the violence and iniuries of their enemies Castriot then there first of all made some stay not holding it conuenient to passe further till he had ordained and set in order certaine affaires of some consequence and importance as you shall heare Hauing sent very secretely for some of the principallest in the towne to come vnto him for he had a speciall care to conceale and keepe all things secret and therefore had so disposed his iourney as he might arriue thither in the night he discovered vnto them the secrets of his thoughts and he obtained al things to his content not so much as one person being found as the report goeth that would in any thing gainesay his demaund either for feate of the grand Seignour or for mistrust of an act so dangerous or of his owne disposition as some would haue done But on the contrary their owne desire so long time nourished the incomparable reputation of himselfe conceiued by so many yeares which was a great furtherance vnto it and withall the loue and singular desire which they had of liberty had wonderfully wrought him into the good grace and fauour of euery man All therefore in generall which were about him as it were in emulation each of other sometime with great ioy and triumph sometime sheading of teares through excessiue gladnesse with long embracements some kissed his handes others his face one the head another his feete yea and al parts of his body seeming to be rauished with the ioy of his good fortune and shewing the singular contentment which they had in the resource and restitution of the Albanois name and maiesty And presenting vnto him all the means of their vtmost power and ability they offered the same vnto him both their bodies their hearts their children and whatsoeuer was of any better accompt and value then other euen vnto their liues The first thing that they tooke order for was to set good and speedy watch and ward for feare that during these affairs some aduertisement should come from the Turke to the gouernour of Croy which might discouer the practise It was aduised also touching the leuy that should be made what forces should take armes at the first signal and token that should be giuen them Of the three hundred horse which he had brought with him reseruing but a very smal number with which he determined to ride to Croy to present the Packet to the Gouernour and to receiue the gouernment the residue he sent before and well neare as many of the Dibrians who knew all the passages of the countrey willing them very closely to ambush them selues in the woods and thickets next to Croy til such time as he had gotten possession of the town and that then he would couertly let them in to cut the throates of the Garrison All things being well disposed and in order the selfe same night that he came thither it was in the end of Autumne when the nights began to grow long he whom the ardentnes of his desire did make impatient of delay and who held that the least stay was of great importance to endanger his enterprise earely in the morning before the breake of day he departed from Dibria accompanied with his troupe of horse and his baggage and certaine of the Dibrians who attended him and he drew directly towards Croy with as great speede as might be And as he approched towardes the towne willing by this deuise to set the better colour vpon his deliberation and to make it seeme more probable he commanded on the way that Amese with two others as his seruants should goe before to cary the newes vnto the Gouernour and to aduertise him that he with his traine was not farre off The young man being of an excellent quicke spirite and good courage and so well dissembling him selfe both in habite and in speach as if he had bene a Turke naturall was receiued into the towne and went speedily to finde the Gouernour vnto whom hauing after their maner done his reuerence with a good grace he began to make mention of Scanderbeg saying that he was his Secretary and with great modesty told him withall that his master and his traine onely would be there very speedily As God would that which Amese deliuered was from point to point beleeued and from thence forward the Barbarian began to prepare and make him selfe ready to depart and before that he had either read the letters or had any notice of the will and pleasure of his Prince he trussed vp his baggage and prouided to dislodge in such sort that Scanderbeg being come and the Packet opened and the letters read credit was giuen vnto the same and they obeyed thereunto according to their tenour and contents and the Albanois was receiued with great ioy Then were called before him as is the vse all the ordinary garrison and the auncient inhabitants of the towne of all ages and estate His great renow me being dispersed ouer all partes made him much esteemed and welcommed of euery man The Turkes loued his naturall disposition because he was popular and familiar by occasion whereof all of them tooke it in good part to be vnder his command The Croians who saw before their eyes the race of their good Prince did forth with take heart and courage and neither more nor lesse then as if they had presently bene deliuered from some long captiuity and misery they began sodainely to conceiue in their inward thoughtes and wishes the secret counsailes and enterprise of Scanderbeg And in especiall some of those who were of eldest yeares amongest them and did as yet retaine their auncient desire carying in their mindes the apparaunt signes of his vertue shining in him from his infancy they would discourse of his education the beginning of his birth and natiuity and the curious presages of his parents yet was there not any one of them all the while that durst open his conceite vnto the new Captaine nor yet betake him to armes till they saw that he him selfe did aduaunce forward and set in foote as chiefe and leader to regaine their liberty It was concluded betweene Castriot and a few others that some should stirre vp the youth of the towne and when time serued prouoke them to take armes and it was forbidden them to make any signe or token of alteration till that the succours of the men at armes which lay neare the towne in ambushment were let in within the gates the which being enioyned them to be done secretely and in the dead time of the night was put in execution and they were brought into the towne The portes being shutte the streetes the crosse wayes and all the strongest passages being filled with armed souldiers the Turkes not knowing any thing of their counsailes or at least for feare dissembling it and the errour of the night augmenting the feare of the daunger Scanderbeg gaue the signall to beginne the massacre The first thing that was done was to
for all and if it had not succeeded at the first all future means to accomplish it had bene vtterly lost without any hope euer to returne againe For this cause I will speake it freely hardly durst I trust my selfe with my owne conceipt of my enterprise neither could I thinke my selfe assured in that I had communicated it to my owne thoughts I mistrusted least my tongue impatient of a case so important should discouer it to the very walles of my priuate chamber witnesse thereof is Amese my Nephewe my chiefest friende and counsellour at that time and the faithfull companion of my trauels and some fewe besides him whose faithfull and forward assistance and diligence did vs good seruice in the execution of this action For albeit we liued together and familiarly as it were in one and the same course of life though we did eate at one and the same table and though wee did in a manner as it were breath ioyntly with one and the same soule neuerthelesse neither they nor any man aliue did euer heare me mindefull of my countrie but onely in the warre of Hungarie neither was there euer anie man that heard me vse any speech or to vtter any one worde at any time which might argue mee to be a Christian or free man till such time as I sawe and perceiued that I might freelie doe it and without all feare of daunger Well therefore might you O Albanians haue sought and found out some other person as this Prouince was neuer destitute of most excellent spirites whome you might haue made the author of your libertie and who might haue more aduanced your meanes and courages thereunto but it pleased you and it may be God would haue it so that you should attend this your deliuerance rather by me though somewhat with the latest then to go seeke out others or by your owne vertue to purchase and obtaine it It was not any griefe vnto me neither did the magnanimitie of my minde albeit nourished to libertie suppose the time any thing long or tedious to be helde in so long subiection and to haue my courage kept vnder by the villanous Barbarians because I did still liue in hope that you should one day see me in the state wherein I nowe am But why doe I vnder your patience vsurpe vnto my selfe this name of a deliuerer It is not I that haue brought hither libertie vnto you but here haue I founde libertie scarce had I set my foote within your countrie scarce had your eares heard the sounde of my name but that all of you made haste to meete me and you did in a maner contend who should be the formost to come vnto me no otherwise then as if you had heard that your parents your brethren or your children had beene reuiued from death to life and as if one had tolde you that all the Gods haâ— beene arriued amongest you you did euen at the first preuent me with such a number of good and officious regardes and you did surcharge me with so manie demonstrations and arguments of your exceeding ioy and gladnesse that in my opinion the seruitude and dutie wherein I stande bounden vnto you is no lesse then the libertie which I haue gotten and purchased by you It is not I that haue giuen you this Empire and Seigniorie it is not I that haue giuen you this citie it is you that haue giuen it vnto mee it was not I that did put armes into your handes I founde you readie in armes I found you euerie where bearing the shewe of libertie in your hearts in your countenance in your swordes and in your launces and as most loyall tutors and gardians ordained by my father you haue put the Scepter into my hande with no lesse faith and diligence then as if you had kept and preserued it for me euen till this day and you haue brought me by your labour and carefulnesse into the possession of my auncestors without any effusion of bloud Now therefore in the name of God doe you leade and conduct me to the recouerie of the rest which is yet remayning in the hande and possession of others The greatest part and in a manner the whole worke is already by you accomplished Croy is recouered and the territorie thereof wholly reduced vnder our obeisance the Dybrians and all the people in generall are now vnited vnto vs the name of the enemy is banished and exiled out of the countrey onely the townes and strong holdes do rest vnsubdued If I consider their discommodities how al places are either taken by vs or besieged and howe nothing is left them but the enclosures of their walles I haue hope of good successe but if I contemplate the difficultie and strength of the places and the force of the garrisons placed in them by the Tyrant it behoueth vs either to vse some notable policie to surprise them or singular resolution and obstinacie in forcing them But hereof we shall better and more conueniently both consult and determine when we come vppon the place in the face of the enemie and our armes in hande then nowe that we are absent and our mindes altogether doubtfull and vnresolued Let vs then march on and aduance our ensignes speedily let vs take vnto vs the courages of conquerours fortune shall seconde our endeuours which hitherto in all our actions and in all places hath singularly both accompanied and followed vs. Petrella is the place wee must first set vppon not that the same is inferiour vnto others in the strength and naturall site thereof but for that being neerer to this citie I haue good hope that it will be the more terrified by the fame and report of our good fortune which we haue had at Croie Manie are the spectacles which are presented before their eyes both of your valure and of their owne calamitie it may happen that these thinges may somewhat moue and appale them but if the conceite of these will not make them to tremble that which shall be wanting assuredly our owne resolution and obstinacie must and shall supply For this is one thing we must holde resolutely and to build vppon That if this place be not caried and if we come not therein to the ende of our desires we must neuer thinke to returne any more vnto our houses Let vs trie therefore by all meanes by arte cunning and policie by paines and trauaile by patience by the sworde and by golde and siluer that by our successe in this we may finde the beginning and commencement of our good fortune and we may make it the first good signe and augurie of our victorie If it please God that we enter by force we must remoue all pittie and compassion of these obstinate Miscreantes and wee ought rather to vse the victorie with all obstinacie and seueritie for the greater discouragement of those that shall rest vnsubdued If by composition and without bloud wee can by any meanes gaine it then is it
