The generall historie of the Turkes from the first beginning of that nation to the rising of the Othoman familie: with all the notable expeditions of the Christian princes against them. Together with the liues and conquests of the Othoman kings and emperours faithfullie collected out of the- best histories, both auntient and moderne, and digested into one continuat historie vntill this present yeare 1603: by Richard Knolles

The generall historie of the Turkes from the first beginning of that nation to the rising of the Othoman familie: with all the notable expeditions of the Christian princes against them. Together with the liues and conquests of the Othoman kings and emperours faithfullie collected out of the- best histories, both auntient and moderne, and digested into one continuat historie vntill this present yeare 1603: by Richard Knolles

Table of contents

Title page

[1]

TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE IAMES, BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, FRAVNCE, AND IRELAND, defendor of the faith, &c.

THE AVTHORS INDVCTIon to the Christian Reader vnto the Historie of the Turkes following.

The names of the Authors whom we especially vsed in the collecting and writing of the Historie of the Turks following.

THE GENERAL HISTORIE OF THE TVRKES, BEFORE THE RISING OF THE OTHOMAN FAMILIE, WITH ALL THE NOTABLE EXPEDITIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN PRINCES AGAINST THEM.

The first kingdome of the Turks erected in Persia by Tangrolipix, Chieftaine of the Selzuccian family: with the successe thereof.

The ruine of the Turks first Empire in Persia: with the successe of their second kingdome in the lesser Asia vnder the Aladin Kings.

[2]

Title page

Osman I

THE RISING OF THE GREAT AND MIGHTIE EMPIRE OF THE TVRKES VNDER OTHOMAN FIRST FOVNDER THEREOF, VVITH HIS LIFE AND DOINGS.

Christian princes of the same time with Othoman.

Orhan

ORCHANES.

THE LIFE OF ORCHANES, OR VRCHAN, SECOND KING OF THE TVRKES.

Christian princes of the same time with Orchanes.

Murad I

AMVRATH.

THE LIFE OF AMVRATH, THE FIRST OF THAT NAME, THIRD KING OF THE TVRKES, AND THE GREAT AVGMENTOR OF THEIR KINGDOME.

Christian princes of the same time with Amurath the first.

Bayezid I

BAIAZET.

THE LIFE OF BAIAZET, THE FIRST OF THAT NAME, THE FOVRTH AND MOST VNFORTVNAT KING OF THE TVRKES.

Christian princes of the same time with Baiazet the first.

Muhammad I

MAHOMET. I.

THE LIFE OF MAHOMET, THE FIRST OF THAT NAME, FIFTH KING OF THE TVRKS, AND RESTORER OF THEIR SORE SHAKEN KINGDOME.

Christian princes of the same time with Mahomet the first.

Murad II

AMVRATH. II.

THE LIFE OF AMVRATH, THE SECOND OF THAT NAME, SIXT KING OF THE TVRKES, AND THE GREAT ESTABLISHER OF THEIR KINGDOME.

Christian princes of the same time with Amurath the second.

Muhammad II

MAHOMET. II.

THE LIFE OF MAHOMET, SECOND OF THAT NAME, SEVENTH KING AND FIRST EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKS, FOR HIS MANY VICTORIES SVRNAMED THE GREAT.

Christian princes of the same time with Mahomet the Great.

Bayezid II

BAIAZET.

THE LIFE OF BAIAZET, SECOND OF THAT NAME, AND SECOND EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES.

Christian princes of the same time with Baiazet the second.

Selim I

SELYMVS.

THE LIFE OF SELYMVS, FIRST OF THAT NAME, THE THIRD AND MOST WARLIKE EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES.

Tabulae Epigraphe.

The Inscription of the Table.

Christian princes of the same time with Selymus the first.

Suleiman the Magnificent

SOLYMAN.

THE LIFE OF SOLYMAN, THE FOVRTH AND MOST MAGNIFICENT EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES.

Christian princes of the same time with Solyman.

Selim II

SELYMVS.

THE LIFE OF SELYMVS, THE SECOND OF THAT NAME, FIFT EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES.

Christian princes of the same time with Selymus the second.

Murad III

AMVRATH.

THE LIFE OF AMVRATH, THE THIRD OF THAT NAME, SIXT EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES.

Christian princes of the same time with Amurath the third.

Muhammad III

MAHOMET.

MAHOMET THE THIRD OF THAT NAME, SEVENTH EMPEROR OF THE TVRKS, HE THAT NOW SWAYETH THAT MIGHTIE EMPIRE.

A briefe discourse of the greatnesse of the Turkish empire: as also wherein the greatest strength thereof consisteth, and of what power the bordering princes, as well Mahometanes as Christians are in comparison of it.

The Beglerbegs or great Commaunders of the Turkes Empire in EVROPE.

The Beglerbegs or great Commaunders of the Turkes Empire in ASIA.

The Beglerbegs or great Commaunders of the Turkes Empire in AFRICKE.

A TABLE OR INDEX, POINTING. vnto all the most notable things in the Historie of the Turkes before written, wherein such directorie letters as are set without numbers, are to be still referred to the next number of the page precedent.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

V

W

X

Y

Z

The Errata.

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§

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THE GENERALL HISTORIE of the Turkes, from The first beginning of that Nation to the rising of the Othoman Familie: with all the notable expeditions of the Christian Princes against them. Together with THE LIVES AND CONquests of the OTHOMAN Kings and Emperours Faithfullie collected out of the-best Histories, both auntient and moderne, and digested into one continuat Historie vntill this present Yeare 1603:

BY RICHARD KNOLLES

LONDON: Printed by Adam [...].

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§

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TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE IAMES, BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, FRAVNCE, AND IRELAND, defendor of the faith, &c.

IT may of some, and not without iust cause (most gratious and dread Soueraigne) be imputed vnto me for no small presumption, to present vnto your royall Maiestie (a prince of so great learning and iudgement) these homely fruits of mine endeuours and paines taken in the Generall Historie of the Turks, and strange successe of their great and mightie Othoman Empire. Whereunto for all that I was the rather induced, not only by the rare and wonderfull clemencie ioyned vnto many other the great and most resplendent vertues of your heroicall mind; the least whereof, is sufficient to haue cheared vp my weake and feeble spirits; but also by the encouragement of the right Worshipfull my most especiall friend Sir Peter Manwood knight, the first moouer of me to take this great Worke in hand, and my continuall and onely comfort and helper therein. Which to doe, I was also the more desirous, seeing diuers little volumes and small parts of the Historie presented vnto the greatest Princes: as the little Treatise of Pau. Iouius, de Rebus Turcicis, dedicated vnto the great and mightie Emperour Charles the fift: and the small Historie of Coelius Secundus, de Bello Melitensi, vnto her late sacred Maiestie, of most happie and blessed memorie, the rare Phoenix of her sex, who now resteth in glorie: with diuers others of like sort, by the learned authors thereof still commended some to one great prince of their times, some to others: all filling me vvith good hope, that this whole and continuat Historie of that Northerne and warlike Nation (vvhich in short time by God his appointment hath brought such fatall mutations vpon a great part of the world as former times haue sildome or neuer seene) drawne euen from the first beginning thereof, and continued vnto this present yeare (not together to my knowledge by any one before written) should with your most noble Maiestie find no lesse grace and fauour, than hath almost euery part thereof with other the aforesaid and such like most mightie and famous Princes: and the rather, for that your Maiestie hath not disdained in your Lepanto, or Heroicall Song, vvith your learned Muse to adorne and set forth the greatest and most glorious victorie that euer was by any the Christian confederat princes obtained against these the Othoman Kings or Emperors. Besides that, the matter and argument of this Historie and such like (so much concerning [Page] the state and good of the Christian commonweale in generall, neuer by any so much impugned or endangered, as by these the naturall & capitall enemies therof) of right vnto none so properly belongeth, as vnto your most excellent Maiestie, with the rest of the Christian princes, sitting at the helme of your Estates; who onely by your vnited forces (the barbarous enemies greatest terrour) are able to giue remedie thereunto: in the chiefest ranke of whom, your sacred Maiestie for glorie, honour, strength and power (God long preserue the same) is now second vnto none. Thus persuaded and encouraged, I in all humble and dutifull manner doe present vnto your Maiestie these my weake endeuours: which how vnworthie soeuer they be of so great and princely a fauour, as well for the meanenesse of me the Author, as for the plainenesse of the style; yet if for the worthinesse of the matter, or of your owne great and infinit clemencie you vouchsafe them your Maiesties fauourable regard, they shall no doubt liue no lesse fortunat than if they had beene more happily borne and brought to light: seruing (if to no other vse) yet as faire warnings vnto such great ones as God hath here vpon earth exalted aboue the rest vnto the highest degrees of power and of state, for the good gouernment and defence of his church and people. Accept them I beseech you most mightie Monarch into your gratious protection, so shall I (if God spare life) be comforted & encouraged vnder so mightie a fauor to proceed to amend what shall be found amisse, and adde what future times and better helpe shall descrie and minister vnto me for the perfection of this Historie: and according to my bounden dutie incessantly in all humilitie pray vnto the great God of all might and power (by whom all kings and princes raigne) to his glory long to preserue your most royall Maiestie in blessed health and peace to rule and raigne ouer vs and these your great kingdomes, so happily by you vnited: and so likewise (his will so being) your most noble posteritie after you euen to the worlds end.

Your Maiesties most humble and obedient subiect, Richard Knolles.

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THE AVTHORS INDVCTIon to the Christian Reader vnto the Historie of the Turkes following.

THE long and still declining state of the Christian commonweale, with the vtter ruine and subuersion of the Empire of the East, and many other most glorious kingdomes and prouinces of the Christians, neuer to be sufficiently lamented, might with the due consideration thereof worthily mooue euen a right stonie heart to ruth: but therewith also to call to remembrance the dishonour done vnto the blessed name of our Sauiour Christ Iesus, the desolation of his Church here millitant vpon earth, the dreadfull danger daily threatened vnto the poore remainder thereof, the millions of soules cast headlong into eternall destruction, the infinit numbers of wofull Christians (whose grieuous gronings vnder the heauie yoke of infidelitie, no tongue is able to expresse) with the carelesnesse of the great for the redresse thereof, might giue iust cause vnto any good Christian to sit downe, and with the heauie Prophet to say as he did of Hierusalem: O how hath the Lord darkened the daughter of Sion in his wrath? and cast downe from heauen vnto the earth the beautie of Israel, Lament. Hieremiae, cap. secundo. and remembred not his footstoole in the day of his wrath? All which miseries (with many others so great, as greater there can none be) the prince of darkenesse and author of all mischiefe hath by the persecuting princes of all ages, and auntient heretickes, his ministers, laboured from time to time to bring vpon the Church of God, to the obscuring of his blessed name, and vtter subuersion of his most sacred word; but yet by none, no not by them all together so much preuailed, as by the false Prophet Mahomet, borne in an vnhappie houre, to the great destruction of mankind: whose most grosse and blasphemous doctrine first phantasied by himselfe in Arabia, and so by him obtruded vnto the world; and afterwards by the Sarasin Caliphes (his seduced successours) with greater forces maintained, was by them together with their Empire dispersed ouer a great part of the face of the earth, to the vnspeakeable ruine and destruction of the Christian Religion and State: especially in Asia and Affricke, with some good part of Europe also. But the vnitie of this great Mahometane Monarchie being once dissolued, and it diuided into many kingdomes, and so after the manner of worldly things drawing vnto the fatall period of it selfe, in processe of time became of farre lesse force than before, and so lesse dreadfull vnto the Christian princes of the West, by whom these Sarasins were againe expulsed out of all the parts of Europe, excepting one corner of Spaine,Granado in Spaine was recouered from the Sarasins by king Ferdinand in the year 1491 which they yet held within the remembrance of our fathers, vntill that by their victorious forces they were thence at length happily remooued also, after that they had possessed the same about the space of seuen hundred yeares. In this declination of the Sarasins (the first champions of the Mahometane superstition, who though they had lost much, yet held many great kingdomes both in Asia and Affricke, taken for the most part from the Christians) arise the Turks, an obscure and base people, before scarce knowne vnto the world, yet fierce and courageous, who by their valour first aspired vnto the kingdome of Persia, with diuers other large prouinces: from whence they were about an hundred threescore and ten yeares after againe expulsed by the Tartars, and enforced to retire themselues into the lesser Asia: where taking the benefit of the discord of the Christian princes of the East, and the carelesnesse of the Christians in generall, they in some good measure repaired their former losses againe, and maintained the state of a kingdome at Iconium in Cilicia [Page] (now of them called Caramania) holding in their subiection the greater part of that fruitfull countrey, still seeking to gaine from the Christians what they had before lost vnto the Tartars. But this kingdome of the Turkes declining also, by the dismembring of the same, there slept vp among the Turkes in Bythinia one Osman or Othoman, of the Og [...]zian tribe or familie, a man of great spirit and valour, who by little and little growing vp amongst the rest of his countreymen, and other the effeminate Christians on that side of Asia, at last like another Romulus tooke vpon him the name of a Sultan or King, and is right worthely accounted the first founder of the mightie Empire of the Turks: which continued by many discents directly in the line of himselfe, euen vnto Mahomet the third of that name, who now raigneth, is from a small beginning become the greatest terror of the world, and holding in subiection many great and mightie kingdomes in Asia, Europe, and Affricke, is growne to that height of pride, as that it threateneth destruction vnto the rest of the kingdomes of the earth; labouring with nothing more than with the weight of it selfe. In the greatnesse whereof is swallowed vp both the name and Empire of the Sarasins, the glorious Empire of the Greekes, the renowmed kingdomes of Macedonia, Peloponesus, Epirus, Bulgaria, Seruia, Bosna, Armenia, Cyprus, Syria, Aegipt, Iudea, Tunes, Argiers, Media, Mesopotamia, with a great part of Hungarie, as also of the Persian kingdome, and all those churches and places so much spoken of in holy Scripture (the Romanes onely excepted;) and in briefe, so much of Christendome as farre exceedeth that which is thereof at this day left. So that at this present if you consider the beginning, progresse, and perpetuall felicitie of this the Othoman Empire, there is in this world nothing more admirable or strange; if the greatnesse and lustre thereof, nothing more magnificent or glorious; if the power and strength thereof, nothing more dreadfull or dangerous: which wondering at nothing but at the beautie of it selfe, and drunke with the pleasant wine of perpetuall felicitie, holdeth all the rest of the world in scorne, thundering out nothing but still bloud and warre, with a full persuasion in time to rule ouer all, prefining vnto it selfe no other limits than the vttermost bounds of the earth, from the rising of the Sunne vnto the going downe of the same. [...]. The causes whereof are many and right lamentable, but for the most part so shut vp in the counsels of the Great, as that for me to seeke after them, were great follie: yet amongst the rest, some others there be, so pregnant and manifest, as that the blind world taketh thereof as it were a generall knowledge, and may therefore without offence of the wiser sort (as I hope) euen in these our nice dayes be lightly touched. Whereof the first and greatest, is the iust and secret iudgement of the Almightie, who in iustice deliuereth into the hands of these mercilesse miscreants, nation after nation, and kingdome vpon kingdome, as vnto the most terrible executioners of his dreadfull wrath, to be punished for their sinnes: others in the meane while, no lesse sinfull than they, in his mercie enioying the benefit of a longer time, calling them vnto repentance. Then, the vncertainetie of worldly things, which subiect to perpetuall change cannot long stay in one state, but as the sea is with the wind, so are they in like sort tossed vp and downe with the continuall surges and waues of alteration and change; so that being once growne to their height, they there stay not long, but fall againe as fast as euer they rise, and so in time come to nothing: As we see the greatest Monarchies that euer yet were vpon earth haue done, their course being run; ouer whom, Time now triumpheth, as no doubt at length it shall ouer this so great a Monarchie also, when it shall but then liue by fame, as the others now doe. Next to these causes from aboue (without offence be it said) is the small care the Christian princes, especially those that dwelt further off, haue had of the common state of the Christian Commonweale: whereof euen the verie greatest are to account themselues but as the principall members of one and the same bodie, and haue or ought to haue as sharpe a feeling one of anothers harmes, as hath the head of the wrongs done vnto the feet, or rather as if it were done vnto themselues: in stead of which Christian compassion and vnitie, they haue euer and euen yet at this time are so deuided among themselues with endlesse quarrels, partly for questions of religion (neuer by the sword to bee determined,) partly for matters touching their owne proper state and soueraignetie, and that with such distrust and implacable hatred, that they neuer could as yet (although it haue beene long wished) ioyne their common forces against the common enemie: but turning their weapons one vpon another (the more to bee lamented) haue from time to time weakened themselues, and opened a way for him to deuour them one after another: Whereas with their combined forces (the greedie enemies greatest terrour) they might long since not onely haue repressed his fur [...]e, and abated his pride, but with small danger and much glorie (God fauouring their so honourable attempts) haue againe recouered from him most of those famous Christian kingdomes, which he by force against all right holdeth at this day in most miserable subiection and thraldome; many millions of the poore oppressed Christians in the meane time out of the furnace of tribulation in the anguish of their soules crying in vaine vnto their Christian brethren for reliefe. By [Page] ciuile discord the noble countrey of Graecia perished, when as the father rising against the sonne, and the sonne against the father, and brother against brother, they to the mutuall destruction of themselues called in the Turke, who like a greedie lyon lurking in his den, lay in wait for them all. So perished the kingdomes of Bulgaria, Seruia, Bosna, and Epirus, with the famous islands of the Rhodes and Cyprus, betraied as it were by the Christian princes their neighbours, by whom they might haue easily beene relieued. So the most flourishing and strong kingdome of Hungarie (in the reliques whereof, the fortune of the Turkish Empire hath longer stucke than in the conquest of any other kingdome, by it attempted, whatsoeuer) diuided in it selfe by the ambition of princes and ciuile discord, the weaker still calling vnto his aid the mightie power of the Turke, is long since for the most part become vnto him a prey, the poore remainders thereof being at this day hardly defended by the forces of the Christian Emperour and of the princes his confederats, sildome times meeting together with such cheerefulnesse or expedition, as the necessitie of so great a matter requireth. Vnto which so great a cause of the common decay, may be added the euill choice of our souldiours emploied in those warres, who taken vp hand ouer head out of the promiscuous vulgar people, are for most part vntrained men, seruing rather for shew and the filling vp of number, than for vse, and in no respect to be compared with the Turks Ianizaries and other his most expert souldiours, continually euen from their youth exercised in feats of armes. Not to speake in the meane time of the want of the auntient martiall discipline, the wholesome preseruatiue of most puissant armies, which breedeth in the proud enemie a contempt of the Christian forces, with a full persuasion of himselfe, that he is not by such disordered and weake meanes to be withstood. But to come neerer vnto the causes of the Turks greatnesse, and more proper vnto themselues, as not depending of the improuident carelesnesse, weaknesse, discord, or imperfections of others: first in them is to be noted an ardent and infinit desire of soueraignetie, wherewith they haue long since promised vnto themselues the monarchie of the whole world, a quicke motiue vnto their so haughtie designes: Then, such a rare vnitie and agreement amongst them, as well in the manner of their religion (if it be so to be called) as in matters concerning their state (especially in all their enterprises to be taken in hand for the augmenting of their Empire) as that thereof they call themselues Islami, that is to say, men of one mind, or at peace among themselues; so as it is not to be maruelled, if thereby they grow strong themselues, and dreadfull to others: ioyne vnto this their courage, conceiued by the wonderfull successe of their perpetuall fortune, their notable vigilancie in taking the aduantage of euery occasion for the enlarging of their Monarchie, their frugalitie and temperatnesse in their diet and other manner of liuing, their straight obseruing of their auntient militarie discipline, their cheerefull and almost incredible obedience vnto their princes and Sultans; such, as in that point no nation in the world was to be worthily compared vnto them: all great causes why their Empire hath so mightily encreased and so long continued. Whereunto may be added the two strongest sinewes of euery well gouerned commonweale, Reward propounded to the good, and Punishment threatened vnto the offendor; where the prize is for vertue and valour set vp, and the way laied open for euery common person, be he neuer so meanely borne, to aspire vnto the greatest honours and preferments both of the Court a [...]d of the field, yea euen vnto the neerest affinitie of the great Sultan himselfe, if his valour or other worth shall so deserue: when as on the contrarie part the disloyall or cowardly is to expect from the same soueraigne power nothing but disgrace, death, and torture. And yet these great ones not contented by such commendable and lawfull meanes still to extend or establish their farre spreading Empire, if that point once come in question, they sticke not in their diuellish policie to breake and infringe the lawes both of Nations and Nature. Their leagues grounded vpon the law of Nations, be they with neuer so strong capitulations concluded, or solemnitie of oath confirmed, haue with them no longer force than standeth with their owne profit, seruing indeed but as snares to entangle other princes in, vntill they haue singled out him whom they purpose to deuour; the rest fast bound still looking on as if their own turne should neuer come, yet with no more assurance of their safetie by their leagues than had the other whom they see perish before their faces. As for the kind law of nature, what can be thereunto more contrarie, than for the father most vnnaturally to embrue his hands in the bloud of his owne children? and the brother to become the bloudie executioner of his owne brethren? a common matter among the Othoman Emperours. All which most execrable and inhumane murthers they couer with the pretended safetie of their state, as thereby freed from the feare of all aspiring competitors (the greatest torment of the mightie) and by the preseruation of the integritie of their Empire, which they thereby keepe whole and entire vnto themselues, and so deliuer it as it were by hand from one to another, in no part dismembred or impaired. By these and such like meanes is this barbarous Empire (of almost nothing) growne to that height of maiestie and power, as that it hath in contempt all the rest, being it selfe not inferiour in greatnesse and strength vnto the greatest monarchies that euer yet were vpon the face of the earth, the Romane Empire only excepted. Which how farre it shall yet farther spread, none knoweth, but he that holdeth in his hand all the kingdomes of the earth, and with his word boundeth in the raging of the sea, so that it cannot further passe. Moued with the greatnesse [Page] and glorie of this so mightie and dreadfull an Empire, growne for the most part out of the ruine of the Christian commonweale, with the vtter subuersion of many great and flourishing kingdomes, and wofull fall of many moe right puissant and mightie princes, not without griefe to be remembred: I long since (as many others haue) entered into the heauie consideration thereof, purposing so to haue contented my selfe with a light view of that which might well be for euer of all good Christians lamented, but hardly or neuer remedied; vntill that afterwards led with a more earnest desire to know the strange and fatall mutations, by this barbarous nation in former time brought vpon a great part of the world, as also so much as I might to see so great a terrour of the present time, and in what tearmes it standeth with the rest, I had with long search and much labour, mixt with some pleasure and mine owne reasonable contentment, passed through the whole melancholie course of their tragicall Historie: yet without purpose euer to haue commended the same or any part thereof vnto the remembrance of posteritie, as deeming it an argument of too high a reach, and fitter for some more happie wit, better furnished with such helpes both of nature and art, as are of necessitie requisit for the vndertaking of so great a charge, than was my selfe, of many thousands the meanest. Not vnmind [...]ull also of that which the Poet (keeping decorum) saith in like case, though farre lesse matter, of himselfe:

Cum canerem reges & praelia, Cynthius aurem

V [...]g. [...] sexia.

Vellit, & admonuit: Pastorem Tittere pingues

Pascere oportet oues, deductum ducere carmen.

When I did sing of mightie kings, or els of bloudie warre,

Apollo pluckt me by the eare, and said I went too farre:

Beseemes a shepheard Titterus his fatlings for to feed,

And for to fit his rurall song vnto his slender reed.

Besides that, so many difficulties euen at the first presented themselues vnto my view, as that to ouercome the same, if I should take the labour in hand, seemed to me almost impossible: for beside the sea and world of matter I was to passe through (requiring both great labour and time) full of the most rare example [...]oth of the letter and worse fortune in men of all sort and condition, yeelding more pleasure vnto the reader than facilitie to the writer, I saw not any (among so many as had taken this argument in hand) whom I might as a sure guide or loadstarre long follow in the course of this so great an Historie: many right worthie and learned men (whose memorie my soule honoureth) contenting themselues to haue with their learned pennes enrolled in the records of neuer-dying fame, some, one great expedition or action, some another, as in their times they [...]ell out; yea the Turkish Histories and Chronicles themselues (from whom the greatest light for the continuation of the Historie was in reason to haue beene expected) being in the declaration of their owne a [...]aires (according to their barbarous manner) so sparing and short, as that they may of right be accounted rather short rude notes than iust Histories, rather pointing things out, than declaring the same; and that with such obscur [...]tie, by changing the auntient and vsuall names as well of whole kingdomes, countries, and prouinces, as of cities, townes, riuers, mountaines, and other places, yea, and oftentimes of men themselues, into other strange and barbarous names of their owne deuising, in such sort, as might well stay an intentiue reader, and depriue him of the pleasure together with the profit he might otherwise expect by the reading thereof; whereunto to giue order, perspicuitie, and light, would require no small trauell and paine. Not to speake in the meane time of the diuersitie of the reports in the course of the whole Historie, such as is oftentimes most hard, if not altogether impossible to reconcile. Notwithstanding all which difficulties, with many others more proper vnto my selfe, hauing with long labour and diligent search passed through the course of the whole Historie, and so in some reasonable sort satisfied my selfe therein, I thought it not amisse, as well for the worthinesse of the matter, as for the zeale I beare vnto the Christian commonweale, and for the satisfying also of some others my good friends, much desirous of the same, to make proofe if out of the dispersed workes of many right worthie men, I could set downe one orderly and continuat Historie of this so mightie an Empire, with the great and fatall mutation or rather subuersion of many right strong and flourishing kingdomes and states (the proper worke of all mightie rising Empires, still encreasing by the fall of others) wherewith this proud monarchie hath alreadie daunted a great part of the world, being so many and so strange, as that moe or more wonderfull were not euer to be seene in any of the greatest monarchies of auntient time or memorie, and so together, and as it were vnder one view and at one shew, to lay open vnto the Christian Reader, what I was glad to seeke for out of the defused labours of many: a worke so long and laborious as might well haue deterred a right resolute and constant mind from the vndertaking thereof, being as yet to my knowledge not vndergone or performed by any: wherein among such [Page] varietie, or more truly to say, contrarietie of writers, I contented not my selfe, as a blind man led by his guide happily of no better sight than himselfe, to tread the steps of this or that one man, going for a while before me, and by and by leauing me againe stumbling in the darke: but out of the learned and faithfull workes of many, according to my simple iudgement to make choice of that was most probable, still supplying with the perfections of the better, what I found wanting or defectiue in the weaker, propounding vnto my selfe no other marke to aime at than the very truth of the Historie; as that which is it selfe of power to giue life vnto the dead letter,The order of the Authors proceeding in the writing of this Historie. and to couer the faults escaped in the homely penning or compiling thereof. Which the better to performe, I collected so much of the Historie as possibly I could, out of the writings of such as were themselues present and as it were eye-witnesses of the greatest part of that they writ, and so as of all others best able, most like also to haue left vnto vs the very truth. Such is the greatest part of so much of the Historie of the Greeke Empire, as I haue (for the better vnderstanding of the rising of the Turkes) in this Historie set downe, gathered out of the doings of Nicetas Choniates, Nicephorus Gregoras, and Laonicus Chalcocondiles, all writing such things as they themselues saw, or were for most part in their time, and neere vnto them done. Such are the wonderfull and almost incredible warres betwixt old Amurath the second, and his foster child, the fortunat prince of Epirus, of the Turks commanly called Scanderbeg, and by that wayward tirant at his death together with his kingdome deliuered as it were by inheritance vnto his sonne, the great and cruell Sultan Mahomet; all written by Marinus Ba [...]letius, himselfe an Epirot, and in all those troublesome times then liuing in Scodra, a citie of the Venetians ioyning vpon Epirus. Such is the wofull captiuitie of the imperiall citie of Constantinople, with the miserable death of the Greeke Emperour Constantinus Palaeologus, and the fatall ruine of the Greeke Empire, written by Leonardus Chiensis, Archbishop of Mitylene, being himselfe then present, and there taken prisoner. Such is the lamentable Historie of the Rhodes, taken for most part out of Ia. Fontanus his three bookes de Bello Rhodio, a learned man, then present and in great credit with Villerius the Great Master, at such time as that famous island, after it had by him and the other worthie knights of the Order beene most wonderfully of long defended, was to the great ruth of Christendome taken by the great Sultan Solyman. Such is the most tragicall Historie of Baiazet, Solyman his youngest sonne, collected out of the notable Epistles of Augerius Busbequius Legationis Turcicae, he himselfe then lying embassador for the Emperour Ferdinand at Constantinople, and present in Solymans campe at such time as he himselfe in person went ouer with his armie into Asia, to countenance his eldest sonne Selymus, who succeeded him in his Empire against his valiant yonger brother Baiazet: and beside, well acquainted with the great Bassaes Achmet, Rustan, Haly, and others, oftentimes mentioned in the Historie following. Such is also the Historie of the taking of the auntient citie of Tripolis in Barbarie from the knights of Malta by Sinan the proud Bassa, written by Nicholas Nicholay lord of Arfeuile, present at the same time with the lord of Aramont, then embassadour for the French king vnto Solyman. So might I say also of the miserable spoile of the fruitfull and pleasant islands of the Mediterranean, made by Lutzis Bassa, Solyman his brother in law and great Admirall, with the submitting of the island of Naxos to the Turkes obe [...]sance, written by Iohn Crispe, at that time duke of the same island. And so likewise of diuers other parts of the Historie, too long to rehearse. But for as much as euery great and famous action had not the fortune to haue in it a Caesar, such as both could and would commend vnto posteritie by writing that whereof they might truly say, They were themselues a great part; many right excellent Generals contenting themselues with the honour of the field, and their glorie there woon, leauing the honourable fame thereof to be by others reported. For lacke of such most certaine authors, or rather (as I before said) eye-witnesses, I gathered so much as I could of that remained, out of the works of such, as being themselues men of great place, and well acquainted with the great and worthie personages of their time, might from their mouths as from certain Oracles report the vndoubted truth of many most famous exploits done both by themselues and others: as might Pau. Iouius from the mouth of Muleasses king of Tunes, from Vastius the great Generall, from Auria the prince of Melphis, Charles the Emperour his Admirall, and such others: or els out of the writings of such as were themselues great trauellers into the Turkes dominions, and withall diligent obseruers of their affaires and state, as were the phisitions Pantaleon, Minadoie, and Leunclauius (of all others a most curious searcher of their antiquities and Histories) vnto which great Clarkes and some others of that learned profession, we may worthily attribute the greatest light and certainetie of that is reported of a great part of the Turkish affairs. But these in the course of so long an Historie failing also (as by conferring that which is hereafter written, together with their Histories, is easily to be perceiued) to perfect that I had taken in hand, I tooke my refuge vnto the writings of such other learned and credible authours, as of whose integritie and faithfulnesse the world hath not to my knowledge at any time yet doubted: yea for these few late yeares I was glad out of the Germane and Italian writers in their owne language to borrow the knowledge of these late affaires as not yet written in Latin, wherein if the reader find not himselfe so fully satisfied as he could desire, I would be glad by him to be better enformed, as being no lesse desirous of others to learn the truth of that I know not, than willing [Page] to impart vnto others that little which I know. Thus much I thought good to set downe, to persuade the Christian Reader of the truth of the Historie following, wherein he shall find matter enough to wonder at, and no lesse strange than that whatsoeuer it is that is written of the greatest monarchies of auntient time, vnto whom for power and maiestie it yeeldeth litle: But so much the more worthy our consideration than they, for that their periods alreadie run, and so their furie ouerpast, this in our time so flourisheth, and at this present so mightily swelleth, as if it would ouerflow all, were it not by the mercie of God first, and then by the forces of some few of the Christian princes neerest vnto so great a danger with their great charge to their immortall glorie and benefit of the Christian commonweale mightily checked and kept within some bounds and compasse. This Historie for the most part thus as is aforesaid passed through, and brought to some good perfection, was yet by me againe laid aside, and like ynough euen as an abortiue fruit to haue perished in the birth before it was growne to perfection, had I not many times fainting in the long and painefull trauell therewith, by my especiall good friend Sir Peter Manwood of S. Stephens in the countie of Kent knight of the honourable order of the Bath, a louer and great fauourer of learning (in whose keeping it so for the most part many yeares in safetie rested) beene still comforted and as it were againe reuiued, and now finally encouraged to take it in hand, and so at length as I might to perfect it: vnto whom (being the onely furtherer, stay, and helpe of these my labours) thou art for such pleasure as thou findest therein (if it be any) in courtesie beholden. Now what I for my part haue in this my long trauell performed, I leaue it to thy good discretion to consider, contenting my selfe in so great a matter to haue bin willing to haue done somthing; wishing no longer to liue, than in some measure to be profitable to the Christian commonweale, which long since in my nursing mother house Lincolne Colledge in Oxford, where I was sometime Fellow, I did purpose to persorme, as it should please God in time to giue me meanes and occasion: in which mind I hope by the goodnesse & mercie of Christ so long as I liue to continue. Only this fauor (to conclude with) I request of thee That if in this so long and perplexed an Historie (by peecemeale of so many diuersly handled) written by me in a world of troubles and cares, in a place that affoorded no meanes or comfort to proceed in so great a worke, thou chance to light vpon some things otherwise reported than thou hast elsewhere read them (as I doubt not but thou maiest) not therfore forthwith to condemne what thou here findest, being happily taken from a more certaine reporter than was that whereunto thou giuest more credit; or at leastwise not written by me, as meaning in any thing to preiudice thy better iudgement, but to leaue it to thy good choice in such diuersitie of reports to follow that which may seeme vnto thee most true. By which courtesie thou maiest hereafter encourage me to performe some other worke to thy no lesse contentment. So wishing thee all happinesse, I bid thee farwell. From Sandwich the last of September. 1603.

Thine in all dutifull kindnesse, R. KNOLLES.

The names of the Authors whom we especially vsed in the collecting and writing of the Historie of the Turks following.

ABrahamus Ortelius.

Achillis Traducci.

Aeneas Syluius Pont.

Alcoranum Turcicum.

Antonius Sabellicus.

Antonius Bonfinius.

Antonius Pigafetta.

Antonius Guarnerius.

Augerius Busbequius.

Bernard de Girard.

Blondus Foroliuiensis.

Caelius Secundus Curio.

Dauid Chytreus.

Franciscus Sansouinus.

Henricus Pantaleon.

Iacobus Fontanus.

Ioannes Leunclauius.

Laonicus Chalcocondilas.

Lazarus Soranzi.

Leonardus Chiensis.

Leonardus Goretius.

Marinus Barletius.

Martinus Chromerus.

Nicephorus Gregoras.

Nicetas Choniates.

Nicholaus Honigerus.

Nicholaus Reusnerus.

Paulus Iouius.

Philippus Lonicerus.

Petrus Bizara.

Sebastianus Monsterus.

Thomas Minadoi.

Theodorus Spanduginus.

Germanicae Continuationes Relationum Historicarum.

Andreae Strigelij.

Theodori Meureri.

Iacobi Franci.

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A

B THE GENERAL HISTORIE OF THE TVRKES, BEFORE THE RISING OF THE OTHOMAN FAMILIE, WITH ALL THE NOTABLE EXPEDITIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN PRINCES AGAINST THEM.

C THE glorious Empire of the Turkes, the present terrour of the world, hath amongst other things nothing in it more wonderfull or strange, than the poore beginning of it selfe; so small and obscure, as that it is not well knowne vnto themselues, or agreed vpon euen among the best writers of their histories, from whence this barbarous nation that now so triumpheth ouer the best part of the world,Diuers opinions concerning the beginning of the Turk [...]. first crept out or tooke their beginning. Some (after the manner of most nations) deriue them from the Trojans, led thereunto by the affinity of the words Turci & Teucri; supposing (but with what probabilitie I know not) the word Turci or Turks, to haue beene made of the corruption of the word Teucri, D the common name of the Trojans: as also for that the Turks haue of long most inhabited the lesser ASIA, wherein the antient and most famous citie of TROY sometime stood. No great reason in my deeming: yet giue the authors thereof leaue therewith to please themselues, as well as some others, which dwelling much farther off, borrow, or rather force their beginning from thence, without any probabilitie at al; and that with such earnestnesse, as if they could not elsewhere haue found▪ any so honourable ancestours. Othersome report them to haue first come out of PERSIA, and of I wot not what citie there, to haue taken their name: neither want there some which affirme them to haue taken their beginning out of ARABIA, yea and some out of SYRIA, with many other far fet deuises concerning the beginning and name of this people: all seruing to no better purpose, than to shew the vncertaintie thereof. Amongst E others, Philip of MORNAY, the noble and learned Frenchman in his woorthy worke concerning the truenesse of the Christian religion, seemeth (and that not without good reason) to deriue the Turks together with the Tartars, from the Iewes, namely, from the ten Tribes, which were by Salmanazar king of ASIRIA, in the time of Oseas king of ISRAEL, caried away into captiuitie,2. King. cap. 17. 4. Esdr. cap. 13. and by him confined into MEDIA, and the other vnpeopled countries of the North, whose going thither is not vnaptly described by Esdras, where among the great Hords of the Tartars in the farthest part of the world Northward, euen at this day are found some, that still retaine the names of Dan, Zabulon, and Nepthaly, a certaine argument of their discent; whereunto also the word Tartar or Tatar, signifying in the Syrian tongue remnants or leauings; and the word Turke, a word of disgrace, signifying in Hebrew, banished men; seemeth right well F to agreee. Besides that, in the Northern countries of RVSSIA, SARMATIA, and LYTHVANIA, are found greater store of the Iewish nation than elsewhere, and so neerer vnto the Tartarians still the mo:Io. Leunclauius Pa [...]dect. cap. 22. whereunto Io. Leunclauius the most curious searcher out of the Turks antiquities and monuments, addeth as a farther conjecture of the discent of those barbarous northern people from the Iewes, That in his trauell through LIVONIA into LYTHVANIA, in the countrie [Page] neere vnto the metropoliticall citie of RI [...]A, he found there the barbarous people of the G Lettoes, quite differing in language from the other countrey people of the Curons and Estons, no lesse barbarous than themselues; who had alwaies in their mouths as a perpetuall lamentation, which they with doleful moanes daily repeated abroad in the fields, Ieru, Ieru, Masco, Lon: whereby they were thought to lament ouer IERVSALEM and DAMASCO, as forgetfull of all other things in their antient countrey, after so many worlds of yeeres, and in a desolat place so far distant thence.Sebast. Munsterus vniuersalis Cosmographiae lib. 3. And Munster in his description of LIVONIA repeating the like words, reporteth, That this rude people being demaunded what they meant by these words so often and so lamentably by them without cause vttered: answered, That they knew no more than that they had beene so of long taught by their ancestors. But to leaue these opinions concerning their beginning, so diuers and vncertaine, and to follow greater probabilities as concerning H the place from whence they came: it is vpon better ground thought by diuers others, and those of the best historiographers, That this barbarous nation which hath of late brought such fatall mutations vpon so great a part, not of Christendom onely, but euen of the whole world, tooke their first beginning out of the cold and bare countrey of SCYTHIA:Scythia the natiue countrey of the Turks. Pompon. Mela. lib. 1. cap. vlt. induced thereunto, both by the authoritie of the greatest Cosmographers, as by most apparant reasons. Pomponius Mela, the describer of the world, reckning vp the people neere vnto the great riuer TANAIS (the bounder of EVROPE from ASIA Eastward) amongst others maketh expresse mention of the Turks, in these words: Geloni vrbem ligneam habitant. Iuxta Thyrsagete Turceque vastas syluas occupant alunturque venando. Tum continuis rupibus late aspera & deserta regio ad Arympheos vsque permittitur. The Geloni inhabit a citie of wood. And fast by, the Thyrsagets and Turks I possesse the vast forrests, and liue by hunting. Then, a rough and desart countrey with continuall rocks,Plinius Secundus lib. 6. cap 7. is spaciously extended euen as far as vnto the Arympheians. Plinie also in like manner reckning vp the nations about the fennes of MaeOTIS, agreeing with that Mela reporteth, saith: Deinde Euazae, Cottae, Cicimeni, Messeniani, Costobocci, Choatrae, Zigae, Dandari, Thussagetae, Turcae, vsque ad solitudines saltuosis, conuallibus asperas vltra quos Arymphet qui ad Riphaeos pertinent montes. Next vnto them, are the Euazae, Cottae, Cicimeni, Messeniani, Costobocci, Choatrae, Zigae, Dandari, the Thussagets and Turks vnto the desarts rough with wooddie vallies: beyond whom are the Arympheians, which border vnto the Riphean mountaines. And Ptolomie in the description of SARMATIA ASIATICA maketh mention of the Tusci, whom many learned men suppose to haue been the same nation with the Turks. Vnto which antient testimonies K of reuerend antiquitie,The [...] agreement betwixt the Turks and Scythians. adde the manners and conditions of the Turks, their antient attire, their gesture, their gate, their weapons, and manner of riding, and fight, their language and dialect, so well agreeing with the Scythians: and a man shall find matter enough sufficient to persuade him in reason, that the Turks haue vndoubtedly taken their beginning from the Scythes; whom they in so many things resemble, and with whom of all other nations they best agree.

When and for what causes the Turks left their antient and naturall seats in Scythia, to seeke others in the countries more Southerly.Now it hath beene no lesse doubted also among the writers of the Turks histories; at what time, and for what causes the Turks (to the trouble of the world) left their naturall seats in the cold countrey of SCYTHIA, to seeke themselues others in more pleasant and temperat countries more Southerly, than it hath beene of their originall beginning. Blondus and Platina, report them, enforced with a generall want, to haue forsaken their natiue countrey and followed L their better fortune, in the yeere of our Lord 755: with whom also Segonius agreeth in the cause of their departure, but not in the time or place when or whereby they departed. For they (as he saith) issued out of their dwelling places in the yeere of grace 844,755 by the straits of the mountaine CAVCASVS: whereas the other with greater probabilitie suppose them to haue come foorth by the Caspian straits:844 which the Turks also (as saith Sabellicus) affirme of themselues, their ancestors (as they say) being by their neighbours driuen out of the Caspian mountaines.Sabellicus Ennead. 9. lib. 2. Some others there be that report them to haue forsaken their natiue countrey, neither enforced thereunto by necessitie, or the power of others; but for their valour sent for by the Sultan of PERSIA to aide him in his wars: vnaduisedly supposing that to have beene the cause of their first comming out, which in deed hapned long time after, as in the processe of this historie shall M appeare. But whatsoeuer the aforesaid causes of want, or of the enemies power, might enforce them vnto, a greater power no doubt it was that stirred them vp, euen the hand of the Almightie, who being the author of all kingdomes vpon earth, as well those which he hath appointed as scourges wherewith to punish the world, as others more blessed; will haue his worke and [Page] A purpose full of diuine majestie, to appeare in the stirring of them vp from right small beginnings, in the increasing & establishing of their greatnesse and power, to the astonishment of the world; and in the ruine and destruction of them againe, the course of their appointed time once runne. As for the difference of the time of their comming foorth, before remembred; it may reasonably be referred vnto the diuers emotions of that people, who being not vnder the command of any one, but of their diuers gouernours, as the manner of that people was, are not to be thought to haue come foorth all at once, either for one cause; but at diuers times, some sooner, some later, and that for diuers causes. This people thus stirred vp, and by the Caspian ports passing thorow the Georgian countrey,Armenia (now called Turcomania) the first [...] of the Turks after their first comming out of Scythia. then called IBERIA, neere vnto the Caspian sea: first ceased vpon a part of the greater ARMENIA, and that with so strong hand, that it is by their posteritie yet B holden at this day, and of them called TVRCOMANIA; of all other, the most true progenie of the ancient Turks. In which great countrey, they of long, vnder their diuers leaders, in the manner of their liuing most resembling their ancestors, roamed vp and downe with their families and heards of cattell, after the manner of the Scythian Nomades, their countrey men, without any certaine places of aboad; yet at great vnitie among themselues, as not hauing much to loose or wherefore to striue.

C

The first kingdome of the Turks erected in Persia by Tangrolipix, Chieftaine of the Selzuccian family: with the successe thereof.

THis wandring and vnregarded people, but now the terrour of the world, thus first seated in ARMENIA: long time there liued in that wide countrey, after their rude and woonted manner (from which D the Turcoman nation their posteritie in that place, euen at this day as we said much differeth not) and not onely notably defended the countrey thus by them at the first possessed, but still incroching farther and farther, and gaining by other mens harmes, became at length dreadfull vnto their neighbours, and of some fame also farther off: whereunto the effeminat cowardise of those delicate people of ASIA, with whom they had to do gaue no lesse furtherance, than their owne valour; being neuerthelesse an hardie rough people, though not much skilfull or trained vp in the feats of war.

The fame of these Turks togither with their fortune, thus daily encreasing, and the mightie Empire of the Sarasins as fast declining: which vnder their Chaliphes the successors of the false E prophet Mahomet, hauing in lesse than the space of two hundred yeeres, ouerspread not onely the greatest part of ASIA and AFRIKE, euen vnto GADES and the pillers of Hercules: but also passing ouer that strait, had ouerwhelmed almost all SPAINE, and not there staying, but passing the Pyrenei had pearsed euen into the heart of FRANCE, and diuers other parts of Christendom▪ as namely, ITALY, SICILY, the famous Iland of the RHODES, with many others of the MEDITERRANEAN: now diuided in it selfe, and rent into many kingdomes, turned their victorious armes from the Christians vpon one another, to the mutuall destruction of themselues & their empire. Amongst other the Sarasin Sultans which forgetting their obedience vnto their great Chaliph, tooke vpon them the soueraigntie of gouernment (which admitteth no partner) was one Mahomet, Sultan of PERSIA, a right great prince, who hardly beset on the one side F with the Indians, and on the other with the Chaliph of BABYLON his mortall enemie, praied aid of the Turks his neighbours, who were now come even to the side of ARAXIS, the bounds, of his empire: Vnto which his request the Turks easily granted, in hope therby to find a way for them afterwards to enter into PERSIA, and so sent him three thousand hardie men, vnder the leading of one Togra Mucalet, the sonne of Mikeil, a valiant captaine and cheefe of the Selzuccian [Page] tribe or family;Togra, otherwise called Tangrolipix sent to aid the Persian Sultan. whom the Greeks commonly call Tangrolipix, and some others Selduck or G Sadock, names (as I suppose) corrupted of the great family whereof he was descended. By the aide of this Tangrolipix (for now we will so call him, as by the name most vsed) Mahomet the Persian Sultan, ouercame Pisasiris the Chaliph of BABYLON, his Arabians being not able to endure the force of the Turkish archers. This war thus happily ended, the Turks desiring to returne home, requested of the Sultan leaue to depart, and with a safe conuoy to be conducted vnto the riuer ARAXIS, and there to haue the passage of that swift riuer opened vnto them, which was by the Persians strongly kept by two castels built vpon each end of the bridge whereby the riuer was to be passed: But Mahomet loth to forgo such necessarie men, by whom he had obtained so great a victorie, and purposing to employ them further in his seruice against the Indians, would by no meanes hearken vnto their request; but seeming therewith to be discontented,H commanded them to speake no more thereof, threatning them violence, if they should more presume to talke of their departure. The Turks therefore doubtfull of their estate, and fearing further danger, secretly withdrew themselues into the desart of CARAVONITIS, and for that they were in number but few, and not able to come into the open field against so many millions of the Sarasins, liued as they might by continuall excursions and roads which they made out of the desert forrest into the countries adjoyning: wherewith Mahomet greatly incensed, sent out an armie of twentie thousand men, vnder the conduct of ten of his best captaines against them: who for want of water and other necessaries, doubting to enter the desart, encamped themselues in the side of the forrest, there to consult what course to take. But Tangrolipix who with his Turks lay a great way off in the couert of the woods and mountaines,I vnderstanding of the comming of his enemies, and of the manner of their lying; thought it best vpon the sudden by night to set vpon the Sarasins and Persians, if so happily he might ouerthrow them by policie, whom he was not able to encounter in plaine battell. Vpon which resolution, hauing trauelled two daies long march in the desart, the third day at night he suddenly set vpon his enemies, lying negligently in their trenches, and by his vnexpected comming, brought such a feare vpon them, that they without longer stay betooke themselues to flight, euerie man shifting for himselfe without regard of others. This victorie so happily gained, and Tangrolipix now (beyond his hope) throughly furnished, with armour, horses, and abundance of all things needfull for the wars, kept the woods and forrests no longer as a theefe or out-law, but shewed himselfe in the open field, where daily repaired vnto him numbers of roagues and vagabonds,K seeking after spoile; with many other desperat villaines, who for feare of punishment were glad of such a refuge: So that in a short space his armie was growne to be fiftie thousand strong, and so much the stronger, for that they had nothing to trust vnto, more than the valour of themselues. Whilest Tangrolipix thus encreaseth, Mahomet enraged with the ouerthrow of his armie, in his furie caused all those ten captaines that had the leading thereof, to haue their eies pluckt out, threatning also to attire all the souldiers that fled out of the battell in womens apparell, and so disgraced, to carrie them about as cowards: and withall raised a great armie for the suppressing of the Turks. All things being now in readines, he set forward▪ when by the way the souldiers whom he had before so threatned to disgrace, suddenly fled to the enemie: with whose comming,Mahomet the Persian Sultan goeth himselfe with an armie against Tangroli [...]ix. Tangrolipix greatly encouraged and strengthened, resolued to giue the Sultan battell.L And so boldly comming on, met with him at ISPAHAN, a citie of PERSIA, where was fought betwixt them a most terrible battell, with woonderfull slaughter on both sides. In the heat of which battell, Mahomet vnaduisedly riding too and fro to encourage his souldiers, falling with his horse, brake his necke: vpon which mischance both the armies comming to agreement, by common consent proclaimed Tangrolipix Sultan in his stead,Tangrolipix by consent of the souldier [...], m [...]le Sultan of Persia. and so made him king of PERSIA and of all the other large dominions vnto that kingdome belonging.

This was the first kingdome of the Turks, begun by the good fortune of Tangrolipix, about 214 yeeres after their comming out of SCYTHIA, in the yeere also of our Lord 1030; Constantinus Monomachus then raigning,Tangrolipix first Sultan of the Turks. or a little before (according to the Turks account) in the raigne of Romanus Argirus, Constantine his predecessour. Tangrolipix by rare fortune, thus of a meane M captaine become king of PERSIA, foorthwith commanded the garrison that kept the bridge ouer the riuer ARAXIS, to be remooued, and so free passage to be giuen vnto the Turks his countreymen, at their pleasure to come ouer: who in great multitudes repaired into PERSIA, where they were by the new Sultan well prouided for, and by little and little promoted vnto the [Page] A greatest dignities of that kingdome; the Persians and Sarasins the antient inhabitants thereof, being by these new come guests now kept vnder,When the Turks first receiued the Mahometane superstition. and as it were troden vnder fo [...]t. Together with this kingdome, the Turks receiued the Mahometane superstition, from which they before not much abhorred, as men vsing circumcision: So that hard it is to say, whether nation lo [...]t more; the Persians and Sarasins, by the losse of so great a kingdome, or the Turks by embracing so great a vanitie.

Tangrolipix with his Turks thus possessed of the kingdome of PERSIA, held not himselfe therewith long content, but made war vpon his neighbour princes, especially against Pisasir [...]s the Chaliph of BABYLON, whom hee in diuers battels ouerthrew; and hauing [...] length slaine him, joyned his kingdome vnto his owne. After that he sent Cutlu-Muses his cou [...]in, with an a [...] mie B against the Arabians,Cutlu Muses sent by Tangrolipix against the Arabians. by whom he was ouerthrown and put to flight. But returning by MEDIA he requested of Stephan the Greeke emperours lieutenant leaue to passe with his armie by the confines of his countrey: which his request, Stephan not onely rejected, but also by strong hand sought to stop his passage; but joyning battell with him, was by the Turks easily ouerthrown and himselfe taken. So Cutlu-Muses returning to Tangrolipix, and recounting vnto him the successe of his wars, persuaded him to turne his forces into MEDIA, as a most fruitfull countrey, and easie to be subdued. But he highly offended with the ouerhrow giuen by the Arabians, would not hearken vnto him, but raising a new armie in hope of better fortune, went against the Arabians in person himselfe.Cutlu Muses rebelleth against Tangrolipix. Cutlu-Muses in the meane time fearing the Sultans displeasure, fled with his followers and fauorits: and taking for his refuge PASAR a strong citie of the Chorasmians, C reuolted from him; which the Sultan seeming not to regard, held on his intended journey against the Arabians, by whom he was also put to the woorst, and enforced with dishonour to returne. After that, he with part of his armie besieged Cutlu-Muses, who by the strength of the place and valour of his people, for a great while notably defended himselfe. In the meane time Tangrolipix not vnmindfull what Cutlu-Muses had before said vnto him, concerning the easinesse of the conquest of MEDIA (a countrey (as heersaid) defended but by women) sent Asan his brothers sonne, surnamed the Deafe, with a conuenient armie to inuade the same: who entring into the frontiers of that prouince, was there by the emperours lieutenant ouerthrown, and himselfe with the greatest part of his armie slaine: with which losse the Sultan rather enraged than discouraged, sent Habramie Alim his brother, againe with an army of an hundred D thousand fighting men; with which so great a power the emperors lieutenant thought it not good to encounter, vntill he had procured farther aid from the emperour, especially out of IBERIA, and therefore kept himselfe with such power as he had within his strong and fenced places: which Alim perceiuing, and out of hope to draw him vnto battell, roming vp and downe the countrey, at last besieged ARZEN an open towne, but full of rich merchants, by whom it was contrarie to his expectation, notably defended for the space of six daies; vntill that at length the Turks seeing no other way to win it, set fire vpon it in diuers places: by force whereof the inhabitants were enforced for safegard of their liues to flie, and to leaue the towne with an infinit wealth to the spoile of the enemie. By this time was Liparites gouernour of IBERIA come with a great power to the aide of the emperors lieutenant in MEDIA: whereof Alim hauing intelligence, E without delay hasted with his armie towards his enemies: and meeting with them a little before night, had with them a cruell fight, wherein the victorie fell vnto the Christians, who had the Turks in chace a great part of the night. Neuerthelesse Liparites valiantly fighting in another wing of the battell, was there taken and so carried away prisoner: For whose ransome the emperor sent a great summe of money, with certaine presents to the Sultan; all which he sent back againe, and frankly set Liparites at libertie, wishing him neuer to beare armes more against the Turks. And with him sent the Seriph, a man of great place among the Mahumetans, his embassadour vnto the emperour:The Turks embassadour contemned of the emperour. who comming to CONSTANTINOPLE, amongst other things proudly demanded of the emperour to become tributarie vnto the Sultan, and so to be at peace with him for euer. Which his vnreasonable demand, was by the emperour with no lesse F disdaine scornfully rejected, and the Seriph so dismissed: which contempt of his embassadour the Sultan taking in euill part, as also not a little mooued with the death of his nephew and losse of his armie,Tangrolipix inuadeth the empero [...]rs dominions. with all his power inuaded the Roman prouinces. But being come as far as COIME without any notable harme doing, for that the countrey people hearing before of his comming, had in time conueighed themselues with their substance into their strong holds, whereof there [Page] was great store in those countries; and hearing also that the Greeke emperour was raising a G great power to come against him at CESAREA; not daring to proceed any further, leauing so many enemies behind him, he fretting in himselfe returned into MEDIA, where finding the people all fled into their strong townes, he laid siege vnto MANTZICHIERT, a citie standing in a plaine champion countrey, but strongly fortified with a triple wall and deepe ditches: This citie he furiously assaulted by the space of thirtie daies without intermission, but all in vaine, the same being still notably defended by Basilius gouernour thereof, and the other Christians therein. The Sultan wearie of this siege, and about to haue risen, was by Alcan one of his great captaines, persuaded yet to stay one day, for him to make proofe in, what he were able to do for the gaining thereof: whereunto the Sultan yeelding, committed the whole charge of the assault vnto him. Alcan the next day diuiding the armie into two parts, and placing the one part vpon H the higher ground, of purpose, with the multitude of their shot to haue ouerwhelmed the defendants; with the other part of the armie, furnished with all things needful for the assault, approched the wals: the Sultan in the meane time with certaine of the chiefe Turks, from an high place beholding all that was done. But this so forward a captaine in the middest of his endeuour lost himselfe, being slaine with a great number of his followers in approching the wall. His dead bodie knowne by the beautie of his armour, was by two valiant yoong men that salied out of the gate, drawne by the haire of his head into the citie; and his head being foorthwith cut off, was cast ouer the wall among the Turks: wherewith the Sultan discouraged, and out of hope of gaining the citie, rose with his armie, pretending himselfe with other his vrgent affaires to be called home, and threatning withall, the next spring to returne with greater power, and to do great I matters.Dissen [...]ion betw [...]xt Tangrolipix, and his brother Habramie A [...]m. But not long after, great discord arose betwixt the Sultan and his brother Habramie Alim, in so much that the Sultan sought by diuers meanes to have taken him out of the way: which Habramie perceiuing, fled to his nephew Cutlu Muses, and ioyning his forces with his, denounced war vnto the Sultan his brother; who meeting with them not far from PASAR, ouercame them in plaine battell, wherein Habramie was taken, and presently by the commandement of his brother put to death. But Cutlu Muses with his cousin Melech, & six thousand Turks fled into ARMENIA; and by messengers sent of purpose, requested of the emperour Constantinus Monomachus to be receiued into his protection.Cutlu Muses flie [...] into Arabia. But the Sultan with his armie following them at the heeles, they for their more safetie were glad to flie into ARABIA. The Sultan afterwards turning into IBERIA did there great harme, spoiling the countrey before him: against K whom the emperour sent Michael Acoluthus, a valiant captaine; of whose approch the Sultan hearing, and that he would vndoubtedly ere long give him battell (deeming it no great honour vnto him to ouercome the emperours seruant, but an eternall dishonour to bee of him ouerthrown) retired with his armie backe againe to TAVRIS, leauing behind him one Samuch with three thousand Turks to infest the frontiers of the emperors territories; which both he and other the Turks captaines afterward more easily did, for that Monomachus the emperour hauing prodigally spent the treasures of the empire,Couetousnes and lacke of Reward the deca [...] of the Constantinopolitane empire. to encrease his reuenue, had imposed a tribute vpon the frontier countries of his empire, woont before to be free from all exactions: in lieu whereof, they were bound to defend the passages from all incursions of the enemies; but now pressed with new impositions, had dissolued their woonted garrisons, and left an easie entrance L for the barbarous enemies into the prouinces confining vpon them: Besides that the emperours immediatly following, and especially Constantinus Ducas, abhorring from wars, and giuen altogether to the hoording vp of treasure, gaue little countenance and lesse maintenance vnto men of seruice, which in short time turned vnto the great weakning, and in fine to the vtter ruine of the Constantinopolitane empire. At the same time also the gouernment of the Constantinopolitane empire by the death of Constantinus Ducas the late emperour, came to his wife Eudocia with her three sonnes, Michael, Andronicus, and Constantinus, all verie yoong; whose sex and tender yeeres the barbarous nations hauing in contempt, at their pleasure grieuously spoiled the prouinces of the empire, namely, MESOPOTAMIA, CILICIA, CAPADOCIA, yea and sometime as far as CoeLESIRIA. The report wherof much troubled the empresse, & gaue occasion M for many that loued her not, to say, That so troubled an estate required the gouernment of some worthie man.Ludocia the empresse contrarie to her oath desirou [...] to [...]rie. Wherefore shee fearing lest that the Senat, making choise of some other, she and her children should be remooued from the gouernment, thought it best for the preseruation of her state and her childrens, to make choice of some notable & valiant man for her husband, that [Page] A for her and hers should take vpon him the managing of so weightie affaires. But to check this her purpose (the onely remedie of her troubled thoughts) shee had at the death of the late emperour Constantine her husband, at such time as the soueraigntie was by the Senat confirmed vnto her and her sonnes, solemnly sworne neuer more to marrie; which her oath was for the more assurance conceiued into writing, and so deliuered vnto the Patriarch to keepe. This troubled her more than to find out the man whom she could thinke worthie of her selfe, with so great honor. Shee held then in prison one Diogenes Romanus, a man of great renown & honorably discended; whose father hauing married the neece of the emperour Romanus Argirus, and aspiring to the empire, being conuicted thereof, slew himselfe for feare to be enforced by torments to bewray his confederats. This Diogenes was by the late emperour Constantine, for his good seruice against B the Scythes (who then much troubled the empire) highly promoted, with most honourable testimonie in the charters of his promotions, That such honours were bestowed vpon him, not of the emperours meere bountie, but as the due rewards of his woorthie deserts. Notwithstanding after the death of the emperour, he sicke of his fathers disease, and swelling with the pride of ambition, sought by secret meanes to haue aspired vnto the empire: Whereof the empresse hauing intelligence, caused him to be apprehended and brought in bonds to CONSTANTINOPLE, where being found guiltie of the foule treason, and so committed to safe keeping, was shortly after brought foorth to the judgement seat againe, to receiue the heauie sentence of death. In which wofull plight, standing as a man out of hope and now vtterly forlorne, he mooued all the beholders with a sorrowfull compassion: For beside that he was a man of exceeding C strength, so was he of incomparable feature and beautie, adorned with many other rare qualities and vertues answerable thereunto: wherewith the empresse mooued with the rest, or pearsed with a secret good liking, is hard to say, reuoked the sentence of condemnation readie to haue beene pronounced vpon him,Diogenes Roma [...]nus of a prisone [...] by the empresse made general [...] of her armie. and gaue him pardon. And shortly after hauing set him at libertie, sent for him as he was going into CAPADOCIA his natiue countrey, and made him generall of all her forces, with a ful resolution in her selfe to marie him, and to make him emperour, if shee might by any meanes get the writing out of the Patriarches hand, wherein her oath for neuer marrying againe, was comprised. For the compassing whereof, she entred into a deepe deuice full of feminine policie with one of her Eunuches, whom she purposed to vse as her pander for the circumuenting of the Patriarch. This craftie Eunuche instructed by his mistresse, D comming to the Patriarch Ioannes Xiliphilinus, a man both for his place and integritie of life much honoured, told him in great secret, That the empresse had so far set her good liking vpon a yoong gentleman, a nephew of his called Barda (then a gallant of the court) as that she could be content to take him to her husband and to make him emperour, if shee might by his holinesse be persuaded, that she might with safe conscience do it, and by him be discharged of the rash oath she had vnaduisedly taken, neuer to marrie againe, whereof hee had the keeping. The Patriarch, otherwise a contemner of worldly honours, yet mooued with so great a preferment of his nephew, promised the Eunuch to do therein whatsoeuer the empresse had desired, which he accordingly performed. And so sending for the Senators one by one, in whose good liking the matter cheefly rested: he with much grauitie propounded vnto them the dangerous estate of the E common weale, with the troubles dayly encreasing, and the continual feare of forreine enemies, not to be repressed by the weake hand of a woman, or the authoritie of yoong children, but requiring (as he said) the valiant courage of some woorthie man. After that, hee began to find great fault with the rash oath which the empresse had taken a little before the death of her husband, neuer to marrie; and vtterly condemning the same, as contrarie to the word of God, and vnjustly exacted of her, rather to satisfie the jealous humour of the emperour her late husband, than for any good of the common-weale: he in fine persuaded them, that the vnlawfull oath might be reuoked, and the empresse set at libertie at her pleasure, by their good liking to make choice of such a man for her husband, as might better vndertake so weightie affaires of the empire, more fit for a man, than for so tender a lady and three yoong children. The greater part of the F Senat thus persuaded by the Patriarch, and the rest with gifts and promises ouercome by the empresse; the Patriarch deliuered vnto her the writing she so much desired, & discharged her of her oath:Eudocia marrieth Diogenes Romanus and proclaimeth him emperour. whereupon shee foorthwith calling vnto her certaine of her secret friends, married Diogenes, whom she caused to be proclaimed emperour. Now thought Eudocia, after the manner of women, to haue had her husband (whom she euen from the bottom of dispaire had exalted [Page] vnto the highest tipe of honour) in all things loyall and pliant: whereunto he for a while at G the first forced himselfe, but afterwards (being a man of a proud nature, and haughtie spirit) became wearie of such obseruance, and began by little and little to take euerie day more and more vpon him. And for that the imperiall prouinces in the East, were in some part lost, and the rest in no small danger, he aswell for the redresse thereof, as for his owne honour, and to shew himselfe an emperour indeed, and not the seruant of the empresse, left the court and passed ouer into ASIA, although it were with a small armie and euill appointed: for why, it was no easie matter for him to furnish out the armie with all things necessarie, which by the sloth and sparing of the late emperours, had to the great danger and dishonour of the empire, beene vtterly neglected. Neuerthelesse the Turkish Sultan, who at the same time with a great power inuaded the prouinces of the empire, hearing of his comming, and that he was a man of great valour, and doubting H what power he might bring with him, retired himselfe; and diuiding his armie, sent the one part thereof into the South part of ASIA,The prouinces of the empire spoiled by the Turks. and the other into the North, which spoiled all the countrey before them as they went, and suddenly surprising the citie of NEO-CESARIA, sacked it, and so laded with the spoile thereof departed. But the emperour vnderstanding thereof, and not a little greeued therewith, drawing out certaine bands and companies of the best and most readiest souldiers in his armie, and with them coasting the countrey to get betwixt the Turks and home, vsed therein such expedition, that he was vpon them before they were aware, and so suddenly charging them,The Turks discomfited by Diogenes the emperour. brought such a feare vpon them, that they betooke themselues to their heeles, leauing behind them for hast, their baggage and carriages, with all the prisoners and bootie they had before taken at NEO-CESARIA, and in their late expedition: yet was there no I great number of them slaine, for that the Christians forewearied with long trauell, were not able far to follow the chace. From thence taking his way into SYRIA, he sent part of his armie to MELITENA, and carried himselfe from ALEPPO, a great bootie both of men and cattell. At which time also the citie of HIERAPOLIS was yeelded vnto him, where he shortly after built a strong castell. But whilest he there staied, newes was brought vnto him that the other part of his armie which he had sent away, was ouerthrowne by the Turks, for the releefe of whom, he rose with all hast and marched towards them: but being in number farre inferiour vnto his enemies, hee was by them as hee lay encamped, enclosed round in such sort, as that it was thought almost impossible for him to haue escaped. At which time also the gouernour of ALEPPO, traiterously reuolted from him, and joyned his forces with the enemie, making now no K other reckoning, but assuredly to haue taken him. But whiles the Turks thus dreame of nothing but of most glorious victorie, and were in mind diuiding the spoile; the emperour without so much as the sounding of a trumpet, suddenly issuing out of his trenches, when they least thought he durst so haue done, and resolutly charging them home, put them to flight, & had of them had a notable victorie, had he throughly prosecuted the same. After that, hauing taken diuers townes he came to ALEXANDRIA in CILICIA, and there all about in the countrey billited his armie, because of the approch of winter, and so returned himselfe to CONSTANTINOPLE. The next spring the Turks, according to their vsuall manner inuading the frontiers of the empire, did much harme about NEO-CESARIA: whereof the emperour aduertised, went thither with is armie, and quickly repressing their furie, tooke his journey to the riuer EVPHRATES,L where leauing part of his armie with Philaretus for the keeping of those frontiers, he himselfe retired Northward into CAPADOCIA. But after his departure, the Turks setting vpon Philaretus, put him to flight with his garrisons: and taking the spoile of the frontiers entred into CAPADOCIA, wasting all as they went: and afterwards turning into CILICIA, sacked ICONIVM a rich and populus citie, Whereof the emperour vnderstanding, at SEBASTIA, made towards them: but hearing by the way that they had ransackt the citie, and were for feare of his comming alreadie retired, he sent Chatagurio gouernour of ANTIOCH, with part of his armie to MOPSIPHESTIA to stop the Turks of their passage. But they in the plaines of THARSVS were before distressed by the Armenians, and stript of all their rich prey: and hearing farther of the approch of the emperours power, fled by night, and so escaped: which the emperour vnderstanding,M and hauing now well quieted those prouinces, and the yeere far spent, returned againe to CONSTANTINOPLE. But after his departure, the Turks againe inuading the frontier prouinces, he sent Manuel Comnenus, a valiant yoong man, generall against them; who so preuailed, that the emperour enuying at his honour, tooke from him a great part of his armie, and sent him [Page] A with a small power into into SIRIA. But as he was vpon his way, he was by the Turks entrapped neere vnto SEBASTIA, and there taken, most part of his armie being at the same time ouerthrowne and slaine; with which losse, the emperour troubled, made great preparation to go himselfe in person against his enemies; who encouraged with the former victorie, ceased not to infest his territories. In the meane time, by great fortune came Manuel Comnenus home, together with the Turke that tooke him; who being fallen into the displeasure of the Sultan, fled vnto the emperor with his prisoner, of whom he was honorably entertained. All things now in a readinesse for so great an expedition as the emperour had in person purposed,Diogenes [...] with a great armie agains [...] the Turks. he set forward▪ and after long trauell hauing passed CESAREA, he encamped at a place-called CRYAPEGA; where for seuere execution done vpon certaine mutinous souldiers, one of the legions of his armie B rose in mutinie against him: whom for all that he quickly pacified with the terrour of the rest of his armie, which he threatned to turne vpon them if they proceeded to forget their dutie▪ After that, remoouing to THEODOSOPOLIS, he diuided his armie, and sent Ruselius one of his best captaines, with one part thereof against Chliat, and another part hee sent to besiege MANTZICIERTS, retaining with himselfe the rest, being of no great strength. The Turks in MANTZICIERTS finding themselues not able long to hold out, fell to composition, and yeelded the city. But shortly after, the souldiers left there in garrison for the keeping therof, going out to seeke for forrage, were by the Turks suddenly oppressed: which the emperour vnderstanding, sent thither one Nicephorus Bryennius, with certaine companies to releiue the citie; who encountring with the Turks, and finding himselfe too weake, sent vnto the emperour for aid: who C not knowing the strength of the enemies, blamed him of cowardise, yet sent vnto him Nicephorus Basilacius with part of his armie; who joyning his forces with Bryennius, and giuing the Turks battell, put them to flight. But following too fast vpon them vnto their trenches, and Bryennius making no great hast after, he had his horse slaine vnder him, and so on foot heauily laded with armour, and not able to shift for himselfe, was there taken and brought to the Sultan: who honourably entreated him, and oftentimes questioning with him concerning the emperour, and shewing him his owne power, examined him also of the emperours.

Tangrolipix was now dead,Axan the Sultan sendeth embassadours vnto Diogenes for peace. and the Sultan now in field against the emperour, was Axan his son, a man of great wisedome and discretion: who considering the doubtfull euent of battell, sent embassadours vnto the emperour to entreat with him of peace. But he (persuaded by some of D his captaines, that this motion made by the Sultan for peace, proceeded but of a meere feare and distrust he had in his owne power, or else to gaine time vntill some greater strength came) had small regard of the embassadours or their message, but proudly willed them to tell their master, That if he were desirous of peace, he should get him farther off, and leaue the place wherein hee lay encamped, for him to lodge in. And so without other answere commanded them away. Now had the emperour (as is before said) sent away part of his armie by Ruselius against Chliat, whom he now sent for in hast againe: but he hearing of the approch of the Sultan, by the persuasion of Tarchomates, one of his captaines, was retired for his more safetie backe into the Romain frontiers, leauing the emperour destitute of his helpe. At which time also, a companie of the Scythians which serued in the emperours campe, reuolted vnto the Turks; not without E some suspition, that the rest of their fellowes which remained, would ere long do the like. Neuerthelesse the emperour presuming of such strength as he had, or carried headlong with his owne fortune, resolued to giue the Turks battell, and therefore putting his men in order, set vpon them. Who somewhat troubled with the emperours so sudden a resolution, as being yet in some hope of peace: yet hauing put themselues in order of battell, receiued the enemies charge; still giuing a little ground, as men not greatly desirous either to fight or to flie. This fight continuing long, and the day now declining, the emperour doubting least the Sultan should send part of his armie to assault his campe (from which he was now drawne somewhat far, and had left the same but weakly manned) caused a retrait to be sounded, and so began orderly to retire himselfe with them that were about him: which others a far off in the battell beholding, and G supposing him to haue fled, began themselues to flie a maine. Of which so shamefull flight and sudden feare Andronicus (the sonne of Iohn Ducas, Iohn Ducas a notable Traitor, cause of the flight of the emperours armie. the late emperour Constantine his brother, and by him created Caesar, who with his sonnes secretly enuied at the honour of Diogenes) was the cause. For he commanding a great part of the armie, gaue it first out vnto such as were about him, that the emperour fled: and to encrease the feare, turning his horse about, fled towards the [Page] campe as fast as he could: after whom all the rest most disorderly followed: which the emperor G beholding, and therewith not a little troubled, made a stand, labouring in vaine to haue staid the rest. For now the Turks encouraged with the sudden flight of the Christians, began hardly to pursue them, as men alreadie ouerthrown by the hand of God: whom for all that, the emperour with such as yet stood with him,Diogenes the emperour taken by the Turks. for a space notably resisted. But being forsaken by the greater part of his armie, and oppressed with the multitude of his enemies, being wounded himselfe, and his horse slaine vnder him, he was there taken all embrued with his owne blood, and the blood of his enemies, of whom he had wounded and slaine many. The Sultan aduertised of his taking, at the first beleeued it not, supposing it rather to haue beene some other great man: vntill that he was both by them whom he had but a little before sent embassadour vnto him, and by Basilacius one of his captaines then prisoner with him, assured that it was vndoubtedly he, which Basilacius H brought before him to see if he knew him, fell downe prostrat at his feet, as before his dread lord and soueraigne. The emperour brought before the Sultan, and humbling himselfe in such sort as best beseemed his heauie fortune, the Sultan presently tooke him vp and thus cheerfully spoke vnto him: Greeue not noble emperour (said he) at thy mishap, for such is the chance of war, ouerwhelming sometimes one, and sometimes another: neither feare thou any harme, for I will vse thee not as my prisoner, but as an emperour. Which he accordingly did, presently appointing him a princely pauilion, with all things answerable to his estate, setting him oftentimes at his owne boord, and for his sake enlarging such prisoners as he required. And after he had thus for certaine daies honourably vsed him, and discoursed with him of many things, he concluded a perpetuall peace with him, vpon promise of a marriage to be made betwixt their children, and so with a safe I conuoy sent him away with greater honour than was at an enemies hand to haue beene expected. The emperour in Turkish attire, which the Sultan had bestowed vpon him, comming to THEODOSOPOLIS, there staid for the curing of his wounds, & afterwards accompanied with the Sultans embassadors, set forward toward CONSTANTINOPLE. But all was now there changed: for vpon the report of his captiuitie, Iohn the Caesar, with Psellus one of the cheefe Senators, and others of the same faction, which alwaies enuied at the honour of Diogenes, presently tooke the imperiall gouernment from Eudocia the empresse,Eudocia the empresse deposed by the traitour Iohn Duca [...] ▪ Psellu [...] ▪ and others. and thrusting her into a monasterie which shee had built neere vnto PROPONTIS, set vp Michael Ducas her eldest sonne, emperour, in steed of Diogenes: whose simplicitie, Caesar his vncle, abusing with the rest, did now what they list. And hearing that Diogenes was now contrarie to their expectation, set at liberlie by the Sultan,K and comming towards the emperiall citie, sent out letters euerie way in the new emperours name, vnto all the gouernours of the prouinces whereby hee was to passe, not to receiue him as emperour, or to doe him any honour: which Diogenes vnderstanding, staid at the castle of DOCIA, whether some of his friends with such power as they were able to make, resorted vnto him. Against whom, Caesar with the contrarie faction first sent his sonne Constantine, and after that Andronicus his eldest sonne, both Diogenes his mortall enemies, with a great armie: by whom Diogenes with his friends and followers,Diogenes the emperour taken prisoner by Andronicus. were ouerthrown and discomfited. Diogenes himselfe flying to the citie of ADANA, was there hardly besieged by Andronicus, and in the end glad to yeeld himselfe, vpon condition, that he should resigne the empire, and so for euer after to lead a priuat life. For whose safetie, certaine of the cheefe of the clergie sent of purpose L from Michael the emperour, gaue their faith. So Diogenes all attired in blacke, yeelded himselfe to Andronicus: by whom hee was brought to COTAI, then the metropoliticall citie of PHRIGIA, there to expect what further order should be taken for him from the court: during which time, he fell sicke, being as many supposed secretly poysoned. But whilst he there lay languishing, an heauier doom came from the yoong emperor, That he should haue his eies put out: which was foorthwith in most cruell manner done; the clergie men that had before for his safetie gaged their faith,The miserable death of Diogenes the emperor. crying out in vaine against so horrible a crueltie. Thus depriued of his sight, he was conueighed into the iland of PROTA, where his eies for lacke of looking to, putrifying, and wormes breeding in them, with such an odious smell as that no man could abide to come nigh him, he in short time after died, when he had raigned three yeeres, eight months. All M which miserie was thought to haue hapned vnto him through the malice of Caesar, without the knowledge of the yoong emperour his nephew.

Axan the Sultan seeketh to reuenge the death of Diogenes. Axan hearing of the miserable end of the late emperour Diogenes, was therewith much greeued, and the more, for that the league which he had to his good content so lately made with him, [Page] A was thereby come to naught: wherefore in reuenge thereof, he with great power inuaded the imperiall prouinces; not for spoile and bootie onely, as in former time, but now to conquer and to hold the same. Against whom Michael the emperour sent Isaack Comnenus his lieutenant, with a great armie: who meeting with the Turks, and joyning battell, was by them ouerthrown with all his army, and taken prisoner: and glad afterwards for a great summe of money to redeeme himselfe. After which ouerthrow, the emperour sent his vncle Caesar with an other armie against them, who was by Ruselius, that had before reuolted from the emperour, ouerthrown at the riuer SANGARIVS, and taken prisoner: whom he for all that, shortly after set at libertie againe, and joyning with him against the Turks, were both together by them discomfited and taken prisoners, but afterwards redeemed; Caesar by the emperour, and Ruselius by his B wife. This Ruselius was a notable traitour, who joyning with the Turks did what he list in the prouinces of the empire in the lesser ASIA: for the repressing of whom, the emperour sent Alexius Comnenus, a yoong man, but verie politike and couragious; who secretly practising with the Turks that were great with Ruselius, had him at last by them for a summe of money betraied into his power: who forthwith sent him to CONSTANTINOPLE to the emperor, by whom he was imprisoned, but afterward set at libertie and employed against Bryennius and his brother, then vp in rebellion against the emperour.

But to come neerer vnto the Turkish affaires.Cutlu-Muses with his sonnes and kinsmen take vp armes against Axan the Sultan. Cutlu-Muses who with his cousin Melech and others were for feare of Tangrolipix their cousin fled into ARABIA, as is before declared, now in the beginning of the raigne of Axan, returned: and as the enuious competitours of his kingdome, C hauing raised a great power of their friends and partakers, were now ready to haue tried the matter with him by plaine battell. Against whom also the Sultan on the other side had brought into the field his whole forces, and was now readie likewise to haue encountred them neere vnto the citie of ERES. But whilst the Turks thus diuided, stood ready to destroy themselues, the Caliph of BABYLON (from whom though the Turks had taken all temporall soueraigntie, yet in matters of religion still held him in great reuerence and esteeme, as their chiefe bishop, and the successour of their great prophet) considering that nothing could be more dangerous vnto his sect and religion than that ciuile dissention, the late confusion and vtter ruine of the Sarasin empire, and authoritie of the Caliphs; and fearing the like effect in these new Sarasines, now the chiefe stay of the Mahometane superstition: setting aside all his pontificall formalitie, D whereby he was bound not to go out of his owne house, came with all speed, euen as the armies were now ready to joyne battell, and thrusting himselfe into the middest betwixt them; what with the reuerence of his person, what with his effectuall persuasion, wrought so much and preuailed so far with both parties, that they were content to lay downe their weapons, and to stand to his order and judgement:A most hurtfull order for the Christian common weale. which was, That Axan the Sultan should still enjoy his kingdome and territories, whole and entire vnto himselfe as he did: and that Cutlu-Muses and his sonnes, aided by him, and so inuading the prouinces of the Constantinopolitane empire, should thereof subdue so much as they could vnto themselues, and to be thereof accounted the onely lords and gouernours. Which order as it was vnto the Turks, and for the maintenance of the Mahometane superstition, verie wholesome & commodious; so was it vnto the Christian common E weale and religion most dangerous and hurtfull, as in processe of time by proofe it appeared. For by this meane, in short time after, Cutlu-Muses with his cousin and sonnes subdued all MEDIA with a great part of ARMENIA, CAPADOCIA, PONTVS, and BYTHINIA, and so a great part of the lesser ASIA. By the aid of this Cutlu-Muses & the fauour of the souldiers, Nicephorus Botoniates aspiring vnto the empire of CONSTANTINOPLE, displaced his master the emperour, Michael Ducas, after he had raigned six yeeres and six months, and in the habit of a munke thrust him into an abbey: which vsurper by the just judgement of God, was at length required euen with the same measure▪ and in like manner serued by Alexius Comnenus; who thrusting him out, succeeded himselfe in the empire. Much it was that this Cutlu-Muses with his sonnes and kinsmen did for the enlarging of the Turkish empire,The ground of the error of diuers writers about the successours of Tangrollpix, otherwise of them called Sadoch. by the helpe of the great Persian F Sultan: whose forces, together with their owne, in diuers countries conducted by these worthy leaders his nigh kinsmen, and doing great matters, gaue occasion for themselues to be accounted Sultans, though in deed they were none, neither their names such as are by some antient writers and some others of later time also reported; but vnto the Turks themselues, by those names, either for Sultans, vnknowne. Out of these great commanders, all borne of the Selzuccian [Page] family, hath Aithonus, and others following his report, deriued their Dogrissa, Aspasalemus, Meleclas, G and Belchiaroc, whom they suppose to haue orderly succeeded Zadoc, otherwise called Tangrolipix, in the Turkish empire, and to haue done great matters: whereas both by the report of the Turks themselues, and the relation the Greeks, it appeareth plainly, Axan (more truely called Ax-Han, that is to say, the White king) to haue beene the sonne of Tangrolipix, and to haue succeeded him in the empire: and that by him the emperour Diogenes was taken, and not by Aspasalemus as they vainely imagine. As for Aspasalemus, whom the Turks by that name know not either any thing of his doings, it seemeth to haue beene a name corrupted of Aspam Sallarius, the brother of Tangrolipix and Habrami, and not his sonnes sonne as they would haue it. In like manner Meleclas also seemeth to haue beene forged of Melech the sonne of Habrami, Tangrolipix his brother, and not of Aspasalemus, as some without any good ground report. Whom H they finding to haue beene all great men in the Selzuccian family, with some others also, haue both corrupted their names, and giuen vnto them an imaginarie soueraigntie and succession in the Turks first empire, such as beside that the Turks themselues acknowledge not, is easily to be refelled out of the histories of the Greeks, who had with them still much to doe. Wherefore leauing these supposed princes of the Turks, with their imaginarie succession, and doings, vnto the authors thereof, following more certainties, to returne againe vnto the course of our historie. Axan the Sultan at the same time that he had by the mediation of the Chaliph (or not long after) fallen to agreement with his cousin Cutlu-Muses: to encrease the honour of his nation and the bounds of his empire, gaue vnto Ducat and Melech, two of his nigh kinsmen, the gouernment of DAMASCO and ALEPPO, with that part of SIRIA which joyneth vnto them, of I purpose that way to encroch vpon the Aegyptian Chaliph, who then had vnder his jurisdiction all as far as LAODICEA in SIRIA; yet not with so large priuiledges as had Cutlu-Muses, vnto whom and his posteritie he had yeelded the absolute honour of a Sultan or king, ouer such countreis and prouinces as they should winne from the Christians: but vnto these others his kinsmen, he gaue the gouernment of the aforesaid cities of DAMASCO and ALEPPO in the frontiers of his dominion in SIRIA, conditionally that they should still remaine his vassals, and hold of him as of their soueraigne, whatsoeuer they had: who neuerthelesse in short time mightily preuailed vpon the Aegyptian, stil increasing the Turkish territorie with the losse of the Sarasins, whose name together with their empire, was now by the Turks almost quite driuen out of ASIA.K

But these proud branches of the Turkish empire, thus ouerspreading the lesser ASIA, with the greatest part of SIRIA, were in short time after by the mercie of God, and the valour of the most Christian and religious princes of the West, cut shorter, and brought againe into some better order. The full discourse whereof, worthie eternall memorie, by others inrolled in the antient records of fame, I purpose not at large to follow, but in briefe to touch, for the orderly continuation of the present historie, hasting to the doings of this victorious nation of later times, wherein we are to make a longer stay, as more pertinent vnto the dangerous estate of the present time.

Peter a French herm [...]t goeth on pilgrimage to Ierusalem.It fortuned that whilest Cutlu-Muses and his sonnes, supported by the Sultan Axan their kinsman, thus mightily preuailed against the Christians in the lesser ASIA on the one side, and L Melich with his cousin against the Aegyptian Caliph in SIRIA on the other: that one Peter a French Heremite mooued with a deuout zeale, according to the manner of that time, went to visit the sepulcher of our Sauiour, with the other holy places at IERVSALEM: who comming into SIRIA, then for the most part possessed by the Turks and Sarasins, diligently noted by the way as he trauelled, the manners and fashions of these barbarous nations, their gouernment, their cities, their power and strength; but aboue all, the grieuous miseries of the poore oppressed Christians, that there liued in most miserable thraldom amongst them, without hope of release: all which, he in the habit of a poore pilgrim, at libertie safely viewed, in the midst of these miscreants, being withall a little low hard fauoured fellow, and therefore in shew more to be contemned than feared.The description of Peter the Heremit. Yet vnder such simple & homely feature, lay vnregarded a most subtill sharp M and pearcing wit, fraught with discretion and sound judgement, still applying to some good vse what he had in his long and painfull trauell most curiously obserued. He comming to IERVSALEM, and performing his deuotions there, saw the grieuous miserie of the poore deuout Christians, so great and heauie, as that greater or more intollerable could none be: wherewith not a [Page] A little grieued, he entred into a deepe discourse thereof with Simon the Patriarch and Abbot of the monasterie of the Christians (there before built by certaine deuout Italian merchants) and with the master o [...] [...]he Hospitalars, by whom he was fully enformed thereof, as of whatsoeuer else he required. After much graue conference, it was at length agreed vpon amongst them, That the Patriarch and the Grand-master, should in their owne, and the names of the other oppressed Christians, write their letters vnto the Pope and the other Christian princes, concerning their miseries; and to craue their aid for the recouerie of those holy places out of the hands of those cruell infidels: of which letters, the deuout hermit promised himselfe to be the trustie carrier, and of their petitions the most carefull soliciter. Whereupon the Patriarch and Grand-master B in the name of the poore oppressed Christians, wrote their letters vnto this effect.

We the citizens of the Holy citie,The letters of Simon Patriarch of Ierusalem, and of the Grand-master of the Hospitaler [...] vnto the Pope and other Christian prince [...], in the behalfe of the oppressed Christians in Ierusalem. and countreymen of Christ Iesus, dayly suffer those things which Christ our king suffered but once; in the last daies of his mortalitie. We are dayly buffeted, scourged, and pierced: euerie day some of vs are brained, beheaded, or crucified. We would flie from citie to citie vnto the remotest parts of the earth, and remooue out of the middle of that land, where Christ our Sauiour wrought our redemption, to lead a poore exiled and vagrant life; were it not impietie to leaue the land (sacred with the birth, doctrine, death, resurrection, and assention of our Sauiour) without inhabitants and priests: and that there should first lacke such as would endure death and martyrdome, than such as would inflict the same: and that there should not be which would willingly die C for Christ, as in battell, so long as there were any that would fight against them. These things truly we most miserably suffer: yet was there a time when as our ancestors feared no such thing, either to themselues or their posteritie. And now perhaps the Christian kingdomes of the West, liue likewise without the least suspition of feare: but let them bee mooued by our example and testimonie. The strength of the Turks is dayly encreased, & ours diminished: The continuall gaining of new kingdoms giueth them courage: They haue already deuoured the whole world, in hope. The forces of the Turks are fiercer and stronger than the forces of the Sarasins, their policies deeper, their attempts more desperat, their endeuours greater, and their successe fortunater. Yet haue the Sarasins attempted both ROMES;Rome, and Constantinople, which was also called Noua Roma, or new Rome. they haue besieged CONSTANTINOPLE, and haue wasted not only the Sea coasts of ITALY, but euen the heart of the land also. Then why should the kingdomes of the West presume D themselues to stand in safetie and out of all perill, when as the chiefe fortresses of the world haue beene so endangered? What may the rest of Christendome promise vnto it selfe, seing that IERVSALEM (the seat and spectacle of the Christian religion) hath beene besieged, taken, sacked, rased, and triumphed vpon? Seeing that of the Christian profession, remaine but the poore and weake reliques, in comparison of the ancient whole entire bodie? This land, which is dayly be sprinkled with our blood, yea the blood it selfe crieth out for reuenge. And we your most humble suppliants, prostrate at your feet, call vpon the helpe, aid, mercie, faith, and religion, of you most blessed Father, of the kings, princes and potentates; Christians not in name and profession onely, but in heart, soule and spirit. Before the tempest thunder, before the lightning fall vpon you, auert from you and your children the storme hanging ouer your heads: defend vs your poore suppliants: deliuer your religion from most wicked and accursed E slauerie. You shall in so doing, deserue immortall fame, and God shall requite your so great valour in this world with terrestriall kingdomes, and in the world to come with eternall blisse, whose sacred inheritance you shall haue defended from the rage of hell.

With these letters, and plentie of other secret instructions▪ the deuout hermit returning into ITALY, and comming to ROME, deliuered his letters vnto Vrban the second of that name, then Pope, with a full discourse of the miseries of the Christians vnder the Turkish thraldome, which he had seene at IERVSALEM, and other places as he trauelled; requesting his holy care for the redresse thereof: with whom he so preuailed, that shortly after, he calling a Councell at CLAREMONT in FRANCE, among other things, propounded the miserie of the poore oppressed F Christians at IERVSALEM,The Councell at Claremont in France. as an especiall matter to be considered of. And hauing caused the aforesaid letters, directed vnto him and the other Christian princes, to bee openly read in the Counsell, wherunto three hundred and ten bishops were then out of diuers parts of Christendome assembled, with the embassadours of all countries, much mooued the whole assembly to compassion: at which time also the hermit, whose flowing eloquence fully counteruailed what wanted in his feature, standing vp in the midst of the Counsell, deliuered his [Page] message in the name of the afflicted Christians, with their heauie gronings and teares: which G as they could not be in letters expressed, so were they not hardly by the religious hermit (as by him who hauing but lately seene, both the miserie of the men, and desolation of the places, and at the heart touched with the greife thereof) so liuely represented, as that it mooued the whole assembly with the like simpathie of heauinesse and greife. Which the Pope perceiuing, tooke thereupon occasion to enter into a large discourse concerning that matter, with many effectuall reasons persuading the fathers and princes there present, of the necessitie of so religious a war to be taken in hand, for the deliuerance of their oppressed brethren out of the thraldome of the infidels; and now as well with their present decree, as afterwards at their returne home into their countries, by all meanes to further the same. Which notable persuasion, with the heauie complaint of the hermit, and the equitie of the cause, so much mooued the whole counsell and the rest there present, that they all as men inspired with one spirit, declared their consent by H their often crying out,An expedition agreed vpon by the Cou [...]sell, [...]or the release of the Christ [...]ans oppressed in the H [...]ly land. Deus vult, Deus vult, God willeth it, God willeth it: which words so then vttered by way of applause, was in the great and most sacred expedition following, much vsed of the deuout Christians, as the fortunate signall of their cheerfull forwardnesse, euen in their most dangerous enterprises. Strange it were to tell, and hardly to be beleeued (but that the antient histories beare witnesse of the like) how far in one daies space the report of this religious decreed war, was by flying fame dispersed.

The Counsell dissolued, and the reuerend fathers returning euerie man home into his owne countrey; it pleased God by their effectuall persuasions so to worke with the rest of the Christian princes, and people in generall, that in all countries and prouinces in Christendome, were shortly to be seene men of all sorts in great number, with red crosses on their brests (the cognisance I of that sacred expedition) readie of themselues to spend both life and goods for the defence of the Christian religion, and recouerie of the Holy land. The number of whom is of diuers diuersly reported, but of most supposed to haue beene three hundred thousand fighting men:The [...] command [...]s of t [...]e [...]hristians in [...] to the Holy l [...]d. of whom the chiefe commanders were Godfrey Duke of LORRAINE, with his two brethren Eustace and Baldwin, all of the honourable house of BUILLON; Hugh surnamed the Great, brother to Philip then the French king; Raymond and Robert, earles of FLANDERS; Robert duke of NORMANDIE, William the Conquerours sonne; Stephan de Valois earle of CHARTIERS; Ademar bishop of PODIE, the Popes legat; and Peter the hermit, not to be numbred amongst the least, as chiefe author of this most famous expedition: vnto whom many other K honourable princes joyned themselues as partakers of their trauels, though not with like charge.

The first that set forward in this expedition, was one Gualter Sensauier, a noble gentleman, with a great band of men: not long after whom, followed Peter the hermit, with fortie thousand mo: who both, trauelling thorow GERMANIE, HVNGARIE, and BVLGARIA, were glad oftentimes, especially in the further part of HVNGARIE and BVLGARIA to open themselues a way with the sword; and so with much labour, and no lesse losse, came at length to CONSTANTINOPLE: where they were not greatly welcome vnto the emperour Alexius Comnenus, who guiltie vnto himselfe of the vnlawfull meanes whereby he had extorted the empire from Nicephorus his predecessour, had that expedition of the Christians into the East,L in distrust, as purposed against himselfe: vntill that fully resolued to the contrarie, by the hermit and others; and that a far greater power was comming after, for the inuasion of the Turks and recouerie of the Holy land, he was content to relieue them now wearie of their long trauell: & afterward to make roome for thē that were to come, shipped thē ouer the strait of BOSPHORVS into ASIA; who marching forward into BITHINYA, encamped their armie in the countrey not far from the citie of NICE. In the meane time Godfrey with his brethren, and diuers other princes that had joyned themselues vnto him, with the Germaines and Loranois, and the greatest part of the armie, followed the same way that the hermit had taken before him. At which time also Hugh the French kings brother, with the Legate, the two Roberts, (the one duke of NORMANDIE, and the other earle of FLANDERS) and the rest of the M French commanders, passing ouer the mountaines into ITALY, came to ROME, with a wonderfull great armie: where taking their leaue of the Pope, because they would be lesse troublesome vnto the cities and countries whereby they were to passe, they diuided their great armie into three parts; whereof the one part went to BRVNDVSIVM, and the other to BARY, and [Page] A the third to HYDRVNTVM, vnto whom also Bohemund, one of the great princes of APVLIA, joyned himselfe with twelue thousand good souldiers that followed him. From these three ports the Christian armie departing, and crossing the ADRIATIKE, arriued in safetie at DIRRACHIVM, and nigh thereabout,Godfrey duke of Buillion an [...] the other Christian princes meet together at Constantinople. vpon the coast of DALMATIA: from whence they trauelled by land thorow MACEDONIA to CONSTANTINOPLE, where they met with the duke Godfrey, and the rest of the armie: whom also at the first, Alexius the emperour is reported to haue but coldly entertained, as jealous of his owne state; vntill that better persuaded of their designements and good meaning towards him, confirmed by many rich presents sent vnto him from these strange princes, he joyned with them in league: wherein it was agreed, That the emperour during the time of this expedition, should furnish them with new supplies of men, armour, victuals, B and whatsoeuer else they should want: in regard whereof, the princes on the other side▪ promised to restore againe vnto the empire, what prouinces, countries, or cities they should happily gaine out of the hands of the Turks and Sarasins, the citie of IERVSALEM onely excepted: which agreement was afterward on the suspicious emperours part, but slenderly performed. Neuerthelesse this league so made, he graunted them passage, and so transported them ouer the strait into ASIA; onely Bohemund, for an old grudge betwixt the emperour Alexius and his father, would not come to CONSTANTINOPLE, but marching with his armie thorow the vpper MISIA and THRACIA, came sooner than any man had thought vnto the strait of HELLESPONTVS, and so passed.

Now had Gualter, and the hermit Peter, with their armie, lyen two months in the countrey C about NICE, expecting the comming of the rest of the Christian princes: for why, they thought it not good, before their comming, to attempt any thing against the enemie, whom they knew to lie not far off verie strong. But the common souldiers, wearie of so long lying, and naught doing, and pinched with some wants; and withall disliking of Gualter their chiefe commander, and the hermit Peter, of whose integritie and holinesse they had a greater opinion than of his prowesse and direction; rise vp in mutinie, and displacing Gualter, made choise of one Raymund, a valiant Germain captaine, for their generall: by whose conduct they tooke EXOROVM, a towne of purpose forsaken of the Turks. For they long before vnderstanding what a tempest of war was growing vpon them out of EVROPE, sought by all meanes to cut off these that were alreadie come ouer, as the forerunners of a greater armie following, and therefore had left them this D towne, as a bait to traine them out of their trenches. And after that the Christians were thus possessed of the towne, hauing laid certain strong ambushes, they draue out certaine heards of cattell the more to allure them: all which, certaine companies of the Christians brought in, without any losse, the Turks still winking thereat. With which bootie the Christians encouraged, went out (three thousand of them) to take in a tittle towne not far off, who were by the Turks cut off and slaine euerie mothers son, as they were about to haue diuided the spoile which ouerthrow reported into the towne, discouraged euen the chiefe commanders of the armie, so that they resolued no more to try the fortune of the field, before the comming of the [...] friends. Neuerthelesse the common souldiers, condemning them of cowardise, chose them a new generall, one Godfrey Burell, whom they now requested not, but enforced to go out to reuenge the death of their fellowes: E which their rashnesse not long after turned to their owne destruction. For ten thousand of them going out of EXORGVM, to forrage the countrey, were by the Turks entrapped, and almost all slaine, except some few which by speedie flight escaped. The Turks prosecuting their victorie, laid hard siege to them in the towne also, vntill they had partly with famine▪ and partly with the sword consumed the most part of them. The hermit with the poore remainder of his armie tooke his refuge to CINITE, a towne not far off, before abandoned by the Turks; where with much adoe he defended himselfe, vntill the comming of duke Godfrey, and the rest of the princes.

Cutlu-Muses the Turke was now dead, hauing left vnto his son Sultan Solyman many large F countries & prouinces, altogether gained from the Christians in ASIA, whom he held in great subjection & thraldom. This warlike prince hauing discomfited, and almost brought to naught the hermits forces, was no lesse carefull for the withstanding of the great army following: which now being come into BYTHINIA, & lying before NICOMEDIA, remoouing thence laid siege to the citie of NICE,Nice besieged by the Christian [...]. called in antient time ANTIGONIA of Antigonus, the son of Philip that built it, and afterwards NICEA, of Nicea the wife of king Lisimachus. In this citie dwelt many [Page] deuout Greeks, Christians; but in such thraldom vnto the Turks, as that they could not do G any thing for the deliuerie of themselues. This siege endured longer than the Christian princes had at the first supposed: who although they to the vttermost of their power, forced the citie on three sides, yet was it still notably defended; new supplies still comming from the Turks by the lake of ASCANIVS joyning vpon the other side of the citie. But after that the Christians possessed of the lake, began on that side also to lay hardly vnto the citie, the Turks discouraged, and seeing themselues beset round with their enemies, yeelded vp the citie the fift of Iuly,1097 in the yeere 1097, after it had beene fiftie daies besieged. But whilst the Christians thus lay at the siege, the Turks assailed that quarter of the campe where the Legat lay; by whom they were notably repulsed, and with great losse enforced to retire vnto the mountaines. In this citie amongst the rest of the Turks, was taken Solymans wife, with two of her children,H whom the princes sent prisoners to CONSTANTINOPLE. This citie so woon, was according to the agreement before made, restored vnto Alexius the emperour, whose fleet had in that siege done good seruice, by taking the lake from the Turks.

The citie of NICE thus woon, the Christian princes remoouing thence with their armie; and marching thorow the countrey, came the fourth day after vnto a riuer which watred many rich pastures: where, as they were about to haue encamped for the commodiousnesse of the place▪ and refreshing of the armie, suddenly newes was brought into the quarter where Bohemund lay, now busie in casting vp his trenches, That the Turks with a great army were ready euen at hand to charge him. For Solyman hauing raised a great power of his owne, and aided by the Sultan of PERSIA his kinsman, was now come with an armie of threescore thousand strong, to giue the I Christians battell:A cruell battell [...]ought betwixt the Turks and the Christians. of whose approch Bohemund aduertised, left the fortifying of his trenches, and putting his souldiers in array, set forward to meet him, sending word to the rest of the princes that lay a far off, to be readie as occasion should require, to relieue him. These two armies conducted by their most resolute chieftaines, meeting together, joyned a most fierce and terrible battell, where in a short space the Turks lay slaine vpon heapes, in such sort that they serued the Christians in steed of bulwarks. But whilst Bohemund thus preuaileth in the battell, certaine of the Turks horsemen wheeling about, brake into Bohemunds campe; (not as then altogether fortified, & but slenderly manned) where among the women, & other weake persons there left, they raised a great tumult & outcry, to the great appauling of them that were fighting in the battell: which Bohemund perceiuing, withdrew himselfe with certaine companies vnto the campe,K from whence he with great slaughter repulsed the enemie. But returning againe into the battell, he found there a great alteration: for his souldiers whom before he had left, as it were in possession of a most glorious victory, were now so hardly laid vnto by the Turks, as that they were readie to haue turned their backs and fled. Neuerthelesse by his comming in, the battell was notably restored, and againe made doubtfull: when the enemie perceiuing how much the assaulting of the campe had troubled the Christians in battell, sent out certaine troupes of horsemen againe to assault the same: and had not failed vndoubtedly to haue taken it, being as aforesaid not yet fortified, had not Hugh the French kings brother come in good time to the rescue: who comming in with thirtie thousand horsemen, after he had relieued the campe, entring directly into the battell, was notably encountred by a squadron of fresh soldiers of the Turks, by them of L purpose reserued for such euent. There began a battell more terrible than the first, with most doubtfull victorie. But at the length, the Turks wearie of the long and cruell fight, and seeing most of their fellowes slaine, began by little and little to giue ground, and so retired into the mountaines, which were not far off. In this battell which continued a great part of the day, were slaine of the Turks fortie thousand, and of the Christians about two thousand. The next morning Bohemund with the French kings brother, came againe into the field, in such order, as if they should presently haue giuen or receiued battell: where after they had staid a great while, and saw no enemie to appeare, they fell to the honest buriall of their dead: which were easily known from the Turks, by the red crosses vpon their garments, the cognisance of their sacred warfare. Solyman flying with the remainder of his armie, notably dissembled his losse, giuing it out that M he had got the victorie:Solyman slieth. yet by the way as hee went, he burnt vp the countrey villages, and destroyed or carried away whatsoeuer else he thought might stand the Christians in any steed, if they should further follow after him, leauing nothing for them but the bare ground.

After this victorie, Bohemund and the Christian princes, without resistance marching [Page] A through the hot and drie countreis of the lesser ASIA,Antioch in Pis [...]lia taken by the Christians. came to ANTIOCHIA, a citie of PISIDIA, which they tooke with small labour: & so marching vnto ICONIVM the principal citie of CILICIA, neere vnto the mountaine TAVRVS, were there also of the citizens courteously receiued, where they staid certaine daies for the refreshing of the armie. From thence they set forward toward HERACLEA,Heraclea yeelded. where a great power of the Turks were reported to be assembled. But they together with the garrison souldiers vpon the approch of the victorious armie of the Christians forsooke the citie and fled. The citizens being Christians (as they were yet generally in all the prouinces of the lesser ASIA, but in great subjection to the Turks) and now rid of their cruel masters the Turkish garrisons; came foorth, and meeting the princes, gladly yeelded themselues with their citie vnto them, as vnto their deliuerers. Here the Christian princes fully instructed B of the great feare and desperation of the Turks, who now in no place durst abide their comming; for the more speedie taking in of those countries but lately oppressed by the Turks, diuided their armie into two parts, leauing the one part thereof with Baldwin and Tancred in CILICIA, for the full subduing thereof (who in short time tooke the cities of TARSVS, EDISSA, and MANVSSA, with all the rest of the countrey, the Turks not daring any where to abide their comming:) the other part of the armie in the meane time entring into the lesser ARMENIA, tooke the same from the Turks, which the princes gaue to one Palmurus an Armenian, who had in that expedition done them great seruice. From thence they tooke their way into CAPADOCIA, which they also subdued, driuing out the Turks in euerie place, and tooke the cities of CESAREA and SOCOR; where they staid a few daies for the refreshing of the armie: with like successe C they passed through the rest of the prouinces of the lesser ASIA, of late possessed by the Turks, still chasing them out before them, and setting at libertie the poore oppressed Christians of those countreis. Whereof Solyman (crauing aid of Axan the Persian Sultan his cousin) grieuously complained by his letters to him directed in this sort.Sultan Solyman his letters vnto the Persian Sultan Axan. The famous citie of NICE, with the countrey of ROMANIA, which we by your aid and power haue gotten from the kingdome of the Greeks, and of your bountie possessed: the Christians of the kingdome of FRANCE haue againe taken from vs. Thus was the late erected kingdome of the Turks in the lesser ASIA, by these valiant Christian champions againe brought low, and they glad to retire themselues farther off into the mountaines and more Easterne countries, vntill this heat was ouerpast; and that they, taking the benefit of the troubled state of the Greeke empire (afterwards rent in sunder by ambition and D ciuile discord, the ruine of the greatest monarchies) recouered not onely their former state, but became also dreadful vnto the Greeke emperours themselues: vpon whom they dayly gained in one corner or other, still maintaining the honour of their estate, vntill the rising of the Othoman familie, as in the processe of this historie shall God willing be declared.

These victorious princes then,The Christians bind themselues by oath, neuer to returne vntill they had wonne the Holy citie. and to the worlds end famous, not contented to their immortall praise, to haue thus driuen the Turks out of the lesser ASIA, and recouered so many countries; bound themselues, as well the princes as the common souldiers, by solemne oath; neuer to return againe into their countri [...]s, vntil they had accomplished that sacred war, with the conquest of the Holy citie. So mounting together the high mountaine TAVRVS, and discending thence as into another world, they came to the citie MARESIA, which they tooke without resistance, E the Turks there in garrison, being by night before for feare fled: where the Christians for the refreshing of themselues, certaine daies staid. In the meane time Robert earle of FLANDERS with a thousand men at armes, was sent out to giue summons vnto a citie called ARTASIA, about fifteene miles distant from ANTIOCH: when as the citizens beholding the ensignes of the Christians, suddenly tooke vp armes against the Turks there in garrison; which had of long holden them in subjection, and preuailing vpon them, slew them euerie mothers sonne: whose heads they presented vnto the earle, and receiued him into their citie. The Turks to reuenge the death of their friends, and to recouer againe the citie before the comming of the rest of the armie, sent out about ten thousand men out of ANTIOCH; for thither was assembled a great power of F them to haue hindred the farther proceedings of the Christians: and being come neere to ARIASIA, they sent before certaine stragling companies, of purpose to draw the new come Christians out of the citie, lying in the meane time in ambush with the rest, of purpose to entrap them. With these stragling companies, the Flemings sallying out lustily, encountred, & easily put them to flight; the Turks in deed flying of purpose to bring them within the danger of the other, lying in Ambush. After whom the Flemings eagerly following, were before they were aware enclosed [Page] round with their enemies, and there had vndoubtedly perished, had not the citizens being G Christians, presently salied out, and right woorthily relieued them.

Shortly after the Christian princes marching forward with their armie, were encountred by the Turke at the riuer ORONTES, who had there thought to haue staid their farther passage: with whom Robert duke of NORMANDIE, who had the leading of the vauntguard, had a hard conflict, vntill that the Turks discouraged with the sight of the armie still comming on, forsooke the bridge, and betooke themselues to flight. So the Christians passing the riuer, came and encamped with their armie before the famous citie of ANTIOCH the one and twentith day of October,Antioch in Siria besieged by the Christians. in the yeere 1097: the gouernour whereof vnder the Persian Sultan, was one Cassianus (of some also honoured with the name of a king) who at the comming of the Christians, had with him in the citie seuen thousand horsemen, and twentie thousand foot of the Turks, with H great store of victuals, and all manner of other prouisions necessarie for the defence thereof. This citie called in antient time EPIDAPHANE,The description of the famous citie of Antioch. or EPIPHANE, and of the Hebrewes, REBLATHA, sometime the seat of the Sirian kings, and afterwards the Metropoliticall citie of SIRIA, hauing vnder it an hundred and fiftie bishops (famous for many things, and amongst others, for that it was the seat of the blessed Apostle Saint Peter, and first place whereas the professours of the Christian religion tooke the name of Christians) is situate vpon the riuer ORONTES, about twelue miles from the sea, and was then strongly fortified both by nature and art, being compassed about with a double wall; the vttermost whereof was of hard stone, and the other of bricke, with 460 towres in the same, and an inpregnable castle at the East end thereof, whereunto was joyning a deepe lake, comming out of the great riuer which watred the South side of the citie.I Round about this strong citie (one of the most assured refuges of the Turks) although it were in circuit great, lay the Christian princes encamped, except on that side which being defended with the high broken mountaines, is not there to be besieged. Vpon whom the Turks out of the citie, duing the time of the siege, made many a fierce & desperat sally, being stil by the Christians most valiantly repulsed: especially at the bridge which the Christians had made of boats for their more commodious passage too and fro ouer the riuer. In this sort was the siege continued, vntill the beginning of Februarie, with many a bloodie skirmish. At which time such abundance of raine sell, as that hardly could a man find any place to lie drie in: and the scarsitie of victuall grew so great in the campe, that many (horrible it is to say) to assuage their hunger, were glad to eat the dead bodies of their late slaine enemies. In these extremities, many died of hunger and cold; yea K their horses also perished for want of meat, so that in the whole campe were scarcely left two thousand horses fit for seruice, the rest being either all dead, or brought so low, as that they were altogether vnseruiceable. These miseries dayly increasing diuers men of great account whom no terrour of the enemie could haue dismaid, began secretly to withdraw themselues out of the campe, with purpose to haue stolne home; among whom were Peter the heremit, authour of this war, and Tancred the nephew of Bohemund, who taken by the way, and brought backe with the rest as fugitiues, were sharply reprooued by Hugh the French kings brother, as cowards, and traitors to their brethren and fellow souldiers, and so enforced to take a new oath for their fidelitie and perseuerance. Bohemund in the meane time going to ARETHVSA, a towne not far off, by good fortune cut off a great part of the Turks there in garrison: who after their vsual manner L sallying out to haue cut off the forrages of the Christians, were now themselues caught tardie: whereby the countrey for a time was more open for the distressed Christian souldiers to seeke abroad for reliefe. But this libertie so lately gained, lasted not long, when newes was brought vnto the campe, That the Turks in great number out of the prouinces about ALEPPO and DAMASCO, were comming to the reliefe of their besieged friends in ANTIOCH. Neuerthelesse the Christians trusting vnto their owne strength, & the strength of the place wherein they were encamped, lay still, and at their comming so encountred them that they slew 2000 of them, and put the rest to flight: In which conflict the Christians got great store of prouision & victuals, which the Turks had thought to haue put into the citie. The heads of the slaine Turks the Christians set vpon stakes before the citie, to the more terrour of the defendants. This ouerthrow of M the Turks, wherein Cassianus had lost his eldest sonne, with others of his best captaines, so daunted the besieged, that they requested a truce for a time of the Christian princes: which granted, they of the citie came oftentimes into the campe, and they of the campe likewise into the citie: Cassianus still expecting reliefe from the Persian Sultan. Whilst the Christian princes were [Page] A thus busie in ASIA, the Venetians with a great fleet of two hundred gallies scouring the seas, vnder the conduct of Henrie Contarenus the bishop, and of Vitalis the dukes sonne, meeting with the gallies of Pisa at the RHODES, and falling out with them, had with them a great fight, wherein the Venetians hauing the vpper hand, tooke eighteene of their gallies, and in them fiue thousand souldiers: whom they seeing to be marked with the red crosse, the cognisance of the sacred warre, they presently set at libertie together with the gallies, detayning onely thirtie of the better sort as hostages. After that, the Venetians sayling into IONIA, tooke the citie of SMYRNA, and spoiled all along the costs of LYCIA, PAMPHILIA, and CILICIA, before for feare abandoned by the Turks.

The truce before taken betweene the Turks and the Christians at the siege of ANTIOCH, being B in short time after broken by the death of one Vollo a French man, slaine by the Turks: the war was againe begun, and the citie more hardly laid vnto than before. At which time the gouernour who in the time of this long siege, which had now continued nine months, had lost most part of his best souldiers, was glad for the defence of so great a citie to vse the seruice of diuers Christians,Antioch betraied vnto the Christians. then dwelling in the citie. Amongst whom was one Pirrhus, a citizen of great reputation, vnto whom he had committed the guarding of a tower, called the two Sisters, but afterward saint Georges tower. This Pyrrhus had secret intelligence with Bohemund prince of TARENTVM, with whom he agreed to giue him there entrance into the city, vpon condition, That he should of the other Christian princes procure the gouernment of the citie vnto himselfe; and that he, with the rest of the Christian citizens in the citie might be at his hands well vsed: Which thing being C easily obtayned, and all things agreed vpon, Bohemund with his souldiers were by night by Pyrrhus let into the citie, who made way for the rest of the armie to enter. The citie thus taken, many of the Turks fled into the castell, the rest were put vnto the sword, man, woman, and child; and amongst them also many of the Christians, the furious souldiers taking of them no knowledge. Great wealth was there found, but small store of victuals. Casstanus the late gouernour flying out of the citie to saue himselfe,Cassianus gouernour of Antioch in flying slaine. in wandring through the mountaines, fell into the hands of the Christian Armenians, who lately thrust out of IERVSALEM were fled thither for refuge, by whom he was there slaine. In the citie were slaine about ten thousand persons. Thus was the famous citie of ANTIOCH, which the Turks had long before by famine taken from the Christians, againe recouered the third day of Iune, in the yeere of our Lord God 1098. The D poore oppressed Christians in IERVSALEM hearing of this so notable a victorie,1098 gaue secret thanks vnto God therefore, and began to lift vp their heads in hope that their deliuerie was now at hand. Of this victorie, the princes of the armie by speedie messengers and letters certified their friends in all countries, so that in short time the fame thereof had filled a great part of the world. Amongst others, Bohemund prince of TARENTVM, vnto whom the citie was deliuered, sent the joyfull newes thereof vnto Roger his brother prince of APVLIA: whose letters, as the most certaine witnesses of the historie before reported, I thought it not amisse here to set downe.

I suppose you to haue vnderstood by the letters of your sonne Tancred, both of the great feare of some of vs,The letters of Bohemund prince of Tarentum, to his brother Roger prince of Apuli [...], concerning the winning of Antioch. and the battels which we haue of late with our great glorie fought. But concerning the E truce, and the proceeding of the whole action, I had rather you should be certified by my letters, than the letters of others. King Cassianus had required a time of truce: during which, our soldiers had free recourse into the citie without danger, vntill that by the death of Vollo a Frenchman, slaine by the enemie, the truce was broken. But whilst it yet seemed an hard matter to winne the citie, one Pyr [...]hus a citizen of ANTIOCH, of great authoritie and much deuoted vnto me, had conference with me concerning the yeelding vp of the citie; yet vpon condition, That the gouernment thereof should be committed to me, in whom he had reposed an especiall trust. I conferred of the whole matter with the princes and great commanders of the armie, and easily obtained that the gouernment of the citie was by their generall consent alotted vnto me. So our armie entring by a gate opened by Pyrrhus, tooke the citie. Within a few daies after, the towne ARETVM was by vs assaulted, but not without some losse F and danger to our person, by reason of a wound I there receiued: I assure you much of the valour of your sonne Tancred, of whom I and the whole armie make such account and reckoning, as is to be made of a most valiant and resolute generall.

Farewell from ANTIOCH.

Whilst the Christians thus lay at the siege of ANTIOCH, Corbanas (the Persian Sultan his [Page] lieutenant) with a great armie besieged EDESSA,Edessa in vaine besieged by the Turk [...]. with purpose after the taking thereof, to haue G relieued the citie of ANTIOCH. But this citie being notably defended by Baldwin left there of purpose with a strong garrison for the defence thereof; the Turke fearing in the meane time to loose ANTIOCH, the safest refuge of the Turks in all those parts, rise with his armie and set forward against the Christians: where by the way it was his fortune to meet with Sansadolus, Cassianus his sonne, but lately fled from ANTIOCH, by whom he vnderstood of the losse of the citie, and by what meanes the same was most like to be againe recouered: vpon which hope, Corbanas with his mightie armie kept on his way, with a full resolution to set all vpon the fortune of a battell. Whose comming much troubled the Christians; for that although they were possessed of the citie, yet was the castell still holden by the Turks. Neuerthelesse leauing the earle of THOLOVS in the citie with a competent power for the keeping in of them in the castell,H they tooke the field with the whole strength of the armie, and so in order of battell expected the comming of their enemies: who couragiously comming on as men before resolued to fight, joyned with them a most terrible and bloodie battell. Neither were they in the citie in the mean time idle; for that the Turks in the castell hauing receiued in vnto them certaine supplies from Corbanas, Corbanas the Sultane lieutenant, with a great armie commeth to recouer againe the citie of Antioch. sallied out vpon them that were left for the safegard of the citie, and had with them a cruell conflict. Thus both within the citie and without was to be seene a most dreadfull fight of resolute men, with great slaughter on both sides: yet after long fight and much effusion of blood, the fortune of the Christians preuailing, the Turks began to giue ground, and afterwards betooke themselues to plaine flight, whom the Christians hardly pursuing, made of them a woonderfull slaughter. In this battell were slaine of the Turks aboue an hundred thousand, and of the I Christians about foure thousand two hundred. There was also taken a great prey: for besides horses and other beasts for burden, were taken also fiue thousand camels with their lading. The next day, being the 28 of Iune, the castell was by the Turks (now dispairing of releife) yeelded vp vnto the Christians.

ANTIOCH thus taken, Hugh the French kings brother, surnamed the Great, was sent from the rest of the princes to CONSTANTINOPLE, to haue deliuered the citie vnto Alexius the emperour, according to the agreement before made. But he, guiltie in conscience of his owne foule dealing with them, vnto whom he had sent no reliefe at all during the long and hard siege of ANTIOCH; neither performed any thing of that he had further promised, and therefore knowing himselfe hated of them; had in distrust so great an offer of the princes, so euill deserued,K and therefore refused to accept thereof.Bohemund chosen prince of Antioch. The plague in the Christian armie. Whereupon Bohemund by the generall consent of the whole armie was chosen prince, or (as some call him) king of ANTIOCH.

After this long siege and want of victuals, ensued a great plague in the armie of the Christians, the Autumne following, whereof it is reported fiftie thousand men to haue died, and amongst them many of great account. But the mortalitie ceasing, the Christians, in Nouember following, by force tooke RVGIA, and ALBARIA, two cities, about two daies journey from ANTIOCH:Discord arising vpon emulation betwixt Bohemund and Raimund. where dissention arising betwixt Bohemund & Raimond, who of all others only enuied at his preferment vnto the principalitie of ANTIOCH: Bohemund for the common causes sake, gaue way vnto his aduersarie, & retired with his soldiers backe againe to ANTIOCH; after whom followed the duke Godfrey, and the earle of FLANDERS with their regiments. The rest L of the princes wintred some at RVGIA, some at ALBARIA, from whence Raimund made sundrie light expeditions further into the enemies countrey: But the spring approching, the Christian princes with all their power tooke the field againe. Bohemund with them that remained with him, departing from ANTIOCH, besieged TORTOSA. Raimund in the meane time with the rest, besieging the citie of TRIPOLIS: who become much more insolent than before, by reason of some fortunate roads he had made vpon the enemies the last winter, ceased not still to maligne Bohemund and his proceedings: matter enough to haue diuided the whole power of the Christians, & to haue turned their weapons vpon themselues: which Bohemund wel considering, rise with his armie; and because he would not with his presence trouble the proceeding of the religious war, retired himselfe to ANTIOCH. After whose departure, Godfrey and the earle of M FLANDERS, tooke GABELLA, a citie about twelue miles from LAODICIA, and from thence returned againe to the siege of TORTOSA, whether Raimund came also with his armie, hauing before driuen the gouernour of TRIPOLIS to such composition as pleased himselfe, and to furnish him with such things as he wanted. Thus was TORTOSA hardly on three sides besieged [Page] A by the Christians, but so notably defended by the Turks, that after three months hard siege the Christians were glad to depart thence: and marching alongst the sea side, spoiled the countrey about SIDON. But forasmuch as that citie was not easily to be woon, they left it, & encamped before PTOLEMAIS, which they also passed by: the gouernor thereof sending them out victuals, with such other things as they wanted; and vpon summons giuen, promising to yeeld the citie after they had once woon the citie of IERVSALEM. From thence they came to CESARIA in PALESTINE, where they solemnly kept the feast of Whitsontide, and so to RAMA, which they found for feare forsaken of the Infidels. Marching from RAMA, and drawing neere to IERVSALEM, they in the vantgard of the armie, vpon the first descrying of the Holy citie, gaue for joy diuers great shouts and outcries,The exceeding joy of the Christians vpon the first descrying of the Holy citie. which with the like applause of the whole armie B was so doubled and redoubled, as if therewith they would haue rent the verie mountaines and pearced the highest heauens. There might a man haue seene the deuout passions of these most woorthie and zealous Christians, vttered in right diuers manners: Some, with their eies and hands cast vp towards heauen, called aloud vpon the name and helpe of Christ Iesus; some, prostrat vpon their faces, kissed the ground, as that whereon the Redeemer of the world sometime walked; others, joyfully saluted those holy places which they had heard so much of, and then first beheld: In briefe, euerie man in some sort expressed the joy he had conceiued of the sight of the Holy citie, as the end of their long trauell.

This most antient and famous citie, so much renowmed in holy writ, is situat in an hillie countrey; not watred with any riuer or fresh springs, as other famous cities for most part be; C neither yet was it well seated for wood, or pasture ground: But what wanted in these, and such other benefits of nature, was by the extraordinarie blessings of the most highest, so supplied, as that the Iewes there dwelling, so long as they kept the ordinances of the Lord, were of all other people in the world justly accounted the most happie and fortunate. Yet in those so blessed times, was this citie for the sinne of the people oftentimes deliuered into the enemies hand, and the glorie thereof defaced: as well appeareth by the whole course of the historie of holy Scripture, as also by the antient and approoued histories as well of the Iewes themselues, as others. Neuerthelesse, it still rise againe (though not in like glorie as before in the time of king Dauid, Salomon, Ierusalem reedified by the great emperour Aelius Adrianus. and the other next succeeding kings) and so was still repeopled by the Iewes, vntill that at last according to the foretelling of our Sauiour Christ, it was with a great and of all others D most lamentable destruction, vtterly rased and destroyed by the Romans, vnder the leading of Vespatian the emperour, and his noble sonne Titus, fortie yeeres after our Sauiour his pretious death and passion. Sithence which time, it was neuer vntill this day againe repaired, or yet well inhabited, by the Iewes; but lying buried in the ruines of it selfe, all the raigne of Domitian, Nerua, and Trajan, vntill the time of the great emperour Aelius Adrianus, it was againe by him reedified about the yeere 136, and after the name of him called AELIA; who together with the name changed also in some part the antient situation of the citie. For whereas before it was seated vpon the steepe rising of an hill,A briefe discourse of the state & fortune of the Holy citie of Ierusalem, from the destruction thereof, vnder Vespatianus the emperor and Titus his sonne, vntill it was now againe recouered out of the hands of the Infidels by Godfrey of Buillion and the other Christian princes of the West. in such sort that towards the East and the South it ouerlooked the whole ground, hauing onely the temple and the castle called ANTONIA, in the highest part of the citie: Adrian translated the whole citie vnto the verie top of the hill, so that the place E where our blessed Sauiour suffred his most bitter passion, with the sepulcher wherein he was also laid, and from whence he in glorie rise againe, before without the citie, were then enclosed within the walles thereof, as they are at this day to be seene. Yet for all that the emperour being dead, in processe of time this new built citie recouered againe the antient name of IERVSALEM▪ whereby it hath euer since, and is at this day yet known. This citie so reedified, the emperour first gaue vnto the Iewes, whom he afterwards againe thrust out for their rebellion, and gaue it to the Christians to inhabit: ouer whom, one Marke, first bishop of the Gentiles there, had the charge: But forasmuch as the Romane emperours were at that time altogether idolaters and persecutors of the poore Christians, the church also at IERVSALEM, with others endured sundrie F and many grieuous persecutions, vnder the emperors Antoninus, Commodus, Seuerus▪ Maximinus, Valerianus, Aurelianus, Dioclesianus, and Maxentius, vntill that at length Constantine the Great conuerted vnto the faith of Christ, about the yeere of Grace 320, suppressing the Pagan idolatrie, gaue generall peace vnto the afflicted church: whereby the Christian church at IERVSALEM, for the space of three hundred yeeres after, happily flourished vnder the Greeke emperours, vntill the time of the emperour Phocas; who hauing most cruelly slaine the good emperour [Page] Maurice with his children, and so possessed himselfe of the empire, gaue occasion thereby G vnto Chosroe the Persian king, in reuenge of the death of Maurice his father in law; with all his power to inuade SIRIA: who as a tempest bearing downe all before him, tooke also by force the citie of IERVSALEM, hauing that yeere, which was about the yeere six hundred and ten, slaine almost an hundred thousand christians. But Phocas the vsurper being by them of his guard most cruelly slaine, and Heraclius succeeding in his steed, Chosroe was by him againe driuen out of SIRIA, and the Holy citie againe recouered, about the yeere 624. In these great wars against the Persians, Heraclius had vsed the helpe of the Arabians, called Scenite, a warlike people of ARABIA DESERTA, altogether giuen to the spoile: who, the wars now ended, expecting to haue receiued their pay, were contrarie to their expectation, and without all reason rejected by them that should haue paid them, with verie foule and contumelious words; as, that there was not money enough to pay the Christian soldiers of the Latines and the Greeks, much lesse those H vile dogs (whom they so called, for that they had but a little before receiued the damnable doctrine of the false prophet Mahomet, the great seducer of the world, who euen in that time flourished.) Vpon which discontentment they at their returne reuolted from the empire, and joyned themselues vnto their great prophet, and so afterwards vnto the Caliphs his successors, extending his doctrine, together with his soueraigntie to the vttermost of their power: and that with so good successe, that in short time they had ouerrun all AEGYPT, SIRIA, the land of promise, and taken the Holy citie. With these (the disciples of Mahomet and his successors, the Sarasins, for so now they would be called) the Greeke emperors ensuing, had for certaine yeeres diuers conflicts, with diuers fortune, for the possession of SIRIA. But at length wearied out, & by them ouercom, they left the aforesaid countries wholy vnto their deuotion. Hereby it came to passe, that the Sarasins I for the space of 370 yeeres following held those countries, with many others, in great subjection, oppressing still the poore Christians in IERVSALEM with most grieuous tributes and exactions: vnto whom they yet left a third part of the citie for them to dwell in, with the temple of the Sepulcher of our Sauiour, and mount SION; not for any deuotion, either vnto them, or those places, but for that it yeelded them a great profit by the recourse of deuout Christians trauelling thither: reseruing in the meane time vnto themselues, the other two parts of the citie, with the temple of Salomon, before reedified by the Christians. Now whilst the Sarasins thus triumph it in the East, and not in the East onely, but ouer a great part of the West also, contenting themselues with such tributs as they had imposed vpon the subdued nations and countries:K vp start the Turks, a vagrant, fierce, and cruell people; who first breaking into ASIA (as is before declared) and by rare fortune aspiring vnto the kingdome of PERSIA, subdued the countries of MESOPOTAMIA, SIRIA, with the greatest part of the lesser ASIA, and IVDEA, together with the Holy citie: who both there and in all other places held the poore oppressed Christians in such subjection and thraldom, as that the former gouernment of the Sarasins seemed in comparison of this to haue beene but light and easie. Neither was there any end or release of these so great miseries to haue beene expected, had not God in mercie by the weake meanes of a poore heremit, stirred vp these most woorthie princes of the West to take vp armes in their defence, who hauing with their victorious armies recouered the lesser ASIA, with a great part of SIRIA, were now come vnto this Holy citie.L

Ierusalem besieged by the Christians.The gouernour of IERVSALEM vnderstanding by his espials, of the proceedings of the Christians, had before their approch, got into the citie a verie strong garrison of right valiant souldiers, with good store of all things necessarie for the holding out of a long siege. The Christians with their armie approching the citie, encamped before it on the North; for that towards the East and the South, it was not well to be besieged, by reason of the broken rocks and mountaines. Next vnto the citie lay Godfrey the duke, with the Germans and Loranois: neere vnto him lay the earle of FLANDERS, and Robert the Norman: before the West gate lay Tancred, and the earle of THOLOVS: Bohemund and Baldwin were both absent, the one at ANTIOCH, the other at EDESSA. The Christians thus strongly encamped, the fift day after gaue vnto the citie a fierce assault, with such cheerfulnesse, as that it was verily supposed, it might haue beene M euen then woon, had they beene sufficiently furnished with scaling ladders: for want whereof, they were glad to giue ouer the assault and retire. But within a few daies after, hauing supplied that defect, and prouided all things necessarie, they came on againe afresh, and with all their power gaue vnto the citie a most terrible assault, wherein was on both sides seene great valour, policie, [Page] A & cunning, with much slaughter, vntill that at length the Christians wearie of the long fight, and in that hot countrey, and most feruent time of the yeere fainting for lacke of water, were glad againe to forsake the assault, and to retire into their trenches: onely the well of Siloe yeelded them water, and that not sufficient for the whole campe; the rest of the wels which were but few, being before by the enemie either filled vp or else poysoned.

Whilst the Christians thus lay at the siege of IERVSALEM,The Genowa [...]e [...] come to the siege. a fleet of the Genowaies arriued at IOPPA; at which time also a great fleet of the Egyptian Sultans lay at ASCALON, to haue brought reliefe to the besieged Turks in IERVSALEM: whereof the Genowaies vnderstanding, and knowing themselues too weake to encounter them at sea, tooke all such things out of their ships as they thought good, and so sinking them, marched by land vnto the campe. There was B amongst these Genowaies diuers enginers, men (after the manner of that time) cunning in making of all manner of engines fit for the besieging of cities: by whose deuice, a great moouing tower was framed of timber and thick plancks, couered ouer with raw hides, to saue the same from fire: out of which the Christians might in safetie greatly annoy the defendants. This tower being by night brought close vnto the wall, serued the Christians in steed of a most sure fortresse in the assault the next day: where whilst they striue with like valour and doubtfull victorie on both sides, from morning vntill midday, by chance the wind fauouring the Christians, carried the flame of the fire into the face of the Turks, wherewith they had thought to haue burnt the tower; with such violence, that the Christians taking the benefit thereof, and holpen by the tower, gained the top of the wall: which was first footed by the duke Godfrey, and his brother Eustace, C with their followers, and the ensigns of the duke there first set vp, to the great encouraging of the Christians; who now pressing in on euerie side, like a violent riuer that had broken ouer the banks, bare downe all before them. All were slaine that came to hand, men, women, and children, without respect of age, sex, or condition: the slaughter was great, and the sight lamentable, all the streets were filled with blood, and the bodies of the dead, death triumphing in euerie place.

Yet in this confusion,A most cruell and bloodie sight betwixt the Christians and the Turks, euen in the Temple of Ierusalem. a woonderfull number of the better sort of the Turks, retiring vnto Salomons temple there to do their last deuoire, made there a great and terrible fight, armed with dispaire to endure any thing; and the victorious Christians no lesse disdaining, after the winning of the citie, to find there so great resistance. In this desperat conflict, fought with woonderfull obstinacie of mind, many fell on both sides: but the Christians came on so fiercely, with desire D of blood, that breaking into the temple, the foremost of them were by the presse of them that followed after, violently thrust vpon the weapons of their enemies, and so miserably slaine. Neither did the Turks thus oppressed, giue it ouer, but as men resolued to die, desperatly fought it out with inuincible courage, not at the gates of the temple onely, but euen in the middest thereof also, where was to be seene great heaps, both of the victors and the vanquished, slaine indifferently together. All the pauement of the temple swam with blood, in such sort, that a man could not set his foot, but either vpon some dead man, or ouer the shooes in blood. Yet for all that, the obstinate enemie still held the vaults and top of the temple, when as the darknesse of the night came so fast on, that the Christians were glad to make an end of the slaughter, and to sound a retrait. The next day (for that proclamation was made, for mercie to be shewed vnto all such as E should lay downe their weapons) the Turks that yet held the vpper part of the temple, came down & yeelded themselues. Thus was the famous citie of IERVSALEM with great bloodshed, but far greater honor,1099 recouered by these worthie Christians, in the yeere 1099, after it had beene in the hands of the infidels aboue foure hundred yeeres.

The next day after, hauing buried the dead and cleansed the citie, they gaue thanks to God with publicke praiers, and great rejoycing. The poore Christians before oppressed, now ouercome with vnexpected joy, welcomed their victorious brethren with great joy and praise; and the souldiers embracing one another, sparing to speake of themselues, freely commended each others valour. Eight daies after, the princes of the armie meeting together, began to consult about F the choice of their king: amongst whom was no such difference, as might well shew which was to be preferred before the others. And although euerie one of them for prowesse and desert, seemed woorthie of so great an honour; yet by the generall consent of all, it was giuen to Robert duke of NORMANDIE: who about the same time hearing of the death of the Conquerour his father, and more in loue with his fathers new gotten kingdome in ENGLAND, in hope thereof, refused the kingdome of IERVSALEM, then offered vnto him: which at his returne he [Page] found possessed by William Rufus his yoonger brother, and so in hope of a better refusing the G woorse, vpon the matter lost both.

Godfrey duke of Buillon by the generall consent of the Christian armie chosen first king of Ierusalem.After whose departure, Godfrey of BVILLON duke of LORAINE (whose ensigne was first displaid vpon the wals) was by the generall consent both of the princes and the armie, saluted king. He was a great souldier, and endued with many heroicall vertues, brought vp in the court of the emperour Henrie the fourth, and by him much emploied. At the time of his inauguration, he refused to be crowned with a crowne of gold saying, That it became not a Christian man, there to were a crowne of gold, where Christ the sonne of God had for the saluation of mankind, sometime worne a crowne of thorne. Of the greatest part of these proceedings of the Christians, from the time of their departure from ANTIOCH vntill the winning of the Holy H citie, Godfrey by letters briefly certified Bohemund, as followeth.

Godfrey of Buillon to Bohemund king of Antioch, greeting.

After long trauell, hauing first taken certaine townes, we came to IERVSALEM: which citie is enuironed with high hils, without riuers or fountaines, excepting onely that of Solomans, and that a verie little one. In it are many cesterns, wherein water is kept, both in the citie and the countrey thereabout. On the East are the Arabians, the Moabits, and Ammonits: on the South, the Idumeans, Aegyptians, and Philistians: Westward alongst the sea coast lie the cities of PTOLEMAIS, TIRVS, I and TRIPOLIS: and Northward, TIBERIAS, CESAREA, PHILIPPI, with the countrey DECAPOLIS and DAMASCO. In the assault of the citie, I first gained that part of the wall that fell to my lot to assaile, and commanded Baldwin to enter the citie: who hauing slaine certaine companies of the enemies, broke open one of the gates for the Christians to enter. Raymond had the citie of Dauid, with much rich spoile, yeelded vnto him. But when we came vnto the temple of Soloman, there we had a great conflict, with so great slaughter of the enemie, that our men stood in blood aboue the ancles: the night approching, we could not take the vpper part of the temple, which the next day was yeelded, the Turks pitifully crying out for mercie: and so the citie of IERVSALEM was by vs taken, the fifteenth of Iuly, in the yeere of our redemption 1099, 39 daies after the beginning of the siege, 409 yeeres after it fell into the hands of the Sarasins in the time of Heraclius the emperour. Besides K this, the princes with one consent saluted me (against my will) king of IERVSALEM: who although I feare to take vpon me so great a kingdome; yet I will do my deuoir, that they shall easily know me for a Christian king, and well deseruing of the vniuersall Faith. But loue you me as you do. And so farewell from IERVSALEM.

Whilest these things were in doing at IERVSALEM, such a multitude of the Turks, and Sarasins their confederats (now in their common calamitie all as one) were assembled at ASCALON (a citie about fiue and twentie miles from IERVSALEM) to reuenge the injuries they had before receiued, as had not before met together in all the time of this sacred war. Against whom, Godfrey (the late duke, and now king) assembled the whole forces of the Christians in L those countries, and leauing a strong garrison in the new woon citie, set forward: and meeting with them, joyned a most dreadfull and cruell battell, wherein (as most report) were slaine of the Infidels an hundred thousand men,An hundred thousand Turks and Sarasins slaine. and the rest put to flight. The spoile there taken, far exceeded all that the Christians had before taken in this long expedition. Godfrey after so great a victorie, returning to IERVSALEM, gaue vnto God most humble thanks. The rest of the princes returned either to their charge, as did Bohemund to ANTIOCH, Baldwin to EDESSA, Tancred into GALLILEY, whereof he was created prince: or else hauing now performed the vttermost of their vowes, returned with honour into their owne countries. This was of all others the most honourable expedition that euer the Christians tooke in hand against the Infidels, and with the greatest resolution performed, for the most part, by such voluntary men, as mooued with M a deuout zeale, to their immortall praise, spared neither life nor liuing in defence of the Christian faith and religion;Godfrey of Buillon first Christian king of Ierusalem, dieth of t [...]e pl [...]g [...]. all men woorthie eternall fame and memorie. Not long after ensued a great pestilence (the readie attendant of long war and want) whereof infinit numbers of people died, and among the rest Godfrey, the first Christian king of IERVSALEM, neuer to be sufficiently commended: who with the generall lamentation of all good Christians, was honourably buried [Page] A in the church of the sepulchre of our Sauiour on the mount CALVERIE, where our Sauiour suffred his passion: in which the Christian kings succeeding him, were also afterwards buried. He departed this life the eighteenth of Iuly,1100 in the yeere of our Lord 1100, when he had yet scarce raigned a full yeere. Whose tombe is yet at this day there to be seene with an honourable inscrption thereupon.

After the death of Godfrey, Baldwin count [...] of Edessa, and brother to Godfrey second king of Ierusalem. the Christians made choice of Baldwin his brother, countie of EDESSA; who leauing his former gouernment to Baldwin surnamed Burgensis, his neere kinsman, came to IERVSALEM honourably accompanied, and was there by the Patriarch on Christmas day with all solemnitie crowned king, in the yeere 1101. He aided by the Venetians and Genowaies at sea,1101 and by Bohemund king of ANTIOCH by land, tooke from the Infidels the citie of B CESAREA STRATONIS, standing vpon the sea side; and ouerthrew certaine companies of the Aegyptian Sultans at RAMA. But vnderstanding that the Christian princes of the West were comming to his aid with a new power; he glad thereof, went to meet them, and safely conducted them to IERVSALEM alongst the sea coast, by the cities of BERYTVS, SIDON, TIRE, and PTOLEMAIS, all yet holden by the enemies. At which time the Turks at ASCALON hauing receiued great aid from the Arabians and Aegyptians, inuaded the countrey about RAMA: where betwixt them and the Christians was fought a most cruell battell, wherein the Christians receiued a most notable ouerthrow; many of their great commanders being there slaine, and among the rest Stephen earle of CHARTERS (but lately returned home from the former expedition, and now come backe againe) and Stephen earle of BVRGVNDIE and THOLOVS: yea C the king himselfe hardly escaped the enemies hands, and after many dangers came at length to IOPPA after it had beene constantly before reported him to haue been in that battell also slaine. Who hauing there in hast repaired his armie, came againe speedily vpon his enemies, fearing as then nothing lesse; and ouerthrew them with such a slaughter, as that they had small cause to rejoyce of the former victorie. Neither were the rest of the Christian princes in the other parts of SIRIA and PALESTINE, in the meane time idle, but sought by all meanes to enlarge their territories. Tancred prince of GALLILIE, hauing raised a great power, tooke APAMEA, the Metropoliticall citie of CoeLESYRIA, and after much toile woon also the citie of LAODICEA. Baldwin also gouernour of EDESSA besieging the citie of CARRAS, had brought the besieged Turks to such extremitie, that they were about to haue yeelded the citie: when suddenly hee D was set vpon by a great armie of the Turks sent from the Persian Sultan, for the reliefe of the besieged; and being there ouerthrown, was himselfe there taken, with Benedict the bishop, and one Ioscelin his kinsman: who after fiue yeeres captiuitie, found means with the Turke that had taken them, to redeeme themselues, to the great offence of the Persian Sultan, & of the Sultan Solyman.

King Baldwin after the late victorie, liued for a season at some good rest in IERVSALEM, vnmolested by his enemies: but knowing his greatest safetie among such warlike people, to consist in armes, he vpon the sudden raised the whole strength of his kingdome, and laid siege to PTOLOMAIS, otherwise called ACON, a citie of PHoeNICIA standing vpon the riuage of the sea; where he found such resistance, that he was glad to raise his siege and depart, hauing done nothing more than spoiled the pleasant places without the citie.King Baldwin mortally wounded. By the way in his returne backe E againe, it fortuned him to meet with certaine companies of the enemies aduenturers, by whom he was in a skirmish mortally wounded, although he died not thereof in long time after: for albeit that the wound was by his surgeans healed vp, yet was the griefe thereof so great, that at length it brought him to his end.Ptolomais woon by king Baldwin. Yet he notwithstanding the former repulse, the next yeere, encouraged by the comming of the Genua fleet, laid hard siege againe to PTOLOMAIS both by sea and land, which after twentie daies siege was by composition yeelded vnto him.

Shortly after, the gouernour of ALEPPO with certaine others of the Turks great captaines in those quarters, hauing joyned their forces together and so inuaded the countrey about ANTIOCH, were by Tancred (whom Bohemund at his departure into ITALY, had left gouernour of F that citie) notably encountred and put to flight. At which time also the Caliph of AEGYPT sending great forces both by sea and land against the king of IERVSALEM, was in both places discomfited, at land by the Christians, and at sea by tempest.

Bohemund in the meane time, with a great armie of voluntarie men, and others (wherein he is reported to haue had fiue thousand horse, and fortie thousand foot) returning towards the Holy land, in reuenge of many injuries done by Alexius the emperour, vnto the souldiers of [Page] this sacred war, contrarie to his faith and promise to them before giuen: by the way landed his G men in EPIRVS, and grieuously spoiled the countrey about DIRRACHIVM, part of the emperours dominion. Neither made he an end of spoiling, vntill he had enforced the emperour for redresse of so great harmes, to make peace with him; and againe by solemne oath to promise all securitie and kindnesse, vnto all such Christian souldiers as should haue occasion to trauell too or fro through his countries, during the time of this religious war. After which agreement hee put to sea againe, and so returned for IERVSALEM. But whilest he staid at ANTIOCH, hee shortly after there died in the yeere 1108,Bohemund dieth at Antioch. leauing the principalitie thereof vnto his yoong sonne Bohemund, a child vnder the tuition of his nephew Tancred.

Yet were the cities of BERYTVS, SIDON, and TIRE, alongst the sea coast, in the enemies H possession: for the gaining whereof, Baldwin the king raised a great armie, and so came and laid siege to BERYTVS, which after many sharpe assaults he at length woon, the three and twentith day of Aprill in the yeere 1111,1111 and put to sword most part of them that he found therein. The same yeere also he, assisted by a fleet sent vnto him out of NORWAY, besieged the citie of SIDON: which the citizens seeing themselues now beset both by sea and land,Sidon woon. at length yeelded vnto him by composition, the nineteenth day of December. After which victorie he dismissed the fleet, and returned himselfe in triumph to IERVSALEM. Now of all the famous cities alongst the sea coast of PHoeNICIA and PALESTINE, from LAODICEA to ASCALON, was onely the citie of TYRE that remained in the hands of the enemies: which citie Baldwin also hardly besieged; neuerthelesse, it was so well defended by the Turks, that after he had all in vaine lyen I before it by the space of foure months, he was glad to rise with his armie and depart.

It fortuned, that within two yeeres after, the Turks with a mightie armie sent from the Persian Sultan, inuaded the countrey of CoeLESYRIA, where spoiling all before them as they went, they came and encamped vpon the sea coast neere vnto TYBERIAS. Against whom Baldwin gathered the whole strength of his kingdome, with whom also Tancred (who now raigned in ANTIOCH, the yoong Bohemund being dead) with the countie of TRIPOLI, and the rest of the Christian princes, joyned their forces: who altogether marching forward, came and encamped, not far from the enemie, being in number far moe than they. Mendus generall of the Turks armie (for so I find him called) vnderstanding of their approch, sent out certaine companies of his men to skirmish with them: against whom the Christians also sent out others; who K encountring them, easily put them to flight, being before commanded so to do, of purpose to draw the Christians into the danger of a greater strength, lying in ambush to intrap them: which according to the Turks desire fell out. For the Christians fiercely pursuing the flying enemie, fell into the ambush, and so before they were well aware, were beset on euerie side with their enemies: vnto the rescue of whom, other companies of the Christians comming in, and others likewise from the Turks, both the great armies were at length drawn into the field, where betwixt them was joyned a most fierce and terrible battell, with great slaughter on both sides. But at length the multitude of the Turks preuailing, the Christians were put to the woorse, and so glad to flie: after whom the fierce enemy hardly followed, not without great slaughter. In which flight the king himselfe hardly escaped, with Arnolphus the Patriarch. Whilest Baldwin was L thus busied abroad, the Turks & Sarasins from ASCALON, came & besieged IERVSALEM, being then but weakly manned: but hearing of the kings comming, & that the armie of the Christians dayly increased with new supplies out of the West by sea, they retired home againe, hauing burnt certaine storehouses full of corne, and spoiled such things as was subject to their furie.

Long it were to recount all the hard conflicts and combats this king had with the Sarasins and Turks, which for breuitie I passe ouer, contented to haue briefly touched the greatest. In the last yeere of his raigne, hauing for certaine yeeres before liued in some reasonable peace, he made an expedition into AEGYPT, where he with much difficultie woon PHARAMIA, a strong citie vpon the sea coast, which he joyned vnto his owne kingdome. After that he went to the mouth of the riuer NILVS, and with great admiration, learned the nature of that strange riuer.M And hauing therein taken abundance of fish, returned into the citie, and there with the same feasted himselfe with his friends. But after dinner he began to feele the griefe of his old wound; and growing thereof sicker and sicker, returned with his armie toward IERVSALEM, where by the way neere vnto a citie called LARIS, he died (to the great griefe of all the Christians) in the yeere 1118.1118 His dead bodie being brought backe vnto IERVSALEM, was there roially buried, [Page] A neere vnto his brother Godfrey, after he had raigned eighteene yeeres: whose sepulchre is yet there also to be seene, fast by the sepulchre of his brother.

The late king thus dead and buried,Baldwin Br [...] gensis chosen king of Ierusalem. the Christians with one consent made choise of his cousin Baldwin surnamed Brugensis, gouernour of EDESSA: who by the name of Baldwin the second, was the second of Aprill in the yeere 1118, solemnly crowned king of IERVSALEM. He was of stature tall and well proportioned,1118 of countenance comely and gratious, hauing his haire thinne and yellow, his beard mingled with some gray haires hanging downe to his breast, his colour fresh and liuely for one of his yeeres. He was a man of great courage, and therefore no lesse redoubted of his enemies than beloued of his subjects, who had in him reposed great hope B both for the defence and enlarging of that new gained kingdome. Against him the same Sommer the Caliph of AEGYPT, aided by the king of DAMASCO and the Turks, in reuenge of the losse he had in the expedition the yeere before receiued, raised a great power to inuade him both by sea and land. Against whom Baldwin also opposed himselfe with his whole strength, and so came and encamped within the sight of his enemies. In which sort, when both armies had lyen the one facing the other by the space of three months, they both rise: the Christians fearing the multitude of the Turks, and the Turks the valour of the Christians, and so retired without any notably thing doing.

This yeere died Alexius the Greeke emperour, who euen from the beginning of this sacred war, secretly repined at the good successe of the Christians in SIRIA, although his empire were C thereby greatly enlarged: after whome succeeded Calo Ioannes his sonne, who all the time of his raigne right woorthily defended his territories in the lesser ASIA against the inuasion of the Turks.

Not long after, Gazi one of the greatest princes of the Turks in the lesser ASIA, with the king of DAMASCO, and Debeis king of ARABIA, joyning their forces together, with a great armie inuading the countrey about ANTIOCH, came and encamped not far from ALEPPO: against whom Roger prince of ANTIOCH, not expecting the comming of Baldwin and the other Christian princes his confederats, but presuming of his owne strength, went foorth with greater courage than discretion, whereunto his successe was answerable: for encountring with them at too much ods, he was by them in a great battell ouerthrown, wherein he himselfe was slaine with D most part of his armie. Of which so great a slaughter, the place wherein this battell was fought, was afterward called, The field of Blood. But whilst the Turks after so great a victorie, carelesly and at pleasure roame vp and downe the countrey, Baldwin setting vpon them, ouerthrew them with a great slaughter, and so put them to flight. After this victorie gained by the Christians the fourteenth of August,1120 in the yeere 1120, king Baldwin in great triumph entred into ANTIOCH, and so joyned that principalitie vnto his owne kingdome.

The yeer following, the Turks with another armie, inuaded the same country again: for repressing of whom, whilst Baldwin with the other Christian princes were making their preparations, it fortuned that Gazi their great commander suddenly died of an Apoplexie; vpon whose death they retired without further harme doing.1122 Neuerthelesse the next Spring, the king of DAMASCO E aided by the Arabians, entred againe with a great power into the countrey about ANTIOCH, and there did some harme: for the Antiochians now destitute of their owne prince, and Baldwin (who had taken vpon him their protection) being far off, and otherwise busied at IERVSALEM, were much more subject vnto the inrodes of their enemies (still at hand) than before when they had a prince of their owne still present amongst them. But Baldwin aduertised thereof, was making towards them with a puissant armie, sooner than they had thought it could haue beene possible. Of whose approch the Turks vnderstanding, retired againe out of the countrey: after whom, the king thinking it not good to make further pursuit, turned a little out of the way, and tooke by force GARAZE, one of the strongest cast [...]ls of the kings of DAMASCO, built but the yeere before; which because it was not without great charge and danger to be holden, he rased F downe to the ground.

Baldwin notwithstanding that hee had many times thus honourably repulsed his enemies, wisely considering how he was on the one side beset with the Turks, and on the other side with the Sarasins (which yet raigned in AEGYPT, the kingdome of IERVSALEM lying as it were in the mouth of them both) thought it good betime to pray aid of the Christian princes of EVROPE, and to that purpose had sent diuers his embassadors vnto diuers of them, but especially [Page] vnto the Venetians; whom of all others he thought fittest at his need to yeeld him reliefe by sea.G It fortuned in the meane time, that Balac the Persian Sultan with a great armie of the Turks, inuaded the countrey about ANTIOCH, whereof Baldwin vnderstanding (although he certainly knew he should ere long receiue aid from the other Christian princes his friends, but especially from the Venetians, & might therfore with great reason haue protracted the war vntil their comming, yet being therewith much mooued, or else his destinie so requiring) raised such forces as he had of his owne, and without longer staying for his friends, with greater courage than good speed, set forward: and so joyning battell with the enemy, was therein ouerthrown, with the greatest part of his armie, and himselfe taken prisoner in the fight, with certaine other of his best commanders; who altogether were carried away captiues vnto CARRAS.H

I [...]ppa besieged b [...] the Sarasins.Vpon the report of this ouerthrow, and taking of the king, the Caliph of AEGYPT on the other side tooke occasion with all his power to inuade the kingdome of IERVSALEM; and hauing in himselfe purposed the vtter ruine thereof, beside the great armie which he sent thither by land, which lay encamped not far from ASCALON, he put to sea an huge fleet also, of seuen hundred saile, for the distressing of the sea townes, which he well knew were not otherwise to be woon. This fleet of the Sarasin kings (for AEGYPT with the kingdomes of TVNES and MOROCCO were yet in possession of the Sarasins) ariuing at IOPPA, there put a shore their land forces, and hardly besieged the towne both by sea and land. But whilst they thus lay in great hope to haue woon the towne, Dominicus Michael, duke of VENICE, stirred vp by Calixtus then bishop of ROME, was come to CIPRVS with a fleet of two hundred saile, for the I reliefe of the Christians in SYRIA, and the Holy land: And hearing of the distresse of IOPPA, nothing dismaid with the number of the enemies fleet, hasted thither, and came so suddenly vpon them, that he had (as some report) ouerthrown them, before they could put themselues in order, or be in readinesse to fight: or as some others say, after a great and doubtfull fight, hauing sunke or taken a great number of them, and put the rest to flight, he obtained of them a most glorious victoritie. With like good fortune also, were the Sarasins ouerthrown in a notable battell at land, neere vnto ASCALON, by the lord Eustace, vnto whom the defence of the kingdome was committed after the taking of the king, who not long after so great a victorie died.

IOPPA relieued (as is aforesaid) the duke of VENICE trauelled by land to IERVSALEN, where he was honourably receiued by Guarimund the Patriarch, and the confederation before K made betwixt king Baldwin & the Venetians, vpon the same conditions solemnly againe renued.

The Sarasins thus notably discomfited both by sea and land, and the Christians thereby not a little encouraged,T [...]re b [...]si [...]ed by the Christians. and joyning their forces together with the Venetians, came and the first of March laid siege vnto the antient and strong citie of TYRE: which they hauing beset both by sea and land, gaue thereunto many a sharpe assault: which the Turks as men fighting for their liues, and wiues, right valiantly repulsed. In which sort the siege was continued longer than the Christians had at the first thought should haue needed: yet at length, after foure months siege, the Turks sore weakned with often assaults, and hardly pinched with want of food, all their store being spent, yeelded the citie by composition. Thus was the citie of TYRE (the most famous port of PHoeNICIA) yeelded vnto the Christians the nine and twentith of Iune, in L the yeere 1124.1124 The third part of this citie was giuen vnto the Venetians, according to the composition made betwixt them and the kings of IERVSALEM, That of all such cities as were by their helpe woon from the Infidels in SYRIA, they should haue a third part, with one street, and free traficke in all the rest of the cities of the kingdome of IERVSALEM. Shortly after was king Baldwin set at libertie for the ransom of an hundred thousand ducats, after he had beene eighteene moneths prisoner among the Turkes.

The duke of VENICE hauing now spent almost three yeares in this sacred expedition, & well confirmed the state of the Christians in SIRIA, returning home, by the way tooke the islands of CHIOS, RHODUS, SAMOS, MITYLEN, and ANDRUS, with the citie of MODON in PELOPONESUS; all, places belonging vnto the Greekes empire. Which hee did in reuenge of the M injuries done by the emperour, in the time of his absence, who enuying at the successe of the Christians in SYRIA, as had his father Alexius before him, had in the absence of the duke, infested the territories of the Venetians, for the which he was now justly requited with the losse of a good part of his owne.

Baldwin also not vnmindfull of the injuries vnto him before done by the Turkes, in requitall [Page] A thereof, inuaded the countrey about DAMASCO, and there in three notable battels ouerthrew the king, and spoiled the countrey: wherin he tooke so great a prey, that therewith he redeemed his daughter, whom he had at the time of his deliuerance left in hostage with the Turks for the payment of his ransom. He also ouerthrew the Sarasins at ASCALON▪ who aided by the Caliph of AEGYPT, had sundrie times inuaded the countrey about IERVSALEM. And so hauing well repressed his enemies, for a space liued in peace.

Not long after,Damasco in vai [...]e besieged by the Christians. Hugh Paganus first master of the Templars, (an order of knights first begun in the raigne of this Baldwin) before sent to craue aid of the Christian princes of the West, against the Turks and Sarasins, returned with a great number of zealous Christians, readie to lay downe B their liues for defence of the Christian faith and religion: with whom Baldwin and the other Christian princes of SYRIA joyning their forces, set forward and besieged DAMASCO, the regall seat of the Turks in those quarters. But such was the strength of this citie, with the valour of the defendants, and contagiousnesse of the aire, that the Christians (the heauens as it were then fighting against them) were glad to raise their siege in vaine begun, and so to retire.

Whilst things thus passed in SYRIA, Fulke countie of TVRIN, MAYN, and ANIOV, a man almost of threescore yeeres, hauing as he thought best disposed of his things at home, had for deuotion sake taken vpon him an expedition into the Holy land. In the time of which his preparations, embassadours came vnto him from king Baldwin, offring him in marriage Melisenda (or as some call her Margaret) his eldest daughter, with the succession into the kingdome C of IERVSALEM in dowrie, if he should suruiue the king; and in the meane time to content himselfe with the cities of TYRE and PTOLEMAIS: of which offer he accepted, and so held on his journey before intended.The death of Baldwin the second, the third king of Ierusalem. It fortuned about three yeeres after, that the king fell dangerously sicke, and feeling his death drawing on, hauing laid aside all regall dignitie, caused himselfe to be remooued out of his owne palace, into the Patriarchs house, which was neerer vnto the temple of the Sepulchre: and there calling vnto him Fulke the countie, his sonne in law, with his daughter, and his sonne Baldwin, then but two yeeres old, in the presence of the Patriarch, and diuers other princes & great commanders, commended vnto them the gouernment and defence of the kingdome, appointing Fulke to succeed him. And taking vnto himselfe the habit and profession of a munke, if he should haue longer liued, presently after gaue vp the ghost the two and D twentith day of August, in the yeere 1131;1131 whereof he raigned with much trouble thirteene yeeres, and was solemnly buried in the temple vpon mount CALVARIE, with the other two kings Godfrey and Baldwin, his predecessors.

The kings funerall ended, the princes of the kingdome with one accord made choise of Fulke the old countie, earle of ANIOV, for their king: who the sixteenth day of September, was with all solemnitie by William the Patriarch crowned in IERVSALEM. This man in the beginning of his raigne, besides his troubles abroad, was also vext with domesticall and intestine discord: Pontius countie of TRIPOLIS, seeking by force of armes to haue rent the dukedome of ANTIOCH from the kingdome: and Hugh countie of IOPPA, for feare of due punishment for his treason, joyning himselfe with the Sarasins of ASCALON, and so with them infesting the territories E of IERVSALEM, to the great hurt of the Christian state, and aduantage of the infidels. Which troublesome broiles were yet afterwards by the king, partly by force, partly by the mediation of the Patriarch & other princes (who seeing the danger like thereof to ensue, had enterposed themselues) well againe appeased. Vengeance yet neuerthelesse still following both the aforesaid traitours: Pontius being shortly after slaine by the Turks, and Hugh dying in exile.

Besides these domesticall troubles, the Turks also inuaded the countrey abou [...] ANTIOCH, where they were by the sudden comming of the king ouerthrown, with the losse of their tents, and exceeding great riches. And that nothing might be wanting vnto the disquieting of the state of that new erected kingdome, not long after, Iohn the Constantinopolitan emperour (together with the empire, inheritour also of his fathers malice, against the proceeding of the Christians F in SYRIA) with a puissant armie passing through the lesser ASIA, and by the way taking by force TARSVS the metropoliticall citie of CILICIA, with the whole prouince thereunto belonging, came and besieged ANTIOCH; which Fulke but a little before had together with Constance, the daughter and heire of the late duke of ANTIOCH, giuen in marriage to Raymund countie of POITV, for that purpose sent for out of FRANCE. But in this so dangerous a state of that Christian kingdome, the other zealous Christian princes interposed themselues as mediatours [Page] betwixt the emperour (pretending the same to belong vnto his empire) and Raymund G that was in possession thereof. And in fine brought it to this end, That Raymund for the present submitting himselfe vnto the emperour, should from thencefoorth hold his dukedome of him as of his lord and soueraigne: vpon which agreement the emperour returned vnto TARSVS, where he wintred, and so afterwards vnto CONSTANTINOPLE.

Much about the same time, Saguin one of the Turks great princes, inuading the countrey about TRIPOLIS, besieged the castell of MONTE-FERRAND: vnto the reliefe whereof, Fulke comming with his armie, was by the Turks ouerthrown; and for the safegard of his life, glad to take the refuge of the castell, the countie himselfe being in that battell taken prisoner. After which victorie, the Turks laid harder siege vnto the castell than before: the besieged in the H meane time being no lesse pinched within with famine, than pressed without by the enemie. In this the kings hard distresse, the other princes hauing raised the whole power of the kingdome, were comming to his reliefe: whereof the Turke vnderstanding, offred of himselfe to giue them all leaue freely to depart, and to set the countie at libertie, so that they would deliuer vnto him the castle: of which his offer they gladly accepting, yeelded vp the strong hold, and so departed. The king by the way meeting with the armie, thanked his friends for their forwardnesse, and so returned to IERVSALEM.

Ca [...]o Ioannes [...] Greeke empe [...]u [...] se [...]keth [...].About foure yeeres after, Iohn the Constantinopolitan emperour, with a great armie came againe into SYRIA, with purpose to haue vnited the famous citie of ANTIOCH vnto his empire, and so to haue made a way into the kingdome of IERVSALEM, whereafter hee I had now a good while longed. But comming thither, in hope to haue found the Cilicians and Syrians readie to haue receiued him, he was deceiued of his expectation, being shut out by the Latins, and not suffred to enter, but vpon his oath, and that with some few of his followers; and so after due reuerence done vnto him, quietly to depart without any stir or innouation in the city. In reuenge of which disgrace, at his departure he gaue the suburbs of the city as a prey vnto his greedie souldiers; pretending the same to be done for want of victuals: who made hauocke of whatsoeuer came to hand, not sparing the verie fruit trees, but cutting them downe to dresse their meat withall. Hauing thus vnder colour of necessitie, reuenged the disgrace receiued, he returned into CILICIA, and there wintred: where one day for his disport, hunting of the wild boare; and hauing wounded him with his boare speare, the wild beast therewith inraged, and K with all his force bearing forward vpon the weapon, forced the emperours hand backward vpon the point of a poysoned arrow, that was hanging in a quiuer at his backe, and so was therewith lightly wounded. Neuerthelesse, as light as the wound was, such was the strength of the poyson, that the griefe thereof still increasing, and his hand and arme more and more swelling, there was no remedie to be found,T [...]e death of [...] the Greeke emperour. but that his arme must be cut off; which desperat and vncertaine cure he abhorring, and in the extremitie of his paine oftentimes pleasantly saying, That the Greeke empire was not to be gouerned with one hand: ouercome with the strength of the poyson died. In whose place succeeded his yoongest sonne Emanuel, Alexius and Andronicus his two elder sonnes being both dead at his setting foorth vnto this so vnhappie an expedition.

The miserab [...] [...] of Ierusalem.It fortuned about this time also, the kingdome of IERVSALEM being now at peace, that L Fulke the king with the queene his wife, lying at the citie of PTOLEMAIS in the time of Autumne, it pleased the queene for her disport, to walke out of the citie, vnto certaine pleasant fountaines thereby in the countrey; for whose companie the king would needs go also, with certaine of his courtiers, where by the way it chanced that certaine boyes running along the field, put vp an hare that was sitting in a furrow: after which, all the courtiers on horsebacke galloped a maine, with notable outcrie and hallowing. Amongst the rest, the king to be partaker of the sport, forcing his horse to the vttermost of his power, in the midst of his course fell, together with his horse foundring vnder him, and in falling, chanced to fall with his head vnder the horse: with whose waight, and the hardnesse of his saddle, he was so crushed, that the braines came out both at his nose and eares. In this pitifull case being taken vp for dead, and with great heauinesse M carried backe; he yet breathing, lay speechlesse three daies, and so died the thirteenth of Nouember, in the yeere of Grace 1142. His dead bodie afterwards brought to IERVSALEM, was there with great magnificence, and the generall lamentation of all his subjects, buried with the other kings his predecessours.

Now had the late king left behind him two sonnes, Baldwyn about the age of thirteene yeeres, [Page] A and Almerike about the age of seuen.Baldwin the third of that name, fift king of Ierusalem. Of the elder of these two, the Christian princes made choice, who by the name of Baldwyn the third, was together with Melesinda his mother, partner with him in the kingdome, vpon Christenmas day with great solemnitie crowned king of HIERUSALEM, in the yeere 1142.1142 About which time Sanguin the Turke, taking hold of the discord betwixt Raymund prince of ANTIOCH, and Ioscelin countie of EDESSA, came and with a great power besieged EDESSA, the countie being at the same time absent: And did so much, that at length he tooke the citie by vndermining of it, where the bloodie Turke exercised all manner of crueltie vpon the poore Christians in the citie. By the losse of this famous citie, so large a territorie fell againe into the hands of the Turkes, as that three archbishopricks were therby drawne B from the church of ANTIOCH. The Turke encouraged with this victorie, straightwaies after besieged COLOGENBAR, another strong towne of the Christians: where one night drinking liberally with his friends, he was by one of them in his drunkennesse stabbed, and so slaine, and the siege raised. In whose stead Noradin his sonne succeeded.

Baldwyn, in the first yeere of his raigne, recouered from the Turkes the castle of SOBAL, a strong hold beyond IORDAN, which hee notably fortefied, for the defence of that side of his kingdome against the incursions of the Turks. But the next yeere vndertaking an expedition against the king of DAMASCO, he was by Noradin the Turke, the kings sonne in law, so hardly beset in his returne, as that it was accounted a thing miraculous, how he with his armie escaped his hands.

C The report of the losse of EDESSA with the miseries there endured by the Christians, being bruted through all parts of Christendome, greatly mooued the Christian princes of the West. Whom Eugenius the third, then bishop of Rome, ceased not both by himselfe and by his Legates to stirre vp to take that sacred warre in hand. And therein wrought so effectually, that almost in everie prouince of Christendome preparation was made for the reliefe of the distressed Christians in SYRIA.Conrade third emperor of Germanie taketh vpon him an expedition into the Holy land. Of all others, Conrade the third then emperour of GERMANIE was most forward, who aided by the Germane princes and others, with an incredible number of voluntarie men out of all parts of Christendome, had raised a most puissant armie, and therewith set forward on this sacred expedition. Of this his deuout purpose he had before certefied Emanuell the Greeke emperour, through whose countries hee was to passe, crauing that hee might by his D good fauour so doe, and for his money to be relieued with victuals, and other such things as hee should haue need of for himselfe or his people; promising in most quiet and peaceable manner to passe, without any harme doing vnto his territories or subjects. All which the Greeke emperour, commending his zeale, seemed in most large tearmes willingly to condiscend vnto. Neuerthelesse he inwardly repined thereat, wishing indeed no better successe vnto the Christians in this so honourable an expedition, than did the infidels themselues, as by the sequell of his doings well appeared. For Conrade with his populous armie, indeed a terrour vnto the Greekes, entring into the frontiers of the Constantinopolitane empire, found all things in shew friendly (for why Emanuell had before giuen out strait command, that good store of victuals and all other necessaries should be readie at all places to be sold as the armie was to passe:) but they were not farre come E into the countrey, but that in the taile of the armie still followed certaine strong companies of the Greeks, to keepe the souldiors from stragling from their ensignes, roming about in the countrey, now and then cutting them short, as they tooke them at aduantage. And still the further that they trauelled, the more it was to be seene in the countenances of the discontented Greekes, how vnwelcome guests they were. Yet still on they went through the countries of their dissembling friends, little differing from open enemies, vntill they came to PHILIPPOPOLIS: in departing from whence, such contention rise betweene them that were in the rereward of the armie, and the Greekes that followed them, that it was like to haue come to plaine battell, had not those broiles, by the discretion of some of the wiser sort, been in good time appeased. So marching on they came to ADRIANOPLE, & in a few daies after to the plaine called CHEROBACHI, through F which the riuer MELAS hath his course; which in Summer being almost drie, in Winter or any other great downefall of water, right suddenly ouerfloweth his bankes, and so drowneth the whole countrey, that then it seemeth no more a riuer, but a sea; and swelling with the wind, is not to be passed ouer, but by great boats: This riuer then suddenly rising by night, by reason of the great raine that then fell, in such abundance, as if the flood-gates of heauen had ben opened, so ouerflowed the place wherein the armie lay encamped vpon the side thereof, that with the [Page] violence of the water were carried away not onely manie weapons, saddles, garments, & such G other the souldiors necessaries; but euen the horses and mules, with their burdens, yea and great numbers of armed men themselues also, a most miserable and lamentable thing to behold. Many valiant men there fell without fight, and died no man killing them: to be tall, helped not; neither did valour stand them in any stead, they perished like hay, and were caried away like cha [...]fe, with such outcries and lamentation, that they which saw it, verely said, That the wrath of God was broke into the campe: such a suddaine inundation had ouerwhelmed all, that happie was hee could make shift for himselfe, without regarding one another. This misfortune sore troubled the emperour with his whole armie. Neuerthelesse, the water being againe fallen, and all put in so good order, as in such a confusion was possible, he marched on vnto the imperiall citie: which H the suspicious and malicious Greeke, had before notably fortefied and so strongly manned with armed men glistring upon the wals, in such sort as if it should haue presently been assaulted.

Conrade the emperour not suffred to enter into Constantinople. Conrade approching the citie, was not suffered to enter, but persuaded by the Greeke emperor forthwith to transport his armie ouer the strait, with promise to supplie his wants with whatsoeuer he should require. Which was done with such hast, as if nothing had beene farther to haue been regarded, but onely to haue them shipped ouer: in which seruice the Greekes spared no labour, or kind of vessell, that might serue to transport them. The Greeke emperour in the meane time, by men secretly appointed for that purpose, keeping account of the number that passed, vntill that they wearied with the multitude, ceased farther to number them. But when they were once shipped ouer, then began the couert mallice of the Greeke emperour forthwith I to appeare. For besides that they trusting vnto his promises, had brought little or no prouisions ouer with them, the countrey people by his appointment brought nothing unto them to sell, as before: and they of the townes and cities shut their gates against them as they marched, not affoording them any thing, but at an extreame rate, for which they would first receiue their money by ropes cast downe from the wals, and then deliuer them what they pleased therefore, yea and oftentimes nought at all. Amongst many other vile practises, not beseeming Christians, the mischeeuous Greekes, to poyson the souldiors, mingled lime with the meale which they sold unto the armie, whereof many of the hungrie souldiors greedily feeding, died. Whether the Greeke emperour were priuie thereunto, or no, is not certainely knowne; but certaine it is, that he caused counterfeit money to be coined, of purpose to deceiue them: and in breefe, that there K was no kind of mischiefe to be practised against them, which either hee himselfe deuised not, or [...]et not others to deuise; to the intent that their posteritie, terrified by this so vnfortunat an expedition, might for euer be afraid to take the like in hand againe. And that nothing might be wanting that mallice could deuise, he had secret intelligence with the Turkes themselues, concerning the strength of the armie, plotting vnto them the meanes how the same might best be defeated: whereby it came to passe, that some part thereof was by Pamplano, a captaine of the Turkes, ouerthrowne neere BATHIS,The Turke with [...]. and many slaine. But attempting to haue done the like vnto that part of the armie that marched through PHRIGIA, they were themselues ouertaken in their own deuise, and ouerthrowne, with a great slaughter. After which, the Turkes in great number, to stay the Christians further passage, kept the riuer of MoeANDER, encamping vpon the farther banke L of that winding riuer, with a most huge armie. There these worthie Christians right well declared, that it was but their patience, that the Grecian legions that had before so long followed them, with their countries and cities they had passed by, were not vnto them become a prey. For the emperour comming vnto the riuer side, where was neither bridge nor boat to passe ouer, and finding the great armie of the Turkes on the other side, readie to giue him battell if hee should aduenture the riuer, with their archers standing vpon the verie banke side: he retired a little out of the danger of the shot, and there encamping, commanded his souldiors to refresh themselues and their horses that night, and to be readie against the next morning to joine battell with their enemies they were so farre come to seeke for. Little rest serued him that night, early in the morning before day he arose, and arming himselfe, put his whole armie in order of battell: as did also the M enemie on the other side of the riuer, with their battalions orderly placed, and their archers vpon the banke side, readie to giue the first charge vpon the Christians, if they should aduenture to come ouer. Both armies thus standing in readinesse the one in sight of the other, and nothing but the winding riuer betwixt them, the emperour before resolued to fight, with cheerefull countenance and speech encouraged his men as followeth: ‘[Page] A That this expedition was of vs taken in hand, for Christ his sake, and for the glorie of God, and not of man,A notable speech of Conrade the emperour to encourage his soldiers to aduenture the riuer Meander. you know right well fellow souldiers. For, for this cause hauing contemned a pleasant life at home, voluntarily seperated from our neerest and deerest friends, we endure miseries in forren countries; we are exposed vnto dangers; we pine with hunger; we quake with cold; we languish with heat; we haue the earth our bed, the heauen our couering: and although we be noble, famous, renowmed, rich, ruling ouer many nations; yet weare we alwaies our gorgets as necessarie bonds, and are with them and our armor loaded, as was the greatest seruant of Christ, Peter, surcharged with two chaines, and kept with foure quaternions of souldiers. But these Barbarians (diuided from vs by this riuer) to be the enemies of the crosse of Christ, whom we of long haue desired to encounter withall, in whose blood (as Dauid saith) we haue vowed to wash our selues: Who is there that knoweth not, except he B be altogether blockish, and will not with open eies see, nor open eares heare? If we wish to ascend straight way into heauen, (for neither is God vnjust, that he knoweth not the cause of this our journey, or will not in recompence giue vnto vs the immortall fields, and shadie dwellings of Paradice, which hauing forsaken our owne dwellings, haue chose rather for his sake to die than to liue) if we call to remembrance what things these men of vncircumcised hearts do commit against our friends and countreymen, if we remember what grieuous tortures they inflict vpon them, or if we be any thing touched with the compassion of their innocent blood, vnworthily spilt; stand now couragiously, and fight valiantly, and let not any feare or terrour daunt vs. Let these Barbarians know, that by how much Christ our master and instructer doth excell their false prophet and seducer, author of their vaine impietie; so much are we superiours vnto them in all things. Seeing therefore we are an holy campe, and an armie C gathered by the power of God, let vs not cowardly loose our selues, or feare for Christ his sake honourably to aduenture our liues. For if Christ died for vs, how much more right is it that we for him should die also? vnto this so honourable an expedition, let vs also giue an honourable end: let vs fight in Christs name, with a most assured hope of an easie victorie. For none of them (I trust) shall be able to abide our force, but shall all giue way, euen to our first charge. But if we shall die (which God forbid) there shall be an honourable place of our buriall, wheresoeuer we shall for Christ fall. Let the Persian archer for Christ his sake, strike me, I will die in an assured hope; and with that arrow, as with a chariot, I will come vnto that rest, which shall be to me deerer than if I should with a base ordinarie kind of death in my sinnes end my daies in my bed. Now at length let vs take reuenge of them, with whose impure feet our kinsmen and Christian brethren troden downe, are gone into that common sanctuarie, D in which Christ our Sauiour, equall and associat to his father, is become a companion of the dead. We are those mightie men, we all haue drawne our swords, which stand about the liuely and diuine sepulchre, as about Solomons bed. Wherefore we that be free borne, let vs take out of the way these Agarens, the children of the bondwoman; and let vs remooue them as stones of offence out of the way of Christ: whom I know not why, the Grecians feed vp as greedie wolues to their owne destruction, and with shame fat them with their blood; when as with couragious minds and thoughts beseeming wise men, they ought so to haue beene driuen from their prouinces and cities, as rauening wild beasts from their flocks. Now for as much as this riuer, as it seemeth, is not, but by some aduenture to be passed ouer, I my selfe will shew you the way, and be the first that shall take it. Let vs, serred together, forcibly breake into the riuer, and we shall well enough ride through it. I know that the water beaten backe E by our force, will be at a stand, and breake the course, returning as it were backward. By not vnlike meanes the Israelits in antient time on foot passed ouer IORDAN, the course of the riuer being staid. This attempt shall be spoken of in all posteritie, it shall by no tract of time be worne out or forgotten, but still remaine in fresh remembrance, to the great dishonour of the Turks, whose dead bodies ouerthrown at this riuer, shall lie like a mountaine, and be seene as a Trophey of our victorie, vnto the worlds end, and our immortall praise and glorie.’

Hauing thus said, and the signall of battell giuen, euerie man hauing before by deuout praier commended himselfe vnto almightie God: he was the first that put spurs to his horse, and tooke F the riuer; after whom followed the rest, so close and so forcibly, with such a terrible outcrie, that the course of the water, being by the force of their horses staid, and as it were beaten backe towards the fountaine, the whole armie passed ouer with lesse trouble than was feared. And then charging the Turks,The Turks ouerthrowen by the Christians with a woonderfull slaughter. alreadie discouraged to haue seene them so desperatly, and contrarie to their expectation, to haue passed the riuer; after some small resistance put them to flight, wherein such infinit numbers of them fell, the Christians like fierce lyons pursuing the chace, that all the vallies [Page] ran with blood, and the fields were couered with the bodies of the dead. Many of the Italians G were wounded with the Turks arrowes, and but few or none slaine. But what a multitude of the enemies there fell, the sundrie and hugie heapes of bones, to be compared vnto great hils, did long time after well declare; whereat euerie man that trauelled that way did woorthily woonder, as did I my selfe (saith Nicetas Choniates) in reporting this historie.Nicetas Choniates Annali primo rerum à Manuele Comoeno Imperatore gestar. fol. 139. Iconium in vaine besieged by the Christian [...] Not much vnlike that, is reported of the Cimbers, slaine by Marius in such number, that of their bones the countrey people about MARCELLIS where the field was fought, long time after made wals for the defence of their vineyards.

After this so great a victorie, the Christians without resistance came to ICONIVM, the chiefe seat of the Turkish kings in the lesser ASIA, which they hardly besieged. Neuerthelesse, such H was the strength of the citie, being strongly fortified both by nature and art, together with the valour of the defendants; that lying there long, they little preuailed, pressed in the meane time with greater extremities and wants in the campe, than were the besieged in the citie: whereupon ensued such a mortalitie, people dayly without number dying in the armie, that the emperour was glad to raise his siege and to returne into his countrey. The chiefe cause as well of this so great a mortalitie, as of the ouerthrow of so notable an action, most men ascribe vnto the malice of the Greeks; who not without the priuitie of their emperour (as it was commonly bruited) mingled lime with the meale which they brought to sell into the armie, whereof the hungrie souldiers desirously feeding, were therewith poysoned, and so miserably died. Of the certaine time of this journey of the emperours into ASIA, authors agree not; howbe [...]t most refer it vnto I the yeere 1146.1146

This expedition, though not so fortunat as was at the first well hoped of, yet profited the Christian common weale in this, That the Turks therewith throughly busied, and doubtfull of the euent thereof, Baldwin in the meane time fortified GAZA (sometimes a famous citie of the Philistines, but as then ruinous) which serued as a most sure bulwarke for the defence of that part of his kingdome toward AEGYPT; and also for the distressing of ASCALON, the onely refuge of the Aegyptians, then left in that country: which strong citie standing vpon the sea side, he with all the power of his kingdome afterward besieged both by sea and land; vnto the reliefe whereof, the Caliph of AEGYPT, after it had beene fiue moneths by the Christians besieged, sent a strong fleet of threescore and ten gallies. At which time also on the other side Noradin the K Turke, who had now got into his hand all the kingdome of DAMASCO, to withdraw the Christians from the siege of ASCALON, besieged PANEADA, from whence he was by the valour of the citizens repulsed, as was also the Caliphs fleet at sea, and the siege at ASCALON continued. Where at length the Christians after long batterie had made a breach in the wall, but giuing thereunto an assault, they were with great losse of their men repulsed, and the breach againe by the enemie repaired; who to the greater despite of the Christians, hanged ouer the walles in roaps the dead bodies of their slaine: with which spectacle, the chiefe commanders of the armie were so mooued, that they with all their power returned againe to the assault, with a full resolution to gage thereon their whole forces: which they so couragiously performed, that the besieged discouraged with the great slaughter of their men, and now with true valour ouercome, craued L parley; and so couenanting that they might with their liues in safetie depart, agreed to yeeld vp the citie, which they accordingly performed. The spoile of the citie was giuen to the souldiers, and the gouernment thereof vnto Almericke, the kings brother, earle of IOPPA. By this victorie, great securitie was gained vnto that side of the kingdome, the enemie hauing now no place left in those parts whereon to set his foot.

The honourable expedition of Lewis the French king, by the malice of the Greeks, and [...] of other Christian princes of Syria frustrated and brought to naught.About the same time also (or as some write euen at the same time together with the emperour) Lewis the French king, the eight of that name, tooke vpon him the like expedition for the reliefe of the Christians in the Holy land: who setting forward with all the chiualrie of FRANCE, and accompanied with diuers other great princes, with a right puissant armie came to CONSTANTINOPLE, where he was by Emanuel the emperour honourably receiued, with M all the outward shews of faigned courtesie that could be deuised. But hauing passed the strait and landed in ASIA, he found nothing answerable to that the dissembling Greeke had before most largely promised. And to distresse him the more, was by false guides before corrupted by the emperour, conducted through the most desolate and barren countries, where by the way a wonderfull number of his souldiers perished of hunger and thirst: many of them also being cut off in [Page] A the strait and difficult passages, or as they straied from the armie by the Greeks themselues, appointed by the malicious emperour for that purpose. Yet after many dangers passed, and his armie sore wasted,Damasco in vaine besieged by Lewis the French king. he came at length into SYRIA, and laid siege vnto DAMASCO, the royall seat of Noradin the Turkish king; which he so notably impugned that the defendants were almost out of hope to be able for any long time to hold him out. Neither had it otherwise hapned, had not enuie the inseperable attendant of all honourable actions, frustrated so great an hope: for the besieged Turks being brought to great extremitie, and now euen at the point to haue yeelded the citie, certaine of the Christian princes of that countrey; vnderstanding that the king had promised the gouernment of that so famous a citie vnto Philip earle of FLANDERS, if it should be woon; and secretly grudging to haue a stranger preferred before themselues; corrupted also B(as some say) with the Turks gold, fraudulently persuaded the king to remooue from that part of the citie where he lay and might in fine haue taken the same, vnto another far stronger: where, after he had lyen a great while, striuing with no small extremities, he was inforced for want of victuals, to raise his siege and to depart. And so without any thing done woorth the remembrance, returned againe into FRANCE, detesting the verie name of Emanuel the Greeke emperour; by whose sinister dealing, so notable an expedition was brought to be of none effect, to the great discouraging of all other Christian princes for taking the like againe in hand.1147

Now had the state of the Christians in SYRIA for certaine yeeres after the aforesaid expeditions, rested in good peace: when Noradin the Turke (mooued with some injuries done by the Christians vnto the Turks and Arabians, who by the leaue of king Baldwin dwelt in the forrest C of LYBANVS) came and straightly besieged PANEADE,Paneade taken and sacked by the Turks. a citie of the Christians there by: vpon whom the Christians in the citie, now brought vnto great extremitie, made a most desperat sally, and had with the Turks a sharpe and cruell fight: but oppressed with the multitude & enforced to retire, they were so hardly pursued, that the Turks together with them entred the citie, and put to sword all that came in their way. Neuerthelesse, the greater part of the citizens (by good fortune) had in good time before retired themselues into the castle, which was of great strength, and there stood vpon their guard. Of whose distresse, with the taking of the citie, Baldwin hearing, raised a great armie, & so set forward to relieue thē. But Noradin hearing of his comming, & doubtfull of his owne strength, after he had takē the spoile of what he could, set fire on the citi [...] & so departed. The citizens thus deliuered,Paneade [...]gaine repaired by the Christians. repaired againe the wals of the citie, the kings power still defending D them. Noradin with his power all the while lying close in the woods not far off, still awaiting the offer of some good opportunitie to take the Christians at aduantage, which shortly after fell out according to his owne desire: For the king doubting no such matter, but supposing him to haue been quite gone, hauing at his returne sent away all his footmen, followed after himselfe accompanied onely with his horsemen, and they also not verie strong: but as he was passing the riuer IORDAN, he was suddenly set vpon by Noradin and the Turks, and after a sharpe conflict ouerthrown. The king himselfe with some few hardly escaped to SAPHET, a towne therby; most part of his nobilitie being there either slaine or taken prisoners: amongst the rest, Bertrand of BLANQVEFORT, master of the Templars, with diuers others of great name fell at that time into the enemies hands, and so were carried away prisoners.

E After this victorie, Noradin strengthened with new supplies from DAMASCO, came againe and besieged PANEADE, in good hope that the citizens discouraged with so great an ouerthrow of the king, and out of hope to be by him relieued, would now either yeeld the citie, or else not be able long to hold it out. But the king contrarie to his expectation, had in shorter time than was thought possible, raised a great power; and aided by the prince of ANTIOCH and the countie of TRIPOLIS was marching to the reliefe of his citie: of whose approch Noradin vnderstanding, although he had made diuers breaches in the wals, & brought the citizens almost vnto vtter despaire, rise with his armie and departed. And so Baldwin hauing now twice relieued the besieged citie, returned also to IERVSALEM.

Many an hard conflict with the Turks had this young king afterwards, during the fortunate time of his raigne: wherein that troublesome kingdome happily flourished amidst the miscreants, all which to recount, were long and tedious. Yet among other things, it is woorth the remembrance, how that Noradin the Turke, then king of DAMASCO, besieging SUETA, a castle belonging to the kingdome of HIERUSALEM, was in a set battell by Baldwin ouerthrowne and put to flight, with the losse of the greatest part of his armie. King Baldwin had before married [Page] Emanuell the Greeke emperours neece: and now the same emperour by Guido Stephanus, G and Trisillus his embassadours, requested to haue giuen him againe in marriage one of the kings nigh kinswomen. Vnto whom the king after mature deliberation had concerning that matter, offered him Matilde, an honourable ladie, the sister of the countie of TRIPOLIS; whom the emperour refused: and afterward by the consent of the king, made choice of Mary the daughter of Raymund prince of ANTIOCH lately dead. Which the countie of TRIPOLIS taking in euill part, in reuenge thereof, by certaine men of warre whom he put to sea, grieuously infested the frontiers of the emperours dominions. Now during the time that the marriage was in solemnising, the king made his abode at ANTIOCH, at which time he fortefied the castle of PONTISFER vpon the riuer ORONTES, against the incursions of the enemies. But lying there,H he according to his wonted manner, to preuent sicknesse, vpon the approch of Winter tooke physicke of Baraca Iew, the countie of TRIPOLIS his physician. After the taking whereof, he fell presently into the bloudie flix, and afterward into a consumption: whereby it was verely supposed, that he was poysoned by the Iew, and the rather, for that some little part of the same medicine that was left, being giuen to a dog, he thereof in short time died. The king thus languishing in paine, to change the aire, remooued first to TRIPOLIS, & afterward to BERYTUS, where he departed this troublesome life, to liue with his Sauiour Christ in blisse for euer. His dead bodie was afterward with the generall mourning of his subjects conueied to HIERUSALEM, and there solemnly enterred by the bodie of his father. He departed the 13 of Februarie in the yeere of grace 1163 when he had raigned 21 yeeres.The death of king Bald [...]in lamented by his [...]mies. He was a man so gracious, that not I onely his friends, but euen the infidels themselues (as it is reported) lamented his death. Insomuch that Noradin king of DAMASCO, his antient enemie, being incited by some of his captaines to inuade his kingdome at such time as his funerals were in solemnising, refused so to doe, answering,1163 That compassion and regard was to be had of the just sorrow of the Christians his subjects; for that they had lost such a king, as the like was hardly againe to bee found in the world.

But leauing the kingdome of HIERUSALEM, with the greater part of SYRIA, thus victoriously gained from the infidels: let vs for the orderly continuation of our historie, againe returne to see th [...] proceedings of the Turkes at the same time in the lesser ASIA also: wherein they yet held the state of a kingdome, though not so great as before the comming of the princes K of the West into those countries. After the death of Sultan Solyman (with whome duke Godfrey and the other Christian princes had much to doe as they passed into SYRIA) as is aforesaid, one Muhamet succeeded him: betwixt whom and Masut, Sultan of ICONIUM, great discord arise,D [...]scord amongst the T [...]k [...] in the lesser [...]sia. which at length brake out into open warre, to the farther weakening of that late shaken kingdome. For the maintenance of which quarrell, as profitable for his state, Iohn Comnenus the Greeke emperour, gaue aid to Masut against his enemie Muhamet. Neuerthelesse in short time the two infidels (professing both one superstition) became friends, and joyning their forces, ouerthrew the emperour with his whole armie, as he lay at the siege of ICONIUM, at which time he himselfe with much adoe escaped by flight. Masut afterwards hauing got into his hands the whole kingdome of the Turks,Mas [...]t the Sultan deuideth his kingd [...]m amōgst [...] three s [...]nnes. at the time of his death deuided the same amongst his L three sonnes: Vnto Clizasthlan his eldest sonne hee gaue ICONIUM his cheefe citie, with the townes and prouinces subject thereunto: Vnto Iagupasan his other sonne (or rather as some will haue it, his sonne in law) he allotted AMASIA and ANCYRA, with the fruitfull country of CAPPADOCIA and the places adjoyning: But vnto Dadune his other sonne (or sonne in law) hee gaue the great cities of CESARIA and SEBASTIA, with the large countries thereabouts, all sometime part of the Greeke empire, but then the portions of the Turks. Long it was not after this deuision of the kingdome, but that these brethren after the manner of ambitious men, forgetfull of the bonds both of loue and nature, fell at discord among themselues; the Sultan seeking the destruction of Iagupasan, and he likewise of him, and that not by secret meanes, but euen by open force of armes▪ Emanuell the Greeke emperour in the meane time wishing the destruction M of them both, heartely rejoycing thereat, and by his embassadours secretly animating the one against the other, yet in open shew more fauouring the part of Iagupasan than of the Sultan, by whose aid he obtained against him many a notable and bloodie victorie: insomuch, that the Sultan wearie of the quarrell, was glad not onely by his embassadours to seeke the emperours sauour, but euen in person himselfe to go and meet him, as he came with his armie out of SIRIA, [Page] A and so to accompanie him vnto CONSTANTINOPLE, where he was together with the emperour most honourably receiued, with all the signes of joy and triumph that could possibly be deuised. The emperour no lesse rejoycing to be sued vnto by so great a prince, than did the Sultan at his so honourable entertainment.

Among other queint deuises of many,Another foolish Icarus. for the solemnizing of so great a triumph, there was an actiue Turke, who had openly giuen it out, that against an appointed time he would from the top of an high tower in the tilt-yeard,Nicetas Choniates re [...]um ab imperat. Manuele Comnen [...] gestar. lib. 3. fol. 143. flie by the space of a furlong. The report whereof had filled the citie with a woonderfull expectation of so strange a noueltie. The time prefixed being come, and the people without number assembled; the Turke according to his promise, vpon the top of the high tower shewed himselfe, girt in a long and large white garment, gathered into B many plites and foldings, made of purpose for the gathering of the wind: wherewith the foolish man had vainely persuaded himselfe to haue houered in the aire, as do birds vpon their wings, or to haue guided himselfe as are ships with their sailes. Standing thus houering a great while, as readie to take his flight; the beholders still laughing, and crying out, Flie Turke, flie, how long shall we expect thy flight? The emperour in the meane time dissuading him from so desperat an attempt: and the Sultan betwixt feare and hope hanging in doubtfull suspence what might happen to his countrieman. The Turke, after he had a great while houered with his armes abroad (the better to haue gathered the wind, as birds do with their wings) and long deluded the expectation of the beholders: at length finding the wind fit, as he thought for his purpose, committed himselfe with his vaine hope vnto the aire: But in steed of mounting aloft, this foolish C Icarus came tumbling downe headlong with such violence, that he brake his necke, his armes and legs, with almost all the bones of his bodie. This foolish flight of the Turke gaue such occasion of sport and laughter vnto the vulgar people, alwaies readie to scoffe and jest at such ridiculous matters, that the Turks attending vpon the Sultan, could not walke in the streets vnderided; the artificers in their shops shaking their armes with their tooles in their hands, as did the Turke, and still crying out Flie Turke, flie: whereof the emperour hearing, although he could not chuse but thereat smile himselfe, as not ignorant of the scoffes and taunts of the vulgar people; yet in fauour of the Sultan, who was not a little grieued therewith, he commanded such their insolencie to be restrained.

The solemnitie of the triumph ouerpassed (which by an ominous earthquake at the same D time hapning, was somewhat obscured) the emperour to shew his wealth, and to gratifie the Sultan, gaue vnto him many rich and royall presents, with such a masse of treasure, as that he much woondred thereat. In requitall whereof, and in token of his thankfulnesse, he againe honoured the emperor with the name of his Father, and tearming himselfe by the name of his Sonne, promised to restore vnto him the citie of SEBASTIA, with the territorie thereunto belonging, then part of Dadune his inheritance. Neuerthelesse, all this was nothing else but meere dissimulation, as afterward by proofe appeared. For returning home, hee thrust Dadune indeed out of SEBASTIA, which he spoiled with the countrey thereabout; but forgetfull of his promise, kept it wholy to himselfe: and by force tooke also from him the citie of CESARIA, with the countrey of AMASIA, by him before but lately possessed. In like manner, he bent his forces E also vpon I [...]gupasan his other brother, who in the very preparation of those wars died: by whose vntimely death the citie of ANCYRA, with all his dominions in CAPADOCIA, fell into the Sultans hands. Who now possessed of all his fathers kingdom, and swelling with pride, forgetting all former curtesies, inuaded the emperours territories, and tooke from him the citie of LAODICEA in PHRIGIA, where he did great harme; as also in the countrey thereabouts, killing the people as he went, or else carrying them away with him captiues. For the repressing of which outrages, the emperor with a strong armie passed ouer into ASIA, and there in the frontiers of his territories fortified DORILEVM against the incursious of the Turks. In performing whereof, he to the example and stirring vp of others, carried the first basked of stones himselfe F vpon his shoulders; and vsed such farther diligence, that in short time the citie was compassed about with strong wals, and deepe ditches, maugre the Turkes, who ceased not with continuall alarms and skirmishes to haue hindred the worke. With like care and for like purpose he also fortified SVELEVM, another strong hold: and leauing in either place a strong garrison, returned againe to CONSTANTINOPLE. Neuerthelesse the Turks ceased not with continuall inroads to do what harmes they might vpon the frontiers of the empire, though not altogether [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] with so good successe as before, being many times cut off by the garrisons of the late fortified G townes:Vnkindnesse betwixt the emperour and the Sultan. which grieuances still encreasing, caused the emperour to expostulate with the Sultan, as with an vnthankfull man, and forgetfull of so great kindnesse before done vnto him, as the establishment of him in his kingdome came vnto: who with no lesse vehemencie vpbraided him againe with vnconstancie and breach of promise, as well for fortifying the aforesaid places contrarie to the league betwixt them, as for that hauing promised much more, he had thereof performed nothing. Thus vnkindnesse dayly growing vpon euerie trifle, as it commonly falleth out among men of great spirit, and jealous of their owne honours: it was dayly expected when the matter should fall out into open & bloodie war; both of them being men of great valour, and apt to reuenge the least injurie to them offred. Yet was it the Sultans maner warely to H mannage his wars by his politike and expert captaines: whereas the emperour being of an hotter nature, and couragious aboue measure, commonly in all his great expeditions aduentured his owne person, without respect what danger might thereof ensue vnto himselfe or his state. Long it was not but that the emperour fully resolued to be reuenged of so many wrongs done vnto him and his subjects by the Turks, raised the whole power of his empire both in EVROPE and ASIA, in such sort as if he had therewith purposed, not onely to haue rased to the ground ICONIVM, the regall seat of the Turkish Sultan, but euen vtterly to haue destroied the whole nation of the Turks. Thus with a most puissant and populous armie, well appointed of all things necessarie, he passed ouer into ASIA, and so in good order marching through PHRYGIA, LAODICEA, CHONAS (called in antient time PASSAS) S. ARCHANGEL, LAMPIS, CaeraeNAS I (where the head of the great and famous riuer MaeANDER riseth, whereinto the riuer MARSYAS falleth) and from thence to CHONIA, he with euill lucke, and woorse speed, passed by MYRIOCEPHALON, an old ruinous castle, ominous by the name thereof, as by the euent in short time after it prooued. And albeit that he marched verie circumspectly, still intrenching his armie in euerie place where he lodged; yet could he make but small speed, by reason of the multitude of his carriages, and of the base people that attended the same. The Turks in the meane while oftentimes shewing themselues in troupes, and in places of aduantage, skirmishing sometime with one part of the armie and sometime with another, but neuer daring to aduenture the fortune of a just battell: yet by such meanes were the victualers of the armie oftentimes cut off, and the passages for the emperour made verie dangerous. And the more to distresse the Christians K in their long trauell, they found the countrey before them of purpose destroied by the Turks, and the water in many places poysoned, whereof the Christians vnaduisedly drinking, fell into many grieuous diseases, especially the flix, and thereof died in great number. The Sultan in the mean time, although he had in readines a right puissant armie of his owne, & had procured great and from the Persian Sultan his kinsman and chiefe supporter: yet fearing the doubtfull euent of war, and loath to aduenture his whole estate vpon the fortune of a battell, sought by his embassadours (sent for that purpose) to grow to some peace with the emperour, and that vpon such honourable conditions, as by the wiser sort were thought not to bee at any hand refused: which large offers, the Sultan as desirous of peace, made vnto him not once, but againe and againe; which the emperour neuerthelesse (reposing great confidence in his owne power, and prickt forward L by the gallants of the court, better acquainted with the braue triumphs of peace than the hard wars of the Turks) proudly rejected; and so dismissing the embassadours, scornfully willed them to tell their master, That he would giue him answere vnto his requests vnder the wals of ICONIUM. Which caused the Sultan, now out of all hope of any reconciliation to be made betwixt the emperour and him, with all his power to take the straits of ZIBRICA, whereby the armie of the Christians, departing from MYRIOCEPHALON must of necessitie passe. The entrance into these straits was by a long valley, on either side enclosed with high mountaines, which toward the North rising and falling according as the hils gaue leaue, opened into diuers large vallies, which by little and little growing againe straighter and straighter, with high and craggie rocks hanging ouer on either side, and almost touching one another, gaue vnto the M painefull traveller a most hard and difficult passage.

[...].Into this so dangerous a valley, the emperour not fearing the enemies force, desperately entred with his armie, hauing neither prouided for the cleering of the passages, or safetie of his carriages▪ in no other order than as if hee had marched through the plaine and champain countrey, although it were before told him (that which he shortly after, but too late, saw) that the [Page] A enemie had strongly possessed both the straits and the mountains, to hinder his farther passage. The vauward of his armie was conducted by Iohn and Andronicus, the sonnes of Angelus Constantine, accompanied with Macroducas Constantine and Lapardas Andronicus: In the right wing was Baldwin, the emperours brother in law; and in the left Maurozomes Theodorus: After them followed the drudges and scullions, with an infinit number of carters and other base people, attending vpon the carriages, with the baggage of the whole armie: Next vnto these came the emperour with the maine battell, consisting for the most part of right valiant and worthie souldiers: The rereward was shut vp by Andronicus Contostephanus, with a number of most resolute men. They were not farre entred into these straits, but that the Turks from the mountains B and broken cliffes, shewed themselues on euery side, deliuering their deadly shot from the vpper ground vpon the Christians below, as thicke as haile. Neuerthelesse the sonnes of Angelus with Macroducas and Lapardus, and the vauntguard, casting themselues into a three square battell in forme of a wedge, with their targuets in manner of a penthouse cast close together ouer their heads, and their archers on euery side lustely bestowing their shot amongst the thickest of their enemies, by plaine force driue them out of the straits they had before possessed, and caused them to retire farther off into the mountaines; and so hauing made themselues way, with little or no losse passed those dangerous straits: vntill that at length hauing recouered the top of an hill, very commodious for their purpose, as the case stood, they there staied, and presently encamped themselues. And happely, with like good fortune might the rest of the armie haue passed also, had C they in like order, and with like courage, presently followed after. But failing so to doe, and troubled with the multitude of their carriages, which could not possibly make any way through those strait and rough passages (but troubled themselues one another, as also the whole armie) they were from the vpper ground miserably ouerwhelmed with the multitude of the Turkish archers, whose arrowes fell as thicke vpon them from the mountaines, as if it had been a perpetuall tempest or shoure of haile, to the great disordering & dismaying of the whole armie: which the Turks quickly perceiuing, and therewith encouraged, in great numbers came downe from the mountaines where they had before houered ouer the heads of the Christians, and forcibly entring the plaine ground, and comming to handy blowes, first ouerthrew the right wing; where Baldwin himselfe seeking to restore his disordered companies, and to stay the furie of the enemie, D(now raging in the blood of the Christians) with a troupe of valiant horsemen breaking into the thickest of them,Baldwin slain [...] ▪ as became a worthie captaine, was there compassed in with the multitude of his enemies, and slaine, together with all his followers, and the greatest part of the whole wing by him commanded. With this victorie the Turkes were so encouraged, that comming down with all their power, they stopped all the waies whereby the Christians were to passe, who as men couped vp in those dangerous straits, were not able either to defend themselues, or to helpe one another: but inclosed as deere in a toyle, and one troubling another, were the cause both of the destruction of themselues and others. For by reason of the straitnesse of the place, neither could they that were before, retire, either they that were behind in the rereward, come forward to relieue the one the other, as need required: the carriages also, which were many, and in the middle of the armie,The miserie of the Christians by the Turks inclosed in the straits. seruing them to no other purpose than to the hurt of themselues. There E were the beasts that serued for burden, together with the souldiours, ouerwhelmed with the Turkes shot, the vallies lay full of dead bodies, the riuers ran mingled with the blood of men and beasts, in such terrible manner, as is not by pen to be expressed. For the Christians not able either to goe forward, or retire, were there in those straits slaine like sheepe: if any courage or sparke of valour were by any shewed against the enemie, fighting at so great aduantage, it was but lost, seruing to little or no purpose. And to increase these miseries, the Turks in scorn shewed vpon the point of a launce the head of Andronicus Bataza, the emperours nephew, who comming with an armie out of PAPHLAGONIA, and HERACLEA PONTICA, against the Turks of AMASIA, was now by the way by them ouerthrowne and slaine. The report whereof, confirmed F by the sight of his head,The emperour in great perpl [...] [...]itie. and the consideration of the desperat danger wherin the whole armie presently stood, so troubled the emperour that hee was at his wits end: and with drie teares (if it may be so said) dissembling his inward greefe, as one out of comfort, stood doubtfull which way to turne himselfe. For the Turks hauing suffred the vauntguard to passe, with all their power charged the emperours maine battell, as his cheefe strength, nothing doubting, but that hauing once ouerthrowne it, they should easily and at pleasure ouerthrow the rest. Oftentimes [Page] had the emperour attempted to haue driuen the enemie out of those straits, and so to haue opened G a way for his armie to haue passed, but all in vaine, the power of the Turkes still increasing, and they at great aduantage notably maintaining the passages before by them taken. Neuerthelesse, seeing no lesse danger in staying still,The desperat resolution of the emperour. than in going forward, he with a few of his best souldiers, armed with despaire, and resolued to die (vnto which kind of men nothing is terrible) set forward directly vpon his enemies, willing the rest with like resolution euery man to make for himselfe the best shift he could. And so with many wounds and sturdie blows both giuen & receiued, he by plaine force and might of hand brake through the thickest of his enemies, and so escaped out of those straits, as out of a trap. But yet not without many wounds receiued in his person, and himselfe so wearied as that he was not able to lift vp his helmet, being beaten close to his H head, and in his targuet were found sticking thirtie of the Turkes arrowes or thereabouts, the manifest tokens of his danger. The other legions seeking to follow the emperour (for other way they had none) were on euery side hardly assailed by the Turkes, and infinit numbers of them slaine; beside many others that perished in those straits, ouerborne and troden to death by their owne fellowes. Yea such as had the fortune to escape out of one of these perrillous straits, were forthwith slaine in the next: for this so dangerous a passage through the mountaines, was deuided (as is aforesaid) into seuen vallies, which giuing faire and broad entrances, the farther a man w [...]nt, grew still straiter and straiter, all which straits the Turkes had before strongly possessed. At which time also, the more to increase the terrour of the day, the light sand raised with the feet of the men and horses, was with the violence of a most tempestuous wind which then blew, carried I so forcibly and thicke, that both the armies grapling together, as if it had been in the darkenesse of the night, killed whomsoeuer they met withall, without respect of friend or foe, by which errour many were euen of their owne friends slaine. In euery place lay great heapes of the Turks slaine together with the Christians, and with them great numbers of horses and other beasts for carriage, so that those vallies where this bloodie conflict was, seemed to bee nothing els but a large burying place of the Turk [...]s and Christians with their horses: But the greater number was of the Christians that perished, and they not altogether of the common sort, but euen of the brauest captaines,A mo [...] miserab [...]e spectacle. and the emperours neerest kinsmen. The violence of the wind ceasing and the day cleering vp, there was of all others to bee seene (a most wofull spectacle) men yet aliue, some wounded, some whole, couered some to the middle, some to the necke, with dead carkasses, in K such sort, as that they were not able with any strugling to get out: who with their hands cast vp towards heauen, with ruthfull voices cried out for helpe to such as passed by; but all in vaine, for euery man possessed with the common feare, and by their danger measuring their owne, passed by them without compassion, as more carefull of their owne safetie, leauing them yet liuing as men to be numbred among the dead.

The emperour in danger to haue been tak [...]n▪ notably defendeth himselfe.The emperor himselfe, as a man almost now spent, being got out of the danger, stood a while to breath himselfe vnder the shaddow of a wild peare tree, without any page or man to attend him; whom a poore common souldior espying, and mooued with compassion, came vnto him, and offring him the best seruice he could, helped him vp with his helmet, and buckled vp his armour, which before hung dangling here and there about him: when in the meane while a Turke L comming in vpon him, had taken his horse by the bridle, in hope to haue led him away prisoner: whom for all that, the emperour as wearie as hee was, with the trunchion of his broken launce which he had yet in his hand, strucke downe to the ground, and so [...] himselfe of him. Presently after came also another sort of the stragling Turkes, readie also to [...]aue ceized vpon him and to haue taken him prisoner, of whom he slew one with the aforesaid horsemans staffe, and with his sword strucke off the head of another of them, and so kept them off vntill that by the comming in of ten of his owne souldiors hee was relieued. Departing thence with purpose to haue joined himselfe vnto the legions that were gone before in the vauward, hee had not gone farre but that he was much troubled by other Turkes that hee met, and the heapes of the dead bodies that lay in his way: yet at last, hauing with much labour and more danger passed those M straits, and a riuer running thereby, being glad in many places to ride ouer the dead bodies of his owne people, and some other of his owne souldiors now resorting vnto him; he there saw Iohn Catacuzene, a noble and right valiant gentleman that had maried his neece, fighting alone against a great number of the Turkes, to be compassed in and slaine; whom he was no way able to relieue. Which Turkes also seeing him passe by, followed after him as after a most rich prey, in [Page] A hope to haue either presently taken or slaine him: whom neuerthelesse hee (encouraging the small companie he had about him) notably repulsed; and so sometime marching forward, and againe as occasion required, making a stand, came at length long looked for but most welcome, vnto the legions that were gone before, not so sorrie for their owne hard estate, as carefull of his danger.

But before he could come to those his legions, he readie to faint for thirst, commanded water to be brought him out of the riuer that ran fast by; which after he had tasted, and by the vnpleasant tast thereof, perceiued the same to be infected, he fetting a deepe sigh, said, O how vnfortunately haue I tasted Christian bloud: whereunto an audacious and malapert souldior there present, B and more bitter than the cruell time it selfe,The malapert speech of an insol [...]nt soldiour to the emperour. replied; Emperour, thou didst not now, thou didst not now, I say, first, but long since, and oftentimes, drinke the bloud of the Christians, euen vntill thou wast drunke againe, at such time as thou didst with most grieuous exactions vex and deuour thy poore subiects. The great patience of the emperour▪ Which reprochfull speech the emperour put vp in silence, making as if hee had not heard it. With like patience he also forbare the same rayling companion, at such time as he seeing his treasures hardly beset and in danger to be taken by the Turks, to animate his souldiors, willed them to doe what they could to rescue the same, and to take it for their labour. This treasure (said this impudent fellow) should before haue been giuen vnto thy souldiors, rather than now when as it cannot be recouered but with great danger and bloodshed: and therefore, if thou be a man of valour, as thou wouldest bee accounted, and as the present case requireth, valiantly charge the C Turkes (now readie to carrie it away) thy selfe, and so recouer thine euill gotten goods. Whereunto the emperour answered no more but, Good words souldior, and so put it vp, as did Dauid the railings of Shimei. Shortly after the comming of the emperour vnto these legions of his vaunt-guard (the onely remainder of his armie that was left whole and vnbroken) came also Andronicus Contostephanus, who had the leading of the rereward, with diuers others of great place, who had by good fortune escaped the furie of the Turks. The miseries of that day (not well to be expressed) being ended by the comming on of the night, the Christians sat in the campe oppressed with a generall heauinesse, leaning their heads vpon their elbowes, and considering the present danger wherein they were, scarcely accounted themselues among the liuing: the Turks in the meane time to increase their feare, all the night running about the campe, & crying aloud D vnto such of their countrimen in the campe, as had abjured their religion, or for other respects had taken part with the imperials, that they should that night get them out of the campe, whereas otherwise if they staied vnto the morning they should be all but lost men. In this so great an extremitie the emperour not knowing what to do,The [...]earfull resolution of the emperour. calling together his chiefe commanders, declared vnto them the desperate danger they were in, together with his resolution: which was, secretly himselfe to flie, and to leaue the rest, euery man to make what shift he could for himselfe. Which his base determination, so foule as fouler could not be, they all wondering at, as proceeding from a distraughted mind: and by chaunce ouerheard by one of the common souldiors, that stood without the tent, the same souldior fetching a deepe sigh, in detestation thereof, cried out with a loud voice,A sharpe reprehension of a common soldior vnto the emperour. What meanes the emperour: and so turning himselfe vnto him, said: Art E not thou hee that hast thrust vs into this desolat and strait way, and cast vs headlong into destruction? and hast as it were in a morter enclosed vs in these rockes and mountaines, readie as it were to ouerwhelme vs. What had we to doe with this vaile of mourning, and mouth of hell? Wherefore came wee into these mischieuous and rough straits? What can wee particularly complaine of the Barbarians, which in these inextricable windings and straits haue thus entangled and beset vs? Was it not thou that broughtst vs hither? And wilt thou now as sheepe appointed to the slaughter, thy selfe betray vs? With which so sharpe a reprehension the emperour throughly pierced, changed his former determination for flight, resoluing now to stand by it, whatsoeuer happened. But what should hee now doe beset with his enemies, still readie to deuour him? helpe he saw none, either in himselfe or to be expected from others; nought remained but death and despaire. In this extremitie, all F mans helpe now failing, it pleased the most mightie (which chastiseth and healeth againe, which striketh and yet giueth life, and suffereth not the staffe of the sinners alwaies to rage into the portion of the just) with mercifull eye to looke downe vpon these distressed men, and with an vnwonted kind of clemencie to touch the Sultans heart, in such sort, as that he which but the other day stood in dread of the emperour, and now hauing him as it were in his power, was ouercome with his miserie: or as in times past hee by Husai ouerthrew the counsell of Achitophell, and [Page] changed the mind of Absolon to follow such aduise as should bring him to destruction: so then G also he turned the mind of the Turkish Sultan, that (persuaded by certain of the chiefe men about him, who in time of peace had vsed to receiue great gifts and presents from the emperor) he of his own accord by his embassadors offred peace vnto the emperor, before that he in so great distresse sued vnto him for any; & that vpon the selfesame conditions they had made their leagues before. The Turks in the meane time ignorant of the Sultans resolution, early in the morning were readie to assault the emperours campe, in hope at once to haue ouerthrowne his whole power; and with a barbarous outcrie still riding about it, came so nigh, that with their arrowes they slew diuers of the Christians within their owne trenches: Against whom the emperour sent out Iohn the sonne of Constantinus Angelus, and after him Macroducas Constantinus, but to little or H no purpose. In the meane time came one Gabras, a man of the greatest reputation among the Turkes, embassadour from the Sultan, by whose commandement the Turks ceased farther to assault the campe. This Gabras comming vnto the emperour, and after the manner of the Barbarians, honouring him with reuerence done euen downe to the ground: First presented him with a goodly horse, whose furniture was all of siluer, as if it had beche for triumph, and a faire two edged sword. Afterwards falling into a large discourse concerning a peace to be made, and with many kind words, as with an enchantment, appeasing the emperours heauinesse conceiued of his late losse; he among other pleasant conceits then vttered, seeing the emperor in a rich roab of yellow ouer his a [...]mour, told him, That that colour was not fit for war, as ominous and portending euill lucke: whereat the emperour a little smiling, gaue it him with the fortune thereof:I and receiuing the horse and sword sent him from the Sultan, signed the peace. Amongst other conditions of the peace (which the dangerousnesse of the time suffred not the emperour curiously to examine; one was, That DORILEVM and SVBLEVM before by him fortified, and the ground of this vnfortunate war,The emperour returneth. should be againe rased. Peace thus beyond all hope being concluded, and the emperour deliuered of a great feare, purposed another way to returne home to auoid the sight of the slaine: yet was he by his guides, euen of purpose as it was thought, lead backe the same way, to behold with his eies those miserable spectacles of the slaine, which could not with any teares be sufficiently lamented: for the straits were made plaine, the vallies were raised into hils, and the forrest lay couered with the carkasses of the slaine: no man passed by, but with heauinesse and griefe, calling by name vpon their friends and familiars there lost. Hauing K again passed those dolefull straits, the Turks were againe in the taile of the armie: for it was reported, that the Sultan repenting himselfe to haue suffered his enemies so to escape out of his hands, had giuen leaue vnto such as would, to pursue them, but followed not himselfe with his whole power as before; for most of the better sort of his souldiers loaded with the spoile, were now returned home. Yet these that followed after the armie, slew many, especially such as were weake or wounded, and so vnable to follow the rest: although the emperour to helpe the matter, had for the repulsing of them, placed the best of his captaines and souldiers in the rearward. Being come to CHONAS, and now out of feare of his enemies, he gaue vnto euerie one of his hurt souldiers money to pay for the curing of their wounds, and to bring them into their countries. And comming to PHILADELPHIA,The emperour a [...]together [...] not what he h [...]d [...] to the Sultan. there staid for the refreshing of himselfe after so great L miseries. In his returne he rased SVBLEVM according to his promise, but not DORILEVM: whereof the Sultan by his embassadors complaining, he answered, That what he had, enforced thereunto by necessitie, promised, he greatly forced not to performe. In reuenge whereof, the Sultan sent out one of his most valiant captaines, called Atapacke, with foure and twentie thousand good souldiers, chosen out of his whole armie, with strait charge to waste and destroy all the emperours prouinces and townes, euen vnto the sea side, without sparing man woman or child; and in token thereof, to bring with him some of the sea water, an oare, and some of the sea sand: who according to his charge, spoiled PHRIGIA with the cities along the riuer MEANDER, euen vnto the sea side. And so returning with a rich prey, by the way spoiled what before he had lest vntouched. [...]. But in passing the riuer MEANDER, when he feared least, he fell into M the hands of Iohn Bataza the emperours nephew, and of Ducas Constantine, a most valiant captaine, of purpose sent against him by the Emperour with a great power; where he was by them slaine together with all his armie, and the rich bootie hee had taken all againe recouered. Many other hard conflicts passed after this betwixt the Imperials and the Turks, the one continually seeking to anoy the other; all which for that therein nothing fell out much woorth the [Page] A remembrance, I for breuitie willingly passe ouer. In these endlesse troubles died Emanuel the Greeke emperour, when he had by the space of eight and thirtie yeeres woorthily gouerned that great empire, hauing in the time of his sicknesse but a little before his death taken vpon him the habit of a monke, in token he had forsaken the world. All the time of his raigne he was no lesse jealous of the Christian princes of the West than of the Turks in the East, and therefore euer delt with them vnkindly. In time of war he was so laborious, as if he had neuer taken felicitie but in paine; and againe in peace so giuen ouer to his pleasure, as if he had neuer thought of any thing else. After whose death the Turkish Sultan, without resistance inuading the frontiers of the empire, tooke SOZOPOLIS with diuers townes thereabout in PHRIGIA; and long besieged B the famous cittie of ATTALIA, and so dayly encroched more and more vpon the prouinces of the empire, joyning the same vnto his owne, which was no great matter for him to doe, the Greeke empire being then no better gouerned than was the charriot of the Sunne (as the Poets faigne) by Phaëton, far vnfit for so great a charge: for Alexius Comnenus, otherwise called Porphyrogenitus, being then but a child of about twelue yeeres old, succeeding his graue father in the empire, after the manner of children altogether following his pleasure; his mother with his fathers kinsmen and friends, who aboue all things ought to haue had an especiall care of his education, neglecting the old emperors trust in them reposed, followed also their owne delights, without regard of the ruine of the common weale. Some enamoured with the beautie of the yoong empresse, gaue themselues all to brauerie, and the courting of her: othersome in great authoritie C with no lesse desire in the meane time, with the common treasures filled their emptie cofers: and a third sort there was (of all the rest most dangerous) who neither respecting their sensuall pleasure, neither the heaping vp of wealth, looked not so low, ayming at the verie empire it selfe. As for the common good, that was of all other things of them all least regarded. Amongst these third sort of the ambitious, was one Andronicus, the cousin of the late emperour Emanuel, a man of an haughtie and troublesome spirit, whom he the said emperor Emanuel had for his aspiring, most part of the time of his raigne kept in prison, or else in exile, as he now was, being by him not long before, for feare of raising of new troubles, confined to liue far off from the court at OENUM:Andronicus aspireth. who now hearing of the death of the emperour Emanuel, of the factions in court, of the childishnesse of the yoong emperour Alexius, giuen wholy to his sports; and the great men D put in trust to haue seene to his bringing vp and to the gouernment of the empire, some like bees to flie abroad into the countrey, seeking after money as the bees do for honie; some others in the meane time like hogs, lying still and fatting themselues with great and gainefull offices, wallowing in all excesse and pleasure, to haue no regard of the honour or profit of the common weale: thought it now a fit time (in such disorder of the state) for him to aspire vnto the empire, after which he had all his life time longed. That he was generally beloued of the Constantinopolitans, yea and of some of the nobilitie also, he doubted not: for them he had long before by his popular behauiour gained, together with the distrust of the late emperor, jealous of his estate; which as it cost him his libertie, so missed it not much but that it had cost him his life also: but now that he was dead, wanted nothing more than some faire colour for the shadowing of his E foule purpose.Ambition couered with the zeale of the commonweale. Amongst many and right diuers things by him thought vpon, was a clause in the oath of obedience which he had giuen vnto the emperour Emanuel and Alexius his sonne, (which oath he had deliuered vnto him in writing) That if he should see, heare, or vnderstand of any thing dangerous or hurtfull to their honour, empire, or persons, he should foorthwith bewray it, and to the vttermost of his power withstand it: which words (not so to haue beene wrested) as best seruing for his purpose, he tooke first occasion for to worke vpon. And as he was a stout and emperious man, thereupon writ diuers letters vnto the yoong emperour his cousin, vnto Theodosius the Patriarch, and other such as he knew well affected vnto the late emperour Emanuel: wherein among other things which he wished to be amended in the present gouernment, he seemed most to complaine of the immoderat power and authoritie of Alexius, F then president of the Counsell: who in great fauour with the yoong emperour, and more inward with the empresse his mother than was supposed to stand with her honour, ruled all things at his pleasure, in so much, as that nothing done by any the great officers of the empire, or by the emperour himselfe, was accounted of any force, except his approbation were thereunto annexed: whereby he was growne vnto such an excessiue pride, hauing all things in his power, as that no man could without danger, as vpon the venemous Basiliske, looke vpon him. Of which his so [Page] excessiue and insolent power Andronicus by his letters now greatly complained, mooued thereunto G (as he would haue it beleeued) with the care he had of the yoong emperours safetie, which could not (as he said) long stand with the others so great power, which he therefore (as in dutie bound) wished to be abridged: agrauating withall the infamous report of Alexius his too much familiaritie with the empresse, which first muttered in court, afterwards flew (as he said) throughout the whole world. The reformation of which things, as tending to the danger of the person of the emperour, and dishonour of the state, he forsooth as one in conscience bound, with great grauitie and eloquence (being a verie learned man) both in open speech and writing most earnestly desired: and thereby so wrought, as that he was generally accounted for a man of great experience (as indeed he was) and a faithfull counsellor to the state, a thing much to haue beene H wished.Andronicus departeth from Oenum towards Constantinople. Wherefore leauing OENUM, the place whereunto he was by the emperour Emanuel in a sort banished, trauelling towards CONSTANTINOPLE, he gaue it out in euerie place where he came, what he had sworne, and what he would for his oaths sake do: vnto whom men desirous of the change of the state, & such as gaue credit vnto the report long before giuen out, That he should at length become emperour; flockt in great numbers, as birds about an owle to see him, and with vaine praises to chatter about him. In this sort he came as farre as PAPHLAGONIA; in euerie place honourably receiued, as if he had beene a deliuerer of his countrey sent from God. And in the imperiall citie he was not longed for of the vulgar people onely, as their light and load stat: but diuers of the nobilitie also by secret messengers and letters, persuaded him to hasten his comming, and to take vpon him the gouernment; assuring him that there would be I none to resist him, or to oppose themselues against his shadow, but all readie to receiue him: Especially Marie the yoong emperours sister by the fathers side, with her husband Caesar (who being a woman of a great spirit, and grieuing much to see her fathers empire made a prey vnto Alexius the president, and the empresse her stepmother, whom she naturally hated) had raised a great and dangerous tumult in the citie against them both, which was not without much bloodshed appeased: and now ceased not by often and most earnest letters (to her owne destruction and her husbands, as it afterwards fell out) to pricke forward Andronicus and to hasten his comming: who by letters and messengers dayly comming vnto him from the court, still more and more encouraged, leauing behind him the countrey of PAPHLAGONIA, came to HERACLEA in PONTUS, and still on towards the imperiall citie, with great cunning and dissimulation K winning the hearts of the people as he went. For who was so stonie hearted, whom his sweet words and abundant teares flowing from his gratious eies, as from two plentifull fountaines downe by his hoarie cheeks, might not haue mooued? All that he did or desired was (as he said) for the common good and libertie of the emperour. By which meanes he had drawne vnto him a woonderfull number of the rude countrey people by the way as he came. But comming into BYTHINIA, he was by Iohn Ducas gouernour of the great citie of NICE, shut out as an enemie to the state, and so at NICOMEDIA also. Neuerthelesse, passing by those cities, he held still on his way, vntill at length he was neere vnto a castle called CHARACE, encountred by Andronicus Angelus, sent with a great power against him, by the great president Alexius; who otherwise as an effeminat man giuen ouer to his pleasure, spending the greatest part of the L night in rioting by candle light, and most part of the day in his bed, with courtaines close drawn as if it had beene night; yet doubtfull now of the comming of his enemie, left nothing vndone which he thought might helpe for the assuring of his estate. Many of the nobilitie of whom he stood in doubt, he gained vnto him by meanes of the emperors mother; who by her rare beautie, sweet words, and gratious behauiour, as with a line drew all men vnto her: Other some he ouercame with gifts and great summes of money, whereof he now made no spare: And so wrought the matter that no man of any account or marke, went ouer to Andronicus. Who neuerthelesse with such followers as he had, joyning battell with Angelus (sent against him, as is before said) ouerthrew him and put him to flight. Wherewith Alexius much troubled, in great displeasure and without reason, called Angelus (now fled to CONSTANTINOPLE) to an M account for the money deliuered vnto him for the defraying of the charges of that vnfortunat war: who seeeing his misforturne to be so taken as if he had framed it himselfe, and of purpose betraid the armie committed to his charge; by the counsell of his six sonnes, being all men of great valour and wisedome, first tooke the refuge of his owne house: but finding himselfe there in no safetie, with his wife and his said sonnes (two of which came afterwards to be emperours) [Page] A presently fled ouer the strait to Andronicus: Who seeing of him comming towards him, is reported to haue vsed this text of Scripture, Behold I will send mine Angell before thy face, to prepare thy wayes, alluding to his name of Angelus, as the presage of his good successe. Wherefore encouraged with the cōming of these noblemen his kinsmen, he without longer stay marched directly vnto the sea side, and there a little aboue CHALCEDON encamped almost right ouer against CONSTANTINOPLE: causing many great fires (moe than needed) to be made in his armie, to make it seeme vnto them of the citie greater than indeed it was; and with the sight thereof to keepe the citizens in suspence,Androni [...]us encampeth in sight ouer against Constantinople. with the doubtfull expectation of some great matter to ensue. Wherein he was no whit deceiued, for they hauing him now as it were in sight, leauing B their worke, ransome to the sea side, some vp to the hils & high towers to behold his armie a far off, willing with their friendly looks, if it had ben possible, to haue drawn him ouer the strait into the citie. Alexius knowing himselfe not able by land to encounter with so strong an enemie (for now some which on foot could not goe ouer to Andronicus, were secretly in heart alreadie with him, othersome thought themselues sufficiently to shew their fidelitie vnto the emperor, if sitting still at home, they should take part with neither: for so haue subtill heads & aspiring minds for the furtherance of their desires taught the cōmon people both to say & thinke) thought it best by sea to auert the present danger: And therefore commanded all the emperours gallies (being before rigged vp and readie) to be strongly manned and put to sea, for the keeping of PROPONTIS and the strait of BOSPHORUS, that Andronicus should not that way passe. Now had hee determined C to haue made especiall choice of some assured friend of his owne for to bee generall of this fleet, as he had done of the captaines and masters, being all his owne kinsmen or domesticall seruants: but as he was about to haue so done, Contostephanus (surnamed the Great captaine) opposed himselfe against it, challenging that place as due vnto himselfe, before all others: So that ouercome by his authoritie (which it was no time for Alexius now to dispute) he was glad to commit the charge and trust of the whole fleet vnto him, as generall. Thus hauing (as he thought) made the sea sure, he sent ouer vnto Andronicus, as from the emperour (for all was done in his name) one George Xiphilinus, Xiphilinus sen [...] ouer to Andronicus, dealeth [...]faithfully in d [...]ng his messag [...]. with letters and other instructions, wherof the effect was, To command him forthwith in peace to returne vnto the place from whence he came, and not farther to trouble the state: promising him in so doing, the emperours fauour, with many great honors and D preferments to bee afterward bestowed vpon him; which otherwise might turne to his vtter destruction. Which letters Xiphilinus hauing deliuered, and done his message, is reported to haue secretly aduised Andronicus to proceed in his purpose,The proud answer of Andronicus. and not in any case to yeeld to that which was of him required: wherewith Andronicus encouraged, proudly rejected the graces offered, and willed the messenger to tell them that sent him, That if they would haue him to returne vnto the place from whence he came, they should first displace the proud president Alexius, and call him vnto an account for the villanies he had done; Then the emperours mother they should depriue of her honours, and shut her vp as a Nun into some cloyster, there to learne to amend her life; And last of all, that the emperour according to his fathers will, should take vpon himselfe the gouernment, and not be ouertopt by others, by whose too much authoritie, his majestie & honour E was (as he said) too much impaired. But within a few daies after, Contostephanus, the great captaine and generall,Contostephanus reuolteth to Andronicus. carried ouer all the gallies to Andronicus, leauing nothing but their names for the president in his rolls to looke vpon: whose reuolt aboue all other things encouraged Andronicus, and cast Alexius euen into the bottome of despaire.Alexius in despaire. For now Andronicus his friends flocked together in the citie, not secretly as before, but openly in all places: and such as wished a change in the state, impudently scoffing at Alexius, passed ouer the strait to CHALCEDON in great numbers to Andronicus, where hauing filled their eyes with the beholding of his goodly person, his cheerefull countenance, and reuerend age, and their [...]ares with his sweet words and great promises, returned home merrie and joyfull as if they had been in some terrestriall paradice, filling the citie with his praises. After that Andronicus his two sonnes, Iohn and Manuell, F with diuers others, whom the president had cast in prison, were set at libertie, and other of his chiefe fauourits laid fast in their roomes.Alexius and his friends apprehended. As for Alexius; the president himselfe, with all his friends and faction in the court, they were taken and committed to the keeping of the guard: a right strange alteration. But about midnight Alexius himselfe was secretly conueyed out of the court vnto the Patriarchs house,A strange alteration. & there kept with a stronger guard than before. A wonderfull change and worth the marking, a man so honourably borne, but yesterday in greatest honour attended [Page] vpon with many thousands, all at his command, hauing the power to spill or saue: to day in G bonds, in disgrace, in miserie and despaire, and not so much as a page to wait vpon him. Which he taking very grieuously, yet complained of nothing more, than that they which had the keeping of him, would not suffer him to sleepe nor take any rest. Of whose miserie, the Patriarch taking pitie (although he had of him very euill deserued) yet cheered him vp with comfortable words, persuading him with patience to endure his hard fortune, and not with such speeches as fitted not his present state, to prouoke his keepers to vse him euill. Within a few dayes after early in a morning, he was brought out of the Patriarchs house, and set vpon a very little bad jade, and so with a ragged clout vpon the top of a reed in manner of an ensigne, carried before him in derision, was brought to the sea side;Alexius broght to Andronicus, hath his eyes put out. and there cast into a little boat, was so brought to Andronicus, H by whose commandement, with the generall consent of the nobilitie, he for his euill gouernment shortly after had his eyes put out. This was the miserable end of the immoderat power, or rather of the insolent soueraigntie of Alexius: who, had hee with more moderation and vigilancie governed, might both haue kept Andronicus out of the citie, and himselfe from so great miserie; hauing at his command all the emperours treasure, his gallies, with most part of the strength of the empire.The meeting of the Patriarch & Andronicus. Now came the noble men ouer apace to Andronicus: the last that came, was the reuerend Patriarch Theodosius, with the chiefe of the cleargie: of whose approch, Andronicus hearing, went out of his tent to meet him, and falling downe (as great as he was) flat at his horses feet, and in a while after arising againe, kissed the Patriarkes foot, calling him, The emperours sauiour, The louer of vertue, The defender of the truth; and comparing him with the famous father Iohn Chrisostome, I omitted not any honourable title he could possibly deuise to giue him. But the deuout Patriarch, that had neuer seene Andronicus before, hauing now well viewed him, and marked his sterne countenance, his subtill nature, his craftie and dissembling manners, his exceeding stature, being almost tenne foot high, his stately gate, his proud looke, his continuall seueritie, and melancholie silence: as it were pitying them that to their owne destruction had called such a man in, said: Hitherto I haue heard, but now I haue also seene, and plainely knowne: and fetching a deepe sigh, adjoyned thereunto that saying of the Prophet Dauid: As wee haue heard, so haue we also seene. In which words, he couertly quipped the dissembled meeting and submission of Andronicus: and withall called to remembrance the words of the emperour Emanuell, wherewith he had many times so painted foorth Andronicus vnto the Patriarch, as if hee would K most liuely haue represented him vnto his view.

Andronicus passeth ouer the stra [...].All things in the citie and in the pallace set in order according to Andronicus his mind, by his two sonnes, and leaue giuen vnto the emperours friends to come ouer vnto him, and to bee acquainted with him; at length Andronicus himselfe departing from DAMALUM, in a gallie crossed the strait, oftentimes by the way merrily singing that saying of the heauenly Psalmist: Returne my soule into thy rest, because the Lord hath done well vnto thee, hauing deliuered my life from death, mine eyes from teares, and my feet from falling. The emperour with his mother Xene, then lay not in the pallace at CONSTANTINOPLE, but at another princely house of his in the countrey neere unto PHILOPATIUM, as Andronicus had appointed: whether Andronicus first went, and comming vnto his presence, most humbly prostrate before him, with sobbing and teares, as L his deceitfull manner was, kissed his feet. As for the empresse his mother, he lightly saluted her, and as it were but for fashion sake, not dissembling in his countenance the old grudge he bare against her. And so without longer stay went vnto his tent prouided for him not farre off, round about which, all the great noble men had pitched their tents also, flocking vnto him as chickens seeking for refuge vnder the hens wings. Hauing there staied with the emperour a good while, he was desirous to goe vnto the imperiall citie, and to see the late Emperour Emanuell his cousins graue. Where entring into the monasterie of our Ladie, where he was buried, and comming to his tombe, hee wept bitterly, and roared as it were mainely out. So that diuers of the standers by, ignorant of his dissembling nature, by way of admiration said: O what a wonderfull thing is this! O how he loued the Emperour, his cousin, although his fierce and cruell persecutor! M And when one of his kinsmen would haue pulled him from the tombe, saying that he had sorrowed for him ynough; he would not be remoued, but requested them to suffer him yet a little to tarrie by the tombe, for that he had something in secret to say vnto the dead. And so with his hands cast vp and close together, as if he had prayed, and his eyes fast fixed vpon the tombe, he mooued his lips, and secretly said something, but what, no man could tell. Some said it [Page] A was some charme or incantation. But others more pleasantly conceited, said (and as it afterward appeared more truly) that Andronicus did then triumph ouer the dead emperout Emanuell, and reuell with his ghost, with these or like words: I haue thee now fast, my cruell persecutor, by whome I haue been driuen vnto many great extremities: and hauing wandred almost all the world ouer, haue thereunto beene made by thee a common by-word. But now this tombe rising vp with seuen tops, and prison, out of which thou canst not start, holdeth thee oppressed with a dead sleepe, out of which thou shalt not be awaked, but by the sounding of the last trumpe. And now will I be reuenged of thy posteritie, and satisfie my selfe as a lyon with a fat prey; and take sharpe reuenge of all the wrongs thou hast done mee, when I haue once possessed my selfe of this royall citie.

After that,Andronicus taketh vpo [...] him the gouernment. visiting all the emperours stately houses, but staying in no place long, hee disposed B of all matters of state, according to his owne pleasure. Vnto the young emperour hee allowed hunting, and other his vaine delights, with keepers joyned vnto him, to watch not onely his going in and out, but also that no man should talke with him of any matter of importance. For all the gouernment of the state he tooke vnto himselfe: not for that he wished so well thereunto, aboue others, but so to driue from the court all them of the contrary faction to himself, that were able to doe any thing, and had before borne some sway. The souldiors, whose helpe he had vsed in aspiring to the gouernment, he rewarded with great bountie; all great offices & preferments he bestowed either vpon his owne children,Andronicus tyrannizeth. or other his great fauourits; diuers of the nobilitie, of whom he liked not, were by him in short time driuē into exile: some were by him depriued of their sight, & some others cast in prison, not knowing any cause why, more than that they were C by him secretly cōdemned for that they were of the nobilitie, or had done some good seruice for the state, or excelled for their personage, or some other thing that grieued Andronicus, or els for the sparke of some old displeasure which yet lay hidden as fire raked vp in the ashes.A miserable state of a commonweale. So that the state of that time began to grow most miserable: & the trecherie, euen of men neerest in blood, se [...]king the destructiō one of another, for to serue their own turns, or to gratifie Andronicus, most horrible: not only one brother betrayed another, but euen the father his son, & the son his father, if Andronicus would haue it so. Some accused their neerest kinsmen, that they had derided Andronicus his proceedings; or that without regard of him, they more fauored Alexius the yong emperor, then, a great offence. Yea (such was the mischiefe of the time) that many in accusing others, were themselues accused; & charging others of treason against Andronicus, were thēselues charged D by them whom they accused, & so clapt vp both together in one prison. Neither were they of the nobilitie only, which were enemies to Andronicus, thus hardly dealt withall; but euen some of his great fauorits and followers also: For some whom but yesterday he had vsed most kindly, and enrolled amongst his best friends, vpon them to day he frowned and tyranized most cruelly: so that you might haue seene the same man the same day (as it is reported of Xerxes his admirall) to be crowned and beheaded, to be graced and disgraced. Insomuch, that the wiser sort deemed Andronicus his praisings, to be the beginning of a mans disgrace; his bountie, his vndoing; and his kindnesse,Mary the daughter of Emanuell with her husband Caesar, poysoned by Andronicus. his death. The first that tasted of his tyrannie, was Mary, the daughter of Emanuell the emperour, who for the hatred she bare vnto Alexius the late president, and the empresse her mother in law, had (as is aforesaid) aboue all other, wished for his comming: but was E now by one Pterigionites (sometime an Eunuch of her fathers, corrupted by Andronicus, hauing in his aspiring mind purposed the vtter destruction of all Emanuels posteritie) cunningly poysoned; as was her husband Caesar, who liued not long after her, poysoned also (as was supposed) with the same cup that his wife was. Now amongst others of the late emperors house, none had euer stood more in his light, than had the faire empresse Xene, the young emperours mother, whom now he ceased not most bitterly (though wrongfully) to accuse, as an vtter enemie both vnto the emperour and the state; making as if he would leaue all, and againe depart, if she were not remooued from the emperour her sonne: and by his cunning so incensed the giddy headed vulgar people against her, that they came flocking vnto Theodosius the good Patriarch, readie to teare him out of his clothes, if he consented not vnto the remoouing of the empresse, as Andronicus had desired. So a counsell being called of such his fauorits and others, as were not like indifferently to heare her cause, but assuredly to condemne her; the guiltlesse empresse after many things falsely laid to her charge,Xene the empresse accused of treason, and condemned. was accused of treason: as that she should by her letters haue solicited Bela, king of HUNGARIE, her brother in law, to inuade BRANIZOBA & BELLIGRADE, two strong places belonging to the empire. Whereupon she was condemned, and shamefully [Page] cast into a most filthie prison neere vnto the monasterie of S. DIOMEDE. Amongst other G noblemen called vnto this wicked counsell, were Leo Monasteriotes, Demetrius, Tornicius, and Constantinus Petrenus:Dangerous to speake the truth to a tyrant. who not yet altogether deuoted to Andronicus, being asked their opinions concerning the empresse, said, They would be glad first to know, Whether that counsell against his mother, were called by the emperors consent or not? With which speech, Andronicus pearsed to the heart as with a sword, in great rage start vp and said, These are they which encouraged the wicked president to all his villanies, lay hands vpon them. Whereupon they of his guard in threatning manner shooke their weapons and swords at them, as if they would euen presently haue slaine them: And the tumultuous common people, catching them by their cloaks as they came out, pulling them some one way, some another, were so fierce vpon them, as that H they had much adoe to escape out of their hands with life. Now lay the faire empresse (but the other day one of the greatest princes of the East, and honoured of all her subjects) in great miserie and dispaire, scorned euen of her base keepers, euerie houre expecting the deadly blow of the hangman.A wicked counsell. Yet was not the crueltie of Andronicus against her, so any thing assuaged, but greeuing that she yet breathed, shortly after assembled againe the former counsell, the ministers of his wrath, demaunding of them, What punishment was by law appointed for such as betraied any towne or prouince of the empire? wherunto answere being giuen in writing, That it was by the law, death: he could no longer hold, but that he must in great choller breake out against the poore empresse, as if it had ben she that had done it: And therupon the wicked counsellers crying out with one voice, that she was to be taken out of the way, as they had before agreed: by & by I without longer stay, a damned writing was subscribed by the yoong emperor her son, as if it had been with the blood of his own mother, whereby she was (I abhor to write it) most vnworthily condemned to die. The men appointed to see this most horrible and cruell execution done, were Manuel, Andronicus his eldest son, & Georgius Augustus, his neere kinsman; who both dismaied at the very mentioning of the matter, not regarding the emperors cōmand, said plainly, That they neuer before consented vnto the death of the empresse, but had cleane hands of so hainous an offence, and therefore would now much lesse see her innocent bodie dismembred in their sight. At which vnexpected answere Andronicus much troubled, with his fingers oftentimes pluckt himselfe by the hoarie beard, and with burning eies casting somtime vp his head, & somtime downe, sighed at his owne most miserable tyrannicall estate, fretting inwardly that they which were neerest K vnto him, whom he thought he might euen with a becke haue commanded to haue done any mischiefe, abhorring his crueltie should refuse to doe the thing he so much desired to haue done:The miserable death of the empresse. yet repressing his anger for a while, within a few daies after he againe commanded her to be strangled; which was accordingly done by Constantinus Trypsychus, and Pterigionites the vngracious eunuch; by whose helpe he had before poysoned Mary the emperours daughter, with Caesar her husband, as is before declared. Thus perished this great empresse, cruelly strangled in prison, by these two wicked men, the mercilesse executioners of Andronicus his wrath. Her dead bodie lately adorned with all the graces of nature, euen vnto the admiration of the beholders, was without more adoe secretly raked vp in the sand fast by the sea side: a poore sepulchre for so great a person.L

What might not Andronicus now do to others, that durst thus cruelly to deale with the yoong emperours owne mother, and neerest friends? yet was all couered vnder the pretence of the common good, and safetie of the state and empire. And the more to shadow Andronicus his secret purposes, as not proceeding of any priuat or hidden malice, or aspiring humour, from which he of all men would seeme most free; and the more to manifest his deuotion and loyaltie vnto the yoong emperour his cousin, he was the onely persuader vnto the rest of the nobilitie, to haue him solemnly crowned (which as yet by reason of his tender age he was not;) & at the time of his coronation, with his owne shoulders supported him vp, as he was (after the manner of that solemnitie) carried vnto the great church, and so backe againe; the Crocodils teares still plenteously running downe his aged face, as if it had beene for exceeding joy: which many of the M meaner sort beholding, and deeming thereof the best, highly commended his kindnesse, accounting the yoong emperour thrice happie, in so graue a gouernour, and faithfull a counsellour; who in loue and kind affection towards him, seemed not inferiour vnto his naturall father: so cunningly had he vnder the vaile of pietie, shadowed his most execrable treacherie; as that in the very plotting thereof, he was accounted most louing and kind. But hidden treason, be it neuer [Page] A so well dissembled, must at length shew it selfe. So Andronicus hauing got into his power both the emperour and the empire, and the chiefe friends of the late emperour Emanuel being taken out of the way or else driuen into exile, thought it now high time for himselfe to aspire vnto that high soueraigntie after which he had so many yeares longed.The slie practise o [...] Andronicus in aspiring to the empire. Wherfore calling together a Councell of his flatterers & fauourits, whom he had for such purpose promoted vnto the highest places of state (all or most part of the graue councellers and friends of the late emperour Emanuel being now displaced, or otherwise taken out of the way) he as a man onely carefull of the common good, declared vnto them the dangerous state of the empire, by reason of a rebellion raised in BYTHINIA at NICE, by Isaack Angelus, & Theodorus Catacuzenus; and another at PRUSA, by Theodorus Angelus; requiring their graue aduice for the suppressing therof: who not ignorant of B their lords purpose (as thereof before sufficiently instructed) answered with one consent, That of such great mischiefes there would be no end, except he were joyned in fellowship of the empire together with Alexius, by his grauitie and deepe wisdome to supply what wanted for the good gouernment of the state in the yong emperor his cousin. At which speech, the by-standers (being in number many, and for the most part the followers of Andronicus his flatterers) gaue a great shout, & as if it had beene alreadie graunted, with one applause cried out, Long liue Alexius and Andronicus the Greeke emperours; and that with such a vehemencie, as if they would therewith haue rent the verie heauens. The bruit thereof flying abroad into the citie, foorthwith you might haue seene euerie street and corner of the citie full of the vulgar people, with some also of better sort, swarming together like bees, and sounding the praises of Andronicus (who now was C come out of his house into the court, with a world of people following him) and crying out, Long liue the Emperours Alexius and Andronicus: with which loud acclamation mixt with the heauie sighings of many good men (for all were not mad of that frenzie) the yoong emperour awaked, and seeing the courtfull of people, and Andronicus by them saluted his fellow in the empire: knowing now no other remedie, thought it best to yeeld vnto the time, and so with the rest flattering the old tyrant, welcomed him full sore against his will, by the name of his Fellow and companion in the empire: which he now in dissembling manner seeming vnwilling to take vpon him, and refusing the place offred; was by the rout of his flattering fauourits enforced to his owne great contentment, to yeeld to their request: some of them with both their hands carrying him vp, vntill they had as it were against his will placed him in the imperiall seat, prepared D for him fast by the yoong emperour: others in the meane time, no lesse busied in pulling off his priuat attire, and putting vpon him the imperiall roabs.

The next day, when this participation of the empire should be published, and they both proclaimed emperours, the name of Audronicus was set before the name of Alexius: whereof his fauourits (though some others interpreted it otherwise) gaue this reason, That it sitted not with the majestie of the empire, that the name of a boy should be set before the name of so reuerend, graue, wise, and excellent a man as was Andronicus his companion in the empire. Shortly after, Andronicus being brought into the great temple to be crowned, then first began to shew vnto the people a cheerfull countenance, and setting aside his sterne looke, after his long deuotion done, filled the vaine peoples heads with many large promises of a more happie forme of gouernment E than before. All which prooued nothing but meere dissimulation and deepe deceit, that cheerfulnesse of countenance and speech seruing but for a while to couer his inward and couert most inhumane crueltie. And the more to deceiue the world, the ceremonies of his coronation past, at such time as he should for the consummation and confirmation of all, receiue the sacred and dreadfull mysterie, the pledge of our redemption, not without due reuerence to be named, much lesse with impure hands touched: after he had receiued the bread and taken the cup in his hand, he with a most deuout countenance framed of purpose to deceiue, & his eies cast vp to heauen, as if his soule had there alreadie beene (the fairest maske of hypocrisie) swore by those dreadfull mysteries, and most deeply protested in the hearing of the people standing by, that he had taken vpon him the fellowship of the empire, for no other end or purpose but to assist Alexius his cousin in the gouernment, and to strengthen his power: whereas his secret meaning was nothing lesse, as shortly after appeared. For after a few daies spent in faigned deuotions for the prosperous beginning of his empire, he foorthwith turned his mind vnto other his more secret but most wicked and execrable designes. And hauing aboue all things purposed the death of the yoong emperour, he called together them of the counsell, his owne creatures and corrupt ministers [Page] of his wickednesse, who had now oftentimes in their mouths that saying of the Poet:G

Est mala res multos dominarier▪ vnicus esto,

Rex dominus (que)—

An euill thing it is to be ruled by many,

One king and one lord, if there be any.

and that the old age of an Eagle was better than the youth of a Larke. So by the generall consent of that wicked assembly, vnworthie the name of a graue counsell, a decree was made, That H Alexius should as a man vnfit for the gouernment of the state,Alexius depriued of the empire be depriued of all imperiall dignitie, and commanded to liue a priuat life. Which disloyall decree of the conspirators was yet scarcely published, but that another more cruell, came out of the same forge, That he should forthwith be put to death,Alexius cōdemned to die. as one vnwoorthie longer to liue. For the execution of which so horrible a sentence, Stephanus Hagiochristophorites (one of the chiefe ministers of Andronicus his villanies, and by him promoted euen vnto the highest degrees of the honours of the court) with Constantinus Trypsicus, and one Theodorus Badibrenus, captaine of the tormenters, were sent out who entring his chamber by night,Alexius the emperour cruelly strang [...]d. without compassion of his tender age, or regard of his honour, or innocencie, cruelly strangled him with a bow string: which detestable murder so performed, Andronicus shortly after comming in, spurned the dead bodie with his foot, railing at his father, the I late emperor Emanuell, as a forsworne and injurious man, & at his mother, as a common whore. The head was forthwith strucke off from this miserable carkasse (the mirrour of honours vnstabilitie) and left for the monstrous tyrant to feed his eyes vpon: the bodie wrapped vp in lead, was in a boat carried to sea, by Io. Camaterius, and Theodosius Chumenus, two of Andronicus his noble fauourits; who with great joy and glee, returned with the same boat to the court, as if they had done some notable exploit. But long continueth not the joy of the mischieuous, vengeance still following them at the heeles, as it did these two; who not long after, with the rest that conspired the innocent emperours death, all or most part of them came to shamefull or miserable end. Thus perished Alexius the emperor, not yet full fifteen yeeres old: in the third yeare of his raigne, which time he liued more like a seruant, than an emperour, first vnder the command of his mother,K and afterwards of the tyrant which brought him to his end.

An vnequall mariage.Who joyeth now but old Andronicus, made young againe as should seeme by his new gained honours: for immediatly after the murder committed, he married Anne the French kings daughter, (as some report) before betrothed to yong Alexius; a tender and most beautifull ladie, not yet full eleuen yeeres old, an vnfit match for threescore and tenne. And in some sort as it were to purge himselfe and his partakers of the shamefull murder by them committed, and to stop the mouths of the people, he by much flatterie and large promises, procured of the bishops a generall absolution for them all, from the oath of obedience which they had before giuen vnto the emperour Emanuell and Alexius his sonne: which obtained, he for a while had the same bishops in great honour, and shortly after in greater contempt, as men forgetfull of their duties and calling.L After that,Androni [...]us seeketh [...] [...]annie to establish his estate. he gaue himselfe wholly vnto the establishing of his estate, neuer reckoning himselfe thereof assured so long as he saw any of the nobilitie, or famous captaines, that fauoured Emanuell the late emperour or Alexius his sonne, aliue: of whom some he secretly poysoned, as Marie the emperour Emanuels daughter, with her husband Caesar; some, for light occasions he depriued of their sight, as he did Emanuell and Alexius, the sonnes of the great and noble captaine Iohn Comnenus; Andronicus Lapardas, whose good seruice he had oftentimes vsed; Theodorus Angelus; Alexius Comnenus, the emperour Emanuell his base sonne: Some he hanged, as Leo Synesius, Manuell Lachan [...]s, with diuers others: Some he burnt, as Mamalus, one of the emperour Alexius his principall secretaries; all men of great honour and place. For colour whereof, he pretended himselfe to be sorrie for them, deepely protesting, that they died by the seueritie of the law,M not by his will, and by the just doome of the Iudges, whereunto he was himselfe (as he said) to giue place; and that with teares plentifully running downe his aged cheekes, as if he had ben the most sorrowfull man aliue. O deepe dissimulation, and Crocodiles teares, by nature ordained to expresse the heauinesse of the heart, flowing from the eies as shoures of raine out of the clouds: in good men the most certaine signes of greatest griefe, and surest testimonies of inward torment; [Page] A but in Andronicus you are not so, you are far of another nature, you proceed of joy, you promise not vnto the distressed pitie or compassion, but death & destruction! How many mens eies haue you put out? how many haue you drowned? how many haue you deuoured? Most of the nobilitie that fauoured the late emperour Emanuel & Alexius his son, thus taken out of the way by Andronicus, strook such a feare into the rest, that for safegard of their liues, they betook themselues to flight, some one way some another, neuer thinking themselues in safetie so long as they were within the greedie tyrants reach; wherof shortly after ensued no small troubles, to the shaking of the state of the whole empire. Isaack Comnenus, the emperour Emanuels nigh kinsman, tooke his refuge into CIPRVS, & kept that island to himselfe. Alexius Comnenus, Emanuels brothers B son, fled into SCICILIA, & there stirred vp William king of that island against Andronicus: who with a great army landing at DYRRACHIVM, tooke the city, & so from thēce without resistance passing through the heart of MACEDONIA, spoyling the countrey before him as he went, met his fleet at THESALONICA; which famous city he also tooke by force, & most miserably spoiled it with all the countrey therabout, in such sort, as that he brought a great feare euen vpon the imperiall citie it selfe: vnto which so great euils Andronicus (entangled with domesticall troubles, & not knowing whom to trust) was not able to giue remedie, although for shew he had (to no purpose) sent out certaine of his most trusty ministers with such forces as he could spare. For the majestie of his authoritie growing still lesse & lesse, & the number of his enemies both at home and abroad daily encreasing, & the fauor of the vnconstant people (who now began to speake hardly C of him) declining:Exceeding crueltie. he vncertain which way to turne himselfe, rested wholy vpon tyrannie, proscribing in his feare, not only the friends of such as were fled, & whom he distrusted, but somtimes whole families together, yea & that for light occsions, somtime those who were the best of his fauourits, whose seruice he had many times vsed in the execution of his crueltie. So that now no day passed, wherin he did not put to death, imprison, or torture, one great man or other. Wherby it came to passe, that the imperiall citie was filled with sorrow & heauinesse, euery man hanging the head, and with silence couering his inward griefe, not without danger to haue been then vttered. Amongst many others appointed to this slaughter, was one Isaack Angelus, a man of great nobilitie, whom Hagiochristophorites (the chiefe minister of Andronicus his tyrannie, and for the same by him highly promoted) suspecting, as one that bare no good will to the emperour, D(cause enough of death) came to his house to apprehend him; & finding him at home, after some few hot words, commanded him to follow him. Whereat the noble man making some stay, and abhorring the verie sight of the wretch, as vnto him ominous and fatall: Hagiochristophorites himselfe began to lay hands on him, reuiling his followers, that they had not foorthwith drawn him out of his house by the haire of his head, vnto the prison by him appointed. For they touched with the honour of the man, and mooued with compassion, forced him not, but stood still as beholders. Isaack seeing himselfe thus beset, and no way now left for him to escape, resoluing rather there presently to die than shortly after to be murdred in prison, drew his sword as the rest were about to haue laid hands vpon him, and at the first blow cleft the wicked head of Hagiochristophorites downe to his shoulders: and so leauing him wallowing in his owne blood, and E like a desperat man laying about him amongst the rest, made himselfe way through the middest of them. And so embrued with blood, with his bloodie sword yet in his hand, running through the middest of the citie,Isaack Angelus taketh sa [...]ctuary told the people what he had done; and crying vnto them for helpe in defence of his innocencie, fled into the great temple, there to take the refuge of the sanctuarie: where he had not long sit, in the place where the guiltie flying thither for refuge, vsed to sit, & confessing their offence, craue pardon of such as go in and out; but that the temple was filled with the multitude of people flocking thither out of all parts of the citie, some to see the nobleman, some to behold what should become of him: for all men thought that he would before the going downe of the sunne (notwithstanding the reuerence of the place) be drawne thence by Andronicus, & put to some shamefull death. Thither came also Iohn Ducas, Isaacks vncle, and his sonne Isaack to increase F the tumult; not for that they were any thing guiltie of the death of Hagiochristophorites, but for that they had before become sureties vnto the suspitious tyrant, for their kinsman Isaack, & he likewise for them; by whose trespas they well knew themselues now brought into no lesse danger than if they had been abettors therunto. And beside them also, many other there were, which standing in doubt of their owne estate, & fearing the like might happen to themselues, prickt forward with hard speeches the common people flocking thither, instantly requesting them to stay [Page] there, and to stand by them now at their need, being so injuriously wronged, whose pitifull complaints G moued right many to take part with them.The people in a tumult [...]e [...]ort vnto Angelus. At which time also, no man yet comming from the emperor (being as then out of the citie) to represse the sedition, nor any of the nobilitie opposing themselues, no friend of Andronicus appearing, none of his bloodie ministers or officers shewing themselues, nor any that did so much as speake a good word in his behalfe, or in dislike of the tumult, the boldnesse of the seditious people increased, euerie man in so great libertie, saying what he list, and after their rude manner one encouraging another. So spent Isaack that long night, not thinking (God wot) of an empire, but still expecting the deadly stroake of Andronicus. Yet had he with great entreating, so preuailed, that diuers of the assembly shutting the church dores, and bringing lights into the church, staied there with him all night, and by their H example caused some others to stay also. The next morning by the breake of the day were all the citizens flockt againe vnto the temple, cursing the tyrant to the deuill, as the common enemie of mankind, wishing vnto him a shamefull death, and the honour of the empire vnto Isaack. At that time by fortune, or rather God so appointing it, Andronicus was out of the citie at his pallace of MELVDINVM, on the East side of PROPONTIS, where he was by nine a clocke at night certified of the death of Hagiochristophorites, and of the tumult of the people: yet that night stirred he not, either did any thing more, but by short letters aduised the people to pacifie themselues, and not by foolish rebellion to cast themselues into farther danger.Andronicus in vaine seeketh to appease the tumultuous people. In the morning, Andronicus his fauourits began to shew themselues, and to do what they might to haue appeased the tumultuous multitude; yea and presently after came Andronicus himselfe, and landed with his imperiall I gally at the great pallace in the citie. But with the inraged people, naught preuailed either the persuasions of the one, or report of the presence of the other: for they all as vpon a signall giuen, and as men inspired with one spirit, or stirred vp with the same furie, flocked together into the temple of S. SOPHIA, one encouraging another, and scoffing at such as stood by as idle lookers on, without weapons in their hands, reuiling them, and calling them rotten lyms that had no feeling of the common harme. After that they broke open the prisons, and set at libertie the prisoners, as fittest instruments for the increasing of the tumult, who were not all notable offenders of the dregs of the people, but many of them borne of good houses, and for some light fault, or inconsiderat word (whereof euery man was in those times bound to giue an account) or for some friends offence against Andronicus, there laid fast: these of all others most animated the people,K in such sort, as that they which before for feare of the danger, did but softly murmure vnto themselues against Andronicus, did now openly joyne themselues with the rest of the base seditious. Then might you haue seene some with their swords and targuets, some also in their armour, but the greatest part armed but with clubs and staues and other such like rude weapons, armes of furie, hastely taken vp in their shops as by chance they came first to hand, running forth in euery place.Isaack Angelus by the people in a [...] saluted emperour. By this assembly of the most furious and promiscuous people, was Isaack hoysed vp, and with a generall applause saluted emperour. At which time one of the sextons of the church, with a ladder, tooke downe Constantine the Great his crowne of gold (which for a monument hung ouer the holy altar) and set it vpon Isaack his head: Which he at the first seemed vnwilling to weare, not for that he was not desirous ynough of the empire, but for that he feared the extream L danger of the matter, and thought those things that were then done, to be but as it were a sicke mans dreame, like ynough straight way to vanish; beside that, he feared in so doing, the more to exasperat Andronicus: which his vncle Iohn Ducas (of whom we haue before spoken, standing by him) perceiuing, plucking off his owne cap, and shewing his old bald head, requested the people, that if his nephew did refuse it, they would set it vpon his. Whereunto the people with a great outcrie answered, that they would no more yeeld their obedience vnto an old bald man, as hauing receiued many harmes from the hoarie haires of Andronicus; and therefore for his sake, hated euery old man, more fit for Charons boat and his coffin, than for the empire, and especially if he had a forked beard or bald head, as had Andronicus and this Ducas. Thus was Isaack by the tumultuous multitude inuested in the empire. And so royally mounted vpon one of the M emperours horses, richly furnished with a saddle and trappings of gold, which they had by chance gotten, was by them brought from the temple vnto the court; Basilius Camaterus the Patriarch waiting vpon him, whom the headstrong people had enforced against his will, to confirme with his authoritie what was by them done for the establishing of Isaack in the empire. Andronicus at his comming to the great pallace, perceiuing first by the confused crie of the tumultuous multitude, [Page] A and afterward by that which he saw with his eyes, how the world went; calling vpon his old friends and flattering fauourits,Andronicus forsaken of his flattering fauourits. thought first by their helpe to haue repressed the furie of the rebellious: who as friends of his better fortune, and not of himselfe, were now for the most part shrunke from him; and those which were left, so faintly comming on, as if in his quarrell they had had no mind to spend their liues: with which heartlesse companie, Andronicus fearing to oppose himselfe against the furie of the multitude, with his bow and arrowes in his hand, got him vp into the highest tower of the pallace (called CENTENARIA) and from thence bestowed certaine shot among the people. But seeing that to bee to no purpose, and better persuaded to doe more with them with faire words, than such vaine force; he from the top B of the tower cried aloud vnto them, That if they would hold themselues contented, and depart, he would by their consent resigne the empire vnto his sonne Manuell: whereat the people more inraged, spared not to poure foorth most reprochfull words in contempt both of himselfe and his sonne. And so furiously brake into the court, by one of the gates called CAREA: which Andronicus beholding, and now out of all hope, casting from him all his habillements of honour, and disguising himselfe, fled againe vnto his gallie, accompanied onely with Anna his wife, and Maraptica his minion, and so returned to MELVDIVM, his pallace from whence hee came.A strange chāge. Isaack but yesterday in the bottome of despaire, and shaddowed as it were with the hand of death, by the strange change of fortune to day mounted vnto the highest type of worldly honour, entring the pallace, was there againe with the greatest applause of the people C that might bee, saluted emperour. From whence hee foorthwith sent out certaine companies of his most assured friends and followers, to apprehend Andronicus: who now as a man at once forsaken both of his friends, and of his better fortune, secretly fled with his wife and his paragon before remembred, to CHELE, attended vpon onely with a few of his trustie seruants which had of long time serued him before hee was emperour. There taking ship, with purpose to haue fled vnto the Tauroscythes (as not thinking himselfe safe in any prouince of the empire) hee was twice or thrice by foule weather put backe againe, the wrought sea abhorring (as it seemed) to carrie him that had so polluted it with the dead bodies of the innocent by him slaine;Andronicus the emperour taken and brought in bonds to Angelus. and still threatening (as it were) to deuour him. Thus strangely stayed by foule weather, or more truly to say, by the reuenging hand of the highest: hee was found D by such as were sent out to seeke after him; and being by them apprehended, was with two great yron chaines fast locked about his proud necke, and heauie giues vpon his legs, cast into the castle of ANEMA: and in that miserable habit shortly after presented to the emperour Isaack, yet busied in appeasing and reforming of the disordered citie: where by the way as hee went, he was by the people most shamefully reuiled, and injuriously vsed; some plucking him by the beard, some by the haire of his head, some other in the meane time playing with his nose, and bobbing him in the face, with a thousand other despights done vnto him; especially by such women, as whose husbands he had before murthered or depriued of their sight. Afterward being committed to the hatefull furie of the people, he had his right hand cut off; and was againe committed to the same castle, without meat, drinke, or other comfort: where after he had laine a E few dayes, hauing one of his eyes put out, hee was set vpon a foule leane cammell, with his face toward the taile thereof, and so as it were in triumph led through the market place, his bald head all bare, as if it had beene a dead mans scull taken out of a charnell house, in a short old coat; so miserable a spectacle, as might haue expressed a fountaine of teares out of the eyes of a right hard hearted man. But the bedlem and most insolent cittizens, especially they of the baser sort, as cookes, coblers, curriours, and such like, flocking about him like bees (without regard that he had but the other day worne vpon his head the imperiall crowne, then honoured by them as a god, and extolled vnto the heauens; that they had not long before solemnely sworne vnto him obedience and loyaltie) ran now as men out of their wits, omitting no kind of villanie they could deuise to doe vnto him: Some thrust nailes into his head, some cast durt in F his face, some the dung both of men and beasts, some prickt him in the sides with spits, some cast stones at him as at a mad dog, and othersome opprobrious and despightfull words, no lesse grieuous vnto him than the rest. Amongst others, an impudent drab comming out of the kitchin, cast a pot full of scalding water in his face. And in briefe, their outrage so exceeded, as if they had striuen among themselues who should do him the greatest villanie.Andronicus the emperor hanged vp by the heeles. Hauing thus shamefully as in a ridiculous triumph, brought him into the theatre, they there betwixt two pillars hanged him vp by [Page] the heeles, where hauing suffred all these despightfull indignities, with many moe, not without G offence to be named, he with an inuincible courage yet still held his patience, not giuing one euill word: but sometimes saying, Lord haue mercie vpon me: and otherwhiles, Why doe you breake a brused reed? yet the furious people nothing mooued with the calamitie of so great a man, of all others now the most miserable, stripped him of his bad clothes as he hung, and cut off his priuities. One among the rest, to make an end of him, thrust his sword in at his throat vp to the twist as he hung: other two with their long swords, prooued their strength, who could strike farthest into his buttockes. Thus miserably perished this famous emperour, after he had raigned two yeeres. That which was left of his bodie (for many had carried away some peeces thereof) being taken down from the place where he hung, was cast into a base vault in the theatre, where H it for a space lay, as the lothsome carkasse of some wild beast, and the miserable spectacle of mans fragillitie:Nicetas Chomates Annal. l [...]b 1. fol. 161. col. 4. for Isaack the emperour would not suffer it to be buried. Howbeit afterwards, the furie of the people ouerpassed, it was by some more charitable men remooued thence, and laid in a low vault neere vnto the monasterie of the Ephori: which as Nicetas Choniates (author of this historie, speaking of the time wherin he liued) sayth, is yet there vndissolued to be seene. He was a man most honourably descended, of stature tall, and well proportioned: in his countenance sat a certaine reuerend majestie, adorned with such notable vertues, as might haue made him worthely to haue been compared vnto the greatest emperors of his stock and familie, had he not obscured the same with too much ambition and crueltie, whereof the one caused him to lead the greatest part of his life in prison or exile, the other brought him vnto such a most shamefull end.I

Isaack Angelus his successour, by the fauour of the people thus exalted vnto the empire, at the first gouerned the same with great lenitie and moderation, as if he had altogether abhorred from the effusion of his subjects blood. But afterwards not a little troubled, both with forraine enemies, and domesticall rebellion, besieged in the imperiall citie, by such of the nobilitie as thought themselues no lesse worthie of the empire than himselfe: for repressing of which insolencies, and the assuring of his state,Isaack Angelus the em [...]e [...]our [...]. he became so seuere in chastising the offenders, and such others as he had in distrust, that he was counted of most men not inferiour in crueltie to Andronicus his predecessor; few daies passing without the condemnation or execution of one great man or other, besides them of the meaner sort, of whom he seemed to make no great reckoning: whereby he in few yeeres lost the loue and fauour of his subjects, who before had him K in great honour,Isaack the emperour [...] frō the empire▪ and [...] of his [...] brother [...]. and became vnto them no lesse odious than was before Andronicus. Vpon which generall dislike of the people, his ingratefull younger brother Alexius (by him before for a great summe of money redeemed from the Turks) tooke occasion to rise vp against him, and by the fauour of the souldiors, depriued him together both of the empire and his sight: and hauing put out his eyes, thrust him into a Monasterie, there to liue as it were out of the world, as a man condemned to perpetuall darknesse, after he had raigned nine yeeres and eight moneths, being not yet full fortie yeares old: Whether it were the reuenging hand of God for the hard measure vsed to Andronicus, or not, I leaue it to the wiser to consider; who in his deepe prouidence, wherewith hee best gouerneth all things, would haue a moderation vsed in punishment of our most capitall enemies, as hauing alwaies before our eyes the slipperie state L of power and authoritie: & that as all worldly things are subject to change, so by the just judgement of God it oftētimes falleth out, that what hurt we do vnto others, the same we may receiue againe from others. In these so great and strange mutations of the Constantinopolitane empire, (which I haue somwhat more at large prosecuted, not so much for the noueltie of the matter, although it were right strange, as for that out of the losses and ruine thereof, the greatnesse of the Turkes for the most part grew) Clizasthlan Sultan of ICONIVM,Cazast [...]lan the Turk [...] Sultan [...] vpon the [...] empire in the [...]sser Asia. after the death of the emperour Emanuell, found meanes to take from the empire diuers strong townes and castles in the lesser ASIA, together with a great part of the countrey of PHRIGIA: Alexius Andronicus, and Isaack the succeeding emperours, troubled with dangers neerer home, hauing nothing to oppose against him, but faire intreatie, and rich present; so redeeming for a while an vnsure M peace, [...]. with no lesse charge, in short time to be renewed againe. This great victorious Sultan (for so he may of right be called) holding in his subjection a great part of the lesser ASIA, now a man of great yeeres, dying, left behind him foure sonnes, Masut, Coppatine, Reueratine, and Caichosroes, all men growne. Amongst whom he deuided his kingdome. Vnto Masut he bequeathed AMASIA, ANCYRA, DORYLEVM, with diuers other pleasant cities of PONTVS: [Page] A vnto Copp [...]ne he assigned MELYTENE, CESAREA, and the colonie now called TAXARA: vnto Reucratine he allotted AMINSVM, DOCEA, with some other cities vpon the sea coast: but vnto Caichosroes, he left ICONIVM his regall seat, and with it LYCAONIA, PAMPHILIA, and all the countries thereabouts as far as COTTIANYVM.The sonnes of Clizas [...]lan at variance among themselues. Of these foure, Coppatine long liued not after his father, for whose inheritance Reucratine prince of DOCEA, and Masut prince of ANCYRA (his two brethren) fell at variance, and so at last into open war. But Masut finding himselfe too weake for his warlike brother Reucratine, yeelded vnto him the territories, which he saw he must needs forgo; and glad now to keepe his owne, so made peace with him. Reucratine being a man of an ambitious and haughtie spirit, with his forces thus doubled, B denounced war vnto his brother Caichosroes; who doubting his owne strength, fled vnto the emperour Alexius Angelus for aid, as had his father done before him vnto the emperour Manuel, although not with like good fortune. For the emperour but of late hauing obtained the empire by the deposing of his brother, and altogether giuen to pleasure, reputing also those domesticall warres of the Turkes, some part of his owne safetie; sent him home without comfort, as one strong enough of himselfe to defend his owne quarrell against his brother.

Howbeit he was scarcely come to ICONIUM, but that he was by Rucratine expulsed thence▪ and driuen to flie into ARMENIA, where he was by Lebune king of that country, a Turke also, honourably receiued and courteously vsed, but yet denied of the aid he requested: the king pretending that he was alreadie in league with Reucratine, and therefore could not; or as some C thought, fearing the dangerousnesse of the matter, would not intermeddle therein. Wherewith the poore Sultan vtterly discouraged, returned againe to CONSTANTINOPLE, and there in poore estate, as a man forlorne, passed out the rest of his daies.

Now hauing thus passed through the Turkish affaires in the lesser ASIA, together with the troubled estate of the Constantinopolitan empire, no small cause of the Turks greatnesse; the course of time calleth vs backe againe before wee passe any further, to remember their proceedings also at the same time, and shortly after, in SIRIA, IVDEA, AEGYPT, and those more Southerly countries, where these restlesse people ceased not by all meanes to enlarge their empire, vntill they had brought all those great kingdomes vnder their obeisance.

After the death of Baldwin king of HIERUSALEM,Almericus [...] king of Hierusalem. of whom we haue before spoken, Almericus D his yoonger brother earle of IOPPA and ASCALON, being then about seuen and twentie yeeres old, was by the better good liking of the cleargie and people, than of the nobilitie, elected king: not for that there wanted in him any good parts woorthie of a kingdome, but for that some of them enuied vnto him so great an honour. Neuerthelesse he was (as we said) by the generall consent of the people elected, proclaimed, and by Almericus the Patriarch with all solemnitie crowned the seuenteenth day of Februarie, in the yeare of Grace 1163. To begin whose troubled raigne, the Aegyptians first of all denied to pay vnto him their woonted tribute. In reuenge whereof, he in person himselfe with a puissant armie entred into AEGYPT; and meeting with Dargan the Sultan, ouerthrew him in plaine battell, and put him to flight: who to stay the further pursuit and passage of the Christians, cut the bankes of the riuer NILUS, and so E drowned the countrey, that the king was glad to content himselfe with the victorie he had alreadie gotten, and so to returne to HIERUSALEM.

The next yeere, Almericus was againe drawn downe with his power into AEGYPT, by Dargan the Sultan, to aid him against Saracon: whom Noradin the Turke, king of DAMASCO, had sent as generall with an armie, to restore Sanar the Sultan before expulsed, and to depose Dargan. In which expedition Dargan being slaine, and Saracon hauing woon certaine townes, kept them to himselfe: Sanar doubtfull of his good meaning, joyned his forces with Almericus, and by his helpe expulsed Saracon out of AEGYPT. But whilest Almericus was thus busied in AEGYPT, Noradin the Turke making an inroad into the frontiers of the Christians neere vnto TRIPOLIS,Noradin the Turke discomfited by the Christians. was by Gilbert Lacy, master of the Templars in those quarters, and the other Christians, F when he least feared, so suddenly set vpon, that he had much adoe by flight to saue himselfe, halfe naked for hast, most of his followers being at the same time slaine. In reuenge of which disgrace, he not long after with a greater power came and besieged ARETHUSA: For reliefe whereof, Bohemund prince of ANTIOCH, Raymund the yoonger, earle of TRIPOLIS, Calaman gouernour of CILICIA, and Toros prince of ARMENIA came with their power. Of whose comming the Turke hearing, raised his siege and departed. After whom these Christian princes eagerly [Page] following, were by the Turks shut vp in certaine deepe and rotten fennes (wh [...]einto they G had vnaduisedly too far entred) and there with a great slaughter ouerthrown. In which conflict, all the chiefe commanders of the armie were taken, except the prince of ARMENIA, who forecasting the danger, had retired, after he had in vaine dissuaded the rest from the further pursuit of the flying enemie. The prince of ANTIOCH there taken, was about a yeare after for a great summe of money redeemed; but the countie of TRIPOLIS was after eight yeares strait captiuitie hardly deliuered. Noradin after this victorie returning againe to the siege of ARETHUSA, in few daies woon the towne: and encouraged with so good successe, and the absence of the king, laid siege to the citie of PANEADE, which was also deliuered vnto him, vpon condition that the citizens might at their pleasure in safetie depart.H

At the same time Saracon generall of Noradin his forces, tooke from the Christians two castels; the one in the countrey of SIDON, the other beyond IORDAN vpon the borders of ARABIA, both in the custodie of the Templars: twelue of whom the king at his returne hanged vp for treason.

Shortly after Saracon, king Noradin his great man of war, with all the power of the Turkes, came downe againe into AEGYPT, with purpose to haue fully subdued all that notable kingdome vnto his lord and master. Of whose power, Sanar the Sultan standing in dread, praied aid of Almericus, promising vnto him beside his yearely tribute, the summe of fortie thousand ducats for his paines. The matter fully agreed vpon, and all things now in readinesse; Almericus set forward with his armie, and encountring with Saracon and his Turks at the riuer NILVS,I ouerthrew him in a great battell: yet not without some losse, for the Turks in their flight lighting vpon the kings carriages with the whole baggage of the armie, and ouerrunning them that had the charge thereof, caried away with them a most rich prey: whereby it came to passe, that as the Christians had the victorie, so the Turkes enjoyed the spoile.

Saracon after this ouerthrow hauing againe gathered together his dispersed souldiers, tooke his way to ALEXANDRIA, where he was by the citizens receiued: after whom the king following, gaue no attempt vnto the citie, for that he knew to be but vaine, but encamped close by the side of the riuer NILVS, from whence the citie was chiefly to be victualed. Whose purpose Saracon perceiuing, and betime foreseeing the distresse of his whole armie for want of victuals, if he should there long stay: leauing there his sonne Saladin (or as some call him his nephew) with K a thousand horsemen for the keeping of the citie, secretly by night departed thence himselfe with the rest of his armie: and passing through the deserts, did great harme in the vpper parts of AEGYPT. Of whose departure Almericus vnderstanding, [...]. was about to haue followed him, but that he was otherwise persuaded by the Aegyptian captaines to continue his former purpose for the gaining of the citie. Wherefore now after the departure of Saracon, he began to approch the wals, and with diuers engines of war to disturbe the defendants: wherwith the citizens (better acquainted with the trade of marchandize, than the feats of war) discouraged, began now to consult among themselues for the turning out of those troublesome guests whom they had so lately receiued: which Saladin perceiuing, certified Saracon his vncle thereof, requesting his speedie reliefe in that his so dangerous estate, and with much intreatie persuaded the citizens for a while to L hold it out, vntill he might from him receiue answere: of all which the Christians and Aegyptians without, hauing intelligence, laid so much the harder vnto the citie. Gladly would Saracon haue done what hee was by his nephew requested: but perceiuing it to be a matter of no lesse danger than difficultie, he by the means of Hugh countie of CESAREA, & one Arnolphus another noble Christian, both then prisoners with him, concluded a peace with the king: whereupon the citie was foorthwith yeelded vp,A [...]andria yee [...]ded to A [...]me [...]icus. and Saladin with his Turkes suffred in safetie to depart. At which time also all prisoners were on both sides freely and without ransom set at libertie. Thus Saracon for this time disappointed of his purpose for the conquest of AEGYPT, returned backe againe to DAMASCO: and Almericus with great glorie to ASCALON, where he arriued with his armie the 21 of September in the yeare 1167.M

1167In this late expedition, king Almericus on the one side enflamed with the wealth of AEGYPT, and on the other, encouraged with the weaknesse of that effeminat people, resting for the most part vpon forreigne strength; had purposed himselfe to inuade the kingdome, & so if possibly he might to joyne it to his owne. For colour whereof, it was pretended that the Sultan contrarie to his faith before giuen, had secretly sought to joyne in league and amitie with Noradin the Turke, [Page] A king of DAMASCO. The chiefe stirrer vp of the king vnto this war, was one Gerbert master of the Templars; who in respect of the aid by them of his order to be giuen, had obtained of the king, after the victorie gained, to haue the citie of PELVSIVM with all the rich countrey about the same, giuen vnto him and his brethren the knights of the order for euer: Vpon which hope, he contrarie to the mind of many of the knights, for the furtherance of that war, gaged his whole wealth and credit, with all the treasure of his house. So all things now in readinesse, for so great an enterprise,Pelusium take [...] by Almericus. Almericus with his armie set forward in October, and hauing in ten daies passed the sandie desert, came to PELVSIVM; which citie he after three daies siege tooke by force, and put to sword all them that were therein, without respect of age, sex, or condition: which citie he according to his promise before made, gaue vnto the Templars. After that, he began B also to besiege CAIRE, at which time his fleet sacked the citie of TAPIVM. In the meane time, Sanar the Aegyptian Sultan, considering the danger he was in, to satisfie Almericus his greedie desire, offred to pay him twentie hundred thousand duckats to withdraw his forces: and foorthwith sent him one hundred thousand, for the ransom of his sonne and his nephew taken prisoners at PELVSIVM: and for the rest to be paid within few daies after, he gaue two of his nephews hostages. Neuerthelesse the payment he deferred from day to day, of purpose in the meane time to raise the whole power of AEPGYT, as also to receiue aid from the Turks by Saracon, which he dayly expected: of whose speedie comming Almericus vnderstanding, left part of his armie at PELVSIVM, & with the rest went to haue met him: but missing him by the way, C Saracon with his Turks came in safetie to CAIRE vnto the Sultan as he had desired. Wherefore Almericus dismaid with the multitude of two so great armies now joyned together, retired backe againe to PELVSIVM, and there taking with him the garrison before left, returned home to HIERUSALEM: hauing in that expedition (begun with the breach of faith) laid the foundation of the ruine of his kingdome, as in few yeeres after it by proofe appeared, by the euill neighbourhood of the Turks, by that meanes brought downe into AEGYPT.

Saracon the Turke after the departure of Almericus, The Sultan of Aegypt vnder the colour of friendship slain [...] by Saracon. easily perceiuing a most fit time and opportunitie to be offred for him now to obtaine that, which he had in vaine before both sought and fought for; encamped with his armie neere vnto CAIRE, and notably counterfeited himselfe of all others the most deuoted friend of the Sultans: so that betwixt them two passed all the D kind tokens of loue and friendship, that could possibly be deuised: the Sultan oftentimes feasting the Turke; and in kindnesse likewise being feasted of him: But at length going as his manner was vnto the campe to visit him, he was by the Turks slaine. So Saracon hauing brought to passe what he desired, and entring the citie with his armie, was by the great Caliph (from whom the Aegyptian Sultans, as from their superiours, the true successours of their great prophet Mahomet tooke their authoritie) appointed Sultan, the first of the Turks that euer enjoyed the same: which royall dignitie he had not possessed fully a yeere, but that he was taken away by death. In whose steed Saladine his brothers sonne, by and by stept vp: who altogether a martiall man, not regarding the reuerend majestie of the Caliph (as had his vncle Saracon, & all the Aegyptian Sultans before him) with his horsemans mase strucke out his braines; and not so contented, vtterly E rooted out all his posteritie, the better to assure himselfe and his successours the Turks in the possession of his new gotten kingdome: and after that diuided the great treasures of the Aegyptians among his Turkes, to encourage them the more to follow him in his warres against the Christians.

This glorious kingdome so much spoken of in holy Scripture,How the kingdome of Aegypt first fell into the hands of the Sarasins, with the notable alterations thereof. and renowmed of the learned historiographers of all ages, after the ruine of the Romane empire, was somtime part of the Constantinopolitane empire, and a notable member of the Christian common weale; vntill that about the yeere of our Lord 704, the Aegyptians wearie of the pride & couetousnes of the Graecians, reuolted from them vnto the Sarasins, whose superstition they also receiued: and so vnder the gouernment of the Sarasin Caliphs, the successors of the false prophet Mahomet liued about 464 F yeares, vntill that now being inuaded by Almericus, they praid aid of Noradin the Turke, Sultan of DAMASCO: who vnto their reliefe sending Saracon with an armie, repulsed indeed the Christians, but oppressing their libertie, tooke vnto himselfe the kingdome, which he left vnto his nephew Saladine, in whose posteritie it remained vntill it was from them againe taken by the Circassian slaues the Mamalukes: vnder whose seruile gouernment it was holden of long time, vntill that by the great emperor of the Turkes Selymus the first, it was againe conquered, and the [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] Mamalukes vtterly destroied: In the gouernment of whose posteritie, the mightie emperors of G the Turks, it hath euer since remained as part of their empire, vntill this day, as in the processe of this historie God willing shall appeare.

1170 Saladin thus possessed of the great kingdome of AEGYPT, and all things set in such order as he thought best for the newnesse of his state, with a great armie entred into the land of PALESTINE, in the yeare 1170, and there besieged DARON; which towne he woon, and ouerthrew such as were sent by king Almericus to haue relieued the same: with which small victorie contenting himselfe, as with the good beginning of his rising fortune, he returned backe againe into his kingdome. Yet was his armie so great and populous, as that the like armie of the Turkes had neuer before beene seene in the Holy land. Wherefore Almericus considering in what H great danger he stood, his kingdome now being on both sides beset by the Turks, sent out his embassadours vnto the Christian princes of the West, to craue their aid for the defence of that kingdome which their fathers had woon. And for the same purpose went himselfe in person vnto the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, of whom he was royally entertained, and afterwards sent backe loaded with the promises of great matters, as were also his embassadours from the princes of the West. All which for all that sorted vnto nothing, but vanished into smoake.

1171The yeare following, viz. 1171, Saladin besieged PETREA, the metropoliticall citie of ARABIA: but hearing that Almericus with a great power was comming to the reliefe thereof, hee raised his siege and retired. As he did also the next yeare after, hauing in vaine attempted the strong castle of MONT-ROYALL, on the further side of IORDAN. In like manner also the I third yeare he came againe into the Holy land, and spoiled the countrey beyond IORDAN: but hearing of the kings comming against him, he foorthwith returned againe into AEGYPT. All these light expeditions, this politike prince made not so much for hope of victorie, or to prooue his enemies strength, as to traine his souldiers, especially the effeminat Aegyptians, and to make them sitter to serue him in his greater designes.

1173Shortly after died Noradin Sultan of DAMASCO, and in his time a most notable champion of the Turks, after he had raigned nine and twentie yeares. Vpon whose death Almericus foorthwith besieged the citie of PANEADE, in hope to haue againe recouered the same: but he was by the widow of the late dead Sultan, for a great summe of money and the deliuerie of certaine noble prisoners, intreated to raise his siege and depart. So hauing sent away his armie,K and trauelling with his ordinarie retinue to TIBERIAS, where hee had the summer before beene sicke of the flix, feeling himselfe not well, he returned on horsebacke by NAZARETH and NEAPOLIS to HIERUSALEM, where his old disease increasing vpon him, he was also taken with a feuer: wherewith after he had beene some few daies grieuously tormented, hee requested his physitians with some gentle potion to loose his belly, which was now somewhat staied: which they refusing to do, he commaunded the potion to be giuen him vpon his owne perill, hap thereon what hap should: which being giuen him, and his belly againe loosed, he seemed therewith to haue been at the first well eased; but his woonted feauer with great vehemencie returning, before his weake & spent bodie could be with conuenient meats refreshed, he suddenly died the tenth of Iuly, in the yeare 1173, when he had raigned about ten yeares. His dead L bodie was with the great lamentation of all his subjects, solemnly buried by his brothers. Hee was a most wise prince, and withall right valiant, amongst many most fit for the gouernment and defence of that troublesome kingdome so hardly beset with the infidels, if it had pleased God to haue giuen him longer life.

Baldwin the fourth of that name seuenth king of Hierusalem.Foure daies after the death of Almericus, was Baldwin his sonne, then a youth about thirteene yeares old, by the generall consent of the nobilitie chosen king, and by Almericus the Patriarch in the temple with great solemnitie crowned in the yeare 1173: vnto whom, as not yet by reason of his tender age, fit himselfe to mannage the waightie affaires of the kingdome, Raymund countie of TRIPOLIS was by the whole consent of the nobilitie appointed tutor to supply what was wanting in the yoong king.M

Noradin, Sultan of DAMASCO (dead as is aforesaid) left behind him Melechsala his sonne, yet but a youth, to succeed him in his kingdome. Whose gouernment the nobilitie disdaining, sent secretly for Saladin Sultan of Aegypt, vnto whom at his comming they betrayed the citie of DAMASCO, the regall seat of the Turkes in SYRIA. Whereof Saladin possessed, and entring into CELESIRIA without resistance, tooke HELIOPOLIS, EMISSA, with the great citie of [Page] A CESAREA; and in fine, all the whole kingdome of DAMASCO, the citie of AR [...]THUSA onely excepted. But thus to suffer Melechsala the young prince to be wronged, and the kingdome of DAMASCO to be joyned vnto the kingdome of Aegypt, was of the wiser sort thought not to stand with the safetie of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM, lying in the middle betwixt them both. Wherefore the countie of TRIPOLIS, gouernour of that kingdome, made out certaine forces to haue hindred his proceeding. At which time also, Cotobed prince of PARTHIA and Melechsalas vncle, sent certaine troupes of Parthian horsemen to haue aided his distressed nephew, who were by Saladin ouerthrowne and almost all slaine, neere vnto ALEPPO where Melechsala lay. As for the countie of TRIPOLIS and the other Christian princes, with whom Saladin in the newnesse of his kingdome had no desire to fall out; he appeased them with faire intreatie, B and rewards: vnto the countie hee sent freely the hostages, which yet lay for his ransome at EMISSA: vnto the other princes he sent rich presents: and therewith so contented them all, that they returned without any thing doing against him. After which time, three or foure yeare [...] passed in great quietnesse, to the great strengthening of him in those his new gotten kingdomes. At length vpon the comming ouer of Philip earle of FLANDERS, the Christian princes in SYRIA encouraged, consulted of an expedition to be made into AEGIPT, whereof Saladin hauing intelligence, drew downe into that countrey the greatest part of his strength. But Philip disliking of that expedition, and the rather for that he saw no great cheerefulnesse in the countie of TRIPOLIS and the rest, thereunto; they with one consent changed their purpose for AEGIPT, and turning their forces quite contrarie way, miserably and without resistance wasted the countrey C about EMISSA and CESARIA.

Whilest the Christians were thus busied in CALOSIRIA,Saladin ouerthrowne by king Baldwin. Saladin on the other side tooke occasion out of AEGIPT to inuade the kingdome of HIERUSALEM: of whose comming king Baldwin hauing intelligence, with such small forces as he had left, hasted himselfe to ASCALON. In the meane time Saladin with a great armie was entred into the holy land, where burning the countrey before him, and raging in the blood of the poore Christians, hee came and encamped not farre from ASCALON: and strucke such a feare vpon the whole countrey, that they which dwelt in HIERUSALEM, were about to haue forsaken the citie: As for the king himselfe, he lay close within the citie of ASCALON, not daring to aduenture vpon so strong an enemie. Wherwith Saladin encouraged, and out of feare of his enemies, dispersed his armie, some one way D some another, to forrage the countrey. Which the king perceiuing, secretly with all his power issued out of the citie, if happily so he might ouertake the Sultan vnawares. Neither was he deceiued in his expectation: for comming suddainly vpon him, and secretly charging him, he had with him for a good space an hard and doubtfull battell, vntill that the victorie by the power of God, at length enclining to the Christians, Saladin with his Turkes fled, ouerthrown with a great slaughter, most part of his great armie being either there slaine, or lost afterward with hunger and cold.1177 This victorie fell vnto the Christians the 25 day of Nouember in the yeare 1177, not without the mightie hand of God, the Turke hauing in his armie about six and twentie thousand horsemen, and the king not past foure hundred horse with some few footmen. After which victorie, Baldwin in great triumph returned to HIERUSALEM, and there shortly after with great E care and diligence repaired the decayed wals of the citie.

Saladin in reuenge of this ouerthrow,The Christians deuiding the spoil, ouerthrown by the Turks. made diuerse incursions into the frontiers of the Christians, and did great harme, especially in the countrey about SIDON. For the repressing whereof, the king put himselfe in armes, and going against him, ouerthrew part of his armie, as they were carrying away a great bootie. Of which ouerthrow Saladin vnderstanding, came in such hast with the rest of his armie, as if it had been a suddaine tempest vpon the Christians, then in great securitie deuiding the spoile; of whom they slew a great number, and put the rest to flight: In which so suddaine a confusion, Otto, grand master of the Templars, and Hugh the eale of TRIPOLIS his sonne in law, were both taken prisoners. The earle himselfe with a few fled to TYRE: the F king also at the same time was glad to shift for himselfe, and by flight to saue himselfe as he might. After which victorie, Saladin besieged a strong castle which the king but the yeare before had built vpon the banke of the riuer of IORDAN, and giuen it to the Templars, with the countrey round about; which castle Saladin tooke by force, and put to sword all that were therein, except some few whom he carried away prisoners. By this victorie Saladin became dreadfull vnto the Christians in SYRIA, which caused them, especially such as had any charge, with more vigilancie [Page] to looke about them. Yet shortly after, a peace was for a time concluded betwixt the Sultan G and the king; whereby their troubled estates breathed themselues, almost the space of two yeares.

But this so welcome a calme was by domesticall troubles againe by the kings friends suddenly troubled. For the countie of TRIPOLIS, to whom the gouernment of the kingdome was committed, comming towards HIERUSALEM, being by the suggestion of his enemies brought into suspition with the king, as if he had affected the kingdome, was to his great disgrace by the way commanded to stay. The cheefe authors of which discontentment, were the kings mother, a woman of a turbulent nature, and her brother the kings steward; who in the absence of the earle had wrought the kings sicke mind according to their owne appetites. But the rest of the nobilitie H wisely foreseeing vnto what great danger that discord might tend; in despight of them, with much labour, caused him to be sent for againe, and so reconciled vnto the king: By which meanes, that dangerous fire of dissention was for that time appeased, which afterwards brake out againe, to the vtter ruine of that kingdome.

Saladin goeth [...] of Aegypt to Damasco. Saladin now wearie of the league he had before made with king Baldwin, as no longer standing with his hautie designes, renounced the same, and raising a great power in AEGIPT, set forward toward DAMASCO. Of whose comming king Baldwin hauing knowledge, with the whole power of his kingdome went to haue met him, not farre from the dead Sea, and there encamped at an old towne called PETRA. But Saladin turning out of the way, into the kings territorie, came and encamped before MOUNT-ROIALL, a castle which Baldwin had giuen I vnto the Templars, about three daies march from the place where the king lay.

There Saladin with the spoile of the countrey refreshing his armie, now wearie of long trauell, set forward againe,Galiley spo [...]led, and the castle of Bu [...] taken by the Turks. and so without resistance arriued with his armie at DAMASO. At the same time the Turks captaines about DAMASCO, BOSTRUM, and EMISSA, perceiuing the frontiers of the Christians thereabout, to be kept but with small strength, passed ouer IORDAN, and spoiling a great part of GALILEY, besieged the castle of BURY, at the foot of mount TABOR, not farre from the citie of NAIM; which castle they in few dayes tooke, and hauing there made a great slaughter, carried away with them about fiue hundred prisoners. Saladin being come to DAMASCO, called together all the garrisons of that kingdome, and joyning them vnto the forces he brought out of AEGYPT, entred into the Holy land: at which time the countie K of TRIPOLIS, gouernour of the kingdome, lay sicke of a burning feauer. Neuerthelesse the king encouraged by the knights of the order, went out with his armie against him; and encountring with him neere vnto a village called FROBOLET, ouerthrew him in a great battell, wherein, and afterward in the flight, most part of the Sultans armie perished. Saladin himselfe being glad by speedie flight to escape the danger, and so by long marches to get him againe to DAMASCO.

Berytus in vain besieged by the Turks.In reuenge of this ouerthrow, Saladin hauing repaired his armie, and sent for his fleet out of AEGIPT, came and besieged BERYTVS both by sea and land: at which time also his brother, whom he had left gouernour in AEGIPT, besieged DARVM, a strong towne in the vttermost bounds of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM towards AEGIPT. Both whose forces Baldwin being L not able at once to represse, by the counsell of his nobilitie thought it best first to relieue BERYTVS, as the place of greater importance. And for that purpose set forward with his armie by land, hauing also rigged vp three and thirtie gallies at TYRE, for the releefe thereof by sea. Of which preparation Saladin vnderstanding, as also of the kings comming (by letters intercepted by his scouts, directed to the besieged, for the holding out of the siege, with promise of speedie reliefe) he present [...]y rise with his armie, and departed: whereof the king being aduertised, retired to SEPHOR.

Saladin inuading Mesopotamia, i [...] himselfe inuaded by the king of Hierusalem.Not long after, Saladin according to his ambitious nature, desirous aboue measure to extend the bounds of his kingdome, and seeing the successe of his attempts against the king of HIERUSALEM not answerable to his desire, conuerted his forces vnto the countries more eastward: and M passing the riuer EUPHRATES, and entring into MESOPOTAMIA, partly by force, partly by corruption, got into his hand the cities of EDESSA, CARRAS, and diuers others. In which time the king of HIERUSALEM tooke occasion first to spoile the country about DAMASCO, and after that, diuers other places of the Sultans kingdome, making hauock of whatsoeuer came in his way, and so laded with the spoile of the Turkes, retired to HIERUSALEM.

[Page] A Saladin with victorie returning out of MESOPOTAMIA, in reuenge of the injuries done vnto him in his absence,Aleppo betraied vnto the Turks. marched directly to ALEPPO, the strongest citie of the Christians in that part of SYRIA, which aboue all other he longed after: where hee had not long lien, but that it was by the treason of the gouernour deliuered into his hands, with all the countrie thereabouts: wherwith the Christian princes were so discouraged, that they euen then began to feare greater matters to ensue. The prince of ANTIOCH sould TARSVS, the metropoliticall citie of CILICIA, to Rupinus prince of ARMENIA; for that he saw it was not without great charge and danger to be by him defended, being so farre from him, and Saladin as it were now stept in betwixt him and it.

At the same time king Baldwin, at NAZARETH fell sicke of a feauer; the leprosie also his old B disease growing dayly more and more vpon him: in so much that dispairing of his life, he called vnto him Guy Lusignan countie of IOPPA and ASCALON, vnto whom he had before espoused Sybill his eldest sister, and in the presence of his mother, the Patriarch, and all the chiefe commaunders of the souldiers of the sacred war, appointed him gouernour of the kingdome, reseruing vnto himselfe only the title of a king, with the citie of HIERUSALEM, and a yearely pension of ten thousand duckats: All which was done to the great disgrace and discontentment of the countie of TRIPOLIS the old gouernour.

It was not long, but that Saladin hauing breathed himselfe a little, after so great labours, came againe into the Holy land, where he tooke many castles and did infinit harme; in so much that the countrey people were glad for feare to forsake their houses and to flie into cities. The Christian C armie in the meane time lying fast by at SEPHOR, not once moouing, although many a faire occasion were offred: For the chiefe commaunders affectionated vnto the countie of TRIPOLIS, and enuying at the preferment of Guy the new gouernour, were vnwilling to fight, but finding one excuse or other, suffered the enemie at his pleasure to spoile the countrey, and so in safetie to depart, which he had neuer before done in those quarters.

Within lesse than a moneth after,Petra in vaine besieged by the Turks. Saladin with a great armie well appointed with all the habilliments of war, needfull for the besieging of a citie or strong castle, came againe into the land of PALESTINE; and passing through the countrey beyond IORDAN, sat downe at last before PETRA, in hope by the taking thereof, to haue made his passage betweene AEGYPT and DAMASCO more safe. Of which his purpose king Baldwin hauing knowledge, and taught by the D euill successe of late, to what small purpose it was to commit the managing of his wars vnto a generall so euill beloued, and lesse regarded, as was Guy his brother in law; sent against him with his armie Raymund the countie of TRIPOLIS, the old gouernour, whom he had againe restored vnto the gouernment, and displaced Guy. Of whose comming Saladin hearing, raised his siege after he had lien there a moneth, and so departed.

A little before this expedition, the king still growing sicker and sicker, his foule disease still increasing, by the common consent of the nobilitie appointed Baldwin his nephew by his sister Sybylla, a child but of fiue yeares old, to succeed him in the kingdome; and the countie of TRIPOLIS to haue the gouernment of the state during the time of his minoritie. This Sybilla the kings sister, was first married to William the yoonger, marquesse of MOUNT-FERRAT, who E dying within three months after, left her with child with this his posthumus sonne Baldwin, now by his vncle deputed vnto the hope of the kingdome. After whose death she was married to Guy Lusignan, countie of IOPPA and ASCALON, the late gouernour: who taking in euill part this the kings designement,Discord in the court of Hierusalem. especially for the gouernment of the kingdome by the countie of TRI [...]OLIS; departed from the court as a man discontented vnto his citie of ASCALON: whereof the Patriarch and the princes of the sacred war, fearing (and that not without cause) great danger to ensue, came to the king, then holding a parlament at the citie of ACON, most humbly requesting him for auoiding of further danger and the safetie of his kingdome, to receiue againe into his fauour the countie Guy his brother in law, and to make an attonement betwixt him F and the countie of TRIPOLIS. But this their request sorted to no purpose, so that the parlament was dissolued without any thing for the good of the commonweale in that point concluded.

After that time the kingdome of HIERUSALEM began still more and more to decline. In the old king Baldwin (sicke both in bodie and mind) was almost no hope: in the yoong king (yet vnfit for so great a burthen) much lesse: and the dissention betwixt the two counties Guy and [Page] Raymund with their fauorits, was like enough to bring great harme vnto the state. Besides that,G the countie of TRIPOLIS fearing the power of Guy his enemy, was thought to haue secret intelligence with Saladin the Turke, in so much that the king was almost in purpose to haue proclaimed him traitour. Wherefore the king now rested onely vpon the counsell of William archbishop of TYRE, and the masters of the knights of the sacred war: by whose aduise he sent Heraclius Patriarch of HIERUSALEM,King [...] sendeth embassadours vnto the Christian princes of the West for aid. Roger Molins master of the kinghts of S. Iohns, and Arnold master of the Templars, embassadours vnto Lucius the third, then Pope, vnto Fredericke the emperour, Philip the French king, and Henrie the second king of ENGLAND; to declare vnto them the dangerous state of that Christian kingdome, and to craue their aid against the Infidels. These embassadours comming to the Counsell then holden at VERONA, with great H grauitie and diligence in the presence of the Pope and of the emperour, declared the hard estate of the Christians of the East, with their humble request vnto them for aid: in such sort that they mooued them, with all the princes there present, to compassion. From thence they were by the Pope directed vnto Philip the French king, with whom hauing dispatched their affaires, they from him passed ouer into ENGLAND, & afterward into GERMANIE: and had at length broght their negotiation to so good passe, that in euerie place great preparation was made for a great expedition to be vndertaken against the Turks, for the reliefe of the Christians in the East: with which good newes, the embassadours returning to HIERUSALEM, filled the sicke king with the hope of great matters. But greater quarrels shortly after arising betwixt the Pope and the emperour; and sharpe war likewise betwixt the French king and the king of ENGLAND, and I the other Christian princes also being at no better quiet, the notable expedition that had with the expectation thereof so filled the world, was againe laid aside and quite dashed. Whereof king Baldwin vnderstanding both by messengers and letters from his friends, oppressed with griefe and heauinesse, more than with the force of his disease (a man for his prowesse and painefulnesse not inferiour to any his predecessours) died without issue the 16 day of May, in the yeare 1185,1185 being but fiue and twentie yeares old, whereof he had raigned twelue. His bodie was afterward with the generall mourning of his subjects, solemnly buried in the temple neere vnto the mount CALVARIE, together with his predecessours the kings of HIERUSALEM.

King Baldwin thus buried, Baldwin the fift of that name; yet but a boy, was crowned king. But then began the sparks, which had of long lien raked vp & hidden in the ashes, to break out into a K great fire: For Raymund countie of TRIPOLIS, contended the whole gouernment of the kingdome, & tuition of the king, to be due vnto him, by the appointment of the late king & consent of the nobilitie; and did so much, that he had almost obtained it to haue beene confirmed vnto him in open parlament. But Sybilla, a woman of a most haughty spirit (sister vnto the late king, & mother vnto the yoong king yet liuing) prickt forward her husband Guy, in no case to giue place vnto his competitour Raymund: and so animated him, that by the helpe of his owne fauourits, and the countenance of Boniface marquesse of MOVNT-FERRAT, who euen then was come with a great power into SIRIA, he extorted from the nobilitie whatsoeuer hee desired. But seuen moneths were scarce well passed, but that this yoong king Baldwin was dead and buried; poysoned (as was reported) by his mother, for the desire shee had of the kingdome herselfe:L whose death she with all secrecie concealed, vntill she had obtained of the Patriarch and other princes of the kingdome, That Guy her husband might be proclaimed king: So by her meanes it was so wrought, [...] of Hierusalem. that vpon one and the selfe same day, the yoong king Baldwin was buried by his vncle, and Guy the countie crowned. This yoong king Baldwin by reason of his tender yeares and short raigne, is of some not reckoned amongst the kings of HIERUSALEM: howbeit, seeing he was by his vncle and the princes of that time, thought woorthy of the kingdome, let him also haue his place amongst the rest, as the eight king of HIERUSALEM.

When Guy was thus possessed of the kingdome, the countie of TRIPOLIS seeing himselfe out of all hope of the gouernment, and highly therewith discontented, did what he might by all meanes to crosse the doings of the king: whose sicke and aspiring mind Saladin prickt dayly M more and more forward, promising him his helping hand whensoeuer hee should need; which courtesie the countie desirously imbraced. For now the fatall period of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM drew fast on, and all things tended to destruction, discord raigning in euerie place: which Saladin well perceiuing (after that he had compacted with the countie) by messengers sent of purpose, inuited the Turks, Sarasins, & Aegyptians, as men agreeing in one and the same religion, [Page] A generally to take vp armes in so fit an oportunitie of the discord of the Christians, assuring them of great prey and spoile,Saladin vpō the discord of the Christians, taketh occasion to inuade the Holy land. besides the honour of the conquest. The citie of PTOLEMAIS was the place by him appointed, where all this power should meet: whether such a multitude of the barbarous Mahometanes (partly for the hatred of the Christian religion, partly for the hope of the rich spoile which Saladin had promised them) came flocking out of all places, that in short time there was met together about fiftie thousand horsemen, besides an infinit number of foot. And vnto such as could not safely passe by the borders of HIERUSALEM, to them the false countie gaue safe conduct, by the countries of TIBERIAS, NAZARETH, and GALILEY.

All the power of the infidels thus assembled,Ptolemais besieged by Saladin. Saladin laid siege vnto the citie of PTOLEMAIS: B which the Templars and the knights Hospitalers had notably fortefied and strongly manned, (as before vnto them giuen by the kings of HIERUSALEM to defend against the infidels) and therein now were both the masters of both those honourable orders,1187 with the whole flower of the knights of their profession. Vnto this citie, Saladin gaue a most terrible assault vpon May day in the morning, in the yeare 1187; which was by the Christians notably defended, and the enemie with great slaughter still beaten downe. In the heat of this assault, the two great masters sallying out, with certaine troupes of their most readie horsemen, assailed the enemies campe, and bearing down all before them, raised there a great tumult: and by and by turning vpon the backs of them, that were assaulting the citie, made there an exceeding great slaughter. Insomuch, that Saladin dismaied, first with the confusion in his campe, and now with the suddain danger behind C him, was glad to giue ouer the assault, and to turne his whole forces vpon them: where was fought a most bloodie and terrible battell. Amongst others that there fought, the countie of TRIPOLIS, now an enemie vnto God and his country, disguised in the habit of a Turke, notably helped the infidels, and meeting with the great master of the knights Hospitalers, vnhorsed him, who surcharged with the waight of his armour, and oppressed with the multitude of his enemies, there died. Neuerthelesse, such was the valour of these woorthie men, and new succour still comming out of the citie, that Saladin hauing in that battell, and at the assault, lost fifteene thousand of his Turks, was glad with the rest to betake himselfe to flight. Neither was this so notable a victorie gained by the Christians without blood, most part of the worthie knights Hospitalers being together with their grand master there slaine.

D Saladin by this ouerthrow perceiuing, that by open force he should not be able to doe much against the Christians, thought it good vnto his forces to joyne also pollicie. Wherein the false countie of TRIPOLIS was the man he thought best to make choice of, as his fittest instrument to worke by. Him hee compacted withall to seeke for grace at the king of HIERUSALEM his hands, as of his dread soueraigne, and after so long discord, to sue to be reconciled vnto him, as now wearie of the Turkes amitie, with whom he should make shew to be vtterly fallen out. At which time also (to giue the matter the better grace) Saladin of purpose with a great armie came and besieged TIBERIAS, a citie of the counties jurisdiction: for the reliefe whereof, the traiterous countie craued aid of the king and the other princes of the sacred warre. Who with an armie, though not great, yet very well appointed, came according to his desire, & encamped neere E vnto the fountaine of SOPHOR: where they had not long stayed, but that they met with the huge armie of the Turkes, being in number one hundred and twentie thousand horse, and one hundred and sixtie thousand foot: with whome they joyned a most sharpe and terrible battell: which by reason of the extremitie of the heat of the weather (it then beeing the twelfth of Iuly) and the approch of the night, was againe giuen ouer; both armies (as if it had been by consent) retiring. The next day the battell was againe begun, wherein the Turkes by the treason and shamefull flight of the false countie of TRIPOLIS, gained the victorie. In this battell Guy the king himselfe, with Gerard master of the Templars,Guy king of Hierusalem taken prisoner. Boniface marquesse of MONT-FERRAT, and diuers others, men of great marke, were taken prisoners. And to say the truth, in this battell was broken the whole strength of the Christians in the East.

F The Christian commonweale by the treason of the false countie thus betrayed vnto the Infidels, Saladin without any great resistance had the cities of PTOLEMAIS, BI [...]LIS, and BERITHVS deliuered vnto him: in all which places, he vsed his victorie with great moderation, not enforsing any Christian (more than the Latines) to depart thence, but suffering them there still to remaine, as before, yeelding vnto him their obedience, with such tribute as he had imposed vpon them. With like good fortune, he within the space of one moneth tooke all the port townes [Page] betwixt SIDON and ASCALON, alongst the sea coast, excepting only the auncient citie of TYRE; G vnto the citie of ASCALON also he laid siege by the space of nine daies: but loath to stay the course of his victorie, by the valour of the defendants resolued there to spend their liues, hee departed thence,Hierusalem besieged. and marched directly vnto HIERUSALEM, the chiefe citie of that kingdome. And approching the same, gaue summons thereunto, persuading the citizens yet whiles they had time to yeeld themselues, together with the citie, vnto his mercie. Which they refusing to doe, he inclosed the same with his armie,Hierusalem taken by Saladin. and by the space of foureteene dayes laid hard siege vnto it, leauing nothing vndone or vnattempted that might helpe for the gaining thereof. At which time the citizens considering the danger they were in, and that the strength of the kingdome with the flower of their chiualrie were in the late battell lost, and that they were not now to expect any H forraine aid, agreed vpon certaine conditions to yeeld vp the citie: which were, That such Christians as would, might remaine still, with their libertie and goods; and that such as would not, might in safetie depart, with so much of their goods as they could carie vpon their backs. These conditions being by Saladin granted, the holy citie was vnto him deliuered the second of October in the yeare 1187; after it had been by the Christians holden frō the time that it was by Godfrey of BUILLON & other Christians woon, about 89 yeares. Saladin entring into the citie, prophaned first the temple of the Lord, conuerting it vnto the vse of his Mahometane superstition, the other churches he vsed as stables for his horses; onely the temple of the sepulchre, was by the Christians for a great summe of money redeemed and so kept vndefiled. The Latine Christians he thrust out of the citie, yet with leaue to carrie with them such things as they were able themselues I to beare: who trauailing with heauie burdens, but much more heauie hearts, some to TRIPOLIS, some to TIRE, some to ANTIOCH (for onely these three cities were now left vnto the Christians in SYRIA) were by the false countie of TRIPOLIS by the way lightened of their burthens, to the increasing of the heauinesse of their hearts, most of them being by him and his followers spoiled of that little they had by the mercie of their enemies saued in the ruine of their state.

Vnto the other Christians that were naturall Syrians, Greekes, Armenians, Georgians, and such like, Saladin appointed certaine places of the citie for them to dwell in, where some of their posteritie were long time after to be found. All the monumenss of the Christians were by the barbarous Mahometanes and Turkes defaced, onely the sepulchre of our blessed K Sauiour Christ, with the monument of Godfrey of BUILLON, and his brother Baldwin, for the reuerence of the men were by them spared. In these so great troubles, aboue twentie thousand of the Christians perished: amongst the rest, the countie of TRIPOLIS was shortly after found dead in his bed, [...]. and (as some say) circumcised, a manifest token of his reuolt, not from the king onely, but from the Christian faith also.

HIERUSALEM thus woon, Saladin returned againe to the siege of ASCALON, which after he had by the space of tenne dayes most straitly besieged, was vnto him by composition deliuered▪ wherein amongst other things agreed vpon for the safe departure of the citizens, was comprised also, that he should freely set at libertie Guy the king, and Gerard master of the Templars, both before taken prisoners, as is before declared; which he afterward performed.L

Thus the victorious Turke still vrging his good fortune, departing thence, attempted to haue taken TRIPOLIS; but hauing made some proofe of his owne forces, and the valour of the defendants, he was glad to giue ouer the siege, and to depart as he came. Marching thence with his armie, because he would leaue no place vnattempted, he laid siege vnto the citie of TIRE, where Conrade marquesse of MONT FERRAT was a little before arriued with Isaack Angelus the Greeke emperours fleet, and a supplie of certaine companies of good souldiors. Vnto which place were come great numbers of the poor distressed Christians fled from HIERUSALEM, and other places, so that the citie was full of men.

This citie Saladin most furiously assaulted, but was by the Christians notably repulsed, not without the great los [...]e of his best souldiors. At which time also the admirall of SICILIA discomfited M his fleet at sea, and landing his forces, came vnlooked for vpon the backe of him: so that hauing his hands full before by them of the towne, and charged behind by these newcome enemies, he was glad to retire in such hast, as that he left his tents with all that therein was, vnto the spoile of the Christians.

Within a few daies after, Saladin hauing againe repaired his armie, inuaded the countrey [Page] A about ANTIOCH: with fire and sword destroying whatsoeuer was subject to his furie, euen to the gates of the citie;The famous city of Antioch betrayed vnto the Turkes. but knowing that so strong a citie was not without great charge and long siege to be woon, he thought it good to make proofe if it might by pollicie or corruption bee gained. Wherein he so cunningly dealt with the Patriarch, that he had by his meanes, the castle (otherwise almost impregnable) for gold betrayed vnto him. By meanes whereof, hee in short time became lord and master of that famous citie, (about ninetie yeares before hardly gained by the whole power of the Christians, after eleuen moneths siege) and with it fiue and twentie cities moe that depended of the fortune thereof, with all the prouinces belonging thereunto, alwayes deemed to haue been the third part of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM.

B The losse of this so great a citie, together with the ruine of the whole kingdome, had in short space filled euery corner of Christendome with the heauie report thereof: Wherwith the Christian princes of the West (namely Frederick the Germane emperour, with Frederick his sonne duke of SUEVIA, Philip the French king, Henry the second, king of ENGLAND, Otto duke of BVRGVNDIE, Leopold duke of AUSTRIA, with many other great princes and prelats of GERMANIE, ITALIE, and other places) not a little mooued, as also with the pittifull complaints of the embassadours at the same time sent from the distressed Christians; and the effectuall persuasions of Clement the third then Pope: promised, and all, or most part, indeed made great preparations; which they afterwards, though not all at once (as letted by other occasions) but at diuers times imployed for the most part, with the danger of their owne persons against the Turks, for C the reliefe of the poore oppressed Christians, and recouerie of the holy land: but with what successe, shall hereafter God willing be declared.

Of which so great preparations made against him, Saladin not ignorant, set at libertie Guy the king of HIERUSALEM, whom contrarie to his promise made at ASCALON, hee had now detained a yeare in prison; yet before his enlargement exacting of him an oath, Neuer by force of armes afterwards to seeke to recouer his kingdome, or to reuenge the wrongs hee had sustained: hoping thereby to stay the comming of the other princes in his quarell. Which oath for all that, the Pope dispensed withall, as extorted by constraint from him, at such time as Saladin had longer detained him in prison than of right he should.

Guy now at libertie, and yet in mind a king, came to TYRE, but could not be there receiued, D the citizens hauing before sworn their obedience vnto Conrade, marquesse of MONT-FERRAT, by whom they had been notably defended against the furie of Saladin. Wherefore departing thence with such power as he had, and the dispersed Christians daily repairing vnto him out of all parts of SIRIA, he came and besieged PTOLEMAIS: Where he had not long lien, but that first came vnto him the Venetian fleet, with them also of PISA, and after them the Flemmings with a fleet of fiftie saile, who all joyned their forces together for the winning of the citie. But whilest the Christians thus lay at the siege of PTOLEMAIS, came Saladin with a great armie to the reliefe of the besieged: where betwixt him and the Christians was fought a great battaile, wherein the Christians at the first had the better; but afterward fainting, and readie to flie, had there vndoubtedly receiued a notable ouerthrow, had not Geffrey Lysignan, the kings brother, E(left for the guarding of the campe) in good time come in with new supplies: and not only staied their flight, but also repressed the farther pursute of the fierce enemie, now almost in possession of the desired victorie. Neuerthelesse, there were two thousand Christians there slaine, and amongst them Gerard, master of the Templars. Saladin by that which was now done, perceiuing how hard a matter it would be for him by land to relieue his citie, sent for the fleet which he had strongly rigged vp at ALEXANDRIA, and so by force put new supplies both of men and victuals into the besieged citie. Wherewith the Turks encouraged, made often sallies vpon the Christians; and in despight of the Christian religion, whipped the image of Christ crucified, which they had for that purpose, in the sight of the Christians set vp vpon the top of the wall. With the same fleet also he so scoured the seas, that no victuals or new supplies of men could that way F without great danger be brought vnto the campe; whereby such scarcitie and want of all things began shortly after to arise among the Christians, that some of them not able longer to indure the famine, fled vnto the Turks campe, then lying not farre off, crying out for bread. Of which distresse in the campe of the Christians, Saladin knowing right well, both by such fugitiues as daily came ouer vnto him, and by his owne espials, yet made shew as if hee vnderstood nothing thereof: but suddainly rising with his armie (as doubtfull of his owne strength) departed, leauing [Page] his campe full of all manner of victuals. Whereof the Christians vnderstanding, and supposing G him to haue for feare been gone indeed, in great numbers hasted vnto the forsaken campe, as vnto a most desired prey: where, whilest they were gorging themselues, Saladin suddainly returning, and getting betwixt them and home, made of them a great slaughter. Neuerthelesse, the Christians hauing now lien before the citie six months, continued the siege all the Winter, ouercomming with patience the hardest difficulties, in hope of aid from the other Christian princes, whose comming they expected with the first of the next Spring: during which time, many an hot skirmish passed betwixt them and the Turkes both by sea and land.

1160Whilest the Christians thus lay at the siege of PTOLEMAIS, Frederick the emperour with diuers of the great Germane princes,Fredericke the emperour setteth forward towards the Holy land. and others, before resolued vpon an expedition for the recouerie H of the Holy land, and the reliefe of the distressed Christians in SYRIA: hauing now raised a great armie, furnished with all things necessarie for so long a journey, set forward from RATISBONE, and so comming to VIENNA, and passing through HVNGARIA, BVLGARIA, and THRACIA, arriued at length at CONSTANTINOPLE, where he was by Isaack Angelus the emperour that then raigned, honourably entertained: but indeed more for feare and fashion sake than for any loue or good will: for that he after the suspicious manner of the Greekes, hauing in distrust so great a power of the Latine emperors, wished rather for his absence, than his presence. And therefore ceased not in what he might to hasten his passage ouer into ASIA, pretending for the colour thereof, The necessitie the Christians had of his present aid. So the emperour with his armie passing ouer the strait, and without resistance marching through the greatest part of the lesser I ASIA, entred into LYCAONIA, where meeting with a great power of the Turks, that were come from the Sultan of ICONIVM to stay his farther passage, hee ouerthrew them in a great battell; and so marching directly on to ICONIVM, tooke it by force, and gaue the spoile thereof vnto his souldiors, in reuenge of the injuries before done vnto his vncle the emperour Conrade, by the Sultan of that citie. Departing thence, and marching through CILICIA, he in another battell ouerthrew the Turkes, that hauing taken the straits of the mountaines had thought to haue staied his farther passage into SYRIA. After that he tooke the citie PHILOMELA, which the Sultan had strongly fortefied, which he rased to the ground, and put to sword all the people therein, for that they contrarie to the law of nations, had slaine such messengers as he had sent vnto them for the summoning of the citie. In like manner he entred into the lesser ARMENIA, where he took K the citie MELITENE, and subdued all the countrey thereabouts: vnto the reliefe whereof, the Turkes comming with a most huge armie, were by him with an exceeding great slaughter ouerthrowne and put to flight. After that, entring into COMAGENA, and meeting with Saphadin, Saladin his sonne, with a great armie of the Turks, he ouerthrew him in the plaine field, and discomfited his whole armie. But whilest he too eagerly pursueth the enemie he had then in chace, his horse [...]oundring vnder him, as he passed the riuer SALEPH, he was so ouerthrowne, and his foot hanging fast in his stirrop, drawne through the deepe riuer, and almost drowned; and at the farther side of the riuer was so plunged by his horse, at his landing, that he was taken vp for dead. Yet breathing a little, and casting his eyes vp to heauen, with much adoe he vttered these few words, Lord receiue my soule: and so in the hands of them that tooke him vp, gaue vp the L ghost, vnto the great greefe and hindrance of the Christian commonweale: for Saladin hearing of his approch, was so afraid of him, as that he began to doubt, not how to keepe that he had before woon in SYRIA, but how to defend himselfe in AEGIPT. Thus miserably perished this worthie emperour, the tenth of Iune, in the yeare of grace 1190, being then of the age of seuentie yeares, whereof he had with much trouble raigned eight and thirtie. His dead bodie was caried along with the armie, and afterward with all funerall pompe buried in the cathedrall church at TYRE.

Fredericke the emperours sonne [...] generall of the Christian armie. Fredericke the emperour thus dead, Fredericke his sonne duke of SUEVIA, was by the generall consent of the princes in the armie chosen generall in his steed: vpon whom with the rest of the armie, yet mourning for the death of the emperour, the Turkes gaue a sudden and fierce M charge, in hope so to haue ouerthrown them: But finding greater resistance than they had before supposed, and hauing lost some of their men, they with like speed that they came, retired againe. Now began famine (one of the ordinarie attendants of great armies) to increase in the campe: for why, the Turkes for that purpose had before destroied, or carried away all that was in the countrie, leauing nothing for the Christians more than the bare ground. Wherefore [Page] A Fredericke turning a little out of the way, came to ANTIOCH, which was easily deliuered vnto him, and his hungrie souldiers well refreshed by the citizens, being as yet for the most part Christians. But he had not there staied past fifteene daies for the refreshing of his armie, but that the plague (the handmaid of famine and another scourge of the greatest multitudes) began to rage among his souldiers, in such sort, that he was glad with his armie to forsake the citie and to get him abroad againe into the open field: where foorthwith newes was brought vnto him, that Dodequin generall of such forces as Saladin had sent for out of AEGYPT (which were not small) was by great journeis comming towards him: against whom he in good order set forward, with his fathers corse still carried in the middest of his armie.A great battell betwixt the Turks and the Christians. These two armies meeting together, and B both willing to fight, joyned a great and doubtfull battell, fortune enclining now to the one side, and by and by to the other; the Christians exceeding their enemies in valour, and they them againe in number. At length the Christians in the vauntguard began to retire, and they that seconded them were also hardly charged: when Fredericke mindfull of his fathers valour, with a troupe of valiant horsemen brake into the enemies battell, with such force, that the Turkes were glad to giue ground: after whom Leopold duke of AVSTRIA comming presently on with his footmen, brought such a feare vpon the whole armie of the Turkes, that they betooke themselues to speedie flight. In this battell were foure thousand of the enemies slaine, with small losse of the Christians; and about one thousand mo taken prisoners, with fifteene of their ensignes. After which victorie, Fredericke marching further in CaeLO-SYRIA, pacified LAODICEA then C in mutinie, and like to haue been deliuered vnto the Turks. He also with a little labour tooke BERYTHVS with diuers other cities of SIRIA, which before belonging vnto the kings of HIERUSALEM, were now reuolted vnto the Turks. So afterward comming to TYRE, he there solemnly buried his father (dead, as is before said:) & from thence certified Guy the king (still lying with the other Christian princes at the siege of PTOLEMAIS) of his comming: who forthwith sent the Marques of MONT-FERRAT, with part of the fleet to transport him with his people that were left, by sea: for that by land he could not so safely haue come, being now but weake, for meeting with Saladin; who with a great armie lay still houering about his besieged citie, intentiue to all opportunitie. So was duke Frederick with his souldiers yet left, safely by sea conducted from TYRE to the campe at PTOLEMAIS, and there joyfully receiued by the king and D the other princes, with the generall applause of the whole campe.

In the meane time the Turks sayling out of the citie of PTOLEMAIS, had done great harme among the Christians, by whom they were not without some losse againe repulsed. But after the comming of duke Frederick and his Germains, it was thought good by the generall consent of all the great commanders in the armie, that the citie should be assaulted round: and to that purpose was euery mans regiment appointed what place to assaile.Ptolemais assaulted by the Christians. The king himself with the Templars and the Italians from PISA, vndertooke that part of the citie which was toward the sea: vnto duke Frederick and his Germains was allotted all betwixt the bridge ouer the riuer BELE, and the bishops palace: the Venetians, Genowaies, and knights Hospitalers, were appointed vnto the rest of the wall as farre as the court of Raymund: the Friselanders, Flemings, and Hollanders, E tooke vp all the rest of the wall vnto the sea side. Thus was the citie at once in euerie side assailed by the Christians, with such furie, as if they had thereon purposed to gage their whole forces; seeking by a thousand wounds, and a thousand kinds of death to haue by their scaling ladders, gained the top of the wals; the Turks with no lesse courage still beating them down againe. But in the heat of this so dreadfull and desperat an assault, Saladin still houering aloofe, came now vpon the sudden & assailed the camp of the Christians, filling the same with feare and tumult: whose charge they that were left for the defence of the same, at the first notably receiued, but finding themselues too weake, began to giue ground; by which means the Turks tooke certaine tents with some ensignes, and fired some other of the pauilions of the Christians, hauing slaine somewhat mo than an hundred of the defendants.

F The Christians in the meane time little preuailing in the assault, & troubled with the danger of their campe, retired to the reliefe thereof. But the Turke perceiuing himselfe too weake for the whole power of the Christians, retired also; yet not with such hast, but that he had there almost lost himselfe. This notable assault was giuen the fourteenth of October: after which many light skirmishes passed betwixt the Christians and the Turks, but more for bootie than for any other great purpose.

[Page]In the meane time, diuers great princes of the West that had vowed themselues vnto this sacred G warre came thither, whose number rather increased the want of victuals than furthered the seruice. At which time also the discord betwixt Guy the king (whose wife and children were now dead) and Conrade marquesse of MONT-FERRAT (who had married Isabell the late queenes sister, by whom he pretended a claime vnto the title of the imaginarie kingdome) did much harme vnto the proceedings of the Christians: So pleasing a thing these haughtie stiles be vnto the loftie minds of the ambitious. Shortly after the Christians yet lying at the siege, the contagion and famine still encreasing, it fortuned that duke Frederick fell sicke of the plague, whereof he died: and with the great mourning of the whole armie, was afterward solemnly buried fast by his father in the cathedrall church at TYRE. After whose death the Christians attempted no H great matter against the citie, although they were oftentimes by the Turkes prouoked, but lay still strongly entrenched, expecting some greater aid from the princes of the West.

Now all the hope of the Christian affaires in SIRIA, and in the land of PALESTINE, rested vpon the comming of the two mightie princes, Philip the second of that name king of FRANCE, and Richard the first king of ENGLAND: who hauing agreed betwixt themselues, with their combined forces to relieue the distressed Christians of the East; and againe (if it were possible) to repaire the broken state of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM, were now met together at MARSEILLES in PROVENCE. From whence the French king first departing with his fleet for CICILIA, and with a prosperous gale for certaine daies holding on his course, & now come nigh vnto the island; was by force of a furious tempest suddenly arising, so tossed and tumbled I in the deepe, that many of his ships there perished, eaten vp of the sea; others by force of weather driuen vpon the sands and rocks, were there broken all to pieces; and the rest some with their masts broken, some with their tacklings and sailes rent, and all in generall sore weatherbeaten, with much adoe arriued at MESSANA the desired port: at which place king Richard afterwards (but with better fortune) arriued with his fleet also. Both the kings now met together, resolued there to winter: the French king enforced by necessitie so to doe, for the repairing of the late losses he had receiued, as well in his people and prouision, as in his shipping; all which was to be relieued by new supplies out of FRANCE: and the king of ENGLAND staying to take order for the dowrie of his sister Ioan (widdow of William the late king of CICILIA) with Tancred the base sonne of Roger, that had now aspired vnto the kingdome of that island. About K which matter great stirs arise betwixt king Richard the queenes brother, and Tancred the new king, in so much that it was like to haue broken out into open warre, had it not to the good contentment of king Richard beene otherwise taken vp, and so the controuersie ended. But whilst these two great kings thus wintred in this fruitfull island, and oftentimes as good friends met together, sometime for their disport, and sometime to confer of their so waightie affaires; the way (as was thought) to haue appeased all former displeasure, and to haue encreased loue: it fell out cleane contrarie, jealousie and distrust, not onely reuiuing the old, but also still raising new quarrels betwixt them, to the great hinderance of the common good by them intended: which may serue for a warning to all great princes, willing to continue in amitie & to hold a good opinion L one of another, Neuer to see one the other; or comming so to an interuiew, not to conuerse or stay long together: which as it is not often done without the danger of their persons, so can it not possibly be long continued, but that it will engender in themselues as well as in their followers, jealousie, enuie, hatred, and mistrust (as we haue before said) and hereafter in the course of this historie may appeare.

An old grudge betwixt Philip the French king and Richard king of EnglandThere was an old quarrell betwixt these two great kings, Richard and Philip, about Adela the French kings sister; whom Richard hauing before (his father yet liuing) affianced, had now rejected, as her whom his aged father Henrie the second had too familiarly vsed: and in steed of her, to the great disgrace of the French, espoused the ladie Berengaria, daughter to the king of NAVAR: which indignitie with diuers others, then arising betwixt the French and the English, as then with great heart burning smouldred vp in respect of the common cause then in hand, afterwards M brake out againe, to the shamefull ouerthrow of this most honourable expedition, and lamentable disturbance of both realmes.

Winter past, and the Spring now come, the French king not altogether the best pleased: first loosed from MESSANA, and with his fleet in safetie arriued at PTOLEMAIS, where he was by the Christians, now the third yeere lying at the siege, so joyfully receiued, as if he had beene [Page] A to them sent with succours from heauen. After whom, shortly after followed also king Richard; of whose fleet (by force of weather sore beaten & dispersed) two ships by the rage of the tempest driuen a ground vpon the coast of CYPRUS, were by the island people spoiled, and the men that in them had hardly escaped the danger of the sea, with most barbarous inhumanitie, some slaine and some taken prisoners: the rest of the fleet arriuing there also, were with like inciuilitie forbidden to land;King Richard reuengeth the iniurie done vnto his people by the Cipriots. the Cipriots readie at hand in all places to keepe them off. With which so great an indignitie the king justly mooued, and by force landing his people, with incredible celeritie and successe ouerran the whole island, neuer ceasing vntill he had made a full conquest thereof, and taken Isaack Comnenus, commonly called the king of that island, and of some (for what reason I B know not) emperour of the Griffons, prisoner: yet was he indeed neither king nor emperour, but being a man of great nobilitie and power, and of the honourable stocke of the Comneni, had in the troublesome raigne of Andronicus Comnenus the emperour, his cousin, laid hold vpon that fruitfull island, and there tyrannized as a reputed king; vntill that now he was by king Richard taken prisoner, and for his vnfaithfull dealing sent fast bound in chaines of siluer into SIRIA. The king thus possessed of the whole island, there at LIMOZIN married the ladie Berengaria the king of NAVARS daughter, brought thither by Ioan late queene of CICILIA, the kings sister. And so disposing as he thought best of all things for the safe keeping of the island, set forward againe with his fleet towards SIRIA. Where by the way he light vpon a great ship of the Sultans, laded with victuals & other warlike prouisions for the reliefe of the besieged; all which C became a prey vnto him.King Richard arriueth at Ptolemais. So holding on his course, hee at length arriued at PTOLEMAIS, where he was by the French king, and the rest of the Christians there lying, most honorably receiued.

