piali Admirall of the Gallies Piali within a while after departing from Constantinople with fifty fiue Gallies and certaine other vessels Mustapha set saile with like number vnto whome for an extraordinary fauour the great Lord had giuen the Imperiall Galley to transport him which is of extraordinary greatnesse and most sumptuously decked in which the great Turke embarketh himselfe when he goes forth on any enterprize They anchored first at Negrepoâ—…t then at Rhodes where hauing intelligence that the Venetian fleet lay at Zara and could not depart from thence by reason of ficknesse and other impediments and that they had no newes at all of the Spanish fleet the Turkes being out of feare that the fleetes would ioyne together and supposing that they durst not come on any farther determined to saile directly to Cyprus But as 〈◊〉 Turkish fleet passed along from Negrepont to Rhodes Piali made an attempt to take the fort of Tina which is an Island in the farthest part of the Archipelago belonging to the Venetians and comming vnlooked for in a morning to that Island thinking to surprize it it was discouered at sea by Ieronimo Paruta a Venetian Gentleman Gouernor of the Island a valiant and discreet person who of a long time hauing feated their arriuall hee made prouisions of all necessaries for defense Hee perceiuing the enemies for to bend their course thitherward shot off a warning peece to aduertize those of the Island that were abroad in the country that they should quickly retire into the castle which beeing done in time they prepared themselues to withstand the Barbarians assaults which were very cruell not onely once but twice and thrice in euery of which they were brauely repulsed with great losse of their men and were enforced to discampe after that they had with incredible fury wasted the whole Island burned the Country houses ruined Churches and slaughtered all the cattaile that were in that Island From Tina Piali went to Rhodes where all their fleet lay which amounted to more then two hundred armed vessels accounting an hundred and fifty Gallies together with Fusts and Galeoâ—…s but in the great fleete were certaine Mahonnes which are like to great Gallies not altogither so bigge as a Gallion sixe ships and great numbers of other vessels commonly called Caramuscolini and some fifty Palandaries to transport horse This fleet bending it direct course toward Cyprus was discried neere to Baffo on the first day of Iuly in the yeere 1570. which scoured all the coast from Limissa as farre as the Promontory commonly called the Cape of the Cat then landing part of their forces they burned and spoiled the sea coasts taking many prisoners the next day pursuing their iourney they went to Salines where finding no resistance they vnship't their ordnance and the rest of the souldiers who presently fortified their campe with deepe trenches and strong Rampiers from whence they afterwards wasted and spoiled the country neere adioyning Then marching to Leucata nine miles from Salines they did easily make themselues Masters of the country and people vnto whom Mustaphaa gaue great guifts and goodly promises to draw on others and especially those of the mountaines seeking
make an attonement with him and to that end sent his Ambassadours to him laying all that was past vpon the malice of certaine people desirous of spoile It is reported that Alexis did afterward more esteeme of Beamond than of all the rest of the Princes and Captaines of the Armie whereunto the meekenesse and courtesie of the Norman did incite him so as after his comming to Constantinople he did so farre insinuate himselfe into the Emperous fauour as he freely promised him to furnish the Armie with new succours horses garments weapons and all other necessaries But yet neuerthelesse because he would seeme to haue care of his owne affaires he said that his meaning was to performe his promise prouided that the Captaines would promise and sweare not to attempt any thing against himselfe his State and subiects and that all the Cities which they should take in Asia Hierusalem excepted should be reduced vnder the gouernment of the Grecian Empire This thus conluded the whole troopes were forthwith transported into Asia Beamond only with certaine others remained with Alexis to further the dispatch of victualls and other necessaries The Captaines in the meane time being come to Nicomedia so soone as they had vnited their forces resolued first of all to assaile Nicea Wherefore dislodging thence they came through forrests and by-wayes before the Citie and the siege was planted before Beamonds arriuall at the Campe by reason of his long staie about the sending away of victualls and other necessaries At his arriuall Nicea the cheife Citie of Bithynia called at first Antigona by Antigonus her founder and since then Nicea by Lysimachus in fauour of his wife was assailed in three seuerall places This Citie was reasonably strong by situation and much more by arte being compassed about with verie high and thicke walles the towers builded foure-square the fourth part whereof towards the South is watred with the lake Ascania They forthwith erected enginnes of batterie and woodden Castles of the iust height of the Citie walles Then they brought thither the ramme and other warlicke engines They did likewise vse the mine The Citie besides a great number of inhabitants had likewise store of armed souldiers in garison and euery day new supplies came to them by the lake in their steades that had beene slaine or hurt So as they were sure that whilest the passage of the lake should remaine open Nicea could neuer bee taken Wherefore it was concluded for the hindering of the enemies passage to send to the Emperour Alexis and to entreate him that with a certaine number of shippes hee would shut vp the lake from the enemies Alexis fulfilled their request but not sodainely For whilest he made readie his shippes threescore thousand Turkes with certaine troopes of Sarracens came and incamped on the hilles next to the Citie whereof they sodainely aduertised the besieged by the lake which was not yet shut from them to the end that on a day prefixed they should make a sallie on the Christians on the same side as they should on a sodaine assaile their Campe. The alarum began in the Bishop of Puy his quarter who was encamped on the East-side where the French did not onely with great valour receiue the enemies forces but running all the rest they seized on the towne of Soccor by meanes of certaine Christians that were within it where they remained till such a time as the souldiers had made prouision of victualls for fiue dayes But being departed from thence so soone as they had surprised the Citie of Sura and the Forte of the Imposts with certaine other small townes in the Territorie of Sura they laboured by a very streight path to ascend the top of Mount Taurus This way which was but a dayes iournie was no lesse dangerous than painfull It was verie narrow by reason of the flint-stones and sharpe rockes which hem'd it in on the one side and with a very deepe vally on the other which was of so fearefull a depth as it did amaze the beholders the troopes were a whole day passing this way not without the great care and heede of the Captaines and the greatest part thereof they went on foote There was none so hardie in the whole Armie as durst ascend those steepe places on horsebacke but they threw their cloakes and baggage on their horsebacks for to make themselues more apt and disposed to ouercome the danger of the way It is reported that the same day diuers sumpter-horses which were loden fell head-long downe into the valley some of them by chance and some likewise were throwne downe of purpose by those who saw no possibilitie to bring them vp to the top of the hill Hauing passed these mountainous streights they came to the Citie of Murasis which forthwith yeelded vnto them From thence they discouered such huge and spatious plaines as their sight was dazeled with beholding them In the middest of that plaine they espied Antioch whither all the Captaines ment to march and to besiege it Being come downe into the valley they descried the enemies a farre off vpon a Riuers side which runnes ouerthwart the plaine These men were sent by the King of Antioch to conuey the victualls which was to come to the Citie from the mountaines Against these were certaine light horse sent who at the first charge brake and defeated them part of whome being slaine the rest fled to the Citie There were taken the same day a great number of sumpter-horses and great quantitie of victuals which as most necessarie were brought to the Armie to the great content of the victorious They came afterwards to the riuer neare to Antioch the which by the inhabitants is as they say named Farfar But we know for a certaine that the Riuer Orontes watereth the Citie of Antioch Whereby wee may not only doubt of the riuers name but likewise which Antioch these modernes did meane were it not that the fame of the Citie is so great as it will easily bring vs forth of the Historians darknesse For there is an Antioch in Pamphilia neighbour to Seleucia and an other more excellent than that in Phenicia builded by Seleucus Nicanor sonne to Antiochus surnamed Ephiphanes through the which runs the riuer Orontes Towards this then marched Beamond Hugo and the rest and vnderstood by certaine prisoners that Cassianus was King of this Citie and Tributarie to the King of Babilon who vpon this occasion had sent diuers thousands of men to guard the Citie who were esteemed so strong and valiant as none in a manner durst fight with them much lesse attend them The commaunders were not amazed at these speeches Chiefly Beamond who conducted fiue legions did the next morrow by breake of day march directly towards the Citie where he did fiercely assaile the enemies who were vnder the walles in order of battaile But the neerenesse of the walles and their other munitions which constrained
thinke can be so agreeable unto him as this holy voiage Whereby yee shall free from base and cruell seruitude the place of his birth his Sepulcher and generally all the signes and tokens of his humanitie But because humane affaires are of such nature as there is almost no publike charitie exempted from ambition And your selues likewise perhaps since I began to speake of this subiect haue closely demaunded of your selues what honour what glorie what recompence may be expected thereby Certainly it is and euer shall bee well be seeming and greatly profitable for our reputation that the Venetians only of all Europe haue beene thought fit at this time to oppose themselues with all boldnesse against all Asia in a manner The farthest parts of the East shall feele the worth of the Venetians power Affrick shall talke of it but Europe shall greatly admire it All men shall speake of you The whole honour of the warre shall be attributed to you That which we haue done heeretofore in Asia seemeth to be effected rather by strangers than by vs. But that which we shall henceforth do there shall be ascribed to vs alone The glorie of strangers hath greatly hurt vs who by their luster haue in a manner darkened all our great actions the which in time to come they shall not doe Their trauaile and danger in breaking the enemies forces shall bee our praise and glorie to haue thus brauely broken and beaten them back Moreouer I doubt not but that all of ye are willing and desirous to enlarge your estate as far as may be But how by what meanes will you effect it In liuing idely or rowing vp and downe these Lakes in your little boates Hee that thinketh so doth greatly deceiue himselfe The ancient Romans of whom ye vaunt yee are descended and whom ye desire to imitate did not purchase the Empire of the World by liuing idely and at their ease but by making one warre to grow from off an other By warre they did subdue all Nations And finally by warre their power and greatnesse did increase beyond all thought Heereunto wee may yet adde that which is most to bee desired That wee are to take Armes against enemies whom to kill it is not onely lawfull but likewise iust and holie Besides those whom wee relieue haue alreadie and will still giue vs a share in those Townes and Cities conquered from the enemie But happily some will thinke this a small matter and wholly vnworthie for the recompence of so great an enterpriâ—…e I confesse that it is small in shew But whosoeuer will thinke vpon the time to come will finde it to be an assured foundation whereon to builde and encrease our Dominion in the Leuant For great and admirable matters are often-times seene to spring from meane beginnings But if neither the honour recompence nor the mutuall loue we all beare to the Christians name can not moue you This vndoubtedly ought to prouoke you thereunto That by freeing this holie Land from the bondage of the enemies appearing one day before the Throne of this incomprehensible Iudge we shall stand vpright acknowledged by this great King and by all the rest for Soldiours of his guard receiuing an holie guer don for so holy a war Depart then in Gods name and prepare a mightie Armie which may be for the profit and honor of the Common-wealth It behoueth you to vse speed least as it often times hapneth some vnlook't for accident do foreslow so great an enterprize This speech being ended a sodaine noise was heard ouer all the Church entermingled with sighs and teares all the people crauing that the Armie might quickly be in readinesse saying That there was no man in the whole citie but had rather enroll his name for so holie a warre than to liue idly at home Hereupon they armed fortie Gallies as they say which speak sparingly of the matter but according to their opinions who speak more indifferently thereof one hundred also according to others who amplifie the matter two hundred which opinion neuerthelesse I hold to be the truest For if it were so as they say I know 〈◊〉 vpon what occasion Prince Michaeli as shall bee heere-after mentioned should dare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the enemies Fleete before Ioppa which consisted of seauen hundred Shippes of warre But some say that the enemie insted of seauen hundred had but three score and ten If it were so all the Historians should haue small cause so highly to praise this victorie obtained by Prince Michaeli and chiefly Blondus who hath more curiously than anie other set downe that which was done at the same time in Syria Besides Giacomo of Genoa who came to Hierusalem by and by after the battaile doth write that the Venetians had two hundred vesselles whereof three score and tenne were Shippes of burthen The Prince being come to Dalmatia tooke in fresh supplies Then he sailed with a faire wind to Ciprus where hauing certaine notice of the great multitude of enemies incamped before Ioppa he marched furiously against them The Barbarians at the same time held those of Ioppa which were become Christians streightly besieged and hauing shut vp their Hauen and taken from them all hope of succour on that side from whence they most expected it they attempted to make them yeeld The Bishop so soone as he vnderstood that the Venetian Fleet did approach came to Ioppa with victuailes and with the greatest forces thâ—… hee could to the end to relieue the citie vntill the arriuall of the Venetian succours But whilest he made these preparations Prince Michaeli who as hath beene said was come somewhat neere to the enemie did on a 〈◊〉 assaile him not giuing him time to order his Ships in battell vanquished him and enforced him to discampe after he had slaine some and taken the rest Some Authors affirme That they fought in the maine Sea and that the enemies Fleete was but an hundred vessels where the battell being very bloudie on both sides lasted for certaine houres space and that in the end the enemies being ouercome and their Admirall Galley taken with diuers others the Venetians opened the passage of the Sea to those of Ioppa That our men certaine dayes after tooke in the 〈◊〉 Sea ten of the enemies Ships of burden laden with rich Merchandise so as there was neither Captaine Marriner nor Souldiour but were a long time after the better for that rich bootie Some Authours doe affirme That Prince Mihaeli after this victorie came to Ierusalem where being kindly welcomed by Bishop Varimond and the rest hee was by them gratified for his opportune arriuall and for his happie defeating of the enemie It was debated there among the Captaines after what maner they should prosecute the Warres Wherein hauing spent certaine dayes without any resolution what Citie they should first attempt It is reported that by the aduice of Prince Michaeli they fell to cast lots and that the same falling on the Citie