requisite that wee carrie our selues towardes them in all courtesie and vse them friendly and fauourably both in generall and in particular to the intent wee may make others the more tractable and keepe them from being too obstinate and desperate The modestie of Scanderbeg by this Oration was principally made knowen and it was highly commended of all the armie neither was his aduise and counsell in any point either chaunged or ill accepted Moses with three thousand horsemen as vauntcurrers were sent before to Petrella being followed neere at hande by Castriot who led the residue of the forces Some say that hee caried with him certaine ordinaunce founde within Croy the sooner to astonishe those within the towne But others doe affirme that the whole seruice was enterprised and ended without anie helpe of artillerie at all For my parte if it be true as some saye that he reconquered all his estate within the space of one moneth onely hardly can I beleeue that hee would charge and trouble himselfe with such a trayne of cariages especially in the winter when all the wayes were so hard frozen and so full of yse that neither horse nor man could easily trauell but with great difficultie though they had beene little or nothing at all loaden and burdened The armie of the Albanoys being arriued before the walles and the companies quartered into diuerse partes the towne was quickely enuironned to the most aduantage that might be deuised the greater parte of their forces were lodged in Tyranna the greater so named by reason of a lesser seated neere Croye for that the place thereabouts seemed most conuenient and next at hande to encampe in The besiegers and the besieged were both of one minde neuerthelesse Castriot endeuoured first of all by faire and courteous speeches and by great and large promises to sounde their determination and hauing made choise of one of his owne companie faithfull and expert in this facultie and whome he had brought with him of the reliques of the warre of Hungarie into Epyre hee sent him vnto the Petrellians to offer them ouer and aboue the safetie of their liues and baggage anie other reasonable composition vpon condition that they would render vp the place and in case they would abide with him and exchaunge both their lawe and their maister together or if they had rather to returne to their owne Prince againe that he should promise all of them good store of siluer besides rich giftes vnto the Gouernour This souldier being of a quicke spirite and verie subtell with speeches fitte and appertinent to the purpose finding this people alreadie enclyning to yeelde themselues brought them to such reason as himselfe desired and he tooke not the beginning of his perswasion concerning Scanderbeg but in regarde of the mishappes and great businesse of Amurath vppon his discomfiture in Hungarie and the conspiracie of the Christians against the Turkes And then with a firme assurance he came to the instructions of his Captaine often times insinuating for a colour into the mindes of the hearers the prosperous fortune of the garrison of Croye and the miserable condition of the others who laie dispersed throughout all the corners of the Prouince and were left and abandoned for foode vnto Wolues and dogges in the open fieldes The trueth of these perswasions beeing in parte heard and in part seene with their owne eyes they were soone and verie easily beleeued and the conditions were accepted that they should freely depart with their armes bagge and baggage as for other presentes they regarded not The Gouernour therefore appointed certaine to treate with Scanderbeg vppon this point and to ratifie the agreement with solemne oath All matters beeing concluded and ended the Barbarians departed there was a newe garrison receiued within Petrella and the Prince of Albanie being mindefull of his promise after he had honoured and kindly entreated the enemies with good speeches he furnished them with money horse and victuals and after sent Moses with certaine horsemen to conduct them to the frontiers of Epyre for feare least they should suffer some outrage by meanes of secret ambushmentes or open violence on one side or other by his owne followers as diuerse others had suffered the like vsage Beholde nowe in the discourse of these affaires howe the exceeding and wonderfull good fortune of this Chiefetaine doth bewray it selfe no lesse then his singular and excellent vertue and as God did succour him in preseruing him from the traines of Amurath when he abode with him In likecase I may iustly auerre that at the verie time of his setling and reestablishment in his Signiorie he did not onely fauour him but did also fight for him The towne of Petrella though small in circuit is notwithstanding inexpugnable by reason of her situation both for the nature of the place and the height of the mountaine vppon the toppe whereof it is seated besides it was aboundantly prouided of men armes and munition Neuerthelesse in the winter time being a verie hard and vnfit season for the siege of townes it made so little resistance against him that hee lost not in the winning thereof so much as one souldier nor as the common saying is a worde wast or in vaine Herein also haue we to commende his singular patience which stoode him to great purpose and his bodily strength which was hardened to all trauailes besides the infatigable and vnwearied vigour of his spirite whereby he executed all offices and dueties of charge with great promptnesse and celeritie But to the matter The fortresse being regayned and all thinges necessarie ordayned and prouided he made not anie abode there not so much as a day an houre or anie moment of time but at the verie instant trussing vppe his baggage hee ledde his forces against the other townes so speedily as though they had fledde away before him All places were couered with snowe the faces of his men were euen shronke with colde their handes frozen their bodies benummed and almost senselesse yet would he suffer no man to enter into the towne saue onely the garrison neither would himselfe set foote within it to make others as it were ashamed by the example which himselfe gaue them But one thing there is reported of him of farre greater maruell which I may not suffer to be forgotten and that is that from the first day in which he entred into Epyre euen to the perfect and full recouerie of his estate it was neuer knowen that he slept at any time full two houres in a night which may bee reputed a miracle proper to a bodie of some diuine nature and to a supernaturall force and vigour It may well be that he attayned to this patience of labour and sufferance of hardnesse by a custome in often watching by daily exercise and by the greatnesse of his forces Some doe holde which the auncients also did excuse in that great personage Papirius Cursor that he was a
did not make any spare of their paines nor did they staÌ„d idle so desirous they were to preuent the good grace fauour of Amurath Mahomet was noted aboue the rest to vse an vncessable kind of diligence and with a singular viuacitie of spirit as if he had bene one of the meanest souldiers was alwayes about his father and setting aside all regard of his estate degree he spared no trauell paines but did busie employ him selfe in all matters with great readinesse resolution and running sometimes here somtimes there he did enflame and encourage the souldiers as much by the example of his owne doings as by words and chearefull exhortations And morethen that it is reported that besides the reward publiquely propounded by the Sultan he promised a 100000. aspres to him that should first get within the town and should fasten the Turkish colours vpon the wall Touching the Croyans as their mindes were altogether different of another disposition so were there effects also diuers The Paynims were growen to that pride fiercenesse of their harts only of a greedy desire an inordinate appetite of gaine and glory which caused them rashly to vndertake hunt after that thing wherof they neuer had any possession Contrariwise the Christians had their minds fixed vpon this that all maner of most ample honorable rewards were assuredly to be expected froÌ„ Scanderbeg they did consider moreouer that the coÌ„seruation of the realme the safetie of their countrey the securitie of their confederats in briefe the welfare of all the estate of Albany did consist depend vpon their valour vertue For this cause they were animated hartned not onely with a kind of obstinate settled resolution and with a purpose of incredible perseuerance but they were transported with so violent a passion of wrath and furie that they seemed as men almost enraged Whereupon though the wall being throwen downe and ruinated on that side did giue them cause both of griefe and terrour by the deformitie of that obiect yet did the greatnesse of their coutages neuerthelesse so preuaile in their resolute and stout harts that it did easily put away and expell out of their mindes all conceipt of faintnesse feare or sorow they did mutually recomfort encourage ech other Aboue all Vranocontes had a notable good grace in exhorting and animating of the garrison for as he went vp and downe amongest them he would oftentimes touch and take them by the handes he would handle their curats and lay his hands vpon their stomackes saying These these are the bulwarkes of cities townes these are the firme substantiall rampiers of wals these be the stones that are not batterable this is the strongest surest kind of lyme morter What honour what prayse what triumph can we expect or hope for in this place if being couered shrowded vnder these wals our surety shal consist onely in their strength and safety And if they shal be the onely meanes to garde defend vs not rather our persons to be the defence of them the very cowards can do so much the fearefull sheepe will contemne the houling of the rauenous wolfe if they be safely enclosed in a sure cote Such honour is proper due to the wals and not to the generous souldier Our Prince hath not commanded ys hither to be protected defended by this towne but the towne is commended vnto vs committed to our custody to be â—â—feâ—ded by vs True vertue is alwayes exercised in the greatest dangers â—he is noutished in things that are high difficult who is not a good pilot vpoÌ„ the sea in time of calme weather Things that are firme can continue stable of them selues and need not the succor and assistance of men neither do they require the helpe of any humaine audacity And braue and couragious men do not esteeme but rather shunne those aduentures by the defence whereof they shall not purchase any more honor then if they had not defended them at all When a thing beginneth to decay and to fall to ruine that is it which requireth to be supported and in such cases it is that vertue striueth to shew it selfe I may say it againe and againe my good companions that there only doth shine the brightnesse of valiant hearts there do the excellent and couragious spirits discouer themselues Wherefore these flankers and this curtin thus laied open by the battery and this breach made by the cannon of the enemy let it be filled and defended with your persons and with your armes let your stout and valiant bodies as of braue gallaÌ„t souldiers be opposed against the infidels in steed of strong walles and fortifications in so doing you shall giue me the more certaine and assured proofe of your valour and worthy behauiour Let vs therefore so cary our selues let vs so labour and endeuor in this our conflict to weaken and diminish the forces of the Barbarians that the tyraunt may be abashed at the valour of the Croians and that his courage may be abated and repressed then will he abandon the towne and raise his siege when he shall see the first fruites of this warre intertained with the bloud of so many of his subiectes These and many other speeches to that effect did the gouernour vse sometimes in the Albanian language somtimes in Italian and sometimes also by interpretours disposing and preparing the mindes of his souldiours to the assault which they expected the day following and inuiting euery man both by word and by deede to do his duty and best deuoire Wherefore whilest the souldiers in their seuerall charges here and there did diligently apply them selues and were the more incensed by his presence to labour chearfully in their seuerall emploiments the night at length came vpon them during the which neuerthelesse the vigilancy of Vranocontes did not cease in the continuaunce of all necessary preparations till it was two houres within night and that which remained was spent in sleepe and in taking of their â—est The infidels who had in the day time set all things in a readinesse did passe all that night in great quietnesse till the breake of day for the euening before it was concluded that the town should be assaulted and proclamation was made by sound of trumper commanding all men that before seuen of the clocke in the morning certaine captains companies hauing first broken their fast they should repaire with their armes to the lodging of the Sultan For this cause the souldiours with great promptnesse and diligence did not fayle to be there at the time appointed being well prouided of all things accordingly Then the most worthy and notable persons of chiefest marke qualitie being called together the old Prince began to vse some speeches vnto them in most vehement and ardent manner more then the vigour and strength of his aged and weakened spirite