Now had the citie of PTOLEMAIS beene three yeares besieged by the Christians, and notably defended by the Turks: during which time many an hot assault and bloodie skirmish had passed betwixt them. And now the eies of all men were fixed vpon the two kings of ENGLAND and FRANCE, vnto whom all the rest offred their obedience and seruice. The Christian campe was great, composed especially of Englishmen, Frenchmen, Italians, and Almaines; not them that were left of the emperour Frederick his armie (for they were for the most part dead, or else returned home againe into their countries) but of such as (mooued with the zeale they bare vnto D this religious war) came dayly in great numbers thither: as did also many others of diuers nations, desirous in some measure to be partakers of so honourable a war.

These religious and venterous Christians thus lying at the siege, had with much painefull labour vndermined one of the greatest towres of the citie, called the Accursed Towre, with some part of the wall also, by meanes whereof they were in hope to find a way into the citie. Wherefore all things being now in a readinesse for the fiering of the mine, it was thought good by generall consent, that an assault should also at the same time be giuen vnto the citie. And thereupon euery regiment was by lot appointed which part of the wall to assaile, which they all with great courage vndertooke. In the heat of which assault, the aforesaid vndermined towre with some part of the wall (the timber whereon it staied, now burnt) fell down with a great fall, laying open a E fair breach for the Christians to enter. Wherwith the Turks dismaied, forthwith craued to come to parle: which graunted, they for safegard of their liues yeelded foorthwith to giue vp the citie, and to restore vnto the Christians the Holy Crosse, with two thousand captiues, and two hundred horsemen, such as they should require of all them that were in the power of Saladin; besides 200000 Constantinopolitane duckats, to bee by him giuen vnto the two kings, for the cost by them bestowed in the siege. For payment whereof, the Turkes in the citie were to remaine as hostages vnder the safe keeping of the Christians, so that if all the couenants aforesaid were not within fortie daies performed by Saladin, they should all for their liues be at the kings mercie. So was this strong citie, after it had been almost three yeares besieged, deliuered vp vnto the Christians the 12 of Iulie, in the yeare 1191. The first that entred were the Germanes of AUSTRIA, F who as if they had been the only men by whose valour the citie had been woon,1191 at their first entrie presumptuously aduaunced their ensignes vpon the top of the wals, to the great offence of all the rest of the Christian princes, but especially of king Richard, who not vnwoorthely for his princely courage commonly called Richard Cueur de Lyon, not brooking so proud an indignitie, caused the ensignes of Leopold their duke, to be puld downe, and foiled vnderfoot; which shortly after gaue him occasion of repentance, as shall be hereafter seene.

[Page]The two kings possessed of the citie, deuided the same, with all the people and spoile thereof G betwixt them, without regard of the rest of the other noble Christians, that had sustained the whole trauaile of that long siege: for which cause most part of them, seeing themselues so deluded, withdrew themselues from them, & with one consent sent them word, That they would forsake them, except they were made partakers of the gaines, as they had beene of the paines. Which the two kings to content them, promised they should. Howbeit, they delayed so long their promises, that many worthie men, constrained by pouertie, departed discontented from them into their countries.

But long it was not, that this one citie, so lately gained, could containe these two great kings; whom two large kingdomes could not retaine in peace. For albeit that they were in bodie together H present, and in one, and that a most honourable action, combined; yet were they in hearts [...]arre asunder, and their secret designes much different: enuie and distrust still reuiuing vnkindnes past, and ministring new matter of greater discontentments. King Richard, according to his noble nature, was of nothing more desirous, than to haue the warre continued, vntill they had made a full conquest of SYRIA & the land of PALESTINE; and for that cause requested the French king to bind himselfe together with him by solemne oath, there to stay yet three yeares, for the regaining of those countries. But he in mind long before estranged from king Richard, and in his deepe conceit plotting matters neerer home better fitting his purpose, would by no meanes bee persuaded so to do; but still found one occasion or other for to colour his departure. And shortly after (as the French Chronicles report) falling extreamely sicke, he requested king Richard and I the other Christian princes to come vnto him: vnto whom being come, he in few words declared his purpose of returne, as followeth: ‘I cannot (my lords) longer endure the inclemencie and intemperature of the aire in this extreame hot season. If my death might profit the Christian Religion, or any one of you, or the Christian commonweale; there should be no distemperature whatsoeuer, that could seperate me from you, or withdraw me from hence. But more may the lise of one absent, serue and profit you, than the death of him present. I must of necessitie depart, yet at my departure I will leaue you fiue hundred men at armes, and tenne thousand footmen, the flower and choice of all the forces of Fraunce, vnder the conduct of my cousin Odo, duke of BVRGVNDIE, vnto whom I will giue pay and intertainement, with a continuall K supplie of all things for them necessarie.’

The French king s [...]ea [...]th vnto king Ri [...]hard, in [...] absence not to inuade his territories in France.This excuse of the French kings, king Richard could not take in good part: but said, That it was apparant to all men, that he abandoned the warres in SYRIA, to returne into FRAVNCE, for no other end or purpose, but the more easily to inuade the prouinces of GVIEN and NORMANDIE, now disfurnished of their garrisons, and so subject to his mallice. Which point hee so vrged, that the French king could haue no leaue with his honour to depart, vntill such time as he had by solemne oath bound himselfe vnto king Richard, not to attempt any thing either by force or fraud against him, or any thing of his, vntill fiftie dayes were expired after king Richard his return home. Which how well it was by the French king obserued, I leaue it to the report of L the hystories of that time. And so the French king, not to be intreated longer to stay, leauing behind him the aforesaid number of men he had promised, embarking the rest of his armie, and accompanied with three tall ships of the Genowaies his friends, and Ruffin Volta their admirall, departed from PTOLEMAIS to TYRE, the first of August; and two daies after, loosing thence alongst the coast of ASIA, and cutting through the Mediteranean, arriued at length in the mouth of the riuer of TYBER, and from thence went to ROME: where after he had visited Pope Celestine, and the famous places of that most renowned citie, he returned againe to his fleet, and so by sea arriued in safetie in FRAUNCE; hauing in that great expedition, so honourably by him intertained, performed nothing answerable to that the world looked for.

After the French king, followed Leopold duke of AUSTRIA, with his Germans: and not long M after him, the Venetians also, with them of PISA and GENUA. Of whose departure Saladin vnderstanding, and that the Christian forces were thereby much empaired, refused either to pay the money, or to restore the prisoners, as was promised at the giuing vp of PTOLEMAIS: threatning moreouer to chop off the heads of all such Christian captiues as he had in his power, if the king should shew any extremitie vnto the pledges of the citie. Neuerthelesse, shortly after he sent his [Page] A embassadours with great presents vnto the king, requesting a longer time for the sparing of his pledges; which his request, together with his gifts, the king refused to graunt or accept. Whereupon Saladin foorthwith caused such Christian captiues as were in his power, to bee beheaded: which albeit king Richard vnderstood, yet would hee not preuent the time before agreed vpon for the execution of his prisoners, being the 20 day of August: vpon which day hee caused the Turks prisoners, to the number of 2500 (or as the French and Germans write, to the number of 7000) in the sight of Saladines armie to be executed.

The losse of the strong towne of PTOLEMAIS, much empaired the reputation of Saladin, euen among his owne people; as it commonly falleth out, that the euill successe of a great commander in his affaires, altereth the good will, affection, and opinion, especially of the vulgar sort, B which judge of all things by the euent. And albeit that his losses were great, and such as much daunted him: yet he thought it best, as the case then stood, to make them greater, and with his owne hands (as it were) to ruinate and ouerthrow such townes and cities as he saw hee could not keepe, rather than to suffer them whole and vndefaced to fall into the enemies hand. So carried headlong with despaire, he caused all the townes he had alongst the sea coast in SYRIA and PALESTINE, to be sacked and ruinated, and their wals ouethrowne; especially such as were of most importance, and like to stand the Christians in stead, namely PORPHIRIA, CESAREA, IOPPA, ASCALON, GAZA, and ELAM, with diuers other castles and citadels in the countries thereabouts; most part whereof were againe by king Richard and the Templars fortified and repeopled, although Saladin in the meane time did what he might to haue letted the same.

C Nothing more hindred the good proceeding of the Christian princes, in this, and other their most honourable expeditions against the Infidels, than the discord among themselues; one still enuying at anothers honour, and euery one jealous of his owne. Great strife and heart burning there had beene betweene the two kings of FRAVNCE and ENGLAND, during the time they were together in this sacred expedition, to the great hinderance of the same: No lesse contention had there ben betwixt Guy the late king of HIERUSALEM, and Conrade marques of MONT-FERRAT, about the title of that lost kingdome: whereby the whole power of the Christians in SIRIA was deuided into two factions. Richard king of ENGLAND, Baldwin earle of FLAUNDERS, Henrie earle of CHAMPAINE, the knights Hospitalers of Saint Iohn, the Venetians and Pisans, taking part with Guy: And Philip the french king, Odo duke of BURGUNDIE, Rodolph D earle of CLAREMONT, the Templers, the Genowayes, the Lantgraue of THURIN, Leopold duke of AVSTRIA, and Robert countie of NASSAU, taking part with Conrade the marques. But Conrade shortly after the taking of PTOLOMAIS being slaine, by two of the desperate Assassins, or (as some others say) by two desperate ruffians (suborned thereunto by the prince of TORONE, in reuenge of the dispite done vnto him by the said marques, by taking from him Isabell his espoused wife) as he was walking in his citie of TYRE and doubting no such treason: king Richard seeing now a fit occasion offered for the vtter extinguishing of that claime, and how to intitle himselfe vnto that kingdome; persuaded the aforesaid Isabell (the widdow of the late Marques, and in whose right hee had laied claime vnto the kingdome) to relinquish that so troublesome a title, and to take to her husband Henry earle of CHAMPAINE, his nephew, E vnto whom he gaue the citie of TYRE: Guy the king exclaiming to the contrarie, as of a wrong done vnto himselfe. Shortly after he began also to temper with Guy, persuading him to resigne vnto him that little right and interest hee had in the kingdome of HIERUSALEM, and in lieu thereof to receiue at his hands the kingdome of CIPRUS. Which his offer the poore king was glad to accept. By which exchange Guy became king of CIPRUS: and Richard, king of HIERUSALEM; which honorable title he afterwards, as some report, vsed in his stile, as did some others his successors the kings of ENGLAND after him. So Guy with all his wealth passing ouer into CIPRUS, took possession of the kingdome, where he long liued not. Neuerthelesse, that pleasant kingdome continued in his familie of the Lusignans, by the space of about 283 yeares afterwards: F vntill that at length that familie failing in the posthumus sonne of Iames the bastard, last king of that Island, it fell into the hands of the Venetians: by whom it was holden as a part of their seignorie almost an hundred yeares, vntill that it was in our fresh remembrance again from them taken by Selymus the second, great emperour of the Turks, in the yeare 1571, as in the processe of this historie shall in due place (God willing) be declared.King Richard marcheth with his army towards Hierusalem.

Now was king Richard, for the increase of his honour, more desirous than before of the citie [Page] of HIERUSALEM, as the most precious and honourable prize of all that religious warre. And G thereupon with all the power of the Christians then at his command, set forward from PTOLEMAIS, and was come on his way as farre as ARSUA, a towne situate betwixt CESAREA and IOPPE. In the vauward was king Richard himselfe, with the Englishmen: after whom followed Odo, A notable battel fought betwixt king Richard & Saladin. duke of BVRGVNDIE, with his French: and in the rereward Iaques de Auenes, with the Flemmings, Brabanders, and Wallons, who after the death of their countie Philip at the siege of PTOLEMAIS, had put themselues all vnder his regiment. Saladin with a great armie still at hand, and as it were attending vpon them, first with certaine ambuscadoes charged the rereward, and so afterward came on with his whole power: vpon whom Iaques turning himselfe, with his Flemmings, receiued the charge with great assurance, and so long themselues endured H the same, vntill the French came in to their succours, and after them the English also. There was fought a notable battell, and great valour shewed both on the one side and the other, but especially by them of the Turkes part; who knew well the purpose of the Christians for the besieging of HIERUSALEM, and that thereon depended their onely hope, and that hee that could hold the same, might almost assure himselfe to carrie away the glorie of that warre. The French and English in that battell honorably stroue who might shew the greatest valour: neither would the Low countrey men vnder Iaques their generall, seeme to bee any thing behind them. This sharpe conflict began about noone, and continued vntill the going downe of the Sunne. King Richard (as some write) was there wounded with an arrow; and Iaques valiantly there fighting, was slaine, hauing sold his life deere, to the great admiration of the infidels, and dying left the victorie I vnto the Christians. It is reported, that in this battell were slaine moe Turks and Sarasins than in any one battell within the memorie of man before: of the Christians were not lost any great number, either any man of name, more than the aforesaid Iaques, the valiant generall of the Flemmings,

The next day the Christians remooued to BETHLEM, a towne about the mid way betwixt IOPPE and HIERUSALEM. But Winter now comming fast on, and want of victuals like ynough to increase, the king changing his mind for the siege, returned with the greatest part of the armie to ASCALON, which he that Winter new fortefied, the wals thereof being before by Saladin in his despaire demolished: the duke of BVRGVNDIE, with his Frenchmen, all that while quietly wintering at TYRE. In the meane time, the power of the Christians was that K Winter greatly deminished, some one way departing from the campe, and some another: The Italians for the most part, with them of PISA (who in these three yeares warres had striuen with the Venetians for the honour of their seruice) were now returned home, as were the Venetians themselues also. Neuerthelesse, Winter now past, and the Spring time come, king Richard took the field againe, and came to BETHLEM: where by the way hee met with an exceeding great number of cammels, charged with great store of victuals and munition, sent by Saladin out of AEGYPT to HIERUSALEM, all which he tooke. But purposing to haue gone on to the siege of HIERUSALEM,King Richard purposing to haue besieged Hierusalem▪ [...]s by the ba [...]kward [...]es of the French enforced to retire. he was by the backwardnesse of the French glad to change his purpose, and to returne to PTOLEMAIS: for the Frenchmen, persuaded by the duke their generall (who well knew the French kings mind) That if any thing woorth remembrance were done, it was to bee L done by them, and that the glorie thereof should wholly redound vnto the king of ENGLAND, as there in person present, and to his Englishmen; shewed themselues so vnwilling to the siege, as that therin was nothing done, to the great griefe of that worthy prince. At which time also news was brought vnto king Richard, How that Philip the French king (forgetfull of his solemne promise made before his departure out of SYRIA) had now inuaded the country of NORMANDIE, and excited earle Iohn (the kings brother, a man of an hautie & aspiring nature) to take vpon him the kingdome of ENGLAND in his absence: as had before in like case William the yonger brother serued duke Robert his elder brother, then absent at his father the Conquerours death, in the first sacred expedition vnder Godfrey of BUILLON. Wherfore king Richard, beside the present difficulties, fearing least while he was so far off in wars for defence of the Christian commonweale, he M might lose his kingdome at home;King Richard [...] to [...] a pea [...]e with Saladin. thought it best to grow to some good end with Saladin, and so to make his returne. But the politicke and warie Sultan, not ignorant of the discord of the Christians▪ and that their forces daily decaied in SYRIA; either of the troubled estate of the kings affairs at home in his kingdome, or of his desire to returne; would not hearken to any other conditions of peace, but such as might both for the present, weaken the forces of the Christians in SIRIA, and [Page] A discourage others that had a mind to come thither afterward, whē they should see that for naught they should trauell to conquer that, which in the end they must of necessitie restore againe. The conditions he offered, were, That the Christians should foorthwith restore whatsoeuer they had woon in those three years wars, PTOLEMAIS only excepted; and that from thence forth for the space of fiue yeares the▪ Turks should not in any thing molest the Christians, but to suffer them in peace to liue by them: which hard conditions (for that no better could be had) the king was glad to accept, and so concluded a peace. Wherby the labor and trauell of the two great kings, and so many nations with them, were all become frustrat and vaine; hauing now to no purpose lost their men, their money, their time, their hope, their blood, their long trauell, to gaine that they must now in one houre forgo; nothing more left vnto the poore Christians in SIRIA, than B the cities of ANTIOCH, TYRE, and PTOLEMAIS.

This done,King Richard returning out of the Holy land taken prisoner by Leopold duke of Austria. king Richard leauing the affaires of ASIA vnto the charge of Henrie countie of CHAMPAGNE his nephew, shipping the greatest part of his people, with his wife Berengaria, first for SICILIA and from thence for ENGLAND, where they in safetie at length arriued, followed shortly after with some few himselfe, where by the way by extremitie of weather, he was in the Adriatique driuen to land vpon the coast of HISTRIA: where trauelling with a small retinue homewards in the habit of a Templar, he was discouered and taken prisoner by Leopold duke of AVSTRIA, whom he had before disgraced at the winning of PTOLEMAIS (as is before declared:) who now glad to haue him in his power, made prize of him, and sold him to Henrie the emperor, for fortie thousand pounds, by whom he was kept prisoner by the space of a yeare and C three months, and then ransomed for the summe of an hundred and fiftie thousand pounds.

About this time died the great Sultan Saladin, the greatest terrour of the Christians: who mindfull of mans fragilitie and the vanitie of worldly honours, commanded at the time of his death no solemnitie to be vsed at his buriall, but onely his shirt in manner of an ensigne, made fast vnto the point of a launce to be carried before his dead bodie as an ensigne, a plaine priest going before, and crying aloud vnto the people in this sort: Saladin Conquerour of the East, of all the greatnesse and riches hee had in his life, carrieth not with him after his death any thing more than his shirt. A fight woorthie so great a king, as wanted nothing to his eternall commendation, more than the true knowledge of his saluation in Christ Iesu. He raigned about sixteene yeares with great honour, and dying, left nine sonnes, which were all murthered by Saphradin D their vncle, excepting one called also Saphradin Sultan of ALEPPO, who by the fauour and support of his fathers good friends, saued himselfe from the treacherous practises of his vncle. Of this Saphradin the vncle, discended Meledin Sultan of AEGYPT, and Coradin Sultan of DAMASCO and HIERUSALEM: Saladin his great kingdome being by them now againe rent in pieces.

The death of Saladin in short time bruited abroad, with the discord amongst the Turks and Sarasins, about his dominions; put Celestinus (then Pope) in good hope, that the citie of HIERUSALEM might in that change and hurle, be easily againe recouered, and that kingdome established. But when hee had in vaine dealt to that purpose with the kings of FRANCE and ENGLAND (then altogether busied in their wars the one against the other) he persuaded Henrie the E sixt, then emperor, to take the matter in hand: who (for that he well could not, or else would not himselfe in person vndertake that long expedition) sent Henrie duke of SAXONIE his lieutenant with a great armie into ASIA▪ vnto whom were joyned two Legats, Conradus Archbishop of MOGUNSIA another of the electours, and Conradus the bishop of HER [...]IPOLIS. At which time also many other great princes tooke vpon them that holy war, namely, Herman Lantgraue of THURIN, Henrie Palatine of RHENE, Henrie duke of BRABANT, Conrad marques of MORAVIA, Frederick duke of AUSTRIA, and Albertus Hapspurgensis, with some others: vnto whom also joyned themselues the bishops of BREME, HALBERSTAT, and RATISBON, with diuers other great prelates. Who hauing passed through HUNGARIE and F THRACIA, and by the Greeke emperour Alexius Angelus relieued with all things necessarie, were by the Graecian ships transported vnto ANTIOCH, and so by land came to TYRE, and from thence to PTOLEMAIS, with purpose to haue gone to relieue the Germains besieged in IOPPE; who before their comming were all by treason slaine and the citie rased, wherefore being come to the ruins thereof, they departed thence to SIDON, which they found also abandoned by the Turks. After that they tooke BERITHUS, which citie they fortified, and so went to [Page] besiege TORONE; which citie when they had brought vnto the extremitie as that it must G needs (as it was thought) either yeeld or bee taken, the Turkes came on so fast to the reliefe therof, that the Christians were glad to raise their siege and to be gone: which they in garrison at BERITHUS perceiuing, & seeing the enemie to approch them, they abandoned the citie, and joyning themselues vnto the rest of the armie marched all together to IOPPE, a little before ruinated, which they now againe fortified. But the enemie comming to BERITHUS, and finding it forsaken rased it downe to the ground, and so in few moneths space was BERITHUS both repaired and rased in the yeere 1197.1197

But whilest the Christians were repairing the citie of IOPPE, the Turks proud of that they had done at BERITHUS,The Turks ouerthrown by the Christians. came now to disturbe also the fortifying of that place. Of whose comming H the Christians vnderstanding, remooued by night about fiue miles from the citie, of purpose to draw the Turks vnto a conuenient place for battell. The Turks thinking them to haue beene fled for feare, sent part of their armie to assaile the citie: and with the other followed after them disorderedly, as if it had beene after men they had had in chace. Vpon whom the Christians turning, had with them at the first a sharpe encounter, but afterwards put them to flight: in which conflict certaine thousands of the Turks fell;Ioppe repaired by the Christians of whom the Christians taking the spoile, and hauing put the rest to flight, returned againe vnto the fortifying of the citie. But the joy of this victorie was by the sudden death of two of the greatest princes in the armie, greatly diminished: for the duke of SAXONIE hauing in the battell taken great paines in performing the parts both of a woorthie generall and valiant souldier, had ouer heated himselfe, and thereupon without I regard of his health taking cold, died of a feauer the fourth day after. The duke of AUSTRIA mortally wounded in the battell, died also the night following.

About this time, or not long after, died Celestinus the pope, author of this expedition; and Henrie also the Germaine emperour: after whose death great troubles began to arise in GERMANIE about the chusing of a new emperour. Whereof the bishop of MOGUNSIA, then chiefe commander of the armie of the Christians in SIRIA, one of the electors, and the other Germaine princes with him hauing intelligence, could not by any persuasion or praiers of the poore Christians (in whose quarrell they were come) bee persuaded longer to stay, but that needs home they would,The Germaine princes returne home. & indeed home they went the same way that they came. After whose departure the Turks tooke IOPPE, hauing one of the ports betraied vnto them by one of the citie, at such time K as the Germains there in garrison, after the manner of their countrey, vpon S. Martins day were carelesly making merrie together in their pots: vpon whom, so surcharged with wine, the Turks entring by the port giuen vnto them, put them all with the rest of the Christians to the sword, and so afterward rased the citie downe to the ground. Of which victorie they became so proud, that they had thought without stop to haue driuen the Christians quite out of SIRIA: but by the comming of Simon countie of MONT-FORT (a most valiant and expert captaine sent thither by Philip the French king with a regiment of tall soldiers, at the instance of Innocentius Tertius that succeeded Celestinus in the papacie) and by ciuill discord then raigning among the Turks themselues for soueraigntie, their furie was repressed, and a peace betwixt them and the Christians concluded for the space of ten yeares▪ during which time the Turks promised not to L molest the Christians in TYRE or PTOLEMAIS: which hapned in the yeare 1199 (or as some others say 1198.1199) After which peace so concluded, the woorthie countie returned again with his souldiers into FRANCE: with whom we also will repaire into the lesser ASIA (whither the course both of the time and of the historie now calleth vs) to see the other greater affaires of the Turks in those Eastern countries; leauing for a season these poore remainders of so many Christians in TYRE and PTOLEMAIS, now for a while in peace, but to be ere long deuoured of the infidels their enemies, as in the processe of this Historie shall in due time and place appeare.

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A

The ruine of the Turks first Empire in Persia: with the successe of their second kingdome in the lesser Asia vnder the Aladin Kings.

B

AS no kingdome or Empire vpon earth (were it neuer so flourishing or great) was euer yet so assured,Kingdomes after the manner of other things haue but their time to flourish in, and so againe decay. but that in the reuolution of time, after the manner of other worldly things, it hath as a sicke bodie been subject vnto many strange innouations and changes, and at length come to nothing: so fared it now with the Turkish empire, which first planted by Tangrolipix in PERSIA and the other far Easterne countries, increased by Axan his sonne, and so by the Turkish Sultans their successors (although their names and doings, as too farre C off, be not vnto vs all knowne) for the space of one hundred and seuentie yeareas continued, must now (I say) giue place vnto a greater power, and settle it selfe elsewhere, the ineuitable destinie thereof so requiring. It fortuned that about this time (when in the space of a few yeares such mutations as had not before of long beene seene, chanced in diuers great monarchies and states) that the Tartars or rather Tattars, inhabiting the large, cold, and bare countries in the North side of ASIA (of all others a most barbarous, fierce, and needie nation) stirred vp by their owne wants, and the persuasion of one Zingis (or as some call him, Cangis) holden amongst them for a great prophet, and now by them made their leader, and honoured with the name of Vlu-Chan, that is to say, the Mightie king (commonly called the great Cham) flocking together in number like the sand of the sea; and conquering first their poore D neighbours of condition and qualitie like themselues, and easie enough to bee entreated with them to seeke their better fortune, like swarms of grashoppers sent out to deuour the world: passed the high mountaine CAUCASUS, part of the mountaine TAURUS of all the mountaines in the world the greatest, which beginning neere vnto the ARCHIPELAGO, and ending vpon the orientall OCEAN, and running through many great and famous kingdomes diuideth ASIA into two parts: ouer which great mountaine, one of the most assured bounders of nature, that had so many worlds of yeares shut vp this rough and sauage people, they now passing without number, and comming downe (as it were) into an other world, full of such natures pleasant delights as neuer were to them before seene, bare downe all before them as they went, nothing being now able to stand in their way. Old Zingis their fortunate leader E dead in this so great an expedition, Hoccata his sonne, eldest of his twelue brethren, a man of great wisedome and courage, tooke vpon him his fathers place: who sending part of his great armie for the subduing of the countries Westward, turned himselfe with a world of people towards the East: where hauing subdued the Bactrians and Sogdians, with diuers others he entred into INDIA, and subduing that rich countrey on both sides the riuer INDUS, euen to the East OCEAN, there in the countrey of CATHAI built the famous citie of CAMBALU, in circuit eight and twentie miles about; for pleasure and plentie of all things necessarie for the life of man, of all the cities of ASIA the chiefe: where the great Cham of TARTARIE still resiant as in his emperiall citie, commaundeth ouer one of the greatest and strongest empires of the world. In whose kingdome also, in the prouince of MANGY more towards the East, hee F hath another most famous citie called QUINSAY, of all the cities in the world the greatest, in circuit an hundred miles about, as M. Paulus Venetus writeth, who himselfe dwelt therein about the yeare 1260. It is situate in a lake of fresh water, and hath in it twelue thousand bridges: of which, some are of such an heigth that tall ships with their sailes vp may easily passe vnder them. In this populous citie the great Cham hath for the keeping thereof, alwaies thirtie thousand men in garrison. The Tartar kingdome thus planted in CAMBALU, Hoccata contenting [Page] himselfe with the rich pleasures of INDIA, afterward mannaged his wars by his lieutenants,G being for the most part his brethren, or other his nigh kinsmen; of whom hee sent out with his armies some Northward, some Westward, and some toward the South: by whom he subdued the Arachosians, Margians, and diuers other great nations, & entring into PERSIA, subdued the countrey,The Turks driuē out of Persia by the Tartars. with all PARTHIA, ASSYRIA, MESOPOTAMIA, & MEDIA. At this time in the citie BALCH or BELCH, in the countrey of CHORASAN in the farthest part of PERSIA, raigned ouer the Turks one Cursumes, of the Greekes called Corsantes; who finding himselfe far too weake to stand before the Tartarians, fled with all his people, leauing vnto them both the citie and the countrey, which he and the Turks his predecessours had euer since the time of Tangrolipix possessed: which citie the Tartars rased and tooke the countrey to themselues. In this generall H flight of the Turks, when as euery man was glad to make what shift he might for himselfe, Cursumes their Sultan died, the last of the kings of the Selzuccian family that raigned ouer the Turks in PERSIA: whose sonne Vgnan Chan taking vpon him the leading of such mulitudes of Turks as followed his father, ceized vpon the great citie of BABYLON, now called BAGADAT, neere vnto the ruines of the old BABYLON: where hauing put to the sword all the inhabitants thereof, he there, and in the countrey thereabout seated himselfe with the Turks his followers: but long he had not there rested, but that the Tartars hearing thereof, pursued him, tooke him prisoner, & expulsed thēce all his people. There was at the same time also another kingdom of the Turks at NACHAN a citie in PERSIA, giuing name vnto the countrey wherein it stood, not farre from CHORASAN: wherein then raigned one Solyman of the Oguzian family, as had I diuers other of his progenitors before him, who terrified with this dreadfull storme so suddenly risen out of the North, and warned by the sudden fall of the Selzuccian Sultan & his kingdome, of farre greater fame and power than himselfe or his, fled also with such his subjects as would follow him into the lesser ASIA. But of him and his proceedings more shall bee said hereafter in the rising of the victorious Othoman family, as lineally from him discended. After this the Tartars together with their good fortune still extending the bounds of their empire, conquered ARMENIA the greater, with the countries of CHOLCHIS and IBERIA: so that now their empire was become of all others the greatest and most flourishing. This great conquerour (the Tartar) had in his proud conceit purposed to haue subdued all ASIA, and to haue made the sea the onely bounder of his empire: but ouercome with the delicacies of INDIA, hauing diuided amongst K his people those great prouinces and fruitfull countries, with the rich cities and pleasant fields, he so rested, embracing the maners and superstition of the people he had ouercome. Long it were and farre from our purpose to recount all the famous victories and conquest of this bare Northren people; sufficeth it to the historie we haue in hand, that the Turks were by them then driuen out of PERSIA, with the countries thereabouts, and their Togran kingdome (as they call it) first founded by Tangrolipix, there extinguished, about the yeare of our Lord 1202. The Turkes thus driuen out of PERSIA and their kingdome ouerthrown, retired themselues into the lesser ASIA,1202 possessed by the Turkes their countreymen, long before brought thither by Cutlu-Muses and his sonnes (as is before declared) and by them euer since in some part,The beginning of the Aladinian kingdome in the lesser Asia, as Sebastia and Iconium. though with diuers fortune, holden. Where these Turkes now arriuing out of PERSIA vnder the leading L of Aladin, the sonne of Kei Husreu, discended also of the Selzuccian family in PERSIA, and taking the opportunitie offred them by the mortall discord of the Latines with the Greekes, and the Greeks among themselues, ceized vpon CILICIA with the countries thereabouts, and there first at SEBASTIA, and afterward at ICONIUM, erected their new kingdome; which of this Aladin is by the Turks called the kingdome of the Aladin kings, although their names were not all so.

Now about this time, and within the course of some few yeares after, such great and strange mutations happened in the Constantinopolitane empire, as had not therein at any time before beene seene: whereby the whole estate of that great empire which sometime commanded ouer a great part of the world, was almost vtterly subuerted, and a fit opportunitie giuen vnto the M Turks and infidels for the sure setling of themselues, and establishing of their kingdomes both in SYRIA and the lesser ASIA: which briefly to run thorow shall not be from our purpose; their affaires prospering by these troubles, and their proud and stately empire that now braueth all the rest of the world, being raised out of the ruines of that Christian empire▪ and at this present triumphing euen in the same imperiall citie wherein these so great innouations hapned through [Page] A the working of ambitious heads, to the lamentable ruine and destruction of a great part of the Christian commonweale.

Alexius the vsurper,Alexius the yong prince cra [...]eth aid of Philip the emperour and the Latine princes against his vncle the vsurper. but now emperour, not contented (as is before declared) traiterously to haue depriued Isaack his elder brother of his empire and sight together: sought also after the life of the young prince Alexius, his brothers sonne, and heire apparent of the empire: who seeing the villanie committed in the person of his father, saued himselfe by flight from the furie of his vncle, and so accompanied with certaine great lords of the Greekes, his fathers friends, fled to craue aid of the Christian princes of the West, whom the Grecians commonly call the Latins. And first he tooke his way to Philip the Germane emperour, who had married Irene his sister, B the emperour Isaack his daughter, by whom he was most honourably receiued and entertained. This great ladie, not a little mooued with the miserie of her father, and the flight of her brother, ceased not most instantly to solicite the emperour her husband, not to leaue vnreuenged so great a villanie, by the example thereof, dangerous vnto himselfe and others of like majestie and state. She declared vnto him, what an execrable indignitie it was, to see her father the emperor vnworthely imprisoned, depriued of his empire, and sight, and of the societie of men by his brother, that had by him receiued and recouered his life, his light, and his libertie: and to see the heire apparent of the empire banished by the wickednesse of his vncle, to wander vp and downe here and there like a beggar: a great part of which disgrace, as shee said, redounded vnto her selfe, the daughter of Isaack, and sister to the young wandering prince, and to himselfe also the sonne in law vnto the C vnfortunat emperour her father. Moreouer she said, that the murderer Alexius durst neuer haue been so hardie as to commit so great and detestable a villanie, if he had not lightly regarded and contemned the majestie of the said Philip; whom if he had had in any reuerence or honour, or at all feared, he durst not haue attempted so villanous an act. This Greeke ladie, mooued with just griefe, with these and such like complaints so preuailed with her husband, that he promised her to be in some part thereof reuenged, which he could not for the present performe, letted by the wars he then had with Otho his competitour of the empire. At the same time it fortuned, that great preparations were in making in FRAUNCE and ITALIE,Great preparation made by the Christians for an expedition into the Holy land. and diuers other places of Christendome, for an expedition to be made against the Turks into the Holy land. The chiefe men wherin, were Theobald countie of CHAMPAGNE (a man of great fame, and generall of the Christian D armie) Boniface marquesse of MONT-FERRAT, Baldwin earle of FLANDERS and HENAULT, and Henrie his brother earle of S. Paul, Henrie duke of LOVAINE, Gualter earle of BREAME, with diuers other noble gentlemen, which to name were tedious; vnto whom resorted also many valiant and deuout Christians out of diuers parts of Christendome, ready to haue spent their liues in that so religious a war: so that now the number of them was great, and the armie right populous. But being thus assembled together, they thought it not best to take their way to CONSTANTINOPLE, through HUNGARIE and THRACE, and so to passe ouer into BITHINIA; for that the Greeks had still in all former times shewed great vncourtesie vnto the Latins, in passing with their armies that way: and therfore they thought it much better now, by the way of ITALIE to take their journey by sea into the Holy land; and for their transportation, especially to vse the helpe of E the Venetians, whom they found much the easier to be intreated, for that by the means of so great an armie, they were in hope to scoure the Adriaticke (then much infested by the Dalmatians) as also to recouer IADERA, with some other cities vpon the coast of S [...]LAVONIA, before reuolted from their state to the Hungarians, as indeed they afterward did. But by the way as this armie was marching out of FRANCE, and come into PIEMONT, the noble countie of CHAMPAGNE, generall thereof, there fell sick and died, to the exceeding griefe & sorrow of the whole armie: in whose stead, the marquesse of MONT-FERRAT, a man of great nobilitie, and well acquainted with the wars of the East, was chosen generall. This great armie, transported by the Venetians into SCIAVONIA, took IADERA, with diuers other port townes along the sea coast, and hauing there done what the Venetians most desired, was about again to haue ben embarked for SYRIA, and so into F the holy land. But the yong prince Alexius in the meane time had by himselfe and the noble Grecians (fled with him for feare of the tyrant) so wrought the matter with the Latine princes of the West, especially with Innocentius tertius the Pope, with Philip the emperour his brother in law, and Philip the French king, that they pittying his estate, & induced also with some other considerations more proper vnto themselues, took him as it were into their protection, commending by letters & messengers for that purpose sent vnto the armie (which they might cōmand) the defence [Page] both of himselfe and his cause:Alexius cōmeth vnto the armie. who with the commendation of three so great princes, comming G to the armie yet lying at IADERA (expecting but a faire wind for to haue passed into SYRIA) was there of them all most honorably receiued, as the sonne of an emperour, and as became one vnto them so highly commended. And he himselfe also, as one that knew his good, was not in any thing wanting vnto himselfe, but recommended himselfe to their protection, as a poore exiled prince in distresse, yet of a good and liuely spirit, gracious in speech, beautifull to behold, and very yong; and withall, fully instructed by the noble Grecians that were with him, in all things that might serue to further his purpose. And forasmuch as this great armie was composed of diuers nations, especially of the French, Italians, and Venetians, not all to be by one meane moued, he fitted euery one of them with such motiues as hee thought might most preuaile with them:H Vnto the French he promised to pay the great summes of mony they had borrowed of the Venetians, for the furnishing of themselues in this war: Vnto the Venetians he promised to recompence thē for all the injuries they had sustained by the late Constantinopolitan emperors, especially by the emperor Emanuell (who for that they had refused to aid him in his wars against William king of SICILIE, did in one day confiscat all the goods of the Venetian marchants within his empire, of a wonderfull value: & afterwards contrarie to the law of nations, shamefully intreated their embassadors sent vnto him, amongst whom was Henry Dandulus, now by fortune generall for the Venetians in the armie: who moued as well with the wrong in particular done vnto himselfe, as with the common, desired to be reuenged both of the one and of the other; which although he could not haue of Emanuell himselfe, being long before dead, yet was he still desirous I to haue it of some one of the Greeke emperours, whosoeuer he were:) Vnto the Pope and the Italians, both he and the noblemen with him, had before promised, That the Greeke Church should for euer acknowledge the supremacie of the church of ROME, and from thencefoorth submit it selfe therunto, as vnto the soueraigne judge of all the churches of Christendome: which caused the Pope Innocentius by letters, by legates, by embassadours, and by all other meanes possible; to further the cause of the yong prince Alexius, so combined with his owne: alleadging the diuersitie of opinions in matters of religion, betwixt the Greekes and the Latines, to haue been the chiefe cause that the Mahometanes had not been long agoe by their vnited forces subdued, or vtterly rooted out. In briefe, the young prince spared not to promise most bountifull rewards in generall to all that should take his part against his vncle the vsurping emperour.K

By this meanes, the deuout warre, taken in hand for the reliefe of the poore Christians in SYRIA, was laid aside, and the same forces that should haue beene therein employed, now conuerted against the Greeke empire, to the great weakening of that side of the Christian commonweale, and aduantage of the common enemie; who might then easily haue beene oppressed, had he with the vnited forces of the Christians been on this side charged home, as he was on the farther by the Tartars. The Grecian warre thus resolued vpon, it seemed best vnto the great commanders of the armie, to march directly to CONSTANTINOPLE, as to the head of the Grecian state, and place where the tyrant whom they sought after, was resiant. In the mean time it was by them giuen out through all the Greeke cities which the emperour had strongly manned and fortefied for the staying of their passage, that their purpose was not to make warre against the L Grecians their friends, but onely to restore their lawfull emperour vnto his former state and honour: And that forasmuch as euery citie and towne in ancient GREECE had appointed rewards, and almost diuine honors vnto such as had deliuered them from tyrants, they should now more fauourably receiue and intreat them that came to restore vnto euery citie, and to euery man in generall, their former libertie and honour. And so vpon the resolution for CONSTANTINOPLE, embarking their armie, and passing through the Ionian sea into the Aegeum, and so without let through the straights of Helespontus into Propontis, and entring the straits of Bosphorus Thracius, which deuide EUROPE from ASIA, they came to an anker euen in the face of the citie.A great [...]leet of the Latine [...] before Constantinople. In this fleet were two hundred and fortie saile of tall ships, sixtie gallies, seuentie ships for burden, and one hundred and twentie saile of victualers: which all together made a most braue M shew, couering that strait in such sort, as that it seemed rather a wood than a part of the sea. Thus for a space they lay facing the citie, attending if happily vpon the comming and sight of so great a fleet, and the report of so puissant an armie as the yong prince Alexius had brought with him, any tumult or sedition might arise in the citie. But the warie tyrant had so well prouided therefore beforehand, that the citizens although they in heart fauoured the young prince, and wished [Page] A him well, yet durst they not once moue or stirre in his quarrell. Whilest the fleet thus lay, embassadours came from the isle of CRETE, in two great gallies, with three banks of oares, yeelding vnto the yong prince that goodly island, with all the townes and cities therein: which he foorthwith gaue vnto the marquesse of MONT-FERRAT, generall of the armie, thereby to encourage the other great commanders of the armie to do the vttermost of their deuoire, in hope of recompence and rewards answerable to their deserts and valour.

Before the arriuall of this fleet,The Latines by force enter the hauen of Constantinople. Alexius the emperour had with a great chaine made fast the entrance of the hauen betwixt CONSTANTINOPLE and PERA, and appointed twentie great gallies well manned for the keeping thereof: but a great gale of wind arising, the generall sent B out the greatest and strongest ship in the fleet (of her greatnesse and swiftnesse called the Eagle) which with all her sailes vp, carried with a full gale of wind, by maine force brake the chain, and made a way for the rest of the fleet to enter; which the Greekes in the gallies seeing, for feare fled, leauing the gallies for a spoile vnto the Venetians, by whom they were all taken, but not a man found in them. The hauen thus gained, Theodorus Lascaris the emperours sonne in law, was presently readie vpon the shore with a select companie of the brauest gallants of the citie and of the court,A hot skirmish betwixt the Greekes and the Latines at their landing. to haue hindered the Latines from landing; who running their ships a ground, landed with such cheerefulnesse and courage, and with such hast, that in one moment you might haue seene them leape out of their ships, take land, enter into the battell, and lay about them like mad men. This hote skirmish endured a great while, for that they were onely footmen that sustained C this brunt, for the horses could not so soone be landed, and the Greekes were brauely mounted. All this great fight the Constantinopolitanes beheld, with doubtfull hearts expecting what should bee the euent thereof. There were in the citie sixtie thousand of the flower of Greece, which brauely sallying out, made the battell much more doubtfull; yet such was the valour and resolution of the Latines, that in fine the Greekes discomfited, were glad to retire themselues againe into the citie, but with what losse, was not certainely knowne: easie it were to guesse, that it was right great, for that the old tyrant Alexius discouraged therewith, and doubtfull of his owne state, with Theodorus Lascaris his sonne in law, and some few others of his trustie friends (hard to be found in so dangerous a case) the next night following secretly fled out of the citie, carrying away with him a wonderfull masse of treasure (which hee against all such euents had D caused to bee secretly hidden by his daughter Irene, in a monasterie of Nuns within the citie, whereof she was the abbesse) and so saued himselfe.

The flight of the tyrant once bruted,Isaack the old emperour taken out of prison, and againe saluted emperour, together with young Alexius his son. the next morning the Constantinopolitanes taking the old emperour Isaack out of prison, saluted him againe for their emperour, rejoycing greatly for his deliuerance, and the safegard of his life: and after that opened the gates of the citie vnto the Latines, calling and saluting them by the names of the reuengers and sauiours of the libertie of the Greekes, as also of the life and majestie of their emperour; they requested them that they might see and salute Alexius their young prince, whom they had so long desired: and so was the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, by the submission of the citizens, for that time saued from saccage and spoile. The old emperour thus deliuered, and together with his sonne Alexius again E placed in the imperiall seat, gaue the most heartie thanks that possibly he could vnto the Latine princes, for that by their bountie, charitie, and valour, the Greeke empire had beene deliuered out of a long and miserable seruitude: and for his owne particular, that he had receiued of them so great good, that albeit his sight could not be restored to him againe, neuerthelesse, hee acknowledged his life, his libertie, his empire, his countrey, his sonne, to haue been vnto him by them restored, and he likewise to them: for which their so great deserts he could not (as hee said) render them condigne thankes, or deuise rewards or honours answerable to their demerits and valour: and that therefore he did ratefie and confirme whatsoeuer his sonne had before promised vnto them for his deliuerance: and not onely that, but farther promised, That if they were not therewith contented, hee would of his owne bountie giue them better contentment, not meaning F they should goe discontented, that had saued his life, and otherwise so highly pleasured him. Hereupon this good old emperour began to consult with his friends about the meanes whereby he might satisfie and content the Latines in such things as the young prince his sonne had vnto them promised. And to the intent that the citizens of CONSTANTINOPLE might the more willingly doe that he was to command them, and the more cheerefully pay such impositions as hee was to lay vpon them, hee intreated all the Latines to retire themselues out of the citie into [Page] their campe or about their ships, which they accordingly did. But the imposition being set G downe, and what euery man was to pay, seemed vnto the Greeks (as men of long accustomed to receiue tribute of others, and not to pay tribute to others) a matter most heauie and intollerable. In this verie instant that this exaction was required, died the old emperour Isaack, who hauing of long beene kept in a darke and stinking prison in continuall feare of death, and now deliuered and restored to his empire, could not endure so sudden and vnexpected a change, both of the aire and of his manner of liuing, but so suddenly died.

At this exaction imposed for the contentment of the Latines, the light Constantinopolitans grieuously murmured and exclaimed, saying, That it was a villanous thing to see the Greeke empire engaged and bound (by a yoong boy) vnto a couetous and proud nation, and so to bee H spoiled and bared of coyne: That the great and rich island of CRETE lying in the midst of the sea, was by him giuen as a gift vnto the Latines: That the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE and the Greeke church, had by him beene enforced and constrained to yeeld vnto the See of ROME, to receiue the opinions of the Latine church, to submit it selfe vnto the obeisance of old ROME, from whence it had once happily departed euer since the time that the empire was by Constantine the Great translated thence to them. Thus euerie one said for himselfe in particular: thus all men said in generall. And therof the noble men in their assemblies, and the vulgar people in their meetings, grieuously complained: whereupon a great sedition and tumult was raised in the citie. Some presently tooke vp armes, and the common people all enraged ran furiously disordered vnto the palace, with a purpose to haue committed some great outrage vpon I the person of the yong emperour Alexius: who in that so sudden an insurrection, as might well haue troubled a right constant man, without longer stay resolued vpon a most wholesome and necessarie point for the appeasing of the peoples furie; vnto whom (assembled in a woonderfull multitude) he shewed himselfe from aboue in his pallace, promising them to remaine in their power, and not from thencefoorth to do any thing without their aduice and liking, but wholy to depend vpon them: with which good words the people held themselues well content, and so was the tumult for that time appeased. But foorthwith the yoong emperour considering the injurie done vnto him, began to burne with the desire of reuenge and to change his purpose. Hee could not together satisfie the citizens and the Latines: for if he would keepe his promise with the Latines, he must of necessitie offend his owne people; neither was there any meanes to bee K found to satisfie both the one and the other. [...] seeketh [...] bring the Latines [...] citie. But thinking himselfe more bound to keepe his promise with the Latines, whose forces he knew not how to withstand, he sent secretly to request the marques of MONT-FERRAT, generall of the armie, to send him about midnight certaine companies of souldiers into the citie, assuring him to receiue them in by a gate neere vnto the pallace, which should be opened vnto them by certaine of his trustie seruants there left for that purpose. Of this plot Alexius Ducas (of his bittle browes surnamed Murzufle, whom of a base fellow the emperour Isaack had promoted vnto the greatest honours of the court) was not ignorant, who being a man of an aspiring mind, and in these troublesome times hauing long thirsted after the empire, tooke now this occasion to worke vpon.

The [...] in an vpro [...]e.The night following, he by his agents, men instructed for the purpose, raised a tumult in the L citie, not inferiour vnto that which had happened the day before: and at the same instant, as if he had had nothing to do in the matter, came suddenly vnto the yoong emperour in the dead time of the night (which he might at all times do, by reason of the great confidence the emperour had in him) and with a sad countenance told him, That the people were vp againe in an vprore, and especially they of his guard, and that they were comming towards him to do him some violence for the loue he bare vnto the Latines. With which vnexpected newes the yoong emperour terrified, demaunded of him as of his most faithfull counsellor, what were best in that case for him to doe? Who presently embracing him in his night gowne, lead him out by a secret dore into a tent hee had of his owne in the court, as if hee would there haue kept him safe: but far was that from his traiterous thoughts; who departing from him, as if he had gone to appease the tumult,M had before taken order, That he should presently after his departure, be cast in bonds, and so be clapt vp into a close stinking prison. Which done, the false traitor openly shewing himselfe, made an oration vnto the people, wherein he shewed himselfe to haue great compassion of the Greeke empire, & of the Greeks his countrymen themselues, especially in that they were gouerned by a youth vnfit for the gouernment, who suffered himselfe to be misse-led according to the [Page] A pleasure of the Latines. And that it was high time for the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, the seat of the Greeke empire, to looke about it, and to haue an eie vnto it selfe, sith it was betraied & sold by them which ought to preserue and keepe the same: that they had now need of a man that loued his countrey and countreymen, before that which yet remained of the Graecian name were vtterly extinguished by the Latines.

This his speech, fitted of purpose vnto the humour of the seditious, was receiued with the great outcrie and applause of the windie headed people. Some cried out that hee, and none but he, was to be made chiefe of the common weale that was by them to be established: othersome cried as loud to haue him made generall of the armies and forces of the state: but the greatest B crie was to haue him chosen and created emperour; whereunto the rest giuing place, hee was by the generall consent of the tumultuous people, without longer stay, chosen and proclaimed emperour.

Alexius the traitour,Murzu [...]e attempteth to burne the Venetian fleet. by no lawfull election or rightfull succession, but onely by the furie of the tumultuous people, thus created emperour; was of nothing more carefull than how to breake the forces of the Latines, of whom onely he now stood in dread. And therefore to begin withall, he first attempted by certaine gallies filled with pitch, flax, brimstone, and such like matter apt to take fire, to haue burnt the Venetian fleet: which gallies so set on fire & carried with a faire gale of wind amongst the fleet, had beene like enough to haue done great harme, had it not by the warinesse of the Venetians bene preuented: who being good sea men, & not vnacquainted C with such deuises, easily and without danger auoided the same, by keeping themselues aloofe one from another in the sea▪ This finenesse sorting to no purpose, he to colour the matter sent certaine messengers to the generall, and other commaunders of the armie, to giue them to vnderstand that that which was done for the firing of the fleet, had beene done without his priuitie, by the malice of the tumultuous people; and that for his part he would be glad of their fauour and friendship, assuring them likewise of his, and promising them to aid them both with men and money, and whatsoeuer else they should haue need of in their wars against the infidels. Whereunto an answer was giuen by Dandulus the Venetian generall, That he would beleeue it, when Alexis the sonne of the emperour Isaack, whom the Latines had placed in the empire, should assure them thereof, and intreat for the people, vpon whom the fault of that outrage was laid: D which answere the more mooued the traiterous tyrant, to rid himselfe cleane of the feare of the yoong prince, by taking him out of the way; to the intent to hinder the people of the hope and great desire they had to grow to some peace with the Latines, by taking him out of prison, and receiuing him againe for their emperour: For the people (by nature mutable, and not desirous of the good of themselues, but according to the occurrents present, without any great regard of that they haue alreadie done, or ought to haue done) began now to repent themselues of that they had done against the yoong emperor Alexis in the fauour of the tyrant, and commonly said, That they must find some meanes, whatsoeuer it were, to remedie their fault together with their troubles. Wherfore Murzufle fearing this sudden mutation of the people, with his owne hands most villanously strangled the yoong prince Alexis in prison, hauing as yet not E raigned much aboue six months, and immediately after caused it to be bruited abroad, That the said yoong prince dispairing of his estate, had as a man desperat hanged himselfe.

The tyrant in vaine hauing thus attempted the burning of the fleet,Murzufle encourageth his souldiers. and still fearing the reuenging sword of the Latines, resolued now by plaine force to meet them in the field, and there to dare them battell. So hauing made readie and armed the whole strength of the imperiall citie, he with cheerfull speech encouraged his souldiers, requesting them valiantly to maintaine and defend their countrey of Greece, the monuments of their fathers, the glorie of their ancestors, their honour present, and the future hope of their posteritie: that hauing before their eies the wals of their citie, within which they were borne, nourished, and brought vp in hope of great matters, they would haue pitie and compassion of their temples, their wiues, their children, F and in no case to suffer them to fall againe into so miserable and wretched a seruitude, but rather to die a thousand deaths. And the more to grace this his enterprise taken in hand for the defence of his countrey (as he would haue the world to beleeue it) with the colour of a superstitious de [...]otion also, hee caused the priests in their ecclesiastike attire and ornaments, to march foorth in the armie, with an ensigne, hauing in it displaied the picture of the Virgin Marie. So couragiously marching forward, hee first charged that quarter of the campe where Baldwin [Page] the countie of FLANDERS lay, where at the first was fought a right fierce and doubtfull battell.G But afterward the alarum running throughout all the campe of the Latines, and new supplies comming in on euery side, the Greekes were put to the worse, and enforced againe to retire into the citie, hauing lost a great number of men, together with their superstitious ensigne. It was a woonderfull thing to see, with what rare agreement the Latines, being of diuers nations, continued this expedition vndertaken against the Greekes. Seuentie two daies was the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE straightly besieged by the Latines both by sea and land, without giuing any time of rest or repose day or night vnto the besieged,Constantinople hardly besieged. fresh men comming still on to the assault, as the other fell off, and in such sort troubled the Greekes in the citie, that they knew not well what to doe or which way to turne themselues.Constantinople set on fire. The Venetians, vnto whom was committed H the charge to assault that side of the citie which was toward the hauen, vpon two great gallies made fast together, built a strong tower of wood, higher than the wals and rampiers of the town, out of which they both with shot and fire-workes much troubled the defendants, wherewith they in the time of the assault approching the wall, by their fine deuises fired that side of the citie: by the rage whereof, a great number of houses were burnt, with many other stately buildings and antient monuments of that famous citie: and had at that present gained a great tower neere vnto the port, destitute of defendors, had not the tyrant himselfe in good time come with new supplies to the rescue thereof. In like manner, the French, with the rest, assailed the other side of the citie by land, where they were to fight not against the defendants onely, but against deepe ditches, high and strong wals, and bulwarkes also: neuerthelesse, such was the valour and furie of I the Latines, with the desire of victorie, as that they were not with any difficulties to be dismaied; but pressing still on, by a thousand dangers, at length after a most sharpe assault they gained one of the greatest bastillions on that side of the citie, called the Angels tower, and so by plaine force opened a way both for themselues and the rest into the citie. Whereof Alexius vnderstanding, and strucke with present despaire both of his state and life, the night now comming on, fled with Euphrosina the emperour Alexius his wife, and Eudocia her daughter, whome hee had married when he had raigned about a moneth and 16 daies.

The tyrant, author of all this mischiefe and of the calamities ensuing, thus fled, and the Latines furiously entring; the priests and religious men in their surplices, and other ecclesiastique ornaments, with their crosses and banners (as in solemne procession) met the Latines, and falling K downe at the souldiors feet, with flouds of teares abundantly running downe their heauie countenances, besought them, but especially the captaines and commanders, to remember the condition of worldly things, and contenting themselues with the victorie, the glorie, the honour, the empire, the immortalitie of their name, to abstaine from slaughter, from burning, from spoiling and ransacking of so beautifull a citie: And that seeing they were themselues men, they would also haue pitie of men: and being themselues captaines and souldiours, they should also haue compassion vpon captaines and souldiours; who although they were not so valiant and fortunate as they were, yet neuerthelesse were both captaines and souldiors: And that they would keepe and preserue their citie, whereof (if they ruinated it not) they might haue much more pleasure and commoditie, than if they should destroy the same, which as it had been the principall seat of the L Greeke empire, so might it now bee of the Latines: That seeing they had thereof had a carefull regard, as then belonging to another man, they ought now vpon better reason to haue more care thereof, being their owne: That the authors of all these troubles and mischiefes, Alexius the elder, and Murzufle, had alreadie receiued a reward answerable to their follies, in that they were driuen into exile: That they would haue pitie and compassion of an innocent and vnfortunat multitude of poore people, oppressed and grieuously tormented with the often tyrannies of their murderous lords and gouernours: That in so doing, God the Lord of hoasts, the giuer and guider of battels, the God of mercie, would therefore reward them: To conclude, they humbly besought them to pardon their citizens, to put on the hearts of gracious and mercifull lords and fathers, not of enemies and rough masters, of forgiuers, not of reuengers: and to vnderstand by M their teares, their miserable estate and woes passed. With this so humble a submission and complaint of the religious, some of the better sort were happely mooued: but with the common soldiors, breathing nothing but victorie, with their weapons in their hands, and the spoile of an empire in their power, what auailed prayers or teares? euery man fell to the spoile, and in so great choice and libertie of all things, fitted his owne disordered appetite, without respect of the wrong [Page] A or injurie done to others: onely from the effusion of innocent bloud they abstained; they whose liues they sought after, being alreadie fled, together with the tyrant. Other injuries and outrages (so great, as that greater could none be) were in euery place so rife, that euery street, euery lane, euery corner of the citie was filled with mourning and heauinesse. There might a man haue seene noblemen earst of great honor, and reuerend for their hoarie haires, with other citizens of great wealth, thrust out of all they had, walking vp and downe the citie weeping and wringing their hands, as men forlorne, not knowing where to shroud their heads. Neither staied the greedie rage of the insolent souldiors within the wals of mens priuat houses, but brake out into the stately pallaces, temples, and churches of the Greekes also, where all was good prize, and nothing dedicated to the seruice of God, left vnpolluted and defaced, no place vnsought, no corner vnrifled: B right lamentable and almost incredible it were to report all the miseries of that time.Nicetas Choniates, annal [...] um. fol. 180. Some of the Greeke Historiographers, men of great marke and place, and themselues eye witnesses and partakers of those euils, haue by their writings complained to all posteritie, of the insolencie of the Latines at the winning of the citie, to their eternall dishonour: but that disordered souldiours in all ages in the libertie of their insolent victorie, haue done such outrages, as honest minds abhorre to thinke vpon. Thus Constantinople, the most famous citie of the East, the seat and glorie of the Greeke empire, by the miserable ambition and dissention of the Greekes for soueraigntie fell into the hands of the Latines the twelfth of Aprill,1204 in the yeare 1204, or after the account of others, 1200.

CONSTANTINOPLE thus taken, and the tyrants put to flight, the princes and great commanders C of the armie held a counsell, to consider what were best to be done concerning the citie and the new gained empire: for after so great a victorie, they thought it not good to rase so auncient and important a citie, seated as it were a watch tower vpon the theatre of the world, ouerlooking both ASIA and EUROPE from the one to the other, as an eye of the vniuersall; and so commodiously planted, as was no other citie of the world, for the keeping vnder of the enemies of the Christian Religion: but that it were much better to place there a Latine gouernour, to establish there the Latine lawes and customes, and to vnite the Greeke church as a member vnto the church of ROME. In which consultation, some were of opinion, not to haue any moe emperours in Christendome but one, and therefore to make choice of Philip the Germane emperour, author of this warre, whose wife Irene was the onely daughter and heire of the late emperour D Isaack Angelus, vnto whom by all right the inheritance of her fathers empire belonged. But the greater part, considering that the troubled affaires of GREECE, in so great a change and newnesse of the empire, had need of the personall presence of a prince, thought it better to make choice of one among themselues, who there still resiant in that place, might at all times giue aid vnto the Latines in their sacred warres, taken in hand against the infidels: which opinion as the better, was approoued of them all. The cheefe men in this election of the new emperour, were Baldwin countie of FLAUNDERS and HAINAULT, Henry his brother, Lewis countie of BLOYS, Symon de Montfort, Iohn de Dammartin, Gualter de Brienne, Hugh countie of S. Paul, Iohn countie of BRENNE, Boniface marques of MONT-FERRAT, Stephen countie of PERCH, and fiue gentlemen of VENICE: vnto whom also were joyned two Bishops of SYRIA, the one of E BETHLEM, the other of PTOLEMAIS, who had oftentimes come to the campe of the Latines to stirre them vp for the taking in hand of the sacred warre in SYRIA; with two bishops of FRANCE also, namely of SOISSON and TROY in CHAMPAGNE, & the abbot of LEMELY. These great lords and prelats assembled into the church of the holy Apostles, after they had there with great deuotion craued of God to enspire them with his spirit, for the choice of a good and just prince fit for so great a charge; with one consent made choice of Baldwin countie of FLAUNDERS and HAINAULT for emperour of GREECE: a braue and valiant prince about two and thirtie yeeres old, who was afterward the sixteenth day of May in the yeare 1204 (or after the computation of others in the yeere 1205) in the great temple of S. Sophia solemnely F crowned by Thomas Maur [...]cenus a Venetian, first Patriarch of the Latines in CONSTANTINOPLE. From which time the Greeke church in CONSTANTINOPLE began to receiue the rites and ceremonies of the Latines, and to acknowledge the supremacie of the church of ROME.

It was not long after that CONSTANTINOPLE was thus taken by the Latines,The Greeke empire diuided amongst the Latines. but that they diuiding their forces without any resistance, tooke in the most part of the great countries [Page] and prouinces on EUROPE side, belonging to the Greeke empire in the time of Isaack Angelus G the late emperour: the fortune of the whole empire, as it were following the fortune of the imperiall citie. Which large countries so gained from the Greeks, the Latines diuided amongst themselues, as good prize taken from their enemies: Vnto Baldwin the emperour and his successors in the empire, was assigned the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, and the countrey of THRACIA, with a limited soueraigntie ouer all the rest of the prouinces by the Latines alreadie or afterwards to be gained: Vnto the Venetians in this diuision of the empire, was allotted for their share all the rich islands of the AEGEUM, and IONIAN, with the famous island of CANDIE also; which although it were before by the yoong emperour Alexis in the beginning of these warres, giuen vnto the marques of MONT-FERRAT, yet in this diuision of the empire,H it was taken from him (not without his good liking) and giuen to the Venetians, as for them more fit: In steed and lieu whereof, the marques had the citie of THESSALONICA with all the kingdome of THESSALIE, and a great part of PELOPONESUS assigned vnto him, with the royall title of a king. Of the aforesaid islands (in number many and exceeding rich) the Venetians in the name of the state fortified some few of the greatest with conuenient garrisons, the rest they left to be possessed and defended by the better sort of the citizens at their priuat cost and charges; who according to their abilitie, tooke into their possession, some one island, some another, and some two or three, one, as they were able to set out their gallies one, two, or mo, for the keeping of the same: ouer all which, the seigniorie neuerthelesse had a generall care, still keeping a fleet with one of their admirals at sea; by whom they not onely repressed the Genua pirats then busie I in those seas, but also tooke in certain strong townes in the maine vpon the cost of PELOPONESUS, namely MODON and CORONE; all which they of long time after held as a part of their seigniorie. Some other particular places, yet parts also of the empire, were giuen vnto particular men; as the dukedome of ATHENS vnto one Geffrey of TROY in CHAMPAIGNE a Frenchman, a valiant captaine, whom they also made prince of ACHAIA: Another dukedome was also giuen to the countie of BLOYS; as were diuers other countries and townes also vnto other more priuat men: who neuerthelesse were bound to hold the same of the emperour, as of their lord, and to pay him yearely a fourth part of the reuenue arising thereof towards the maintenance of his state. Yea the Greekes themselues in this shipwracke of their state and empire, although they disdained nothing more than the strange gouernment of the Latines, yet could K they not be persuaded to joyne together in so common a calamitie, but after their woonted maner sought euerie man how to share out something for himselfe, without regard of the common good: one seized vpon one strong towne or citie, and so likewise another; which for all that they held not long, driuen thence for the most part by a greater power, either of the Latines, or of their owne countreymen.

The man whom the discontented Greeks most looked after, was Theodorus Lascaris, the emperour Alexius Angelus his sonne in law: who at the taking of the citie fled to ADRIANOPLE, and afterward into BYTHINIA, where he was of the people, not of that countrey onely, but of others also farther off, joyfully receiued and honoured as their emperour. So taking into his hands the countries of BYTHINIA, PHRIGIA, MISIA, IONIA, and LYDIA, euen from L the windings of the famous riuer MaeANDER Southward, vnto the EUXINE sea Northward; he with the generall good liking of the people, tooke vpon him the state of an emperour, and so in the renowmed citie of NICE made the seat of his empire.The beginning of the empire of [...] by the Comneni. At the same time also Dauid, and Alexius Comneni, the nephews of the tyrant Andronicus (sometime emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE) by his sonne Manuel, possessing the more Eastern countries of PONTVS, GALATIA, and CAPADOCIA, erected vnto themselues another empire in TRAPEZOND, where their posteritie of the honourable house of the Comneni raigned in great glorie many yeares after▪ vntill their empire, together with the empire of CONSTANTINOPLE, was by the great emperour of the Turks, Mahomet the second, subuerted and brought to naught, as shall bee afterward in due time and place declared. Thus the Greeke empire exposed (as it were) to the M generall spoile, was no longer one, but many empires: Baldwin raigning in CONSTANTINOPLE, the marques of MONT-FERRAT in THESSALIE, Theodorus Lascaris at NICE, Alexius Comn [...]nus in TRAPEZOND, & the Venetians in the islands; all in royall dignitie. Besides whom were many other [...]eller princes, which had here and there according to their abilitie seized vpon some one or other part of the empire, and there erected their Topar [...]hies, raigning therein as [Page] A pettie kings: as did Aldebrandinus in ATTALIA, Michael Angelus in EPIRVS, with diuers others too long to rehearse.

Baldwin (as is aforesaid) created emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE,Hadrianople besieged by the Emperour Baldwin. by the helpe of the Venetian Admirall Dandulus, and other great commanders of the armie, in short time brought vnder his obeisance all the cities of THRACIA, excepting the citie of ADRIANOPLE, whereunto the better sort of the discontented Greekes, together with Theodorus Lascaris (disdaining the gouernment of the Latines) were fled, as vnto a most safe sanctuarie; which Baldwin knowing, and withall desiring whilest yet he had his friends about him, to set his new empire in some good stay, without farther delay came and laid hard siege to the same. Now the Greeks B generally euill entreated by the Latines, & grieued to be gouerned by them, were some of them fled into other their neighbours princes countries, but especially into BVLGARIA, otherwise called MISIA, a large kingdome, lying betwixt the great mountaine AEMVS and DANVEIVS: by whose persuasion, Iohn king of that countrey, aided by the Scythians (a fierce Northren people, but lately come into those quarters) and by the fugitiue Greekes themselues, tooke vpon him to relieue the besieged citie: and so with a great armie approching the same, sent before certaine troupes of the Scythian archers on horsebacke, to fetch in such booties of horses or cattle as they should find neere vnto the emperours campe: and withall commaunded them that being charged by the imperials, they should foorthwith retire, so to draw them out of their trenches, into the place where the king with the greatest part of his armie lay couertly to entrap C them. Which the Scythians (well acquainted with such seruice) so well performed vnder the leading of one Cozas their generall, that hauing once or twice drawn their enemies vnto some light skirmishes, and so retyring, and ere long againe with a greater number returning, they at length cunningly drew the emperour with all his armie, in hope to doe some great matter vpon them, euen as they wished into the place whereas the king with his armie lay in wait among the woods and mountaines for them; where they wearied and out of breath in the former pursuit, and now on euery side beset with fresh enemies, were ouerthrowne with a great slaughter. In which conflict, to increase the losse, Baldwin the emperour himselfe was taken and sent prisoner in bonds to TERNOVA: where afterwards by the commandement of the Barbarous king he was most cruelly put to death, hauing his hands and feet cut off, and so dismembred was cast D out into a deepe valley, where he yet lay miserably breathing three daies after, and so died; leauing his bodie as fortunes scorne for a prey vnto the wild beasts and birds of the aire, no man vouchsafing to burie it. Thus perished this woorthie prince, for his vertues commended euen of the Greeks themselues, being about the age of three and thirtie yeeres, and not hauing raigned yet a full yeare, in the yeare of our Lord 1206.

The victorie thus gained,1206 & the citie relieued, the barbarous king with his sauage souldiors hauing tasted the wealth of the Latins, ouerthrowne in the late battell, and the pleasures of THRACIA, now subject to their lust; greedily pursued their good fortune, without respect of all humanitie: the open countrey they ouerran, spoiling whatsoeuer came to hand, the rich and famous cities they rifled, and afterward rased them downe to the ground, namely SERRae, PHILIPPOPOLIS, E APRI, RHEDESTUM, PERINTHUS, DAONIUM, ARCADIOPOLIS, MESENA, ZURULUS, and ATHYRA: the citizens and countrey people fled into the cities for refuge, they put all to the sword, without respect of age, sex, or condition, except some few whom they carried away with them prisoners, so that of all the prouinces of that rent and ruinated empire, the countrey of THRACE, was most miserable; as first spoiled by the Latines, and now laid desolat by the Bulgarians and Scythians. Onely some few of the strongest cities, as DIDYMOTICHUM and ADRIANOPLE, valiantly defended by the Greekes and Latines, escaped this furie of the Barbarians, all the rest that fell into their hands being laid wast and desolat.

In this so troubled a State of the new erected Empire of the Latines in CONSTANTINOPLE,Henry second emperour of the Latines in Constantinople [...] the Latines made choise of Henrie the late Emperour Baldwins brother, as of all others F the fittest to succeed him in the empire; who aided by the marquesse, now king of THESSALIE, and the other Latine princes, notably repulsed the Barbarians, and left them not vntill that at length he had recouered from them all such townes and cities as they had before taken, and driuen them quite out of the countrey, and so well established himselfe in his new empire.

But to leaue this dismembred empire, now in the hands of many, and to come neerer vnto our purpose: Alexius Angelus the vsurper, driuen out of the imperiall citie by the Latins, to saue [Page] himselfe, fled into THESSALIE, and from thence vnto Leo Scurus (then a man of great fame among G the Greekes) who tyrannising at NAUPLUS, as had his father before him, was in these troublesome times growne greater by surprising of the two famous cities of ARGOS and CORINTH: by whose meanes he cunningly entrapped Alexius Ducas, surnamed Murzufle the traitor, and for a secret grudge not commonly knowne, put out his eyes: himselfe an exiled man being a most heauie enemie vnto the other also exiled; and himselfe thrust out of the empire, a deadly foe vnto the other, oppressed with the like calamitie. Shortly after which losse of his sight, he was by chaunce taken by the Latines, and so brought backe to CONSTANTINOPLE, where he was for murdering the young emperour Alexius, worthily condemned vnto a strange and horrible kind of death: for, cast off from an high tower, and tumbling heeles ouer head downeward,H he was with the waight of himselfe, and violence of the fall, crushed all to pieces, and so miserably died: a death too good for such a traitour. Not long after it fortuned also, that Alexius himselfe wandering vp and downe in THRACIA, was by the marquesse of MONT-FERRAT going against SCVRVS, taken and stript of his great treasure, and whatsoeuer else hee had; and so sent away naked, long time after in beggers estate wandered about in ACHAIA and PELOPONESVS, now farre vnlike that Alexius which sometime proudly raigned in CONSTANTINOPLE: but such is the assurance of euill gotten honour. He hearing that Theodorus Lascaris, his sonne in law, raigned in ASIA, and there held the state of an emperour, rejoyced not thereat as a kind father in law, but inwardly greeued thereat as an enemie, sorrie that any other but himselfe should be honoured with the title of the Greeke emperour: in which malicious humour he I sayling out of GREECE into ASIA ouer the Aegeum, came secretly vnto the Turkes Sultan Iathatines his old acquaintance, then lying at ATTALIA, (which famous citie he had not long before taken from the Christians) vnto whom he declared his heauie estate, and how his empire had been rent from him, as well by the Greekes as the Latines; requesting, that by his meanes he might be restored againe into some part thereof, especially that in the lesser ASIA, which was by Theodorus Lascaris, together with the honour of the Greeke emperour, vnjustly (as he said) detained from him. This Iathatines, now Sultan of ICONIVM, was the younger sonne of Sultan Aladin; who not long suruiuing his father Cai-Chosroe, left his kingdome vnto his two sonnes, Azadin and Iassadin, of the Greekes called Azatines and Iathatines: where long it was not, but that these two brethren falling out for the soueraignetie (which admitteth no equalitie) Iathatines K was by Azatines his elder brother driuen into exile, and for the safegard of his life glad to flie vnto this Alexius, then raigning at CONSTANTINOPLE, by whom he was honourably entertained, and as some write, conuerted and baptised. But Azatines the Sultan shortly after dying, this Iathatines returning home againe, and renouncing the Christian religion, was by the Turks receiued for their Sultan: of whom the emperour Alexius in like extremitie now craueth aid. The Sultan not forgetfull of his owne troubles before passed, or of the kindnesse hee had receiued, and mooued with the pittifull complaint of his old friend, together with his large offers, beside that he was in hope to share out some good part of whatsoeuer he got for himselfe; tooke him into his protection, and foorthwith sent embassadours to Lascaris, threatening vnto him all extremities, except he did foorthwith giue place vnto Alexius his father in law, vnto whom as L vnto the Greeke emperour, those countries which were by him possessed, of right (as he said) appertained. With which vnexpected message, Theodorus was not a little troubled, as fearing both the Sultans power, and the inclination of the people to their old emperour. Neuerthelesse, hauing propounded the matter in counsell, and finding the minds of his subiects well affected towards him, and a readinesse in them in his quarrell to aduenture their liues; he encouraged therewith, accompanied onely with two thousand choise horsemen, together with the Sultans embassadour, without farther stay set forward to PHILADELPHIA: the Sultan at the same time with Alexius (whom he carried with him as a bait to deceiue the people withall) and twentie thousand Turkes,Antioch besieged by Iathatines. besieging the citie of ANTIOCH, situate vpon the winding banks of the riuer MEANDER. Which the emperour Theodorus well vnderstanding, and that the Sultan by gaining M that strong citie (standing vpon the passage of the great riuer, the bounder of his empire) should open a faire way for himselfe into the heart of ROMANIA ASIATICA, to the great hazard of his whole empire, resolued with those few he had, to doe what hee might to relieue his citie. And so setting forward vpon the spurre, carrying nothing with him more than a little victuall: and now come neere vnto the citie, sent before the Sultans embassador, following him [Page] A at the heeles. Who comming vnto the Sultan, and telling him of the emperours approch with so small a power, could hardly persuade him that it was so, although hee bound it with many oathes: yet at length persuaded of the truth of the matter, and that indeed it was so, hee in all hast put his armie in the best order he could vpon such a suddain, but not to his best aduauntage, being hindred so to do, by the straitnesse of the place wherein he lay. Of the two thousand select horsemen in the emperours armie, were eight hundred Italians, all most resolute men, who giuing the first charge, brake through the midst of the Sultans armie, disordering his whole battell as they went; after whom followed also the Greeks, though not with like courage: but those Italian horsemen now deuided from the rest, & in number but few, in comming back again, were by B the disordered Turks, some on horseback, some on foot, so beset on euery side, as that there was no way left for them to passe, but there valiantly fighting were altogether slaine, hauing both before and at the time of their death, made such a slaughter of the Turks, as is hardly to be beleeued to haue been possible for so few men to haue made. The Greekes also hardly laied to by the Turkes, and discouraged by the slaughter of the Latines, were euen vpon the point to haue fled: when as the Sultan, now almost in possession of a certaine victorie, descrying the Greeke emperour,Iathatines the Sultan slaine by Theodorus Lascaris the Greeke emperour. and trusting to his owne great strength, singled him out, being as readie as himselfe to meet him; when as at the first incounter, the Sultan with his horsemans mase gaue him such a bl [...]w vpon the head, as might haue killed a bull, so that the emperour therewith astonied, fell downe from his horse: who yet euen in the fall comming something againe vnto himselfe, and C although dismounted, yet quickly recouering his feet, with his faulchion hoxed the hinder legs of the mare whereon the Sultan rid, being a most beautifull beast and of a woonderfull height; which now suddainely faultring vnder him, and so the Sultan tumbling downe as from an high tower, before he could recouer himselfe, had his head cut off by the emperour: which by and by put vpon a launce, and so holden vp, with the sight thereof so dismaied the Turks, that strucken with a suddaine feare, they presently fled, leauing the victorie vnto the emperour, before more than halfe ouercome: who for all that considering his small number, durst no farther pursue them, but entering the citie, gaue thankes to God for so great a victorie. Vnto whom the Turks shortly after sent their embassadours, and so vpon such reasonable conditions as it pleased him to set downe, concluded with him a peace. Alexius himselfe, author of these troubles, taken in D this battell and carried to NICE, was by the emperour his son in law, notwithstanding his euill deserts, well intreated and vsed.

Whilest the Latins thus spend those forces in subuerting of the Greeke empire, which should haue been imployed for the releefe of the Christians in SYRIA; and that the Greeke emperour Liscaris was thus troubled with the Turks; the affaires of the Christians in SYRIA and the Holy land, grew still worse and worse. Whereof the knights Hospitalers and Templars (the cheefe champions of the Christian religion in those countries) greatly blamed Americus the king of CYPRUS, for that he being so neere at hand, and hauing married Isabella, the heire of that kingdome, and so in her right taken vpon him the title of the king of HIERUSALEM, gaue himselfe wholly to pleasure, doing nothing for the defence or reliefe of the poore distressed Christians, or E repressing of the Turkes: who although they were yet in league with the Christians there, and at some discord also among themselues, yet spared not, as occasion serued, still more and more to encroach vpon them, and by building of new castles & fortresses, to cut them short. Of all which things, the aforesaid knights by their embassadours certefied Innocentius the Pope, requesting his fatherly care for the remedie therof; certefying him withall, That there was yet liuing one Mary, the daughter of the marquesse of MONT-FERRAT, a ladie of rare beautie, whom they as her tutors, had brought vp in hope of the kingdome; and now were readie to bestow her vpon some such man as he should thinke worthie of her, together with the right she had vnto the kingdome. Hereupon Innocentius discharging Almericus of the title of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM, gaue it to Iohn countie de Brenne of DAULPHINIE in FRANCE, a man of great fame and valour, F then in armes with the other Latin princes against the Greeks.Iohn Brenne by Innocentius the Pope appointed king of Hierusalem. Who now returning home, commended his earledome to his brother, and with such power as he was able to make, setting forward, came first to VENICE, where he was royally entertained: and from thence sayling to CONSTANTINOPLE, was with like honour receiued by the emperour Henry, and so at length the fift of September arriued at PTOLEMAIS in SYRIA, where he was with the great rejoycing and applause of the people receiued as their king. And the last of the same moneth marrying [Page] the aforesaid ladie Marie at TYRE, was there together with her with great solemnitie crowned G king in the yeare 1209:1209 which Almericus the old king of CYPRUS hearing, shortly after died for griefe. Neither wanted this noble gentleman, thus honoured with the title of a kingdome, some that enuied at his promotion, and therfore commonly called him in dirision, a king, but still with this addition, Sans Ville, that is to say, without a towne.

Now was the ten yeares peace before taken betwixt the Turkes and the Christians in SYRIA, at the comming ouer of Simon marquesse of MONT-FERRAT (as is before declared) almost expired: which had not so much giuen to those poore remnants of the Christians some time of rest and breathing, as had the discord of the Turkes among themselues; which hauing by the space of nine yeares continued betwixt Noradin and Saphadin for the soueraignetie, was H now by the death of Saphadin ended. Noradin contenting himselfe with the gouernment of ALEPPO:Corradin and Meledin deuide their fathers kingdome betwixt them. and Corradin and Meledin, the two sonnes of Saphadin, deuiding their fathers kingdome betwixt them, the one taking vnto himselfe DAMASCO and SYRIA, and the other the great kingdome of AEGIPT, but all enemies vnto the Christians.

About this time also, or not long after, Innocentius tertius, yet Pope, summoned a generall counsell to LATERAN, whereunto besides a multitude of great bishops and other reuerend prelates, repaired also the honourable embassadours of most of the princes of Christendome: vnto whom so assembled, among other things was propounded the dangerous estate of the Christians in SYRIA, and how the same was by the helpe of the Christian princes of the West to bee relieued. Whereunto all the fathers and princes there assembled, easily gaue their consent: and I thereupon were some appointed in euery countrey and prouince to publish this decree of the Counsell, for the reliefe of the oppressed Christians, and to stirre vp the deuout people for the vndertaking of so religious a warre. The chiefe furtherers of this sacred expedition (to be thus taken in hand against the infidels) were the bishops of GERMANIE, especially the three great bishops of METS, CULLEN, and TRIVERS, whose example mooued also many others, all which to rehearse were tedious. Out of FRANCE also were sent Henry the countie of NIVERS, and one Gualter, the kings great chamberlaine, with a great number of the gallant youths of FRANCE, and so out of diuers other places also: So that at length such a number of men were met together at diuers ports of the Adriaticke, as made vp a fleet of two hundred saile: which with a prosperous wind carried ouer into SYRIA, arriued in safetie at PTOLEMAIS, the chiefe citie of K the Christians, now that HIERUSALEM was lost. After whom followed also Andrew, king of HUNGARIE, long before bound both by his fathers commandement and his owne promise, for the vndertaking of that sacred expedition: with whom came also Lewis duke of BAVARIA, and Leopold duke of AUSTRIA, with their forces all well appointed: vnto whom also, Iohn king of HIERUSALEM joined himselfe with his power. Great hope and expectation there was of some great matter to haue ben done, now that so great forces of the Christians were thus met together. Who setting forward from PTOLEMAIS, & the first day marching into GALILEE, by the way met with certaine companies of the Turks, whom they easily ouerthrew & put to flight. The next day they came to the riuer of IORDAN, where they also distressed certaine of the Turks garisons. There the king of HUNGARIE bathing himselfe in the riuer, forthwith (as one discharged L of his vow & promise) returned with all his power vnto PTOLEMAIS, & so from thence back again into his coūtry, all the rest of the army of the Christians crying out vnto him to the cōtrary: who after the kings departure still marching on, came to the mount THABOR. But shortly after, winter now comming on, and many of their cattell dying for cold and want of meat, they returned some to PTOLEMAIS, some to TYRE, and there wintred. King Iohn and the duke of AUSTRIA in the meane time tooke a castle betwixt CESAREA and CAIPHA, called The castle of Pilgrims, from whence they much troubled the Barbarians thereabouts, all that winter. Vpon the appearance of the Spring, and the armie againe met together, it was thought best by all the great commaunders (that for so much as the kingdome of AEGYPT was the chiefe maintenance of the Mahometan superstition against the Christians in those parts; and that so M long as it stood vpright, they should not be able to do any great matter in SYRIA) to attempt the conquest thereof, as an exploit best beseeming their valour, and so great preparations: for that that kingdome being once subdued, the citie of HIERUSALEM with all the land of PALESTINE, would of themselues without more adoe yeeld vnto them. And for as much as the famous citie of DAMIATA, called in antient time PELVSIVM, not much inferiour to ALEXANDRIA, [Page] A was the first and most commodious port for their purpose, as neerest vnto SYRIA; and that by the taking therof, they should haue a faire entrance into the great riuer NILVS, with the command of a most rich and pleasant countrey about it: they resolued there to begin the warre: and thereupon embarking themselues with all things necessarie for so great an enterprise at PTOLEMAIS, and carried with a faire wind, they in short time arriued at the desired port.The situation of Damiata in Aegypt. Now that rich and antient citie, the key of that side of the kingdome, stood about a mile from the sea, & somewhat distant also from the great riuer, enuironed with a nauigable ditch or cut, drawn out of the Nile, in manner of an island as a man commeth from SYRIA by land; and compassed about with three strong stone wals, the worke of the good emperour Aelius B Pertinax, and of him as some affirme called also AELIOPOLIS. At the mouth of this cut, as you should enter vnto the citie, stood a strong watch-towre for the defence thereof, and round about it a number of faire houses in manner of a prettie towne entrenched. Beside that, for the more safetie thereof, the same cut was barred with a great strong yron chaine, in such sort as that it was not possible for any ship, without breaking of the same, to enter. The Christians with their fleet entring the mouth of the riuer, and comming to this cut, by great strength brake the chaine▪ but thinking so to haue made their passage vnto the citie, they found a greater stay at the watch-tower, which strongly built of square stone, and well stored with warlike engines of all sorts, and a good garrison of valiant souldiers, staied their further passage, ouerwhelming them as they approched, with shot, fire, stones, timber, and such like, before prouided for that purpose.

C The Christians (after the manner of the fight of that time) had vpon certaine flat vessels built certaine high towers of wood for the assailing of the watch-tower: in the approching whereof, they were not only troubled with the enemie, but with the tumult and stur of their owne people also; some crying that they should yet draw neerer vnto the tower; othersome crying out as fast, to haue the bridges cast out, thereby to enter: and the enemie likewise with much clamour encouraging one another for the repulsing of the Christians. So the souldiers hindred the mariners to do their businesse, and the mariners the souldiers. In the midst of this hurly burly and tumult, one of the woodden towers surmounting the rest in heigth, ouercharged with the presse of men, fell, and in falling made such a noise, as if heauen it selfe had fallen, where in a moment (as it were) was presently to be seene a most heauie spectacle: many ouerwhelmed with the falling D of the tower lay there crushed to death; some grieuously hurt, and yet not dead, lay oppressed with the timber, crying out for helpe; others bruised or hurt, but not ouerwhelmed, for feare of further harme, leapt some into the NILE, some aboord the other ships neere by, some crying out of his arme, some of his leg, some of his head or other part of his bodie, to the great discomfiture of the rest, in so much that the assault was for that time giuen ouer.

King Iohn (as well for his valour as for the title of the king of HIERUSALEM, chosen generall of the armie) after he had appeased this tumult, and giuen the charge of them that were maimed or hurt, vnto skilfull surgeons, & buried the bodies of such as were found drowned or ouerwhelmed; with cheerfull speech encouraged the rest of his souldiers, persuading them not to bee discouraged with the accident of the fall of a tower, which was neither to be imputed to E their cowardise, or the valour of the enemy, but onely to the chance of war.

In the meane time Meledin the Aegyptian Sultan, had with a great armie encamped himselfe within the sight of DAMIATA, thereby to encourage the besieged, and to fill them with hope of reliefe: sending them oftentimes by the riuer, newes, messages, victuals, souldiers, armour, and whatsoeuer else they wanted. The chiefe cause of his staying there, was to take occasion for the surprising of the Christians, if any should be offered, either by chance or their owne negligence. Euery day some skirmish or other passed betwixt our men and the Barbarians, our men still carrying away the victorie: yet could these Barbarians neither be drawn foorth vnto battell, neither could our men keepe them from victuals; for as much as they had the riuer of NILE at commaund, whereby victuals were out of the vpper part of AEGYPT in great abundance conueighed F into the Sultans campe: Whereas on the contrarie part, the same riuer diuiding it selfe into many armes, in some places here and there ouerflowing, in another cut into many ditches and channels, and in some other pent vp by wals and causies, gaue vnto our men a thousand displeasures. And therefore seeing that the Sultan would neither giue nor accept of battell, they resolued againe to lay siege to the towre. Wherefore hauing with great cunning vpon two ships made fast together, framed a towre of most strong timber, equall in heigth vnto the watch-tower, [Page] they brought the same neere vnto the Turks tower, and the suburbs adjoyning thereunto,G after which followed also all the rest of the fleet well appointed for the assault. At which time all the rest of the armie at land, stood in battell ready ranged, as well to discourage them of the towne, as that the Sultan should not bee able to helpe them without the hazarding of battell. There began a fierce and cruell assault; they of the suburbs right valiantly defending themselues against their enemies. Within these suburbs, the tower, and the trenches, dwelt not only Aegyptians (the naturall inhabitants of the countrey) but also Arabians, Persians, Syrians, Indians, Moores, and Aethyopians, who were there resiant, for that, that citie was a publike mart whereunto all kind of marchandize were brought from farre out of the remotest parts of the world, and so from thence in like manner transported also: which encouraged them the more to fight H for the defence of their liues and goods, the two things which men hold most deare: and in like sort animated our men vnto the assault, as well in the quarrell of the Christian religion, as to inrich themselues with the spoile of those rich nations. The Christians with their ships drew as neere as possibly they could vnto the land, to the intent that vpon the banke of the riuer, they might come to fight hand to hand, and man to man, and so come close vnto their enemies. But the Barbarians on the other side, sought by shot and all other meanes they could to keepe them farther off, and so from landing.

A desperat act of a Christian.That which most feared the Aegyptians, was that as one of our ships by chance ran a ground vpon that side of the riuer where the enemie lay, and being boorded by the enemie, thronging in as fast as he could, and there making a cruell slaughter: one of the Christian souldiers going I downe vnder the hatches, made there a great hole, whereby the water abundantly comming in, sunke the ship before the enemie was aware, and so drowned a great number of the Aegyptians, together with the Christians. At which time also the high towre built vpon the two ships, joyning now close vnto the watch-tower, and mating the same, dismaied the defendants with the strangenesse thereof, as with a miracle, in such sort, that they strucken with a great feare, as now being to fight with a strange, hardie, and cruell kind of men, without any great resistance forsooke the towre and fled. The watch-towre thus taken, and they that should haue defended the same, some slaine, and some fled: they in the suburbs discouraged, and flying away were many of them wounded from aboue out of the watch-towre, but now gained by the Christians. At which time also the other ships landed the souldiers, who entring the suburbs, put all they found there K to the sword, euen vnto the last man. There was found great abundance of victuals, but farre greater store of riches, in so much that it seemed to haue beene the spoile of ARABIA, PERSIA, and the rich INDIES.

Damiata in vain assaulted.Now yet remained the strong towne of DAMIATA, which was foorthwith assaulted by the Christians, more to prooue if in that heat and suddaine feare it would be yeelded, than for any hope they had by force to win it. But hauing done what they could both by scaling and by other engines, they gained nothing but hard blowes and wounds, and so retired. Neuerthelesse, they lodged themselues in the suburbs, and laied a great part of the armie betwixt the Sultan and the besieged citie, to the intent that no supplie or victuals should bee brought vnto it; yet both the enemie oftentimes attempted to haue entred the citie, and the besieged to haue sallied out, but L both the one and the other were letted to doe what they would haue done, and that not without the great losse of their men: for why, the towne was now on euery side so inclosed by the Christians, as that no man could enter in or out thereof. Whilest the Christians thus lay at the siege, it fortuned that the riuer of NILE swelling with a great Easterne wind, rise aboue the bankes, and so ouerflowed the places wherein the Christians lay, that they could keepe nothing drie, and that most part of their victuals were therwith spoiled. With which vnseasonable rising of the riuer the Christians not a little troubled, by commandement of Pelagius the Popes legate, gaue themselues to fasting and prayer, by the space of three daies: But the wind falling the fourth day, and the riuer againe decreasing, they gaue themselues more earnestly to prayer than before, thanking the Almightie, that as he had put them in a great feare, so he had in mercie againe comforted M them.

Now with long lying began victuals to grow scant in the Sultans campe, so that he was glad to send away halfe of his armie vp againe into the countrey of CAIRE. At which time also it chanced (as if it had beene in an extreme and common danger of the Mahometan superstition) that embassadors sent from Corradin Sultan of DAMASCO and HIERUSALEM, vnto the princes [Page] A of the Christian armie, came to sue for peace, both for himselfe and his brother the Aegyptian Sultan; promising in regard thereof againe to restore vnto them the Holy crosse, and whatsoeuer else himselfe, his father, or Sultan Saladin had before taken from them: of which their offer, most part of the armie liked well, saying, That they had therefore taken vp armes for the recouerie of that which had been before gotten, and gained by the valour of the worthie Christian captaines, and had of late beene taken from them; and to blot out the ignominie of the losse thereof to the end it should not bee said, that they could not leaue whole and entire vnto their children, what their fathers had got, when they had the keeping thereof; neither hauing lost it, bee able againe to recouer it:A faire offer euill refused. that all these things being restored, there rested not any further occasion of warre, B or let to stay them as most victorious conquerours to returne home. Neuerthelesse Pelagius, Pope Honorius his Legat (for Innocentius in the preparation of the wars was before dead at PERUSIUM) with king Iohn, the masters of the kinghts Hospitalars and Templars, the duke of AUSTRIA, and the Germains, were of opinion to the contrarie: alleaging, That this sacred warre was vndertaken generally against the infidels, and for religions sake against the Mahometan superstition, whereof the kingdome of AEGYPT was the chiefe seat and stay; and that therefore they ought especially to impugn that. Which persuasion, together with the authoritie of the persuaders, so preuailed, that the Sultans large offers were rejected, and so the embassadours dispatched without any thing obtained of that they came for. Whereupon Corradin fearing that the Christians would at length come to HIERUSALEM, as the place they most desired; and doubting C how he should be able to defend the same, foorthwith rased the wals thereof, and the more to deface it, ouerthrew and pluckt downe most of the goodly houses, and other stately buildings therein, sparing yet the Tower of Dauid and the Holy Sepulchre; which he is said to haue done at the humble request and intercession of the Christians of diuers countries, which yet dwelt there mixt with the Turks and Sarasins.

Whilest the Christians thus lay at the siege of DAMIATA, the plague began to arise in the campe, whereof so many died, that it began to repent the great commaunders of the armie that they had so much harkened to the persuasion of the Legate (a man making no profession of armes) rather than to the sound aduise of others, who by long experience taught the sudden alteration of matters of war, would willingly haue accepted of the Sultans large offers: So began D Pelagius the Legate to be generally euill spoken off.Succours sent vnto the besieged. There were now alreadie six moneths past since the beginning of the siege, and the Sultan lying in sight had not with him so great an armie as before, but onely the flower and choice of his people, hauing (as we haue before said) for want of victuals sent away the rest vp againe into the country. Now it fortuned that the Christians, as men wearie of the long siege, stood not so carefully vpon their guard, with watch & ward, as before, but gaue themselues more to ease: which the Sultan perceiuing, drew neerer vnto the towne, in hope vnder the couert of the silent night, to send new supplies vnto the besieged; which companies by him appointed for that seruice, couragiously set forward, in hope to haue deceiued the Christian sentinels, and so indeed came neere vnto the towne vnseene or discouered. And now the foremost of those companies were alreadie entred the towne; when the E Christians perceiuing them, and raising an alarme, put themselues in armes, and so furiously assailed the hindermost of them, and in such sort, that they which were before within, and those that were but now entred, fearing least the enemie in that hurly burly should pell mell enter in with the r [...]st, shut them out of the gates, exposed to the butcherie, where they were all presently cut in peeces.

The Christians encouraged with this victorie, the next day leauing a great part of the armie before the town to continue the siege, presented themselues before the Sultans campe to giue him battell: who for all that well considering that the losse of a battell might endanger the whole state of his kingdome, would by no meanes be drawne out of his trenches, but lay still; wherewith the Christians, especially the Frenchmen (in their first charge naturally furious) greatly incouraged, F attempted to haue forcibly entred their rampiers, but not with successe answerable to their courage. For the Aegyptians perceiuing the small number of their enemies, notably repulsed them, and in fine enforced them to retire, hauing lost Gualter one of their chiefe commanders, with diuers others: yea king Iohn in assailing the camp, lost many of his men, & grieuously burnt in his face, hardly escaped himselfe with life. After which discomfiture they resolued not to thinke of any thing els but of the siege, & aboue all things to prouide that no succours should be broght [Page] vnto the towne. They in the citie more straitly beset & besieged than before, & now broght vnto G extreame necessitie & famine, & out of all hope of reliefe, assembled themselues to consult of their affaires, and what were best for them to doe in so dangerous a state: Some one or other of them by night or otherwise secretly flying into the campe. And that more was, the citie had vndoubtedly beene yeelded by the greater part, had not the chiefe commanders within mured vp the gates, and commaunded that none of the inhabitants vpon paine of death should come vpon the wals, or rampiars, to the intent they should not get out or cast themselues from aboue ouer the wals into the ditches. The chiefe commaunders and captaines went here and there vp and downe the citie, to search and view all things, especially the shops and storehouses, where finding small store of Wheat, they deuided it in small portions among themselues: the common H people inforced with want, eat whatsoeuer came to hand, were it lawfull or vnlawfull, or forbidden by their superstition, wholsome or vnwholesome, good or bad, salt or fresh, rosted or raw; and so prolonged their liues with such things as they could find. Now the besieged, not able to endure these extremities of the Famine (being the passion that most grieuously and often troubleth mankind) they were also attached with the wrath of God: for the Plague (the furie whereof had before attainted the campe of the Christians, and afterward quite ceased) was now got into the citie, where it made a great slaughter: which mortalitie day by day in such sort increased, that men were not onely now no more to be found, to visit, comfort, succour, serue, and helpe the sicke; but were wanting also to burie them, to draw them out of their beds and houses, and to seperate the liuing from the dead: the streets and houses full of dead bodies, gaue foorth a most I horrible stinke, with a most grieuous and infectious aire: there was not any place cleare from the plague, or any man that could boast that he had not beene attainted therewith, or the feare thereof; and remedie was there none. The rage and furie of these two deuourers, the Famine, and Plague, deuoured them without number, chusing rather so to die, than to submit themselues vnto their enemies; or to humble themselues so low, as to craue their fauour. That they within were thus pinched with famine, the Christians knew: but that the plague so raged among them, they knew not. Now the Christians had of purpose cast vp certaine trenches and baricadoes, for the keeping in of such as the famine should enforce to come out of the towne; thinking that the besieged, to ease their wants, would thrust the baser sort of the people and vnprofitable mouths out of the citie, vnto whom the Christians meant not to giue any passage: for they hauing long K before so straitly enuironed the citie, as that no reliefe could be brought vnto it, lay now still expecting when the besieged, enforced by necessitie, should yeeld themselues; and so without losse of any man, to become masters of so strong and rich a towne. It was now more than a yeare that the Christians had thus lien at the siege of DAMIATA, when as certaine of the souldiours vpon a brauerie aduentured with a few scaling ladders to mount the wall: in which doing, finding no resistance, and withall hearing so great silence, as if there had beene no bodie within the citie; they stood still a great while hearkening, but seeing that dumbe silence still to continue, they returned vnto the campe, giuing the captaines to vnderstand how the matter stood; who at the first thought it to bee some pollicie and finenesse of the deceitfull enemie: yet afterward they thought it good to aduenture certaine men, to prooue their fortune, and to cause certaine L companies well appointed to scale one of the bulwarkes of the citie, in such sort, as if they should haue gone against a puissant enemie,D [...]ata without resistance [...] by the Ch [...]stians. that had had the power to resist them. And hereupon were scaling ladders brought foorth, and all things made readie, as for a great assault. So the Christians couragiously mounting the ladders, without resistance tooke the bulwarke. But as they were entring farther into the towne, a small companie of the Turkes and Barbarians (all the souldiors that the furie of the plague had left, and they also with the famine and infection of the aire very weake and feeble) met them, and began to make some small resistance, but to no purpose, being forthwith all cut in pieces. Which done, the matter wherewith the gates of the citie were mu [...]ed, was presently remooued, the gates set open, and the Christians with ensignes displaied let in. But euen at the very entering in at the gates,D [...]ama [...]a [...] by the [...]. they were attainted with a most greeuous and horrible M stinke, they saw a faire citie dispeopled, and that which was most fearefull to behold, the streets couered with bodies of the dead, and such a dreadfull desolation, as might mooue euen the enemie himselfe to compassion. The Christians were entred, as men appointed to haue done a great execution, and to haue made the channels run with blood, as men justly prouoked with the long siege and the paines they had endured; they had their swords and weapons in their [Page] A hands, but found none against whom to vse them: for a man could not enter into any house, or goe into any street, but hee must passe ouer the dead, or others which being not yet altogether dead, were miserably drawing toward their end. Of seuentie thousand persons in the citie, were not found aboue three thousand aliue, and those for the most part yet young children: for all the rest were dead, taken away either with the sword, famine, or the plague; the greatest part whereof lay yet stinking aboue the ground vnburied. These three thousand that were left, were so maigre and poore, that pitie it was to behold them: vnto whom their liues were graunted, vpon condition that they should make cleane the citie, and burie the dead, which they were three moneths in doing.

B Thus was DAMIATA taken by the Christians the fift day of Nouember,1221 in the yeare 1221, after it had ben more than a yeare by them besieged. The spoile there taken was great, for besides the rich marchandise brought thither from farre, was found great store of gold, siluer, and precious stones. The Christians thus enriched (and the citie made clean) staied there more than a yeare after, as in a Colonie wherein they had been willing to dwell, forgetfull of their owne countrey. In the beginning of these warres, the princes of the armie had with one consent agreed, That whatsoeuer citie or territorie should by them be taken from the Turkes or Infidels, should be giuen vnto the king of HIERUSALEM, whom after the departure of the king of HUNGARIE they had made generall of the whole armie. But now that the citie was taken, Pelagius the legat, pretending, That by the vertue of his legation, it belonged vnto him to dispose of all things taken C in that sacred warre, (as a man not vnmindfull of his master) adjudged the citie from thenceforth to belong vnto the See of ROME: With which indignitie & wrong, the king inwardly discontented (and yet for the authoritie of the Legate, dissembling the matter) withdrew himselfe, and so retired to PTOLEMAIS.

The yeare following,1222 Pelagius wearie to see the armes of the Christians to corrupt with rust, and nothing doing: considering the desire and hope he had vtterly to haue ruinated the infidels, together with their superstition, commaunded, That euery man should againe take vp armes for the prosecuting of this warre against the Sultan, and the besieging of CAIRE. But for all that, when he had commanded what he would, or could, the soldiors little regarding his command, with one voice cried out, That they would not be commanded by any, but by the king of HIERUSALEM D onely. So that the Legate, enforced by the souldiors, was glad to send vnto the king, to request him to returne againe vnto DAMIATA, and to take vpon him the charge for the managing of that warre, taken in hand for the defence of the Christian religion: who for all that excused himselfe from so doing, one while by his owne particular affaires, another while by his owne indisposition: yet in fine, pressed and ouercome with the praiers and requests of the other Latine princes, he returned to DAMIATA, at the selfe same time that the duke of BAVARIA arriued there with a goodly companie of braue men, brought thither out of his owne countrey, after he had been now from thence ten moneths absent.

The Legate desirous of the prosecution of this warre,Pelagius the Legat persuadeth the prince [...] of the Christian armie to proceed for the conquest of Aegypt. requested and vrged the king, with the rest of the princes and great commanders, without delay to take the field, telling them, That the E enterprise of the Holy warre was growne old, and cold, by those long delaies and protracting of the time: and that they which kept wars so far from home, ought to make hast to force the enemie, to take all occasions to lose no time but euer to be doing, and to prooue all things for the annoying of the enemie: and that that was the way, whereby the woorthies of antient times, both kings and emperours, had gained vnto themselues empires, glorie, greatnesse, and wealth: That it was for them that were inuaded and assailed, vpon whose liues depended the safetie of their countrey, their wiues, their children, and goods, to delay and prolong the time as they might, to delude the enemie, to frustat his designs, to defeat his attempts, and with delaies to dally him off, vntill that hauing thereby weakned his forces, he should together with his courage loose also his hope: CAIRE (he said) to be indeed a great citie, but yet that the greatest cities that euer F were, had by warres become great desarts, forced by the power of their puissant and speedie enemies: And that great empires, as were those of the Sultans, ought not to be inuaded or assailed by any forraine force, if they were not at the first onset ouerthrown, or at leastwise so weakned, as that they could not afterwards lift vp their heads or recouer themselues; for otherwise, that they which had prepared a distruction for others, should fall into the same themselues: That it behooued either not to haue attempted or assailed AEGYPT at all; or else now after it had beene [Page] once assailed, not so to giue it ouer before it were conquered. The king of HIERUSALEM,G whether it were that he were pricked with the griefe, That being called the king of the Holyland, he could not haue the citie of DAMIATA (vnder his leading and conduct woon by the Christians come to the sacred war) giuen vnto him by the Legate; or that he had before prooued that the higher countrey of AEGY [...]T was not without great and manifest danger to be attempted; said, That that he would not in any case go: alleaging that honorable and sacred war to haue ben taken in hand, onely for the recouerie of the Holy land, and not for the winning of MEMPHIS, BABYLON, or THEBES in AEGYPT; which after they were taken, would not for any long time continue in their fidelitie or alleageance, and could not possibly be kept by force: Whereas SYRIA, by Godfrey of BUILLON and the other great princes his associats, entred into, conquered H and possessed; and since his time, by diuers other Christian kings and princes holden, was in right their owne: And that therefore he greatly commended the forwardnesse, the dilligence, the courage, the desire, and whatsoeuer thing else Pelagius commended: but that hee ought to employ the same in SYRIA, and not there where no need was, or from whence no profit was to be drawne or expected. Neuerthelesse the Legat wedded to his owne opinion, by the power of his authoritie, commanded the king of HIERUSALEM, the duke of BAVARIA, with the rest of the great commanders and captaines, to take vp their armes and to get them into the field vpon the expedition by him appointed against the Sultan; threatning the paine of the high sentence of excommunication against him or them, that should [...]hew themselues backward or vnwilling to doe what he had commaunded. So as it were enforced by the Legat, they began with I euill will and woorse speed to set forward in August, in the verie hottest time of the yeare. At which time the Sultan beholding the great armie of the Christians, in number about seuentie thousand, retired as a man afraid into such places as he thought best, farther off: which the Legat seeing (as one not acquainted with the feats of war) rejoyced greatly, as if the victorie had beene alreadie more than halfe gained; commending vnto the heauens them that he saw couragiously marching forward, saying, That fortune alwaies fauoured the valiant, and that vnto cowards all things fell still out to the woorst. By the way the Christians ceized vpon a bridge, which the enemie had made ouer the NILE, and cut in peeces such companies as were left for the keeping thereof. So marching on, they drew neere vnto CAIRE, and there in the sight of that great and [...] citie, encamped: where running vp and downe, the more to terrifie them of the citie, prouoked K them to battell, vpbraiding vnto them their lazines, their cowardise, and sloth, brauing them ( [...] they were men) to come out: Yet for all that, they would not so do, but keeping themselues [...] and couert within the citie, let them alone to brag and boast at their owne pleasure. This [...] co [...]nued long, of purpose protracted still from day to day by them of the citie: and the gr [...]at opinion the Christians had of their owne valour, with the small regard they had of their enemies, made them so proud and carelesse, that they remembred no more to take good care of the warre, of their dutie, their watch, or their sentinels: their confidence was in their owne valour and good fortune, not considering or remembring that they were come into AEGYPT, and that they had put themselues within the trenches, sallies, channels, and cuts, of a deceitfull riuer, which not only brought victuals vnto their enemies, but also fortified them; who by how much L they were the les [...]e valiant and lesse vnderstood of the art of war, the more they vsed of craft and subtiltie for the preseruing of themselues. So the craftie enemies drew the Christians out at length, abusing them with many delaies and deceits; making semblance of great feare, to make themselues the lesse to be feared; and more contemptible in their doings, to the end that they knowing the passages and straights of the countrey, and reseruing themselues vnto the occasions and aduantages both of the time, and of their enemies, might circumuent them and entrap them at such time as they least feared any such matter. The Christians, at all aduenture had encamped themselues in a low ground, within the banks and causies of that fennie countrey, vnder the couert thereof, thinking themselues safe as in their tenches, against all sudden sallies or attempts of their enemies. But these places wherein they lay, were soft and du [...]tie, for so much as the countrey M people vsed at their pleasure to water them by channels & sluces out of the riuer of NILE: [...] which now pluckt vp and opened, the riuer began to rise and ouerflow all. Then too late they perceiued themselues taken as in a grin, without power to defend themselues, or to make any resistance, or by any other meanes to shew their valour. So the riuer still arising and ouerflowing▪ gaue vnto the Turks and Aegyptians good hope of their wars, and of a victorie more desired [Page] A than hoped for ouer a warlike and victorious people. All the ground where the Christians lay encamped, was couered with water, so high that the victuals were corrupted, and no place left for a man to stand or lie drie in.

Now at the same time the Aegyptians had taken the high places, with the passages vpon the wals and banks in that drowned countrey, to the intent that the Christians should not be able to retire or to saue themselues out of the bogs and marishes couered ouer with water. So was their rash valour and presumptuous confidence in themselues, exposed vnto the enemies shot and furie; and when they would by force haue defended themselues, their hardinesse was ouercome by the craftie subtiltie of the weak enemie. Then began euery man to crie out against Pelagius the B Legat, accusing, condemning, and railing at him: the king himselfe they blamed not, for that he had done his dutie, in dissuading of this expedition, and was contrarie to his good liking himselfe drawn into this warre, the charge whereof he had not without great intreatie taken vpon him: neither might he with his credit well complaine of this misfortune, least in so doing, he might seeme to haue had no comfort in himselfe. But as for the Legate, what counsell could he then giue, what counsell could hee then take for himselfe? They of VENICE, PISA, and GENUA, left at DAMIATA, were indeed strong at sea, but how could they come to relieue him at CAIRE? And how, or by what forces could the Christians breake out of the banks and sluces of the cuts and channels;The miserie of the Christians in the drowned land. which winding in and out with a thousand inextricable turnings, inclosed them, beset also on euery side with the victorious enemie. After they had been thus coupt C vp, and enuironed with the waters three daies, you might haue seene the poore soldiers in euery place fall downe dead for want of food and sleepe, and so perrish in the water; the like miserable kind of death, the rest were also in short time after to expect: other helpe was there none but to yeeld vnto necessitie, and to accept of such conditions as it should please the proud enemie to propound. Now the Sultan desired not so much their liues, as the libertie of his countrey: and therefore required to haue the citie of DAMIATA againe restored vnto him, and all things else in such sort as was before the besieging thereof: and so the Christians without more adoe to depart his countrey. Hard conditions, if a man respect the hope whereupon the Christians had vndertaken this war, and were so come into AEGYPT, with the toyle by them there endured: but vnto him that will but enter into the consideration of mens affaires, and especially in martiall D matters, it will seeme but an accident to be yeelded vnto, the like whereof hath oftentimes hapned vnto the greatest men of the world. These conditions (such as they were) were by the distressed Christians accepted of. But when they were brought to DAMIATA, and there propounded vnto the Christians there left, a great contention began to arise among them: Some said that they would not accept of them, or surrender the towne, which being kept would be a stay for all the affaires of the Christians in the East, and a most commodious place for them to haue recourse vnto; but being restored and lost, carried away with it all the hope of the Christians, and that therefore it were better to indure all extremities than to receiue such dishonourable and hurtfull a peace. Others of the contrarie opinion said, That they ought not to forsake them that were in danger before CAIRE, nor to expose them vnto the butcherie, but to haue a Christian E compassion of so many thousands of soules as there lay distressed, seeing they might bee saued by the surrendrie of that one towne: Townes (they said) consisted of the number of men, and not men of the enclosures of wals and ditches. They that were of this opinion, for the deliuering vp of the towne, seeing the other obstinatly set downe to the contrarie, withdrawing themselues from the counsell, presently tooke vp armes, and by force entred the houses of them that were of contrarie opinion, and tooke from them their weapons, by that means and perforce to constrain them to yeeld to their desire. As soone as they that lay before CAIRE (almost drowned in the waters) vnderstood of this dissention at DAMIATA about the deliuerie of the towne, they sent them word, That if they would not yeeld the towne vnto the Sultan, they would foorthwith send to PTOLEMAIS, which would not faile to do what should be commanded, to haue it in F steed of DAMIATA surrendred vnto the Aegyptians. So was DAMIATA againe yeeded vnto the infidels, and so great labours of the Christians taken at the siege and winning thereof, all lost. That which made the indignitie thereof more tollerable, was that Meledin the Sultan, hauing without bloodshed gained so great a victorie, did neither by word or deed any thing in despite or reproch of the Christians, but vsed thē with all courtesie, relieuing them also with victuals & such other things as they wanted, & by faithfull guides conducting them in safetie out of the country.

[Page]In like manner also, Corradin his brother, Sultan of DAMASCO, made truce with the Latins G for eight yeares. Whereupon the king of HIERUSALEM went ouer into ITALIE, and there by the persuasion of Honorius the Pope, his wife being now dead, gaue his daughter Yoland (now crowned queene of HIERUSALEM in the right of her mother) in marriage to Fredericke king of SICILIA and emperour of the Latines, the rather thereby to stirre him vp for the taking in hand of the sacred warre. Euer since which time, hee and the kings of SICILIA his successours haue beene called kings of HIERUSALEM, albeit that they haue euill prosecuted that their pretended right and title, as still busied in more prophane wars against other Christian princes. King Iohn afterwards departing from ROME for FRANCE, was by the way honourably entertained at PISA: but arriuing at the French court, he found Philip the French king desperatly sicke, who H by his last will and testament gaue vnto the knights Hospitalers and Templars, sixtie thousand crownes for the maintenance of their warres against the infidels; which money was to their vse, afterward paied vnto king Iohn. Who shortly after to discharge himselfe of a vow he had made, to visit the pilgrimage at COMPOSTELLA, going into SPAINE, by the way married Berengaria, the king of CASTILE his daughter: and there staying a great while, returned againe into FRANCE, where he lay long expecting the setting forward of the emperour Frederick his sonne in law, for the recouerie of his wiues right vnto the kingdome of HIERUSALEM; which although he solemnely vowed at such time as he with all princely magnificence married the said ladie at ROME, yet otherwise letted with troubles neerer home, performed not the same, vntill almost seuen yeares after: all which time the Christians in SYRIA enjoying the fruit of the late I concluded peace for eight yeeres, liued in great rest and quietnesse; where, so leauing them; vntill the arising of new troubles, let vs in the meane time againe returne vnto the troubled affaires of the Turkes, Greekes, and Latines, at CONSTANTINOPLE, and in the lesser ASIA.

The death of [...]enry emperour [...] Constantinople. Henry the second emperour of the Latins at CONSTANTINOPLE, after he had (as is aforesaid) with much adoe repressed the furie of the Bulgarians and Scythes, his barbarous enemies, and so giuen peace vnto the miserable countrey of THRACIA, died, hauing raigned a most troublesome raigne,Peter emperour. about the space of eleuen yeares. After whom succeeded Peter, countie of AUSSERRE, his sonne in law, third emperour of the Latines in CONSTANTINOPLE: who in the beginning of his empire willing to gratifie the Venetians, and to reuenge himselfe of Theodorus Angelus, a great prince of EPIRUS, competitor of his empire, besieged him in DIRRACHIVM; K which strong citie, the said Theodorus had but a little before surprised, belonging to the Venetian seignorie. At which siege Peter the emperour lying, was so cunningly by the wilie Greeke vsed, that a peace was vpon most honourable conditions betwixt them concluded, and a familiar kind of friendship joyned. Insomuch, that the emperour at his request, not well aduised, came vnto him as his guest: who now of his enemie become his hoste, entertained him with all the formalities that faigned friendship could deuise. But hauing him now in his power, and fearing no harme, regarding neither the lawes of fidelitie or hospitalitie, he most traiterously slew him, as he was yet in the middest of his banquet. Of whose end, some others yet otherwise report, as that he should by the same Theodorus haue been intercepted about the pleasant woods of TEMPE in THESSALIA, as he was trauelling from ROME to CONSTANTINOPLE, and so afterwards L to haue been by him cruelly put to death. Of whose misfortune, Tepulus gouernour of CONSTANTINOPLE vnderstanding, for the more safetie of the state in that vacancie of the Greeke empire, made peace with Theodorus for fiue yeares, and the Turks for two. Shortly after came Robert (the sonne of the aforesaid vnfortunate emperour Peter) with his mother to CONSTANTINOPLE,Robert emperor of Cōstantinople. and there in his fathers stead was solemnely saluted emperour; but not with much better lucke than was his father before him: for shortly after his comming he tooke to wife a faire young ladie, the daughter of a great rich and noble matrone of the citie, but before be [...]rothed vnto a gallant gentleman, a Burgundion borne: with whom the old ladie broke her promise, and more carefull of her daughters preferment, than fidelitie, gaue her in marriage vnto the new emperour. The joy of which so great an honour was in short time conuerted not into a deadly heauinesse,M but euen into death it selfe: For the young Burgundion, more enraged with the wrong done him,An horrible [...]utrage committed vpon the person of an empresse. than discouraged with the greatnesse and power of the emperour, consorted himselfe with a companie of lustie tall souldiors, acquainted with his purpose, and awaiting his time when the emperour was absent, by night entred the court with his desperat followers, and first meeting with the beautifull young empresse, cut off her nose and her eares, and afterward threw her old [Page] A mother into the sea: and so fled out of the citie into the woods and mountaines, with those desperat cut-throates, the ministers of his barbarous crueltie. The emperour pierced to the heart with this so great a disgrace, shortly after went to ROME, to what purpose was not certainely knowne; but in returning backe againe through ACHAIA, he there died, leauing behind him his yoong sonne Baldwin, yet but a child, begotten by his first wife, to succeed him in the empire: who by the name of Baldwin the second was crowned the fift and last emperour of the Latines in CONSTANTINOPLE.Baldwin the las [...] emperour of the Latines in Constantinople. And for because he was as yet but yoong and vnfit for the gouernment, he was by the consent of the nobilitie affianced, and afterward married vnto Martha the yoonger daughter of Iohn Brenne king of HIERUSALEM, a woorthie old captaine (but as then B gouernour of RAVENNA; which citie, he being certaine yeares before sent for out of FRANCE for that purpose, by Honorius the Pope, he notably defended against the emperour Frederick his sonne in law, but that affinitie was before broken off by the death of the said emperours wife) who now sent for out of ITALIE vnto CONSTANTINOPLE, had committed to his charge and protection both the person and empire of the young emperour Baldwin, now his sonne in law. Which great and heauie charge he for certaine yeares after worthely and faithfully discharged, vntill such time as that Baldwin was himselfe grown able to take vpon him the gouernment. Now although the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, with the countries of THRACIA, THESSALIA, MACEDONIA, ACHAIA, PELOPONESUS, and the rest of the prouinces of GREECE, were all or for the most part vnder the gouernment of Baldwin the emperour, C the Venetians, or other the inferiour Latine princes: yet were the oppressed Greekes, the naturall inhabitants thereof, in heart not theirs, as abhorring nothing more than that their forraine gouernment; but wholly deuoted to their owne naturall princes, Theodorus Lascaris, & Alexius Comnenus, the one raigning at NICE in BITHYNIA, and the other at TRAPEZOND in PONTUS, both called by the Greekes, emperours, and so of them generally reputed. Lascaris of the two the better beloued, and by far of greatest power, had during the time of his raigne fought many an hard battell (as is in part before declared) and strongly fortified his cheefe citties against the inuasion of his enemies, as well the Turkes as the Latines: and so hauing as it were erected a new empire in ASIA,Iohn Batazes made empe [...]or of the Greekes in Asia. and there raigned eighteene yeares, died, leauing behind him one Iohn Ducas Batazes, that had married the faire ladie Irene his daughter and heire, to succeed D him in the Greeke empire in ASIA. This Iohn was a man of a great wit and spirit, and of more grauitie, for his yeares, than was Theodorus his father in law; neuer vndertaking any thing before he had thereof well considered; and once resolued, not omitting or neglecting any thing for the performance therof. So that it was not vnfitly said of the Greeks, The planting of this new empire to haue required the celeritie of Lascaris, but the stay thereof to haue been the grauitie of Ducas. He in the beginning of his raigne, in very short time hauing set all things in good order, greatly augmented his legions, and shooting at a fairer marke than the empire he yet held, euen the imperiall citie it selfe, and the recouerie of all THRACIA and GRECIA out of the hands of the Latines, which could not be done without a fleet at sea, built a great number of gallies in the ports of the lesser ASIA. And so hauing rigged vp and manned a strong fleet, and scouring the E seas, in one Summer tooke in most of the Islands of the AEGEUM, namely, LESBOS, CHIOS, SAMOS, ICARIA, COOS, with the famous Island of the RHODES, and many others also. And not so contented to haue encreased his empire, the next spring crossing the HELLESPONT and landing his forces, first inuaded CHERSONESUS; and afterward to terrifie the Latines, forraged the countrey far and neere, euen to the gates of CONSTANTINOPLE, no man daring to oppose himselfe against him. At which time also he took many cities & strong towns alongst the sea coast, as CALLIOPOLIS, SESTUS, & CARDIA, with diuers others therabout, some by force, some by composition, the Greeks almost in euery place yeelding themselues, where they were not so oppressed by the Latines as that they could not helpe him. Now by these proceedings of the Greek emperor in EUROPE, was plainly to be seen again the ruin of the Latin empire in the East, F all things prospering in his hand according to his hearts desire, Assan the Bulgarian king, no small terror both vnto the Latins & the Greeks, moued with the fame hereof, by his embassadors sent of purpose vnto Iohn the Greek emperor, offred his daughter Helena in mariage vnto yong Theodore his son: of which offer the emperor gladly accepted. For being busied in his greater affaires, he was loth to haue so great a king as was Assan, his enemie, able at his pleasure to cal in the Scythes; who with their multitude, as a great flood breaking ouer the bankes, had oftentimes caried away [Page] whole countries before them. Wherefore the match agreed vpon, the two great princes by appointment G met together about CHERSONESUS, where Helena, king Assans daughter, being then about ten yeares old, was with great joy and triumph solemnly married vnto yong Theodor the emperours sonne, much of the same age. Not long after embassadours were also sent vnto the emperour from the Sultan of ICONIUM, to confirme and prolong the league betwixt them; for the Tartars not contented to haue driuen the Turkes out of PERSIA and the farre Easterne countries, began now also to cut them short in their prouinces in the lesser ASIA: wherefore the Sultan of ICONIUM, fearing least whiles he had his hands full of those his most dreadfull enemies, of themselues too strong for him, he should behind be set vpon by the Greeke emperour, and so thrust out of all, sent these embassadours vnto him for peace; which he for many H causes easily graunted. First, for that he foresaw what an hard matter it would be for him to maintaine warre at once both in ASIA against the Turks, and in EUROPE against the Latines: then by this warlike nation, as by a most sure bulwarke, to keepe his owne countries safe from the inuasion of the barbarous Tartars, vnto whose furie he should himselfe lie open, if the Turks were once taken out of their way. Both sufficient reasons for the emperour to yeeld vnto the Sultan, which he did: so was the peace concluded, and the embassadors dispatched. This peace exceedingly comforted and afterward inriched the emperours countries:Plentie ensuing of peace. for now the people generally deliuered of the feare and miserie of continuall warre, began on all hands to fall to their fruitfull labours of peace. Yea the emperour himselfe to the stirring vp of others to the like good husbandrie, caused so much land to be plowed vp for corne, & so many vineyards to be planted,I as might plentifully suffice his owne house, and such poore as he daily relieued; with a great ouerplus, which he caused to be carefully laid vp in store. He kept also great heards of cattell, flockes of sheepe, and foules of all sorts without number. The like he caused his kinsmen & other of the nobilitie to doe, to the intent that euery great man hauing sufficient for his own spending at home, should not take any thing from the poore countreyman, that so euery man contenting himselfe with his owne, might liue in peace without the grieuance of others. By which means in a few yeares euery barne and garnarie was full of corne, euery sellarfull of wines, euery stable full of cattell, euery storehouse full of victuals: the fields were couered with corne and cattell, and in euery mans yeard were to be seene all kinds of tame foules, without number. At which time also there fortuned a great famine among the Turkes: insomuch, as that they were inforced to K fetch their greatest reliefe from out of the Christian countries. Then might you haue seene euery way full of Turks, men, women and children, trauelling to and fro into the emperours prouinces for victuals: their gold, their siluer, their other rich commodities, they gaue vnto the Christians for food; a little corne was woorth a good commoditie, euery bird, sheepe, and kid, was sold at a great rate: by which meanes the countrey mens houses were full of the Turkes wealth, and the emperours cofers stored with their treasure. The greatnesse of the profit arising of this plentie of the Christians,An imperiall [...]owne bought with egge mony. and penurie of the Turks, may hereby easily be gathered, for that of egges daily sold, so much money was in short time gathered, as made the empresse an imperiall crowne of gold, richly set with most orient pearle and pretious stones of great price; which the emperour called Ouata, for that it was bought with egge money. Thus flourished the Greeke L empire in the lesser ASIA, vnder the good emperour Iohn Ducas. The Turks at the same time declining as fast, daily pilled in one corner or another by the Tartars, and consumed with famine at home.

1227 Fredericke the Germane emperour, had of long time vowed to take vpon him an expedition into the Holy land: for performance whereof, he was hardly called vpon, first by Honorius quartus the Pope; and afterward for his long delay, excommunicated by Gregorie the ninth: not so much for the zeale they had vnto the sacred warre, as to busie the emperour a farre off in warres abroad, whilest they in the meane time, to increase their owne power, drew from him some one part or other of his empire: which he not without cause fearing, from day to day, and yeare to yeare, delayed the performance of his vow, so much vrged by the Pope; by his presence and power,M still disappointing all the slie designs of the Popes, conceiued or put in practise against him. But now at length mooued, or more truly to say, enforced with the thundering and lightning of Pope Gregorie, he resolued to set forward in the yeare 1227. About which time Iolenta or Yoland his wife, the king of HIERUSALEM his daughter, died in childbed, being before deliuered of a faire sonne. Now were met together at BRVNDUSIVM an exceeding great number of couragious [Page] A and deuout souldiors out of all parts of Christendome, especially out of GERMANIE, vnder the leading of Lodowicke Lantgraue of THURIN [...]E, & Sigefride bishop of ANGUSTA; all stirred vp with the same of so notable an expedition. But whilest they there staied somewhat long, the plague arise among the Germanes, whereof in short time after, both the Lantgraue and the bishop died, with many of the other best souldiors. The emperour himselfe was vpon his way as farre as MALEA, vpon the farther side of PELOPONESUS, where falling desperatly sick of a burning feauer, and put backe with contrarie winds, he returned againe to BRUNDUSIUM, and there staied a great while after. Then began the Pope againe to fret and fume, and to cast out his excommunications against the emperour, as if it had beene thunder and lightening, accusing B him of perjurie, infidelitie, and many other grieuous crimes; of all which the emperour was readie to haue cleared himselfe in an open assemblie of the princes of GERMANIE, to haue beene holden at RAVENNA, had it not beene by the Pope and the troubles of LOMBARDIE disturbed. Neuerthelesse, he by open protestations and writings fully answered all the Popes vnjust accusations wherewith he had been so hardly charged: And yet desirous to performe the expedition by him taken in hand, hauing set all things in good order▪ and put himselfe againe in readinesse, he set forward from BRUNDUSIUM in August in the yeare 1228,1228 leauing the charge of his territories in ITALIE, vnto the care of Reynolde duke of SPOLETO. The Pope displeased, for that the emperour at his departure had neither reconciled himselfe, nor taken his leaue of him; and deeming therein his excommunications and fulminations to be contemned & set at naught▪ C fell into such a rage and choller, that he forbad all the Christian forces that were in SYRIA to follow him, or to yeeld to him their obedience; and writ letters also vnto the Sultan, not to come to any agreement with the emperour, or to yeeld vnto him any part of the Holy land: which very letters the Sultan afterwards sent vnto the emperour. Neither yet so contented immediatly after his departure ran vpon his kingdome of NAPLES, and so filled all ITALIE with troubles. Neuerthelesse the emperor happely arriuing at PTOLEMAIS, was there honourably receiued of the Christian forces, notwithstanding the Popes threats and cursings. Of whose arriuall, Sultan Meledin hauing intelligence, and loath to draw so mightie an enemie as was the emperour, vpon him, by his embassadours offered him most honourable conditions of peace: Which before he would accept of, he by conuenient messengers sent vnto the Pope, to haue his consent & D approbation. But such was his rage, as that he would not suffer the messengers to come into his presence, or vouchsafe to read the emperours letters, being brought vnto him; but like a mad man presently rent them in peeces. All which indignities the emperour neuerthelesse tooke in good part, and concluded a peace with the Turks for ten years, vpon these conditions: first, That he should be annointed and accounted king of HIERUSALEM: then, That the holy citie, with all the land of PALESTINE, should be deliuered vnto him: thirdly, That he might at his pleasure fortefie the cities of NAZARETH and IOPPE: fourthly, That all such places as were sometime in the power of Baldwin the fourth king of HIERUSALEM, and taken from him by Sultan Saladin, should be restored▪ and last of all, That all prisoners on both sides should be set at libertie without ransome. So the peace concluded, the emperour with his armie came to the desolate E citie of HIERUSALEM, and there vpon Easter day was with great solemnitie crowned king therof in the yeare 1229.1229 And so hauing repaired the wals of the citie, with certaine churches, fortified NAZARETH and IOPPE,Fredericke the emperor crowned king of Hierusalem. and furnished them with strong garrisons, and appointed Raynold duke of BAVARIA his leiutenāt in SYRIA, he with two gallies only returned into ITALIE: Euer since which time the kings of SICILIA haue beene also called kings of HIERUSALEM, and haue oftentimes borne the armes of both kingdomes.

The next yeare Pope Gregorie in despite of the emperour Frederick, 1230 more than for any zeale vnto the Christian religion, did by the Dominicans & Fransciscans (two orders of friers but then lately erected) as by his trumpeters,The vnfortunat expedition of the king of Nauarr [...] into the Holy land. stir vp a woonderfull number of zealous and deuout Christians, almost in euery part of Christendome, to take vpon them the crosse (as they termed it) the F cognisance of such, as had by vow bound themselues to take vp armes against the Turks & Sarasins, for the recouerie or defence of the Holy land. These deuout men met together in great number, vnder the leading of Theobald king of NAVAR, Americus countie of MONTFORT, Henrie countie of CHAMPAIGNE, and others too long to rehearse (of purpose stirred vp to trouble the ten yeares peace before concluded betwixt the emperour and the Turks in SYRIA) set forward, and after long trauell passing the strait of BOSPHORUS, not far from CONSTANTINOPLE [Page] into BYTHINIA, came to the riuer of SANGARIUS, and there staied a while to refresh G themselues. Afterwards passing through GALATIA, and so from countrey to countrey through the lesser. ASIA, they came at length vnto the straits of the mountaine AMANUS (a a part of the mountaine TAURUS) which they found before taken by the Turks, and the Sultan of ICONIUM himselfe not far off encamped with a strong armie. Neuerthelesse the valiant countie MONTFORT, which had the leading of the vantguard, couragiously marching forward, by plaine force opened the passage of the mountaine, hauing slaine or put to flight the Turks appointed for the keeping thereof: the king of NAVAR in the meane time (though in vaine) assailing the Sultan in his campe; who fearing the great power of the Christians, kept himselfe within his own strength and would not stir. Wherfore the king seeing it to no purpose H there longer to stay, diuiding his armie into three parts, left the Sultan, and followed after the Countie, placing his baggage in the midst, & the best of his souldiers in the rereward. But whilest they thus march vp the great mountaine, the Turks better acquainted with those passages, were still at hand, assailing them sometime behind, sometime on the one side, sometime on the other, as they saw occasion: and at length taking them at an aduantage in a great plaine, set vpon them (now before almost spent with hunger and trauell) and there slew of them an exceeding great number▪ But by the comming on of the night, the battell was broken off, and the Christians repairing vnto their ensignes, passed the straits, and so at length arriued at ANTIOCH, hauing lost by the way the greatest part of the armie, with all their wealth, their victuals, & most part of their horses: the remnant yet left, hauing a little refreshed themselues, were by sea transported to I PTOLEMAIS; from whence they were afterward by the Templars conducted to GAZA, where they lay, & of the spoile of the countrey greatly enriched themselues. As for any other great matters they were not able of themselues to take in hand; and help of such forces as the emperor had before left at HIERUSALEM, and other places, they could haue none; hauing expresse charge from the emperour himselfe, not to do any thing against the enemie, tending to the breach of the ten yeares league: which the Turks well perceiuing, and that they had to do but with these new come guests, and some few others their partakers; hauing gathered together their forces, lay in ambush for them in euery corner to cut them off▪ Neither was it long, but that these of GAZA going far into the countrey, and returning laded with spoile, were set vpon by the Turks; whom they (casting away the spoile they had before taken) notably repulsed and put to flight, the day K now drawing to an end. But early the next morning appeared a far greater number of Turks than before; which now comming on, charged the Christians, who all that night had stood watching in their armour, and so joyned with them a most cruell battell: wherein the Christians shewed so much valour as was possible for men to do; but wearied with long fight, and oppressed with the multitude of their enemies, they were ouercome and slaine almost euery mothers sonne. Among the rest, the two counties Americus and Henrie, fell: the king of NAVAR himselfe hardly escaped by the exceeding swiftnesse of his horse, & by vncertaine waies wandring vp and downe the countrey, not knowing well which way to take, after two daies came by good fortune to IOPPE: some few others escaped by flight to PTOLEMAIS, the heauie messengers of the misfortune of their fellowes. The king afterwards visiting the Holy places at HIERUSALEM,L returned home into his countrey, with some few of his followers, hauing performed nothing of that the world expected.

The Christians by persuasion of the [...] their le [...]gue with the Turke [...] ▪About foure yeares after, Raynold duke of BAVARIA, whom Frederick the emperour had left his lieutenant in HIERUSALEM, died: hauing by the space of fiue yeares peaceably gouerned that bruised kingdome. After whose death, the Templars (who, he yet liuing, would oftentimes haue broken the league, but that they were by his authoritie and wisedome restrained) now tooke occasion to stir vp the people to take vp armes against the Turks, without respect vnto the league yet in force, or of the dangers like thereof to ensue. Whereof the Aegyptian Sultan hearing, raised a great armie, sending also for the Chorasines, a warlike nation then lying neere vnto BA [...]YLON, to come vnto his aid. Thus become verie strong, he first laid siege to GAZA, but a M little before repaired and fortified by the king of NAVAR and the Templars, which he at length tooke by force, and put to sword all that were therein, as well the citizens as the garrison souldiers▪ In like manner he dealt also with them of ASCALON, and other places as he went. To represse this his furie, the Templars and Hospitalers had assembled the whole strength of that weake kingdome, and neere vnto TYBERIAS came to haue giuen him battell. Who vpon [Page] A their approch hastely retired, as if he had for feare shunned battell. But whiles the Christians as victors the night following lay negligently encamped along the riuer side, he returning backe again with his armie, came vpon them before they were well aware, halfe sleeping halfe waking, but altogether vnarmed, with a most horrible outcrie. The Christians now altogether awaked, and not a little troubled with the suddennesse of the matter, hastily and disorderly (as must needs in so great a confusion) tooke vp their weapons, such as came first to hand, and so couragiously opposed themselues against their enemies. There was fought a most terrible and doubtfull battell, and that also for a long space; the Christians still encouraging one another to do their last deuoir. But the Turks still keeping their order, against the disordered Christians, and far mo B also than they in number▪ preuailed, and there ouerthrew them with a great slaughter, but not without the losse of many thousands also of their owne men, which there lay dead vpon the ground. Most part of the best commaunders both of the Templars and Hospitalers were there slaine, such as escaped fled to TYRE.

The Sultan encouraged with so great a victorie,1234 marched foorthwith to HIERUSALEM, which he tooke without resistance;Hierusalem taken and rased by the Turks. and there put to sword all that he found therein, men, women and children, without respect of sex or age: and afterwards hauing rifled the same, rased it downe to the ground, burning the buildings, and ouerthrowing the wals, not long before repai [...]red by the emperour Frederick, and much beautified by his lieutenant Raynold. And carried with an infernall furie, defaced, and most shamefully polluted the sepulchre of our blessed Sauiour, neuer C before then violated or defiled, but of all nations vntouched & reuerenced; which for all that, may seeme to haue been done, not so much for the hatred vnto the Christian religion, as for that it was the place of all others most desired of the Christians; and for the gaining whereof they had vndertaken so many hard aduentures, and so much troubled the Sarasins and Turks

Thus by the vnfaithfull breaking of the league, the most antient and famous citie of HIERUSALEM, sometime the terrestriall seat of the most Highest, and glorie of the world, fell againe into the power of the Turks and infidels, in the yeare 1234, in whose hands it hath euer since remained euen vntill this day: now a poore ruinous citie, gouerned by one of the Turks Sanzacks, and for nothing now more famous than for the sepulcher of our blessed Sauiour; againe repaired and much visited by the deuout Christians, and not vnreuerenced by the Turkes D themselues.

The losse of this so famous a citie, together with the dangerous state of the Christians in SYRIA, much grieued the other Christian princes of the West; especially Frederick the emperor, by whom it had beene but a few yeares before gained. Howbeit he could not now remedie the matter according to his desire, being himselfe grieuously entangled with the endlesse troubles which Pope Gregorie had (as it were by tradition) left vnto the other Popes his successors, for the troubling of his state, vntill at length they had depriued him of his empire, and not long after of his life also. Among other the great princes, care [...]ull for the poor Christians in SYRIA, was Lewis the French king the ninth of that name, a prince of great power, but of all others of that time most famous for his zeale vnto the Christian religion, and for his deuout manner of life: who E abounding in wealth and all things else of a great prince to be desired; and withall oftentimes considering the notable expeditions many Christian princes had (to their immortall glorie) made, some into SYRIA, some into AEGYPT against the enemies of Christ, and for the reliefe of the oppressed Christians; was many times about to haue taken vpon himselfe the like. But in these his deuout motions, before he could resolue vpon so great an enterprise, he fell dangerously sicke, in so much that for certaine daies he lay speechlesse deuoid of sense and motion, without any signe of life, but that hee did a little faintly breath: when comming a little vnto himselfe (whether mooued with deuotion, or troubled with his former conceits then running in his weake braine, is vncertaine) the first thing he asked for, was the crosse (the cognisance of such as vowed themselues vnto the sacred warre) which he solemnely receiued at the hands of the F bishop of PARIS. At which time also his three brethren, Alphonsus countie of POITIERS, Charles countie of ANIOU, and Robert countie of ARTHOIS, with Hugh duke of BURGUNDIE, William earle of FLANDERS, Hugh countie of S. Paul, and afterwards most of the nobilitie of FRANCE, to accompanie the king, tooke vpon them the same charge. Neuerthelesse, it was not by and by taken in hand, but some few yeares let passe in the consultation and preparation for so great an enterprise:1248 many in the meane time discharging their vow, by dying before [Page] at home in peace in their owne countries. At length the deuout king still resolute in his former G determination, hauing taken order with Blanch his mother for his affaires at home, and put all things in readinesse for his journey, came to LYONS to take his leaue of Pope Innocentius the fourth (who for feare of the emperour Frederick then lay there for his more safetie) and from thence to MARCEILLES,King Lewis setteth forward toward the Holy land. where embarking himselfe with his armie the fiue and twentith day of August in the yeare 1248, he the twentieth day of September following arriued in safetie in the island of CYPRUS, and was there royally entertained by Guy Lusignan then king of that countrey.

Now was the French king desirous to haue gone directly for AEGYPT, without longer stay in CYPRUS, had he not beene otherwise persuaded, both for that his whole fleet was not yet H come, and the time of the yeare began to grow vnseasonable, and the weather tempestuous. But whilest he there staied, passing the winter, the plague (one of the readie attendants of great armies) began to arise in the campe, which dayly encreasing, had in short time taken away a great number of men, and those not of the meanest sort. Amongst whom were Robert bishop of BEAUVAIS, Iohn countie MONT-FORT, the counties of VENDOSME and DREUX, Archambaut lord of BURBON, with diuers other knights and gentlemen, to the number of 240: so that by force of the infectious contagion, the king was constrained to diuide his armie into diuers places of the island, attending vntill the infection should cease. In the meane time the Templars hauing in suspect both the French and the Turks: the Turks, for feare they should ouerrun all; and the French, least hauing gotten the victorie, they should take all into their own I hands, and so diminish their power and authoritie, wherewith they tyrannized ouer the other poore Christians; sent ambassadours seceretly vnto Meledin Sultan of AEGIPT, to persuade him betimes to come to some good agreement for peace, so to auert the power of the French king from doing him further harme, or proceeding further in that war. Of which motion the Sultan well liking, sent one of his noble men to intreat with the master of the Templars concerning a peace, so that it might be by cōsent of the Frēch▪ The Templars glad of so honorable a message, writ vnto the French king out of SYRIA, how the matter stood; persuading him to accept of the peace offred, setting out in great words the Sultans great preparations and power. And so indeed had abused the king, had not the king of CYPRUS acquainted with his doings, persuaded him that it was but a finenesse of the Great master, and that he had first sent vnto the Sultan, and K procured that noble man to be sent: which the king vpon farther consideration perceiuing to be true, [...]ed the Turks embassadour with hope of peace, but writ vnto the master of the Templars vpon the price of his head from thencefoorth not to receiue any embassage from the enemie, or to haue any further intelligence with him.

Winter now past, and the plague well ceased, diuers noble gentlemen and great commaunders which following the king, and setting foorth somewhat late, or for feare of the plague had staied by the way, and wintred some in one place, some in another, began to repaire vnto CYPRUS: as Robert duke of BURGUNDIE, who hauing wintred in ACHAIA, came now in the beginning of the Spring vnto the king, with a number of good horsemen; and with him William prince of ACHAIA, with a great fleet out of PELOPONESUS, which countrey, with most part L of GRECIA, was then vnder the commaund of the Latines; amongst others came also William, surnamed Long-espie, earle of SARISEURIE, with a band of lustie tall souldiors. So the armie being met together, and all things againe in a readinesse, king Lewes departing from CYPRUS, and tossed at sea with cōtrary winds, about fiue daies after fell with the coast of AEGIPT, & there with all his fleet came before the strong towne of DAMIATA, being (as we haue said) the key of that kingdome. The Sultan long before vnderstanding of the French kings purpose for the inuasion of his countrey, had strongly fortified his frontier townes, and put into them strong garrisons, beside the great power he kept with himselfe in readinesse at all assaies, as occasion should require. Vpon the approch of the Christians, the gouernour of DAMIATA was ready vpon the shore, with a number of braue souldiers to keepe them from landing; who neuerthelesse resolutely M before set downe for the performing of that they came for, manning foorth their long boats with their archers and crossebowes to beat the enemie from the shore, ran a ground with their other small boats made of purpose for the landing of men; and so without longer stay came to handie blowes, where for a while was fought a most sharpe and cruell battell, the Christians striuing to land, and the Turkes to keepe them off, many falling on both sides. But what [Page] A should an handfull doe against so many? The Turkes oppressed with the multitude still landing more and more, and hauing done what was possible for them to doe, fled into the towne, leauing behind them their gouernour, with fiue hundred of their best souldiors dead vpon the shore.

This citie of DAMIATA was exceeding rich and populous,1249 and had in the former warres not been taken but by more than a yeares siege, (as is before declared) and that not so much by the valour of the Christians as by the extremitie of the plague and famine: since which time it had been strongly fortefied by the Turks, with deepe ditches, high wals, and strong bulwarkes; and was at that time well stored with victuals also, and all things else for the enduring of a long siege. Neuerthelesse, the souldiors that were left, and the citizens (discouraged with the losse of B their gouernour, and remembrance of the miseries before endured in the former siege, and seeing the Christians now readie againe to besiege the same) the night following,The citizens of Damiata set fire vpon the citie▪ and ran away by the light. a little before the breake of day, set fire euery man vpon his owne house, and so by a bridge which they had made of boats, fled ouer the great riuer, breaking the bridge when they were ouer, for feare their enemies should thereby haue followed after them. The Christians perceiuing their flight, without resistance entred the citie, and being strangers, did what they could to quench the fire and to saue that which the inhabitants themselues would faine haue with fire destroyed; and so afterwards found great abundance of riches, with plentifull store of all manner of victuals, wherewith the souldiors both enriched and refreshed themselues. This so happie & vnexpected a victorie happened vnto the Christians about the beginning of October, in the yeare 1249. Sultan Meledin C himselfe, discouraged with the losse of so strong a citie, offered vnto the French king for the redeeming thereof, and to haue peace at his hands, more territorie in SIRIA and the land of PALESTINE, than the Christians had of long time before: which large offer was by the French, especially by the earle of ARTHOI [...] the kings brother, proudly rejected, and ALEXANDRIA the most famous port and metropoliticall citie of AEGIPT, further demaunded, to the great discontentment of the Turkes and Sarasins. In these troubles died Meledin the old Sultan, a man not much beloued of his people: in whose stead Melechsala (or Melexala, as some call him) a valiant and couragious prince, well beloued of his subjects, and but euen then returned out of SIRIA and ARABIA, where he had been to craue aid of the other Mahometane princes, was chosen Sultan. Which princes, especially the Sultan of DAMASCO, although they had not of D long been at any good accord among themselues, or with the Aegyptian; yet in this common danger of their superstition, which by the losse of AEGIPT was like to be greatly weakned, they joyned hands together, and so sent him great aid.

The new Sultan thus strengthened, drew neerer vnto the Christians, which then lay encamped not farre from DAMIATA, and had with them a hot skirmish, wherein hee was put to the worse, and so with some losse glad to retire. But the Christians the next day, in hope of like successe sallying out againe, were ouerthrowne, with ten times more losse than was he the day before, and so faine to flie vnto the campe. By which victorie the Sultan encouraged, began now to conceiue better hope of the successe of his wars; and by stopping the passages both by water and land, to prouide, that no victuals could without great perill bee brought either vnto the E citie or the campe, insomuch that at length victuals began to grow scarce in both: whereof the Sultan was not ignorant, as being thereof throughly informed by such fugitiues, as for want, or other causes, oftentimes fled out of the French campe into his.

Winter thus passing, and wants still increasing, it fortuned that the gouernour of the great citie of CAIRE (vpon the fortune whereof depended the state of the whole kingdome) a man not euill affected vnto the Christian religion, and in his heart highly offended with the Sultan, for the death of his brother by him wrongfully executed: by secret messengers persuaded the French king to come on with his armie to the citie, the regall seat of the Sultan, promising him to deliuer it into his power, with full instructions what he had in all points to do for the gaining thereof. Whereupon the king who had before of himselfe purposed the same exploit, but now F filled with a greater hope, assembled together the greatest forces he was able to make. At which time also he sent for the earle of SALISBURIE, with the rest of the English men, who for many proud indignities offered them by the French (especially by the earle of ARTOIS the kings brother) whereof they could haue no redresse, were gone to PTOLEMAIS, without purpose to haue any more serued in those warres: But now being sent for by the king, with promise of better vsage and honourable recompence for the wrongs past, returned againe into AEGIPT, [Page] there to doe their last endeuour. With whose comming the king strengthened, but more by the G new supplies brought vnto him by his brother Alphonsus out of FRANCE, leauing the duke of BURGUNDIE with a conuenient garison, with the queene his wife, Odo the Popes Legat, and diuers other great ladies in DAMIATA, he himselfe set forward with his armie towards CAIRE. Of whose comming the Sultan hearing, and loath vpon the fortune of one battell to aduenture his whole estate, offered by his embassadours to restore vnto him all the land of PALESTINE, with a great summe of money for the defraying of the charges of those wars,A faire [...] sondly refused. and all the prisoners he had taken, so that he would redeliuer vnto him the citie of DAMIATA, and joine with him in league and amitie. Which faire offer for all that, the French king, by the persuasion of the Legat and others, re [...]used. So the king marching still on, was to passe an arme of the great riuer H NILUS (the Sultan on the other side still readie with his armie to stay his passage) which he had thought to haue made by a bridge of boats, prepared for the same purpose: but better conducted by a fugitiue Sarasin vnto a foord, before to him vnknowne, sent his brother Robert, earle of ARTOIS, with the third part of the armie before him, accompanied with the master of the Templars and the earle of SALISBURIE, with their followers. Who passing the riuer at the aforesaid soord, suddainly assailed the Turks in their tents (the Sultan being then absent in solemnising one of their prophane feasts) & put them to flight. With which victorie the French earle aboue measure encouraged, would needs on forwards, as if he would himselfe alone haue carried away the glorie of the whole conquest. Whome for all that certaine of the auncient Templars, better acquainted with the manners of that deceitfull nation than he, and better considering I also of their owne abilitie and strength, persuaded him to content himselfe with the honour he had alreadie got, and not to proceed any further in prosecuting of the enemie, vntill the comming of the rest of the armie, especially in that desperat estate of the enemie, wherein he was to win or lose all. Vnto whom the proud earle in great despight replied, That he would prosecute his victorie, and follow his good fortune; calling them dastards and cowards, opprobriously objecting vnto them the common fame, whereby it was commonly reported, That the Holy land might long since haue beene againe vnited vnto the bodie of the Christian commonweale, but for the foule collusion of the false Templars and Hospitalers with the Turks and Infidels. With which reprochfull speech, the master of the Templars not without cause mooued, answered for himselfe and his fellowes, That he should, when he would, and where he durst,K display his ensignes, and he should find them as readie to follow as hee was to goe before them. The earle of SALISBURIE also willing to stint this strife, persuaded earle Robert not to bee so wedded to his owne opinion, but to listen vnto the graue and wholesome counsell of the Templars, being men of great experience: and so turning vnto the master of the Templars, began likewise with gentle words to pacific him also. But whilest hee was yet speaking, the earle interrupting him with many opprobrious words, called him dastard and coward, and wished that the armie were rid of him, and the fearefull cowards his countreymen. Whereunto the earle of SALISBURIE answered: Well Generall, on in Gods name, and wheresoeuer you dare set your foot, mine shall be as farre as yours; and I beleeue wee goe this day, where you shall not dare to come nigh my horses taile: as afterward indeed it proued. Howbeit, the earle so said, for that earle L Robert and the Frenchmen had many times in reproch and disdaine, after their manner, called him and his followers English tailes.

The proud earle constant in his former purpose, and not to be otherwise persuaded, set forward: and first assaulted a little towne or castle, not farre off, called MANSOR, whereunto hee inconsideratly approching, was notably repulsed; and hauing lost a number of his men, was as a man discouraged, about to haue retired. When suddainly the Sultan, neerer at hand than the earle had thought, stirred vp with the noise of the alarum, came on with his whole power; and finding the armie of the Christians now deuided (as he had long wished) with the multitude of his people enclosed them round, and had with them a great and mortall fight: wherein though the Christians right woorthely behaued themselues, for the small number they were, yet oppressed M with the multitude, and on euery side beset, they were slaine downe right. Then, but all too late, it repented the earle of his foolish rashnesse, and that he had not hearkened vnto better counsell; and seeing the earle of SALISBURIE valiantly fighting, cried out vnto him to flie, seeing God (as he said) fought against them. Whereunto the noble earle answered no more, but God forbid that my fathers sonne should run away from the face of a Sarasin. The French earle thinking [Page] A by the swiftnesse of his horse to haue saued his life, flying out of the battell, and taking the riuer of THA [...]NES,Earle Robert in flying, drowned▪ ouerladed with his armour, was there drowned▪ The earle of SALISBURIE couragiously enduring the enemies charge, with his owne hand manfully slew many a Turk and Sarasin that day, vntill that at length hauing his horse slain vnder him, and himselfe so wounded in the legs as that he was not able longer to stand,The earle of Salisburie valiātly sighting, sla [...]. yet vpon his knees laying about him like a desperat man, and selling his life as deere as he could, was there slaine, but not vanquished. With him perished the whole armie, so enclosed by the Sultan, that scarce any one escaped aliue, more than two Templars, one Hospitaler, and one common souldiour, the messengers of this heauie newes.

B About the same time also sicknesse daily increasing in the French campe, the king purposing to march forward to CAIRE, sent a great number of sicke and weake people downe the riuer of NILUS to DAMIATA: of whose going the Sultan vnderstanding, caused a great number of small boats to be caried in carts by land vnto the riuers side, which well manned, and meeting them by the way, set vpon them, and burnt or drowned them euery mothers sonne, sauing one only Englishman, called Alexander Giffard, who wounded in fiue places of his bodie, escaped yet into the French campe, reporting there what had happened vnto the rest.

Now had the Sultan also got intelligence of the compact betwixt the gouernour of CAIRE and the king,The gouernor of Caire apprehended. for the betraying of the citie: and thereupon had caused him to be suddainely apprehended and put in safe keeping, vntill hee were at better leisure to vnderstand farther of the C matter: which no lesse troubled the French king, than did the former misfortune; all his hope for the yeelding vp of the citie, being thereby cut off. Thus his hopes, together with his strength, daily decreasing, he would haue gladly accepted of the cōditions which he before refused, which the Sultan now growne very strong, would by no meanes heare of; but in stead thereof, by way of derision, sent to know of him, What was become of all his mattocks, forkes, rakes, sythes, plowes, and harrowes, which he had brought ouer with him? and why he set them not to work, but suffered them like an euill husband to rot and rust beside him? All which, with much more, the good king was glad to put vp. For now his forces greatly deminished, as well by sicknesse, as by the former losses, finding himselfe farre too weake, he would faine haue retired backe againe to DAMIATA: which the Sultan foreseeing, got so betwixt him and home, that now there was D no remedie, but either to fight it out, or yeeld. The king himselfe had been often before intreated by his nobilitie, whilest the riuer was yet vnpossessed by the enemie, to haue conueyed himselfe by water to DAMIATA, for that in the safetie of his person consisted (as they said) the safetie of his kingdome, whatsoeuer became of them: whereunto hee could neuer bee persuaded, saying, That he would neuer forsake his people, because he would not be forsaken of them, but was resolued to endure with them whatsoeuer it should please God to lay vpon him. So passing the riuer by the same foord whereby his brother had not long before vnfortunatly passed, and comming to the place where the battell was fought, hee might see the dead bodies of the Christians pitifully mangled, with their heads and hands cut off: For the Sultan the more to encourage his soldiors, had before the battell proclaimed, That whosoeuer should bring him the head or hand E of a Christian, should haue a great reward for his labour; in hope whereof, they had so dismembred them. But long he had not there stayed, but that the Sultan began suddainely to appeare, with a most huge great armie, as if he would euen with the sight thereof haue discouraged the Christians: against whom for all that, the Frenchmen in good order opposed themselues, & for the space of three houres made great resistance: but what could one doe against ten, and he also fainting for sicknesse and food? the hard plight wherein the greatest part of the French armie then was. In conclusion, oppressed with the multitude of their enemies, and no way left to flie, they were all ouerthrowne and slaine, except some few, saued in hope of great ransome. The king himselfe, with his two brethren Alphonsus and Charles, and some few others, were taken prisoners, & brought vnto the Sultan: who demaunding of him, What had mooued him so to make F war against him? was answered by the king, That it was for religion, & the defence of the name of his God. In this vnfortunat battell, fought the fift of Aprill, in the yeare 1250, besides the common souldiors, were slaine most of the nobilitie of FRANCE, and all their rents taken.

The Sultan presently vpon this ouerthrow, sent of his owne souldiors the like number that the French were of, with French ensignes, and disguised in the attire of the slaine Frenchmen, to DAMIATA, where the duke of BURGUNDIE, the French queene, and the Popes Legat lay; in [Page] hope to haue been so let in for Frenchmen: but they were not so well masked, but that they were G by them of the citie discouered for enemies, and so kept out and deceiued of their purpose.

The Christians thus ouerthrowne, and the French king taken prisoner, Melech-sala the Sultan taking compassion vpon him, and yet minding of his life to make his owne gaine; cheering him vp with comfortable speeches, began to talke with him of his deliuerance, and of a good attonement to be made betwixt them. The conditions whereof propounded by the Sultan were, That the king should foorthwith deliuer againe vnto him the citie of DAMIATA, and moreouer pay vnto him for the ransome of himselfe and his, and for the charges of the war, eight thousand pound of gold; That all prisoners should on both sides be frankly set at libertie, and so a peace to be taken for ten yeares. For the more assurance whereof, the Sultan offered to sweare,H That if he failed in the performance therof, to renounce his Mahomet: requiring likewise of the king to sweare, If he failed in any thing that he had promised, to denie his Christ to be God: Which prophane oath the king detesting, and wishing rather to die than to giue the same; the Sultan woondring at his constancie, tooke his word without any oath at all, and so published the league. But whilest they were comming together to DAMIATA, Melech-sala now in the pride of this victorie, fea [...]ing nothing lesse than the sudden change of fortune, or the mischiefe hanging ouer his head, was in the presence of a number of his noble men suddenly slaine by two desperat Mamalukes; and one Turqueminus a sturdie slaue of their owne order and vocation (by whose procurement it was supposed to haue beene done) by the consent of the whole armie created Sultan in his stead: who reuoking the league before concluded by Melech-sala, I made another in his owne name with the king, much vpon the same conditions that the other was; which after he had receiued DAMIATA, he caused to be openly proclaimed. Neuerthelesse after that king Lewis had paied his ransome, and was with the remnant of his armie by the Genowaies transported from DAMIATA to PTOLEMAIS, the false miscreant performed not the halfe of that he had promised, of twelue thousand Christian captiues that should haue been set free, scarce enlarging foure thousand; and killing all the sicke souldiers whom by his promise he ought to haue reliued; neither suffring any Christian to carrie any of his goods with him out of AEGYPT, which by the league he ought to haue done also.

The French king comming to PTOLEMAIS, and purposing to haue returned home, was intreated by the master of the Templars and Hospitalars, and other the nobilitie of the Christians,K to stay, which he did almost by the space of foure yeares: in which time he repaired the cities of CESAREA and IOPPE, and fortified many strong places for the defence of the Christians against the infidels: And so commending the protection thereof vnto the knights of the sacred war, and sending his brethren away before him, followed after himselfe, greatly lamented for by all the Christians in SIRIA, and so arriued in FRANCE the sixt yeare from the time of his departing thence. This was the end of this long and vnfortunat expedition of Lewis the French king, wherein as some write, were eightie thousand Christians lost: howbeit the French Chronicles extenuating their losse, report, of two and thirtie thousand French, six thousand to haue returned againe into FRANCE. The citie of DAMIATA in the space of a few yeares twice woon, and twice lost by the Christians, was shortly after the deliuering vp thereof, by the Sultan L rased downe to the ground, because it should no more serue the Christians for an entrance into his kingdome.

The beginning of the Mamalukes and their kingdome.The late Aegyptian Sultans thus oftentimes inuaded by the Christian princes, and reposing no great assurance in the prowesse of the effeminat Aegyptians, a people fitter for marchandize and other base occupations than for chiualrie and war, had for the strengthening of their kingdome, bought an infinit number of slaues, especially of the poore and hardie Circassians, called in antient time Getae and Zinchi, neere vnto COLCHIS and the EUXINE sea, brought vnto ALEXANDRIA and other ports of AEGYPT out of those bare cold countries, by marchants, and from thence transported to CAIRE and other cities of AEGYPT: of which poore slaues, the late Aegyptian Sultans taking their choice, and culling out from the rest such as were like to be of M greatest spirit and abilitie of bodie, deliuered them vnto most skilfull and expert teachers; by whom they were carefully taught to run, to leape, to vaut, to shoot, to ride, with all other feats of actiuitie, and withall cunningly to handle all manner of weapons, as well on horsebacke as on foot: and so instructed, and become cunning, were taken out of their schooles into pay, and enrolled together as the Sultans choice horsmen, were commonly called by the name of Mamalukes. [Page] A In whose good seruice the late Sultans finding great vse, spared for no cost, both for their maintenance and encreasing of their number; dayly erecting new nurseries stored with yoong frie, which growing vp and readie, was still joyned to the other. It is woonderfull to tell vnto what a strength and glorie this order of the Mamalukes was in short time grown, by the care of the Aegyptian kings: By them they mannaged their greatest affaires, especially in time of wars; and by their valour, not onely defended their countrey, but gained many a faire victorie against their enemies, as they did now against the French. But as too much power in such mens hands, seldome or neuer wanteth danger, so fell it out now betwixt the late Sultan Melech-sala, and those masterfull Mamaluke slaues:The ruine of the Turk [...] kingdome in Aegypt. who proud of their preferment, and forgetfull of their dutie, B and seeing the greatest strength of the kingdome in their hands, traiterously slew Melech-sala their chiefe founder, setting vp in his place (as aforesaid) one Turquiminus, a base slaue, one of their owne order and seruile vocation, but indeed otherwise a man of a great spirit and valour. This Melech-sala murthered by the Mamalukes, was the last of the free borne kings of AEGYPT; in whom the Turks kingdome in AEGYPT, erected by Sarracon and the great Sultan Saladin (as is before said) and in his stocke and family euer since continued, tooke end, as did also all the power of the Turks in that great and rich kingdome. For the proud Mamalukes hauing now got the soueraigntie into their hands, and exalted a Sultan out of themselues, imperiously commanded as great lords ouer the rest of the people, not suffring them to haue the vse either of horse or armour, or to beare any sway in the common weale: but keeping them vnder with C most heauie impositions, and still preferring their owne slaues (wherewith the countrey of AEGYRT now swarmed) made the naturall countrey people, of all others most miserable, not daring to meddle with any thing more than merchandize, their husbandrie, or other their base mechanicall occupations: whereof the greatest profit still came vnto the Mamalukes, who as lords of all, with great insolencie, at their pleasure tooke it from them as their owne. As for the great Sultan, they still chose him from among themselues, not suffering any the Sultans children to succeed their fathers in the kingdome; for feare least they in processe of time, proud of their ancestors and parentage, should recken of them as of his slaues (as indeed they were) and so at length bring in another more free kind of gouernment.

Against which they prouided also, not onely by this restraint of their Sultans children, but of D their owne also: taking order and exstablishing it as an immutable law, That though the sonnes of the Mamalukes might enjoy their fathers lands & wealth after their death, yet that it should not be lawfull for them in any case to take vpon them the name or honour of a Mamaluke: so embarring them from all gouernment in the common wealth, to the intent it might still rest with the Mamalukes. Neither was it lawfull for any borne of Mahometan parents (which could not be slaues) or of the race of the Iewes, to be admitted into that Order; but onely such as being borne Christians and become slaues, had from the time of their captiuitie beene enstructed in the Mahometan superstition; or else being men grown, and comming thither, had abjured the Christian religion (as many reprobates did in hope of preferment.) Right strange it is to consider, vnto what honour and glorie this slauish empire in short time grew: many of those E poore slaues by rare fortune or secret diuine power, exalted out of the dust vnto the highest dedegree of honour, proouing most excellent and renowmed princes, of such strength and power, as was dreadfull euen vnto the greatest princes of the world. In which great glorie, this seruile empire (to the worlds woonder) flourished from this time amongst the greatest by the space of 267 yeates; vntill that hauing run the appointed race, it was with a great destruction, by Selymus the victorious emperour of the Turks, ouerthrown in the yeare 1517, and the kingdome of AEGYPT with all SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE, brought into the forme of Prouinces, vnited vnto the Turks empire, as they are at this day, and as in the course of this historie shall in due time and place (God willing) at large appeare.

But leauing the kingdome of the Turks thus ouerthrown in AEGYPT, and the Mamalukes F there triumphing; the French king returned into FRANCE▪ and the Christians in peace in SIRIA: let vs againe returne into the lesser ASIA, and vnto the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, whether the affaires both of the Turkes and of the Christians now call vs. All this while the Greeke empire (for so the Greeks will haue it called) flourished both in peace and plentie in the lesser ASIA, vnder their emperour Iohn Batazes: the power of the Latines in the meane time declining as fast at CONSTANTINOPLE, vnder the rule of the Latin emperour [Page] Baldwin the second. As for the Turks whom we left grieuously troubled both with famine and G the often incursions of the Tartars, they had all this while, and yet also, enough and more than enough to do to withstand the same enemie. At length it fortuned that Iohn Ducas the Greeke emperor died, being at the time of his death about threescore yeares old, wherof he had happily raigned three & thirtie: by whose good & discreet gouernment, the Greeke empire before broght low and almost to naught by the Latines, began againe to gather strength and to flourish both in ASIA and some little part of EUROPE also. Of him are reported many notable matters, which as impertinent to our purpose I could willingly passe ouer, were I not by the woorthie remembrance of one of them staied a while by the way.

This noble and famous emperour hauing long lamented the death of the faire empresse Irene H his first wife, at last married another yoong ladie, the sister of Manfred king of SCICILIE, called Anne, with whom amongst other honourable and beautifull dames, sent by the king her brother for the accompanying of her to CONSTANTINOPLE,The emperour in [...] with Marcesina. was one Marcesina, a rare paragon, of such a feature as if nature had in her meant to bestow her greatest skill. From whose mouth alwaies flowed a fountaine of most sugred words, and out of her eies issued (as it were) nets to entangle the amorous in: vpon this so faire an object, the emperour not fearing further harme, tooke pleasure oftentimes to feed his eies, vntill that at length caught with her lookes, he had lost his libertie, and was of a great emperor become her thrall, in such sort, as that in comparison of her he seemed little or nothing to regard the yoong empresse his wife; but so far doated vpon her, that he suffered her to be attired and honoured with the same attire and honour that I the empresse was her selfe; whom she now so farre exceeded both in grace and fauour with the emperour, and honour of the people, as that shee almost alone enjoyed the same, without regard of her vnto whom it was of more right due. Whilest she thus alone triumpheth, at length it fortuned that shee in all her glorie, attended vpon with most of the gallants of the court, and some of the emperours guard, would needs goe (whether for deuotion or for her recreation, I know not) to visite the monasterie and faire church, which Blemmydes (a noble man of great renowne, both for his integritie of life, and learning) had of his owne cost and charges but lately built in the countrey; where he together with his monkes, as men wearie of the world, liued a deuout and solitarie contemplatiue life, after the manner of that time, with the great good opinion of the people in generall. This Blemmydes was afterward for his vpright life and profound K learning, chosen Patriarch of CONSTANTINOPLE: which great honour, next vnto the emperour himselfe,Marcesina the emper [...]r [...] of the church. he refused, contenting himselfe with his cell. Marcesina comming thither in great pompe, and thinking to haue entred the church, had the dores shut against her by the monkes, before commaunded so to doe by Blemmydes their founder: and so was to her great disgrace kept out. For that deuout man deemed it a great impietie, to suffer that so wicked and shamelesse a woman, against whom he had most sharply both spoken and written, with her prophane and wicked feet to tread vpon the sacred pauement of his church. She enraged with this indignitie, hardly by so proud a woman to be with patience disgested, and prickt forward by her flattering [...]ollowers also; returning to the court, grieuously complained thereof vnto the emperour, stirring him vp by all meanes she could to reuenge the same, persuading him to haue been therein himselfe L disgraced. Whereunto were joyned also the hard speeches of her pickthanke fauourits, who to currie Fauell, spared not to put oyle as it were ynto the fire, for the stirring vp of the emperour vnto reuenge. Who with so great a complaint nothing mooued vnto wrath, but strucke as it were to the heart with a remorse of conscience, and oppressed with heauinesse, with teares running downe his cheekes, and fetching a deepe sigh, said: Why prouoke you me to punish so deuout and just a man? whereas if I would my selfe haue liued without reproch and infamie, I should haue kept my imperiall majestie vnpolluted or stained. But now sith I my selfe haue beene the cause both of mine owne disgrace, and of the empires: I may thanke mine owne deserts, if of such euill seed as I haue sowne, I now reape also an euill haruest.

Th [...]odorus Las [...] chosen empero [...]r.After the death of this good emperour, Theodorus his sonne, borne the first yeare of his fathers M raigne, being then about three and thirtie yeares old, was by the generall consent of the people saluted emperour in his stead: who in the beginning of his empire renewed the league which his father had made with Iathatines the Turkish Sultan. And so hauing prouided for the securitie of his affaires in ASIA; he with a puissant armie passed ouer the strait of HELLESPONTUS into EUROPE, to appease the troubles there raised in MACEDONIA and THRACIA, by the king [Page] A of BULGARIA his brother in law, and Michaell Angelus Despot of THESSALIA; who vpon the death of the old emperour began to spoile those countries, not without hope at length to haue joyned them vnto their owne: by whose comming they were for all that disappointed of their purpose, and glad to sue to him for peace. But whilest he was there busied, he was aduertised by letters from NICE, That Michaell Paleologus, whom he had left there gouernour in his absence, was secretly fled vnto the Turks: with which newes he was not a little troubled. The cause of whose flight, as Paleologus himselfe gaue it out, was, for that he perceiued himselfe diuers waies by many his enemies brought into disgrace, and the emperours eares so filled with their odious complaints, so cunningly framed against him, as that they were not easily or in short time to bee B refelled: and therefore fearing in the emperours heauie displeasure to be suddainely taken away, to haue willingly gone into exile, if so happely he might saue his life from the mallice of them that sought after it.

At his comming to ICONIUM, he found Iathatines the Sultan making great preparation against the Tartars; who hauing driuen the Turks out of PERSIA and the other farre Easterne countries (as is before declared) and running still on, did with their continuall incursions spoile a great part of their territories in the lesser ASIA also; and now lay at AXARA, a towne not far off from ICONIUM: against whom the Sultan now making the greatest preparation hee could, gladly welcommed Paleologus, whom he knew to be a right valiant and worthie captaine, commending to his charge the leading of certaine bands of Greekes; whom he had retained to serue C him in those warres, as he had others also of the Latines, vnder the conduct of Boniface Moline, a nobleman of VENICE: and so hauing put all things in readinesse, and strengthened with these forraine supplies of the Greekes and Latines, set forward against his enemies the Tartars: who at the first sight of the strange ensignes and souldiors, were much dismayed, fearing some greater force had been come to the aid of the Turkes. Neuerthelesse, joyning with them in battell, had with them at the first a most terrible and bloodie conflict, wherein that part of the armie that stood against Paleologus, and his Greekes, was put to the worse; to the great discomfiture of the Tartars, being euen vpon the point to haue fled, had not one of the greatest commaunders in the Turks armie, and a nigh kinsman of the Sultans, for an old grudge that he bare vnto the Sultan, with all his regiment in the heat of the battell reuolted vnto the Tartars: whereby the fortune D of the battell was in a moment as it were quite altered, they which but now were about to haue fled, fighting like lyons; and they that were victors, now glad to turne their backes and flie: in which flight a great number of the Turkes fell, the fierce Tartars most eagerly pursuing them. Paleologus with the generall of the Turks hardly chased by the Tartars, and glad euery houre to make a stand, and to fight for their liues, with much adoe after many daies flight recouered a castle of the Generals, neere vnto CASTAMONA, and so saued themselues. The Tartars after this so great a victorie (wherein they had broken the whole strength of the Turkes, and brought in hazard the whole state of their kingdome) without resistance forraged all the countries and prouinces subject vnto the Turkish Sultan, making spoile of whatsoeuer they light vpon: insomuch, that the Sultan discouraged, and hauing now no strength left to oppose against them, fled vnto E the Greeke emperour Theodorus for aid; who most honourably entertained him with all his traine, and comforted him with such small aid as he thought good then to spare him: Which for his more safetie he sent home with him, vnder the leading of Isaacius Ducas, surnamed Murtzufle, a man in great credit with him. In recompence of which kindnesse, the Sultan gaue vnto the emperour the citie of LAODICEA, whereinto he presently put a strong garrison: neuerthelesse, it was not long before it fell againe into the hands of the Turkes, being a place not to be holden by the Greekes. Yet for all this, the Sultan finding himselfe still too weake to withstand the continuall inuasions of the Tartars, and wearie of the harmes he dayly sustained; by the aduise of his cheefe counsellors made a league with them, yeelding to pay them a certain yearely tribute, therby to redeeme his peace. From which time the Tartars accounted of the Turks, as of their tributaries F and vassales.

Not long after this, Michaell Paleologus was by the emperours kind and gracious letters called home; with his faithfull promise also before giuen for his securitie: who before his return bound himselfe also by solemne oath, to be vnto the emperour and his sonne alwayes loyall, and from thencefoorth neuer to seeke after the empire, or giue cause of new suspect for such matters as he had been before charged with: but for euer to yeeld vnto the emperour, his sonne, or other his [Page] successors in the empire, his dutifull obedience and fidelitie. Vpon which conditions he was again G made Great Constable, and so receiued into the emperours fauour, and liued the rest of his raigne in great honour and credit with him.

The death of Theodorus the Greeke emperor.Now Theodorus the emperour hauing raigned three yeares, fell sicke and died, leauing behind him his sonne Iohn, then but a child of six yeares old, to succeed him in the empire: whom hee vpon his death bed, together with the empire, commended to Arsenius the Patriarch, and one George Muzalo his faithfull counsellor, as to his trustie tutors, to see him safely brought vp, & the empire well and peaceably gouerned. This Muzalo was a man of meane parentage, but for his familiar acquaintance and ciuile behauior, of a child brought vp in the court with the emperour as his play fellow: with whom he growing vp, so framed himselfe vnto his manners and disposition,H that he alone was vnto him in stead of all, still at hand, readie to say or doe whatsoeuer might be vnto the emperour gracious or pleasing. And the elder they grew, so increased this their mutuall affection and loue also: in such sort, that with him now emperour, he was of all others in greatest fauour and authoritie; a warie obseruer of his delights, a readie minister of his affaires, and faithfull partaker of his secrets: for which he was in short time promoted vnto the greatest honors of the court, and honourably married vnto one of the emperours nigh kinswomen; and now at his death, by his last will, with the reuerend Patriarch appointed tutor to the yong emperor and his two yong sisters. And for the more assurance thereof, a solemne oath of obedience vnto the yong prince as emperour, and vnto them as his tutors, was exacted of all sort of men both high & low, of what vocation soeuer; and that not once, but first a little before the emperours death, and againe I after he was now dead for many of the nobilitie honourably descended, seeing the suddain change of Muzalo his fortune,Enuie in Cou [...]. among themselues murmured thereat, as greeued with his preferment, seeing there were many among them, vnto whom both the tuition of the yong emperour and administration of the empire, of better right appertained; insomuch as they were both neerer of kin vnto the emperor, and fitter (as they thought) for so great a charge than was Muzalo; whom (as they said) they had many causes both to contemne and hate: For beside that hee was not honourably borne, and had serued the late emperour Theodore, as the minister of his wrath against some of the nobilitie, causes sufficient of the peoples hatred; if hee should now also in so great authoritie affect the empire, it was by his malicious enemies vainly doubted, that he would not spare to commit any manner of villanie, for the effecting of his inordinat desire. Of all which K Muzalo was not ignorant, a man at all other times of a most quicke apprehension for such matters, but as then especially, his wits being awaked with these so great motiues & dangers. Wherfore speedely calling together all the nobilitie into the court, he welcommed them one by one, and courteously discoursing with them, offered to discharge himselfe both of the administration of the empire, and tuition of the yong emperour, and willingly to yeeld the same vnto any one of them, whom the rest should thinke fittest for so great a charge: which though they all with one consent as it were refused, saying, That he was of all others to be preferred, vnto whom the emperour, lord both of the empire and the child, had committed the same: yet Muzalo earnestly requested them to the contrarie, and stiffely withstood their desire, wishing indeed rather to haue led a quiet priuat life in securitie, than to haue been so ouercharged; not so much for doubt of the L enuie then arising, as for feare of some great danger thereof to ensue. But would he, would he not, remedie there was none, but that as the late emperour had appointed, so he must take the charge vpon him. And now was euery one, as well of the nobilitie, as of the inferiour sort, againe with greater solemnitie than before the third time sworne, to the vttermost of their power to defend the yong emperour in his empire, and Muzalo in the tuition of him and administration of the affaires of the state, and faithfully to yeeld vnto them both all due honour and obedience: which if they should faile religiously to performe, they wished vnto themselues euery man, & to all theirs, a shamefull end and destruction. Yet notwithstanding all this solemne swearing, mixt most times with much forswearing, there were not fully nine daies past, but that certaine of the chiefe nobilitie forgetfull or else carelesse of their oath, and full of enuie, seldome satisfied but with blood,M conspired the vnworthie death of Muzalo the protectour both of the emperour and the empire. The ninth day appointed for the funerall of the emperour, was now come, at which time were met together at SOSANDRA (an abbey by himselfe built in the honour of the virgine Marie at MAGNESIA) many great ladies and graue matrons, to mourne as the manner was; all the great princes of the nobilitie, and among them the conspirators also: thither repaired also a number of [Page] A souldiors, prepared for the slaughter, with an infinit multitude of the common people, as at such solemnities is vsuall.Muzalo trait [...]rously murdered in the church. But what needs many words, whilest the hymns were yet in singing, and the obsequies in performing, the soldiors as they were before instructed, suddainly breaking into the church, with their drawne swords in their hands, slew Muzalo (then fled vnto the altar for refuge) with his two brethren Andronicus and Theodorus, both men of great account, and diuers others appointed to the massacre. So the matrones & the rest of the multitude breaking off their mourning, and for feare thronging out one in anothers necke, fled as fast as they could, some one way, some another, as they thought for their most safetie: but the priests and monkes thinking to haue done the like, were by the imperious souldiors, whether they would or not, againe inforced B into the church; where tumbling one ouer another, as thronging in with great force & violence, and scarce able to stand, by reason of the slipperinesse of the blood there shed vpon the pauement, they in great feare made an end of those bloodie obsequies. This outrage appeased, Arsenius the Patriarch, and only tutor of the yong emperour now left, was therewith yet much troubled, as with a thing dangerous both to the person of the yoong prince, and quietnesse of the state; but what good course to take therein, he could not tell: for as he was a man for his learning and integritie of life, not inferiour to the best, so in matters of state he was as far to seeke; as it commonly happeneth the contemplatiue man, buried in his meditations, to be vnfit for temporall gouernment; whereas he that should performe both, must vnto his rare vertues and great learning joine a ciuile conuersation, with great experience in worldly affaires, not to be learned but by great and C long practise. This reuerend father (of no great reach, yet wishing all well) calling together the nobilitie, consulted with them what were best to be done for the gouernment both of the yong emperour and the empire, now that Muzalo was dead; not considering in the mean time who they were with whom he consulted, or that counsell grounded vpon no wise foresight or approoued experience, was more dangerous vnto him whom he would haue prouided for, than all the enemies murthering swords, as shortly after appeared.

Amongst others of the nobilitie called to counsell,Michael Paleologus aspireth. was Michaell Paleologus (of whom we haue before spoken) much superiour to the rest, as descended of the imperiall house of the Comneni, a man of a cheerefull countenance, gracious, and courteous, and withall exceeding bountifull and liberall, whereby he easily woon the hearts of all men in generall, but especially of the D colonels, captaines, and other martiall men, commaunders in the armie; of whose aspiring to the empire, many presages and common rumors (not alwaies vaine) had in former time passed also to the mouing of many: yea the Patriarch himselfe not considering his hautie and aspiring nature, made no lesse account of him than did the rest, but vpon an especiall fauour, committed to his only trust the keyes of the common treasure, at such time as money was to bee deliuered out for payment of the armies or other like great occasions of the state; the most effectuall meanes for the furtherance of his secret practises, & the readiest way for the effecting of that he had so long before plotted: for hauing in his fingring such a masse of treasure, as he might well haue wished but neuer reasonably hoped for, he poured it out as it were by bushels amongst the nobilitie and martiall men, & such others as he thought were able to do most with the people, amongst whom E were many of the cleargie also: of which his fauourits were made many meetings, and by them was the Patriarch continually sollicited, but yet in generall tearmes, without delay (according to the necessitie of the time) to take order for the good gouernment of the state, which now as a great ship in the middest of the sea without a master, was (as they said) in danger to perish; and being once lost, was not to be againe recouered. At which time also, the name of Paleologus was in euery mans mouth, as the only man for his wisedome and experience, fit to take vpon him the charge and gouernment of the empire, vntill the yong emperour were come to age. Vnto which cōmon good liking, the Patriarch also (seeing no more, or peraduenture not so much as the rest) gaue his consent. And so without longer stay, to the great contentment both of the nobilitie and people in generall, made him gouernour of the empire, and tutor to the yong emperour, wanting F now nothing of an emperor himselfe, more than the title and imperiall ornaments. This was the first step whereby this aspiring man (twice before in disgrace with the two late emperours, Iohn Duc [...]s, and his sonne Theodorus) mounted at last vnto the empire.

It was not many dayes after, but that his fauourits held another counsell, wherein it was alledged, That it was not seemely for him that was tutor vnto the emperour, gouernour of the state and empire, and to giue audience vnto the embassadours of forraine nations, to want the honour [Page] next vnto the emperour, as well for the magnificence of the state, as for the credit of his place:G whereupon hee was both by the Patriarch and the yoong emperour honoured with the title of the Despot, another step vnto the empire. But what contentment find the ambitious euen in the greatest honours, so long as there is one aboue them? Little sure, or none at all, more than that it serueth them to step at next, vp to the highest: as did this new made Despot, who shortly after was by certaine of the nobilitie, his great fauourits, neere vnto MAGNESIA, with the great applause of the people hoysed vp and saluted emperour. Whereof Arsenius the Patriarch hearing, was therewith much troubled, as fearing what would become of the yong child, the right heire of the empire. And first he was about to haue excommunicated, as well him that was made emperour, as them that had so made him: but afterward changing his H purpose, for feare of greater troubles, he thought it better by solemne oath to bind both him and the rest, That they should not seeke after the life of the child, or by any force or colour goe about to depriue him of the empire; which was so done. Yet it was not full a moneth after, but that euen hee that had so great a care of the yoong child and so prouided for his safetie (persuaded by them of the nobilitie and the cleargie) with his owne hands,Michaell Paleologus crowned emperor by Arsenius the Patriarch. and all the accustomed ceremonies, set the imperiall crowne vpon this vsurpers head; yet not as vpon him that should still enjoy the empire, but as vpon a man according to the present necessitie of the time and state thought fittest for so great a charge, vntill the yoong child came to age; vnto whom then he was to giue place, and to resigne to him the empire. All which being by more solemne oath than before confirmed, good newes (as the certaine signes of his fortunat gouernment)I were brought vnto him of a great victorie obtained by his captaines, against Michaell Angelus Despot of AETOLIA and EPIRUS: Who hauing married the late emperours daughter, and hearing of his death, with the great troubles in ASIA; aided by the king of SICILIA and the prince of PELOPONESUS and ACHAIA, his sonnes in law, had thought in that hurle and perturbation of the state to haue taken vnto himselfe the greatest part of the emperours territories in MACEDONIA and THRACIA: and for the same purpose was with a great armie entred into them, burning and spoiling the countrey before him; whereof Michaell Paleologus (then but newly made Despot) hauing intelligence, sent his brother Iohn, and some other his best captaines, with a great armie against him; by whom he with his complices were put to the worse, and not without great losse enforced to retire: the joyfull newes whereof he receiued, euen as K he was crowned. Which was shortly after confirmed by the comming of the great commaunders themselues, bringing with them the prince of PELOPONESUS and ACHAIA, by them taken prisoner. Who for his ransome was afterward glad to giue vnto the emperour Paleologus, MONEMBASIA, MAINE, and SPARTA, three of the best cities of PELOPONESUS: whereinto he put strong garrisons, vnder the commaund of Constantinus his brother by the mothers side, a right valiant captaine. By whose good seruice, and the commodious situation of the places, he gained diuers other townes and cities, and at length the greatest part of PELOPONESUS, out of the hands of the Latines: for the vtter rooting out of whom, hee shortly after with a great armie passed ouer into THRACIA, with purpose (as was thought) to haue besieged CONSTANTINOPLE: but finding it to be a matter of more difficultie than was before supposed,L he left that, and laied siege to the castle of PERA, oueragainst it on the other side of the hauen, in hope by winning of that castle to haue become master also of the towne: where he was notably repulsed, and enforced with losse to retire. So rising with his armie, hee fortefied diuers castles and strong holds in the countrey about CONSTANTINOPLE, and put into them strong garrisons, charging them, with continuall incursions to trouble the Constantinopolitanes, and to cut them so short, if it were possible, as that they should not dare to looke out at the gates of the citie. Which they so well performed, that in short time the Latines in the citie were driuen to such extremitie, that for want of wood they were faine to burne many of the fairest houses in the cittie in stead of fewell; which done, hee returned againe to NICE, the cheefe seat of the Greeke emperours, euer since that CONSTANTINOPLE was taken by the M Latines.

Now raigned in CONSTANTINOPLE the Latine emperour Baldwin the second (as is before declared) a man of small courage, and lesse power, and therefore not much regarded either of the Greekes or Latines: who for the maintenance of his state was glad to sell away the publick ornaments of the citie, and to pawne his sonne vnto the Bruges marchants for money; by whom hee [Page] A was le [...]t at VENICE to be brought vp: which gaue occasion for some writers to report, That he was pawned vnto the Venetians.

About this time Mango, 1260 the great Chan of TARTARIE, stirred vp by Aitonus the Armenian king,Haalon the Tartar sent with a great armie against the Turks. by whose persuasion he had also receiued the Christian religion, sent his brother Haalon with an exceeding great armie against the Turkes and Sarrasins in SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE. This Haalon conuerted also vnto the Christian faith by his wife, setting forward with a world of people following him, in the space of six moneths ouerran all PERSIA, with the countries adjoyning, excepting one strong place in the mountains (which some say was SAMARCHAND, afterward the royall seat of the great terrour of the world, the mightie (Tamerlaine) B which besieged by ten thousand horsemen, by him there left for that purpose, and so continued by the space of seuen and twentie yeares after, was then at length (as Aiton himselfe writeth) yeelded by the defendants, onely for want of clothes to couer their nakednesse. Haalon in whose armie those ten thousand (left behind) were not missed; marching on, and as a violent tempest bearing all downe before him, entered at length into ASSYRIA, and there laied siege vnto the great citie of BABYLON, then the seat of the great Caliph; whom all the Mahometane princes honoured aboue all others, as the true successour of their great prophet Mahomet, and receiued from his mouth the interpretation of their law, as most diuine oracles. Which great citie Haalon woon, and putting to sword all he found therein, men, women, and children, with the spoile therof and the rich treasures of the Caliph, enriched his souldiours. The Caliph himselfe (reserued C for that purpose) he commaunded to be set in the middest of the infinite treasure which hee and his predecessours had most couetously heaped vp together, and that he should of that gold siluer and precious stones take what it pleased him to eat, saying (by way of derision) That so gainefull a guest should by good reason be fed with nothing but things of greatest price, whereof he willed him to make no spare: In which order the couetous wretch kept for certaine daies, miserably died for hunger, in the middest of those things whereof he thought hee should neuer haue had ynough; which though they were in valour great, and with great care laied together, yet serued they him not now to suffice nature, best contented with a little. BABYLON thus sacked, and almost rased, the Tartar marching on through MESOPOTAMIA, by the way took the citie of RHOAIS, where Aiton the Armenian king and author of this the Tartars expedition, came D vnto him with twelue thousand horsemen, and fortie thousand foot, as reporteth Aiton the Armenian kings nephew,Aleppo rased by the Tartars. then there present. So entering into SYRIA, in a few daies tooke ALEPPO, which hee sacked and rased in the yeare of our Lord 1260, with diuerse other strong townes sometime belonging vnto the kingdome of ANTIOCH. Then was one Malacnesar Sultan of DAMASCO, commaunding ouer all SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE: who terrified with the losse of his cities, and the feare of farther danger, with his wife and children came and humbled himselfe before the Tartar prince, in hope so to haue saued vnto himselfe some good part of his kingdome. Wherein he was much deceiued, being (as some say) carried away a farre off into exile, because hee should not hinder the Tartars proceedings: or as others report (and happely with more probabilitie) being by him detained as his prisoner, and afterwards to E the terror of his sonne, cut in peeces in his sight vnder the wals of DAMASCO, after that it had in vaine beene twice assaulted by the Tartars: which strong citie for all that he afterwards tooke by strong hand,Damasco woon▪ and sacked it, and by the persuasion of his wife ouerthrew all the Mahometane temples, as he had before in euery place where he came. But purposing to haue gone on forward to HIERUSALEM, and to haue conquered the whole land of PALESTINE, newes was brought him of the death of his brother Mango, the great Chan: whereupon he staied his journey and returned backe againe, in hope of that great empire, hauing in this expedition spent almost six yeares.

Thus by the Tartars was the kingdome of the Turks at DAMASCO ouerthrowne. At which time, the broken affaires of the Christians in SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE, might easily F haue beene repaired, and those two goodly kingdomes againe restored to the Christian commonweale, had the Christian princes of the West then in time put to their helping hands on the one side, as did the Tartars on the other: But they then at fatall discord among themselues, and busied with their warres at home, let slip that so faire an opportunitie, the like whereof they seldome or neuer had since. Haalon the Tartar prince, in token of his good will toward the Christians and their affaires, at his departure from DAMASCO left his sonne Abaga there with twentie [Page] thousand horsemen to aid them in their warres, if they should come (as was expected) for the recouerie G of the Holy land: who hauing there stayed some while, and hearing of his fathers troubles at home, followed himselfe after him, but yet left behind him Guirboca, a valiant captaine, with ten thousand of his horsemen, to like purpose that his father had him: who by the insolencie of certaine Christian souldiors in garrison about SIDON, was of a friend together with his Tartars made a foe. These garrison souldiors hauing by chance fet in some bootie out of the Tartars territorie, not onely refused to restore the same againe, but also foulely intreated such as the Tartar had sent for the demaunding thereof. Whereupon further quarrels arising, it fortuned a nephew of Guirbocas, a valiant yoong gentleman, to be slaine: in reuenge whereof hee besieged SIDON, and hauing taken it, sacked it, and burnt it downe to the ground. After which H time, he and his Tartars became vtter enemies vnto the Christians, doing them all the harme they could deuise.

The Aegyptian Sultan inuadeth Siria.This discord betwixt the Tartars and the Christians, gaue occasion vnto Melech the Aegyptian Sultan, now jealous of the Tartars neerenesse, with a great armie of his Mamalukes & others to enter into SYRIA, and to spoile the countrey about DAMASCO; against whom Guirboca with his Tartars, although both in strength and number far inferiour, went out. But joyning battell with him at too much oddes, and the victorie inclining vnto that side where most strength was, he there valiantly fighting was slaine, with most part of his Tartars: such as escaped fled into ARMENIA vnto the friendly king. By this victorie all SYRIA, with the land of PALESTINE, excepting some few places yet holden by the Christians, fell again into the hands of the Aegyptian I Sultans; as did some of them shortly after also: for Bandocader succeeding Melech in the Mamaluke kingdome, comming into SYRIA with a great armie, took ANTIOCH from the Christians, & with it most of the other places before by them defended. The citie he burnt, & rased the castle down to the ground, and afterward entring into ARMENIA, did there great harme also.

Antioch taken from the Christians.Whilest the Turks kingdome thus goeth to wracke in SYRIA, ruinated by the Tartars, but possessed by the Mamalukes; their affairs in the lesser ASIA, now the whole hope of that nation, went not at that time much better: for Iathatines the Turkes Sultan, there also inuaded by the Tartars, and hauing lost ICONIUM his regall citie, fled with his brother Melech to the Greeke emperour Michaell Paleologus, in hope to be of him relieued, for the kindnesse hee had not long before shewed him in like case, when as he fled from the late emperour Theodore; whereof now K putting him in remembrance, he requested him either with some conuenient force to aid him, or els to assigne vnto him some corner in his large empire where hee might in safetie rest with his wife and children, and other followers, whom with much wealth hee had brought with him in great number. The emperor on euery side himselfe incombred with warres, thought it not good in so great newnesse of his empire, to deminish his owne forces: and to assigne vnto him any place to inhabit, seemed no lesse dangerous; for that he hauing been a great prince, and commanding ouer many great countries, and brought vp in all princely royaltie, was not like to content himselfe with a little: beside that, his nobilitie, then dispersed by the Tartars, were like ynough in great numbers to resort vnto him, as vnto their head, so soone as they should once heare that he were seated in any place: and yet vnkindly to cast him off that had so honourably vsed him in L like extremitie, the emperour was loath. And therefore feeding him vp with faire words, and foording him on from time to time with delaies, he held him a great while as a man in suspence, betwixt hope and despaire. At length in the absence of the emperour (though happily not without his priuitie) he was commaunded with all his traine, in number about twelue hundred, to get him to AENUS, a citie of THRACIA, standing vpon the sea coast: where he much discontented, liued like an honourable prisoner at large, but with the watchfull eyes of so many vpon him, as that he could by no meanes (as he desired) escape. In which case we will for a while leaue him, to feed vpon his owne melancholy thoughts.

1261Now had Michaell Paleologus the emperour raigned at NICE two yeares, when new troubles began againe to arise in the West part of his empire on EUROPE side, by the trecherie of M Michaell Angelus, Despot of EPIRUS. For the speedie repressing whereof, he sent one Alexius Strategopulus, a worthie captaine and a man of great nobilitie (whom for his good seruice against the said Despot, he had in the beginning of his raigne made Caesar) with little aboue 800 Bythinian souldiors, and commission for the taking vp of so many mo as he should for that seruice need, in MACEDONIA and THRACIA: commaunding him when he had passed the strait, with [Page] A those souldiers to take his way through the suburbs of CONSTANTINOPLE, to terrifie the Latines, whom he was loth to suffer too long to liue in rest and quiet or to stir too far out of the gates, but to keepe them as prisoners coupt vp within the wals of the citie. This warlike captaine with this handfull of men, passing ouer PROPONTIS encamped at REGIUM, not far from CONSTANTINOPLE; where by chance lighting vpon certaine poore labouring men Greekes borne in the citie, and there dwelling, he diligently inquired of them the state thereof, and of what strength the Latines were, with many other things, such as he was desirous to know: who not onely told him that the strength of the Latines was but small, but also that the greatest part thereof was gone to the siege of DAPHNVSIA, a towne not farre off vpon the side of the B EVXINE sea: and withall (as Greekes euill affected to the gouernment of the Latines, and desirous of the libertie of their countrey) offered of themselues to shew him a meanes how to giue him entrance into the citie. These poore men dwelt within the citie, close by one of the gates, neere whereunto by an old ruinous mine almost swarued vp, was a secret vnsuspected way into the citie, not knowne to any but to themselues: By this blind hole they promised him by night to receiue in fiftie of his best souldiers; which suddenly setting vpon the watch fast by, and dispatching them out of the way, might presently breake open the gate and so let in the rest of the armie: whereunto they promised themselues with their friends to put to their helping hands, assuring him of the good successe thereof. This plot for the betraying of the citie thus laied and agreed vpon, Alexius the Caesar well rewarding the men, and filling them with C greater promises, sent them away: who as if they had beene about their countrey worke, were after their woonted manner receiued into the citie, without suspition at all. And within a few daies after according to their promise, at an appointed houre receiued in by night the aforesaid fiftie souldiours; who aided by them, presently slew the watch, and brake open the gate: wherby Alexius entring a little before day, in conuenient place put his men in order of battell; and afterward to the greater terrour of the Latines, caused the citie to be set on fire in foure places, which increased with the wind, burnt in most terrible manner, and was in short time come almost to the emperours pallace. Who scarce well awaked, and seeing the citie all on a fire about his eares, and the enemie comming on; was about at the first with those few Latines that hee had (for Greekes he had none) to haue made head against them. But better aduised, and perceiuing D it to be now to no purpose, he (the last of the Latine Emperours that euer raigned in CONSTANTINOPLE) with Iustinian the Latine Patriarch, and some other of his friends, fled by sea into EVBOCA, and so from thence afterwards vnto VENICE, and afterwards to Lewis the French king, in hope to haue beene by him and the Venetians relieued. After whom fled also all the rest of the Latines. Thus the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE by great fortune fell againe into the hands of the Greeks, in the yeare 1261, after it had beene in possession of the Latines, about 58 yeares.

The joyfull newes of the recouerie of the imperiall citie,Paleologus the G [...]e [...]ke emperor taketh possession o [...] the citie of Constantinople [...] was in short time carried vnto Michael Paleologus the Greeke emperour at NICE; who at the first beleeued it not, as thinking it scarce possible so strong a citie to haue beene by so weake a power surprised, where as hee E himselfe not long before was not able with a right puissant armie, and much other warlike prouision, to win the little castle of GALATA ouer against it. But afterwards assured of the truth thereof, with his hands and eies cast vp towards heauen, gaue most heartie thankes to God therefore; causing hymnes and psalmes of thanksgiuing to bee solemnly sung in euerie church, with all the other signes of joy and triumph that could be deuised. So setting all other things apart, he wholy busied himselfe in making preparation for his going to CONSTANTINOPLE, now once againe the seat of the Greeke empire: wherein, and in trauelling hauing spent many daies; he at length with the empresse his wife and Andronicus his sonne, then but two yeares old, as if it had been in solemne procession on foot entred into the citie, by the gate called the Golden Gate; and so after praiers and thankes giuen, went to the pallace prepared for F him neere vnto the tiltyard: for the other imperiall pallaces of greater beautie (sometime the stately dwellings of the greatest emperours of the Greekes) had now of long during the raigne of the Latines, lien ruinous, or altogether defaced. And shortly after, because vertue and true desert should not want their due honour, he caused Alexius Caesar (by whose meanes the citie was recouered) in solemne triumph in his roabs of honour, with a crowne vpon his head, not much inferiour vnto the imperiall crowne, with great pompe to bee carried through all the [Page] citie: and farther commaunded, That his name for one yeare next following, in all solemne G hymnes and praiers of thanksgiuing, should be joyned with the name of the emperour himselfe: And yet not thinking to haue done him honour enough, caused his liuely image afterward to be most curiouslly made, and as a trophie to be set vpon a faire marble piller, before the great church of the holy Apostles, in perpetuall remembrance of him, and that he had done for the deliuerie of his countrey; which shortly after ouerthrowne by an earthquake, was by his sonne againe restored. Now was this great and famous citie, sometime the beautie of the word, by these strange and fatall mutations, woonderfully defaced and brought to great desolation: in euerie place was to be seene great heapes, or rather (to say the truth) great hils of rubbidge, the eternall witnesses of the ruine thereof; the houses stood some quite fallen downe, some H readie to follow after, and some other great and stately buildings now the small reliques of great fires: for the great beautie thereof was before, at such time as the Latines tooke it, most defaced by fire; who all the time that they had it, ceassed not night and day to destroy some part or other of it, as if they had knowne they should not long keepe it; neither did this last fire raised by the Greekes themselues to terrifie the Latines, a little deforme it: for which cause the emperours chiefe care now was to cleanse the citie, and in best sort he could to reforme so great a confusion of things not to be all at once amended; first beginning with the churches, which ruinous or readie to fall, he repaired; and next to that filled the emptie houses with new inhabitants. And albeit that the chiefe of the Latines were together with the emperour fled and gone, yet was the most part of the artificers and tradesmen of the citie, Venetians, and of I them of PISA, mingled together; vnto whom also to joyne the Genowaies, and so to fill the citie with Latines, he thought it not altogether safe, although that by them he reaped great profit: wherefore he assigned vnto them the citie of GALATA now called PERA, on the other side of the hauen, for them to inhabit, graunting them great priuiledges, and euerie of those companies to be gouerned by a Consull or Potestate of their owne. As for the imperiall citie it selfe, he stored it (so neere as he could) with naturall Greeks borne.

Paleologus [...]ealous of his estate.Now although all things went as Paleologus the emperour could himselfe haue wished; yet could he not rest so contented, for feare least those which now did eat their owne hearts and with great griefe smouldred their anger, should at length as the rightfull heires of the empire by him vsurped, breake out into open force, and so breed him great troubles, yea and perhaps K worke his confusion. For such is the tormenting state of vsurping tyrants, neuer to thinke themselues safe so long as any one liueth, whom they may suspect. Wherefore at once to rid himselfe of this feare, he thought it best so to dispose of the children of the late emperour Theodorus Lascaris, as that he should not need of them to stand in doubt: to take them out of the way, besides that it was a thing odious, he saw it like to be vnto him also dangerous; Marie and Theodora (two of the eldest daughters) being before by their father married vnto two great princes (one, the Despot of EPIRVS, & the other prince of BVLGARIA) with whom he had much before to do, and of them yet stood in some doubt; but these were safe enough out of his reach. Other two yoonger sisters there were in his custodie, Theodora & Irene, with their brother Iohn, the onely heire of the empire: Theodora he married vnto one Belicurt, a gentleman of PELOPONESVS; L and Irene to one Vigintimilio of GENVA; both Latines, men of no great birth or power, such as he needed not to stand in doubt of. These two ladies, the daughters of so great an emperour as was Theodorus, thus basely bestowed; remained onely their brother Iohn, the onely heire of the empire, then but ten yeares old, whom Paleologus long before euen in the beginning of his raigne, had sent vnto MAGNESIA, there to bee safely kept farre off from the court, for feare least in his right and quarrell some discontented persons desirous of innouation, should begin some new stirs dangerous to his estate. Which indignitie done vnto the yoong prince, Arsenius the Patriarch (put in trust by his father for the bringing of him vp) tooke in so euill part, that he forsooke the court with all his ecclesiasticall dignities, and as a man wearie of the world, retired himselfe vnto a little monasterie of Pascasins in the countrey,M there to spend the rest of his daies. From whence for all that hee was after the taking of CONSTANTINOPLE from the Latines, almost against his will drawne thither by Paleologus the emperour, and made Patriarch thereof, there together with so great an honour to find his greater discontent. For Paleologus the vsurper, altogether vnmindfull of his faith so solemnly before giuen, for the safetie of the yoong prince, and the restoring vnto him of his empire; and [Page] A now fully resolued to establish vnto him and his posteritie the soueraigntie of so great an empire, howsoeuer it was got,Paleologus causeth the yong emperours eyes to be put out. caused the yoong princes eies to be most cruelly put out: the vsuall practise of the tyrants of the East, vpon such as they are loath or feare to kill, and yet would make them vnfit for gouernment. Of which barbarous crueltie, his sister Theodora (married to Constantinus prince of BVLGARIA) hearing, ceassed not with teares and praiers and all other womanly persuasions, to stir vp her husband in reuenge thereof: whereunto also Iathatines the Turkes Sultan, gaue no small furtherance; who wearie of exile▪ and to bee so into a corner confined, as into a prison from whence hee might not start, by secret messengers entreated the Bulgarian prince to make war vpon the vsurping emperour: promising him a great summe B of money, if by his helpe hee might recouer his former libertie. Wherewith hee the rather mooued, with a great power of his owne and aboue twentie thousand Tartars which then lay by the riuer ISTER, suddenly brake into the emperours territories, and in shorter time than was to haue beene thought, ouerrun all the countrey of THRACIA euen vnto the sea side, leauing neither man nor beast in all the countrey as he went: in good hope also to haue by the way surprized the emperour himselfe, euen then returning from his wars against the Despot in THESSALIE: who hearing of his speedie comming, being got vnto the sea side, and (hauing no way left to haue escaped by land) shipped himselfe into a galley of the Latines, which with another her consert bound for CONSTANTINOPLE, by good hap put in there for to water, and so in two daies arriued in safetie at the imperiall citie. Thus disappointed of the emperour, C all his care was for the deliuerie of the Turks Sultan. Wherefore marching in hast to AENVM, he so terrified the citizens with his comming, that they without farther delay deliuered him into his hands, so to redeeme their owne peace. In his returne you might haue seene the souldiours, especially the Tartars, driuing before them infinit numbers both of men and cattell, in such sort, as that in the open countrey of THRACIA for a space, was hardly to be seene either countreyman or beast, it was so cleane swept both of inhabitants and likewise of cattell.

Iathatines the Sultan by the Tartars carried ouer ISTER,Iathatines dieth in exile. and so by them set at libertie, shortly after died. In whose kingdome succeeded not his sonne Melicke (as some write) but two others (as the Turkes themselues report) the one called Mesoot, the sonne of Kei-Cubades, D and the other Kei-Cubades, the sonne of Feramcine, borne also of the Selzuccian family, as were all the other Turkes Sultans, but how neere of blood vnto the late Sultan Iathatines they say not. Betwixt which two, as his vassales, Gazan the great Tartar Chan (by whom they were so preferred) for the payment of a yearely tribute, diuided the Turkes kingdome: aportioning vnto Mesoot the cities of AMIDA in antient time called AMISVS, and AMINSVS in GALATIA, MELATIA otherwise called MELETINE in the lesser ARMENIA, SIVASTE, in antient time SEBASTIA, and HARBERIE, before SATABREA, both in CAPPADOCIA, with all the countrey about them. And vnto Kei-Cubades, ICONIUM, the auncient seat of the Turkish Sultans, with all RUMILIA ASIATICA, or the countries of the lesser ASIA alongst the sea coast; which these two princes held as the Tartars tributaries, as had the late Sultan Iathatines E before them, vntill such time as he was by the same Tartars againe expulsed. So that the Turks kingdome, which had of long time flourished in the Selzuccian familie in PERSIA, in SYRIA, PALESTINE, and AEGYPT, there quite ouerthrowne by the Mamalukes and Tartars (as is before declared) & now brought vnderfoot in the lesser ASIA also, where only rested all the hope of that nation, was now at a low ebbe, deuided betwixt two weake princes, raigning but at the deuotion of the Tartar. In which confusion of the Turkish empire, so rent, not onely diuers men of greater power and authoritie amongst them, shared vnto themselues, some one corner of the declining kingdome, and some another: but many of the obscure and basest people also, bearing with them nothing but their bowes and arrowes, tooke the strait passages of the mountaines, and from thence with their dayly incursions did much harme in the countries of the Christians joyning vpon them: which was no great matter for them to doe, the garrisons which were woont to defend the same, being for want of pay quite disbanded, and the castles vpon the frontiers by them abandoned; which at the first, as a thing of small importance neglected, was at length vnto the Greekes a great cause of the ruine and decay of the greatest part of their state in ASIA. These mischeefes vnregarded, grew dayly more and more, the Turkes still gaining vpon the Greekes what they lost vnto the Tartars. Whose [Page] inuasions (the glorie of their kingdome onely excepted) was not so hurtfull vnto them, as the G cause of their much greater felicitie afterwards. At length it fortuned, that a great power of these aduenturous Turkes meeting together in PAPHLAGONIA, were about to haue inuaded the territories of the Christians: against whom Michaell Paleologus the emperour sent out a strong and puissant armie to stay their further comming on, lest breaking in that way they should without resistance at their pleasure forrage the countrey before them. Which armie conducted by vnskilfull captaines, encountering with the Turkes, was by them in a great battell ouerthrowne and vtterly defeated, few or none of all that great multitude escaping: for whilest the Greeks vnaduisedly pursued the Turks, retiring of purpose before them, they were by them drawne into the danger of a greater power lying in ambush for them, and so entrapped,H were slaine with an exceeding great slaughter. After which so great a victorie (the beginning of the miserie of the Christians in the lesser ASIA) the Turkes without let or stay ouerranne all the countrey, vnto the riuer SANGARIVS: vpon the banks whereof the Greeke emperour was glad to fortifie diuers townes and forts to keepe them out of BITHINIA. Neuerthelesse, they in short time after subdued all the countries from PONTVS and GALATIA, vnto the LYCIAN and CARIAN sea, and the riuer EVRIMEDON, which they diuided amongst them into diuers Toparchies: little or nothing acknowledging the soueraigntie either of Mesoot, or Kei-Cubades.

Whilest the Turkes in the lesser ASIA thus win from the Christians on the one side, and loose to the Tartars on the other; many an hard conflict in the meane time passed betwixt I the Aegyptian Sultans with their Mamalukes, and the Tartars, for the soueraigntie of SYRIA. The poore remainder of the Christians all that while there, in doubt both of the one and of the other: From whom and from the Armenians (then also much infested by the Mamalukes) diuers embassadors were sent vnto the Pope & the Christian princes of the West, to craue their aid and helpe in that their hard estate: whose praiers little preuailing with the rest, yet so mooued Lewis the French king, and Henry the third, then raigning in ENGLAND, that they both promised them aid. Whereupon Lewis a man of great deuotion, and alwaies forward in that seruice against the infidels, tooke vpon him the crosse, the cognisance of the sacred war; causing his three sonnes, Philip that succeeded him in the kingdome, surnamed the Faire, Peter countie of ALANCON, and Iohn countie of NEVERS (surnamed Tristan, for that his mother was in her greatest heauinesse K for the taking of her husband, deliuered of him in AEGYPT) and most of the nobilitie of FRANCE to do the like: vnto whom also Theobald king of NAVAR his sonne in law, Alphonsus his brother, and Guydo earle of FLANDERS, joyned themselues. And so hauing put all things in readinesse, tooke his way to MARSEILLES, and from thence embarking himselfe with his armie in the Genowaies ships, hired for that purpose, set forward the first of March in the yeare 1270. But being at sea, he was by force of weather constrained to land in SARDINIA, and there to stay a while:1270 departing thence, he at length arriued at CARTHAGE, the place by him desired, where in the entrance of the hauen he surprised certain of the enemies ships;Carthage besieged by K. Lewis. but landing his men, and assaulting the town, he was there notably repulsed. This is not that antient great and famous citie which sometime mightily stroue with the proud mistresse of the world for soueraigntie, but L another built long after in the ruines, or at least not far from the ruines of the same. In the besieging whereof, the Frenchmen [...]ound such resistance, as well put them in remembrance of the antient glorie of the Carthaginians. One day it fortuned as the king thus lay at the siege, that the defendants made a great and fierce sally out vpon the Frenchmen, who before commaunded so to do, by little and little retired, to draw their enemies farther on: betwixt whom and the citie, the Constable with a great power comming in and charging them behind, and they which before retired now standing close vnto them, they were on both sides hardly beset; who for all that, as became valiant men, worthily defended themselues, and made there a great fight, though not without extreame perill: which they in the citie beholding, gaue out a most hideous and piteous crie, a certaine signe of their hard estate within; astonying with the suddennesse thereof,M both their friends & their enemies. But whilest they of the towne betwixt hope and dispaire stood thus beholding the fight at land, the Frenchmen by sea approching a bulwarke on that side of the town [...],Ca [...]thage woon. tooke it without resistance: which so dismaid them without, that they began foorthwith to flie, of whom the greatest part casting away their weapons, were by the kings commandement taken to mercie; and they likewise of the towne vpon promise of their liues, yeelded the [Page] A same vnto the king. CARTHAGE thus woon, the king layd siege vnto TVNES, the chiefe cittie of that kingdome, being not farre off: where by the way he was encountred by the king of the countrey, who hauing there lost ten thousand of his Moores, betooke himselfe to flight with the rest. Who thus ouerthrowne, resolued no more to tempt fortune, but to keepe himselfe safe within the wals of his citie, if happily so he might (as it oftentimes falleth out) more weaken his enemies by lying still and protracting the time, than by open force and valour. Which their purpose king Lewis perceiuing, resolued not to stirre from thence vntill that he were become master of the citie; which as it seemed could not hold out for want of victuals, considering the multitude of people that were got into it. Neuerthelesse thus besieged both by sea B and land, and so straightly hemmed in on euerie side, as that no reliefe could possibly bee brought vnto it; yet held it out by the space of six moneths. After which time wants dayly more and more increasing among the besieged, embassadours were sent out to the king, to entreat with him of peace: But whilest these embassadours go too and fro, and reason vpon the capitulations of the desired peace, behold a great and furious plague arose in the French campe, which began to cut them downe by heapes: there died Iohn Tristan countie of NEVERS, the kings yoongest sonne, borne in the first expedition that the said king his father made into the Holy land, euen at such time as hee was taken prisoner; which Tristan died the fiue and twentith day of August in the yeare of our Lord 1270. The good king hauing yet scarcely performed the obsequies of his sonne, fell sicke of the bloodie flix, wherof he there shortly C after died also. About which time arriued there Charles king of SICILIE, the French kings brother, with a great number of fresh souldiours: whose comming lightned somewhat the Frenchmens hearts (heauie for the death of their king) and daunted the Moores, before brag of the same. Shortly after whom arriued there also prince Edward, king Henrie the third his eldest sonne, who trauelling through FRANCE, and taking shipping at AQVESMORT, not far from MARSEILLES, was now in ten daies with a braue companie of Englishmen come to TVNES; and there of the other Christian princes, namely of Philip the French king (his father Lewis being now dead) of Charles king of SICILIE, and of the two kings of NAVAR and ARAGON, joyfully receiued. But these princes had a little before his arriuall concluded a peace with the Moores king, and the infidels, vpon condition that he should pay a yearely tribute of D fortie thousand crownes vnto the king of SICILIA; and to suffer the Christian religion to be freely preached in his dominions, by such deuout persons as should be there left for that purpose; and that vnto such persons as should by their preaching bee conuerted vnto the faith in Christ Iesus, it should be lawfull for them to be baptized, and to professe the Christian religion. Of which peace, prince Edward vnderstanding, did what hee might to haue dissuaded them from the same, saying, That the war was by them all taken in hand against the infidels, as enemies vnto the crosse of Christ, with whom they were not to haue peace: and for the recouerie of the Holy citie. But say what he would, and what he could, the peace (to his great discontentment) was now concluded, which they might not (as they said) againe breake: and thereuppon with the first faire wind hoissed saile, and returned towards SICILIA, with purpose the next Spring to haue gone into SYRIA; which their determination was shortly after by the hand of God disappointed. For being come vpon the cost of the island not far from DREPANVM, most of the great princes and other nobilitie, in their long boats went on land, the rest of the fleet lying at anker about a league off; for that being for the most part ships of great burthen, they were not able to put into the harbour: But as they so lay, by force of a sudden and violent tempest then arising some were eaten vp with the wrought sea; some falling foule one of another, there perished together;The Christian princes returning from Tunes suffer shipwracke vpon the coast of Sicilia. others driuen vpon the maine, were there beaten in peeces: so that of that great fleet before the storme ceassed, perished about an hundred and twentie saile, with all the people, a [...] well marriners as souldiours left in them, and great store both of armour and munition: In [...] sort that most of the common souldiours and marriners which had escaped the plague [...] TVNES, there vpon the coast of SICILIA perished by shipwracke. Onely prince Edwards fleet, being in number but thirteene ships, escaped free without losse either of ship or man. Neither were they that were got to land at DREPANVM in much better case, the plague still following them; whereof died Theobald king of NAVAR, and Isabell his wife, king Lewis his daughter, Elizabeth the French queene, with a woonderfull number of noble gentlemen, and other common souldiours; in such sort that Philip the French king [Page] discouraged with the greatnesse of the mortalitie, and the miserable losse at sea, resolued there to G make an end of the intended warre, and so returned into FRANCE, as did the rest that were left, euery man into his owne countrey.1271 Onely prince Edward hauing passed that Winter in SICILIA, with the first of the next Spring set forward againe on his voyage,Prince Edward [...]. and in fifteene dayes after arriued with his fleet at PTOLEMAIS: where after he had by the space of a moneth rested himselfe and his souldiors after their long trauell, and fully inquired of the state of the country, hee with six or seuen thousand souldiors marching from PTOLEMAIS about twentie miles into the land, tooke NAZARETH, and put to sword all them he found therein, and so againe returned. After whom the enemies following, in hope to haue taken him at some aduantage, he vnderstanding thereof, turned backe vpon them, and killing a great number of them, put the rest H to [...]light. And after that about Midsummer, vnderstanding that the Sarasins were againe making head at a place called CAKHOW, about fortie miles off, he set forwards towards them; and comming vpon them early in the morning, before they were aware, slew aboue a thousand of them, and dispersed the rest. Aided also by the nobilitie of CYPRUS, he with like successe as before, made a third expedition against the Infidels: insomuch, that his fame began to grow great amongst them, and they to stand of him in no little dread. But whilest he thus preuailed, he was by foule trecherie almost taken out of the way. The Admirall of IOPPA faigning himselfe desirous to become a Christian, and willing to further the princes proceedings, had by a secret messenger and letters sundrie times intelligence with him, as well concerning his owne good intertainement, as the effecting of that which he had promised.I This messenger by the Admirall thus imployed, was (though to the prince vnknowne) one of the Assasines, a companie of most desperat and dangerous men among the Mahometanes, who strongly deluded with the blind zeale of their superstition, and accounting it meritorious, by any meanes to kill any great enemie of their religion; for the performance thereof, as men prodigall of their liues, desperately aduenture themselues vnto all kind of dangers. So now this messenger, before resolued to die, comming the fift time vnto the prince, and being searched for hauing any weapon about him, as the manner was, had accesse vnto him, then lying in his chamber vpon his bed, in his jerkin, bare headed, because of the heat of the weather: where after due reuerence done, hee pulled out certaine letters from his lord vnto the prince, which he read with great delight, as penned of purpose for to please. But as hee was farther questioning with him of many matters, and all the companie voided, the desperat messenger making as though he would haue pulled out some other secret letters, suddainly pluckt out an enuenomed knife, which he had secretly hidden about him, thinking to haue strucke him into the bellie as he lay: For the auoiding of which stroke, the prince lifting vp his arme, was therein greeuously wounded.Prince Edward wounded. But as the villaine was about to haue doubled the stroke, the prince with his foot gaue him such a blow, that he felled him to the ground, and with that starting vp, caught him by the hand, where in strugling with him for the knife, in wresting it out of his hand, hee hurt himselfe therewith in the forehead: but getting it from him, presently thrust it into the murtherers bellie, and so slew him. The princes seruants being not farre off, and hearing the busteling, came running in; where finding the messenger dead on the floore, one of them with a stoole beat out his braines: whereat the prince tooke some displeasure, for so striking a dead man. This danger of the princes, much troubled and grieued all the Christians in SYRIA, and the more, for that the wound in his arme, after it had beene certaine dayes well dressed by the skilfull surgeons and physicians, began to mortefie and grow blacke, insomuch, that they and others about him began to mutter among themselues, and to looke heauily vpon the matter, as not without danger. Which he perceiuing, said vnto them: Why whisper you thus among your selues? what see you in me? can I not be healed; tell me the truth, and feare not? whereunto one of them answered: And like your highnesse, we doubt not of your healing, but that it will be painefull for you to suffer. If suffering (said he) may againe restore my health, I commit my selfe vnto you, worke on me your skill, and spare M not. So the next day they cut out all the dead and poysoned flesh ou [...] of his arme, and in fifteene dayes after perfectly cured his wound, to the great rejoycing of all his people. The great Sultan to cleere himselfe of this so dishonourable a trecherie, sent three of his noblemen vnto the prince, calling to witnesse his false prophet, that the same was done neyther by him no [...] his consent. Which embassadours the prince honourably vsed, but suffered [Page] A them not to come nigh him. So hauing taried eighteene moneths at PTOLEMAIS, and no aid comming from the other Christian princes as was expected, he tooke shipping; and returning homeward, landed first in SICILIA, and from thence crossing ouer into APULIA and so trauelling to ROME, was there honourably entertained by Gregorie the tenth, then Pope; and from thence by the way of FRANCE arriued in ENGLAND, where he was shortly after crowned king in the yeare 1272, his father the old king, Henrie the third, being a little before his returne dead.

The yeare following,1273 Gregorie the tenth, not ignorant of the hard estate of the Christians in SYRIA (as hauing there ben of late himselfe with prince Edward, Rodolph the emperour taketh vpon him the Crosse. at which time he was in his absence B elected pope) and now desirous to procure them some reliefe, ratified the election of Rodolphus of HAPSPURGE vnto the empire, vpon condition, That he should promise to take vpon himselfe the crosse, and to giue them reliefe: for the performance whereof, he offered vnto the emperour two hundred thousand crownes, with the tenths both of the cleargie and temporaltie for sixe yeares: and many goodly blessings were in his name also, by the preachers of that time, promised vnto all such as should with him take vpon them that sacred warre. Whereupon the emperour with all his familie tooke vpon them the crosse, the signe of the sacred expedition intended; as did also the duke of LORRAINE shortly after, with some others: Neuerthelesse, the emperour otherwaies busied in warres against the Bohemians and Bauarians, and delaying still the time, as not greatly willing to take vpon him so long and dangerous C a journey, and the Pope still threatening his high sentence of excommunication, the time passed, the Pope died, and nothing was as yet done. Vntill that at length the emperour hauing happily finished his warres in BOHEMIA, and finding himselfe at some good leisure in some part to discharge his vow, and to satisfie the expectation the world had of long conceiued of him, sent Henrie prince of MEGAPOLIS, or as the Germanes call it, MECKELBURG, with a strong power into SYRIA, to performe what himselfe had promised. Who comming to PTOLEMAIS made many notable incursions into the countrey about DAMASCO, with fire and sword destroying all before him as he went, and carrying thence many great and rich bootics; vntill that at length he was by the Mamalukes circumuented and taken prisoner,Henry the prince taken prisoner & sent to Caire. and so carried vnto the Sultan at CAIRE, where he remained in strait prison sixe and twentie yeares after; D vntill that by chance one of the Mamalukes (a renegate Germane) being chosen Sultan, caused him to be brought before him, and at his comming demaunded of him, If it would not doe him good to celebrate the remembrance of the natiuitie of his Christ with his friends in GERMANIE? (for now that time of the yeare was at hand) And I know (said the Sultan) that thou art so addicted vnto thy superstition, that thou respectest the same more than thy libertie. Truth (said Henrie) mightie prince: for libertie would auaile me nothing, if Christ by his most milde incarnation had not taken away our captiuitie: and therefore how much all men owe vnto the reuerend remembrance thereof, I would to God thou, O king, diddest also vnderstand, which as I most heartely wish, so I would I could thereof persuade thee. God forbid (said the Sultan) for I remember, that at such time as I was cheefe enginer vnto thy father at KNESE-FENICKE in LIVONIA, E and there did him good seruice, I was altogether of the Christian persuasion; but now hauing left that common error, haue therewith also changed my priuat fortune. But as for thy religion, I haue nothing to say, my talke is only concerning thy libertie: Wouldest thou therefore gladly be free, and so returne home to thy friends? That nature craueth (said Henrie) although my fortune gainesaieth, which yet dependeth of your pleasure: I desire indeed to returne home, which if you shall denie me, I must as I haue done, take it in good part; assuring my selfe, that my wife Anastasia, with my beloued sonnes Henrie, Leo, and Iohn, haue long since celebrated my funerals, and ended their mourning. Thou art deceiued (said the Sultan) for I am sure that they know that thou yet liuest, and pray most heartely for thy returne: Truly I owe much vnto the remembrance of thy father, and therefore this day giue thee thy libertie. And hauing so said, furnished F him with all things necessarie, and gaue him leaue to depart with one Martin his seruant, who taken with him, had borne him companie all the long time of his captiuitie. So taking his leaue of the Sultan, he came to PTOLEMAIS: but shipping himselfe for CYPRUS, he was by the way by certaine pyrats taken at sea, and as a fugitiue captiue brought backe againe vnto the Sultan: Who pittying his hard fortune, set him againe at libertie, and by a ship set out for that purpose, transported him into CYPRUS: where he was by the queene of that Island his aunt (as some [Page] say) honorably entertained, and so furnished of all things fit for his estate. Departing thence, he G came to MARSIELLES, where after he had some few daies refreshed himselfe, he from thence trauelled by land home into his owne country: where at the first he was not knowne of his own children and friends, as being growne old in prison, and by them long before accounted among the dead; but now at last found againe, and by them knowne, he was of his children joyfully receiued as their father, and of his subjects as their prince. Howbeit he shortly after died, and was honourably buried in the monasterie of DOBRAN.

Thus in the whole course of this historie it appeareth by that which is alreadie written, what notable expeditions euen the greatest Christian princes of the West, to their immortall glorie from time to time vndertooke against the enemies of Christ and his most sacred word, and for H the reliefe of the poore distressed Christians in SYRIA and in the land of PALESTINE: wherof as diuers of them had right glorious successe, vnto the great profit of the Christian common weale; so some of them answered not with like euent, as vndertaken with too small strength, or otherwise ouerthrowne by the discord or mallice of the Christians themselues, rather than by the enemies force. Which neuerthelesse how vnfortunatly soeuer they fell out in the hands of such woorthie men as vndertooke them, yet haue they this glorie, commendation, and comfort, That they were taken in hand for the honor of the sonne of God, Christ Iesus, and the defence of his veritie, against the false Prophet Mahomet, and his most blasphemous doctrine; so honourable and just a quarrell, as might well beseeme the greatnesse of the greatest prince, yea of all the princes of Christendome. Yet could not the woorthinesse thereof, euen I in those more zealous times, or the dangerous estate of that part of the Christian commonweale, euen then like to perish, (as some others bee now) or the lamentable complaints of the poore oppressed Christians, crying out vnto their Christian brethren for aid, any whit moue the Christian princes of that time, with their combined forces to reach vnto them their helping hands, or to yeeld vnto them any succour or reliefe: for they little feeling those harmes so farre off, and more regarding their owne hereditarie quarrels, employed those forces one against another, vnto the effusion of so much Christian blood, as might haue sufficed not for reliefe of the distressed Christians in SYRIA onely, but to haue regained whatsoeuer had beene before from them taken by the Turks or Sarasins. The Germane princes were still at a jarre about the choice of their emperours: the French agreed not with the English, or them of the Low countries:K neither the English with the Scots: the Arragonians were at oddes with the French: and in Italie were almost as many deadly factions as prouinces. Of which discord of the Christians (the greatest occasion of their ruine and decay) Melechsares the Aegyptian Sultan vnderstanding by his espials, raised a great armie of the Mamalukes, and others, with a full purpose to haue vtterly rooted out all the remainders of the Christians in SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE,1289 and so to haue entirely joyned those two great countries vnto his owne kingdome. But what he had so mischieuously deuised, he liued not to bring to passe, being in the middest of those his great designes taken away by suddaine death. After whom Alphix (or, as some call him,Tripolis won and rased by Elpis the Aegyptian Sultan. Elpis) succeeding him in the kingdome, and with a puissant armie entring into SYRIA laid siege to TRIPOLIS, which he at length tooke by vndermining of it, and put to sword L all the Christians therein, except such as by speedie flight had in time got themselues out of the danger, and rased the cittie downe to the ground: Which calamitie betided vnto the Christians the ninth of Aprill, in the yeare 1289. Presently after he had the strong castle of NELESINE yeelded vnto him, whereinto hee put a strong garrison, to hinder the Christians from building againe the late destroyed citie. In like manner also hee tooke the citties of SIDON and BERYTHUS,Sydon and Berythus rased. Tyre yeelded. which hee sacked, and laied them flat with the ground. And after that hee remooued to TYRE, which after three moneths straight siege, was by the cittizens (now out of all hope of releefe) yeelded vnto him, vpon condition, That they might with bag and baggage in safetie depart. With like good fortune hee in short time, and as it were without resistance, tooke all the rest of the strong townes and castles which M the Christians yet held in SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE, excepting onely the cittie of PTOLEMAIS; whereunto all the poore Christians fled, as vnto a Sanctuarie, to bee there defended by the honourable knights Templars and Hospitalers. Nothing now left vnto them more than that strong cittie, the Sultan of his owne accord made a peace with them for the space of fiue yeares, fearing (as was supposed) to haue drawne vpon him all the Christian [Page] A princes of the West, if he should at once haue then vtterly rooted out all the Christians in those countries together.

The Christian affaires thus brought to the last cast in SYRIA, and yet faintly as it were breathing, by the benefit of the late obtained peace: Peter Beluise; master of the Templars, with the Grand Master of the knights Hospitalers, suddenly passed ouer (as embassadours from the rest) into EUROPE, vnto Nicholaus Quartus then Pope, crauing his fatherly aid: who mooued with so great miseries of the poore afflicted Christians, sollicited the other Christian princes to haue sent them reliefe; especially Rodolph the Germaine emperour, who then busied with the affaires of the empire, and his troubles neerer home (as were the other Christian princes also) gaue good words, but no helpe at all. Yet some of them vnder the colour thereof, got from their subjects great summes of money, which they employed to their other worse vses: onely the Pope sent fifteene hundred men at armes, whom with deuout persuasion, and much earnest preaching, hee had induced to take vpon them that sacred expedition, and entertained them of his owne charge: vnto whom also many others out of diuers countries, vpon a religious zeale, joyned themselues, as voluntarie men; who meeting together at BRUNDUSIUM, and there embarked, with the two grand masters of the Templars and Hospitalers,The miserable estate of a citie about to perish. in safetie at length arriued at PTOLEMAIS. There was then in the citie a great number of people of all sorts; of able men there was about fiftie thousand, and about fortie thousand of the weaker sort: amongst whom, diuers murders, fellonies, rapes, and such other shamefull outrages (all hasting the dreadfull judgements of God) were daily committed, and let passe vnregarded, more than of them that were so injured. For all the cheefe commaunders were then at variance among themselues, euery one of them laying claime (not woorth a rush) vnto the vaine title of the kingdome of HIERUSALEM. Henry king of CYPRUS comming thither with a great fleet, charged the Templars to deliuer vnto him the crowne of that kingdome, which they had (as he said)▪ wrongfully taken from Almericus and Guy, his auncestors. And Charles king of SICILIA, by his embassadours laid claime vnto the title of that kingdome, as due vnto the kings of that Island: and vnderstanding it to be giuen vnto Henry, king of CYPRUS, caused all the reuenewes of the Templars within his dominion to be brought into his treasuries, and their lands and houses to bee spoyled. Hugh also prince of ANTIOCH, laboured with tooth and naile to defend the ouerworne right that his father and grandfather had vnto that lost kingdome. And the countie of TRIPOLIS laied in for himselfe, that hee was descended from Raymund of THOLOUS; and that beside himselfe remained no prince of the auntient nobilitie, which had woon that kingdome out of the hands of the Sarasins, and that therefore that regall dignitie did not of better right appertaine vnto any other than vnto himselfe. Neither did these foure princes more striue for the title of the lost kingdome, than for the present gouernment of the citie, straight way about to perish. The Popes Legate pretended thereunto a right also: for that king Iohn Brenne had before subjected it vnto the See of ROME. As for the claime vnto the citie of PTOLEMAIS, the Patriarch of HIERUSALEM challenged vnto himselfe the preheminence: for that the metropoliticall citie of TYRE, vnder which the citie of PTOLEMAIS was the third episcopall seat, was vnder his jurisdiction, euen by the decree of the West church. The Templars also, and the knights Hospitalers, whose power in the citie was at that time farre the greatest, pretended the gouernment thereof of best right to belong vnto them, as the just reward of their blood alreadie, and afterward to be spent in the defence thereof: promising great matters if it might be wholly referred vnto them. Neither spared the French king or the king of ENGLAND by their messengers to claime the soueraignetie of the cittie, by their predecessours sometimes woon. And they of PISA hauing still a Consull therein, and by often marriages with the naturall inhabitants growne into great affinitie with them, did what they might to get the gouernment into their hands. The Venetians also by their authoritie and great wealth laboured to gaine the good will of the people, sparing therein no cost. And they of GENUA no lesse cunning than the rest, supplanted the strongest factions, by giuing aid both apertly and couertly vnto the weaker; that so hauing weakened the faction they most doubted and hated, they might by the joint fauour of the weaker aspire vnto the gouernment of the stronger, and so consequently of the citie it selfe. The Florentines also by their continuall traffique thither, were not out of hope by one finenesse or other amongst so many competitours, [Page] to find a meane to step vp aboue the rest. But the greatest part of the people for all that were G most enclined vnto the Armenians and Tartars, as both for their neerenesse and power most like of all other to stand them in stead. All these aymed at one marke, which was the gouernment and commaund of the cittie: and most of them had in the same their owne proper lawes and courts, to deside their causes and controuersies in. Whereby it came to passe, that euery man might without checke or controulement almost doe what he list, the offenders from one court to another remoouing their sutes, as best serued their turnes. Thus were murders (as is beforesaid) dayly committed in the streets, men abused, houses robbed, shops broken vp, and many other outrages done, to the hastening of the wrath of God, and greefe of all good men.H

1291Diuision and dissention (the ruine of all commonweales) thus raigning in the cittie (the souldiours of late sent thither, or in zeale come of themselues, for the defence thereof) gaue occasion for the speedie destruction of the same: Such is the power of the Almightie, in his wrath and judgements for sinne, euen by those things wherein wee most trust and joy to worke our vtter ruine and destruction. These souldiors, for want of such pay as was promised them, were enforced to seeke abroad, and therefore contrarie to the league before made with the Aegyptian Sultan, oftentimes went out in great parties into the frontiers of his territories, taking the spoile of such things as they light vpon. Whereof the Sultan vnderstanding, demaunded by his embassadours, That restitution might be made, and the offendors deliuered vnto him to bee punished, according vnto the league. But in that so sicke a state of a dying I commonweale,Ptolemais bes [...]eged. neither was restitution made, as reason would, or yet the embassadors courteously heard. With which insolencie the Sultan prouoked, sent Emilech Araphus, a notable captaine (and as some say, his sonne) with an hundred and fiftie thousand men, to besiege the citie: who comming thither, and hauing made his approches, had by a mine in short time ouerthrowne a peece of the wall; but in seeking to haue entered by the breach, he found such strong resistance, that hee was glad with losse to retire. Whilest Araphus thus lay at the siege of PTOLEMAIS, Alphir the Sultan died at DAMASCO, in whose stead the Mamalukes made choice of this Araphus for their Sultan, who more desirous of nothing than of the glorie of the vtter rooting vp of the Christians in SYRIA, was so farre from raising of his siege (either for the death of the Sultan, or the newes of his kingdome) that hee more straitly K beset the citie than he had in the three moneths space that he had there lien before. Now had they in the citie chosen Peter the master of the Templars, their gouernour, a man of great experience and valour: vnto whom and the rest of the nobilitie, the Sultan offered great rewards, and vnto the souldiors their pay, with free libertie to depart, so that they would without more adoe yeeld vnto him the citie, which they could not long hold: Which his offer the master rejected, and flattly told him, That hee had not learned of his auncestours, to sell for money vnto the Infidels a citie bought with so much Christian blood; either did so much regard his vaine threats, as therefore to forget his seruice due vnto his Sauiour Christ and the Christian commonweale.Ptolemais in vaine assaulted by the Sultan. With which answere the tyrant enraged, the next day with all his forces assaulted the citie, and that in such desperat and furious manner, as if hee would euen then haue L carried it; hauing before filled the ditches, and promised the spoile vnto his souldiors, the more to encourage them. Yet hauing done what he could, and lost a number of his men, slaine both in the assault, and in a sallie which the Christians made out at the same time, he was inforced to retire backe againe into his trenches. In this so terrible an assault, not repulsed without some losse also of the Christians, the Grand master and gouernour of the citie was wounded with a poysoned dart, whereof hee in three dayes after died: with whom the courage of the defendants fainted also, no man being left like vnto him to vndertake so great a charge, although many there were, that ouerweening of themselues, desired the same. In the beginning of this siege, the Christians had sent away all their aged and weake people, vnfit for seruice, into CYPRUS, where they in safetie arriued. But now many of the better sort, both captaines and others,M discouraged, one after another conuaighed themselues away out of the citie: of whom a great number in passing thence to CYPRUS, were vpon the coast of the Island, together with the Patriarch drowned. In the citie remained only twelue thousand, which were thought sufficient for the defence thereof: who afterwards (as some report) fled also by sea after their fellowes, and so left the citie emptie vnto the barbarous enemie: some others reporting [Page] of them more honourably, as that they should right valiantly defend the citie against the assault of their enemies, vntill such time as that most of them beeing slaine or wounded, and the rest by force driuen from the wals into the market place, and there for a while notably defending themselues in flying thence vnto the ships, were by the way all cut in sunder, or else drowned. But howsoeuer it was, the Sultan entering the citie (by the Christians abandoned, or by force taken) gaue the spoile thereof vnto his souldiors; who after they had rifled euerie corner thereof, by his commaundement set it on fire and burnt it downe to the ground: and digging vp the very foundations of the wals, churches, and other publicke and priuat buildings, which the fire had not burnt, left there no signe of any citie at all; but purging the place euen of the very heapes of the stones and rubbidge left of the rased citie, made it a fit place for husbandmen to plough and sowe corne in; which he did both there at SYDON, BERITUS, and other townes alongst the sea coast, because they should neuer more serue for a refuge vnto the Christians, or giue them footing againe into those countries. Thus together with PTOLEMAIS was the name of the Christians vtterly rooted out of SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE, in the yeare 1291, about 192 yeares after the winning of HIERUSAREM by Godfrey of BUILLON and the other Christian princes his confederats.

This losse,Cassanes the Tartar int [...]adeth Syria. as tending to the great disgrace of the Christians in generall, mooued not a little euen the greatest of the Christian princes; wronged all or most part of them in the persons of the Templars or knights Hospitalers, their subjects, so shamefully now quite cast out of SYRIA C and the land of promise: howbeit, troubled with their owne turbulent affaires at home, or with their neighbour princes not farre off, none of them once stirred for the redresse or reuenge thereof. Onely Cassanes the great Tartar prince, hauing of late subdued the Persians; and married the daughter of the Armenian king (a ladie of great perfection, and of a Mahometane become a Christian) at the request of his wife and his father in law tooke the matter in hand. And for that purpose hauing raised a most puissant armie of two hundred thousand fighting men, and aided by the Armenians and Georgians, passing ouer the mountaine AMANUS into SYRIA, not farre from the citie HAMA met with Melcenaser, the Aegyptian Sultans lieutenant, with a mightie armie, whom hee ouerthrew in a great and mortall battell, wherein fortie thousand of the Aegyptians are reported to haue beene slaine, and so D draue him quite out of SYRIA: sending Molais, one of his captaines, with part of his armie to pursue him, who neuer left him vntill hee had chased him ouer the desart sands into AEGYPT. The victorious Tartar after this battell tooke the citie of HAMA, where lighting vpon the great treasures of the Sultan, hee bountifully deuided it, together with the spoile, amongst his souldiours; reseruing nothing thereof vnto himselfe, more than a sword and a casket full of secret letters.Hierusalem takē and repaired by Cassanes. The Aegyptian thus put to flight, he without resistance tooke in most of the cities of SYRIA, with the citie of HIERUSALEM also; which in many places by the Turkes and Aegyptians defaced, he againe repaired: and together with the temple of our Sauior gaue it to the Armenians, Georgians, and other Christians, repairing thither out of CYPRUS, CRETE, and other places, to inhabite. And hauing himselfe honoured the holy places with E great gifts, returned with his armie to DAMASCO, which was foorthwith deliuered vnto him. But lying there, with purpose in Autumne following to haue gone into AEGYPT and to haue vtterly destroyed that kingdome, hee was certefied of new troubles arising in PERSIA, and some other parts of his empire: for repressing whereof, hee with the greatest part of his armie returned himselfe into PERSIA, leauing one Capcapus gouernour of DAMASCO; who after the ouerthrow of the Sultans armie had reuolted vnto him; and Molais (of whom wee haue before spoken) gouernour of HIERUSALEM: commaunding them at his departure to reedifie the citie of TYRE, and to send embassadours vnto the Christian princes of the West, to joine in league with them, for the more sure holding of those new gained countries. And so TYRE was indeed repaired as he had commaunded, and deliuered to the Christians, with a conuenient garrison for the keeping thereof: but the embassadours comming to the proud bishop Boniface the eight, then Pope, whom of all others it beseemed to haue furthered their businesse, they could of him obtaine nothing, but returned as they came. For he at the same time fallen out with Philip the French king, thundering out his excommunications, discharging his subjects of their loyaltie, and so much as in him was, depriuing him of his kingdome, had giuen the same vnto Albertus duke of AUSTRIA, whom he had declared emperour: whereof [Page] arise great troubles. Besides that, he being of the Guelphes faction, was not in any thing more G carefull, than of the vtter extinguishing of the contrarie faction of the Gibellines, especially of the most honourable family of the Columnij, of whom some hee had slaine, some he had depriued of their honours, some he had imprisoned, and driuen othersome into exile; so that thus wickedly busied for the maintenance of his owne proud estate, he had no leisure to further the good of the Christian common weale: which his intollerable pride, and forgetfulnesse of dutie, long escaped not the reuenging hand of God; being when he thought least suddenly taken prisoner at his fathers house in the citie of ANAGNIA (where he was borne) by Sara Columnius his mortall enemie; whom but lately before redeemed out of a pirates gally, the French king had sent for that purpose, with one Longaret, or as some call him Nogaret, a French knight: By H whom the proud prelate brought to ROME, in the castle S. ANGELO within fiue and thirtie daies after most miserably died, in his madnesse (as some report) renting himselfe with his teeth and deuouring his owne fingers.The description of Cassa [...]es. This worthie Tartar prince Cassanes, by whom the Christian common weale might haue againe risen in SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE, had not the pride of the great bishop, and the dissention of the Christian princes hindered the same; was as Aitonus writeth (who was present in this warre, following his vncle the Armenian king) a man of a verie short stature, and exceeding hard fauour; but with valour, bountie, and other vertues of the mind plentifully recompensing what wanted in the feature of his bodie. After whose departure into PERSIA, Capcapus gouernour of DAMASCO, considering that the power of the Tartars there left was not great, and that no aid was to be expected from the other I Christian princes of the West, to recompense his former treason of reuolting from the Sultan, with a new reuolt from the Tartar; rise vp into open rebellion, drawing after him not onely the citie of DAMASCO, but the greatest part of SYRIA also: whereof Molais gouernour of HIERUSALEM vnderstanding, was about to haue gone against him with his Tartars; but aduertised by his espials, that Capcapus in this his conspiracie had compacted with the Aegyptian Sultan also, perceiuing himselfe too weake to withstand so great a power, he retired with his Tartars into MESOPOTAMIA,The citie of Hierusalem with all Syria againe recouered by the Aegyptian Sultan. there expecting new supplies both from Cassanes and the king of ARMENIA. Of whose departure out of SYRIA, the Aegyptian Sultan vnderstanding, came directly with his armie to HIERUSALEM, which he tooke, being forsaken of the inhabitants; and profaned the temple, sparing onely the sepulchre of our Sauiour at the humble sute of the religious,K making there a greater shew of deuotion than of crueltie. After that he woon all the other lesser townes, which the Tartars had either kept for themselues, or giuen to the other Christians, and vtterly rased all the castles and forts of the Hospitalers and Templars: which valiant men without other helpe, for the space of almost a yeare held out against the Tyrant, in which time most of them were honourably slaine:1300 the rest that were left aliue, being taken by the enemie, had neuerthelesse leaue giuen them with bag and baggage in safetie to depart, hauing before by solemne oath for euer abjured the countrey of SYRIA: and so these woorthie men, the great ornaments of the Christian common weale, the Hospitalers and Templars, which to the vttermost of their power had by the space of 300 yeares right woorthily defended both the Christians & the Christian religion against the infidels in SYRIA & the Holy land, were now for euer L driuen out thence, about the yeare of our Lord 1300, to the great dishonour of all Christendom.

Wherefore with them now taking our leaue of SYRIA and the Holy land, leauing the same in the possession of the Aegyptian Sultan and the Mamalukes, although it were shortly after like enough to haue beene againe recouered from them by the Tartars, had not the death of the great Tartar prince Cassanes, and their domesticall troubles letted: we will againe returne vnto the troubled affaires of the Turks in the lesser ASIA, whither the course of time had somwhat before called vs, with the occurrents thereof, more proper vnto our purpose and the argument we haue in hand, but that all cannot be at once told: And for the better vnderstanding of the desirous Reader, I thought it not good abruptly to breake off the course of the aforesaid historie drawing so neere vnto an end, but to make him partaker of the heauinesse thereof.M

The death of Mesoot and Cei-Cubades.Now had the Turkes no kingdome left in the lesser ASIA, and that also at the pleasure of Gazan the great Tartar Chan diuided betwixt Mesoot and Cei-Cubades, as his vassals, bound vnto him by a yearely tribut (as is aforesaid:) who both kept in awe by the greatnesse of the Tartar, did nothing woorth the remembrance, but as they liued so also died, almost buried in obscuritie. Of these two, Mesoot died without issue; but Cei-Cubades departing, left behind him his sonne [Page] A Aladin, who by the name of Aladin the second succeeding in the kingdome, vnited againe the same before diuided, yet paying still tribut vnto the Tartar his soueraigne, as had his father with the other late Sultans of the Turks before him. Much it was not that this Aladin did, albeit that the power of the Tartars in his time began to decline, & not to lie so heauie vpon the Turks as before. He was a man of a quiet spirit, & therefore much delighted in peace: a great freind vnto Othoman the first founder of the glorious and mightie Othoman empire, as in his life shall appeare. But this Aladin, the last of the Turkes Sultans of the Selzuccian family, dying without issue; one Sahib his Vesir-Azemes or chiefe counseller, and then a man of greatest authoritie; aspired vnto the kingdome, which he had for most part himselfe swaied all the raigne of the late B Sultan his master: which vsurped soueraigntie, no way vnto him due, he could neither himselfe long hold,The Turks kingdome rent in sunder by themselues. or deliuer to his posteritie: for that many others of the nobilitie, men of great power, and borne of greater families than he, enuying at his honour and disdaining to be gouerned by him, or any other no greater than themselues; laid hold some vpon one countrey or prouince, some vpon another, where they were able to do most, erecting vnto themselues greater or lesser Satrapies, according to the measure of their owne strength and power, without respect of any superioritie one should haue ouer another; but euerie one of them absolutely commaunding ouer so much as he was able by strong hand to hold. So that as it had oftentimes before chanced, That great Monarchies destitute of their lawfull heires, had in part, or all, become rich preis vnto such as could first lay strong hand vpon them: euen so fell it now out in the great kingdom C of the Turks; euery one of their great princes, measuring the greatnesse of his territorie not by the measure of his right,The Turks Anarchie. but by the strength of his owne power. Wherein they shared so well for themselues, that Sahib at first in possession of all, was in short time thrust quite out of all: and so the great kingdome of the Turkes in the lesser ASIA, brought vnto a meere Anarchie; no king now left among them, the whole kingdome being now diuided into diuers Satrapies, or other lesser Toparchies. The greatest of these princes that thus shared the Turkes kingdome amongst them, was one Caraman Alusirius; who as strongest, tooke vnto himselfe the citie of ICONIUM, the regall seat of the Turkish Sultans, with all the great countrey of CILICIA, and some part of the frontiers of the countries of LYCAONIA, PAMPHILIA, CARIA, and the greater PHRIGIA, as far as PHILADELPHIA, and the citie of ANTIOCH vpon the riuer MEANDER: D All which large territorie,Caramania. was of him afterward called CARAMANIA, and by the same name is commonly at this day knowne, and by our late Geographers described. Of this Caraman also dissended the Caramanian kings, who of long time after vnfortunatly stroue with the Othoman Sultans for the soueraigntie of their empiers; vntill that at length they with their kingdome, and all the rest of these Turkish Satrapies, were in the fatall greatnesse of the Othoman empire, swallowed vp and deuoured, as in the processe of this historie shall (if God so will) in due time and place be declared.Saruchania. Next neighbour vnto him was Saruchan, of the Greekes called Sarchan, of whom the countrey of IONIA-MARITIMA was and yet is called SARU-CHAN-ILI, and SARUCHANIA, that is to say, Saruchans countrey. The greatest part of LYDIA, with some part of the greater MISIA, TROAS, and PHRIGIA, fell to Calamus and his sonne Carasius, of whom it is called CARASIA,Carasia. or CARASI-ILI (or as we might say) Carasius his countrey. The greatest part of the antient MISIA, with some part of LYDIA, was possessed by Aidin, and was of him called AIDINIA or AIDIN-ILI,Aidinia. as his countrey. Some part of the great countrey of PONTUS, with the cities of HERACLEA-PONTICA, CASTAMONA, SYNOPE, and others neere vnto the EUXINE, and the countrey of PAPHLAGONIA, fell into the hands of the sonnes of Omer, or as the Greekes call him Amur: of whom that countrey tooke not name, as did the others, of such princes as possessed them, but is commonly called BOLLI, of a citie in that countrey by the Turkes so named. As was also MENDESIA, or as some call it MENTESIA,Bolli. Mendesia. a countrey in the lesser ASIA, so by the Turks called of MENDOS or MYNDUS, a citie in CARIA. There were beside these, diuers other places and Toparchies in the lesser ASIA, which in the renting of this great kingdome, from the Turks receiued names, before vnto the world vnknowne; all which to prosecute were tedious: Sufficeth it vs, for the manifesting of the Turkes Anarchie, and the ruine of their kingdome in the lesser ASIA, as in part also for the more euidence of the heauie historie following, to haue remembred these as the chiefest; especially such as tooke their names of such great princes or captaines as in that so great a confusion of the Turks kingdome, by strong hand first ceazed vpon them, and so left them to [Page] their posteritie, of whom much is to be said hereafter. These princes one and all that thus shared G the late Aladinian kingdome, were dissended of the better sort of the Turkes which with the Selzuccian and Aladinian Sultans driuen out of PERSIA by the Tartars, had vnder them seated themselues in the lesser ASIA, as is before at large declared. Now amongst these great men that thus diuided the Turks kingdom, most of them that write of the Turks affaires, both Greeks and Latins, reckon vp Othoman (the raiser of his house and familie) for one; who indeed in the latter time of the late Sultan Aladin began to flourish, and was of him for his valour extraordinarily fauoured (as in his historie shall appeare,) but of his kingdome held no more than one poore lordship, called SUGUTA in BYTHINIA not far from the mountaine OLIMPUS (long before giuen vnto his father Erthogrull, for his good seruice) with such other small holds therabout H as he had himselfe gained from the weake Christians his neighbours.Othoman [...] familie. For although he were a Turke borne, yet was he not of the Selzuccian family, as were the rest, but of another house and tribe, and therefore not of them fauoured or thought to haue so good right vnto any of the late Sultans prouinces or territories, as had they who being of his house and holpen with the prescription of time, enuied at the sudden rising of this Oguzian Turke, being vnto them as it were a meere stranger: whose fortune for all that (I know not by what secret foreknowledge) they seemed to feare, as in time to grow dangerous vnto them and their posteritie; wherein they were no whit deceiued. But of him and his proceedings much more is to be said hereafter: leaue we him now therefore with the rest vnto their fortunes in this the Turks Anarchie, and so conclude this part of our Generall Historie: Glad when I looke backe to haue waded thus far, yet fearing to be drowned before I get ouer; such a sea of matter and world of troubles yet remaining, not without much labour and toile, and that in long time to be passed through.

FINIS.

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THE LIVES OF THE OTHOMAN KINGS AND EMPERORS. FAITHFVLLY GATHERED OVT of the best Histories, both antient and moderne, and digested into one continual Historie.

By RICHARD KNOLLES.

Eccles. 10.4.

The gouernment of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, [and all iniquitie of the nations is to bee abhorred:] and when time is he wil set vp a profitable ruler ouer it.

LONDON, Printed by Adam Islip. 1603.

Osman I

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[figure]

Phi. Lonicerus hist. Turc. lib. 1.

Multiplici lassatae Asiae res clade premuntur.

Hinc Sarracenus Tartarus inde ruit.

Mutua Christicolae gladios in vulnera stringunt:

Graecia funesta seditione perit.

Impiger interea noua concipit Ottomannus

Concilia, & valida surgit in arma manu.

Et vastatricis regno fundamina turbae

Ponit: & in multo sanguine sceptra lauat.

With endlesse wars the Asian state farre spent and ouerworne:

By Sarasins and Tartars force, is all in peeces torne.

The Christians draw their bloodie swords, wherewith themselues to wound:

And GREECE with ciuile discord seekes it selfe for to confound.

Meane while the warlike Othoman, new counsels doth deuise,

And with a crue of martiall men doth vp in armes arise:

And laies the fatall plot whereon the wastfull Turks should raigne,

And bathes his scepter in much blood of people by him slaine.

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THE RISING OF THE GREAT AND MIGHTIE EMPIRE OF THE TVRKES VNDER OTHOMAN FIRST FOVNDER THEREOF, VVITH HIS LIFE AND DOINGS.

WHAT small assurance there is in mens affaires, and how subject vnto change euen those things are wherein we for the most part repose our greatest felicitie and blisse, (beside that the whole course of mans fraile life, by many notable examples well declareth) nothing doth more plainely manifest the same, than the heauie euents and wofull destructions of the greatest kingdomes and empires:All worldly things subiect to change. which founded vpon great fortunes, encreased with perpetuall successe, exalted by exceeding power, established with most puissant armies, wholesome lawes, and deepe counsels; haue yet growne old, and in time come to naught: So that euen as men, all things else belonging vnto man, are subject vnto the ineuitable course of destinie, or more truely to say, vnto the fatall doome of the most highest, prefining vnto euerie thing that in time begun, a time also wherein to take end, being himselfe without time the great commander thereof, and of all things else done therein. The fame of the first Assyrian Monarchie, is verie antient,The greatest kingdomes haue in time taken end, and so come to naught. and was no doubt both great and long, yet hath it neuerthelesse found an end; and the more to put vs in remembrance of our infirmitie, was neuer with so much glorie and valour by Ninus erected, as it was with shame and cowardise by Sardanapalus subuerted. With like necessitie fell the great empire of the Medes and Persians, the time thereof being come. And after them, the Macedonians also. Neither hath the great Romane empire, or the proud citie of ROME it selfe (sometime the mistresse of the world) herein found any exemption, but runne the same course with the rest: which growne great with continuall triumphs, and so strong as that it was not with forreine power to be shaken; conuerted the forces of it selfe vpon it selfe, to the ouerthrow of the antient libertie thereof, together with the vtter subuersion of the state. After which time that mightie monarchie (of all that euer yet were, the greatest) vnder the Romane emperours felt many an hard and perillous storme, and by little and little still declining (though sometime like a sicke aged bodie, by the valour or vertue of some one or other her woorthie emperours a little relieued, and by and by againe cast downe by the folly or negligence of some others succeeding) it became at length a prey vnto a foolish rude and barbarous nation, which it had before oftentimes ouercome; and ouer which many the Romane captaines had triumphed, and thereof taken their glorious surnames: which now again without compassion, burning and sacking it, caused it to stoope, and to yeeld vnto the seruile yoake which it had in former time proudly imposed vpon the necks of others: wherein if any thing be to be blamed, it is not the fortune or folly of this or that man, then sitting at the helme (although that may also much helpe [Page] the matter as a meane) but the instabilitie of worldly things neuer permanent, but alwaies changeable, and the sooner for their height; and that so forcibly as that no man knoweth how to remedie the same, either if he did were he able to performe it; the greatest meanes that men could possibly deuise for the stay thereof, being oftentimes by a greater power from aboue, conuerted vnto the more speedie effecting of that, against the which they were by mans wisedome prouided. The like might be said of the Athenians, the Lacedaemonians, the Thebanes, and of whom not? What maruell then, if the antient kingdomes of the Turks likewise in PERSIA, and the lesser ASIA, in SYRIA, PALESTINA, and AEGYPT, hauing run their appointed times, mightily impugned by the Christians, oppressed on the one side by the Tartars, and on the other by the Mamalukes, and at length by themselues rent in sunder (their destinie so requiring) lost at last their woonted majestie, and so fell into a meere Anarchie, as is in the former part of this Historie at large declared? Yet in this farre more than any other people fortunate, That after the ruine of their former kingdomes, straight way out of themselues arise another, namely this Othoman monarchie, the cheife object of this Historie: which at the first scarce of the world perceiued, or of themselues regarded in short tim [...] so prospered, as that the power and glorie thereof obscured not their former kingdomes onely (nothing, in comparison of this) but euen the greatest monarchies of the world; ouer a great part of which, it now so proudly triumpheth, as if it should neuer haue end: at the beautie whereof the world woondereth, and at the power thereof quaketh: within the greatnesse whereof are contained no small portions of ASIA, EVROPE, and AFRICKE, but euen the most famous and fruitfull kingdomes thereof: no part of the world left vntouched but AMERICA only; not more fortunate with her rich mines, than in that she is so farre from so great and dangerous an enemie. The foundation of this so great a kingdome (and now so mightie an empire, as holdeth the world in awe) was first laid by the valiant Othoman, or as the Turkes call him Osman; not descended of the Selzuccian familie; as were all the former Turks Sultans) but of the Oguzian tribe and kindred: in whose line this glorious empire hath eu [...]r since, by the space of three hundred yeares and three, to the astonishment of the world, woonderfully flourished; and so yet doth at this day vnder the gouernment of Mahomet the third, which now raigneth thirteenth in dissent from him, knowing none in this world greater than himselfe. But for as much as both his greatnesse, and the greatnesse of the rest of the Othoman kings and emperours his progenitors, tooke their beginning from this woorthy and war-like Othoman, with whose life and doings we purpose to begin this part of our Historie, it shall not be amisse both for the continuation of that we haue in hand, with that we haue already written, and for the more manifesting of that which hereafter followeth, a little farther to fet his race and discent also: Not meaning with a long and faigned pedegree to fet him out of Noah his arke, (which continuall succession of princes, no nation of the world, be it neuer so antient, the Iewes onely excepted, and they also by writings and histories as much as was possible eternized, could truely and justly chalenge) but onely so far as shall be pertinent vnto our purpose, and by the authoritie of good histories to be auerred.

At such time as the Turks kingdome founded by Tangrolipix in PERSIA, flourished in the Selzuccian princes his successours, there was also another kingdom of theirs at the citie of MACHAN, as is before declared, but nothing comparable to the other either in glorie and power. In this citie, and ouer this small kingdome, raigned one Solyman, by his subjects honoured also with the name of a Sultan or king; at the same time that the Tartars vnder the leading of old Zingis their great captaine, leauing their owne countrey, and bearing downe the world before them, hauing conquered the farthest parts of the East, and there seated their kingdome, turned their forces into PERSIA, and there ouerthrew the Turks kingdome at BALCH in CORASAN, and draue the Turkes with Cursumes their last king, out of the countrey: after that they had there from the time of Tangrolipix raigned about an hundred and seuentie two yeares.

Solyman, Sultan of Machan forsaketh his kingdome for [...]are of the Tartars.This Solyman of whom we speake, then raigning at MACHAN, was not of the Selzuccian family (as were all the other Turkes Sultans, the successours of Tangrolipix) but of the Oguzian tribe, a family famous also amongst the Turks: Who seeing the Selzuccian Sultan Cursumes (or as some call him Cussumes) his countreyman, beaten out of his kingdome by the Tartar, and his countrey ouerrun, and the great Caliph of BABYLON also ouerthrown; thought it not good longer to stay in that countrey which he could not hold, but by speedy flight betimes to prouide for the safetie of himselfe and of such his subjects as would follow him. And hearing that Aladin [Page] A the sonne of Kei-H [...]sreu, or as the Greeks call him Cai-Cosroe (a great man of the Sel [...]cian familie, and neere of kin vnto the late Sultan Cursumes) who for feare of the Tartars, but lately come into ROMANIA-ASIATICA, had there by force of armes most honourably seared himselfe and the Turks his followers, amongst the Christians▪ in hope of like good fortune, and for the zeale towards his superstition (accounting all well gotten that was gained from the Christians) tooke his way after him, with such of his kinsmen and subjects as would accompanie him in his new aduentures. And comming to ARTEZERVM, a citie in the borders of ARMENIA and CAPPADOCIA, thereabout in the countrey according to the season of the year [...], seated himselfe with his followers, being in number many; who with their wiues and children after the manner of the Tartar Nomades their ancestours, in poore tents and carts couered with a course kind of cloth, had followed him; being indeed nothing else but a verie rude and rough kind of sturdie heardsmen, not wedded to any place, but still remoouing with their tents and carts vp and downe, as best serued for their purpose and the feeding of their cattell, as do [...] the Turcoman nation, the true discent of the Turks, in many parts of ASIA at this day: and were thereof not onely called Nomades, that is to say heardsmen, (by which name the proud Ianizaries will oftentimes in contempt call euen the greatest of the naturall Turkes) but Hamaxophoretie, and Hamaxobij, that is to say, people carried or liuing in carts▪ Solyman hauing sta [...]ed a while about ERZERVM, remoouing thence came to AMASIA; and there spoiling the countrey then inhabited by the Christians, did them much harme, oftentimes encountring them in the C plaine field, and sometimes ceazing vpon their townes and cities, vntill he had subdued vnto himselfe a right large territorie: yet at length hauing in so many battels by him fought, and cities by him besieged, lost a great number of his people, and so wearied the rest as that they were not willing farther to follow him; and fearing also with such small power as he had left, to be able to defend and keepe the countrey by him alreadie gotten, in the midst of so many enemies; thought it best to depart thence, and to seeke his better fortune elsewhere. At the same time it was rifely reported, that the affaires of PERSIA after so long trouble (for all this was not a while in doing) began to grow againe to some good quiet▪ the furie of the Tartars being now well abated, and that storme ouerblowne: wherefore Solyman resolued now to returne home againe, and to visit his natiue countrey, of him and his people aboue all others desired. So passing through SYRIA D(for that was now his way) neere vnto ALLEPO, he ceazed vpon a castle called ZIABER-CALA, and there staied a space for the refreshing of his people. Afterward setting forward againe, he came at length to the great and famous riuer EVPHRATES, ouer which he must needs passe: But finding there neither bridge nor foord, or other meanes to get ouer, he stood still as a man dismaid, not knowing what to do. Stay there he would not, & go further he could no [...]: his desire bid him goe, but the great riuer said, not so. In this perplexitie Solyman himselfe with his horse oftentimes taking the riuer, in hope to haue found some passage; but finding none, aduenturing too far, was with the force of the streame carried away▪ and so together with his horse drowned. His bodie after long seeking, being at length found, was with the great lamentation of his people buried neere vnto the castle ZIABER, not long before by him taken: whereof they say the place E is at this day in their tongue called Mesari-Zuruc, that is to say, the Turkes Graue. Some of these Oguzian Turks, after the death of their Sultan, wearie of their long trauell, seated themselues in the countrey therabouts, vnto whom the Turks that now hold that castle do refer their beginning. The rest of that great tribe and familie diuersly diuided, went vnto diuers places as their fortunes led them; some of them into the wast ground and desarts of ARABIA and SYRIA, and are at this day called the Damascene Turconians: othersome returned backe againe into ROMANIA,Romania Asiatica. the same way that they came, of whom are descended the Turconians of ICONIVM and ANATOLIA: who yet with their wiues and children, as heardsmen, in great companies wander vp and downe the countrey, after the manner of their ancestors.

Solyman thus lost,The sonnes of Solyman, and their first aduentures. left foure sonnes, Sencur-Teken, Iundogdis, Ertogrul, of some called Orthobules (the father of this Othoman founder of the Turks empire that now is) and Dunder. With these foure brethren, most part of these Oguzian Turks that were left, returning into ROMANIA (as is aforesaid) after they had there rested themselues a while, marching vp a long the riuer EVPHRATES came to a place called PASIN-OVASI, about ten miles aboue ARTERVM, where Ertogrul and his brother Dunder, with foure hundred families, not willing to go any farther staied with their tents and carts, their best dwellings. Sencur and Iundogdis ▪ their other two brethren, [Page] in the meane time passing the riuer, returned with the rest into PERSIA: whom we there G leaue vnto their vnknowne fortunes. In this place Ertogrul with his brother and his three sonnes stayed a while, and had diuers conflicts with the countrey people thereabout, vntill that at length he thought it best to returne againe into ROMANIA. So setting forward, he came to ANCYRA, and from thence vnto the blacke Mountaines, and so to a plaine, called of the Turks Sultan-Vngi about 75 miles Eastward from the citie of NICE in BYTHINIA, where he had many skirmishes with the Christians.

Now a good while before this, Aladin the elder (of whom we haue before spoken in the former part of this historie) fled out of PERSIA, had subdued diuers great prouinces and countries in ROMANIA ASIATICA or the lesser ASIA (for so it is more truly called) so that he was of H all the people thereabouts accounted for a great prince, and of the Turks themselues honoured with the name of their Vlu Padischach, that is to say, their great king or emperour. Hauing placed his regall seat first at SEBASTIA, and afterward at ICONIUM; which two cities before ruinous, he repaired, and therein raigned, as did some few of his posteritie after him, as is before declared. Neither was Ertogrul ignorant of the honour, glorie, and power of this great Sultan: But hauing three sonnes, namely, Iundus, Sarugatin, and Othoman, sent Sarugatin his second son (a bold well spoken man) vnto him to request him in that his so large a kingdome, and as yet not well peopled by the Turks, to graunt vnto them his poore exiled countreymen of long time oppressed with diuerse fortunes, some small corner for them with their families and cattell to rest in. Which his request, the Sultan not forgetfull of his owne distresse sometime in like case, graciously heard, & with great courtesie vsed the messenger. Now for the furtherance of his sute, it fortuned, that this Sultan before driuen out of PERSIA by the Tartars, and by them also much troubled in these his new gotten countries in the lesser ASIA, had with them diuers hot skirmishes, and sharpe conflicts; in one of which it fortuned the Sultan himselfe, with all the power he then had, to be hardly beset by his enemies, and in danger to haue lost the day: when as Ertogrul but newly come into the countrey, and willing to doe the Sultan seruice, and awaiting all opportunities for the commending of himselfe and his followers; vpon the suddaine vnlooked for, with foure hundred men came vpon the backs of the Tartars, then almost in possession of a great victorie, and so forcibly charged them, that vnable to indure the charge and to maintaine the fight against the Sultan (whose men encouraged by this vnexpected aid, as by succour sent from K heauen, began now to fight with greater courage) being both before and behind hardly beset, they as men in despaire of the victorie they had before assured themselues of, turned their backes and fled. After which good seruice, the Sultan honourably welcommed this new come Turke, giuing him his hand to kisse, as the manner of the nation is; and highly commending his valou [...], commaunded a rich cloke to be cast vpon him (amongst those Easterne nations a great honour) and all his souldiors to be bountifully rewarded: and presently after gaue vnto Ertogrul and his Turks a countrey village called SUGUTA, betwixt the castle of BILEZUGA and the mountaine TMOLUS in the greater PHRIGIA: in which village they might liue in, in Winter; and vpon the a [...]oresaid mountaine, and the mountaine ORMENIUS, betwixt the riuers SANGARIUS and LICUS, feed their cattell in Summer. And yet not so contented thus to haue honoured L him, in whom he saw such approoued valour, committed to his protection that side of the countrey wherein he dwelt, being in the very frontiers of his kingdome: which his charge he so well looked vnto, that all the countrey thereabout, before much infested with the often incursions of the enemie, was by his vigilant care and prowesse well secured.

Thus is Ertogrul the Oguzian Turke, with his homely heardsmen, become a pettie lord of a countrey village, and in good fauour with the Sultan: whose followers, as sturdie heardsmen with their families, liued in Winter with him in SUGUTA; but in Summer in tents with their cattell vpon the mountaines. Hauing thus liued certaine yeares, and brought great peace vnto his neighbours, as well the Christians as the Turks, before much troubled with the inuasions of the Tartars:The Christians of Cara-Chisar fall ou [...] with the Turks. it fortuned, that the Christians of CARA-CHISAR, a castle thereby (called by the M antient Greekes Melanopyrgon, and of later time Maurocastron, that is to say, the blacke tower or castle) wearie of their owne ease, and of the peace they had by his meanes enjoyed, fell out with him, and euill intreated both him and his people. Which their ingratitude he taking in euill part, thereof, and of the wrongs by them done vnto the Turks, so grieuously complained vnto the Sultan; that he therewith mooued, raised a great armie▪ and so himselfe in person came and [Page] besieged the castle. But lying there at the siege, newes was brought him, That the Tartars with a great armie, vnder the leading of one Baintzar, were entred into CARIA, and there spoiling the countrey, had taken HERACLEA. For the repressing of whom, the Sultan was glad to rise with his armie; yet leauing a sufficient strength behind him for the continuing of the siege, vnder the charge of Ertogrul Beg ▪ for so the Turks now called him. The Sultan afterwards encountering with the Tartars at BAGA, ouerthrew them in a great battell: whilest Ertogrul in the meane space hardly besieged CARA-CHISAR, wherein fortune so much fauoured him, that at length he tooke the castle, the spoile whereof he gaue vnto the souldiours, reseruing onely the fift part thereof, as due vnto the Sultan, which he sent him for a present, together with the captaine of the castle▪ whom he had taken aliue: which captaine the Sultan afterward inlarged, and restored again to him his castle, for the payment of a yearely tribute, which he truly paied during the life of the Sultan; but he dying about two yeares after, he refused any more to pay it, and so reuolted from the Turks.

Sultan Aladin, founder of the Aladinian kingdome (for so the Turks call it) being dead at ICONIUM, after him succeeded Azatines his eldest sonne; and after him Iathatines his yoonger brother; who slaine by Theodorus Lascaris the Greeke emperour (as is before declared) after him succeeded in that kingdome another Iathatines, the sonne of Azatines, who was by the Tartars expulsed, and his kingdome subdued (as in the former part of this historie it appeareth.) After which time the Selzuccian familie there also by the Tartars in the lesser ASIA depressed, retained C scarce the name and shaddow of their former majestie and glorie. In which troublesome times, and confusion of the state, Ertogrul well beaten and wearied in the world, kept himselfe close in his house at SUGUTA, as well contented therewith as with a kingdome; seeking by all meanes to keepe peace on euery side with his neighbours,Small things in time of trouble yeeld vnto the wise great content. as well Christians as others. In which quiet kind of life hee sweetly passed ouer the troublesome times of Mesoot the sonne of Kei-Cubades, and of Kei-Cubades the sonne of Feramuzin, both Sultans, but the great Tartars tributaries, and raigning but at their pleasure, vntill the time of the second Aladin, the sole & last heire of the Iconian kingdome, before by the Tartars deuided, which was no few years. All which time Ertogrul liued quietly at SUGUTA, as one amongst many other of the Iconian Sultans subjects, wisely considering the fall of the Selzuccian Sultans, both in PERSIA and at ICONIUM; as also D the ruine of his own house and familie, both from royall state brought almost vnto nothing: and therefore with patience taking the world as it came, and making a vertue of necessitie, contenting himselfe with a little, bare himselfe kindly towards all men. In which contented kind of life, he grew to great yeares, with his three sonnes, greatly beloued and honoured of their neighbors, as well Christians as Turks; and no lesse fauoured by the second Aladin, then Sultan, than he had been of all the Sultans before him: whom the yoong men his sonnes, after the manner of their nation (forbidding them with emptie hands to salute their princes) oftentimes visited with one present or other. In all which his sonnes were many good parts to be seene, yet so, as that in Othoman was easily to bee perceiued a greater courage and spirit than in the other two his brethren: which was the cause that he was the more of all them of his tribe regarded, but especially E of the youthfull and warlike sort, which commonly resorted vnto him when he went to hawke or hunt, or to other delights of the field (the counterfeits of warre) and was of them commonly called Osman Gazi, that is to say, Osman the warlike.

In this frontier countrey neere vnto SUGUTA, the dwelling place of old Ertogrul, had Sultan Aladin diuers lieutenants and captaines, gouernors of his castles and strong holds vpon those frontiers, with whom Othoman was well acquainted, and vnto whom he for friendship sake oftentimes resorted: but especially vnto the captaine of IN-VNOI, for that he knew himselfe to be of him well beloued, and therefore vnto him very welcome. So it fortuned vpon a time, that as Othoman being yet but yoong, was going to make merry with the gouernor of ESKI-CHISAR (a castle about foure and twentie miles off, called of the Greekes Palaeo [...]astron) by the way as he went, at a place called ITBURNE (a towne in PHRIGIA) chaunced there to see, and afterwards to fall in liking of a faire maiden called Malhatun:Othoman [...]orous of Malhatun a countrey maid. vnto whom his affection daily increasing, he without his fathers knowledge sent a secret friend of his to intreat with her of marriage. Who after long discourse to her made concerning Othomans affection and request, gaue him answere, That betwixt Othoman and her was great inequalitie, a thing especially to be regarded & eschued of such as wished to liue an happie life in wedlocke bands; she was (as she said) but meanly borne, [Page] and therefore was not to expect so great a match: whereas he could not want choice of other G maidens of more worth, and in all respects more answerable vnto himselfe. But amongst other causes why she gaue him this answere, one was, for that some that wished her well, had put in [...]o her head, that Othoman men [...] not indeed to marry her, but vnder that colour to obtaine of her some few dayes pleasure, and so hauing dishonoured her, afterward againe to cast her off: which was indeed far from his thought; for he the more enflamed with her modest deniall, the more desired her for his wife. In the meane time, Othoman going againe vnto the gouernor of ESKI-CHISAR, and courteously by him entertained,A [...]olly common vnto [...]uers. chanced (as it oftentimes doth amongst familiar friends in their merriments) to fall in speech of his loue, with greater affection than discretion, commending her beautie, her feature, and gracious perfections; not dissembling also, to her greater H praise, the repulse by him receiued at her hands. Which the gouernor hearing, seemed greatly to like of his choice, saying, That she was by the diuine prouidence (for so the Turks religiously vse to speake) appointed only for him to haue.No friendship in [...]oue. But in the meane time secretly inflamed with the immoderat commendations of Othoman, without respect of friendship, he began to grow amorous of her himselfe, whom he had neuer seene; so light is that foolish affection: and that so far, as that being otherwise a man of good discretion, he was not able to conceale or couer these new conceiued flames, but that Othoman by certaine conjectures and tokens perceiued the same. And yet dissembling the matter, as if he had suspected nothing, being risen from the banquet, calling vnto him one of his trustie seruants, secretly sent him away vnto certaine of the maidens friends, willing them in his name, as they tendred her honour, without delay to send her away vnto some safe place farther off, for feare she were not ere long taken from them by a great man, more amorous of her person than respectuous of her honour. And by and by after, taking his leaue of his vnfaithfull friend and bidding him farwell, tooke his way vnto the captaine of IN-VNGI, whom he knew to be his deare friend. But whilest he there stayed certaine dayes, passing the time in hawking, hunting, and other youthfull disports, with the captaine his friend; the gouernour of ESKI-CHISAR, who commaunded all the countrey thereabout (called Sultan-Vng [...]) sent one of his [...]rustie seruants to I [...]URNE, to see faire Malhatun, and how all things there went: Who comming thither, and vnderstanding of her secret departure, and that by the aduertisement from Othoman she was conueyed to certaine of her friends a farre off; at his returne from point to point certefied his master thereof. Who exceedingly grieued with the report, and fre [...] ting K aboue measure to see himselfe so deluded by Othoman, presently sent vnto the captaine of IN-VNGI (being within his jurisdiction) to commaund him without delay to deliuer Othoman vnto him. But he louing of him well, as a faithfull man vnto his friend, could with no threats or intreatie be persuaded so to doe. Wherefore the gouernour in a great rage presently raising the greatest power he was able to make, came to the castle of IN-VNGI, requiring to haue Othoman foorthwith deliuered vnto him. Where among the souldiors there in garrison with the captain, began to arise diuers opinions; some wishing, for the auerting of the present danger for which they were now vnprouided, to haue him deliuered; and othersome abhorring so trecherous a fact,Othoman besieged & in danger for his loue. willing rather to indure all extremities. In the end after much consultation, honestie preuailed: & it was generally resolued, That he should be defended, who could not without their great L infamie be deliuered. But Othoman terrified with that diuersitie of opinions, which had euen at the first shewed it selfe; and thinking it not for his safetie, to commit himselfe vnto the trust of such wauering men, entred into a deepe conceit of a matter of great aduenture, which was, by a suddaine sallie to make himselfe way through the middest of his enemies. Wherewith hauing made his brother Iundus and those few his followers there present acquainted, and thereupon resolued; he fiercely sallied out, and by plaine force brake through the thickest of them, & so tooke his way towards SUGUTA, still notably repulsing them that were sent to pursue him. But being come into the frontiers of his fathers territorie, and the report of his danger knowne, and that being but weakely accompanied he was by a great number of his enemies pursued; presently all the lustie youths and such as loued him well, tooke horse to come vnto his rescue: who meeting M with the gouernours souldiors, that had Othoman in chace, in a sharpe conflict slew diuers of them, and put the rest to flight. Of whom some were also taken prisoners, and amongst the rest one Michaell Cosse a Christian, captaine of a little castle in that countrey called HIRMEN-CAIA, or the rocke of Ormeni: of whom Othoman taking compassion, freely pardoned him that offence. With which vnexpected courtesie he was so mooued, that euer after he tooke part with [Page] A him, and did him great seruice in his wars: whose posteritie hath euer since euen vntill this our age continued, next vnto the Othoman familie, most honourable and famous amongst the Turks, by the name of the Michael Oglies, that is to say, The sonnes or posteritie of Michaell.

Ertogrul now spent with age, shortly after died, in the yeare of our Lord 1289, hauing liued 93 yeares, and thereof gouerned the Oguzian familie after the death of his father Solyman, 52. His death was of all his tribe and kinred greatly lamented, and his bodie after the Turkish manner honourably buried at SU [...]UTA, where he had of long time liued▪

After whose death,The Oguzian Turks in doubt of whom to mak [...] choice for their Gouernour. these plaine Oguzian Turks, in a generall assemblie consulting whom they might chuse for their lord and gouernour in stead of old Ertogrul; casting their eyes especially vpon two, stood in doubt of which of them to make choice. For although most men were of opinion, That Othoman for the rare gifts and vertues as well of bodie as of mind, was to be preferred before the rest of his brethren, the sonnes of Ertogrul: yet were there some, and they also men of great grauitie and experience, who had in suspect the yoong mans age, as of it selfe slipperie, and for most part prone to vice, especially in the libertie of great power: and therefore thought it better to make choice of Dunder (Ertogruls brother, and Othomans vncle) a man of far greater grauitie, judgement, and experience. But Dunder himselfe, being indeed a wise man and far from all ambition, persuaded them in that choice not to haue any regard at all vnto his honour or preferment; but to consider what were best for their state and welfare in generall. For he prouidently foresaw in what danger the Oguzian state stood, exposed on the one side to the C mortall hatred and trecheries of the Greekes, grieued to see themselues spoiled by the Turks, and naturally hating them for the Mahometane religion: and on the other side not surely backt with the Sultans of ICONIUM, brought in thraldome to the Tartars, and daily growne weaker and weaker: Vnto which inconueniences and dangers (he said) an old weake and ouerworne bodie (as was his) could giue no helpe or remedie at all; but required the helpe of a wise, politicke, vigillant, stirring, and valiant man, such as they all well knew was Othoman his brothers son. Thus before he came vnto the election, he in priuat declared his mind vnto the cheefe of the Oguzian familie: and afterward at their request comming vnto the generall assemblie, all mens minds and eyes now fixed vpon Othoman, he first of all (by his example to encourage the rest) for the good of the Oguzian tribe, his antient house and familie, saluted him their great lord and gouernour, promising vnto him all loyaltie, with the vttermost of his seruice: whereunto by and by ensued the great applause of the rest of the people, as vnto a gouernour sent vnto them by God: Vnto whom they joyfully wished all happie successe, with long life, & a most prosperous gouernment. Thus with all mens good liking was Othoman made the great gouernour of the Oguzian Turks, and so become amongst them a great commander, and honoured with the name of Osman-Beg, or, The lord Osman. Yet was this his honour included in a small circuit, plaine and homely, without any great pompe or shew, as commaunding amongst rough and rude heardsmen and shepheards, not acquainted with the courtesie of other more ciuile nations: for as yet they were the same homely Scythian Nomades that they were before, and could not as yet be persuaded to forsake their woonted rude and vnciuile manners, by long tradition receiued from their auncestors, and so best agreeing with their nature and calling. Amongst which rude heardsmen, this new gouernour (himselfe not too far exceeding the rest in ciuilitie) commaunded much like vnto another Romulus; of whom also the Turks report many such things as do the Romanes of their founder, which for breuitie I thought good to passe ouer.

Now it fortuned that Othoman euen in the beginning of his gouernment, fell first at ods with on Hagionicholaus, or S. Nicolas (captaine of EINEGIOL, a castle there by) for that he had oftentimes of purpose troubled and molested these Oguzian heardsmen, in passing too and fro with their cattell by his castle. For which cause Othoman was enforced to request the captaine of BILEZVGA (another castle thereby, also his neighbour and friend) that his people in passing that way to the mountaines, might with their goods and cattell as occasion should require, take the refuge of his castle; which the courteous captaine (well acquainted with old Ertogrul, Othomans father) easily granted, yet with this prouiso, That none should with such goods or cattell haue accesse into his castle, but the Turks women only: which his courtesie Othoman refused not. So was the castle of BILEZVGA from that time forward a refuge vnto the Turks women, who passing that way and there shrowded with their goods & cattell, vsually presented the captain with some one homely countrey present or other, which afterwards was the losse of the castle.

[Page]Yet was not Othoman vnmindfull of the wrong done vnto his people, by his euill neighbour G the captaine of EINEGIOL: but purposing to be therof reuenged, made choice of seuentie of his best and most able men, whom he appointed secretly to passe the mountaine ORMENIVS, and so if it were possible, to surprise or set on fire his enemies castle. Of which his designment, the warie captaine hauing intelligence by one of his espials, in place conuenient vpon the mountaine laied a strong ambush for the cutting off of such as were by Othoman sent to haue surprised his castle: whereof Othoman (no lesse warie than he) before warned by his scouts, and augmenting the number of his men, marched directly vnto the place where the enemie lay. Where betwixt them (for so small a number) was fought a right cruell and bloodie battell, and many slaine on both sides; amongst whom Hozza, Othomans nephew was one. The victorie neuerthelesse fell H vnto Othoman: after which time his people in much more safetie fed their cattell in the summer time on the mountaines as their manner was, and so in quiet passed to and fro.

The castle of Chal [...]e surprised by [...] ▪Shortly after, Othoman by night surprised the little castle of CHALCE, not far from EINEGIOL: and there without mercie put to the sword all the Christians he found therein, and so afterwards burnt the castle; which outrage was the beginning and occasion of great troubles therof ensuing. For the Christians of the countries adjoyning, much grieued therewith, and assembling themselues together,The Christians [...] of the [...] complained vnto the captaine of CARA-CHIZAR, the greatest commmander thereabout, That these Turks, which not many yeares before were of meere pittie receiued as poore heardsmen into that countrey, began now in warlike manner to lay violent hands vpon the antient lands and possessions of the Christians; which insolencie (as they said) i [...] it were longer winked at and suffered by him, and other such men of account and authoritie as wer [...] to reforme the same, they would no doubt in short time driue both them, and all the rest of the Christians out of their natiue countries: wherefore it were now high time and mo [...]e than necessarie for him, and all the rest to awake (as it were) out of the dead sleepe wherein they had long time drousily slept; and joyning their forces together, to expulse those vnthankfull enchroching & mercilesse strangers out of their countries: The mischiefe they said being now spred far, therefore needed speedie remedie; and that repentance would come too late when it was past cure. The captaine mooued with the indignitie of the late fact, and just complaint of the poore countrey people, sent with all speed a strong company of souldiours, vnder the leading of Calanus his brother, with comm [...]undement that they should march vnto the castle of EINEGIOL, and K there to joyne with the rest of the Christian forces.

Othoman vnderstanding of this preparation made against him, gathering his souldiers together, marched to a place called OPSICIUM, neere vnto mount TMOLVS in PHRIGIA, where betweene him and the Christians was fought a sharpe battell, wherein he lost his brother Sarugatin (whom the Turks account for a saint or martyr at this day) with many other of his souldiours. In this battell was also Calanus slaine, whose belly Othoman caused to be ripped, and his intrals to be pulled out, naming the place where he was buried Mesari-Repec, that is to say, the Dog-Graue, by which name the place is at this day knowne. The bodie of his brother Sarugatin he carried to SVGVTA, and there honourably buried it neere to the bodie of his father Erth [...]gr [...]l. Aladin Sultan of ICONIVM vnderstanding of this conflict, was verie sorie for the losse L hapned vnto Othoman, being a Mahometane of his owne religion: wherefore in token of his good will and sauour, he gaue vnto him the citie of PALEAPOLIS with all the territorie thereunto belonging, giuing vnto him also leaue to besiege, take, or spoile, the signiorie and castle of CARA-CHISAR: for accomplishment whereof, he sent vnto him both souldiers and munition. Othoman encouraged with this great bountie of the Sultans, straightly besieged the castle of CARACHISAR; which at last he wan, and slew all the Christians therein: the captaine he tooke aliue, whom he cruelly executed: the spoile of the castle he gaue vnto his souldiers, reseruing only the fift part thereof, which he sent for a present to the Sultan. All this happened in the yeare of our Lord 1290. This castle of CARA-CHISAR, with the rest, as EINEGIOL, BILEZVGA, CHALCE, and others before and hereafter in the life of Othoman to be mentioned, were all situate M in the borders of the greater PHRIGIA, or else neere thereunto in the confines of BYTHINIA and MYSIA: In which pleasant countries (but lately part of the Constantinopolitane empire) the Christians the antient inhabitants thereof yet dwelt, intermingled with the Turks, at the rising of the Othoman empire; with whom they liued at continuall jars, vntill that at length they were by them altogether oppressed and extinguished.

[Page] Othoman encouraged with this good successe,Othom [...]n consulteth with his brother [...] what [...] to take for the oppresing of the Christians [...] neighbours. and supported by the great Sultan of ICONIVM, began now after his ambitious nature to conceit greater matters, for the further increase of his honor and territorie: yet not trusting altogether to his owne deuise, he entred into consultation with his brother Iundus, which way was best to take to distresse and bring in subjection his neighbours the Christians. In which case, Iundus a man of greater courage than discretion, aduised him with all celeritie to vrge his good fortune, and presently to inuade the Christians alreadie discouraged with the losse of CARA-CHISAR. But this counsell altogether pleased not Othoman for (said he) the castles & fortes by vs gained, must be kept with strong garrisons, otherwise they will againe be recouered by the enemie; which garrisons cannot be maintained and kept, if we spoile or dispeople the countries adjoyning vpon vs, for in so doing we shal (as it were) with our owne hands cut our owne throats: wherefore I thinke it better, that we enter into a league of amitie and friendship with the Christians round about vs, which league we will keepe with some, or breake with others, as shall serue best for our purpose. And according to this resolution, he made peace indeed with all the Christians, but especially with Michael Coss [...], captaine of HIRMEN-CAIA castle, of whom we haue before spoken, who afterward serued him to great vse in the mannaging of his wars, and became also a renegate of the Mahometane religion. All this Othoman did the rather, because he was thē at great variance with one Germean-Ogli (a great man among the Turks, but one of the Selzuccian familie) who enuying at the rising of Othoman, sought by all means possible to hinder his greatnesse, as did also the others, his quietnes: which discord the Christians liked well, as a meane for them to liue in more rest by.

In the meane time,Othoman [...] in order his [...] commonweale. Othoman deuised with all carefulnesse to beautifie and strengthen his new commonweale: and for the greater concourse of people, built a faire temple in CARA-CHISAR for the exercise of the Mahometane religion; appointed markets to be kept in all peaceable maner in his great townes, graunting great priuiledges vnto such as resorted thither, as well Christians as Turks; vsing therein such justice, that all sorts of people without feare in hope of gaine resorting thither, furnished his countrey and townes with all things necessarie: yet this care of ciuile pollicie and gouermnent, could not so withdraw him, but that according to his aspiring mind, he had alwaies a greater desire and care to enlarge his possessions and territorie. Wherefore intending to make a road into BITHINIA, he requested Michael Cossi, the Christian captaine before mentioned, to deliuer his opinion what was best to be done? who so politickely directed him in that exploit, that he returned victorious, enriched with great spoile and more honor. This road so terrified most of the Christians thereabouts, that they were loth to giue Othoman any cause of offence, for feare least they should by him be spoiled.

It fortuned about this time, that the captaines of BILEZVGA & CVPRI-CHISAR falling at ods; he of CVPRI-CHISAR first taking vp armes, fiercely inuaded the captaine of BILEZVGA: who thereupon sent vnto Othoman, to pray his ayd, which hee easelie graunted, and so without further delay presently came vnto him with certeine companies of lustie tall souldiors. By whose comming, the captaine of BILEZVGA not a little encouraged and strengthened, set vpon his enemie: where betwixt them was made a sharpe conflict, and diuers on both sides slaine: but the victorie by the helpe of Othoman the Turke, at length enclining vnto the BILEZVGIAN, the other vanquished captaine in all hast fled vnto his owne castle. After whome Othoman following, laid seige vnto the castle, which at length he tooke together with the captaine, whom he caused to bee presently slaine. It is strange to tell, how prowd the lord of BILEZVGA was, to haue so reuenged himselfe of his enemie, and to haue gayned the victorie; although it were indeed gotten, not so much by his valour as by the prowesse of the Turke: for whom and his followers, in token of his thankfulnesse, he caused a great feast to be prouided in the countrie thereby, where he honorably entertained them; & in the end of the feast, caused garments of great price (according to the manner of the Easterne nations) to be giuen vnto Othoman, in token of his fauour; and his souldiors to be also bountifully rewarded: but this was done with such a presumptious state and grace as if he had been some great prince, offering vnto the common souldiors of the Turks, in passing by them, his hand to kisse, as a great fauour. With which exceeding insolencie, Othoman was so much offended, that he had much adoe to hold his hands from him: yet repressing his anger, he in secret imparted his discontentment vnto his cosin Dunder, his vncle Dunders sonne; greiuously complayning of the intollerable pride of the Christian captaine, and of the disgrace by him done vnto the Turks, in offring them his hand to [Page] kisse; requiring his opinion how he were for the same to be corrected: who but a little before, being by the said captaine made his lieutenant, franckly told his kinsman, That as then nothing was to be attempted against him; first, for that on the one side they had Germean-ogli (a great man amongst the Selzuccian Turks) their enemie, and round about them besides they were inuironed with the Christians, whom he should haue all in his neck atonce if he should offer the BILEZVGIAN captaine any wrong. By which answere, Othoman perceiuing his cosins great affection towards the Christian captaine, and doubting to haue the mischiefe he had imagined against him, by him reuealed, or at leastwise hindered; without more adoe suddenly taking vp his bow in his hand, with an arrow shot him quite thorow, and so slew him.

Michael Cossi inuiteth Othoman to the ma [...]age of his daughter.Not long after Michael Cossi the capaine of HIRMEN-CAIA, Othomans great friend, hauing concluded a mariage betweene a gentleman of that countrey and his daughter, inuited all the Christian captaines of the castles thereabouts, requesting them to come to the mariage; and the rather that so they might grow into acquaintance with Othoman, whose power began now to grow dreadfull vnto them: hoping that such meanes might be found at that merrie meeting, that all being made friends, euery man might in more securitie possesse his owne without feare of being spoiled by him. Vnto this mariage came all these bidden guests, bringing with them such presents as they thought good to bestow vpon the new maried folks, according to the manner of the countrey: but Othomans gifts farre exceeded all the rest, who besides many other rich things, gaue vnto them whole flocks and droues of sheepe and cattell: which thing drew all the Christian captaines into no little admiration of his bountie; insomuch that they began to say amongst themselues, that Othomans wealth and good fortune did portend some greater matter, to their vtter ruine and fall: which to preuent, they thought it best by secret meanes to compasse his death. The execution of which deuise they referred to the capaine of BILEZVGA, as vnto one with him best acquainted. This captaine was of great wealth, credit, and authoritie amongst the Christian rulers thereabouts, but verie full of craft and dissimulation: which his euill disposition Othoman of long time well perceiued; yet hauing occasion to vse him, in subtill manner gaue him (in outward shew) all the honour he could, magnifying him in words, and debasing himselfe as plaine and poore in comparison of him. But to giue a beginning to this trecherous deuise, the captaine meeting with Othoman, in friendly manner told him, how that he intended shortly to marie the daughter of the captaine of IAR-CHISER, earnestly requesting him to honour that his mariage with his presence, of the time whereof, he said he would giue him farther knowledge afterwards: and all was but a colour, to bring Othoman within his danger, not fearing any such treason. Othoman vnderstanding that the time of the mariage drew nigh, sent thither a present of certaine fat oxen and sheepe, in the name of his brother Iundus, for the captaines prouision against the mariage; certifying him, That Othoman himselfe, with his simple retinue, would be present at the mariage, and then present him, not with such presents as were agreeable with his honour, yet such as his poore abilitie could affoord. This message with the presents, were woonderfull welcome to the captaine, hoping assuredly that his deuised treacherie would take such effect as he wished. And therefore calling vnto him Michael Cossi, in whom he had reposed an especiall trust, declared vnto him his whole deuise (wherof he was not before altogether ignorant,) requesting him to take the paines to go vnto Othoman to bring him to the marriage, the time being now certainly appointed and at hand; which hee knew Cossi might easily do, being of his familiar acquaintance. And in token of great friendship, he sent vnto Othoman by the same messenger, a present of gilt plate. Cossi tooke vpon him this message: which when he had deliuered vnto Othoman, he found him verie willing to go, as a man not doubting any harme. But Cossi inwardly grieuing to see so braue a man, and his kind friend, by such treacherous manner to be brought to his end; mooued with compassion, discouered vnto him the whole conspiracie of the captaine against him, and of the plot laied for his destruction, willing him to take heed vnto himselfe: for which ouverture, Othoman gaue Cossi great thanks, as to his friend, for sauing his life; and withall richly rewarded him, promising him greater matters if he would continue that his faithfull friendship. Now concerning the captaine of BELIZVGA (saith he) at your returne recommend me vnto him, and tell him, That I thinke my selfe much bound vnto him for many courtesies, but especially for that he hath heretofore diuers times in most friendly manner protected my goods and cattell, within the safegard of his castle: which his friendship I most humbly request him to continue for one yeare more, enforced thereunto by [Page] reason of the dangerous wars betwixt me and the prince Germean-Ogli as he well knoweth: wherefore if it might so stand with his good pleasure, I would presently send vnto his castle such things as I make most reckning of, requesting him once more to be the faithfull keeper therof, as he hath beene before: and tell him further, that my mother in law, with her daughter my wife, desire nothing more than to find opportunitie to be acquainted with the honourable ladie his mother; for which cause (if it please him) I will bring them both with me to the marriage. This Othomans request, when the captain of BILEZVGA vnderstood by Michael Cossi; he sent the same Cossi backe againe to hasten his comming, willing him to bring with him what gesse he pleased; appointing certaine time and place when and where the marriage should be solemnised. And because the castle of BILEZVGA was thought to be too little conueniently to receiue the multitude of people which were expected at the mariage, there was another open place of greater receipt appointed in the countrey for that purpose, about three miles distant from the castle. The mariage day drew nigh, whereunto Othoman must repaire for his promise sake: and therefore prepared with all diligence to set forward, and to put in execution what he had deuised for the safetie of himselfe, and destruction of his enemie. Othoman had of long accustomed in dangerous times, to send by carriage the best of his things, made vp in packes, to be kept in safetie in the castle of BILEZVGA: vnder the colour whereof, he now made great packs in forme as he was woont; but in stead of his rich houshold stuffe, and such other things of price, he thrust in armed men, couering those packs with homely couerings, sending them by carriages to the castle of BILEZVGA, giuing charge that they should not come thither before twilight. After that, he appareled certaine of his best souldiours in womens apparell, as if it had beene his wife and mother in law, with their women: so casting his journey, that he with these diguised souldiours, and the other sent in packs, might at one instant meet at the castle aforesaid. The captaine being now in the countrey, and vnderstanding that Othoman was comming in the euening with a great t [...]ame of gentlewomen; thought the cause of his late comming to be, for that the Turkish women vse to shun the sight of Christian men by all meanes they can. Othoman being now come to the place in the countrey where the mariage was next day to be solemnized, hauing done his humble reu [...]rence to the captaine, requested him to do him the honour, That his gentlewomen which were nigh at hand, might by his appointment bee sent to his castle, there to haue some conuenient lodging where they might alight and bestow themselues a part from others, according to the homely fashion of their nation; least peraduenture the presence of so honourable a companie of noble men and gallants, might put them out of countenance: which the captaine graunted, and hauing saluted them a far off after the Turkish manner, commaunded them to be conueyed to his castle, making reckoning of them all as of a rich prey. At the same time that these disguised souldiours arriued at the castle, came thither also the other souldiours couered in packes in the cariages: which so soone as they were within the castle, suddenly leapt out of the packs, and drawing their short swords, with the helpe of their disguised fellowes slew the warders of the castle, and without more adoe possessed the same: the greatest part of the captaines people being before gon out of the castle to the place of the mariage. Othoman hauing taried so long with the captaine, as hee supposed the castle by that time by his men surprised; so soone as the captaine had taken his chamber, suddenly tooke horse, with all his followers, accompanied also with Cossi, The captaine of Belizuga [...]acherously seeking the death of Othoman, is by him, himselfe slaine. taking his way directly to the castle of BILEZVGA: of whose sudden departure, the captaine vnderstanding, presently tooke horse and pursued him with all his traine, which were for the most part drunke; and ouertaking him before he came to the castle, set vpon him: in which conflict, he was by Othoman slaine, and the rest put to flight.

The same night Othoman vsing great celeritie, earely in the morning surprised the castle of IARCHISAR also, where he tooke prisoners the captaine thereof, with his faire daughter Lulufer, (which should haue beene maried to the captaine of BILEZVGA the next day) with all her friends, as they were readie to haue gone to the mariage: which faire ladie he shortly after married vnto his eldest sonne Orchanes; who had by her Amurath, third king of the Turkes, and Solyman Bassa.

Othoman omitting no opportunitie, presently sent one of his captaines called Durgut-Apes, a man of great esteeme and valour, to besiege the castle of EINEGIOL: wherein he vsed such celeritie, that preuenting the same of that was done at BILEZVGA, he suddenly inuironed the castle, in such sort that none could passe in or out; vntill such time, as that Othoman hauing broght [Page] his prisoners and prey to the castle of BELIZVGA, and there hauing set all things in good order, came with the rest of his men of war to EINEGIOL; which he presently by force tooke, promising the spoile thereof vnto his souldiours. The captaine called Hagio-Nicholaus his antient enemie, he caused to be cut in small peeces, and all the men to be slaine: which crueltie he vsed, because they a little before had vsed the like tyrannie against his Turks.

Othoman by admini [...]ration of iustice strengtheneth his gouernment.When Othoman had thus got into his subjection a great part of the strong castles and forces of the greater PHRIGIA, with the territorie to them belonging, he began with all carefulnesse to make good lawes, and to execute justice to all his subjects, as well Christians as Turkes: with great indifferencie studying by all meanes to keepe his countrey in peace and quietnesse, and to protect his subjects from the spoile of others, as well Christians as Turkes: whereby it came to passe, that the old inhabitants which for the most part had forsaken the country, by reason of the great troubles therein, repaired now againe to their antient dwellings; and not onely they but many other strangers also, supplying the places of them whom the late warres had consumed: So that by his good gouernment, that wasted countrey in short time grew to be againe ver [...] populous.

The [...]ity of Nice besi [...]ged by Othoman.The ciuile gouernment of his countrey well established, hee besieged the citie of ISNICA, in antient time called NICE, a citie of BITHINIA, famous for the generall Counsell there holden against Artus in the time of Constantine the Great. This citie hee brought into great distresse, by placing his men of war in forts new built vpon euerie passage and way leading vnto the same, so that nothing could be brought out of the countrey for the reliefe of the poore citizens. They in this extremitie, by a secret messenger certified the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE (vnder whose obedience they were) in what distresse the citie stood; and that except he sent them present reliefe, they must of necessitie either perish with famine, or yeeld themselues into the hands of their enemies the Turks. The emperour mooued with the pittifull complain [...] of this messenger, with all expedition embarked certaine companies of souldiours from CONSTANTINOPLE to relieue his besieged citie. But Othoman vnderstanding by his espials where these souldiours were appointed to land, in secret manner withdrawing most of his forces from the siege, lay in ambush neere vnto the same place where the emperours souldiours (casting no perill) landed: who before they could put themselues in order of battell, were by Othoman and his Turks, in such sort charged, that most part of them were there slaine, and the rest driuen into the sea, where they miserably perished. Othoman hauing thus politikely ouerthrowne the Constantinopolitan souldiours, returning to his siege, continued the same in straighter manner than before. The besieged citizens driuen into great p [...]nurie, and now despairing of all helpe, yeelded themselues with the great and rich citie of NICE into the hands of Othoman, with the spoile whereof he greatly enriched his men of war.

Aladin the great Sultan of ICONIVM, glad to heare of this good successe of Othoman against the Christians, in token of his fauour and loue, sent vnto him a faire ensigne, with certaine drums, and trumpets, a sword, and princely robe, with large charters, That whatsoeuer he tooke from the Christians should be all his owne; and also that publike praiers should be said in all the Turks temples, in the name of Othoman, for his health and prosperous estate: which two things properly belonged to the dignitie of the Sultan. These extraordinarie fauours gaue occasion for many to thinke, That Sultan Aladin (hauing no children) intended to make Othoman his adoptiue sonne and successor in his kingdome.

The presents and charters sent him, Othoman humbly accepted, sending vnto Aladin the fift part of the spoile of NICE, taken from the Christians; but the princely honors due vnto the Sultan onely, he vsed not during the life of Aladin: intending not long after to haue gone himselfe in person to visit the Sultan, and so to haue grown into his further fauour. But hauing prepared all things for so honourable a journey, at what time as he was about to set forward, he was certainely informed of the death of Aladin ▪ and that Sahib (one of his great counsellors) had taken vpon him the dignitie of the Sultan (as is before declared:) which newes much discontented the aspiring mind of this Oguzian Turke, in good hope to haue succeeded him in the kingdome, or at least wise to haue shared the greatest part thereof vnto himselfe, whereof he was now altogether disappointed. Yet immediatly after the death of Aladin, he thought it now fit time to take vpon him the princely honours before graunted vnto him by the Sultan in his life time, which he for modestie sake had forborne, Aladin yet liuing: wherefore he made one Dursu surnamed [Page] Fakiche (that is to say, a man learned in the Turkish law) bishop and judge of CARA-CHISAR, commaunding the publicke prayers which were wont to be made for the health and prosperous raigne of the great Sultan, to be now made in his owne name; which was first openly done by the said bishop in the pulpit of CARA-CHISAR. At the same time he began also to coine money in his owne name, and to take vpon him all other honours belonging vnto a Sultan or king: which was about ten yeares after the death of his father Ertogr [...]l, and in the yeare of our Lord 1300,1300 vnto which time the beginning of the great empire of the Turkes is vnder the fortune of this Othoman, to be of right referred, as then by him thus begun.

When Othoman had thus taken vpon him the majestie of a king, he made his sonne Orchanes prince and gouernour of CARA-CHISAR; promoting his principall followers, to be gouernours of other strong castles and forts,Neapolis the first regall citi [...] of the Othoman king [...]. diuers of which places retaine the name of those captains at this day. He himselfe made choice of the cittie NEAPOLIS, about twentie miles from NICE, to seat his regall pallace in, where also diuers of his nobilitie built them houses, and changed the name of the citie, calling it DESPOTOPOLIS, as who should say, The citie of the lord or prince. For all this, Othoman ceased not to deuise by all meanes hee could, to augment his kingdome: and for that cause being accompanied with his sonne Orchanes, made many rodes into the countries adjoyning vpon him, surprizing such places as might best serue his purpose, for the enlargement of his kingdome, all which in particular to rehearse were tedious.

The Christian princes,Prusa bes [...]ge [...] by Othoman. rulers of the countries bordering vpon this new kingdome, fearing lest the greatnesse of Othoman might in short time be their vtter confusion, agreed to joyne all their forces together, and so to commit to the fortune of one great battell their owne estates with his. According to which resolution, the Christian confederat princes, which were for the most part of MYSIA and BYTHINIA, leuying the greatest forces they were able to make, with fire and sword inuaded Othomans kingdome. Who hauing knowledge beforehand of this great preparation made against him, had in a readinesse all his captaines and men of war: and hearing that his enemies had entred his dominion, in warlike manner marched directly towards them; and meeting with them in the confines of PHRIGIA and BYTHINIA, fought with them a great and mortall battaile, wherein many were slaine on both sides, as well Turks as Christians: and after a long fight, obtained of them a right bloodie victorie. In this battaile Casteleanus, one of the greatest Christian captaines was slaine: another called Tekensis of the country which he gouerned in PHRIGIA, chased by Othoman vnto the castle of VLUBAD, not far distant from the place where the battaile was fought, was for feare deliuered vnto him by the captaine of the same castle, and was afterward by Othomans commaundement most cruelly cut in pieces, within the view of his cheefe castle: which Othoman afterward subdued, with all the countrey thereabouts. The other Christian princes and captaines saued themselues by flying into stronger holds farther off. The prince of BYTHINIA, the cheefe author of this war, fled into the strong cittie of PRUSA, which the Turks now call BURUSA, whether Othoman not long after led his armie, in good hope to haue woon the same: but finding it not possible to be taken by force, began presently at one time to build two great and strong castles vpon the cheefe passages leading to the citie, which castles he with great industrie finished in one yeare: and in the one placed as captaine Actemeur his nephew, in the other one Balabanzuck, both men of great courage, and skilfull in feats of war: & in this sort hauing blocked vp the citie of PRUSA, so that little or nothing could without great danger be brought into it, he subdued the most part of BYTHINIA; and so returned home, leauing the two castles well manned with strong garrisons, vnder the charge of the captaines beforenamed.

Othoman returning home to NEAPOLIS, honorably rewarded his souldiors, according to their deserts, establishing such a quiet and pleasing gouernment in his kingdome, that people in great number resorted from far into his dominions, there to seat themselues: whereby his kingdome became in few yeares exceeding populous, and he for his politicke gouernment most famous. And so liuing in great quietnesse certaine yeares, being now become aged and much troubled with the gout; his old souldiors accustomed to liue by the wars, abhorring peace, came vnto him, requesting him as it were with one voice, to take some honourable war in hand for the inlarging of his kingdome, with great chearfulnesse offring to spend their liues in his seruice rather than to grow old in idlenesse: which forwardnesse of his men of war greatly pleased him, and so giuing them thanks, for that time dismissed them, promising that he would not be long vnmindfull [Page] of their request. But yet thinking it good to make all things safe at home before hee tooke any great wars in hand abroad, thought it expedient to call vnto him Michael Cossi, the onely Christian captaine whom for his great deserts he had at all times suffered to liue in quiet with his possessions, as it were in the heart of his kingdome; and by faire means (if it might be) to persuade him to forsake the Christian religion and to become a follower of Mahomets, so to take away all occasion of mistrust: which if he should refuse to doe, then forgetting all former friendship, [...]o make war vpon him as his vtter enemie. Whereupon Cossi was sent for, being persuaded by the messenger, that Othoman had sent for him because he had occasion to vse his woonted faithfull counsell and seruice in a great exploit which he had intended, as he had oftentimes before. Cos [...]i thinking of nothing lesse than of that which ensued, came accompanied with such souldiours as he thought to vse in that seruice: But comming vnto Othoman, and vnderstanding the very cause why he was sent for,Michael Cossi turneth Turke. and seeing danger imminent on euery side, kissing Othomans hand, after the manner of the Turks, requested him in courteous manner to enter him in the principles of the Mahometane religion, which he promised euer after to imbrace: And so saying certaine words after Othoman, he turned Turke, to the great displeasure of God, and the contentment of Ot [...] man and his nobilitie. For which his reuolting, Othoman presently gaue him an ensigne and a rich robe, tokens whereby the Mahometane Sultans assure their vassales of their fauour and the vndoubted possession of such land and liuing as they then hold.

Oftentimes after this, Othoman for the contenting of his souldiors inuaded the countries bordering vpon him, tooke many strong castles and forts, subdued the most part of PHRIGIA, M [...] SIA, and BYTHINIA, and other great regions, vnto the Euxine sea: and being now very aged, and diseased as is aforesaid with the gout, and thereby vnable to goe into the field in person himselfe, oftentimes sent his sonne Orchanes against his enemies; who to the imitation of his father atchieued many great enterprises, Othoman his father yet liuing.

Now happily might the considerat reader (and not without just cause) meruaile, what dead sleepe had ouerwhelmed the Greeke emperours of those times; first Michaell Paleologus, and afterward his sonne Andronicus, both men of great valour, and still resiant at CONSTANTINOP [...]E, thus to suffer the Turkes (not Othoman, for he as yet bare no sway, but others the sharers of Sultan Aladins kingdome) to take their cities, spoile their countries, kill their subjects, and dayly to incroach vpon them in the lesser ASIA, and especially in BYTHINIA, so neere vnto them, and as it were euen vnder their noses: But let him, with me, here as in a most conuenient place but breath a little, and consider the troubled estate of that declining empire, now hasting to an end; and he shall plainely see the causes of the decay thereof, and how like an old diseased bodie quite ouerthrowne and sicke to death, it became at length a prey vnto the aspiring Turks. Michaell Paleologus hauing by great trecherie obtained the Greeke empire, and by rare fortune recouered also the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE from Baldwin the emperour (as is in the former part of this Historie declared,) fearing the power of the princes of the West, but especially of Charles king of SICILIA, then a prince of great fame and power, whom he knew Baldwin (the late emperour) ceased not to sollicite for the restitution of him againe into his empire, and to haue also joyned with him a neere bond of affinitie, by marrying his daughter vnto Charles his sonne: to auert this danger, and to intangle Charles with troubles neere home, he by his embassadours offered vnto Gregorie the tenth, then bishop of ROME, to vnite and conforme the Greeke church vnto the Latine, and to acknowledge the bishops supremacie, in such sort, as that it should be lawfull for any man to appeale vnto the court of ROME, as vnto the higher and more excellent court: of which his offer the Pope gladly accepted, promising to performe what he had before requested,Alteration of Religion in the Greeke Church. for the keeping of Charles otherwise busied. But when it came to the point, that this reformation and alteration of religion in the Greeke church should be made, Ioseph the Patriarch, to begin withall, gaue vp his place, and shortly after forsaking the citie, retired himselfe into a monasterie neer vnto the strait of Bosphorus, where he at quiet deuoutly spent the remainder of his life. The rest of the cleargie also discontented with this innouation, in their sermons openly inuaighed against it, persuading the people not to receiue it, crying out, That now was come the time of their triall, the time of their martirdome, and the time wherein they were to receiue the glorious crowne of their painefull suffrings: insomuch, that great tumults were therupon raised, and all the citie and the countrey in an vprore: for it was not the cleargie onely, and the vulgar people by them mooued, which disliked and abhorred these the emperours proceedings, [Page] and made these stirs, but many of the better sort, yea of the cheefe magistrates themselues also. So that Michaell Paleologus the emperour leauing all other forraine businesse, was inforced to conuert all his power and studie vnto the appeasing of these domesticall troubles, as deeming them of greater danger than his wars abroad. And first to persuade his discontented subjects, he told them, That this alteration was made, not for any good liking he had therunto, but in respect of the dangerousnesse of the time: and that it was a point of wisedome, to foresee dangers hanging ouer our heads, and not to delay, if any thing were to be altered, for the auetting thereof: for if the enemies as he said should come, the citie yet in many places rent, or but lately repaired, and as it were but newly raised from death to life; the present mischiefes would be far greater than those forepassed, and that then their enemies would become lords, not of their religion and ceremonies onely, but of all at once, their wiues, their children, and whatsoeuer else they had: where their liberty changed into bondage, they should be constrained to conforme themselues not with their bodily seruice onely, but euen with their minds also, vnto the wils of the Latines their enemies. And that so it would come to passe, that no man should bee able to keepe the old customes and manners of his ancestors, but should see euen their most sacred rites and ceremonies changed and quite ouerthrowne: Which he carefully foreseeing, had not (as he said) refused to yeeld vnto necessitie, and as wisdome would, neglected a little harme in respect of a greater benefit; and in the lesse, to haue yeelded vnto his enemies, to enjoy the benefit of the greater. With which the emperours persuasion,Persecution in the Greeke Church for matters of Religion. some were mooued, and so held themselues contented: and some others not; against whom he was enforced to vse other more seuere remedies, as against his rebellious subjects: of whom, some he imprisoned, some he banished, some he tortured, some he dismembred, some he depriued of their sight, or confiscated their goods, vsing (in breefe) all the meanes whereby the minds of the resolute or the weake were to be mooued. All which things, they whose zeale was grounded vpon knowledge (in number the fewest) with patience endured: but the greater part void of judgement, and the refuce of the people in simple attire, ran roguing abroad, some into PELOPONESUS, some into THESSALIA, some into ACHAIA, and some as far as COLCHOS, as men persecuted for their conscience, not regarding greatly whether, so it were out of the emperours jurisdiction, and something fitting their owne humors; neither conforming themselues vnto the religion then commonly by the emperour established, neither yet agreeing among themselues, but taking vnto them diuers names, some as the disciples of Arsenius, some of Ioseph, and some of others; some of them, themselues deceiued, and deceiuing others also. Thus for the auoiding of forraine danger out of the West, was the empire at home no little indangered, and the state thereof shaken. Wherewith the emperour was so encombred, as that he had no leisure to prouide for the tempest arising by the Turks out of the East, but was inforced wholly to imploy himselfe and all his indeuours vnto the keeping of his people & subjects in their due obedience at home. All whose deepe deuises, first in aspiring vnto the empire, (no way vnto him due) and great trauels afterwards for the assuring of the same vnto himselfe and his posteritie, against all right, euen with the alteration of the religion of his fathers, yeelded him in the winding vp of all, not so much as the credit of an honourable sepulture. But dying in these troubles not far from LISIMACHIA, as he was making preparation against the prince of THESSALIE, was there by his sonne Andronicus his commaundement (for whose aduancement he had strained both his faith and honour) obscurely buried in the field, a good way from his campe; as vnworthie of a better sepulture, for reuolting from the antient religion of his ancestors, although his obsequies were for fashion sake afterwards with some solemnitie celebrated. This was the end of the great emperour Michaell Paleologus, in whose time the Turks, the successors of Aladin, greatly incroched vpon him in the lesser ASIA, as is in part before declared: a man greatly adorned with the good gifts both of the bodie and the mind, had he not for the aduancement of himselfe and his posteritie, stained the same with foule trecherie and apostasie: for which (as some say) he euer after liued in conscience troubled, and dying, was euen by his owne sonne not thought worthie of an honourable funerall. A notable example vnto all such as with greedinesse seeke after vaine glorie, and foolishly expose themselues vnto such aduentures; as oftentimes ouerwhelme their deepest deuises, hauing in themselues no certainetie: preferring their inordinat desires (either for themselues or their posteritie) before that which is good and vertuous: Twice wretched in so doing: first in their folly, and then in their indeuours. Who beside that they find God himselfe against their designes and purposes, they by and by also euidently meet with other things than[Page]what they had forecasted, contrarie vnto them; and so themselues oftentimes, contrarie to their expectation, cast headlong into extreame miserie: for loe, euen he of whom we now speake, otherwise a man of great wisdome, and happie in his doings, ouercome with his affection towards his children, in desiring to leaue vnto them the empire, when as he ought to haue cast all the care both of himselfe and of them, especially vpon the prouidence of God; he like a blind man following his own deepe conceits, not grounded vpon the fear of God but mans wisdome only, cast himselfe before he was aware into miserable troubles, and became odious euen vnto his subiects, & them also for whom he had so forgot himselfe. For wheras God had euen from his childhood alotted vnto him the empire (as was by many euident signes & tokens to haue bin gathered) if he could haue moderated his vntimely desires, kept his tongue from periurie, and his hands from blood, and not turned out of the way after strange doctrine; he had by many degrees excelled euen the best emperours his predecessors: whereas now he lieth obscurely buried, shrouded in the sheet of defame, the report of his foule & faithlesse dealings far exceeding all his other worthy vertues.

Andronicus Paleologus succeeding his father in the empire, and thinking by restoring again the gouernment of the church, together with the rites and customes of the Greeks, to haue appeased all such troubles as were before by his father raised, by bringing in those of the Latines, found himselfe therein much deceiued, and his troubles no lesse than his fathers: they which had before receiued the Latine customes, and well liking of them, with great obstinacie defending the same: and the other of the contrarie faction now countenanced by the emperor, without modestie or measure insulting vpon them: whereof arose exceeding great stirs and troubles, especially in the beginning of his raigne: to the great benefit of the encroaching Turks, who in the meane time ceased not by all meanes to increase their territories in ASIA; and not onely there, [...] but in the islands of the Mediterranean sea also. For Andronicus, by the death of Charles king of SICILIE; deliuered of the greatest feare, for which both he and his father before him had to their great cost and charge both built and maintained a strong fleet of gallies; now persuaded by some, whose actions and speeches were after the manner of the court, all framed vnto the princes appetite, (as the readiest way to th [...]iue, without respect of the cōmon good) to spare that needlesse charge (as they tearmed it) which yearely cost him more than any other thing else: had discharged all his mariners and sea men, and commanded all the gallies to be laied vp, some in one creeke, some in another; where neglected & not looked vnto, they in time for most part rotted and perished. As for the mariners they went some one way; some another, as their fortunes lead them, to seeke for their liuings in forreine countries, euen with the emperours enemies; and some gaue themselues to husbandrie, thinking it better by doing something to liue, than by sitting still to perish: which good husbandrie at the first seemed to be verie profitable vnto the emperour, but especially vnto such as being neere vnto him, and couetously giuen, made small reckoning of all other the most necessarie defences of the empire, in comparison of hoording vp of money, vntill that it was afterwards too late by experience found hereof to haue sprung many great mischiefes, vnto the great weakning of the Greeke empire. For besides that the Turkes without lette, did great harme on the sea; the pirates now out of feare of the emperours gallies, at their pleasure tooke the spoile of the rich Islands in the Mediteranian, and robbed the townes all along the sea coast, to the vnspeakable griefe of the poore countrie people. And yet not so contented, came with their gallies sometime two, sometime three, and sometime moe, as it were in contempt, euen close vnto the imperiall citie. Yea the Venetians were so bold as vpon a right small displeasure to rifle and afterward to set fire vpon the suburbes thereof, which they would hardly haue aduentured, had the emperours fleet bene preserued and maintained in the woonted strength.

At the same time also, Andronicus the emperour (to the great hinderance of the affaires of the empire, and aduantage of the forreine enemie) was not a little troubled with a jealous suspition of his brother Constantine (commonly called Porphyrogenitus) as if he had sought to haue aspired vnto the empire; seeking by all meanes to win vnto himselfe the loue and fauour of all men, but especially of the nobilitie both at home and abroad, and so by that meanes to mount vnto the height of his desires: All which (as most men thought) were but meere slanders, maliciously deuised by such as enuying at his honour, and taking occasion by the emperours suspition, ceased not to increase the same, vntill they had wrought his vnwoorthie destruction. The first ground of this false suspition in the emperours head, was for that this Constantine was euen from his childhood, for many causes, better beloued of the old emperour his father than Andronicus, [Page] as better furnished with those gifts of nature which beautifie a prince, and of a more courteous behauior than was his brother: insomuch, that had he not been the yoonger brother, his father could willingly haue left him his successour in the empire. This was one and the cheefest cause of the emperours grudge, and the ground of his suspition. Yet was there another also, and that not much lesse than this: for that his father in his life time had of long thought to haue seperated from the empire a great part of THESSALIA and MACEDONIA, and to haue made him absolute prince thereof; and had happely so done, had hee not beene by death preuented: which thing also much grieued Andronicus, and the more incensed him against his brother. Which his secret hatred he for all that according to his wisdome, cunningly dissembled, not only during the time that his father liued, but three yeares after his death also, making shew of the greatest loue and kindnesse towards him, that was possible. Constantine in the meane time, of such great reuenues as were by his father assigned vnto him, reaping great profit, most bountifully bestowed the same vpon his followers and fauorits, and others that made sute vnto him, as well the meaner sort as the greater, and with his sweet behauior woon vnto him the hearts of all men: for affabilitie & courtesie in high degree easily allureth mens minds, as doe faire flowers in the spring the passengers eyes. This was that precept of the wise Indians, That the higher a prince was in dignitie, and the more courteous he shewed himselfe vnto his inferiours, the better he should be of them beloued. He therefore that should for the two first causes blame Constantine, should doe him wrong;Immoderat bountie in great men dangerous. as both proceeding not of himselfe, but of his fathers too much loue: but in the third hee was not altogether blamelesse; for if for want of experience hee prodigally gaue such gifts, as for the most part might haue bes [...]emed the emperour himselfe, he ignorantly erred, yet did he no little offend: but if he knew, that for his too profuse bountie he could not be vnsuspected of his brother, and yet without regard held on that course, hee was greatly to bee blamed therein. For if nothing els might haue mooued him, yet he should haue considered, to what end the like doings of others in former times had sorted, and how many it had brought to vntimely end. So although perhaps that Constantine meant no harme vnto his brother, or any way to supplant him, yet did these things not a little increase and agrauate the former suspitio [...]s, and open the eares of the emperour his brother vnto such calumniation as commonly attendeth vpon immoderat bountie. But to returne vnto our purpose. This honourable Constantine then liued in LYDIA, but lately maried, and in good hope long to liue, being not past thirtie years old: but pleasantly spending the time with his wife at NYMPHEA in LYDIA, at such time as he was thus secretly accused vnto his brother, the emperour thought it good, as vpon other occasions of businesse, to passe ouer into ASIA himselfe; but indeed with a secret resolution, vpon the suddaine to oppresse his brother vnawares, as by proofe it fell out. For at his comming ouer, Constantine fearing nothing lesse, was forthwith apprehended, with all his greatest fauorits, of whom one Michaell Strategopulus (sometime a man in great authoritie with the emperour his father, and of all other for wealth, honour, and noble acts most famous) was cheefe: who together with Constantine were fast clapt in prison, where we will leaue them euery houre looking to die, their lands and goods being before confiscated. But these woorthie men, especially Constantine and Strategopulus, thus laid fast; who many times in great battailes discomfited the Turks, and notably defended the frontiers of the empire alongst the East side of the riuer MEANDER; they now finding none to withstand them, forraged not only all the rich countrey beyond the riuer, but with an infinit multitude passing the same, did there great harme also: so that there was no remedie, but that the emperour must of necessitie make choice of some other woorthie captaine for the defence of those his cities and countries, by the incursion of the Turks then in danger in that part of ASIA.

There was then in the emperours court one Alexius Philanthropenus, a right valiant and renowned captaine, and then in the flower of his youth; of him the emperour thought good to make choice for the defence of those frontiers of his empire in ASIA (against the Turks) which were before the charge of his brother Constantine and Strategopulus; joyning vnto him one Libadarius, an old famous captaine, and a man of great experience also: appointing vnto him the gouernment of the cities of IONIA; and vnto the other, the frontiers along the winding bankes of MEANDER. Where Alexius hauing now gotten a charge woorthie his valour, and in many great conflicts with the Turks still carying away the victorie, became in short time of great fame: besides that, he was exceeding bountifull and courteous vnto all men; a costly, but a readie way [Page] vnto dangerous credit and renowne. Thus at the first all things prospered in his hand according to his hearts desire: yea the Turks themselues, bordering vpon him, hardly beset on the one side by the Tartars, and on the other by himselfe; and yet not so much feared with their enemies behind them, as mooued with his courtesie, came ouer vnto him with their wiues and children, and serued themselues (many of them) in his campe: but as they say, That in Iupiters court no man might drinke of the tun of blisse, but that he must tast also of the tun of woe: so fell it out with this great captaine; who hauing but tasted of the better tun, had the worse all poured full vpon his head. For Libadarius seeing all so prosper with him, and somewhat enuying thereat, began to feare and suspect, least he proud of his good fortune, and now growne very strong, casting off his allegeance should aspire vnto the empire, and so first begin with him, as the neerest vnto him:H which thing many of the nobilitie secretly surmised also, but how truly many doubt. But this enuious plot was not yet ripe, but lay as fire raked vp in the ashes. Now there was with Alexius Philanthropenus, certaine companies of Cretensians, whom for their good seruice and fidelitie he both honoured and trusted aboue others, vsing them all for the guard of his owne person. These men proud of their credit, hearing of the surmised aspiring of their Generall, and in hope by his aduancement to raise their owne fortunes also, ceased not continually to suggest vnto him high conceits of himselfe, and to persuade him with all speed to take the matter vpon him; the verie conceit whereof (as they said) would bee vnto him no lesse danger, than if hee should enter into the action it selfe, as he might well see by the wofull examples of the noble Constantine and Strategopulus, both in extreame perill, but for the jealous conceit surmised against them. Which quicke suggestions wrought in his great mind diuers, and those most contrary motions; so that he scarce knew himselfe what he would or would not. For they which are vnto themselues in conscience guiltie of any greeuous crime, if any mischeefe hang ouer their heads therefore, it happeneth vnto them, as foreknowing and expecting the same euen from the time that they offended: vnto whom, if nothing els, yet that same very foreknowledge easeth not a little the greefe and miserie: whereas contrariwise, they which are with suddaine mischeefes and vnlooked for, ouerwhelmed, not knowing any just cause why, Alexi [...]s Philanthropenus aspireth. must needs stand as men dismaied, and almost beside themselues. But at length after diuers great conflicts with himselfe, the euill persuaders of rebellion, preuailed with him. Yet did hee at the first forbid any mention to bee made of him in the armie as emperour, which caused the Cretensians, the cheefe authors of his rebellion, almost to force him forthwith K to take vpon him the imperiall ornaments, thereby to confirme the minds of his followers and fauourits: for that such resolutions were (as they said) to be forthwith put into execution; neyther that any thing required so joint celeritie and dexteritie both of the mind and the hand; and for that longer delay would but fill his souldiors heads with doubts, and discourage them with the feare of the vncertainetie of the euent: all which for all that moued him not so to doe; but whether for feare of the greatnesse of the danger, or for that he secretly thought how first to circumuent Libadarius, of whom he stood most in doubt, is vncertaine. The report of all which his doings and designes were in short time caried first vnto Libadarius, as the neerest, and so in post vnto the emperour: who were therewith not a little both disquieted. And had Alexius (as some persuaded him) at the first set vpon Libadarius, then vnprouided, no doubt but hee had done L much: but God by whom all princes raigne, and whose power confoundeth the deuises of the prowd, turned him from Libadarius, by whom he was to be oppressed, to follow after Theodorus the emperours brother, of whom hee was to haue feared no harme. This Theodorus, the first man that Alexius shot at, warned by his brother Constantine his harmes, then liued a pleasant priuat life in LYDIA, far from the ambition of the court, and therefore so much the more beloued of the emperour: but Alexius fearing least in that hurle many should resort vnto him, as vnto the emperours brother, and so hinder his proceedings; thought best first to make him sure, and afterward to oppresse Libadarius, not aware, that in stead of the bodie he followed but after the shaddow.Libadarius opposeth himselfe against the proce [...]i [...]g [...] of Philanthropenus. But Libadarius, as a man of great experience, taking the benefit of this his ouersight, and knowing money to be the sinewes of warre, gathered together all the coine hee possibly M could, both of his owne and his friends, sending also for the emperours treasures to PHILADELPHIA; and with all speed raised the greatest power he possibly could out of IONIA, which he furnished with all things necessarie, promising vnto his souldiors great matters, and filling them with greater hopes, and that within ten daies he would with a great armie meet the rebell in the heart of LYDIA, and there dare him battell. But withall considering, that the Cretensians, men [Page] but of a mercenarie faith, had alwaies the guard of Alexius his person, he thought good to make proofe if they might with gold be woon to betray him: and so well wrought the matter by great summes of money presently giuen, and promises of greater preferments with the emperour, that they (somwhat before discontented with Alexius his slackenesse, and now doubting also his successe) yeelded vnto his desire, promising in the beginning of the battell to deliuer him into his hands; which they shortly after in the very joyning of the battell, accordingly performed, deliuering him fast bound vnto Libadarius his enemie. Who not a little proud thereof, vsed him with great insolencie, and within three daies after put out his eyes, for feare the emperour according to his courteous nature should haue giuen him his pardon; and so kept him in prison vntill the emperours pleasure were farther knowne. Thus through false suspect and ambition were the greatest champions of the Greeke empire brought to confusion.

Now after this rebellion of Philanthropenus, Andronicus the Greeke emperor reposing mo [...]e [...]ust [...] his owne subiects, greatly hurteth his state. Andronicus became so jealous of his owne people, as that he wist not whom to trust, reposing greater cōfidence in strangers than in his own subjects, to the great hurt of his estate. At the same time it fortuned that the Massagets (commonly called Alani) which then dwelt beyond ISTER, being Christians, but oppressed by the Europian Tartars, wearie of their slauery, sent secretly vnto the Greeke emperor Andronicus; offering that if he would assigne vnto them a conuenient place for them to dwell in, they would come ouer vnto him with ten thousand of their families, and faithfully serue him in his warres against the Turkes (who then grieuously wasted his countries in ASIA, destitute of good captaines and commaunders) which their offer he gladly accepted, as standing then in need of aid and not greatly trusting his owne people. But when these Massagets in number aboue ten thousand, comming ouer with their wiues and children, were to be furnished with all things, and especially the men with horses, armour, and pay, all which the emperour could not of himselfe do; the subjects were therewith hardly charged, and commission sent out into euerie countrey and prouince for the taking vp of horses and armour: euerie citie, euerie countrey towne and village, euerie gentlemans house and poore mans cottage was searched and ransacked, and all things taken from them that was there found fit for seruice, to their great discontentment: euery man murmuring and grudging to haue his armes taken from him, and giuen to strangers. But when they were also to be contributors vnto their pay, they then openly cursed and banned them, euen vnto their faces. Yet at length (though with much adoe) these strangers well furnished with all things necessarie, were with some other forces also shipped ouer into ASIA, vnder the leading of Michael Paleologus the emperours eldest sonne, and then his companion in the empire. Who marching alongst the countrey, came and encamped about MAGNESIA: where the Turks at the first, after their woonted manner, retired themselues into the high mountaines and thick woods, that from thence they might more safely learne what strength their new come enemies were of, and what discipline of war they kept: for they knew that vpon the comming of great armies, many false reports did run, and that things were made far greater than indeed they were; as did of these also, as of a people inuincible: and therefore they thought it best so to protract the time, vntill they might see in what sort best to deale with them. But so houering ouer their heads, and perciuing them oftentimes without order to roame abroad into the countrey seeking after prey, (for why, they after the manner of mercenarie men spoiled their friends no lesse than if they had beene their enemies) they came downe in good order from the mountaines, from whence at the first they aduentured but a little: but afterward they came on further and with greater confidence, in such sort, as that it seemed they would [...]are long assault the yoong emperour in his campe. Wherewith he with the rest discouraged, without any stroke giuen, retired; the Turks still folowing him at the heeles. For neither he, neither the rest, any thing considered the small number of their enemies: but as drunken men whose heads filled with grosse vapours, are deceiued in the greatnesse of the object that they see, and oftentimes thinke one thing to be two; so were they also in like manner with their owne feare blinded. Beside that, most commonly it falleth out, that the armie which insolencie and iniurie forerunneth, is appointed to destruction, and by the fearfulnesse of it selfe ouerthrowne before the enemie set vpon it, they themselues becomming enemies vnto themselues; and God his iust vengeance appointing vnto them such an end as their deeds haue deserued: neither was it like that they should do any great good, that at their first setting foorth, in steed of prouision carried out with them the bitter curses and execrations of their friends. Michael the emperour seeing the [Page] Massagets flie, and not daring with those few he had left, to oppose himselfe against his enemies, retired himselfe into the strong castle of MAGNESIA, there to expect what would become of these mischiefes. But the Massagets spoiling the countries of the poore Christians as they went, marched directly vnto the strait of HELESPONTVS, and there againe passed ouer into EVROPE, as if they had beene therefore onely sent for ouer the riuer ISTER, to shew the Turkes the sooner the way vnto the sea in ASIA. For it was not many daies after, but that Michael the emperour being returned to CONSTANTINOPLE, the Turks comming downe with a great power, subdued all the countries, euen vnto the coast of LESBOS, to the great weakning of the Greeke empire.