Chronicles make mention of nine and twentie thousand foot of whom nine thousand were Targuetiers the which is more credible For it is not probable that foure so great Princes vndertaking so long and dangerous a voyage would leuie but twelue thousand fiue hundred men seeing that anie one of them could easily haue furnished as many It is reported that they promised a verie great summe of money for the transportation of so great an Armie Now the Shippes of warre being readie because the Souldiours arriued later than it was expected the iourney was put off till Haruest By meanes whereof the Princes and Captaines hauing spent all they had brought with them for that voyage were constrained to borrow of the Venetians It is reported that the Venetians in sted of lending did freely giue them the money which they demaunded to the end to tye them vnto them hauing determined to make vse of them promising to vse greater liberalitie towards them if they would lend them their forces till such time as they had reduced the Prouince of Histria vnder their obedience recouered the Citie of Zara which had so often rebelled the which for a few years had bin possessed by the King of Hungarie This being freely granted they made an accord betwixt them for a yeare That the Venetians should only set forth threscore Gallies at their owne costs to ship their Souldiours and that all the towns and booties which should be taken should be equally diuided betwixt them and the Venetians Dalmatia and the adiacent Ilands excepted which they acknowledge to be a part of the Venetians Dominion Duke Henrico albeit he were euill disposed of his person his sight much impaired by the malice of the Emperor Emanuell would neuerthelesse for the loue he did beare his Countrie make one in the number Therefore he departed from Venice before any of the rest the 15. day of October The morrow after they all followed him The Nauie consisted of two hundred and fortie Ships of warre For besides the threescore Gallies promised first to the French they made ready threescore and ten Ships of burthen to embarke the forraine Soldiours and sixescore other Vessels vulgarly called Vrserions for the cariage of the victuals horse and furniture of the Armie The Triestines and other the Inhabitants of Histria accustomed to robbe at Sea amazed to see so mightie a Fleete did speedily send to the Prince for peace which was granted them on these conditions That those of Humaga and the Triestines should pay to the Venetian Prince a yearely tribute for each of them of fiftie hogsheads of Wine And to this purpose they sent Commissioners to Venice to sweare to this conuention before the Senate and to remaine euer after loyall to the Venetians as their Ancestors had done From Histria the Armie came to the siege of Zara. This siege by reason that the Citie was well victualled and furnished with Souldiers lasted longer than was expected The Citie being often assaulted with great effusion of bloud on either side was in the end after sundrie losses recouered and foorthwith dismanteled on that part next to the Sea The chiefe Citizens despairing of pardon in regard of their continuall rebellion saued themselues by flight The Winter in the meane time was very much spent by reason whereof and through the sharpnesse of the weather they were constrained to tarie there At what time yong Alexis who had escaped from the bloudy hands of his Vnkle arriued at the Campe and came into the presence of Duke Dandulo and the French Princes that Wintered there This yong boy after hee had with teares greatly complained on his Vncles crueltie of his Fathers blindnesse darke Imprisonment bonds and ill vsage and of his owne banishment able to draw pitie from his enemies he did earnestly intreate them in regard of the ancient friendship which his Father had euer borne to the Venetians for the fidelitie alliance hospitalitie and other benefits which all Christendome had receiued from him as well at Constantinople as in other parts of the Empire to relieue him in his affliction and not to suffer his Father any longer to languish in darknesse more obscure than his blindnesse And declared how that himselfe being yet very yong depriued of his Fathers helpe and counsell and of all his friends being banished poore needie and ignominiously driuen out of his Fathers Empire was constrained miserably to beg his bread After all which hee promised to giue them a great weight of Gold with other great rewards so soone as by their meanes he should recouer the Empire The teares of this yong child did greatly moue all the assistants his age likewise and his cause were found to be iust and reasonable the which all men did willingly fauour Then the great promises which he made in this great danger did shew that he had beene taught what to say by those who attended him in his flight For hardly could a man of riper yeares much lesse one like himselfe who was not yet out of child-hood haue of himselfe inuented those things which he promised them It is reported that he promised so soone as he should be alone or with his Father restored to the Empire he would make the Church of Constantinople subiect to that of Rome and giue the Venetians and French-men a certaine weight of gold in recompence of the losses which they had sustained in times past and at sundrie times by the Emperour Emanuel And moreouer to giue vnto the Venetians a great summe of money which the forraine Princes had promised them at the first for the transportation of their souldiers Vpon these conditions and promises the Venetians and French departed from Dalmatia at the beginning of the spring determining to saile with a direct course to Constantinople if a contrarie winde did not hinder them The Bandetti of Zara in the meane time so soone as they had notice of the Venetians departure made rodes and incursions all along the Sea-coasts of Histria and Dalmatia against whom a new Armie was intended Rayniero Dandulo Sonne to Duke Henrico a braue and couragious yong man did command in the Citie as Lieutenant to his Father He hauing armed certaine ships of warre passed ouer into Dalmatia against those banished Zaratins He caused a Fort to be built in the nearest Island to Zara which was called Euill Councell to resist the incursions and desseignes of the enemies The Bandetti being backt by the aide of the King of Hungarie came on a sodaine and surprised the Garrison within it and razed the Fort whereupon a greater fleete was set forth sufficient to represse the incursions and rash attempts of those Pirates The which being knowne to them they humbly sued for peace and obtained it on these conditions That the chiefe of them hauing giuen their children in hostage to the Venetians all the Bandetti should returne home into their Countrie and should obey
fought at this assault with such vehemencie and courage as those who beheld them could hardly iudge who defended best either those who mounted the Wall freely exposing themselues to danger or the saml number of the besieged At last the enemies after great losse remained masters of their Walls and were ready to endure as long a siege as the Venetian would had not famine which ouercommeth all things afflicted and enforced them to craue truce for tenne daies conditionally if within that time they were relieued by Philip with sufficient aide to defend the Fort otherwise that time being expired to leaue that place to the Venetians and depart thence with their Armes This Treatie being thus concluded the Souldiers in the Rampier were commanded to keepe good guard and to watch more carefully than before to the end that no supply of men and victualls might from any place come to the besieged In the meane time those of Philips Campe did fret with choller and stuck not aloud to taxe the cowardize of their Commanders saying that by their malice or basenesse the Castle was as well betraied as Bressia was sold to the Venetians by her own Citizens That there was no doubt but if such an Armie as theirs was had at times giuen in vpon the enemies Fort they might easily haue beaten downe the Rampire and the Mount and haue raised the siege Pergulan made answere That it was no reason in that manner to expose the Souldiers to their deaths against an Armed enemie who kept himselfe looked vp in his Fort that it was much better for that present that the Garrison should come forth of the Castle safe and sound and leaue the remnant to the enemie That it might so fall out that hauing receiued those supplies which they expected they might assaile them at their departure thence and enforce them to fight and requite them with some greater losse Picinino there upon being bold and sodaine said That it was ill aduised to giue ouer a place of safety and afterwards to fight for it in plaine field without any aduantage But if there were any man which desired the good commoditie of Duke Philip or would bee held worthie of such an enterprize hee should follow him vpon the enemie and hauing so spoken he departed on a sodain in a rage forth of the assembly and as he went forth Francisco Sforza promised to follow him But whilst he ordered his Souldiers to march against the Venetians Sforza staied behind to perswade Pergulan and the rest to take Armes The Venetian Captaine whose Souldiers were well instructed for such an enterprize so soone as he perceiued a bow-shot off the enemie comming towards him opened the Gate and commanded his Souldiers to set forward Then Picinino perceiuing that no man followed made a stand blaming the want of courage of his fellowes and without other fight returned to the Campe. Those in the Castle perceiuing the retreate of their Countrie-men did abandon the Gates of Pilles and Garzette and retired into the Citadell where they will fully held out for certaine daies after the time of truce was expired but at the last being vanquished by famine they did not giue ouer but left that place to the Venetians The Souldiers comming to assaile the Castle the Plaizantine presented himselfe with fiftie braue Souldiers The Venetians in few daies space did so batter the walls as the vttermost in a manner fell into their Campe whereof Philip hauing notice he sent word to the Plaizantine and the rest that their liues being saued they should leaue the place to the enemie In this sort the Venetian entred the Castle seuen moneths after the taking of Bressia Carmagnolla being freed from the siege and commanded to goe against the strong Cities and Townes there about he receiued on their faith and homage the Salodians with all the inhabitants of the Lake of La Garda which lieth towards the Bressans Countrie before euer he tooke Armes against them Soone after at the arriuall of the Popes Nuncio they began to talke of Peace Ambassadors from each side were sent to this end to Ferrara where the assemblie was held which was cōcluded on these conditions That Philip should friendly quit to the Venetians besides the vale Commonica Bressia with her confines together with that part of CremonaTerritorie which is contingent to the Riuer of Olio in the Bressian being 40000. paces in length and That the Duke of Sauoie should keepe all that he had taken The articles being thus agreed vpon on either side and sealed with the seale of Philip and the rest the Nuncio for the better assurance of them would needes carrie them to Milan where finding Philip who complained of the wrong that was done him accusing sometime the pride of the Florentines who had throwne him headlong into this Warre and then the Venetians couetousnesse who not being satisfied with taking Bressia from him did likewise seize on a part of the Cremonois he had much to doe by faire speeches and exhortations to cause him to condiscend to that which had beene agreed vpon Which the Nuncio hauing at last obtained so soone as he perceiued the Venetian Commissioners who were come thither according to the Articles to receiue the Townes to bee despightfully vsed in his presence he returned to Rome and left the businesse vnaccomplished Some thought then that this sodaine change did proceede from the hope he had to make an attonement with the Duke of Sauoy and others thinke that the entreaties and exhortations of those of Milan were the cause thereof who so soone as they had heard of the conditions of peace came to him in the name of the common-wealth and spake in this manner The Oration of the Milanois to Philip. YOur subiects of Milan most excellent Prince come to you to obay your commandements and there is nothing how grieuous soeuer to be borne so as it be profitable for your greatnesse which doth not seeme light and sweet to them For we are all of this minde that if euer heretoyore we haue beene readie to doe you all seruice which a good Prince can expect of a most obedient Citie we are certainly much more readie now at this present and we may freely speake it with so much more affection as we haue seene you in this wretched time most to distrust our forces and meanes or else to be ignorant of them when for one iniurie receiued in hast from the Venetians you are so mightily discouraged and transported beyond your selfe as you haue shamefully giuen ouer to the couetous enemie that which the hazard of warre had not yet taken from you For what else meane you by giuing ouer to the Venetians all the strong Townes of the Country of Bressia and a great part of the Cremona Territorie with the shore of the Riuer Oglio but only to present the Citie of Cremona to the Vsurper of Bressia Is it not a meanes more to animate