and who for his sufficiencie had attayned manie high degrees and great charges of honour in the warres in so much that the brauerie of the troupes and the reputation of the Chieftaine did giue them an easie hope and good assurance of a happie and fortunate successe There was no other talke to be heard amongst the Turkes but of this armie and of the warre of Epyre and such was the opinion and conceite of all in generall of this iourney that whosoeuer had heard them would haue iudged that Scanderbeg had beene alreadie taken prisoner and that hee had beene euen nowe going to suffer punishment and execution So doe wee see sometimes in the siege of a towne that the assaylantes before it be taken doe thinke to haue the victorie without bloud and they doe often fall to contention amongst themselues about the parting and deuiding of the spoile and bootie For it is a propertie vsuall and accustomed in the spirites of mortall men to reckon without their hoast and to promise themselues great matters without paine or difficultie For this cause euen in Epyre there was nowe nothing but disorder and confusion by reason of the troubles which seemed to approch for the brute of the comming of the Bassa made all things seeme greater and more fearefull then they were in truth and in deede A man might haue seene on all sides those that dwelt in the fields hasting to saue themselues in the townes and driuing their cattell before them the Burgesses fortifying their walles and appointing gardes for their portes as if the enemie had beene alreadie discouered the olde men quaking and trembling would put the young men in minde of their countrie their wiues their children and of the honour of God and their religion especially they would cry vpon them to be of good courage and hardie and they would neuer cease to inflame animate them that they might the better doe their deuoire and dutie Neither was the weake and tender sexe of women free from this publique feare and terror but that it did embolden them to runne out into the streetes amongst their armed husbands sometimes stirring them vppe to vertue and manhood by their iust and pitifull lamentations and sometimes in extreame care running to the temples and holy places and making their vowes prayers and orizons vnto God before the altars for the preseruation of their countrie And the litle children also astonished with their mothers teares would crie out more and more with all extremitie As for Scanderbeg none of these newes neither of the arriuall of Haly nor of the enemies armie nor the astonishment of the cōmon people did any thing at all moue him but he made a mocke of the vaine attempts of Amurath of the foolish feare of the Albanoys Hauing therfore aforehand ordered all things throughout the prouince for feare least too great license neglect of the enemy should abate the courage of his souldiers diuert them from the care regard of the war he did so deale persuade with them that he enflamed their harts with so generall a confidence did put them in so good a hope of victory that they were neuer seene to desire any thing more then the comming of the Turkish generall ech of them hauing a kind of enuie and desire to make proofe of their deuoire and valure and by the generall and particular desert of them all to leaue vnto their Prince a large and ample testimonie of their loyaltie In like manner in this one thing did Scanderbeg also shewe a notable example of his maruellous courage and assurance giuing all the world occasion of wonder yea and Haly Bassa his enemie if he had in any sort considered of the fact I doe not doubt but it would haue made him greatly abashed For whereas many fierce and warrelike peoples and nations did resort vnto him in great abundance from all partes so as he might well haue made not one but many great and mightie armies he after he had cōmended magnified their good affection would not admit any but the choisest of them and did retaine with himselfe only eight thousand horse and seuen thousand foote The ouerplus both of the old bands and of the new encrease he licensed to depart of whom notwithstanding he disposed some in certaine places for diuerse accidentes and occurrences Euery man wondered and was abashed at this deuise of the Prince so hardie and aduenturous but my opinion is that this his act proceeded of some doubt least if he should haue had the disgrace to be ouercome in set battell he should afterwards want the meanes to relieue himselfe And this was the occasion as I beleeue that he did furnish so many fortresses with forces and garrisons as being willing to reserue them for a supplement and remainder of defence in time to come against the inconueniences of an ouerthrow and by meanes wherof he might by way of surprise extort the victorie out of the hands of the enemie beginning perhaps to waxe insolent in their prosperitie Notwithstanding he was neuer heard to speake of any such matter but he did continually and with a cheerefull countenance promise himselfe an assured good fortune and a successe in all things answerable to his desire which maketh me to thinke and to affirme that this only was not the reason why he retayned at that time so small forces But I beleeue that it proceeded of a singular confidence which remained in him a thing commonly seene especially in great and excellent natures who very seldom or neuer doe find themselues abused or deceiued by fortune For this is to be marked yea and to be admired in Scanderbeg that almost continually and with verie few and small forces he obtained against the infidels so many and often victories as it is almost incredible This is it which hauing oftentimes rauished and held me in suspence hath made me in this history to deliuer many aduentures to the posteritie the truth wherof had not yet sunke into my owne mind and opinion And yet it may be hereafter it will not be amisse nor inconuenient to beleeue them because it can not be denied but that some ages doe bring foorth strange cases and accidents to the intent we should haue some matter to maruell at And that this is true we may beholde a principall example of the like valure and good fortune if we looke no further then euen in the same age to Hunyades who so many times in a manner all alone did foile and confounde the puissance of the Turkes and with a small number obtained more trophees of victorie then manie others who haue bene much better accompanied whose numbers haue exceeded But why should we stand any longer with such curiosity vpon the truth and credit of this matter seeing that without singular impudencie no man can denie these things being so fresh and late in memorie and whereof it litle wanteth but that our fathers
thou shalt haue it we our selues will see thy obsequies perfourmed And without expecting thy commaundement most mightie king of the Albanians we will honour and reuerence thy funerals with our presence least that hereafter being in hell thou doe complaine that thy end was ignoble and dishonourable All this notwithstanding the imaginations and thoughts of the Sultan were very vncertaine and irresolute in the middest of these difficulties For the rumours which arose daily from the part of Huniades and the often messages of the vnfaithfull Despot of Misia that pernicious old wretch who was now infamous through his double treasons and by the enuious destinies was reserued euen till that time for so many miseries and calamities to the Christians these considerations I say did transport and cary away his mind else where and did hinder and trouble him from bending all his forces and turning the waight and burthen of the whole warre vppon the kingdome of Epire. Meane while neuerthelesse to the intent the late iniury offered him by the contempt and refusall of his friendshippe and confederacy might not rest without some present kinde of punishment he concluded that if he did nothing else yet he would trouble and molest the peace and quietnesse of Scanderbeg though he were not able vtterly to abolish it To this effect he imagined that he had a fit and conuenient oportunity by the negligence of the Christians who as he heard were growen very carelesse and secure through their manifold good fortunes and happy successe in the wars and that Scanderbeg hauing dismissed his army did keepe the field with his horsemen onely who did daily and careleslie range abroade farre from their Campe here and there dispersed and scattered for desire of prey and pillage For this cause hee caused Ferisey to be sent for who was one of his Bassaes a man of a stirring and fierce disposition and of a quicke and ready spirite To him hee gaue in charge nine thousand horse all chosen and picked men and hauing heaped vpon him many great and large promises in case he returned with victorie as hee wished and desired he commaunded him to enter into Epire with all the speede and secresie that might be that his comming might be felt before it was perceyued by the enemy The reason that made Ottoman at that time to send no greater forces was either for feare that delay and protracting of time might worke their dammage and disaduantage or that the rumour of his comming being blowen abroade and diuulged might awaken the Christians and giue them time and leysure both to aduise themselues and to eschew the perill by addressing and preparing new ambushmentes as the euent afterwardes made manifest to frustrate and disappoint the traines of him that was a master in such arts and subtelties But whilest that I doe so confidentlie sette downe all these matters touching the counsailes of Amurath both concerning his manner of mannaging forraine warres and the administration of his estate I doubt not but many will maruell at this my iudgement and opinion in that it is repugnant and contrarie to others And it maie be they will be inquisitiue to knowe what should make mee so to differ and varie from the common opinion seeing that it is a matter yet fresh in memory and many also haue committed no lesse to writing iustifying the same to all posteritie That Amurath in his latter dayes immediately vppon the battell of Varna meditating and lamenting sometimes vppon the miseries and inconueniences of Princes and sometimes vppon the temeritie and inconstancie of Fortune after hee had ordered his domesticall affaires and appointed Halie Bassa for gouernour to his eldest sonne Mahomet hee presently depriued himselfe of his Crowne and Empire and leauing Andrinople and the care of all publique matters and retayning with him but a very small number as the companions of his counsell hee retired him selfe into Asia where he vowed and professed a religious and a godly life according to the superstition of his forefathers Neither did hee forsake that kinde of life till such time as the Despotte of Transiluania namely Huniades was come before Sophia and that the cries and daily exclamations of the people did reuoke him alleadging that Mahomet by reason of his young and tender yeares was not able to support and beare the heauy burthen and charge of the estate and that the credite and authority of Halie Bassa was not of such force in the Campe as might make the souldiours to obey and respect him Certainly I cannot but maruell from whence this erroâ— should proceede especially in an Act happening so late and within the time of our remembraunce I wil not aduenture to condemne those graue wise and learned Authors of rashnesse and temeritie nor to conuince them of vntrueth and falsehood yet this one thing I dare auouche for certainetie and maintaine it of mine owne knowledge that the letters of Amurath aboue written were sent from Andrinople the chiefe seate of the Ottoman Empire vnder the name and title of Amurath and that both Ferisey and many other Chieftaines did attempt vppon the countrey of Epire by his commaundement and appointment after that he hadde in vaine sought for peace of Scanderbeg But this errour proceedeth not from thence for in the order and accompt of the times will not be found anie confusion or disagreement if wee should graunt that these things did passe before that euer Amurath did giue ouer and renounce his Empire But herein my minde cannot be throughly satisfied to see that the death of the Sultan should be so vnaduisedly translated from Epire into Asia For in deed there is nothing more contrarie to the trueth and there was neuer any one heard of that durst maintaine or allow the contrarie but that the siege of Croie did make an end of his aged yeares and all ages ensuing will giue the honour of the death of Ottoman vnto Scanderbeg as being consumed and extinct through pure conceipt and melancholy and through impatiencie of griefe for that hee could not preuaile against Croie But the discretion and good iudgement of the Reader will easily finde out these particularities and the probability of the whole trueth of those matters by the diligent computation and conference of the times But returne wee againe to Ferisey who in great secresie was entred into the Frontiers of Macedony and did in vaine promise vnto him selfe the reward and honour of the victory which he had before conceiued in his minde puffed vp with so great and a vaine hope And therefore standing very carefully vppon his guard he marched on approaching daily nearer the enemy in manner and countenaunce rather of a Robber then of a true and iust warriour And yet coulde not hee for all that preuent the newes of his arriuall For Scanderbeg being admonished of all thinges by the Garrisons that were disposed in diuerse and sundry places or as others write by a spie comming from the