It was not long after, these great sturs made by the Massagets, but that one Ronzerius (some H time a notable pirate, but as then a most famous captaine) hearing of the great intertainment that the Greeke emperor gaue vnto strangers; by messengers sent for that purpose, offered vnto him his seruice in his wars against the Turks,Ronzerius what he was. as had before the Massagets. This Ronzerius of whom we speake, had out of CATALONIA a prouince of SPAINE, and out of that part of FRANCE which is called NARBONENSIS, and some other places also, gathered together a great number of base needie naked men, yet lustie able bodies and fit for seruice either by sea or land; with whom he manned foure tall gallies, and so as a notable pirate long time robbed, not onely the marchants trading too and fro in the Mediteranean, but landing his men oftentimes in the rich islands, carried away thence much rich spoile also; vntill at length by the mischiefe he did being become famous, and great wars then arising betwixt Charles king of NAPLES and Theodorus king of SICILIA, he was by Theodorus sent for and requested of aid: which hee (liuing of the spoile) easily graunted, and so came vnto him with a thousand horse, and as many foot, all old expert souldiours, whose good seruice stood the king in those wars in great steed. But as the end of war is peace, so at length vpon the euill successe of Charles, a peace being concluded betwixt the two kings, and confirmed by a mariage betwixt their children, Ronzerius liuing altogether by his fortunes was to seeke for new intertainment, both for himselfe and his men, as hauing neither house nor certaine dwelling place to repaire vnto; but being as needie men met together, some out of one place, some out of another, in hope of bootie as their fortune led them. In which case Ronzerius their generall thought it best to offer his seruice vnto the Greeke emperour in his warres against the Turkes, whereof hee gladly accepted, and so sent for him: vnto whom hee K shortly after came with two thousand good souldiours, called (after the proud Spanish manner) by the name of CATALONIANS, for that they were for the most part Spaniards of the countrey of CATALONIA. Of whose comming the emperour rejoycing more than hee had cause (as afterward by proofe it fell out) in token of his greater fauour, honoured him with the name of the Great Captaine; and afterwards gaue him his neece Marie in mariage. But within a while after, when as one Tensa, another Catalonian captaine sent for by Ronzerius, was come thither also with more aid; the emperour to gratifie them both, gaue vnto Ronzerius the name of Caesar, and vnto the other the name of the Great Captaine. But when these new come captaines with their followers, were to be transported into ASIA, it is not to be spoken what harme they did by the way vnto the countrey people, and in the villages alongst the sea coast; L abusing the men and women as their slaues, and spending their substance at their pleasure, for which they had many a bitter curse: and this was their first yeares entertainment. The next Spring they set forward to relieue the great citie of PHILADELPHIA, being as then long besieged by the Turks, and hardly bestead without with the enemie; and within, with extreame penurie and famine: which good seruice, they most valiantly performed and raised the siege: For the Turks beholding the good order of these Latine souldiours, their bright armour, and couragious comming on, rise presently and departed, not onely from the citie, but quite out of the emperours territorie. Besides that, in this armie were joyned vnto these Catalonians great numbers of the best souldiours of the Greeks, and all the power of the Massagets: so that had not the emperour expresly before commaunded, not to pursue them too far, it was by many thought M all those cities and countries might then againe haue beene in short time recouered from the Turks, which they had before taken from him. But in kingdomes appointed vnto ruine, faire occasions helpe not for the stay thereof: yea the greatest helpes prouided by the worldly wise, by a secret commaunding power aboue, being oftentimes conuerted to the destruction of that they were prouided for the safegard of; as it now fell out with the emperour and [Page] these Spanish souldiours: for this seruice done, the Greekes returned home, as did the Massagets also. [...] for want o [...] pay spoileth the emperors subiects. But these Catalonians with Ronzerius their generall, roaming vp and downe the emperours territories in ASIA, did there great harme, turning their forces (as enemies) vpon them whom they were sent for to relieue: alleadging that they had not their pay according to the emperours promise, and that therefore they must liue vpon them that had sent for them and deceiued them. So were the poore people in euerie place spoiled, their wiues and daughters rauished, their priests and aged fathers tortured to confesse such secret store as they had: all was subject vnto these dissolute souldiours rage and lust; yea many of them that had nothing to redeeme themselues, vpon the greedie souldiours imagination, hauing their hands or feet, or some other part of their bodies cut off, lay by the high waies side begging an halfe penie or a peece of bread, hauing nothing left to comfort themselues with, more than their miserable voice and fountaines of teares: with which their wrongs and miseries, woorse than those they had sustained by the Turks, the emperour much grieued; and well the more, for that they were done by him whom he had entertained to relieue them: but what remedie, his coffers were so bare as that he was not able to do any thing for the redresse thereof. Ronzerius hauing thus spoiled the emperours countrey in ASIA, and left nothing that pleased either him or his, with all his power passed ouer into EUROPE: and leauing all the rest of his armie at CALIPOLIS, with two hundred of his men went vnto the yoong emperour Michael (then lying with a small power at ORESTIAS in THRACIA) to demaund of him his pay, or if need were to extort it from him with threats: with whose insolencie at his comming, the emperour more offended than before, his souldiours there present perceiuing the same, with their drawn swords compassing him in,Ronzerius [...]. fast by the court, slew him, with certaine of his followers; the rest in all hast fled to CALIPOLIS to certifie their fellowes what had happened.

Thus by the death of Ronzerius, the yong emperor had thought to haue discouraged the Catalonians and abated their pride, as like ynough it was to haue done: yet in proofe it fell not out so, but was the cause of far greater euils. So when God prospereth not mens actions, the best falleth out vnto the worst, and their wisest deuices turne vnto meere follies: for the Catalonians at CALLIPOLIS hearing of the death of Ronserius their Generall, first slew all the citizens in the citie, and notably fortifying the same, tooke that as their refuge. Then deuiding their souldiors into two parts, with the one part of them manned out eight gallies, which vnder the leading of the Great captaine Tenza, robbed and spoiled all the marchants ships, passing the straits of HELLESPONTUS, to or from CONSTANTINOPLE: the other part left in the citie, in the meane time forraging the countrey all about them. But Tenza shortly after encountering with a fleet of the Genowaies, well prouided for him, was by them ouerthrowne, and most of his gallies sunke, and himselfe taken; but yet afterwards redeemed by his fellowes, and so againe inlarged. Now the Catalonians at CALLIPOLIS somewhat discouraged with the losse of their fleet and so many of their men, for certaine daies kept themselues quiet within their wals, as not well knowing what course to take; for they feared both the Massagets and Thracians▪ them, for that they had vpon light causes abused them, and slaine diuers of them in the late Asian warre; and these, for that they had but euen the other day burnt their houses and spoiled their labours in the countrey thereby: for which and other their outrages, they vtterly despaired of the emperours fauour whom they had so highly offended. But that which most of all terrified them, was, for that they looked euery day when Michael the yoong emperour, who as then lay not farre off, should with a great power come to assault them: for feare of whom they cast a deepe ditch about the citie, with a strong counterscarfe; so preparing themselues, as if they should haue beene euen presently besieged. But the time so passing, and the emperour delaying his comming, they began to thinke of other matters: For being brought to that strait, that they could not well tell which way to turne them, but that they were on euery side beset with danger; they vpon a malicious resolution, and vnto the Greekes most fatall, by messengers sent of purpose, craued aid of the Turkes that dwelt on the other side of the strait oueragainst them, in ASIA: who presently sent them fiue hundred good souldiors, after whom followed also many other fugitiues and loose companions, in hope of spoile: with whom the Catalonians for the present strengthened, and being themselues three thousand strong, issued out of the citie, and forraged the countrey thereabouts, bringing in with them great heards and flockes of sheepe and other cattell, together with their keepers: wherwith both the emperours and their subjects incensed, prepared themselues for reuenge. This was the [Page] first calling in of the Turks into EUROPE (that I read of) and the beginning of those endlesse miseries wherewith the Christian commonweale hath beene euer since most greeuously afflicted,The Turks first called into Europe by the Catalonians. and a great part thereof ouerwhelmed; few or none greeuing thereat, but such as themselues feele the heauinesse thereof, whom God in his mercie comfort.

The Catalonians and Turks now lying about CYPSELLA and APRI in THRACE, Michael the emperour with his Macedonian and Thracian souldiors, the Massagets and the Turcopuli, encamped at APRI.The Turcopuli. These Turcopuli were Turks, also in number about a thousand, who (as is in the former part of this historie declared) beeing fled with their Sultan Iathatines vnto the Greeke emperour, and left behind him at such time as he was by the Europian Tartars deliuered, had forsaken their Mahometane superstition, and so being become Christians, were enrolled amongst H the Greeke souldiors.The vnfortunat battell of Michael the emperour against the Catalonians and Turks. Shortly after the emperour (aduertised by his scouts of the approch of his enemies) commaunded euery man to be in a readinesse, and his captaines to put his armie in order of battell: who seeing the enemies battell deuided into three parts, put theirs also in like order, placing the Turcopuli & Massagets in the left wing, the Macedonian and Thracian choice horsemen in the right wing, and the rest with the footmen in the maine battell. At which time the emperor himselfe riding from place to place, with comfortable speeches encouraged his men to fight valiantly against their enemies. The Sunne rising, the enemies battell began to come on, in number much inferior vnto the emperours, yet in like order; the Turks being placed in both wings, and the Catalonians well armed in the middest. But the signall of battell being giuen on both sides, the Massagets, whether it were by agreement so before made with the enemie, or vpon a suddaine conceiued treason, presently withdrew themselues aloofe off, and so stood as idle beholders, giuing aid neither to the one nor to the other, as did also the Turcopuli their companions; which greatly dismaied the Grecians, and encouraged their enemies: for the Greekes dismaied with that suddaine defection of their fellowes, were euen in the joyning of the battell discouraged. Which the emperor perceiuing, with great instancie intreated the captains and commaunders of his armie, calling them oftentimes by name, not to be so suddainly discouraged: but they in so great a danger little regarding his words, and still shrinking from him; when as the greatest part of his footmen were troden vnderfoot, and slaine, turning himselfe vnto them that were left, which were but few, he said: Now woorthie men is the time wherein death is better than life, and life more bitter than death. And hauing so said, valiantly charged the enemie: in which K charge his horse was slaine vnder him, and he in danger to haue beene taken, had not one of his faithfull followers remounted him vpon his owne horse, and so saued his life with the losse of his owne. The emperour flying to DYDIMOTICHUM, where Andronicus his father then lay, was of him joyfully receiued, but sharpely reprooued for aduenturing his person so far. The enemies pursuing the chase, slew some, tooke others, vntill that by the comming on of the night, and wearie with the long fight, they retired: and the next day deuiding the spoile, afterwards at their pleasures forraged the countrey. The renegate Turks, called Turcopuli, within a few daies after reuolting vnto the Catalonians, were of them joyfully entertained, and enrolled into the regiment of Chalel, the Turks Generall.

Shortly after this victorie, the Catalonians began to mutinie among themselues, the Great captaine Tenza, and Pharenza his companion, disdaining to bee commaunded by Recafort their Generall: in which tumult, the matter comming to blowes, Tenza was slaine, and Pharenza fo [...] safegard of his life glad to flie vnto the emperour Andronicus; of whom he was, contrarie to his expectation, right honourably entertained. About this time also, the Massagets hauing done the Greekes more harme, than the Turks against whom they were entertained, and enriched themselues with the spoile of their friends both in ASIA and EUROPE, were about with their wiues and children, and wealth, to returne againe vnto their old dwellings beyond ISTER. Which the Turcopuli, with the Catalonians vnderstanding; and bearing vnto them a secret grudge, for that they (as the weaker) had by them oftentimes been wronged in the deuision of the spoile of the Greekes, lay now secretly in wait for them as they should passe the straits of the great mountaine HEMUS, which bounded the Greeke empire from the Bulgarians: where setting vpon them, fearing no such danger, they slew them almost all; & with the spoile of them, recompenced themselues for all the wrongs they had from them before receiued.

The Catalonians prowd of their victorie at APRI, and well strengthened by the reuolt of the Turcopuli, with continuall rodes spoiled not onely all alongst the sea coast of THRACIA, [Page] but all the inland countrey also, as far as MARONEA, RHODOPE, and BIZIA, laying all wa [...]t before them. And hauing forraged most part of THRACIA, brake into MACEDONIA, and there wintred about CASSANDRIA,Cassand [...]. sometime a famous citie, but as then all desolate and ruinous. But the Spring being come, they remooued thence, with purpose to haue spoiled the cities of MACEDONIA, and especially the rich citie of THESSALONICA, where the empresse Irene then lay: wherein they were by the emperours good foresight and care preuented, who doubting such a matter, had fortified his cities in that countrey, and furnished them with strong garrisons and all other things needfull for their defence: which they quickly perceiuing, and finding the countrey all desolate and forsaken by the inhabitants, were about to haue againe returned into THRACIA.The Catalonians shut out of Macedonia. But as they were thereupon resoluing, they were informed by one that was with them captiue, how that the emperour by a mightie strong wall built at a place called CHRISTOPOLIS, from the sea side euen vnto the top of the mountaines, had so shut vp the passage, as that it was not possible for them that way to enter. With which vnexpected newes they were at the first exceedingly troubled, as foreseeing, That if they should there long stay in that spoiled countrey, they should in short time be driuen vnto exceeding wants (for they were now in number aboue eight thousand fighting men) and afraid also by a generall conspiracie of the people about them, to be oppressed. Thus beset, and not well knowing what to do, or which way to turn themselues, they desperatly resolued, no longer there to stay, but forthwith to set forward, and to breake into THESSALIE, with the plentifulnesse thereof to relieue their wants, or into some other countrey farther off towards PELOPONESUS, and there to seat themselues, and to end their long trauailes: or at leastwise, if they could not so doe, to enter into league with some that dwelt vpon the sea coast, and so returne againe into their owne countrey. Wherefore leauing THESSALONICA, and deliuering the emperour of a great feare, they in three daies came to the Thessalian mountaines, OLYMPUS, OSSA, and PELIUS, where thy at the foot of them found such plentie of all things necessarie for their releefe, that they there wintred. But Winter past, and the Spring being come, they passed ouer those high mountaines and the pleasant vallies called TEMPE, and so at last came downe into the fruitfull plaines of THESSALIE; where they spent that yeare at their pleasure, without resistance, deuouring the labours of the poore country people, and making hauocke of whatsoeuer thing came in their way: for as then the state of that countrey was but weake, the prince thereof being but yoong, and withall very sicke and like to die, and the succession so ending in him, as that it was feared, who after his death should lay hand thereon; and euery man therefore more carefull of his owne priuat than of the common good. Yet to auert these forrain enemies, who like a consuming fire deuoured the country before them, the nobilitie thought it good, with great gifts to ouercome their captains and commaunders, and then to offer them guides to conduct them into ACHAIA and BEOTIA, countries more pleasant and fruitfull than was theirs, and more commodious for them to dwell in: promising also to giue them aid for the seating of them there, if they should so need. Of which their offers the Catalonians accepted, as thinking it better with their hands full of gold so easily gotten, to goe seeke their better fortunes, with their power yet whole and strong, and helpe also if need were, than to hazard all vpon the successe of a doubtfull victorie, and so foolishly to preferre an vncertaine hope before a most certaine benefit. So making peace with the Thessalians, and the Spring being come, receiuing of them their promised rewards, & guides to conduct them; passing ouer the mountaines beyond THESSALIE, and the straits of THERMOPILE, they encamped neere vnto LOCRIS and the riuer CEPHISUS: which rising out of the mountaine PERNASSUS, and running toward the East, hath on the North side of them LOCRIS and OPUS; and on the South the inland country of ACHAIA and BEOTIA: and being a great riuer vntill it come to LEBADIA and HALIARTES, is there deuided into two riuers, the one called AESOPUS, and the other ISMENUS; whereof the former runneth through the countrey of ATTICA, vntill it come into the sea, and the other neere vnto AULIS (where the noble Grecians, as they say, being about to goe vnto TROY, met and there staied) falleth into the Euboean sea. But the duke of THEBES and ATHENS and of all that countrey, hearing of their comming, and (as hee thought) well prouided also for them (as hauing all the Winter and Spring time before put his forces in readinesse) with great pride and contempt denied them passage through his countrey, at such time as they asked the same; making no more reckning of them, than as of a sort of loose wandering rogues that could find no place to rest or thriue in: wherewith they enraged, resolued [Page] among themselues, either there to seat themselues in his countrey, or to die therefore. And so passing the riuer into BEOTIA, not far from the same encamped themselues, being in number about [...]500 horse, and 4000 foot. But so lying and expecting the comming of their enemies, they caused all the plaine ground about where they lay and meant to fight, [...]. to be plowed vp, which they with certaine small cuts out of the riuer so watered, as that it differed but a little from a deepe marish or bog. Hether about the middle of the Spring commeth the prince of the countrey, with a gallant armie raised out of ATHENS, THEBES, PLATEA, LOCRIS, PHOCIS, and MEGARA, in number about 6400 horse and 4000 foot, an armie too strong hee thought for so contemptible an enemie. But the weakest enemie not feared, doth oftentimes the greatest harme, as here by proofe was to be seene: for the prince comming vnto the aforesaid plaine, now grown green with grasse, and casting no perill, encouraging his men, came brauely on with all his horsemen to haue charged his enemies: who stood fast vpon the firme ground, a little without their trenches, as readie to encounter him. But before he was come to the middle of the plaine, his horses sinking deepe into the rotten and new ploughed ground, and there intangled as in a marish, lay for the most part tumbling in the mire, together with their riders; or els plunging in the deepe, and hauing cast them, ran vp and downe the plaine, as fortune led them; othersome sticking fast, stood with their riders vpon their backes, as if they had been very images, not able for to mooue. Which the Catalonians beholding, and therewith encouraged, ouerwhelmed them with all manner of shot, and slew them at their pleasure, vntill they had almost made an end of them: and with their horsemen so speedely pursued the rest in chace, euen vnto the cities of THEBES and ATHENS, that they without more adoe euen at that instant surprised them both, with all that was in them. So the Catalonians hauing as it were at a cast at dice woon a most goodly countrey, garnished with faire townes and cities, which they neuer built; and stored with all manner of wealth, which they neuer sweat for; there ended their long trauailes, and seated themselues: Not ceasing (as saith Nicephorus Gregorias, the reporter of this historie, speaking of the time wherin these things were done, and wherein hee himselfe liued in CONSTANTINOPLE) vnto this present day, by little and little to extend the bounds of their territorie. Where leauing them with whom we happely haue too long straied from our purpose, let vs againe returne vnto the Turks and Turcopuli their companions.

In the armie of the Catalonians, at such time as they were about to haue besieged THESSALONICA, were three thousand Turkes, of whom eleuen hundred were of them (as wee said) which remained with Melech at AENVM, after the flight of Iathatines there Sultan vnto the Tartars, and renouncing their superstition, became Christians; and so being baptized, and hauing wiues and children, were enrolled among the emperours souldiours; but at the battell of APRI reuolted vnto the Catalonians, and were commonly known by the name of Turcopuli: the other being the greater part, were such Turks as with Chalel their captaine came out of ASIA, being sent for by the Catalonians. Now all these Turks, as well the one as the other, at such time as the Catalonians were about to inuade THESSALIA, and to seeke their new fortunes in the countries more Westward, and so farther off from ASIA: partly distrusting the societie of them, as dangerous vnto them; and loth also further to follow their vncertaine fortunes into countries further off, among people to them vnknowne; began to arise in mutinie, and to refuse to go. Whereupon their captaines Melech and Chalel requested of the Generall of the Catalonians to giue them leaue with quietnesse to return: which their request he easily graunted (as now not greatly needing their helpe, after that he was departing out of the emperours dominion) and so they gladly departed; proportionally diuiding all the captiues and spoiles they had taken in that long war, according to the number of both parts.

The Turks [...] two fa [...]t [...]ns.These Turks after their departure from the Catalonians, diuided themselues into two parts, the Turcopuli or renegat Turks following Melech, and the rest Chalel their generall. But Melech being before become a Christian, as were his followers also; and after that hauing receiued most honorable entertainment at the emperours hands, and yet againe most shamefully breaking his faith before giuen, and violating his religion, had reuolted vnto his enemies; dispairing of the emperours further friendship, which he had so euill deserued, made choice rather to goe vnto Crales prince of SERVIA, by whom he was sent for, than to come againe into the sight of Andronicus the Greeke emperour. And so going vnto him with a thousand horse, and fiue hundred soot, was there of him well entertained himselfe: but his souldiours all commanded to deliuer [Page] vnto the prince both their horses and armour, and to fall to other trades and not to beare armes but at such time, and so many of them as should seeme good vnto the prince, that had receiued them into his countrey.

But Chalel with the Turks his followers, in number about 1300 horse and eight hundred foot, staying at MACEDONIA, offered vnto the Greeke emperour quietly to depart his countrey; so that he would giue him passage by the straits of CHRISTOPULIS by him fortified; and in safetie transport him and his souldiours with all their substance, ouer the strait of HELESPONTVS into ASIA: vnto which his request, the emperour considering the great harme done in his prouinces, and desirous also to be discharged of so great a burthen, easily graunted; and so sent Sennacherib, one of his most valiant captaines, to conduct them out of MACEDONIA into THRACIA, vnto the straits of HELLESPONTVS. Where the Greeke captaines and souldiors seeing the great multitude of horses, and abundance of money and other spoiles, which they hauing taken from the Greeks were now about to carie away with them into ASIA; they thought it a great indignitie to suffer them so to do: and allured also with the hope of so rich a prey, as had beene of long in gathering, they entred into a deuise far different from that which was vnto the Turks before promised; neither prouiding them of shipping, neither carefull of their safetie; but purposing vpon the sudden by night to destroy them. Whereof the Turks hauing got vnderstanding, suddenly rising, surprised a castle in the countrey thereby, which they notably fortified for the defence of themselues, to the great astonishment of them that had purposed their destruction; who not now able to force them, were glad to get them farther off, and to certifie the emperour what had happened: who (after I wot not what receiued custome of the Greeke emperours his predecessors) slowly dispatching things requiring greatest hast, carelesly delayed the time, to the great trouble of his state and aduantage of his enemies. For they wisely considering the danger and distresse they were in, by speedie messengers sent ouer the strait, craued aid of the Turks their countreymen in ASIA, which they presently sent them: wherewith they not a little both encouraged and strengthened, with their often and sudden incursions grieuously wasted the countrey round about them, to the great discontentment of the Greeke captaines, not able without greater helpe to remedie the same. Who thereof certified the yoong emperour Michael Paleologus, requesting him with all the power he could make, to come and besiege the castle, and to suppresse these so dangerous enemies. For the performance whereof, not onely the captaines with their souldiours, but the countrey people in generall with their spades and mattocks came flocking vnto the emperour; not as if they would haue besieged the castle, but haue digged it downe and ouerthrown it together with the Turks their enemies.

Now the emperour with his captaines and souldiours,The vnfortu [...]at battell of the emperour Michael Paleologus with the Turks in Chersones [...]s. and a multitude of these countrey people, being come thither; who all gladly followed him, most part of them foolishly thinking of nothing, but of the spoile of their enemies; not considering with what danger the same was to be gained: so that the more the enemies prouided for the necessarie defence of themselues, as in number but few, and shut vp in their enemies countrey; the more carelesly and negligently, and without all order, the Greeks proceeded in their siege, for that they were in number far more, and better prouided of all things than their enemies: not reputing with themselues, Nothing in this world to be firme and sure; and all worldly things (as saith the diuine Philosopher) to bee but the mockerie of God, and to be hastily turned vpside downe, and with most vncertaine course this and that way to wander. But their enemies, who before feared euen the verie fame of their comming, accounting themselues rather among the dead than the liuing, seeing their confused and disordered rashnesse; therewith much more then before encouraged, bestowed all their wealth, their women, and other things vnnecessarie for battel, in good safetie within their trenches: but themselues, with eight hundred chosen horsemen onely, and they verie well armed, sallied out, euen vnto the place where the imperiall ensigne stood; being neither of any great safetie, neither guarded with any such strength or carefulnesse as beseemed: with which sudden and desperat eruption of the enemies, the Graecians terrified, especially that rusticall and vplandish companie, began to flie; after whom by little and little others followed, vntill at length all the rest without farther resistance, fled also: which the emperour seeing, did what he might to haue staied their flight: but in so generall a confusion and feare, when euerie man was to shift for one, who regarded him? Wherefore wearied and seeing no other remedie, hee was glad to take the same course and to flie with the rest. Yet many of the more expert captaines, ashamed of so foule [Page] a flight, made diuers stands: and so staied the barbarours enemie from further pursuit of the emperour and the other flying Greeks. In which doing, many of them inclosed by the Turks, were of them taken prisoners: vnto whom all the emperours treasure became a prey also, and whatsoeuer honourable ensignes of the empire else that were found in the emperours tent; yea the imperiall crowne it selfe, richly set with pearle and precious stones, was there taken also, which (they say) Chalel putting vpon his head, pleasantly scoffed at the Greeke emperour that but late before wore it.

Thracia spoiled by the Turks.After this victorie, the Turks with great pride spoiled almost all THRACIA, in such sort as that the people for two yeares together durst scarcely goe out of their strong walled townes to plough and sow their land; which exceedingly grieued both the emperours, the father and the sonne: for in their owne power they had no great confidence, God hauing (as it were) taken H from their people both their hearts & courage; so that all their hope was to entertain forrein aid (the miserable shift of the great distressed ones) wherein also they found many difficulties and lets, whilest they considered the greatnesse of the charge, their coffers being then (if euer) emptie, by reason their territories were so long and grieuously by their enemies wasted: yet need admitting no law, Andronicus the old emperour was glad to send to Crales prince of SERVIA his sonne in law, to pray his aid. But in the meane time he making no hast (as men in relieuing others commonly do) and the miserie more and more increasing, it pleased God to stur vp the heart of one Philes Paleologus the emperours neere kinsman, to vndertake the protection and deliuerance of his prince and countrey; and was afterward for his great valour by the emperor woorthily made lord great Martiall of the empire. This Philes of whom we now speake, had all his life time beene brought vp in the court, and was for his vpright dealing and integritie of life beloued of all men, but especially of the old emperour his kinsman, whom he with like affection honoured; but was a man altogether vnskilfull of the wars, as being by nature of a weake constitution of bodie, and so verie sickly; and withall more giuen to deuotion and the seruice of God than the affaires of the world, oftentimes spending most part of the day at his prayers in the church. He now grieued to see the perplexed emperour, and the miserie of his countrey, requested of him that he might with some small power,Philes Paleologus requesteth of the emperour, that he might goe against the Turks. and some few captaines of his owne choice, go out against these proud Turks: hoping (as he said) by the grace of God to reuenge the wrong by them done, and to returne vnto him againe with victorie. Vnto which his request, the emperour easily yeelded, saying, That God was just, which delighted not in any mans legs, either in the greatnesse of any mans strength, but in a contrite heart and humble mind; not so giuing his helpe vnto Michaell the emperour, his sonne, for the offences of his parents: as happely hee might vnto this so vpright and deuout a man, regarding more his integritie of life, than his skill in armes: For turning me about, I haue seen in this world (said he) I haue seene, the swift not to gain the prize; neither the valiant the victorie; wise men to want bread; and men of vnderstanding, wealth; the simple to gaine fauour; and the subtill to fall into disgrace: such alteration worldly things in time find. So the emperour (as is aforesaid) yeelding to his request, furnished him with money, horses, and armour, and such a conuenient power as he himselfe desired. Which he hauing receiued, first of all encouraged his captaines and souldiors with all manner of courtesie and kindnesse, giuing vnto them money, horses, armour, jewels, yea sometime he gaue vnto one his purse, vnto another his cloake, his rapier, or some other such thing as he had about him, to encourage them in their forwardnesse: after that he persuaded them to an honest temperate course of life, and valiantly to play the men, promising according to their deserts to reward euerie one of them, the war once happely ended: and before his setting forth, vnderstanding by his espials, that Chalel with a thousand foot and two hundred horse was forraging the countrey about BYZIA, he hasted his departure, that so he might by the way encounter them, laded with the spoile of the countrey: and so setting forward, came the third day vnto a little riuer, which the inhabitants call XEROGIPSUM, and there in a great plaine neere vnto the same, encamped. Where after he had set all things in order fit for battell, he with cheerefull speeches, as a great commaunder, encouraged his captaines and souldiors; leauing nothing vnsaid or vndone, that might serue for the animating of them to fight. But hee had not so lien two daies, but that his scouts about midnight comming in, brought him tidings, That the enemie laden with spoile, was euen fast by at hand: who by the rising of the Sunne were come within sight, and had themselues a far off also discouered the Christian armie, all glistering in bright armour. Wherfore staying a while to prepare [Page] themselues for battell: and first of all, compassing themselues round with their waggons and other cariages, they bestowed in them all their captiues fast bound together, with the bootie they had taken: and afterwards as their manner was, casting dust vpon their heads, and their hands vp towards heauen, they came on. And now the Christian armie came on forward also, Philes still encouraging both the horsemen and footmen,The battell betwixt Philes and the Turks. and right well conducting them, as the time and place required. So it fortuned, that he that had the leading of the right wing of the armie, gaue the first charge vpon a squadron of the enemies, and at the first onset vnhorsed one of the enemies, and by and by after him, another. But hauing his horse sore wounded vnder him, he hastely retired out of the battell, which somewhat troubled the Christians, and encouraged the Turks, who now with a barbarous outcrie began most fiercely to presse vpon the retiring Christians. Philes in the meane time with many cheerefull words and comfortable persuasions still encouraging them to play the men; and with his eyes oftentimes cast vp to heauen, with teares running downe his face, most heartely besought God, the giuer of all victorie, no longer to suffer those his enemies, and the ministers of his wrath, to triumph ouer his people: as did also the poore captiues that lay bound, doubtfully betwixt feare and hope, expecting the euent of the battell. The Christian footmen at the same time encountering hand to hand with the Barbarians, assailed them, and were assailed; slew of them, and were themselues of them slaine; so that there was a cruell fight made on both sides. But Philes with the multitude of his men hauing almost compassed in the Barbarian horsemen, with a companie of his most valiant souldiors broke in vpon the side of the enemies battell, and so made way through the middest of it: and so troubled the Turkes, as that they well knew not how to stay or what to doe. So being on euery side circumuented and hardly charged,The Turks ouerthrowne. most of them there fell, excepting some few horsemen, whom the Greeke horsemen pursued vnto the entrance of CHERSONESUS, with purpose there to shut them vp. Philes comming thither also, there vpon those straits encamped: at which time the emperour presently sent out fiue gallies to keepe the straits of HELLESPONTUS, so that no ayd might be brought vnto these Turkes out of ASIA. Whilest things thus went, two thousand choice horsemen came to the aid of Philes out of SERVIA, and the potestate of PERA came by sea also with eight gallies moe into HELLESPONTUS to the aid of the other Christians: wherfore when the Grecians and the Seruians had thus on the one side shut them vp by land, and they that were in the gallies on the other by sea; Philes with all his power came and encamped about the towne and the trenches wherein the Turkes lay, planting his batterie against the castle, wherewith he greatly shooke the same, and made great slaughter of the Turks, and of their horses, and that not onely by day, but by night also. But the Turkes seeing death now present before their eyes, and no way left for them to escape: for that they were so on euery side both by sea and land enclosed, thought good thus to aduenture their liues, resoluing by night to set vpon the Grecians rather than vpon the Seruians, whom they had hetherto accustomed to ouercome, and whom they had with often slaughters terrefied; that so the rest by them also happely discouraged, they might so delay the assault: but in attempting the same, they perceiued themselues much deceiued, finding them euen at their first sallying out, ready in armes to receiue them: wherfore hauing in vaine giuen the attempt (as against a strong fortresse) they were shamefully enforced to retire. Yet were they not therewith so discouraged, but that the straight siege still continuing, they gaue the like attempt vpon the Seruians; but being also by them in like manner with losse repulsed, they began now vtterly to despaire. Wherefore the next day, about midnight casting away their armes, they with their bosomes and pockets full of coine ran downe vnto the sea side, towards the gallies, with purpose to yeeld themselues vnto the Genowaies that were therein; as fearing of them lesse harme, as of men whom they had neuer hurt. But the night being darke and mistie, and the Moone giuing no light, many of them vnawares came vnto the Greeke gallies, and there, flying the smoke fell into the fire: for being lightened of their money, they were by them forthwith without any pitie slaine also. But the Genowaies slew not all their prisoners, but onely such as had brought with them the greatest store of coine; least afterwards bewraying the same, it should haue beene sought after by the Greekes: the rest they cast into bonds, of whom, some they sent vnto the emperour, othersome they kept to themselues as their owne prisoners. Thus by the valour and good conduct of this worthie deuout captaine, the Turks were for that time againe chased out of EUROPE, and the countrey of THRACIA deliuered of a great feare.

[Page] The causes of the decay of the Greeke empire.Now by that we haue alreadie written, is easily to be seene, the chiefe causes of the decay and ruine of the Greeke empire, to haue been, First, the innouation and change of their antient Religion and ceremonies by Michael Paleologus, whereof ensued a world of woes; then by Couetousnesse, coloured with the name of good husbandrie, the vtter destruction of the chiefe strength of the empire; next vnto that, by Enuie, the ruine of the great; False suspect, the looser of friends; Ambition, honours ouerthrow; Distrust, the great minds torment; and Forreine aid, the empires vnfaithfull porter, opening the gate euen vnto the enemie himselfe: wherunto foule Discord joyned (as shall be foorthwith declared) what wanted that the barbarous enemie could desire, for the helping of them in the supplanting of so great an empire? But againe to our purpose: Michael, companion with his father Andronicus in the empire, had by his wife Marie two sonnes, Andronicus who was afterward emperour, and Manuel surnamed the Despot; and two daughters, Anne maried vnto Thomas prince of EPIRVS, and Theodora married to the prince of BVLGARIA: of all these, the old emperour Andronicus their grandfather, so entirely loued Andronicus his nephew, as that in comparison of him he little seemed to regard either his owne children, or the rest of his nephews, wishing them all rather to perish than him: which many supposed him to do, as purposing by him the better to establish the succession of the empire in his house; as also for his excellencie of wit, and comelinesse of person; the likenesse of name also happily furthering his kind affection. For which reasons, he caused him to be alwaies honourably brought vp in his court, as not willing to spare him out of his sight either day or night. But when he was out of his childhood, and growne to be a lustie youth (at which time mens hot desires are commonly most vehement) he began to contemne all chastisement and gouernment; especially in so high a calling, and in the prime of his youth. Besides that, his companions became vnto him the ministers and persuaders of all those vaine delights which vnstaied youth most desireth: and at the first began to lead him foorth to walke the streets, to hauke, to hunt, and to haunt plaies, and afterwards to night walks also, not well beseeming his state: which riotous course of life, when as it required great expence, and his aged grandfather gaue him but a certaine spare allowance for his conuenient maintenance; he acquainted himselfe with the rich marchants of GENOVVAY, which dwelt at PERA. Hereof rose hard taking vp of money, great debt, fine deuises how to come by coyne, with secret consultations and purposes of flight. For when hee saw his grandfather old Andronicus long to liue, and his father Michael like to succeede him, he had no hope of aspiring to the empire; whereupon his ambitious thoughts, and impotent desires, long time tormenting his haughtie heart, suggested vnto him such purposes. For when as hee would not obey his grandfather as his tutor, nor follow other mens counsels, as a child, hee sought after the emperiall libertie, and abundance of wealth; that he might haue that was sufficient for himselfe, and wherewith to reward others, as the followers of an emperour. Which seeing he could not doe, his grandfather yet liuing, and his father raigning; he sought after the soueraigntie of other principalities and countries: one while after ARMENIA, as belonging vnto him in the right of his mother, the king of ARMENIA his daughter; another while after PELOPONESVS, and sometime hee dreamed of LESBOS and LEMNVS, and other the fruitfull Islands of the Aegean sea: which when it was secretly told sometime to his father, and sometime to his grandfather, he was now crossed and reprooued of the one, and afterwards of the other. And to passe ouer many other his youthfull prancks, hee vsed in his night walks secretly to repaire vnto a certaine gentlewomans house, more honourably borne, than honestly quallified: which woman, a certaine gallant and another Adonis, no lesse affected than himselfe; wherewith he highly offended, as with his riuall, appointed certaine ruffians and fencers to watch her house. But vpon a certaine time about midnight, Manuel the Despot (his yoonger brother) seeking after him, chanced to passe that way where these watchmen lay: who seeing him hasten by, and not knowing him in the darke, and supposing him to haue been the man they looked for, the gentlewomans best beloued, set vpon him, and so wounded him that he fell downe for dead from his horse: but being by and by after known by others comming in, he was taken vp, and so halfe dead carried vnto the court. Which outrage in the morning being knowne vnto the emperour, cast him into a great heauinesse, as beholding not the time present onely, but wisely considering what was like to ensue in the time to come also. But Manuel the Despot being dead of the wounds there receiued, and the report therof brought vnto Michael the yoong emperour his father, then lying at THESSALONICA, strooke him [Page] to the heart with so great a griefe, that falling sicke with the conceit thereof, hee shortly after died.

Andronicus the vnstaied youth neuerthelesse holding on his woonted course, with a secret purpose to haue fled, became thereby still more and more suspitious vnto his aged grandfather, not a little carefull vnto what end those his violent passions would at length tend. And therefore appointed one Syrgiannes (a man of great credit and authorie in the court, in whom as in a reconciled enemie he had most vnaduisedly reposed too much trust) to insinuat himselfe into the youthfull princes acquaintance and fauour; that so sounding him, and his secret designes, he should not possibly be able without his knowledge to step aside; which of all things the old emperour feared most, as the beginning of greater troubles.. This Syrgiannes being a man of great place, and of a subtill wit, was sometime himselfe suspected of aspiring; and therefore as vpon the misprision of treason, was by the old emperor imprisoned: but afterwards by him again inlarged and receiued into fauour, was now put in trust warily to obserue the doings of the yoong prince. But he not vnmindfull of the wrong before done vnto him, and in hope by troubling the state, either to aspire vnto the empire himselfe, or at leastwise to some good part thereof; thought now a fit occasion to be ministred vnto him for him to worke vpon, both for the one and the other, by setting the old emperour, and his ambitious nephew together by the eares: which opportunitie he not minding to let slip, taking the yoong prince one day aside, discouered vnto him all his grandfathers deuise in briefe, as followeth: ‘Your grandfather noble prince (said he) hath set me as a watch ouer your actions,Syrgiannes his cra [...]tie sedi [...]iou [...] speech vnto yoong Andronicus. or more truely to say, as a blood-hound, to seeke after not your doings onely, but if it were possible euen after your most secret thoughts also: and so whilest he maliciously prepareth for you snares and fetters, you not aware thereof, foolishly follow your shallow and childish conceits. For what shall it auaile you secretly to flie away? whereas (if the best chance) yet must you (as the common saying is) put your feet vnder another mans table, and liue of his charge; if it fall not out worse, that you be slaine or made away by them you flie vnto for reliefe, or else fall into the snares by your grandfather laid for you. But if so be that casting behind you these your fond deuises you will hearken vnto my counsell, I will shew you a readie way how you shall in short time and without any danger, aspire vnto the imperiall seat and dignitie; the onely way whereunto is this, if you leauing the citie of CONSTANTTNOPLE shall flie out into the cities and prouinces of THRACIA. For seeing men are most commonly by nature desirous of change, and the miserable Thracians are with often exactions grieuously vexed; if you shall but once proclaime a redresse of their grieuances, with immunitie for euer, they will all with one accord follow you whether soeuer you will, your grandfathers long and heauie yoke being cast off, as if it were Sisiphus his heauie stone, which they had long rolled and neuer the neere. If you like of this aduise, I will be vnto you both the authour and the leader of this exploit, and will easily bring to good effect the whole matter: so that you againe on the other side promise vnto me vpon your faith, to reward this my trauell according to my desert therein. But what rewards shall these be? Honourable preferments, large possessions, great reuenues, the first place in your fauour, and that no great matter be done or concluded without my consent and knowledge. For you see how willingly I make my selfe partaker of your calamitie, and companion of your dangers, no necessitie enforcing me thereunto; forgetting euen my verie faith, in comparison of the loue and zeale I beare towards you, wherein if any mishap shall by the mutabilitie of fortune betide me, I haue set downe my selfe with patience to indure it. All which considered, you need not to grudge to yeeld vnto my requests, if you tender your owne safetie. And for as much as the shortnesse of the time will suffer no long consultations, and that delay bringeth extreame danger; let vs without longer stay impart the matter vnto such others, as for the hatred of the emperour are like to keepe our counsell, and may yet much further our designes.’

The yoong prince mooued with this speech, as if it had beene with a charme, easily graunted to his desire, confirming the same by his oath conceiued in writing: at which time were present such as were especially to be acquainted with the plot of the conspiracie, namely Iohn Catacuzene, and Theodorus Synadenus (both men of great honour, and the old emperours antient supposed friends, and of him beloued, much of like age vnto himselfe) and Alexius Apocaucus the third (not of like honour with the other, yet a man of great place, and of a most subtile and deepe wit:) who all vnderstanding the matter, shewed themselues not as ministers, but as ringleaders [Page] and captaines of the intended rebellion. This conspiracie with most solemne oaths and promises on euerie part confirmed, they began right cunningly to attempt the matter: and to begin withall, Syrgiannes and Catacuzenus, by corrupting diuers of the great and most gratious courtiers, procured to themselues the gouernment of such cities and prouinces in THRACIA, as they thought fittest for them to begin their rebellion in. Syrgiannes hauing the gouernment of the sea coast, and the inland countrey euen from the sea side vnto the top of mount RHODOPE; and Catacuzenus the gouernment of the countrey about ORESTIAS. In all which places they mustred souldiors, prouided armour, entertaining also strangers, and other vagrant and masterlesse men, as for some great war: besides that, in the cities for the gouenment thereof, they placed their most trustie friends, remoouing such others as they had in suspect. All which they coloured by rumours falsly raised, one while of the comming of the Europian Tartars from DANVBIVS; and another while by the comming of the Turks out of ASIA: against whose inuasions these preparations were giuen out to be made, for auoiding of suspition; and the traitours for their prouident care highly commended euen by the emperour himselfe, against whom they were intended. All which things Syrgiannes notably dissembled, oftentimes withall certifying the yong prince what he had done, and what was likewise of him to be performed.

But the old emperour, seeing his youthfull nephew not to hearken to his graue aduise, but still to proceed in his dissolute kind of life; was about solemnly to haue reproued him before the Patriarch and some others of the chiefe nobilitie: if happily such open reproofe might haue wrought in him some change of manners; if not, then to haue committed him to prison: and like enough he was to haue so done, had he not bene otherwise persuaded by Theodorus Metochita (who of all others was able to do most with him) by reason of the libertie of the time; for then it was vpon the point of Shrouetide, when as the people distempered with excesse of meate and drinke, were of all other times most fit, vpon any light occasion, to be drawne into a tumult or vprore: for feare whereof, he was contented for that time to let him alone. But Shrouetide past, and a good part of Lent also, the old emperour seeing no amendment in his nephew, calling vnto him Gerasimus the patriarch, & the rest of the reuerend bishops thē present in the citie, sent for his nephew, openly before them all to chide him, and to schoole him for his disordered life, but especially for his purposed flight; that ashamed of such open reproofe before such reuerend fathers, he might either amend his life, or at leastwise of all men be thought justly punished for the same, if he should still proceed therin. So the young prince being sent for, came accompanied with a number of his fauourits and followers, most of them being secretly armed, and he himselfe not altogether vnprouided: [...] Andronicus commeth secret [...]y armed vnto his grandfat [...]r. for it was agreed amongst them, that if the emperour should vse gentle and fatherly admonition towards him, that then they should keepe themselues quiet, without any shew of insolencie or discontentment; but if he should in anger reproue him, or threaten to punish him, then vpon a signe giuen, forcibly with their swords drawne, to breake in vpon him and to kill him in the imperiall seat, and without more ado to place young Andronicus his nephew in his steed. But comming in, and (as his manner was) taking his place next vnto his aged grandfather, his desperat followers attending without, he was indeed of him grieuously blamed and reproued for his former follies and euill course of life; yet with such moderation and grauitie, as that all seemed (as it did) to come of a most fatherly care and regard: so that at that time no such outrage was committed, as was by diuers his followers wished, but the assemblie quietly dismissed, and a solemne oath taken on both sides: of the grandfather, That he should not appoint any other to succeed him in the empire but his nephew; and of the yong prince, That he should neuer go about or attempt any thing, to the shortening or hurt of his grandfathers life or empire. But the conspirators thronging about him at his comming out, fretted & fumed at him, as if he had broken his faith and oath before giuen them, saying, What greater wrong couldest thou do to vs, than being by vs made strong and become dreadfull vnto thine enemies, to dispose of thine affaires at thy pleasure to thine owne safetie, and to leaue vs thy most faithfull friends and seruants in the diuels mouth to be deuoured? For now they both doubted, and feared, least their conspiracie was discouered. With which speeches he both discouraged, and ashamed, sent for Theodorus Metochita his grandfathers chiefe counseller, requesting him to deale with his grandfather, for the pardoning of all his followers, as he had done for himselfe: of which motion he disliking, told him, That he was to giue God thanks that he had himself escaped so great a danger, and to him also, as a meane for the safegard of his life; although he entreated not for such [Page] traiterous persons; with whom, if he were well aduised, he would haue nothing to do, either think that they would euer be faithfull vnto him, that respecting neither God nor man, had so foul-broken their faith before giuen vnto the emperour his grandfather. With which vnexpected answer of so great and graue a counsellor, the prince not a little troubled and withall discontented, stood a while as in a muse all silent, reasoning as it were with his owne passions: but afterwards commanding him without further reply to depart, and the old companions of his follies resorting vnto him, he by their persuasion entertained againe his former disloiall thoughts and designements: which his grandfather vehemently suspecting, and therewith not a little grieued, would, as if it had beene by inspiration, oftentimes in his heauinesse say vnto them that were about him, In our time is lost the maiestie of our empire, and the deuotion of the Church. Yet to preuent the worst, he thought it good betime to lay hands vpon his suspected nephew, and so to detaine him in safe keeping: acquainting none therewith but Gerasimus the Patriarch and his ghostly father, who straightway acquainted the prince therewith, and was the cause that he hastened his flight, flying himselfe before. For he now certainly vnderstanding the danger he was in, the night before he should haue beene apprehended, with all the rest of the conspirators his complices, in the dead time of the night fled out of the citie, by the gate called GYROLIMNIA▪ which gate (all the rest being shut) was still at his command, for that he commonly vsed thereby at his pleasure very early to go out on hunting, as he now pretended to do; but the next day after came to Syrgiannes and Catacuzenus camp, who then both lay with a great power at HADRIANOPLE, expecting his comming. The old emperour, before the rising of the sunne, aduertised of the flight of his nephew, the same day commanded him to be proclaimed traitor, & proscribed, with all his conspirators, & whosoeuer els should take his part. And for the more suretie, euery man in the citie was sworne to be loyall and faithfull vnto the old emperour, and enemies vnto his nephew and his adherents. But he on the other side, proclaiming libertie and immunitie abroad in all the cities and villages in THRACIA,Thracia reuol [...]eth vnto Andronicus. so woon the hearts of the countrey people in generall, that they resorted vnto him from all places in great numbers, ready armed to doe whatsoeuer he should command them. And to begin withall, they first laid hands vpon the collectors of the emperours monie, then abroad in the countrey, whom they fouly intreated, taking from them their money. After that, and yet seuen daies not expired, almost an incredible number of horsmen, footmen, archers, and others, departed from HADRIANOPLE towards CONSTANTINOPLE, vnder the leading of Syrgiannes, in good hope at their first comming to take the citie, being at discord in it selfe; and most part of the meaner sort, in hope of gaine, fauouring their rebellious proceedings, such as the seditious find in such rebellious tumults. So hauing marched foure daies, they came and encamped at SELYBRIA: but as they were about to haue gone on farther, the old emperour doubting least the citizens, seeing so great an armie before the citie, should therein raise some tumult or stirre, to the endangering thereof; thought good before to send embassadours vnto his nephew, to proue if happily these so dangerous troubles, might by their meanes in some good sort be appeased. The chiefe of these embassadours was one Theoleptus bishop of PHILADELPHIA, a man no lesse famous for his vertue than his wisdome, and yet for both of all men honored; and with them also was sent Syrgiannes his mother, as of all others most fit to appease her sonne, & to persuade him not to approch the citie, for that thereof might ensue much bloudshed, and the destruction of the citie, or at leastwise the vtter vndoing of manie; whereof if he should be the authour, how could he euer after liue in conscience quiet, but that the torment thereof would follow him euen into his graue; and therefore to request him to retire a little, and so to come to talke, and to demaund what he pleased. Syrgiannes moued as well with the presence of the reuered bishop, as with the prayers of his mother, retired to the young prince,Articles of agreemēt betwixt the old emperour and his nephew. which then lay about ORESTIAS; whither the emperous embassadours came also: with whom (after long debating) it was agreed, That the young prince should in all royall manner, hold all THRACIA, from CHRISTOPOLIS vnto RHEGIVM and the suburbs of CONSTANTINOPLE: and withall, That such lands as the young prince had already giuen vnto his followers in MACEDONIA should still remaine vnto them (which were such as yearely yeelded vnto them a right great reuenue:) And that the old emperour should hold vnto himselfe the imperiall citie, with all the cities and prouinces of MACEDONIA beyond CHRISTOPOLIS: and that he alone should haue the honour to heare the embassadours sent from forraine princes, and to giue them their dispatch; for that the young prince tooke no pleasure in those [Page] waightie affaires; as by nature more delighted in hauking, hunting, and his other youthfull pleasures. Vpon which conditions a peace was concluded, better liked of the yoong prince, than of the old emperour; who although he was desirous otherwise to haue redressed so great wrongs, yet wanting power,The Greeke empire in Europe deuided. was glad to yeeld to whatsoeuer his nephew would request. Thus was the Greeke empire in EUROPE (as then all or the most part inclosed within the bounds of MACEDONIA and THRACIA) now deuided betwixt the grandfather and his nephew: ASIA in the meane time (wherin the Greek emperors their predecessors sometime held great kingdomes) being left for a prey to the greedie Turks.Whilest the Greekes are at discord among th [...]selues, Othoman layeth the foundation of the Turks empire, and the other Turks encroch vpon them also. Othoman on the one side euen in the heat of these troubles laying the foundation of his empire in PHRIGIA and BYTHINIA: and the other the Turks princes, the successors of Sultan Aladin, encroching as fast vpon the emperors territories and countries on this side the riuer MEANDER. And not so contented, at the same time also built great store of gallies, wherewith they robbed the Christian marchants trading to CONSTANTINOPLE, and spoiled the coasts of MACEDONIA and THRACIA, and the Islands of the AEG [...] and amongst others tooke the famous Island of the RHODES: which they held not long, before they were againe driuen out of the same by the knights Hospitalers,The Island of the Rhodes was by the knights Hospitalers recouered from the Turks in the yeare 1308. vnder the conduct of William Willaret, aided by the Genowaies, and the king of SICILIA, which they from that time held (to the great honour and benefit of the Christian commonweale) by the space of 214 years, knowne by the name of The knights of the RHODES: vntill that in the memorie of our fathers it was (I say no more, but grieue therefore) shamefully lost vnto the Turke, for want of reliefe, neuer place being more honourably defended, as in the processe of this historie shall appeare▪ euer since which time, those honourable men (the flower of chiualrie) haue seated themselues in the Isle of MALTA; which they to their immortall glorie, and the comfort of all good Christians, haue most notably defended against the mightie Sultan Solyman, and all the furie of the Turks, [...] shall be also in due place declared.

But to returne againe vnto the troubled estate of the Greeke empire. Syrgiannes the great captaine, and author of all the aforesaid stirs betwixt the old emperour and his nephew, had euen from the beginning thought, as a companion to the yoong prince, to haue ruled all with him at his pleasure, and that nothing either great or little should haue been done without him: but seeing it now to fall out far otherwise than he had before expected▪ and the prince to be wholly ruled by Catacuzenus, and himselfe of all others least regarded, and not so much as called to any counsell; inwardly tormented with greefe and enuie, he began secretly with himselfe to deuise how he might be reuenged of the vngratefull prince, which vnmindfull of his former promises, had so vnthankfully cast him off. Wherefore he resolued againe to reuolt vnto the old emperour, not doubting but so in short time to ouerthrow all the counsels and deuices of the yoong prince, together with his state also, by himselfe before raised. For hee as a worldly wise man, excluding God from his counsels, had such an opinion of himselfe, that which way soeuer he went, thither must all things follow also. Wherfore by one of his most trustie friends, he secretly made the old emperour acquainted with his purposed reuolt, and how all things stood: for the greater credit thereof, alleadging, That he could not abide the sight of him that sought to corrupt his wife, meaning the yoong prince. This newes from Syrgiannes was vnto the old emperour most welcome: for it grieued him, as an old man of a great spirit, to see himselfe so contemned and deluded by his nephew, his empire rent, and his old seruitours, of all sorts, by him spoiled of their lands and possessions in MACEDONIA and THRACIA. So a solemne oath in secret passed from the one to the other, Syrgiannes without longer stay secretly fled to CONSTANTINOPLE which there bruited abroad, rejoyced many, now well hoping the whole gouernment would againe come vnto the old emperour, and that so they should againe recouer their possessions wrongfully taken from them by his nephew. But God not seeing it so good, all this hope was but vaine, as ere long it appeared: For the yong prince, who of long knew how much he was beloued of the Constantinopolitans, and by them secretly sent for taking occasion vpon the flight of Syrgiannes, with all the power he could make, marched towards the citie: & being come within sight therof, encamped, laying ambushes vpon euery way & passage thereabout▪ for to haue intercepted Syrgiannes; who was then at PERINTHUS, and the third night after, with three hundred select souldiors, deceiuing them that lay in wait for him, as if they had beene all asleepe, before the rising of the Sunne came to CONSTANTINOPLE: and if the old emperour would haue giuen him leaue, had suddainly charged them that lay in wait for him, before they were aware of [Page] his comming. But as soone as it was day, the prince hearing of the [...]scape of Syrgiannes, and no such tumult in the citie as he had expected, presently without more adoe retired with his armie the same way he came, backe againe into THRACIA.

By and by after, Constantine the Despot was by the old emperour his brother [...]nt by sea to THESSALONICA, to take vpon him the gouernment of MACEDONIA, and by the way to apprehend Xene the empresse, the yong princes mother; & after with all the power he could make to inuade the yong prince in THRACIA [...] that so setting vpon him on the one side but of MACEDONIA, and Syrgiannes with the Turks (for the emperour in this ciuile discord was glad to vse their helpe also) and the Bythinian souldiours on the other, they might so shut him vp betwixt them and take him. According to which resolution, the Despot comming to THESSALONICA there tooke th [...] empresse, whom with all her familie he thrust into a gallie, and so sent her to CONSTANTINOPLE, where she was in the palace kept close, as too much fauouring the proceedings of the prince. And afterward raising all the power he could in MACEDONIA, inuaded the prince in THRACIA, breaking by force through the wall of CHRISTOPOLIS.

The yoong prince seeing himselfe by this meanes, now like to be driuen to a great strait, sent Synadenus with his Thracian armie, to defend the frontiers of his empire towards CONSTANTINOPLE, against Syrgiannes with his Turkes and Bythinians: in hope himselfe by many subtle deuises and flights, to be able to encounter his vncle the Despot. And first he caused diuers edicts and proscriptions to be written in hast, wherein great rewards and preferments were with great solemnitie of words promised to whomsoeuer could bring vnto him the Despot either quicke or dead: which were of purpose giuen vnto the country people passing too and fro, to be dispersed abroad in the high waies, and about in the country neere vnto the Despots campe. And after that, he caused the death of the emperour his grandfather to be euerie where proclaimed, and how that he was by the Constantinopolitans in a tumult slaine: which the deui [...]s thereof, in euery place reported. Yea some there were, that swore they were themselues present at his wofull death, and saw it with their eies: othersome, more certainely to persuade the matter, shewed long white goats haires, or such like gath [...]ed out of white wooll, as if they had beene by the furious people pluckt from the old emperours head or beard, at such time as hee was slaine. Which things being commonly reported in euery towne and village, but especially in the Despots campe, wonderfully fill [...]d mens heads with diuers strange and doubtfull [...]houghts then diuers also of the dispersed edicts being found, and brought vnto the Despot, strucke him (and not without cause) into a great feare; insomuch, that by the persuasion of his best friends, he without longer stay retired in hast to THESSALONICA. Whither shortly after came a gallie from CONSTANTINOPLE, with secret letters from the emperour to the Despot, for the apprehension of fiue and twentie of the cheefe cittizens, vehemently suspected for the stirring vp of th [...] people to rebellion, and so to haue deliuered the citie vnto the prince: all whom the Despot should haue sent bound in that gallie to CONSTANTINOPLE: but they in good time perceiuing the danger they were in, secretly stirring vp the people▪ and by and by after ringing out the bels (the signall appointed for the beginning of the rebellion) had in a very short time raised a woonderfull tumult in the citie; insomuch, that all the citizens wer [...] vp in armes, who running headling vnto the house of the Despot, found not him (for he forewarned of their comming, was fled into the castle) but slew all they met of his, or els robbing them, cast them in prison. As for the Despots house, they tooke what they found therein, and afterwards pulled it downe to the ground. Then comming to the castle, they fired the gates: which the Despot seeing, and not able to d [...]f [...]nd the place, tooke horse and fled vnto a monasterie not far off, where being taken by them that pursued him, he full sore against his will, for th [...] safegard of his life, tooke vpon him the habit of a monke: neuerthelesse, he was frō thence caried prisoner to the yong prince his nephew, who shewed himselfe much more courteous vnto him, than all the rest of his nobilitie & waiters: for they, as if they would haue eaten him vp, were euen foorthwith readie to haue torne him in peeces, h [...]d no [...] [...]he prince embracing him in his armes; saued his life. Yet the next day after, by the persuasion of his counsell he sent him to DIDIMOTICHVM, where hee was cast into a most loathsome prison, being verie deepe and straight, in manner of a well, no bodie to attend vpon him but one boy▪ where he lay in miserable darkenesse and stinke; they which drew vp his ordure from him and the boy, whether by chance or of purpose, pouring it oftentimes vpon his head. Where after he had lien a great while in most extreame miserie, wishing to die and could not; he was at [Page] length by the princes commandement (entreated thereunto by certaine religious men) remooued into a more easie prison, where we will for euer leaue him.

Andronicus the old emperor seeketh for counsell of the Psalter, as of an heauenly Oracle, and so seeketh to make peace with his nephew. Psal. 68. vers. 14.Things falling out crosse with the old emperor, and although they were neuer so well deuised, still sorting out vnto the worst, he became verie pensiue and doubtfull what to do. So it fortuned, that one day in his melancholy mood hauing a Psalter in his hand, to resolue his doubtfull mind, he opened the same (as if it were) of that heauenly Oracle to aske counsell: where in the first verse that he light vpō was, Dum coelestis dissociat reges, niue conspergentur in Selmon: When the Almightie scattered kings (for their sakes) then were they as white as snow in Selmon. Which he applying to himselfe, as if all those troubles, and whatsoeuer else had happened in them, proceeded from the will of God, although for causes to him vnknowne: hee by and by sought to reconcile himselfe vnto his nephew; contrarie to the mind of Syrgiannes, desiring nothing but trouble. For (as we haue before said) the yoong prince although he was desirous of the power and libertie of an emperor, yet he left the ornaments and care thereof vnto his grandfather: & had he not oftentimes and earnestly been egged forward by his companions to affect the whole empire, happily could and would haue contented himselfe with the former pacification: for being now sent for, he came first to RHEGIVM, and there visited his mother (now set at libertie, and sent thither for the furtherance of the desired pacification) where he with her and by her counsell did whatsoeuer was there done. So within a few daies the matter was brought into so good tearms, that an attonement was made, and he himselfe went and met the emperour his grandfather before the gates of the citie: the old emperour sitting then vpon his horse, and the prince lighting from his, a good furlong before he came at him: and although his grandfather was verie vnwilling and forbad him so to doe, yet he came to him on foot, and kissed his hand and foot as he sat on horesebacke; and afterward taking horse, embraced him, and there kissed one another, to the great contentment of the beholders: and so hauing talked some few words, departed, the old man into the citie, and the yoong man into his campe, which then lay neere vnto PEGA: where staying certaine daies, he came diuers times into CONSTANTINOPLE, and so went out againe; for as then his mother, partly for her health, partly for the loue of her sonne, lay at PEGA.

But Syrgiannes nothing glad of the agreement made betwixt the emperour and his nephew, walked vp and downe sicke in mind, with a heauie countenance, especially for that in time of peace his busie head stood the commonweale in no stead. Wherefore in all meetings & assemblies, he willingly conuersed with them which most disliked of the present state, and spake hardly as well of the emperour as of his nephew, wronged as he thought by them both; whereas in the time of their greatest distresse hee had (as hee said) stood them in good stead. But seeing one Asanes Andronicus walking melancholie vp and downe, as a man with heauinesse oppressed; who hauing done good seruice for the yoong prince, and not of him regarded, had fled vnto the old emperour, and there found no such thing as he expected for the ease of his greefe, although he were a man honourably borne, and otherwaies indued with many good parts: with him Syrgiannes acquainted himselfe, as grieued with the like greefe that he himselfe was: with whom as with his friend, without any dissimulation he plainly discoursed of all such things as his greefe desired. But Asanes handling him with great wisedome, did himselfe with like words speake hardly both of the emperour and his nephew; but yet curiously noted whatsoeuer Syrgiannes said, for he had before hated him for his ambition, and as then tooke it in displeasure, that he was enemie vnto Catacuzenus, his sonne in law, who was all in all with the yoong prince, and did oftentimes comfort him. But the song being throughly set, Asanes came secretly vnto the old emperour, and told him the whole matter; and in fine, that except hee betime laid hold vpon Syrgiannes, affecting the empire, he should in short time be by him brought to his end. Whereupon Syrgiannes was forthwith clapped fast in prison: whose house, with all his wealth, the common people tooke the spoile of; and not contented to haue rased it downe to the ground, conuerted the site thereof, together with the pleasant vineyards adjoyning vnto the same, into a place to feed goats and sheepe in: a worthie reward for his manifold trecheries. The yoong prince shortly after going to CONSTANTINOPLE, was there crowned emperor, as fellow in the empire with his grandfather: vnto which solemnitie in the great temple of Sophia, both the emperors riding, it fortuned the old emperour by the stumbling of his horse to be ouerthrowne, and foulely beraied in the myre, the streets being then very foule by reason of the great raine but a little before [Page] fallen: which many tooke as ominous, and portending the euill fortune which shortly after befell him. During the time of this peace, it fortuned that as the yoong prince was a hunting in CHERSONESUS, seuentie Turkes, aduenturers, were by force of weather driuen on shore: who before they would yeeld themselues prisoners, made a great fight with the emperours men, and slew diuers of them; in which conflict the yong emperour himselfe was wounded in the foot, wherewith he was a great while after exceedingly tormented.

Andronicus the late prince, and now fellow in the empire with his aged grandfather, held not himselfe long so contented, but after the manner of ambitious men (and continually prickt forward by his aspiring fauorits) longed to haue the whole gouernment vnto himselfe, which hardly brooketh any partener: and therefore wearie to see his grandfather liue so long, resolued no longer to expect his naturall death, (although it could not by course of nature be farre off) but by one deuice or other to thrust him from the gouernment; or if that might not bee wrought, at once to dispatch him both of life and state together. And the surer to lay the plot whereon so foule and horrible a treason was to be built, he by the counsell of his mother & others, by whom he was most directed, sent for Michael the prince of BULGARIA, his brother in law (though before to him vnknowne, as was his wife his sister also) to make with him a firme league, to the intent by him to prouide, That if the prince of SERVIA (who had but lately married the old emperours nigh kinswoman, and so to him much deuoted) should take part with him, he should by the Bulgarian his neighbour bee intangled. Who so sent for, with his wife, the old emperours daughter, came to DIDYMOTICHUM, where they were many dayes most honourably entertained both by the yoong emperour and his mother: for why, this meeting plotted vpon great treason,A treacherous meeting. was finely coloured, with the desire the yong emperour had to see his sister and her husband, as before vnto him vnknowne; and the empresse, her daughter, whom she had not seene in three and twentie yeares before. But the secret conclusion betwixt them was, That the Bulgarian prince should to the vttermost of his power aid the yong emperour against his grandfather, and he likewise him against the Seruian, as he should haue need: and further, That if his grandfather, being deposed, he should recouer the whole empire, then to giue him a great sum of mony, with certaine speciall cities and prouinces confining vpon him, as in dowrie vnto his kind brother in law, and companion in his labours. So Michael the Bulgarian prince honourably entertained by the yoong emperour and the old empresse his mother in law, loaded with rewards, and promises of greater returned home into his countrey.

This matter thus dispatched, the yoong emperour therewith incouraged, and knowing also the Constantinopolitans, besides the other cities of THRACIA, exceedingly to fauour him and his proceedings; by whom also he was secretly inuited to hasten his comming thither (as wearie of the long life and lazinesse, as he tearmed it, of his grandfather) thought it best cunningly to go about the matter; that so his grandfather being with as little stur as might be deposed, he himselfe might alone enjoy the empire. But needing money for the effecting of so great matters, he by force tooke all the money from the collectours, whom the old emperour had sent into THRACIA for the taking vp of money there; telling them, that he was an emperour also, and in need of money, and that the common charge was likewise by the common purse to be discharged. After that he tooke his way towards CONSTANTINOPLE, pretending that vpon speciall causes hee had occasion to send embassadours vnto the Sultan of AEGYPT: for the transporting of whom he was there to take order for the setting forth of a great ship, and other things necessarie for the journey. Neither went he slenderly appointed, but with a great power; and the cities of THRACIA before well assured vnto him, such as he suspected being thrust out of office, and others more assured vnto him placed in their steads. But whilst he thus besturreth himselfe, one of those that were most inwward with him, detesting so foule a treason, secretly fled from him vnto his grandfather, from point to point discouering vnto him all the intended treacheries; and withall, how that his nephew had determined to depose him from his empire, or otherwise to bereaue him of his life if he should stand vpon his guard: but if in the attempt hee should find easie successe, then to spare his life; and depriuing him of the imperiall dignitie, to thrust him as a monke into a monasterie: and therefore aduised him to beware how he suffered him after his woonted manner to come into the citie, for feare of a generall reuolt, but rather by force to keepe him out. Which the emperor hearing, and comparing with other things which he had heard of others, yet sounding in his eares, deeming it to be true, stood vp, and in the anguish [Page] of his soule thus complained vnto God: Reuenge my quarrell, ô God, vpon them that do me wrong, & let them be ashamed that rise vp against me: and preserue thou vnto me the imperiall power, which by thee giuen vnto me, he commeth to take from me whom I my selfe begot and aduanced. After, he began to consider what course to take for the assurance of himselfe and his state in so great a danger. And first he sent vnto his nephew (come halfe way) to forbid him from entring the citie, and to tell him, That it was a great folly for him, being so manifest a traitour, both vnto his grandfather and the state, to thinke his traiterous purposes to bee vnknowne vnto the world: and beside, in way of reproofe to rehearse vnto him, how many occasions he had giuen for the breaking of the league with his grandfather: first, in taking away the money from the collectors, whereof the state neuer stood in more need, by reason of the diuision of the empire, which required double charge; then, in that hee had in the citie euerie where displaced such gouernours and magistrats as his grandfather had sent thither, and placed others at his pleasure; with many other like facts, declaring his treacherous aspiring mind, for which he was not without cause by his grandfather forbidden to enter the citie. After that, the old emperour by secret letters craued aid of Crales prince of SERVIA, and Demetrius the Despot his sonne, who was then gouernour of THSSALONICA and the countries adjoyning; commaunding him, with Andronicu [...] and Michael his nephews (gouernours of MACEDONIA) with all the forces they were able to raise, and such aid as should be sent vnto them out of SERVIA, with all speed to joyne together and to go against the yoong emperour. But these letters thus written vnto the prince of SERVIA, the Despot, and others, (as is before said) were for the most part intercepted, by such as the yoong emperour had for that purpose placed vpon the straits of CHRISTOPOLIS, and the other passages; especially such as were written in paper, yet some others in fine white linnen cloth, and secretly sowed in the garments of such as carried them, escaped for all their strait search, and so were deliuered. And in truth nothing was done, or about to be done in CONSTANTINOPLE, but that the yoong emperour was by one or other aduertised thereof: whereas the old emperour on the other side, vnderstood nothing what his nephew did abroad, or intended. For all men of their owne accord enclined vnto him, some openly both bodie and soule (as they say) and such as could not be with him in person, yet in mind and good will were euen present with him; and that not onely the common sort of the citizens of CONSTANTINOPLE, but the chiefe Senatours, the great courtiers, yea and many other of the emperours neerest kinsmen also: who curiously obseruing whatsoeuer was done in the citie, foorthwith certified him therof. Amongst whom was also Theodorus the marques, one of the old emperors owne sons: who many years before by the empresse his mother sent into ITALY, and there honorably married, was by his prodigall course of life there, growne far in debt; so that leauing his wife and children behind him, he was glad after the decease of his mother, to flie vnto his father at CONSTANTINOPLE, and there now liued; who beside that he most honourably maintained him in the court, and bestowed many great things vpon him, paid also all his debts, which were verie great. All which fatherly kindnesse he forgetting, went about most Iudas like to haue betraied his aged father. For he also dreaming after the empire, and for many causes (but especially for that hee was in mind, religion, manners, and habit, become a Latine) by him rejected, thought he could not do him a greater dispite than by reuolting vnto the young emperour: so that the neerer he was in blood, the more he was his fathers vnnaturall enemie. Shortly after, Demetrius the Despot hauing receiued the emperours letters at THESSALONICA, called vnto him Andronicus and Michael his nephews, the gouernours of MACEDONIA; with whom joyning all his forces, and dayly expecting more aid out of SERVIA, he first spoiled the yoong emperors friends and fauourits in MACEDONIA, giuing the spoile of them in all the cities and townes of MACEDONIA vnto their souldiours, who made hauocke of whatsoeuer they light vpon: and whosoeuer seemed any way to withstand them or dislike of their proceedings, their goods and lands they confiscated, and draue the men themselues into exile. Neither was the yoong emperour Andronicus in the meane time idle, but secretly sent out his edicts into all parts of the empire, yea into the verie cities of CONSTANTINOPLE and THESSALONICA, and ouer all MACEDONIA: whereby he proclaimed vnto the people in generall, a releasement of them from all tributs, impositions, and payments; and frankly promised vnto the souldiours and men of war, the augmenting of their pensions and pay: which were no sooner bruited, but that most men were therewith mooued, both in word and deed to fauour his proceedings, doing what [Page] they could to further the same, and by secret letters inuiting him to hasten his comming into the citie:The yong emperour sendeth embassadours vnto his grandfather. who thereupon comming to RHEGIVM, by his embassadours sent from thence, requested the old emperour, Either to giue him leaue according to the league betwixt them, to come into the citie, or else to send him certaine of the chiefe of the nobilitie and cleargie, with some of the better and more vnderstanding sort of the Burgers and citizens also, vnto whom he might frankly speake his mind: for them faithfully to deliuer the same againe vnto the emperor his grandfather, and the people. Which requests the old emperour perceiuing to be full of deceit and trecherie, for a good space answered thereunto nothing at all, but stood all silent, as doubting which to graunt: for, to suffer his nephew to come into the citie, he saw was dangerous, the cittizens (as he well knew) being for the most part enclined to reuolt vnto him so soon as they should once see him within the gates; and to send any forth vnto him, as he desired, might be (as he feared) an occasion of some tumult to be after raised in the citie: for he knew that his nephewes drift therein was, openly by faire words, and secretly with great gifts and large promises, first to gaine them, and by them the rest of the citizens. Both which things being dangerous, he made choice of the easier, and sent forth vnto him two of the most noble Senators, two of the most reuerend bishops, two other graue prelates, and foure of the cheefe burgesses of the citie: vnto whom, at their comming vnto him, hee in the open hearing of all men deliuered this premeditated and craftie speech: ‘It is not vnknowne vnto the world,The speech of the yong emperor vnto his grandfathers embassadors. you my subjects to haue alwaies been vnto me more deare than I haue been vnto my selfe: and how that I haue not vpon any ambitious conceit, or desire of the sole gouernment, against my grandfathers good will, gone out. For you see how that I neither spare mine owne life, or attend my pleasure, for the care I haue of you: I come not vnto you compassed about with a guard of armed men, as is the manner not of kings only, for the enuie of their high place; but of others also of farre meaner calling, whom disaster fortune, banished from their parents and kinred, hath enforced to wander here and there, with death alwayes before their eyes. Let any man tell me how I came by these wounds which I yet beare in my bodie, but in fight with the enemies of my countrey which passe ouer out of ASIA into THRACIA; or els dwelling neere vnto ISTER, doe with their incursions from thence miserably wast that side of THRACIA which is next vnto them? For I (to tell you the very truth) seeing the old emperour by reason of his great yeares to become slothfull and blockish, and not possibly to be awaked out of his drowsie sleepe, neither any whit to greeue, when as the poore Christians his subjects were both by day and night, some as sacrifices slaine by the barbarous enemies, some carried away into most miserable captiuitie, and the rest poore and naked to be driuen out of their houses and cities; not to speake in the meane time of the greater mischeefes in ASIA, and how many cities haue beene there lost through the old emperours slouth and negligence: when I saw these things (I say) strucken with a piercing greefe, which my heart could not indure, I went out for two causes, Either by some kind of honourable death to end my greefe together with my life, or els to the vttermost of my power to stand my countrey in some stead. For by no meanes it can come to passe, but that a man, and he that hath of long time raigned, must at length become loathsome vnto his subjects, and incurre their deadly hatred. For why, God hath made nothing in this life immutable and firme: whereby it commeth to passe, as we see, that all worldly things joy and delight in change. But if a man will as it were force fortune to his desire, and striue to bind things vnto a certaine firme and constant course, he shall but lose his labour, and in vaine striue against nature▪ But whatsoeuer is contrary vnto nature, or exceedeth the just bounds thereof, hath in it neither comfort nor delight. This was it that caused the wise men to say, and to leaue vnto vs as rules: Not to dwell too long vpon any thing; and a measure to be the fairest vertue. For you see how that my grandfather being grown to great years, and hauing raigned so long (I may almost say) as neuer did any but he, is become hatefull vnto all his people; and yet regardeth not either how to discharge himselfe of so great a burthen, or how to releeue the declining state of the empire, or so much as greeueth to see the successours of the empire to die before him: for my father is dead without any fruit of the empire, except the bare title only; and others also neerest to him of blood, and farre yoonger than he, are dead likewise: and happely I my selfe may die also before I shall receiue any profit thereof, For what can more easily happen, especially vnto a man that shunneth no danger, and regardeth not his life? But some perhaps will suspect me of ambition, for departing from the emperour my grandfather, and for refusing to bee ruled by him. Which thing I neither flatly denie, nor altogether confesse: for might I see the empire encrease, and the [Page] bounds thereof enlarged, I could willingly content my selfe, and at my case take my rest; cheering my selfe vp with such hope as doe they that beare with their cookes, making them to stay long for their dinner, in hope thereby to fare the better. But seeing the state of the empire daily to decline from euill to worse, and the miserable people carried away captiues, or slaine by their enemies euen at the gates and vnder the wals of the imperiall cittie: what deeme you mee then to thinke? For most men ease their present greefe, with the hope of future good, although the same be but vaine: but vnto mee is not left euen such vaine hope vnto my false comfort. And can you meruaile at the impotent affection of the Great Alexander of MACEDON, greeued and displeased to see his father to heape victorie vpon victorie, and to cut off all the hope of his sonnes glorie, by leauing him so few occasions of war; and not thinke me (to whom you see the quite contrarie is chanced, and from whom not only the hope of the empire is cut off, for the wasting thereof, but euen the course of a quiet life) to fret and greeue thereat? Mooued herewith, and not able longer to endure it, at length I rise vp, and requested of the emperour my grandfather, but a thousand men at armes, promising him by the power of God with them to preserue the cities in BYTHINIA, and to driue his enemies farther off, before that hauing them, they should passe ouer the strait and besiege the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE: which so small a request he not onely denied me, but hath euer since taken me for his mortall enemie. But this and many other things els let passe: I haue now another request vnto him by you, which is, That he would giue me eight thousand duckats to content my souldiors withall, who now of long haue from place to place romed vp and downe with mee, following mine vncertaine fortune: which graunted, I will no more bee vnto my grandfather troublesome, but dismissing my forces, hold my selfe right well contented.’

Hauing thus said, he rise out of his seat, and taking them apart one after another, courteously discoursed with them, & so filling them with great hopes, sent them away: who departing from him & comming into the citie, became as it were the open proclaimers of his praises, enflaming the people with a greater desire of him than before. Which the old emperour hearing, and perceiuing almost all his friends in the citie to be in heart reuolted from him; and withall fearing to be of them in some suddaine concourse slaine, was therewith exceedingly vexed. Yet he thought it best before any such thing should happen, to prooue their minds, and to heare the counsell of the Patriarch, and Asanes, and the other bishops also: vnto whom being by one of the Senators called together, he declared his mind as followeth: ‘The speech of the old emperor [...]nto the Pat [...] ar [...]h and the rest of the bish [...]ps & [...] the young emperour his [...]ephew.Were I assured, that hauing deposed my selfe of the imperiall dignitie, I should my self liue in safetie, and see my people well gouerned; I would I should neuer be of the company of the faithfull, if I did not by much prefer a pleasant quiet contented life before an empire. For if a man would seek for the pleasure of the mind, what can be more pleasant, than to be disburdened of all cares, and free from such dangers as attend high estates? But if for my sinne and the sins of my people, as also for the sinne of mine ancestors, the vengeance of God in manner of a violent tempest raging against vs, subuerteth our empire: and I yet but a youth, by the helpe of God reformed and quieted the state of the empire, greeuously troubled with discord in the Church, and the often inuasion of the enemie; and taught by long experience, know not now in so great a hurle and tempest which way to turne my selfe: how can I with safetie commit vnto my nephew so great a charge, who as yet is both an vnstayed youth, and so carelesse of his owne good as that he knoweth not how well to gouerne his owne priuat affaires? For giuing ouer his power vnto yoong vnskilfull men, and hauing flung away his imperiall possessions amongst them, hee himselfe liueth in penurie and want; neither regardeth any thing more than his dogs and kites, of whom hee keepeth few lesse than a thousand curres, and as many hawkes, and not much fewer men to looke vnto them. Wherefore vnto such a man, how may I safely commit either my life, o [...] the administration of mine empire, by God committed vnto me? But I will neuer witting and willingly cast away either my subjects or my selfe. For my nephew I haue loued, not onely more than my wife and children, but (to say the truth) more than my selfe also; as you all know how tenderly I haue brought him vp, how carefully I haue instructed and aduised him, as purposing to haue left him the heire and successour both of my wisedome and mine empire, that so hee might the better please both God and man. But he, contemning my good counsell, hath spent whole nights in banquetting, and riot, and brothelhouses; wherein hee hath also slaine his owne brother: and to bee bree [...]e, he hath risen and lifted vp his hand against me his grandfather, and a grandfather that [Page] had of him so well deserued, attempting such a villanie as the Sunne neuer saw. Wherfore you ought also to hate and detest his wickednesse, and to rise vp to restraine his impudent disloyaltie, and by your ecclesiasticall censure to denounce him vnworthie of the empire and the communion of the faithfull, is one seperated from God, that so ashamed and corrected, he may louingly thither returne from whence he is shamefully departed, and againe be made heire both of mine empire and staiednesse: For there is no man aliue whom I had rather haue promoted vnto the empire, so that he would heare my precepts, and obey my counsell. As for the conclusion he vsed in his former speech, it was altogether fained, craftie, and malicious: for you haue heard how many reproches he hath giuen me in all that speech, wherewith his conclusion agreeth not: but the more to stir vp the hearers thereof against me, did of purpose so conclude his speech.’

Vpon this, most of the foresaid graue and learned bishops agreed that the young emperour should no more be named in the praiers of the Church, vntill he had better conformed himselfe: Howbeit the patriarch and some others secretly fauouring both him and his proceedings, liked not thereof, and therefore saying nothing thereunto, returned home vnto their owne houses. But meeting once or twise afterwards in the patriarch his house,The Patriarch with diuers of the bishops conspire against the old emperour. they there conspired together against the old emperour; with whom also diuers of the nobilitie consented: and thereupon an oath was conceiued in writing, whereby they bound themselues, to continue constant in that their wicked resolution. Whereupon, about three dayes after, the patriarch causing the bels to be rung; and a great number of the vulgar people flocking together, pronounced the sentence of excommunication against all such as should in their publike praiers omit the name of the young emperour, or refuse to doe him all honour due vnto an emperour. Which thing not a little grieued the old emperour, as appeared by his speech, in saying, If the doctor of peace be so mad against vs, in hope of reward promised by my nephew, that casting off all shame and grauitie, he doubteth not to be the authour of sedition; who shall represse the rash attempts of the vulgar people against vs, if we respect but mans helpe? For the Patriarch so much as in him lieth is, I see, the murtherer of vs. So the bishops of the contrarie faction, moued with the notable impudencie of the patriarch, excommunicated him likewise, as he had done them, with his mad followers, as the authours of sedition and faction, and incited with bribes to the troubling of the state: for which cause also he was by the Emperours commandement committed vnto safe keeping in the monasterie called MANGANIUM. But about two daies after, the young Emperour came to the wals of CONSTANTINOPLE, to know how his grandfather had accepted the messengers sent vnto him; earnestlie requesting that it might be lawfull for him alone to enter into the citie, to do his dutie to his grandfather. But neither he, neither his words were at all regarded, but was by such as stood vpon the wals himselfe with stones driuen away; who could not abide to heare him speake, but shamefully railed at him, saying all his talke to bee nothing els but deceit and fraud: and so for that time he retired a little from the wals. But night being come, certaine busie heads amongst the common people (& they not few) secretly meeting together, gaue him knowledge, That about midnight when as all the cittizens were asleepe, and the watchmen in securitie, he should come vnto the wals, where they would be readie with ropes to draw him vp vnto the top of the bulwarkes, which done, the matter (as they said) were as good as dispatched: for that they were persuaded, that the citizens so soone as they should once see him in the middest of the citie amongst them, would foorthwith all reuolt vnto him. So he according vnto this appointment, about midnight approching the wals, found there no such matter as he had well hoped, for the receiuing of him into the citie; but contrariwise, the watchmen carefully watching all alongst the wall, and calling one vnto another. Wherefore finding there no hope, he with Catacuzenus and Synadenus, his cheefe counsellors, leauing the South side of the citie, in a little boat rowed softly all along the wall that is towards the sea, if happely they might there find their friends, and so be receiued in: but there the watchmen also descrying them from the wals, and calling vnto them, but receiuing no answere, began to cast stones at them, and to make a noise: so that deceiued of their purpose, and out of hope, they were glad to get them farther off, and to depart as they came.

But the euill successe of this exploit was shortly after with his better fortune recompenced:Thessalonica yeelded vnto the yong emperour. for by and by after, secret letters were sent vnto him from THESSALONICA, requesting him with al speed to come thither, assuring him in the name of the bishop with diuers of the nobilitie, [Page] and the good liking of the people in generall, at his comming to open the gates of the citie vnto him: whereupon he leauing a great part of his armie with Synadenus, to keepe short the Constantinopolitanes, he himselfe with the rest of his power set forward towards THESSALONICA, where he in the habit of a plaine countrey man entred the citie vnsuspected: but being got with in the gate, and there casting off that simple attire wherewith he had couered his rich and royal garments, and presently knowne to be the yong emperour, the people came flocking about him, and with many joyfull acclamations receiued him as their dread lord and soueraigne: yet some few, more fauouring the old emperor, fled into the castle, and there stood vpon their guard; which after they had for a space notably defended, was at length taken from them.

THESSALONICA thus yeelded, Demetrius, Andronicus, and Asan Michael, the old emperor cheefe captaines, then lying with his armie not farre off, and not well trusting one another, fled; most of whose souldiors presently went ouer vnto the young emperour: who departing from THESSALONICA, came to SERRE; which by composition was deliuered vnto him also, but not the castle: for that was by Basilicus Nicephorus (the captaine thereof) still holden for the [...] emperour. This Basilicus was a man honourably descended, but of no great capacitie or wit, as the finer sort supposed, and therefore not of them much regarded or thought fit for the taking in hand of any great matter: whom yet the old emperour for his plaine sinceritie, more than for any thing els, had made captaine of that castle and gouernour of the country thereabouts, which he yet still held, and in these most troublesome times shewed himselfe wiser than them all that had so thought of him: of whom some died in despaire, some fled, some were taken prisoners, and so suffered a thousand euils, the rest with the losse of their honour traiterously reuolting from the old emperour to the yong: whereas he alone, looking but euen forward vpon his allegeance, with his trust in God, so long as the old emperour liued opposed himselfe against these troubles, and stood fast for him, and was not to be moued with any faire promises or cruell threats of the yong aspiring emperour, whereof he lacked none. But hauing strongly fortefied the castle committed to his charge, there kept himselfe, vntill that hearing of the death of the old emperour, he then reconciling himselfe vnto the yong, as vnto his right soueraigne, deliuered vp vnto him the castle: who in reward of his fidelitie, gaue it him againe to hold for him, in as ample manner as he had before held it from his grandfather: for wise men honour vertue euen in their enemies, as did king Philip in Demosthenes, when as he said, If any Athenian liuing in Athens, doth say that he preferreth me before his countrey, him verely would I buy with much money, but not thinke him worthie my friendship. But if any for his countries sake shall hate me, him will I impugne as a castle, a strong wall, or a bulwarke; and yet admire his vertue, and reckon the citie happie in hauing such a man. And so in few words to conclude a long discourse, the yong emperour in short time hauing romed through all MACEDONIA, and without resistance taken all the strong townes and cities therein, he there tooke also Demetrius the Despots wife and children, with all his treasure, as also the wiues of Andronicus and Asanes, and of all the Senators that followed them: after whom the great commaunders their husbands were also for the most part taken and cast in prison, some at THESSALONICA, some at DIDIMOTICHUM, some of the rest afterwards most miserably perishing in exile. Wherewith the old emperour discouraged, was about to haue sent his embassadours vnto his nephew for peace, whilest he was yet thus busied in MACEDONIA: and had indeed so done, had not another hope arising in the meane time, quite altered that his better purpose. It fortuned at the same time, whilest the old emperour was thus thinking of peace, That Michael the Bulgarian prince, in hope of great profite thereof to arise, secretly offered his aid vnto him against the young emperour his nephew: of which his offer, the old emperour gladly accepted, and embassadours were sent too and fro about the full conclusion of the matter, no man being acquainted therewith more than two or three of the emperour his most secret friends and trustie counsellors. Yet in the meane time, disdayning to be so coupt vp as he was by Synadenus, one of his nephews captaines, euen in the imperiall citie; sent out one Constantinus Assan, with the greatest part of his strength against him: who encountring him at the riuer MAVRVS, was there by him in plaine battell ouerthrown and taken prisoner, the rest of his discomfited armie flying headlong backe againe to CONSTANTINOPLE. All things thus prosperously proceeding with the yoong emperour, and the countries of MACEDONIA and THRACIA now almost all at his commaund, he returned in hast with all his power to CONSTANTINOPLE to preuent the comming of the Bulgarians thither: as fearing [Page] least that they finding the citie weakly manned, should trecherously kill the old emperour with such as were about him, and so ceize vpon the citie themselues: or at leastwise giue him such aid as might keepe him out, and so cut off all his hope for obtayning of the same. At which time also there was great want of victuall in the citie, he with his armie hauing shut it vp on the one side by land, and the Venetians with their gallies on the other side by sea: who then at ods with the Genowaics dwelling at PERA, kept all that strait sea betwixt EVROPE and ASIA: in such sort, as that neither victuals nor marchandise could be brought that way, either to CONSTANTINOPLE or PERA. The yoong emperour comming to CONSTANTINOPLE, attempted at his first comming to haue entred the citie, in hope without any great resistance to haue beene receiued; but repulsed by the defendants, was glad to get him further off. About this time came also vnto the citie three thousand horsemen, the promised aid of the Bulgarian prince vnto the old emperour: who although he wanted men, and was right glad of their comming, yet remembring the harmes he had before receiued by forrein aid, and not now daring to trust them too far, suffered not them to come into the citie, more than their Generall and some few others of their commanders with him. Now the yoong emperour vpon the comming of this aid, least some great harme might betide either the old emperour, or himselfe, to the vtter subuersion of their state: secretly sent vnto his grandfather, requesting him to be well aduised how he trusted those forrein people too far; offering himselfe to do whatsoeuer he should commaund, rather than so great a harme should happen vnto either of them, as was from them to be feared. But the trust the old emperour had conceiued of this Bulgarian aid, had so confirmed his mind, as that hee little listened vnto his nephews request: besides that, how could hee well trust him that had so oftentimes deceiued him? Wherewith the young emperour much grieued, and now againe almost dispairing of his farther successe, dislodged and drew neere vnto the place where these Bulgarian horsemen lay encamped: from whence hee sent certaine embassadours with great gifts and presents vnto the Generall, and the rest of the chiefe commaunders, promising them farre greater, if they would without further troubling themselues returne home againe: whereunto they willingly graunted, and so were of him honourably feasted, and the ne [...] day after conducted vpon their way homewards.

It fortuned,Constantinople betraied vnto the young emperour. that the young emperour returning backe againe from the Bulgarians, and encamped in the same place where he before lay; two of the watchmen of the citie, the one called Camaris, and the other Castellanus, both smiths, fled secretly vnto him: who admitted to his presence and all others commaunded to depart, excepting Catacuzenus, offered to betray the citie vnto him, so that he would vnder his hand writing, assure them of such a summe of money, and such possessions as they required: which he easily graunting, and the houre and manner of performing of the same, being by them declared, and agreed vpon; they by and by without longer stay, for feare of suspition, returned againe into the citie. But the emperour staying foure daies in the same place, caused certaine ladders to be made of great ropes, such as they vse in great ships: But the appointed night being come, the two traitours hauing before prouided great store of good wine, liberally gaue the same by way of curtesie vnto the watchmen their companions neere vnto them; who drunke so plentifully thereof, that not able any longer to hold vp their heads, they fell into so sound a sleepe, as that but for breathing, they differed not much from dead men. About midnight came certaine souldiours of the young emperours, with the aforesaid ladders; which the traitours by and by drawing vnto them by a rope cast downe, and making them fast vnto the top of the wall, receiued by the same eighteene armed men: who being got into the citie, without more adoe brake open the Romane gate, whereby the young emperour with his armie presently entred, no man letting him. But it is woorth the marking, how things appointed to befall vs, are by no meanes to be auoided, although we bee thereof before neuer so plainly forewarned: For the same night the citie was surprized, immediatly after the setting of the Sunne, the gates being shut, a certaine countrey man came running in all hast from out of a village there by, and knocking hard at the gate called Girolimna, required to speake with some of the souldiours; who being come, he told them how that a little before hee had seene a great number of the young emperours men marching toward the citie, by the way that leadeth vnto the Romane gate: which being told vnto the old emperour, did not a little trouble him. And therefore thought it good to send out certaine scouts, to see if all were cleere along the wals toward the land, from sea to sea: which his purpose Metochita his great counsellor letted, saying, [Page] it not to beseem a couragious mind to be vpon so light an occasion so much moued; for that either the rumour was false, or the indeuour of so few vaine, the wals and gates of the citie being so filled with armed men: which happily he said not so much vpon ignorance of martiall affaires, as blinded by a certaine commaunding power, that the supernall decree giuen by God himselfe against the old emperour, might at length take place. And againe, the third part of that night yet scant past, diuers other countreymen came running vnto the said gate Gyrolimna, and told the watchmen vpon the wals, that a great number of men were met together at the Romane gate: wherof the emperor hearing was therewith much more troubled than before; In so much that sharply rebuking Metochita, he said vnto him, Thou seemest to be strāgely metamorphosed into a man of yron, which art become so secure, as not to haue any feeling of the danger wherewith we are enclosed: Seest thou not that the matter requireth not that we should thus sit still and take our rest, for the noise of my nephew soundeth in mine eares as the sound of a great drum, and disquieteth my mind? I feele a sea of calamitie broken out against me, which ouerwhelmeth and drowneth my heart and courage. Neuerthelesse he, firme in his former opinion, made no reckoning of those reports: and therefore rose to go to bed, to shew indeed that he accounted nothing of them, but as false alarms. But the emperour left alone and no bodie with him vnto whom he might breake his griefe, laied him downe vpon a pallet, not putting off his clothes; but as if he had together with them put on extreame desperation, lay tumbling too and fro as a man in mind troubled with many and diuers heauie thoughts. In the meane time he heard a great noise at the court gate, and the report of the entring of the young emperour his nephew, with a great clattering of armour; for there were aboue eight hundred souldiours entred with him, and withall they of the citie on euerie side saluted him with most joyfull acclamations. But the old emperour hearing the great tumult and outcrie, rose from his pallet, exceedingly troubled; and destitute of all the helpe of his captaines and souldiours (for why his palace was altogether desolate, except of such as were his ordinarie waiters) betooke himselfe vnto his praiers, Beseeching God not to forsake him in so great a danger, but in his mercie to defend him from the furie of those wicked men. Who presently heard him, and sent him present reliefe. For whilest he was thus praying in the palace, the young emperour without, calling together all his captaines and lieutenants, straightly charged them vpon paine of death, neither by word nor deed to violate the majestie of the old emperour his grandfather, nor any other about him: for this victorie (said he) God hath giuen vs, & not we our selues; his will ordereth all things, wherunto all things obey, the stars, the aire, the sea, the earth, men, flouds, tempests, plagues, earthquaks, shoures, dearth, and such like, sometimes to our blisse, and sometime to our correction and destructien: wherefore vsing vs as the instruments of his chastisement, he hath giuen vnto vs this present victorie▪ which peraduenture to morrow he will giue to others to vse against vs, and then as wee haue beene vnto them wee haue ouercome, such will they also shew themselues vnto vs againe: wherefore, if neither nighnesse of blood, neither that we be all of one countrey may mooue vs, yet in respect of ourselues let vs vse mercie, that we feele not the hand of God vpon vs in like case. In the meane time a courtier opened a wicket vnto the young emperour, with this message from his grandfather: ‘The pitifull supplication of the old emperour vnto his nephew.For as much as God this day (my sonne) hath giuen vnto thee the imperiall scepter, taken from me, I request of thee this one good turne; For many which I haue euen from thy birth bestowed vpon thee (for in this my hard estate I let passe, that I next vnto God haue been the authour of thy natiuitie and encrease) giue me my life, spare thy fathers head, and with violent weapon spill not that blood from which thou thy selfe hast taken the fountaine of life. Man truly beholdeth heauen and earth, and heauen and earth behold mens actions: wherefore make not the heauens and the earth beholders of so wicked an outrage as neuer man euer committed. If brothers blood long agoe cried out vnto the Lord against Cain, how much louder shall the fathers blood crie vnto the Lord, and declare so great a wickednesse vnto the earth, the sunne, and stars, and make it abhorred of all the princes of the world? Regard my miserable old age, which of it selfe promiseth vnto me shortly death, but vnto thee a rest after long cares. Reuerence the hands which haue oftentimes most louingly embraced thee, yet crying in thy swathing clouts: Reuerence those lips which haue oftentimes most louingly kissed thee, and called thee my other soule: Haue pitie vpon a brused reed, cast downe by fortune, and doe not thou againe tread vpon it. And seeing thou art thy selfe a man, be not too proud of thy present fortune, but consider the vncertaintie [Page] and varietie of worldly things, taking by me example: see in me the end of long life, and maruell, how one night hauing receiued me an emperour of many yeares; leaueth me now subject vnto another mans power for euer.’

The young emperour Andronicus mooued with this speech, and taking great care of his grandfathers safetie; scarce abstaining from teares, entred the pallace, and comming to his grandfather, humbly saluted him, embraced him, and with cheerfull words comforted him. Straight way after, he went vnto the monasterie MANGANIVM, where (as is aforesaid) the Patriarch Esaeius was by the old emperors commandement, kept in safe keeping, whom the yong emperor now tooke from thence, and carrying him away in one of the emperors richest chariots, restored him againe vnto his Patriarchall dignitie; wherein he afterwards spared not to reuenge himselfe to the full, and most cruelly to persecute the old emperours friends. That day from morning vnto night, a man might haue seene all the riches and wealth of such noble men as had taken part with the old emperour, carryed away, and their goodly houses ouerthrowne and made the scorne of the base common people: but especially the house and wealth of Theodorus Metochita, a man but the day before in greatest fauour with his prince, and of all others next vnto the emperour himselfe, of greatest authoritie and credit, whose whole wealth (not that only which was found in his house, but that also which he had laid vp in trust with his friends, discouered by notes found in his studie) became most part a prey vnto the common people, and the rest confiscated vnto the prince. Thus he which earst of all others next vnto the emperour, was accounted most fortunate, was now vpon the sudden, with his wife and children, brought vnto extreame beggerie; and after many yeares felicitie, in one day cast into the bottom of dispaire and miserie, where a man might haue heard many complayning, say, All that wealth and treasure to haue beene the bloud and teares of the poore oppressed subjects, brought vnto him by them whom hee had made rulers and gouernours of the prouinces and cities of the empire; to the intent that when they had delt cruelly with the people, as with their slaues, he might stop them for comming to complaine of their griefes vnto the emperour: and that the eie of the Reuenger had not alwaies slept, but was now at length awaked, & had of him yet scarcely takē sufficient punishment: which euery where to heare, increased not a little his griefe. As for himselfe, he was cōfined vnto DIDYMOTICHVM, as the place of his exile and banishment; where after he had a certaine time poorly liued, he was sent for backe againe to CONSTANTINOPLE: where hauing nothing le [...]t to relieue himselfe (for his house at the comming of the young emperour, was in the furie of the people pluckt downe to the ground, and the verie pauement thereof digged vp) he went vnto the monasterie of CHORA thereby, which long before built by the emperour Iustinian and become ruinous, he in the time of his prosperitie had with great charge repaired, & therin now (hauing made shipwracke of all that he had) quietly shrouded himselfe, to the great comfort both of his bodie and afflicted mind, where he not long after died.

But to returne againe vnto the old emperour,Niphon incenseth the yoong emperor against his grandfather. as yet in doubt what should become of himselfe: it fortuned that the same day that the citie was taken, the young emperour at night returning to the pallace, by the way met with Niphon sometime Patriarch, who asked him how they meant to deale with his grandfather. Whereunto the yong emperor answering, That he would deale with him honourably and emperour like; he was by him therefore blamed and reprooued. For this Niphon being of a craftie subtile wit and malicious nature, besides that he secretly hated all them vpon whom fortune greatly either fauned or frowned, bare an especiall grudge against the old emperour: first, for that at such time as he was right woorthly for his shamefull couetousnesse and extortion, by the rest of the bishops and cleargie thrust out of his Patriarchship, he was not by him as he looked for defended: and secondly, for that dreaming againe after the Patriarchall dignitie, he thought it one good step thereunto to haue him (as his greatest enemie) taken out of the way. Wherefore he said now vnto the young emperour▪ If thou desire to raigne without feare, giue not thine honour vnto another; but taking all the ornaments of the empire from the old man, cast haire cloath vpon him, and so clap him fast in prison, or thrust him out into exile. This mischieuous counsell, this wicked man gaue against the poore old distressed emperour; not remembring how vnwoorthily he had by him beene before preferred vnto the highest degrees both of honour and wealth, if he could there haue kept himselfe: vnto which vngratious counsell, diuers others of the nobilitie also consenting, so wrought the matter amongst [Page] them, that although they could not quite draw the young emperors mind from his grandfather, yet they much changed the same: so that he could no longer endure to take him for his companion in the empire. Whereupon after many meetings & consultations had, it was decreed, That the old man should still retaine the name and ornaments of an emperour, as before, but not to meddle in any matters, nor to come abroad, but to sit still quietly in his chamber, with the yearly allowance of ten thousand duckats, for the maintenance of himselfe and such as attended vpon him; to be raised of the fishing before the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE: a poore pension for the maintenance of so great an emperour▪ Of which so shamefull a decree, Esaeias the Patriarch was also a furtherer: who seeing an emperour that had raigned so long, cast downe, and shut vp as it were in prison, was so far from grieuing thereat, that foolishly rejoycing, he in token thereof absurdly wrested this text of Scripture, saying in his merriment, Laetabitur iustus, cum viderit vltionem, The just shall rejoyce, when he seeth the reuenge: calling himselfe just, and the emperours casting downe, reuenge. But the old emperour thus shut vp in his chamber (differing nothing but in name, from a prison) not long after, the state of his bodie ouerthrowne with greefe and corrupt humors distilling out of his head,The old emperor be [...]meth blind. first lost one of his eyes, and shortly after the other also: and so oppressed with eternall darkenesse, mingled (as saith the Scripture) his drinke with teares, and eat the bread of sorrow, being oftentimes (to his great greefe) most bitterly mocked and derided, not of them onely which were by his enemies set to guard him, but of his owne seruants also. Not long after, the yong emperour falling sicke, in such sort as that it was thought he would not recouer, Catacuzenus and the rest of his greatest fauorits and followers carefull of their own estate, and yet doubtfull of the old blind emperour, deuised many things against him, but all tending to one purpose for the shortening of his daies. But in the end all other deuises set apart, they put him to the choice, either to put on the habit of a religious, and so for euer to bid the world farwell, or els to take what should otherwise ensue; the best wherof was either death, exile, or perpetuall imprisonment in the lothsome castle of forgetfulnesse: For the putting whereof in execution, Synadenus (of all others to him most hatefull) was appointed. At which hard choice, the old emperor as with a world of woes sodainly oppressed, lay a great while vpon his bed as a man speechlesse: for what could he do els, except he had an heart of steele or adamant? being then compassed about with many barbarous and mercilesse soldiors, and his domesticall seruants kept from him, and no man left, that would vouchsafe to direct him (being blind) whither to go or where to stand. But to make the matter short, would he, would he not, they made choice for him thēselues, polling and shauing him,Andronicus the old emperour against h [...] will m [...]de a Monke, and called Anthonie. and casting a monkes habit vpon him, changed his name, after the manner of the religious, and called him by the name of Anthonie the monke. Glad was Esaeias the false Patriarch of this the hard estate of the old emperour: for that now that he was professed a religious, there was left no hope for him to recouer againe the empire, either cause for himselfe to feare. Yet he thought it good to be aduised, in what sort remembrance should be made of him in the church prayers, if any were at all from thenceforth to be made. Whereof to be by the old emperour himselfe resolued, he (seeming to be very sorie for that which was done, but purposing indeed therein to deride him) sent vnto him two bishops, to know what his pleasure was to haue done therein. Vnto which their demaund, he oppressed with heauinesse, and fetching a great sigh euen from the bottome of his heart answered: ‘The notable answere of the old emperour to the catching question of the proud Patriarch.As in poore Lazarus appeared a double miracle, That being dead, he rise; and being bound, walked: euen so was it to be done in me; though in quite contrarie manner: for loe, being aliue, I am dead, as ouerwhelmed with the waues of calamitie and woe; and being loose, am bound, not my hands and feet onely, but my tongue also; wherewith vnable to doe any thing els, I might yet at least bewaile my woes and wrongs vnto the aire, and such as by chance should heare me, and vnto this most wofull darkenesse wherein I must for euer sit. But shame hath closed my mouth, my brethren abhorre me, and my mothers sonnes account me for a stranger vnto them, and the very light of mine eyes is not with me, my friends and neighbours stood vp against me, and all that saw me laughed me to scorne: my feet had almost slipped, and my footsteps were almost ouerthrowne: for I fretted against the wicked, when I saw the peace of the vngodly. The emperours long agoe gaue great priuiledges vnto the Church, euen those which it at this day enjoyeth: and the Church gaue to them againe power, to chuse whom they would to be Patriarchs. Now concerning him that sent you, I not onely nominated him vnto the Patriarchship, but I my selfe made choice of him, and preferred him before many other right worthie and most famous men, [Page] being himselfe a man growne old in a poore priuat life, neuer before preferred, or for any other thing famous: I will not say how often I haue holpen him and done him good. But now when hee should againe haue relieued me in my calamitie, he joyneth hands with mine enemies against me, more cruell vpon me than any other bloodie handed executioner; not ashamed to aske me how I would bee remembred in the church: faigning himselfe to be ignorant and sorrie for mine estate, much like vnto the Aegyptian crocodile of NILE, which hauing killed some liuing beast, lieth vpon the dead bodie and washeth the head thereof with her warme teares, which she afterwards deuoureth together with the bodie. But what to answere him vnto this his catching question, I know not: for if I shall say, As an emperor; I shall forthwith be slaine by them which for that purpose haue me in hold: but if I say, As Anthonie the monke; it shall be taken as the franke confession of mine estate, by them which haue craftely contriued mine ouerthrow; as if I had not by compulsion, but euen of mine owne free will put on this monasticall habit, which God knoweth was neuer in my thought.’

Hauing thus said, he sent them away without any other answere vnto their demaund: but sitting downe vpon his bed side, said, My soule returne again into thy rest, for the Lord hath dealt well with thee: neither spoke any one word more in declaration of his greefe, his tongue there staied by his singular wisedome, or els with the greatnesse of his greefe; and so against his will, in silence passing ouer his sorow, his mind with the greatnesse of his woes ouercome, and as it were astonished, before the humors gathered into the braine could be dissolued into teares: For as the Sunne sending forth his moderat beames, draweth vnto it many exhalations and vapours, but casting the same foorth more plentifully, doth with his immoderat heat consume the same before they can be drawne vp; so the moderat affections of the mind may haue their greefes by words and teares expressed; but such as exceed all measure, and with their vehemencie as it were ouerthrow the mind, commonly make men to stand still mute & silent, or if they speak at all, to speak idly, and nothing to the purpose, as men beside themselues, or in an extasie. But for the resolution of the question by the bishops demaunded, the deuout Patriarch decreed, That in the Church prayers he should be remembred before the emperor his nephew, by the name of, The most religious and zealous monke Anthonie: which was done (God wot) for no good zeale to the poore blind man, but the better to colour the matter with the common people, as if hee wearie of the world, had voluntarily taken vpon him that silly profession. Neuerthelesse, within foure daies after, Synadenus vnderstanding them in euery place to whisper among themselues, and secretly to mutter against the hard dealing with the old emperour, who had long raigned ouer them, and so by right was againe to doe, if his nephew should chance to die; and that the ecclesiasticall lawes enforced no man against his will to enter into religious orders: he therewith enraged, sent vnto him certaine of his owne confederacie, to exact of him an oath in writing, That he should neuer more after that time seeke after the empire, or yet accept of the same if it were offred him, neither to substitute any other: which if he should refuse to do, to put him in feare of his life. And the more to terrifie him, set a guard of insolent barbarous souldiors ouer him; for feare of whom, he yeelded to doe whatsoeuer they required: and so his oath being solemnely conceiued into writing (another man leading his hand, because he was blind) he signed the same with a red crosse aboue, and a blacke crosse beneath, after the manner of the religious. Hauing thus liued in darkenesse, disgraced, shut vp in his chamber as a man forsaken of the world, with an vnsure guard euer to attend him, by the space of two yeares, it fortuned that the twelft of Februarie towards night, (a day in the Greeke Church dedicated to the vigil of S. Anthonie, The death of the o [...]d emperour. whose name they had giuen him) certaine of his friends that were suffered to haue accesse vnto him, going as their manner was, once in three or foure daies to visit him (amongst whom was his daughter, sometime the prince of SERVIA his wife, but as then a widdow, and Nicephorus Gregoras, author of this Historie) he entred with them, as with his friends, into a familiar discourse of many matters, wherin he so deceiued the time, that it was past midnight before they perceiued how the time passed. But the cockes crowing, he brake off the talke, and bidding them farewell, gaue them leaue to depart, pleasantly saying, That to morrow they would make an end of their discourse; who all thereupon tooke their leaue and departed, no signe of any sicknesse as then appearing vpon him. And after they were gone, called for meat and did eat: the meat he eat, was certaine shell-fish, for it was with them a fasting day, and he had not eaten any thing: after which, when as hee should haue drunke a cup of wine, for the comforting of his old stomack and disgesting of that so hard meat, [Page] he drunke cold water, as his manner was, when he felt any inward heat, to drinke the same immoderatly: which hurtfull manner of diet he then vsing also, began by and by to feele a great paine in his stomacke, and so presently after became very sicke, falling withall into a great loosenesse of bodie, so that in the space of one quarter of an houre he was glad oftentimes to arise, and to go vnto an homely house of office in an inner chamber thereby, to discharge natures burden; where after many euacuations, sitting downe vpon an homely bed fast by, and not able to recouer his owne bed, hauing as then none to helpe him; there before it was day, died, after he had raigned 43 yeares. His death was by many strange signes and accidents as it were foretold: first, a great eclipse of the Sunne appeared, just so many daies before his death as hee had liued yeares: and after that, another eclipse of the Moone; and with it an earthquake, the day before he died at night, being S. Anthonie his euen, whose name his enemies had thrust vpon him: at which time also, the sea with a great tempest rising aboue the wonted bounds, made diuers breaches in the wals of the citie towards the sea, as if it had been some violent enemie, and ouerflowed also diuers houses in the citie. Manie crosses and pinacles were then also from the tops of churches and other high buildings ouerthrowne; and with them a great pillar, sometime one of the ornaments of the citie, standing before the church, commonly called The Church of the fortie martyrs: which being verie high, and below burnt and worne away with time, had put manie in feare as they passed by it, least it should haue fallen vpon them; insomuch that the Emperour vpon a time passing that way, was requested by some of the nobilitie there present, to ride farther off from it, for feare of falling vpon him: who smiling at their vaine feare, by chance answered, O would to God I might liue so long as this piller will stand: which now falling out according to his speech, gaue many of them that had heard him so say, occasion to maruell. His dead bodie was honorablie buried in the monasterie of LIBE, which his mother Theodora the empresse had not long before new built, and his obsequies there (after the maner of that time) yeerely solemnlie kept by the space of nine daies.

The Turks kingdome founded by Othoman in Asia, at such time as the Greeke emperors were as variance betwixt themselues in Europe.Thus at length hauing passed through the troubled state of the Greeke empire, during the long raigne of the old emperour Andronicus, the considerat Reader may easily see the causes of the declining, and ruine also of this famous empire; and how that the Greeke emperours, troubled with their tempestuous affaires neerer home in EUROPE, yea in the verie imperiall citie it selfe, and in their owne pallaces, were not at leasure to looke ouer the strait into ASIA, but glad to leaue their territories there vnto the weake defence of themselues. At which time, and euen in the middest of the aforesaid troubles, Othoman, on the one side, with great industrie laid the foundation of his empire in PHRIGIA and BYTHINIA, now the greatest terrour of the world: and then did those things which we now haue of him written. The other princes of the Turkes also, the successours of Sultan Aladin, at the same time on the other side, alongst the riuer MEANDER encroching on as fast: vntill that at last amongst them they had thrust the Greeke emperours quite out of ASIA, and in fine became themselues, together with the Greeke empire, a prey vnto the Othoman kings, as in the processe of this historie shall more at large appeare.

Prusa yeelded vnto the Turks.But againe to returne vnto Othoman himselfe, who all this while (that old Andronicus the Greeke emperour was thus troubled) had with his sonne Orchanes sought by all meanes on euerie side to inlarge his kingdome: the garrisons by him left in the two late built castles neere vnto the great citie of PRUSA, vnder the charge of the two valiant captains Actemur & Balebanzuck (as is before declared) hauing now continued there certaine yeares, had by shutting vp the passages, and spoiling of the countrie, brought the citie into such distresse and penurie, that many of the cittizens and other the poore Christians fled into the citie, there died of famine. The rest now out of all hope to be relieued by the Greeke emperour, not then able to relieue himselfe, came to composition with Orchanes (for Othoman was then sicke of his old disease the gout) couenanting with him, that they might in safetie with life and libertie depart, and so much of their goods as they themselues could carie: and so yeelded to him the citie. Which conditions (as most write) were on the Turks behalfe well and faithfullie performed: yet some there be that report them to haue bene in most part by Orchanes broken. Thus was PRUSA, one of the greatest cities of that part of ASIA, yeelded vnto the Turks, in the yeere of our Lord 1327: and was afterwards by Orchanes made the royall seat of the Othoman kings.

About this time, or verie shortly after, Othoman in the eight and twentith yeare of his raigne [Page] died,The death of Othoman. Othoman [...] at Prusa. at the age of 69, in the yeare of our Lord 1328, and lieth buried at PRUSA, where his tombe is yet at this day to be seene, in a certaine chappell of an old monasterie in the castle, standing in the middest of the citie; couered with a mantle of greene chamlet, & a little Tulipant or Turkish hat (such as he vsed to weare) lying ouer his head, far differing from those which the Turks now weare, especiallie the better sort of them, so great that they can therwith scarsly come in at a doore. There is also another monument of him to be seene at SUGUTA, fast by the sepulchre of his father Ertogrull, there made by his sonnes in remembrance of him; whereof some haue reported him to haue bene there buried. Howbeit the Turks themselues generally suppose the true monument wherein he is interred to be at PRUSA, as is aforesaid. He was wise, politicke, valiant, and fortunate, but full of dissimulation, and ambitious aboue measure; not rash in his attempts, and yet very resolute; what hee tooke in hand, hee commonly brought to good effect: to all men he was bountifull and liberall, but especially to his men of warre, and the poore, whom he would many times feed and cloath with his owne hands. Of a poore lordship he left a great kingdome, hauing subdued a great part of the lesser ASIA: and is worthily accounted the first founder of the Turks great kingdome and empire. Of him, the Turkish kings and emperours euer since, haue bene called the Othoman kings and emperours, as lineally of him descended: and the Turks themselues Osmanidae, as the people or subiects of Othoman, or Osman, for so he is of the Turks commonlie called.

NOte, that in the reckoning vp of certaine of the great Christian Princes and Prelates of the same time, at the end of euery the Turkish Kings and Emperors liues, the first and greatest number following their names, sheweth the yeare of our Lord, wherein such an Emperour. King, or Bishop began to raigne, or sit: and the number following, how long he raigned or sat. As for example: Andronicus the elder began to raigne in the East in the yeare of grace 1282, and raigned 4 [...] yeares: and so of the rest. Wherein we seeke not the exact computation vnto a moneth or day (as not much materiall to our Historie, or any part of our purpose) but onely the reasonable view of the great princes of the forepassed times, as they liued in ages together.

Christian princes of the same time with Othoman.

Emperours

Of the East

Andronicus Palaeologus the elder. 1282.43.

Andronicus Palaeologus the younger. 1325.29.

Of the West

Albertus of Austria. 1298.10.

Henrie of Lucelburg. 1308.6.

Lewes the fourth, of Bauaria. 1314.32.

Kings

Of England

Edward the first. 1272.34.

Edward the second. 1307.20.

Edward the third. 1327.50.

Of Fraunce

Philip the faire. 1286.28.

Lewes. 1314.2.

Philip the long. 1316.5.

Charles the faire. 1321.7.

Of Scotland

Iohn Baliol. 1292.

Robert Bruce. 1306.24.

Bishops of Rome

Boniface the VIII. 1295.8.

Benedict the XI. 1304.2.

Clement the V. 1306.11.

Iohn the XXII. 1317.18.

Orhan

[Page]

ORCHANES.

ORCHANES OTHOMANNI FI SECVNDVS TVRCARVM REX FLORVIT ANNO 1328

Suscipit Orchanes, defuncti septra, parentis:

Major vt ingento, sic magis arte valens.

Bi thynos, Phrygiamque domat, Prusamque: superbam

Et populos latè, Marte fauente premit.

Sic laetus tantis Asiam turbasse ruinis:

Transit in Europam, Callipolimque capit.

Rident interea Graeci sua damna: sed ecce:

Dum sua contemnunt, in sua fata ruunt.

RICH. KNOLLEVS.

His father dead, Orchanes takes his scepter vp in hand:

As one of deeper wit and reach, his foes for to withstand.

The Phrigians, and Bithynians, he by force of armes brought low:

Proud PRVSA, with faire NICOMEDE, and many cities moe.

And glad in ASIA to haue made such hauocke and such spoile:

His forces into EVROPE sends, the Graecians there to foile.

Who meane while laughing at their losse, did make thereof a game:

Not thinking what a world of woe was to ensue the same.

[Page]

THE LIFE OF ORCHANES, OR VRCHAN, SECOND KING OF THE TVRKES.

AFTER the death of Othoman, his two sonnes Orchanes (whom the Turks call Vrchan) and Aladin his brother, hauing with great solemnitie enterred their father at PRVSA, immediatly summoned a Parlament, whereunto both the brethren came accompanied with the chiefe of their nobilitie. This parlament was called especially, for the establishing of the succession in this new kingdome, and for the diuision of Othomans treasure and goods, betwixt them two, his sonnes. But vpon view taken, there was no money, plate, or jewels found in the kings coffers, for that he had in his life time most bountifully bestowed it vpon his men of warre: so that all the wealth hee left vnto them his sonnes,The wealth that Othoman left vnto his two sonnes, Orchanes, and Aladin. was, the honourable remembrance of his life for them to immitate, large dominions for their possessions, store of readie horses, and armour fit for seruice, with great heards of beasts and cattell for household prouision. Whereupon Orchanes demaunded of his brother Aladin, what order hee thought was best to be taken with those things by their father so left. To whom Aladin answered, That it was most requisite first to establish a king in their fathers kingdome; which like a good sheepherd might gouerne and defend his subjects, rule and maintaine his men of war, prouiding all things meet for defence of his kingdome: And that vnto him of right belonged all these other things by their father left, as the patrimonie of his successour, for the common good and maintenance of his estate. As for mine owne part (said Aladin) I claime no interest therein, you being my elder brother, and so vnto me in steed of a father▪ by whom also you haue been these two yeares, as it were alreadie put in possession of the kingdom, all things being committed to your gouernment, during the time of his late sickenesse. This modestie of Aladin was greatly commended of all the antient counsellors; by meanes wherof, the kingdome in all peaceable maner discended to Orchanes. In regard of which courtesie, Orchanes would gladly haue made Aladin his brother President of his counsell: which honour he would in no wise accept, but requested rather that hee would giue him the lordship of FODORE in Tekences countrey; which Orchanes frankly graunted. In which lordship of FODORE, Aladin most part liued a priuat and quiet life, and afterwards built two Mahometan churches, and an abbey at PRVSA, there yet at this day to be seene.

Some Latine Historiographers otherwise report this beginning of Orchanes his raigne;When that barbarous manner of murthering their breth [...]e [...], first began among the Turkish Sultans. as that Othoman should haue three sonnes, and that Orchanes the youngest obtained the kingdome by murthering of his other brethren. A practise of late much vsed amongst the Turkish princes, but not before the time of Bajazet the first of that name, who first of the Turkish monarchs embrued his hands with his brothers bloud: where before, they vsed all brotherly [...]oue one to another, as the most probable histories collected out of the Turkes owne Chronicles affirme.

[Page] The city of Nice with diuers other castles recouered from the Turks after the death of Othoman.The Christian princes and captaines, presently vpon the death of Othoman recouered the citie of NICE with diuers other castles and forts, out of the hands of the Turks: as it commonly chanceth, that dominions lately woon with great perill, are soone againe lost, the Conquerour dying before there be a firme gouernment established. Amongst other forts by the Christians repossessed, the castle of TZUPRICHISER, situate vpon the passages of the riuer SANGARIUS, most grieued the Turks, for thereby their passage into that part of BYTHINIA was much impeached. Wherfore Orchanes desirous to recouer this castle, disguised himselfe with a few other of his best souldiors, in the apparrell of Christian marchants, and came to the castle, crauing leaue to passe as marchants: the warders of the castle verely supposing them by their attire to bee marchants, opened the gates, and let them into the castle: who presently drew their swords, slew the warders, and so by force possessed the castle, to the great benefit of the Turkes, and the hurt of the poore Christians yet left in the countrey of BYTHINIA. For they now hauing opened a way ouer the riuer SANGARIUS, and as it were broken downe the strongest defence of that side of the Greeke empire, at their pleasure forraged the countrey in such sort, as that the great citie of NICE (for want of victuals to relieue so great a multitude as for feare of the Turks was fled out of the countrey into it) was brought to great extremitie and want. For the releefe whereof, and for the repulsing againe of the Turks, Andronicus the yong emperour, who then all commaunded, with such an armie as he was then able to raise, passed himselfe in person ouer the strait of CONSTANTINOPLE into ASIA: the greatest strength of his armie consisting in two thousand choice horsemen; the rest as well horse as foot, being for the most part artificers taken vp in the citie, men altogether vnacquainted with armes (who in token of their cowardise, and that they were more mindfull of flight than of fight, carried ouer with them almost as many long boats, and such other small vessels, as they were men, to be readie to receiue them at such time as they should flie) or els abject rascals, taken vp here and there, men of whom no great thing was to be expected, and of all others most vnfit for so great a prince (as was the emperour) to commit the defence of his person and honour vnto. But Orchanes hearing of his comming, sent certain of his most expert captaines, to forelay the straight passages of the countrey whereby the emperor was to passe; following also himselfe after with his armie, of purpose to encounter the emperour. Who in three daies march after his landing in ASIA, being come to PHILOCRENE, a little towne in BYTHINIA, and vnderstanding, that Orchanes hauing before taken the straits, lay not far off encamped with his armie; he there at PHILOCRENE pitched his tents, and staied that night also. But the next morning, the Sunne as yet scarcely risen, he seeing diuers companies of the Turks comming downe from the mountaines fast by, put his armie into order of battell, and so set forward to meet them. Where to begin the fight, the Turks archers freely bestowed their piercing shot amongst the Christians, still keeping themselues aloofe off, so to doe the more harme. Which the emperor mistaking, and supposing that their keeping off to haue proceeded of feare, encouraged therewith, commaunded certaine loose companies disorderly to march forward, & to skirmish with them: which his more expert captains not liking, would haue otherwise persuaded him, as to haue kept his strength together against the danger of the battell. Neuerthelesse, such was his youthfull heat, as that he could by no meanes be otherwise intreated, but that forward needs they must. But all the forenoone spent in this light and tumultuarie kind of skirmishing, and the Sunne at the highest now shining very hot, Orchanes from the top of the mountaines perceiuing the Christians well wearied with the heat of the day and long skirmishing, came downe from the hils with a world of men following him; who with a most hideous crie charged the Christians on euery side, some a farre off with their arrowes, and some hand to hand with their swords and other weapons: whose assault the Christians at the first most valiantly receiued, and a great while right worthely defended themselues, hauing wounded and slaine a number of their enemies. Which hard fight was on both sides courageously maintained, vntill the approching of the night, with great slaughter on both sides: at which time, the Christians wearie of the long fight, and oppressed with the multitude of their enemies, disorderly retiring toward their trenches, and hardly pursued by the Turkes, receiued there a great losse, as well of their horsemen, as of their foot: but by the comming on of the night, the battell was at length ended with vncertaine victorie. Amongst others there hurt, the emperour himselfe was wounded in the foot with an arrow.The emperour wounded. That night happened a wofull mishap, and a manifest token of God his wrath: for Orchanes hauing to his cost made proofe of the strength and valour of the Christians, [Page] and doubting they would the next day come on farther into the countrey, left three hundreth horsemen, as scouts, to attend the enemies remoouing: and himselfe with his armie retired beforehand to take the aduantage of such places as the Christians were to passe by. But the emperour in the euening leauing his campe; and going to PHILOCRENE, a little towne fast by, the better to haue his wound dressed; the rest of the armie vnderstanding of his departure, and supposing him to haue fled for feare (as if Orchanes with a great armie would that night haue slaine them all) fled themselues also out of the campe, euery mothers sonne; some to their long boats and other little vessels they had for that purpose brought ouer the strait; some hasting towards the towne gates, were by the multitude of others running headlong after them, ouerborne, and troden to death; othersome hanging one at anothers taile, like a chaine, got some part of them vp to the top of the rampiers of the towne; othersome drawne backe by them that hung vpon them, falling downe together by heapes, and trod vpon by others, there perished; some (as is reported) died there for very feare, no man either chasing or hurting them; so weake is mans courage when God withdraweth from him his strength. But in the morning the Sunne arising, the three hundreth Turks, left for scouts, perceiuing the flight of the Christians, entred the forsaken campe, where they found horses, armour, and emptie tents, yea the emperours owne furniture and his horses readie sadled: of all which, two hundred of these Turks tooke the spoile at their pleasure; and the other hundred pursuing the dispersed Christians; like heartlesse men, wandring here and there, slew a great number of them. The emperour himselfe seeing his armie (thus as it were by the hand of God) ouerthrowne and dispersed, tooke shipping also, and so returned to CONSTANTINOPLE. After whose departure, the Turks seizing vpon many sea townes alongst the coast of BYTHINIA, and there seating themselues, laid heauie tributes vpon the other countrey townes and villages; for the benefit whereof, they spared to destroy them, together with the inhabitants, which they might at their pleasure full easily haue done.

Now lay the great citie of NICE in the suds, the enemie commaunding all the country about it, liuing as sicke men doe by hope, and holding out onely vpon hope of a thousand horsemen which the emperour (notwithstanding his late discomfiture) had promised foorthwith to send, there to lie in garrison for the repressing of the Turks. Of which aid so promised, Orchanes vnderstanding, furnished eight hundred of his owne horsemen, after the manner of the Christians: and fetching a great compasse about, came at length into the high way that leadeth from CONSTANTINOPLE to NICE, and so trouped directly towards the citie, as if they had come from CONSTANTINOPLE. At the same time he sent three hundred of his other horsemen, in the habit of Turks, to forrage and spoile the countrey, as much as they could within the view of the citie (now for want of victuals brought into great extremitie) which whilest they were a doing, the other eight hundred horsemen in the attire of Christians, following vpon them, as if it had been by chance, charged them, and in the sight of the cittizens put them to flight: which done, these counterfeit horsemen returned directly againe towards NICE. The cittizens which with great pleasure had in the meane time from the wals seene the most part of the skirmish; and how they had put the Turks to flight, supposing them to be the Constantinopolitan horsemen whom they daily expected, with great joy opened the gates of the citie to receiue them as their friends: But they being entred the gates,The city of Nice surprised by the Turks. presently set vpon the Christians, fearing no such matter: and being seconded with the other three hundred, which in dissembling manner had fled before, and were now speedily returned, bringing also with them other companies of Turks, before laid in secret ambush not far off, they woon the great and famous citie of NICE, which they haue euer since vntill this day possessed: the spoile wherof was giuen vnto the souldiors for a prey, and the citizens all led away into miserable captiuitie and thraldome▪ Whilest Orchanes was thus busied, his other captaines did with great courage and successe enlarge his dominions on all sides, daily encroching vpon their weake neighbours the Christians. Cunger-Alpes, one of his warlike captaines, subdued the country of MVDURN, or MODRIN, in PHRIGIA; and BOLLI in PAPHIAGONIA: appointing one Abdurachman, a man of great valour to gouerne the country. And at the same time another of his old captains called Accecozza, brought CANDARA in PAPHIAGONIA, and ERMENIE, a country neere vnto the mountain HORMINIUS, into the Turkish subjection▪ placing garrisons in all the castles & forts which he had woon, of whom some part of those countries was after his name called Cozza Ilini, that is to say, The old mans country. So that Orchanes his kingdome grew daily greater & greater, as well by the industrie of his chieftains, as of himselfe.

[Page]About this time, it fortuned the captains son of SCAMANDRIA (a town not far from the ruines of the antient citie of TROY, and about a daies journey from the renoumed castle of ABYDUS) to depart out of this world: vnto whose funerals being kept in the countrey, whilest his wo [...] father the captaine with his friends out of SCAMANDRIA resorted, the old craftie. Turke Accecozza lying alwaies in wait, as a fox for his prey, suddenly set vpon those heauie Christians, whereof he slue the most part, and tooke the rest prisoners. Amongst whom he also tooke the captaine of SCAMANDRIA, with his castle and countrey: whom he afterwards led prisoner vnto the castle of ABYDVS, which is one of the most famous castles situate vpon the sea coast of ASIA, ouer against SESTVS in EVROPE, where the sea of HELLESPONTVS by the narrow strait falleth into the sea AEGEVM: two castles much renoumed, by reason of their nigh situation, and yet placed in diuers parts of the world; eternized also by the euer liuing wits o [...] Poets, for the aduenturous passage of Leander ouer that fret of the sea, to his loue Hero: which castles are now called DARDANELLY. Accecozza hauing brought the captiue captaine of SCAMANDRIA (lately a man of great account in that country) so neer as he could vnto the castle of ABYDVS, offred to set him at libertie if they would surrender their castle, otherwise they should see him cruelly slaine before their faces. These Turkish threats nothing moued them of ABYDUS, more than to say, That they might if they would cut off his head, seeth him, and eat him, but the castle they intended not to deliuer. The same captain was afterward by the cōmandement of Orchanes profered to the emperor of CONSTANTINOPLE, to be redeemed, which he refused. Yet at the last he was ransomed by the gouernour of NICOMEDIA, and againe set at libertie. Accecozza of long time held the castle of SCAMANDRIA: yet so continually molested with the garrison of ABYDVS, and men of war sent from CONSTANTINOPLE, that he with his followers were glad for the most part to liue on horsbacke, to be alwaies in more readinesse against the attempt of their enemies. The captaine of the castle of ABYDVS had at that time a faire young gentlewoman to his daughter, who (as she said) chanced to dreame (what she had happily waking, for the most part wished) That being fallen into a deepe mirie ditch, out of which she could by no meanes helpe her selfe, a lustie young gallant comming by, did not onely helpe her out, but also in friendly manner, made her cleane, and afterwards apparelled her in rich and costly attire. The danger of this dreame much troubled the tender gentlewoman, but the image of the yong gentleman was so well phantizied in her braine, that waking, she thought she still saw him, and sleeping longed sore for what she saw not. Thus whilst this yong gentlewoman with great deuotion entertained this imaginarie man; the old gray headed Turk Accecozza came, and with a strong companie besieged her fathers castle of ABYDVS.Abydus besieged by the Turks. During which siege, this gentlewoman oftentimes went vp into the high turret of the castle, from whence shee might at pleasure see the marshall deeds on both sides, and take full view of all the enemies campe. But see the chance, as Abdurachman with great courage and no lesse brauerie, approched neere to the siege of the castle, she thought (vpon the first sight of him) that he was the verie man whom she had before dreamed of, and whose Idea was in her heart so deepely imprinted: wherefore she fully resolued to performe what she had without witnesse with her selfe determined. And waiting another time, when Abdurachman approched the castle, she cast downe to his feet a letter written in Greeke, and made fast vnto a stone: which letter he taking vp, deliuered the same to the Generall Accecozza. Wherein after she had discouered her passionat affection, she promised to deliuer the castle into Abdurachmans power, if the Turkes would raise their siege, and Abdurachman himselfe with some few would secretly returne to the castle in the dead time of the night, and then follow her direction. Accecozza like an old fox, which is seldome taken in the trap, gaue small credit to these louing lines, for feare of treason: yet for so much as you are the man (said he to Abdurachman) whom she vpon speciall liking hath made choice of for the purpose, will you aduenture your person? And he, armed with a manly courage, a surer defence than any armour of proofe, incited also with hope of honour, riches, and beautie, all woorthie prises for marshall minds; said he would vndertake the atchieument of that exploit, if it were his pleasure so. Whereupon Accecozza, because nothing should be suspected by his sudden departure, gaue a sharpe assault to the castle, as if hee would haue taken it by fine force, yet in the end retired, and presently brake vp his siege, as dispairing of the winning thereof. The defendants of the castle thinking themselues deliuered from a great danger, greatly rejoyced: and as in like case it oftentimes falleth out, in their great jolitie surcharged themselues that night with [Page] excesse both of meat and drinke. But Abdurachman at the time in the letter appointed, put himselfe vpon the way, with certain select souldiors, and about midnight came to the appointed place of the castle, where the yong gentlewoman was attending his cōming: & he by her means was conueyed into the castle, and so by her directed to the porters lodge: where he slew the porter, being fast asleepe, and opening the gates, let in his followers: which went directly to the captaines lodging, and there tooke him prisoner, being before their comming ouertaken with wine, and fast asleepe. Thus was the castle of ABYDUS surprised by the Turks, from whence they had a faire prospect out of ASIA into EUROPE. The captaine with his faire daughter and the greatest part of the rich spoile of the castle was deliuered to Abdurachman, to bee presented to Orchanes at his court, then lying at NEAPOLIS. Who wonderfull glad of so good news, gaue the faire gentlewoman with the greatest part of the prey in reward to Abdurachman. The posteritie of this man (as they say) yet remaine among the Turks. Amongst others of the warlike captains, there was also one Cararachman, whose name was so dreadfull to thē of CONSTANTINOPLE, that when their children cried, they would terrifie them to make them hold their peace, by saying Cararachman comes. Not long after the two valiant aforenamed woorthie captaines Cunger-Alpes and Accecozza died: after whose death, Orchanes made his sonnes, Solyman and Amurath, lords and gouernours of those countries and prouinces. And intending (by the persuasion of Abdurachman) to besiege NICOMEDIA, he leuied a great armie, wherewith hee tooke diuers small castles and forts as he marched towards the citie. NICOMEDIA was at that time gouerned by an honourable ladie, kinswoman vnto Andronicus the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE: but she seeing her citie besieged by the Turks, and doubting her owne forces not to be able to hold out the siege,Nicomedia yeelded vnto Orchanes. by a trustie messenger offred to yeeld the citie vnto Orchanes, vpon condition, That she with so many of the citizens as would, might in safetie depart with their liues, libertie, and goods: which being graunted, she with so many as would follow her, departed out of the cittie by night, taking shipping for CONSTANTINOPLE.

Orchanes hauing taken NICOMEDIA, made his sonne Solyman gouernour of the same. The churches of the Christians he conuerted into Turkish Meschitas or temples. The greatest church (being of wonderfull beautie) he conuerted into a colledge or schoole, for the learned professours and students of Mahomets law, which is yet called in NICOMEDIA, Orchanes his schoole or colledge. And because the countrey neere vnto NICOMEDIA, lying open vpon the sea, was euer in danger to be spoiled by the gallies of CONSTANTINOPLE; he placed in those countries diuers of his most experienced soldiors to defend the same, appointing to euery of them possessions and pensions, according to their degrees and merits. After this, Orchanes by the counsell of his brother Aladin, commaunded all his men of war to weare white caps, thereby to be knowne from others, which commonly wore red. Such manner of caps the Ianizaries vse at this day. The Turks also in Orchanes raign, & long time after, vsed not to cut or shaue their beards, but did weare them long: so that if the king would disgrace any man, he would in his displeasure commaund his beard to be cut or shauen. The manner of cutting and shauing their beards, which they now vse, they learned of the Italians: of whom they haue also borrowed many other fashions, not onely differing, but quite cōtrarie to their antient maners & customes.Orchanes remoueth his court to Nice. Orchanes about this time remoued his court to NICE, where he lay long time after. There he built a sumptuous church, appointing a preacher to preach vnto the people euery friday: he erected in NICE also two faire abbeyes, in the one of which, he with owne hands serued the strangers and poore the first dinner. He was the first that builded abbeyes or monasteries among the Turks, whose example most of his successours haue imitated, and is amongst them vsed vnto this day.

The gouernment of NICOMEDIA, Orchanes committed to his eldest sonne Solyman (as is beforesaid) a prince of great towardlinesse, giuing him in great charge, to haue a vigilant eie vnto the townes of TARAXA, GOVINUCA, and MUDVRNE, which were nigh vnto NICOMEDIA, yet in possession of the Christians: all which townes, with the countries adjoyning, Solyman in short time got without force, by composition. This Solyman was of a princely disposition, so tempering justice with clemencie in his gouernment, that many Christians (allured with his vertues) became of his religion, and gladly put themselues vnder his subjection: the politicke laws of the countrey he neither abrogated nor changed, but maintained as they had ben of antient time accustomed, whereby he greatly woon the hearts of the people. Amurath his yonger sonne, Orchanes made lord and gouernour of PRUSA, after he had remooued his court to NICE. And the [Page] castle of CHARA-CHIZAR, with the seignorie thereto belonging, he gaue to his cosin Artemu [...]e, the sonne of his vncle Iundus.

Orchanes inuadeth the country of Carasi [...]a.There was at this time in Orchanes court, a noble yong gentleman, called Turson-beg, the son of Charasis, king of CHARASIA; by whose persuasion Orchanes in person himselfe with a strong armie, made an expedition into that countrey: for that his fathers subjects after the death of the king his father, denied their obedience to his elder brother, wishing rather to haue Turson for their soueraigne. In whose behalfe Orchanes taking that journey, surprised by the way many castles and townes to his owne vse. Orchanes was no sooner entred the countrey of CHARASIA, but Tursons elder brother fled to PERGAMUM, whither the Turks shortly pursued him: Where Turson desirous to speake with his brother, vnwarily approching the citie, was wounded with an arrow shot from the wals, and there slaine. With whose death Orchanes was so greatly offended, that he threatened to destroy the whole countrey with fire and sword, if they did not by a day prefixed [...] submit themselues to his mercie. The people terrefied with this proclamation of so [...] alreadie in armes,The countrey of Carasina yeelded vnto Orchanes. yeelded themselues vnto his subjection. The kings sonne also [...] into PERGAMUM, vpon reasonable conditions yeelded himselfe vnto Orchanes, who [...] him to PRUSA, where after he had there liued two yeares, died of the plague: after whose death, Orchanes made his son Solyman prince of CARASINA. Neither is this taking in of the countrey of CARASINA to be accounted a small conquest; one of the greatest houses of the Turks the successors of the Iconian Sultan Aladin, now thereby taking end, and their dominions, which were not small (as containing almost all LYDIA, with some good parts of MISIA, TROAS, and the lesser PHRIGIA) now vnited vnto the Othoman kingdome. Orchanes vpon his returne, for the good successe of this journey, built a church and monasterie at PRUSA, placing therein religious men, with all diligence sought for out of all his kingdome: of which religious, the Turks write many fables, better worth the smiling at than the serious reporting. Hitherto the kingdome of Othoman and Orchanes his sonne, was contained within the bounds of the lesser ASIA, which the Turks call ANATOLIA.

Now it resteth to be shewed, vpon what occasion Orchanes, or rather his sonne Solyman Bass [...], as it were fatally, with a small power first passed ouer HELLESPONTUS into EUROPE; where they and their successors haue by little and little so enlarged their dominions, that they haue now long ago quite ouerthrowne the Grecian empire, with many other great kingdoms, & are at this present a terrour to all Christian princes bordering vpon them: to the perpetuall infamie of the Greeks, who for want of courage, and busied with ciuile discord, neuer sought in time to impeach their greatnesse.

Orchanes hauing now so augmented his kingdome, that he might from many parts therof out of ASIA, take view of the pleasant borders of EUROPE, from whence he was excluded only by the narrow sea of HELLESPONTUS; and continually incited with the vnsatiable and restlesse desire of soueraignetie, began to deuise how he might possibly passe that strait sea, and set foot into EUROPE, another part of the world. Which his conceit one day he imparted to his sonne Solyman: who presently answered his father, That if it would please him to giue him leaue, he would not doubt to passe the strait of HELLESPONTUS, and in time to plant the Mahometane religion in those countries of EUROPE, possessed by the Christians. Which answer of Solyman, much pleased his father, who gaue him leaue to depart into his countrey, and in that matter to proceed further, as he thought best, and as occasion should best serue. Solyman taking leaue of his father, tooke his journey into CARASINA, where riding vp and downe the country, as it had bin for his pleasure only, he made his way to the place where it is thought the famous citie of TROY sometime stood; where yet (as the Turks and some others say) are to be seene the woonderfull ruines of that vnfortunate citie by the sea side: In this place Solyman stood still a great while as it were in a studie, forecasting (as it seemed) some great matter, without speking one word to any of his followers. When one of his chiefetains called Ezes-beg, to put him out of his deep thoughts boldly said vnto him: My lord and great soueraigne, what strange thing is this, that you are so deepely drowned in these your melancholy thoughts, vndoubtedly it is some great matter that you are studying vpon? Truth it is, said Solyman, for I was thinking how it were possible to passe ouer this sea of HELLESPONTUS into the borders of EUROPE, and to take view of that countrey, and so to returne vndiscouered. If this bee the matter, said Ezes-beg (joyning vnto him one Fazil-Beg, a man of no lesse valour than himselfe) wee two will by the power of God performe [Page] [...]nto you this enterprise. Then was Solyman desirous to know of them, about what place they would passe ouer: which they well knowing the sea coast, shewed him not far off. Wherfore Solyman giuing them leaue, they departed: and shortly after making a little boat, or rather as some suppose a raffe, passed ouer HELLESPONTUS by night, and arriued in EUROPE side, neere vnto [...] castle of the Turkes, called ZEMENIC or ZEMBENIC, but of the Greekes Coiridocastron; that is to say, The hogs castle, not farre from SESTUS: where going ashore, they tooke prisoner a Greeke in a vineyard neere vnto the castle, whom they finding to bee a good sensible fellow, without delay put him into their boat or raffe, and returning backe againe, presented him to Solyman. This Christian captiue Solyman entertained courteously, giuing him great gifts and rich apparrell, to discouer vnto him the estate of his countrey: and in fine, learned of him a meanes [...]o take the castle of ZEMBENIC, before the Christians should thereof be aware. For atchieuement whereof, certaine boats were speedily made readie by Solyman commaundement, and he with eightie chosen souldiors easily passed ouer in them by night, with their Christian guide the Greeke: for in that place, the strait betwixt ASIA and EUROPE is not past an Italian mile ouer. This guide brought Solyman directly to the aforesaid castle, where was a great dunghill, so high, that from the top thereof Solyman with his souldiors easily got into the castle, which they woon without any great resistance; for it was then haruest time, and most part of the people were in the vineyards, or treading out of their corne all night, as the vse of those countries is▪ Solyman thus possessed of the castle of ZEMBENIC, vsed no extremitie against the inhabitants thereof, seeking rather by courtesie to gaine their good wils, than by extremitie to force them to his: yet such gentlemen as he tooke, with some others also of the better sort, hee sent by shipping into ASIA; and by the same ships returned souldiors as fast as he could into EUROPE: so that he had in one day two hundred souldiors more brought ouer vnto him. And manning such small vessels as hee had left about the castle, sent Ezes-beg alongst the coast on EUROPE side, to burne such shipping or vessels as he could find, least the Christians should by them hinder his passage vpon the strait of HELLESPONTUS. So in a few daies Solyman had transported into EUROPE two thousand good souldiors of the Turks, whom he so gouerned, that they did not in any violent sort injurie the vulgar Christians, by reason whereof the common people began to like reasonable well of the Turks, and to conuerse with them without feare. This was the first comming ouer of the Turks into EUROPE, with purpose there to conquer and inhabit, vnder the fortune of the Othoman kings. For albeit that some of that nation had at sundrie times before come ouer, as men seeking after spoile, or otherwise sent for, yea sometimes by the Greeke emperours themselues; yet neuer stayed they long, but hauing done that they came for, or els lost themselues, returned back againe into ASIA: vntill that now conducted by Solyman, and possessed of the little castle of ZEMBENIC (as is aforesaid) they there tooke so fast footing, as that they and their posteritie after them, were neuer thence to be since that time remoued: but still more and more encroching vpon the Christians, haue vnto their Asian kingdome joyned a great part of EUROPE also, to the terrour of the rest that yet remaineth, as in the processe of this Historie shall (if God will) at large appeare.

About two miles from ZEMBENIC in CHERSONESVS was another castle called MAITO,The castle of Maditus taken by the Turks. or more truely MADITVS, which Solyman also tooke: so that now he had gotten two castles in EVROPE, both which he stongly manned. After which time, the Turkes in great numbers came out of ASIA into EVROPE ouer that narrow strait of HELLESPONTVS, to dwell in CHERSONESVS: and Solyman in stead of them, to make roome for his Turkes, sent Christians out of EVROPE to be placed amongst the Turkes in ASIA. The report of this comming ouer of the Turkes into CHERSONESVS, and of the taking of the castle of ZEMBENIC carried in post to CONSTANTINOPLE, was sufficient to haue stirred vp any prouident or carefull men, presently to haue taken vp armes for the recouerie of the lost castle, and the driuing out againe of the barbarous enemies out of EVROPE, before they had gathered any greater strength, or setled themselues in those places: but such was the carelesse negligence and great securitie of the proud Greekes, that in stead thereof they to extenuate the greatnesse of the losse, commonly sayd, That there was but an hogstie lost; alluding vnto the name of the castle: and vainely (as sayth a graue Father of their owne) jeasting at that was not to be jeasted at, and laughing at that was not to bee laughed, but lamented for; as in few yeares it prooued, their foolish laughter being not without good cause conuerted into most bitter teares.

[Page] Calipolis taken by the Turkes. Solyman his strength so still increasing by the dayly comming ouer of the Turkes, hee proceeded farther to spoyle the countrey of CHERSONESVS, almost as farre as CALLIPOLIS, distant from the castle ZEMBENIC about two and twentie miles: after which pleasant citie the proud Turke began now to long. Which the gouernour thereof perceiuing by the Turkes continuall encroaching vpon him, raysed what power he was able to make, and so went out against them; all the rest of the Greekes in the meane time lying still as if they had beene a sleepe, or that the matter had not concerned them: but meeting the Turkes, he was by them (after a great conflict) ouerthrowne, and for sauegard of his life glad to flie into his citie: after whom the Turkes following, spoyled the countrey round about, and in their returne by plaine force tooke the citie, together with the castle also: which hapned in the yeere of our Lord 1358 Where the madnesse of the Greeks was againe more than before to bee wondred at; for the newes of the losse of CALIPOLIS being brought to CONSTANTINOPLE, the people there made small account thereof, although it was indeed a right great losse, and much concerned the state: but to extenuate the matter, when they had any talke thereof, in jeasting wise commonly said, That the Turks had but taken from them a pottell of wine: but by taking of such hogstyes and pottels of wine (as they termed it) the Turks in a few yeares after had gone so farre in THRACIA, that Amurath (this same Solyman his Nephew which now tooke from the Greekes the citie of CALLIPOLIS) euen in the heart (as it were) of the Greeke empire, placed his royal seat at HADRIANOPLE: and immediately after him Baiazet his sonne (hauing subdued all the countrey, euen to the walles of CONSTANTINOPLE) for certaine yeares layd hard siege vnto the imperiall citie it selfe; and had no doubt then carried it, had not the great expedition of the mightie Tartar prince Tamerlaine (vnto Baiazet fatall) in the meane time hapned: whereby (God so appointing it) the prosperous succeedings of the Turkes were for a space well stayed, that they should not before the time by him prefined, deuour the reliques of the Greeke empire. And it were to be wished that the Christians of our time also (by their example warned) would at length awake out of their dead sleepe: who of late haue lost vnto the same enemie, not the castle of ZEMBENIC, or the citie of CALLIPOLIS, but whole kingdomes, as HVNGARIE, and CYPRVS and are still faire in the way; I say no more for greefe, and foreboding of euill fortune▪ But againe to our purpose, Solyman hauing made this prosperous entrance into EVROPE, and there got strong footing, by speedie messengers certified his father what he had done, and that it was expedient for him with all speed to send vnto him a great supplie of men of warre, as well for the sure defence and keeping of the castles and forts by him alreadie gotten, as for the further inuasion of the countrey. This message was woonderfull welcome vnto Orchanes, and whereas many families of the Sarazins, at that present were come into the countrey of CARASINA to possesse the dwellings and places of them, which in hope to better their estate were before gone ouer into EVROPE; all these Sarazins hee commaunded to passe ouer into EVROPE likewise: which they did accordingly, seating themselus for a time in the countrey neere to CALLIPOLIS. In the meane time, Solyman omitted no oportunitie to enter further into the countrie, winning small forts and holds, and still peopling the same with his Turkes: And on the other side, they of CARASINA passed ouer into EUROPE, placing thēselues as it were in a new world. For which cause, and for the great desire they had to extend the Turkish dominion and religion, they refused no paines of warre: so that all things at that time prospered with the Turkes, and went backward with the Christians.

In the time of these warres, not farre from CALLIPOLIS, was a little castle called CONGERE, the captaine whereof was by a Greeke name called Calo Ioannes, a valiant and painefull man: this captaine continually molested and troubled the Turks which lay on that side of CALLIPOLIS, vnder the leading of Ezes-beg, many of whom he slew and tooke prisoners, as hee could find them at any aduantage. Solyman much angred herewith, by craftie and secret espials learned a certaine time when he was gone out of his castle to doe some exploit vpon the Turks: whereupon he presently so beset the castle with souldiors, that hee could by no meanes returne thither, but hee must first fall into their hands; and for more assurance placed others also in bywaies, least he should by any way escape. The captaine ignorant of all this, prosecuted his enterprise, and hauing taken a Turke prisoner, thinking to returne to his castle, was hastely pursued by Fazill-Beg: for which cause, making the more hast, he suddainly fell into the danger of the Turks laid in ambush: where his men were all slaine, and he himselfe taken and brought before his own [Page] castle, and had there his head presently strucke off: whereupon the castle was forthwith by them that were therein (hauing now lost their captaine) surrendred, and Chazi Ili Beg, a valiant captaine of the Turks, placed in the same: who from thence neuer ceased to trouble the countrey euen to the wals of DIDYMOTICHUM, as did Solyman also out of CALLIPOLIS.

Thus in the space of one yeare the Turks got strong footing in EUROPE, possessing diuers castles and townes, with the countrey about them, which Solyman gaue in reward vnto his captaines and souldiors, as appeareth by the [...] and tombes of Ezes-beg and Fazill-beg, the two which first came ouer into EUROPE, which [...] there yet well knowne.

About this time it fortuned,The death of Solyman Bassa, Orchanes his eldest sonne▪ The death of Orchanes. that as this ma [...]all prince Solyman was for his disport hawking in the fields of BOLAYRE, on EUROPE side, galloping in to his faulcon, was with his horse ouerthrowne in a ditch, of which fall he being sore brused, shortly after died. The newes of his death being brought to Orchanes his father [...] him (then being sicke) just occasion of great sorrow: so that within two moneths after he died also, being fourescore yeares old, when hee had thereof raigned 31 yeares; and died about the yeare of our Lord 1359. Some histories report otherwise, both of his death, and of the time wherein he liued: as that he should beslaine in a battell against the Tartars, or as others write, with an arrow at the siege of PRUSA, in the yeare of our Lord 1349. But Ioannes L [...]unclaui [...] in his historie collected out of the Turks owne chronicles whom we follow as most probable reporteth it as before.

This Orchanes was wise, courteous, and bountifull, more ingenious than his father in deuising warlike engins. He built diuers princely Churches, Abbeies, Colledges, and Cels, and was in his superstitious religion very zealous: insomuch, that he appointed pensions to all such as could in the church say the booke of Mahomets law by heart▪ and appointed competent maintenance for all Iudges of his courts, because they should not take any thing in reward of his subjcts, for the peruerting of justice. He greatly inlarged his kingdome in ASIA, and not content to bee inclosed with the seas of EVXINUM and HELLESPONTUS, set fast footing in EVROPE; which some attribute to his sonne Amurath. He was vnto the Christians alwaies a most mortall enemie, and so [...].

FINIS.

Christian princes of the same time with Orchanes.

Emperours

Of the East

Andronicus Palaeologus the younger. 1325. 29.

Iohn Palaeologus. 1354. 30.

Of the West

Lewes of Bauaria. 1314. 32.

Charles the fourth, sonne to Iohn, king of Bohemia. 1346. 10.

Kings

Of England

Edward the third. 1327. 50.

Of Fraunce

Philip Valois. 1328. 22.

Iohn Valois. 1350. 14.

Of Scotland

Robert Bruce. 1306. 24.

Dauid Bruce. 1341.

Bishops of Rome

Iohn the XXII. 1317. 18.

Benedict the XII. 1335. 7.

Clement the VI. 1342. 12.

Innocent the VI. 1354. 10.

Murad I

[Page]

AMVRATH.

AMVRANTHES PRIMVS TERTIVS TVRCARVM REX FLORVIT ANo 1350

Scau [...]s Amurathes, animo dum maxima versat:

Discordes Graecos, sternere Marte parat.

Totus & intentus fines extendere regni:

Europam penetrans, obuia quaeque rapit.

Attoniti trepidant, nimia formidine Thraces:

In medio quorum, sceptra superba locat.

Hinc Moesos premit ille feros

Lazarum Seruiae principe [...].

miserumque Dynasten:

Cossoui in campis, obruit, at (que) necat.

Sed non longa fuit sceleris tam dira voluptas

A seruo caesus, concidit ense ferox.

RICH. KNOLLEVS.

Whilest Amurath in his deepe thoughts, of greatnesse plots the ground:

The wrangling Greekes by force of arms he seekes how to confound.

And wholy bent for to extend his kingdome, with his power,

Piersing the confines of EVROPE, doth what he meets deuour.

As men dismaid, the Thracians quake, to see their foule disgrace:

Amiddest whom, the tyrant stout his scepter proud doth place.

The fierce Bulgarians he did meet, and in the field subdue:

Lazar [...] ▪ Despot of [...].

And in COSSOVAS fatall plains, the wofull Despot slue.

But long is not the wickeds joy, which they in mischiefe take;

Stabd by a Slaue, the wretch his end in that same place did make.

R. K.

[Page]

THE LIFE OF AMVRATH, THE FIRST OF THAT NAME, THIRD KING OF THE TVRKES, AND THE GREAT AVGMENTOR OF THEIR KINGDOME.

AMurath the yonger sonne of Orchanes succeeded his father in the Turkish kingdome,Amurath succeedeth his father Orchanes in the Turkish kingdome. his elder brother Solyman being dead a little before his father. This Amurath with greater zeale than any one of the Turkish kings, aduanced the Mahometane religion, and had therein wonderfull successe. In the beginning of his raigne, he gathered a great armie out of all parts of his kingdome, to PRUSA; purposing to passe ouer HELLESPONTUS, to inuade the Christians in THRACIA. But vnderstanding, that the other Mahometane princes in ASIA, had combined themselues against him, hee was thereby enforced to [...]eaue his former determination for EUROPE, and to turne his forces vpon them. In which wars [...]e mightily preuailed against them, and returned with victorie to PRUSA. But hauing so subdu [...]d those confederat princes, he the next yeare after prosecuted his warres before intended against [...]he Christians in EUROPE. For which purpose hauing leuied a strong armie in ASIA, he passed ouer to CALLIPOLIS, accompanied with his tutor, whom the Turks call Lala Schahin: whose graue aduice and counsaile he most followed in all his waightie affaires, being at that time one of his cheefe counsellors. From CALLIPOLIS he marched to the castle of BENUTUM, which was by composition yeelded vnto him. From thence he went to TZVRVLUS, where the Christians gaue him a sharpe encounter: but in the end he wan the towne, and caried away the victorie. And so proceeding farther, tooke diuers other small castles and townes in that part of THRACIA, which of the antient Romane Colonies was then called ROMANIA, and now of the Turks RUMILIA, namely MESINE, BURGOS, and others; whereof some he vtterly rased, and into the [...]est put strong garrisons. At this time also, Chasi-ilbeg, and Eurenoses, two of his most valiant captaines, tooke certaine forts standing vpon the riuer MERITZA, in auncient time called HE [...]US. Whereby they much troubled the inhabitants of the countrey thereabouts. Wherwith the captaine of DIDYMOTICHUM offended,Didymotichum yeelded vnto the Turks. gathered his souldiors together, intending to haue intercepted the great captaine Chasi-ilbeg: in which attempt he lost most of his followers, and was himselfe there taken prisoner. For whose ransome and certain other conditions, the citizens of DIDYMOTICHUM yeelded the citie vnto the Turks.

Shortly after Amurath sent his tutor Lala Schahin to besiege HADRIANOPLE, now called ANDRINOPLE, but in antient time ORESTIAS: of whose comming the Christians hearing, encountred him vpon the way, and fought with him a great battaile, wherin many were on both sides lost:Hadrianople yeelded vnto the Turks. but in the end, the Christians being put to the worst, retired againe to the citie. Of this victorie Schahin sent newes vnto Amurath, with certaine of the heads of the slaine Christians: who thereupon sending Chasis and Eurenosis before, he himselfe with a great armie followed after to the siege of HADRIANOPLE: of whose comming, the gouernour of HADRIANOPLE vnderstanding, fled secretly out of the cittie by night to AENUS. The citizens seeing themselues so [...]orsaken of their gouernour, yeelded their citie vnto Amurath, in the yeare of our Lord 1362.

The taking of these strong cities in THRACIA, especially of DIDYMOTICHUM and HADRI [...]NOPLE is (by some of the Turks owne Histories) otherwise reported: which, because it is neither improbable nor disagreeing from the subtile dealings of the Turkes, and of themselues also [Page] receiued, I haue thought good to set downe as their owne Historiographers report the same.

The Turkish king Amurath had (as they say, and as truth was) in the beginning of his raigne concluded a peace with the Christians of THRACIA: during which peace, the Gouernour of DIDYMOTICHUM intending to fortifie his citie with new and stronger fortifications against the assaults of the Turkes, entertayned all the masons, carpenters, and other workemen hee could by any meanes get: which Amurath vnderstanding, secretly caused two hundreth good and lustie workemen and labourers to come out of ASIA, to offer their seruice vnto the gouernour; who gladly entertained them, vsing their helpe in that his great and hastie worke. Which thing some of the wiser sort of the citizens disliking, wished the Gouernour to beware of those Asian workemen, as by them suspected. But he presuming vppon the peace made with Amurath, and considering they were but base workemen, and no souldiers, had the lesse care of them: neuerthelesse (vsing their work all day) he commanded them to lodge without the wals of the citie euery night. Amurath vnderstanding that these workemen were thus by the Gouernour entertained, sent for the valiant captaine Chasis-Ilbeg, and requested him with thirtie other good souldiours disguised as poore laborers to go to DIDYMOTICHUM to seeke for worke, and in doing thereof to espie if any oportunitie might be found for the surprising of the citie. Chasis with these thirtie according to Amurath his direction, comming as poore men lacking worke, found entertainement at DIDYMOTICHVM, where they caried stones, morter, and such like things, euer shewing themselues verie diligent in their worke: Chasis with vigilant eye still awayting what might best serue his turne for the surprising of the citie. When night was come, the Turkish workemen and labourers after their accustomed manner, and as they were by the gouernour appointed, went out of the citie into the suburbs to their lodgings: from whence Chasis secretly departing in the night, came to Amurath and shewed him how one of the gates of the citie might vpon the sudden be taken, if it would please him to place a sufficient number of Turks in ambush neere vnto the citie, to joyne with him and the other Turkish labourers when occasion should serue. Which being resolued vpon, Amurath sent him backe againe to put this his deuise in execution: so Chasis returning to DIDYMOTICHVM brake the matter to so many of the Asian workemen as hee thought conuenient, fully instructing them what was to be done. The next day (according to his appointment) the Christians being then at dinner, these Turkish workmen and labourers fell at wordes among themselues, and from wordes to fayned blowes: in which counterfait brawle & tumult, they suddenly ran to one of the gates of the citie fast by (as was before appointed) and there laying hands vppon the warders weapons, as if it had beene to defend themselues against their fellowes, suddenly set vpon those warders, being in number but few, and then at dinner also, and so presently slew them: which done, they opened the gate of the citie, and let in the other Turkes which lay in wait not farre off: who with great celeritie entring the citie, presently took the same, and there put the cheefest of the citizens to the sword, sparing the rest of the meaner sort.

Rh [...]destum sur [...]ised by the Turks.The citie of RHODESTUM (of the old writers called RHoeDESTUM) was by Amurath his commaundement, in this time of peace, by sudden assault giuen in the night by the lord Eurenoses, taken also.

With this foule dealing and breach of league, yet in force, the Christians hardly charged Amurath; who turned it ouer to the vnrulinesse of his captaines and men of warre, whom he threatned with great seueritie to punish: and to giue the better colour that it was done without his priuitie, he had fained himselfe sicke all the while these things were in doing. But being requested to restore these cities so wrongfully taken frō the Christians, he vtterly refused so to do, saying, That it was against the law of his great prophet Mahomet, to deliuer againe vnto the Christians, any towne or citie wherin the Mahometan religion had ben once openly taught. Wherevpon wa [...]s began againe to arise on fresh betwixt the Christians and him, wherein somtime the one preuayled, and sometime the other: in such sort as that those warres at length became vnto them both verie tedious. Wherefore Amurath made peace againe with the Christians of HADRIANOPLE, SELYBRIA, and CONSTANTINOPLE: yet desiring nothing more in heart, than to take the citie of HADRIANOPLE: which the better to bring to passe, he caused Chasis-Ilbeg ▪ as a discontented captaine to flye to HADRIANOPLE, pretending himselfe to haue been hardly vsed by the tyrant his master: where hauing in his companie other such dissembling fugitiues as was himselfe, he oftentimes issued out of the citie and valiantly skirmished with the Turks; which so [Page] [...]reatly pleased the gouernour of HADRIANOPLE, that he thereby grew into his great fauour. Many other Turkes also vnder pretence of like discontentment, resorted vnto Chasis: wherewith finding himselfe well strengthened, he writ letters secretly vnto Amurath, That he would deliuer one of the gates of HADRIANOPLE vnto him at a certaine appointed time, if he would [...]gainst the same time be readie to send him present succors. All things being agreed vpon, Chasis at the appointed time came in the dawning of the day to one of the gates of the citie, accompa [...]ied but with ten of his followers, as if he would haue gone forth to hunt, as he had before accu [...]tomed. But so soone as the gates were opened, he with the other ten well appointed for the purpose, furiously set vpon the warders, whom they slew; and being aided by the rest of the fugitiue Turks (which with all speed by appointment before made, resorted vnto them) they possessed the gate; vntill a great power of the Turks, whom Amurath the night before had placed in am [...]ush neere vnto the citie, hauing knowledge what was done, and hearing the alarme, speedily [...]ame on, and by that gate entred the cittie: where was fought a cruell fight all that day, euen from morning vntill night. But in the end the Turks preuailing, tooke the citie, which they haue euer since possessed vnto this day.

These great cities of THRACIA thus takē,Hadrianople the royall sea [...] of the Turkish kings in Europe. or otherwise as aforesaid (for that I leaue for the Reader to thinke of as he pleaseth) Amurath appointed the seat of his royall Court at HADRIA [...]OPLE, as a place of all others most fit for the further inuasion of the Christians, and enlarging of his kingdom in EVROPE: from whence such a world of mischiefs & woe hath since that time ouerflowed a great part of Christendome & drowned so many goodly kingdoms in EUROPE, as that both they, and most part of the rest that yet remaine (dayly in dread of like destruction) might iustly accurse and detest the wofull carelesnesse and degenerate cowardise of the Greekes, were not they themselues together with the glorie of their church and empire, swallowed vp in the same gulfe of calamitie and woe, and so become of all others most miserable: but what auaile vaine complaints, but to encrease old griefes? wherefore againe to that we haue in hand.

The prowd Sultan Amurath (hauing to his great content thus seated himselfe at HADRIANOPLE, in the middest of THRACIA) presently sent out his tutor Lala Schahin with a great power to inuade the countrey about PHILIPPOPOLIS with the countrey of ZAGORA, which lyeth [...]owards the great mountain HoeMUS, where the best Turkish Scimitars were made; giuing like charge vnto Eurenoses, for the subduing of the territorie of IPSALA: who both notably performed what hee had commaunded, and in short time brought all those countreys vnder his subjection, wherein hee shortly after placed diuers sanzacks or gouernours, for the better assurance thereof being so lately gayned.

About this time (by the suggestion of Cara Rustemes a doctor of the Mahometan law) Zinderlu Chelil, then Cadilesher or chiefe Iustice amongst the Turks, but afterwards better knowne by the name of Cairadin Bassa; by the commaundement of Amurath, tooke order that euerie fifth captiue of the Christians, being aboue fifteen yeeres old, should bee taken vp for the king, as by law due vnto him: and if the number were vnder fiue, then to pay vnto the king for euerie head 25 aspers, by way of tribute: appointing officers for collecting both of such captiues and tribute mony, of whom the aforesaid Cara Rustemes himselfe was chiefe, as first deuiser of the matter. By which meanes great numbers of Christian youths were brought to the court as the kings captiues, which by the counsel of the same Zinderlu Chelil, were distributed amongst the Turkish husbandmen in ASIA, there to learne the Turkish language, religion, and manners: where after they had been brought vp in all painefull labour and trauaile by the space of two or three yeeres, they were called vnto the court, and choice made of the better sort of them to attend vpon the person of the prince, or to serue him in his warres: where they dayly practising all feats of actiuitie, are called by the name of Ianizars (that is to say, new souldiers.) This was the first beginning of the Ianizars vnder this Sultan Amurath the first, but had great encrease vnder Amurath the second, in so much that Iouius with some other Historiographers, attribute the beginning of this order vnto him: which neuerthelesse (as appeareth by the Turks owne histories) had the beginning as is aforesaid: and hath euer since been continued by the Turkish kings and emperors, by the same and some other greater meanes; so that in processe of time they be grown to that greatnes as that they are oftentimes right dreadfull vnto the great Turke himselfe: after whose death, they haue sometimes preferred to the empire such of the emperours sonnes as they best liked, without respect of prerogatiue of age, contrarie to the will of the great Sultan himselfe: and are at this day [Page] the greatest strength of the Turkish empire, and not vnlike in time to be the greatest cause of the G ruine thereof: the finger of the highest oftentimes (as wee haue before said) turning euen those helps which were by mans wisedome prouided for the establishing of kingdoms, vnto their more speedie destruction; and especially these continuall garisons of martiall men, no lesse to be feared than trusted, as in the course of this historie may appeare.

When Amurath had thus a great while continued at HADRIANOPLE, determining now to returne vnto ASIA, he made Schahin his tutor Beg-Lerbeg or viceroy of ROMANIA; and Eurenoses lord gouernour of the marches; Zinderlu Chelil hee made Vezir Azemes or lord president of his counsell, and changing his name called him Cairadin Bassa, that is to say, The Bassa that had well deserued, his name witnessing his good desert. After this hee returned into ASIA,H where he spent that winter at PRVSA. These two great men Cairadin Bassa & Cara Rustemes before named, sometimes two doctors of the Mahometan law, were (as the Turkish histories report) the first that corrupted the Turkish court with couetousnesse and briberie, and are therefore of them euen yet much blamed.

Whilst Amurath thus wintered in ASIA, news was brought vnto him, That the Christians of SERVIA and BULGARIA had gathered a great armie for the besieging of HADRIANOPLE: which caused him to prepare great forces in ASIA,Boga taken by Amurath, and recouered again and rased by the Christians. to aid his captaines in EUROPE. But in returning out of ASIA, hee by the way tooke the towne of BOGA; where hee put to sword all the Christians that were therein able to beare armes, leading the rest into captiuitie, and with the spoile rewarded his souldiours. This strong towne was not long after againe recouered by the I Christians, who requited the Turkes with like measure, and doubting the keeping thereof, rased it downe to the ground:Boga new bu [...] by [...]he Turks. yet was it afterwards reedified by the Turks, as it is at this present to be seene: which was done in the yeare of our Lord 1365.

In the meane time, the Christian armie of SERVIA and BULGARIA, in number betwixt fortie and fiftie thousand, marching towards HADRIANOPLE, and now come very neere the same, fell in mutinie among themselues. Whereof the Turks by their espials hauing intelligence, suddainely in the night set vpon them: who blinded with inward hatred, and no lesse fearing one another, than their enemies, neglected to joyne their forces against them, but were readie to turn their weapons one vpon another; and so by their owne discord, more than by the enemies force, were made a prey vnto the Turks, by whō they were put to flight, & slain, with so great a slaughter,K that the place wherin they fell, not far frō GERMIA, is thereof at this day called Zirf Zindugi, that is to say, the place wherein the Seruians were ouerthrowne. The news of this so notable a victorie, with the fift part of the spoile, & a great number of the heads of the slaine Christians, were (after the barbarous manner of the Turks) sent to Amurath into ASIA, being now readie with a great power to haue come ouer CALLIPOLIS: who joyfull therof, & glad to see such a present, the assured witnesse of the victorie, returned againe to PRUSA. This was done in the yeare 1366. In which yeare also Amurath with wonderfull triumph circumcised his two sonnes, Baiazet, and Iacup. At which time he also built a temple, with a monasterie, and a colledge, at BILEZUGA: and another faire church at NEAPOLIS: at PRUSA he also built a stately pallace in the castle, with a great church at the gates thereof: in which citie he also founded an abbey and a colledge.L

Germean Ogli, a great Mahometane prince in ASIA (whose territorie for the most part lay in the greater PHRYGIA, and the countries thereabout, bordering vpon the Othoman kingdome) hauing alwaies enuied at the rising of the Othoman kings (as did all the rest of the Mahometane princes of the Selzuccian familie) and fearing that their greatnesse might after his death grow dangerous vnto his sonne Iacup, being now himselfe very aged; thought good for the more safetie of his s [...]ate, to joyne in alliance with Amurath. And for that purpose sent Isaach (a learned doctor of the Mahometane law) embassador vnto him, with many rich presents, and to offer his daughter, the ladie Hatun, in marriage vnto his sonne Baiazet: promising with her in dowrie diuers great cities and townes, with their territories in PHRYGIA and BITHYNIA, adjoyning vpon the Othoman kingdome; namely CUTAIE, SIMAU, EGREGIOS, TAUSANLE, and others. Neither M was this a small dowrie, but well beseeming so great a prince: the citie of CUTAIE being at this day the place whereat the Turkish emperours great lieutenant or viceroy in ASIA, is alwaies resiant, as in the heart of his kingdome in the lesser ASIA. Of which match so offered, Amurath liking well, contracted his sonne Baiazet vnto the said ladie: and for solemnization of the mariage, prepared all things with great magnificence, sending his embassadours to most of the Mahometane [Page] A kings and princes, both farre and neere, to inuite them thereunto: commaunding also most of the nobilitie of his kingdome, to honour the same with their presence. The time of this marriage drawing neere, embassadours came to Amurath his court, from all the princes before inuited: amongst whom the embassadour from the Aegyptian Sultan had the highest place. These embassadors brought with them many great and rich gifts, such as well beseemed the great princes their masters, which they with all reuerence presented vnto Amurath. At length amongst the rest of his owne nobilitie came the lord Eurenoses, whom he had before left gouernour of the frontiers of his kingdome in EUROPE: who besides many other rich gifts, not easily to be valued, presented vnto Amurath an hundred goodly boyes, with as many beautifull yong maidens, B all Christian captiues, sutably attired in garments richly embrodered with gold and siluer, euerie one of them carrying a cup of gold in the one hand, and a cup of siluer in the other; the cups of gold hauing in them diuers precious stones of great value, and the cups of siluer being filled with gold. The richnesse of this present was so great, that all the embassadours of the forraine princes much wondered thereat. All which rich gift, Amurath most bountifully bestowed vpon the strange embassadours: and the presents which were sent vnto him from other princes, he liberally gaue to Eurenoses. The learned and religious which came to that mariage, hee so bountifully rewarded also, that none came to the same poore, but he went away rich. He had before sent diuers of his nobilitie, with an hundred ladies and gentlemen, and a guard of three thousand horsemen, to attend the comming of the bride. On the other side, the old prince Germean-Ogli meeting C this honourable companie vpon the way, saluted euery man of account, according to his degree: and bringing them to one of his cities, in most royall manner feasted them, bestowing vpon them many rich and princely gifts: all which things with great solemnitie performed, he deliuered his daughter the bride to two of the most antient ladies▪ whereof the one had beene Baiazet his nurse; and so taking leaue of his daughter, sent her away, accompanied with his wife Ienses, and other of his courtiers: who conueying her to PRUSA, she was there in most roiall manner married to Baiazet. The cities and townes promised in dowrie, were accordingly deliuered into the possession of Amurath, who shortly after tooke possession of the same, and furnished them with his owne garrisons.

At this marriage Chusen Beg, prince of AMISUM in GALATIA, by his embassadour sold his D territorie of AMISUM vnto Amurath, with many faire citties and townes: doubting as it was thought, how to be able to keep them, now that Amurath was come so neere him, whom he saw not to let slip any occasion offered vnto him for the enlarging of his kingdome. When Amurath had in this sort spent great time in ASIA, hee gathered a strong armie to returne into EUROPE: but before his departure, he committed the gouernment of his kingdome in ASIA (which the Turks call ANATOLIA) vnto his sonne Baiazet, joyning with him Temurtases, a valiant man of great experience: and hauing set all things in order in ASIA, passed ouer HELLESPONTUS to CALLIPOLIS, from whence hee marched towards HADRIANOPLE; and because hee would take some thing in his way, he besieged MAGALGARA, which hee in short time woon: where Lala Schahin and Eurenoses with all their forces came to him: which two captaines he sent to besiege E the citie PHERoe, which was by them after a few dayes siege taken. Bu [...] [...]e himselfe to bee reuenged vpon Lazarus the Despot,Amurath in [...] deth Seruia. Nissa taken by the Turks. led his armie into SERVIA: where after hee had without resistance forraged the countrey foureteene daies, vnderstanding by his captaines, that the strong citie of NISSA, being the metropoliticall citie of SERVIA, was as it were the key of that kingdome, he presently marched thither, and laid siege to the same, and by the aduice of Iaxis Beg, the sonne of Temurtases, in short time woon it. Which thing so daunted Lazarus, Despot or lord of SERVIA, that he despairing in his owne forces, hauing so soone lost one of his strongest citties, foorthwith sent embassadours to Amurath, to entreat a peace: offering to pay him a yearely tribute of fiftie thousand pounds, and to aid him with a thousand men in his wars, whensoeuer he should require: vpon which conditions Amurath graunted him peace, and so departed out of F SERVIA.Appolonia woon by the Turks. In this expedition he also with much ado woon the great citie of APPOLONIA, neere vnto the mount ATHOS, and gaue leaue vnto most of the Christians with their wiues and children to depart, and such part of their goods as was not in the taking thereof spoiled by the souldiors. This done, he returned backe to HADRIANOPLE, leauing Eurenoses vpon the marches, who shortly after tooke BERRHEA, with diuers other townes. At which time also, Lala Schahin woon ZICHNE and SERES, in the confines of MACEDONIA, with many other strong townes [Page] vpon the frontiers of THESSALIA and THRACE. In the citie SERES Eurenoses made his abode G as in a cheefe frontier towne: and because the Christians for feare of the Turks were all fled out of the country about SERES, great numbers of people were sent for out of ASIA, to inhabit that countrey by the Christians forsaken in the confines of MACEDONIA. Amurath had not long continued at HADRIANOPLE, but that he was aduertised out of ASIA, that Aladin his sonne in law, king of CARAMANIA, did with fire and sword inuade his dominions in ASIA: with which newes he was exceedingly troubled. And for that cause sending for his counsailors and nobilitie to the court, told them, how that Aladin forgetting all the bonds of religion, faith, peace, and aliance, with all hostilitie inuaded his prouinces in ASIA, whilest he with the great danger of his person, and greater terror of his enemies, sought with honour the encrease of the Mahometane H sincere religion (as he tearmed it) in EUROPE: from which godly warres (said hee) I am against my will enforced to turne my sword, in just defence of my selfe, against men joyned with vs both in religion & alliance. And hauing thus declared his mind, he appointed Chairadin Bassa his lieutenant generall in EVROPE, and also made his sonne Alis Bassa, one of his counsaile, although he were by some thought too yong for so great a place. And so hauing set all things in order according to his mind in EUROPE, tooke passage from CALLIPOLIS into ASIA, and so to his court at PRUSA, where he spent that winter. In which time embassadors came vnto him frō the Sultan of AEGYPT, for the renewing of their former amitie and friendship, which Amurath tooke very thankefully, and sent them backe againe loden with kind letters and princely rewards.

Amurath and Aladin prepare themselues for wa [...]e.When the Spring was come in the year 1387, he leuied a mightie armie to make war vpon the I Caramanian king, his sonne in law. Whereof Aladin certainely informed, prepared no lesse power to meet him, associating vnto him all the other lesse Mahometane princes of ASIA, which were not vnder Amurath his obeisance, to whom the Othoman kings were now growne terrible; which princes brought with them great supplies to joyne with Aladin.

Aladin thus aided by his friends, thinking himselfe now strong ynough for Amurath his father in law, sent an embassadour vnto him, certifying him, That he was nothing in power inferiour to him, and therefore did nothing feare him: yet if it pleased him to haue peace, that hee could for his part be content to hearken vnto the same vpon reasonable conditions: but if hee had rather haue warre, he should find him readie to dare him battaile in the field, whensoeuer hee should come. For answere of which embassage, Amurath willed the embassadour to tell the perjured K king his master, That he had of late contrarie to his faith before giuen, in most cruell manner inuaded his dominions, whilest he was busied in most godly warres (as hee tearmed it) against the misbeleeuing Christians: from prosecuting whereof, hee was by his violence (as hee said) withdrawne, contrarie to the law of their great prophet: for which outrages and wrongs, hee would shortly come and take of him sharpe reuenge; and that therefore hee was to expect nothing at his hands but warre, for which he willed him so to prouide, as that at his comming he might not find him wanting to himselfe. Aladin by his embassadour hauing receiued this answere from Amurath, assembled all the confederate princes, his allies, with great persuasions and greater promises encouraging them to this warre: and they againe kissing the ground at his feet, as the manner of that nation is before great princes, promised with solemne oaths neuer to forsake him, but to L to doe all things which princes desirous of honour and fame, ought by their oath to do for their soueraigne, to whom they ought homage and dutie.

The death of Chairadin Bassa.In this great preparation for wars in ASIA, Chairadin Bassa, generall gouernor in EUROPE died: which Amurath vnderstanding, appointed Alis Bassa his sonne to goe into EUROPE, there to be gouernour in his fathers stead. But he was staied in his journey by vrgent occasions, which Amurath vnderstanding, sent for him backe againe in post.

Aladin forecasting the great dangers like to ensue of this warre, sent another embassadour to Amurath, with reasonable conditions of peace: to whom Amurath answered, That if Aladin had made that offer one moneth before, hee would perhaps haue accepted thereof: but for so much as he had done him great wrong, and that hee had now to his infinite charge drawne him M into the field so farre from home, hee would not make any other end, than such as the chance of warre should appoint: And whereas he in disgrace had called me a heardsman or shepheard (said he) if he be not such a one himselfe, as he saith me to be, let him meet me in the field, and there trie his valour. Hereunto the embassadour replied, saying, That the king his master made this offer of peace not for any feare, but to saue the effusion of innocent blood; which consideration set [Page] A apart, he should find him not inferiour to himselfe, either in number of most expert souldiours, or other warlike prouision: and that therefore, if he rejected this offer of peace, hee needed not to doubt but to meet with men of courage, which would beare themselues so valiantly in the field against his Turks, as that he should haue no great cause to rejoice of his comming thether. Which words of the embassador so netled Amurath, that in great rage he commaunded him to depart, and to will his maister, if hee were a man of such courage and valour as he said, to shew himselfe in the field with all his forces, there to make an end of all quarrels; where hee doubted not but in short time to chastice him according to his due deserts. So after the embassadour was departed, marching forward three daies, Alis Beg came vnto him, of whose comming he not a little B rejoyced: for why, he loued him deerelie, and although he was yet of yeares but yoong, relied much vpon his counsaile.

The Embassadour returning, recounted vnto Aladin all that Amurath had said, not omitting his hard speeches and proud threats, and how that hee hoped shortly to take from him ICONIVM and LARENDA (the principall cities of CARAMANIA) with many things more, leauing nothing vntold. Which Aladin hearing, said vnto the confederate princes that were with him, Verilie Amurath threatneth to take from vs our cities of ICONIUM and LARENDA▪ but let him take heed that we take not from him his faire citie of PRVSA. Then demaunding of the embassadour, of what strength Amurath might be? It was answered by him, that he deemed him to bee about seuentie thousand strong. Whereat Aladin not a little rejoycing said: Assuredly when he C shall see our armie, he will not dare to giue vs battaile; or if he do, he shall fight vpon great disaduantage, his men being both fewer in number than we, and sore wearied with long and painefull trauaile.

In the meane time Amurath held on his way towards CARAMANIA, daily encouraging his souldiours with persuasions and gifts bountifully bestowed vpon them, filling their heads with promises of greater, the warres once happily ended. At length he came to the great plaines in CARAMANIA called the French plains, because in former time the Christians (whom the Turks for most part call Frankes) in those places encamped their great armies, as they went to the winning of IERVSALEM (as in the former part of this historie is declared:) into these plaines also came Aladin with his armie, and was now encamped within one daies march of Amurath, and D so rested that night.

The next morning Amurath put his armie in order of battaile, appointing the leading of the right wing, to his youngest sonne Iacup, with whom he joyned Cutluzes Beg, Eine Beg Subbassa, Egridum Subbassa, Seraze, and Custendil, two Christian princes; all captaines of great experience: the left wing was led by Baiazet his eldest sonne, with Ferize and Hozze, both valiant captaines: in which wings were also placed the Christian souldiors sent by Lazarus out of SERVIA, according to the late conuention of peace: in the maine battell he stood himselfe: the vauntgard was conducted by Temurtases: and the reareward by the Sabbassa of OXYLLITHUS (called also Temurtases) and Achmetes. Aladin on the other side, with no lesse care and diligence set his men likewise in order of battaile, placing himselfe in the maine battaile as did Amurath; and the princes E his Allies, with his other expert captaines, some in the right wing and some in the left, as he thought most conuenient: in such sort, as that in all mens iudgement he was in force nothing inferiour to his father in law.

These great enemies thus ranged,The great battaile in the plaines of Caramania betwixt Amurath and Aladin. with ensignes displaid came on couragiously, one directly vpon the other: where approaching together, the confused noise of trumpets, drummes, fifes, with other instruments of warre, the neighing of horses, and clattering of armour, was so great; that whilst warlike minds thereat rejoyced▪ cowards thought heauen fell. But the signe of battaile on both sides giuen, Samagazes, one of the confederate princes, with exceeding courage first charged Temurtases in the vauntguard, and broke his rankes: at which time Teberruses, a Tartar prince, and Varsacides, another of the confederats, deliuered their arrowes also vpon the vauntguard, F as if it had been a shower of haile. Which Baiazet seeing, and how hardly Temurtases was charged, hauing before obtained leaue of his father, brake in vpon the enemie with such violence, as if it had been the lightening: whereof he was euer after surnamed Gilderun, which is to say, the Lightening▪ Ferizes and Hozza, with the other valiant captaines in that wing; following Baiazet, with inuincible courage entred the battaile; where for a great space was made a most dreadfull and doubtfull fight. A man would haue thought two wrought seas had met together, [Page] swaying one against the other, doubtfull which way the current would at length fall. In this conflict G many thousands were on both sides slain, so that the field lay couered with the dead bodies of worthie men and valiant souldiors: yet at length these confederate princes, finding themselues ouermatched by Baiazet and his souldiors, reseruing themselues to their better fortunes, turned their backes and fled;Aladin flyeth to Iconium. when Aladin seeing a great part of his armie thus ouerthrowne, and himselfe now readie to be charged with Amurath his whole power, despairing of victorie, sped himselfe in all hast to ICONIUM, his strong citie. The spoile which Amurath got in this battell was great, most part whereof he gaue in reward to Temortases and his souldiors, which had endured the greatest furie of that battaile.Iconium besieged by Amurath. Amurath after this victorie with all speed marched to ICONIUM, and there besieged Aladin the Caramanian king, in his strongest cittie, giuing out H proclamation in the mean time, That none of his souldiours vpon paine of death should vse any violence to any of the countrey people, or take any thing from them: to the intent it might appeare vnto the world, that he made that warre against that Mahometan king, rather to propulse injurie and wrong, than for desire of soueraigntie or spoile. Which his so straight a proclamation, the Christians sent by Lazarus, amongst others▪ transgressed; and therefore by his commandement suffred (many of them) exemplarie punishment; which was the cause of the Se [...]ian wa [...] which not long after ensued▪ fatall both vnto Amurath and Lazarus the Despot, as hereafter shall appeare.

Aladin now on euerie side besieged in ICONIUM, and without all hope of escape, sent vnto the queene his wife, Amuraths daughter, bewailing vnto her his desperat estate, and requesting I her by all the loue that so honourable a minded ladie might beare to her miserable husband, to aduenture her selfe to goe to her angrie father, and to craue pardon for his great trespasse and offence. The queene forthwith attiring her selfe, as was fittest for her husbands present estate, came vnto her father: where falling downe at his feet vpon her knees, with wordes wisely placed, and teares distilling downe her faire cheeks from her fairer eies, as if it had been from two fountaines; in most sorrowfull manner, craued her husbands pardon, imputing vnto the heat of youth whatsoeuer he had done: and would not be comforted or taken vp, vntill she had obtained grace.

Amurath most entirely loued this his daughter; and therefore for her sake not onely graunted vnto her, her husbands life (which in short time was like to haue been in his power to haue spilt) but also his kingdome, which he as a victorious conquerour might by law of armes haue of K right detained. She now assured of her fathers promise, sent vnto her husband Aladin, willing him the next day without feare to come out of the citie, and in humble sort to acknowledge his fault before her father. Who the next morning accordingly came out, and prostrating himselfe before Amurath, acknowledged his vndutifulnes: of whom (for his wiues sake) he obtained pardon, and restitution to his kingdome, with many other great gifts, contrarie to his euil desert. The Latine histories mistaking the man, report that this Caramanian warre, to haue been fought against the king of CARAMANIA, Amurath his owne grandfather by the mothers side; and that he was by Amurath then spoiled of a great part of his kingdom: but it agreeth not with the Turkish histories, which make Amurath to be the sonne of Orchanes and Lulufer, the daughter of the gouernour of the castle of IARCHISER, as is before declared in the life of Othoman; which Lulu [...]er L lieth buried by her husband Orchanes, in PRUSA.

This great victorie gotten by Amurath against the Caramanian king, and the other confederat princes, was the true beginning of the greatnesse of the Othoman kingdome in ASIA: wherewith the other Mahometan princes of the Selzuccian family were so discouraged, that they were glad to submit themselues thus first vnto Amurath, and after that vnto his sonne Baiazet: vntill that Tamerlan the great Tartarian prince, some few yeares after, taking Baiazet prisoner in a great battaile at mount STELLA, abated the Othomon pride, and restored the other oppressed Mahometan princes to their old possessions and kingdomes.

Amurath returning homewards, by the way tooke the citie of DESPOTOPOLIS, and comming to CUTAIE brake vp his armie, and so in triumph returned to his court at PRUSA.M

Lazarus, Despot of SERVIA (in old time called MYSIA) had sent a thousand armed men to Amurath in this the late Caramanian warre, according to the conuention of the peace not long before made betwixt them: some of which souldiours, were with great seueritie (to the terrour of others) executed in CARAMANIA, for transgressing Amurath his commandement. This great warre being ended, and the armie broken vp at CUTAI [...], they with others were licensed to depart [Page] A into their own countrey. Whose Generall (whom they call the Vayuod) returning home, reported vnto Lazarus the Despot, the successe of that war, and withall in what cruell and ti [...]annicall manner the men he had sent were in that seruice vsed by the commandement of Amurath. With whom (said this Generall) you without cause haue made a most dishonourable peace: first by giuing your faith to such a miscreant, and then in sending your loyall subiects in recompence of their good seruice, to be so butchered at his pleasure; beside the shamefull tribute which you yearely pay vnto him. Whereas if it would please you in the depth of your wisedome, but to know your owne strength, you should find your selfe in warlike force and power, nothing inferiour to the tirant: for wee your seruants being in number but a handfull, were in these his late B wars a terrour vnto his enemies, and by our valour and not his owne, hee got the victorie ouer them. What cause is there then, that you should subject your selfe vnto your inferiour? I know he cannot of himselfe bring into the field aboue fiftie thousand fighting men: but admit he were able to bring a hundreth thousand, are not you (if you so please) able to leuie a farre greater power? and for all other warlike prouision, you are ten fold better prouided than hee. Besides that, the mightie Christian princes will send you such aid against this hatefull and common enemie, that being vnited with yours, his Barbarian forces will be nothing in comparison of those which you shall then be able to bring into the field against him: which no doubt the Christian princes will the rather doe, as men desirous to quench this deuouring fire, in another mans house rather than in their owne.

C These words of the Vayuod so much mooued Lazarus, Lazarus the Despot by his embassadour craueth ayd of the king of Bozna. that he determined in him selfe, to breake that seruile league which he before had made with Amurath. And for that cause sent his embassadour with secret instructions to the king of BOSNA (in time past called ILLYRIA) his neighbour: whereof the cheefe point was, to craue his aid against the Turke their common enemie. By whom the king of BOSNA returned answere, That it had been much better such consideration had been thought vpon, before the foule contract (full of disgrace both to himselfe, and all other Christian princes) was vpon a vaine feare, by him rashly made with the Turkish tirant: Yet for so much as things done, could not bee vndone, letting that passe which was remedilesse, he promised to joyne with him his whole forces, against so dangerous an enemie. And therevppon appointing a place for an enteruiew, met accordingly, and there fully concluded all the articles D of their confederation.

There was in the confines of BOSNA a castle called ALEXANDRIA, the captaine whereof being a Christian, was yet tributarie vnto the Turke; wishing vnto him such good, as men oppressed vse to doe to them by whom they are so wronged. This captaine vnder the colour of friendship went to Amurath, and in great secrecie opened vnto him the whole state of the kingdome of BOSNA; and withall, that the king thereof intended some great matter against him: for preuenting whereof, he offered his owne seruice, and shewed some probable means, how that kingdome might be brought into his subjection, if hee would but send some worthie Generall with a conuenient power for the vndertaking thereof. This wonderfully pleased the ambitious old tyrant, who therefore commaunded a rich garment to be cast vpon the captaine (which amongst E the Turks is taken for a sure token of the kings great fauour) and foorthwith appointed his tutor Lala Schahin, according to this captains direction, to inuade the kingdome of BOSNA. Who joyning himselfe with this deceitfull captaine of ALEXANDRIA, with an armie of twentie thousand men entred into BOSNA; where ouerrunning a side of the countrey, he without resistance tooke great booties: and seeing no apparent cause of feare, to doe the more harme, by the aduice of the same captaine, deuided his armie, which he sent into diuers parts of the country, the more to burne and spoile the same. Of all whose proceedings, the king of BOSNA by secret messengers from the captaine aduertised, had in conuenient places laied strong ambushes for the intercepting of his enemies. So that as Schahin was returning homeward with a rich bootie, hauing then with him but a thousand men, suddenly appeared in his way thirtie thousand Christians F well armed: which Schahin seeing, thinking it follie to oppose so few against so many, would haue presently fled; but the rest of the gallants that were with him, presuming of their good fortune, and loth to loose their rich prey, would needs first skirmish with the Christians: in which desperate conflict they were almost all slaine, and the spoile they had taken, all recouered by the Christians. As for Schahin, he was glad by shamefull flight to saue himselfe. The like mishap befell the other Turks in the other parts of BOSNA, who for the most part were likewise intercepted [Page] and slaine: so that of twentie thousand scarce fiue thousand returned home.G

Amurath maried the emperour of Constantinople his daughter.Whilest these things were doing in EUROPE, Amurath with great triumph at NEAPOLIS married the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE his daughter: whose two sisters were also giuen in marriage to his two sonnes: at which time he with great solemnitie circumcised three of Baiazet his sonnes. At this time also returned Iazigi Ogli, whom he had before sent embassadour to the Sultan of AEGIPT, in requitall of the honourable embassage before to him sent from the said Sultan. Now Amurath vnderstanding of the losse of his men in BOSNA, with the reuolt of Lazarus Despot of SERVIA, was therewith much disquieted. Wherefore he commanded Al [...]Bassa his cheefe counsellour, with all speed to send foorth commissions into all parts of his kingdome, for the leuying of a royall armie: which was done in such post hast, that it was thought H he would haue taken the field before the beginning of the Spring. At which time also the other Mahometane kings and princes of ASIA, Caraman Ogli, Teke Ogli, and the rest, bound vnto him by homage, with diuers others of smaller power, were sent for, to aid him in this war: who partly for feare, and partly mooued with the zeale of their Mahometane superstition, brought their forces with great deuotion. Vnto this war against the Christians, came also great numbers of the Mahometanes from far countries, as voluntarie souldiors. Baiazet his sonne also, then gouernor of CUTAIE, with a great part of GALATIA, gathering all his forces, came to aid his father in this religious war (as it was by thē tearmed.) The Christian tributarie princes were not then forgotten: of whom two came, namely, Custendyll and Seratzill: other two forsaking Amurath ▪ came not, which was Sasmenos prince of BULGARIA, and the prince of VARNA and DOERITZA:I with whom Amurath was highly offended. In the time of this so great a preparation, old Lala Schahin, Amurath his tutor and faithfull seruitor, died, being a man of great yeares: and Temurtases was appointed gouernour in his place.

The reuolting of the two Christian princes, Sasmenos and the prince of VARNA, much grieued Amurath: wherefore hee commaunded Alis Bassa, with an armie of thirtie thousand, to inuade and spoile Sasmenos his countrey, now called BULGARIA, and in antient time the lower MYSIA. Alis Bassa according to that was giuen him in charge, calling vnto him Iaxis Beg, the sonne of Temurtases, Vlu Beg, Suratze Bassa, with other captaines and commaunders of the Turks prouinces in EUROPE, assembled an armie of thirtie thousand, for the inuasion of BULGARIA. With this armie the Bassa tooke many strong townes and castles in BULGARIA, as K PIRAVADE, VENVZINA, MADRA, SVNI, with others.

In the meane time, whilest Alis Bassa had thus begun the wars against the Christians in BVLGARIA, Amurath hauing gathered a great armie in ASIA, determined in the beginning of the Spring, to passe ouer with the same into EUROPE: commending the gouernment of his countries in ASIA to Temurtases Bassa, Ferices Beg, Temurtaces Subbassa, Cutlu Beg, and Haza Beg: and so all things set in order in ASIA, he drew down his Asian forces towards HELLESPONTVS, where he was a while staied with cōtrary winds, but was afterwards transported to CALLIPOLIS by Ienitze Beg, Sanzacke there. This was the third time that Amurath brought his armie out of ASIA into EUROPE. But whilest he staied at CALLIPOLIS, Baiazet his sonne with a great power came unto him thither: Alis Bassa also vnderstanding of Amurath his arriuall in EUROPE,L retired out of BVLGARIA and came to him at CALCIDE, recounting vnto him the whole successe of his expedition into BVLGARIA.

Sasmenos prince of BVLGARIA, seeing his countrey spoiled, his strong cities and castles taken by the Turks, and withall hearing of their great preparations for warre; by the aduice of his nobilitie, thought it best betimes againe to submit himselfe vnto Amurath: wherefore tying a winding sheet about his necke, in token that he had deserued death (after the manner of the Barbarians) he came to Amurath at CALCIDE, where falling flat vpon the ground, at the horses feet whereon Amurath sat, he in most humble wise craued pardon: offering by a certaine day to deliuer SILISTRIA the chiefe citie of his dominion into Amurath his possession, as a pledge of his fidelitie: who thereupon graunted him pardon, and to assure him of his fauour, commaunded a M rich garment to be cast vpon him, after the manner of the Turks, sending Alis Bassa at the time appointed to take possession of SILISTRIA. But Sasmenos repenting himselfe of that hee had so largely promised, would not deliuer his citie, but in strongest manner he could presently fortified the same. Wherewith Amurath more offended than before, commaunded the Bassa with fire and sword againe to spoile and wast his countrey: who according to his commaundement [Page] A entred againe into BULGARIA, and strucke such a terrour of his comming into the hearts of the people, that many strong places were voluntarily yeelded into his power, namely, DIRITZE, COSSOVA, with the citie TERNOVA, the seat of the princes court; TZERNEVI, NOVAKESTRI, ZISTOVA, with diuers others: and proceeding farther, he laid siege to NICOPOLIS, the strongest citie of BULGARIA, vpon the side of the great riuer DANVBIUS, whither Sasmenos was for feare himselfe fled. Who finding himselfe vnable to hold out the siege, once again (with shame ynough) tying a winding sheet about his necke, as he had done before, and taking his sonne with him, went out of the citie, and in most abject manner falling downe at the Bassa his feet, craued pardon: which the Bassa, mooued with compassion to see the miserie of so great a man, and B hauing alreadie taken from him the greatest part of his dominion, and now out of feare of further resistance, easily graunted. And hauing thus ended the Bulgarian war, returned to Amurath, of whom he was right joyfully receiued.

Amurath had now made great preparation for the inuading of SERVIA, for which purpose he had drawne ouer into EUROPE the greatest forces he possibly could out of ASIA: sending also for his youngest sonne Iacup, gouernour of CARASIA, who vnderstanding his fathers pleasure, repaired vnto him with all the power hee could make. This armie by Amurath thus assembled, was the greatest that euer was before that brought by the Turks into EVROPE. Lazarus not ignorant of this great preparation made by Amurath, had drawn into the societie of this war, the king of BOSNA (as is aforesaid) with Vulcus prince of MACEDONIA, his sonne in law; C who both brought vnto him great aid: hee had also by his embassadors procured great supplies from other Christian kings and princes, out of VALACHIA, HVNGARIA, CROATIA, SCLAVONIA, ALBANIA, BVLGARIA, and ITALIE, besides great numbers of other voluntarie deuout Christians, which all assembled and met together, did in number far exceed the great armie of the Turks.

With this armie Lazarus the Despot encamped vpon the side of the riuer Moroua the greater,The castle of Sarkiu [...] with the citie ioining vnto it, taken by the Christians, and rased. not far from whence stood the strong castle of SARKIVE, which Alis Bassa had of late taken from Sasmenos the Bulgarian prince, standing as it were betwixt BVLGARIA and SERVIA: this castle being now possessed of the Turks, was thought by Lazarus dangerous to his countrie; who therefore sent one Demetrius, a right valiant captaine, with certain companies of select men D to take in the same. The name of this captaine Demetrius, was a generall terrour vnto the Turks, for the harme he had done them: so that they in the castle hearing that he was come, without further resistance yeelded the same vnto him. Whereof Amurath vnderstanding, sent Eine and Sarutze Bassa to recouer the same: but Lazarus doubting that the castle would hardly be kept in that dangerous war, sent Vulcus his sonne in law with twentie thousand men, to bring away all that was therein, and in the citie neere vnto it, least it should become a prey vnto the greedie Turks; which he accordingly did, and at the same time rased both the castle and the citie, before the comming of Iaxis Beg, sent from Amurath to haue done the same exploit; which hee comming thither, found alreadie done to his hand by Vulcus.

As Amurath was marching towards SERVIA, Seratze and Custendyl, two Christian princes E his tributaries, met him with their forces, whome hee caused to march before him as his guides: and passing through Custendyl his countrey, was there refreshed with plentie of all things necessarie: vntil at length passing the riuer of Moroua the lesse, he drew so neere to the plains of COSSOVA (where the Christian armie lay) that he with his sonne Baiazet from a little hill tooke full view of the Christian campe; which was so great, that it couered all those large plains from side to side, and so daunted Amurath, as that returning to his armie he presently entered into a great consultation with his greatest captains and commaunders, What course to take against such a puissant enemie.

These great armies being now come so nigh together, as that they might the one well descrie the other, Amurath had purposed the same day to haue giuen the Christians battaile: but being F dis [...]uaded by Eurenoses, both for that it was extreame hot, and his soldiours wearied with trauell, he rested that night. The next morning as soone as it was day, he put his armie in order of battaile, placing his sonne Baiazet with Eurenoses and Eine Beg Subbassa, in the right wing; his youngest sonne Iacup, with Sarutze Bassa in the left wing; the maine battell he led himselfe. Lazarus in the meane time had also set his armie in good order: giuing the charge of the right wing to Vulcus his sonne in law; the left wing was led by the king of BOSNA, and his sonne; in the [Page] maine battell stood Lazarus himselfe; the Italians, Valachians, Hungarians, Bohemians, and G Bulgarians, he placed in both wings. It is thought, greater armies than these two had sildome before met in EUROPE, Lazarus as the Turkish histories report (but how truly I know not) hauing in his armie fiue hundred thousand men; and Amurath scarce halfe so many.

To begin the battaile, Amurath had drawne a thousand of his best archers, vnder the leading of Malcozzeus, out of the right wing of his armie; and the like number of archers out of the left, vnder the conduct of one Mustapha: which so placed on both sides of the armie, as he thought best, Eurenoses a man of great experience, told Amurath, That the Christians were for the most part well and strongly armed, and shouldering close together in their charge, would be like a rock of yron, vnable to be pierced: but if in joyning the battaile, hee would a little retire, the Christians H following vpon good hope, would so loose their close standing (the cheefe part of their strength) and leaue an entrance for his men. Vpon which resolution, Amurath commaunded the archers to giue the first charge: which they courageously performed. At which time, the Turks armie gaue ground a little: which the Christians perceiuing, with great force assailed the left wing of their armie, and after a hard and cruell fight put the same to flight: which Baiazet seeing, with such furie renewed the battaile, that the Turks which before as men discouraged fled in the left wing, began now to turne againe vpon their enemies; and the Christians hauing as they thought alreadie got the victorie, were to begin a new battell. In which bloodie fight many thousands fell on both sides: the brightnesse of the armour and weapons, was as it had been the lightning: the multitude of launces and other horsemens staues shadowed the light of the sunne: arrowes I and darts fell so fast, that a man would haue thought they had powred downe from heauen, the noise of the instruments of warre, with the neighing of horses, and outcries of men was so terrible and great, that the wild beasts in the mountaines stood astonied therewith: and the Turkish histories, to expresse the terrour of the day (vainly say) that the Angels in heauen amased with that hidious noise, for that time forgot the heauenly hymnes wherewith they alwaies glorifie God. About noone time of the day, the fortune of the Turks preuailing, the Christians began to giue ground, and at length betooke themselues to plaine flight; whom the Turks with all their force pursued and slew them downe right, without number or mercie. In which battell Lazarus the Despot himselfe was also slaine.Lazarus slaine. Howbeit some histories report otherwise, as that he with his son were taken prisoner, and by and by afterwards (in reuenge of Amurath his death)K cruelly slaine: othersome also reporting that he died in prison. Amurath after this great victorie, with some few of his cheefe captaines taking view of the dead bodies, which without number lay on heapes in the field like mountaines; a Christian souldiour, sore wounded and all bloodie, seeing him, in staggering manner arose (as if it had been from death) out of a heape of slaine men, and making towards him, for want of strength fell downe diuers times by the way as he came, as if he had been a drunken man: at length drawing nigh vnto him, when they which guarded the kings person would haue stayed him, hee was by Amurath himselfe commaunded to come neerer: supposing, that he would haue craued his life of him. Thus this halfe dead Christian pressing neere vnto him, as if he would for honour sake haue kissed his feet, suddenly stabbed him in the bottome of his bellie with a short dagger,Amurath slain. which he had vnder his soldiors coat: of which wound L that great king and conquerour presently died. The name of this man (for his courage worthie of eternall memorie) was Miles Cobelitz: who before sore wounded, was shortly after in the presence of Baiazet cut into small peeces. The Turks in their Annales somewhat otherwise report of the death of Amurath: as that this Cobelitz, one of the Despot his seruants, in time of the battaile, comming to Amurath as a fugitiue, offering him his seruice, and admitted to his presence, in humbling himselfe to haue kissed his feet (as the barbarous manner of the Turks is) stabbed him into the bellie and so slew him: being himselfe therefore shortly after (as is aforesaid) in the presence of Baiazet most cruelly hewen into small peeces. Whereupon euer since that time, the manner of the Turks hath been, and yet is, that when any embassadour or stranger is to come to kisse the Sultan his hand, or otherwise to approach his person, hee is as it M were for honours sake, lead by the armes vnto his presence, betwixt two of the great courtiers: but indeed by so entangling him, to be sure that he shall not offer him the like violence, that did this Cobelitz vnto Amurath.

The dead bodie of Amurath was presently with all secrecie conueied into his tent by the Bas [...]aes and captaines present at his death: whether Baiazet was also brought with an ensigne [Page] A before him, as the successour in his fathers kingdome. His younger brother Iacup surnamed Zelebi (or the noble) yet ignorant of that had hapned, was by the great Bassaes sent for, as from his father: who casting no perill, but comming into his fathers tent, was there presently by them strangled, by the commaundement of Baiazet, as most histories report: howbeit the Turkes annales charge him not therwith. This was the beginning of the most vnnaturall and inhumane custome, euer since holden for a most wholesome and good policie amongst the Turkish kings and emperours, in the beginning of their raigne most cruelly to massacre their brethren and neerest kinsmen, so at once to rid themselues of all feare of their competitors.

This Amurath was in his superstition more zealous than any other of the Turkish kings; a B man of great courage, and in all his attempts fortunat: he made greater slaughter of his enemies, than both his father and grandfather: his kingdome in ASIA hee greatly enlarged by the sword, mariage, and purchase: and vsing the discord and cowardise of the Grecian princes, to his profit, subdued a great part of THRACIA, called ROMANIA, with the territories thereto adjoyning, leauing vnto the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, little or nothing more in THRACIA than the imperiall citie it selfe, with the bare name of an emperour, almost without an empire: he wan a great part of BULGARIA, and entred into SERUIA, BOSNA, and MACEDONIA: he was liberall, and withall seuere: of his subjects both beloued & feared: a man of verie few words, and one that could dissemble deeply. He was slaine when hee was threescore eight yeares old; and had thereof raigned thirtie one,Amurath bur [...]ed at Prusa. in the yeare of our Lord 1390. His dead bodie was by Baiazet conuaied C into ASIA, and there royally buried at PRUSA, in a faire chappell at the West end of the citie, neere vnto the Bathes there: where, vpon his tombe lieth his souldiours cloake, with a little Turkish tulipant, much differing from those great turbants which the Turkes now weare. Neere vnto the same tombe are placed three launces, with three horse tailes fastened at the vpper end of them, which he vsed as guidons in his wars: a thing in antient time not strange. There standeth a castle with a tombe, made in remembrance of him, in the plaines of COSSOUA, where he was slaine and his entrailes buried: which giueth occasion for some to report that hee was there also himselfe enterred.

D FINIS.

Christian princes of the same time with Amurath the first.

Emperours

Of the East

Iohn Palaeologus. 1354. 30.

Andronicus Palaeologus. 1384. 3.

Emanuell Palaeologus. 1387. 30.

Of the West

Charles the fourth. 1346. 32.

Wenceslaus, son to Charles king of Bohemia. 1378. 22.

Kings

Of England

Edward the third. 1327. 50.

Richard the second. 1377. 23.

Of Fraunce

Iohn Valois. 1350. 14.

Charles the fifth. 1364. 16.

Charles the sixt, surnamed, The welbeloued. 1381. 42.

Of Scotland

Dauid Bruce. 1341. 29.

Robert Stuart. 1370.

Bishops of Rome

Innocent the VI. 1354. 10.

Vrban the V. 1364. 8.

Gregorie the II. 1372. 7.

Vrban the VI. 1378. 11.

Bayezid I

[Page]

BAIAZET.

BAIAZETTHES PRIMVS QVARTVA TVRCORVM REX ANNO 1390

Phi. Lonicer. Hist. Tur. li. 1.

Fulminis in morem celeri rapit agmina motu

Baizethes, fidei pacis & impatiens.

Regni Hadrianopolim sedes sibi legit vt esset.

Posset vt Europae iungere regna suis.

Constantinopolim gemina obsidione fatigat:

Iam Graetas vana spe sibi spondet opes,

Cum Tamburlano praebet sua terga, catenis

Vinctus, & in cauea probra pudenda subit.

Prowd Baiazet most false of faith, and loathing blessed peace:

His warlike troupes like lightening, to shake he doth not cease.

Of HADRIANOPLE he makes choice, for his imperiall seat,

That EVROPS kingdomes he might joyne vnto his empire great.

CONSTANTINOPLE he distrest, twice with straight siege and long:

And vainly thought to haue possest the Graecians wealth by wrong.

But ouercome by Tamberlane, fast bound in fetters sure,

Trod vnder foot, and cloas'd in cage, great shame did there indure.

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A

B THE LIFE OF BAIAZET, THE FIRST OF THAT NAME, THE FOVRTH AND MOST VNFORTVNAT KING OF THE TVRKES.

BAiazet, or as the Turks call him, Baiasit, of his violent and fierce nature surnamed Gilderun, or lightening; succeeded his father Amurath C in the Turkish kingdome, his younger brother Iacup being strangled immediatly after his fathers death, as is before declared. He in the first yeare of his raign inuaded SERVIA,Baiazet i [...]adeth Seruia. and there besieged CRATOVA, a citie of the Despots: whereunto the siluer mines of SERVIA (not the least cause of that warre) belonged. Which citie was yeelded vnto him, vpon condition, That the Christian inhabitants might with life and libertie depart. Who were no sooner gone out of the cittie, but that by his commaundement they were all most cruelly slaine by his men of warre, for that purpose sent out after them. At this time hee also woon VSCUPIA, with diuers other castles in the countrey neere vnto CRATOVA.

D Sigismund at the same time king of HUNGARIE (a yong prince of great hope, and brother to Wenceslaus, then emperour of the West) aduertised from the Seruians his allies and confederats, of these proud proceedings of Baiazet: by his embassadours sent of purpose, requested him, That as he was a just prince, and wished to liue in quiet with his owne, to desist from doing of such open wrong, and from inuading of such countries of his friends and confederats, as he had no right in. Which embassadours so sent, Baiazet detained without answere, vntill such time as he had ouerrun a great part of the Despot his country, and therein done what he thought good. Then calling the said embassadours vnto him into one of the strong townes, which hee had in euerie corner filled with his owne souldiours, told them that they might there see, that his right both vnto that towne and the rest by him taken, was good inough, for as much as the verie wals E acknowledged the same: and so giuing them leaue to depart, willed them so to tell their master. Which his proud answere, by the same embassadors reported vnto the yong king, no lesse troubled him, than if open warre had by them been denounced vnto him, seeing the tyrant (as should seeme) pretending right vnto whatsoeuer hee could by force get: neuerthelesse, being himselfe not yet well setled in his kingdome, and in doubt of the contrarie faction (that altogether liked not of his election into HUNGARIE for their king) he was glad at that time to put it vp, and so to hold himselfe content.

The next yeare,Seruia the second time inuaded by Baiazet. Baiazet by Ferises Beg, tooke the citie of VIDINA, with many other strong townes and castles in SERVIA, and afterwards returned to HADRIANOPLE. But whilest that hee thus raged in EUROPE, the Caramanian king inuaded and spoiled the frontiers of his countries F in ASIA: which although he was not then at leisure, hee forgot not afterwards to reuenge to the full. At the same time Eurenoses, lord gouernour of the marches of his kingdome in EUROPE towards GRECIA, departing from SERES (where he then lay) tooke the citie of SITROS in THESSALIA. And Ferises Beg, not content to haue taken VIDINA (as is aforesaid) passed ouer the great riuer of DANVBIUS, and greeuously spoiled VALACHIA: from whence he returned loaden with a great prey. This was the first time (that I read of) that the Turks euer passed [Page] ouer the riuer DANVBIUS. At this time also Iegides Bassa entred the kingdome of BOSNA, from G whence he carried a great number of captiues to HADRIANOPLE, where Baiazet spent that Winter.

In the beginning of the next Spring Baiazet passed ouer HELLESPONTVS to PRUSA, where he built a faire Mahometane temple, with a colledge, and an almes-house: which works finished, he returned againe into EUROPE, and built a monasterie at HADRIANOPLE: and so returned again into ASIA, leauing Temurtases, Begler-Beg (or his vice-roy) in HADRIANOPLE. After he was come into ASIA, [...]ladel [...]hia [...] by Baiazet. he laied siege to the strong citie of PHILADELPHIA in LYDIA, which was at that time the onely cittie in the lesser ASIA, yet holden by the Christians in the middest of the Mahometane princes: for now was the Greeke emperour by the Othoman kings and the H other Turkes quite driuen out of the lesser ASIA. In the beginning of this siege, Baiazet gaue straight commaundement to his souldiors, That they should not spoile or hurt any thing in the countrey belonging to the citizens: hoping by such faigned courtesie to make them the more willing to yeeld themselues vnto his obedience. But disappointed of his expectation, and finding them resolued to hold it out vnto the last, he forthwith gaue out contrarie commaundement not to spare any thing they could wast or destroy: which was accordingly by his greedie souldiours performed. After long siege, the citizens seeing the countrey about them vtterly wasted, & themselues vnable longer to indure, and out of all hope of releefe, yeelded their citie vnto the pleasure of Baiazet. It is written by some, that this famous citie was not besieged without the consent of the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE: and that the Greekes themselues, mooued with enuie I to see that citie so long hold out, did helpe the Turks in the winning thereof.

In time of this siege Aiden Ogli prince of CARIA, a Mahometane, came to Baiazet, and yeelded himselfe into his power as his vassale: vnto whom Baiazet restored certain places which he had in this expedition a little before taken from him: yet vpon such condition, as that hee should not from that time coine any money in his owne name, either be remembred in publicke prayers as a prince in their Mahometane temples, as he had before been: but that all such things should be done in the name of Baiazet, as his dread lord and soueraigne. With which disgrace the poore prince was glad to content himselfe, and to liue as his vassale. From PHILADELPHIA he led his armie into the countrey of SARUCHANIA, in antient time called IONIA MARITIMA, which he subdued vnto himselfe vpon like conditions. After that he passed farther, to MENTESIA,K or MENTZ, sometime called MYNDOS in CARIA; the prince whereof for feare fled to Cutrum Baiazet, prince of CASTAMONA and part of PONTVS, leauing his countrey to the pleasure of the tyrant. And for as much as the young king of CARAMANIA had inuaded his countries whilest he was busied in EUROPE, Baiazet in reuenge thereof entred with his armie into CARAMANIA, and tooke CESARIA, with diuers other places there: so that the yong king discouraged with the losse of his towns, and fearing Baiazet his greatnesse, was glad to hold himselfe content with his losse, and to make peace with him as it pleased him to graunt it. As Baiazet was making this expedition into CARAMANIA, another yong Mahometane prince, the sonne of prince Germian, came vnto him with one of his cheefe counsellors, and were both by him sent prisoners ouer the strait to the castle of IPSALA, where they lay in durance many yeares after.L Thus Baiazet hauing oppressed and wronged most of the Mahometane princes, the successours of Sultan Aladin in the lesser ASIA, at last returned againe himselfe in triumph to PRUSA.

The prince of MENTESIA, who for feare of Baiazet was fled out of his countrey, as is aforesaid, had now incited Cutrun Baiazet, prince of CASTAMONA, with a great power to inuade that side of Baiazet his kingdome which bordered vpon him. Which Baiazet vnderstanding, gathered a great armie to goe against this Mahometane prince. At which very time the Vayuod of VALACHIA, hearing of Baiazet his troubles in ASIA, with a strong armie passed ouer DANVEIUS into those parts of SERVIA and BULGARIA that were by the Turks as then possessed; where he spoiled the countrey, and slew great numbers of the Turkes, making Mahometane saints and martyrs by heapes: for so the Turks account all them whom the Christians kill M in their warre: which done, hee retired backe againe into VALACHIA, carrying with him also many of the Turks prisoners. Baiazet thus at once inuaded both in ASIA and EUROPE, deferred his warres purposed against the prince of PONTUS, vntill a more conuenient time, conuerting his forces against the Valachians. Wherfore passing ouer the strait to HADRIANOPLE, he sent his armie from thence to NICOPOLIS, and there passing the riuer of Danubius, entered [Page] A into VALACHIA, burning and spoiling the countrey before him as he went. Where the Vayuod to represse his furie, met him in the field, and gaue him battaile, but was therein ouerthrowne and many of his people slaine; so that at last he was glad to sue for peace, which he obtained, by submitting himselfe to Baiazet, and yeelding to pay him a yearely tribute.

Whilst Baiazet was thus busied in VALACHIA,Thessa [...]a in [...] ded by Baia [...]et. newes was brought vnto him that the Christians of the West with a fleet of gallies did great harm alongst the coasts of his dominions in ASIA. In reuenge whereof he entred with his armie into THESALIE, destroying all the countrey vnto THESSALONICA: in which expedition he took the citie of NEAPOLIS in GREECE, and IOANNINA in Aetolia, and after that returned into ASIA where he spent that Winter.

B In the beginning of the next Spring, hee with a great power passed the strait of CALLIPOLIS to HADRIANOPLE, intending to haue inuaded HUNGARIE. But as he was vpon the waie, it chanced that a Constantinopolitan spie was by the Turkes intercepted, with letters from the Greeke emperour to the king of HUNGARIE, giuing him warning both of the Turks preparation and comming. By which spie Baiazet also vnderstood of another messenger before sent into HUNGARIE, for like purpose. Whereupon Temurtases (then his great lieutenant in EUROPE) persuaded him to desist from his intended warres in HUNGARIE, and to besiege the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, as a thing of more honour and lesse danger; the cittie being alreadie (as he said, and as in truth it was) surrounded with the Turkish prouinces: bringing in PHILADELPHIA (but a few years before woon) for example of the like exploit. Of whose counsaile C Baiazet liking well, returned with his armie, and shortly after came and sat downe therewith before CONSANTINOPLE: laying hard siege thereunto, first by land and after by sea, with his gallies sent from CALLIPOLIS.Constantinople eight yeares besieged by Baiaze [...] Which hard siege continued (as most histories report) the space of eight yeares: in which long time, hee draue the emperour Emanuell Palaelogus to that straight, that he was glad to leaue his citie, and himselfe in person to craue aid of Wenceslaus the Germane emperour, and Charles the sixt the French king, and other Christian princes also. At which time the cittizens were at length brought to such extremitie, that they were euen at the point to haue yeelded vp the cittie: and happily had so done, had not Sigismund king of HUNGARIE (assisted with a great armie of the French and other voluntarie Christians, almost out of euery part of Christendome, to the number of an hundreth and thirtie thousand, vnder the l [...]ading D of Iohn, countie of NIVERS, & after duke of BVRGUNDIE) for the releefe of the besieged emperour, passed ouer Danubius into the Turkish dominions; and there hauing recouered VIDINA, with certaine other strong holds in BULGARIA, laied siege to NICOPOLIS: out of which citie the Turks oftentimes sallied, and gaue him many an hot skirmish. It is reported that the young king Sigismund beholding the greatnesse of his armie, in his great jolitie hearing of the comming of the Turke, should proudly say: What need wee to feare the Turke, who need not at all to feare the falling of the heauens; which if they should fall, yet were we able with our speares and halberts to hold them vp for falling vpon vs. But Baiazet vnderstanding what spoile the Hungarian king had made in his late gained countries, and of the siege of NICOPOLIS; commaunded the ladders and other great prouision now in readinesse for the skaling and assaulting of the E citie of CONSTANTINOPLE to be burn [...], because they should not come into the hands of the Christians: and so raising his siege, marched with a right puissant armie to NICOPOLIS, sending Eurenoses before of purpose to intercept some of the Christians, thereby to learne the state of their campe and armie. But they hearing of his comming, so well looked to themselues, that he with shame returned to his master as he came, without any one prisoner taken. Which thing much troubled Baiazet, as fearing he should haue to doe with a warie enemie. Sigismund vnderstanding of the approch of Baiazet, leauing a sufficient power for the continuing of the siege, rose himselfe, and with the rest of his armie went to meet his proud enemie. Of whose comming and approch Baiazet vnderstanding, diuided his armie into two parts: & being now come within the sight of the Christian armie, made shew but of the one halfe, keeping himselfe close in secret F ambush not farre off with the other. The Christians deeming themselues (as they were) farre moe in number than the Turks which they saw, deuided their armie also into two parts, purposing betwixt them to haue inclosed the Turks. Of all the Christians that were there present, the French desired to haue the honour of the first charge to be giuen vpon the Turks, and in their heat vpon good hope set forward (the Hungarians with a great part of the armie, not yet set in order) and so began the battaile: where betwixt them and the Turks was fought a right cruell fight, and in a [Page] little time many thousands slaine. But this fight had not long endured, when Baiazet with the G other halfe of his armie suddenly arising, came on with such violence, as wel became his surname of Gilderun or lightning; and so hardly charged the French, that they amazed at the suddenesse of the danger, and oppressed with the furie and multitude of the vnexpected enemie, stood at the first as men dismaid: but seeing no remedie, encouraging one another, valiantly fought it out vntill they were almost all either slaine or taken prisoners; still in hope to haue been releeued by the Hungarians and the rest. In this hard conflict diuers of the French horsemen hauing forsaken their horses, fought on foot as their manner was: which horses running backe without their riders, vpon the Hungarians, caused them to doubt that the French were quite ouerthrown; wherewith dismaied, they without further comming on all turned their backes and fled, in so great hast as that it booted not the king or any other great commander to goe about to sta [...]e H their flight. The French thus by their too much hast ouerthrowne, the Turks pursuing the Hungarians and the rest of the Christians, made of them a great slaughter: of whom also many were drowned in the great riuer DANUBIUS. At which time also the Turkes tooke so many prisoners, that it was thought euerie seuerall Turke had his prisoner. King Sigismund himselfe, who but a little before had despised euen the falling of the heauens, had then also vndoubtedly fallen into the enemies hands, had hee not in a little boat by good hap got ouer DANVBIUS: not vnlike another Xerxes, who hauing couered the seas with his ships, and with a world of men passed ouer into GRECIA, was afterwards by the strange change of fortune, himselfe alone in a small fisher boat glad to get backe againe into ASIA. Sigismund being thus got ouer Danubius, and fearing the violence of the Hungarians for the losse of the I battaile, fled by sea into THRACIA vnto CONSTANTINOPLE; from whence he [...]ailed vnto the Island of the RHODES, and from thence sailing through the Aegean and Ionian sea, landed at length in DALMATIA: and so hauing wandered from place to place, tossed with many fortunes, after eighteene moneths long and painefull trauaile, returned againe into HUNGARIE. Where hee found the state of his kingdome in his absence much troubled, the contrarie faction in the meane time hauing made choice of Lad [...]slaus king of NAPLES for their king; who was euen thē with a great armie going to haue taken possession of the kingdome, had not Sigismund in good time by the helpe of certaine of the cheefe of the Hungarian nobilitie preuented him. In this battaile, called the battaile of NICOPOLIS, were of the Christians twentie thousand slaine, and of the Turkes threescore thousand. The countie of NIVIERS, the French kings neere kinsman,K was there taken prisoner, with three hundred great commaunders more: where after he had indured great contumelie and reproch in the presence of Baiazet, hee was commaunded to make choice of fiue other of the captiues, such as he liked best, all the rest being presently cut in peeces before his face, and he with the other fiue left aliue, sent prisoners to PRUSA: from whence they were afterwards ransomed for two hundred thousand duckats. This bloodie battaile of NICOPOLIS was fought in the yeere of our lord 1396.

Constantinople the second time besieged by Baiazet. Baiazet after this great victorie, hauing worthily releeued his besieged citie, returned againe to the siege of CONSTANTINOPLE, laying more hardly vnto it than before, building forts and bulwarks against it on the one side towards the land: and passing ouer the strait of BOSPHORUS, built a strong castle vpon that strait ouer against CONSTANTINOPLE, to impeach so L much as was possible all passage therunto by sea. This straight siege (as most write) continued also two years, which I suppose by the circumstance of the historie to haue been part of the aforesaid eight yeares. Emanuell the besieged emperor wearied with these long wars, sent an embassador to Baiazet to entreat with him a peace: which Baiazet was the more willing to hearkē vnto, for that he heard news that Tamerlane the great Tartarian prince intended shortly to war vpon him. Yet could this peace not be obtained, but vpon condition that the emperour should graunt free libertie for the Turks to dwell together in one street of CONSTANTINOPLE, with free exercise of their owne religion, and laws, vnder a judge of their owne nation; and further, to pay vnto the Turkish king a yearely tribute of ten thousand duckats. Which dishonourable conditions the distressed emperour was glad to accept of. So was this long siege broken vp, and presently a great M sort of Turks with their families were sent out of BITHYNIA to dwell in CONSTANTINOPLE, and a church there built for them: which not long after was by the emperour pulled downe to the ground, and the Turks again driuen out of the citie, at such time as Baiazet was by the mightie Tamerlane ouerthrowne and taken prisoner.

[Page] A Baiazet in the beginning of his raigne,Baiazet [...] Despina the faire daughter of Lazarus the Despot. presently after the death of Lazarus the Despot slaine in the battaile of COSSOUA, wan part of SERUIA (as is aforesaid) the other part being still holden by Lazarus his sonne, called Stephen the Despot; who about this time sent an honourable embassadour to Baiazet with louing letters, and royall presents: by which embassadour also the old princesse, Lazarus his widdow, offred her faire daughter Despina (Stephen his sister) a ladie of incomparable beautie, in mariage to him, if it should please him to vouchsafe his handmaid (as shee termed her) so high a place. This ladie was long before promised vnto him, whilst his father Amurath yet liued. Of this embassadour Baiazet was verie glad, but especially for the faire ladies sake: which being knowne vnto the princesse her mother, and the Despot her brother, B she was forthwith honourably sent to Baiazet, and so to him with great solemnitie and triumph shortly after maried. Of all his wiues, he held her deerest, and for her sake restored vnto her brother Stephen the citie and castle of SEMENDRE (otherwise called S. ANDREVV) and COLUMBARIUM in SERUIA: she allured him to drinke wine, forbidden the Turks by their law; and caused him to delight in sumptuous banquets, which his predecessours Othoman, Orchanes, and Amurath neuer vsed.

As the Turkish kingdome grew in greatnesse, so corruption the canker of great states and common weales increased likewise: but especially in the men of law and judges of his courts. Wherewith Baiazet greeuouslie offended, commaunded diuers of the same judges to be apprehended, determining (to the terrour of others) to haue executed them; whose dangerous estate C was much pitied, and also fauoured of Alis Bassa, and other the king his great counsellours: yet for so much as Baiazet was of a furious nature, and in his anger dangerous to bee spoken vnto, none of them durst aduenture to intreat him in their behalfe; no not Alis Bassa, Charadyn Bassa his sonne, sometime judge of PRUSA, although he was a man in such speciall fauour with him that he was therfore of the cōmon people not only reuerenced, but as the king himselfe honored.

There was at that time in the court an Aethiopion jeaster, who vnder some couert pleasant jeast, would many times bolt out that to the king in his greatest heat, which his grauest counsellours durst not once speake to him of in secret: this jeaster, Alis Bassa requested to deuise some means to intreat with the angrie king in the behalfe of these Iudges, promising to giue him what he would reasonably desire, if he could appease the kings displeasure. The Aethiopian without D feare vndertooke the matter: and presently putting vppon his head a rich hat all wrought ouer with gold after the manner of the Turks embassadours, and fitting himselfe with other appparell better beseeming an embassadour than a jeaster; thus attired presented himselfe before the king with a great counterfait grauitie. Whereat Baiazet maruailing, asked him the cause why he was so gaie. I haue a request vnto your maiestie, (said he) and wish to find fauour in your sight. Baiazet more desirous than before to know the matter, asked what his request was. If it stand with your pleasure (said the jeaster) I would faine goe as your embassadour to the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, in hope wherof, I haue put my selfe in this readinesse. To what purpose wouldest thou goe, said Baiazet? To craue of the emperor (said he) some fortie or fiftie of his old graue monkes and friers, to bring with me hether to the court. And what should they doe here, said Baiazet? E I would haue them placed (said the jeaster) in the roomes of the old doting judges, whom you intend (as I heare) to put to death. Why (said Baiazet) I can place others of my own people in their roomes. True (said the Aethiopian) for grauitie of looke and countenance, and so would the old monkes and friers serue as well; but not so learned in your lawes and customes of your kingdome, as are those in your displeasure. If they be learned (said Baiazet) why doe they then contrarie to their learning peruert justice and take bribes? There is a good reason for that too, said the jeaster. What reason said the king? That can hee that there standeth by tell better than I (said the jeaster) pointing to Alis Bassa: who forthwith commanded by Baiazet to giue the reason, with great reuerence before done, shewed that those judges so in displeasure, were not conueniently prouided for, and were therefore enforced many times for their necessarie maintenance F to take rewards, to the staying of the due course of justice. Which Baiazet vnderstanding to be true, commaunded Alis Bassa to appoint them conuenient stipends for their maintenance, and forthwith graunted their pardon. Wherevpon the Bassa set downe order, That of euerie matter in suit exceeding one thousand aspers, the judge should haue twentie aspers fee for judgement; and for euerie writing and instrument out of the court, twelue aspers: which fees they yet take in those courts at this day.

[Page]Not long after, Baiazet in his furie sent for certaine of his captaines and commaunders of his G men of warre, with whom he was for some small occasion greeuously offended, intending in his rage to haue put them all to death; which was with him no great matter. These captaines being brought before him, the councellors seeing him all in choler, sat looking vpon the ground, hanging downe their heads (as the manner of the Turks is) not daring to looke him in the face, nor to speake a good word for them. When suddenly the aforesaid Aethiopian jeaster stept foorth, earnestly requesting the king, not to shew them any fauour, but to execute them presently as villaines and traitours; rayling vpon them, as if he had knowne some great fault by them. Baiazet (thinking he could haue accused them of some great crime, because of his earnestnes) asked what reason hee had so to exclaime against them. Reason (quoth the jeaster) because the knaues bee H good for nothing, and they say that Tamerlan is with a great armie comming against vs: if you will but take vp an ensigne in your hand, and I goe before you with a drum, I will strike vp such a terrible march, and you make such a dreadfull shew, that wee shall neede none of these bad fellowes or their souldiours in the field to get the victorie ouer our enemies. This conceit of the jeaster strucke such a melancholie imagination into Baiazet his head, that hee stood musing a great while as it were in a deepe studie: at last hauing well considered the drift of the jeasters speech, and his furie now somewhat assuaged, graunted them pardon which they looked not for.

This Aethiopian jeaster, Baiazet vpon a time sent vnto the old queene his mother to bring her news of the good successe of his wars against the Christians, for that she had so desired: who comming vnto her, and by her commaunded to sit downe, she began to demaund of him, how the I king her sonne did, and of the successe of his wars. Wherevnto he answered, that he did verie well, and had won from the Christians a great countrey, and greatly enriched his souldiours. But after a little more talke, the queene mother desirous to heare againe the good newes (or else after the manner of some which thinke nothing sufficiently told except it bee told an hundreth times) asked him againe how the king her sonne did, and how he sped in his wars. Wherevnto he answered euerie word as before: but asking him the third time the verie same question, how her sonne did? Doest thou aske me so often (said the Aethiopian) how hee doth? Bre Cachpe (O whoore, said he) thou hast brought forth a sonne like a diuell, who roaming vp and downe doth nothing but burne and destroie the world where he commeth. Whereat the queene crying out; vp start the Aethiopian, and betaking himselfe to his heeles was neuer more afterwards K seene.

Temurtase [...], Baiazet his great [...] [...]enant in Asia taken prisoner by Ala [...] the young [...] of Ca [...]amani [...]In the wars which Baiazet had against Sigismund, the Vayuod of VALACHIA had giuen aid vnto the Hungarian king; wherewith Baiazet being offended, determined now at length to be reuenged: and therefore intending to make warre vpon the Valachian prince, left Temurtases his great lieutenant at ANCYRA in ASIA, & so passed ouer HELLESPONTUS himselfe against the Valachian. Vpon whose departure, Aladin his sisters sonne, the yong king of CARAMANIA, with a great power came suddenly in the night to ANCYRA, and tooke Temurtases prisoner: who then feared nothing lesse, than in time of peace to haue been so surprised, and caried away in bonds into CARAMANIA. But when he vnderstood that Baiazet had ended his wars in VALACHIA, and was with victorie returned to PRUSA, he fearing his heauie indignation for so L great an outrage, presently released Temurtases out of prison, apparelled him richly after the maner of that nation, craued pardon for the wrong he had done him, and set him at libertie to goe whither he would, and withall sent one of his noblemen with great gifts and presents to Baiazet to make his excuse in best maner he could: vnto which embassador Baiazet (yet in choler) would not giue audience, or suffer him to come in his sight: but at the same time leuied a great armie to inuade CARAMANIA. Which Aladin vnderstanding, and now out of all hope to appease this mightie enemie, leuied all the forces he could in his owne kingdome, and withall entertained all the mercenarie soldiors he could get, intending to trie his fortune in the filed, as a man of valour, rather than to be thrust out of his kingdome like a coward: & so in readinesse, hearing of the cō ming of Baiazet, met him vpō the way, & at a place called ACZAC gaue him battell: but being too M weak, he was ouercome & put to flight; in which flight his horse stumbling, & he so falling to the groūd, was there before he could recouer himself, takē by his enemies which had him in chase, & so brought boūd to Baiazet: his two sons, Muhamet Beg & Alis Beg, being takē in that battell also, were sent prisoners to PRUSA. Aladin himselfe was by Baiazet his cōmandement deliuered to his enemy Temurtases: who in reuēge of the wrong he had before done him, presently caused him to [Page] A be hanged: which when Baiazet vnderstood, hee seemed very sorrie that he had so put him to death, for that he was his owne sisters sonne. Baiazet following the course of his victorie, woon ICONIVM, LARENDA, NIGDE, with all the rest of Aladin his kingdome. About this time also, AMASIA the great metropoliticall citie of CAPADOCIA was by the prince thereof deliuered vnto Baiazet, Amasia yeelded vnto Baiazet. being too weake himselfe to defend the same against the force of Casi-Burchanidin, prince of the great and strong citie of SEBASTIA, his enemie; now growne to be a man of great power in that part of ASIA, and had solicited the Sultan of AEGYPT to aid him against Baiazet. Whereupon Baiazet returning from the conquest of CARAMANIA, led his armie towards SEBASTIA, where the cittizens had a little before depriued Casi-Burchanidin of his gouernment; B for his crueltie, and placed his sonne in his stead: but in short time no lesse wearie of the sonne than before of the father, they with like inconstancie sent word to Baiazet, that if he would come that way, they would yeeld vnto him the citie: vpon whose approch, Casis (his son) for feare fled out of the citie to prince Nasradin, his brother in law. After whose departure, the cittizens according to their promise deliuered the citie vnto Baiazet at his comming, wherein hee left Solyman his eldest sonne gouernour. And so hauing in this notable expedition conquered the kingdome of CARAMANIA,Sebastia deliuered to Baiazet. and taken the great citties of AMASIA and SEBASTIA, with most part of CAPPADOCIA, and all that part of ASIA which the Turks call RUMILIA ASIATICA, he returned to PRUSA, and there wintered.

The next Spring Baiazet (hearing that his old enemie Cutrun Baiazet prince of CASTAMONA C and PONTUS, was dead) came to CASTAMONA with a great armie: of whose comming, Isfendiar (Cutrun Baiazet his sonne,Baiazet inuadeth Isfendiar▪ prince of Castamona. and then prince of that country) hearing, fled out of the citie to SYNOPE, a little citie vpon the coast of the Euxine: from whence he sent an embassador vnto Baiazet, humbly requesting him, to suffer him to haue that little citie, as his seruant to liue in, (which he was sure he would otherwise bestow vpon some other of his seruants) & not to seeke the innocent blood of the sonne for the fathers offence. Which his request, Baiazet moued with pitie, graunted: yet neuerthelesse tooke from him CASTAMONA, with the greatest part of his dominion in PONTUS, which he gaue to his sonne Solyman. At the same time he violently oppressed the prince Germean, and tooke from him the cities of DESPOTOPOLIS and HIERAPOLIS, with all the rest of his dominion.

D The prince of MENTESIA long before driuen out of his countrey by Baiazet (as is before declared) and hauing all this while made his abode at CASTAMONA, doubting now of his own safetie after the death of his good friend Cutrun Baiazet, in the habit of an hermit fled to the great Tartarian prince Tamerlane.

Baiazet returning to PRUSA, there built a magnificent Mahometane temple; during which worke, hee with great superstition forbore drinking of wine, reposing himselfe with the companie of graue and learned men, and the administration of justice: whereby hee greatly woon the hearts of his subjects, and had now so enlarged his kingdome, that all kings and princes bordering vpon him stood in great feare of him.

It fortuned about this time, that Achmetes king of BAGDAT (or new BABILON) & EIRACVM, E with Iosephus Niger king of CHOLCHIS, enforced with the violent incursions of Tamerlane and his Tartars, for safegard of their liues were glad to flie into SYRIA: where they being discouered, were both cast in prison by the commaundement of the Aegyptian Sultan, who then commaunded ouer SYRIA: from whence they afterwards hardly escaping, fled to Baiazet his court. Where after Achmetes had stayed two moneths, he by the aid of Baiazet recouered the possession of EIRACVM, part of his own inheritance. Iosephus the other Mahometane king, hauing tarried in Baiazet his court eight moneths, at length procured him to inuade the dominions of the Aegyptian Sultan, in which expedition hee mightily preuailed: and hauing slaine the Aegyptian Sultans generall, and discomfited his forces, took the citie of MALATIE or MELETINE in ARMENIA, with DIORIGE, DERENDE, and BEXENE, taken from the Turcomans, and spoiled F all the countrey thereabouts. From thence marching with his armie towards ERZNITZANE, the prince thereof, called Tachretin, met him vpon the way, yeelding his citie and country into his power; which Baiazet presently gaue to Iosephus Niger: who after he had six daies enjoyed this new gouernment, finding the people vnwilling to be gouerned by him a stranger, surrendred the same again into the hands of him that gaue it. Wherupon the citizens of ERZNITZANE humbly requested of Baiazet, That they might be again gouerned by their old prince Tachretin, now [Page] his vassale. Which thing he at their earnest request graunted: but taking his wife and children as G a pledge of his loyaltie, sent thē away to PRUSA, where they were all not long after made away.

The Mahometan princes of Asia oppressed by Baiazet, disgu [...] sed flye vnto Tamerlane for aid.When Baiazet had now many yeares thus mightily preuailed against the Christian princes in ROMANIA, BULGARIA, BOZNA, THESALIA, VALACHIA, and other places of EUROPE, as is before declared; and inflamed with insatiable ambition, had in worse manner oppressed the Mahometan kings and princes of ASIA, of whom some were by him slaine, some driuen out of their dominions into exile, some imprisoned, and othersome brought into such subjection that they liued as it were but at his deuotion; and was now growne to that greatnesse, that in the pride of his heart he stood in feare of no man; but was (as he thought) a terrour vnto the world, hauing vnder his obeisance great and large dominions in EUROPE, but farre greater in ASIA:H It fortuned diuers of these miserable oppressed and discontented Mahometan princes, by great fortune as if it had been by appointment, to meet together at the court of the great Tartarian prince Tamerlane, whether they were fled for releefe and succour. The prince German Ogli, after long imprisonment in the castle of IPSA [...]A in EUROPE, brake prison, and with Hissar-beg his great councellour and prison-fellow, consorted themselues with a companie of loytering companions, roaming from place to place, delighting the countrey people with their apish toies: in which companie hee passed HELLESPONTUS, as a beareward, and at length with much adoe came to Tamerlane his court: whether the prince of MENTESIA was come before, in the habit of an Hermit (as is aforesaid) with his head and beard shauen: Aidin Ogli passing through the countrey as a pedler, with a packe at his backe▪ came thether also: The prince Tachretin as a I seruingman, came attending vpon the prince Isfendiar: who came also (but in some better sort than the rest) as an embassadour from some other prince. All these poore princes, with diuers others in like miserie, in short time arriued at SAMARCAND (great Tamerlane his court;) euerie one perticularly complaining of his owne priuat greefe, and all together earnestly requesting that mightie prince, to take vpon him their defence, and to reuenge the wrong done vnto them by the Turkish tirant Baiazet. Whose pitifull complaints much mooued the noble Tartarian: but especially the long and wrongfull imprisonment of Germian Ogli: and the pitifull complaint and moane of Tachretin, who had of late lost his wife and children, by the crueltie of Baiazet. Yet in this matter of so great and important consequence, Tamerlane made no great shew of his forwardnesse (although he was by nature in nothing more delighted, than in the releeuing of K the distressed, and chastising of the proud) but coldly answered those princes, That he could not tell, whether all were so as they had reported of Baiazet, or not, but that he well knew him to be a verie zealous king in setting forth of the Mahometane religion; and that hee had therefore made great warres vpon the Christians, in which godly cause (he said) perhaps they had refused to assist him, or else had giuen him some other greater occasion of offence, to him vnknowne: For I can hardly beleeue (said he) that so great and religious a prince as he, would without just and sufficient cause, offer such violence as you complaine of, especially vnto you his neighbour princes, and of the same religion with himselfe: neuerthelesse, whatsoeuer I intend concerning your request (said Tamerlane) I will send first an embassadour vnto him, to vnderstand more of him and his proceedings before I resolue vpon any thing: with which answere hee willed L them vntill then to hold themselues contented. But as Tamerlane was about to haue dispatched his embassadour to Baiazet, he was aduertised that Achmetes late king of new BABILON, and Iosephus king of COLCHIS, both by him driuen out of their kingdomes, hauing broken out of prison from the Sultan of EGIPT, were now come to Baiazet his court, to craue his aid and assistance: wherefore he deferred to send his embassador, suspecting that Baiazet, incited by these two exiled kings, would first in their quarrell begin to make warre vpon him. But not long after vnderstanding, that they were both againe departed from his court (as is before declared) hee then dispatched his embassadour to Baiazet, with many rich gifts and presents, courteously requesting him, the rather for his sake, to deale kindly with these poore Mahometane princes, his friends; as also with the Greeke emperour Emanuel his allie, for whom he was now become an M intercessour vnto him. Some report also, that he besides this, requested to haue the two aforesaid Mahometan kings of BAGDAT and COLCHIS deliuered vnto him; and withall seemed not a little to dislike of Baiazet his proceeding against the Turcomans his friends. But Baiazet being a prince of a great and haughtie spirit, and vnaccustomed to heare of any thing which fitted not his humor, highly offended with this embassage, in great scorne reiected the presents by Tamerlane [Page] A sent vnto him, and especially certaine garments which Tamerlane after the manner of those Easterne nations, had in kindnesse amongst other things sent him: willing the embassadour to bid his maister meddle with his owne matters, and to prescribe laws vnto his owne subjects, and not vnto him, with whom he had nought to doe; and to send his ragges for presents vnto his inferiours, and not vnto princes of greater power and state than himselfe. Adding therevnto many other words full of despight and disdaine, affoording him no better stile than the plaine name of Tamerlane: calling him the husband of an whore, if he met him not in the field▪ and wishing vnto himselfe againe, to take vnto him his thrice diuorced wife, after she had been polluted by another B man (as the greatest dishonour that might be) if he failed to meet him wheresoeuer he durst to dare him battaile. Which proud answere of the Turkes, by the embassadour reported vnto Tamerlane, and agrauated by Axalla (a Christian of the race of the Genowaies, borne at CAPHA, and then one of the greatest counsellors about him; and the Greeke emperors great friend) was so euill taken by him, that all other things set apart, hee resolued to goe against the Turke, and to take in hand that war, as of all other the fittest for the encrease of his honour and glorie. Besides that, he thought it not in reason fit for the greatnesse of the Tartarian empire, to suffer such an vnquiet neighbor to grow great; as still encroching vpon other the weake princes confining vnto him, and adding conquests vnto conquests; and yet neuer the more contented, might in the C end proue dangerous vnto his owne estate and soueraigntie: a common care to such as be themselues great, and mounted vp vnto the highest degrees of worldly honor, to haue in jealousie and distrust the suddaine rising of others neere or farther off, as perillous or disgracefull to themselues, or their estate: whose growing greatnesse they therefore seeke by all means to hinder; as did now the mightie Tamerlane the proceedings and encreasing of the great Othoman king, Baiazet: & the rather being continually prickt forward so to do, by the solicitation of the Greeke emperor Emanuel, the other oppressed Mahometane princes, and by the great captaine Axalla, (as is aforesaid) a Christian: of whom for all that Tamerlane himselfe, a Mahometane, for the great fidelitie, valour, and vertue he found in him, made no small reckoning, but was contented euen in his greatest and most waightie affaires to be by him aduised; disliking of no man for his religion whatsoeuer, so as D he did worship but one only God, creator of heauen & earth, and of all that therein is. Being himselfe of opinion,Tamerlane his opinion concerning the diuersitie of religions. That God in essence one, & in himselfe immutable, without change or diuersitie: yet for the manifesting of his omnipotencie & power, as he had created in the world sundry kinds of people, much differing both in nature, manners, and condition, and yet all framed to the image of himselfe: so was he also contented to be of them diuersly serued, according to the diuersitie of their natures and manners; so that they worshipped none other strange gods, but him alone, the maker and creator of all things. Which was the cause that he permitted the vse of all religions within the countries subject to his obedience, were they not meere Atheists, idolaters, or worshippers of strange and vaine gods.

Neither was proud Baiazet as one ignorant of the power or purpose of Tamerlane, in the mean time idle, but still prosecuted his good fortune for the enlarging of his empire, & increasing of his E strength: wisely deeming (as the truth was) whatsoeuer messages were sent vnto him from Tamerlane, to be no other than meere threatenings and forewarnings of his more dangerous purposes and designes against him and his state: which he was so far from fearing, as that to prouoke him the more, he spared no intemperat speech, which might moue him to wrath; wishing (as should seeme) for nothing more than to meet him in the field, there to trie the fortune of a battell with him. So weake is our foresight of our fortunes to come, and the reach of our vnderstanding for the apprehension or declining of the fatall doome euen presently hanging ouer our heads; as that we oftentimes through ignorance most desirously wish for those things which are vnto vs the cheefe occasions of our vtter ruin and destruction.

But here before we enter into farther discourse of the mortall warre betwixt these two so puissant princes, it shall not bee much from our purpose to step a little out of the way, to see what F this mightie Tamerlane (of whom so many princes craued aid) was: who liuing, held the East in such awe,The base opinion some haue, concerning the birth and rising of Tamerlane. as that he was commonly called, The wrath of God, and Terrour of the World▪ which he then filled with the glorie of his name. Most Historiographers report him to haue ben poorly borne, of base and obscure parents: and so himselfe also in his youth to haue liued as a poore shepheard or heardsman in the mountaines; where consorting himselfe with other sturdie companions of like qualitie and disposition, such as there liued by robbing of marchants and other [Page] passengers, hee became a masterfull theefe amongst them: vnto whom other such leaud mates G daily still more and more resorting, hee in short time grew (as they say) to that greatnesse, that he is reported to haue beene of such power, as neuer man but hee euer yet came vnto▪ A matter almost incredible. For albeit, that the Romane empire, yea and this great empire of the Turks also, with some others, had their beginnings not much better or greater, the one vnder Romulus, and the other vnder Othoman: yet grew they not as vpon the suddaine, in their times, to any great lustre (neither was it possible for them of so small beginnings so to doe) but by many degrees, and that in long time; euery of the succeeding princes, according to their fortunes, adding something to their state, before it could be made great: whereas he (by their report) contrarie to the course of things both naturall and ciuile (which from their small beginnings grow to no notable H perfection or greatnesse, but by degrees, and that in the long reuolution of time) taking his beginning of nothing, grew vpon the suddaine to be a burthen & terror vnto the world. Wherin our late Historiographers seeme too much to haue followed the report of the Turks, who by him brought low, and their kingdome almost in one battell subuerted, report nothing simply of him; but in what they may, detracting from his worthie praises, wrongfully charge him with many vntruths, not concerning his parentage onely, but euen in the course of his whole life also: making him (as they would haue the world to beleeue) first to haue beene a very abject amongst men; and then for his inhumane crueltie a very monster in nature, or (as it was long before, but more truly said of another great one much like himselfe) a lumpe of earth tempered with blood. Which incredible reports concerning so great a monarch, I list not to follow, as too full of dishonour:I especially whereas others of no lesse credit than they, with farre more modestie and greater probabilitie report of him the greatest honour that may be. Hee was (as they and the others also say) borne at SAMERCAND,Tamerlane honorably d [...]scēded. the cheefe citie of the Zagataian Tartars, pleasantly situated vpon the riuer IAXARTES: his father was called Zain-Cham, or as some others will, Og, prince of the Zagataian Tartars, and of the countrey of SACHETAY (sometime part of the famous kingdome of PARTHIA) third in descent from Zingis, the great and fortunate leader of the Tartars, before in the former part of this historie remēbred. Which Og, as a prince of a peaceable nature (accounting it no lesse honour quietly to keepe the countries left him by his father, than with much trouble and no lesse danger to seeke how to enlarge the same) long liued in most happie rest with his subjects, no lesse happie than himselfe: not so much seeking after the hoording vp K of gold and siluer (things of that nation not regarded) as contenting himselfe with the encrease and profit of his flocks of sheepe, and heards of cattell; then, and yet also, the principall reuenues of the Tartar kings and princes:The cause why some haue reported him to haue been a shepheard or heardsman. which happily gaue occasion vnto some, ignorant of the manner and custome of those Northerne nations and countries, to account them all for shepheards and heardsmen; and so also to haue reported of this mightie prince, as of a shepheards sonne, or heardsman himselfe: vainely measuring his nobilitie by the homely manner of his people and subjects, and not by the honor of his house, & heroicall vertues, such as were hardly to be found greater in any prince of that or other former ages. His peaceable father now well stricken in yeares, and wearie of the world, deliuered vp vnto him (not yet past fifteene yeares old) the gouernment of his kingdome, joining vnto him two of his most faithfull counsellours, Odmar and L Aly, to assist him in the gouernment of his state (retiring himselfe vnto a solitarie life, the more at quiet to serue God, and so to end his daies in peace:) which two his trustie seruants and graue counsellors he dearely loued whilest they liued, and much honoured the remembrance of them, being dead. The first proofe of his fortune and valour, was against the Moscouit, for spoiling of a citie which had put it selfe vnder his protection; and for entering of his countrey; and for proclaiming of warre against him: whom he in a great battaile ouerthrew, hauing slaine fiue and twentie thousand of the Moscouits footmen, and betweene fifteene and sixteen thousand horsemen, with the losse of scarce eight thousand horsemen and foure thousand footmen of his own. After which battell he beholding so many thousands of men there dead vpon the ground, was so farre from rejoicing thereat, that turning himselfe vnto one of his familiars, he lamented the condition M of such as commaunded ouer great armies, commending his fathers quiet course of life, accounting him happie in seeking for rest, and the other most vnhappie, which by the destruction of their owne kind, sought to procure their owne glorie; protesting himselfe euen from his heart to be grieued to see such sorrowfull tokens of his victorie. With this ouerthrow the Moscouit discouraged, sent embassadours to him for peace, which vpon such honourable conditions as [Page] A pleased him to set downe, was by him graunted; and so the peace concluded. Now the Great Cham of TARTARIA (his fathers brother) being growne old, and out of hope of any mo children, moued with the fame of his nephew, after this victorie sent vnto him diuers presents, and withall offering him his onely daughter in marriage, and with her to proclaime him heire apparant vnto his empire; as in right hee was, being his brothers sonne, and the daughters not at all succeeding in those empires. Which so great an offer Tamerlane gladly accepted, and so the mariage was afterwards with great triumph at the old emperors court solemnized;Tamerlane marrieth the daughter and heire of the great Chae [...] of Tartari [...]. and he proclaimed heire apparant vnto that great empire. Thus was Tamerlane indeed made great, being euer after this marriage by the old emperour his vncle, and now his father in law, so long as hee liued, B notably supported, and after his death succeeding him also in that so mightie an empire. Yet in the meane time wanted not this worthie prince the enuious competitours of these his so great honours: insomuch, that whilest by the aduise and persuasion of the old emperour, he was taking in hand to make warre against the great king of CHINA (who had as then gone far beyond his bounds) and so was now well onwards on his way, he was by the conspiracie of Calix (a man of greatest power and authoritie in the Great Cham his court) almost thrust out of his new empire: Calix with a right puissant armie hauing alreadie ceized vpon the great citie of CAMBALU, and the citizens also generally fauouring those his traiterous proceedings, as disdaining to bee gouerned by the Zagataian Tartar. For redresse whereof, Tamerlane was enforced with the greatest part of his armie to returne, and meeting with the rebell (who then had in his armie fourescore C thousand horse, and an hundred thousand foot) in a great and mortall battell (wherein of the one side and of the other were more than fiftie thousand men slaine) ouerthrew him (though not without the great danger of his own person, as being there himselfe beaten down to the ground) tooke him prisoner, and afterwards beheaded him. Which so dangerous a rebellion, with the death of the traitour, and the cheefe of the conspiratours repressed, and his state in the newnesse thereof by this victorie well confirmed, he proceeded in his intended war against the great king of CHINA; brake downe the strong wall, which the Chinoies had made foure hundred leagues long betwixt the mountaines, for the repressing of the incursions of the Tartars, entered their countrey; and meeting with the king, leading after him three hundred and fiftie thousand men (whereof there were an hundred and fiftie thousand horsemen, and the rest on foot) in a great D and dreadfull battaile, with the slaughter of 60000 of his men, ouercame him, and tooke him prisoner: whom for all that he (in the course of so great a victorie wisely moderating his fortune) shortly after set againe at libertie; yet so, as that hauing before taken from him the one halfe of his kingdome, and therein left Odmar his trustie lieutenant, with a sufficient power for the restraining of the proud king, if he should againe begin to raise any new stirres; and withall, imposed such other conditions as pleased himselfe, with the yearely tribute of three hundred thousand crownes, he well prouided for the assuring of those his new conquests: and so in triumph returned with victorie vnto the old emperour his father in law at CAMBALU, not a little glad to see both him and his daughter, who had in all those warres still accompanied him. But leauing him, now thus by birth great, by his fortune greater, but by his vertue greatest of all (as able now to E draw after him almost the whole power of the East) let vs againe return thither from whence we haue for the better knowledge of him, thus with him digressed.

The warre against the Turkish Sultan Baiazet (as is aforesaid) by Tamerlane resolued vpon, he sent Axalla the great captaine to his countrey of SACHETAY (called of some ZAGATAI) to giue beginning to the assembling of his forces from all parts; to the end, that with the first of the Spring hee might set forward for the releefe of so many distressed princes, and the abating of the pride of so great and mightie a tyrant as was Baiazet. Now had Tamerlane procured from the great Tartarian emperour, his vncle and father in law, an hundred thousand footmen, and fourescore thousand horsemen; hoping to haue as many moe from SACHETAY his owne countrey, besides the lords that for honours sake would accompanie him in that F his so honourable an expedition, from whome hee made account also of fiftie thousand men more which they would bring vnto him, and diuers other great supplies which hee expected from other places also: wherewith he doubted not well to performe what he had so honourably determined to take in hand, for the abating of the Othoman pride: for which and other such like, he was (as hee would often times say) by God himselfe appointed. So taking his leaue of the old emperour his father in law, and of the princesse his wife (then left behind him for [Page] the comfort of her aged father, he departed from CAMBALU towards SAMARCAND, the place G of his birth and seat of his empire; leauing behind him the forces brought from the great emperour his vncle, t [...] come after him to OZARA, where hee had appointed the generall meeting of his armie. At which time amongst other princes that thither brought or sent their supplies, the great Muscouite beeing requested so to doe, promised to send him fifteene thousand horse, with a certaine summe of money, and leaue for his armie to passe through so much of his territories as should be necessarie: all which hee afterwards performed vnto Tamerlane, being glad that hee did set vpon others, rather than on himselfe; and that so great a preparation, should fall vpon them, whose greatnesse was as dreadfull and dangerous vnto him as to any other. All the earth almost at that time being astonished at the sudden greatnesse of this Othoman H king, and the happie successe he had in all his warres; not the least cause that mooued Tamerlane to oppose himselfe against him, deeming it much better to goe and set vpon him in his new conquests, than to stay vntill he therein setled, were come neerer vnto him, and so should debate the quarrell within his owne empire, to his dammage. A good and sound resolution: first in that it tended to the destruction of the enemies countrey; and then, that if any thing should fall out otherwise with him than well, his countrey should not thereby receiue any such astonishment as if the danger were neerer or within the bowels of the same. Now in the mean time that Tamerlane lay at SAMARCAND, Axalla the great captaine and Tamerlane his lieutenant generall, had assembled all the armie at OZARA.Prince Axalla in great credit with Tamerlane. Whereof Tamerlane vnderstanding, sent for him to SAMARCAND to conferre with him about the setting forward of his armie. For although he were still accompanied I with great renowned princes, yet were they no body in comparison of Axalla, whose sound counsel had won him such credit with his lord & master, as by his aduice he did all things, and without him nothing: which his so great authoritie and fauour with his prince, wanted not the enuie of the court; but that his great vertues, and rare found courtesie (in so great fortune) together with so many worthie seruices as he had done, supported him against the malice of the same. He by the commaundement of Tamerlane, leauing the charge of the armie at OZARA, with the prince of THANAIS, another of Tamerlane his great captaines, came himselfe to SAMARCAND, and there at large discoursed with him, about the estate and order of his armie. And shortly after, departing with Axalla and the rest from SAMARCAND, for to goe to OZAZA the place where all his armie met: being come thether, entred into a great consultation with his most K expert captaines, about the taking of his journey, and conducting of his armie; as whether it were better to lead the same by the coasts of the Muscouite directly towards CAPHA, or else on the other side of the Caspian sea by the skirts of PERSIA. Where after long discourse and sundry opinions with their reasons deliuered, it was in the end resolued (although the way were the longer) to passe by the Muscouit, so to come vnto the Georgians, and to TREBIZONDA, and from thence to enter into the Othoman king his countrey. And so setting forward from OZARA, hee came at length to MARANIS, where he staid three daies looking for the forces which prince Odmar should send him from CHINA, not long before by him conquered: whereof he there receiued news, and there caused his armie to be paid, and a generall muster thereof to be taken. He had there also newes of the aid the Muscouite did send him: and caused an infinite quantitie of victuals,L and most part of his furniture to be conuaied by the Caspian sea; being a great commoditie and ease vnto his armie, which marching by land, was of necessitie to passe some twentie leagues through places destitute both of victuals and water. Tamerlane all the way coasting alongst the sea shoare, passed the time in hunting, his armie not comming neere him by ten leagues; which was so great, that it extended it selfe full twentie leagues. Comming to the riuer of EDEL, he staied at ZARAZICH whilest his armie passed the riuer at MECHET, and two other bridges which he had caused to be made for that purpose. Now the Circassians, and Georgians, hearing of the approach of Tamerlane with his huge armie, by their embassadours offred him all the helpe and assistance they could, in his journey as he passed that way. These Georgians were (and yet are) Christians, a great and warlike people, of long time tributaries vnto the Greeke emperours:M and afterwards sometimes tributaries, and sometimes confederats vnto the Persians: but alwaies enemies vnto the Turks, by whom (of late and in our remembrance) but especially by Amurath the third, they together with some part of the Persian kingdome, haue been greeuously oppressed, as in the processe of this historie may appeare. Of these warlike people glad of Tamerlane his comming, for the repressing of the Turke, Axalla drew great numbers vnto the seruice of his prince: who not a little esteemed of them, being all tall men, verie beautifull, of great strength [Page] A and courage, and withall most expert souldiours; as hauing oftentimes resisted the power of the Othoman kings, by reason of the aduantage their countrey affordeth them, being verie rough and hard to come into. By these kind people, Tamerlane was in euerie place honourably entertained, and his great armie with all necessaries plentifully releeued. In passing through which countrey and the rest as he marched, he tooke such order with his souldiours, that none of the people whereby he passed, were any thing by them injured; insomuch that if a souldiour had taken but an apple, or other thing of like valour from any man, he died therefore, so seuere were his commaunds. It is reported that one of his souldiors, hauing taken a little milke from a countrey woman, and she thereof complaining, he caused the said souldior to be presently killed, and his stomacke B to be ript; where the milke that he had of late drunke being found, he contented the woman & so sent her away, who had otherwise vndoubtedly died for her false accusation had it not so appeared. Which his so great seueritie, and in other like cases, was of many accounted for extreame crueltie: yet was it indeed the wholsome preseruation of his armie, being so great, as that it was thought almost impossible to haue found sufficient victuals for the releefe thereof; whereof for all that, there was no want, either of any thing else necessarie for the vse of man, his campe being still as a most populous and well gouerned citie, stored with all manner of things: wherevnto both artificers and marchants, from farre countreys resorted with their commodities and marchandise, as vnto some famous mart; and the countrey people, without feare from euerie place brought in their countrey commodities, for which they receiued present money, and so in C safetie againe departed.The number of Tamerlane his great armie. So marching on, he at length came to BACHICHICH, where hee staid to refresh his armie eight daies, and there againe tooke a generall muster thereof, wherein were found (as most write) foure hundreth thousand horse, and sixe hundreth thousand foot; or as some others that were there present affirme, three hundreth thousand horsemen, and fiue hundreth thousand foot, of all nations. Vnto whom he there gaue a generall paie, and as his manner was, made vnto them an oration, informing them of such orders as he would haue kept, to the end they might the better obserue the same: with much other militarie discipline, whereof hee was verie curious with his captains. At which time also, it was lawfull for euerie common souldiour to behold him with more boldnes than on other daies, forasmuch as he did for that time, and such like, lay aside his emperiall majestie, and shew himselfe more familiar vnto them.

D Now could he hardly be persuaded, that Baiazet hauing subdued the most part of GRECIA, distressed the Greeke emperour, and so great meanes to recouer whatsoeuer hee should loose in ASIA, would bee so aduenturous as to come ouer the straits out of EUROPE, to trie the fortune of a battaile with him; but rather warily protract the time, to wearie him at length with wants, that in a strange countrey drew such a world of people after him: wherein hee found himselfe much deceiued, for hauing passed the Georgian countrey, and being come to BUYSABUICH, Axalla (whom he had not seen in eight daies before, because he led the head of the armie) came vnto him with such news as he knew would be right welcome vnto him: which was, that Baiazet had raised his siege of CONSTANTINOPLE (as indeed he had) for to come and defend his new conquests in ASIA; and that hee was certainly resolued, to come to a day of battaile, E not so much trusting vnto the multitude of his armie as to the valour and experience of his soldiors, being all men of long well trained vp in the wars. At which vnexpected newes Tamerlane greatly rejoiced: yet without insolencie or vaunting, but rather with the countenance of such an one as judged the euents of battailes to be (as they are) alwaies doubtfull: saying sometimes, That a small [...] conducted, did oftentimes carie away the victorie, from the confused multitude. Three daies he staid at BUYSABUICH, and caused his souldiours continually to march forward, which at GARGA and CHIUSERIG passed ouer the riuer EUPHRATES: which he did the rather to maintain his armie vpon the spoile of the enemie, in attending his comming, than vpon himselfe, or his allies. All the cities that yeelded vnto him by the way as he marched, he fauourably receiued; the other that refused to submit themselues to his obedience, he vsed with F all extremitie: especially the great and strong citie of SEBASTIA, where certain of the forerunners of his armie were by the Turks there in garrison cut off, and slaine, and the gates of the citie as it were in contempt of him, set wide open. Wherewith Tamerlane offended, sent out certaine of his Tartarian horsemen, commaunding them vpon paine of his displeasure so to beare themselues against their enemies, as that he might at his comming either find the cittie taken, or the gates thereof shut against him: for he had his men at so great commaund, that no danger was [Page] vnto them more dreadfull than his displeasure, neither did he punish any thing so seuerely, as cowardise:G insomuch, that if in his disport of hunting the wild beast, any did for feare giue way to the Lyon or Beare, and slew him not, was sure to die therefore himselfe: and to turne his backe vpon the enemie, was no lesse danger than to run vpon his owne death. Now the Turks in garrison at SEBASTIA, seeing these Tartarian horsemen marching towards the citie, making little account of them, for that they were not in number many, issued out for to meet them; where they were so furiously charged by these few horsemen, that they were glad to retire, and for hast to shut part of their owne men out of the cittie, least the enemie following them at their heeles, should haue entered the gates together with them. Which Turkes so shut out,Sebastia besieged by Tamerlane. were by the Tartarians slaine at the gates of the cittie. Shortly after came Tamerlane with all his armie, and sat downe before the citie, where he lay still seuen dayes, not making H shew of any violence at all, the defendants because the cittie was of great strength, all that while thinking that he had intended by long siege to distresse the same, and the more because of his long lying still. But about the eight day, the wals and towers of the cittie in many places vndermined, were suddainely ouerthrowne, leauing large breaches for the enemie to enter. Wherewith the Turkes in the cittie dismayed, foorthwith yeelded the cittie to Tamerlane, in hope so to haue saued their liues:Sebastia yeelded to Tamerlane. but hee (as the Turkes report) being entered the cittie, commaunded a great number of deepe pits to be digged, and all the people of the cittie, without respect of age, sex, or condition, to be throwne into the same, and there buried quicke. Which done, the citie was by his commaundement vtterly rased also. After that, calling vnto him Malcozzius, the gouernour of the cittie, whom he had for that purpose onely spared, he I commaunded him to goe and tell his master what was happened to his strong cittie of SEBASTIA, and what hee had there himselfe seene. Of which tragicall action, Malcozzius hauing made true relation vnto Baiazet, was by him demanded, whether of the two armies he thought bigger or stronger: for now Baiazet had assembled a mightie armie of three hundred thousand men, or as some report of three hundred thousand horsemen, and two hundred thousand foot. Whereunto Malcozzius hauing before craued pardon, answered, That it could not bee, but that Tamerlane might in reason haue the greater number, for that hee was a commaunder of farre greater countries. Wherewith proud Baiazet offended, in great choller replied: Out of doubt, the sight of the Tartarian hath made this coward so afraid, that he thinketh euery enemie to be two.K

Most of the Latine histories report, that when Tamerlane had taken SEBASTIA, he put all the men to the sword, and bringing the women and chidren into the fields without the citie there ouer-ran them with his horsemen, excepting some few which were reserued for prisoners. As also that Baiazet there lost his eldest sonne Erthogrul (of some called Orthobules) whose death with the losse of the citie, so much greeued him (as is reported) that marching with his great armie against Tamerlane, A shepheard more happie than Baiazet. and by the way hearing a countrey shepheard merrily reposing himselfe with his homely pipe, as he sat vpon the side of a mountaine feeding his poore flocke; standing still a great while listening vnto him, to the great admiration of many▪ at last fetching a deepe sigh, brake foorth into these words: O happie sheepeheard, which haddest neither Orthobules nor SEBASTIA to loose: bewraying therein his owne discontentment, and L yet withall shewing, That worldly blisse consisteth not so much in possessing of much, subject vnto danger, as in joying in a little contentment, deuoid of feare. Howbeit the Turkes themselues reporting the taking of SEBASTIA, speake not [...] at all, but giue him lost six yeares before in the warres against Casi Burchani [...]n ▪ and [...]eth buried by his father at PRUSA. In this cittie of SEBASTIA was lost twelue thousand Turkes, men, women, and children, as their histories report. The rest of the cities all the way as Tamerlane marched, warned by the destruction of SEBASTIA, yeelded themselues for feare of like danger: the cittizens whereof he courteously vsed, especially the Christians, whom he set at libertie, in respect of Emanuel the Greeke emperour, whom hee seemed wholly therein to gratifie. But he had not gone farre into the Turkes dominion, but that hee was certainely aduertised, how M that Baiazet, with a great armie was comming against him, and now within thirtie leagues of him: which caused him after that time, to march with his armie more closely. Axalla leading the vantgard sent forth Ghianson prince of CIARCAN, with foure thousand Parthian horsemen, to get knowledge of the Turkes armie, and where Baiazet lay, as also what countrey that [Page] was beyond SENNAS; and if he could learne any thing thereof, to make relation of it vnto him. This prince of CIARCAN was Tamerlane his kinsman, a man of great reputation, and next vnto Axalla, whose absence he had the cōmanding of the avantgard, his charge; who also sent before him another Parthian captain with 500 horsemen. So he had not ridden ten leagues, but that he heard news of Baiazet his comming, & hauing surprised SENNAS, vnderstood there the certaine estate of the Turks armie, which was then at TATAIA, & so marching forward. Wherof Tamerlane certified, cōmanded him not to retire frō that place, vntill he did see the arriuall of the enemie, and thereof to giue him aduertisement euery hower; being himselfe resolued to passe on no farther, as come to a faire large plaine, and a countrey of aduantage for the order of his battaile: for he knew that his armie was farre greater than Baiazets, and therefore made choice of those great plaines. Yet for that his armie consisted of diuers nations, and withall considering that hee was not to fight against the Chinois, a soft effeminate people (as of late) but against the Turks, a most warlike nation, and well acquainted with all manner of fights and martiall stratagemes, hee thought it good to be well aduised how he proceeded against them. Wherefore hee presently sent for Axalla, with him to view the said place, and to haue his opinion, Whether it would be for his aduantage or not, there to stay? who not misliking of the choice of the place, yet aduised him also to keepe SENNAS so long as he possibly could: and so sent word vnto them that were therein, vpon the approch of the enemie to set fire vpon the same, and so to withdraw themselues from thence, to the end, that the enemie should not haue any desire to encampe there, but C come still forward neere vnto those plains where Tamerlane desired to fight, especially for that he was stronger in horse than Baiazet. Thus the Turks still marching on, thought to haue surprised some of their enemies in SENNAS, who as soone as they drew neere, retired all, excepting some hundred, left of purpose to fire the towne: who hauing performed the same, retired of purpose in great disorder.The prince of Ciarcan dealeth politickly with the forerunners of the Turks armie. Now the prince of CIARCAN had diuided his forces into two parts, and giuen commaundement to the first, that as soone as they perceiued the enemies to pursue the hundred horse, that so disorderly of purpose fled, they should receiue them, and so retire all altogether. He in the meane time with the rest of his power stood close in a valley, neere vnto a wood side, vnseene at all. Where hauing suffered two thousand of the enemies horse (the avauntcourriers of the Turks armie) to passe by him, he following them in the taile, charged them home; the other D which before retired, now turning vpon them also: so that the Turks seeing themselues thus beset, and hardly laied vnto both before and behind, as men discouraged fled: in which flight most of them were slaine, and the rest taken prisoners. This was the first encounter betwixt the Turks and the Parthians: all the prisoners there taken, were by the prince as a present sent to Tamerlane, and amongst the rest the Bassa of NATOLIA, who led these troopes: of whom Tamerlane earnestly demaunded, what caused Baiazet so little to esteeme of him, as to shew so great contempt of his armie, which he should find strong ynough to abate his pride. Whereunto the Bassa answered, That his lord was the Sunne vpon earth, which could not endure any equall: and that he rather was astonied to see, how he from so farre, had enterprised so dangerous a journey, to hinder the fortune of his lord, in whose fauor the heauens (as he said) did bend themselues, to further E his greatnesse, and vnto whom all the world subjected it selfe; and that he committed great follie in going about to resist the same. Vnto which so proud a speech Tamerlane replied, That hee was sent from heauen to punish his rashnesse, and to teach him, that the proud are hated of God, whose promise is to plucke downe the mightie, and raise vp the lowly. As for thy selfe (said he) thou hast alreadie felt (although I pitie thy mishap) what the valour of my Parthian horse is against thy Turkish: and thy master I haue alreadie caused to raise his siege of CONSTANTINOPLE, and to looke to his owne things here in ASIA. Furthermore, Tamerlane changing his speech, demaunded of him, If his master did come resolued to bid him battaile? Assure your selfe (said he) there is nothing he more desireth: and would to God I might acknowledge your greatnesse, in giuing me leaue to assist my lord at that battaile. Good leaue haue thou, said Tamerlane, goe thy waies, and tell thy lord, that thou hast seene me, and that he shall in the battaile find mee on horsebacke, where he shall see a greene ensigne displaied. The Bassa thanking him, swore that next vnto his lord, he vowed vnto him his seruice. And so returning, declared vnto Baiazet, how that he had seene Tamerlane: and truly reported vnto him all that he had willed him to say; not forgetting ouer all to publish his courtesie and bountie: who besides that he had frankely set him at libertie, had also giuen him a very faire horse well furnished, although he well knew hee was [Page] to serue against himselfe. Whereunto Baiazet answered no more, but that hee would shortly G make triall of him, and that he well hoped, before the match were ended, to make him acknowledge his owne follie. The next day the two armies drew neere together, and encamped within a league the one of the other: where all the night long you might haue heard such noise of horses, as that it seemed the heauens were full of voices, the aire did so resound, & euery man thought the night long, to come to the triall of his valour, and the gaining of his desires. The Scythians (a people no lesse greedie than needie) talked of nothing but the spoile, the prowd Parthians of their honour, and the poore Christians of their deliuerance, all to be gained by the next dayes victorie: euery man during the night time speaking according to his owne humor. All which Tamerlane walking this night vp and down in his campe, heard, and much rejoyced to see the hope that his soldiors had alreadie in generall conceiued of the victorie. Who after the second watch H returned vnto his pauillion, and there casting himselfe vpon a carpet, had thought to haue slept a while. But his cares not suffering him so to doe, he then (as his manner was) called for a booke, wherein was contained the liues of his fathers and auncestors, and of other valiant worthies, the which he vsed ordinarily to read, as he then did: not as therewith vainely to deceiue the time, but to make vse thereof, by the imitation of that which was by them worthily done, and declining of such dangers, as they by their rashnesse or ouersight fell into. And afterwards hauing a little slumbered, he commaunded Axalla to be sent for, who forthwith came vnto him with diuers other great lords and captaines, the cheefe commaunders of his armie: with whom after he had a while consulted of the order of the battaile, he mounted on horsebacke himselfe, and sent euery one of them vnto their owne charges, to put the same in readinesse. At the which very instant I he receiued newes, that the enemie marched forward, and came to take his ground for the battaile: whose order of march Tamerlane was desirous to see, that so accordingly he might marshall his owne. And hauing caused three thousand horsemen to aduaunce forward, with charge to begin the skirmish, himselfe followed after to lodge euery part of his forces in such places, as he had foreseene to be fittest for his aduantage. Now seeing the Ianizaries march in a square battell in the middest, and vpon the two fronts, two great squadrons of horsemen, which seemed to bee thirtie thousand horse; and another which aduanced and couered the battailion of the Ianizaries: he thought this their order to be very good, and hard to be broken; and thereupon turning himselfe vnto Axalla, who was neere vnto him, said: I had thought this day to haue fought on foot, but I see that it behoueth me now to sight on horsebacke, to giue courage vnto my souldiors K to open the great battalion of our enemies. And my will is, that my men come forward vnto me as soone as they may, for I will aduance forward with an hundred thousand footmen, fiftie thousand vpon each of my two wings, and in the middest of them fortie thousand of my best horsemen. My pleasure is, that after they haue tried the force of these men, that they come vnto my avauntguard, of whom I will dispose, and fiftie thousand horse more, in three bodies, whom thou shalt commaund: which I will assist with fourescore thousand horse, wherein shall be mine owne person; hauing an hundred thousand footmen behind me, who shall march in two squadrons: & for my arereward I appoint 40000 horse, & 50000 footmen, who shall not march but to my aid. And I will make choice of 10000 of my best horse, whom I will send into euery place where I shall thinke needfull within mine armie, for to impart my commaunds. Ouer the first L fortie thousand horse the prince Ciarcan commaunded: ouer the formost footmen was the lord Synopes a Genouois, kinsman to Axalla, and his lieutenant ouer the footmen, a captaine of great estimation:The great and mortall battaile betwixt Baiazet and Tamerlane. the prince Axalla his owne charge consisted of fiue squadrons of horsemen. Baiazet his armie being also both faire, and great, came brauely still on forward towards their enemies, who stirred not one whit from the place they had taken for the battaile: except certaine light horsemen Scythians, Parthians, and Muscouits, who sent out as loose men, hotly skirmished betwixt the two armies. Now was Tamerlane by an espie aduertised, that Baiazet, hauing before giuen order for the disposing of his armie, was on foot in the middest of thirtie thousand Ianizaries, his principall men of warre and greatest strength, wherein he meant that day to fight, and in whom he had reposed his greatest hope. His battaile of horse was verie faire, amounting to M the number of an hundreth and fortie thousand horse, all old souldiours. The Sultan of EGYPT hauing also sent vnto his aid thirtie thousand Mamalukes, all verie good horsemen, with thirtie thousand foot. So that his armie marching all in one front, in forme of an halfe Moone (but not so well knit together as was Tamerlanes, whose squadrons directly followed one another) [Page] seemed almost as great as his. And so with infinite numbers of most horrible outcries, still aduanced forward: Tamerlane his souldiours all the while standing fast, with great silence.

There was not possible to be seen a more furious charge, than was by the Turks giuen vpon the prince of CIARCAN, who had commandement not to fight before the enemie came vnto him: neither could haue been chosen a fairer plaine, and where the skilfull choice of the place, was of lesse aduantage for the one or the other; but that Tamerlane had the riuer on the left hand of his armie, seruing him to some small aduantage. Now this yong prince of CIARCAN with his fortie thousand horse, was in this first encounter almost wholie ouerthrowne: yet hauing fought right valiantly, and entred euen into the middest of the Ianizaries (where the person of Baiazet was) putting them in disorder,The prince of Ciarcan s [...]a [...]ne. was himselfe there slaine. About which time, Axalla set vpon them with the avauntgard, but not with like danger: for hauing ouerthrowne one of the enemies wings, and cut it all to peeces, and his footmen comming to joyne with him as they had been commaunded, he faced the battalion of the Ianizaries, who right valiantly behaued themselues for the safetie of their prince. This hard fight continued one hower, and yet you could not haue seene any scattered, but the one still resolutely fighting against the other. You might there haue seene the horsemen like mountaines rush together, and infinite numbers of men die, crie, lament, and threaten all at one instant. Tamerlane had patience all this while, to see the euent of this so mortall a fight: but perceiuing his men at length to giue ground, he sent ten thousand of his horse to joyne againe with the ten thousand appointed for the areareward, and commaunded C them to assist him at such time as he should haue need of them: and at the verie same time, charged himselfe, and made them giue him roome; causing the footmen to charge also, ouer whom the prince of THANAIS commaunded, who gaue a furious onset vpon the battalion of the Ianizaries, wherein was yet the person of Baiazet, who had sustained a great burthen. Now Baiazet had in his armie, a great number of mercinarie Tartarians, called Destenses, with many thousands of other soldiors taken vp in the countries of the poor exiled Mahometan princes; in whose just quarell, and the Greeke emperours, Tamerlane had chiefely vndertaken that war: these Tartarians and other souldiours, seeing some their friends, and othersome their naturall and louing princes in the armie of Tamerlane; stroken with the terrour of disloyaltie, and abhorring the crueltie of the proud tirant, in the heat of the battaile reuolted from Baiazet to their owne princes: D which their reuolt, much weakened Baiazet his forces. Who neuerthelesse with his owne men of warre, especially the Ianizaries, and the helpe of the Christian souldiours brought to his aid from SERUIA, and other places of EUROPE, with great courage maintained the fight; but the multitude, and not true valor, preuailed: for, as much as might be done by valiant and couragious men, was by the Ianizaries and the rest perfourmed, both for the preseruation of the person of their prince, and the gaining of the victorie. But in the end, the horsemen with whom Tamerlane himselfe was giuing a fresh charge,The Turks ouerthrowne. and his avauntgard wholy knit againe vnto him, reenforcing the charge, he with much adoe obtained the victorie. Baiazet himselfe wounded, and now mounted on horsebacke thinking to haue scaped by flight, fell into the hands of Axalla. Vnto whom he yeelded himselfe (thinking it had been Tamerlane) who for a space knew him not, but E tooke him for some other great commaunder of the Turks.Baiazet and his sonne Musa taken prisoners. Musa (surnamed Zelebi or, The noble) one of Baiazet his sonnes, with diuers other of Baiazet his great captaines, were there taken also: and amongst the rest, George the Despot of SERUIA, who notwithstanding this misfortune had that day gained vnto himselfe the reputation of a great and worthie captaine; insomuch that Tamerlane euen in the heat of the battaile, maruailing to see him, and the Scruians with the other Christians which he had brought to the aid of Baiazet, so valiantly to fight, said vnto some of the captaines that were neere vnto him, See how couragiously yonder religious fight: supposing them by their strange attire, to haue been some of the Turks superstitious votaries. But being now taken, and afterwards brought to Tamerlane, hee was by him courteously welcomed: but yet withall reprooued, for that he had fought for Baiazet against him, who was come in fauour of the Christian emperour, and the other poore oppressed princes, such as the Despot himselfe was. Who therevnto boldly answered, That indeed it was not according to his dutie, but according to the prosperitie of Baiazet, vnto whom it seemed that all the world did bend: and that his owne safetie had caused him, though against his will, to take part with him. Wherevpon Tamerlane held him excused: and so without more adoe gaue him leaue at his owne pleasure to depart.

[Page] Baiazet brought before Tamerlane with his pride. Baiazet also himselfe, being afterwardes brought vnto Tamerlane as a prisoner, and by him G courteously entertained, neuer shewed any token of submission at all, but according to his proud nature, without respect of his present state, presumptuously answered him vnto whatsoeuer he demaunded. Wherewith Tamerlane mooued, told him, that it was now in his power to make him to loose his life. Wherevnto he answered no more, but, Doe it: for that, that losse should bee his greatest happinesse. Tamerlane afterwards demaunding of him, what made him so proud as to enterprise to bring into his subjection so noble a prince as was the Greeke emperour? he answered, Euen the same thing that hath mooued thee to inuade me, namely the desire of glory and soueraigntie. But wherfore then (said Tamerlane) doest thou vse so great cruelty towards them thou hast ouercome, without respect of age or sex? That did I (said he) to giue the greater terrour vnto H mine enemies. And what wouldest thou haue done with me (said Tamerlane) if it had been my fortune to haue fallen into thy hands, as thou art now in mine? I would (said Baiazet) haue enclosed thee in a cage of iron, and so in triumph haue caried thee vp and downe my kingdome. Euen so (said Tamerlane) shalt thou bee serued. And so causing him to bee taken out of his presence, turning vnto his followers said: Behold a proud and cruell man, he deserueth to be chastised accordingly, and to bee made an example vnto all the proud and cruell of the world, of the just wrath of God against them. I acknowledge that God hath this day deliuered into my hands, a great enemie, to whom we must therefore giue thanks: which he performed the same day. For the battaile was won at foure of the clocke, and there was yet fiue houres of day light. The next day Tamerlane commaunded the dead to be buried, where amongst the rest, they found the bodie I of the prince of CIARCAN dead, in the middest of the Ianizaries, where he lay enclosed with their dead bodies, in token he died not vnreuenged: whose vntimely death Tamerlane for all that greatly lamented; for he was his kinsman, and like inough one day to haue done him great seruice. Whose dead bodie Tamerlane caused to be embalmed, and with two thousand horse, (and diuers of the Turks prisoners, chained and tied together) to be conuaied to SAMERCAND, vntill his comming thether. All the other dead bodies were with all honor that might be, buried at SENNAS.

This great bloodie battaile fought in the yeare of our lord 1397 not farre from the mount STELLA (where sometime the great king Mithrydates, was by Pompey the Great, in a great battaile ouerthrown) was fought from seuen a clocke in the morning, vntill foure in the after noone:K victorie all that while as it were with doubtfull wings, houering ouer both armies, as vncertaine where to light; vntill at length the fortune of Tamerlane preuailed. Whose wisdome (next vnto God) gaue that daies victorie vnto his souldiours: for that the politique tiring of the strong forces of Baiazet, was the safegard of his owne; whereas if hee had gone vnto the battaile in one front, assuredly the multitude finding such strong resistance, had put it selfe into confusion: wheras this successiue manner of aiding of his men, made them all vnto him profitable. The number of them that were in this battaile slaine is of diuers, diuersly reported: the Turks themselues reporting that Baiazet there lost the noble Mustapha his sonne, with two hundreth thousand of his men, and Tamerlane not many fewer: and some other speaking of a farre lesse number, as that there should be slaine of the Turkes about threescore thousand, and of Tamerlane his armie not L past twentie thousand. But leauing the certaintie of the number vnto the credit of the reporters, like inough it is that the slaughter was exceeding great in so long a fight, betwixt two such armies, as neuer before (as I suppose) met in field together.

By this one daies euent, is plainly to be seen the vncertaintie of worldly things, and what small assurance euen the greatest haue in them. Behold Baiazet the terrour of the world, and as hee thought, superiour to fortune, in an instant with his state in one battaile ouerthrowne into the bottome of miserie and dispaire: and that at such time as he thought least, euen in the middest of his greatest strength. It was three daies (as they report) before he could be pacified, but as a desperate man, still seeking after death, and calling for it: neither did Tamerlane after he had once spoken with him, at all afterwards courteously vse him, but as of a proud man caused small account M to be made of him. And to manifest that he knew how to punish the haughtie, made him to bee shackled in fetters and chaines of gold,Baiazet like a beast shut vp in an iron cage. and so to bee shut vp in an iron cage made like a grate, in such sort, as that he might on euerie side be seen; and so caried him vp and downe as hee passed through ASIA, to be of his owne people scorned and derided. And to his farther disgrace, vpon festiuall daies vsed him for a footstoole to tread vpon, when he mounted to horse: and at other [Page] A times scornefully fed him like a dogge with crums fallen from his table. A ra [...]e example of the vncertaintie of worldly honour, that he vnto whose ambitious mind, ASIA, and EUROPE, two great parts of the world were to little, should be now caried vp and downe cooped vp in a little iron cage, like some perillous wild beast. All which Tamerlane did, not so much for the hatred to the man, as to manifest the just judgement of God against the arrogant follie of the proud. It is reported that Tamerlane being requested by one of his noble men that might be bold to speake vnto him, to remit some part of his seueritie against the person of so great a prince▪ answered▪ That he did not vse that rigour against him as a king, but rather did punish him as a proud ambitious tirant▪ polluted with the blood of his owne brother.

B Now this so great an ouerthrow, brought such a feare vpon all the countreys possessed by Baiazet in ASIA, that Axalla sent before by Tamerlane with fortie thousand horse, and [...]n hundreth thousand foot, without cariages, to prosecute the victorie, came without resistance to PR [...] SA; whether all the remainder of Baiazet his armie was retired, with the Bassa Mustapha ▪ the countrey as he went, still yeelding vnto him. Yea the great Bassa, with the rest, hearing of his comming, and thinking themselues not now in any safetie in ASIA, fled ouer the strait of HELLESPONTUS to CALLIPOLIS, & so to HADRIANOPLE▪ carying with them out of the battaile Solyman, Baiazet his eldest sonne, whom they set vp in his fathers place; Mahomet his younger brother presently vpon the ouerthrow being fled to AMASIA: of whom, and the rest of Baiazet his children,Solyman set [...]p in his fathers s [...]ead. Prusa taken by Axalla. more shall be said hereafter. Axalla comming to PRUSA, had the citie without C resistance yeelded vnto him, which he rifled: and there with other of Baiazet his wiues & concubines, tooke prisoner the faire Despina, Baiazet his best beloued wife, to the doubling of his greefe.

Emanuell the Greeke emperour now hearing of Tamerlane his comming to PRUSA, sent his embassadours (the most honourable of his court) thether before to Axalla: by whom they were there stayed, vntill the comming of Tamerlane; who receiued them with all the honour that might be, shewing vnto them all his magnificence, and the order of his campe, to their great admiration. For it resembled a most populous and well gouerned citie, for the order that was therein, which brought vnto it plentie of all kind of victuals, and other marchandise, aswell for pleasure as for vse. By these embassadours, the Greeke emperour submitted all his empire together with his person, vnto Tamerlane the great conquerour, as his most faithfull subject and vassaile: D which he was bound (as he said) to doe, for that hee was by him deliuered from the most cruell tirant in the world: as also for that the long journey he had passed, and the discommodities he had endured, with the losse of his people, and the danger of his person, could not bee recompenced, but by the offer of his owne life, and his subjects; which hee did for euer dedicate to his seruice, with all the fidelitie and loyaltie that so great a benefit might deserue: besides that his so many vertues, and rare accomplishments, which made him famous throughout the world, did bind him so to doe. And that therefore he would attend him in his cheefe citie, to deliuer it into his hands as his owne, with all the empire of GREECE. Now the Greeke embassadours looked for no lesse than to fall into bondage to Tamerlane, thinking that which they offred to be so great and delicate a morsell, as that it would not be refused, especially of such a conquering prince as E was Tamerlane; and that the acceptance thereof in kindnesse, and friendship, was the best bargaine they could make therein. But they receiued answere from this worthie prince, farre beyond their expectatation. For he with a mild countenance beholding them, answered them, That he was not come from so farre a countrey, or vndertaken so much paines for the enlargement of his dominions alreadie large inough, (too base a thing for him to put himselfe into so great danger and trauaile for) but rather to winne honour, and thereby to make his name famous vnto all posteritie for euer: And that therefore it should well appeare vnto the world, that hee was come to aid him, being requested as his friend and allie: And that his vpright meaning therein, was the greatest cause, That God from aboue had beheld his power, and thereby brused the head of the greatest and fiercest enemie of mankind that was vnder heauen: And now to get him an immortall F name, would make free so great and flourishing a citie as was CONSTANTINOPLE, gouerned by so noble and ancient an house as the emperours: That vnto his courage, hee had alwaies faith joyned, such as should neuer suffer him to make so great a breach in his reputation, as that it should be reported of him, That in the colour of a friend, he came to inuade the dominions of his allies: That he desired no more, but that the seruice he had done for the Greeke emperour, might for euer be ingrauen in the memorie of his posteritie, [Page] to the end they might for euer wish well vnto him and his successours, by remembring the G good he had done them; That long might the noble emperor liue, happily to gouern his estate. And that before his returne he would so well consider for the establishing of the same, as that he should not lightly fall againe into the like jeopardie, alwaies assuring himselfe of his good will and fauour towards him. Easie it is to judge, what joy these Greeke embassadours receiued, to heare this so kind an answere from the mouth of Tamerlane himselfe: who rather than he would seeme to breake his faith, refused an empire offered vnto him, with one of the most stately and magnificent cities of the world. Few princes (I suppose) would performe such a part: but so there be likewise but few Tamerlanes in the world. These embassadours by the commaundement of Tamerlane, were by Axalla royally feasted, and all the honour done them that might be. One of H them being sent backe to carrie these vnexpected newes vnto the Greeke emperour, filled both him and all the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE with exceeding joy and gladnesse, which both he and his subjects in generall spared not with bonfires and all other signes of joy and pleasure to manifest. And the more to shew his thankefulnesse, shortly after by the aduice of his graue counsailours, passed ouer the strait into ASIA to see Tamerlane at PRUSA, and in person himselfe to giue him thankes: who hearing of his comming, and very glad thereof, presently vpon the first dayes journey sent the prince Axalla to meet him, and to certefie him of the joy that he conceiued, to haue the good hap for to see him, as also to conduct him to PRUSA: where those two great princes, with the greatest magnificence that might be, met, and so spent one whole day together. The Greeke emperour the next day taking his leaue, was by Tamerlane with much honour I conducted out of the cittie. Now had Tamerlane himselfe conceiued a secret desire to see this so famous a citie as was CONSTANTINOPLE,Tamerlane goeth to Constantinople. from which he was not now farre, yet would he not goe thither as a conquerour, but as a priuat person: which by the meanes of Axalla was accomplished, and he thereinto by the Greeke emperour priuatly receiued, and with all familiaritie possible, entertained: the emperour shewing vnto him all the rare and excellent things that were therein to be seene: and the other Greeke princes deuising all the meanes they could to do him pleasure, and them which did accompanie him; who were in a manner all apparrelled after the Greeke fashion. At which time the Greeke emperour himselfe was curious to shew vnto him all the faire gardens alongst the sea coast, a league or two from CONSTANTINOPLE, and so priuatly conducting him,Tamerlan much de [...]ighted with the p [...]easures of Constantinople. spent fiue or six daies, with all the mirth that might be possible: Tamerlane K by the way oftentimes saying, That he had neuer seene a fairer citie: and that it was indeed the citie (considering the faire and rich situation thereof) of right, worthie to commaund all the world. He wondered at the costly buildings of the temples, the faire ingrauen pillars, the high pyramides, and the making of the faire gardens, and oftentimes afterwards said, That he nothing repented him of his so long and dangerous a voyage, if it had been onely but to haue preserued from fire and sword so noble a citie as that was. In the Greeke emperour he commended greatly his mild nature and courtesie: who knowing him aboue all things to take pleasure in faire seruiceable horses, gaue vnto him thirtie of the fairest, strongest, and readiest, that were possible to be gotten, all most richly furnished; and sent likewise faire presents vnto all the princes and great commaunders of the armie, and bountifully caused to bee deliuered vnto them all things which L he thought to be necessarie for the armie. So after many great kindnesses in short time passed, and a strait bond of friendship made, and by solemne oath confirmed betwixt the two great princes, Tamerlane with great contentment tooke his leaue of the emperour, and returned againe to his armie at PRUSA. Wherewith he now at his pleasure without resistance wasted and spoiled all Baiazet his dominion in ASIA, no man daring to make head against him.

The yeare being now well spent, and Winter drawing on, Tamerlane dispersed his armie into diuers of the prouinces of the lesser ASIA, expecting still when some of Baiazet his sonnes or other friends should make sute or meanes vnto him for his deliuerance, but none came: some fearing Tamerlane his heauie indignation, and others no lesse dreading the fierce nature of Baiazet himselfe, who if hee had beene deliuered, was like ynough (as was thought) to haue taken sharpe M reuenge vpon all them which forsooke him in the late battaile, and therefore neuer made intercession for him. Whereupon Tamerlane one day passing by him, said vnto him: I maruell that none of thy sonnes or friends either come to see thee or to entreat for thee, it must needs be that thou hast euill deserued of them, as thou hast of others: yet how thinkest thou, If I should set thee at libertie, would they againe receiue thee as their lord and soueraigne, or not? To whom [Page] A Baiazet boldly answered: Were I at libertie, thou shouldest well see, how that I want neither courage nor meanes to reuenge all my wrongs, and to make those disobedient & forgetfull, to know their duties better. Which his proud answere made Tamerlane to keepe a straighter hand ouer him.

In this great and bloodie warre, wherein the Othoman empire had almost taken end, the Sultan of AEGYPT had (as is aforesaid) giuen aid vnto Baiazet: which Tamerlane tooke in so euill part, as that he resolued to be thereof reuenged. For as he was vnto his friends of all others most kind and courteous, so was he to his enemies no lesse terrible and dreadfull. Yet thinking it good before his departure out of the lesser ASIA, to take some good order with these his new conquests: B and finding nothing more honourable to resolue vpon, he restored vnto the poore Mahometane princes (Tachretin, Isfendiar, Germian, and the rest before fled vnto him for refuge) all their auncient inheritance, with something more; as he did also diuers cities and countries of NATOLIA vnto the Greeke emperour, for the yearely tribute of foure hundred thousand duckats of gold, and eight hundred thousand franks of siluer, which the emperour promised to pay vnto him yearely. And so hauing enriched his armie with the spoiles of the Othoman empire in ASIA, he turned his forces against the Aegyptian Sultan,A great battell fought betwixt the Sultan of Aegypt and Tamberlane. and so passing through CARAMANIA, entred into SYRIA, then part of the Sultans kingdome: where neere vnto ALLEPPO (being before yeelded vnto him) was fought betwixt them a great and mortall battaile, the Sultan hauing in his armie an hundred thousand foot, and seuentie foure thousand horse: whereof there were thirtie C thousand Mamelukes, accounted the best horsemen of the world. In which battaile, Axalla the great captaine, with the avauntguard of Tamerlane his armie, was hardly distressed, and Axalla himselfe taken: but foorthwith againe rescued by Tamerlane: who had hee not by his comming on with new forces, speedily restored the battaile, cunningly protracted by Axalla, that day was like ynough to haue made an end of his good fortune. But the victorie after a long and cruell fight (wherein were fourescore thousand men on both sides slaine) enclining to Tamerlane, the Sultan fled, Tamerlane pursuing him by the space of three leagues. After which victorie, Tamerlane deuiding his armie, sent Axalla with fortie thousand horse and fiftie thousand foot, to pursue the Sultan alongst the coast of ARABIA: who oftentimes shewed himselfe, with some foure thousand horse to haue hindred Axalla, who hauing the smallest forces, followed him the nearest. D Tamerlane himselfe in the meane time with threescore thousand horse, & an hundred thousand foot, marching alongst the sea coast, had all the cities as he went yeelded vnto him, as MAGATA, AMAN,Damasco woon by Tamerlane. otherwise called APAMEA, TORTOSA, BARRUTO, & NEPHTHALIN: only the strong citie of DAMASCO refused to receiue him, whereinto the Sultan had put the prince Zamadzen, with a strong garrison, who did what hee might to haue defended the same. But all in vaine, for Tamerlane hauing by batterie ouerthrowne a great part of the wall, by assault woon the cittie, only the castle yet remaining, as being of a wonderfull strength, and almost impregnable: whereinto such a multitude had at the taking of the citie retired themselues, as was not possible therein long to liue: who in short time pinched with hunger, and many of them dead, the rest vpon safeguard of their liues offered to yeeld: whom for all that Tamerlane would not receiue to mercie, E to make them feele what it was to hold out against him: so that most of them dying of famine, the rest yeelded without condition, and were for their obstinacie almost all slaine. Which his seueritie towards them of DAMASCO, caused, that thirtie leagues off they brought the keyes of their cities vnto him, in token of their submission; whom he no way molested, more than in contributing vnto the charge of his armie. From DAMASCO he turned directly towards IERUSALEM, at which time they of the citie had driuen out the Sultans garrison, as had almost all they of IUDEA, submitting themselues vnto Tamerlane. At CHORAZNI the Sultan had left six thousand men in garrison for the defence of the place, who at the first seemed to stand vpon their guard: but afterward dismaied to see so great an armie before it, and that Tamerlane hauing approched the wals, was set downe to haue it, they submitted themselues and found mercie. In which citie Tamerlane left certaine of his men in garrison, for the better repressing of the Mamalukes, who with often incursions troubled his armie. So marching on, he himselfe with certaine horsemen for his guard,Tamerlane commeth to Ierusalem. rode to IERUSALEM to visit the sepulchre so much reuerenced of all nations, and there to make his oblations: where hee was of the inhabitants joyfully receiued, and hauing sought out all the antiquities of that auncient citie, would be conducted vnto all the places thereabouts, where Iesus Christ had preached, euen as the pilgrimes doe: and comming [Page] to the sepulchre, gaue thereunto, and the deuout there, many rich and precious gifts, to the great G contentment of all men (to see him honour those holy places) but of the Iews only, who greatly blamed him for so doing: of whom of all others Tamerlane made no reckoning, but called them the accursed of God. There had he newes that the Sultan had gathered all his forces, and being come into AEGYPT, was there fortifying of his citties, especially the great cities of ALEXANDRIA and CAIER. Tamerlane his armie in the meane time by his commaundement came towards AEGYPT to DAMIATA: which strong citie hee thought not good to leaue behind him, although he was by some persuaded so to do, for that it was thought impregnable, as well in respect of the castle, as of the strong garrison that the Sultan had put thereinto. But he whose fortune nothing could hinder, would needs goe thither; and so hauing commaunded Axalla H to set vpon it,Damiata taken by Axalla. followed himselfe after with the rest of his armie. Now Axalla hauing summoned the citie, and declared vnto the inhabitants (who were most of them Christians) the mildnesse and courtesie of Tamerlane, as also who himselfe was, and what religion he held: causing many of the Greeke captaines to speake vnto them, and to tell them of the miserie they endured vnder the Moores and Mamalukes: so farre preuailed with them, that they all determined to aduenture their liues, to put the Mamalukes out of the cittie, with all them that fauoured the Sultan▪ And so in the night taking vp armes, made themselues masters of one quarter of the cittie, and deliuered one of the gates to Axalla: whereby he entering, put all the Mamalukes to the sword, or tooke them prisoners, and so gained the citie. Whereof Tamerlane hearing, being as yet vpon his march, was in good hope of so prosperous a beginning, to find an happie end also of his I designes in EGYPT. For besides the good fortune thereof, hee knew that this hauen of DAMIATA, might serue him with victuals out of all the parts of GREECE, as the emperour Emanuel had promised him, and wherein hee nothing failed him. Into which port Tamerlane hauing made his entrie, left there in garrison two thousand of the emperour Emanuell his souldiours, with a gouernour, of whom he tooke an oath for their obedience. So hauing stayed a space at DAMIATA, he caused his vauntgard to march towards ALEXANDRIA: and hauing passed ouer the riuer,Tamerlane march [...]th towards Ca [...]er. euen in an instant turned directly vnto CAIER: to the great astonishment of the Sultan, who made prouision for the defence of ALEXANDRIA, as the neerest vnto danger. But vnderstanding of these newes, vsed such diligence, that he entred into the citie with fortie thousand horse, and threescore thousand foot, euen as Tamerlane his armie aproached, purposing in K person himselfe to defend it. By whose comming, the great citie readie before to haue reuolted, was againe in his obedience confirmed, to the great hinderance of Tamerlane his affaires: for to remaine long before it, was impossible, for want of victuals for so great an armie in the enemies countrey. Yet notwithstanding all this, did not Tamerlane forbeare to draw neere vnto it, and with all his armie to encampe neere vnto the same, hauing caused a great trench to bee made for to couer his horsemen,Caler b [...]sieged by Tamerlane. and thereby to lodge his armie more safely: during which time he caused diuers onsets to be giuen, as well to trie what confidence the enemie had in himselfe, as to see how the people of the cittie, especially the slaues (which in that populous cittie are infinite) were affected towards him: who certainely enformed him of the state of the cittie, and the armie; as glad to see the same by him shut vp, and the proud Mamalukes still put L to the worst. But thus lying still at the siege, one day he thought it good to shew his armie before the citie, for to trie whether the enemie had a desire to come to a daie of battaile or not: as also to view what forces he had, and so indeed to seeke occasion to fight: In hope also, that if the Sultan did come foorth with all his armie into the field, some reuolt might happen within the cittie, as well by the slaues (vnto whom libertie was by him promised) as by the cittizens themselues (discontented with the insolencie of the Mamalukes entered of late into the cittie with the Sultan) vnto whom he had made it knowne by certaine slaues (for that purpose fled as fugitiues out of his armie into the cittie) how that hee was not come to hurt them, but onely for the destruction of the Mamalukes, both his and their enemies. But betimes standing so in battaile array, no man came foorth, neither M was there any tumult or sturre raised in the cittie, as hee had expected. For the Sultan in so great a cittie well prouided of all things, was resolued to wearie him out with lying still, and not to put all to the hazard of a battaile. Which Tamerlane perceiuing, and set downe not to depart thence, but victorious, resolued likewise to force him euen in his greatest strength, in the heart of his greatest citie; although it were not to be done, but with great [Page] A aduenture: such confidence he had in the strength and multitude of his armie. Now his purpose was, first to take one of the cities (for CAIRE is diuided into three) & therin encamping himself, by litle & litle to aduance forward as he might, stil fighting with the enemy. Vpon which resolution, he commaunded an assault to be giuen,Caier assaulted by Tamerlane. and hauing brought his footmen vnto the place where he would haue them to giue the onset (for the citie was not walled, but onely fortified with ditches and trenches) he commaunded the prince of THANAIS with fiftie thousand footmen, to begin the assault, euen in the face of the enemie: which hee most valiantly perfourmed, and there began a most terrible and cruell fight. Axalla in the meane time, deeming (as the truth was) that the Sultan had drawn his greatest forces vnto the place where the prince of THANAIS B sought to enter, as vnto a place of greatest danger; fet a compasse about, and vpon another quarter of the citie, with small resistance passed the trenches; where he presently left thirtie thousand men to fill vp the ditches, and to make way for the horsemen to enter: aduancing forward himselfe, against twentie thousand sent by the Sultan to haue stopped his further passage: the prince of THANAIS being at the same time almost beaten backe by the Mamelukes. But the way being made plaine, by them that were for that purpose left by Axalla, and ten thousand horse entred, which charged vpon the backs of the Mamelukes, where the Sultan himselfe was; and they seconded by ten thousand moe sent in by Tamerlane, following himselfe after, with all his power: the Sultan retired vnto a second strength, which he had made in the next citie. The fight endured full the space of seauen houres, wherein were slaine of the Sultan his men aboue sixteene C thousand: and of Tamerlanes betwixt seauen and eight thousand. Who contented to haue dislodged the enemie, and gained a third part of the citie, caused a retrait to be sounded, in hope the next daie to winne all the rest, as indeed he did. For the prince of THANAIS the next daie forcing the enemies trenches in one place, and Axalla in another, the Sultan after a great fight finding himselfe hardly pressed by the obstinate enemie, and too weake long to hold out, retired, and so forthwith abandoned the citie, and encamped himselfe along the side of the riuer NILUS, with purpose to passe the same, and to flye to ALEXANDRIA his second strength and refuge. Which Tamerlane suspecting, followed after him with his horsemen (who onely were in order) and some few foot, hardly drawne from the citie, which their fellowes were in spoiling; so as hee was glad to promise them especially, to regard and reward their good seruice. Against whom D the Sultan vpon a narrow cawsey, had opposed twelue or fifteen thousand men, whom he called his slaues (to fauour his passage) but were indeed his best souldiours, and stood fast, the place seruing greatly for their aduantage: who for all that at length forced by their enemies, still increasing vpon them, (though not without great losse) cast themselues into the great riuer, and made a most honourable retrait: euerie man hauing his weapon in the one hand, and swimming with the other to the farther banke. The Sultan flying with some eighteene thousand horse (for the rest were sundrie waies fled or else drowned) is reported in his flight, to haue comforted his men, by telling of them, That they were not men that had vanquished them, but gods there appeared in them so great wisedome, force, and valour: diuers of the Mamelukes taken in the late fight, being brought before Tamerlane, and by him courteously vsed, were of him demaunded, if they E could be content to serue him, now that their maister was fled and gone? which they all vtterly refused. Whom notwithstanding, for their fidelitie, Tamerlane set at libertie to goe againe vnto the Sultan: as no lesse desirous to be admired of his enemies for his bountie and courtesie, than feared for his force and valour. The wonderfull wealth of this so great and famous a citie became a preie vnto his souldiours: who for the space of foure and twentie houres had the spoile therof, being then by open proclamation commaunded euerie man to repaire to his quarter. The citizens he set all at libertie, not suffering any of them to be taken prisoners. And so leauing ten thousand good souldiours with a great number of others (whereof he caried a great multitude in his armie, planting euerie where as he passed as it were new colonies) and carying away with him such of the inhabitants as he thought might hurt him, and taking order for all things necessarie F for the keeping of such a citie, he caused his armie to passe ouer the riuer for to follow the Sultan vnto ALEXANDRIA, to the end not to leaue his victorie vnperfect: Axalla hasting before with the avauntgard, for to hinder the Sultan for joyning his forces againe together; and the rest of his armie conducted by the prince of THANAIS. He himselfe with an infinite number of boats, and souldiors to attend vpon him, going by water; taking great pleasure to behold the faire riuer, and his swift course sometimes, and in an instant to become so calme as if it scarce mooued. [Page] The cittizens of ALEXANDRIA hearing of his comming, and fearing what might betide them,G besought the Sultan to haue compassion of their estate, and to withdraw himselfe into LIBIA, whether Tamerlane for the barrennesse of the countrey could not with any great power follow him; resolued for their parts to giue place vnto fortune, and to doe as the time required, and no more to resist so great a force, whereof they had alreadie made sufficient triall: promising yet to remaine in heart still his, and vpon the first occasion offered, to make the same to him appeare▪ Whereupon the Sultan seeing all things desperate,The Sultan flieth from Alexandria. determined for a time to retire, in hope, that time would bring some change: as also that Tamerlane his populous armie would not long remaine there. And so departing out of ALEXANDRIA with teares standing in his eyes, oftentimes said, That God was angrie with him and his people, and that hee must of necessitie suffer H the fatall ouerthrow of his estate, himselfe hauing done as much as in him lay, according to his charge, and the expectation the world had of him: and yet that he hoped at length to returne againe, and deliuer his people from the bondage, whereunto they must now needs submit themselues. Tamerlane comming to ALEXANDRIA (before yeelded to Axalla) there staied a great while, sending Axalla to pursue the Sultan, exceedingly grieued that he could not get him into his hands: and therefore still fearing some innouation to be by him raised, which caused him to deale the more hardly with them whom he suspected to fauour him. Now the bruit of these victories hauing with Axalla passed beyond ALEXANDRIA into LYBIA, had brought such a feare, not onely vpon the people adjoyning vnto these conquests, but also vpon all AFFRICA (they supposing that Tamerlane did follow,) that two and twentie of the Moore kings I sent their embassadours vnto him, to offer vnto him their obedience: the Sultan as a man forsaken of fortune, still flying before him. Of the nearest of which kings, Tamerlane tooke hostages: as for the other farther off, he contented himselfe with their faith giuen, and with the other outward signes of their good wils.

Tamerlane desirous to returne into his country.Now after this long trauaile and paines taken, was Tamerlane more desirous than hee had before vsed, to see the pleasures of his owne natiue countrey: the rather thereunto moued by the request of his wife, then longing for his returne; and the newes hee heard of the sicknesse of the old Tartarian emperour his father in law; besides that, age it selfe began to bring vnto him a desire of rest: with whom also, the desires of his souldiors well agreed, as men now wearie [...]o haue run so many and diuers fortunes. The onely stay was, that hee expected K the comming of Calibes, an old and faithfull seruant of his, whom he for his good desert had of his owne accord appointed gouernour of all his new conquests in AEGYPT and SYRIA: A great honour no doubt, but not too great for him that had so well deserued. So mindfull was he of the good deserts of his faithfull seruants, as that he needed not by others to be of them put in remembrance, were they neuer so farre off, as was now Calibes, who at this time was with the third part of his armie making way for him along the great riuer EUPHRATES, for the conquest of MESOPOTAMIA and PERSIA: whose comming was now with great deuotion looked for of the whole armie, desirous to returne. Which their expectation he long delayed not, but being sent for, came to ALEXANDRIA, whither the whole armie was now by the commaundement of Tamerlane againe assembled. Vpon whose comming, Tamerlane departed from L ALEXANDRIA, hauing there left the prince Zamalzan (a man of great reputation) with six thousand horsemen and ten thousand foot, as gouernour of that place, and lieutenant generall vnder Calibes: whom Tamerlane (as I haue said) had now appointed to commaund ouer all AEGYPT and SYRIA, together with the countries newly conquered in LYBIA and BARBARIE: and now conducting him vnto the great citie of CAIRE, and there taking the best order he could for the preseruation of his new conquest, left him with fortie thousand horse and fiftie thousand foot. And so hauing sufficiently instructed him, how he would haue those kingdomes gouerned, dismissed him, not like a master, but as a companion, seeming very sor [...]ie to leaue him destitute of his presence. So setting forward with his armie, conducted by the prince of THANAIS, Tamerlane himselfe, with a few to guard him, by the way turned aside vnto IERUSAL [...]M:M where he remained eleuen dayes, daily visiting the Sepulchre of Christ Iesus (whom hee called the God of the Christians) and the ruines of Salomon his temple: much wondering thereat, and at IERUSALEM, the seat of Dauids kingdome, and of that great Salomon; but grieued that he could not see them fully in their former beautie. He only despised the Iews, which had committed so cruell a murder against him that came to saue them. And to shew his deuotion towards [Page] A the holy citie, commaunded it to be free from all subsidies and garrisons of men of warre: and gaue great gifts vnto the monasteries, and honoured them so long as he remained there. Departing from IERUSALEM, he came to DAMASCO: which great citie, as well for that it was infected with the opinion of Iezides (accounted an arch hereticke among the Mahometanes) as also euill affected to his proceedings, he caused to be rased, and the bones of Iezides the false prophet to be digged vp and burnt, and his graue before much honoured, in despight to bee filled with dung. So marching on, and blasting the world before him as he went (for long it were, and from our purpose to recount all his victories) he passed ouer the riuer EUPHRATES, and hauing conquered MESOPOTAMIA, with the great cittie of BABILON, and all the kingdome of PERSIA, B loaded with the spoile of the world, and eternized for euer, he returned at length to SAMERCAND, the famous place of his birth, and glorious seat of his empire.

Now had Baiazet (but a little before one of the greatest princes on earth, and now the scorne of fortune,The mis [...]rabl [...] death o [...] Baiazet. and a byword to the world) with great impatiencie laine two yeares in most miserable thraldome, for most part shut vp in an yron cage, as some dangerous wild beast: and hauing no better meanes to end his loathed life, did violently beat out his braines against the barres of the yron grate wherein he was inclosed, and so died about the yeare of our Lord 1399. Yet of his death are diuers other reports: some saying, That hee died of an ague, proceeding of sorrow and greefe: others, that he poysoned himselfe: and the Turks affirming, that he was set at libertie by Tamerlane, being by him beforehand poysoned, whereof hee died three dayes after hee was C enlarged (a report not like to be true:) but howsoeuer it was, his end appeareth to haue ben right miserable. His dead bodie at the request of his sonne Mahomet, was by Tamerlane sent to ASPRAPOLIS, from whence it was afterwards conueyed to PRUSA, and there lieth buried in a chappell neere vnto the great Mahometane temple without the citie Eastward: where also lieth his beloued wife Despina, with his eldest sonne Erthogrul. And fast by in a little chappell lieth buried his brother Iacup, whom he in the beginning of his raigne murthered.

These two great and mightie princes,A comparison betwixt Baiazet and Tamerlane. Tamerlane and Baiazet (both of them whilest they liued, a bur [...]hen vnto the world) as they tooke their beginning from the Scythes or Tartars, so were they of like honourable progenitors descended: Baiazet being the fourth in discent from the warlike Othoman, the raiser of his familie; and Tamerlane in like degree from the great Zingis, the D first and most fortunat leader of the Tartars (his countreymen) vnto the pleasures of the East: both princes of great power and like spirit, wise, hardie, painefull, resolute, and most skilfull in martiall affaires; but ambitious aboue measure, the ground of all the former troubles by them raised, to the astonishment of the world. Howbeit, the great vertues and other the honourable qualities of Baiazet, were in him by his chollericke and waiward nature much obscured: which made him to exceed both in crueltie and pride: being also much more handfast than were his honourable predecessors. For which causes he was much feared and lesse beloued of his souldiors and men of warre in generall, and of them at his most need forsaken. He vsed commonly to say, That his treasures were his childrens meat, and not his souldiors pay: which by way of reproch was by a common souldior cast in his teeth, when hee raged to see himselfe by them forsaken in the great battell against Tamerlane, telling him as he fled, That he ran not away, but went to seek his pay, wherewith to prouide his children bread. Whereas all the aforesaid vertues in Tamerlane were graced with diuers others of like nature, no man being vnto his friends more courteous or kind, either vnto his enemies more dreadfull or terrible. The good seruice of his seruants hee neuer forgot, either left the same long vnrewarded: being thereof so mindfull, as that he needed not by them or others in their behalfe, to be put in remembrance thereof, hauing alwaies by him a catalogue both of their names and good deserts, which he daily perused. Oftentimes saying that day to be lost, wherein he had not giuen them something: and yet neuer bestowing his preferments vpon such as ambitiously sought the same (as deeming them in so doing, vnwoorthie thereof) but vpon such, as whose modestie or desert he thought worthie those his great fauours; so tempering the seueritie of his commaunds with the greatnesse of his bountie, as that it is hard to say, whether he was of his nobilitie and men of war, for the one more feared, or for the other beloued; both, the great staies of princes states: feare keeping the obstinat in their obedience, and loue, the dutifull in their deuotion. But with Baiazet it was not so, who deeming all done for him, but dutie, and by nature chollericke and proud (after the manner of tyrants) desired aboue all to be of his subjects feared, not much regarding how little hee was of them beloued: not the least [Page] cause of his great fall and miserie,Baiazet in his poste [...]ie more f [...]rtunat than Tamerlane. and that therein he was of his owne so smally regarded: wherin G for all that he is to be accounted more fortunat than the other great conquerour his enemie, hauing euer since in the lineall descent of himselfe, had one of the greatest Monarchs of the world to succeed still in his kingdome and empire: as hee hath euen at this day, the great Sultan Mahomet, the third of that name, who now in great majestie raigneth in CONSTANTINOPLE: Whereas the glorie of Tamerlane his empire, euen in his owne time growne to the height therof, and labouring with the greatnesse of it selfe, and by him deuided amongst his sonnes, shortly after his death decayed, rent in sunder by ambition and ciuile discord; and not long after, together with his posteritie, rooted out by Vsun-Cassanes the Persian king, to the worlds woonder tooke end: nothing of the huge greatnesse thereof now or since then remaining, more than the fame thereof: as doth also the miserie of the other so brought low. But leauing this mirrour of H mishap (Baiazet) vnto his rest, and Tamerlane for a while to triumph in SAMERCAND; let vs now proceed in the course of our Historie, yet not forgetting by the way to remember such Christian princes as then liued together with these two great Monarchs.

FINIS.

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Christian princes of the same time with Baiazet the first.

Emperours

Of the East

Emanuell Palaeologus. 1387. 30.

Of the West

Wenceslaus, son to Charles king of Bohemia. 1378. 22.

Rupertus duke of Bauaria. 1400. 10.

Kings

Of England

Richard the second. 1377. 23.

Henrie the fourth. 1399. 12.

Of Fraunce

Charles the sixt, surnamed, The welbeloued. 1381. 42.

Of Scotland

Iohn Stuart, otherwise called Robert the third. 1390. 16.

Bishops of Rome

Vrban the VI. 1380. 11.

Boniface the IX. 1390. 14.

Muhammad I

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MAHOMET. I.

MAHOMETHES PRIMVS QVINTVS TVRCARVM REX FLORVIT ANNO 1405

Phil. Lonicer. Hist. Turc. lib. 1.

Vindicibus Mahomet patrium sibi vendicat armis

Imperium, & fractas feruidus auget opes.

Quod patri abstulerat violentia Tamberlani,

Imperio reddit Marte fauente suo.

Ille sagittiferos (que) Dacas, validos (que) Triballos

Contudit, & populos Ister amoene tuos.

Turcica sic rursus sublata potentia, stragem

Attulit imperio Romule magne tuo.

By force of armes stout Mahomet his fathers kingdome gaines,

And doth the broken state thereof repaire with restlesse paines.

What so the force of Tamerlane had from his father tane,

He by his fortune and his force restor'd the same againe.

The Dacians he vanquished, and Seruians in field,

And forc'd the people neere to thee faire ISTER, for to yeeld.

So once againe the Turkish state (by him rais'd vp on hie)

Hath to thine empire, Romulus, brought great calamitie.

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A

B THE LIFE OF MAHOMET, THE FIRST OF THAT NAME, FIFTH KING OF THE TVRKS, AND RESTORER OF THEIR SORE SHAKEN KINGDOME.

HOw wonderfully the Turkish kingdome was by the violence of Tamerlane shaken,Diuers opinions concerning the successours of Baiazet. and the majestie thereof defaced, it well appeareth, in C that the Histories of that time, as well those of the Greekes, as of the Turks, in nothing more differ, than in the successors of Baiazet, their late vnfortunat king. Some writing, that hee had two sons, Orchanes, (otherwise called Calepinus) and Mahomet: and that Calepinus in the second yeare of his raigne was slaine, and his kingdome possessed by Mahomet his brother. Others reporting, That Baiazet had two sons, namely, Calepinus and Mustapha: and that Calepinus succeeding his father in the Turkish kingdome, when hee had raigned six yeares, died, leauing behind him two sonnes, Orchanes and Mahomet: and that Orchanes being young, was slaine by his vncle: whom Mahomet in reuenge of his brothers death, afterwards slew, & possessed the kingdome himselfe. Others reckon vp seuen sonnes of Baiazet: Iosua, Musulmanes, Moses, Calepinus, Iosua the yonger, Mustapha, and Halis; with an vncertaine succession amongst them also. This diuersitie of opinions, full of no lesse vncertainetie; as I meane not to follow in report of this historie, so will I not spend any time in refuting the same (although much might be said in the matter) but leaue these reports, together with the historie following, to such credit, as they shall hap to find with the considerat readers.

The Greeke Historiographers (best like to know the Turkish succession, as well by reason of their neerenesse, as in that they were by them as their bad neighbours, so much troubled) make no mention at all either of Calepinus or of Orchanes: In like manner, Historiae Musulmanae Turcorum, diligently gathered out of the Turks owne histories by Io. Leunclauius (a learned physician; and himselfe a great trauailer amongst them, and therefore deseruing the more credit) do not so much as name the succession of Calepinus or Orchanes, after the captiuitie of Baiazet, but rejecteth them both as counterfeits. But in mine opinion (without prejudice to any, that vpon better reason may deeme otherwise) the great confusion of the Turkish kingdome, in short time wrought by the mightie Tamerlane and his Tartarians, with the ciuile discord and warre afterwards arising among the sonnes of Baiazet, striuing (all as it were at once) for the restlesse roome of soueraignetie, which suffereth no parteners; and euery one of them, according to his hap or power, laying hand vpon some one part or other thereof, and bea [...]ing himselfe therein for a time as a king, in countries so far distant; neuer leauing, vntill they had like the earth-borne brethren, wrought one anothers destruction; might giue just occasion of such diuersitie of reports as is before spoken of, concerning the succession of that time, in that troubled and rent kingdome: some reckoning one, some another: and some, such as neuer were, to haue succeeded in the gouernment, and so vntruly augmenting the number of the Turkish kings. Wherefore leauing Calepinus & Orchanes vnto them that first found them, with that little, which without any good ground and lesse probabilitie is written of their supposed raigne; I (following the authoritie of the Turkish historie) reckon this Mahomet, one of the youngest sonnes of Baiazet (of whom we are now [Page] to intreat) fifth king of the Turkes: who after great and dangerous wars, as well against his own G brethren, as his forraine enemies, was at length solely inuested in the Turkish kingdome, about ten yeares after the captiuitie of his father Baiazet, as shall hereafter be declared.

The true poster [...]tie of Baiazet. Baiazet after the manner of the Turkish kings, hauing laied vp the hope of his posteritie in the common treasure house of nature, rather than in the bodie of one lawfull wife, had by diuers wiues and concubines seuen sonnes, Erthogrul, otherwise called Orthobules, Emer-Soliman, Mustapha-Zelebi (that is to say, the noble) Isa-Zelebi, Musa-Zelebi, Sultan Mahomet, and Casan-Zelebi. Of whom, Erthogrul the eldest was lost in the wars against Casi Burchaniden, as is beforesaid in the life of Baiazet. Mustapha was slaine in the great battaile against Tamerlane, and there buried in the bed of fame. Casan the yongest was a child in Baiazet his court, when his father was taken,H and afterwards with his sister Fatime deliuered as hostages, by their brother Solyman, vnto Emanuel the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, where they both happely became Christians, and so shortly after died.

Solyman was by Alis Bassa president of Baiazet his counsell, and other great captaines, conueyed out of the battaile against Tamerlane, into EVROPE: and so by them at HADRIANOPLE saluted Sultan. Mahomet fled out of the same battaile to AMASIA in CAPADOCIA, where he was in his fathers time gouernour. Isa hearing of his fathers captiuitie, after the departure of Tamerlane with his Tartars, seized vpon PRUSA, a citie of BITHYNIA, the antient seat of the Turkish kings, with the countrey adjoyning, and there raigned as king. Musa-Zelebi was taken prisoner with Baiazet his father, and afterwards set at libertie by Tamerlane. But of their fortunes more I shall be said in this historie following.

Mahomet Gouernor of Amasia. Mahomet was but fifteene yeares old, when his father Baiazet in the vnfortunate battaile at mount STELLA was taken prisoner, and was at the same time by his appointment gouernour of AMASIA, with a great part of CAPADOCIA adjoyning: which places became so troublesome after the great victorie of Tamerlane, that the Turks in that countrey were glad day and night for the safegard of themselues, their wiues, and children, to keepe continuall watch and ward: insomuch, that many of them, wearied with those troubles, and despairing of better times, went into voluntarie exile, because they would not see so great miseries: which thing much greeued young Mahomet. Wherefore calling vnto him his most faithfull counsellors, to consult what course to take in the middest of so many dangers, it was by generall consent thought best (for so much as K they could not without apparent danger continue neere vnto Tamerlane his forces) to get themselues farther off into places of more strength: and from thence to expect the departure of their enemies, and in the meane time to content themselues with such aduauntages as occasion and chance of war might minister; cutting them short by policie, whom they were not able to meet in the plaine field: and so by little and little to weaken or wearie their mightie stragling enemies: For albeit that Tamerlane himselfe was not neere him, as then lying in CARIA; yet did the captaines of his great and victorious armie, at their pleasure spoile and forrage the countries farre and neere all ouer the lesser ASIA. Vpon this resolution, hee with all his forces departed from AMASIA, to DERBY in PAPHLAGONIA: where by the way he encountered with Cara Iabia, a nigh kinsman to the prince Isfendiar of CASTAMONA, his enemie; whom he put to flight, with L great slaughter of his men. This was the beginning of Mahomet his good fortune. From thence he went to KEREDEN,Mahomet sendeth spies into Tamerlane his campe. and there staying certaine daies, sent a spie into Tamerlane his campe, to see how all things went there: and afterwards entered againe into counsell with his captains concerning his farther proceedings. In which consultation, some were of opinion, That it was best for him to withdraw himselfe into the mountaines of the lesser ASIA, as a place of good safetie, vntill the departure of Tamerlan, which was shortly hoped for: for that it was not to be thought that Tamerlane would with his huge armie pursue him in that mountaine countrey, flying from hill to hill, and as it were from strength to strength. Others better aduised, thought those mountaines to be no places to trust vnto, and therefore that it were more honourable and as free from danger, for him to returne againe to AMASIA, and there to liue amongst his subjects, protecting M them in such sort as he might, and not to leaue them for a prey to euery stragling company of the rude Tartarians. Which counsell he followed, as most reasonable: & being ready to set forward, the spie before by him sent into Tamerlanes campe, returned, certifying him, That he had seen his father Baiazet in good health in the Tartars campe, but could not by any means speake with him by reason of the straight guard set ouer him: and that all that part of ASIA was by Tamerlane [Page] A possessed, who then with his armie wintred in CARIA and LYSIA: wherupon Mahomet returned backe againe to AMASIA: where he had not long staied, but that newes was brought vnto him, That one of the Tartarian princes called Cara Duletschach (that is to say, the fortunat blacke king) was with an armie of twentie thousand comming to spoile his country, being giuen him by Tamerlane. With which newes he was exceedingly troubled. Wherefore with all speed calling together his forces, for the safegard of his countrey, he sent before a spie to discouer the enemies doings. This diligent spie returning in all hast, told Mahomet, That Cara Dulet lay at the towne of AEGIOLVS in GALATIA, in great securitie, [...]auing about him but a small power; for that he fearing no danger, had at that time dispersed his armie, to seeke after pillage abroad in the countrey B Mahomet taking hold of this oportunitie, marched thither with great celeritie, and suddenly setting vpon Cara Dulet, Cara Dulet slaine. ouercame him. In which conflict Cara Dulet himselfe was shot through the head with an arrow and slaine, and his armie vtterly discomfited. Mahomet returning backe to AMASIA with victorie, refreshed and rewarded his souldiors, yet no lesse carefull for the safetie of his kingdome than before.

Shortly after, he was aduertised that Cubad Ogli with a great armie laied hard siege to the citie of CaeSARIA in CAPADOCIA, and was like in short time to take it, if it were not speedily releeued. By taking of which citie, that Tartar prince was like to make a great entrance, to the hazarding of the whole countrey. Wherefore Mahomet hauing his armie alwaies in readinesse, marched day and night with such speed to CaeSARIA, as that he was vpon Cubad Ogli before he C was aware of his comming, and there slew most of his souldiours, and put him with the rest to flight. After that, hee entred into Cubad Ogli his countrey in PONTVS, and greeuously spoiled and destroied the same: at which time, he also by force wan the strong castle PELTae in the confines of PHRIGIA.