beaten downe flat to the ground they did not only make head against the enemie who was almost entred into the Citie but valiantly repulsed him from the ruines of the wall vvith great slaughter and losse and not only once but diuers and sundrie times In the end the Inhabitants loialtie was so great together with the valour and industrie of Barbaro and the rest as the Citie being well defended Picinino grinding his teeth and weeping in a manner for spite and rage discamped in the middest of Winter hauing lost in this siege aboue two thousand men among whom were many Noble persons and the besieged accounting Townes-men and Souldiers lost not halfe so many The siege being raised the Souldiers were sent to Winter During the siege of Bressia Mellato accounted whatsoeuer he had till then done to be nothing if hee did not open a way to releeue the besieged with men and victualls And himselfe with his troupes pursuing his iourney did in the Valley of Lagarina as Pasius of Arimini writeth take Burgo and Coruario by force Then comming to Penetra he receiued it at the hands of Francisco Sonne to Vinciguer It is reported that in this iourney Pilosus who by his valour had in former time saued the Venetian troupes was grieuously hurt and that the next day after hee died of his wound His disaster being known at Venice the Senate did speedily send the skilfull est Phisitians and Chirurgians in the Citie to looke to him but by the way they had newes of his death whereupon they returned The Venetian Captaine seized on Torbolles a place depending on Penetra where the greatest part of his Armie spent the remainder of the Winter The Senate in acknowledgement of these exploits and others of great consequence performed by Mellato did in his absence declare him Generall of their Armie and did daily send him supplies of money and victualls and did by letters exhort him to releeue Bressia with victualls if it were possible For the danger of that Citie which by Barbaro's letters they vnderstood to bee furiously assailed by the enemie did very much trouble them Pietro Auogadre was present who comming to Verona with the Venetian troupes did afterwards goe to Venice and being brought in before the Senate hee did vnfold the fortune and miserie of his Countrie which was most loiall to the Venetians humbly requesting them to remember it telling them that he knew of a certaine that his fellow Citizens were resolued to hazard all danger and endure all extremitie rather than to returne vnder Philips obedience Yet hee greatly feared that vnlesse they were speedily reliued with men and victualls they could not long withstand so mightie an enemie That they should do well to make hast and if they had any remembrance of their owne State and reputation and of the safetie of their subiects to prouide for the conseruation of that Citie whose singular loialtie they had already made triall off and to prepare money men and victualls That he was assured that the Venetians power was so great as there was no warre how difficult and dangerous soeuer but they were able to end it and yet in this they needed nothing so much as good will and speede and that Time and the Venetians good fortune would performe the rest Prince Foscari his frequent exhortations likewise did herein much preuaile with the Senate Wherein whilest all men were busied newes was brought that Bressia was freed from the siege This did not onely raise their daunted courages but gaue then hope of better fortune the which was strengthned with another more recent namely that for the better fortifying of their alliance they might draw Sforza and the Florentines to their partie It is reported that Nicolaod ' Aeste was the first that motioned it to the Senate who being reconciled to the Venetians came to Venice to visit the Prince and Senators where comming into the Senate cloathed in white after sundrie speeches of his great and loyall affection towards them he began to talke of meanes how to make warre and acquainted the Senate with the goodly occasion which was then offered not onely to withstand Philips forces but to make warre vpon him which was by their Ambassadors and faire promises to draw Francisco Sforza to their side who was reported to haue left Philips party in a discontented humour for that he had lately refused to accomplish the marriage betwixt him and his daughter That he doubted not but this couragious Lord so renowned for his high attempts would snatch the present victorie forth of the enemies hands as well in regard of his ancient emulation and hatred to Ricinino as for his discontent newly conceiued against Philip. Aeste his speech did greatly moue the Senators who gaue him infinite thanks for that in so dangerous a time he had as became a faithfull friend manifested to the Senate his sincere affection towards them and likewise for that he had familiarly discoursed with them concerning the profit and seruice of the Commonwealth But the Senate told him that they would more maturely determine on that which had beene propunded Some say that the Venetians did at that time present him with Rouigo and the whole Polesin but I thinke that it was rather an approbation of what was alreadie done concerning the restitution of the Pollesin The Senate being heereby put in some hope had intelligence by letters from Giacomo Antonio Marcello which were read in the Senate That Mellato after the taking of Penetra and Torbolles tooke great care by what means he might relieue the Bressans and that he had certainly found an occasion to be offered whereby to open the lake to the Venetians This hauing more confirmed them they did presently resolue on sundrie Ambassades They sent Giouanni Pisani to La Marca to Sforza Francisco Barbadico to Florence They called Pietro Auogadre into the Senate where they acquainted him with that which Mellato had done for the victualling of Bressia whereupon they entreated him that he would speedily goe to the Armie to the end that both of them together might consult on that which should be necessarie for the iourney And that he should write to Paris Lodron to entreat him still to hold firme his alliance and amitie with the Venetians and to the Bressans that they should want no supplies nor victuals onely they should doe their best to hold out till necessarie preparations might be made These things were treated of at Venice Mellato determining to relieue the 〈◊〉 after that he had gotten together a great quantitie of wheaâ—…e at Penetra resolued to passe ouer the mountaines seeing he could goe by no other way Therefore he did by expresse messengers request Paris Lodron to come and meet with the sorageâ—…s as farre as he could Then he commanded foure Captaines that after they had distributed the wheate among the souldiers they should first goe to Paris Lodron and afterwards to
meanes to passe through the enemies he did from farre descrie a fresh band of men at Armes comming from Riua to Thyenna And supposing that the enemie had sent for the residue of his troupes which lay at Vigasio he did on a sodaine cause Troillo with all the cauallerie to march against Gonzaga and then turning himselfe towards his Infanterie of whom he had euer a braue band neere vnto him for his guard he shewed them the toppe of the mountaine which was couered with armed men and did earnestly exhort and entreat them That if they did desire to be accounted such as he had euer esteemed them if they would euer acknowledge those many benefits which they had receiued from him if in a word they were desirous as became loyall and valiant souldiers to execute some generous action in his presence that they should by that daies valour purchase immortall glorie and renoune and march couragiously against the enemies who being defeated and ouerthrowne they should not onely preserue a Citie most loyall to the Venetians but open themselues a way to obtaine a gallant victorie In this manner did he speake vnto them and then marched vp towards the hill at the head of the Armie with a pike in his hand And although the souldiers did with great difficultie march vp that craggie and steepie mountaine yet neuerthelesse being animated by their Generals speech and presence they mounted to the top thereof Then Sforza shewing them his friend Troillo valiantly fighting neere to the Citie he did entreat them to make hast and to take from the cauallerie the honor of that victorie Afterwards running to an high place from whence he might be seene and heard of his souldiers he began with a cheerefull voice to call out aloud sometimes to Troillo then to Nicolao Pisani and the rest willing them to breake the enemies Armie with a close battaillion telling them that himselfe with a troup of footmen had beaten the enemies from the top of the mountaine Then tnrning towards his Infanterie and running to encourage them he perceiued his souldiers a farre off to throw the enemies into those fearefull precipices and with a cheerefull voyce shaking his pike he said vnto them On on my valiant fâ—…llowes charge and pursue this fearefull enemie on euerie side that he may no more returne to the battaile and hauing done thus to the foot forces he returned to encourage the Cauallerie The Victorie in that place was somewhat difficult by reason of the arriuall of certaine companies of men at armes but when they vnderstood that the Garrison had beene throwne headlong downe the mountaine the enemies beganne to giue backe In this bickering Caesar Martinenga fighting valiantly in the middest of the battaile was taken prisoner Whereupon the enemies forsaking the place did openly betake themselues to flight Sforza's victorious souldiers pursued them vp and downe slew great numbers of them and tooke make prisoners Besides Caesar Carolo Gonzaga was taken with two hundred horse and three hundred foot Sforza at the beginnnig thought that Picinino had beene taken but not finding him after search made among the prisoners he promised fiue thousand crownes to any man that would vndertake to fetch him backe All this notwithstanding hee escaped to the Citie where he hid himselfe for one whole day fearing if the enemie should know that he were in Thyenna he would presently haue besieged the Citie and taken all meanes of escape from him Therefore about midnight disguising himselfe in ragged habite like to a poore lame souldier he was carried vpon mens shoulders forth of the Citie and through by-waies at length came to Riua whither a great part of the cauallerie had escaped The next day after the battaile Sforza besieged the Citie and during the siege certaine light skirmishes were made where Malateste Prince of Cesenna a couragious young man comming forth to fight with the enemie was taken prisoner Pasius of Arimini saith That the Venetian Generall after the victorie at Thyenna marched in order of battaile to Riua and that Malateste was taken in a salley there Alardo of Verona in his Oration made in praise of Sforza saith That Picinino the next day after that he escaped from the battaile came with his Army presented battaile to the Venetians Wherein his valour appeareth more notable by how much his forces seemed wholly to be ouerthrowne For therby all men knew that Sforza and the rest had to doe with an enemie who whether he were victor or vanquished could not be at quiet Yet neuerthelesse howsoeuer it happened it is most certaine that Sforza sent victuals to Bressia and would daily haue sent more had not the losse of Verona which happened at the same time called the Venetian forces elsewhere Philips Captaines had laid a plot to surprize the Castle of Verona which standeth on the West side For they had intelligence from an Almaine souldier who was as Blondus saith one of the dead paies there That small Guard was kept there in the night Pasius saith That a Mantuan gaue them this intelligence who being taken prisoner the Summer before had for a time dwelt with Giacomo Bolognese the Gouernour of the Castle whilest his ransome was prouiding and that during his imprisonment he went freely about the walles and had at his leisure viewed the munitions and all parts of the Castle They had as hath beene said a long time before determined to vndertake this enterprise but they had deferred it till the enemie should send his troupes to winter that they might the more safely fortifie themselues in Verona and before the Venetian souldiers could be drawn from their garrisons But perceiuing matters to be brought to that passe that they could not hinder Sforza from going to Bressia they resolued to put this enterprize in speedie execution there the better to draw him from that iourney To this end hauing secretly assembled their forces leauing Riua they came to Pescara before those whom they had sent for thither arriued and commanding them to follow after they speedily marched to Vigasio and tooke along with them all the souldiers that lay there in garrison Departing from thence on the eighteenth day of Nouember at the beginning of the night they came in great secrecie neere to Verona Afterward about midnight rearing their ladders against the walles the Author of the enterprize mounted first who was forthwith followed in great secrecie by all the rest who killing the guardes and breaking open the next gate the Captaines with all the troupes had enterance The cries and groanes of wounded men with the clattering of Armour did assure those who had the guard on the walles neere to the old Castle that the enemie was entered whereupon the Allarme was giuen At these fearefull cries and nocturnall rumours the whole Citie ranne to Armes and comming forth on euerie side they put themselues in order in the market-place The enemies were alreadie