place of his Campe and did performe rather the part of an encorager thē of a soldier seeing no hope of safetie left by armes and being constrained to yeeld to his misfortune he shifted himselfe from the danger by the swiftnes of his horse at one of the ports of his camp which was farthest off frō his enemies Immediatly hereupon the conflict began to be more moderate and lesse cruell with lesse slaughter bloudshed by reason that some casting away their weapons did submit themselues to the Christians the residue partaking in the necessitie of their Captaine did shift for their liues with quicke spurring of their horses Manie whom the earnest desire of their profit had drawne far from their fort misdoubting the ill successe of their companions by the cries and noise of the enemie which they heard a far off did endeuor to saue themselues by flying but there was scant any one of thē that escaped for diuerse great troups of archers lay in waite vpon the passages who annoying thē with the abundance of their arrows did by that meanes discharge their anger vpon them Some hold that the whole power of the Turkes excepting Mustapha and a few of the principall who were best mounted was slaine in that battell But in my opinion they come nighest to the troth who write that there were slaine about 5000. men but a far lesser number taken prisoners which amounted not at the most to aboue 300. and the most of thē mightily disfigured or maimed by their many and grieuous wounds because that the soldiers being incredibly incensed vpon the sight of the pillage gotten frō their fellowes and the extreme spoile desolation of their countrey were caried away moued to vse the greater furie and crueltie towards them Of the victors there were wanting but 20. horsemen and 50. foote who were rather ouerrun with the horses then slaine by the sword of the enemy Thus the Albanois being now possessed of the campe the ensignes the baggage the cariages of their enemies they inuaded also and ouerrun their territories where with a prize and bootie more assured and of better certaintie they recompenced that losse dammage which had bene receiued by the Turkes with a greater vsurie and aduantage About the same time that these things were so happily atchieued against the infidels it is reported that Lech Zacharie of whom we haue before made some mention was vnfortunately murthered by Lech Ducagin the sonne of Paul This man was a personage who made himselfe famous through the happie and prosperous successe of his wicked actions yet borne of a father who was a good man and most vertuous Other reason I find none of his secret hatred and malice nor any occasion of his conspiracie against him but onely a damnable desire of Empire and dominion a sweete yet mischieuous maladie naturally grounded and rooted in the mindes of mortall men For these two Princes being next neighbours each to other and Ducagin perceiuing the other to be without issue hauing no hope of any lawfull heires he thought belike that the succession of his estate would easily fall escheate to him that could first and soonest seize vpon it whereupon he both depriued him of his life and at the same instant he iniuriously vsurped a great part of his signiory Yet could he not absolutely fully accomplish his deuillish intent which he had so wickedly begun and attempted For the Daynians who inhabited the capitall towne chiefe fortresse of that countrey by their consent faith and fidelitie the onely meane wherein they could make shew therof did testifie their loue and affection which they bare to their Prince And whereas the Ladie Bossa the mother of him that was slaine being very old and aged was not a litle pensiue and sorowfull in that she had suruiued her sonne they defended her estate with great loyalty till such time as she induced thereunto by the counsell and practise of others and by the perswasion of her friends or imagining that the infirmitie of her aged yeares and the weake spirit of a woman was not sufficient to go through with so great a charge especially the state of her affairs being so troublesome and tumultuous she conueyed her selfe to* Scutary or Scodra and resigned both her selfe and the surplus of her estate which was left her into the hands and power of the common weale of Venice casting vpon them the charge and whole burden of all the quarels and contention which was like to ensue and growe betweene them and the neighbour Princes and Seigniors about the right of her dominions See now how fortune prepared her self to make Scanderbeg famous renowmed on the one side by the armes and forces of Italie in that she bred a iarre betweene him and the Venetians and on the other side by Mystapha who in the presence of Amurath as an vpright iudge although enuious against his enemy with a great discourse and abundance of good words both to couer his owne misfortune to excuse the fault of his companions did highly extoll the inuincible prowesse of this personage and his incomparable experience in the Art militarie oftentimes repeating that it was needfull to prouide other maner of forces and with a more mightie kind of warre to tame his furie and fiercenesse that this was not the way to sound the mind to try the stirring thoughts of Scanderbeg by such rodes and inuasions and by the spoyling and wasting of the fields that these were meanes rather to incense and animate the harts of the Albanois who were a nation of a braue nature and of a high corage that these ambushments and wiles of warre were not to preuaile against him that was his crafts-master in such subtilties but that they would always redound to their ruine confusion and more then that by the course and custome of so many daily victories by litle and litle they should ingender a contempt of the name maiesty of Ottoman among the Christians that in his opinion the best way was either altogether to abstaine giue ouer frō making war vpon him or else to frame themselues to follow the wars with so full resolution that they might at once and without any more a do vanquish and subdue this enemie and so make a finall end conclusion of the warre of Albany These reasons and allegations of the Bassa though the Sultan did take small pleasure in the praises of his aduersary could not seeme to proceed of pusillanimity or want of corage seeing he had before his eies the like misfortunes of all those whom he had at any time sent and emploied against Castriot Somtimes Haly Bassa and somtimes Ferisey who of all others was least faulty did put him in minde of their calamities more singular and notorious they did excuse vnto their Prince Amurath the vnfortunat vertue of Mustapha Wherefore he also changing his mind a common
succor the Dainians These troupes were greatly aided and augmented by the cōming of two persons by nation Albanois Lech Dusman Peter Span or Spaniard These men had sworne and promised to Scanderbeg their continual seruice deuoit against the Turks and they neuer failed him but the confederacie and amitie which they had contracted for a long time before with the Signiory of Venice by reason that they were neare neighbors to Driuasta and some other places of the Venetian iurisdictiō besides the bond of innumerable benefits receiued frō their estate in times past did now bind thē to their assistance and were the occasion of their preparations to do them seruice Scanderbeg was no whit abashed at the difficultie and greatnesse of this warre but did receiue these newes with great ioy and gladnesse and without anie further delay deuided his forces which exceeded the number of 14000. men he appointed to employ against his enemie onely 7000. horse and 2000. foote The resisidue hauing prouided for all occasions hee left to hold the siege before Dayna The which notwithstanding the rumour of the enemies approach he determined notto leaue or to abandon Thus the vndaunted Chiefrain by his singular prudence hauing seperated his forces into 3. partes did thereby occasion his aduersaries through a vaine foolish kind of hope to triumph ouer him and to grow the more in heart and courage against thē For the Dayniās seeing Castriot to be absent did think now that they were no longer besieged for their courts of guard at the portes were not so strong as was vsuall but they grew to be neglected the wals were not so well manned and oftentimes might the souldiours of the enemy without ioyntly with the citizens within haue entred into their gates which were diuerse times left open To be briefe they growing in a maner careles of al things only the imminent danger of famine did seem to perplexe them which neither was to be contēned by their audacity nor auoided by their valor and magnanimity Notwithstanding the honor reputation of their faith which they had once passed promised did assure their corages did bind them to endure the rigor of all difficulties Besides the aduertisements touching their confederats who aduanced them selues with great iourneis to mitigate these mischieues to deliuer them from this misery did greatly comfort their afflicted spirits made them to conceiue an assured hope of deliuerance Moreouer perswading themselues that Castriot was not able to make head against so great a puissance they did look euery hour in great care and expectation to see some messenger and to heare some certaine newes of the victory which in their opinion they did promise vnto their owne fancies So is it for the most part with all men who the more power they doe in their mindes attribute vnto fortune with so much the more deuotion are they obedient vnto her You need not doubt but that Mustapha was exceedingly ioyous of these troubles tumults in Epire and by reason of the absence of Scanderbeg his courage which was before abated did now begin to returne to be reuiued a certaine secret obliuion of his former misfortune had now abolished the remēbrance thereof out of his mind Faine would he haue assailed the garrison there left vpon the borders and willingly would he haue made a sacrifice to the iust wrath of his Prince and to his owne ambition of those souldiers whom he supposed to be weakened by the absence of their Chieftaine and the rest of their companions He had an infinite desire to be made a partner with the Venetians in this glorie and triumph ouer his deadly enemie and he was more intentiue to the present aduantage and opportunitie then mindful of the charge and commaundement of his Soueraigne But on the other side the seueritie of Ottoman and the sundrie examples of others whose disobedience had bene most grieuously punished did with hold stay his doubtfull and variable mind Last of all though he were partly perswaded that the Sultan would not disallow his resolution grounded vpon so good an opportunitie yet he tooke this to be the surest way that men should rather deeme him negligent by the command and direction of his lorde and master then fortunate by his owne pride and temeritie In the middest of all these tumults whilest the hoast of the Venetians being assembled at Scutarie did there consume the time in the prouision of things necessarie Scanderbeg had passed ouer the riuer of Drynon with his army which was an euident signe of his hardinesse and assurance and preuenting the counsells of his aduersaries he marched on resolutely to encounter them euen within the bowels of their owne dominions and as a man may say vpon their owne dung hill The Venetian could not endure this brauado but dislodging incontinently with his armie he passed on to affront him presently now did the cries of the souldiers and the rebounding sound of the drums trumpets on either side bewray the approch and cōming of the enemie Then did euerie man take a good courage to himselfe cheerefully did they make shew of their fierce and coragious stomacks The very eies of the souldiers seemed to flame with fury on either side was heard a mighty noise an argumēt of their wrath and choller Then were praiers vowes and shewes of deuotion in the mouthes of the leaders also of the souldiers and euery man shewed himselfe a good Christian and recommended himselfe vnto God Either part did hold their armes to be iust lawfull and ech did assure themselues that they were in the right that they had the better cause quarrell The intent of euery of them was only to repulse the iniurie and all of them seemed to haue like reason for the warre the Prince of Albanie to recouer the possession of the towne detained from him contrarie to all right and equitie and the others to defend and protect thē who had chosen them for their protectours The former were encouraged through their merits deserts in so many valiant acts exploits daily atchieued vpon the Barbarians through the remembrance of their honor renowne lately gotten vpon Mustapha the latter though they were wel prouided for all things needfull for a greater warre and though they might not without good cause promise vnto themselues the hope of victorie yet if they should happen to haue the worst they were not for all that such as would be dismaied or stoupe to the fortune of the enemy for euery man knew the vnuanquished power of the Venetians that they were able continually to supply new greater forces to maintaine the quarrell to bring the warre to a better issue in such sort that this enterprise of Dayna was like to be the confusion of the Duke of Albany Yet did the hard miserable estate of the besieged greatly perplex them because they were certified