Imediatly after that, Inall Ogli another of Tamerlanes captaines (which at their pleasure without let, forraged all the countreys of the lesser ASIA, during the time that Tamerlane made his abode within the Turks dominions) vpon the suddaine entred into CAPADOCIA with an armie of twentie thousand fighting men, killing the inhabitants, and spoiling the countrey before him: so that the people for feare left their dwellings, and fled into the woods and mountaines to hide themselues from his furie. Whereof Mahomet hearing, was therewith exceedingly greeued, and D wrote vnto him as followeth:

Sultan Mahomet vnto the Prince Inall Ogli.

Wheras without any just or lawfull cause, or any war proclaimed, you haue inuaded our kingdome, and cease not cruelly to kill our subjects,Mahomet his letters to Inall Ogli the Tartar pince. by God committed to our protection; and to spoile their wealth and labours, to the great disturbance of the Mahometan common weale; and make no end of your malice and crueltie: you doe therein quite digresse from the manners and lawes of the true Mahometans or right beleeuers. For if thou wouldest not onely bee accounted, but indeed bee a true Musul-man, thou shouldest forthwith depart out of my kingdome with thine armie; thou shouldest not thus shed the innocent E blood, or without cause thus wrong my people: but forasmuch as thou knowest not what beseemeth thee, neither wilt listen vnto good counsaile, but wilfully proceed in thy wicked purpose, falsely persuading thy selfe, this my kingdome to bee destitute of a lawfull inheritour; and therefore doest so great wrong and injurie vnto the defendours of the true Mahometan religion: I would thou shouldest know, that I with my so often victorious armie, will shortly by the power of God come against thee, and in plaine field according to thy deserts chastice thee. Therfore whilest thou yet mayest, reclaim thy selfe, and proceed not too farre in thine obstinacie: too late repentance did neuer man yet good. Thus much we thought good to aduertise thee, that thou shouldest not bee ignorant of our purpose, but mightest so better consider and dispose both of thy selfe and thine affaires. In the yeare after the departure of the great Prophet Mahomet 806.

F

Vnto which letters Inall Ogli returned this answere in writing.

Prince Inall Ogli to Mahomet.

Why doest thou Mahomet with such letters prouoke me?Inall Ogli his answere to Mahomet. why doest thou so vnciuilly taunt me? being [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] thy selfe but a boy, and in truth a verie child. It beseemeth thee not to haue entred into these countreys,G or to lay hands thereon, wrongfully gracing thy selfe with the title of a Sultan. Neither is there any cause, why thou shouldest complaine that I should lie in waight or seek after thy life, thy kingdome, or any thing that thine is. I challenge vnto my selfe this kingdome, but none of thine: out of which it is reason for thee, as a wrongfull intruder of thy selfe, to depart; whom otherwise I will forthwith thrust out, and joyne the same vnto the rest of my territories. Wherefore except thou without delay get thee packing, and cease to oppose thy selfe against my designes. I denounce vnto thee all the calamities of warre: and wish thee with speede to prepare thy selfe to battaile, for that I meane shortly to meet with thee. This yeare of our great Prophet, 806.

H

Inall Ogli ouerthrowne by Mahomet.Shortly after, Mahomet according to his promise meeting with this Tartar prince, by plaine force ouerthrew him, and had of him a notable victorie.

The like good hap he had also not long after, against Coster Ogli, and Kiupeck Ogli, two other Tartarian captaines, at the castle of CHARACHIZAR and the plaine of ARTVCK-OVA. And hearing that one Mesites, a Turk, had fortified himselfe in the ruines of SEBASTIA, and from thence spoiled the countrey round about, he sent Baiazet one of his Bassaes against him; who in short time tooke him and brought him bound vnto him: by whom he was adjudged to die. But seeing in the man an inuincible courage, and contempt of death, at such time as he should haue been executed; mooued therewith, he gaue him his pardon: for which he euer after continued vnto him faithfull, and did him great seruice.I

Mahomet hauing many times thus vanquished the stragling Tartarian princes, which had sought the spoile of his countrey, became thereby famous amongst the great commaunders of Tamerlane his armie: in so much that the bruit of his name came at length to Tamerlanes eare, yet lying in the lesser ASIA: who as he thought it not worth his greatnesse and labour, himselfe in person to goe against so weake an enemie; so he thought it not good or conuenient quite to neglect him, but by some other meanes (if he could) to ouertake him. For which purpose he began to speake many times verie honourably of him, highly commending his great valour and forwardnesse in so tender yeares. And calling for Baiazet, told him what great commendation he had heard of his sonne Mahomet, and that he was therefore verie desirous to see him: where if he found that true which was reported of his great vertues, he would bestow one of his daughters K vpon him in mariage, with many other great preferments: and therefore willed Baiazet to write vnto him, Not to doubt to come vnto him, to the great good both of himselfe, and his father. Which thing Baiazet at the first doubting the worst, requested Tamerlane not to beleeue of his sonne, being yet verie young and not worthie of so great a fauour. Neuerthelesse partly persuaded by Tamerlane his protestations, and importuned by him that might now command him: hee with an euill will wrote to his sonne Mahomet to such effect as Tamerlane required. With which letters, and others of like purport from himselfe, with many rich presents, Tamerlane sent Hozza Mahomet, (one of his secret councellours) embassadour to Mahomet, of whom he was right honourably receiued, and likewise entertained. But hauing read the aforesaid letters, and thereby vnderstood the cause of his comming; hee entred into counsaile with the great L Bassaes about him, whether he were best to goe to Tamerlane or not. Where his councellours were all cleere of one opinion, That it was not good for him to aduenture his person to the danger of such a journey, or the mercie of so mightie an enemie, of whose faith he had no assurance. And if so be (said they) he therwith offended, will by force seek to haue you, we at his comming will take the refuge of the woods and mountaines, and there shroud ourselues vntill he be departed againe: for that he with his huge armie cannot here long stay in this bare countrey, for want of necessaries. Neuerthelesse Mahomet hoping his journey might be both for the good of his father, and his owne aduancement; contrarie to the mind of all his councellours, resolued to goe: and so hauing prepared all things needfull for the honour and safetie of his journey, set forforward. But as he was vpon the way in the marches of PONTVS, Cara Iahia whom he had M before ouerthrowne, vnderstanding of his comming that way, thinking now to bee reuenged; and hauing got vnto him some of the prince Isfendiars forces, set vpon him by the way: but with as euill successe as before, most of his men being there by Mahomet slaine, and himselfe glad shamefully to flie. So trauailing on further, hee vnderstood that Alis Beg, a great lord in those countreys, went about to intercept him also: which caused him in such hast to goe on, that hee [Page] A was vpon Alis, before he was aware of his comming, or well prouided for him: so that for feare he was glad to betake himselfe to flight. Mahomet considering the danger he had escaped in that journey, and that the neerer he came to Tamerlane, the more like hee was to fall into greater, although happily without Tamerlane his knowledge: by the aduice of his graue and faithfull councellours, resolued to go no further. Wherefore calling vnto him Tamerlanes embassadour hee thus spake vnto him: ‘You see the dangers and injuries I endure in this my journey, and my mind forbodeth greater to ensue: for which causes I may not goe any further,Mahomet his speech to Tamerlans embassador. but here returne. Commend me therefore I pray you vnto the most mightie Tamerlane, with my father▪ and tell them what dangers haue happened vnto B me vpon the way. Which considered, I hope they will haue me excused. For which purpose I will also send in your companie an embassadour of mine owne.’

Mahomet at that time had with him a graue, wise, and learned man, called Sophis Baiazet, sometime his schoolemaister: whom he sent embassadour to Tamerlane and his father, to haue him vnto them both excused: and so departed, he homewards, leauing the way he came (for feare of further danger;) and they towards Tamerlane, who honourably receiued Mahomets embassadours and letters. But taking pleasure in the man sent vnto him, gaue him honourable entertainment, but would neuer after suffer him to returne againe vnto his maister.

It was not long after, but that old Baiazet died of impatiencie (as is aforesaid:) whose dead bodie Tamerlane left at APROPOLIS with the prince Germean, to be deliuered vnto his sonne Mahomet; C with Musa his elder brother (who all this while had ben kept prisoner with Tamerlane) if Mahomet should require them. And so the mightie prince Tamerlane, after he had long time wasted PHRIGIA, CARIA, LYDIA, with the most part of the lesser ASIA; and conquered all SIRIA, IUDEA, AEGYPT, and PERSIA, with many other great countreys and prouinces; returned at last into his owne kingdome, vnto the great citie of SAMARCAND, which hee woonderfully enlarged, and beautified with the spoiles of a great part of the world, before by him wasted: where he afterwards in great peace and glorie raigned, no lesse honoured than feared of all the princes of the East. To the terrour of whom, and for the assuring of his estate, he kept alwaies a standing armie of fortie thousand horse, and threescore thousand foot readie at all assaies: beside other his great garrisons which he kept in SIRIA,The great power Tamerlane continually kept. AEGYPT, CHINA, and CAMEALV; as also D against the Muscouit, and Turks; being commonly in euerie place threescore thousand strong, though not still in field, but as occasion required. Vntill that at length hearing of the rising againe of the Turkish kingdome, vnder the Othoman princes, the sonnes of Baiazet; with whom the oppressed Mamalukes of AEGYPT, and the Greeke emperour (as doubtfull of his estate) had now also for feare of him combined themselues: he by the persuasion of Axalla (then Generall of his imperiall armie) made great preparation for a second expedition to be made for the vtter rooting out of the Othoman familie, and the conquest of the Greeke empire. But hauing now all things in readinesse, and also giuen a good beginning vnto these his intended conquests, (one of the Turks great Bassaes being by Axalla his lieutenant in a great battaile ouerthrowne, and thirtie thousand of the Turks slaine) hee in the middest of these his great hopes, as also of his greatest E power,The death of Tamerlane. died of an Ague the 27 daie of Ianuarie, in the yeare of our lord 1402. A little before whose death, appeared a great and terrible blasing starre, porte [...]ng as it were vnto the world the death of so great a prince.The discription of Tamerlane. Hee was a man of the middle stature, somewhat narrow in the shoulders, otherwise well limmed, and of a great strength. In his eies sat such a rare majestie, as a man could hardly endure to behold them without closing of his owne: and many in talking with him, and often beholding of him became dumbe; which caused him oftentimes with a comely modestie to abstain from looking too earnestly vpon such as spake vnto him, or discoursed with him. All the rest of his visage was amiable and well proportioned: he had but little haire on his chinne; and ware the haire of his head long and curled, contrarie to the manner of the Tartars, who shaue their heads, hauing the same alwaies couered: whereas he contrariewise was F for the most part bareheaded, commanding his sonne also to be so by his tutors brought vp: his haire was of a dark colour, somewhat drawing toward a violet right beautifull to behold: which his mother comming of the race of Sampson (as he gaue it out) willed him to nourish, in token of his discent: the cause that made him to be the more respected of his men of war; most part of them beleeuing that in those haires was some rare vertue, or rather some fatall destinie: an old practise of many great commaunders of former ages, to fill the heads of their souldiours with [Page] some strange opinion conceiued of them, to bee the more of them honoured; as if in them had G ben some one thing or other more than in other men. His liuely counterfeit, as I find it expressed by them that write the best of him, you may here behold, with the testimonie of his greatnesse following:

TAMERLANE.

Paulus Iouius Illust. virorum, Elog. lib. 1. pag. 97.

Ille nouus Xerxes, orientis victor, & ingens

Quacunque permearet, horror gentium:

Compleuit totos Scythico qui milite campos,L

Hoc se ferebat ore trux Tamerlanes.

Cuius in aduentum tutae altis moenibus vrbes

Ipsumque terrae contremiscebat solum;

Ipsi adeo montes, ipsae per deuia valles,

Vim Barbarorum non ferebant agminum.

Quare ab caucaseis Asiam conuallibus omnem,

Ad vsque Nili flumina armis subdidit;

Eufratem, & Tigrim, & rapidum tranauit Orontem,

Vi, vastitate, caede, cuncta proterens.

Vtque olim foeda cum tempestate coorta

Erumpit atra nube fulmen igneum:

Obuia quaeque cadens perrumpit, & alta sonanti

Templa atque solidas strage turres disijcit.

Subsidit vasto Tellus labefacta fragori,

Humilisque mentes sternit humanas pauor:

[Page] A Haud secus ille viam ferro molitus, & igni,

Euertit arces, opida aequauit solo.

Regem Asiae horribili captum impete Baiazetem

Caueaque clausum ferrea circuntulit.

Haec agitantem illum, & spirantem immania iussa

Quae cunctus vndique orbis expauesceret;

Exiguo caecae domitum molimine febris

Fatalis vno soluit hora triduo.

B Deque tot insanis opibus, de tot modo regnis,

Reliqua vna paruo gleba texit puluere.

In English thus,

Of Tamerlane a Xerxes new, which did the East subdew,

And in all places where he came, the nations ouerthrew;

That fild the fields with Scythian troupes, brought from those climates cold,

This was the feature and the shape which thou doest here behold.

C At whose approch, the strongest townes could small resistance make,

The earth it selfe vnder his feet seeming for feare to quake.

The mountaines high, mating the skie, and vncouth valleyes low,

Vnable were the force to beare, where he did come or goe.

All ASIA from mount CAVCASVS, vnto the bankes of NILE,

With valiant hand he vanquished and made his force to feele.

EVPHRATES, TIGRIS, and the swift ORONTES gaue him way,

With force, wast, and destruction great, on what he list to prey.

And as in tempests great oft times, when all things goe to wracke,

The fierie lightning flashing forth, out of the clouds so blacke,

D Doth breake downe what it lights vpon, and with a dreadfull fall

Ouerthrowes the temples, with their towers, and stately buildings all,

So that the earth dismayd therewith, doth lower downe descend,

And fearefull wights wrapt vp in woe, are brought to their wits end:

In like sort he with fire and sword seeking all to confound,

The strongest castles, towers, and townes, laid equall with the ground.

And like an whirlewind taking vp great Baiazet away,

Coupt vp in cage, so carried him, for his disport and play.

But whilest he rageth thus about, and plotteth in his head

Such hard commaunds and heauie doomes, as all the world should dread:

A little feauer in three sits, oppressed him with woe,

E And cloasing vp his vitall spirits, did lay his head full low.

So that for all the world of wealth and kingdomes he possest,

The small remainder of himselfe in simple graue doth rest.

His great empire by himselfe deuided betwixt his sonnes,Mahomet goeth against his brother Isa. was by their discord, and the ambition of some of their disloyall subjects, in short time after brought to great confusion, and his posteritie vtterly rooted out by Vsun-Cassanes, the Armenian prince, as in the processe of this historie may appeare. But to returne againe vnto our purpose, Mahomet deliuered of his greatest feare, by the departure of Tamerlane out of those countries, determined to goe to PRVSA in BYTHINIA, where his brother Isa as then raigned: But vnderstanding that Isa had before taken the straits whereby he should passe the mount HORMINIVS, he tooke another way about, & came F to PALaeO-CASTRON, where the valiant captaine Eine-beg Sub-bassa then remained: who with all honor and gladnesse receiued him, and there for certain daies refreshed both him and his armie. Afterwards greater forces still repairing vnto him, he marched thence to VLA [...]AD, called in an [...]ient time LOPADIVM. Of whose comming Isa before vnderstanding, and hauing assembled his armie, marched thither also, and encamped on the other side of the town towards PRVSA, readie to giue him battaile. But Mahomet seeing his brother so forward, consulted with his [Page] captaines what were best to bee done: where Eine Sub-bassa a man of great experience, and of G late one of Baiazet his great councellours and captaines, told him, That it was not for their honours being brethren, to pollute their hands one in the others blood; but to assaie if the quarrell might by some other good meanes be composed, and they made friends. For which purpose Mahomet presently sent letters vnto his brother Isa, concerning the partition of their fathers kingdome in ASIA betwixt them: offering vnto him the prouinces of AIDINIA, SARVCHANIA, GERMEANIA, C [...]ARASIA, CHARAMANIA, with other countreys to them belonging: so that he might haue PRVSA with all the other prouinces about the same. Which letters, when Isa had read, and saw that Mahomet offered him but titles for kingdomes, and such countreys as were rather sometimes tributaries vnto their father Baiazet, than any part of his kingdome, and H now of late by Tamerlane againe restored vnto their ancient libertie and gouernours; sharing out the best, and strongest part thereof vnto himselfe, he brake forth into choler and said:

What? doth not my fathers kingdome of right belong vnto me being the elder brother? Mahomet is yet but a youth, The answ [...]re of Isa to Mahomet his o [...]ers. and scarce crept out of the shell: by what right then can hee claime my fathers kingdome as his inheritance? If he can by the sword win it, let him take it, and so hold it.

Mahomet hauing receiued this answere, prepared himselfe to the field, where his brother as readie as himselfe, stood expecting his comming: and hauing set his armie in order of battaile, gaue the first charge: which was the beginning of a most cruell and bloodie fight, wherein as it commonly falleth out in doubtfull battailes, many were on both sides slaine. At last the fortune of Mahomet preuailing, Isa his armie began to retire: which he seeing, left nothing vndone for I the encouraging of his fainting souldiours, which belonged to a politicke Generall, or valiant souldiour to doe; but pressing into the thickest of his enemies, there with his own hand slew the antient and valiant captaine Eine Subbassa, who had many times beene Generall of the footmen in old Baiazet his warres. But what preuaileth courage against euill fortune? Isa must either flie or die. And therefore hauing done what he could in so desperate a case, being himselfe on euerie side forsaken, in the end was glad himselfe to flie to the sea side: where finding a shippe readie bound for CONSTANTINOPLE, he passed ouer thether in saftie, and there yeelded himselfe vnto the protection of the Greeke emperour Emanuel. In this chase Mahomet his souldiors tooke the valiant captaine Temurtases prisoner, another of Baiazet his great commanders, and brought him to Mahomet: who in reuenge of the death of Eine, commaunded his head presently K to be smitten off, and his bodie to be hanged vpon a tree by the hie way side. Of this victorie, Mahomet certified his brother Solyman at HADRIANOPLE, and in token thereof sent him Temurtases his head. This battaile was much spoken of, both for that it was fought betwixt two brethren; and also for the death of the two famous old captains Eine and Temurtases, who both together as louing friends, had fortunatly fought many great battels vnder Baiazet his ensignes; and now as it were by destinie, and against their wils, without any priuat grudge, were both drawne into contrarie factions and slaine: both whilst they liued wishing a good peace betwixt the ambitious brethren. But as the Turks vse to say, What is by God written in a mans forehead before his birth, cannot in his life be auoided.

After this victorie, Mahomet thinking himselfe now in sure possession of all his fathers dominions L in ASIA, led his armie to PRVSA, where he was of the citizens joyfully receiued as their Sultan: and for his great bountie, of all men highly commended and honoured. From thence he went to NICE, and so to NEAPOLIS and there in both places was likewise receiued. Thether resorted vnto him all the garrisons of CARASINA, SARVCHANIA, and AIDINIA, with other the inhabitants of those countries, with all loyaltie submitting themselues vnto him, with such honour and reuerence as belonged to their king.

All things thus sorting according to his desire in ASIA, he sent to the prince Germean for the bodie of his father Baiazet, The bodie of Baiazet honourab [...]y [...] at Prusa. and for his brother Musa, which were there left by Tamerlane, as is before declared. This dead bodie was by the same prince at the request of Mahomet, with great solemnitie sent to PRVSA, and there sumptuously buried, with all the Turkish obsequies and ceremonies:M the Turkish Alcoran or booke of their law, being read seauen daies vpon his tombe. All which time great cheere was kept for all commers, and much giuen to the poore (vpon the Turkish deuotion) for Baiazet his soule: but aboue all others, exceeding bountie was extended to the posteritie of their prophet Mahomet; which are knowne from others amongst the Mahometans, by the colour of their apparell, which is all greene, and not lawfull to be worne of any [Page] A but of them: so that they were by the bountie of Mahomet at that time greatly enriched. He also endowed the Abbey which his father had there lately built, with great lands and possessions for the maintenance thereof. All which things done, and the solemnitie past, he went in progresse to all parts of his kingdome, and was in euerie place joyfully receiued, and so afterward returned to AMASIA: and there in great pleasure spent that summer. Where we will for a while leaue him to see what Solyman his eldest brother in the meane time doth at HADRIANOPLE: whose liuely countenance is by the skilfull workemans hand thus expressed.

[figure]

Non malus es nisi te eneruet male suada voluptas

Quaeque minus bello conuenit ingluuies.

Hospitio Mirxi fruitur iam Musa Valachi:

Ille tuum vigilat pronus in exitium.

IAC. BOISARDVS.

Euill art thou not, except leaud lust doe hasten on thy fall:

Or riot, which beseemeth not a martiall man at all.

Thy brother Musa entertaind by Marke to thine annoy,

Doth take no rest, but waiteth still how he may thee destroy.

[Page] Soliman the eldest sonne of Baiazet (who kept his court at HADRIANOPLE, there peaceably G raigning all this while ouer the countries which his father Baiazet sometime possessed in EVROPE) hearing what his brother Mahomet had done, and how violently against all right hee had driuen Isa out of PRUSA, and made him glad to flie to CONSTANTINOPLE: was with this his outrageous dealing much offended, and thereupon calling vnto him his Bassaes & faithfull counsellors, declared vnto them the vnnaturall proceedings of Mahomet against his brother Isa. Wherin (said he) he doth me also great wrong in taking vpon him the soueraignetie ouer those great dominions and countries in ASIA, which of right belong to me his eldest brother, and not to him the yongest of six. In reuenge of which injurie and wrong, I intend in mine owne right, to passe ouer into ASIA with a strong armie, and by force of armes to recouer mine inheritance there, if I may not otherwise come by it. Good counsell. Vnto which speech one of his graue counsellors replied: That in his opinion it was not the best course for himselfe to goe in person into those wars. For although (said he) your brother Mahomet be but young, and therfore by your greatnesse lesse accounted of, yet is his fortune great, and his experience aboue his yeares. None haue yet had to doe with him, but they haue had ynough of him: yea, it is worth the noting, how politickly he hath borne himselfe for his owne safetie, and the safegard of the countries which he gouerned all the while that the great and mightie Tamerlane with his innumerable forces couered the face of the countries fast by him: most part whereof, Mahomet hath now since his departure, againe recouered. Wherefore it were best for you to send for your angrie brother Isa, to CONSTANTINOPLE, and to make him generall of the armie you intend to send into ASIA against Mahomet. In which warres, it is not vnlike, but that one of your brethren will be lost, whereby you shall haue one competitor of your kingdome the lesse. So shall you afterwards with lesse trouble subdue him that is left, or at leastwise please him with some part of that which they haue so mightely striuen for. This counsell was of Soliman and all the rest well liked of,Isa with a great armie sent by his brother Solyman into Asia against Mahomet. and approued. So was Isa presently sent for vnto CONSTANTINOPLE, and a great armie leuied. Who being come to HADRIANOPLE, was by Soliman courteously welcommed, and made generall of his armie: and therewith shipped ouer the strait of HELLESPONTVS into ASIA. Where at his first comming, hee possessed the whole countrey of CARASIA or LYDIA: and passing further, in all places where he came, was receiued of the people with great reuerence, they all promising him their obedience, if it were his fortune to preuaile against his younger brother Mahomet: wherewith he held himselfe well contented. So comming to the cittie of BEG-BAZER, otherwise called DESPO [...] POLIS, he there wintered with his armie. In which time, hee with many kind and louing letters still directed to Mahomet as his younger brother, seemed to be glad that he was so well obeyed and liked of by his subjects: and that presuming of his loue and fauour, he was as his louing brother, and not as an enemie come into ASIA, to entreat with him of such matters as much concerned the good of them both. Whereunto Mahomet with like dissimulation answered, That hee was right glad of his comming, for which he needed not (as he said) to make any excuse, for that he was entred into a kingdome, in part his owne, and the rest open before him: in token wherof, he commaunded a rich garment to be cast vpon the messenger as a fauor, sending also diuers rich presents vnto his brother, with great prouision of victuals, and other necessaries for his souldiors.

But Winter past, and the Spring come, Isa marched with his armie to PRUSA, and [...]here shewed vnto the cittizens the louing letters he had at sundry times before receiued from Mahomet: and telling them that hee was in good hope that they should in short time right well agree; requested to haue the castle deliuered vnto him, sometime their soueraigne: whereinto the better sort of the cittizens had retired themselues, and made fast the gates against him: but when he saw that he could by no faire words or pollicie gaine the possession of the castle, enraged with that repulse,Prusa burnt by Isa. he set fire vpon that goodly citie, and burnt it downe to the ground. Mahomet not ignorant how his brother Isa romed vp and downe his kingdome, vsing all kindnesse to such as yeelded vnto him; and exercising no lesse crueltie vpon such as refused his obedience: and how that hee had rased the royall cittie of PRVSA: hauing gathered a strong armie, marched in ten daies from AMASIA to PRVSA, and by the way meeting with his brother Isa, in a great battaile ouerthrew him with all his forces. Isa himselfe, accompanied with no more but ten persons, fled vnto CASTAMONA, prince Isfendiar his cittie: who hearing of his arriuall there, entertained him with all the honour he could, in recompence of the great friendship he had before found at his hands, at what time he was an humble suter in his father Baiazet his court.

[Page] Mahomet comming to PRUSA, greeued exceedingly to see that faire citie so destroied: yet to comfort the poore citizens, he gaue exceeding summes of money to bee bestowed amongst them, and tooke order for the new building of the citie, and there continued certaine daies himselfe to see the worke begun.

Isa in the meane time, hauing incited the prince Isfendiar in his quarrell to inuade his brother Mahomet, and going thether himselfe in person, was by him now the third time ouerthrowne and put to flight. Neuerthelesse he with some small forces, twice afterwards entred into Mahomets dominion, but finding few or none willing to follow his euill fortune, was glad at last to flie to the prince of SMIRNA, by whom he was both honourably entertained and comforted.

This prince of SMIRNA mooued with Isa his pitifull complaints, in so manifest a wrong, did not onely promise him what helpe he could of himselfe, but also by his embassadours solicited the princes of AIDINIA, SARUCHANIA, and MENTESIA, to giue him aid in so just a quarrell, for the releefe of Isa against his vsurping brother: These princes pitying the case of the distressed prince, and moued with the request of the prince of SMIRNA, and fearing also the ambitious spirit of Mahomet; amongst them sent such aid, that being all assembled together, Isa had now twentie thousand men in armes. Mahomet vnderstanding of this great preparation made against him, and hauing raised a strong armie, thought it not best to expect his brothers comming into his countrey (where perhaps many might joyne themselues vnto him, being so strong in field) but entred the prince of SMIRNA his country, with such speed, that he was vpon him and the rest of his enemies before he was looked for; where after a great & bloodie fight, he obtained of them a notable victorie. Isa hauing lost the battaile, and therewith his hope also, fled into CARAMANIA, and there in such obscuritie ended his daies, that no man can tell where nor how he died.Isa [...]lieth into Caramania; and there dieth in obscuritie. This was the end of this noble prince, alwaies of greater courage than fortune. The prince of SMIRNA the chiefe authour of this warre, humbling himselfe to Mahomet, obtained his fauour. The other confederate princes which gaue aid to Isa, were shortly after by Mahomet for most part spoiled of their dominions. Which done he returned with victorie to the building of PRUSA, hoping now to liue at more quiet.

But whilst Mahomet after this victorie, dreading no danger, was in the middest of his pleasures at PRUSA, he was certainly aduertised, That his eldest brother Solyman had raised a great armie in EUROPE, to inuade him in ASIA. Vpon which aduertisement, hee furnished the castle of PRUSA with a strong garrison, and all things needfull for the induring of a long siege, and placed Iacup-Beg (the sonne of Firoses) captaine therein; and afterwards departed himselfe, because that citie lately before burnt by Isa, was not as yet to be defended, much lesse to be accounted of as a place to retire vnto, if need should so require. From PRUSA he came to ANCYRA, & from thence directed commissions for the taking vp of souldiors in all parts of his kingdome. At which time hee writ letters also to Doioran a Tartar prince (whom hee had many times greatly pleasured) for aid: who presently came vnto him with certaine troupes of braue horse, promising him his faithfull seruice.

Not long after, hearing that his brother Solyman was with a puissant armie now come ouer E HELLESPONTUS, he consulted with his best leaders, what course first to take; being himselfe of opinion, without delay to meet his brother in the field, deeming it great shame not to offer him present battaile. But he was by his more expert captaines aduised, to consider that he was to fight against his eldest brother, of whose good or bad fortune hee had as yet no experience: and that many secretly fauoured his quarrell, and claime, as the eldest sonne and right heire of his father Baiazet: and that therefore it were better for him to retire farther off into the strength of his kingdome, and so temporizing, to await all good oportunities which might chaunce, as it doth in nothing more than in martiall affaires; rather than to commit all to the hazard of one battell, wherein if fortune failed him, all were then vtterly lost. Vpon which resolution he retired from ANCYRA towards AMASIA. At which time Doioran the false Tartarian, marching out at the other side of the citie, fell to robbing and spoiling of Mahomets subjects as an enemie, burning the countrey villages as they went: which thing when Mahomet vnderstood, he with his horsemen pursued him; and ouertaking him before he was looked for, slue most part of his men, and recouered all the spoile which hee had before taken; all which Mahomet gaue to his souldiours. Doioran himselfe hardly escaping by flight. And so Mahomet hauing reuenged himselfe vpon his dissembling friend, held on his way towards AMASIA.

[Page] The castle of [...]rusa besieged [...] Solyman. Solyman being come into ASIA, led his armie towards PRUSA: where the citizens vnderstanding G of his comming, went out of the citie to meet him, and hauing done vnto him such honour and reuerence as belonged to their Sultan, brought him peaceably into the citie. But Iacup-Beg stood vpon his guard, and would by no meanes deliuer vnto him the castle which was before by Mahomet committed to his charge: for which cause Solyman laid hard siege vnto it, and gaue therevnto diuers sharpe assaults, whereby the defendants were greatly weakned, many of them being slaine, and the rest for the most part wounded. Whereupon Iacup by letters sent by one Eine Hozze, certified Mahomet how things stood, and that the castle could not long bee holden against the furious assaults of Solyman, except it were with speed releeued: vpon which newes, he in all hast made towards PRUSA, returning the same messenger before him with letters H to the captaine of the castle, if happily he could find meanes to deliuer the same: Wherein he highly commended him for his faithfull seruice, and promised him speedie releefe. This messenger with his letters, chaunced by Solyman his souldiours to bee intercepted, and brought to Alis Bassa, Solyman his chiefe councellour (a man of a sharpe conceit) who of nothing could make something, but hauing any thing to worke vpon, could doe wonders: He hauing straightly examined the messenger, and perused the letters, suppressed the same, and presently writ others in the name of Mahomet, commending the captaine for that hee had alreadie done in his seruice; but yet for as much as he could not possibly in time releeue him, he willed him therefore to deliuer vp the castle, and to prouide for the safetie of himselfe and his garrison, by such conditions as he could best obtaine. These counterfeit letters Alis Bassa found meanes to bee as cunningly deliuered vnto the captaine, as they were craftely endited: who hauing read the same, and now out of all hope of releefe, expecting also euery houre to be assaulted by the furious enemie; vpon reasonable conditions yeelded the castle to Solyman. The newes whereof being brought vnto Mahomet, now come within one dayes march of PRUSA, exceedingly grieued him: but seeing no remedie, he returned backe againe to AMASIA; whither Solyman (now possessed of the cittie and castle of PRUSA, and hauing thereby got a great name in ASIA) shortly after came with his armie, and hardly besieged his brother in AMASIA: but seeing no hope to win the cittie, he retired backe againe to PRUSA, and there after his wonted manner spent his time in riot and excesse, whereunto he was ex [...]eedingly giuen. Iacup Beg for yeelding of the castle, was afterward by Mahomet straightly imprisoned, and in danger to haue beene put to K death, had not the great Bassaes become earnest intercessours for him.

Mahomet lying at AMASIA, was by his secret espials aduertised, That his brother Solyman hauing dispersed his armie, lay in great securitie at PRUSA, guarded but with a small power, passing his time in all voluptuous pleasure, his common exercise. Wherupon he in all hast marched with his armie thitherwards, to haue surprised him, before hee should bee able to call together his dispersed forces. But when he was come to the riuer SANGARIUS, hee was discouered by Solyman Subbassa, a great captaine, whom Sultan Solyman had sent, for the taking vp of men in that side of the countrey. Who returning in all hast, gaue Solyman knowledge of his brothers comming: with which suddaine newes he was so dismayed, being now of small strength, that for the auoiding of the imminent danger, he would presently haue fled into EUROPE, had L not Alis Bassa otherwise persuaded him: telling him, That if he should so cowardly flie away, it would not onely blemish and defame his honour, but discourage his friends also in ASIA, and encourage his enemies to pursue him perhaps vnto the gates of HADRIANOPLE: and that therefore it were better, with such forces as hee had, to take the straits about NEAPOLIS, and so to stay his brothers further passage into that countrey, vntill such time as hee might assemble the rest of his armie. According to which good counsell, he first tooke the beforenamed straits and passages, whereby Mahomet was of necessitie to passe, and there strongly fortified himselfe. Mahomet comming thither, with great force entered those straits, but was still valiantly by Solyman repulsed. The like attempt hee many times valiantly gaue, for that he knew himselfe to be at that time too strong for his brother: but Solyman hauing the aduauntage M of the place, with little danger or losse frustrated those his brothers braue attempts, although hee were then a great deale the weaker. Alis Bassa, whose wilie head, fraught with long experience, could (with nothing) effect great matters, in the meane time was not idle, but (making Solyman before acquainted with his doings) sent a secret messenger (one of his owne trustie seruants) to Mahomet with letters, certifying him, That most of his nobilitie and great [Page] captaines had secretly conspired to betray him into the hands of his elder brother Solyman, as the vndoubted heire of his father Baiazet; and so with the price of his head, to make their owne peace and attonement with him: and that for the performance thereof, they had bound themselues first vnto Solyman, and afterwards one to another, by solemne oath. Which treason hee discouered vnto him, with great protestation of his loue and good will, as hee that had of long time eaten bread and salt (as the Turkes vse to say) in his fathers court; and therefore could not but wish well vnto him, being one of his lord and maisters sonnes. These letters something troubled Mahomet, breeding in his head many a jealous conceit: for all that, he ceased not for six or seauen daies space, to giue many a hot skirmish for the gaining of those straight passages, but all in vaine. In which time, it chaunced one of his seruants neere about his person, to flie vnto the enemie; which caused him the more to suspect all that to be true, whereof Alis Bassa had forewarned him. Which considered, and that by lying there he preuailed nothing, but lost and wearied his men (for it was all that while exceding foule weather) and withall doubting to be betraied, returned as he came, to AMASIA. And Solyman glad also of his departure retired to PRUSA, giuing order into all parts of his kingdome, for the assembling of a great armie: but vnderstanding that the king of CARAMANIA had made a league with his brother Mahomet, and that they were agreed to joyne their forces against him for the driuing of him out of ASIA, he C forthwith drew all his forces to ANCYRA, as a place of more safetie.

Whilest Solyman thus lay at ANCYRA, it fortuned that Musa (which had all this while remained with his brother Mahomet, since he was set at libertie by Tamerlane) though not altogether well pleased with his owne estate, one daie by way of talke, thus spake vnto his brother: You see (said he) how our elder brother Solyman ceaseth not to vex and molest vs daily, and is not vnlike in the end to preuaile against vs, to our vtter destruction: Now if it might please you to giue me leaue, I would goe to Isfendiar prince of CASTAMONA and PONTUS, our brothers enemie, and of him procure shipping to passe ouer the Euxine sea into EUROPE: where I doubt not to find oportunitie to make some great innouation in that kingdome, now in my brothers absence: by reason whereof, Solyman shall of necessitie be driuen to leaue ASIA, to be again by you solie possessed: or else be brought in danger, there to lose his kingdome in EUROPE. Which if it shall be my good hap to gaine out of his hands by your supportation, I promise you faithfully to hold the same of you, as of my lord and soueraigne. This greatly pleased Mahomet, and therevpon not long after they concluded betwixt themselues, one to stand fast vnto another, and the one to help the other in what they could, during life; confirming the same with great solemnitie of their Turkish faith giuen, and taken. Wherevpon Mahomet furnished his brother Musa with great summes of money and other needfull things, for the taking in hand of so great an enterprise.

Musa thus furnished, taking his leaue of his brother, set forwards towards the prince Isfendiar: who hearing of his comming met him on the way, and entertained him as a great prince. But after that Musa had made him acquainted with his purpose for passing into EUROPE, and had obtained graunt of his helpe therein, he tooke his leaue of him for a time, and went to visit the king of CARAMANIA; who also most honourably entertained him, and the rather in despight of Solyman. But whilest Musa was thus passing the time in CARAMANIA, it fortuned that Marke (of some called Mirxes) prince of VALACHIA, hauing his countrey much spoiled by Solyman his garrisons; and hearing that Musa one of Baiazet his sonnes, was with the prince Isfendiar; he writ vnto him, promising to bestow his daughter and heire in mariage vpon Musa, if he would come ouer into EUROPE,Musa marieth the prince of Valachia his daughter. and reuenge the wrong done vnto him by Solyman: wherof Musa aduertised by the prince Isfendiar, gladly returned out of CARAMANIA, and was by him transported ouer the EUXINE or blacke sea, into EUROPE: where the prince of VALACHIA glad of his comming, receiued him with great honour, and according to his promise gaue him his daughter in mariage.

The fame of Musa his comming into EUROPE,Musa in the absence of Solyman recei [...]ed at Hadrianople as king and of his mariage, was in short time bruted through all Solyman his kingdome in EUROPE, and wrought such effect in the minds of the mutable vulgar people (alwaies desirous of noueltie) that they all as it were with one consent, submitted themselues vnto him, as vnto their lord and soueraigne. In so much that comming to the royall citie of HADRIANOPLE, in the absence of his brother Solyman, hee was there receiued as their king.

Solyman now lying at ANCYRA in ASIA, vnderstanding of these proceedinges of Musa in [Page] EUROPE, and that he was possessed of a great part of his kingdome there, was therewith exceedingly G troubled. Wherfore leauing his deputie in ANCYRA, he with all his army came to the strait of BOSPHORUS, and there of Emanuel the Greeke emperour obtained passage, promising for the same to restore vnto him certaine places before taken from him in ASIA: for Musa had so prouided, that he could haue no helpe of the Turkish shipping, which was by his commaundement all before brought ouer vnto EUROPE side. Musa hearing of Solyman his ariuall in EUROPE, made towards him with a great power: but after that both their armies were come the one within view of the other, and now readie to joyne battaile, many of Musa his captaines forsooke, him and fled to Solyman the elder brother and their vndoubted king: which Musa beholding, was glad to flie, and to take the safegard of the woods and mountaines for his refuge. After H which victorie, Solyman returning to HADRIANOPLE, tooke againe possession of his kingdome, and there without measure gaue himselfe to riot and excesse, according to his woonted manner.

After the departure of Solyman out of ASIA, Iacup-Beg (but lately before againe receiued into Mahomet his fauour, and now left as Solyman his deputie) deliuered ANCYRA with the castle of PRUSA, and all the rest that Solyman had gained in ASIA, to Mahomet; who shortly after led his armie through the countries of CARASIA, AYDINIA, SARUCANIA, TEKENSIS, and GERMEANIA, reducing them once again vnto his obeisance: and afterwards returned to PRUSA, where he now the second time tooke possession of his fathers kingdome in ASIA.

Musa goeth against So [...]yman. Musa still aided by the Valachian prince his father in law, gaue many great attempts against I his brother Solyman: but was still put to the worse. At length hauing gathered some good strength, and diligently attending the least smile of better fortune, drew neere vnto the place where Solyman lay, who at that time was (as his manner was) banqueting with great pleasure in his campe, and full of wine. In so much that when newes was brought vnto him, That his brother Musa was at hand with a great power; he in his drunkennesse caused the messenger that brought the newes to be beaten: and when he with greater earnestnesse than was to his liking, affirmed that his report to be true, he commaunded him to be slaine for troubling his mirth. But not long after, Musa was come so neere, that the vauntcourrours of his armie did skirmish with some of Solyman his souldiours: when as Chasis Eurenoses one of his fathers old captaines, pressing in, told him that Musa was at hand, and had skirmished with part of his armie. Whereof K Solyman (now farre in wine) had no regard, but said: Good tutor doe not trouble me no more, my brother Musa dare not come so nigh me, if I doe but hold vp my cappe, he is gone. With which answere the old captain going out discontented, sent in Chasan, Aga of the Ianizaries: who boldly comming vnto him, told him plainly of the imenent danger, and sharply reprooued him for his intemperance and securitie. With whose free speech, Solyman mooued, in great rage commanded his beard to be cut off (then no smal disgrace amongst the Turks.) Chasan presently comming forth thus disgraced, said to them that stood waiting without: This is the honour wherewith Sultan Solyman in his excesse, rewardeth his most faithfull seruants. Wherefore bee it knowne to you all, I will from henceforth (and not without cause) serue Musa, a prince of greater temperance and discretion: who so will follow me, come and welcome, So mounting to horse, and accompanied L with a number of his Ianizaries, of whom hee was greatly beloued, went ouer to Musa: as did many other great captaines also with their companies, mooued by his example so to doe. But when Solyman vnderstood that Chasan with most part of the Ianizaries, and many other worthy captaines with the greatest strength of his armie, were reuolted to Musa, then fast by, and readie to set vpon him; it then repented him too late of his dissolute folly: and finding no other remedy now to escape, hid himselfe vntill it was darke night; then taking horse, accompanied onely with Caratze Beg and Cara Muchill, Solyman flyeth. two of his noblemen, and one countrey Turke (whom they had retained for their guide) thought to haue fled to CONSTANTINOPLE. This malicious clowne, hauing of purpose led them by vnknowne waies all that night too and fro, as it were in a maze, oftentimes misnaming vnto them the places they passed by, as if they had been in the right way; M brought them in the morning to a village not farre from the place from whence they departed the euening before: and there riding a little before them, of purpose, gaue warning to a sturdie peasant or two of his acquaintance, That Solyman was comming after: willing them to make stay of him. These rude countrey churles, with some others of like breed, running out with bats and staues, and such other homely tooles as first came to hand, slew Caratze, and Cara Muchill, which [Page] would not yeeld vnto them but stood vpon their guard, and tooke Solyman aliue: where, as it commonly falleth out in the vulgar peoples furie, some cried out to kill him, and so to end the warres; some likewise to burne him; and some to hang him; and some few to saue him: euerie one as his rude affection lead him. In the heat of this countrey vprore came Musa, who glad to see his brother Solyman so hardly beset,Solyman strangled by his brother Musa. This Solyman is that same whom some call Celebinus, and other-some Calepinus, and reckon him for the fift king of the Turks. caused him presently to be there strangled, when hee had raigned in HADRIANOPLE six yeares and ten moneths.

This was the miserable end of Solyman, the eldest sonne that Baiazet left aliue. A man much giuen to excesse, otherwise endued with many great vertues, being both of great valour and exceeding bountifull. In his time liued the learned doctor Achmetes which wrote the historie of Alexander the Great, in Turkish verse, and published it in the name of Solyman himselfe: for which he was by him bounteouslie rewarded. The dead bodie of Solyman himselfe, was by the commaundement of Musa conuaied to PRUSA, and there lieth buried fast by the bodie of his grandfather Amurath. So now of these Cadmeian brethren, remained none but Mahomet and Musa, the one raigning in ASIA, and the other in EUROPE, diuers parts of world, and well bounded with the surest bounds of nature: yet not sufficient to content or containe their ambitious minds, vntill that the younger had most vnnaturally deuoured the elder: whose liuely counterfait, as it is by the skilfull workeman expressed, you may here behold.

[figure]

Quid properas insane tuum pessundare fratrem?

Nam sceleris tanti, Praemia digna feres.

Quicquid enim fratri malefeceris, hoc tibi frater.

Mox referet, nimis haec in tua fata ruis.

RICH. KNOLLEVS.

What hastest thou mad foole, thy brother to confound?

The guerdon of such villanie, shall to thy selfe redound.

For looke what mischiefe thou hast wrought shall turne to thee againe:

Why dost thou therefore foolish man so hasten on thy paine?

[Page] Musa presently after the death of his brother Solyman, tooke vpon him the Turkish kingdome G in EUROPE: who in the beginning of his raigne displaced most of them which had born great offices before in the time of his brother Solyman, and had now of late reuolted to him▪ fearing to be by them betrayed or forsaken, as his brother was▪ and in their roomes placed other his owne creatures. And not so content, proceeded farther, vpon small causes most vnkindly to imprison and put to death many of them that had of him well deserued. Which cruell dealing so alienated the minds of his nobilitie, that many of them kept themselues out of the way; doubtfully expecting the euent of such his tyrannicall gouernment: Chasis Eurenoses, that old and renowned captaine, to escape his hands, was glad to feigne himselfe blind, so to absent himselfe from court. At this time hee also by his embassadours demaunded of diuers Christian princes his H neighbours, such tribute as they had in times past either paied or promised to pay vnto his father Baiazet: and in that quarrell inuaded diuers of them, namely, the princes of SERVIA and BULGARIA. Amongst others he sent Ibrahim Bassa, a learned man of great experience, and sometimes one of his fathers graue counsellours, vnto Emanuell Paleologus, the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, to demaund the like tribute of him. Who so soone as he was come to CONSTANTINOPLE, from thence by letters aduertised Mahomet of the vndiscreet gouernment of his brother Musa in his new gotten kingdome; and what vntimely stirres he began to make, before he was therein well setled, loosing the loue both of his subjects and neighbour princes: with much other matter concerning his misgouernment. Which things when Mahomet vnderstood, he sent a messenger with letters backe againe to CONSTANTINOPLE, requesting the Bassa to I come ouer vnto him into ASIA, and in token of his great fauour sent him diuers rich garments, with many great and princely promises: wherewith the Bassa mooued, and detesting the cruell gouernment of Musa, went ouer vnto him to PRUSA, and there was of him honourably entertained, and sworne one of his priuie counsell: in which place of honour he long time afterwards serued him faithfully, and after him his sonne Amurath also.

Mahomet thinking, vpon the aduantage of his brothers euill gouernment, to find meanes to thrust him out of his kingdome, and so to draw the whole gouernment of the Turkish empire vnto himselfe, as well in EUROPE as in ASIA; assembled an armie of fifteene thousand choice souldiors to inuade his brother in EUROPE, before hee were there well established in his kingdome. And so shocking downe towards the straits of BOSPHORUS, by his embassador concluded K a league with Emanuel the Greeke emperour, That one of them should neuer wrong or damnifie the other: and that if Mahomet should hap to obtaine the Turkish kingdome in EUROPE, he should alwaies honour and reuerence the emperour as his especiall good friend; but if it should chance him to be distressed or ouerthrowne by his brother Musa, that then the emperour should presently transport him and his armie backe again into ASIA. This league was with great solemnitie of words on both parts confirmed. And shortly after Mahomet with all his armie was by the emperours shipping at the strait of BOSPHORUS neere vnto CONSTANTINOPLE, transported ouer into EUROPE: for Musa possessed of GALLIPOLIS, had stopped all the other passages.

Musa hauing before knowledge of his brothers comming, was foorthwith in readinesse to L meet him with a strong armie.The battaile betwixt the two brethren, Mahomet and Musa. So that Mahomet had not marched farre from the sea side, but that the vauntcourriers of his armie met with his brothers, at a place called INTZUGE, and there began a light skirmish: wherin Musa his forerunners were by Mahomets put to flight, and chased vnto Musa his campe. Whereof such a suddaine feare arose in the armie, that they were almost readie to flie, thinking Mahomet had beene vpon them with all his power: but vnderstanding the truth of the matter, both armies rested that night, which as then drew fast on. The next day these two brethren, armed with equall hope, brought their armies into the field, & gaue the signall of battaile, whereupon began a mortall and bloodie fight: in the furie whereof, Michaell Ogli, Bassa of ROMANIA, and certaine other of Musa his great captaines, vpon secret discontentment reuolted to Mahomet: wherewith many of Musa his souldiors discouraged, fled.M Which Mahomet his souldiors seeing, pursued the chace with such earnestnesse and furie, that few were left with himselfe: yet with such as were left, in hope of good hap, he set vpon his brother: who although hee was halfe discomfited with the flight of the greater part of his armie, whom the enemies had yet in chace, yet stood he fast himselfe with seuen thousand Ianizaries, his best souldiors; so taking the vnexpected good hap, presented vnto him by his brothers forwardnesse, [Page] A valiantly receiued his charge. But Mahomet finding there a greater strength than hee had before supposed, and himselfe too weake to withstand the furie of the Ianizaries, because most of his men also were following the chace, was now for safegard of his life glad to flie himselfe to CONSTANTINOPLE: whether hee came accompanied scarcely with two hundred men: and was from thence; according to the agreement before made betwixt him and the emperour, speedily shipped ouer into ASIA. Musa hauing thus put his brother to flight, with great slaughter of his men, presently tooke his tents with all that was therein, and there encamped himselfe. They of Mahomets armie, which followed the chace of such as had fled in the beginning of the battaile, not knowing what had happened to Mahomet, returning to the campe, doubting no perill, and finding it at their returne possessed by their enemies, stood as men amased and vtterly discouraged: at which time Musa would not suffer his souldiours to put them to the sword, as they would faine haue done, but commaunded them to bee despoiled of their armes and such other things as they had, and so with life suffered them to depart.

After this ouerthrow, whilest Mahomet lay still at PRUSA, the prince of SMYRNA forcibly entred into AIDINIA, purposing to passe through into SARUCANIA: which thing Mahomet hearing, gathered a great armie, and entering into the princes countrey, made such spoile as hee went, and so distressed the prince himselfe, that he was glad to submit himselfe vnto him, and from thenceforth to hold his dominion of him, as of his lord and soueraigne, and so returned vnto AMASIA.

C Mahomet could not well disgest the losse he had so lately receiued in EUROPE, and therefore leuied an armie of choice souldiors out of all parts of his kingdome, once againe to trie his fortune against his elder brother Musa. For the better successe wherein, he by his letters craued aid of the prince Duldager Ogli, written to this effect:

Sultan Mahomet vnto the prince Dulgader Ogli, his father in law.

My purpose is to lead mine armie into ROMANIA in EUROPE, Mahomet his letters vnto the prince Dulgader Ogli, his father in law. and there againe to trie my quarrell with my brother Musa. My hope is, that you will not with your aid be wanting vnto me your sonne D in law, in my so great affaires, neither for want of good will to hinder this my purpose. Fare you well, in the yeare of our great Prophet Mahomet 814. From AMASIA.

Whereunto the prince returned this kind answere:

Prince Dulgader Ogli vnto the great Sultan Mahomet.

I doubt not most mightie Monarch, but that whither so euer your desires shall draw you for the vnderta [...]ing of any great exploit,The answere of prince D [...]lgader Ogli to Mahomet. he that ruleth aboue in heauen, will be alwaies your aid, prosper your attempts, minister vnto you fit occasions, and bring all your actions vnto most happie end, with most assured victorie. Wherefore seeing (God so disposing our affaires) I cannot my selfe in person come vnto you with my power, and giue you my trustie helpe in this your intended warre: yet will I in no case faile with all speed to send my sonne your seruant, to aid you with our forces, in this warre. Fare you well this same yeare of our Prophet 814.

And so shortly after, the prince sent vnto him his sonne, according to his promise, with a companie of braue souldiors, excellently furnished: for the welcomming of whom, Mahomet his brother in law made a great and royall feast: and there in his mirth gaue vnto the young prince the rich apparrell hee wore himselfe, with the horse hee rode vpon, and all the rich plate of gold and siluer wherein they were serued at that feast, a matter of great value. And to euery one of his noblemen he gaue a rich garment, made for that purpose, with some other gift, as a fauour: and afterwards gaue them all to vnderstand, That he intended forthwith to passe ouer into EUROPE, and there to recouer all his fathers kingdome, or els there to end his daies: As for the spoile and prey (said hee) shall bee theirs that can win it: one horse, one sword, one horsemans mace shall content my selfe. So hauing furnished his armie with all things needfull for so great an enterprise, hee set forward, and came to the strait of BOSPHORUS; and from thence gaue knowledge of [Page] his comming to the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE: who glad thereof (for the displeasure G he bare to Musa) transported him and all his armie ouer that strait into EUROPE▪ and there in one of his countrey pallaces royally feasted him. At which time Mahomet requested the emperour to joine with him in that warre against their common enemie: but hee excused himselfe by reason of his great age; yet neuerthelesse, assisted him with certaine companies of valiant Christians, whose seruice afterward stood the Turke in great stead.

So Mahomet taking his leaue of the emperour, marched with his armie to the riuer WYZEN in THRACIA, where by the way he receiued letters from the antient captaine Chasis Eurenoses, aduising him to be very circumspect in his marching, and not to make too much hast to joine battaile with his brother: counselling him also (if he could by any means) to allure Iegides Bassa,H Barac Beg, and Sinan Beg, to forsake his brother, and to follow his ensignes; for that in those men consisted Musa his greatest strength: and promised in good time to come vnto him himselfe also, if he were not too hastie. This messenger that brought this newes, Mahomet bountifully rewarded, and so sent him away. Shortly after, as he was marching towards HADRIANOPLE, part of the enemies armie, began to shew it selfe vnder the leading of Cara Calile, and was presently charged by Michaell Ogli, Hadrianople besieged by Mahomet. and put to flight. So holding on his way to HADRIANOPLE, hee laied siege to the cittie: where the cittizens sent out vnto him certaine of their grauest and most substantiall burgesses, to certefie him, That by reason of the garrison there left by Musa, they could not as then deliuer the cittie vnto him; but if it should please him to goe and trie his fortune in the field against his brother, who should be the commaunder thereof, he should find them readie I to follow his good fortune, and to yeeld themselues, the cittie, and all therein, to his pleasure, if it were his good hap to carrie away the victorie. With which answere Mahomet contenting himselfe, raised his siege, and tooke the way towards ZAGORA. In that place Musa is reported to haue come secretly disguised into Mahomet his campe, and to haue taken full view thereof, but perceiuing himselfe too weake to encounter his brother, withdrew his armie into the safegard of the great woods and strong places: and so from thence retired with his armie towards PHILIPPOPOLIS, and so marched along the riuer MERITZE, called in antient time HEBKUS: Where Iegides Bassa, with Hamza Beg, and Ismir Ogli (three of Musa his great captaines) set vpon the rereward of Mahomets armie, and were by Michael Ogli repulsed. Mahomet holding on his way, came to SOPHIA: where as he went, Musa diuers times from the mountaines made shew of his K armie, but durst not come downe into the plaine to giue him battaile. Mahomet hauing refreshed his armie at SOPHIA, marched to SARKIVE, where he receiued letters from Iegides Bassa, Barac Beg, and Sinan Beg, all secretly persuaded by old Eurenoses to reuolt vnto him: the tenor whereof in breefe was this.

Iegides Bassa, Barac Beg, and Sinan Beg, vnto the great Sultan Mahomet.

We are three young men (most mightie Monarch) and haue with vs three thousand choice soldiors, men of incomparable valor, such as the world hath scarce the like: draw your forces neare vnto vs with L as much speed as you can, and you shall find vs readie to come ouer vnto you. Fare you well.

Musa his cheefe captaines reuolt to Mahomet.Whereupon he marched all the next night after, vntill he came to the riuer MORAVA, and there encamped: where the three aforenamed captains, according to their promise joined themselues vnto him with all their souldiors. Thither came also old Eurenoses, of all others the most famous captaine amongst the Turks, and now no longer blind, bringing with him a great companie of most expert souldiours. Marke the Despot of SERVIA (for the displeasure he bare vnto Musa) sent him aid thether also. By which supplies, Mahomets armie was greatly encreased: who after he had courteously welcomed all these new come captains, he began againe to march farther vntill he came to COSSOVA, the vnfortunate plaine; where Hamza Beg the prince of M SMYRNA his sonne, hauing forsaken Musa, came vnto him with fiue hundreth horse, certifying him that all the nobilitie had forsaken his father: so, as he marched from place to place, his forces still encreased by the reuolt of his brothers. Musa seeing his souldiours thus daily fall from him, insomuch that he had almost none now left, but the souldious of the court (which were indeed his best men of warre, and alwaies vnto him faithfull, because he had been euer vnto them exceeding [Page] bountifull) thought it best to attempt something, before he were left himselfe alone. Wherfore hauing yet with him seuen thousand of those expert souldiors, he drew neerer vnto his brother, seeking to haue taken him at some aduantage. But Mahomet hauing knowledge of his purpose, and contented to be aduised by his old expert captaines, had euer a vigilant eye vnto him. Yet at last, whether it were vpon good hope, or els prickt forward with despaire, Musa vpon the suddaine, valiantly set vpon his brothers armie: but his souldiors oppressed with multitude, rather than ouercome with true valour, after a hard and bloodie fight were put to the worst: which he seeing, desperatly brake into the middest of his enemies, seeking there for death amongst the thickest of them. But being knowne by Baiazet Bassa, Mahomet his lieutenant generall, desirous to take him aliue, he was beset on euery side: where seeing himselfe in more danger to be taken than slaine, hee with great courage brake from amongst the middest of them, and fled. In which flight his horse falling into a deepe muddie ditch (or as some others say, hoxed by Sarutzes his owne seruant, and himselfe wounded) ouerthrew him, and there before he could againe recouer himselfe was taken by Baiazet Bassa (the great lieutenant) Michael Ogli, Musa taken. and Barac Beg, which had hardly pursued him out of the battaile: and so was with his handes bound, by them brought through the middest of the armie. Which pitifull sight, greeued not a little the hearts of many; to see him but euen now so great a king, and one of the sonnes of great Baiazet, by the strange change of fortune, bound like a captiue slaue led forth to execution: yet were most part glad thereof, hoping this long ciuile wars would now in him take end. Shortly after came vnto him a noble man called Balta Ogly, Musa strangled. sent (as was thought) from Mahomet himselfe▪ who after he had in few words bitterly reprooued him, for the crueltie by him before shewed vnto his brother Solyman in like case, caused him presently to be strangled with a bow string. His dead body was by and by after, presented to his brother Mahomet: who seeing it, shed a few Crocadils teares ouer it. He raigned three yeares and seauen moneths, and was afterwards conuaied to PRUSA, and there lieth buried by the bodie of his brother Solyman, in the same chappell with his grandfather Amurath.

Mahomet after the death of Musa, now free from all competetours, tooke vpon him the sole gouernment of the Turkish kingdome, as well in EUROPE as in ASIA. And here the Turkish histories begin the raigne of this Mahomet fifth king of the Turks: accounting the troublesome time from the captiuitie of Baiazet, vnto the death of Musa, as a time of vacancie or Anarchi, wherein the Turkish kingdome was not at any time wholie possessed by any one of Baiazet his sonnes. Isa possessing one part, whereof hee was by Mahomet dispossessed: who afterwardes vsurped all that part of the Turkish kingdome in ASIA, being the right of his eldest brother Solyman: Who at that time raigning in EUROPE, was deposed and strangled by his brother Musa: who was in like manner serued by his youngest brother Mahomet, the onely sonne of Baiazet then left, as is before at large declared. Which diuers mutations, and interrupted successions, was the cause that the Historiographers doe so greatly discent vpon the successour of Baiazet: some reckoning one, some another; and some more, some fewer; and some, such as neuer were. But forasmuch as Mahomet held all or most part of the Turkish kingdome in ASIA, during this troublesome E time; and in the end possessed the other part thereof in EUROPE also; I reckon him for the fifth king of the Turks, and successour to his father Baiazet: including also in this Historie of his life, all that intestine and serpentine-like tragedie, wherin he himselfe was the principall actor.

Whilest Mahomet was (as is aforesaid) thus busied in his wars in EUROPE,1415. against his brother Musa: the king of CARAMANIA taking the aduantage of his troubles there, with a great armie inuaded his kingdome joyning vpon him in ASIA,Prusa burnt by the Caramanian king. burning and spoiling all before him as he went: Eiuases Bassa, Mahomet his lieutenant, then lying at PRUSA, not able to withstand him; and fearing his comming thether, because it was the seat of the Othoman kings in ASIA, caused the citizens to bring the greatest part of their wealth into the castle: whereinto he also receiued so many of the citizens as he conueniently could, willing the rest to shift for themselues as they might, in such case of extremitie. Shortly after, the king of CARAMANIA (according to his expectation) came to PRUSA, and without resistance tooke the citie, not as yet fully fortified; which he without delaie caused the second time to be burnt downe to the ground: and afterwards laid siege to the castle, giuing many great assaults thereto by the space of thirtie daies; but was alwaies valiantly repulsed by Eiuases the Bassa, who ceased not continually to encourage his souldiours, still putting them in comfort, That Mahomet hauing now ouercome his enemies in [Page] EUROPE, would in few daies vndoubtedly come to their releefe. It chaunced at the same time,G that the dead bodie of Musa, sent to PRUSA to be buried, was honourably conuaied vpon the way, with much people following it. The Caramanian king hearing of the comming of such a multitude, and fearing it to haue been Mahomet with his power, raised his siege and with speed departed: whereat the Turks long time after jeasted, saying, If the Caramanian king runne away for feare of the dead bodie of the Othoman king; what would he doe if hee had come against him aliue? but the truth was, he feared Mahomet and his power.

Orchanes the sonne of Solyman (yet a boy) hauing liued at CONSTANTINOPLE euer since the death of his father, about this time departed thence, because of the league but lately made between the emperour and his vncle Mahomet, purposing to haue gone into VALACHIA: but H by the way as hee was trauelling, the Turkish voluntarie souldiours vnderstanding that hee was the sonne of their late king Solyman, resorted vnto him in great numbers, offering in his quarrell to spend their liues. Of which insurrection Mahomet hearing, marched thether in all hast, with a great power to suppresse the same: of whose coming the souldiors with Orchanes vnderstanding, dispierced themselues and fled. As for Orchanes himselfe, he was by his vnfaithfull tutor Zaganos betraied vnto his vncle Mahomet: who presently caused his eies to be put out, and so sent him to PRUSA: allowing him great reuenewes to liue vpon, and euer after vsed him with great honour. The sister of this Orchanes he gaue in marriage to one of his noblemen, with a great dowrie. This is that Orchanes, whom some historiographers reckon vp among the Turkish kings, as one of the successours of Baiazet; and that hee was betrayed to his vncle Moses: erring as I suppose,I both in the succession and the name, mistaking Moses for Mahomet.

Now Mahomet calling to remembrance the injurie which the Caramanian king had done to him in his absence, returning to PRUSA, assembled a great armie to reuenge himselfe of that wrong.1416 At which time, he sent to the prince Isfendiar for aid, who sent him his sonne Cassumes. He commanded also the prince Germian Ogli, Mahomet inuadeth the Caramanian king. to make prouision for the victualing of his campe, as he should passe by his countrey: which was accordingly done. And so prouided of all things necessarie, he with his armie entred into the Caramanian countrey: Where he tooke the cities ASPROPOLIS, DESPOTOPOLIS, HIEROPOLIS, and besieged ICONIUM: but by reason of the imoderate raine which at that time fell, he was glad to make peace with the Caramanian king, called also Mahomet. And so raising his siege, departed towards PONTUS, where hee had not long staied, but that newes was brought vnto him, That the Caramanian king renouncing his league, was againe vp in armes. Wherefore returning into CARAMANIA, and so to ICONIUM, he there ouerthrew the king in battaile, and tooke both him and his son Mustapha prisoners: who redeemed themselues by deliuering diuers of their strong cities and castles into his hands: and afterward concluded a peace, they receiuing from him an ensigne (as the Turkish maner is) in token they were now become his vassales.

The Caramanian warre thus happily ended, he went ouer into EUROPE, and passing ouer DANUBIUS,1417 foraged the countrey of VALACHIA TRANSALPINA, making there great spoile: for redresse whereof,Valachia tributarie to the Turke. the Valachian prince by his embassadours sent him such tribute as hee demaunded, and his son also to serue him in his court. About which time happened a great earthquake L in PRUSA, and other places of ASIA, wherby many houses & towers were ouerthrown; after which ensued great troubles in most parts of ASIA: howbeit Mahomet going thether, by his presence kept all his dominions in peace and quietnesse.

Isfendiar prince of CASTAMONA and part of PONTUS, reseruing vnto himselfe CASTAMONA, with a little part more of his dominion, gaue the rest vnto Mahomet, vpon condition that he should restore no part thereof againe vnto his sonne Cassumes: who hauing long time serued in Mahomet his court and warres, could not be persuaded to returne againe vnto his father; and therefore was by him thus disinherited. Which great gift, Mahomet thankefully accepted, and in lieu thereof assigned vnto Cassumes other great and large possessions within his owne kingdome.M

Mahomet after the death of his brother Musa, had sent Scheiches Bedredin (his brothers Cadelescher) to NICE in ASIA, as vnto a place of exile, allowing him neuerthelesse a great pension wheron to liue. This Bedredin had in his house one Burgluzes, Mustapha his steward: these two laid their heads together, how to raise some tumult or rebellion to trouble the peaceable gouernment of Mahomet. For which purpose, Burgluzes (according to the plot by them laid) tooke his [Page] A way into AYDINIA (sometime called CARIA) & there pretending a great zeale of reformed religion, with a wonderfull grauitie began to broach diuers new and strange opinions, farre differing from the Turkish antient superstition, yet very plausible and well fitting the humour of the vulgar people. By which meanes he was in short time reputed for a famous learned deuout man, and had many followers, drawing after him much people, fit to begin some great innouation. Bedredin glad of his mans successe, fled from NICE into the prince Isfendiar his countrey, from whence he tooke shipping ouer the Euxine into VALACHIA, and there withdrawing himselfe into a great forrest, as if hee had beene some deuout and religious man, allured vnto him a great number of outlawes and theeues which there liued. Whom when he had sufficiently instructed and framed to his purpose, he sent them in the habit of religious men into the countrey of ZAGORA, and other places in the frontiers of Mahomet his dominions, neere vnto him, as his disciples: who with great boldnesse and confidencie, published Bedredin his doctrine and authoritie▪ and how that he was by God appointed to be the king of justice, and commaunder of all the world: whose doctrine and manner of gouernment was (as they said) alreadie receiued (as they gaue it out) in ASIA, being set forth but by one of his schollers, Burgluzes; whose fame was now dispersed throughout all the Turks dominion: and that therefore, if any were desirous of preferment, they should repaire to Bedredin, who would in short time shew himselfe vnto the world, and promote his followers according to their deserts. Many of the country people deluded with this phantasie and practise of these seditious seed-men, resorted to Bedredin in hope of preferment, and with them some of good calling also. At last, out of the forrest commeth this great prophet, with banner displaied, attended vpon with a great multitude of the seditious vulgar people, which daily resorted vnto him more and more. Mahomet for the repressing of these dangerous tumults, sent his sonne Amurath, and Baiazet the great Bassa, with two thousand men to apprehend Burgluzes in AYDINIA: but when they came thither, they found him guarded with three thousand men well appointed, readie to aduenture their liues in defence of their foolish prophet. Neuerthelesse, Amurath and Baiazet not dismayed with the multitude of those vplandish people, set vpon them: where was fought a right bloodie battaile, for the number, and many slaine on both sides:Burgluzes slain. yet at last the rebels fled; in which flight Burgluzes himselfe was slaine, and hewen all to peeces. After which victorie Baiazet from thence hasted to MAGNESIA, and there executed Torlac Kemal, another seditious Turkish monke, which with two thousand, by him seduced, did much harme in the countrey thereabout. At the same time also Mahomet sent another power against Bedredin: but most of his followers seeing in him no such matter, as was by his disciples and himselfe promised, and as they hoped for, were alreadie fallen from him; so that of that great multitude which before followed him, few or none were left with him, whereby he was easily apprehended by them that Mahomet had sent against him: and so being brought to Mahomet to SERRAS,Bedredin hanged was there in the market place before a tauerne dore, faire hanged, without any farther harme.

Mahomet in the short time of his raigne finished the great Mahometane temple at HADRIANOPLE, before begun by his brethren Solyman and Musa. Where he also built a princely pallace, the seat of the Turkish kings in EUROPE, vntill the taking of CONSTANTINOPLE. Hee also built another temple, with a most sumptuous abbey, and a publicke schoole thereto adjoyning, endowing the same with great reuenewes, such as had by him and those his brethren of late been taken from the Christians. He gaue also great summes of money, yearely to be paid at MEDINA and MECHA, for the releefe of poore pilgrims trauelling from far to the sepulchre of their great prophet Mahomet, at MEDINA, or his temple at MECHA.

Shortly after Mahomet fell sicke at HADRIANOPLE,Mahomet dieth at Hadrianople. and perceiuing himselfe in danger of death, by his last will appointed his eldest sonne Amurath to succeed him in his kingdome; and sent Eluan-beg (a man in great fauour with him) in post to AMASIA, to will him with all speed to repaire to the court at HADRIANOPLE. But feeling death to approch, and that hee could not possibly liue vntill the comming of his sonne, he straightly charged his Bassaes with all secrecie to conceale his death, vntill his comming, for feare least any trouble should arise vpon the bruit thereof, before his comming thither. And so hauing set all things in order, he departed out of this world vnto his prophet Mahomet, about the yeare of our Sauiour Christ 1422, when hee had raigned seuenteene yeares: accounting in his raigne that troublesome ten yeares next after the captiuitie of Baiazet, in which time the Turkes kingdome was by his ambitious sonnes rent in [Page] sunder (as is aforesaid) vntill it was at length againe by this Mahomet restored vnto the former integritie,G about 7 yeares before his death, which the Turks account for the whole time of his raign: and the other troublesome 10 yeares as a vacancie or Anarchie of their kingdome, as is aforesaid.

The death of Mahomet cunningly concealed from the Ianizaries, by the t [...]ree great Bassaes. Mahomet being dead, the three great Bassaes, Eiuases, Baiazet, and Ibrahim (to rid themselues of the feare they had of the Ianizaries, and other souldiors of the court) called a Diuano or counsell for the warres, as if the king had been aliue: wherein it was pretended, That Mahomet had determined to make warre vpon the prince of SMYRNA: and that for that seruice it was his pleasure, That the Ianizaries should forthwith passe ouer into ASIA, to the castle of BAGA. Wherupon presse money was presently giuen them, and they sent ouer with letters directed to the viceroy of ANATOLIA, for the assembling of an armie for BAGA. In the meane time, the great Bassaes of H the court sat daily in counsell, placing and displacing, promoting and disgracing whome they thought good, as if the king had so commaunded: The kings physicians also, to countenance the matter, were commanded continually to go too and fro with their potions and receits, after their wonted manner, as if they had had the king still in cure: And letters were sent in post to Eluan Beg, for speedie dispatch of the businesse for which he was sent into ASIA. Yet for all this cunning dissimulation, the pentioners, and other souldiours of the court, wont to be neere vnto the kings person, and some of them alwaies of the priuie chamber, began to suspect the matter: and comming to the Bassaes, said they maruailed that the king in so long time did neuer shew himselfe as he had alwaies before done. Whereunto the Bassaes answered, That he had been dangerously sicke, and was as yet but a little recouered, and that therefore the physicians would not suffer him to looke abroad, or take the aire, for feare of casting him downe againe. Then will wee our selues said the pentioners goe in and see his majestie, and with that were readie to force in vpon the Bassaes. Eiuases seeing their importunitie, desired them to hold themselues contented, and not as then to trouble the king, for that hee had that day, as hee said, taken physicke; but to morrow (said he) we will request his majestie, if he so please to shew himselfe, that you may see him: wherewith they for that time held themselues content. Now amongst the kings physicians there was one Geordiron, a Persian, a man of a quicke spirit and subtill deuise, which found means to deceiue the pentioners: he deuised, that the dead bodie of the king being apparrelled in royall large robes, should be brought betwixt two, as if he had been led into an high open gallerie; and being there set, to haue a boy so neatly placed behind him vnder his large robes, as that he vnperceiued,K might moue the kings hand vp to his head, as if he should stroke his face or beard, as his manner was. The next day the dead king being accordingly brought foorth by the Bassaes in his rich robes, and wrapped with clothes about his head, as if it had been for feare of the aire, or of taking cold, and so placed in an high open gallerie, as was before deuised: suddainely the physician came running in [...]uming and raging, as if he had been halfe mad, readie to teare his clothes for anger; and in great choller casting his cap against the ground, asked the Bassaes, if they meant to kill the king, by bringing him into the open aire? We (said he) haue with great pains, in long time, a little recouered him, and will you thus foolishly cast him downe againe? Pardon vs good doctor (said Eiuases) for these gentlemen (pointing to the pentioners) were so importunat to see his majestie, that to satisfie their desires, he was content to be led forth of his chamber: wherof we hope shall ensue no harme. The pentioners seeing the king many times moouing his hand to his face, and as it were stroking his beard, held themselues well contented, supposing him to haue beene aliue, although but weake, and therefore not willing to speake vnto them. The physicians taking him vp amongst them, carried him into his lodging againe, which was but fast by, making as if they had carried an extreame sicke man. Thus was his death cunningly concealed one and fortie daies, vntill the comming of Amurath his sonne.

This Mahomet was both wise and valiant, and withall exceeding bountifull, but ambitious aboue measure: and may of right be accounted the restorer of the Turkes kingdome; for he recouered againe all those countries in ASIA which Tamerlane had taken away and giuen vnto other Mahometane princes, after the ouerthrow of Baiazet. And when as the kingdome of the Turkes M was rent in peeces and almost brought to naught by ciuile wars, and the ambition of himselfe and his brethren; he at length got possession of the whole, and so left it to his sonne Amurath an entire kingdome, in the former greatnesse, althogh not much by him augmented. His bodie lieth buried in a faire tombe made of artificiall stone, very beautifull to behold, in a chappell at the East side of PRUSA, where we leaue him at his rest.

FINIS.

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Christian princes of the same time with Mahomet the first.

Emperours

Of the East

Emanuell Palaeologus. 1387. 30.

Of the West

Rupertus duke of Bauaria. 1400. 10.

Sigismund king of Hungarie. 1411. 28.

Kings

Of England

Henrie the fourth. 1399. 13.

Henrie the fift. 1413. 9.

Of Fraunce

Charles the sixt, surnamed, The welbeloued. 1381. 42.

Of Scotland

Iohn Stuart, otherwise called Robert. 1390. 16.

Iames the first. 1424. 13.

Bishops of Rome

Boniface the IX. 1391. 14.

Innocent the VII. 1405. 2.

Gregorie the XII. 1407. 2.

Alexander the V. 1410. 1.

Iohn the XXIII. 1411. 5.

Martin the V. 1417. 13.

Murad II

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AMVRATH. II.

AMVRANTHES SECVNDUS SEXTVS TVRCARVM REX FLORVIT ANNO 1422

Phil. Lonicer. Hist. Turc lib. 1.

Europam luctu & funestis cladibus implens

Saeuus Amurathes totus in arma ruit.

Maior at Huniades virtute & fortibus ausis,

Cogit eum trepida vertere terga fuga.

Consilia Eugenij bellum furialia suadent,

Sacrorum antistes Martia ad arma ruit:

(Arma viri tractent, curet sua templa sacerdos)

Europae exitium res tulit ista graue.

Fierce Amurath doth EUROPE fill with blood and wofull cries:

And wholie giuen to martiall deeds, doth whole in armes arise.

But yet Huniades (than he, of greater strength and might)

Enforced him right fearefully to turne his backe in flight.

Eugenius his infernall spels, stirs vp a fatall jarre:

Who hauing charge of sacred rites, runs headlong into warre.

(Leaue martiall deeds to martiall men, and let the priest goe praie)

Such diuelish councell, worse receiu'd, wrought EUROPS great decaie.

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THE LIFE OF AMVRATH, THE SECOND OF THAT NAME, SIXT KING OF THE TVRKES, AND THE GREAT ESTABLISHER OF THEIR KINGDOME.

AFter that the death of Mahomet had been politiquely concealed one and fortie daies by the three great Bassaes,Murat is the same that we ca [...] Desiderius. Baiazet, Eiuases, and Ibrahim: Amurath or Murat (as the Turkes call him) his eldest sonne; at that time comming to PRUSA, was by them placed in his fathers seat, and the death of Mahomet at the same time published: wherevpon great troubles began on euerie side to arise.

The princes of SMYRNA and MENTESIA rose vp in armes:Mustapha the supposed sonne of Baiazet raiseth rebellion against Amurath. and at THESSALONICA an obscure fellow, crept as it were out of a chimneys corner, tooke vpon him the name and person of Mustapha, the sonne of Baiazet, which was slaine many yeares before, in the great battaile against Tamerlane at mount STELLA, as is before declared in the life of the vnfortunate Sultan Baiazet. This counterfait Mustapha animated by the Grecian princes, and going from THESSALONICA to VARDARIUM, set so good a countenance vpon the matter, with such a grace and majestie, that not onely the countrey people (apt to beleeue any thing) but men of greater place and calling also, as Tzunites Beg, the prince of SMYRNA his sonne, with the sonnes of old Eurenoses Bassa, persuaded that he was the verie son of the great Baiazet, repaired vnto him, as vnto their naturall prince and soueraigne. From VARDARIUM he went to SERRae, and from thence to HADRIANOPLE, (Amurath being as then at PRUSA) where he was receiued as if it had been that noble prince Mustapha, whom hee feigned himselfe to be: so that in short time he was honoured as a king in all parts of the Turkish kingdome in EUROPE.

Amurath to represse this so great and dangerous a rebellion, sent Baiazet Bassa, a man of great authoritie in his court, with a strong armie into EUROPE. This great Bassa passing ouer HELLESPONTUS, found all the countrey reuolted vnto their new found king Mustapha: but marching on towards HADRIANOPLE, with purpose to haue giuen him battaile, he was first forsaken of the Europeian souldiours, which he brought out of ASIA, and afterwards of all the rest also: and so being left post alone, with his brother Hamze Beg, was for safegard of his life glad to yeeld himselfe to Mustapha; of whom he was gratiously entertained, and vpon promise of his loialtie, sworne one of his priuie counsaile.

Mustapha thus now possessed of the Turkish kingdome in EUROPE, and entertaining great thoughts, the better to maintaine his credit, leauied a great armie to make war vpon Amurath in ASIA. And as he was vpon his way, at a place which the Turks call SASLIDERE, or the place of Willows, his other counsailors repining at the great honor he gaue to Baiazet Bassa, aduised him to beware that he trusted him not too farre, of whose small faith he had sufficient triall alreadie, and was like ynough when occasion should serue, to reuolt from him to Amurath, and to draw after him some great part of his armie, to the great perill both of himselfe and all them his faithfull seruants and followers. Vpon which jealous conceit, this great Bassa Baiazet was there forthwith as a traitour apprehended, and without further triall executed: at which time his brother Hamze was with much adoe spared. This done, Mustapha proceeded on his journey, and passed [Page] ouer with his armie at CALLIPOLIS into ASIA. Amurath vnderstanding of the proceedings of G Mustapha in EUROPE, and of his preparation made for his inuasion of ASIA, created three new Bassaes, Omer, Vruge, and Alis, all three the sonnes of Temurtases; these he joyned with his old Bassaes, Ibrahim and Eiuases. All these fiue he vsed as councellours for the wars, by whose aduice he sent for Mahomet Beg, surnamed Michaell Ogli, who in the time that Musa raigned, was viceroy in EUROPE, and therefore a man well knowne to most principall men in Mustapha his armie, but had been kept prisoner in the castle of AMASIA, from the time that Musa was deposed and put to death by his brother Mahomet, vntill now that hee was after eight yeares imprisonment, for this speciall purpose inlarged and receiued into fauour.

About the same time that Mustapha set footing in ASIA, Amurath hauing gathered his armie, set forward from PRUSA to meet him; yet with such distrust in his forces, which were thought to be much inferiour to the Europian souldiours which followed Mustapha, that hee was glad vpon a superstitious opinion or zeale, to prostrate himselfe at the feet of an Emir (one of the false prophet Mahomets posteritie) to receiue at his hipocritall hands a gracelesse blessing for his better speed: by whom he was made to beleeue, that after two repulses, he had with much adoe, at the th [...]rd time, obtained graunt of the great prophet Mahomet, that he should preuaile in that war: and therupon had his sword girt vnto him with the Emir his holy hands, with many other vaine and superstitious ceremonies. Yet for all these charmes, hee marched on with his armie in feare enough, vntill he came to the riuer of VLIBAD, (otherwise called RINDACUS:) where hauing intelligence of the approch of Mustapha, he for feare caused the bridge ouer the riuer there to be broken downe, and encamped himselfe on that side the riuer. Not long after came Mustapha, and finding the bridge broken, encamped at the foot therof on the other side: so that nothing parted the two armies but the breadth of the riuer onely. Whilest they lay thus neere encamped together, that the souldiours might on both sides take the full view one of another, and also talke together: Mahomet-beg surnamed Michael Ogli, but lately deliuered out of his long imprisonment (as is aforesaid) came to the riuer side, and with a loud voice called by name vpon the great captaines, and old souldiours that were in Mustapha his armie; asking by name for many of his old friends and acquaintance: many of them being there present, rejoycing to see that honourable man (whom they supposed to haue been dead in prison many yeares before) came gladly to the side of the riuer to heare what he could say.

Then with a loud voice he began to persuade them, that the man whom they followed was not the honourable Mustapha, but some base high minded fellow, set vp by the Grecians, abusing the obscuritie of his birth, as the vaile vnder the couert whereof, hee went craftily about to intrude himselfe into the honourable discent of Baiazet; and so masking in the counterfait titles of stolen honor, had misseled them from their dutie to their naturall king and soueraigne, to follow him a meere deceiuer. And further assured them, that Mustapha, Baiazet his sonne, was dead and buried in the bed of fame, two and twentie yeares before; honourably ending his daies in de [...]ence of his countrey, in the great battaile of mount STELLA, against Tamerlane: Wherefore they should doe well, to forsake that supposed Mustapha, and againe to yeeld their dutifull obedience vnto their vndoubted soueraigne Amurath. These words deliuered vnto them by Mahomet, whom they generally both reuerenced, and trusted; wrought such effect in their minds, that some presently aduentured to swimme ouer the riuer, and joyned themselues vnto him: and many others that staied still, began now to doubt, least they had worshipped a wrong saint. At the same time also, Eiuases Bassa, to terrifie Mustapha, sent vnto him letters as in great secret, aduertising him, That Amurath had the next night purposed with his armie to passe ouer the riuer aboue the broken bridge; at which time the chiefe captaines of his armie being (as hee said) corrupted, had promised to deliuer Mustapha into his hands, and with his head to pay the ransome of them all. This he coloured with such faire glosses; that Mustapha partly beleeued the same. So when the dead time of the night was come, Eiuases with certain troupes of horsemen, passed ouer the riuer, at the verie same place hee had in his letters named; and that with such a noise and tumult, as Amurath with his whole armie had been comming. Mustapha seeing things begin thus to worke, according as Eiuases Bassa had before written: and with this, doubting also to be presently betraied,Mustapha [...]lyet [...]. and carying about him a guiltie conscience, the mother of feare and distrust, tooke horse (slenderly accompanied, but with ten persons of his whole armie) and fled in hast, no man pursuing them, vntill he came to the riuer of BOGA, and there with a great summe [Page] of money obtained passage, by corrupting the captaine that dwelt in the castle vpon the passage of the riuer: and the third day after passing ouer the strait of HELLESPONTUS, landed at CALLIPOLIS. The flight of Mustapha once knowne in his armie, they all yeelded themselues to Eiuases Bassa: who taking possession of Mustapha his tent, caused the broken bridge to be repaired; whereby Amurath passing with his armie, joyned himselfe with Eiuases. The other Bassa (Ibrahim) counsailed Amurath to put to sword all those rebels that had followed Mustapha: but by the mediation of Eiuases, to whome they had yeelded themselues, they were generally pardoned.

Amurath departing from VLIBAD or LOPADIUM, came to BOGA, and there hanged vp the captaine that had giuen Mustapha passage. From thence he held on his way to LAMPSACUM, intending to pursue Mustapha into EUROPE: but being come to the sea side, hee could find no passage, for that Mustapha had caused all the shipping on that side, to bee brought ouer into EUROE. Yet at last Amurath by good fortune chaunced vpon a great Genoway ship, which hee hired for foure thousand duckats to transport his armie, and so with much adoe, at length landed in EUROPE. Mustapha seeing that Amurath was now come ouer, fled to HADRIANOPLE, where he found such cold welcome, that fearing to bee betraied hee was glad to speed himselfe thence, thinking all the world to little to hide himselfe in: and so came to an obscure place in the countrey of the Turks called KISUL-AGATZ-GENITZE: where, the souldiours sent to pursue him, ouertook him, and brought him bound to Amurath then being at HADRIANOPLE: C by whose commaundement he was shamefully hanged,Mustapha h [...] ged. from the battlements of one of the highest towers of the citie, and there left to the worlds wonder.

This Mustapha, is of some writers reported to haue been indeed the sonne of the great Sultan Baiazet, and that he was kept in prison all that long time, and thus at length set vp by the Greeks to trouble the state of the Turkish kingdome: but the Turkish histories report as before, calling him Dusme or counterfait Mustapha. And it is verie likely, that if he had been one of the sonnes of Baiazet, he would haue found some meanes to haue made some great stirre long before that, as all the rest of the vnquiet brood of Baiazet did, which neuer rested vntil they had like the earth borne brethren one destroied the other: besides that, their bloodie natures considered, it is verie like that Mahomet his younger brother, who raigned in HADRIANOPLE almost eight yeares, and was in league all that time with the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, would for his more safetie haue got him into his owne power, if hee had been in prison with the emperour; or else haue dispatched him, if he had been in prison with himselfe. All which I am the rather persuaded to thinke, for that Orchanes (a child, the son of Solyman) could find no safe place of abode at CONSTANTINOPLE in the raigne of Mahomet; but flying, was apprehended and his eies put out, as is before declared in the life of Mahomet: much lesse is it like that Mustapha, being a warlike prince, and his elder brother, could haue been so long preserued and kept in prison from his furie.

It fortuned in these late broiles (as oftentimes it doth with others in like case) diuers of the rebels Asapi,Two Asapi sold by a Ianizarie for a sheepes head. or common souldiors (whom he for his greater countenance had apparrelled and armed like the Ianizaries) to fall into the hands of the true Ianizaries, Amurath his faithfull guard; whose liues indeed they spared, but vsing them with all the despight and indignities possible. Amongst the rest, one of the Ianizaries being an hungred, brought two of these Asapi his prisoners vnto a cookes shop, offering to sell them vnto him for a little victuall: which the cooke refused to giue him, as hauing no vse for such vnnecessarie seruants. Wherewith the proud Ianizarie enraged, swore many a great oath, presently to cut off their heads, & to giue them him for nought, if he would not for a thing of nought redeeme them. And like ynough he was to haue so done, had not the cooke, moued with pitie, offered him for them both a sheepes head: which the Ianizarie tooke for them, swearing, That the cooke had giuen for thē more than indeed they were worth. Which disgrace, so long since done vnto these Asapi, is yet oftentimes by way of reproch in great contempt, by the masterfull and insolent Ianizaries, objected vnto the whole bodie of the Asapi (the greatest part of the Turks huge armies) of whom for all that the proud Ianizaries make small reckoning, accounting them scarcely for men, & in their rage oftentimes telling them, That two of them are not worth a sodden sheepes head.

Amurath hauing at length with much adoe thus pacified the dangerous rebellion raised by the counterfeit Mustapha, Constantinople in vain besieged by Amurath. both in EUROPE and ASIA; was yet not a little grieued, to thinke how the same had to the great hazard of his estate, beene first plotted by the Greekes, and afterwards [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] countenanced by the Greeke emperour, of whom he thought now to be reuenged. And G therefore sending before him Michael Ogli, his lieutenant generall in EUROPE, with his Europeian souldiors to inuade the countrey about CONSTANTINOPLE, followed himselfe after with the Ianizaries and his Asian forces: and encamping before the cittie, filled all that necke of land which lieth before it, from sea to sea. And so encamped, began right furiously to batter the wals, in hope so to haue made a breach, and by the same to haue entered the cittie: but finding the wals of greater strength than hee had before supposed, and the defendants still repairing whatsoeuer the furie of his artillerie had beaten downe or shaken, hee ceased his batterie, and comming on with all his forces, desperately attempted by assault to haue gained the citie: wherein his [...] was not answerable to his desire. For approching the cittie, with arrowes, as showers falling [...] H the defendants, and scaling ladders in the mean time clapt vp to the wals, and the Ianizaries with others of his best souldiors courageously mounting the same; they were by the defendants notably repulsed and beaten downe, loosing some their hands, some their armes, some their heads, but most their liues, no shot falling in vaine from the wals. Which Amurath beholding, and grieued to see (though vnwilling) commaunded a retreat to be sounded, and the assault [...]uen ouer: and shortly after seeing no hope to preuaile, in great rage raised his siege and departed. Vnto whom for all that the Greeke emperour not long after sent his embassadours, to entreat with him for peace; whereof he would by no meanes heare, but proudly threatened to be ere long of all his wrongs reuenged, Which caused the Greeke emperour to deuise what he might for the troubling of his estate, so to keepe him otherwise busied: as he did shortly after with the Caramanian king, by countenancing another Mustapha (surnamed Cutzug or the little) Amurath his younger brother, against him, to the raising of new stirres, and Amurath his no small trouble.

Mahomet the late king had fiue sonnes and seuen daughters, whereof Amurath was the eldest, and succeeded in his fathers kingdome; Mustapha the second, surnamed the little; Achmetes the third, who died before his father: the other two, Iosephus & Machmutes, both died of the plague, being but children, after the death of their father. Three of their sisters were married to the three sonnes of the king of CARAMANIA, Ibrahim, Aladin, and Isa: other two were bestowed vpon the sonnes of the prince Isfendiar, Ibrahim, and Casimes: the sixt was giuen in mariage to Cozza-Beg, viceroy in ANATOLIA; and the seuenth to the sonne of Ibrahim Bassa, who died at M [...]CHA, whither she went vpon superstitious deuotion on pilgrimage.

At such time as Amurath was busied in his warres in EUROPE against Mustapha, the supposed sonne of Baiazet: the younger sonne of Mahomet (called also Mustapha) being but thirteene years old, and Amurath his brother indeed, was set vp to raise new troubles, by the king of CARAMANIA, and other princes, as well Mahometans, as the Christian princes of GRECIA; who thought it good pollicie, by that meanes to impeach the greatnesse of Amurath. This young prince Mustapha, strengthened with the forces of his friends, entered into his brothers dominions in ASIA, and besieged NICE, which was at length yeelded vnto him. Amurath aduertised of this new rebellion, by great gifts and large promises corrupted Ilias Beg, the young princes tutor, to betray the prince into his hands. Whereupon Amurath with great celeritie set forward with his armie from HADRIANOPLE, and in nine daies came to NICE, where he entered the cittie with small resistance, as was to him before promised, where Mustapha was by his false tutor to him presented: who because he would not spill one drop of the sacred Othoman blood (as the Turks call it) commaunded the executioner presently to strangle him with a bow string;Mustapha betraied & strangled. which was done accordingly, and his bodie afterwards buried by his father at PRUSA.

Amurath hauing suppressed these two rebellions, and now out of all feare of any competitor, thought his fiue counsellers too many by three, and therefore remoued the three Bassaes, Om [...]re, Vrutzi, and Alis (the sonnes of Temurtases) into honorable places; retaining of his counsell, onely the two old Bassaes, Ibrahim and Eiuases. But shortly after, Eiuases was secretly accused to Amurath, That he sought by his fauorits, the souldiors of the court, to aspire vnto the kingdome himselfe, and to depose the king; and that intending some such matter, hee did vsually weare a priuie coat. This suspicious report troubled the jealous tyrant: wherefore on a time as he rid accompanied with Eiuases, he cast his arme about him, as if it had beene in kindnesse: but finding him secretly armed, would needs know the cause thereof:Eiuases-Bassa [...] put out. whereunto Eiuases answered, That it was for feare of some enemies hee had in the court: but this excuse could by no meanes serue his turne: wherefore he was forthwith apprehended by the commaundement of Amurath, and both his [Page] eyes burnt out with a hot steele glasse.

Whilest Amurath was thus busied in subduing rebellions at home, Muhamethes the Caramanian king besieged ATTALIA, a great cittie in PAMPHILIA, by the space of six moneths, which was valiantly defended by Hamza-beg, Amurath his lieutenant there: at which siege the vnfortunat king himselfe,The king of Caramania slaine. as he was taking view of the citie, was slaine with a great shot out of the citie: whereupon Ibrahim, which succeeded him in the kingdome, brake vp the siege, & returned home to burie his father. At this time also, Dracula prince of VALACAIA, passing ouer DANUBIUS, did the Turks much harme about SILISTRA, but was afterwards enforced to submit himselfe to Amurath, and become his tributarie.

About this time also Tzunites, the prince of SMYRNA, which had before aided the rebell Mustapha, did by all meanes he could vex and molest Iaxis-beg, (Amurath his lieutenant in AIDINIA) & hauing by chance taken his brother prisoner, put him to death. This prince of SMYRNA was descended of the antient princes of AIDINIA, and therefore pretended an interest in that siegnorie: which his claime the people of the countrey secretly fauoured, so farre as they durst for feare of the Turks. Amurath hearing of the harmes that this prince of SMYRNA did, commaunded Hamze-beg, viceroy of ANATOLIA, with all his power to make warre vpon him. The viceroy without delay assembled a great armie, and inuaded the princes country: and the prince being well prouided for his comming, meeting him vpon the way, gaue him battaile: wherein Hasan the princes sonne, leading a great part of his fathers armie, had put one part of the Turkes armie to flight: and pursuing them with too much furie, left his father at the same time so hardly beset by the viceroy, that he was glad to flie to his castle of HIPSILY fast by. Hasan returning from the chace of the enemie, not knowing what had happened to his father, was by the Turkes in his returne ouercome and taken prisoner. After which victorie the viceroy presently laid siege to the castle wherein the prince was. This siege continued a great while: at length, the prince brought to extremitie, was content to yeeld himselfe vnto the viceroy, vpon condition he should vse no violence against the person of himselfe or his sonne, but to send them prisoners vnto Amurath: which thing the viceroy by solemne oath promised, whereupon the prince came out of the castle, and yeelded himselfe prisoner to the viceroy. Iaxis-beg, whose brother the prince had before put to death, attended the going of Hamze the viceroy to his tent, where finding Hasan the princes sonne sitting vpon the ground, as the manner of the Turkes is, tooke him by the choller with great furie, and drawing him along to the feet of the prince his father, there most cruelly strucke off his head: and in the same rage laying his bloodie hands vpon the aged prince, strucke off his head also; to the great dishonour of the viceroy, who had before giuen his faith for their safetie. The heads of the prince and his sonne were set vpon two launces, within the sight of the castle; which the defendants seeing, and now despairing of all rescue, yeelded themselues, with the castle. This infortunat Tzunites was the last prince of SMYRNA, after whose death all his territorie was vnited to the Othoman kingdome. After all these troubles, Amurath with great triumph married the daughter of the prince Isfendiar.

Amurath hauing laied vp in the depth of his thoughts the remembrance of that the Grecian princes had done, in giuing aid to the rebels aforesaid, thought it now high time to take reuenge of that wrong:Thessalonica besieged. and for that purpose gathered a great armie, wherewith he ranged at his pleasure through MACEDONIA, vntill he came to THESSALONICA, surprising by the way diuers cities and castles, at that time belonging to the Constantinopolitane empire. This famous cittie of THESSALONICA, now called SALONICHI, for beautie and wealth sometime not inferiour to any of the greatest and most renowned cities of GRECIA, is situate vpon the borders of MACEDONIA, close vnto a bay of the ARCHIPELAGO or the sea AEGBUM: which bay was in auntient time called THERMAICUS-SINUS, and now the bay of SALONICHI. To the Christian congregation there dwelling, S. Paul wrote two Epistles, in the latter whereof, hee forewarneth them of a great defection to come before the latter day. Before this Christian cittie, then in the protection of the Venetians, Amurath encamped his great armie of misbeleeuing Turkes; and laied hard siege to it, with most terrible batterie: at which time hee by secret meanes corrupted certaine of the wicked cittizens, to haue betrayed the cittie by a secret mine, and to haue let him in: which treason was by the Venetian gouernors perceiued, and the plotters therof for safegard of their liues glad to leape ouer the wals, and to flie into the Turks campe.

Amurath hauing greatly battered the wals of the cittie, the more to encourage his souldiors, [Page] promised to giue them all the spoile thereof, if they could by force winne it. The greedie desire of this rich prey, wherein euerie common souldior promised vnto himselfe whatsoeuer his foolish fancie or vnbrideled affection could desire, so inflamed the minds of these barbarous souldiors, and especially of the Ianizaries, that giuing a most terrible assault to the citie, they by force entred the same, and wan it. The Venetian souldiors fled to their gallies, lying at anchor in the hauen, and so got to sea: but the infinite miseries which the poore Christian citizens indured in the furie of that barbarous nation, no tongue is able to expresse, or pen discribe: Death was lesse paine than the ignominious outrages and vnspeakeable villanies which many good Christians there suffered, heartily wishing to die, and could not; and yet the furious enemies sword deuoured all the people without respect of age or sex, except such as for stength of bodie, or comelinesse of person, were reserued for painefull labour or beastly lust; which poore soules were afterwards dispersed into most miserable seruitude and slauerie, through all parts of the Turkish kingdome. The infinite riches of that famous cittie, became a spoile vnto the barbarous souldiours; the goodly houses were left desolate, void of inhabitants. Thus the beautifull cittie of THESSALONICA, sometime one of the most glorious ornaments of GRaeCIA, the late pleasant dwelling place of many rich Christians, was by the tyrant giuen for an habitation to such base Turkes, as at their pleasure repaired thether to seat themselues, and so is by them at this day possessed. This calamitie happened to THESALONICA in the yeare of our Lord 1432.

Thessalonica takē by Amurath.THESALONICA being thus taken, Amurath returned to HADRIANOPLE himselfe, and at the same time sent Caratze with the greatest part of his armie into AETOLIA. Charles prince of that countrey, dying a little before the comming of Amurath to THESALONICA, and hauing no lawfull issue, had diuided the countrey of ACHARNANIA amongst his three base sons, Memnon, Turnus, and Hercules, leauing all the rest of his dominion to his brothers sonne, called also Charles. But shortly after, such discord fell among these brethren, that Amurath sending his Turks to aid one of them against the other, as he was by them requested, in fine brought all that countrey of AETOLIA into subjection to himselfe, leauing nothing for the foolish brethren to striue for, more than the bare titles of imaginatiue honour. The other Graecian princes of ATHENS, PHOCIS, BOETIA, and all the rest of GRaeCIA, vnto the strait of CORINTH, terrified by their neighbours harmes, were glad to submit themselues to the barbarian yoke, and to become tributaries vnto the Turkish tirant; vnder which slauerie they of long time most miserably liued, if intollerable slauerie joyned with infidelitie may be accounted a life. Thus the Grecians lost their libertie, (which their auncestors had many times before, to their immortall praise, worthily defended against the greatest monarchs of the world) and are now so degenerate, by the meanes of the Turkish oppression, that in all GRaeCIA is hardly to be found any small remembrance of the ancient glory thereof: insomuch that wheras they were wont to account all other nations barbarous in comparison of themselues, they are now become no lesse barbarous than those rude nations whom they before scorned. Which miserie with a thousand more, they may justly impute to their owne ambition and discord.

At this time amongst the distressed princes of MACEDONIA, and GRaeCIA, one Iohn Castrio [...] raigned in EPIRUS: who seeing how mightily the Turke preuailed against the princes his neighbours, and considering that hee was not able by any meanes to withstand so puissant an enemie; to obtaine peace, he was glad to deliuer into Amurath his possession, his foure sonnes, Stanisius, Reposius, Constantine, and George, for hostages: whom Amurath faithfully promised, well and honourably to intreat. But assoone as he had got them within his reach, he falsified his faith, and caused them to be circumcised after the Turkish manner, and to bee instructed in the Turkish superstition, to the great griefe of their Christian parents: and afterwards, when he vnderstood of the death of Iohn Castriot their father, hee poisoned all the three elder brethren: And by Sebalie (one of his great captaines) ceized vpon CROIA, his cheefe citie, and all the rest of his territories, as if they had by good right deuolued vnto him. But George the youngest, whom the Turks named Scander-beg or lord Alexander, for his excellent feature, and pregnant wit, he alwaies entirely loued, and as some thought, more passionatly than he should haue loued a boy. Him he caused to be diligently instructed in all kind of actiuitie, and feats of warre, wherin he excelled al other his equals in Amurath his court; and rising by many degrees of honor, came at last (being yet but verie yong) to be a great Sanzack or gouernor of a prouince, and was many times [Page] appointed by Amurath to be generall of his armies; in which seruice hee so behaued himselfe, that he got the loue of all that knew him, and increased his credit with Amurath: vntill at last he found oportunitie by great policie and courage, to deliuer both himselfe and his natiue countrie, from the horrible slauerie of the Turkish tyrannie, as shall be afterwards declared.

Shortly after that Amurath had thus daunted the princes of GRECIA, he turned his forces into SERVIA: but the prince of SERVIA vnable to withstand so mightie an enemie, to procure his fauour, sent embassadours, offering to pay him a yearely tribute, and to doe further what he should reasonably demaund. Amurath beside the yearely tribute, required to haue Marie (this princes faire daughter) in mariage; and that he should not suffer the Hungarians to passe through his countrey to inuade him; and further, not at any time to denie passage vnto the Turkish armie, when he should send forth the same for the inuasion of the kingdome of BOSNA. All which vnreasonable conditions the prince was glad to agree vnto, and sent his faire daughter by Saratze, who was afterwards maried to Amurath.

About this time,Plague among the Turks. Iosephus and Machmutes, Amurath his brethren, and Orchanes the sonne of Solyman, who had his eies put out by his vncle Mahomet, with many other men of great account among the Turks, died of the plague at PRUSA.

Whilest Amurath was thus busied in his wars in EUROPE, the king of CARAMANIA his brother in law, inuaded his dominions in ASIA: for so it was agreed betweene the Christian princes of EUROPE, and the Mahometan princes of ASIA, to whom the greatnesse of the Othoman kingdome was now become dreadfull, That whensoeuer hee inuaded the Christians in EUROPE, the Mahometan princes should inuade his countries in ASIA; and that whensoeuer hee should turne his forces into ASIA, the Christian princes should spoile his countries in EUROPE. Against this Caramanian king, Amurath transported his armie into ASIA: and as he went, seazed vpon the countries of SARUCHANIA, MENTESIA, and other prouinces, which were before but tributaries vnto him, driuing out the poore princes before him: and so entred into CARAMANIA, and inforced the king so farre, that he was glad to agree to such conditions of peace as it pleased him to propound vnto him, and to send his sonne to wait at his court. And at the same time picking a quarrell with Isfendiar prince of CASTAMONA, caused him to become his tributarie, and to send his sonne to his court also. By which meanes the name of Amurath became terrible to all the Mahometan princes.

When Amurath had thus quieted all his troubles in ASIA, he returned to HADRIANOPLE: and vnderstanding that the Hungarians passing ouer DANUBIUS, had in his absence made diuers incursions into his dominions, hee was therewith greatly offended, and in reuenge thereof first sent Alis Bassa the sonne of Eurenosis, with an armie to inuade HUNGARIA; which he performed accordingly by the space of a moneth, and returned from thence with rich bootie. Not long after,Hungarie spoiled by Amurath. he himselfe in person made another road into HUNGARIE, commanding the prince of SERVIA his father in law, to giue his armie free passage through his countrey, and charging Dracula prince of VALACHIA to aid him with his forces in that expedition: which his commandement both the Christian princes (more for feare, than of good will) diligently performed. So Amurath hauing inriched his souldiors with the spoile taken in HUNGARIE, returned home and wintered at his court at HADRIANOPLE.

The secret confederation betweene the Hungarians and the Mahometan king of CARAMANIA, was not vnsuspected of Amurath; which he was the rather induced to beleeue, for that whē soeuer he inuaded the one he was presently set vpon by the other, either in EUROPE or in ASIA: of which plot he doubted not but that George prince of SERVIA (his father in law) was chiefe authour, although in shew he was therein the least actor. Wherfore Amurath intending to spill the play, sent for the prince his father in law to come to the court at HADRIANOPLE: but he doubting some Turkish tragedie, pretended great occasions that he could not come; and fearing that which afterwards fell out, fortified and manned all his strong cities and castles by all meanes he could possibly, especially his chiefe citie SEMENDRE (otherwise called S [...]ENDEROVIA) and left ther [...]in his sonne Gregorie (or as some call him, George) as gouernour; for his other sonne Stephan was long before in Amurath his court, with the queene his sister. The prince of SERVIA himselfe went into HUNGARIE to procure from thence some aid, hauing there also himselfe certaine territories, which he had in exchange of Sigismundus (late emperour and king of HUNGARIE) for the citie of BELGRADE. It was not long after, but Amurath forgetting both [Page] the affinitie and league hee had with the prince his father in law, entered with a great armie into G SERVIA, destroying all before him, and hardly besieged SEMENDRE: where, after long siege, the young gouernour (the princes sonne) doubting to fall into his enemies hands by suddaine assault,Amurath contrary to his faith inuadeth Seruia and subdueth it. yeelded himselfe, with the citie. Which thing so discouraged the rest of the Seruians, that in short time SOPHIA, NOVOMONT, with all the rest of the cities of SERVIA were yeelded into the power of Amurath. After which conquest he returned to HADRIANOPLE, and hearing that the prince of SERVIA with the Hungarians, were making head against him; and that the two yong Seruian princes, Gregorie and Stephen his wiues brethren, had intelligence with their father, he commaunded them both to be cast in prison at DIDYMOTICHVM, and their eyes cruelly to be burnt out with a brasen bason made red hot, a cōmon vnmercifull practise among the Turks:H

About this time Albertus duke of AVSTRIA hauing before maried Elizabeth the only daughter of Sigismund the emperor, and succeeding his father in law both in the empire and kingdome of HVNGARIE (vnto which type of highest honour nothing more furthered him than the remembrance of Sigismund;) in the second yeare of his raigne, before hee was well setled in those new a [...]chieued honours, died of the flix, as he was making great preparation against Amurath the Turkish king: who hauing lately driuen George prince of SERVIA and RASCIA out of his dominions, had now extended the Turkish kingdome euen vnto the borders of HVNGARIE. This Albertus dying, left his wife great with child. The Hungarians, in whose minds the remembrance of Sigismund was yet fresh, could haue beene contented to haue liued vnder the gouernment of the queene his daughter, the widdow of Albertus (then great with child;) but that the Turkish king was now growne so great, and come so nigh, that it was thought more than needfull by Iohn Huniades, and other of the Hungarian nobilitie, for the defence of that kingdome, not wholly to rest vpon the deuotion of the people toward the queene, and the expectation of her issue, wherby they should be nothing strengthened: but to make choice of some great prince, by whose power they might the better defend themselues and the kingdome against their dangerous enemies. Whereupon with consent of the queene it was resolued vpon, to make choice of Vladislaus, the yong king of POLONIA, then a prince of great power, but of farre greater fame and expectation: and by embassadors to offer vnto him the mariage of the queene, & with her the kingdome also. This embassage being sent vnto Vladislaus, the matter was too and fro debated in the Polonian court, Whether it were to be accepted of or not? Some began to speake of the inequalitie of the match, considering that the king was but in the prime of his youth, and the queene well stept into yeares; vrging farther, that nothing was offered in that match but wars; and that the Hungarians therein sought for nothing more, than by the Polonian forces to defend themselues against the Turks. Others of contrarie opinion, said, That the vniting of those two mightie kingdoms would be to the great good of them both, and to the great honour of the king, whose very name would thereby become terrible vnto the Turkes: and that it were greater pollicie, by the forces of both the kingdomes, to keepe the Turkish king from entring into HVNGARIE, than to leaue that kingdome to him for a prey, and afterward be inforced to fight with the same enemie in the heart of POLONIA: and as for inequalitie of yeares betwixt the king and the queene, it was not so great a matter, that in regard thereof so honourable and commodious alliance should be rejected; for as much as princes doe more regard the vertues of their choice, with the increase of their honour, and wealth of their kingdomes, than the Summer fruit of youth and beautie, which of it selfe in short time doth rot and perish, although it be neuer so carefully kept and preserued: and that for as much as there can be but one king in a kingdome, such choice was to be preferred of kings as had not therein the greatest hope of many children.Vladislaus accepteth of the kingdome offered. After long deliberation, Vladislaus gaue answer vnto the embassadors, That he would accept of the offers by thē made▪ wherupon some of them returned to make relation thereof vnto the queene, and some of them staied behind to hasten the king forward. But whilest these things was a doing, the queen in the mean time was deliuered of a faire son, whom she caused to be baptized and named Ladislaus. After the birth of this child, the queene mooued with a motherly affection, began to repent her selfe, that she had giuen her consent for the calling in of the Polonian king, to the prejudice of her sonne▪ And being animated by some of the Hungarian nobilitie (who presuming of the good grace they were in with the queene, hoped to grow great themselues, if they might first draw the gouernment of that kingdome to the queene and her young sonne) determined now by all possible means to ex [...]l [...]de the Polonian king: but the greater part of the nobilitie better considering what was most expedient [Page] for the present estate, and that they could neither with honor nor safetie flie from that which was before (for the common good) by the embassadours concluded; continued firme in their former resolution, for the bringing in of Vladislaus: so that by this meanes, some taking part with the queene and her young sonne, and others standing fast for Vladislaus, the kingdome of HUNGARIE was deuided into two factions, and as it were rent in peeces, and so grew to ciuile wars. The queene with such as fauoured her claime, the more to gaine the minds of the common people (which are many times no lesse carried away with shewes than matter) caused her sonne Ladislaus being then but three moneths old, to be solemnely crowned king at ALBA-REGALIS, the vsuall place for the coronation of the Hungarian kings. But after that the Polonian king had entred into HUNGARIE with a goodly armie, and joined his forces with his friends, most part of them which before followed the queene and her sonne, reuolted vnto Vladislaus. So that when she had done what she could, she was glad at last to commit the tuition of her sonne, together with the crowne of HUNGARIE, vnto Fredericke the third, then emperour: neuer ceasing for all that, to the vttermost of her power, to trouble the gouernment of Vladislaus, continually stirring vp great wars against him both at home and abroad, vntill that at the last by her death her quarrell tooke end, together with her life.

In the middest of these ciuile warres, Amurath thought a faire oportunitie presented vnto him, to make an entrance vnto the conquest of HUNGARIE, which kingdome he had in his ambitious mind alreadie deuoured. And therefore gathering a great armie, he marched along the riuer DANVBIUS,Belgrade besieged of the Turk [...]. vntill he came to the strong cittie of BELGRADE, called in antient time. TAVRUNVM, and of some ALBA GRaeCA, but now commonly GREICS WEISENBURG. This citie is enuironed on the East side with the famous riuer DANVBIUS, and on the South with the great riuer of SAVS or SAWE, which there falleth into DANVBIUS; and on the other two sides is defended with strong wals, with deepe and large ditches; and was then accounted the gate or entrance into HUNGARIE. Vnto this cittie Amurath at his first comming gaue two terrible assaults,Belgrade in vain assaulted. & was in good hope so to haue woon the same, but yet was both times valiantly repulsed, with great slaughter of his men. Wherfore finding it to be a matter of more difficultie than was by him at the first supposed, he began to raise mounts against the citie, and high towers of wood to annoy the defendants, and furiously battered the wals. At this time also he caused great numbers of gallies and small pinnaces to be brought into both the riuers of DANVBIUS and SAWE to assault the cittie on those parts where was least feared, and by that meanes also to keepe them of the cittie from all succours to be sent that way out of HUNGARIE. Yet for all he could doe or deuise, the citie was still valiantly defended by the Christian soldiors, which vnder the leading and conduct of Ioannes Vranus, a Florentine, gouernor thereof, with often sallies and continuall shot slew great numbers of the Turks. At the time of this siege, Vladislaus, king of POLONIA, and lately elect king of HUNGARIE, was sore troubled by the queene and her faction in HUNGARIE: which thing the Turkish king knew right well, and thereupon continued his siege, although famine began greatly to encrease in his campe; hoping in nothing more, than that the defendants despairing of helpe from the king, would in short time yeeld vp the cittie. Vlad [...]slaus being so entangled with ciuile wars, as is aforesaid, that he could not possibly prepare such force as might relieue the besieged citie: yet for as much as the Turkish king had not long before by his embassador required to joine with him in league & amitie, he thought good now to assay if he could raise the siege, by sending vnto him the like embassage. Whereupon he sent Dobrogosius, Ostrorogeus, and Lucas Gorsensis, three of the Polonian nobilitie, embassadors vnto Amurath: declaring vnto him, That for so much as he had first offered by his embassadours, to joine with him in league before he came out of POLONIA, the remembrance thereof had taken such deepe impression in his mind, that hee would not take vp armes against him, although it were in his owne just defence, before hee had offered vnto him reasonable conditions of peace: wherefore if hee would desist from inuading of HUNGARIE, whereof Vladislaus was now by God his permission, and consent of the people, chosen king, and so raise his siege, that then they should afterwards easily agree vpon the desired peace: in concluding whereof, he should not find Vladislaus inferiour to himselfe in any manner of princely courtesie: but if he had rather to proceed in armes, & to make proofe of his strength, he would then doe the best that he could, to make him know, that he was of sufficient power, in so just a quarrell, to withstand his greatest forces, and to reuenge the wrongs to him done. When Amurath had receiued this embassage, he appointed the embassadors to withdraw [Page] themselues for a while to SYNDEROVIA (a cittie of SERVIA, not farre off) vntill he might better consider of their demaunds: pretending, that he did it for their safetie; but as appeared afterward, secretly resoluing with himselfe, presently to do his vttermost deuoire for the gaining of the cittie, and vpon the successe thereof to shape them answere accordingly. Wherfore so soone as the embassadours were departed to SINDEROVIA, hee first by his messengers aslaied the minds of the cittizens and souldiors with magnificall promises of large liberties, and infinit rewards and preferments, if they would yeeld vp the cittie: and many arrowes with letters made fast vnto them, full of like promises, were at the same time shot into the cittie. But when he saw no hope to preuaile by that meanes, hee called together the captaines and commaunders of his armie, and there in the presence of them all spake vnto them as followeth: ‘The notable speech of Amurath [...] [...]ncourage [...] souldiors to the assault of Belgrade.Although I know it is in mine owne power, to graunt, or not to graunt, the peace whereof our enemies haue made a motion: yet it is my pleasure (worthie soldiors) to know your minds also. For so much as we haue that warre in hand, wherein with worldly felicitie, (whereof amongst you I hold the cheefe place) is also indangered our religion, and puritie of life; the defence and care whereof equally belongeth vnto vs all: for although we differ much one from another in the manner of our vocation and liuing here, yet after death we all hope for one and the selfesame felicitie. And therefore I would haue you to vnderstand, all that I shall say, as proceeding not of any regard of mine owne priuate, but vpon the consideration of the common good of you all. For as concerning mine owne estate, I possesse so large countries in ASIA, such great dominions in EUROPE, that either part thereof (in good time bee it said) might seeme a sufficient kingdome: so that perhaps it might better stand with my estate, to take more care for keeping of that I haue, than to trauell for the gaining of more: but you are to consider with your selues, whether you haue euery man sufficient to suffice himselfe or not, and how long you thinke your selues assured of the same; and moreouer, that together with these worldly things we shall be driuen at length to forsake our profession and religion, if we shall now lay downe armes. For our enemies require, that we should first cease from warre, and then afterwards they thinke it meet to talke of peace. I will not speake of the indignitie, that men besieged, and in euill plight, should propound conditions of peace to them that besiege them, and are well furnished of all things; that feeble and cowardly men should promise peace vnto courageous and expert souldiors: I omit what labour and paines we haue taken in laying our siege, in raising of mounts, in making of shipping; all which our enemies commaund vs to forsake, as if they had vs alreadie bound or couped vp in hold, as we haue them. All BULGARIA, and the greater part of RASCIA is now by vs conquered, and most part of SERVIA is at our commaund: all which places are either by vs to be kept, or els all the rest of that we possesse in EUROPE, is with them to be quite lost and forsaken. Whosoeuer shall haue in their power this citie which we besiege (and that our enemies know right well) shall haue not onely as it were a fortresse and bulwarke of defence for his owne, but also a castle and entrance for the subduing of others. The kingdome of HUNGARIE is now deuided in it selfe, and full of domesticall sedition: neither is it so much strengthened by the vniting of the kingdome of POLONIA, as it is by ciuile dissention weakened: and in this motion of peace nothing is sought for, but to gaine time for the pacifying of their priuate quarrels, that they may afterwards with their doubled forces set vpon vs. For if we shall breake vp our siege before we haue woon the cittie, they will easily find delaies so long to protract the conclusion of peace, vntill that either Vladislaus his good fortune, or els the Hungarians being of themselues better aduised, shall make an end of their ciuile wars. What manner and conditions of peace will they then require of vs, when they are at vnitie amongst themselues, and in armes against vs; seeing that now being in danger with mutuall discord, and almost by vs vanquished, doe thinke it reasonable (as if they had woon the field) that we should first raise our siege, and then entreat of peace? Their proud demaunds for the restitution of BULGARIA and RASCIA, with other countries and citties woon by our trauell and danger; alreadie sound in mine eares: Which if wee shall refuse to graunt, not onely the Hungarian being then at vnitie among themselues, but also the Polonians, joined vnto them, will bring those wars home to our dores which we now at great aduantage make vpon them, troubled with discord and ciuile broiles. And if for desire of peace we could be content to yeeld vnto such shamefull and miserable conditions, and restore vnto them all they should or in reason could desire; do you thinke the prince of SERVIA would rest contented with his owne? whose haughtie mind (I am sure) being inflate with the combining of two such mightie kingdomes, thinketh not onely of the recouerie of that hee hath lost, but euen now gapeth at all that is ours in EUROPE. He will not thinke himselfe satisfied, before he (hauing [Page] brought the Hungarian and Polonian forces against vs) shall see the same hauocke and spoile made in our kingdome with fire and sword, which he hath before seene made by vs in his owne. Where if his fortune should answere his designes (which God forbid, but yet it may chance) beside all the miserable and intollerable outrages, which are to be feared of an angrie conquerour, it is accounted with them for a godly and religious worke, to vse all cruell and vnspeakeable villanies against our nation, except wee will forsake the faith and religion deliuered vnto vs by our ancestors, and follow their new and incredible ceremonies. Neither doe they thinke they can more easily and effectually procure the fauor of God with any other kind of sacrifice or seruice, than by ouerthrowing and prophaning our temples, by scoffing at our most sacred and secret rites and ceremonies, by scorning our religion, and priests: and that you may know all the furie wherewith they rage against vs and our religion, they account all them for holy saints which die in fight against vs. There is no cause (valiant souldiors) that vpon the vaine hope of peace, we should expect whilest the enemie doth gather and vnite his forces and armes against vs, especially such an enemie as propoundeth not spoile and worldly honours, but immortalitie it selfe, as a reward of his victorie. We haue alreadie taken much more labour than we haue to take, we haue filled the ditches with restlesse labour, we haue cast vp bulwarkes equall with the wals, and part of the wals we haue beaten euen with the ground, so that you see the towne halfe opened: and that towne, by gaining wherof, all that ours is, may be made safe and quiet; and that which our enemie possesseth, subiect to our spoile and prey. If you will but a little inforce your selues as men mindfull of our good fortune and forwardnesse, you shall find our temples, our sacrifices, our religion, all worldly and heauenly felicitie to bee then assured vnto vs, when as you shall to morrow ouerthrow the very foundation of the enemies wall. Then (couragious souldiors) we may crie victorie, not for the present, but for euer. If this warre should bring vnto vs nothing els but an assured securitie of our estate, it were sufficient reward: for which we ought cheerefully to aduenture our selues to all dangers, and to challenge in combat euen death it selfe. But as this victorie doth defend all our things as with a deep trench or sure wall, so doth it lay open and expose all our enemies dominions vnto danger & spoile. Hitherto we haue striuen with nature her selfe in the rough and abrupt mountains of BVLGARIA & RASCIA, where we were to striue with hunger, thirst, labor, & desperation: all them we haue ouercome, allured with no other reward, but that at length we might attaine vnto the wealth of fruitfull HVNGARIE, from whence we must fetch the guerdon of our victorie, and the ground of our glorie. We are come to the gates, which being laid open, we are not to passe ouer inaccessible rocks, or vncouth desarts, but we shal go through most pleasant places, dec [...]ed both by nature her selfe, and the industrie of man; where the temperatnesse of the aire, and liuely springs, with the fruitfulnesse of the soile, doth euery where yeeld plentie of all manner of food both for man and beast, not only to serue for natures necessitie, but euen to glut our wanton desires. What thing soeuer curious indeuor hardly bringeth forth in other places, that the fertilitie of this soile yeeldeth plentifully of it selfe: so that it is to be thought, that nature adorned HUNGARIE with a certain extraordinary care, when as she would set forth a pattern of good husbandrie, for other countries to imitate. Neither hath she in any place ben more bountifull in bestowing her rich gifts: for gold, which other men most painfully dig vp, & that in few places, the Hungarians gather at their ease, as if it were a growing plant. It is in your power (worthie soldiors) whether you will to morrow open a way to all these good things for your selues for euer, or els leaue the way open for your enemies vnto all that you hold. I would that you would remember when you goe vnto the breach, that all the store of happie fortune is laid open vnto you for a prey, without any other defence, without any other garrison, without any other keeper; and that behind you are your wiues, children, your houses, your temples, and religion, together with the rewards of all your former victories: ouer whom (except you win this citie) the furie and insolencie of the victorious enemie, will most cruelly and shamefully insult. I, according as I shall see you fight at the breach to morrow, shall easily perceiue how you are set downe to commaund as conquerors, or els as slaues to be commaunded; and also what to answere to the most insolent demaunds of the proud embassadours. In the meane time make much of our selues, and together with your armour haue all things in readinesse, that to morrow with the dawning of the day we may assault the breach▪’

The Turkish captaines for that time joyfully departed, as if they had been alreadie assured of the victorie, and of all those good things which Amurath had so liuely set before their eies. The next morning very early, Amurath commanded the assault to be giuen vnto a great breach which he had made in the wall with continuall batterie: the souldiours with great courage assailed the breach, especially the Ianizaries, who vnder the leading of Haly-Bassa valiantly woon the same, [Page] and were entring the citie with assured hope of victorie. The Christians seeing all in danger to be lost, running to the breach from all parts of the citie, so forceably charged the proud Ianizaries on euerie side, that they were glad to retire with more hast than they before entred▪ in which retrait, many of them were slaine,Belgrade notably defended by the Christians. and the rest flying out at the breach, were either slaine or burnt to death in the towne ditch with wild fire; whereof the defendants had cast great store vpon the Turks at the breach, which hauing taken hold vpon the faggots, hurdles, and other light matter, wherewith the Turks had vpon the sudden made their way ouer the towne ditch, did so terribly burne, that the Ianizaries which had entred the breach, being againe repulsed, were in that fierie lake consumed, or else with smoke strangled. In this assault Amurath is reported to haue lost eight thousand of his best men, beside seauen thousand others ouerwhelmed or strangled in the mines, by the countermines of the Christians. The other part of the Turks which at the same time assaul [...]ed the citie by water, out of their gallies and small ships, had as euill or rather worse successe: many of them were sunke with great shot, and some burnt by the fire cast from the wals, and so fired one another; and diuers of them in that sudden feare, for avoiding of that present danger, ran a ground vpon the shelfs in the riuer, and so split. Amurath wonderfully discoraged with the slaughter of his men, and shamefully beaten from the assault, returned to his camp with his Turks, much like men which had lately escaped from some great shipwracke. And thus partly by famine, and partly by the defendants force, hauing lost the greatest part of his armie, he determined now after seauen moneths siege to returne home. Yet because hee would not encourage his enemies, by shewing his feare, he sent for the embassadours into the campe, and with sterne countenance answered them in this sort.

Amurath his answer [...] to the embassadours.

We will (said he) then talke of peace, when Vladislaus shall deliuer vnto vs all that part of RASCIA which he yet holdeth, and also this citie of BELGRADE, as a pledge of the league. And for this time I will raise my siege, to giue Vladislaus time to aduise himselfe: yet I would wish him, rather to accept of my friendship vpon these conditions, than by denying that little which is demaunded, to h [...] zard the state of both his kingdomes. I aske but that which is mine owne by law of armes, before Vladislaus was called into HUNGARIE: and the Hungarians cannot transfer vnto him that right which they had not themselues. Wherefore if hee will proceed rather to striue for that which is other mens, than quietly to possesse his owne, I will in good time repaire hether againe, with my God the beholder and reuenger of wrong.

With this answere he dismissed the embassadours, and forthwith rise with his armie, sore rerepenting his comming thether: yet because he would take something in his way, he left his nephew Isa-beg with certaine troupes of horsemen at SCOPIA in SERVIA, who so troubled the king of BOSNA, that he was glad to require peace of Amurath, and to promise vnto him a yearely tribute of fiue and twentie thousand duckats.

Vladislaus newly elected king of HUNGARIE, seeing that part of his kingdome which is called TRANSILVANIA, or PANNODACIA, to bee much subject to the incursion of the Turks, (who hauing got into their possession all the countrey of MOLDAVIA, and growne insolent by continuall victories ceased not to inuade and spoile the countrey of TRANSILVANIA) for remedie of that daily mischiefe, created Iohn Huniades Vayuod, or his vice-gerent in TRANSILVANIA. This Huniades as some write, was Earle of BISTRICE, borne in VALACHIA: others say that he was borne but of meane parents, and called Huniades of the village wherein he was borne, and grew to be great by his vertue and prowesse. Whatsoeuer his parents were, he himselfe was a most polliticke, valiant, fortunate, and famous captaine, his victories so great, as the like was neuer before by any Christian prince obtained against the Turks: so that his name became vnto them so dreadfull, that they vsed the same to feare their crying children withall. This worthie captaine according to the trust reposed in him, began to keepe the Turks short, by cutting them off, whensoeuer they presumed to enter into his countrey; and also by shutting vp the passages wherby they were wont to forrage the countrie of TRANSILVANIA; & when he had put his owne charge in good safetie, hee entred into MOLDAVIA, and neuer rested till hee had won it quite out of the Turks hands. And not contented with this, passed many times ouer DANUBIVS into the Turks dominions, making hauocke of the Turks, and carying away with him great bootie, with many captiues.

[Page]Now were two great and worthie captaines met together, in places nigh one to another, Huniades in TRANSILVANIA, and the next part of HUNGARIE; and Isa in RASCIA, and the vpper part of SERVIA: the one lying at TEMESVVAR, and the other at SINDEROVIA; both men of great spirit, and desirous of honour. Of these two, Isa in great fauour with Amurath, and by him highly preferred, to increase his credit with the Sultan his vncle, & to inlarge the bounds of the Turkish kingdome committed to his charge, continually forraged the countrey about BELGRADE, to the intent that hauing wearied the inhabitants with the harms he daily did them, and brought the citie into great wants, he might so at length gaine the same, for the most part abandoned of the citizens, which Amurath could not by force obtaine, and so to open a way into HUNGARIE. Thus was the countrey by him spoiled, the villages rifled and burnt, and great numbers both of men and cattell daily caried away: yea sometimes not contented to haue spoiled the open countrey, he assailed the verie suburbs of the citie, and was thence hardly repulsed: and finding Huniades the onely man that hindred his further proceedings, to require him, and prouoke him the more, he brake sometimes into his countrey, laying in euerie corner as he went strong ambushes, so to haue circumuented that warie captaine, if it had been possible. But he, greeued to see the countrey thus spoiled, and purposing to be therof reuenged, secretly raised a strong power, both of horse and foot, and with his companion Nicholas Vilach a right valiant captaine, C passing ouer DANUBIVS, came and encamped betwixt BELGRADE and SINDEROVIA, being about twentie miles distant. Of whose comming Isa-beg vnderstanding, forthwith set forward with a great armie against him, least he should by longer delaie, seeme to stand in doubt of his enemie, whom he had by many injuries so often prouoked. So marching on with his armie ranged in order of battaile, hee found Huniades as readie for battaile as himselfe, who in both wings had placed his light horsemen, and behind them his men at armes, with certaine companies of crosbowes on horsebacke: in the middest stood his armed men with his archers, and other souldiours more lightly armed, readie at all assaies, all strongly guarded with men at armes: after whom in the reareward followed also a strong squadron of valiant footmen. The signall of battaile being giuen, there began a great and cruell fight, as amongst men desirous either to ouercome, or there honourably to end their daies. At the first encounter, the wings of Huniades his bataile were by the Turks enforced to retire: but comming to the men at armes, their furie was there staied, and a cruell battaile fought, wherein many fell on both sides, but of the Turks moe, who trusting to their agilitie and nimblenesse of bodie, were not able long to endure the shocke and strength of the men at armes, but were there by heapes ouerthrowne, and most miserably slaine. Which Isa-beg beholding, and perceiuing the Hungarians couragiously to fight, as men almost in possession of an assured victorie; to saue himselfe turned his backe and fled to SINDEROVIA. The rest beholding the flight of their generall, betooke themselues to flight also: after whō the Hungarians fiercely followed, especially Huniades himselfe, who by his example to animate the rest, left not the chase vntill he was come almost to the suburbs of SINDEROVIA: few of the Turks escaped, the rest being either taken or slaine. Huniades after so great a victorie, with a rich prey and a multitude of prisoners returned to BELGRADE: hauing now sufficiently reuenged himselfe of the wrongs he had before receiued: after which time, Isa the Turke was more quiet, as hauing sufficient proofe of his valour. The fame of this victorie increased not a little the [...]ame of Huniades, the report whereof comming to BUDA, filled the citie with joy and gladnes▪ but most of all king Vladislaus, who therevpon caused publique praiers, with thanksgiuing to be made in euerie Church: and by his letters gratulatorie, with many rich presents, encouraged Huniades to the prosecution of the religious warre, wherein was propounded vnto him not onely the increase of his wealth (a base regard in the honourable) but the immortalitie of his name,1440 and hope of eternall blisse.

Not long after this victorie,Transiluania inuaded and spoiled by Mesites Bassa. Huniades obtained a farre greater in TRANSILVANIA. For Amurath much greeued with the losse he had first by himselfe, and after by his lieutenant Isa, receiued at BELGRADE, and in the countrey thereabout; least he should seeme to yeeld vnto the Hungarian, repaired his broken forces with new supplies, with purpose againe to renew his warres in VALACHIA. And so hauing put all things in a readinesse, sent one of his Bassaes called M [...]sites (his Viceroy in ASIA, a man of great wisedome, experience, and valour) with a puissant armie vpon the suddaine by the way of VALACHIA TRANSALPINA, to inuade TRANSILVANIA. This worthie captaine according to his charge, departing out of SERVIA, and passing [Page] ouer DANVEIVS, suddenly entred into Huniades his countrey, burning and spoyling whatsoeuer G came in his waie, and killing all that he light vpon, man, woman, and child, without respect of age, sex, or condition; filling all the countrey as he went, with tumult and terror. Wherof Huniades (but lately come into the countrey) vnderstanding, and hauing as then, no sufficient forces to oppose against the furie of so puissant an enemie, either meanes to raise any, in so great a confusion and feare; was wonderfully grieued thereat, and perplexed in mind, as not well knowing which way to turne himselfe.Huniades flieth. At length hee tooke his flight into ALBA IVLA, vnto his old friend George Lepe, Bishop of that citie, a man of great vertue and grauitie: but whilest hee there staieth with his friend, about the raising of a tumultuarie armie, the enemie was now come neere vnto him; who hauing ouer-runne the greatest part of the countrey, had scraped together such a H bootie, and taken such a multitude of prisoners, that surcharged as it were with the spoile, he was glad to march softlier: yet still burning the countrey before him. Which Huniades and the good bishop beholding out of the citie, so much greeued thereat, that albeit that they both well knew themselues, with an handfull of men in hast taken vp hand ouer head, too weake to encounter with their enemies: yet thought it better with such power as they had, to goe out, and so in defence of their countrey honourably to die, than longer to behold the most miserable destruction of the same.Huniades & the bishop of Alba-Iula entrapped by the Turks. But whilest they vpō this resolution (caried forth with too hot a desire of reuenge) march vnaduisedly on headlong, without any scouts or espials sent out before them, they fell before they were aware into such ambushes, both of horse and foot, as the craftie enemie had in the secret woods and vallies wherby they were to passe, laid of purpose to intercept them; which now with great force and horrible outcries breaking out vpon them on euerie side, dismaied them with a great feare. Huniades and the bishop, seeing themselues so entrapped and beset with the multitude of their enemies, as that they must needs perish if they should longer staie, fled incontinently backe againe; after whom followed all the rest of their armie, and at their heeles the egre Turks, who spared none of the flying Christians they could ouertake, but put them all to the sword: neuerthelesse, most part of them escaped backe againe to ALBA IVLA. The Bishop thinking to haue saued himselfe by the swiftnesse of his horse, comming to a riuer, in taking the same was ouerthrowne, and there by the enemie slaine. With whose death the Bassa encouraged, as also with the present victorie, began now more at libertie to range abroad, and at his pleasure with fire and sword to wast that part of the country which yet remained vnspoiled: leauing in the meane time (as a man out of feare) the rich prey hee had taken, together with his baggage and cariages, to be carried all together, as a notable testimonie of his victorie vnto his great lord and maister. Huniades in the meane time, with wonderfull celeritie running about the borders of his country, and out of euerie towne and village taking such souldiors as he could, persuaded also the Sicilians (or people commonly called Siculi) in defence of their wiues and children to take vp armes: who all, in respect of the present necessitie, cheerefully did whatsoeuer he commaunded. With this tumultuarie armie, he followed the Bassa (who thē in great pride was returning, laded with the spoile of the whole countrey) with purpose to set vpon him, as time or place should giue him occasion. In the meane time Mesitis being told, that Huniades with a great power was comming after him, and now euen at hand: is reported to haue made no great reckoning thereof, but to haue proudly answeared vnto him that brought the newes, Let him come, and with the spoile of himselfe enrich our victorie. There was present when he thus said, one Iohn, one of Huniades his espials, who discouered vnto him many of the Turkes designes, concerning the joyning of battaile with him; but especially, that the Bassa had commanded through his armie, That aboue all things they should in the beginning of the battell assaile the person of Huniades himselfe, for that he being once slaine, the rest would easily be put to flight, as all depending on his direction: and that for the performance thereof, he had appointed certaine companies of his best souldiours, giuing them certaine tokens whereby they might know both him and his horse. There was then in the armie, one Simon Kemene a right valiant and couragious gentleman, not much vnlike vnto Huniades, with whom he chaunged both his horse and armour, appointing vnto him a strong troupe of his choise horsemen to attend vpon him: neither was this counterfait Huniades vnwilling to expose himselfe vnto the danger, accounting it honour inough, if by his death he might saue the life of his friend, and preserue so worthie a defendour of the common weale. Huniades following fast after the Bassa marching before him, sought by light skirmishes sometimes on the one side, sometimes on the other, and sometimes in the reareward, to stay him▪ and at some aduantage, [Page] if any such were giuen, to fight with him, before he should get out of the countrey. At length finding such an oportunitie as he thought good to lay hold vpon, he with all his forces, as if it had ben a violent tempest, came vpon the Turks so sodainly, as that they had not time to put themselues into order of battell, but were glad confusedly to fight as they might, and without order: in which disordered fight many fell on both sides, but farre more of the Turkes. But whilest both armies with like obstinacie encounter together, certaine troupes of the most valiant Turks descrying Simon the counterfeit Huniades, A great battell betwixt Mesites and Huniades. and by the signes before deliuered vnto them, both of his horse and armour, supposing him to haue been Huniades indeed; with all their power made towards him, to haue slaine him, according as they had in charge: where meeting with right valiant men, of no lesse courage than thēselues, there was fought a most terrible & bloodie battell, in such sort, as if in that very place should haue ben tried the whole fortune of the day. But the Turks still bending their forces more & more thither, for the killing of him, of whō they stood in more dread than of all the rest: at length by plain force made a way vnto him, & hauing slain them that were about him, though not without their own great losse, furiously assailing him, slew him, vainly supposing it to haue ben the very generall himselfe: who had he there perished (as like inough it was he should, had hee not beene before warned of the Bassaes purpose) no doubt, but that the whole country had bin with him, or shortly after, quite lost. But Huniades in the mean time riding too and fro in the armie, encouraged his soldiors not to forsake the victorie they were now as it were in possession of, nor leaue vnreuenged so many slaughters and harmes so lately committed by their enemies, but to remēber as they were fighting, that they caried in their hands their wiues and children, and were in that one battell to reuenge the wrong by them done both to God and man. Sometime he with new supplies encouraged such as were ouercharged and euen now ready to flie; othersome he with cheerfull words staied, that had already turned their backs; performing in euery place all the parts both of a worthie commander and valiant souldior, as the necessitie of the time and place required. In the heat of this battell, fortune yet fauoring neither part, but both fighting with all their power, the Transiluanian prisoners that in great number were kept in the campe, wishing rather there to die than to be caried away in captiuitie, and thinking it now or neuer, time for them to attempt their deliuerance; with one consent brake in sunder their bonds, & with such weapons as first came to hand, set vpon their keepers, of whom they slew a great number: and so desperatly issuing out into the battell, encouraged their countrimen, and discouraged their enemies. Yet was the battell hardly fought, though not altogether with like courage, or for like cause: for why, the Transiluanians fought for their country, their wiues, their children, their liues, their libertie, their religion and altars: but the Turks for the rich prey they had before taken, and that they were by victorie in hope of. But at length the Turks by the breaking out of the prisoners (who laid about them like desperat men) out of hope of the victorie, began by little and little to retire: and the other on the contrary part, by this vnexpected aid encouraged, and quickly finding the enemies fainting, fought more fiercely than before. Mesites seeing his armie thus in euery part wauering, was therewith exceedingly troubled: but presently after, beholding some of his men retiring, as if they had fled, and othersome flying outright, and no means to stay them, for safegard of his life turned his horse and fled also: after whom the Hungarians followed with most terrible execution, as men desirous of the bloud of thē that had done them so great harme. In this chase Mesites himselfe with his son, were both slain: the report of whose death, in the pursuit, added swiftnesse vnto the Hungarians to the increasing of the slaughter of the Turks, whō for the desire of reuenge, they ceased not for certain daies to pursue, vnto the top of the alps. In this battell were slain of the Turks 20000, & of the Hungarians about 3000. Huniades with this victorie recouered all the prey the Turks had taken of the spoile of the country, together with their tents & baggage: vnto whom at his returne into the campe, a wonderfull number of the poore captiues came, and falling at his feet and kissing them gaue God thanks for their deliuerance by him: some called him the father,Great reioicing for the victorie. some the defender of his country; the souldiors, their inuincible generall; the captiues, their deliuerer; the women, their protector; the yong men & children, their most louing father. In all which joyfull acclamations, no honourable additions was heard, which in the judgement of all men, worthely agreed not with his deserts. He againe with teares standing in his eies, courteously embraced them, rejoycing at the publicke good: and himselfe giuing most heartie thanks vnto God, commaunded the like to be done in all churches of that prouince. Sometime he commended the souldiours valour, and in generall, the peoples loyaltie. The nobilitie and woorthie [Page] captaines he extolled by name, according as their deserts had beene in that notable battaile, not detracting any thing from any mans worthie praises: part of the spoile of the Turks he appointed vnto deuout vses, and the other part he deuided amongst the souldiors▪ and willing as it were with the first fruits thereof to gratifie king Vladislaus, and the Despot of SERVIA, then present with him, he sent a great waggon, which ten horses could scarce draw, laded with the Turkes ensignes and the cheefe of their heads, where the heads of the Bassa and his sonne stood formost, and aboue them was placed an old Turke, sometime well knowne vnto the Despot: who in this order presented vnto them, is said to haue thus deliuered his message, as followeth: ‘The speech of an old Turke, in deliuering the present vnto the king. Huniades your majesties most humble seruant, and the most honourable Despots sonne, sendeth vnto you this part of the spoile gained by this late victorie, least he should seeme to defraud you of the honor of the battaile, happily fought vnder your good fortune. These heads of the Asian nobilitie bee sendeth you for a present, that you should not want the assured testimonie of so notable a victorie: these are two princes heads, the one of Mesites Bassa the generall, and the other of his sonne. The rest are the heads of the other great commaunders and Sanzacks. All these witnesse the greatnesse of the late slaughter, and exhort you to greater atchieuements. What your royall majestie for the naturall instinct of pietie and religion ingrafted in you, may hope for; and what an occasion of immortalitie and glorie is offered vnto you, Huniades wisheth you hereby to consider: and humbly requesteth, that generall supplications may be commaunded, and a great armie prouided, for as much as all men suppose, that the Turke will gage his whole forces, and leaue nothing vnattempted, in reuenge of so great a slaughter of his people.’

Hauing ended his speech, he shewed vnto them the grisely mortified heads: which the nobilitie and others there present, earnestly beheld and wondered at, especially the king and the Despot, who by letters farther vnderstanding the whole proceeding of the warre, and fortune of the battaile, highly commended the discreet valour of Huniades, together with the glorious victorie, worthie (as they said) of a Romane triumph: for which, Vladislaus commaunded publicke supplications to be made in all churches through HVNGARIE, and by honourable messengers sent of purpose to Huniades, gaue him great thanks, according to his deserts, with many rich presents also, commending his faithfull and worthie seruice: and requesting him with like courage and care to prosecute the warre so happily begun, promising him, That hee should want neither men nor money, or any thing els needfull thereunto. Vpon this victorie, the countries of MOLDAVIA and VALACHIA, before tributaries vnto the Turks, now reuolted againe vnto the Hungarians, to the great greefe of Amurath: & the fame of Huniades was in short time dispersed through all EVROPE, and a generall hope conceiued of him, as of one most like to be one of the greatest champions of the Christian commonweale, as in his time vndoubtedly he was.

The report of this late ouerthrow, with the death of the Bassa Mesites, and the losse of his armie, being brought to HADRIANOPLE, much troubled the Turkish tyrant: but most of all the reuolt of the two countries of MOLDAVIA & VALACHIA. So that full of wrathfull indignation and desire of reuenge, he commaunded a great armie to bee raised against the next Spring, with intent to haue gone therwith himselfe: but afterward vpon better aduice changing his purpose,L he committed the leading therof vnto one Schech Abedin Bassa (corruptly called Sciabedin Bassa) an eunuch, and yet neuerthelesse a right valiant and expert captaine, and his viceroy in EVROPE▪ with charge first to enter into VALACHIA, and there hauing done what harme hee could with fire and sword, to doe the like in MOLDAVIA: and after that with all his power to breake into TRANSILVANIA, there to reuenge vnto the full, the losses before receiued, and with the slaughter of the Hungarians to sacrifice vnto the ghosts of their dead friends & companions. The Bassa according to his charge, departing out of MACEDONIA, and marching through MYSIA, and so passing ouer Danubius, with an armie of fourescore thousand fighting men, whereof foure thousand were of the best Ianizaries, entred into VALACHIA, filling the country with feare and tumult; the Valachians now altogether in despaire to bee able to defend themselues against the furie of the Turks, and sore repenting them of their reuolt from them vnto the Hungarians. Whom for all that,Valachia grieuousl [...] spoiled by the Turks. Huniades comforted with cheerefull words, willing them betime to retire themselues vnto the safest places of their countrey, and not to expose themselues with their too weake forces against the furie of the Barbarians, promising in good time to come himselfe to their releefe; not doubting by the power of Iesus Christ, to dare them battell in the plaine field, & to haue of them [Page] a glorious victorie, although they were in number farre moe than they were reported to be. The Bassa diuiding his armie into two parts, forraged the countrey farre and neere, burning the countrey townes and villages before them, spoyling whatsoeuer came in their way, and killing whosoeuer they light vpon, men, women, or children, without respect of age, sex, or condition. But the Valachians for the most part, had retired themselues, some into the mountains, some into the strong townes, and some into places further off; so that few fell into the enemies hands, but such as were not able to flie, or not regarding the danger had negligently staied the enemies comming, and so perished. VALACHIA thus spoiled, the Turks passing ouer the mountaines, descended into TRANSILVANIA, as Amurath had commanded, with purpose there to haue done the like or greater harme, if possible it had been to haue so done: but there was Huniades with 15000 chosen soldiors readie to incounter thē. A small power indeed, in comparison of the multitude the Bassa led: but all men of great experience and resolution, in valour counteruailing the great number of their enemies, men resolued rather to die than to flie. Of whose approch the Bassa (vnto whom the name and fortune of the man was dreadfull) by his espials vnderstanding, stayed his intended furie, and as one well aware with whom hee had to doe, without farther proceeding, encamped himselfe with his armie, to see what power and courage the enemie had. But certainely informed by his scouts, for that purpose sent out, That he was not in number a quarter so many as the Turkes, but lay strongly encamped with his waggons and carriages, as in a sure fort, in such order, as that he could not without great danger bee assailed, and yet might at his pleasure come foorth, and so if need were retire againe, as into a strong hold: he wondered at his courage and skilfull maner of encamping; yet presuming of his own multitude and strength, he doubted not to march forward, and to offer him battell. Being come within halfe a mile the one of the other, although they were on neither side vnwilling to fight, yet hoping both for a great victorie, they thought it not best to attempt any thing rashly, but betooke themselues both vnto the highest of their wits, as willing in so great a conflict as well to shew the vttermost of their pollicie and skill, as of their courage and valour. The Turke thought it best not to joine battaile with his enemies in one front, for feare of confounding so great a multitude, but to deuide his armie into certaine battailions, and so to fight by degrees and in good order, whereby to make all his men profitable: or if he could not do so, then with his multitude to enclose the Christians round, and so to ouerwhelme them. On the other side, Huniades charged his souldiours, aboue all things to keepe their order, and in no case to suffer themselues to bee deuided by their enemies. The next day, being come vnto a place which they call VASCAPE, both the armies by the breake of day began to dislodge, at which time the Bassa spent a good space in the martialling of his great armie, as did also Huniades, seeking by prouident foresight and pollicie to match the multitude of his enemies. And so hauing set all things in order, calling vnto him the cheefe captaines and commaunders of his armie, with cheerefull countenance encouraged them as followeth: ‘No courage (beleeue me) worthie companions, and fellows in arms, could haue induced me to encounter so great a multitude,The most Christian speech of Huniades to encourage his souldiours against the Turks. did not necessitie it selfe enforce me, your approued valour persuade me, & the assured hope I haue in Christ Iesu aboue all things confirme me: hauing made choice of vs to fight this his sacred battaile, and by our right hands to reuenge the dishonour of his holy name. In which his especiall choice we are to consider how much hee hath beloued vs: and for the same to praise his infinite goodnesse and mercie. Three such commodities hath God thereby euen this day propounded vnto vs, if we will be the same men we haue been in times past, as that the least thereof were sufficient to encourage men of worth, for the same to lay downe their liues, held they them neuer so deare: First, you are to sight for the health and welfare of your children, wiues, and countrey, joyned with your whole estate: then, for eternall glorie and renowne in this world: and last of all, for immortalitie and a crowne that shall neuer be taken from you, in the world to come. How many miseries and calamities we haue in former times, and of late, receiued from the Turks, would to God you had rather heard thereof by report, than seene the same with your eies, and endured them in your selues. You had long since been bereft of your welbeloued wiues and children, whom most miserable seruitude had ouerwhelmed; you had had neither house nor church, wherein to dwell or to serue God, had not the diuine power of God, and your rare prowesse been at hand for present rescue: your countrey, your goods, your honour, your libertie, you could not haue kept, had not your valor, confirmed by an assured confidence in the highest, preserued all these things vnto your selues: The horrible furie of the Turke had now brought all these things into [Page] the power of it selfe, had they not been by your armes defended: and he by so many bloodie ouerthrows G repressed. He could not before be staied: the Grecians, the Macedonians (both sometimes the greatest commaunders) the bold Thracians, the strong Bulgarians, the valiant Epirots, and Dalmatians, could not abide their force: The Athenians, the Thebans, the Lacedemonians, authors and maisters of the antient discipline of warre, willingly gaue place vnto these. Vnto vs, is this praise and great glorie of this victorie by God assigned, who often times with a small power, yea and that sometime against all hope, haue with a notable slaughter ouerthrown them, vanquished them, & put them to flight. Neither is there any men in the world whom they more feare and stand in dread of, than you, whom though in number but few, they haue by their daily slaughter and losses, learned no lesse to feare, than if you were many. And now to trie the vttermost of their power, they are come with their innumerable legions:H but are not for that of you any thing the more to be feared than before, seeing that we all beare armes vnder the conduct of the most mightie God; and are by daily victorie, long experience and approoued valour taught, what we are to dare: besides that, the greatest part of their armie is of common souldiours, slaues, or rude countrey pesants, or men by force by them compelled; more than the Ianizaries, are no good souldiours among them, the rest as men enforced, serue them for feare, and against their wils, and they by their cowardize brought into that bondage and slauerie. What Greeks, Macedonians, or Sclauonians soeuer are sent to their aid, forasmuch as they are not yet reuolted from the Christian faith, deeme them not to stand for them, but for vs; they long for vs the reuengers of their wrongs, and for you as victorious conquerours: in this warre they haue giuen vnto the Turkes their names, but vnto vs their hearts, and power, and pray heartily for our victorie: wherefore you ought so much the more valiantly and couragiously to fight, by how much greater you see the victorie, the honour, the prey before your eies. We are not to fight for other mens houses, and altars, but for our owne; so our present necessitie requireth, in such sort, that if wee our selues deliuer not our selues, and beare our selues vpon our woonted hope and valour, wee shall this day bee enforced to endure the greatest miserie that men may possiblie: First, the losse of our goods and substance, the captiuitie of our children, the deflouring of our daughters, the rauishing of our wiues, the slaughter of our parents, the burning of our houses, and churches; and that which worse is than all this, the scorne of our Sauiour Christ Iesus, and his saints, whose images you shall see in despight broken, or dragged in the durt, or moulten and conuerted into other prohane vses; all religion trodden downe, and God himselfe (if it were possible) with violence and dispaire driuen out of our hearts, if we stand not manfully vnto it as becommeth worthie champions. God is able with his little finger, if he so will, forthwith to destroy all the Turks in the world; but seeing he hath committed vnto our right hands the defence of his name, he first maketh proofe of our courage and valour, that finding the same faithfull, and readie, hee may strengthen and defend it with his owne right hand. He neuer yet forsooke any faithfull or deuout man, neither will our Sauior Christ be wanting vnto you, if you be not wanting vnto your selues: in the power of his name, which is aboue all names, he shal tread down his rebellious enemies, and exalt the righteous that put their trust in him. Moreouer, the causes that we and they combat for, are diuers, and our hopes much stronger: They fight for their Prophet, a most prophane man, author of all impietie, for spoile and prey, for the destruction of nations and countreys, for other mens kingdomes, for the enlarging of their dominions and territories, for worldly praise and glorie: But wee contrariwise beare armes for L the sauiour of the world, for our faith and religion, for the Christian commonwealth, for our natiue countrey, for our wiues and children, for our fortune and state; than which nothing can bee more excellent, more commendable, or honourable. What reward is laid vp for them in heauen which haue worthily protected or deliuered their countrey, or laid downe their liues in defence of their faith and religion? Neither, hauing often prooued, are we ignorant, that God will neuer forsake them that honour, feare, and serue him. Whereby (fellow souldiors) you may plainely perceiue, how farre your hopes are beyond theirs. Beleeue our Sauiour, promising vnto you an eternall reward: and shew your fidelitie and valour vnto God and your countrey together. Wherefore, seeing without the power of God wee can do [...] nothing, before the signall of battaile be giuen, I beseech you collonels, captaines, and lieutenants, by your effectuall and Christian exhortations in your regiments and companies, to encourage your souldiors,M valiantly to fight the Lords battaile, and for the present, euerie man by taking a little earth in his mouth, to prepare himselfe according to the necessitie of the time, as it were to the receiuing of the lords supper: so hauing clensed your soules, embrace you one another, plight your mutuall faith with your right hand and a kisse; and make a perpetuall couenant among your selues, none of you to forsake one another in this holy battaile, but for your religion and countrey valiantly to fight it out, euen vnto [Page] the last man. And a little refreshing your selues with a short repast as you stand, vpon the signall giuen, thrice calling aloud vpon the mightie name of Christ Iesu, fight with the like valour and courage so neere as you can, that he in the agonie of death fought for your redemption and libertie: which that you will willingly do, I request and charge you this for our sauiours sake, for the loue of our countrey, and for the faith you owe both to God and man. I also pray and beseech you, so to fight, as men resolued either to gaine a most glorious victorie, (whereof I doubt not) or else if it should otherwise chaunce, this day to purchase vnto your selues a blessed life in the kingdome of heauen: not to sup in Hell with the Turks, but with the blessed wights in heauen: For Christ Iesus our Sauiour will be alwaies present with vs, who (beleeue me, and so hope) will this day not onely deliuer vs out of the hands of the Turks, but to our immortall glorie lode vs with the rich spoyles of our enemies, and so in safetie bring all home againe with much ioy and triumph.’

The Bassa on the other side likewise encouraged his souldiors, putting them in remembrance of their former victories, exhorting them not to degenerate from their worthie ancestours and themselues, by whose great valour the glorie and empire of the Turkes had been so mightily encreased▪ and vnto whom their great prophet Mahomet, the interpretor of the gods, had foretold the empire of the whole world to be by all the gods allotted; and had by diuine inspiration prophecied, C that antient and stately nation in time to become the terror of the world, the scourge of the wicked, and commander of all nations. He farther declared vnto thē what an increase of kingdomes they had got in that short time, since which they first passed ouer into EVROPE: and filled them with the hope of a great spoile; promising vnto them that should in the battaile valiantly behaue themselues, not onely the spoile and prey, but whole villages, towns, and cities, and other great preferments, according as they should deserue. As for the victorie, considering the weake power of their enemies, and the great number of themselues, hee assured them thereof, if they would but a while valiantly fight it out like men. In conclusion, he told them, that hauing ouercome Huniades, whom onely, as hee confessed, he had found to bee the most valiant and skilfull captaine of the Christians, nothing should afterward be able to stand in their way, or to hinder their farther conquests: and that if this day they should vtterly ouerthrow him, they should gain the most honourable victorie that was euer yet got in EVROPE. Wherefore hee willed them aboue all things, in the battell to seeke after him; promising vnto him that should kill him, a great reward, with most honourable preferments. Hauing thus sufficiently, as he thought, encouraged his Turks, he set forward with his armie in order of battaile. His horsemen and footmen he deuided into two great wings, betwixt which marched the Ianizaries in a square battaile, all men of approoued valour: after whom followed the rereward: vnto the wings he had also joyned certaine loose companies of light horsemen to begin the battaile, and to flie about the enemies, and so as occasion should serue, either to charge or retire. Huniades likewise had placed in both wings two square battailions of men at armes, and with them certaine horsemen with crosse-bowes: before these wings he had also placed certaine troupes of light horsemen, to encounter the enemies: in the middest stood two square battailes of men at arms: and betwixt them a strong squadron of armed men, guarded behind with a conuenient number of pikemen and archers: both the wings he had compassed about with a multitude of carts and waggons, and they also well manned. So marching forward, and both armies being come within a quarter of a mile together, the signall of battaile was on both sides giuen,A cruell barrell betwixt Huniades and Abedin Bassa. and the battaile begun. Huniades seeing the multitude of his enemies, cast his first battaile into the forme of a wedge, the more easily to deuide them: and they on the other side in forme of a paire of sheeres, were readie to receiue him: where on both sides they encountered together with such furie and outcrie, as neuer was thing more terrible to be heard or seene. The Turks trusting vnto the multitude of their nimble light horsemen, first with their light staues, and afterward with their crooked Scimators fiercely assailed the Christians light horsemen, in which first encounter many fell on both sides. But the wedge battaile of the Christians could not of the Turks be broken, as consisting all of valiant expert souldiors, and they also strongly armed; who, doe the Turks what they could, with a great slaughter cut their armie in sunder, but not without a great fight, and some los [...]e also vnto themselues. In the wings also the light horsemen for a while fought courageously and with like hope: But the Turks with that kind of fight better acquainted than the Christians, & better appointed for that purpose, and exceeding in number also, put the Christian light horsemen to the worst, and enforced [Page] them to retire to the men at armes. Here began the fortune of the Turks to stay, where both G parts desperatly assailing the one the other, was made a most terrible fight, wherein most part of the Turks light horsemen were slaine: for why, they were not able to abide the force of the men at armes, although in comparison of them, but few; but were with their launces & arming swords ouerthrowne and slaine, no otherwise than if they had beene naked men: so that in both wings the Turks began now to faint. But the battaile in both the wings yet wauering and the victorie doubtfull, in the maine battaile was fought a most cruell fight: the Ianizaries with a strong power of men at armes, and certaine troupes of light horsemen, compassed about the men at armes that stood (as we said) in the maine battell of the Christians, where the old Ianizaries with their crooked S [...]imitaries, with great courage cut in sunder the legs of the horses of the men at armes; of H whom many fell downe, and lying along vpon the ground, were made shorter by the head: as likewise on the other side, the Ianizaries whilest they seeke the destruction of the men at armes, were themselues ouerborne and troden vnder foot. Whereupon such a slaughter was made, that the bloud ran like riuers, whilest they desperatly fight with furious rage both on the one side and the other. In this cruell fight most part of the Ianizaries were slaine, and many of the Christian men at armes also. The Bassa now perceiuing the Hungarians to haue the better, both in the wings and in the maine battaile, and yet in hope that with long fight they would faint (although hee saw great slaughter of his men in euery place) came on with the rereward, and a number of other fresh souldiors which he had left for the guarding of his baggage, all yet sound men, in good hope so to ouerwhelme the wearied Hungarians. It was now foure houres that this cruell fight I had endured, when as the Bassa began it afresh: neither was this by him done without reason; for why, he was afraid least if his men should turne their backes and flie, the whole armie should follow after: and therefore to make vse of all the men he had, he brought on his rereward, in hope that his enemies, now spent with long fight, would not longer endure a fresh charge. And the more to encourage his men, he commaunded them to compasse in the Hungarians round, and to dispatch their wearied enemies, vainely boasting, That it would bee the last battaile that euer the Hungarians would fight. On the other side, Huniades perceiuing the enemies purpose, suffered his men to bee in part enuironed, and by and by caused the waggoners with the armed carts and waggons to thrust in behind them, and so to compasse them in, deuided in part from the rest, and afterward with fresh supplies renewed the battaile with the enemie. The fight was great, and in euery place right terrible: and albeit that the slaughter of the Turks was in many places great, yet by reason of their multitude they felt it not much, but fought yet still most desperately: vntill that they in the right wing seeing themselues compassed in behind with the waggons, & so from them charged with shot, darts, and other such missiue weapons; standing in doubt which way to turne themselues, and beset with danger on euery side, began to faint, and fearing the danger behind them, shruncke from the fight. On the other side, the Hungarians, now in good hope of victorie, with great and cheerefull outcries, as men inspired with fresh spirits, more furiously assailed their fainting enemies afront, than before; encouraging them also that assailed thē behind in the waggons,The Turks [...]lie. to approch them neerer: with which double danger the Turks hardly beset, fought disorderly, and doubting to be all inclosed round, first retired, and presently after betook themselues to plaine flight. But they which were alreadie shut in betwixt the waggons and them that fought before thē, perished euery mothers son. They which fought in the left wing also, discouraged with the flight of their fellowes, fled likewise: after whom the Hungarians fiercely followed. The Bassa himselfe seeing both the wings of his battell put to flight, & his own battell sore broken also, strucken with dispaire fled, with certain companies of the Ianizaries, which he had still kept about him against al euents, for the safegard of his person: after whō followed also so many other of the Turks as could; the rest dispersedly flying through the woods, forrests, & mountains, either there perished with hunger, or falling into the hands of the Valachians, were by them slain. Of so great an armie as the Bassa brought into TRANSILVANIA, scarce the one halfe returned againe ouer Danubius. It is reported by some that were in that battell, that if Huniades hauing them in chace, had pursued them vnto Danubius, scarcely one man of them had escaped ouer the riuer. But he contented with so great a victorie, & to haue driuen his enemies out of the field, pursued them not far: but entring into their campe, with the spoile therof greatly enriched both himselfe and his soldiors. Beside the great multitude of the Turks here slaine, 5000 more were taken prisoners, & 100 of their ensignes. Long it were to rehearse and reckon vp the rich spoile there taken, the guilt armour, and goodly [Page] furniture, both of men and horses, beside the rich pauillions and tents there standing. In breefe, the wealth there found, was so great, as that there was no man in Huniades armie, which was not thereby for euer enriched. Huniades for this so great a victorie, and for his countrey, deliuered from so great a feare, caused generall prayers with thankes giuing, for the space of three daies, to be made in all churches of those three prouinces, vnto whom that danger was threatened; and at VASCAPE, where the battaile was fought, hanged vp certaine of the Turks ensignes, as trophees of the victorie there gotten. This was the famous battaile of VASCAPE, wherein Huniades got the greatest victorie that euer any Christian prince before that time obtained against the Turkish kings. The fields thereabouts lay couered with the dead bodies of the slaine Turkes, whose carrion carkasses so infected the aire, that many of the better sort of the inhabitants of the countrey were glad for a season to leaue their dwellings, and to get them further off, for feare of infection. Afterwards he in great triumph came to BVDA, and there presented vnto king Vladislaus the enemies ensignes, with such a part of the spoile, as might both well declare the greatnesse of the victorie, and beseeme the greatnesse of so great a prince, which the king thankefully receiued, highly commending his great valour, the fame whereof had in short time filled euery corner of EVROPE.

Amurath a little before this great ouerthrow of his armie in TRANSILVANIA, assuring himselfe of the victorie, had sent a proud embassage vnto king Vladislaus into HVNGARIE, offering him peace, vpon condition, That he should deliuer vnto him the strong citie of BELGRADE or els yeeld to pay him a yearely tribute: vnto which, vpon the first report of the victorie, answere was giuen by the king, answerable to the proud demaund, That according to the issue of matters in TRANSILVANIA, hee would shortly in person himselfe come and giue him farther answere. With which short answere the proud embassadors were dismissed and gone, a little before the comming of Huniades to BVDA.

How much this late ouerthrow greeued the great king Amurath, Vladislaus was not ignorant; either of his power and desire of reuenge, as sufficiently warned thereof by the worthie Huniades: for the withstanding whereof, he thought it good not to be vnprouided. Wherefore calling together the states of his kingdome, and with them Iulian the Cardinall of S. Angel, the Popes Legat; at such time as they were all assembled, he propounded vnto them the greatnesse of the danger threatened by the angrie Turke, leauing it vnto their graue consideration, to determine how the same were by strong hand and plaine force, or otherwise to be auerted. In which most honourable assemblie, Iulian the Cardinall, of purpose sent thither by Pope Vrbane to stirre vp the Hungarians against the Turks, being requested by the king to deliuer his opinion first, spake vnto them as followeth: ‘Since the time that the Turkish pestilence began to rage in EVROPE, The effectuall speech of Iulian the Popes legate in the parl [...]ment to persuade the warre. no n [...]wes was euer more welcome vnto the great Bishop, vnto the Apostolicall Senate, and other princes of ITALIE (most mightie king, and you other most worthie princes) than when it was told them, That Vladislaus, king of POLONIA, was by you also chosen king of HVNGARIE. For a fitter gouernour of the Hungarian state, and leader of their power, could not the Hungarians any where haue found: as he in whom iustice, religion, wisedome, valour, and martiall skill, doth so abound, that he seemeth rather for the good of this kingdome by God sent from heauen, than here in earth chosen by men. By this happie & fortunat choice, the minds also of all the Italians, which before lay heauie and discouraged, were lightened and reuiued: and therefore, that this choice might be vnto the Christian commonweale both glorious and fortunate, they made their solemne vowes and prayers. At such time as the most holy Senat vnderstood of the ciuile discord of this kingdome, and the danger of the Turks fast by, it sent me hither to deale with you for the appeasing of those troubles and repressing of that mischeefe (as you haue oftentimes heard me say.) The kingdome is by your force and valour, by my mediation, and the death of the queene, well pacified: but yet the other remaineth full of honour, full of profit, full of safetie, glorie, and immortalitie, best [...]itting: Vladislaus conduct and fortune, and the valour of the Hungarians. The Turkish tyrannie and their proud commaund (worthie princes) is to be repressed: yea their seruile yoke, hanging euen now ouer our neckes, is to be shaken off, and to be driuen away. What you are to dare to doe, the valour and fortune of Huniades foretelleth you: the fortune said I of Huniades, nay the fortune of the Christian commonweale, and present mercie of our blessed Sauiour, which suffereth his people to be vp and downe tossed, but not quite drowned. If so great an armie of the enemies was vanquished and put [Page] to flight by the power of one of thy captaines, and that but small: what is to bee hoped of thee (most mightie king) if thou shalt lead foorth thine armies thy selfe in person, vnder thine owne conduct▪ and the protection of Christ Iesu. The eyes of all Christian princes are cast vpon thee, vpon the Hungarian and Polonian forces; vpon thee haue they reposed all their hopes, they all expect that thou shouldest bee the reuenger of the Barbarian crueltie, the defendor of the faith, and protector of EVROPE ▪ and that is it for which the Pope doth with his letters dayly solicite and importune you. And albeit, that the common cause and quarrell of the Christian religion require it, yet doth the necessitie of HVNGARIE and POLONIA no lesse enforce it: of which, the one is most miserably and daily vexed with the Turkes forces and furie out of SERVIA and DALMATIA; and the other out of MOLDAVIA and VALACHIA. Now if any there he, whom neither the zeale of religion, the necessitie of the cause, the hope H of immortall fame and glorie, can moue, let their owne safetie, the present seruitude of their wiues and children, the safegard of their wealth and substance, the lawfull reuenge of the wrongs done them, sti [...] them vp to take in hand this sacred expedition. So fit an oportunitie is now giuen vnto you, that at one and the selfesame time you may set your bodies in perpetuall safetie and happinesse, your soules in quietnesse and rest, and vnto both giue eternall glorie and happinesse. You lacke not (worthie captaines) money, the sinewes of the warre, which shall be brought vnto you from all parts of the Christian common-wealth, not lustie and courageous souldiours, not policie, not fortune, not the propitious heauenly powers, which haue made choice of you for the defence of the true faith and religion: you want nothing (woorthie princes) but will. It is an expedition necessarie, religious, profitable, and honourable: wherein are propounded most ample rewards both in this life, and in the life to come. Wherefore (most mightie prince, and you right worthie princes all) I pray and beseech you by the faith of Christ Iesu, by the loue of your children, by the health of your kingdome, and deliuerance from your present destruction, with valiant courage, and one consent to take this sacred war in hand, and so thereby to enroll your names in the eternall booke of fame. And sith that you are to goe, not so much to a worldly as a spirituall war, against the enemies of Christ and his truth, take vp your armes with such zeale, courage, and cheerefulnesse, as the expectation and hope of men, as your valour, the present danger, and the mercies of God towards you▪ seeme of right to require.’

The Legat hauing made an end, forthwith ensued the miserable supplication and teares of the Despot,The pitifull com [...] of the Des [...]ot, of t [...]e cruelti [...] of the Turks, persuad [...] the Hun [...]ians to take the warre against them in hand. persuading them, of the necessitie of that expedition to be taken in hand, declaring vnto K them the crueltie of the Turks, their torments and strange tortures, his sonnes depriued of their sight, and spoiled of their genitoires, many halfe mangled, and moe cut in sunder with sawes; some [...]laine quick, and other buried aliue, with many other strange kinds of death, such as would abhorre any Christian eares to heare. And warning the Hungarians, by his example to beware how much they had need to looke to themselues, told them, That they were but by the riuer SAVUS, deuided from the Turks; which in Summer was oftentimes to be waded ouer, and in Winter hard frozen, and so to bee passed: that the countrey beyond DANVBIVS lay all open vpon them; and that he, sometime the rich king of SERVIA, was now driuen into exile by the power of the Turke, depriued of his kingdome, of his children, shamefully disgraced, spoiled of his wealth and fortune, glad to flie from place to place, and yet not able to find any safe place to rest in. First he fled (as he said) to RAGVSIVM, where by and by he was sought after, and endangered by the Turks: then into HVNGARIE, which was also forthwith by them on euery side infested; and whereof the Barbarian king now asked tribute, to haue some colour for the inuasion thereof: which dreadfull enemie was not farre off from it, but still houered euen ouer it: as well witnessed VALACHIA and TRANSILVANIA, two of the greatest and richest prouinces of the Hungarian kingdome; which had not the valour of Huniades, the fortune of the commonweale, and aboue all, the mercie of God, deliuered out of the hands of this filthie nation, the state of HVNGARIE had now ben vtterly forlorne. The euents of war (he said) were diuers, fortune vncertaine, and that God would not euery day bee tempted. Wherefore with many teares abundantly running down his aged face, he besought king Vladislaus & the rest, not to let slip this faire occasion, neither by cowardise or negligence to break off the course of their good fortune and victorie: but to make choice rather to become reuengers of other mens harmes than of their own, and to satisfie the good opinion the world had conceiued of them. He was (as he said) a sufficient example to all men. Besides that he offred a great sum of mony himselfe towards the defraying of the charges of the war, assuring thē also of great supplies both of men & mony from diuers other [Page] Christian princes. Which opinion of the Legat & Despots, being generally liked & approued, a decree was made by the whole court of parlament there assembled, That the king should himselfe in person with all speed possible entertain that honorable war. So that though it were now vpon the approach of winter, yet were men taken vp in euerie place, and embassadours sent vnto the Emperour, and the other neighbour princes, to pray of them aid against the common enemie. Who for the most part excused themselues by their owne particuler affaires, but sent no aid at all. Neuerthelesse many deuout Christians both out of FRANCE and GERMANIE, for the zeale they bare vnto Christ and the Christian religion, forsaking wife and children, and whatsoeuer they had else, came and worthily serued vpon their owne charge. The Spring being come, and supplications made in all places for the prosperous successe of that religious warre, king Vladislaus the first of May set forward from BUDA, where passing the riuer DANUBIVS and marching faire and softly, and coming to the riuer TIBISCVS, hee there staied three daies for the comming of his armie. Departing thence, and marching on alongst the side of DANUBIVS, vntill he came within the sight of BVLGARIA, hee there at a place called COBIS, oueragainst SYNDEROVIA, passed ouer DANVBIVS with his armie, which was now growne verie great: and so marched directly to SOPHIA scituate about sixe daies march from DANVBIVS, in the frontiers of BVLGARIA, so called of a most sumptuous and magnificent temple there built by Iustinian the great emperour. Which citie being then old and ruinous, and but badly fortified, was easily taken;Sophia taken. and afterward for that it was not well to be holden, was by the kings commandement burnt, as were all the other countrey townes and villages thereabouts, to the terrour of the rest. Marching thence hee came vnto the riuer MORAVA and there encamped: where the plaine countrey, easily riseth and falleth in manner of the sea when it is mooued with a little wind. Here fiue hundreth light horsemen, being sent ouer the riuer, not so much to seeke after preie, as to view the countrey which way the armie might most safely and easily passe, hapned vpon the Turks scouts, of whom they tooke foure: and vnderstanding by them, that two thousand of the Turks were comming at hand, knowing themselues to weake to encounter them, they retired backe againe with all speed they could vnto the riuer: where many of them, for feare, leapt headlong from the high and broken bankes, and so perished in the deepe; the rest terrified with the misfortune of their fellows, stood still doubtfully expecting what should become of themselues. Beyond the riuer was another hill, vpon the top whereof the king with a great number of horsemen were hunting: whom the Turks a far off discrying, and doubting to fall into some ambush, of purpose laid for them betwixt them and the riuer, without cōming on further, retired. Which they that before fearefully staied on the farre side of the riuer perceiuing, and now encouraged by the comming of the king downe to the riuer, followed a while after, so to increase their feare; and so hauing well feared one another, retired on both sides worse afraid than hurt. The next daie the king passed ouer the riuer, sending out his scouts to see if all were cleare before him: by whom he was aduertised that the Turks were at hand, hauing placed certaine ambushes fast by, expecting but a fit time to set vpon him. Wherevpon entring into counsaile with his best and most expert captaines, what were best to be done; it was resolued vpon, that Huniades the next night with ten thousand choice horsemen, should vpon the suddaine set vpon the enemie, then fearing nothing lesse. Who conducted by the espials, was in the first watch of the night brought verie neere vnto them. The moone by chance as fauoring his great attempt, did then shine out, so that he might well discern how the enemie lay encamped, and which way for to charge them to his most aduantage; which was by the same way they were most like no flye, if they should be put to the worst: vnto which place he led his men, and there with a most hideous outcrie▪ entred the campe, as then for the most part buried in sleepe and securitie: when as the Turkes awaked with the suddaine noise as it were out of a dead sleepe, and dismaied with the horrour of the crie, began to betake them some to their weapons, some to their heeles. Of whom such as fled, lighting vpon the enemies troupes standing in their way, ran as fast backe againe: the other scarce yet well awake, and ouercome with feare, and now scarcely themselues, had much adoe to make themselues readie to fight.Huniades with ten thousand horsemen assa [...] leth the Turks by night. Huniades in the meane time riding vp and downe amongst his men, cheered them vp, still crying out and calling vpon them, couragiously to assaile their sleepie naked and fearefull enemies, and not to let slip so faire an occasion and so notable a victorie now alreadie in their hands. At the first encounter the Turks rather made a stirre than fought; but after that they heard that Huniades was there, as men dismaied with his name, they turned their [Page] backs and fled, finding which way soeuer they tooke, their fellowes halfe dead or wounded: ye [...] such a confusion was raised amongst them, with the greatnesse of the sudden feare, that thustin [...] together, with an inconsiderate desire of flight, they trod one another vnder foot, and thru [...] themselues vpon one anothers weapons: the greatest part of them driuen headlong into the thickets, and other straits, and not able in time to get out thence, were there by the victorious enemie fiercely pursuing of them, slaine. All that night the fearefull Turks were with great slaugh [...] held in chace: but as soone as it was day, the rest that remained of them ran also the same for [...]e with their fellowes. A farre greater slaughter was there made, than a man would thinke that so few men could haue made, when as but with ten thousand horse, thirtie thousand Turks were in one night slaine, and foure thousand taken, with a number of their ensignes. Of Huniades his men were not many lost, for the greatnesse of the slaughter, most report not aboue fiue hundreth; for few of them found any enemie to resist them. There was taken all the spoile of a most rich camp, the enemie hauing caried with them nothing out of it. Huniades hauing in so short time gained so notable a victorie, and enriched his armie, returned to the king in great triumph: neither w [...] that day more joyfull vnto these victorious souldiors, than vnto the rest of the armie, who most joyfully expected their returne. The king and the Despot, hearing of the approach of Huniades from the slaughter of the Turks, with the great applause and joyfull acclamation of the other legions went to meet him three miles:The meeting of Vladislaus and Huniades after the victorie. and at such time as at their first meeting Huniades was about to haue lighted to haue done him honour, he would in no case suffer him so to doe, but taking him by the right hand, joyed with him for the victorie, thanking God in the hearing of the whole armie, that hee of his mercie had giuen him such a captaine, as without enuie in all mens judgements was worthie to rule the Romane empire. In briefe, he shewed how much his countrey, his kingdome, yea the Christian commonweale was bound and indebted vnto him, gaue him his due praises, exhorting all others to imitate his glorie: the like honour did also all the rest of the nobilitie vnto him. As for the common souldiors, they could not be satisfied with beholding of him, but embracing one another, as if they would haue died one in anothers armes, welcomed their victorious friends. So with joy joyning their forces together, and sending the rich spoile of the enemie, with the prisoners chained together in long rancks, before them; the king and Huniades, in great triumph returned into the campe, where they caused generall prayers with thankesgiuing vnto almightie God, for so great a victorie, to bee made thoughout the armie.

The Legat Iulian, generall of the voluntarie Christians, which for deuotion serued of their owne charge, after so great a victorie most earnestly persuaded the king and the rest of the great commaunders of the armie to prosecute their good fortune, and in God his so great fauor not to loiter, but daily to march forward, and to take in the rest of BVLGARIA. Now had Huniades by his espials learned, that from SOPHIA it was but three dayes journey to PHILIPPOPOLIS, a great citie of THRACIA; and the like distance from thence to HADRIANOPLE, the cheefe seat of the Turkish tyrant; and as much more to CONSTANTINOPLE. The onely difficultie was, how to passe the great and rough mountaine HEMVS, which running a maruellous way in length, euen vnto the Euxine sea, and mating almost the skie, deuideth the countries of BVLGARIA and SERVIA, from MACEDONIA and THRACE: and for the great height and roughnesse thereof, is not to be passed ouer but in two places; the one made by the great emperor Traian and the Romanes, where as yet is to be seene a mightie strong gate built of great square stone, whereby the passage that way was opened or shut at the pleasure of them that had the keeping thereof: the other neere vnto a little riuer, which the Bulgarians now call SALTIZA. By either of these waies if he should find them open, Huniades, vnto whom the king had committed both the leading and the conduct of the armie, purposed to enter. Wherefore marching forward, they tooke all such townes of BVLGARIA as stood in their way; some by force, some by composition: wherin was no small helpe, the conformitie of the Christian religion, the horrible crueltie of the Turks, and great affinitie of language, the most effectuall meanes to win the loue of strangers: For the Polonians and the Bulgarians, both descended of the Sclauonians, and vsing the same language, the Polonian horsemen came to no towne, but it presently yeelded. But being come vnto the mountaine HEMVS, to haue entered into THRACIA, the Winter weather being now very cold, they learned by their espials, that the aforesaid passages were both fast shu [...] vp with great stones, timber, and such other like matter, so strongly, as that they were very hardly [Page] to be forced. Wherefore Huniades leauing the straighter way made by the hand of man (which beside the former fortification at the great gate, the Turkes had in many places, with abundance of water poured downe the steepe hill in the night, and hard frozen with the coldnesse of the weather, made so slipperie, as that it was not possible either for man or beast there to stand, or to get vp that way) vpon Christmas euen came to the other, by which the riuer Saltiza runneth, the which he found likewise shut.The Hungarian [...] inforced with the diff [...]cultie of the passage of the mountaine Hemus, retire. Here they met with many inconueniences: first, the difficultie of the passage, which old Amurath had not without great reason shut vp, and there placed strong garrisons, so at ease and without danger of battaile (so often by his Bassaes vnfortunatly proued) to defend his kingdome in MACEDONIA and THRACIA from the inuasion of the Hungarians, whom now of all nations he most dreaded. Beside that, in the armie was such want of all things, as that the souldiors were readie to forsake their ensignes, and to rise vp in a generall mutinie: for the countrey neere vnto the mountaine HEMVS, rising high with broken rockes and inaccessible places, was altogether barren, and victuals failing in the campe, they were glad to liue with a little wheat and flesh boiled together, and that so sparingly, as that the soldiors began now generally to grow weake and faint. Besides that, the Winter was exceeding cold, and the frost so great, that many times they could not goe out of their tents to seeke for forrage or water. So that the armie enforced with hunger and cold, and the difficultie of the passage, began to retire, & had now vndoubtedly beene dissolued, had it not been for the often and earnest persuasions of Huniades: for he daily told them, that the greatest difficulties were alreadie past, that that which remained, was with their wonted valour and courage to be endured, whereunto nothing was high or difficult: that they should forthwith come into the borders of THRACIA, where they should find plentie of all things: that they were now come so farre, that if they would go backe againe, they should in those wast countries, through which they were to passe, find greater difficulties and dangers than in going forward: that these straights once opened, remained no more trauell, but cheerefully to fall to the spoile of a most rich and pleasant country. They were not (as he said) to stay in the middest of their fortunes, for that it was not alwaies permanent: and for that the contempt of God his fauours, caused them to be oftentimes taken from vs: all that was yet done (hee said) was nothing, if they proceeded not farther: for that whatsoeuer they had alreadie woon, was easily by the enemie to be recouered; except that those which yet remained (for that most part of them, as he said, were slaine with their houses burnt ouer their heads) were driuen out of THRACIA and MACEDONIA, and so quite out of EVROPE. So whilest the souldiours heard Huniades speake, euery man was well encouraged: but when they remembred the miseries wherewith they were enuironed, they cursed all the rash attempts of ambitious princes. In the meane time newes was brought by the scouts, that the Turkes were comming after them: but then began they to rejoice, as deeming it much more honor, manfully to die in battell, than to starue with hunger and cold. Against these Turks was Huniades sent, with certain troupes of horsemen: who encountering with them, easily inforced them with losse to retire. Eight times he encountred them (as the soldiors there present reported) and as often put them to flight. In retiring backe from the impregnable mountaine, the king with the greatest part of the armie went before; after whom followed Huniades & the Despot, a good daies march: when the Turks that kept the passage vpon the mountain, vnderstanding of their return, followed them downe the hill, in good hope to be of them well reuenged, before they should get out of BVLGARIA. Carambey the Bassa of ROMANIA, and brother to Caly-Bassa (a man of all others in greatest fauor with Amurath, and his brother in law, as hauing married his sister) was generall of this armie, and by him appointed for the keeping of these straits; with expresse charge, vpon no occasion whatsoeuer, although it made shew of neuer so assured a victorie, to fight with the enemie: for he thought it victorie ynough, without any losse to haue kept his enemies out of THRACIA. Which the old kings cō mand, Carambey for all that neglected, in good hope by a notable victory easily to answer the contempt of that he was commanded. The Christian armie descending down the broken mountains was come to a great mountaine, which the Bulgarians call CVNO [...]IZA, and part of the mountain HEMVS: at whose heeles followed Carambey, with his Turks, still houering ouer their heads, to take them at some aduantage: whom the Christians beholding, could not by their captaines be staied, but that they would many times by companies flie forth vpon them, and desperatly fight with them in places of great disaduauntage, saying, That they had rather die in fight like men, than to starue with hunger and cold. Here Carambey, being himselfe a man of great courage, [Page] and desirous of honour, and by the rashnesse of his enemies allured to fight; and withall, beside the aduantage of the ground, perceiuing himselfe to exceed his enemies both in strength and number of men, could not be staied but would needs giue battaile, with such a desire, as if he had been alreadie assured of the victorie. Huniades and the Despot had before perceiued that the Turks, prouoked with the brauing of their men, would assuredly fall vpon them, and were therefore much troubled with the absence of the king, who (as is beforesaid) was gone a dayes ma [...]ch before they saw they could neither shun battaile, neither if they could haue so done, would their desperat souldiors be staied, for the desire they had to fight. Yet seeing Carambey comming down vpon them, they put themselues (though vnwillingly) in best order they could to receiue him; persuading their soldiors not rashly in furie to run vpon their enemies, as desperat men prodigall of their liues, but to keepe their rankes, and orderly to fight, and so like valiant men to carie away the victorie, or to leaue vnto their enemies a bloodie remembrance thereof. Now had Carambey sent his horsemen downe the hill,A great battell betwixt Huniades & the Bassa Carambey. and the battaile was begun, where both the armies met together with great furie, and a cruell fight was made both at the foot of the hill and amongst the hils and vallies also: in which hard encounter many were slaine, as well on the one side as the other. The Polonian men at armes (whom the king but a little before had left with Huniades against all euents) with the Hungarian light horsemen (of whom the Despot had the leading) fought so that day, as if they had sought for nothing more but how honourably to die. And the Turkes for a space stood hard to it, so that many were there slaine: yet at length finding themselues hardly laied to, as by desperat men, resolued to sell their liues deere, they began to faint and to giue ground: when as Carambey comming in behind them with new supplies, rated the cowardly, stayed them that were flying, and sometime with rough speeches, sometime with faire persuasion, encouraged the wauering, and restored the battaile, before almost quite lost. Neither did Huniades and the Despot lesse bestirre them, but as soone as they perceiued the enemie a little to faint, by and by cried out Victorie; with cheerefull speech encouraging their men, still calling vpon them, To keepe their rankes strong, and to vrge their present good fortune, assuring themselues, that they fought against those infidels, vnder the fauour and protection of the Almightie. And forthwith sent certaine companies of footmen, who climbing vp the hill, amongst the bushes with their halfe pikes and bore-speares paunched the Turks horses as they passed by them. These loose companies did the Turkes horsemen much harme, and here began their battaile to decline; they which were comming downe, for feare of the danger retiring backe againe vnto them that were left aboue, for the keeping of the straits. And the bolder sort of them, which were come downe into the valleyes, compassed about with the men at armes, hardly recouered the rising of the hill. Carambey in the meane while crying out behind them, one while called backe them that fled, another while releeued them that fainted, and to the vttermost of his power restoring the battaile, performed all the parts both of a valiant souldiour and worthie captaine, couragiously fighting himselfe in the thickest of his enemies, and by his owne valour staied for a time the lost battaile. At length performing his last endeuour, deceiued by the snow,The Turks ouerthrowne, and Carambry taken prisoner. he fell into a bogg, where sticking fast with his horse, and not able to helpe himselfe, hee was taken prisoner by a common souldior. The rest that escaped out of this bloodie battaile, retired themselues vnto them that were left aboue vpon the mountaine for the defence of the passage. After whom the Christians followed, through the vntract and rough places, vntill that hindered of their farther pursuit by the approch of the night, and the abruptnesse of the way, they were glad to sound a retrait, and so retired vnto the campe. Many other great men were taken beside Carambey, but many moe slaine in the battaile, and most of all in the flight; few escaped, but such as fled backe againe vp into the mountaines. In the retrait Huniades seeing so gallant a man as was Carambey (though to him altogether vnknowne) vnworthily bound, and led prisoner by a common souldiour, asked the souldiour, if he would sell his prisoner? who said, he would; and asked for him ten duckats (a poore price for so great a man:) vnto whom Huniades commaunded to be giuen foure hundred, and so sent him to his tent, comforting of him vp with cheerefull words, and willing that he should be well vsed. The Despot the same night comming to Huniades his tent, to conferre with him about the remainder of the war, and seeing so braue a man standing among the rest by the fire side, began to talke with him in the Turkish language, whereof hee had some knowledge, by reason of the neerenesse of the nation, and such matters as he had sometimes to do with them; and hauing some gesse by his talke what [Page] he was, and pittying his estate, asked Huniades, how he would ransome him? who said, that hee cost him foure hundred duckats, but that he valued him at fortie thousand, which the Despot offered to pay him. Thus by the strange change of fortune was Carambey, of late so great a commaunder, and so neere alied vnto the great Turke, valued and prized twice in one day by his enemies, as a mirrour of the vncertaintie of worldly blisse and felicitie. The Polonians report somewhat otherwise of this battaile, as that Vladislaus should himselfe therin be present, and the cheefe that therein commaunded: howbeit the Hungarian writers, whose credit herein we follow, report it as before, not to haue beene fought vnder the good fortune of the king then absent, but vnder the leading of Huniades and the Despot.

Out of this battaile (or as some others report, a little before out of the battaile of MORAVA) fled the great captaine George Castriot, Scanderbeg reu [...]lteth from the Turks. otherwise of the Turks called Scanderbeg, now seeking to deliuer both himselfe, and his natiue countrey of EPIRUS out of the thraldome of the Turks, as presently after he did: whose vnwonted flight, not a little terrified the rest of the Turks armie, and much furthered the Christians victorie, whose proceedings he alwaies secretly fauored: hauing (as it was thought) secret intelligence with the great captain Huniades, who not without instructions from him (as some say) gaue that great ouerthrow vnto the Turkes at MORAVA. But of him and his worthie acts done for the deliuerance and defence of his countrey, more shall be said hereafter.

Shortly after this great ouerthrow and discomfiture of the Turks, the two great captaines Huniades, and the Despot, together with the king, consulted for the remoouing of the Turks garisons left aboue for the keeping of the stait passages of the mountaine, and the prosecution of the war. Which Vladislaus (considering the difficultie of the matter, and his souldiors necessitie) thought it not good further to prosecute, but forthwith to returne. But Huniades and the Despot, the one thirsting after honour, and the other in no lesse hope, by the good successe of this war, to recouer again his lost kingdome, sayd, That the Turkes were in any case to be remooued, the passage opened, and the sparks that yet remained, for feare of raising a greater fire, extinguished: opposing against the difficultie by the king alleaged, the inuincible courage of his souldiours, whereunto they said nothing was impossible or difficult. Vnto which opinion the king also (least he should seeme to distrust the valour of his captaines or souldiours) easily yeelded, and so commaunded on God his name to set forward. The first that mounted the hill was the king his battaile, which by the roughnesse and abruptnesse of the mountaine hindered,Vladislaus se [...] keth in value to open the passage of the mountain [...] Hemus. oftentimes staied. But Huniades still caried with an earnest desire to prosecute the victorie, and leauing nothing vnattempted, in searching about found a crooked turning way, whereby he with his men more easily and readily got vp to the top of the mountaine euen with their enemies, vndescried or molested, by reason of the broken couert of the place: from whence they were in good hope easily to haue come vnto their enemies. But being come vp to the place they desired, they found such a deepe and wide gaping of the rocke, betwixt them and the enemie, as was neither to bee passed, or filled vp: yet being come verie neere, they attempted by crosbow shot, and great stones cast out of slings, and other such engines to haue remooued the Turks from their places: who were therewith and with their vnexpected approach, at the first so greatly both annoyed and discomfited, that they were almost at the point to haue forsaken the passage, had not Alis Beg (but the night before chosen for their Generall in stead of Carambey) encouraged them and taught them, how by shrowding themselues vnder the broken rocks, and parapets with tumultarie labour cast vp, to saue themselues from the shot of their enemies. In the meane time also, Huniades by another more high and steepe way, whereby the enemie was also to be approached, had sent vp other companies of souldiours: who fighting at too much disaduantage, were by the Turks easily rejected. So at length seeing the vain attempt giuen by himselfe vpon the top of the hill: and the desperate danger of the other in climing the inaccessible mountaine, where one might keepe downe an hundreth, dispairing to inforce the enemie, hee by the kings commaund, caused a retrait to bee sounded, and so againe retired downe the mountaine, to the great rejoycing of the Turks. The next daie the winter cold raging, and wants in the armie still more and more increasing, the king with the rest of the great commaunders entred into consultation, for the hasting of their returne out of that rough and barraine countrey, into places of greater plentie, before the armie were brought to any greater extremitie. Wherevnto Huniades (giuing place vnto necessitie, which alwaies suffereth not to bee regarded that is seemely) now easily yeelded: onely the [Page] Despot spake against it, blaming them, that hauing taken the Generall, and put their enemies to flight, and victorie now as it were in their hands, they would not prosecute the small remainder of the warre, but cowardly turne their backs vnto their vanquished enemies: promising that hee himselfe would find money inough for the prouiding of all things needfull for the releefe of the armie. So said the Popes Legat also. But forasmuch as the wants in the armie were great, and the souldiours presently pinched with hunger and cold, they could with no hope of any profit, were it neuer so great, be persuaded to staie; openly crying out, that it was not their captains and lieutenants, which wanted nothing, but them the poore souldiours that starued for hunger: as for the Despot, that he in hope of recouering of his kingdome, persuaded things impossible, and no way to be performed, neither to be any thing mooued with the death of their men or cattell: Need (they said) could not be vanquished: but that when Winter was past, they would willingly returne againe vnto the sacred warre: In the meane time Winter raging, and hunger commaunding, let vs giue ouer (said they) and depart into more fruitfull places, there to refresh our bodies, spent with labour, cold, and hunger. For which reasons, the king sending before his baggage, retired againe by the same way he came. Which the Turkes from aboue beholding, and strengthened with new supplies, followed after them, as after men that had fled: oftentimes assailing them in the rereward, and setting vpon them sometimes on the one side, sometimes on the other, with often skirmishes both did and receiued much harme. Whose manner of fight was, to retire when they were themselues charged, and presently by great troupes to charge again their enemies, their backes once turned to them; and so troubled the armie, that it was constrained oftentimes to stay; besides that, loaded with the rich spoile of the enemie, and much baggage, it could not of it selfe make any great hast. Now was it by the way come into a great thicke wood, full of deepe boggs and water-courses, hard to be passed through: where the rest of the armie going before, in the rereward, at the entrance of the wood, were left certaine strong companies of men at armes, as a wall against the pursuing enemies;The Hungarians much troubled in passi [...]g a thicke [...]ood. whom the Turks with their readie light horsemen fiercely charged: where betwixt them, in the wood, was fought a great fight, and a great tumult raised: vnto the noise whereof, they which marched before hastily returning, in skirmishing, many of them fell into those deepe boggs and queachie places, out of which they could hardly rid themselues againe. Besides that, there were many crooked and troublesome turnings and windings, with suddaine discents, so steepe, as that in going downe the same, their horses came tumbling heeles ouer head, and there lay ouerthrowne, together with their riders: in such sort, as that to auoid these difficulties, they were oftentimes enforced to fight on foot. In which troublesome skirmish, about fourescore of the men at armes were lost; but of the Turkes, beside them which were slaine, were taken an hundred and seuentie, all whom Huniades caused to be presently slain. In this wood the Christians were more troubled with the difficulties of the place, than the enemies assaults. Wherefore wants daily more and more encreasing in the armie, which by reason of the multitude of their carriages, abundance of their baggage, and often assaults of the Turkes, was able to make no way: the king for feare his armie should in so long & slow a march through those troublesome and barren countries, be consumed with hunger and other wants, caused all the carriages and baggage to be brought into the middest of the armie, and of it, all such things as serued rather for burthen than vse, to be there burnt: and the armes as well of such souldiors as he had lost, as of the enemie, to bee buried in the ground, and all the weake beasts that serued for burthen, to be killed. So the armie well discharged of such vnprofitable burthens, marched much more speedily, neither was so much subject vnto the assaults of the Turks, as before. And so at length by long journies, Vladislaus with his armie arriued at BELGRADE, where hee was of his subjects honourably receiued. And hauing there staied certaine daies, and well refreshed his armie, departing thence, and passing the riuer SAVUS, came to the royall citie of BVDA: where he was of all his subjects joyfully receiued also. The Legat and Huniades going on his right hand, and the Despot on the left:Vladislaus honorably receiued at Buda. after whome followed other colonels, captaines, and lieutenants, with their companies; who at the first meeting with the cittizens, more than a mile out of the cittie, in token of their mutuall joy, gaue together such joyfull acclamations and outcries, as that the heauens seemed to resound, and the earth to shake with the noise thereof. Before the king, at his comming vnto the cittie, went a long companie of the notable Turkes captiues; and next before him, Carambey, bound in chaines, vpon whom all mens eyes were fixed. With them were also carried the enemies ensignes, and such spoyles as had beene saued. [Page] Behind the king came Huniades in a triumphant robe, in the middest betwixt the Legate on the right hand, and the Despot on the left, as he that next vnto the king had best deserued the honor of the triumph. Next vnto them followed the deuout Christians, that for the zeale of religion had most honourably of their owne charges voluntarie serued in those wars: and on both sides of them the ciuile magistrates and best of the citizens: behind them came the rest of the legions, and about them both vpon the right hand and the left, the promiscuous common people, doubling and redoubling the praises of the king, and Huniades. Before all these went the prelates and priests in solemne procession, singing hymnes and psalmes of thanksgiuing vnto almightie God: Vladislaus comming vnto the gate of the citie, acknowledging God to haue been the authour of so great a victorie, alighting from his horse, on foot went first vnto the Cathedrall church of our ladie; and there giuing most hartie thanks vnto almightie God, hanged vp the enemies ensignes, and part of the spoile, in perpetuall remembrance of so notable a victorie: which hee afterward caused to bee most liuely depainted in a faire table of most curious worke, and there in the same church to bee hanged vp: as were also the armes of all the noble Christians that serued in that most famous expedition, which there long time after remained. Which solemnities ended, he went to his pallace in the castle, and there hauing giuen vnto euerie man, but especially vnto Huniades, his due commendation, gaue them leaue to depart. Thus the Hungarians, with whom also the Polonians in most part agree, report of this notable expedition of their king Vladislaus: howbeit the Turks (notable dissemblers of their own losses) confessing the great ouerthrow, call the Bassa so ouerthrowne not by the name of Carambey, but of Cassanes; and the noble prisoner that was taken, by the name of Mechmet Beg, Sanzacke of ANCYRA Amurath his son in law, and brother to Cali-Bassa Amurath his great councellour, of some called Carambey after the name of his father.

Out of this late slaughter of the Turkes, wherein Carambey was taken, escaped that valiant prince and famous warriour George Castriot (of the Turks called Scanderbeg) as is before declared: whose noble mind had long time desired to breake out of the golden fetters of the Turkish thraldome, and to be reuenged of the intollerable injuries by Amurath done to his countrey, his parents, his brethren, and himselfe. Although hee had alwaies most warily dissembled the same, for feare of the old tirant:Scanderbeg wisely dissembleth his desire for the deliuerse of himselfe and his countrey. being often times solicited and animated therevnto by secret letters and messengers from his friends in EPIRVS, knowing right well that the least ouerture thereof, had been vnto him present death. But finding no fit meanes for the accomplishing thereof, wisely dissembled the same, with all the shewes of loue and loyaltie vnto Amurath that might be: vntill that now in this great ouerthrow of the Turks armie, vnder the leading of Carambey, and in so great a confusion, he tooke occasion to put in practise what he had long before in his deepe conceit plotted, for the deliuerie both of himselfe and his countrey from the Turkish bondage and slauerie. At which time Scanderbeg (for so from henceforth we will call him) hauing a little before imparted the matter vnto some of his trustie friends and countrey men, no lesse desirous of libertie than himselfe, but especially vnto his nephew Amesa, the sonne of his brother Reposius, a young man of great courage (in that great confusion of the Turkish armie, when euerie man was glad to shift for himselfe) had euer in his flight a vigilant eie vpon the Bassaes principall secretarie▪ whom accompanied with a few Turks, he with his nephew Amesa, and other of his faithfull friends closely followed, as he fled from the slaughter: but when he had got the secretarie with his few followers in place most conuenient for his purpose, he set vpon the Turks and slew them euerie one: and carying the secretarie away with him fast bound, when hee had brought him whether he thought good, with great threats compelled him (sore against his will) to write counterfait letters, as from the Bassa his maister, vnto the gouernour of CROIA, commanding him in Amuraths name, Forthwith to deliuer vnto Scanderbeg, the new chosē Gouernor, the charge of the citie with the garrison there: cunningly enterlacing many other things in the same letters, wherby the matter might seeme more probable. Which letters so extorted, he presently slew the Secretary, & as many more of the Turks as came in his way, of purpose that his doings might be the longer kept from knowledg of Amurath, who not hearing what was become of him, might reasonably conjecture that he was slaine by the Hungarians amongst the rest of the Turks.

Whilest the fame of this great ouerthrow is going to HADRIANOPLE, and there filleth the Turks court with sorrow and heauinesse, in the meane time Scanderbeg hauing with him three thousand Epirot souldiours which followed him out of the battaile, as men desirous rather [Page] to fight for the libertie of themselues and of their countrey, than in the quarrell of the Turk [...], was with incredible celeritie come into the vpper country of DI [...]RA, in the borders of EPIRUS, about seauenty miles from CROIA: into which countrey he was most joyfully receiued, where he staied but one daie, and chose a few of those three hundreth which he brought with him, to wait vpon him when he went to CROIA, as if they had been his domesticall seruants: the rest, with other three hundreth lustie souldiours, which were then come vnto him out of DIBRA, he appointed to be led by secret by-waies through the woods and mountaines by perfect guides, vntill they came so nigh CROIA as was possible for them to come, vnperceiued; and there to s [...]aie vntill he might find oportunitie to conuaie them into the citie to oppresse the Turkish garrison▪ So hee with a small companie of his followers, as if they had been his priuat retinew, tooke the way towards CROIA. But when he began to draw neere to the citie, he sent Amesa before with two seruitours attending vpon him, as if he had been his Secretarie, to certifie the Gouernour of his comming. This young gentleman, as he was of a most sharpe wit, and well spoken, so had be framed his countenance and attire, that he seemed to be a naturall Turke: who assoone as he was come into the citie, he went vnto the gouernor, whom after he had saluted according to the Turkish manner, hee deliuered his message as from Scanderbeg his maister, with so good grace and words so well placed, that all he said was verily beleeued for truth. But when Scanderbeg himself came, and had deliuered the great commaunders letters, the Gouernour made no further question of the matter, but presently deliuered vnto him the gouernment of the citie, and the next day departed out of CROIA with all his houshould towards HADRIANOPLE. Scanderbeg hauing by this pollicie got the gouernment of the cheefe citie of EPIRVS, the night following found meanes in the dead time of the night, to receiue into the citie the souldiors of DIBRA, who were by this time come according as he had before appointed: most part of them hee placed in most conuenient places of the citie, and for the speedie suppression of the Turkish garrison, hee with the rest first set vpon the Turkes which kept the watch vpon the wall and slue them; and afterwards breaking into their priuate houses, slew many of them in their beds: the Christian citizens also taking vp armes at the same time, helped to increase the slaughter of the Turks, so that in the space of a few houres, there was none of the Turkish garrison left aliue, except some few which were content to forsake their Mahometan superstition, and to become Christians. Many of the Turks might so haue saued their liues, and would not, choosing rather to die, and (as it is reported) also to kill themselues, than to forsake their damnable superstition: so small is the regard of life vnto resolute mindes, in what quarrell soeuer.

The citie of CROIA being thus happily by Scanderbeg recouered, wherein appeared both the greatest difficultie, and hope of his good or bad successe in so great an attempt; he presently sent Amesa backe again into DIBRA, and other speedie messengers likewise into all the parts of EPIRVS, to dispierce the newes, and to stirre vp the people to take vp armes for the recouerie of their lost libertie: but flying Fame, the speedie post, had preuented the messengers by him sent, and alreadie filled euerie corner of EPIRVS with report of Scanderbeg his comming, and of all that was done at CROIA. And the oppressed Epirots which had long wished to see that happie daie, were now vp in armes in euerie place, wanting nothing but leaders; whose comming although they greatly desired, yet they stayed not therevpon, but running together by heapes (as the m [...] ner of the common people is in all great tumults) they set vpon the Turkes garrisons which lay abroad in the countrey, and slew most part of them▪ whereby it came to passe, that no Turke could stirre in the countrey, but that he was snatched vp and slaine, so that in few daies there was not a Turke to be found in EPIRVS, but such as lay in garrisons in strong townes. In this [...] of the people, the Gouernour of CROIA, with all his re [...]nue, was by the countrie people by the way as he went set vpon and slaine, and all his goods taken as a prey.

When Scanderbeg had thus recouered CROIA, and scoured the countrey; yet to remooue the garrisons which Amurath had put in euerie strong citie, was thought to be a matter of great importance, and more difficultie. For which purpose he commaunded those whom he had appointed for captaines, speedily to repaire vnto CROIA with all the power they could make. [...] which time also, diuers noble men his nigh kinsmen, resorted vnto him with their followers▪ so that within a few daies,Scanderbeg commeth with his arm [...] to Petrel [...]a. he had together at CROIA twelue thousand souldiours well appointed▪ With this armie he marched from CROIA to PETRELLA, a strong citie 25 miles distant from CROIA, and encamped before it. This citie is strongly scituate vpon the top of a steepe roc [...]e [Page] mountaine, as all the rest of the cities of EPIRUS be, and was by the Turks well furnished with men, munition, and others things needfull: yet Scanderbeg was in good hope, that the Turkish garison there, terrified with the fortune of the garrison of CROIA, and the slaughter of the Turks in the countrey round about, would be glad to hearken vnto reasonable conditions. Which to make proofe of, as soone as he was encamped, he sent one of those souldiours which had followed him out of HUNGARIE (a faithfull and wise fellow) vnto PETRELLA, to offer vnto the souldiors, That if they would yeeld vp the citie, it should be at their choice, either to continue in seruice with Scanderbeg, with whom they should find most bountifull entertainement; or else to depart in safetie with bagge and baggage at their pleasure, with an honourable reward to bee diuided amongst them. The subtile messenger comming thether, and framing his tale according to the present occasion, and necessitie of the time; first declared vnto them, how that Amurath of late vanquished by the Hungarians in a great battaile, and looking euerie day to bee set vpon by diuers other Christian princes, was so busied that he had no leasure to looke into EPIRVS, or to send them any releefe: after that, he in the name of Scanderbeg, offered them the conditions before rehearsed, setting the same forth with many great words; willing them oftentimes by the way to consider the dreadfull miserie that but the other day befell to the garrison at CROIA, and other their fellowes abroad in the countrey, whose dead bodies as then lay in euerie corner of EPIRVS for a prey to the hungrie dogs and greedie wolues: which thing was easily beleeued of them of the garrison, for that diuers of the Turks lately fled out of the countrey into the citie, had themselues seene the same to be true. The Gouernour hauing a little considered of the matter, was content to giue vp the citie, vpon condition that he with the souldiours might in safetie depart with such things as they had: not couenanting vpon any further reward, because it should not be said that he had sould the citie. Which when Scanderbeg had faithfully promised to performe, the Turkish Gouernour comming forth with all his garrison,Petrella yeelded vnto Scanderbeg. yeelded vp the citie: and Scanderbeg mindfull of his promise, gaue vnto them both meat and money, and sent them with a sufficient conuoy of horsemen in safetie out of EPIRVS.

When Scanderbeg had thus gained PETRELLA, he placed therein a conuenient garrison, and set all things in order as he thought good: but suffered none to enter into the citie, more than the appointed garrison, although it was then verie cold and frostie weather. This done, he presently raised his campe, and following his good fortune, marched towards PETRA-ALBA in such hast, as if the citie had been running away from him; well knowing, that though Time be euer more pretious, yet neuer more than in martiall affaires, wherein the least moment is often times of such power as to effect or frustrate mens greatest designes. PETRA-ALBA is a citie in the country of AEMATHIA distant from PETRELLA thirtie miles, strongly scituat vpon the top of a mountain, neere vnto the riuer AEMATHVS. Scanderbeg had scarcely well encamped himselfe before this citie, but that the Gouernour thereof, terrified with the fortune of CROIA, and PETRELLA, offered to deliuer vp the citie,Petra-Alba yeelded. vpon the same conditions that were graunted at PETRELLA: which being agreed vpon, the citie was forthwith deliuered, and the conditions by Scanderbeg faithfully performed.

PETRA-ALBA being thus taken, & all things set in order▪ Scanderbeg caried with the course of his victorie, without delay came to STELLVSA, which is also a strong citie of AEMATHIA, fiftie miles distant from CROIA, pleasantly (as it were of purpose) built vpon the top of an high hill, standing in the middest of a pleasant and fruitfull vallie, with great plaines round about it. There Scanderbeg encamped a little before the going downe of the sunne, and rested that night. In the morning he sent a messenger to the cittie,Stellusa yeelded by the garrison. with like conditions as were accepted at PETRELLA and PETRA-ALBA: which most part of the garrison souldiours of the Turks would gladly haue accepted, but that Desdrot the Gouernour of the citie, with some few others, earnestly withstood the rest; wherevpon a great contention arose amongst the garrison souldiours. But the greater part desirous to yeeld vp the citie, when they could by no meanes persuade the Gouernour and those few which tooke his part, to yeeld to their desires; they violently set vpon him, and deliuered him with the rest to Scanderbeg, fast bound, and so yeelded vp the citie. For which fact, fearing to returne to Amurath, some of them remained with Scanderbeg, and afterwardes became Christians: the rest were either honestly prouided for, or else well rewarded and suffered to depart whether they would. All the other weaker places of EPIRVS wherein any of the Turkish garrisons lay, hearing that the strongest cities were alreadie deliuered vnto Scanderbeg, in short [Page] time yeelded themselues vpon like conditions: onely S [...]ETIGRADE (otherwise called the holy citie) remained in the possession of the Turks: which citie is placed in the vpper country of DIBRA, in the frontiers of EPIRVS, vpon the top of an high & steep hill, as if it were an Eagles neast. Vnto this citie came Scanderbeg with all his armie: and hauing placed his tents, hee began first to assay if he could gaine it by composition, as he had done the rest: and the rather to moue them by the examples of others, he caused his embassadours to declare vnto them all that had happened at CROIA, PETRELLA, PETRA-ALBA, and STELLVSA, especially how he had vsed the garrison of STELLVSA which yeelded vnto him, with all bountie and courtesie; and how that on the contrarie part he had the gouernour in bands with all his wilfull partakers, whome they should presently see executed before their faces, if they forthwith deliuered not the citie. This message troubled the minds of all the garrison, but especially of the gouernour, seeing before his ei [...]s in the wofull example of another man, what might by and by happen vnto himselfe. Wherfore fearing to deliuer his owne opinion and to giue answere vnto the embassadour, for offending the inconstant multitude and vnknowne minds of the people, he first entertained the embassadours honourably, and afterwards turning himselfe vnto the citizens and souldiours, said vnto them: Worthie men and most faithfull souldiors, what is your pleasure, or what shall we answere to these [...] enemies demaunds? Then one of the souldiors that stood by (a rough bold spirited fellow) vnwilling for his owne part to giue vp the citie, and deeming the gouernour to be of the same mind, in that he had tearmed them worthie and faithfull, and Scanderbeg by the name of an enemie, drawing out his sword, and with his right hand shaking it on high, answered: ‘A notable speech of a common soldior to the rest of his f [...]llowes for the holding out of the citie against Scanderbeg.Most valiant Gouernour, this same and the like, shall make answere for vs. Nothing was to lesse purpose, than with premeditated words to seeke to terrifie valiant minds, first with the diuerse fortune of CROIA, and then of STELLVSA; for as the faces and countenances of men are diuers, so also are their minds and dispositions. Euery man wisely directeth his owne actions, according to his owne proper humour, and by the same plaies the foole or bedlam. We prescribe no laws to them of PETRELLA, nor to them of STELLVSA, neither let them prescribe any vnto vs. Let neuer so base examples of cowardly slaues euer enter into the thoughts of courageous men: braue minds disdaine to imitate other men in their honest actions, much lesse in their cowardise. And why? for euery man liueth after his owne fashion. Wherefore let Scanderbeg proceed, let him kill the gouernour of STELLVSA before our faces, let him sacrifice our fellow souldiors, doe you therefore thinke that we shall die in their bodies? shall our liuing spirits be there extinguished? shall our blood there be spilt? But ô happie bodies, [...] ghosts of me euer to be reuerenced, which in worthie defence of your libertie and faith haue indifferently contemned gold, siluer, death, and torture, and whatsoeuer els miserable worldlings hold deere [...] dismall! Wherefore carrie thou backe againe vnto thy master this answere from a common souldior, [...]f he seeke to impose these conditions vpon vs, let him once more bare that arme of his, which men of co [...] rage feare not so much as he thinketh. He may peraduenture inforce vs to these conditions of his, if God forsake vs: but assuredly, persuade vs vnto them, shall he neuer. And yet for all that, your master Scanderbeg is not the man we haue long since heard him reported to be, of an honourable mind, easie to forgiue, and such a one as will indifferently judge betwixt the enemie and himselfe: for why then do [...]th he hold in bonds the gouernour of STELLVSA, for that he freely, justly, and honorably stood in defenc [...] of his king, his faith, and libertie? Why doth he threaten him with death, whereas he hath not deserue [...] the same, although he hath resolutely offered himselfe thereunto, for defence of his libertie?’

All they which were present, listened with great attention to the soldiors speech, neither was he interrupted by any, vntill he had said what he would. Thē the soldiors thronging about him, and beating their swords & targets together, withall gaue a great shout, in token that they all approued his speech for answer. So the gouernor, encouraged with the cheerefulnes of his soldiors, returned the embassador without other answer than that of the common soldiors, and presently appointed euery man to his charge, and with great carefulnesse ordred all things for the better defence of the citie. But whē Scanderbeg had heard the answere that was sent him from the citie, deliuered by the mouth of a cōmon soldior,Scanderbeg his short answere to the souldiors speech. he smiled thereat & said: He is vndoubtedly a valiant soldior: if his deeds be answerable to his speeches: but if my force faile me not, I will also make him happy amongst the happy ghosts of thē of STELLVSA: and by & by commanded the gouernor of STELLVSA, with the other captiues to be brought before him, & there caused some of thē which were content voluntarily to [Page] forsake their Mahometane superstition,Desdrot gouernour of Stellusa, executed. to be presently baptized, to the great greefe of the other Turks. Desdrot the Gouernour, with the rest, to the terrour of the defendants, were in their sight put to death: whereupon the garrison souldiors with great indignation gaue a great shout from the wall, and bitterly rayled vpon the Christians.

Scanderbeg considering the strength of the citie, with the time of the yeare, vnfit for souldiors to keepe the field, for Winter was now growne on; left Moses Golemus, a most valiant captaine, with a garrison of three thousand souldiors, to keepe in the Turkes garrison at SFETIGRADE, and to defend the borders of EPIRVS, vntill he might at more conuenient time himselfe returne againe to the siege: and so with the rest of his armie repaired to CROIA, when hee had in the space of little more than one moneth, to his immortall praise, recouered his kingdome, and driuen the Turks out of euery corner of EPIRVS, excepting onely SFETIGRADE: which citie also not long after was by composition deliuered vnto him. During all this time, from his first comming into EPIRVS, he neuer slept aboue two houres in a night, but with restlesse labour prosecuted his affaires. He euer fought against the Turkes with his arme bare, and that with such fiercenesse, that the blood did oftentimes burst out of his lips. It is written, that he with his owne hand slew three thousand Turkes in the time of his warres against them. But of his great and worthie victories obtained against the two mightie Turkish kings, Amurath, and Mahomet his sonne, more shall be said hereafter in due time and place.

After that Scanderbeg had thus by great force and pollicie wrung his inheritance out of Amuraths hands,Macedonia spot [...]ed by Scanderbeg. and sco [...]red the Turks out of euery corner of EPIRVS; he proceeded further, and ouerran part of MACEDONIA, making sundrie incursions into the heart of that countrey, being then in the Turks possession, whereby he so enriched his souldiours, that they desired of him no better pay. Which was so vsuall a thing with this restlesse prince, as that it began to grow into a prouerbe in most princes courts, That the spoile of Amurath his dominions, was Scanderbegs reuenewes. Complaint hereof came daily to Amuraths court, which the craftie aged sire (being then troubled with the Hungarian warres) seemed at the first to make no great account of, but as of that hee could easily and at his pleasure remedie; although hee was therewith inwardly greeued at the heart. But when the certaine report of one mischeefe as it were in the necke of another, continually sounded in his eares, and that he saw no end to be expected of these miseries; he sent Alis Bassa, Alis Bassa with an armie of forty thousand sent against Scanderbeg. one of his greatest men of warre, with an armie of fortie thousand select souldiors, at once to subdue the countrey of EPIRVS, and to bring it againe vnder his obeisance. The setting forth of this great armie, vnder the conduct of so famous a captain, replenished the minds of the Turks with such an assured hope of victorie, that a man would haue thought Scanderbeg had been alreadie taken, and now brought to execution: yea the common souldiors before their setting forth, were oftentimes at vaine contention for the diuision of the spoile they were neuer like to haue: So readie are men to promise wonders to themselues, whilest they conferre but with their owne desires. And on the other side, Fame, the forerunner of great attempts, had filled all the small countrey of EPIRVS, with great terrour and feare of Alis Bassaes comming. The countreymen with their families fled into the strong citties, and the cittizens within their wals fell to fortifying the same, and kept continuall watch and ward, as if the enemie had then [...]lien euen fast by them: [...]he aged men and women commended themselues and all theirs first vnto God by prayers, and then to the courage of the lustie souldiors with teares, as in case of extreame perill and danger. Onely Scanderbeg was nothing mooued either with the terrible report of the Bassaes comming, or the vaine feare of his subjects; but alwayes kept the same cheerefulnesse both of countenance and speech, as he was wont, being well acquainted with the tumult of the Turkish wars, and hauing (as was supposed) certaine intelligence before from his secret friends in the Turkes court, of all Amuraths designes. So that hauing set all things in order for the safetie of his countrey, he began to leuie an armie at CROIA: at which time most part of his subjects of EPIRVS, which were able to beare armes, repaired vnto him: the confederate Christian princes also, his neighbours, and for most part his kinsmen, sent vnto him great supplies: beside other deuou [...] and warlike minded Christians, which voluntarily resorted vnto him from farre in great numbers. Out of which multitude of people he chose only eight thousand horsemen and seuen thousand foot, when as he might haue raised a far greater armie: and placing some few in garrisons in the frontier cities where he thought most conuenient, all the rest he sent home againe to their dwellings. At which his confidencie, his friends, yea and his enemies also much maruelled, that when hee [Page] might haue had so many, he would take the field with so few. With which small armie of f [...] teene thousand, he marched from CROIA, fourescore miles to DYBRA: where hearing by his espials, of the approch of his enemies, after he had with cheerefull speech encouraged his soul [...] ors, he encamped with his armie in the lower countrey of DYBRA, neere vnto a wood side, righ [...] in the way where the Bassa must needs passe. In which wood, he placed Gnee Musachee, and Amesa in ambush with three thousand men: commanding them to stand close, vntill they saw [...] had throughly joyned battaile with the Bassa, and then with all their force to breake forth vpon his rereward. The Bassa marching forward, came and encamped neere vnto Scanderbeg; a little before the going downe of the Sunne, and there rested that night, making great shew of mir [...] and joy, with great fires in euerie corner of the campe, as the Turkish manner of encamping is. Wheras in Scanderbegs campe, all things were silent, and no shew of any fire at all; for so Scanderbeg had commanded: which made the Turks the more carelesse, deeming thereby the Christians as good as alreadie discouraged. The next morning Scanderbeg ranged his armie in order of battaile, placing Tanusius in the left wing, with fifteen hundreth horsemen, and as many foot; and Moses in the right with like number: and leading the maine battell himselfe: The reareward was committed to Vranacontes, a man renowned in those daies, both for hi [...] [...]rauitie in counsell, and for his valour in armes, fit to command or be commanded; but afterwards, amongst the rest most famous, for the worthie defending of CROIA against Amurath, being then there himselfe in person. Alis Bassa contemning the small number of Scanderbeg his armi [...] seeing nothing therin to be feared more than the good order thereof, gaue the first charge [...]ith a small troupe of horsemen: who at the first encounter retired, as if they had fled, of purpose that the Christians hastily pursuing their vntimely hope,The battell betwixt Alis Bassa and Scanderbeg. might disorder their battaile, and so giue occasion to their owne ouerthrow. But by the commaundement of Scanderbeg (who easily perceiued the Bassaes meaning) their dangerous forwardnesse was warily waied, and all with safetie kept in good order. So both armies comming on, the wings beganne the battaile a fresh, and Scanderbeg with great courage bringing on his maine battell in the face of the Bassa, valiantly charged him. But by that time that the battailes were throughly joyned, Musachee and Amesa suddenly issued out of the wood, and fiercely set vpon the rereward of the Turkes armie, where they made great slaughter, and forced many of the Turkes for feare to flie. Thus was the Bassaes great armie driuen to fight both before and behind, being hardly beset and laied vnto with a small number. The Bassa had placed his best souldiours neerest vnto himselfe in the maine battaile, as his most assured strength and last refuge: these valiant men stood fast, and renewed the battaile, before almost lost. And here Scanderbegs fortune was euen at a stand: vntill that the well aduised and valiant captaine Vranacontes hauing receiued the wearied souldiors into the rereward, and setting all things there in safetie, accompanied with certaine troupes of fresh souldiors which he brought out of the rereward, brake through the Bassaes armie with such slaughter of the Turks, that hee made way for Scanderbeg and all the rest of his armie.A great slaughter of the Turks. The Turks discomfited with the inuincible courage of these old souldiours, and the slaughter of their fellowes, which lay by heapes wallowing in their owne blood, betooke themselues to flight; whom the Christians fiercely pursued, and slew of them two and twentie thousand: at which time were also two thousand others taken prisoners with foure and twentie of the Turks ensignes: whereas of the Christians were slaine not past [...] hundreth and twentie. The enemies tents with all their cariages, were at the same time taken also▪ After this great victorie, when Scanderbeg had made all his seauen thousand footmen, horsemen, by giuing vnto them the horses of the slaine Turks, he brake into the enemies countrey, and entred farre into MACEDONIA, where he filled the desires of his souldiours with the wealth and spoile thereof, sparing nothing that fire and sword could deuoure: and so with victorie returned to CROIA, where he was of his subjects joyfully receiued. Alis Bassa with the remainder of his discomfited armie, returned to HADRIANOPLE, and there by Amurath was hardly charged of cowardise, and want of discretion, for that he had lost so puissant an armie to so weake an enemie. Wherof when he had cleared himselfe by the modest rehearsall of his former victories, and the testimonie of all the other captaines present with him in that battaile, he was pardoned, and so againe receiued into fauour, and that great ouerthrow imputed to the chance of warre.

Amurath in disp [...]e. Amurath hauing reciued two so great ouerthrowes, first from Huniades and the Hungarians, and now from Scanderbeg; and seeing himselfe elsewhere beset with so many mischiefes, as that he could not tell which way to turne himselfe; tormented with dispaire, and desire of reuenge, [Page] whereof hee saw small possibilitie, fell into such a melancholie passion, that ouercome with the darke conceits thereof,Amurath by th [...] persuasion of Cali Bassa seeketh for peace of king Vladislaus. he was about to haue become the bloodie executioner of himselfe, had not Cali Bassa by his graue aduice comforted vp his dying spirits: by whose persuasion, contrarie to his haughtie nature, he yeelded by his embassadors sent for the same purpose, to desire peace of Vladislaus king of HVNGARIE, vsing the exiled Despot of SERVIA (his father in [...], then present with the king) as a meane therein. Who at the first gaue small credite vnto the embassadours, or vnto such things as they told him, vntill that at length better persuaded of the true meaning of the Turke, he so wrought the matter both with the king and the rest of the nobilitie, and especially with Huniades, The capitulat [...] ons of the ten yeares peace concluded betwixt Vladislaus and Amurath. that there was an honourable peace concluded. The capitulations wherof were, first, That Amurath withdrawing all his forces and garrisons, should clearly depart out of SERVIA, and restore the same vnto the possession of George the Despot, the right lord and owner thereof; deliuering also freely vnto him his two sonnes, Stephen and George, who bereft of their sight, he had long time kept in straight prison. Also, that from thenceforth he should make no claime vnto the kingdome of MOLDAVIA, nor to that part of BVLGARIA which he had in the last wars lost. And finally, that he should not inuade or molest the Hungarians, or any part of their kingd [...]me, during the whole time of that peace: and to pay 40000 duckats for the ransome of Carambey. Vnto which hard conditions, when the Turkish tyrant full sore against his will had condiscended, a peace for ten yeares was forthwith on both parts concluded, and the same by solemne oat [...] confirmed: king Vladislaus taking his oath vpon the holy Euangelists, and Amurath (by his embassadors) vpon their Turkish Alcoran. This was the most honorable peace that eu [...]r Christian prince had before that time made with any of the Turkish kings, and most profitable also, had it been with like sinceritie kept, as it was with solemnitie confirmed.

Amurath with this peace deliuered of his greatest feare,Amurath inu [...] deth Caramania. conuerted all his forces against the Caramanian king, in reuenge of the injuries by him done, whilst he was occupied in the Hungarian warres. This king of CARAMANIA knowing himselfe vnable to withstand so great an enemie, durst neither meet him in the field, nor trust himselfe to the strength of any his cities or strong castles, but fled into the mountaines, there fortifying himselfe more surely [...] in any other his strong holds. Amurath entring into CARAMANIA, made great spoile in the country as he went, and tooke great booties. At last comming to ICONIVM, he laid hard siege to the same. The poor king seeing his kingdome spoiled, and his cheefe citie in danger to be lost, sent embassadours, and with them his wife also, which was Amuraths sister, to intreat for peace; offering to pay vnto him yearely the double tribute which hee before paied, and for the performance thereof to giue his sonne in hostage. Vpon which conditions Amurath graunted him peace, and so returned. In this warre, Aladin, Amuraths eldest sonne, died, to the great greefe of his aged father, being slain with a fall from his horse, as he was hawking.

Old Amurath throughly wearied with continuall warres, and other troubles incident vnto restlesse roomes, resolued now to retire himselfe to a more priuat and qui [...] kind of life: and therfore sent for his sonne Mahomet, being then but fifteene yeares old, to whom hee voluntarily resigned his kingdome, appointing Caly Bassa his tutor, with one Chosroe, a learned doctor of their [...], to be his trustie counsellors and cheefe directers. And so taking with him Hamze-Beg, one [...] noblemen in whom he tooke greatest pleasure, departed to MAGNESIA, and there as a man wearie of the world, gaue himselfe to a solitarie and monasticall kind of life, in the companie of certaine religious Turkish monks, as they accounted of them.

Many great kings and princes, as well Mahometanes as Christians, glad before of the Hungarian victorie, were now no lesse sorrie to heare of the late concluded peace betwixt king Vladislaus and the old Sultan Amurath: as being of opinion, That the prosecution of that warre so happily begun, would haue beene the vtter ruine and destruction of the Turkish kingdome. Wherefore they sought by all possible meanes to induce the young king Vladislaus to breake the league he had so lately and so solemnely made with the Turke: especially Iohn Palaeologius the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, did by letters importune the king to remember the confederation he had made with the other Christian princes, for the maintenance of the wars against the common enemie of Christianitie: which princes were now prest and readie (as he said) to assist him with their promised aid: adding moreouer, That whereas Amurath had diuerse times sought to joyne with him in amitie and friendship, hee had vtterly rejected that offer of peace, preferring the vniuersall profit (like to ensue to all Christendome by that religious warre) befo [...] [...] owne proper securitie and profit, being for his part in readinesse to joyne his forces [Page] with the kings, if he would presently enter into armes: which he could neuer doe in better time than now, whilest Amurath, terrified with his late ouerthrow, and still beset with doubtfull wa [...], had drawne his greatest forces out of EVROPE into ASIA, in such disordered hast, as that [...] should seeme he rather fled for feare of his enemies in EVROPE, than marched to encounter hi [...] enemies in ASIA, and now being wearie of all, had betaken himselfe vnto a priuat kind of [...] To conclude, he requested the king not to leaue him and the other Christian princes of small p [...]wer, as a prey vnto the Turke, who would assuredly with all hostilitie inuade them, so soone [...] he thought himselfe safe from the danger of the Hungarians. At the same time also, and vpon the departure of the Turkes embassadours, for the performance of such things as they had promised; letters came from Francis the Cardinall of FLORENCE, Generall of the Christian fleet, declaring how that Amurath hauing left almost none in EVROPE, was with all the power hee could make, gone ouer into ASIA against the Caramanian king, leauing a most faire occasion for the Christians easily to recouer whatsoeuer they had before lost in EVROPE: and that hee was in good time come with his fleet vnto the straits of HELLESPONTVS, according vnto promise, and there lay readie to embarre the Turks passage backe againe out of ASIA. Both these letters being read in the Counsell, so much mooued the king, with all the re [...] of the nobilitie of HVNGARIE there present, as that they were neuer more sorrie or ashamed for any thing they had done in their liues, than for the league so lately with Amurath concluded: for why, they saw that all the plot they had laied, for their immortall glorie, was now by this [...]astie peace that they had made with the Turke, without the good liking or knowledge of their confederats, brought to nought; and that they had thereby most shamefully deceiued the generall expectation tha [...] the Christian commonweale had conceiued of them; and that they, of long time called the protectors of the Christian faith, the defendours of true religion, the reuengers of Christ his name, and deliuerers of the faithfull nations; should now be accounted the breakers of the Christian league, men forgetfull of their confederation both with the Latines and the Greeks, contemne [...]s of immortalitie, and louers of their owne profit onely. In this doubtfulnesse of minds whilst they stood yet thus [...], Iulian the Cardinall and L [...]gat, alwaies an enemie vnto the peace, and by reason of his place a man in greatest authoritie next vnto the king, tooke occasion to dissuade the same as follo [...]eth.

The [...]unning speech wherwith Iulian the Cardinal per [...]adeth [...] Vladislaus to breake the leagu [...] [...]e had before made with Amurath.

If any of you right worthie (said hee) shall happily maruell, that I should speake of breaking the league, and violating our faith, let him first vnderstand, That I at this present am to persuade you to nothing els, but the faithfull obseruing both of the one and the other: led with like repentance with you, repentance I say, and not sorrow, when as I, as from a watch-tower foreseeing all these things which were decreed against my will, to sort also contrarie to your expectation, am now for the dutie of my legation, and the Zeale vnto the Christian religion, enforced with you to doubt: and so much the rather, for that at this present [...] question is of the losse and hazard of all our honours and credit in common: which except we by common consent, and wonted valour, endeuour to amend; ô how much it is to be feared, least for shame neither may you goe out of HVNGARIE, or I returne to ROME, where all things are with most deepe judgement censured. Consider I pray you into what miseries this hastie resolu [...] hath cast vs. We haue entred into league with the Turke, an infidell, to violate our faith with the [...], and to breake the holy league before made with the great bishop, and the other Christian prin [...]s our confederats. And that for what, for what profit I say? Forsooth, that so we might againe reco [...] SERVIA, long before destroied. Verily a small and wofull profit, which may againe in short time be [...] off, and depriueth vs of others farre greater, and of much longer continuance. For what can bee more fond or inconsiderat, than in our consultations to haue regard to our priuat profit only, and not the publicke, without respect of religion, honestie, or conscience? It is not demaunded of you at this present (right honorable) what you owe vnto the periured Turke: but you are by me Iulian, the great bishops and the confederat Christian princes Legat, and Agent, before the tribunall seat of your owne consciences, accused of breach of faith, breach of league, and breach of promise; and thereof euen by your owne judgement, rather than by the iudgement of God, or other man, I will condemne you. Answere me you noble Worthies: After you had happily six moneths made warres against the Turkes in BVLGARIA and the borders of THRACIA, and after that, triumphantly returning into HVNGARIE, receiued you not honourable embassages from almost all ITALIE, and from the gre [...] emperour, with common rejoycing for your so glorious a victorie, and exhortations▪ to conti [...] [Page] the war? We receiued them. Did not you in my presence, and I the author therof, willingly make a most holie league with the Italians and Greeks, That the one should with their aid and power meet you out of THRACIA; and the other with a great fleet should come into the HELLESPONTVS? We made it. If you made it, why breaking this, made you another with the Turks? or by what right can you keep the same, being made? Wherefore, if the last yeare you made a league with the great Bishop (God his vicar [...] on earth) if you be men, if you be in your wits, if you be Christians, this second league is to be broken, least you should violate the first, and that a most Christian league: which except you doe, I feare least that as Iudas betraied Christ, so you may seeme to betraie his vicar; or that God, whom hetherto you haue alwaies found present, propitious, and fauourable, you shall hereafter find him angrie, and an enemie to your proceedings. And now I pray you tell me, what will you answere vnto the Constantinopolitan emperour; who according to your appointment, hath now with the first taken the field, and in so great an oportunitie expecteth but your comming? what will you answere the great Bishop? what the Venetians and Genowaies, who haue their great fleet readie as was appointed? what the Burgundians, who for their zeale vnto the Christian faith & religion, haue long since passed the Ocean, and so by many dangers of the sea now flote in the HELLESPONT? Deuise (I praie you) if you can, some excuse and colour, that we may not seeme altogether vnlike our selues: if out of your hidden skill you can coine any thing, shew it. You promised with the first of the Spring, that you would be in the field: and now your souldiors both the Spring and Summer, play, so great and so wholsome occasion passing away, through your wofull slouth and negligence. O the great blindnesse of mens minds! O grosse cowardise! O detestable league, made to the destruction of the common weale! Some man happily will blame mee, and aske, why I suffered it with the rest? I was present I confesse: but as much as in mee was, I intreated it might not be. I disliked it: and as many of you here present can testifie, I vtterly condemned it. I was ouercome by the wisedome and authoritie of Huniades, and the compassion of the Despot, least vnhappie man, he should by my intercession seeme longer to want his kingdome and children: and least any man should call me a contemner or impugner of your good, I fall of sorrow, and vnwillingly, gaue way; not ignorant the health of the Christian common weale to be therin weakened, the hope of your immortall glorie extinguished, and vs all (by your leaue may I say it) accounted breakers both of diuine and humane leagues, forsworne men, and traitors vnto all good Christians. Wherefore except before the report of our perfidiousnesse be further bruted, we deliuer our selues from this infamie, nothing can be greater or more miserable than our shame or villanie: if we will so do, we may not so easily, as justly and religiously do it. Hauing made restitution againe of SERVIA and the captiues, what remaineth els for you to do noble worthies, but to repaire your armie, to prepare what so is needfull for war, & to keep your first league with the Christian princes? and to say, That king Vladislaus, after his league made with the Greeke and Latin princes, could not without the consent of those his confederats and allies, vnder whose good fortune that common war was vndertaken, conclude any thing, especially with the enemies of the Christian religion? And that therfore, if any thing were agreed vpon betwixt him and the Turk, it was frustrate, & the first league to be stood vpon. Who is so partiall an esteemer of mens actions, that would not easily judge, That in case Faith were giuen to both, it were rather to be kept with a Christian, than with a Turk; with a beleeuer, than with an infidell? Against a perfidious enemy it is lawfull (as they say) [...] man to vse all cunning, force, and deceit, deluding craft with craft, and fraud with fraud. By craft [...] Turke first passed ouer into EVROPE, by little and little he crept into that kingdome, he neuer kept [...] with any, he grew to this height rather by cunning than by strength: and are you become so blind, as to thinke it better to keepe your promise with the Turke, deuoid of all faith and humanitie, rather than with the faithfull Christians, and especially the most holy Bishop? All great things are done by deuice and policie: the Romanes our ancestors vprightly and religiously alwaies kept their leagues with their confederats, but deluded the deceitfull with their cunning. Caesar was of opinion, That for soueraigntie the law was sometimes to be broken. And Philip, the father and master of him that conquered ASIA, oftentimes vsed cunning and deceit for the desire of rule: yet were not these men called traitors. It is sometime lawfull for the commonweale sake, neither to stand to our leagues, neither to keepe our faith with them that be themselues faithlesse. Lawfull it is to breake vnlawfull oaths, and especially such as are thought to be against right, reason, and equitie. Was it lawfull for Diomedes, vowing for to sacrifice vnto the gods whomsoeuer he first met at his returne into his countrey, to kill his sonne by that his vow and oath? verely it was a great impietie. Wherefore a just and lawfull oath is in the judgement of all men to be religiously kept, but such an oath as tendeth not onely vnto priuat but publicke destruction, that ought to be vaine and frustrate. Wherefore before our faithlesse dealing be farther [Page] spread abroad, I beseech you worthie men, and thee especially most glorious king, not in any point to violate your faith, for the good of the Christian commonweale giuen vnto the most holy father and the other Christian princes. The league you haue made with the Greekes and the Latines, faithfully and religiously keepe; the expedition by common consent taken in hand by the example of your confederates, prosecute; the foundation of immortall glorie by you laid, build vpon. Deliuer the Christian prouinces oppressed with the Turkish seruitude, satisfie the hope conceiued of you, and deceiue not the expecta [...] the world hath now conceiued of you, than which, nothing can be more dishonourable: make no conscience of the league you haue made with the Infidell, but thinke it a great impietie and wickednesse to violate the holy league made with the great bishop, and the other Christian princes: thinking, that if you should doe otherwise, God (which he of his mercie forbid) would become of that your falsified faith a most seuere and sharpe reuenger: and that you can do nothing more acceptable vnto our Sauior Christ, or more glorious to your selues, than to deliuer the oppressed Christian countries from the cruell slauerie and bondage of the Turke. Suffer not this so fit an occasion to slip away▪ than which, a fitter can neuer be giuen. EVROPE is vnfurnished of the Turks, busied in the Caramanian war; their returne is embarred by the Christians fleet, now in the sea of HELLESPONTVS; you need but to goe see, and as it were to take a view of THRACIA, MACEDONIA, GRECIA, and EPIRVS, there is no enemie there left to oppose himselfe against you. Wherefore for God his cause, I request you aboue all things to continue the Christian league, and with your happie and victorious forces, to march forward into MACEDONIA and THRACIA, as is before by you with the other Christian princes your confederates, agreed.

Iulian the Cardinall absolueth king Vladislaus and the [...]ect from their oath before giuen to Amurath.In conclusion, hauing much spoken of the authoritie and power of the great bishop, he in his name disanulled the league whatsoeuer, by the king made with the Turke; and absolued him, with the rest whom it might concerne, from the oath they had giuen, and the promises they had made. Which so well contented both the king and the rest, that there was now no more question of the oath, or of the lawfulnesse of the warre, but a decree made for the continuation of the league with the other Christian princes their confederats (and for the prosecution of the warres against the Turks) as was with them before agreed: whom they could now say, they were not to forsake, and to leaue them as a prey vnto the Turke their greedie enemie; now for nothing more in danger, than for that, at their request they had taken vp armes in their quarrell. Vnto which vnfortunat decree, both the Despot and Huniades, the cheefe authors of the late peace betwixt the king and Amurath, easily consented: the Despot, induced with the great hope he had conceiued of the good successe of the war; and Huniades, with the desire of the kingdome of BVLGARIA promised vnto him by Vladislaus, and by faire charter also (as some said) assured vnto him.

Of this the kings resolution for the breach of the peace with the Turke, notice was with all speed giuen vnto the Constantinopolitane emperour, and Francis the Florentine Cardinall, then lying with a fleet of seuentie gallies at the straits of HELLESPONTVS; for feare least they hearing of the former concluded peace, should alter also or els quite desist from their former purposes. In the meane time whilest these things were yet in plotting, the Turke ignorant hereof according to his promise had withdrawne all his garrisons out of SERVIA, and other places befo [...] agreed vpon in the late concluded peace, restoring the same vnto the Despot, and others the la [...]full owners, although it was not done at the very prefixed day, at which it should haue been done▪ In which time also he set at libertie great numbers of captiues, & amongst the rest, the two blind sonnes of the prince of SERVIA; faithfully performing whatsoeuer he had before vpon his religion promised in the league with the Christians before concluded, so desirous hee was of peace with the Hungarians. Howbeit, Vladislaus by the counsell of Huniades, detained to his own vse certaine of the strong holds in SERVIA: for which cause, George the Despot euer afterwards bore a secret grudge against Huniades.

Now as king Vladislaus (hauing by the persuasion of Iulian the Cardinall, renounced the league betwixt him and Amurath) was preparing his forces, the same of the Epirot prince Scanderbeg was also (by the recouerie of his fathers kingdome of EPIRVS out of the Turkes hands, and by the late ouerthrow of Alis Bassa) growne great, euery man speaking of him honour and praise. Wherewith Vladislaus moued, and reasonably persuaded what a furtherance it would be vnto his haughtie designes (aiming at no lesse than the vtter ouerthrow of the Turks kingdome in EVROPE) if he might vnto his owne great preparations joine also the strength of that so fortunate [Page] a prince, by the consent of his nobilitie, with all speed dispatched away his embassadours with letters vnto him, certifying him of his honorable purpose, for the rooting out of the Turks, and in that common cause praying his aid against such a dangerous and dreadfull enemie: the purport whereof here followeth.

Vladislaus king of Hungarie and Polonia, vnto the noble Scanderbeg, prince of EPIRVS, greeting.

It may be that some good hap hath deferred this our late congratulation vntill this present,The letters of king Vladislaus to Scanderbeg. to the intent we might at this time, together with you, rejoyce in the double successe of your prosperitie: first, for the happie recouerie of your estate; and then, for that the same hath by your wisedome and valour beene of late so notably defended. Wherefore in this we rejoyce, not onely in your behalfe, but in the behalfe of all good Christians, that it hath pleased God of his goodnesse, by your valour to haue giuen so great an encrease and comfort vnto the Christian commonweale: for as much as amongst other our great euils, the losse of the Albanian people hath not beene to be accounted the least, at such time as Iohn Castriot, a worthie prince, your father, oppressed by Amurath and by the vngratefull destinies taken out of this world, had neither the meanes to leaue vnto you his kingdome and scepter (as vnto his sonne, then liuing in his enemies power) either was able yet otherwise to prouide for his affaires. And would to God this your father, most happie in such a sonne, might haue till now liued: whose felicitie had in that surmounted all others, if he might but haue seene you before his death. For as you seeme vnto me aboue all other princes in the world (without offence bee it said) most accomplished with all the good graces and perfections both of bodie and mind, so are you endowed also with a certaine diuine and wonderfull fortune: vnder the good conduct whereof, not onely the whole kingdome of EPIRVS may thinke it selfe in securitie; but all the rest of the other nations also, lately by the detestable fraud and violence of the Othoman kings dismembred from the realme of MACEDON, may also recouer the former beautie of their antient lawes and liberties. For (to say nothing of those things which euen from your childhood hauing continually made you enuied, haue heretofore purchased vnto you an immortall fame and glorie euen amongst the Barbarians themselues) what can be more glorious than this victorie, which (as wee haue heard and beleeue) you to your singular admiration, haue obtained by the ouerthrow and vtter discomfiture of Alis Bassa, with his so great and mightie apower? But now ô Scanderbeg (God so appointing it, who in his deepe and secret wisedome hath reserued you vnto these so dangerous times, for the publicke good and comfort of the Christian commonweale) there offers it selfe vnto you an object of farre greater glory, with a most faire and fit occasion for you to reuenge your selfe of all the wrongs and injuries both new and old, by Amurath the Turkish Sultan done, not in priuate to the person of your selfe onely, but vnto the whole state and kingdome of EPIRVS also; and not the domesticall and ciuile miseries of your own countrey onely, but the publicke calamities also, and those opprobrious disgraces done against the Christian faith and religion in generall, now oppressed (I will not say extinguished:) and that is, if you with your victorious forces will succour vs in this extremitie of our affaires, not yet altogether desperate. Hereunto doe all the princes of HVNGARIE and POLONIA, and all other men of courage inuite [...]ou, Iulian the Cardinall of S. Angell entreateth you, with all those deuout and courageous Christians, which long since here with vs, and readie in armes, wish for nothing more than the presence of your victorious ensignes. Which so faire an occasion (by God himselfe now offered) if you refuse not, will in all mens judgement bee a sure meane to vanquish and ouerthrow our common enemie the Turke, and to driue him quite out of EVROPE, wrongfully by him of so long time possessed. I neede not therefore (as I suppose) to vse any kind of persuasion vnto you in this cause and quarrell, the defence whereof doth purchase vnto vs health, light, and libertie: but being neglected, I feare and abhorre to forbode what may ensue thereof. Wee Christians haue beene too too slacke and backeward in helping one another: the flame hath now well neere consumed vs all, whilest no man thought it would haue come neere himselfe. What doe we see of the Greeke empire? what of the Bulgurians, and Seruians? yea mine owne losses and manifold calamities, alreadie, and yet also to bee endured, who is able to recount? The braue and most valiant princes, the surest bulwarkes and defences of the kingdome of HVNGARIE, from time to time lost; and the puissant armies with one and the same fatall chaunce of warre consumed and brought to nothing, who is able to reckon vp? Insomuch that there is no house, wise, or matrone, in all HVNGARIE, which is not in some [Page] measure partaker of this heauinesse. All this doe the Christian princes heare of, and yet the miserable G estate and condition of their allies can nothing mooue any one of them: but suffer vs thus as a sacrifice for the rest, to be on all parts exposed to the rage and furie of the common and mercilesse enemie. Onely Eugenius the most holy bishop of ROME, and Philip duke of BVRGVNDIE, haue not refused to beare a part of the burthen of this our afflicted fortune: The one hath sent hither his Leg [...] Iulian the Cardinall, with notable and puissant succours; and the other with his fleet at sea, and com [...] as farre as HELLESPONTVS, so much as in him lieth doth notably hinder the Turkes passage into EVROPE. And one other hope there is not now farre from vs, and that is, your helpe, whereof we are so desirous: which we require of you, mooued thereunto, partly by your valour so well knowne, and partly in regard of the imminent perill and common danger of vs all. And albeit we are not ignorant, how H euill you may be at leisure to take such an expedition in hand, for the late troubled estate of your affairs, and your new recouered kingdome, as yet scarcely well established: yet notwithstanding, let it not withhold you or keepe you backe; assuring you, that as this expedition cannot be but vnto you most honourable, euen so this your present desert shall not be bestowed vpon vngratefull or thankelesse men: but that which you shall now first begin and vndertake for our preseruation & dignitie, we will from henceforth and euer continue for your glorie and for the increase of your greatnesse. Fare you well from our regall citie of BVDA, the fourth of Iuly 1444.

Of this the kings motion, Scanderbeg liking well, and thinking it farre better now in so fit a time, with his owne forces joined vnto the Hungarians his friends, throughly to busie Amurath, than in short time after, himselfe alone to sustaine his whole power: by the generall consent of the Albanian princes his confederats and allies, yeelded vnto his request; in liberall tearmes promising him by his letters, in good time to be present with him with thirtie thousand good souldiors. The copie of which letters I thought it not amisse here to set downe also.

Scanderbeg prince of the Epirots, vnto Vladislaus king of HVNGARIE and POLONIA, greeting.

Scanderbeg his answere by letters vnto king Vladislaus.Your letters most inuincible king, I haue with like joy and contentment receiued: which I in the generall assembly of my cheefetaines hauing caused publickly to be read, there was not any one of them which was not of opinion, but that so just an occasion of war by you offered, was forthwith to be joyfully on our behalfe also embraced. And so euery man doth both publickly and priuatly affirme, That nothing could haue happened vnto them more acceptable from God, than that they might by some notable seruice testifie their gratefull minds, and bind vnto them so excellent a prince: as also to giue so fit succors vnto the Christian commonweale. In which forwardnesse of my people, I my selfe tooke great contentment and pleasure, both in regard of your selfe, and in the behalfe of the publicke and common cause: seeing my men of warre, and all other my subjects, of what state or degree soeuer (without any persuasion vsed on my part) to be so cheerefully and couragiously minded in defence of the faith, and of the Christian religion; and so well affectioned towards your most royall majestie. And to say the truth, who is he (if he be not hatefull vnto God and man) albeit there were no question of religion, or of the common danger, that would refuse so just and lawfull a warre? for such a king, as vnto whom alone we [...] and ought to attribute, That we Christians doe not onely raigne, but euen liue, breath, and enjoy the libertie of our speech. Who would not willingly take vp arms, and aduenture himselfe into most manifest and certaine danger for the people of HVNGARIE; by whom in all ages the Christian commonweal [...] hath with their so many trauels and so much of their blood, beene so mightily supported and defended? who euen from the very cradle haue beene continuall enemies vnto our enemies, and haue as it were euen vowed themselues for the honour of the Christian religion and name. Would God (most mightie and redoubted Vladislaus) it had beene in my power to haue brought vnto you such forces to this honourable warre, as were answerable vnto my courage and desire: then happily EVROPE should not longer lie in this ignominious estate, oppressed by Amurath; neither should the fields of VARNA or BASILIA so often smoke with the blood of the Hungarians, nor euery corner of MACEDONIA with the blood of the Epirots: both nations being as it were become the expiatorie sacrifices of others sinnes and offences, we all now by turnes perish, whilest euery man thinketh himselfe borne but for himselfe alone. But why do I vnto my selfe poure forth these vaine complaints. Truly, it neither repenteth me of my forces, neither as I suppose (if it shall please God, that our forces may once meet and [Page] joyne together in so happie a warre) shall the Christian commonweale haue any cause to sorrow or be agreeued with the issue and euent of our fortune. For vnto those fifteen thousand good souldiors which lately discōfited Alis Bassa on the borders of MACEDONIA, my purpose is to joine as many moe vnto them: with all which strength as soone as conueniently I may, I will begin to set forward, ready to follow your ensignes to all euents whatsoeuer. And so fare you well, from CROIA the third of August 1444.

These letters being dispatched away vnto the king, Scanderbeg forthwith began to leauie his forces. And first of all he caused with new supplies to be made strong, all those companies wherwith he had ouerthrowne Alis Bassa; not suffering any one of them to absent himselfe from this expedition. Vnto whom being in number fifteen thousand, all men of approoued valour, hee joyned other fifteen thousand moe, no lesse valiant than they: such a power as hee neuer either before or after raised for the recouerie, or defence of his kingdome. And so furnished with all things necessarie for so honourable a war, cheerefully set forward, accompanied with the vowes and hope of all his most faithful and louing subjects. But being come to the borders of SERVIA, he found the strait and difficult passages of that rough countrey shut vp by George the Despot, (lord thereof, a man adorned with all the graces of nature, but otherwise a verie wicked damned Atheist, and a Christian but in name only) who but lately before restored vnto his kingdome by the helpe of king Vladislaus, hauing changed his mind, did now mightily cleaue vnto the Turke his sonne in law (by whom he had before been himselfe exiled) and in fauour of his quarell, and despight of the Hungarians, but especially of Huniades, had stopped vp the waies and passages whereby Scanderbeg was with his armie to passe: who by his embassadour sent of purpose vnto the Despot, complained to him of that wrong, putting him in mind of the perjurious dealing of Amurath with him, notwithstanding he had maried his daughter; and of the great pleasures the Hungarians had done him; of both which he had good proofe: requesting him if it were but in regard of the common cause of Christianitie to giue vnto him (as vnto his friend by whom hee was neuer in any thing wronged) passage; and not to staine himselfe with the perpetuall note of infamie, That he being a Christian prince, and of late so mightily oppressed by the Turk, should now to the great hinderence of the Christian cōmon weale take part with him, against his friends and deliuerers. But what auaileth praiers or requests, bee they neuer so reasonable, with a man set downe to mischiefe? Scanderbeg out of hope by any other meanes to open his way, but by plaine force, resolued so to doe: although it much grieued him to spend those forces vpon a Christian prince, which he had prepared against the capitall enemie both of himselfe and all good Christians, old Amurath the Turkish Sultan.

But whilest he thus discontented, spendeth his time with his armie vpon the borders of SERVIA, beset with many difficulties: Vladislaus prickt forward by the continuall solicitation of Iulian the Cardinall,King Vladislaus setteth forward against the Turks. or else drawne on by his owne ineuitable destinie, hauing assembled a great armie of valiant and couragious souldiours out of HVNGARIE and POLONIA (yet in number farre inferiour to that he had the yeare before, for that most of the voluntarie souldiours were returned home) set forward from SEGEDINVM, and in the beginning of Nouember (a time vnfit for wars) passed ouer DANVBIVS, and entring into BVLGARIA came to NICOPOLIS, the Metrapoliticall citie of that kingdome (but then in possession of the Turks;) where he burnt the suburbs therof, and in that fruitfull countrey therabouts refreshed his people three or foure daies, where he also mustred his armie and tooke a view thereof: at what time Dracula Vaiuod of VALACHIA, a man of great experience in martiall affaires, being then present, and considering the small number of the kings armie, began to persuade him to retire, saying, Hee had sufficiently learned by his owne harmes, to deeme aright of the power of the Turkish Sultan; who (as hee said) was wont many times to carie more men with him into the fields in his disport of hauking and hunting, than was there in the kings campe: wherefore he should doe well, not to expose those his small forces vnto so manifest perill, in such vnseasonable time of the yeare, but to reserue them vnto a more fit oportunitie, when hee might with greater power encounter his puissant enemie. This his counsaile most men of greatest experience, and not caried away with other priuat respects, thought wholesome: but the Cardinall, authour of this fatall warre, extolling with great words the last yeares victorie obtained against the Turke, with glorious promises of great aid, as well by sea from the Pope, and the Venetians, as by land from the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE and other Christian princes; augmenting also the great troubles in ASIA, [Page] and promising an easie and happie successe vnto these wars in EVROPE; persuaded the king that Dacula his speech proceeded either of ignorance, vpon a superficiall judgement which her made of the kings power there present, without regard of further strength from his friends; or else of the priuat respect of his owne securitie, in regard of a commodious league made a little before betwixt him and the Turke. So that the poore prince seeing his counsell mightily impugned by the Cardinall, and not so well taken, as it was meant by him; stood in doubt whether to leaue him to his owne fortune, and himselfe to his quiet peace, or casting off the Turkish league, to joyne with the king in this chance of warre: but at length resolued as a martiall minded man, preferring the vncertaine glorie of the field before his owne assured rest, said vnto the king: ‘Seeing that either your princely fortune, which hath euer hetherto fauoured your high attempts▪ else the hope of friends helpe, which I pray God faile you not at your need; or the secret designement of your destinie, vnable to be auoided, doth draw your majestie into a different opinion from me: that your resolution which I cannot by reasonable persuasion alter, I will as the suddenesse of time, and my small abilitie will permit, most gladly further.’ And therewith presented vnto the king,Dracula a [...]eth V [...]ad [...]slaus with his sonne and 4000 horse. his sonne, with foure thousand horsemen well appointed, to serue him in these wars; wishing vnto him such good successe as he himselfe desired. Afterward when he was about to take his leaue of the king, he preferred vnto him two lustie yong men, perfect guides for that countrey, with two horses of incredible swiftnesse, and with teares standing in his eies said vnto him: ‘His last farewell vnto the king.Take this small gift in good part, as a poore refuge to flie vnto, if your fortune happe to faile you, which I tremble to thinke vpon: I pray God they be giuen in vaine, and so they shall if my prayers may preuaile. Yet if necessitie shall inforce you to vse them, you shall find them seruiceable at your need.’

And so taking his last farewell of the king, returned into VALACHIA. Vladislaus marching on from NICOPOLIS toward THRACIA, tooke many townes and forts by the way, which the Turks for feare yeelded vnto him: at last he came to SVMIVM and PEZECHIVM, where the Turkish garrisons trusting as much to the strength of the places, as to their owne valour, stood vpon their guard: but the king laid siege to both the said places, and tooke them by assault; where he put to sword fiue thousand of the Turks.

The Turks Bassaes terrified with these vnexpected troubles, aduertised Amurath thereof, requesting him to leaue his obscure life, and to leauie the greatest power he could in ASIA, for the defence of the Turkish kingdome in EVROPE, which otherwise was in short time like to be lost blaming also his discretion, for committing the gouernment of so great a kingdome, to so yong a prince as was Mahomet his sonne, vnto whom many of the great captaines did halfe scorne to yeeld their due obedience. Amurath herewith awaked, as it had been out of a dead sleepe, left his cloister, and with great speed gathered a stong armie in ASIA, & came to the straits of HE [...] LESPONTVS; where he found the passage stopped by the Venetian and Popes gallies, and was therfore at his wits end. But marching along the sea side vnto the straits of BOSPHORVS, he there found means to conuay ouer his whole armie: vsing therin (as some write) the helpe of the Genoway marchant ships, paying vnto the Genowayes for the passage of euery Turke a duckat, which amounted to the summe of 100 thousand duckets: or as some others affirm, corrupting with grea [...] bribes them that were left for the defence of this passage. And being now got ouer, joyned his Asian armie with such other forces as his Bassaes had in readinesse in EVROPE: and so marching on seuen daies, encamped within four miles of VARNA, a citie pleasantly standing vpon the Eu [...] ine sea side in BVLGARIA, where the Christian armie lay: for Vladislaus hearing of Amurath his comming with so great an armie, had retired thether, hauing but a little before taken the same citie of VARNA from the Turks, with CALACRIVM, GALATA, MACROPOLIS, and others vpon the sea coast.

Vpon the first report that Amurath was with such a mightie armie come ouer the strait of BOSPHORVS, Vladislaus who before was in good hope that he could not possibly haue found any passage, entred into counsaile with the commaunders of his armie, what course was now best to take: where many which before had been most forward in that action (presuming that Amurath could by no means haue transported his armie) were now so discoraged with the same of his comming, that they aduised the king in time to retire home, and not to oppose so small an armie against such a world of people as was reported to follow the Turke. But other captaines [Page] of greater courage, and especially Huniades, said, It was not for the kings honour, first to inuade his enemies dominions, and presently to turne his backe vpon the first report of their comming; wishing him rather to remember the good fortune of his former wars, and that he was to fight against the same enemie whom he had victoriously ouerthrowne the yeare before: as for the multitude of his enemies, he had learned by experience (as he sayd) not to bee mooued therewith, for that it was the manner of the Turkish kings, more to terrifie their enemies with the shew of a huge armie, than with the valour of their souldiours, which were nothing to bee accounted of, but as effeminat, in comparison of the Hungarians. Whereupon the king resolued to trie the fortune of the field.

Vladislaus vnderstanding by his espials, that Amurath the night before encamped within foure miles, was now putting his armie in order of battell; committed the ordering of all his forces vnto the valiant captaine Huniades: who with great care and industrie disposed the same, garding the one side of the battaile with a fenne or marrish, and the other side with cariages, and the rereward of his armie with a steepe hill. Therein politiquely prouiding, that the Christian armie, being farre lesse than the Turks in number, could not bee compassed about with the multitude of their enemies,The great battell of Varna fought betweene king Vladislaus and Amurath. neither any way charged but afront. The Turks armie approaching, began to skirmish with the Christians, which manner of fight was long time with great courage maintained, and that with diuers fortune, sometime one partie preuailing, and sometime the other; but with such slaughter on both sides, that the ground was couered and stained with the dead bodies and blood of the slaine. At length the battaile beeing more closely joyned, the victorie began to incline to the Christians, for Huniades had most valiantly with his Transiluanian and Valachian horsemen, put to flight both the wings of the Turkish armie, and made great slaughter wheresoeuer he came. Insomuch, that Amurath dismaied with the flight of his souldiours, was about to haue fled himselfe out of the maine battaile, had hee not been staied by a common souldiour, who laying hands vpon the raines of his bridle staied him by force, and sharpely reprooued him of cowardise. The captaines, and prelats about the king (whom it had better beseemed to haue been at deuout prayers in their oratories, than in armes at that bloodie battaile) encouraged by the prosperous successe of Huniades, and desirous to be partakers of that victorie, foolishly left their safe stations, where they were appointed by him to stand fast, and disorderedly pursued the chase, leauing that side of the battell where they stood, open vnto the Turks: But they were not gone farre, before they were hardly encountred by a great part of the Turks armie, for such purpose placed in a vallie fast by. In which fight Lesco one of the most valiant captains of the Hungarians was slaine; and the Bishop of V [...]RADIVM a better church man than souldior, and the first man that disordered the battaile, seeking to saue himselfe by flight through the fenne, was there filthily strangled in the deepe mud, after he had with his horse therein struggled a great while. The Bishop of AGRIA, a man of greatest authoritie with the king, was at the same time also lost, with many other church men more. The Cardinall, with some other of the expert captaines retiring toward their former standings, were hardly assailed by the Turks, who by the comming in of the king and Huniades, were with great slaughter forced to retire, and euen readie to flie. Amurath seeing the great slaughter of his men, and all brought into extreame danger, beholding the picture of the Crucifix in the displaied ensignes of the voluntarie Christians, pluckt the writing out of his bosome, wherin the late league was comprised, and holding it vp in his hand with his eies cast vp to heauen, said: ‘Behold thou crucified Christ, this is the league thy Christians in thy name made with mee: which they haue without cause violated.Amurath prayeth vnto Christ. Now if thou bee a God, as they say thou art, and as we dreame, reuenge the wrong now done vnto thy name, and me, and shew thy power vpon thy perjurious people, who in their deeds denie thee their God.’

The king with Huniades furiouslie pursued the chased Turks, with bloodie execution a great space: when as the king in his heat hardly persuaded by Huniades to returne againe vnto his campe, at his comming thether found the Cardinall Iulian, with Franke, one of his cheefe captaines, and others, ouercharged with the Turkes, which had againe made head against that part of the Christian armie: and there yet fought couragiouslie, by reason of their multitude, being also backt by the Ianizaries, which all this while had stood fast with their old king, as his last and most assured refuge,A cruell fight. but were now come in. There began a most cruell and fierce fight: in the successe whereof, the Turks well saw the whole estate of their kingdome in EVROPE to consist, [Page] many were there slaine on both sides: the Turks feeling their losse lesse than indeed it was, by reason of their multitude; and the Christians, by reason of their courage. A great while the victorie stood doubtfull, insomuch, that at length the Turkes began to shrinke backe, in that part of the battaile where the king and Huniades fought. But in the left side, they preuailed so vpon the Christians, that they were euen readie to haue fled. Which when Huniades (hauing a vigilant eie vnto euerie part of the armie) perceiued, hee with speed made thether, and there againe with his presence restored the battaile almost before lost. Which done, hee returned againe towards the king, who in the mean time had most valiantly repulsed a great number of the Turks, and was now come vnto the Ianizaries, Amurath his last hope. There was to be seene a thousand manners of death, whilest both the armies fought more like wild beasts in their rage and furie, than warie and politique souldiours. In this confused medly, the yong king Vladislaus with greater courage than care of himselfe, brake into the battaile of the Ianizaries: at which time, Amurath himselfe was by a valiant Frenchman a knight of the Roads, first wounded with a pike, and after assailed with his sword,Amurath in danger. and had there ended his daies, but that hee was speedily rescued by his guard, by whom this worthie knight after great proofe of his valour was there slaine in the middest of his enemies. Vladislaus being got in also amongst them, valiantly performed all the partes of a worthie souldiour, vntill such time as his horse being slaine vnder him, hee was forthwith oppressed by the multitude of his enemies and slaine:King Vladislaus slaine. his head being strucke off by Ferizes, one of the old Ianizaries, was by him presented vnto Amurath; who commaunded it presently to be put vpon the point of a launce, and proclamation to be made, that it was the head of the Christian king: which was afterwards so caried through the principall cities of MACEDONIA, and GRECIA, as a trophey of the Turks victorie. Huniades after hee had in vaine giuen diuers braue attempts, to haue rescued the kings bodie, retired with a few Valachian horsemen, and seeing no hope of better hap (for all the Christians being discouraged with the death of the king, had now taken themselues to flight) gaue place to necessitie and reseruing himselfe to his future fortune,Huniades flyeth. fled ouer the mountaines into the thicke woods, from whence with much difficultie he got ouer DANVBIVS into VALACHIA, and was there (as some [...]) by Dracula prince of that countrey taken prisoner: In reuenge whereof, after hee was enlarged by the Hungarians, hee so aided Danus against Dracula, that in fine, Dracula and his sonne were both slaine, and Danus placed in his roome. Iulian the Cardinall flying out of the battaile, was found by that worthie man Gregorie Sanose, lying in the desert forrest by the way, side mortally wounded, and halfe stripped: by whom hee was in few wordes sharpely reprooued, as the wicked authour of that perfidious warre: and there left giuing vp the ghost. Many of the Christians which fled out of that battell fell into the enemies hands, and so were slaine: but greater was the number of them, which were drowned in the fennes, or that by hunger and cold perished in the woods, or else after long and miserable trauaile, finding no passage ouer DANVBIVS fell at length into the Turkish slauerie. This great and mortall battaile as it was with diuers fortune fought, so was also the present report thereof most vncertaine: for the Turks that were at the first put to flight, reported in the townes thereby as they fled, that the battell was lost: and they which had all the daie endured the fight, not altogether assured of the victorie, and not knowing whether the Hungarians had retired themselues, whilest they suspected some deceit in the kinges campe, by reason of the great silence therein, staied two daies before they durst aduenture to take the spoile thereof. The number of them that were slaine in this battaile, as well on the one side as the other, was great; as the mounts, and little hils, raised of the bones and bodies of them that were there buried, doe yet at this daie declare. Howbeit the certaine number was not knowne, some reporting moe, some fewer. Yet in this most agree, that of the Christian armie being not great, scarce the third part escaped: and that the Turkes bought this victorie, with a farre greater losse, although it was of them lesse felt, by reason of their multitude, made lesse by that slaughter; as they that report least thereof affirme, by thirtie thousand. Which may well seeme rather to be so, for that Amurath after this victorie, neither farther prosecuted the same, nor shewed any tokens of joy at all, but became verie melancholie and sad, and being of them about him, demanded why after so great a victorie, he was no merrier: answered, That he wished not at so great a price, to gain many such victories. Yet in memoriall thereof hee erected a great pillar, in the same place where the king was slaine, with an inscription of all that was then done: which as they say is yet there to be seene at this day. This bloodie battaile, was fought neere vnto VARNA (in ancient time called DIONISIOPOLIS [Page] (a place fatall vnto many great warriors, and therfore of them euen yet abhorred) the tenth day of Nouember, in the yeare of our Lord Christ 1444.

Some maliciously impute the losse of the battaile of VARNA, and the death of the king, to Huniades, who (as they said) fled out of this battaile with ten thousand horsemen: but this report agreeth not with the noble disposition of that courageous and valiant captaine, but seemeth rather to haue been deuised, to excuse the foule dealing of the cleargie; who as most histories beare witnesse, were the cheefe authors both of the warre, and of the lamentable calamitie en [...]uing thereof.

From the battaile of VARNA Amurath returned to HADRIANOPLE,Amurath to perform his vow resigneth his kingdome to his sonne Mahomet; which he in short time after taketh again vpon him▪ hauing lost the greatest part of his best souldiors, and there with great solemnitie buried the bodie of Carazia, viceroy of EVROPE, slaine in that battaile: and then calling together all his nobilitie, againe resigned vp his kingdome vnto his sonne Mahomet, retiring himselfe vnto MAGNESIA, where he liued a solitarie and priuat life, hauing before vowed so to do, in the great feare he was in, in the late battaile against Vladislaus: but after hee had a short time performed these his vowes in that obscure and melancholie life, he wearie thereof, as some suppose, as not a little reuiued with the late victorie, or els solicited by Caly Bassa and other great counsellours, returned againe to HADRIANOPLE, resuming vnto himselfe the gouernment of the kingdome, to the great discontentment of his ambitious sonne Mahomet.

Scanderbeg yet sticking in the borders of SERVIA, and hearing what had happened vnto king Vladislaus with the Hungarians, was therewith exceedingly greeued: and hauing now lost the hope whereupon he had vndertaken that so great an expedition, resolued to returne home again into EPIRVS. Neuerthelesse, to be in some part reuenged of the wicked Despot, he with his armie forcibly brake into his country, and there did exceeding great harme. In his returning homewards, great numbers of Hungarians and Polonians, lately escaped from the slaughter at VARNA, repaired vnto him, whom he (according to the extremitie of their fortune) courteously releeued: and furnishing them with such things as they wanted, prouided them shipping to RAGVSA, from whence they might in safetie returne into their owne countries. Thus by the disloyaltie and trecherie of the faithlesse Despot of SERVIA, was Scanderbeg stayed from being present at the bloodie battaile of VARNA, to the vnspeakeable losse of the Christian commonweale: for it could not be, but that so many thousands of most resolute and expert souldiors, vnder the leading of so worthie a cheefetaine, must needs haue done much for the gaining of the victorie. And what more glorious sight could a man haue wished for, than to haue seene so puissant an armie in the field against the sworne enemie of Christendome, directed by two such valiant and renowned cheefetaines, as neuer either before or since their time was seene the like in one battell against the enemies of Christ and the Christian religion? They were both men of inuincible courage, of exceeding strength,The comparison betwixt Huniades and Scanderbeg. and agilitie of bodie, wise, prudent, and subtile; both of long time exercised in the Turkes warres, the greatest terrour of that nation, and most worthie champions of the Christian religion, being therein both very zealous. Of the two, Huniades was at that time accounted the better commaunder, and the more polliticke, as a man of greater experience in martiall affaires, by reason of his greater yeares: which was well counteruailed by Scanderbeg his perpetuall good fortune, still as it were attending vpon him, & by his experience afterwards gotten, as in the course of his historie well appeareth.

Amurath aduertised of these proceedings of Scanderbeg ▪ as also of the great harmes by him done in MACEDONIA, and that the frontiers of his dominions bordering vpon EPIRVS, were by his furie vtterly wasted and spoiled, and his people there for most part slaine, and that the rest had for feare forsaken their dwellings and left the countrey desolate and vnpeopled; was therewith exceedingly mooued. Yet for so much as he still stood in dread of the Hungarians, and was now himselfe clogged with yeares, and therefore more desirous of rest▪ considering also the young yeares of his eldest sonne Mahomet, as yet vnsit for the gouernement of so great and troublesome a kingdome; with the perpetuall good fortune of Scanderbeg, and mallice of Huniades: he thought it not best to conuert all his forces vpon him, but to proue if he could cunningly draw him into some dishonourable peace for a time, that so he might afterwards at leisure bee the better reuenged of him. For which cause he writ vnto him letters, mixt with grieuous threats and some faigned courtesies, as followeth:

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Amurath Ottoman, king of the Turkes, and emperour of the East, to the most ingratefull Scanderbeg, wisheth neither health nor welfare.

The sullen and craftie letters of Amurath to Scanderbeg.I neuer wanted honourable preferments to bestow vpon thee all the while thou diddest liue in my court, of all others most vnkind Scanderbeg; but now I want words wherewith to speake vnto thee, thou hast so highly offended my mind, and touched mine honour, that I know not in discretion what words to vse vnto thee, but of late one of my domesticall seruants. For neither will hard speech moli [...]e the naturall fiercenesse of thy proud disposition, neither art thou worthie of better, which hast farre exceeded all hostilitie. And because thou wouldest omit no occasion to prouoke me, hast of late proceeded to that point of follie, that thou hast had thine owne affaires, and the welfare of thine owne subjects, in small regard, by confederating thy selfe in armes with the Hungarians, against me. It greeueth mee to rehearse other thy vnkindnesse, and as it were to touch those sores, if my mind would euer suffer me to forget the same, or that thy so manifold & horrible treasons, and strange examples of a most vnthankfull mind, were to be couered with silence. Yet I thought good to aduertise thee (although perhaps too late) least that thy vnstaied heat doe vntimely ouerthrow thee, with thy vnluckie kingdome: and then thou wouldest make humble confession of thy long transgression, when thou hast lost thy selfe, and le [...]t no hope of refuge in thy desperat estate. We haue hitherto sufficiently suffered thy manifold iniuries: thou hast sufficiently prouoked the majestie of the Othoman empire, with wrong and contumelious despight, and I with patience haue borne all these thy contempts. Thinkest thou that my armie by thee betrayed vnto the Hungarians, shall be vnreuenged? Thinkest thou that so many cities and townes [...] EPIRVS, by thee rent from the bodie of my empire, with my garrisons there slaine, shall be forgotten? Or thinkest thou with thy late committed outrages to escape my reuenging hands? Remember the destruction of mine armie vnder Alis Bassa; the wasting and burning of my dominions; and lately, the Hungarian warres, by thee so far as in thee was, countenanced; with the territories of George, the Despot of SERVIA, my father in law, by thee spoiled. At length amend thou gracelesse man, and expect not farther, whether my indignation will breake out. Let not these trifling allurements of thy good fortune, so puffe vp thy foolish desires, and sharpen thy conceits, that thy miserable fortune afterwards may moue euen thy greatest enemie, or my selfe, to compassion. I would thou shouldest at length remember my courtesies (if any sparke of humanitie remaine in thy sauage nature) and make me not longer sorrie, that I haue so euill bestowed the same. And although it is not the part of an honourable mind, to rehearse those things which we haue in bountie bestowed vpon any man; yet is it the token of a most vnthankfull nature, so easily to forget all kindnesse past, as to need to be put in remembrance therof. Wherfore Scanderbeg, I cannot but bewaile thy hap, and lament thine estate: For, to let passe the health of thy soule (which thou a very reprobat, esteemest as nothing) not to speake of the lawes of Mahomet, by thee despised, and the holy prophet by thee contemned, for the zeale thou hast vnto the Christian superstition: what hast thou (which now holdest thy poore and base kingdome in such price) euer wanted at my hands of all those things which most delight the desires of men? Diddest thou euer want armo [...], horses, a great traine of followers and seruants, money, or other superfluities, the allurements of all ages? Or diddest thou want matter to exercise thy valour, for encrease of thine honour? Wast thou euer denied preferments, dignities, and honours of all sorts fit for thine age, both at home and abroad? Was any man in my court deerer vnto me, than thy selfe? What growing wit, not of strangers onely, but of them that were neerest vnto my selfe, was better welcome vnto me than thine? With what carefull instruction did I cause thee to be brought vp? When thou wast deliuered vnto me almost a child, I daily cherished and encreased thy hoped towardlinesse, with learning and nurture: I haue at all times honoured thee with rich rewards, magnificall praises, and honours of the field (which of all worldly things is most glorious) so that in all feats of armes no souldior was to me better knowne, or captaine of me more honoured. For all these great benefits, Scanderbeg, thou now shewest thy selfe such an one, that I may be thought not to haue brought vp such a man as I hoped for, but a very serpent in mine owne bosome. But the loue of thy countrey did moue thee: which if thou hadst asked of me, would I haue denied the same vnto thee? Which (if thou doest well remember) I so oftentimes voluntarily profered vnto thee? But thou haddest rather to gaine the same by trecherie, than to receiue it at my hands of courtesie. So, thine be it therefore on God his name, and that with my very good will. And verely, according to my acc [...] stomed clemencie towards all them whom I haue once well knowne, and beene familiarly acquainted [Page] with, I now pardon thee all thou hast offended me; not for any thy present deserts, which are none, but because in this publique enmitie, it pleaseth mee to remember my former kindnesse in priuat towards thee, and thy faithfulnesse sometimes in my affaires; especially for that the time was much longer wherein thou seruedst me, than the time wherein thou hast offended me. CROIA and thy fathers kingdome (although thou hast gained the same by fowle treacherie) I giue vnto thee, vpon condition thou willingly restore vnto me the other townes of EPIRVS, which by no right belong vnto thee, but are mine by law of armes, by my selfe honourably wonne. Whatsoeuer thou hast taken from my father in law, the prince of SERVIA, thou shalt forthwith restore, and make him an honourable recompence for the other harmes thou hast done vnto him; and for euer hereafter, thou shalt as well forbeare to offer violence to any our friends, as to aid any our enemies. So shalt thou for euer auoid the displeasure of the Turks, and stand in my good grace and fauour, as thou hast done before: except thou haddest rather (being taught by thine owne harmes) then in vaine crie for mercie, when thy furious outrage shall haue me in person, an implacable reuenger. Thou knowest thy forces, thou knowest the strength of mine armes; thou hast before thine eies the fresh example of the Hungarian fortune, so that thou needest no further admonitions. Yet I would thou shouldest write at large what thou intendest to do. Thou maiest also conferre with Ayradin our seruant, our trustie and faithfull messenger, of whom thou shalt vnderstand more than are in these letters comprised. Farewell if thou be wise. From HADRIANOPLE.

To these letters Scanderbeg gaue small credit, and lesse to the messenger, but least of all to the old Fox himselfe, whom he well knew to haue written nothing simply of good meaning, but onely to gaine a cessation from warres, vntill he might at better leasure set vpon him with all his forces: wherefore calling Ayradin the messenger vnto him, whom he rather held for a craftie spie, than an honourable embassador, after hee had many times both publiquely and priuatly discoursed with him, so farre forth as was possible to sound the depth of his comming, and had also further entertained him with all honourable courtesies, hee shewed him all his campe, with the strength thereof; which hee did, because he would not haue the craftie messenger to thinke, that he was any thing afraid of his maisters greatnesse. And at last greatly complaining of Amurath his cruell and perfidious dealing against his father, his brethren, and himselfe, he sent him away with such answere in writing as followeth.

The souldiour of Christ Iesu, George Castriot surnamed Scanderbeg, prince of EPIRVS, to Amurath Ottoman king of the Turkes sendeth greeeing.

Thou hast in times past (as thou writest) exceeded mee in many kinds of courtesies, and at this present I will exceed thee in modest and temperat speech:The resolute answere of Scanderbeg to Amurath his letters. For I thinke there is no greater token of a base mind, than to be able to forbeare to giue railing and opprobrious words, euen vnto our most mortall enemies. Wherefore we haue with patience receiued and seene, both thy letters and messenger: and to confesse a truth, they haue ministred vnto me greater occasion of smile, than choller: whilest at the first thou shamest not to accuse me of much ingratitude, & treson: and presently following a milder passion, seemest carefull of my soules health, being ignorant of thine own miserable estat [...], as a studious defender of a most damnable errour. And at last, keeping neither law of armes, nor orderly course answering to our affaires, doest most insolently and vnaduisedly, as a valiant conqueror to his vanquished enemie, propound many conditions of peace, of such qualitie and condition, that mine eares scorne to heare the same. Truely Amurath, although thy immoderat railing might mooue a man of greatest patience to intemperat speech: yet I impute the same partly to thy great age, and partly to the wa [...]wardnesse of thy nature; and the rest, to thy conceiued griefe, which I know thou canst hardly moderat: and the more, for that I haue not set downe my selfe to contend with thee in foule and vnseemly language; but with armes and the just furie of warre. Yet I pray thee, wherfore doest thou so exclaime vpon me before God and man [...] as though thou hadst first suffered wrong and injurie from me, and that thou hadst not in truth first don the same. Doest thou call my necessary departing, a perfidious treacherie? my natiue countrey by my policie and valour recouered, doest thou object to me as a villanie? object the same still and spare not; charge mee with such crimes for euer, I care not. The long catalogue of thy kindnesse towards me, which thou rehersest, I could willingly rmēber, if it drew not with it the wofull remembrance [Page] of my greater miseries. Which if they were to be compared together, the greatnesse of thy good deserts G would be ouerwhelmed with the multitude of thy greater tyrannies; which I had rather thou shouldest count with thy selfe, than blush whilest I repeat them. Euery man that knoweth them, may meruell how I had power to endure them, or that thou wast not wearie at last of thy crueltie and secret hatred. Thou tookest away my fathers kingdome by force; thou diddest murther my brethren; and my selfe thou diddest most wickedly vow to death, when I little feared any such crueltie. And doth it now seeme strange to thee, ô Amurath, that an inuincible mind, desirous of libertie, should seeke to break out of the bonds of so great slauerie? How long at length diddest thou thinke I would endure thy proud and insolent bondage? which for all that I many yeares endured, and refused not thy commaund. I exposed my selfe to publicke and priuat dangers, both voluntarily and by thy designement: speeches were giuen out daily H by thy selfe, and the admonition of my friends concerning thy deepe trecherie, was rife in mine eares: yet for all that, of long time I simply beleeued both thy words and deeds to haue beene deuoid of all fraud, vntill thy cankered mallice began too too apparently to shew it selfe, then began I also to glose with thee, wholly metamorphosed into thine owne conceits, vntill I found occasion to recouer my libertie. Wherefore there is no cause thou shouldest now greeue, if thou be well beaten with thine own rod. But these are but trifles, Amurath, in comparison of those things which I haue laied vp in hope and resolution of mind. Therefore hereafter surcease thine angrie threats, and tell not vs of the Hungarian fortune. Euery man hath his owne resolution, and euery man a particular gouernour of his actions: and so will we with patience endure such fortune as it shall please God to appoint vs In the meane time, for direction of our affaires, we will not request counsell of our enemies, nor peace of thee, but victorie I by the helpe of God. Farewell from our campe.

When Amurath had read these letters, and further conferred with Arradin, hee was filled with wrath and indignation, wondering at the great resolution of so small a prince, presently casting in his mind (as was thought) the difficultie of that warre. Yet because he would giue no token of feare, oftentimes stroking his white beard, as his manner was when he was throughly angrie, with a dissembled cheerefulnesse of countenance said: ‘Thou desirest (wicked man) thou desirest the title of some honourable death: we will giue it thee (beleeue vs) wee will giue it thee.Amurath [...] S [...]anderbeg. Wee our selues will bee present at the buriall of our foster child, and in person (though vnbidden) honour the funerall pompe of the great king of EPIRVS; K that thou shalt neuer complaine among the damned ghosts, that thou diddest die a base or obscure kind of death.’

And for because at that time, by reason of many great occurrents, hee could not conuert his whole power into EPIRVS, he sent Ferises, one of his best captaines, with nine thousand choice horsemen, to keepe Scanderbeg in doing, and to spoile his countrey so much as he could. Which was with such speed done, that it was thought Ferises would haue beene in the heart of EPIRVS, before Scanderbeg could haue had knowledge of his comming. But for all his hast, he could not so preuent the flying fame, but that Scanderbeg hearing thereof, and hauing his men alwayes in readinesse, placed fifteene hundred good footmen in ambush vpon the rough L mountaines, leading into the valley of MOVEA, whereby the Turks must needs passe into EPIRVS; placing also two thousand horsemen, as he thought most fit & conuenient for his purpose. Ferises descending from the high mountaines full of woods and bushes, by the broken and stonie waies leading into the valley, was in that troublesome and intricate passage fiercely set vpon by Scanderbegs readie footmen, suddainely arising out of ambush, where the Turks hauing no vse of their horses, but rather by them encombered, were slaine as Deere enclosed in a toyle. In this conflict seuen hundred and sixtie Turks were taken prisoners, and a greater number slaine, and Ferises himselfe, with the rest, enforced to flie, crying still out as hee fled, Better some saued, than all lost. Scanderbeg hauing thus ouerthrowne Ferises, pursued him into MACEDONIA, and with the spoile there taken, rewarded his souldiours, as he had also many times before M done.

Amurath greeued with the ouerthrow of Ferises, presently sent Mustapha a politicke and hardie captaine, with a new supplie of six thousand souldiours to take the charge from Ferises; commaunding him in no case, nor vpon any occasion, to enter farre into EPIRVS: but onely to burne and spoile the frontiers thereof, saying, That he would account it for good seruice, if he might but vnderstand, that the trees and fruits of that countrey, had felt the force of his anger. [Page] A Mustapha hauing receiued his charge, when he began to draw neere the borders of EPIRVS, continually sent out scouts before his armie, to see if the passages were cleere, and so warily entred the vallie of MOCRE, A where Ferises not long before was ouerthrowne. In this fruitfull vallie, being the frontiers of Scanderbegs dominion, Mustapha entrenched his armie, vpon the rising of a hill, and placed espials vpon the tops of the high mountaines round about, by them to discouer the comming of the enemie, and to haue notice thereof by signes into the campe: then reseruing foure thousand horsemen with himselfe, to keepe his campe, hee sent forth the rest of his armie, about nine thousand horsemen, to forrage and spoile the countrey; giuing charge before, that euerie man vpon paine of death should presently retire to the campe, vpon signe giuen from B thence, as to a place of safetie and refuge. The Turkish armie ranging ouer that rich and pleasant vallie, burnt the villages, cut downe trees, spoiled the vineyards, and made hauocke of all things that fire and sword could destroy; in that point executing Amuraths commaund to the full. At length Scanderbeg drawing neere to this vallie, with foure thousand horsemen and a thousand foot, was aduertised of all the enemies doings, by an Epirot souldiour, who greeuously wounded had hardly escaped from the Turks: of him he vnderstood, what number of Turkes were burning and destroying the countrey, of the campe also kept by Mustapha, and how espials were placed vpon the mountaines. Scanderbeg hauing well considered Mustapha his warie proceedings, and seeing no pollicie to bee vsed against so carefull an enemie, resolued to vanquish him by plaine force, by assaulting him suddainely in his trenches, before his dispierced souldiors C could repaire to the campe: and hauing to this purpose, with effectuall persuasions encouraged the minds of his valiant soldiors, readie of themselues to follow him through all dangers; whē he had set all things in order for assaulting the enemies camp, speedily entred the vallie, and was presently discouered by the enemies espials, from the tops of the high hils, and a signe giuen to the campe, from whence also the appointed signe was giuen for the dispierced soldiors to retire: but most of them being straied from the campe; and busied in taking the spoile of the country, heard not or saw not the sign giuen: Those which were within the hearing therof retired to the campe, and at their heeles followed Scanderbegs souldiours,Scanderbeg his valiant resolution for the assaulting of Mustapha in his camp. terrifying them with calling vpon the name of Scanderbeg. Many of the Turks were by the Christians slaine in the entrance of the campe, with their booties in their hands, and presently the Turks trenches were now by Scanderbegs soldiors D couragiously assaulted, and the Turks beaten from the top of them. They hauing wonne the trenches, preuailed still vpon the Turks, filling all their camp with feare and slaughter. There was no vse of shot in that medlie, by reason of the straightnesse of the place, for they were now come to pell mell. Mustapha seeing his souldiours put to the worst, and that the campe was not long to be defended, tooke horse and fled by the port which was furthest from the enemie. The rest of the souldiors fled also, making such poore shift for themselues as they could. In this battaile 5000 Turks were slaine, and but 300 taken; for the Christians enraged with the spoile of the country, reuenged themselues with the slaughter of the Turks. Scanderbeg lost in this conflict but 20 horsemen, and 50 footmen. The rest of the Turkes armie disperced in the countrey, hearing the tumult in the campe, misdoubting the fortune of their fellowes, fled also: yet many of E them were in that fight pursued and slaine.

After this ouerthrow, Mustapha returning to Amurath, the better to excuse the misfortune of himselfe, and the other captaines before sent, greatly commended the inuincible courage of Scanderbeg, and his wonderfull skill in feats of armes; persuading Amurath either to send a greater power against him, or else none at all, saying, That to send such small armies, was but to minister matter to the increase of his glorie, and the infamie of the Turks; and to vse pollicie against him the maister of pollicie, was but meere follie. It greeued Amurath to heare the praises of his enemie, although hee knew the same to be true, by the continuall fortune he had alwaies against his great captaines Alis-bassa, Ferises, and Mustapha: wherefore he determined for a time not to prouoke him further, but to suffer him to liue in peace: yet commaunded Mustapha to renew his F armie for defence of the borders of his kingdome towardes EPIRVS, against the innouation of Scanderbeg; but straightly commaunding him in no case to inuade any part of EPIRVS, neither vpon any occasion offered, or conceiued hope of victorie, to joyne battaile with Scanderbeg, for feare of such euill successe as before.

At this time also the Grecians of PELOPONESVS now called MOREA, hauing before fortified the strait of CORINTH from sea to sea, with a perpetuall wall, which they called HEXAMYLVM, [Page] and deep trenches about six miles in length, had also built fiue strong castles in the same G wall, of purpose to take away all passage by land into that rich countrey, and begun now not only to denie the yearely tribute they were wont to pay vnto the Turkish king, but also to inuade such princes of ACHAIA their neighbours, as were content to remaine still the Turks tributaries▪ amongst whom Nereus prince of ATHENS, and Turacan Gouernour of THESSALIA for Amurath, ceased not by continuall complaints to incense him against them of PELOPONESVS. Who hauing his armie in readinesse, although it was now winter, and he himselfe verie aged, set forward from HADRIANOPLE, and marching through THESSALIA, came into ACHAIA, where most of the Grecians were before fled for feare into PELOPONESVS. So passing on with his armie, he came to the strait commonly called ISYMVS, where the famous citie of CORINTH H sometime stood; and there encamped his armie neere vnto the strong wall, and castles, lately before built, hoping that the Grecians of PELOPONESVS, terrified with the multitude of his armie, would without resistance submit themselues: but when he perceiued them to stand vpon their guard, and to trust to their stength, he laid battrie to the wall foure daies, and hauing made it saultable, brake throgh the same with his armie. The Grecians hauing lost the wall (their cheefe strength) fled, some to one strong hold, and some to another, as their fortune led them; the Turks at their pleasure spoiling and destroying that rich & pleasant country, sometime the nurse of worthie wits, and famous captaines: where they found wonderfull riches, and tooke prisoners without number; insomuch that they were sold among the Turks at most vile price. There Amurath for his pleasure, cruelly sacrificed six hundreth Christian captiues, to the hellish ghost of I his dead father Mahomet: & afterwards imposing a yearely tribute vpon the Peloponesians, and others Grecian princes now yeelding againe vnto him,Peloponnesus made tributarie vnto the Turke. as an induction to their further slauerie vnder the Turkish rirannie, he returned, taking in his way the two famous cities of PATRAS and SICYONE. Thus the rich countrey of PELOPONESVS, and all the rest of GRECIA, sometime fountaine of all learning and ciuilitie, became tributarie to the barbarous and cruell Turkes, in the yeare of our Lord 1445.

1446Old Amurath now clogged with yeares, and wearied with long wars, was content to take his rest at HADRIANOPLE:Baiazet borne. during which time, Baiazet the sonne of Mahomet was borne in the yeare 1446, who afterwards of long time with great glorie gouerned the Turkish empire at CONSTANTINOPLE, as in his place shall appeare.K

The Hungarians after the calamitie of VARNA, wherein they had together with Vladislaus their king, lost most part of their nobilitie also; in a generall assembly of their states, made choice of Ladislaus, the posthumous sonne of Albertus (and then in keeping of Fredericke the emperour) for their king. But for as much as he being then but a child of fiue yeares old, and chosen king, more for the remembrance of the emperour Sigismund his grandfather, and Albertus his father, and for the good hope conceiued of him, than for any other thing presently to bee expected from him; it was thought more than necessarie, to make choice of some notable and woorthie man, vnto whom they might (during the time of the kings minoritie) commit the gouernement and protection of that so great and turbulent a kingdome. Many there were in that honorable assemblie well thought of,Huniades in the minoritie of the king, chosen Gouernor of all the kingdome of Hungarie. both of themselues and others: but such was the glorie and valour L of Huniades, and so great the remembrance of his worthie deserts both of the kingdome of HVNGARIE, and of the Christian commonweale in generall, as without his seeking, procured vnto him the generall fauour and suffrages of all; yea so farre, that euen they which most enuied at his honour, as ouershaddowing their own, were glad to hold their peace, for that without him it was commonly thought the state of that shaken kingdome could not long stand: So by the generall consent of all the states there assembled, hee was with the great applause of the people chosen and proclaimed gouernour, as of all others most fit for so great and heauie a charge: wherein he quietly spent some few yeares in deciding of ciuile controuersies, in composing the quarrels of the nobilitie; not forgetting in the mean time the indifferent administration of justice to all men, ending many controuersies farre from the place of judgement, and that without all M suspition of corruption, vsing therein such expedition and neuer-wearied patience, in hearing euery mans cause, that sitting, going, standing, riding, hee dispatched many great and waightie matters: alwayes shewing himselfe affable and courteous, as well vnto them of the poorer sort, as others of greater calling, that had any sutes vnto him. So that it was of him truly said, That no man was than he vnto his friends more friendly, or vnto his enemies more crosse and contrarie. [Page] A In time of peace he was alwayes prouiding for warre, heaping vp great treasure; and such other things, as without which, the warres could not be maintained. But aboue all things, he was carefull of the good agreement of the nobilitie, taking great paines in reconciling their displeasures conceiued one against another, and that with such dexteritie, as that he was both of them and others generally both beloued and feared.

In the meane time,1448 whilest he was thus busied in disposing of the ciuile affaires of the commonweale and the administration of justice,Huniades goeth against the Turks. hee was aduertised by his esp [...]als, how that the old Sultan Amurath was raising great forces both in ASIA and EVROPE, and that as the common fame went, for the inuasion of HVNGARIE. For the withstanding whereof, Huniades not vnprouided, B as neuer vnmindfull of so dangerous an enemie, or of any thing more desirous, than in some sort to be reuenged of the great losse receiued at VARNA; in the fourth yeare of his gouernment and in the yeare of our Lord 1448 accompanied with most part of the nobilitie of HVNGARIE, and the Vaiuod of VALACHIA his friend and confederate, set forward against the Turke, with an armie of two and twentie thousand choise souldiours. So hauing passed the riuer TIBISCVS, or TEISE, and trauailing through VALACHIA, a little beneath where the riuer MOROVA running through SERVIA, falleth into DANVBIVS, he with most part of his armie passed that great riuer; the rest in the meane time taking passage ouer at a towne called SEVERIN. Huniades with his armie being thus got ouer into SERVIA, by his embassadours requested the Despot, as he had oftentimes before, to put himselfe into that most Christian warre; and remembring C the great benefits he had receiued from the Hungarians, not to shew himselfe therfore vngratefull, than which, nothing could be more dishonourable: and to encourage him the more, certified him both of his owne strength, and of the aid brought vnto him by the Vaiuod; and that for the good successe of the warre, there wanted nothing but his presence and direction, with such troupes of light horsemen as he knew he had euer in a readinesse. Wherewith he requested him with all speed to follow him. But he being a man of no religion, and better affected vnto the Turke than to Huniades, the more cleanly to withdraw himselfe from this warre, pretended many excuses: first, the league he had with Amurath his sonne in lawe, which he said he might not breake, for feare that if things chanced not well, he might so fall againe headlong into his old miserie; then, the vnseasonablenesse of the time, Autumne being now D past, which difficulties in those cold countries they had to their cost too much felt in the late war: These with many other such like he alleadged, in excuse that he came not: but the truth was, the malice of the man, grieued to see Huniades preferred before him in the gouernment of the kingdome, and disdaining to serue vnder his ensignes, being himselfe Despot, and king of SERVIA, descended of the royall race, the cause of his backwardnesse: so that blinded with enuie, he could not there rightly judge of himselfe, or what was fit for him in this case to haue done. But Huniades angrie with his vnkind answere, threatned him with his owne hands to be reuenged vpon him, and to giue away his kingdome to one more worthy thereof than he, if he should with victorie returne.The false Despot giueth Amurath knowledge both of Huniades his comming, and of his strength. So passing through SERVIA, as through the enemies countrey, he came into BVLGARIA. After whose departure, the false Despot by speedy messengers aduertised Amurath E both of the comming of the Hungarians, and of their strength; yea he certified him of euerie daies march, and how that Huniades was but with a small companie of his owne, and some weake supplies of the Vaiuods come ouer DANVBIVS: whom if he should not presently meet, but suffer him to come on further, and so with his armie to get betwixt him and home, hee might so shut him in, as that he should hardly be able to scape his hands. All which he did, partly for enuie, partly to gratifie the Turke, and the better to keepe friendship with him. So Amurath not contemning the Despots counsell, suffered Huniades without resistance to enter a great way into his countrey, and comming two or three daies march behind him, so stopped the passage as that he could not possibly retire, but that he must needs fight. And now they were both come vnto a great plaine in BVLGARIA, which the Hungarians call RIGOMEZV, and the F Rascians the plaine of COSSOVA, through the middest whereof the riuer SCHICHNIZA rising out of the mountaines of ILLIRIA running, at length falleth into MOROVA, and so into DANVBIVS: this plaine is about 20 miles in length, and in bredth fiue, enuironed on each side with pleasant mountaines, in manner of a theatre, the riuer and low vallies at the foot of the mountaines being garnished with many countrey villages and townes. Into this fatall plaine when as the Hungarians first, and after them the Turks, were as into a place of combate descended; [Page] an old woman dwelling in one of the villages vpon the riuer side fast by, where both armies G of late passed, with a loud voice cried out, Oh how much I now feare, the hard fortune of the Hungarians. When as their passage ouer by the foord troubled the riuer but one daie, and the Turks three.The omynous speech of an old woman. By the small number of their armie, diuining their ensuing ouerthrow. In the middest almost of this plaine ariseth a small hill, by the foote whereof the riuer SCHICHNIZA runneth; not farre beyond which, toward the head of the plaine, was a certaine tower built like a piramides, in memoriall of Amurath the first of that name, and third king of the Turks there slaine: which tower, Amurath fearing least Huniades marching before him, should take, and so become vnto him ominous (for in such matters the Turkes are verie superstitious) hee made the more hast, of purpose to joyne battaile with him before he should come to the foresaid tower.H Huniades being come vnto the hill, easily arising in the middest of the plaine, there encamped, expecting the comming of Scanderbeg; who was said (according to appointment made betwixt him and Huniades) to be euerie houre comming. Wherefore Amurath fearing least the tower fast by should be taken, and the enemies power strengthened by the comming of the Albanois, prouoked Huniades to battaile; who still refused the same, in hope of his friends comming which made the Turke more fierce vpon him, seeking by all meanes he could to draw him to battaile, but especially by cutting him off from water and forrage: for why hee much presumed vpon his multitude, hauing in his armie about fourescore thousand fighting men. At length Huniades for want of water and other necessaries, enforced to fight, vpon S. Lukes day being then Thursday, commaunded his souldiours to make themselues readie: and diuiding his armie into two and I thirtie battailions, in such order as he ment to giue battaile, the more to encourage them spake vnto them as followeth: ‘The notable speech of Huniad [...]s to [...] against the Tu [...]ks.At length (valiant souldiours and fellowes in armes) the day is come, wherein you may reuenge that dishonour, or disgrace, you receiued in the battaile of VARNA; and recouer your former credit of constancie, and praise, if you will play the men: the enemie opposeth against you, but these reliques of his armies, by you so often broken and discomfited; who although they be in number moe than you, yet are they in hope, quarrell, and strength, far inferior. For what can they hope for, which fight not for their owne, but for another mans kingdome? and in conquering, procure vnto themselues nothing but bondage in this life, and torment in the life to come, and in both perpetuall and endlesse miserie?K Whereas you on the other side, howsoeuer the matter fall out, fighting for your owne kingdome, your children, your countrey, your houses and altars, may assuredly hope for in both, eternall and vndoubted blisse. You haue also far greater cause to fight, as they which if they do not valiantly ouercome their enemies, are in danger with themselues to loose also all that theirs is. The strength of both are sufficiently tried. Once we vnfortunatly joyned battaile at VARNA, where if wee might make exchange of our fortunes there found, happily the Turke would make choise of our flight, rather than of the great slaughter of his owne men: who being not able to ouertake vs, was there notably beaten, with the losse of a great part of his armie: whose great losse there receiued, may counteruaile our dishonour, although the losse, he suffred perforce, but we our flight by choise. But of that our ouerthrow, the angrie powers from aboue (willing to reuenge our breach of faith) were as I verily beleeue, the cause, rather than our cowardise:L for euen there, all the authors of that perfidious dealing, euen there I say, euerie one receiued the just guerdon of their treacherie. Whereas we against our wils, drawne into that wofull warre, by the mercie of God yet liue with you, preserued for the defence of the Christian commonweale, and especially of HVNGARIE, that it should not be ouerrunne with the Turkish power and rage. The number of your enemies is not of you to be feared, when as you with few, haue oftentimes learned to fight with their multitudes, and caried away from them the victorie. Hetherto we haue rather fought by the power of God than man, and in the name of Christ Iesu our Sauior, haue easily ouerthrowne their prophane battailes. Which way soeuer wee haue turned our selues, in his most mightie name, we haue with our victorious armes opened our way, for that wee fought vnder the leading and conduct of the highest, whose helpe we haue alwaies felt at hand: neither shall we thereof this daie faile, if we be mindfull of M his forepassed loue towards vs, and of our wonted valour. God is alwaies present with them that in his just quarrell fight couragiously. Hereunto is joyned the safe manner of our fight, by reason of our men at armes, and barbed horses, who like a strong castle cannot easily be ouerthrowne. Our battalions are such as may easily be commaunded, and yet strong inough against our enemies: whereas their great multitude breedeth but confusion. We haue many notable and forcible engines of warre, which they [Page] A haue not. Besides that, euerie houre we looke for the worthie Scanderbeg his comming. The danger is not so great, as that we should feare it; or so little, as that we should contemne it. Backe againe without victorie we may not goe, for that our armie is hardly by the straits of these mountaines to beeled: and if the way were neuer so easie, yet without doing that we came for, and glorie with victorie, we may not retire. Vnto the valiant, all difficulties are propounded. Wherefore sith this your last labour is at hand, wherein the whole strength of the Turkes may be for euer cut off, I pray and beseech you (fellow souldiors) by that God vnder whose power and protection wee serue, and by the loue you beare vnto your countrey, your wiues, your children, and wealth, vpon the signall of battaile giuen, so to shew your valo [...]r, as men resolued to be fully reuenged of the injuries by that filthie and wicked nation done both to God and man: and especially of the losse receiued at VARNA. We lost there a deuout king, who for our safetie, and for the breach of his faith, sacrificed himselfe; by which royall sacrifice, that diuine anger is appeased: vnto whose ghost, I beseech you, in this battaile to make an honourable sacrifice. Not forgetting withall, to reuenge the death of other worthie men in that battaile slaine. This feare of the Turks, is at once and euen this day to be cut off; and so, as that it should neuer grow againe: and the kingdome of HVNGARIE, so to be deliuered from the danger of most cruell slauerie, as that it may by this daies worke gaine perpetuall rest, and glorie, vnto the enioying of the pleasures both of this life, and of the life to come. Wherefore (worthie souldiours) we must fight with all our force, for that our honour so requireth, our profit so persuadeth, and necessitie enforceth. As for our selues, howsoeuer the matter fall out, all shall be with vs well: If victorie, perpetuall blisse and happinesse shall thereby be C procured vnto our countrey, and immortall fame vnto our selues; but if we shall be ouercome, here we shall be most honourably buried in the bed of fame, to liue in heauen with God and his saints for euer. Wherefore I beseech you so to fight, as men resolutely set downe to ouercome, or if it shall otherwise fall out, as men resolued honourably to die.’

With this the Generals speech, all the minds of the hearers were greatly enflamed, and they all by his words, and their owne hot desires, sufficiently encouraged. Neither did old Amurath on the other side with lesse care or diligence marshall his armie and encourage his Turks, sparing neither cheerefull speech, glorious promises, or seuere commaund: Whose armie being brought into the plaine, and ranged in order of battaile, filled the same from the one side to the other, euen D vnto the verie mountaines, to the great astonishment of the Christians: and so about nine a clock in the morning set forward. Huniades had from the hill where he lay, sent downe both the wings of his armie, and had afront on both sides before them, stretched out certain long troupes of light horsemen,The great ba [...] [...]aile of Cosso [...] fought betwixt Amurath and Huniades three daies together▪ to begin the skirmish: In the middest betwixt both he had placed Zechel, his sisters sonne, with a strong square battaile of men at armes: and such as he had kept aloft vpon the hill for rescues, he had compassed about with his waggons, as with trenches. The signall of the battaile being giuen, the fierce and couragious souldiors on both sides, with cheerefull mindes, began at first to skirmish a farre off: but afterwards fortune as it were fawning vpon both sides, and their courage thereupon increasing, they began with greater force to fight foot to foot, and hand to hand. Which hot fight, continued about three houres: at length the Turkes battaile E was put to the worst, by Benedict Losoncius, who had the leading of the right wing; and so likewise in the left also by Stephen Bamffi, who with great slaughter had notably foyled the great Bassa of EVROPE, still pressing hard & desperatly vpon him. Which discomfiture of his men in both wings Amurath beholding, presently sent in strong supplies, & in both places renewed the battaile: whereby the Hungarian and Valachian light horsemen before wearied, were enforced to retire vnto the men at armes; who ferred together, and standing as a strong wall, easily repulsed the greatest assaults of the Turks: In which manner of fight many were on both sides slain, but farre mote of the Turks, by reason they were neither so well horsed nor armed as were the Christians. Huniades in the meane time with the artillerie from the hill, did the Turks great harme: which Amurath perceiuing, drew as close vnto the hill as he could, by that meanes sauing his people (so much as was possible) out of the danger of the artillerie, mounted on high aboue them in such sort, as that it could little or nothing now hurt them. Which Huniades from the hill beholding, came downe to the releefe of his men, sending new supplies to both wings; sometime encouraging them with cheerefull speech, and sometime with his owne most valiant hand: vnto the wearie he sent releefe, the fearefull he encouraged, them that were flying he staied, and where hee saw the enemies fastest comming on, there was hee himselfe present to meet [Page] them, omitting nothing that was of a good Generall or worthie souldiour to be done. The valiant G he commended, the coward he reprooued, and as a carefull Generall, was himselfe in euery place present. Whereby the battaile became so fierce and terrible, that in euerie place a man might haue seen all fowly foiled with blood, and the quarrey of the dead. Amurath in like maner still sent in new supplies, nothing discouraged with the great losse of his men, presuming vpon his multitude, as fully resolued orderly to fight, and to make vse of all his forces; in hope at length by continuall sending in of fresh supplies, to wearie his enemies, whom he saw hee could not by force ouercome. Wherein he was not deceiued, for one battailion of the Hungarians was often times enforced to wearie foure or fiue of the Turks before they could be releeued, they came on so fast. That day they dined and supped in the battaile, refreshing themselues with such short repast H as they could eat standing, going, or riding. The Turkes armie was that day in euerie place put to the worst, & often times with great slaughter enforced by the Hungarians to retire almost vnto their trenches: yet was the battaile still againe renewed, and so fought on both sides, as well appeared they were resolued either to ouercome, or there to die. This cruell fight maintained all the day, was by the comming on of the night ended, both the armies retiring into their owne trenches: but with purpose the next daie to renew the battaile, and not to giue ouer or turne their backes, vntill the victorie were by dint of sword determined. So with little rest, was that night spent, both armies keeping most diligent watch, all carefully expecting the next day, as by battell therein to trie whether they should liue or die. It was yet scarce faire daie, when both the armies in good order readie ranged began againe the battaile:The battaile begun againe the second day. which at the first, was not by the I Hungarians fought with such force and courage as before, for there was none of them which had not the day before spent their whole strength; whereas there was yet almost fortie thousand of the Turks,Huniades encourageth his souldiors. which either had not fought at all, or but lightly skirmished. Yet Huniades exhorted his souldiors, not by faint harted cowardise to breake off the course of the victorie by them the daie before so well begun, but couragiously to prosecute the same; beseeching them not to be now wanting vnto themselues and their country, but to remember how well they had fought the day before, how many thousands of their enemies they had slaine, and not now at last to giue ouer, and so shamefully to frustrate all the paines and dangers by them before endured: for that they (as he said) were to be thought worthie of honour, not which began, but which well ended honourable actions. He wished them to set before their eies the calamities like to ensue,K if they should as cowards be ouercome: first, the diuers kinds of death and torture; then, the slauerie of their wiues and children; the rauishment of their virgins and matrons; and last of all, the vtter destruction of their kingdom, with the horrible confusion of all things, as well sacred as prophane: all which were by that one daies labour (as he said) to be auoided. And therefore he besought them for the loue both of God and man, with their wonted valour, that day to set at libertie for euer, themselues, their countrey, their wiues and children, and what soeuer else they held deere. In like manner also did Amurath encourage his souldiours, with great promises, and threats, persuading them rather to endure any thing, than by that daies ouerthrow to bee driuen out of EVROPE. He carefully viewed his armie, ordered his battailes, and with many graue reasons persuaded them to play the men. But after that some light skirmishes being past, both the L armies were fully joyned, the battel was fought with no lesse force and furie than the day before. Of the Christians many then wounded, came now again into the battaile, there either by speedy death or speedie victorie to cure their wounds before receiued; and there did right good seruice. Great was the slaughter in euerie place, neither could the force of the Hungarians be withstood; whose furious impression, whē the Turks could not by plain force endure, they began with their fresh horsemen, cunningly to delude their desperat fiercenesse: at such time as the Hungarians began most hardly to charge them, they by & by turned their backs, suffering them a while to follow after thē, far scattered & dispersed: who allured as it were with the hope of a present victory, eagrely pursued them, & in the pursuit slew diuers of them. And they again vpon a signall giuē, closing together, & turning back vpon the dispierced troups, well reuenged the death of their fellows:M & with their often charges, & retraits, wonderfully wearied the Hungarians; notably deluding their furious attempts with that vncertain kind of fight, all the day long. Many of the Hungarians were there slain, and the Turks had that day the better, and so both armies being wearied, night and wearines ended the fight: both retiring into their trenches, there keeping most carefull watch. The next morning by the dawning of the day, the battaile was again begun. Huniades his [Page] A brother, Generall of the Valachians, with his light horsemen setting first forward; after whom in seemly order followed the rest of the nobilitie,The battaile againe beg [...]n the third day. with their companies. Where for certaine howers, the battaile was hardly fought with like hope on both sides, and a great slaughter made, but especially of the Hungarians; who wearied with the long fight, & most part of them wounded, were now all to endure this third daies labour. Zechel (Huniades his sisters sonne) valiantly fighting in the front of the battaile, was the first of the leaders there slaine in the thickest of the Turks. Emericus Marzalus and Stephen Bamffi, both great commaunders, enclosed by the Turks, there died also. Amurath seeing the formost ensignes of the Christians which stood in Zechel his regiment, taken, and his soldiors (discomfited with the death of their colonell) turning their backs; B presently commaunded all the companies, which were manie (yet left in the trenches, for fresh supplies) to issue foorth, and at once to ouerwhelme the Christians, being (as hee said) but few and ouerweried with three daies continuall fight. Vpon which the kings commaund, they fiercely breaking out, presently ouerthrew both the wings of the Christians, before wauering; and in a great battaile (wherein most of the chiefe commaunders were slaine, and their ensigns taken) discomfited the rest, and with a great slaughter put them to flight. Huniades seeing his brother now slaine,Huniades flieth. the ensignes taken, and the battaile quite lost; betooke himselfe to flight also, leauing behind him his tents and baggage, all which shortly after became a prey vnto the Turkes: who from noone vntill night furiously followed the chase, with most cruell execution; but at length staied by the comming on of the darkenesse, they returned againe vnto their trenches. The rest C of the Turkes armie that followed not the chase, compassing in the Hungarian campe, were there by the wounded souldiors, the wagoners, and other drudges of the armie, kept out so long as they had any shot left; but yet were in the end euerie mothers sonne slaine, though not altogither vnreuenged, two or three of the Turkes in many places lying dead by the bodie of one Hungarian. Amurath to couer the greatnesse of the losse he there receiued, commanded the bodies of his captaines there slaine, to be forthwith buried; and the bodies of his common souldiours, to be for the most part cast into the riuer SCHICHNIZA: For which cause the inhabitants of the countrey there by, of long time after abstained from eating of any fish taken in that riuer. The plaine by this great battaile made once againe famous, lay neuerthelesse many yeares alter couered with dead mens bones, as if it had been with stones: neither could be ploughed D by the countrey people, but that long time after armour and weapons were there still in many places turned vp and found. Thus albeit that this bloudy victorie fell vnto the Turkes, yet was their losse farre greater than the Hungarians; hauing lost (as was reported by them that say least) foure and thirtie thousand of themselues, for eight thousand of their enemies. Howbeit they themselues report the losse to haue beene on both sides far greater;The number of the Turks and Christians slain in the battaile of Cossoua. as that of the Christians were slaine seuenteene thousand, and of themselues fortie thousand: which in so long and mortall a fight, is not vnlike to haue been true. In this vnfortunate battaile fell most part of the Hungarian nobilitie: all, men worthy eternall fame and memorie, whose names we for breuitie wil passe ouer. Many in the chase taken, and the next day brought to Amurath, were by the commandement of the angrie tyrant slaine. Such as escaped out of the slaughter by the way of ILLYRIA, returned in safetie: but such as sought to saue themselues by returning back againe through SERVIA the Despots countrey, found the same so troublesome as that few of them escaped, but that they were by the way either slaine, or quite stripped of all they had.

Neither was the fortune of the noble Huniades much better than the fortune of the rest, who hauing on horsebacke all alone by vncouth and vntract waies, trauailed three daies without meat or drinke, and the fourth day tired his horse and cast him off; being on foot and disarmed, fell into the hands of two notable theeues, who in dispoiling him of his apparell, finding a faire crucifix of gold about his necke, fell at strife betwixt themselues for the same: whereby he tooke occasion to lay hand vpon one of their swords, and with the same presently thrust him through; and then suddenly assailing the other, put him to flight also. So deliuered of this danger, trauailing on, and almost spent with thirst and hunger, the next day he light vpon a sheepheard, a sturd [...]e rough knaue, who hearing of the ouerthrow of the Hungarians, was (in hope of prey) roaming abroad in that desolat countrey: Who at their first meeting, strucken with the majestie of the man, stood at gaze vpon him; as did also Huniades, fearing in his so great weaknesse to haue to doe with him. Thus a while hauing the one well regarded the other, they began to enter talke, the sheepheard bluntly asking him of his fortune; and he for Gods sake crauing [Page] of him some thing to eat. When as the sheepheard hearing of his hard happe, mooued G with his estate, and hope of promised reward, brought him vnto a poore cottage not farre off, causing to be set before him bread and water, with a few oynions. Who in the pleasant remembrance of that passed miserie, would oftentimes after in his greatest banquets say, That he neuer in his life fared better, or more daintily, than when he supped with this sheepheard. So well can hunger season homely cates.Huniades taken pris [...]ner no [...] by the D [...]spot. Thus refreshed, he was by the sheepheard conducted to SYNDIROVIA: whereof the Despot hauing intelligence (whose countrey was all layd for the staying of him) caused him by the captaine of the castle to be apprehended, and imprisoned. But after certaine daies spent in talke about his deliuerance, it was at length agreed, that all such strong townes in RASCIA and SERVIA, as had by the Hungarians been detained from the Despot, at such time as his kingdome was by king Vladislaus restored vnto him, should now be againe to him deliuered; and that Matthias, Huniades his youngest sonne, should for the confirmation of farther friendship, marrie the Despots daughter: with some other such conditions as it pleased the vngratefull prince for his owne behoofe to set downe. For performance whereof, he required to haue Ladislaus, Huniades his eldest son, in hostage. All which Huniades was glad forthwith to yeeld vnto, for feare the false Despot should haue deliuered him into the hands of Amurath, his mortall enemie. So the hostage being giuen, Huniades was againe set at libertie. Who vpon Christmas day comming to SEGEDINVM, was there by all the nobilitie of HVNGARIE, and great concourse of the people, honorably receiued. This ingratitude of the Despots no lesse greeued this worthie man, than the dishonour receiued from the Turke. Wherefore vpon the suddaine raising a great armie, he inuaded the territorie, long before giuen to the Despot by the emperor Sigismund in HVNGARIE, in exchange of the strong town of BELGRADE, destroying the countrey before him, and burning the villages, neuer resting, vntill he had got into his power whatsoeuer the Despot had in HVNGARIE: & yet not so contented, presently entred into RASCIA, where the Despots embassadors met him, bringing with them Ladislaus the hostage, honorably rewarded, & humbly crauing peace at his hands: which he at the request of the nobilitie, easily granted, with forgiuenesse of all former wrongs or injuries. And so hauing with him concluded a peace, returned backe again into HVNGARIE. But Fortune neuer suffereth long the valiant man to rest, but still keepeth him busied, least he should at too much ease attaine vnto honours glorie.

1449The yeare following, Amurath certainely enformed, That George the Despot hauing of late K Huniades in his power, had againe set him at libertie: was therwith exceeding wroth, blaming him of great ingratitude,The Despot inuaded by Amurath, craueth aid of Huniades. That for a kingdome which he had at his hands receiued, he had not deliuered vnto him his enemie, in full recompence thereof: whom of all others he most feared, & therefore likewise wished to haue had him perish. In reuenge of which injurie (as he tooke it) the melancholie tyrant, sent Fritze-beg and Iose-beg, two of his most expert captaines, with a strong power to inuade RASCIA, the Despots countrey: who accordingly entring thereinto, strongly fortified CHRYSONICVM, a towne before ruinated, vpon the side of the riuer MORAVA, and from thence with fire and sword destroyed the countrey both farre and neere. The Despot dismayed with this suddaine and vnexpected inuasion, wist not well which way to turne himselfe: the angrie Turke, he well knew, was not to bee appeased without yeelding vnto some great inconuenience; L and to pray aid of Huniades, without which he was not able to withstand the Turkes, hee thought but vaine, for the wrong he had before done him. So that what to do he he wist not: yet had he rather to endure any thing, than againe to suffer the heauie bondage of the Turke. In this extremitie he thought best to make proofe of Huniades, of whom hee humbly and not without great shame craued aid. Which the courteous gouernour, according to his honourable nature, forgetting all former injuries, easily graunted: and the rather, for that hee desired nothing more, than to be of the Turks in some part reuenged of the ouerthrow from them of late receiued in the plaines of COSSOVA: as also for that he wisely foresaw, That the Despots countrey being lost, hee should haue the Turkes still brauing him euen as it were in the gates of HVNGARIE. Wherefore hauing with great speed raised a conuenient power, he forthwith in person himselfe M set forward, and at SYNDEROVIA passing ouer the riuer DANVEIVS into RASCIA, there joyned his power with the Despots, which hee found there readie. And so marching forward with such expedition, that hee preuented the fame of his comming; and the weather also at the same time as it were fauouring his purpose, and couering the countrey with a thicke mist, hee was the fourth day vpon the Turkes before they were aware of him. Who wonderfully dismayed with [Page] the suddaine comming of the Christians, and vpon the breaking vp of the mist, discouering also Huniades his ensignes (alwaies vnto them dreadfull) thought now no more of resistance, or of the ordering of their battaile, but as men discouraged, betooke themselues to speedie flight. After whom followed the Hungarian and Seruian light horsemen, with most bloodie execution hauing them in chace all that day; Huniades with his men at armes following still after in good order, for feare the Turkes should againe make head vpon the light horsemen that had them in chace. And had not the comming on of the night ended the slaughter, few of the Turkes had there escaped: but by the approch thereof many of them got into the woods, and so saued themselues. Fritze-beg the Generall, with most part of the Turkes best commaunders, were in that flight taken. Huniades after this victorie entering into BVLGARIA, came to BVDINA, the metropoliticall citie of that countrey, which (as the cause oftentimes of great wars) he burnt down to the ground. And so hauing well reuenged himselfe, and cleared the countrey of the Turks, he returned backe againe into SERVIA, and there gaue vnto the Despot for a present all the prisoners he had taken: and contenting himselfe with the honour of the victorie, returned with triumph to BVDA, there to find no lesse trouble with the Bohemians, and some of the discontented nobilitie of HVNGARIE, than hee had with the Turkes, to the great hurt of the Christian commonweale.

All this while that Amurath was thus troubled with Huniades and the Hungarians, Mustapha lying still vpon the borders of MACEDONIA, as Amurath had commaunded; it chaunced C that a great quarrell grew betwixt the Venetians and Scanderbeg, about the inheritance of Lech Zacharie (a noble man of EPIRVS) then shamefully murthered by his vnnaturall kinsman Lech Duchagne; part of whose inheritance lying in the frontiers of EPIRVS, the Venetians claimed, as belonging to their seignorie: and hauing got possession of the citie of DAYNA, part thereof, by force held the same against Scanderbeg: vpon which quarrell great warres arose betwixt the Venetians and him, who had before beene very great friends: insomuch, that in the end they joined in battaile at the riuer of DRINE, where the Venetians were by him in a great battaile ouerthrowne. Of which troubles Mustapha daily vnderstood, and how that Scanderbeg so busied, had left but a small garrison vpon the borders of EPIRVS. Wherefore being desirous to redeeme his former disgrace with some better hap; hee would faine haue taken the oportunitie now presented, D but that his great masters command lay so heauie vpon him, as that he durst not without his leaue attempt the same; knowing that the danger of his euill fortune, if it should so fall out, would farre exceed the vncertaine glorie of his better successe. Yet ceased hee not from time to time to giue Amurath intelligence of these troubles and warres in EPIRVS, earnestly requesting him not to let slip so faire an oportunitie, but to giue him leaue to enter into the countrey: in manner, assuring him beforehand of the victorie. yet the suspitious old king was long in resoluing what to doe, still fearing the fortune of his enemie. At length discharged of the feare of the Hungarians, and commending Mustapha his forwardnesse, hee sent vnto him a messenger with letters of this purport, answerable to his desire.

E The warres thou so greatly desirest,

Amurath his graue letters of aduertisement to Mustapha, concerning his going againe into Epirus.

behold Mustapha we graunt vnto thee: the glorie thereof (if those things be true which we heare of the Venetian war) thine owne valour, and worthie right hand shall giue thee: yet thou must warily deale with that enemie, and not rashly take vp armes, which thou maiest be enforced shamefully to cast away, when thou thinkest least. Peraduenture the counterfeit shew of warre, and faigned falling out among the Christians, do too much allure thee; for the common saying is, There is no quarrell sooner ended, than betwixt the father and the sonne: wee in person absent, can neither aduise thee as present, nor commend a foolish forwardnesse in armes. Thou must before thou put on armes, dispose of all things, and consider of euery particular, which is to be put in execution when thou art in the field. Thou hast a great armie of fresh and lustie souldiors, thine enemies are with continuall warres wearied and spent: in that remaineth, doe as thou thinkest good, for I forbid thee the F doing of nothing, which thou thinkest may be for the aduancement of our honour.

Mustapha hauing thus obtained leaue, and well appointed, with all his forces entered into EPIRVS, hoping in one battaile to end that warre: which he (presuming vpon the strength of his armie) many times offered in the plaine field. Newes hereof was brought to Scanderbeg (then lying at the siege of DAYNA against the Venetians) from his garrisons lying vpon the frontiers [Page] of EPIRVS, to whom he addressed a speedie messenger: commaunding them in no wise to encounter G with the enemie, but to keepe themselues within the sauegard of their strong holds, and to protract the time vntill his coming. Afterwards selecting out of his armie fiue hundreth horsemen, & fifteen hundreth chosen footmen, all old beaten soldiors, he with that small number marched to the place where he knew lay his garrisons intrenched, in the vpper countrey of DIBRA: leauing Amesa his nephew at the siege of DAYNA. Mustapha hauing many times in vaine sought to draw the garrison souldiours out of their trenches by offering them many faire oportunities of aduantage, and now out of hope that way to circumuent them, began to spoile and burne the countrey round about. But when he vnderstood by his scouts of Scanderbeg his comming, hee speedily called together his armie, and encamped within two miles of Scanderbegs campe, at a H place called ORONOCHE, in the vpper countrey of DIBRA. Scanderbeg had there in his campe of his garrison souldiours and those he brought with him, foure thousand horsemen, and two thousand foot, all old expert souldiours: where, after he had made his trenches strong, hee left therein three hundreth of them, and brought the rest into the field in order of battaile. Mustapha on the other side likewise brought on in good order his armie also. But whilest both armies thus stood ranged one within the view of the other, expecting nothing but the signall of battaile, suddenly a man at armes, in gallant and rich furniture, issued out of the Turks armie into the middest of the p [...]aine betwixt both armies, and from thence with a loud voice challenged to fight hand to hand with any one of the Christian armie. This Turke was called Caragusa. At the first Scanderbegs soldiors vpon this challenge stood stil, one looking vpon another; for as they were all I ashamed to refuse so braue an offer, so the danger so suddainly offered, staied euerie mans forwardnesse for a while: Vntill that one Paul Manessi, accounted the best man at armes in Scanderbeg his armie (vpon whom euerie mans eie was now cast, as if he had been the man by name called out by the proud challenger) not able longer to endure the Turkes pride, with great courage and cheerefull countenance came to Scanderbeg, requesting him that he might be the man to accept that challenge. Who greatly commended him, and willed him on God his name to set forward, first to win honour to himselfe, and then to giue example of his valour for all the rest of the armie to follow. Paul staying a while, vntill he had for that purpose most brauely armed himselfe, mounted presently to horse, and riding forth into the plaine, called aloud vnto the Turk, that he should make himselfe readie to fight. Whom Caragusa required to stay a while that hee K might speake vnto him a few words, indifferently concerning them both.

The s [...]eech of Caragusa the Tu [...]ke, to Manessi.The victorie (said he) our force and fortune shall determine: but the conditions of the victorie, we are now to appoint our selues. If the Destinies haue assigned vnto thee the honour of this daie, I re [...]use not, but that thou maiest by law of armes, when I am ouercome, cary away with thee my rich spoiles, and at thy pleasure dispose of my dead bodie. But if thou shalt fall vnder my hand, I require that I may haue the same right, and power ouer thy captiue bodie: and that the Generals will graunt that no man shall mooue out of either armie, to better the fortune of either of vs in the time of the combat, or after.

Manessi his stout answere to Caragusa. Whereunto Manessi answered, That hee agreed to those conditions of the combat, which hee L vpon a needlesse feare [...]ad so required to be kept: saying, That where the fierce soule had yeilded, there of good right all the rest ought to be the conquerours; and that therefore he should fight without feare of any more enemies than himselfe: whom so soone as he had depriued of life, he should haue free power to doe with his dead bodie what he would. Which if thou wouldest giue (said he) vnto the teares of my fellow souldiours, yet would not worthie Scanderbeg suffer the carkasse of a vanquished coward to be brought backe againe into his campe.

Caragusa maruailed to heare his so braue a resolution, and as it was thought, repented him of his challenge. But after that both the Generals had vpon their honours confirmed the lawes of the combat before rehearsed, both the Champions were left alone in the middest of the plaine betweene both armies, with all mens eies fixed vpon them. Now both the armies betwixt feare M and hope, stood in great expectation of the euent of the combat, presaging their own fortunes in the fortune of their Champions. In which time they both hauing withdrawn themselues one frō the other a conuenient distance, for the making of their course, and after with great violence running together: Caragusa was by Manessi, at the first encounter stroke through the head and slaine. Manessi alighting, disarmed the dead bodie, and stroke off his head: and so loaded with the armour and head of the proud challenger, returned with victorie to the armie, where he was [Page] joyfully receiued and brought to Scanderbeg, of whom he was there presently honourably both commended and rewarded. Scanderbeg seeing his men by this good fortune of Manessi greatly encouraged, and the Turkes as men dismaied with the death of their Champion hanging their heads,The battaile betwixt Scanderbeg and Mustapha. like an inuincible captaine himselfe set first forward toward the enemie, as it were in contempt of their multitude: and had charged them as they stood, before they had set one foot forward, had not Mustapha to encourage his souldiours, with certaine disordered troupes opposed himselfe against him, which the whole armie seeing, faintly followed: but as they set forward with small courage, so were they at the first encounter easily driuen to retire. Which when Mustapha saw, he called earnestly vpon them to follow him, and the more to encourage them by his owne example, put spurres to his horse, and fiercely charged the front of Scanderbegs armie, as one resolued either to gaine the victorie, or there to die; after whom followed most of the principall captains of his armie, which would not for shame forsake their generall: thus by his valour the battaile was for a while renued. But Moses preuailing with great slaughter, in one part of the armie, the Turks began to flie: in which flight Mustapha the Generall, with twelue others of the cheefe men in that armie, were taken prisoners, but of the common souldiours few were saued. There was slaine of the Turkes armie ten thousand, and fifteen ensignes taken, whereas of the Christians were lost but three hundreth. The Turks tents and campe, with all the wealth thereof, became a prey to Scanderbegs souldiours. Wherewith although he had satisfied the desires of them all, yet to keepe his old custome, he entred into the confines of MACEDONIA, and C there burnt and spoiled all that hee could. And afterwards leauing a garrison of two thousand horsemen, and a thousand foot, for defence of his frontiers, returned againe with the rest of his armie to the siege of DAYNA.

Not long after, the Venetians made peace with Scanderbeg: and Amurath desirous to redeeme his captaines, about the same time sent great presents vnto Scanderbeg, with fiue and twentie thousand duckats,Mustapha ran [...]somed. for the ransome of Mustapha, & the other chieftaines: whom Scanderbeg so honourably vsed, as if there had neuer been any hostilitie betwixt him and them: and so with a safe conuoy, sent them out of his countrey. The raunsome of Mastapha and the other Turks he deuided amongst his souldiours. When Scanderbeg had thus made peace with the Venetians, hee forthwith led his armie againe into MACEDONIA, with the spoile of that countrey to make his D souldiours better pay, as his vsuall manner was. And to doe the greater harme, he diuided his armie into three parts, wherewith he ouerrunning the countrey, wasted and destroied all before him, putting to the sword all the Turks that came in his waie. As for the Christians that there liued amongst them, he spared, but left them nothing more than their liues: the buildings of the countrey he vtterly consumed with fire, so that in all that part of MACEDONIA which bordereth vpon EPIRVS, nothing was to be seen more than the bare ground, and the showes of the spoile by him there made. Which vnmercifull hauocke of all things he made, to the end that the Turks should find no releefe in those quarters, whensoeuer they should come either to lie in garrison in that countrey, or to inuade EPIRVS. The spoile hee made was so great, that it was thought hee left not in all that countrey, so much as might releeue the Turkes armie for one E daie.