whole Towne and hauing fortified his Campe with trenches and rampires he resolued to keep the enemie besieged vntill he should constraine him by force or faire means to yeeld vp the place The next day after that the Venetians were incamped Picinino retired a mile off into a place full of wood and water watching all occasions that if the enemie should commit anie errour he might cut off the Victuallers or those which kept the guard determining not to fight with his whole forces At this stay were Philips affaires who although hee were reduced to that want as after Picinino's returne he was inforced for the renewing of his Armie to borrow money of certaine of his Courtiers to take vp Armes on credite in shops and horse and victualls forth of the townes vnder his subiection yet neuerthelesse because he perceiued that the whole burthen of the warre would light vpon him and being of a great and inuincible courage and alway busied in warre he vsed all possible meanes to assure his subiects by new supplies The Venetians in like maner did the same beeing already in a manner victors And to make a greater shew of their power they leuied souldiers from all parts with greater pay than had euer bin giuen so as in a few daies they had before Martinenga aboue thirtie thousand fighting men besides the Souldiers boyes Laundresses and mechanicke people which vse to follow Campes The ordnance in the meane time still playing had made a very great breach which might haue beene easily approached if Sforza had giuen an assault But hee would not doe it fearing as some thought that Picinino would haue assailed his Campe while he should be busied at the assault At the same time it was by some supposed that the businesse was expresly drawne forth at length without any battel by the two Generals and that there was some secret practize and agreement betwixt them to diuide together the towns of Italie they supposing by the assurance of so great forces to be able with ease to seize on the Prouinces But this rumor had no certain author though perhaps some held it for certain But the Venetians who in no sort doubted of Sforza's loialtie had no mistrust thereof Sigismond of Ariâ—…ini vnto whom Malateste gaue his daughter Polixena in marriage came at the same time to Sforza's Campe. Ostasio Polentano who lay at Treuiso being taken as hee was going to the enemie with Ieronimo his sonne were confined into Candie where both of them not long after died by sicknesse In the meane time nothing was done before Martinenga The two Armies were not farre off from one another the one intending the fâ—…ege and the other how to surprize But the businesse on both sides went slowly forwards Philip being either incited by the reports that were dispersed of the trecherous accord made betwixt the two Generalls or else being wearied with the great expences of the warre or rather as some affirme being vrged with the insolent demands of Picinino and the rest that were in pay vnder him turning sodainly from Armes to peace resolued to commit his daughter Bianca and all his meanes to the trust discretion of Sforza He secretly therefore sent one called Vrbano Rosan of Pauia or as others write Eusebio Caiman to Sforza's Camp Howbeit those that haue most faithfully written this Historie say That Antonio Guidebon of Derthonna was first sent to sound him how he stood inclined to peace and presently after him Eusebio Caiman who finished the businesse It is reported that Sforza alone treated with this man from the second watch of the night till brode day-light concerning the conditions of peace and that in the morning both of them comming forth of his cabinet they publikely shewed themselues with smiling countenances Manie were already come to the Generalls tent as the manner is to bid him good morrow among whom was Maripietro the Prouidator Sforza turning towards him and the rest smiling said Gentlemen I proclaime peace to you wee must talke no more of warre nor Armes we must only thinke on peace and quiet This aduertisement being new and vnlookt-for seemed verie strange to the Venetian and the rest who asked of one an other what was meant thereby and why Sforza was so soone turned from Armes to peace and of Philips capitall enemie become his friend These newes were forthwith spred ouer the whole Campe And the Generall presently commanded the Souldiers no more to execute any hostile actions The like did Philips Commissioner cause to be done in Picinino's Armie It is reported for a wonder that the verie selfe-same day there was such a mutuall congratulat on among the Souldiers and such frequent comming to and fro from one Armie to the other vpon the only speech of peace as both Campes seemed to bee but one and that the next day the Captaines did publikely embrace and entertaine one an other Sforza in the meane time had sent Angelo Simonetto to Venice to acquaint the Prince and Senate with what had beene done Picinino did not long conceale his griefe but hauing drawne the Garrison forth of Martinenga he marched to the Territorie of Lodes where he greatly complained on Fortune and Philip for that they had betraied a poore lame and olde man O Fortune quoth he and thou Philip most ingratefull could ye without my knowledge treate of a businesse of so great consequence and is this the recompence of my seruices for the space of so many yeares in heate and cold faire weather and foule done to an vnthankfull Prince O how vaine are all my toiles and forepassed dangers To what purpose hath my loialty beene to what end my industrie why hath my labour and speed so often restored Philips affaires wholly ruined I haue serued and defended him in his soueraigne authoritie that now proueth mine enemie for certainely hee holdeth mee for such an one nor doe I thinke but that hee hates mee more than an enemie Hee hath giuen his daughter to Sforza he hath committed all his meanes vnto him But of wretched Picinino of whose loue affection and industrie he hath had so great triall hee hath no remembrance esteeming him not only vnworthie of greater honour but reputeth meanely of him not vouchsafing to acquaint him with the motion of the peace O how more than true is that saying That there is nothing more vaine and vncertaine than the fauour of a great Prince and that there is no more assurance in depending vpon such an one than in the wordes and actions of a mad-man Such were Picinino's complaints when Sforza after that he had recouered Martinenga and other Townes on the Cremonese and committed the troupes to Maripietro the Prouidator went to Venice where comming into the Senate he spake in this manner to the Senators Sforza his Oration in the Senate WEe haue O Prince and Senators by the fauour of Almightie God and your good fortune till now so daunted Philips great forces and in
beiâ—…g come to certaine Farmes within a mile of the cittie the souldiers being desirous of bootie did without any commaundement fall to pillaging those country houses Whilest these were busied in spoyling and expected nothing lesse than the enemies arriuall three hundred Turkish horse did with great cries inuiron and assaile them who were all slaine there hauing no meanes of defence or escape Barbadico riding vpon a Mule and comming by chance to that place where the enemies made great slaughter was beaten downe among a number of thicke bushes and there trodden to death vnder the horses feete His body beeing afterwards knowne by his Coate-armour and Signet was carried to the Castle of Patras and impaled vpon the highest tower thereof and of so great a number one thousand onely escaped Ragio being taken by the enemies was impaled aliue Capel for all this was not discouraged supposing it to haue happened rather by the carelesnesse of his owne souldiers than by the enemies valour and prowesse Therefore eight dayes after he sent the brauest men of his troupes together with the Ensignes to assaile the Cittie Vincimanica the Sicillian who commaunded the nauall Armie as Vice-admirall with Dominicke the Blacke and other valiant men that followed the Ensignes went and displayed them before the cittie The enemies did not refuse the fight but making a furious salley came couragiously vpon the Christians There was a cruell fight for some houres space at the last fortune inclining to neither side the Venetian resolued to send threescore horse of the remainder of those which were Ragios downe the hill which was on the one side to charge the enemie in flanke and thereby to make him retire and abandon his standing but they were not gone farre ere they discouered the Turkes comming forward for the same purpose at the sight of whom Ragios horse betooke themselues to flight and fell in among the troupes of the Islanders There a great slaughter of men and horses was presently made The Turkes in the meane time arriued who did cut the disordered squadrons in peeces And this losse would haue proued farre greater than the former had not a great dust risen vp into the aire like to a black clould which tooke away the sight both of Turkes and Christians A thousand Christians lay dead vpon the place and the rest with the ensignes escaped to the vesels Capello being daunted with these two ouerthrowes went to Xant from thence to Modon and within a while after to Nigrepont where he remained sixe whole moneths without any memorable exploit After the ouerthrow at Patras he was neuer seene to smile though Giouanni Diede the States Secretarie with diuers others of his familiar friends told him that it hapened not through his default At the last being wasted with griefe and melancholie eight monethes after the battaile of Patras he died at Nigrepont Giacomo Venieri after his death commanded the Armie vntill that Giacomo Lauretano sent by the Senate to succeed the late Capello arriued in the Prouince This man for the space of sixteene monethes that he was Generall of the Armie did brauely defend all the Islands and Sea-coasts from the enemies assaults and incursions About the same time likewise or soone after or rather a little before Lauretans departure to the Armie although the Venetians were in some sort quiet in Italie the cause neuerthelesse is not knowne why Bartholomeo of Bergamo a great Captaine in his time did by his sodaine incursions into Romagnia in a manner trouble and entangle them in a new warre This man departed from Lombardie with great troupes of horse and foot at the pursuit of Angelo Accaiuola and Nicolao Soderino that were banished from Florence vpon hope that they gaue him of good successe in Tuscanie by meanes of a popular commotion this was the common rumour But others supposed that he departed in Armes from Lombardie at the soliciting of Pope Paul to the end that bringing his troupes through Romagnia and La Marca he might on a sodaine in his name make warre on king Ferdinand who refused to pay vsuall tribute to the Church of Rome But whatsoeuer the cause was it is certaine that al his attempts which seemed at the first to be fearefull to all Italie did soone deceiue euerie mans expectation For so soone as he came into Romagnia Galeas Maria Duke of Milan a braue and couragious young Prince made head against him Then did the forces of king Ferdinand and the Florentines withstand him wherewith this great Captaine being troubled did in some sort begin to decline A battaile was presently giuen at Molinella a towne on the confines of Bolognia which was fought in the absence of Galeas vnder the conduct of Fredericke of Vrbin Those that were at the battaile affirme that in memory of man there was neuer a more furious or mortall in Italy The Senate fearing if his forces should be broken for till then he had euer beene in the Venetians pay and therefore it was thought that the Venetians did fauour him the aduerse Princes and Commonwealths being armed would cast the whole burthen of the warre vpon them sent him some supplies of horse and foote with expresse charge to make peace and safely to bring backe the Armie into Lombardy Ieronimo Barbadico a man of excellent wisedome and aduise and who not long before was made Procurator of S. Marke was in the Armie yet this new dignitie nor the entreaties of his friends were of power to keepe him at home nor to stay him from assisting the Republike in so great a danger But his authoritie and wisedome being grealy feared of the enemies it fell out that before peace was concluded he was by their meanes for so it was thought poisoned There is no other mention made of Lauretans exploits at Sea besides that which hath alreadie beene said Nicolao Canalis succeeded him He departing from Venice with two Gallies arriued at Nigrepont from whence setting sa le with twentie Gallies hee spoiled certaine farme houses and villages in Thessalie and then returned to Nigrepont and from thence went to Modon and afterwards to Coron He resolued to seize vpon the cittie of Lagostitia on the Sea of Patras which the Turkes had forsaken and speedily to fortifie it the which hee easily performed without any resistance Ieronimo Nouello for Malateste had left Morea had well fortified it and there the whole Armie remained consisting of six thousand men at such time as two thousand Turkes made an attempt to recouer it but they being beaten from the rampires with great losse did within a while after dislodge Canalis hauing left Giacomo Venieri with six Gallies for the guard of the citie returned with the rest of the fleete to Nigrepont and hauing there re-enforced the fleet with fresh supplies he sailed to Lemnos and thence to Imbres where he determined to assault Oenos and comming by day-breake to assaile the citie he commaunded his souldiers