rest of the squadrons Sometimes the presence of Paul Manessey did greatly vrge them for that by the glorious and honorable opinion which they had in their champion lately slaine their fearefull thoughts and cogitations did measure all things in their enemie to be greater then they made shew of sometimes againe their hearts were incensed and inflamed with wrath according as either the deformed image of their slaine champion or the shadowe of his dead bodie vnreuenged did seeme to appeare before their eyes and to present it selfe to their remembrance Moreouer the great rewardes and recompences which was the greatest and chiefest inuitement to pricke them forwarde proposed and promised by Mustapha to him that could kill this enemie whom they hated grieuouslie did encourage his people to be the more desirous and forwarde to endaunger themselues by meanes whereof manie being reallied and assembled in troupes about Paul alone they pressed vpon him to the vttermost of their powers and as men that cared not for anie of the rest him onelie did they ayme and shoote at There was not anie one of them but did striue euen with the hazard of his owne life and with deadly wounds to purchase the pretious reward of that head which was so highly prized But the obstinate prowesse of this Cauilier caused the fonde and foolish desire of the Turkes to turne to their owne pernitious and extreame dammage For being well garded with a troupe of such as were most hardie and valiant he was able enough to sustaine their furie and violence and to contemne their vaine presumptions At length perceiuing a farre off that one of the Barbarians had disbanded himselfe from the rest of his troupes and was verie hotte and importunate vppon those of his companie he turned himselfe towardes him without anie word speaking and hauing gotten neere vnto him he discharged so full a blow with all his strength ouerthwart his head and redoubled one or two strokes vppon him that he ouerthrew him headlong off his horse making him to take the measure of his tombe vpon the hard earth When his champions sawe him lie dead vpon the ground they beganne presently to turne the bridle neither caring to reuenge his death nor to warrant his body froÌ„ the outrage of the enemy This made the Epirots when they saw them to stande as it were in a studie and certaine of them flying to presse vpon them the more fiercely and to charge them with the greater fury giuing them no time to breath but handled them rudely till hauing them in full chase they left all the aduantage honor to the conquerors Paul pursuing them still as they fled did gleane and take vp some of them that made least speed and with bitter and biting termes he thus tauntingly exclaimed vpon them Whether flie you saied he you base companions are you so forgetfull of all good fellowship hath not Caragusa here neither brother cosin nor so much as a friende amongest so many of you who in honour of his corps that lieth here dead and disfigured will vouchsafe to reuenge him which is the last good you can do him being past all your aide and helping Behold me see me I saie who doe here now call vppon you and giue you the defie whom of late your selues did first of all prouoke in hope of a wrong conceited glory Abide staie a while take with you the bloudie spoiles of your companion which so voluntarily I doe proffer vnto you But the Turkes more mute and dombe then fishes had minde of nothing but of speedie fight and running away and with an infamous kinde of silence did neither approue nor reproue the tauntes and reprochfull speeches of the enemie And thus within a while hauing by litle and litle gotten the aduantage and libertie of the open field they did quickely vanish out of sight so as hardly could they heare the sound or noyse of those that chased them onely the archers did trouble them with great obstinacie as for the rest of the troupes they abstained from pursuing them because wearinesse and extremitie of trauell had dulled both the force and the spirits of the Christians Notwithstanding hauing gathered vp the ensignes half moones which lay euery where dispersed ouer the field for the Turks in their standards ensignes doe beare this for their deuise the souldiees with wonderfull great ioyes making the aire to resound with their pleasant clamors and rude riming songs did euen striue and contend who should carie them to the tents of Scanderbeg For all had gone well on that side a good while before and the Turkes being either slaine did lie dispersed ouer the fielde in great heapes or being reserued according to the right of armes with their hands fast pinioned behinde their backes did giue euident and open testimonie of their owne bad deuoire and the clemencie of their enemies Mustapha himself with twelue others likewise of the most principall and chiefest persons were brought prisoners vpon an Hungarian horse in great pompe and triumph to the intent he might be seene of all men making the sight to be so much the more worthy and notable and mitigating as it were the misfortune of the other prisoners For the pernitious humor of ambition and a pestilent desire to purchase vnto himselfe the greater glorie by the proofe and triall of his resolution had caried him furiously into the squadron of Scanderbeg where being enclosed and destitute of all aide defence of his souldiers and of all the meanes either to escape away free or die honourablie the vnfortunate Chieftaine made choise to coÌ„pound with the losse of al other things yea and of his libertie also for the sauegard and preseruation of his life onely I can not say certainly whether in all the time of the warre held with Amurath there were any exploit atchieued more notable or more fauored by the diuine power then this So worthily did this iorney make shew of euery man his good courage and desert neuer was there any leader nor any souldier nor any other person of what degree soeuer that did euer returne more honorably charged with reputation and glorie either in publique or in priuate The report is that there were slaine of the enemie 10000. And that there were taken onely 82. prisoners and 15. standardes This happie and fortunate ouerthrow cost not the Albanois much bloudshed for he lost as they say scarce 300. men The campe of the enemy did greatly enrich the Christian souldiers for that the Turkes who had soiourned certaine monthes vppon the marches borders of the prouince had gotten together purchased good store of prâ—ie booty there were also found very goodly spoiles vpon theÌ„ which were slain and a notable number of good horses but albeit the souldiers helde themselues reasonablie well satisfied with pillage yet for all that was not the wrathfull and fierie courage of Scanderbeg sufficiently appeased but that immediately and
to be held or esteemed more base vile and seruile then so to giue as to expect a profite and gaine by the gift We are now come vnto thee gentle and worthy Captaine freely and of our owne accord and I speake it from the very bottome of my heart we doe not seeke to surprize thee neither by wordes nor by giftes whom we haue so often proued to be inuincible by armes and dint of sword and who doest repute all things inferiour vnto thee and to the greatnesse of thy thoughtes This is the cause that Amurath loueth thee and doth admire these rare vertues in his enemy this is the cause he doth desire if by any meanes he may to haue thee neare vnto him No doubt that is the place and to be neare the presence of so great a Monarke is far more fit and conuenient for thy merites And there it is that the excellent magnanimity of thy courage and the dexterity of thy spirite shall be able to finde out the way and meanes to mount to the highest and supreame degree of all glory and good fortune not that I condemne Scanderbeg whom euen we our selues his enemies doe glorifie for the recouery of his countrey for the defending of it so often and so valiantly yet through thy succours and assistance principally but thou art worthy of another maner of Prince and of a better and higher aduauncement and not to spend thy yeares and to consume thy glorious life in this obscurity and in this vility and basenesse of estate Moreouer Scanderbeg his good fortune will vanish away euen in a moment the Destinies haue opposed against him an enemy who is too mighty for him to endure continually wel may his punishment be deferred for a season but it cannot be auoided so extreme and incredible an hatred hath the Ottoman Prince conceiued against him Ouer and aboue the incomparable forces which he hath assembled for his destruction he hath sworne and protested not to spare any costes or expences nor trauelles nor daungers nor to depart out of Epire till such time as he haue subdued him and imposed a most deadly and mortall yoke vpon his head Now see how the originall of this mischiefe doth begin principally with you of Croy we heare him euery day sounding into the eares of his counsellours these and the like speaches that he will rather shamefully abandon and forsake his Imperiall city of Andrinople and all the dominions of his estate and Empire before he will quit the possession of this place before he will leaue this city vnconquered and before his wrath shall not be fully satisfied with the slaughter and butchery of your dismembred bodies and there is no doubt but he will doe it and I doe tremble to foretell it For though I be one of your enemies amongst infinite others yet am I a man and haue humaine passions and therefore hardly will my eies be able to endure or suffer so miserable a sight and obiect of your pitifull and lamentable condition Assure your selues he will not faile to do it if you do not chaunge your mindes if now taking the benefit of his long sufferance and patience you do not accept the safety the light the liberty the peace which are so freely offered vnto you but go to say a Gods name that this fortresse so vnmatchable that these walles so inaccessible that your valour which is more then all the rest shall preserue defend you but how long I pray you will this be doe you thinke that the Ottoman will raise his siege and remoue his Campe in the middest and chiefe heate of this war you shall see it to your cost you shall feele it to your griefe and losse that though his forces profite not nor preuaile not though all his attempts and endeuours doe proue vaine bootlesse yet I say you shall see still before your eies and you shall continually behold before your wals these same enemies these same tents till such time as the extremity and importunity offamine which mastereth and ouercommeth all things doe in the end enforce you to yeeld and to submit your selues What other hope then haue you left I pray you whence is it that this greedy desire of perils and dangers hath seized vppon your obstinat and hardened hearts Shall Scanderbeg supply your wants with victuals being imprisonned within these wals who being constrained to keepe close hidden continually in these forrests or wandring vp and down the tops of the mountains and being ouerloaden and ouerwhelmed on all sides with cares and trauels is scarceable to sustaine his miserable body Will the Venetians send or succour you with prouisions who do daily bring and furnish vs against you with all store of sustenance and necessaries for the war euen in excesse and superfluity Be wise therefore you that are so braue and valiant be you once well aduised and take your wits vnto you behold it is your enemy that warneth you you haue persisted long enough in this obstinacy neither your countrey nor your liberty ought to be so wilfully defended that you should oppose your selues for them against the wil pleasure of the diuine maiesty It behoueth you to yeeld to giue place to Fortune and to bend your knees to the most puissant and mighty But what liberty is this wherof I speake vnto you the true liberty the true rewardes and the perpetuall tranquillity of this life is in the power of Amurath Prouide therfore for your selues whilest your affairs are in sound good estate whilest you haue yet time to determine vpon it whilest that we your enemies do exhort you do entreat you and do loue to entertain you rather as our companions and friends with your good liking then as our slaues prisoners by force and constraint In this maner did the Barbarian deliuer his message framing and conforming with a singuâ—â—â— good grace both his countenance and his voice and hauing finished he did attend to obserue what alteration he could perceiue in the spirits and affections of the coÌ„pany purposing thereupon to haue taken an occasion to treat a part in secret with the Gouernour vpon the residue of his ambassade But knowing that the affections of them all were mightely estranged from liking the subiect of his discourse as men that knew how to contemne the swords of their enemies and not their words onely and hearing the souldiers begin to mutter and murmure here there as if they had some wrong offred them rather then be perswaded to yeeld themselues he praid the gouernour to giue him leaue to vse a word or two vnto himselfe alone and in secret which was likewise accorded vnto him for they did all much rely trust vpon the sage wisdome constancy of that personage being assured that he would not vndertake any thing which should not be for the aduantage maiesty of the Realme of Albany and for the profit of ech of them particularly Then began the