Of all these great harmes by Scanderbeg done in MACEDONIA, Amurath was with all speed aduertised, and therewith exceedingly vexed: howbeit he resolued with his great counsellors, no more to send any of his Bassaes or captaines, but to goe himselfe in person, with such a royall armie, as should be sufficient not to conquer EPIRVS, but if need were, to fill euery corner thereof. Wherefore hee commaunded commissions to bee speedily directed into all parts of his kingdomes and prouinces, for the leuying of a great armie for HADRIANOPLE: yet whither he intended to imploy the same, was not knowne to any in the Turks court, more than to the Bassaes of the counsaile. Which caused all the bordering Christian princes to make the best preparation they could for their owne assurance, euery one fearing least that growing tempest should breake out against himselfe. But Scanderbeg of long acquainted with the Turkish policie, easily perceiued all that great preparation to be made against him: which he was the rather induced to thinke, by reason of the vnaccustomed quietnesse of Amurath, who all that while had neither sent any armie to reuenge the ouerthrow of Mustapha, nor so much as a garrison for defence of the borders of his kingdome, but had let all things negligently passe, as if he had beene in a dead sleepe. Besides that, it was also thought, that he had secret intelligence from some of his old friends and [Page] acquaintance in Amurath his court, who probably suspected the matter. Wherefore Scanderbeg G setting all other things apart, gaue himselfe wholly to the preparing of things necessarie for the defence of his small kingdome against so mightie an enemie. First hee by letters and messengers aduertised all the Christian princes his neighbours and friends, of the greatnesse of the danger of that warre; wherein Amurath (as he said) sought not onely his destruction, but the vtter ruin of them all: exhorting them therefore to consider, how farre the danger of so great an armie might extend, and therefore to stand fast vpon their guard. Then hee sent Moses and other his expert captaines into all parts of EPIRVS, to take vp souldiors, and all the prouision of corne and victuals that was possible to be had. Wherein he himselfe also busily trauailed day and night, not resting vntill he had left nothing in the countrey whereupon the enemie might shew his crueltie. Most part of the common people with their substance, were receiued into the strong cities, the rest tooke the refuge of the Venetian and other Christian princes townes and countries farther off, vntill this furie was ouerpast: all such as were able to beare armes, were commaunded to repaire to CROIA; where when they were all assembled, there were ynow to haue made a right puissant armie. But out of all this multitude Scanderbeg made choice onely of ten thousand old expert souldiors, whom he purposed to lead himselfe to encounter with the Turkes great armie, as he should see occasion: and placed a thousand three hundred in garrison in CROIA. The cittizens also themselues were throughly furnished with all manner of weapons and other prouision meet for the defence of their cittie. Then proclamation was made, That all the aged men vnfit for warres, with the women and children, should depart the citie; and none to bee therein left but the garrison souldiors, and such citizens as were willing to tarie, and able to beare arms. This cittie of CROIA was the cheefe citie of EPIRVS, and of the fortune thereof seemed to depend the state of all the other strong townes and citties, and so consequently of the whole kingdome: for which cause,Th [...] lamentable [...] of the [...]ke ci [...]izen [...] out of Croia. Scanderbeg had the greater care for the defence thereof. It was a miserable sight to see the lamentable departure of this weake companie out of CROIA: all was full of weeping and wailing; no house, no street, no part of the cittie was without mourning: but especially in the churches was to be seene the very face of common sorrow and heauinesse; where all sorts of people in great numbers flocking together, poured forth their deuout praiers, with fountaines of teares, wringing their hands; yea, and some in the impatiencie of their greefe forgetting themselues, seemed to expostulate their greefe with God. But when their sorrow was with teares assuaged,K and their hearts somewhat eased, the aged mothers kissing their sonnes, gaue them many a fearefull commandement: sometime rehersing how louingly and tenderly they had brought them vp, and othersome times shewing vnto them their feeble limmes and hoary haires, willing them to bee mindfull of them: The wiues presented their children vnto their husbands, bewayling to leaue them as childlesse wydowers, and their houses desolat: The old men mute with sorrow, & carefull of their children, durst neither encourage them, for feare of making them too forward; neither dissuade them from aduenturing themselues, least they should seeme to loue them more than their natiue countrie. In the middest of these passions commandement came from Scanderbeg, that they must now depart, that the souldiors might take their places & charge. Then began their sorrowes afresh, with pittious scriching & teares. A man would haue thought L the cittie had euen then been presently taken by the Turks. They could hardly be drawne from the embracing of their friends, all now desiring to remaine still with them in the citie, partakers of their common dangers. But when they saw the officers begin to be earnest vpon them, and to hasten their departure, then with heauie hearts they tooke as it were their last farewell, and departed out of the citie, setting their feet many times they wist not where, for desire they had to looke backe againe vpon the citie. This great multitude was conueyed also into the Venetian cities, and other places free from danger: whither all the countrey people, which were not before receiued into the strong cities, resorted also, with all their substance and cattell; leauing nothing in all the countrey of EPIRVS, but the bare ground for the Turks to prey vpon. After this multitude was departed, and all well quieted, and none left in the citie but men fit for seruice, Scanderbeg M throughly stored it with all things needfull for the defence thereof, and for the enduring of a long siege: besides that, he gaue to euery souldior conuenient armour, with some small reward. Then he placed Vranacontes (a valiant and famous captaine, honourably descended) gouernour of the cittie. And so hauing set all things in order for the safegard thereof, after hee had in few words exhorted them courageously to endure the siege, and not to listen to Amurath his flattering [Page] A and deceitfull charmes, he departed out of the cittie vnto his armie, then lying within view, and began presently to march towards DYBRA. But he was not farre gone, before he met with Moses with a gallant troupe of horsemen comming from SFETIGRADE, a strong citie of DYBRA, situate in the confines of EPIRVS, bordering vpon MACEDONIA: which citie was Scanderbeg his second care, for that it was like to be the first that should endure the angrie tyrants furie, standing first in his way, as it were the fortresse of that countrey. Moses had there set all things in like order, as had Scanderbeg in CROIA; and had there placed one Peter Perlat (a graue and polliticke man) Gouernour, with a strong garrison of souldiors chosen out of all the countrey of DYBRA, which were alwaies accounted the best men of warre in all EPIRVS, and was for so doing B greatly commended of Scanderbeg. Who deliuering vnto him all the forces hee had prepared for the defence of the other castles and citties of EPIRVS, sent him with diuers other of his nobilitie and captaines, to take order for the safetie of those places, appointing vnto euery man his charge.Scanderbeg commeth to Sfetigrade. As for himselfe, he with a small troupe of horsemen went to SFETIGRADE, carefull of that citie aboue measure, as it were before deuining the ensuing danger. Being come thither, and all the souldiors assembled by his commaundement into the market place, hee there in open audience spake vnto them as followeth: ‘Almightie God could not this day offer vnto you (worthie souldiours of SFETIGRADE) better matter:The effectuall speech of Scanderbeg vnto the souldiors and citizens of Sfetigrade, to encourage thē against the comming of Amurath. neither could a fairer occasion be presented vnto braue minds and souldiors desirous of honor, C than that which now hath caused you to take vp most just armes. Wherein you may for euer by worthie example make knowne your constant faith and worthie valour, both towards me in priuat, and the people of EPIRVS in generall. Hitherto we haue horne armes for the honour of our kingdome, but now we must fight for our liues, our libertie, and the wals of our countrey. You must now force your selues, that you doe not by reproch and cowardise staine the worthie praises you haue alreadie deserued, by the great victories by you obtained vnder my conduct. The greatest part of the fortune of this war dependeth vpon you: For the first passage of Amurath into EPIRVS (that I my selfe may be vnto you the first messenger of that danger) will be this way: the first furie of the Turkes will assaile you, that hauing here as it were broken downe the strongest fortresse of EPIRVS, hee may afterwards breake through the countrey, more subject to danger. The first fruits of this war is yours, you (if you beare the D hearts of courageous men, mindfull of your libertie) may beat downe the proud strength of the haughtie enemie, and discourage his high conceits. The Othoman king shall haue the beginning both of his hope and feare, of you: if he shall find you so minded, as I now see you gallantly mooued, and with joy heare your violent indignation; he will in euery place feare a great force of danger, and thereby learne to abstaine from the other cities of EPIRVS: neither will he lie here long at a vaine siege, except the wa [...]ward old man, will foolishly hereupon gage all his forces: for such is the situation and strength of this citie, that it may easily set at nought an angrie enemie. Wherefore resolue with your selues worthie souldiors and cittizens, only by constancie and faithfulnesse, without bloodshed, to gain vnto your selues an honourable victorie. Of your valour (which I willingly speake of) dependeth for the most part the faithfulnesse of all the rest, they will looke vpon you whom they may praise or accuse, and whose example E they may follow in the fortune of these warres. But to what purpose should men of woorth in their actions pretend the necessitie of faith, or chaunce of fortune? whereas, by reason things are both best begun and accomplished. It seldome chaunceth, that fortune faileth the sound aduice, or is not obedient vnto vertue: and you haue all things which most politicke care could prouide for your safetie. You want not armour, you want not plentifull prouision of victuals, you want not valiant men: the superfluous multitude of vnnecessarie people, the pitifull lamentation of women, and troublesome crying of children shall not withdraw you from your publike charge, from your seruice and defence of your countrey; I haue left you alone to your selues, for defence of your citie, your religion, and dwellings, that you might be encouraged onely with the prouocations of honour and libertie, with the emulation of aduenture and danger, and the very sight one of another; and I my selfe will not be far off with my courageous souldiors, F a silent beholder and encourager of your vertue: where although I may not auert from you all the force of the cruell enemie by rash aduenture, nor trie the whole fortune of this war in plaine field; yet will I turne a great part of your dangers vpon my selfe, and trouble the enemies designes, with many a hot skirmish. For as much as there is no better manner of fight, nor safer kind of warre, for vs amongst such a multitude of men, and so many thousands of souldiors, than neuer to offer battaile vnto the enemie in plaine field, neither to aduenture all vpon the fortune of one conflict, although a man did [Page] see apparent signes of victorie. He will of purpose at the first giue vs the oportunitie of good hap: hee G will feed our hardinesse with the blood of his base souldiors, the easilier to intrap and oppresse our rashnesse, allured with the sweet bait of good fortune: but the craftie deuises of the Othoman king, are by great policie and consideration to be frustrated. This mightie enemie is by little and little to bee cut off, as time and place shall giue occasion. For truly that victorie should bee vnto me lamentable, which I should buy with the blood of my souldiors: and beleeue me, it would be vnto me a more sorrowfull than pleasant sight, to see eight or ten thousand of my enemies slaine, with the losse of a few of you. I will praise and honour my subiects of EPIRVS for valiant conquerours, if they shall not suffer themselues to be conquered of the Turkish king. The rest I had rather you courageous souldiors of DIERA should consider with your selues, than that I should seeme to distrust of your assured faith, by giuing you a carefull H and tedious admonition.’

When Scanderbeg had with cheerefull persuasion thus encouraged the minds of them of SFETIGRADE, he departed thence, and visited diuers other cities of EPIRVS, where finding all things politickely ordered by Moses and the other captaines, whom he had put in trust, he returned to his armie, then lying neere vnto CROIA.

Whilest Scanderbeg was with great carefulnesse yet thus prouiding for the safegard of his kingdome, in the meane time Amurath his armie was assembled at HADRIANOPLE, to the number of a hundred and fiftie thousand men, whereof many were pioners, and men appointed for other base seruices necessarie at the siege of townes. Of this great armie Amurath sent fortie I thousand light horsemen before him to SFETIGRADE, who according to his commaund came and encamped before the citie: the newes of their comming, with a great deale more than truth, was forthwith brought to Scanderbeg, then lying with his small armie neere CROIA: whereupon he with foure thousand horsemen, and a thousand foot, took the way toward SFETIGRADE, and strongly encamped his armie within seuen miles of the citie. Where hauing set all things in good order, he, accompanied with Moses and Tanusius, went by certaine blind waies through the mountaines and woods, vntill he came so neere vnto the citie, that from the place where hee stood, vpon the top of a hill, he might easily discouer in what sort the enemie lay encamped: and so returning backe againe to his campe, rise with his armie in the night following, and drawing as neere vnto the Turks armie as he could, vndiscouered, placed all his armie in the couert of the K woods and secret valleyes,A notable [...]tratageme of Scanderbeg for the intrapping of his enemies. vnperceiued of his enemies. After that hee sent forth Moses and Musachi his nephew, with thirtie of his best horsemen, apparelled as if they had been but common souldiors, but passing well mounted, driuing before them certaine horses laden with corne, by a by-way, as if they had purposed to haue secretly got into the cittie. The day then breaking, they were discouered by the Turks scouts, and set vpon: where at the first Moses and the rest began of purpose to flie, but when he saw that they were pursued but with like number to themselues, hee returned backe vpon the Turks, and slew fiue of them, and chased the rest vnto the campe. The Generall seeing what had happened, sent foorth foure thousand horsemen to pursue these supposed victualers: whom they quickly recouered the sight of, for that Moses of purpose had made small hast to flie: but when the Turks began to draw nigh, Moses left the horses laden with corn,L and fled; yet so that he still drew on the Turks with hope to ouertake him, vntill he had brought them where Scanderbeg with his armie lay in wait: by whom they were suddainly assailed on euerie side, and with great slaughter put to flight. In this conflict, two thousand of the Turkes were slaine, and a thousand of their horses taken: of the Christians were lost but two and twentie. This was the first welcome of the Turks armie to SFETIGRADE.

About eight daies after came Amurath with all his armie, in the beginning of May in the yeare of our lord 1449,1449 and hauing made the greatest shew he could with his huge armie to terrifie the defendants:Amurath commeth to Sfetigrade with his armie. he encamped the baser sort of his footmen at the foot of the hill, whereon the citie stood, and lay himselfe with his Ianizaries, and other his most valiant souldiors, about three quarters of a mile further off: where after he had line still one daie, & well considered the strength M of the place, towards euening he sent a messenger to the citie, who requested to speake with the Gouernour Perlat. Whereof hee hearing, came to the wall: of whom the messenger requested, That he would commaund the souldiours standing by, to goe further off, for as much as he had some thing in secret to say vnto him from his master. Vnto whom Perlat merrily answered: It is like indeed to bee some great secret, that you would haue kept not onely from the hearing [Page] A of my soldiors, but from the verie light of the dale, and therefore haue chosen the night: but I haue not learned of mine elders, to heare any message from mine enemie by night, neither at any time else out of the hearing of the garison, to whom Scanderbeg hath committed the defence of this citie, and I the sauegard of my person: you must therefore at this time pardon me, and to morrow if your maister so please, I will heare you at large. And therewith commanded him to depart from the wals. So he returned for that time without audience as he came. It grieued Amurath not a little to see his messenger so lightly regarded: yet forasmuch as hee had more hope to gain the citie by large offers, or some reasonable composition, than by all his great force▪ he dissembled his wrath: and the next daie sent the same messenger again, with one of his Bassaes▪ a graue and well spoken man, himselfe borne in EPIRVS. This Bassa with three souldiours, and two seruitours, was by the gouernours commaundement by one of the ports receiued into the citie, and brought into S. Maries church. Where after he had with great eloquence sought to insinuate himselfe into the minds of the Gouernour, and the hearers, and afterwards augmented the terrour of Amuraths power beyond all measure, laying before them the great victories by him obtained against the Hungarians, and the other Christian princes: in fine he exhorted them to yeild the citie vnto him, in whose name he promised first that the citizens should in all respects vnder his gouernement liue as they had before done vnder Sanderbegs; then, that the Gouernor should receiue at Amurath his hands most honourable preferments, with many rich and princely gifts; and that it should be lawfull for the garrison souldiours to depart in safetie whether they C would, and to haue three hundreth thousand Aspers diuided amongst them in reward. But when the Bassa had ended his speech, the Gouernour in this sort replied: ‘If you had not deliuered this speech vnto resolute men, deuoted vnto the defence of their libertie, it might perhaps haue wrought some effect;The resolute answere of Perlat the Gouernor, vnto the Bassa. and we (said he) might peraduenture listen vnto your offers, if we were either afraid of the Othoman king, and the vaine threats of our enemies; or else were wearie of the gouernement of the noble Scanderbeg. But forasmuch as no euill desert of his, nor good desert of your masters, hath yet passed, for which we should preferre a stranger before our naturall soueraigne, an enemie before a friend, a Turke before a Christian; let your maister proceed first in his action begun, let him prooue his fortune, let him by force terrifie vs, beat downe our wals, make hauocke D of our men, and by strong hand driue vs to humble our selues at his feet, and to sue for peace: But it were a great dishonour, yea a thing almost to be laughed at, if we should cowardly accept of these conditions by him offered, before any assault giuen, before one drop of bloud spilt, before any souldior did so much as once grone for any wound receiued, before one stone were shaken in the wall, or any small breach made. But your maister shall doe better to raise his siege, and get him backe againe to HADRIANOPLE, there to spend the small remainder of his old yeares in quiet, and not to prouoke vs his fatall enemies, whose courage in defence of our liberties, and fidelitie towards our prince, hee hath so often times prooued to his great dishonour, and losse of his armies. The faith I haue once giuen to my Soueraigne, for the defence of this citie, I will neuer forget, vntill the effusion of the last drop of my bloud. It shall be vnto me reward and honour inough, if I either liuing defend this citie, or with losse of my E life shall leaue my guiltlesse soule at libertie, and my carkasse amongst the dead bodies of worthie souldiours, when I shall find a way into a farre better place.’

The Generall hauing giuen this resolute answere vnto the Bassa, bountifully feasted him that day at dinner, and afterwards led him through the middest of the citie: where he saw great store of victuals, by the Gouernour commaunded of purpose to be set in shew, to put Amurath out of hope of winning the citie by long siege. And so sent the Bassa out by the same port whereby he came in, much discontented with the answere he was to returne to his maister.

When Amurath vnderstood by the Bassa,Sfetigrade assaulted. of the Gouernours resolution, he was therewith exceeding wroth, and thereupon with his great ordinance battered the citie three dayes without F intermission. And hauing by the furie of his artillerie made a small breach, he foorthwith gaue thereunto a most terrible assault, labouring first to win the same by the force and multitude of his common souldiors, which the Turks call Asapi, whom hee forced by great numbers to that seruice. Of these souldiors, the Turke in his warres maketh no great reckoning, but to blunt the swords of his enemies, or to abate their first furie, thereby to giue the easier victorie to his Ianizaries and other his better souldiors: which the Othoman kings hold for good policie. Whilest [Page] these forlorne souldiors, without respect of danger pressing forward, are slaine by heapes at the G breach, the Ianizaries at the same time in another place attempted to haue scaled the wals of the citie: but whilest they with much labour and difficultie first crawle vp the steepe rocke whereon the cittie was built, and afterward desperatly mount vp their scaling ladders, they were by the defendants with huge stones and weightie peeces of timber cast vpon them, beaten down, wherwith they were driuen headlong to the bottome of the rocke, and so miserably slaine. Many of them together with their skaling ladders, were by the Christians thrust from the wall, and tumbling downe the rocke, violently carried with them others, comming vp behind them. Some few got to the top of the ladders, and taking hold of the battlements of the wals, lost some their fingers, some their hands, but most their liues, being beaten downe as the other were. Many of them H which stood farther off, were then wounded also, and with shot from the wals slaine. With this miserable slaughter, and no hope to preuaile, the Turks discouraged, began to withdraw themselues from the assault: but the Bassaes and captaines standing behind them, forced them againe forward, exhorting some, threatening others, and beating the rest forward with their trunchions. By which meanes the assault was againe renewed, but not with such courage as before, though with no lesse slaughter: which the defendants seeing, gaue from the wals great tokens of joy and triumph. Amurath perceiuing his discouraged souldiours readie of themselues to forsake the assault, presently sent Feri-Bassa (one of his most valiant captaines) with a new supplie of three thousand chosen souldiours to renew the fight. The Christians well aware of their comming, ceased not with continuall shot to beat them from the wals: but such was the forwardnesse of I that fierce captaine, that without regard of danger he brought his men to the wals, where the defendants from aboue ouerwhelmed them with stones, timber, wild fire, and such other things as are vsually prepared for the defence of townes besieged. For all that, Feri-Bassa gaue so great an assault, that he slew diuers of the defendants vpon the wals, and had there forcibly entered, had not the Gouernour perceiuing the danger, with a companie of fresh souldiors come with speed to the defence of that place;The Turkes [...]. whereby the enemie was presently repulsed, and driuen againe from the wals. Amurath seeing the great slaughter of his men, and no hope of successe, caused a retreat to be sounded, and so leauing the assault, retired againe into his campe. The great losse and dishonour at this assault receiued, much troubled his wayward mind: who for all that yet ceased not to giue the like vaine attempts. At length the captaine of the Ianizaries perceiuing that part of K the citie which was farthest from the campe, to be commonly but slenderly manned, by reason that it seemed a place impregnable, both for the height and steepenesse of the rocke; told Amurath, That he would assay (if it so pleased him) secretly in the night to attempt by that place to enter the cittie: where as they thought nothing was more to bee feared, than the height thereof, which they supported with the wings of desire, doubted not to mount vnto. This his deuice exceedingly pleased the king, and was the next night with great silence put in execution. But such was the carefulnesse of the Gouernour ouer euery part of his charge, that nothing could be done against the same,The Ianizaries desperatly attempt to surprise the citie. but that it was by him forthwith discouered. The Gouernour aduertised by the watch, of the Turks attempt; with great silence presently repaired to the place with a great companie of the garrison souldiors, and standing close, from the top of the wall beheld the Turks, as L it had beene a swarme of Emmets climing vp the high rockes, and one helping vp another by such desperate way, as was in reason to haue been thought no man would haue attempted. But when they were come to the top of the rocke, & now euen readie to enter, they were from aboue suddenly ouerwhelmed, as it had been with a shower of shot, and so violently forced downe that high rocke, that most part of them which had got vp to any height, were miserably crushed to death either with the weight of themselues, or of others falling vpon them, and many of the rest slaine with shot from the top of the rocke:The Ianizaries repulsed. whereof Amurath presently vnderstanding, was therwith exceedingly greeued.

During the time of this siege, Scanderbeg neuer lay long still in one place, but remooued continually from place to place, as best serued his purpose, breaking sometimes into one quarter of M the Turks campe, and sometime into another, and straightway so suddenly gone againe and as it were vanished out of sight, that Amurath many times wondered what was become of him. At this time, being the latter end of Iune, he was come with his armie within eight miles of Amuraths campe: and from thence sent Moses his greatest captaine, in the attire of a common souldior, with two other, to take view how the enemie lay encamped. By which trustie espials he was [Page] A enformed, That the Turkes lay in great securitie, as men without feare, keeping but negligent watch. Of which oportunitie, Scanderbeg rejoycing, the night following suddenly assaulted one quarter of the Turks campe. Whose comming, although it was a little before by the Turkes scouts discouered; yet his furious assault was so suddaine and so forceable, that he slew two thousand of the Turks, and filled euery corner of that great campe with feare and tumult, before they could well arme themselues or make resistance. After which slaughter he safely retired, carrying away with him two hundred and thirtie horse, with seuen of the Turkes ensignes, hauing in this skirmish lost of his men but two and fortie: whose dead bodies the Turkes the next morning in reuenge of their slaine friends hewed into small peeces.

B Vpon these great disgraces one following in the necke of another, Amurath hauing no other object but the citie to shew his furie vpon, gaue three fierce assaults vnto the same, one after another, and was alwaies with losse both of his men and honour repulsed. But the more he lost, the more he burnt with desire of reuenge, persuading his souldiors, That as the strongest citties and fortresses were built by mens hands, so were they to bee ouerthrowne and laied euen with the ground by resolute and valiant men: encouraging them to a fresh assault, with greater promises of reward than euer hee had done before in all his warres, from the first beginning of his raigne. And because he would with more safetie giue this his last and greatest assault, he appointed Feri-Bassa, with twelue thousand horsemen and six thousand foot to attend vpon Scanderbeg, if hee should hap to come (as he thought he would) to trouble the assault, by assailing of his camp. Feri-Bassa C glad of this charge, well hoping now to redeeme his former ouerthrow with some great victorie, and leading forth his armie a little from the campe, as he was commaunded, so lay; wishing for nothing more than the comming of Scanderbeg, vainely boasting, That he would seeke him in the field, and there trie his force and fortune with him hand to hand: which he did shortly after to his cost. When Amurath had thus set in order all things requisit, as well for the siege, as for the safegard of his campe: the next morning he compassed the citie round about with his armie, and couered the ground with his men of war, purposing at that time to gage his whole forces vpon the taking thereof. The wals he had before in some places battered, so much as was possible; and yet but so, as that they were not without skaling ladders to be assaulted: partly for the naturall strength of the place, and partly for that the defendants had with great diligence continually repaired and filled vp with earth what the furie of the cannon had throwne downe. This assault Amurath began first with his archers and small shot, which deliuered their arrowes and bullets vpon the top of the wall, and into the citie, as if it had beene a shower of haile, thereby to trouble the stationarie souldiours. In this heat, ladders were clapped to the wals in euery place where any could be possibly reared, and the Turkes began desperatly to skale the wals: but the Christians nothing dismaied thereat, with great courage resisted them, and with shot from their safe standings wounded and slew many of them: yet others still pressed vp in the places of them that were slaine, so that the assault became most terrible in many places at once, but especially neere vnto the great gate of the citie; where the Turks had vpon the suddaine with ladders, timber, and planks clapped together, raised close vnto that tower, as it had beene a woodden tower, equall in height to the wall; from whence the Turks greatly distressed the Christians in that place, fighting with them as if it had been vpon euen ground, still sending vp fresh souldiors in stead of them that were slaine: and thereby preuailed so far, that they had set vp certaine of Amurath his ensignes vpon the wall, to the great comfort of the Turkes, and astonishment of the besieged Christians. The Gouernour seeing the imminent danger, hasted to the place with a companie of fresh and valiant souldiors, by whose force the Turks were quickly repulsed from the wall, their ensignes taken and sent into the market place: the tower of wood with many ladders and much timber by the Turks brought to that place, was quickly consumed with wild fire cast vpon the same from the wals. Perlat hauing deliuered the citie of this feare, presently placed fresh soldiors in stead of them which were slaine or hurt, and so worthely defended the citie.

Whilest Amurath was giuing this great assault to Sfetigrad, Scanderbeg to withdraw him from the same,Scanderbeg commeth to trouble the assault, and [...] met with by Feri-Bassa▪ came with nine thousand souldiours to assaile the Turkes campe, as Amurath had before suspected, and was now come verie neere the same. Feri-Bassa glad of his comming, opposed his armie against him: which Scanderbeg seeing, retired a little, of purpose to draw the Bassa farther from the campe, and then forthwith began to joyne battaile with him. The Bassa considering the small number of his enemies, and his own greater power, withdrew foure thousand [Page] horsemen out of his armie to fetch a compasse about, and to set vpon the rearward of Scanderbegs G armie: hoping so to inclose him, that he should neuer escape thence, but there either to be slaine or taken aliue, and his armie vtterly defeated. But the expert captaine perceiuing his purpose, to meet therewith, left Moses to lead the maine battaile, and he himselfe with two thousand horsemen, so valiantly charged those foure thousand of his enemies before they were well departed from the rest of the Bassaes armie, that they had now more cause to looke to their own safetie, than how to circumuent others. In this conflict Feri-Bassa hand to hand, as he had oft times before desired, encountring with Scanderbeg, was by him there slaine. All this while that Scanderbeg was in fight with Feri-Bassa in the right wing of the armie, and Musachie in the left, Moses stood fast, receiuing the assault of the enemie without mouing anie thing forward, expecting H the successe of the wings. But Scanderbeg hauing discomfited the right wing, and slaine the Generall, comming now in, he set forward with such force and courage, that the Turkes not able longer to abide his force, turned their backs and fled: of whom manie were slaine in this chase, though Scanderbeg doubting the great power of his enemie so nigh at hand, durst not follow them farre; but sounding a retrait, put his armie againe in good order, for feare of some sodaine attempt from the campe, and after appointed some of the meanest of his souldiors to take the spoile of the slaine Turkes. When Amurath had vnderstood what had happened to Feri-Bassa, he was so ouercome with anger and melancholy, that for a while he could not speake one word: but after the heat was a little past, he commaunded certaine small peeces of ordinance, which he had before vsed against the citie, to be remoued into the campe, and there placed vpon I that side which was most in danger to the enemie. He also presently sent thither foure thousand souldiours to joyne with the remainder of Feri-Bassaes armie, for defence of the campe, with straight charge that they should not issue out of the trenches. Neuerthelesse he himselfe continued the assault of the citie all that day: but when night drew on, and no hope appeared for him to preuaile, he caused a retrait to be sounded, and leauing the assault, he returned againe into his campe. At this assault Amurath lost seuen thousand men, beside manie that died afterwards of their wounds; but of the garrison souldiours were slaine but seuentie, and nintie mo hurt.

The terror of the turkish armie, began now to grow into contempt throughout EPIRVS; and Scanderbeg was in good hope, that Amurath after so manie ouerthrowes and shamefull repulses, would at length raise his siege and be gone: yet he sent spies continually to discouer what K was done in the Turkes campe, and he himselfe with two thousand souldiours would oftentimes shew himselfe vpon the sides of the mountaines neere vnto Amurath his campe, of purpose to draw the Turkes out, that hee might take them at some aduantage. But the old king had giuen commandement vpon paine of death, that no man should go out of the trenches without leaue, or once to speake of giuing battaile or assault: so that hee lay certaine daies in his campe, not like a king besieging of a citie, but more like a man besieged himselfe: the which his still lying, Scanderbeg had the more in distrust, fearing greatly that he was hatching some mischiefe, which so soone as it was ripe would violently breake out.

Amurath by gre [...] p [...]mise [...] seeketh to corrupt the garrison of Sfetigrade. Amurath considering with what euill successe he had manie times assaulted the citie, and L holding it for a great dishonour to raise his siege and depart, hauing done nothing worth the remembrance; thought good once againe to prooue, if it were possible to ouercome the minds of the garrison soldiors with gifts, whom he was not able to subdue by force. For which purpose he sent an embassadour vnto the citie, offering vnto the besieged and garrison souldiors easie conditions of peace, with such large gifts and rewards as had not been heard offered to any garrison in former time. All which his magnificall promises were lightly rejected by the common consent of all the whole garrison, preferring their faithfull loyaltie before all his golden mountaines. For all that, Amurath was in good hope, that amongst so manie, some would be found into whose minds his large offers might make some impression: wherein he was not deceiued. For one base minded fellow amongst the rest,A traitor [...]orrupted with Amurath his L [...]ge p [...]omises, conspireth to betray the citie. corrupted with the Turkes great promises, preferring M his owne priuat wealth, before the welfare of his countrey, waiting his time, had secret conference with the Turks espials, and promised vpon assurance of such reward as was before by Amurath proffered, to find meanes that in few daies the citie should bee yeelded into his power. This corrupted traitour, had laid many mischieuous plots for the effecting of this horrible treason: but the first deuice he put in practise, which of all others a man would haue thought to haue been of least moment, serued his wicked purpose in stead of all the rest. All the garrison souldidiours [Page] of SFETIGRADE were of the vpper countrey of DIBRA, put into that citie; by Moses ▪ for their approoued valour aboue all the other souldiours of EPIRVS. But as they were men of great courage, so were they exceeding superstitious both in their religion and manner of liuing, putting nice difference betwixt one kind of lawfull meat and other: accounting some cleane, some vncleane; abhorring from that, which they fondly deemed vncleane, with more than a Iewish superstition, chusing rather to die than to eat or drinke thereof: such is the strong delusion of blind errour, where it hath throughly possessed the minds of men. The cittie of SFETIGRADE (as is aforesaid) is situat vpon the top of a great high rocke▪ as most of the cities of EPIRVS now be, and was then watered but with one great well in the middest of the cittie, which sunke deepe into the rocke, plentifully serued both the publicke and priuat vse of the inhabitants. Into this common well the malicious traitour in the night time cast the foule stinking carion carkas of a dead dog,The carkas of a dead dog cast by the traitor into the common [...] that serued the citie. knowing, that the conceited garrison souldiors of DYBRA would rather indure the paines of death, and starue, or els yeeld vp the citie vpon any condition, than to drinke of that polluted water. In the morning when the stinking carrion was espied, and drawne out of the well, the report thereof was quickly bruted in euery corner of the citie, and that the well was poysoned: so that all the people were in manner in an vprore about the finding out of the traitor. The citizens were exceeding sorrie for that had happened, but the garrison soldiors detested that loathsome and vncleane water (as they accounted it) more than the Turkish seruitude, protesting, that they would rather perish with thirst, than drinke thereof. Whereupon some of them desired to set fire vpon the citie, and whilest they had yet strength, to breake through the enemies campe or there manfully to die. And they which thought best of the matter, requested, That the cittie might be yeelded vp: for now, they discouraged with a superstitious vanitie, could be content to hearken to the former conditions of peace, yea they were readie ynough of themselues to sue vnto Amurath for peace, though it had beene vpon harder tearmes. The Gouernour troubled with that had happened,The Gouernor in vaine seeketh to pe [...]sua [...]e the garrison s [...]uldiors to drin [...]e of the water of the well▪ and astonied to see so great an alteration in the minds of his souldiours vpon so small occasion, could not tell whether hee might thinke it to proceed of a superstitious conceit, or of some secret compact made with Amurath. But the better to pacifie the matter, hee came into the market place, and there in the hearing of all the garrison, with many effectuall reasons, exhorted them to continue faithfull vnto their prince and countrey in that honourable seruice; and in a matter of so great conseqence to make small reckoning to vse that water, which would easily in short time be brought againe to the wonted puritie and cleanenesse: And to persuade them the rather, he went presently to the well himselfe, and in the sight of them all drunke a greater draught of the water, whose example the cittizens following, dranke likewise. But when it was offered to the captaines and souldiors of the garrison, they all refused to tast thereof, as if it had been a most loathsome thing, or rather some deadly poyson, and with great instance cried vnto the Gouernour, to giue vp the citie: for which cause many thought they were corrupted by Amurath his great promises. Howbeit none of that garrison (except that one traitour) did euer afterwards reuolt vnto the Turkish king, or yet appeared any thing the richer for any gift receiued, whereby such suspition might be confirmed. When the Gouernour saw that the obstinate minds of the garrison were not to be mooued with any persuasion or reward (whereof hee spared not to make large promise) nor by any other meanes which he could deuise: hee called vnto him his cheefe captaines, with the best sort of the citizens, & resolued with them full sore against his will, to yeeld vp the citie to Amurath, vpon such conditions as they themselues there agreed vpon: which were, That it should be lawfull for all the captaines and souldiors to depart in safetie with their armour and all other things; and that so many of the citizens as would stay, might there still dwell in the citie, in such sort, as they had done before, vnder the gouernment of Scanderbeg; the rest that listed not to remaine there still, might at their pleasure with bag and baggage depart whether they would. Glad was Amurath when this offer was made vnto him, and graunted them all that was desired, sauing that hee would not consent that the citizens should continue in the citie, yet was he content that they should liue vnder him as they had before done, quietly enjoying all their possessions, but to build their houses without the wals of the citie: which condition some accepted, and some forsaking all, went to Scanderbeg. When all was throughly agreed vpon, the keyes of the gates were deliuered to Amurath, and the Gouernor with the captaines and all the garrison souldiors suffered quietly to passe through the Turkish campe, as the king had promised. Howbeit, Mahomet the sonne of Amurath, a prince of a cruell disposition, [Page] earnestly persuaded his father, to haue broken his faith, and to haue put them all to the sword: saying, it was one of their prophet Mahomets cheefe commaundements, to vse all crueltie for the destruction of the Christians. But the old king would not therein hearken vnto his sonne, saying, That he which was desirous to be great amongst men, must either be indeed faithfull of his word and promise, or at leastwise seeme so to be, thereby to gaine the minds of the people, who naturally abhorre the gouernment of a faithlesse and cruell prince.A traito [...] [...]orth [...]ly rewarded according to his treason. The traitor which corrupted the water, remained still in the citie, and was by Amurath rewarded with three rich suites of apparell, and fiftie thousand Aspers, and had giuen vnto him besides a yearely pension of two thousand duckats. But short was the joy the traitour had of this euill gotten goods: for after he had a few daies vainely triumphed in the middest of Amurath his fauours, he was suddenly gone, and neuer afterwards seene or heard tell of: being secretly made away (as was supposed) by the commandement of Amurath: whose noble heart could not but detest the traitour, although the treason serued well his purpose. Amurath entring into SFETIGRADE, caused the wals to be foorthwith repaired, and placed one thousand two hundred Ianizaries in garrison there. And raising his campe the first of September, departed out of EPIRVS, hauing lost thirtie thousand of his Turks at the siege of SFETIGRADE; much greeued in mind for all that, that hee could not vanquish the enemie, whom he came of purpose to subdue. In his returne, the viceroy of ASIA marched before him with the Asian souldiors; in the rereward followed the viceroy of EVROPE with his Europeian souldiors; in the middest was Amurath himselfe, compassed about with his Ianizaries and other souldiours of the court. Scanderbeg vnderstanding of Amurath his departure, followed speedily with eight thousand horsemen, and three thousand foot, and taking the aduantage of the thicke woods and mountaine straits (to him well knowne) wherby that great armie was to passe, oftentimes skirmished with the Turks, charging thē sometime in the vaward, & sometime in the rereward, sometime on the one side, and sometime on the other, and slew many of them: whereby he so troubled Amurath his passage, that he was glad to leaue the viceroy of ROMANIA, with 30000 to attend vpon Scanderbeg, that he himselfe might in the meane time with more safetie march away with the rest of his armie. Scanderbeg perceiuing the stay of the viceroy, ceased to follow Amurath further, fearing to bee enclosed betweene those two great armies. The viceroy seeing that Scanderbeg was retired, after he had staied a few daies, followed his master to HADRIANOPLE, and so Scanderbeg returned to CRO [...]A.

Shortly after the departure of Amurath out of EPIRVS, Scanderbeg left two thousand souldiours vpon the borders for defence of the countrey against the Turks. These soldiors so straightly kept in the Ianizaries left in garrison at SFETIGRADE, that they could not looke out of the citie, but they were intercepted and slaine. And within a few daies after came himselfe with an armie of eighteene thousand, and laied siege to SFETIGRADE the space of a moneth, which was from the middle of September vntill the middle of October. In which time he gaue two great assaults to haue recouered the citie, but was both times repulsed, with the losse of fiue hundred men. Amurath vnderstanding that Scanderbeg lay at the siege of SFETIGRADE, sent with all speed to recall his armie, but lately before dispersed. Whereof Scanderbeg hauing intelligence, considering also the difficultie of the enterprise, with the approch of Winter, raised his siege, and returned to CROIA: where he set all things in the same order he had done before the comming of Amurath to the siege of SFETIGRADE, and put two thousand of his best souldiors there in garrison, vnder the charge of the famous captaine Vranacontes, and stored the citie with sufficient victuall for a yeares siege, wherein he had great helpe from the Venetians and other Christian princes, for that there was then great scarcitie of all things in EPIRVS, by reason of the late warres. The like care he had also of all the rest of his cities, being continually aduertised from his secret friends in the Turks court of the great preparation intended against him by the Turkish king, against the beginning of the next Spring.

1450 Amurath vnderstanding that Scanderbeg was departed from SFETIGRAD, changed his former determination for the calling backe again of his armie,Amurath assembleth againe his army at Hadrianople. & appointed it to meet againe at HADRIANOPLE, in the beginning of March following: whether the Bassaes, and other great commaunders, at the time appointed assembled with their companies, according as Amurath had before commaunded. So that by the latter end of march, hee had there in readinesse an armie of an hundreth and threescore thousand men strong. Of which great multitude, he after the manner of the Turkish warres, sent fortie thousand horsemen, vnder the leading of Sebalyas a polliticke [Page] captaine, as his vauntcourriers into EPIRVS, in the beginning of April, in the yeare 1450. The valiant captaine with great speed and no resistance entred into EPIRVS, as was giuen him in charge, and without let came to CROIA: where, after he had aduisedly considered of the scitu [...] ation thereof, and of the places thereabouts, he strongly encamped himselfe neere thereunto in the pleasant plaine called TYRANNA: and there within his trenches kept his souldiours close, attending nothing more, but that no new supplie of men, munition, or victuals, should be conuaied into the citie, more than was therin before his comming. For he was not able with his horsemen to doe any thing against the citie: and Scanderbeg had left nothing abroad in the countrey subject to his furie. Besides that, he was expresly by Amurath forbidden, to attempt any thing against Scanderbeg himselfe.

After Sebalyas had twentie daies thus line encamped before CROIA, neither doing nor taking harme; Amurath by reason of his great age, hauing marched oftentimes but fiue miles a day, came thether also with his whole armie, wherewith hee filled all the countrey round about: the very sight whereof, had been inough to haue discouraged the small garrison in CROIA, had they not been men both of great experience and resolution. Where after he had spent foure daies in setling of his campe, he sent two messengers to the Gouernour (as the manner of the Turkes is) offering him if he would yeeld vp the citie, that it should be lawfull for him with all his souldiors in safetie with bagge and baggage to depart; and the Gouernour himselfe to receiue in reward two hundreth thousand aspers, with an honorable place amongst the great Bassaes of his court, if it would please him to accept thereof: and further, that the citizens should enjoy all their antient liberties as in former time, without any alteration; with promise also of greater▪ These messengers comming to the gates of the citie, could not bee suffered to enter, but standing without, were commaunded there to deliuer their message. Which when the Gouernour had heard, hee scornefully rejected their offers, and returned the messengers shamefully derided by the souldiours which stood vpon the wall. Amurath more offended with this contempt, than the refusall of his offers; and seeing no other meanes to gaine the citie, conuerted all his deuises vnto the siege thereof. Wherefore he first commaunded ten great peeces of artillerie to be forthwith cast, for he had brought none with him readie made, because of the difficult passage ouer the high mountaines into EPIRVS; whereby it seemed to bee a matter of infinite trouble to haue brought his great ordinance: and therefore caried with him great store of mettall in masse, whereof at his pleasure to make his great artillerie as he saw cause. In fifteen daies this worke was brought to perfection, and ten peeces of huge greatnesse were readie mounted vpon cariages. Six of them he placed against the East side of the citie, towards the plain of TYRANNA, and the other foure against the gate: in which two places onely, CROIA was subject to batterie, being on all other parts naturally defended with impregnable rocks,Croia ba [...]red. vpon the tops whereof were built faire battlements more for beautie than needfull defence. These two places Amurath battred foure daies continually, and with the furie of his artillerie had in both places beaten downe halfe the wall, and sore shaken the rest. Wherewith the Turks were exceedingly encouraged, and with great cheerefulnesse made all thinges readie to assault those breaches, whensoeuer Amurath should commaund, striuing among themselues who should shew himselfe most forward in that dangerous enterprise. And Mahomet the young prince, the more to encourage the souldiors, besides the great rewards by his father proposed, promised of himselfe to giue an hundreth thousand aspers to him that should first set vp an ensigne vpon the wals of the citie. The garrison souldiours on the other side, considering that the whole state and welfare of EPIRVS was reposed in their valour; and that the eies of most part of Christendome were as it were fixed vpon them, were nothing dismaied with the breaches made, but manfully comforted and encouraged one another to endure all manner of perill and danger that might possibly chance: but especially the worthy Gouernour Vranacontes, who going through the middest of his souldiours, and shaking some of them by the hands, withall said: ‘These,The cheerefull speech of Vranacontes the Gouernour to encourage his soldiours. these are the fortresses of our citie, these are the inuincible bulwarks, these are the irremo [...]able stones and surest sement. What honour? what praise? what triumph should we hope for? if these wals standing whole and strong, we should lie shrouded vnder the defence of them, and not they defended by vs? So can cowards defend cities, and sheepe feare not the wolues rage, when they are safely shut vp within the wals of their sheepcoats: But that is the praise of the wals, and not of the men. [Page] Worthie Castriot ▪ our prince hath commended this his citie to bee defended by vs, and not vs by it:G Honour is attended vpon with danger, and fostred vp amongst perils: euerie base mariner may be a master in faire weather: and firme things stand of themselues and need not our vpholding. Wherefore, men of worth shun such things, which being kept or lost, yeild like praise. Things readie to fall need shoaring, and thether hasteth honour; and there (worthie souldiours) appeareth courage and valour. Wherefore let our valiant right hands defend these broken breaches, and in stead of these dead wals, couragiously oppose our lustie and liuely armed bodies against the force of our enemies. If these wals stood still firme, and vnbattred, you should then fight from the top of them like women; but now that they are something shaken, you shall as men stand vpon somwhat more euen ground, and encounter your enemies hand to hand, the better to satisfie your furious desire. Where I also in the thickest, shall easily H view and judge of euerie mans priuat courage, in perticular, and of all your valour in common. And yet if we well consider of the matter, the place it self doth yet notably make for vs; and our former good hopes are little or nothing by these small breaches diminished: For, this rising of the hill (not possible to be taken from vs) although it be not so high as it is in other places, yet doth it not serue vs suficiently at great aduantage to charge our enemies, and hinder their assault? the steepenesse whereof, as it will be troublesome vnto them, so will it keepe vs most fresh in strength: and make our shot more forcible. Wherfore this had been a thing of vs to haue been wished for, if we desire the slaughter of our enemies at this siege; or if wee wish for perpetuall honour and glorie by this warre. For this breach of the wals wil encourage these barbarians, & allure their armed men to clime vp in greater multitude than if the wals were whole; whereof so many shall on euerie side bee easily slaine, as wee shall but ayme at: except I you had rather sit still, holding your handes together in your bosomes as cowards: Their dead bodies shall fill vp the breaches againe, if you be men mindfull of your libertie. What is there (worthy captaines and souldiors) that letteth our victorie? or memorable slaughter of our enemies? by whom onely these two places of the citie can bee assaulted: all the rest is out of daunger, and feares no enemies force. Here onely is the paines to be taken, this onely is left for you to defend, and here shall you all be: the courage, force, and strength of you all shall in this place appeare. How will you so many worthie captaines, and valiant souldiours, in so little roome bestow your selues? we are too many defendants for so small breaches. Yet let vs play the men, and doe our endeauour: let vs in one conflict weaken the tyrants strength, and burst his proud heart; he will forsake this citie, and raise his siege vnfortunatly begun, so soone as he shall see his first assault to cost him the liues of so many thousands of his men.K’

When Vranacontes had with this comfortable speech thus encouraged his souldiours, against the assault which he expected the next day;Croia assaulted. and had with great care and diligence set all things in order for the same, and repaired the breaches as well as was possible in that case: hee gaue them leaue for that night to take their rest. In the morning Amurath commaunded the assault to bee giuen to both the breaches, which was forthwith by the Turkes cheerefully begun, and euerie man busie to performe the seruice hee was appointed vnto. But by that time that the assault was well begun, a suddaine allarum was raised throughout all the Turks campe: for Scanderbeg with fiue thousand valiant souldiours, had suddainely broken in vpon one side of the Turkes great L campe, and at the first encounter had slaine six hundreth of the Turks, and was now spoiling their tents. The rumour whereof, troubled the whole campe, and made the Turks with lesse courage to assault the breaches, for feare of the danger behind them. Amurath although hee had great confidence in them whom he had before left for the sauegard of his tents, yet for more surety sent Seremet one of his greatest captaines, with foure thousand souldiours backe into the campe, for more suretie: saying, That nothing could be too sure, against that wild beast: meaning the furie of Scanderbeg. Mahomet also the yong prince, hasted thether in great choler with his guard, much against his fathers will. But Moses, Scanderbeg his lieutenant, knowing himselfe too weak to withstand the multitude that was swarming thether (contenting himselfe with that which was alreadie done) had before Mahomet his comming, speedily retired with all his armie into the safegard M of the mountaines, from whence he came: hauing done great harme in the Turks campe, with the losse but of ten men. Scanderbeg in the heat of this skirmish, forgetting himselfe, had so farre engaged himselfe among the Turkes,Scanderbeg in danger. that hee was by them on euerie side enclosed, and in great danger to haue been slaine or taken: yet valiantly breaking through them, hee escaped the danger and recouered the mountaines, and with much adoe came at length to his campe, to the great joy and comfort of them all, being before in great feare hee had been lost. This was accounted [Page] the greatest ouersight of Scanderbeg in all his warres, for so much as the office of a good Generall consisteth not in aduenturing of his person to manifest danger, but in the politike gouernment of his charge. During the time that Scanderbeg thus assailed the Turkes campe, Amurath but faintly assaulted the breaches; expecting the successe in the campe: but when he vnderstood that Scanderbeg was retired and all quieted, he brought all his forces to the wals, and first with the multitude of his archers and small shot, laboured to driue the defendants from the wals, ouerwhelming them with arrowes falling as thicke as haile. And likewise at the same time other common souldiours of baser account, brought scaling ladders and other things needfull for the scaling of the wals. After whom also followed the Ianizaries and other chosen souldiours, readie to mount the ladders as soone as they should be set to the wals. But whilest they climbe vp the high hils in this order, the garrison souldiours made such slaughter of them with shot from the wals and out of the citie, that they would haue presently retired, had they not been forced forward by their captaines, who spared neither stripes nor wounds when words would not serue. By this tyrannicall meanes, the scaling ladders were with great slaughter of the common souldiours set vp against the wals, and the Turkes climing vp, came to handie blowes with the defendants at the breaches: nothing was to be heard, but the crying of people, the clattering of armor, and the instruments of warre, which was terribly redoubled with the ecchoes from the mountaines round about. The Turkes doing what they might to winne the breaches, were by the Christians worthily repulsed, & with their ladders tumbled headlong downe the mountaine, with such horrible slaughter and discomfiture, especially of the common souldiours, that none of them would set one foot forward againe towards the walles, although they had small hope to saue themselues by retiring backe: for the fierce young prince Mahomet, euen then making shew of his cruell disposition, caused them that returned, to be slaine, by the terror thereof to driue others forward. These common souldiors whom the Turkes make small reckoning of, are for most part miserable Christians, which liue in such coūtries as had somtimes receiued the faith of Christ, but are now vnder the Turkish slauerie; of which sort of wretched people, the Turkish tyrants draw with them great multitudes in their warres, most commonly vnarmed, because they dare not well trust them in warres against the Christians: these carrie all the baggage of the campe, these serue to fetch wood and water for other souldiours of better account, these serue in steed of pioners to cast trenches and raise bulwarks: and when battaile is to be giuen, if it be in plaine field, these haue then weapons put into their hands, and thrust into the forefront of the battaile to blunt the enemies swords: but if a citie be to be besieged, these serue as fit matter to fill the ditches with their dead bodies, or to make bridges for other souldiours to passe ouer vpon: and if they shrinke to attempt any thing they are commanded, then are they more cruelly vsed by their commanders than by their enemies. When Amurath saw his souldiours so discouraged, he stood in doubt whether it were better for that time to sound a retrait, or to send a new supply: but being inraged with the losse of his men, and desirous to be in some part reuenged, he sent diuers companies of his better souldiours for the incouragement of them which were before discouraged, and so gaue a fresh assault. But with as euill, or worse successe than before: for Vranacontes had withdrawne from the breaches all those souldiours which had indured the former assault, and placed other fresh and lustie men in their steed; who incouraged with the former victorie, and loth to be accounted inferior to their fellowes, repulsed the Turks with double slaughter: vntill that the aged king, not able longer to behold the endlesse losse of his men, caused a retrait to be sounded; which all his souldiours were glad to heare, and so returned into his campe, hauing lost in those two assaults eight thousand men, without any notable harme done vnto the defendants worth the remembrance.

This shamefull repulse much grieued all the captaines and commaunders of Amuraths army,Mahomet thinking to deceiue Scanderbeg, is himselfe by him deceiued. but especially Mahomet the young prince, whose violent nature vnacquainted with mishap burnt impatiently with reuenge. Wherefore vnderstanding that Scanderbeg lay intrenched vpon the mountaine of TVMENIST not farre from his fathers army, he drew most of the best and readiest souldiours of all the whole campe, into that quarter which was nearest vnto Scanderbeg: of purpose that if he should againe assaile the campe in that place (as it was most like he would) he should be encountred with so many braue and valiant men there in readinesse, as that it should be hard for him either to doe any great harme, or for himselfe to escape. Of all which, Scanderbeg by certaine fugitiues had intelligence, as also in what order the campe lay: Whereupon he [Page] left Moses with fiue hundreth souldiours in the place where he lay, taking order with him before his departure, that he at a certaine appointed houre in the night following, should assaile the Turkes campe in the quarter next vnto him where Mahomet lay; and hauing there raised some tumult, speedily to retire againe to his assured strength in the mountaine. Scanderbeg himselfe with the whole strength of his army, in number about eight thousand, in the meane time tooke a compasse about, and by certaine secret by-waies through the woods and mountaines, came vnto the farther side of the Turkes army, to a place called MOVNTECLE. The night following▪ Moses at the appointed houre with his fiue hundreth souldiours assailed that part of the Turkes campe next vnto him, with such noise & tumult, as if it had been some great army. By occasion whereof, all the Turkes campe was in alarme, and drew in haste to that place where they heard that great tumult, as was before by Mahomet cōmanded. When at the same instant, Scanderbeg with all his army brake into the other side of the Turks campe, where he was least feared or looked for, and from whence the best souldiors were before drawne by Mahomet: and there made such slaughter and hauocke of the rest, not knowing which way to turne themselues, that the losse a little before receiued vnder the wals of CROIA was now forgot, as a small thing in comparison of this. Moses hauing raised a great feare, and done little harme, retired in safetie to his well known strength: and Scanderbeg hauing made great spoile in the campe, fearing to be oppressed with the multitude of his enemies if he should there longer stay, returned in good time, hauing scarce lost one man.

Amurath after this great losse and trouble of his campe, withdrew most of his small ordinance which he had before bent against the citie, into his trenches, placing it as commodiously as he might for the defence thereof against the suddaine attempts of Scanderbeg. Yet for as much as he could not in that hoat season of the yeare so closely encampe his great army, but that some part thereof would still be in like danger as before; he therefore appointed Sebalias with sixteene thousand soldiors to attend vpon Scanderbeg, that he should no more trouble the whole campe. After which order taken, he battered the walles of CROIA afresh, and with his great ordinance ouerthrew whatsoeuer the citizens had repaired, making the breaches greater and more saultable than before, intending once againe by a new assault to prooue his fortune, and the force of his souldiours: which he appointed to be the next day. But when he perceiued no signe of courage or good hope in the heauie countenances of them discouraged, and that they yeelded to him their consents, rather for feare and shame, than for hope of victorie; he called them cowards discouraged with the least frowne of fortune, and said: ‘ [...].Euery weake castle is able to hold out one assault: but if you will draw these wilde beasts out of their d [...]ns, you must arme your selues like resolute men of inuincible courage, to indure what thing soeuer shall happen. Great captaines with their puissant armies haue growne old vnder the wals of their enemies, vpon light and small displeasures: and will you hauing receiued so many disgraces of these peri [...] red Epirots, leaue them all vnreuenged? What great victorie was euer yet by any man gained without bloudshed? Remember the most glorious victorie of VARNA. It is hard without bloudie hands to put the yoke vpon the fierce enemies necke. All honourable things are brought to passe with aduenture and labour: and the end of this warre dependeth of the taking of CROIA. If it were once woon,L all this warre were at an end: which if Scanderbeg lose (being the strength of his kingdome) he will not tarrie one day longer in EPIRVS. Wherefore be of good cheere, and couragiously set vpon it: there is not more vncertaintie in any thing, than in matters of warre. Fortune is to be prooued, and oftentimes prouoked of him that will wed her. And yet I will not denie, but that we must go more warily to worke against this enemy, and hazard our selues with better aduisement, and not without reason like wild beasts to runne headlong vpon our owne death. At length we shall weare them out, if we kill but ten of them at an assault: yet are they daily to be assailed, that they may haue no leisure to refresh themselues, or to make vp their breaches. And peraduenture if force may not preuaile, fortune may find some meane that we looke not for, as it fell out at the siege of SFETIGRAD, beyond all your expectation. Treason is ingenious, and mens desires great, where great rewards are propounded.M’

With these and like speeches old Amurath encouraged his captaines and souldiours, and the next day early in the morning began the assault, which the Turkes valiantly attempted: and without regard of danger came to the gates of the citie, assaying, but with vaine and desperate labour [Page] to haue broken them open. In this assault wild fire, was cast into many places of the citie, and the great artillerie oftentimes discharged into the breaches: whereby many of the Turkes themselues were slaine with their owne great shot, together with the Christians: for Amurath desperatly set, was content to buy the life of one Christian with the losse of twentie of his Turks. But the Christians still valiantly repulsed their enemies, so that of them that came to the gates, none escaped aliue; and of them that assaulted the greater breach, they which were most forward, were first slaine, and they which stood farther off, were sore wounded with shot. Yet for all that, Amurath still maintained the assault, by sending in of new supplies, delighting to see them goe forward,The Turkes retire. but greeued at the heart to see them so slaine: vntill at last, wearie with beholding the slaughter of his men, he caused a retreat to be sounded, and so ended the assault; persuaded by his Bassaes, not wilfully to cast away his valiant souldiors where there was no hope to preuaile, but to reserue them for his better seruice.

Amurath now out of hope to win the citie by assault,Amurath seeketh to vndermine Croia. thought good to proue what might be done by vndermining of the same: during which worke, he caused small alarums daily to be giuen vnto the citie, to the intent that the defendants busied therewith, should not perceiue the secret worke of the mine. About which time his prouision of corne began to faile in his campe; for which cause hee sent his purueyors for corne to LISSA, a citie of the Venetians, with whom he was at that time in league, and bought of them great store of corne. But as his officers were conueying it to his campe, Scanderbeg hauing intelligence thereof, slew the conuoy, and carried away with him all that pro [...]ision, deuiding it amongst his owne souldiors. Howbeit, not long after Amurath receiued great abundance of corne and other prouision out of MACEDONIA: beside that, the Venetian marchants afterward furnished him with plentie of corne, oyle, honey, and other necessaries; which Scanderbeg might well haue hindered, but that he would not in so doing offend the Venetians, which were also his secret friends, considering that Amurath might haue had all the same prouision out of the further part of MACEDONIA, THRACIA, MYSIA, and such other places, if he had not otherwise had it from the Venetians.

Whilest Amurath thus lay expecting the successe of his mine, foure hundred of the garrison souldiors of CROIA sallying out of th [...] citie, chased diuers of the Turks that were come foorth backe againe vnto the campe: whereof Amurath was glad, hoping, that they encouraged with that good hap, would to their further losse giue the like attempt afterwards. But the staied discretion of the Gouernour deceiued that his expectation: who considering the danger, would not suffer his souldiors any more to sallie out of the citie. Scanderbeg also at this time hauing encreased his armie with a new supplie of two thousand soldiors, deuided the same into three parts, deliuering one part to Moses, another to Tanusie, and reseruing the third to himselfe. With this armie of nine thousand thus deuided, he determined by night at one instant to assaile the Turks great campe in three diuers places: appointing in which quarter euery one should charge. But as Scanderbeg in the night appointed, was comming towards the Turks campe, hee was discouered by their scouts: whereupon a suddaine alarme was raised in the campe, and all mens minds turned that way, and souldiours appointed with all diligence to guard that side of the campe. But whilest the Turkes were all at gaze this way for feare of Scanderbeg, Moses and Tanusie, in the dead of the night, at one time assailed the Turks campe in two diuers quarters, as they were appointed, where they slew a number of the Turks, and made great spoile. At which time Scanderbeg did also what he might: but by reason he was before discouered, did not much harme. Vpon the approch of the day Scanderbeg retired againe to the hils, and by that time it was faire daylight, sate downe vpon the side of a great mountain, about twentie furlongs off, in the open sight of all the Turks campe: which he did of purpose, that Moses and Tanusie, which were by night retired into the mountains, might see which way to hold, to meet with him again. But the Turks thinking that hee stood there to braue their whole campe, and as it were to deface them, to the great encouragement of the defendants: diuers of them earnestly craued leaue of Amurath, That they might goe vp to him, and at leastwise beat him out of sight: which hee graunting, twelue thousand of his best soldiors, whereof seuen thousand were horsemen, and the rest foot, presently set forward to encounter him. Scanderbeg seeing them all the way they came, vpon their approch softly retired a little farther vp into the mountaines, still expecting the comming of Moses and Tanusi [...]. The Turks vnacquainted with such difficult waies, marched vp the steepe hils after Scanderbeg with much labour and paine, well wearied of themselues: but when they were come [Page] a great way into the mountaines, they perceiued by the rising of the dust, that some greater force was comming crosse those mountaines: and not long after they might plainely see the formost of their enemies. Wherefore fearing to be enclosed, they began to retire, in which retreat Scanderbeg hardly pursued them, and hauing the aduantage of the ground, slew many of them, but especially with his archers. Moses also comming in afresh on another side, caused them to flie downe the hill amaine, and beside the slaughter that he made, took diuers prisoners. After which victorie, by Scanderbeg obtained in the sight of Amurath and his whole armie, he retired againe into the mountaines.

The late spoile of the Turks campe, with this ouerthrow of the soldiors but now sent against Scanderbeg, much greeued the old tyrant: but the worke of the mine, wherein he had of long laid vp his greatest hope, forting now to no good purpose, being deemed as well an endlesse peece of H worke for the naturall hardnesse of the rocke, as also of small importance, for that it was by the defendants discouered, draue him to his wits end. His forces hee had to his great losse sufficiently prooued, and still found them too weake: and policie preuailed not. Nothing now remained, but to prooue, if by great gifts and glorious promises hee could first corrupt the faith of the Gouernour, and afterwards the garrison: wherein he determined to spare no cost. Vpon which resolution, he sent one of his Bassaes (a man of great authoritie and dexteritie of wit) vnto Vranacontes, with such rich gifts and presents as might haue mooued a right constant mind: commaunding the Bassa (if it were possible) first to fasten the same vpon the Gouernour, as presents sent from Amurath of meere bountie, in the honour of his valiant mind; and afterwards to deliuer his message, not sparing to promise any thing for the giuing vp of the citie, yea more than should be desired. The Bassa attended on but with two seruants, came with this rich present neere to the gates of the citie, and there staied, vntill the Gouernours pleasure were knowne: by whose commaund he was receiued into the citie, and brought to his presence. Then the Bassa with much reuerence and many magnificall words presented vnto Vranacontes the rich gifts sent from Amurath, and would forthwith haue deliuered them vnto him, as the rewards of his valour. But Vranacontes willed him first to declare his message from Amurath; vpon the hearing whereof, he would (as he said) as hee saw cause, either receiue or refuse them: before which time hee would not be beholden to his enemie, by receiuing from him the least courtesie. With which answere the subtile Bassa nothing dismayed, with great constancie thus began to deliuer his message.K

The craftie speech of the Bassa sent from Amurath to corrupt the Gouernour, and to persuade the [...]hers to yeeld vp the cittie.

Howsoeuer we agree (said he) vpon other matters we come for, we brought not these gifts of purpose to deceiue any: for so men vse to deale with their children and seruants, and not with men of courage and valour. And albeit that enemies gifts are euer to be suspected (as you haue right wisely said, and we our selues well know) yet wee durst not for shame come vnto so worthie a Gouernour (as the common saying is) emptie handed: neither ought you, if you be the man you seeme to be, and whom men report you are, to refuse our courtesie. Take these presents in good part, which shall no way enforce or hinder you to determine or dispose of your affaires otherwise than shall seeme vnto you good: neither shall we once object vnto you these gifts, which wee so franke and freely offer in the great Sultan name, whether you reject or admit our demaunds and message; wherein there is (perhaps) no lesseregard L had of your good, than of ours. For there is no greater token of a base mind, than to giue, in hope to receiue againe. We come vnto you franckly (worthie Gouernour) I speake it from my heart: we goe not about with filed speech and rich rewards to circumuent thee, whose inuincible mind wee haue so often in vaine prooued with our forces and power. That is it for which Amurath loueth thee. He doth wonderfully admire the vertues of his enemies, and if it were possible, desireth to haue them with himselfe. There verily with so mightie a monarch might thy inuincible mind and pregnant wit find a better way vnto the highest type of fortunes blisse. Not that I condemne Scanderbeg, whom we his enemies doe highly commend, for his countrey so well recouered, and so oftentimes worthely defended, yet cheefely by your helpe: but you are worthie another manner of Soueraigne, and of another manner of calling, and not to spend all the daies of your life and such heroicall vertues in obscuritie and (without offence be it said) in contemptible basenesse. Besides that, Scanderbeg his estate is but momentarie, the destinies haue assigned vnto him too too mightie an enemie; his destruction may well be deferred, but not by any meanes auoided. Amurath hath conceiued against him an implacable displeasure, and prepared his forces accordingly: hee hath sworne to spare no cost, no labour, no danger: and that hee [Page] will neuer whilest he liueth depart out of EPIRVS, before he haue imposed a deadly yoke vpon his neck▪ And behold, the first of this miserie beginneth at this citie, and vpon your selues. We daily heare his pa [...]ilions sound with these and such like speeches, That hee will neuer depart out of this place before hee haue taken this citie, and satisfied his angrie mind with the torture of your bodies, no, not if he should therefore lose HADRIANOPLE, yea, and that more is, his whole kingdome. And verily he will doe it, which I feare to deuine or thinke vpon. For although I with others beare against you the mind of an enemie, yet am I a man, and mooued with humane compassion: beleeue me (ye men of CROIA) beleeue me, my eyes would scarcely endure to behold the horrible spectacle of your miserable fortune. I tell you againe he will doe it, except you change your purpose, and now receiue health, life, libertie, and peace, whilest it is so freely offered. For albeit, that this notable strong place, these impregnable wals, and especially your owne valour, doe yet defend you: how long will it hold out? Verely, no longer than you haue victuall, no longer than you haue meat to sustaine your bodies. Do you thinke that Amurath will raise his siege in the middle of the heat of this war, and be gon? No, no, if force may not preuaile, if all his attempts faile, yet shall you see and feele these enemies continually to your hurt: you shall alwaies haue these tents in your eyes and at your gates, vntill long famine, which mastereth all things, tame your courage also. I pray you, what hope haue you left? from whence ariseth in your resolute minds such d [...]sperate contempt of danger? Can Scanderbeg victuall you, being so straightly besieged? which bideth himselfe (poore man) in the woods all day, and fl [...]eth ouer the tops of the mountains, loaden with trauaile and care, scarce able to releeue his owne miserie. Or will the Venetians releeue you? which daily bring vnto vs and store vs with too too great plentie of all things necessarie for this war against you. Wherefore repent your too much hardinesse, and gather your wits together. Behold I your enemie aduise you. You haue long ynough continued in your obstinacie. Your countrey and libertie is not so far to be defended, as that you should therefore fight against God. But wherefore doe I call this libertie? You must giue place vnto your fortune, and learne to obey them that be too strong for you. You shall find assured libertie, rich rewards, perpetuall rest, with Amurath. Prouide for your selues, if you be wise, whilest all things are yet whole for you to determine of; whilest we your enemies exhort and request you, and had rather haue you our voluntarie companions and friends, than our enforced seruants and slaues.

This the Bassa spake with great grauitie and no lesse vehemencie, expecting some great motions to haue risen in the minds of the souldiors. But when he perceiued that his speech had rather filled them with indignation, than with feare: and that it was but a vaine thing to goe about to terrifie them with words, whom all the power of Amurath could not make afraid with weapons, he requested to talke alone with the Gouernour in secret: which was also graunted. For all men had no lesse good opinion of the worthie Gouernours fidelitie, than of his great wisedome and valour.Vranacontes reiecteth Amurath his presents, and threaten [...]th the Bassa. The craftie Bassa hauing him by himselfe, began with great cunning to deliuer his more secret message: when Vranacontes perceiuing by a little what the whole tale meant, interrupted him in the middle of his speech, and without more adoe commaunded him to depart: straightly charging him, That neither hee nor any other should after that time presume to come from his master to the cittie to speake with him about any such dishonourable matter; for if hee did, he would in detestation thereof cause their hands, their noses, and their eares to be cut off, and so returne them dismembred in stead of answere. And so the Bassa was with his presents againe turned out of the citie, and no man suffered to receiue any thing of him in reward, although the soldiors could haue beene well content to haue eased him and his seruants of that carriage, if the Gouernour would but haue winked thereat.

Great was the expectation in the Turks campe, of the Bassaes returne: but when they saw the presents were not receiued, they easily guessed that all went not as they wished. But when Amurath himselfe vnderstood the Gouernors resolute answere, he in great rage commanded all things to be made readie for a fresh assault: which he did rather to satisfie his anger, than vpon any hope he had to preuaile therein.Croia againe in vaine assaulte [...] ▪ The next day, he caused a furious assault to be giuen to the citie, but with greater losse to himselfe than before; the Christians still valiantly defending the citie against the Turkish furie. In this assault many of the Turks were slaine at the breach, with their owne great shot: for whilest Amurath sought therewith to driue the Christians from the defence of the breach, he slew a great number more of the forwardest of his owne men than he did of the defendants. But wearied at length to behold the endlesse slaughter of his men, he gaue ouer the assault, [Page] and returned into his campe, as if he had been a man halfe franticke or distract of his wits; and there sat downe in his tent, all that day full of melancholie passions, sometimes violently pulling his hoarie beard and white locks, complaining of his hard and disaster fortune, that hee had liued so long to see those daies of disgrace, wherein all his former glorie and triumphant victories were obscured, by one base towne of EPIRVS. His Bassaes and graue counsellours labouring in the meane time with long discourses to comfort him vp: sometimes recounting vnto him his many and glorious victories; and other whiles producing antient examples of like euent. But darke and heauie conceits, had so ouerwhelmed the melancholy old tirant, that nothing could content his waiward mind, or reuiue his dying spirits: so that the little remainder of naturall heat which was left in his aged bodie, now oppressed and almost extinguished with melancholie conceits, and his aged bodie dried vp with sorrow, hee became sicke for griefe. Wherevpon by the counsaile of some of his Bassaes, he sent an embassadour to Scanderbeg, offering him peace, if he would yeild to pay vnto him a yearely tribute of ten thousand duckats: thinking by that meanes his honour to be well saued, if before his departure out of EPIRVS, hee could but make Scanderbeg his tributarie. This embassadour was by Scanderbeg honourably entertained in his campe, but the offered peace at the same time vtterly refused. The embassadour returning to Amurath, declared vnto him the euill successe of his embassage, which greatly encreased his melancholie sicknesse. And Scanderbeg to greeue him the more, vnderstanding that he was dangerously sicke, and that the great Bassaes were more carefull of the kings health than of the successe of the warres; diuers times assailed the Turks campe. Which thing though the Bassaes kept from his knowledge with all carefulnesse: yet he often times suspected the matter,I by the often allarums and tumults in the campe, and with the greefe thereof languished. So feeling his sicknesse daily to increase, and that he could not longer liue, lying vpon a pallet in his pauillion, greeuously complained to his Bassaes, That the destinies had so blemished all the former course of his life, with such an obscure death, that hee which had so often repressed the furie of the Hungarians, and almost brought to naught the pride of the Grecians, together with their name, should now be enforced to giue vp the ghost, vnder the wals of an obscure castle (as hee termed it) and that in the sight of his contemptible enemie. After that, turning himselfe to his son Mahomet, he earnestly commended him to the faithfulnesse of his Bassaes, and gaue him many graue aduertisements, sometimes in secret betwixt themselues, and sometimes in the hearing of others: want of strength, & abundance of teares running down his aged face (vpon the sight of his K son) often times interrupting his speech. Yet sick vnto death as he was, and drawing fast vnto his end, he forced himselfe, to warne his sonne of such things as now at his death greeued him most.

The last speech and admonition of Amurath vnto his sonne Mahomet vpon his death bed.

Let mine example (quoth he) be a warning vnto thee my sonne, neuer to contemne thine enemie, be he neuer so weake: of which one thing aboue all others, I haue repented my selfe of long, and shall doe after my death, if any feeling of humane thinges remaine in the dead. And that I was so foolish, and inconsiderat as to foster vp as it were in my bosome this my domesticall and neglected enemie: wherby I haue purchased vnto my selfe this calamitie, and for euer blemished the honor of the Othoman kings: whilest I so basely ending my daies vnder the wals of CROIA, shall become a by-word vnto the world, and all posteritie for euer. This traitour should euen then haue been oppressed, when hee L by great treacherie, first recouered his wicked kingdome: in that newnesse of his estate, and before the minds of the people were assured vnto him, then it had been an easie matter, without bloudshed to haue vtterly extinguished the wretch, together with his name. Ali Bassa whose euill fortune was the first beginning of his good: nor the other Generals, who by him slaine or taken prisoners, increased his strength and credit with his subjects, should not haue been sent against him: a thing which I haue oftentimes thought vpon, but could scarce haue beleeued, that euer I should haue thereby receiued such disgrace, together with the ignominious renting of my kingdome; if I had not been taught the same by mine owne experience, to my great losse and hearts greefe. We entred into EPIRVS, and here encamped an hundred and threescore thousand men strong: now if leisure serue you, take view of them, examine the matter, you shall find a great want of that number. The fields could not contain our regiments M and the multitude of our men: but now, how many tents stand emptie? how many horses want riders? You shall go to HADRIANOPLE with our forces much impaired. As for me, the destinies haue vowed my spirits to this country of EPIRVS, as vnto me fatall. But wherfore do I impute vnto my selfe these impediments and chances of Fortune? for then first began this seed of mischiefe in EPIRVS, when the [Page] Hungarians with other the Christian princes, rose vp in armes against vs: at which time we fought not with them for soueraigntie, but for the whole state of our kingdome; as the bloudie battailes of VARNA and COSSOVA still witnesse vnto the world. So whilest I had neither leisure nor sufficient power to take order for all my important affaires at once; in the meane time this enemy grew as you see. But how, or in what order you are hereafter to wage warre against him, you may not looke for any direction from me, which haue in all these matters so euill directed my selfe: Fortune neuer deceiued my endeuors more, than in this. But happely thou Mahomet my sonne, maiest prooue a more fortunat warriour against him: and for so many honors alreadie giuen vnto me, the destinies haue reserued the triumph of EPIRVS for thee. Wherfore my sonne, thou shalt receiue from me this scepter, and these roial ensigns: but aboue all things, I leaue vnto thee this enemie; charging thee not to leaue my death vnreuenged. It is all I charge thee with, for so great and stately a patrimonie as thou art to receiue from me: it is the only sacrifice that my old departing ghost desireth of thee.

Shortly after he became speechlesse,Amurath his death. and striuing with the pangs of death halfe a day, he then breathed out his gastly ghost, to the great joy and contentment of the poore oppressed Christians. He died about the middle of Autumne, in the yeare of our Lord 1450, when he had liued 85 yeares, as most write: and thereof raigned 28 (or as some others report 30;) about fiue months after the siege laid before CROIA.

Thus lieth great Amurath, Amurath an example of the va [...]itie of worldly honour. erst not inferiour vnto the greatest monarchs of that age, dead almost in despaire: a worthy mirror of honours frailtie; yeelding vnto the worldly man in the end, neither comfort nor reliefe. Who had fought greater battails? who had gained greater victories, or obtained more glorious triumphs than had Amurath? Who by the spoils of so many mightie kings and princes, and by the conquest of so many prowd and warlike nations, againe restored and established the Turkes kingdome, before by Tamerlan and the Tartars in a manner clean defaced. He it was that burst the hart of the prowd Grecians, establishing his empire at HADRIANOPLE, euen in the center of their bowels: from whence haue proceeded so many miseries and calamities into the greatest part of Christendome, as no tongue is able to expresse. He it was that first brake downe the Hexamile or wal of separation on the strait of CORINTH, & conquered the greatest part of PELOPONESVS. He it was that subdued vnto the Turks so many great countries and prouinces in ASIA; that in plaine field and set battaile ouerthrew many puissant kings and princes, and brought them vnder his subiection: who hauing slaine Vladislaus the king of POLONIA and HVNGARIE, and more than once chased out of the field Huniades that famous & redoubted warriour; had in his prowd and ambitious heart, promised vnto himselfe the conquest of a great part of Christendome. But O how farre was he now changed from the man he then was! how farre did these his last speeches differ from the course of his forepassed life! full of such base passionat complaints and lamentations, as beseemed not a man of his place and spirit; but some vile wretch ouertaken with dispaire, and yet afraid to die. Where were now those haughtie thoughts, those loftie lookes, those thundring and commaunding speeches; whereat so many great commaunders, so many troups and legions, so many thousands of armed souldiours were woont to tremble and quake? Where is that head, before adorned with so manie trophies and triumphs? where is that victorious hand that swaied so many scepters? where is the majestie of his power and strength, that commanded ouer so many nations and kingdoms? O how is the case now altred! he lieth now dead, a gastly filthy stinking carkas▪ a clod of clay vnregarded, his hands closed, his eyes shut, and his feet stretched out, which erst prowdly traced the countries by him subdued and conquered. And now of such infinit riches, such vnmeasurable wealth, such hugie treasures, such stately honors and vainglorious praises as he in his life time enjoyed; his fraile bodie enjoyeth nothing, but left all behind it. O the weake condition of mans nature! O the vaine glorie of mortall creatures! O the blind and peruerse thoughts of foolish men! Why do we so magnifie our selues? why are we so puffed vp with pride? why do we so much set our minds vpon riches, authoritie, and other vanities of this life? whereof neuer man had yet one daies assurance, and at our most need and when we least thinke, quite forsake vs; leauing euen them that most sought after them, and most abounded in them, shrowded oft times in the sheet of dishonor and shame.

That his death is otherwise by some reported, I am not ignorant: the Turkes saying, that he died miraculously forewarned of his death at HADRIANOPLE: and some others, that he died [Page] in ASIA, strucken with an Apolexie proceeding of a surfet taken of the immoderat drinking of G wine. But Marinus Barlesius, who liued in his time in SCODRA fast by EPIRVS, whose authoritie, in report of the warres betwixt him and Scanderbeg we follow, setteth it downe in such maner as is aforesaid.

Presently after his death, Mahomet his sonne, for feare of some innouation to be made at home, raised the siege, and returned to HADRIANOPLE: and afterward with great solemnitie buried his dead bodie at the West side of PRVSA, in the suburbs of the citie, where he now lieth in a chappell without any roofe,Amurath buried at Prusa. his graue nothing differing from the manner of the common Turks: which (they say) he so commaunded to be done in his last will; that the mercie and blessing of God (as he termed it) might come vnto him by the shining of the Sunne and Moone, and falling of the raine and dew of heauen vpon his graue.H

He whilest he liued mightily enlarged the Turkish kingdome, and with greater wisedome and pollicie than his predecessours, established the same: insomuch that some attribute vnto him the first institution of the Ianizaries, and other souldiours of the court (the greatest strength of the Turkish empire) before indeed begun in the time of Amurath the first, his great grandfather, (as is before declared) but by him greatly augmented, and the pollicie of that state, whereby it hath euer since in his posteritie flourished, euen by himselfe plotted. For the better establishing whereof in his owne hous [...] and to cut off all occasions of feare; as also to leaue all such as might haue the heart to arise against him, all naked and bare of forces to resist; but especially the other ancient and noble families of the Turks, still secretly repining at the great honour of the Othoman kings: he as a man of great wisedome and judgement, to keepe them vnder, in the beginning of his raigne, by manifold fauours began to bind vnto himselfe men of strange and forraine countreys, his seruants; and by ordering of his most waightie affaires by their authoritie, so by little and little to cast off the seruice of his naturall Turks: they in the meane time little or nothing at all looking into this his practise. And whereas the Othoman kings his predecessours had for the most part, or rather all together raised their Ianizaries and other souldiors of the court, of such children of the Christians as were taken in the warres; he, seeing by experience how seruiceable those new kind of souldiors were, began forthwith to plot in his head, how to make himselfe an armie all together of such able persons, his owne creatures, and so to bring in a new kind of warfare, wholly depending of himselfe. And to that end, by his officers appointed for that purpose, tooke from the Christians throughout his dominions, euerie fift child: the fairest and aptest of K whom, he placed in his owne Seraglio at HADRIANOPLE, and the rest in other like places by him built for such purpose: where they were by sufficient teachers, first instructed in the principles of the Mahometan religion, and then in all manner of actiuitie and feats of armes. Of these, when they were grown to mans state, he made horsemen, gaue them great pensions, and sorting them into diuers orders appointed them also to guard his person; honouring the better sort of them with the name of Spahi-Oglani, that is to say, His sonnes the knights. And of these he began to make his Bas [...]aes, his Generals of his armies, and the Gouernours of his prouinces and cities, with all the great offices of the state. The rest and farre the greatest part of these tribute children taken from their Christian parents, and not brought vp in these Seraglioes, hee caused to bee dispierced into euerie citie and countrey of his dominion in ASIA, there for certaine yeares to L be brought vp in all hardnesse and painfull labour, neuer tasting of ease or pleasure: out of which hard brood so enured to paines, he made choise of so many of the most lustie and able bodies fittest for seruice, as he thought good; who kept in continuall exercise, and by skilfull men taught to handle all maner of weapons, but especially the bow, the peece, and the Scimitar, were by him as occasion serued added to the other Ianizaries, and appointed for the guarding of his person: calling them commonly by the names of his sonnes. The remainder of these tribute children, as vnfit for the warres, hee put vnto other base occupations and ministeries. But vnto those martiall men of all sorts so by him ordained, hee appointed a continuall pay, according to their degrees and places: and by great benefits and liberties bestowed vpon them, bound them so fast vnto him, as that he might now account himselfe to haue of them so many sonnes, as hee M had souldiours: For they together with the Christian religion, hauing forgot their parents and countrey, and knowing no other lord and master but him, and acknowledging all that they had to come and proceed of his free grace onely, remained euer bound and faithfull vnto him; and so kept others also, as well the naturall Turks themselues, as the other oppressed Christians within [Page] the bounds of obedience and loyaltie. A great pollicie proceeding from a deepe judgement, first to weaken the Christians by taking from them their best children,A great poli [...] ▪ and of greatest hope; and then by them depending wholly of himselfe, to keepe in awe and dutifull obedience his naturall subjects also: hauing them alwaies as a scourge readie to chastice the rebellious or disloyall. Now the other Othoman kings and emperours, the successors of Amurath, keeping this custome, and also increasing it one after another, haue therby not onely kept the empire still in their house and familie, where it was first gotten: but also so maintained the majestie of their state, as that they are of their subjects feared, obeyed, and honoured, not as kings, but as gods. For the naturall Turks their subjects loosing courage continually, and daily growing more base and dastardly, by reason they are not suffered to practise the knowledge of armes, and the souldiours in whose power all things are, knowing nothing of their owne, but holding and acknowledging all that they haue to come of their lord, account them as kings and lords of all: ruling much after the manner of the Pharaohs the antient kinges of AEGYPT; who were absolute lords and masters, both of the publick and priuat wealth of their subjects, whom they kept vnder as slaues and villaines. And hereof cometh it to passe, that the better part of them, whom we call Turks (but are indeed the children of Christians, and seduced by their false instructors) desire to be called Musulmans (that is to say, right beleeuers) hold it a reproachfull and dishonourble thing to be called Turks, as it were peculiarly and aboue other people: For that they knowing right well, that there is not one naturall Turke among all those that beare authoritie and rule, and are had in greater honour and reputation than the rest (such as are the men of warre and courtlers) C but he is borne a Christian either of father, or at the least of his grandfather: auouch those onely to be Turks which liue in NATOLIA, al of them either marchants, or of base and mechanicall crafts, or poore labourers with the spade and pickaxe, and such like people vnfit for the warres; the rest (as I say) holding it for a title of honour to be discended of Christian parents. Yea the Grand Sign [...]or himselfe, although by the fathers side he bee come of progenitors such as were naturall Turks borne, yet many of them had Christian mothers, which they accounted in the greatest part of their nobilitie and honour. Thus by the wisedome of Amurath was the order of the Ianizaries, and other souldiours of the court greatly aduanced, though not by him begun, and the politicke state of the Turks kingdome (to say the truth) quite altered; the naturall Turks (more than the Sultan himselfe) now bearing therein no sway: but onely these new souldiours, all of them discended from Christian parents, and by adoption as it were become the sonnes of the Turkish Sultans, and vnder them commanding all: by whom they haue euer since managed their estate, & by their good seruice wonderfully, euen to the astonishment of the world, encreased and extended their empire. But of them more shall be said hereafter.

This great king was whilest hee liued, of his subjects woonderfully beloued, and no lesse of them after his death lamented. He was more faithfull of his word than any of the Turkish kings either before or after him:Amurath his disposition. by nature melancholie and sad, and accounted rather politicke than valiant, yet was indeed both: a great dissembler, and painefull in trauaile, but wayward and testie aboue measure, which many imputed vnto his great age. He had issue sixe sonnes, Achmetes, Aladin, The sonnes of Amura [...]h. Mahomet, Hasan (otherwise called Chasan) Vrchan, and Achmetes the younger, of some called Calepinus: three of whom died before him; but the two youngest were by their vnnaturall brother Mahomet, who succeeded him in the Turkish kingdome, euen in their infancie, in the beginning of his raigne most cruelly murthered.

FINIS.

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Christian princes of the same time with Amurath the second.

Emperours

Of the East

Iohn Palaeologus. 1421. 24.

Constantinus Palaeologus. 1444. 8.

Of the West

Sigismund king of Hungarie. 1411. 28.

Albert the second king of Hungarie and Bohemia. 1438. 2.

Frederick the third, Archduke of Austria. 1440. 54.

Kings

Of England

Henrie the fift. 1413. 9.

Henrie the sixt. 1422. 39.

Of Fraunce

Charles the sixt. 1381. 42.

Charles the seuenth. 1423. 38.

Of Scotland

Iames the first. 1424. 13.

Iames the second. 1436. 29.

Bishops of Rome

Martin the V. 1417. 13.

Eugenius the IIII. 1431. 16.

Nicholas the V. 1447. 8.

Muhammad II

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MAHOMET. II.

MAHOMETHES II COG MAGNVS TVRCARVM IMPERATOR PRIMVS FLORVIT ANo 1450

Paulus Iouius Illust▪ virorum, Elog. lib. 3.

Qui vici innumeros populos, tot regna, tot vrbes:

Solus & immensi qui timor orbis eram:

Me rapuit quae cunque rapit mors improba, sed sum

Virtute excelsa, ductus ad astra tamen.

Maior Alexander non me fuit, Annniball & non,

Fuderit Ausonios tot licet ille duces.

Vici victores Dannos, domuique feroces

Caoniae populos, Sauromatasquè truces.

Pannonius sensit, quantum surgebat in armis

Vis mea: quae latio cognita nuper erat.

Arsacidae sensere manus has, sensit Arahsquè:

Et mea sunt Persae cognita tela duci.

Mens fuerat, bellare Rhodum, superare superbam

Italiam, sed non fata dedere modum.

Hei mihi, nam rapuit mors aspera, quaequè sub alto

Pectore condideram, vertit & hora breuis.

Sic hominum fastus pereunt, sic stemata, sicquè

Imperium, atquè aurum, quicquid & orbis habet.

[Page] In English thus.

I that so many nations, townes,

and kingdomes, haue brought low;

And haue alone dismaied the world,

and fild the earth with woe:

Am now by death (which all deuoures)

brought downe from hie degree,

Yet doth the glorie of my name,

surmount the starrie skie.

The great king Alexanders fame,

the world no better fild:

Nor worthy Hannibal, whose force

so many Romans kild.

I vanquisht the victorious Greeks,

and tam'd with mightie hand,

The warlike people of EPIRE,

and fierce TARTARIA land.

My force in field HVNGARIA felt,

my greatnesse is there knowne:

Which of late time through ITALY,

to their great ruth is blowne.

Th'Assyrians felt my heauie hand,

so did th'Arabians wild:

The Persian king with all his force,

I driue out of the field▪

I purposed to win the RHODES,

and ITALY t'vndoe:

If that the fatall destinies,

had granted leaue thereto.

But wo is me, for grisly death

hath brought all this to nought:

And in the twinckling of an eye,

is perisht all I thought.

So perisheth the pride of man,

his honour, wealth, and power,

His golde, and whatsoeuer else,

it fadeth as a flower.

[Page]

THE LIFE OF MAHOMET, SECOND OF THAT NAME, SEVENTH KING AND FIRST EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKS, FOR HIS MANY VICTORIES SVRNAMED THE GREAT.

THe report of the death of old Amurath the late king, was in short time blowne through most part of Christendome, to the great joy of many: but especially of the Greekes, and other poore Christians which bordered vpon the tyrants kingdome; who were now in hope, together with the change of the Turkish king, to make exchange also of their bad estate and fortune: and the rather, for that it was thought, that his eldest sonne Mahomet, after the death of his father, would haue embraced the Christian religion, being in his childhood instructed therein (as was supposed) by his mother, the daughter of the prince of SERVIA, a Christian. But vaine was this hope, and the joy thereof but short, as afterward by proofe appeared. For Mahomet being about the age of one and twentie yeares, succeeding his father in the kingdome in the yeare of our Lord 1450,1450 embraced in shew the Mahometane religion,Mahomet of no religion. abhorring the Christian, but indeed making no great reckoning either of the one or of the other; but as a meere Atheist, deuoid of all religion, and worshipping no other god but good fortune, derided the simplicitie of all such as thought that God had any care or regard of worldly men, or of their actions: which gracelesse resolution so wrought in him, that he thought all things lawfull that agreed with his lust, and making conscience of nothing, kept no league, promise, or oath, longer than stood with his profit or pleasure.

Now in the Court men stood diuersly affected towards the present state: the mightie Bassaes and others of great authoritie, vnto whom the old kings gouernment was neuer greeuous, inwardly lamented his death; doubting least the fierce nature of the yong king should turne to the hurt of some of them in particular, and the shortening of their authoritie in generall, as indeed it shortly after fell out. But the lustie gallants of the Court wearie of the old king, who in hope of preferment had long wished for the gouernment of the yong prince, were glad to see him set vpon his fathers seat. And the vulgar people (neuer constant but in vnconstancie, and alwaies fawning vpon the present) exceedingly rejoyced in their young king. The Ianizaries also at the same time (according to their accustomed manner) tooke the spoile of the Christians and Iewes that dwelt amongst them, and easily obtained pardon for the same: whereupon he was by the same Ianizaries and the other souldiors of the Court with great triumph saluted king. Which approbation of these men of warre, is vnto the Turkish kings a greater assurance for the possession of their kingdome, than to be borne the eldest sonne of the king, as in the processe of this Historie shall appeare: so great is the power of these masterfull slaues, in promoting to the kingdome which soeuer of the kings sonnes they most fauour, without much regard whether he be the eldest or not.

This young tyrant was no sooner possessed of his fathers kingdome, but that hee forgetting the lawes of nature,Mahomet murdereth his brethren. was presently in person himselfe about to haue murthered with his owne [Page] hands his youngest brother, then but eighteene moneths old, begotten on the daughter of Spo [...] derbeius. Which vnnaturall part, Moses one of his Bassaes, and a man greatly in his fauour, perceiuing, requested him not to imbrue his owne hands in the blood of his brother, but rather to commit the execution thereof to some other: which thing Mahomet commaunded him the author of that counsell foorthwith to doe. So Moses taking the child from the nurse, strangled it, with pouring water downe the throat thereof. The young ladie vnderstanding of the death of her child (as a woman whom furie had made past feare) came, and in her rage reuiled the tyrant to his face, shamefully vpbraiding him for his inhumane crueltie. When Mahomet to appease her furie, requested her to be content, for that it stood with the policie of his state: and willed her for her better contentment, to aske whatsoeuer she pleased, and she should forthwith haue it. But she desiring nothing more than in some sort to be reuenged,A cruell reuenge of an angrie woman. desired to haue Moses (the executioner of her sonne) deliuered vnto her, bound: which when she had obtained, she presently strucke him into the breast with a knife (crying in vaine vpon his vnthankfull master for helpe:) and proceeding in her cruell execution, cut an hole in his right side, and by peecemeale cut out his liues, and cast it to the dogs to eat. At the same time also he caused another of his brethren, committed by his father to the keeping of Caly Bassa, and now by him betrayed into his hands, to be likewise murthered.

Mahomet reformeth the Turkish cōmonweale.Thus beginning his tyrannous raigne with the bloodie execution of them that were in blood nearest vnto him, and whom of all others he ought to haue defended, he presently after began to frame a new forme of a commonweale, by abrogating and altering the old lawes and customes, and publishing of new, better fitting his owne humour, and more commodious for himselfe: imposing also new taxes and subsidies vpon his subjects, neuer before heard of; thereby to increase his treasures, and satisfie his auaritious desire: which amongst many other his vices so much raigned in him, as that he was thought ouersparing vnto himselfe, as well in his apparrell as in his diet. And proceeding farther, hee called vnto straight account all the great officers of his kingdome: of whom some he put to death, and confiscated their goods; others he put to great fines, or quite remooued them from their offices. In like manner hee dealt also with his great Bassaes, admitting many false and surmised accusations against them: whereby to bring them within his danger, where little mercie was to be looked for. By which meanes hee became no lesse terrible vnto his subjects, than he was afterward vnto his enemies; and so was of them exceedingly feared, but more hated. Amongst other things, hee much misliked in his court the excessiue number of faulconers and huntsmen; which was growne so great by the immoderat delight which his predecessors tooke in the pleasures of the field, that there were continually maintained of the kings charge, seuen thousand faulconers, and not many fewer huntsmen, saying, That he would not be so much a foole, as to maintaine such a multitude of men to attend vpon so meere a vanitie. And therefore tooke order, that from thenceforth there should bee allowance made for fiue hundred faulconers onely, and one hundred huntsmen: the rest he appointed to serue as souldiors in his warres. At the same time also he entered into league with Constantinus Palaeologus, the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, and the other princes of GRECIA: as also with the Despot of SERVIA, his grandfather by the mothers side, as some will haue it; howbeit, some others write, that the Despot his daughter, Amurath his wife, was but his mother in law, whom hee vnder the colour of friendship sent backe againe vnto her father after the death of Amurath, still allowing her a princely dowrie. But if shee were not his mother (as like ynough it is that shee was not) much more happie was she, that she neuer groned for so gracelesse a sonne.

1451Whilest Mahomet was thus occupied about his ciuile affaires, Ibrahim king of CARAMANIA, who long before had married Amurath his sister, and yet for all that, had (as his ancestors had before him) alwaies enuied the prosperous successe of the Othoman kings,Mahomet goeth against the king of Caramania. tooke occasion in the first yeare of Mahomet his raigne, with fire and sword to inuade his dominions in ASIA. Which thing when Mahomet vnderstood, he displaced Isa his lieutenant in ASIA, as a man not sufficient to manage so great warres, and appointed Isaack Bassa in his roome, a most valiant man of warre, vpon whom not long before he had vpon speciall fauour bestowed in mariage the fair daughter of Sponderbeius, one of his fathers wiues, of whom we haue before spoken. This great Bassa passing ouer into ASIA, raised a great armie. After whom followed Mahomet in person himselfe with a greater, out of EVROPE: and hauing all his forces together, entered with great hostilitie into CARAMANIA. But the Caramanian king perceiuing himselfe vnable to withstand [Page] so puissant an enemie, fled into the strength of the great mountaines, and by his embassadours offered vnto Mahomet such reasonable conditions of peace, as that hee was content to accept thereof. Which after they had by solemne oath on both parts confirmed, Mahomet returned with his armie to PRVSA: but when he was come thither, the Ianizaries presuming that they might be bold with the young king; putting themselues in order of battaile, came, & with great insolencie demaunded of him a donatiue or largious, as a reward of their good seruice done. With which so great presumption, Mahomet was inwardly chafed: but for so much as they were his best souldiors, and alreadie in armes, he wisely dissembled his anger for the present, hauing a little before had warning thereof by Abedin Bassa, and Turechan-beg, two of his great captaines, who had got some suspition of the matter: wherefore to content them, hee caused tenne great bags of aspers to bee scattered amongst them, and so pacified the matter. But within few daies after, he caused Doganes (the Aga or cheefe captaine of the Ianizaries) to be brought before him, and to be shamefully whipt: and so presently discharging him of his office, placed one Mustapha in the same. The like seueritie he vsed against the rest of the vndercaptaines, causing them to be cruelly scourged and beaten like slaues: which in that tyrannicall gouernment is an vsuall punishment,Mentesia subdued by the Turks. vpon the least displeasure of the king to be inflicted vpon any man, with out respect of degree or calling, if he be not a naturall Turke borne. Presently after he sent Isaack his lieutenant against Elias prince of MENTESIA or CARIA, by whom the poore prince was driuen out of his countrey: euer since which time it hath remained in subjection to the Turkish kings, as part of their kingdome and empire.

When Mahomet had thus ended the Caramanian war,1452 and was determined with his armie to returne to HADRIANOPLE, he was aduertised, That the straits of HELLESPONTVS were so strongly possessed by the Christian fleet, that he could not possibly there passe ouer but with most manifest danger: wherefore hee tooke his way through that part of BYTHINIA which lieth aboue CONSTANTINOPLE, and came to the castle which the Turks call Acce-Chisar, and the Grecians [...], or White castle, standing vpon the narrow strait of BOSPHORVSON ASIA side, and there passed ouer into EVROPE at the same place where his father Amurath had not many yeares before in like manner found passage. Where when he was safely got ouer with his armie, he by the aduise of his Bassaes encamped fast by the sea side, and there presently began to build a great strong castle close vnto the straits of BOSPHORVS, neere vnto PROPONTIS on EVROPE side, directly oueragainst the other castle in ASIA. For the speedie accomplishment of which worke, he assembled thither all the workemen he could possibly get out of EVROPE and ASIA; apportioning vnto his captaines and souldiours of his armie part of the worke also: by whose industrie and labour, that great building was in shorter time brought to perfection, than was by any man at the first expected. This castle which for the greatnesse thereof is of most writers reputed for a citie, was by the Turks named Genichisar, & of the Grecians Neocastron, or New castle, and also Laemocastron, or castle vpon the straits; and was there by the Turks built, as well for the safetie of their owne passage too and fro, as for to hinder the passage of the Christians through those narrow straits, they now possessing the strong sorts on both sides: and thereby also to distresse the cittie of CONSTANTINOPLE, from whence this castle was not aboue fiue miles distant. When Mahomet in the second yeare of his raign had finished this great castle, with some other small forts about the same, and also repaired the other castle in ASIA oueragainst it, hee placed therein strong garrisons, and furnished the same with artillerie; in such sort, that no ship could passe through the strait of BOSPHORVS into the great Euxine or blacke sea, but she was in danger to be sunke: whereby the rich trade which the marchants of VENICE, GENVA, and CONSTANTINOPLE, had to CAFFA, and other places lying vpon the Euxine, were almost quite cut off, to the great hinderance of those estates. Now Mahomet by nature ambitious, and withall desirous to doe some such thing as the glorie whereof might farre passe the fame of his predecessors, thought nothing more answerable vnto his high conceits, than to attempt the winning of CONSTANTINOPLE, and the vtter subuersion of the Greeke empire: whereupon his father Amurath, Mahomet maketh preparation for the besieging of Constantinople. and his great grandfather Baiazet, had before in vaine spent their forces. Besides that, it greeued him to see that goodly cittie, the antient seat of the Christian empire, to be so commodiously situated, as it were in the middest of his kingdome, and not to be at his commaund. Hereunto the small power of the Greeke emperor himselfe, and the other Christian princes at the same time at mortall discord amongst themselues, ministred vnto his greedie [Page] desire no small hope of successe, and serued as spurres to pricke him forward vnto so great an enterprise. Wherefore all the Winter he caused great preparation to be made of shipping & other warlike prouision both for sea and land: and gaue out commissions for the leuying of a mightie armie, to be in readinesse against the next Spring. But whither hee would employ the same, no man could certainely tell: some gessing one thing, and some another, as the manner of men is, when such extraordinarie preparation is at hand.Constantinus the emperor in vaine craueth aid of the Christian princes. Constantinus the eight of that name, then emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, a prince of a mild and soft spirit, fitter for the church than for the field, hearing of the great preparation made by the Turkish king; and fearing least that tempest then growing, should vpon the suddaine breake forth vpon himselfe, first made such preparation, as his owne small abilitie would extend vnto: and then sent his embassadours vnto other Christian princes, earnestly crauing their aid and assistance in that his dangerous estate. But that labour was lost, and all his sute vaine: for they being at variance one with another, and hauing more care of priuat reuenge than how to repulse the common enemie of Christianitie, could not or would not affoord him any helpe at all. Nicholas the fift of that name, then bishop of ROME, with Alphonsus king of NAPLES, and the state of VENICE, promised to haue sent him thirtie gallies, but none for all that came.

There was by chaunce at CONSTANTINOPLE certaine ships and gallies of VENICE, GENVA, CRETE, and CHIOS, of whom the emperour made stay: at which time also it chaunced, that Ioannes Iustinianus, an aduenturer of GENVA, who had beene scouring those seas, came to CONSTANTINOPLE with two tall ships, and foure hundred souldiors: where he was entertained by the emperour. And for as much as he was a man honourably descended, and supposed to I be both of great courage and direction, was by the emperor appointed Generall of all his forces next vnto himselfe. He also entertained six thousand Greekes: which, with three thousand Venetians, Genowaies, and others, whom he had made stay of, joined vnto the cittizens, was all the weake strength he had to relie vpon, for the defence of his state and empire.

1453Against the beginning of the Spring, the Turkish king had in readinesse a great and puissant armie of three hundred thousand men,Vide [...]onardi Ch [...]ensis Archiepiscopi Mi [...]len hist. d [...] captiuitate Con lantinopolitana. of whom, the greatest part were taken out of BVLGARIA, SERVIA, RASCIA, THESSALIA, MACEDONIA, and GRECIA, which as yet were called the Christian countries, and were themselues either indeed Christians, or els such renegates as had not long before forsaken the Christian faith: vnto these also were joyned diuers other Christians which came out of GERMANIE, BOHEMIA, and HVNGARIE, to serue the Turke in his warres. This hath been none of the least meanes, whereby the Turkish kings haue growne so great, and their kingdome so mightily enlarged, by enforcing and alluring Christians to fight against Christians, to the vtter confusion of themselues. Amongst the great multitude of the European Christians, were mingled his effeminat soldiors of ASIA, and his naturall Turks and Ianizaries, which were in number fewest, and yet commaunded all the rest.

With this great armie, well appointed with all warlike prouision, came Mahomet the Turkish king from HADRIANOPLE:Mahomet encam [...]eth before Constantinople. and the ninth day of Aprill, in the yeare 1453, encamped before CONSTANTINOPLE, and with the multitude of his armie filled all the maine land before the citie, from the sea side of BOSPHORVS, vnto the place where the same sea compassing in the citie on two parts, and running farre into the land betwixt CONSTANTINOPLE and PERA, maketh there a goodly hauen betwixt them.

The situation of Constantinople.This citie of CONSTANTINOPLE (called in ancient time BIZANTIVM) is in fourme of a Triangle, situated in EVROPE in the pleasant countrey of THRACIA, vpon a point of the main land shooting out towards ASIA, called of Plinie & Solinus, The promotorie CHRYSOCERAS; where the sea of PRODONTIS joyneth vnto that strait of sea which diuideth ASIA from EVROPE, called in ancient time BOSPHORVS THRACIVS; sometime the strait of PONTVS; and the mouth of PONTVS; and of the moderne writers, the strait of CONSTANTINOPLE; and about 200 yeares past, or more, S. George his a [...]me. This point of the maine, whereon the citie standeth, lyeth about two Italian miles more Northward than doth the antient citie of CALCEDON, on the other side of the strait in ASIA: more than thirtie miles distant from the Euxine or M blacke sea, lying from it Northward; and two hundreth miles from the strait of HELLESPONTVS or CALLIPOLIS, from thence South. Which noble citie (of all others most fitly sea [...]ed for the empire of the world, and with great majestie ouerlooking both EVROPE and ASIA) is by the Cosmographers accounted to stand in the height of 43 degrees, vpon seuen little hils of [Page] no great and easie ascent: and was there first built by Pausanias the Lacedemonian king, and called BIZANTIVM, and so many yeares flourished as a populous and rich cittie, vntill the ciuile warres betwixt Seuerus the emperour, and Niger: what time it endured the siege of the Romanes vnder Seuerus, three yeares, with such obstinacie, that it yeelded not vntill it was brought to such extremitie that the citizens did eat one another; and then yeelding, had the wals ouerthrowne by Seuerus, and the citie it selfe destroyed, and brought to the low estate of a poore countrie village,Constantinople built by Pausan [...]as, destroyed by Seuerus, reedified by Constantine the Great, and now taken by Mahomet the Turke. and so by him giuen to the Perinthyans. In which base estate it continued vntill the time of Constantine the Great, the sonne of Helena (whom some will needs haue to haue ben an English woman) by whom it was new built, and beautified with buildings so stately and sumptuous, that vnto the strange beholders it seemed a dwelling place for heauenly wights rather than for earthly men. And to grace it the more, translated his imperiall seat thether, and called it NOVA ROMA, or new ROME; and all that pleasant part of THRACIA alongst the sea coast of HELLESPONTVS, PROPONTIS, and BOSPHORVS, by the name of ROMANIA, of the faire Romane collonies there by him planted, which name it at this day retaineth, and is of the Turks called RVMILIA and RVMILI (that is to say) the Romane countrey. But as for the citie it selfe, the glorious name of the founder so preuailed, that the citie was and yet is of him called CONSTANTINOPLE, or Constantine his citie: and now of the barbarous Turkes commonly, but corruptly, STAMBOL [...]. It is (as we said) built in the forme of a Triangle, whereof the longest side which runneth from Northeast to Southwest, is on the South side washed with the PROPONTIS; and towards the ending of the point which is about the seauen towers, is somewhat indented; being commonly reputed to be eight miles long. The other side lyeth East and West fiue miles in length, being washed with the hauen, which is somwhat more thā eight miles long before it meet with the fresh water, and about a quarter of a mile broad: on the farther side whereof standeth the citie of PERA, commonly called GALATA, sometimes a colonie of the Genowaies. This hauen is very deepe, and by that reason as commodious as deepe, bearing ships full fraught close to the shoare, so that they may discharge their burthens with the least trouble that may be, and is of Strabo called CORNV BIZANTII, or the horne of Bizantium. The third side of this citie towards the Continent, lyeth almost North and South fiue miles also in length: those two sides that lie vpon the sea, and the hauen, are enuironed and guirt in with a single wall, built after the antique maner, with many high towers, which strongly defend & flanke the same. Without which wals (especially towards the hauen) there lyeth a street between them and the shore. But the other side which is the third, and regardeth the main land (beside the ditch, which is also fenced) is defended with three wals: the first wall standing vpon the ditch being but low; and the second not farre distant from the first, raised somewhat higher; but the third ouerlooketh and commaundeth both the other; from whence as from an high fortresse both the other wals and all the ditch without may easily be defended. But the two vtter wals, with the whole space betwixt them, are now by the Turks but slenderly maintained, lying full of earth and other rubbish, euen as they were in the time of the Grecians: some cause why they with lesse heart and courage defended the same against their barbarous enemies. In the East part of the cittie, on that point which in the raigne of the Grecians was called the cape of S. Demetrio, distant from ASIA not much more than halfe a mile, standeth the Seraglio or pallace of the great Turke, containing in it selfe a great part of an hill, enclosed round with a wall, as if it were it selfe a citie, in circuit more than two miles: wherein amongst other stately buildings, neere vnto the sea standeth a verie faire and sumptuous gallerie, built for pleasure, with a priuie gate well fortified and planted with great ordinance, and other munition, whereby the great Turke at certaine times passeth, when he is disposed in his gallie to take his pleasure vpon the sea, or to passe ouer the strait vnto his houses or gardens of delight, on the other side in ASIA. In this great citie are also many other most stately and sumptuous buildings, as well of late erected by the Turkish Sultans, since they became lords thereof, as before by the Greeke emperours: amongst all which, the Temple of S. Sophia standing in the East side of the citie,The magnificent temple of S. Sophia. not farre from the Seraglio (now reduced vnto the forme of a Mahometan Moschie, and whether the great Turk goeth often times to heare seruice, being indeed but the Sanctuarie or chauncell onely of the great, stately, and wonderfull church built by Iustinian the emperor) is most beautifull and admirable. That which standeth of it now, is both round & verie high, built after the fashion of the Pantheon in ROME, but much greater, fairer, and not open in the top as is that: the wals thereof being of the finest [Page] marble, and the floare all paued with faire marble also. In the middest there is a verie great and large circle, compassed in with high and huge pillars of most excellent marble of diuers sorts; and these support a mightie vault that beareth vp as many moe pillars aboue, standing after the verie same order, and in a downe right line, almost of the like greatnesse and goodnesse of the marble with the other below: vpon which, aboue the second vault in manner of a loo [...]ar, resteth the great round roofe which couereth all that space of the church which is compassed with the aforesaid pillars: being all enameled and fillited, with the pictures of Saints, after the antient manner of some great churches in Christendome: but that the Turks, who like not to haue any puctures in their churches, haue put out their eies onely, as loath to spoile such a rare peece of worke, and vtterly to deface it. In like manner the wals of the vpper vault, are wrought, painted, or portraied after the same order, though in some part decayed, by reason of their long continuance and standing. About this church are eighteen or twentie dores of brasse, right faire and costly, well declaring the magnificence and greatnesse thereof in more antient times: when as it had (as is reported) more than two hundred dores of like making and greatnesse; and beside the hugenesse of the frame, and building it selfe, had also diuers faire monasteries and houses of religion joyned vnto it: whereunto belonged six thousand priests, whose houses and lodgings extended almost all ouer the place where now the Turke his pallace standeth, and the other places adjoyning to this great church, which is now their cheefe Moschie, and called by them by the proper name of S. Sophia, because they hold euen as we do, the wisdome of God to be incomprehensible and infinit. The next in magnificence vnto this, is the Moschie of Solyman, wherin he lyeth buried, with his welbeloued wife the faire Roxolana: a worke well beseeming the majestie I of so mightie a monarch. There are beside these also many other faire Moschies, Seraglioes for the Turke his wiues and concubines, Bezestanes or Burses for marchants, Obeliskes, Bathes, and other publicke edifices and buildings of great majestie and state, all well worth the beholding: wherein consisteth all the beautie of this so auntient and renowned a citie; farre vnlike to that it was in the time of the first Greeke emperours, and before it was spoiled by the Latines. For the Turkes priuat houses in this so great and imperiall a citie, so much renowned through the world, are for the most part low and base, after the Turkish fashion, built some of wood, some of stone, and some of vnburnt bricke, layd with clay and dyrt, which quickly decaieth againe:The frugalitie of the Turkes in their p [...]iuat build [...]g [...]. they after their homely manner (by long custome receiued) neuer building any thing sumptuously for their owne priuate vse, but contenting themselues with their simple cottages, how meane soeuer, commonly saying them to be good inough for the short time of their pilgrimage: and yet not sparing for any cost vpon the publicke buildings and ornaments of the commonwealth, which they build with great majestie and pompe; but especially their Moschies, wherein they excell. Neuerthelesse there yet are in CONSTANTINOPLE some other houses also built high and comely inough; but these bee few, and verie old, all inhabited by the Christians and Iewes, and not by the Turks. But of this inough, and so againe to our purpose.

Mahomet with his puissant armie thus encamped before the citie, placing his Asian souldiors on the right hand,The Turks fl [...]et. toward the BOSPHORVS; his Europeian souldiors on the left hand, toward the hauen; lay himselfe with 15000 Ianizaries and other souldiors of the court, in the middle betwixt both, against the heart of the citie. On the farther side of the hauen also by PERA, hee L placed Zoganus, one of his cheefe counsellors, with another part of his armie. At which time also Pantologes his Admirall came to the siege, with a fleet of thirtie gallies, and 200 other small ships, and a number of other lesser vessels, which were rowed with three, or fiue oares a peece, full of Turkish archers, fitter for shew than seruice. But for defence of the hauen, and so of the citie on that side, the emperour had caused the hauen to bee strongly chained ouerthwart from the citie to PERA: and within the chaine had orderly placed his small fleet, the greatest strength whereof was seauen great ships of GENVA, with three gallies, and two galliots of VENICE, three of CREET, and a few others of the Iland of CHIOS; all which were there, rather by chance vpon marchants affaires, than that they were prouided for any such seruice: yet by this meanes the Turks fleet was shut out of the hauen, and so the citie put in good saftie on that side.M

When Mahomet had thus conueniently encamped his armie, and surrounded the citie both by sea and land: he first cast vp great trenches as neere as hee possibly could vnto the wals of the citie, and raised mounts in diuers places as high as the wals themselues, from whence the Turks with their shot greatly annoied the defendants. After that, hee placed his batterie against one of [Page] the gates of the citie called CALEGARIA, and terribly battered the same, especially with one peece of ordinance of a wonderfull greatnesse, which with much difficultie was brought from HADRIANOPLE with an hundreth & fiftie yoke of oxen, & caried a bullet of an hundred pound waight, made (as his other shot was) of a kind of hard blacke stone brought from the Euxine sea. For as yet (as it seemeth) so soone after the inuention of that fatall engine, the vse of bullets of mettall was vnknowne. There with continuall batterie, he terribly shooke the wals, which although they were verie strong, yet were they not able to withstand the furie of so great a batterie. The Christians also out of the citie discharged their great artillerie vpon the Turkes, but so sparingly, as if they had beene afraid to shake their owne wals, or loath for good husbandrie, to spend shot & powder, which was vnto the canoniers verie sparingly allowed: yet that which was spent, was so well bestowed, that the Turks were therewith greeuously annoyed. The breach also which they had made at the aforesaid gate, was by the defendants with great and dangerous labour againe repaired with faggots and earth, and such like matter best seruing for that purpose, and so made stronger than before. In which most dangerous work, they were altogether directed and greatly encouraged by Iustinianus the Genoway, the emperours lieutenant generall for defence of the citie.

Yet for all this deligence of the Christians,Constantinople vndermined by the Turks. Mahomet continued his batterie with no lesse furie than before: but reposing greater hope to find a way into the citie, by the spade and mattocke, than by batterie; he employed his pyoners, whereof he had great store, to digge a mine: being altogether directed by Christians skilfull in that kind of worke, whom hee had for that purpose entertained. By whose cunning direction, with the industrious labour of the poore pioners, the mine was brought to such perfection, that part of the wall, with one of the strong towers in the same, was quite vndermined, and stood supported, but with such vntrustie staies as the pyoners had left for the bearing vp thereof vntill such time as it should by the tirants appointment be blown vp. This dangerous worke was neither perceiued, neither yet feared by the Constantinopolitans, as a thing not possible to haue beene done: forasmuch as Baiazet and Amurath had both with great labour before in vaine attempted the same, at such time as they hardly besieged the citie. But that which those great kings had with much vaine labour by vnskilfull men made proofe of, Mahomet had now by men of greater deuise, brought to passe; although it tooke not such effect as he wished: for one Io. Grandis, a Germane captaine, and a man of great experience, suspecting the matter, had caused a countermine to be made, whereby the labour of the Turkes was in good time discouered, and they with fire and sword driuen out of the mine, and the same strongly filled vp againe, and so the citie for that time deliuered of a great feare and danger. Mahomet perceiuing that it auailed him not to continue his batterie against that place which was againe so strongly repaired, remooued the same, and planted it against a tower called BACTATINA, neere vnto the gate called PORTA-ROMANA, or Romane gate. Which tower shaken with continuall batterie, at length fell downe, and filled the ditch before the vtter wall, euen with the ground. But this breach was also speedily and with great courage made vp againe by the defendants, although the Turkes did what they could, with continuall shot, to haue driuen them from the same. At which time they also erected certain high towers of timber, couered with raw hides to defend the same from fire, out of which they with their shot slew many of the Christians vpon the wals, and in making good the aforesaid breach: but Mahomet seeing this valiantnesse of the defendants, openly said, That it was neither the Grecians skill, nor courage, but the Frenchmen that defended the citie: For the Turks commonly call all the Christians of the West by the name of Frankes or Frenchmen.

The cheerefulnesse and industrie of the Christians in defending and repairing the aforesaid breach,Seuentie of the Turks galliots brought eight miles ouerland (by the deuice of a Christian) into the hauen of Constantinople. was so great, that the Turkish king began almost to dispaire of winning the citie; which hee could no way assault but on one side. When as a wicked Christian in his campe, put him againe in good hope, by shewing vnto him a deuise how to bring a great part of his fleet ouer land into the hauen, and thereby to assault that part of the eitie by water, which the citizens least feared: by which ingenious deuise, and by the great strength of men; Zoganus Bassa (to whom that charge was committed) brought seuentie of the lesser ships and galliots, with all their sailes abroad (to the great admiration of all that saw them) vp a great hill, and so by drie land, out of the Bosphorus behind PERA, the space of eight miles, into the hauen of CONSTANTINOPLE, which running in betweene the citie and PERA, runneth into the maine land (as we sayd) about [Page] eight miles. The Christian that discouered this deuice vnto the king, is supposed to haue learned it of the Venetians, who not long before had done the like at the lake of BENNACVS. Glad [...] Mahomet to see so many of his ships and gallies in the hauen, and the Christians with the sight thereof no lesse discouraged. Neuerthelesse, they attempted to haue burnt those vessels as they were in launching, but the Turkes had so commodiously placed certaine peeces of great Ordinance for their defence, that the formost of the gallies of the Christians, approching the Turks fleet, was presently sunke; wherewith the rest dismayed, returned backe from whence they came. Certaine of the Christians of the lost gallie, whom the Turkes tooke vp swimming in the hauen, were the next day cruelly slaine in the sight of the Christians: in reuenge whereof, certain Turks before taken prisoners into CONSTANTINOPLE, were foorthwith brought to the top of the wals, and there in the sight of the campe with like crueltie put to death.

A wonderfull bridge made by the Turks ouer the hauen of Constantinople. Mahomet thus possessed of the hauen, shortly after caused a wonderfull bridge to bee made quite ouer the hauen, from Zoganus his campe which lay by PERA, vnto the wals of CONSTANTINOPLE: which bridge was built with timber and plankes, borne vp with small boats & emptie caske, after a most strange manner, and was in length more than halfe a mile: by which bridge his armie came ouer the hauen, to assault the citie on that side also.

A notable fight betweene four of the Christians ships, and the Turks fl [...]et.In the meane time, three tall Genoway ships laded with men and munition from the Island of CHIOS, with one of the emperours laded with corne from SICILIA, came with a faire wind for CONSTANTINOPLE. The Turks great fleet then lying not farre off, within the sight of the campe set vpon them, and after a great fight, wherein an exceeding number of the Turkes were slaine with shot, the gallies boorded the ships: but being much lower, were so far from doing any good, as that the Turks could not well looke out, but they were from aboue slaine or wounded. Mahomet from the shore beholding the vnequall fight, and slaughter of his men, cried out aloud, swearing and blaspheming God, and in great rage rid into the sea as farre as he durst; and comming backe againe, rent his clothes, faring with himselfe like a mad man. The whole armie of the Turkes beholding the same fight at sea, was filled with like indignation also, but could nothing remedie the matter. The great fleet ashamed in the fight of their king to bee ouercome of so few ships, did what they might desperately to enter: but all in vaine, being continually ouerwhelmed with shot and stones from aboue, and valiantly beaten downe by the Christian souldiours. At length wearie of their losse, they were glad with dishonour to fall off againe, and to get them farther off. The report of the losse the Turkes sustained in this fight, is almost incredible: some of the Turks fugitiues reported, almost ten thousand Turks to haue there perished: but certain it is, that such was the losse, as filled the whole armie with indignation & sorrow, many hauing there lost their kinsmen or friends. Three of these ships that had made this fight, arriued in safetie at CONSTANTINOPLE, the other was lost. Mahomet vpon this ouerthrow conceiued such displeasure against Pantogles his admirall, who in that fight had lost one of his eyes, that hee neuerthelesse thrust him out of his office, confiscated his goods, and was hardly by the great Bassaes entreated to spare his life.

Whilest Mahomet thus lay at the siege of CONSTANTINOPLE, and had thereunto giuen many great attempts, with more losse vnto himselfe than to the defendants, a rumour was raised in his campe, of great aid that was comming out of Italie by sea, and out of HVNGARIE by land,L for the releefe of the besieged. This report (although indeed it was not true) with the due consideration of the danger of the siege, filled the Turks campe with feare: so that the souldiors commonly murmured amongst themselues, saying, That to satisfie the ambitious humour of their young king, they were led to fight against impregnable wals and fortresses, yea against the barres of nature it selfe, without all reason. Whereupon Mahomet entered into consultation with the three great Bassaes his counsellors, Whether it were best for him to continue the siege, or not. When Caly Bassa, sometime his tutor, a man of greatest authoritie amongst the Turks, both for his long experience and high place, and withall secretly fauouring the distressed emperour, after hee had with long and graue discourse declared the difficultie or rather impossibilitie of the wished successe in the present warre; and confirmed the same, by producing the examples of Baiazet his great grandfather, and of Amurath his father, who had both in vaine made proofe of their strength against that citie: at length concluded, that in his opinion it were best for him to raise his siege, and to depart before he had sustained any further losse or disgrace. But Zoganus the second Bassa, in great fauour also with Mahomet, and secretly enuying the greatnesse of Caly Bassa, persuaded [Page] the king to proceed in his honouble enterprise: assuring him of the good successe thereof, and with all the reasons he could deuise, impugned that which Caly-Bassa had said▪ And of the same opinion with Zoganus was also the third Bassa, rather of purpose to crosse Caly-Bassa, and withall to fit the kings humour, than for any great hope he had in the good successe of that hee so much desired. Howbeit the speech he and Zoganus deliuered, so well agreed with the kings affection, that he resolued to continue the siege: and therevpon gaue full authoritie to Zoganus to appoint a day for a great and generall assault to be giuen, resoluing at once to gage all his forces vpon the winning of the city. Which charge Zoganus gladly took vpon him, & with his good liking appointed the 29 day of May for that generall assault, being then the Tuesday next following. In the meane time he sent one Ismael, the sonne of Alexander prince of SINOPE, embassadour vnto the emperour, to offer him peace: but vpon such hard conditions, as were no lesse to be refused than death it selfe. Which thing he did, partly to satisfie the mindes of his Turks (who are for most part of opinion, that God will not prosper them in their assaults except they first make vnto their enemies some offer of peace, how vnreasonable soeuer it forceth not) and partly to make proofe what confidence the enemie yet had in himselfe, for the holding out of the siege. But that dishonourable peace so offered, together with the intollerable conditions, was by the emperour honourably refused: who no lesse feared the Turkes faith (if he should haue accepted thereof) than he did the hardnesse of the conditions. Three daies before this fatall assault was to be giuen, the Turks (according to their manner) kept their solemne fast, eating nothing all the day vntill night; and then making the greatest cheare and joy they could deuise, and in the winding vp of the same, tooke their leaue one of another, with such kissing and embracing, as if they should neuer haue met againe. At the same time Mahomet to encourage his souldiors, caused proclamation to be made through his campe, That he would freely giue all the spoile of the citie for three daies vnto his souldiors if they could win it: and for confirmation therof, solemnly swore the Turkes great oath, By the immortall God, and by the foure hundred prophets, by Mahomet, by his fathers soule, by his owne children, and by the sword wherewith hee was girt, faithfully to performe whatsoeuer he had to them in his proclamation promised.

Whilest these things were in doing, Caly-Bassa disdaining that his counsaile was rejected, and the opinion of his aduersaries followed: by secret letters aduertised the emperour of the day appointed for the generall assault, together with all the preparation made against him: persuading him not to be afraid of them, who were themselues no lesse affraid of him; but carefully to prouide to haue all things in readinesse for the defence of his citie, and valiantly to withstand the rash and last attempt of his enemies.

This wofull emperour had alreadie done what he could to the vttermost of his power for defence of the citie,The citizens of Constantinople without cause murmure against the emperour. all the time of the siege: but such was the disloyaltie of the citizens his subjects, that many times they could hardly be drawne from their priuat trades and occupations vnto the wals to withstand the enemie, foolishly affirming, That it was to no purpose for them to fight against the Turks at the breaches▪ and to starue for food at home in their houses. For which cause, the emperour commaunded a view to bee taken of all the corne in the citie (which then began to grow verie scarce;) but vpon diligent search made, such store was found in many mens, hands, (which was by them either altogether kept in to sell afterwards at vnreasonable prises; or else so sp [...]ringly vttered, as if they had none to spare) as that it appeared, the death and scarsitie which then beganne to increase, to proceed rather of the couetousnesse of men, than of any true want of graine: this store the emperour caused to bee proportionably diuided vnto euerie familie at reasonable prices, according to their spending; and so eased the great murmuring and grudging of the common people for bread. The Grecian mercinarie souldiours also, regarding more their owne priuate profit than the publique seruice, refused any longer to goe to the wals than they were sure of their dayly pay:A bare shift for money. which the poore emperour otherwise vnable to giue them, was glad to conuert the church plate and jewels into money, to content them. For he had many times before with teares, in vaine requested to haue borrowed monie of his couetous subjects, to haue been emploied in defence of the citie; but they would still sweare, that they had it not, as men growne poore for want of trade [...] which in few daies after, their enemies found in such abundance, that they wondred at their wealth, and derided their folly, That possessing so much, they would bestow so little, in defence of themselues and their countrey. But this had been their vsuall manner of dealing with their emperours, in that declining state of the empire: [Page] as well appeared in the time of the emperor Baldwin, who for lacke of monie was glad first to sell away many of the goodly ornaments of the citie, and afterwards to pawne his own sonne vnto the Venetian marchants, for monie to maintaine his state, as is in the former part of this Historie declared.

But to returne againe to the course of our Historie. The emperour certainely aduertised of the enemies purpose, for the generall assault shortly to be giuen, first commended the defence of himselfe and the citie vnto the protection of the almightie, by generall fasting and prayer: and afterwards appointed euerie captaine and commaunder, to some certaine place of the wall for defence thereof: which was done by the direction of Io. Iustinianus his Generall, in whose valor the Constantinopolitans had reposed their greatest hope.

But the cittie being on euerie side now beset with the Turkes great armie, and the defendants in number but few, for so great a citie, (in compasse eight miles) the wals could not but slenderly in many places be manned, and especially on both sides toward the sea, where indeed least danger was. The greatest strength and best souldiours, were placed for defence of the vtter wall, where the breach was, and the assault expected by land. Iustinianus the Generall himselfe, with three hundred Genowayes well armed, and certaine chosen Greekes, vndertooke the defence of that part of the battered wall, neere vnto the Romane gate, where the fall of the tower BACTATINA had filled the ditch, as is aforesaid: against which place Mahomet himselfe lay encamped, with his Ianizaries and best men of warre. Neere vnto Iustinianus lay the emperor himselfe, for defence of another part of the wall: and so other captaines orderly with their companies, all alongst the vtter wall. And because the defendants should haue no hope to saue their liues, more than their owne valour, the emperour caused all the gates of the inner wall to be fast shut vp. And in this sort they lay all the night, expecting continually when the assault should bee giuen: all which time they might heare great hurly burly and noise in the Turks campe, as they were putting things in readinesse for the assault.

Constantinople assaulted by the Turks.A little before day, the Turks approached the walles, and begun the assault, where shot and stones were deliuered vpon them from the wals as thicke as haile; whereof little fell in vaine, by reason of the multitude of the Turkes, who pressing fast vnto the wals, could not see in the darke how to defend themselues, but were without number wounded or slaine: but these were of the common and worst souldiours, of whom the Turkish king made no more reckoning than to abate the first force of the defendants. Vpon the first appearance of the day, Mahomet gaue the signe appointed for the generall assault, wherupon the citie was in a moment and at one instant on euerie side most furiously assaulted by the Turks: for Mahomet, the more to distresse the defendants, and the better to see the forwardnesse of the souldiours, had before appointed which part of the cittie euerie colonell with his regiment should assaile. Which they valiantly performed, deliuering their arrowes and shot vpon the defendants, so thicke, that the light of the day was therwith darkened: others in the mean time couragiously mounting the scaling ladders, and comming euen to handie stroakes with the defendants vpon the wall; where the formost were for most part violently borne forward by them which followed after. On the other side, the Christians with no lesse courage withstood the Turkish furie, beating them downe againe with great stones and waightie peeces of timber, and so ouerwhelmed them with shot, darts, and arrowes,L and other hurtfull and deadly deuises from aboue; that the Turkes dismaied with the terrour thereof, were readie to retire.

Mahomet renueth the assault. Mahomet seeing the great slaughter and discomfiture of his men, sent in fresh supplies of his Ianiza [...]ies and best men of warre, whom hee had for that purpose reserued as his last hope and refuge: by whose comming on, his fainting souldiours were againe encouraged, and the terrible assault begun afresh. At which time, the barbarous king ceased not to vse all possible meanes to maintain the assault: by name calling vpon this and that captain, promising vnto some whom he saw forward, golden mountaines; and vnto others in whom he saw any signe of cowardise, threatning most terrible death: by which meanes the assault became most dreadfull, death there raging in the middest of many thousands. And albeit that the Turkes lay dead by heapes vpon the ground, yet other fresh men pressed on still in their places, ouer their dead bodies, and with diuers euent either slew, or were slaine by their enemies.

In this so terrible a conflict, it chanced Iustinianus the Generall to bee wounded in the arme: who losing much blood, cowardly withdrew himselfe from the place of his charge, not lea [...]ing [Page] any to supplie his roome, and so got into the cittie by the gate called ROMANA, which hee had caused to be opened in the inner wall: pretending the cause of his departure to be for the binding vp of his wound, but being indeed a man now altogether discouraged.

The souldiors there present,The Christians forsake the [...]. dismayed with the departure of their Generall, and sore charged by the Ianizaries, forsooke their stations, and in hast fled to the same gate whereby Iustinianus was entered: with the sight whereof, the other souldiors dismayed, ran thither by heapes also. But whilest they violently striue, all together to get in at once, they so wedged one another in the entrance of the gate, that few of so great a multitude, got in: in which so great a presse and confusion of minds, eight hundred persons were there by them that followed, troden vnderfoot or thrust to death. The emperor himselfe, for safegard of his life flying with the rest, in that presse as a man not regarded, miserably ended his dayes, together with the Greeke empire. His dead bodie was shortly after found by the Turkes amongst the slaine, and knowne by his rich apparrell; whose head being cut off, was forthwith presented to the Turkish tyrant: by whose commaundement it was afterward thrust vpon the point of a launce, and in great derision caried about as a trophee of his victorie, first in the campe, and afterwards vp and downe the citie.

The Turkes encouraged with the flight of the Christians,Constantinople woon by the Turkes. presently aduanced their ensignes vpon the top of the vttermost wall, crying victorie; and by the breach entred as if it had been a great floud, which hauing once found a breach in the banke, ouerfloweth, and beareth downe all before it: so the Turkes when they had woon the vtter wall, entred the citie by the same gate that was opened for Iustinianus, & by a breach which they had before made with their great artillerie; and without mercie cutting in pieces all that came in their way, without further resistance became lords of that most famous and imperiall citie. Some few there were of the Christians, who preferring death before the Turkish slauerie, with their swords in their hands, sold their liues decre vnto their enemies: amongst whom, the two brethren Paulus and Tro [...]lus Bochiardi Italilians, with Theophilus Palaeologus a Greeke, and Ioannus Stia [...]us a Dalmatian, for their great valour and courage, deserue to be had in eternall remembrance: Who after they had like lyons, made slaughter of their enemies, died in the midst of them, embrued with their bloud, rather oppressed by multitude than by true valour ouercome. In this furie of the Barbarians, perished many thousands of men, women, and children, without respect of age, sex, or condition. Many for safegard of their liues, fled into the Temple of SOPHIA; where they were all without pittie slaine, except some few reserued by the barbarous victors, to purposes more grieuous than death it selfe. The rich and beautifull ornaments and jewels of that most sumptuous and magnificent Church (the stately building of Iustinianus the emperour) were in the turning of a hand, pluckt downe and carried away by the Turkes: and the Church it selfe built for God to be honored in, for the present conuerted into a stable for their horses, or a place for the execution of their abhominable and vnspeakable filthinesse: the Image of the crucifix was also by them taken downe, and a Turks cap put vpon the head thereof, and so set vp and shot at with their arrowes; and afterwards in great derision carried about in their campe, as it had been in procession, with drums playing before it, railing, and spitting at it, and calling it the god of the Christians. Which I note not so much done in contempt of the image, as in the despite of Christ and the Christian religion.

But whilest some were thus spoyling of the churches, others were as busie in ransacking of priuat houses, where the miserable Christians were enforced to endure in their persons whatsoeuer pleased the insolent victors: vnto whom all things were now lawfull that stood with their lust, euerie common souldiour hauing power of life and death, at his pleasure to spare or spill. At which time riches were no better than pouertie; and beautie worse than deformitie. What tongue were able to expresse the miserie of that time? or the prowd insolencie of those barbarous conquerors? whereof so many thousands, euerie man with greedinesse fitted his owne vnreasonable desire: all which the poore Christians were enforced to endure. But to speake of the hidden treasure, money, plate, jewels, and other riches there found, passeth credit; the Turkes themselues wondred thereat, and were therewith so enriched, that it is a prouerb amongst them at this day, if any of them grow suddenly rich, to say, He hath been at the sacking of CONSTANTINOPLE: whereof if some reasonable part had in time been bestowed vpon defence of the cittie, the Turkish king had not so easily taken both it and the cittie. But euerie man was carefull how to encrease his owne priuat wealth, few or none regarding the publike state; vntill in fine, [Page] euerie man with his priuat abundance was wrapped vp togither with his needie neighbour in the selfesame common miserie. Yea the securitie of the Constantinopolitans was such, that being alwaies enuironed with their mortall enemies, yet had they no care of fortifying of so much as the inner wall of the citie (which for beautie and strength was comparable with the wals of any citie in the world, if it had been kept well repaired) but suffered the officers which had the charge to see to the fortifying of the citie, to conuert the greatest part of the money into their own purses: as appeared by Manuel Giagerus, a little before a verie poore man; and likewise by Neophitus, who then hauing that office to see vnto the fortification of the citie, had in short time gathered togither seuentie thousand florens, which became all a worthy prey vnto the greedie Turkes.

After that the barbarous common souldiour had thus by the space of three daies without controlment taken his pleasure in the citie (as Mahomet had before promised) and throughly ransackt euerie corner thereof: they then returned into the campe, with their rich spoils, driuing the poore Christian captiues before them as if they had ben droues of cattell, or flocks of sheepe: a spectacle no lesse lamentable, than was the sacking of the citie. It would haue grieued any stonie heart to haue seene the noble gentlewomen and great ladies, with their beautifull children, and many other faire personages, who lately flowed in all worldly wealth and pleasure, to bee now become the poore and miserable bondslaues of most base and contemptible rascals; who were so farre from shewing them any pittie, as that they delighted in nothing more than to heape more and more miserie vpon them, making no more reckoning of them than of dogs. There might the parents see the wofull miserie of their beloued children, and the children of the parents, the husband might see the shamefull abuse of his wife, and the wife of her husband, and generally one friend of another: and yet not able to mourne together (the least part of heauie comfort) being in the thraldome of diuers cruell masters, by whom they were kept in sunder, like in few dayes to be dispersed into diuers farre countries, without hope that they should euer find release, or one see another againe.

The souldiors being all retired into the campe, Mahomet as a proud conquerour, with great triumph entered into the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, then desolate and void of all Christian inhabitants; and there after the manner of the Turkish kings, made a sumptuous and royall feast vnto his Bassaes and other great captaines: where after he had surcharged himselfe with excesse of meat and drinke, he caused diuers of the cheefe Christian captiues, both men and women (of whom many were of the late emperours line and race) to bee in his presence put to death,Mahomet solemniseth his feast [...] in Constantinople with the blo [...]d of the Grecian nobilitie. as hee with his Turks sat banquetting: deeming his feast much more stately by such effusion of Christian blood. Which manner of exceeding crueltie he daily vsed, vntill such time as he had destroyed all the Grecian nobilitie that was in his power, with the cheefe of the late Constantinopolitan citizens. At which time also diuers of the Venetian Senatours, with Baiulus their Gouernor, and many rich marchants of GENVA and other places of ITALIE were in like manner murthered: so that of seuen and fortie Senatours of VENICE which were there taken (whereof most part came thither by chaunce, bound for other places, but there vnluckily shut vp) some few found the fauour, with exceeding great ransomes to redeeme themselues.

Amongst these noblemen thus lamentably executed, was one Lucas Leontares, or Notaras, cōmonly called Kyr-Lucas, or lord Lucas, but of late great chancellor of CONSTANTINOPLE, a man of greatest account next vnto the emperour himselfe: whom the Turkish tyrant seemed greatly to blame, that hee being a man in so great credit with the late emperour, persuaded him not in time to haue sought for peace vpon any condition, or els to haue yeelded vp the citie, rather than to haue run that extreame course of wilfull miserie. Hee to excuse the matter, said, That the late emperor his master was encouraged to hold out the siege, by the Venetians and citizens of PERA, from whom he receiued secret aid: as also by some of the greatest men about his own person: for proofe whereof, hee drew out of his bosome the letters which Caly-Bassa had to that purpose written vnto the emperour, and deliuered them to Mahomet, hoping thereby to haue found some fauour. But when he had said what he could, the eldest of his sonnes then liuing (for he had lost two elder in the time of the siege) was cruelly executed before his face, and the youngest reserued for the tyrants lust: and after all this miserie had his owne head strucke off with the rest appointed for that daies sacrifice. Out of this generall calamitie escaped Io. Iustinianus the Generall, who with all speed fled at first to PERA, and from thence to CHIOS, where in few daies [Page] after he died, of greefe of mind (as was thought) rather than of his wound, being happie if he had honourably before ended his dayes vpon the wals of CONSTANTINOPLE. Isodorus also the Cardinall and Legate from the Pope, disguised in simple apparrell, and being of the Turkes vnknowne, redeemed himselfe for a small ransome, as if he had been a man of no account, and so escaped: whom if Mahomet had knowne, he had vndoubtedly beene made shorter by the head.

The glorie of this famous citie of CONSTANTINOPLE continued many hundred yeares, commaunding a great part of the world, vntill that by ciuile discord and priuat gaine, it was by little and little so weakened, that the emperors of later times, for the maintenance of their estate, were glad to relie sometime vpon one, and sometime vpon another, yet still holding the title and state of an empire, by the space of 1121 yeares, when as (God his judgement set apart, wonderfull and shamefull it is to consider, how) it was by this Turkish king Mahomet so quickely taken, and the Christian empire of the East there vtterly ouerthrowne: which happened in the nine and twentieth day of May, in the yeare of our Lord 1453. Constantinus Palaeologus, the sonne of Helena, and last Christian emperor, being then slaine, when he had raigned about eight years. Since which time it hath continued the imperiall seat of the Turkish emperours, and so remaineth at this day.

The potestats and cittizens of PERA, otherwise called GALATA, a cittie standing opposit against CONSTANTINOPLE, on the other side of the hauen, and then vnder the gouernment of the Genowayes, doubting to run the same course of miserie with their neighbors, sent their Orators vnto Mahomet (the same day that CONSTANTINOPLE was taken) offering to him the C keyes of their gates,Pera yeelded to the Turke. and so to become his subjects. Of which their offer Mahomet accepted, and sent Zoganus with his regiment to take possession of the citie. Who comming thither, according to Mahomet his commandement, there established the Turkish gouernment, confiscated the goods of all such as were fled, and vsed the rest of the citizens which stayed, with such insolencie and oppression, as that their miserie was not much lesse than theirs of CONSTANTINOPLE. And because it was doubted, that the Genowayes might by sea giue aid vnto the cittizens, if they should at any time seeke to reuolt, he caused all the wals and fortresses of the citie which were toward the land, to bee cast downe and laied euen with the ground. Thus is the fatall period of the Greeke empire run, and Mahomet in one day become lord of the two famous citties of CONSTANTINOPLE and PERA: the one taken by force, the other by composition. At which time the miserie of PERA was great, but that of CONSTANTINOPLE justly to bee accounted amongst the greatest calamities that euer happened to any Christian citie in the world.

Mahomet had of long time borne a secret grudge against Caly-Bassa, sometime his tutor, for that by his meanes Amurath his father,Mahomet notably dissembleth his hatred against Caly Bassa. in the dangerous time of the Hungarian warres, had againe resumed vnto himselfe the gouernment of the Turkish kingdome, which hee had before resigned vnto him, then but young. But for as much as hee was the cheefe Bassa, and had for many yeares ruled all things at his pleasure, to the generall good liking of the people, during the raigne of old Amurath, and was thereby growne to bee of such wealth, credit, and authoritie, as no man had at any time obtained greater vnder any of the Othoman kings: Mahomet in the beginning of his raigne, before hee was well established in his kingdome, durst not to take reuenge of that injurie (as hee deemed it) but yet still kept it in remembrance, warily dissembling his deepe conceiued hatred, as if he had quite forgot it. Neuerthelesse sometime (for all his warinesse) words fell from him, whereby the warie courtiers (which as curiously weigh their princes words, as the cunning goldsmith dooth his finest gold) easily perceiued the secret grudge that stucke in his stomacke against the Bassa: and thereby deuined his fall to be at hand. So it happened one day that as Mahomet was walking in the court, he saw a fox of the Bassaes tied in a chaine, which after hee had a while earnestly looked vpon, hee suddainely brake into this speech: Alas poore beast, hast thou no money to giue thy master to set thee at libertie? out of which words, curious heads gathered much matter concerning the kings disposition towards the Bassa. This ominous surmising of the courtiers (which oftentimes proueth too true) was not vnknown vnto the Bassa himselfe, but troubled him much: wherefore to get himselfe out of the way for a season, more than for any deuotion, he tooke vpon him to goe in pilgrimage to visite the temple of the great prophet (as they tearme him) at MECHA, which amongst the Turkes is holden for a right religious and meritorious worke: hoping, that the young kings displeasure might in time be mittigated, and his mallice assuaged. But Mahomet perceiuing the distrust of the Bassa, and [Page] whereof it proceeded, seemed to take knowledge thereof, and with good words comforted him vp, willing him to be of good cheere, and not to misdoubt any thing; neither to regard the vaine speech of foolish people, assuring him of his vndoubted fauour: and the more to put him out of all suspition, continually sent him rich gifts, and heaped vpon him new honors, as if of all others he had esteemed him most. Vntill that now at the taking of CONSTANTINOPLE, it was discouered by Lucas Leontares, that he had intelligence with the late emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, and his letters produced. For which cause, or as the common report went, for the old grudge that the tyrant bare against him, as also for his great wealth, he was by Mahomets commandement apprehended and carried in bonds to HADRIANOPLE: where after he had with exquisite torments been enforced to confesse where all his treasures lay, he was most cruelly in his extreame old age executed. After whose death, his friends and seruants (which were many, for he was a man greatly beloued in court) in token of their griefe put on mourning apparell: so that in the court appeared a great shew of common sorrow; wherewith Mahomet being offended, caused proclamation to be made, That all such as did weare such mourning apparell, should the next day appeare before him: at which time there was not one to be seene about the court in that heauie attire, for feare of the tyrants displeasure.

Mahomet placeth his imperiall seat at Constantinople, and is worthely accounted first Emperor of the Turks.After that Mahomet was thus become lord of the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, as is aforesaid; and had fully resolued there to place his imperiall seat: he first repaired the wals and other buildings spoiled in the late siege, and by proclamations sent forth into all parts of his dominions, gaue great priuiledges and immunities to all such as should come to dwel at CONSTANTINOPLE, with free libertie to exercise what religion or trade they pleased. Whereby in short time that great and desolat citie was againe well peopled, with such as out of diuers countries resorted thither: but especially with the Iewish nation, which driuen out of other places, came thither in great numbers, and were of the Turkes gladly receiued. So when he had there established all things according to his hearts desire, he tooke vpon him the name and title of an Emperour: and is from that time not vnworthely reputed for the first emperour of the Turks.

Now amongst many fair virgins taken prisoners by the Turks at the winning of CONSTANTINOPLE, was one Irene a Greek borne, of such incomparable beautie and rare perfection, both of body & mind, as if nature had in her to the admiration of the world, laboured to haue showne her greatest skill; so prodigally she had bestowed vpon her, all the graces that might beautifie or commend that hir so curious a worke. This paragon was by him that by chance had taken her, presented vnto the great Sultan Mahomet himselfe, as a jewell so fit for no mans wearing as his owne: by the beautie and secret vertues whereof, he found himselfe euen vpon the first view not a little moued. Neuerthelesse, hauing as then his head full of troubles, and aboue all things carefull for the assuring of the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, by him but euen then woon; he for the present committed her to the charge of his Eunuch, and sent her away, so to be in safetie kept vntill his better leisure. But those his troubles ouerblowne, and his new conquests well assured, he then began forthwith to thinke of the faire Irene: and for his pleasure sending for her, tooke in her perfections such delight and contentment, as that in short time he had changed state with her, she being become the mistresse and commander of him so great a conqueror; and he in nothing more delighted, than in doing her the greatest honour and seruice he could. All the day he spent with her in discourse, and the night in daliance: all time spent in her companie, seemed vnto him short; and without her nothing pleased: his fierce nature was now by her well tamed, and his wonted care of armes quite neglected: Mars slept in Venus lap, and now the soldiors might go play. Yea the verie gouernment of his estate and empire seemed to be of him, in comparison of her, little or not at all regarded; the care thereof being by him carelesly committed to others, that so he might himselfe wholy attend vpon her, in whom more than in himselfe, the people said he delighted. Such is the power of disordered affections, where reason ruleth not the reine. But whilest he thus forgetfull of himselfe, spendeth in pleasure not some few daies or moneths, but euen a whole yeare or two, to the lightning of his credit, and the great discontentment of his subjects in generall: the Ianizaries and other souldiors of the court (men desirous of M imploiment, and grieued to see him so giuen ouer vnto his affections, & to make no end therof) began at first in secret to murmur thereat, and to speake hardly of him; and at length (after their insolent manner) spared not openly to say, That it were well done to depriue him of his gouernment and state, as vnworthy thereof, and to set vp one of his sonnes in his steed. Which [Page] speeches were now growne so rife, and the discontentment of the men of warre so great, that it was not without cause by some of the great Bassaes feared, whereunto this their so great insolencie would grow. But who should tell the tyrant thereof; whose frowne was in it selfe death? or who durst take in hand to cure that his sicke mind? which distraught with the sweet, but poysoned potions of loue, was not like to listen to any good counsell, were it neuer so wisely giuen: but as a man metamorphosed, to turne his furie vpon him which should presume so wholesomely (but contrarie to his good liking) to aduise him. Vnhappie man, whose great estate and fierce nature was not without danger to be medled or tempered with, no, not by them who of all others ought in so great a perill to haue beene thereof most carefull; but were now for feare all become silent and dumbe. Now amongst other great men in the Court, was one Mustapha Bassa, a man for his good seruice (for that he was of a child brought vp with him) of Mahomet greatly fauoured, and by him also highly promoted; and he againe by him as his Soueraigne no lesse honored than feared: who no lesse than the rest, greeued to see so great a change in the great Sultan, of whom they had conceiued no small hope of greater matters than were by him as yet performed; and mooued also with the danger threatened vnto him by the discontented Ianizaries and men of warre: espying him at conuenient leisure to be spoken vnto, and presuming of the former credit he had with him, aduentured thus to breake with him, and to giue him warning thereof.

How dangerous a thing it is for a subiect or vassale, without leaue, presumptuously to enter into the secrets of his dread Lord and Soueraigne, the wofull examples of others (most mightie Mahomet) haue so sufficiently warned me, as that were it not for the dutifull loyaltie I ow vnto your greatnesse, far dearer vnto me than mine owne life, I would not at this time aduenture my selfe vnto the hazard of your doubtfull acceptance of my faithfull speech and meaning; but with others keepe silence, and in secret mourne together with my heauie thoughts: which if I should in so great a danger both of your life and empire now doe, without warning you thereof, I were not to be accounted vnworthie onely those your great fauours and honours, most bountifully on me bestowed; but as a most vile traitor both vnto your state and person, to be of all men detested and abhorred. The life you haue of late led, euer since the taking of CONSTANTINOPLE, as a man carelesse of his state, and wholly wedded vnto his owne pleasure, hath giuen occasion not vnto the vulgar people onely (alwayes readie to say the worst) and soldiors of the Court, the guarders of your person, but euen vnto the greatest commaunders of your armies and empire, to murmure and grudge, I dare not say, to conspire against you. Yet pardon me dread Soueraigne, if I should so say, for that there is no man which with great discontentment maruelleth not much to see so great an alteration in your heroicall disposition and nature: whereby you are become far vnlike that noble Mahomet, which hauing ouerthrowne the Greeke empire, and taken the great citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, promised both vnto himselfe and others, the conquest of ITALIE, and the sacking of ROME, the stately seat of the antient Romane conquerours. You haue giuen your selfe ouer (as they say) for a spoile and prey vnto a poore simple woman, your slaue and vassale, who with her beautie and allurements hath so bewitched your vnderstanding and reason, as that you can attend nothing but her seruice, and the satisfying of your most passionate and inordinate desires; which how much the more you cherish them, so much the more they torment and vexe you. Enter but a little into your selfe (I pray you) and compare the life you now lead with the like time heretofore by you spent in treading honors steps, and you shall find a notable difference betwixt the one and the other. Had the noble Othoman, the first raiser of your house and familie, so giuen himselfe ouer vnto pleasure, you had not now inherited the countries of BITHYNIA and GALATIA, with others moe alongst the Euxine, by him conquered. Neither had his sonne Orchanes (the liuely image of his father, and follower of his vertues) by leading this kind of life, triumphed ouer LICAONIA, PHRIGIA, and CARIA, or extended the bounds of his empire so farre as vnto the straits of HELLESPONTVS. What should I speake of Amurath his sonne and successour in the empire, who in person himselfe, first of the Othoman kings, passed ouer into EVROPE, placed his imperiall seat at HADRIANOPLE, con [...]uered THRACIA, BVLGARIA, and RASCIA. Yea Baiazet your great grandfather is in his misfortune to bee more than you commended, as vanquished in field by the mightie Tamerlane with foure hundred thousand horsemen and six hundred thousand foot, and not by a silie woman: comforting his mishap with the honour and greatnesse of him by whom he was so ouercome. Neither may I with silence passe ouer your woorthie grandfather the noble Mahomet, who not contented to haue restored the shaken empire, conquered also a great part of MACEDONIA, euen to the Ionian sea, and carying the terror of his armes ouer into [Page] ASIA did great matters against the Caramanians and others. As for your father Amurath (of worthie memorie) I cannot but to my great greefe and sorrow speake of him, who by the space of thirtie yeares made both the sea and earth to quake vnder his feet, and with strong hand more than once vanquished the Hungarians, & brought vnder his subiection the countries of PHOCIS, B [...]OTIA, AETOLIA, with a great part of MOREA; and to speake of him truly, brake euen the very heart & strength of the Grecians, and other his fierce enemies. Let all these most famous conquests of your noble progenitors, whose worthie praises (as eternall trophees of their honour) are dispersed into euery corner of the world, awake you out of this heauie Lythargie wherein you haue too long slept, yea, let the remembrance of the conquest of this imperiall citie by you to your immortall glorie woon, stir you vp to greater things: and let it neuer bee said of you, That you were able with your sword to ouercome your greatest enemies, and not with reason to subdue your inordinate affections: Thinke that your greatest conquest, and suffer not your selfe, so great a conquerour, to be led in triumph by your slaue. What auaileth it you to haue woon CONSTANTINOPLE, and to haue lost your selfe? Shake off these golden fetters wherein the wilie Greeke hath so fast bound you: which at the first though it seeme vnto you hard and painefull, yet shall time disgest it, and make you to thinke it both good and necessarie for your estate. Weane your selfe from your desires, and giue rest vnto your troubled thoughts: which if you cannot doe at once, striue by little and little to doe it: pleasure groweth greater by the seldome vse thereof, and satictie bringeth loathsomenesse. Moderat your selfe therefore, and againe take vp armes. Your soldiors if they be not employed abroad, will to your farther trouble set themselues to worke at home: Idlenesse maketh them insolent, and want of martiall discipline corrupteth their manners. Hereof proceedeth their intemperat and disloyall speeches, That if you will not lead them forth for the honour and enlarging of the Othoman empire, as did all your most noble progenitors, they will set vp another that shall, euen one of your owne children. And what the common souldior foolishly sayth, their great commaunders malitiously purpose: which what a confusion it would bring vnto the whole state of your empire, together with the danger of your royall person, I abhorre to thinke. Wherefore it is time, it is now high time for you to shew your selfe, and with the maiestie of your presence to represse their tumultuous insolencie, before it breake farther out. Rebellions are by far, more easily preuented, than in their heat appeased. The discontented multitude is a wild beast with many heads; which once enraged, is not a little to be feared, or without danger to be tamed: yet doe you but shew your selfe master of your owne affections, and you shall easily master them also. But what is fit for you to doe, beseemeth me not for to say: yea pardon me, I beseech you, that I haue thus much (contrarie perhaps to your good liking) alreadie said; prouoked (by what diuine inspiration I know not) euen halfe against my will, to discouer vnto you the secret of my heart, and to lay open vnto you those things, which others knowing as well as I, doe yet for feare keepe the same from you. And if I haue gone too farre, or in any thing that I haue said, forg [...]t my selfe, impute the same (my dread Soueraigne) vnto the zeale of my loue and loyaltie towards you, or vnto my fidelitie so often by you tried, or to our antient education (the ground of your affection towards me) or to what els shall please you, rather than to my presumption; from which, how farre I haue alwayes been, I appeale euen to your maiesties owne knowledge.

Hauing thus said, he fell downe at his feet, as there to receiue the heauie doome of his so free speech, if it should bee otherwise than well taken of the angrie Sultan: who all this while with great attention and many a sterne looke had hearkened vnto all that the Bassa had said: for well he knew it to be all true; and that in so saying, he had but discharged the part of a trustie & faithfull seruant, carefull of his masters honour. But yet the beautie of the Greeke was still so fixed in his heart, and the pleasure he tooke in her, so great, as that to thinke of the leauing of her, bred in him many a troubled thought. Hee was at warre with himselfe, as in his often changed countenance well appeared: reason calling vpon him, for his honour; and his amorous affections, still suggesting vnto him new delights. Thus tossed too and fro (as a ship with contrarie winds) and withall considering the danger threatened to his estate if he should longer follow those his pleasures, so much displeasing vnto his men of warre, hee resolued vpon a strange point, whereby at once to cut off all those his troubled passions; and withall, to strike a terrour euen into the stoutest of them that had before condemned him, as vnable to gouerne his owne so passionate affections. Whereupon with countenance well declaring his inward discontentment, hee said vnto the Bassa, yet prostrate at his feet: ‘Although thou hast vnreuerently spoken, as a slaue presuming to enter into the greatest secrets of [Page] thy soueraigne (not without offence to be of thee once thought vpon) and therefore deseruest well to die; yet for that thou wast of a child brought vp togither with me, and hast euer been vnto me faithfull, I for this time pardon thee: and before to morrow the sunne go downe, will make it knowne both to thee, and others of the same opinion with thee, whether I be able to bridle mine affections or not. Take order in the meane time that all the Bassaes, and the chiefe commanders of my men of warre be assembled togither to morrow, there to know my farther pleasure▪ whereof faile you not.’

So the Bassa being departed, he after his wonted manner went in vnto the Greeke, and solacing himselfe all that day and the night following with her, made more of her than euer before: and the more to please her, dined with her; commanding, that after dinner she should be attired with more sumptuous apparell than euer she had before worne: and for the further gracing of her, to be deckt with many most precious jewels of inestimable valour. Whereunto the poore soule gladly obeyed, little thinking that it was her funerall apparell. Now in the meane while, M [...]stapha (altogither ignorant of the Sultans mind) had as he was commanded, caused all the nobilitie, and commanders of the men of warre, to be assembled into the great hall: euerie man much marueiling, what should be the emperors meaning therein, who had not of long so publikely shewed himselfe. But being thus togither assembled, and euerie man according as their minds gaue them, talking diuersly of the matter: behold, the Sultan entred into the pallace leading the faire Greeke by the hand; who beside her incomparable beautie and other the greatest graces of nature, adorned also with all that curiositie could deuise, seemed not now to the beholders a mortal wight, but some of the stately goddesses, whom the Poets in their extacies describe. Thus comming togither into the midst of the hall, and due reuerence vnto them done by al them there present; he stood still with the faire lady in his left hand, and so furiously looking round about him, said vnto them: I vnderstand of your great discontentment, and that you all murmur and grudge, for that I, ouercome with mine affection towards this so faire a paragon, cannot withdraw my selfe from her presence: But I would faine know which of you there is so temperat, that if he had in his possession a thing so rare and precious, so louely and so faire, would not be thrice aduised before he would forgo the same? Say what you thinke: in the word of a Prince I giue you free libertie so to doe. But they all rapt with an incredible admiration to see so faire a thing, the like whereof they had neuer before beheld, said all with one consent, That he had with greater reason so passed the time with her, than any man had to find fault therewith. Wherunto the barbarous prince answered: Well, but now I will make you to vnderstand how far you haue been deceiued in me, and that there is no earthly thing that can so much blind my sences, or bereaue me of reason as not to see and vnderstand what beseemeth my high place and calling: yea I would you should all know, that the honor and conquests of the Othoman kings my noble progenitors, is so fixed in my brest, with such a desire in my selfe to exceed the same, as that nothing but death is able to put it out of my remembrance. And hauing so said, presently with one of his hands catching the faire Greeke by the haire of the head, and drawing his falchion with the other, at one blow strucke off her head, to the great terror of them all. And hauing so done, said vnto them: Now by this iudge whether your emperour is able to bridle his affections or not. And within a while after, meaning to discharge the rest of his choller, caused great preparation to be made for the conquest of PELOPONESVS, and the besieging of BEL [...]RADE.

At the same time that the barbarous Turkes tooke the imperiall cittie of CONSTANTINOPLE; Thomas and Demetrius Palaeologi, brethren to the late vnfortunat emperour Constantinus, gouerned a great part of PELOPONESVS, one of the most famous prouinces of GRaeCIA: which in forme of a leafe of a Plane tree, is almost in manner of an Iland, enuironed with the seas Ionium and Aegeum, which running farre into the land on either side thereof, separateth the same from the rest of GRaeCIA, by two great bayes; leauing but a straight necke of land, called of the Greeks ISTMOS, in breadth about fiue miles, which was sometime by the Graecians, and afterward by the Venetians, fortified by a strong wall, and fiue great castles: neare vnto which place stood the great and famous citie of CORINTH. This prouince is in length 175 miles, and almost as much in breadths; wherin are contained the countries of ACHAIA, MESSENIA, LACEDEMONIA, ARGOLICA, and ARCHADIA; with many famous cities and goodly hauens, wherein it far exceedeth all the other prouinces of GRaeCIA. These two princes Thomas and Demetrius, dismaied with their brothers disaster fortune, began now so farre to dispaire of their own estate, that vpon the first brute thereof, they were about presently to haue fled by sea into ITALY. And as [...]t commonly falleth out, That one euill happeneth not alone; so at the same time it fornined, that [Page] the Albanians rise in armes against the said two princes their soueraigns: and vnder the leading G of their rebellious captaine Emanuel Catecuzenus, grieuously troubled both the poore princes. These Albanians were a rough and hardie kind of people, which liuing after the manner of the rude Scythian heardsmen, by feeding of cattell, had of long time planted themselues in PELOPONESVS; differing from the naturall Greekes, both in the manner of their liuing and language: which diuersitie was no small cause that they oftentimes spurned, as now, against the gouernment of the Graecian princes. In this extremitie, the two distressed princes (not well knowing which way to turne themselues) sought for peace at Mahomets hands,1454 offering to become his tributaries. Of which their offer he willingly accepted, as an induction to the full conquest of that countrey; and sent Turachan gouernour of THESSALIA, one of his greatest men of warre, with an army into PELOPONESVS, to aid those princes against the Albanians: by whose industrie the H masterfull rebels were in short time discomfited, and the countrey of PELOPONESVS quieted; yet so, that it was now become tributarie to the Turkish king.

These two princes Demetrius and Thomas, the last of all the Christian princes that raigned in PELOPONESVS, hauing thus lost their libertie, liued for a few yeares as the Turkes vassales; paying such yearely tribute as they had before promised. During which time, many displeasures arose betwixt the two brothers, being both jealous of their estate, and desirous by all plausible meanes to win the hearts of their subjects one from another: whereby it came so to passe, that whiles they both desired to become popular, they weakned their owne credit, and had not their subjects at such commaund as best stood with the safetie of their estate.Thomas and Demetrius rebell against Mahomet, and are by him spoiled of part of their dominion. Neuerthelesse as soon as they vnderstood that the Christian princes of the West were making great preparation I against the Turke; and that Calixtus the third of that name (then the bishop of ROME) had alreadie put a fleet of gallies to sea, which did great spoile vpon the borders of the Turkes dominions; they vainly persuading themselues that the Turkes would in short time be againe driuen out of GRECIA, refused to pay any more tribute vnto the Turkish king, or to keepe league any longer with him. Vpon which occasion, Mahomet with a puissant army came downe and first besieged CORINTH, and afterwards entring into PELOPONESVS tooke diuers strong townes, and destroied the countrey before him: and forced the two princes for safegard of their liues to flie, the one to MANTINIA, and the other into the strong cittie of EPIDAVRVS, now called RAGVSIVM. The poore princes destitute of such aid as they expected, and altogither vnable to withstand the power of the mightie tyrant, began againe to sue for peace: which he, hauing now spoiled K their countrey, granted vpon condition, That all such places as he had already taken, should be still his owne; and also that the citie of PATRAS with the countrey adjoyning, should be deliuered vnto him; and that for the rest, the said princes should pay vnto him a yearly tribute: which hard conditions the poore princes, now in danger to loose all, were glad to accept of: wherupon a peace was for that time againe concluded.

In his returne he tooke the citie of ATHENS in his way, which he not long before had taken from Francus Acciauoll by composition (by meanes of Omares the sonne of Turechan, one of his great captains) promising to giue him the countrey of BEOTIA with the citie of THEBES in lieu thereof. This Francus was nephew to Nerius, sometime prince of ATHENS, and had of long time been brought vp in the Turks court, as one of Mahomet his minions; and was of him L (as was supposed) entirely beloued. But when he had receiued the dukedome of THEBES, in exchange for his princely state of ATHENS, he was shortly after, as if it had been in great friendship sent by Mahomet to Zoganus, his lieutenant in PELOPONESVS: by whom he was at first courteously entertained, but afterwards being about to depart, he was (according as Mahomet had before commanded) suddenly staied, and when he least feared, cruelly murdred.

About three yeares after the peace before concluded betwixt Mahomet and the two brethren, Mahomet vnderstanding that the Christian kings and princes had combined themselues against him, with a purpose to driue him againe out of GRaeCIA: thought it now high time, and much for the assurance of his estate, to roote vp the small reliques of the Grecian empire, which yet remained in PELOPONESVS in the two princes of the imperiall bloud,Mahomet commeth againe into Pe [...]ponesus. Thomas and Demetrius: M whereunto he saw a faire occasion presented. Forasmuch as those two brethren were at that time at great variance betwixt themselues, neither paied him such tribute as they had before promised: hereupon he with a great and strong army came to CORINTH, where Arsanes a noble man of great authoritie and power in that countrey, whose sister Demetrius had married, came vnto him [Page] A from the prince his brother in law, attended vpon with many gallant gentlemen, his followers, of purpose to aid him against the other prince Thomas, nothing fearing any harme to haue been by the Turke intended against himselfe or his brother in law Demetrius, whom they both reckoned of as of a friend. But when Mahomet was entered into PELOPONESVS, and come to TEGEA, he caused the same Asanes, with all his cheefe followers, to be laied hold vpon, and cast into bonds: knowing (as it should seeme) no man for friend, which might any way hinder his ambitious designes.

Demetrius hearing what was happened vnto Asanes, Demetrius submitteth himselfe to Mahomet. fled to SPARTA, now called MIZITHRA: whether Mahomet in few dayes after came and laied siege to the citie. But the poor prince considering, that he must needs at length fall into his hands, went out of the cittie, and humbly B submitted himselfe with all that he had into his power. Which so well pleased the Turkish tyrant, that hee courteously receiued him, comforted him, and promised him in stead of SPARTA to giue him other lands and possessions of like value elsewhere: Neuerthelesse, hee committed him to safe custodie, and carried him about with him as his prisoner, vntill hee had finished those warres. After he had taken SPARTA, he besieged CASTRIA, where he lost diuers of his Ianizaries: for which cause, when he had taken the citie, he put all the souldiours therein to the sword, and cut the captaines ouerthwart in two peeces. From thence he marched to LEONTARIVM, called in antient time MEGALOPOLIS, which he tooke; with another cittie called CARDICEA, whither they of LEONTARIVM had before conueyed their wiues and children; as to a place of more safetie. There he cruelly put to death all the inhabitants of those cities, men, women, and C children, in number about six thousand, of whom he left not one aliue: and yet not so satisfied, commaunded the very beasts and cattell of those places to bee killed. Many cities of PELOPONESVS terrified with the dreadfull example of their neighbours, forthwith yeelded themselues: and amongst others SALVARIVM, a great and strong citie of ARCHADIA; where hee caused all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, to the number of ten thousand, to be cast into bonds, looking for nothing but present death: all which he commaunded afterwards to be sent captiues to CONSTANTINOPLE, and with them peopled the suburbes of that citie. After that, he by the counsell of Demetrius, sent one of his captaines called Iosua, with certaine companies of Greeke souldiors, vnto the strong citie of EPIDAVRVS, to commaund them in the name of the prince, to deliuer vnto him the citie, with the prince his wife and daughter, which lay there. But the Gouernour D trusting vnto the strength of the citie, refused to deliuer the same: yet suffred the princesse with her daughter to depart out of the citie, being willing to goe to her husband; whom the captaine hauing receiued, returned, and presented them to Mahomet. By whose commaundement they were presently sent into BEOTIA, there to attend his returne towards CONSTANTINOPLE, and an Eunuch appointed to take charge of the young ladie, who had so warmed Mahomets affection, that he tooke her afterwards to his wife. At the same time hee also subdued the most part of ACHAIA and ELIS, by Zoganus Bassa his lieutenant: whether hee came not long after himselfe, and laied siege to the citie of SALMENICA, which for lacke of water was at length yeelded vnto him: but the castle was by the space of a whole yeare after valiantly defended against the Turks left to besiege it, by Thomas the prince: of whom Mahomet afterwards gaue this commendation, E That in the great countrey of PELOPONESVS hee had found many slaues, but neuer a man but him. This valiant prince seeing the miserable ruine of his countrey, and the state thereof vtterly forlorne, after he had most notably endured a yeares siege in the castle of SALMENICA, got to sea, and so arriued in ITALIE: where trauelling to ROME, hee was honourably receiued by Pius Secundus, Peloponesus subdued by the Turks. then bishop there: who during his life, allowed him a large pension for the maintenance of his state. Thus Mahomet hauing thrust both the Grecian princes out of their dominions, and subdued all PELOPONESVS (excepting such strong townes and castles, as bordering vpon the sea coast were yet holden by the Venetians) left Zoganus Bassa his lieutenant to gouerne that new conquered prouince, and with great triumph returned himselfe towards CONSTANTINOPLE, carrying away with him Demetrius the prince, with his wife and daughter, and many other noble prisoners. But after he was come to HADRIANOPLE, and placed in his royall seat, he remooued the Eunuch from the faire young ladie, and tooke charge of her himselfe. As for Demetrius her father, hee gaue to him the cittie AENVM, with the custome arising of the salt there made, as a pension for him to liue vpon. Thus this most famous and populous countrey of PELOPONESVS fell into the Turkish thraldome, about the yeare of our Lord 1460, seuen years [Page] after the taking of CONSTANTINOPLE. Which I haue here togither set downe, as it is reported G by them who liued in that time, and in the same countries: omitting of purpose other great occurrents of the same time (which shall also in conuenient place be hereafter declared) to the intent that the fall of that great Empire, with the common miserie of the delicate Graecians, might appeare vnder one view; which otherwise being deliuered by peecemeale, as it did concurre with other great accidents according to the course of time, would but breed confusion, and require the Readers greater attention.

The Christian princes, especially such as bordered vpon the dominions of the Turkish tyrant, were no lesse terrified than troubled with the subuersion of the Constantinopolitane empire: for they saw by the continuall preparation of the Turk, that his ambitious desires were rather encreased, than in any part satisfied with his so great and late victories. Wherefore they with all carefulnesse H fortified their frontier towns, and prouided all things necessarie for defence of themselues, and for the repulsing of so mightie an enemy. Amongst the rest, George the old Despot, or prince of SERVIA (whose dominions of all others lay most in danger of that tempest) speedily mustred his men of warre, fortified his strong citties, placed his garrisons, and left nothing vndone, that he thought needfull for the defence of his countrey: for he had many times before to his great losse, endured the furie of the Turkish kings, although he were joyned vnto them in the bonds of neerest allyance. And hauing thus politikely set all things in order at home, in person himselfe tooke his journey into HVNGARIE, from thence to procure aid against such time as he should haue need. But the Hungarians, and especially Huniades (who at that time bare greatest sway in that kingdome) hauing before had sufficient triall of the vncertainty and light faith of that aged prince,I who had so often fashioned himselfe according to the occurrents of the time, that he was accounted neither right Turke, nor good Christian; refused to promise him any aid, but left him to his owne fortunes:The death of George, Despot of Seruia. wherewith he returned discontented, and full of indignation. But shortly after he was come home, he died of an hurt receiued in a skirmish with Michaell Zilugo, gouernor of BELGRADE: whose brother Ladislaus he had but a little before trecherously murdred, as he was trauailing by wagon to BELGRADE with his said brother Michael, who at the same time hardly escaped. This was the end of George Despot of SERVIA, when he had liued nintie yeares: in which time of his long life, he had plentifully tasted of both fortunes. A man assuredly of great courage, but of a maruellous vnquiet nature: by profession a Christian, yet a great friend vnto the Turkes, whom he many times stood in great steed: a deepe dissembler, and double in all his K dealings; whereby he purchased vnto himselfe that credit, that he was not of any his neighbour princes whilest he liued, either beloued or trusted; and after his death, of his subjects so detested, that the people of that countrey euen at this day in their countrey songs, still tearme him, The faithlesse and gracelesse Despot. Lazarus his youngest son, after his death succeeded in his place; hauing depriued both his elder brethren (Stephen and George) of the gouernment: for Amurath the Turkish king had long time before put out their eies, of purpose to make them vnfit for the gouernment of so great a countrey: yet these blind princes found meanes to flie away from him to Mahomet, carrying with them a great masse of money; and so incited him against Lazarus their younger brother, that to keepe friendship with the tyrant, he was glad to promise vnto him a great yearely tribute, and so to become his tributarie. But within few moneths after, Lazarus L died; the last Christian prince that raigned in SERVIA: after whose death, great troubles arose in SERVIA for the soueraigntie: The blind brethren still crauing aid of Mahomet, with whom they then liued; and the desolate widow of Lazarus, putting her selfe with her three sons, Iohn, Peter, and Martin, into the protection of the Hungarians: by which means she with much trouble held her state for a season.Ser [...]ia yeelded to the Turke. Vntill such time as that the Seruians, seeing small assurance in that manner of gouernment, and wearie of the harmes they daily receiued of the Turkes; yeelded themselues with their countrey, vnto the obedience of the Turkish emperour Mahomet, who foreuer vnited the same vnto his empire as a prouince thereof, and so it remaineth at this day.

Now was Mahomet by the continuall course of his victories, growne to that height of mind, that he thought no prince able to abide his forces; neither any enterprise so great, which he was M not of power to bring to passe: wherefore he ceased not on euerie side continually to vex and trouble the princes, whose countries bordered vpon his. But aboue others, his heart was greatest against the Hungarians: for that by them the Turkish kings his auncestors, had been more troubled, and their state more endangered, than by any or all other the Christian princes. Wherfore [Page] A he resolued now to take them in hand; which thing he had from the beginning of his raign greatly desired. And because the citie of BELGRADE standing vpon the great riuer of Danubius, was accounted the key of that countrey, he determined there to begin his warres, and by taking thereof to make an entrance into the heart of HVNGARIE. Hereupon he leuied a great armie of an hundred and fiftie thousand of his best souldiours; in whom he reposed such an assured trust and confidence, that he accounted the citie already as good as taken, and a faire way made into HVNGARIE: so ready are we to promise vnto our selues, the things we earnestly desire. For the better accomplishment of these his designs, he had prouided in readinesse a fleet of 200 ships and gallies, which he sent vp the riuer of Danubius from VIDINA to BELGRADE, to the intent that no reliefe or aid should be brought vnto the citie out of HVNGARIE, by the great riuers of B Danubius and Sauus, whereupon the citie of BELGRADE standeth. With this fleet he kept both those riuers so straitly, that nothing could possibly be conuaied into the citie by water: and not so contented, sent part of his said fleet farther vp the riuer of Danubius, and so landing his soldiours in many places,Belgrade besieged. spoiled the countrey all alongst the riuers side. Shortly after he came with all his forces by land, and encamped before the citie: whereunto at his first comming he gaue a most fierce assault, thinking to haue taken them vnprouided: but finding greater resistance than he had before imagined, and that the Hungarians were ready to skirmish with them without the wals, he begun to proceed more warily, and entrenched his army: and to prouide for the safetie therof, by casting vp of deep trenches & strong rampiers, against the sudden sallies of his enemies: and after, planting his batterie, began most furiously to shake the wals with his great artillerie. By C the furie whereof, he ouerthrew a part thereof, and laid it flat with the ground: which the defendants with great industrie and labour speedily repaired, by casting vp of new fortifications and rampiers, in such sort, that it was rather stronger than before.

In the meane time Huniades (not to be named without the addition of a most worthy captaine) being then Generall for the Hungarians,The Turks fleet ouerthrown by the Christians. sent a fleet of ships and gallies, wel appointed with all warlike prouision, downe the riuer of Danubius from BVDA: which encountring with the Turkes fleet, tooke twentie saile of them, and so discomfited the rest, that they were glad to run themselues on ground neere vnto the kings campe. All which were by Mahomets commandement presently set on fire, because they should not come into the power of the Hungarians. By this meanes the Christians became masters of both the riuers of Danubius and Sauus; and so at D their pleasure, by water conuaied into the citie all things needfull for the defence thereof. Huniades also himselfe, with fiue thousand valiant souldiours, and Io. Capistranus a Minorite frier (by whose persuasion fortie thousand voluntarie Christians out of GERMANIE, BOHEMIA, and HVNGARIE were come to that warre) entred into the citie that way with their souldiours and followers.

Mahomet resolutely set down for the winning of the citie, had with continuall batterie made the same at length saultable; and so determined the next day to giue a generall assault, appointing which part of the wall euerie Colonell with his regiment should assaile. But as they were with great diligence and greater stirre, preparing all things needfull for the next daies seruice: it fortuned,Carazies Bassa slaine. that Carazies Bassa, Mahomet his lieutenant generall in EVROPE, and his best man of E warre, was by chance slaine with a great shot out of the towne. With whose death, Mahomet was exceedingly troubled, as with an ominous token of the euill which afterwards ensued vnto him and his whole army. For all that, prosecuting his former determination, the next day early in the morning he commanded the assault to be giuen: and with the dreadful sound of trumpets, drums,Belgrade assaulted by the Turks. cornets, and other instruments of warre, brought on his Ianizaries to the breach; who as couragious souldiours fiercely assailed the same, and without any great resistance, entred both there and in diuers other places of the citie; reckoning the same, to be now their owne. For Huniades hauing before stored euerie corner of the citie with his most valiant and expert souldiour [...], had taken order that the defendants, vpon the first charge of the Ianizaries, should forsake their stations, and as men discouraged, retire towards the citie: of purpose to draw the fierce enemies faster on, to their farther destruction; and vpon a signe giuen to set vpon them on fresh, and to repaire vnto their former places of defence. Which was accordingly done: so that as soone as the Ianizaries, with other of the Turkes most forward souldiors, were in great numbers entered, vpon the retiring of the defendants, and the signe before appointed in the citie giuen, the defendants, as men suddenly changed, turning againe, fiercely charged the Turkes which were entred [Page] contrarie to their expectation:The Turks notably repulsed. and the valiant Huniades, at the same time issuing out on G euerie side with his most resolute souldiors, so oppressed the Turkes, that few of them that were entred escaped with life, but were there in the cittie either slaine or taken prisoners; and the rest with exceeding slaughter beaten from the wals. Presently after, Huniades in this confusion of the Turks, strengthned with the souldiors which came with Capistranus the frier, made a sallie out of the towne, and set vpon the Turks appointed for the defence of the great ordinance; which was with such resolution performed, that the Turks were glad with great slaughter to forsake their charge, and to leaue the ordinance to their enemies.

The Turkish tyrant sore troubled and throughly chafed with the losse of his great ordinance, couragiously charged the Hungarians afresh, to haue recouered the same againe: but was so valiantly repulsed by Huniades, and so beaten with the murthering shot out of the citie, that he was H glad when he had got him out of the danger thereof into his trenches. Huniades also retiring, turned the ordinance he had lately woon, vpon the Turks campe, and with the same did them no small harme.

In this hurle, a great part of the Christian army (which then lay on the other side of Danubius) was speedily transported ouer the riuer; and making no stay in the citie, joyned themselues with Huniades, then lying without the wals of the citie. Who notably strengthned with this new supply, assailed the Turkes trenches, as if he would euen presently haue entered their campe: at which his presumption, the proud tyrant (neuer before so braued) disdaining, went out of his trenches, and valiantly encountring him, beat him backe againe to the great ordinance; from whence he was againe by the Christians driuen to his trenches. Which manner I of doubtfull and dreadfull fight, was on both sides notably maintained, vntill the day was almost spent: victorie with indifferent wings, houering now ouer the one side, now ouer the other.

In these hote skirmishes and conflicts, Chasanes captaine of the Ianizaries, with many other valiant men were slaine. [...]. And Mahomet himselfe performing the part as well of a couragious souldiour as of a worthy chieftaine, was sore wounded vnder his left pappe; so that he was taken vp for dead and so carried into his pauilion, to the great discomfiture of his whole army. But comming againe vnto himselfe, and considering that he had in that siege lost his whole fleet, his great ordinance, with most part of his best souldiors, and yet in no possibilitie of the towne: secretly in the night arose with his army, and with great silence shamefully departed; still looking K behind him when the Hungarians should haue pursued him into SERVIA, or haue troubled him vpon his way towards CONSTANTINOPLE. At this siege (beside many of his best captaines and chiefe commanders) were slaine fortie thousand of his best souldiours. The losse that he there sustained was so great, and so stucke in his mind, that euer after during his life, when he had occasion to speake of that siege, he would shake his head and sigh deeply, and many times wish, That he had neuer seene that citie, whereat both he and his father had receiued so great dishonour. Many were of opinion, that if Huniades had there had his horsmen on that side of Danubius to haue presently pursued the fearfull enemy, that the whole army of the Turkes might haue there been ouerthrown. This notable victorie was obtained against the Turke the sixt of August in the yeare of our Lord 1456.L

Shortly after, this most valiant and renowmed captaine Huniades, worthy of immortall praise,The death of the most famous captaine Huniades. died of hurt taken in these warres; or as some others write, of the plague, which was then rife in HVNGARIE: who when he felt himselfe in danger of death, desired to receiue the sacrament before his departure, and would in any case (sicke as he was) be carried to the Church to receiue the same; saying, That it was not fit, that the Lord should come to the house of his seruant; but the seruant rather to go to the house of his Lord and master. He was the first Christian captaine that shewed the Turkes were to be ouercome; and obtained more great victories against them than any one of the Christian princes before him. He was vnto that barbarous people a great terror, and with the spoile of them beautified his countrey: and now dying, was by the Hungarians honourably buried at AL [...]A IVLIA, in S. Stephens church: his death being M greatly lamented of all good men of that age.

Mahomet the Turkish emperour, no lesse desirous to extend his empire with the glorie of his name, by sea than by land; shortly after the taking of CONSTANTINOPLE put a great fleet to sea, wherewith he surprised diuers Islands in the AEGEVM, and hardly besieged the cittie of the [Page] RHODES. At which time, Calixtus the third, then bishop of ROME, aided by the Genowaies (for the grudge they bare against the Turkes for the taking of PERA) put to sea a fleet of sixteene tall ships and gallies well appointed, vnder the conduct of Lodouicus, patriarch of AQVILIA; who with that fleet scoured the seas, and recouered againe from the Turkes the Island of LEMNOS, with diuers other small Islands thereabout: and encountering with the Turkes fleet neere vnto the Island of the RHODES, at a place called the Burrow of S. Paule, discomfited them, sunke and tooke diuers of their gallies, and forced them to forsake the RHODES. After which victorie at sea, hee for the space of three yeares, with his gallies, at his pleasure spoiled the frontiers of the Turks dominions all alongst the sea coast of the lesser ASIA, and wonderfully terrified the effeminate people of those countries: and so at length returned home, carrying away with him many prisoners and much rich spoile.

After that Mahomet was thus shamefully driuen from the siege of BELGRADE,1461 and his fleet at sea discomfited (as is before declared) hee began with great diligence to make new preparation against the next Spring to subdue the Isles of the AEGEVM,Vsun Cassan the Persian king sendeth embassadours with presents to Mahomet. especially those which lay neare vnto PELOPONESVS. But whilest he was busie in these cogitations, in the meane time embassadours from Vsun-Cassanes the great Persian king, arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE, with diuerse rich presents sent to him from the said king. Where among other things, they presented vnto him a paire of playing tables, wherein the men and dice were of great and rich precious stones of inestimable worth, and the workmanship nothing inferiour to the matter: which the embassadours for ostentation said, That Vsun-Cassanes found in the treasures of the Persian king, whom C he had but a little before slaine and bereft of his kingdome, and had there beene left long before by the mightie conquerour Tamerlane. Together with these presents, they deliuered their embassage, the effect whereof was, That those two mightie princes might joyne and liue together in amitie: and that whereas Dauid the emperor of TRAPEZONDE, had promised to pay vnto Mahomet a yearely tribute, enforced thereunto by George his lieutenant in ASIA; he should not now looke for any such thing: for as much as that empire after the death of the emperour then liuing, should of right belong vnto Vsun-Cassanes, in right of his wife, who was the daughter of Calo-Ioannes, the elder brother of Dauid the emperour, then liuing: And further requiring him, from that time not to trouble or molest the said emperour his friend and neere alliance, so should hee find him his faithfull and kind confederat: otherwise it was (as they said) in his choice to draw vpon himselfe the heauie displeasure of a most mightie enemie. Mahomet before enuying at the rising of the Persian king, and now disdaining such peremptorie requests, little differing from proud commaunds; in great choller dismissed the embassadours with this short answere: That he would ere long be in ASIA himselfe in person, to teach Vsan-Cassanes what to request of a greater than himselfe. This vnkindnesse was the beginning and ground of the mortall wars which afterwards ensued between these two, then the greatest princes of the East, as shall be hereafter more at large declared. The embassadours being departed, and Mahomets fleet of an hundred and fiftie saile readie to put to sea, hee altered his former determination for the Islands of the AEGEVM (which after the losse of CONSTANTINOPLE had for the most part put themselues vnder the protection of the Venetians) and commanded his admirall with that fleet to take his course through the straits of Bosphorus into the great Euxine sea (now called the blacke sea) and so sailing alongst the coast to come to anker before SINOPE, the cheefe citie of PAPHLAGONIA, and there to expect his comming thither with his armie by land.Mahomet inuadeth Ismael, prince of Sinope. This great citie of SINOPE standeth pleasantly vpon a point of the maine which runneth a great way into the Euxine, sometime the metropoliticall citie of that prouince: but as then, with CASTAMONA and all the countrey thereabout, was vnder the gouernement of Ismael, a Mahometane prince: vpon whom Mahomet had now bent his forces, for no other cause than that he was in league with Vsun-Cassan, the Persian king. Now with great expedition had Mahomet leuied a strong armie, and passing therwith ouer into ASIA, was come before he was looked for, to SINOPE. Ismael seeing himselfe so suddainely beset both by sea and land in his strongest citie, although he wanted nothing needfull for his defence, hauing in the citie foure hundred peeces of great artillerie, and ten thousand souldiours: yet doubting to be able with that strength to endure the siege, offered to yeeld vp the citie to Mahomet, with all the rest of his dominion, vpon condition, That he should freely giue him in lieu thereof the citie of PHILIPPOPOLIS in THRACIA, with the countrey therevnto adjoyning. Of which his offer Mahomet accepted: and so taking possession of SINOPE, with the strong citie of CASTAMONA, [Page] and all the rest of the princes territorie, sent him away with all his things to PHILIPPOPOLIS, as he had promised. This Ismael was the last of the honourable house of the Isfendiars, who had long time raigned at HERACLEA and CASTAMONA in PONTVS. From SINOPE he marched on forward with his armie to TRAPEZOND. This famous citie standeth also vpon the side of the Euxine or Blacke sea in the country of PONTVS, where the emperors of CONSTANTINOPLE had alwayes their deputies, whilest that empire flourished and commaunded the East part of the world, as farre as PARTHIA: but after it began againe to decline (as all worldly things haue but their time) one Isaack (whose father, emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE, the Constantinopolitanes had for his euill gouernment slaine) flying to TRAPEZOND, tooke vpon him the gouernment of that citie, with the countries of PONTVS and CAPADOCIA, and many other great prouinces, and was at first called the king of TRAPEZOND: but after hee was well established in that gouernment, both he and his successours tooke vpon them the name and title of emperours; which they maintained equally, if not better, than the late Constantinopolitane emperours, and therefore are of most accounted for emperours. Hee that then raigned, was called Dauid Comnenus: which most honourable familie of the Comneni had long time before raigned in CONSTANTINOPLE; and out of the same were many other great princes descended, which ruled in diuers places of MACEDONIA,Trapezond besieged by Mahomet. EPIRVS, and GRaeCIA. Mahomet comming to TRAPEZOND, laied hard siege vnto the same by the space of thirtie dayes both by sea and land, & burn [...] the suburbs thereof, as he had before at SINOPE. The fearefull emperour dismayed with the presence of so mightie an enemie, and the sight of so puissant an armie, offered to yeeld vnto him the citie with his whole empire, vpon condition, That hee should take his daughter to wife, and deliuer vnto him some other prouince, which might yeeld him such yearely profit as might suffice for the honourable maintenance of his state. Mahomet perceiuing the weakenesse of his enemie by his large offers, refused to accept therof, and attempted by force to haue taken the citie: which not sorting to his desire, the matter was againe brought to parle: where after long debating too and fro, it was at last agreed vpon, That the emperour vpon the faith of the Turkish king for his safe returne, should in person meet him without the cittie, if happily so some good attonement might be made betwixt them. Whereupon the emperour following the Turkes faith before solemnly giuen for his safe returne, as was before agreed, went out of the citie to meet him, in hope to haue made some good agreement with him: but as soone as hee was come out, Mahomet according to the damnable & hellish doctrine of his false prophet (That faith is not to be kept with Christians) presently caused the emperour to be cast into bonds, and so to be detained as prisoner. Which when it was bruted in the citie,Trapezond yeelded vnto the Turks. the citizens vtterly discouraged, without farther resistance yeelded themselues with the citie into his power.

Mahomet now lord of TRAPEZOND, entring the citie, tooke prisoners the emperors daughter, with all the rest of his children and kindred, and all such of the nobilitie as hee found in the citie: whom he caused forthwith, together with the emperor, to be sent by sea as it were in triumph to CONSTANTINOPLE. Of the rest of the cittizens he chose out so many as hee pleased for his owne seruice, and appointed eight hundred of the Christian children, in whom appeared most towardlinesse, to be brought vp for Ianizaries, many also of the other citizens were sent into captiuitie to CONSTANTINOPLE: the beautifull women and virgines hee deuided amongst his friends and men of warre, certaine chosen paragons of whom, hee sent as presents to his sonnes. After he had thus taken his pleasure in the citie, and left none there but the basest of the people, he put a strong garrison of his Ianizaries into the castle, and a great garrison of common souldiors into the citie, appointing his admirall to gouerne the same. The rest of the emperours strong townes, discouraged with the taking of TRAPEZOND, and the miseries thereof, in short time submitted themselues vnto the Turkish thraldome, wherein they haue euer since most miserably liued. So Mahomet in the space of few moneths hauing reduced that empire into the forme of a prouince, returned in great triumph to CONSTANTINOPLE; when hee had in this expedition subdued PAPHLAGONIA, PONTVS, and a great part of CAPADOCIA, with some other prouinces neere vnto the Euxine sea. When he was come to CONSTANTINOPLE, he sent the emperour with his children prisoners to HADRIANOPLE. But afterwards vnderstanding that the Persian queene, the wife of Vsun-Cassan, sought meanes to get some one of her vnckles children, whom by the power of her husband she might if it were possible aduance vnto her fathers empire, he sent for Dauid the wofull emperour to CONSTANTINOPLE, and there cruelly caused [Page] A him, withall his sonnes and kinsmen, to be put to death; and to the vttermost of his power rooted out all that most honourable familie of the Comneni, excepting George the emperors youngest sonne, who at his first comming to HADRIANOPLE turned Turke: whose sister (the emperours daughter) Mahomet afterwards tooke to be one of his concubines. This Christian empire was by the Turkish tyrant Mahomet thus miserably subuerted & brought to nought in the yeare of our Lord 1461.The ruine of the empire of Trapezond.

The yeare following,1462 which was the yeare 1462, Mahomet hauing intelligence, that Wladus Dracula prince of VALACHIA,Mahomet seeketh to entrap Wladus prince of Valachia. his tributarie, was resolued to cast from him his obedience, and to joyne himselfe vnto the Hungarians, his mortall enemies; thought it best to proue if he could by policie circumuent him, before he were altogether fallen from him. For which purpose hee sent Catabolinus his principall secretarie vnto him to bring him to the court, promising him greater fauours and promotions from the emperour, than he had as yet at any time enjoyed. And by the same trustie messenger, he commaunded Chamuzes Bassa, gouernour of BIDINA and the countrey lying ouer against VALACHIA, on the other side of Danubius, to doe his vttermost deuoire for the entrapping of Wladus: promising him great rewards if he could bring the matter to effect. Wherupon Chamuzes deuised with the secretarie, that when he had done his messake to the prince and with all his cunning persuaded him to take that journey vpon him, hee should secretly beforehand giue notice vnto him of the certaine day of his returne backe againe from the prince: at which time it was like, that Wladus would in courtesie of himselfe bring the secretarie well on his way, being a man of so great account in the Court, or at leastwise not refuse C so to doe, being thereto requested by the secretarie: at which time the Bassa secretly passing ouer Danubius with certaine troupes of horsemen, and lying close in ambush vpon the way, should suddenly set vpon the prince, and so either take him, or els kill him. The plot thus laied, and euerie circumstance agreed vpon, the secretarie held on his way; and comming to the prince, forced his wit to persuade him to go to the court: sometime cunningly extolling the great opinion that Mahomet had of his fidelitie and valour; and otherwhiles feeding him with the hope of greater honours and princely preferments he was to receiue at the emperours hands. But when hee had said what he could, he obtained no more of the warie prince, but good words againe, and that he would in courtesie conduct him on his way vnto the side of Danubius. Wherof the secretarie by speedie messengers gaue Chamuzes intelligence: who secretly passing ouer Danubius with certaine D troupes of horsemen, and riding a good way into the country, lay in ambush vpon the way whereby the prince with the secretarie must needs passe. According as was before appointed, the secretarie accompanied with the prince, put himselfe vpon the way, and at the very prefixed time came to the place where Chamuzes lay in ambush with his horsemen: who suddenly arising, and on euerie side assailing the prince, slew diuers of his men before they were well aware of his comming. But Wladus being a man of great courage, and better appointed than the Bassa had supposed (for he went alwaies attended vpon with a strong guard of valiant and stout men) so receiued Chamuzes and his Turkes, that hee slew many of them, and at length after a hard conflict tooke him with the rest prisoners:Chamuzes Bassa and the Turkes secretarie hāged. whose hands and feet he caused to be cut off, and their bodies afterwards to be thrust vpon sharpe stakes set fast in the ground, to the terror of all that saw them▪ and did the Bassa so much honour, as to hang him and the secretarie vpon a gibbet a great deale higher than the other Turkes. And not satisfied with this reuenge, presently gathered his forces, and passing ouer Danubius into the Turks dominions, burnt all the country before him alongst the riuers side, killing man, woman, and child, without mercie: after which great spoile & slaughter made, he returned againe into VALACHIA. The report of these news being brought to Mahomet, set him in such a choller and rage, that he commaunded the great Bassa Mahometes, which first told him thereof, to be cruelly whipt: Which seruile punishment in that tyrannicall gouernment hath vsually beene inflicted euen vpon the greatest Bassaes of the court, vpon the least displeasure of the tyrants, especially if they bee not naturall Turkes borne; accounting the rest in their anger but as their base and contemptible slaues, as well appeareth by the wofull end of many, euen of the greatest of them. But when he vnderstood by most sure aduertisements, that all was as the Bassa had before reported, or rather worse, it is not to be in words expressed into what a rage he fell: the spoile of his countrey greeued him much, but the shamefull death of the secretarie his embassadour, and of Chamuzes the Bassa, tormented his heart, and filled him with indignation and desire of reuenge. Wherefore with all speed possible he assembled his souldiours and [Page] men of warre, out of all parts of his dominions to PHILIPPOPOLIS: and had in short time G raised such an army, as the like he had not at any time imploied since the winning of CONSTANTINOPLE. At the same time also, he sent his Admirall with 25 gallies, and 150 saile of other small vessels by the Euxine, to enter the riuer Danubius, and there landing his men, to joyne his forces with the prince of PODOLIA: who for a grudge he bare against Wladus, had promised to aid the Turke against him. When all things were now in readinesse, he marched with his army from PHILIPPOPOLIS,Mahomet himselfe in person inuadeth Valachia and passing ouer Danubius, entered into VALACHIA; before which time, the Admirall had landed his men, and with the helpe of the Podolian, had burnt the citie of PRAILABA, the greatest towne of trade in all VALACHIA; and was besieging CEBIVM, called in antient time LYCOSTOMOS: where after they had lien a while and receiued some losse, they left the siege and departed, the Podolian backe againe into his countrey, and the Admirall H to his fleet.

Mahomet being got ouer Danubius, burnt the villages, draue away the cattell, and made hauocke of all that came in his way. As for prisoners, he tooke but few; for the Valachies before his comming, had retired their wiues and children, and all that were vnfit for warres, either into their strong citties, or into the refuge of great and thicke woods (whereof there is in that countrey plentie) or else into the high and rough mountaines, where they were in more safetie than in any their strongest holds: and all such as were able to beare armes, followed the prince, who euer kept the woods and mountaines, still following the Turkes army so neere as he possibly could, with safetie; and many times cut off such as stragled any thing farre abroad from the armie, into the countrey: yet neuer durst shew himselfe in plaine field, being indeed but a handfull,I in comparison of the Turkes multitude. Mahomet, to small purpose roaming vp and down the countrey at his pleasure, staied neuer long in one place; and making no reckoning of such a weake enemy as durst neuer shew himselfe, pitched his tents still in the open plaines, and so lay with his army in great securitie, not entrenched at all. Wladus by his espials vnderstanding of this the manner of Mahomets encamping, came in the dead time of the night, and with all his power furiously assailed that quarter of the Turkes campe where the Asian souldiours lay, and slew many of them in their tents; the rest terrified with the suddennesse of the alarum, fled out of their tents for refuge vnto the Europeian souldiours: the prince following them at the heeles, and entring into that quarter of the campe also, did there great harme; and strucke such a generall terrour and feare into all the Turks army, that they were euen vpon the point to haue wholy K forsaken their tents and betaken themselues to flight. Yea Mahomet himselfe, dismaied with the terrour of the night and tumult of his campe, and fearing least the Hungarians had joyned their forces with the p [...]ince; not knowing which way to turne himselfe, had vndoubtedly fled, had not Mahomet Bassa a man of great experience in martiall affaires, persuaded him otherwise: and by generall proclamation made through the campe, That no man should vpon paine of death, forsake the place wherein he was encamped, slaied the flight; and with much adoe enforced them to make head against the prince. Wladus perceiuing the Turkes now to begin to stand vpon their guard, and to make resistance: after great slaughter made, returning, tooke the spoile of the tents forsaken by the Asian souldiours, and vpon the approach of the day, againe retired with victorie into the woods. As soone as it was day, Mahomet appointed Haly-Beg with certaine L companies of select souldiours, to pursue the Valachies: who ouertaking part of the princes armie, tooke a thousand of them prisoners, and put the rest to flight: all which prisoners were by the tyrants commaund, presently put to the sword. From that time Mahomet euerie night entrenched his army, and caused better watch and warde to bee kept in euerie quarter of his campe, than before.

A most horrible spectacle.As he marched along the countrey, he came to the place where the Bassa and the secretarie were hanging vpon two high gibbets, and the dismembred Turks empailed vpon stakes about them: with which sight he was grieuously offended. And passing on farther, came to a plaine containing in breadth almost a mile, and in length two miles, set full of gallowes, gibbets, wheels stakes, and other instruments of terrour, death, and torture; all hanging full of the dead carkases M of men, women, and children, thereupon executed, in number (as was deemed) about twentie thousand. There was to be seene the father, with his wife, children and whole family, hanging togither vpon one gallowes; and the bodies of sucking babes, sticking vpon sharpe stakes; others with all their limbes broken vpon wheeles, with many other strange and horrible kinds of [Page] A death: so that a man would haue thought, that all the torments the Poets faigne to bee in hell had been there put in execution. All these were such as the notable, but cruell prince, jealous of his estate, had either for just desert, or some probable suspition, put to death; and with their goods rewarded his souldiours: whose cruell manner was, togither with the offender to execute the whole family, yea sometimes the whole kindred. Mahomet, although he was by nature of a fierce and cruell disposition, wondred to see so strange a spectacle of extreame crueltie: yet said no more but that Wladus knew how to haue his subjects at commaund.Two thousand of the Valachies slaine. After that, Mahomet sent Iosephus, one of his great captaines, to skirmish with the Valachies; who was by them put to the worse: but by the comming in of Omares the sonne of Turechan, they were againe in a great skirmish ouerthrowne, and two thousand of their heads brought by the Turkes vpon their B launces into the kings campe: for which good seruice Omares was by the king preferred to be gouernour of THESSALIA.

When Mahomet had thus traced VALACHIA, and hauing done what harme he could, saw it to be to no purpose, with such a multitude of men to hunt after his flying enemy, which still kept the thicke woods or rough mountaines: he returned againe to CONSTANTINOPLE, leauing behind him Haly-beg with part of his army, to prosecute that warre; and with him Dracula the younger brother of Wladus, who was also called Wladus, as a stale to draw the Valachies into rebellion against the prince. This Dracula the younger, was of a little youth brought vp in Mahomets court, and for his comely feature of him most passionatly affected: which inordinat perturbation, so preuailed in the intemperat nature of the lasciuious prince, that he sought first C by faire words and great gifts to corrupt the youth; and not so preuailing, attempted at last to haue forced him: wherewith the noble youth being enraged, drew his rapier, and striking at him to haue slaine him, grieuously wounded him in the thigh: and thereupon fled. Neuerthelesse being drawne backe againe to the court, and pardoned, he was afterwards reconciled to the king, and so became his Ganimede; and was of him long time wonderfully both beloued and honoured, and now set vp for a stale (as is before said) for the Valachies his countreymen to gase vpon.

It fortuned▪ that after the departure of the king, diuers Valachies came to Haly-Beg the Turkish Generall, to raunsome such friends of theirs as had been taken prisoners in those warres, and were yet by him detained: to whom the younger Dracula by way of discourse declaring the D great power of the Turkish emperour, and as it were lamenting the manifold and endlesse miseries of his natiue countrey; cunningly imputed the same vnto the disordered gouernment of his cruell brother, as the ground of all their woes: assuring them of most happy and speedy redresse, if the Valachies, forsaking his fierce brother, would cleaue vnto him as their soueraigne, in speciall fauour with the great emperour. Which speech, he deliuered vnto them with such liuely reasons, and in such effectuall tearmes, that they their present, persuaded by him; and others by them; in short time all, as if it had been by a secret consent, forsooke Wladus the elder brother, and chose Dracula the younger brother to be their prince and soueraigne. Who joyning vnto him the Turkes forces, by the consent of Mahomet tooke vpon him the gouernment of that warlike countrey and people; yet holding the same as the Turkish tyrants vassaile, the E readiest way to infidelitie. Wladus seeing himselfe thus forsaken of all his subjects, and his younger brother possessed of his dominion, fled into TRANSYLVANIA, where he was by the appointment of the Hungarian king apprehended and laied fast in strait prison at BELGRADE, for that he had without just cause (as it was laid to his charge) most cruelly executed diuers Hungarians in VALACHIA:The death of Wladus. yet such was his fortune, after ten yeares hard imprisonment, to be againe enlarged, and honourably to die in battaile against his auntient enemies the Turks.

Mahomet returning out of VALACHIA to CONSTANTINOPLE, sent the same fleete which hee had vsed in his late warres, into the AEGEVM, to take in such islands as being before vnder the Constantinopolitane empire, had vpon the losse of the citie put themselues vnder the protection of the Venetians;1462 but especially the isle of MITYLENE, called in auntient time LES [...]OS: pretending that Nicholaus Catelusius prince therof, did harbour the pyrats of ITALY, and other places; and also bought of them such prisoners, and other bootie, as they continually tooke from the Turkes at sea, or alongst the sea coast, out of many places of his dominions: pretending also the chastising of the said prince, for that he had by treacherie slaine his eldest brother, and so vnjustly taken vpon him the gouernment. His fleet thus set forward, he himselfe with a [Page] small army passed ouer into ASIA, and came by land to POSSIDIVM a citie of IONIA ouer G against MITYLENE. From whence he embarked himselfe ouer the narrow straite into the island: where after he had once landed his army, he in short time ouerran the whole island, and miserably spoiled the same, leading away all the inhabitants thereof into captiuitie; who shortly after were sold at CONSTANTINOPLE like flocks of sheepe, and from thence dispersed into all par [...]s of his dominions. After he had thus harried the countrey, and left nothing therein vnspoiled; he besieged the Prince in the citie of MITYLENE,Mitylene besieged. whereof the island now taketh name: and with his great ordinance continually battered the same by the space of 27 daies. In which time many sharpe assaults were also giuen by the Turkes, whereby the defendants were greatly diminished and wasted.Mitylene yeelded to the Turk [...]. The prince perceiuing himselfe not able long to hold out, offered to yeeld vp the citie, with all the strong holds in the isle, vpon condition, that Mahomet should H therefore giue vnto him some other prouince, of like valew to the island: which his offer Mahomet accepted, and by solemne oath bound himselfe for performance of that he had promised. Whereupon the prince came out of the citie, and humbled himselfe before him, excusing himselfe for the receiuing of the men of warre (wherewith he was charged) as done for no other purpose, but that they should forbeare to spoile his owne countrey, much subject to their furie: vtterly denying that he had at any time bought, or shared, any part of such prizes as had by those pirats by sea or land been taken from the Turkes. With which his excuse, Mahomet seemed to be reasonably well contented, and with good words cheered him vp: neuerthelesse, as soone as the citie, with all the other strong holds in the isle, were by the princes meanes deliuered into his hands, hee no longer made reckoning of his Turkish faith, but cruelly caused many of the I chiefe citizens of MITYLENE to be put to death; and three hundreth pirats, whom he found in the citie, to be cut in two peeces in the middle, so to die with more paine. And when he had placed conuenient garrisons in euerie strong hold in the isle, he returned to CONSTANTINOPLE, carrying away with him the prince, and all the better sort of the inhabitants of MITYLENE, that were left aliue, togither with all the wealth of that most rich and pleasant island; leauing it almost desolat, none remaining therein more than his owne garrisons, with a few of the poorest and basest people. Mahomet after he was arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE, cast the prince Nicholaus, with Lucius his cosin (whose helpe he had before vsed in killing of his elder brother) into close prison: where they seeing themselues euerie houre in danger of their liues, to winne fauour in the tyrants sight, wickedly offered to renounce the Christian religion, and to K turne Turke. Which Mahomet vnderstanding, caused them both to be richly apparelled, and with great triumph to be circumcised, and presently set at libertie: yet still bearing in minde his olde grudge, he shortly after, when they least feared any such matter, clapt them both fast againe in prison, and there caused them to be most cruelly put to death. A just reward for the bloodie murtherers, and apostacie, who to gaine a little longer life, were content to forsake God.

1464Shortly after it fortuned, that Stephen king of BOSNA (in antient time called MaeSIA SVPERIOR) who supported by the Turkish emperour, had wrongfully obtained that kingdom against his owne brethren, refused now to pay such yearely tribute as hee had before promised: for which cause Mahomet with a strong armie entered into BOSNA, and laied siege vnto the cittie L of DOROBIZA: which when he had with much adoe taken, he deuided the people therof into three parts; one part whereof he gaue as slaues vnto his men of warre; another part he sent vnto CONSTANTINOPLE; and the third he left to inhabit the citie. From DOROBIZA he marched to IAZIGA, now called IAICA, the cheefe citie of that kingdome, which after four months siege was deliuered vnto him by composition: In this citie hee tooke the kings brother and sister prisoners, with most of the nobilitie of that kingdome, whom he sent as it were in triumph vnto CONSTANTINOPLE. The other lesser cities of BOSNA following the example of the greater, yeelded themselues also. But Mahomet vnderstanding that the king of BOSNA had retired himselfe into the farthest part of his kingdome, sent Mahometes his cheefe Bassa with his Europeian souldiors to pursue him: wherein the Bassa vsed such diligence, that he had on euery side so inclosed M him before he was aware, that hee could by no meanes escape, which was before thought a thing impossible. So the king for safegard of his life was faine to take the citie of CLYSSA for his refuge: where he was so hardly laied to by the Bassa, that seeing no other remedie, hee offered to yeeld himselfe vpon the Bassaes faithfull promise by oath confirmed, that he should be honourably [Page] A vsed, and not to receiue in his person any harme from the Turkish emperour. Wherupon the Bassaes oath to the same purpose was with great solemnitie taken; and for the more assurance conceiued in writing, firmed by the Bassa, and so deliuered to the king: which done, the king came out of the citie and yeelded himselfe. The Bassa hauing thus taken the king prisoner, carried him about with him from place to place, and from citie to citie, vntill he had taken possession of all the kingdome of BOSNA; and so returning vnto his master, presented vnto him the captiue king: who was not a little offended with him, for that hee had vnto him so farre engaged his Turkish faith. But when the poore king thought to haue departed, not greatly fearing further harme, he was suddenly sent for by Mahomet: at which time, he doubting the worst, caried with him in his hand the writing wherein the Bassaes oath for his safetie was comprised: neuerthelesse, the faithlesse tyrant without any regard thereof, or of his faith therein giuen, caused him presently to be most cruelly put to death, or as some write, to be flaine quicke. Thus was the Christian kingdome of BOSNA subuerted by Mahomet in the yeare 1464: who after he had at his pleasure disposed thereof, and reduced it into the forme of a prouince to be (as it is at this day) gouerned by one of his Bassaes; in great triumph returned to CONSTANTINOPLE, carrying away with him many a wofull Christian captiue, and the whole wealth of that kingdome.

Mahomet following the example of his father Amurath, The great [...] betwixt M [...]hom [...]t and Scanderbeg, are at large written by Marinus Barletius, in 13 books, De vita & gestis Scanderbegi, from whence this Historie is taken: and w [...]re done betwixt the yeares 1450 and 1467. had from the beginning of his raigne by one or other of his great Bassaes or expert captaines still maintained wars against Scanderbeg, the most valiant and fortunat king of EPIRVS: the greatest part whereof, although it did in the course of time concurre with the things before declared, and might by peecemeale haue beene C amongst the same in their due time and place inserted; yet I haue of purpose for diuerse reasons wholly reserued them for this place: First, for that I would not interrupt the course of the historie before rehearsed, with the particular accidents of this warre: And then, for that the greatest heat of this hereditarie warre, deliuered as it were from hand to hand from the father to the son, happened not long after this time; when as Mahomet hauing conquered the kingdome of BOSNA, had surrounded a great part of Scanderbegs dominion: Wherein I had respect also vnto the Readers ease, who may with greater pleasure and content, and lesse paines also, view the same together, than if it had beene dispersedly scattered and intermedled with the other greater occurrents of the same time. In which discourse I will but breefely touch many things well worthie of a larger treatise. And if forgetting my selfe, I shall in some places happen to stay somthing D longer than the Readers hast would require; yet I hope, that the zeale and loue hee beareth vnto the worthie memorie of most famous Christian princes,Vide Marinum Bar [...]etium lib. de vita & gestis Scanderbegi. together with the shortnesse of the historie, in comparison of that which is thereof written in just volumes by others, shall easily excuse a larger discourse than this. But againe to our purpose.

Mahomet in the beginning of his raigne sent embassadours to Scanderbeg, offering him peace, so that he would graunt to pay vnto him such yearely tribute as his father Amurath had in his life time demaunded. Which embassage the craftie tyrant s [...]nt rather to proue what confidence Scanderbeg had in himselfe, than for any hope he had to haue his demaund graunted. This dishonourable offered peace Scanderbeg scornefully rejected, and so returned the embassadours as they came: and presently vpon their departure entered with his horsemen into that part of the Turks dominion which bordereth vpon EPIRVS: & when he had wasted the countrey, returned home laded with the spoile thereof. In reuenge of which despight, Mahomet shortly after sent Amesa one of his best men of warre, with twelue thousand horsemen into EPIRVS, to requite Scanderbeg with the like spoile of his people and countrey. But Scanderbeg vnderstanding by his espials of the Turks comming, lay close in ambush with six thousand souldiours vpon the great mountaine MODRISSA, ouer which the Turks must of necessitie take their way: and as they were about by night to haue passed ouer that rough and steepe mountaine, and were with much difficultie almost got vp to the top thereof, they were suddenly charged by Scanderbeg his footmen, who hauing the aduantage of the place, made great slaughter of the Turks, & draue them downe the mountaine amaine; at which time their horses stood them in no stead at all, but were rather vnto them an hinderance in that vneuen and troublesome ground. Now when the Turks were come to the foot of the mountaine, they were in that great feare and disorder againe fiercely assailed on the one side by Scanderbeg, and on the other by his nephew, called also Amesa; who before the Turkes comming had placed themselues with their horsemen in places of most aduantage: so that the Turkes hardly beset and forced on euery side, were in short time ouerthrowne [Page] and put to flight. In this conflict seuen thousand of the Turkes were slaine, and Amesa Generall G of the Turks armie with diuers other captains taken, whom Scanderbeg sent prisoners to CROIA. For joy of this victorie at Scanderbeg his returne, great triumph & feasting was made at CROIA: During which time, Scanderbeg caused Amesa the Turke, with the rest of the Turkish captain [...], to be enlarged, to be partakers of that joy, whereof they against their wils had giuen the occasion; and afterwards vsed them with all kind of courtesie during the time of their abode. This Amesa requested of Scanderbeg, That he might send a messenger to CONSTANTINOPLE, to certifie Mahomet how the case stood with him and the rest, whom happily he might thinke to haue beene slaine in the battaile; and to procure from him their ransome. Which his request Scanderbeg easily graunted, and set downe their ransome at thirteene thousand duckats. The newes of this ouerthrow sore greeued the Turkish tyrant, but afterwards when he saw the remainder of his H armie without their generall and leaders, hauing for most part lost their ensignes and armor, and also the messenger that was sent from Amesa, he fell into such a rage, that hee denied to giue any thing at all for his ransome: imputing all that losse to his trecherie, follie, or cowardise. Howbeit he was afterwards persuaded by his Bassaes and other great courtiers, Amesa his friends, to thinke better of the Generall, of whose faithfulnesse and valour he had of long time had great experience, and also to send his ransome: by denying whereof, hee should (as they said) discourage his other generals and captaines, who by chaunce of warre might hap to fall into the like danger. By whose persuasion Mahomet sent an embassadour to Scanderbeg, with the ransome demaunded, and other great presents also. Vpon receit whereof, Amesa with the other captaines were set at libertie, and sent with safe conuoy out of EPIRVS. All the money sent for the Turkes ransome,I Scanderbeg deuided amongst his captaines and souldiors.

This late receiued ouerthrow filled the proud tyrant with desire of reuenge, so that hee determined foorthwith to send another armie into EPIRVS: the leading whereof, diuers of his great and most expert captains ambitiously sought for. For Mahomet had promised great rewards and most honourable preferments to him whose hap it should bee to vanquish Scanderbeg. Amongst the rest,Debreas sent with 14000 horsemen t [...] inuade Epirus. one Debreas (a man for his forwardnesse and courage, in great fauour with his soueraign) by great sute obtained to haue that charge: promising with exceeding confidencie vnto Mahomet, to make a beginning of better successe in his warres of EPIRVS, than others thither by him before sent: for the accomplishment whereof hee required to haue no greater power than was sent the yeare before. But after that Amesa was returned to the court, and had with long discourse K set forth the vertues and valour of Scanderbeg, with the inuincible courage of his souldiors, Debreas became more temperate in his speech, and was contented to receiue a new supplie; so that he had vnder his charge foureteene thousand souldiors: with which armie hee marched towards EPIRVS, and was come to a place called POLOGVS, where he lay with his armie encamped in a plaine in great securitie, fearing no danger, for that he was not as yet in the enemies countrey, neither as he supposed, neere the enemie. Of all this preparation, and of the comming of Debreas, Scanderbeg had intelligence: and being resolued not to expect the comming of the Turkes into EPIRVS, made choise of six thousand of his best horsemen; with whom he marched with as much speed as was possible into the enemies countrey, and came by night vnto the plaine where the Turkes lay, hoping to haue been vpon them before they were aware, and so to L haue ouerthrowne them. Wherin he was much deceiued: for by the light of the moone (which then shined all night) he was by the Turkes in time descried, yet the suddennesse of his approach with the strangenesse of the attempt, exceedingly dismaied the whole army of the Turkes. But Debreas mindfull of the promise he had made vnto his lord and master, with cheerfull words encouraged his souldiours, and presently sent out certaine troups of light horsemen, to receiue the first charge of the enemy, vntill he might set his whole army in order of battaile. Betwixt these troupes,A skirmish betwixt the Christians and the Turks. and others sent out by Scanderbeg, began a sharpe skirmish; both the armies standing fast, as beholders, carefully expecting the euent thereof. But Scanderbeg doubting, that if his soldiours should in this first encounter be put to the worse, it might tend to the great discouraging of the rest of his army; seconded his men with other fresh troups vnder the leading of Moses and M Amesa: by whose comming in, the Turks were forthwith beaten backe, and chased euen to their maine battaile. In the heat of which chase, Moses forgetting himselfe, had with great danger in following on too fast, been enclosed by the Turkes, had not his furie beene in good time staied by Amesa: for which ouersight, he was afterward blamed by Scanderbeg, that he could not [Page] A with greater moderation vse his good fortune; commending such forwardnesse in a priuat souldior, but not in so great a commaunder.The battell betwixt Scanderbeg & Debreas. When Moses and Amesa had thus put the Turkes to flight, Scanderbeg brought on his whole armie, and fiercely assailed the Turkes, yet troubled with the discomfiture of their fellows. Debreas on the other side, with cheerefull speech, and his owne valour, so encouraged his souldiors, that Scanderbeg was there notably resisted, and his fortune as it were at a stand: vntill that Musachius, with certaine troupes of resolute men, drawne out of the left wing of Scanderbeg his armie, gaue such a fierce charge vpon the side of the Turkes armie, that he brake their rankes, and sore disordered that part of the armie. Which when Debreas perceiued, he withdrew himselfe out of the front of the battaile wherein hee had valiantly stood against Scanderbeg, and came to the place where Musachius had disordered the battaile, and with such courage cheared vp his troubled souldiours, that his onely presence and valour seemed to bee the very life and heart of his whole armie. Whilest Debreas was thus busied against Musachius, Scanderbeg in the meane time with might and maine still charged the front of the enemies armie: who now in the absence of the Generall began to loose their order and to giue ground, making no such resistance as before. At which time, Moses forcibly breaking into the thickest of them, tooke one of their ensignes, which hee threw backe amongst his followers: wherewith they encouraged, so pressed vpon their enemies, without regard of danger, that the Turks being therewith discouraged, and their battaile disordered, were almost readie to turne their backs and to flie. Debreas seeing all in danger to be lost, hasted with all speed vnto the place where he saw most perill, and did what was possible to haue restored the battaile, and encouraged C his souldiors:Debreas slain by Scanderbeg, and his armie ouerthrowne. where pressing in amongst the formost, hee was by Scanderbeg himselfe encountered hand to hand, and so by him slaine: with whose fall the whole armie discouraged, without further resistance fled. Moses pursuing them on the one side, & Musachius on the other, with furious hand slew more in that chase than were slaine in the battaile. Of the Turkes were slaine in this battaile 4120, and some prisoners taken, but of the Christians few or none: so that for the good fortune thereof, Scanderbeg accounted it a victorie giuen. All the spoile taken from the enemie, together with the prisoners, was by Scanderbeg equally deuided amongst the souldiors. Vnto Moses he gaue Debreas his horse and armour: and vnto Musachius a prisoner, which by his port and behauior seemed to be a man of some good account.A pleasant contention betwixt Musachius and a Turke for his ransome. This Turke agreed with Musachius vpon a ransome of two hundred duckats, and presently vpon agreement made, drew forth the money out of a little bag which he had kept secretly about him, and offered it to Musachius for his ransome: Who receiuing the money, told the Turke, that he must prouide another ransome, for as much as that money was his owne before by law of armes, as taken with his person. The Turke on the other side alledged for himselfe, the agreement alreadie made, with the payment of the full summe agreed vpon. This controuersie was brought before Scanderbeg: who with great pleasure heard them both what they could say: Musachius laying in hard for another ransome, and the Turke for his libertie vrging the agreement. Who when they had both said what they could for themselues, Scanderbeg smiling, told them, that they both contended for that which was in right his and neither of theirs: for the prisoner with the money were both mine (said he) at the first taking of him; since which time I haue giuen to you Musachius the prisoner, which I knew, but not the money which I knew not of: neither doth the concealing thereof make it yours (said he to the Turke) who had by law of armes lost your selfe, together with all that you had about you. After he had thus pleasantly discoursed of the matter, and brought them both in doubt, he awarded vnto Musachius the money he agreed for, and to the Turke his desired libertie: who glad thereof, and hauing also receiued his horse and armour of the gift of Scanderbeg, departed, speaking all the honour he could of so noble a conquerour. After this victorie Scanderbeg with great triumph returned againe to CROIA.

When Mahomet vnderstood that Debreas was slaine, and his armie ouerthrowne, hee became exceeding melancholie: but after he saw so many of his souldiors returned as had ben sufficient to haue restored a lost battaile, he was so highly displeased with their cowardise, as that he could not endure the sight of them. The death of Debreas greeued none more than the king himselfe: for the captaines generally either enuied at his hardinesse, or else hated his insolencie. Amesa amongst the rest tooke no small pleasure, that his proud successour had taken part of his euill fortune, and so in part eased his former infamie. The great Bassaes and men of warre seeing their soueraigne so desirous of reuenge, offered to spend their liues in that seruice: whose forwardnesse [Page] he seemed not to refuse: howbeit he had in his mind alreadie plotted another manner G of reuenge. He was not ignorant, what great matters his father Amurath had brought to passe, by sowing discord amongst the princes of GRaeCIA: which fowle practise he purposed now to put in practise himselfe. There was at that time many famous chieftains in EPIRVS, of Scanderbeg both beloued and trusted; amongst whom, he was in hope to find some one who for desire of wealth or promotion, might be allured to giue some desperat attempt against the life or state of Scanderbeg. Of all others, Moses Golemus of DIBRA (a man honourably descended) was most inward with Scanderbeg, and for his prowesse and experience in martiall affaires, of all men accounted the best captaine in all EPIRVS, next vnto Scanderbeg himselfe: him, the craftie tyrant most desired to alienat from Scanderbeg, as one fittest to serue his purpose, and easiest without suspition to be delt withall; because he commonly lay with a strong garrison in DIBRA, vpon H the verie frontiers of EPIRVS. Wherfore he directed his letters vnto the gouernor of SFETIGRADE, commanding him by all meanes he could possibly deuise to withdraw Moses from Scanderbeg; and not to spare for any gold or golden promises whereby to allure him: promising also vnto the gouernour himselfe great preferments, if hee could winne him. Vpon receit of which letters, the gouernor began forthwith carefully to deuise, how he might best attempt the matter he had in charge: where after many deuises, he at last thought vpon a shrewd-headed fellow, one of the Christians which dwelt in SFETIGRADE; whom for that he was a Christian, he might without suspect vse as an instrument in so dangerous and important an action. This Christian the gouernour called vnto him, and after he had with great gifts and large promises woon him to vndertake the matter; he sent him away, fully before armed with plenteous instructions,I full of treason and deceit. When this subtill messenger was come vnto Moses, and vnder pretence of great and secret matters of importance, had obtained to speake with him in priuat: he after some discourse had of matters well worth the hearing, began at length vnder the couert of faire glozing words,The craftie proc [...]eding of the Tur [...] messenger to vtter his poison: Shewing vnto him (as a messenger from the gouernor) the great and good opinion the Turkish emperour had of long time conceiued of his valour and prowesse: for which cause his heroicall nature could not but honour him, although he were his enemy; and therewith also maruell, that he being a man of that worth, could be contented to be commaunded by Scanderbeg, whose state was by him chiefly vpholden: whereas if he would doe wisely, and changing his affection, follow Mahomet, an emperour of greatest magnificence and power, he should quickly in his court find such honourable entertainment, as were to be preferred K before the state of Scanderbeg: or if the soueraigntie of EPIRVS his natiue countrey did better please him, he might easily be thereunto aduanced, by joyning his owne endeuour vnto Mahomets great power. It pleased Moses well to heare his owne praises (a thing incident vnto hautie minds) and he liked well that he was so fauoured of the Turkish emperour: but the hope of the kingdome of EPIRVS began to worke in him new conceits, and moued him more than all the rest. Such is the force of ambitious thoughts, that they make a man forget all things, saue themselues: so glorious a thing it is, to stand in the highest place. For all that, Moses neither in word or countenance made any semblant of liking, or disliking the message. Which the wily messenger taking for a secret consent, and hartely glad that he had been so well heard: not desiring as then any further answere, craued leaue to depart; promising in short time to returne to L him againe. After the departure of this messenger, many troubled thoughts began to arise in the mind of Moses: his mirth was changed into melancholy, and the cheerfulnesse of his countenance was abated, his hautie thoughts were his solitarie companions, and the imagined kingdome the idoll he in secret worshipped; so that in short time, he seemed vnto the wiser sort as a man altogither metamorphosed. Some were so bold, as for to aske the cause of the messengers comming▪ vnto whom he answered, That he was one, from whom he receiued intelligence of matters concerning the good of the state: which his answere was holden for true; for who durst once mistrust Moses? Whilest he was thus tossed vp and downe with his owne thoughts, as a shippe with the billowes of a wrought sea, the same slie messenger, according to his promise came againe; and for his more credit, in secret brought with him such presents as well M might seeme to haue beene sent from the Great Turke; with his message better framed than before. Of all which that was sent, Moses is reported to haue receiued nothing but the worst, which was,Moses corrupte [...]. the verie treason it selfe. And so returned the messenger, with answere, That he could not but in good part accept of the Turkish emperours great fauours; and for the rest of his requests, [Page] A whatsoeuer he should chance to doe therin, he should not from thenceforth find him any great enemy: commanding the messenger at his departure, no more to repaire vnto him about that matter, for feare of suspition.

After that, it chanced that Scanderbeg came into DIBRA, to see how all things stood there, and to consult with Moses for the besieging of SFETIGRADE; which citie it grieued him to see in the possession of the Turkes. Moses to auert Scanderbeg from that enterprise, wherein hee must of force be driuen to shew himselfe, told him, That he vnderstood of late by a certaine messenger which came to him out of SFETIGRADE, that the citie was so well stored by the Turks, of all things necessarie for the defence thereof, that it were but lost labour to attempt any thing against the same: wherefore hee aduised him rather to besiege BELGRADE (not that BELGRADE B which is situated vpon the riuer of Danubius, but another of the same name) in the confines of EPIRVS, then holden by the Turkes, but distant from SFETIGRADE about an hundreth and fortie miles; of the taking whereof, there seemed to be more hope. By this persuasion, Scanderbeg resolued with himselfe to make prouision for the besieging of BELGRADE. And forasmuch as his souldiours of EPIRVS alwaies vsed to the field, were not so fit for the besieging of townes,Scanderbeg cr [...] ueth aid of Alphonsus king of Naples. he thought it good to pray aid out of ITALY, from his old friend Alphonsus king of NAPLES, with whom he had been of long time acquainted, and vnto him much beholden. Wherefore he sent two of his noblemen embassadours vnto him, with certaine rich presents, and familiar letters of this purport.

C Our souldiours of EPIRVS, know only how to fight with men, and them to vanquish: with wals they know not how to deale. You Italians (as I vnderstand) haue skill in that kind of seruice, and take pleasure therein: wherefore now at this present, I haue need of your helpe and cunning. There be certaine townes of our enemies in EPIRVS, yea almost in the heart of our kingdome; which eye-sore I haue of long desired (if it pleased God) to take out of my sight: but being occupied with continuall wars, had no leisure vntill now, happely to attempt any thing against them. This time I haue chosen as most fit, to satisfie my desire, both for the seasonablenesse of the time of the yeare, and for that Mahomet spareth me leisure; whose furie I haue twise calmed: You vnderstand in few words, what I haue need of: all other things are almost in readinesse, and we only looke for your helpe. Lend me such souldiors as know how to fight a farre off, I meane harquebusiers and canoniers, for of others we haue store plenty. D But happy is APVLIA, my Alphonsus, vnder thy gouernment, from whence men fit for all seruices may be drawne as out of a most plentifull treasurie. Whensoeuer we haue requested men fit for seruice, either in peace or warre, you haue beautified both our court and campe. By you the kingdome of EPIRVS hath been supported with ciuile pollicie, and warlike strength: all sort of people, of what condition soeuer: yea euerie corner of EPIRVS soundeth forth thy praise, both at home and abroad. But for mine owne part, I doe so louingly embrace your kindnesse, and so firmly retaine the remembrance of your deserts towards me, that sometime I wish you that fortune (although in so doing I may seeme vnkinde) which (as the common saying is) proueth, but getteth not friends: to the intent, that you might by some more certaine proofe know, how much I am to you deuoted.

When Scanderbeg had sent away his embassadours, he with all diligence began to prouide things necessarie for the siege of BELGRADE: wherein he had purposed also to haue vsed the seruice of Moses. But he now in heart a traitor both to his prince and countrey, and a friend to Mahomet, found many excuses to stay at home in DIBRA: alleadging first, that it was to be thought, that so soone as the Turkish king should heare of the siege of BELGRADE, he would inuade some part of EPIRVS, thereby to withdraw his enemies from the siege: and then, that no part of all EPIRVS lay neerer vnto the Turkes, or more in danger, than DIBRA; and that therefore he could not doe any better seruice, than to see vnto the safetie of that countrey, long before committed to his charge, and in which also most part of his liuing lay. These his excuses, proceeding indeed from deepe treason, were yet neuerthelesse thought reasonable, and he for his prouident care highly commended; and authoritie giuen him with new supplies to augment the garrison vnder his commaund, as time and occasion should require.

By that time that Scanderbeg had fully made his preparation for the entended siege, the embassadours before sent to Alphonsus, were returned into EPIRVS, and with them such aid as Scanderbeg had before requested,Alphonsus sendeth aid vnto Scanderbeg. and a great deale more: For Alphonsus fearing the greatnesse [Page] of the Turkish emperour, in what he could furthered Scanderbeg his actions, reckoning EPIRVS G not aboue 60 miles distant from his dominions, to be the strongest wals of his kingdome in APVLIA (as not many years after, it by proofe appeared, when as the Turks hauing taken OTRANTO put all ITALY in no small feare.) With this aid he also wrote louing letters vnto Scanderbeg, thanking him for his presents, and for the good opinion he had of him, willing him to make as bold of all his things, as of his owne. But when he came to make mention of the souldiours he had sent; Alphonsus, after the manner of his pleasant nature, merrily wrote vnto Scanderbeg, That he had sent him Italian souldiors which could according to his desire, fight well both with men and wals; but better with women: and that therefore the Epirots were best to take heed, that they whose helpe they required for [...]ight a farre off, proued not also good warriours at hand at home in their houses. The great commendation Scanderbeg had giuen of the king, was by him H referred vnto the excesse of his loue, and by the king requited with like.

Scanderbeg besiegeth and [...]istresseth Belgrad. Scanderbeg now furnished with all things needfull, set forward, and according to his former determination, came and encamped before BELGRADE, with an army of fourteene thousand good souldiours: and in short time had so distressed the citie, that the Turkes were glad to take truce with him for sixteene daies, which time expired, they promised to deliuer vp the towne, if they were not before relieued. Vpon conclusion of this truce, Scanderbeg encamped himselfe vpon an high hill neere vnto the citie, with three thousand horse, and a thousand foot; and appointed Musachius and Tanusius, with the rest of the army, to remoue farther off▪ into a large plaine, where they might encampe themselues in a more wholsome and fresh ayre, in that hoat season of the yeare, during the time of the truce. At which time he appointed also 25 scouts to I keepe continuall watch vpon the top of the highest mountaine, to discouer a farre off the comming of the enemie, and to giue warning therof vnto the campe by making a fire vpon the mountaine: by the negligence of which watch, Scanderbeg receiued a great ouerthrow, as hereafter followeth.

The newes of the siege of BELGRADE was brought vnto Mahomet, at such time as he was readie to haue passed into ASIA against the emperour of TRAPEZOND: which great enterprise he was loath to giue ouer, for the reliefe of BELGRADE; and yet to lose that citie vnto Scanderbeg, grieued him much: wherfore he resolued with himselfe so to do the one, as that he would not altogither neglect the other. And so holding on his entended journey into ASIA himselfe, with such fortune as is aforesaid, he sent Sebalias one of his great Bassaes, with fortie thousand horsemen to relieue BELGRADE, promising him great rewards if he could bring him Scanderbeg either aliue or dead. This Bassa was of the Turks accounted for a warie captaine, but not so couragious, alwaies more politike than forward: he hauing receiued his charge, set forward with all speed possible, no lesse carefull of that he was commanded, than was Mahomet himselfe, and by great journies came on so fast, that he still preuented the fame of his comming; and by his [...]orerunners intercepted, or rather (as some write) corrupted the watch which Scanderbeg had before placed vpon the mountaines; so that no signe was giuen vnto the campe of the enemies, as was expected. By meanes whereof, Sebalius with all his power were vpon that part of Scanderbeg his army, which lay in the plaines, before they were well aware of his comming: so that most part of them had not so much leisure as to bridle their horses, or to put on their armor. In L which so sudden a feare, Musachius armed himselfe, and put his souldiours in such order as the shortnesse of the time and the enemies approach would permit; doubting much, whether it were better to fight or to flie: but seeing no lesse danger in flight than in fight, he resolutely receiued the enemies charge, as a man desirous before hand to reuenge his owne death. And at length (seeing his men slaine about him by heapes, and that courage must needs giue place vnto fortune) fiercely attempted to haue broken through the middest of his enemies, and so to haue fled vnto the mountaine where Scanderbeg lay: but he was so beset, that no way was possible to be made; wherefore resoluing there to die, he desperatly fought, to the great admiration of his enemies,Musachius slain and the Epirots put to [...]ight. vntill that he, with all there with him, were euery man slaine▪ Tanusius on the other side, after he had giuen diuers braue attempts to haue rescued his cosin Musachius, finding by M proofe, that he could doe him no more good therein but to become the wofull companion of his death, exhorted all the rest yet left, for safegard of their liues to flie: in which doing, most of them were slaine, for the Bassaes great army so [...]illed all places thereabout, and so eagerly pursued the victorie, that it was almost impossible any way to scape. Scanderbeg lying vpon the [Page] mountaine,Scanderbeg seeth his men slain▪ and is not able to releeue them. and seeing the ouerthrow of most part of his armie, was about many times to haue descended from the hill, to haue holpen them in what hee might, or els to haue there died with them: but yet stayed, being thereto earnestly requested by his other most expert captaines; and persuaded, not desperately to thrust both himselfe and them all into the manifest perill of assured death.

Sebalias hauing slain Musachius, and put Tanusius to flight, followed the chase with the greatest part of his armie, so that few were left in the great plaine, except such as stayed to rifle the dead. Scanderbeg taking that oportunitie, came downe from the hill whereon he stood, with his foure thousand souldiors, and in a moment slew all such Turkes as he found in his way: and after following in the taile of the Turkes armie, cut off a great number of them, and brought a generall feare vpon the whole armie: insomuch, that Sebalias perceiuing that he gained not so much in chasing of Tanusius, but that he lost more in the rereward of his armie, by the pursuit of Scanderbeg, left the chase, and turned vpon his fierce enemie: Where after a sharpe skirmish begun, the warie Bassa fearing in the maintaining of that disordered fight to haue the victorie wrung out of his hands by Scanderbeg, caused a retreat to bee sounded, so to call together his dispersed souldiors, and in better order to encounter his dangerous enemie. Scanderbeg in the meane time hauing assembled the remainder of his armie, valiantly again encountred the Turks, who thought in this battaile to haue made an end of the warres in EPIRVS: and with his owne hand slew [...] and Barach, two valiant souldiours of the Turkes; which like stout champions had [...]efore sworne vnto Mahomet the death of Scanderbeg, if they should chance to meet with him. In this last skirmish a great number of the Turks were slain: but night drawing on, Sebalias retired with his armie to a mountaine neere vnto the cittie, and Scanderbeg likewise to another almost two miles off: and in the dead time of the night rising with his armie, returned in safetie into EPIRVS, leauing strong garrisons vpon all the strait passages as he went, for feare least the Bassa proud of this victorie, should forthwith breake into EPIRVS. This was the onely and greatest ouerthrow that Scanderbeg had hetherto receiued of the Turkes: wherein hee lost two thousand horsemen and three thousand foot (most part whereof were of the Italians sent from king Alphonsus) together with his tents and great artillerie,Scanderbeg flieth by night into Epirus. and about eightie of his men taken prisoners. And of the Turks were also slaine three thousand.

The next day Sebalias perceiuing that Scanderbeg was retired, commaunded the bodies of the slaine Turks to be sought out and buried: but of such Christians as they yet found breathing, the Turks cut off their hands and feet, and so left them amongst the dead. The head of Musachius and of many other the slaine Christians, which by their armour or apparrell were thought to be of the better sort, were by the commaundement of Sebalias cut off: which because he could not for the distance of the place, and heat of the weather, without great annoyance carrie with him to CONSTANTINOPLE, as the barbarous manner of the Turks is; he caused them to bee flaine, and stuffed with chaffe, and so to bee carried as the vaine trophees of his victorie. Afterwards, when hee had repaired the battered wals of BELGRADE, and put a new supplie of seuen hundred fresh souldiours into the cittie, beside the old garrison therein before, and set all things in good order, he returned with great triumph to CONSTANTINOPLE. And the more to set out the glorie of his victorie, at such time as he entered the citie, he first caused the captiue Christians to be led in chaines before him; after whom were borne the ensignes taken from the Christians, with the aforesaid heads thrust vpon launces, and after them all the spoile: last of all came Sebalias himselfe, with his souldiors, as great conquerours, and was of the people receiued with such applause and joy, as if hee had conquered some great kingdome. No man was now spoken of but Sebalias, his praises were in euery mans mouth, hee was the onely man (as they said) that did shew that Scanderbeg was to be ouercome: no preferment was now thought too great for him, or reward sufficient to counteruaile his desert. The poore Christian captiues were afterwards for most part sold: of the rest, some were aliue thrust vpon sharpe stakes, some hanged vpon yron hookes, some otherwise cruelly at the victors pleasure tortured to death.

Moses lately before corrupted by the practise of the gouernour of SFETIGRADE, hearing of the great losse Scanderbeg had receiued at BELGRADE, thought it now a most fit time for his reuolt. But for as much as the fact, in the nature of it selfe foule, seemed euen to himselfe the doer thereof, a great deale fouler and more dishonourable, for that he had therein no complices: hee thought it good, if it were possible, to allure some others into the fellowship of his treason, so to [Page] diminish the infamie of himselfe, in communicating the same with many, and to appeare with G greater credit before the Turkish tyrant, than if hee should as a contemptible fugitiue come all alone. Wherefore vpon the bad newes from BELGRDE, he seemed at the first very pensiue, and much to lament the misfortune of Scanderbeg, and the common miserie of the countrey of EPIRVS, with many words amplifying the same: and then on the contrarie part, setting forth to the vttermost the force and power of the Turkish emperour Mahomet, thereby to strike a greater terrour and distrust into the minds of them with whom hee was conuersant: but vnto such as were more secret and inward with him, hee discouered the great affection and fauour the great emperour Mahomet had of long borne him, with the large offer of his gifts and preferments, assuring them of the like also, if they would conforme themselues vnto his appetite; seeking hereby so much as he could, to allure them into the participation of his most execrable treason: yet when he had said what he could, he found none but a few of the baser sort of the common souldiours, which were willing to hearken vnto him or to follow him. When Moses saw how much he had laboured, and how little preuailed, fearing to be discouered, hee fled by night to SFETIGRADE, accompanied with a few base fellowes, and easily obtained the gouernours passe, with safe conduct to CONSTANTINOPLE: where he arriued a little before the returne of Sebalias from BELGRADE, and was of Mahomet both joyfully receiued and honourably entertained.

When Scanderbeg vnderstood that Moses was thus reuolted, at the first report thereof hee was so troubled with the strangenesse of the fact, that he stood speechlesse as a man astonied: but after he had pawsed a while, and vpon further enquirie had found it to be true, he according to his heroicall disposition, said no more, but that he could easily haue Moses excused, for that hee was carried away with the violence of such fortune as might haue alienated the mind of a right constant man. And when diuers of his friends (according to the manner of the world) with hard speeches seemed to agrauate his offence: he could not abide to heare the same, but commanded them to hold their peace, and no more to vse such speeches: wishing that all treason and euill fortune were together with Moses gone out of EPIRVS. Vpon this newes, Scanderbeg accompanied with Amesa his nephew and a troupe of horsemen, presently went into the countrey of DIBRA, and there with all care caused most diligent enquirie to be made, if any could be found partakers of the conspiracie with Moses. But finding none, he much rejoyced in the fidelitie of his subjects: and hauing set all things in good order in that prouince, returned himselfe to CROIA.

Moses remaining in the Turks court, ceased not to solicite Mahomet to proceed in his warres against Scanderbeg, promising to doe therein great matters, euen to the spending of his life in that seruice. But the craftie tyrant thinking it not good to trust him too farre before hee had further triall of him, delayed him off vntill the next Spring, pretending that the yeare was too far spent to begin warres. In the meane time he caused all Moses talke, his behauior and actions, to be diligently obserued and noted; and oftentimes himselfe discoursed with him concerning the managing of that warre: all which he did especially to sound the depth of Moses his thoughts. And finding nothing in him but the most assured and vndoubted signes of a mind deuoted to his seruice, and altogether estranged from Scanderbeg: in the beginning of the Spring he committed to his charge the leading of fifteene thousand horsemen for the inuading of EPIRVS, such men as Moses himselfe should make choice of: for a greater number he required not for the vanquishing L of Scanderbeg. Mahomet sendeth Moses with fifteene thousand sei [...]ct men to inuade Epirus. These soldiors although they detested (so few in number) to enter that fatall countrey of EPIRVS, as men faire warned by other mens harmes, yet heartened on by the opinion they had conceiued of their new Generall, and the hope they had by his meanes to find friends in that countrey to joyne with them, were the willinger to goe. So Moses furnished with a no [...] ble armie, and all warlike prouision he could desire for the destruction of his countrey; and blinded with the imagination of a kingdome, set forward▪ & marching through THRACIA and M [...] CEDONIA, forgetting the loyaltie due vnto his soueraigne, and the loue hee ought to haue borne vnto his natiue countrey, came and entered into DIBRA.

Scanderbeg by his espials vnderstanding of the comming of Moses, as also what strength hee was of, stood not now vpon any policie against him who had of long been priuie to all his stratagemes, but was readie euen at his first entrance with true valour to encounter him. As both the armies stood raunged in order of battaile, a messenger came from the Turks campe, to know of Scanderbeg, if any one of his armie durst to proue his fortune hand to hand against one of the Turks, before the beginning of the generall battell. By which messenger answere was returned, [Page] That the challenge should be accepted.A combat betwixt a Turke and a Christian [...] The name of the Turk which made this braue challenge was Ahemaze, a man for his valour and courage of great name amongst the Turkes. Vpon this proud challenge, Zacharias Groppa, a gentleman of no lesse reputation amongst the Christians, hastely stept forth before Scanderbeg (as if he had beene afraid to haue beene preuented by some other) and requested, that he might be the man to abate the Turkes pride Scanderbeg embracing him, commended his noble mind, and wishing him good fortune, gaue him leaue to carrie with him into the field the first honour of the Christian armie. As he was arming himselfe, his companions & fellowes in armes standing about him, wished vnto him not more courage or strength than he had, but onely the fortune of Manessi. Vpon his armour hee put on many rich jewels and ornaments, the allurements or rather the rewards of the enemie, if hee could vanquish him. The Turkish champion was no sooner come into the plaine betwixt both armies, & made shew of himselfe in great brauerie as if his match had yet beene scarcely found, but he saw Zacharias come forth brauely mounted, and readie to charge him: to whom Ahemaze calling aloud, said there would bee time ynough for him to hasten to his death, and therefore requested to talke with him before. So when he had learned of him both his name and place, he propounded such like conditions of the combat, as had beene long before derided by Manessi: whereof Zacharias in no better sort accepted. In few words it was agreed vpon betwixt them, That each of them should abide his owne fortune, without any helpe or aid of others; and that the victor should haue full power ouer the bodie and spoile of the vanquished. Thus agreed, they withdrew themselues one a good distance from another, and with their launces charged, ran together with such force, that with the violence of the encounter they brake their launces one vpon the other, and were both horse and man ouerthrowne. Both vnhorsed, they nimbly recouered themselues, and with their scimitars fiercely assailed the one the other on foot. Fortune it should seeme had determined to beautifie that combat with varietie, standing a great while indifferent to both. After many sturdie strokes giuen, without any hurt done, by reason they were so strongly armed, it fortuned that both their swords were beaten out of their hands: then grapling together with their bare hands, as if they had beene two vnarmed wrestlers, after long strugling till they were both almost out of breath, Zacharias ouerthrew the Turke, and lying vpon him, with his dagger, aboue the gorget thrust him into the throat, and slew him: and so rising vp, with the sword that first came to his hands, cut off the Turks head: at the sight whereof the Christian armie gaue a great shout for joy, to the great discomfiture of the Turks. To be short, Zacharias despoyling the Turk of his armour, and what else he thought good, returned loded with the spoile of his enemie, and presented vnto Scanderbeg the proud Turkes head: for which hee was of him afterwards most honourably rewarded.

Into this place yet reeking with the bloud of the late slaine Turke, came Moses, and with a loud voice challenged Scanderbeg hand to hand; thinking indeed that he would not haue aduentured his person: but when he saw him readie to come forth, hee shamefully forsooke the place, and returned with shame ynough into his armie.

Presently after,The battell betwixt Scanderbeg and Moses. both the armies vpon signall giuen set forward, and so began to joine battaile: where at the first onset Scanderbeg so valiantly charged the vauward of the Turkes armie, that they were glad to giue ground: which Moses perceiuing, releeued them with new supplies: and riding now here, now there, with his presence and courage restored the battaile, in many places almost lost. Howbeit, the Epirots encouraged with the beginning of their good fortune, still preuailed vpon their enemies, and after great slaughter made, came to the strength of their battaile; where Moses had placed most of his best souldiours, as his most assured and last refuge: In this place the Turks fought with exceeding courage, and Moses warily obseruing in what part of the battaile Scanderbeg himselfe was, directed his greatest forces against him, of purpose, if possibly he might, to haue slaine him: whereof he missed but a little; for a courageous souldiour of the Turkes by chance encountering with Scanderbeg, with his horsemans staffe bare him quite backward vpon his horse, in such forcible manner, that the Turks for joy gaue a great shout, thinking verely he had beene slaine: but Scanderbeg recouering himselfe againe, and chafed with such an vnwonted disgrace, furiously assailed the same Turke with his sword, and after a great fight slew him. A great part of the Turkes armie being alreadie ouerthrowne by them that had the leading of the wings of Scanderbeg his armie, diuers of the common souldiours thrust the heads of the slaine Turkes vpon the points of their speares, in token of victorie, to the great astonishment of [Page] the Turks: and now joyning themselues with Scanderbeg, more fiercely charged the maine battaile of the Turkes than before. Neuerthelesse, Moses encouraging his souldiours, did what was possible for a man to doe, and euen with his owne valour a great while staied the course of the victorie: vntill he seeing the ground about him couered with the dead bodies of his best soldiours, and that there was no remedie but that he must either flie, or there die; turned his backe and fled. In which flight, many of the hindermost of the Turks were slaine: as for Moses himselfe, he escaped by waies to him well knowne, onely with foure thousand men, the poore remainder of so great an armie: the rest, to the number of about eleuen thousand, all choise men, were slaine: whereas of the Christians were not past an hundreth lost, and about eightie wounded. Of all the Turkes that were taken, onely one was saued; who being a man of good account, had yeelded himselfe to Zacharias, and was afterward raunsomed: the rest were all by the common souldiours, without pittie, tortured to death, in reuenge of the crueltie by them shewed at BELGRADE: Scanderbeg himselfe either not knowing thereof, or winking thereat.

Moses with the rest of his discomfited armie, lay still a while vpon the borders of EPIRVS, and would faine haue persuaded them, after the departure of Scanderbeg, to haue followed him againe into EPIRVS, to haue surprised the garrison left in DIBRA, in number not aboue two thousand; promising to bring them vpon the same garrison, before they should be aware of their comming. But the Turks hauing him now in contempt, were about by generall consent to forsake him,Moses contemned of the Turk [...] and to returne home. And so Moses seeing no remedie, returned with them to CONSTANTINOPLE, with countenance as heauie as if he had beene a condemned man now carried to the place of execution: and the Turkes which had not long before had him in great admiration,I expecting that he should haue ended the wars in EPIRVS; began now to disgrace him as fast, and to speake all the euill of him they could deuise. Yea the prowd tyrant himselfe (although he could blame nothing in the man, but his fortune) was so highly offended with him, for the losse of his armie, that he had vndoubtedly put him to most cruell death, had not the great Bassaes, and others neere about him, persuaded him otherwise: saying, That in so doing, he should alienat the mindes of all others from reuolting vnto him, or attempting any great thing for his seruice. So was he by their mediation, pardoned his life; but withall, so disgraced, that he had little or nothing allowed him afterwards for his necessarie maintenance: all which despitefull contumelies he outwardly seemed patiently to beare; but was inwardly so tormented with melancholy and griefe, that he could neither eat nor drinke: The remembrance of the foule treason K committed against his prince and countrey, was day and night before his eies; and the disgraces of the Turkes court inwardly tormented him with intollerable griefe: The sight of the tyrant (who measured all things by the euent) filled his heart with secret indignation; and to returne againe vnto his naturall prince, of whom he had so euill deserued, he was ashamed: Sometime the clemencie and princely nature of Scanderbeg, whom he knew of old, slow to reuenge, and easie to be entreated to forgiue, hartened him on to thinke of returne; and by and by, the consideration of his fowle treason ouerwhelmed him with despaire. Thus with contrarie thoughts plunged too and fro, tormented with the inspeakable griefes of a troubled conscience, not knowing what to doe, purposing now one thing, and by and by another: at last he resolued to forsake the insolent tyrant, and to submit himselfe to the mercie of Scanderbeg; wishing rather to die in L his countrey for his due desert,Moses flieth from Constantinople. than to liue with infamie, derided in the Turkes court. Resting himselfe vpon this resolution, one euening hee got secretly out of the gates of CONSTANTINOPLE, and trauelling all that night and the day following before he rested, by long and wearie journies, came at last vnto his natiue countrey of DIBRA. The garrison souldiours beholding their old gouernour all alone, full of heauinesse, as a man eaten vp with cares; mooued with compassion, and forgetting the euils hee had beene the occasion of, receiued him with many teares and friendly embracings, and brought him to Scanderbeg, who by chance then lay not farre off. Moses comming vnto him with his girdle about his necke, in token that he had deserued death (as the manner of that countrey was) found him walking before his tent, and there with heauie cheere falling downe vpon his knees at his feet, submitted himselfe vnto his mercie,M and with great humilitie and signes of repentance, craued his most gracious pardon. Which his request Scanderbeg presently granted, and taking him vp by the hand embraced and kissed him, in token he had from his heart forgiuen him: and within a few daies after, caused all such things of his as were before confiscat, to be againe restored vnto him; with all such offices and promotions [Page] as he had before enjoyed: and by open proclamation commanded, That from thenceforth no man should either publikely or priuatly speake of that Moses had trespassed. Mahomet vnderstanding that Moses was returned againe into EPIRVS, and honoured of Scanderbeg as in former time, was much grieued thereat, and fumed exceedingly: First, for that he had at all trusted him; and then, that he had so let him slip out of his hands: being verily persuaded, that all that Moses had done, was but a finenesse of Scanderbeg to deceiue him.

Shortly after that Moses was returned into EPIRVS, Mahomet by like practise allured vnto him Amesa, Scanderbeg his nephew; promising to make him king of EPIRVS in his vnckles steed. For by that meanes, the craftie tyrant thought it a more easie way to draw the mindes of the people of EPIRVS from Scanderbeg vnto him descended of the princes bloud, than to Moses, or to any other stranger he should set vp. Amesa vpon this hope of a kingdome, fled to CONSTANTINOPLE: and because he would cleere the mind of the tyrant of all suspi [...]ion and distrust, he carried with him his wife and children, as the most sure pledges of his fidelitie. This Amesa was of stature low, and the feature of his body not so perfect as might sufficiently expresse the hidden vertues of his mind: He was of courage hautie aboue measure, subtill, and of a pregnant wit; wonderfull painfull, and thereto courteous and bountifull (the chiefe meanes whereby aspiring minds steale away the hearts of men) whatsoeuer he got of himselfe, or had by the gift of his vnckle, he deuided it amongst his souldiours or friends: he was verie affable, and could notably both couer and dissemble his affections: for which things, he was aboue all others both beloued and honoured of all the people of EPIRVS, next vnto Scanderbeg himselfe. C At his first comming to Mahomet, he filled not his eares with great promises, and vaine praises of himselfe as had Moses; but only excusing his owne reuolt, laboured to persuade him, That he had for just causes left his vnckle, with a desire now faithfully to serue him. And to that purpose spake vnto him as followeth: ‘If it should please thee (most noble Mahomet) to call to remembrance the old iniuries,Amesa his first speech vnto Mahomet. and auntient displeasures by vs committed against thine imperiall Maiestie: we might seeme now rather to haue come hither to receiue the just guerdon of our euill deserts, than vpon any hope of honor or preferment. For what could haue been done more in disgrace of the Othoman empire, than that you haue seene long since done by vs, in the most dangerous time of the Hungarian war; rather of a malicious & set purpose, than for that we were just enemies? When as in the same perfidious course, I my selfe being a helper and partaker therein (for now no excuse is to be pretended for our doings, more than repentance) your fathers army was betrayed at MORAVA, and the kingdome of EPIRVS by great treacherie wrested out of your fathers hands; the only cause of so many calamities, and of so much bloudshed. But vaine is this feare, and our suspition needlesse, with so wise and mercifull a prince; especially for that my yeares then greene, and youth prone vnto the harme of it selfe, and a mind not resting vpon his owne resolutions, deceiued me. I beleeued mine vnckle (for the ignorant beleeue many things) and allured with the desire of soueraigntie (the proper disease of that age) and too much credulous, I forsooke you and followed his promises: but discretion growing with yeares, I haue by little and little perceiued both the slie persidious dealing of mine vnckle, as also that my reuolt from you was more hurtfull vnto my selfe than to any other. Scanderbeg recouered, and also enlarged the kingdome of EPIRVS; but not without my great labour and helpe. I expected long time, that he should haue giuen me, if not my fathers whole inheritance, yet at least some part thereof, as a small reward of my so great trauell and danger. Not long after he married a wife, and hath begot a young heire, a new successour in his kingdome: vnto me for shame of the world, because I should not altogither lead a priuat life, he hath assigned a base corner of EPIRVS; where he enioyning the rest, I might lead a poore and contemptible life. In this case I had much adoe to bridle my affections, and could neuer disgeast that iniurie: yet the iniquitie of the time, with the insolent disposition of the man, compelled me to smother vp my thoughts, and to make faire weather, least finding some suspition, he should craftely haue entrapped me, as he did of late George Stresie his sisters sonne; whom wrongfully charged with fained surmises, he hath almost depriued of all his possessions. I would willingly haue fled vnto the feet of your highnesse, I would gladly haue forsaken my ingratefull vnckle with the staines of his infamous kingdome; but that the remembrance of the old rebellion, and many iniuries sithence done, did make me afraid: vntill that now (God I thinke so appointing it) I came most gladly, following your most royall faith and promise. You had scarcely beckned vnto me, you had scarcely inuited me, hauing of long intentiuely waited euerie [Page] occasion; but straight way I came with such speed, as if I would haue flowne: I lingred not, I expected G not either Scanderbeg or his euill happe, or your more prosperous successe, as of late did Moses; least I might thereby justly seeme either for feare or regard of some imminent danger, rather to haue prouided for mine owne safetie than to haue embraced your magnificence. Neither haue I left any thing for you in me to suspect, nor any cause wherefore I should desire to returne againe into EPIRVS: here are present most sure bonds of my loue, and faithfull pledges of my loyaltie. Behold (worthy Mahomet) you haue whatsoeuer is deere vnto me, yea whatsoeuer nature could giue, pleasing vnto men in the course of mans life. These I haue brought vnto thee, which should with violence haue been taken from an enemy: such pawnes as might assure thee of the faith of a most doubtfull man. More than this, haue I brought nothing: for in so great speed and secret departure, I could not haue regard of my substance. And if I might haue had time to haue trussed vp my trash at leysure; yet I know not how, I should haue thought it a kind of basenesse, to haue brought with me any part of the poore reliques of mine old fortune: especially vnto thee, of all other the richest. Onely my fidelitie I lay downe before thee, for any thing greater I haue not: and if thou desire of me any other bond for more assurance, I refuse not whatsoeuer your highnesse shall appoint: for I came not hither to set downe couenants and agreements of my selfe, but to receiue them from you. I dare not promise to vanquish mine vnckle, and to subdue EPIRVS with an army of fifteene thousand men: the misfortune of Haly-Bassa and other your Generals; yea and the late and rare victorie of Sebalias, with great bloodshed gained, may serue for examples. In me you shall neither want diligence nor faithfull seruice: as for other things concerning the euent of this warre, and for the reuenge of the iniuries by you receiued; you being a prince of power inuincible, and of a most deepe judgement, are not to be aduised by me your vnskilfull vassaile.’

Amesa honourabl [...] entertained by Mahomet.This speech of Amesa, seemed vnto Mahomet free from all dissimulation, forasmuch as he knew most part thereof to be true; and his wife and children brought vnto his presence, confirmed the rest. Wherfore commending his good affection, he appointed him honourable entertainment, referring other matters vnto a farther time.

Vpon the approch of the Spring, Mahomet desiring nothing more than to be reuenged vpon Scanderbeg, entred into consultation with his great Bassaes, concerning the inuasion of EPIRVS: vnto which counsell Amesa was by Mahomet admitted, and his wicked deuise for the destruction of his countrey, of all others best liked. After the matter had been long too and fro debated, it was concluded, that Isaack the great Bassa of CONSTANTINOPLE, should with an armie of fiftie thousand be sent against Scanderbeg, and Amesa with him, hauing the charge of fiue thousand horsemen: and the Bassa to proclaime Amesa king of EPIRVS; thereby to persuade the Epirots, that Mahomet inuaded EPIRVS rather for the displeasure he bare against Scanderbeg, and for the aduancement of Amesa, than for any ambitious desire he had to take vnto himselfe that kingdome.

Great was the preparation for this warre, and the expectation thereof greater. Flying fame had in short time filled euerie corner of EPIRVS with the report of these newes; adding therunto (as the manner is) a great deale more than was true. Whereupon Scanderbeg without delay, sent for his great captains and men of warre into DIBRA, where that tempest was first to be expected: and when they were all assembled, he declared vnto them the greatnesse of the danger, and what he thought thereof himselfe as followeth.

A notable speech of Scanderbeg vnto his captain [...], how the Turks were to be withstood a [...] their comming into Ep [...]u [...].

Amongst all other things which God hath left to vex and greeue the minds of men in so great varietie of worldly affaires, we see (right worthie souldiors) these two the greatest, Hope, and Feare. The first a more comfortable thing, and proper to courageous minds (I may not say) of light beleefe: the other a thing of more discretion and safetie, which although it vse to deferre the desires of men, yet hath [...] power at length excellently to cure and season the same. Hereupon is it easily to be gathered, that the great cheefetaines of former times haue gained more honour and greater victories, by fearing all that was to be feared, than others in shew more hardie, which feared nothing. Hereupon the great Carthaginentian captaine vsed to call Q. Fabius (whom the Romanes euer thought too slow and too fearefull) his great enemie: but Terentius Varro he called a greater enemie vnto his owne countrey and the people of ROME, than to himselfe. But wherfore do I wrongfully call that Feare, which might more truly be called Discretion, or wholesome Policie? Call it as you will, it is not much materiall: but this one thing no man can denie, That thereof hath risen the antient discipline of warre, and the old and severe [Page] gouernment of martiall affaires. This aduised carefulnesse cherisheth and nourisheth Hope it selfe, it doth nothing rashly, it hath eyes before, behind, and on both sides, it waigheth in indifferent ballance things past; present, and to come. You may now perceiue to what end my speech tendeth. I would first conferre with you, and know your opinions, before I determine any thing of the order of this warre; that either I might yeeld vnto your opinion, or els you (as you haue alwaies hitherto done) to mine. You heare▪ you now heare with your eares what preparation, what warlike prouision is daily made against vs. Lo the great Bassa of CONSTANTINOPLE, all the flower of EVROPE, and whole strength of the Othoman kingdome knocketh at our gates. I want not courage (neither euer did) to prooue my fortune against him, not without your honour: but I thinke it better to vse police and warie heed against so great an enemie, than our wonted force and courage. That notable ouerthrow of Hali Bassa; so many great victories by vs atchieued, our minds by so many good haps confirmed, persuade me to thinke that wee haue both courage and strength to encounter him in plaine battaile: but the vncertaine euents of war; and fortune neuer sufficiently knowne, maketh wise men to forget what is past, and to feare that is to come. It was neuer proper to any man, it was neuer giuen by inheritance, alwaies to ouercome; new occurrents require new correspondents: neither may you, for that you conquered yesterday, presume to assure your selfe to deuide the spoile of your enemies to day. Victorie is like a trauellour, and goeth hither and thither, not resting long in a place: and although it be for most part both gotten and kept by courage and discretion; yet oftentimes, when you haue most carefully and politiquely disposed of all things, the fortune and chance of warre haue therein a great sway. I was wont to require (I remember it well) onely valour and courage in my soldiors, contemning all externall accidents and fortunes haps; if you did promise vnto me courageous minds, I assured you of all good hap and prosperous successe: but that losse we receiued at BELGRADE (the remembrance whereof my mind feareth, and alwayes abhorreth to thinke vpon) hath much changed my former cogitations, and made me to deeme farre otherwise of worldly matters, and the vncertainetie of fortune. What if that day had been longer? or Sebalias of more courage? might not the state of EPIRVS haue that day been vtterly ouerthrowne? We were then rather by God preserued, than by any thing that was in our selues: what remained more, but that we should like cowards haue yeeld [...]d our selues to haue been bound of the conquerours? The night defended vs, yea euen God himselfe defended vs; who tooke from them both policie and force, and gaue vs time to breath and escape away. We were then but as a prey; expecting but the comming of the victor: Howbeit, he tooke nothing from vs, he carried little or nothing away with him, being too much carefull to keepe the honour he had alreadie gained, and peraduenture in feare of them of whom he was not without cause most feared. I speake not this of purpose to terrifie any of you, but rather to admonish you, and to consult with you, how such great preparations may be frustrated and ouerthrowne, and some notable victorie by vs atchieued, without the price of our blood, or the losse of such things as we haue. The number of our enemies is great, and so great, as vntill this day we neuer saw in EPIRVS greater, except at such times as they came to besiege our cities, and to deuour vs all. Now if we shall meet them in the plaine fields in a set battaile, the euent thereof will be doubtfull, many of vs must needs fall, many of vs must die (I would I might be a false prophet) before so great an armie will either flie or be ouercome, your victorie shall be mingled with teares; and the heauinesse of the conquerour not much vnlike the sorrow of the conquered. Was it but a few that we lost at BELGRADE? Is that losse so to be recou [...]red? What flower of Chiualrie, hardly to be in many yeares restored? How many worthie men were there slaine? EPIRVS must needs in short time be vnpeopled, if we shall so desperatly only seeke for such glorious victories. Wherefore if we will doe well, we must so fight to day, as that we may fight to morrow also. Neither are our enemies and we in like case: The losse of fortie or fiftie thousand is lesse vnto the Turkish tyrant, than the losse of an hundred of you is to me. We are in all but a few, and therefore carefully to be kept: which if we regard not for our owne sakes, yet let vs doe it for our wiues and childrens, whose welfare and libertie dependeth of our liues: I know the number of you, I know your faces and countenances, and almost euery one of your names, which maketh me also more carefull of your health. And yet I would not refuse to trie the whole fortune of this battaile in plaine field, if we might thereby end all the wars against the Turks for euer; if I were in hope so to find an end of our labours and trauels hereafter, I would gladly aduenture my life with yours, for the perpetuall quiet and peace of our posteritie: but a new enemie alwayes ariseth, and we must still looke for new wars. When this Isaack is gone, another Isaack will ere long come in his place: we shall be alwaies exercised with new wars, and enclosed with new dangers: It is the destinie of EPIRVS (as far as I can see) and wee our selues are borne thereto. Wherefore we must gather our wits together, we must well husband our forces, [Page] and so diuide our patrimonie, as that we may alwayes haue somthing to content our creditors, when they shall chance to come vpon vs. Yet shall God (no doubt) giue an end also vnto these troubles: for extremities cannot be of long continuance, and you your selues shall at length take rest: yea, the strong and puissant enemie, wearied with so many vaine attempts, will at last haue ynough thereof, and leaue off his perpetuall hatred against vs: then shall it be to you no small pleasure to remember so many labours and dangers past. Thus haue I declared vnto you the commodities and incommodities ensuing the victorie in plaine battell. But what if we be vanquished? Where haue we any hope of reliefe left? from whence may we expect helpe? Will the bloodie enemie, inflate with victorie, expect whilest we again recouer our strength and encounter him againe with new forces? No, he will pursue vs and chase vs, so long as any of vs are left: and hauing ouercome vs, will poure out the rest of his furie vpon our towns and country, then subiect to his iniurie. But some of you peraduenture will say, that they are by policie to be ouertaken, and not to be met in open field: of which opinion I also am my selfe, yet happily differ from you in the time of doing the same. Then I thinke it best to deceiue them, when they thinke they cannot be deceiued: when as they being as it were in possession of a supposed victorie, like men ouerioyed, shall cast no perill. Now they come euen from the gates of CONSTANTINOPLE, full of distrust, prying into euery corner, as men before warned by others harmes, and so many dreadfull examples of their fellows: Besides that, they haue with them my gracelesse nephew and domesticall foe Amesa, who will teach them to foresee and shun such snares as in times past he with vs was wont to lay for them. Wherfore we must now tower vp vnto the height of some notable and strange policie, whereby both our country may be from danger preserued, and also some great victorie, without our owne bloodshed (which seldome chanceth) obtained: which to the maintenance of our antient glorie and renowne, we haue to this day by many most notable victories gained: But time and space, and the sight of the enemie, shall furnish vs with this deuise. Now (that my discourse may come to the purposed end) first of all, all things subiect either to the furie or victorie of the enemie, are to be remoued out of the way; all people, of what age, sex, or condition soeuer, are to be brought out of the countrey into places of safetie; and then, our towns are to be furnished with strong garrisons and all other necessarie prouision, against all the chaunces of fortune. Besides, who knoweth the secret designes of the tyrant? or whether he himselfe (of long time desirous of reuenge, and thirsting after our blood) will follow the Bassa at the heeles, or no? Perhaps I may beleeue and feare more than is needfull: but it is good to feare all that may be feared, that we may indeed feare nothing. If all things shall thus be set in order, if there shall be nothing left in the fields or in the villages, that may enrich, feed, or feare our enemies, and which may withdraw our care and thoughts from our enemies, vndoubtedly we shall be victors. And if you will be ruled by me, and follow my direction in these wars, I will assuredly deliuer your enemies into your hands to be slain at your pleasure; and (by the leaue of God) will make the name and valour of the Epirots more terrible vnto the Turke, than euer it hath been in the time of our ancestors. I flatter not my selfe, I deceiue you not▪ if any thing may be promised in worldly actions, this I assure you of, and this will I take vpon mee. But th [...]se things are better done than said. In the meane while, to spend no more time in longer talke and discourse (than which, no greater losse can be to soldiors) let euery one of vs take a part in this charge, for the good disposing of all things, and how to withstand the enemie. I will not commaund any thing to others, which I will not my selfe doe: I will refuse nothing, or reckon any thing base, which may tend to the common honour or profit of vs all.

This speech of Scanderbeg was well liked and joyfully receiued of all the hearers, so that many besought him to manifest vnto them how he purposed to proceed in those wars: whereunto hee with cheerefull countenance answered, That it was ynough for him, if they did but beleeue him, promising himselfe in person to bee in the most dangerous actions as farre as any of them, wherwith they rested contented.The E [...]iro [...]s remo [...]e all their [...] [...]ut of the [...] into the [...] Turks. And presently dispatching his lieutenants into diuers parts of his kingdome, as he thought most conuenient, prouided, That all things were in short time conueyed out of the countrey into the strong townes and other places of refuge. No corne, no cattell, or other things of any worth was left in the countrey; but all left desolate, in like manner as was before at the comming of the great king Amurath to the siege of CROIA▪

By this time Isaack the great Bassa was come into EPIRVS, accompanied with Amesa: and as hee marched, still sent before him his scouts and espials, carefully to view euery corner of the countrey, for feare to bee entrapped as others before him had beene; directed in his journey for most part by Amesa. Scanderbeg had in readinesse such an armie as he had purposed to vse against [Page] A his mightie enemie, but lay with six thousand horsemen onely in shew, as if hee had determined with them to haue giuen them battaile, but meaning indeed nothing lesse. For as soone as the Bassa was come in sight, he with those horsemen, according as hee had before appointed, as if hee had beene discouraged with the very sight of the Turkes, turned his backe and fled. And because he would not giue them any occasion to suspect it to be done for some policie or finenesse, and so to make them more carefull, he fled not into the mountaines or woods, as his wonted manner was, but directly toward LYSSA, a towne of the Venetians standing vpon the sea coast, as if hee had quite despaired of the keeping of EPIRVS, and fled thither for refuge. The Bassa seeing him flie, was glad thereof, and sent certaine troupes of horsemen to pursue him, & diligently to marke which way he tooke: but encamped himselfe with his armie in the plaines of DI [...]RA, neer vnto ORONYCHIVM, where Scanderbeg lay before: & there rested his armie, wearie of long trauell, expecting the returne of his horsemen, sent after Scanderbeg. But vpon their returne, when it was for a certaintie reported by them, That Scanderbeg with an handfull of men was fled out of EPIRVS, and not an enemie to be seene, the Turkes began to rejoyce, and proudly to triumph; that they had without any losse driuen the enemie out of the countrey; yet much greeued, that they could no where find any thing to satisfie their greedie desires: for why, all things were so cleane gone, as if the countrey had beene swept against their comming, which might haue beene a sufficient cause for them to haue distrusted some great matter; but they flattering themselues; supposed all this to be done for feare of them, vpon extreame desperation: such is the fraile condition of men, to loose strength of bodie, common sence, yea, their reason and vnderstanding, when some great mischeefe is appointed for their ouerthrow or destruction. The Bassa seeing the enemie fled, and now no cause of feare, consulted with his cheefe captaines, what were now best to bee done? Amesa still persuading him not to remoue, but there to stay a time, and to expect the farther euent of matters. But the greater number, whose opinion preuailed, said it was better to goe farther into the countrey, and to take the spoile thereof, before the countrey people should conuay away all their substance into places of safetie, as they had done there in DIBRA, and leaue them nothing but the bare ground and emptie cottages. By this persuasion, the Bassa earely next morning in good order set forward: commaunding by generall proclamation, That no man vpon paine of death should breake his array or straggle from the armie. Yet before he set forward, he called Amesa vnto him; whom after he had highly commended, and with great vehemencie inuayed against Scanderbeg, Amesa is by the Bassa created king of Epirus. he with the great applause of the whole armie in the name of Mahomet created him king of EPIRVS. That day he marched not farre, by reason of the great heat: for it was then about the middest of Iuly. Yet when he had well wearied himselfe with that daies trauell, finding neither enemie nor any things els worthie to be accounted in any part of a victorie; he encamped at night, keeping dil [...]gent watch, and sending forth his scouts euery way, but especially towards LYSSA. The next day, which was the third day after the Bassaes comming into EPIRVS, hee set forward againe, and came at length into AEMATHIA, and there encamped that night.

When Scanderbeg (flying for feare, as the Turks supposed) was gone a great way out of their sight towards LYSSA, and come euen to the borders of his kingdome, he there staied all the rest of that day. And a little before the going downe of the sunne, he with a few select horsemen departed from the army, and with painfull trauell got vp to the top of the high mountaines, from whence a man might by day well discouer all the plaines of AEMATHIA. There he appointed one Peieus Emanuel, a politicke and valiant gentleman, with certaine horsemen to marke diligently which way the enemy held, and by certaine secret and appointed wastings and signes, to giue knowledge thereof to the army. After such order taken, he returned himselfe, and came againe to the campe after midnight. And presently rising with his army, and fetching a compasse about, came vndiscouered, and secretly encamped himselfe as neere as he could vnto the mountaines where his scouts lay, with eagles eies waiting for the least mouing of the enemy. The Bassa desirous to get as farre as hee could into the countrey, before the heat of the day, began early in the morning to set forward, and came to the plaines of PHARSALIA, through the world spoken of for the great battell in them long time before fought, between the two most famous chieftaines Caesar and Pompeius: and now once more to bee made famous, by the slaughter of the Turks. Here the enemie finding some stragling cattell▪ and other small things which the country people had in their hastie flight left behind them, fell to seeking after bootie, and as men without [Page] feare, spent that day in roaming vp and downe the countrey, in hope to find something: and at G night encamped without any great watch, but towards LYSSVM, from whence they (in great securitie) looked for the comming of Scanderbeg; and as it were in disgrace of him, carried Amesa in triumph vp and downe the campe, as if he had been alreadie possessed of the kingdome of EPIRVS. Scanderbeg lying on the other side of the mountaines, perceiued by his espials which way the enemy lay: and with great silence vnder the couert of the mountaines and woods, secretly bent his course the same way, vntill hee came to a mountaine called TVMENIST, at the foot whereof he encamped that night. The next morning the Bassa holding on his way, came and encamped not farre from the same mountaine, and there staied himselfe with halfe his army, and sent Amesa with the other halfe to burne and spoyle the countrey: who about noone returned to the campe with such prey as he had got, with his souldiours well wearied with trauell and the H heat of the day. Scanderbeg like a carefull housholder, who being about to entertaine and feast some honourable personages, trusteth not to his wife and seruants, but looketh vnto the bestowing of his prouision himselfe, carefully ordering and disposing and setting foorth all things, especially if his prouision (for want of abilitie) be short, to welcome so great guests▪ and setting all things foorth to the greatest shew, seeketh at least to fill the eies of his guests, although he doubt to satisfie their appetites: so he carefully viewing all the mountaines and thick woods therabouts without resting, set Moses in one place, Tanusius in another, and all the rest in places most conuenient. He appointeth euerie man what to doe, and instructeth them, and considereth of euerie particuler circumstance himselfe: and so diuideth his forces, as might best serue his purpose, and make the most terrible shew vnto the enemy: for which purpose he in euerie companie placed I mo trumpets, drums, and other instruments of war, than he had before at any time vsed. When he had so to his most aduantage bestowed so many of his captaines and souldiours as he thought good, and as the nature of the places would giue leaue, he with foure thousand horsemen and the like number of foot, speedily marching vp the rough mountaine of TVMENIST, from thence plainly beheld in what order the Turkes campe lay in the plaines below. The Turks, especially they which were lately returned with Amesa from the spoile of the countrey, lay scattered abroad in the fields, with their horses vnbridled and vnsadled, resting their wearie bodies: some got vnder the shadows of trees were victualing themselues;The Turks camp [...]. some hauing filled their bellies, lay fast on sleep vpon the greene grasse; the rest were passing the time, some with one kind of sport, some with an other, as souldiours doe in field when they haue little or nothing to doe: for it was then the hotest K time both of the yeare and of the day, being about the midst of Iuly, and the noontime of the day▪ The like negligence was also in that part of the campe where the Bassa himselfe lay: euerie man taking his ease and pleasure, with small regard of horse or armour; for being out of feare of Scanderbeg, whom they thought to haue been a great way off at LYSSVM, they lay as men without care wrapped vp in securitie, the common destruction of great armies and common wealths. Amesa with the great captaines, were at the same time altogither in the Bassaes pauilion, consulting what course they were best to take, to doe something to the contentment of Mahomet, and their owne commendation: Some said it were best, with fire and sword to destroy all they could in EPIRVS; and so hauing laied the countrey wast, to returne: Others thought it better to march directly to CROIA, to proue if the citizens could be persuaded to yeeld themselues,L and receiue Amesa for their king; otherwise to threaten them with a continuall siege, and vtter destruction of the countrey, if vpon the vaine expectation of helpe from Scanderbeg they should refuse to submit themselues. As for Scanderbeg himselfe, who then lay houering ouer their heads, he was in all that consultation least feared: who from the top of the mountaine, beholding the securitie and disorder of the Turks camp, and delighted with the sight therof; encouraged his soldiors, and martialed them in such order as they were to follow him, for the charging and terrifying of the enemy. But first of all he determined to oppresse the Turkes scouts, which lay at the foot of the mountaine for which purpose he himselfe with a few horsmen first secretly discended the mountain, the rest of his army following shortly after, and so suddenly came vpon the scouts that he slew them all, excepting one, who escaping by the swiftnesse of his horse, came running M into the campe as one halfe feared out of his wit, crying out that Scanderbeg was comming. The Turks suspecting nothing lesse than the comming of him that way, at the present instant hardly beleeued that he was so [...]: whē as he following him at the heels as fast as he could, with his horsmen and his footmen after them, was in a moment as if it had been a sudden tempest broken in [Page] amongst the vnarmed Turkes▪ Scanderbeg suddenly assaileth the Turkes. and there making great slaughter of them, filled all the campe with sudden tumult and feare. Amesa who at the first noise had speedily got him to his charge, with his souldiours some halfe armed, some on foot, hauing no leisure to bridle their horses, was the first that made head against Scanderbeg. The Bassa also did what he might in that sudden feare and shortnesse of time, to arme his men, and to put them in order: but whilest these things were in doing, the souldiours which lay in ambush in the woods, came downe the mountaine with such horrible shouts and noise of instruments of warre, as if heauen and earth should haue presently gone togither; the hils and vallies with their hollow ecchoes, encreasing the terror of the alarum. Insomuch, that the Turkes dismaied, and fearing that all the force of EPIRVS with the countries adjoyning had come vpon them, began to flie on euerie side, before that Moses and the rest that lay in ambush were come into the plaines. Amesa acquainted with his vnckles stratagems, as much as he could encouraged the Turkes; crying alowd and telling them, That such vaine tumults and terrours were not to be feared, being but the bare shifts and deuises of their enemies to couer their owne weaknesse: and by his owne valour staied many which before were about to haue fled. In this while, the Bassa hauing put his men in best order he could, was comming to the aid of Amesa, hardly charged by Scanderbeg: but in his setting forward, he was so valiantly encountred on the one side by Moses with his horsemen, and on the other by Tanusius and Ema [...]uel with their footmen, that he was enforced, not without great losse, againe to retire vnto his trenches.

All the hope of the battell depended vpon Amesa, who still with great courage withstood C his vnckle; exhorting his souldiours valiantly as men to endure that first assault, which should afterwards bring them most assured victorie: hartening them on with hope of speedie help from their fellowes, if they would but a while endure the furie of their enemies, whose hearts (as hee said) would presently be discouraged, if they preuailed not in that their first and desperat attempt, hauing nothing else to trust vnto. By which persuasion the Turkes were againe encouraged, accounting it a great dishonour to flie, and leaue their chieftaine in the field. But when they saw Scanderbeg still to preuaile vpon them, and that no helpe came as they hoped (for many were by Scanderbeg his horsemen slaine as they were arming themselues; many were by the way cut off as they were comming, and the rest put to flight) they which before fought valiantly with Amesa, turned their backs and fled also. Scanderbeg his horsemen pursuing the chase, made great slaughter of the Turkes, and in the same chase tooke Amesa prisoner. Scanderbeg, hauing ouerthrown that part of the Turkes battell, was comming with a thousand footmen and some horsemen, to haue ayded Moses against the Bassa: but before his comming, Moses to blot out his former infamie, had with inuincible courage put the great Bassa with all his army to flight: and Scanderbeg following the chase, gaue him not leaue to looke behind him, vntill he was got out of EPIRVS. Many were in this chase taken prisoners, and amongst the rest one Mesites a Sanzacke, a man of great account amongst the Turkes. In this battell beside the prisoners, were taken twentie of the Turkes fairest ensignes. As for horses, armour, and other spoiles taken in the field, and in the campe,A notable victorie of the Christians. all which fell vnto the souldiors share, it is almost incredible to be told. The number of the slaine Turkes is of diuers diuersly reported, they which write of the most, reckon vp thirtie thousand; and they which speake of the least, account twentie thousand. Of the Christians were lost but sixtie. Now if any account it strange, that so great a victorie should be gained with so little losse; not to speake of that is written in holy writ, let him but read the auncient histories of the Romans, or the chronicles of our owne country, and he shall in them find victories no lesse strange. There was to be seene the sudden and strange alteration of these worldly things, no more indeed (whatsoeuer we account of them) to be reckoned of, than of things we haue not. Scanderbeg possesseth the rich pauilion, erst belonging to the great Bassa; and other of his captaines enioy tents, with much other rich furniture neuer prepared for their vse. Amesa which the same day as a victorious conquerour ouerran a great part of AEMATHIA with his horsemen, and was in triumph carried vp with the generall acclamation of many thousands of valiant souldiors, and honoured as a king, and of them so called; is now led through the Christian army to his vnkle, with his hands bound behind him as a slaue, speechlesse and confounded, vnable to hold vp his head for shame: whose miserie moued most of the beholders to compassion, and forced teares out of the eies of many.

The next day after this great victorie, Scanderbeg caused the bodies of the slaine Turkes to [Page] be buried, togither with their horses; which he did not for any regard of them, but that their G loathsome carkases should not infect the countrey! and after that, returned in great triumph to CROIA. By the way as he went, the countrey people, which were before for feare of the Turks fled into the woods and mountaines in great multitudes, met him; as did others also out of the citties, whose mouthes were all full of his worthy praises. Before him went the captiue Turkes with their hands bound behind them, excepting such as were enforced to carrie the Turkes ensignes: Next vnto them followed the great Bassaes rich pauilion, in such manner supported by the souldiours, as if it had been in the field: Then came Scanderbeg himselfe with the Turkish Sanzacke, and Amesa following him; for Amesa had with great and humble sute obtained of his vnckle, that he might not as he well deserued, be carried bound amongst the other captiues: Last of all came Scanderbeg his victorious souldiours in goodly order, euerie man leading a spare H horse taken from the enemy, and loaded with spoyle. So when he was come to CROIA, and there of his subjects joyfully receiued, he brake vp his army, and gaue euerie man leaue at his pleasure to depart. The Sanzacke, and Amesa, were committed to safe keeping, vntill farther order was taken for them. Amesa afterwards was for his treason worthely condemned to perpetuall prison, and by an embassador from Scanderbeg sent vnto king Alphonsus to NAPLES, there to be kept in durance; and with him was also sent an honourable present of part of the spoile taken from the Turkes, in token of the victorie. What became afterward of this Amesa, concerneth not much the course of our historie; yet to satisfie the desirous, I think it not amisse with him to stray a little out of the way.

When Amesa had remained a yeare in prison at NAPLES, Scanderbeg vnderstanding of the death of Alphonsus, by his embassadour requested of Ferdinand his sonne, to haue Amesa restored to him againe. By which meanes he was brought backe againe into EPIRVS, and cast in prison at CROIA; but not in such straight manner as before: for Scanderbeg according to his accustomed clemencie, began now to forget the injurie to him before done; and at last ouercome with the continuall supplication and teares of his nephew, pardoned him his life; and restoring him to his former libertie, receiued him also into his former fauor. But Amesa remembring what pledges of his loyaltie hee had left with Mahomet at CONSTANTINOPLE, and fearing what would become of his wife and children, if he should hastely vse that his libertie, giuing his vnckle most humble thankes, brake vnto him his mind concerning that matter, as followeth: ‘The s [...]ee [...]h of Am [...]sa to Scanderbeg.Whereas you of your owne gracious goodnesse onely, without any desert of mine, haue regarded my life and welfare, it behooueth me also to be carefull for the life of others: least whilest I receiue your exceeding bountie with too much desire of mine owne health and honour, I doe at this present, by this same benefit of yours, cast away them, whom I haue long sithence by mine owne trecherie vndone. Mine vnfortunate and guiltlesse wife is with Mahomet, my little and innocent children are with him also: these yet liue, and shall liue, so long as the tyrant shall thinke, that I liue in heart his; but when he shall once perceiue by this your gracious dealing that I am fallen from him, the cruell creditor will foorthwith cut and rend in peeces the pledges of my faith, and their innocent blood shall pay the guilt of their fathers offence. Wherefore the Othoman tyrant is of me by some deuice to be deceiued, that I may in the meane time preserue those pledges, vntill I may by some fit occasion afterwards redeeme the same. I will by your leaue this night take my flight out of CROIA, as if I had broken prison, and escaped against your will, and so flie vnto Mahomet, making the greatest shew I can of my wonted loue and loyaltie towards him: not omitting to heare, or speake vnto that credulous king such things concerning your estate, as I was wont in my better fortune: that hauing so cleared my selfe of all suspition, which he perhaps hath conceiued by reason of my captiuitie and long stay with you, I may at length, with my wife and children, so escape from him: Wherein you may helpe me much, if you shall openly make shew as if you were greeued with my escape, and seeme to be highly offended with the keepers of the prison for the same. In the meane time, whilest I shall stay in the tyrants court expecting some fit time for my escape, I will stand you in stead of an intelligencer, so that your enemie shall not to my knowledge either attempt or goe about any thing against you, which shall be kept from your hearing or knowledge.’

Scanderbeg refused not to graunt whatsoeuer he had requested, but said vnto him: ‘[Page] Amesa, The answere of Scanderbeg to Amesa. sithence we haue graunted you life, with all the good things thereunto belonging, we will not prohibit you to vse that our gift to your most good, and to the preseruation of them who for euer may most justly call vpon you, as debtor vnto them, for their welfare and libertie. Go thy waies, proceed, take thy time and occasion as seemeth vnto thee best; and at length reforme thy selfe, whilest thou yet hast sufficient time and space. We now beleeue you in all things, and well like of this your deuise: Amesa you shall herein deceiue no man but your selfe, if you shall longer follow the faith & court of the barbarous king, whereas like danger is both of bodie and soule both to thee and thine. Whensoeuer thou shalt returne vnto vs, thou canst not doe vs a greater pleasure: and in what regard thou hast heretofore been with vs, in the same thou shalt be with vs againe.’

The same night Amesa by secret order from Scanderbeg, escaped both out of prison and out of CROIA: and in the morning it was all ouer the citie, that he was gone, and the keepers sharply rebuked for their negligence. He comming to CONSTANTINOPLE, easily persuaded Mahomet, that he was by chance escaped, with all things els that he told him: yet was he not for all that, so well graced of him as before; not for any distrust he had in the man, but for the euill successe hee had in the former warres. Now whether Amesa neglected his promised returne, or could find no oportunitie to performe the same, is vncertaine: but certaine it is, that shortly after he died at CONSTANTINOPLE,The death of Amesa. poysoned as was thought by the commaundement of Mahomet, who could no longer endure the sight of him, whom he reckoned the author of the notable ouerthrow receiued in AEMATHIA. This was the wofull end of this noble and valiant man, well worthie of remembrance, had not his haughtie thoughts soared too high with the desire of soueraignetie.

When Mahomet vnderstood in what manner Isaack Bassa was ouerthrowne, and his armie discomfited, hee was therewith much greeued, and justly blamed the Bassaes securitie: yet such was his credit with his soueraigne, that the matter was in better sort passed ouer than was supposed it would haue beene. Neuerthelesse, Mahomet in reuenge thereof would willingly haue imployed all his forces vpon Scanderbeg, if his more vrgent affaires would haue so permitted. For at the same time, besides that great warres began to arise betwixt him and the Venetians (which continued for many yeares after) hee was certainely enformed, That the Christian princes were making a strong confederation against him. At which time Mahomet disdaining openly to sue for peace at Scanderbegs hands, cunningly practised by such as were sent to redeeme the prisoners, and also by the Sanzacke himselfe, to persuade Scanderbeg to require peace of him; assuring him, that if he did but aske it, it would for a long time bee easily obtained. Which thing Scanderbeg well acquainted with the Turkish policie, vtterly refused to do. Wherefore Mahomet for defence of his countries bordering vpon EPIRVS, sent two of his most expert captaines, Sinam, and Hamur, with each of them foureteene thousand souldiors into MACEDONIA, expressely charging them not to enter at any time or vpon any occasion, into EPIRVS, or by any meanes to prouoke Scanderbeg: which his commaundement they so well obserued, that the Epirots by the spac [...] of almost two yeares enjoyed the fruits of peace, although there was no peace at all concluded. So that the remembrance of old injuries wearing out with time, at length by the mediation of the same captaines,A peace for a yeare concluded betwixt Mahomet and Scanderbeg. a peace for a yeare was agreed vpon betwixt Mahomet and Scanderbeg. In which time he passed ouer into APVLIA, and there notably aided king Ferdinand against the French, the proceeding wherein, as not pertinent to our historie, I of purpose passe ouer.

After that the time of the peace before concluded was expired, all things now going well with Mahomet, as he desired, he determined according to his wonted maner to trouble the quiet estate of Scanderbeg: and so sending a new supplie of souldiors vnto Synam-beg, who then lay with a strong garrison vpon the frontiers of EPIRVS, commaunded him with all his power to make warres vpon Scanderbeg. Synam accordingly, with an armie of twentie thousand men entred into EPIRVS, where he was forthwith encountered by Scanderbeg, and his armie vtterly ouerthrown, so that but few escaped by flight with Synam himselfe. Presently after he sent Asam-beg, another of his captaines, into the same seruice, with an armie of thirtie thousand, whom Scanderbeg also in plaine battaile vanquished at OCRIDA: in which battaile Asam himselfe was sore wounded, and finding no way to escape, was glad to yeeld himselfe prisoner to Scanderbeg, by whom hee was courteously vsed, and afterwards set at libertie. Iussum-beg following Asam with eighteene thousand into EPIRVS, was set vpon by Scanderbeg also, and hauing lost part of his armie, was [Page] glad by speedie flight to saue himselfe with the rest. After all this, Caraza-beg, an old captain and a man of great experience (who had beene a great commaunder, and a companion with Scanderbeg in the time of old Amurath) requested of Mahomet, That he might proue his fortune against his old acquaintance Scanderbeg, assuring him of better successe than before. The long and approued experience of this old leader put Mahomet in such hope of good speed, that he gaue presen [...] order for the leuying of such an armie as Caraza had requested, and for ten thousand mo than he had at the first required. With this strong armie, in number almost fortie thousand, Caraza set forward, hauing before filled the minds of men with the expectation of some great matter to haue beene by him done. Scanderbeg vnderstanding certainely, that Caraza was comming, stood more in doubt of the man than of his power: and therefore assembled greater forces than hee had vsually done before: and to welcome him, sent two thousand of his best and most expert souldiors secretly into the enemies country; who lying in ambush amongst the woods & mountaines, whereby Caraza must needs passe, suddenly set vpon foure thousand horsemen, the forerunners of Caraza his armie; who marching disorderedly, and fearing no such matter, were in a trice ouerthrowne, and most part of them slaine: those few that escaped, fled backe again to the armie, as if they had come in poast to bring tidings of some hastie newes to the Generall. With which so vnfortunat a beginning, Caraza was so discomfited, that if he might for shame, he could haue beene content to haue returned againe and gone no farther: yet for his honours sake holding on his way, he came into EPIRVS; where whilest hee was (after the manner of old men) long in resoluing what course to take, he was vpon the sudden assailed by Scanderbeg, before hee could well put his men in order of battaile. At which time there fell such a vehement shower of raine, that both the armies were glad to retire before any great hurt was done. Three dayes together it rained continually (for it was about the later end of Autumne) all which time Scanderbeg ceased not in one place or other to trouble the Turks campe: so that the old Generall, partly distempered with the extremitie of the weather, which for the violence therof he tooke to be ominous; and more discouraged with the restlesse attempts of Scanderbeg, rise with his armie, and reti [...]ing back, by the same way he came returned to CONSTANTINOPLE. Where he was well derided of Mahomet, that hauing promised so much, had performed so little: yet afterwards was again by him in some sort commended, for that he had with lesse losse looked vpon Scanderbeg, than other his Generals before sent against him.

Mahomet perceiuing that Scanderbeg was not to be subdued but with such forces as hee was not then at leisure to imploy vpon him, thought it not amisse to proue if hee could by faire speeches and glorious shewes of fained friendship get within him, and so bring him to confusion. For which purpose he sent vnto him an embassadour, with rich presents, and letters of this purport.

Sultan Mahomet, Lord and Emperour of the East and of the West, and of all parts of the World, vnto Scanderbeg, prince of ALBANIA and EPIRVS, sendeth greeting.

The letters of Scanderbeg to Mahomet.I thinke friend Scanderbeg, that no acquaintance can be greater, or friendship more firm, than that which hath growne of long and mutuall conuersing and liuing together: and especially if the same haue taken beginning from childhood and tender yeares, as you know it hath done betwixt vs two; who haue of long time, euen from our childhood, liued together in great loue and friendship, when as you first lay as hostage in my fathers court. Wherfore beloued Scanderbeg, when as I call to remembrance all those things, with others, wherewith our youthfull yeares were then delighted; and being mindfull also of all those things which you haue oftentimes done for the aduancement of our empire and kingdome, and for the glorie of the Othoman familie; I cannot chuse but imbrace thee with a singular zeale and affection. For I take God to witnes, that nothing could chance more welcome or pleasing vnto me in my life, than to haue thee with me, and for a while to enioy thy companie. Neither needest thou to fear any thing to come vnto me, for that my souldiors without my knowledge or commaundement haue of late broken in and spoiled thy kingdom: which thing as reason required, was vnto me exceedingly displeasing: neither did it any whit offend me, that they were by thy forces vanquished and ouercome, and so receiued the iust reward of their euill deserts, and that all things fell out with thee according to the equitie of thy cause, and as thy heart could haue desired. But to let these things passe, the remembrance of our old loue and friendship persuadeth me to come to agreement, & to joine together with thee in a perpetuall league [Page] of amitie: to the intent that our auntient acquaintance and familiaritie, which by reason of long absence is almost worne out, may againe take life, encrease, and be confirmed. Of which peace, let these bee the capitulations, if they shall seeme vnto you reasonable: for I know it belongeth vnto him that requireth not the peace, to appoint the conditions of the same. First, we require of you freely and peaceably to suffer our armies to passe through your kingdome, for the besieging of the cities and inuading of the countries subiect to the Venetians our enemies: Then, to deliuer vnto vs your sonne Iohn in hostage, whom we will always vse as one of our own naturall children: And afterwards, that our marchants and men of trade may peaceably come and trauell into all parts of your kingdome with their marchandize, and there freely and safely vse their negotiation: Last of all, that your selfe in parson may at your pleasure safely and without all feare repaire vnto vs, and in like manner returne againe. In which things if you will yeeld vnto vs, I promise in the faith of a king, to graunt vnto you and your kingdome sincere peace, with perpetuall tranquilitie; and that there shall not be any more deerer vnto me than your selfe; and will neuer to the vttermost of our power permit your kingdome to be infested or molested by any of our subiects, or others. Whatsoeuer you shall farther receiue from vs by the mouth of our embassadour Mustapha, you may thereto giue full credence. Fare you well from our imperiall pallace at CONSTANTINOPLE the 10 of May 1561.

Scanderbeg hauing receiued these letters, and well considered of the same, returned him answere by the same messenger as followeth:

The souldior of Christ Iesus, George Castriot, otherwise called Scanderbeg, prince of the Albaneses and Epirots, vnto Mahomet prince of the Turkes, greeting.

Your letters (most magnificent) are deliuered vnto vs:The answere of Scanderbeg to the former letters of Mahomet. wherein you write of your exceeding loue and singular affection towards vs, confirmed as you say by old acquaintance: which being growne vp betwixt vs, and by tract of time firmely rooted and as it were into nature conuerted, shall alwaies retaine his force and strength. But for as much as it seemeth vnto you good to awake the same, hauing of long time and many yeares lien as it were asleepe; and to make a motion that we should enter into a certaine new league and confederation, whereof amongst other conditions of the league by you propounded, this is one, That your forces may freely passe through my kingdome, to inuade the Venetians: Vnto this your request, worthie Mahomet, it standeth neither with equitie nor with mine honour to consent, for so much as the Venetians are my especiall good friends and confederats. As for that you desire to haue my sonne Iohn with you in hostage for the better assurance of the peace betwixt vs, I should peraduenture doe it (most noble Mahomet) if fatherly affection would giue me leaue: but sithence I haue no moe but him, and he as yet a tender child, it is not for the good either of him or vs, to haue him now taken from vs, when as he ought of vs to be most tenderly cherished, and carefully instructed. As for that you requested concerning your marchants, that they may freely and safely trafficke into my kingdome at their pleasure, I can be content to yeeld thereunto, and wish heartily, that there might be a free entercourse for our marchants indifferently with their commodities into both our kingdomes. Farther, where as you earnestly persuade me boldly and without feare to come vnto you, that by such enterview and personall presence, our great desire, growne of long absence, might be the better satisfied: in this thing most excellent prince, I cannot but praise your most honourable disposition, and commend your good nature▪ and would therefore boldly follow your persuasion, if my other vrgent affaires, with the gouernment of my kingdome, would so permit. But what should I doe? my sonne Iohn is (as I said before) but little, and as yet vnfit to gouerne: and my people (as you know) loue alwayes to haue something to doe; being by nature a fierce and restlesse nation, whom I my selfe haue much adoe to rule and gouerne: For all that, I will come vnto you according to your desire, expecting onely a more commodious time. So fare you well, and loue me still. From our campe the 30 of May, 1461.

When Mahomet had receiued these letters, and well perused the same, he writ to him againe in manner following:

Sultan Mahomet, The letters of Mahomet to Scanderbeg for the concluding of a perpetuall peace betwixt them. Emperour of all the parts of the World, vnto Scanderbeg, prince of the Albanenses and Epirots, greeting.

Your letters we haue receiued by our embassador Mustapha, wherin you giue vs to vnderstand, that [Page] you like of none of the conditions of peace by vs propounded, but onely that concerning our marchants G and men of trade, that they might freely and at their pleasure vse their traffique and trades with their marchandise too and fro: and vpon this condition onely you graunt vs peace. This your offer we accept of, and all the rest of your excuses we willingly admit: wherefore I promise vnto thee (my louing Scanderbeg) and will performe all that thou doest require, and vpon that resolution rest: and will so long as I liue obserue and keepe a sincere and inuiolable peace with thee for euer, except thou first giue cause of violating the same. And for that purpose haue we with our vsuall and imperiall seale signed these our letters, which we by our embassadour Mustapha haue sent vnto thee, as thereby confirming vnto thee this perpetuall peace. Wherefore you also (if you be so content) may subscribe, and with your seale confirme this of ours, that I in like manner may also haue your like consent and agreement. And would farther, that you would commaund knowledge thereof to be made by open proclamation through all your kingdome, as I will in like manner cause to be done through mine. And for the more manifestation of this my loue towards you, I would also that you should vnderstand, That of mine owne meere motion and bountie, I doe freely giue vnto you all those things, which you by force of armes haue taken from my father in ALBANIA and EPIRVS, so that you may possesse and enioy the same, as if they had alwaies been yours and your ancestors: Wherefore I giue, graunt, and confirme vnto thee and thy heires, all the right, title, or interest, which I heretofore had therein: and from henceforth will alwayes account and repute thee as prince of ALBANIA and EPIRVS, and so call thee. And as I haue promised thee in the faith of a king, will neuer hereafter with warres molest thee or thine, except thou thy selfe giue cause thereof. Wherefore after you haue with your seale confirmed these things, you may commend them to our faithfull embassadour Mustapha, to bee by him brought vnto vs: vnto whom I would you should in all things giue full credit. So fare you well, and render vs loue for loue. From our imperiall palace at CONSTANTINOPLE, the 22 of Iune, 1461.

A peace c [...]clud [...]d betwixt Ma [...]omet and Scan [...]erbeg.Vpon receit of these letters a peace was concluded betwixt Mahomet and Scanderbeg, and the same by publicke proclamations solemnely published through both their kingdomes, to the great rejoycing of many. Which peace was for a season faithfully kept on both sides, vntill that the Turkes lying in garrison vpon the frontiers of EPIRVS, began after their woonted manner againe to fetch preyes and booties out of the countrey. Of which injuries Scanderbeg by letters complained to Mahomet: who answered that he was altogether ignorant thereof, and seemed in shew to be much offended with the insolencie of the doers thereof: and foorthwith caused many things to be againe restored. By which meanes the peace before concluded, was still as before continued.

A little before the conclusion of the aforesaid peace, great warres began to arise betwixt the Turks and the Venetians: who all this while being in league with the Turk, peaceably followed their traffique and trades of marchandise, little or nothing at all regarding their neighbours harmes and miseries, vntill that now the flame and fire began to take hold vpon their owne houses, and as it were to awaken them out of a dead sleepe. For Mahomet after he had subuerted the empire of CONSTANTINOPLE, and driuen Thomas and Demetrius the emperours brethren out of PELOPONESVS (now called MOREA) rested not so contented, but by his lieutenants and other great captaines began to disturbe the quiet of the Venetians, who then held in their possession METHONE, CORONE, NEAPOLIS, ARGOS, with diuers other strong townes in PELOPONESVS, standing vpon the sea coast. And now it chanced, that about this time, Iosue, Mahomets lieutenant in PELOPONESVS, had by the treason of a Greeke priest, vpon the suddaine surprised the citie of ARGOS: And Omares another of his great captaines, hauing first spoyled the countrey about NAVPACTVM (now LEPANTO) entered farther into the territorie of the Venetians about METHONE and CORONE, making hauocke of whatsoeuer came in his way. With which injuries, plainely tending to open warre, the Venetian Senatours being much troubled, sat oftentimes in counsell, deliberating with much care what course to take in a matter of so great importance. Some being of opinion, that it were best to send embassadours to Mahomet, so to make proofe if the matter might by faire means be redressed: others on the contrarie part deeming it to be to no purpose so to doe; for as much as such great and manifest outrages, nothing differing from plaine hostilitie, could not possibly be done without the tyrants knowledge and expresse commaund. After the Senatours had oftentimes met together, and with many great reasons debated the matter too and fro, and yet for all that concluded nothing [Page] A(as in consultations of great matters with a multitude, it most commonly falleth out to be a harder matter, and to require longer time, to bring the multitude to some certaine resolution, than it is afterwards to performe the same in action.) In this so great a diuersitie of opinions concerning so weightie a cause, at length one Victor Capella, a noble gentleman and graue Senator stept vp in the middest of the Senate, and there franckely deliuered this notable speech vnto the rest concerning the matter propounded, as followeth: ‘I haue before this at other times by long experience often noted (most noble Senatours) that in all our greatest consultations of matters most concerning our common state,The notable speech of Victor Capella, to persuade the Venetians to take vp armes against Mahomet. some are alwayes so addicted or rather wedded vnto their owne conceits, that they can hardly with patience endure to heare the reasonable opinion of others contrarie to their owne; the cheefe cause of our slow resolutions. Wherefore I haue thought it good, breefely at this time to call vpon you for resolution: for as much as I see we must of necessitie take vp armes, be we neuer so loth or vnwilling: For to my vnderstanding, you doe but betray the state, in delaying the time to make present warre vpon the barbarous enemie. Yet many principall men amongst vs, aduise vs to beware, that wee doe not rashly or vnaduisedly determine of matters of so great consequence; and thinke it requisit, that we should send embassadours vnto the tyrant, to expostulate with him his vniust dealing in breaking his faith and league; and withall to request him to obserue the conditions of the peace before agreed vpon, if happily he may rather by persuasion than by armes be mooued to change his purpose: and if by this meanes nothing may be obtained, then at length they thinke it necessarie to resolue to make warre vpon him. They alledge further, That if we shall attempt warre, our citties in the continent bordering vpon the Ionian, in PELOPONESVS, with diuers others of ours in the firme land, will not bee able to hold out very long, but for want of necessaries must needs perish with the first of the trouble; besides that, if those places shall be wasted and spoiled, great losse (as they say) shall ensue thereby vnto most of vs in priuat: the greatest motiue (perhaps) wherefore they thinke it most conuenient to deferre the warres, and for that purpose to send our embassadours vnto him▪ Of which embassage, first by your leaue a few words. At such time as these our embassadours, men of great wisedome and reach, not long since came vnto him, he had them in no regard; but dalying off the time with fraudulent, deceitfull, and glosing speeches, did indeed such things to the contrarie as we least hoped: wherefore I cannot well deuise (if we should send them, or such others againe) what especiall thing of all that we then gaue them in tharge, they should now propound vnto him, hauing alreadie said what is to be said; except they should say, That whereas we are not of sufficient strength and power to wage warre against him, we would be glad to decide the matter by talke, and by that simple meanes to redresse our iniuries; and vpon the matter, to shew our selues prest and readie to fall to agreement with him, according as shall stand with his good pleasure and liking. Truly this were good plaine dealing, but it will not serue our turne: ARGOS is alreadie taken from vs, and he maketh open war vpon vs: wherein he doth but prooue our courage, and trie how long we will put vp these iniuries. If we will quietly disgest these, he will then confidently and without feare proceed further: but if we shall as best beseemeth vs, valiantly resist him, he shall be glad of such rest as wee shall giue him; and when hee knoweth not well which way to turne himselfe, shall be as glad as we to lay downe armes and to seeke for peace: whereas if we shall doe otherwise, I feare we shall repent our selues when it will be too late. It is reported, that as soone as he was come into PELOPONESVS, he went himselfe in person vnto EVBoeA, to view the cittie of CALCIS: and going a second time out of PELOPONESVS, sounded the depth of the passage, and came within the sight of the cittie, of purpose to haue assaulted it, if he had found oportunitie: at which time he himselfe rid ouer that strait of the sea betwixt BoeOTIA and EVBoeA with his horse, and curiously viewed in what place he might most conueniently passe ouer with his armie to besiege the cittie. Verely these are the most manifest signes of war, whereby any man may sufficiently prooue, that he hath long since resolued (so soone as he is readie) to make warre vpon vs, whilest we are yet dreaming in the middest of our long consultations. Hee will proceed in the warres he hath begun: and cutting vs short, augment his owne dominions. Then will hee blame his lieutenants and captaines, as authors thereof: but yet still be doing that best serueth his purpose. And whilest no man opposeth himselfe against him, his power dayly encreasing, he will doe the best he can suddainely to swallow vs vp, being vnprouided. For he may easily raise great forces, that by sufferance of others, maketh himselfe of great strength there where hee had before no footing▪ Shall we then say that we haue no warres with this encroching tyrant? Some I know feed themselues [Page] and others also, with vaine hopes, saying; That he will neuer turne his forces vpon vs, nor ruinate our G estate, although he might at ease doe it: wherefore (say they) let vs refraine from warres, and vse our peace and quietnesse, yet omitting nothing in the meane time that shall bee needfull for our safetie. But for as much as it plainely appeareth vnto all men by that which is before said, That he hath alreadie indeed proclaimed warre against vs, inuading our countries, surprising our citties, and killing our people: Whether thinke you it more expedient or profitable for vs, to sit still and suffer our dominions to bee taken from vs, or rather by open warre to make the barbarous king know the greatnesse of our power and strength? For if we shall enter into open warrre, wee being in armes sufficiently prouided for all euents, and with carefull eye attending all his attempts, shall easily auoid both himselfe and all his deuises: who if hee bee suffered to run still on forward with his prosperous successe, people will dayly more and more fall vnto him, in hope to liue the better, as his friends. For which H cause, I thinke it better to preferre an honourable warre before a doubtfull peace. As for delay, it hath hurt may great States, and our selues most of all: whereby wee haue in sort betrayed the empire of GRECIA, with the wofull emperour himselfe, when as this tyrant battered the wals of CONSTANTINOPLE: for our traffique was much holpen by the Grecians, whom we then left to themselues. After that, we despised and reiected the pittifull complaints of the princes of PELOPONESVS, who with teares craued our aid: and now wee see that famous countrey lost, and fallen into his hands, through our sloth and negligence. Of late, when as the king of BOSNA humbly requested our aid, and promised fully to requite our courtesie, and whatsoeuer els we should doe in his behalfe; we suffered his kingdome to be lost, and himselfe to be cruelly murdered of the Turkes. For all these things by vs thus neglected, we cannot escape the infamous report of all the rest of the nations in EVROPE, but that they will say, That we for the greedie desire of trade and filthie gaine, haue forsaken, and for our parts betrayed whole kingdomes and nations, agreeing with vs both in manner and religion; and to haue stood still, looking on, vntill they were subdued and brought in thraldome by the Turkes. Wherefore in few words to shut vp the matter, if we shall joyne in league with the Hungarians, and enter into armes, we shall so be able to keepe our owne: whereas if we shall vse delayes, and hunt after peace, we shall in short time see; that he will suddainely deuour vs, being vnprouided, and wrest from vs all our prouinces and territories which border vpon him. And therefore it is (in my opinion) best to send our embassadours into HVNGARIE with a great masse of money to stir vp that warlike nation into the fellowship of this warre. And beside the nauie we now haue in readinesse, to put to sea as many moe ships and gallies as we are able. The great Bishop also is not to be forgotten, but by all meanes to be drawne as a cheefe man into this warre. Besides all this, we must doe what wee can to raise vp rebellion against the Turke in PELOPONESVS: which will be no hard matter to bring to passe. For if the Peloponesians rise in armes with one of their poore princes which reuolted from the Turkish king, and forsaking all that they had, aduentured themselues into all manner of perill and danger: what thinke you they will doe, if they shall see so great forces comming both by sea and land against the Turkish king? It were good also, that we should send two thousand Italian horsemen into PELOPONESVS, to animate the people: who when they shall see vs thus to proceed, will vndoubtedly presently reuolt from the Turks, and yeeld themselues with their countrey vnto vs, from whence we may most commodiously vex and molest this tyrant: For there is no where better entrance into his kingdome, than by the way of PELOPONESVS. So that joyning in league with the Hungarians, we L shall be set him on euery side: they all along the riuer of DANVEIVS, and we out of PELOPONISVS. Let vs not therfore sit still with our hands in our bosomes, suffring our countries to be taken from vs, & our subiects made bondslaues to the Turks: but encouraging them by our example, animate them to take vp armes, and valiantly to resist the cruell and barbarous tyrant.’

The Venetians take vp armes against the Turk.The greater part of the Senat mooued with this graue Senatours speech, decreed without delay to make warres, and to send their embassadours to the Pope, the king of HVNGARIE, and other the Christian princes their neighbours, to pray aid of them in these warres against the Turkes. According to this decree, the Venetians for defence of their territorie sent one Bertholdus Este, a valiant captaine, with an armie into PELOPONESVS: where at his first comming,M he in short time recouered the cittie of ARGOS before lost. And departing thence, ma [...] ched through the country with his armie of fifteene thousand men vnto the strait of CORINTH, called ISTHMVS. At which place Alouisius Lauretanus, Admirall for the Venetians (by appointment before made) met him: and there joyning their forces together, with great labour [Page] A in the space of fifteene dayes fortified all that strait from the Ionian vnto the sea Aegeum, with a continuall rampier and double ditch, in length about fiue miles. In which worke they vsed the helpe of thirtie thousand men: and in doing thereof, were much furthered by the ruines of the old wall before destroyed by Amurath. The Venetian commaunders hauing fortified this strait, encamped before CORINTH, and laied strait siege vnto it: where, at the second assault, Bertholdus the Generall desirous by his owne forwardnesse to encourage his souldiours, was in that assault greeuously wounded with a stone, cast downe vpon him from the wall, of which hurt he shortly after died. Neuerthelesse, the siege was still contiued by Betinus Calcinatius, who succeeded in Bertholdus his place. But whilest the Venetians lay thus at the siege of CORINTH, suddainely newes was brought vnto the campe, that Mahomet was comming with a great armie himselfe in person to raise the siege, and to destroy the new fortifications at ISTHMVS. Whereupon the Venetians left the siege, with purpose to haue defended the late fortified strait. But after that it was certainely knowne, that Mahomet was euen now at hand with an armie of fourescore thousand Turks, Betinus distrusting with his small number to be able to defend the strait against so puissant an armie, left the place so lately before fortified, and with all his armie retired to NEAPOLIS to keepe the sea coast.

Shortly after, Mahomet without any resistance at all entered with a world of men by the strait into PELOPONESVS: and when he had with the great slaughter of the countrey people roamed vp and downe about ARGOS, he came to NEAPOLIS, and in most terrible manner assaulted the cittie twice: both which times hee was notably repulsed by the Venetians, and many of his men slaine. Departing thence, he destroyed and wasted the countrey about METHONE (now MODON) and CORONE; and assaulted the cittie of IVNCVM, but with no better successe than he had before NEAPOLIS. Wherefore Winter now drawing on, hee returned with his armie to CONSTANTINOPLE.

After his departure, the Venetians spoiled all that part of ARCHADIA which was subject to the Turkes, requiting him with like injuries as he had done them before. Not long after, Lauretanus the Venetian Admirall had the Island of LEMNOS deliuered vnto him by one Cominius, a famous pyrat, who had surprised the same, and taken it from the Turkes: but distrusting how he should be able to keepe the same, deliuered it ouer vnto the Venetians. Shortly after, Vrsatus Iustinianus, a great magnifico amongst the Venetians, was sent to succeed Lauretanus their Admirall: But whilest he was scouring the Aegeum with a fleet of two and thirtie great gallies, Andreas Dandulus, Generall of their forces at land, inconsiderately encountering with the Turkes horsemen betweene MANTINEA and PITHEME, was by them ouerthrowne and slain, and with him diuerse other gentlemen of great account. In which skirmish fifteene hundred of the Venetians were slaine also with their Generall. And as fortune is neuer more constant than in mischeefe, so at the same time Vrsatus, Generall at sea, landing his men in the Island of LESBOS, besieged the citie of MITYLENE, and gaue thereunto two great assaults, wherein he lost fiue thousand men. And vnderstanding that the Turkes fleet was comming to releeue the cittie, raised his siege, and sailed into EVBoeA, and from thence passed ouer into PELOPONESVS: where hee shortly after died for sorrow and greefe of mind. In whose place the Venetians sent another famous captaine called Iacobus Lauretanus.

The Venetians well considering the great power of the Turkish emperour,The Venetians enter into confederation with other Christian princes against the Turke. laboured by their embassadours, to draw as many of the Christian princes as they could into the fellowship of this warre; but especially the great Bishop, by whose meanes they were in good hope to bee greatly strengthened. Pius the second of that name was then the great Bishop, who at first answered the Venetian embassadours▪ That he must take away the little Turke, before hee had any thing to doe with the great: meaning thereby, Sigismundus Maletesta, prince of ARIMINVM; whom he deadly hated, for that he tooke part with the French against the Aragonians. Howbeit (the warres in ITALIE being well appeased) Pius still sollicited by the Venetians, made great preparation against the Turkes, giuing it out, That hee would in person himselfe goe vnto those warres: and by his authoritie, then much regarded, procured great aid out of GERMANIE, FRAVNCE, SPAINE, and other countries also farther off: at which time also voluntarie men in great numbers resorted out of all parts of Christendome into ITALIE, readie to aduenture their liues in those religious warres. At the same time also the Venetians had with much adoe by the working of Paulus Angelus, Archbishop of DIRRACHIVM, persuaded Scanderbeg [Page] to renounce the league which he had before made with the Turke, and to enter into arms G againe: which he presently did, and vpon the sudden spoyled the borders of the Turks dominions next vnto him. Wherwith Mahomet was no lesse troubled, than with all the rest of the great preparation of the Christians against him: fearing that (as it was then reported) he should be made generall of the Christian armie, which Mahomet feared might tend to the vtter ruine of his kingdome: so dreadfull was the name of Scanderbeg amongst the Turkes. Wherefore thinking it most expedient for his affaires, to reconcile him if it were possible, by his embassadour sent for that purpose, writ vnto him as followeth:

Sultan Mahomet, Emperour of the East and of the West, vnto Scanderbeg, prince of the Albanenses and of the Epirots, greeting.H

The letters of Mahomet to Scanderbeg.I haue alwayes had thy fidelitie and vpright dealing in great admiration, most noble prince Scanderbeg: for which cause, I thought it a thing incredible, that thou being a prince of such an heroicall and princely perfection, should so inconsideratly and without any occasion breake the faith and league which thou not long since solemnely contracted with me. For as I am aduertised, thou hast entred into the confines of our dominions with a great armie, and with fire and sword destroying all that thou couldest, hast caried away with thee a great bootie. Of which thing I know right well, that the Venetians are the onely cause, by whose counsell and persuasion thou hast been set on to doe this deed; and seduced by their allurements and subtill persuasions, hast made war vpon me, and art become the faithlesse breaker of thine owne league, and of the sacred law of nations. Yet doe I little or nothing blame thee therefore,I regarding more the cause of the ignominie, than the despight it selfe, and lay the blame vpon them who haue alwayes been my foes and capitall enemies, rather than vpon thee. But alas, what is this vnto me (Scanderbeg) that thou hast done, which possesse so many and so large dominions? Diddest thou thinke to doe so great hurt vnto our kingdome, by spoiling a little peece of our countrey, and by stealing our cattell, more like a theese and robber than an open enemie? Which thing I yet account not woorth the name of an iniurie. But if thou thinke it so good, proceed in these thy doings: for I make more account of thy friendship and loue, than of whatsoeuer is to me dearest: because as thou knowest I ha [...]e alwaies borne vnto thee an especiall fauour, and loued thee most entirely. And therefore as oft as I call to remembrance our tender yeares and old familiaritie whilest we liued together in my fathers court at HADRIANOPLE, I cannot but thinke my selfe bound vnto thee in all courtesie. And therfore my good K Scanderbeg, I most heartily request and entreat thee, That we renuing the former conclusions of peace, may of new confirme the same by solemne oath: wherewith if the former peace had beene established, thou wouldest not haue suffered thy selfe to haue been now of the Venetians so circumuented or seduced. It is therefore needfull, that we now againe for euer confirme a league and peace betwixt vs by solemne and sacred oath on both sides: which if thou shalt doe (as I hope thou wilt) and in this be aduised by me, thou with thy posteritie shall vndoubtedly alwayes raigne in peace, and in safetie possesse whatsoeuer is yours. Whereas if thou shalt do otherwise (beleue me) it will repent thee, and that right quickly. Thou knowest alreadie my force, which whether thou be able to withstand or not, thou were best to bee well aduised. The poore princes thy neighbors, the Venetians thy seducers, cannot deliuer thee from my forces and power. Doest thou not see the Grecians almost all rooted out before thy face? the emperours of L CONSTANTINOPLE and TRAPEZOND by vs depriued of their empires? the princes of SERVIA and RASCIA destroyed? the king of BOSNA put to death? and all the kingdomes of ASIA, with many other kings and princes moe vanquished and ouerthrowne, and made subiect vnto mee? Wherefore Scanderbeg, I aduise thee in this to follow my counsell, keepe thy promise, and so beleeue me thou shalt not be deceiued. Concerning these matters, we haue giuen further commaundement to our embassador and seruant Mustapha, which commeth vnto thee: vnto whom doubt thou not to giue credence in any thing. Farewell from our imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE the 7 of May 1463.

Scanderbeg hauing by the afore said messenger receiued these letters, and well considered of the same, returned answere as followeth: M

The champion of Christ Iesus, George Castriot, otherwise called Scanderbeg, prince of the Albaneses and Epirots, to the most excellent Mahomet king of the Turks, greeting.

Scanderbeg his answere to the letters of Mahomet.You maruell (most noble Mahomet) that my souldiors (as you say) contrarie to our league and the [Page] conditions of our peace, haue entered into your confines, and from thence caried a great bootie. Of which thing (you say) the Venetians are the authors, whom you call your mortall enemies: inferring afterward, that you are little therewith offended, for that you are a most mightie prince, and can easily disgest such vnkindnesse, for the great loue you beare vnto me: and the rather, for that I did it deceiued (as it pleaseth you to say) by others. All these things you can easily forgiue and forget: so that I will by solemne oath confirme the same conditions of peace that were in our former league betwixt vs agreed vpon. And thereunto you do greatly vrge me, you admonish and counsell me to follow your aduise, as tending to the great profit and securitie of me and my posteritie, least happily whilest I seeke to please the Venetians, I incur your heauie displeasure. Besides this, the more to terrifie me, you reckon vp as it were in a catalogue, the people, nations, kings, and princes, by you ouercome and subdued. But what is that which is so strange (I pray you) and which you so much maruell at (most noble Mahomet?) Is it not for that my souldiors did that in the confines of your dominions, whereof they were (of right) sorr [...]e; and had therof to me complained, that your souldiors had before done the like in their goods and possessions. Wherefore if they also vpon a militarie brauerie (as is your manner of phrase) haue made themselues whole, and done one shrewd turne for another, reuenging iniurie receiued, and not inferring any of new: there is no cause that you should either thinke it strange or blame me. I would my selfe haue restrained my souldiors, although they were greeuously iniuried (I will plainely confesse vnto you a [...]roth) I would haue appeased their angrie minds, enflamed with desire of reuenge; if you (a prince of all others most rich and bountifull) would either haue taken order, that full restitution might haue beene made vnto them of all such things as they had lost, or els would with condig [...]e punishment haue chastised the insolencie of your souldiors: which you would seeme to couer with the tearme of militarie wantonnesse or brauerie; an excuse scarce currant amongst children. For although offences are in all places greeuous, yet ought they most of all so to be deemed in martiall affairs. What I pray you, would you haue me to take it for a lasciuiousnes in your men of war? especially when I had receiued so great losse, when as you might with a word first haue restrained them from doing of it, and at your pleasure corrected them after the deed was done. Wherfore (most excellent Mahomet) take you also in good part these our tearms, which you haue accustomed hitherto most gloriously to giue and sell vnto vs, whilest you alwaies couer your reach with some excuse or shew of right. As for that in excusing me vnder colour of old acquaintance and friendship you inuey against the Venetians, verely you do them wrong: for why those good, iust, and vertuous princes are not to be slandered by you, as seducers of me or others. Beside, what need that inuincible state to enter into counsell with me, or (as it pleaseth you to say) to allure me to fall at ods with you, or to prosecute you as their enemie? Who of themselues, yea (I say) of themselues alone, when occasion shall require, are able to dare you in plaine battell, and to abate your pride. Further, whereas you aduise me to reiect their friendship, your labour is therein but lost: for what man is so desperat, or hated of his subiects, that would not chuse rather to erre with that most honorable Senat, than to be in the right with you? especially I, who haue of long time been confederat with them, and am of all others vnto them most deere: which you for all that had no regard of, but (according to your vntrustie dealing) breaking in sunder the bonds of peace, spoiled and wasted their territorie in PHLOPONESVS. Neither can your great threats terrifie me, which you after the Turkish manner thunder & poure out against me, except I will be ouerruled by you: for it is the part of an Albanese both to endure when need shall require, and also to do such things as beseeme a man of courage. You cannot make me afraid, being but a small prince, with my honorable friends the Venetians. And what are you? so great an emperor of the East and of the West, and of all parts of the World, as you vainely tearme your selfe? Truly you make me smile, and other Christian princes laugh you to scorne, in vsurping falsely to your selfe the stately stile of the emperor of the World. What possesse you in ASIA the greater? verely nothing. Is all yours in ASIA the lesser? not so. What haue you in EVROPE? except THRACIA, MYSIA, part of GRECIA, and PELOPONESVS, with the Isle of MYTILENE. As for AFRICKE, you neuer set your foot therein. Is this to be emperour of all the world? But suppose, suppose (I say) woorthie Mahomet, that all from the farthest part of the Ocean were yours, you ought not therefore so to swell, as to contemne all others. Cease to boast, and learn now (if you can) the speciall but true examples of humane fragilitie. Where are now the Assyrians, which sometime swayed the world? Where be the Medes? where the Persians? and to be short, where are the Romanes, the great commaunders of all? Verely, Tamerlane the Scythian king (called the terror of the world) was far greater than you: who in triumph drew before his chariot thy great grandfather Baiazet in chains: who had before gained so many victories, whom neuerthelesse he ouerthrew in the plains of ARMENIA, with three hundred thousand Turks, hauing in his armie (as is reported) twelue hundred [Page] thousand men, greater than Xerxes or Darius, whose armies couered the seas, and dried vp the riuers before them as they went, yet for all this (noble Mahomet) they are all cast out by him that casteth out all nations, the finger of the highest hath brought them all to nought. Wherfore learn to know your selfe to be a man also. Trust not too much to the multitude of your souldiors, and strength of your armies: for oftentimes great and puissant armies haue been ouerthrowne with far lesse, as all histories beare witnesse: whereof it is commonly said, Thou shalt not praise the valor of the Generall, before he be brought to the triumph. And do you not thinke Mahomet, that God will fauour the better cause? you know, you well know, that all your kingdome is violently gotten, that it is wrongfully and vniustly possessed: for which cause I am not afraid not only to withstand you when you shall come, being so great a prince; but also val [...]antly and couragiously to dare you into the field, and by the power of God both to hope for & haue a notable victorie ouer you. We haue souldiors also, which know how to vse their weapons, to march before their enemies, and how to beare themselues in the heat of the battell. Wherefore, to that you s [...]y vnto me for the new confirming of the former league, you labour now but in vaine to circumuent mee. with such faire gloses, I haue your faith in such distrust, and your friendship in detestation: for as much as you cunningly and subtilly, after the manner of your ancestors, whatsoeuer you do, or whatsoeuer you promise vnto me, it tendeth all to no other end than to thrust me out of my kingdome. Yet thus long I haue by Gods helpe well escaped all your policies, all your crafts and deceits. But I hope there will in short time be an end of all these matters, when all your sleights and deuises shal not ease you, neither your working head or Turkish pride any thing profit you. It is not I alone that so much stomacke you, there commeth after me a great number of Christian princes: Behold, the whole chiualrie and glorie of the Christian commonweale is in armes, and comming against thee with all their force: all the kings and princes of Christendome haue combined themselues together, with the great Bishop, against thy state, and will in short time be present to destroy thee & thy kingdome. Wherfore (worthie Mahomet) I haue thought it good in regard of our old friendship (although the same hath by you been greatly empaired and violated) to [...]orewarne you of all these things, that you might gather your wits together, and in time prouide for the safetie of your selfe and of your kingdome. You see the force and power of so many great princes, from which whether you can escape or no, I know not: yet you may, if you will follow my aduise, you may [...] say make both your name and empire of great, greater, of famous most renouned, of fortunate most happie and blessed; if casting off from you the grosse errours of the Mahometane superstition, you will embrace the [...]aith and truth of Christ Iesus, and at length haue regard of your soules health. And you which excell all your predecessours in highnesse of spirit and pregnancie of wit, suffer not your selfe and your subiects as it were by inheritance to be longer blinded in your wilfull errours: but doe that (as a wise prince) of your owne accord, which otherwise you will shortly of necessitie be constrained to doe. To say, Had I wist, hath euer been accounted a great disgrace from the mouth of an emperor. At length amend and measure your selfe. Behold, Almightie God doth offer you means, whereby you may quiet the whole slate of your kingdome, and all our kings and princes loue, honour, and reuerence you. Neither let the ambitious desire of soueraignetie or immoderate care of those things you possesse, trouble you from so doing: For whatsoeuer you haue vniustly and vnlawfully vsurped, the Christian princes will grant, confirme, and establish vnto thee, as if they had been your owne by antient inheritance. So shall you be a true monarch indeed, and rule and raigne lawfully, if you shall embrace this faith, and worship God aright: which so soone as you shall feele the sweetnesse of, you will be sorrie that you knew it no sooner, you will greeue at the time you haue lost, and vtterly detest and abhorre all that filthie superstition which the most filthie false Prophet Mahomet hath left amongst you. From our campe the 26 of May 1463.

With these letters Scanderbeg dismissed the Turks embassadour. About which time he receiued letters from the great bishop, That he accompanied with the Christian princes, would without delay come ouer into EPIRVS with a strong army of valiant Christians, to joine their forces with his against the common enemie of the Christian religion: exhorting him in all their names to denounce war against the Turkish king. Which thing Scanderbeg most joyfully vndertooke: and without delay with all his power brake into the Turkes dominion, burning and destroying the country before him as he went: from whence he returned laded with the spoile there gotten.

When Mahomet had perused Scanderbeg his letters, and certainely vnderstood of the great preparation made against him in ITALIE, as also of the great spoile of late made by Scanderbeg, hee became exceeding melancholie, as a man much troubled in mind, which dayly more and [Page] more encreased: for that hee saw not the wonted cheerefulnesse in his men of war, but all full of heauinesse and dispaire, as if they had beene men alreadie vanquished. Neuerthelesse, he speedily took order for the leuying of a great armie; fortifying his cities and strong holds, leauing nothing vndone that was possible, for the assurance of his state. And to represse the furie of Scanderbeg ▪ sent Seremet Bassa with fourteene thousand souldiours to lie vpon the borders of EPIRVS, with charge onely to attend vpon him. Who mindfull of his charge came into MACEDONIA▪ vnto the citie OCRIDA, now called ALCURIA, in the verie confines of MACEDONIA towards EPIRVS, and there lay with his armie; some part thereof lodged in the citie, and the [...]est in places more conuenient neere about the same.

The comming of the Bassa, as also the manner of his lying, was not vnknowne to Scanderbeg, who desired nothing more than to bee doing with him. Wherfore he secretly in the [...]ight marched towards OCRIDA with twelue thousand souldiours, and being come within three miles of the towne, lay close in ambush, and vpon the breaking of the day sent out 500 horsemen towards the enemie, vnder the conduct of Peicus Emanuel, and Petrus Angelus, two valiant and expert captaines, to draw him if they could into the field. But Scanderbeg had before commanded them, that if the enemie did come foorth to fight, they should make but small resistance, but retire backe as if they had fled, and so to traine him on to the place where the armie lay. Which was so well performed by the two skilfull captaines, that the Bassa with all his power was according as they could haue wished, drawne into the field, and brought to the verie place where Scanderbeg lay: Who suddenly rising vp with all his armie, assailed the Turkes on euerie side, and slew them as deere enclosed in a toile.Ten thousand Turkes slai [...]. In this battell ten thousand of the Turkes were slaine, the treasurer of the armie with twelue other of great marke were taken prisoners, and brought bound to Scanderbeg, who were presently ransomed for 40 thousand duckats.

Scanderbeg hauing obtained the victorie, returned with triumph into EPIRVS, daily expecting the comming of the great armie out of ITALY: but fatall destinie, the mightie controuler of mens highest designes, had not so appointed. For when Pius the great bishop had out of all parts of Christendome assembled a great armie (wherof the greatest part were voluntarie soldiors) and all things were now in such readinesse, that he had put himselfe vpon the way, and was come to ANCONA, a citie vpon the sea side (where Christophorus Maurus duke of VENICE came vnto him, with ten gallies well appointed, to haue accompanied him in those warres: and all men were now in expectation of some great matter to haue beene done) suddenly he fell sick of a feuer, and died in the yeare 1464. Whereupon the armie was forthwith dispersed, and all that great preparation frustrated, to the exceeding griefe of many Christian princes; and no lesse joy of the Turks▪ who now rejoiced to see themselues deliuered of so great a feare.

About this same time, Victor Capella chiefe persuader of this warre betwixt the Venetians and the Turkes, was by the Senat sent Generall of their forces at sea, in stead of Lauretanus, whose yeare was then expired. He hauing receiued the charge from Lauretanus, and sayling out of EVBoeA, in short time tooke from the enemie the citie of AVLIS in PELOPONESVS ouer against CHALCIS, and also the cittie of LARSVM in the gulfe of THESSALONICA, with the isle of HIMBER. Afterwards landing his men by night at PYRaeVS, he suddenly surprised the cittie of ATHENS (now called SET [...]INae) sometime the mother of learning, and most noble cittie of GRaeCIA; and from thence caried away with him into EVBoeA all the people he there found, as his prisoners,The Venetian [...] attempting to win Patras, receiue great losse. togither with the rich spoile of that citie. Whilest he lay in EVBoeA, he was persuaded that the citie of PATRAS in PELOPONESVS would be deliuered vnto him by the Christians that dwelt therein, if hee did but shew himselfe before it. Whereupon he departed from EVBoeA, and comming into the gulfe of PATRAS, landed 4000 footmen vnder the leading of Barbaricus, and 200 horsemen, of whom one Nicholaus Ragius was captaine. Barbaricus marching toward PATRAS, was come within a mile of the cittie; when manie of the horsemen, and of the vnruly mariners, disorderly scattering abroad, neglected the intended seruice, and sought after pillage all about the countrey. The Turkes garrisons taking this opportunitie, set vpon them with their horsemen, and so easily ouerthrew them, being scattered and out of order. At the first encounter, Barbaricus himselfe was slaine: Ragius captaine of the horsemen was taken, & aliue empailed vpon a sharpe stake. Of all them that were landed, scarce a thousand were left, who saued their liues by flying vnto the gallies. With this ouerthrow Victor the Venetian Admirall was greatly discomfited; yet hauing conceiued some hope of better successe, in few [Page] daies after attempted againe to haue taken PATRAS, but with like hap as before. For hauing lost a thousand of his men about the citie, and the rest glad to take their refuge to the fleet, he was constrained with great dishonour to depart thence. And so full of sorrow and heauinesse returning into EVBoeA oppressed with melancholy, there suddenly died.