want thereof would haue enforced them to haue yeelded if he had maintained his siege but a while longer Whereupon so soone as the enemy was dislodged they ran with such earnestnesse to the riuer and dranke so excessiuely of the water which had a long time been kept from them as many of them surfeted and died sodainly Mocenigo being aduertised of the enemies depâ—…rture and being not able to recouer his health at Ragusa went to Venice Within a while after Triadin the Generall of the Armie a man of foure score yeares died â—…r Catharra Stefano Maripietro whom Mocenigo had left with the Fleet at St. Serâ—… Church hauing after the siege commanded all the Captains of Galleis soldiors and marriners who in a manner were all sicke by reason of the fenny aire of the Boyano to remoue to a wholsomer aire himselfe being verie sicke also retyred to Venice The report of the enemies discamping being brought to Venice before Maripietro his arriuall they did highly reioice the whole Cittie which whilest the siege lasted had been greatly afflicted with care All men extolled Laureâ—…ano and a decree was made that the Commonwealth should send him presents The Captains of the garrisons likewise were much esteemed but especially the loyaltie of the Inhabitants and their constancie in defending their Cittie and rewards were appointed for either of them Then they went to Church to giue thanks to God for that the Commonwealth had been freed from so dangerous a warre Great Rewards were likewise giuen to Mocenigo who after the death of Prince Marcello which deceased about the beginning of Winter was by the generall consent of the whole Senat declared Prince Marcello gouerned one yeare and three moneths and was honorably buried in the Chartreux ¶ PIETRO MOCENIGO the 70. Duke of Venice ANtonio Lauretano who for that he had brauelie defended Scutarie was made Generall of the Gallies did about the Spring time of the same yeare tooke a Geneuois Argozie betwixt Cyprus and Sicilia loden with rich Turkish marchandize and sunke it sixteene Gallies had fought with her and could not take it till Georgio Dragone arriued with a Venetian Argozie and then it yeelded her mast being struck ouerboord with a Cannon shot Not long after Solyman who the yeere before had besieged Scutari did with thirtie thousand Turkes besiege the cittie of Naupactum called at this day Lepanto seated on the Corinthian Gulph and in times past amongest the citties of Aetolia next to Calidonia verie famous but at this day it is not much inhabited and her walls are in a manner ruined Towards the North on the toppe of an hill it hath a castle This fort was valiantly defended as well by reason of the trenches and rampires as by the magnanimitie of those within it For Lauretano came thither with a mighty fleet before the Turkes arriued The enemies on all sides made a great batterie The souldiers of the Armie and fiue hundred horse that were in the Tower did not onely defend the Rampires but did make daily incursions vpon the enemies as occasion was offered this siege continued foure moneths But the enemie being out of hope to take it for besides the strong garrison within it the Venetian fleete lay in the Hauen which did aboundantly furnish the besieged with victualls men and munition and tyred with that warre raised his campe This is all which the enemie attempted by land that Summer But at Sea Ottomans fleete after it departed from Lepanto went to the Isle of Lemnos where hauing besieged the cittie of Coccina and with their ordnance beaten downe a great part of the walls the enemie vndoubtedly would haue taken it had not Lauretano come in time to the reliefe of the besieged who so soone as he had intelligence that the enemie had besieged Lemnos left the Prouidator with foure Gallies at Lepanto and sailed with the rest of the fleete to Psara a desart Island very neere to Lemnos He durst not on a sodaine assaile the enemie by reason that his souldiers were in a manner all sicke But the enemie interpreting his delay in an other sence as though the Venetian tarried there but till all things were in readines for the battel did put to Sea and sailed thence Then did Lauretano go to the Island The Inhabitants and souldiers of the garrison were highly commended It is reported that a young Maide of the Island was presented to him that had fought valiantly and by whose meanes as it was reported the citty had beene chiefly defended This Maid whose name was Muralla her father being slaine fighting valiantly at the Coccine Gate ranne to him and tooke vp his sword and target where alone she withstoode for a time the Turkes assault who had almost made themselues Masters of the Gate and then being assisted by her Countrymen they repulsed the enemie with great slaughter to their shippes in regard whereof the Generall gaue her double pay and the Prouidators with all the Captaines of the Gallies gaue her crownes a peece The Generall bid her make choice among all those braue Captaines which shee would haue to be her husband and promised her that the common-wealth should giue her a dowry She gaue him many thanks and answered That for her part she did not altogether respect the valour of a man but his wisedome and discretion and that she would neuer marrie before shee had exactly knowne the disposition of him that should be her husband By this Maidens discretion and vertue if it be lawfull to iudge of the rest I do affirme that the women of Lemnos do not at this day degenerate either in fortitude or valour from that excellent Hipsiphile of old times and from the rest who with her did commaund that Island and that the common Prouerb is most true How that the fortune of places is very often changed but not the manners and behauiour of the Inhabitants This is all that was done by land and sea during that Summer after which the Armies went to Garrison About the Spring time of the yeere following vpon a rumour that was spred how that King Ferdinand determined to inuade the Isle of Cyprus Iohn of the illustrious familie of the Georges was sent thither with fiue gallies and many shippes of burthen but this report being found to be idle vanished Lauretano in the meane time tooke speciall care for the defence of the sea-coasts of Morea with the Isles neere adiacent We do not find that the same Summer or the next that insued it till peace was made with the Turke which hapned foure yeres after any memorable matter was done in the Islands Prince Mocenigo the second moneth of his gouernement died and was buried in the Church of the Twinnes where at this day his sumptuous monument is to be seene enriched with the spoils of Asia Andrea Vendramino was chosen in his place ¶ ANDREA VENDRAMINO the 71. Duke of Uenice THE Summer following which was the third after the
to the Citie These hauing begunne to fortifie the Riuer banckes to defend themselues from the enemies incursions that they might afterwards without any let batter the towne walls Sigismundo d'Este on a sodaine with Nicolao Corregio Hugo Sanseuerino and other noble men comming foorth of Argento with three thousand men assailed them and gaue their first charge vpon Andrea Burgensis quarter where at first the Venetians had the worst but so soone as the alarme was giuen in the camp euery man armed ranne fiercely to the fight Sigismond opposed to the Venetians front foure waggons on each of which lay foure falconets There the battaile was very doubtfull till three hundred Venetian light horse wheeling about to giue in vpon the enemies backe did so terrifie Hercules souldiers as Sigismond and the other Captaines betooke themselues to flight then the Gallie called Valeresa comming with great rumor vp the water vpon their backes the enemies changed their fight to flight Sigismond mounting a swift horse escaped himselfe alone to Argento Many were drowned in the Riuer more were slaine in the battell but the number of prisoners was greatest of all Souranza that day obtained a great and notable victorie For besides Hugo Sanseuerine he tooke three score and tenne other Captaines whom he sent prisoners to Venice Roberto Sanseuerino being likewise desirous to execute some memorable enterprize resolued to passe ouer into the Ferrarese Territory and for effecting it hee commaunded a bridge to be made on galliots and committed the worke to Bassan of Verona which being soone finished he left Barbadico at Ficarolles and himselfe with Heme and Sanuto the Prouidators went a mile beneath the enemies Fort where hee beganne to passe ouer his troupes and so soone as one boate had passed it cast anker and so the rest serued for a bridge By this time eighteene hundred horse and foote were already gone ouer into the enemies Countrey when they perceiued that there wanted vessells to finish the bridge which happened by their errour who had not taken the iust breadth of the Riuer by the meanes whereof a troupe of valiant souldiers remayned on the other shoare destitute of their fellowes aide whereat Sanseuerine was moued in great choller protesting that if they did not before day prouide boats to finish the bridge his brauest troupes through the carelesnesse indiscretion of some would vndoubtedly be cut in peeces before his face But by the Prouidators diligence it was preuented and the bridge beeing wholy finished the rest of the Armie crossed the riuer ere the enemie had anie notice thereof Hercules souldiers hauing discouered them and not trusting to their Fort threw their ordnance into the Riuer and setting fire on their fortification retired speedily to Ferrara By their example others that held certaine fortified places vpon the Riuer did for feare abandon them whereupon the Venetian in an instant became Master of the Riuer one Fort excepted standing at the head of the Polesine which the enemies had fortified So soone as the Venetians perceiued that neither the riuer nor any forts could resist their furie they wasted the whole territorie burning farmes and country houses downe to the ground There is a Parke within a mile of Ferrara Borsia was the first that inclosed it with walls but Hercules inlarging it did much beautifie it with lakes ponds groues and other places fit for chace The Venetian first encamped neere to the walls which are close to the riuer and in the meane time made a new bridge ouer the Po stronger than the former They first placed a ranke of shippes of burthen one close to another from one side to the other fastened to their ankors by strong yron chains which could not bee cut in sunder then they laid euen planckes vpon them so cunningly ioyned together as it resembled a well-framed bridge of stone This beeing done they builded shoppes vpon it on both sides wherein all sortes of wares were sold which hindered Passengers from looking on the water They made moreouer draw-bridges at both ends which when they were drawne vp those shoppes seemed an Island in the middest of the Riuer And to keep the enemie from firing it by night some two hundred paces before it they hung vp aboue water great wodden plankes fastned to ankors with yron hookes to keepe out the fire works which might be throwne vpon it till they were either quenched or burnt out The bridge finished Sanseuerine brake downe the Parke walles and through it marched with his armie in battell within a mile of Ferrara where he remained for a time in the Cities view but when he saw that the enemie did not sallie he brought backe his troupes to the Campe then he beganne to repaire the Fort vpon the riuer which the enemie had abandoned hee did first enlarge it then enuironed it with trenches of twenty foote deepe with strong bastions Towers and Rauelins This worke vndoubtedly was in a manner impregnable and would perpetually haue terrified the Citie of Ferrara had it not by peace beene razed The Venetian hauing in this manner assured his Campe galloped with his Cauallerie to the very gates of Ferrara filling all places with feare The Citizens viewing the bridge so neere them and the Fort much neerer beganne to lament their owne and Common-wealths estate saying That Hercules Principalitie was ouerthrowne themselues in great daunger and that the stroakes of warre had pierced their very heart that they were out of hope euer to haue peace with the Venetians who had displayed their victorious Ensignes at their gates That the Marshes Lakes and Riuers had not beene of force to restraine the course of their Victorie of whom they were to receiue verie vniust conditions of peace or submit themselues to their mercie The Venetian in the meane time omitted nothing that might further his Victorie he did shut vp the riuers and lakes placing corps du guard and garrisons in all passages In a word he held those of Ferrara at such a bay as Conquerours are wont to do the vanquished when they are desirous speedily to end the Warre The end of the first Booke of the fourth Decad. THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE FOVRTH DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice The Contents of the second Booke of the fourth Decad. THe Pope maketh a new league and abandoneth the Venetians The Duke of Calabria comes to Ferrara All Princes and Commonwealths of Italy band themselues against the Venetians The Senate sends for the Duke of Lorraine into Italy and giues him large pay SANSEVERINO with great forces crosseth the Adda by a bridge and encampeth at Frezzia LODOVICO SFORZA doth easily ouerthrow the ROSSIANS ALPHONSO taketh diuers townes from the Venetians on the Bressian and Verona territories then crossing the Mincia he scoures the countrey as farre as the Riuer Adice and not long after takes Azzola The Venetian Infanterie vpon HERCVLES arriuall at Stellata leapes into the Riuer ALPHONSO leauing Azzola with an
would in few houres arriue there whereupon â—…ee commaunded all the bells to be rung acclamations of ioy to be made by the souldiers on the walles as though supplies were already arriued The enemie terrified with this sodaine clamour hauing lost 500. men in this assault put to Sea Shortly after the Venetian fleete arriued and wintered there Alphonso was as hath beene said encamped at Calcina and it was probable that from thence hee would goe and besiege Lonata Morosini the Prouidator departed from the Campe at Rezza and went thither to fortifie the Cittie whither hee sent for Country people who with the inhabitants and souldiers of the Garrison made a trench and raâ—…pires Giacomo Media was likewise there who not long before had beene sent thither with three hundred men to guard the Citie These together with the light horse of the Towne did by their frequent incursions forestall all things from the enemies forragers so long as they remained there Moreouer the Venetian had diuerted the ordinary current of the Riuer Seriola that if the enemy came to encampe there hee might want water Neuerthelesse hee attempted to take Vidaciolla which Sanseuerino hauing strongly fortifyed and the enemie twice assaulting it could not be taken Then Alphonso being loath to loose any longer time determined to march directly to Verona Some say that the Prince of Mantua from thence returned home discontented with Alphonso for refusing to besiege Lonata and Piscara which two townes heespecially desired to take from the Venetians The Senate had beene aduertized of the enemies desseigne and therefore sent diuers boats and a strong Garrison to Piscara to guard the Towne and Lake of La Garda they had beside commaunded the Gallie which lay at Lalissa to bee armed and brought into the Lake The charge thereof was committed to Andrea Marcello who had commaund of those vessells till Pietro Diede was sent thither by the Senate The enemie lying still at Calcina Thomaso of Imola who commaunded the foot forces vpon the Po crossing the Riuer before day gaue a sodaine assault to the suburbs of Stellata and to the rampires next the Castle the Sailers were mingled with the Souldiers The suburbs were easily taken and burnt The ordnance and other engines being taken from the enemies rampires were carried to the vessels this being done they gaue a fierce assault to the Fort The Souldiers and Mariners vrged with such furie as in a moment they became masters of part thereof Then they which were in the highest places craued parley first of Immola then of Andrea Zancane who commaunded the vessells and of set purpose prolonged their parley expecting some speedie aid from Ferrara wherein they were not deceiued So soone as newes came to the Citie that the enemie had taken the bastions and part of the Fort at Stellata and that without speedie helpe they within it would be enforced to yeeld Hercules on a sodaine taking the light horse with him and commaunding the rest of his forces to follow in order of battell shewed himselfe vnlooked for to the Venetians whom hee charged the Sailers running to the vessells left the souldiers to the slaughter who for a while made