beget children when he was past foure score yeare of age vnlesse perhaps this age of ours also haue receiued that rare gift and bounty of nature which the auncients haue obserued in Masinissa and Cato the eldest Howsoeuer it be it is not much materiall onely I could wishe that trueth might haue place for in writing of an History I would not willingly set downe any vntrueth nor yet reprehend others ouer rashly For such is the law and rule of Histories that many fables doe fall out oftentimes to be entermingled with true reports which must straightly be sifted and examined that in proceeding with the matter truth and vntruth may be discerned no otherwise then as they which are to drinke of a brooke will purge and clarifie the water from all mud and filthinesse But to the purpose Mahomet pursuing his blouddy beginnings as one that would not omit any thing of his former furious proceedings did daily deuise suborne new slanders and accusations against the greatest persons of his Court and his fathers seruants and vnder colour of calling them to an account some of them he caused to be put to death and of others he would procure the goods offices to be confiscated in such sort that within a very small time according as before his comming to the Crowne he had secretly plotted and purposed in his conceipts he became terrible and more to be redoubted then is fitting for a king and he grew odious and hatefull almost to all his subiects He altered and changed in a manner all the statutes and ordinances of his auncesters and all the lawes and constitutions both ciuill and military sometimes reforming and correcting them sometimes adding of new vnto them he surcharged and burthened his people with new imposts and subsidies and he bental his endeuours more then any other of his predecessors to amplify and augment the numbers of the Ianissaries and of his men at armes and to enrich and encrease his treasures For amongst many of his other wicked conditions the humor of auarice and couetousnes had that command ouer him that the meane and simple order both of his diet and apparell was reproachfully obiected vnto him as a vice and it was supposed that his excessiue sparinesse and abstinency proceeded only of a miserable and couetous humor All men doe attribute vnto him a certaine liuelinesse and viuacity of spirit euen more then humaine a heart couetous and greedily thirsting after glory and not vnlike to that of the great Alexander And it is most certaine as we haue partly before touched he did excell all men liuing in cruelty vsing as the saying is a rod of iron both against his subiectes and against strangers and he shewed himselfe to haue as litle care of the bloud and life of his owne people as of his foes and most mortall enemies in such sort that vppon euery sleight and trifling occasion he would put to death euen those litle boies and laddes whom he loued voluptuously and which he kept within his * Serayl for the fulfilling of his beastly pleasure On the contrary he was a most francke and liberall rewarder of those men who were of a quicke and ready spirite and such as were of valour and great courage and of them which did serue him faithfully and loyally For periury there was neuer any man more notorious for he neuer kept faith nor promise with any persons whatsoeuer Moreouer many haue bene of the opinion that he did not beleeue in the law of Mahomet their owne Prophet no more then in the Gospell of Christ For albeit he was born bred instructed by his mother who was the daughter of George Despot of Seruia and professed the Christian religion and taught him the Pater noster Creede and Aue Maria yet when he came to ripe yeares and that he betooke himselfe to the embracing of the Mahometan profession he did so litle cleaue either to the one or to the other that he liued a meere Atheist and acknowledged serued nor adored any other Deity but that alone which he called good Fortune Hee did maruellously honor and esteeme those which were skilfull in any Art or mystery whatsoeuer and he tooke great care that his victories and conquestes might be written by learned men and those that were of iudgement he delighted infinitely in reading of the Histories of the auncients he was very skilfull and learned in the Greeke Persian and Arabian tongues he made great shewes of loue and kindnesse vnto Iohn Maria of Vicentia the slaue of his eldest sonne Mustapha because hee would haue had him to write in the Turkey and Itatian tongs the famous victory which he obtained against Vsuntassan king of the Persians He gaue great rewardes vnto Gentill Belin a Painter of Venice whom he caused purposely to come from thence to Constantinople because he would haue his picture drawen as liuely and naturally as hee could by his art possibly and because he should paint out the habites and fashions of the Occidentall nations Moreouer he was a curious obseruer of the Starres and Planets according to the course and motion of the which he ruled and directed all his actions Besides he had in his mind euen with his cruelty some impression and shew of iustice and seuerity in so much that during his raigne all the passages and high waies were free open and safe for trauellers and the name of theeues and robbers was wholly extinguished and abolished A great warriour he was strong and valiaunt of his person hardened and enured to endure watchings and trauels with notable patience happy and fortunate in most of his actions and to speake in a word he was euen a king of Fortune which made him worthy of the Empire of Constantinople As touching the forme and feature of his visage and the making of his body he was of a meane or rather of a short stature which notwithstanding did containe within a great heart and full of magnanimity He was pale of face and of a sallow complexion correspondent vnto his courage his looke and aspect was frowning fierce and terrible his eye browes hollow and his nose so high and crooked that the point thereof seemed to touch his lippes His shoulders were large and square and all the members and lineamentes of his body were strong set and very well made and with such strength and vigour in his armes that at such time as Scanderbeg liued with Amurath his father amongst all the youths of the Court he would yeeld and giue place to none but to him only in drawing the bow or in wrastling It may be that I haue busied my selfe about Mahomet more then needed considering that my purpose was not to describe his life nor his maners but the life of Scanderbeg onely Neuerthelesse I thought it not amisse herein to seeke the pleasing and contentment of all men For as my desire is that these memorialles such as they are
friendship to his friends and companions because he would not haue it thought that he was come thither to that onely intent and so should returne mocked and scorned by the enemie he sought out some fit matter whereupon to display his rage and choler and to leaue them some subiect and occasion likewise of griefe and lamentation For this cause he sent abrode his soldiers ouer all the fields lying within view and sight of Belgrade who made notable hauocke of all things with sword and fire not sparing either trees vines or any thing else and giuing the citizens a most lamentable spectacle through the spoile and desolation of all the countrey round about them And not content therewithall he proceeded yet further for passing on euen close to the wals which he might well do without any great danger he omitted not to do them any dammage mischiefe and displeasure which his wrath and furie could inflict vpon them Some haue affirmed and many do confirme no lesse that the garrison issued out made a braue sally forth vpon them and partly with their ordinance and partly with the aduenture of their persons did seeke to beate them from the walles hauing first set fire on their suburbs and that after a long sharpe and bloudie skirmish wherein the Christians had the better they were beaten backe within their gates Whereupon because Tanusee stood in doubt lest the next garrisons of the Turkish frontiers might come vpon him and suddenly oppresse him he would not giue anie further attempt against them but with a million of curses and execrations he left and abandoned those vnfortunat places which were so infamous by the ruine and slaughter of the Christians Scanderbeg at his being in Dibria held many counsels great assemblies wherein he consulted with the most graue and auncient persons of that countrey endeuoring aboue all things to sift and search out if there were any other conspirators or consorts of Moses yet remaining in the prouince or any secret sparks or tract of his treason left behind him And besides all priuie and secret meanes vsed to enquire of it there was publike proclamation made with sound of trumpet promising a great summe of money to those that could and should detect any such conspirators But there was not found so much as any shew of suspition of any such matter And therfore the Dibrians were highly commended for their loyaltie and the assured constancie of their faith Besides that he bestowed great bountiful rewards amongst them to continue them in their good deuoire and dutie Moses his goods and such pensions offices wherewith Scanderbeg had before honored and aduanced him were confiscated and seized to the kings coffers and resumed into his hands many of which he bestowed vpon particular persons The Gouernorship of the countrey and garrison of Dibria was retained still in the kings hands and bestowed vpon no man but was kept voyd for a season by the good liking and consent of all men especially of the souldiers The affaires of the Dibrians being thus ordered and put in good assurance with a good and strong garrison he returned thence to Croy where Tanusee was also then ariued with his armie the which he hauing resigned into the hands of the Prince he retired himselfe in extreme griefe and sorow to his owne house where at his returne the lamentations sighes and sorowes began afresh to berenewed amongst the friends and kinsmen of Musache euery body grieuing and mourning for his mischance And Mamisa the widow of the deceased hauing called together according to the custome of that natiō many Ladies Gentle womē graue matrons did celebrate the obsequies of her husband longtime mourning bewailing his death neuer ceasing day nor night with abūdance of tears to lamēt the losse of him which she held most deare vnto her Scanderbeg hauing dismissed his owne army did determine also to send away those Neapolitans which were left aliue after the battel of Belgrade and together with them an Ambassade to the king Alphonsus to certifie him of the truth of his misfortune and to excuse himselfe Accordingly assoone as they were in case to trauell he courteously thanked them of their paines and companie and so embarked them for Italie which done he tooke his iourney into the countrey appertaining to Musache towards his sister both to mitigate their publicke and priuate sorrowe and in this time of affliction and discouragement to aduise vpon the affaires of his estate Tanusee was appointed to be Tutour and Gardian of the person and goods of his nephewes who did continually carrie him selfe with such loue sinceritie care and diligence that greater could not haue bene found in a kind and naturall father The honour title and dignitie with the Signiorie of the countrey did remaine in the mother who mannaged that Estate and gouerned the people with such moderation and dexteritie of spirite that there was neuer seene greater concord and vnitie among the inhabitants of the Prouince then was during the time of her gouernement which is a thing seldome seene by reason that the common sort ordinarily being mutinous and disobedient are hardly restrained within the limits of their duety and allegeance But herein especially was the soueraigne prudence and singular iudgement of this Lady to be admired that as it is generally confessed Scanderbeg did oftentimes vse her as a most faithfull consort and associat in the manadging of the affaires of the estate and was much and vsually aduised and counselled by her Shee would neuer yeeld to any second mariage but euen to the last gaspe of her life shee honoured the memory of her beloued spouse not without a singular commendation of her continency and chastity wherein shee continued and perseuered most deuoutly induced thereunto it may be not onely in regard of her owne naturall grauity and modesty but because shee being a woman of an excellent and noble minde did esteeme the losse of her husband to be irreparable For not to speake any thing of his other vertues which are most ordinary and proper to men and whereof he gaue sufficient testimony by his glorious end he was euen by nature so louely and amiable of so fine and pleasing a behauiour and of so sweete a conuersation that no creature liuing knew better no◠with greater facility then he how to insinuat himselfe into the affections of men and to purchase their good loue and liking Besides the beauty and comelinesse of his person wherewith he was notably graced and which is the proper obiect that women doe affect and the elegancy of his goodly and tall stature did fit singularly well to the perfections of his minde But whilest we haue our eyes thus fastened and our minds too too carefully busied in contemplation of our Christians and doe tediously pursue the plaintes and griefes of them in particular we doe not listen to the sound of Sebalias his trumpets which