The Venetians deceiued of the great hope they had conceiued of the generall preparation made against the Turkes, and much troubled with the hard proceeding of their warres against so mightie an enemie▪ by their embassadours solicited Mathias, not long before chosen king of HVNGARIE, to joyne in league with them, and to take vp armes against the common enemie: offering presently to furnish him with a great summe of money, beside a large yearely pention for the maintenance of those warres: for which he should to his power by land defend all their territorie betwixt the Rhetian Alpes, and the Adriatique, against the inuasion of the Turke.

This Mathias surnamed Coruinus, was the yonger sonne of the most famous captaine Io. Haniades ▪ whose elder brother Vladislaus, a gentleman of such courage as might well sh [...]w whos [...] sonne he was, being not able to disgest the injuries and disgraces done vnto him and his brother, by Vlricus countie of CILIA, and vnckle vnto Ladislaus the yong king of BOHEMIA and HVNGARIE; for the despite he alwaies bare vnto their father Huniades, slew the same Vlricus at ALBA REGALIS, euen in the kings court. Which outrage the yong king was glad for the present to winke at, and also to grant him pardon; as hauing taken away the man, whose immoderat power well stood not with the kings safetie: but in deed fearing the citizens of ALBA & the men of war, who exceedingly fauoured the sonnes of Huniades for their fathers sake. For all that,Ladislaus returning into BOHEMA, caused both the sons of Huniades vpon the sudden to be apprehended; and most cruelly executed Vladislaus, being then about six and twentie yeares old. Mathias the yonger brother was kept in prison, expecting nothing else but to be partaker of his brothers hard fortune: as vndoubtedly he had, had not Ladislaus the yong king vpon the sudden, as hee was vpon the top of his marriage with Magdalaine the French kings daughter, by vntimely death beene taken away. After whose death, the Hungarians for the loue they bare vnto the remembrance of Huniades, by a militarie election, chose this Mathias his youngest sonne, the [...] in prison at PRAGE, [...] of a [...] [...]hos [...]n king of Hunga [...]e. to be their king. Wherof Pogebrache (who after the death of Ladislaus, of an old gouernour had made himselfe the young king of BOHEMIA) hauing speedie intelligence as he was sitting at supper, sent for Mathias his prisoner, and when he was come, commaunded him to sit downe at the vpper end of the table: whereat the young gentleman being then but about eighteene yeares of age, and sore abashed, began to craue pardon. But when the king would needs haue it so, and that he was set; the king to quiet his troubled thoughts, willed him to be of good cheere, for that he had good newes to tell him. Good newes, said he, if it would please your majestie to grant me libertie. Yea that, said the king, and more to: and then saluting him by the name of the king of HVNGARIE, brake vnto him the whole matter, how that he was by the generall consent of the Hungarians, chosen their king. And so in few daies after, married vnto him his daughter: which done, he furnished him with all things fit for his estate, and royally accompanied him into HVNGARIE, where he was with great joy and triumph receiued of the Hungarians: ouer whom he afterwards gloriously raigned for the space of eight and thirtie yeares. In which time, he notably enlarged the kingdome of HVNGARIE, and became a farre greater terrour vnto the Turkes, than euer was his father Huniades. And therewithall (which is not to be accounted in the least part of his praises) was alwaies a great fauourer and furtherer of good letters, and ingenious deuises.

But to returne againe to our purpose, Mathias hauing well considered of that the Venetians had requested: answered them, that they had many times before in like case refused to giue aid vnto the Hungarian kings his predecessours: yea and that more was, thought it a thing not reasonable, that anie such thing should be requested at their hands; forasmuch as they then receiued no harme from the Turke, but were in league and amitie with him: so that the Hungarian kings wanting their helpe, had manie times receiued greater losse from the Turke, than otherwise they should haue done, if they had beene by them aided. Yet for all that, he was content to forget all such vnkindnesse, and to grant them what they had requested: promising the next Spring to inuade the Turkes dominion, and according to their request, to take into his protection all their territorie betwixt the Rhetian Alpes, and the Adriatique: which thing hee [Page] most honourably performed. For with the first of the Spring he passed ouer Danubius at BELGRADE with a puissant armie, and rased the forts which the Turkes had built thereabouts; and so entring into SERVIA, laid all the countrey waste before him: and afterwards laden with spoile, returned home, carrying away with him twentie thousand captiues. Neither so rested, but with great good fortune maintained great warres against Mahomet during all the time of his raigne: and afterwards against Baiazet his sonne also, wherein he most commonly returned with victorie: so that it is of him as truely as briefly written, That no Christian king or chieftaine, did more often or with greater fortune fight against the Turkish nation, or had of them greater victories.

Mahomet deliuered of the great feare he had before conceiued of the generall preparation of the Christian princes against him; determined now to worke his will vpon such as were neerest vnto him, and afterward not to forget them that were farther off. The proceeding of Scanderbeg, with the late ouerthrow of SEREMET with his armie in EPIRVS, stucke in his stomacke: in reuenge whereof, he now sent one Balabanus Badera, a most valiant captaine, with fifteene thousand horsemen,Mahomet sendeth Balabanus to inuade Epirus and three thousand foot, to inuade EPIRVS. This Balabanus was an Epirot borne, a chorles sonne of that countrey: and being of a boy taken captiue of the Turkes, as hee was keeping of his fathers cattell, and of long time brought vp in seruitude amongst them, framing himselfe both to their religion and manners; after long seruice, got the credit of a good common souldiour. But when as at the taking of CONSTANTINOPLE, it was his fortune to bee the first man of the Turkes armie that gained the top of the wals, and entered the cittie; hee was for that peece of seruice, euer afterwards of Mahomet greatly esteemed: and beside his other great preferments, now sent Generall of his armie into EPIRVS. Who as soone as hee was come to ALCHRIA (a citie vpon the frontiers of that countrey) sent manie rich presents to Scanderbeg, making shew as if hee had beene desirous peaceably to lie vpon the borders committed to his charge, without farther purpose to trouble his countrey: yet in deed waiting nothing more than some notable opportunitie, suddenly to doe him the greatest mischiefe he could. But Scanderbeg well seeing into the malice of the man, rejected his faigned friendship and giftes, and in derision sent him a spade, a mattocke, a flaile, with other such instruments belonging vnto husbandrie: willing him to take in hand those tooles, and to follow his fathers trade of life, and to leaue the conducting of armies vnto men of greater skill and better place. Which disgrace Balabanus tooke in exceeding euill part; purposing in himselfe, if euer it lay in his power, to be thereof reuenged. Wherefore knowing that Scanderbeg with a small power lay not farre off vpon the frontiers of his kingdome,Balabanus goeth against Scanderbeg. he determined suddenly in the night to set vpon him before he were aware of his comming, and so if it were possible to ouerthrow him: but Scanderbeg hauing knowledge thereof by his scouts, set forward in good order to haue met him. When Balabanus perceiuing that hee was discouered, staied vpon the way, and encamped within two miles of Scanderbeg: who had then in his armie but foure thousand horsemen, and one thousand and fiue hundred foote, but all choise men and most expert souldiours: and then lay in a large pleasant valley called VALCHAL. At the farther end whereof Balabanus lay also encamped, neere vnto a rough and wooddie hill which enclosed that part of the valley. Whilest both armies thus lay within view one of another, Scanderbeg well considering the ground the enemie had taken, and that it was like he would offer him battell, with cheerefull speeches encouraged his souldiours: straitly charging them vpon paine of his displeasure, that if the enemie vpon the fortune of the battell, should chance to flie or to retire, they should not in anie case pursue them farther than the straits of the hill whereby the enemie lay: ghessing too truly, that hee would in so conuenient a place leaue part of his armie in ambush, as a sure refuge to trust vnto whatsoeuer should befall. When he had thus encouraged and instructed his souldiours, he rise with his armie, and in good order retired vnto the rising of an hill, which was a good way behind the place where he before lay; of purpose to haue the aduantage of the ground, if the enemie should follow to giue him battell. Balabanus seeing him retire, and the small number of his armie, thought verily that he had fled for feare: and therefore to stay him who ment nothing lesse than to flie, set forward in great hast. The Turkes thinking vpon so great aduantage to haue found no great resistance, followed after Scanderbeg as if they had had him in chase: and by that time they were come to the place where hee staied, were by their hast greatly disordered and out of aray. Scanderbeg his old trustie souldiours [Page] nothing dismaied with the hastie comming & hideous clamour of the Turks,The battell bet [...]ixt Balabanus and Scanderbeg. receiued them with great courage: so that there began a fierce battell, with much slaughter on both sides, which for a great while stood doubtfull. Yet such was the inuincible courage of Scanderbeg his resolute souldiours, that the Turkes (who as then fought in great disorder) were at last put to flight: and with much slaughter chased vnto the straits of the mountaine, where Scanderbeg had before commaunded his men to stay. But certaine of his best and principall captaines forgetting what he had said vnto them; and led on (whether with the heat and furie of the battell, or rather with ineuitable destinie is hard to say) vnaduisedly pursued the enemie into those straits, whereof they were by Scanderbeg before warned, and charged that they should not enter: where they were on euerie side beset with their enemies, arising out of ambush: and after they had a long time desperatly fought as wild beasts enclosed with hunters, at last oppressed with multitude, were there togither taken and brought to Balabanus; by whom they were forthwith sent to Mahomet to CONSTANTINOPLE. Who as soone as hee heard of their taking, is reported with great rejoycing to haue said: Now am I sure that the strength of Scanderbeg is broken. The names of the principall men which were there taken, was Moses Golemus of DIBRA, the greatest captaine of EPIRVS next vnto Scanderbeg himselfe; Giuriza Vladerius, Scanderbeg his kinsman; Musachius, Scanderbeg his nephew by his sister Angelina; Ginius Musachius; Ioannes Perlatus, who valiantly defended SFETIGRADE against Amurath; Nicholaus Berisius; Georgius Chucca; and Ginius Manessius: whereof euerie one of them was able to haue conducted a great armie, and might worthely haue beene accounted amongst the greatest captaines of that age. The taking of these worthie men brought such a generall sorrow and heauinesse vpon EPIRVS, that the victorie was nothing accounted of, euerie man lamenting the losse of such notable leaders. Scanderbeg carefull of their deliuerance, presently sent an embassadour to Mahomet, requesting that hee might redeeme his prisoners; either by exchanging of others for them, or else for such raunsome as it should please him to set downe. But hee knowing them to be Scanderbeg his best captaines, would neither exchange them for others, not grant that they should be raunsomed for anie gold: but after hee had vsed them with all the dispight he could deuise, caused them all by little and little, to be flaine quicke: in which miserable torment they liued fifteene daies,Moses and other [...] captaines cruell [...] ex [...]cuted by Mah [...]met. and so died. Scanderbeg hearing thereof, was therewith rather encouraged than discouraged: and in reuenge thereof, with fire and sword entered into the Turkes dominion, sparing nothing that hee could either burne, or possibly by anie other meanes destroie.

Mahomet glad of the taking of these notable men (although they were bought with the liues of manie of his people) commended Balabanus highly, as the onely man that knew how to fight against Scanderbeg: and in reward of his good seruice, sent him diuers rich giftes, with commaundement to repaire againe his armie, and to proceed in his warres so happely begun. Which thing Balabanus with all diligence performed. Yet trusting more vnto his pollicie, than his strength; lying at ALCHRIA, sent againe diuers rich presents to Scanderbeg, as desirous to liue in peace by him: but seeking indeed to bring him into securitie, and so suddenly (if it were possible) to entrap him. Which thing Scanderbeg well perceiuing, rejected his faigned friendship togither with his presents, as sent from a base peisant. Whereupon Balabanus entered into a new deuise, and by secret meanes, with great rewards corrupted Scanderbeg his scouts, whereof some were Balabanus his kinsmen, though it were to Scanderbeg vnknowne. By which practise, he had vpon the sudden in the night oppressed Scanderbeg, lying encamped in ORONYCHEVM, if Scanderbeg himselfe (who commonly spent most part of the night in carefull watch) going about the campe, had not in the silence of the night a farre off perceiued the comming of the enemie by the noise of his horses: and thereupon with wonderfull celeritie putting his armie in such order as he best could, was readie to receiue him; and at last after a great fight, put him to flight: and hauing him in chase, slew most part of his armie, Balabanus himselfe with a small remnant hardly escaping.

Now when Mahomet vnderstood that Balabanus was ouerthrowne, and his armie lost, hee was in doubt, whether to send another Generall, or else againe to prooue the fortune of the old. But after hee had well considered, that Balabanus was a right valiant captaine, and one that well knew the countrey of EPIRVS, and withall a mortall enemie to Scanderbeg: he resolued to staie vpon him, and not to send anie other. So committing to his charge fourteene [Page] thousand horsemen and three thousand foot, sent him againe to inuade EPIRVS: and the more to encourage him, promised to make him king of that countrey, if he could subdue Scanderbeg. Balabanus with this armie comming to ALCHRIA, and still in vaine plotting how hee might circumuent his warie enemie, after his wonted manner sent diuers presents to Scanderbeg; which he still scornefully refused. Three moneths he lay still at ALCHRIA, with nothing more troubled than with his owne thoughts: but finding nothing that pleased himselfe, hee determined to aduenture by plaine force to subdue him. And vpon that resolution marched with all his armie into the great plaines neere vnto SFETIGRADE, whither Scanderbeg came with his armie also▪ which then consisted of eight thousand horsemen and fifteene hundred foot: with which small power hee refused not to joyne battaile with Balabanus, The battell of Sfetigrade betwixt Balabanus and Scanderbeg. being in number two to one. But after they were come to hand [...]e blowes, to haue seene Scanderbeg his men fight▪ a man would haue said them to haue beene rather raging lyons than men, they so furiously assailed their enemies▪ without regard of perill or danger, as men nothing afraid to die. Scanderbeg with great skill gouerned that battaile, carefully prouiding for euery danger: himselfe valiantly fighting in the head of his battaile, but not without care of the rest, still sending speedie releefe where most need was, and bringing in fresh supplies in stead of them that were wounded or slaine▪ performed all the parts of a most worthie cheefetaine and valiant souldior: where most perill was, there was hee straight, and at his presence danger fled, as if victorie had attended vpon him. But whilest he thus fought in the middest of his enemies, his horse fortuned to be slaine vnder him, and falling down with him, sore brused one of his armes, whereof he complained long time after. The Turkes seeing him downe, pressed on fiercely to haue slaine him: but hee was quickly rescued by his owne souldiors, and remounted. And forthwith encountering with one Suliman, a great commaunder in the Turkes armie, slew him in fight hand to hand: whereupon such a terrour fell vpon the Turkes, that they began to retire, and after a while to betake themselues to plaine flight; Scanderbeg pursuing them with such execution, that of that great armie few escaped with Balabanus to carrie newes home.

Balabanus now thrice vanquished by Scanderbeg, and in the last battaile hauing lost what hee could loose, except he should haue lost himselfe, returned to Mahomet at CONSTANTINOPLE, of whom he was sharpely rebuked for the great ouerthrowes he had so often receiued. At which time Balabanus at first gaue place to the kings furie: but afterwards when the heat was ouer, hee with a large discourse cunningly excused himselfe, imputing all those his mishaps vnto the appointment of God, and the fortune of warre: and in the end told Mahomet plainely, That it was but in vaine to send such small armies into EPIRVS. But if it would please him at once to send two valiant captains with a puissant and strong armie, who deuiding the same betwixt them, and entering at one time into diuers parts of EPIRVS, might spoile the countrey before them, and enclose Scanderbeg betwixt them, if he should aduenture to giue either of them battaile, being before resolued neither of them to offer him battaile, or yet to accept of the same being by him offered, except the other were also at hand: and so by mutuall consent to vndertake him, but neuer single. By which course hee promised vnto him an easie and assured victorie: for as much as it were impossible for any man so beset, and as it were on euery side coupt vp with his enemies, either to escape or yet to make any great resistance. This persuasion of Balabanus so well fitted the tyrants humor, that he appointed Balabanus himselfe to be the man to put his own deuise in execution: giuing him commission to leuie such an armie as he should thinke sufficient for the performance of that seruice: and withall to associate vnto himselfe for his companion which soeuer of his captaines as he pleased. Balabanus according to his commission, tooke musters of the men of warre, and made choice of fortie thousand good souldiours, and chose one Iacup Arnauth, (otherwise called Iames the Epirot, because he was also borne in EPIRVS, a valiant captain) to be his companion: whom he sent with sixteene thousand soldiors by the way of THESSALIA and GRECIA into EPIRVS, commaunding him in no case to joyne battaile with Scanderbeg, vntill he himselfe were also come into the countrey with the other part of the armie. And so setting both forward, Balabanus taking the neerer way through THRACIA and MACEDONIA, came first into EPIRVS with twentie thousand horsemen and foure thousand foot, and encamped in the valey of VALCHALL. Scanderbeg both by his espials and letters from his secret friends in the Turkes court, hauing certaine intelligence of all Balabanus his intent and purpose, had in readinesse against his comming a strong armie of eight thousand horsemen and foure thousand foot, [Page] all choise souldiours. And now hearing that he was come into EPIRVS, and encamped in VALCAAL, sent out three espials to discouer in what order he lay: one of which spies was Balabanus his kinsman (but not so knowne to Scanderbeg) by whose persuasion the other two when they had taken full view of Balabanus his army,Scanderbeg his [...] trai [...] ly fl [...]e to Balabanus. and should haue returned to Scanderbeg to haue giuen intelligence of that they had seene, like false traitors went ouer to Balabanus, and discouered vnto him all that they knew concerning Scanderbeg: hoping therefore to receiue some great reward, as their fellow had before borne them in hand. Scanderbeg maruelling that his espials returned not againe as they were appointed, and doubting that they had been by the enemie intercepted, and vsing many times in matters of such importance to trust himselfe best, presently went out with fiue lustie souldiours, and rid foorth to discouer the manner of the enemies lying. Balabanus like a craftie fox, mistrusting that Scanderbeg deceiued of his first espials would for like purpose send forth others, laied certaine horsemen in secret ambush in diuers places, to intercept them if it were possible. These horsemen lay not so couert, but that they were in good time descried by Scanderbeg and his followers (who with Argus eies, pried into euerie bush and thicket as they went) before he was altogether fallen within their danger: and yet but so that he came to handie strokes, where Scanderbeg and his followers oppressed with multitude, were glad to flie as fast as they could into the next wood, the Turkes horsemen following them at the heeles. It fortuned that as they were flying, a great old tree was fallen crosse the way, which Scanderbeg putting spurs to his horse, leapt ouer, with one of his men after him; the other foure not able to get ouer, turned backe vpon the Turkes, and there fighting were slaine. One of the Turkes which so hardly pursued Scanderbeg being well mounted, forced his horse to leape the tree, and still followed after Scanderbeg: who looking backe and seeing but one, turned vpon him and slew him: the other Turkes hauing slaine foure of Scanderbeg his men which could not get ouer the tree, returned. And Scanderbeg accompanied but with one of his followers, came backe againe to his campe; and there with all speed put his army in readinesse to go against Balabanus before the comming of his companion, with the other part of his army. Vpon which resolution, after he had with cheerfull persuasions encouraged his souldiours, and filled their minds with hope of victorie, he set forward, and came with great speed into the valley of VALCHAL where Balabanus lay. Scanderbeg had deuided his army into foure squadrons, whereof Tanusius had the leading of one, Zacharias Groppa of another, the third was committed to Peicus Emanuel, and Scanderbeg himselfe conducted the fourth. So setting forward, he sent before certaine companies of harquebusiers, and archers, to prouoke the enemie and to draw him foorth vnto battell. Balabanus also shewed himselfe with his army in seemly order before his tents, but there stood fast and would not stirre, expecting continually the comming of his fellow. Which Scanderbeg perceiuing, and that he sought but to dallie out the time, and as one vnwilling to fight had againe retired his army into the safetie of his trenches; drew neerer and neerer vnto him, continually skirmishing with such as he sent out, daring him into the field, and brauing him vnto his trenches, in such sort as if hee would haue forced the same, and by strong hand haue [...]et him out thence. Whereat the Turkes fretted and chafed exceedingly: insomuch, that they were readie to rise against their Generall, because he would not lead them forth to battell, but suffer them to be so disgraced. Balabanus mindfull of that he had promised vnto Mahomet his great lord and maister, did what he might to haue deferred time: but when he saw that his fellow came not, and that he could no longer delay the matter; being so continually assailed and braued by Scanderbeg his souldiours, that his Turkes therewith prouoked, were readie oftentimes to haue issued out without his direction, and now no remedie but that he must needs fight; placed his men in good order, and so went out of his trenches to giue battell, himselfe leading the left wing thereof: where betwixt him and Scanderbeg was made a fierce fight, many falling on both sides. But Scanderbeg strengthned with the old garrison of CROIA, and the most expert souldiors of DIBRA, preuailed vpon the Turkes and forced them to giue ground, yet still keeping their order. The fight was so great in this part of the battell, that in other places they stood almost still as lookers on, expecting the doubtfull fortune of their Generals: Which thing Scanderbeg perceiuing, drew certain troups out of the right wing, where as he saw was least danger, which speedily fetching a compasse about, charged the side of the enemies army; and againe withdrawing themselues, and with wonderfull celeritie wheeling about, set vpon the backe of them that fought in the left wing so that the Turkes there fiercely charged both before and behind, by the most valiant souldiours [Page] of Scanderbeg his army, fell in other places with a great slaughter. Balabanus with exceeding courage gainstood his enemies, so long as there was any hope left: but when he saw the fortune of Scanderbeg to preuaile, and all about him to become desperat, he made shift for himselfe, and fled out of the battell as fast as he could. The rest of the army, being in other places before troubled and disordered, fled also, some one way, some another, euerie man as his fortune led him. Some few that followed Balabanus escaped: the rest were for most part either slaine or taken prisoners.

Scanderbeg had scarcely well breathed himselfe after this victorie, and deuided the spoile amongst his souldiours; but that newes was brought to him in post from the lady Mamiza his sister, then lying at PETRELLA, that Iacuppe Arnauth was by the way of BELGRADE come into EPIRVS with an army of sixteene thousand horsemen, burning and destroying the countrey before him, and then lay encamped in the plaines of TIRANNA the lesse. When Scanderbeg to proue the minds of his soldiors, had cheerfully imparted vnto them such newes, as was like to be the beginning of new labour and perill; they were therewith nothing dismaied, but readie to follow him with such cheerfulnesse of countenance & mind, as if they should haue gone to some great feast or banquet: reckoning of them, but as of the remnant of a discomfited army. This cheerfulnesse of his souldiours, Scanderbeg tooke as an assured token of his good successe: and hauing all things in readinesse, presently set forward, and in short time came to the place where the enemie lay. Iacuppe hearing of his comming, remoued his campe into a corner of the plaine of TIRANNA, neere vnto a little hill, as a place of more safetie for his armie to lie in. Scanderbeg taking the plaine, encamped his armie in the same place from whence Iacuppe was but a little before departed, where he rested one whole day. The next morning to terrifie his enemies (who as yet had not heard of the ouerthrow of Balabanus) he caused diuers of the Turkes heads which were slaine in the late battell (which he had brought for that purpose) to be cast before the trenches of the enemie, and withall, diuers of them which were taken prisoners to be showne: Which Iacuppe beholding, in great dispaire said, I see the euill hap of Mahomet. Immediatly after, Scanderbeg sent forth 500 horsemen to skirmish with the Turkes, commaunding them so soone as they were charged by the enemie to retire, if happily they might so be drawne into battell: which fell out accordingly. For Iacuppe now seeing his fellow was not to be looked for, and willing also without farther delay to trie his fortune, came readily into the field, and began a fierce battell: which endured not long,Iacup slaine by Scanderbeg, and his armie discomfited. for Scanderbeg perceiuing in what part of the armie Iacuppe was, bent his greatest force that way, and singling him out, with his owne hand slew him. Wherewith the Turkes being discouraged, forthwith betooke themselues to flight, and in flying, were for most part slaine or taken. Those which escaped the present furie of the sword, stragling through the countrey by thicke woods and blind waies, were by the countrey people either slaine or taken prisoners. In these two battels were slaine of the Turkes foure and twentie thousand, and six thousand taken. And of Scanderbeg his men, were lost about a thousand. Scanderbeg and his souldiours were so wearie of the slaughter of the Turkes, that when it was told him the next day, that Balabanus was fled but with one cornet of horsemen, and might easily be surprised, if he were well pursued: he said, O let some of our enemies liue to report their owne slaughter and our victorie. After that Scanderbeg had in this sort vanquished these great captaines, he presently entered into the frontiers of the Turkes dominions, and roaming vp and downe at his pleasure without resistance, made hauocke of all that came in his way. And after returning to CROIA with victorie, brake vp his armie, and gaue his souldiours leaue to depart, euerie man to his owne dwelling.

Whilest these things were in doing,1463 Mahomet had with great rewards procured two Turks to vndertake to kill Scanderbeg. These traitors came vnto Scanderbeg as fugitiues, making such shew of the detestation both of Mahomet his tyrannicall gouernment, and vaine superstition, that they were both of Scanderbeg and others reputed to be in deed the men they desired to be accounted: and so after they had learned the principles of the Christian religion, were by their owne desire baptised. But treason against princes whom God hath in his most mightie protection, cannot be long couered; much lesse without his great sufferance performed. So fortuned it, that these two false dissembling traitors, expecting nothing but opportunitie to performe their diuelish deuise, vpon some occasion fell at variance betwixt themselues, and in their heat, let some such words fall, as being taken vp by some there present, drew them both into suspition: and [Page] therupon being straitly examined, it was at last by them confessed, that they were sent by Mahomet G of purpose to haue slaine Scanderbeg▪ for which their treason they were both presently executed, as they had right well deserued. When Mahomet vnderstood that Balabanus was ouercome, Iacup slaine, and both their armies almost quite destroied, he after his impatient manner fell into a great rage, and became as a man almost franticke: and afterwards calling togither his great Bassaes, resolued by their aduise, not to send any mo generals against Scanderbeg, but to go himselfe in person with such an armie as should at once make an end of his warres in EPIRVS for euer. Hereupon commissions were directed through all his kingdome, and an armie raised of two hundred thousand men: whereof Scanderbeg hauing certaine aduertisement, fortifyed all his cities and strong holds, especially the citie of CROIA, vpon the fortune whereof, depended the whole state of his kingdome. Into this cittie he put a strong garrison of his most valiant and faithfull souldiours; and throughly furnished the same with all things necessarie for the enduring of a long siege: and left one Balthasar Perduci (a graue and worthy captaine) gouernour thereof. With like care he prouided for the safetie of his other cities, and tooke order that the countrey people were either receiued into the strong townes, or else conuayed into other places of refuge: and left nothing abroad in the countrey for the Turkes to prey vpon, as he had in like case done long before, at the comming of old Amurath to the siege of CROIA, as is before in his life declared.

By that time that Scanderbeg had set all things in order, his old friend Balabanus with eightie thousand horsemen (the forerunners of Mahomet his armie) was entred into EPIRVS, and ranging ouer the countrey two daies, came and sat downe before CROIA: Vpon whom the gouernour at his first comming, made many brauesallies. In few daies after came Mahomet with his huge armie,Mahomet commeth to the siege of Croia. and there encamped also. Who at his first comming summoned the citie, requiring to haue it deliuered vnto him, vpon such vnreasonable conditions as it pleased himselfe (as the manner of the Turke is:) whereunto the worthy gouernour returned him no other answere, than by continuall thundring shot into his campe. Whereupon Mahomet caused such ordinance as he had, to be planted for batterie; and commanded other new to be cast, of such mettall as he had for that purpose brought in masse: all which he did rather to strike a terror into the minds of the defendants, than for any great hope he had of taking the cittie by force; knowing by his owne experience, that it was a place almost impregnable. Whilest Mahomet was thus busied and little or nothing preuailed, Scanderbeg lying abroad in the woods and mountaines with a small army of most valiant and couragious souldiours, continually cut off the forragers of Mahomets armie, and such as brought in victuall or necessaries for his campe: and manie times in the night, suddenly brake into one quarter or other of the Turks great camp with great slaughter, and with continuall alarums neuer suffered them to rest in quiet. Mahomet seeing his army to decrease daily, and no hope of winning the citie but by famine, which would require a long siege: and fearing also to make that same place again famous by some notable mischance, which might happen vnto himselfe vnder the wals of CROIA, as had before vnto his father Amurath; determined to returne himselfe to CONSTANTINOPLE, and to leaue Balabanus with a great part of his armie to continue the siege. Vpon which determination he committed the charge and ordering of the whole matter for the continuing of the siege to Balabanus, joyning vnto him eight of his most expert captaines; yet so, as that they should be all at Balabanus his commaund. And so leauing with him three and twentie thousand of his best souldiors, and with euery one of the other eight captaines seuen thousand moe, departed himselfe with the rest of his armie from CROIA towards CONSTANTINOPLE. But by the way as he went he tooke from Scanderbeg certaine small forts, and with faire promises corrupting the Gouernour of a place called CHIDNA, wherein eight thousand of Scanderbeg his souldiours lay, had the same deliuered into his power, vpon his faith before giuen, That all the souldiours with the rest of the people should in safetie depart thence. But after the tyrant had them in his power, without regard of faith or promise, hee caused them all most cruelly to bee cut in peeces, sparing neither man, woman, nor child, to the great greefe and weakening of Scanderbeg, who had not at any time before receiued so great a losse. And after hee had so raged, hee in great melancholie returned vnto CONSTANTINOPLE.

Scanderbeg disdaining to haue his cheefe cittie besieged by Balabanus, sometime one of the basest of his fathers subjects: and yet finding himselfe vnable to releeue the same, for as much [Page] as his souldiors were with continuall warres sore wasted, and his warie enemies lay so encamped, as that they were not but by a strong armie to bee remoued, sent vnto the Venetians and other the confederat princes of ALBANIA, ILLYRIA, and DALMATIA, praying of them aid now at his need against that enemie, which preuailing against him, would forthwith set vpon them. All which princes promised forthwith to send their succours. At the same time also hee passed ouer into ITALIE secretly, and disguised in simple attire, came to ROME, to craue aid of Paulus the second of that name, then great Bishop: by whom he was honourably entertained, but obtained nothing of that he came for; so cold was his holy deuotion: onely at his departure hee gaue vnto Iunetrio, Scanderbeg his treasurer, a poore almes of three thousand duckats.

Scanderbeg returning into EPIRVS, found all such aid readie as was promised from the confederat princes, but especially from the Venetians, which was for most part drawne out of their garrisons of SCVTARI, DRIVASTO, ALYSSA, and DIRRHACHIVM: so that hee had in few daies in his armie thirteene thousand foure hundred choice soldiors. With this strength he marched towards CROIA: but vnderstanding by the way, that Ionima was within a daies journey comming with a new supplie to his brother Balabanus, hee drew out certaine troupes of his best horsemen: and coasting ouer the countrey in the night, suddainly came vpon the Turks, and put them to flight;Scanderbeg surpriseth Ionima the brother of Balabanus, and Hedar his sonne. where amongst others, Ionima himselfe, with his sonne Hedar, were taken prisoners, whom he shewed the next day in bonds to Balabanus. This exploit so happily performed, he with all speed returned to his armie: and so marching to CROIA, by plaine force driue the Turks from the mountain CRVINA, their greatest strength, and nearest to the citie of CROIA. Which thing when Balabanus saw, he with certaine troupes of horsemen rid euen to the gates of the cittie, persuading the defendants to yeeld the citie, making them in the name of his master such offers and promises as he thought might most moue them. But they nothing regarding his words, but rather incensed with his presumption, sallied out vpon him, and enforced him to retire: but he therewith enraged, and halfe mad for anger, came vpon them with a fresh charge, thinking by plaine force to haue driuen them backe into the citie. In which skirmish he was by one Georgius A [...]exius with a bullet shot quite through the throat; and feeling himselfe mortally wounded, setting spurres to his horse, ran as fast as he could to his campe, where he presently fell down from his horse and died. The Turkes discouraged with the death of their Generall, and the comming of Scanderbeg, rise the same night, and with great silence retired themselues vnto the plain of TIRANA, about eight miles from CROIA. Scanderbeg the next morning entring the forsaken tents of the Turks, found therein great store of corne and other victuals, which he caused to be forthwith conueyed into the citie, and in great triumph followed after himselfe, to the great joy and comfort of his late besieged subjects: whom he highly commended for their fidelitie, and bountifully rewarded according to their deserts. The same day he sent certaine companies of souldiors to take the strait passages whereby the Turkes must needs passe in their returne out of EPIRVS; which when the Turkes vnderstood, they sent two messengers vnto Scanderbeg (who seemed to be men of good account in the armie) offering in the name of the rest of the captaines and commaunders, to deliuer vnto him their horses and armes, so that they might in safetie depart with their liues. Which their request Scanderbeg propounding vnto his counsellors & captaines, was by them diuersly disgested. In conclusion, they receiued this answere from Scanderbeg himselfe, That as they came into his country without his commandement, so should they not by his leaue depart thence. The Turkes receiuing this short answere by their messengers, and considering that they must needs in that bare countrey in short time perish, either with famine or with the sword; the very same night departed from TIRANNA, and in the dead time of the night entering the aforesaid straits, by plaine force desperatly brake through and escaped, but not without their great losse: for whose escape the common souldiors murmured greeuously against Scanderbeg, and were not without much ado appeased. In short time after, Scanderbeg recouered all such places as Mahomet had before taken from him, and put to sword the soldiors he had left for the keeping of the same: which done, he brake vp his armie, retaining only two thousand horsemen and a thousand foot for the defence of his frontiers.

The Turkish tyrant hearing of the euill successe of his affaires in EPIRVS,1466 as that his Generall was slaine, CROIA releeued, his armie discomfited, and all that he had done, brought to nought; fretted thereat exceedingly, and was therewith so much greeued, that hee could not for a season eat or drinke or take rest, his discontented thoughts so much troubled him. In the end, to remedie [Page] the matter, he resolued the next Spring to goe againe in person himselfe with a most puissant G armie into EPIRVS, and so if it were possible, to make a full conquest thereof: of which his purpose Scanderbeg vnderstanding, prouided for his comming, as he had in former time. The Spring being come, Mahomet according to his former resolution, with a mightie armie entred into EPIRVS, and there with exceeding labour and charge first repaired or rather reedified the old ruines of the citie of VALMES, wherein he left a strong garrison, of purpose to trouble that part of the countrey. From thence he marched to DIRRACHIVM (now called DVRAZZO, but of old time EPIDAMNVM) a citie vpon the sea coast, then in the possession of the Venetians, famous for many things in the time of the Romane empire, but especially for the flight of the Romane Senate thither, and their entertainement there in the time of the ciuile wars betwixt Caesar and Pompeius. This citie Mahomet thought to haue taken vnprouided, and so vpon the suddaine to haue carried; it; but was therein much deceiued, finding it strongly fortified and manned both by the Venetians and Scanderbeg. Where when he had there spent some time, and to his great losse in vaine attempted the cittie, hee rise vpon the suddaine: and retiring into EPIRVS, came and sat downe againe before CROIA, of purpose by his suddaine comming to haue terrified the cittizens: and vainely persuaded, that he had left Scanderbeg in DIRRACHIVM, for that in the assailing thereof he had discouered many of Scanderbeg his men, and thereby supposed him to haue beene there also; the greatest cause why he so suddenly rise and came to CROIA. At his first comming he offered great rewards and large priuiledges vnto the cittizens, if they would forthwith yeeld vp their citie; otherwise he threatened vnto them all the calamities of warre, vowing neuer to depart thence before he had it: whereunto he receiued no other answere out of the cittie than was sent him by the mouth of the Cannon, or brought him by many most braue sallies. Scanderbeg in the meane while continually molesting his campe, and euery night falling into one quarter or another thereof. Mahomet taught by experience, to what small purpose it would bee for him to lie there long, rise with his armie, & marched againe to the sea side to a place now called the head of REDON vpon the gulfe of VENICE, not farre from DIRRACHIVM, where Scanderbeg had begun to build a new cittie called CHIVRILL, not yet finished: which Mahomet in despight of the man, rased downe to the ground. After that, hearing that many of the Epirots were retired into the mountaines, hee went to seeke them out, and was with gre [...] losse by those mountaine people repulsed: Scanderbeg still following him at the heeles, and awaiting all oportunities, daily cut off part of his armie. So that at last the tyrant despairing of any good to bee done in that expedition, was glad to depart out of EPIRVS, hauing atcheeued nothing worth his comming, and so full of discontentment and melancholie returned to CONSTANTINOPLE.

After all these great troubles, Scanderbeg rid ouer most part of EPIRVS, to view the state of his kingdome, and so at last came to LYSSA (a citie of the Venetians, which he had alwaies specially liked) there to conferre with the Venetian legate and other the confederate princes, of matters concerning their state in generall, as his manner was: but more particularly how they might take the citie of VALMES, which Mahomet had the last yeare built in the siegnorie of Aryannites Comynat, Scan [...]erbeg falleth si [...]ke. and much troubled that part of EPIRVS. But whilest he lay there, he fell sicke of a feauer, which daily so encreased vpon him, that he became sicke euen vnto death: and now perceiuing his end to draw nigh, sent for his wife and sonne, with the princes and lords his confederates, and the embassadours of the Venetians, into his bed chamber. Where after he had at large with greater paine notably discoursed of his troublesome life led amongst them, than he had before passed the same, and carefully forewarned them of the dangers like to ensue; he earnestly exhorted them to continue in vnitie and concord, and valiantly to stand in defence of their religion, countrey, and libertie. And afterwards turning his speech to his wife and his sonne, commended them both with his kingdome to the tuition of the Venetians: who by the articles of the confederation betwixt him and them, were in honour bound to protect his sonne and kingdome, during the time of his minoritie, and afterwards peaceably to place him in the same. In fine, he willed his wife after his death to passe ouer with her sonne into APVLIA, where they might in safetie and quiet liue vpon such possessions as he there held by the gift of king Ferdinand. And so after he had with most feruent prayer commended his soule into the hands of Almightie God, departed in peace the seuenteenth day of Ianuarie, in the yeare of our Lord 1466, when hee had liued about 63 yeares,The death of Scanderbeg. and thereof raigned about 24. His death was worthely lamented of all Christian princes, but especially of the Venetians and princes of ALBANIA, who had now lost [Page] their most carefull watchman and inuincible champion: the sorrow of his subjects is not to bee expressed, euery man bewayling him, as the onely stay of the commonweale▪ and as if with him they had lost all their hope. His dead [...]bodie was with the generall lamentation of all men royally buried in the cathedrall church of S. Nicholas at LYSSA:Scanderbeg buried at Lyssa. where it rested in peace, vntill that about nine yeares after, the Turkes comming to the siege of SCODRA, by the way tooke the citie of LYSSA, and there with great deuotion digged vp his bones, reckoning it in some part of their happinesse, if they might but see or touch the same: and such as could get any part thereof, were it neuer so little,The bodie of Scanderbeg digged vp by the Turkes, and of them greatly honoured. caused the same to be set, some in siluer, some in gold, to hang about their neckes, or weare vpon their bodies; persuading themselues by the wearing thereof to be partakers of such good fortune and hap as had Scanderbeg himselfe whilest he liued: which is not vnaptly by Gabriell Fairnus of CREMONA, thus in verse expressed.

SCANDERBEG.

Paulus Io [...]us Illust. [...] rorum, Elog. lib. 3.

Tu [...]um clades, Othoman [...] nomin [...] h [...]r [...]or,

Epiri tutela, illo iacuere sepulchro: 63

Quo quondam inuicti cubuerunt ossa Georgi.

Nunc & membra viri, & dissectum in frusta sepulchrum

Interijt, sparsimanes, conscisa vagantur

Ossa, nec in gelida nunc saltem morte quiescunt.

Nam (que) vt is assertum toties cum laude paternum

Imperium, exacta moriens aetate reliquit.

[Page]Illicet immanes tenuerunt omnia Turcae.

Tum clari Herois venerati nobile bustum,G

Ossaque, marmoraque, inuictum condentia corpus

Abstulerant, sibi quisque in partes secta minutas,

Tanquam ijs bellica vis, & Martius ardor inesset:

Et genium praestare bonum, sortemque valerent.

Sic quae alijs tumulum virtus parat abstulit illi:

Atque eadem dir [...] venerandum praebuit hosti.

In English thus.

The bloudie bane of faithlesse Turkes, and terrour of their name,

EPIRVS strong defence and guard, lay buried there with fame:

Within that tombe wherein long since, Great Castriotus lay,

But now those limbs and tombe defac'd, are carried quite away;

The remnants of that worthy wight out of his graue were torne:

And being dead could find no rest, but were for jewels worne.

For after he farre spent with age, gaue place to fatall doome,

And left his fathers kingdome got, and kept with great renowme:

Forthwith the cruell Turkes preuaild, and all things there possest.

Who worshipping his stately tombe, and place of quiet rest,

Dig'd vp his bones, and brake the tombe wherein he did remaine:

And glad was he that could thereof, some little part obtaine.

As if in them some martiall force, or vertue great had beene:

Or fortune rare, such as before in him was liuing seene.

So vertue which to others giues, a sepulture and graue,

Bereft it him, yet forst his foe in honour it to haue.

Most part of the time of these warres betwixt Mahomet and Scanderbeg, the Venetians by sea and the Hungarians by land,Mathias king of [...] [...]ingdome of [...] from the Turke. kept the Turkes throughly busied. Mathias Coruinus king of HVNGARIE (according to his promise made vnto the Venetians) entred into the kingdome of BOSNA, where by force he ouerthrew the strong forts which the Turks had built for the defence of their frontiers, and manfully draue them out before him vntill he came to IAZIGA (of some called IAITZE) the chiefe citie of BOSNA, which he at length tooke: and following the course of his victorie, scarcely suffered the Turkes to breath, vntill he had by force wrested all that kingdome out of their hands. Wherewith Mahomet being exceedingly grieued, in great furie came with a strong armie into BOSNA, and laid hard siege to IAZIGA, which was by the Christians right valiantly defended: vntill Mathias with a puissant armie came to the reliefe thereof, who so troubled the Turkes campe with continuall skirmishes on the one side, and they of the towne with desperat sallies on the other; that at length the prowd Turke was driuen to such extremitie, that he was glad secretly to steale away by night with all his army into SERVIA; and for hast to leaue behind him both his tents and great ordinance, which (the Turks histories report) he caused to be cast into the riuer, because it should not come into the hands of the Christians. Mathias after he had thus valiantly put to flight his enemies and relieued his citie, followed the Turkes into SERVIA, and tooke part of that countrey also, which togither with BOSNA he vnited to the kingdome of HVNGARIE. In these warres, Mahomet had such proofe of the force and power of Mathias and the Hungarians, that for a good while after he had no great stomacke to prouoke them farther: for why, the name of Mathias was now become vnto the Turkes no lesse dreadfull, than was sometime the name of his father the valiant Huniades.

The Venetians at the same time also with their gallies scoured the seas, and landing their men sometime in one place, sometime in another, did great harme in manie places of the Turkes dominion neere vnto the sea coast. Amongst other their generals at diuers times sent from that state, one Nicholas Canalis succeeding Lauretanus (whom we haue before spoken of) as soone as he had receiued his charge, came with his fleet into the bay of SALONICHI, and landing his men, burnt diuers townes and villages alongst the sea side. Afterwards returning into PELOPONESVS, [Page] he fortified the towne of LEGOSTICIVM in the gulfe of PATRAS, which worke the Turkes with their often skirmishes laboured to haue hindred, but in despite of all they could doe it was brought to perfection, and a strong garrison therein left for the defence thereof, which done, he returned againe to EVBoeA. Shortly after, he with the same fleet put to sea againe; and sayling alongst the coast of MACEDONIA and THRACIA, surprised the citie of AENUS which standeth vpon the mouth of the riuer Meritza, called in auntient time Hebrus, vpon which riuer the famous cities ANDRINOPLE and PHILIPPOPOLIS are also situate. Canalis after he had taken the spoyle of the citie returned to his gallies, carrying away with him two thousand captiues into EVBoeA. At the same time also, the Venetians giuing aid vnto Nicholaus Duchaine against his brother Alexius, then at variance for the principalitie of ZADRIMA, neere vnto the riuer of DRINO in EPIRVS, gaue a great ouerthrow to the Turkes which came in the quarrell of Alexius.

Mahomet not a little offended with the harmes done vnto him by the Venetians,1470 and perceiuing that the island of EVBoeA (now called NIGROPONTE) was for the commodious situation and strength thereof, the chiefe place from whence they wrought him all these wrongs, and whither they afterwards retired againe, as vnto a most sure place of refuge; determined with himselfe at once to be euen with them for all, and to imploy his whole forces both by sea and land, for the gaining of that place. This island of EVBoeA is about an hundred miles in length, and lieth ouer against that part of GRECIA which was of old called BaeOTIA, from whence it is separated with a narrow strait of the sea: it aboundeth with corne, wine, oyle, fruit, and wood fit for shipping. The chiefe citie thereof, was in auntient time called CHALCIDE, and of later time NIGROPHONTE, by which name also the whole island was knowne: albeit the Turkes now call it EGRIBOS: a populous, rich, and strong cittie; so fortified with wals and bulwarks, that (in most mens iudgement) it seemed a place impregnable. Vnto this strong citie Mahomet resolued to lay siege, knowing well that vpon the fortune thereof depended the state of the whole island. Wherefore he assembled a mightie army, and made great preparation both by sea and land: and when all things were in readinesse, sent Mahomet (the great Bassa of the court) with a fleet of three hundred gallies, and certaine other small vessels well furnished with souldiours, mariners, and all things necessarie, by sea into EVBoeA: and with a great armie marched himselfe by land through ACHAIA, vntill he came ouer against the citie of CHALCIS. The Venetian Admirall hearing of the comming of the Turkes fleet, set forward to haue met them neere vnto the straits of HELLESPONTVS: but after he had by his espials descried the great number of the enemies fleet, finding himselfe too weake, shaped his course to the island of SCIROS. The Bassa comming out of the straits of HELLESPONTVS, couered the sea with his fleet, and holding on his entended course, without let came to EVBoeA: where at his first landing, he tooke STORA and BASILICON,Chalcis the chi [...]fe citie of Euboea besieged by the Turk [...]. two small townes, which he rased to the ground, and from thence went directly to CHALCIS. As soone as this great fleet was there arriued, Mahomet caused a bridge to be made of his smaller vessels ouer the strait betwixt ACHAIA and EVBoeA, whereby he passed all his armie, and so belaid the citie round both by sea and land. And after he had planted his batterie, began most furiously to shake the wals: wherein he had in short time made faire breaches, and the sooner for that one Thomas of LIBVRNIA (chiefe canonier of the citie) before corrupted by the Turkes,Treason in the citie. by signes agreed vpon, gaue them certaine knowledge in what places the wals were weakest: whereby they so aptly planted their batterie, as if they had taken view on the inside of the wals. Which foule treason was at length perceiued, and the traitor therefore worthely executed. Yet little preuailed the tyrant thereby, for such was the industrie of the defendants, that whatsoeuer he had by the furie of his great ordinance beaten downe by day, that they with restlesse labour repaired againe by night. Thus was the siege continued thirtie daies, in which space many a sharpe assault was giuen by the Turkes, to their great losse; and the citie still valiantly defended by the Christians. At length the Venetian Admirall (to the great comfort of the besieged) came with his fleet within view of the cittie, making semblant as if he would haue giuen the Turkes battell. Whereupon it is reported, that Mahomet was about to haue raised his siege, and haue got himselfe ouer into the maine, for feare the Venetians should with their gallies haue broken the bridge, and so haue shut him vp into that island: Which thing it was thought the admirall might haue done to his great praise, if he would as a couragious chieftaine haue aduentured the matter, as he was earnestly requested by the captaines of euerie priuat gally; [Page] who generally grieued to see him so great a commaunder, to let slip so faire an opportunitie [...] But he fearing to come any neerer, came to an anchor and moued not, neither gaue any signe of comfort or reliefe to the besieged. Which thing the Turkish king quickly perceiuing; and therwith encouraged: hauing now in diuers places beaten downe the wals, and made them sau [...] table; brought on his men to the breaches, promising them the spoile of the citie, with many other great rewards and hie preferments according to their particuler deserts, whereof he said, he would himselfe be an eye-witnesse. Hereupon the Turkes gaue a most fierce and furious assault▪ which the defendants with inuincible courage receiued, and made such slaughter of them, that the ditches were filled, and the breaches made vp with the bodies of the dead Turkes. But such was the number of that populous armie (the greatest strength of the Turkes) that the liuing little felt the losse of the dead: Mahomet continually sending in new supplies of fresh men, in steed of them that were slaine or wounded: So that one could no sooner fall, but two or three slept vp in his roome, and so successiuely, as if new men had sprong out of the bodies of the dead. Twise they had euen woon the breaches, and were both times with wonderfull slaughter beaten out againe. This deadly and dreadfull assault, was maintained a whole day and a night without intermission. At length the defendants being for the most part slaine or wounded,Chalcis taken by the Turkes. and the rest wearied with long fight, and vnable to defend the towne now assaulted almost round, retired from the breaches into the market place, and there like resolute men, sold their liues at a decre price vnto the Turkes. Amongst the slaine Christians, were found the dead bodies of manie notable women, who seeing the ruine of the citie, chose rather to die with their friends in defence thereof, than aliue to fall into the hands of their barbarous enemies.

Mahomet being now become lord of the citie, and hauing lost fortie thousand of his Turks in that siege, in reuenge thereof caused all the men that were found in the citie aliue, to be put to most cruell death, especially the Italians, vpon whom he shewed his tyrannie with most exquisit and horrible torments. Paulus Ericus gouernour of the citie, with a few others, who with him were fled into the castle, without resistance deliuered the same vnto him, vpon his faithfull promise, that they might in safetie depart: but after that he had got them into his power, the perfidious tyrant without regard, commaunded them all to bee cruelly murthered. The gouernours daughter a maiden of incomparable beautie, was amongst the rest taken prisoner, and for her rare perfection, by them that tooke her presented to Mahomet, as the mirrour of beautie: The barbarous tyrant greedie of so faire a prey, sought first by flattering words and faire persuasion, to induce her to consent to his desire: but when hee could not so preuaile, he fell into an other vaine, and began to shew himselfe in his owne nature, threatning her with death, torture, and force, worse than death it selfe; if shee would not otherwise yeeld vnto his appetite. Whereunto the constant virgin (worthie eternall fame) answered so resolutely, and so contrarie to the tyrants expectation, that hee being therewith enraged, commaunded her to bee presently slaine. The horrible and monstrous crueltie, with the filthie outrages by that beastly and barbarous people committed, at the taking of that cittie, passeth all credit. CHALCIS thus woon, the rest of that fruitfull island without farther resistance yeelded vnto the Turkish slauerie,The fruitfull island of Euboea ta [...]en by the Turkes. vnder which it yet groaneth. This calamitie happened to the Venetian state, or rather (to say truely) to the generall hurt of the Christian common-weal [...], in the yeare of our redemption 1470.

Canalis the Venetian Admirall, who all the time of the siege, had in the sight of the cittie lien at anchor as a looker on; fearing now that the cittie was lost, to bee set vpon by the Turkes fleet, hoised saile, and laded with dishonour returned in hast vnto VENICE, where hee was by the commaundement of the Senat committed to prison, and afterward with all his family exiled to VTINVM.

Shortly after, when Mahomet was departed with his armie out of EVBoeA, and his fleet returned to CONSTANTINOPLE:1471 the Venetians with their gallies, attempted to haue vpon the sudden surprised the cittie, a little before lost. But Mahomet had therein left so strong a garrison, that when the Venetians had landed their men, they were againe enforced to retire to their gallies, and to forsake their island.

CHALCIS thus lost with all the island of EVBoeA, the Venetians chose Petrus Mocenicus, a valiant and discreet gentleman, Admirall of their fleet, instead of Canalis: and by their embassadours sollicited Sixtus the fourth of that name, then bishop of ROME, and Ferdinand king [Page] of NAPLES, with Lewis king of CYPRVS, and the grand master of the RHODES, to joyne their forces together with theirs against the great and common enemie: which thing all the aforesaid Christian princes promised them to doe. And the more to entangle the Turke, they at the same time sent Caterinus Zenus their embassadour with rich presents vnto Alymbeius Vs [...]n-Cassanes, the great king of PERSIA, to incite him on that side against the Turke: in which negotiation Zenus so well behaued himselfe, that the next yeare following that great king tooke vp armes against Mahomet, and had with him mortall warres, as shall be in conuenient place hereafter declared. Mahomet not ignorant of these proceedings of the Venetians, and that they did what they might to stirre vp as many enemies as they could, and to bring him (if it were possible) into hatred with the whole world: and well knowing how much he had offended the minds of the Christian princes with the crueltie he had of late vsed against them of CHALCIS, thought it not best as then further to prouoke them, and so happily to bring all at once about his eares, but for a season to lie still at CONSTANTINOPLE, as if he had beene desirous now to liue in peace, not meaning further harme: hoping therby, that although he concluded no peace with any of them (which indeed he was not desirous of) yet that tract of time might mitigate the hainousnesse of the fact, and coole the heat of their displeasure: whereby it came to passe as hee wished, that nothing worth the speaking of was that yeare attempted against him. And because the Persian king was the man of whom he stood most in doubt, hee sought by his embassadours to pacifie him, and to withdraw him from the league of the Christians: requesting him, if it were for nothing els but for the communitie of the Mahometane religion, wherein they well agreed, and were thereby the professed enemies of the Christians, to withdraw his hand, and in their cause to cease to take vp armes: vrging now (for that it so stood with his purpose) the zeale of religion, whereas otherwise he regarded (as was thought) no religion at all. But Zenus the Venetian embassadour lying continually in the Persian court, so wrought the matter with Vsun-Cassanes, that hee told the Turkes embassadours plainely, That he could not nor would not longer endure the manifest injurie and wrong done vnto him by the Turkish king: and farther, that hee had made a faithfull league with the Christian princes, and therefore would to the vttermost of his power make it knowne vnto the world, that he would effectually performe what thing soeuer he had promised: and so dismissed them, now no lesse discontented than were before the Persian embassadours at such time as they returned from the Turkes court, hauing obtained nothing they then requested concerning the emperour of TRAPEZOND.

The yeare following,1472 Mocenicus the Venetian Admirall with his fleet arriued in the Isle of LESBOS,The Venetian [...] aided by king Ferdinand, the bishop of Rome, and the great master of the Rhodes, doe the Turks great harme all alongst the coast of the lesser Asia. where he did great harme. From thence hee passed the bay of ADRAMITTIVM into the lesser ASIA, and sore spoiled the countrey about PERGAMVS. After that hee landed againe at CNIDVS vpon the coast of CARIA, where he tooke a great bootie: and so hauing done the Turkes exceeding much harme in ASIA all alongst the sea coast opposit to GRaeCIA, he returned laden with spoile towards PELOPONESVS. In his returne, about the promontorie of MALEA, vpon the coast of PELOPONESVS, he met with Richaiensis comming vnto him with seuenteene gallies from king Ferdinand: by whom hee was certified, that the great Bishops fleet was readie to come forth also. After mutuall gratulation, as the manner at sea is, the Admirals joining their fleets in one, landed at METHONE, now called MODON, then a citie of the Venetians in PELOPONESVS: where after they had well refreshed their souldiours, and taken in fresh victuals, they put to sea againe; and sailing through the Islands, landed in ASIA, where they were at their first landing encountered by the countrey Turkes, whom at last they put to flight, and by the space of foure daies tooke what pillage they could in the countrey: where the souldiours found great store of rich bootie, especially of Turkie carpets, which are there made in great abundance. From thence they sayled to HALICARNASVS, which is a part of CARIA (where sometime stood the stately tombe which queene Artemesia built for her husband Ma [...]solus, accounted amongst the wonders of the world) where they tooke a wonderfull spoile. There came vnto them Nicholas Bishop of MODRVSSA, with twentie gallies sent from the great Bishop: whom the other two Generals welcommed with great joy. At the same time also came thither two gallies from the great master of the RHODES. With this fleet of 85 gallies, they sailed to the Isle of SAMOS oueragainst EPHESVS (sometime a place of great fame, but then altogether desolate and vnpeopled) there to consult for their further proceeding in those warres. Loosing from SAMOS, they tooke their course alongst the coast of ASIA, and landed at ATTALIA, the cheefe citie [Page] of PAMPHILIA, a place of great trafficke: where they found in the suburbes of the cittie great store of many rich commodities, brought thither out of AEGIPT and SYRIA; whereof they tooke what pleased them, and burnt the rest, together with the suburbes. Vnto the cittie it selfe they began to lay siege, but perceiuing that it was not without great losse of their men to be taken, they departed thence: and running all alongst the coast of PAMPHILIA, burnt and destroied what came in their way, and so returned backe againe to the RHODES: where they met an embassadour from Vsun-Cassanes the Persian king, to the bishop and the Venetians, for great ordinance; whereof that so mightie a prince was altogether vnfurnished. Of this embassador they vnderstood, that Vsun-Cassanes was entered into league with the Christian princes, and now busie in making preparation against the Turke. At which time Mahomet requited the Venetians with no lesse harme in EPIRVS and DALMATIA, than they had done to him in ASIA: for now that Scanderbeg was dead, the Turkes mightely preuailed vpon the weake princes of EPIRVS and ALBANIA, with the countries adjoyning. The Christian fleet departing from the RHODES, landed in the countrey of the Myndians, a part of CARIA, and with great spoile returned to the Island of NAXOS, one of the CYCLADES: from whence king Ferdinand his gallies returned home, laded with much rich spoile; for now the yeare was farre spent. Yet after the departure of the kings gallies, Mocenicus with the Legate returned backe againe into ASIA, and there landing their men, tooke the famous citie of SMYRNA in IONIA, and when they had taken the spoile thereof, set it on fire. At which time also they did great harme about CLAZOMENE, not far from SMYRNA. So Winter drawing now fast on, they returned laded with the rich spoiles of ASIA, the Legate into ITALIE, and Mocenicus to METHONE.

1473The insatiable desire of soueraignetie, whereunto the Turkish king was naturally enclined, had continually armed him,Mahomet no [...] troublesome vnto the Mahometa [...]e princes than to the Christian. not onely against the Christian princes, but against others also euen of his owne superstition: making no great difference betwixt the one & the other, if so he might extend his dominion. He had long before vnder the pretence of a friendly parley craftely circumuented the king of MYSIA, a countrey in ASIA, and hauing got him within his danger, cruelly put him to death, and by force subduing his kingdome, left not one of the kings blood aliue. After that he inuaded CILICIA, which the Turkes call CARAMANIA, where the two young brethren, Pyramet and Cassambet raigned, and draue them both out of CILICIA: of whom Pyramet the elder, fled for refuge to Vsun-Cassanes; Cassambet the yonger, assisted by his old friends, sought by force of armes to recouer againe his inheritance wrongfully by the Turkes possessed, and was besieging certaine townes vpon the sea coast, which being taken from the Turke [...] would easily draw all the rest of the kingdome after them. Mocenicus the Venetian Admirall being now with the first of the Spring come vpon the coast of CILICIA, at the request of Cassambet landed certaine companies of his men vnder the leading of Victor Superantius, and certaine peeces of great artillerie, wherewith he so battered the wals of SICHINVM, that hee enforced the Turkes therein to yeeld vp the citie: which he deliuered to Cassambet. In like manner he tooke the citie of CORYCVS, which he also restored to Cassambet. At last hee laid siege to S [...] LEVCIA, which standeth vpon the riuer ORONTES, and was built by king Seleucus, one of the successors of Alexander the Great, distant from the sea about fiue miles: the Gouernour of this citie discouraged with the sight of the great artillerie, deliuered the citie to the Venetian captain, who by the appointment of the Admirall restored the same to Cassambet. Who by this meanes brought againe into his kingdome, gaue great thankes vnto the Admirall, promising both for himselfe and for his brother to be alwayes friends vnto the Venetians. Mocenicus departing from CILICIA, landed his men in LYCIA, and harried that countrey all alongst the sea coast. After this Mocenicus sailed into CYPRVS, to appease a great insurrection there raised against the queene, who was by her husband at his death left to the protection of the Venetians: which rebellion when he had well quieted, hearing that Triadanus Grittus, was by the decree of the Senat appointed Admirall, and alreadie come into PELOPONESVS, he with as much speed as he could hasted thither, to giue vp his charge, and so to returne home againe to VENICE.

About this time the great Persian king Vsun-Cassanes began to make warre vpon the Turkish emperor Mahomet, for the better vnderstanding whereof, it shall not be from our purpose briefly to shew by what meanes this Vsun-Cassanes, of a small prince aspired to the kingdome of PERSIA, and so in short time grew to that greatnesse, that he was justly accounted amongst the greatest monarchs of the world then liuing; as appeareth by these warres betwixt him and the great [Page] Turkish emperour Mahomet. This Vsun-Cassanes of whom we now speake, was the sonne of that Tachretin, who with other poor princes was driuen into exile by the violence of Baiazet the first, great grandfather to this Mahomet the great emperour of the Turks, and was againe restored by the great Tamerlane, as is before declared in the life of Baiazet. By the death of Tachretin, his sonne Vsun-Cassanes (of some called also Asymbeius) obtained that small territorie which his father had in ARMENIA: nothing answering vnto the greatnesse of his conceits. Wherefore not contented with such possessions as was from his father discended vnto him, he began to shoulder for more roome, with such weake princes his neighbours as he thought he might best deale withall; wringing one prouince from this prince, another from that, and thrusting some others quite out of all that they had: And in short time so enlarged his dominion, that he had got into his hands a great part of ARMENIA, and was reputed both for a mightie and fortunat prince. Insomuch, that Calo Ioannes then emperour of TRAPEZONDE (whose power altogither answered not to the greatnesse of his stile, being for most part shut vp within the bounds of PONTVS; and fearing the greatnesse of the Turkish emperour Mahomet, whose name began then to grow dreadfull vnto his neighbour princes) gaue to him his onely daughter Despina in marriage: by such aliance to strengthen himselfe against the Turkish tyrant, if need should require. At which marriage it was agreed, that Vsun-Cassanes should in the right of his wife enjoy all the kingdome of PONTVS, after the death of Calo Ioannes her father, and of Dauid his brother: and that Despina should so long as she liued haue the free exercise of her Christian religion. By this woman, Vsun-Cassanes had a daughter called Martha, whom I willingly remember, for that she was the mother of Hysmael, afterwarwards the great king of PERSIA, commonly called Hysmael the Sophi: of whom more shall be said hereafter in the life of Selymus. Vsun-Cassanes honoured with this great marriage, and strengthened with this new alliance, ceased not after his wonted manner daily to encroch vpon his neighbour princes: and proceeded so farre, that at length he began to lay hand vpon a part of ARMENIA, which was then part of the dominion of the Persian king. Zenza (whom some call Tzokies, which was indeed the name of his father) raigning then in PERSIA, by his embassadours admonished and in sort commaunded Vsun-Cassanes to hold himselfe content with his owne, or at least with that he had alreadie wrongfully taken from others, and not to presume to come within the bounds of his dominion, threatning otherwise to take him as an enemie to his state, and to turne his forces vpon him. With which embassage Vsun-Cassanes being much offended, gaue the embassadors no entertainment, but commanded them with speed to get them out of his kingdome, and to tell their master, That he would shortly himselfe in person come and debate the matter with him face to face. With which proud answere from so meane a prince, the Persian king moued, leuied such an armie for the inuading of him, as was thought to haue beene sufficient to haue subdued a farre greater prince: and so appointed, set forward toward ARMENIA. Vsun-Cassanes much inferiour to this great king in wealth and number of men, but not in hautinesse of mind and valiantnesse of courage, staied not to expect the comming of so puissant an enemie, but full of hope set forward to meet him, & by great journies sought to come vpon him before he could haue any knowledge of his comming: yet had he then in his armie scarcely one man to ten, but all armed with couragious hearts,Vsun-Cassanes in a great battell ouerthroweth the Persian king. and conducted by a most fortunat chieftaine which feared nothing. So holding on his way, at length he met with the great armie of the Persians, with whom he presently joyned battell; and after a long and cruell fight, ouerthrew them in the plaine field, with such a slaughter, as might well haue weakned the forces of a right great kingdome. The great king more enraged than discouraged with this ouerthrow, raised a farre greater armie than before, the verie strength of his kingdome: resoluing now not to send anie more his lieutenants, but to goe in person himselfe against so desperat an enemie. All things being in readinesse, hee set forward, and at length met with the Armenian prince, whom he found as readie to giue battell as he was at the first. So being both desirous to trie their fortune, they joyned battell; wherein the Persians were againe discomfited and put to flight, and mo of them slaine in that battell, than were brought into the field in the first armie. Zenza the Persian king was there slaine with Vsun-Cassanes his owne hand, and Cariasuphus his sonne taken prisoner: whom the Armenian prince vsed with the greatest honour could be deuised, giuing vnto him the honour and title due vnto the Persian king, taking vnto himselfe the bare name of the protectour of the Persian state. Which he did onely to please the Persians, and to keepe them quiet vntill he had got some more assured possession [Page] of that kingdome. But after hee had in the two former battels broken their greatest strength, and then vnder the colour of a peaceable gouernour got into his power the regall ci [...]e of TAVRIS, with the rest of the cities and strong places of that great kingdome, and that all men had him now in great reuerence and admiration for his great vertues: hee secretly dispatched out of the way the poore titular king his prisoner (the last of the posteritie of the mightie Tamerlane) and tooke vpon himselfe the highest place, which admitteth no partner. Whilest this restlesse prince was thus tumbling in the world, and not yet well setled in his new gotten kingdome, Mahomet the Turkish emperour no lesse ambitious than himselfe, had scornfully rejected the embassadours and presents which Vsun-Cassanes had sent: and hauing shamefully put to death Dauid the emperour of TRAPEZONDE his aliance, had conuerted all the kingdome of PONTVS (which Vsun-Cassanes of right claimed, as his wiues dowrie) into the forme of a prouince, and so vnited it vnto the Turkish empire. Which so manifest a wrong, Vsun-Cassanes in the newnesse of his so late atchieued greatnesse, durst not aduenture to redresse: but after that he was surely seated, and had with the course of time ouercome all dangers at home, being daily prickt forward with the remembrance of the former injuries (still suggested by the importunitie of his wife Despina) and the solicitation of the Venetians, to whom he had by solemne promise bound himselfe; he determined now to take the matter in hand, and to trie his forces vpon his proud enemie the Turkish emperour. Hereupon he raised a great armie, and being well appointed of all things necessarie, passing through ARMENIA toward PONTVS, neere vnto the riuer EVPHRATES, was encountred by Mustapha (Mahomet his eldest sonne, a young prince of great hope) and Amurath the great Bassa of ROMANIA, whom Mahomet (fearing such a matter) had sent before with a strong armie out of EVROPE to joyne with such forces as Mustapha had alreadie raised in ASIA, so to withstand the inuasion of the Persian. These two great commaunders Mustapha and Amurath joyning battell with Vsun-Cassanes, were by him in the plaine field ouerthrowne; where Amurath the great Bassa himselfe with thirtie thousand Turkes were slaine: Mustapha with the rest of the armie, by shamefull flight sauing themselues.

1474Now when Mahomet vnderstood that Amurath was slaine and his armie discomfited, he was therewith exceedingly troubled.Two huge armies of the Turk [...] and Persians in [...] together. But purposing to be thereof reuenged, gaue order into all parts of his dominions for the leuying of new forces: so that at the time by him appointed, was assembled a great and mightie armie of three hundred and twentie thousand men. Vsun-Cassanes in like manner was in the field with an armie, nothing in number inferiour vnto his enemie. These two Mahometane kings, drawing after them their hugie armies, met togither neere the mountaines of ARMENIA: where, at the first encounter, one of the Turks greatest Bassaes was slaine with fortie thousand Turkes. With which hard beginning the prowd tyrant was so daunted, that he could hardly be persuaded to proue his fortune anie farther, but contenting himselfe with that losse, was about to haue retired: and had vndoubtedly so done, if some of his most expert and valiant captaines which might be bold with him, had not sharpely reproued him, that hauing so populous an armie as scarcely felt that small losse, he should once thinke of returning without victorie. With which their comfortable persuasions, he was againe encouraged to giue battell. Yet for his more safetie, he withdrew his armie into a strait betwixt two mountaines, and with his cariages fortified the front thereof, as with a trench: behind which cariages, he placed his great ordinance, and on either side his archers. The Persians, as men of great valou [...], and thereto encouraged with their former victories, came on as men fearing no perill, to haue charged the Turkes euen in their strength; presenting their whole armie before they were aware, into the mouth of the Turkes artillerie: which suddenly discharged amongst the thickest of them, brake their rankes, and tooke away a number of them. Besides that, the Persian horses terrified with the vnacquainted and thundring report of the great ordinance, were not to be ruled by their riders, but starting backe, ran some one way, some another, as if they had felt neither bit nor rider. Which their confusion Mahomet perceiuing, presently tooke hold of the occasion offered, and with his horsemen fiercely charged them, being now by themselues entangled and out of order. Neuerthelesse the Persians made great resistance, and slew manie of the Turkes: but still fighting confusedly and out of order, they were at the last enforced to flie. In which fight a great number of them were slaine, and their tents also taken. Zeinal, Vsun-Cassanes his eldest sonne, labouring to stay the flight of the Persians, was slaine with a small shot. So the honour of the day remained with the Turkes: yet had they no great cause to brag of their winnings, hauing [Page] lost in that battaile fortie thousand souldiours: whereas of the Persians fell not aboue ten thousand. Mahomet contenting himselfe with this deere bought victorie, returned homewards. And Vsun-Cassanes leauing another of his sonnes with his armie for the defence of ARMENIA, returned likewise to TAVRIS. But whilest the Christian princes were in their greatest expectation what might bee the euent of these warres betwixt these two mightie Mahometane kings; they vpon the suddaine concluded a peace, and confirmed the same with new affinitie, excluding the Christians quite out of the same. This last battell betwixt Mahomet & Vsun-Cassanes, was fought in the yeare of our Lord 1474, about foure yeares before the death of Vsun-Cassanes, who died the fifth of Ianuarie, in the yeare 1478.

In the time of these warres died the noble Mustapha, Mahomet his eldest sonne, at ICONIVM, hauing spent himselfe with reuelling amongst his paragons:The death of the noble Mustapha, Mahomet his eldest sonn [...]. or as some write, commanded to die by his father vpon this occasion. This youthfull prince vpon a time comming to the court to see his father (or as they tearme it, to kisse his hand) became amorous of the wife of Achmetes Bassa (a ladie of incomparable beautie) and daughter to Isaack Bassa, the cheefe men in the Turkish empire, next vnto Mahomet himselfe: but finding no meanes how to compasse her in whom his soule liued, he awaited a time, when as shee (after the manner of the Turkes) went to bathe her selfe: and there as he found her all disroabed, shamefully forced her, without regard either of his owne honour or of hers. Of this so foule an outrage, Achmetes her husband, with his clothes and hat all rent for madnesse, came and greeuously complained to Mahomet, crauing vengeance for the same: vnto whom Mahomet againe replied: Art not thou thy selfe my slaue? and if my sonne Mustapha haue knowne thy wife, is shee not my bondslaue hee hath had to doe withall? cease therefore thus to complaine, and hold thy selfe therewith content. Neuerthelesse, hee in secret sharpely reproued his sonne for so hainous and dishonourable a fact by him committed, and commaunded him out of his sight: and as hee was of a seuere nature, caused him within a few dayes after to be secretly strangled. Neuerthelesse, the wrong done vnto the Bassa, sunke so deep into his haughtie mind, as that he would neuer admit excuse therefore, but put away his wife, the ground of the implacable hatred betwixt him and the great Bassa Isaack, his father in law: and in fine, the very cause of his vtter destruction, as is afterward declared in the life of Baiazet.

Mahomet deliuered of his greatest feare,1475 by the peace he had lately concluded with Vsun-Cassanes the Persian king, was now at good leisure to employ all his forces against the Christians. And bearing a deadly hatred against the princes of EPIRVS and ALBANIA, with a wonderfull desire to extend his empire vnto the Ionian and Adriaticke, that he might from thence but looke toward ITALIE, which he began now to long after: he determined with himselfe first to subdue those countries, as standing in his way, both for the inuasion of ITALIE, and of the territories of the Venetians. And for as much as the strong cittie of SCODRA (otherwise called SCVTARIE) then in the possession of the Venetians, for the commodious situation thereof seemed to giue him the best entrance into the countries of ALBANIA, EPIRVS, DALMATIA, and to such cities as the Venetians held alongst the sea coast, he resolued there to begin his wars.

This citie was of great strength, as well for the naturall situation thereof, as for the strong fortifications therein made by the hand of man, which thing Mahomet was not ignorant of: but presuming of his owne strength and power, vainely persuaded himselfe, that no place was now able long to hold out gainst him. Wherefore hauing prepared all things fit for the besieging thereof, he sent Solyman Bassa, an Eunuch (whom hee had made his lieutenant Generall in EVROPE, in the place of Amurath Bassa, before slaine by Vsun-Cassanes) with eightie thousand souldiours to besiege SCODRA.Sol [...]man Bassa besiegeth Scodra with an armie of eightie thousand men. This great Bassa according to his charge came, and with great pompe encamped round about the citie, the fiue and twentieth of May. Shortly after hauing planted his batterie, hee began most furiously to shake the wals, and ceased not by all meanes hee could deuise to [...]rouble the defendants: and when he had by force of the cannon done what hee could, gaue diuers sharpe assaults vnto the cittie, but was still with great losse valiantly repulsed by them of the citie. Long it were to declare, how often and in what terrible manner that warlike Bassa, Mahomet his cheefe captaine, attempted to haue woon the citie: as also to shew how they of SCODRA directed by their worthie Gouernour Antonius Lauretanus, valiantly defended themselues and their cittie: nothing was omitted, that the enemie could doe or deuise for the gaining thereof; but all his deuises and attempts were so met withall by the defendants, that they serued him to no other purpose but to the destruction of his people. Whilst the Bassa thus lay at the siege of SCODRA, [Page] Mocenicus hauing receiued such commaundement from the Senate, came and joyned himselfe G to Grittus the new Admirall, who then lay with his fleet in the mouth of BOLIANA, a great riuer running out of the lake whereupon the cittie of SCODRA standeth. These two great commaunders being met together, were both as one man, and with a wonderfull consent did what they might for the furtherance of the common good, a thing not common: first they put strong garrisons, with all things necessarie, into CHOLCHINVM, LYSSA, DIRRHACHIVM, and other citties of their signorie vpon the sea coast. After that they went vp the riuer BOLIANA with certaine gallies, and came within sight of SCODRA, and there by fires in the night, and other tokens of comfort, encouraged the defendants as with an assured promise of releefe: which thing it greeued the Turkes to behold, who therefore went about to haue shut in those same gallies with a great chaine drawne crosse the riuer, where it was narrowest betwixt them and the sea: but in H doing thereof, the Venetians out of their gallies slew fiue hundred of the Turkes, and wounded diuers others, and so returned againe to sea. It was afterward attempted by the aforesaid Admirals, if a new supplie might haue beene put into the cittie: but the enemie had so beset the same, that it was not possible to be done.Matt [...]ias [...]ing of Hu [...]ga [...]ie [...] the Turks to [...]orsake the si [...]ge of Scodra. In the meane time, Mathias king of HVNGARIE (receiuing a great yearely portion of the Venetians for the defence of their countries against the Turke) hearing that SCODRA was besieged, began to make such spoile in the Turkes dominions bordering vpon him, that Mahomet was glad to call home the great Bassa from the siege of SCODRA, to defend his owne frontiers. So the Bassa after he had lien three months with his great armie at the siege, and lost foureteene thousand of his men, whereof the greatest part died of sickenesse taken by long lying in the rotten moorish ground neere vnto the riuer, by commaundement from his I mast [...]r rise with his armie and departed. The Venetians also, which lay all that while thereabout in their gallies, were toucht with the same contagion: Triadanus Grittus died thereof, and Mocenicus the other Admirall fell thereof dangerously sicke; but being somewhat recouered, returned home, and was shortly after for his good seruice chosen duke of VENICE, Marcellus the old duke being then dead. With this dishonour taken at SCODRA, Mahomet was so discontented, that he appointed a yearely fee vnto one, to put him in mind dayly of the siege of SCODRA.

The same yeare that this great Bassa Solyman had in vaine besieged SCODRA, hee was afterward sent with a great armie into VALACHIA, where he was so entangled in the woods and fens by Stephanus the Vayuod, that hee lost all his armie, and with much adoe escaped himselfe by the wonderfull swiftnesse of a mare whereon he rid.K

1476The yeare following, which was the yeare 1476, Mahomet sent out a great fleet to sea, vnder the conduct of Geduces Achmetes, his cheefe counsellour and man of warre, (whose very name was dreadfull in all places where hee came) in hope to haue by treason surprised the Island of CRETE: But that plot was in good time by the Venetians perceiued, the traitors executed, and he of his purpose disappointed. Whereupon he changed his former purpose for CRETE, & sent the same Achmetes with his fleet into the Euxine (or as the Turkes call it, the Blacke sea) to besiege the rich citie of CAFFA. This citie was in antient time called THEODOSIA, situate in the countrey of TAVRICA CHERSONESVS, fast by the sea side, and had of long time beene in possession of the Genowaies, and was a place of exceeding great trade, vntill that this great emperor Mahomet hauing taken CONSTANTINOPLE, and falling out with the Venetians, had by his L strong castles built vpon the straits of HELLESPONTVS and BOSPHORVS, taken away both the trafficke of marchants into those seas, and all possible meanes for the Genowayes to send succour to that citie: yet it is credibly reported, that one valiant captaine vndertooke to carrie his companie (in number not aboue an hundred and fiftie men) by land from GENVA to CAFFA, not much lesse than two thousand miles, and worthely performed what hee had vndertaken. Achmetes comming thither with his fleet, enclosed the citie both by sea and land: which deuided in it selfe by reason of the diuers disposition of the inhabitants, being of diuers nations, some Genowayes, some Greekes, some Armenians, but most Tartars, could not long hold out, but was in short time giuen vp to the Bassa, vpon condition, That the Genoway marchants, who were there both in number many and exceeding rich, might in safetie depart thence with their wealth.M Which promise the Bassa performed not: but when he was possessed of the citie, sent such as he thought good to CONSTANTINOPLE, and commaunded the rest vpon paine of death not to depart thence, or to conuay away from thence any part of their substance. In short time after, the whole countrey of TAVRICA CHERSONESVS yeelded vnto the Turkish obeisance. At which [Page] time also the Tartar princes, namely the Precopenses and Destenses, terrified with the greatnesse of the Turke, cowardly yeelded themselues as tributaries vnto him; euer since which time they haue liued a most seruile and troublesome life, subject to euerie commaund of the Othoman emperours: for whom they haue done great seruice manie times in their warres, against the Persians, the Polonians, the Hungarians, Transyluanians, and Germains, as in the processe of this historie well appeareth; and as the aforesaid nations their neighbours, with others also farther off, haue euen of late to their great losse felt.

Although the Venetians had in these late warres lost the great and fertile island of EVBoeA,1477 with the strong citie of CHALCIS, the surest harbour for their gallies: yet held they still diuers strong townes and commodious hauens by the sea coast, both within PELOPONESVS and without, as METHONE, CORONE, TENARVS, NAVPACTVM and others: which standing as it were in the bosome of his empire, Mahomet sore longed after. And therfore to satisfie his ambitious desire, sent Solyman (the great Bassa of EVROPE) with a strong fleet into PELOPONESVS: who entring the gulfe of CORINTH, at his first comming laied siege to NAVPACTVM, now called LEPANTO, a citie standing in the gulfe of CORINTH, in the countrey of OZOLae neere vnto LOCRIS, ouer-against PELOPONESVS. Antonius Laurettanus (for his late good seruice done in defending of SCODRA) made Admirall for the Venetians, came with speed to NAVPACTVM, and in despight of the enemie, so furnished the citie, both with men and whatsoeuer else was needfull, that the Bassa now out of hope to win the citie, rise vpon the sudden with his armie, and in a great furie departed, after he had lien there foure moneths. In this fret returning towards CONSTANTINOPLE, he put certaine companies of his men to shoare in the island of LEMNOS, in hope to haue vpon the sudden surprised the citie COCCINVM: but as they were about to haue entred, they were contrarie to their expectation manfully resisted, by such Christians as by chance were next the gate. Where the notable courage of Marulla (a maiden of that citie) was much commended: who seeing her father slaine in the gate, tooke vp the weapons that lay by him, and like a fierce Amazon notably reuenged his death, desperatly fighting in defence of her countrey with those few which were there at the first; and so kept the Turkes out vntill the rest of the citizens (mooued with the alarum) came to the gate, and forced them (not without some losse) to retire againe to their gallies. Not long after, Laurettanus came thither with his fleet: but before his comming, the Bassa was departed thence for CONSTANTINOPLE, hauing in this expedition done nothing that was expected at his hands.

M [...]homet after the death of Scanderbeg, ceased not from time to time by one of his great captaines or other to inuade EPIRVS, and the other parts of ALBANIA; and so gaining sometime one part, and sometime another, had subdued most part thereof. And about this time, his armie lay at the siege of CROIA:Croia besieged by the Turke. for reliefe whereof, the Venetians (in whose protection it was) sent Franciscus Contarenus a noble gentleman their lieutenant, with such forces as were sufficient for the raising of the siege. He finding the Turkes in the plaine of TIRANNA, gaue them battell; which for a great while stood doubtfull, at length victorie enclining to the Venetians, the Turks began to flie: after whom, the Venetians made no great pursuit, but contented to haue put them to flight, tooke their tents, with such forts as they had raised against the citie. Thus whilest the Venetians thinke themselues in sure possession of the victorie, and out of feare of their enemies, they were through their owne too much securitie, by and by themselues ouerthrowne: For whilest the common souldiours hauing their minds more set vpon the spoile than vpon the pursuit of the enemie (the battell as yet scarce ended) scatter themselues; and the captaines were consulting whither they should lodge that night (which began then to approach) in the enemies tents or not: in the middest of their consultation, the Turkes hauing perceiued their disorder, suddenly returned againe vpon them, and without great resistance ouerthrew them, and put them to flight. In which flight, a thousand of them fell; amongst whom Contarenus the Generall, and diuers others of good place and calling were slaine also.Contarenus the Venetian Generall slaine. This ouerthrow, the Venetians tooke a great deale better than that which shortly after followed, in the confines of ITALY at the riuer of Sontium.

Mahomet hauing conquered a great part of AL [...]ANIA, and daily encroching vpon the Christians, made diuers incursions into the countries of DALMATIA, HISTRIA, and CARNIOLA, yea and sometime went so farre, that he with his Turkes entred into the prouince of FRIVLI, called in auntient time FORVM IVLII, a part of the Venetian seigniorie; and so carried away [Page] with them manie prisoners with much spoile. For remedie whereof, the Venetians with exceeding G charge and wonderfull labour fortified alongst the riuer of Sontium from GORITIA to the fens of AQVILEA, the space of twelue miles, and there built two forts, wherein they continually kept strong garrisons for the defence of the countrey. Whereby the countrey people thinking themselues now in safetie, began to fall into securitie (the daungerous sicknesse of all common weales) neglecting by their carefull watch, to foresee a farre off the enemies comming, as they had before vsed.The Turk [...] sh [...]w themselues at the riuer of Sontium It fortuned at this time, that Asa-beg (whom some call Marbecke) one of the Turkes great captaines, vpon the sudden when no such things was feared, came and shewed himselfe in an euening vpon the farther side of the riuer of Sontium, with a thousand horsemen: vpon the sight of whom, an alarum was raised in both forts, and euerie man put himselfe in readinesse, as if they should euen presently haue joyned battell. But it was so nie night, as that nothing could H as then be done: yet the Venetian garrisons joyning themselues togither, watcht all that night in armes. There was at that time in both these forts, three thousand horsemen and some few companies of footmen, all vnder the commaund of Hieronimus Nowell Countie of VERONA, a famous captaine of that time: who with the rest of the captaines resolued if hee could, to keepe the Turkes from passing the riuer; if not, then to giue them battell. Marbecke Generall of the Turkes armie, taking good view of the place, in the night time secretly conuaied a thousand of his best souldiors ouer the riuer, foure miles off, in such a place as the Venetians feared least, deeming it impossible for anie man there to haue passed ouer. These men he appointed to lie close in ambush behind a great hill in sight, not farre from the other side of the riuer, and vpon a signe giuen, presently to discouer themselues and charge the enemie. The next morning verie early he sent certaine troups of his readiest horsemen ouer the riuer, which by offering to skirmish with the Venetians, might so draw them into the field; and then as men in doubt whether to fight or to flie, to tole them on vnto the place where the ambush lay. The Venetians had diuided themselues into three battalions; wherof the Generall himselfe had the leading of the first, who seeing these disordered troups comming to skirmish with him, encountred them fiercely, and easily put them to flight, being so determined before, and in that flight earnestly pursued them: especially the Counties sonne, a valiant young gentleman, who with others like himselfe, thought by that daies good seruice to gaine vnto themselues great honour. When the Turkes Generall saw that the Venetians following the chase, were gone a great way from the riuer, he forthwith passed ouer with the rest of his armie, and followed the Venetians at the heeles: which the Turks which before fled now beholding, turned againe vpon their fierce enemies, and valiantly withstood them. At which verie instant, the other Turkes vpon signe giuen arising out of ambush, came downe from the hill LICINIS, with such violence & clamor, that the Venetians therwith discouraged, would haue fled if they could haue told which way: but they were on euerie side so beset, that there was no way left for them to escape: but were there all slaine, except some few which yeelded themselues and so were saued. The other two battalions of the Venetians, discouraged with the slaughter of the first, fled incontinently; and in flying, were manie of them slaine. In this battell the Countie himselfe with his sonne, and manie other notable gentlemen; and halfe the horsemen,The countrey of Friuli spoiled by the Turkes. were lost. The Turks encouraged with this victorie, the next day spoiled all the countrey of FRIVLI, betwixt the riuers of Sontium (otherwise called Lisonzo) and Tiliauentum, and cruelly burnt all the countrey before them: so that at once an hundred countrey villages were to be seene on a light fire togither; which stood so thicke, that it seemed as if one continuall fire had wholy couered all the face of the countrey. The barbarous Turkes laden with the spoile of that rich countrey, and driuing before them great numbers of miserable captiues as if they had beene flocks of sheepe, returned to Sontium. But when they had passed the riuer, and had trauelled homeward one daies journey, and all men thought they had now beene quite gone; they suddenly returned backe againe, and posting through the countrie they had before spoiled, came to the riuer of Tiliauentum, which they desperatly passed, and did no lesse harme on that side the riuer, than they had before on the other: and so carrying away with thē what they pleased, returned by the same way they came, hauing filled all that part of ITALY M with terror and feare. This ouerthrow at Sontium, the Venetians account amongst the greatest losses which they receiued from the Turkes in all these their long warres.

1478The next yeare about Haruest, the Turkes came againe with a farre greater power; and passing the riuer of Sontium, came before the forts at GRADISCA, where Carolus Fortebrachi [...] [Page] lay with a strong garrison of the Venetians, offering him skirmish, so to haue drawne him into the field. But the warie captaine considering the great strength of the enemie, and the losse receiued the yeare before, would not be drawne out of his strength, but stood vpon his guard, expecting to take the enemie at some more aduantage: which thing the Turkes fearing, durst not disperse themselues abroad for the spoile of the countrie, leauing so strong a garrison of the enemies behind them. And therfore when they had gone about foure miles into the countrey, they turned their course vp into the mountaines (which are part of the Alpes) towards GERMANIE, and there grieuously spoiled the mountaine people: strangely passing through those abrupt and hie mountaines with their horses, where men could hardly either go or stand on foot without somthing to stay vpon. And so when they had done what harme they could, taking a great compasse about, returned home another way.

Mahomet remembring the shamefull repulse hee had about foure yeares before receiued at SCODRA,1479 and hauing the name of that citie daily sounding in his eares; determined now once againe to gage his whole forces vpon the winning thereof,Vide Marinum Barletium de expug Scodrensi. and so to giue peace to his ambitious desires. And because he would not againe be dishonored with that he purposed to take in hand, he gaue out order into all parts of his dominions, both in EVROPE and ASIA, for the assembling of his best souldiours and men of warre. Now when all things were in readinesse, and such an armie assembled as he seldome or neuer had a stronger; first he sent forth Aly-Beg (warden of the frontiers of his kingdome alongst the riuer Danubius) with eightie thousand of the souldiours called Achanzij, towards SCODRA. These Achanzij are horsemen, which for their good seruice according to their deserts, haue certaine lands giuen them by the king to liue vpon during their liues; for which they are of duetie bound to serue vpon their owne charge as the forerunners of the Turke his armie, whensoeuer he goeth to besiege anie place: These be they which first enter into the enemies countrey, burning and spoiling what they can, vntill they come vnto the place appointed: and haue this priuiledge, That so soone as all the armie is come to the place to be besieged, they may then at their pleasure either depart or stay.

The gouernour of SCODRA vnderstanding both by common fame and certaine intelligence, of the Turks designs, with all care and diligence fortified the towne, labouring continually both night and day at the rampiers, as if the enemie had been alreadie present, and plentifully prouided all things necessarie for the enduring of a long siege. The aged and vnnecessarie people, he sent out of the citie into other places of more safetie farther off: in whose stead hee tooke in great numbers of strong and able men which dwelt in the countrey round about; among whom were manie marriners taken out of the gallies, and other men of like qualitie, which got their liuing vpon the riuer and lake of SCODRA, lustie bodies enured to hardnesse, who in the long siege following did great seruice.

Whilest this preparation was making in SCODRA,The poore countrey people flie for feare of the Turks. behold the mountains a farre off Northward from the citie, began to shine with manie great fiers, and all the country was couered with thicke smoake, which euerie houre seemed to draw neerer and neerer: when within short time after, the poore countrey people (which as yet were not all fled) with such trash as they could well carrie, came running for life all ouer the countrey to the strong cities vpon the sea side, crying out that the Turks were come.

The next day which was the fourteenth of May, Aly-Beg with his eightie thousand Achanzij, came into the suburbs of the citie, and there encamped; so that none could go in or out of the gates: which was not the least part of his charge. To him by the commandement of Mahomet, had Scander-Beg gouernour of BOSNA, and Malcotius with seauen thousand horsemen, joyned themselues vpon the way. Of this Malcotius it is reported (as was of Augustus) that the majestie of his countenance, with the resplendent beames issuing out of his eies (as if it had been the raies of the Sunne) were of such piercing brightnesse, that no man was able with immoued and fixed eye long to behold the same. These horsemen (the forerunners, as I said, of Mahomets great army) the Christians much troubled with often sallies and shot, out of the town, and slew manie of them with little or no losse vnto themselues.

When Aly-Beg had thus lien before the citie ten daies, came Taut Gaiola the great Bassa of CONSTANTINOPLE with fiue and twentie thousand souldiours, and about twelue thousand camels, for most part laden with mettall in mass, for to make great ordinance of, and other necessaries for the campe. The Bassaes great and stately tent of purple colour, was pitched vpon [Page] the top of an high hill called the Bassaes hill, because in that place Solyman Bassa had lien in the former siege about foure yeares before: The Bassaes armie lay encamped betwixt the same hill and the towne. This Taut Gaiola was borne in EPIRVS of base parentage, and was from thence by the Turkes carried away young to CONSTANTINOPLE; where for his sharpenesse of [...] and rare actiuitie, he grew into such fauour, first with Mahomet, and afterward with Baiazet his sonne, that he was by them promoted to the greatest places of honour, next vnto themselues: wherein he became so popular, and had so possessed the hearts of the people, that it was suspected of some, he would haue aspired to the Turkish empire himselfe. Presently after the comming of this great Bassa, workmen were set a worke about the casting of the great ordinance, and making readie of other things for the siege. The Christians also were no lesse busie about their fortifications, the gouernour appointing vnto euerie man his charge, and which part of the wall to defend: yet keeping continually in the market place certaine companies (with the ensignes of S. Marke and S. Stephen) to serue as fresh supplies, as need or occasion should require. While [...]t the great ordinance was in casting, the Bassa caused a great bridge of timber to be made ouer the riuer, that so he might at his pleasure passe ouer his men, and commaund both sides of the riuer. The Christians in the meane time with vigilant eye so attending the Turkes, that none of them could stir within shot, but he was forthwith fet off and slaine.

The thirteenth of Iune, Mustapha the Beglerbeg or Viceroy of ASIA (commonly called the great Bassa of NATOLIA) came also in great pompe to the siege with thirtie thousand souldiors brought out of ASIA; personable men, but not accounted so good souldiours as they of EVROPE: for it is a common saying among the Turkes, That the men of EVROPE, and the horses of ASIA doe best seruice. This great Bassa was honourably met and welcomed by the other great Bassa of CONSTANTINOPLE, and was quartered vpon an other side of the citie, where his rich pauilion (all of Greene) was pitcht in a vineyard about a mile from the towne. Mustapha to proue the courage of his souldiours, propounded a reward to which soeuer of them, as durst aduenture but to go and touch the wals of the citie: vpon which occasion, two of his souldiours passing well mounted,Two o [...] the Turk [...] attempting to touch the wals of [...] ▪ are both sl [...]ine, and one of their heads set vp vpon the wal. attempted to haue performed that enterprise. But making what hast they could possibly, they were both slaine from the wall, and one of their bodies recouered by certain valiant souldiours which sallied out of the towne, and his head being cut off, was vpon a launce set vpon the wals for the Turkes to behold.

The fifteenth of Iune 5600 Ianizaries came into the campe, with foure white ensignes: at whose comming all the souldiors of both the Bassaes camps gaue a wonderfull shout, and welcomed them with great joy. These are the great Turkes guard and best souldiours, in whom the greatest strength of his kingdome consisteth, and are called the sons of the great Sultan: after whose comming, Mahomet himselfe was daily expected. Three daies after came two other great men, attended vpon with a number of followers, who by their countenance, and the great reuerence done vnto them by the rest of the Turkes, seemed to be men of great place and authoritie: these men desired that they might with safetie speake with the gouernour of the citie and the rest of the captaines, to deliuer vnto them such a message, as they had for their good (as they said) brought vnto them from Mahomet. Which their request being granted, the elder of them, after he had with manie glorious words set forth the power of his master, and what hee had done to other great cities, with their princes; and farther shewed into what danger they were like to fall, if they should long stand vpon their defence: he began to persuade them to yeeld vp the citie, assuring them of all kind vsage, with manie rich rewards from the great emperour; whereas otherwise, they were to expect nothing but extreame miserie and most shamefull death. Whereunto answere was in the name of them all giuen by the mouth of Petrus Pagnanus, a graue and worthy citizen, That they were not afraid of the greatnesse of Mahomet, or of anie thing he had done or could doe: and that he should find it hard to enforce them, but impossible to persuade them to deliuer their citie: and therefore that he might at his pleasure vse his forces against men fully resolued rather to yeeld vnto nature her last due, than to hearken to anie composition: and in conclusion told them, that if they should at anie time after make any such motion, they should not expect any other answere than from the mouth of the Canon. With which short answere these great men departed, not a little discontented.

At this same time the strong citie of CROIA (which the worthy Scanderbeg had liuing so honourably defended, and dying had left it with his kingdome, in the protection and possession of [Page] the Venetians) hauing holden out a years siege, after that all the kingdome of EPIRVS and most part of ALBANIA was lost, for lacke of victuals was yeelded vp vnto the Turke, vpon condition, That the hungerstarued defendants (who then seemed rather ghosts than men) might at their pleasure in safetie depart: which agreement the faithlesse Turke brake, and without mercie put them all to the sword. This heauie newes was deliuered to them of SCODRA by certaine Christians in the Turkes campe: wherewith they were much greeued, but nothing at all discouraged.

Whilest the Turkes thus lay at the siege, the watermen, of whom a great number liued vpon the great lake of SCODRA (being in circuit about an hundred mile) came many times down the riuer by night, and did much harme in the Turks campe: for remedie whereof, they were enforced to build certaine small gallies to keepe them in, who for all that many times stole secretly vpon them, and much troubled them.

The two and twentieth of Iune the Turkes mounted two great peeces of Ordinance vpon the top of the hill whereon the Bassa lay: whereof the one carried a bullet, made of an hard kind of round stone, of three hundred pound weight, and the other a bullet of foure hundred, wherewith they began to batter the towne foure daies: after that, they placed a third peece of artillerie at the foot of the same hill, which deliuered a bullet of foure hundred pound weight: and the next day they planted a fourth peece, greater than the rest, about the middle of the same hill, which carried a shot of six hundred and fiftie pound weight. In this while, eight thousand of the Turkes souldiours, called Asapi (which are knowne from the Ianizaries by their red caps, whereas the Ianizaries weare white) came into the campe. And shortly after came Mahomet himselfe with all his armie to the riuer of Drimon, whether the two great Bassaes of ASIA and CONSTANTINOPLE went with great pompe and triumph to meet him.

The second of Iuly Mahomet with all his armie before the rising of the Sunne came to the campe before SCODRA: where after he had well viewed the situation thereof, he is reported to haue said:

Mahomet in person himselfe commeth vnto the siege of Scodra.

The order of Mahomets campe.

O what a faire and stately place hath the Eagle chosen out for her selfe to build her neast, and to hatch her young ones in. Diuers rich pauilions were set vp for Mahomet himselfe, but one farre greater than the rest, distant from them about a flight shoot, which was the place wherein he held his counsell: the other were for his owne priuat vse. Round about these his tents lay the Ianizaries encamped, a good distance off; yet so close one to another, as if it had been a perpetuall rampire or strong trench, whereinto was but one entrance, continually guarded with a most strong guard. Round about the Ianizaries lay all the rest of the armie encamped: so that all the countrey, as farre as a man could see, was couered and white with tents, much like as when the ground in Winter is couered ouer with a deepe snow: and still moe people resorted to the campe dayly, so that it was d [...]emed by men of great experience, that Mahomet had then in his armie of all sort of people about three hundred and fiftie thousand men, all gaping to deuour that poore citie: a sight of it selfe sufficient to haue daunted the courage of right valiant men: But what can be terrible vnto them that feare not to die? Against this terrour of the enemie, the defendants were notably encouraged by the comfortable persuasions and exhortations of one Bartholom [...]us, a preacher (sometimes one of the worthie Scanderbeg his soldiors) who afterwards giuing himselfe to the studie of diuinitie, became a zealous preacher, and in this siege did notably comfort the Christian defendants against the terrour of so great an armie of miscreants. All this while the batterie was still maintained: and the fifth of Iuly the Turks mounted two other great peeces, whereof the one was like vnto the former before mounted, but the other placed vpon the middle of the Bassaes mount, was of an incredible greatnesse, discharging a shot of twelue hundred pound weight, and was called the Princes peece, in whose name it was with much cunning and industrie made: with which huge peece, the Turkes euen from the beginning of the siege had threatened the besieged, willing them to expect the comming of the Princes Peece. The next day they planted vpon the same mount a seuenth peece, which caried a shot of fiue hundred and fiftie pound weight: from which time they battered the citie with the aforesaid seuen great peeces; and ceased not oftentimes by night out of their great mortar peeces, to cast great bals of wild fire into the citie, so to haue set it on fire: whereby diuers of the citizens were enforced to vncouer their houses couered with shingle, and by men appointed for that purpose, to watch the fall of such fireworkes, and so to quench the same: which they so carefully looked vnto, as that the deuise of the enemie tooke none effect at all. At the same time also the Turkes out of their short mortar peeces cast huge great stones of incredible weight, which falling from high, did [Page] most terribly crush in peeces whatsoeuer thing they light vpon, wherewith the defendants were wonderfully troubled. In few daies after, the enemie mounted three other great peeces, whereof one was greater than that was called the Princes, and caried a bullet of thirteene hundred weight from which time they daily battered the citie with ten such peeces, as the like hath seldome times been heard of: and arrowes fell so thicke into the citie, as if it had beene continuall-showers of haile, so that no man could goe or well stirre in the streets without hurt. Yet in the middest of al [...] these dangers the Christians valiantly defended the citie, and with their deadly shot from the wal [...] and mounts exceedingly annoied the enemie. The eleuenth of Iuly the Turks mounted another great peece like vnto the former, vpon the Bassaes mount, and the same day battered the wals with 178 shot of this hugie artillerie.

Mahomet hauing by the furie of his great ordinance beaten downe a great part of the wall, and that now nothing stood in his way but such simple repaires as the defendants had made of timber and plankes, with earth cast in betwixt, was in good hope in short time to become master of the towne: and therefore sent certaine companies of his Ianizaries and other soldiors (which he with continuall supplies of fresh men still releeued) to assault the breaches, so if it were possible to enter the towne, or at leastwise to burne such fortifications of timber as the defendants had made. But that which seemed vnto him at first so easie, hee found in execution full of difficultie and danger: for the Turkes approching the breach, found there resolute men, a surer defence than any wall: whose valiant courage serued in stead of a strong bulwarke. So whilest the Turks desperatly striue in the face of the breach either to enter or to set fire vpon the new fortifications made for most part of timber, and the defendants with no lesse resolution doe what they may to the vttermost to repulse them, many were on both sides slaine, but especially of the assailants. Which Mahomet well perceiuing, and that by that manner of assault he gained nothing but notable losse and spoile of his best men, caused a retreat to be sounded, and his batterie to be againe forthwith renewed: euery day shaking the wall with 160 or 180 most terrible great shot, and one day with 194, which was the greatest batterie he made in one day during that siege.

After this great batterie, the tyrant caused a fresh assault to be giuen, but with little or rather worse successe than before: for though diuers of the defendants, & amongst them some of good place, as Franciscus Patauinus, Franciscus Scorbaro, two Italian captaines, and some other of the better sort of the citizens were there slaine with the great shot, whereof the enemie that day discharged into the breaches 193: yet were they with greater losse enforced againe to retire, and with shame to giue ouer the assault.

Notwithstanding this repulse, Mahomet continuing his batterie with no lesse furie than before, still sought by force of his artillerie to open a way into the citie: and the third day after the former assault gaue a more furious and desperate attempt vnto the citie than before, insomuch that the Turkes were in the breaches come to handie strokes with the Christians, and there made a most cruell and deadly fight; wherein many fell on both sides, but of the Turkes most, yet were there many of the Christians also slaine, especially with the Turkes great ordinance. It was a right ruthfull sight to haue seene the rampiers at the great gate of the citie beaten downe flat to the ground, and to lie full of the rent bodies of the Christians: at which place the enemie so preuailed, that he was euen now readie to haue entered; for the Turkes so furiously assailed the defendants, and the murthering shot from the Bassaes mount fell so thicke and so terribly into the breach, beside the infinit number of arrowes, that there was scarce any of the Christians which defended that place but they were either slaine or greeuously wounded. But when all seemed now almost desperat and forlorne, and the greedie enemie euen ready to deuour his prey, a new supplie of lustie souldiors well armed, came courageously to the breach, and as lyons encountering the enemie, draue him downe againe, and so enforced him with great losse to retire. Mahomet greeued with this repulse, in his furie caused 173 great shot to be discharged into the citie, and afterwards sending for his great Bassaes and other his principall men of war, declared vnto them his mind as followeth: ‘Mahomet purposing to giue a generall assault, encourageth his captaines and soldiors therunto.I thinke none of you are ignorant (right worthie souldiours) that now it is the third moneth since this citie hath by vs beene most straitly besieged, and with all manner of artillerie and engines of [...] impugned, assaulted, and on euery side assailed, the wals thereof vtterly subuerted, and the bulwarks laied flat with the ground, and (as you see) as good as rased: Besides that, so oft as wee haue set [...] [Page] vpon their fortresses, so oft we haue prouoked them of SCODRA to fight, and haue also much vexed them with assaults. Last of all, as you know, we haue left nothing vnproued, nothing vnattempted which could be deuised, the easilier to ouercome them, being wearied, worne out, & their strength spent. Wherfore (in mine opinion) the matter is not longer to be put off or delayed, but euen to morrow before the enemie can recouer his strength or repaire his breaches, let vs enclose the citie round, and giue them a generall and terrible assault: and therefore euery one of you make your selues readie, and exhort your souldiors in the campe, that they euery one of them to morrow with the dawning of the day come forth armed and well appointed for the winning of the citie. Now will I proue and know them that are worthie of my pay. Thou the Bassa of CONSTANTINOPLE, with thy squadrons and certaine companies of the Ianizaries our faithfull guard, giue charge vnto the breach: in the meane time, let the Bassa of ASIA with his power assault the other parts of the cittie: let euery man make readie and bring with him what so is needfull for this generall assault▪ my mind giueth me, that to morrow before this time we shall win the citie: for who is there can resist vs? The towne (as you see) is bared both of wall and of all other defence: the bulwarkes and ditches are laied euen, and an easie way for vs to come vnto it: the citizens themselues wearie with so many fights and assaults faint and want strength; whereas we are still fresh and lustie: they in number few; we almost innumerable: besides that, we farre passe them in the force of our artillerie, wherewith many of them shall perish in the defending of the breaches. Who then can gainesay, but that they of SCODRA are alreadie our prisoners? Where, vpon such as remain aliue, I will at my pleasure vse the law of armes and captiuitie. On therfore courageous hearts without further delay. Is not the very name of SCODRA hatefull vnto vs? for which of you dooth not with great disdaine call to remembrance the death of your parents, or brethren, or friends, or companions, cruelly slaine vnder these wals? Can you disgest your hatred against them of SCODRA? and so many slaughters of your friends, by them made? But to forget elder times, and the harmes receiued from them long since, let vs but looke vpon our late slaughters and wounds as it were yet bleeding: it is not yet full foure yeares since that we made warre with these men of SCODRA, wherein so many thousands of our people fell, that their slaughter is yet almost obiect to our eyes, and their blood crauing reuenge. This very hill whereon we stand, and the stones yet seeme besprinckled and polluted with their blood. Wherefore hast you as men of courage, take vp armes, valiantly mount the hill, assault the town, and reuenge your old iniuries. Glut your selues to the full in the effusion of the Christian blood, whereunto our lawes doe so much exhort vs, and do what you may with force and sword, that not one of them of SCODRA may be left aliue: which you may easily bring to passe, hauing all things thereunto needfull: for there is nothing to withstand you, nothing wanting for the gaining of the victorie. All things are prepared, all things are readie: an easie matter it is for a strong man to ouercome the weake and feeble, that wanteth strength as doe they.’

This speech of the barbarous tyrant, was receiued with great applause and good liking of the hearers: and now was SCODRA to be with all might and maine assaulted, and not a man there left aliue. Hereupon proclamation was made throughout the campe, That euerie man vpon paine of death should be readie against the appointed time. And the great captains and commanders of the armie departing from Mahomet, went vp to the top of the hill whereon the Bassa lay, and from thence taking view of the citie, and laying their heads togither, consulted how they might best giue the assault. The defendants on the other side alwaies expecting their enemies houering ouer their heads, left nothing vndone that they could possibly deuise, for the defence of themselues and the citie. Now vpon the top of the Bassaes mount was a royall pauilion erected, richly couered with purple, from whence the prowd tyrant might plainly behold all the assault: who with the dawning of the day (being the two and twentith of Iuly) entring the same, the Turkes who in the couert of the night had conuaied themselues as neere vnto the walles as they could,The cittie of Scodra assaulted by the Turks the fourth time. (vpon the signall of battell, giuen by a tire of ordinance discharged from the Bassaes mount) suddenly ran to the breaches as thicke as bees, in hope by their sudden approach to haue taken the Christians at some aduantage: wherein they were much deceiued. For they alwaies doubting such a matter, and carefully obseruing the least motion of the enemie, were alwaies in readinesse to meet with their attempts: so that the Turkes desperatly striuing to gaine the breaches, and the Christians valiantly defending the same, there was in diuers places begun a most cruell and mortall fight; but especially neere vnto the great gate, where the furie of the Canon had made the wals most saultable. There the enemie was come to fight hand to hand, and preuailing [Page] vpon the defendants, had set vp one of the Turkes ensignes vpon the top of the rampiers: which Mahomet beholding, rejoyced exceedingly, thinking the citie now as good as taken. But the Christians seeing the danger, speedily repaired thither with new supplies, and by plaine force draue the enemie out againe, and beat him from the rampiers. Vpon them also that were comming vp, they cast downe peeces of timber, great stones, wildfire, pots of lime, and such other things as might most annoy them: as for shot, none fell in vaine by reason of the wonderfull multitude of the Turkes, who stood so thicke, that a man could hardly haue cast downe a graine of mustardseed from the wall but it must needs haue light vpon some of them: by which meanes the Turkes were notably repulsed, their ensigne pluckt downe, and they enforced to retire from the wals. Which sudden alteration Mahomet perceiuing, fell into a great rage, and forthwith commaunded his great ordinance, with greater furie than euer, to be discharged into the breach: And with great words commaunded the two chiefe Bassaes which stood by him vpon the mount, to go presently downe and enforce the souldiours which were alreadie retired, to returne againe vnto the assault. These great commanders seeing the tyrant in such a fret, forthwith descended from the hill, and where persuasion would not serue, with their drawne swords enforced the souldiours to returne backe againe to the assault. The Turkes knowing that they were now in the eye of their king, and in the presence of their greatest commanders, striue with might and maine to win the rampiers: for in that place, the wals of the citie were beaten downe to the ground, shaken before this assault with 2539 shot of the cannon or other peeces of no lesse force. The Christians likewise in defence of themselues and their citie, with inuincible courage opposed themselues against the Turks:A most terrible assault. so that a more desperat fight than there, was hardly euer to be seene; desperat men with desperat hand assailing one another: And the more to encrease the terrour of the day, the thundring shot, with the clamour of men and noise of the instrumen [...] of warre, was so great, as if heauen and earth should haue presently fallen togither; and arrowes falling into the citie as if it had beene showers of raine, oftentimes darkened the light of the day. In this dreadfull fight, manie of the defendants were slaine; but of the Turkes, twentie to one. Neere vnto that gate where this terrible assault was giuen, were certaine loupes hewen out of the maine rocke, which flanked the ditch all alongst that side of the citie, out of which the Christians with their murthering shot made lanes amongst their enemies, and slew them without number. For all that, the mightie Bassaes and great captaines, one while by persuasion, another while by threatning, forced them still forward; and if anie turned backe, presently slew him: so that the Turkes seeing no lesse danger in retiring, than in fighting against the enemie, like desperat men thrust forward by heapes, and were slaine without number. Yet still pressing on so long as life lasted, and others stepping forward in stead of them that were slaine; they began againe to preuaile vpon the defendants (who in that place were for most part either slaine or hurt) and againe recouered the top of the rampiers, and there aduanced the Turkes ensignes. Then began the tyrant to lift vp his head, making sure account that the citie was now his owne. But as the common saying is, He that reckoneth without his hoast, must reckon twise: so chanced it to Mahomet. For the companies, from the beginning of the siege left in the market place readie for all euents, and oftentimes wishing for some occasion wherein to shew themselues; being now in good time aduertised of the imminent danger, came with speed to the place of the assault before the Turkes had taken good footing; and there valiantly encountring them, slew a great number of them, and forced the rest from the rampiers; and plucking downe their ensignes before set vp, in stead of them placed their owne. With which repulse the Turkes were so dismaied, that they quite forsooke the assault, and in despight of their imperious commaunders, not expecting anie signe of retrait, in hast retired to their campe. Mahomet fallen from so great an hope, and grieued aboue measure with this shamefull repulse, returned into his pauilion fretting and fuming as a man halfe mad, where two daies he tormented himselfe with his owne passions, not admitting any man to his presence. The Christians afterwards tooke the spoile of the dead Turkes, and cutting off diuers of their heads, set them vp vpon poles round about the citie, to the terrour of their fellowes.Twelue thousand Turkes slaine in the last assault. In this assault were twelue thousand of the Turks slaine, and many mo wounded. Of the Christians were lost 400: and of them that came to the breach escaped none, but he was wounded more or lesse.

After that Mahomet had two daies disgested the last repulse, the shame whereof grieued him more than the losse it selfe: he sent for both the great Bassaes of CONSTANTINOPLE & ASIA, [Page] and other two of his chiefe councellors, with whom hee resolued to giue another assault, and thereon to gage his whole forces: for they were all of opinion with him, that the defendants were so weakned and wasted with the former assault, that they could not possibly hold out another. Wherupon straight commandement was giuen through the campe, that euerie man without exception, should be readie to go to the assault whensoeuer they were called vpon: and the more to encourage the souldiours, great rewards and preferments were promised to them which in time of the assault should performe any especiall piece of seruice.The Turk [...] superstitiously reuerence the new Moone. The first appearance of the new Moone (which the Turks worship with great deuotion) was the time that Mahomet had appointed for this generall assault: in the meane space he spared not to poure out his furie against the wals and rampiers of the towne, by the mouth of the cannon. The Christian defendants on the other side, first by heartie prayer commended themselues and their citie to the protection of the most mightie, and afterwards with restlesse labour and no small perill, speedily repaired and new fortified whatsoeuer the furie of the artillerie had ouerthrowne or shaken; omitting nothing that could be done or deuised for the defence of themselues and the citie. Now as soone as the new Moone began to shew her selfe, the Mahometane priests going about the armie, gaue the souldiours knowledge thereof (as their manner is) by singing of a song, in manner of a procession; wherunto the whole armie answered with a short responde, but with such a terrible noise as was wonderfull to heare: and at the same time bowing themselues to the ground, saluted the Moone with great superstition. All their fond ceremonies performed, they began to drawnie the citie so thicke, and in number so manie, that all the ground for the space of a mile round about SCODRA was thicke couered with men. The Christians expecting euerie houre to be assailed, were readie vpon the wals and rampiers of the citie to repulse the enemie: but especially at the great gate where most danger was feared, for that the Turks with their great ordinance had made that place of all others most saultable. Here Iacobus Moneta a noble captaine, with his brother Moncinus a valiant gentleman, tooke vpon thē to receiue the first assault which is commonly of all others most terrible: for the Turks vse in their assaults to giue three attempts, whereof the first is most furious and dangerous, as performed by their best souldiours; the other two are of lesse force: but if they faile in all three, they forsake the enterprise as men discouraged. Whilest both the assailants and the defendants stood thus in readinesse, the one as it were facing the other a great part of the night, Mahomet before day went vp to the top of the Bassaes mount, from whence he had before beholden the former assault: at whose comming, there were presently eleuen cannons discharged, and twelue smaller pieces (the signal appointed for the assault.) The Turkes vpon this signe giuen,Scodra againe most furiously assaulted by the Turkes. with exceeding tumult and most hideous outcrie (as their manner is) began to assaile the citie round, and with such wonderfull agilitie of bodie and courage mounted the rampiers at the great gate, that they had there as it were in a trice set vp one of their ensignes, which was foorthwith pluckt vp by Moneta, and the Turkes with great slaughter driuen downe, where many of them were slaine with stones, timber, fire, and such other things cast downe vpon them; beside a great number slaine or wounded with shot, arrowes, and darts, whereof none fell to the ground in vaine, by reason that the Turkes stood so thicke, that they violently pressed one another forward, in such sort, that the formost could by no meanes shun any danger, were it neuer so great or terrible. In this sort the assault was with great slaughter of the Turkes continued vntill it was day; they striuing to win the breach, and the Christians most valiantly defending the same: Moneta himselfe in this fight receiued diuerse wounds, and was twice beaten downe to the ground; yet still recouering himselfe, encouraged his souldiors, and woorthily repulsed the enemie. Mahomet seeing his souldiors beaten from the breach, caused a tyre of his great Ordinance to be discharged vpon the Christians which stood therein thicke for the defence thereof, by force whereof many of them were rent in peeces, and the rest sore dismayed: which the Turkes quickly perceiuing, and therewith encouraged, came on againe with a fresh charge, forcing themselues to the vttermost to haue entred. But the valiant captaine nothing discouraged either with the losse of them that were slaine, or with the danger of himselfe, couragiously withstood the furious enemie, and maintained the place vntill new supplies came to relieue him, and neuer departed thence, either suffered any man to depart, vntill the assault was ended. Many were slaine on both sides, yet nothing troubled the defendants so much as the great ordinance; which being discharged from the Bassaes mount into the breach; at such times as the Turkes were driuen backe, slew many of the Christians, leauing the breach almost cleare: so giuing [Page] occasion for the Turkes to haue entred, had not other couragious souldiours stept vp in stead of them that were slaine, who manfully repulsed the enemie. The tyrant from the mou [...] seeing the inuincible courage of the defendants, was therewith exceedingly troubled: but fully resolued now or neuer to haue it, commaunded all his forces to be drawne from all other parts of the citie vnto the great gate, there to renew the assault; straightly charging his captaines, neuer to returne thence vntill they had taken the citie. Hereupon the greatest part of that hug [...] armie was forthwith in the sight of himselfe brought vnto the appointed place, and there gaue a sharpe and cruell assault at the breach, with such desperat furie, that in short time they had slaine most of the defendants there present, and aduanced diuers of their ensignes vpon the top of the rampiers. Which Mahomet beholding from the mount, rejoyced exceedingly, making sure account that the citie was now his owne: but by that time he had well conceiued this hope, new supplies of fresh and couragious men (of purpose reserued for all euents) came to the place of danger, and with great resolution encountring the wearied Turkes, draue them backe, cleared the breach, and ouerthrew their ensignes. Which so sudden an alteration in the breach, wrought no lesse alteration in the prowd tyrants mind, his hope was turned into despaire, and his rejoycing into choller: insomuch that in his furie, he commaunded all his great artillerie to be at once discharged into the breach;The assault fiercely againe renued by the Turks. whereby manie of his forward and couragious souldiours were slaine togither with the defendants. At the same time, the great commaunders and captaines knowing themselues to bee in the eye of their imperious lord and maister, with their drawne swords forced the poore souldiours againe forward to the breach; and the more to encourage them, aduentured themselues also amongst them: whereby the fight became more fierce and terrible than before. Manie of the Turkes were there slaine; yet such was the force and multitude of them which still stept vp in their place, and bullets and arrowes flew so thicke, that the defendants oppressed with multitude, and ouerwhelmed with shot, were hardly able longer to maintaine the place, being for most part either slaine or wounded. Whereupon a great one ran vpon the sudden through the citie, that euerie man without exception, should forthwith repaire to the breach. Which was with such cheerfulnesse done, that in lesse time than was to haue been thought, a wonderfull multitude of all sort of people was there met togither, encouraging one another against the present danger; who all as men resolued to lay downe their liues in defence of their countrey, valiantly encountred the Turkes vpon the top of the rampiers, and so hardly laid vnto them, that notwithstanding their great number, they began now againe to wauer and shrinke backe. Which thing the tyrant perceiuing from the mount, in great rage commanded his canoniers, as fast as they could to discharge the great ordinance into the breach, without anie regard of his owne men, so that togither with them, he might also kill some of the Christians: and withall imperiously commanded his captaines, with all their force and power to maintaine the assault, threatning them with most horrible death, if they returned without victorie. Hereupon the assault was againe renewed, euery man (in shew at least) set downe there to doe his last deuoire. But the great ordinance still playing vpon the breach, slew manie of the Turkes as well as of the Christians. Thrise the great shot fell amongst the Turkes themselues, and rent in sunder a great number of them which were formost, to the great discouragement of the rest: whereof the tyrant had small regard, so that togither with them he might also diminish the number of the defendants. Neuerthelesse, such was the desperat furie of the enemie, that the citie was in no small danger to haue been euen presently taken, had not fresh supplies come from other places of the citie which they were appointed vnto; who with great courage resisted the enemie. Yet the Turkes farre exceeding in number (and fresh men continually stepping vp in stead of them which lay by heapes vnder their feet, and serued them in stead of steps to get vp to the rampiers) maintained a long and terrible fight: at which time the great ordinance also sore annoied the defendants, so that with one shot (whereby the greatnesse of the harmes done at other times may be gathered) eighteene of the Christian defendants were slaine. As for arrowes, they flew as thicke as haile into the citie; so that they obscured the light of the day, and lay in most places of the street a span thicke: so that for the space of a moneth after, the inhabitants vsed no other fuell to burne,A wofull sight. but Turkish arrowes. It was a ruthfull sight to haue seene the bodies of the valiant Christians rent in sunder with the great shot, and pieces of them cleauing vpon euerie wall thereabout, euerie street was stained with their bloud, the great ordinance continually thundred, churches and houses came ratling downe, yea the heauie countenance of the [Page] ayre it selfe seemed to bewaile the miserie of the poore Christians: besides, the noise of trumpets, drums, and other instruments of warre, with the horrible crie of the hellish Turkes, was so great and hideous, that it seemed as if heauen and earth should haue gone togither: nothing was to be heard but the verie terrour of the eare; nothing to be seene but death, and the verie instruments of death. And now in this extremitie a fearefull crie ran through the citie, That without present helpe all would be lost at the great gate: Wherupon, not onely they which were whole (which were the fewest in number) but they also which lay wounded or sicke in their beds, cheering vp themselues, with weapons in their hands ran with speed to the place where the danger was; chusing rather there to die, than to be slaine in their beds. Thus whilest the Christians of all sorts, and from all parts of the citie ran desperatly to the gate, the Turkes were on euerie side hardly pressed and in great number slaine: yet fresh men still comming vp as if they had sprung out of the earth, the deadly fight was by them still maintained. For the Turkes on the one side, for feare of the tyrant, laboured with might and maine to win the citie; and the Christians on the other, knowing no hope left for them if they should be ouercome, with no lesse resolution defended the same.A doubtfull fight. In this obstinacie of minds, manie fell on both sides: sometimes the Turkes seemed to haue the better, and were straight way by the Christians put to the worse. Which manner of mortall fight with doubtfull euent, was continued most part of that day: vntill that at length manie being on both parts slaine, and the rest for most part sore wounded and hurt, the furie of the assault began to assuage: for the Turkes now wearie of that long and deadly fight, and fainting with their wounds, had no great stomacke to mount vp the rampiers, where they saw no hope to preuaile, but all things threatning present death. Mahomet beholding the wonderfull slaughter of his men, and that hauing done what was possible for men to doe, they now fought as men discouraged, and in despaire of victorie himselfe, caused a retrait to be sounded, which the Turkes no sooner heard, but that they left the assault, and without order ran to their tents as men halfe feared out of their wits.

Of this victorie, the Christians (as they had good cause) rejoyced greatly: yet was this joy mingled with much sorrow and heauinesse, for the losse of such worthy men as were slaine in that assault, manie of whose bodies, they were glad to gather vp by pe [...]cemeale, some here, some there, some cleauing on this wall, and some on that: which they, as the time would giue leaue, honourably buried with the rest of the slaine. At which time also, they with all diligence and expedition repaired their breaches, and put all things in such readinesse, as if they should haue presently receiued a fresh assault.

Mahomet wonderfully grieued with the shamefull dishonour and great losse he had receiued at the last assault, repented himselfe that euer he had taken the matter in hand, wishing that hee had neuer heard of the name of SCODRA: and in his choller and frantike rage, most horribly blasphamed against God, most wickedly saying, That it were enough for him to haue care of heauenly things, and not to crosse him in his worldly actions. In which furie he descended from the mount and got him into his tent, where he againe tormented himselfe with his melancholie passions by the space of two daies; wherein he would neither be spoke withall, or admit any man to his presence. Vpon the third day he called a generall counsell of his commaunders and best souldiours, and there openly before them all said, That he was determined to giue the enemie a fresh assault, for that being weakned with so manie assaults, he could not possibly be able to hold out another: and therefore hoped for an easie victorie. But he had no sooner so said, but that all they that heard him, cried out with one voice to the contrarie: saying, That it was not by anie meanes to be attempted, forasmuch as his best souldiours were alreadie slaine, and the greater part of them that were left, either sore wounded, or brought to that weaknesse that they were not able to doe anie more seruice; and that therefore it were better for them to kill one another, or else himselfe to kill them one by one, than to expose them to be so shamefully butchered by the Christians. In this diuersitie of opinions, Achmetes Bassa the great champion of the Turkes (a man reuerend and of great authoritie, for his birth, yeares, and rare experience in martiall affairs, and one by whom Mahomet had done great matters) standing vp, with pleasing speech calmed his furious mind, and with substantial reasons persuaded him to desist from that his entended purpose, and to take another surer course, as followeth.

Your great valour and worthie praises inuincible emperour (said he) who is able to expresse?

A notable speech of the great Bassa Achmetes.

the [Page] greatnesse wherof the mind of man cannot conceiue, and my dull spirit but wonder thereat; my tongue G faltereth to speake of them, neither would this time serue so much as to recount them. It is of all men deemed a thing of great honour (most dread soueraigne) when a prince hath receiued a kingdome from his ancestors, to be able in safetie to keepe and defend the same: greater than this is it, honourably to encrease and augment it, so left: but of a small thing, by worthie prowesse to bring it to the highest type of worldly honour, is of all other things the greatest. Which most rare excellencie, all men worthily ascribe vnto your perfection and felicitie: and I of all others can thereof bring the most assured testimonie, who haue oftentimes heard it of mine ancestors (which following the fortune of the Othoman princes out of ASIA into EVROPE) that your worthie predecessors at their first comming into EVROPE (without offence be it said) possessed but a corner thereof; to whom you afterward by diuine appointment succeeding, haue adioined so many prouinces, kingdomes, and empires, as were tedious to rehearse them. For who can worthily expresse, how you haue in EVROPE subdued CONSTANTINOPLE, the imperiall citie of the East empire, with all THRACIA, ACHAIA, GRECIA, PELOPONESVS, BEOTIA, THEBES, and the noble citie of ATHENS, the mother and nurse of all good learning. The empire of TRAPEZOND, with the emperour thereof, is by you ouerthrowne: the kingdomes of SERVIA and BOSNA, with the princes of PELOPONESVS, are by you gloriously vanquished. You haue at your commaund twelue kingdomes in ASIA the lesser, PONTVS, BYTHINIA, CAPPADOCIA, PAPHLAGONIA, CILICIA, PAMPHILIA, LYCIA, CARIA, LYDIA, PH [...]IGIA, NICHOMEDIA, and NICEA, with the famous citie of PRVSA. Besides these, IONIA, DORIS, SMYRNA, COLOPHON, EPHESVS, MILETVM, HALICARNASVS, PERGAMVS, with the countrey of TAVRICA, are vnder your subiection. The great countrey of ARMENIA hath felt your force: the Islands of LESBOS, CHIOS, and EVEoeA, are parts of your empire. What should I speake of infinit people and nations, by you most victoriously vanquished? This may suffice for all, that you haue gained from the Christians twentie prouinces and two hundred great citties. For it were too long to rehearse the Mahometane kings and princes by you also vanquished: in all your expeditions [...] things haue yet giuen place to your fortune. The antient monuments may now cease to extoll the praises of Caesar, Scipio, Pyrrhus, Hanniball, and other cheefetaines of ROME, and forraine nations: for why, they are all inferior to you both for victories and countries subdued. The Othoman familie is vndoubtedly fatall for soueraignetie: all the world shall in short time come vnder your gouernment, and all nations shall serue you. As for this towne of SCODRA, let it not so much greeue you: worldly things (as you know) doe oftentimes deceiue our expectation: in them fortune beareth great sway. Yet for this matter, quiet your selfe: for I dare gage my faith vnto your imperiall maiestie, that I will in short time find meanes, that this citie shall stand at your deuotion. Did not I of late bring into your subiection the impregnable citie of CROIA, which you so long desired? But whereas you would now agai [...] forthwith attempt to win it by assault, I therein craue your pardon, in that I cannot be of that opinion, but must needs thinke farre otherwise: for to attempt warre, and to be ouerthrowne, is an easie matter for euery man to doe; but to vanquish the enemie, and to carrie away the triumph, that right few men know. He that consulteth of such great and weightie matters, ought to be free both from furie and desire, both euill counsellours. The Christians of SCODRA are not in my opinion to be againe assaulted: for in so doing you shall but lose your labour. For if you could not subdue them, your armie being then fresh and strong, how shall you now ouercome them with much fewer, and they wounded, weake and feeble? I haue viewed the whole campe, and searched euery tent; and found no place, no tent, yea scarcely any cabbin, without groning, sighing, weeping, or wailing; in euery place was heauinesse, sorrow, mourning, and death it selfe: for in the last assault you lost thirtie thousand and more of your best souldior [...] ▪ many moe are greeuously wounded and maimed: none, but he carrieth about him some signe that hee was there: few or none there be that dare againe mount the hill to giue a fresh assault, they are all afraid and discouraged. Whom when I demanded, how so great a feare was come vpon them, and what was the cause they had so lost their wonted courage? they answered me, That it was the looke, euen the very looke of them of SCODRA, whose eyes did seeme vnto them to burne and sparkle with fire: their sterne and terrible countenances (said they) haue strucke this terrour into vs. Wherefore I thinke it not good to giue a fresh assault with men so dismayed: but rather to vse policie and delay against such resolute enemies. This citie of SCODRA is the eye and head of all this prouince, which the Venetians haue notably fortified and planted with store of ordinance and of all things els necessarie for defence thereof; but especially with most valiant souldiors, of purpose chosen out of many their garrisons for defence of this citie: you haue not now to doe with the weake and effeminate people of ASIA, but with [Page] A the hard and rough people of EPIRVS. And you know (most mightie emperour) the strength and courage of this nation: it is now thirtie yeares that you haue made warre against this people, and haue not yet altogether subdued them: and how dangerous and chargeable this warre hath beene vnto you, who knoweth not? It is now six moneths since we came first before this citie; we haue intrenched our selues round about it, we haue day and night laid hard siege vnto it, we haue battered it of long with eleuen cannons: I speake not of other smaller peeces or engines of warre, with all kind of shot and fireworke, and whatsoeuer els we could deuise. We haue many times to our cost assaulted it: what could be done by force, strength, or multitude of valiant men, is alreadie done in the former assaults. Nothing hath been left vnattempted, no policie no direction hath wanted in your leaders, neither courage in your souldiors. What should I recount the innumerable great shot, or speake of our arrowes and darts, deliuered into the citie as showers of haile? Did all this or any thing els we could doe, any thing terrifie these defendants? Were they not, nay are they not still readie, with great assurance and courage at all assayes to encounter vs. You take a wrong course by force to constraine them. They haue taken vpon them the defence of this place, and are not thence to be remoued, there shall you be sure still to find them either aliue or dead. And what account they make of their liues, you see; they will sell them vnto vs deare for their countrey, and preferre an honourable death before a seruile life. Wherefore against men so set downe, policie is to be vsed: and them whom we cannot by force subdue, let vs by delay and time ouercome. If you will win SCODRA, blocke it vp, build strong forts in places conuenient round about it, and furnish them with good souldiors: make a bridge ouer BOLIANA, with a strong castle on either side, to stop the passage: which done, besiege the other weaker cities of the Venetians, which are as C it were the lims of SCODRA: and subdue the countrey round about, which will be no hard matter for you to doe, being master of the field: so must SCODRA at length of necessitie yeeld vnto you, as of late did CROIA, enforced thereunto by famine. Thus may you in safetie without slaughter of your people come to the full of your desires.

The wholesome counsell of the Bassa so well pleased Mahomet himselfe, and the rest there present, that the assault was laid aside, and present order taken for the speedie execution of that which was by him so well plotted. Whereupon the Bassa of CONSTANTINOPLE with his forces was sent to ZABIACHE, a citie in the borders of DALMATIA, standing vpon the lake of SCVTARIE, not farre from ASCRIVIVM, which in few daies was yeelded vnto him. The Bassa possessed of the citie, thrust out all the inhabitants, and leauing therein a garrison of Turks, returned againe to the campe at SCODRA. At the same time the great Bassa of ASIA was also sent by Mahomet against DRIVASTO, a citie also of the Venetians: which when hee had besieged and sore battered by the space of sixteene dayes, the great tyrant came thither in person himselfe, and the next day after his comming tooke the citie, without any great resistance. Such as hee found vpon the wals, he put to the sword: of the rest he tooke three hundred away with him vnto the campe at SCODRA, and there in the face of the citie caused them all to be cruelly slain, of purpose so to terrifie the defendants. The next day after hee sent the great Bassa of CONSTANTINOPLE to LYSSA, called also ALESSA, a citie of the Venetians, situated vpon the riuer Drinus, about thirtie miles from SCODRA. The Bassa comming thither, found the citie desolate (for the citizens hearing of his comming, were for feare before fled) for which cause he set the citie on fire. Here the Turks digged vp the bones of the worthie prince Scanderbeg, Lyssa taken by the Turks, and the bones of Scanderbeg d [...]gged vp by them, and had in great reuerence. for the superstitious opinion they had of the vertue of them: and happie was he that could get any little part thereof to set in gold or other jewell, as a thing of great price, as is before declared. All these things thus done, Mahomet committed the direction of all things concerning the siege of SCODRA, vnto the discretion of Achmetes. By whose persuasion, he leauing a great power for the continuing of the siege, departed thence himselfe with fortie thousand souldiors for CONSTANTINOPLE, cursing and banning by the way all the countrey of EPIRVS, all the inhabitants therein, and euery part thereof, their corne, their cattell, & whatsoeuer els was fruitfull; but aboue all other things the citie of SCODRA, with all that therein was, for that he had neuer receiued greater dishonour or losse than there.

After his departure, which was about the seuenth of September, the two great Bassaes of CONSTANTINOPLE and ASIA, according to order before taken, built a great bridge ouer the riuer Boliana, and on either side a strong castle, to the intent that no releefe should that way bee brought into the citie. Which worke when they had brought to perfection, and furnished both [Page] castles with garrisons, ordinance, and all things necessarie, they left Achmetes Bassa with fortie thousand souldiours to continue the siege, and returned themselues the one to CONSTANTINOPLE, and the other into ASIA. The warie and politicke Bassa mindfull of the charge he had taken vpon him, tooke such order, that no releefe could possibly be brought vnto the citie either by land or by water: and so lying still before it a long time, brought it at length into such distresse and want of all things, that the poore Christians were faine to eat all manner of vncleane and loathsome things; horses were daintie meat, yea they were glad to eat dogs, cats, rats, and the skins of beasts sod: it exceedeth all credit to tell at what exceeding great price a little mouse was sold, or puddings made of dogs gu [...]s. All these bare shifts and extremities the poore Christians were content to endure euen vnto the last gaspe, rather than to yeeld themselues into the hands of their mercilesse enemies.

Whilest SCODRA thus lay in the suds, the Venetians wearie of the long and chargeable warre they had to their great losse now maintained against so mightie an enemie, by the space of sixteene yeares; and hauing no meanes to releeue their distressed subjects in SCODRA, thought it best to proue, if they could procure a peace from the tyrant. For which purpose they sent Benedictus Triuisanus, a graue Senatour and a man of great experience, to CONSTANTINOPLE: who so well vsed the matter, that after long debating too and fro, at length a peace was concluded; whereof the cheefe capitulations were, That the Venetians should deliuer vnto Mahomet the citie of SCODRA, the island of LEMNOS, and the strong castle of TENARVS in PELOPONESVS, and pay him yearely eight thousand duckats; That they might freely after their wonted manner trafficke into the Euxine by the straits of Hellespontus and Bosphorus Thracius, & other parts of his dominions. Concerning the citizens of SCODRA, it was comprised in the same peace,A hard choice. That it should bee at their owne choice either to liue there still vnder the gouernment of the Turkish emperour, or els at their pleasure to depart in safetie with their goods whether they would. Triuisanus hauing in this manner concluded a peace, in his returne homeward the fourth of Aprill, found the Venetian Admirall riding at anker in the mouth of Boliana, from whence they both by letters certified the Gouernour and citizens of SCODRA, in what manner the peace was concluded with the Turke, and what prouision was therein made for them. Vpon receit of which letters, the gouernor calling together the citizens, declared vnto them how the case stood: and there with them entered into consultation vpon this hard question, Whether they would remaine there still in their natiue country vnder the Turkish tyrannie; or forsaking the same, liue amongst other Christians in perpetuall exile? But after the matter had beene throughly debated, and many reasons on both parts alledged, at length it was by generall consent concluded, That they should all forsake the citie and the house of bondage, as dangerous both to their soules and bodies, and liue as it should please God amongst other Christians. So the Turks giuing pledges for the safe departure of the Christians in SCODRA, they all at an appointed day with bag and baggage came out of the citie, and were by the Venetians carefully transported into other pa [...]s of their territorie in ITALIE, where they liued in peace. The Turks (who had now besieged the citie a whole yeare) after the departure of the Christians entered the citie with great joy and triumph, which with many others therabout, hath euer since to the great ruth of all Christendome▪ remained in the possession of the faithlesse infidels.Scodra yeelded vnto the Turks. Thus was the strong citie of SCODRA lost, and the long warres ended betwixt Mahomet and the Venetians, which happened in the yeare 1478.

1480 Mahomet now at peace with the Venetians, sent the same Achmetes Bassa (by whom he had but a litle before taken in SCODRA) with his fleet of gallies against one Leonard, prince of NERITVS, ZACYNTHVS, and CEPHALENIA, islands neere vnto PELOPONESVS: where the Bassa arriuing, easily tooke the same islands, the poore prince for safegard of his life being glad to flie into ITALIE with his wife & treasure to king Ferdinand, whose nigh kinswoman he had maried.

About the same time Alis-Beg, surnamed Michal Ogli, Isa Beg the sonne of Cassanes, and B [...]l [...] Beg, surnamed Malcozogli (men of great account amongst the Turks, and most honourably descended) entred into TRANSYLVANIA with a great armie of an hundred thousand men, and brought such a generall feare vpon the country, that Stephanus Batore the Vaiuod, was glad with all speed to flie vnto Matthias king of HVNGARIE, to declare vnto him the danger of his countrey, and to craue his aid. Matthias at the same time lay sicke of the gout: neuerthelesse he tooke such order by his captaines, Stephanus Cherepetrus, and Paulus Kinisius countie of TEMESWARE, [Page] that the Turks were encountred not farre from ALBA IVLIA, and there in a great and bloudie battell ouerthrowne: wherein Isa one of their great captains was slaine, with 30 thousand Turks mo. Neither was this victorie gained by the Christians without losse, Bator the Vayuod himselfe being sore wounded, and eight thousand men slaine.

Mahomet in his ambitious humour,Mahomet longeth after the Rhodes. had long time desired to haue in his subjection the island of the RHODES. For why, it grieued him that so small an island should lie so nie his great dominions in ASIA, holden by a few Christians, to the great trouble of his merchants trading in the Mediteranean, beside manie other harmes daily from thence receiued, and to haue no feeling of his greatnesse. But forasmuch as the winning of that place was thought to be a matter of great difficultie, and in former times vnfortunatly attempted by some of the Mahometane princes: he purposed now with good aduise to take this enterprise in hand. Wherefore calling togither his graue counsellors and most expert men of warre, after he had declared vnto them the manifold injuries receiued from them of the RHODES; he propounded the matter, Whether it were best to attempt the winning of that island or not? Some forward men persuaded him to reuenge those injuries done by those Christians, and to subdue that island, which for the neernesse vnto CARIA, might of right be accounted as part of his dominion; and not to forbeare that enterprise for feare of repulse, forasmuch as he was able to bring mo men to assaile it, than were stones in the wall about it. Others better aduised, declared the strength of the island, with the valour of the defendants; men alwaies brought vp in armes, and as it were chosen out of all parts of Christendome▪ so that it was (as they said) like to proue a matter of more difficultie than was by some supposed; whereof some of the Mahometane princes had to their no small dishonour, alreadie made sufficient triall: Alleadging farther, that that small island which scarcely appeared in the sea, was not of that worth, as that he should thereon gage his honour, with the liues of so manie good men, and most valiant souldiours as might serue for the conquest of a kingdome. For all that, Mahomet prickt forward with the spurs of ambition, and continuall solicitation of Anthonius Meligalus, a fugitiue knight of the RHODES, resolued to follow the counsell of them which persuaded the warre. This Meligalus was a knight of the order, which when he had prodigally consumed his substance which was great, with two others, Demetrius and Sophonius, men of his owne qualitie and disposition, fled vnto the Turkish emperour; presenting vnto him a perfect plot of the citie, with all the strength both of it, and the isle wherein it stood, and which way he might with most ease win it. In which seruice they frankly offered to spend their liues: but hoping indeed by such foule treacherie to repaire their broken estate. All things being now in readinesse, Mahomet appointed Mesithes Paleologus, one of his chiefe Bassaes (the neere kinsman of Constantinus Paleologus the last emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE) Generall for that expedition; committing to his charge the whole managing of that so great an action. Mesithes embarking his armie in number eightie thousand, and throughly furnished with all things necessarie for the siege, set forward from CONSTANTINOPLE, and with a pleasant gale of wind, sayled alongst the coast of ASIA the lesse, towards the RHODES: where by the way he called vnto him Demetrius (one of the fugitiue knights) to learne of him the best meanes for the safe landing of his a [...]mie. As for the arch traitor Meligalus, and chiefe author of this warre, he was fallen sick vpon the way; and in the extremitie of his sicknesse, growing both troublesome and loathsome vnto the Turkes that were with him in the same gallie, was by the marriners throwne ouerboord aliue: crying out in vaine for helpe, no man vouchsafing to haue anie compassion vpon him;A death right worthy such a traitour. and so swallowed vp of the sea, receiued amiddest the waues, the just guerdon of his treacherie.

At this time Peter Damboyse a Frenchman, an Auergnoies, a man of singular gouernment, was Great Master of the RHODES; whose valiancie was such, that commonly once in eight daies he had certaine intelligence what great matters passed in the Turkes court: and therewith o [...] such deepe judgement, that he was seldome or neuer ouertaken, or deceiued with anie false aduertisements. This carefull Graund Master, was not ignorant of all these great preparations, neither of the comming of the Bassa; and therefore had before strongly fortified the citie, and so stored the same with all things needfull, as might well haue serued for manie yeares siege: but especially with such shot and powder, that it was deemed (as indeed it was) an especiall meanes whereby the citie was afterwards preserued. At the same time, manie noble and valiant gentlemen hearing of the Turkes designes, repaired thither out of ITALY, FRANCE, SPAINE, GERMANIE, [Page] and other places of Christendome, cheerfully to aduenture their liues, in defence both of the place, and of the Christian religion, against the common enemie of Christianitie. The Great Master taking a generall view of all the forces he had, to oppose against so puissant an enemie, found that he had in the citie sixteene thousand able men: in which number were reckoned manie Iewes and other men of seruile condition; who in the siege following, did right good seruice. The great Bassa conducted by the false traitour Demetrius, safely landed both his armie and artillerie in the island the two and twentith day of Iune, not farre from the citie. At which time the Great Master considering that the safetie of the citie consisted more in the liuely valour of the defendants, than in the strength of the dead wals, or other warlike prouision; thought [...] requisite, as a part of his duetie, by cheerfull persuasions to encourage them, valiantly to wi [...]hstand the force of their enemies. And therefore calling them all together, spake vnto them as followeth: ‘The oration of the Great Master to the rest of the knights and souldiors, to encourage them valiantly to with s [...]and the Turks.At length valiant souldiours and fellowes at armes, we see the Turkes our mortall enemies ( [...] we were before aduertised, as well by letters from our friends, as by common fame) breathing after [...] destruction; in readinesse to destroy our churches, our oratories, our alters, our religion, and whatsoeuer els we account sacred or religious; seeking the ruine of this noble citie, and the cruell death of vs all; gaping at once, to deuour our liues, our wealth, our hope, with all our former honour. And [...] as I cannot denie but that the chance of warre is doubtfull, and the euent thereof vncertaine: so when I consider your valiant courage and cheerfulnesse of mind, I presently conceiue a most assured hope of victorie. They haue entered into armes against vs, not so much for anie desert of ours, or vpon [...] other quarrell; as for the vnsatiable desire of rule, and the great despite they beare against vs and the Christian religion. But to withstand their furie, and to frustrate their designes, we want neither w [...] pons, nor artillerie, nor prouision for many yeares; we haue a most strong garrison of Frenchmen, Spaniards, Germaines, English, and others, the verie chiualrie of Christendome: and that which [...] is, Christ Iesus our Captaine and Generall, by whose power, we shall no doubt easily repulse the [...] force of our most wicked and gracelesse enemies. The care wee haue for the defence of the Christi [...] faith, wherunto we are by speciall profession bound, will animate and encourage vs against them, which seeke for nothing more than to extend their wicked and grose superstition, to the great dishonour of God, and of his sonne Christ Iesus▪ Besides that, we are warlike Frenchmen, Italians, Germaines, and other worthy Christians: they are of CARIA, LYDIA, CAPADOCIA, and the other delicat countries of ASIA; effeminat persons, brought vp to pleasure. I say it not to draw you into anie manifest or ineuitable danger, neither to feed you with vaine hope, or to fill your eares with windie words: b [...] this I promise and assure you of, that if this siege shall continue long, hither will come such strong [...] out of FRANCE, ITALY, GERMANIE and SPAINE, as will serue not onely to raise the siege, b [...] to recouer againe the empires of CONSTANTINOPLE and TRAPEZONDE. Then shall our en [...] mies see no good end of their counsels; but all their deuises so confounded, as that they shall hardly be able by speedie flight to saue themselues. But suppose the hardest should happen, which I feare [...]: would not anie man account his life most happely and honourably spent, in defence of a good conscience, and the quarrell of Christ Iesus? Truely my great yeares and course of life now almost spent [...] defe [...] of the Christian religion (as I euer desired) doth call me forth, as one so assured of that good laid [...] for me in heauen by Christ Iesus (whose battell we are to fight) that I no whit feare anie enemies force or future chance: which for all that, I haue as farre as I could, and to the vttermost of my power so prouided for, as that we will not (I hope) be therwith ouerwhelmed. Be you therefore of good che [...]re and comfort (as I know you are) and shew your selues valiant and couragious, which resteth wholy i [...] your selues: and as for all the rest, time, and our discretion shall right well prouide I doubt not.’

The valiant men and worthy souldiours, resting vpon the assurance of their aged gouernor, departed euerie man to his charge, full of hope and courage. Now had the Bassa landed his great armie, and sent Demetrius the traiterous knight, Meligalus his companion, with certaine troupes of horsemen and some foot, to view the ground, where he might best encampe with his armie. Demetrius in great pride riding about the citie, was knowne by Anthony Damboyse, the Great Masters brother; by whose leaue, he sallied out with a troupe of gallant horsemen, and skirmished with them: but the Turkes being mo in number, cast about to haue encloased them; which Anthony perceiuing, turned vpon them that were comming behind him, and that with [Page] such force, that he slew or wounded most part of them. In this hoat skirmish, Demetrius hauing his horse slaine vnder him, and himselfe ouerthrowne, was there troden to death vnder the horses feet: an end too good for so false a traitour. Muratius a French knight, vnaduisedly dispoiling his dead bodie, was by the Turkes slaine, and his head presented vnto the Bassa in stead of Demetrius.

The Bassa approaching the citie, at the first comming tooke a great orchard, which the Great Master had strongly entrenched, and therein placed certaine companies of souldiours, with some small pieces of ordinance: which place if it could haue beene kept, might haue fitly serued the defendants to haue at their pleasure sallied out vpon the enemie. But they which were appointed to the keeping thereof, either terrified with the sight of so great an armie, or else doubting to be able to hold it against so great a power, abandoned it by night, and retired into the citie; leauing the great ordinance behind them for hast. In this place, the Bassa by the counsell of George Frapaine (a Christian fugitiue of the RHODES, and now master of his ordinance) began to plant his batterie, & from thence to batter the tower called Nicholea, or S. Nicholas his tower, distant frō the citie three hundreth paces. But against this place, Damboyse had so aptly mounted two great Basiliskes, that he made him glad quickly to forsake the same: yet finding no other place more conuenient for his purpose, shortly after he neere vnto the same place planted againe his batterie, of farre greater force than before. Wherein beside the ordinance of greatest charge, he had three hundred smaller pieces for batterie: wherewith at the first he did small harme, for that this George Frapaine repenting himselfe (as it was thought) of his foule treason, bestowed the shot to small purpose; for which cause the Bassa began to haue him in distrust: which Frapaine perceiuing, fled by night againe vnto the RHODES, and discouered vnto the Great Master all the secrets of the Turkes campe. The Turkes continuing the batterie, had sore shaken the aforesaid tower called S. Nicholas, and beaten downe some part thereof: which the Christians with great industrie, speedily repaired in best sort they could. For all that, the Turks gaue therunto a fierce assault, by the space of six houres, forcing themselues to the vttermost to haue taken it: but perceiuing that it preuailed them nothing,Eight hundred Turks slaine. they retired, hauing lost eight hundred of their men, with manie others drowned in the sea, of whom the number was not knowne, and a thousand others sore wounded.

Mesithes disappointed of his former purpose, bent his artillerie against the wals of the citie, and with continuall batterie had made a faire breach. But Damboyse foreseeing the danger, had with great labour cast vp such rampiers with a countermure before the breach, that the Bassa durst not in anie case aduenture to enter the breach he had made. For performance of this so necessarie a worke, the captaines themselues refused not to put to their helping hands: by whose example, all the rest of the people which were able to doe anie thing, being moued, willingly employed their labour vntill the worke was fully finished.

Whilest these things were in doing, Cali-Bassa the younger (a great courtier) was sent from Mahomet, to see with what successe the siege went forward. Vpon whose arriuall, it was giuen out through all the Turks campe, That Mahomet was in person himselfe comming to the siege, with an hundred thousand men, and an hundred and fiftie peeces of great ordinance. These news (of purpose deuised to the terrour of the defendants) being blowne out of the campe into the citie, strucke an exceeding great feare into the mindes of some of the defendants, and so discouraged the Spaniards, with their nigh neighbors that came from NAVAR, that they began openly to reason in their conuenticles, That it was not possible for the citie to be defended against such a power; and therefore after an insolent manner, desired leaue to be gone: to the great discouragement of the rest. The Great Master vnderstanding of their doings, sent for these mutinous Spaniards: and after he had sharpely reprooued them both of disorder and cowardise, promised to ship them away forthwith out of the isle, saying, That he doubted not, right well to defend the citie against the greatest power of the Turke, without the helpe of such base minded cowards. In the meane time he commanded them to surcease from their mutinous talke, threatning otherwise to make them examples to others, what it were so much to forget themselues. But these Spaniards shortly after, better considering of the matter, and what a dishonour it would be both to themselues and their nation, if they should so dishonourably be sent away; repenting themselues of that they had done, came and craued pardon of the Great Master: and to redeeme their former fault, in all sallies and seruices during that siege, shewed themselues most valiant and [Page] forward men: for all that, the Great Master would neuer afterwards trust them in any seruice G alone. The Bassa attempting much and preuailing little, thought it would much further his designes, if he could by anie meanes take the Great Master out of the way, by whose carefull pollicie he saw all his deuises still countermaunded: wherefore to bring this his purpose to passe, he practised by the meanes of one Ianus a Dalmatian, to poyson him. This Ianus hauing conceiued this treason from the Bassa, was receiued into the citie of the RHODES, as a Christian fugitiue fled from the Turkes: where hee acquainted himselfe with one Pythius an Epiro [...], of great familiaritie with Marius Philelphus (of late secretarie vnto Damboyse, but as then out of fauour and in disgrace, for that he was partaker with the Spaniards in the late mutinie.) Ianus by the meanes of Pythius, whom he had now throughly corrupted, sought after Philelphus, who then as hee right well knew,Treason against the great Master d [...]sc [...]ered, and the traitours executed. liued discontented, as a fit instrument whereby to worke this treason; for that he was a man well acquainted with the cookes and butlers, and other seruitours in the Great Masters house, and himselfe (yet) there verie conuersant also. Pythius presuming of his old acquaintance and familiaritie with Philelphus, and waiting vpon his melancholie humour, began to persuade him to reuenge the disgrace he liued in, and withall to shew him the meanes how to doe it, by poysoning of the Great Master: which might (as he said) fall out to his greater good than he was yet aware of. Philelphus making semblant as if he had not disliked of the motion, was desirous to know of him what farther benefit might thereby arise vnto him, more than reuenge. To whom Pythius forthwith shewed the Bassaes letters to Ianus, whereby hee assured him, that whatsoeuer he should promise vnto anie man for the furtherance of the practice, he would to the full performe the same. Philelphus hauing got full vnderstanding of the treason, presently discouered the same to Damboyse. By whose commandement Ianus and Pythius were straightwaies apprehended, and being examined confessed the treason: for which Ianus lost his head, and Pythius (as hee had well deserued) was shamefully hanged. Philelphus for his fidelitie, was pardoned his former errour, and againe receiued into the Great Masters fauour.

The Bassa vnderstanding that the treason was discouered, and the traitours executed, was much grieued therewith. Neuerthelesse, he ceased not with continuall batterie to shake the citie, but especially the tower of S. Nicholas, for the assailing whereof he made wonderfull preparation. Amongst other things, he had framed a great bridge, staied with strong ropes and cables, ouer a short fret of the sea, betwixt the place of his batterie and the same tower, whereon six men might march a breast: in which deuise he reposed great hope. But as the Turkes were making fast this bridge, and had (as they thought) brought the worke to a good perfection; Geruaise Rogers an English man of great courage, and verie skilfull in sea matters, found meanes by night to cut and breake in sunder all the ropes and cables wherewith the bridge was staied: which now loose, was by the violence of the sea quickly carried away, and the Turkes disappointed of their purpose. For which good seruice he was by the Great Master honorably rewarded, and of him in publike audience highly commended.

Yet was the furious batterie by the Bassa still maintained, and a new bridge framed vpon small boats and lighters, fast moored with cables and anchors; and diuers peeces of great ordinance placed in fusts and gallies. So that the tower was at one time battered both by sea and land, the defendants assailed with small shot and arrowes innumerable, and the tower at the same instant desperatly scaled. But Damboyse had so placed his great ordinance, that with the force therof the bridge was broken in sunder, foure of their great fusts sunke, with great store both of men and ordinance: the defendants also in the tower, with shot, timber, stones, and other such like things prouided for that purpose, grieuously ouerwhelmed the Turks that were scaling the wals, and beat them downe with great slaughter. This hoat assault was desperatly maintained by the Turkes, from three a clocke in the morning vntill ten: when the Bassa seeing no hope to preuaile, gaue ouer the assault,Two thousand fiue hundred Turks slaine in the assault. hauing therein lost aboue 2500 men; whose dead bodies shortly after driuen on shoare, were spoyled by the Christians. The same night two mercinarie souldiors of CRETE, going about to haue fled vnto the enemie, were apprehended and put to death. And George Frapaine, who in the beginning of the siege fled from the Turks, now againe vehemently suspected of treason, was executed also.

Thus neither force nor treason preuailing, the Bassa because he would leaue nothing vnproued that might better his cause, sent certaine messengers vnto the great Master, offering vnto him [Page] in the name of the Turkish emperour, great rewards, with many honourable preferments, if he would yeeld vp the citie; which he could not (as they would haue persuaded him) long hold against so mightie an enemie: wishing him now in his declining estate not to refuse such honourable and princely offers, for feare he were afterwards constrained to accept of farre worse, or els through his desperat wilfulnesse plunge himselfe and his people into such extreame perill, as should be impossible for him or them to find any way out of. Whereunto the great Master in breefe answered:The resolute answer of the great Master. That he would not willingly in his sure estate vse the counsell of his enemie: neither in his greatest distresse refuse chearefully to yeeld his life vnto Almightie God, to whom he did owe it; and that with farre better will than to yeeld vp the citie vpon any conditions, beare they neuer so faire a shew of honour or profit. The messengers perceiuing his constant resolution, rather to die than to yeeld his citie, began (according to instructions before giuen them by the Bassa) to temper with him another way, and to persuade him to yeeld vnto the mightie emperour some small yearely tribute or other homage, as an acknowledgement of his greatnesse, and so to liue as his friend in peace. But the great Master knowing by the wofull example of others, that in that small request lay included the beginning of the Turkish thraldome and slauerie: vtterly refused to pay him the least tribute, or to doe him the least homage that could be deuised. With which answere the messengers returned, hauing obtained nothing of that they were sent for.

The resolute answer of the great Master reported by the aforesaid messengers vnto the Bassa, troubled him exceedingly: for though he had small hope by force to win the citie, yet hee was alwayes in hope vntill now, at his pleasure to forsake the siege with some such reasonable composition as might stand with his honour. But sith nothing remained now, but by plaine force to constraine his enemies; hee resolued for the safegard of his honour, in that extremitie to vse that extreame remedie. Wherfore beside the great peeces of batterie he had alreadie planted against the wals, he mounted diuers smaller peeces much higher, thereby the more to annoy the defendants, by beating downe of their churches and high built houses. His ordinance thus placed, he battered the citie day and night for the space of foure dayes together without intermission: during which time, the Christians out of the citie spared not liberally to bestow their shot amongst their enemies also: so that the aire seemed to grow thicke, and the light of the day to be darkned with the smoke of the great ordinance; and the great shot came so thicke into the citie, that the fearefull women and children were glad to shroud themselues from the danger thereof, in cellars and caues vnder ground. So long continued this great batterie, that at length the strength of the wall gaue place to the furie of the cannon, and a faire breach was laid open for the enemie to enter: which was no sooner made,A faire bre [...]h made by force of the Turkes batterie. but that with the first shew thereof the Turks gaue thereunto a desperat assault; and preuailing by reason of their multitude, had vpon the suddaine recouered the top of the wals, and there set vp some of their ensignes: but the Christians speedily comming in on euery side to the defence of the breach, they were againe quickly repulsed and beaten down into the ditches, out of which most of them neuer rise more. At which time the Turks in another place with their scaling ladders had gained the top of the wals, and there aduanced their ensignes also▪ and were now fiue hundred of them entred the citie, and come into the street called the Iews street: where they were encountred by the Great Master & his followers, and all slaine that were alreadie entred, and their ensignes that stood vpon the wals throwne downe. The rest yet scaling the wals, and ignorant of the fortune of their fellowes, were likewise beaten from the wals, and with wonderfull slaughter rejected. So that the Bassa not able longer to endure the slaughter of his men, being in both places repulsed, caused a retreat to be sounded, and left the assault; wherein he had lost of his most forward men about fiue thousand, with small losse of the Christians. In this assault the great Master himselfe receiued fiue wounds, whereof one vnder his right pap was thought to haue been deadly: which yet afterwards was very well cured with the rest.

After that the Bassa had by the space of three months to small purpose spent all his forces and deuises vpon the citie, he began to doubt whether it were better for him to raise his siege and depart, or to tarrie and expect some better fortune, which in all his former actions had seemed almost to haue waited vpon him: to forsake the siege, was dishonourable; and to continue it without hope, presented no lesse danger. Besides that, in the former assaults he had alreadie lost nine thousand of his best souldiours, and all the rest of his armie was filled with heauinesse and despaire, to heare the wofull sighing and groning of their fellowes, of whom fifteene thousand lay [Page] dispersed in the campe sore wounded, and readie many of them to giue vp the ghost: and also but euen a little before two great ships sent from Ferdinand king of NAPLES with men and munition, were in despight of all the Turkes gallies safely arriued at the RHODES, to the great joy and encouragement of the besieged, and no lesse discontentment of the Turks. Whilest the Bassa was thus deliberating what course to take, a rumor was raised in the campe, That the Christian princes were comming with great power to relieue the town: with which news the whole armie was exceedingly troubled; whereupon he raised his siege. Some others say that Mahomet hearing of the euill successe of his armie in the island of the RHODES, with the difficultie of the siege, and now readie to goe in person himselfe against the Sultan of AEGIPT, sent for the Bassa, and that so the siege was raised. Howsoeuer it was, the Bassa before his departure caused all the vines and trees growing in that part of the island to be cut downe and spoiled: and so after he had poured forth his furie vpon the sencelesse creatures,The Bassa raiseth his siege. which he could not according to his desire exercise vpon the people, againe embarked his armie, and with shame departed, the 17 day of August.

At the same time that the RHODES was thus besieged, Mahomet sent his old and most expert captain Achmetes Bassa, with a great fleet and a strong armie to make an entrance into ITALIE (for no kingdom was so strong, which the ambitious tyrant in the pride of his heart thought not hee might now commaund) and hauing long before conquered CONSTANTINOPLE▪ otherwise called New ROME, was still dreaming I wot not what of the conquest of old ROME also. The mischeeuous Bassa according to his great masters designs, embarked his armie at VALLONA (otherwise called AVLONA) a sea towne in the borders of MACEDONIA; and from thence passing directly ouer that narrow sea, which is in breadth about sixtie miles, landed his men in that rich and fertile part of ITALIE,Achmetes land [...]th his army in Apulia neere to Otranto, and spoileth the countrey. called in antient time APVLIA (now PVGLIA) neer vnto the old and famous citie of HYDRVNTVM, at this day called OTRANTO: where as soone as this warlike Bassa had landed his forces, he forraged all that rich country alongst the sea coast, and tooke such infinit spoile as might well haue satisfied the greedie desire both of himselfe and of his hungrie soldiors: all which rich bootie he caused to be conueyed vnto his gallies. So when he had at his pleasure raunged vp and downe the countrey by the space of foureteene dayes, and saw that none made head against him, he laid siege to OTRANTO, the cheefe citie of that countrey, and as it were the key of that part of ITALIE: and hauing with such ordinance as he tooke out of his gallies made a breach, easily entred the same, and so without any great losse tooke the citie. A thing not greatly to be maruelled at, for as much as it was but weakly manned, and more weakely defended,Otranto taken by the Turkes. by men altogether liuing in securitie in the middest of their wealth and pleasure. The Archbishop, with Zurlo the Gouernour, and the cheefe men of the citie, for safegard of their liues fled into the great cathedrall church, as into a sanctuarie; where they were altogether most miserably slaine. The rest of the citizens, whose hard fortune it was to escape the sword (as people reserued to more miserie) were afterward shipped ouer into GRECIA, and there sold for slaues. The landing of the Turkes in APVLIA, with the taking of OTRANTO, brought a generall feare vpon all ITALIE, insomuch that Sixtus Quartus, then the great Bishop of ROME, forgetting all things saue himselfe, was about to haue forsaken the citie for feare. Now after the Turkes had at their pleasure ransackt OTRANTO, Achmetes caused the same to be strongly fortified (as the sure footing of the Turkes in ITALIE) and victualled for eighteene moneths, and there leauing eight thousand of his best souldiors in garrison, returned himselfe with the rest to VALLONA, and so by land to CONSTANTINOPLE to know his great Masters further pleasure▪ but purposing with himselfe, with the first of the next Spring to haue returned with greater forces againe into ITALIE for the prosecuting of his former victorie. Which if he had done, it was greatly to haue been feared, that all that goodly countrey, sometime mistresse of the world, but then and yet also rent in sunder by the discord and ambition of the Christian princes, had in short time become a prey vnto the barbarous Turke for euer.

But whilest the great Bassa (in his life time the great scourge of Christendome) thus proudly plotteth the ruine and destruction of faire ITALIE, God in whose hands the hearts of kings are, put an hooke in the great tyrants nose, and led him quite another way. For at the same time, the Caramanian king, aided by the Persian and the Sultan of AEGIPT, had in a great battaile ouerthrowne Baiazet (Mahomets eldest sonne then liuing) and slaine most part of his armie: in reuenge whereof, Mahomet with great expedition raised a great and puissant armie, and taking [Page] Achmetes with him as his cheefe man of war, rejecting the wars of ITALIE vnto a more conuenient time, passed ouer into ASIA: where vpon the way, about a daies journey short of NICOMEDIA, a citie of BYTHINIA,1481 at a place called GEIVISEN, he fell sicke; and there for the space of three dayes greeuously tormented with an extreame paine in his bellie,Mahomet dieth at Geiuisen in Bythinia, not without suspition of poyson. He is buried a [...] Constantinople. which some supposed to be the collicke, died; but being indeed (as most men thought) poysoned: when hee had liued about 52 yeares, and thereof raigned 31, in the yeare of our Lord 1481. His bodie was afterwards magnificently buried in a chappell neere vnto the great Mahometane temple, which he himselfe first built at CONSTANTINOPLE.

The death of this mightie man (who liuing troubled a great part of the world) was not much more lamented by those that were neerest vnto him (who euer liuing in feare of his crueltie,The description of Mahomet. hated him deadly) than of his enemies, who euer in doubt of his greatnesse, were glad to heare of his end. He was of stature but low, and nothing answerable to the height of his mind, square set, and strong limmed; not inferiour in strength (when he was yong) vnto any in his fathers court, but to Scanderbeg onely; his complexion was Tartarlike, sallow and melancholie, as were most of his ancestours the Othoman kings; his looke and countenance sterne, with his eyes piercing, hollow and little sunke as it were in his head, and his nose so high and crooked that it almost touched his vpper lip. To be breefe, his countenance was altogether such, as if nature had with most cunning hand therein depainted and most curiously set forth to view the inward disposition and qualities of his mind: which were on both parts notable. Hee was of a very sharpe and apprehensiue wit, learned as amongst that nation, especially in Astronomie, and could speak the Greek, Latine, Arabicke, Chaldey, and Persian tongues. He delighted much in reading of histories, and the liues of worthie men, especially the liues of Alexander the Great, and of Iulius Caesar, whom he proposed to himselfe as examples to follow. He was of an exceeding courage, and thereto very fortunate: a seuere punisher of injustice, in them especially to whom hee had committed the administration of justice. Men that excelled in any qualitie, he greatly fauoured and honourably entertained: as he did Gentill Bellin, a painter of VENICE, whom he purposely caused to come from thence to CONSTANTINOPLE, to draw the liuely counterfeit of himselfe, for which he most bountifully rewarded him. He so seuerely punished theft, as that in his time all the wayes were safe, and a theefe scarcely to bee heard of. But these good parts were in him obscured with most horrible and notorious vices: for why, he was altogether irreligious, and of all others most per [...]idious, ambitious aboue measure, and in nothing more delighted than in blood: insomuch, that it is probably gathered, that hee was in his time the death of eight hundred thousand men: craft, couetousnesse, and dissimulation were in him accounted for tollerable faults, in comparison of his greater vices. In his loue was no assurance, and his least displeasure was death: so that hee liued feared of all men,The sonnes of Mahomet, Mustapha, Baiazet, and Zemes. and died lamented of none. He had issue three sonnes, Mustapha (dead before him as is before declared) Baiazet, and Gemes, or rather Zemes, of some called Zizimus, competitor of the empire with his elder brother: whom hee exceedingly troubled in the beginning of his raigne, so that he could not well attend any other thing but him▪ which oportunitie (by God himselfe no doubt offered for the safegard of ITALIE) Alphonsus duke of CALABRIA, (king Ferdinand his eldest son) taking hold vpon, with all the power he could make in ITALIE, besieged the Turks in OTRANTO: with whom he had many sharpe skirmishes, wherein he lost diuers of his great captaines and commaunders; as the countie Iulio de Aquaiua, Loys de Capua, and the countie Iulio de Pisa, with others, and was still by the strong garrison of the Turks put to the worse: vntill such time, as being strengthened with aid out of SPAINE and PORTINGALE, but especially with certaine companies of most valiant souldiours sent from Matthias Coruinus out of HVNGARIE (whose forces the Turks most feared) he began to cut them short, and straitly besieged the citie both by sea and land: vntill at length the besieged Turkes hearing of the death of their great emperour, and now hardly pressed with the dangers of a strait siege, no longer expecting the returne of Achmetes their Generall (then readie to haue come to their rescue with fiue and twentie thousand soldiors) yeelded vp the citie vnto the duke vpon composition before made,Otranto yeelded vp by the Turks vpon composition That they might with bag and baggage in safetie depart thence: which they did, after they had to the great terror of all ITALIE holden that strong citie by the space of a yeare. And so was that rich countrey rather by the mercie of God (in taking away the great tyrant) preserued, than by the strength or policie of the inhabitants; which was then in great danger to [Page] haue for euer giuen place vnto the power of the great tyrant, had he longer liued; yea and after G his death to the power of Baiazet his sonne, had he not by domesticall troubles been enforced to turne himselfe another way, and as it were to neglect in time to releeue his distressed garrison in OTRANTO, as shall hereafter be declared.

FINIS.

Christian princes of the same time with Mahomet the Great.

Emperours

Of the East

Constantinus Palaeologus, last Christian emperor of Constantinople. 1444. 8.

Of the West

Frederick the third, Archduke of Austria. 1440. 54.

Kings

Of England

Henrie the sixt. 1422. 39.

Edward the fourth. 1460. 22.

Of Fraunce

Charles the seuenth. 1423. 38.

Lewis the eleuenth. 1461. 22.

Of Scotland

Iames the second. 1437. 24.

Iames the third. 1460. 29.

Bishops of Rome

Nicholas the V. 1437. 8.

Calixtus the III. 1455. 3.

Pius the II. 1458. 6.

Paulus the II. 1464. 7.

Xystus the IIII. 1471. 13.

Bayezid II

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BAIAZET.

BAIASETHES II TVRCARVM IMPERATOR SECUNDUS FLORVIT ANo 1481

Phil. Lo [...]icer. Turc, Hist. lib. 1.

Arma manu quatiunt fratres hostilia, regnum,

Hinc Baiazethes, Zizimus inde petit.

Baizethes rerum potitur, Rhodon, inde Quiritum,

Zizimus extrema moenia sorte petit.

Sustinet & bello, varias & pace, procellas,

Baizethes, foelix & miser, inter opes.

Iam senio tremulus, fert bella domestica, regno

Agnato eiectus, dira venena bibit.

Like earthborne brethren, Baiazet and Zizimus in armes,

Seeke for the Turkish empire great, the one by th'others harmes.

Vntill that Baiazet preuail'd, and Zizimus was faine

To flie to RHODES, from thence to ROME, whereas he caught his baine.

Great stormes endured Baiazet, in peace and bloudie broiles:

A man both happie and accurst, amongst his richest spoiles.

But now forworne with trembling age, and ciuile discord new,

Thrust from his empire by his sonne, died poisoned by a Iew.

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THE LIFE OF BAIAZET, SECOND OF THAT NAME, AND SECOND EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES.

VPon the death of Mahomet the late emperour,Dissention amōg the Turks about the succes [...]ion. great troubles began to arise about the succession in the Turkish empire; some of the Bassaes and great captaines, seeking to place Baiazet the eldest sonne of Mahomet in the empire; and others with no lesse deuotion labouring C to preferre Zemes, or Gemes, otherwise called Zizimus, Baiazet his younger brother. By occasion whereof, there arose two great and mightie factions, which in few daies grew to such heat, that manie great tumults and hoat skirmishes were made in diuers places of the imperiall cittie, betwixt the fauourites of both factions, and great slaughter committed. In these broiles, the prowd Ianizaries for an old grudge slew Mahomethes, one of the foure great Bassaes, a man by whose graue counsell most of the waightie affaires of the Turkish empire had beene managed during the raigne of the late emperour: And proceeding farther in their accustomed insolencie, spoiled all the Christians and Iewes which dwelt amongst them, of all their wealth and substance; at which time the rich merchants and citizens D of CONSTANTINOPLE which were naturall Turkes themselues, escaped not their rauening hands, but became vnto them a prey and spoile also. The other three Bassaes of the court, Isaack, Mesithes, and Achmetes (lately returned from the winning of HYDRVNTVM in ITA [...]IE) although they secretly maligned and enuied one at the greatnesse of an other; yet to appease these so dangerous troubles, and to assure their owne estates, joyned hands togither, and by their great authoritie and multitude of followers and fauourites, found meanes that Corcutus (one of the younger sonnes of Baiazet, a young prince of eighteene yeares old) was as it were by generall consent of the nobilitie and souldiours saluted emperour, and with great triumph and solemnitie placed in the imperiall seat. In whose name, the aforesaid Bassaes at their pleasure disposed of all things, little or nothing regarding either Baiazet or Zemes, then both absent, the one E at AMASIA, and the other at ICONIVM in LYCAONIA: for the jealous Turkish kings, neuer suffer their sonnes to liue in court neere vnto them, after they be growne to yeares of discretion; but send them to gouerne their prouinces farre off: where they are also vnder the commaund of the emperours lieutenants generall in ASIA or EVRORE, and may not depart from their charge without great danger, not so much as to visit their father, without his expresse leaue and commandement. So jealous are those tyrants, yea euen of their owne sonnes.

Baiazet and Zemes hearing of the death of their father,Baiazet commeth to Constantinople▪ and of the troubles in the imperiall citie, hasted thitherward with all speed, where Baiazet being the neerer, first arriued: but finding the empire alreadie possessed by Corcutus his younger sonne, and himselfe excluded; he in the griefe of his heart, poured forth most grieuous complaints before God and man, calling heauen F and earth to witnesse of the great wrong and injurie done vnto him by the prowd Bassaes. And what by teares and humble obtestations, what by great gifts and greater promises, but most of all by the earnest labour & solicitation of Cherseogles the Viceroy of GRaeCIA, and the Aga or captaine of the Ianizaries, both his sons in law, preuailed so much with the great Bassaes and soldiors of the court, that Corcutus being of a mild and courteous disposition, ouercome by their entreatie [Page] and the reuerence of his father, resigned vnto him the imperiall gouernment, which he presently G tooke vpon him with the generall good liking of the people, and made Corcutus gouernor of LYCIA, CARIA, and IONIA, with the pleasant and rich countries thereabouts; allowing him a great yearly pension for the better maintenance of his estate, with promise also of the empire after his decease: and so sent him away to his charge, where he most pleasantly liued during the raigne of his father Baiazet; giuing himselfe wholy to the studie of Philosophie, which made that he was afterwards lesse fauoured of the Ianizaries and other men of warre.

Zemes riseth against his brother Baiazet. Zemes thus preuented by his elder brother, and vnderstanding by his friends how all things stood at CONSTANTINOPLE, and that Baiazet was alreadie possessed of the empire: returning with great speed, raised a puissant armie in the countries which were vnder his commaund; and marching through the heart of ASIA the lesse, by the way as he went, tooke into his possession H such cities and strong places as he thought best: and so entring into BYTHINIA, tooke the great citie of PRVSA, the auntient seat of the Othoman kings. Purposing in himselfe, that as Baiazet had shut him out of EVROPE, so he would also in requitall thereof exclude him out of that part of the Turkish empire which is beyond HELLESPONTVS in ASIA, and to make himselfe lord thereof. Wherein fortune at the first seemed vnto him most fauourable, all the people wheresoeuer he came yeelding vnto him obedience as vnto their prince and soueraigne: so that in short time he seemed both vnto himselfe and to others in strong possession of that part of the empire.

B [...]iazet g [...]eth aga [...]s [...] Zemes.Of these his proceedings Baiazet hauing intelligence, and perceiuing the greater part of his empire now in danger to bee lost; and doubting farther that Zemes his ambitious mind would I hardly rest therewith long contented: for remedie of so great a mischeefe, leuied a strong and puissant armie, wherewith he passed ouer into ASIA, and came to NEAPOLIS, a citie of ANATOLIA, neere whereunto Zemes lay with his armie strongly encamped. As Baiazet was vpon the way against his brother, Achmetes the great Bassa (in the confession of all men the best man of warre, and most expert captaine amongst the Turkes, and of all others most entirely beloued of the Ianizaries) came, and vnarmed, presented himselfe vpon his knees before Baiazet, his sword hanging at his saddle bow: to the great admiration of many, who could not but wonder to see so worthie a cheefetaine of so great place in time of seruice, without any apparent cause, in such humble manner to appeare before his soueraigne, as if he had had nothing to doe with armes. It chanced many yeares before in the mortall warres betwixt Mahomet the late and great emperor K of the Turkes, and Asymbeius Vsun-Cassanes the king of PERSIA, that Baiazet hauing the leading of the right wing of his fathers armie, had not martialled it in so good order as was to Mahomet his liking: for which cause he commaunded this Achmetes to goe and set that part of the battell in better order. Which his soueraignes commaund whiles hee most skilfully performed, Baiazet taking it in euill part, as tending to his owne disgrace, in great choller threatened the Bassa to find a time when he would be reuenged vpon him: But he being a man of great spirit, and one that durst both do and say much, perceiuing his meaning, bid him do what pleased him; and laying his hand vpon his sword, solemnly vowed, That whensoeuer he came to command as emperour, he would neuer after weare sword in field: the remembrance wherof was the cause that he then came in manner aforesaid, readie to serue if he were thereto commaunded, or otherwise L to endure what so his princes pleasure was. Baiazet perceiuing, that the vnkindnesse so long before conceiued, was not yet disgested, in token of grace stretched out to him his scepter, and taking him vp, commaunded him to girt his sword vnto his side, and not to remember that which he had long before both forgiuen and forgotten. And knowing right well that he was a most valiant and expert captaine,Achmetes made Generall of Baiazet his armie. made him Generall of his armie, to the great contentment of the Ianizaries and the rest of the armie: who so soone as they saw him, gaue out diuers great shouts for joy, as if victorie had most assuredly attended vpon him. Achmetes taking vpon him the charge, came and encamped so neere as he could to Zemes, and so lay by the space of ten daies: during which time, many sharpe skirmishes were made with diuers fortune; sometime the one side preuailing, and sometime the other. At length the matter was brought to a generall battell: wherein M after a long and cruell fight, and great slaughter on both sides, the fortune of Baiazet, conducted by the policie of Achmetes, preuailed against Zemes. Who seeing his armie ouerthrowne, betooke himselfe to flight, and came to ICONIVM: in which flight, many of Zemes his followers were taken prisoners, whom Baiazet would haue pardoned and enlarged, but that by the persuasion [Page] A of Achmetes he changed his mind, and to the terrour of others suffered them all to be put to the sword.

Zemes doubting after this ouerthrow to fall into his brothers hands,Zemes flieth into Syria. and finding no means to make head againe: when he had stayed three daies at ICONIVM, caused his treasure, plate, jewels, and other things of great valour and light carriage to be trussed vp, and taking with him his mother and his two yong children, a sonne and a daughter, accompaied with a small retinue, fled into SYRIA, then part of the dominion of Caytbeius, commonly called the great Sultan of AEGYPT and SYRIA. It was not long after the departure of Zemes from ICONIVM, but that Baiazet came thither with his armie, to haue surprised him: but vnderstanding of his flight, he took order for the peaceable gouernment of that part of his empire. And so hauing suppressed that dangerous rebellion, and againe reduced that troubled part of his empire to his obeisance, returned with victorie to CONSTANTINOPLE.

The distressed prince Zemes trauelling through SYRIA,1482 came at length to HIERVSALEM: where he stayed a good space, deuoutly visiting the monuments of that most auntient and famous citie. From thence he trauelled into AEGYPT; where at his first entrance into the countrey, he was met by diuers of the greatest nobilitie of that kingdome, sent from the great Sultan, by whom he was honourably conducted to CAIRE, and there presented to Caytbeius, of whom hee was graciously welcommed: vnto whom after due reuerence done, hee declared the cause of his comming as followeth: ‘C If it were not to me certainely knowne (most victorious) that you are not ignorant either who I am,Zemes his speech vnto Caytbeius▪ Sultan of Aegypt or from whence descended, or with what iniurie enforced, after long and painefull trauell I am here arriued; it would much concerne me to vse another manner of beginning of my speech, and with greater protestation of words to seeke your gracious fauour. But for as much as all these things are vnto your most royall Maiestie sufficiently knowne, as I doe well perceiue in this, that your infinit clemencie hath entertained me with farre greater kindnesse, than I in such my aduerse fortune durst wish for, much lesse request: now nothing remaineth for me to say, more than iustly to complaine vnto your inuincible Maiestie of the wrong and iniurie done vnto me by Baiazet, whom I may more iustly tearme my cruell enemie than kind brother. For he not contented to haue taken vnto himselfe my fathers empire by great tumult and slaughter, hath with all hostilitie and force of armes persecuted me his D brother, excluded out of the imperiall citie, and then liuing in BYTHINIA, troublesome neither to him nor any of his people, and neuer rested vntill he had chased me out of the bounds of my fathers empire. Neither hath the iealous desire of soueraigntie (whereof my father whilest he liued, had him alwayes in distrust) so much mooued him vnto this so cruell a fact, as a certaine vnnaturall crueltie towards all his kindred in generall, and mortall hatred against me his brother in particular: for he which is alreadie possessed of the empire, and doth with all hostilitie persecute a priuat person, subiect and exposed to his iniurie, that man thirsteth not after soueraignetie, but after blood; neither desireth he to conquer, but to kill. And whereas after my fathers death great troubles arise in CONSTANTINOPLE, and many bloodie skirmishes were fought betwixt the fauourits of both of vs, it cannot with any truth be laid to my charge, as done by my aduise or counsell, I being at the same time so far from thence. E Neither am I iustly to be blamed, if that after my fathers departure I put my selfe vpon the way towards CONSTANTINOPLE, especially being sent for thither by many my good friends, men of great marke and qualitie: but his fortune preuailing, I gaue place, and least my comming to the imperiall citie might haue been the occasion of new troubles, I turned aside into BYTHINIA, and so to PRVSA, with purpose there to haue rested in quiet, if my brother would haue giuen me leaue. But so farre was he from that, to suffer me there to rest, as that I was by him most cruelly assailed as an open enemie: and had I not by speedie flight withdrawne my selfe from the imminent danger, and departed quite out of my fathers kingdome, I must haue yeelded my selfe, my blood, and life, as a sacrifice into his cruell hands. Neither is he to me so mortall an enemie, or thirsteth after my life so much for feare, as for very hatred and mallice: for what is there in me to feare? Verely nothing: CONSTANTINOPLE is F his, the fauour of the great cheefetaines and men of warre is his, the treasure and regall riches are all his; wherefore he hateth his brother, but feareth him not. He will sway all things alone, he will haue all that belongeth to the Othoman familie alone, and he, yea none but he, must liue alone. Xerxes was a mightie king, and yet in that great and large kingdome he not onely preserued his brethren in safetie, but had them also in great honour and estimation. What did Alexander the Great? Who not [Page] onely tooke pleasure in his brother, but had him also as a companion of his most glorious expeditions:G and many other famous kings of forraine nations, and of our owne familie, haue ruled both more safely, and better strengthened with the counsell and aid of their most louing brethren, rather than with others. But Baiazet is of a farre other mind, reputing violence and haughtinesse of heart to be his greatest and surest defence: herein his fierce nature delighteth, more than in the lawfull course of nature, iustice, and equitie; he had rather haue his brother his enemie than his friend, and to driue him into exile than to make him partaker of his counsels. But I beseech thee most puissant Monarch, the faithfull keeper and maintainer of our law and religion, by the sacred reliques of our great prophet Mahomet, which thou hast at HIERVSALEM and MECHA, suffer me not, a kings sonne, to liue i [...] banishment and exile, poore and miserable, a scorne of his brothers crueltie, farre from home, farre from his countrey and kingdome: but regarding the law of the great Prophet, lift vp the afflicted and H oppressed, and by the great authoritie which you haue, bridle domesticall wrong; or if that will not take place, reuenge it with thy sword, and suffer not our empire, with so great trauell founded, by the crueltie or follie of one wilfull man to be ouerthrown: which should be no more greeuous and lamentable to vs, than dangerous to your most high estate, and all other kings and princes of our religion. For you of your selfe vnderstand right well, what deadly enemies the Christian princes are vnto the Turks: and doe you thinke, that if any great warre (which I wish not) should arise of this our discord, that they would long rest in quiet, and as idle beholders stand looking on vntill it were of it selfe appeased? Or rather, hauing such an opportunitie presented, would not with might and maine suddainely inuade our kingdome, before shaken with ciuile warres, and seeke the vtter ruine and destruction of the same? Which their desire, if that hatefull people could bring to passe (which thing Mahomet turne vpon I themselues) my mind abhorreth to thinke how far that mischeefe would run: for the Othoman familie once rooted out, there is none of our religion, your Maiestie onely excepted, which is able to withstand their power: wherefore you must then stand for your selfe, and all the rest, you alone must withstand the force of the Christians, you must maintaine that warre with much losse, and greater charge, and most vncertaine successe. Wherfore inuincible Monarch, I most humbly beseech thee, that pitying our estate, whiles the matter is yet whole, and remedie is yet to be had, to deale with Baiazet by your embassadors, That though he will not receiue me his brother as partener of the empire, yet at least to admit me into some small part of my fathers kingdome: let him raigne and rule, let all things be at his commaund; let it be lawfull for me poore man, but to liue in rest and quiet somewhere, possessing but so much as may suffice me honestly to lead a priuat life. Which thing if he shall refuse to graunt,K although he neither feare the lawes of God or man: yet as I haue at HIERVSALEM, so will I also shortly at MECHA (if by your leaue I may) complaine vnto the great prophet of the iniuries done vnto me by my cruell and vnnaturall brother; and afterwards make proofe of your compassion towards me, all which I hope shall much auaile. But if (which I would not) I shall proue all these things in vaine, sith desperation enforceth men to all extremities, I will goe with fire, sword, and slaughter, by secret and open force, by right and wrong; and hated, will vex my hatefull brother by all manner of mischeefe, by all manner of reuenge. Neither will I make an end of confounding of all, vntill I be either receiued into part of the empire, or els together with my life leaue those desperat and lost things for him alone to enioy. For I deeme it much better, quickly to die, than with disgrace and infamie to protract a lingering loathed life.L’

The great Sultan in courteous manner comforted the distressed prince, willing him to bee of good cheere, and patiently to beare his present hap: for as much as it became a man borne in so high fortune, not to be discouraged with any mischance, or dismaied if things fell out otherwise than he looked for: commending him withall, for that hee saw in him no lesse courage than might well haue becommed his better estate: and willing him to liue still in hope, promised to doe what in him lay,Caytbeius the Aegiptian Sultan sendeth embassadors to Baiazet. to reconcile him vnto his brother, and to persuade him that he might be receiued into some part of the kingdome. And to that purpose shortly after dispatched away an honourable embassage to Baiazet. Zemes in the meane while, by the same Sultans leaue, vpon a superstitious deuotion trauelled into ARABIA, to visit the temple of Mahomet at MECHA, and M his sepulchre at MEDINA. Vpon his returne to CAIRE, the embassadours before sent, returned also, but not hauing obtained any thing they desired: for Baiazet would not giue eare to any agreement, but seemed altogether to contemne and despise his brother. Wherfore Zemes more vpon stomacke and desire of reuenge, than for any hope he had of the empire, determined with [Page] A himselfe to make open warre vpon him: reposing some good hope in his secret friends, and in the reuolt of some of the great captaines, who discontented with the gouernment of Baiazet, secretly wished for his returne.

Whilest hee was thus plotting these waightie matters,1483 a messenger with letters came fitly from the king of CARAMANIA,The king of Caramania sollici [...]e [...]h Zemes to [...] take vp armès against Baiazet. offering with all the power he could make, to joyne with him, if he would take vp armes against his brother. This poore titular king then liued in ARMENIA, and being able by his friends to make some good force, was in hope by joyning with Zemes to recouer some part of the Caramanian kingdome, from whence his father was not many yeares before driuen by the force of the late Turkish emperour Mahomet the Great, Baiazet his father. It is hard to say, whether of these distressed and exiled princes gaue the greater encouragement B to the other, to take this desperat war in hand, being both together farre vnable by all the friends they could make to encounter with the great power of Baiazet. But what is so dangerous or desperat which aspiring minds will not attempt, in hope of a kingdome? whose brightnesse so dazeleth their eyes, that they can see nothing but it.

Hereupon Zemes hauing receiued great gifts of the Aegyptian Sultan, with promise of aid, departed from CAIRE (the Sultan earnestly persuading him to the contrarie) & as it was before appointed, met with the Caramannian king vpon the borders of ASIA▪ the lesser: where they concluded to joyne together such forces as they had, and to inuade Baiazet. Which they accordingly did: for raising all the power they could, they entered into CILICIA, now called CARAMANNIA; and joyning their armies together, encamped betweene ICONIVM and LARENDA. C Neither did Baiazet in time of so great a danger sit still, not so much fearing his brothers power, as the reuolting of his captaines and souldiors; whom he knew either to loue, or at least not to hate the young prince his brother. Wherfore he raised a great armie, and sent Achmetes the great man of war before with the one part thereof, himselfe following after with a far greater strength: for at that time he had vnder his ensignes two hundred thousand men.

As he was marching with this great armie, a rumor was raised in the campe, That some of his cheefe captaines had conspired to betray him into the hands of his brother, and that many of the souldiours secretly fauouring Zemes, would vpon the joyning of the battell forsake him, and take part with his brother. Which report so troubled Baiazet, that he stood in doubt what to doe, or whom to trust: but knowing that nothing winneth the heart of the common souldiour more D than the Generals bountie, he forthwith caused a wonderfull masse of money to bee deuided amongst the captaines and souldiors, loding their minds with ample promises of farre greater rewards, for their fidelitie and valour to be shewed in that present seruice. Hauing thus assured vnto himselfe the wauering minds of his souldiours, he began to draw néere to ICONIVM, where his enemies lay encamped: and by glosing letters and flattering messengers made shew openly, as if he had beene very desirous to come to some good agreement with them, but secretly went about to stop all the straits & passages, in such manner as that it should not be possible for them againe to retire backe into SYRIA: for hee doubted nothing more, but least they being but few in number, & so in strength far vnequall vnto him, would not vpon so great disaduantage hazard the fortune of a battell, but retire themselues into SYRIA, and so to his exceeding trouble and infinit E charge protract the warre.

Zemes perceiuing his brothers subtill drift, and seeing no such reuolt as he had hoped for, and as had before by letters to him beene promised; and waighing with reason his owne weake forces, retired in good time vnto the straits of the mountaine AMANVS, which deuideth CILICIA from SYRIA. Here, despairing of all good successe in the enterprise he had taken in hand, he persuaded the Caramannian king his confederat to giue place vnto the time, and to reserue himselfe vnto his better fortune: and so breaking vp his armie, with a few of his followers came downe to the sea coast of CILICIA; where he hired a tall ship to attend in readinesse, that if any suddaine danger should arise, he might goe aboord, and so saue himselfe by sea. In the mean time he sent a messenger vnto Damboys, Zemes flieth t [...] sea. Great Master of the RHODES, certifying him, That for F as much as he had no place of safetie left amongst his owne people, wherein hee might shrowd himselfe from the furie of his brother, still seeking after his life, hee would vpon his safe conduct come vnto him into his island of the RHODES. Which his request the Great Master easily graunted, deeming the flight of so great a prince from the Turke, to be a thing much profitable to the Christian commonweale: and thereupon he presently sent forth certaine gallies to fetch [Page] him from the troublesome coast of CICILIA. But before these gallies were come; Zemes was G enforced by the sudden accesse of his enemies, for the auoiding of present danger, to go aboord on that ship which he had prouidently before prepared to be in readinesse for such purpose. And hauing put a little from the shoare, shot backe againe an arrow with letters made fast vnto it, directed vnto his brother Baiazet, containing as followeth: ‘Thou knowest (most vnkind and cruell brother) that I flie not vnto the Christians, the mortall enemies of the Othoman family,Zemes his letters to his brother Baiazet. for hatred of my religion or nation; but enforced thereunto by thy iniurious dealing, and dangerous practises which thou incessantly attemptest against me, yea euen in my extreame miserie. But this assured hope I carrie with me, that the time will come when as thou the author of so great wrong, or thy children, shall receiue the iust guerdon of this thy present tyrannie against thy brother.H’

It is reported, that when Baiazet had read these letters, he was so troubled in mind, that for certaine daies he gaue himselfe wholy to mourning and heauinesse, and would in no wise be comforted: insomuch, that he was brought into the campe by the Bassaes, as a man halfe distraught of his wits, shunning for a season all mens speech and companie.

Zemes flieth to the Rhodes. Zemes sailing to the RHODES, was there honourably receiued of the Great Master, and all the rest of the knights of the order: to whom in their publike assembly three daies after, he openly declared the causes of the discord betwixt his brother and him: alleadging for the colour of his rebellion, That although Baiazet were his elder brother, yet that he was borne whilest his father yet liued in priuat estate, vnder subjection and commaund, long before hee possessed the kingdome, and so no kings sonne: whereas hee himselfe was the first borne of his father, being an I emperour, and so not heire of his fathers priuat fortune (as was Baiazet) but of his greatest honour and empire; and yet not of such an hautie mind, but that he could haue beene content to haue giuen place vnto his brother, so that he could haue beene contented likewise to haue granted him some small portion of the empire, wherein he might safely haue liued as a poore prince, and his brother: but that such was his pride, as that he would not vouchsafe to suffer him to liue so much as a poore priuat life in anie corner of so large an empire, and was therefore by his vnnaturall and tyranous dealing, enforced to craue aid of the Christian princes. Of whom (for so much as he had alwaies heard much honour) he was in good hope to find succour and reliefe in that his distressed estate: protesting vnto God and the world, that if euer it should be his good fortune by their meanes and helpe to obtaine the empire, he would neuer be vnmindfull of so K great a benefit; but to make with them a perpetuall and inuiolable peace, and so to rest their fast friend for euer. The Great Master on the other side comforting him with cheerfull speeches, promised to keepe him in safetie from the furie of his brother; and farther, to commend his cause to the other great kings and princes of Christendome.

The description of Zemes.This exiled prince Zemes was about the age of eight and twentie yeares when he came to the RHODES; of stature tall, somewhat corpulent and well limbd, gray eied, but looking something a squint; hooke nosed, and in the middle rising, in such manner as the Persians commend in their kings: of colour browne, spare of speech, and by nature cholericke; a great feeder, so that he seemed rather to deuoure his meat than to eat it; much delighted in swimming, and to lie abroad in the night; pensiue and melancholy, which men imputed to his great cares, neuer L merrie but in the companie of the graund Master; a religious obseruer of his superstition, from which he could neuer be drawne during the long time he liued in exile; learned, as among the Turkes, so that he writ the historie of his fathers life. But leauing him in safe keeping with the Graund Master of the RHODES, let vs againe returne to the course of our historie.

Baiazet hauing now the second time chased away his brother, after he had well quieted that part of his troubled kingdome in ASIA, returned againe to CONSTANTINOPLE, carefully attending when some new motion should be made by his brother, to his farther disquiet. But after he vnderstood that he was with the Great Master of the RHODES, he sent certaine of the Bassaes (amongst whom Achmetes the great souldiour is reported to haue beene one) vnto the Great Master, requesting him to deliuer vp Zemes, offering for him a wonderfull summe of money.M Which dishonourable request, when it could by no meanes be obtained, the same embassadors in the name of their master, concluded a peace verie commodious for the Rhodians: wherein amongst other things it was agreed, That the Great Master should keepe Zemes in safe custodie, so that he should no more trouble the Turkish empire: in consideration whereof, and for his honorable [Page] A vsage, Baiazet should yearly pay vnto the Great Master thirtie thousand duckets the first of August, which was afterward accordingly paied.

It fortuned that whilest Achmetes the great Bassa (emploied in matters abroad) was absent from the court,1484 Baiazet discoursing with the other Bassaes his graue counsellors, vpon his late expedition into ASIA against his brother, seemed to be highly offended with the vntrustinesse and doubtfull faith of some of his greatest captaines and souldiours: yet vpon whom he might justly lay the blame, he well knew not, although it seemed by his talke he should somewhat distrust the great captaine Achmetes. Hereupon Isaack the most auntient Bassa of the court, and of greatest authoritie next vnto Baiazet himselfe (whose daughter, a ladie of exceeding beautie, Achmetes had long before married: but doubting that she had yeelded her honour to the wanton B lust of Mustapha the eldest sonne of Mahomet the late emperoer, had put her from him, and would by no meanes be reconciled; for which cause there was a secret hatred euer after betwixt those two great Bassaes) perceiuing the emperours discontented and suspitious humor, and desiring nothing more than the destruction of Achmetes; tooke hold vpon this opportunitie, and by all meanes he could deuise, encreased the suspition of the treason, which had alreadie too much possessed the jealous emperour: sometimes craftily imagining, intelligence to haue passed betwixt Zemes and Achmetes; and forthwith amplifying his power and authoritie, which (as hee said) was so great with the Ianizaries and souldiors of the court, that they by reason of his often imploiments, were wholy at his deuotion; so that he might at his pleasure doe more in Zemes his quarrell,Achmetes his death contriued. than should stand with the safetie of Baiazet: a matter to be well considered of, and C also carefully preuented. For remedie of which dangers, it was thought necessarie that Achmetes at his returne to court, should be taken away and slaine.

Achmetes fearing nothing lesse than that which was contriued against him, came after his wonted manner to the court: and was with the other great Bassaes inuited to a solemne supper, which Baiazet had commaunded to be prepared, to solace himselfe after his trauels (as it was giuen out) with his chiefe Bassaes. To this royall supper came Achmetes with the rest of the bidden guests, mistrusting nothing, and was there sumptuously feasted by Baiazet: who to make his guests the merrier, drunke wine plentifully himselfe, causing them also to drinke in like manner, so that they were full of wine: a thing vtterly forbidden by their law, yet daily more and more vsed, especially by their great men in their feasts. Supper now ended and the night farre spent, D Baiazet in token that they were welcome, and stood in his good grace, caused certaine rich robes of pleasing colours to be brought forth, and to be cast vpon euery of his guests one, giuing beside vnto euery one of them a faire guilt boule full of gold. But vpon Achmetes was cast a gowne of blacke veluet, which amongst the Turks may well be called the mantle of death; being so sure a token of the emperors heauie indignation, as that it is death for any man once to open his mouth or to intreat for him vpon whom it is by the emperours commandement so cast. Achmetes seeing himselfe now vnder the shadow of death, and knowing it but vaine to intreat for mercie; as he was a man of great spirit, brake forth and said: Oh cachpogli (which is as much as to say, thou sonne of a whore) sith thou entendedst so much crueltie against me, why didst thou not put it in execution before thou hadst enforced me to drinke this impure and forbidden wine? and E so casting his eies vpon the ground sat still. The other Bassaes hauing leaue to depart, giuing thanks to the emperour, and crauing pardon for their excesse, kissed the ground at his feet and so departed: with whom Achmetes offered to haue gone out also, but was forthwith commanded to sit still, for that the emperour had to talke with him in secret. The Bassaes were no sooner departed, but the terrible executioners of Baiazet his wrath stept in, and laid hands vpon Achmetes to haue slaine him: when one of the Eunuchs in greatest fauour with the tyrant, standing by, aduised him not to be too hastie in executing of so great a man, so entirely beloued of his best souldiours and men of warre, but rather to stay his execution for a while, to see how the matter would be disgested; and in the meane time, by torture to wrest out from him what might be got, to make it in some sort appeare, that he died for his due desert. Hereupon Baiazet deferred his execution to a farther time, and caused him there presently to be stript, and carried away to be tortured.

Amongst other gallants of the court which attended the comming out of the great Bassaes whom they followed,Achmetes his son stirreth vp the Ianizaries to help his father. was one of Achmetes his sonnes, a gentleman of great hope, who missing his father amongst the rest, began presently to mistrust that all went not well: & speedily running [Page] from one of the Bassaes to another, with much adoe learned the hard estate of his father: wherof G he was also at the same instant aduertised by a secret friend neere about Baiazet. Hereupon this young gentleman began forthwith piteously to lament his fathers mishap, and to exclaime against the crueltie of Baiazet: calling vpon the Ianizaries for aid, putting them in remembrance of his fathers great and manifold deserts towards them, togither with his imminent danger: and so running vp and downe the citie in the dead time of the night, had in short space raised vp all the Ianizaries in armes. Who vnderstanding of the danger of their antient commander, whom they generally loued and honoured as their father, came running by heapes from all parts of the citie vnto the court gate, there with terrible exclamation doubling and redoubling, their Bre, Bre (which barbarous word they commonly vse in expressing their greatest discontentment and furie) and did indeed so furiously beat at the court gate, that Baiazet fearing least they should H breake in by violence, caused the outer gate to be set open, and shewing himselfe from aboue out at an yron window, demaunded of them the cause of that tumult and vprore. To whom they insolently answered, That they would by and by teach him as a drunkard, a beast, and a rascall, to vse his great place and calling with more sobrietie and discretion: and amongst many other opprobrious words wherewith they shamefully loaded him, they called him oftentimes by the name of Bengi, Bengi (that is to say, Bachelor or Scholler) which amongst those martiall men, contemners of all learning, is accounted a word of no small reproach and disgrace. And after they had in most despitefull manner thus reuiled him, they proudly commaunded him forthwith to deliuer Achmetes vnto them,Baiazet for feare deliuereth Achme [...]es to the Ianiza [...]ies. or else to take that should ensue thereof. Baiazet terrified with this insolencie of the Ianizaries, and fearing some sudden violence to be offered, commaunded I Achmetes to be without delay deliuered vnto them: which was done in such hast, that he was brought forth vnto them almost naked, bare legged, and bare headed, bearing in his bodie the manifest markes of his hard vsage. The Ianizaries receiuing him with great rejoycing, supplied his want of apparell with such habiliments, as they for that purpose vpon the sudden tooke from Baiazet his minions: and so taking him vp vpon their shoulders, with great joy carried him out of the court, still crying vnto him, How he did, and how he felt himselfe? and so guarded him home, readie no doubt to haue slaine Baiazet and rifled the court, if he would haue but said the word. But he yet loyall, laboured with good words to appease that tumult, and to pacifie their furie: excusing that which Baiazet had done against him, to haue beene done only to correct him, for that happely he had forgotten some part of obedience and duetie. Neuerthelesse,K hereupon remained no small heart burning betwixt Baiazet and the Ianizaries for a long time after: yet Baiazet for feare of them reconciled himselfe to Achmetes, and in open shew had him in greater honour than before, promoting him euen vnto the highest degrees of honour, howbeit he inwardly hated him to death. And the more, by the continuall instigation of the old Bassa Isaack: by whose persuasion, when it was thought that all had beene forgotten, he was by Baiazets commandement as he sat at supper in the court, thrust through the bodie and slaine.Achmetes slaine. This was the miserable end of Achmetes, the great champion of the Turkes, and one of the greatest enemies of Christendome that euer liued in the Turkish court: for by him, Mahomet subuerted the empire of TRAPEZONDE, tooke the great citie of CAFFA (called in auntient time THEODOSIA) with all the countrey of TAVRICA CHERSONESVS, the impregnable L citie of CROIA, with all the kingdome of EPIRVS, the strong citie of SCODRA, and a great part of DALMATIA; and last of all OTRANTO, to the terrour of all ITALY: by him also Baiazet vanquished and put to flight his brother Zemes, as is before declared. In reward of which good seruices, he was by the tyrant (vpon a meere suspition) thus cruelly & shamefully murdred. About this time also Caigubus (Zemes his son, then but a child) was by the commaundement of Baiazet his vnckle, strangled, in the new tower at CONSTANTINOPLE.

Baiazet now grieuously offended with the pride and late insolencie of the Ianizaries, caused secret inquirie to be made, of them which were the authors of those late stirs: and finding them to be the officers of their companies, and especially those which had before slaine Mahomet Bassa the great polititian, immediatly after the death of Mahomet the late emperour; at which time M they had also raised great tumults, and done much harme in the citie: he vnder colour of preferment, sent away those authours of sedition into diuers parts of his empire, appointing vnto them (as vnto old souldiors and men of good desert) certaine lands and reuenues for their maintenance and preferment. But as soone as they were departed, he by secret letters commaunded [Page] the gouernours and magistrates of those places wherunto they were sent, suddenly to apprehend them,1485 and as traitors to put them to death; which was accordingly done. The Ianizaries of the court and about CONSTANTINOPLE, hearing what had happened vnto their fellowes, became wonderfully discontented, and began to mutine in diuers places of the citie, vttering speeches against the emperour full of despight and reuenge: which thing when Baiazet vnderstood, and had well considered the late danger he was in, togither with the intollerable pride and insolencie of those his maisterfull slaues; he secretly purposed in himselfe for curing of so dangerous a disease, to vse a most desperat remedie: which was, suddenly to kill and destroie all the Ianizaries, especially those which were belonging to the court,Baiazet purposeth to destroy the Ianizaries. or about CONSTANTINOPLE. This his purpose he imparted to diuers of his greatest Bassaes, charging them vpon paine of his heauie B displeasure not to disclose it: and for the execution therof, had sent for great numbers of those soldiors which are called Acanzij, who are amongst the Turks reputed for the best sort of common soldiors. Most of all the Bassaes to whom he had imparted this his cruell deuise, much disliked thereof, as too full of perill and danger: yet seeing him fully resolued for the performance thereof, would not, or durst not say anie thing to the contrarie. Onely Alis and Ishender Bassa, both discended of the honourable family of Michal Ogli, dissuaded him from attempting any such thing: alleadging first, that the Ianizaries were in number manie, souldiours of great courage and experience, resolute men, and such as would sell their liues deare: then, admitting that he should kill all them about the court and in CONSTANTINOPLE, yet forasmuch as all his strong towns and castles, especially in the frontiers and chiefe places of his dominions, were possessed C and holden by strong garrisons of other Ianizaries, fellowes and friends of these (who would vndoubtedly take vp armes in defence of themselues, and reuenge of their dead friends) it were a thing verie like to endanger himselfe togither with the whole state of his empire, beside the great dishonour which would grow vnto himselfe thereby for euer.

This so dangerous an exploit, wherein the hands of so manie were to be vsed, was not kept so secret, but that the vigilant and wily Ianizaries had got an inckling thereof: and thereupon began daily more and more to suspect the matter, both by the often and secret repaire of the great men to the court, more than they had before seene; and also by the vnwonted multitude of those Acanzij which were daily brought vnto the imperiall citie by great companies. Wherefore fearing to bee suddenly surprised, they banded themselues togither, and openly stood vpon their D guard: and by chance lighting vpon Alis-beg as he came from the court (who was in deed their best friend) after their barbarous manner, with manie opprobrious and contumelious words, demaunded of him, if he were not one of them who had conspired their destruction: and without more adoe had presently slaine him, had he not (as a well spoken man) with great protestations and oathes persuaded them, that he neuer consented to anie such thing, or that they needed to feare any such thing from him: and so with much adoe rid himselfe out of their hands.

Baiazet seeing his purpose discouered, & that he could not without great bloudshed and danger both to his state and person, worke his will vpon the Ianizaries: by the counsell and aduise of them that saw farther into the matter, to colour his former intention, commanded by open proclamation, That the Ianizaries and other his men of warre (of whom hee had a great power now assembled at CONSTANTINOPLE) to be in readinesse against a certaine prefixed day, to go with him into MOLDAVIA: as if he had raised that power for that purpose onely. But when the time was come that he should set forward, the Ianizaries put themselues in order of battell by themselues, and would in no wise joyne themselues with the rest of the armie, or receiue the emperour into the middest of their rankes, as they had alwaies before accustomed; but furiously shaking their weapons at him, told him plainly, that hee had sought their destruction: and bid him therefore if he thought it so good, to set his executioners to worke vpon them, whom hee should find both readie and able to defend themselues. To pacifie their furie, Baiazet was glad to giue them good words, and to vse all the meanes he could (by his great Bassaes and other captaines which were able to doe anie thing with them) to persuade them to be quiet; swearing vnto them by the holy soule of his father (a solemne oath amongst the Turkes) that he would not harme or wrong the meanest of them. So with much adoe they were at length appeased, and receiued Baiazet into the middest of them as their wonted manner was.

This dangerous tumult so quieted,Baiazet inuadeth Moldauia. Baiazet set forward, and passing oue [...] Danubius entered into MOLDAVIA, where he first laied siege to a strong towne standing vpon the Euxine sea, [Page] called of the Turkes KELE, but in antient time ACHILLEIA, which was at length deliuered vnto him by composition. From thence hee went to AC-GIRMEN, otherwise called ASPROCASTRON, which after a moneths siege was also deliuered vp by composition: which two strong places so woon, he returned againe to CONSTANTINOPLE.

Many great princes sue to the Master of the Rhodes for Zemes.Many great princes desirous of Zemes, laboured by their embassadours to haue obtained him of the Great Master of the RHODES, first Baiazet his brother fearing least hee should at one time or other againe breake forth vpon him, or els set vp by the Christian princes, trouble his estate, offered great summes of mony to haue had him deliuered into his hands: and Charles the French king purposing the conquest of NAPLES (which he in few yeares after performed) and after that to haue inuaded GRaeCIA, thought Zemes a most fit instrument for the furtherance of those his high designes, and was therefore wonderfull desirous to haue had him. Matthias also king of HVNGARIE (a fortunat warriour against the Turke) persuaded that the hauing of him might be vnto him a great furtherance in the course of his victories, sought by all the meanes he could to haue obtained him. At which time also Innocentius the eight of that name, bishop of ROME, no lesse desirous than the rest, to haue in his keeping so great a pledge of peace and warre (the bridle of the Turkes furie, together with the large pension) hee was sure to receiue yearely from Baiazet for the safe custodie of him, so wrought the matter by Lyonell bishop of CONCORDIA his [...]nning legat, that the Great Master fearing on the one side to be constrained by the great power of Baiazet to graunt that he had so often refused, and now so earnestly solicited on the other side by the bishop, caused Zemes to bee deliuered to him at ROME in the yeare 1488: for which doing hee was by the bishop honoured with the honour I and title of a Cardinall. So Zemes to the great profit of the bishop (who receiued from Baiazet a yearely pension of fortie thousand duckats) remained in safe custodie at ROME all the time of Innocentius, and also of Alexander the sixt his successour: vntill that the French king, Charles the eight, passing through the heart of ITALIE with a strong armie, against Alphonsus king of NAPLES in the yeare 1495, and making his way through the citie of ROME, so terrified the great Bishop, who altogether fauoured and furthered the title of Alphonsus, that he was glad to yeeld to such articles and conditions as pleased the king; and amongst the rest to giue in hostage vnto the king his gracelesse sonne Caesar Borgia Valentinus, and also to deliuer vnto him Zemes his honourable prisoner, as shall be afterwards in place conuenient at large declared.

In the beginning of Baiazet his raigne, whilest he was busied against his brother Zemes in K ASIA, Iohn Castriot, the sonne of Scanderbeg, aided by the Venetians, after he had fortunately ouerthrowne the Turks in a battell neere vnto CROIA, recouered a great part of EPIRVS out of their possession. At which time also Iohn Chernouich, a Christian prince of ALBANIA, casting off the Turkish yoke imposed vpon him by the late emperour Mahomet, suddainely tooke vp armes, and by the helpe of the Venetians valiantly expulsed his enemies out of that part of ALBANIA: and so troubled Baiazet, that he was glad to suffer him peaceably to enjoy all that hee had by force recouered, and further to content him with a small tribute for the rest.

1486 Baiazet highly offended with Abraham (whom some call Pyramet) the king of CARAMANIA, for aiding his brother Zemes against him;Baiazet inuadeth Caramania. in reuenge thereof raised a great armie both in EVROPE and ASIA: & marching alongst ASIA the lesse through the countries of PHRIGIA,L MISIA, CARIA, LYDIA, and PAMPHILIA, entered at length into CARAMANIA. But the king of CARAMANIA hearing before of his comming, and knowing himselfe too weake to meet him in field, fortified the strong cities and places of his kingdome, and retired with his armie into the straits of the mountaine TAVRVS, where it parteth CILICIA from SIRIA, wherin he was in more safetie than in any of his strongest holds. Baiazet finding no way to come to him, spent most part of the Summer in spoyling of the open countrey: but perceiuing his enemies could not so be drawne into the field,Tarsus in Cilicia yeelded to Baiazet. he laied siege vnto the famous citie of TARSVS, being the cheefe citie of the champaine part of CILICIA (the natiue place of S. Paule the Apostle) and in short time so battered the wals of the citie with his great ordinance, that he had made them saultable. The citizens considering the danger they were in, offered to deliuer vp their cittie,M their libertie liues and goods reserued. Of which their offer Baiazet accepted, and most honourably performed his promise for their safetie: not permitting any of his souldiours to enter the citie, more than such as must needs for the guard of his person, and safe keeping of the cittie. And for as much as Winter began now to grow fast on, he dispersed his soldiors into the countrey [Page] A villages round about, not suffering the countrey people to till or sow their land, or to doe any thing els which might turne to their profit or good; whereby they were enforced to yeeld themselues wholly to his deuotion. The Caramanian king seeing his people dayly fall from him, and fearing to be at length forsaken of his souldiors also; in this his distresse obtained aid both of men and money of Caytbeius the great Sultan of AEGIPT, and so with all the power hee could make, tooke the field with the first of the Spring, fully resolued to trie the fortune of a battell, although in strength and power he knew himselfe much inferiour to his puissant enemie.

Baiazet glad to see his enemie so forward, speedily assembled his armie, and without delay offered him battell: which the Caramanian king refused not. So betwixt them was begun a fierce and terrible fight;A long and terrible battell betwixt Baiazet and the king of Caraman [...]a. which by the skilfull conduct of the leaders, and exceeding courage of B the soldiors, was maintained the whole day, with doubtfull victorie and great slaughter on both sides, new supplies still comming on in stead of them which were slaine. The day declining, the Caramanian king (whose fatall destinie had now appointed him vnto his last worke) seeing his wearied souldiours rather ouerlayed with multitude than by force vanquished, to begin to giue ground vnto their enemies; courageously thrust forward with his guard and other valiant souldiours about him, with such furie, that hee brake into the middest of his enemies battaile: where being knowne, hee was forthwith enuironned by the Turkes, and so hardly charged on euery side, that hauing his horse slaine vnder him, he was enforced to fight on foot; where after he had with his owne hand slaine diuers of his enemies, hee fell downe dead in the middest of them. His souldiors discouraged with his death, turned their backes and fled, and in flying, were C for most part either slaine or taken prisoners. After this victorie, Baiazet speedily ouerran all that large countrey, and without resistance, in short time brought vnder his obeysance all the countrey of CILICIA.

There was at that time in that part of CILICIA which is called TRACHEA, and lieth towards the seaside, an antient Mahometane prince, who had vnder his commaund most part of that country, with the famous and populous citie of SCANDELORO, the cheefe place of his resiance. This prince had of long time liued betwixt the Turkish kings and the kings of CARAMANNIA, as neuter, still fearing the greater, but indeed louing neither: and had vntill then chiefely maintained his state by the alliance he and his ancestors continually held with the kings of CYPRVS and the Grand Masters of the RHODES. Against this poore prince, the onely one now left in D ASIA the lesse, not subject vnto the Turkish kings, began Baiazet now to turne his forces: purposing before he proceeded any further, to make a full conquest of the lesser ASIA, and so to make all sure behind him. Of which his purpose, the prince hauing knowledge, and wisely waying his owne small power to withstand so puissant an enemie: offered by his embassadours to deliuer vnto Baiazet his chiefe citie of SCANDELORO, with all the rest of his territorie in CILICIA, vpon condition, that Baiazet should giue vnto him other possessions for it in some other pa [...]t of ASIA the lesser, to the like value. Which his offer Baiazet accepted, and so became lord of all the sea coast, from the straits of BOSPHORVS vnto the confines of SIRIA.

After he had thus conquered CILICIA, with a great part of the mountaine TAVRVS, hee descended into ARMENIA the lesse, and in short time brought vnder his subjection so much of E that countrey, as also of CAPPADOCIA, as was sometime belonging to the Caramanian kings. When Baiazet had thus slaine the Caramanian king, and subdued that most antient kingdome of the Turkes, which had long and many times mightily contended with the glory and power of the Othoman kings; he left Mustapha (one of his great Bassaes) at ICONIVM, with his Asian armie to keepe in obedience those new woon countries: and as a triumphant conqueror returned himselfe to CONSTANTINOPLE, where he was of his subjects joyfully receiued.

After that Baiazet had thus enlarged his empire with the kingdome of CARAMANNIA,1487 and was now become an vnwelcome neighbour vnto the great Sultan of AEGIPT and SYRIA; he began to swell in disdaine against that mightie prince, for that he had giuen aid against him, first vnto his brother Zemes, and after that to the Caramanian king in these late warres: of which F wrong, purposing to be reuenged; hee shortly after appointed one Caragoses Bassa his lieutenant in ASIA, with Ishender, another of his great captaines, with a strong armie to inuade SIRIA, then part of the great Sultans kingdome. These two great commaunders, well appointed for the purpose, when they were come to the vttermost parts of CILICIA, the new bounds of Baiazets empire, were then to passe by the confines of Aladeules his kingdome, before they could [Page] passe the great mountaine TAVRVS to come into SYRIA. This Aladeules commaunded as G king ouer the rude and fierce people which dwelt alongst that great and rough mountaine, and was then in league with the Sultan: he hearing of the approch of the Turks armie, with a great number of his mountaine people lay in ambush in the straits, whereby the Turkes must needs passe, of purpose to intercept them. Ishender marching in the vauntguard with a great number of the voluntarie souldiors called Acanzij, as the manner of the Turkes is, and fearing nothing lesse than to be set vpon by the mountaine king, before he was aware was come into the middest of his enemies; and was by them so fiercely charged on euery side from their places of aduantage, that he there lost most part of his men, and forsaken of the rest, which sought by flight to saue themselues, he with his two sonnes and others were taken prisoners. Michael-beg the eldest of the two being fast bound, was slaine by one of Aladeules his followers, whose brother he had H slaine in that skirmish: his head being cut off, was by the commaundement of Aladeules caried to his father Ishender, the more to greeue him: who disdainefully willed the messenger not to shew it vnto him, but to bid his master eat it if he would: with which answere Aladeules was exceedingly mooued: neuerthelesse pitying the old mans miserie, he shortly after set Iaxis Beg the yonger brother at libertie; but Ishender himselfe he sent prisoner vnto Caitbeius the great Sultan at CAIRE, where he remained in prison fiue yeares after. Caragoses the Bassa discouraged with the losse of so great a man, retired with his armie backe againe into CILICIA, and from thence aduertised Baiazet what had happened, by whom he was commanded to returne to CONSTANTINOPLE, as a man vnfit for so great an enterprise.

1488The next Spring following, Baiazet constant in his former resolution for the inuasion of SYRIA,I sent Achmetes another of his Bassaes,Achmetes Bassa discom [...]i [...]ed and taken prisoner and sent to Cai [...]e. with a farre greater armie than had Caragoses, against the Sultan: who was no sooner come vnto the farther part of CILICIA, but he was there at a place called of the Turkes TZVCVR OVA, encountered by the Aegyptians and Arabians, and there in a great battaile ouerthrowne; wherein he himselfe fighting most valiantly, lost two of his fingers, and being taken prisoner was sent to CAIRE.

1489 Baiazet with this ouerthrow rather incensed than discouraged, made great preparation the next yeare against the Sultan both by sea and land, such as he had not before at any time made. And when all things were now in readinesse, sent Alis Bassa (of some called Calibeus) and Cherseogles his sonne in law, two notable captaines, with a great and puissant armie by land against the Aegyptian Sultan: at which time he requested of the Venetians, with whom he was then in K league, that he might by their good leaue, as occasion required, refresh his fleet (then readie to put to sea for the inuasion of SIRIA, as he said) in their Island of CYPRVS. Which his request was by the generall consent of the Senat denied, as a thing tending to the danger of their state: yet wisely doubting least Baiazet taking that deniall in euill part, should seeke to haue that by force which he could not obtaine by request, they presently sent Francisco Priuolo, their Admirall, to sea with thirtie gallies for the defence of that Island. He hearing that one fleet of the Turks gallies, lately come out of HELLESPONTVS, lay houering at the Island of SCIROS, expecting a farre greater from the coast of IONIA; and carefully considering how secret and suddaine the Turkish designements were, although it was giuen out, that all that great preparation was made against the Sultan: yet to prouide that they should not suddainely surprise the Isle, hee speedily L sent sundrie companies of souldiours, especially archers out of CRETA, into CYPRVS, for the better defence thereof: but stayed himselfe with his fleet at the Island of NAXOS, that so at hand he might be the readier to withstand whatsoeuer the Turkes intended. But when he vnderstood that all their fleet was met, and now set forward, he hoised saile, and held his course directly for CYPRVS. In the meane time, the Turkish fleet sayling alongst the coast of LYCIA, PAMPHILIA, and CILICIA, kept on their course, vntill they came vpon the coast of SIRIA: by which time Calibeus and Cherseogles were come with a mightie armie into CILICIA, neere vnto the mountaine TAVRVS.

Caitbeius the Aegyptian Sultan hauing before had certaine intelligence of the great preparation that Baiazet had made against him, had before sent Vsbeg, a most valiant and politicke captaine,M with a strong armie of his Mamalukes and other his most expert souldiors into SIRIA, to be readie at all times to withstand the Turkes. This worthie cheefetaine vnderstanding of the comming of the Turkes armie, thought it greater policie to carrie the calamities which alwayes wait vpon great armies, into the enemies countrey, than to receiue it into his owne bosome. And [Page] therefore although he knew himselfe to be for number farre inferiour vnto his enemies, yet supplying that want with the valour courage and assured confidence he had reposed in the approoued and inuincible force of his Mamalukes, he expected not the comming of the enemie into SYRIA, but passing ouer the mountaine AMANVS, and so descending into CILICIA, met him not farre from TARSVS, in the same place (as it was thought) where Alexander the Great had long before in a great battell vanquished Darius.

These two puissant armies come from fa [...]re out of diuers part of the world the one to find the other,A long and terrible battell betweene t [...]e Turks and the Mamalukes. were no sooner come togither, but that with like cheerfulnesse they joyned battell; and that with such violence and furie, that the earth seemed to tremble vnder their feet, and a most present destruction threatned vnto them all: Which terrible and cruell fight was maintained all that day with doubtfull victorie and exceeding slaughter on both sides. The politike Generals with new supplies of fresh souldiours, continually relieuing the most distressed par [...]s of their battels: and they likewise as men prodigall of their liues, resolutely offering themselues to all dangers. When this most dreadfull fight had in this sort endured the whole day, and manie thousands of valiant men of late aliue, lay now dead vpon the ground, the approching night brake off the battell: and both the armies sore wearied and weakned (but especially the Turks) retired to their camps, where they rested that night.

But the Aegyptians comming to their campe, found all their carriages with their prouision of victuals and other necessaries quite taken away and gone. Which thing (as some write) the bordering people of the countrey (for most part liuing vpon robberie) had done in the time of C the battell, to please the Turkes: or as some others report, they which had the charge thereof, terrified with the greatnesse of the Turkes army, and doubtfulnesse of the battell, fled away; and taking their way alongst the sea side, fell into the hands of the Turkes which were put on shore out of the gallies, and so were of them spoiled. How soeuer it was (for in so great vncertaintie I dare not affirme) certaine it is, that the Aegyptians were sore troubled with the losse of their prouision; fearing that if they should now stay longer in the countrey, they should forthwith be driuen to great extremities for want of necessaries. Wherefore, when they had euill rested that night, the next day early in the morning they presented themselues in order of battell before their enemies, brauing them into the field, and daring them to battell. The Turkes disdaining to see anie prouder in field than themselues, after they had in goodly order raunged their battels, set D forward with ensignes displaied against their proud enemies. There began a most terrible and bloudie battell, fought with such desperat resolution, as if they had solemnly vowed either to ouercome or die in the place where they stood. A man would haue said, that the former daies furie had beene but a play in comparison of this. Manie valiant souldiours couered with their dead bodies the same ground whereon they liuing stood when they receiued the first encounter of their enemies. Of both those great armies none was seene to giue ground, or once looke back. The Turks Ianizaries, and the Aegyptians Mamalukes, the vndoubted strength of the greatest Mahometane Monarchs (souldiors for their valour much feared, and through the world renowmed) there buckled togither, and standing foot to foot, spent the vttermost of their forces one vpon another: as if they would in that battell haue made it knowne vnto the world, which E of them were to be accounted the better souldiours. Whilest victorie stood thus doubtfull, and the day was now farre spent, Vsbeg (the Aegyptian Generall) with fifteene thousand valiant horsmen (whom he had reserued for that purpose) gaue a fresh charge vpon the Turkes squadrons, with such force, that they had much adoe to keepe their order, and began now to giue ground; which was by and by made good againe, by other fresh men speedily brought on by the Bassaes. Then became the battell more fierce than before, euerie man striuing to the vttermost of his power, to sell his life vnto his enemie as deere as he could. In which manner of fight all the rest of the day was spent, vntill that after the going downe of the sunne, the darknesse of the night comming fast on, they were glad for lacke of light to breake off the battell and to retire themselues into their campes, not knowing as yet who had got the better.

F The Turkes Bassaes taking view of the armie, and finding that of an hundred thousand fighting men which they brought into the field,The Turks flie away by nigh [...]. there was scarce a third part left, and most of them also maimed or hurt; and doubting to be set vpon againe the next morning by their resolute enemies, fled away secretly the same night, leauing behind them for hast, their tents well stored with victuals, and all other things needfull. The Aegyptians also hauing lost one halfe of their [Page] armie (which was at the first seuentie thousand) and wanting their necessarie prouision, were retired G also the same night into the mountaine TAVRVS, not knowing anie thing of the flight of the Turkes. And some of the souldiours passing quite ouer the mountaite without stay into SYRIA, raised a report all ouer the countrey as they went, That the Sultans armie was ouerthrowne, and that the Turks had got the victorie: so vncertaine was the true knowledge of the euent of that battell, euen vnto them that were present therein. The Aegyptian lying that night vpon the side of the mountaine, had speedie intelligence from Aladeules of the flight of the Turkes: which being also confirmed by his espials to be true, he presently came downe from the mountaine, and entred into the Turkes campe, where he found plentie of victuals and of all other things needfull for the refreshing of his army.

Aladeules the mountaine king, with the people called Varsacide, by whose confines the H Turkes must needs in their returne passe, robbed and slew manie of them in their disordered flight; and had so stopped the passages, that they were in flying ouertaken by the Mamalukes and slaine, with so great a slaughter, that of all that great army of the Turkes few remained aliue to carrie newes home. Calibeius and Cherseogles the Bassaes, were in that flight both taken prisoners, and afterwards presented to Caitbeius the Sultan at CAIRE; with eighteene ensignes of the Turkes Sanzackes, which are great men amongst them, hauing euerie one of them the regiment and commaund of some one prouince or other, and are in degree next vnto the Bassaes.

Neither was the fortune of Baiazet his nauie at sea, better than that of his armie at land: for as it lay at rode vpon the coast of SYRIA at the mouth of the riuer Orontes, which runneth by I the famous citie of ANTIOCHIA, his gallies were by tempest and rage of the sea put from their anchors, and in the sight of their enemies swallowed vp of the sea; or else driuen vpon the main, and there with the surges of the sea beaten in peeces. Baiazet not a little troubled with these losses both by sea and land,1492 at length with much adoe, by his embassadours concluded a peace with the Sultan,A peace concluded betwixt Baiazet and Caitbeius. vnto whom he restored all such places as he had before taken from him: for which the [...]ultan deliuered vnto him, Calibeius, Cherseogles, Achmetes, and Ishender, with all the rest of the [...]urkes prisoners, which he had in great number in his keeping.

[...]hortly after this peace was concluded betwixt these two great and mightie princes, Caitbei [...] the Sultan died: who of a Circassian slaue, by manie degrees of honour, and by the fauour of the Mamalukes his fellowes, obtained the rich kingdome of Aegypt, which he right worthely K gouerned to his immortall praise by the space of two and twentie yeares; commaunding at one time the great and rich countrey of AEGYPT, with all AFFRIKE as farre as CIRENE, Westward; and IVDEA, with a great part of ARABIA, and all SYRIA, vnto the great and famous riuer Euphrates, Eastward. In the latter end of his raigne, he (ouercome with the importunitie of his wife Dultibe an Arabian borne, a woman of an hautie spirit) joyned his sonne Mahomethes, a young man of about foure and twentie yeares old, with him in the fellowship of his kingdome; that so possessed of it, his father yet liuing, hee might the better enjoy it after his death. Contrarie to the custome of the Mamalukes, who of long time had not vsed to haue their king by succession, but by their free election. Who grudging to be thus defrauded of their wonted choise, immediatly after the death of Caitbeius, slew Mahomethes his sonne; and in a few moneths L after, foure mo, who one after another, without their good liking, had aspired vnto the kingdome: neither could they be contented, vntill such time as that they had according to their wonted custome set vp a Sultan of their owne choise.

About the same time that the aforesaid peace was concluded betwixt the two great Mahometane princes, Baiazet and Caitbeius, Charles the French king was making great preparation against Alphonsus king of NAPLES, giuing it out, That after he had recouered that kingdome, he would forthwith from thence inuade the Turkes dominions in GRaeCIA. Which great attempt the haughtie king was induced to take in hand, by the persuasion of diuers of his nobilitie, but especially by the solicitation of Lodouicus Sfortia duke of MILLAN: whereby the whole state of ITALIE was in short time after sore shaken, and Sfortia himselfe, author of those troubles,M at last carried away by the French, miserably ended his dayes as a prisoner in FRAVNCE. Alphonsus the Neapolitane king doubting the greatnesse of the French king his enemie, entered into a confederation with certaine of the states of ITALIE against the French, but especially with Alexander the sixt then Bishop of ROME: for the beter assurance whereof, he gaue [Page] his base daughter in marriage to Godfrey Borgia, the Bishops sonne, and made him prince of CARINVLA: his other sonne Francis he entertained also in great pay to serue him in his wars. And by his embassadour Pandonius Camillus, lately returned out of FRANCE, gaue Baiazet to vnderstand what the French king had purposed against them both,Alphonsus king of Naples, and Alexander Bishop of Rome craue a [...]d of Baiazet against Charles the French king. requesting him to aid him with six thousand horsemen and as many foot against their common enemie, promising to giue them honourable entertainement during those warres. And to further the matter, Alexander the great Bishop sent George Bucciarde, a Ligurian, skilfull in the Turkish language, embassadour to Baiazet, to declare vnto him with what great preparation, both by sea and land, the young French king (desirous of honour and the enlargement of his kingdome) was about to inuade NAPLES; and then, with what great power (after he had dispatched his warres in ITALIE) he purposed to passe ouer into GRaeCIA; and that hee had to that end earnestly trauelled with him, to haue Zemes his brother deliuered into his hands, whom he desired to vse as a most fit instrument for the troubling of his state and empire, by reason of his many friends: yet that his Holinesse (hauing the French in distrust as a proud and ambitious people, as also carefull for the danger of the citie of ROME, and of the state of ITALIE in generall) had entered into a confederation with Alphonsus king of NAPLES, with their vnited forces to withstand that proud nation, both by sea and land; wanting nothing more for the accomplishment thereof, than mony: by which onely meanes Baiazet might (as hee said) prouide for the safetie of his kingdome in GRECIA, if he would put to his helping hand, to furnish them with mony for the entertainment of souldiors: for as much as the citie of ROME, and the kingdome of NAPLES, were the surest C wals of that side of the Othoman empire; if hee not altogether refusing the charge, would not spare for a little cost to maintaine the warre rather in that forraine countrey, than to receiue it, brought home to his owne dore: concluding, That it were much more commodious and easie with his treasures to represse his enemie in a strange countrey a farre off, than by dint of sword and plaine battell in his owne. A thing by experience well knowne, that they which haue neglected and set at nought remote dangers, for sparing of charge, haue afterwards been enforced with greater danger to receiue the same into their owne bosomes, when as they were become desperat and past remedie. Baiazet, who both by his espials and often letters and embassadours from Alphonsus, knew all this to be true, gaue great thankes to the bishop by his embassador, for that he sitting in so high place, did so friendly and in so good time admonish him, both a stranger, and D of a contrarie religion, of things of so great consequence: yet for answere, hee willed him to returne againe to his master with one Dautius his embassadour, who should carrie with him both money and his other secret resolutions concerning those matters. Amongst other things giuen him in charge, was an Epistle written in Greeke, wherein the barbarous king with great cunning persuaded the bishop to poyson Zemes his brother, as a man of a religion altogether contrarie to his: for indeed of him alone for his great vertues Baiazet stood in feare and doubt, least hee should by some chance escape out of prison to the troubling of his state. For the performance of this his request,Baiazet sendeth Dautius his embassadour to Alexander bishop of Rome. he promised faithfully to pay vnto the bishop two hundred thousand duckats, and neuer after, so long as he liued, to take vp armes against the Christians. Otherwise than had his father Mahomet and his grandfather Amurath done, who both as deadly enemies vnto the E name of the Christians, neuer ceased by continuall warres to worke their woe.

But George the bishops embassadour,Io. Rouereus robbeth the Turkes embassadour. and Dautius, trauelling towards ITALIE, and hauing now happely passed the Adriaticke, as they were about to haue landed at ANCONA were bourded by Io. Rouereus, brother to Iulianus the Cardinall (a man of great account in those quarters) and cleane quit of their treasure and whatsoeuer else they had aboord. Rouereus pretending for the defence of the fact, That the bishop did owe him a great summe of money, due vnto him for his good seruice done in the time of Innocentius his predecessour, for which he now paied himselfe. Neither could the bishop, much troubled with that injurie, euer after recouer any one part thereof, although he threatened vengeance with fire and sword, and also sought for recompence of the Venetians, whom it concerned to saue the Turkes harmelesse in those seas: for why, Rouerius F bearing himselfe vpon the French, which were now vpon comming, whose faction he followed, kept the money, and set at nought the bishops thundering curses and vaine threats. Dautius himselfe, Baiazets embassadour, being set on shore, was glad to goe on foot to ANCONA; and so from thence passing vp the riuer Padus, came to Franciscus Gonzaga, duke of MANTVA, of whom (for the antient friendship betwixt him and Baiazet) hee was courteously entertained [Page] and furnished both with money and apparell, and so spoiled returned into GRaeCIA, to carrie G newes vnto his master how he had sped.

When Baiazet vnderstood by Dautius the euill successe he had in his late journey, he forthwith sent Mustapha one of the Bassaes of the court, vnto the great Bishop Alexander, with like instructions as he had before giuen to Dautius: who with better hap arriued in ITALIE, and came to ROME in safetie; where he forgot no part of that was giuen him in charge by his great master. But amongst manie other things, the life of Zemes was that he most sought for at the Bishops hands.

1495At the same time, which was in the yeare 1495, the French king Charles the eight of that name, passing through the heart of ITALIE with a strong armie against Alphonsus king of NAPLES: and taking his way without leaue through the citie of ROME, so terrified Alexander the H bishop, who (as we haue before said) altogither fauoured, and as much as in him lay furthered the cause of Alphonsus; that he was glad to yeeld to all such articles and conditions as it pleased him then to demaund: not purposing in himselfe at all the performance of anie of those things, which for feare he had with great solemnitie promised, as the [...]equell of the matter afterwards declared. Amongst other things, he was enforced to giue vnto the king his gracelesse sonne Caesar Borgia Valentinus (then one of the cardinals) in hostage, for the performance of the other of his promises. Which disgrace the craftie old bishop sought to couer, by gracing his sonne with the title of his legate: and with him he was also enforced to deliuer Zemes the Turke, Baiazet his brother his honourable prisoner; who to the great profit of the bishop and his predecessour, had remained in safe custodie at ROME about the space of seauen yeares.Zemes dieth, poisoned by Alexander bishop of Rome. But Zemes within three I daies after he was deliuered vnto the French, died at CAIETA, being before his deliuerance poisoned (as it was thought) with a powder of wonderfull whitenesse and pleasant tast; whose power was not presently to kill, but by little and little dispersing the force therof, did in short time bring most assured death: which pleasant poison, Alexander the bishop skilfull in that practise (corrupted by Baiazet his gold, and enuying so great a good vnto the French) had caused to be cunningly mingled with the sugar wherewith Zemes vsed to temper the water which he commonly dranke. His dead bodie was not long after sent to Baiazet, by Mustapha his embassador, who to the great contentment of his master, had thus contriued his death with the bishop. Not long after this dead bodie so farre brought, was by the appointment of Baiazet, honourably enterred amongst his auncestors at PRVSA. Caesar Borgia also the bishops sonne, a little before K giuen in hostage vnto the French king, deceiuing his keepers at VELITRAS, returned againe to ROME before the French king was come to NAPLES. This wicked impe come of an euill strain, not worth the remembrance but by way of detestation,The euill life of Caesar Borgia. (the verie monster of nature, if a man should well consider the course of his whole life) shortly after his escape, enuying at the honour of Candianus his brother, who then was Generall ouer the bishop his fathers forces, which were at that time great: when he had one night merily supped with his said brother with their mother Vannotia, traiterously caused him to be vnawares murdered in the streets as he was going home, and his dead bodie to be cast into the riuer of Tiber. Then casting off his priestly habit with his Cardinals roabs, he tooke vpon him the leading of his fathers armie in his brothers stead, and gaue himselfe wholy to martiall affaires: a vocation best fitting his fierce and bloudie disposition.L And with exceeding prodigalitie, wherwith he exhausted his fathers coffers and the treasures of the church, bound fast vnto him desperat ruffians and souldiours (especially Spaniards, his fathers countrey men) such as he knew fittest to serue for the execution of his most horrible deuises. Which manner of his proceedings, although they were such as all good men detested; yet did the old hypocrit his father winke thereat, fearing as it was thought, to be murdered of the viper himselfe, when it should serue for his purpose. Now when he had thus strengthned himselfe, and that he was become a terrour to all the nobilitie of ROME and the seigniories thereabout, he by the deuise and helpe of his father (who desired nothing more than to make him great) first draue the most honourable family of the Columnij out of the citie, and afterwards out of LATIVM: and by most execrable treacherie, poisoned or killed the honourable personages of the great M houses of the Vrsini and Caetani; taking vnto himselfe their lands and possessions. With like crueltie he strangled at one time foure noblemen of the Camertes: and draue Guido Feltrius out of VRBIN. He tooke the citie of PISAVRVM from Io. Sfortia, who with much difficultie escaped his bloudie hands: and draue the Malatestaes out of ARIMINVM. The great ladie Catherine[Page]A Sfortia he thrust out of FORVM LIVII and FORVM CORNELII, and shamefully led her in triumph through ROME. And neuer satisfied with bloud, which he without measure shed, he tooke the citie of FAVENTIA from Astor Manfredus, a young gentleman of rare perfection: whom after the beastly tyrant had most horribly abused against nature, he caused to be cruelly strangled, and his dead bodie to be cast into Tiber. Hauing thus filled the measure of his iniquitie, and as a fretting canker, hauing either deuoured or driuen into exile most part of the Roman nobilitie; and purposing by the supportation of his father, to make himselfe lord and soueraigne both of the citie, and of all LATIVM; in the pride of his thoughts he was by the hand of the most highest attached and cast downe, and that by such meanes as he least feared. For being with his father at a solemn supper in the Vaticane, of purpose prepared for the destruction of certaine rich B Cardinals and some other honourable citizens, they were both poisoned by the fatall errour of one of the waiters; who mistaking of a flagon, gaue the poisoned wine to the accursed bishop and his sonne, which was prepared for the guests: whereof the old bishop in few daies after died. But his sonne who had drunke the same more delaied with water, although he died not of long time after, yet presently fell into such an extreame sickenesse, that he was not able to helpe himselfe, or to commaund his desperat followers, whereof he had great store: but lying sicke, in short time saw himselfe of them forsaken, and two of his enemies, Pius the Third, and Iulius the Second, one after another sitting in his fathers place. Of which two, Pius enjoyed that pontificall dignitie but sixteene daies: and Iulius succeeding him, caused this Caesar Borgia (who of right had deserued a thousand deaths) to bee shut vp in the castle called MO [...]ES ADRIANI, from C whence he set him at libertie vpon the deliuerie of certaine strong holds which were yet holden by his garrisons. After he had thus rid himselfe out of Iulius the bishops hands, he fled to OSTIA, and so by sea to NAPLES: where he was by the commaundement of Ferdinand king of SPAINE, apprehended by Consaluus the Great, and transported into SPAINE; for feare least he being of a most troublesome nature, and much resorted vnto by his old fauourits, should raise some new stirs in ITALIE. He was no sooner arriued in SPAINE, but he was cast into prison in the castle of MEDINA, where after he had lien three yeares he deceiued his keepers, and with a roape which he had gotten, let himselfe downe from an high tower of the castle: and so escaping, fled to the king of NAVARRE, whom he afterwards serued in his wars, and was in an hoat skirmish against the kings enemies (wherin he had obtained the victorie) slaine with a small shot.The death of Caesar Borgia. D Vnworthy after so manie horrible villanies, to haue ended his daies so honorably. His dead bodie was found stript, and so brought vnto the king vpon a bad beast, as if it had been a dead calfe all naked; which was by his commandement honourably buried at PAMPILONA.

But to returne againe from whence we haue something too long with this troublesome body gone astray.The French king inuadeth Naples. The French king hauing thus lost both his great hostages, Zemes the Turke by death, and the Cardinall Borgia by escape, held on his journey towards NAPLES: and with wonderfull successe preuailed as hee went, all places yeelding vnto him without any great resistance. Alphonsus seeing himselfe destitute of such aid as he had in vaine requested both of the Turkish emperour and of the Venetians, and now almost beset with his mightie enemy, to whom so manie strong places had in shorter time been deliuered than anie man had before imagined; E and withall, considering with himselfe, how that he had lost the hearts of his subjects (the strongest defence of princes) for that most of the nobilitie, and especially the Neapolitans, hated him for his too much seueritie in punishing the offenders in the late rebellion, wherein the princes of SARNE and SALERNE were chiefe; and the common people were no lesse offended with the grieuous and heauie exactions, required of them for the maintenance of these warres, insomuch that their murmuring speeches came oftentimes to his owne hearing; as oftentimes it falleth out, That the hatred of the subjects against their princes, which hath for feare of long time beene dissembled during their prosperitie, more frankly and fiercely breaketh out in their declining estate: For these causes, Alphonsus fearing to be forsaken of his people, as a man in despaire, with aboundance of tears openly in the sight of all the Neapolitans, resigned his kingdome of NAPLES vnto his sonne Ferdinand, when as he had as yet scarcely raigned one whole yeare after the death of Ferdinand his father: and with foure gallies passed ouer to MAZEREA a citie of CICILIA. His son Ferdinand, a prince of rare perfection and singularly graced with all the vertues of true nobilitie, and thereto deerely beloued of all the people, was to the wonderfull contentment of the Neapolitans with great joy and acclamations saluted king: and so hauing performed [Page] all the ceremonies belonging to his coronation, returned presently to his armie. By this G time the French king with all his forces was entered farre into the kingdome of NAPLES: and hauing taken by assault certaine cities which trusted too much to their owne strength, strucke such a generall terrour into the minds of the Neapolitanes, that they thought no place now strong ynough to abide his batteries, or power sufficient to encounter his forces. Ferdinand the young king with his armie had taken the straits of the forrest of S. Germane, thereby to impeach the further passage of the French king. But whilest he was there busied, he was suddenly aduertised, that Fabritius Columna with a great power of Frenchmen had by the Appenines broken into CAMPANIA, and so was marching towards him: wherefore doubting to bee shut vp betwixt two strong armies of the enemies, he retired speedily to CAPVA, a strong citie situat vpon the riuer Vulturnus; purposing there by meanes of that deepe riuer, to stay the French from H passing farther. But whilest hee lay there, newes was brought vnto him, That all the cittie of NAPLES was in an vprore, and that the citizens were all vp in armes, as men in doubt which way to turne themselues. Ferdinand not a little troubled with these bad newes, commended the charge of his armie and the defence of the citie of CAPVA to his cheefe captaines,Ferdinand departeth from Cap [...]a to pacifie an vprore at Naples. and rid himselfe in post backe againe to NAPLES.

It is a strange thing to tell, what a suddaine alteration ensued vpon his arriuall there: for suddenly all the tumult was appeased, euery man laied downe his armes, and welcommed him with a generall gratulation: for he was a man of a great and an inuincible courage, and of so comely a personage as might easily win the hearts of his subjects; insomuch, that when he earnestly requested them, that they would not traiterously betray him vnto his barbarous & cruell enemies,I being their naturall king, or rather their brother borne and brought vp amongst them: they all with one consent answered, That they would spend their liues and goods in his quarrell, so long as he should keepe his armie whole, and defend the citie of CAPVA: But if it should so chance, that the Aragonians should be ouerthrowne, or els for feare abandon that citie, and the French king, as victor, to approch the citie of NAPLES; he should doe both against reason and equitie, if by exacting fidelitie and allegeance of his subjects, apprehended with so just a feare, he should so expose that noble citie with the fruitfull countrey thereabout, to bee spoiled and destroyed by a mercilesse and cruell enemie. Whilest Ferdinand was thus busied in appeasing and confirming his wauering subjects at NAPLES, the French king had taken diuers cities, and was come before CAPVA. The citizens of CAPVA although they were alwayes well affected to the Aragonian K kings: yet seeing the French king as a most violent tempest to beare downe all before him, began now to consult amongst themselues of yeelding vp the cittie; whereunto they were the more prickt forward, by the suddaine reuolt of the great captaine Triuultius with his followers, as also by the departure of Verginius and Petilianus, two great and famous commaunders, who seeing themselues forsaken of Triuultius, fled with their companies vnto the citie of NOLA. In this discomfiture of king Ferdinand his armie, the Frenchmen had entered into the suburbes of the citie: which thing Gothfredus and Gaspar (two valiant Germane captaines) beholding, sallied with their companies out of the citie, of purpose to abate the pride of the French, & to confirme the doubtfull citizens: These worthie captaines when they had with exceeding valour repulsed the French, and thought to haue againe returned into the citie, could not be suffered to enter, but L were by the citisens shut out of the gate, in danger to haue had their throats cut by the enemie. In which perplexitie they were glad vpon their knees to entreat the cowardly citisens standing vpon the wals, not in such traiterous manner to betray their friends readie in their defence to bestow their liues: and with much entreating, at length obtained of those heartlesse men, that they might by ten and ten in a companie be receiued in at one gate of the citie, and so put out at another, farthest from the danger of the enemie: in which sort when they had passed through the citie, they tooke the way towards NAPLES: and vpon the way met with the king at AVERSA, vnto whom they declared all that had happened in his absence at CAPVA. Who although he saw his armie dispersed, and all things now desperat, yet went hee on forward, and came to the very gates of CAPVA, and there called vpon diuers of the cheefe men of the citie, requiring to be M let in. But when hee saw there was none to giue him answer, and an ensigne of the French king displayed vpon the wall, in token that the citie was become French, hee returned to NAPLES: where he found the gates now shut against him, and all the citisens vp againe in armes, and not willing to receiue any of the souldiors which came from CAPVA, more than the king himselfe: [Page] A for flying fame preuenting his returne, had filled euerie corner of the citie with report, That all the cheefe captaines of his armie were either gone ouer to the enemie, or els for safegard of their liues fled; That the whole armie was broken vp, and CAPVA yeelded to the French. Wherfore the Neapolitanes framing their fancies according to the condition of the time, began now also to fawne vpon the good fortune of the French, and to haue king Ferdinand in contempt: which hee well perceiuing, and fetching a compasse farther off from the cittie, came vnto the castle, whereinto he was receiued with his followers by his faithfull captaines therein before left. But prouidently foreseeing that he could not there long stay, but that hee should bee besieged by his enemies both by sea and land, he commended the keeping of that peece vnto Alphonsus D'aualus, a most valiant captaine, and departed himselfe with twentie gallies well appointed vnto AENARIA, B an Island not farre from NAPLES, hauing in it a commodious harbour and a strong castle: where fortune, neuer firme but in miserie, seemed againe to deride the poore remainder of his honor: For comming thether, the captaine of the castle, vnworthely named Iustus, forgetting his dutie towards his soueraigne, of whom he had before receiued many extraordinarie fauours, most traiterously now in his so hard distresse shut the gates of the castle against him at his landing, and vnkindly refused to receiue him. With which vnexpected ingratitude, the poore king was wonderfully perplexed and almost abashed: yet with earnest entreatie and ample commemoration of the benefits and preferments which both his father and himselfe had in times past bestowed vpon him, he preuailed so much with this vnthankefull man, that hee was content to receiue him into the castle, so that he would come but himselfe alone: of which his offer, when C no more could be got, the king seemed to accept. So the captain hauing opened a port to receiue him in,A most resolute fact of king Ferdinand. was in the very entrance thereof suddenly stabd to the heart with a dagger by king Ferdinand and slaine in the middest of his armed souldiours. Which was done with such a countenance and majestie, that the warders with their weapons in their hands, dismayed with his look, forthwith at his commaundement opened the gate, and receiued him in with all his followers. Whereby it appeareth, ‘That in the countenance of princes resteth a certaine diuine majestie, in all fortunes aboue the common course of nature: which is of power to daunt the hearts of most disloyall traitors in the performance of their vnnaturall treasons.’ The next day after the departure of king Ferdinand from the castle of NAPLES,Charles the French king receiued into Naples. Charles the French king was receiued into the citie with such pompe, triumph, and acclamation of the Neapolitanes, as if they had euen D then by the benefit of that forraine king been restored vnto perfect libertie, and deliuered out of some long and hard bondage. Shortly after, the castle of NAPLES, with all the strong places thereabout, were yeelded vnto the French, and embassadours sent from all the princes and people of that kingdome, yeelding themselues into the power of the French king. Then Ferdinand seeing all lost and gone, departed from AENARIA, where he lay expecting the euent of his hard fortune, and sailed into SICILIA. Thus the house of ARAGON in lesse than fiue moneths lost the kingdome of NAPLES, about 63 yeares after that it was first taken from the French by Alphonsus the elder, this Ferdinand his great grandfather.

The report of the great preparation made by the French for this warre, had long before filled the eares of them which dwelt in any part of the Turks dominions in EVROPE: but when they E saw the French ensignes displayed vpon the wals of the castles and strong townes alongst the coast of CALABRIA and SALERNE, such a sudden feare fell vpon the Turkes garrisons alongst the coast of EPIRVS and MACEDONIA on the other side of the Adriaticke, ouer against that part of ITALIE, that many of them forsooke their charge: the Christians in those places, as also in GRaeCIA and PELOPONESVS beginning then to lift vp their heads in hope of their deliuerance, and to make the best preparation they could to joyne with the French against the Turks: but especially the rough and wild people inhabiting the high mountaines called ACROCERAVNII in the borders of EPIRVS, who presently tooke vp armes, refusing to be any longer tributaries vnto the Turkish emperour.

This prosperous and speedie successe of the French king in the conquest of NAPLES, filled F the minds of most of the Christian princes, as also of the Turkish emperour, with a doubtfull expectation, whither his greatnesse would grow: many being of opinion, that he couertly affected the empire of ROME, and to make himselfe the sole monarch of ITALIE. Which conceit no little troubled both the great Bishop Alexander, and Maximilian then emperour. Baiazet also feared much, least he should vpon the suddaine turne his forces into EPIRVS or GRaeCIA, to [Page] his no small disquiet. And Ferdinand, the aduised king of SPAINE, was no lesse carefull for the G safetie of SICILIA. Lodouicus Sfortia also (shortly after created duke of MILLAN, the cheefe occasion of the French kings comming into ITALIE, and a great aider of him in those warres) began now to consider better of the matter, and to stand in doubt of the king, whom hee well perceiued to make small reckoning of his word or promise, so that he might thereby enlarge his dominions. And the Venetians, who in all these warres had stood looking on as neuters (in hope that when the Aragonians and French had with long warres, which they vainely imagined, well weakened one another, that they might then at their pleasure share out something for themselues) were now in doubt with the rest of the states of ITALIE to lose some part of their owne territorie: for now there was no prince or state in ITALIE able to oppose themselues against the French, but stood as it were all at his deuotion.H

A great league made by d [...]u [...]rs Christian prince [...] agai [...]st the French king.Wherefore the aforesaid princes, namely Maximilian the emperour, Ferdinand king of SPAINE, Alexander Bishop of ROME, the state of VENICE, and Lodouicus Sfortia duke of MILLAN, for the more assurance of their estates, by their embassadors speedily sent from one to another, concluded a strong league amongst themselues, whereof the cheefe capitulation was, That if any of these confederates should vpon their owne accord make war vpon any other prince, they should doe it vpon their owne charges: but if any of them should chance to be inuaded by any other, that then euery one of these confederates should of their owne charge send foure thousand horse and ten thousand foot in aid of their confederate so inuaded, vntill the wars were ended: which league was to endure for twentie yeares. The fame of this league was welcome to many other princes, but especially to Baiazet, who now feared nothing more than the I forces of the French, and therefore had offered vnto the Venetians, to aid them both by sea and land against the French, if their affaires should so require. This league so much pleased not other princes, but it troubled the French king more, as of purpose made against him, although it was by the confederates pretended to be made onely for their owne safetie. Wherefore he with all expedition placed his best captaines with strong garrisons in all the cities and strong holds of the kingdome of NAPLES, and left Mompenser his viceroy in the citie of NAPLES, and with the rest of his armie returned towards FRAVNCE; purposing by the way as he went to terrifie the dissembling Bishop, so if it were possible to draw him from the league, and afterwards to deale with Sfortia and the rest as he might. But when he was come neere vnto ROME, the Bishop for feare fled out of the citie to PERVSIVM, intending from thence to haue fled to VENICE, if the K French king should haue further pursued him. Charles deceiued of his purpose, in peaceable manner entered the citie, and there stayed three dayes and so departed; vsing violence against none, but against such as were well knowne to be of the Aragonian faction. From ROME hee marched to PISA, and so with much paine passing the Appenines, was at the riuer of Tarrus, not farre from PARMA, set vpon by Franciscus Gonzaga duke of MANTVA, generall of a great armie which the Venetians and Sfortia had raised vpon the sudden to haue stopped his passage: in which battaile he was in great danger to haue beene taken or slaine, and there lost his tents, with all the rich spoile gotten in the rich kingdome of NAPLES: yet hauing at length with great slaughter valiantly repulsed his enemies, he afterwards returned in safetie home.

Ferdinand recouereth his kingdome of Naples from the French, and dieth.About the same time that this battell was fought at Tarrus, the young king Ferdinand, lately L driuen out of his kingdome by the French king, returned againe out of SICILIA to NAPLES: where he was joyfully receiued of the Neapolitanes, and by the helpe of his friends (but especially of the great Consaluus, sent in his aid by Ferdinand king of SPAINE) in lesse than a yeares space recouered the kingdome of NAPLES againe from the French: and then dying without issue, left the same vnto his vncle Federicus: wherein the vncertainetie of worldly honours, the cheefe felicitie of ambitious minds, is well to be noted; when as in that one kingdome the cheefe gouernment was six times changed in lesse than the space of three yeares. For first Ferdinand the elder dying, left that kingdome vnto his sonne Alphonsus, at such time as the French king was making preparation for these warres: Alphonsus despairing of his owne forces, resigned the kingdome to his sonne Ferdinand, when he had scarcely raigned fully a yeare: Ferdinand in lesse M than three moneths was driuen quite out of ITALIE by Charles the French king: Charles possessed of the kingdome, in short time after was againe dispossessed by the same Ferdinand: Ferdinand hauing with much trouble thrust out the French, died within lesse than a yeare: After whom succeeded Federicus his vncle, no lesse vnfortunate than the rest. And Charles the French [Page] A king himselfe liued not long after,The death of Charles the French king. but died suddenly as he came from playing at Tennise, being then but seuen and twentie yeares old, leauing the flourishing kingdome of FRANCE, with the troublesome title pretended to the kingdome of NAPLES, vnto Lewes his successour, who liued with great trouble to conquer the same, and with greater greefe to loose it againe.1496

But to returne againe to the course of our historie, from whence the great occurrents of that time (not altogether impertinent to our purpose) haue a little too farre led vs.1497 Baiazet deliuered of two great feares,The Turkes inuade Podolia & Russia, and in their returne are for most part lost▪ first by the death of his brother Zemes, and after by the casting out of the French out of NAPLES; began now to turne his forces vpon the Christians, and by his lieutenant Balt-beg, Sanzacke of SILISTRA, inuaded the countries of PODOLIA and RVSSIA, being part of the Polonian kingdome, where the Turkes did great harme, and carried away many prisoners. But comming againe the second time, and making such like spoile as before, they stayed so long, that the cold of the Winter (which in those countries is very extreame) was now come on: and in their returne, as they were about to haue passed through MOLDAVIA, they were by Stephanus, prince of that countrey, denied both passage and victuals, and forced to take the way alongst the sea coast: where many of them stragling from the armie, were by the way cut off and slaine by the Moldauians; and the rest, what by the extremitie of the cold, what for want of food, and foulenesse of the way, perished: so that of that great armie very few returned home. The Turks histories report, That in this expedition were lost fortie thousand Turkes.

He sent also Cadumes one of his Bassaes into ILLIRIA; who spoiling that countrey, with a C part of CROATIA, was encountred by nine thousand Croatians and Hungarians neere vnto the riuer Moraua, vnder the leading of countie Bernard Francopaine: where after a cruell and bloudie fight, the Christians were put to the worse, and aboue seuen thousand of them slaine; the rest saued themselues by flight through the mountaines and woods. Of the Christians that were lost, manie were drowned in Moraua, chusing rather so to end their daies than to fall into the hands of their cruell enemies. This ouerthrow was imputed to the Generall, who would needs giue the Turkes battell in plaine field, although he was earnestly entreated by countie Io. Torquatus to haue kept the straits of that countrey, whereby he might haue had great aduantage of the enemie. Torquatus himselfe hauing lost all his horsemen in that battell, and his horse killed vnder him, fought valiantly on foot, vntill hee was by the multitude of his enemies oppressed D and slaine. The Bassa to giue Baiazet a sure testimonie of the victorie, caused all the noses of the slaine Christians to be cut off and put vpon strings, and so by wagon sent them as a barbarous present to CONSTANTINOPLE. After the death of Charles the French king, Lewes the twelfth of that name hauing obtained that kingdome, writ himselfe also duke of MILLAN, as discended of one of the daughters of Io. Galeatius first duke of MILLAN: in which his supposed right he was fully resolued to make warre vpon Sfortia then duke of MILLAN. And for his better successe in those warres, sought by all meanes he could, to draw some other of the princes and states of ITALIE into the fellowship of that intended warre; but aboue all others the Venetians, as most commodious for his purpose, with whom he made a firme league; and for the aid they were to giue him, couenanted that they should haue for their share, the citie of CREMONA, E with all the pleasant countrey about AEDVA, then part of Sfortia his dominion: which was afterwards accordingly performed.

Sfortia vnderstanding of this compact made a [...]inst him, and knowing himselfe farre too weake of himselfe to stand against so puissant enemies; attempted first to set Maximilian the emperour, with the states of GERMANIE vpon the French king: But that not sorting to his desire, he sought to agree with the king by offering to hold his dukedome of him, by paying him a yearely tribute.1498 After he had thu [...] in vaine proued all the meanes he could deuise to haue appeased the French king, & prouided for his own safetie; he by his embassadors sent of purpose, certified Baiazet of the confederation betwixt the French king and the Venetians, and that their purpose was, after they had oppressed him, and some other of the states of ITALIE, then with their vnited forces to inuade his dominions: and that therefore it were good for him in time to looke vnto it, and to giue aide against those which would in short time become his most dangerous enemies. By this meanes the Duke was in good hope, so to busie the Venetians by bringing the Turke vpon them, as that they should stand the French in small stead. At which time also the embassadours of FLORENCE did what they could to pricke forward the Turke to make [Page] warres vpon the Venetians; for the malice they bare against them for protecting them of PISA against the oppression of the Florentines.

Baiazet persuaded by the embassadors, and calling to remembrance the injuries before done him by the Venetians; first in giuing aid to Iohn Castriot the sonne of Scanderbeg, and Iohn Chernouich another prince of EPIRVS (whereby he lost a great part of that countrey, and was also farther enforced to yeeld to such conditions as altogither stood not with his honour;) and againe by denying to giue his fleet leaue to put into their harbours in CYPRVS, in the time of his warres against the Sultan of AEGYIT: all which he was glad then to endure, for feare least that his brother Zemes (then liuing) should by their means be set vp against him; promised now to do what these embassadours had requested: glad in his mind that the discord of the Christian princes had presented vnto him so fit an opportunitie of reuenge.

1499Hereupon he made great preparation both by sea and land against the Venetians, and vpon the sudden caused Scander Bassa (his lieutenant in ILLYRIA) with twelue thousand horse to breake into the countrey of FRIVLI,Friuly part of the Venetian territorie spoiled by the Turkes. part of the Venetian territorie vpon the frontiers of ITALIE. The Bassa as he had in charge, passing ouer diuers great riuers, at length entred the countrey, burning and destroying all before him as farre as LIQVENTIA, carrying away with him all the poore countrey people prisoners. But when he was come to the bankes of TILIAVENTVM, and vnderstood that hee came too late to pleasure the duke of MILLAN (for why, the French with the Venetians had before without resistance driuen him quite out of ITALIE and GERMANIE) he there, with more then barbarous crueltie put foure thousand poore prisoners to the sword: and so hauing filled the country with mourning and with bloud, returned from whence he came,I loded with the spoile of that rich countrey.

At the same time also, Baiazet put to sea such a fleet as none of his predecessors had before set forth; and with a great armie in person himselfe marched alongst the sea coast of MOREA, in such sort, as that his armie by land and his fleet at sea (as neere as they could) kept euen pace, the one within sight of the other. Neither were the Venetians vnmindfull of themselues, but set forth a strong fleet vnder the charge of Anthony Grimani their Admirall; in number farre inferiour to the Turkes, but for equipage, strength, skilfull marriners, and all other manner of warlike prouision, much superiour. For which cause the Turkes, although defied and braued by the Venetians, yet durst not at the first joyne with them in battell; but still crept alongst the coast of MOREA, not daring to put farther off into the sea. In this their course, the Venetians troubled K them exceedingly, sometimes making shew as if they would haue constrained them to fight, and otherwhiles giuing them chase, neuer departing far from them; wisely accounting it right good seruice, if they could but keepe that hugie fleet from landing in ITALIE, or other places of the Venetian territorie. Most men were in good hope, that if those great fleets should haue joyned in battell, the Venetians should haue had a notable victorie; for that the enemie as afraid, kept so dangerous a course and so neere the maine. The longer they thus sailed, the more was the state of VENICE offended with their Admirall, that he contrarie to all expectation delaied to fight, and still suffered the dangerous enemie to approach neerer and neerer their territories: and there were none which had not rather he should haue set all vpon the hazard of one battell, than to protract by delay a long and doubtfull warre. Whilest all mens minds were thus in expectation L of some great exploit to be done vpon the enemie, newes came to the citie, That the Turks fleet had put into the hauen SAPIEN [...]A in the island SPHRAGA, to water, and was there embayed by the Venetians. This report was of most men joyfully receiued, as if the victorie had been alreadie assured: and so much the more, for that it was vainly supposed, that it would be gained without anie great losse. But others which better knew the place, deemed of the matter farre otherwise, saying, That the place wherein the enemie lay was such, as that he might safely at his pleasure depart thence. Yet forsomuch as [...]he Turkes fleet was more subject vnto danger in putting out of the harbour than in the wide sea,Fight at sea betwixt the Turk [...] and the Venetians. there was no man but was of opinion, That the Venetian Admirall would set vpon them as they should come forth againe. Whilest men were thus diuining too and fro, and the Venetians attended the comming forth of the enemies M fleet, it fortuned that Andreas Lauredanus, and Albanus Armerius (two valiant gentlemen) but a little before come from CORC [...]RA of purpose to be present at the battell, were the first that began the fight; and with their two nimble ships (after they had changed a few bullets) bourded a tall ship of the Turkes, being of such beautie and burthen that she seemed rather a castle [Page] A than a ship, wherof one Baruch of SMYRNA (a notable pirat) was captaine: who after a long and cruell fight, perceiuing that he must either yeeld or by force be taken, desperatly set fire on his owne ship, by rage whereof both she and the Venetian ships fast grapled vnto her, were all three togither burnt downe to the water: manie of the men (to shun the violence of the fire) leapt ouer boord into the sea, where some of them were taken vp by other ships, and some perished. Some few others of the Venetian fleet couragiously assailed the Turkes at their comming out; and doing great harme, put the Turkes whole fleet in no small feare. But the most part of the Venetian gallies lay looking on a farre off; vnto whom the other before in fight with the Turks, after they had done what they could, retired also. But by that they had done, it appeared plainly that the Venetian Admirall that day let [...]lip out of his hands a most notable victorie, if he as a B resolute man had with his whole fleet charged the enemie.

After this fight the Turkes held on their course, still keeping MOREA on the right hand, whom the Venetians still followed: at length the Turkes fleet was come to the entrance of the gulfe of PATRAS, where the Venetians againe faintly setting vpon them, suffered them to recouer the gulfe; with no lesse dishonour than they had before let them escape at the port SAPIENTIA. For the Venetians, hauing the aduantage of the place, and better appointed for fight at sea, might easily (as it was supposed) haue gained the victorie, if the commanders (but especially the admiral) had been so forward in the seruice as became men of their place. But manie of thē afraid to fight, lay aloofe; so that Dauthes the Turks Admirall (who perceiuing himselfe too weake, had purposed to haue run his gallies on shoare, and so to haue fled to the armie at land if he had felt C himselfe ouer charged by the Venetian fleet) had now contrarie to his expectation recouered the gulfe he desired, though not without losse of some of his gallies. Within this gulfe standeth the auntient citie of NAVPACTVM (now called LEPANTO) then subject to the Venetians,Lepanto yeelded to the Turks. whither Baiazet was then come by land with his armie; and now by the comming of his fleet into the gulfe, laid hard siege vnto the citie both by sea and land. They of the citie seeing themselues on euerie side beset with their enemies, without anie great resistance fell to composition with Baiazet, and so yeelded vnto him the citie, which the Turks hold at this day.

Grimanus the Venetian Admirall returning to Venice, was for his euill seruice (or rather for that he according to his mild nature had not vsed seueritie against such captaines as refused to fight) cast into prison: and although he was a man mightely friended, yet was he by a publike D decree banished into one of the Absyrtides, islands vpon the coast of LIBVRNIA. From the first foundation of the citie of VENICE was neuer man impugned with more spight, or defended by greater friends: but common hatred preuailing, he was neuerthelesse exiled. Thus Baiazet hauing made a road into the Venetian territorie by Scander Bassa, and taken from them the citie of NAVPACTVM with the countrey thereabout▪ returned with victorie to CONSTANTINOPLE.

The next yeare following,1500 which was the yeare 1500, Baiazet put to sea a greater and stronger fleet than he had the yeare before:Methone besieged both by sea and land by Baiazet. and himselfe in person, with a puissant armie of an hundred & fiftie thousand men entred by the strait of CORINTH into PELOPONESIVS, and marching through the countrey came and encamped before the strong citie of METHONE (now E called MODON) then vnder the gouernment of the Venetians. At which time his great fleet met him there also by sea, as he had before appointed. When he had thus beset the citie both by sea and land, and with long and continuall batterie made three great and faire breaches in the wals, he gaue vnto the same two terrible assaults, and that with such desperat furie that manie of them which went formost vnto the breach, ouerthrowne by the presse of them which followed, were troden to death. Yet neuerthelesse the citie was both times valiantly defended by the citisens and garrison souldiors: so that when he had done what he could, he was glad to retire from the wals, hauing filled the towne ditches with the bodies of his slaine Turkes. The Venetian Admirall Triuisanus lying at the islle of ZACYNTHVS (but farre too weake to fight with the enemie) in the beginning of the siege sent Valerius Marcellus and Baptista Polanus, with two gallies F full of men and munition in reliefe of the besieged: and now doubting their farther wants▪ sent Io. Maripetrus, Alex. Cothius of CORCYRA, and Cachuris of HYDRVNTVM, with three other great gallies, with men, munition, and such other things as he thought needfull for the de [...]ence of the citie. These three resolute captaines comming with a full wind, and packing on all their sailes, brake through the Turks fleet lying in their way, and ran themselues a ground vnder [Page] the wals of the towne: for they of the towne had so barred the hauen for feare of the enemie,G that they could not that way possibly get in. The citisens and souldiors joyfull of the comming of this fresh supplie, and withall fearing least the gallies should be fet off againe from them by the enemie, came running by heapes from all parts of the citie towards the sea, to receiue this new come aid: which was done with such a confused disorder, that diuers places of the citie towards the land, were left without defendants, as if there had beene no enemie neere. Which the Ianizaries quickly perceiuing, presently entered by those forsaken places with little or no resistance. Then the citizens all too late began to make head: for the Ianizaries alreadie entered, made way for the rest of the armie; which swarming into the citie, slew without pitie all that came in the way,Methone taken by the Turks. as well Grecians as Venetians, with all the souldiours but euen then newly landed out of the three gallies. In this slaughter Anthonius Fabrius and Bardella, gouernours H of the towne, with Andreas Falco, bishop of METHONE, in his pontificalibus and his mytre on his head, were slaine: none escaped the furie, but such as were for their strength reserued for seruile labour, or for their beautie, to the victors lust: and of these a thousand bound fast together in long ropes were brought to Baiazets pauilion, and there in his sight by his commandement cruelly murdered.Corone, Pylus, and Crisseum yeel [...]ed to the Turks. The cities of CORONE and PYLVS, now called NAVARRINVM) sometime the dwelling place of old Nestor, terrified with the taking of METHONE, yeelded themselues by composition to Baiazet. This citie of CRISSEVM, now knowne by the name of Caput S. Galli, was taken also by Cherseogles, Baiazet his sonne in law. All these were cities belonging to the Venetians. NAVPLIVM was also besieged by Haly Bassa, but yet still defended by the Venetians. Baiazet hauing new fortified the citie of METHONE, and stored it I with new inhabitants, left in it a strong garrison, and so with victorie returned to CONSTANTINOPLE.

1501At this time Triuisanus the Venetian Admirall died (of greefe of mind as some supposed) in whose place the Senat sent Benedictus Pisaurius, a noble and valiant gentleman, who with the Venetian fleet followed the enemie, then departing from the siege of NAVPLIVM, pursuing them euen vnto the straits of Hellespontus, still cutting off such as stragled or tarried behind the rest of the fleet: by which meanes hee tooke aboue twentie of their ships and gallies, and in his returne tooke from the Turkes the Island of AEGINA, and landing in diuers places of the Turkes dominions, left vnto them the wofull remembrance of his being there. Afterwards meeting with Consaluus, surnamed the Great (sent by Ferdinand king of SPAINE, to aid him against the K Turkes) at ZACYNTHVS,Cephalenia taken by the Venetian [...]. he inuaded CEPHALENIA, which Triuisanus his predecessour had in vaine attempted the yeare before, and laied hard siege to the citie, which was for a space valiantly defended by the Turkes▪ yet at length by the good conduct of Consaluus it was by force taken, when as Gisdare the Gouernour thereof, with his garrison of Turkes, had before fought it out euen to the last man. The citie being taken, all the whole Island yeelded forthwith to the Venetians.

Pisaurius hauing taken CEPHALENIA, repaired the citie, and leauing a strong garrison for defence of the isle, departed to CORCYRA: where hee was aduertised, That the Turkes were rigging forth a great fleet against the next Spring; wherof some part lay in the bay of AM [...]RACIA not farre from CORCYRA, some at EANTE, and the rest within the straits of HELLESPONTVS.L Wherefore purposing to do some exploit vpon those gallies which lay in the bay of AM [...]RACIA, to auert the mind of the enemie from perceiuing of that he had secretly with himselfe intended, he sent the greatest part of his fleet vnto the island of NERITOS, who suddenly landing, should put the inhabitants in feare. The captaines sent about this businesse, cheerefully put in execution what the Admirall had commaunded, and by their sudden landing raised such a tumult, that all the countries thereabout were filled with the expectation of that which should ensue thereof. The Bay of AMERACIA is so straitened on either side with the mountaines of EPIRVS, that the entrance thereof is but halfe a mile ouer: but by and by opening it selfe into a great widenesse, and running vp into the land, maketh a most pleasant and safe harbour for ships and gallies to ride in. Pisaurius with a faire wind comming thither with eight gallies well appointed,M when the Turkes thought him to haue been at NERITOS, and entring the strait, rowing farther into the bay, burnt one of the Turkes great gallies, to the terrour of all them that dwelt round about the bay, and carried away with him eleuen moe, laded with munition and victuall, through the strait; the Turkes in vaine fretting thereat, and doing what they could with [Page] their great ordinance from shore to haue sunke him in going out of the bay. But hauing done what he came for, he returned with his prey againe to CORCYRA▪ Not long after he also recouered the castle of PYLOS in MOREA,Pylos taken from the Turks, and againe yeelded vnto them. which as it was suddenly gotten, so was it as suddainely lost. For Camalia, a notable pyrat of the Turkes, who had been abroad seeking after purchase▪ putting into that harbour by chance▪ tooke three gallies▪ there left by the Admirall for defence of the place, and so terrified the faint-hearted captaine, that hee fell to composition with the pyrat▪ to yeeld him the castle▪ so that hee and his souldiours might in safetie depart▪ which the pyrat, graunting, had the castle deliuered vnto him, which he could not with farre greater strength haue possibly woon. So was PYLOS for feare twice in one yeare yeelded vp vnto the Turks▪ and was both times the death of the cowardly captaines▪ which gaue it vp▪ being both beheaded by the B commaundement of the Admirall. About the same time Pisaurius attempted to haue burnt other of the Turkes gallies lying in the riuer EAN [...]E, vpon the coast of MACEDONIA, but not with so good successe as before▪ For the Turkes, made more carefull by the losse they had but a little before receiued at AM [...]RACIA, did now more vigilantly looke vnto their gallies. So that when Pisaurius had in certaine small vessels, made of purpose for that seruice, embarked two hundred resolute souldiors to haue gone vp the riuer to haue fi [...]ed the gallies▪ they were by the way, after they had entered a good way into the riuer, encountered by the Turks, and enforced to returne. But before they could get out of the riuer, the wind rise so contrar [...] with such a stiffe gale full in the mouth of the riuer, that the marriners ouermastered with the violence of the weather, when they had done what they could, and spent all their strength, were driuen ashore, C some on the one side of the riuer, and some on the other, and so fell into the hands of their enemies, of whom it boo [...]ed not to craue mercie.

About this time Baiazet tooke also the auntient and famous citie of DIRRACHIVM, now called DVRAZO,Dyrrachium taken by the Turk [...] from the Venetians▪ being before ruinous and almost quite abandoned by the inhabitants, as a place of danger, and not to be kept, now that the Turke had got all the country▪ round about it. The Venetians sore pressed with these warres so long maintained against the Turke, had many times prayed aid of other Christian princes, and were well holpen by the Spaniard in the taking of CEPHALENIA: and now Lewes the French king vpon a good deuotion to that warre, sent the lord Rauesten with seuen tall ships and fifteene gallies well appointed out of PROVINCE and GENVA, to aid the Venetians his friends. This fleet departing from D NAPLES, where they had by the way put in, and passing about ITALIE, and so through the Ionian sea, came to MELOS, one of the CYCLADES; at which Island Pisaurius with his fleet in short time arriued also: from whence they by mutuall consent departed together to inuade the Island of LESEOS. And being there safely arriued, landed their forces, and layed siege vnto the strong citie of MYTILENE,Mytil [...]ne besi [...] ged. where by the furie of their artillerie they in short time had made a faire breach in the wall. In the time of this batterie whilest the breach was in making, Pisaurius with part of his fleet sailed to TENEDOS, for it was reported, That certaine of the Turkes gallies were then comming for that place out of Hellespontus. Which report, as some write, was of purpose giuen out by the French, thereby to withdraw the Venetian Admirall from the siege, that so in the meane time they being in good hope to take the towne in his absence, E might themselues carrie away the honour thereof, together with the rich spoile. Others fauouring the French, blame the Venetian Admirall, as if he had of purpose departed, enuying at the honour of the French: which is hard to be beleeued in so honourable a personage, and in an action so much concerning the good of his commonweale. Howsoeuer it was, the breach being made, in his absence was by the Frenchmen presently assaulted: although that Paulus Valatesius the Venetian vice-Admirall earnestly requested the French Admirall to deferre the assault for a while, and to expect the returne of Pisaurius. Which his counsell the French Admirall gaue him the hearing of, but yet went forward with the assault. The Frenchmen after their manner furiously assailing the breach, were valiantly repulsed by the Turkes: so that in the breach was made a deadly and most terrible fight, many falling on both sides. Yet for all that, F the citie was manfully defended by the Turkes, and the Frenchmen enforced to retire. The French Admirall hauing taken this repulse, commaunded all things to be carried aboord, purposing to haue forsaken the siege, and so to haue departed: when in the meane time the Venetian Admirall returned, and with much adoe persuaded the French to stay. Whereupon the batterie was againe begun with greater furie than before, and now the leaders were consulting of a [Page] fresh assault to be giuen, when suddenly newes was brought, that the Turks fleet was comming G to releeue the citie: and thereupon the assault was for a time deferred, and the batterie continued. But those Turkes which came, being in number but few, were for most part by them in the gallies taken and cast ouer boord; some few that got to land, saued themselues in the woods and desart places of the Isle. By this time the citie was againe made saultable, and the Venetians with great courage assailed the breach, and had twice gained the top of the rampiers, from whence they were againe both times beaten downe by the Turkes, the French all the while looking on. Many valiant men were there slaine and hurt, and in the end the Venetians were glad with losse to retire, as had the French done before. Whilest this was in doing, a pinnace came to the fleet with newes, that the Great Master of the RHODES was comming with his gallies to the siege: whereupon the Admirals determined to maintaine the siege vntill his comming.The siege of Mytilene broken vp. But the next H day after, the French Admirall changing his purpose shipped his men, and hoising saile departed to CHIOS: and sayling thence towards ITALIE, was ouertaken with a most terrible tempest, wherein the Admirall gallie with two others were lost with eight hundred good souldiours, the Admirall himselfe with aboue fortie others were by chance contrarie to all hope saued, and with much danger with his weather-beaten fleet recouered the [...] of TARENTVM. The Venetian Admirall thus forsaken of the French, and seeing the time past wherein hee expected the comming of the Great Master of the RHODES, brake vp the siege, and departed from LES [...]OS to CHIOS, and from thence to PAROS, where hee found the Master of the RHODES with his gallies; vnto whom he complained greatly of the inconstancie of the French, imputing it vnto them, that the citie of MYTILENE was not woon: neither were they behind with him, but in I euery place where they came, laid the fault as much or morevpon him. From PAROS the Venetian Admirall tooke his course to the Island of MELOS; where hee found one Rhichius, an arch pyrate of the Turkes, who by force of tempest was driuen on shore, and by the suddaine comming downe of the Island people, taken him (for that he had exercised exceeding crueltie vpon certaine Christians whom he had taken) Pisaurius caused to be fast bound to a spit, and with a small fire to be rosted to death. From MELOS he returned to CORCYRA, and there wintered.

1502The next Spring Pisaurius with certaine gallies which Alexander bishop of ROME had sent vnto him vnder the commaund of Iacobus Pisaurius bishop of PAPHIA, sayled to NERITOS, now called S. MAVRA, which is an Island parted from the firme land with a little fret of K the sea, long time before that way let in by the Corinthians. Here Pisaurius suddenly landing his men,N [...]ritos taken by the Venetians. surprised the Island, and with wonderfull celeritie and industrie cast vp two great trenches in such sort and to so good purpose, that three thousand of the Turkes horsemen comming at a low water ouer that narrow strait which parteth the island from the maine, were with losse repulsed, and forced to retire. Whereupon S. MAVRA the cheefe citie was foorthwith deliuered vnto Pisaurius, with the rest of the island.

The Venetians wearie of this long and chargeable warre against so mightie an enemie, sent Lodouicus Manetius their embassadour, to Baiazet, to entreat with him for peace: but Baiazet stood vpon such hard points, that nothing could at that time be concluded: yet Manetius so discreetly vsed the matter, that Baiazet sent with him at his returne to VENICE, his embassadour,L to propound vnto the Senat such conditions as it pleased him to graunt them peace vpon. This embassadour had audience in the Senat twice, where hee in the name of his master propounded such prowd and vnreasonable conditions, that they were by the Senat rejected, and so he himselfe dismissed and sent backe againe.

1503The yeare following the Venetians sent an embassadour to Baiazet, who mooued with the pitifull complaints of his owne subjects, for the dayly harmes they receiued from the Venetians alongst the sea coast, as also for want of trade; and fearing also some troubles like to arise in his kingdome in ASIA (as indeed there did not long after) yeelded himselfe now more willing to heare of peace, than before. This embassadour called Zacharias Phriscus, was well heard of Baiazet, and after long sute had brought the matter he came for into some good tearmes: and being M honourably rewarded by the Turkish emperour, returned home, carrying with him vnto the Senate farre more reasonable conditions of peace than had at any time before been by Baiazet propounded. Hereupon the Venetians shortly after sent Andreas Gritti (an honourable Senatour) a man well knowne to Baiazet both for his famous traffique in former time at CONSTANTINOPLE, [Page] and also for that in these late warres he was taken prisoner at the winning of METHONE, and his life spared at the intercession of Cherseogles (Baiazet his sonne in law) and afterward raunsomed: he in the name of the state from whence he came, concluded a peace with Baiazet. A peace concluded betwixt Baiazet and the Venetians. The capitulations whereof were, first that the Venetians should deliuer-vp the islands of NERITOS and LEVCADIA, reseruing vnto themselues the island of Cephalenia only: Then, that Baiazet should restore all such goods as had beene taken from the Venetian merchants, in these late warres; and that it should be lawfull for them (as they were wont) safely to traficke into the Euxine sea, and to CONSTANTINOPLE▪ and there to haue their Consull or gouernour as they had had in former time: And last of all, that the Venetian territorie should be certainly knowne, and separated from the Turkes by certaine bounds and limits. These conditions were solemnly agreed vpon, and confirmed both by Baiazet and the state of VENICE and so afirme peace concluded in the yeare 1503, after the warres had continued betwixt them about the space of fiue yeares.

The same yeare Baiazet assembled a great and puissant army of his best and most approued souldiours, as well in ASIA as EVROPE, which met togither at SOPHIA, purposing (as it was thought) to haue inuaded HVNGARIE: but worthely doubting the successe of that war against so warlike a nation, he changed his purpose, and leauing Achmetes Bassa with his Asian souldiors at SOPHIA, turned himselfe with the rest of his armie into ALBANIA (to reduce those rebellious people againe to his obeisance) and had before sent a fleet of gallies to stop the passages of that countrey alongst the sea coast. But the countrey people vnderstanding of his comming, fled C into the high and rough rocks and mountaines, from whence they did the Turkes great harme: who neuerthelesse with incredible labour and aduenture, mounted those difficult places; and killing an exceeding number of those mountaine and sauage people; carried all the women and children they could light vpon, away with them prisoners: and with fire and sword made all the countrey desolate. After which spoile done, Baiazet returned with his armie to MANASTIRVM; and departing thence,Baiazet in danger to haue beene slaine by a Deruislar or Turkish monke. vpon the way met with a Deruislar (which is a phantasticall and beggarly kind of Turkish monks, vsing no other apparell but two sheepskins, the one hanging before and the other behind) a lustie strong fat fellow, attired after the manner of his order with a great ring in each eare: who drawing neere vnto Baiazet, as if he would of him haue receiued an almes, desperatly assailed him with a short scimitar which he had closely conuaied vnder his D hypocriticall habit. But Baiazet by the starting of the horse whereon he rid (being afraid at the sudden approach of the hobgoblin) partly auoided the deadly blow by the traitor entended, yet not altogither vnwounded: neither had he so escaped the danger, had not Ishender Bassa with his horsemans mase presently struck downe the desperat villaine as he was about to haue doubled his stroke; but being now struck downe, he was forthwith rent in pieces by the souldiours. This treacherous and desperat fact so much moued Baiazet, that he proscribed all them of that superstitious order, and banished them out of his empire.

After so manie troubles Baiazet gaue himselfe vnto a quiet course of life, spending most part of his time in studie of philosophie,Baiazet by nature peaceable▪ and conference with learned men: vnto which peaceable kind of life, he was of his owne naturall disposition more enclined than to warres; albeit that E the regard of his state, and the earnest desire of his men of warre, drew him oftentimes euen against his will into the field. As for the ciuile gouernment of his kingdome, he referred it wholy vnto his three principall Bassaes, Alis, Achmetes, and Iachia, who at their pleasure disposed of all things. After he had in this quiet and pleasing kind of life to his great contentment passed ouer fiue yeares, of a little neglected sparke suddenly arose such a fire in ASIA, as was hardly after with much bloud of his people and danger of that part of his empire quenched: the reliques whereof yet troubleth those superstitious people at this day. Which thing was brought to passe by the craftie deuise of Chasan Chelife, and Schach Culi his boy (whom some call Teckel Scachoculis, and others Techellis) two hypocriticall Persians: who flying into those countries, and with the counterfeit shew of faigned holinesse hauing procured vnto themselues a great F name amongst those rude people, with a number of windie headed followers (filled with the noueltie of their new doctrine) raised first such a diuersitie of opinions about the true successours of their vntrue prophet; and afterwards such a rebellion amongst the people, as that the one yet remaineth, and the other was not in a good while after with great bloudshed appeased.

[Page]But for the better vnderstanding of the ground of these troubles, which hapned at this time G in the raigne of Baiazet by occasion of these two fugitiue Persians; as also of the mortall warres which afterwards ensued betwixt Hysmael (commonly called the great Sophi of PERSIA) and Selymus, Baiazet his successor: it shall not be much from our purpose briefly to declare the great mutation which at this time hapned in the Persian kingdome, as well in the state it selfe, as in matters of their superstition. At such time as Asymbeius Vsun-Cassanes raigned in PERSIA, there was one Haider Erdebil (whom Iouius calleth by the name of Harduelles) a man honorably discended amongst the Persians; who contemning worldly honour, riches, pleasure, and whatsoeuer else belonged vnto delicacie of life (commonly accounted the greatest part of humane felicitie) as meere vanities and trifles, led such a straight and auster [...] kind of life, with such continencie and contempt of the world, as that the vulgar people, for most part giuen to pleasure▪ H wondering at that in him which they could not or would not themselues imitate, began to haue the man in singular admiration for the opinion they had conceiued of his vpright life and rare vertues. The fame of this new prophet (for so he was accounted) was growne so great in the Persian kingdome, that people without number resorted out of all parts of PERSIA and ARMENIA vnto the great citie of TAVRIS to see the man. And he the more to seduce the multitude (delighted with nouelties) began to inuay against the common receiued opinion of the Mahometanes, concerning the true successours of their great prophet; and to reuiue the opinion of Gi [...] ni, surnamed So [...]i: persuading the people (as if he had been inspired with some diuine inspiration) That none of the professors of the Mahometane religion should inherit the kingdome of heauen after they were dead,The Turks and Persians differ not about the interpretation of their [...], but about the true successor of their great prophet Mahomet. but such as were the followers of Haly, the true successour of the great prophet I Mahomet, and his fellow in writing. Whom he taught them onely to honour as priuie to the mind of the great prophet, and so to receiue his writings as of all others most authenticall; rejecting Ebubekir, Omer, and Osman, with their writings, as most wicked & accursed men; whom the Turkes had euer, and yet doe with the other Mahometanes, honour and worship as the true successours of their great prophet Mahomet, and his sincere interpretors, togither with the aforesaid Haly, whom the Persians doe onely acknowledge: and therefore in their praiers doe commonly say, Cursed be Ebubekir, Omer, and Osman, and God be fauourable to Haly and well pleased with him. Which their difference about the true successor of their prophet, in whom was no truth, hath been, and yet is, one of the greatest causes of the mortall wars betweene the Turks and Persians: and not the diuers interpretation of their law (as manie haue written) which among the K Turkes and Persians is all one.

Vsun-Cassanes mooued with the fame and vertues of this new prophet, or rather (as some thought) desirous to win the hearts of the multitude of them that had receiued this new phantasie;Haider marrieth Ma [...]tha the da [...]ghter of the great king Vsun-Cassanes. gaue him in mariage his daughter Martha, begotten of the Christian ladie Despina the daughter of Calo Ioannes emperour of TRAPEZONDE. Which marriage the Christian emperour made with that Mahometane prince, and he also accepted thereof, thereby to strengthen themselues against the Turkish emperour Mahomet the Great; whose power was then become a terrour vnto all his neighbour princes: but to how small purpose this policie serued them both, is before declared in the life of the same Mahomet. At the conclusion of this marriage, the emperour had specially couenanted with Vsun-Cassanes, that his daughter Despina might haue the free L exercise of the Christian religion. Whereby it easily came to passe, that this Martha her daughter, instructed by her mother, became a Christian also: who now married by her father vnto this precise hypocrit Haider Erdebil, in short time bare him a sonne called Hysmael, whom she so much as she could trained vp in the principles of the Christian religion. Whereby it came to passe, that afterwards when hee had by rare fortune obtained the kingdome of PERSIA, he alwaies during his life had the Christians in good regard, and neuer found fault with their religion.

Haider thus graced with the marriage of the great kings daughter Martha, only for his rare vertues and puritie of life, as was commonly supposed; grew now into farre greater credit and estimation of the people than before. So that his doctrine and opinions began to be generally M receiued, and the number of his followers so greatly augmented, that Iacup succeeding his father Vsun-Cassanes but lately dead, began to haue the power and credit of Haider his brother in law in suspect; and to distrust least the Persians (who secretly fauoured the remainder of the posteritie of their auntient kings) should assemble togither vnder the colour of this new superstition, [Page] and raise some dangerous rebellion before he were well setled in his seat. For he was not ignorant, that Asembeius Vsun-Cassanes (his father) had but by force and pollicie vsurped the kingdome, hauing killed Moloonchres the lawfull king: whereof there arose two factions, some fauouring the vsurper, and other some the poore remainder of the discent of their auntient kings of the race of Tamerlane. Haider Erdebil s [...]cretly murdred. For which causes Iacup (as hee was of suspitious and troublesome nature, and aboue measure jealous of his state, nothing regarding the neere alliance or reputed holinesse of his godly brother in law) caused him, suspecting no such matter, to be secretly murthered: and so hauing strucke off his head, with fire and sword persecuted all the professors of that new doctrine; so to deliuer himselfe for euer of that his vaine and needlesse feare: Hysmael the sonne of Haider (who was afterwards called the great Sophi of PERSIA) being then but a child, as it were by fatall destinie escaped the furie of his cruell vncle Iacup, and fled into HIRCANIA vnto one Pyrchales his fathers friend, who then ruled in a small territorie neere vnto the Caspian sea.

Amongst many other of the disciples and followers of Haider (which in that cruell persecution were glad to flie for safegard of their liues) the two before named Chasan Shelife, and Schach Culi, afterwards surnamed Cuselbas, in outward shew both of vertue and learning not inferiour vnto their master, flying that dangerous tempest and passing ouer the riuer Euphrates, came into ARMENIA the lesser, and there tooke vp their dwelling at the great mountaine ANTITAVRVS: at the foot whereof the broken rockes haue diuers darke and obscure caues, made partly by art, and partly by nature; which place is of the inhabitants called Teke-Ili: whereof diuers C historiographers, I know not whether deceiued by the name of the place, or else wittingly transferring the name of the place vnto the man that liued therein, haue called this Schach Culi (who of the two proued of greater fame) by the name of Techellis, by which name we will also from henceforth call him. A thing heretofore much vsed amongst the religious, and also some of the children of great princes, who oftentimes bare the names of the places where they were borne, or where they most liued. This place is both wholsome and exceeding pleasant, for the varietie of fruits and liuely springs, wherwith the plaines adjoyning are continually watered, and the mountains at all times of the yeare garnished.

Here Shelife with his companion Techellis, hauing separated themselues farre from the companie of men, and giuen themselues wholy to a contemplatiue life, for diuers yeares liued most D straitly and austerely, contenting themselues with such things as the earth of it selfe affoorded them, without seeking for better. These hipocrits were first seene, and afterwards acquainted with the sheepheards and heardsmen liuing vpon the mountaines: and in processe of time with the rude husbandmen and countrey people, who wondring at their strait and deuout kind of life, relieued them with all things necessarie. Yea Baiazet himselfe hearing of their austere and deuout manner of liuing, sent them yearely six or seauen thousand aspers▪ as his almes giuen them vpon charitie and deuotion. But afterwards when they began to tell fortunes, and as it were by the way of diuination to prognosticat of things to come, the rurall people held them for more than men, and conceiued of them a firme opinion that they were some diuine prophets. And so were by the countrey people first drawne into the countrey villages, and afterwards E as if it had been against their wils, into the cities; where they had in short time filled all the countrey farre and neere, with the admiration of their fame. But after they began to publish their new phantasied doctrine concerning the true successour of their great prophet Mahomet, they wanted not their new-fangled followers (as had Haider their master before among the Persians) who had them in singular reuerence; persuaded now by them, that they should be condemned for euer, if they did not (as they were by them taught) giue the honour of the true succession of their great prophet, onely to Hali, and him onely to reuerence and call vpon next vnto the great prophet himselfe.

When they had thus with their often sermons and blind prophecies seduced the people,The beginning of the Cuselbassas. and in short time woon great credit amongst the vulgar sort, of themselues too much giuen F to noueltie and superstition; they commanded their disciples and followers to weare vpon their Turkish hats a red band or riband, whereby to be knowne from others that were not of their profession. Of which red bands or ribands, they which professed this new superstition, were and yet are ouer all the East part of the world called by the name of Cuselbassas, which is to say Red heads.

[Page] Hysmaell his behauiour in the time of his exile. Hysmaell also liuing in exile, most earnestly embraced that new superstition which Haider his G father had before taught in PERSIA, but with farre better fortune and successe. For as soone as he was growne to mans estate, he following his fathers manner of life, and being by nature wonderfull eloquent, comely of person, exceeding wise, and of an inuincible courage, was of the rude vulgar people accounted of more like a god than a man: so that he grew to be of great fame and power amongst those barbarous people with whom he liued. And not the base and vulgar sort only, but diuers noblemen also and others of good reputation, once allured with the noueltie of his doctrine, the more to manifest their good will towards the author of their sect; after they had forsaken their old superstition, ceased not (as the manner of men is) to cōmend him in the highest degree of vertue & honor. And he himselfe as yet but a youth, altogether bending his wit to the setting forth of himselfe, making semblant of more than was indeed in him, obtained, as if it had H beene against his will, riches, honour, fame, and authoritie; of all which things, hee as a notable dissembler seemed to make no account or reckoning: neither were there some wanting which would sweare, that Haider his father (as he was an excellent Astronomer) calculating his natiuitie, should say, That he should prooue a great prophet, and the author of true religion, who subduing the greatest part of the East, should become as glorious both in matters of religion and martiall affaires, as was Mahomet the Great prophet himselfe. Which report being bruted abroad amongst the vulgar people, greatly encreased his authoritie, and gaue them occasion to talke of wonders. Not long after Hysmaell was first by the admiration or rather assentation of his friends and followers, and afterwards as if it had ben by a generall consent, surnamed Sophos: which amongst those people signifieth a Wise man, or the interpreter of the gods. These prosperous I beginnings, with the troubled state of the Persian kingdome, encouraged him to take in hand great matters: for his vncle Iacup the Persian king was long before dead, being together with his sonne poysoned by his adulterous wife: which thing he presently perceiuing, enforced her to drinke of the same cup; and because he would be sure that she should not escape, with his owne hand strucke off her head, and immediately after died, with his sonne. After whose death great troubles arose about the succession: and diuers great men one after another aspired to the kingdome, which they enjoyed not long. And amongst the rest Eluan-beg (whom Iouius calleth Aluantes) at that time stood in no sure possession of the kingdome, being mightily impugned by his brother Moratchamus.

Hysmaell returneth i [...]to Armenia, and recouereth his inheritance. Hysmaell taking hold of this opportunitie, armed diuers of the most able men of his followers,K and receiuing some small aid from his poore old friend Pyrchales, entered into ARMENIA, and there partly by the fame that ran of him, and partly by the good will of the people, rather than by any force, recouered his fathers inheritance, whereunto the remembrance of his dead father did not a little further him. He encouraged with this good beginning, dayly grew stronger and stronger, by the continuall repairing vnto him of such as hauing once receiued the doctrine of Haider, were glad of long for (feare of persecution) to dissemble the same: but now hauing got an head and cheefetaine to cleaue vnto, began openly to shew themselues againe, and in great number to resort vnto him, in hope of the good successe of their religion, not so happely begun by his father.

Suma [...]hia taken by Hysmaell.His power thus dayly encreasing beyond his expectation, he laied siege vnto SVMACHIA, a L citie in the confines of MEDIA, which he tooke by force and sacked: and with the spoile thereof both enriched and armed his souldiors, which before were for most part naked men. The taking of this citie wonderfully encreased both his fame and courage, as oftentimes it falleth out, That haughtie minds, courageously attempting high exploits, by the good euent of their first attempts make way vnto the full of their stately desires. So after this, Hysmaell his thoughts were not so low,Hysmaell commeth to Tauris. as to thinke of the taking of this or that litle citie; but how he might now compasse the great citie of TAVRIS, the very seat of the Persian kings, and afterwards the kingdome it selfe. Whereupon reposing no lesse confidence in his owne good fortune, than the valour of his souldiors, he marched with his armie directly to the citie of TAVRIS, and that with such expedition, that he was come before it before any such thing was feared, much lesse prouided for. Eluan M the Persian king was then at TAVRIS, and had but a little before fought a great battaile with his brother Moratchamus for the kingdome: and hauing vanquished him, draue him out of ARMENIA and PERSIA; and afterwards, as it commonly falleth out in the winding vp of ciuile warres, had caused diuers of the cheefe citisens of TAVRIS, which had taken part with his [Page] A brother against him, to be seuerely executed, filling the eyes of their friends with the horrible spectacle of their dismembred bodies, and the hearts of most men with sorrow and heauinesse: whereby he had so alienated the minds of the citisens from him, that now vpon the approch of Hysmaell, they were all readie to forsake him: of which their disposition Hysmaell was beforehand enformed, and vpon the good hope thereof had hasted his comming. Eluan the Persian king thus ouertaken on the suddaine, had not time to raise such forces as might suffice either to encounter his enemie, or defend the citie; wherefore despairing of his owne strength, and justly fearing the reuolt and furie of the discontented citisens, as a man dismayed, suddainely fled out of the citie. After whose departure the gates were presently set open vnto Hysmaell. For the citisens which in those troublesome times (wherein the two brethren contended for the kingdome) B had suffered great calamitie, chose rather in that present danger to receiue a conqueror of so great fame as was then Hysmaell, than to their vtter destruction to oppose themselues against him in the quarrell of their cruell king: and the rather, for that they saw a generall securitie and open way to preferment proposed vnto all such as should receiue the reformed religion of this new conquerour.

Hysmaell entering the citie,Hysmaell taketh the citie of Tauris, and defaceth the tombe of his vncle Iacup. slew certaine of the kings guard which were not yet departed, and then vtterly rased the stately tombe wherin his vncle Iacup was after the manner of the Persian kings royally buried. And to mitigate the sorrow hee had so long conceiued of his fathers death, and with reuenge to appease his angrie ghost, he caused the tyrants bornes to be digged vp and scattered abroad, and the memoriall of his name to bee quite rased out of all places C of the citie.

Although Hysmaell was thus possessed of the regall citie of TAVRIS, and had therby made a way for the obtaining of the whole kingdome; yet hee knew that so long as Eluan liued, his conquest was not vnto him assured: and therefore to the vttermost of his power he augmented his armie with new supplies taken vp in that populous citie, whom he furnished with armour and weapons taken out of the kings armourie. In the meane time newes was brought vnto him, that the Persian king before fled into the farthest part of his kingdome, was now comming from SCYRAS with a great armie against him; and that Moratchamus his brother, forgetting in this common danger all former quarrels, had raised a great armie about BABILON in ASSYRIA, in short time to joine with his brother.

D Hysmaell neuerthelesse nothing terrified with the report of the great preparation of the two brethren against him, to the intent hee might seeme to vndertake this warre by the appointment of God, and vpon a greater assurance than vpon his owne strength, resolued to go against them. And so after he had mustered his armie, and in best manner he could prouided all things necessarie, he set forward from TAVRIS:Hysmaell goeth against the Persian king. vsing no other persuasion to encourage his souldiors, but that they should as became resolute men, make hast and follow him whom God had giuen them for a cheefetaine and leader, vnto a most assured victorie. The Persian king was at the same time ten dayes journey from TAVRIS, when Hysmaell with incredible celeritie preuenting the fame of his comming, was come to the mountaine NIPHATES, which parteth ARMENIA from ASSYRIA: which mountaine Eluan purposing shortly to passe ouer with his populous armie, had E sent before his scouts to discouer the straight passages, and a multitude of pioners to make the wayes more commodious for his great armie to passe. Which thing Hysmaell vnderstanding, and politickely considering that it should be much for his aduantage, if hee should first himselfe passe ouer those great mountaines, and so vpon the suddaine set vpon his enemies then lying in securitie, and fearing nothing lesse than such a desperat attempt: vpon that resolution aduanced his ensignes vp the mountaines; and hauing with small resistance discomfited them which kept the passages, came downe the same mountaines like a tempest, and furiously assailed the king, then lying in his campe on the other side at the foot of the mountaine: vpon the approch of whom, such a hurly burly was raised in the kings campe, that what for the confused tumult of the souldiors, and fearefull outcries of the multitude of base people which followed the campe, the F king could scarcely giue order vnto his captaines what he would haue done, or yet encourage his souldiors, or put them in order of battaile. So that Hysmaell giuing a fierce onset with his Armenian souldiors, there was suddainely begun a most terrible and bloodie battaile. Neither did that day the fortune of Hysmaell faile him, whose courage and prowesse neuer failed: For assailing the kings battaile of footmen, with three squadrons at once, he had ouercome them and put [Page] them to flight before that the horsemen could arme themselues and mount their horses, which G were for most part vnsadled and vnbrideled at his comming. The king, who had nothing either feared or foreseene this so suddaine a mischeefe, but had vainely persuaded himselfe, That the very fame of his comming with so huge an armie, would so terrifie his enemies, as that hee should find none either at TAVRIS, or in all ARMENIA, that durst make resistance; was glad now to run too and fro to encourage his souldiors, to stay his discomfited battailes, yea and to come to handie blowes himselfe. But when neither his captaines nor souldiors could put in execution his suddaine directions which he was enforced to giue in that imminent danger, being at once ouercome with shame and desperation, he resolutely thrust himselfe into the head of his battaile, and there valiantly fighting,Eluan the Persian king slaine. was slaine. Whereupon the Persian horsemen, the greatest strength of the kings armie, hauing now no king for whom they should fight, betooke themselues to flight,H after whom followed the archers and all the rest of the kings armie.

When as Hysmaell had with lesse losse than a man would haue thought so great a victorie could haue beene atchieued, possessed the enemies tents, hee made no great pursute after them, for that he thought it more requisit to refresh his souldiors, throughly wearied and almost spent with long trauell and the late fight: wherefore for certaine dayes he reposed himselfe with his armie in those his enemies forsaken tents. Afterwards, when hee had receiued embassadours from diuers places, yeelding their cities and townes, and that the fauour of the people generally enclined to him, together with the victorie; he marched with his armie to SCYRAS, where hee was of the citisens, who had before heard of the victorie, joyfully receiued, and his armie relieued with all things he could desire. Hysmaell there entertained with the greatest honours that I the fearefull citisens could possibly attribute vnto him, did oftentimes preach vnto them of the truth and excellencie of his fathers doctrine, and withall gaue out straight proclamations, That he would account all them for his enemies, which did not within the space of thirtie dayes renounce their old superstition, and receiue this new found veritie (as he would haue it.) Wherefore for as much as on the one side were proposed most certaine rewards, by the happie course of his victories; and on the other, was threatened exile and torture to such as should obstinatly persist in their opinion; in short time hee drew all the vulgar people to embrace his new doctrine. And afterwards hauing payed his souldiors with the riches of that great citie, he gallantly furnished both his old and new souldiors that wanted armour, with most excellent armour and furniture: for in that citie, one of the greatest and most famous of the East, were many shops full of K all kind of armour, which the armourers with wonderfull cunning vsed to make of yron and steele and the juice of certaine hearbes, of much more notable temper & beautie than are those which are made with vs in EVROPE; not onely headpeeces, cuirasses, and complete armors, but whole caparisons for horses, curiously made of thin plates of yron and steele. Departing from SCVRAS, he tooke also the great cities of SAPHA, supposed to haue been the citie in antient time called SVSA, and SVLTANIA, which for the wonderfull ruines of the huge buildings, is deemed to haue been the antient and famous citie TIGRANOCERTA.Hysmaell goeth against Moratch [...]mus. These great matters quickely dispatched, and hauing in euery citie placed gouernours of his owne sect, hee passed ouer the riuer of TIGRIS into MESOPOTAMIA, of purpose to expulse Moratchamus the late kings brother out of BABILON, who was yet in armes, and had entended (as is before said) to haue passed into L ARMENIA, to haue joyned his forces with the king his brother: but now terrified with his brothers calamitie (who together with a most puissant armie, and the strength of the Persian kingdome, was in one day fallen from the height of so great a fortune) thought it not best to trie his fortune in the field against so fortunate an enemie, but forthwith to withdraw himselfe into the remotest places of that large kingdome, and from thence to expect some better fortune. For he well knew that he was not able to withstand his victorious enemy, now leading after him a most puissant armie, who not long before had with a small power vanquished & slain his brother in a great battell. Hysmaell now by the greatnesse of his fame and forces, and as it were by the fauor of God himselfe, become a terror to all the princes of the East, entered into MESOPOTAMIA after the flight of Moratchamus, & receiued all that great prouince into his subjection, euery man as it M were striuing who should first by his speedy submission purchase the fauor of the victorious conqueror. To be breefe, Moratchamus alreadie terrified, and reposing no great hope in himselfe, or his own power, neither deeming it for his safetie to shut himselfe vp within the wals of any strong citie, trussed vp his things of greatest price, and with his wiues and children fled into ARABIA.

[Page]This Moratchamus is he whom some historiographers call Mara Beg, and is in the Turkes histories called Imirsa Beg, who (as they report) afterwards marrying the daughter of Baiazet, and recouering part of the Persian kingdome, was suddenly murthered by some of his nobilitie, whom he purposed secretly to haue put to death, if they had not preuented the same by murthering of him first. Hysmaell hauing victoriously subdued a great part of the Persian kingdome, and filled all the East part of the world with the glorie of his name, returned out of ASSYRIA into MEDIA, and tooke in such cities and strong holds as were yet holden by the garrisons of the late Persian king. And afterwards returning into ARMENIA, made wars vpon the Albanians, Iberians, and Scythians, which dwell vpon the borders of the Caspian: For that those nations, in auntient times tributaries vnto the Persian kings, taking the benefit of the long ciuile warres wherewith the kingdome of PERSIA and all the Easterne countries, with the ruine of the kings house, had been of late turmoiled; had neither paied anie tribute by the space of foure yeares, nor sent anie honourable embassage as they were wont, and as was expected, especially in so great a victorie and alteration of the state.

Hysmaell hauing thus obtained the Persian kingdome, in short time became famous through the world, and was justly accounted amongst the greatest monarchs of that age. But nothing made him more to be spoken of, than the innouation he had made in the Mahometane superstition: for by his deuise and commaundement, a new forme of prayer was brought into their Mahometane temples, farre differing from that which had been of long time before vsed. By reason whereof, Ebubekir, Homer, and Osman, the successours of their great prophet Mahomet, C before had in great regard and reuerence, began now to be contemned, & their writings nothing regarded: and the honour of Hali exalted, as the true and onely successour of their great prophet. And because he would haue his subjects and the followers of his doctrine knowne from the Turkes and other Mahometanes, he commaunded that they should all weare some red hatband, lace, or riband vpon their heads; which they religiously obserue in PERSIA vntill this day: whereof they are of the Turkes called Cuselbas or Redheads. Hysmaell exceedingly beloued and honoured of his subiects. And in short time he had so vsed the matter, that he was wonderfully both beloued and reuerenced of his subjects: insomuch that his sayings were accounted for diuine oracles, and his commaundements for lawes. So that when they would confirme anie thing by solemne oath, they would sweare by the head of Hysmaell the king: and when they wished well to anie man, they vsually said, Hysmaell grant thee D thy desire. Vpon his coine which he made both of siluer and gold, on the one side was written these words, La illahe illalahu, Muhamedun resul allahe: which is to say, There are no gods but one, and Mahomet is his messenger. And on the other side, Ismaill halife lullahe; which is to say, Hysmaell the Vicar of God.

Whilest Hysmaell was thus wrestling for the Persian kingdome,1508 Chasan Chelife and Techellis (whom wee haue a little before declared to haue beene brought out of the mountaines and desarts into the countrey villages, and afterwards into the cities; and to haue filled the countries of ARMENIA and a great part of the Lesser ASIA with the noueltie of their new doctrine and opinions, first phantasied by one Giunet Siech, and afterward reuiued by Haider Erdebill Hysmaell his father) hauing gathered a great armie of such as had receiued their doctrine,Chasan Chelife and Techellis inuade the Turke [...] dominions. inuaded E the Turkes dominion. For after that Techellis (this cold prophet) had with wonderfull felicitie in the presence of manie prognosticated of things to come; and Hysmaell the Sophi (of late a poore exiled and banished man) was thought to haue growne vnto the highest type of worldly honours, not by mans helpe, but by vprightnesse of life, and the fortunate passage of an vndoubted religion: such a desire of receiuing that new superstition possessed the mindes of the people in generall, that the cities and townes thereabouts were now full of them which in token of their new profession had taken vpon them the wearing of the red hat, the knowne [...] of the Cuselbas. First they met togither at the citie of TASCIA at the foot of the mount [...]ne ANTITAVRVS, or as the Turkish historie reports, at the citie of ATTALIA, to the number of ten thousand vpon a great Faire day; where they laied hands vpon the chiefe magistrate of the citie F and executed him, setting his quarters vpon foure of the highest towers of the citie: and farther persuaded by these new masters of this new superstition, to take vp armes in defence of themselues and of their sincere religion (as they tearmed it) in case that anie violence should be offered them by the irreligious Turkes; they all swore neuer to forsake their captaines for anie distresse, or yet refuse anie labour or aduenture for the honour of their most holy religion (as they [Page] would haue it) in defence whereof, they had alreadie vowed their soules and bodies. These ringleaders G of rebellion, seeing the minds of their franticke followers so well prepared for their purpose, and reposing a great confidence in their valour and resolution; and withall considering that the money which was bountifully brought in vnto them by the countrey people, partly for deuotion, partly for feare, was not sufficient to maintaine so great a multitude; gaue leaue by publike proclamation to their vnruly followers, to forage the countrey round about them, and to liue vpon the spoile of them which would not receiue that new found doctrine. Whereupon they deuiding themselues into diuers companies, and raunging vp & down the country, brought into the campe great abundance of cattell and other such things as the countrey yeelded: and forthwith (their multitude still encreasing) they entered into LYCAONIA, a populous and fruitfull countrey, where they refreshed themselues manie daies, roaming vp and downe to the great H grieuance and terrour of the people: and brought such a feare vpon the whole countrey, that they which dwelt in open dorpes and villages, were glad to flie with their wiues, children, and goods into the strong citie of ICONIVM: for proclamations were in manie places set vp in the names of Chasan Chelife and Techellis, wherein manie both spirituall and temporall blessings were in most ample manner proposed to all such as should forthwith take part with them, and follow that their new doctrine alreadie established in PERSIA: But vnto such as should obstinatly perseuere in their old superstition, after they had once drawne their sword, was threatened vtter destruction without hope of pardon or life. So that all the inhabitants thereabouts, terrified with the terrour of this proclamation, some for feare of death, some vpon vnconstancie; some for safegard of their goods and possessions (dearer vnto them then any religion) some other indebted,I infamous, in danger of law: beside manie fugitiue seruants daily resorted to these new masters. Not long after, whilest the Turks were making preparation for the suppressing of this dangerous rebellion, certaine troupes of horsemen sent from Hysmaell came in good time to these new prophets: for Hysmaell in fauour and furtherance of that new superstition, had a little before by fit messengers, exhorted them to proceed couragiously in their so religious an enterprise, and to joyne martiall force vnto the religion they professed: promising further, not to bee wanting vnto them at their need, but to send them skilfull leaders, and from time to time to furnish them with coine for the maintenance of that warre. All this Hysmaell did openly in despight of Baiazet, of small beginnings to sow the seed of greater warre. For he bearing an old grudge against Baiazet, for the former warres betwixt the Turkes and the Persians, as also for K their disagreement in matters concerning their superstition; and prickt forward with the heat of youth, desired nothing more in the greatnesse of his power, and prosperous successe of his affaires, than to haue occasion to make wars with the Turkish king: [...]smaell sendeth [...]mbassadors vnto the Venetian [...], to [...]oyne in league with them against Baiazet. For which purpose he sent his embassadours vnto the state of VENICE to joyne with them in league and amitie, in such forme ond sort, as they had long time before by Catarinus Zenus, Barbarus and Contarenus their embassadours, concluded with Vsun-Cassanes the great Persian king his grandfather. The chiefe things that he requested of the Venetians was, That they would send him out of ITALIE by the way of SYRIA, men skilfull in the casting of great ordinance, and with their fleet to trouble Baiazet by sea: promising in the meane time himselfe to fill ASIA the lesse with his army by land, and so to giue a faire occasion vnto them, to recouer by sea all such places, as they had before in L the late warres lost vnto the Turkes vpon the coast of PELOPONESVS and GRaeCIA.

The Venetians hauing with all courtesie entertained the embassadours, gaue them answere, That they would neuer be forgetfull of the antient league and amitie they had made with the Persian king; the remembrance whereof, was vnto their state a thing most pleasant: and that they were wonderfull glad, that the new king was an enemie vnto the Turke, and had them in suc [...] [...], as to participat vnto them the causes of that warre: and farther to promise vnto them those t [...]ngs, which if his grandfather Vsun-Cassanes or his vnckle Iacup would haue performed, he should not now haue had need to make warres with the Turkish emperour. But such was the alteration of things and times, that as the Persian kings then liuing at home in peace, thought it not good to stir whilest Baiazet was busie in EVROPE; so now their state standing in far worse M condition and fortune, could not performe that which they heartily wished, and most of all desired: for that they thought it not good to breake the league which they had not long before made with Baiazet the Turkish emperour: especially then, when sundrie warlike nations of EVROPE conspiring togither, and diuers mightie kings prouoked with no injurie, but onely enuying [Page] A at their happie estate, made warres vpon them; yet were neuerthelesse in good hope, that God would stand in their just defence, and still preserue their state, which no enemies power had for the space of 700 yeares and more, euer beene able to ouercome. Wherefore they should shew vnto their king, that they would as occasion should serue, and as it should stand with the good of their state, doe their vttermost deuoire, to make him vnderstand, that nothing was deerer vnto them than the friendship of so great a king: nor anie thing more honourable than by mutuall counsell and combined forces, to assaile the Turke their common enemie.

Shortly after, the embassadours (hauing obtained nothing more than the hope of a league to be in time concluded, and being honourably rewarded) returned with their gallies to CYPRVS, and so from thence to SYRIA, where they had secret conference with Petrus Zenus (the sonne of B Catarinus Zenus, a man famous for his embassage vnto Vsun-Cassanes into PERSIA) gouernour of the Venetian merchants at DAMASCO. Which thing Baiazet hauing intelligence of, and of the passage of the Persian embassadors that way, cōplained grieuously both by his embassadors and letters vnto Campson Gaurus Sultan of Aegypt, that he dealt not as a friend and confederat with him; in suffering those embassadours so to passe through the middest of SYRIA vnto the Christians their common enemies, to stir them vp to warre. Whereupon, all the Venetian merchants which were at TRIPOLIS, ALEPPO, DAMASCO, BERYTVS, and ALEXANDRIA, and especially Zenus himselfe, were forthwith apprehended by the commandement of the great Sultan, and carried in bonds to CAIER: where they were manie times enforced in chaines to answere vnto such things as were laid to their charge, and after they had by the space of a yeare C endured the manifold despights of the prowd Mamalukes, hardly obtained to escape with life and libertie.

The two seditious prophets Chasan and Techellis well strengthned with the aid of the Persians, were now come vnto ICONIVM the most famous citie of LYCAONIA; and wasting all the country before them, drew a great multitude of people to receiue their new doctrine. For the repressing of which outrages, Orchanes and Mahomethes, two of Baiazet his nephews (who insteed of their fathers Alem Schach and Tzihan Schach, Orchanes and Mahometes two of Baiazet his nephewes ouerthrowne by Techellis. the sonnes of Baiazet before dead, gouerned those countries) gathered togither their forces, and disdaining to suffer such disgrace by such a rabble of rascall people, in the sight of so famous a citie, came into the field to giue them battell. But they in their youthfull heat making too much hast, and joyning battell in a place of disuantage, D were by the rebels ouerthrowne and put to flight. Neither would these ringleaders in that victorie haue forborne to haue assailed ICONIVM, but that they wanted artillerie and engines of war requisit for the besieging of cities.

Corcutus also one of the sonnes of Baiazet, hauing at the same time leuied a conuenient army about THYATIRA, SYPILVS, MAGNESIA, and PHOCEA, durst not farther stur or set forward against the rebels, although they lay dispersed about the countrey fast by him. These new prophets with ensignes displaied, marching from countrey to countrey through the heart of the lesser ASIA, entered at length into BYTHINIA, where neere vnto the riuer Sangarius they met with Caragoses Bassa the Viceroy of ASIA, comming against them with a great army well appointed, which he had a little before raised vpon the bruit of the comming of these rebels; and E had also commaunded Acomathes (whom the Turkes call Achmetes) the eldest sonne of Baiazet then liuing, gouernour of the great countries of CAPADOCIA and PONTVS, to raise his power, and to follow at the backe of the rebels: who if they should hap to be put to the worse, would neither be able to retire, neither to keepe the field, being so shut vp betwixt two great armies. But Techellis by his speedie comming, frustrated these designes of the Viceroy: for marching with all possible speed, he was vpon Caragoses before he was well aware of his comming, neere vnto the mountaine HORMYNVS; as he was then taking vp of mo souldiours, and daily expected the comming of others, as if he had beene going against some puissant enemie. The Viceroy seeing the rebels approach, although he had before not purposed to haue encountred them before he had raised farre greater forces: thought it not now to stand with his honour to F refuse to giue them battell, although his armie for most part consisted of the rude countrey peasants, taken vp vpon the sudden out of PAPHLAGONIA, GALATIA, PONTVS, and BYTHINIA, raw souldiours, and for most part vnarmed: as commonly they are which in those countries are pressed against their wils out of the townes and villages, and are of the Turkes called Asapi, who of the Ianizaries are scarcely accounted for men. But his greatest confidence he reposed [Page] in the approued valour of his auntient horsemen, by whose meanes he doubted not, in G safetie to retire out of the battell, and to saue himselfe if anie thing should fall out otherwise than well; making no great account of the common souldiours more than by them if he could to weaken the force of the rebels: who on the other side (their greatest force consisting of footmen) had no hope to saue themselues by flight, but onely by plaine valour and dint of sword. Which Techellis well considering, exhorted his souldiours to remember into what countrey they were come, and that there was no cities of refuge, no new power, no other gods of defence to flie vnto, if they should not that day play the men: Wherefore let vs couragiously (said he) set forward against our enemies, and by victorie defend our liues, togither with the truth of our religion,The battell betweene Caragoses and Techell [...]s. for which we haue vowed both our soules and bodies. He had scarce said thus much, but that his whole army (in token of cheerfulnesse) gaue a most terrible shout, & without farther H stay, set vpon their enemies. The Viceroy had placed his footmen in the maine battell in the middle, and his horsemen in the wings, thereby to haue compassed in his enemies: but Techellis had set all his footmen in one great square battell, and his Persian horsemen for a refuge. But the Viceroy his freshwater souldiors, could scarcely abide the sight of Techellis his army: for in the front of the battell stood souldiours throughly armed, and all the rest of his armie with red hats vpon their heads, as if they had been embrued with bloud, which wonderfully terrified the Bassaes cowardly and vnskilfull souldiors: so that hauing endured the fight scarcely halfe an houre, they all turned their backs and fled. The Turkish horsemen which had valiantly assailed the rebels army on both sides, although they had slaine manie with their arrowes and launces, and somewhat disordered the battell, for that the footmen were enforced to leaue their places, and to I presse still on forwards against them; yet when Techellis his souldiours (hauing ouercome the footmen, and diuiding themselues into diuers squadrons) began with their long pikes to kill their horses, and to lay hardly vnto them, they likewise betooke themselues to flight also. Then the Persian horsemen (which all this while had stood still as lookers on) left their standings, and following the chase slew manie of the Turkes in their disordered flight: and following fast on, enclosed the Viceroy as he was staying of his horsemen, and could not for the thicknesse of the dust well discerne his enemies; so that he had beene there taken, if he had not beene speedily rescued by his guard, and so deliuered from that danger: The rest of the Turkes horsemen saued themselues by flight. In this battell seauen thousand of the Turkes footmen were slaine, and all their ensignes taken, with great store of prouision.K

After which victorie, Chasan and Techellis resting their armie one day, marched to the citie of CVTAIE, neere vnto the mountaine HORMINIVS: This citie is scituated as it were in the middest of ASIA the lesse, and is the seat of the Turkish emperours Viceroy in ASIA; as SOPHIA in MoeSIA is for his other Viceroy in EVROPE: For it was reported, that the country people had for feare of the present warre, conuaied thither the greatest part of their wealth; and the rebels well knew, that the Viceroy himselfe with his chiefe horsemen were fled thither also: Neither doubted they, but that all the armie might be greatly enriched by the wealth of that cittie, if they should without delay employ their whole forces for the gaining thereof; their enemies now altogither discouraged with their late ouerthrow.Techellis besiegeth Caragoses the Viceroy in the citie of Cu [...]aie. Techellis also deeming that enterprise of so much worth as whereon to gage his whole forces, comming before the citie, placed such field L pieces as he had before taken in the battell, and his archers in such fit places as might most annoy the defendants; afterwards hee caused scaling ladders to be set vp, and proclamation made through all his campe, That the whole spoile of the citie should be the souldiours, if they could take it; with promise of greater rewards to them that should first recouer the top of the walles. Filled with this hope, the rebellious multitude approched the wall, fearing neither enemies force, multitude of shot, or danger of death; striuing who should first mount the ladders, and some clambering one in the necke of another, so to get vp by the ruines of the wall. The defendants in the meane time from aboue casting downe vpon them great stones, timber, fire, scalding water, lime, sand, and such like without measure: Wherwith although many were ouerthrown and crusht to death or spoiled, yet others presently stept vp in their place; neither was anie of them M seene for feare of so present danger, to shrinke backe or be discouraged. For the Viceroy on the one side, and Techellis on the other, were both eyewitnesses of euery mans valour in that hot seruice: the one prickt forward with doubtfull hope, for feare to be enforced to giue ouer the assault so begun; and the other, with the due regard of his honour, life, and state, all subject to that danger; [Page] and therefore in person himselfe performed all the parts of a woorthie cheefetaine and couragious souldior.Caragoses the viceroy with his wiues and children taken by Techellis in the citie of Cutaie. But at length the defendants wearied with the fierce assault of the enemie, and for most part wounded, Techellis continually sending in fresh men, and withdrawing such as were hurt, by plaine force brake into the citie in two places ouer the heapes of the dead bodies: and hauing repulsed the defendants, burst open one of the gates, and thereby brought in his whole armie. Then began a miserable slaughter of the souldiors and poore citisens in euery house and corner of the citie. At which instant, the pallace whether the viceroy had retired himselfe with his familie, was also taken. The viceroy himselfe, with his wiues and children, were there also taken prisoners, and the stately pallace built of marble, in a trice consumed with fire.

B The rich citie of CVTAIE, the seat of the great commander of the Turkish empire in ASIA, thus taken by Techellis, and his whole armie both beautified and enriched with the spoile therof: he persuaded himselfe, that it was now no hard matter for him to take the citie of PRVSA also, the antient seat of the Turkish kings in BYTHINIA, and so to endanger the whole state of the Turkes empire in ASIA, if he should now without delay carrie the terrour of himselfe thither, before the Turkes could in that countrey make head against him, or the citizens be able in so suddaine a feare to make any sufficient prouision for the defence of themselues and their citie; and so in the course of his good fortune to vse the courage and cheerefulnesse of his souldiors. Wherefore appointing a day when he would set forward, he commaunded all things necessarie to bee made readie for the taking of that rich citie, being neither strongly walled neither furnished with C any good garrison for the defence thereof.

But whilest hee was making this preparation, a new armie, lately shipt ouer the Hellespont from CALLIPOLIS into ASIA,Baiazet sendeth Alis Bassa against Techellis, out of Europe. enforced him to change his former determination. For Baiazet awaked at the name of Techellis, and the fame of the new superstition now generally receiued in PERSIA, had long before giuen commaundement to his sonnes, nephewes, and the viceroy of ASIA, That they should with all carefulnesse prouide, that that part of his kingdome tooke no harme thereby. But after he saw Techellis of a poore hermit become a great captaine, and backt also with the Persian king, and all his dominions in ASIA now in danger of some great alteration, he sent Alis Bassa ouer with his Europeian armie. This Alis an eunuch, borne in MACEDONIA (yet for his courage comparable with the greatest captaines) had for his many and worthie D deserts, in the time of the great emperour Mahomet, Baiazet his father, got vnto himselfe both the honour and name of a most famous cheefetaine. He hauing made choice of the principall horsemen of EPIRVS, MACEDONIA, SERVIA, ILLYRIA, and THRACIA, and joyning vnto them seuen thousand Ianizaries (the most assured hope of the Turkes in all their expeditions) passed ouer from CALLIPOLIS into PHRYGIA, and vpon the way directed his letters vnto Achomates and Corcutus, Baiazet his sonnes, and to all the other Sanzackes and Gouernours of the Turkes prouinces in ASIA, That they should with as much speed as they could raise their forces, and meet him in GALATIA. But Techellis aduertised of his comming, thought it best for him to depart out of PONTVS, and to retire to some place of more safetie, least by longer staying he should be enclosed by his enemies, repairing thither wards on euery side, or E els vpon some great disaduantage be enforced to joyne battaile: for he saw, that if he stayed neuer so little, he should find no safe passage or place of refuge to retire vnto, hauing left such large and spacious countries, so many enemies cities, so many great riuers, so many discontented people behind him; all which the first fauour of the vulgar sort, and speedie course of his victorie, had a little before laid open vnto him. Wherefore calling together his captaines and most expert men of warre to consult vpon the matter, it was generally thought to bee a point of meere madnesse, or els of extreame necessitie, with so small a power of vnskilfull souldiors, without any sufficient strength of horsemen, to joyne battaile with such an enemie as better knew the country than he, and farre exceeded him both for the number and expertnesse of his souldiors. Wherefore Techellis trussing vp the rich prey he had before gotten, began now with speed to retire back F againe with his followers through GALATIA. But the Bassa hauing intelligence almost euery houre by letters and espials both of the retiring of Techellis, and the way hee held, passed ouer the riuer Sangarius; and coasting the countrey, came and encamped betwixt the cities of CVTAIE and ANCYRA, which way it was supposed the enemie would passe. Where when he had there a while rested his wearied souldiors, and was certainely aduertised, that the rebels had taken [Page] another way, he set forward againe, and after fiue dayes march in the plaines of GALATIA,G ouertooke the straglers of the enemies, who wearied or wounded, were not able to hold way with the armie: all whom the Bassa commaunded to be cruelly put to the sword. And Techellis to terrifie the great Bassa; or at leastwise with a most horrible spectacle to stay his pursute, caused Caragoses the viceroy, whom hee had carried along with him in chaines, to be cruelly empaled by the high way side vpon a great sharpe stake set fast in the ground, and so left him sticking for the Turkes to wonder at. But Alis Bassa nothing dismayed with the horrible death of so great a personage, held on his way with more hast than good speed, exhorting his souldiours patiently to endure the painfulnesse of the long march, and to straine themselues to take reuenge of those rebellious theeues and robbers, who destroying the countrey before them, spared not so much as the Turks children and the temples of their religion: and so the day following came H into the plaines of ANCYRA. The same day also Achomates came vnto the Bassa with ten thousand souldiors. Alis Bassa perceiuing that he could not possibly with his whole armie ouertake his enemies marching with greater speed before him, and greeued at the heart to see them escape out of his hands, resolued to proue if hee could with his horsemen ouertake them: wherevpon leauing his footmen with Achomates, hee himselfe with eight thousand horse following the enemie vpon the spurre, ouertooke the rereward of their armie at the mountaine OLYGA, a little from the citie of ANCYRA, vnto whom he gaue an hot skirmish.