head but vpon the arriuall of the rest of the troups they threw themselues into the water trusting to their skill in swimming hoping thereby to get into the vessells but most of them being carried away by the violent swiftnes of the torrent perished those that escaped drowning were taken prisoners among whom was Immola who being but slightly wounded and dying the night following was supposed to haue beene poysoned Those that lay at the obscure Lake made incursions as farre as Ferrara where among other places they spoiled the rich and beautifull Monasterie of the Chartreux burning part thereof Giouan Heâ—… Prouidator in that Campe hauing intelligence that the Fort of Stellata was taken and making himselfe readie to march to the reliefe of his soldiers and in ioy of that good news curuetting his horse not well managed it threw him of which fall hee died not long after Giacomo surnamed Media came to the Camp as Prouidator in his sted who by reason of the infectious aire falling sicke was carried backe to Venice where not long after hee died Lastly they sent Francisco Troni thither a discreet and braue yong man who had no better successe than his fellowes Whilstthe is was done on the Po Alphonso departing from Calcina tooke Carpinetta thence marching to Calauria hee crossed the Mincia with part of his forces beneath Valegia where hauing well viewed the whole Countrie hee repassed the Riuer and came to Godia where againe crossing the Mincia at a bridge by the Mantuans confines came into the Veronois Vallegia stands vpon an high hill and vnderneath it runnes the Mincia the walles fortifyed with towers extend themselues as farre as the Marshes of Tartar In this space stands Villafranca in the middest of a Plaine strong rather by Art than Nature The Arragonois breaking down the walls in that place approached with his armie neere to the Citie and battering the Castle tooke it the third day after his arriuall From thence scattering his forces throughout the Veronois he filled all places with terrour euen to the Cittie walles Hee likewise sent some of his Captaines to view the strong townes of the Countrey and without difficulty became Master of Vigatia the Isle of Escalla and Sanguineta Then comming to the Riuer Adice and being discouered by the Inhabitants of the farther shoare they terrified fled which terrour ranne as farre as Padua and Vincenza the Country people flying to the citties and strong townes In this alarme the Magistrates of both places assembled forces to oppose the enemies passage ouer the Adice Alphonso stayed not long at Villafranca ere Sanseuerino comming vp the Lake of Benac encamped neere Valegia where Marc Antonio Morosini met him with part of the forces which were at Lonata at his arriuall Augustino Barbadico his Colleague fell sicke and was carried to Venice Alphonso perceiuing the Venetian to be encamped before him and not able to draw him to the fight nor yet safely to assaile him on a sodaine rose and marched into the Bressan where he besieged Azzola Some thought that the enemie did not without cause remoue and giue ouer his other dessigns for that siege but that he had correspondence with some of the Garrison and Citizens for surrender of the towne It is certaine that the towne being afterwards deliuered backe to the Venetians by agreement some by decree of Senate who feeling themselues guiltie had remoued their habitation were absolutely banished whereby wee may perceiue that it was not a publike but priuate surrender But howsoeuer the City reputed impregnable yeelded at the first assault the Castle following their example Sanseuerino after Alphonsoes departure recouered all the Townes which hee had taken vpon the Veronois and leauing Antonio Souranza for the
imprisonment and to assure the State Ecclesiasticall and the better to prouide for it with more speed he aduised those Cardinals that were at liberty to meet at Anignon where as in a safe and commodious place they might with ease treat thereof and from thence send their resolutions into Spaine The Cardinalls approouing this Councell of vniting themselues together did for sondry respects make choyce of the Citty of Bolognia for their meeting place The Emperor in the meane time being aduertized of the Popes taking by his cheefe Chancellor that was going into Italy did by his speech manifest that he was highly displeased therewith alleadging diuers goodly matters for his iustification But the effects were not answerable thereunto resoluing on nothing for his deliuery but in his discourse did oftentimes excuse the Duke of Bourbon and his Army he did amplifie the iniuries which the Pope had done him he accused his inconstancy and little assurance in his treaties calling to mind the dangers whereinto the Consederates had gone about to east him whereby and by euery of his discourses it was easily perceiued that in secret he was well pleased therewith and that he would neuer consent to his deliuery nor to that of the French Kings children but by compulsion The French King hauing before sent to make a leuy of tenne thousand Suisses for the enterprise of Lombardy and his agents going therein slowly to worke so soone as he had notice of the taking of Rome fearing the alteration of Fortune and the Imperialls deseignes did sodainly send the money to Lyons and sollicited their speedy departure The Venetians on the other side did not ceasse by all good offices to maintain and encrease that good desire in the King propounding vnto him how necessary it was hotly to pursue that warre with great forces Religion and State agreeing in one not to suffer the dignity of the Sea Apostolick and the liberty of Italy to be troden vnder foot and for to incite him no lesse by deeds then words they determined to renew their nauall army which was much weakened by the bad ayre and other discommodities at Ciuitauechia where it had for a time remayned to arme besides it foure Basterd Galleis of which they appointed Antonio Marcello Captaine thereby to strengben the army that it might assaile the Sea-coasts of Puglia They did moreouer propound to the King to leuy besides the Suisses at their common charge other tenne thousand foot drawing in the meane time to their pay all the best experienced Captaines in martiall affaires that they could find among whom were the Count of Gaiazzo and the Marquis Palauicin And to encourage Francis Sforza of whose freindship and readinesse they made great account they lent him tenne thousand Ducats with which he promised to encrease his forces which were already more then two thousand foot and to come in person with them to Lauda there for to ioyne with the Venetian army Now because that the territories of Romagnia were without Garrisons and exposed to sundry dangers in so wretched a time no man giuing them ayde nor succour the Senate beeing greatly prouoked therunto fent a good surome of money to the Gouernor of Rauenna to leuy foot forces for the garrison of the Citty encouraging him to defend it with promise of greater ayd if need should be as within a while after they did by sending him three hundred foot and an hundred light horse vnder the command of Iohn de Nalde inioyning him to keepe that City for the Sea Apostolick and the league But strife arising in that Citty betwixt the Inhabitants and the soldiers the Venetians were entreated by them of the Citty to send thither one from Venice to be Prouidator there whereupon Bartholomeo Contrren by the Senates consent went thither to supply that place Those of Ceruia within a while after did the like where the Guelphes hauing châ—…sed away those of the Gibelline faction did receiue garrison and a Magistrate of the Venetians the Legat ernestly requiring it for the quiet and conseruation of the same Citty Whilest these things were done the Duke of Vrbin hauing receiued the Senates commandement and disposing him-selfe for the execution thereof did first of all make him-selfe sure of the Citty of Perusa wherein Gentil Baillone commanded who was suspected to hold with the enemies part whome with threatenings hee enforced to depart thence and hauing left a strong garrison there hee marched with the army to Todi and from thence to Oruietto where he ioyned himselfe with the French and Ecclesiasticall troupes as he had formerly concluded to doe And hauing there assembled all the cheefe Captaines to resolue on what they should afterwards doe hee caused the Senates letter to bee openly read and then assured them for the obeying of their command that hee intended to march directly to Rome to free by all meanes possible the Pope from imprisonment resoluing if the enemies should shew them-selues to fight with them and with others to runne one selfe-same fortune This proposition beeing allowed by the Prouidator Pisani was entertained with the Generall consent of all the rest the Prouidator Vitturi excepted who being of a contrary opinion opposed him-selfe against it both in word and deed protesting by writing and detesting such an enterprize as most pernicious and of doubtfull issue saying that their soldiers were farre inferiour both in number and valour to the Imperialls who were very many and for the most part good soldiers and well experienced either in fight or in knowledge how to vanquish and therefore more valliant and ready to sustaine all attempts how great soeuer By meanes whereof hee cooled the Dukes former heate who not-with standing continued in his first resolution to draw neerer to Rome meaning neuer-the-lesse to lodge in a very strong and commodious place what-so-euer should befall then hee propounded a new inuention to the end to trie first without danger if hee could get the Pope from thence which was speedily and on the sodaine to cause Fredericke of Bozzola to march towards Rome with one company of men at armes a certaine number of light-horse and some companies of harquebuziers on horse-backe hoping that his sodaine and vnlookt for arriuall might offer some meanes to the Pope to escape by that conuoy and to come to the army of the league but this designe succeeded not for diuers occasions and cheefely because that Frederics horse falling vpon him hee was there-with sore hurt so that hee could goe on no farther but was enforced to returne But the army in the meane time continuing their approches they were aduertized by certaine spies that the trenches which the Imperialls had made neere to the Castle were very great and hard to be forced whereby the difficulties of the enterprize were encreased and moreouer that they at Rome expected the Spanish Infantery which was at Naples and that Captaine Alarcon was already arriued wherevpon the Duke was of
great charge and expence to entertaine an army in Tuscany at the same time as it behooued it to haue an other in Lombardy had not refused to expose it selfe to all dangers for the conseruation of the Sea Apostolike and for the particular profit of his Holynesse Person as it was yet still ready to doe and to reuenge the notorious iniuries done vnto him that the Kings of France and England the Florentines the Duke of Milan and the Venetians were of the same mind not to leaue such an Insolency vnpunished how that cursed nation had incurred the wrath of God and men that they did not doubt but that Iustice and Innocency would preuaile and that his Holinesse being restored to his former state all matters would redound to his honour and glory And that therefore all the Confederats did greatly desire and likewise hope that his Holinesse to releeue their sinceere and entire intention with his authority would confirme the Confederacy as Cheefe thereof by newly ratifieing that which before had beene agreed vpon by them seeing that the first agreement ought to be of more force then the latter as beeing concluded by himselfe in quallity of Pope and with his pure and freewill and this latter being extorted by force and violence as from a prisoner that was desirous of his liberty The French King caused the same congratulation to be made to him by the Lord of Longueuall his Ambassador whom he sent to Rome to testifie the great desire he euer had to constraine the Emperor by force to doe that which at last he had done and that the practizes of peace betwixt the Emperor and him had beene to none other end but to amuze him and make him cold in the preparations for warre and not with an intention to conclude any thing with him helping himselfe with the same cunning wherewith he had sundry times practized in his behalfe These Ambassadors were very pleasing to the Pope and by him attentiuely heard wherevpon he gaue thankes to the King and the Venetians with demonstration of great loue towards them saying that for his deliuerance he felt himselfe no lesse bound to the French King and the Venetians then if he had beene freed by their armes but yet neuerthelesse all this was without any resolution for vpon their entreaty that he would confederate him selfe with the rest he beganne to make them sundry answers at one time putting them in hope presently to doe it at another excusing himselfe that hauing nether men money nor authority it would not greatly profit them if he should declare himselfe and yet neuertheles it might hurt him because it would giue an occasion to the Imperialls to molest him in sundry places besides his Pontificall dignity the condition of the times and the greeuous and sharpe miseries that he had sustained did very much incite him to a neutrality and to become a fit Instrument to treat with the French King and the other Christian Princes concerning an vniuersall peace and quiet and that therefore he would no more commit him-selfe to the hazards of warre It may be that beeing carried away by the Emperors faire promises who with his owne hand wrote a gentle and courteous letter to him how that he would hence foreward follow his councell and commit vnto him the whole negotiation of the peace he might speake thus or else that which is most likely and which was afterwards discouered he was content to forget all the wrong which he had receiued by his imprisonment to haue better means to reuenge the iniuries done to himselfe and his house by the Florentines His intent then was with sundry excuses to couer this desire of his for being discouered it would haue bred such a distrust in the Lord of Lautrec as it would easily haue caused him to alter his purpose from passing on any farther in the enterprize of Naples which was a thing the Pope desired to the end that the Lancequenets might be enforced to depart from Rome who mutening often-times among themselues would not get them thence demanding new paiments of money The Lord of Lautrec beeing ignorant of the Popes deseigne and vpon the assurance of his ayd and fauor did in the meane time pursue the enterprise of Naples albeit it was against the opinion and consent of the Venetians who by reason of that new leauy of Lansequenets for the enemies could