goodly markes of antiquity lay defaced and ouerthrowen The Ottoman in the meane time ceased not by the hands of Hamur and Synam still to sollicit and to set forward the matter which he had so many times assaied for the idlenesse and long rest of the Christians did put him in a certaine and assured hope that he should attaine to the end of his desires but hee could neuer effect any thing touching the generall truce which he so desired how beit that Scanderbeg did obserue his priuate amity with the people of the Ottoman by meanes whereof the minds of all men being by litle and litle allured with the sweetnesse of rest and quietnesse the hatred and enmity on both partes began to grow more moderate and all the effectes of a publique and generall peace the bare name and title thereof onely excepted came to haue their full force and operation The end of the ninth Booke THE TENTH BOOKE OF THE FAMOVS ACTES OF GEORGE CASTRIOT SVRNAMED SCANDERBEG THE ARGVMENT THE warre betweene Mahomet Emperour of the Turks Vsuncassan king of Persia The originall continuance the variable accidents and successe of the warre of Naples betweene the families of Arragon and Aniow with the descent and actes of the kings of Naples to the time of Ferdinand the sonne of Alphonsus Iohn the sonne of Rene Duke of Aniow warring vpon Ferdinand king of Naples is ayded by the Count Picenin and the subiects of Ferdinand who rebell against him Ferdinand ayded by the Pope and the Duke of Milan his confederates and being ouerthrowen in two battels is besieged within Barletta An Ambassade is sent from Ferdinand and his confederates to Scanderbeg praying his ayde against the Duke of Aniow Scanderbeg making truce with Mahomet passeth with an armie by sea into Italie and raiseth the siege of Barletta The armie of the Pope and the Duke of Milan ioyne with Scanderbeg The battell of Segian betweene Picenin and Scanderbeg wherein the armie of Iohn Duke of Aniow being discomfited he flyeth out of Italie into France Ferdinand is restored to his kingdome and reconciled to his subiects by Scanderbeg who hauing bene highly honoured by the Pope and the Princes of Italie and royally feasted by Ferdinand hath certen townes in Apulia giuen vnto him and his heires and that done he returneth againe with his armie into Epyre. IT is most euident and apparant that the changes and alterations which do occasion the ruines grieuous accidents of Empires estates by seditions or warres either ciuill or forraigne do not happen in this world by any fatall kind of destiny especially if they be such as they fall together in diuers and sundry places or neere about one and the sametime For we see that such changes do neuer chance but that first some frantique humors inordinate desires in the spirits of great personages do alwaies preceed go before them and they are the ordinary meanes to stirre vp the authors of such accidents to moue or to prouoke needlesse vnnecessary wars Whereby you may see that the iudgement peruerted the furious passions of Princes are the first next punishments of their sins and offences and the originall causes of their ruine miserable end For when God being angred at their iniquities doth draw some men to the iust execution of their deserued punishment he doth depriue them of their senses he doth so bind shut vp their eies that they doe inconsideratly cast themselues headlong into the gulfe of their owne perdition which they haue drawne vpon themselues for want of good aduise counsell For the reasonable part of their mind and the naturall vnderstanding being troubled and distracted by that inueglement blindnes laid vpon them doth produce erronious counsels and their mad and outragious affections do carrie and transport them out of the bounds of reason and make them cruell vnsatiable euen without any respect of their owne liues and welfare Hence it is that rancours partialities distrusts do proceede haue their originall and then of these do arise wars both ciuill and forraigne in the which men being drowned and ouerwhelmed they find themselues plagued and afflicted with notable mischiefes and calamities or with perpetuall ruine and endlesse destruction Now seeing the forepassed ages of antiquitie haue often felt the like reuolutions of estates gouernments in the body of the Christian cōmonwealth by means wherof the Turkes and Mahumetists haue appropriated vnto themselues the Empire of Constantinople and haue gotten firme footing in their Signiorie encreasing it excessiuely only with the reliques of the estate of the Christians we ought therefore to acknowledge confesse that all those chaunges haue happened by the secret and immutable decree of God for the punishment of our sins and impieties For in stead of reforming our selues by his diuine admonitions and making profit of those examples which he from time to time hath sent vs not only the Kings and Potentates secular temporall but euen those also who were the chiefe Prelats and had the rule gouernment of the Church would neuer be drawen to consider of the same but neglecting their owne duties suffred themselues to be caried away by fond foolish desires by the vnreasonable ambition of their corrupt humors stirring vp troubles and lamentable tragedies both by Schismes dissentions amongst thēselues by mutuall hatreds diuisions amongst the peoples of all estates christian by means whereof they haue let slip out of their hands and vtterly lost which I cannot but deplore and lament the most excellent fittest occasion that could euer haue happened to tame the pride and insolencie of the Painims with ease and facility and to abolish both the law and memory of the Turkes out of Europe The order of the times and the course of this my historie do admonish me to make some mention and to discourse of this matter You haue heard how Mahomet being beaten in one yeare with a double misfortune in Hungary in Epyre was brought to this exigent necessity to demand peace or at least a long truce of one who was but a meane pettie Prince of Albany to the intent he might breath himselfe a litle from so many mischiefes grieuous losses to reestablish his estate which was sore shaken encombred On the other side you are to know that in a maner at one and the same time Vsuncassan discended of the Assumbeians of the Turkish race and king of Cappadocia Armenia other Prouinces neere adioyning hauing lately slaine in battell Malaoncre or as others will Demire king of the Persians a Prince issued from the auncient stock of Gampsa great Sultan of the Parthians hauing vsurped his Realme Seepter did ioyne himself in mariage with Despina the daughter of Iohn Comnenes Emperour of Trapezond and the cause why these two Monarches did so contract alliance together was to be the better able to preuaile against Mahomet king
two soules the one of them I haue vowed to God only the other I will giue to him that is willing to haue it and from thenceforth he perswaded with the Queene who of her selfe was sufficiently vnconstant to become the extreame enemie of Pope Vrban and Maister Nicolas was the chiefe Counseller and principall procurer of the proceeding of the election of Pope Clement Thus you may see howe great and waâ—ghtie a matter it is to outrage or iniurie any man of a haughtie spirit and of a great courage Vrban hauing made peace with the Florentines Perusians and others that had rebelled against Gregorie the eleuenth his predecessour bent and emploied all his endeuours and deuises how to reuenge himselfe vppon the Queene of Naples insomuch as by a solemne iudgement he depriued her of her realme and Kingdome in regard of manie crimes and offences and especially for that she had fauoured and maintained the Schisme and had yeelded her obedience to Pope Clement Hereuppon he inuested Charles of Duras with the Kingdome and crowne of Naples and he wrote his letters vnto the King of Hungarie with whom the sayed Charles was then abiding That he should send him vnto him and that he would crowne him and put him in possession of that Kingdome On the other part Clement the Antipope not thinking himselfe safe enough at Aniow for feare of the armie of the Romaines which had alreadie taken the field he speedily sent a message vnto the Queene willing her to send him certaine forces and a good and sufficient conuoy to conduct and bring him safe vnto Naples but the Neapolitans being aduertised of his comming betooke themselues to their armes and with great tumult they told the Queene plainely that they meant not to be troubled with two Popes at once not to enter into the warre vppon that cause and quarrell She therefore and Clement retired to the castell where hauing fortified themselues for certaine daies and in the end finding that it would not be for their benefit to soiorne or stay any longer in Naples the Queene caused three gallies to be trimmed and made readie in two of the which she imbarked Clement and his Cardinals and her selfe getting abord the third and with a prosperous gale of winde hauing put to sea in few dayes arriued safe vnto Auignion Clement being visited in great honour and reuerence by the French men and the processe of the two Popes being seene and examined by the parliament of Paris he was pronounced to be the true and lawfull Pope and Vrban was denounced to be no Pope but a Scismatique in such sort that both the kings of France and of Arragon did so take and acknowledge him and did yeelde him their obeissance and soueraigne honor In like manner the Queene Ione being roially entertained honored did receiue great and rich giftes but principally of Lewes Duke of Aniow the second sonne of Iohn king of France whereupon she seeing her selfe to be a sole woman and without any issue and more then that being truely enformed of the practises and enterprises of Charles of Duras and the Bishoppe of Rome who did daily multiply and increase in strength and puissance she did adopt the saide Prince for her sonne and ordained him to be the heire and inheritour of her kingdome giuing the same expressely vnto him after her decease and Clement by his authoritie did approue and allow the donation made by the Queene and in the yeare 1379. there were made letters Pattentes and authenticall Charters to that effect This was the first ground and foundation of the rights which the second discent of the house of Aniow did for a long time pretend vnto the realme of Naples These thinges being fully established and concluded Ione returned to Naples whilest that Vrban in the meane time persisting continually in his depriuation of the Queene and the inuestiture of Charles of Duras did earnestly and vehemently sollicite the King of Hungarie both by letters and by agents to set forwarde that enterprise and he pressed him so much the more for that Charles being then with a great and puissant armie of Hungarians vpon the confines of Treuisa against the Venetians by the direction of the Hungarian King who was confederate with the Genowaies and the Siegniour of Padua against the state of Venice he was alreadie in a manner at the end of the iourney Charles being fully enformed and verie well acquainted with the intent and pleasure of the King and verie desirous to reuenge the death of his vncle but much more greedie desirous of so rich a crowne in the yeare 1380. tooke his iourney with eight thousand Hungarians and a thousand Italians and came to Rome where Vrban receiued him with the greatest pompe and triumph that can be imagined and created him Senator which is the chiefest degree of honour amongst the Romanes Afterwardes the yeare following hauing strengthened himselfe with many other companies especially with the armie of the church he marched directly towardes Naples into the which by meanes of his practises with the Citizens he entred at one of the gates whilest that Otho being accompanied with the Queenes forces did issue out at another gate of purpose to affront and fight with him In conclusion being possessed of the towne and consequently of the whole realme and especially of the person of the Queene he caused her by the iudgement and direction of the King of Hungarie who had expresly written vnto him to that effect to be executed and put to death in the same place and with the same kind of punishment which she not long before had caused Andrew her husband most wickedly to endure and suffer Her sister the Ladie Marie was executed in like manner being at that time the widdowe of Robert late Countie of Artois to whom she had bene a most disloiall and vnchast wife and was greatly defamed for her dishonest familiaritie with Master Iohn Bocace so greatly renowmed amongest the Italians for his eloquence and great learning who in fauour and commendation of this Ladie made those two elegant bookes in the vulgar Italian entitled Flammette Philocole The affaires of Naples being setled in good order Charles returned to Rome where he was annointed and crowned King by Vrban with great solemnitie and triumph Yet for all this were not the troubles appeazed nor suppressed in those countries for the Duke of Aniow Lewes hauing bene before solicited by the Queene and being supported both by Clement and also by the French both to ayde and succour that vnfortunate Princesse as also to disposesse Vrban of the Papacie being readie to march with an armie of thirtie thousand men or as some say of fiue and fiftie thousand notwithstanding the death of Ione he entred into Italie in the pursuite of his owne right and title and comming into the kingdome of Naples he passed as farre as Apulia vpon the territorie