The battell betwixt Alis Bassa and Techellis. Techellis which a little before had taken a fit place for his campe, vpon the rising of the hill, although he saw his men faint with long trauell and the scorching heat of the Sunne, yet quickly perceiuing that he should haue to doe onely with horsemen, and that in a place of aduantage; I turning his armie, and orderly placing his souldiors, as the ground and the shortnesse of the time would giue leaue, valiantly receiued the impression of the Turkes, and with their long pikes and arrowes at the first repulsed them: so that it seemed, they would neither haue giuen ground vnto the bragging horsemen, neither haue done any thing not beseeming their former victories, had not Alis Bassa sent in a thousand Carbines, who in troupes orderly following one another, deliuered their shot as thicke as haile vpon the enemie: with which storme many of them being slaine, and moe wounded, their rankes began to be somewhat disordered: whereupon the other horsemen breaking in, with great slaughter ouerthrew the vauntguard of Techellis battaile: in which conflict Chasan Chelife himselfe was slaine.Chasan Chelife slaine. Techellis alwayes at hand where most need was, euen in the middest of the slaughter of his men, set in order a new battaile of his most readie K and best armed souldiors, the onely remedie in so great a distresse; and bringing them on into the front of the battaile, opposed them against the horsemen, now (as they thought) in possession of the victorie: commaunding them by little and little to retire vnto the mountaine, to the intent that they might seeme to doe that by commandement of the generall, which they were like ynough to haue done of themselues for feare; hoping that it would so come to passe, That the Turkes finding the disaduantage of the place, would leaue so hardly to assaile them. But the Bassa encouraged with the first successe of the battaile, exhorted his souldiors to vrge the victorie, now almost as good as gotten, and not to giue the enemie space to recouer the strength of the mountaine, but valiantly to charge them, and with a little short paines that day to end all that warre, to the honour of Baiazet their soueraigne, and worthie commendation of themselues in generall.L In this sort encouraging them, he with a troupe of his best horsemen (to animate the rest, and to shew his owne valour) brake through the enemies battaile: which thing he in the same heat, with more courage than discretion, attempting to performe the second time, was enclosed by his enemies and slaine:Alis Bassa slain. vpon whose fall the fortune of the battaile was in a moment changed. For the Turkes, which erst fought courageously, hauing beaten backe and almost ouerthrowne their enemies, now dismayed with the death of their Generall, began to fight but faintly, and by little and little to giue ground, and at last turning about their horses, fled. On the other side, Techellis his souldiours, who but a little before had reposed greater hope in the strength of the place and the mountaine, than in their weapons and valour, now encouraged with new hope, and taking heart in the faint charge of their enemies, began to thrust forward, and with a most terrible noise M crying victorie, put to flight the Turkes horsemen, before wearied with long trauell, when as they had by the rashnesse of their Generall lost a notable victorie almost already gained. Techellis although he knew that the enemie could neither refresh his horses, nor yet with any assurance keepe the field, if he should haue pursued him; yet hauing lost many of his best soldiors, and the [Page] rest of his armie sore weakened with trauell, fasting and fighting, determined to refresh his wearied followers vpon the mountaine OLYGA. From whence after a few dayes he marched ouer the riuer Halys vnto the citie of TASCIA, his old dwelling place, and so to the citie of CELENIS, which the riuer Marsya (much spoken of by the Poets) runneth thorow, and is now called by the name of MARAS, but as then the regall seat of the mountaine king Aladeules. The Turkes horsemen hauing thus in some small sort rather reuenged the injuries done by the rebels than obtained any victorie, returned to Achomates, who was then comming on with the footmen. Not long after Baiazet vnderstanding of the death of Alis Bassa his Generall,Ionuses Bassa sent by Baiazet▪ Generall of his armie against Techellis. sent Ionuses Bassa, a warlike captaine, and of great experience (borne in EPIRVS) in his stead. Who as soon as he had receiued the charge of the armie from Achomates, marching forthwith into CAPPADOCIA, B and keeping the way on the right hand towards the mountaine ANTITAVRVS, came in few dayes vnto the citie of TASCIA, the place of Techellis his abode: where burning and destroying the countrey all about, he came and encamped with his armie at the foot of the mountaine. The Bassa had in his armie aboue fortie thousand horse and foot, well appointed with many field peeces, and plentie of victuals which he brought with him, for feare of want in that bare countrey. Techellis terrified with his comming, hauing of late receiued no aid from Hysmaell the Persian king, and wanting also great artillerie; and besides that, seeing his souldiors greatly both deminished and discouraged with the late battaile at OLYGA; determined not vpon so great disaduantage to meet his enemie in the plaine field, but to keepe the rough mountaine and thicke woods, hoping that if he could be able any time to keepe those strong places, hee should C either receiue some aid from Hysmaell, or by the heat of the Turkes leaders take them at some notable aduantage. In the meane time many notable skirmishes passed betwixt the souldiors on both sides: for the Turkes fetching a compasse oftentimes about the mountaines, and seeking for the best passages, by the easie rising of the hils, came to skirmish with their enemies: and Techellis his souldiors on the other side, sallying many times out of the woods and abrupt places of the mountaines, valiantly assailed the Turkes. After they had a long time in this sort, as if it had beene in disport, rather proued their forces one vpon another than done any great matter, the Turkes prying into euery corner, at length perceiued two wayes whereby their whole armie with ensignes displayed might without any great difficultie bee brought vnto the top of the mountaine, and so into their enemies strength. The Bassa hauing well viewed and considered D the places, caused the Ianizaries at one instant to march vp to the mountaine by one of the aforesaid wayes, and the rest of his armie by the other: who with soft pace climing vp the steepe mountaines, with their targuets defended themselues as well as they could against their enemies darts and shot. For Techellis his souldiours hauing before taken the high mountaines and places of aduauntage, cast downe vpon the Turkes great stones and shot without number, as if it had beene out of some strong forts. But the Turkes bending certaine small field peeces against the places which most annoied them, easily draue them from their standings; the harquebusiers still following their ensignes, shrouded close vnder the targuetiers, and deliuering their deadly shot as showers of raine vpon their enemies. Whose desperat approch Techellis perceiuing, caused a retreat to be sounded, and with all his armie retired farther off into the higher E mountaines and rougher woods. The night following, perceiuing that by the euill successe of the former skirmish he had lost a great part of his credit and strength, he with great silence forsooke the woods, and passing quite ouer the mountaines fled into ARMENIA, then part of the Persian kingdome. Neither did the Turkes perceiue their departure vntill it was light day, and that their scouts entring the thicke woods, and finding the enemies baggage with some wounded souldiors not able to flie, brought newes vnto the Bassa of the enemies departure and of his speedie flight into ARMENIA. Which thing when hee by them which were taken, vnderstood to be certainely true, fretting and chafing like a mad man, that hee had not presently vpon the enemies retreat beset the wood round, he sent his horsemen forthwith to pursue them: but all in vaine, for Techellis was by direct and knowne wayes gone into ARMENIA. Some few straglers F not able to make so much hast as the rest, were ouertaken by the Turkes horsemen, and brought backe to the Bassa.

Techellis thus put to flight, Ionuses caused strait inquisition to be made through all the cities of the lesser ASIA, for all such as had professed the Persian religion: and them whom he found to haue borne armes in the late rebellion, hee caused to be put to death with most exquisit torments, [Page] & the rest to be burnt in their foreheads with an hot yron, thereby for euer to be knowne; G whom, together with the kinsfolkes and friends of them that were executed, or fled with Techellis, he caused to be transported into EVROPE, and to be dispersed through MACEDONIA, EPIRVS, and PELOPONESVS: for feare least if Techellis now fled into the Persian kingdome, should from thence returne with new forces, they should also againe repaire vnto him, and raise a new rebellion. This was the beginning, course, and ending of one of the most dangerous rebellions that euer troubled the Turkish empire: wherein all, or at leastwise the greatest part of their dominions in ASIA might haue been easily surprised by the Persian king, if he would thoroughly haue prosecuted the occasion and opportunitie then offered.

The remainder of Techellis his followers, flying into PERSIA, by the way lighting vpon a Carauan of merchants laden with silkes and other rich merchandise, tooke the spoile thereof:H for which outrage comming to TAVRIS the captaines were all by the commandement of Hysmaell executed,Techellis burnt at Tauris. and Techellis himselfe to the terrour of others burnt aliue.

The next yeare (which was the yeare 1509, the fourteenth day of September) chanced a great and terrible earthquake in the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE,1509 and the countries thereabouts: by the violence whereof,A great earthquake at Constantinople. a great part of the wals of that imperiall citie, with manie stately buildings both publike and priuat, were quite ouerthrowne, and thirteene thousand people ouerwhelmed and slaine. The terrour whereof was so great, that the people generally forsooke their houses, and lay abroad in the fields: yea Baiazet himselfe, then verie aged and sore troubled with the gout, for feare thereof remoued from CONSTANTINOPLE to HADRIANOPLE; but finding himselfe in no more safetie than before, he left the citie and lay abroad in the fields in his tent▪ I This earthquake endured by the space of eighteene daies, or (as the Turkes histories report) of a moneth, with verie little intermission; which was then accounted ominous, as portending the miserable calamities which shortly after happened in the Othoman family. After this earthquake ensued a great plague, wherewith the citie was grieuously visited, and for the most part vnpeopled. But after that the earthquake was ceased, and the mortalitie assuaged; Baiazet caused the imperiall citie to be with all speed repaired, and to that purpose gaue out commissions into all parts of his dominion for the taking vp of workmen: so that there were at once in worke eightie thousand workmen, who in most beautifull manner, in the space of foure moneths againe repaired the ruines of that great citie.

Baiazet had by his manie wiues, eight sonnes and six daughters, which liued to be men and K women growne, and the sonnes all gouernours in diuers prouinces of his large empire: whom the Turkish histories reckon vp in this order,The children of Baiazet. Abdullah Zelebi, Alem Schach, Tzihan Schach, Achmet, Machmut, Corcut, Selim, and Muhamet. Yet Antonius Vtrius a Genoway, who long time liued in Baiazet his court, and (as he of himselfe writeth) waited in his chamber at the time of his death, reckoning vp the sons of Baiazet, maketh mention but of these six, Sciemscia, Alemscia, Achomates, Mahometes, Selymus, and Corcutus: naming the forenamed by names something differing from the other. Sciemscia the eldest, gouernor of CARAMANIA, for his towardlinesse most deerely beloued of his father, died of a naturall death before him, and was of him and his subjects greatly lamented. Alemscia died in like manner, of whose death as soone as he was aduertised, by mourning letters written in blacke paper with white characters (as their L manner of writing is, in certifying of heauie newes) he cast from him his scepter with all other tokens of honour, and caused generall mourning to be made for him in the court, and through all the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, by the space of three daies; during which time all shops were shut vp, all trading forbidden, and no signe of mirth to be seene: and for a certaine space, after the manner of their superstition, caused solemne sacrifices to be made for the health of his soule, and 7000 Aspers to be giuen weekly vnto the poore. His dead bodie was afterward with all princely pompe conuaied to PRVSA, and there with great solemnitie buried. Tzihan gouernor of CARIA, and Mahomet gouernor of CAPHA, vpon their fathers heauie displeasure, were by his commaundement both strangled.

Of his other foure sonnes, Achmet, otherwise called Achomates; Machmut or Mahometes,M Corcut or Corcuthus, and Selymus; the second (namely Mahometes) was of greatest hope and expectation, not giuen to sensualitie or voluptuous pleasure as Achomates his eldest brother, neither altogither bookish as was Corcuthus, nor yet of so fierce and cruell a disposition as Selymus: but of such a liuely spirit, sharpe wit, bountifull disposition, and princely carriage of himselfe, [Page] that in the judgement of most men, he seemed alreadie worthie of a kingdome. Which immoderat fauour of the people, caused his elder brother Achomates, yea and Baiazet also himselfe to haue him in no small jealousie, as if he had affected the empire; and was in short time the cause of his vntimely death. Which thing he nothing doubting, hastened (as fatall things are) by such meanes as hee least feared might haue procured anie such mortall distrust or danger.

Most of Baiazet his children were by diuers women, yet Achomates and this Mahometes were by one and the same mother: for which cause, Mahometes tooke greater pleasure in him than in any his other brethren, although it were not answered with like loue againe. Achomates was lord and gouernour of AMASIA, and this Mahometes of MAGNESIA; who desirous to see the manner of his brothers life and gouernment, disguised himselfe with two of his familiar and faithfull friends, as if they had been religious men, of that order which the Turkes call Imailer. [These men are for most part comely personages, borne of good houses, who in cleanly attire made after an homely fashion, doe at their pleasure wander vp and downe from towne to towne, and countrey to countrey, noting the disposition and manners of the people; whereof as fitteth best their purpose, they make large discourses afterwards to others: they commonly carrie about with them siluer cymbals, whereon they play most cunningly, and thereunto sing pleasant and wanton ditties: for which idle delight, they receiue money of the people, as an almes giuen them of deuotion. These are the common corrupters of youth, and defilers of other mens beds; men altogither giuen to ease and pleasure, and are of the Turkes called, The religious brethren of Loue: but might of right better be tearmed, Epicurus his hogs, than professours of anie C religion at all.] Mahometes and his two consorts, as men of this profession, trauelled vp and downe the countries of PONTVS and CAPADOCIA, where Achomates commaunded, and so to the citie of AMASIA; receiuing for their merrie glee by the way as they went, the almes and deuotion of the foolish countrey people. And being at the length come to AMASIA vpon a solemne holiday, they awaited the comming of Achomates to the church: who passing by, staied a while listening attentiuely vnto their pleasant and alluring harmonie; which was for that purpose most curiously and skilfully before deuised, and by them both with their instruments and voices, performed. When they had ended their musicke, and according to the manner of their idle profession expected his deuotion: Achomates being a man of a spare hand, commaunds fiue aspers to be giuen them in reward [which is about six pence of our money.] Mahometes disdaining D his brothers base reward, as a signe of his miserable disposition, would in no wise discouer himselfe, as he had before determined; but taking horse, returned with speed to MAGNESIA: from whence hee writ taunting letters vnto his brother Achomates, scoffing at his good husbandrie (no praise to a prince) and in contempt sent him backe againe his fiue aspers: which thing Achomates tooke in so euill part, as that he was neuer afterwards friends with him. The report of this fact was in short time dispersed throughout all parts of the Turkish empire, diuers men diuersly deeming of his purpose therein.

Not long after Mahometes had in this sort plaied with his brother Achomates, he attired himselfe with certaine of his trustie followers as if they had beene seafaring men,Mahometes disguised as a seafaring man, commeth to Constantinople, and so to the court. and with a small bark came to CONSTANTINOPLE, and there landing as aduenturers from sea, tooke diligent view E both of the imperiall citie and of the citie of PERA standing opposite against it, curiously noting how all things were by his fathers appointment ordered and gouerned. It happened whilest he was thus staying at CONSTANTINOPLE, that Baiazet had appointed a solemne assembly of all his chiefe Bassaes at the court; which Mahometes was desirous to haue the sight of, as also of the fashion of his fathers court: but as he with his companions pressed to haue entred in at the court gate, they were by their base apparell taken of the porters to haue been rude mariners, and so by them kept out. Wherefore consulting what to doe in that case, he went and presently bought a most beautifull Christian captiue boy, and the next day comming againe to the court with two of his companions (as if they had been aduenturers at sea) requested to be let in, for that they had brought a present for the emperour. So finding means to be admitted vnto the presence of Baiazet, one of his consorts (as if he had been a sea captaine) boldly stept forth, and with due reuerence offered the present vnto the emperour; which he thankfully tooke, and in token thereof gaue him his hand to kisse, and commaunded a rich garment wrought with gold to be giuen vnto him, with two other of lesse valour vnto Mahometes [...]nd his fellow, supposed to be the said captaines followers: who all this while stood a farre off, as if it had beene for reuerence of the [Page] emperor, but in deed for feare to be discouered. As these counterfeit guests were returning from G the court in their garments of fauour, they happened to meet with three courtiers which knew Mahometes; who dismounting from their horses, had done him honour and due reuerence, as to the sonne of the great emperour, had he not by secret signes forbidden them, as one vnwilling to be knowne. When he had thus seene his father, the court, and the imperiall citie, he went againe aboord, and so with speed returned to MAGNESIA.

The report of this his doing, had in short time filled both the citie and the court, and was at last brought to Baiazet his eares: which raised in his suspitious head manie a troublesome thought, greatly fearing, that in these slie practises lay hidden some secret and desperat conspiracie, dangerous to himselfe and his other children. Wherefore after long discourse had with the three great Bassaes then of his secret counsell, concerning the matter; to rid himselfe of all feare,H he resolued in anie case to take him away. And therefore caused them in his name to write vnto Asmehemadi, a gallant courtier, and alwaies neere vnto Mahometes, to poison him with a secret poison, for that purpose inclosed in those letters sent vnto him: with promise of great rewards and preferments for that his seruice, to be afterwards receiued from the emperour: Charging him withall, that if he could not effect the matter, he should so conceale it, as that Mahometes should haue no distrust thereof; the least suspition whereof, would tend to his vtter destruction. This Asmehemedi for some vnkindnesse bare a secret grudge against Mahometes, which Baiazet knowing of, made choise of him the rather: And he on the other side, partly to performe the old tyrants commaund, and partly to reuenge his owne priuat; vigilantly awaited all opportunities to bring to effect that he had in charge. At length it fortuned, that Mahometes hauing I disported himselfe in his gardens of pleasure,Mahometes poisoned by Asmehemedi. and being thirstie after his exercise, called for drinke: Asmehemedi alwaies at hand, in a gilt boule fetcht him such drinke as he desired, wherinto he had secretly conuaied the deadly poison sent from Baiazet. Mahometes hauing drunke thereof, in short time began to feele himselfe euill at ease, and presently sent for his phisitions: who thinking that he had but something distempered himselfe with drinking too much cold drinke in his heat, perceiued not that hee was poisoned, vntill that within six daies after he died. Of whose death Baiazet aduertised, could not abstaine from mourning, although he himselfe had beene the onely author thereof: and the more to manifest his heauinesse, commaunded all the court to mourne with him, and prayers to be made in their temples after their superstitious manner, and almes to be giuen to the poore for the health of his soule. His dead bodie was afterwards K carried to PRVSA, and there honourably buried with his auncestors. Asmehemedi the traitour in reward of his vnfaithfulnesse towards his master, was by the commaundement of Bai [...]zet cast into prison,Asmehemedi iu [...]ly rewarded for his treacherie and neuer afterwards seene, being there (as it was thought) secretly made away.

Now had Baiazet but three sonnes left, Achomates, Selymus, and Corcutus. Achomates gouernour of AMASIA, was a man both politike and valiant; but much giuen to pleasure and delight: him Baiazet and most part of the great men of the court fauoured aboue the rest of his brethren; except such as were before corrupted by Selymus. Corcutus for his mild and quiet nature was of most men beloued, but not thought so fit for the gouernment of so great an empire; especially by the Ianizaries and souldiours of the court, for that he was (as they thought) altogither L drowned in the studie of philosophie, a thing nothing agreeing with their humour. Yet might Baiazet seeme to doe him wrong, if he should not according to his promise againe restore him vnto the possession of the empire, which he had almost thirtie yeares before receiued at his hands; as is before in the beginning of his life declared. But Selymus being of a more hautie disposition than to brooke the life of a subject vnder the commaund of either of his brethren, and altogither giuen to martiall affaires; sought by infinit bountie, faigned courtesie, subtile pollicie, and by all other meanes good and bad, to aspire vnto the empire. Him therefore the Ianizaries with all the great souldiours of the court, yea and some of the chiefe Bassaes also (corrupted with gifts) wished aboue the rest, for their lord and soueraigne: desiring rather to liue vnder him which was like to set all the world on a hurlie burlie, whereby they might increase their honour and M wealth, the certaine rewards of their aduentures, than to lead an idle and vnprofitable life (as they tearmed it) vnder a quiet and peaceable prince.

Whilest men stood thus diuersly affected towards these princes of so great hope, Baiazet now farre worne with yeares, and so grieuously tormented with the gout that hee was not able [Page] to helpe himselfe: for the quietnesse of his subjects and preuenting of such troubles as might arise by the aspiring of his children after his death, determined whilest he yet liued (for the auoiding of these and other such like mischeefes) to establish the succession in some one of his sonnes; who wholly possessed of the kingdome, might easily represse the pride of the other. And although he had set downe with himselfe, that Achomates should be the man, as well in respect of his birthright, as of the especiall affection he bare vnto him; yet to discouer the disposition of his subjects, and how they stood affected, it was giuen out in generall tearmes, That hee meant before his death to make it knowne to the world, who should succeed him in the empire, without naming any one of his sonnes; leauing that for euery man to deuine of, according as they were affected: which was not the least cause, that euery one of his sonnes with like ambition began now to make small account of their former preferments, as thinking onely vpon the empire it selfe.

First of all Selymus, 1511 whom Baiazet had made gouernor of the kingdome of TRAPEZOND, rigging vp all the ships he could in PONTVS,Selymus aided by Mahometes his father in law, riseth against his father sayled from TRAPEZOND ouer the Euxine (now called the Blacke sea) to the citie of CAPHA, called in auntient time THEODOSIA, and from thence by land came to Mahometes king of the Tartars called Praecopenses, a mightie prince, whose daughter he had without the good liking of his father before married: and discouering vnto him his entended purpose, besought him by the sacred bonds of the affinitie betwixt them, not to shrinke from him his louing sonne in law in so fit an oportunitie for his aduancement: and withall shewed vnto him, what great hope of obtaining the empire was proposed vnto him by C his most faithfull friends and the souldiors of the court, if hee would but come neerer vnto his father (then about to transferre the empire to some one of his sonnes) and either by faire meanes to procure his fauour, or by entering with his armie into THRACIA, to terrifie him from appointing either of his other brethren for his successour. The Tartar king commending his high deuise, as a kind father in law with wonderfull celeritie caused great store of shipping to bee made readie in the Ponticke sea, and MoeOTIS, but especially at the ports of COPA and TANA, vpon the great riuer of Tanais, which boundeth EVROPE from ASIA; and arming fifteen thousand Tartarian horsemen, deliuered them all to Selymus, promising forthwith to send him greater aid if he should haue occasion to vse the same. These things being quickely dispatched, Selymus passing ouer the riuer Borysthenes, and so through VALACHIA, came at length to Danubius, D and with his horsemen passed that famous riuer at the citie of CHELIA: His fleet hee commaunded to meet him at the port of the citie of VARNA, called in antient time DIONYSIOPOLIS, in the confines of BVLGARIA and THRACIA: he himselfe still leuying moe men by the way as he went, pretending in shew quite another thing than that he had indeed intended: which the better to couer, he gaue it out as if he had purposed to haue inuaded HVNGARIE.

But Baiazet a good while before aduertised, that Selymus was departed from TRAPEZOND, and come ouer into EVROPE, maruelling that he had left his charge in ASIA (the rebellion of Techellis and the Persian warre yet scarce quieted) and that vpon his owne head hee had entertained forraine aid to make warre against the most warlike nation of the Hungarians; and farther, that with his armie by land, he had seized vpon the places neerest vnto THRACIA, and with E a strong nauie kept the Euxine sea, hee began to suspect, as the truth was, That all this preparation was made and entended against himselfe: for the craftie old sire had good proofe of the vnquiet and troublesome nature of his sonne, especially in that without his knowledge hee durst presume to take a wife from amongst the Tartars, and afterwards with no lesse presumption of himselfe raise an armie both by sea and land: Whereby he easily perceiued, that he would neuer hold himselfe contented with a small kingdome, so long as hee was in hope by desperat aduenture to gaine a greater.Baiazet sendeth embassadours to Selymus. Yet thinking it better with like dissimulation to appease his violent and fierce nature, than by sharpe reproofe to moue him to farther choller, he sent vnto him embassadours to declare vnto him with what danger the Turkish kings had in former times taken vpon them those Hungarian warres: for example whereof he needed not to goe further than to his F grandfather Mahomet the Great, who many times to his exceeding losse had made proofe of the Hungarian forces: wherefore he should doe well to expect some fitter opportunitie, when as he might with better aduise, greater power, and more assured hope of victorie, take those wars in hand. Whereunto Selymus answered, That he had left ASIA, enforced thereunto by the injuries of his brother Achomates, and was therefore come ouer into EVROPE, by dint of sword [Page] and the helpe of his friends, to win from the enemies of the Mahometane religion a larger and G better prouince for that little barren and peaceable one which his father had giuen him, bordering vpon HIBERIA and CHOLCHOS, bare and needie people, liuing as connies amongst the rockes and mountaines. As for the Hungarians, whom they thought to be a people inuincible, and therefore not to be dealt withall, he was not of that base mind to be daunted with any danger, were it neuer so great: and yet that in his opinion the warre was neither so difficult or dangerous, as was by them pretended; for as much as the antient prowesse of that warlike nation was now much changed, together with the change of their kings; and their discipline of war not onely much decayed, but almost quite lost, after that Vladislaus, farre vnlike in policie and prowesse, had succeeded the renowmed Matthias in that kingdome. Neither had he (as he said) from his cradle learned to be afraid of death, or of the common chances of warre, as knowing H that neither God nor man would bee wanting to him, who with an honourable resolution did aduenture vpon vertuous and worthie attempts: and that therefore hee was fully resolued for his owne honour (which his father had in some sort blemished by the immoderate aduancement of his brethren) either to die honourably in the field in battaile against the enemies of the Mahometane religion, or els gloriously to extend the bounds of the Turkish empire: and that he would not (though one of the yongest in the Othoman familie) bee accounted inferiour to any of his brethren in vertue and prowesse. Thus was the Hungarian warre neuer by Selymus entended, notably by him pretended;Presents giuen to Selymus by his fathers embassadours. and with no lesse dissimulation by Baiazet dissuaded. The embassadours, although Selymus in all his speeches shewed no token of peace: yet in his fathers name presented vnto him diuers gifts, therby if it might be to appease his fierce and cruell mind.I Vnto his old gouernment they adjoyned SAMANDRIA, which the Hungarians call SCHENDEROVIA, a strong citie of SERVIA vpon the borders of HVNGARIE, with many other strong townes in the same countrey: they gaue him also threescore thousand duckats, beside a thousand garments of cloth and silke: with good store of prouision wherewith to relieue and content the souldiors by him entertained; least that they drawne farre from home in hope of spoile, should take it in euill part if they should be sent away emptie handed. Selymus in a happie time hauing receiued these gifts, returned the embassadours vnto his father, with more doubtfull answere and vncertaine hope than before: yet changing nothing in himselfe of his former resolution, secret messengers and letters from his friends in the court still whetting him forward (too much alreadie enflamed with desire of soueraignetie) persuading him to make hast and to repose K his greatest hope in his quicke speed; for that they vnderstood, that about the time of his setting forward, his brother Achomates was comming with a great power, being sent for out of CAPADOCIA by his father.

Baiazet would appoint his successour whilest he yet liued.In the meane time Baiazet, moued the rather with the feare of Selymus, resolued vpon that, whereof he had long before in his mind deeply considered, and now said openly, That he would appoint his successour, who in stead of himselfe, spent with yeares and sickenesse, should bring with him the flower of youth and strength of bodie, fit to gouerne so great an empire. But when these things were propounded vnto the souldiours of the court by the foure great Bassaes (who in all things both of peace and warres had next place vnto the emperour himselfe) it was forthwith gainesaied by those martiall men, crying aloud with one voice, That they would know no L other emperor but Baiazet, vnder whose conduct and good fortune they had now serued aboue thirtie yeares: and therefore would not suffer him to liue a priuat life in obscuritie, who with so many victories and strong cities taken, had brought the Othoman empire vnto that height of renowme and glorie. They said moreouer, that there was in him yet strength ynough, if he would but with the reuerend honour of his age retaine the majestie of his place, and the glorie he had gotten with his long and happie raigne, and most famous victories: and that of his children, such a one should vndoubtedly in his due time succeed in the empire, as of right ought: only they wished, that the old emperour might in the meane time liue in health with a long and happie raigne: neither needed he (as they said) to feare that after his death any controuersie should arise amongst his sonnes about the succession; for that the Othoman progenie vsed to attaine the imperiall M seat, according to the old custome of their auncestours the Othoman kings, by right and order onely, and not by corruption or faction. But if hee would needs vpon his owne priuat good liking, or as it were by new adoption proceed to make choice of such a one, as the people and the men of warre (his most loyall and faithfull subjects) could not so well like of, it would [Page] be an occasion of much more trouble, and happily the meanes to bring in that confusion of the state, which he thought thereby to eschew. For then, beside the dislike of the people, the other brethren would neuer endure so notable an injurie, or euer be at quiet, vntill they had (as men wrongfully cast off and disinherited) by strong hand and endangering of all, recouered their honour lost by the headstrong will of their aged father.

The souldiors thus before instructed by the friends and fauourites of Selymus, who with money and large promises had corrupted their captains and cheefe officers, spake these things frankly to haue deterred the old emperour from his purpose. But he thinking that they had (as he himselfe did) especially affected Achomates his eldest sonne; for that they had generally protested, that they would against all injuries defend his honour vnto whom the empire should of right appertaine:Baiazet seeketh to pre [...]er Achomates to the [...]mpire. said he would make choise of Achomates, if it should stand with their good liking. But the cheefe of the souldiors, who corrupted by Selymus, had together sold both their faith and themselues, cunningly commended Achomates, and seemed wonderfully to like of him; yet to accept of him for their soueraigne, Baiazet yet liuing, they said was not agreeing with the antient custome of the Othoman kings, neither for the behoofe of the men of war, neither yet good for the state of the empire: for as much as neither his brethren Corcutus and Selymus, neither the souldiors of the court, could with patience endure the least touch of the suspition of infidelitie; which they must needs doe, if he as a suspitious father should doubt either of the loue or loyaltie of his most dutifull sonnes, or of the faith or constancie of his most faithfull seruants, wherof he had made so many trials. Besides that, it seemed vnto them all vnreasonable, that by the C odious prejudice of that fact, the souldiors should be defrauded of the rewards vsually graunted vnto them during the time of the vacancie of the empire, arising of the spoile taken from them which are of religion different from the Turkes. For it is a custome, that immediately vpon the death of the Turkish emperour, all the Iewes and Christians which liue at CONSTANTINOPLE, PERA, HADRIANOPLE, THESSALONICA, and PRVSA, especially marchants, exposed vnto the injuries of the Turkes, are by the Ianizaries and other souldiors of the court spoiled of all their wares and goods, and become vnto them a prey: neither will they giue their oath of allegeance vnto the new emperour, vntill he haue graunted vnto them all that prey, as a bountie, and haue solemnely sworne by his owne head (the greatest assurance that can by oath be giuen amongst the Turkes) freely to pardon all the offenders, and for euer to forget all the outrages D before committed. When Baiazet saw his men of war thus generally to oppose themselues against the translation of the empire to Achomates, he of purpose to corrupt the minds of them which were alreadie before corrupted, promised to giue them fiue hundred thousand duckats, if they would stand fauourable to Achomates and accept him for their soueraigne: which masse of money his customers and receiuers vndertooke to leuie of the same marchant strangers and Iewes, and to pay it as Baiazet had promised. Yet the ouerthwart frowardnesse of these men of warre ouercame the good fortune of Achomates, although the reward proposed, were great: For why, they had in their martiall minds conceiued farre greater rewards and preferments, if instead of a peaceable and quiet prince, a monstrous tyrant of restlesse nature (as was Selymus) might by their helpe and meanes aspire to the empire. Thus Baiazet driuen from his hope, thought it best for the present to dissemble the matter; and concealing his greefe, with patience to put vp that dishonour vntill a fitter opportunitie were offered for the effecting of that he so much desired.

Selymus aduertised from his friends, with what affection and fastnesse the souldiours of the court had in the secret fauour of him openly withstood the earnest desire of Baiazet for the preferment of Achomates, because he would not longer frustrate the expectation of his fauourits by lingering and delay, or seeme to distrust the readie good will of the men of warre towards him, left the borders of HVNGARIE;Selymus marcheth with his armie towards Hadrianople. and with his armie marching through THRACIA, encamped at length vpon the rising of an hill not farre from HADRIANOPLE, from whence the neighing of his horses might easily be heard, and his tents from the high places of the citie discouered. From thence he sent a messenger vnto his father then lying in the citie, to certifie him, That for as much as he had not of many yeares before seene him,Selymus his dissembling embassage vnto his father. he was now therefore desirous to come vnto his presence to visit him, before hee crossed the seas backe againe by his appointment to TRAPEZOND: and the rather, because it might chance that he should neuer see him againe, being now become both aged & diseased: besides that, it much concerned (as he would haue had [Page] him to beleeue) the quietnesse of his kingdome in ASIA, and the vnitie of his children, if the controuersies G betwixt him & his brother Achomates, which could not safely be committed to messengers, might by themselues be discouered to him their father, as an indifferent hearer and decide [...] of the same. Wherfore he humbly besought him, to appoint him a time and place to giue him audience in, and not to denie him leaue to come and kisse his hands; which thing his ancestors neuer refused to graunt vnto their poore friends, much lesse vnto their children. Baiazet who a few dayes before vnderstanding of the comming of Selymus, and throughly seeing into his deuises, had called vnto him certaine of his Sanzackes or cheefe captaines, with their select companies out of the neerest parts of GRaeCIA, and had also set strong watch and ward through the citie: fearing least vnder the colour of parley his souldiors attending about his person, corrupted by Selymus and his friends (who euen then loded with gifts and promises, were secretly vpon the H point of reuolt) should be quite drawne away from him, and so he himselfe at length bee either by open force oppressed, or secret trecherie circumuented, thought it best to cut him off at once from all hope of conference or accesse vnto his presence. Wherfore seriously blaming him, that he had vpon his owne head brought his armie into another mans prouince, that he in armes required audience, and last of all so insolently abused his fathers lenitie and patience; hee by the same messenger sent him farther word, That he should not presume to approch any neerer vnto him, or expect any thing appertaining to peace: who guarded with forraine power, had without his fathers leaue entered into armes, and spoyled the countries of his friends: and that therefore he should doe well with all speed to depart out of THRACIA, yea and out of EVROPE also, and disbanding his forces, againe to retire himselfe vnto his owne charge in PONTVS; in which doing he should find greater fauour and kindnesse with him his father, than euer he had before: but if he would needs proceed in the course by him begun, that then he would no more take him for his sonne, but for his enemie; and before it were long, sharpely chastise him for his malapert insolencie, little differing from vnnaturall treacherie. The messenger with this answere dismissed, it was not long after but that Baiazet was by his espials aduertised, that Selymus the night following was risen with his armie, and marched directly towards CONSTANTINOPLE: whether he was sent for by his friends, in hope that vpon his approch with his armie, some suddaine tumult and vprore would to his auaile arise in that so great and populous a citie. Whereupon Baiazet fearing least in staying at HADRIANOPLE, hee might loose the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, early in the morning by breake of the day departed from HADRIANOPLE K towards CONSTANTINOPLE: vpon whose departure Selymus peaceably entered the citie of HADRIANOPLE, the citisens fearing, that if they should haue made any resistance, their vnseasonable faithfulnesse towards Baiazet might haue turned to their vtter destruction. Selymus after he had a while refreshed his armie with the plentie of that citie, according to his former determination set forward againe, of purpose by long and speedie marches to haue preuented his fathers comming to CONSTANTINOPLE. Baiazet was yet scarcely come to CHIVRLVS, or rather TZVRVLVM,Selymu [...] ouertaketh his father. an antient ruinous citie almost vpon the mid way betwixt HADRIANOPLE and CONSTANTINOPLE, when warning was giuen him of them that followed his armie, that the forerunners of Selymus were at hand, cutting off the straglers of his armie, and with hot skirmishing stayed and troubled his rereward. The aged emperour more mooued than terrified with L the strangenesse of the matter, because his marching should not seeme as if it were a flight or chase, commaunded his standerd to be set vp, and all his armie to make a stand, of purpose, that if Selymus should so fiercely come on to giue him battaile,The cheefe men about Baiazet secretly fauour Selymus, and dissuade him from giuing him battaile. he might [...]ind him in readinesse. The great captaines and noblemen then present with Baiazet, whether it were for old acquaintance, or vpon some new inclination of their affection, or els vpon hope of new aliance and preferment, wishing well vnto Selymus, and therefore indirectly and cunningly fauouring him, seemed not to like of Baiazet his resolution, to be so farre mooued (as they said) with the youthfull heat and lightnesse of his sonne, as to seeke reuenge by battaile, whereas the victorie it selfe could yeeld him nothing but sorrow, but the ouerthrow threatened destruction both to himselfe and all them that were with him: the imminent euent whereof seemed to bee so much the more dangerous M and fearefull, by how much hee was at that time inferiour vnto his sonne both in warlike prouision and number of men. Wherefore it were good for him (they said) to moderate his anger, and not now in the winding vp of his life to make too much hast by a miserable death in a wofull battaile to staine the whole glorie of his former life. There was (as they would haue persuaded [Page] him) but one onely course to bee taken full of wholesome policie and safetie, and that was, That he should with such speed as he had begun, march on forward to CONSTANTINOPLE; that so Selymus excluded out of the citie (his chiefest hope) and then not knowing which way to turne himselfe, should either of his owne accord, or for feare of his fathers greater forces thinke of returne: and so with his rascall followers more honestly perish by the hands of them whose countries he had spoiled, and vpon whom he must of necessitie liue in his retire, than by the sword of his father. The author of this counsell was Mustapha, the most auntient Bassa of those which being in greatest authoritie about the emperour are onely of his priuie counsell, and sway all matters of importance concerning either peace or warre: he then vpon an vnthankfull and malitious mind loathing Baiazet, as one that had too long raigned, hated him also for certaine priuat displeasures conceiued of the emulation of the other younger Bassaes by him promoted: and secretly bare great affection to Selymus, both in condition and fauour resembling his grandfather the Great Mahomet, by whom he was brought vp himselfe, and him of all the sonnes of Baiazet he thought most worthy of the empire. This Mustapha was borne in the towne of SERES (neere vnto AMPHIPOLIS) the sonne of a Greeke priest, a man of a slie craftie and subtile wit, alwaies subject to corruption: which diseases of mind were in him well to haue been discouered by his froward looke and squint eies, the certaine notes of a nature to bee suspected. Next vnto this Mustapha was Bostanges Bassa, borne of the honourable familie of Ducagina in AETHOLIA, and thereof called Ducaginogli: a man for his couetousnesse, ambition, and treacherie, infamous; as the foule and miserable end of his life afterwards declared: Vnto this C man Selymus had by secret promise betrothed one of his daughters now mariageable, as a reward of his corrupted faith. By which slight, he had also allured Aiax (Aga or captaine of the Ianizaries, and great master of the houshold) to promise his aid for the obtaining of the empire; whereunto he said he was by destinie called: and by his meanes drew other inferiour captaines secretly to fauour his quarrell, vnto whom hee spared not to promise whatsoeuer might please them. Yea the captaines almost generally either corrupted with reward, or for feare following the inclination of the greater commaunders,Cherseogles Bassa the only great man faithfull to Baiazet, persuadeth him to giue battel to Selymus of themselues leaned that way. Of all the rest, only Cherseogles Bassa (whom the Turks histories call also Achmet Hertezaec-ogli) a faithfull, constant, and vpright man, free from all double dealing and deceit, a fast and assured friend vnto Baiazet his father in law, was of opinion, That the immoderat pride and insolencie of Selymus, was D euen there by force of arms and strong hand forthwith to be repressed, before he should approch any neerer vnto the imperiall citie, for feare of raising some farther trouble and tumult there than were well to be appeased; which was the thing that Selymus his friends most of all desired. Neither was it to be thought (as Cherseogles said) that the naked Tartarian horsmen, although they were in number moe, would euer be able to abide the first charge of Baiazet his well armed pensioners. As for the Ianizaries, of whose approued faith and valour tried in manie dangers, hee had before had good experience: there was no doubt but that they would now to the vttermost of their power, defend the person and honour of their aged and victorious emperour, who had of long time so well of them deserued; and also reuenge his quarrell vpon disobedient Selymus, who neither fearing God the just reuenger of such vngratious dealing, neither the infamie of E men, had most vnnaturally lift vp his sword against his father, wickedly to depriue him of life of whom he had receiued life. Wherefore he persuaded him in his owne just quarrell, to go forth vnto his souldiours with cheerfull countenance, and putting them in remembrance of the benefits they had from time to time most bountifully receiued at his hands, as also of their alleagance and duetie; to make them to vnderstand, that reposing his trust in their fidelitie and valour, hee had resolutely set downe with himselfe, in that place before he went any farther, by their faithfull hands to chastise the presumptuous insolencie of his vnnaturall sonne, togither with his rebellious followers.

But now that we are fallen into the remembrance of this Cherseogles, it shall not be amisse both for the honour of the man, and the great loue he alwaies bare vnto the Christians, to step F a little out of the way, to see the cause why he being a Christian borne, turned Turke. For hee was not (as almost all the rest of the great men about Baiazet were) of a child taken from his Christian parents, and so brought vp in the Mahometan religion; but being now a man grown, turned Turke: yet so, as that he neuer in heart forgot either the Christian religion or loue toward the Christians; a thing not common among such renegates. He being the sonne of one [Page] Chersechius a small prince of ILLYRIA, neere vnto the Blacke mountaine, and going to be maried G vnto a ladie whom he most entirely loued, and vnto whom he was alreadie betrothed, honourably descended of the house of the Despot of SERVIA: his intemperat father, with lustfull eye beholding the young ladie of rare feature and incomparable beautie, desired to haue her for himselfe; and regarding more the satisfying of his owne inordinat desire, than his owne honour or the fatherly loue of his sonne, tooke her in marriage himselfe: all his friends labouring in vaine to dissuade him, and with open mouth crying shame of so foule a fact. Wherefore the young man, moued with the indignitie of so great an injurie, and driuen headlong with despaire, fled first to the Turkes garrisons which lay not farre off, and from thence to CONSTANTINOPLE: where the fortune of the man was to bee wondred at: For being brought before Baiazet, who with cheerefull countenance entertained him for that he was honourably descended, and well liked H both of the man and of the cause of his reuolt: smiling vpon him said, Be of good cheere noble youth, for thy great courage is worthy of farre greater fortune than thy fathers house can affoord thee; now in steed of thy loue wrongfully taken from thee by thy father, the kinswoman of a poore exiled prince, thou shalt haue giuen thee in marriage the daughter of a great emperour, of rare and singular perfection. And not long after, abjuring his religion, and changing his name of Stephen to Achomates and Cherseogles, hee married one of Baiazet his daughters, a princesse of great beautie: and deserued to haue a place amongst the Bassaes of greatest honour in the court. Yet still retaining the remembrance of his former profession with a desire to returne thereto againe: insomuch, that he kept in his secret closet the image of the crucifix, which he shewed to Io. Lascaris as to his trustie friend, as he himselfe reported. This man at such time I as the citie of MODON was taken by the Turkes, and a multitude of poore Christian captiues cruelly put to death in the sight of Baiazet, by earnest entreatie saued the Venetian Senatours there taken: and afterward by earnest sute deliuered Andreas Gritti, being prisoner at CONSTANTINOPLE and condemned to die, who not manie yeares after was chosen duke of VENICE. He was the chiefe meanes whereby the Venetians to their great good obtained peace of Baiazet. He also by his great authoritie and of his owne charge, redeemed innumerable Christians from the seruitude of the Turkes, and set them at libertie. Neither is his kindnesse towards the furtherance of good learning to be forgotten: for at such time as the aforesaid Io. Lascaris, the notable and learned Grecian, by the appointment of Leo the Tenth sought for the antient works of famous writers, he procured the Turkish emperours letters patents, that he might freely at his K pleasure search all the libraries in GRaeCIA, to the great benefit of good letters. Now Baiazet encouraged by this mans persuasion (as is aforesaid) and hearing as hee lay in his pauilion the alarum of the enemie, with the tumult and clamour of his owne souldiours, as if they had been men afraid; and sundrie messengers also at the same time comming vnto him with newes, That Selymus with his Tartarian horsemen had almost enclosed the reareward of his armie, and alreadie taken some of his baggage: grinding his teeth for verie madnesse and griefe of mind, with teares trickling downe his hoarie cheekes, got him out of his pauilion in his horselitter (for hee was at the same time so troubled with the gout, that he was not able to sit on horsebacke) and turning himselfe vnto the pensioners and Ianizaries standing about him, as their manner is, said vnto them:L ‘The speech of Baiazet to the Ianizaries and souldiours of the court.Will you (foster children, valiant souldiours, and faithfull keepers of my person, who with great good fortune haue serued me in field aboue the space of thirtie yeares; and for your faithfull and good seruice, haue both in time of peace and warre, of me receiued such rewards, as by your owne confession and thanksgiuing farre exceeded your owne expectation, and the measure of our treasures) Will you I say suffer the innocent father to be butchered by his gracelesse sonne? And your olde emperour tormented with age and diseases, to be cruelly murthered by a companie of wild Tartars, little better than arrant roagues and theeues? Shall I be now forsaken in this my heauie olde age and last act of life? and shall I be deliuered vnto mine enemies by them, by them I say, who many yeares ago with great faithfulnesse and inuincible courage defended mine honour and right against my brother M Zemes? and haue manie times since, not onely valiantly defended this empire against most warlike nations, but also most victoriously augmented the same? But I will not so easily beleeue that which to my no small griefe is brought vnto mine eares, concerning the reuolting of mine armie: neither if I did beleeue it, am I so fearefull as to be therewith discouraged, or to seeke to make shift for my selfe. [Page] A For to what purpose should I thinke of flight? as though I could in anie other place find more faithfulnesse or surer defence than with you? And concerning your selues, what should be your hope by this so infamous treacherie? If anie of you (for I cannot beleeue that you are all so mad) without regard of faith, of worldly shame, or the feare of God, haue polluted your minds with the pernitious conceit of so foule a treason; doe you thinke to gaine greater rewards and preferments by your treacherie and villanie, than by your fidelitie and constancie? There be manie which carefull of my person, persuade me to reserue this my sicke and feeble bodie vnto my better fortune, and to commit my selfe to flight; so rather to saue my life with shame and infamie, than to end my daies with honour and glorie: Which is so farre from my thought for the apprehension of anie feare to doe, that I will to the contrarie forthwith giue the fierce enemie battell; and in this my last danger make proofe of all B your fidelitie and valour, and of euerie one of your goodwils in particuler: and so by the conduct of the highest, either defeat the power and breake the strength of this gracelesse man, or else hauing raigned aboue thirtie yeares an emperour, end my daies togither with them which shall vnto the end continue with me in their faithfulnesse and loyaltie, although I should be most shamefully and dishonourably betraied and forsaken of some of mine owne guard: which thing though lying fame would make me beleeue, yet will I not feare it vntill I see the proofe thereof.’

The common sort of the Ianizaries,The common sort of the Ianizaries faithfull to Baiazet desire battell. vnto whom the great commaunders and captaines corrupted by Selymus, had not for their leuitie and multitude communicated their purpose of transferring the empire to Selymus: began to crie out as if it had been with generall consent, That he C should not doubt to joyne battell with his enemies, and so to make proofe of their constant fidelitie and wonted valour. Which was done with such a cheerfulnesse and desire expressed by great shouts, clapping of hands, and clattering of armour, that it seemed they would play the parts of resolute souldiours, and that as guiltlesse men they tooke it grieuously to be once suspected of treason or infidelitie. Others also who secretly and in heart were well affected to Selymus, for fashion sake followed them with like crie: but especially the great commaunders both of the armie and of the emperours court, now changing their affection (whether it were for shame of the fact, or for feare of discouering themselues out of season, is vncertaine.) Wherefore according to the manner of such men, which through their mutabilitie and mischieuous disposition, fearing to be conuinced and discouered, add vnto the present a second and new treason D or treacherie, to couer the former: so Mustapha and Bostanges (not daring now to shew themselues for Selymus) to make a great shew of their faigned loyaltie towards Baiazet, departed themselues out of his pauilion, to encourage the souldiours and to martiall the battell.

Baiazet sicke in his chariot,The battell betwixt Baiazet and Selymus. by the aduise of Cherseogles the faithfull Bassa, placed his battell in this order: The Sanzakes (which are the gouernors of prouinces) with their horsemen, in number about six thousand, he set in the front of the battell: The Spachi-oglans and Siliphtars, which are the chiefe horsemen of the court (and as it were the emperours pentioners) were placed as two wings on each side of the great squadron of the Ianizaries; in the middest whereof was old Baiazet himselfe. Other foure thousand horsemen (seruants to the great men of the court) were left in the rearward, and to guard the baggage. These slaues (for so indeed they are) for their apparell E and furniture, yea and valour also, are little inferior to their masters, by whom they are so sumptuously maintained both for strength and ostentation. The battell thus ordered, Baiazet commanded the trumpets to sound, and a red ensigne in token of battell to be displaied. On the other side, Selymus placing his Tartarian horsemen in both wings, and his Turks in the middest in manner of an halfe moone, for that he in number of horsemen farre exceeded his father, did almost on euerie side enclose him, and so charge him. The Tartars when they were come within an hundred paces of their enemies, casting themselues (after the manner of their fight) into great rings, emptie within in manner of a crowne, and so running round, that they might both backward and forward deliuer their arrowes, cast vpon their enemies whole showers of shot as if it had beene haile, to the great annoiance of the Turkes: when as in the meane time, the other F Tartarian archers farther off, shooting their arrowes not right forth, but more vpright towards heauen, which falling directly downe sore gauled the Turkes horses also. But the old souldiors (taught by the example of their captaines) serred close togither, and casting their targets ouer their heads, as if it had beene one whole roofe or penthouse, receiued their arrowes with lesse harme, and hasted with as much speed as they could to come to handie blowes. The pentioners [Page] also at the same instant brauely charged the middle of Selymus his battaile, where his Turkish G horsemen stood: and Atax (captain of the Ianizaries) drawing out seuen hundred readie harquebusiers out of the squadron of the Ianizaries, with them assailed the hindmost of one of the wings of the Tartars: and the foure thousand seruants left in the reareward, as desirous as the rest to shew their forwardnesse, with great slaughter repulsed the other wing of the Tartars, which came to haue spoiled the Turkes carriages. This fierce battaile betwixt the father and the sonne▪ with doubtfull euent endured from noone vntill the going downe of the Sunne: Selymus in many places still restoring his declining battaile, and fighting himselfe, as for an empire. But after that the Tartars, hardly charged by the harquebusiers, were not able to abide the shot, especially their horses being with the vnwonted noise thereof wonderfully terrified,Selymus his armie put to flight. and so carrying backe their riders whether they would or no, began to flie; the rest of the horsemen could neither by H commaundement, threatening, or wounds, be enforced to stay, but turned their backes and fled. The footmen also whom Selymus had attired and armed after the manner of the Ianizaries, being forsaken of their owne horsemen, were now by Baiazet his horsemen compassed about and almost all slaine.

Selymus his armie thus ouerthrowne, and himselfe hardly beset, was by certaine troupes of his Turkish horsemen which yet stayed with him, deliuered from the present danger; and being wounded, was mounted vpon a fresh horse, and so with all the speed he could fled after the Tartars. But doubting to be pursued and ouertaken by his fathers speedie horsemen, he changed his horse, and tooke another of a wonderfull swiftnesse: and so reseruing himselfe to his future fortune, with a few of his followers fled to VARNA, and from thence by sea to CAPHA.I

The estimation Selymus had of his horse wheron he escaped from his father.The horse whereon Selymus fled, was all cole blacke, called Carabulo (that is to say, a Blacke cloud) whom Selymus as a good seruitour euer after exempted from all seruice: and had him in such estimation, that couered with cloth of gold, hee was as a spare horse without a rider led after him in all his great expeditions, first into PERSIA, and afterward into AEGYPT, where he died at CAIRE, and there to the imitation of Bucephalus, Great Alexanders horse, had a monument erected for him: wherein Selymus shewed himselfe more kind than to his owne brethren, whom he cruelly murthered, and hardly affoorded to some of them so honourable a sepulture.

In this battaile of fortie thousand which Selymus brought into the field, escaped not aboue eight thousand, but they were either slaine or taken prisoners. Of Baiazet his armie were lost K about seuen hundred, and three thousand hurt with Tartarian arrowes: which losse he presently reuenged, with extreame crueltie causing all such as were taken prisoners, to be without mercie put to the sword in his sight; whose heads were laied together by heapes, and their dead bodies as if they had beene towers. Of this notable battaile betwixt the father and the sonne in the yeare 1511, CHIVRLVS, called in antient time TZVRVLVM, before an obscure old ruinous citie (or as Iouius calleth it, a village) became famous; but much more afterwards by the fatall destinie of Selymus: who not many yeares after (strucken with a most loathsome and incurable disease) ended his dayes in the same place with an vntimely and tormenting death, God (as is to be thought) with reuenging hand in the same place taking just punishment for his former disloyaltie towards his aged father, as shall hereafter be in due time and place declared.L

Three dayes Baiazet lay still in the same place where he had obtained the victorie, vntill such time as all his souldiours were againe returned from the chase of the enemie: after that, hee held on his way to CONSTANTINOPLE, and there bountifully rewarded his souldiours. In the meane time Achomates hearing of all the trouble which had happened betwixt his father and his brother Selymus, with the euent thereof, came with an armie of twentie thousand from AMASIA, through the countries of GALATIA and BITHYNIA, vnto the citie of SCVTARI, called in antient time CHRISOPOLIS (though some suppose it to haue beene the famous cittie of CHALCEDON) which citie is situated vpon the strait of Bosphorus directly against the cittie of CONSTANTINOPLE. In this place Achomates encamped his armie, neere vnto the sea side, expecting what course his father should take after so great a victorie. For beside the prerogatiue M of his age, and the especiall loue of his father towards him, the generall affection of the vulgar people, with the good opinion he had of himselfe, had alreadie filled his mind with the hope of the empire: wherefore he ceased not night and day to send messengers ouer that narrow strait to CONSTANTINOPLE, & earnestly to solicite Baiazet his father in so fit an occasion to make [Page] hast to dispatch what he had so long before determined, concerning the resignation of the empire. He also importuned his friends and familiars in best manner he could to commend him to his father, and in most ample sort to extoll his graue purpose for translation of the empire, and to doe the vttermost of their deuoire, that seeing God and good fortune had justly ouerthrown the rash attempt and force of his brother Selymus, he by their good means might the sooner obtaine the empire, whereof he was the vndoubted heire.

Baiazet, who of himselfe and according to his old good liking was altogether desirous of the preferment of Achomates, Baiazet willing to pre [...]er Achomates to the empire. was by their persuasions easily entreated to hasten the performance of that he had before determined for the transferring of the empire. And making no great secret of the matter, commaunded certaine gallies to bee made readie for the transporting of Achomates from SCVTARI to CONSTANTINOPLE. But the great Bassaes with the souldiours of the court (the secret fauourits of Selymus) vnderstanding the matter, began againe openly to resist and impugne his purposed determination, and to alleage the same reasons they had before at HADRIANOPLE alleaged: in fine they said plainely, That they would by no meanes suffer him so farre to disable himselfe as an insufficient man to resigne the empire, who of late had with so valiant and courageous an heart fought for the honour of his crowne and dignitie; and that therefore so long as hee liued, they would acknowledge no other soue [...]aigne but Baiazet: yet for all that as they meant not thereby to cut off Achomates his hope, so neither ought he to distrust the good will of the men of warre; but that he being a man of most approued & known valour, might in due time with their generall good liking enjoy his right, which should then C without all question be due vnto him as the eldest sonne of their emperour. They said moreouer, that they had in the late battaile against Selymus sufficiently declared what minds they were of both towards their emperour and Achomates, and what confidence they were to repose in the fidelitie of their souldiors; who to manifest their faithfulnesse and loyaltie, had not refused to offer themselues vnto the hazard of a most vnequall battaile, yea their liues vnto death it selfe. O foule dissimulation, the couert maske of all mischeefe, vnder which, meere trecherie is here pretended for great loyaltie, the aged emperour too too much flattered, Achomates shamefully deluded, and (the man that might not as then without some addition of disgrace bee named) Selymus, euen bloodie Selymus, secretly sought for aboue all men to be preferred!

Baiazet by this offwardnesse and insolencie of the souldiors againe disappointed of his purpose, D or els (as some thought) delighted with the sweetnesse of soueraigntie: for that after the late victorie he seemed (as one growne young againe) neither to feele himselfe old or vnable still to gouern so great an empire; sent word to Achomates, how the matter stood, and that he should forthwith depart from SCVTARI to his old charge at AMASIA, from whence he would againe call him at such time as he had with new bountie woon the minds of the soldiors, and procured the good liking of other the great men in court, whereby so great a matter and not vsuall, might the better and with more securitie be effected.

Achomates thus deceiued of his hope and expectation, greeuously complaining that he was so mocked of his father, and contemned of the souldiors of the court, began to mix his new requests with words of heat and discontentment, and to inueigh against his father, for making him a byword (as hee tearmed it) and a laughing stocke vnto the world, after hee had taken the paines to come so farre, and that by his speciall appointment. But if hee proceeded so to doate, and to make so great reckoning of the souldiors of the court, that in respect thereof hee neither regarded his promise, nor that was right and just, he would himselfe by force of arms take vpon him the defence of his owne honour and right, so light esteemed by his father, and reuenge the disgrace offered vnto him by others.

Whereunto Baiazet answered by the Cadelescher (which is a man of greatest place and authoritie amongst the Turkes in matters concerning their superstition, and therefore of them honoured aboue others, as the sacred interpreter of their law) that hee did neither well nor wisely without just cause to fall into so great rage and choller, as by his speech and force to thinke to F extort that good which was onely by loue and loyaltie to be gained: whereas all things should be surely kept for him, and the empire vndoubtedly descend vnto him, if by vntimely hast hee did not marre that hope which hee ought by sufferance and patient expectation to cherish: hee might (as the Cadelescher told him) learne by the late example and fortune of his brother Selymus, what might be for his owne good and welfare; and that it was a thing of far more danger, [Page] desperatly to thrust himselfe headlong into such an action as hee could not possibly see the end G of, than moderating by reason his hot passions, to expect with patience the oportunitie of time, and fitnesse of occasion, with the alteration of matters, all tending to his good.

Achomates enflamed with anger and greefe of the repulse, all the while the Cadelescher was deliuering his fathers message, gaue him many sharpe taunts, and had much adoe to stay himselfe from offering of him violence; oftentimes threatening him, that in short time both his father should deerely buy the changing of his purpose, and the souldiours of the court their trecherous dealing: and so sending him away with this short answere, hee presently rise with his armie, and passing through BITHYNIA, cruelly spoiled the country in his returne to AMASIA. There dayly more and more enflamed with the greefe and the indignitie of the repulse before receiued, hee determined to inuade the lesser ASIA: that if it should so fall out, that hee must needs by H force of armes trie his right against either of his brethren, he might therein vse the wealth of that rich prouince. Whereby if it should chance that he should by the practise of any faile of the whole empire, yet he should at the leastwise be possessed of the one halfe therof, and be the readier for all euents, hauing all those great and rich prouinces in his power. Wherfore calling vnto him his two sonnes,Achomates inciteth his two sons [...] and [...] to take part with him against their grandfather [...]. Amurathes and Aladin, yong princes of great hope, after he had greeuously complained of the vnkindnesse of his father Baiazet, and of the injuries done against him by his enemies in the court, he declared vnto them, that there was now no hope left for him to obtaine the empire, except they would forthwith enter into armes with him, and so together with him defend both his and their owne right and honour, against the mallice and injuries of their enemies: which he said, would be an easie matter to doe by surprising the lesser ASIA, if they I would courageously aduenture vpon it; for as much as all PISIDIA, LYCAONIA, PAMPHYLIA, with the sea coast of IONIA, were not as then kept with any armie or nauie: and as for his brother Corcutus, there was no great doubt to bee made of him, who according to his quiet disposition would bee content either to sit still, or els in regard of his just quarrell take part with him; or if he would needs intermeddle his quiet estate with the troubled, and so enter into arms, might easily be thrust out of whatsoeuer he possessed: as for the gouernours of the rest of the prouinces, he doubted not, but that they would also yeeld either to his commaund or fortune. Wherefore hee willed them to plucke vp their hearts as men of courage, and to goe into the countries thereabouts to take vp men, and whatsoeuer els were needfull for the warres. These gallants, of their owne youthfull disposition readie ynough for such a matter, and now encouraged K with their fathers persuasion, did what they were by him commaunded, and had in short time raised a notable armie of voluntarie souldiours, of whom the greatest part were of seruile condition. But Achomates himselfe, besides his old armie which hee had in former time lead against the Persian rebels, leuied new forces also, and called forth into the field all the able men that were to be found in the cities round about: and so running through the prouince, proclaimed himselfe king of ASIA, and such as would not forthwith yeeld vnto him, those he and his two sonnes in diuers places prosecuted with all hostilitie: by which meanes many cities, especially such as were but weakely fortified, partly for feare, partly by constraint were deliuered ouer vnto him.

After that, he entered with his armie into LYCAONIA, and the borders of CILICIA, where L by embassadours and often letters he requested Mahometes his brothers sonne (who then gouerned those countries) to aid him in his just quarell against them, who by craftie and sinister persuasions had to his dishonour and disgrace withdrawne his fathers good will from him, and so farre seduced him, as that hee was determined to appoint another successour in the empire, than him his eldest and first begotten sonne: which their mallice he would (as he said) preuent, & by force of armes recouer his right, which his father knowing to be due vnto him, was about to haue put him in possession of whilest he yet liued, had he not by the sinister practise of others beene hindered: for the recouerie whereof, if Mahometes would out of his prouince aid him with men and victuall, and so further his just cause, he promised that he should find a farre better vncle than he had found a father; and that his present friendship should in time be most amply and bountifully M requited.

Wherunto Mahometes answered, that he could not do what his vncle had required, except he were so commanded by his grandfather Baiazet, whom alone he acknowledged for his dread soueraign: & that it was not for him to judge, whether he did right or otherwise, That he would not [Page] in his life time resigne the empire to his sonne. But this (he said) he was not ignorant of, that he was not to yeeld his obedience to anie other, so long as he liued possessed of the empire: to whom both his father Tzihan Shach whilest he liued, and himselfe also had giuen their oath of obedience and loyaltie. Wherefore it were good for him to pacifie himselfe, least in seeking vntimely reuenge of his enemies, he should to the offence of all men wrong his father: and by too much heat and hast ouerthrow both his hope and honour; which of right should be most great, if he could but in the meane time haue patience, and stay himselfe a while. A [...]homates, who expected nothing lesse than such an answere, but thought that Mahometes would either for loue or feare haue presently come vnto him; and now finding his requests to bee with greater grauitie and consideration denied by his nephew, than they were by reason of him demaunded; entred with his armie into the borders of his prouince, and with fire and sword began to destroy the countrey before him. Which Mahometes with such power as he had thinking to remedie, was by the way encountered by his vnckle not farre from LARENDA, and there ouerthrowne: and taking that citie for refuge, was the [...]e certaine daies besieged by Achomates; and at last togither with his brother (then but a child) deliuered into his hands, at such time as the citie was by the fearfull citisens by composition yeelded vnto him. Achomates hauing taken the citie with his two nephewes, caused Mahometes his counsellors, with his foster brother, by whose persuasion it was supposed that he had so answered his vnckle and endangered himselfe, to bee all put to death.

These proceedings of Achomates filled Baiazet with griefe and indignation,1512 that he should in C so great yeares be set vpon by two of his owne sonnes,Baiazet sende [...]h embassadors to Achomates. one after the other. Yet to proue if those troubles might with out more bloudshed be pacified, he sent his embassadours vnto him to reproue him for his disloialtie; and to command him forthwith to set at libertie his two nephewes, Mahometes and his brother, and so without more stir to get him againe to AMESIA: which if he should refuse to doe, then to denounce vnto him open warre. But he, which by how much the more he had after his repulse ambitiously affected the empire, had resolued with himselfe to deale so much the more cruelly in his proceedings: hauing receiued this message from his father, caused the chiefe embassador (for that he had in franke speech deliuered his message and denounced vnto him wars) to be in his owne presence put to death;Achomates ki [...] leth his fathers embassadours. and threatned the rest with the like, if before the going downe of the sunne they voided not his campe.

This outrage highly offended Baiazet, and alienated the minds of manie before well affected to Achomates: for that without any reuerence of his father and contrarie to the law of nations, he had violated the embassadours sent to him for peace. Vpon the first brute hereof, the souldiours which then waited at the court gate, in the hearing of Baiazet exclaimed, that the insolencie of Achomates was not longer to be suffered, but forthwith by force to be repressed; that by sufferance and delay he would grow from euill to worse; and that if Baiazet should prolong the time, and in fatherly sort seeke by faire meanes to reclaime him, hee should afterwards in vaine craue the aide of his best souldiours against his rebellious sonne strengthened by his owne long sufferance. Mustapha also the chiefe Bassa, with Bostanges and others of great place (who secretly fauoured Selymus, and had cunningly caused these things by fit men to be dispersed amongst the souldiours) began at the first to mutter, and as it were to wonder at the strangenesse and hainousnesse of the fact; in such slie sort, as if they had condemned the deed done, but not the doer. But afterward, when they saw that Baiazet was throughly heated, both by his owne angrie disposition and the speech of the souldiors, and vpon the confidence of his former victorie against Selmus, now readie to seeke reuenge; they began then to heape fresh coles vpon the fire, and bitterly to inuay against Achomates, as a traitour to his aged father and the state; and withall highly commended the fidelitie and courage of the Ianizaries and souldiours of the court, who for the safetie and honour of their aged emperour, were most prest and readie to expose themselues, their liues, and whatsoeuer else they had, vnto new dangers.

So was Achomates by the craft and subtiltie of these great men, by the anger of his father, and the judgement of the souldiours,Achomates proclaimed traitor▪ proclaimed traitour; and order taken, that the souldiours of the court with the Europeian horsemen, should with all possible speed be sent against him into ASIA. But when choise was to be made ofsome valiant and worthie Generall that might take vpon him so great a charge, which seemed especially to appertaine vnto some one of the great Bassaes: it was strange to see, how they all began to straine courtesie at that preferment, and euerie [Page] one to refuse the place and disable himselfe, saying, That it were a great indignitie, that the G emperours armie should be led against his sonne by anie of his seruants: and the souldiours (hauing their lesson before hand) said plainly, That they durst not, nor would not draw their swords or lift vp their hands against the sonne of the emperour, and heire apparant of the empire, except they were conducted and commaunded by some of the Othoman bloud in person present with them: for so had his brother, long before when he rebelled in CILICIA, and now of late Selymus his rebellious sonne, beene both ouerthrowne and vanquished, euen by the conduct of Baiazet himselfe, and not by anie of his seruants. These things all tended to this purpose, that Selymus might by indirect meanes be reconciled to his father (whom they secretly fauoured, although for feare of displeasure they durst not so much as name him but by way of disgrace) and by this verie meanes to make way for his returne to CONSTANTINOPLE, and so consequently,H giue him power to seaze vpon the empire. For it was probably supposed, that neither Baiazet himselfe, being verie aged and diseased; neither Corcutus, altogither buried in his studie, would vndertake the managing of those wars: so that of the Othoman family onely Selymus was left to whom that charge might be committed, all the nephewes of Baiazet by reason of their tender yeares, as yet vnfit for the same. At these speeches of the Bassaes and the souldiors, Baiazet as a man perplexed and in a chafe, flung away into his pallace, excusing himselfe by his great yeares and diseased bodie: but complaining deepely, that Corcutus in following the vaine title of learning, with a quiet contented kind of life, had in the meane time neglected other studies and honourable qualities, better beseeming his princely birth and calling. As hee was thus reasoning with himselfe, and deuising what course to take; Mustapha the old Bassa, who all the time of his raigne had vsed to disburden him of his cares, hauing by way of talke drawne him into a full discourse concerning the proceeding in the intended warre, set vpon him with this craftie and premeditated speech, framed of purpose for his destruction.

Your Maiestie may not (most dread soueraigne) although by yeares and strength of bodie you were neuer so well able,

The craftie orati [...]n of the great B [...]ssa Mustapha to Baiazet, for the bringing home of Selymus

you may not I say, either transport your armie, or your selfe passe ouer in person into ASIA; least whilest you are there, from place to place chasing Achomates, you leaue a far more dangerous enemie behind you in EVROPE; who may in your absence seaze vpon THRACIA, GRaeCIA, yea and the imperiall citie it selfe, destitute of sufficient defendants. Doe we not heare, that Selymus is raising of new forces aboue VARNA? to expect a new supply of horsemen from the Tartar K king his father in law? and alreadie as it were houering ouer our heads? Is he not of greater spirit and courage, than to be daunted or dismaied with the misfortune of one battell? Or if you shall end ouer your old beaten souldiours into ASIA, and call Corcutus into EVROPE with the forces he leuied the last yeare, who in time of your sicknes may withstand the attempts of Selymus: will he feare these fresh water souldiours of ASIA, or their philosophicall Generall, which feared not the souldiors of your court, the pickt and chosen men of the world, and your selfe a most worthy and victorious emperour? You are deceiued, and (if I may be bold so to say) you throughly see not into the doubtfull euent of things, if you thinke not that you must at one time wage warre against two dangerous enemies, euen i [...] the remotest parts of your empire, in ASIA and EVROPE: For whilest you shall go about to expulse Achomates out of CAPADOCIA, Selymus neerer at hand, and waiting all opportunitie; will by L and by at your backe, raise a most dangerous warre in the verie heart and chiefe strength of your e [...] pire. But if you moued with the greatnesse and due consideration of the danger, shall go about to defend THRASIA, and for that purpose retaine with you the most approoued and faithfull souldiours of the court, you shall see all ASIA on a fire before your face: neither will Achomates make an end of wast and warre, vntill such time as he haue drawne the empire of ASIA to himselfe. Wherefore if it be not to be imputed to your fault, but to your fate or fortune, that two begotten of your selfe, should by your selfe and the consent of all men be adiudged traitours vnto your crowne and dignitie; whereof the one through rashnesse, the other vpon pride and vaine discontentment, hath risen vp in armes against you: why doe you not in so doubtfull and perplext a matter, preferre safe and sound aduise before that which masketh vnder the shew of maiestie and honour? and whom you cannot both at one M time correct and be reuenged vpon, to set vpon them as occasion shall serue when they are togither by the eares betwixt themselues? This is the onely hope of your safetie, this is the onely way, if you shall resolue (as the common prouerbe saith) to driue out one naile with another, and so to ouercome your enemies. Moderate a while your hoat desire of reuenge, and for the present dissemble yo [...] [Page] greefe; graunt vnto one of them pardon, and in shew take him into your grace and fauor, imploy him against the other: so shall you without danger, howsoeuer it fall out, persecute the one whom you loue not, with the hasard of the other whom you trust not: and at your pleasure oppresse him, to whom you shall commit your ensignes and armie; the hands of your faithfull and trustie souldiors being euer at your appointment readie to take reuenge. So shall you with securitie make an end of this warre, exposing vnto the danger him whom you had rather to ouercome (as your enemie) by him whom you wish also to perish.

Mustapha had scarce made an end of speaking, but the other Bassaes (as they had before agreed amongst themselues) began where he left, and with all their cunning laboured to persuade Baiazet to call home his sonne Selymus, and to make him Generall of his armie against his brother: saying, That he had alreadie endured sufficient punishment for his former disloyaltie, and that therefore it was like that he as a well corrected child would from thenceforth containe himselfe within the compasse of his most dutifull obedience: whereas Achomates proud of his birthright, hauing of late violated his fathers embassadours, and filled all ASIA with rebellion, was not like to bee brought to any reasonable conformitie, vntill hee were by force of armes pluckt downe, and so made to know himselfe, in like manner as was his brother Selymus of late. Baiazet seeing that in resoluing of a matter of so great consequence, Cherseogles Bassa (his sonne in law, and the onely faithfull counsellour then about him) sat all silent, hanging the head, as a man not of thesame opinion with the rest, stood a great while in doubt what to resolue vpon: he could not so easily forget the late injuries done against him by Selymus, it was yet fresh in memorie, how that he had out of ASIA inuaded EVROPE, surprised HADRIANOPLE, giuen him battaile, endangered his person with his Tartarian horsemen, and that onely by the goodnesse of God he had obtained the victorie: on the other side, his Majestie contemned, his nephewes imprisoned, his embassadours violated, the citties of ASIA ransacked, and all those goodly countries presently smoking with the fire of rebellion, so filled his old heart with anger and indignation, as that he desired nothing more than to be reuenged. Whilest hee was thus strugling with his owne thoughts, and doubtfull what to doe, the vnfaithfull Bassaes by deepe deceit and treacherie (Cherseogles most instantly persuading the contrarie) ouercame him so farre, as with his owne hand to write letters to Selymus, promising him, that forgetting all injuries past, he would vpon the hope of his loyaltie, receiue him into his former grace and fauour, and make him Generall of his armie, if hee would without delay repaire to CONSTANTINOPLE, and so passe ouer into ASIA against his rebellious brother Achomates.

Whilest these things are in doing at CONSTANTINOPLE, Corcutus aduertised by letters from his friends of the weake estate of his aged father, and by what persuasions he had beene induced (after Achomates was proclaimed traitor) to call vnto him Selymus, and to make him Generall of his armie; came downe out of MAGNESIA to PHOCIS, and there embarking himselfe in his gallies,Corcutus comm [...]th to Constantinople. sailed to CONSTANTINOPLE: where being arriued, hee went presently to the court, attended vpon with a great number of his friends and fauourites; and entring into the priuie chamber, humbled himselfe before his father, and kissed his hand: and after much talke had betwixt them of diuers weightie matters, is reported to haue spoken vnto him as followeth.

It is now aboue thirtie yeares past (most reuerend father,

Corcutus his Oration vnto his father Baiazet.

and dread Soueraigne) since that I (being chosen and proclaimed emperour by the prerogatiue of the souldiors of the court, by generall consent of the citisens of this imperiall citie, and by the graue iudgement of the wise and graue Bassaes of the Court) haue cheerefully and willingly, and as I may truly say, with mine owne hand deliuered from my selfe vnto your Maiestie the possession of this most glorious kingdome and empire: Which thing what worldly wight would haue done? but either a mad man, or els a most kind and loning sonne? Vnto which so rare an example of a religious and louing heart, I was not by any feare or constraint enforced, but onely by regard and contemplation of your owne sacred person, and the due consideration of my dutie. Neither did it in the course of so many yeares, euer repent me of that my singular kindnesse and dutie done, when as I contenting my selfe with such things as you had vnto me assigned, and with the generall commendation of my well doing, as well as with a kingdome, thought this your great estate and highest type of worldly honour, not to be compared with the quiet contentment of my pleasing studies: when as I accounted it a vaine thing, and not beseeming the resolution [Page] of a setled and quiet mind, to long after these wordly things, which being had and enioyed to G the full, worke no full contentment in the insatiable desire of man: and that surmounting vertue, and the sweet, ô most sweet meditation of heauenly things promised vnto my contemplatiue and rauished mind, things of farre more worth and maiestie than all the kingdomes and monarchies of the world. But whilest I was tracing this path, little regarding worldly honour, or the glorie of an empire, and was for pure deuotion and desire of knowledge trauelling into the furthest part of ARABIA, vnto the altar of our most sacred prophet Mahomet, and so to the Indians, as to men of a more exact knowledge and sincere profession; you in the middest of my trauell drew mee out of AEGIPT by the long hands of the Aegyptian Sultan, backe againe into PHRYGIA; commaunding mee, that eschewing the manifold dangers (which in my long trauell I must needs haue fallen into) I should from thenceforth haue more regard of my life and health, and to expect the fruit both of my loyaltie towards you, and of H your fatherly loue towards me: as if you had beene then of opinion, that the time would come, when for the euill disposition of some, an innocent man, deuoted vnto the studie of wisedome and learning, might be a stay both to your selfe and the whole Othoman familie. Since which time I haue euer both dutifully obeyed your commaund, and with as much care and integritie as I possibly could, discharged my charge: and in the late Persian warre raised and brought into the field mine armie, wherewith I defended the [...]rontiers of my prouince from the incursions of the Barbarians. But after that they were vanquished, and by your forces driuen out of the lesser ASIA, and that my vnnaturall and gracelesse brethren, the one of them in EVROPE, as a most desperat recreant, had in plaine battell assailed the person of your most sacred Maiestie (his reuerend father, farre spent with age, and then greeuously tormented with the gout) of purpose to haue at once depriued you both of your life and empire: and the I other in ASIA seeking by like disloyaltie and most horrible treason there to possesse himselfe of a kingdome, had besieged and taken prisoners his brothers sonnes your nephewes, young princes of great expectation, your faithfull and louing subiects; and proceeding further, had set all that part of your empire on a broile: I thought my selfe in dutie bound to repaire hether vnto your imperiall Maiestie, for that I saw it came to passe, not without the prouidence of the most mightie, that I might at such time especially request the iust reward of my due desert of you my most reuerend and louing father, the most religious obseruer of equitie and iustice: when as you hauing had too great proofe of the infidelitie of my vnnaturall brethren, might most fitly and most commodiously performe that which you vpon great reason might now graunt vnto me your dutifull and obedient sonne, although my former deserts had merited no such thing. Wherefore most gracious, I humbly pray and beseech you by all K your fatherly loue and affection towards me, and my knowne loialtie towards you, to vouchsafe before the comming of Selymus, to haue regard of mine honour, with the state of your empire: for when he shall once in armes breake in, hee will at a trice cut off all hope of pacification, and supported by the men of warre, confound all things at his pleasure: for I heare, that the very guarders of your person, and cheefe commaunders of your armies, altered in disposition towards you, doe but expect the good offer of time, when they may willingly salute for their emperour and soueraigne, him, whom your good fortune of late full sore against their wils, ouerthrew in open field. Wherefore that empire whereof I was sometime possessed, and for the rare desert of mine antient loialtie towards you, is of good right due vnto me, restore to me againe whilest you may, and whilest it is yet in your power, in this suddaine and momentarie occasion now presented. For your Maiestie shall in vaine fauour my L most iust and vpright claime, after that you (hauing once receiued into the imperiall citie a most d [...] sperat and ambitious man) haue for euer lost your libertie, together with your selfe.

Baiazet com [...]eth Corcutus, and promis [...]th to re [...]igne to him the empire, af [...]er that Selymus a as passed euer into Asia. Corcutus with teares standing in his eyes hauing ended his speech, the aged emperour moued with a fatherly affection, and the reasonable persuasion of him, his onely loyall and most kind sonne, comforted him vp with good words, and willed him to bee of good cheere; and withall discouered vnto him the very ground of his resolution, in calling home of Selymus: telling him farther, That he could be well content to resigne vnto him againe the empire, but that it was not in his power so presently to doe, for feare of the souldiors of the court; who had (as he said) of late withstood him in the like motion, and would againe with tooth and naile gainesay it, if he M should but giue the least occasion for them to suspect any such matter: but that by the plot now laied, Selymus should vnder the title of honour be drawne out of EVROPE, together with the souldiors of the court, into ASIA against Achomates, both barres vnto his present desire for transferring of the empire; in whose absence it should bee in his power freely to dispose thereof [Page] at his pleasure: which he promised presently to resigne vnto him, so soone as they were once passed ouer into ASIA. Which thing once done, although it were not altogither to their liking, yet feared he not that either the captaines or souldiours, who had of late so honorably and faithfully defended him against Selymus, should now for his sake dislike of Corcutus, or attempt anie thing not beseeming the glorie of their late desert: but rather hoped, that if his two vnnaturall and rebellious sons Achomates and Selymus ▪ should once joine in battel (as it was most like they would) that either the one or both should by the just judgement of God perish for their so great disobedience, murthered by the hands one of an other. Corcutus not much misliking of his fathers purpose, and resting himselfe wholy vpon his fauour, thought it not good farther to argue the matter his father had so well considered of: but taking his leaue returned to his lodging, not without hope of obtaining the empire, and so remained manie daies after at CONSTANTINOPLE: during which time he sought neither by gifts nor golden promises to procure the loue and good liking of the great Bassaes, or souldiors of the court; for that he as a plaine vpright man, thought it not good by sute and corruption (the great promotors of the vnworthie) to seeke for that at their hands, which was of right due vnto him by his fathers fauour and promise.

In the meane time Selymus his fast friends, aduertising him of the comming of Corcutus to the court, aduised him to make hast, and with all speed possible to come to CONSTANTINOPLE; for that it was to bee feared; least Baiazet being verie aged, and withall easie to be drawne away, might by the persuasion of Corcutus be enduced to alter, yea and perhaps quite breake off the course before well set for his most readie preferment. Vpon which newes, Selymus attentiuely waiting vpon nothing more than to haue accesse vnto his friends in court, and before resolued at his first comming thither, not to spare for anie cost in corrupting the men of warre, and so to possesse himselfe of the empire: made now no stay, but with certaine troupes of horsmen commaunding the rest to follow after, came with wonderfull sceleritie to CONSTANTINOple. Corcutus with the great Bassaes and courtiers▪ and most part of the souldiours of the court, going to meet him at the gates of the citie: at his entrance receiued him with a kisse (as is the manner of the Turkes) and brought him through the middest of the citie, all the people running out by heaps to haue a sight of the man; of late in euerie mans mouth for his desperat rebellion, but now welcomed with much thundring shot in token of triumph, and the joyfull acclamation of men, women, and children, and people of all sorts. So that it easily appeared, that all the hatred before conceiued against him, for his late outrage against his father, was now quite forgotten; and that he would in short time before his other brethren aspire vnto the empire.

The next day after Selymus came to the court, and hauing accesse to his father, fell prostrat before him and kissed his feet, and with the greatest shew of humilitie possible, craued of him pardon for his disloialtie. O deepe dissembler, and traitor of all others most treacherous! of late in field with sword drawn to haue slaine his aged father, but now prostrat at his feet; and within an houre, mounted perforce into his imperiall seat!

The old emperour smiling vpon this Crocodile, in most kind manner tooke him vp, and courteously said vnto him: ‘Thy faults sonne Selymus are so much the lesse,The craftie speech of Baiazet vnto his sonne Selymus. for that they haue found speedie repentance, wherefore I doe the more willingly grant thee pardon: but from henceforth endeuour thy selfe, that God who hath giuen thee a notable spirit and courage, may also be thought to haue endued thee with a good and well disposed mind. There is a martiall matter readie worthy thy hardinesse, wherein thou maiest sufficiently manifest vnto the world thy forwardnesse and courage: there when time serueth let it appeare.’

Shortly after was called a counsell for the warres,The craftie dissimulation of Selymus. but especially for the chusing of a Generall to go against Achomates: the honor of which place, when manie would haue giuen to Selymus, he began with great dissimulation to refuse, making as though he would not in any case be preferred before his brother Corcutus, to whom he would (as he said) willingly giue place▪ both in respect of his years and learned discretion, who could no doubt with greater authoritie and wisedome manage that warre: as for himselfe, now he had obtained his fathers gratious pardon and fauour, he could well content himselfe with any corner of the empire, were it neuer so little.

But Corcutus and his friends, who had reposed all their hope and all their deuises in the departure of Selymus with the souldiours of the court; as if they had with great modestie contended on both sides, againe persuaded him, yea and instantly requested him not to refuse that honour, [Page] by generall consent without anie disgrace to his brother, giuen to him as to a worthy chieftaine G of greater experience in martiall affaires. So Selymus with wonderfull cunning deluding Corcutus and his fauorits, whilest he seemeth craftely to refuse the thing he most desireth, is by the generall consent of all parts, chosen Generall of the armie to go against his brother Achomates. Which was no sooner made knowne vnto the soldiors, especially the Ianizaries and other souldiors of the court; but they before instructed, with lowd acclamations saluted him, not for their Generall onely, but for their soueraigne lord and emperor also: and so without farther delay put themselues in armes to defend and make good that they had done, if anie better disposed should seeme to withstand them or dissent from them.

Selymus by the souldiours thus saluted emperour, at first made shew as if he had beene halfe vnwilling to take vpon him the empire; and so began faintly to refuse it, as moued so to doe by H the due reuerence and regard of his father, yet liuing. But after a while he suffered himselfe to be entreated: and then commending himselfe and his cause wholy to the men of war, to bind them vnto him the faster, promised beside the particuler fauors he ought them, to bestow a right great and generall larges amongst them: which he afterwards accordingly performed.

After that, he requested the chiefe Bassaes and commaunders of the armie there present, to go forthwith vnto his father, and to take such order (seeing it was the mind of the whole army it should be so) that the empire might by his goodwill without farther trouble or tumult, be forthwith transferred vnto him.

Mustapha the great Bassa, in whose wily head all this matter was (to his owne worthy destruction) first hammered; whether it were vpon a new finenesse of his owne, or that Selymus (as I it was giuen out) had threatned to kill him except he would go and shew all the whole processe of the matter to his father: comming as a man dismaied to Baiazet (who awaked with clamour and tumult of the souldiours was come out of his chamber into the open roomes of his pallace) in few words deliuered vnto him this most vnwelcome message as followeth: ‘The blunt speech of Mustapha to [...]a [...]azet, persuading [...]im to resigne the empire to Selymus.Emperour (said he) the men of warre haue in their counsell saluted Selymus both their Generall and Emperour: which their choise they require thee to ratifie; being readie presently to breake into the court to kill vs both, if thou shalt refuse forthwith to resigne the empire. They all with one consent request that of thee, which they ha [...] alreadie put into the hand of another. Wherefore it is a thing of farre more danger to seeke to [...] that thou hast alreadie lost, than willingly to yeeld that which is alreadie taken from thee, seeing it is not by anie force or pollicie to be regained. They in arms,K in [...]urie, and now entred into rebellion, thinke vpon some greater mischiefe.’

Baiazet troubled with feare and choller, and then too late perceiuing the treacherie of the Bassaes, and how he had been by them betraied; pausing a while at the strangenesse of the matter, afterwards in fu [...]ie brake out into these words: ‘The resolute answere of old Baiazet to Mustapha and the other B [...]ssaes.False and forsworne, doe you thus betray me? and with such monstrous villanie requite mine infinit bountie? Why doe you not also as murtherers take away my life, which could not endure for a while to expect the dissolution of this my weake and aged bodie? but deposing your iust & lawfull soueraigne, must needs in post hast set vp a most wicked and gracelesse man to raigne ouer you. But much good doe it you with your desired emperour, the contemner of God, and murtherer of his father: to whom [...]re it belong, you shall full dearely pay the price of this your perfidious dealing and treacherie against me.L And he himselfe beginning his empire of most vnnaturall treason, murther, and bloudshed, shall not (I hope) escape the heau [...]e hand of God, the vndoubted and [...]euere reuenger of so great impietie and treason.’

Mustapha, with Bostanges and Aiax as false as himselfe, returning backe againe to the souldiours speaking not a word of the sorrow and indignation of Baiazet; told them how that he was well content to resigne the empire, and so had appointed Selymus (vnto whom both God and the generall consent of the men of warre had alreadie deliuered the empire) to succeed him in the empire. When this their speech was generally reported, they whom Selymus had before corrupted, began now to hold vp their heads, and looke big on the matter: and others who before stood doubtfull what to doe seeing now no other remedie, in hast joyned themselues vnto the M same faction. Whilest all things were thus disorderly carried by the vnruly souldiours, Selymus was by them mounted vpon a couragious horse, and so with all pomp conducted vp and downe most of the faire streetes of the imperiall citie: and with the generall voice and clamour of the people (how soeuer their minds were for most part otherwise affected) saluted emperour. And [Page] the same day both the great Bassaes and the soldiors in generall, were all solemnely sworne vnto Selymus, as their onely lord and emperour.

Corcutus, whether it were for greefe of his hope now lost, or for feare of his life, although Selymus had promised to giue him the citie of MYTILENE,Corcutus [...] with the Island of LESBOS, secretly embarked himselfe, and so returned to MAGNESIA.

Baiazet of late one of the greatest monarchs of the world, but now thus thrust out of his empire by his sonne, detesting both him and the treacherie of his subjects, and ouercome with sorrow and melancholie, determined of himselfe, before hee were thereto enforced by Selymus, to forsake CONSTANTINOPLE, and to retire himselfe to DIMOTICA (a small cittie wholesomely situated in THRACIA, not farre from HADRIANOPLE; where in former time he had for his pleasure bestowed great cost, & now as he thought best fitted his present estate.) Wherfore causing great store of treasure, plate, jewels, and rich furniture to be trussed vp, he with fiue hundred of his houshold seruants, full of heauinesse and sorrow, with teares trickling downe his aged cheekes, departed out of the imperiall citie towards HADRIANOPLE, with purpose from thence to haue gone to DIMOTICA. Selymus brought him about two miles vpon his way, and so returning againe to CONSTANTINOPLE, tooke possession of the pallace.

Baiazet being then about seuentie six yeares old, or as some report full fourescore; and beside his old disease of the gout, sore weakened with heauinesse and greefe of mind, was not able to trauell aboue fiue or six miles a day, but was constrained by the extremitie of his paine and weakenesse, to stay sometimes two or three dayes in a place. Whilest hee was thus trauelling, C Selymus no lesse carefull of the keeping of his estate, than he had before beene for the obtaining of the same, began now to doubt, That if hee should depart from CONSTANTINOPLE, and with all his forces passe ouer into ASIA against his brother Achomates, Baiazet in the meane time might in his absence returne to CONSTANTINOPLE, and so againe possesse himselfe both of the citie and the empire. Wherefore to rid himselfe of that feare, he resolued most viper like before his going, to kill his father, and so most vnnaturally to depriue him of life of whom hee had first receiued life: such is the cruell and accursed nature of ambition, that it knoweth neither father, mother, brother, wife, kindred, or friend, no, sometimes not her owne children: the furie whereof was neuer in any one more pregnant, than in this most monstrous and cruell tyrant Selymus.

The readiest and most secret way he could deuise for the effecting of this his damnable deuise (which without great impietie could not bee so much as once by him thought vpon) was to worke it by poyson:Selymus practiseth with Hamo [...] a Iew, Baiazet his phisition, to poyson him. vpon which resolution hee secretly compacted with Hamon a Iew, his fathers cheefe physition, to poyson him; promising him for his reward a pension of ten duckats a day during his life. And for that men are oftentimes with terrour and feare, as well as with reward, enforced to bee the ministers of mischeefe; hee to bee the more sure of this Iew (prone ynough for gaine to doe euill) threatened him with most cruell death, if hee did not both secretly and speedily worke this feat, commaunding him so soone as he had done it to return vnto him to CONSTANTINOPLE.

The deceitfull Iew moued both with the feare of death, and hope of reward (two great motiues) comming shortly after to Baiazet, and finding him very weake, seeming to be very carefull of him, told him, That he would prepare for him a potion, which should both restore to him his health, and also strengthen his weake bodie, if it would please him to take it the next morning early lying in his bed. Baiazet nothing mistrusting his old physition whom he had so often & so long trusted, said hee would gladly take it. Early the next morning commeth the Iew with the deadly potion in a cup of gold, Baiazet yet sleeping, which he set downe in the chaire of estate, and so stood waiting vntill the aged prince should of himselfe awake. But Baiazet still sleeping soundly (as oftentimes it chanceth when men sleepe their last) and withall somewhat longer than stood with the Iewes purpose, he presuming of his wonted practise, awaked him, and told him, that the time to take the potion was almost past, and asked him if it were his pleasure then to take it. Baiazet doubting no treason, willed him to bring it: whereof when the Iew had taken the sey (hauing before himselfe taken a preseruatiue against that poyson) he gaue it to Baiazet to drinke,Baiazet poysoned by the I [...]. who cheerefully dranke it vp: the physition commaunding them that waited in his bed-chamber, and attended on his person, to keepe him well couered with warme clothes, and not to giue him any thing to drinke vntill hee had well sweat. This cursed Iew hauing thus poysoned [Page] the aged prince, to auoid the danger of the fact, and to carrie the first newes thereof to Selymus, G secretly conuayed himselfe away, and fled in hast to CONSTANTINOPLE. But Baiazet attainted with the force of the poyson, began first to feele most greeuous gripings in his stomacke, the strong paine whereof appeared by his miserable complaining and heauie groning; in the midst of which torments he gaue vp the ghost in the yeare 1512,The death of Baiazet. when he had raigned thirtie yeares. The Turkes report that he died a naturall death: but Antonius Vtrius, a Genoway, who at that time serued in Baiazet his chamber, and was present at his death, reporteth, That vpon his dead bodie the euident tokens of poyson were to bee seene. His dead bodie, with all his treasures were presently brought backe againe to CONSTANTINOPLE, and deliuered to Selymus, who caused the bodie of his father to be with the greatest solemnitie that might be, buried in a most sumptuous tombe, in a chappell neer vnto the great Mahometane temple, which he had before built for H himselfe at CONSTANTINOPLE, which monument there remaineth at this day to bee seene. His seruants were all by Selymus restored to their places which they before held in the Court in the time of their old master, excepting fiue of the pages of his chamber, who lamenting the death of their master aboue the rest,Selymus causeth [...] of his fathers pages to bee put to death for mourning for their master. had attired themselues all in mourning apparell: for which cause, they were by the commaundement of Selymus cast in prison; where two of them were put to death, the other three at the sute of Solyman, Selymus his sonne, and of other two Bassaes, were saued: but being stript of their rich apparrell, and whatsoeuer els they had gotten vnder Baiazet, they were enrolled for common souldiors vnder Sullustares Bassa. Of these three this Antonius Vtrius the Genoway (before spoken of) was one, who after ten yeares miserable captiuitie amongst the Turks, at last escaped, at such time as Selymus was by the Persian discomfited:I and with much adoe returning againe into ITALIE, writ the historie of all such things as hee himselfe had there seene, with the calamities of Baiazet his house, and a great part of the tyrannous raigne of Selymus.

Hamo [...] the Iew [...]stly rewarded for his trecherie. Hamon the false Iew (as the same author reporteth) comming to CONSTANTINOPLE, and expecting some great reward for his foule treason, by the commaundement of Selymus had his head presently strucke off: with this exprobation of his trecherie, That oportunitie seruing, hee would not sticke for reward to doe the like against Selymus himselfe. Of this Baiazet, Ianus Vitalis writeth this Elogium:

Paulus Iouius Illust, virorum, Elog. lib. 4.

Dum rerum exquiris causas, & dum procul Hunnes

Carmannos, Cilices, Sauromatas (que) domas:

Baiazete, domi proles tua te petit armis

Et te per fraudes amouet imperio.

Adijcit inde nouum sceleri scelus, & tibi miscet,

Pocula lethiferis illita graminibus.

Intempestiuos crudelis vipera foetus,

Per sua sic tandem funera, rupta, parit.

Quid tutum est, cui sint ingentia regna tiranno?

Si timeat natos, progeniem (que) suam?L

In English thus.

Whilest that thou Baiazethes seekes of things the hidden cause,

And faine wouldst bring the Hunne and Russe vnder thy Turkish laws:

Thy sonne at home steps vp in armes against thy royall crowne,

And by false treason and deceit finds meanes to plucke thee downe.

Whereto he addeth mischeefe more, and straight without delay,

By poyson strong in glittering boule, doth take thy life away:

The cruell viper so brings forth her foule vntimely brood,

Which eat and gnaw her bellie out, their first and poysoned food.M

What things may princes hold for safe, that do great kingdomes sway?

If of their children they must stand in dread and feare alway?

R. K.

FINIS.

[Page]

Christian princes of the same time with Baiazet the second.

Emperors of Germanie

Frederick the third, Archduke of Austria. 1440. 54.

Maximilian the first. 1494. 25.

Kings

Of England

Edward the fourth. 1460. 22.

Edward the fifth. 1483. 0.

Richard the third. 1483. 3.

Henrie the seuenth. 1485. 24.

Henrie the eight. 1509. 38.

Of Fraunce

Lewis the eleuenth. 1461. 22.

Charles the eight. 1483. 14.

Lewis the twelfth. 1497. 17

Of Scotland

Iames the third. 1460. 29.

Iames the fourth. 1489. 25.

Bishops of Rome

Xystus the IIII. 1471. 13.

Innotentius the VIII. 1484. 8.

Alexander the VI. 1492. 11.

Pius the III. 1503. 26 daies.

Iulius the II. 1503. 9.

Selim I

[Page]

SELYMVS.

SELYMVS PRIMVS TVRCARVM IMPERATOR TERTIVS: FLORVIT ANo 1512

Phil. Lo [...]icer. Tur [...], Hist. lib. 1.

En Selymus, scelere ante alios immanior omnes:

In patris, & fratrum, dirigit arma necem.

In Persas mouet inde ferox: Memphitica regna

Destruit: & Syros Aethiopas (que) domat.

Hinc in Christicolas irarum effundere fluctus,

Ipsorum (que) imo vertere regna parat.

Cùm diro victus prosternitur vlcere: Christus

Scilicet est populi portus & aura sui.

Lo Selymus, in crueltie exceeding others farre,

His father, and his brethren both, destroies with mortall warre.

The Persian fiercely he assailes: and conquers Aegypts land:

The Sirian, and the Moo [...]e likewise, he tam'd with mightie hand.

But purposing in his mad mood, the Christians to confound,

And the memoriall of their name to roote from off the ground;

A loathsome Canker eat him vp, and brought him to his end:

Christ is to his the safest port, when he will them defend.

[Page]

A

B THE LIFE OF SELYMVS, FIRST OF THAT NAME, THE THIRD AND MOST WARLIKE EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES.

THis Selymus, by fauour of the great Bassaes and men of war whom he had before corrupted, hauing depriued his father Baiazet first of the empire,1512 and shortly after of his life also, and now fully possessed C of the empire himselfe; first tooke view of the treasures which the Turkish kings and emperors his auncestors had before of long time heaped vp in great aboundance: out of which hee gaue vnto the souldiours of the court two millions of duckets; and for a perpetuall remembrance of his thankfulnesse towards them augmented their daily wages, allowing vnto euerie horseman four aspers a day, and to euerie footman two, aboue their wonted allowance. By which exceeding bountie, he greatly assured vnto himselfe the minds of the men of warre.

Shortly after he passed ouer with a great armie into ASIA,Selymus goeth into Asia against his brother Achomates. leauing the gouernment of the D imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE vnto his onely sonne Solyman: and marching into GALATIA came to the citie of ANCYRA, in hope there to haue oppressed his elder brother Achomates. But he vnderstanding before of his comming, withall wisely considering how vnable he was to withstand his forces, fled before into the mountaines of CAPADOCIA vpon the confines of ARMENIA, taking vp men by the way as he went, and praying aid of all sorts of people, yea euen of such as were but of small abilitie themselues, and vnto him meere strangers; that so hee might in best manner he could, prouide such strength as might serue him to make head against his brother, and for the recouerie of ASIA.

Selymus hauing spent that sommer without doing anie thing worth the speaking of, and considering that he could not well winter in that cold country neere vnto the great mountaine TAVRVS, E by reason of the deepe snowes and extreame cold there vsually falling; and that to go farther was to no purpose, forasmuch as Achomates flying from place to place and mountaine to mountaine was not to be surprised, he retired backe againe into BITHYNIA, and sending his Europeian horsemen downe towards the sea coast, and the Ianizaries to CONSTANTINOPLE; resolued to winter with the rest of his army at PRVSA. At which time being wholy bent against Achomates his competitor of the empire, he for certaine yeares continued the league which his father Baiazet had before concluded with Vladislaus king of HVNGARIE, Sigismundus king of POLONIA, and the Venetians. And thinking no care (no not of children) superfluous which might concerne the establishing of his empire,Selymus m [...]rthereth fiue of his brothers sonis he called vnto him fiue of his brothers sons, Orchanes the sonne of Alem Schach; Mahometes the sonne of Tzihan Schach; Orchanes, Emirsa, F and Musa, the sonnes of his brother Mahometes; all young princes of great hope, of yeares betwixt sixteene and twentie, excepting Musa who was not past seauen yeares old: of all these, Mahometes (whom his vncle Achomates had a little before taken prisoner at LARENDA, as is before declared, and vpon the death of Baiazet had againe set him at libertie) being about twentie yeares old, was for rare feature and princely courage accounted the paragon and beautie of [Page] the Othoman family: Which great perfection as it woon vnto him the loue and fauour of the G men of warre, and also of all the people in generall: so did it hasten his speedie death; onely Selymus his cruell vnckle enuying him life. After he had got these poore innocents into his hands, he sent for diuers of his great doctors and lawyers, demaunding of them, Whether it were not better that some fiue, eight, or ten persons should be taken away, than that the state of the whole empire should with great effusion of bloud be rent in sunder, and so by ciuile warres be brought in danger of vtter ruine and destrustion? Who although they well perceiued whereunto that bloudie question tended, yet for feare of displeasure they all answered, That it were better such a small number should perish, than that the whole state of the empire should by ciuile warre and discord be brought to confusion; in which generall calamitie those few must also of necessitie perish with the rest. Vpon colour of this answere and the necessitie pretended, he commaunded H these his nephewes before named, to be led by fiue of his great captaines into the castle of PRVSA, where they were all the night following most cruelly strangled. It is reported, that Mahometes with a penknife slew one of the bloudie executioners sent into his chamber to kill him; and so wounded the other, as that he fell downe for dead: and that Selymus being in a chamber fast by, and almost an eyewitnesse of that was done, presently sent in others, who first bound the poore prince, and afterward strangled him with the rest: whose dead bodies were buried at PRVSA amongst their auncestours. The crueltie of this fact wonderfully offended the minds of most men, insomuch that many euen of his martiall men filled with secret indignation, for certaine daies absented themselues from his presence, shunning his sight as if hee had beene some fierce or raging lyon.I

1513Of all the nephewes of old Baiazet, onely Amurat and Aladin (the sons of Achomates) yet remained,Selymus seeketh a [...]r the liues of Amurat and Aladin, the sons of Achomates his brother. whom he purposed to surprise vpon the sudden, and so to rid himselfe of all feare of his brothers children; hauing then left none of the Othoman familie, but them and his two brethren vpon whom to exercise his further crueltie. These two young princes had a little before recouered the citie of AMASIA, from whence they were the Sommer before expulsed by their vncle Selymus, at such time as Achomates their father was glad to flie into the mountaines of CAPADOCIA. Selymus fully resolued vpon their destruction, sent Vfegi one of his Bassaes with fiue thousand horsmen, who by great journies trauelling to AMASIA, might vpon the sudden come vpon these two young princes, and take them altogither vnprouided and as then fearing no such danger: which was thought no great matter for the Bassa to doe, forasmuch as he might with K his light horsmen easily preuent the fame of his comming; and the citie of AMASIA where they lay, was neither well walled, nor as then furnished with any sufficient garrison for defence therof: beside that, Achomates himselfe was at that time absent, busied in taking vp of souldiours vpon the frontiers of CARAMANNIA. But Mustapha the old Bassa, by whose especiall meanes Selymus had obtained the empire (as is before declared in the life of Baiazet) being priuie vnto his wicked purpose, and now in mind altogither alienated from him, detesting his most execrable tyrannie, both for the vnworthy death of Baiazet his father, and the guiltlesse bloud of so many young princes his nephewes by him shed without all pitie; and hauing compassion of the imminent danger whereinto these two brethren were now like also to fall; by secret and speedie messengers gaue them warning of the comming of the Bassa, and of all that was entended against L them. Who vpon such knowledge giuen, presently aduertised Achomates their father thereof, and laid secret ambush themselues for the intercepting of their enemies. So that within few daies after, the Bassa comming with his horsemen towards AMASIA, fell before he was aware into the middest of his enemies: at which time also Achomates following him at the heeles, so shut him in with his armie on euerie side, that most of his men being slaine, he himselfe with diuers other captaines were taken prisoners and brought to Achomates, Vfegi Bassa taken prisoner. and by his commaundement committed to safe custodie.

Now it fortuned, that some of Achomates souldiors scoffing at the prisoners whom they had taken, told them how they had been deceiued, and how all the matter had been carried (so hard a thing it is to haue euen the greatest counsels in court kept secret) boasting that they wanted not M their friends, euen of such as were most inward with Selymus, who secretly fauoured the better cause, and would not long suffer the cruell beast to rage further: All which things Selymus his souldiours reported againe after they were raunsomed and returned home. But Vfegi the Bassa lying still in prison, and getting certaine knowledge of the whole matter, by secret letters gaue [Page] Selymus to vnderstand, that Mustapha the great Bassa whom he most of all trusted, had secret intelligence with Achomates, and had beene the only cause of the losse of his armie.

Selymus of late enuying at the great honour and authoritie of Mustapha, and wishing him dead (whose desert he was not able,Mustapha Bassa shamefully murthered. or at leastwise not willing to requite) caused him vpon this accusation without farther triall to be secretly strangled in his owne sight, and his dead bodie (as it werein scorne of his former felicitie) to be cast out into the street for euerie man to gaze vpon. This was the shamefull end of this traiterous Bassa, who had of long time at his pleasure commaunded all things in the Turkish empire, and was for riches, power, and authoritie, next vnto the emperours themselues: but now lieth as a dead dog in the street, no man daring for feare to cast earth vpon him. A rare spectacle of the vncertaintie of worldly felicitie, and a worthy example of disloialtie. But Achomates hearing what had hapned to Mustapha, in reuenge thereof in like manner executed Vfegi Bassa his prisoner;Vfegi Bassa p [...] to death. and according to his curteous nature set all the rest of the prisoners at libertie.

Selymus thirsting after nothing more than the guiltlesse bloud of his brethren and nephewes, vpon whom he had against all right vsurped the kingdome, whereof he neuer thought himselfe sufficiently assured so long as any of them breathed: began with the first of the Spring, to deuise with himselfe how he might first take away his brother Corcutus, who then liued at MAGNESIA, and hauing cast off all hope of the empire, gaue himselfe wholy to the studie of philosophie, which he (seduced with ambition) had in euill time a little before forsaken; but now retiring himselfe thereto againe, as to his greatest contentment, spent his time in quiet contemplation, not C attempting any thing against his cruell brother vsurping the empire. Selymus resolued vpon the destruction of this harmelesse prince, suddenly commaunded his captaines to make choise often thousand horsemen to be in readinesse within three daies, giuing it out that hee would make an inroad vpon the sudden into CAPADOCIA. In the number of these horsemen Antonius Maenauinus a Genoway, author of this historie (as he reporteth of himselfe) was one.

All things being in readinesse against the appointed time, Selymus in person himselfe set forward with his armie from PRVSA, still keeping the way on the right hand; so that the souldiors who thought they should haue marched directly into CAPADOCIA and so to AMASIA, as it was before commonly reported; began now to perceiue by the contrarie course they held, that they were to go for LYDIA and IONIA. When a valiant souldiour among the rest, who had D sometime serued one of the Bassaes in Corcutus his court, by diuers circumstances gathering the intention of Selymus, secretly conuaied himselfe out of the armie; and being excellently well mounted, taking the neerest way, came to MAGNESIA and gaue Corcutus warning of the comming of his brother. Corcutus considering the great danger he was in, richly rewarded the messenger; and leauing his house in such order as it was wont to be, fled with two of his seruants to the sea side, in hope to haue found passage either into CRETE, or else to the RHODES.

The next day after Corcutus was departed, early in the morning came Selymus to the castle of MAGNESIA before the rising of the sunne, in hope to haue found Corcutus yet in his bed: but being deceiued of his expectation, he fell into a great rage, and with cruell torments examined all his brothers seruants & eunuchs, What was become of him and where he had hid himselfe? E and with much adoe got it out of them, That he had warning of his comming by a fugitiue soldiour, and was thereupon fled; but whither they knew not. Wherfore Selymus staied there fifteene daies, during which time he caused diligent search to be made all ouer the countrey, and alongst the sea coast for to haue apprehended him. But when after much search he could heare no tidings of him,Selymus taketh the spoile of his brother Corcutus he caused all his brothers treasure and rich furniture to be trussed vp, and to be sent by sea to CONSTANTINOPLE. So leauing one of his captaines with a thousand horsemen in garrison at MAGNESIA, he returned againe to PRVSA with as much speed as he came from thence: verily supposing that his brother was for safegard of his life, by sea fled into ITALIE. All this while Bostanges, Selymus his sonne in law, lying with a fleet of gallies vpon the coast of IONIA, had taken from Corcutus all hope of escaping by sea: so that he was faine to hide himselfe F in a caue neere vnto the sea side not farre from SMYRNA, liuing in hope that after a few daies the fleet would depart, and so he should find some opportunitie to escape.

After he had thus a great while in feare most miserably liued with countrie crabs, and other like wild fruit (a poore diet for a man of state) and was with extreame necessitie enforced to send his man for reliefe to a poore sheepheards cottage therby, he was by a country peasant discouered [Page] to Cassumes, taken. who with too much diligence sought after his life: and being by him apprehended,G was carried towards the tyrant his brother at PRVSA.

Right welcome to Selymus was the report of his taking: who as soone as he vnderstood that he was within a daies journey of PRVSA, sent one Kirengen-ogli (who of his squint looke was called Chior Zeinall) to strangle him vpon the way, and to bring his dead bodie to PRVSA.

This captaine comming to Corcutus in the dead time of the night, and awaking him out of his sleepe, told him his heauie message; how that he was sent from his brother Selymus to see him executed, which must as he said presently be done. Corcutus exceedingly troubled with these heauie newes, and fetching a deepe sigh, desired the captaine so long to spare his life, vntill hee might write a few short lines vnto his brother Selymus. Which poore request being granted, he called for pen and paper, and readily in Turkish verse (for he had spent all his time in studie) reproued H his brother of most horrible crueltie; vpbraiding him, that he had not onely most disloially thrust his father out of his empire, but also most vnnaturally depriued him of life, of whom he had before receiued the same: and not so content, had most tyrannously slaine his brothers children; and now like an vnmercifull wretch thirsted after the guiltlesse bloud of himselfe, and Achomates his brethren. At last concluding his letters with many a bitter curse, he besought God to take of him just reuenge for so much innocent bloud by him most vnnaturally spilt. And when he had thus much written, he requested the captaine, that it might togither with his dead bodie be deliuered vnto Selymus. So without any farther delay he was according to the tyrants commaund presently strangled.The lamentable death of [...]. The next day after, when the dead bodie was presented vnto Selymus, he vncouered the face therof to be sure that it was he, and seeing a paper in his hand, tooke I it from him: but when he had read it (for all his cruell nature and stony heart) he burst out into teares; protesting, that he was neuer so much grieued or troubled with any mans death as with his: for which cause, he commaunded generall mourning to be made for him in the court, and with princely solemnitie buried his bodie. Three daies after, he caused fifteene of those diligent searchers who first found Corcutus, to haue their heads struck off, and their bodies to be flung into the sea, saying, That if he were by any extremitie driuen to flie and hide his head, they would not stick to serue him in like manner as they had done his brother.

Now of all the posteritie of Baiazet remained none aliue to trouble the cruel tyrants thoughts but only Achomates and his two sons: who vpon the approch of the Spring, set forward with his armie from AMASIA, excited by the often letters of his friends, who assured him that Selymus K might vpon the sudden be easily oppressed, if hee would with all expedition come to PRVSA; forasmuch as the Ianizaries and Europeian horsemen, the vndoubted strength of his armie, were at that time absent, and he himselfe as one hated both of God and man, could not in so sudden and vnexpected danger tell what he were best to doe, or which way to turne himselfe: wherefore they willed him without delay to hasten his comming, and not to expect the milder weather of the Spring, least in the meane time Selymus should call togither his dispersed forces: God (they said) did oftentimes offer vnto men, both the opportunitie and means to doe great matters, if they had the power to lay hold thereon, and therfore he should do well now by celeritie & courage to seeke to better his euill fortune, which but a little before had bereft him of his fathers kingdome: for if Sommer were once come on, he must either gaine the victory by plain battel, which L would be a hard matter, or else get him packing out of CAPADOCIA and all ASIA the lesse.

Achomates, who before had promised vnto himselfe better successe, as well for the great strength he had of his owne, as for the new supply of horsemen he had procured from Hysmaell the Persian king; but especially for the hope he had, that Selymus generally hated for his late crueltie, should in the time of the battell be forsaken of his owne souldiours; yeelded to the persuasion of his friends, who with many pleasing words set before his eies glorious things, easie to be spoken, but hard to be effected. Wherefore, when he was come into GALATIA with somewhat more than fifteene thousand horsemen, hauing for hast left his footmen by easie marches to come after him: Selymus aduertised of his comming, by speedie messengers sent for his horsemen to PRVSA. In the meane time whiles he is leuying other common souldiours, and respecting M the rest of his forces; fortune, which alwaies fauoured his attempts, did then also auert the danger prepared for him by the vnfaithfulnesse of his followers, and shewed vnto him the open way to victorie. For Achomates secret friends which were in Selymus his campe, continuing firme in their good will towards him, did earnestly by letters persuade him (being alreadie set forward, [Page] and now come as farre as PAPHLAGONIA) to make hast, and to come before Selymus his forces were come together: for that he had sent for the Ianizaries and Europeian horsemen, and did with all speed and diligence make all the preparation hee could possibly; which for all that would all come too late,Treason against Selymus discouered. if he should vpon the suddaine come vpon him before hee were prouided. Which letters being by chance intercepted, gaue Selymus certaine knowledge both of his brothers purpose and comming, together with the treason entended against him by his owne seruants: wherefore executing them who had writ those letters, he in their names caused others to the same effect to be written to Achomates, persuading him with all speed possible to come still on, and not to stay for his footmen, for that Selymus might easily bee oppressed with a few troupes of horsemen, if Achomates would with speed but come & shew himselfe vnto his friends and fauourites: who vpon the first signall of battaile would raise a tumult in the armie, and vpon the suddain kill Selymus, vnaduisedly going too and fro in the battaile. Which letters so written, Selymus caused to be signed with the seales of them whom he had before executed, & found meanes to haue them cunningly deliuered to Achomates, as if they had been sent from his friends: who giuing credit to the same, and presuming much vpon his owne strength, doubted not to leaue his footmen, who followed easily after him, vnder the conduct of Amurath his sonne; and came and encamped with his horsemen neere vnto the mountain HORMINIVS, vpon the bank of the riuer Parthemius. Selymus also departed from PRVSA, and hauing receiued into his armie ten thousand Ianizaries (but a little before come ouer the strait) sent before Sinan Bassa, Generall of his Asian horsemen, to know & make proofe of the strength of his enemies. The Bassa not knowing as yet where Achomates lay, neither of what force he was, being deceiued by the darkenesse of the morning,Sinan Bassa d [...] comfited by Achomates. fell into a place of disaduantage, where he was set vpon by Achomates, and hauing lost seuen thousand of his men, was glad with other eight thousand which were le [...]t, to flie backe vnto Selymus.

For all this losse, was not Selymus discomfited, or doubtfull of the victorie, but forthwith marched on forward to the riuer Elata, which runneth directly out of the mountaine HORMINIVS into PONTVS, watering most large fields vpon the right hand, which at this day are called the plaines of the new land. So did Achomates also, who although he knew his brother to be euery way too strong for him: yet being encouraged with the late victorie, and in hope that his friends in Selymus his armie (whom he vainely supposed to haue beene yet liuing) would in the very battaile doe some notable matter for him, and that victorie would follow his just quarrell; resolued neither to retire backe, neither to expect the comming of the rest of his armie. The riuer was betwixt the two campes, and the number of both armies certainely discouered: yet could not Achomates (to whom the open fields offered a safe retreat vnto the rest of his armie) possessed with a fatall madnesse, be persuaded (considering the greatnesse of the danger) in time to prouide for the safetie of himselfe and his armie, carried headlong (as it seemed) by ineuitable destinie to his fatall destruction, which presently after ensued.

Selymus a little before the going downe of the Sun, with his armie passed ouer the riuer Elata, and gaue generall commaundement through all his campe,Selymus with his armie passeth o [...]er the riuer. that euery man against the next day should bee readie for battaile: and in a wood not far off placed a thousand horsemen in ambush, vnder the leading of Canoglis his wiues brother, a valiant young gentleman, whom his father had a little before sent from TAVRICA vnto his sonne in law with a chosen companie of Tartarian horsemen: vnto him Selymus gaue in charge, that when the battaile was joyned, he should shew himselfe with his horsemen vpon the backe of his enemies, and there to charge them.

As soone as it was day, Selymus in a great open field put his armie in order of battaile, placing his horsemen in two wings, so that all his spearemen were in the right wing, and the archers and carbines in the left: in the maine battaile stood the Ianizaries with the rest of the footmen. On the otherside Achomates, hauing no footmen, deuided his horsemen into two wings also.

Whilest both armies stood thus raunged, expecting but the signall of battaile, a messenger came from Achomates to Selymus, offering in his masters name, to trie the equitie of their quarrell F in plaine combat hand to hand: which if he should refuse, he then tooke both God & the world to witnesse, that Selymus was the onely cause of all the guiltlesse bloud to be shed in the battaile, and not he: whereunto Selymus answered, that he was not to trie his quarrell at the appointment of Achomates: and though he could be content so to doe, yet would not his soldiors suffer him so to aduenture his person and their owne safetie: and so with that answere returned the messenger [Page] backe againe to his master, giuing him for his reward a thousand aspers.

Achomates hauing receiued this answere, without further delay charged the right wing of his brothers armie, who valiantly receiued the first charge: but when they were come to the sword, and that the matter was to be tried by handie blowes, they were not able longer to endure the force of the Persian horsemen; who being well armed both horse and man, had before requested to be placed in the formost rankes, by whose valour the right wing of Selymus his armie was disordered, and not without great losse enforced to retire backe vpon their fellows. Which thing Selymus beholding, did what he might by all meanes to encourage them againe, and presently brought on the left wing with their arrowes and pistols, in stead of them that were fled: and at the same time came on with the Ianizaries also, who with their shot enforced Achomates his horsemen to retire. Achomates himselfe carefully attending euery danger, with greater courage than fortune came in with fresh troupes of horsemen, by whose valour the battell before declining was againe renewed, and the victorie made doubtfull: but in the furie of this battell whilest he was bearing all downe before him, and now in great hope of the victorie, Canoglis with his Tartarian horsemen rising out of ambush, came behind him, and with great outcries caused their enemies then in the greatest heat of their fight to turne vpon them: at which time also the footmen standing close together assailed them afront, and the horsemen whom the Persians had at first put to flight, now moued with shame, were againe returned into the battaile: so that Achomates his small armie was beset, and hardly assailed on euery side. In fine his ensignes being ouerthrowne, and many of his men slaine, the rest were faine to betake themselues to flight. Where Achomates hauing lost the field, and now too late seeking to saue himselfe by flight, fell with his I horse into a ditch, which the raine falling the day before, had filled with water and myre: and being there knowne and taken by his enemies, could not obtaine so much fauour at their hands as to bee presently slaine, but was reserued to the farther pleasure of his cruell brother. Selymus vnderstanding of his taking, sent Kirengen (the same squint-eyed captain which had before strangled Corcutus) who with a bow string strangled him also.Achomates Evangled. His dead bodie was forthwith brought to Selymus, and was afterwards by his commaundement in royall manner buried with his ancestours in PRVSA.

Now Amurat, Achomates his sonne, vnderstanding vpon the way by the Persian horsemen (who serred together,Amurat and Aladin, the son [...] of Achomates, [...]lie the one into Persia, an [...] the other into Aegipt had againe made themselues way through the Turkes armie) of the losse of the field and the taking of his father, returned backe againe to AMASIA: and there after good K deliberation, resolued with his brother to betake themselues both to flight; he with the Persian horsemen passing ouer the riuer Euphrates, fled vnto Hysmaell the Persian king: but Aladin the younger brother passing ouer the mountaine AMANVS in CILICIA, fled into SIRIA, and so to Campson Gaurus the great Sultan of AEGYPT.

After this victorie, Selymus hauing in short time and with little trouble brought all the lesser ASIA vnder his obeisance, and there at his pleasure disposed of all things, determined to haue returned to CONSTANTINOPLE: but vnderstanding that the plague was hot there, hee changed his purpose, and passing ouer at CALLIPOLIS and so trauelling through GRECIA, came to HADRIANOPLE, where hee spent all the rest of that Summer, and all the Winter following: and afterward when the mortalitie was ceased, returned to CONSTANTINOPLE; where it was L found, that an hundred and threescore thousand had there died of the late plague.

Hysmaell the Persian king, whose fame had then filled the world, hearing of the arriuall of Amurat, sent for him, and demaunded of him the cause of his comming. The distressed young prince, who but of late had lost his father, together with the hope of so great an empire, & now glad for safegard of his life to flie into strange countries, oppressed with sorrow, by his heauie countenance and abundance of teares, more than by words, expressed the cause of his comming: yet in short strained speech, declared vnto him, how that his father, his vncle, with the rest of his cousins, all princes of great honour, had of late beene cruelly murdered by the vnmercifull tyrant Selymus: who with like furie sought also after the life of himselfe and his brother, the poore remainders of the Othoman familie, who to saue their liues, were both glad to flie, his brother into M AEGYPT, and himselfe to the feet of his imperiall majestie.

Hysmaell moued with compassion, and deeming it a thing well beseeming the greatnesse of his fame, to take the poore exiled prince into his protection and to giue him releefe, willed him to be of good comfort, and promised him aid. And the more to assure him thereof, shortly after [Page] gaue him one of his owne daughters in marriage. For it was thought, that if Selymus for his tyrannie become odious to the world, should by any means miscarie (as with tyrants it commonly falleth out) that then in the Othoman familie, sore shaken with his vnnaturall crueltie, none was to be preferred before this poore prince Amurat: besides that, it was supposed, that if hee should inuade him with an armie out of PERSIA, that vpon the first stirre, all the lesser ASIA, mourning for the vnworthie death of Achomates, would at once reuolt from him, who for his crueltie and shamefull murthers had worthely deserued to bee hated together both of God and man.

Wherefore in the beginning of the Spring Hysmaell furnished Amurat his new sonne in law with ten thousand horsemen, willing him to passe ouer the riuer of Euphrates at ARSENGA, and to enter into CAPADOCIA, as well to make proofe how the people of that countrey were affected towards him, as of the strength of the enemie: after whom he sent Vsta-Ogli, the most famous cheefetaine amongst the Persians, with twentie thousand horsemen moe, with charge, That he should still follow Amurat within one dayes journey: and he himselfe with a farre greater power stayed behind in ARMENIA, doubting to want victuall if he should haue led so great an armie through those vast barren and desolate places, whereby hee must of necessitie passe.

Amurat marching through the lesser ARMENIA,1514 and entering into the borders of CAPADOCIA, had diuers townes yeelded vnto him by his friends;Amurat spoileth Capadocia. some others hee tooke by force, which he either sacked or els quite rased; and brought such a generall feare vpon the inhabitants C of the prouince, that the people submitting themselues vnto him all the way as he went, it was thought he would haue gone directly to AMASIA, had not Chendemus (an old warlike captain) whom Selymus had left for his lieutenant at ASIA, with a great armie come to meet him at SEBASTIA, which at this day is called SIVAS. This Chendemus had also long before aduertised Selymus both of the preparation and comming of the Persians, as soone as hee had learned by his [...]pials that they were passed the riuer Euphrates. Vpon which news Selymus came presently ouer into ASIA, and commaunding all his forces to meet together at PRVSA, had with wonderfull celeritie leuied thereabout fortie thousand common souldiors. Which so soone as Amurat vnderstood, as well by such prisoners as he had taken, as by aduertisement from his friends; although he was very desirous to haue fought with Chendemus, yet doubting that if Selymus D should with his wonted celeritie come against him, he should be entangled in the straits of the mountaine ANTITAVRVS, he retired backe againe to Vsta-Ogli. But Selymus who all that yeare had in his haughtie thoughts been plotting some such notable exploit as were worthie his greatnesse, standing in doubt whether he should by sea and land inuade HVNGARIE, the RHODES, or ITALIE, at that time sore shaken with ciuile wars: hauing now so fit an occasion giuen him by the Persian (to the great joy of all Christendome) conuerted himselfe wholly vnto the East, and in thirtie dayes march came to ARSENGA. Where joyning his armie with Chendemus, when he vnderstood that his enemies hauing ha [...]ried the countrey, were againe retired; prickt forward with the greefe of the injurie, and desire of reuenge, with hope of victorie hee resolued to follow after them foot by foot,Selymus resolueth to inuade the Persian. and forthwith to enter into ARMENIA the greater, the principall E prouince of the Persian kingdome.

But the difficulties of this notable expedition, which were in counsell propounded by them which had best knowledge of those countries, were great and many, all which by his owne good hap and inuincible courage, hee himselfe afterwards ouercame: for the souldiours which had in short time alreadie marched by land out of ILLYRIA, EPIRVS, and MACEDONIA, into CAPADOCIA, must of necessitie in this long expedition take vpon them new labours; they were to endure the sharpe and pinching cold of the huge mountaine TAVRVS, and by and by after the most vehement and scortching heat in the plaines of ARMENIA the lesser, with extreame thirst, hunger, and most desperat want of all things; and well the more, for that the Persians in their retreat spoyling the countrey as they went, had vtterly destroyed all that might serue for the vse F of man, of purpose to leaue nothing vnto their enemies, but want of all things, if they should pursue them: besides that, his most expert captaines stood in no small doubt of the pettie princes of ARMENIA the lesse, and the mountaine king Aladeules, whom they were to leaue behind them at their backes, without any great assurance of their friendship, who they well knew would faile them, if any thing should happen otherwise than well to Selymus, either in battaile, [Page] or for want of victuals, or in the difficulties of the passages. For they were to be releeued with G victuals from the Armenians: and Aladeules forces then in readinesse, were neither for number nor power to be contemned; who also with castles commodiously placed and strong garrisons, at his pleasure commaunded all the straits, passages, and entrances, which led out of CAPADOCIA into ARMENIA and the Persian kingdome: for all the mountaine countries were vnder his commaund, and his kingdome stretched from the mountaines called SCUDRISC [...] neere vnto PONTVS, all alongst the great mountaine TAVRVS vnto AMANVS, which diuideth CILICIA from SYRIA.

Amongst the rest, old Chendemus viceroy of NATOLIA, a man of great experience, and of all others in greatest credit fauour and authoritie with Selymus, persuaded him to stay a while in CAPADOCIA, and there to refresh his Europeian souldiours alreadie wearie of their long trauell,H and so to expect the comming of his enemies. And to dissuade him from the dangerous expedition into PERSIA, spake vnto him as followeth: ‘It is not to be thought (most mightie and inuincible emperor) that the Persians are fled for feare, because they retired before they set eye vpon vs their enemies:C [...]demus Bassa [...] from going [...]ther against the Persians. it is a finenesse, and they plainly go about to entrap vs, whiles they by flight make a false semblant of feare. Know we not what cunning heads, what able bodies PERSIA breedeth? will they feare the naked Turkish light horseman or archer, which with their couragious barbed horses and themselues strongly armed, feared not the Scythian shot? or (if that be too little) which by their valour haue vanquished so manie nations, and gained vnto their king so great and large an empire? Thinke you, that you haue either greater or better I forces than had long ago Cassumes your vncle? or great Mahomet your grandfather? who diuers times proouing their forces vpon this enemie, were more than once put to the worst, I my selfe th [...]n seruing in their campes neere vnto TRAPEZONDE and the mountaines of NICOPOLIS. I will not denie, but that the great ordinance which you carrie with you may stand you in great stead, so that sit place may be found to bestow so many field pieces in: but this scorched ground, the frozen and abrupt mountaines, with the vast and solitarie plaines beyond them, terrifie me, whom all the armed forces of our enemies in place of great aduantage could not dismay. You must fight, not only with your valiant enemies, but with the difficulties of nature also. Neither may your maiestie giue any credit to the Armenians, or Aladeules, princes of most doubtfull faith; although at your first setting forward, they shew a faire face and seeme neuer so friendly: for they will but expect and await some fit occasion to K take you at an aduantage, and so to set vpon you when you least feare them. But admit you were assured of victorie, ô with how much warme bloud of your best souldiors shall you buy the same? with what other souldiors, with what other forces will you defend GRaeCIA, if the Christian kings hearing that you [...]or enlarging your empire, or desire of fame being gone into the farthest part of ARMENIA, shall in the meane time inuade you? Wherefore if it be better and more wisedome with safetie to defend your owne, than with danger to seeke for that is other mens; if princes of greatest pollicie haue reposed the glorie of their victories, not in the greatnesse of the slaughter of their enemies, but in the safetie and preseruation of their owne souldiours: spare to obiect your selfe and your armie to most manifest danger, and vnaduisedly to commit all at once to the hazard of good fortune: which being a most tickle and vnconstant mistresse, if she shall but once dally with your dangerous attempts, you shall through L your rashnesse in farre shorter space tumble downe headlong from the type of so great maiestie, than you haue thereunto a while agoe by your rare vertues worthely aspired.’

Selymus as he was of a rough and fierce nature, so would he haue all things done according to his owne deuise and direction. And though he were not a little moued with this speech of so graue a counsellor and most expert commander, and saw many of his captaines troubled with the imagination of the future danger: yet in a fume, refuting some little of that which Chendemus had said, he dismissed the counsell; protesting openly, that he would proceed in his entended purpose, hap what hap should, from friend or so: although that old fellow were (as he said) so carefull of his life, that he feared to die an honourable death. Which Selymus had no sooner M said, but presently others about him, accustomed to serue his humour, which enuied at the glorie and wealth of old Chendemus, tooke hold vpon those words: and beginning with the greatnesse of his forces, the valour of his souldiours, the store of his artillerie, with his owne inuincible fortune; made easie matters of all the former difficulties, and with great words labored to extenuat [Page] all that the graue Bassa had before said concerning the prowesse and power of the enemie. After that, they began to discredit Chendemus, saying▪ That he (being a martiall man, and of knowne resolution in all his most warlike actions) had not said as before, for want of courage, or any distrust he had of the victorie, but of purpose to hinder that most honourable expedition, and to cut off all hope of victorie, which was (as they said) as good as alreadie gotten; being before loded with Amurat his great promises, and the gold of PERSIA. Wherfore they wished him to beware of the slie old Fox his wiles and treason, and to proceed on in his expedition so much the more boldly: and not to thinke that his souldiours would refuse any danger or labour, so long as they saw courage in himselfe, but would be readie (as they said) to vndertake the most desperat difficulties of warre; and desired nothing more, than to be conducted into those farre countries, where by their martiall prowesse and valiant acts they might make their emperour Selymus equall with the Great Alexander, and themselues comparable to his Macedonians. And to worke the vtter destruction of this most faithfull counsellour without all recure, these false flatterers suborned bold faced accusers, who falsely and shamefully affirmed, that he had receiued great sums of money from Amurat, and did not therefore in time go against the Persian robbers,Chendemus Bassa by the commaundement of Selym [...] slaine. whereby all the former calamities hapned (as they said) to that prouince: for which pretended causes, Selymus commaunded Chendemus without farther hearing, to be slaine. But in deed to terrifie others from like libertie of speech, and withall to teach them to deeme those deuises and counsels as most excellent, which their soueraigne should as it were by diuine inspiration find out himselfe; and so to accept of them without contradiction. The sudden death of C this most faithfull counsellour Chendemus, strucke an exceeding feare into the minds of all men, for that so honourable a personage, of late in so great fauour and credit with his soueraigne, was without hearing executed; whom they had knowne as a man of great account, both for his prowesse and pollicie, to haue stood fast on Selymus side, first in his warres against his father, and of late against his brother: not doubting but that Selymus by nature cruell, and suspitious euen of trifles, would with like tyrannie not spare men of meaner calling, which spared not his deerest and most auntient friends.

Selymus marching from ARSENGA came to the confines of the lesser Armenian kings, and of Aladeules: where by his embassadours he requested the kings of those nations (who were then in armes) that they would joyne their forces with his against the Persian, and to go with him D into ARMENIA the Great: promising that when the wars were happely ended, he would g [...]ue vnto them all such territorie as should chance in those warres to be taken from the enemie, as a reward of their aid. But these poore kings, which hated both Hysmaell and Selymus for the manifold injuries they daily receiued in the frontiers of their dominions, lying in the middest betweene them, (as commonly it falleth out that the weakest goeth to the wals) craftely expecting the euent of this warre, would not openly shew themselues, but answered that they had taken vp armes for no other purpose, but for the defence of themselues and their kingdomes. Not meaning in that doubtfull warre, to beare themselues as enemies vnto either of those great princes their friends and neighbours, of whose just grieuances they were not able or worthy to determine: yet if he would without hostilitie, in peaceable manner passe through their dominions, E they promised to giue free passage vnto him and his armie: and after he were entred into ARMENIA the greater, to relieue him with such prouision of victuall as their bare countries could affoord.

Selymus thus deceiued of this his first hope (for why, he thought those poore kings would at the first either for loue or feare haue beene readie to haue done him all the seruice they could) dissembled his griefe for the present, as wholy bent against Hysmaell: fearing, that if he should by word or deed offend those neuter princes, he should haue them at his back his most assured & vndoubted enemies. Wherfore passing the mountains called SCODRISCI, he came in eight daies vnto the great mountaines called MOSCHII, which the famous riuer Euphrates with his mightie streame and hugie broken bankes seperateth from the great mountaine ANTITAVRVS, and F with perpetuall steepe ridges runneth into IB [...]RIA and CHOLCHIS, and on the East discouereth ARMENIA the greater. Here Selymus with ensignes displaied marching alongst the banke of the riuer, departed not from the same, for feare to lacke water in that hoat and drie countrey: and so held on his way directly Eastward, leauing the countrey of ARMENIA the lesse vpon his left hand, and the frontiers of the kingdome of Aladeules on the right, vntill he came to the [Page] mountaine PERTARDO. This great mountaine, famous by the rising of two great and notable G riuers out of it, is for the wonderfull fertilitie of all things, of the barbarous people called LEPRVS, which is to say, fruitfull: for Euphrates and Araxis there running out of two diuerse and contrarie marshes, with many armes, water and enrich that champaine and drie country. Selymus hauing made so great a journey, and yet not able so much as by report to vnderstand what was become of Hysmaell his great and populous armie, which he knew was but a little before departed out of CAPADOCIA; as a man in doubt, and halfe afraid, stayed and encamped his armie at the head of the riuer Euphrates: and from thence sent out his scouts euery way, if happily they could intercept some which might giue him knowledge of his enemies. But the Armenians, whether it were for feare of the comming of the Turks, or that Hysmaell their king had so commaunded, were all before fled out of that part of the countrey whereby Selymus was to passe H with his armie, and hauing forsaken their houses, had carried away with them, or els by fire destroyed whatsoeuer might serue for the vse of man.

Selymus sendeth out his scouts, who returne with bad newes.The Turkish scouts after they had by the space of two dayes scoured vp and downe the countrey, returned backe againe to Selymus, not hauing taken so much as any one man; shewing vnto him, that all things were destroyed before him, and nothing left but wide fields and a most desolate countrey, without any appearance of man or beast: and that they were of opinion, that either their Armenian guides were deceiued in the way, or els had of purpose brought them into such desert places, whereas wanting pasture for their horses, and food for men, they must needs together perish with hunger. Which their present feare was greatly encreased by the weak kings whom they had left behind them at their backes; but especially Aladeules, who either for shame I or feare had a few dayes at the first holpen the Turkes with victuals, but after they were farther entered into ARMENIA, performed nothing of that hee had before most faithfully promised: seeking therein the fauour of Hysmaell, who hee thought would with the same good fortune vanquish the Turks, that he had not long before the greatest part of the East. Selymus perplexed in mind, began now to suspect treason, to feare famine, to dread the deserts and forsaken places, and with greefe of mind to call to remembrance all that old Chendemus his faithfull counsellour had before most truly told him: for all that, he shewed himselfe vnto his souldiors with cheerfull countenance, as a man nothing dismayed: which his firme constancie seemed to promise vnto their discouraged minds good successe, with speedie victorie. Wherefore calling vnto him his guides, and such as best knew the countrey; and vnderstanding by them, that on the right hand K beyond the mountaine PERIARDO lay the most fruitfull countrey of all ARMENIA, hee rise with his armie, and compassing the hill toward the North, turned downe toward the riuer Araxes, and aboue the citie of COY passed his armie ouer the riuer, his footmen by little bridges, and his horsemen by foords:Selymus passeth [...] Araxes. for Araxes, vntill it haue receiued such riuers as fall into it out of the marishes of the PERIARDO, runneth but with a small streame, and is in some place easie to be passed ouer.

Selymus had scarcely well got ouer the riuer, and encamped his armie, when Vsta-Ogli, who hauing joyned his forces with Amurath, lying encamped not farre off; and fearing least the citie of COY and the vnprouided citisens should by the sudden comming of the enemie bee oppressed, quickly rise with his armie, and set forwards to meet with the Turkes: for that citie of all L others in that countrey, for fresh fountaines and riuers most pleasant, wherein the Persian kings for the great plentie of all manner of fruit, and wholesomenesse of the aire, leauing TAVRIS, were wont to spend most part of the Summer, had then in it many rich citizens and sumptuous buildings; which Vsta-Ogli thought good betimes to rescue, and not with dishonour to loose that rich citie, looking as it were vpon it, and leauing it vnto the enemie, to suffer him there to refresh his hunger-statued souldiors with plentie of all things. Cassinus an Armenian borne, and present in those warres, did by many probabilities (as Iouius writeth) shew vnto him, that this citie of COY was in antient time that most famous citie called ARTAXATA, which Domitius Corbulo destroyed. Neither did Hysmaell himselfe (although he had but a little before sent the greatest part of his forces against the Coraxeni, who were then risen vp against him in rebellion, as he M that made no great reckoning of the Turkes, or euer thought that they durst haue come so farre into ARMENIA) make any delay, but forthwith, as soone as he had heard of the comming of Selymus, came also in person himselfe vnto his armie.

By chance Vsta-Ogli (who contrarie to all mens expectation had vntill then shunned to fight, [Page] A or come in sight of his enemies, of purpose with lesse danger and losse of men, to ouerthrow them afterwards, being sore weakened and almost spent with long trauell and want of victuals) lay then encamped neere the citie, when as the Turkes scouts, vpon the comming of Hysmaell, perceiued by the great rising of the dust, and by the neighing of the Persian horses, that some greater power was at hand. Which so soone as it was noised in the Turkish campe, they began to rejoice exceedingly, and to conceiue the first hope both of their safetie and victorie; glad, that now meeting with their enemies, they should either by victorie turne their labour, toile, famine, and extremities wherewith they had of long time striuen, into ease and plentie of all things, or els by honourable death end all their miseries at once: for many of the horsemen, especially of them that came out of EVROPE, whose horses were starued for want of forrage, and the common B footmen spent with long trauell, & greeuously troubled with the flix (who trauelling in the extreame heat of the Sunne, had for most part liued vpon crabs and other wild fruits, with a bad supping made of meale and vineger, and almost despairing to get the sight of their enemies) began now to die in euery corner.

Hysmaell as soone as he was come within sight of his enemies,Hysmael sendeth an herauld to Selymus. reposing great confidence as well in the valour of his souldiors as in his owne rare fortune, the more to terrifie them, thought it good forthwith to giue them battaile: whereupon he sent an herauld vnto Selymus, accompanied with certaine skilfull souldiors, which should in best fort they could take view of the number and force of their enemies, of their artillerie, and in what sort they lay encamped: and to tell him, That for as much as hee had no title vnto ARMENIA, nor that the Turkes had at any time C claimed any interest therein, he could not but maruell, why he had against all right entered with his armie into his dominion: but if hee happily vpon a vaine presumption, to the imitation of Alexander of MACEDON, should thinke so much of the world his owne as hee could by the sword and his owne fortune win, hee should then make himselfe readie against the next day to make proofe of his owne fortune and the forces of others, not inferiour to his owne.

Whereunto Selymus answered,Selymus his answere vnto Hysmael. That the fresh remembrance of the manifold injuries done to the Turkes by the Persians, was such, as might giue him just cause to take vp armes: for as much as long agoe both his grandfather Mahomet the Great, and his vncle Cassumes, and euen of late his father Baiazet, and he himselfe also in his warres against his brother Achomates, had receiued great wrong and dishonour from the Persians. All which things, although they were of D themselues important, yet he esteemed not of them as sufficient causes of warre, but only sought after his enemie Amurath, his brothers sonne, who had of late spoiled CAPADOCIA: whom if he would quietly and friendly deliuer vnto him, as the mutuall lawes of amitie and friendship amongst princes for the maintenance and preseruation of their estates and kingdomes required, then hee would withdraw his forces, and peaceably returne into his kingdome: otherwise, hee threatened with fire and sword to destroy, not the frontiers of ARMENIA, but euen the heart of PERSIA. And so dismissing the herauld, both the armies for that day lay still in their trenches, expecting the dreadfull euent of battaile.

The next day Selymus by persuasion of his captaines brought his armie into the open field, and in order of battaile set forward against his enemies, which lay about two miles off, thinking E that Hysmaell, The order of Selymus his battell. a prince of so great name, would without delay accept of battaile: yet what strength the Persian king was of, what number of men he had, what manner of horsemen, how armed, and with what weapons, hee could not certainely learne: for beside that the Persians are by nature ingenious and subtill, the souldiors generally so reuerenced and loued Hysmaell their king, that no one was found to haue gone from him to the Turke; wheras many reuolted from Selymus to him, as it was afterwards learned of the Persian captiues.

Selymus, who had at that time fourescore thousand horsemen vnder his ensignes, placed Casan Bassa his lieutenant Generall of EVROPE, with his Europeian horsemen in the right wing; and Sinan Bassa with his Asian horsemen in the left: and before them both, the Acanzij (which are voluntarie horsemen, the forerunners of the Turkes armie) who in hope of spoyle follow F the Turkes warres out of all countries: in the middle battaile hee placed the Asapi or common souldiors; which base and halfe-naked people, as men of little worth or estimation, are commonly thrust into the front of the Turkes battailes, to receiue the first furie of the enemie, and to blunt their swords, more than for any other good seruice: directly behind them he bestowed his great artillerie, guarded with foure thousand horsemen: last of all followed himselfe with [Page] his chosen pentioners and Ianizaries compassed about with small field-peeces and his carriages,G as with a double trench: for hee had (as their manner is) so enuironned himselfe round with his sadled cammels, made fast one to another with long chaines, that they stood him in stead of a strong trench, from whence he might speedily relieue any part of his distressed armie; and in case of extremitie, being in the middle of his strength, he might as out of a sure fortresse represse the furious assault of his enemies. Hee also commaunded his footmen in the vauward of his battaile, that vpon the approch of the enemies horsemen they should speedily withdraw themselues aside into two parts, leauing space for the great ordinance which was placed behind them to play in the middle betweene them. On the contrarie part, Hysmaell, who by the Turkes fugitiues vnderstood all the deuises of his enemies, calling vnto him the cheefe commaunders of his armie, shewed vnto them, that there was no doubt of the victorie, so that they could shun the furie H of the great artillerie: which he assured them would easily be done, if when they saw the Turkish footmen deuide themselues, they would also in like manner withdraw themselues into two parts, and giue place to the furie of the great ordinance: for which purpose hee caused two great ensignes to be displayed, wherunto they should at the time appointed retire, the one for himselfe and those whom he conducted, the other for Vsta-Ogli, and the rest of his armie.

Hysmaell (as Iouius reporteth) had in his armie about thirtie thousand horsemen, without any footmen,Hysmaell with thirtie thousand Persians giueth battell to Selymus with three hundred thousand Turkes. amongst whom were ten thousand men at armes, resolute gentlemen, of great experience, all galiantly mounted vpon courageous barbed horses, and themselues brauely armed both for the shew and the terrour of the enemie; their weapons were a good launce, a sure scimitar, and a horsemans mace: the rest were armed with strong cuirasses and headpeeces, and I were either archers on horsebacke, or else vsed light horsemens staues, made of Ash after the Spanish fashion, wherewith they serued at the halfe staffe. As for gunnes they had none, in which thing onely, and number of men, they were inferiour to the Turkes. But such was the inuincible courage and noble minds of the Persians, that contemning the huge multitude of their enemies (who were in number about three hundred thousand) & making no great reckoning of the great artillerie, they doubted not with so few to giue them battaile.

Hysmaell hauing giuen the signall of battaile, came on with his armie, exhorting his souldiors then to remember the honour they had long before gotten in many battailes, and courageously to follow him their soueraigne, whom they by their worthie seruice and many victories, had made the greatest monarch of the East, telling them, that they should haue now to do K but with naked men, whose weapons were but weake staues and light targuets, and their horses little poore jades, almost dead with hunger, neuer able to abide the first charge of his valiant men at armes.

On the other side, Selymus perceiuing the comming of his enemies by the rising of the dust, caused knowledge to be giuen through his armie by his captaines and officers, that the time of battaile which they had so long wished for, was now come; wherein if they would worthely acquite themselues against those their proud enemies, they should to their immortall fame extend the Turkish empire from the Persian sea vnto the mountaine CAVCASVS: but if they cowardly forgetting their antient prowesse, should faint in the time of the battaile, they were not then to thinke by any meanes to escape by flight backe againe through those great plaines and L desolate countries; where they should by the way either shamefully perish, or else to their perpetuall infamie bee taken prisoners, and as base slaues, during their liues bee enforced to serue the Persian women: for as much as beside the great distance of the place, both the great riuer Euphrates, and the huge mountaine TAVRVS, and the faithlesse king Aladeules, who had shut vp all the passages, did cut off all hope from them, if they should be ouercome, by any meanes possible to escape backe againe into CAPADOCIA.

The great and mortall battaile between Selymus and Hysmaell.When Hysmaell was come neere with his armie, and the Asapi vpon signe giuen deuiding themselues, made place for the great artillerie to play, as was before appointed; hee also presently deuiding his horsemen, charged the right wing of the Turkes armie, with such force, that after a most terrible fight betwixt the halfe armed Turkes, and the valiant Persian men at armes, Casan M Bassa the great commaunder of the Europeian horsemen, with the formost of that wing, being slaine, and many moe after them, hee enforced all that wing to retire vnto that place where Selymus himselfe with the Ianizaries stood. On the other side, Vsta-Ogli hauing receiued no little harme by the Turkes great ordinance, because he had not so speedily cleered himselfe and his [Page] followers of that danger, as had Hysmaell; charged the Asian horsemen in the left wing, and there in bloudie battell made great slaughter of the enemie, but not with like good hap as did Hysmaell for whiles he most couragiously in the formost rankes assailed his enemies, he was strucke with a small shot and slaine.Vsta-ogli slain [...]. With whose fall the Turkes were greatly encouraged, insomuch as that they which but now were glad to giue ground, and had lost the third part of that wing, began a fresh to renew the battell, and valiantly to withstand the Persians; and with their harquebusiers (wherwith the Persian horsemen were wonderfully terrified) draue them headlong vpon the Turkes common footmen. The Persians whether it were forced by necessitie for that they had lost so great a commaunder, and not well able to gouerne their horses terrified with the thundring shot, or else for that the open side of the footmen presented vnto them greater place of aduantage, serring themselues togither brake through the middle of the battell of those Turkish footmen, and bearing them downe before them with a mightie slaughter, came to the great ordinance and there slew the canoniers, who discharging their field pieces at all aduentures, in that great medly made a foule slaughter, as well of their owne men as of their enemies. And so without stop (as victorious conquerours) made way through the middest of their enemies, vntill they came to the right wing: where Hysmaell was still hardly charging the Europeian horsemen, who hauing before lost Casan their Generall, and being many of them slaine or wounded, were alreadie enforced to retire; but now charged afresh vpon the side, had much adoe to endure the furie of their enemies, but as men in extreame danger, were glad to crie to Selymus for helpe.

C In this hard distresse, Selymus in two places opened his carriages, wherewith he stood as it were entrenched, and presently sent out part of his horsemen. And by and by turning himselfe vnto his Ianizaries, said, This daies victorie is reserued (most worthie souldiours) vnto your valour and labour: wherfore now valiantly set forward, and as fresh and couragious men, assaile your wearied enemies; their horses are all on a water with sweat, and the men themselues faint vnder the waight of their armour. But yet for all that Selymus could say, the Ianizaries were not verie forward, but stood still, as men willing in so great a danger to keepe themselues within the safegard of their munition. Wherefore whilest they at their leisure set forward, the Persians in the middest of the heat of this victorie, compassing in the Europeian horsemen, slew them downe right, Selymus looking on and wishing in vaine to helpe them. Fabritius Carrectus great master of the D RHODES, who of all these things had certaine intelligence, writ to Leo the Tenth then bishop of ROME, that the Ianizaries refused to be commaunded by Selymus, and were not by any persuasion or entreatie to be enduced to relieue the distressed Europeian horsemen; but as men distrusting the euent of the battell, chose rather in their strength to expect the successe thereof, than with most manifest danger to expose themselues vnto the violence of the Persian horsemen, which had as a tempest ouerborne the vantguard of the Turkish footmen.

The Persians were now readie on euerie side to haue assailed Selymus in his greatest strength: when Sinan Bassa, although the wing he led was sore rent and weakned, yet following the Persians through the middest of the heaps of the slaine footmen, came in, in good time for Selymus, and with certaine fresh troups which had escaped the furie of Vsta-ogli, restored the battell before E almost lost: but especially by the inuincible courage of Alis-beg and Mahomet his brother, discended of the honourable familie of the Molcozzy, which for nobilitie amongst the Turkes is accounted next vnto the Othomans; both of them for courage resembling their warlike father Malcozzius, famous for that wofull expedition he made into FRIVLI against the Venetians in the raigne of Baiazet. Selymus also not yet discouraged but still in hope, commaunded all the great ordinance wherewith he was enuironed, which he had reserued as his last refuge, to be discharged: by the violence whereof, such slaughter was made, as well of his owne men as of his enemies, mingled togither, that what for dust, what for smoake, and thundring of the artillerie, hauing on both sides almost lost the vse of sight and hearing;The terrour of the battell betweene Selymus and Hysmaell. and their horses being so terrified with the thundring report of the great ordinance, that they were not now to be ruled, the battell F was broken off, the victorie yet doubtfull. The Turkish histories to expresse the terrour of this day, number it amongst their dismall daies, tearming it The onely day of Doome.

Hysmaell in this furious battell, hauing receiued a wound vnder his left shoulder with a small shot; by persuasion of his friends withdrew himselfe to haue his wound searched: which thing vndoubtedly was the safegard both of Selymus and his army. For the Persians by and by following [Page] their king, left the victorie now in all mens opinion almost gotten. But after that Hysmaell G perceiued the wound was not deepe, for that the strength of his armour had so broken the force of the shot, that it pierced not farre into his bodie, he was about to haue charged the Turks afresh: but vnderstanding of the death of Vsta-ogli, in whom for his singular experience in martiall affaires, he had reposed his greatest confidence; and his captaines also persuading him not to make so light reckoning of his wound, the griefe whereof he yet felt not, being warme, but to haue regard to his owne health: he in seemly order softly marched away in such sort, that his departure had no resemblance of flight. And passing by the citie of TAVRIS, willed the chiefe of the citisens to open the gates of the citie to Selymus (if he should come thither) and to receiue his garrisons, rather than by vaine constancie to fall into vtter destruction: and so marched himselfe into the confines of MEDIA.H

But the Turkes entangled with many difficulties, hauing no hearts for feare, nor strength for wearinesse to pursue their enemies; yet comming to the Persian tents, tooke them without resistance: where beside the rich pauilions wrought with needle worke of silke and gold,The Persian tents taken by the Turkes. and much other pretious furniture, many noble ladies and gentlewomen were found, which after the manner of the Persians had followed their husbands in those warres; whom Selymus caused to be all freely set at libertie vntouched, excepting one of the wiues of Hysmaell whom he detained and gaue her in mariage to one of his Bassaes. Some which were present at this battell, reported that amongst the heaps of them which were slaine, were found the dead bodies of diuers Persian women, which being armed, and following their husbands, died with them in the battell; whom Selymus caused to be honestly buried.I

This was that notable battell fought in the CALDERAN fields neere vnto the citie of Cor, betwixt these two great princes, the seauenth day of August in the yeare of our Lord 1514. In which battell Selymus lost aboue thirtie thousand men, amongst whom was Casan Bassa his great lieutenant in EVROPE, seauen Sanzackes, in which were the two Malcozzian brethren, who labouring the one to rescue the other were both togither slaine. Beside his common footmen of whom he made least reckoning, he lost most part of his Illirian, Macedonian, Seruian, Epirot, Thessalian, and Thracian horsemen, the vndoubted flower and strength of his army, which were in that mortall battell almost all slaine, or grieuously wounded.

Selymus for all this great losse, by the confession of his enemies hauing gotten the victorie, and receiuing embassadours from COY and the cities thereabout, and the great citie of TAVRIS K promising to relieue him with whatsoeuer he needed, and to doe what else he should commaund: marched directly to TAVRIS, desiring both to see and possesse himselfe of that citie, as one of the chiefe pallaces of the Persian kings. This citie is two daies journey distant from COY where the battell was fought, and is probably supposed to be the famous citie called in auntient time ECBATHANA, about an hundred and fiftie miles distant from the Caspian sea. The citisens were readie at the comming of the Turkes, and brought them great store of victuals out of the gates of the citie, where Selymus had lodged his armie in the suburbs, thinking it no safetie to lodge within that great and populous citie; contenting himselfe to haue the gates thereof deliuered vnto him, which he kept with strong guard. Some report that Selymus durst not trust the Persians, and therefore neuer went into the citie but disguised in the habit of a common souldiour.L Yet some others say, that he did with great magnificence banquet in the stately pallace of the Persian king, and there had great discourse with them of TAVRIS concerning his late victorie. But whilest he thus staied at TAVRIS, and with himselfe purposed to spend that winter in ARMENIA; he called togither his great captaines and commaunders of his armie, to know how they liked thereof: who fearing his displeasure, wholy referred themselues to his owne resolution. Onely Mustapha his chiefe Bassa chanced to say, That it were good that the minds of the Ianizaries and the other souldiours of the court should therein be knowne. Which his speech, Selymus tooke in such euill part, that he presently commanded him out of his sight, and depriued him of his greatest honour: and the more to disgrace him, sent one of his jesters after him, who in great scorne and derision comming behind him, cut off part of his tulipant that hung downe M as the fashion was. But the Ianizaries vnderstanding the matter, and much offended with the indignitie offered vnto the great Bassa whom they deerely loued,The Ianizaries in mutinie aga [...]t Selymus. rise vp altogither in armes, and told Selymus flatly, That they would not in any case winter so far from home in the enemies countrey: and therefore that it were best for him betime to consider of the matter, for that they [Page] were resolutely set downe to forsake him if he would needs stay, and not with speed returne. Selymus much troubled with this insolencie of the Ianizaries, and hearing dayly, that Hysmaell with new supplies out of IBERIA, ALBANIA, and PARTHIA, was comming vpon him with greater power than before; and considering withall, with what difficultie and danger hee had escaped in the late battaile, preserued rather by his good fortune and force of his great artillerie, than the valour and prowesse of his souldiours; and withall suspecting the multitude and strength of the Taurisians, of whose fidelitie he could make no reckoning; he changed his former determination, and resolued to returne againe into CAPADOCIA: whereupon hauing contrarie to his promise exacted a great masse of money from them of TAVRIS, hee departed thence, carrying away with him three thousand families, the best artificers in that citie, especially such as were skillfull in making of armour and weapons, and so with speed retired towards the riuer Euphrates, a longer way than that whereby he came: fearing to returne againe by the head of Araxis and the mountaines PERIADES, for meeting the Iberian and Albanian horsemen, who were reported to be then comming against him.

Hysmaell vnderstanding of his departure, followed after with as much speed as he could, leauing behind him for hast his carriages and such of his souldiours as were not able to endure so long and speedie a march: yet for all his hast (for so much as Selymus was gone a great way before him) he could not ouertake any part of his armie, vntill he was come to the great riuer Euphrates; where Selymus staying two dayes, and hauing made diuers little boats, was passing ouer his footmen: which because they were not sufficient for the speedie transportation of so great a multitude, many for hast swam ouer the riuer vpon bladders, and some aduentured to get ouer vpon the broken peeces of their carriages, which they had for that purpose burst in sunder. Selymus himselfe got ouer to the farther banke in a little boat, hauing before caused all his horsemen with their horses at once to take the riuer, of purpose to breake the violence of the streame, whereby his footmen and cammels with their burdens got ouer with lesse danger, and some of his field peeces were also with lesse difficultie transported.Selymus in passing the riuer Euphrates, receiueth great losse. Yet for all the speed he could make, the Georgian horsemen, the forerunners of Hysmaell his armie, being come within sight before the Turkes were all got ouer, raised such a feare and a stirre all alongst that side of the riuer, that two thousand of the Turkes were in their hastie passage there drowned, diuers field peeces left sticking in the mud, and much of their baggage carried away with the force of the riuer. The Georgians contenting themselues with such things as were left, pursued them no further: for the wheeles of the Turkes carriages entangled together with the violence of the streame, had staied a great part of the Turkish trash, floating in the riuer: and much more was in diuers places driuen vpon the shore, all which the Georgian horsemen easily drew out. Hysmaell in the meane time rejoycing at nothing more, than that hauing chased away his enemies, hee had also recouered much of the great ordinance whereby he had before receiued so great hurt.

Selymus by speedie flight thus got out of the hands of the Persians, found his passing much more dangerous at the mountaine ANTITAVRVS, than he had before thought of: For Aladeules the mountaine king hauing now his fortune in contempt, and diligently waiting for his prey, had with his sauage people before taken all the straight passages of that mountaine countrey; who euery night in theeuish manner assailed the Turks, as they with their weake and wearie companies passed through those rough and broken wayes: and robbing their carriages, presently fled into their haunts and places of refuge in the thicke woods and rockie mountaines. Aladeules himselfe in the meane time, by whose fraud all this was done, euery day excusing himselfe, as if it had beene done against his will, by the rude mountaine people enured to such desperate robberies, whom neuerthelesse he said he would in short time seuerely chastise so soon as he could find the authors thereof. In the meane while, for fashion sake sending a little spare prouision for certaine dayes, did euery night rob and spoile the Turkes by his souldiours, as they could take them in places of aduauntage. Against which mischeefes Selymus could neither by policie, neither his souldiors by industrie prouide any sufficient remedie. Wherfore dissembling the injuries he dayly receiued, purposing to be thereof in time reuenged, together with the foule and trecherous dealing of that faithlesse king; holding on his way, he with much adoe came at length to TRAPEZOND,Selymus c [...] meth to Am [...] sia. and from thence to AMASIA, where he spent that Winter in repairing his sore weakened armie, purposing with the first of the Spring to make warre vpon Aladeules and the mountaine people, who in his returne had done him so great harme and injurie.

[Page]In this sort Iouius, one of the great historiographers of that time, reporteth the aforesaid wars G betwixt Hysmael and Selymus, whose credit in that matter other writers haue since for most part followed. Howbeit, Io. Ant. Maenauinus, a Genoway, who serued in these warres, doth in his booke concerning the Turkish affaires, dedicated to the French king, much otherwise report the same: which to satisfie the desirous reader, I haue thought good here in few words to set down, as it is by himselfe reported.

The former historie as it is reported by Io. Ant. Maenauinus a Genoway, present at the doing thereof. Selymus (saith he) with his armie in number about three hundred thousand men, being come to the riuer Euphrates, found the bridge broken downe by his nephew▪ Amurat, and his enemies encamped in conuenient place on the farther side of the riuer, with their forces greatly encreased by new supplies lately sent from the Persian king: so that there was then in the Persian armie about ninetie thousand men horse and foot, the horsemen for most part furnished with two horses apeece for seruice: and though Selymus did what hee might, to know whether the Persian king were in person himselfe in the campe, or els (which hee most feared) was raising of greater forces in PERSIA, yet could he by no meanes learne the truth of that he desired. Wherfore repairing againe the broken bridge, he first sent ouer his two great lieutenants of GRaeCIA and NATOLIA, who passing ouer the riuer, encamped themselues as they thought conuenient. The next morning, about two houres before the rising of the Sunne, Amurat suddenly assailed the great commander of GRaeCIA, Casan Bassa, in his trenches, and by plaine force discomf [...]ted the Turkes, and by good fortune tooke from them their tents: whereupon such a terrour and feare came vpon the other great commaunder of NATOLIA, that his souldiors thrusting themselues for feare into the riuer, swam ouer with great danger, and againe joyned themselues with I the rest of the armie. Selymus troubled with the great losse thus receiued, caused all his great artillerie to be placed all alongst the hithermost banke of the riuer Euphrates; and because the enemie should not perceiue the same, raunged certaine companies of his souldiors before the ordinance, as if they should presently haue passed the riuer: who vpon signall giuen, should forthwith withdraw themselues and giue place to the great ordinance bent vpon the enemie. But when fire was giuen to these great pieces, many of them being ouercharged, burst in sunder, and slew diuers of the Turkes: many also of their horses and mules being neere vnto the riuers side, and terrified with the thundering shot, leapt into the riuer, and were there drowned together with their riders. The Persians also hauing receiued great losse, retired farther off for feare of the great artillerie. So Selymus without resistance passing ouer the riuer, marched forthwith toward K the enemie: whom the Persians as men nothing dismaied, notably encountered. The battell was of long time doubtfull, and much bloud shed on both sides: and if the approch of the night had not broken off that mortall fight, the Persian armie rather ouercharged with the multitude of the enemie, than vanquished by valour, had vndoubtedly receiued a great ouerthrow; but through the benefit of the night, they without further losse escaped the pursute of the Turkes. Vpon this victorie, Selymus left his carriages and baggage with his footmen; and taking with him only his horsemen, set forward, with intention to haue vpon the suddaine surprised the regall citie of TAVRIS, before the fame of the late fought battaile could be carried thither; the Persians in the meane time being no lesse carefull of their affaires. The day before, ten thousand fresh horsemen well appointed, which had not yet beene in the battaile, were comming to Hysmaell:L these he craftely laied in the Turkes way, commaunding them vpon the approch of the enemie to flie, as if it had beene for feare. Selymus in the morning hauing descried these horsemen at hand, supposing them to be such of his enemies as being ouertaken with the night were not able to follow the rest of his armie, exhorted his souldiors couragiously to pursue their discouraged enemies.

The Persians seeing the Turks, of purpose betooke themselues to flight; and they suspecting no deceit, followed fast after them, vntill that about mid day being wearie of the pursute, and comming to a little riuer which was in their way, they there stayed to refresh themselues: and after they had taken a short repast, againe pursued the Persians, still leauing behind them such as were not able so fast to follow, prickt forward with hope, that before night they should surprise M and ransacke the rich citie of TAVRIS. The Turkish horsemen thus drawne farre from the footmen, the Persian horsemen left in ambush, in the meane time set vpon the Turkes footmen, lying (as they supposed) in great securitie, and with a great slaughter ouerthrew them: at which time they also tooke all Selymus his treasure and great artillerie. Which ouerthrow was by [Page] speedie posts, about two a clocke in the night made knowne to Selymus (who now in his mind alreadie conceiued the sacking of TAVRIS) and withall, that the fierce enemie was following him at the heeles. Selymus wonderfully abashed with this vnexpected newes and the losse of his footmen, forthwith began to retire: which the ten thousand Persians which had before of purpose fled, perceiuing, now turning themselues vpon the retiring Turks, charged them hardly: so Selymus enclosed both before and behind by his enemies, receiued a great ouerthrow. And the Turks thus hardly beset and almost despairing of their liues, and hauing lost their ensignes, brake out side waies betwixt their enemies and fled. Selymus seeing all desperat and forlorne, betooke himselfe to flight also with the rest: and passing the riuer Euphrates, brake downe the bridge which he had but a little before repaired, for feare the Persians should further pursue him; and with much trouble and no lesse danger comming at length to AMASIA, assembled thither the reliques of his discomfited armie. Such of the Turkes as remained behind, and were not able in flight to keepe way with the rest, were all slaine by the Persians.

The Genoway authour thus concludeth his historie, That the Persian king did not more rejoyce at this victorie, than did he himselfe for the ouerthrow of the Turkes; hoping in that their so great a confusion, to free himselfe of his long and miserable thraldome, and to find a way vnto his natiue country and parents: as afterwards he did, for flying first to TRAPEZONDE and there taking passage into EVROPE, he came to HADRIANOPLE, from whence he trauelled by land on foot to SALONICA, & there chancing vpon certain ships of Christian merchants which had brought corne thither, he was by them transported into the island of CHIOS; from whence C he joyfully returned to GENVA his natiue cōuntrey, after he had amongst the Turks endured ten yeares captiuitie: most part wherof he liued as a page in old Baiazet his priuie chamber, and the rest as a souldiour of the court in the raigne of Selymus; and therefore well acquainted with the fashion of the Turkes court, and manners of that barbarous nation.

Now shall it not (as I hope) be much from our purpose, here with Iouius a little to digresse, in comparing these two great princes Hysmaell and Selymus togither; who in that time had filled the world with the glorie of their fame: that wearied with bloudie broiles, and the wonderfull chances of warre, we may a little repose our selues with matter of a milder vaine, neither vnpleasant nor vnprofitable.

These two mightie princes,Selymus and Hysmaell compared togither. as they were for royall discent, strength of bodie, courage of mind, riches, and power, equall, and had thereby obtained like fame and renowne: so in conditions and qualities of mind, and martiall discipline, they much differed. First of all (beside the mutuall hatred of the one nation against the other, deliuered as it were by succession from their grandfathers and fathers) these two princes, and so likewise their subjects also, were at great ods about an idle question of their vaine superstition, the one preferring and honoring Ebubekir, Homaris, and Ottoman, as the most true and rightfull successours of their great prophet Mahomet: the other with no lesse deuotion honouring Haly, and detesting the three former; differing otherwise in few or no points of their most fond superstition: yet did they vnder the colour and zeale of their religion (as they would haue it) both pretend just causes of warre, although their euill dissembled ambitious desires, plainly declared vnto the world, that they both shot at one and the same marke, viz. By confirming their power and strength to extend the bounds of their great empires. For Hysmaell of purpose affected the fame and glorie of Darius and Xerxes, the auntient Persian kings; who hauing subdued ASIA, with great boldnesse passed ouer into EVROPE: and Selymus, the greatnesse of Alexander of MACEDON, who subuerted the Persian empire. Which their aspiring thoughts, masking vnder the vaile of zeale towards their religion, seemed not altogither vaine; fortune with like indifferenceie immoderately fauouring their bold ambitious and endlesse desires.Hysmaell maiesticall. But in Hysmaell appeared such a wonderfull deuotion and grauitie, that his hautie thoughts were with the reuerend majestie therof couered: whereas in Selymus, his inhumane crueltie did blot and obscure all his other princely vertues: for he with reward and punishment retained the majestie of his empire, but with greater fame of seueritie than bountie. Because it was expedient in the exact discipline of that seruile gouernment, whereof the greatest strength of the Othoman empire consisteth, to vse all rigor and seueritie: Otherwise then it stood with the state of Hysmaell, who leuied alwaies his armies of his nobilitie and men free borne, with whom temperat justice, ciuile courtesie, and popular clemencie, are of greatest force, to win their fidelitie, faith, and loyaltie: for that there is no man well born, which feareth not more the [Page] blemish of infamie than the heauinesse of punishment: so that it was not to be maruelled, if Hysmaell G by such honourable vertues did mightily defend the glorie of his majestie and renowme. Vnto these his rare vertues, was also joyned a comelinesse of face (the fairest gift of nature) well beseeming so great a monarch: for he was well coloured, quicke eyed, yellow bearded, and that which amongst the Persians is accounted the signe of auntient nobilitie, hooked nosed; and was withall exceeding eloquent: By which good gifts, he wonderfully woon vnto himselfe both t [...]e eyes and hearts of such as beheld him.Selymus tyrannicall. But in Selymus his sterne countenance, his fierce and pi [...] cing eies, his Tartar-like pale colour, his long mustachoes on his vpper lip, like bristles, frild back to his necke, with his beard cut close to his chin, did so expresse his martiall disposition and inexorable nature, that he seemed to the beholders, to haue nothing in him but mischiefe and crueltie. Which diuersitie of countenances was also accompanied with no lesse diuersitie of affections,H and so consequently with farre vnlike manner of gouernment.H [...]smaell courteou [...]. For Hysmaell was of nature courteous and affable, easie to be seene and spoken withall, doing nothing that beseemed hi [...] regall function, but in the sight of all men: His manner was to dine openly in the companie of his nobilitie, delighting much in hauking and hunting, accompanied with his noble men, and the embassadours of forraine princes: He would oftentimes run, leape, and proue masteries with his chiefe courtiers, being himselfe a most excellent horseman and cunning archer: In his exercises he was so popular, that he would not sticke openly to bare himselfe and swim in his princely bathes: His wiues, the beautifull daughters of his nobilitie or neighbour princes, ladies of gre [...] chastitie, he neither loathed nor diuorced; after the auntient manner of the Persian kings, who alwaies vsed most tenderly to loue and cherish their wiues, doing them all the honour possible I in court, as partakers of all their fortune; and carried them, their children, nurses, and richest furniture into their farthest warres, to their great trouble and charge, by the presence of so deere pledges the more to encourage their minds in time of battell.Selymus Chu [...] lish. Whereas Selymus contrariwise did all things in secret, eating his meat alone without any company, attended vpon with his pages and eunuches onely, and satisfying natures want with some one simple dish of meat: Hee seldome went abroad but to the church, vpon the friday the Turkes chiefe Saboth; and then so beset with his pentioners and other souldiours of the court, that although he vsed to ride alone mounted vpon some couragious horse, yet was it a hard matter by face to know him amongst so many armed men, who with great pride and insolencie kept backe the beholders: He was seldome seene abroad in the citie, chusing rather for his recreation to passe ouer in his gallie into K ASIA, and there alongst the sea coast to take the ayre: His wiues he would not suffer to come to court, neither vsed their companie but for procreation sake, and that (as was thought) without any great good countenance or familiaritie; for that he being not greatly giuen to women, but more delighted with vnnaturall pleasure, thought a mans bodie and mind to be not a little weakned with the allurements of women; wherefore hee seldome resorted to the cloister of choise paragons in the middest of CONSTANTINOPLE, shut in on euerie side with high and blind wals. Those daintie pieces, either taken from their Christian parents, or by chance surprised by pirats, are there most curiously kept by auntient matrons and old eunuches, by whom they are with all diligence instructed in the principles of the Mahometane law, and to read the Arabian tongue, and withall, cunningly and comely to sing, play, daunce, and sow: But Selymus of all L others vsed seldomest to see these allurements, as a man not greatly delighted with women, or desirous of many (and oftentimes vnfortunat) children; hauing but one sonne (Solyman) by the daughter of Muhamet a Tartar king, who afterwards by the sufferance of God, prooued a great plague to the Christian common weale. Such spare time as he had from his serious and waightie affaires, hee vsed to spend in walking in his gardens with some of his Bassaes or other great courtiers; and in beholding & noting the noble mens children there sporting themselues, would discourse and consult of many things of great importance. Some houres he would spend in the bathes, and in reading the histories of his auncestors and other forraine princes: imitating therin his grandfather Mahomet the Great, who caused almost all the histories of the famous princes of the world to be translated into the Turkish language, and their liuely counterfeits to be with M cunning hand drawn, that by their worthy examples he might be the more enflamed to extend his fame and glorie. He would many times scoffe at the great businesse of his father Baiazet, who (as he said) was so drowned in the studie of Auerrois (determining nothing certainly of the nature of the soule) and the motions of the heauens, that he desired rather the name of a sharpe [Page] disputer amongst the idle professours of Philosophie, than of a renowned cheefetaine amongst his valiant souldiors and men of warre.

One of the Persian embassadours finding him pleasantly disposed, demaunded of him why he did not weare his beard long, as his father Baiazet and other great princes of that age had done, thereby to seeme vnto their subjects of greater majestie: to whom he answered, That hee liked not to carrie about with him such an vnnecessarie handfull, whereby his Bassaes might at their pleasure lead him vp and downe the court, as they had done his father: Noting thereby, that Baiazet whilest he yet liued, had beene too much ouerruled by the Bassaes; which he could by no meanes endure, following no mans aduise but his owne in whatsoeuer he tooke in hand.

But to come vnto the Persians themselues, they in their warres had great disaduantage of the Turkes: for as they were strong in horsemen, so were they destitute of expert trained footmen, by whose onely meanes the Turkes haue atchieued their greatest victories, and performed their greatest warres. Beside this, it was a great want in the Persians, that they had not the vse of guns, against whose furie no sufficient resistance can bee made, or force of man opposed: as appeared by the lamentable example of Vsun-Cassanes at ARSENGA, and now of Hysmaell in the Calderan fields; whose victorious armies of horsemen were in both places put to the worse by the terrour and violence of the Turkes artillerie.The Persians better horsemen than the Turk [...]. For the naked Turkish horseman is not to be compared with the Persian man at armes; who comes into the field armed with a strong cuiras, a sure headpeece, and a good targuet: whereas the Turkish Europeian horsemen, altogether naked, vse onely a square or crooked buckler, wherewith they doe scarcely couer themselues: and the C Asian horsemen, bucklers made of soft reeds, wound round, and couered with some kind of silke. The Persian horsemen also, wearing their pouldrons and gauntlets, and bearing staues of good ash, armed at both ends, fight with them as occasion serueth at the halfe staffe, after the manner of the Numidians, and with doubling and redoubling their often thrusts from on high, doe easily wound or kill the vnarmed Turkes; with their horses: whereas the Turkish horsemen, after the manner of the Graecians, couching their staues in their rests, doe at the first course most commonly breake the same, being made of light and brittle firre, and so presently come to their scimitars, or horsemens maces, being in all other things farre inferiour to the Persian man at armes. As for the Turkish archers on horsebacke, they are in no respect to be compared with the Persians; who well mounted and surely armed, and vsing both greater and stronger bowes, shoot more deadly arrowes, and so make small account of the Turks. So that all things well considered, the Persian armie, deuoted to their king as well for the great and firme opinion conceiued of his high courage and diuine spirit, as for that they were to him by faith obliged; although it was in number farre inferiour, yet had it beene of the Turkes inuincible, if it had not beene ouerwhelmed by the cruell,The cause why Hysmaell came with so small an armie against Selymus. cowardly, and murthering artillerie and wonderfull multitude of men. The cause why Hysmaell out of so many great and large prouinces then vnder his obeisance (able in antient times with their multitude to couer the face of the earth, and to drinke the riuers drie) brought now so small an armie against the Turkish emperour, breaking into the heart of ARMENIA, was for that Hysmaell to win the hearts of the people by bountie, had remitted a great part of his customes and tributes, so as then stood best with his policie, hauing but lately aspired vnto the kingdome, and thrust downe his neere kinsmen, the posteritie of Vsun-Cassan and Iacup, the rightfull inheritours thereof: so that his cofers being emptie, and wanting money, the sinews of warre, he was not able to raise so great an armie as otherwise he might out of those populous kingdomes and countries, yeelding plentifully all things necessarie for the vse of man. Whereas with Selymus it was farre otherwise: whose horsemen, footmen, captaines, canoniers, both at sea and land, officers of peace and warres, receiued their dayly wages and monthly payes in readie money, of his treasurers and paymasters: for defraying of which charge hee neuer wanted coyne, hauing an inestimable masse of money alwayes in store in the seuen towers at CONSTANTINOPLE: and his yearely tributes and reuenewes still exceeding all his charges by a fourth part. The strength of the Persian king consisted in three kind of souldiours: the first were they which were accounted soldiors of the court: the second such as were by custome and dutie bound to serue him in his warres: and the third such as were sent vnto him from the princes his neighbours and confederates. Those which were accounted souldiors of his court, had their certaine stipends, and were altogether maintained of the kings charge; of whom according to the old custome of the Persian kings, they at certaine times receiue armour, horses, apparrell, tents, [Page] and wages, euery one as he is in place and degree. And being attended vpon with a gallant and G strong garrison of these, he maintaineth the majestie of his court, especially when hee rideth in prograce. The nobilitie and antient gentlemen of his countrey, who hold lands and possessions discended vnto them from their ancestors, or holden by the gift of the king, are sent for in time of warres, and are of dutie bound to performe such like seruice as the nobilitie and gentlemen of ITALIE, FRAVNCE, and SPAINE doe vnto their soueraigns: these hardly amount to the number of twentie thousand, whereof it is well if the third part come well armed; the rest content themselues with headpieces and jackes, and vse for their weapons either horsemens staues or bowes, which they can most cunningly handle, discharging their arrowes very neere vnto that they aime at, either forward or backward. They which come vnto him from forraine princes, confederat or tributarie, are commonly sent from the kings and princes of IBERIA, ALBANIA, and the countries bordering vpon MEDIA and ARMENIA; who being halfe Christians, beare a mortall hatred against the Turkes. Hysmaell the Persian king had then vnder his dominion these great and famous countries,The countries sub [...]ect to Hysmaell. ARMENIA the greater, SVLTHANIA, PERSIA, ASSYRIA, MESOPOTAMIA, MEDIA, and PARTHIA: whereof ARMENIA is the chiefest, famous for the great citie TAVRIS, called in auntient time ECBATHANA: this countrey yeeldeth vnto the Persian king his best footmen; but his choice horsemen come from out of PERSIA, and especially from SCYRAS, called of old CYRIPOLIS: next vnto them are from ASSYRIA, the cheefe citie whereof is BAGADAT, called in auntient time BABYLON. The Medes and Parthians are of all others accounted the best archers next vnto the Scythians.

1515But now to returne againe from whence wee haue a little too farre stayed. Selymus after his great expedition against Hysmaell, wintering at AMASIA, by his lieutenants and captaines in EVROPE and ASIA,Selymus with a new armie en [...]eth into Armenia. raised such a power, that with the first of the Spring he entred againe into the confines of the Persian kingdome, with a greater armie than before, and that somewhat sooner than the extreame cold of that part of ARMENIA (subject to the snowie mountaine TAVRVS) would either well suffer, or that the enemie thought it had been possible for him to haue so done. There was vpon the further side of the riuer Euphrates a strong towne called CIAMASSVM, situate a little aboue that place where the riuer Melas (much celebrated by the Grecian Poets) falleth into the riuer Euphrates: which towne for the commodious situation thereof, standing vpon the first entrance of the passage into ARMENIA the great, the Persians had furnished with a strong garrison: this towne Selymus thought good in any case to be master of, by taking whereof, and of some other holds thereabout, he should open a faire way for himselfe into his enemies countrey. Hysmael at the same time was gone with all his power against the Hyrcanians, Bactrians, and other sauage people dwelling neere vnto the Caspian sea, then vp in arms against him: which wished opportunitie Selymus taking, and making a bridge ouer the riuer Euphrates, passed ouer with his armie, came before the towne, and laied hard siege to the same before his enemies were well aware of his comming. The Turkes at their first approch compassing the citie round with their huge multitude of harquebusiers and archers, draue the defendants from the wals; and still without rest or intermission bringing on fresh men, as Selymus had before taken order, and others at the same time breaking open the gates, and in diuers places scaling the wals, enforced the defendants to forsake their standings, and to retire themselues into the L market place; where although they were before sore spent with labour and wounds, yet did they there with wonderfull courage a great while notably withstand the multitude of their enemies still swarming in, and in defence of their countrey, like resolute men, fought it out vnto the last man.

Selymus hauing taken and ransacked CIAMASSVM, with two other small castles which the defendants had for feare before abandoned, although he was with a deadly hatred and ambitious desire prickt forward against Hysmaell, and thirsted after nothing more than the subuersion of the Persian kingdome: yet he thought it not good further to enter into ARMENIA, before he had out of those forrests and mountaines chased the mountaine king Aladeules, who but the yeare before had most trecherously done him and his armie so many injuries in his returne from M the Persian expedition. For Aladeules not without cause fearing his owne estate, as soone as he vnderstood that Selymus had againe taken the field, and that he was come to the riuer Euphrates, and so to CIAMASSVM, speedily assembling his forces, had in short time raised a great armie for the defence of himselfe and his kingdome: purposing that if Selymus should goe farther [Page] into ARMENIA, then after his wonted manner to looke on as a beholder, and by the euent of the warre to take occasion of prey, and by shutting vp the passages of his countrey, at his pleasure to rob and spoile the Turkes in their returne. Wherefore Selymus leauing a garrison at CIAMASSVM, retired backe againe ouer the riuer Euphrates vnto the mountaine ANTITAVRVS, where it was reported that his enemies lay.

This Aladeules (as is aforesaid) ruled ouer the rude and sauage mountaine people, inhabiting the great mountaines TAVRVS and ANTITAVRVS:Aladeule [...] hi [...] kingdome. which mountaines as it were linked together one to another, run from the mountaines called SCODRISCI, and the borders of CAPADOCIA, with a perpetuall rising, through many large prouinces and countries vnto the great mountaine AMA [...]VS, and vttermost bounds of CILICIA. The people of this countrey were by nature fierce and warlike, more famous for nothing, than for the want of all thing; who as men dwelling in a rough and bare countrey, could little or nothing profit by husbandrie: yet in such places as would beare any pasture, they had their breed of horses and cammels, and did with all diligence vse grasing; but the greatest part of their liuing consisted in hunting and stealing. These are supposed to haue had their beginning from the Galatians, Capadocians, Armenians, and the old inhabitants of ASIA the lesse, which by long and continuall wars in former ages, and especially by the lamentable irruption of the Scythians, were enforced to forsake their cities and dwellings, and for safegard of their liues to flie into those rough and desolate mountaines. These distressed people searching euery hill and euery da [...]e, and following the opportunitie of the riuers and fountaines, but especially the mildest temperature of the aire, and fauourable C aspect of the Sunne, built in many places poore countrey villages, and afterwards diuers faire townes: where in processe of time they growing to better estate, there rise vp some amongst them, which ouerruling the rest, ambitiously tooke vpon them the name of kings; desiring to be had in regard, and to bee feared of their neighbours, although they commaunded but ouer rough woods and ragged rockes. Neere vnto the confines of Aladeules kingdome is the citie O [...]PHA, which many suppose to haue been the famous citie EDESSA, because that as yet there remaineth certaine monuments of Baldwin in Latine letters; who after his brother Godfrey was possessed of HIERVSALEM, is reported to haue taken EDESSA, and there raigned. Not farre from thence is also the antient citie AMYDA, which at this day is called CARAMIDA, joyning vpon MESOPOTAMIA: which countrey lying betweene the two great riuers Euphrates and D Tigris, is now called DIAREECHA. The cheefe citie of Aladeules kingdome was MARAS, so called as may bee thought of the faire riuer Marsias running through it out of the mountaine CaeLENE, taking the name of Marsias, ouercome by Apollo, and made famous by the verses of many learned Poets. But Aladeules, after he saw that Selymus with his armie was entered into the frontiers of his kingdome, and drawing neere vnto him, brought downe all his horsemen, in number about fifteene thousand, from the mountaines into a faire large valley; commaunding his footmen, whereof hee had great store, to keepe the mountaines on the right hand and the left: where hauing the high rockie mountains and strait passages, much for his aduantage, he determined in that place which he had long before chosen and fortified, to expect the comming of his enemies. Selymus considering the disaduantage of the place, although hee perceiued the victorie could not without great losse of his men be obtained; and before persuaded that his enemies would neuer haue willingly been drawne to battaile: yet made no doubt to aduenture his fortune, presuming vpon the multitude and strength of his armie. Wherefore he commaunded Sinan Bassa the Eunuch (whom hee had made generall of the Europeian horsemen in stead of Casan Bassa before slaine) with a square battaile to charge the enemie afront, for as much as the place would not suffer him to raunge his battaile in length, nor to vse any wings: and he himselfe with his Ianizaries and Asian horsemen followed after in the rereward.Selymus assaileth Al [...]d [...]ul [...]s. Neither were the souldiors of Aladeules vnmindfull of themselues or of their king, who valiantly fought in the head of the battaile: but hauing spent their arrowes, did couragiously receiue the furious assault of the Turkes: and standing close to them, still keeping the aduantage of the ground, did with such force repulse them, that the old beaten souldiors of the Turkes, seemed little or nothing to preuaile either with their multitude or valour: for the Turkes by reason of the straightnesse of the place, could not enclose them on either side, and were beside greeuously wounded by Aladeules footmen, who standing vpon the sides of the hils with their darts and arrowes from aboue, ouerwhelmed the Turkes in the valley. When Selymus saw that Aladeules, contrarie to his [Page] expectation made strong resistance, and valiantly withstood his forces; he drew certaine companies of harquebusiers out of his owne squadrons, and sent them to relieue their fellowes: and at the same instant commaunded the Ianizaries for all the danger to mount the hill. Then the mountaine people terrified with the strangenesse of the shot, and not able to abide the force therof, by and by turned their backes, and by knowne waies fled into their sure haunts in the mountains and woods fast by. Yet the greatest slaughter fell amongst these footmen, who when they saw the horsemen put to flight, and the Ianizaries comming vp the hils against them, did with much difficultie, by steepe and broken waies clamber vp the high mountaines: as oftentimes it falleth out, that both the strength of me [...]s legs and other their wonted forces faile them most, when surprised and ouercome with sudden feare they desire to run and flie fastest.Alad [...]ules flieth into the mountaines. The Turkes hauing them in chase, had the killing of them vntill the going downe of the Sunne. The horsemen with the king, vpon their swift horses, well acquainted with those rockes and rough waies, with little losse retired themselues into the further and stronger places of the mountaines.

Aladeules after this discomfiture, finding himselfe in all things farre inferiour to his enemie, thought it best by protracting the warre, to wearie him out: wherefore as the Turkes pursued him, and burnt the poore countrey cottages standing in their way, he still fled from mountaine to mountaine, neuer offering battell or shewing himselfe, but in places of great aduantage. And therefore Selymus fearing least in that barren rough and vnknowne countrey, he should either want vittaile or by some other meanes be entrapped, if he should still with his whole armie follow after his strong enemies; vpon the seauenth day left off to pursue them any farther. And encamping himselfe in the most conuenient place of that countrey, sent Sinan Bassa with his light I horsemen, who carrying with them certaine daies victuals, should still at the heeles follow the enemie, and with all speed and pollicie possible, hunt after the king himselfe. Selymus in the meane time curiously enquiring of the countrey captiues after the strength of Aladeules; and what meanes hee had to maintaine the warre: found, that he had taken with him his best men both horse and foot; and had commaunded the countrey people to forsake the villages, of purpose to leaue all desolat to the enemie: and hauing surely entrenched himselfe vpon a certaine strong rocke (whither he had before conuaied great store of prouision) was resolued not to giue battell vnto his enemies, vntill he had drawne them into the impregnable straits of the mountaines, where their hugie multitude should little auaile them, but to increase their owne losse. An other cause there was also (as they said) for that he feared to be betraied by Alis Beg his kinsman, Generall of his horsemen; who first fled in the late battell: whose vnfaithfulnesse and hatred might seeme to proceed of a just ground, for that Aladeules had in former time treacherously murthered his father, vpon a jealous suspition of his aspiring to the kingdome.

Selymus vnderstanding all this, caused the captiues to haue their irons struck off, and in steed of their giues lading them with gifts and promises, sent them to Alis Beg with secret letters and rewards, to persuade him in so fit a time to reuenge his fathers death; which thing if he would performe by some notable exploit vpon Aladeules, he should both purchase vnto himselfe great credit with Selymus, and also the kingdome. These homely messengers according as was giuen them in charge, hauing imparted the matter to Sinan Bassa, within few daies had so wrought, that Alis Beg (whom the desire of a kingdome togither with Selymus his rewards prickt forward L to seeke reuenge) was easily drawne to joyne hands with Selymus. And when he could no other way hurt Aladeules, who mistrusting all things, warily looked vnto himselfe; he found the means to go ouer to Sinan Bassa, carrying after him a great part of Aladeules his best horsemen: by whose meanes the rest also which remained being with rewards corrupted, one companie after another came at last all ouer vnto the Bassa. Aladeules circumuented with this vnexpected treacherie, which neuer before thought it possible that his men should all so suddenly haue forsaken him and reuolted vnto the Turkes; was now glad to repose all his hope in secret flight. But Sinan Bassa and Alis Beg, hardly pursuing him as he fled thorough the mountaines, hiding himselfe in rockes and the thicke woods, at last drew him out of a caue, being betraied by the countrey peasants.Alad [...]ules taken and in oug [...]t [...], t [...] put to death. Aladeules being brought to Selymus, was within a few daies after put to death, and his M head in great derision afterwards carried about through all ASIA the lesse: and afterward by way of barbarous ostentation, sent by Selymus to the Senat of VENICE, as a loathsome testimonie of his victorie. Aladeules thus dead, Selymus reduced all his kingdome into the forme of a prouince, which he deuided into three parts; and after the manner of the Turkish gouernment, appointed [Page] to euerie part a Sanzacke: yet so, that Alis Beg should be chiefe ouer the rest, with such soueraigntie as that he wanted nothing of a king but the name only. And for the better gouernment of all things in that new gained kingdome, he left Sinan Bassa there all the rest of that sommer; with commaundement, that after he had set all things in good order, he should winter at ICONIVM: and he himselfe with a small traine returned to CONSTANTINOPLE, for he had heard, that whilest he was busied in his wars against Hysmaell and Aladeules in ARMENIA, that the Hungarians had made diuers incursions into SERVIA, and spoiled that countrey. Wherefore for feare of losing SAMANDRIA (which standing neere to Danubius, for the conuenient situation thereof is reputed the bulwarke of SERVIA and THRACIA) he sent Ionuses Bassa then gouernour of BOSNA with eight thousand horsemen, who passing the riuer Sauus entred into CROATIA as farre as CETINVM:Selymus inuad [...]th Hungar [...]. and at the same time transported an other armie ouer Danubius into HVNGARIE, to the intent that the Hungarians at one instant beset with double danger, should be enforced to feare their owne state; and withall to shew vnto the world, of what strength and power the Othoman emperours were. Deeming it to concerne much, both for the present, and the time to come, to the daunting of the Christians; if hee should by his happie attempts make it knowne, that he could at once easily and readily maintaine so many and so puissant armies, and wage so great warres in diuers parts of the world, and so farre distant one from an other.

In the end of the yeare, when he had thus with double inuasion repressed the Hungarians, he spent the Winter following at HADRIANOPLE & CONSTANTINOPLE, in making of greater preparation for warre than euer he had before from the beginning of his raigne. For he was aduertised, that the great monaches of the North his neighbours, namely Maximilian the emperour, Vladislaus king of HVNGARIE, and Sigismundus king of POLONIA, with the princes of GERMANIE, had combined themselues togither to make warre vpon him. But after he had learned by his sure intelligencers (whom he had with great charge sent into all parts of EVROPE, diligently to obserue what was done in the courts of those great princes) that all the great meetings of the Christian princes proued nothing but glorious words and sumptuous banquets; he being rid of that vaine feare (God so appointing) turned himselfe and all those his wonderfull preparations againe toward the East, to the great quiet of Christendome in generall.

Yet least happily in the absence of himselfe and of his armies, the Christian princes might take occasion to inuade his dominions, he strengthened the frontiers of his empire with most strong garrisons: and left his sonne Solyman (who afterward proued the great scourge of Christendome) at HADRIANOPLE with a strong power, and Pyrrhus Bassa his tutor (a man of great wisedome and gouernment) at CONSTANTINOPLE. This great Bassa was of CILICIA, a natiue Turke borne, which was a thing accounted strange, forasmuch as the great Bassaes were alwaies chosen of the Christian bloud. After that, he sent Cherseogles (whom of all others he most trusted) with his armie into BYTHINIA, and made Zafferus an eunuch Admirall of his nauie, which he had but a little before built,1516 and with a wonderfull labor and charge rigged forth. Then staying a few daies at CONSTANTINOPLE to see the young souldiours,Selymus goeth to Iconium. but then chosen Ianizaries; he departed thence and went to his old armie, lying with Sinan Bassa at ICONIVM, purposing to haue againe inuaded the Persian.

When he was come thither, he vnderstood that Campson Gaurus Sultan of AEGYPT (with a great armie leuied in AEGYPT and IVDEA) was come into SYRIA, giuing it out that he would aid the Persian king his confederat, and with all hostilitie enter into CILICIA, if Selymus should farther proceed to inuade Hysmaell the Sophi his friend and allie. Selymus perplexed with these newes, and fearing that if he should once passe ouer the riuer Euphrates, Campson lying so neere in readinesse, should forthwith breake in at his backe into ASIA by the mountaine AMANVS, and so endanger that part of his dominion; staied at ICONIVM, and sent his embassadours with great presents to Campson to pacifie him, if it might be. The chiefe men in this embassage were the Cadelescher, a man of great account amongst the Turks, and of them exceedingly reuerenced for the opinion they had of his great Mahometane superstition, who afterwards wrote the Commentaries of this warre; and Iachis a great captaine. The scope of whose embassage was, to entreat Campson, that he would not hinder or disturbe Selymus from making warre vpon the Persian king; who had so often and so forceably inuaded his dominions in ASIA, and by bringing in a new forme of superstition, had corrupted and altered the most certaine grounds of the [Page] Mahometane religion. And if they found him resolutly set downe and not to be by any conditions G remoued, then with all possible diligence to learne his strength and farther designes, so farre as by any means they could, and with all speed to make their returne.

The causes moo [...]ing Campson to fall out with Selymus.But Campson now farre spent with age, and liuing in the height of worldly blisse, although he knew it fitter for him at those yeares to giue himselfe ease and quietnesse, than to thrust himselfe into warres and other princes quarrels; yet thought this expedition to be for many causes both good and necessarie. First, he deadly hated the man for his inhumane crueltie, and therefore could neuer be persuaded to renew the league with him which he had in former time made with his father Baiazet: Besides that, he desired to abate and represse his audacious insolencie, grown alreadie by his prosperous successe beyond the bounds of reason: for Selymus hauing taken TAVRIS, ouerthrowne the Persians, and slaine Aladeules, began now to seeme terrible to all H the princes that bordered vpon him; and there were many which said he was another Alexander, who whilest other princes sate still as men a sleepe, did in the meane time plot in his victorious mind, the monarchie of the whole world. But aboue all things, the feare of the losing of SYRIA, and consequently the losse of all his kingdome (the quickest motiue for stirring vp of the suspitious minds of the greatest princes) most enforced Campson to take in hand this warre: For as much as the goodly kingdomes of AEGYPT, IVDEA, and SYRIA, oppressed with the intollerable gouernment of the proud Mamalukes, and therefore lesse faithfull to the Aegyptian kings, were in danger to reuolt to the Turkes, if the Persians should by any mischance or fortune of warre be of the Turkes vanquished. For which cause Campson in the beginning of this warre, solicited by the Persian embassadours, had made a firme league and confederation with Hysmaell:I and also moued with the miserie of the wofull young prince Aladin the sonne of Achomates, was in mind persuaded, that the cruell Turkish tyrant might by his and the Persian kings forces, easily be thrust out of his empire in ASIA and EVROPE. For Aladin, who after the death of Achomates his father fled to Campson the Sultan of AEGYPT (as is before declared) had liued three yeares as a forlorne and distressed prince in the Aegyptian court, and by all meanes he could deuise incited the Mamalukes to reuenge the injuries and crueltie of his vncle Selymus. The eldest sonne also of the late king Aladeules, a goodly young prince, hauing at once lost his father, his kingdome, and whatsoeuer he held else, was in good time fled to the Aegyptian king; and had so filled the minds of all men with the indignation and detestation of Selymus his exceeding crueltie, that the princes of the Mamalukes of their owne accord came to Campson, humbly beseeching K him to take vpon him so just a warre: and if by reason of his great yeares hee should thinke himselfe vnable to endure the trauell thereof, it would then please him yet to giue them leaue of themselues to take the matter in hand, for the repressing of the insolencie of that great and wicked tyrant.

These Mamalukes farre excelled the Turkes, not onely in strength of bodie, skilfull riding, and goodly armour,The Order of the Mamalukes. but also in courage and wealth. Beside that, they had not forgotten with what small power they had vnder the leading of Caitbeius their great Sultan, ouerthrowne the Turkes great armies in CILICIA, first at ADENA, and afterward at TARSVS, where they tooke prisoners, Mesites Palaologus the great Bassa, and Cherseogles, Baiazet his sonne in law: by which victorie they grew into such a proud and vaine conceit of themselues, as if they had beene L the onely souldiours of the world, able of themselues to vanquish and ouercome whomsoeuer they should set vpon. These so valiant souldiours, were for the most part of the poore people called in auntient time Getae, Zinchi, and Bastarnae, borne neere vnto the Euxine sea and the [...]ens of Maeotis, especially on that side where the riuer Corax falleth into the Euxine: which countrie is of later time called CIRCASSIA, of the people called CERCITae neere vnto CHOLCHIS. These miserable and wretched people, the Valachians, Podolians, Polonians, Roxolanes and Tartars dwelling by TAVRICA (puld from their mothers breasts, or by other violent means surprised) sold vnto merchants; who culling out the best for strength of bodie, or aptnesse of wit, conuaied them by sea to ALEXANDRIA, from whence they were continually sent to the great Sultan of AEGIPT: and by his appointment were at CAIRE (after the old manner of that people)M deliuered to masters of fence and such other teachers, who carefully instructed them, being shut vp in their schooles, in all manner of feats of actiuitie: where after they were become able to bend a strong bow, and taught cunningly to shoot, leape, run, vault, ride, and skilfully to vse all manner of weapons, they were then taken into pay, and receiued into the number of the [Page] kings horsemen or Mamalukes: and such of them as proued cowardly or vnapt, were made slaues vnto the rest. So that they seeing all honour, credit, and preferment, laied vp in martiall prowesse, did with all diligence and courage employ themselues to militarie affaires: and therein so well profited, that oftentimes they which at the first were but bare and base slaues, of the meanest of the Mamalukes, by many degrees of seruice rise at length to the highest degrees of honour. All these Mamalukes were the children of Christian parents, from the time of their captiuitie instructed in the Mahometane superstition: for no man borne of a Mahometane father, or of a Iew, could be admitted into the number of the Mamaluke horsemen: which was so straightly obserued, that the honour of a Mamaluke horseman neuer descended vnto the sons of the Mamalukes, yet might they by law inherit their fathers lands, possessions, and goods: by which reason the sonnes of the Sultans themselues neuer succeeded their fathers in the kingdome. Hereby also it came to passe, that many Christians of loose life, or condemned for their notorious offences, flying thither, and abjuring the Christian religion, and suffering themselues to be circumcised, being men meet for the warres, grew by degrees to great honour: as did Tangarihardinus the sonne of a Spanish mariner, who by his forwardnesse and industrie grew into such credit and authoritie with Campson the great Sultan, that almost all things were done by his aduice and counsell; and was diuers times by him employed in most honorable seruice, being sent embassadour both to Baiazet the Turkish emperour, and to the state of VENICE, about matters of great importance. Yet his impietie escaped not the hand of God, for at length by the enuie of the court he was brought into disgrace, thrust out of his place, and cast into prison, C where he loaded with cold yron,The imperio [...]s gouernment of the Mamalukes in Aegypt, Iudea, and Syria. most miserably died. Neither was it to be maruelled if the Mamalukes were growne to that excesse of wealth, for as much as the Aegyptians and Syrians being miserably by them oppressed, were not suffered to haue the vse either of horse or armour, neither admitted to any matters of counsell; but being impouerished and brought low with heauie impositions and dayly injuries of the Mamalukes, gaue themselues wholly to the trade of marchandise, husbandrie, and other mechanicall occupations: ouer whom the Mamalukes had power and commaund, as imperious masters ouer their seruants, and would with greater insolencie than is to be beleeued abuse the poore countrey people, beating and spoiling them at their pleasure, and not so contented, rauishing their wiues and daughters without redresse. The Aegyptians (a people in auntient time much renowned for their valour and prowesse) were by these D masterfull slaues kept in this miserable thraldome and slauerie about the space of three hundred yeares. For after the declination of the Romane empire, that rich countrey falling into the gouernment of the Constantinopolitane emperours, the Aegyptians soone wearie of the proud and auaritious soueraignetie of the Greekes, called in the Sarafins, by whose helpe they expulsed the Greekes, and after chose the Generall of the Sarafins for their king, after whose name the Aegyptian kings were of long time called Caliphes, as they had of antient time beene called by the names of Pharao and Ptolomey.

The last of these Caliphes raigned at such time as the Christians vnder the leading of Godfrey and Bohemund, passing as conquerours through ASIA and SYRIA, erected the kingdome of HIERVSALEM. Hee being inuaded by Americus sixt king of HIERVSALEM, and finding E himselfe too weake, prayed aid of the Sultan of SYRIA, who sent him Sarraco, a valiant captain, with a strong power to aid him: but Sarraco no lesse vnfaithfull than courageous, trecherously slew the Caliphe, in whose aid he came, and tooke vpon himselfe the kingdome. After Sarraco succeeded Saladine his brothers sonne, who vtterly extinguished the name and authoritie of the Caliphes in AEGYPT, whom Sarraco had yet left as high priests. This Saladine oftentimes vanquished the Christian armies in SYRIA and IVDEA, and at length quite ouerthrew the kingdome of HIERVSALEM, as is in the former part of this historie to be seene. Saladine dying, left the kingdome of AEGIPT to his brother, whose posteritie successiuely raigned of long time there, vntill the time of Melechsala. This Melechsala (last of the free borne kings, and of the posteritie of Saladine) had great and mortall warres with the Christians, wherein hauing lost most F of his best soldiors, and reposing no great confidence in the Aegyptians, thought good to strengthen himselfe with a new kind of souldiors, meere slaues bought for money. For at that time the Tartars breaking into ARMENIA and CAPADOCIA, and ouerrunning the people called COMANI joyning vpon CAPADOCIA, made generall spoile of that people, as of prisoners taken by law of armes. Of this base people, Melechsala for a little money bought a great multitude, [Page] which he transported into AEGIPT, and furnished them with armes: by whose prowesse he not G onely defended the frontiers of his kingdome,The beginning of the Gouernment of the Mamalukes in Aegypt. but also besieged Lewes the French king in his trenches not farre from DAMIATA, called in auntient time HELIOPOLIS, or PELVSIVM, and shortly after in plaine battaile tooke him prisoner, as is long before declared. But in the pride of this victorie, Melechsala was by the conspiracie of these his new souldiours slaine: in whose place they set vp one Turqueminius, a desperat fellow of their owne companie, honouring him with the title of the great Sultan of AEGIPT. Turqueminius of a base slaue now become a great monarch (after the manner of men) forgetting his old companions which had so highly promoted him: and hauing them in great disdaine, was by one of them (called Clotho) suddainely slaine; for which fact he was by those base souldiors, his companions, chosen Sultan in his place: who for the short time of his raigne did much for the confirming of that seruile monarchie: yet H was he at length slaine also by Bandocader, sometimes one of his fellow seruants, who also succeeded him in the kingdome. After him in long order succeeded many valiant men of the same seruile state & condition, whom for breuitie I wittingly passe ouer. Amongst the rest, Caitbeius (of whom we haue before spoken in the life of Baiazet) was for wealth and martiall prowesse most famous; who according to the manner of his predecessours, did with greater bountie and care maintaine that seruile gouernment, than any of them who had before him raigned in AEGIPT: and was for his notable gouernment and noble acts justly accounted amongst the greatest princes of that age. After whose death great troubles arose in that seruile monarchie about the succession. Whereby the Mamalukes drawne into diuers factions, some seeking to prefer one, and some another, had in foure yeares space with ciuile warres sore weakened their estate, and I slaine diuers of their greatest princes which had aspired vnto that kingdome. For appeasing of which mischeefes, tending to the vtter ruine of their kingdome, the great courtiers and cheefe men amongst the Mamalukes with one consent offered the kingdome to Campson Gaurus (or as the Turkes call him) Cansaues Gauris, of whom wee now speake, a man of great integritie and courage, and altogether free from ambition. He, terrified with the dreadfull example of so many kings whom hee had seene in short time miserably slaine by the ambitious aspiring of other proud competitors: when he was sore against his will hoist vp vpon the shoulders of the nobilitie and cheefe souldiors, and so carried into the court, as their manner was, began earnestly to refuse the kingdome and to withstand their choice, excusing himselfe as vnfit for so high a place; and with teares standing in his eyes, besought the other great lords his friends, that they would K forbeare to thrust him, well contented with his priuat life, into that glorious place subject to so many dangers: and the rather, for that he neither had money to giue bountifully vnto the souldiors of the court, as other the Aegyptian Sultans had accustomed; neither held that sufficiencie and authoritie as was requisit for repressing of such violent and seditious tumults as were too rise in that troublesome time and confusion of all things.

The nobilitie on the other side persuaded him, That he would not vpon a foolish obstinacie or vaine modestie refuse the offer of his present good fortune, but couragiously to take vpon him the gouernment of the state, now sore shaken with ciuile discord, together with the regall dignitie, which was with the generall good liking of all men so frankely offered vnto him. At last they all by solemne oath promised vnto him, That they would with all their power, policie,L and wealth, maintaine and defend the majestie of his state; and that the men of war should not demaund their wonted largesse, before the same might by his receiuers and treasurers bee raised of his customes and other reuenewes of the crowne. By which persuasions Campson encouraged, suffered himselfe to be saluted Sultan, and so tooke vpon him the gouernment. Afterwards, when he had giuen vnto the men of warre ten millions of duckats,The moderat and happie gouernment of Campson. by the name of a largesse, and by his moderat gouernment had caused men generally to haue his prowesse and wisdome in admiration; he did with such policie and dexteritie reforme the shaken state of that kingdome, before rent in sunder with ciuile warres, taking away by poyson and other secret deuices some few, the cheefe authors of sedition, that for the space of sixteene yeares neither tumult nor noise of warre was at any time heard of in all SYRIA or AEGIPT. Worthie vndoubtedly the name of M a most excellent and fortunat prince, if when he had by singular wisedome and policie established the generall peace and prosperitie of his kingdome, he could haue there contented himselfe to haue liued in quiet, and in the winding vp of his life, not rashly haue thrust himselfe into the dangerous quarrels of other princes.

[Page] A The Cadelescher and Iachis (Selymus his embassadours) departing from ICONIVM, came in few daies to Campson the great Sultan, who then lay encamped neere vnto the riuer ORONTES, at this day called FAREAR. These embassadours entertained by Campson with greater bountie than courtesie, and shortly after their comming hauing audience in his pauilion, did with most temperat and calme speech deliuer their embassage. To whom Campson answered, That it was the auntient custome of the Aegyptian Sultans (forasmuch as they held the chiefe place in their religion) with all care and industrie to keepe the other Mahometane kings and people in peace and concord amongst themselues;Campson his answere to the imbassadours of Selymus. whereof hee for his part had beene alwaies most desirous: and was for no other purpose come with his armie into his prouince of SYRIA, than to persuade Selymus to peace: Who if he would needs wilfully proceed in his intended warres against Hysmaell the Persian king, his friend and confederat, he would then doe what should stand with his honour and place, and not longer suffer all to go to wracke, for the vaine pleasure and furie of one insolent and ambitious man. He said also, That he had of long time before seene into Selymus his insatiable, fierce and troublesome disposition; who hauing most vnnaturally procured the death of his good father the old emperour Baiazet, and slaine his brethren, princes of great valour; seauen of his nephewes, princes of no small hope; with many other of his best friends and faithfull counsellors; could make no end of his ambitious tyrannie. Wherfore they should tell Selymus, that one and all the conditions of peace should be, if he would from thenceforth desist from inuading of Hysmaell, and restore to Aladeules his sonne, his fathers kingdome, which had of long beene vnder the defence and protection of the Aegyptian Sultans, as of right and reason C he ought to doe: he should in so doing beside his fauour and friendship which might greatly stand him in steed, reape greater fame and glorie by an assured and honourable peace, than by doubtfull and dangerous warre.

The embassadours, although they knew right well that Selymus would not for any threats giue ouer his enterprise or lay downe armes; yet to the intent they might the sooner be disparched, and so in time aduertise Selymus of the Sultans sudden comming, seemed wonderfully to like of his motion for peace, and to giue good hope by their reasonable persuasions to induce Selymus to like thereof: Forasmuch as they were of his secret counsell, and men able to doe much with him; whereby they trusted (as they would haue had the Sultan to beleeue) it would easily be brought to passe, that those sparkes might be quenched, which all things standing D vpright had not as yet kindled the fire of warre. So they being by Campson rewarded, and hauing leaue to depart, trauelling day and night, returned to Selymus, who was then come to CaeSAREA.

Campson also remouing from ORONTES, came into COMAGENA vnto the famous citie of ALEPPO, which citie is probably supposed to haue been built of the ruines of the auntient citie HIERAPOLIS, by Alepius the emperor Iulianus his lieutenant; who in that prouince did many notable matters, & called that new built citie after his own name. It is situat neere vnto the riuer Singa, which rising out of the mountaine PIERIVS, with many turnings and windings runneth thorough Comagena, and being but a small riuer, falleth at length into the citie Euphrates. This citie Hyalon king of the Tartars tooke and burnt, at such time as the Christian princes of the E West made warre with the Aegyptian kings, for the kingdomes of SYRIA and IERVSALEM. Which calamitie notwithstanding, it was againe repeopled, and is at this day a famous citie, for the commodious situation thereof much frequented with merchants from the furthest parts of the world: It is scarce fiue daies journey from TRIPOLIS and BERYTVS the great ports of SYRIA, and is also neere vnto the Turkes and Persians: so that the riches of the East are thither commodiously conuaied out of Turkie, ouer the mountaine AMANVS which parteth CILICIA from SYRIA: and so likewise out of PERSIA and MESOPOTAMIA ouer the riuer Euphrates, where the citie BYRTHA of late time bounded the kingdome of the Aegyptian Sultans, from the Persian.

Selymus vnderstanding by his embassadours (who had diligently noted all things in the Sultans F campe) both of the comming,Selymus conuerteth his forces from the Persians against Campson. and of the number of his enemies; and also enformed of the Sultans proud answere, who had so peremptorily prescribed vnto him such vnreasonable conditions as pleased himselfe: thought good to alter his purpose, and now to conuert his forces an other way than he had before determined. For that to enter farther into ARMENIA, leauing so puissant an enemie as Campson at his backe, seemed a thing too full of danger: and to giue ouer [Page] the enterprise he had with so great care and charge vndertaken, at the appointment and pleasure of another man, stood neither with his honour or state. Wherefore in a matter so doubtfull, he resolued vpon a notable and necessarie point, well fitting the greatnesse of his mind. He made shew as if he would haue gone directly against the Persian, as he had before determined; and that the more certaine report of this his purpose might be carried to Campson, he sent before part of his armie with his carriages to the citie SVASSIA, in old time called SEBASTA (it standeth in the frontiers of the Persian kingdome, where the great riuer Euphrates pent vp with the rocks of the mountaine TAVRVS, breaketh againe violently forth into MESOPOTAMIA: but turning himselfe vpon the right hand, purposed to passe the mountaine TAVRVS, and breaking suddenly into COMAGENA to come vpon the Sultan before he were well aware of his comming. Wherefore calling vnto him his trustie Ianizaries, with the other souldiours of the court, hee openly with cheerfull countenance declared vnto them what he had resolued to doe, with the reasons of the alteration of his former determination: persuading them, that the victorie would easily be atchieued,Selymus encourageth his souldiours to go against the Mamalukes. if they as couragious souldiours would with all celeritie (before the Mamalukes could perceiue they were returned) get vp to the top of the mountaines, and recouer those difficult passages; not fearing the vaine names and titles of the Mamalukes. For why (said he) the strength of those horsemen is long since decaied and gone: the old Mamalukes, who in the time of Caitbeius were of some fame and reputation, are all dead. You shall in battell meet but with a sort of gallant horsebreakers rather than souldiours, which can cunningly mannage their horses in sport, to the pleasure of the beholders, but know not how to encounter the enemie, or to endure to be wounded: who as carpet knights effeminat with long peace, and corrupted with excesse and delicacie of their great cities, neuer saw their foes entrenched, or armed enemies, neither euer heard the sound of a trumpet but at plaies or shewes. Wherefore you are to make but small account of them, being furnished with no store of ordinance or strength of footmen. But as the reuerend interpretours of our sacred lawes and religion, hauing orderly performed all their obseruances, doe diuine vnto vs all happinesse: so you as men full of hope, set forward cheerfully vnto most assured victorie ouer your proud enemies. For God no doubt fauoureth the quarrell of men iustly prouoked, and offereth means of victorie to such as take vp iust and necessarie armes. Yet to ouercome the enemie, and to enioy the victorie in deed, wholy consisteth in the courage and valour of them, which deeme nothing better or more honourable than to spend their liues for the honour of their prince and countrey. Here the Ianizaries shaking their weapons, forthwith cried out with cheerfull voice, That he should lead and conduct K them whither soeuer he would: saying, That they were readie as couragious men, to ouercome all the difficulties of those hard passages, and patiently to endure all the labours and dangers incident to that warre.

Selymus, by the mountaine people hauing found out the easiest passages, resolued to passe ouer the mountaine with his armie in three places: and so appointing three great companies of the common souldiours and countrey people, for the opening of the straight passages; he commaunded the rough and vneuen waies to bee made plaine and smooth, for the transporting of his ordinance, and the broken passages to be cast euen, that so his baggage and carriages might the better passe: and the more to encourage his souldiours to take paines, he promised present reward to all such as in transporting of his ordinance, should take any extraordinarie pains. Wherby L it came to passe, that the same being of the smaller sort bearing bullet of no great height, was in short time by the cheerfull labour of his souldiours, drawne ouer those great hils and dales: so that in fiue daies all his armie with his baggage and carriages were got ouer the mountaine TAVRVS, and come into the plaines of COMAGENA. For that mountaine where it taketh the name of AMANVS, which is almost in the middle where the riuer Euphrates parteth the mountaine TAVRVS, and the bay ISSICVS, is neither exceeding high, or yet impassable: for as it commeth neerer the sea, it is not so rough as elsewhere, but is in many places inhabited and tilled by the mountaine Cilicians, a fierce kind of people accustomed to labour and toile, who are now called Caramannians, which is to say, the inhabitants of the blacke mountaines; for that the burnt rocks of the mountaine seeme a farre off to be blacke.M

Alis-beg which betraied Aladeules, whom Selymus had a little before sent for, as soon as the armie was come downe into the frontiers of the enemies country, with a strong power of his light horsemen, speedily ouerran all that countrey which is at the foot of AMANVS and TAVRVS: therby to vnderstand of the countrey people and such as they could take prisoners, where Campson [Page] lay with his armie; and also by keeping the passages to doe what possibly might be done, that Selymus his comming might not be knowne to the enemie.

But Campson, who with no lesse vanitie than pride had fondly flattered himselfe, onely by the authoritie & greatnesse of his name to haue terrified Selymus, and ouerruled him at his pleasure; could not be persuaded that he was come ouer the mountaine AMANVS, vntill certaine newes was brought him, that he was encamped with a most puissant armie within two daies march of him. With which vnexpected newes being sore troubled, and in the middest of that danger to seeke counsell, as one which began rightly to consider of his owne strength, and the strength of his enemie; began then to doubt what were best for him to doe, and in great perplexitie sometime hoped well; and by and by was as a man halfe discouraged and dismaied. And now become exceeding carefull both of his honour and himselfe, he began to doubt, whether it were better for him to giue place to so great a danger, and shunning battell to retire with his armie into places of more safetie; or els couragiously to abide the comming of his enemies, and to hazard the fortune of a battell, although it were vpon great disaduantage: Forasmuch as he reputed it farre more honourable after the example of his predecessors from whom he had receiued that great kingdome (both gotten and kept by martiall prowesse) to die with honour in the field; than by shamefull and vnwoonted flight, either to blemish their militarie glorie continued aboue the space of 300 yeares, or for loue of a small remainder of life, being now 77 yeares old, to seeme willing to reserue vnto obloquie and shame his last daies, depriued of all honour and reputation.

C There were amongst his cheefetaines many,The wholsome counsell of Gazelles for protracting the warre. which preferred wholesome counsell before that which was in shew more glorious: but aboue all others one Iamburd, surnamed Gazelles, (sometimes the follower of great Caitbeius) a valiant man of great honour, for his long experience in martiall affaires, and at that time gouernor of APAMIA. He, as he was of opinion, That to fight with the Turkes armie, consisting for most part of expert soldiors, with so small a power, were a thing of desperat danger; so was he also, that it were good speedily to retire, and to chuse the citie of DAMASCO, as the fittest place for those warres: for as much as the Turkes armie could make no hast after them, by reason of their footmen and carriages, so that they might at case and with safetie retire; and there calling together all the Mamalukes which were in garrison in IVDEA and AEGIPT, and entertaining the Arabians their neighbours, to protract the warre vntill Winter, when as they might easily distresse the enemie for want of victuall. And that it was not to be feared, that ALEPPO, if it were furnished but with a reasonable garrison, could by and by be taken of the enemie, who had but small field peeces not fit for batterie. Beside that, in short time aide would come from the Persians out of MESOPOTAMIA; yea and Hysmaell himselfe hearing of the Turkes expedition into SYRIA, was like ynough to breake into ASIA the le [...]se: neither would the Christians refuse to furnish them with great artillerie from the Islands of the RHODES and CYPRVS against that common enemie, if they were thereto in time requested. All which things being laied together, hee said the Sultan might afterward vpon euen hand, goe into the field, if he should thinke it so much to concerne his honour, to giue his enemies battaile. But for as much as the greatest warres, which at the first had most violent and most furious motions, by the politicke enemies delay did most commonly in time grow calme, hee should not therefore make too much hast to aduenture the fortune of battaile: for that the errours of warre, which many times chanced through the ouersight or rashnesse of the cheeftains, might well of good men be lamented and detested, but hardly or neuer recouered or amended.

Gazelles his graue and considerat speech had much moued both the Sultan and others▪ yet the cheerefulnesse of the souldiors, and foolish hardinesse of the Mamalukes did so fill Campsons eares, that he could not hearken to so good and wholesome counsell: for as soone as they heard certainely of the comming of the Turkes, they began to leape and daunce, and to rejoice among themselues, that the time was come wherein they might make proofe of their valour, and win to themselues honour. For now (as they said) was come that time they had long wished for, wherin they would by notable slaughter of their enemies, aduance the honour and majestie of Campson their Sultan far aboue the fame of Caitbeius. And some euen of the cheefe men about Campson, vpon flatterie and vaine osten [...]ation, alledging how honourably and with what small labour they had before ouerthrowne the Turkes great armie at TARSVS, persuaded him, that the victorie would easily and without any great danger be gotten. But especially Cayerbeius gouernor [Page] of ALEPPO and of the prouince of COMAGENA (who after his warre ended, was in reward G of his foule treason by Selymus vnworthily preferred to the greatest honours of AEGYPT) extolling with glorious words the faithfulnesse, courage and valour of the Mamalukes, and extenuating the strength and power of the enemie, forced his wits to the vttermost to ouerthrow the wholsome counsell of Gazelles.

A secre [...] grudge betweene Campson and Cayerbeius gouernour of Comagena.For this Cayerbeius for all his faire face bare a grudge in heart against Campson, because he had some few yeares before poysoned his brother, whom he had in jealousie, being a man next to himselfe of greatest power, wealth, and authoritie amongst the Mamalukes, and withall of an aspiring mind. Whereupon Cayerbeius afterwards thinking it good to looke to himselfe, and doubting the like practise to be intended against himselfe; being, as the manner of that kingdome was, summoned to a parliament at CAIRE, faigned himselfe sicke, and would not come: wherwith H Campson was not a little offended, yet for a time he thought it best to dissemble the matter and to await some fitter oportunitie for the taking away of that proud man, so forgetfull of his dutie, and bearing himselfe against his soueraigne, as if he had been an absolute king in his owne prouince. This he thought might most couertly be brought to passe, if he should vpon the occasion of the present warre (as it then fell out) or els vnder the colour of going in person himselfe to the riuer Euphrates, come to ALEPPO: for it was the manner of the antient Aegyptian Sultans, not to account themselues worthie of the name of a Sultan or great Generall, before they had as Caitbeius had of late done, encamped their armie vpon the side of the riuer Euphrates at the citie BYRTHA (which standing vpon the banke of the riuer, retaineth at this day both the antient name and fame) and there with solemne pompe had in the sight of the armie forced their I horses into the riuer to drinke: giuing to vnderstand by that ceremonie, the greatnesse of their empire, and that they were readie by force of armes to proue, that all those countries were their which lay alongst the riuer Euphrates, from the mountaine TAVRVS vnto the deserts of ARABIA. But the consideration of this war letted that hee did not at his first comming oppresse him, because he deemed it to stand best with his present affaires: and not yet knowing the purpose of Selymus, to expect the motions of the Turkes and Persians, and to deferre the execution of his wrath against Cayerbeius, vntill the end of the warre: for feare least the other Mamalukes, dismayed with the hainousnesse of the suddaine fact, should either reuolt from him, or els raise some mutinie or rebellion in that populous citie. For Cayerbeius had by his courtesie and bountie many strong companies in the armie fast bound vnto him: and beside that, was of greatest credit K and authoritie with them of ALEPPO, hauing in his keeping a strong citadell, built vpon the rising of an hill in the middest of the citie, which he kept with a strong and sure garrison.

But whiles Campson doth thus slowly and considerately purpose his destruction, many of the Sultans secret friends, to him more officious than faithfull, secretly aduised Cayerbeius to beware of the Sultan, and by some good meanes in time to prouide for his owne safetie. He vnderstanding of the danger, and thinking all delay deadly, sent secret messengers vnto Selymus, discouering vnto him the cause of his greefe, and promising as occasion should serue to come ouer vnto him, and to deliuer into his power the castle with the hearts of the citisens, and all the strength of his owne horsemen; thereby to prouide for his owne safetie, to reuenge his brothers death, and to further his victorie against Campson: and for performance of promises on both sides, required L secret hostages to be giuen. By the same messengers he also aduertised him, what strength the Sultan was of, persuading him in any case to make hast to giue him battaile before hee had gathered any greater power. Selymus nothing doubted to condiscend to all that the traitor had requested, promising of himselfe farre greater things than euer he had required: assuring himselfe of the victorie, if his enemie should lose so much of his strength by the reuolt of so great a commaunder.

Campson enforced by the generall consent of his souldiors, and the violence of his ineuitable destinie, then at hand, rejecting the good and faithfull counsell of Gazelles, at such time as Selymus was reported to be at hand; resolued according to the counsell of the traitour Cayerbeius, to dare him battell. He lay conueniently encamped vpon the riuer Singa, almost ten miles from M the citie, in such sort as that his souldiors might vse the benefit of the riuer, and remoued from the houses and pleasures of the citie, might yet neuerthelesse be easily releeued with the sto [...]e and plent [...]e thereof.

The Mamalukes notable souldiors.The Mamalukes were scarce in number twelue thousand, but euery one of them, according [Page] as he was of greater place or calling, so had he attending vpon him moe seruants, well furnished with horse and armour. A goodly and inuincible armie, if the battaile might haue been tried by true valour. The Mamalukes wearing their beards long and rough, with graue and sterne countenance, hauing strong and able bodies, vsed such cunning in all their fights and battailes, that after they had giuen the first charge with their launces, they would by and by with wonderfull actiuitie vse their bowes and arrowes, casting their targuets behind them; and forthwith the horsemans mace or crooked scimitar, as the manner of the battaile or place required. Their horses were strong and courageous, in making and swiftnesse much like vnto the Spanish Iennets; and that which is of many hardly beleeued, so docible, that at certaine signes or speeches of the rider, they would with their teeth reach him vp from the ground a launce, an arrow, or such like thing; and as if they had knowne the enemie, run vpon him with open mouth, and lash at him with their heeles, and had by nature and custome learned, not to be afraid of any thing. These couragious horses were commonly furnished with siluer bridles, guilt trapping, rich saddles, their neckes and breasts armed with plates of yron: the horseman himselfe was commonly content with a coat of maile or a breastplate of yron. The cheefe and wealthiest of them vsed headpieces; the rest a linnen couering of the head, curiously foulded into many wreathes, wherewith they thought themselues safe ynough against any handie strokes: the common souldiours vsed thrumd caps, but so thicke, as that no sword could pierce them.

Campson of all his armie made fiue battailes:The order of Campsons ba [...]t [...]ll The first was committed to Cayerbeius, because it was in his owne prouince where the battaile was to be fought. The second was led by Sybeius, who for his wonderfull actiuitie was of them called Baluano, which in their language signifieth a tumbler, or one that sheweth feats of actiuitie; he was gouernour of DAMASCO, a man of singular faith and valour. These two great commaunders were appointed at once to charge both the wings of the Turkes armie. After them followed Gazelles with the third battaile, to second either the one or the other of the two formost, as need should require. Campson himselfe led the fourth, all glistering in guilt armour, behind the rest almost a mile and a halfe. The last was left for defence of the campe.

But Selymus according to his wonted manner so ordered his battaile,The order of Selymus his battell. that his Asian horsemen were in the right wing, his Europeian horsemen in the left, his Ianizaries and artillerie in the maine battaile: before whom, in the middle betweene the two wings he had placed his most valiant and gallant pentioners, amongst whom, contrarie to his wonted custome, he chose to serue that day.

Cayerbeius as soone as he was come neere the enemie (in token of his braue courage) gaue a hote charge vpon the Europeian horsemen; and by and by, as if hee would haue compassed in that wing, wheeled a great way about behind them: where chauncing vpon a great companie of scullions, drudges, and other base people that followed the campe, with an infinit number of cammels and carriages, hee made there a great stirre, with little slaughter, that as a valiant and cunning traitour he might in the selfesame time satisfie the expectation of his valour and of his treason together. In the other wing, the gouernour of DAMASCO to enter vpon the open side of the enemie, forbearing to charge him afront, and turning about his troupes on the left hand, entred ouerthwart their rankes; where the Mamalukes fought with such furie, that hauing made great slaughter of the Asian horsemen, they brake in amongst them, as if it had beene a raging flood, bearing all downe before them, vntill they came to the ensignes in the middest of that wing: neither could Mustapha the Beglerbeg (who was by birth an Hungarian, and Selymus his brother in law) neither the Imbrahor-Bassa (or master of the house) although they did what they might to withstand him, after the first were ouerthrowne, stay the rest▪ but that they would needs turne their backes and flie. So Sybeius as a valiant conquerour hauing cut in two peeces the right wing of the enemies battaile, and thrusting in betwixt the battaile of the footmen and the backes of the pentioners, brought a great terrour and feare vpon the whole maine battaile. The matter was now brought to extreame danger: for Selymus by the breaking in of Sybeius was almost cut off from his footmen, in whom he had reposed his greatest confidence. And now the Ianizaries were hardly charged by Gazelles, who following the fortune of Sybeius, had set vpon the head of the enemies battaile. The Asian horsemen also being put to the worse, and cut in peeces, found no meanes how to restore againe their disordered battaile.

In this extremitie Sinan Bassa in good time came in with his horsemen: by his comming, for [Page] that he had beene but lightly charged by Cayerbeius the traitour, and had brought with him many G fresh troupes of horsemen, the furie of the Mamalukes was repressed, the Turkes againe encouraged, and the victorie shortly after wrung out of the Mamalukes hands; the great artillerie being by the commaundement of Selymus at the same time discharged amongst them, by the terrible thundring whereof, the Mamalukes horses somewhat troubled, could not so well as before be ruled: neither could the men themselues, although they were of wonderfull courage, much preuaile, being on euerie side oppressed with the multitude of their enemies. Yet in that distresse being nothing dismaied, although they were by Cayerbeius and their good fortune forsaken, they were not to seeke either of courage or direction; but se [...]ing themselues close togither, they brake through the middest of their enemies, with great slaughter of the European horsemen, and hurt of the pentioners; and so with speed fled towards the campe and citie. After whom followed Sinan Bassa with the readiest and freshest troups of his horsemen: for Selymus, (who that day in the extreame heat, for his wonderfull paines, courage, and direction, seemed vndoubtedly greater than himselfe) riding vp and downe, called earnestly vpon his souldiours to vrge the victorie, and with all speed to pursue their flying enemies.

Campson had now (his destinie so leading him) set forward, of purpose to come to the reliefe of his men sent before; or if the Turks should be ouercome, to be partaker of the victorie: when vpon the way, he vnderstood by them that fled, that Cayerbeius was reuolted, his armie ouerthrowne, and the terrour so great, as that the flight of his souldiours was not now possibly to be staied: beside that to augment the feare, it was reported, that the multitude of his enemies, and force of their artillerie was so great, that they were not then to bee encountred.I With which heauie newes, the proud old man, who in the perpetuall course of his good fortune had neuer tasted of euill hap,The death of Campson. was readie for sorrow and griefe of mind to haue sunke downe to the ground. And forthwith, his owne men, and the enemie pursuing them, comming vpon him, who in their headlong course without regard ouerthrew whomsoeuer they met, euerie man making shift for himselfe without respect of others harmes: he being a corpulent man of great yeares, and beside the heauinesse of his armour troubled also with a rupture, ouercome with heat and griefe of mind, fainted in that great presse; and so falling downe, was without regard troden to death, after he had with great majestie gouerned the kingdomes of AEGYPT, IVDEA, and SYRIA many yeares. The valiant Tetrarchs of DAMASCO and TRIPOLIS, whilest others fled for life, either to the campe or to the citie of ALEPPO, labouring in the hindermost of their flying troups to represse the force of their pursuing enemies, were both fighting honorably, slaine. Selymus erecting a few tents in the same field wherin the battell was fought, & keeping most part of his armie in armes, slept not all that night, but stood fast as a man not yet assured of his victorie or good fortune; fearing least men of so great valour as were the Mamalukes, should in the couert of the night returne and set vpon him in his campe: for hee knew right well, that they were ouercome and put to flight, rather by the treacherie of Cayerbeius and furie of his great ordinance, than by the valour of his souldiours. But Gazelles and the other Mamalukes, after they certainly vnderstood of the death of Campson, hauing giuen their horses a short bait, departed in hast from ALEPPO to DAMASCO.Aleppo deliuered to Selymus by Cayerbeius the traitor. The next day Selymus remouing with his armie, took the rich tents of his enemies full of all princely store, which he gaue vnto his soldiors for a prey L and marching from thence to ALEPPO, had the citie peaceably deliuered vnto him by Cayerbeius, where he fauourably tooke the citisens into his protection; and the more to win their hearts, granted vnto them greater priuiledges than they had in former time enjoyed.

In this battell were slaine not aboue a thousand Mamalukes, but of their seruants and followers a greater number; mo being slaine in the flight than in the fight, when as their horses fainting for heat, and dying vnder them for thirst, many of them were enforced to betake themselues to their feet, and so were easily slaine of euerie base horseman. For a great number of goodly horses died there, which being foggie fat, and delicatly brought vp in cold stables, could not endure the vehemencie of the heat and that vnacquainted trauell: for that day all things were burnt with the scorching heat of the Sunne.M

This famous battell was fought the seauenth of August, in the yeare of our Lord 1516, the verie same day (which is strange to tell) whereon but two yeares before, he had obtained the victorie against Hysmaell the great Sophi in the CALDERAN fields. Selymus lost in this battell three thousand horsemen: whereby it may easily be gathered, that he had there receiued a notable [Page] ouerthrow of his horsemen; if Sinan Bassa in the left wing, which by the treason of Cayerbetus escaped with small losse, had also happened vpon his Sybeius, as the other Generall did.

The dead bodie of Campson found two daies after without any wound appearing therupon,The dead bodie of Campson laid out for all men to view. was by the commaundement of Selymus laied forth in open place for all men to behold; that such as beleeued him yet to liue, and to be gone to repaire his armie at CAIRE, might be out of all hope of his returne; and others that were alreadie reuolted, might thereby be the more confirmed, as now out of all feare of him. Not long after, when the dead bodie began to putrifie and grow noisome, and to conuince the fame of his escape, had lien openly to the view of all men by the space of three daies, it was without any funerall pompe or solemnitie simply buried in the most auntient temple of ALEPPO. Of the rising and fall of this great man, Ianus Vitalis hath written this elogium or epitaph.

CAMPSON GAVRVS Sultan of Aegypt.

F

Paulus Iouius li. 4 Elog. vítorum, Illust.

Fortuna caeca, & surda, verè diceris,

Et mente vana praedita.

Ad alta tollis scamna in imo conditos,

Vt mox cadant profundius.

[Page]Morosa tu mortalium appetentium

Votum, omne fulmine ocyus G

Fugas, deinde te nihil petentibus

Benignitate prodigis.

Campson vt ille Gaurius, nil ambiens,

Nil te proterua flagitans,

Inuitus imperator orae Aegiptiae

Tumultuosa militum

Ex fece plebis factus insolentia,

Supra volabat nubila,

Inter receptus altiora sydera

Mox excidens altissimus,

Absumptus armis hinc & hinc rebellibus,

Grauis senectae pondere

Fit ludus atrox impotentis aleae

Tuae (que) peruicaciae,

Amisit & cum vita, opes quas maximo

Cum regno habebat maximas.

In English thus.

I

Fortune, well cal'd both deafe, and blind,

And thereto fond with all,

Thou setst the beggar vp aloft,

To worke his greater fall.

Thou peeuish dame, more sudden than

The thunder clap from hie,

Rejects the sutes of greedie wights,

Which to thee call and crie.

And lauishly consumes thy selfe,

And whatsoelse thou hast,K

On such as craue nothing of thee,

Nor wish not to be grac't.

As Campson Gaurus seeking nought,

Ne crauing ought of thee:

Against his will by souldiours rage,

was raisd from base degree.

And soaring vp aboue the clouds,

Made king of Aegypt land,

Receiu'd amongst the highest starres,

Did there in glorie stand.L

But forthwith falling thence, opprest

With rebels, warre, and age:

Became the scorne of thine ouerthwart

Most fierce and fickle rage.

And so with life, togither lost

A world of wealth also:

Which with his stately kingdome great,

He greatest did forgo.

Selymus commeth to Damasco. Selymus hauing receiued the citie of ALEPPO into his obeisance, sent Ionuses Bassa before M him with a great part of his light horsemen, to pursue his flying enemies to DAMASCO, whither he himselfe in few daies after came also with the rest of his armie, when he vnderstood that his enemies were departed thence and fled to CAIRE. They of DAMASCO, thinking it not to stand with their good to stay the course of his victorie, and with their liues to hazard [Page] the great wealth of that rich citie; without delay presently opened vnto him the gates at his comming. By whose example other cities alongst the sea coast moued, especially TRIPOLIS, BERYTVS, SYDON, and PTOLEMAIS, sending their embassadors, and receiuing in the Turks garrisons, yeelded themselues in like manner.

Not long after Selymus held a great counsell in his campe, which then lay vnder the wals of DAMASCO: for he would not bring his souldiours into the citie for troubling the quiet and populous state thereof, togither with the great trade of merchandise, which at that time was with wonderfull securitie kept there by merchants of diuers countries, comming from far, euen from the remotest parts of the world. And in the campe such was the militarie discipline of that most seuere commaunder,Notable discipline in Selymus his armie. that the souldiours (knowing the victorie to giue them no whit the more libertie) suffered the fruitfull orchards and gardens of the citisens, in the most plentifull time of Autumne, to rest in safetie vntouched, without any keeper. By which seuere and strait gouernment he so politikely prouided against all wants, that his campe was in all parts furnished with plentie of all things necessarie, and that at prises reasonable. There taking vnto him men skilfull in the lawes and customes of the countrey, and calling before him the embassadours of all the cities of the countrey; he heard and decided the greatest controuersies of the Syrians, appointed gouernours ouer the prouinces and cities, tooke view of the tributes and customes, and abrogated many customes and tributes due vnto the old Sultans, which seemed either vnreasonable or grieuous to the people; thereby to gaine the fame of a just and bountifull conqueror.

When he had thus set all things in order in SYRIA, and sufficiently rested and refreshed his armie, and especially his horses which with long and continuall trauell were growne maigre and leane: he of nothing more desirous than of the conquest of AEGYPT, and the vtter subuersion of the Sultans state and Mamalukes gouernment; sent before Sinan Bassa into IVDEA with fifteene thousand horsemen, and a strong regiment of harquebusiers selected out of the Ianizaries and other souldiors, to trie the passage of that countrey, and to open the way for him to GAZA: which was thought would be vnto him verie troublesome, by reason of the wilde Arabians roaming vp and downe that countrey. The citie of GAZA standeth neere the sea towards AEGYPT, not farre from the sandie desarts, whereby men with much difficultie and dangerous trauell passe out of SYRIA and so to CAIRE.

In the meane time, the Mamalukes who vnder the conduct of Gazelles were come to CAIRE, with all the rest of their order which were thither assembled from all parts of the kingdome, entring into counsell togither (as it often falleth out in time of danger and distresse) without all contention or enuie,Tomombeius by the generall consent of the Mamalukes chosen Sultan of Aegypt. chose Tomombeius (of the Turkes called Tuman-bai) a Circassian borne, to be their king. He was then the great Diadare, and by his office next in honour and power vnto the Sultan; whose prowesse & pollicie was such, that he only in the opinion of all the Mamalukes was thought able and sufficient to stay and vphold the afflicted and declining state of their kingdome. He by their generall consent and good liking promoted to the state of the great Sultan, thinking (as truth was) his owne majestie, and the remainder of the Mamalukes hopes, to bee wholy reposed in armes and the fortune of battell: began with great carefulnesse and singular industrie to prouide armour, weapons, and horses from all places; hee also caused great store of ordinance to be cast, and mustered great companies of such of his slaues as seemed meet for the warres: beside that, he entertained for pay many of the Moores and Arabians his neighbours. He also for great reward hired men skilfull of the countries, to go through the desarts of the Palmyrens into MESOPOTAMIA, and so to Hysmaell the Persian king with letters: earnestly requesting him to inuade the Turkes dominions in ASIA the lesse, or with all speed to breake into COMAGENA, being by the departure of the enemie left bare and destitute of sufficient garrisons: and farther to aduertise him, That Selymus who then lay in the borders of IVDEA, might easily be enclosed with their two armies, and so be vanquished, or for want of victuals distressed: and the rather, for that there was no fleet of the Turkes vpon that coast; able from sea to relieue their armie by land, or yet to transport them thence in case they should by chance of warre be distressed, and so thinke to returne. In which doing, he should both relieue the Aegyptian Sultan his friend and confederat, for his sake brought into so great danger; and also without any great trouble or perill notably reuenge himselfe of so many shamefull injuries as he had before receiued from that his most capitall enemie. Whilest Tomombeius doth these things, Sinan Bassa the forerunner of Selymus, hauing easily repulsed diuers companies of the wild Arabians, who in [Page] manner of theeues and robbers lay vpon the passages, had now opened the way and was come G to GAZA: where the citisens, although they were in heart faithfull vnto the Mamalukes, yet for that to shut their gates against the Bassa, & to stand vpon their guard without a sufficient garison, seemed a matter both perillous and vnreasonable, forthwith yeelded their citie vpon reasonable composition:Gaza yeelded to Sinan. and with the plentie thereof relieued the Turkes Bassa, giuing him great (but dissembled) thankes, that by his means and the good fortune of Selymus, they were deliuered from the cruell bondage of the Mamalukes: promising for the remembrance of so great a benefit, for euer to remaine his faithfull seruants. Sinan commending their readie good will, required of them all such things as he wanted, or had occasion to vse, which they seemed willingly to deliuer: and so lodged his armie neere vnto the wals of the citie, within the defence of the gardens, purposing in that place to expect the comming of Selymus. H

In the meane time (as he was a man of great experience, and most skilfull in martiall affaires) he sought by all meanes to get knowledge of that desart and vnpeopled countrey, not inhabited for lacke of water; and especially of the nature of the great sands whereby Selymus was with his armie to passe; he also woon by rewards the inhabitants of the countrey thereabout, by large offers to procure vnto him the fauour of the cheefetaines and leaders of the Arabians, neere vnto those places, and also to espie what the Mamalukes did at CAIRE, and wherein they reposed their cheefe confidence, and forthwith to giue him knowledge thereof.

On the other side, the citisens of GAZA, in heart enemies vnto the Turkes, as dayly feeling the grieuances of the present armie, aduertised Tomombeius of the comming of Sinan Bassa: and that that part of the Turkes armie might easily bee oppressed before the comming of Selymus, I if a strong power of Mamalukes were sent thither vnder the conduct of skilfull leaders: promising, that if the Mamalukes would at an appointed time vpon the sudden in the night set vpon the sleepie Turkes, they would at the same instant sallie out of the citie vpon the campe, and there with fire and sword doe what harme they could for the ouerthrow of the enemie.

Of this deuise, Tomombeius and the Mamalukes liked well, and so without delay sent Gazelles with six thousand chosen horsemen, and a great number of the Arabians to performe the exploit vpon Sinan: for Gazelles, in that his wholesome counsell had been by Campson & others rejected (who being straight way desirous of battell, had rashly cast themselues and the whole state into so great calamitie) and afterwards in the greatest danger of the battell hauing performed all the parts of a politicke and valiant cheefetaine, was growne into such credit, that all men K held a great opinion both of his valour and direction.

But he was scarcely well set forth, when aduertisement was giuen vnto Sinan by his Syrian intelligencers, That the Mamalukes with the Arabians were comming through the sandie deserts vpon the sudden to oppresse him;Sinan aduertised of the comming of Gaz [...]lles, goe [...] se [...]retly to me [...] him. and that they would be with him before two dayes were expired, for as much as they had set forward vpon the spurre without any carriages or baggage to let them. Which ouerture in good time giuen, as it was the safegard of Sinans armie, so was it of greatest importance and moment for the obtaining of the full conquest of AEGIPT afterward. But Sinan Bassa, although he knew nothing of the trecherie of them of Gaza; yet as a man of a prouident and subtill wit, suspecting that such a thing might happen, because he would not at once haue to do with a double enemie, resolued to go and meet the Mamalukes vpon the way,L and to giue them battell. Wherefore with great silence dislodging his armie betwixt ten and twelue a clocke in the night, he set forward and marched out of sight of the citie, about fifteene miles toward AEGIPT. There was neere vnto that place a little low village, wherein trauellours vsed commonly to lodge, for the commodiousnesse of a liuely and plenteous spring which there riseth: there by chance both Sinan Bassa had purposed to stay, and Gazelles in like manner had also determined to rest a few houres to refresh his armie, that he might by night, after he had well refreshed his horses, come vnlooked for vpon his enemies at GAZA; when newes was brought to both the Generals almost at one instant, by the forerunners of both the armies, That the enemie was at hand.

Gazelles not a little troubled with that vnexpected newes, for that he perceiued himselfe disappointed M of his purpose; and vnable to fight with his enemie in plaine battaile, especially his horses being sore wearied with trauell, was enforced vpon the suddaine for the safegard of himselfe and of his followers, to resolue vpon a new resolution: yet nothing discouraged, with cheerefull countenance and liuely speech exhorted his souldiors, to make themselues readie for [Page] A battaile, and that which they could not by policie bring to passe, they should now by plain force performe. Sinan on the other side hauing somewhat sooner set his men in order of battell than had Gazelles, for as much as hee had before at good leisure taken order what hee would haue done, if it should come to the point of battell: with constant looke and long persuasions full of hope, encouraged his souldiors to fight. But the conclusion of all his speech was, That they should play the men, and not once thinke of flight, for as much as all places about them would be shut vp and become impassable, if they obtained not the victorie: and that aboue all things they should persuade themselues, that no one of them could that day perish, but such as the immortall God had by the ineuitable law of fatall destinie appointed to die: and that with like hazard valiant men found life in the middest of their enemies weapons, that cowards by immutable B destinie found death in their safest flight.

The Bassa had placed his harquebusiers in the wings of his battell,The battell betweene Sinan Bassa and Gazelles. which were raunged of a great length in thin rankes, thereby to vse their peeces at more libertie, and with more ease to enclose the enemie: in the middle were placed the horsemen, to receiue the first charge of the Mamalukes. Gazelles approching the enemie, sent before the troupes of the Arabian light horsemen to trouble the wings of the enemies battell, and with a square battell of his Mamalukes charged the middle battell of the Turks. The battell was a great while most terrible, and the victorie doubtfull: for although the Turkes in number farre exceeded, yet were they not able to endure the armed and courageous Mamalukes, but were glad to giue ground; and quite disordered by the breaking in of the Mamalukes, as men discouraged, began to looke about them C which way they might flie: when by the commaundement of Sinan, the harquebusiers, who with the first volley of their shot had repulsed the Arabians, wheeling about, enclosed all the enemies battell. By which meanes both men and horse were a farre off slaine, with the multitude of the deadly shot: where true valour helped not them, so on euery side enclosed. For where any troupe of the Mamalukes pressed forward vpon the Turkes, they quickly retired, and in all places of the battell as much as they could shunned to encounter their enemies with their horsemen, labouring onely to gaule them with shot. Gazelles seeing his horses spent with extreame wearinesse, and that he was not to expect any further helpe, his Arabians now beginning to fall from him; and also considering that many of his most valiant souldiours were either slaine or wounded, and hauing also himselfe receiued a great wound in his necke; he with the rest of his D armie made way through the middest of his enemies, and hauing lost diuers of his ensignes, fled backe againe to CAIRE through the same sandie deserts whereby he came. In this battell was lost the gouernour of ALEXANDRIA, and Orchamus gouernour of CAIRE (both men of great account amongst the Mamalukes) and beside them a great number of Arabians, with a thousand or more of the Mamaluke horsemen. Neither got Sinan a joyfull or vnbloudie victorie, hauing lost aboue two thousand of his best horsemen, and amongst them certaine commaunders, men of great marke.

The Turkes wearie of this battell, which had endured from noone till night, and many of their horses fainting vnder them, were not able to pursue their enemies, and therefore encamped themselues in the same place where the battell was fought, neere vnto the fountaine. The day E following they at leisure gathered the spoile, and cutting off the heads of their enemies, which were easily knowne by their long and rough beards, fastened them vp vpon the Date trees growing thereby, as well in witnesse of their worthie labour, as by that strange and horrible spectacle to feed the eyes of their fierce emperour, who was shortly after to passe that way, and so to manifest vnto him the victorie of that day.

In the meane time, they of GAZA vpon the rising of the Sunne, perceiuing the Turks campe left emptie, as men not able longer to dissemble their couert trecherie; and vainely supposing that Sinan Bassa vpon some knowledge of the comming of the Mamalukes, had for feare retired backe into places of more safetie, suddenly set vpon such as were left in the campe, which were for most part sicke and weake men (yet in number many) whom they most cruelly slew: & presently F after set vpon two thousand of the Turkes horsemen, sent from Selymus to Sinan, which by chance were come thither the same day, enquiring with great carefulnesse what was become of the Bassa and his armie; and spoiling them of their carriages, put them to flight. Who after that discom [...]iture, supposing the Bassa (whom they had thought to haue found at GAZA, tarrying for the comming of Selymus) by some mishap or policie of the enemie to haue been lost with [Page] all his armie, and therefore fearefully retiring, were vpon the way miserably slaine by the Arabians:G neither had any one of them escaped, if they had not met with Iuleb the gouernour of ACHAIA at the citie of RAMA: for he was also sent from Selymus to Sinan Bassa with a strong companie of Graecian horsemen, by whose comming the furie of the Arabians was well repressed. Yet these pilfering people still calling forth to the prey more and more of their leaders which dwelt in the mountaines adjoyning, and being growne to a great armie, ouertooke the Turkes at a village called CARAS [...]ARA, where they enforced them to fight in a place of great disaduantage. For the Arabians hauing before taken certaine straits, which closed in the passage at the further end of a large valley, shewed themselues at once, before, behind, and on both sides of the Turkes: their weapons were bow and arrowes, and long speares armed at both ends, which they nimbly handled, after the manner of the Moores. These weapons they most skilfully vsed H vpon their swift horses, and both in their charge and retreat wounded their enemies deadly. So that the Turkes in number few, and for their horsemens staues inferiour to their enemies, durst not offer to charge them; but keeping close together, hardly defended themselues, still making way as they might: and had vndoubtedly beene brought into extreame danger to haue beene vtterly lost, had not Iuleb with foure peeces of artillerie which he brought with him for his defence, drawne them which kept the straits from their high places, and so opening the way, with all speed brought thorow his men: which straits once passed, and comming into the open fields, he with more safetie marched forward, skirmishing a farre off with the enemie with his archers and harquebusiers, and discharging his fieldpeeces where he saw the greatest and thickest troups of those wild people.I

On the other part, the Arabians dispersedly houering about them in troupes, were still in the taile of the armie, and such as were wounded or weake and could not follow the rest, they slew; and sought by all meanes to hinder their journey, not suffering them (circumuented with so many dangers) either to refresh themselues, or to take any rest. This was vnto the Turks a most dismall day, for many of them tormented with thirst, and weakened with wounds and extreame labour, gaue vp the ghost; and now no helpe remained in this desperate estate, being still beset and hardly laied to with the multitude of those fierce and desperat enemies: when suddainely a great number of other Turks came to them in the mid way vnlooked for, being now in despaire and euen at the last cast. For Selymus hauing left the Imbrahor-Bassa with a strong armie vpon the borders of PERSIA, for the defence of SYRIA and ASIA, and hauing sent for new supplies K of souldiors to CONSTANTINOPLE, which should with a great fleet be transported into SYRIA, had now remoued from DAMASCO: and the better to prouide for victuals and forrage, which began now to grow scant in that wasted countrey, euery day sent before great troupes and companies of his armie, as it were at certaine appointed times.

Selymus doubting Sinan Bassa to haue been lost, becommeth melancholie.So Iuleb deliuered of the present danger by the comming in of these fresh souldiors, met with Selymus the next day, and in order told him all that had happened vnto him and his first troupes at GAZA and RAMA, and all the way after: and also what they supposed by conjectures to haue chanced to Sinan Bassa with his armie, for the manifold wyles of so dangerous enemies. With which newes Selymus became exceeding melancholie: and thereupon thought it not good to goe any further, before he perfectly knew how all stood with Sinan, in whose fortune he had reposed L all the hope of his good successe in that so great an enterprise. But whilest hee was in this dumpe,Ne [...]e [...] of Sinans [...] comfor [...]eth Selymus. suddenly came the Syrian spies, who declaring vnto him all that Sinan Bassa had done, conuerted that melancholie passion into no lesse joy and gladnesse: for he saw that by that victorie, AEGIPT was laid open vnto him, and his desires as good as halfe accomplished in lesse time than euer he expected.

The next day after, he remoued with his armie to RAMA, and by the way as he went (to the terrour of others) burnt the dwellings together with the wiues and children of those Arabians, who but a little before had done so much harme to his men in their passage. And from thence sending before his footmen to Sinan Bassa at GAZA, hee himselfe with his horsemen turned out of the way vpon the left hand to HIERVSALEM, to visit that most antient and famous citie, so M much renowned both for the antiquitie thereof, and the fame of the religion of the Iewes. That vnpeopled and desolate citie lay then defaced with the hugie ruines of the old sacred and stately buildings; not inhabited by the Iewes, the antient inhabitants thereof (who for their inexpiable guilt, as men exiled out of the world, haue neither country or resting place) but for most part by [Page] A a few poore Christians, who to the great shame and scorne of the Christian name, paied yearely a wonderfull tribute vnto the Sultan of AEGYPT for the possession of the sacred sepulchre: when as the Christian princes flourishing at that time with glorie, power and wealth, could not by any motiue of immortall glorie or fame, be incited to reuenge so great an injurie; but deeming it (as should seeme) better agreeing with their state, to spend their time in idle vanities or mortall war one against an other, than in the quarrell of the most true and Christian religion.

Selymus hauing reuerently worshipped the auntient monuments of the old prophets, and done especiall sacrifice vnto his great prophet Mahomet; gaue vnto the Christian priests keepers of the place (as vnto good and deuout men) money to maintaine them for six moneths: and staying at HIERVSALEM but one night, marched in foure daies to the rest of his army at GAZA. B Where by the way, he had continuall skirmishes both day and night with the Arabians: for they according to their wonted manner, were desperatly at hand in euerie place; and where the straightnesse of the waies enforced the Turkes to extenuat their rankes, there would they be readie to skirmish with them, and suddenly vnlooked for come to handie blowes: and when they came into the vallies, they tumbled downe the mountaines vpon them great stones which they had for that purpose before prouided. At which time the Turkes harquebusiers in whom they had greatest confidence, serued them to little purpose: for the weather was so tempestuous and extreame moist with continuall raine, that the pouder in their flaskes became wet and vnseruiceable, and hardly could they keepe fire in their matches. Yet by the valiantnesse of the Ianizaries the matter was so vsed, that neere vnto the person of the emperour no great harme was done by C those naked robbers: for climbing vp the hils with pikes in their hands, they driue them from their standings, and enforced them to abandon the straights and high places.

But Sinan Bassa who after his victorie returning to GAZA,1517 had put to death the authors of the late reuolt,Sinan Bassa goeth to meet Selymu [...] a [...] he wa [...] comming to Gaza. confiscated their goods, and exacted of the people in generall a great sum of money, as the just punishment of their false treacherie: hearing now of the comming of Selymus, went to meet him with his victorious souldiours, furnished with the spoiles of their enemies. Whom Selymus most honourably receiued, and gaue generally to the captaines, and particularly to the most valiant of the common souldiours, garments of silke, with a great sum of money in reward of their good seruice.

After that, he staied but foure daies at GAZA, for that he thought it not good to giue any D long time of breathing vnto his discouraged enemies, now twise ouerthrowne, or to suffer the new Sultan (not yet well setled in his kingdome) to grow stronger by new preparations and supplies raised in the most populous and plentifull countrie of AEGYPT. Which to let, although it required great hast in setting forward, and serued as spurs vnto him naturally hasting to glorie and renowme; yet was his armie to be refreshed after so long and painfull trauell, and great prouision to be made for the carriage of water vpon camels all the way through the drie solitarie and sandie desarts. For betweene GAZA and CAIRE lie vast vnpeopled and barren sands, which moued by the wind, rise vp in billowes in manner of a wrought sea so troublesome, that oftentimes it is not possible to see for dust: and the light sands in many places gauled deepe with the wind, wonderfully troubleth the wearie passengers. But such a sudden calme ensued the great raine which fell but a few daies before, that Selymus vnto his great good fortune wanted nothing that he could wish, for the happie conducting of his armie: for the ayre was become so calme, that there was no blast of wind to raise the sand to trouble their sight; and withall such plentie of water was found almost in euerie place by reason of the aboundant raine, which being not yet sunke farre into the sand, afforded them water in such plentie if they digged but two foot deepe, that the souldiors commonly thought it needlesse to carrie any bottle of water for feare of thirst. Yet for all that, the wild Arabians failed not in all that passage, on euerie side to houer about the Turkes armie (as haukes ouer their prey) and suffered none of them to straggle out of order, or stay behind the armie, but they were straightway snatcht vp and slaine. Against whom Selymus prouided an easie remedie, by placing his field pieces in diuers parts of his armie, which by the direction of the leaders (as euerie man happened to be neerest vnto the danger) were forthwith discharged vpon the roaming enemie. And in the rearward of his armie were placed strong companies of harquebusiers, for defence of the weake and feeble souldiours, who could but softly follow the armie, and were therefore most subject to danger.

By this meanes Selymus with some small losse receiued from the Arabians, in eight daies [Page] march drew neere to CAIRE, Sinan Bassa going before him, who with his Europeian souldiors G still kept one daies journey before. There is a village about six miles distant from the citie of CAIRE called MATHAREA, famous for the plentie of most excellent baulme: which liquor of all others most fragrant and soueraigne, distilled out of low trees there planted, whose vttermost [...]ind the people cut with yuorie kniues to giue the liquor passage: which baulme, for the notable vertues thereof, being not elsewhere to be had, mens diseases and wanton desires haue made of a wonderfull price.Tom [...]mb [...]ius seek [...]th to entrap the Turkes. Into that place neere vnto a village called RHODANIA, had Tomombeius conuaied all his new and old prouision of artillerie; and had drawne deepe ditches ouerthwart all the field, and crosse the high way, which he had closely couered ouer with weake hurdles and earth, as if it had beene firme ground. And he with his Mamalukes (in number about twelue thousand) and a great multitude of Arabian horsemen lay in places conuenient, of purpose that H when the Turkish battels should approach, they should first feele the force of his great ordinance before they came within the shot of their arrowes, and forthwith vpon great aduantage, with all his forces suddenly to set vpon them disordered and entrapped. All which things were so cunningly and so politikely dispatched and done, that there was none in the Sultans armie which doubted of the good successe of that day: and a great mischiefe had vndoubtedly befallen the Turkes, had not fortune which fauoured Selymus and frowned vpon Tomombeius (or more truely to say, the fatall period of that kingdome so requiring) by the false treacherie of a few, frustrated the great endeuors of the Mamalukes.

There was in the Sultans armie amongst the soldiors of the court, foure Epirot Mamalukes, who grieued to see Tomombeius contrarie to their desires, preferred vnto the kingdome by others I of a contrarie faction: whether it were vpon a malicious disposition, or vpon hope of reward and better entertainment; or for that in so great a declination of their kingdome, they thought it good to seeke for new friends of more assurance, fled secretly to Sinan Bassa, as to a most famous captaine and one of their owne nation. For this great commaunder Sinan, Selymus his right hand, was borne in a poore countrey village of EPIRVS, in the mountaine countrey of AMERACIA, whom a wonderfull mischance preferred to that height of credit and wealth: for it is reported, that a sow kept in the house wherein he was borne, bit off his genitories, being then but a child, as he lay by chance sleeping in the shadow; and being made of greater esteeme by that mishap, was by them which tooke vp delicat minions for the Turkish emperour, brought to CONSTANTINOPLE, and presented to the great emperour Mahomet, Selymus his grandfather:K where fortune by the fatall direction of his good hap, aduanced him to his appointed honours, whom she had long before dismembred. By these fugitiue Mamalukes, Selymus and Sinan were instructed of all the deuises of the enemie, and especially what stratagems Tomombeius had with great cunning and pollicie deuised: whereinto they must needs fall, if they should go directly on, and not forsake the hie way. Wherfore guided by the same fugitiues, they fetch a great compasse on the left hand, and by an vnused way, before it was day hauing escaped the front of their enemies campe, with all the dangers prepared for them; they came and shewed themselues at their backs in order of battell, with their great artillerie readie bent, because they were desirous without delay to joyne battell.

Tomombeius now too late perceiuing that his plot was discouered by the treason of some of L his owne people, although he was therewith aboue measure grieued; for that all which he had with so great industrie and the labour of so many men brought to passe,The comming of [...] by an [...]nexpected way, maketh great confusion in Tomombeiu [...] camp. was through spightfull fortune made frustrat, and in a moment brought to nought: yet for all that (as he was a man of an inuincible courage) presently entred into his wonted and deepe deuises, and calling vn [...]o him his chiefe commaunders, quickly told them what he would haue done. Now in this short moment of time, he was to doe many things at once; the signall was to be giuen for the souldiours to mount their horses, and to make themselues readie; the order of his campe was to bee changed; his battell to be ordered; his souldiours to be encouraged; and all his great ordinance, as the case required, quite contrarie way to be turned: all which things, as they could but hardly and troublesomely by one commaunder be directed, so were they hastily and disorderedly at M once done by many. But aboue all other things, the great concourse of people for turning and remouing the great artillerie most troubled the well ordering of the rest: for many of them were hug [...]e yron pieces of great waight, made fast in stocks of wood, with rings and yron claspes, after the old and rude manner of ship ordinance; which for their exceeding & ponderous waight, [Page] could not be out of their places remoued, but by the strength of many horses, and the great labour of men, with leauers and roules put vnder them: and such as were mounted vpon carriages, when they were drawne through all parts of the campe, with the great clamor of the disordered and hastie people, some drawing, some thrusting forward the same, with their tumultuous stirre and doings, wonderfully troubled the other souldiors as they were mounting to horse and repairing toward their ensignes. But two things maruellously helped these difficulties, the soldiors cheerefulnesse, and constancie; which was such as passeth credit: For they did not vpon any apprehension of feare faile either in hope or courage, as oftentimes it happeneth in suddaine accidents, wherein euen the old approued souldiors doe many times faile of their wonted valor. And although they were twice ouercome in battell, yet still they were of greater spirit & confidence, as men destitute neither of courage or skill, but onely of fortune.

Wherefore Tomombeius hauing with much adoe ordered his battell, and his souldiors with great cheerefulnesse desiring the signall to be giuen, commaunded all the multitude of his Arabians to compasse in the wings of the enemies battell behind, and so to skirmish with them: that so (if it were possible) the Turkes horsemen might with the danger of the doubtfull fight with such an vncertaine enemie, be disordered before he set forward to charge them with his troupes: and withall commaunded his great ordinance (which was now turned vpon the enemie) to be presently discharged. So did the Turks likewise, discharging at once from a conuenient distance both their greater and smaller ordinance, and speedily recharging them, brought them within an arrow shot; so that for a good space they lay beating the one the other on both sides with their C great artillerie onely: in which manner of fight the Aegyptian canoniers were almost all slaine, and many of their fieldpieces broken by force of the enemies shot. For Selymus had in his camp many excellent and skilfull canoniers,Christian canoniers serue the Turkes against the Aegyptians. whom he had with great entertainement allured out of ITALIE and GERMANIE: and especially of those refuce Iewes, which by the zeale of king Ferdinand being driuen out of SPAINE, afterwards to the shame of the Christians, dispersed those rare and deadly deuices through the East. The cheefe of these canoniers was one Iacobus è Regio Lepid [...], a cunning enginer, who but a little before ouercome by the Turks rewards, abjuting the Christian religion, reuolted vnto the Mahometane superstition.

But after that the Mamalukes had brought the matter to battell on both sides, they gaue out a most hideous and dreadfull crie, and with exceeding furie assailed the Turkes in three places: for Selymus still keeping his wonted order, approched his enemies with his battell in forme of an halfe Moone.The order of Selymus his armie. Mustapha Bassa had the leading of the Asian horsemen in the right wing: and Ionuses Bassa of the Europeians in the left: he himselfe stood in the maine battell with the squadron of his trustie Ianizaries,Sinan Bassa Generall of the field and great store of artillerie: but Sinan the Eunuch Bassa, generall of the field, led after him a great number of most valiant horsemen, drawne out of euery troupe to be readie against all the vncertaine euents that might happen in the battell; vnto whom hee joyned fiue hundred harquebusiers, Ianizaries, men of wonderfull courage and actiuitie, selected out of Selymus his owne squadron, to relieue such part of the armie as should chance to be most pressed by the enemie.

So almost at one time, whilest Tomombeius stood in the maine battell against Selymus, and the wings of the Mamalukes with equall battell encountred the wings of the Turkes, and the Arabians also valiantly charging them in the rereward as they had in charge, foure sharpe battels were at once made in diuers places. It is reported by some that were present in that battell, that what for the clamour and crie of souldiors, what for the noise of drums and trumpets and such like instruments of warre, what for the thundering of ordinance, clattering of armour, and rising of the dust, all mens minds were so confounded and abashed, that running on headlong as men furious and desperat, when neither their speeches could be heard, their tokens knowne, their ensignes seene, or captaines vnderstood, mistaking one another in that hurly burly, they slew many of their friends in steed of their enemies: for neuer battels met together with greater hatred, neither did euer two great kings with lesse care of their persons and safetie more resolutely or desperatly make shew of their strength and courage. For both of them with like danger both of themselues and of their armies, seeing plainly that they had put both their liues and kingdomes to the hazard of a battell, promised vnto themselues no other hope of safetie, but what they should obtaine by victorie. Gazelles desirous both of honour and of reuenge, to require the Europeian horsemen with like slaughter as he had before receiued from them not far from GAZA, [Page] with wonderfull furie assailed Ionuses Bassa, and at the first encounter brake his first rankes, and G ouerthrew certain of his guidons: at which time the Arabians pressing couragiously in at their backes, enforced those victorious troupes, which in all battels had hitherto carried away the prise (the very flower of THRACIA, THESSALIA, EPIRVS, MACEDONIA, and GRaeCIA) to flie and shew their backes, which neuer enemie had before that time seene. At which time Si [...]n Bassa carefully attending euery accident, came speedily in with his most valiant troupes of fresh men vpon the side of the enemie, and restored againe the battell, now declining and foulely disordered. But whiles Sinan, Sinan [...]ssa with [...]ost of his foll [...]ers slaine by [...]idon. who in this his last worthie labour had interrupted the manifest victorie of Gazelles, was with an inuincible courage valiantly fighting in the head of his battell, he was by the comming in of the courageous captain Bidon with his Mamalukes, ouercharged and slaine. His most valiant followers also labouring to rescue and carrie away his dead bodie, were H by Gazelles vnfolding his troupes (that standing thin, they might at more libertie vse their swords, in which manner of fight the Mamalukes farre excelled the Turks) for most part slaine, and the rest put to flight: and that chosen companie of fiue hundred of the most valiant Ianizaries, now destitute of their horsemen, when they had most courageously done what was possible for men to doe, being compassed round with the Mamaluke horsemen, were all in a trice cut in peeces and troden vnderfoot. Thus resteth this Eunuch Bassa in the bed of fame, who liuing, had the leading of this most warlike emperour Selymus his greatest armies in his most dangerous warres.

Mustapha with his A [...]n souldi [...]rs ouerthrowe [...]h the left [...]ing of the Sulta [...] armie. Mustapha in the other wing of the Turkes battell comming on courageously with his Asian horsemen, did sore presse the left wing of the Aegyptians (whereof Heylmis the Diadare, and Gi [...] pal, I two valiant captaines had the leading) who but a little before had receiued great harme by the great ordinance which was discharged out of the middest of Selymus his battell ouerthwa [...] the field: Which Mustapha perceiuing, and desiring to blot out the old infamie hee had before receiued, did fiercely presse vpon them, so disordered, and with his whole troupes ouerthrew their broken rankes; and glistering in his bright armour, with a loud voice encouraged his Asian souldiors, exhorting them that day with valiant prowesse or honourable death, to recouer their antient honour of late lost in the fields of ALEPPO.

At the same time also Tomombeius breaking through the middle battell of the Turkes horsemen, was entred into the squadron of the footmen, with his crooked scimitar giuing many a deadly wound, himselfe being a valiant big made man, and of great strength. The Arabians had K also in a ring enclosed the vttermost parts of the Turks armie, and in many places enforced them to turne their battell vpon them, being sore charged with a doubtfull fight both before and behind: when Selymus set forward with his battell of footmen, and his squadron of Ianizaries, his last and most assured refuge in that his hard distresse, whose inuincible force, neither the courageous barbed horses, nor their victorious riders were able to abide: for part of them with their harquebusiers, and the rest with their pikes, had so strongly set the front of their battell, that nothing was able to stand wheresoeuer that firme battell, linked together as if it had been but one whole entire bodie, swayed. Yet was this cruell battell continued with diuers fortune on both sides, from foure of the clocke vntill the going downe of the Sunne; neither was there any part of their armies, which had not with diuers successe and change of fortune, endured the furie of L that battell: for both the victors and the vanquished being enraged with an implacable hatred one against another, fought desperately as men prodigall of their liues: The Mamalukes disdaining to haue the victorie wrong out of their hands by them whom they had in so many places discomfited, and the Turkes taking it in no lesse scorne, that they, whom but of late they had ouercome and vanquished in two great battels, should now the third time make so strong resistance. So that on both sides their fainting hands and bodies both wearied and weakened with wounds, supported only with anger and obstinacie of mind, seemed yet sufficient to haue maintained that bloudie battell vntill the next day, if the darkenesse of the night now comming on, had not made an end of that dayes slaughter.

Tomombeius vndoubtedly vanquished, and feating to be vtterly ouerthrowne, first caused a retreat M to be sounded, that his Mamalukes which were indeed not able to withstand the Ianizaries, might not seeme to be put to flight, but rather as men commaunded, to retire. Which hee thought to concerne much both for the encouraging of his souldiors▪ and for the keeping of his owne credit and estimation with his subjects. For now the selfesame fortune which had deceiued [Page] A his first hopes, seemed vnto him (as it fareth with men in distresse, yet still hoping for better) to promise him more prosperous successe, if he were not discouraged: but reseruing such remainders of his forces as were left, he should againe courageously renew the warre.

The battell thus broken off by the approch of the night, the Turkes as victors enjoying the tents and great artillerie of their enemies, pursued the Mamalukes vntill midnight, who held on their way to CAIRE, in manner as if they had fled. This great battell was fought vpon a thursday the foure and twentieth day of Ianuarie, in the yeare 1517. The Diadare was taken in the flight mortally wounded,Selymus causeth the Diadare and the valiant captaine Bidon to be slaine. and with him the valiant captaine Bidon, hauing in the battell one of his legs broken in the knee with a faulshion shot, wherewith his horse was also slaine vnder him. Selymus commaunded them both the next day to bee slaine, either for that their wounds were supposed to be incurable, or els for that it was his pleasure, with the death of those two honouble personages to appease the angrie ghost of Sinan Bassa, whose death he wonderfully lamēted.

The Turkes although they still preuailed, yet was their armie greatly impaired euen in their prosperous successe and fortunat battels: the fourth part of their armie was consumed with sicknesse and the sword, and that dayes labour had tyred a great number of their horses, beside the long journey they had before endured. For which causes Selymus was enforced to slacke somewhat of his accustomed hast: for as yet he had no experience of the disposition of the Aegyptians which dwelt at CAIRE; neither could he vnderstand by any certaine report, where Tomombeius staied, or vpon what resolution he rested. Which things not throughly known, he thought it not good to commit himselfe and his armie into that most populous and spacious citie: but staying foure dayes at the village of MATHAREA and RHODANIA, carefully prouided for his wounded souldiors, and caused the bodies of such as were slaine to be buried; but the dead carkasses of his enemies he left to the birds of the aire and beasts of the field. And afterward remouing his campe thence, that he might more commodiously water, he came into the plaines betweene old CAIRE and BVLACH.

In the meane while Tomombeius nothing discouraged with so many mishaps, gathering together the Mamalukes from all places, encamped his armie commodiously betweene the new citie of CAIRE and the riuer Nylus, hee also armed eight thousand Aethyopian slaues (which kind of men he had not before vsed, for the remembrance of their old rebellion,) beside that hee opening the old armourie, put armes into the hands of Mamalukes sonnes, and Moores (his vassales) into the hands of the Iewes and Arabians also, and courageously prepared for a greater and more mortall warre than before. But for as much as there were many difficulties in the managing thereof, hauing almost lost all his great artillerie, with many of his most valiant horsemen slaine in the former battels; he in his troubled mind did so cast the doubtfull hopes of his last deuice, which cruell necessitie wrung from him, that for as much as he had by manly force nothing preuailed in open field, he would now altogether vse policie: as hee which of late hauing vnfortunately made proofe of his strength, his forces yet all whole, thought it not good againe to aduenture the fortune of a battell: neither was hee in hope if he should so doe, to be able with his small power and desperat supplies to protract the warre vntill the heat of Summer, as he desired. Wherefore he resolued by night to assaile the Turkes campe, and if possibly he could, to set it on fire. For which his deuice hee seemed to haue two reasons: whereof the one consisted in the speedie execution, that he might desperatly attempt to doe some notable exploit in the night, before the enemie should perceiue the weakenesse of his power, which was not great, and scambled vp vpon the sudden; as also before hee himselfe should grow into contempt with the naturall Aegyptians▪ who desiring nothing more than to cast off the seruile yoke of the Mamaluke gouernment, with wauering minds expected but some fit occasion to rebell: the other was, that by the benefit of the night hee might auoid the danger of the great ordinance; which in sudden accidents, and especially in the darknesse of the night, serueth to little or no purpose; in which kind of strength he had before to his great losse learned, that his enemies were farre too good for him. But these his reasonable policies, when all things were in readinesse to haue put the same in execution,The purpose of Tomombeius discouered to Selymus. were in like manner as the first ouerthrowne by the treason of such as secretly reuolted from him to the enemie.

For Selymus vnderstanding the whole plot, by certain Mamalukes, (which hauing the kings euill fortune in contempt, as it commonly falleth out with men in miserie, daily forsooke him) commaunded his armie to be alwaies in readinesse, and making great fires in diuers places of his [Page] campe, kept most carefull and vigilant watch. By which his diligence it came fitly to passe, that G the night following Tomombeius approching his campe, was repulsed, with no small losse of his first troups which vnaduisedly were gone on too far: and had no doubt that night thereby receiued his last ouerthrow, but that he wisely misdoubting the vnwonted light of the fires shining in all parts of the campe, in time called backe his hasting troups, which were themselues with more hast than good speed marching into the verie mouth of the Turks great artillerie, bent of purpose vpon them.

Tomombeius disappointed of his purpose, by persuasion of his chieftaines retired to CAIRE: for the Mamalukes still put to the worse in plaine field, thought it best to proceed in another manner; persuading him, with the whole strength of his armie to man all the conuenient places of that great citie, otherwise exposed to the enemies pleasure, and so to keepe the Turkes from entring. For they as men brought to this extremitie, that they must now fight for their dwellings, liues, wiues, and children; thought it more honourable and better agreeing with their antient glorie, so to doe in their sight, and in the entrance of their houses, than elsewhere farther off. Wherefore the Mamalukes comming home to CAIRE, furnished all their families and fl [...] roofes of their houses with all manner of weapons: euerie one of them now humbly requesting the Aegyptians their neighbours, to take vp armes against the Turks their antient and mortall enemies, and not to suffer themselues to be cowardly slaine, their goods spoiled, and their wiues and children carried away into most miserable captiuitie; forasmuch as the mercilesse and greedie enemie, if he should once get the victorie, would no whit spare them, although they should as neuters stand looking on, and helpe neither partie: for victorie (as they said) alwaies I full of insolent pride, would know no friend but such as with resolute hand did their vttermost deuoire in time of danger, for the obtaining thereof.

The Aegyptians diuersly affected [...] the Mamalukes.There were many of the wealthiest of the Aegyptians, who as they thought the change of the state would be hurtfull to their trades and wealth, so were they readie in all they could to helpe the Mamalukes their old lords: So on the other side there were many of the middle sort of the citisens, and a farre greater multitude of the basest sort of the vulgar people, who hauing little or nothing to lose, liued in hope now to make a gaine of other mens losses; and withall, remembring what miserie and slauerie they had endured about the space of three hundred years, vnder the proud gouernment of the Mamalukes, kept themselues close in their houses, expecting the last euent of warres; and secretly rejoycing in their hearts, that the time was come (God so K appointing) wherein their outragious and cruell masters should be justly and worthely punished for their oppression and hard dealing; and that which gladded them the more, that the reuenge should be taken by the hazard of other mens liues, with which wished spectacle they well hoped shortly to fill their desirous eies.

Tomombeius with much labour and greater care, fortified all the gates and entrances of the citie, appointed vnto euerie street a particular captaine, in euerie publike place encouraged the people, omitting nothing that could possibly be done or deuised; and that which in so great a calamitie and danger was of all other things the hardest, with cheerfull countenance and vndaunted courage, made shew of greatest hope. The Mamalukes also, beside the necessitie (which in cases of extremitie is of power to encourage and make desperat the faint hearted coward) prouoked L with emulation, straue amongst themselues who should best performe all the dueties of worthie captaines and souldiours: for euerie one of them according to his conceit and deuise, caused deepe ditches, or great timber logs to be cast ouerthwart the streets; some in couert trenches set vp sharpe stakes, whereupon the enemie falling vnawares might be gaged; othersome according to their store, furnished the windowes and fronts of their houses in the greatest and most open streets, with harquebusiers: all which things with many mo were done with such celeritie, that none of the best or most honourable of the Mamalukes refused to handle a spade or a mattocke, or to put his hand to any other base labour; so that nothing could be sooner deuised, but it was forthwith performed.

The description of the great citie of Caire.This great and auntient citie of CAIRE was not compassed with any wals, yet were there diuers M gates and entrances which led into it: whereof one broad straight street came directly from the East gate vnto the castle and middle of the citie; the rest were so narrow and crooked, that by them no great artillerie could possibly be brought, or souldiours enter without great danger. Into this place especially, had Tomombeius conuaied his chiefest strength: for that he knew his [Page] enemies must of necessitie come in that way for the largenesse of the streets; the other parts of the citie he kept with lesse garrisons. But the innermost part where the castle stood, was kept with a verie great and strong garrison of most valiant soldiors: that whither soeuer the clamour of the enemie or danger of the battell should call, they might speedily from thence come with reliefe. For why, that citie of all others the greatest, could not with so small power as Tomombeius then had, be in euerie place and entrance sufficiently defended: for within the circuit of MEMPHIS (now called CAIRE) are contained three great cities, which joyned one to an other with stragling bridges, make one citie; whereof the greatest and most populous, is at this day called New CAIRE. It lieth in length six miles, alongst the riuer Nilus, from which it is equally distant a mile: the breadth thereof, exceedeth not a mile and a quarter. In the middest thereof is a castle standing vpon a little rising ground, somewhat higher than the rest of the citie; more notable for the greatnesse and beautie thereof, than for the manner of the fortification: for in it were many princely gardens, a faire street with many large galleries, diuers faire tilt-yardes and courts, with stately chambers opening euerie way: the vtter part thereof was garnished round about with towers, fortresses, and beautifull battlements; from whence all parts of the citie, the riuer Nilus running by, and the high Pyramides were most pleasantly to be seene. Not far from this princely pallace, is a lake made by the hand of man, the water wherein deriued from the riuer Nilus, is on euerie side enclosed with most stately buildings: and is a place of wonderfull pleasure, when as a man standing at a window may take both fish and soule, whereof there is in the lake great store. Another lake there is farre greater and fairer than this, in forme of a triangle, C in the vttermost part of this New citie of CAIRE toward BVLACH: it is filled at the rising of Nilus by a great sluce made of stone with yron floudgates; and being joyned to the great riuer by a broad channell, is able to beare small boats and barges: wherin gentlemen for their disport vsed to solace themselues both by day and night in courting their mistresses. The houses were all gallantly built afront all about the lake, with porches garnished with open galleries, and paued with smooth marble euen to the brim of the lake: there the citisens in their more prosperous times vsed to row vp and down in boats, and with pleasant musicke to delight the listening eares of the hearers. On the East side of this lake stood a most sumptuous and stately pallace, the late worke of queene Dultibe wife of the great Sultan Caitbeius, for manner of the building and inward beautie farre exceeding the other proud buildings of this pleasant place: for the wals glistered with red marble, and pargeting of diuers colours, yea all the house was paued with checker and tesseled worke; the windowes and gates were made of alablaster, white marble, and much other spotted marble; the posts and wickets of massie yourie, checkered with glistering blacke ebonie; so curiously wrought in winding knots, as might easilier stay than satisfie the eies of the wondering beholder: neither was the furniture in it inferiour to the magnificence of the building, but such as might fitly answere both a princes state, and a womans queint desire. All which things shortly after (Selymus hauing obtained the victorie) carried to CONSTANTINOPLE; not sparing the verie wals, but plucking them downe, so to take out the curious stones whole. Beside the goodly buildings about that lake, in euerie place of New CAIRE was to be seene the faire houses of the chiefe Mamalukes; more commended for their commodiousnesse, than for the manner of their building. The rest of the buildings of the citie was but low▪ replenished with the common sort of base people. There are yet extant in diuers places of the citie, three churches of the Christians; whereof one is holden in greater reuerence than the rest, for the fame of a low vault in the ground, where it is reported the virgin Marie flying the furie of Herod, to haue reposed her selfe with her child Christ Iesus the Sauiour of the world: another dedicated to the virgin Barbara: and the third to S. George, which amongst those nations are of great fame. Vnto the citie of New CAIRE, the citie of BVLACH is joyned almost with continuall buildings. It is of an high and stately building, lying close vnto the riuer Nilus, and was in Sommer time frequented by the Mamalukes and other noble men, that they might at their pleasure from their high places behold the inundation of that famous riuer: There land all the ship [...] which come vp the riuer; yet the great meeting of the merchants is at New CAIRE. On the other side of the riuer ouer against BVLACH, are many cottages made of hurdles and leaues of date trees, the dwellings of poore fishermen and watermen. A little aboue BVLACH is old CAIRE, which is also joyned vnto the new citie with continuall buildings; yet distant from it about two miles and an halfe, and standeth also fast by the riuer of Nilus. Oueragainst it in the [Page] middest of the riuer is an island, notable for the pleasantnesse of the gardens and banqueting houses G therein: In it is an antient temple, famous for the loue of king Pharaos daughter, and the danger of Moses (a most auntient historie, yet euerie where there still fresh in memorie.) But most part of the buildings of old CAIRE, are now growne into gardens and rude ruines. It is supposed by many probable conjectures, that there sometime stood the auntient citie of MEMPHIS. Vpon the banke of the riuer, the late Sultan Campson built a sumptuous tower, ouertopping the castle in new CAIRE, to conuay water thither out of Nilus; which being by many wheeles and ingenious deuises forced into the top thereof, and there receiued into great cesterns, was from thence by pipes of stone and lead, conuaied into all places of the kings great pallace at new CAIRE.The pyramides of Aegypt. About fiue miles distant from old CAIRE on AFRICKE side, stand the Pyramides, monuments of the barbarous Aegyptian kings vanitie; whose proud names and titles Time hath H worne out of those huge and wonderfull buildings, of purpose made for the vaine eternising of their fame and endlesse wealth: so that of them it may now well be said,

Miramur perijsse homines? monumenta fatiscunt:

Interitus saxis nominibus (que) venit.

What wonder we that men doe die? the stately tombes doe weare:

The verie stones consume to naught, with titles they did beare.

Within them are the sepulchers of the old Aegyptian kings, deuided into chappels, garnished I with stone of great price curiously wrought. Yet are those places loathsome of smell, and for darknesse thereof, dreadfull to behold: for as men go downe to come into them by a narrow way, almost swarued vp with rubbidge, their lights ar [...] oftentimes put out with the dampe of the earth, and swarmes of reremise flying about their eares. Some hauing got to the tops of them report, that the watch tower of ALEXANDRIA, and the mouths of the riuer Nilus where it falleth into the sea, is from thence well to be seene: and that for the great height of them, a man cannot shoot an arrow so high as the middest of the lower tower whereon the spire standeth. Of these outragious buildings, are written many strange and almost incredible things, as that an hundred thousand men should be occupied continually by the space of twentie yeares, in building of one of them: during which time, the charges for roots, garlike and oinions only, amounted to 1600 talents of siluer. These wonderfull Pyramides only excepted, nothing is in the three cities more to be wondered at than the multitude of the people, who in number almost incredible go vp and downe euerie street: but for most part ragged and torne, for that they which held any wealth, durst not make any shew thereof for feare of the Mamalukes. The common people did then generally liue with mutton, hens, and rise, whereof the countrey yeeldeth plentie: neither had they as yet the knowledge of the curious but vnwholsome forced dishes, and prouocations of gluttonie, which other nations had to their great cost and hurt inuented. But againe to our purpose.

Selymus encourageth his souldiors to the winning of Caire.When Selymus vnderstood assuredly that Tomombeius was retired into CAIRE, and that the Mamalukes hauing thither assembled all their strength, were resolued there to proue the vttermost L of their fortune: he with his armie drew neerer vnto the citie, exhorting his souldiours to set downe themselues that day for euer to vanquish and subdue their enemies, whom they had so many times before ouerthrowne; and now a little to force themselues for the gaining of the rewards due to their former labours and victories: which (as he said) would be so many and so great, as they had not the full thereof before in their immoderat desires imagined▪ Telling them moreouer, that there was but a few good souldiours left with the desolat Sultan, who alreadie wounded and terrified, and not able longer to keepe the field, had made choice to end their daies in the sight and armes of their wiues and children. Beside that, he made them beleeue, that hee was voluntarily sent for by the Aegyptians, deadly enemies vnto the verie name of the Mamalukes, whose vtter destruction they earnestly expected: and had therefore promised him for the M rooting vp of that wicked and cruell kind of men, to assaile them as occasion serued out of their houses, and so to further his victorie: yet neuerthelesse he said, That the accomplishment of the whole matter, and to make a full conquest, consisted in the subduing of those weake remainders of the vanquished and scattered armie; for as much as they were not to be accounted as men [Page] quite ouercome, which did yet liue in hope, with weapons in their hands, possessed of the chiefe citie and seat of their empire. Wherefore that they should thinke, that in the fortune of that day rested the good or bad estate and condition of all their liues, honours and fortunes. Assuring them, that it would be a matter but of small labour and trauell to bring it to a wished end, if they would in that new kind of fight (as they had alwaies valiantly in other battels vnder his conduct) but resolue with themselues that they would ouercome.

This his speech much enflamed the minds of his souldiours, but the hope of so great a prey much more: so that being in good order and readie, they expected but the signe of the assault. When Selymus entring by the gate called Basuela, did at one instant thrust in his horsemen at diuers places of the great citie; but his Ianizaries he brought in by the greatest and largest street. At the first entrance of the citie; horsemen encountred with horsemen, and made a bloudie fight▪ in the narrow streets and lanes: but the footmen placing their e [...]uerings & falcons before them, and suddenly discharging them where they saw the thickest troupes of their enemies, cle [...]red the street directly before them.A most mor [...]all battell fought in Caire. But when they came to the baricadoes and trenches, and were by force to remoue the timber logs and other like things lying crosse the streets, and so to passe the trenches, the Mamalukes on the other side valiantly withstanding them; they fought with such force and obstinacie on both parts, that in the memorie of man was neuer a more fierce or cruell battell seene. For both the Mamalukes and the Turkes in that fight showed the vttermost of their strength and power; not ignorant that in that as in the last, they were to fight not for honour onely, but euen for their liues and empire: when as greatest rewards, or else extreame miserie, were by dallying fortune on both sides propounded both to the vanquished and vanquisher. At these baricadoes the Turkes receiued great losse, as also at the trenches: for they vnaduisedly running on, the hindermost still bearing forward the formost, tumbled by heapes one vpon an other into the couert trenches, and were there miserably empailed vpon the sharpe stakes, for that purpose before set vp by the Mamalukes. The women also and children, with manly courage threw downe stones and tiles, and such other things from the tops of their houses, and out at their windowes vpon the Turks: and they on the other side as they could espie them, fetcht them off from those high places with their harquebusies, or else violently brake into the houses from whence they were assailed, & there fought with diuers successe. But most part of the Aegyptians, diligently obseruing the fortune both of the one and of the other (accounting them both for enemies) with diuers affection assailed sometimes the Turks, and sometime the Mamalukes, seeming still notably to helpe that part whom they saw for the time to haue the better. Many cruell and most terrible encounters were at once made in diuers places of the citie: for as they crossed from street to street, sometime the one, and sometime the other hapned vpon new troupes of enemies: and they which as victors pursued their enemies a front, were by others following them at the heeles, slaine downeright; so that in the victorie no man could assure himselfe of safetie. The lanes and streets (a most horrible thing to behold) did so flow with the bloud of them which lay by heapes slaine, that the dust which at the first rise wonderfull thicke, was quite laid as with a plentifull shower of raine: the ayre was darkened with the smoke of shot, and showers of arrowes: and such was the clamour of the people and souldiours, the clattering of armour, and report of the artillerie, that the earth seemed to tremble▪ and the houses to fall downe.

This dreadfull and doubtfull battell endured two whole daies & nights without intermission:A long and terrible battell. yet so, that the Mamalukes in number few, and vnable to endure so long labour and watching, giuing ground by little and little, and forsaking their first munitions, retired themselues farther into the citie. The third day, beset with the greatest dangers that could be, as to lose themselues with all that they had (which commonly enforceth mens courages in their last attempts) they renewed the battell with such resolution, that they constrained the Turks to retire a great way, and for hast to leaue behind them certaine of their field pieces. With which repulse it is reported, that Selymus dispairing of victorie, commaunded to set fire vpon the houses; moued thereunto with just displeasure against the Aegyptians, for that Ionuses Bassa, now his greatest man of warre, had euen then before his face receiued a dangerous wound in his head, by a stone cast out at a window.

Now were the houses pittifully burning, and the Aegyptians weeping and wailing cried for mercie. The Turkes themselues fought but faintly, expecting the sound of the retrait: when [Page] news was suddenly brought by many at once, that the enemies in the other side of the citie, were G by Mustapha Bassa enforced to retire, and afterward had betaken themselues to flight, as to the [...] last refuge. For Mustapha by the ouerture of the Aegyptians and fugitiue Mamalukes, was directed to a faire broad street, where the Mamalukes had left their horses readie sadled & brideled▪ that if the worst should chaunce, they might thither retire, and taking horse, speed themselues to such places of refuge as they had before thought vpon. All these horses, reserued by the Mamalukes as their last refuge, Mustapha tooke away, hauing before put to flight the garrison which kept them, which was but weake, consisting for most part of horseboies and muletours; as [...] ynough in such a place of the citie as was least to be suspected or feared.

This accident (as it oftentimes falleth out in great and vnexpected mischances) did not a little daunt the courage of the Mamalukes: who now seeing themselues hardly beset, and that dreadfull H battell by no other hope or helpe maintained, but onely by courage; being in their owne judgement ouercome, betooke themselues to flight. Most part of them hasting to the riuer of Nilus with Tomombeius (who in that battell had all in vaine proued the vttermost of his prowesse and policie) being transported ouer the riuer in boats, fled into the countrey of SEG [...]ST [...]: others of them hid themselues in the houses of the Aegyptians, and in the loathsome comers of the citie. A thousand fiue hundred of the better sort of the Mamalukes fled vnto the greatest temple of their vaine prophet: where after they had a great while valiantly defended themselues as out of a strong castle, because they would not yeeld themselues but vpon honourable conditions, at last ouercome with thirst, wearinesse, and wounds, together with the furie of the great artillerie, they yeelded themselues to the pleasure of the conquerour: part of whom the furious I souldiors slew in the porch of the same temple, and the rest within a few dayes after were sent downe the riuer to ALEXANDRIA, [...] tak [...]n by [...]. there to be afterwards murthered.

Selymus hauing thus gained the victorie, forthwith sent part of his armie to quench the fire then raging, and caused proclamation to be made through all the citie, That all the Mamalukes which would yeeld themselues within twelue houres, should be taken to mercie; but vnto such as yeelded not within the appointed time, should remaine no hope of life. Vnto the Aegyptians also that should reueale the hidden Mamalukes, he proposed rewards: but vnto such as should conceale them, he threatened to empaile them vpon stakes, and hauing sold their wiues & children to burne their houses: vpon which proclamation, many of the Mamalukes before crept into corners, came forth and yeelded themselues, and were forthwith cast into yrons. All which K were shortly after, contrarie to his promise, most dishonourably murthered in prison, because (as it was giuen out) they sought meanes to haue escaped. Many of the Aegyptians which would not breake the bonds of faith and fidelitie with the Mamalukes their old lords, being appeached by their malicious neighbours, most constantly died for their friends, for whose sake they had vowed themselues to death.

With this victorie the Turkes growing insolent, ransackt euery place of the citie, drew out the Mamalukes that had hid themselues, and slew them, rifled the houses of the Aegyptians, as well friends as foes, and left nothing shut vp or in secret. And some there were, which at one time in the same house raged with couetousnesse, crueltie, and lust: euery man fitting his owne humour, whereunto he was by nature or custome enclined: for that in time and place of so great L libertie, most men, but especially the common souldior, flattereth himselfe to the full, making conscience of nothing, but measuring all thing according to his insolent and disordered appetite. The same day that Selymus tooke CAIRE, Gazelles (who but a little before by the commandement of Tomombeius was gone to THEBAIS, to assemble the Arabians and to ent [...]taine new supplies) came to CAIRE; but finding all lost, and seeing no possibilitie either by force or policie to preuaile, and therefore thinking it not good againe to proue the fortune of warre, which had so often with contrarie course frustrated the endeuours both of himselfe and his partakers; he came to Selymus, vpon his faith before giuen for the safetie of himselfe & his followers (which were three Arabian captaines, and a number of good horsemen) and being admitted to his presence, in the middest of his greatest captaines boldly spake vnto him as followeth.M

Gazelles his speech to Selymus.

If fortune, whom by thy great valour thou hast woon to be thy friend, had not enuied our felicitie, thou shouldest not haue (most noble Selymus, at this time, after that all things haue giuen place vnto thy valour) matter whereby thou mightest excell others in worthinesse of mind also. Whilest [Page] we were in armes against thee for our liues and kingdome, our wealth and state yet standing whole, we alwaies as men proudly presuming vpon their owne vaine strength, made little account of thee or the name of the Turkes; yea to say the truth, we hated thee as became enemies: But now that we haue to the vttermost of our power made proofe of thy force, and haue in all battels beene put to the worse; admiring both thy wonderfull and diuine prowesse, and most prosperous victories, not giuen thee without the prouidence of the immortall God, we humbly come [...]nto thee by thy goodnesse to better our hard and aduerse fortune: that thou by sparing and pardoning thy vanquished and yeelding enemies (by which onely vertue men come neerest vnto the gods) maiest extend thy name and fame aboue the bounds of the rest of thine immortall glorie. We haue faithfully serued Tomombeius, so long as he held the strength and maiestie, yea but the name of a king, or liued in any countenance: but seeing he is (his destinie so requiring) driuen out of his countrey, and wandereth the deserts; with vncertaine report whether he liue or not; we come vnto thee, rather as men of him forsaken, than such as haue forsaken their prince, readie to shew vnto thee our loyaltie and valour in our better condition and state: if we may by thy goodnesse, changing our hard fortune, liue and serue vnder thy worthie conduct.

Selymus, for that he right well knew Gazelles both for his vertue and valour, (wherewith valiant men win credit euen with their greatest enemies) and also desiring to joyne in league and friendship with the Arabians (or rather Alarbes) whom he knew of all others to be most to be feared, receiued them all courteously: appointing vnto euery one of them an honourable pention, and persuading them to forget their old estate, willed them to looke for farre greater things of his bountie. Not long after, when as the Moores and wild Arabians, with certain Mamalukes that were fled to the citie of ACHASIA, made incursions into the countrey about CAIRE, and oftentimes did cut off the Turkes which went any thing farre from the citie to seeke abroad for forrage, he sent Gazelles with part of his armie to represse them: who hauing quickly woon and sackt ACHASIA, and slaine most part of those aduenturers, to his own great praise, and the wonderfull contentation of Selymus, honourably returned in lesse time than was expected.

In the meane time, Tomombeius in the countrey of SEGESTA (which is on the other side of Nilus towards CYRENAICA) miserably beset with so many mischeefes, began to make head againe. There were come vnto him a strong companie of Mamalukes from ALEXANDRIA, which he had by letters sent for out of the garrison of that citie, and many others had followed him in his flight from CAIRE. And there were not wanting many great men amongst the Arabians and Moores (the inhabitants of that countrey) which promised him their helpe and furtherance. Beside that, many of the Aegyptians, whose houses and families were become a prey and bootie vnto the insolent Turkes, promised him, That if he would by night come to CAIRE, they would raise such a tumult in the citie, as should easily worke the confusion of the Turkes; for as much as they all hauing endured most horrible indignities and villanies, could no longer abide those most insolent men to rage and raigne ouer them. They sent him word also, that the Turkes huge armie was now brought to a contemptible number, most part of them being slaine in the battell at CAIRE: and the rest being for the greatest part brought to extreame weaknesse with wounds and sicknesse. For which causes, as Tomombeius his forces encreased dayly, so hope also, which neuer failed the poore vanquished and distressed king, began now also to reuiue in his inuincible heart, aboue the condition of his miserable estate. So that fawning fortune, which euen then most cruelly & despightfully went about vtterly to supplant him (of all other distressed princes most miserable) seemed but then first to change her frowning countenance, and to promise vnto him more happie and prosperous successe.

Whilest Tomombeius was making this preparation,Albuchomar discouereth to Selymus the power of Tomombeius, and the trecherie of th [...]m of Cair [...]. one Albuchomar, an Aegyptian, for authoritie and wealth the greatest man by farre in all the countrey of SEGESTA, whether it were to auert the miserie of the present warre out of his countrey; or els by the pleasure of his reuolt to gaine the good liking of Selymus, vpon whom all things seemed to fawne, came and certified him both of Tomombeius his strength, & of the new practises of the citisens of CAIRE. Wherupon Selymus caused strong watch and ward to be kept in all places of that great citie: and such citisens as hee suspected to fauour Tomombeius, hee shut vp into the castle; which being before abandoned by Tomombeius, was then together with the citie in his possession: and placed all alongst the riuer boats furnished with men and artillerie, to keepe and defend the farther banke [Page] of Nilus, and to impeach Tomombeius his passage ouer. Yet considering with himselfe, with G how great danger he had so many times fought with those desperat enemies, and what a difficultie it would be to intercept Tomombeius (protracting the warre in those vast and vnknowne countries, and still preparing greater forces, without whom he could nothing assure himselfe of all his former victories) to proue if he might be woon by clemencie and bountie, he resolued to send embassadours vnto him, to persuade him to lay downe armes, and after so many ouerthrowes, at length to acknowledge the fortune of the victor: and withall to promise him vpon the faith of a prince, That if he would come in and submit himselfe, he should of the courtesie and bountie of the conqueror vpon conditions reasonable repossesse that his late kingdome which he should neuer be able by force to regaine: But if he would needs desperatly proceed to make head againe, forgetting this offered grace, together with his owne disabilitie, he should afterward H when the matter was againe tried by battell, by his owne just desert neuer more find at the hands of his angrie enemie any regard of his princely state or dignitie.

The causes mouing Selymus to send embassadors to Tomombeius.For Selymus seeing himselfe by the course of his victories drawne into a farre countrey; and not without cause fearing with so small a power as hee had left, to bee oppressed in that so great and populous a citie, euen with the very multitude, men of doubtfull faith; thought it better by some honourable composition to assure himselfe of some great part of that he had woon, than by going on to thrust himselfe with his armie into new dangers, with the hazard of all. Besides that, he was certainely aduertised, That the Mamalukes before fled into diuers countries, were in euery place leuying new supplies of horsemen: and that the fleet which was gone into the Arabian gulfe against the Portingales, was dayly expected at the port SVEZZIA, wherin were three I thousand Mamalukes, vnder the leading of Amyrases and Ray Salomon, two expert captaines, with great store of good brasse ordinance: by which good helpes Tomombeius stood in fai [...]e possibilitie to recouer his former losses, and to returne againe to CAIRE, whether he was by his secret friends most earnestly inuited. But aboue all things, the care he had of the Persians most induced him to thinke of peace: for feare, that if the Bassa, whom he had left at the mountaine TAVRVS, should not be able to withstand the forces of the Persian king, he should so be excluded out of ASIA the lesser, and SYRIA also, before his fleet could from CONSTANTINOPLE arriue with new supplies of men and victuall at ALEXANDRIA.

Selymus his embassadou [...] slaine by the Mamalukes.Wherefore hee sent certaine of the most reuerend of his Turkish religious, and with them some of the most honourable Aegyptians, embassadours to Tomombeius: who passing ouer Nilus K into the countrey SEGESTA, were without further hearing, with more than barbarous crueltie, slaine by certaine Mamalukes which chaunced vpon them: thinking thereby to gratifie Tomombeius, as yet not knowing of any such matter, & to manifest their affection towards him, as also that they were not desirous of any peace with the Turkes.

This proud and insolent fact vtterly brake Selymus his patience, and shortly after made an end of that mortall warre, together with the honour of the Mamalukes. For he being a man of an hot and cruell nature, euen when we was nothing at all moued, could by no meanes brooke that his enemies, so often vanquished and put to flight, should so lightly reject his offers vnto them as the case stood, both honourable and profitable: and that worse was, violate his embassadours against the law of nations, most religiously kept euen amongst the most barbarous and L sauage people. Wherefore prouoked by so great an injurie, he carefully prouided all things necessarie for his expedition into SEGESTA against Tomombeius. And because it stood not with his honour (as he tooke it) nor with the good of the present seruice, to passe the riuer by boats, he gathering together all the small vessels and lighters he could possibly, made thereof a large and strong bridge ouer Nilus.

Tomombeius vnderstanding by his espials and from his friends at CAIRE of the preparations of Selymus, and of the bridge he had made; fearing also the reuolt of the country people, whom he probably suspected to be alienated from him by the reuolt of Albuchomar, a man of so great power and authoritie amongst them; determined once againe to proue the fortune of battell, which had so often deceiued his expectation. For hee justly measuring his owne strength, and M finding himselfe in all things inferiour to his mightie enemie, well saw, that hee was neither able to protract the warres, neither in open field to abide his comming with all his forces; and to flie further into the desarts, was as he deemed it, nothing els but to make shipwracke of that small remainder that was left of his honour and credit. Wherefore by the aduice of his best captaines [Page] (which was the last endeuour both of himselfe and of the Mamalukes) he departed betime out of the prouince of SEGESTA with foure thousand Mamalukes, and twice as many Moores and Arabians, and trauelled day and night without intermission to come to the riuer Nilus. By that desperat attempt to deceiue the Turks, suspecting no such thing from their vanquished and weak enemie: as also by celeritie to preuent the fame of his comming; hoping so by his suddaine and vnexpected approch to ouerthrow that part of the Turkes armie which should first passe the riuer, before they cou [...]d possibly be relieued from [...]he other side. Neither was hee deceiued in the computation of the time, which hee hauing [...] cast, with the manner of his trauell, fell out so fitly, that he came to the place he desired, [...] at such time as the Asian horsemen were come ouer the bridge, as he had before guessed. The harbengers and pages of Selymus his chamber, which were gone something further than the rest, to make choice of the most commodious place for the erecting of the emperours pauilion, by the rising of the dust first perceiued the comming of the enemie. And Mustapha the great Bassa aduertised thereof, suddainly raised an alarum: which so vnexpected a matter brought a great feare both on them which were alreadie passed ouer, and also on them that were on the further side of the riuer.

Tomombeius presently assailing his enemies,Tomombeius distresseth the Turk [...] in passing the bridge made ouer Nilu [...]. as yet but putting themselues in order, and repairing to their ensignes, at the first onset slew such as made resistance, and the rest hee discomfited and put to flight. Neither was Mustapha the great commaunder (although he did what possibly he could, by his owne example to haue encouraged them) able either by his owne inuincible courage, or other persuasion, after his first rankes were ouerthrowne, to repaire his disordered C battell, or stay the flight of his men: for in that so hot and suddaine a skirmish all was [...]ull of tumult, slaughter, doubtfulnesse, and feare: and all alongst the banke of the riuer, both aboue and beneath the bridge, were to be seene fearefull companies of the Turkes, ruthfully looking vpon the riuer, and crying vnto their fellowes on the other side for helpe. Many forced by the furious enemie, tooke the riuer, and there perished: others striuing at the end of the bridge to returne that way, and ouerborne by their fellowes [...] others continually sent from the further side, or els amased with feare, fell into the riuer, and [...] there drowned. The bridge was so broad, that foure horsemen abrest might easily [...] ouer at once, and so great numbers of them in short space be conueyed ouer. But when [...] [...]reat ordinance (the Turkes cheefe strength) was also to be transported, fewer troupes of horsemen were sent ouer, than either the greatnesse of the present D sent danger or suddennesse of the [...]ance required. Neither did their great artillerie as then stand them in any stead, for that it [...] either so speedily be conueyed ouer, nor without great hurt be discharged from the hither [...] to the further, by reason of their owne men standing betweene them and the enemie.

In the meane time Selymus, who in the beginning of the skirmish came downe to the riuers side, filled a great number of boats and other small vessels with his Ianizaries with their harquebusies, and withall hasted his horsemen ouer the bridge to relieue their fellowes distressed on the further side: in which boats the nimble watermen vsed such diligence in landing of some, and presently in fetching ouer of others, that in short time they had transported diuers bands of those most readie and valiant souldiors: whose comming wonderfully comforted the Asian soldiors, euen now at the last cast, and readie to haue giuen ouer. Canoglis also, the Tartar kings sonne and Selymus his brother in law, encouraging his horsemen to take the riuer, with losse of some few of his men recouered the further side, to the great admiration of the beholders: which in tha [...] [...]tion was not so much to be maruelled at, as they which by troupes with their horses had oftentimes swam ouer the great riuers Tanais and Volga, no lesse dangerous than was the riuer Nilus.

Tomombeius at the same time, for that he saw speedie victorie to consist in one thing especially, serring his troupes close together, strained himselfe with might and maine to haue gained the head of the bridge, that by plucking away some few of the first boats, he might shut in his enemies alreadie come ouer; and by cutting the cables wherby the boats were fastened to the ban [...], all the bridge with the Turkes vpon it, might be borne away with the force and violence of that great riuer: whereupon rise a most cruell and deadly fight; for the resolute Mamalukes in the front of their battell fought valiantly: and Mustapha well considering the danger, had drawne vnto that place both his ensignes and his best souldiors: so that there was fought such a fight, as a matter of so great consequence required: The Mamalukes plainely seeing, that if they could [Page] obtaine the place, they should shortly after with little adoe, ouerthrow all the former victories of G their enemies. And the Turks no lesse ignorant, that except they kept the bridge whole, they were all but lost men that were alreadie come ouer; and that the rest of the armie togither with their emperour so farre from home, and in the middest of his enemies, must of necessitie shortly after run the same fortune. But Mustapha well relieued by the Ianizaries and the Europ [...]ian horsemen, which were now come ouer in great number, not onely receiued the enemies charge, but pressing vpon them, gained ground, and by little and little enforced them to retire. This is that Mustapha the Hungarian, and Baiazet his sonne in law, which for his owne glorie and perpetuall fame, built that notable, stately, and sumptuous stone (bridge of the spoiles of this victorie) ouer the riuer Stremon, which at this day men passing ouer into THRACIA wonder at, as at a worke beseeming the greatnesse of the Roman empire.H

Tomombeius, to giue a time of breathing to his Mamalukes, who, their horses for wearinesse now fainting vnder thē, were not able longer to shew their wonted courage; & desirous by them againe to proue the vttermost fortune of the battell, exhorted the Moores and Arabians a while to charge the enemie, which thing they after the manner of their fight valiantly performed. And shortly after,The Mamalukes giue a fresh charge vpon the Turkes. the Mamalukes hauing a little breathed themselues and their horses, came in afresh and renewed the battell; with such furie, that Selymus doubting the victorie (although [...]he was by his most faithfull counsellors persuaded to the contrarie) yet doubted not to aduenture the bridge, and in person himselfe to go and relieue his distressed souldiours: who by his comming in, encouraged, and in the sight of their emperour desiring euerie man for his part by some notable seruice to deserue both credit and preferment, repressed the furie of the enemie; who in short time after, by the comming on of certaine fresh companies of Ianizaries, were notably repulsed, and so at length put to flight:The Mamalukes put to flight. whom the horsemen which were not in the battell, pursued all the fields ouer. At length also the Tartarians (who carried away with the force of the streame, were somewhat long before they could recouer the farther banke and come to their enemies) were now come in also, and with their swift horses following the chase, augmented the slaughter.

But Selymus aboue all things desirous of Tomombeius, presently commaunded Mustapha the great Bassa, Gazelles, and Cayerbeius, with certaine fresh troupes of light horsemen, to pursue him at the heeles, and if it were possible not to suffer him to escape: for so long as he liued, hee could not assure himselfe of any thing he had yet gotten. These vigilant captaines not vnmindfull of their charge, following fast after him, ouertooke him the next day at the sluce of a great K deepe fen, where he had a little rested himselfe and his followers, being then about to cut off a wodden bridge, so to haue hindered the enemies pursuit. Some of his followers being there slaine, and some taken, he was againe enforced to flie. The third day when he had almost lost all his men, and was come with some few into the territorie of the Secussane prince: these great captaines still eagerly pursuing him, and denouncing vnto the poore countrey people which dwelt in villages thereabout, all extreamities and tortures, if they did not with most diligent watch and ward so keepe the passages of those marishes, as that he should not possibly escape; he was so beset on euerie side, that for safegard of his life he was glad to hide himselfe all alone in a foule deepe ma [...]ish:Tomombeius taken and brought to Selymus. Where shortly after he the poore Sultan was by the diligent search of the countrey peasants found out, hidden amongst the flags and bulrushes, standing in the water vp L to the shoulders, who deliuered him miserably bound vnto the Turkes. Shortly after hee with certaine captaines and other of his cheefe friends taken in that flight, was brought to CAIRE Selymus before resolued to put him to death, and the rather for the injurie done to his [...] bassadours, would not suffer him to come into his presence,Tomombeius tortured. but commaunded him to be tortured, so to haue caused him to haue reuealed the great treasures of Campson his predecessor, which wee thought to haue been by him hidden: in which most horrible and exquisit torments, it is reported, that hee with great constancie and sterne countenance vttered nothing but certaine deepe sighes and grones, ouercomming with patience the tyrannie of the proud conquerour who after that, commaunded him in base and ragged apparrell, with his hands bound behind him as a theefe or murtherer condemned to die, to be set vpon a foule leane cammell, and so to be carried M in derision through all the publicke and notable places of the citie; that the Aegyptians might see him whom they but a little before had adored for their king, by chaunge of fortune cast into extreame miserie, by most shamefull death to end both his life and empire together. When they had thus despightfully led him as it were in triumph; and brought him to the cheefe ga [...]e of the [Page] citie called BASVELA, they there openly strangled him with a rope: and that he might be the better seene,The miserable end of Tomombeius, last Sultan of Aegypt. and become more contemptible to all that passed that way, they hanged him vp by the necke vpon an yron hooke in an arch of the same gate▪ and so left him to the worlds wonder. Pale [...]rius propounding him as a mirrour both of the better and worse fortune, for all men to looke vpon, aptly describeth both his happinesse and miserie in these few verses following:

TOMOMBEIVS, THE LAST Sultan of Aegypt.

P [...]ulus Ioui [...] Illust. virorum, Elog. lib. 4.

Non fuit in toto, rex aequè oriente beatus:

Nec magis in toto rex oriente miser.

Quam dolor Aegipti, olim Tomombeius, auro

Ingenti, at (que) armis, & ditione potens.

Captus ab hoste fero, miserum simul at (que) beatum,

Exemplo potis est, commonuisse suo.

Quid rides temere? quid fles? vis te cohibere?

Et natum posthac te meminisse hominem?

Mi trabeam induto, gemmis auro (que) corona

Cingebat, fulgens & diadema caput.

[Page]Mi quondam ornabant pretiosa monilia collum,

Nunc, fractam vili respice fune gulam.

In English thus.

In all the East a king more blest was no where to be found,

Nor in the East one more accurst liv'd not vpon the ground,

Than Tomombeius, AEGYPTS greefe, sometime for store of gold,

Of power great for martiall force, and kingdomes he did hold.

But taken by his cruell foe, may good example be

Both to the happie and distrest, of mans vncertainetie.

Why doest thou fondly laugh? why doest thou vainely crie▪ H

Canst thou from henceforth stay thy selfe? and thinke th'art borne to die?

My garments were the royall robes, I wore the crowne of gold,

With richest stones most richly set, most glorious to behold:

My necke adornd with richest gems which I did sometimes weare:

But now trust vp in shamefull rope, behold me hanging here.

The Aegyptians in doubt of their estate bewaile the death of Tomombeius.This miserie befell Tomombeius the 13 of Aprill, in the yeare 1517, vpon the Monday in Easter weeke. There were many which shed teares to behold that so cruell and lamentable a spectacle, who by their wofull countenance and pitifull lamentation seemed to detest that foule I and vnworthie death of their late Sultan; notwithstanding that the Ianizaries reproued them therefore, and threatened them with death, who like giddie brained fooles (as they tearmed them) enured to the slauerie of the Mamalukes, joyfully and thankefully accepted not of their deliuerance: for the Aegyptians were as yet vncertaine of their estate, and therefore as men in suspence (not without cause) stood in doubt what should become of themselues; fearing least the Turkes, a warlike nation, and a terrour to all the princes of EVROPE and ASIA, nothing more courteous than the Mamalukes, should with no lesse insolencie rage and tyrannize ouer them, vnder their warlike and cruell emperour. Besides that, the wofull sight of Tomombeius hanging in the gate, as the vnworthie scorne of fortune, wonderfully wounded their hearts: for why, it was yet fresh in their remembrance, that he with the good liking of all men, and generall fauour K of the nobilitie, with good fame rise by all the degrees of honour both in field and court, vnto the height of regall dignitie; and therefore greeued the more to see him by ineuitable destinie cast downe headlong, so shamefully to end his life and empire together. A notable spectacle vndoubtedly amongst the rarest examples of worldly fragilitie both to the happie and vnfortunat the one, not to be too proud, or too much to flatter themselues in their greatest blisse; and the other, to learne thereby with patience to endure the heauie and vnworthie changes and chances of this wretched and miserable world. And so much the more did Tomombeius so hanging▪ moue men to compassion, for that the majestie of his tall and strong bodie, and reuerend countenance, with his long and hoarie beard, well agreed with his imperiall dignitie and martiall disposition. The same fortune with Tomombeius ran also diuers of the princes of the Mamalukes,L with some others of the common sort also.

Tomombeius thus taken out of the way, and all the Mamalukes almost slaine, and no power of the enemie to be heard of in all AEGIPT to renew the warre: Selymus deuiding his forces, sent them forth with his captaines, to take in the countries and prouinces of AEGIPT lying further off. They of ALEXANDRIA after the battell of CAIRE hauing thrust out the garrison, and easily surprised the castle of PHARVS (which the weake defendants chose rather vpon hope of present reward to deliuer, than with doubtfull euent to defend) yeelded themselues many dayes before vnto the Turkes. DAMIATA also, called in auntient time PELVSIVM, opened their gates, and submitted themselues to the victors. There was no citie betwixt the riuer of Nilus and the borders of IVDEA and ARABIA, which yeelded not to the obedience of Selymus. The M kings also of AFRICKE bordering vpon CYRENAICA, tributaries or confederats of the Aegyptian Sultans, sent their embassadours with presents to Selymus.

There remained now none but the wild Arabians (a people neuer to be tamed) and especially they of AFRICKE, who hauing lost many of their friends and kinsmen in aiding Tomombeius, [Page] would not (as it was thought) submit themselues vnto the Turkish obedience. This wandering kind of people, liuing for most part by theft, had filled the countries from Euphrates, where it runneth by the Palmyrens, with all the inner parts of AEGIPT and AFRICKE vnto the Atlanticke sea, with huge multitudes of men: and being deuided into many companies vnder diuers leaders, haue no certaine dwelling places, but liue an hard and frugall kind of life in tents and waggons, after the manner of the Tartars: their greatest wealth is a good seruiceable horse, with a launce, or a bundell of darts: they were alway at discord & variance amongst themselues, by reason whereof, they could neuer agree for the expulsing of the Mamalukes, who otherwise had not been able to haue stood against them, if they should haue joyned their forces together. So that the late Aegyptian Sultans seemed to hold their state and empire amongst so populous a nation, rather by their discord than their owne strength. Wherefore Selymus hauing now by fit men vpon his faith before giuen allured many of their che [...]fetaines and greatest commaunders to CAIRE,Selymus c [...]nningly reduc [...] the Arabians [...] his obedience. honourably both entertained and rewarded them. By whose example others moued, came also in dayly: and hauing receiued their rewards, gaue the oath of their allegeance to Selymus. Others which could by no faire promises or words be woon, being cunningly intercepted by other captaines, and deliuered to Selymus, endured the paines of their vaine obstinacie and mallice. The other remote nations toward AETHIOPIA, as they had in former time rather acknowledged the friendship than the command of the Aegyptian Sultans, so now induced with the fame of the victorie, easily joyned in like amitie with the Turke.

About the same time Selymus sent certaine troupes of horsemen to SVEZZIA, a port of the red sea (of old called ARSINOE) about three dayes journey from CAIRE: in which port Campson the great Sultan (a little before the comming of the Turks) had with infinit charge and foure yeares trauell built a strong fleet against the Portingals, who by their conquests in INDIA had taken away all the rich trade of the Indian marchandise into the gulfe of ARABIA, to the great hinderance of the Aegyptian kings customes: ouer which fleet (a little before the beginning of the Turkish warres) Campson had appointed one Amyrases and Ray Salomon Generals, with a strong power of Mamalukes and great store of ordinance, against the Portingals. These valiant captaines hauing yet done nothing in the seruice they were appointed vnto, as they lay at GIDDA (the port of the famous citie of MECHA, wherein is the temple of their great prophet Mahomet) vnderstanding of the death of Campson, & of the comming [...] Selymus into AEGIPT, fell at variance betwixt themselues; one of them being willing to continue his obedience towards the new Sultan, and the other no lesse desirous to follow the good fortune of the victor. Wherupon a mutinie arising among the souldiors, Amyrases, who fauoured Tomombeius, was enforced to flie to MECHA. But shortly after, Ray Salomon requiring to haue him, and threatening all hostilitie except he were forthwith deliuered, he was apprehended by them of MECHA, fearing to haue GIDDA their port spoiled, and so sent backe againe to the fleet. Ray Salomon, that he might be Admirall alone, his associat being taken out of the way, and by some notable fact to insinuate himselfe into the fauour of the conquerour, caused Amyrases in the night to be cast ouer boord: and giuing to the souldiors two moneths pay, and swearing them to the obedience of Selymus, in few dayes sayling came backe againe to ARSINOE, where leauing the fleet, hee came directly himselfe to Selymus at CAIRE, of whom he was gratiously receiued. After that, all the princes which were before tributaries or confederates to the late Sultans of AEGIPT, euen vnto the confines of Dauid the most mightie king of ETHIOPIA (whom some call Presbiter Iohn) without delay entred into the like subjection or confederation with the Turkes.

AEGIPT, with all the prouinces thereunto belonging, thus brought into subjection, Selymus about the beginning of Iuly sayled downe the riuer of Nilus to ALEXANDRIA (Cortug-Ogli;Of this Cortug-Ogli see more in the life of Solyman. a famous pyrat of HALICARNASVS, sitting at the helme of his gallie) there to take view of his fleet, but lately come from CONSTANTINOPLE with new supplies both of men and victuals, sent from Pyrrhus Bassa and his sonne Solyman: which after he had well surueyed, and diligently viewed the wals of the citie, and of the castle of PHAROS, hee returned againe to CAIRE. In the meane time, the Mamalukes in durance at ALEXANDRIA, were by his commaundement murthered euery mothers sonne, in the entrance of the prison. At which time also aboue fiue hundred families of the noblest and richest of the Aegyptians were commaunded to remoue from CAIRE to CONSTANTINOPLE, and a great number of women and children, of the race of the Mamalukes, were transported thither also in ships hired for that purpose. [Page] Into this fleet beside the kings treasures and riches, he conueyed all the publicke and priuat ornaments of that most rich and famous citie▪ with such a couetous and greedie desire of spoyle, that the very marble stones, commended either for the excellencie of the workmanship, or beautie of the stone, were violently rent out of the maine wals, to his great reproch and infamie. Lying at CAIRE, he with great pleasure beheld the rising of the riuer Nilus, which had then ouerflowed the countrey next vnto it; and that with such a desire, that he most curiously enquired of the old countrey men the measure and nature of the riuer: for by the diuersitie of the rising therof (which they by certaine markes and measures well find out) they prognosticate sometime abundant plentie, sometime extreame dearth, and sometime reasonable store: when as the violent riuer moderately or furiously breaking out, somewhile so drowneth the greatest part of the countrey, that all the seed season it lieth vnder water, and at another time floweth so sparingly, that in many places it scarce layeth the dust, thereby foreshewing an vndoubted dearth: so tha [...] the Aegyptians then assure themselues of plentie, when as Nilus keeping a meane, pleasantly riseth neither to the highest or lowest markes of his inundation.

The Mamaluke kingdome, together with the name of the Mamalukes, thus ouerthrowne, and the conquest of AEGIPT so happely atchieued: Selymus resolued to make his returne into SYRIA, and the rather, for that it was reported, That Hysmaell the Persian king was comming with his armie into MESOPOTAMIA, & so like ynough to breake into COMAGENA. Wherefore hauing as he thought good,Cayerbeius the [...] made gouernour of Caire & Aegypt. disposed of all things, he left a strong garrison of his best souldiors in CAIRE, and appointed Cayerbeius that notable traitour, his deputie and great commander ouer all that great and new gotten kingdome of AEGIPT, now conuerted into the forme of I a prouince, as it remaineth at this day. Which honourable preferment so vnworthely bestowed, exceedingly both greeued and troubled Ionuses the great Bassa, before enflamed with the hope and just desire thereof: For now that Sinan Bassa was dead, he puffed vp with the estimation of his owne worth and valour, and proud of the wound hee had of late receiued in the presence of Selymus at the entring of CAIRE, and to the vttermost of his power suffering no man to grow neere him in credit and estimation; thought himselfe the onely man now left, to whom of all others, that especiall and honourable charge should in the judgement of Selymus and of the whole armie of right be committed. Neither wanted he the generall good liking of the men of warre, for immedia [...]ly after he was recouered of his wound, when he in the most magnificent house of the Diadare at CAIRE (which he in the victorie had rather of himselfe vsurped,K than by the gift of Selymus obtained) dayly kept princely cheare for all commers (no small meanes to gaine the loue of the common souldiors) and gaue frankely to them all, to some horses, to some beautifull slaues, to some money, plate, jewels, rich garments, faire armour, and such like; he woon vnto himselfe such fauour and credit, that whensoeuer he should (as the manner was) goe to the castle vnto the emperour, he was brought thither with a great and goodly traine of his fauourites and followers, as the man in all mens judgement designed to the go [...]ernment of that great and rich kingdome. All which things highly offended the mind of Selymus, who as he was apt to suspect, and cruell where he feared, so did he also (in secret) enuie great vertues, accompanied with too much honour and power.

Ionuses enuieth at the preferment of Cayerbeius. Ionuses seeing C [...]yerbeius the traitour thus vnworthely promoted, ouercome with greefe and L indignation (who as a man of a proud and haughtie mind, tooke it as done to his owne disgrace) yet colouring his inward discontentment by counterfeiting himselfe sicke, for certaine dayes came not abroad; neuerthelesse still more and more tormented both with the injurie (as hee tooke it) done to himselfe, and the vnworthie preferment of the traitour, he could not so well containe himselfe, but that in his choler some words fell from him, whereby his discontentment was perceiued. It happened, that Cayerbeius comming of courtesie to visit him, and in the heat of the day familiarly calling for drinke (which was water and sugar, after the manner of the Aegyptians) immediately after he had drunke, felt such grieuous and vnwonted gripings and tormentings in his stomacke and bellie, that many supposed him to haue beene poysoned by the Bassa: yet was he by the power and vertue of a more soueraigne and effectuall remedie preserued.M Which report, whether it were true or no, was vncertaine: but certaine it is, that it sank [...] further into the mind of Selymus, than any man would haue thought. He had now also a little before heard, that many of those rich Aegyptian families, which he had before commaunded to be remooued to CONSTANTINOPLE, had for great summes of money obtained of Ionuses [Page] (who had the whole ordering of that matter) that they might quietly and in safetie remaine still in their owne countrey. Of which his couert dealing, great probabilitie was alledged by such as repined at his honour, and secretly accused him, That those princelike and excessiue charges and expences, which he was not able possibly to maintaine of his ordinarie pension, were roially supported with the embeseled spoyle and reuenewes of that new gotten kingdome. Which malicious suggestions, as they tended to the lightening of his credit, so also another crime (whether it were of fraudulent dealing or negligence, or other further respect, is vncertaine) comming in the necke of the other, wrought his vtter disgrace, and finall confusion: For Selymus after the manner of great princes (who more seuerely to punish the former offences, notably dissembling their present anger, expect but the occasion of some new crime) with vigilant eye waiting vpon his words and deeds, prosecuted him with a mortall and deadly hatred, with a full purpose to destroy him.

A few daies before it was certainly reported that Selymus would againe returne into SYRIA,Selymus commaundeth the wages of his soldiors to be left in garrison at Caire to be augmented [...] the souldiors appointed to be left in garrison at CAIRE, alleaging the great distance of the place, and the greater dangers they were to expect, with the labours by them alreadie endured, requested of the bountie of their most fortunate emperor, that they might haue their wages augmented. Which thing Selymus (neuer spare handed to his men of warre) easily graunted, commaunding Ionuses the stately Bassa, that the summe they required, might be added to their accustomed wages, and so entered into his accounts for the warres. But he carried headlong with discontentment, made neither the treasurers nor paymasters acquainted with any such matter as Selymus had before commaunded: of purpose, that the garrison souldiors deceiued of their greater wages promised them by the emperour, might euen at the first begin to hate and contemne Cayerbeius, as author of so great an injurie; that so the state of CAIRE, and of that new gotten kingdome, disquieted by the mutinie of the garrison souldiours, Selymus enforced to change his former purpose, should in stead of that strange gouernor (hated of the Aegyptians for his late treason, and not beloued of the garrison souldiors, because he was to them a stranger) of necessitie send some of his owne Bassaes, a Turke, for the better stay and assurance of that wauering and mightie prouince. But all these things (as commonly wicked purposes haue their foule euents) fell out in fine farre otherwise than he had in his troubled mind before conceiued. For Selymus being departed out of AEGIPT, and now on his way almost as farre as HIERVSALEM, the garrison soldiors at CAIRE, the pay day being now come, and receiuing no more but their old accustomed wages, moued with that euill dealing (as contrarie to the emperours promise and their generall expectation) began with more furie and rage than euer Ionuses had before imagined, openly and insolently to insult and threaten the treasurer and paymasters, and with open mouth to raile vpon Cayerbeius their gouernour. With which so insolent and opprobrious speeches he astonied (as one not yet acquainted with the fashions of the Turkish garrisons) together with the paymasters, in best manner they could excused themselues vnto the souldiors, requesting them not to thinke so hardly of them who were altogether innocent in the matter, and with patience to vnderstand the truth of the cause; wherein if they should on their part find any fraudulent or euill dealing, they craued no fauour, either refused any punishment. Thus Cayerbeius and the paymasters seeking by all meanes to auoid both the suspition and the present danger: and the mutinous souldiors no lesse hasting to find out by whom they were so abused, and to be thereof reuenged, it was at last with much adoe agreed, That trustie messengers should forthwith bee sent to Selymus, who was not yet gone out of IVDEA, to vnderstand of him the truth of the matter.

These speedie messengers hauing with wonderfull celeritie dispatched their journey, ouertooke Selymus with his armie a little from LARISSA in IVDEA: and admitted to his presence, orderly declared vnto him both the complaints of the souldiors, and the carefulnesse of Cayerbeius and the paymasters to excuse the matter, together with the danger they were in, with all the other accidents whatsoeuer which had happened sithence the time of his departure from CAIRE. Which complaint so incensed the mind of Selymus with new passions of anger and choller, being alreadie sore alienated with former displeasures, that hee without further delay commaunded Ionuses Bassa to be brought before him to answere the matter▪ Selymus calleth for Ionuses Bassa to answere the matter. who although he were inwardly strucken with the guilt of his owne conscience, and surprised with a deadly feare, which appeared in his colour as pale as ashes, seeing in the angrie face and countenance of his [Page] soueraigne the most certaine tokens of his heauie displeasure:The answere of Ionuses Bassa. yet as he was a man of a great spirit,G answered boldly, That he had forbidden the souldiors wages to be augmented, contrarie to his majesties commaund, not vpon any euill meaning to haue inuerted that money to his owne vse, neither thereby to haue drawne any man of purpose into disgrace, as was by some his malicious enemies suggested; but vpon great reason, thereby to prouide for his majesties cofers, wonderfully emptied with those late warres: beside that, the constant report of new troubles like to arise out of PERSIA, gaue good occasion for him to spare vnnecessarie charges: Whereas on the other side, as he said, the garrison souldiors were alreadie enriched with the plentifull spoiles of AEGIPT, and in a most goodly citie possessed the sumptuous houses and lands of the Mamalukes, feeding vpon the goods of the Aegyptians, and had alreadie receiued both greater pay and more bountifull rewards from him, than euer any souldiors had from any his predecessours the H Othoman kings: in which case, if they were not past all modestie, they might well enough take it in good part, if they were something restrained in their vnreasonable requests. He alleadged moreouer, that great princes which retaine their souldiours in reasonable pay in time of peace and warre, ought sometime for warlike discipline, to require of them a moderation of their desires; least whilest they all striue with greedinesse for their priuat gaine, there want money afterwards in the common treasurie to maintaine a greater and more necessarie charge, wars still rising vpon wars; seeing that no commaunder were he neuer so valiant or fortunat, euer did any great matter in wars, if he wanted coine, the most proper instrument and verie sinnes of warre, answering vnto his other most heroicall parts and sufficiencie. But as he was yet thus speaking, Selymus full of wrath and indignation interrupted him, for if he should haue suffered him in longer I discourse to haue recounted his former deserts and worthy seruice done, as well in the time of his father Baiazet, as of late euen in his owne presence, he was like enough to haue had of them that were able to doe most with him, intercessors for him: and so without farther delay, caused him euen there in his owne presence to be executed;The death of Io [...]uses the great Bassa. saying moreouer, That others which would arrogantly presume to prescribe vnto their soueraignes what they had to doe, should for euer after by the example of that most insolent seruant, be admonished of their duetie and condition. It is reported, that the souldiours in despight of Selymus wonderfully lamented the vnworthie death of this so worthie a man: For he, beside his notable and rare valour, so many times to his great honor in sundrie battels approued, had by the dexteritie of his Graecian wit, comelinesse of personage, militarie eloquence, and gallant maner of liuing, so woon the loue and fauor of all men,K that there was few or none in all the armie which did not acknowledge himselfe some way endebted and beholden vnto him; and did therefore condemne the emperours crueltie. They then began to tell how Mustapha surnamed Caloger, a man of wonderfull credit and authoritie both with Baiazet and himselfe, was in the heat of his furie slaine without hearing: And that in like manner of rage, old Chendemus a man of greatest honour and integritie of life, and of all the chieftaines which came out of the great emperour Mahomet his nurserie, the most skilfull, had been for his graue and wholsome counsell onely without cause murthered: Neither was then Bostanges his sonne in law forgotten: neither Cherseogles (the one most honorable for the great place he held in court and the marriage of Baiazet his daughter, and the other a man of no lesse marke being his great Admirall, and bearing himselfe high vpon his infinit wealth, but more vpon L his wife one of the daughters of Selymus) both which two noble gentlemen about two years before had their heads stucke off, no man well knowing wherefore, and their dead bodies cast out at the court gate to the terrour of the beholders, as a miserable spectacle of their owne miserie and the emperors crueltie. Yea the remembrance of his old tyrannie (renewed as it were with this late outrage) presented afresh vnto all mens eies the reuerend old emperour Baiazet his father, with his two brethren, Acomates and Corcutus, by right both called vnto the empire before himselfe; with many other young princes of the bloud, of great hope and expectation, who as all men knew, perished through the vnnaturall and execrable crueltie▪ of this most mercilesse man. So that men generally did both feare him and hate him. For as much as he without all feare of God or regard of worldly shame, accounted no practise wicked or deuise detestable,M that might serue for the better establishing of his kingdome; and had set downe in his mind, (long before corrupted with ambition and tyrannie) That it was farre better for the assurance of his estate, to be feared of all than beloued of many: and therefore spared no mans life, of whom he had but the least suspition. Howbeit that the seueritie by him vsed against this so great a man [Page] and so gratious with the people, may in some sort be excused, as justly moued thereunto by the presumptuous and malitious dealing of the proud Bassa vnderhand, contrarie to the charge giuen him by his lord, to the perill of those his great but late conquests both in AEGYPT and SYRIA.