haue wished that hee might not goe so farre off to the end they might the better and with more conueniency be releeued Lautrec then being resolute in his opinion tooke his way thorow Romagnia and La Marca thinking it to be best and most conuenient for the commodity of victuals and for the carriage of the ordnance determining to enter into the Realme of Naples by the way of Otronte which diuideth the Churches State from the Kingdome of Naples thorow which at one time were gonne before the Venetian troupes diuided into two bands in the first were Valerio Vrsino and the Prouidator Pisani and in the other followed Camillo Vrsino and Petro Pesare These being gonne before seized on Ciuitella and afterwards on Sulmona and on diuers others in Abruzzo which yeelded voluntarily But the whole troupes did afterwards meet altogether neere to Saint Fermo to the number of thirty thousand foot and great numbers of Cauallery as well men at armes as light-horse a preparation without all doubt suffitient for any enterprize whatsoeuer the Lord Lautrec hauing taken the longest way into Puglia by the sea side in regard of the difficulty to carry the ordnance if in those mountainous places hee should haue met with any encombrance of the enemies The Prince of Orange and the Marquis of Guasto beeing greatly mooued for the daunger wherevnto they perceiued the affaires of Naples to be brought did not without great difficulty draw away their troupes from Rome which was greatly furthered by the summe of twenty thousand Ducats which the Pope gaue to the Imperiall captaines vnder collour of some old claimes whereof they gaue some pay to the Lansequenets who more then the rest seemed most loath to depart But the number of their whole army did not amount to aboue foureteene thousand and yet so sore weakened as well by the contagious sicknesse which was in Rome as for that many souldiers were disbanded and gonne home to their country loden with spoile But the Pope by this meanes being freed of that which did most presse him and for the which he had till then kept himselfe a loofe from the confederates so soone as these enemies troupes were departed from Rome hee sent the Archbishop Sipontyne to Venice to demand of the Senate that it should forthwith render vnto him the Cities of Ceruia and Rauenna and on the other side he dispatched the Bishop of Pistoya into France to excuse him to the King whom till then hee had entertained with sundry hopes that he would declare himselfe for the league for that
many of whome tooke no pay but onely serued in hope of booty the Bascha hauing craftely giuen forth that the spoyle of Famagosta would be farre ritcher then that of Nicosia The enemies army being thus prouided and strengthned did about the middest of Aprill approch the city hauing brought fifteene peeces of battery from Nicosia and making great trenches one part of the army encamped in the gardens and the other at Percipola Then on the fiue and twentieth of the said moneth they made platformes whereon to plant the ordnance with deepe and broad trenches for the Harguebusiers so close together as it was impossible to anoy them hauing ordinarily but espetially in the night forty thousand pioners at worke The enemies intent being discouered they of the towne began to rampier vp all places which they thought the enemy would batter there was euer a strong gard on the way couered with the counter-scarpe for the better defence thereof and they raised new flanquers they did afterwards on that side of the wall which was battered make a trench twelue foote in depth and breadth with small loope-holes for the Harquebusiers from thence to defend the counterscarpe Marke-Antonio Bragadino was Gouernor of the Citty who together with Astor Baillone did carefully prouide what-so-euer was necessary without any confusion at all being a man that well knew what did belong to his place Antonio Bragadino lay in the Castell raising new flanquers to defend that side of the Arsenall The Knight Goita was Maister of the ordnance who being slaine in a skirmish the Gouernor gaue his company to Nestor Martinenga More-ouer three Captaines were appointed to take charge of the fire-workes each of them hauing twenty soldiers vnder his command chosen out of all the companies to bestow those fiers when neede should bee all the ordnance was brought to those places where they expected the battery Besides they made diuers sallies to molest those abroad and to hinder their workes At the last they cleered the citty of all vnprofitable eaters which were in number eight thousand persons who retired into the villages the Turks doing them no harme The rest of the people being numbred amounted to the summe of seauen thousand seruiceable men namely three thousand fiue hundred Italian foot and the rest Greekes Bragadini dayly perceiuing the dangers to encrease by reason of the enemies approaches exhorted and encouraged his soldiors telling them that the time was now come to manifest their singular vallour and generous courrage by brauely defending that Citty so farre remote from other parts of Christendome against the power of the Ottaman Empire in so iust a quarrell as theirs was and to cast away all feare hoping onely that God who is the giuer of victories would giue them good and fortunate successe This speech caused euery man to encourage his fellow cheerely to entertaine labour and danger Three hundred of the beseeged with sword and target accompanied with as many Italian Harquebusiers made a salley who at first did put the enemies to flight but at last were so rougly charged as in their retreate they lost thirty of their men where-vpon it was concluded to make noe more sallies The enemies beeing by little and little come to the toppe of the counterscarpe and hauing ended their fortes which were tenne in number beganne the battery with three score and foure cannons among the which were foure Baliliscos of an exceeding bignesse did beat the Gate 〈◊〉 euen to the Arsenall They beganne to batter it in fiue seuerall places at once the one at the Tower of the Arsenall on which fiue Canon from the fort of the Rock continually plaid the other against the curtaine without the Arsenall which was battered by eleuen peices the third was out of another Fort with eleuen Cannons vppon the Tower of Andrazzi and two Caualiers aboue it the fourth plaid vpon S. Napes great Tower with the foure Basilisks and the last was against the Gate Lemissa battered from six fortes with three and thirty Cannons where the Generall Mustapha was in person At first they began rather to batter the fortifications of the Citties Ordnance then to ruine the walls by reason that it did much anoy them wherevppon the beseeged so soone as the enemy had begunne the Battery quartered themselues vnder the wall where they continued till the end Bragadin kept the tower Andrazzi Baillone that of St. Nape and Tepulo that of Campo-santo that they might be present at euery action to reward the valliant and rebuke cowards The charge of the Ordnance was committed to Lodouico Martinenga and six other Captaines were appointed vnder him to command the Canoniers and to furnish them with what they wanted Captaine Francesco Bogone commanded the Tower of the great Caualier of the Arsenall Pietro el Conte lay at the Courtaine of the Caualier Del Volti and at the Tower of Campo-santo Nestor Martinenga had charge of the Caualier of Campo santo of that of Andrazzi and of the Curtaine as farre at Saint Napes tower together with that Curtaine which lieth neere the Gate Lemissa Horatiâ—… Valatri had the guard of the Rauelin Curtaine towards the Bulwark Robert Maluezzi coÌ„manded the Caualier of Lemissa which was more anoied then al the rest Besides so soone as the battery beganne Bragadint commanded wine cheese and poudered flesh to be carryed to the Italian and Greeke soldiers and Gunners vpon the walls so as the soldiers spent but two Venetian souls a day in bread and were payed euery thirty dayes The beseeged did for tenne daies space make so furious a counter-battery as they made fifteene of the enemies peices of Ordinance vnseruiceable and flew thirty thousand of their men so that they were not safe in their forts but the beseeged foreseeing the want of pouder were enforcedto limit how many shotte a day euery peece should make namely thirty which must bee made in the Captaines presence for feare of shooting in vaine The Famagostans beeing thus carefull a Fregate arriued from Candy on the 29. day of May which encouraged and told them that they should speedily be releeued The enemies in the meane time hauing by force and great slaughter of their men wonne the Counterscarpe did beginne to digge downe the earth neere to the wall of the Counterscarpe which the beseeged did day and night carry in the enemies perceiuing it made certaine loope holes from which to beat them in flanck to hinder their workes which tooke effect wherein they afterwards threw so much earth as it filled vp the Dike then hauing perced through the Counterscarpe they made a passage through the Dike euen to the wall which they fortified with wooll sacks and fagots so as they could not be anoyed but from aboue and that sildome The enemies being come so neere the walls began in sundry places to vndermine wherevppon the beseeged make countermines the charge where of was committed to the Knight Maggio they
All the Christian soldiors were presently taken and bound not distrusting any such perfidious cruelty Those which were already shipt had no better vsage for beeing dispoyled of their goods they were all made Gallie-slaues Two daies after Mustapha entred the Citty where he commanded Tepulo to be brought forth of prison whether hee had committed him and presently to bee hanged at the yards arme of a Gallie Then causing Bragadin who was wounded and dismembred to be brought before him he loaded him though he were weake and feeble with two baskets full of earth the one before and the other behinde and willed him to carry them to the breach making him to kisse the ground as often as he passed by him then sending him to the Hauen into a Gallie of R◅odes he caused him to be bound in a chare with a crowne at his feete and in that manner to be hoisted vp to the maineyard of the Gallie that hee might bee the better discerned by the slaues and Christian soldiors that were in the Hauen at the last the noble Gentleman beeing brought backe to the citties Market-place with drums and trumpets in the view of all men was stript forth of his clothes and was there most ignominiously laid a long vpon a scaffold and most cruelly flead a liue who without any murmuring taking his marterdome patiently did onely taxe the Bascha with his perfidious cruelty and periury hauing his hart still lifted vp to God beseeching him to giue him grace to die constantly for his holy faith and religion and then so soone as the executioners with their bloudy kniues were come as farre as his naule his blessed soule leauing his fraile earthly mansion flew vp to heauen His skinne was presently stuft with straw and carried round about the citty then it was hung at the yard arme of a Galleor and carried all along the coast of Syria in his returne towards Constantinople proudlie and vaine-gloriously shewing it to the whole world the body was cut in foure quarters and set vp at the foure principall batteries It was not certainly knowne why Mustapha vsed such barbarous cruelty some said that he hauing taken the spoyle from the soldiors which hee had promised them went about to satisfie them by the punishment of a few in reuenge of the great multitude which hee had lost at the seege others say that hee being prouoked by their obstinate holding out and for that he had lost some of his deere friends at that seege whome hee loued had sworne to bee reuenged There bee like-wise which say that Mustapha was of so cholericke a nature as being once moued he would for the time be like a mad man and that hee was prouoked by scorne and disdaine when hee saw Bragadini and the rest to come to his Pauilion attended by troupes of soldiers and in such stately manner as though hee had beene a conqueror and not conquered But this occasion beeing to idle of it selfe to cause him to commit such cruell and barbarous actions is not very credible for he being mooued by his owne wicked and diuilish disposition did vse like cruelty towards the dead For comming into the Cathedrall Church of S. Nicholas he caused the toombs and monuments to be opened and the bones of the dead to be throwne heere and there he ouerthrew Altars and Images with other brutish and cruell actions for which his owne soldiers did much condemne him Hauing in this manner conquered the citty he presently caused the Dikes to be clensed the forts that were abroad to be razed the trenches to be filled and whatsoeuer within the walles had beene ruined to be rampierd vp againe so as in a short space the Citty was restored to her former beauty and made stronger then before The Basha hauing left the Bey of Rhodes Gouernour there departed from Cyprus on the twenty fourth of September and returned victorious and triumphant to Constantinople where with great ioy he was welcomed by al men notwithstanding that his victory was bought at a deere rate for in that warre he lost aboue fifty thousand men and among others many excellent Captaines and great numbers of his best soldiers But now to returne to the Christian fleet THe triumuirate Admirals D. Iohn Sebastiano Venieri Mare Antonio Colonna meeting after some delay all at Messina in Sicily after ioyful mutuall gratulation of their so happy and desired conuention leauing those Ceremonies they proceeded to the more essentiall parts of the businesse They first priuately consulted how to employ those forces to some honorable and cōmodious end that the successe of the warre might counterpoize the charge and expectation This Councel consisted of some few of the most select and eminent of the Army both for authority and iudgement as principally D. Iohn Generall Sebastiano Venieri the Venetian Admiral Marc Antoni◅ Colonna the Popes Admirall Bernardino de Requesens Great Comendador of Castile and Lieutenant Generall of the Army and Augustino Barbarico Prouidator Generall of the Venetian fleet The proposition was whether they should seeke to oppresse the enemy by maine battaile or defend their owne territories wherein various opinion interchangeably vttered Bernardino de Requesens D. Iohns Oracle being inuited by the rest with cleere voyce graue countenance and significant gesture said thus Your Highnesse most excellent Prince in commanding mine opinion before these more sufficient obserues the order of feasts where the coursest meates are tasted first My Councell may perhaps be lesse pleasing yet as holsome as some other The question is whether wee shall assault the enemy by sea or keepe him from infesting vs by land This will best be resolued when we haue made true discouery and comparrison of his forces and our owne If we be stronger it is more honorable to inuade if weaker more safe to repell what the number of the aduerse Gallies is we may see how those Gallies are fortefied and man'd we may coniecture and how those men are flesht and confirm'd with late victories wee need not doubt Let vs take heed that while wee seeke to reuenge our harmes wee doe not aggrauate them nor lose in striuing to recouer It were a shame to returne so great a fleet without some notable effect but i◅ were both shame and vtter vndoing not to returne it at all The Common-wealth were better want the interest then the principall This fleet is the surest Ankor of our hope and to lose it would indanger the wracke of Italy Let vs not therefore offer to fight vnlesse some aduantage of place or time on our side counterpoize the odds of strength on theirs or to preserue with hazard of our fleet somthing of greater importance if any can be then the fleet it selfe The storminesse of winter will shortly calme the fury of this Turkish nauy In the meane time it wil be a degree of our victory to limit and stop the course of theirs This most excellent Generall is mine opinion