and lewdly giuen should heare their wickednesse openly reproued and condemned and aboue all others this Turkish tyrant Mahomet as being one that farre surpasseth and excelleth in all kindes of mischiefe and villanies whose life manners and detestable deedes I hold it not amisse briefely to runne ouer and to lay open to the intent they may be the better knowen vnto thee and that thou maiest the sooner shun and eschew them First of all to say nothing of his originall and ofspring as that he is descended of the Scithians issued out of a base village called Otmanach from whence proceeded the family of the Ottomans this Mahomet being endowed with a notable vigour dexteritie both of spirit and of bodie but of a most peruerse and mischeeuous nature is become the common enemie of mankind a cruell bloudsucker a chiefe ringleader to all vice a Prince of all wickednesse delighting in the death and destruction of men the father of all mischiefes and an vnsatiable murtherer And as his auncestors were of litle better disposition so hath he retayned this barbarous fiercenesse and intemperance perseuering in the whole course of his life in one and the same peruersenesse of a most crooked and diuelish nature From the very beginning of his youth he hath euer had a singular delight in warres murthers rapines and dissentions and in these hath he alwayes bene trayned and exercised A man of a most stout courage and audatious and withall variable and vnconstant full of deceipt and double dealing a deepe dissembler in all his actions greedy of other mens goods burning in his owne lustes and desires and continually couetous of things immoderate and vnpossible First of all there grew in him an vnmeasurable desire of money and afterwardes of Empire and dominion his soule being plentifully furnished with wicked and damnable artes wanteth not corrupt and lewd lustes a most shamelesse ribaud a common adulterer an inuenter of new vices which euen nature it selfe hath in horror and detestation This is that same Mahomet who of an ambitious humour strangled his owne naturall brother and with notable treachery and infidelitie murthered the Princes of Rascia and the King of Bosnia and all those which were of their bloud and linage some of them he brought into miserable bondage and seruitude others he depriued of their sight and put out their eyes or else mangled them in some part of their bodies What should I speake of infinite others vppon whom he hath practised all kindes of torments and I doe verily beleeue that in the end if he find none elsewhere vpon whom to execute his monstrous crueltie he will not spare to vse it against him selfe so infinitely is his nature enclined to fiercenesse and inhumanitie that the wrathfull and fierie rage of his minde can neuer be contented or satisfied For towards God his soule is mostimpure towards men it is dangerous and it neuer ceaseth from plotting and contriuing how to worke the dammage and ruine of others He maketh no account of the amitie or enmitie of any man but only to serue his owne turne He regardeth not to keepe a meane or measure in any thing but committeth all kinde of villanies and cruelties against his friends and against his owne subiects He spoyleth and robbeth the temples both in publique and in priuate he profaneth all holy and sacred things he polluteth all things he seizeth vpon euery thing he maketh no difference of honour and dishonour of shame and shamefastnesse of honestie and dishonestie of diuine things and of humaine things but he mingleth confoundeth them one with another All those to whom he euer gaue any faith or made any promise hath he not contrary to his faith his owne couenants either subdued them or slaine them or enthralled them Is it therefore any noueltie most worthy Prince if this perinted Mahomet do not keepe his word and promise with thee especià lly seeing that he being defiled and polluted with all kind of vice doth possesse impietie as it were by discent and his periurie is hereditarie vnto him Trust not therefore to this tyrant build not vpon his promises but shake off his acquaintance and repute that peace for dissolued and broken which he was not affraid first of all to infringe and violate and let it not cause thee to refraine from inuading his dominions with sworde and fire Prouide I say prouide for thy selfe and thy estate most prudent Prince for feare least the Barbarian doe by his traines entrappe and oppresse all of vs. This false traitor who is so well beaten and practised in fraud and subtiltie deuiseth nor meditateth vpon nothing else but only how he may destroy and extirpate the faith of Christ for the which as thou knowest thou diddest once determine yea thou diddest vowe by a solemne oath that thou wouldest alwayes labour and trauell euen to the death and I doe well remember I haue oftentimes heard thee say That onely for the defence and preseruation thereof thou diddest thinke thy selfe to be created and to be borne into this worlde What reason then hast thou ô Scanderbeg pardon me I beseech thee in speaking it to lay aside thy armes what wilt thou nowe liue for thy selfe alone doest thou thinke that thy estate will be little or nothing the worse in that thou being an olde souldier doest now sit still and doe nothing is it not a shame that any man-should see that same ancient liuelinesse and quicknesse of spirit in so excellent and worthie a Prince now to waxe rustie through idlenesse and to vanish away to nothing the stirring spirit of thy good friend Mahomet is not idle he doeth not passe away the time in sloth nor sitteth still as thou doest He accustometh himselfe to waking and watching he laboureth and bestirreth himselfe and he hasteneth with all possible speed and celeritie to defile and prophane the Gospell of the sonne of God to ouerwhelme the ship of blessed Saint Peter to teare and rend in peeces the coate of Christ our sauiour being without seame following therein the steppes of his auncestors and the traditions of his false Prophet who ordained that the name of Iesus Christ should be persecuted as prophane and odious and that the bloud of the innocent and faithfull Christians should be spilt by those which were his followers hence is it that this bloudie hangman hath continually more then any other pursued the faith and religion of the Christians with a most mortall and deadly hatred against whom if thou most worthie Prince doest not display thy armes if thou doest not aduance thy forces if thou doe not inuade and make warre vpon him it is not to be doubted but that all men generally will repute and hold thee for faint hearted fearefull and giuen ouer to sloth and idlenes Hast thou not heard how all the Kings and Princes of the Catholike faith together with the soueraigne pastor of the church haue conspired against this bloudie tirant and are fully determined by
cheering vp those which were wearied and still supplying with fresh men the places of those which were wounded and thus being intentiue with a prouident eye and regard to all partes he made no spare of his person in discharging the deuoire and dutie both of an excellent Captaine and a most tall souldier Scanderbeg likewise wheresoeuer he saw any of his squadrons to wauer did readily succour and relieue them did continually restore the fight and if it happened at any time that his people did begin to grow weary or to haue the worst of the fight the would speedily make from one part to another and he would on all sides sustaine the hazard of the battell he would thrust in amongst the thickest of his enemies by his presence would withstand the fury tempest of their attempts So that on what side soeuer the Barbarians turned themselues still did they meete encounter with the fury of Scanderbeg then the which nothing could present it selfe more terrible in their sight nothing could haue happened more to their discouragement whersoeuer he became he still drew after him an assured victorie insomuch that both the enemy the Albanois did openly confesse affirme with one generall consent voice that Scanderbeg was the best souldier brauest warrior in the world As he was thus gotten in amongst the thickest of the Infidels doing wonderfull deeds of armes in killing al that came in his way it happened that his horse being mortally wounded did stumble at a great trunke or roote of a tree couched close by the ground so that they fell both horse and man together Scanderbeg lying vnder his horse was so sore crushed with the fall and so grieuously hurt in one of his shoulders that he lay a while as one in a swound The Turks thought verily he had bene dead and therfore aduancing themselues in a great troupe together they came flocking about him and beganne to light on foote that they might haue cut off his head But Scanderbeg his men at armes rushing in furiously and breaking thorough the presse did couer him with their bodies and their shields till such time as being come againe to himselfe and hauing recouered his weapons he was mounted againe vpon a fresh horse Therupon the vehemencie of the griefe past and his spirits newly gathered made him to enter againe into the middest of the battell with greater fury and fiercenes then before insomuch that making way on all sides with the edge of his sword amongst the Infidels he seemed not much vnlike to a raging tempest which falling in a field of corne beateth it al down and presseth it euen with the ground so the King of Albany making a great slaughter and butchery amongst the Turkes encountred at length with one that was a man of principal account and chiefest regard in all their armie whose name was Sulyman and him did he ouerthrow dead vpon the place This act gaue him the whole aduantage of the field which till that time was vncertaine and equally ballanced betweene both parties But euen at that instant so sudden strange a feare did surprise the barbarians that their force courage began to faile them all at once and they were not able any longer to endure the violence of the Christians who had vsually bene accustomed to beate master them Wherfore in this their generall astonishmēt they were so liuely roundly pressed and so hardly followed that they were constrained to turne their backes to flie with might maine for the safegard of their liues But the flight was more pernicious vnto them then the fight for all of them in a manner remained dead in the fields of Dibria which seemed to be fattened with the bloud of the Infidels by reason that the vanquishers did so egerly follow pursue them that they would neuer leaue nor giue ouer the chase as long as they foūd any one with his weapōs in his hand I should haue enough to doe if I should tell you how notable a bootie what great riches were found in the tents and campe of the Paynims all which was liberally graunted to the souldiers to comfort them for the hardnesse and difficultie of their labours and to asswage the griefe and sorrow of their hearts conceiued for the losse of their fellowes and companions of whom there were slaine in this battell to the number of three hundred besides infinite of them sore wounded Scanderbeg after this notable and famous iourney found himselfe so payned in his shoulder and in his arme that he was compelled in a manner to keepe house for three whole monethes together Ballaban who had saued himselfe by the benefite of his spurres and had gotten within Alchria departed from thence within a while after to Constantinople where being come with a very small traine he had but bad welcome of his Prince who entertained him with a very angry and frowning countenance He reproched him continually with this foule and grieuous ouerthrow and he demaunded of him the liues of so many braue souldiers and the flower of so many gallant youthes which as he said were betraied wilfully lead to the butcherie by his folly and rashnesse But the wylie and cunning gallant by a long and artificiall Oration found the meanes to appease and mitigate the wrath and anger of the Sultan calling the gods to witnes appealing to those souldiers which were escaped from the slaughter he referred himselfe to their examination testimonies whether that before he began the fight he had not with singular prouidence exact prudēce carefully foreseene regarded all matters whether that the choise of the time the place or the manner of the ordering of his battels were in any respect to be condemned whether that eyther the souldiers or the Generall had fayled in their duetie and in briefe whether that he had omitted or neglected any thing which might haue purchased or furthered his victorie And casting the whole fault of his defaster and misfortune vppon the will and ineuitable pleasure of the goddes and the vncertainetie of fortune the perpetuall friende of inconstancie which maketh deedes of armes doubtfull and subiect to dayly alteration he would not in anie sort seeme to acknowledge that hee was inferiour to the King of Albanie in vertue or desert He did allowe and confesse him to be one of the most accomplished and most fortunate warriours in the whole worlde but yet neuerthelesse that he was mortall and not inuincible as was to be seene by Sebalias before at the siege of Belgrade by himselfe also at the battell of Valcala where he had taken and defeated diuerse of his best and most valiant Knights and Chieftaines And thus did he excuse himselfe as finely as he could So well could he handle the matter by his smooth and fayre speeches that he made the Sultan to giue him the hearing of anie thing Wherevppon he aduentured to