which extending towards the South-east makes the Hauen like to a semicircle and is stronger by situation then art This the Turkes carefully garded for the commodiousnesse of the hauen lying in the very hart of Morea There are two wayes leading to the Castle that on the left hand is not farre from the Sea the other behind it towards the firme land lies by a lake not farre from thence and is very narrow and hidden The Prince of Parma had charge of this enterprize who landing two thousand Spanish and Italian foot and tenne peeces of battery took the open and plaine way to cut off supplies from the enemies but he either neglected or knew not the other narrow secret way Iuan di 〈◊〉 and Morettâ—… the Calabrois went afterwards to make good the passage but they were on a suddaine assailed by great number of enemies and with great difficulty came off By this meanes aboue two thousand Turkes came to releeue the Castle who beeing maisters of that narrow passage did at their pleasures not onely put in what supplies they thought good but had leisure to seaze on certaine high places commanding the wayes from whence with their small shotte they still annoyed our men busied in planting the Ordnance lying open also at the same time to the Castles shot so that in three dayes they could hardly plant two Canons and the danger more and more increased the soldiers wanting rampiers to defend themselues and the enemies numbers still augmented with whom to their owne great disaduantage they were daily enforced to skirmish This did greatly trouble the confederate Generals who knew that to quit the enterprise would blemish their reputation and to continue the siege would not much auaile them but their greatest difficulty was want of bread which Don Iohn and his faction dayly amplifying said That of necessity they were to depart And yet it seemed strange and incredible to most men that the Spanish Nauy comming lately from Sicily with so many ships which is the Magazin or Granary of Italy should in so short time want bread or if it were true that scarcity might easily haue beene supplied by sending to Tarento for certaine vessels laden with Bisket which the Spaniards themselues reported they had left there The Venetian Generall that he might cut of all occasion of the Spaniards departure offered Don Iohn part of his owne Store earnestly entreating him to accept his offer telling him that the rest of his Nauie might bee easily supplyed by those vessels before mentioned It is not certainly knowne why the Spaniard refused this curtesie who stopped their eares against all reasonable perswasions which might delay their departure which they onely intending discamped from before Nauarin leauing a safe and open way for Vluzzali to conduct his fleete to Constantinople and the Honor to bee accounted a skillfull and valiant Captaine Yet Don Iohn did what he could to cause Generall Foscarin and the Venetians to consent and be well pleased with his departure assuring him of his earnest desire to purchase honor and reputation whereof Fortune had bereft him by taking from him the meanes to fight with the enemy yet if by the way he did chance to meet with those ships of supplies he would then willingly embrace any occasion whatsoeuer to doe some notable seruice to the league ere hee returned with his fleet into the West and that though he now wanted opportunity hee hoped the next yeare to recompence that which necessity had enforced him to loose The Venetian Generall perceiuing his resolution consented therevnto because hee would not giue an occasion to the enemies to thinke that the league was broken as also for that hee knew himselfe alone too weake to attempt any great matter Yet when our men thought least of it they were more likely then euer to giue the enemy battaile for at the very instant when the confederats were vpon departure they had intelligence that a Spanish ship come from Corfou was in fight with certaine Turkish Galleys not farre from Sapienza wherevpon all things beeing put in order the fleete speedily left the Hauen of Nauarin to rescue the shippe and to fight with the enemies Ere our men could get out of the Hauen Vluzzali with three score of his Gallyes came forth of the channell of Modon to rescue those that were in fight and to secure others which hee had sent to scoure the seas So soone as Don Iohn saw Vluzzali hee commanded the Prouidator Souranza to meete him with a certaine number of Galleys to hinder his comming on any farther the Marquis of Santa Cruz and the Prouidator Canalis with their Squadrons to charge the enemies with fiue and twenty Galleys who discrying our fleete left the ship and betooke themselues to flight When Vluzzali saw the Prouidator comming towards him he made a stand but at last turning his prowes without any farther delay he retired vnder the Castle of Modon being still pursued by our Gallies who beeing come neere to the towne bestowed diuers Cannon bullets on it The Gallies which fought with the shippe beeing light and able to make way escaped with ease one excepted commanded by the Sanzach of Mitelene nephew to the famous Barbarossa who fighting longer then any of the rest and his slaues in hope of liberty rowing slowly was taken by the Marquis of Sancta Crux but night approaching they gaue ouer farther pursute Then D. Iohn sounded the retreat and commanded eùery one to returne into the hauen of Nauarin beeing vnwilling to leaue the engin behind that the enemies might not terme his departure a flight then the greater vessells beeing forth of the Hauen and a faire southeast wind blowing he willed them presently to saile to Zant and himselfe the next morning directed his course thither with the whole fleet being so desirous to returne home as going a neerer way through the Channell of Giscarda contrary to the aduise of the skilfullest Marriners who councelled him to goe to Cephalonia he escaped a great danger neere to the Gulph of Larta and there lost one of the Popes Gallies which was broken to peeces vpon the Rocks of Paxu Vluzzali after the Confederates departure freed from all hinderances in his iourney did without any order put to Sea and came vnto the Cape of Malâ—…a where by reason of a contrary northerne wind he was enforced to continue certaine dayes but in the end hauing a faire Gale he sailed to Constantinople with an hundred Gallies where he was with all honour entertained the Turkes openly term ing themselues Conquerors for that they had defended Morea and their other territories dared as they said the Christians oftentimes to battaile lastly driuen them forth of their dominions secured the Sea and made it nauigable The Confederates in the meane time arriued at Corfou the twentith day of October who though their fleet were augmented with thirteene Gallies and certaine shipps loden with wheat brought by the
Duke of Sessa and Iohn Andrew Doria did neuerthelesse continue their former difficulties and delayes for diuers enterprizes were daily propounded in the Councel without any resolution at al and among others that of Saint Maura wherevnto D. Iohn seemed to incline but the Duke of Sessa by his authority dasht it saying that the time of yeare was vnfit to beseege townes or to be at Sea with fleets in an enemies Contrey The Spaniards in this manner reiected all enterprizes determining to returne into the west after that the Confederates Fleetes had beene vnited for the space of fifty dayes D. Iohn first went to Messina and there lest part of his Gallies he carried the rest to Naples where he dismissed his Italian footmen and sent the Spaniards and Almaines to Garrison Collonna by the Kings commandement went into Spaine to yeeld an account to his Maiesty of mataers past and with him to consult on the next yeares war where he so wisely and nobly behaued himselfe as he got much honor and reputation The Gallies of the Pope King of Spaine and Venetians remained idle at Corfou lying rigg'd all winter that they might be ready at the spring to set forward against the enemies This was the successe of the yeare 1572. nothing answerable to the great hope which all men had conceiued of abating the pride and insolency of the Ottoman Empire wherevppon so soone as the Confederates were gone home the inhabitants of Morea who had made insurrections in the Christians behalfe and expected the successe of the fleet hauing neither forces in the field nor strong places for defense running into the mountaines for feare of the Turkish violence were enforced to yeeld themselues to their mercy and againe to submit their necks vnder the yoake of a cruel bondage which they could neuer since shake off The Venetians made great complaints to the Pope of the Spaniards delaies and slow resolutions but especially of their vnseasonable departure from before Nauarin they were made by a sollemne Ambassade sent according to their custome to offer their obedience to his Holinesse in the States name The Pope in their behalfe presently sent Giouan Claudio Gonzaga his Chamberlaine to D. Iohn to perswade him to tarry there where he was and to expect a Commission from Spaine to returne to winter in the Leuant the Pope hoping easily to obtaine so much of the King of Spaine seeing that the troubles of Flanders were brought to some good passe wherevppon his Holinesse did expresly send the Lord of Lansan into Spaine whose labour was fruitlesse for the Catholick King hauing already flatly answered the Popes and Venetians Ambassadors that hee would no more send his fleet so farre from home would by no meanes alter his resolution and D. Iohn not-with-standing the Popes entreaties well acquainted with the Kings pleasure pursued his iourney into the West In the meane time Generall Venieri old and sickely by reason of his former trauailes obtaining leaue of the Senate returned to Venice with same and glory great numbers of Senators going to meet him with the Bucentauro as farre as Saint Anthonies Church which is the very farthest part of the Citty where hee was honorably entertained and welcomed according vnto his merrit During the enterprizes in the Leuant Dalmatia was not altogether freed from warre for though there was no forme of an army there yet the Turkish Cauallery of the neighbor Gouernments wasted and spoiled the Cuntrey doing much hurt to the Venetians subiects wherevppon the Stradiots and foot troops of the Garrisons did often sally to stop their incursions yet the Turkes and Venetians were of one opinion that to make any great warre in Dalmatia would not bee to much purpose the Turkes fearing if they should send any great Army into that Prouince they might giue the Emperor occasion of suspition and cause him to embrace the Confederates party and to make warre in Hungary The Venetians of the other side bending all their deseignes on the Leuant thought that the successe of the affaires of Dalmatia and Albania depended wholly on the warre knowing very well they could doe little good there by reason of the strong Garrisons which the enemy ordinarily kept in those Contries as also for that they hauing by the industry of Lodouico Grimani and Iulio Pompeio wonne the towne of Macarsca of some importance by reason of the trade of Marchants and fortefied it had beene within a while after enforced to abandon the same beeing to weake to defend it against such huge numbers of enemies The like successe had the conquest of the fort of Clissa Neuerthelesse the Turks omitted no opportunity to anoy the Venetians and being not then strong enough to take Citties they inuented other meanes to hurt them as that enterprize vpon the Citty of Catharra which they resolued to get by long seege keeping victualls from it by land did testifie They often likewise atttempted to shut them from the passage to the Sea by building a fort at the mouth of the Channell but the Venetians did still hinder their worke till the arriuall of a Turkish Sanzach with great forces who finished it within three miles of Castel-nouo The Senate aduertized thereof and mooued with the danger threatning the Citty of Catarra wrote to Generall Foscarini that he should send forces to raze that fort He though it were in the midst of winter did neuerthelesse send the Prouidator Souranza thither with two and twenty Gallies and six Galeasses with whom went Paulo Vrsino Pompeo Collonna Moretta the Calabrois and other famous Captaines with 4000. foot with whom Nicholo Suriana Captaine of the Gulph ioyned by the way with foure Gallies All these vessells arriuing at Ianissa they landed the soldiers part of them went with Pompeo Colonna to seaze on a hill not far off to stop the passage of those which should come from Castelnouo to releeue the Fort and the rest went with Nicholo Gambara to a certaine place neere at hand whither some companies of soldiers of the Garrison of Catarra were to come with other forces assembled by Zacharia Salmone Prouidator of the Citty After this Souranza entring the Channell with 18. of his best Gallies his Squadron going formost passed along beyond the fort from whence though they made many shot vppon the fleet yet did they no great hurt to it which went and lay in a safe and commodious place to batter it by land and Sea It was 150 paces square euery way without any flankers but so built as on the one side it battered the Gallies entring into the Channel and on the other plaid vppon them beeing entred it was well prouided with ordnance and mand with two hundred soldiers The Venetians resolued to batter it at one time by land and sea The morrow after their arriuall early by day breake they beganne their battery and within a while the soldiers went to the assault with ladders which the enemies for a