This great Bassa, whilest he yet liued and flourished in the court, in nothing so much offended the minds of the people (who generally both loued and honoured him) as by the crueltie by him shewed vpon the person of the faire ladie Manto his best beloued wife. Who being a Greek borne, and adorned with all the good gifts of nature, wherunto her louely conditions were also answerable, was by Zebalia her first husband (a man of great honour) carried with him into the wars, as his greatest treasure and chiefe delight. But he slaine, and she by misfortune falling into the hands of the Turks (her enemies) remained so prisoner with them for a time; vntill that this great Bassa Ionuses shortly after (seeing her amongst the other captiues there taken, so farre to exceed the rest as doth the Sunne the lesser stars) surprised with her incomparable beautie, became of her amorous: and in too curious viewing of the captiue ladie, was by her himselfe taken prisoner. Where finding her outward perfections graced with no lesse inward vertues, and her honourable mind answerable vnto her rare feature, tooke her vnto his wife; honouring her farre aboue all the rest of his wiues and concubines: and she againe in all dutifull loyaltie seeking to please him, for a space liued in all worldly felicitie and blisse, not much inferiour vnto one of the great Sultanesses. But long lasteth not the sommer fruit of wanton loue, blasted most times in the blossome,Ionuses Bassa [...]ealous of his faire wife [...]. and rotten before it be well gathered: For in short time, the Bassa more amorous of her person than secured in her vertues, and after the manner of sensuall men still fearing least that which so much pleased himselfe, gaue no lesse contentment to others also; began to haue herin distrust, although he saw no great cause why, more than his owne conceit, not grounded vpon any her euill demeanor, but vpon the excesse of his owne liking. Which mad humour (hardly to be euer purged) of it selfe still more and more in him encreasing, he became so froward and imperious, that nothing she could say or doe could now so please or content him, but that he still thought some one or other, although he wist not who, to be therein partakers with him. So fearfull was the jealous man of his owne conceits. Yet could he not chuse but loue those great perfections, whereat he could not enough wonder; although he found no contentment therein, tormenting still both himselfe and her whom he so deerely loued with his owne passionat distrust: vntill at length, the faire ladie grieued to see her selfe thus without cause to be suspected, & wearied with the insolent pride of her peeuish husband, togither with his imperious commands; determined secretly to depart from him, and so to returne againe into her own country. Which her purpose she discouered vnto one of her eunuchs, to whom she had also deliuered certaine letters to be by him conuaied vnto such of her friends, as whose helpe she was to vse in her intended flight: which letters the false eunuch opened, and so for the more manifesting of the matter deliuered them vnto the Bassa his master.The faire ladie Manto cruelly slaine by her iealous husband. Who therewith enraged, and calling her vnto him, forthwith in his furie, with a dagger stabd her to the heart and slew her: so togither with the death of his loue, hauing cured his tormenting jealousie. The liuely counterfeits of these two so notable personages thus vnworthily slaine, the one by the imperious commaund of his soueraigne, and the other by the cruell hand of her husband, thou maiest in the pages following be hold, as they are by Boisardus expressed.

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IONVSES.

Reijce Sultani titulos, Nilotica Memphis

Quos confert: erit hic inuidiosus honos.

Regna Tomombeo, Campson, cum rege reliquit:

Virtutis Selymus dicit id esse tuae.

Reject the Sultans titles, which proud Memphis doth thee show:

From such great honours oftentimes doth greatest danger grow.

That Campson with king Tomombey lost both their state and fame:

Vnto thy valour, Selymus doth yet ascribe the same.

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MANTO.

Formam si spectes, nihil est formosius ista:

Pectoris & casti gratia rara fuit.

Sed dum dissimili vixit malè iuncta marito:

Infelix misera morte perempta iacet.

RICH. KNOLLEVS.

If feature braue thou doest respect, thou canst none fairer see,

Nor in whose chast and constant brest could greater graces lie.

But whilst mismatcht she liu'd to mourne, enthrald to jealous braine,

Vnhappie she, with cruell hand was by her husband slaine.

But leauing this great Bassa with faire Manto vnto their rest, his course thus run, to returne againe vnto Selymus; who now come into SYRIA, was by letters from the Himbracor-Bassa or master of his horse (whom he had left vpon the frontiers of his kingdome to attend the motions of the Persians) aduertised, That the Persian preparations which had raised such a hoat rumour of wars in the beginning of Winter, was growne cold in the heat of Sommer: and that he had seene in all the time of his aboad in those quarters, none but certaine stragling companies, making shew as if some greater power had beene comming, which had many times made sudden roads into the countrey, with whom he had sundrie times prosperously encountred: and that [Page] it was generally reported by such prisoners as he had taken, and by his owne espials also, that G Hysmaell, troubled with the Hyrcanians and Tartars, had conuerted the greatest part of his forces against those nations: so that Winter now drawing fast on, and deepe snowes alreadie fallen vpon the mountaine TAVRVS, he could not though he would that yeare looke after ASIA the lesse, or SYRIA. There were that reported, that the Tartars which dwell betweene the two riuers Tanais and Volga, were by Selymus his procurement, and mony, set aworke to keepe Hysmaell busied, by inuading the Iberians and Albanians, which were vnder his protection: which thing he wrought by the meanes of Mahomet his father in law, the Bosphorane king, who being of the same language and nation, by rewards easily induced the needie captaines of the Tartars his friends and confederats, to take vp armes against their neighbours.

The causes why Hysmaell inuaded not Selymus, wholly busied in the Aegyptian [...]res.Many men maruelled that Hysmaell the Persian king neglected so faire an oportunitie, wherby H he might (as most men thought) haue thrust Selymus quite out of ASIA and SYRIA, whilest he was thus busied in AEGIPT, yea and easily haue destroyed him, shut vp with all his power, especially at such time as the Aegyptian Sultans Campson and Tomombeius ▪ made so great resistance. But they which could better judge of the matter, saw that Hysmaell was not of so great power and strength abroad, as at home: for his armie for most part consisted of gentlemen, or such as were by custome bound to serue him in his defensiue warres, voluntarie men, and such as serued without pay. These as they were the most valiant horsemen of the East, so did they with singular valour worthely defend the kingdome of PERSIA, and also as occasion required, make warre with their neare neighbours: but if any longer expedition were to be taken in hand, that they could by no means away withall, accounting it a grieuous thing to depart from their wiues,I vnto whom they are so addicted that oftentimes they carrie them with them into the wars; and being a wanton and fine kind of people, are not able without wages to draw after them, according to their accustomed manner, so many carriages and horses as might serue both for their necessarie and wanton vses. With which difficultie the great king Vsun-Cassanes, Hysmaell his grandfather by the mothers side, was much troubled in his warres against Mahomet the Great: but was now much harder for Hysmaell to doe, for that hee hauing obtained his grandfathers kingdome by the meere good will of the people, easing them forthwith of their heauie impositions, alwayes thought the loue of his subjects (which is easily gotten with bountie and justice) the surest riches of his kingdome; and that to commaund onely ouer the bodies and goods of his people, their hearts altogether alienated and lost by most heauie and grieuous exactions, seemed K not the part of a gratious and naturall prince, but of an outrageous and momentarie tyrant. Whereas Selymus on the contrarie part, who had by force, mischeefe, and most detestable practises st [...]pt vp into his fathers seat, had after the maner of the Othoman kings, reposed his greatest and most assured strength in a seruile and mercenarie kind of men, whom he might for pay as his owne creatures, at his pleasure draw farre from home, and as he best liked lead them from place to place, and countrey to countrey, for the enlarging of his empire and eternising of his name: and therefore according to the qualitie of his people, deemed true and readie power to consist onely in money, and the seueritie of his owne commaund; whereby he had learned with most happie successe, in short time to obscure all the victories of the former Othoman kings, with the greatnesse of his owne.L

1518All the Winter following Selymus stayed with his armie in SYRIA, spending the time in visiting the ports and cities of that prouince, and setting of things in order, for the better assurance thereof. But vpon the approch of the Spring, when he certainely vnderstood▪ that by the procurement of Leo the tenth, then bishop of ROME, the Christian princes were entered into consultation to make warre vpon him, and that supplications with great solemnitie were made for that purpose, and honourable embassadours sent into all prouinces to stirre vp the greatest kings of Christendome against him, he (leauing Gazelles his lieutenant in SYRIA) by great journies returned to CONSTANTINOPLE: from thence as at hand to behold the deuises and motions of the Christian princes his enemies. In the meane time, fearing no alteration to arise in the prouinces of SYRIA and AEGIPT, for as much as he well saw, that Cayerbeius and Gazelles, his lieutenants,M being at deadly hatred betwixt themselues (as well for old grudges, as for the late treason of Cayerbeius, the great cause of the ruine of the Mamalukes kingdome) would neuer agree in one against him, but rather with a certaine emulation striue betwixt themselues with diligence, faithfulnesse, and moderation, who should deserue best in well gouerning the prouinces by him [Page] committed to their charge, as indeed they did during the short time of his raigne.

Selymus being arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE,1519 and purposing from thenceforth to turne all his forces vpon the Christians,Selymus purposing to inuade the Christian [...] strucke in the reynes of his backe with a canker. caused wonderfull preparation to bee made for his warres▪ but especially at sea: whereby it was thought, that hee would either haue attempted the strong Island of the RHODES (a great moat in his eye) or els some part of ITALIE. But as hee was hatching this mischeefe, or some other of no lesse importance, and in the meane time delighted himselfe with visiting the cities of GRaeCIA and THRACE, and sollaced himselfe in the pleasant countrey about HADRIANOPLE, he was suddenly attached with the hand of God, and strucken in the reynes of his backe with a canker: which melancholie and deuouring maladie contemning all cure, did by little and little so eat and corrupt his bodie, as that he before so much honoured, became now loathsome and odious both to himselfe and others.

As he lay thus languishing, his incurable disease still encreasing, leaning his head in the lap of Pyrrhus the Bassa, whom of all others he most loued, said: O Pyrrhus, I see I must shortly die without remedie. Whereupon the graue Bassa tooke occasion to discourse with him of many matters: and amongst others, that it would please him to giue order for the well bestowing of the great wealth taken from the Persian marchants in diuers places of his empire: persuading him to bestow the same vpon some notable hospitall for releefe of the poore. To whom Selymus replied, Wouldst thou Pyrrhus, that I should bestow other mens goods, wrongfully taken from them, vpon workes of charitie and deuotion, for mine owne vaine glorie and praise? assuredly I will neuer doe it: nay, rather see they bee againe restored vnto the right owners. C Which was forthwith done accordingly: to the great shame of many Christians, who minding nothing lesse than restitution, but making ex rapina holocaustum, do out of a world of euill gotten goods cull out some small fragments, to build some poore hospitall, or mend some blind way: a poore testimonie of their hote charitie.

Selymus lying thus sicke to death, and rotting aboue the ground in his tent, as he was vpon the way going to HADRIANOPLE,1520 sent before Pyrrhus and Achmetes, two of his greatest Bassaes, to prouide for the solemnising of the great feast, which the Turkes call Bairam (and is as it were their Easter) purposing to come after himselfe at leisure, as his weake bodie would giue him leaue: and kept with him onely Ferhates, the third of his greatest Bassaes and priuie counsellours. But such was the furie of his foule disease, continually attainting him with intollerable paines,The death of Selymus. that shortly after the departure of the other two Bassaes, he breathed out his cruell ghost, in the moneth of September, in the yeare 1520: neere vnto the citie CHIVRLI, in the selfe same place where he had sometime most vnnaturally assayled his aged father Baiazet, with purpose to haue slaine him, had not the fortune of the old emperour in a great battell preuailed both against his force and the treason of his own people. Thus intending the mischeefe he could not performe,The iust iudgement of God. cut off by a loathsome and vntimely death, hee to the great joy of all Christendome ended his dayes, when hee had liued six and fortie yeares, and thereof raigned eight: which time of his raigne was nothing els but a most horrible and dreadfull time of bloudshed. His dead bodie was afterwards sol [...]mnly by his sonne Solyman buried in a new temple at CONSTANTINOPLE, which he to the imitation of his father and grandfather had for that purpose before built. Vpon his tombe is engrauen in the Greeke, Turkish, and Sclauonian tongues, this short Epitaph.

Hic maximus adsum Selym,

Phi. Lonicerus Turcicae Historiae, Tomo primo, lib. primo.

qùi orbem domui.

Non bella relinquo, sed pergo inquirere.

Non vlla me fortuna potuit euertere:

Licet ossa iacent, animus bella quaerit.

In English thus.

Lo here I lie great Selymus ▪ which held the world in feare:

The world I leaue, but not the wars, which I seeke though not here.

No fortunes force, or victors hand, could take from me the spoiles:

And though my bones lie buried here, my ghost seekes bloudie broiles.

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[Page] Selymus before his death cōmendeth the [...]ition of his sonne Solyman to Pyrrhus Bassa.He vsed commonly to say, That nothing was sweeter than to raigne without feare or suspition G of his kindred. A little before his death he commended his sonne Solyman to Pyrrhus Bassa; straightly charging him, that after his death he should leaue the Persian, and turne his forces altogither vpon the Christians. And the more to incense him to the effusion of bloud, he left him the liuely counterfeit of himselfe hanging at his bed side, with sundrie bloudie precepts breathing forth his cruell and vnmercifull disposition.

H

Tabulae Epigraphe.

Soldanus Selymus Othomannus, Rex Regum, Dominus omnium Dominorum, Princeps omnium Principum, filius & Nepos Dei. S. S. S.

Ad dextram, versus Graeca lingua ad scripti in hunc sensum.

Tutus vt imperij princeps sibi sceptra capessat,

Anxia ne dubio corda pauore premat.

Ne putet esse nefas cognatum haurire cruorem:

Et nece fraterna, constabilire domum.

Iura, fides, pietas, regni dum nemo supersit

Aemulus, ha [...]d turbent relligione animum.

Haec ratio est, quae sola queat regale tueri

Nomen, & expertem te sinit esse metus.

Ad Sinistram lingua Sclauonica.

Te semel aduersus peccantem, mitis haberi

Ne studeas, poena vindice tutus eris.

Protinus ense rescindendum, putrescere si quid

Incipiet, clemens rex male sceptra gerit.

Ad veniam facilis, peccanti porigit ansam

Quase sustentans, ad noua damna ruat.L

Ad Calcem tabulae lingua Turcica.

Qui non ipse sua princeps hastilia dextra,

Agmen in aduersum marte fauente iacet.

Sed refugit saeuis caput obiectare periclis

Dum grauia impauido, praelia corde subit:

Iste sciat vanis belli sese artibus vti:M

Et votis nunquam fata fauere suis.

Nulla sibi speret, suscepti commoda belli,

Hostiles acies quisqui [...] adire timet.

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The Inscription of the Table.

Sultan Selymus Othoman King of Kings, Lord of all Lords, Prince of all Princes, the sonne and nephew of God.

On the right hand of the Table were written Greeke verses to this sence.

The prince that safely seekes to raigne,

The bloudie and tirannicall precepts left by Selymus to his son Solyman, which he afterwards most assuredly kept, as is to be seene in his lif [...] following.

and hold his state in quiet rest,

Must neuer suffer troubled care to harbour in his princely brest:

Nor thinke it sinne to spill the bloud of his most neere and dearest kin,

Not of his brother, so thereby assured safetie he may win.

Law, faith, deuotion, and such like, to breake them all he must not spare,

Nor conscience make of any thing, to rid him from aspiring care.

This is the way and onely meane that may protect a princes state,

And set him safe without all feare, whilest none may liue whom he doth hate.

On the left hand of the Table was written in the Sclauonian tongue.

Of him that seekes to worke thy woe, deserue not to be counted kind:

But take him for thy mortall foe, and plague him with reuenging mind.

The rotten lym is cut away for feare of doing further harme:

The gentle prince doth beare small sway, if no abuse can make him warme.

Forbearance makes men more offend, and to presume of further grace,

It doth but strength to rebels lend, to thrust their soueraigne out of place.

At the lower end of the same [...]able was written in Turkish verse.

What prince in person dareth not in open field to meet his foe,

And there with vnappauled heart, his deadly darts himselfe to throw:

But hides his head for feare of harme, and shuns the danger of the field,

When martiall minds with courage bold withstand their foes with speare and shield:

Let him well know, how that in vaine he beareth armes but for a show,

And that the honour of the field will neuer such a coward know.

Ne let him hope to gaine the spoyle by any warres he takes in hand,

That feareth with courageous mind his enemies forces to withstand.

FINIS.

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Christian princes of the same time with Selymus the first.

Emperors of Germanie

Maximilian the first. 1494. 25.

Charles the fift. 1509. 39.

Kings

Of England

Henrie the eight. 1509. 38.

Of Fraunce

Lewis the twelfth. 1497. 17.

Francis the first. 1514. 32.

Of Scotland

Iames the fourth. 1489. 25.

Iames the fifth. 1513. 32.

Bishops of Rome

Iulius the II. 1503. 9.

Leo the X. 1513. 8.

Suleiman the Magnificent

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SOLYMAN.

SOLYMANNVS MAGNIFICVS TVRCARVM IMPRATOR QVARTVS FLORVIT ANNO 1520

Phil. Lonicer. Hist. Turc. lib. 1.

Imperij Soliman patrij moderatur habenas,

Regna (que) Christiadum cladibus vs (que) metit.

Antiquam capit ille Rhodon, Naxum (que) Parum (que)

Tyrrheni infestat Littora curua maris.

Pannonios multo populatur milite fines,

Et cingit muros clara Vienna tuos.

Inclyta Sigethi dum moenia concutit armis,

Cogitur, hinc Stygiam nudus adire domum.

His fathers empire Solyman doth rule with mightie power,

And Christian kingdomes ceaseth not with slaughter to deuour.

The antient RHODES, with NAXOS Isle, and PAROS he did take,

And on the coasts of ITALIE did wofull hauocke make:

Faire HVNGARIE with armies great he often did annoy,

And with a world of men had thought VIENNA to destroy.

But whilest to SIGETH he laied siege, in hope the same to haue,

Cut off by death in his great pride, went naked to his graue.

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A

THE LIFE OF SOLYMAN, THE B FOVRTH AND MOST MAGNIFICENT EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES.

THe death of Selymus was with all carefulnesse concealed by Ferhates the onely Bassa then present, for feare least the Ianizar [...]es and souldiours of the court getting knowledge thereof, should after their wonted manner in the time of the vacancie of the empire, C spoile the merchants and strangers in places where they lay in garrison, and especially in the imperiall citie: and not so contented after their accustomed insolencie prescribe vnto the greatest Bassaes at their pleasure. For preuenting whereof, Ferhates dispatched a trustie messenger with letters in post to Solyman the onely sonne of Selymus, then lying at MAGNESIA, certifying him of the death of his father; and that he should deserue well of his peaceable subjects by hastening his comming to CONSTANTINOPLE, whilest all things were yet in good order, in time to represse with his presence the feared disordered proceedings of his men of warre.

D Solyman hauing to his great content perused the Bassaes letters, as one desirous enough of the empire; yet considering the cruell disposition of his father (who vpon a meere jealous conceit of his aspiring mind, and for certaine words by him let fall in dislike of his fathers extreame dealing, had practised most vnnaturally to haue taken him away by poison: which danger he escaped onely by the carefulnesse of his mother, who misdoubting the worst, caused the poisoned rich shirt sent to him from his father to be first worne by one of his chamber, whereof he in short time after died) and also that the letters were signed onely by Ferhates, Solyman hardly persuaded that his father was dead. and the newes not seconded from any of the other Bassaes: fearing some hidden & secret plot of his father tending to his distruction, durst not aduenture to remoue from his charge, but returned the messenger as one to whom he gaue little or no credit. Ten daies thus spent, and the death of Selymus nothing E as yet suspected; Ferhates vnderstanding by his messenger the warinesse of Solyman, and that he expected more assured aduertisement, sent presently vnto the other great Bassaes Pyrrhus and Mustapha at HADRIANOPLE, that they should without delay repaire vnto the court: vnto whom at their comming he declared the death of the emperour. Which after they had seene to be true, they by an other secret and speedie messenger aduertised Solyman againe thereof, firming those letters with all their hands and seales: whereby Solyman now assured of his fathers death, presently put himselfe vpon the way, and by long and painfull journies in few daies came to SCVTARIVM, called in auntient time CRISOPOLIS, ouer against CONSTANTINOPLE. Where he was met with the Aga or captaine of the Ianizaries, and by him transported in a gallie ouer that straight passage to CONSTANTINOPLE; where at his landing the Ianizaries by the F appointment of their captaine were readie to receiue him, knowing as yet nothing of the death of Selymus, vntill that Solyman being now in the middest of them, the captaine with a loud voice said vnto them, Behold your emperour. Whereupon they all with great acclamation cried out, Long liue the great emperour Solyman: which consent of the men of warre, is vnto the Turkish emperours the greatest assurance of their estate. And so with much triumph he was by them [Page] brought into the royall pallace, and placed in his fathers seat in the yeare 1520: in which yeare G also Charles the fift was chosen emperour of GERMANIE. The Ianizaries disappointed by the Bassaes of the spoile of the merchants, especially Christians and Iewes, receiued of the bountie of Solyman a great largious; and in the beginning of his raigne had their accustomed wages somewhat augmented also, to their wonderfull contentment.

Solyman was about twentie eight years old when he began to raigne, and was at the first supposed to haue been of a mild and peaceable disposition: so that the princes to whom the name of Selymus was before dreadfull, were now in hope that a quiet lambe was come in place of a raging lyon. But in short time they found themselues in that their expectation farre deceiued; and especially the Christian princes bordering vpon him, vnto whom he became a farre more dangerous enemie than was his father before him; conuerting his forces most part of his long raigne H vpon them, which Selymus had almost altogither emploied against the kings of PERSIA and AEGYPT, the greatest princes of the Mahometane superstition.

The first that felt his heauie hand was Gazelles Gouernour of SYRIA: who presently vpon the death of Selymus, thinking himselfe now discharged of the oath of obedience which he had giuen to Selymus, but not to his successours; and earnestly desiring to restore againe the kingdome of the Mamalukes lately ouerthrowne,Gazelles gouernour of Syria rebelleth against Solyman. gathered togither the remainder of the dispersed Mamalukes, which speedily resorted vnto him out of all parts of ASIA and AFRICKE: and alluring with rewards the leaders of the wild Arabians, with great numbers of the countrey people of SYRIA discontented with the Turkish gouernment, entred into open rebellion, and by force of armes draue the Turkes garrisons out of BIRTHA, TRIPOLIS, and diuers other cities I of SYRIA, taking them into his owne possession. And the better to effect that he had taken in hand, he sent embassadours to CAIRE, vnto Cayerbeius, who had of Selymus receiued the gouernment of Aegypt, the vnworthie reward of his horrible treason; persuading him by any meanes to take reuenge of the injurie and wrong before done to the Mamalukes, and by killing of the Turkes garrisons to make himselfe Sultan of Aegypt, and restore againe the kingdome of the Mamalukes, offering him therein the vttermost of his deuoire and seruice. But Cayerbeius, either not trusting Gazelles his old enemie, or ashamed by new treason to augment his former dishonour, or els (which was most like) misdoubting his own strength in performance of so great an enterprise: after he had attentiuely heard what the embassadours had to say, caused them presently in his owne sight to be put to death as traitors, and with all speed certified Solyman therof; K who without delay sent Ferhates bassa with a strong armie into SYRIA. Which thing Gazelles hearing, and hauing in his power most of the cities of SYRIA, retired himselfe with all his armie into the strong citie of DAMASCO; whither at length, Ferhates the great Bassa by long march came also. Gazelles (resolued to trie the fortune of the field, and so either by speedie victorie or honourable death to end the matter, rather than to suffer himselfe to bee shut vp within the wals of the citie) vpon the comming of the Bassa valiantly issued forth with all his power, and gaue him battell; which for the space of six houres was most cruelly fought, and many slaine on both sides. At length Gazelles being oppressed with the multitude of his enemies (being eight times more in number) and hardly assailed on euerie side, was enforced to fight in a ring, and there performing all the parts of a worthie Generall and valiant souldiour,Gazelles slaine. honourably died togither L with his Mamalukes in the middest of his enemies, leauing vnto them a bloudie victorie. Gazelles thus slaine, the citie of DAMASCO with all the countrey of SYRIA without any more adoe yeelded againe vnto the Turkes obedience, which the Bassa tooke in so good part, that he would not suffer his souldiours to enter into the citie, then richly stored with commodities of all sorts, brought thither by merchants out of diuers parts of the world.

SYRIA thus pacified, the Bassa went to CAIRE in AEGYPT, and there commending Cayerbeius for his fidelitie, confirmed him in his gouernment; and enuying against the crueltie of Selymus (so to please the Aegyptians) wished them to hope for all happinesse vnder the peaceable gouernment of the new Sultan Solyman. And so when he had set all things in order in both the prouinces of SYRIA and AEGYPT, returned againe to Solyman. M

The yeare next following, Solyman by the counsell of Pyrrhus Bassa his old tutor (a mortall enemie vnto the Christians) and by the persuasion of the Ianizaries resolued to besiege the strong citie of BELGRADE, otherwise called TAVRVNVM, scituat vpon the borders of HVNGARIE, where the riuer Sa [...]us falleth into Danubius. Which citie his great grandfather Mahomet (surnamed [Page] A named the Great, and before him the warlike Amurath) had with all their power, long time before to their great losse and dishonour, vainely attempted. Wherein vntill that time were reserued the ensignes, then taken from the Turkes, to their no small griefe, with other trophies of the glorious victories of the worthie captaine Huniades, and the great king Mathius Coruinus his sonne. Wherefore Solyman sending his armie before, was come as farre as SOPHIA a citie in SERVIA (the place where the Turks great lieutenant in EVROPE is alwaies resiant) before that the Hungarians were aware of his comming: for they liuing at ease all the time that Vladislaus raigned, and now sleeping in securitie vnder the young king Lodouicus his sonne, a man of no experience; who contenting himselfe with the title of a king, suffered himselfe to be pilled and polled by his nobilitie and great cleargiemen (inuerting all the wealth of the land to their owne B priuat gaine) that he was not able to raise any sufficient power to go against his puissant enemie; especially his nobilitie, in whose hands rested the wealth of his kingdome, promising him much, but performing indeed nothing. Huniades with his hardie souldiours, the scourge and terror of the Turks, was dead long before; so was also Mathias that fortunat warriour: after whom succeeded others giuen all to pleasure & ease; to whose example the people fashioning themselues, forgot their wonted valour, and gaue themselues ouer to sensualitie and voluptuous pleasure. So that Solyman without let,Belgrade [...] by Solyman. presented his armie before the citie of BELGRADE, and with batterie and vndermining in short time became lord thereof▪ hauing lost few of his people in that siege. How much the losse of that strong citie concerned the Christian common weale, the manifold and lamentable miseries which afterwards ensued by the opening of that gap, not vnto C the kingdome of HVNGARIE onely, but to all that side of Christendome, did, and yet doth most manifestly declare. It was woon by the Turkes the nine and twentith day of August in the yeare 1521.

After the taking of the strong citie of BELGRADE,1522 Solyman returning to CONSTANTINOPLE, brake vp his armie and there lay still almost all the yeare following. During which time, he caused great preparation to be made at GALIPOLIS and other his ports, for rigging vp of a great fleet: which caused the Italians, Venetians, and them of the RHODES, to looke about them, as men carefull of their estates, fearing that those forces would eare long be imploied against some or all of them.

About the same time Philippus Villerius a man of great wisedome and courage,Philippus Villerius chosen Great master of the Rhodes. then following D the French court, was in his absence by the knights of the RHODES chosen Great master of that honourable companie: who embarking himselfe at MARCEILLES, after a long and dangerous journey (being not without the knowledge of Solyman hardly laid for at sea by Cortugogli a famous pirat of the Turkes, whose two brethren the knights of the RHODES had but a little before surprised at sea and slaine, and then held the third in prison) arriued in safetie at the RHODES, where he was with great joy and triumph receiued.

The great Bassa, by whose graue aduise Solyman was contented in all his waightie affaires to be directed, consulting with the other Bassaes of diuers great exploits which was first to be taken in hand, for the honour of their emperour and enlarging of his empire, were of diuers opinions concerning the besieging of the RHODES. Pyrrhus the Bassa of greatest account, dissuaded E the taking in hand of that action, as too full of difficultie and danger: producing for proofe thereof the example of the great emperour Mahomet, Solymans great grandfather; by whom it was vnfortunatly attempted, and in fine shamefully abandoned. But Mustapha next in place and reputation to Pyrrhus, extolling the power and fortune of Solyman, said, That the greatnesse of their emperor was not to be concluded within the attempts of his predecessors, as well appeared by the late taking of BELGRADE; from whence first Amurat, and after him Mahomet; two of the most warlike princes of the Turkes, had with great dishonour beene repulsed: and should no doubt with like good fortune preuaile against the RHODES also, being able (if need were) to bring more men before it than were stones in the wals thereof. Which he so confidently affirmed, with extenuating the power of the Rhodians, that he seemed to make no doubt of the F good successe of that warre: presumptuously affirming, that vpon the first landing of Solymans great armie, they of the RHODES would without delay yeeld themselues and their citie into his hands.

Amongst others of great experience, whose opinions Solyman was desirous to haue, before he would take so great a matter in hand, was the famous pyrat Cortug-Ogli, a man of a mischieuous [Page] and cruell nature, but of great experience in sea matters. Who presented to Solyman by G Mustapha and Ferhates, two of the greatest Bassaes, going before him, after due reuerence done, and commaunded to deliuer his opinion, spake vnto Solyman as followeth: ‘Cortug-Ogli the pirat persuadeth Solyman to besiege the Rhodes.The greatnesse of your deserts (most mightie and puissant emperour) maketh me (being by you so commaunded) at this time frankely to speake what I thinke may be for the glorie and honour both of your maiestie and empire. I dayly heare the pitifull lamentation of the miserable people of MITYLENE, EVBoeA, PELOPONESVS, ACHAIA, CARIA, LYCIA, and all alongst the sea coast of SYRIA and AEGIPT, bewayling the spoile of their countries, the ransacking of their cities, the taking away of their cattell and people, with other infinit and incredible calamities, which they dayly suffer of the crossed Rhodian pirats, no man withstanding them: many a time haue these wretched H people holden vp their hands to me for helpe, most instantly requesting me to be a meane for them to your imperiall Maiestie, whereby they might be protected from the iniurie, rapine, and slaughter of these cruell rouers. Wherefore in their behalfe I beseech your sacred Maiestie, by the most reuerend name of the holy prophet Mahomet, and by your owne most heroicall disposition, to deliuer your afflicted subiects from these their most cruell enemies, and at length to set them free from the furie, captiuitie, and feare of these pyrates, more greeuous vnto them than death it selfe: and consider with your selfe, that this iniurie and insolencie tendeth not so much to the hurt of your poore subiects and oppressed people in priuat, as to the dishonour and disgrace of your imperiall name and dignitie; which if any other Christian king or prince should offer, your Maiestie I know would not suffer vnreuenged▪ and will you then suffer these robbers, cut-throats, base people gathered out of all the corners of Christendome,I to wast your countries, spoile your cities, murder your people, and trouble all your seas [...] for who can passe by sea to TRIPOLIS, DAMASCO, ALEXANDRIA, CAIRE, CHALCIDE, LESBOS, CHIOS, nay vnto this your imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, without most certain and manifest danger of these rouers? What haue we heard euerie Spring this manie yeares, but that the Rhodians had taken some one or other of your ports, led away your people into miserable captiuitie, and carried away with them the rich spoiles of your countries? And that which is of all other things most dishonourable, this they doe vnder your nose, and in your sight, in the middest and heart of your empire. Pardon me I beseech you most mightie emperour, if I too plainely speake what I thinke: For whatsoeuer I say, I say it to no other end, but that you should now at length doe that which should manie yeares agoe haue been done. We your most loiall subiects may not, nor ought not, for the encrease of K our Mahometane religion, and for the enlarging of your empire and honour, to refuse to aduenture our goods, our bodies, our liues to all hazard and danger without exception. If you likewise be caried with loue of glorie and renowne, or rauished with the desire of neuer dying fame; in what wars can you more easily gaine the same, or better imploy vs your seruants, than in vanquishing and subduing the RHODES, the reputed bulwarke of Christendome, which onely keepeth vs from their countries? But some will perhaps say, your auncestors haue in former times vnfortunately attempted that citie: so did they also BELGRADE in HVNGARIE: yet hath your happie fortune to your immortall fame brought the same vnder your subiection, being far more strongly fortified than it was in times past: and doe you then despaire of the RHODES? Cast off such vaine and needlesse misdoubt, the Turkish empire hath alwaies growne by aduentures and honourable attempts: therefore make hast L to besiege it both by sea and land. If your subiects mourning vnder the heauie burthen of the Christian captiuitie, built it with their owne hands for the Christians, cannot they now at libertie, desirous of reuenge, and fitted with oportunitie, with like hands destroy the same? If it please you to vouchsafe but to looke into the matter (most dread Soueraigne) you shall see that there is a diuine occasion by the procurement of our great prophet Mahomet presented vnto your most sacred Maiestie, now that the Christians of the West are at discord and mortall warre amongst themselues. Your Maiestie is not ignorant, that in managing of warres, the oportunitie of time is especially to be followed; and that when occasion serueth, all remissenesse and delay is to be carefully auoided: the changes of times are most tickle, and if you suffer your good hap now to passe ouer, you shall perhaps in vaine afterwards pursue the same when it is fled and gone.M’

Solyman by nature an ambitious young prince, prickt forward thus also by the persuasions of Cortug-Ogli and others, seeking their further credit and preferment by fitting his ambitious humour: but most of all by the instigation of the Bassa Mustapha, resolued to goe in person himselfe [Page] A against the RHODES. And first to make some proofe of what spirit and courage Villerius the new chosen Great Master was of, in whose sufficiencie the greatest part of the defence of the citie was supposed to consist: to him by way of a little cold friendship, he sent a messenger with this short letter thus directed.

Solyman by the grace of God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, greatest Emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE and TRAPEZOND, most mightie king of PERSIA, ARABIA, SIRIA, and AEGIPT, lord of ASIA and EVROPE, prince of MECHA and ALEPPO, ruler of HIERVSALEM, and Master of the Vniuersall sea: to the reuerend Father Phillippus Villerius Lilladamus, Great Master of the RHODES, and Legat of ASIA, greeting.

I am glad of thy comming and new promotion,Solymans letter to Villerius, Great Master of the Rhodes. which I wish thou maiest long and happely enioy, for that I hope thou wilt in honour and fidelitie exceed all them which haue before thee ruled in the RHODES: from whom as my ancestors haue withdrawne their hand, so I after their example ioine with thee in amitie and friendship. Ioy thou therefore my friend, and in my behalfe reioice of my victorie and triumph also: for this last Summer passing ouer Danubius vith ensignes displaied, I there expected the Hungarian king, who I thought would haue giuen me battell, I tooke from him by strong hand BELGRADE, the strongest citie of his kingdome, with other strong holds thereabouts: and hauing with fire and sword destroied much people, and carried away many moe into captiuitie, as a triumphant C conquerour, breaking vp mine armie, am returned to my imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, from whence farewell.

The Great Master hauing read these letters, and well considered of the same, perceiued forthwith Solymans meaning, and that peace was offered him in words and shew, but war in deed and meaning. Which because he was readie by force to repulse, he rewarded the Turks messenger, and sent backe with him another of his owne, a priuat person. For the Rhodians did seldome vouchsafe to send any honourable embassadours to the Turkish emperours (with whom they for most part liued in hostilitie) either the Turkes to them. By this messenger he answered Solymans letters with other of like vaine, as followeth.

D Philippus Villerius Lilladamus, Great Master of the Rhodes, to the Turke.

I right well vnderstand your letters which your messenger brought vnto me.The answere of Villerius to Solymans letters. The friendship you write of, is as pleasing to me as displeasing to Cortug-Ogli your seruant, who went about to haue intercepted me vpon the suddaine, as I came out of FRAVNCE: but failing of his purpose, stealing by night into the Rhodian sea, he attempted to haue robbed certaine merchants ships bound from IOPPE to VENICE: but sending my fleet out of my hauen, I staied his furie, constrained the pirat to flie, and for hast to leaue behind him the prises he had before taken from the marchants of CRETE. Farewell from the RHODES.

By this answere Solyman perceiued, that he was well met withall in his owne finenesse, and that he should not so easily carrie the RHODES, as he had before done BELGRADE. Yet being fully in himselfe resolued to trie his fortune therein, hee called vnto him certaine of the cheefe commaunders of his warres, to whom he opened his whole determination in this sort.

Although I doubt not worthie cheefetaines,

Solymans Oration to his men of warre declaring his purpose of besieging the Rhodes.

but that you are of the same mind now that you haue been alwaies of, in the inuading of other nations: yet I haue thought it good in matters tending to the common glorie and good of vs all, to vse your generall aduice and counsell. Since the time that my father left this world, we haue made warre with diuers nations and people: The Sirians by nature vnconstant, and prone to rebellion, we haue by force reduced to their former obedience: The Sophi, that mightie king, nephew vnto the great king Vsun-Cassanes by his daughter the sister of king Iacup, in heart and deed our mortall enemie, not contented with the kingdomes of ASSIRIA, MEDIA, ARMENIA the greater, PERSIA, and MESOPOTAMIA, we haue by our forces shut vp within the compasse of his owne dominions: The last yeare running through HVNGARIE, both on this side and beyond Danubius, we tooke BELGRADE the strongest fortresse of that kingdome: and whatsoeuer els we attempted, we subdued. Yet for all that (to speake plainely of my selfe) my mind greater [Page] in conceit than mine empire, and the bloud of Othoman, findeth no contentment in these victories.G For whatsoeuer you haue yet done, although it be great, yet I deeme it all but little, in regard of your worth: my desire carrieth me further. This haue I alwaies aboue all things most earnestly desired, to set vpon the RHODES, and vtterly to root out all the strength and forces, yea the very name of those Rhodian souldiours. And haue not you also no lesse than my selfe desired the same? How often haue I heard you crying out, The RHODES, The RHODES? I haue expected the time, that being discharged of other warres I might here employ my whole strength and power. That we so long desired, is now come: there was neuer greater oportunitie of good successe offered, a great part of the wals of the citie of the RHODES now lying euen with the ground; which cannot in short time be repaired, especially in their want of coine. Beside this, the garrison in the castle is but small, and their aid from FRANCE farre off, which will either come too late when the citie is lost, or that which I rather beleeue, neuer. For neither will the French king (being at mortall warres with the Germane emperour, and lord of ITALIE) suffer his storehouses to be disfurnished, or his ports bared of the necessarie defence of his shipping; neither doe you beleeue that the Spaniards (distressed at home with famine, warre, and ciuile discention) will easily come hither out of SICILIA and CAMPANIA with supplies of men and victuall. But you may perhaps thinke, that great danger is to be feared from the Venetian fleet, and the Isle of CRETE, which I assure you is not so: for I know (although I will not now manifest the same) how I haue preuented that mischeefe. Wherefore courageous souldiors (borne to the subduing of all Christendome, much more of the RHODES) with cheerefull hearts follow me your Soueraigne against these your most perfidious and cruell enemies. How long I pray you will [...] suffer that staine and disgrace to sticke vpon the Othoman familie, and generally vpon all the name of the Turkes, which these Rhodians cast vpon vs the last time they were besieged? Which was not so much done by their valour, as by the vnfortunat counsell of my great grandfather Mahomet, calling home Mesithes Paleologus his Generall in that warre, for one vnluckie assault. But admit that their valour gained them the victorie, will you therefore alwaies suffer these piraticall excursions vpon our maine and Islands? the ransacking of our cities and countries? the carrying away of your c [...] tell and richest substance? the captiuitie and slaughter of your wiues and children? the slauerie of your neerest friends and kinsmen? So helpe me great Mahomet, it shall not so bee: I vow▪ in despight of Christ and Iohn, in short time to set vp mine ensignes with the Moone in the middle of the market place of the RHODES. Neither doe I seeke any thing vnto my selfe, more than the honour of the enterprise; the profit I giue vnto you my fellow souldiors, their coine, plate, iewels (which is reported to K be great) their riches and wealth is all yours, to carrie home with you vnto your wiues and children. Wherefore let vs now with all our forces and courage set forward to the besieging of the RHODES.

Solymans purpose thus made knowne, and the same with one accord of all his captaines well liked: Pirrhus the eldest Bassa and of greatest authoritie, who at the first dissuaded the warre, standing vp in the middest of the rest, said: ‘I cannot but much admire the great wisedome and rare vertues of our young emperour, who so wisely and aduisedly hath declared all the deepe counsels of a worthie cheefetaine in taking of warre in hand. Blessed be Mahomet, thrice and foure times blessed is this empire, blessed is our estate, and L blessed are we with such a prince, which carrieth with him in his warres not onely men and habil [...]ments of warre, but most deepe wisedome and policie. Which wholsome manner of proceeding, if we had alwaies before our eies, and would follow, we should in short time bring vnder our subiection not the RHODES onely, but all the kingdomes of the Christians. Yet beside that which our emperour hath most carefully and consideratly deuised, mine age and experience would exhort you, by gifts, promises, rewards, and all other meanes whatsoeuer, to corrupt if it were possible the very cheefe and principall citizens of the RHODES, thereby to enter into their most secret deuices and counsels: which how it may be wrought, I will in few words giue you to vnderstand. I as a man indifferent, desirous of peace and quietnesse, will by messengers and letters induce the Great Master to send some honourable embassage to our dread Soueraigne, which if I can once bring him vnto, then let me alone with the rest.M’

Solyman maketh preparation against the Rhodes.This counsell of the old Fox pleased all the hearers well, but aboue others the emperor himselfe, who gaue him in charge with all diligence and speed, to proue what he could doe: the other captaines he commaunded to prepare the greatest forces they could, both for land and sea [Page] seruice. Which preparation was so great both at CONSTANTINOPLE and other places, that it could not long be kept so secret, but that newes therof was brought to the RHODES the fourth day of Februarie: which newes daily increasing and still confirmed by more certaine reports, Villerius the Great master for more certaine intelligence, sent a Christian of EPIDAVRVS, who could perfectly speake the Turkish language, as a spie to CONSTANTINOPLE; who by secret letters from thence gaue him knowledge, that the Turkes were preparing a great fleet, and raising a mightie armie, aduertising him also of a wonderfull proportion of artillerie prepared for batterie; but against whom was not commonly knowne, some deeming it to be for the inuasion of ITALIE, some for the RHODES, others supposing it to be for CIPRVS or CORCIRA: which diuersitie of conjectures, made many (whose conceits auerted from themselues the fortune of that warre) to be more carelesse and secure. But whilest euerie man was of opinion, that it was made against any man rather than himselfe; certaine aduertisement was giuen to the Rhodians from diuers places by letters from their friends and confederats, That the Turks did with extraordinarie diligence keepe straight watch and ward in all their ports therabouts alongst the sea coast, otherwise than they were before accustomed: which seemed to prognosticat some farther matter than the defence of their frontiers.Villerius prepareth to make resistance against the Turks. Villerius carefull of his charge, as the marke whereat the enemie aimed, prouided with all possible diligence great store of victuall, armour, weapons, shot, pouder, and whatsoeuer els necessarie for the defence of the citie.

The new wals of the citie, and AVERGNE fortresse, by Basilius enginer to the emperour Charles the fift (a worke begun in the time of Fabritius Carectus late Graund master, but not yet finished) was now with all diligent labour set vpon, euerie man putting his helping hand vnto so necessarie a worke. Whilest these things are with so great endeuour and labour a doing, a messenger came from CONSTANTINOPLE, sent from the old Bassa Pyrrhus, a sharpe witted and cunning fellow; who with much filed speech in most ample manner doing his message, by the way, painted forth the great towardlinesse and courteous nature of the Turkish emperour Solyman, with the great commendation of Pyrrhus Bassa his master: deliuering from both of them letters vnto the Great master of this purport.

Solyman by the grace of God King of Kings, Lord of Lords, &c. to the reuerend father Philippus Villerius Liladamus, Great master of the RHODES and legat of ASIA, greeting.

I am certainly enformed that my letters are deliuered vnto thee;Solymans letter to Villericus. which for that thou vnderstoodest them aright, I cannot expresse how much it pleased me. Trust to it, that I am not contented with the victorie I got at BELGRADE; I hope for another, nay I assure my selfe thereof, which I will not hide from thee, whom I am alwaies mindfull of. Farewell from CONSTANTINOPLE.

Pyrrhus great counsellor to the mightie emperour Solyman, to Philippus Villerius Liladamus, Great master of the RHODES and legat of ASIA, greeting.

Your letters,Pyr [...]hus Bassa his letters to Villerius. greater in meaning than character, I haue deliuered vnto our most mightie emperour: but the bearer thereof I would not suffer to come to his presence, least he should be too much offended with so base a messenger. Vnto whom from henceforth send men of worth, commendable for their yeares and discretion, with whom his Maiestie may (if he so please) conferre and conclude of matters concerning the common good: which thing if you shall doe, it shall neither repent you of the doing thereof, nor me of my counsell. The messenger I send, bringeth letters vnto you also from our great emperour; to whose diuine excellencie how you are to answere, you are alreadie admonished. Farewell from CONSTANTINOPLE.

These letters being openly read, drew the minds of the Rhodians diuersly. Such as altogether wished for peace, measuring others after their owne plaine meaning and integritie, commended the counsell of Pyrrhus, saying, That he being an old man of great experience, was not so desirous of our quiet, as of the quiet of his prince and countrey: and therefore wished by wisdome to order that which the young prince sought for by war, fearing the vncertaintie of mans [Page] fragillitie, the common chance of warre, the violence of fortune, which hath oftentimes in a moment with a handfull of men ouerthrowne most mightie kings with their strong armies. The persuasion of these men tooke such effect, that one of the knights of the order called Raymund March, a Spaniard, a noble gentleman of great courage and verie eloquent, skilfull also in the Turkish tongue, and then moster-master, was appointed to haue beene sent embassadour vnto the Turkish emperour. Many there were of a contrarie opinion, which suspecting fraud and deceit, said it were good to beware of the enemies counsell: asking, to what end this embassage were? for should we proclaime warre (say they) against the most mightie tyrant, not yet our professed enemie, who writeth all peace? or should we intreat for peace, no warre as yet proclaimed? that he which as yet is afraid himselfe, may now vnderstand that he is of vs feared. Besides that, with what securitie, with what face can our embassadours go, vnrequested of the Turkish emperour, without his safe conduct thorow those countries which we daily burne and spoile? But they shall shew Pyrrhus the great Bassaes letters forsooth, his protection, his credit and authoritie shall defend them from all injurie and wrong; as though the seruant should prescribe lawes vnto his master, and such a seruant as is most like vnto his master (that is) cruell, false of faith, a hater of all Christians, but especially of vs Rhodians: whom the mercilesse tyrant hauing in his power, with his nauie and armie in readinesse, shall with cruell torture enforce to discouer vnto him our prouision, the secrets of our citie and Order. This opinion of the wiser son, was greatly confirmed by the too much curiositie of the messenger which was sent, who with all diligence enquired of the state and situation of the citie, of the number and strength of the Order. Wherfore in conclusion he was sent backe againe, accompanied but with one priuat souldiour to carrie the Great masters letters vnto the Turkish tyrant: the tenure whereof was thus.

Philippus Villerius Great master of the Rhodes, vnto the Turke greeting.

Villerius his ans [...]re to S [...]lymans letters.That you are mindfull of me, grieueth me nothing: and I am also mindfull of you. You repeat your victorie in HVNGARIE, wherewith not being contented you hope for another: naie you promise and assure your selfe thereof, before you haue attempted the warre. Beware you deceiue not your selfe; mens expectations neuer deceiue them more than in warres. Farewell from the RHODES.

The other letters written to Pyrrhus, were to this effect.

Philippus Villerius Liladamus Great master of the Rhodes, to Pyrrhus the Bassa.

Villerius his answere to Pyrrhus the Bassa his letters.I haue aduisedly considered thy letters, with the behauiour and disposition of thy messenger. As I contemne not thy counsell, so will I not follow the same, whilest my men of warre doe spoile the countries and ports of thy lord and master; which I beare withall, by reason of the iniuries they haue s [...] stained of the Turkish pirats. But I will call them home, and will send embassadours vnto thy great lord: so that thou before send me safe conduct vnder thy masters great seale, for their safe comming and returne. Farewell from the RHODES.

But these letters were neuer deliuered vnto the great Turke, or the Bassa: for as soone as the Turkish messenger was come ouer into the maine, he presently tooke horse, which was there in readinesse for him, and posted towards CONSTANTINOPLE with as much speed as he could, leauing the Christian messenger his companion behind him; who returning backe againe to the RHODES, and telling what he had heard and seene, gaue them all great occasion to dispaire of peace:Villerius aduertised o [...] the comming of the Turks fleet. whereupon Villerius sent into CRETE to hire certaine companies of Cretensian arche [...]. In the meane time aduertisement was giuen vnto the Great master by letters from the island of NAXOS, That the Turkes were readie to put their fleet to sea with the first appearance of the new Moone: which thing they most superstitiously obserue in the beginning of all their great actions. The same newes was brought also by certaine merchants of the island of PAT [...]MOS, who came to the RHODES with a great ship laded with corne from EVBoeA; vnder the colour of the sale whereof, they (by the commaundement of the Turkes, to whom they were tributaries) [Page] diligently noted all that was done in the citie, shortly to be besieged. The Great master with no lesse diligence, sent diuers of his small gallies amongst the islands and alongst the maine, to learne what might be of the enemies doings. Ioannes Lupus one of the knights of the order, and captaine of one of these gallies, meeting with a great ship of the Turkes laded with corne, tooke her and brought her home to the RHODES. But Alphonsus captaine of another of the gallies, lying in harbour in one of the islands, and suffering his men to straggle too farre into the land, was set vpon by a Turkish pirat and taken.

About the same time the Turks by often fires made vpon the maine in the night season, gaue signe vnto the Rhodians, that they were desirous to haue some parley with them, as their manner was. Wherupon one Meneton a French man, one of the knights, by commandement of the rest of the order, was sent with a gallie well appointed to the maine to see what the matter might be; and with him was joyned Iacobus Xaycus paymaster for the gallies, that he might of the inhabitants of the place, and his friends there dwelling, diligently enquire of all things concerning the intended warre: for this Xaycus, besides that he was a skilfull sea man and one that knew the coast well, had also good experience in ciuile affairs, and was wonderfully beloued and made of by the Turkish merchants, whose language hee had perfectly learned. Drawing neere the shoare, he found the Turkish merchants making merrie vpon the maine, with their carpets, cotten wooll, and such like merchandise about them as they vsed to exchange with the Rhodian merchants for woollen cloathes: vnto these merchants he gaue due salutations, gaging his faith for their safetie, and they likewise to him. But being requested to come ashoare to make merrie C vntill one of his familiar and old acquaintance might be sent for, who as they said was not farre off; he answered, that he could not so doe, except they would first deliuer a pledge for him a shipboord. The perfidious Turkes laughing as it were at his needlesse feare, willingly sent their merchandise, and a pledge aboord the gallies. Xaycus then going ashoare, and embracing the Turkish merchants which met him: vpon a signe giuen, was forthwith beset on euerie side and taken prisoner, and by post horses conuaied with all speed to CONSTANTINOPLE; where he was with most exquisit torments that could be deuised for any man to endure, enforced to confesse whatsoeuer his cruell enemies could desire. After Xaycus was by treacherie thus lost, then began their prouident wisedome to be highly commended, which were the occasion, that the decree made for sending embassadours vnto the Turke, was againe reuoked. The hostage giuen for Xaycus, being brought to the RHODES and examined, was found to be a simple countrey fellow whom the Turkes had of purpose well apparelled to deceiue the Rhodians: who frankly and plainly according to his simple knowledge, answered to all things that were of him demaunded; as that the Turkes were making great preparation for sea vpon the coasts of CARIA and LYCIA, and had taken vp many souldiours in the countries thereabouts to send vnto the frontiers of his dominions towards SYRIA, for defence of the same against the Persians. All which was true: For Solyman to put the Rhodians out of all suspition of inuasion (whom hee knew carefully to obserue his doings) sent those souldiours whom he had leuied in the countries neerest vnto the RHODES, farre away against the Persian, as if he had meant nothing against the RHODES, and so vpon the sudden to set vpon them with his armie brought out of EVROPE, before they were aware.The carefulness [...] of the Graund master. But this his deuise serued to small purpose, for the Great Master perceiuing by many circumstances, but especially by that late calamitie of Xaycus, that the RHODES was the place the Turkish tyrant longed after; and fearing that delay might bring farther danger, caused a cessation from all other businesse to be proclaimed, vntill all things necessarie for defence of the citie were accomplished: watch and ward was kept in euerie street, the great artillerie planted vpon the wals and bulwarks, companies appointed for the defence of euerie place, the publike armorie full of all warlike prouision was open, all the streets were full of men carrying weapons, some to one place, some to another. At which time a generall muster was taken by the chiefe men of the Order, where were found about 5000 free men able to beare armes, amongst whom were 600 knights of the Order, and 500 souldiours of CRETE; the rest were for most part marriners, able bodies, who in the time of the siege did great seruice, encouraged by their sea captaines: the island people which repaired into the citie, serued to little other purpose but to dig and carrie earth vnto the rampiers: and the citizens (except it were some few of the better sort) were for the most part weake and of small courage, not able to endure any labour or paines, and yet hardly to be kept in order and gouerned, great speakers, but small doers, [Page] greater in shew than in deed. The Great Master hauing carefully prouided and ordered all things needfull for defence of the citie, and fearing nothing more than the faint hearts of the citisens, caused them all to bee called together; for encouragement of whom, hee spake vnto them as followeth: ‘Vill [...]rius his Oration vnto the Rhodia [...].Valiant gentlemen and worthie citisens, we heare that the Turke our mortall enemie is comming against vs, with a huge armie raised of diuers nations: from whose naturall crueltie and wonted periurie except we defend our selues by force, one and the selfe same danger is like to befall me, my knights, and you all. For wee haue with common consent and hand greeuously spoiled him both by sea and land, and you are by booties taken by strong hand out of his dominions, enriched: and at this day we keepe his people in greeuous seruitude, and he ours; but he iniuriously, and we most iustly: For his ancestors (wearie of the darke dennes and caues of the mountaine CAVCASVS, their naturall dwelling) without right, title, or cause, incited onely with couetousnesse, ambition, and the hatred of our most sacred religion, haue driuen the Christians out of SYRIA: and afterwards, oppressed the Grecians in GRECIA; where not contented to haue destroied the people, with one simple kind of death (as barbarisme is euer cruell and mercilesse) they haue with most exquisit and horrible torments butchered many thousands of that nation. All whom, this wicked proud youth (whose mischeefe exceedeth his yeares) a [...] euill neighbour to all men, not contented with the dominions of ARABIA, SYRIA, AEGIPT, the greatest part of ASIA, and of many other places moe, seeketh in tyrannie, murther, spoile, periurie, and hatred against Christ and Christians, farre to excell: and forceth himselfe to the vttermost of his power, to take from vs our Islands, and to subdue the Christian countries; that so at length being lord of all, and commaunder of the World, he may at his pleasure ouerthrow the Christian cities▪ kill the Christians, and vtterly root out the Christian name, which he so much hateth. For the repulsing of which intollerable iniurie, we haue especially chosen this Island of the RHODES for our dwelling place, because the same seemed more commodious than any other for the annoying of this barbarous nation. We haue done what in vs lay, holpen by you: we know by proofe your great valor and fidelitie, which we now haue not in any distrust. Wherefore I will not vse many words to persuade you to continue in your fidelitie and loyaltie, neither long circumstance to encourage you to play the men: sithence worthie minds are not with words either encouraged or dismaied. But concerning my selfe and my knights of the Order, I will speake a few words. I wi [...] them, with whom (as I hope) the Christian princes and other my knights of the West will in good time ioine their forces, are most readie and K prest to defend your selues, your children, your wiues, your goods, the monuments of your ancestours, and sacred temples dedicated to the seruice of our God. Which opinion that it may remaine firme and fix in your minds, if nothing els, my faithfulnesse in your warres, my bodie not yet altogether spent, but able enough to endure paines and trauell, the nobilitie of these worthie knights of the Order, their loue towards you, and their hatred towards your enemies, were sufficient to confirme: but beside this, the strength of this citie, which this noble Order hath with infinit charges so notably fortified with ditches, wals, towers, and bulwarkes against all the force and furie of artillerie, is such, that no citie may worthely be compared, much lesse preferred before the same. It is wonderfully stored with all kind of weapons and war like prouision: we haue laid vp plentie of wine, flesh, and corne, in vaults, so that neither wet weather nor wormes can attaint the same: of wood and wholesome water not to be taken from L vs, things necessarie for men besieged, we haue plentie: and able men ynow for the defence of the citie. All which things promise vnto vs assured victorie, and such end of the warre as we wish for. Besides this, Necessitie, which giueth courage euen vnto cowards, will enforce vs to fight. Yet standeth on our side true religion, faith, conscience, deuotion, constancie, the loue of our countrey, the loue of our libertie, the loue of our parents, wiues, children, and whatsoeuer els we hold deare: Wheras they bring with them the proud commaund of their captaines, infidelitie, impietie, vnconstancie, a wicked desire of your bondage, of your bloud, and the bloud of your parents, wiues, and children. Out of doubt (beloued citisens) our good God will not suffer so many good vertues to be ouercome by their foule vices. Wherefore be you in minds quiet and secure, and trouble not your selues with forboding feare of your enemies; onely continue in the fidelitie and loyaltie which you haue alwaies kept inuiolat and vnspotted toward this sacred and honourable fellowship, in most dangerous wars, and hardest chances of fortune: and if need shall so require, with courageous hand shew your valour against your enemies, and [...] it knowne vnto the Spaniards, French, Italians, Hungarians, and English, That the Rhodians are of power to daunt the Turkish pride, and to auert their fleets and armies from ITALIE, which they ha [...]e [Page] so many yeares threatened with fire and sword: and will no doubt thither with all speed hasten and come, if (that which my mind abhorreth to speake) they should here preuaile. Neither will this ambitious youth, in courage, falshood, and crueltie exceeding Hanniball, imitate him in that, that hauing ouerthrowne the Romanes in the great battell at [...]ANNAS, knew not to vse his victorie: but he will presently with more than Caesars [...]eleritie bring forth the treasures his father got in AEGIPT, and with great fleets and huge armies inuade APVLIA, CALABRIA, and SICILIA: from whence he will forthwith breake into FRANCE, and afterwards into SPAINE, and other Christian countries, raging through them with all kind of crueltie. But I am caried away further than I purposed, and than need is: For your fidelitie and valor (most worthie citisens) to endure the siege and repulse the enemie, is such, as needeth not my persuasion; and of greater resolution, than that it can be shaken with the dangers incident to men besieged▪ Yet the greatest and most forcible miseries of all, which is hunger and thirst, I assure you you shall neuer feele; which pinching calamities for all that, some people (in faithfulnesse, courage, and valour nothing comparable to you) haue neuerthelesse most constantly endured. For they of PETELINVM, besieged by the Carthaginensians, for want of victuall, thrust their parents and children out of the citie, the longer to hold out the siege, and liued themselues with hides and leather sod or broiled, and leaues of trees, and manie other homely things, by the space of eleuen months▪ and could not be ouercome vntill they wanted strength longer to stand vpon the wals▪ and to hold their weapons in their hands. They of CASSILINVM besieged by Hanniball, held out vntill a poore mouse was sold for much monie. You must of necessitie keepe watch and ward in your Stations: if your houses chance to be beaten downe with the enemies artillerie, you must haue patience: for why, they shall bee C repaired againe, and it is not a matter of such importance, that we should therfore yeeld vnto our enemies▪ in whose courtesie and fidelitie no assurance is to be reposed. For besides that he is by nature cruell and vnfaithfull, he can by no meanes be gentle and faithfull towards vs, which haue done him so much harme: who onely (as he himselfe saith) haue oftentimes to his greefe interrupted the course of the victories of him the conquerour both of sea and land; whom he hath so manie times assailed by open force with all his strength, wit, craft, deceit, and policie: yet alwaies hetherto in vaine, almightie God still protecting vs, whom aboue all things (most deare citisens) I wish you to serue and call vpon: For except he keepe and defend the citie, the watchmen doe but watch in vaine.’

This cheerefull speech wonderfully encouraged the hearets, especially the vulgar sort, easily carried away with pleasing words. But whilest they in their jolitie dreame of nothing but of triumph and victorie, the wiser sort possessed with care, ceased not to doe what in them lay, to procure, That the good commonly forewished, might in fine come to effect. Amongst others, Clement bishop of the Greekes, a man both for his place and deuout manner of liuing had in great reputation amongst them, laboured earnestly by dayly exhortations to persuade the Greekes his countreymen in that great and common danger with heart and hand to joine with the Latines in defence of the citie: for although the gouernment was altogether in the Great Master and his Knights, which were Latines; yet the people both of the Island and citie were for most part Greekes, who liked not altogether so well of the Latine gouernment, but that they did many times repine thereat. Howbeit the matter was at that time so ordered by the good persuasion of the bishop, and good gouernment of the Great Master, that they all agreed as one man to spend their liues in defence of the citie; and were so farre from feare of the comming of the barbarous enemie, that many of the vulgar people, in whom appeareth commonly more heat than wit, wished rather for his comming than otherwise. But looke what they had fondly wished, proued afterwards to their costs ouer true. For within a few nights after, the Turkes by fire made in the night time vpon the maine, gaue signe of parley vnto the Rhodians. Whereupon a gallie well appointed, with a long boat, was presently set forth to see what the matter was: which drawing neere vnto the shore, was hailed by a Turke, accompanied with a troupe of horsemen, desiring the captaine of the gallie to send some on shore, with whom they might more conueniently parley: which thing the captaine refusing, What, said the Turke, art thou afraid of Xaycus fortune? To whom the captaine in threatening manner answered againe, Xaycus whom you haue contrarie to your faith and oath taken, troubleth me not; neither am I afraid of you, whom I trust not: but if you haue any thing to say, let me heare it, or els get you further off, otherwise I will speake to you by the mouth of the cannon. Then one of the Turks comming to the water side, laid downe letters vpon a stone, saying, that in them was contained that they had in charge: [Page] which said, he presently set spurs to his horse, and departed with the rest of his companie. The G captaine sending out his long boat for these letters, found them directed in this sort▪

Solyman by the grace of God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, most mightie Emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE and TRAPEZONDE, &c. vnto the reuerend father Philippus Villerius Lilladamus, Great Master of the RHODES, to his knights, and all his people in generall▪

The purport of which letter was as followeth:

Solymans threatening letters to the Rhodians.The compassion I haue of my distressed subiects, and the great iniurie you doe me, hath moued [...]e to wrath. Wherefore I commaund you without delay to yeeld vnto mee the Island and citie of the RHODES, willingly and charitably graunting you leaue safely to depart with all your riches▪ or to tarrie if you [...] please vnder my obeisance, your libertie and religion in no part infringed with an [...]e tribute or imposition. If you be wise, preferre friendship and peace before bloudie warre: for vnto them which are by force subdued, are reserued all extremities which the miserable vanquished vse to suffer of the angrie conquerour: from which neither your owne force, nor forraine aid, nor huge wals, which I will vtterly ouerthrow, shall be able to defend you, fare you well. All which shall assuredly be performed, if you shall make choice rather of my friendship than of my force: wherein you shall neither be deceiued nor circumuented; I take to witnesse God the creator of heauen and earth, the foure writers of the Euangelicall historie, the fourscore thousand prophets descended from heauen, & amongst them out I highest prophet Mahomet, the reuerend ghosts of my father and grandfather, and this my sacred and imperiall head. From our pallace at CONSTANTINOPLE.

When these letters were openly read in the Counsell chamber at the RHODES, some were of opinion, That it was good to answere the Turkish tyrant roundly, thereby to giue him to vnderstand that they were not afraid of his threats: othersome thought it no wisedome with hard words to prouoke so great an enemie to further displeasure. Thus whilest euery man would haue framed an answere according to his owne disposition, in conclusion it was agreed vpon, to giue him no answere at all.

The same day these letters came to the RHODES, which was the foureteenth day of Iune,K one of the Turkes great commaunders at sea with thirtie gallies, the forerunners of the Turkish fleet, arriued at the Island of CHOS, famous in antient time for the birth of Hippocrates the great physition, and the wonderfull picture of Venus left there vnperfited by Apelles, which for the excellencie thereof neuer man durst afterward take in hand to perfect: which fruitfull and pleasant Island was then at the arriuall of the Turkes, part of the dominion of the RHODES. The Admirall of this fleet here landing his Turkes, began to burne the corne which was then almost ripe, with the countrey villages round about. With which injurie, Preianes gouernour of the Island (a man of great courage and valour) moued, with a chosen companie of footmen, and certaine troupes of horsemen, suddainely set vpon the Turkes, in diuers places disperced abroad far into the countrey, with such a terrible crie of the countrey people, and instruments of warre, that L the Turkes being therewith amazed, ran away as if they had been mad, and were many of them slaine without resistance; and had not the gallies lien neare the shore, to receiue them that were able to flie thither, there had not one of them which landed escaped the hands of the Island people. The Turkes hauing receiued this losse, left the Island, and put to sea againe.

The Rhodians for feare of the Turks destroy their suburb [...] & places of pleasure without the citie.The Rhodians for the most part now assured and out of doubt of the comming of the Turks, by the persuasion of Gabriell Pomerolus vicemaster, and other men of great experience, pluck downe the suburbes of the citie, and laid them euen with the ground, their pleasant orchards also and gardens nee [...]e vnto the citie, they vtterly destroyed; the Great Master for example sake beginning first with his owne, beeing a place of great delicacie, lying vnder the wals neere vnto the French bulwarke: and taking into the citie all such things as they thought needfull for the enduring M of the siege, they vtterly destroyed all the rest, were it neuer so pleasant or commodious, within a mile of the towne, leauing all that space as euen and bare as they could possibly make it; to the intent, that the enemie at his comming should find nothing neere the citie whereof to make vse. But whilest the pleasures and delights of the suburbes are thus in defacing, another [Page] A more heauie and wofull sight presented vnto the eies of the citisens, filled the citie with greater mourning and pensiuenesse than did the comming of the enemie.The [...]eare of the countrey people. The miserable multitude of the poore countrey people, some bringing wood, some corne, some cattell, some foules, and other such necessaries as they had, out of the countrie into the citie (for so the Great master had commaunded) after whom followed great numbers of women and children weeping, with dischiueled haire, scratching their faces and tearing themselues after the manner of the countrie▪ wringing their hands and casting vp their eies to heauen, beseeching God with heauie countenance and flouds of teares to defend the noble citie of the RHODES and themselues from the furie of their enemies. Which multitude of countrie people with their prouision, being packt vp into narrow roomes in the houses of the citisens, and their cattell staruing for want of fodder, afterwards B corrupted the aire; whereof ensued rotten agues and the flix, during the time of the siege. But after the citie was giuen vp, such a plague and mortalitie followed, as destroied great numbers of the Turkes and poore Christians; which knowing not whither to go, chose rather there to die than to forsake their natiue countrey.

The Generall of the Turkish fleet which landed in the island of CHOS, and was of purpose sent by Solyman to prouoke the Rhodians to battell at sea; before he with his whole power came to besiege the island, came daily with twentie gallies halfe those narrow seas ouer, betwixt LYCIA and the RHODES, leauing the rest of his fleet riding at anchor at the promontorie called GNIDVM (not farre from the citie of the RHODES) readie to aid him as need should require: this manner of brauerie he vsed many daies togither, hoping thereby to allure the Rhodians out C of their hauen to giue him battell; knowing, that if he should therein obtaine the victorie, it were at that time little lesse than the taking of the citie, or if he could by cruell fight but weaken the forces of the Rhodians, he should therein doe his master good seruice, and greatly further his victorie by diminishing the number of the defendants. When he had many daies without intermission in this proud manner come halfe seas ouer, and sometimes passing further came and lay at the mouth of the hauen, as it were daring them to fight: the Rhodians not wont to be so braued at their owne doores, moued with the intollerable insolencie of this proud Turke, by their continuall importunitie caused the Great Master to call a counsell, to consider whether they should fight with this fleet of the Turkes or not. The counsellors by the appointment of the Great Master assembled: the Chancelor, a man of great authoritie and spirit, famous for his noble D acts both at home and abroad, and chiefe of them which were of opinion this fleet of the Turkes was to be fought withall, said: ‘So great disgrace was not longer to be suffered,The Chancellor his speech, persuading the Rhodians to fight with the Turke [...] gallies. but presently reuenged: For (said he) the hugie fleet of the Turks, I do not sate at whose force & sight, but at whose verie name many men do tremble and quake (which for all that is vnto vs no great noueltie, for euerie yeare we heare of the like) is as a head to be ioined vnto these piraticall gallies, as members; and then will it be most expedient (which will be a most easie thing for vs to doe, hauing the better both for strength of shipping and number and valour of men) to giue that great head such a blow and wound, by cutting off these limbes, that it shall euer after stagger and faint for want of strength: or else there is no other fleet at all prepared against E vs to follow this, and then this discomfited we shall be at quiet. Which thing in my iudgement (though others which feare their owne shadowes and the falling of heauen, say otherwise) is most like to be true▪ for the great Turke is not so sottish to come hither, the fittest time of the yeare being so far spent, in the latter end of Iune, to besiege this citie, and such a citie as he knoweth to be most strong, wanting nothing that is needfull, and thorowly manned with valiant souldiours, from whence his auncestors haue been with losse and shame repulsed: when as the remainder of the Sommer will be spent, before he can encampe himselfe and place his batteries; and Winter time as you know is vnfit for anie siege, especially in this island, wherein they can find no hauen or harbour to rest in. Wherefore on Gods name let vs set vpon our proud enemies: and let vs not for a few threatning words sent vnto vs from a fearfull youth, vpon a finenesse and pollicie least we should follow the taile of his sleet bound for some other F place, sit still like cowards within our wals with our hands in our bosomes, as men which for feare and dread durst not shew their heads. Which our cowardise and want of courage we (forsooth) call Fabius his pollicie: but I would to God we were like Fabius, but I feare we shall prooue more like Antiochus, the Aetholians, the Vitellians, all whose courage consisted in words, vainly hoping to gaine the victorie by sitting still and wishing well. But the helpe of God is not to be gotten by womens praiers and supplications [Page] or these faint-hearted pollicies, which cowards call aduised counsell: but victorie is gained by G aduenturing and exposing our selues to danger and perill.’

With these and such like speeches he so moued the multitude, which commonly conceiueth most courage vpon the greatest vncertainties, that they desired that they might fight, saying. That they would wash away that foule disgrace with the bloud and slaughter of their enemies; for why, they wanted not weapons, courage, or hands (as they said) to doe it withall.

For all this, the grauer sort of the counsell (without whose consent the master might in such cases doe nothing) thought it not good in so dangerous a time to aduenture any great part of their forces, which they should afterwards want for the defence of their citie. The Turkish generall deceiued of his expectation, and perceiuing that the Rhodians would not be drawne forth H to battell at sea, withdrew his fleet twelue miles off, vnto a place called VILLANOVA; where casting anchor and landing his men, he burnt the corne all thereabouts which was now almost ripe, but forsaken of the people as a thing desperat: as for the people themselues, they were all fled, and had retired themselues either into the citie of the RHODES, or els into strong castles in other places of the island.

At the same time, certaine troupes of horsemen sent forth to haue skirmished with the Turks that were burning of the corne, were by a messenger sent from the Great master, commanded to retire:The worthie cō mendation of the Great master. For the prouident Generall sought by all meanes to reserue his soldiors for greater dangers, which he justly feared in the expected siege: during which time he shewed himselfe a most politike captaine and braue soldiour, he would many times by day eat his meat with his soldiors as one of them, and most part of the night keepe watch himselfe walking vp and downe, resting himselfe when he was wearie vpon some stone or piece of timber or other homly seat, as it chanced. In time of assault he was alwaies more forward and aduenturous than the graue counsellors wished, fearing neither shot nor enemie: yet did he alwaies more commend discreet counsell grounded vpon reason, than prosperous actions commended but by their euents. And that which a man would wonder at, amongst so many cares in middest of such diuers and dangerous chances, he carried alwaies such a grace and majestie in his cheerfull countenance, as made him to be of the beholders both reuerenced and loued. All the time he could spare from the necessarie cares of his waightie charge, from assaults, and the naturall refreshing of his bodie, he bestowed in prayer and seruing of God; he did oftentimes spend the greatest part of the night in the church K alone praying, his headpiece, gorget and gauntlets lying by him: so that it was commonly said, that his deuout praiers and carefulnesse would make the citie inuincible.

The Turks [...]leet descried at sea troubleth the Rhodians.The six and twentith day of Iune early in the morning, newes was brought into the citie from the watch-tower standing vpon S. Stephens hill about a mile from the citie, That a most hugie fleet was descried at sea, making thitherwa [...]ds all alongst the Westerne coast of LYCIA. This bad newes much troubled the citie, although it was not of most men vnexpected; all places was filled with tumult and hurly burly, euerie man measured the greatnesse of the danger by the measure of his owne feare, and such a pitifull crie was in euerie place as is vsually in cities presently to be besieged. Hereupon publike praiers were made through all the citie, and euerie man with great deuotion besought the God of heauen, That as it was his pleasure that the Rhodians L should at that time be the champions of the Christian religion; so he would giue them strength and victorie against their enemies, and to turne the calamities of warre vpon the enemies of his name. Their deuotion ended, the gates of the citie were shut vp, and people from all places ran vnto the wals, great flocks of women, children, and aged men not able to stand without a staffe, going forth of their houses to gaze vpon that dreadfull fleet (wherein was aboue 200 sailes as is reported) filled the streets,The order of the Turkes fle [...]. the tops of the high towers and houses. The formost of the fleet was the Admirall of CALIPOLIS, to whom Solyman had committed the charge of all his name, and to assaile the citie by sea: The rear admirall was Cara Mahometes an arch pirat, who was afterwards slaine with a great shot out of the citie. The viceadmirall in the middle of the fleet with a great squadron of gallies, hauing a faire Westernly wind, strucke saile directly before the M mouth of the hauen (which was on both sides defended with two strong towers well furnished with great artillerie) and began to row towards the citie: whereupon an alarum was raised, the trumpets sounded, and many hasted vnto the bulwarke which defended the left side of the hauen, which the enemie seemed to direct his course vnto; and was indeed more subject to danger [Page] than the other. But the Turke seeing himselfe in danger to be sunke with shot from the bulwark, was glad to get himselfe farther off vnto the rest of the fleet: the Rhodians from the wals with lowd outcries scornfully deriding him for his foolish attempt. This great fleet in exceeding brauerie and triumph passing by the citie in sight of the Rhodians (standing vpon their wals with ensignes displaied) did not more terrifie them, than they were themselues terrified to behold the strength of the citie and cheerfulnesse of the defendants. But passing on, they came to the promontorie which the inhabitants call Bo, about three miles distant from the citie, Eastward: which small harbour being not able to receiue so great a fleet, many of the gallies were enforced to ride it out at sea, where they were by shot out of the citie oftentimes endangered and enforced to get them farther off. Whilest the enemie was there landing his great ordinance and other instruments of warre prepared for the siege, chusing a place for his campe, transporting his land souldiours from the maine into the island, viewing the strength and situation of the citie, and in what place he might with most ease assault the same: the Rhodians in the meane time were not idle, but sunke diuers deepe sounds in many places of the citie neere vnto the wals, to discouer the enemies mines; and fortified their bulwarks with greater rampiers▪ in which worke euerie man put to his helping hand without respect of age or calling.The Great master by his embassadours craueth aid of the Christian prin [...]e [...]. The Graund master about that time sent Lodouicus Andugus one of the knights of the Order, into SPAINE to Charles the emperour; and Claudius Ducenuillus another of the Order also, to ROME to the Cardinals, and Italian knights of the Order; and from thence into FRANCE vnto the French king with letters: crauing the aid of these Christian princes, for reliefe of the citie by sea and land besieged. But all in vaine, for they carried away with the endlesse grudge of one against another, or respecting only their owne estates, returned the embassadors with good words, without reliefe.

At this time Preianes Gouernour of CHIOS (of whom we haue before spoken) a man comparable with any of the captaines of that age, an excellent souldiour both by sea and land, valiant and thereto fortunat, of an inuincible courage, brought vp in the wars from his childhood; when he had by the space of two or three daies hid himselfe in the rocks at sea, for feare of the Turkes great fleet, came by night in a small pinnesse to the RHODES, hauing deceiued the Turks watch: at whose comming the Rhodians wonderfully rejoyced, for the souldiours reposed greater confidence in no man than in him: And if any great exploit were to be done, him the Master trusted aboue any other:The commendation of Prelan [...]. he alwaies in armes during the siege, encouraged the souldiours, searched the watch, suruaied the bulwarks, repaired the breaches; and such labours as others accounted extreame miseries, he cheerfully endured, as if they had been but his pleasures and recreation. At the same time also Gabriell Martiningus of BRIXIA, a most skilful enginer, came to the Rhodes out of CRETA; by whose industrie and cunning, 55 mines which the Turks did with infinit labor and charge make (by reason of the springing of the water, and hardnesse of the rockes (during the siege, were all by countermines disappointed and defeated.

The citie of the RHODES is scituat [...]on a plaine ground,The description of the Rhodes. on euerie side to be besieged, onely Northward it is defended with a goodly hauen, from whence it lieth all Westward: betwixt it and the hils round about it, lieth a stonie plaine ground, not verie broad but of greater length; these hils are full of springs, and orchards planted with Oliues, Figtrees, Vines, and such other fruits as such drie and sandie ground will beare. But what by nature wanted, was by the hand and industrie of man supplied; for it was compassed about with a most strong double wall and deepe trenches, threatning the enemie with thirteene stately towers: and sure against all assaults, with fiue mightie bulwarks: with diuers goodly faire gates: and that which was the greatest defence of all, within the citie was alwaies kept a most exact and straight forme of warlike discipline. The defence of the whole citie was thus proportioned: From the French tower (which with the greatnesse and height thereof seemed to mate the skie) stood the Frenchmen with the French Lillies in their ensignes, vnder their Commander Ioannes Abbinus a noble knight of the Order: from thence to S. Georges gate lay the stout Germains, with the Eagle in their ensignes: in the third station were placed the French Auergnois, with the Spaniards, for that the ditches in that place were neither so deepe nor broad as elsewhere in the fift place lay the English garrison, ouer whom the Graund master himselfe commaunded▪ after them succeeded they of NAR [...]ONA: and last of all the Italians, in valour no [...] inferiour to any of the rest, vnder the leading of Petrus Ballnus and Gregorius Morgutas. In euerie one of these stations were diuers valiant knights of the Order, whose names (worthie of eternall memorie) for breuitie we passe ouer, all men [Page] of themselues sufficient to haue taken vpon them the whole charge.G

A Turkish woman slaue, conspireth to fire the citie.The enemie was not busier without the citie in placing his batterie, but traiterous minds were as busie within to haue betrayed the same. A Turkish woman, slaue to one of the rich citisens, had conspired with certaine other her complices, at such time as the Turkes should giue assault vnto the towne, at one instant to set on fire the houses wherein they dwelt in diuers places of the citie, that the defendants drawne from the wals to quench the fire, the Turks in the meane time might the more easily enter. But this treason was in good time reuealed, and the offenders worthily executed.

The Turkes had not as yet placed their batterie, when as they tooke a certaine hill, whereon stood the church dedicated to Cosmus and Damianus, directly ouer against the English station: from thence (as it seemed, rather for exercising of their souldiors than for any great harme they H could doe so farre off) they began with small battering peeces to shoot into the citie: and afterwards they began to dig mines, and to cast vp trenches: for the performance of which kind of worke, and for the filling vp of the towne ditches, they had brought with them fiftie thousand pioners, men better acquainted with countrey labour and keeping of cattell, than with warres; which being enforced vnto their labour day and night, sometime with stripes, and somtime with death, did with incredible celeritie bring that to passe, which was before thought impossible. They cut wayes through the most hard stonie rockes,The painfulnesse of the Turkes pioners. raising the plaines as high as mountaines, with earth brought two miles off, and laying the mountaines euen with the plaines, and yet they neuer wrought in safetie, but were miserably rent in sunder with the great ordinance out of the towne: and that which most of all troubled them, the Rhodians sallying out vpon these ouer-laboured people, hauing neither courage nor skill to defend themselues, but trusting onely to their heeles, slew great numbers of them, and not of them only, but of others also appointed for their defence, whom the Rhodians (taking courage of their feare) fiercely pursued & slew downright. And when many others issuing out of the campe in great companies, thought to haue releeued their fellowes, the great ordinance before of purpose placed to most aduantage▪ so thundered from the wals amongst the thickest of them, that the ground lay couered with the bodies and weapons of the dead Turks. With which manner of fight, after the Rhodians had twice or thrice troubled the enemie, the Turkes for their more safetie wrought most vpon their mou [...]s by night, keeping most strong watch for defence of their pioners, which for more assurance they doubled in the day time, and bent their artillerie against the places which the Rhodians K vsed to sallie out at: which did not so much keepe them in, as the feare of weakening themselues by often sallies, knowing that one man was vnto them a greater losse, than vnto the enemie an hundred.The Turkes deceiued by the Christian marriners. Amongst others which in the beginning of this great siege forced the vttermost of their deuices to the destruction of the Turkes, were certaine marriners, who hauing the Turkish language perfectly, by leaue of the Grand Master (disguising themselues in the habit of Turks) departed by night out of the hauen in a small boat, loaded with apples, plums, peares, mellons, grapes, and such other fruits as the time of the yeare affoorded; and in the darknesse came alongst the coast, vnto that part of the Island whereunto the passage was out of the maine. There as if they had been Turkes come from the maine, they landed their commodities, which the Turkish souldiors bought greedily. When they had thus sold their fruits, and in selling thereof diligently L noted the speech and talke of the souldiors concerning the siege, and were now ready to depart; certaine Turks which greatly disliked the hard beginning of this siege, seeing themselues if they did but stir, in danger to be fet off with shot out of the towne, earnestly requested the marriners to take them with them into the maine: which to doe, at the first the marriners dissembling, refused, as a thing dangerous: & besides that, their boat was too little to receiue so many as would willingly haue gone with them. Yet with much adoe they suffered themselues to be intreated to take in seuen or eight, such a number as they knew they could well master: who in hope of passing ouer into the maine, were (contrarie to their expectation) brought prisoners to the RHODES, where they were by Preianes brought vp to the top of the highest tower of S. Iohns church, from whence they might see all about the countrey, and well descrie all the manner of M the Turks campe, which they simply discouered vnto the captaine, and whatsoeuer els they were demaunded: and amongst other things confessed, that the souldiours were greatly disconte [...]ted with the siege, hauing in the beginning thereof lost so many men, and that they were readie to rise in mutinie against their captaines, and would hardly by them be commaunded out of their [Page] trenches and cabbins, saying, that all they did was but lost labour: and that they should find it another peoce of worke to win the RHODES, than they had at BELGRADE: wherefore if they were wise, they should in time depart before they had receiued further harme both from the enemie, and for want of necessaries, wherewith the souldiors began alreadie to be pinched. All which was then supposed to haue been spoken by the captiues to please them in whose power they now were: yet it appeared afterwards to bee all true. For Pyrrhus Bassa considering the troubled state of the campe, and the generall discontentment of the souldiors, whom he was at that time gladder to please than to punish, writ vnto Solyman at CONSTANTINOPLE, That if he would the siege should goe forward, he should without delay come in person himselfe to the campe, for that the souldiors without regard of shame were readie to rise in mutinie and to abandon the siege, refusing to be commaunded by their captaines.

In the meane time whilest Solyman prepareth himselfe to set forward, the Turkish captaines vnderstood by certaine fugitiues (whereof in all warres some are to be found) that the high steeple of S. Iohns church serued them of the towne for a watch tower: for which cause, and for despight of the Crosse standing vpon the top thereof, they laboured nothing more, than with continuall shot to beat downe that tower; which whilest they were doing with great diligence, Solyman himselfe came into the campe the 28 day of August in the afternoone:Selymus commeth into the campe. where finding in his armie all the signes of cowardise and feare that could be spoken of or deuised, and nothing done according to the commaund of such as he had appointed for that charge, but all things out of order; he tooke more greefe to see that great disorder, than he did pleasure and good hope of two hundred thousand souldiors▪ which were in his armie. Yet for all that hee was inwardly chafed with the heat of youth and indignation, against his own people as well as the Rhodians, he moderated himselfe betwixt his owne rage and the offence of his souldiors, and calling them together, caused them to be disarmed, not leauing among them so much as a sword: and compassing them in with fifteene thousand harquebusiers whom he had brought with him well appointed, he stept vp into his royall seat, there set on high for the purpose; where sitting downe, he paused a good while without any word speaking, as if hee had considered with himselfe, whether he should onely punish the authors of the mutinie, or els with the punishment of many to reuenge so foule a sedition, little differing from open rebellion. But following in himselfe, the milder resolution, he thought it sufficient to correct the multitude and common sort of souldiours with sharpe and bitter words: and after generall silence made, brake out into this chollericke speech.

Slaues (quoth he) for I cannot find in my heart to call you souldiors,

Solymans chollericke Oration to his souldior [...]s.

What kind of men are you now become? are you Turkes? men wont both to fight and ouercome? verely I see the bodies, countenances, attire, and habit of my souldiors; but the deeds, speeches, counsels and deuises of cowardly and vile traitors. Alas how hath my opinion deceiued me? that Turkish force and courage is gone, the valour and strength both of bodies and minds, wherewith the Arabians, Persians, Sirians, Aegyptians, Serutans, Hungarians, Bulgarians, Epirotes, Macedonians and Thracians were subdued, is lost: forgetting your countrey, your oath, the commaund of your captaines, your obedience, and all other warlike discipline, you haue against the maiestie of my empire refused to fight, like cowards betaken your selues to flight, for vaine feare of death and danger, not beseeming men of warre. If any man should at home but haue named the RHODES in your feasts, amongst your pots, in your assemblies or great meetings, you could then with your tongues brag to pull it downe, you had much adoe to hold your hands: here when I would make proofe of your force and courage, it is nothing. But you thought perhaps, that the Rhodians so soone as they saw your ensignes before their gates, would straightway yeeld themselues and their citie into your power: Let all men cease so to say or thinke, and beleeue me that know the truth, This base and infamous denne (which you see) is full of most cruell beasts, whose madnesse you shall neuer tame without much labour and bloudshed. Yet shall we tame them; for why nothing is so wild but it may at length be tamed: which except I bring to passe, I am fully resolued and haue vowed vnto my selfe, Either here to die or spend my daies: and if euer I doe or say otherwise, let this my head, my fleet, mine armie, and empire, be for euer accursed and vnfortunate.

And so without further speech, desiring rather to be accounted of his souldiours gentle than [Page] seuere, he pardoned them all their former offences, and swore them all againe to his obed [...]ence.G This mutinie so appeased, all things were afterwards done with better successe and greater care both of the souldious and commaunders. First they planted in diuers places twelue great bombards, wherewith they threw vp stones of hugie waight into the ayre, which falling downe into the citie, might breake downe the houses and whatsoeuer else they lighted vpon: with the fall of one of these,Apella, a tra [...]or. the Great master was like to haue been slaine. Howbeit this proued a deuise of more terror than danger, for with 200 such shot were but ten men slaine; which thing amongst others, Apella a traiterous fugitiue declared vnto the enemie, with whom he had intelligence, as he himselfe confessed being taken vpon suspition and examined: for which his treason he was justly executed.

The Turkes bat [...]rie.The force of the batterie was more feared, wherein the Turkes had planted fortie great pieces H of batterie, and amongst them twelue Basilisks (so aptly named of the serpent Basilis [...], who as Plinie writeth, killeth man or beast with his sight) with these pieces the Turkes battered the wals continually; but lying somewhat farre off, did no great harme.

At the same time also Solyman caused batterie to be laid against the tower of Saint Nicholas, standing vpon a narrow piece of ground pointing farre into the sea, defending the hauen vpon the right hand, where sometime stood the great Colossus of the Sunne, accounted the greatest amongst the seauen wonders of the world. Which castle was both strongly and sumptuously built at the charges of the Dukes of BVRGVNDIE, as appeared by their armes there engrauen in many places in marble. This tower was valiantly defended by Guido a French man, who had the charge thereof, with 300 souldiours, amongst whom were 30 knights of the Order.

The Turks artillerie planted against that tower, was by the skilfulnesse of the Christian canoniers in short time dismounted with shot from the tower, and many of the gunners slaine: so that they were glad to surcease any more to batter the tower by day, but lying still all the day they began to batter the same by night, wherein they preuailed no more than they had before done in the day time; for the defendants warily obseruing such places as were likest for the enemie to place his batterie in, did so aptly place their ordinance against the same, and to so good purpose, that the Turkes swore, heir doings were by some meanes discouered vnto the enemies. So when they had in vaine bestowed 500 great shot, and made a small breach which they durst not once attempt to enter, they shamefully abandoned that place also.

All this while Pyrrhus was busie in working of mines to vndermine the citie, two and thi [...]ie of which mines the defendants frustrated with countermines; in which kind of worke many were lost on both sides: yet for all the carefulnesse of the Christians, the English bulwarke was vnderminded by the enemie,The English bulwarke blowne vp. and vpon the fourth day of September part therof blowne vp, with such violence, that vnto them in the citie it seemed at the first to be a generall earthquake; and therewith diuers English men were there ouerwhelmed. The Turks attempting presently to enter, were by the Graund master and his followers with great slaughter repulsed.

But Mustapha the Bassa comming on with fresh supplies, and crying out of the cowardise of them which retired, renewed the assault: where for a while was fought a most sharpe and cruell fight, the leaders cheerfully encouraging their souldiours, and they likewise doing what was possible for men to doe. All mens eares were filled with the thundring of the shot, noise of trumpets and drums, and crying of men. And vnto the Turkes it seemed that ouer their heads it rained deadly shot, stones, and fire: for the townesmen and women mingled with the souldiours cast downe vpon the Turkes, fire, stones, timber, and whatsoeuer else came to hand: so that they vnable longer to endure the courage and force of the Christians, turned their backs and ran away by heapes, not expecting any signe of retrait, euerie man seeking to saue one: amongst whom as they fled, the great ordinance shot off from the wals made a wonderfull slaughter. At this assault of the Turkes were slaine (as some write) almost 2000, and amongst them the master of the Turkes ordinance, a man whom Solyman greatly loued: which victorie the Christians gained not without some losse; for besides some few others that were slaine, fiftie knights of the Order (men worthie of eternall memorie) there ended their daies also.

The Turkes assault the English bulwarke the second time, and are againe repulsed.The fift day after (which was the ninth day of September) Solyman by the persuasion of M [...] stapha the great Bassa, commaunded a fresh assault to be giuen to the English bulwarke, which was attempted by the Turks with greater resolution than the first. Seauen ensignes of the Turks were broken in by the ruines of the bulwarke, and had enforced the defendants, oppressed with [Page] number to giue ground, when the Graund master comming in with the ensigne of the Order, guarded with a companie of most valiant knights, draue them out againe by force, and made good the place. Mustapha seeing his men retire, couragiously restored the battell by bringing on of new supplie, and other captaines with threats, strokes, and terror of death, enforced the souldiours (who had before turned their backs) now againe to fight. So that there began a more cruell fight than had before beene from the beginning of the siege; which was vnto the Christians more dangerous, for that they were ouerwhelmed with the multitude of the Turkish shot. But in that extremitie no man regarded either danger, or life, onely this they remembred, That those were their barbarous enemies, whom they must either victoriously ouercome or die therefore: with which furie the assault was continued by the space of three houres, vntill at length Mustapha with his Turks discouraged, with the losse of 2000 of their fellowes, and of three great noble men whom Solyman especially fauoured, and sore beaten by the Spaniards out of their flankers, were enforced to retire. Few of the Christians in respect of so many enemies were slaine: yet had the ensigne of the Order been then lost, Ioachimus Cluys the ensigne bearer hauing both his eies shot out, had not Emericus Ruiaulx an Auernois and one of the knights of the Order, with incredible courage rescued the same.

After this second assault,Mustapha Bassa falleth into disgrace with Solyman. falling out so vnluckily to the Turkes, Mustapha the great Bassa began to grow in contempt with Solyman: and Pyrrhus to keepe his credit by doing something, with continuall batterie of 17 great pieces did batter the mount neere vnto the Italian bulwarke. At which time also Cassius, Gouernour of BITHYNIA, another of the Turkes great commaunders, laboured by vndermining to haue ouerthrowne the French bulwarke: so glad they were to attempt any thing to content their imperious great lord and master. But the endeuours of Cassius was by countermines through the carefull diligence of Gabriell Chierus, hauing charge of those works, frustrated: and Pyrrhus in the other place after he had by hoat assault slaine them which were appointed for the defence thereof, and gained the mount, and brought a great feare vpon the citie, was againe with great losse shamefully repulsed, and by the commaundement of Solyman caused to retire. At this assault the Gouernour of EVBOEA, Solyman his lieutenant generall, a man of great honor (if any of the Turks slaues are so to be accounted) was slaine, for whose death Solyman was exceeding pensiue and heauie.

Mustapha the Bassa finding himselfe in disgrace with Solyman for the two vnfortunat assaults by him giuen at the English station,The English bulwarke assaulted the third time by Mustapha. determined if it were possible by a third to recouer his lost credit: and for his better successe therin, agreed with Achimetes another great Commander, at the same time to assault the Spanish bulwarke: according to this resolution Achimetes hauing with a mine suddenly blowne vp a great part of the wall of the Spanish station, in the thicke of the dust and smoke, presently entred his men, who by the ruines of the wall recouered the top of the rampiers. Mustapha also at the same instant hardly charged the English, so that in both places was made a hard and doubtfull fight. Mustapha desiring nothing more than with better successe now to redeeme his former dishonour, did what he might to encourage his souldiours, calling vpon them by name, and putting them in remembrance of their former victories. The Rhodians on the other side mindfull of their former honour, with the greatnesse of the present danger, valiantly repulsed the enemie, and forced him with shame to retire. In this assault many English men were slaine, and Preianes also sore hurt, hauing before slaine many of the Turks. Mustapha beside the losse of his men, had also two of his ensignes taken by Christophorus Vualderick Comendatour of the Germain knights.The Turkes ensignes aduanced to the top of the wals are againe cast downe. Achimetes hauing woon the top of the wals, had there set vp the Turkish ensignes; but by the valiantnesse of the defendants, and by meanes of certaine smal pieces of ordināce, by Martiningus aptly placed in the houses before the new made breach, and by force of shot out of the flankers on both sides of the breach, whereof none fell in vaine, he was againe enforced to forsake the wals and to retire.

The three and twentith day of September the Turkish captaines hoping by meanes of a mine which they had made against the Auergne bulwarke, to enter and win the cittie; approaching the wals with great multitudes of souldiours, readie to haue entred vpon the blowing vp of the mine, which being met with a countermine out of the citie, wrought not such effect as was by them expected: so that hauing receiued some harme, standing in a place of great disaduantage, and done nothing, they returned againe into the campe. Yet the expert captaines probably conjecturing that the wall might be inwardly shaken by the mine, although it were not by [Page] them outwardly perceiued, caused that part of the wall to be most violently battered all the rest G of that day and night following: and by the furie of their artillerie, made a faire and large breach. All that night was heard in the Turkes campe an vnwonted clattering of weapons, and of men running too and fro,Another breach made in the wals. as if there had been some great matter a doing; which the Rhodians conjectured (as the truth was) to be a signe of some great assault to be shortly giuen.

Solyman resolued the next day with all his force to assault the new made breach, after he had by himselfe in a melancholy mood walked vp and downe in his tent a great part of the night, sent for the chiefe commanders of his armie, to whom he declared his mind as followeth: ‘Your valour and wisedome (worthie captaines) needeth not any exhortation, yet the desperat madnesse of our enemies maketh me to speake vnto you these few words. Who whilest they yet doe, as from the beginning, as men without reason desperatly defend their citie rent with our artillerie, shake [...] with our mines, their churches and houses beaten downe about their eares, wearied and worne out with slaughter, labour, and wounds, which must needs befall men so often times assaulted: they w [...]rthely seeme vnto our souldiours men of inuincible force and courage; which opinion to haue remoued, much concerneth the happie and wished successe of our assault. Wherefore I would haue you with effectuall persuasion & bountifull promises to harten on our men to the winning of this citie. Besides this, you shall open vnto them my purpose and intent, and that they should not thinke that they are brought hither to besiege one citie: but that in taking this one, they shall vpon the matter make a way into all the dominions of the Christians. Here be the kinsmen, aliance, and friends of all the kings, princes and potentats of Christendome: here is all our enemies treasure, the spoile whereof promised vnto our souldiors may serue to great purpose to encourage them forward: here is store of ordinance, armour, and other warlike prouision, which shall both furnish vs, and in time to come miserably confound the rest of the Christians. We shall beside this, enioy a most goodly and rich citie, with a hau [...] of all other most commodious, from whence all things necessarie for warre may at all times as occasion shall require▪ by land and sea be supplied: which as they shall be to vs things of great importance, so shall we despoile our enemies of farre greater. This is their castle, storehouse, treasurie and armorie: this is the verie receptacle & place of refuge for all such as trouble the Turkes by sea: from hence shal we haue free scope and passage into APVLIA, CALA [...]RIA, SICILIA, and many other Christian countries. But as for your selues valiant captaines, when as I consider how that you haue within these few moneths by your valour and wisedome subdued vnto my empire the strong citie of BELGRADE, which my great grandfather Mahomet that mightie emperour could not with all his power get▪ I rest in great hope that these fierce and obstinat Christians shall not long be able to defend themselues in these their dens and lurking places.’

Hauing ended this speech, the captaines euerie one vnto his companie, made knowne what the great emperours will and pleasure was; and open proclamation made thorow all the campe, wherein the spoile of that rich citie was all granted vnto the souldiours as a prey and reward for the paines they were to take.

Solyman heauie with sleepe and care, laid himselfe downe vpon his pallet to take his rest. But the Great master (to whom the vnaccustomed stirre of the enemie portended some great matter) all that night in armes painfully viewed euerie part of the citie, cheerefully encouraging his souldiours to remember, That they did watch for the safetie of their countrey, their liues and libertie. It fortuned the same night, that a poore Christian seruing a Turke in the campe, calling secretly vnto the watchmen vpon the wals, gaue them warning that the Turkes▪ prepared the next day to giue a generall assault vnto the citie. Which thing when the Great master vnderstood, because he would haue nothing done rashly or fearfully (as it commonly happeneth in things done vpon the sudden) called togither his knights, and spake vnto them as followeth.

The Great master his oration vnto his knights.

I am glad sacred companions and fellowes in armes, that the time is come when in one battell gr [...] ting vnto your selues great honour, and defending your countrey, you may be iustly acco [...]ed the worthie defenders and reuengers of the Christian commonweale and name. The people against whom we are to fight to morrow, assaileth vs onely presuming vpon their multitude: But if wee measure valour, not by number, but by courage and prowesse, vndoubtedly a few resolute men will easily ouercome a multitude of cowards. You know your enemie, and the manner of his fight▪ you are to fight [Page] (most worthie knights) with them whom you haue alwaies vanquished at sea, and in iust battell sometimes ouercome by land, at such time as with their whole power they assaulted your wals: omitting in the meane time manie hot skirmishes, wherein you euer put them to the worst: Wherefore you and they in the assault to morrow shall haue such courage, as conquerours and men conquered vse to haue. Neither will they fight because they dare fight, but because the great tirant and violent commaund of their captaines enforceth them thereunto. Wherefore remembring what you are by birth, what opinion the Christian commonwealth hath conceiued of you, where you are, and what you haue taken vpon you; take vp your armes with iust furie and indignation, and fight against them, following one franticke youth, as if you saw your slaues bearing armes against you: whereunto you are enforced, not onely by the indignitie of the wrong by them offered, but also by necessitie, which of it selfe is of power to make cowards valiant and hardie. For here we are in an Island from whence we cannot escape, and in a citie, whose rent and battered wals doe not so much protect and defend vs, as our weapons: wherfore to morrow we must here either vanquish them, or die therefore: to morrow shall giue vnto vs either ioyfull victorie, or a most honourable death.

As he was yet thus speaking, news of the approch of the enemie caused him to make an end: and euery man hasted with speed vnto the place of his charge. The enemie comming fast on▪ with a most horrible crie (as their manner is) fiercely assailed the citie in fiue places,The Turkes assaul [...] the citie in fiue places at once. where the English, Spanish, Italians, Narbonenses, and Auergnoys had their stations. To the assault of euery of which places, Solyman had appointed ten thousand Turkes. Mustapha the Bassa calling vpon the name of his great prophet Mahomet, and promising vnto the souldiours the rich spoile of the citie, fiercely assailed the English station, from whence he had been three times before shamefully repulsed. Pirrhus the other great Bassa with like furie assaulted the Italian station. In both places was maintained a cruell and deadly fight; the Turkes fighting for the prey, and the Rhodians for their liues and libertie.The Rhodians valiantly de [...]end the citie. Neither was there any, of what degree or order soeuer, which did not that day fight for defence of the citie. The priests and religious were not then exempted, but fought among the other souldiours; women, children, and with them the aged fathers, beyond the strength of their bodies and courage of their minds, brought weapons vnto the defendants, some stones, which they had digged out of the streets, some burning pitchbarrels, some hoopes with wild fire, some scalding oyle, some boyling pitch: which being cast downe vpon the enemies, troubled them so, as nothing was more feared; for vpon whomsoeuer it fell, it stucke fast, and so scalded their bodies, that they were glad to cast downe their weapons to teare off their clothes, wherewith many of them rent off the skin and flesh also. All which things fell so thicke vpon the Turkes, as if it had rained fire and stones: besides the deadly shot, which amongst such a multitude of enemies neuer fell in vaine. The Great Master hauing a carefull e [...]e ouer euery part of the citie, after he had well relieued the Italian station, which was at the first hardly distressed by Pyrrhus, left there Antonius Monterollus, one of the knights of the Order, with such companie as he thought conuenient for the safetie of that place, and went himselfe with the rest vnto the English station, which was then hardly laied to by the Bassa Mustapha. But whilest hee was there busied in repulsing the enemie, and had now well relieued the place, a suddaine crie ran alongst the wals, That the Spanish bulwarke was alreadie possessed by the enemie. With which heauie newes he was not a little troubled, but leauing there Emericus Gombaulus, one of the knights of the Order, with a chosen companie of souldiors for defence of that place; he with his guard hasted vnto the Spanish station, which hee found by a wonderfull chance alreadie taken by the enemie. In the beginning of the assault, certaine Turkes to shun the danger of the shot, had for feare hidden themselues at the foot of this bulwarke amongst the stones,The Spanish bulwarke taken by the Turk [...] ▪ which had before been beaten downe with the batterie: in the meane time, other Turks of the same regiment, vnder the leading of the valiant captaine Achimetes, hotly charged the Spaniards on the right hand of the bulwarke, not medling with the bulwarke it selfe, as a thing of greatest strength: the valiant soldiors appointed for the defence of the bulwarke, seeing their fellowes and countreymen distressed fast by them on the right hand, could not endure to stand still as lookers on, but left the bulwarke, and went to the place so hardly assaulted. Where whilst they were valiantly encountering the enemie, the cowardly Turkes who had before hid themselues for feare, hearing all silent ouer their heads, and thereby guessing (as the truth was) that the defendants were drawne thence vnto some other place more distressed; to colour their feare, and [Page] proue their good fortune, like tall fellowes, crept out of the holes wherein they had before for feare hidden themselues, and secretly crawling vp the battered wals of the bulwarke, got into it before they were discouered: where finding none but a few souldiors (who busied in remoouing of a great piece vnto a place more conuenient for the annoying of the enemie, had laied downe their weapons) they suddainely set vpon them, slew them, ouerthrew the Christian ensignes, and so became masters of that strong fort. The Turks without seeing that, wonderfully commended the valour of those men, and blaming themselues of cowardise, made great halt through the middest of the towne ditch to get vp into the bulwarke to helpe their fellowes. But in going through the ditch, they were so cut off with shot on both sides out of the flankiers, that few of them could get vp into the desired bulwarke. And the Great Master with a crew of valiant souldiors, nothing fearing the armed enemie, now in possession of the bulwarke ouer their heads, with great resolution scaled the same.The Spanish bulwarke againe recouered. In the meane time Hugo Caponus, a Spaniard, and Me [...] tius a Frenchman, both knights of the Order, with a companie of Cretensian souldiours brake into the bulwarke by a gate which the Turks had not as yet boulted, and being once got in, they made of the Turkes a quicke dispatch; for whom they slew not with the sword, they enforced to mischeefe themselues for hast backe againe ouer the wals. The bulwarke thus againe recouered, which had been two houres in possession of the enemie, and the citie deliuered of a wonderfull feare, the Great Master (well worthie of that name) leauing a sufficient number of souldiors fo [...] the keeping of that fort, went with the rest of his companie vnto the place where the Spaniards with the rest of the defendants sore charged by Achimetes, and now wearied and almost spent, had much adoe to hold out: who encouraged with the sight of the Great Master, as if victorie had attended vpon him, with great cries and signes of joy valiantly and with great slaughter repulsed their enemies, as if they had been fresh men. Long it were to recount the deadly fight and hard aduentures which befell at the assault of the other two stations of the Auergnoys and N [...] bornenses: but the Turkes were in euery place put to the worst, and lay by heapes slaine in the ditches and breaches of the towne.The Turks giue ouer the assault. Solyman from his standing (for that purpose made of high masts) beholding the miserable slaughter of his men, and no hope of gaining the citie, caused a retreat to be sounded, a thing welcome both to the Rhodians and the Turkes. In this terrible assault, which endured by the space of six houres, diuers of the knights of the Order were slaine, especially of the French and Spanish nation, with a hundred and fiftie common souldiours, all worthie of eternall fame: and of the Turks (as they which write most modestly report) twentie thousand. The yong tyrant was so much offended with the shamefull repulse he had receiued at this last assault, that he fell into a rage against all them who had persuaded him to enter into that action, but especially against the great Bassa Mustapha, whom he accused as an vnfaithfull counsellour, and cheefe persuader of that vnluckie warre; who flattering him in his vaine humour, by extolling his forces aboue measure, & falsely extenuating the power of the enemie, assuring him that vpon the first approch of his armie they would yeeld themselues without resistance, had drawne him into that dangerous expedition, like to sort to the great dishonour of himselfe and all the Othoman familie: for which doing he adjudged him worthie of death, and in a great furie commanded the executioner without further delay to put him to death in his presence.Solyman in his furie commaundeth the two great Bassaes, Mustapha and Pyrrhus to be put to death. Which dreadfull doome so suddenly and vpon so light an occasion giuen vpon a man of so great marke and qualitie, strucke such a terrour into the minds of all there present, that none of them durst speake one word against the rigour of that sentence, or so much as fet a sigh in pitying of his case. The executioner now readie to giue the fatall stroke, Pirrhus the most antient of all the Bassaes, moued with compassion, and presuming of his great fauour with the tyrant, whom he had from his childhood had the charge and gouernment of, stept foorth, and appealing vnto his mercie, earnestly requested him to spare his life. Wherewith Solyman was so filled with wrath and indignation, that for his presumption, and for sending for him to CONSTANTINOPLE, to come to that dangerous siege, he commaunded him to be executed also. All the rest of the counsellors seeing the danger of these two great men, fell downe at the feet of the fuming tyrant, crauing pardon,The Bassaes spared at the intercession of the other counsellors. saying, That the enemies ground had alreadie drunke too much of the Turkish bloud, and was not to be further moistened with the bloud of such two noble personages and worthie counsellors. Solyman moued with this generall intercession of his great men, pausing a little vpon the matter, the heat of his furie being something ouer, suffered himselfe to bee intreated, and graunted them their liues: vnto Pyrrhus for his great age and wisdome, and to Mustapha for his [Page] wiues sake, who was the tyrants naturall sister, sometime the wife of Bostanges.

All the time of this siege, the Turkes great fleet, furnished with men and all manner of warlike prouision, lay before the entrance of the hauen without doing any thing at all: for the Admirall being no man of warre, seeing the mouth of the hauen chained, and the castles vpon the entrance full of ordinance,Solyman displaceth his Admirall, & punisheth him as a slaue. and strongly manned, durst not attempt either to enter the hauen, or besiege the castles: for which his cowardise, and for that he had negligently suffered prouision both of victuall and munition to be conueyed into the citie during the time of the siege, to the great releefe of the besieged, he was by Solyman adjudged to die a most cruell death: but by the mediation of Achimetes, one of his best men of warre, the seueritie of that sentence was changed into a punishment, vnto any noble mind more grieuous than death it selfe: For he was by Solymans commaundement openly set vpon the poupe of the admirall gallie, and there as a slaue receiued at the hands of the executioner a hundred stripes with a cudgell, and so with shame was thrust out of his office.

After that Solyman had in so many places with all his power so long time in vaine besieged the RHODES,Solyman exceedingly greeued with the repulse and losse recei [...]ed at the siege of th [...] Rhodes, was vpō point to haue left the same. his haughtie courage began to quaile; so that he was vpon point to haue raised his siege, and left the Island, yea the greefe he had conceiued, went so neere him, that he many times fainted and lay speechlesse, as if he had been a dead man. The remembrance of so many vnfortunat assaults, the death of so many worthie captaines, the losse of so many valiant souldiors (sufficient to haue subdued a great kingdome) so much grieued him, that a great while after he shunned the companie of men, and would not suffer himselfe to be spoken withall: vntill at length he was againe by Abraham his minion, a man in whom he tooke singular pleasure, recomforted, and persuaded to continue the siege; for that Time (as he said) which worketh all things, would at length tame the fiercenesse of his enemies, whom the sword could not vpon the suddaine subdue. In the meane time Solyman for his pleasure, and to shew vnto the Rhodians, that he purposed not to depart, began to build a sumptuous castle vpon the top of the mount PHILERMVS in the eye of the citie. During which time diuers letters were shot into the citie with Turkish arrowes out of the campe, wherein many of Solymans most secret counsels were reuealed, and the reuolt of a great man promised, which the Rhodians by many circumstances gathered to haue been Mustapha, who could not easily forget the injurie so lately offered vnto him by Solyman: needs it must be some one of Solymans secret counsell, otherwise he could not haue reuealed so great secrets as it were out of the bosome of Solyman. But see the chance, at the very same time tidings came vnto Solyman, That Cayerbeius the gouernour of AEGIPT was dead: in whose place Solyman sent Mustapha to CAIRE, as gouernour of AEGIPT, by that honourable preferment again to please his discontented mind: after which time no more letters came into the citie.

Now the Turkes began to make faire warres, their terrible batteries began to grow calme, and for certaine daies it seemed by the manner of their proceeding, that they purposed rather by long siege than by assault to take the towne. Neuerthelesse the enemies watching day and night in their trenches, vsed all the policie they could, sometimes offering vnto the souldiors vpon the wals great rewards, if they would yeeld vp the citie, and sometimes threatening them as fast: and to breed a dislike amongst the defendants, they would oftentimes say, that Solyman desired only to be reuenged vpon the Latines, without meaning any harme vnto the Greekes.

It was now the beginning of October, and Winter began to grow fast on, great raine, with terrible thunder and lightening, and mightie tempests, heauens threats, then fell so abundantly, that the Turks before wearied in bodie with labour and wounds, were now also in mind discouraged. And that more encreased their feare, the sea was growne so rough, that the admirall was not able in that open and dangerous sea longer to ride it out with his gallies: but was enforced to slip his ankers,Achimetes promiseth to make a way for Solyman into the citie. and as he might to run his gallies on ground. In these troubles wherewith both Solyman himselfe and all his armie were at furthest of their wits, and almost quite discouraged, Achimetes one of his most valiant and expert captaines came to comfort him, and promised if he would continue the siege, in short time to make him an open way into the citie: Vpon confidence whereof, Solyman to encourage his fainting souldiours, now scarce able for cold and lacke of courage to hold their weapons in their hands, caused them to be assembled before his pauillion, where from a high place he comforted them in this [...]ort:Solyman comforteth his souldiors and persuadeth them with patience to endure the siege. ‘I am not ignorant (most valiant souldiours) what great things you endure for mine honour, and [Page] the glorie of mine empire. This continuall threatnings of the heauens, this immoderat raine, this G terrible thunder and lightning, the coldnesse of the weather, the want of necessaries, with the manifold miseries of this long siege, doe much persuade me, to giue you leaue to lay downe armes and to take your rest. But first let vs consider if vnto men of courage it be not a dishonour, for the tediousnesse of raine and tempest, to leaue vnto our enemies the victorie alreadie in our hands, and shamefully to forsake our trenches, forts, mounts, ouertopping not onely the wals of the citie but mating the heauens, with such other like worke made with my infinit charge and your great trauell, all for the taking of this citie. Truly this warre either should not haue beene taken in hand at all; or being once begun, is to be ended for the honour of the Othoman empire. Which for so much as it could not be accomplished in Sommer; the reputation of mine empire in common, and the regard of the commoditie of euerie one of you in priuat, enforceth me to performe it in Winter. For if we shall from hence depart with our armie, who doubts but the enemie, not onely for desire of reuenge, but also strained by necessitie, hauing lost all he had of his owne, will prey vpon your countries, houses, and goods, and will bring you, your wiues, and children, into a farre more miserable slauerie and bondage than that wherin he himselfe now is? Wherefore I aduise you to continue the siege, and neuer to depart before you haue attained vnto the end of your desires. And admit there were no necessitie in the matter, yet the honour and fame of the action ought to impose vpon you a resolution both of bodie and mind to endure the siege: For the eies and countenances of all nations, especially the Christians, are fixed vpon you; whom when they shall vnderstand not to be able to endure the field one Winter, they will of right call you Sommer birds, which so soone as any storme ariseth looke after your houses and places of repose. It is reported, that the Graecians for a strumpet besieged TROY ten yeares; and shall not the I Turkes, vexed and oppressed with slaughter, robberies, inuasions both by sea and land, and that more is with the seruitude of 214 yeares, endure one Winters siege? They will say, that the terror of your name is but vaine, and that fame hath encreased the same (as many other things mo) which not seene, are more feared in farre countries amongst men of small experience: And that now euerie man may safely enough abide your force, which make your inuasions rather vpon a furie and brauerie than vpon any good resolution, which in all kind of warre (but especially in besieging of cities) is most necessarie: whereof many being by naturall situation and fortification impregnable, time hath with her handmaides, Famine and Thirst, ouercome and vanquished, as it shall doe this citie of the RHOD [...]S: against which beloued in armes there is a secret mischiefe prepared, which may not in this open audience be published; for it is as necessarie that the vulgar sort should be ignorant of some things, as K to know the same.’

Many thought, that this was spoken rather of pollicie than vpon any good ground: and although his hoat persuasion had little moued the cold courage of his despairing souldiours, yet the regard of duetie in that most loyall nation, with the greedie expectation of so great a secret, ouercame all other difficulties; so that they departed (at leastwise in shew) contented to endure whatsoeuer should befall.

Achimetes winneth the Vaumures of the Auergne bulwarke, raiseth a strong penthouse against the wall, and so vndermineth the same. Achimetes author of this great expectation, and the onely hope of Solymans successe, came oftentimes and assailed the Vaumures of the Auergne station, which although they were not verie high, yet were they alwaies valiantly defended by the Rhodians. It fortuned, that this warlike captaine daily attempting the Vaumures, in the end by force obtained the same: and so possessed of the place he so much desired, desperatly kept it vntill greater helpe came running in, who with wonderfull expedition (with matter for that purpose before prepared) clapt vp a strong and defensible couering in manner of a penthouse against the towne wall, betwixt the wall and the vaumure, vnder which they shrowded themselues from the defendants; which was an easie matter for such a multitude to doe, the ditches of the towne in that place being now filled vp so high, that the defendants could not out of their flankers scoure the ditch, nor yet without manifest danger come to cast any thing downe vpon them from the top of the wals: for the Turkes harquebusiers which lying vpon their mounts, higher than the battered wals of the citie, suffered none to appeare vpon them without danger. So that the Rhodians who erst thought themselues M at great quiet, were now ouertaken with a sudden and vnexpected mischiefe: which at the first filled the citie with feare and heauie silence, which straightwaies after brake out into pitifull outcries and lamentations. The Turkes lurking vnder their penthouse, laboured with mattocks and pickaxes to dig vp the foundation of the wall; and Preianes forward and couragious to doe [Page] what might be done, threw downe vpon the Turkes, fire, scalding oyle, burning pitch, wildefire and such things. But when the miserable men which shruncke from the worke for feare of the fire, were againe beaten forward by their imperious commanders, and presently slaine if they made any delay, and fresh men still thrust on in steed of such as wete hurt or slaine: the fatall work begun the seuenth day of October, went apace forward, with the great & continuall labor of these wretched slaues. A great number of the common souldiors whom the Turks call Asapi was imployed in this worke:The miserable state of the common souldiors of the Turkes▪ and the small account is made of them. of whom Solyman in this siege of the RHODES, and other his expeditions, made not much more account but as of pioners to worke in mines and to cast vp trenches, and oftentimes with their bodies to fill towne ditches to make a way for the Ianizaries to passe ouer vpon: they by the constraint of Achimetes vndermined the wal, and as they wrought, shoared vp the same againe with timber, whereunto they afterwards set fire, hoping by that meanes to ouerthrow the wall: which falling not out according to their expectation, for that they had not farre enough vndermined it, they assaied with great hooks and strong ropes to haue pulled it downe. But the Rhodians with their great ordinance from the Auergne bulwarke; quickly put them from that mad worke with great slaughter, and frustrated all their long labour. Achimetes thus disappointed of his purpose, stood in great doubt whether he should giue ouer the enterprise, for that he saw he laboured in vaine, or else in that dangerous place to expect some better hap, the onely meane to saue him from the tyrants heauie displeasure; who as hee knew measured all things by the euent. Solyman vnderstanding by Achimetes that the wall (although it was not ouerthrowne as was expected) was yet sore shaken and weakned with vndermining,C caused his batterie to be planted against that part of the wall so vndermined: which so many waies weakned, and now sore battered, fell downe daily more and more. For remedie whereof, the Rhodians laboured day and night to raise a new wall, in steed of that which was beaten downe.

At the same time Solyman persuaded by the generall opinion of all his great captaines, that the citie was that day or neuer to be taken, determining to giue another generall assault, caused proclamation to be made thorow his campe: wherein he gaue the spoile of the citie vnto his soldiours, and the more to encourage them, spake vnto them in few words as followeth.

Fortune at length valiant souldiours,

Solyman encourageth his souldiours to afr [...]sh assault.

hauing notably proued your courage and patience, now offereth vnto you the worthie rewards of your labour and paines. The victorie and wealth of your enemies which you haue so much desired, is now in your hands. Now is it the time to make an end of this mungrell people, of whom more are slaine than left aliue; and they not men, but the shadowes and ghosts of men, feeble and spent with hunger, wounds, wants, and labour: who will I know resist you, not because they so dare, but because of necessitie they so must, enforced thereunto with all extremities. Wherfore now reuenge your selues of the falshood, crueltie, & villanies of these Christians, and make them a wofull example to all posteritie, that neuer man hereafter presume to offer iniurie to a Turke, in whatsoeuer state he be. The way is alreadie open into the citie, there is a faire breach made▪ whereby thirtie horsemen may at once enter: nothing wanteth but courage in you to assaile the same.

The souldiours encouraged with this speech of their emperour, made great shew of cheerfulnesse, and promised to doe their vttermost deuoire, threatning vnto the Christians most horrible death and miserable captiuitie.

In the meane time the great shot flying continually thorow the breach, did beat downe many houses in the citie; but the countermure new built against the breach standing vpon a lower ground, it seldome toucht, to the great good of the Rhodians. The ratling of the falling houses, the horrible noise of the enemie, with the thundring of the great artillerie, wonderfully terrified the miserable citisens: in euerie place was heard the lamentation of women and children, euerie thing shewed the heauinesse of the time, and seemed as altogither lost and forlorne. The day thus troublesomely spent, the night followed much more troublesome; and after the night, the day of the assault of all other most dreadfull: for with the dawning therof, the glistering ensignes of the enemie were seene flying in the wind, and the Turkes cheerfull with the hope of spoile and victorie, hasted towards the breach with great outcries and songs, after their countrey manner: and there before one of the gates of the citie called S. Ambrose gate, set downe a great number of their ensignes deckt with garlands, in token of victorie. The Turks great fleet also at the same [Page] time sayling too and fro before the hauen, made shew as if it would haue assailed the citie on that G side:The distressed estate of the Rhonians, and their cour [...]gious resolution therein. who had seene the citie so beset, would haue said that it would at one instant haue been besieged both by sea and land; and to most mens judgements, it seemed that the Rhodian state should that day haue taken end and been destroied. Yet for all these extremities, the Rhodians were nothing discouraged, but looking vpon their weapons as the onely remainders of their hopes, not regarding any danger, vpon the alarum giuen came running out of their houses by heaps vnto the wals, like desperat men opposing their bodies in steed of the battered wals against their enemies in defence of their countrey. There needed neither exhortation nor commaund of captaine, euerie man was vnto himselfe a persuader to fight valiantly in defence of the citie; and one of them propounded vnto another the cruell death, the miserable seruitude, the mocks and taunts they should endure, if they should chance to come into the proud enemies hand: all H which was to be auoided either by honourable victorie or death. The Turkes conducted by Achimetes, fiercely assailed the breach, which was by the Rhodians (standing vpon the ruines of their wals) valiantly defended. In the meane time, the dismaied matrons and maidens, some in their houses with heauie hearts expected the woful destruction of the citie and themselues, other▪ some in the churches with flouds of teares and lamentable cries, poured forth their prayers to the Almightie, crauing his helpe in that their hard distresse, and to protect them against their barbarous enemies. The deadly fight at the breach, was on both sides with great courage and force maintained. The Turks were in good hope forthwith to win the citie, if they did but a little more straine themselues: and therefore to terrifie the Rhodians the more, oftentimes in their fighting gaue out most terrible outcries: and the Rhodians accounted the Turkes as good I as vanquished, for that they being so many in number, and in a place of such indifferencie, had not yet preuailed: beside that, they were greatly encouraged with the greatnesse of the common danger, and the sight one of anothers valour: so that by their inuincible courage the Turks were enforced shamefully to retire. The Rhodians seeing their enemies turne their backs, gaue a great shout in derision of them: the Turks disdaining that they in number many (and now victors, if they should with a little resolution maintaine the assault they had begun) should be so derided of a handfull of men as good as alreadie vanquished; with great indignation returned againe to the breach, and more furiously assailed the Rhodians than at the first. At which time the citie had vndoubtedly been taken, had not they which defended the ends of the wall, yet standing on both sides of the breach, out of their baricadoes with their shot ouerwhelmed the Turks thronging in K at the breach; and others with murthering shot out of the flankiers of the new built wall so [...] them in sunder, that a greater slaughter for the time was hardly in any place seene. Achimetes beholding the wonderfull slaughter of his souldiours, and that he fought with great disaduantage and losse, against desperat men, who resoluing to die feared no danger, gaue ouer the assault, and againe retired: leauing behind him in the breach and towne ditch the carkases of fiue thousand of his dead Turkes, besides many more which afterwards died vpon the hurts there receiued.

This assault was giuen vnto the towne the last day of Nouember, a day dedicated to S. Andrew: after which time the captaines of the Turkish armie, although they dispaired not of the victorie, yet terrified with so great slaughter of their men,The Turks trouble the Rhodians with continuall alarums, and by casting vp of trenches get into the citie. resolued with one accord no more to attempt L the citie with any notable assault; but by sundrie great trenches to be made thorow the middest of the ruines of the wals, to get into the citie; and with mattocks and pickaxes to ouerthrow the new made wall and another baricadoe which the defendants had made within the same: and in the meane time whilest this was in doing, to keepe the Rhodians still busied with continuall skirmishes and alarums. This deuise put in execution by the wonderfull labour of such a multitude of people, serued the enemie to greater purpose than all that he had before done: who daily ouerthrowing or destroying the new fortificatiōs which the Rhodians made in steed of them which were before ouerthrowne, and by little and little creeping on further, draue the defendants to that extremitie, that they were glad to pull downe many of their houses, therwith to make new fortifications, and to make their citie lesse, by casting vp of new trenches: so that in M short time they were brought to that point, that they could not well tell which place to fortifie first, the enemie was now so farre crept within them: for the ground which the enemie had thus gained within the citie, was almost 200 paces in breadth, and 150 paces in length.

Solyman, although he did now assure himselfe of the victorie, and was by nature cruell and [Page] desirous of reuenge;Parley o [...]ered by the Turkes t [...] the Rhodians. yet persuaded by Achimetes and Cassius (two of his most valiant captaines) that for the enlarging of his empire, nothing was better than the fame of clemencie: commaunded Pyrrhus the old Bassa to proue if the Rhodians might by parley be drawne to yeeld their citie vpon reasonable conditions. Whereupon the Bassa sent one Hieronimus Monilia a Genoway, vnto the wals, who crauing of the defendants safe conduct, said hee had something to say tending to the common good of the distressed citie. All mens minds were presently filled with expectation of some great matter, and he commaunded to speake. Who answered, That hee might not deliuer his message openly, but would either by speech in secret, or by letters deliuer the same vnto one Matthias de Via his countrieman, one of the citisens of the RHODES. When Fra. Fornouius one of the knights of the Order,Secret Parley reiected. a French man of a cholericke disposition, whose great courage was well seene in all that siege (hauing as is reported, with shot out of S. Georges tower himselfe slaine 500 Turks during the time of that siege) being now present, and mooued with indignation to heare a motion made of priuat conference with the enemie; bent his piece vpon the messenger, and caused him forthwith to depart without doing his message. Many who in time of the assault feared not any danger, but were become altogither desperat and carelesse of themselues, after that they vnderstood that the enemie had offered parley, and that they began to conceiue some hope of life: resorted vnto the Great master, requesting him, that hee would prouide for the safetie of his louing people; whose warlike forces was with many assaults sore weakened, the citie beaten downe about their eares, and most of them which were left, either wounded or sicke. They had (as they said) now sufficiently proued both their force and fortune: wherefore he should doe well, to beware least while he were too long in consulting, the enemie should conceiue a further indignation in seeing his offers refused. With these and such speeches they enforced the Great master to send embassadours to Solyman. The Great master at the instance of his pe [...] people sendeth embassadours to Solyman. The men that were sent, were Anthonius Groleus a French man, ensigne bearer for the Order, a man of great reputation for his wisedome and experience; and with him Robertus Barusius, a man of great grauitie and skilfull in the Greeke tongue: for whom were receiued as pledges, a kinsman of the great captaine Achimetes, and a certaine Epyrot which fled out of the citie vnto the Turks, because one of the Graecian captains had struck him with his open hand; a man of a sharpe wit, and one that could perfectly speake the Greek, Turkish, and Italian tongues, as appeared to his great credit amongst the enemies, being had of them in great regard, although he was not knowne whilest he dwelt in the citie, that he was any such man. After that came also Solymans interpreter, for he himselfe could speake no other language more than his owne, accounting it a great disgrace, and against the Othoman empire to vse any other language. The embassadours admitted vnto Solymans presence, told him, That they were sent to know, for what cause he had sent to require parley? Who in a flaming heat, as if he had knowne nothing thereof, said there was no such matter: and commaunding them presently to void his campe, sent them away with letters to the Great master and the citisens to this effect.

If I had not compassion of humane infirmitie, which oftentimes tumbleth headlong mens ambitious and hautie minds,

Solymans letters sent to the Great master and the Rhodians by their embassadours.

into most dangerous and vnnecessarie mischiefes, truely I would not haue directed vnto you these letters at this time; but as you haue well deserued, persecute you with death and most miserable seruitude: which how easie a thing it were for me to doe, you your selues know. But hauing now sufficiently tried my force, if you be wise make proofe of my clemencie. You haue alreadie satisfied your owne furie, your owne mad humor: and now aduise your selues, lay your hand vpon your heart, and without delay yeeld your selues as I command; your liues I giue, I giue you your wealth; and more than that, your choise to tarrie there still, or to depart: Refuse not the grace frankly offered, which was of you to haue beene most heartily desired. It shall not alwaies be lawfull for you (as at this present) to make choise of both. From our campe.

Vpon the returne of the embassadors, the poore of all sorts flocke togither to the Great master his house not farre from the breach: where after the multitude of the common people was dismissed, and the chiefe of the Burgers sent for, the imperious letter of the Turkish tyrant was openly read before the knights of the Order, and the better sort of the citisens. Whereunto the Great master accounting it both honour enough, and sufficient tearme of life honourably to die, answered in this sort.

[Page]

The Great Master his opinion concerning that Solyman demanded by his letters.

You heard (sacred fellowes in armes, and valiant citizens of the RHODES) these imperious and G sorrowfull letters: whereunto how we are to answere, requireth no great deliberation: we must as resolute men either yeeld or die; all hope of victorie is gone, except forraine aid come. Wherefore if y [...] will follow my counsell, let vs with weapons in our hands, vntill the last gaspe and the spending of the last drop of our bloud, like valiant men defend our faith and nobilitie receiued from our auncestours, and the honour which we haue so long time gotten both at home and abroad: and let it neuer be said, that our honour died but with our selues.

This speech of the Great Master seemed vnto many, heauier than the imperious commaundement of the Turkish tyrant: and a great while men stood silent, heauily looking one vpon another, many with changing of their countenance and outward gesture, more than by words, expressing what they thought in heart. At length a certaine Greeke priest, with great compassion H of mind (as it seemed) and teares trickling downe his cheekes, brake forth into these words: ‘A notable speech of a Greek priest, persuading the Great Master to yeeld.And I would also hold my peace, if I were a priuat man; and not first of all in so great and troubled an assemblie, broach mine owne opinion. But for as much as the regard of our common preseruation, can wring a word out of no mans mouth; and all men know, that now is the time to speake and say what euery man thinketh best, which shall neither alwaies nor long be graunted vnto vs▪ I will not let it now ouerpasse and slip away: Wherefore let vs suppose, that no commaund of a most mightie prince besieging vs, were come vnto vs, but that I were reasoning as a priuat man with his neighbor, or one friend with another by the fire side, or in our cups without care, without any great affection to either partie, as men indifferent, not liking or hating (as men oftentimes doe of princes affairs which I cencerne them nothing) and then (as I hope) my speech shall be vnto you neither vnpleasant nor vnprofitable. We Greekes and Latines, with ioined armes haue now this six moneths withstood our deadly enemies, not onely abroad before our wals, but also in the very bowels of our citie, without any forraine helpe: which as we haue of long time all vainely looked for, so are we now euery one of vs out of hope thereof. And yet our enemie either moued with the secret goodnesse of God, or els ignorant of our strength and forces, spent with wounds, slaughter, sicknesse, and perpetuall labour, doth voluntarily offer that vnto vs, which was of vs to be most of all desired and earnestly sued for. Your publicke and priuat treasures, the bodies of your selues, your wiues and children he keepeth vnuiolated; he taketh from vs only the citie, which he hath for most part alreadie beaten downe and taken. Worthie Great Master, and you most valiant Knights, I haue knowne your prowesse and valour in many battailes at K sea, but especially in this siege; whereof seeing there is no more vse in this our desperat estate, I doe appeale vnto your wisdome and discretion. Sithence all is now the conquerors, in that he leaueth vnto vs our liues and goods, is to be accounted gaines, and the yeelding vp of the citie and Island no losse, which the victorious enemie alreadie commaundeth: which although it be a heauie matter and gre [...] uous vnto the nobilitie, yet your fortune persuadeth you thereunto. Wherefore if you be to be mo [...]d with any compassion, I account it better to yeeld, than to be slaine your selues, or to see your wiues and children by law of armes to be led away before your faces into miserable captiuitie and seruitude. If any Christian compassion remaine in your warlike minds, I beseech you seeke not the vtter destruction of this innocent people, who (I may with modestie say) hath not euill deserued of you, whom Christ Iesus, whom the enemie himselfe would haue preserued. That I say this which I speak vnto you for Christian L charitie, and for no other cause, let this be a sufficient testimonie, That so long as you were able to resist by your owne power, or hoped for aid from forraine princes, I neuer spake word, or once thought of yeelding: but now seeing the fatall ruine of all things about vs, our common estate brought vnto the vttermost extremitie, our deadly enemie in the heart of our citie, no hope, and that the warre cannot longer be protracted; I wish you to yeeld, and for my part had rather make choise of peace th [...] warre, and to proue the enemies fauour than his furie.’

Most of them there present, were of the same mind with the priest. But as nothing can be so reasonably spoken as to content all men, so this speech was not of them all liked: some there were (though not many) which considering the harmes they had done vnto the Turkes, and M doubting with what safetie they might yeeld themselues into the power of that faithlesse people, had rather to haue fought it out to the last man, and so to haue left vnto them a bloudie victorie. Amongst these, one bold spoken fellow stept forth, and in presence of them all dissuaded the yeelding vp of the citie in this sort: ‘[Page]I haue not been with any thing more vnacquainted,A most reso [...] speech of a common souldior, dissuading the yeelding vp of the Rhodes. than to deliuer my opinion before princes, or in such great and publicke assemblies; being alwaies more desirous modestly to heare other mens opinions, than impudently to thrust forth mine owne. But now, seeing extreame necessitie will not longer suffer me to keepe my wonted course of silence, I will frankely speake my mind, and tell you what in my opinion is to be answered vnto the heauie message and imperious commaund of the most perfidious tyrant. This cruell enemie hath ouerthrowne our wall, and is entred three hundred foot and more within our cittie, and as a most troublesome guest liueth and conuerseth with vs as it were vnder the same roofe. Such as list not longer to endure such an vnwelcome guest and troublesome neighbour, persuade you because he is troublesome, to giue him all: But (worthie and sacred knights) I am of far different opinion; neither doe I thinke a possession of 214 yeares is so lightly to be deliuered vp, and the ground forsaken: but rather that this troublesome intruder is in like manner to be himselfe troubled, and with deadly skirmishes continually vexed: whom after we had by force of armes and vndaunted courage, maugre his head, held out fiue moneths, at length he brake into our citie, not by any valour in himselfe, but holpen by time, which tameth all things: and since his first entrance it is now almost fortie daies, in which time for all his hast, he hath scarcely got forward 130 paces, hindered by the blockes we haue laied in his way, and will not cease continually to lay if we be wise men, and mindfull of our former valour. Destroy me you heauenly powers, before I see with these eies these sacred knights to yeeld vp this famous citie of the RHODES, the antient bulwarke of Christian religion, vnto our mercilesse enemies, polluted with the infamous superstition of Mahomet: who besides the insatiable thirst they haue of our bloud, how faithlesse and mischeeuous they are by nature, if we know not, we need not make example of our selues, but wee may take example by the calamitie of CONSTANTINOPLE, the late miserie of EVBoeA, and that which later was, of METHONE; as also by the Mamalukes at CAIRE, miserably slaine contrarie to the league, contrarie to the faith and promise by the Turkish emperour himselfe before giuen. What? doe you not remember how the death of the most noble captaines at BELGRADE was of late procured by the falshood, craft, and deceit of these same faithlesse miscreants? Let vs then, being men of wit and vnderstanding, trust these mad beasts, let vs giue our selues into their power, which haue no regard of right or reason, of religion, or any thing els; whose couetousnesse and crueltie it is hard to say which is greater; which for these many years haue plotted and laboured nothing more than how by policie or force they may vtterly root out the very name of the Rhodians, which they so deadly hate. They keepe vs shut vp and besieged now the sixt moneth, feeling together with vs extreame dangers and endlesse labours, slaine by heapes before our wals and fortresses, and cannot be remoued hence with thunder, lightening, stormes, tempests, and all the calamities of Winter, a time which giueth intermission to all warres both by sea and land; so desirous they are of reuenge, and greedie of our bloud: and that not altogether without cause, for we haue also shed theirs, and gladly would still so doe, if it lay in our power. But seeing it seemeth good vnto God otherwise, and that we are surprised with ineuitable necessitie: yet let vs whilest we are at libertie, and haue power ouer our selues, by honourable death amongst the Christian ensignes, eschew the torments and reproches which our cruell enemies hope to inflict vpon vs: so shall wee enioy eternall fame and glorie, prepared both in heauen and earth for such as honorably die in defence of their prince and countrey: Which honour it becommeth not them to enuie vnto thy most noble name and vertue, worthie Grand Master, which hauing for many yeares enioyed the commoditie and profit of peace, and greatly enriched by bountie of this sacred militarie Order, refuse now to beare this last burden of war.’

At these words an antient Greeke, for his wisedome and discretion of great reputation both with the Greekes and Latines, perceiuing his countreymen wrongfully touched, and the desperat holding out of the citie vainely persuaded, tooke hold, and interrupting this yong gallant, in answere of that he had said, spake as followeth: ‘That greefe of mind and desparation can make men rather eloquent than wise,The former speech notably answered by a Greeke▪ and the yeelding of the citie vrged. as you haue many times heard before this, so you might this day perceiue also, most valiant gentlemen: for aduised modestie neuer falleth into obloquie, neither confoundeth falshood with truth; it desireth not the slaughter of the citisens, it persuadeth not furie, nor exhorteth men to madnesse: but it is by nature so engrafted in many, that when they cannot by their owne wisdome and policie deliuer themselues from their troubles, they yet seeke to draw others into the fellowship of the same danger: so greedie haue mallice▪ and miserie alwaies been of companie▪ But if you (worthie Commaunder) will giue me also leaue to speake, [Page] a man amongst his countreymen not of meanest place or authoritie, which thing both the present calamitie G and vrgent necessitie might of you easily obtaine; I would alledge such reasons, and lay down such matter, as should not only refell the copious and glorious words of this sharp witted Orator, scrapt together of purpose to flourish out the matter, but also such as might stir vp your mind to that which is [...]onest, profitable, and necessarie; expulsing hatred, feare, trouble, or despaire. This gentleman, whom we all know, not only to be a vehement Orator, but somtime a man most terrible, wheras for all his great words he is by nature mild, and so mild, that he neuer had the heart to kill, nay not so much as lightly to wound any one of them whom he calleth barbarous, mad, cruell, whose perfidious dealing he detesteth, whose cruelty he accuseth, whose maner of liuing he exclaimeth against, as altogether without law, without reason, without order, without regard: and now in time of truce, and whilest the showers of arrows, yro [...] bullets, fire and stones doth cease, creeping out of his caue, maketh much adoe, and keepeth a great stir; and not H knowing in what danger he is, doth now with glorious words call vpon death, whereof he hath hetherto shewed himselfe too much afraid, and all forsooth (as he saith) least he should be enforced to endure the mocking and scorning of the enemie. But this is meere pride, not Christian fortitude or humilitie. But our enemie neither threateneth nor purposeth any such matter, nothing so perfidious or cruell as he would make him, rubbing vp the slaughters at CAIRE, EV [...]oeA, METHONE, and CONSTANTINOPLE, cities taken either by force or warlike policie, and not yeelded vp by composition, vpon faith giuen betwixt the besieger and the besieged: who because he would spare vs, will not suffer vs to doe that wherby we should vndoubtedly perish. But wherof proceedeth this new found clemencie? this vnwonted fauor towards the people of the RHODES? I am not of the tyrants priuie counsell, neither euer curiously sought after the reason of another mans bountie, but am glad to receiue it when I need it. Yet for all I that, I will not dissemble what I thinke in a matter so doubtfull: He is willing (as I suppose) in this siege and conquest of the RHODES, to shew vnto other nations whom he purposeth to inuade, both his power and his patience: least alwaies satisfying his cruell nature, he should make desolation in places he would raigne ouer, and so for euer alienating the minds of men, be enforced to fight with all men with fire and sword, by which rigour he hath not so much hurt his enemie as himselfe. For this cause (as I suppose) he leaueth vnto vs life & goods, least whilest he in going about to take them from vs by force, & we seeking to keep thē by desperatnes, we should both fall into great destruction, no lesse lamētable to the conqueror than to the vanquished. Besides that, if he should kill all here, truly he might then enter the breaches of the citie on the bodies of the dead, no man now left aliue to resist him. But LERVS is shut vp, ARANGIA is strongly fortified, LINDVS is by situation impregnable: here he knoweth are weapons, armour,K and men, here he must begin a new war, except he will haue the remainder of your war, the fatall plague of his empire, to prey still vpon his subiects: all which strong places he shall haue without slaughter, without bloudshed (as reason is) if he shall let you and vs poore wretches depart in safetie with a little trash. Except these worldly considerations haue moued him to mercie and compassion: then out of doubt it is wrought by diuine power and the secret fauor of God towards vs, & of our Sauior Christ Iesus crucified. Whereunto if you be men well aduised, if religious, if mindfull of the dutie of Christians, it becommeth you not to oppose any obstacle, and with the ruin of your selues to destroy this miserable people, which for this halfe yeares siege hath scarcely had so much rest as might suffice the necessitie of nature, [...]tanding for you in battell, enduring both wounds and death for your honour and victorie: by whose faithfull labour and diligence you haue beene alwaies holpen both at home and abroad; whether you inuaded the L Turke by land in MYTILENE, NAVPACTVS, METHONE, PATRAS, or other parts of P [...]LOPONESVS, or els by sea thrust him out of the possession of the Ionian or Egeum: whereby it may appeare euen vnto a blind man, how iniurious it is & far from truth, to obiect vnto vs, That enioying the fruits of peace, we refuse the charges of wars: nay we neuer refused wars. But now it is come to that point, that if we would neuer so faine make wars, we are not able so to do, the flower of our youth being slaine: and the small remainder that is left, not only weakened in bodie with wounds, sicknesse, watching, and restlesse labour; but also in mind discouraged, whilest all things fall out prosperously to our enemies, and to vs aduerse: the greatest and best part of our great artillerie being broken with continuall vse, which if it were whole, we could haue thereof small vse or profit, for want of pouder, which not only this citie [...] wanteth, but also your strong holds, LERVS, LINDVS, HALICARNASVS, ARANGIA. I was neuer M desirous or curious to looke into other mens doings, much lesse into your manner of wars: but yet (Great Master) you cannot denie but it is so, who haue caused soldiors to be brought from thence hither openly, and gunpouder secretly: by which prouident foresight you haue withstood your forraine enemie these six months, and deceiued the trecherie of one or two domesticall traitors. But I gladly admit we haue all these [Page] things, I stand not vpon the truth, I say not what most men say, but I speake to please a few: and suppose we wanted neither armour nor courage, I would then aske you this, whether they would aduise you to vse them to your defence, or to your destruction? for vnto both it cannot be, no more than at once to be a freeman and a slaue. To vse them to your destruction, that were madnesse and sencelesse pride, hatefull to God and man: you should therefore vse them to defence: But how shall we defend a citie (I doe not say, as the truth is) alreadie lost and possessed by the enemie, wherein he raigneth, rangeth, and turneth all vpside down? but hauing the wals battered down, a great breach in the Spanish station, and another not like but euen now as good as made in the Italian station, how shall we be able to keepe this vnfortunat towne, battered and rent at the French, English, and Auergne stations, and the tower of S. Nicholas? Which if it were not so battered and bared of all warlike prouision, but sound and thorowly furnished with munition and victuall, yet necessitie enforcing, and reason persuading, you ought to forsake it, for so much as all power of further resistance is taken from you. Doe you not see how easily and almost without any trouble the enemie (by means of the castle he hath new built vpon the mount PHILERMO, not past two miles distant) can take from you all manner of prouision both by sea and land, and restraine you from going out or in? Truly notable gentlemen, honourable for your martiall prowesse, you see and haue long agoe foreseene these things better than I, altogether ignorant in martiall affaires, altogether busied in the trade of merchandise, and caring for my familie: yet suffer me to say the truth, All the powers wherby this kingdome stood, are departed and gone; against the force of our enemies no policie or force of man remaineth; and to expect armies of angels or soldiours from heauen, and other such like miracles, is in my iudgement more and more to prouoke God to anger, although in his anger he be vnto vs mercifull: Wherefore being destitute of all worldly helpe, let vs as we may, prouide for our safetie. I beseech thee (worthie Great Master) by these my aged teares, by the naturall pitie ingrafted in thy noble nature, expose not this miserable citie to the spoile of the enemie, our old and middle aged men to the sword, our wiues and daughters to be rauished, our boies and youths to the vnnaturall filthinesse of our barbarous enemies, and to be corrupted with the mad and grosse opinion of the vngodly Mahometane superstition. I would (noble knights) you had seene with what teares, with what mourning our heauie families and children crying about their mothers, sent vs hither, and what prayers they made for vs at our departing: I would you knew with what mind and how great hope they expect their safetie from your clemencie and aduised resolution.’

This speech of the aged Greeke might haue moued a heart of flint:The Great Master r [...]solued that the citie was not to bee defended, calleth a common counsell of all his knight [...], and the bu [...]esses of the citie. but the Great master, who in his countenance shewed a greater courage than his present state required, commaunding euerie man to his charge: after the matter had beene thus most part of the night discoursed, gaue them no other answere, but, That he would be carefull of all their well doing. The next morning he sent for Preianes, Martiningus, and a few other of greatest judgement and experience; by whom he was fully resolued, that the citie in so many places by the enemie laid open and shaken, was not possible to be long defended. Whereupon he caused a common counsell to bee called, of all the knights of the Order togither with the Burgesses of the citie: where after long debating, Whether they should fight it out to the last man, or yeeld vpon such conditions as was to be obtained? it was by generall consent concluded, That the citie should be yeelded, and therupon a decree made,A truce taken with the [...]urkes for foure dai [...]. which was by the Great master pronounced. Whilest these things were thus in doing, a truce was taken with the enemie for foure daies, but full of feare and danger. During which time, diuers of the Turks presuming vpon the truce, came by great companies to behold the wals and rampiers of the citie: wherewith Fornouius the Frenchman (of whom mention is before made) being sore moued, in his choller without further commaund discharged a tire of great ordinance amongst the thickest of them, contrarie to the truce taken. At which time also, the Rhodians receiued into the citie secretly by night a ship loaded with wines out of CRETE, and in her Alphonsus a Spaniard, chiefe pilot of the Rhodian gallies, and with him one hundred voluntarie souldiours all Latines, all which went out of CRETE without the knowledge of the Venetian Senat: for at that time the Venetians were in league with Solyman. The Turkes justly offended with the breach of the truce, and the taking in of new supplies, which they supposed to haue beene farre greater than in truth they were; without commaund of any captaine or ensigne displaied, in great numbers thrust in thorow the ruines of the breaches into the citie as farre as the rampiers and baricadoes new made, and furiously assailed the defendants: in which conflict many were slaine and wounded on both sides. But after the Turkes had to [Page] their cost againe made proofe of the courage of their enemies, as without commandement they G began that skirmish,A barbarous [...]act. so of themselues they brake it off and retired. After the truce was thus broken, the captaine of the Turkes fencers, a bloudie cruell fellow, hauing taken three Christians prisoners, cut off their hands, eares, and noses, and sent them so dismembred into the citie with letters to the Great master, charging him with the vnjust breach of the truce, barbarously threatning within three or foure daies to make like example of him to all posteritie. Amongst other none was more troubled with this sudden and vnexpected breach of the truce, than Robertus Perusinus, Raymundus Marchet, and Raymundus Lupus, three knights of the Order, men of singular wisedome and grauitie, embassadours at that time in the Turks campe: whom the barbarous people in their furie had vndoubtedly slaine or put to torture, if they had not feared the like measure to haue beene shewed to their hostages in the citie. But after that Nicholaus Vergot [...]s, H and Georgius Sandriticus, two of the Burgesses of the citie, were come into the campe with articles containing the conditions whereupon the Rhodians were contented to deliuer vp the citie, all their furie and rage was quickly appeased. Solyman for his greater majestie and the more terror of these messengers, beset round about with his great armie, and guarded about with his Ianizaries in their richest attire and glistring armour, gaue them audience: who admitted to his presence, with great humilitie offered vnto him in writing the conditions whereupon the Rhodians would yeeld vp vnto him the citie. The chiefe points whereof were, That the churches should remaine vnto the Christians inuiolated: that no children should be taken from their parents: that no Christian should be enforced to forsake his religion and turne Turke: that such Christians as would tarrie still in the citie, might so doe at libertie, without paying any tribute for I the space of fiue yeares: that all they which would depart might go with bag and baggage, furnished with conuenient shipping and prouision as farre as CRETE, and to carrie with them so much great ordinance as they pleased; and that the Christians should appoint a reasonable day for the time of their departure. All which articles Solyman condescended vnto, and solemnly swore faithfully to performe the same. But how they were indeed performed, the writers of that age doe much varrie: it should seeme they were neither altogither kept, nor broken, but so performed as pleased the conquerour: certaine it is, that many great outrages were through militarie insolencie committed by the proud Turkes vpon the poore Christians, contrarie to the mind of Solyman. Iaco [...]us Fontanus a Ciuilian, and at that time one of the judges of the citie (out of whose writings this historie is for most part collected) reporteth, That the Turks not expecting the departure K of the Christians, brake into the citie vpon Christenmas day, by the gate called COSQVINIVM, polluted the temples, shamefully abused the Christians, and made hauocke of all things: and that he himselfe falling into their hands, after he had with such money as he had, redeemed himselfe, hauing not sufficient to content all their greedie desires, was by them hardly entreated and grieuously beaten. The Great master by the counsell of Achimetes, putting on such simple attire as best beseemed a vanquished man that was to humble himselfe before the conquerour, went out of the citie into the campe, attended vpon with a few knights of the Order: where after he had waited in the raine most part of the day, before Solymans tent, at last he had a rich gowne cast vpon him, and so brought into the proud tyrants presence. Where after they had a while at the first, with piercing eies one earnestly beholden the other; the Great master L humbling himselfe before him, was in token of grace admitted to kisse his hand, and welcomed by Solyman in this sort.

Solyman his speech vnto the Great master.

Although (said he) I might worthely and iustly infringe the articles I haue prescribed concerning the yeelding of the citie, with thy most wicked crossed compieres, the people of the RHODES, and thee especially such a capitall enemie, from whose deserued punishment, neither faith nor oath ought to stay a most iust conquerour: yet I haue determined to be not onely gratious and mercifull vnto thee so great an offender, deseruing exemplarie punishment, but also liberall and bountifull: who if thou wilt by well doing amend the grieuous transgressions of thy former life, I promise vnto thee most honourable entertainment, great preferment, and the highest places in my empire, in my armie i [...] M time of warre, and in counsell in time of peace. Not to refuse this my offer, both thy present estate persuadeth thee, and the Christians (whose quarrell thou tookest vpon thee to defend against me, with better beginning than successe) deserue at thy hands no better: for what should let thee, forsaken of all thy friends, a man as it were betraied and vanquished, to cast thy selfe into the perpetuall faith [Page] A and protection of a most mightie and mercifull conquerour, of himselfe offering thee this vndeserued grace and fauour.

Whereunto the Great master presently answered: ‘Most mightie and gratious emperour, your offered fauours before your other worthie captaines, I deserue not;The resolute answere of the great Master to Solyman. neither is my present estate and desert towards you such, as that I dare or ought to refell the same: yet I will speake freely in the middest of your victorious armie, a man vanquished in presence of the conquerour, whose great mercie I neuer dispaired of, and whose faith I neuer doubted: I had rather now I haue lost my soueraigntie, forthwith to lose my priuat and vnfortunat life; or else for euer hereafter to liue in obscuritie, than of my people to be accounted a fugitiue rather than a vanquished man: For to be vanquished is but chance of warre, and of so great a conquerour no shame to him that is conquered: but afterwards to forsake his owne people and to turne to the enemie, I account it shamefull cowardise and treacherie.’

Solyman maruelling at the courage and majestie of the hoarie old prince, in his so great extremitie, dismissed him, and sent him againe into the citie, guarded with his owne guard, vntill he was come into his pallace: and vnto euery one of the knights attending vpon the Great Master, was giuen a rich garment,Solyman commeth into the citie vnto the Great master. in token of Solymans fauour. Within a few daies after Solyman comming into the citie, went to visit the Great Master also: whom he found busie in packing vp his things against his departure. Here when the Great master falling downe vpon his knees would haue worshipped him, he would in no case suffer him so to doe: but with his hand putting aside his vaile of majestie (which manner of reuerence the Turkish emperours giue onely to God, and their great prophet Mahomet) tooke him vp, and saluted him by the name of Father. To whom the Great master for his wisedome and discretion now to him no lesse admirable, than he was before in time of warre for his valour and courage, spake in this sort.

If my fortune and successe had been answerable to my heart and courage,

The speech of the Great mas [...] to Solyman.

I should here be in this citie, rather as a victorious conquerour than a man conquered. But sithence the fatall destinies would needs ouerthrow the Rhodian estate, I am glad that you are the man before all other by fortune assigned, of whom I should receiue both force and grace. And vnto you, amongst many other your rare and worthie praises, this shall not be the least, That you vanquished the RHODES, and shewed mercie. By this meanes you haue ioyned vnto your dreadfull power, the fame of clemencie and curtesie; an honour not of the highest to be despised, by which alone we come neerest vnto God. Wherefore I doubt not but you will keepe the conuentions of the late peace inuiolate, which your owne clemencie persuaded you to grant, and necessitie enforced vs to take. I shall now be an eternall example of the Turkish emperours clemencie and vertue, more than if I had by and by at the first yeelded my selfe▪ my obstinat wilfulnesse hath made thy glorie and mercie now famous thorow the whole world, and vnto the worlds end.

Whereunto Solyman by his interpreter, answered: ‘It is to me a great pleasure,The notable answere of Solyman to the great Master. that God at length hath put into thy mind to make choise of peace before warre, which I would thou couldest haue liked of from the beginning: then truely thou shouldest at this time haue receiued of my great and mightie maiestie, more good than thou hast endured harme. Which that I haue done vnto thee, not for any hatred, but onely for desire of soueraigntie, thou maiest gather by this, That I suffer thee and thine to depart hence at libertie with all your wealth and substance: For I make not warre, thereby to heape vp wealth and riches; but for honour, fame, immortalitie, and enlarging of mine empire. For it is the propertie of a king royally descended, by strong hand to take from others, and to inuade others; not vpon a greedie and couetous mind, but for the honourable desire of rule and soueraigntie: which whilest my neighbour withstandeth, I count it enough by force of armes to remoue him.’

But the Tyrant (as many supposed) spake all this by way of dissimulation, hauing as it was commonly bruted, giuen order for the rigging vp of a great ship and certaine gallies, for the sudden [Page] transporting of the Great master and the knights of the Order to CONSTANTINOPLE; G which report seemeth to haue beene but faigned either of malice, or else by such as least knew Solymans mind: for if he had so purposed, who should haue let him, hauing them all in his power. Iouius in his little treatise rerum Turcicarum dedicated to Charles the fift, reporteth that hee himselfe heard Lilladamus the Great master say, That when Solyman entered into the RHODES attended vpon with thirtie thousand men, there was not any man heard to speake a word, but that the souldiours went as if they had beene obseruant friers: and that when he came to aske leaue of Solyman that he might depart, he was so courteously vsed of him, that turning himselfe to Abraim the Bassa, whom he aboue all men loued, said, Truely I cannot but grieue to see this vnfortunat old man, driuen out of his owne dwelling, to depart hence so heauily.

The Great master embarking himselfe with his knights and such other as were willing to depart,H in vessels and gallies prepared for that purpose, departed out of the island on Newyeares day at night: and after long and dangerous trauell by sea in that Winter weather, landed at last at MESSANA in SICILIA, from whence he afterwards sailed into ITALIE, and so trauelled to ROME where he was honourably receiued by Adrian the sixt of that name then bishop there, a Hollander borne, sometime schoolemaster to Charles the fift, and his Vicegerent in Spaine; who if he had been as forward in the short time of his Papacie to haue relieued the RHODES, as he was to maintaine Charles his quarrell against the French king, it is not vnlike but that famous citie had beene relieued, and the island in possession of the Christians at this day. Thus Solyman, whilest the Christian princes were at discord amongst themselues, to his great glorie and no lesse griefe of all good Christians, entred the RHODES the fiue and twentith day of December, a day I dedicated vnto the natiuitie of our Sauiour Christ,Solyman entre [...]h into the Rhodes on Christenma [...] day, in the yeare 1522. in the yeare 1522, after it had beene by the knights of the Order valiantly kept and defended against the infidels by the space of 214 yeares, since the time they by force tooke it from the infidels in the yeare 1308: and now being so long holden as was possible, against all the power of the Turkes, was yeelded vp when it had been six moneths besieged. At this siege Solyman lost a great part of his army; for besides them that were slaine at the assaults, which were many, thirtie thousand died of the flix.

Solyman sendeth Ferhates Bassa against Alis beg the mountaine prince.Whilest Solyman thus lay at the siege of the RHODES, Ferhates Bassa Gouernour of the Marches of the Turkish empire, alongst the riuer of Euphrates, by the commaundement of Solyman went with a great armie against Alis-beg, whom the Turkes called Schach, Suar-ogli, that is to say, king Suar his sonne: which P. Iouius corrupting, calleth him by the name of Saxouaroglis. K This Alis, after he had betraied his vncle Aladeules the mountaine king, vnto Sinan Bassa, was by Selymus left chiefe gouernour of that large and wild countrey alongst the borders of ARMENIA and CAPADOCIA, wanting nothing of the honour of a king but the name onely, as is before declared in the life of Selymus. Solyman jealous of his honor, and fearing least he should take vpon him the absolute gouernment of that countrey (which indeed of right belonged vnto him, the children of Aladeules the late king being now all dead) and so to make himselfe king, especially if he should joyne in friendship with the Persian king: after the manner of ambitious men, purposed by any meanes to haue him taken out of the way: and had therefore sent Ferhates to ease him of that care. The Bassa without making any shew of hostilitie, marching with his armie along the confines of his countrey, as if it had been but to looke to his charge, when L he was come as neere as he could to Alis, without mistrust, thought good to assay if he could by pollicie bring that to passe which he was otherwise with great danger to attempt by force. Wherefore faining himselfe to be extreame sicke, he sent embassadours to Alis, requesting him as a friend to vouchsafe to come vnto him being at the point of death, vnto whom he had many things of importance from the great emperour to impart, and would if he should die, leaue with him all his charge vntill Solyman should otherwise dispose thereof.

Alis and his foure sons treacherously slaine. Alis, who from his youth had alwaies honoured the Turkish emperours and faithfully serued them, mistrusting no harme came to the Bassa, accompanied with his foure sonnes; whom the faithlesse Bassa without regard of infamie, caused presently to be put to death with their father: and so reducing all that countrey into the manner of a prouince vnder Solymans obeisance, came M to him with twentie thousand men, about the time that the citie of the RHODES was yeelded vp. This is the faithlesse dealing of the Turks, not with the Christians onely, but with them of their owne superstition also: vsing it as no small pollicie, vtterly to extinguish the nobilitie in all countries subject to their seruile tyrannie.

[Page] A Solyman after he had thus subdued the RHODES,Solyman returneth to Constantinople. and disposed of the Island as he liked best, returning to CONSTANTINOPLE, brake vp his armie, and for the space of three yeares after followed his pleasure, not doing any thing worthie of remembrance. During which time and many yeares after, the rich and flourishing countrey of ITALIE, sometime mistres of the world, was miserably afflicted and rent in peeces by Charles the fift, (then emperour) and Francis the French king, the one enuying vnto the other the glorie of the empire [...]punc; and he not content therwith, seeking with immoderat ambition to make himselfe lord of all ITALIE: most of the other Christian princes and states being at the same time either by the one or by the other, drawn into the fellowship of that warre, to the great trouble and sore weakening of the Christian commonweale. Whereupon Solyman waiting all occasions that might serue for the enlarging of his empire,Solyman vpon the discord of the Christian princes and disordered state of Hungarie, taketh occasion to inuade that kingdome. B and annoying of the Christians, thought it now a fit time for him to set his foot into HVNGARIE, whereinto he had alreadie laied open a way by the taking of BELGRADE. He knew right well that Lewes then king of HVNGARIE was but yong, altogether vnacquainted with the warres, commaunding ouer his headstrong subjects (especially his rich prelates and nobilitie) no otherwise than pleased themselues, being himselfe rather by them altogether ouerruled▪ Besides that, he was in good hope, that the other Christian princes neere vnto him, either carried away with regard of their owne estate, would not, or els before vnto himselfe by league fast bound, could not affoord vnto him any great aid or succour: The Germanes hee knew would make small hast vnto such warres as should yeeld them much danger, and but small pay: As for the princes of the house of AVSTRIA, Charles the emperour, and Ferdinand his brother, although C they were joined vnto the young king with the neerest bonds of alliance (Lewes hauing married Marie their youngest sister, and Ferdinand, Anne, king Lewes his sister) yet was there as he thought small helpe to be expected from them; Charles hauing his hands full in ITALIE, and Ferdinand altogether carefull of himselfe: And that Sigismund king of POLONIA would for the young kings sake breake the antient league he had with the Turkish emperors, he could hardly be persuaded:1526 As for other Christian princes farther off, he stood not in any great doubt. Thus hauing with himselfe singled out this young prince the Hungarian king,Solyman commeth against Lewes king of Hungarie. whom he had in his greedie mind alreadie deuoured, he set forward from CONSTANTINOPLE, and was come on his way as far as SOPHIA in SERVIA with a mightie armie of two hundred thousand men, before that the Hungarians had any knowledge of his comming (so blind & sencelesse was that D state, which now sleeping in securitie, had long before lost those eyes which euer watcht, and neuer spared cost or paines to keepe the same in safetie) in stead of whom were others come in place, sharpe of sight and too too prouident for that concerned their owne aduancement; but blind as beetils in foreseeing this great and common danger (wherewith they were shortly after all quite ouerwhelmed) vntill it was now brought home vnto their owne dores. The yong king of himselfe but weake, by reason of his youthfull yeares, and nothing strengthened by them for whom he had most done, and should haue beene his greatest stay; was wonderfully dismayed with the fame of the approch of so mightie an enemie: yet the better to withstand him, he sent embassadors with all speed vnto the Christian princes his neighbors, requesting their aid against the common enemie: but all in vaine. In the meane time, after the auntient manner of his countrey, E he gaue out generall summons for the assembly of his counsell for the warres: whether his great stipendarie prelates (of dutie bound to appeare) came with their troupes of euill appointed horsemen, and not halfe full; who also deliuered in lesse summes of money by farre, than of right they should haue done, towards the maintenance of the charge of that common war. And the temporall nobilitie, forgetting the warlike discipline of their famous ancestors, as fresh water souldiors which had neuer seene the Turkish emperour in his strength, and but little acquainted with some light skirmishes or small inuasions, in their vaine brauerie made light account of the Turkes, proudly vaunting, That although they were in number but few, yet they would easily ouerthrow the great numbers of them, if euer they came to hand [...]e strokes. But aboue all the rest one Paulus Tomoreus, The vanitie of Tomoreus. archbishop of COLOSSA, sometimes a Minorite, who had before been in F diuers light skirmishes against the Turks, with great insolencie did so confidently brag and boast of the victorie he vainely dreamed of, that in his sermons vnto the souldiours, and in open talke with the nobilitie (if he could haue done so much as he vaunted of) it should seeme that he himselfe had been ynough to haue ouerthrowne the Turks whole armie.

But when all the kings armie was assembled, and a generall moster taken, there was hardly [Page] found fiue and twentie thousand men in all, horse and foot. So that the foolish hardinesse of Tomoreus, G and others so forwards to giue the Turks battell, was of most wise men disliked. The old souldiors and men of great experience said plainely, That it was meere follie and madnesse with such a handfull of men to giue battell vnto the enemie, who would bring eight times so many moe into the field as they were. Wherefore some wished, that the young king should be withdrawne from the imminent danger: amongst whom Stephanus Verbetius, a noble captaine, of all the rest best acquainted with the Turkish warres,Wholsome counsell not followed. gaue counsell, that the person of the yong king should for the safetie of the common state, whatsoeuer should happen, be kept out of danger in the strong castle of BVDA. But the vnruly soldiors with open mouth impugned his wholesome counsell, and said plainely, That except the king himselfe did lead them, they would not at all fight. Of which opinion was also the rash prelate Tomoreus, persuading them with all speed to H giue the enemie battell, and that the noble young king vnder the protection of Almightie God, should in person himselfe goe and giue the signall of battell against his enemies. The king ouerruled by this vnluckie counsell, vpon a brauerie without reason set forward with his armie, and came to a place called MOHATCHZ or MVGACE, which is a little countrey village not farre from Danubius, almost in the middle betweene BVDA and BELGRADE. And now Balybeus with twentie thousand horsemen (the forerunners of the Turkish armie) was at hand, at which time the commaunders and captaines of the kings armie, entred into counsell, Whether it were better to encampe their armie within their wagons alongst the riuer of Danubius, and so to expect the comming of Ioannes Sepusius, countie of CILIA, and Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA; (who was then said to be comming towards the king with his Transiluanian horsemen, of all I other fittest to haue encountered the Turkes) or els to march on forward, and presently to giue them battell? But Tomoreus, who now commaunded all, knowing that vpon the comming of the Vayuod, he was to giue place, and himselfe to be commaunded (which vnto so proud a man was no small greefe) for the maintenance of his credit and reputation, and to carrie away the glorie of the victorie he so vainely hoped for, could not abide to heare of any delay; but hasting headlong to his owne destruction, did with such vehemencie impugne the wholesome counsell of others, who would haue expected the comming of the Vayuod, that he by his franticke persuasions drew on the vnaduised young king into most apparent and manifest danger. For Balibeus deuided his horsemen into foure battels, which by turnes skirmished with the kings armie without intermission,The battell of M [...]hatchz. and gaue the Hungarians no leisure to rest either day or night, but continually K wheeling about, kept them in so straight, that no man could without great danger goe to water his horse at the side of Danubius, which was fast by, or once to stirre out of the campe, but were enforced to dig pits for water in places where they lay: with which necessitie Tomoreus was enforced to put the armie in order of battell, and there was now no remedie, but he must of necessitie fight for the honour of his prince and countrey. His battell was raunged all in length, and his horsemen not altogether (as it was thought) vnfitly placed here and there by troupes amongst his footmen; least the Turks (being in number eight to one) should with their multitude compasse them round, and so enforce them to fight as it were in a ring: for now was Solyman come also with all his huge armie. The Hungarian tents defended with a small garrison, were left a little from the armie on the right hand, enclosed round about with waggons, one chained L to another: neere vnto the which, Tomoreus Generall of this vnluckie battell, had not altogether vndiscreetly placed a troupe of chosen horsemen for defence of the kings person against all vncertaine euents of the battell. But this day (vnluckie to the Hungarian name, but vnto the king himselfe most fatall and vnfortunat) ouerthrew that his purpose, deuised too late for the safetie of the kings person: for at the first encounter the Hungarians, although they had receiued no harme by the Turkish artillerie (being mounted too high, of purpose as it was thought, the gunners being for most part Christians) were easily beaten downe and ouerthrowne,Tomoreus slaine oppressed by the multitude of their enemies, especially Tomoreus with the rest of the prelates and nobilitie being almost all slaine together, and the Hungarian horsemen also either slaine or put to flight. All things going thus to wracke, a companie of Turks assailed the campe, which was hardly defended M by the weake garrison. Which thing the troupe of the chosen horsemen appointed for defence of the kings person, beholding, could not be stayed, but that they would needs helpe them which defended the campe. The young king seeing all his armie discomfited, and himselfe forsaken of the horsemen which he was in hope should haue guarded him, betooke himselfe to flight. [Page] A But as he was making shift for himselfe,King Lewis drowned in a ditch. thinking to haue passed ouer a fennie ditch, his horse in plunging out, fell backwards vpon him into the ditch; where being heauie loded with armour not able to helpe himselfe, he was in the middest of that filthie ditch in the mud most miserably drowned. Some few horsemen escaped out of the battell, the rest were either slaine or taken prisoners. This wofull battell neuer sufficiently to be lamented, as the ground of the miseries of that worthy kingdome, was fought the 29. day of October in the yeare 1526.

Solyman hauing obtained this victorie, marched on directly to BVDA the regall seat of the Hungarian kings, which was deliuered vnto him with the castle; vpon condition, that he should not violate any man either in person or goods, and at his departure to leaue the same againe vnto the Hungarians: all which things he (according vnto their request) faithfully performed. Being B entred into the castle, hee wonderfully commended the same, but lodged not therein, because it is by their auntient law forbidden the Turkish emperour to lodge within any walled place which is not his owne. Wherefore he returned and lodged in his campe alongst the riuer of Danubius.

Whilest Solyman lay thus at BVDA,The heads of slaine Christian bishops and captaines presented to Solyman. seauen bloudie heads of the bishops and greatest of the nobilitie (slaine in the late battell at MOHATCHZ) were presented to him, all set in order vpon a woodden step: whereat he smiled, to see his courtiers laying their right hands vpon their brests▪ and bending their bodies as if they had done them great obeisance, to salute them by name, and in derision to welcome them by the names of valiant popes. But afterwards, when he had more particulerly enquired what euerie one of them was, it is reported that he most of all detested Ladislaus C Salcanius the great bishop of STRIGONIVM, for his miserable couetousnesse, that being a man of infinit wealth, refused to spare part thereof vnto his soueraigne, requesting the same at his great need: Tomoreus he blamed of inconsiderat rashnesse, for that he being a cleargie man, would busie himselfe so farre in matters not belonging to his vocation:The bishop of Veradium too [...]rue a prophet. On the contrarie part, he commended Franciscus Perenus bishop of VERADIVM, a man honourably descended, for his wise counsell (though it was not followed) for that he had heard it reported, that he as a true prophet foretelling the common slaughter ensuing, had sharpely said in the counsell at such time as Tomoreus would needs fight with the Turks, and was not by any meanes to be remoued from that his fatall opinion, That he did foresee what that their frierlike Generall would the next day doe; and that he would with so great an enterprise effect no more, but to make one holiday the D more in the Christian kalenders, in remembrance of thirtie thousand Hungarian martyrs, most miserably slaine of the Turks in vnequall battell, for defence of the Christian faith and religion (for at that time, they which willingly exposed themselues to death in defence of the Christian faith, were all accounted for Martyrs:) Georgius Sepusius and the others he called rash fooles, that would aduenture with so small strength to encounter so strong an enemie. At such time as the counterfeits of king Lewes and Marie his wife were shewed vnto him, he honourably said, That he was sorie for the young king, that it was his euill hap to haue so vnaduised counsellors in a matter of so great importance, as to persuade him against all reason to fight at so great disaduantage: And that he came not into HVNGARIE to take his kingdome from him,The honourable speech of Solyman concerning his comming into Hungarie. but only to reuenge the wrongs done vnto him by the Hungarians: And that if he had escaped the danger of E the battell, he would assuredly haue againe restored vnto him the kingdome of HVNGARIE, contenting himselfe with some small tribute: And that it should haue beene vnto him honour enough to haue saued the nephew of Sigismund king of POLONIA his confederat, so strongly allied with the honorable house of Austria. All which he commaunded to be told to Marie the queene, who was for feare fled from BVDA to POSSONIVM. Which might perhaps all seeme to haue been either dissemblingly spoken, or falsely reported of the equitie and courtesie of the barbarous king, if he had not shortly afterwards to the ample declaration of his bountie and liberalitie, without any desert, giuen the same kingdome of HVNGARIE to Ioannes Sepusius, not borne of any royall bloud, and then retaining the mind of a verie enemie. After that, he tooke away three goodly images of brasse of antient workmanship, which were placed in the entrance F into the kings pallace, by that renowned king Mathias Coruinus the great fauourer of rare qualities and vertues: these images represented the formes of Hercules with his club, of Apollo with his harpe, and Diana with her bow and quiuer: all which he placed in the tiltyard at CONSTANTINOPLE, as a trophie of the Hungarian victorie. Howbeit these images were since taken downe by the persuasion of the Mufti, & molten (as contrarie to their superstition) and great ordinance [Page] made of them. He carried also away with him three pieces of artillerie of most excellent G and curious workmanship; and certaine brasen pillars of chamfred worke, which supported the Chapiters of the gates. He tarried at BVDA about twentie daies: In which time to satisfie the cruell nature and greedie desires of his souldiours, he sent out diuers troups of horsemen into the countrey thereabout, by whom all the countrey betwixt RAB and the riuer of Tibyscus was by that sudden and vnexpected incursion so destroied, that it is reported that aboue an hundreth and fiftie thousand people of all sorts were either slaine or led away into most miserable captiuitie. All which done, he returned againe by the same way he came, to CONSTANTINOPLE.

Ioannes Sepusius, Vaiuod of Transiluania, aspireth to the kingdome of Hungarie.About the same time Ioannes Sepusius Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA, with a great power came now too late into HVNGARIE to haue aided the king: but glad, as was thought, of his H death, as tending to his owne aduancement; for as much as he was now (the king being dead without issue) a man of greatest account amongst the nobilitie of HVNGARIE. Wherefore as one of a deepe and reaching wit, and in great hope to obtaine the kingdome, he began cunningly to labour diuers of the noble men one by one, and instantly to request them, that at the next parliament they would not betray the honour of their countrey, in suffering the royall dignitie of that auntient kingdome to be transferred vnto a stranger, of such a nation as happily loued them not: for why, the Hungarians ought well to remember what great calamities they had receiued in former times, in chusing forraine kings and strangers to raigne ouer them, and in following their vnfortunat ensignes against the Turkes; which thing the wofull miseries of times past might notably proue: which either Sigismundus of BOHEMIA, or Ladislaus the first I of POLONIA, by their vnfortunat battels, once at NICOPOLIS, againe at CVLVMBARIVM, and last of all at VARNA had brought vnto the Hungarians. But to speake, nay once to remember the harmes receiued by the long cowardise of Ladislaus, or this late rashnesse of his sonne king Lewes, would make any noble mind to blush and be ashamed: vnder whose gouernment all militarie discipline, and the glorie of HVNGARIE might well be thought to be vtterly lost. And yet he said there remained of the nobilitie of HVNGARIE, men honourably discended of most auntient houses, worthie of the kingdome, which bare noble minds, and were of sufficient courage, discretion, and power, in this time of common heauinesse to restore the honour of the estate, and worthily to defend the kingdome: Amongst whom (said he) I would not bee accounted so base minded, or heauie headed (although there be many which for the honour of K their houses and wealth may seeme to go before me) that I will therefore confesse, that any of them is for valour, prowesse, or fortune better than my selfe, either for conducting of an armie, or gouernment of a kingdome: for I shall be a king of courage and valour sufficient, if by your fauourable good will I shall be thought worthie of your consent and suffrages. The Vayuod taking this course, by his earnest sute and labour had woon the good wils of many; and so much the easier, for that Stephanus Bator (a man of greatest nobilitie among the Hungarians) was a little before gone into BOHEMIA vnto king Ferdinand, who was then greatly busied (by reason of a parliament there summoned) in procuring the fauour of the nobilitie and commons of that realme against the time of the parliament, wherein he was in good hope to be chosen king; as he was in short time after.L

At that same time the Hungarians were with great solemnitie celebrating the funerall of their late king:King Lewes buried. whose dead bodie after the departure of Solyman from BVDA, was found whole, by the demonstration of one Cotriscus one of the squires of his bodie, who was present when he was drowned; and so was brought out of the fens of MOHATCHZ to ALBA REGALIS, where it was with great pompe buried amongst the sepulchres of the other kings of HVNGARIE his predecessours. Which solemne funerall once ended, the generall militarie parliament (by the authoritie and voice whereof the kings of HVNGARIE were by their auntient lawes and customes to be chosen) was called: in the shutting vp wherof, Iohn the Vayuod hauing in that common heauinesse no competitour, nor any of the greatest nobilitie which durst stand against him, was with the great applause and consent of all there present chosen king. To whom forthwith Petrus M Perenus came and presented the auntient crowne of the kingdome of HVNGARIE, which was in his keeping, made after an homely fashion of pure gold; with which the lawfull kings of HVNGARIE vsed alwaies to be solemnly crowned. It is reported, that it was the crowne of Stephanus first king of HVNGARIE, and was by an auntient custome alwaies kept in the castle [Page] A of VICEGRADE.Iohn Sepusius the Vaiuod chosen and crowned king of Hungarie. And so Iohn the Vayuod was orderly crowned, and consecrated by the hands of Paulus bishop of STRIGONIVM, lately chosen in steed of Ladislaus Salcanius, slaine in the battell at MVGACE, and by the hands of Stephanus Brodaricus bishop of VACIA, whom he chose for his secretarie. And vnto Americus Cibachus he gaue the honor of the Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA, being but a little before chosen bishop of VERADIVM. In his preferment, he was greatly holpen vnto the kingdome by the nobilitie which followed him out of TRANSILVANIA, men of great account both in peace and warre; amongst whom descended of the Hungarian bloud, were chiefe, Stephanus Verbetius, Paulus Antandrus, Gregorius Peschenius, Nicolaus Glessa, and Ianus Docia. But whilest this new king is in this sort busied in rewarding his friends and strengthening himselfe in his kingdome, he was aduertised, That Ferdinand his competitor of the B Hungarian kingdome was chosen king of BOHEMIA:Ferdinand king of Bohemia laieth claime [...]o the kingdome of Hungarie. who out of the old controuersie betwixt Mathias Coruinus and Fredericus the emperours great grandfather, alleadged great claime vnto that kingdome, deriued from the time of Ladislaus, who was reported to haue beene poisoned at the time of the solemnization of his marriage, through the ambition and malice of Georgius Pogibracius; who affecting the kingdome of BOHEMIA, shortly after obtained the same. And now it seemed that the time was come, wherein Ferdinand made greater with the kingdome of BOHEMIA, and strengthened with the power of his brother Charles the emperour, not forgetting his right, might vpon good ground lay claime vnto the kingdome of HVNGARIE, vnto him (as he pretended) of right belonging euer since the time of Albertus the emperour. Neither did Ferdinand beside the strength of AVSTRIA & BOHEMIA, want the furtherance of C diuers of the princes of HVNGARIE; hauing in his court many of vnquiet spirit, halfe fugitiues, desirous of change, which enuied at the Vayuods royall preferment (as if it had been taken from themselues, more worthie thereof than he) by the rash and tumultuous fauour of the vulgar people. For besides Bator, who in most mens judgement might most worthely haue required and obtained the kingdome, there were others also almost of like nobilitie and valour, as Valentinus Turaccus, Stephanus Maylatus, Ianus Scala, Gasper Seredius, Baltasar Pamphilus, and Ferentius Gnarius; to whom also was joyned Paulus Bachitius borne in SERVIA, a valiant gentleman, who being entered into the Mahometane religion, to auoid the Turkish slauerie got away vnto the Christians, and hardly escaped from the battell of MOHATCHZ. By the persuasion of these noble men, Ferdinand of his owne disposition readie ynough to D claime his right, especially a kingdome, and trusting vnto his strength in AVSTRIA, BOHEMIA, RHETIA, STIRIA, and CARYNTHIA, marched directly towards BVDA. With whose comming, Iohn the new king being wonderfully troubled, as a man beset with want of all things, hauing neither sufficient strength whereupon to rest in his new got kingdome, neither any great assurance of the fidelitie of his subjects, like ynough either for feare, or of their naturall inconstancie to fall from him, determined not to abide the comming of his enemie to BVDA: but exhorting his captaines to follow him, although he were glad to depart and giue place to his euill fortune for a time, with such power as he had brought with him out of TRANSILVANIA, & such other as he could otherwise leuie, he passed ouer the riuer to PESTVM: and not daring any where thereabouts to rest, by long marches passed ouer the riuer Tibiscus, and there encamped E at TOCAI, which was a strong castle vpon the further side of the riuer. His departure being knowne,King Ferdinand taketh Buda. Ferdinand marching on, obtained BVDA without resistance: where he staied a while, and consulted with his captaines, Whether he should pursue his flying enemie, or not? But it was quickly resolued, That the discouraged enemy was to be speedily pursued, before he should gather greater strength, or enter into greater policies. Wherefore Ferdinand committed all his armie vnto the nobilitie of HVNGARIE, his friends, whom we haue before named; who marching with all speed possible, came to the riuer Tibiscus: where passing ouer vpon a bridge made of boats, which they brought with them in waggons for that purpose, they came with ensignes displayed vnto the castle of TOCAI, where the king lay with his armie in order of battell. But terrified with the suddaine comming of his enemies, and debating with his captaines of the F greatnesse of the danger, took a course vnto himselfe rather safe than honorable: For his captains desiring nothing more than to joine battell, and in manner contemning their enemies, persuaded him to withdraw himselfe a little out of the battell, and to keepe him out of danger; and if things fell out otherwise than well, to reserue himselfe vnto his better fortunes: as for themselues they would most resolutely fight against those traiterous fugitiues, for as much as it were great [Page] dishonour for them, being Hungarians, a warlike people by nature, to refuse battell being offered G by the enemie. Amongst the cheefetaines in the kings armie, Ferentius Bodo, an old captaine of great experience and courage was cheefe, to whom the king deliuered his ensigne with his owne hands, and he with great skill ordered his battell, for the number of his souldiours: he himselfe stood in the maine battell with the Hungarians, placing the Transiluanians in the wings. In Ferdinands armie, Valentinus Turaccus led the maine battell with the Hungarians vnder Ferdinands ensigne, strengthened on the one side with troupes of horsemen out of STIRIA, and on the other with the horsemen of AVSTRIA. But Paulus Bachitius according to the manner of the Turkish warres (wherewith he was well acquainted) with a companie of light horsemen lay close in ambush in a conuenient place for that purpose, a good distance off, against the left wing of the enemies armie, readie as occasion should serue to take his most aduantage. It was not H greatly needfull for the captaines to vse any persuasions to encourage their souldiours, readie ynough of themselues to fight.The battell of Tocai betweene the armies of king Iohn and king Ferdinand. The great ordinance once discharged, the armies came fast on and joyned battell, where the wings of both battels fought with diuers fortune. The Stirian horsmen were not able to endure the force of the Transiluanians, but were put to the worse: and on the other side, the left wing of Bodo his armie, consisting for most part of raw and vnexpert souldiors, was by the horsemen of AVSTRIA ouerthrowne. At the same time both the maine battels (being almost all Hungarians) fought with equall courage, and that so eagerly, as seldome had been seene a more fierce or cruell battell. But by a fresh charge giuen by Ferdinands horsemen, who had now put to flight the right wing of Bodo his battell, all Bodo his armie fighting most valiantly, was disordered and put to flight: Bodo the Generall labouring to restore the battell,I and to saue the ensigne to him before by the king deliuered, was by the comming in of Paulus Bachitius with his light horsemen, taken. The other captaines seeing all lost, and past hope of recouerie, betooke themselues to flight: all the kings artillerie and ensignes were taken by the enemie.King Iohn [...]lieth i [...]to Polonia. The king seeing the ouerthrow of his armie, for safegard of his life fled into POLONIA. Ferdinand his captaines following the course of the victorie, entered into TRANSILVANIA, where the people yeelding themselues at the first, all the whole prouince submitted it selfe vnto the authoritie of Ferdinand. Bodo and the rest of the noble men that were taken prisoners, with the ensignes taken from the enemies, were sent to Ferdinand. But when Bodo hauing his libertie promised, could not be persuaded to renounce his oath giuen to king Iohn, and to beare armes against him, he was by Ferdinand his commaundement cast into a darke dungeon, where shortly K after, consumed with sorrow and greefe, he miserably ended his life.

Ferdinand crowned king of Hungarie at Alba Regalis.Shortly after Ferdinand (the Hungarians generally submitting themselues vnto him) was by their common consent saluted king, and crowned with the same old crowne wherwith king Iohn had been crowned, which the same Perenus (a man of little constancie) brought vnto him; and with him was also crowned Anne his wife, the only sister of the late king Lewes: all which solemne ceremonies were celebrated at ALBA REGALIS, the vsuall place for the coronation of the Hungarian kings. Ferdinand by rare felicitie thus possessed of two kingdomes, whereunto he was not borne, returned into BOHEMIA, and left his deputies for the gouernment of the kingdome of HVNGARIE. These were Stephanus Bator, whom hee appointed viceroy, with whom he joyned Paulus bishop of STRIGONIVM, who had also reuolted from king Iohn: and L made Berethsaxius secretarie, and Alexius Tursonus a Morauian, treasurer.

King Iohn thus miserably distressed, and thrust out of his kingdome▪ by Ferdinand, fled to Hieronimus Lascus, a man for his honourable discent and learned vertue, of great fame and reputation amongst the Polonians: who glad of so honourable a guest, was more carefull of nothing, than with all possible kindnesse and courtesie how to comfort him, wrapt vp in so many calamities with the losse of his kingdome▪ he frankely promised vnto him all his owne wealth (which was not small) for the recouerie of his former estate: and that which more was, for the reuiuing of his former felicitie, the vttermost of his wit and deuise, which in the compassing of all great matters was accounted wonderfull. That bountifull entertainement of this poore king by Lascus, was not altogether vnpleasant to Sigismund king of POLONIA, although because M he would not offend Ferdinand, with whom he was joyned in friendship and aliance, he seemed to most men plainly to forget himselfe in shewing so small kindnesse vnto king Iohn, whose sister Barbara he had sometime married: which was the cause that Lascus forgot no point of courtesie in entertaining his guest, and yet the credit of Sigismund with king Ferdinand not toucht. But [Page] A when they had spent almost a month in consultation and debating of matters too and fro,Lascus counselleth king Iohn to [...]raue and of Solyman. Lascus accustomed with his deepe wit sharply to reason and aduisedly to determine of most weightie causes, at last rested vpon this one point, That readie helpe in so hard and desperat a case, was onely to be hoped for of the Turkish emperour Solyman: being of opinion, that he being a most mightie prince, and of an honourable disposition, answereable to his greatnesse, would not reject the humble prayers of an oppressed and exiled king; especially, if that being by his mercie and power restored, he could be content for so great a benefi [...] to hold his kingdome, as of the bountie of the Othoman kings. For Lascus saw, that Solyman (so great and proud an emperour) was not so desirous of kingdomes (whereof he had so many as could not easily bee reckoned, then commaunding ouer a great part of the world) as of glorie and renowne, wherewith he vnderstood B him to be wonderfully delighted aboue all other kings of the East, naturally carried away with that windie vanitie. This counsell (as in effect it prooued) was vnto king Iohn wholesome and reasonable, if a man doe but respect the poore estate of a king, so greatly wronged, liuing in exile; but respecting the Christian commonweale, it was vndoubtedly most dangerous and lamentable for one mans particular profit to bring the whole state into most dreadfull and horrible danger: but the sicke minds of worldly men, liuing in small hope of doing well, and at the point of desperation, refuse no worldly remedies, be they neuer so doubtfull or dangerous. And not long after,Lascus goeth embassadour for king Iohn to Solyman. vpon this resolution with the king, Lascus desirous by noble actions to encrease the honour of his name, tooke the matter vpon him, and went as embassadour from the exiled king to Solyman to CONSTANTINOPLE. The report was, that Sigismund did not only C not stay him, but secretly gaue him his safe conduct with letters of credence, wherein he commended him vnto the Bassaes and other great men in Solymans court, descended of the Polonian bloud, as his faithfull and louing subject sent thither vpon an extraordinarie and speciall embassage. Lascus as soone as he was come to CONSTANTINOPLE, with wonderfull dexteritie had in short time woon the fauour, not of the Bassaes only, but of the other courtiers also; presenting them with such gifts as might for the finenesse and rarenesse thereof, rather than for the value (as he thought) be most acceptable and pleasing to their wiues: for amongst that barbarous and corrupted people nothing is better welcome than gifts, whether they proceed of simple good will, or other respect, is no great difference. Amongst the great Bassaes at that time of greatest power and authoritie,Abraham Bassa. was Luftebeius, or rather Lutzis, who had married Solymans sister; and D Abraham borne at PARGA, a base village in ACARNANIA, brought vp in the court from his childhood with Solyman: he was then visier or cheefe of the Bassaes, and keeper of the emperors seale, and was by his office to subscribe all such graunts or letters as passed from the emperour: by which his great place, and the speciall fauour he had with Solyman, he in magnificence power and authoritie farre exceeded all the rest of the Bassaes, doing whatsoeuer pleased himselfe; and that with such soueraignetie and the good liking of Solyman, that it was commonly said, he was the commaunder of his thoughts. Lascus thus insinuated into the court, and oftentimes talking with the Bassaes without an interpretour, for that hee could well speake the Sclauonian tongue, (the familiar speech of the Turkish courtiers) earnestly solicited the kings cause, wonderfully commending him: for at his first comming after he had saluted Solyman, and was about to haue declared E the cause of his comming, he was after the manner of the Turkish court turned ouer to the Bassaes: for Solyman vsed not to admit any Christian to talke with him in his court. Lascus requested of Solyman, Lascus his request of Solyman in the behalf of king Iohn by the Bassaes, That king Iohn wrongfully thrust out of his kingdome by Ferdinand duke of AVSTRIA, and the treason of certaine of the Hungarians, might by the Turkish power be againe restored vnto the kingdome of HVNGARIE, which he would hold by homage of the Turkish emperour, as of right belonging vnto him, since the time that Solyman with victorious hand reuenging his wrongs and subduing his enemies, had by law of armes (fortune so judging) gained the same. Promising that king Iohn, who for his worthinesse was by the generall good liking of the Hungarians lawfully chosen to be their king, and so after the auntient manner of that kingdome crowned; if he were now receiued into Solymans protection and by F him restored, should neuer forget so great a benefit, but alwaies most faithfully and thankfully to honour the majestie of Solyman, paying him such yearly tribute as it should please him to impose, and to make it knowne to all men that he was his vassaile. Which thing if it would please him to grant, it should be no lesse honour and glorie to Solyman himselfe, than profitable and comfortable vnto the distressed king. For beside that heroicall kings are compared vnto gods, [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] rather for giuing than receiuing: it was easie to be seene, how greatly it did concerne the profit of G the Othoman kings to be neighboured with a weake and tributarie king, rather than with Ferdinand, a prince of great power, lately chosen king of BOHEMIA, supported by the strength of his brother Charles the emperour, commaunding ouer the warlike nation of the Germanes; which was as much difference as was betwixt the maintenance of a continuall heauie warre vpon his borders, and the safe enjoying of a most assured peace. Beside that, it concerned the Turks to beware, that such things as they had got by the sword, they should also by the sword defend; and not to suffer any one to grow greater than the rest in riches and power. For it might so fall out, that Charles, growne to be a prince of mightie power, might draw the rest of the Christian princes to joyne with him in the common cause of the Christian religion, and in that quarrell, as the Christian kings of EVROPE had in former time done, with vnited forces to seeke to recouer againe H what they had before lost: whose force it would be hard to withstand. These things being sharpely deliuered, and by the Bassaes againe reported to Solyman, who standing at a secret window, had before heard them as they were by Lascus vnto the Bassaes declared; it was no great labour to persuade the Turkish emperour, of himselfe desirous of glorie and soueraignetie, againe to vndertake the Hungarian warre,Solyman graunteth Lascus his request. and to graunt king Iohn his request, promising according to the successe of the victorie, to giue him that he desired, so that he would faithfully performe what he had promised, and not shew himselfe therefore vnthankfull.

In the meane time, Ferdinand vpon great reason thinking it necessarie by all meanes possible to confirme himselfe in possession of the kingdome of HVNGARIE▪ and fearing no force but the Turks, determined to proue Solymans disposition, and to seeke for his friendship; hoping by I reasonable meanes to compasse it, by shewing vnto the barbarous prince (not altogether abhorring from the commendation of justice) his antient title and claime, and that he was by the antient lawes of the countrey right heire thereof:Ferdinand sendeth an embassador to Solyman. thinking that Solyman hauing obtained so many victories, and ruling ouer so many kingdomes, would now at length giue himselfe to peace, as a man contented with his glorie alreadie gotten. His desire was, to be receiued into his friendship, and to joine with him in league vpon the same conditions which Ladislaus and his son Lewes had for certaine yeares before obtained of the Othoman kings, and Sigismund king of POLONIA then also with like quietnesse enjoyed. Wherefore hauing found out a fit man, whom he might send vpon this embassage to CONSTANTINOPLE, one Ioannes Oberdanscus, a Hungarian, he furnished him accordingly, and gaue him gifts, such as hee thought good to bestow vpon the K great Bassaes. But when Oberdanscus was come vnto CONSTANTINOPLE, he found Solyman harder to be entreated than he had before hoped, and the Bassaes altogether vnwilling to heare of any league: for although he was courteously receiued of Solyman, and most patiently heard, whilest he both eloquently and discreetly before the great Bassaes, deliuered his embassage; yet in the shutting vp of all, he receiued no more but a proud and insolent answere: for Solyman said, it was farre from the manner of his auncestors, to receiue them into grace and fauour which had done injurie vnto the Othoman name:Solyman [...] answer to Ferdinands embassadour. wherefore that Ferdinand had done impudently to inuade another mans kingdome, and to thinke to hold it to himselfe: for as much as his old title and claime which he stood so much vpon, was altogether extinguished and lost by law of arms, by his late victorie against king Lewes: for which causes hee adjudged him vnworthie of his L friendship and fauour, purposing sharpely to reuenge the wrong he had receiued, and proclaiming warre to come againe into HVNGARIE with such a power as should be sufficient to inuade Ferdinand either in AVSTRIA or GERMANIE. Wherefore in stead of friendship and league, he denounced vnto him all the calamities of warre: and so commaunded the embassadour with speed to depart from CONSTANTINOPLE. But Oberdanscus when hee was come backe againe as farre as VIENNA, and had there told the kings lieutenants, of the threatening words of Solyman, and that he would shortly come thither with his armie, he was not of any of them beleeued, but reputed for a vaine man. Wherefore to shun the hatred of them which mistooke truth for falshood, he made hast to come vnto Ferdinand, who was then at SPIRES, labouring for voices to further his sute, for that at the next assemblie of the states of the empire,M which was then at hand for the coronation of his brother Charles, he himselfe as he well hoped was to be chosen king of the Romanes. The newes brought by Oberdanscus, did not a little trouble king Ferdinand, foreseeing as it were what would happen: for that the Turkish tyrant vsed not lightly to breake such promises, but to performe them to the vttermost: and that more [Page] A increased his care, he knew he should come in euill time to craue helpe of the Germaines, for the defence of his kingdome in HVNGARIE against so mightie an enemie, especially his brother Charles the emperour being busied in his warres in ITALIE, and he himselfe wanting money, the only meanes to raise an armie to withstand the Turke.1529 The Spring now come, and all things fresh and greene;Solyman cōmeth into Hungarie with a great armie. Solyman altering nothing of his former determination, hauing leuied an armie of an hundred and fiftie thousand men, set forward from HADRIANOPLE, his Europeian horsemen going before him conducted by Abraham the great Bassa and Achomates, Michael-ogli Generall of the Acanzij or voluntarie horsemen: and his Asian souldiours led by Becrambeus Bassa following after him: he himselfe with his Ianizaries and souldiours of the court keeping in the middle.King Iohn commeth to Solyman a [...] Belgrade. And marching on this sort came in fifteene daies to BELGRADE, where king Iohn B accompanied with Lascus and such of the Hungarian nobilitie as tooke his part, came vnto him, of purpose to make himselfe knowne vnto him which was to protect him; and doing him all the honour he possibly could, to request him to proceed to reuenge his quarrell. Solyman with graue and yet friendly countenance, raising himselfe a little from the cushion wheron he sat, gaue him his right hand, protesting, That nothing could happen vnto him better, or that he more desired of God, than to be able to relieue distressed princes, especially such as were wrongfully oppressed by his enemies: wherefore he willed him to be of good comfort, promising of his bountie frankly to bestow vpon him whatsoeuer he should in that warre win with the sword from the enemie. King Iohn obtained this rare fauour of Solyman by the earnest mediation of Abraham the commaunding Bassa; whom he had before at CONSTANTINOPLE by his embassadour C Lascus so woon with gifts and requests, that he thorowly tooke vpon him the defence of the kings cause: wherein Lascus was especially holpen by Aloysius Grittus the Duke of VENICE his sonne, who then followed the Turkes campe, and was for his fathers sake and the great sufficiencie he held himselfe, had in great reputation amongst the Turkes; and in such fauor with Abraham who did all in all with Solyman, that he could persuade him to any thing he would. For this Aloysius Grittus, borne and brought vp in CONSTANTINOPLE, and wonderfull eloquent in the Turkish tongue, had by the honourable carriage of himselfe, and the great port he kept in his house, so thorowly possessed Abraham (that all commanded) that he would manie times bring Solyman himselfe ouer the hauen to PERA, to solace himselfe in Grittus his pleasant gardens and banquetting houses, which he had there most sumptuously made after the D Italian manner: whereby to his great profit he obtained to be the chiefe man in receiuing of the Turkes customes.

The fame of Solymans comming directly from BELGRADE to BVDA, so terrified the citisens of BVDA, that they almost all forsooke the citie and fled vnto other places further off, some to STRIGONIVM,Solyman entreth Buda without resistance and besiegeth the castle. some to ALBA REGALIS, some to POSSONIVM: so that at his first comming he entred the citie (almost desolate) without any resistance: the castle holden by a garrison of Germains, he commaunded to be besieged. The captaine of the castle was one Thomas Nadastus, a man of great account among the Hungarians, both for the honour of his house and his qualities answerable to the same, graced with singular learning: He perceiuing his souldiors dismaied with the sight of so great an armie and willing to surrender vp the castle, (as beseemed a E valiant captaine) forbad his souldiours to haue any talke with the enemie, commanded the great artillerie to be bent and discharged vpon the Turkes: and seeing his souldiours slacke and timorous, reproued them of cowardise and treason, threatning them with shamefull death if they did not hold out the siege to the vttermost, and shew themselues valiant men, both for the honour of their countrey, and of king Ferdinand whose pay they receiued, and of whose bountie they were to expect rewards and preferments answerable to their deserts. But they misdoubting by the running too and fro of the Turks, that the castle was vndermined; and smelling, or at least wise imagining themselues to smell the sent of the gunpouder, which they supposed to be in the mine, and doubting to be presently blowne vp; were strucke with such a sudden feare, that neither the feare of future punishment, neither the shame of so foule a fact, nor the reuerence of so worthie F a captaine could stay them, but that they would needs without further delay deliuer vp the castle: which when they could by no meanes persuade the resolute captaine to consent vnto, but that he still with sterne countenance exclaimed against their cowardise and treason, they laid hands vpon him, and bound him hand and foot, and so presently concluded with the enemie to yeeld vnto him the castle, so that they might in safetie depart thence with bag and baggage: which their [Page] request Solyman granted. But when the garrison souldiours (in number about seauen hundred)G were about to depart with their baggage towards POSSONIVM, as was before agreed; and the Ianizaries comming into the castle, hauing loosed the captaine, were about to let him go also: Solyman aduertised of the treacherie of the garrison souldiours, and of the fidelitie of the captain, changing his mind, judged such villanous minded men vnworthie of his mercie, and in detestation of their perfidious dealing with their captaine, gaue them all to his Ianizaries to be slaine: but to the captaine himselfe he offered honourable entertainment,Solyman contrarie to his promise ca [...]seth the garrison souldiours af [...]er they had deliuered the castle to be slai [...]. which when he refused, Solyman courteously sent him away; holpen therein by the commendation of king Iohn, although his sister was married to Stephanus Maylat his deadly enemie. Which bloudie execution done by the commaundement of the cruell tyrant, the Turkes said was not onely lawfully done, but also to the immortall glorie of his name in the execution of justice: which might peraduenture H seeme reasonable, if the perpetuall hatred of that most barbarous nation against the Christians gaue not just occasion of suspect, that it proceeded rather of their auntient malice than of any regard of justice. For why should the Germans, who had offended to his great good, and therefore obtained his safe conduct, be thought worthie of so cruell death? when as Solyman himselfe in punishing the perjurie of another, ran into wilfull perjurie himselfe; peruerting the commendation of justice which he so much desired, by his most bloudie and vnjust sentence.

BVDA the chiefe citie of HVNGARIE thus taken by Solyman, he resolued forthwith to besiege VIENNA the chiefe citie of AVSTRIA: in good hope, that by the carriage away of that, the other cities of lesse strength both of HVNGARIE and AVSTRIA would without any resistance be yeelded vnto him. Wherefore he sent before him Achomates with the voluntarie I horsemen, who according to the manner of the Turkish warres, running thorow the heart of HVNGARIE, and entring with fire and sword into AVSTRIA, passed by VIENNA, miserably burning and destroying the countrey before him as farre as LYNTZ.Austria spoiled by the Turk [...]. The poore people not knowing where to hide themselues from the furie of their enemies, nor of whom to craue helpe, fled as men and women dismaied, carrying with them their beloued children, the vnfortunat pledges of their loue, and what else they could, as things saued out of the middest of the fire. For whatsoeuer fell into the enemies hand, was lost without recure: the old men were slaine, the young men led away into captiuitie, women rauished before their husbands faces, and afterwards slaine with their children, young infants were ript out of their mothers wombs, and others taken from their breasts were cut in pieces, or else thrust vpon sharpe stakes, yeelding vp againe K that breath which they had but a little before receiued; with many other incredible cruelties, which were then by the mercilesse enemie committed. Solyman himselfe shortly after followed these forerunners, and setting forward with all his armie from BVDA towards VIENNA, by the way tooke the castle of ALTENBVRGE,Altenburge taken. whether by force or composition, is diuersly reported: of the garrison souldiors there placed by king Ferdinand, he reserued three hundred Bohemians, whom he commaunded to follow his campe. He also assaulted the little citie of NEAPOLIS seauen times in one day, and was as often repulsed: but being loath to spend any longer time about a towne of so small importance,Solyman commeth to Vienna. he forsooke that, and held on his way to VIENNA▪ whither he came about the six and twentith day of September, and encamped in fiue places found about the citie, with such a world of people, that vnto them which viewed his campe from the L highest tower in VIENNA, it seemed that the ground was for the space of eight miles all couered with the multitude of his tents and people. King Ferdinand, who from the time that he had by his embassador Oberdanscus receiued the hard answere from Solyman, alwaies stood in doubt of his comming; had beside his owne forces (which were not great to oppose against so mightie an enemie) craued aid of the Christian princes his neighbours, especially of the princes of the empire: who graunting him aid against the common enemie, appointed Fredericke countie Palatine of RHENE and duke of BAVARIA, Generall of their forces. But whilest the Germans after their manner, slowly set forward, and made lesse hast than the greatnesse of the present danger required; Solyman comming in the meane time, had so belaied the citie, that it was not possible for the duke Frederick by any meanes to get into it, but was glad to stay with his army at M CHREMSE about twelue miles from VIENNA. A few daies before by good hap, vpon the report of the losse of BVDA, twentie thousand souldiors horsemen and foot out of diuers countries, were in good time come to VIENNA: amongst these, the cheefe commaunders was Philip the Paulsgraue, duke Fredericks nephew (a young gentleman of great courage and hope, [Page] A sent thither but a little before with a few companies of horsemen and footmen by Fredericke his vncle, who was comming after with a greater power himselfe, but was now shut out of the citie by Solyman) Nicholaus countie of SALMA, the L. William Rogendorff, steward of the kings houshold, Ioannes Cazzianer, a noble man of CROATIA, and afterwards gouernour of VIENNA: and next vnto them Nicholaus Turrianus, Ioannes Hardecus, Leonardus Velsius, Hector Ramsack, men both for their birth and valour of great account amongst the Germanes.Vienna badly fortified. The citie of VIENNA as it was of some good strength toward the North, by reason of Danubius, so in other places it was at that time neither by art nor nature strong. The ditches, such as they were, were altogether drie, and easie to be passed ouer: the wals of bricke, built round without any flankers, and neither high nor thicke, but after the antient simple manner of fortification of cities: B for before that time neither had king Ferdinand, fearing no enemie, neither they of VIENNA who had not of many yeares seene an enemie, had any care to fortifie the citie: but as men altogether buried in securitie, and nothing fearing the comming of so mightie an enemie (although they were thereof before admonished by Oberdanscus) had not so much as cast vp any rampier or bulwarke, more than at the gate of CARINTHIA, whereon they might conueniently place their great Ordinance: so that of a hundred great peeces, and three hundred others of lesse charge, which might haue wonderfully annoyed the enemie, a great part serued to no vse, for want of conuenient place to mount them vpon. Yet as the suddain comming of the enemie and the shortnesse of the time gaue leaue, such bulwarkes as they could vpon the suddaine, they cast vp, and planted their ordinance thereon. The citie was deuided into diuers quarters, and to euery C part a strong garrison appointed for defence thereof, all the gates of the citie were mured vp, except such as were of purpose reserued to sallie out at. Now had Abraham the great Bassa encamped himselfe vpon a high hill, where stood a ruinous castle, from whence he might ouerlooke all the citie, yet so, as that he lay out of the danger of gunshot. Becrambeius, Solymans great commaunder in ASIA, lay at the gate called PVRGATORIA, neere the church of S. Vlderich. In the third campe towards the rising of the hils, lay Michael Ogli, towards the church of S. Vitus. At the Scottish gate towards Danubius, lay the Asapi, with diuers companies of the Ianizaries: which with shot out of their trenches, suffered no man to appeare vpon the wals in that quarter without most manifest danger, and powred such showers of arrowes ouer the wals into the citie, as if they had fallen out of the clouds; that hardly could any man stirre in the citie D vnarmed, but he was forthwith wounded. Solyman himselfe lay neere vnto S. Markes church, compassed about with the Ianizaries and other souldiours of the court, defended also with the bricke wals of the gardens thereabouts. Whilest the Turkes were thus encamping themselues, the Christian defendants oftentimes fortunatly sallied out vpon them, and slew many of them. In one of which sallies Wolfgangus Hagen a valiant captaine, with certaine old souldiours of the Spaniards was slaine, fighting most valiantly at the gates of the castle: and in another skirmish Christophorus Zetlitz a man of great courage, sallying out of the citie with fiue hundred horsemen, euen vnto the enemies trenches, was intercepted and taken with six others of his companie; who were all compelled by the Turkes to carrie so many heads of their slaine fellowes vpon poles, and so presented vnto Solyman: of whom he enquired many things as well concerning E Ferdinand himselfe, and where he was, as concerning the princes which had the charge of the citie, whether they were in hope to defend the same against his mightie power or not. Whereunto Christopherus aptly and wisely answered, although not altogether so truly, That king Ferdinand lay not farre off at the citie of LINTZ, expecting the assembly of a great armie: and that the princes of GERMANIE, BOHEMIA, MORAVIA, and of diuers other places were comming vnto him, with great aid; so that if he would but stay a little vntill his forces were come together, he should then see whether of them were of greater strength and power: for as much as it would not be long before the king would come and giue him battell: As for the princes in the citie, he said he knew no more of their minds, but that both they and all the souldiours from the highest to the lowest, had solemnely sworne to defend the citie, and not to giue it ouer vnto the F last man, reposing their hope not in the wals and fortresses thereof, but in their weapons and valour, being men of great resolution, and not easily to be vanquished or discouraged. With which answere although Solyman was a little moued, yet dissembling his present heat, said, he had hetherto made warre against diuers nations, and alwaies had the victorie, whereof he doubted not now also: But as for him, and the others taken with him, they knew they were in his power to [Page] saue or kill at his pleasure:Solyman releaseth the Christian princes without ransome. Yet to make them know that he could shew mercie vnto his vanquished G enemies, he frankely graunted them their liues and libertie: charging them, that after they were againe returned into the citie, they should in his name wish the defendants of themselues to yeeld vp the citie, which it was impossible for them long to defend against his mightie power, which neither the strong citie of BELGRADE, nor the famous citie of the RHODES were able to withstand; and to accept of such reasonable conditions as he should graunt vnto them, promising, that amongst other things proceeding of his infinit bountie, hee would take order, that they should in safetie depart thence with bag and baggage: in which doing they should well prouide for the safetie of themselues and of their goods by flying vnto his mercie in time, before the furie of the warre was growne to further extremitie: all which it would be too late to expect after the victorie, when nothing was to be hoped for but cruell death, murder, and miserable destruction.H Wherefore it were good for them well to consider of the matter; and not foolishly to refuse that was now frankely offered them of mercie, which they should not afterwards obtaine with any prayers or teares: for why, he was resolutely set downe (as he said) not to depart thence before he had taken the citie. When he had thus schooled them, he gaue vnto euery one of them three Hungarian duckats, and so sent them away. They being receiued into the citie with great joy, made relation vnto the princes and great captaines of all the threatning and proud speeches of the Turkish tyrant: which they tooke in such disdaine, that they would not vouchsafe to returne him any answere. Solyman not a little displeased, that his great words were so lightly regarded, by way of derision sent word vnto the citie, That if they wanted helpe, he would send them the three hundred Bohemians, whom he tooke in the castle of ALTENBVRGE: to whom I answere was returned by them of the citie, That they needed no helpe from him, wherefore he might dispose of his prisoners as he thought good. By this, Solyman perceiued, that VIENNA was not to be woon with words, nor the defendants to be discouraged with great lookes: wherfore he begun to vse his force, and with such ordinance as he had brought with him, to batter the wals: which because it was not great, but fitter for seruice in field than for batterie, did not much more harme than to beat downe the battlements and such little standings, made of timber and bourds in manner of galleries, hanging here and there ouer the wall, for the small shot to play out of, a simple deuise in stead of flankers. His great artillerie prouided for batterie was comming vp the riuer of Danubius, which he daily looked for: but by good hap, Wolfgangus Hoder, a forward captaine, hearing of the Turks comming vp the riuer, went out of POSSONIVM with certaine K small vessels well appointed: and meeting with the Turkes, set vpon them with such courage and resolution that he slew many of them, and suncke diuers of their boats and pinnaces, amongst whom were they which were bringing vp Solymans great peeces for batterie to VIENNA: which was there all suncke in the riuer, with the boats that brought it. By this good seruice, Solyman was disappointed of his great artillerie, and the citie deliuered of a great danger. So Wolfgangus hauing made great spoile amongst the Turkes, and lost some few men, returned with victorie to POSSONIVM. Yet another part of the Turkes fleet comming vp to VIENNA, at the first comming brake downe all the bridges: for a little aboue the citie, the riuer of Danubius deuiding his channell, maketh diuers Islands, which by sundrie bridges are joyned together, ouer which lieth the way from AVSTRIA vnto the citie. This fleet so kept the passage, that no man could without L danger either by water or by land goe in or out of the citie. Solyman hauing lost all his peeces for batterie, and seeing how little he preuailed with his field peeces, fell to vndermining of the citie, hoping by that meanes to ouerthrow the wals, and to make a way for his men to enter. This worke, as the Turkes cheefe hope, was with wonderfull labour and diligence attempted in fifteene sundrie places: which was not so secretly done, but that it was by drums laied vpon the ground, by basons filled with water, & sounds made into the earth, perceiued by the defendants; and so with countermines met withall, that most part of those works were vtterly frustrated, and in them eight thousand of his Turkes either slaine or buried quicke.Eight thousand Turkes lost in the mines.

Solyman to busie the defendants that they should not so perfectly discouer his mines, diuided his armie into foure parts, appointing thē orderly to succeed one after another in giuing alaroms M to the towne, that filling their eares with continuall noise, he might keepe them alwaies occupied. In the middest of which hurly burly his workes in the mines went forward with all speed possible,The wals of Vienna blowne vp. neither was he in that his expectation deceiued: for one of the mines brought to perfection vnperceiued by the defendants, and suddenly blowne vp, shooke and ouerthrew a great [Page] A part of the wall neere vnto the gate which leadeth towards CARINTHIA; whereat the Turkes gaue a great shout as if the citie had now been taken, and withall couragiously stepping forward pressed in on all sides, by the ruines of the wall to haue entered the breach, charging the defendants with their small shot and Turkie arrowes as thicke as haile. Who on the contrarie part like resolute men stood in the face of the breach,The Turkes repulsed from the breach. with more assurance than the wall it selfe, receiuing them with deadly shot and push of pike, in such furious manner, that the Turks for all their multitude, vnable longer to maintaine the assault, began to retire. Which thing Solyman perceiuing, sent in new supplies, and so renewed the assault before giuen ouer, but with no better successe than before: for hauing receiued a great ouerthrow, as men forgetting both duetie and martiall discipline, they retired, not expecting any signe of retrait. At this assault so many of the B Turkes were slaine, that the ground neere vnto the towne lay coue [...]ed, and the ditches filled with their dead bodies. Not long after, the wall was blowne vp in two places more oueragainst S. Clares church; by which breach being not verie great, the Turks seeking to haue entred, made a bloudie fight with the Germains which defended that place, which they sought so desperatly to haue entred, that without regard they thrust one another vpon the points of their enemies weapons: who glistering in good armor, readily receiued them being for most part naked men, and slew them without number,A most terrible assault. and so enforced them againe disorderly to retire, hauing before filled both the breaches with their dead carkases. Three daies after ensued a most cruell fight, when as another part of the wall (neere vnto the gate of CARINTHIA, and not farre from the first breach) was so suddenly ouerthrowne, that the Turkes thorow the new made breach seeing C the Christians as they stood readie to come to the defence therof; and likewise the Christians them, now approching; for eagernesse and hast on both sides, threw away their pieces and bowes, and came to handie blowes in the middle of the breach; the Turkes with their scimiters, and the Germaines with their long swords. At which times, as the Christian captaines encouraged their souldiours with cheerfull persuasions: so the Turkish Commaunders enforced forward their Turkes both with words and wounds. The assault began so terrible, that it was thought a more fierce and deadly fight was neuer seene from the beginning of the world: which was with greater resolution maintained by the Turkes, for that many of their most valiant horsemen forsaking their horses, thrust in with their targets and scimiters, or else with their launces amongst the Ianizaries and other footmen, and there fought most desperatly. At last, after this furious D fight had endured by the space of three houres,The Turkes the third time repulsed. and many of the Turkes best captaines and souldiours lay dead vpon the ground by heapes; the Turkes seeing no hope to preuaile, gaue ouer the assault, and retired to their campe.

Long and tedious it were to recount euerie assault giuen during the time of that dreadfull siege, with euerie particuler accident not vnworthie the remembrance, which for breuitie I wittingly passe ouer. Yet amongst the rest (the most valiant leader, though afterwards vnfortunat) the Lo. William Rogendorffe is not to be forgotten,The Lo. William Rogendorffe. who oftentimes perceiuing many of the Turkes stragling disorderly abroad in the countrey, one day vpon the sudden sallied out vpon them with certaine troupes of horsemen, with such violence, that at the first onset he ouerthrew them; and hauing them in chase, did such speedie execution, that of 5300, scarcely 140 escaped E his hands: after which time his name became terrible vnto the Turks. Solyman was exceedingly grieued with the often and bloudie assaults by him in vaine giuen to the citie, but purposing now to proue the last and vttermost of all his forces, he called vnto him the chiefe commaunders of his armie, whom at the first he sharply reproued as men of no courage, which being many times as good as in possession of the victorie, had most cowardly contrarie to the manner of that victorious nation, turned their backes vpon their enemies, in the breaches alreadie halfe woon▪ Wherefore he willed them to plucke vp their hearts, and to make all things readie for a new assault, wherein hee expected that they should with couragious forwardnesse and resolution, recompence their late cowardise: for why he accounted it a great dishonour to forsake the siege begun; wherefore they should resolue the next day as victorious conquerors to take the citie, F or else there as faint-hearted cowards to end their daies.Vienna againe assaulted. The next day after this heauie charge giuen, which was the fifteenth of October, the great Commaunders of the Turkes armie with all their forces assailed the citie, thrusting their men into the breaches by heapes, as if they would, if no way else, yet with verie multitude (if it had beene possible) haue discouraged or ouerborne the Christians: they were come to handie blowes, and the fight was in euerie place most terrible, [Page] the Christian defendants stil repulsing thē with greater courage than they were able to assaile G them. Be [...]des that, to the great aduantage of the defendants, many pieces of their great ordinance skilfully mounted in places most conuenient, and continually discharged amongst the thickest of their enemies as they pressed on, made such slaughter amongst them, and so cut them off, that being thorowly discouraged, they shrunke backe, and could not by any threats or commaund of their captaines be thrust forward, chusing rather to be slaine of their owne captaines (as some of them were) than to be rent in sunder with the murthering shot of the Christians.The Turks repulsed. So that the captaines seeing now no other remedie, gaue ouer the assault and retired, leauing behind them many thousands of their dead Turkes in the towne ditches.

The next day after this assault, Solyman despairing to win the citie, and fearing the comming of king Ferdinand and the countie Palatine with a strong armie, as it had been to him reported,H considering also that Winter was now comming fast on, determined to raise his siege: and to colour the dishonour thereof, he sent certaine of the chiefe prisoners which he had taken, richly apparelled with their purses full of money into the citie, to tell the captaines that he came not with purpose either to besiege or take the citie, but to reuenge the wrongs done vnto him by his enemie king Ferdinand, and to haue fought a battell with him for the kingdome of HVNGARIE: whom for as much as he could not draw vnto VIENNA, he would remoue thence to seeke for him, as his capitall enemie: Wherefore they should doe well to yeeld themselues, which if they would, he promised not to enter their citie, but to receiue both the citisens and souldiours into his protection, reseruing vnto them their liues and goods with perpetuall freedome. Which his offer the defendants scornfully refused as proceeding of meere desperation. The next night following I Solyman with more than barbarous crueltie, caused all the prisoners in his armie to bee slaine, which pitifull outcries was of the souldiours heard into the citie, not knowing what the matter should be, vntill that the next day after the departure of the enemie they found the dead bodies of men, women, and children in all places of the campe wallowed in their one bloud, a most lamentable spectacle to behold.Solyman raiseth his siege. Solyman purposing to forsake the siege, caused Abraham the great Bassa to shew himselfe in order of battell, as if he would haue giuen a fresh assault: in the meane time he himselfe rose vpon the sudden with the rest of his armie, and returned towards BVDA in such hast, that he neither put any garrison into such places as he had taken, neither demaunded of them any tribute. After whom the Bassa followed, keeping himselfe a daies journey behind him: and so in fiue daies he arriued with all his armie at BVDA, 32 Germaine K miles from VIENNA.

80000 Turks lost at the siege of Vienna.This siege was giuen ouer by Solyman about the sixteenth of October, wherein he is reported to haue lost eightie thousand men, amongst whom was his great lieutenant of ASIA, with many other of his forward captaines and best souldiours. Of the defendants few or none of name were lost, but of the countrey people it is supposed that there was aboue sixtie thousand slaine, and carried away into captiuitie: all the [...]ountrey about VIENNA was miserably spoiled, all their trees and vines being by the Turkes cut downe to the ground. Solyman according to his promise,Solyman restoreth the kindome of Hungarie to king Iohn. restored BVDA vnto king Iohn, who by solemne writing acknowledged himselfe his vassaile, and to hold the kingdome of HVNGARIE of him as his lord and soueraigne. Vnto him Solyman joyned Aloysius Grittus as his legat, to helpe him to prouide such things as should L be needfull for the defence of that kingdome.

It happened one day whilest Solyman lay at BVDA, and had giuen king Iohn with diuers of the nobilitie of HVNGARIE accesse into his pauilion, that he fell earnestly in hand with king Iohn to pardon Paulus bishop of STRIGONIVM, and Petrus Perenus, who had taken part with king Ferdinand, and to receiue them into his former fauour: which men king Iohn could in no case like of, because that they as traitors vnto their prince and countrey, forgetting their faith and oath, had performed the like duetie vnto Ferdinand, as they had but a little before done vnto him at the time of his coronation: wherein he shewing himselfe vnwilling to be entreated, said▪ That their mutable minds fraught with infidelitie, would neuer containe themselues within the bounds of loyaltie, but find occasion to commit some fowler treason than they had before: whereunto M Solyman straining his voice a little as one somewhat moued, most honourably replied: Can any thing (said he) happen vnto thee in this life better or more honourable, The honourable saying of Solyman to K. Iohn. than if by thy kindnesse thine enemies shall be of all men accounted ingratefull; that is to say, men noted with eternall infamie: when as in thy selfe the commendation of a good and courteous prince shall for euer remaine? And so not [Page] A long after fearing the cold of Winter then approching, dangerous for his beasts for carriage, especially his camels bred and brought vp in the hoat countries of ASIA, he set forward to BELGRADE, and so trauelling through THRACIA returned to CONSTANTINOPLE.

All this while that Solyman thus raged in HVNGARIE and AVSTRIA, Charles the emperour lately reconciled to Clement the seauenth of that name, then bishop of ROME, with a strong armie besieged FLORENCE, by his lieutenant Daualus (who might haue done much against the Turkes, if he had been so well imploied) labouring by all meanes to represse the libertie of the citisens, whereunto they had but a little before aspired▪ and to bring them againe vnder the subjection of the family of Medices, wherof Clement was the chiefe. Which thing with much adoe he brought to passe, inuesting Alexander the bishops nephew in the dukedome of FLORENCE, and B afterward giuing him his base daughter in marriage; forgetting his brother Ferdinand in the meane time, thrust out of the kingdome of HVNGARIE by Solyman, and the dukedome of AVSTRIA wasted by the Turkes, with the citie of VIENNA in danger to haue been lost. Which common calamities might well haue moued both the emperour and the bishop, to haue had more regard of, than by oppressing the libertie of one free citie to seeke how to serue their owne priuat respects.

The yeare following,1530 which was 1530, Solyman with great solemnitie and triumph, after the Turkish manner,Solyman circumciseth his three sonnes. circumcised three of his sonnes, Mustapha, Muhamet, and Selymus, at CONSTANTINOPLE.

Solyman hardly disgesting the dishonour he had before receiued at VIENNA, and oftentimes C solicited by king Iohn for aid against Ferdinand, who with greater stomacke than power ceased not continually to molest him: but most of all prickt forward with the insatiable desire of enlarging his empire, after the manner of the Othoman kings, accounting his neighbour princes alwaies his enemies, and their dominions the objects of his victories, and spoile for his souldiors; raised such an armie as for the greatnesse thereof might worthely haue beene a terrour vnto the world: Not so much purposing the protection of king Iohn, which he in shew most pretended; neither the siege of VIENNA, as was commonly bruted; as the conquering of AVSTRIA, CARINTHIA, CROATIA, STIRIA and the rest of king Ferdinands dominions, and so afterwards of all GERMANIE. For the accomplishment whereof, he had in his immoderat desires prefined vnto himselfe the space of three yeares, which the great monarchs of ROME could not performe D in more than so many hundreds. It was commonly reported that the proud tyrant would manie times say, That whatsoeuer belonged vnto the empire of ROME, was of right his, for as much as he was rightfully possessed both of the imperiall seat & scepter of Constantine the great Commaunder of the world, which his great grandfather Mahomet had by law of armes woon from Constantine the late Christian emperour, whom he slew at CONSTANTINOPLE. And therefore both in his common talke and writings, as oft as hee had occasion to make any mention of Charles the emperour, he would proudly and as it were in disdaine tearme him by the name of the king of Spaine, but neuer by the name of emperour.

The discord of the Christian princes, and the great troubles euen then arising in GERMANIE about matters of religion, did not a little encourage the barbarous tyrant to take in hand this E great expedition.King Ferdinand sendeth embassadors to Solyman▪ King Ferdinand certainly aduertised that Solyman was in person himselfe setting forward with his huge armie, sent vnto him three embassadours; whereof Leonardus Negarola a noble gentleman, well learned, and skilfull in diuers languages, was chiefe, with rich presents and reasonable offers to intreat with him for peace. Who meeting him vpon the borders of SERVIA, were by him courteously receiued, and patiently heard: yet obtained of him no other answere, but that they should follow his campe, and attend his further pleasure. The report wherof, brought a generall feare vpon all GERMANIE, but especially them of AVSTRIA, in whose fresh remembrance as yet remained the bleeding wounds of their countrey, their brethren and friends slaine, their wiues and children led away into captiuitie, their goods and cattell lost, their houses and fields burnt, and thousands of other grieuous calamities which they had F endured in the late inuasion of the Turkes. Charles the emperour had in verie good time (a little before) for a while well appeased the discention then arising in GERMANIE about matters of religion, putting them in hope of a free and generall Counsell to be holden for the deciding of all such matters: and in a great assembly of the states of the empire holden at RATISBONE, shewing the greatnesse of the imminent danger, so puissant an enemie threatning vnto them all the [Page] calamities of warre, with the manifold mischeefes like to ensue, if they should in so vnfit time G fall at variance amongst themselues: offering with great resolution to goe in person himselfe with all his old expert souldiours in defence of the common Christian cause, so much preuailed with the princes of the empire, and the embassadours of the free estates, that they highly commended his forwardnesse; and all other matters for that time set apart, agreed all with one consent at a prefixed day to send vnto VIENNA such warlike forces as they had in any time before set forth, for the defence of the Christian religion, and the majestie of the empire. Whereupon he wrot vnto Alphonsus Vastius (his lieutenant Generall in ITALIE, and one of the greatest captaines of that age) that he should without delay call together the old captaines, and to leuie so many companies of harquebusiers as they possibly could;The preparation of Charles the emperour against Solyman. and with them and the Spanish souldiors to repaire forthwith vnto him into AVSTRIA. He also enjoyned Andreas Auria, H his admirall, that hee should with like diligence rig vp a strong fleet of gallies and marchants ships, and to goe against the Turkes nauie into GRaeCIA. At the same time he sent for his choise horsemen out of BVRGVNDIE and the low countries, and many noble gentlemen and old soldiours out of SPAINE: for the guard of his owne person he entertained twelue thousand Germanes, such as had longest serued in his warres in ITALIE, ouer whom commaunded Maximilian Herbersthene, and Tamisius, both famous captaines. At the same time Clement the seuenth then bishop of ROME, although his cofers were greatly emptied by the late Florentine warres, which had cost him ten hundred thousand duckats; yet to make some shew of his deuotion in so dangerous a time, with the great good will he bare vnto the emperor, after he had with greeuous exaction extorted from the cleargie a great masse of money (whereunto his rich cardinals I contributed nothing, as if it had been a thing vtterly vnlawfull for them in so good a cause to haue abated any jot of their pontificall shew in the court of ROME,) sent the young cardinall Hyppolytus Medices his nephew, being then about twentie yeares of age, a man indeed fitter for the warres than for the church, as his legate vnto the emperour, accompanied with mo good captaines than cleargie men, and his cofers well stuffed with treasure: whose comming to RATISBONE was vnto the emperour and the Germanes very welcome, for besides that hee was a young gentleman of very comely personage and exceeding bountifull, he entertained for those warres (besides the companie he brought with him) eight [...]housand Hungarian horsemen, of all others best acquainted with the Turkish warres.

King Iohn vnderstanding, that the formost of Solymans great armie were come as farre as SAMANDRIA K in SERVIA,Strigo [...]ium besieged by king Iohn. thought it now a fit time to wring from king Ferdinand such townes as he yet held in HVNGARIE, wherefore he sent Aloisius Grittus (whom Solyman had left as a helper for his estate) to besiege STRIGONIVM; which is a citie of HVNGARIE, situat vpon the side of Danubius, about thirtie miles from BVDA, the castle whereof was at that time holden with a strong garrison of king Ferdinands: whereunto for all that Grittus laid such hard siege both by the riuer and by land, that the defendants doubting how they should bee able to hold out, especially if Solyman should take that in his way, as it was most like he would; sent for releefe to Cazzianer, a warlike captaine, then gouernour of VIENNA, and generall of all king Ferdinand his forces: by whose appointment certaine small frigots, were sent downe the riuer of Danubius from POSSONIVM, well manned: who suddainely setting vpon the Turkes fleet (which so kept L the riuer that nothing could that way be possibly conueyed either in or out of the castle) should by their vnexpected comming open that way: but Grittus hauing intelligence thereof by certaine Hungarians, which though they serued king Ferdinand, made no great account to flie sometime to the one part, sometime to the other, as best fitted their purpose; presently resolued to send his fleet vp the riuer, and by his sudden comming to oppresse his enemies, in like sort as they had thought to haue done him. And the more to encourage his souldiours, hee promised great rewards to all such as should performe any extraordinarie peece of seruice in that action: and so hauing thorowly furnished all his fleet with good souldiours, but especially with Turkish archers, sent them vp the riuer to seeke their enemies: who fearing no such matter, as men surprised with the same mischeefe they had prepared for others, were at the first exceedingly dismayed,M yet considering that they were reasonably well prouided for their comming (although they yet wanted such helpe as Cazzianer had appointed to send them) they thought it a great shame to flie, and therefore putting themselues in order of battell, came downe the riuer, and with great courage encountred their enemies. There began a sharpe and cruell fight, many being slaine [Page] A and wounded on both sides: but at last they of POSSONIVM, not able longer to endure the deadly shot of their enemies, and especially of the Turkish archers, who with their arrowes sore gauled both the souldiours and the marriners, they turned their backes and fled: in which fight of sixtie frigots which came from POSSONIVM, onely thirteene escaped, with Corporanus the Generall, all the rest being either sunke in the fight, or els taken by the enemie, being run ashore and forsaken by the Possonians, trusting more vnto their legs by land than their oares by water. Besides this losse of the frigots, there was slaine of the Possonians almost fiue hundred. After this victorie, Grittus hoping that they in the castle of STRIGONIVM, despairing now of releefe, and fearing the comming of Solyman, would not long hold out; left off to batter or vndermine the castle, wherewith he perceiued he little preuailed, purposing by lying still and keeping B them in the castle from all releefe, to enforce them in time to forsake the place. Thus whilst the deuided Hungarians with their owne hands inconsideratly sought one anothers destruction, with the ruine of their countrey; Solyman the great enemie of all Christians was readie at their backes to deuour both the one and the other, as in few yeares after he did.

Much about this time the old Spanish souldiors in ITALIE, drawne together by Vastius, as the emperour had before commaunded, were come to the Alpes. In this campe, of one sort of men and other, was aboue twentie thousand, whereof almost the third part was not seruiceable: for the old souldiors, enriched with the long warres in ITALIE, and the spoile of the rich countrey of LVMBARDIE, wherein they had of late beene billited, brought with them all their old gotten spoiles and substance, not forgetting so much as their women, and whatsoeuer els serued C their pleasure: for carriage whereof they drew after them a great multitude of carriages and vnnecessarie people, all which serued for no other vse but for the soldiors pleasure, and to consume victuals. Which their licentious wantonnesse Vastius desiring to reforme, gaue straight commaundement thorow all the campe, That they should leaue behind them all such vnnecessarie baggage,Mutinie amongst the Spanish souldiours. and appointed what carriages should suffice for euery companie: whereat the souldiors began at the first to murmure, and presently after to arise vp in mutinie: for many of the captains being rich, and disliking of that long and dangerous expedition, couertly incited the common souldiors to crie out vpon Vastius the Generall for their pay, alreadie due. Which thing once put into their heads, and the matter set on foot, quickly grew to that heat, that they all with one voice said flatly, That they would goe no foot further, before they had receiued their pay. Vastius D although he well perceiued that tumult to be raised by some of his enemies, which sought thereby to lighten his credit, was glad for all that for the present to dissemble the matter, and yeelding to the necessitie of the time, to content the mutinous souldiors with one months pay, promising them their full contentment, at such time as they should come vnto the emperour: and so when he had with much adoe appeased that tumult, he set forward into GERMANIE.

Immediatly after the Spaniards followed the Italians, who with such cheerefulnesse offered themselues to that seruice, that euery captaine brought with him twice so many in his companie as was expected: so that Vastius (who before doubtfull of their forwardnesse in so dangerous a warre, especially in the aid of the Germanes, of whom they had in the late warres receiued great harmes, had by great and earnest persuasions induced diuers of the nobilitie, and others of the E better sort, to enter into that honourable action, in hope that they would draw after them great numbers of their friends and tennants, as indeed they did) was now glad to send backe again many of the common souldiors, by reason of the multitude; and also to his great discredit, and the offence of many, full sore against his will to displace most part of those forward gentlemen whom he had but a little before made captaines, who to their no small charge had gallantly furnished themselues, according to their degrees and places: for the emperour had then appointed what number of Italians he should bring, and also giuen commaundement, That rejecting the rest, he should commit the leading of them onely to those old expert captaines of whose valour and discretion he had before had good experience. These were Martius Columna, Petrus Maria, Rubeus, Philippus Torniellus, Ioannes Baptista Castalius, Fabritius Maramaldus, Pyrrhus F Stipicianus, and Camillus Columna, being all men of great worth and approoued faith towards the emperour.

In these Italian companies were fourteene thousand select footmen, beside many other braue men who voluntarily resorted from diuers places to VIENNA. After these footmen followed Ferdinand Gonzaga with two thousand horsemen, and certaine troupes of Grecians and Spaniards, [Page] and with them came many noble gentlemen out of all parts of ITALIE, who had before G beene great commaunders, but now serued as priuat gentlemen voluntarily without charge or pay; accounting it a great shame to tarrie at home as cowards, and not to be present in that religious warre.

The emperour also about the same time, hauing taken view of his horsemen come out of the low countries most excellently appointed, and shipping his great ordinance whereof hee had bought great store at NVRVMBERGE, departed downe the riuer from RATISBONE to LINTZ. The riuer of Danubius neuer carried so many vessels and souldiours since the time of the great Romane emperours, as it did at that present. And yet besides them which went downe the riuer by shipping, the pleasant bankes on both sides were filled with great companies of horsemen and footmen, passing all alongst the riuer vnder their colours, with their drums and trumpets H sounding, which altogither made the most glorious shew that a man could well behold vpon earth.

1532In the meane while Solyman in six and fiftie daies march come to BELGRADE, thrust ouer the great riuer Sauus by bridges made in diuers places,Solyman cōmeth into Hungarie. an infinit number of his horsemen into HVNGARIE: and leauing Danubius on the right hand, turning a little vpon the left, marched directly towards the rich countrey of STIRIA (called in auntient time VALERIA, and now STIERMARKE.) By the way as he went, he came to the little towne of GVNZA, which one Nicholas Iureschitz (a man of an inuincible courage) kept with a small garrison of his own. This towne standeth in a plaine, not farre from the citie of SABARIA, built square, and but of a small compasse, not verie strongly walled, a poore obscure thing, neuer famous till now by the great dishonour I that the great Turkish emperour Solyman there receiued. Abraham the chiefe Bassa (who so absolutly commaunded amongst the Turkes, as if Solyman had receiued him into the fellowship of the empire with himselfe) was verie desirous to saue this captaine Nicholas, for that he knew him to be a man of great courage, and was familiarly acquainted with him at such time as he lay embassadour at CONSTANTINOPLE: wherefore he attempted first by gentle persuasions and large offers, and afterwards by most terrible threats, to induce him to yeeld the towne vnto Solyman. But finding him so resolutly set downe, that he was neither by faire nor foule meanes, but onely by force to be remoued out of his towne;Gunza besieged by the Turkes. he enclosed the same round about with the hugie armie of the Turks, and by mines ouerthrew the wals in three places. Which sudden breach, whilest the garrison souldiours most valiantly defended against the furious assault of the Ianizaries,K on the South side of the town; the Bassa planting his field pieces vpon the hils on the North side, did from thence grieuously annoy the defendants: who fiercely assailed by their enemies before, and beaten with the great ordinance behind, were grieuously distressed. Wherewith the worthie Gouernour somewhat troubled, though not much discouraged, suddenly of timber and boords raised vp a curtaine twelue foot high, at the backs of his souldiours: wherwith they were so couered from the sight of their enemies, that they could not make any certaine shot at them, but onely shot at that curtaine at all aduentures, not doing any thing so great harme as before: and with desperat and restlesse labour (in despight of all the Turkes great power) repaired the breaches, in as strong manner as at the first. In the meane time two hundred of the Turks horsemen, stragling from the campe, and seeking after bootie into the country as farre as NEOSTAT,L were by the Hungarian horsemen intercepted and all slaine or taken, whose heads the Hungarians brought to VIENNA; and the more to encourage the souldiours which daily repaired thither,The huge army of Solyman. in token of good lucke set them vp vpon stakes vpon the wals of the citie. Then was it certainly knowne of the prisoners, that Solyman had in his campe fiue hundred thousand men, and three hundred field pieces, which were not of greater bignesse but that a camell might well carrie one of them, being taken from the carriage: for why, Solyman purposing by destroying the countrey before him, to draw the emperour vnto battell; had (as they said) brought no greater pieces of batterie with him. Which report of the prisoners was also confirmed by the embassadours of king Ferdinand, whom Solyman gaue leaue to depart at GVNZA, giuing to euerie one of them a gowne of veluet and a piece of plate, with letters vnto the emperour and king Ferdinand M his brother; wherein proudly vsurping the titles of many kingdomes, he most insolently writ himselfe lord and soueraigne of almost all countries and nations.Solyman proud [...] to Charles the emperour and king Ferdinand. But the effect therof was, That he was come into HVNGARIE, to reuenge the wrongs which they had don vnto king Iohn his friend and vassall; and would with fire and sword enter their countries, and by the power of [Page] A God and his great prophet Mahomet, the fauourers of just quarrels, giue them battell, if they durst meet him: Wherefore if they would as valiant and couragious princes meet him in the field, he would in one battell end quarrell with them, and in reward of the victorie either win or lose the empire of the world. When Solyman had thus a great while laine at the siege of GVNZA, and thereto giuen diuers sharpe assaults, being still with great losse and dishonour repulsed, he in the space of foure daies cast vp neere vnto the towne ditch two great mounts of faggots and earth, as if they had beene two great mountaines, of such height, that they ouertopped not the wals onely, but euen the highest towers in the towne (by which wonderfull worke the greatnesse of the Turkes armie might easily be conjectured:) one of these great mounts he cast vp directly against the face of the towne, and the other at a corner of the same, to flanker alongst the B wall; from whence he did with his shot not onely beat them which appeared vpon the wals for the defence thereof, but them also which vpon occasion went too and fro in the streets. These mounts being with incredible celeritie brought to perfection, the towne ditch filled vp, and many of the defendants either slaine or wounded vpon the wals, the Turkes gaue a most furious assault at that place which was before shaken with the mine: against whom the valiant captaine as need was in that extreame danger, opposed all the strength he had left. But the Turks still pressing on with their infinit multitude, were got vp to the top of the wals with eight ensignes, from whence they had repulsed the defendants: which being all either wounded or wearied, shrowded themselues vnder the defence of their penthouses, being neither able nor of courage to make further resistance, so that the wals were now abandoned, and the towne there left without defendants: C when suddenly such a great clamour was made by the loud outcries and lamentation of the women and children and other fearefull people, that the Turkes which had recouered the top of the wals, strucken with a sudden feare, thinking the towne to haue been full of souldiors, stood as men astonied and dismayed, whereupon the defendants began againe to take courage, and to shew themselues: at whose sight the Turkes possessed with a needlesse feare, forsooke the wals, and could not by any persuasions or threats of their captaines be brought on againe to the assault. The towne was that day in all mens judgements defended by the mightie power of God and not by the strength of man. It greeued the proud tyrant aboue measure, that so base a towne should so long hold out against all his power, so that oftentimes in his rage he would threaten to rase it downe to the ground, and not to leaue any signe thereof remaining: which he would vndoubtedly D haue in time performed,Abraham Bassa persuadeth Solyman to leaue the siege of Gunza. had not Abraham the great Bassa (by whose counsell he was altogether directed) otherwise persuaded him: who waiting a fit time, when his choller was past, told him that it was not worth his name and greatnesse, to spend his time and forces vpon so small a towne of no importance, by rasing whereof he should neither get honour nor profit: for why, no man would meruaile, if he with so puissant an armie should take so small a thing, especially by long siege, whereby the strongest places are enforced to yeeld; and when he had so taken it, yet it would bee accounted a greater honour for so little a towne to haue holden out so long, than for him to haue with so great forces in long time constrained it: but if it should otherwise fall out, as the chances of warre are vncertaine, that he should by any occasion bee constrained to leaue it, hee should thereby get no small dishonour: wherefore it were more wisedome to E spare his souldiors labour in so small a matter, whereof he was not to expect either honour or profit, and forto reserue them for his greater designes, and not vainely to spend his forces & time in the besieging of so base a village, from whence he might now depart with lesse dishonor than hee could afterwards, when hee had proued the vttermost of his forces, and yet in the end glad peraduenture to forsake it: wherefore it were more for his honour to raise his siege, and calling the Gouernour of the towne vnto him, to giue him the towne as it were of bountie, than to spend so many good men as he must needs cast away in the winning of it by force. With these and like reasons the Bassa preuailed so much with Solyman, that Nicholas the worthie gouernor of the towne was by a herault at armes sent for to come vnto the great Bassa, Solyman disdaining (as it should seeme) to speake with him himselfe. The Gouernour being sent for, although he was F greeuously wounded, and in small hope of life, yet stoutly refused to come to any parley, except he were first well assured both by safe conduct and good hostages for the safetie of his person, and that nothing should be exacted of him, not beseeming his religion and honor. Which stout answere caused Solyman and the Bassa to thinke, that his strength was not yet so weakened but that he was still able to hold out the siege: and thereupon, that he required for his safetie was [Page] forthwith graunted, and two men of great account sent for hostages for him into the citie with G Solymans safe conduct.The Gouernour commeth to the Bassa. Which being receiued, the Gouernour went forth, and was by Abraham the great Bassa honourably receiued into the campe, and commanded to sit downe by him in his tent: where he was by him first by the way of courtesie demaunded, whether hee had recouered his old infirmitie wherewith he was troubled at such time as he was sent embassadour vnto Solyman at CONSTANTINOPLE? After that, whether the wounds he had receiued in the last assault, were dangerous or not? but last of all, and that which most concerned the matter, vpon what hope he alone had so long and so obstinately withstood the mightie Sultan Solyman; when as all his neighbours round about him had so willingly submitted themselues? saying further, That he maruelled much why he reposed any confidence in the lingering king Ferdinand. Whereunto the Gouernor modestly answered,His answere to the Bassa. That he was (thankes be to God) well deliuered H of his old disease: and that his wounds were without danger: but as concerning his holding out, he said, that he for his great wisedome knew, that it was the dutie of a good souldior valiantly to withstand his enemies, & not to be troubled with any euill hap, or discouraged with any chance of warre: as for himselfe, he said, when mans helpe failed, he had reposed his full trust in God, by whose power he had beene hetherto preserued, which as he well hoped, should neuer faile him at his need: and that king Ferdinand was not so farre off, but that he would before it were long be there present with a great armie: wherefore hee did not greatly maruell, that he was not releeued before that time, for as much as many lets and occasions might chance which might hinder the kings purpose, considering that fortune alwaies by nature vnconstant, was in nothing more like vnto her selfe in her vnconstancie than in martiall affaires. The Bassa wondering at the inuincible I courage of the Gouernour, said, That although the great emperour Solyman might now at his pleasure vtterly destroy the towne, with all that therein was; yet being by nature of a most honourable and mild disposition, and a great louer of valiant and courageous men, had commaunded him in his name to giue him that towne, and the liues of all them that were in it, as a reward of his valour shewed in the defence thereof: yet so, that he should sweare obedience vnto him, and receiue some few Turkes into the towne, in token that he had yeelded the same. The politicke Gouernour knowing that of eight hundred valiant souldiours he had scarcely a third part left, and them also sore weakened with wounds and want of rest, thought it necessarie to make his peace in best sort he could: For what could haue happened vnto him more wishedly, than with his great honour to keepe the towne still, and with the losse of a few pleasing words K to deliuer himselfe, with so many of his friends, from extreame feare and perill? and so in all his talke shewing no signe of feare, and with great words setting forth the strength of his garrison (which was indeed brought to an etreame weaknesse) said he was readie at the first to haue yeelded vp the towne, for the old acquaintance he had with him at CONSTANTINOPLE, but was alwayes letted by the Germanes and Spaniards which were there in garrison, fierce and cruell souldiors, whose hard hearts were (as he said) hardly entreated to suffer him at that time to come out of the citie into the campe: Wherefore he could promise to be a friend to all such Turkes as should passe that way, and to releeue them with such things as his wasted country could affoord; and further, in token of his submission, to set vp one of Solymans ensignes in the cheefe tower of the citie: but as for receiuing any Turkes into garrison, in token that hee had yeelded vp the L towne, he was willing so to doe, but that he was greatly afraid they should be euill entreated by the Germanes and Spaniards, who deadly hated the Turks: whereof it was to be thought, that new warres would eftsoones arise. In conclusion, he so cunningly vsed the matter, that the great Bassa was contented with this small token of submission, That he should receiue in at one of the gates of the citie, one of Solymans captaines with ten Ianizaries: which being done accordingly, and they courteously for a while entertained and againe dismissed, the great Bassa held himselfe with that simple submission well contented: when as the Gouernour had neither Germane nor Spaniard as then in garrison.Solyman departeth from the si [...]ge of Gunza. So when Solyman had with his great armie lien at the siege of GVNZA by the space of eight and twentie dayes, and in that time to his great losse assaulted the same thirteene times, he rise with his armie, glad of a little fained submission for the safegard of M his honour: and leauing VIENNA on the right hand, whither most part of the Christian armie was assembled, tooke the way on the left into CARINTHIA, and so came to the riuer Mura, and from thence to the citie GRATIA. This turning of Solymans out of the way from VIENNA, where he knew his enemies lay, put all feare out of the minds of the Christians, which they had [Page] A before not without cause conceaued, in so much, that he but a little before feared as a prince of great pride and power, shamefully repulsed at the little towne of GVNZA, and now shunning his enemies at VIENNA, began to grow into contempt as if he had been running away for feare. Which disgrace the Turkes sought by diuers excuses to couer, as that the strong citie of NEOSTAT lay betwixt him and VIENNA, which could neither without much difficultie be taken, nor danger left enemie behind him: Besides that, Winter began to approch, which caused him (as the Turks gaue it out) to content himselfe with the spoile of the rich countries betwixt the riuers Sauus and Dranus, and so in good time to returne againe to BELGRADE. But they which seemed to see farther into the matter, were of opinion, That Solyman vnderstanding by his espials, and secret aduertisement from his friends, that the princes of GERMANIE had with one consent B joyned their forces with the emperours, brought out of ITALIE, SPAINE, and the low countries, which at his setting foorth he least feared; and that the Christian armie in number great, consisted not of raw souldiours, but for the most part of such as had beene trained vp in warres, men both for courage and skill nothing inferiour to his Ianizaries and best men of war; chose rather to take the spoile of the countrey, as he might with safetie, than to aduenture his person and state to the hazard of a most doubtfull and dangerous battell.

Whilest these things were in doing,Cason sent with 15000 horsemen to spoile [...] ▪. Michael-ogli by the commaundement of Solyman sent Cason with fifteene thousand of his voluntarie horsemen (who in Solymans expedition against VIENNA, had run thorow the countrey of AVSTRIA as farre as LINTZ) charging him without stay to spoile all the countrey farre and neere which lieth between Danubius and the Alpes, C thereby to learne what he could of the state and strength of the emperours campe; and by doing all the harmes he could possibly, to leaue a most lamentable remembrance of the Turkes being in AVSTRIA. Cason was of himselfe forward enough, and desirous of the spoile; but so much the more, for that he was by the former road into that countrey become both famous and rich: Wherefore diuiding his horsemen into three companies not farre distant one from another, he suddenly oppressed an infinit multitude of all sorts of people in the fields and countrey villages as he went; all which hee either slew without mercie, or carried away as miserable prisoners. Thousands of men and women tied togither in chaines and roapes, were by the cruell Turkes enforced to run as fast as their horses, the countrey villages were burnt downe to the ground and in them the poore children of the Christians, whose parents were either slaine or carried away D captiues: so that all the countrey euerie way for the space almost of an hundred and fiftie miles, was couered with smoke and fire, within three miles of LINTZ; where king Ferdinand then lying, was glad to get himselfe farther off to STRADINGA, where his brother Charles the emperor lay. This cruell Turke, according to his charge hauing with fire and sword without compassion wrought all the wo he could possible vpon the poore Christians, and now loded with the spoile of the coun [...]rey and multitude of prisoners, began to returne the same way he came, thinking to find Solyman either at the siege of GVNZA where he left him, or neerer hand at NEOSTAT comming towards VIENNA. But he as is before said, rising with small honour from GVNZA, and fearing the power of the Christians, was gone quite another way as farre as GRATIA, the metropoliticall citie of STIRIA, standing vpon the riuer of Mura; which turned to the vtter destruction E of Cason and all his followers. For as soone as it was perceiued by the burning of the countrey all about, that the Turkes were come neere vnto LINTZ, the Christian captaines with their companies went out of the campe, some one way, some another, as was thought most conuenient for the meeting with of these mischieuous Turks, which neuer rested in one place: wherin they vsed such diligence in taking the passages, that it was not possible they should escape vnfought withall. Foure companies of Spanish and Italian horsemen vnder the leading of Lewes Coue a valiant captaine, first lighting vpon them in a valley neere vnto NEOSTAT, and desperatly charging them,4000 Christian captiues murdred by Cason. were by the Turkes for most part slaine: But Cason perceiuing how he was on euerie side laid for by the Christians in the vallies betwixt NEOSTAT, SABARIA, and VESPRINIVM, the night following with more than barbarous crueltie slew foure thousand of the Christians F he had before taken prisoners, because he should not be hindred by them in his flight; and diuiding his armie into two parts, about midnight began to set forward, vsing the benefit of the night to haue escaped from his enemies out of these vallies wherein he was enclosed. One part of this armie led by Ferises taking the way Southward, did with incredible labour cut a way thorow the thicke and ouergrowen woods (a thing thought altogither impossible) and so with little [Page] or no losse came to Solyman into S [...]RIA. Cason with the other part of the armie breaking G out of the valley of STORAMBERG, chanced vpon the Palatine (Generall of the forces sent from the Germain princes) who with ten thousand footmen and two thousand horsmen, and certaine field pieces brake the battell of the Turkes, and slew of them a great number: in which conflict Cason his chiefe ensigne was taken.Cason discomfi [...]d by the Palatine and slaine. He fighting most valiantly in the rearward to giue others time to escape, was himselfe there slaine; whose gallant headpiece presented afterwards to the emperour, confirmed the report of his death. They which escaped from the Palatine, in their flight fell into the hands of Lewes and the Marquesse of BRANDENEVRG, by whom they were slaine like beasts. The Hungarian horsmen led by Valentinus Turacus, lighting vpon them which fled from Lewes and the Marquesse, had the killing of them for the space of seauen miles; and of all others did vpon them the cruellest execution, following them hard at the heeles with their H fresh horses, and fiercely insulting vpon them in their owne language. Those few dispersed Turkes which escaped the furie of the Hungarians, fell into the hands of the countrey people about VESPRINIVM and the lake of Balaton,The slaughter of the Turkes. which came out on euerie side in hope of spoile, who shewed them small fauour: so that of 8000 Turks which were with Cason, it was thought not one returned to Solyman.

The emperour vnderstanding that Solyman was gone as farre as GRATIA in STIRIA, called his chiefe captaines togither into the castle of LINTZ, to know their opinions, whether it were best to follow the enemie into STIRIA or not. The cities of LINTZ, GRATIA, and VIENNA are scituat almost in forme of a triangle: but from LINTZ to GRATIA is three good daies journey of bad rough way by horse. Some said it was best to fight with the Turkes in that vneuen I mountaine countrey, where the Turkes chiefe strength consisting in the multitude of his horsemen, should stand him in small steed, but should be enforced to trie the battell with his footmen, wherein he was inferiour to the Christians. This counsell although it had in it many difficulties, yet for that it proceeded from the most approued captaines, so moued the emperour, that he presently sent Apontius a Spaniard (the most famous captaine Antonius Leua his lieutenant) to take view of that passage: who shortly after returned againe to LINTZ, bringing word that all the countrey as hee went was desolat and for feare forsaken of the inhabitants: but concerning the place of the enemies abode, he could learne no certaintie. Whereupon it was by generall consent concluded, that they should all go to VIENNA, whither all the strength of the Germains was alreadie assembled, there to take a generall view of the armie, and to giue the enemie battell if he K should againe returne. Some there were of great courage which openly disliked of that going to VIENNA, saying, That the emperour should rather in that distresse of the prouinces of STIRIA and CARINTHIA pursue his enemie, than turne out of the way to VIENNA. But others of greater judgement, whose opinion preuailed, said, It was one thing to inuade, and another thing to defend: so that the emperour might with honour enough encampe himselfe in the fields of VIENNA, and from thence to expect & deride the base expedition and vaine brags of his proud enemie, who a farre off chalenged him into the field, and then like a coward durst not come neere him.

Charles the emperour his power at Vienna.The emperour comming to VIENNA, and taking a generall view of the armie, found therin two hundred and sixtie thousand men, whereof nintie thousand footmen, and thirtie thousand L horsemen were accounted old expert soldiors, and of them many whole companies and bands, of such as had before ben generals, captains, lieutenants, antients, or other officers & men of marke in other armies, and now were content to serue as priuat men. It was thought that so many worthie captaines and valiant souldiours, were neuer before in the memorie of man assembled togither into one campe: for the princes and free cities had not sent thither common souldiours, but their chosen and approued men; striuing as it were amongst themselues, who should send the best. All the flowre and strength of GERMANIE from the riuer of Vistula to the Rhene, and from the Ocean to the Alpes, was by the princes of the empire and free cities either sent thither, or of themselues voluntarily came thither. A thing neuer before heard of, that all GERMANIE should as it were with one consent, be glad to take vp armes for their common safetie, in defence M of their honour and libertie; especially against people brought out of the furthest parts of ASIA, SYRIA, and AEGYPT. Beside the great number of Spaniards, Italians, and Burgundians; the Bohemian campe lay not farre off, strengthened with them of SILESIA and MORAVIA. There were also some troupes of Polonian horsemen, not sent thither by publike authoritie▪ but seruing [Page] A as voluntarie men: king Sigismund winking thereat, who as he was carefull not rashly to breake the league he had made with Solyman; so least he should seeme carelesse of the Christian common cause, by notable dissimulation left place for such of his subjects as would (as if it had beene without his knowledge) to shew their valour in the most honourable warre.

The Christian armie readie to receiue the enemie,The order of the Christian armie. lay in a great field neere vnto VIENNA in this order: Three great squadrons of pikemen, standing one squadron a great way distant from another, were so placed against the enemie with like and equall front, that all the horsemen diuided into two parts, might well be receiued into the great spaces betwixt the three squadrons: for it was not thought conuenient to oppose so small a number of horsemen in open field without the footmen, against almost three hundred thousand of the Turks horsemen. The right wing of B the horsemen was led by the emperour himselfe, and the left by king Ferdinand. Before and behind, and on euerie side of the three squadrons of pikes, sauing in those places which were left open for the horsemen, about thirtie paces off, were placed twentie thousand nimble harquebusiers ranged in length, and but fiue in a ranke; so that whilest the first discharged, the second, and after them the third, and so the rest readily and orderly comming on, might without let deliuer their bullets vpon their enemies: neither was it thought any disaduantage to place them so thin, for that if they found themselues by the enemies oppressed, they might easily retire amongst the pikes, standing fast at hand. Before the harquebusiers was planted the great ordinance, whereof the emperor had such store and so well placed, that he could therwith (as with a most sure trench) haue compassed in his whole armie. Only the Hungarians, men well acquainted with the manner C of the Turks fight, chose to lie in the open field in two great wings, vnder the leading of their two valiant captaines Valentinus and Paulus. Many noble gentlemen beholding this goodly armie, wept for joy, conceiuing a most assured hope of victorie, if the proud enemie durst with all his forces joyne in battell.Solyman returneth. But Solyman, who by all meanes sought with his great number of horsemen to keepe the wide and open fields, certainly aduertised both of the emperors strength and the manner of his lying, got him ouer the riuer of Mura, and at MARPVRGE by bridges which he made on the sudden, passed ouer the great riuer Dranus. And so he which that Sommer held almost all the world in suspence, with the doubtfull expectation of the successe of that war; hauing with all that his huge power wherwith he threatned the world, done nothing at all worth the remembrance, but was in euerie place either ouercome or else shamefully repulsed; left STIRIA D & returned the same way he came, directly betwixt the riuers of Sauus and Dranus to BELGRADE, and so to CONSTANTINOPLE, leauing here and there some remembrance of his barbarous crueltie, and still looking behind him if the emperour were not at his heeles: at such time as a few Dalmatian and Croatian horsemen did still pursue the taile of his armie. It is reported that he carried away with him thirtie thousand Christians into captiuitie, besides many thousands of poore countrey people slaine by the mercilesse Turkes; but especially by Cason and his followers: and so to his eternall infamie was twise in the space of a few years driuen out of GERMANIE. The emperour vnderstanding of Solymans departure, determined with all speed to returne into ITALIE, although king Ferdinand his brother most earnestly entreated him before his departure, in so fit a time to employ those great forces against king Iohn, who now as it were E forsaken of Solyman, might easily with so puissant an armie haue beene thrust not onely out of BVDA, but also quite out of the kingdome of HVNGARIE, wherein he was by Solyman as his vassall placed. But the emperour, for that Winter began now to approach, and the plague was got into the campe, yea euen into his court, continued in his former purpose of departing into ITALIE: yet yeelding so farre vnto his brothers request, as to leaue behind him all the Italians, who joyned with king Ferdinands owne forces were thought sufficient for the accomplishment of the Hungarian warre.

Ouer these Italians, one Fabritius Maramaldus was by the meanes of Alphonsus Victius appointed Generall: but no order taken for the paiment of their wages, whereby the souldiours might be the more encouraged to take in hand that warre, and also kept in obedience. Which F thing at the first much offended the minds of the other captaines, thinking themselues disgraced by the preferment of Maramaldus, a man of no greater account than themselues: but as soone as it was knowne abroad,The Italians left for the aid of king Ferdinand, arise in mutinie. the vnder captaines and officers of the bands, led with the credit and fauour of their old captaines, said plainly, That they would not go into HVNGARIE, except either king Ferdinand would in person himselfe go, or else one of the great Commanders, Vastius [Page] or Le [...]a were appointed for their Generall: and the common souldiours said flatly, that they G would aske leaue to depart, except they had three moneths pay, which they knew well they should neuer get of that poore king, alreadie brought vnto great wants. Vastius to appease this mutinie, trauelled greatly with his souldiours, persuading them to remember the faith of souldiours, and by their constant perseuerance to maintaine the honour they had got by their cheerfull comming: telling them, That valiant souldiours neuer wanted pay, furnishing themselues by their victories with all things necessarie from the enemie. And as for Maramaldus their Generall, they had no just cause to mislike him being an old captaine of great experience, for courage and pollicie not inferiour to any of the greatest Commanders, and placed by the emperor his owne appointment as a man most sufficient, whose judgement they ought not in any case to dislike. When Vastius had with these and such like reasons well appeased the tumultuous souldiours,H and was gone out of the campe into VIENNA to take further order for the remedying of all difficulties; night, the nurse of sedition came on, whose darkenesse excluding all modestie and feare, gaue further scope and place vnto the mutinous souldiors insolencie. By chance there was at that time brought out of the citie into the campe verie course, hoarie, moulded bread, which some of the souldiours hauing bought, and thrusting it vpon the points of their speares, shewed it vnto their fellowes in great choller, railing against king Ferdinand, which in his owne kingdome in the beginning of the warre had made no better prouision, but with such corrupt and pestilent bread to feed them being strangers, which were onely for his defence and quarrell to aduenture their liues. And but a little before, a certaine Spaniard being but a common souldiour comming into the Generals tent, and casting the like bread down at the feet of Vastius, bitterly cursing the I emperour and king Ferdinand, had raised a wonderfull tumult: wherefore the Italian souldiours flocking togither out of their tents, gaue many hard speeches concerning their pay, their victuals, and the difficulties of the Hungarian warre. There one Titus Marconius of VOLATERRA a man of a troublesome spirit, but reasonably well spoken, was by the other souldiours set vp vpon a great heape of saddles, that he might be the better heard, and by diuers seditious captaines requested frankly to speake his mind, so farre as he thought concerned the safetie and welfare of them all. Where it is reported that he spake vnto them in this seditious manner as followeth: ‘The seditious or [...] of Titus Marconius, to the mutinous Italians.And shall the Spaniards (said he) beloued companions and fellowes in armes, as you haue heard,K go into ITALIE? and to our great hurt againe returne into their old Wintering places? and that which I am ashamed to say, as notable guests lie with our wiues? and we Italians as banished men fight this Winter with ice and snow in HVNGARIE? and that forsooth for a most beggarly king, and him also to the Hungarians a foreuer and meere stranger, against a naturall borne prince, of his subiects well beloued, and strongly backt with the power and wealth of the Turkish emperour? And that which might iustly grieue any couragious mind, vnder the conduct of Maramaldus, who oftentimes blinded with anger and hastie crueltie, hath so furiously thrust vs thorow with his sword, that he seemeth not more to desire the name of a captaine for any thing, than for the killing and murthering of vs now his souldiours. Neither can I beleeue that you, who haue oftentimes beene captaines and auntients your selues, will be so mad, as to serue vnder a common captaine, without hope of any pay, of any L prouision, of victorie or returne. Truely it delighteth me not so much to haue come hither for the honour of the Italian name (no more reckoned of than a rush) although I haue eleuen times serued; as it doth this day ashame me to see this shamefull end of the warre, ended before it was well begun. But in Regall dignitie is no shame, nor equitie in rewarding the souldiour: for kings now adaies make account of souldiours onely according to their necessitie; this is it alone that giueth vs pay, this is that getteth vs loue, this is it maintaineth our reputation; all which, peace once by victorie obtained, leese their grace. So fareth it with vs at this present (fellow souldiours) the emperour and his brother king Ferdinand, deliuered from the feare of a most dangerous warre, to ease themselues of this multitude of vs, seeke to thrust vs into HVNGARIE as beasts to the slaughter, by the spending of our bloud hoping to purchase vnto themselues victorie; and by the losse of vs to take no harme themselues, though M the Turkes and Hungarians should with sword and famine vtterly destroy vs, shut vp with the ice of Danubius and the snow of the Alpes. But peraduenture you vnderstand not these deuises, no more than you vnderstand what this terrible and bloudie At this verie time a great blazing starre was seene in the s [...] mament at Vienna. comet, shooting his beames towards ITALY, pretendeth. Verily it is not fatall either to Solyman or Caesar, but rather threatneth vnto vs death and [Page] A destruction: for they with like counsell, full of safetie and discretion, would not open any way vnto their owne destinies, but warely withdrew themselues one from the other, and shunned all the dangers of the field: Wherefore if it were lawfull for them without any blemish of their Maiesties, so notably to prouide to keepe themselues out of danger, when as on each side halfe the world lay as a reward of the victorie; shall not we looke to our selues that we he not thrust thither from whence appeareth no hope of returne, but with vtter destruction? when as we may doe it without offence and by good right, especially seeing no pay is offered vs. Thus you see what a goodly end is made of this notable warre, wherein onely we the Italians in stead of commendation and reward reape iniurie and disgrace: and are peraduenture of purpose exiled into HVNGARIE, that this floure of chiualrie being drawne out of ITALIE and sent farre out of the way, colonies of Spaniards and Germanes may be placed in our B steads. Truly it seemeth hard dealing to be sent out of the way into a barbarous countrey, where wee shall find all hostilitie, and no place of refuge to receiue vs, being distressed. Beside this, we shall also whether we will or no feele how heauie and intollerable it will be both to our bodies and minds to endure the miseries of this Winter and dangerous warre: and in the meane time with no small hearts greefe imagine what things our children, our brethren, our kinsmen, yea and our wiues, suffer at home of the Spaniards and Germanes. Wherefore worthie companions, it concerneth vs more at this time to haue a good foresight, than valiantly to fight. The occasion presented vnto vs far our safetie and welfare, standeth vpon a tickle point, it must be done without delay, and we must hie vs hence before that the Spaniards trusse vp their baggage; and so preuenting the emperours formost companies, come first our selues into ITALIE: for if we shall stay but a little to consult vpon the matter, Vastius C and our other proud commaunders will presently be here, the very betrayers of the Italian bloud, who for their owne gaine and our mischeefe haue brought vs into these straits; who I know will most earnestly intreat vs, and with many subtilties seeke to seduce vs, by offering vs great pay and whatsoeuer els we shall require: which will all proue but words. But you, if you be men, refuse to talke with them as with your common enemies, or rather in reuenge of their old iniuries kill them. Here wanteth not in this assembly valiant men, for courage and integritie of life their betters farre, which can lead you forth, order your battell, and fortunately vse this your courage and forwardnesse. Wherefore if you be wise; set forward resolutely, and good fortune no doubt will attend you in your hast, for the full accomplishment of your desire consisteth in your hast onely.’

D Marconius had no sooner made an end of this mutinous speech, but the tumultuous souldiors in euery band began highly to commend and approue the same,Eight thousand of the Italian in mutinie forsake their captaines and returne to Italie. and by and by such a confused noise was heard thorow all the assemblie, as vseth to rise amongst the discontented vulgar people, readie to rise in armes: but the drums presently striking vp a march, they made no longer stay, but without delay pluckt vp their ensignes, and forward they go directly towards NEOSTAT. In this tumult, in stead of their old captaines which either were not then present, or refused to goe with them, they chose others to bee their leaders: who once named by the seditious multitude, might in no case without danger refuse to take the charge vpon them, were they neuer so vnwilling. These were Montebellius, Nerius, Melcarius, Sanctius, and the two twins of MILLANE, called Glussani: who drew after them eight thousand souldiours, the rest partly for E shame, and partly for feare, staied still with Maramaldus their new appointed Generall. When they were thus gone, Vastius and diuers other great captaines hearing thereof in the citie, posted after them six miles, and at length ouertaking them, requested them to stay, and not to dishonor themselues with so foule a fact, telling them, that their pay was readie for them, and omitting nothing wherwith they might haue ben moued to stay, mingled their praiers with grieuous threats: but they resolutely set downe, would neither heare, nor stay; but as men enraged with furie, and their own guiltie conscience, with sterne lookes discharged some small shot vpon them. Whilest Vastius would there haue staied the companie, and did what hee possibly could by threatening and otherwise to haue terrified their leaders, and to haue brought them backe, he was oftentimes in danger to haue been slaine. In the end he was glad to forsake them, and to returne as he came. F King Ferdinand by this sudden departure of the Italians, for that time disappointed of all his hope of recouering the kingdome of HVNGARIE from king Iohn, in great choller writ vnto his subjects of STIRIA and CARINTHIA, whereby the Italians were to passe, that they should shew them no manner of courtesie in their passage: whereupon ensued great hurt on both sides. Yet for all that these Italians in despight of what could bee done, at length recouered TILIAVENTVM [Page] in the borders of ITALIE, where they disbanded themselues, and returned euery man G to his owne dwelling,Charles the emperour returneth into Italie. leauing king Ferdinand vnto his owne forces. The emperour also breaking vp his armie at VIENNA, and purposing now as before to returne into ITALIE, appointed Ferdinand Gonzaga to goe formost with the light horsemen, with whom also he went himselfe: after him followed Vastius with the Spaniards; two dayes after came the cardinall, whose traine was of all the greatest; last of all followed the mercinarie Germanes: in which order he returned in safetie into ITALIE.

This was the end of those wonderfull preparations made by the two great monarchs Solyman and Charles the fift, in the yeare 1532, which held the world in great suspence with the fearefull expectation of some maruellous alteration, and so much the more, for that at the same time appeared a great blasing starre by the space of fifteene daies. All which for all that, God so appointing,H sorted to farre lesse harme than was of most men feared.

Auria goeth against the Turks.Now whilest Charles the emperour was thus in Armes against Solyman in AVSTRIA, Andreas Auria by his appointment with a fleet of 35 tall ships and 48 gallies, wherein he had embarked 25000 good souldiours well appointed, did in the meane time wonderfully annoy the Turkes in PELOPONESVS. With this fleet Auria departing from MESSANA in SICILIA: and passing alongst the coast of ITALIE into the Ionian, neere vnto the Isle of ZACYNTHVS, met with Vincentius Capellius the Venetian admirall with a fleet of sixtie gallies, set forth by the Venetians for defence of their territories; who offered vnto Auria all possible kindnesse▪ but excused himselfe, that he could not joine with him in that warre against the common enemie, by reason of an old league betwixt the Turkes and the Venetians, which Solyman had but a little I before renewed. So that at that time the Venetians stood as men indifferent betwixt Charles the emperour and Solyman, offering like kindnesse to both, but taking part with neither, yet in readinesse to fall out with either, if they should by sea or land offer any injurie to their state: wherein they bare themselues so indifferent, that it was thought, that they at one and the selfesame instant aduertised Auria, That Himerales the Turks admirall lay with his fleet of sixtie gallies, euill appointed in the bay of AMBRACIA, where he might easily be surprised: and gaue likewise warning to him of the comming of Auria with a strong fleet, wishing him in time to prouide for his better safetie, by retiring his fleet into some other place of more assurance, which he presently did: for knowing himselfe too weak, he departed from AMBRACIA to the strong hauen of CALCIDE. Which thing with other like well considered, might giue just cause to any Christian heart K to bewaile the state of that time, wherein the Christian princes being either in mortall warres among themselues, or entangled by Solyman with leagues of no assurance, omitted the fairest oportunitie that could haue beene wished for the abating of the Turkes greatnesse: for if the Venetians joyning their forces with Auria, had in time pursued the Turkish admirall, it was like, that not onely all Solymans power at sea had beene vtterly discomfited: but also most part of GRaeCIA, mindfull of their antient empire and libertie, and then readie to haue rebelled, and joyned hands with the Christians, might haue been recouered out of the Turkish thraldome; yea and the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE greatly endangered, few or none being left for the defence thereof, beside yong Ianizaries, and effeminat eunuchs, the heartlesse keepers of the Turks concubines, Solyman himselfe being then far off in HVNGARIE, and hauing drawne L with him the greatest strength of his empire.

Auria taking his leaue of the Venetian admirall, with much honour done at sea on both sides, was shortly after aduer [...]ised; that the Turkes admirall was fled to CALCIDE. Wherefore now out of hope to doe any good against him, he directed his course to CORONE, which is a strong citie vpon the coast of PELOPONESVS,Auria besiegeth Corone in Peloponesus. about twelue miles distant from MODON, with purpose to besiege it: which when hee had well viewed, and considered of the strength thereof, he laid siege thereto both by sea and land, battering it most terribly, at one time with foureteene great peeces of artillerie by land, and a hundred and fiftie by sea, so that a more terrible batterie had not been lightly heard of: for all that, the Turks valiantly stood vpon their defence, and manfully repulsed the Italians, which vnder the leading of the countie of SARNE assaulted M the citie by land. The Turkish garrisons lying about in the country of PELOPONESVS, did what they might to haue releeued the citie, who by the valour of the said countie were discomfited, and Zadares their cheefe leader slaine, whose head with others of the slaine Turks was set vp vpon stakes to the terrour of the defendants.

[Page] A At length the Turkes wearied with assaults, and terrified with the thundering shot which neuer ceased, and driuen also from their greatest strength towards sea by the desperate assault of certaine resolute Christians, whom they had now full sore against their wils receiued as it were into their bosomes,Corone yeelded to A [...]ia by the Turkes. fearing also to want victuall and pouder▪ if they should longer hold out without any hope of releefe; yeelded the citie & castle to Auria, vpon condition, that they might in safetie depart thence with bag and baggage. CORONE thus taken, and a strong garrison of Spaniards there placed, and the Christian Greekes which dwelt in the citie sworne vnto them, Auria put to sea with his fleet, and sayling againe by ZACINTHVS, came to PATRAS, another antient citie of PELOPONESVS,Patras taken and ransacked by Auria. which he easily tooke and ransacked: for the Turks distrusting the strength of the citie had strongly entrenched themselues neere vnto the castle, which place B also together with the castle they in short time yeelded to Auria; couenanting, that they and especially their wiues might with their garments onely depart in safetie into AETOLIA: which was by Auria so precisely performed, that when three thousand of them passed along thorow the armie of the Christians raunged on both sides, and some of the souldiours began rudely to handle some of the women, and to take from them some of their jewels, he caused them presently to the terrour of others to be hanged. Auria leauing his armie at PATRAS, with commaundement to follow him by land, sailed alongst the coast of PELOPONESVS, vntill he came to the strait of NAVPACTVM, now called LEPANTO, which is the entrance into the gulfe of CORINTH, parting PELOPONESVS from AETOLIA with a strait somewhat narrower than the strait of HELLESPONT: Vpon this strait stood two castles, the one called RHIVM vpon the coast of C PELOPONESVS, and the other MOLYCREVM in AETOLIA, which Baiazet had wonderfully fortified and stored with ordinance for the keeping of that strait. Auria threatening all extremitie vnto the captaine of the castle on PELOPONESVS side, if he did enforce him to plant his batterie, so terrified him, that he without delay yeelded to him the castle, couenanting only, That he and his souldiours might in safetie depart thence: which graunted, and the Turkes departed▪ Auria gaue the spoile of the castle vnto his souldiors which came with him by sea; whereby he so offended the minds of the other souldiors which came by land from PATRAS, that they were about to haue forsaken him. The other castle vpon AETOLIA side was not so easily taken, being valiantly defended by a garrison of old Ianizaries, appointed for the keeping thereof. Yet in the end by furie of the ordinance a breach was made, wherby the Christians forcibly entring, D slew three hundred of the old garrison souldiours, not taking any to mercie: the rest fled into a strong tower in the middest of the castle, where seeing no remedie but that they must needs fall into the hands of their enemies, they desperatly blew vp themselues and the tower with a great part of the castle with gunpouder, in such sort, that it seemed all the sea coast to haue been shaken with an earthquake, and the gallies which lay a bow shoot off were almost ouerwhelmed with stones blowne out so farre off. The great Ordinance taken in this castle, was valued at seuentie thousand duckats; whereof certaine peeces of a wonderfull greatnesse, with Arabian letters written vpon them, were afterwards by Auria brought to GENVA, and in remembrance of the victorie mounted vpon the bulwarke at the mouth of the hauen. All these things thus happely a [...]chieued, Auria strongly fortified the citie of CORONE, storing it both with munition and E plentie of victuall, committing the defence therof to Mendoza, a valiant Spaniard, with a strong garrison of Spaniards, promising of his owne charge to relieue him whensoeuer he should need, if the emperour should deferre to doe it. The strait of NAVPACTVM laid open, Salu [...]atus with the gallies of MALTA, scoured all alongst the gulfe of CORINTH, doing great harme vnto the Turkes which dwelt on both sides of the gulfe, spoyling and terrifying them euen as farre as CORINTH. Not long after Winter now approching, Auria receiuing letters from the emperour, of Solymans departure out of HVNGARIE,Auria returneth to Italie. returned with his fleet loaded with the spoile of the Turkes to NAPLES, and so from thence home to GENVA.

In the beginning of the Spring following (which was in the yeare 1533) it was rifely reported,1533 that the Turks were comming with a great fleet towards PELOPONESVS: and not long after,The Turkes besiege Corone. F Mendoza Gouernour of CORONE by letters aduertised Peter of TOLEDO viceroy of NAPLES, that he was both by sea and land hardly besieged by the Turkes; and that he would to the vttermost of his power valiantly defend the citie, so long as he had any prouision of victuall: Wherefore he most earnestly requested, that if the emperour would haue the towne kept, hee should in time send him reliefe, wherupon the oppressed Grecians taking heart were like enough [Page] to rebell, and to helpe to expulse the Turks quite out of PELOPONESVS. But aboue all things G he forgot not to craue speedie helpe of Auria, Auria sent by the emperour to relieue Corone. and to put him in mind of the faithfull promise he had made to relieue him at his need. Vpon this newes, Charles the emperour commaunded Auria his Admirall to rig vp a conuenient fleet for that seruice, promising forthwith to send vnto him twelue gallies, which hee had new built in SPAINE. He also requested the knights of MALTA to aid him with their gallies against that common enemie. Wherefore Auria hauing with wonderfull celeritie rigged vp thirtie tall ships, and as many gallies, came to NAPLES to take in his souldiours: there the old garrisons of the Spaniards which for want of pay were risen in mutinie against the great Commaunder Vastius and the viceroy, and had rifeled the citie of AVERSA, and done no little harme all about in the countrey of CAMPANIA, were againe pacified by a pay giuen vnto them, and presently embarked for CORONE, vnder the commaund H of Rodericus Macicaus their Generall; at which time also Frederick of TOLEDO the viceroy his sonne, with a companie of braue gentlement went aboord, vowing vnto the sacred warre that their first seruice. The knights of MALTA came thither also with their gallies. But whilest these things were a doing, Auria to encourage them of CORONE, for feare least they dispairing of helpe should fall to some hard composition with the Turkes, sent Christopher Palauicine a resolute young gentleman of an inuincible courage, with a most swift gallie to CORONE; who by daylight passing thorow the middest of the Turkes fleet, safely recouered the hauen, to the great joy of the besieged Christians: and shortly after, when he had well viewed all things he was sent for, with the strength and manner of the enemies lying, and filled the mindes of the defendants with assured hope of speedie rescue; about noone time of the day he suddenly brake out againe I thorow the middest of his enemies, and as it were miraculously escaped in safetie for all that they could doe, although they ceased not to giue him chase so long as they were in any hope to haue ouertaken him. Auria departing from NAPLES came to MESSANA, where he certainly enformed of the enemies force both by sea and land, with the number of their gallies, and seeing that the chiefe hope of relieuing of the citie consisted in celeritie, staied not for the gallies he expected out of SPAINE, but held on his course towards GRaeCIA: for it was told him that the enemies fleet daily encreased by the cōming in of the Turkish pirats; and that Assem-beg otherwise called the Moore of ALEXANDRIA (an arch pirat) was still looked for, in whose good directions the Turkish captaines reposed the greatest hope of their victorie. When he was come as farre as ZACYNTHVS, he was enformed by the Venetians, That Luftibeius Bassa (or rather Lutzis K Bassa, the Turks great Admirall and Solyman his brother in law) with Solyman of ACARNANIA, and the Moore (men for their skill at sea of great fame and reputation) lay before CORONE with eightie gallies, manned with diuers companies of the old Ianizaries; so that it was thought a matter of exceeding perill for him to aduenture to relieue the town, except he tooke the aduantage of some prosperous gale of wind. Wherfore Auria to haue yet more certaine knowledge of the enemies fleet, sent before him Christopher Palauicine with one gallie, againe to view the manner of the enemies lying: who passing the promontorie of ACRITES, saw all the Turkes great fleet lying in verie good order before the citie: and so returned to AVRIA, confirming that the Venetians had before reported, and that the Turkes fleet was greatly encreased, and lay readie as it should seeme to giue him battell as soone as he should approach the citie. For all that,L Auria nothing dismaied with the greatnesse of the Turkes fleet, made no stay but still kept on his course, and with a faire gale of wind passing the promontorie of ACRITES, came directly towards CORONE. Two great Gallions, of all the fleet the most wa [...]like ships, came formost; whereof the one was Auria his owne which hee had built with a wonderfull charge, and the other was of SICILIA:The order of Auria his fleet before Corone. These two great ships were appointed by Auria to turne a little vpon the left hand, and at such time as the enemie should set forward from the shoare to cast anchor betwixt both the fleets; that as occasion should serue, they might as out of two strong castles beat the Turkes gallies with their great ordinance, wherewith they were for that purpose wonderfully stored. Next vnto these great Gallions followed the other warlike ships with full sailes: after whom came the gallies in three squadrons, whereof Saluiatus had the leading of the right wing,M which consisted of the bishop of ROMES gallies, and them of MALTA: in the left wing and neere vnto the enemie commaunded Antonius Auria: and in the middle was Auria himselfe. At the first sight of the Hungarian fleet the Turkes moued not from the shoare, but discharged their ordinance at them a farre off, and then begun to set forward and to draw neerer; especially [Page] A the Moore, who with greater courage than the rest, assailed the side and reareward of the fleet: for the Christians keeping on their course right forth to CORONE,The Christian fleet disordered. and turning nothing to the left hand as was before appointed, seemed as if they had fled; and so much the more, for that the gallies in the right wing, for feare of the Turkes great ordinance did fet a great compasse farther off into the sea, and many of the middle squadron and of the left wing also, had disorderly thrust themselues in amongst the ships, although they had receiued little or no harme of the enemies great shot.

In this confusion of the Christian Nauie, the Moore requested Lutzis the Admirall not to let slip so faire an occasion, wherein the Christian fleet might easily haue beene ouerthrowne: but whilest Lutzis doth slowly and consideratly set forward,Auria arriueth at Corone. Auria in the meane time had put B his fleet againe in order, and with a faire wind was come to CORONE. Two of the ships by the way falling foule one on another, staied behind, being not able to keepe way with the rest: about which all the Turks gallies presently flockt, and tooke the lesser of them, killing all the Spaniards they found therein. Out of this they boorded the greater, and with a bloudie fight had woon the forecastle and waste of the ship: when Auria accounting it no small dishonour to haue his ships so surprised at his heeles, caused all his gallies to turne againe vpon the enemie to rescue those ships. The Turks seeing that, and with the Westernly wind by little and little fallen down so farre with the ships,The Turkes [...]ee [...] flieth to Modon. that they were come within the danger of the shot of the towne, began with great stir to forsake the ships, and to betake themselues to their oares, and so in manner of flight withdrew themselues. Whom Auria pursued a good way to MODON, thundring in C their poupes with his great shot, which hee liberally bestowed amongst them: whilest in the meane time Antonius Auria came to rescue the two distressed ships. There the Spaniards which but a little before had hardly maintained their close fights, began now as men reuiued to shew themselues, and couragiously to make resistance: and they which came with Antonius Auria to their rescue, entring with wonderfull celeritie on euerie side, slew and tooke three hundred Ianizaries, which with great courage had entred those ships, and were there left by the sudden departure of their fellowes. Amongst whom was taken one Iosuphius and old captaine of a thousand Ianizaries, to whom Auria after he was come to CORONE, gaue a faire sute of apparell and a chaine of gold, and so set him at libertie without any raunsome, thereby to prouoke the Turkes to the like kind of courteous dealing with the Christians. Assam-beg the pirat, and the D other captaines of the Turkes fleet wonderfully blamed Lutzis the Admirall, for that he would not then fight with the Christians, when as he was thereto most earnestly requested both by the captaines and souldiours in generall, and had a faire opportunitie of victorie offered at such time as the Christian fleet was disordered: but he excused himselfe, saying, That it was giuen him in speciall charge from Solyman the emperour, that he should in any case respect the safetie of his nauie, and not to come to the hazard of a battell. The Turks which besieged the citie by land, vpon the approach of the Christian fleet forsooke their trenches & fled:Corone relieued by Auria. at which time Mendoza the Gouernor sallying out, tooke great store of victuall and warlike prouision which the Turks had for hast left behind them. So Aurea to his great honour, hauing driuen the Turkes from CORONE both by sea and land, furnished the citie with store of corne, wine, victuall, pouder, E and shot: and committed the defence thereof to Macicaus, and the companies of the mutinous Spaniards which he had brought from NAPLES: comforting the Greekes, and exhorting them patiently for a while to endure those calamities of warre, telling them that the emperour would the next Spring make warre against the Turkes both by sea and land in PELOPONESVS, and free them from the Turkish bondage. And so embarking the old garrison of Spaniards, departed from CORONE and came before METHON,Auria returneth and before Modon braueth the Turks fleet. where he lay as it were brauing the Turks Admirall, hoping thereby to draw him out of that strong harbour to battell. But when he saw that the enemie could by no meanes be allured out of his strength, or assailed as he lay, he departed thence to CORCYRA, and so backe againe to MESSANA in SICILIA.

Within a few dayes after Assam-beg the Moore of ALEXANDRIA and most famous pyrat, F lying in wait for the marchants ships of VENICE comming out of SIRIA with marchandise,The Moore of Alexandria well beaten and taken by Canal [...]s the Venetian [...] ▪ by chance met with Hieronimus Canalis vpon the coast of CRETE: where in the night time was fought betwixt them a fierce and cruell battell, wherein of the Moores thirteene gallies foure were sunke, three taken, and the rest hauing lost most part of their rowers, fled to ALEXANDRIA. In this fight was slaine three hundred Ianizaries which were going to CAIRE, and a [Page] thousand other Turks: of all them that were taken there was scarcely one saued, but the Moore G himselfe, who greeuously wounded in the face, for safegard of his life was glad to discouer himselfe: for the Venetians maintaining their state by trade and trafficke, doe of all other shew least fauour vnto pyrats. When the Moore had made himselfe known vnto Canallis, there was great care taken for the curing of his wounds, and either of them began with notable dissimulation to excuse the matter to other, saying, that they were both deceiued by the likenesse of the gallies, and mistaking of their friends for enemies: when as for all that they knew one another right well. For the Moore said, that he tooke those Venetian gallies for to haue beene part of Auria his fleet: and Canalis excused himselfe, by saying, that he mistooke him for Barbarussa, who a few yeares before had surprised three of the Venetian gallies. Yet the Venetians doubting how Solyman would take the matter, by their embassadour sought to excuse that was done, as a thing H happening by errour and mischance: of which excuse Solyman excepted, and said moreouer, that Canalis had done well and soldior like, to repulse by force the wrong that was offered him. Three of the emperors gallies staying behind the rest of the fleet, were neere vnto the promontorie PALINVRVS, vpon the coast of APVLIA, intercepted and carried away by Sinam, surnamed the Iew, a notable pyrat of that time also.

The Winter following, the Spaniards and Greekes in CORONE began to want victuals, especially wine and flesh: for the Turkes had so blocked vp the citie, that nothing was to be had out of the countrey; wherefore the souldiors requested Macicaus their Gouernour and Generall to lead them forth to some peece of seruice against the enemie, for so much as they were not to hope for any releefe elsewhere before Aprill,The garrison sold [...]ors of Corone desire of their generall to bee brought to some seruice. wishing rather valiantly to die like men in I fight against the Turkes, than to languish within those dead wals for want of victuall. But Macicaus mindfull of his charge, sought by many reasons to dissuade them from such purpose, shewing them what an offence it were rashly to depart out of the citie committed to their custodie, which might be vnto them dangerous, although they should speed neuer so well; and that those wants which they rather feared than felt, would well enough be ouercome by sparing and patience: and therefore told them plainely, that hee was resolutely set downe to keepe the citie for the emperor, and to endure all hardnesse, rather than to incurre the infamie, That he had forsaken the citie, and betrayed his garrison. Yet for all this, the matter was so vrged by Didacus Touarres and Hermosilla, both great captaines, and by the generall importunitie of the souldiours, that Macicaus was enforced to yeeld to their desire, and to promise them to goe: yet earnestly protesting,K that he did it altogether against his will, rather enforced than persuaded vnto that, wherof he had no great hope of successe. Amongst other that were so forward in this action, was one Barbatius, a most valiant Greeke, who could perfectly speake the Turkes language, and of all others best knew the bywayes and secret passages of the countrey:Macicaus gouernour of Corone goeth out to surprise And [...]ussa. he vndertooke to be their guide, and by vnknowne wayes to bring them vnto the enemies vndiscouered in the dead time of the night, when as they feared no such matter. So Macicaus commending the custodie of the citie to Liscanius and Mendesius, with charge that they should suffer no man to goe out of the citie after his departure, for feare of giuing any knowledge vnto the enemie, set forward about ten a clocke in the night towards ANDRVSSA, Barbatius being his guide, who shunning the common beaten wayes, brought them by secret and vncouth pathes that night halfe the way to ANDRVSSA:L but vpon the rising of the Sunne he brought them into a secret woodie valley, where they rested and refreshed themselues all that day, and setting forward againe at night, came to ANDRVSSA before day. In this towne, which was of no great strength, lay one Caranus, a warlike captaine, with three thousand footmen, whereof the one halfe was of the Ianizaries, and in the suburbes lay Acomates with a thousand chosen horsemen, with which garrison the Turkes kept all that side of PELOPONESVS in awe. Macicaus brought by his guide vnto the place where his enemies lay, went directly to the towne to haue surprised it: Hermosilla in the meane time standing still with certaine companies of Spaniards oueragainst the place where the horsemen lay. But this could not be done with so great silence, but that some of the horse boyes being awake, discouered them by the fire in their matches; who first awaked the negligent watchmen,M and afterwards raised an alarum in the suburbes: whereupon Hermosilla couragiously set vpon the horsemen, being altogether vnreadie, and slew many of them before they could arme themselues, and set fire also vpon the stables wherein the Turkes horses stood, with the rage whereof many of the Turkes perished, with their horses and armour. Great and terrible was the [Page] A noise raised vpon the sudden in the suburbes, but especially of the horses, which burnt as they stood fast tied in the stables, or by chance breaking lose, ran vp and downe with their tailes and maines on a light fire: by occasion whereof, an alarum was raised in the towne, and the Turkes got to the wals before the Spaniards could enter. Macicaus himselfe labouring to breake in at a posterne,Macicaus slai [...] was shot in the head with a small shot, and slaine: diuers others neere vnto him were there slaine also. The Turkes perceiuing the small number of their enemies, sallied out vpon them, and enforced them to retire to Hermosilla, who had alreadie made great spoile amongst the horsemen, by whose skilfull direction the Spaniards retired in so good order, making many stands, with their harquebusiers all drawne into the reward, that such of the Turkes as were most forward to pursue them, did by their death cause the rest to make lesse hast. Acomates with such B of his horsemen as had escaped the fire, hasted thither also, bringing with him two hundred harquebusiers, which he had caused his horsemen for hast to take vp behind them vpon their horses: but whilest he sought eagerly to be reuenged vpon his enemies, and with too much heat pressed on with the formost, he was shot into the bodie with a bullet and slain. So the horsemen which had before receiued a great losse as they lay in their lodgings, accounting it in their good haps that they were not there all slaine, and hauing now lost their captaine, ceased any further to pursue their enemies, but returned. The Spaniards and Greekes, although they were wearied both with their long march and euill successe, retired still as resolute men readie to fight, and so returned to CORONE. Presently after, the Turkish garrison remoued from ANDRVSSA to MEGALOPOLIS, now called LONDARIVM: after whose departure the Christian souldiours of CORONE C came thither, and buried the dead bodies of their slaine fellowes (which till then lay vnburied) and brought backe with them the head of Macicaus their late Generall, which the Turks had there set vp vpon a long pole, which they honourably buried at CORONE. Not long after the plague began to grow hot in CORONE,Corone forsaken by the Spaniards so much the more grieuous, for that it came accompanied with many other hard difficulties. For which causes, the Spaniards as men at once enforced with many extremities, embarked themselues with all the great ordinance and such Greekes as would goe with them, in certaine ships which came with corne out of SICILIA, and so departed, leauing the towne emptie for the Turkes to come vnto.

It was commonly reported, that the Spaniards left CORONE not without the secret consent of the emperour, which was the rather thought to be so, because that they which forsooke the D place, receiued thereby no disgrace, and the emperour himselfe had offered to giue the towne to Clement bishop of ROME: the Venetians and the knights of MALTA, who all refused to receiue it, as loath to be at so great a charge in keeping a place seruing for no greater purpose; the verie cause why the emperour was so willing to depart with it. Now Clement the great bishop had by meanes of Aloysius Grittus made a motion of a peace, to haue beene concluded for ten yeares betwixt Solyman and the Christian princes, and therupon the towne to haue been againe deliuered vnto the Turkes: which peace Solyman was not altogither vnwilling to grant, being then wholy bent to inuade the Persian king. Ferdinand was also in good hope that his brother Charles the emperor, would for the yeelding vp of that towne haue couenanted with the Turke some great matter for his benefit in HVNGARIE, which as was thought would also haue beene E easily obtained. But whilest the emperour drawne diuersly with the consideration of his honor in keeping it, and of his profit in giuing it vp, stood too long in resoluing; the towne in the meane time was by the Spaniards (their necessitie daily increasing) abandoned, and so left to the Turkes for nothing.

Solyman now purposing to returne his forces against the Persians,1534 of whom hee had in the frontiers of his dominions receiued great hurt, especially in COMAGENE; renewed the league he had with the Venetians, and some other Christian princes: but of all other his affaires with the Christians, he was most carefull of the interest he had alreadie gotten in HVNGARIE. For it was reported, that king Iohn his vassale induced by the continuall solicitations of his subjects, was desirous of peace with king Ferdinand, vpon condition that hee might quietly enjoy the F kingdome during his life: and after his decease it to remaine to king Ferdinand and his heires. Wherefore Solyman, Aloysius Grittus the duke of Venice his sonne. Solymans lieutenant in Hungarie, to ouerse [...] king Iohn. that nothing should be there done in his absense without his knowledge, sent Aloysius Grittus the Duke of VENICE his sonne (of whom we haue before spoken) a man both for the honour of his house, the good carriage of himselfe, and the speciall commendation of Abraham the chiefe Bassa, in great credit with him: with commission as his Lieutenant to be [Page] assistant vnto king Iohn, in such magnificall sort, as that without him the king might conclude G nothing in matters of state, concerning either peace or warres, with any other the Christian princes. With this proud commission from the Graund seignior, Grittus entred into TRANSILVANIA, then a part of the kingdome of HVNGARIE (much about the same time that Solyman set forward from CONSTANTINOPLE against the Persian) attended vpon with seauen thousand persons of one sort and other, amongst whom were Vrbanus Batianus, and Ianus Docia, two famous Hungarian captaines with their companies, and many of the Turkes Ianizaries also. At his first comming, to make his authoritie the more knowne, he sent out his proud commaund vnto the great men and Gouernours of the cities of that warlike prouince, charging them forthwith to repaire vnto him as great Solymans deputie, authorised by him to heare and determine all the controuersies and matters of state concerning the kingdome of HVNGARIE. At that H time Americus Cihachus bishop of VERADIVM,Americus bishop of Veradium and Va [...]od of Transiluania, contemneth Grittus. a man of great nobilitie and power, withall singularly well qualitied, was Vayuod or gouernour of TRANSILVANIA, an honour next vnto the king: he vnderstanding that Grittus was come into his prouince, and making small hast to welcome him, as one not greatly moued with his comming, or much regarding the commandement of Solyman; wonderfully offended Grittus, who desired nothing more than at his first entrance to haue confirmed the opinion of his authoritie in the minds of the vulgar people by the prest and readie attendance of the Vayuod. But it was commonly bruted, that the stout bishop vpon a Christian zeale detested the friendship of the Turkes, and could not well brooke that they should be too much acquainted in his prouince, for feare least that fruitfull countrey abounding with men and horses, should by one meanes or other fall into their hands. Grittus I was come to BAXOVIA when he vnderstood by many messengers, that the Vayuod was comming with a great traine, and lay about ten miles off, encamped with diuers gallant troupes of horsemen in warlike manner appointed: for the bishops of HVNGARIE being wonderfull rich, were by old custome bound to keep great nūbers of horsmen, which as occasion serued they vsed to bring into the fields against the Turke; accounting it great honour with their religious hands to defend the cause of religion. But then especially the nobilitie of the countrey well appointed, resorted on euerie side, of courtesie to honour and countenance their great bishop and Gouernour, at whose commaundement they were: in so much as the bishops retinue made shew of a good armie. Which thing moued Grittus exceedingly, that he should be enforced contrarie [...]o his expectation to parley with the bishop in the open fields, as with an enemie in sight of all K their followers. Hereof rise enuie, a deadly mischiefe alwaies repining at another mans honor; when as the one swelling with Turkish pride could not then abide any equall, and the other jealous of his honour could by no meanes endure any superiour, in such place as he had the soueraigntie of. When these two great men had met togither in the open fields, and there dined more like enemies than friends, without any shew of friendship or good will: Grittus inwardly chafed at his bare entertainment, couertly threatened to bee reuenged vpon all such as should make so light account of his authoritie: and immediatly as he departed from the banket, taking his cap from his head (which was after the Turkish manner made of a high fashion, of rich [...]ables) and opening it with both his hands, said, This cap will not hold two heads, and therefore it must be fitted to one, and so put it on againe. Ianus Docia one of the Hungarian captaines, his followers,L who deadly hated the Vayuod (for that he had long time before, for his malapert speech in a great assembly, giuen him a blow with his fist) tooke hold of that speech of Grittus, as a fit occasion for him to worke his reuenge:Ianus Docia incenseth Grittus against the Vay [...]od. and said, Your honour maketh a fit comparison, neither can this prouince containe two equall gouernours or commaunders, nor you euer enioy your power and authoritie, except you doe this day with speedie and manly resolution defend both Solymans credit and your owne. You know not this proud beast Americus, whose pride and insolencie if you but say the word, I will quickly put downe: for he hateth Solyman, he regardeth not the king, and of you he maketh no account at all, for why he aspireth vnto the maiestie of a king, and saith that the Vayuodship of TRANSILVANIA well beesemeth a king, for that in this countrey Decebaldus the Dacian sometime raigned, whom the warlike emperour Traian with all the force of the Roman empire hardly subdued. No M man can more proudly or arrogantly set himselfe forth than he, neither more craftely or cunningly dissemble to serue his turne. Indeed he hath for fashion sake presented your honour with a few simple presents, and giuen you his hand also, better knowne for his falshood than his faith; to the intent that when you are once past his countrey, he may scoffe and ieast at your decrees: verely he deadly enuieth at[Page]A your honour and felicitie, and grudgeth in his heart, that you should set downe the lawes of peace and warre in HVNGARIE: and whereas he doth manifestly aspire vnto a kingdome, he feareth you aboue all others, least you should trouble his designes, abate his credit, and chastise his insolencie. Verely, he that thus maligneth your happinesse, and contemneth your authoritie, is not to be suffered, but by good reason to be taken away: thereby at this your first entrance to defend the credit of your commission and honour of your name. For nothing is more dangerous than a faithlesse companion and a secret enemy, especially when you shall leaue him at your backe behind you: for when he shall as occasion serues shew forth his hidden malice, he shall so much the more slily and desperatly indanger your person. Grittus enraged with his speech more than before, thought it best to make hast, & to vse his authoritie to the full; he commended Docia, and promised him in short time to requite his good will towards B him, especially if he would by some notable attempt abate the bishops pride. It is reported, that Grittus gaue him no other charge but to take the bishop, that so he might after the Turkish maner haue sent him in chaines to CONSTANTINOPLE, & bestowed the honor of the Vayuod vpon Hieronimus Lascus the Polonian, who in hope of that honourable preferment vnto him promised by king Iohn, had done him great and faithfull seruice, as his embassadour both vnto Solyman and also to the French king.The cause why Lascus the Polonian [...]ell from king Iohn. But when king Iohn perceiued that he could not conueniently without manifest danger place him, being a Polonian (who could scarcely speake the Hungarian language) gouernour ouer such a warlike people; he as it were enforced by necessitie, preferred this Americus the bishop of VERADIVM, a man of them both reuerenced and feared: Which so grieued Lascus, a man of great stomacke and experience, and thereunto excellently learned, that C he would neuer admit any excuse of the kings, but alwaies after complained that he was by the king deluded. Yet for all that, he kept himselfe within the bounds of loyaltie, and enjoyed certaine lands and townes which the king had giuen him in the borders of POLONIA; and estranged neuerthelesse from him in mind, was now become one of Grittus his followers, hoping of his better preferment by his meanes vnto Solyman; and for that cause was not so forward to doe the king such seruice as he had in times past. Now by the commandement of Grittus, a strong companie of Turkish horsemen, and certaine troupes of Hungarians, were deliuered to Docia; who secretly departing that night from BAXOVIA, came suddenly to the Vayuods campe, hauing a little before by his Hungarian spies learned that he lay in the open fields in his tent, by reason of the great heat, without any watch or guard, attended on only with his pages and houshold D hold seruants, as a man without feare; and that all the rest of his retinue lay dispersed in the countrey villages round about. All which serued so well for Docia his purpose, that the Vayuod ignorant of his death so nigh at hand, who rather contemned than feared his enemies, was suddenly oppressed by Docia his souldiours:The Vayuod murdred in his tent by Docia, and his head presented to Grittus so that whilest he was yet lying in his bed, and scarcely well awaked by his chamberlaines and the noise of the enemie; Docia breaking into his tent, cut off his head as he lay. All they which lay neere, amazed with the suddennesse of the matter, fled away for feare, and left their horses and other things for a prey to the Turkes, and other of Docia his followers. Docia hauing done so great an outrage, returned to Grittus presenting vnto him the Vaiuods head, which he brought in his hand by the eare. Lascus was then present, but altogither ignorant of the murther, who as a man moued with a naturall compassion in so sudden E and horrible a fact, and forgetting all former grudge (as in like case it oftentimes chanceth) stood as one dismaied, nothing rejoycing at the vnworthie death of his enemie. To whom Grittus turning himselfe said, Lascus, Doest thou not know this shauen pate, truely it is a great mans head, but of such a one as was verie ambitious, rebellious, and proud. To whom Lascus replied, Truely though I loued him not, yet I thought it not so whilest it stood vpon his shoulders: disallowing therein the crueltie of the fact. Which thing Grittus perceiuing, began to repent him of that was done, and said openly, That although he was worthily slaine, yet he could haue wished rather to haue had him taken prisoner.The Transiluanians rise vp in armes against Grittus, to reuenge the death of the Vayuod. The report of this horrible murther once bruted abroad, the bishops kinsmen and friends, yea almost all the people of that prouince rise vp in armes against Grittus, to reuenge the death of the reuerend bishop, whom liuing they had F both loued and feared. Neuer did any people in reuenge of a common wrong, enter into armes with greater desire, more heat, or quicker speed: so that in a few daies there were assembled togither fortie thousand horse and foot, vnder the leading of Stephanus Maylat a noble gentleman, who of all other most honored the bishop, and in that common griefe tooke vpon him as chiefe, the persecuting of the authors of such inhumane crueltie. Grittus perceiuing how grieuously the [Page] matter was taken, with the danger he was in, began to doubt with himselfe what course were G best for him to take. To go forward, and to fall into the hands of the furious people, the same was present death; and to returne and leaue the honourable deputation he had with so great expectation of all men taken vpon him, was vnto his aspiring mind no lesse torment than death it selfe. Thus perplexed, he with al speed got himselfe with his followers to the strong town of MEGE, in hope to shroud himselfe vntill such time as the rage of the countrey people were either of it selfe appeased (as it oftentimes falleth out in such sudden tumults) or else he might be relieued by king Iohn, or the Turkes Sanzacks which had the charge of the frontiers of the Turkish empire. The townesmen of MEGE seeing Grittus accompanied with so many Turkes, shut the gates against him: yet at length by the persuasion of the two Hungarian captaines Docia and Batianus, they gaue him leaue to enter into the base towne, hauing before retired themselues with all their substance H vnto the higher towne, which in manner of a strong castle commanded the lower. Here whilest Grittus with all carefulnesse fortifieth the place, and dispatcheth the messengers vnto his friends abroad for aid; his enemies with hideous noise & outcries approching the town, at their first comming attempted to haue scaled the wals and rampiers thereof: which thing whilest they disorderly did, with greater furie than discretion, they were easily repulsed and many of them slaine by the Turkes Ianizaries and harquebusiers.Grittus b [...]sieged by the Transiluanians. After which losse, by the direction of Maylat their Generall, they withdrew themselues out of the danger of the shot, and encamped on euerie side of the towne, hoping as the truth was, that their enemies vnprouided of victuall could not long hold the place, but must of necessitie either starue with famine or yeeld it vp. In the meane time Grittus resolutely enduring all the calamities of a man besieged, fell sicke, and so I much the more for that he could heare nothing of any aid which he expected frō his friends: For king Iohn glad in his mind of the distresse of the ouerseer, or rather competitor of his kingdome; and also knowing that he could not without great discontentment of his subjects oppose himselfe against such a multitude risen vpon so just a cause, yet for fashion sake sent certaine troupes of horsemen to his reliefe: who not altogither ignorant of the kings mind, made such hast, as men that purposed not to come in time to doe him good. As for the Turks Sanzacks of BELGRADE and SAMANDRIA, they enuying at his homage, flatly refused to depard from their charge to relieue him, without expresse commaund from Solyman himselfe: and Lascus (before one of Grittus his chiefe followers, but now a beholder of his distresse) when he had a little before departed from him to procure him some reliefe as he promised, did now in this extremitie forsake K him also. The citisens in the vpper towne, who a great while had stood looking on from aboue as men indifferent; perceiuing the full resolution of their countrie men to be reuenged, and the difficulties wherewith the Turkes were inclosed, assailed them also from the high towne. Grittus thus beset on euerie side, offered vnto the Transiluanians a great masse of money, to suffer him to passe forward into HVNGARIE: but their furious minds more desirous of reuenge than money, were not to be moued with any gold. In fine hee sent rich jewels vnto the Gouernour of MOLDAVIA his friend, to be readie at a certain houre when he would sallie out of the towne, to receiue him with certaine troupes of horsemen; so if it were possible to saue himselfe and his children. Grittus (whether it were vpon a doubtfull hope, or vrged by ineuitable destinie) sallying out of the towne at the appointed time, with Solymans commission in his hand, and missing L of the Moldauian,Grittus taken and b [...]ug [...]t to Maylat. fell vpon Francis Schenden the late bishops nigh kinsman, and Maylat his familiar friend, who furiously running in vpon him with tumultuous speech, violently [...]aught from his head his rich cap of Sables, and with his horsemen tooke him, being weake with sicknesse and making no resistance. His followers, especially the Turkes, enclosed on euerie side, were either slaine or taken. But Grittus himselfe being brought to the Generals tent, beset round with his armed enemies, and there examined, Why he had commaunded the Vayuod to be slaine? earnestly protested, That he neuer commaunded any such thing, and that it was done without his knowledge. Which his answere serued not his turne, all the people crying out against him with one voice, that he should as a sacrifice be offered vnto the Vayuods ghost. Whereupon he was by Maylat deliuered againe to Francis Schenden to be executed,Grittus beheaded. who without M delay caused his head to be strucke off. The nobilitie and the Vayuods kinsmen (after the manner of that people) dipped some part of their garments in his bloud, the longer to keepe in mind the remembrance of the reuenge. This was the shamefull end of Aloysius Grittus the duke of VENICE his sonne, Solymans deputie in HVNGARIE, with whom he was in such credit as neuer [Page] A was any Christian, abounding in wealth and world [...]y felicitie: but climing too fast vp the euill sta [...]ed ladder of ambition, suddenly [...] and neuer rise more. The executioner stripping his dead bodie,The riches foun [...] about Grittus▪ found about him so many pretious stones and [...]ewels as were valued at fortie millions of duckats. And not long after, La [...]cus sent for by the king to BVDA, was straightly examined vpon torture concerning Grittus h [...]s commission and purposes, and was in great danger of his life: but at last by the intercession of Sigismund king of POLONIA, he was set at libertie, and so fled out of HVNGARIE vnto Sigismund his [...] in POLONIA: after hee had long time wearied himselfe and aduentured his life in the Hungarian state▪ Docia the author of this Tragedie, was by the furious people afterwards rent in peeces, and so perished.

The same time that Grittus went from CONSTANTINOPLE into HVNGARIE, Solyman B the Turkish emperour dreading no danger out of EVROPE,Solyman a [...] one time purposeth to inuade Persia and Affrick [...]. tooke in hand two great expeditions both at one time, the one by land into ASIA against the Persians, and the other by sea into AFFRICKE against the Moores: promising vnto himselfe in his inordinate desires the monarchie of the whole world in short time, if he might subdue those two great nations whom he had alreadie in hope deuoured. But for as much as all cannot be told at once, which was at one time in diuers places so farre distant done; omitting for a while the expedition made in person himselfe against the Persians, we will first declare what he did by his lieutenants against the Moores. Hariadenus surnamed of the Christians Barbarussa, who succeeding his elder brother Horruccius in the kingdome of ALGIERS in AFFRICKE, had by many victori [...]s so enlarged the kingdome before gotten by his brother, that his name and power was now become terrible both to the C Christians and wild Moores, and his fame growne great in the Turkish court, was the cheefe author and persuader of Solyman to inuade AFFRICKE. But it shall not (as I thinke) be far from our purpose here breefely to rehearse by what meanes those two MYTILENE brethren, basely borne, crept out of a small galliot vnto the majestie of great kings, that herein they which come afterwards may also admire the wonderfull changes and chances of these worldly things, now vp, now downe, as if the life of man were not of much more certainetie than a stage play.

These two brethren, Horru [...]cius and Hariadenus, The [...]ore beginning of Horruccius and Hariadenus, who of base pyrats aspired to the kingdome of Algiers. borne at MYTILENE in the Island of LES [...]O, wearie of the poore and base estate they led at home with their father, a renegate Grecian: stealing a little galliot, committed themselues and all the hope of their good fortune to sea, where by chance they consorted themselues with Camales, a most famous pyrat of that time, vnder D whom Horruccius the elder brother for his forwardnesse became a captain: and growing rich by many purchases, and also strong with gallies and slaues which he had at sundrie times taken, and at last consorting himselfe with Haidin, Sinam the Iew, Salec, and other lesse pyrates, which afterwards became men of great fame and account, ouer whom he commaunded as an arch pyrat, came seeking after purchase as far as MAVRITANIA. At which time Selymes king of IVLIA CaeSARIA, which now we call ALGIERS, was in armes against his brother Mechemetes, competitour of the kingdome: who aided by the Numidians, now commonly called Arabians, put his brother in great doubt of his estate. Selymus glad of the comming of Horruccius & the other pyrats his followers, with a great masse of money paid before hand, induced Horruccius and the rest to take vpon them the defence of him and his kingdome against his brother: Which thing E Horruccius so happily performed, especially by the meanes of his harquebusiers, as then no small terrour to the wild Moores and Numidians, that in short time he repulsed that sauage people, and set Selymes at peace in his kingdome. Horruccius being a man of a sharpe wit, and by nature ambitious, noting in the time of his seruice the kings mild and simple disposition, void of all distrust; and that the naked Moores were no souldiors, but a light and vnconstant people, alwayes at variance among themselues; and that the wandering Numidians liuing barely, deuided into many factions, were easily by reward to be woon, or by force constrained: suddenly falsified his faith, and villanously slew Selymes the king, as he was bathing himselfe, mistrusting nothing lesse than the falshood of the pyrat; and in the same hurle murthering such as he thought would withstand his desire, and with bountie and crueltie ouercomming the rest, so wrought the matter, F that he was by generall consent chosen king of ALGIERS. Thus of a pirat become a king, he shortly after by policie surprised CIRCELLO, a famous citie (about sixtie miles distant from ALG [...]ERS) by his souldiors sent thither in the habite of marchants.Horruccius his successe. After that, he by his brother Hariadenus (no lesse valiant than himselfe) troubled all the Medeterranian sea from ALGIERS with his gallies, & all his neighbors: himselfe by land with daily incursions, leauing nothing vntoucht [Page] which might by force or policie be had▪ so that his power dayly encreased, men of seruice continually G resorting vnto him, as the cheefe man in all those parts. Not thus contented, he to enlarge his kingdome, draue the Spaniards out of BVOEA, a citie famous both for the great trade thither, and for the Mahometane schoole sometime there kept: at the taking whereof he lost his right hand with a shot, and in stead thereof euer after vsed a hand of yron, wherewith hee obtained many worthie victories against his enemies: for neere to ALGIE [...]S he ouerthrew an armie of the Spaniards, with Diego de Vara their generall. And shortly after, at such time as Hugo Moncada returning out of ITALIE with the old Spanish souldiours, landed in his countrey, hee enforced him againe to sea; where he with all his expert souldiours either perished by shipwracke, or driuen on shore, were slaine or taken prisoners by Horruccius, and thrust into his gallies. At last hauing in sundrie battels ouercome the king of TREMIS [...]A, Charles the emperour his confederat,H and thrust him out of his kingdome, he stirred vp both the Christians and Numidians against him: so that comming to take ORA and PORTVS, two strong holds kept by ga [...]risons of Spaniards sent thither to aid the king of TREMISSA,Horruccius slain and his head caried about in Spaine. he was by them and the Moores at the first repulsed, and afterwards quite ouerthrowne: where most part of his armie being slaine or taken prisoners, he with a few of his friends sought to saue themselues by flight ouer the desart sands; and seeing himselfe hardly pursued by his enemies, scattered many peeces of gold [...]pon the sands as he fled, thereby to haue staied their hastie pursute: but they more desirous of him than of his gold, followed so fast, that at the last they ouertooke him, and without further delay strucke off his head, which was afterwards sent into SPAINE, and carried vpon a launce thorow all the townes and cities alongst the sea coast, to the wonderfull rejoycing of the people, vnto whom I he had in former time done great harme.

Hariadenus surnamed Barbarussa, succeedeth his brother Horruccius in the kingdome of Algiers.After the death of Horruccius, Hariadenus inferiour to his brother neither in courage nor martiall prowesse, by the generall consent of the souldiours tooke vpon him the kingdome of ALGIERS. He, made he [...]re not onely of his brothers kingdome, but of his vertues and hautie thoughts, and of the surname also of Barbarussa, began forthwith to aspire vnto the empire of all that part of AFFRICKE, accounting what he had alreadie gotten, too little and too base to answere his desires. Wherefore he entred into armes, and became a terrour both to the Moores and Numidians, holding peace with some, and warres with others, as best serued his purpose: and with his gallies robbed and spoiled the coasts of SPAINE, SARDINIA, and the Islands BALEARES; fortune so fauouring him in all his enterprises, that he became both famous and fearefull K vnto his enemies.His wonderfull successe. He slew Hamet, a great commander among the Numidians, & chased Benchades and Amida, two of their greatest princes, out of the country: and with like fortune at sea ouercame Hugo Moncada, a famous Spaniard, who sore wounded, had much adoe to saue himselfe by flight, when he had lost diuers of his gallies. He also in battell at sea ouerthrew Rodericus Portundus, admirall of SPAINE: in which fight the admirall with his sonne were both slaine, and seuen of his gallies taken: In token of which victorie, he sent part of the rich spoile there taken with the admirals ensigne, as a present vnto Solyman, whereby he became famous in the Turkes court; but much more after he had repulsed Auria from CERCENNA, and taken two great Genoway ships which were comming to Auria loaded with men and munition, the losse whereof filled the citie of GENVA with much sorrow. All things sorting thus according to his desire,L and his name become no lesse terrible in SPAINE, ITALIE, SICILIE, and the Islands of the Mediterranean, than it was in the greatest part of AFFRICKE; Solyman grieued with the losse of CORONE, PATRAS, and the castles vpon the straits of LEPANTO, taken from him by Auria, Himerales his admirall being shamefully put to flight: by the counsell of his Bassaes, but especially of Abraham the cheefe Bassa,Solyman sendeth for Barbarussa. sent embassadours vnto him to ALGIERS, offering him the greatest honours of his court, and to make him admirall of all his fleet, if hee would forthwith repaire vnto CONSTANTINOPLE: for why he was the onely man in all mens judgements, who for his yeares and great experience at sea, as well as for his inuincible courage and glorie of his late atchieued kingdome, was to be compared with Auria, and to bee opposed against the Christian fleet. Sinas a great man in Solymans court, was with this embassage sent, and speedily M transported to ALGIERS by Mangalis, a famous pyrat, then gouernour of the RHODES: who at his landing was honourably receiued by Barbarussa, and audience giuen him. Barbarussa vnderstanding the cause of his comming, was exceeding glad thereof, presently conceiuing no small hope of obtaining the Monarchie of AFFRICK, if he might once come to Solymans presence, [Page] A and at large shew vnto him the state of AFFRICKE, and power of the Christians, with their continuall discord amongst themselues. Wherefore without further delay committing the protection of his sonne Asanes (then about eighteene yeares old) and the gouernment of his new gotten kingdome to Ramada and Agis, two of his nigh kinsmen and assured friends, of whose fidelitie he doubted not: he with fortie of his owne gallies, in most warlike manner appointed, set forward with Solymans embassadour towards CONSTANTINOPLE; where by the way hee met with a fleet of Genoway ships bound for SICILIE for corne, which after a sharpe and cruell fight he tooke and burnt. After that, landing by night in the Island of EL [...]A, not farre from NAPLES, he suddenly surprised RHIVM, a rich citie; where loading his gallies with the wealth thereof, and carying away with him all the inhabitants into captiuitie, he arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE B in the yeare 1533,Barbarussa commeth to Constantinople. where he was by the great courtiers brought to Solyman ▪ of whom he was joyfully receiued, if it were but for the presents which he gaue him: which were fair boyes and young maidens sumptuously apparrelled, eunuchs, and wild beasts of LYBIA, as Lyons, Leopards, and such like. But after he had certaine daies discoursed at large with the great Bassaes of the state of AFFRICKE, the strength of the Christians, and how the warres were to be managed, he was afterwards by them seldomer sent for,Barbarussa enuied in the Turk [...] court. and offering himselfe into their companie, was hardly admitted: for enuie (the inseparable companion of growing honour) had quickly ouer, taken him in the court, so that many men letted not openly to say, That it had not beene the fashion of the Othoman kings to preferre pyrats (the worst kind of theeues) to the honour of their great Admirall; and that there wanted not, neither euer would want men both vertuous and valiant C in the Turkes court, which could with great honour maintaine and augment the glorie of the Turkish empire both by sea and land, whereas he had against all right and conscience, by shamefull treacherie intruded himselfe into another mans kingdome in AFFRICKE, and there persecuted the Mahometane princes and people, being of no religion himselfe, as one that was borne of a renegat Greeke, and had from his youth liued as a mercilesse pyrat, and common enemie of mankind. By which speeches, Barbarussa well perceiued in how euill time Abraham Bassa his best friend, and by whose meanes he was sent for, was absent from the court: who at that time was gone into COMAGENA, and wintered at ALEPPO, with purpose (as Solymans forerunner) with the first of the Spring to passe ouer Euphrates against the Persian. After long sute and much expectation,Barbarussa rei [...] ct [...]d to Abraham the great Bassa. Solyman answered Barbarussa by A [...]ax and Cassimes, two of the great D Bassaes, That all the matter concerning him should be referred to the discretion of Abraham the cheefe Bassa, for that hee was by his counsell especially sent for into AFFRICKE: wherefore if he did expect any thing, he should repaire vnto him into SIRIA, that according to his graue judgement all things might be ordered.He trauelleth into Siria to the Bassa, and is by him commended to Solyman. Barbarussa thus rejected into SIRIA, although he well perceiued that it tended to his no small disgrace; yet in hope by sufferance to obtaine another kingdome, seemed contented with the answere, and resolued forthwith to take vpon him that long and painefull journey, which the old king lustily performed: and so posting by land thorow ASIA the lesse, and trauelling ouer the mountaine AMANVS, then couered with deepe snowe, came in the dead time of Winter to ALEPPO in SIRIA, where hee was honourably receiued of the great Bassa, and heard at large, to his so good contentation and liking, that he deemed him E of all others the fittest to commaund the Turks power at sea, and to that purpose writ commendatorie letters in his behalfe to Solyman; wishing him for his sufficiencie to place him as the fourth with the other three Bassaes of his counsell.His returne to Constantinople. After Barbarussa was againe arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE with these letters, and that it was once knowne how effectually the cheefe Bassa had commended him to Solyman, it was a world to see, how vpon the sudden the face of the court was changed vpon him, euery man either for friendship or flatterie begun now to speake of his praises, and to extoll his worthinesse: who was now in all mens mouths but Barbarussa? so great was the power & authoritie of the cheefe Bassa, that being absent, yet was his approbation of all men accounted sufficient to preferre whom he pleased; & his letters lawes to the rest of the court, Barbarussa had brought with him from ALGIERS one Roscetes, Roscetes. the elder brother of Muleasses, F king of TVNES, who wrongfully driuen into exile by his younger brother, had liued certaine yeares at ALGIERS▪ but now by the persuasion of Barbarussa was come with him to CONSTANTINOPLE to craue aid of Solyman against the oppression of his brother. Him Barbarussa oftentimes shewed vnto the great Bassaes▪ and in his discourses with them concerning the conquest of AFFRICK, set him out as a most fit instrument for subduing of the kingdome of TVN [...]S, [Page] as a man whom the people more affected than they did Muleasses the vsurper. After long deliberation G and consultation had with the Bassaes, concerning the inuasion of AFFRICRE, Barbarussa now admitted vnto the presence of Solyman, in these or like words persuaded him to that warre, for the entrance whereinto we haue thus farre digressed.

Barbarussa his speech to Solyman to persuade him to inuade Tune [...].

What thing the priests with lowd voice vse to pray for, at such time as the Othoman emperours enter into the temple to pray, the same thing doe I also wish vnto thee most mightie Solyman, which is, That thou shouldest remember, thy progenitors by iustice and religion to haue got for thee this empire, than which, more magnificent or richer the gods haue not giuen to any: for fortune hath neuer deceiued them that tread that way, and thou hetherto hast so traced their steps, that thou hast easily surmounted their fame and glorie, administring iustice to thy subiects; and inflamed with the hope H of eternall praise, making continuall warre against the enemies of our religion, the true office of a zealous prince. By this meanes is BELGRADE taken, RHODES woon, the king of HVNGARIE slaine in battell, GERMANIE twice harried and burnt: so that Charles, whom the Christians would make equall to thy selfe in power and valour, with the great aid almost of all the Christian nations, terrified with the noise of thy armie, shunned battell. But for as much as empires be they neuer so large, or victories be they neuer so glorious, can either satisfie the greatnesse of an heroicall mind, or glut the same with glorie: thou hast therefore sent before thee thy victorious ensigns against the Persians and Parthians, that those nations who haue wickedly fallen from our rites, purified as it were by thy sacred armes, may be againe reclaimed to the auntient rites of our religion. But be this vnto thy greatnesse most honourable to attempt, and glorious to performe: let it only be lawfull for me now growne an old I man in the middest of armes and dangers, to declare what is expedient, and briefly to open such things as I haue by long experience learned to concerne the augmenting of thy fame and empire elsewhere. Neither would I haue you to take this as presumptuously spoken of me: for fortune hath enough, yea and more than enough fauoured my designes, whom from a poore cottage and bare hope, she hath promoted to glorious victories, great riches, yea vnto the title and maiestie of a king. But vnto these things the gods could giue me nothing better than to be called for of thee, and sent for, in counsell to discourse of matters of greatest importance: wherefore my aduise shall bee vnto thee faithfull, and with experience confirmed; which although it be all that it seemeth old men can doe, yet in my sound bodie remaineth such strength, that I dare both promise and performe vnto thee my good seruice at all assaies both by sea and land. For vnto this onely course haue I bent my selfe day and night from my K youth (following the purpose & counsell of my valiant brother Horruccius, who to extend the bounds of our religion, persecuted the Christians both by sea and land) desiring nothing more, than that thy fleet and power might once be ioined with my forces and direction, and so vnder thy good hap to be either a commaunder, or els commaunded: for as much as it grieueth me not to be commaunded by my betters: of which my desires if the gods shall make me partaker, the Spaniards shall shortly be driuen quite out of AFFRICKE, thou shalt heare that the Moores are gone ouer into SPAINE to repossesse the kingdome of GRANADO, that TVNES and NVMIDIA are at thy commaund, and not to speak of SARDINIA and CORSICA, that SICILIA is ours: which once taken, we shall starue vp ITALIE, and on euery side distresse it with our fleet, being now weake and brought low by the discord of the princes, and that part thereof both towards SICILIA and MACEDONIA readie to submit it selfe L vpon any condition, so it might cast off the Spanish yoke. Thinke not that either that strength or vnitie is now in ITALIE, which was when thy great grandfather Mahomet hauing taken HYDRVNTVM, brought a great feare not vpon ITALIE onely, but vpon other the Christian nations also: For by the good successe of that warre, which all the Christian princes could hardly withstand, he had vndoubtedly taken the citie of ROME, and so according to right and reason againe vnited the empire of the East and of the West, as they were before in their auntient glorie: But hee suddainely left the world, rapt to heauen, that he might leaue to thee (according to the appointment of the fatall destinies and reuolutions of the heauens) this worke of absolute perfection. And yet my purpose is not by putting thee in hope of so great and rare a triumph, to interrupt or hinder thee for turning thy power into the East against thy old and irreligious enemies, deseruing all extremities: for thy nauie shall be M sufficient for me, whereof thou shalt haue no need in thy warres so farre within land, that whilest thou art conquering ASIA, AFRICA the third part of the world may in the meane time be brought vnder thy subiection also. Where before all other things, Muleasses is to be driuen out of TVNES, a man of insatiable couetousnesse, vnstayed lust, horrible crueltie, hated both of God and man: who hauing [Page] A by treacherie slaine eighteene of his brethren, or that which worse is, cruelly burnt out their eyes, doth so raigne alone, that he hath left him neither kinsman nor friend: For being as vnthankfull as perfidious, he hath murthered all his fathers friends, who with great trauell had preferred him to the kingdome, so to make short paiment for so great desert. With this beast we must haue to doe, whom whilest no man loueth, all men easily wish to perish. The Numidians trouble him with daily inuasions, whose iniuries the infamous coward endureth with such shame and reproach, that it should seeme he had rather to suffer them than reuenge them. And yet this effeminat distard holdeth in chaines many valiant Turkes, and acknowledgeth not your imperiall name, whereunto all men on euerie side sue for grace: and which is not to be suffered, exceedingly fauoureth the Spaniards at TRIPOLIS, to the intent that Agis and Moses, two valiant Turkish captaines, may be driuen out of the citie. B This wild beast disarmed of his clawes and teeth, we shall easily destroy, if it be but for that we haue with vs Roscetes his brother, whom the Numidians wish and long for: him must we vse, if it be but for a shew, so shall the thing we desire be without bloud effected, as soone as we shall but present our selues before the gates of TVNES. Then shall it be at your pleasure to appoint whom you will haue to gouerne the Numidian kingdome: it shall be vnto me glorie enough, when the greatest part of AFFRICKE conquered, shall be peaceably deliuered into your hands at your returne with the triumphs of PERSIA. But by the way as I returne, I assure you vpon mine owne priuat so to vse the matter, that the Christians shall also haue good cause to bewaile their calamities: and if I hap to meet with Auria, he shall haue smal cause to reioyce of the mischiefe he hath done: for him alone I challenge to persecute as my proper and peculiar enemie, both for the remembrance of the harmes we haue receiued at his C hands, and for the despight I haue at his fame; who once taken out of the way, the seas shall be open onely to you and your fleets. And beleeue me, he that shall be able to commaund the seas, shall easily also subdue the kingdomes by land.

But Solyman, who after the manner of wise princes vsed well to consider, and afterward with ripe judgement to resolue of such matters as he had with attentiue eare hearkened vnto; commending Barbarussa for his forwardnesse in his seruice, for that time brake vp the counsell. Not long after a decree was made, according to Abraham the great Bassa his aduise, That Barbarussa should be joyned as fourth with the other three chiefe Bassaes of Solymans counsell, and be made great Admirall: so that all the islands, ports, and people all alongst the sea coast thorow out Solymans D empire,Barbarussa made Solymans great Admirall. should be at his commaund, and that it should be lawfull for him to take vp such marriners and souldiours for seruice at sea, as pleased him in what place soeuer. This being solemnly proclaimed, Solyman with his owne hand deliuered him a scepter and a sword, willing him by worthie deeds to performe what he had promised. After which Aiax and Cassimes the two great Bassaes, with the captaine of the Ianizaries, brought him with exceeding pompe from the court to the Nauie: at which time was carried before him all the tokens of his new obtained honour. And toward the maintenance of that warre at sea, he had deliuered vnto him out of Solymans treasures eight hundred thousand duckets, and eight hundred Ianizaries.

But for as much, as much it was that he did in the seruice of Solyman, and more is of him hereafter to be spoken; it shall not be amisse here to present vnto the view of the world the sterne, E but liuely countenance of this so famous a man (who liuing kept all the Mediterranean in feare) as it is by Boisardus expressed, togither with the Elogium following.

[Page]

BARBARVSSA.

Littora te Hesperiae timuere vtrius (que), Lybes (que)

Oppressi dextra succubuere tua.

Nunquam te Lypare Corcyraue diliget, harum

Cum sis immeritos depopulatus agros.

The coasts of ITALY and SPAINE, of thee were sore afraid,

And so the Moores did stoupe to thee, by thy right hand dismaid.L

LYPPAROS will thee neuer loue, ne yet CORCYRA strong:

For that thou causelesse didst to them so great and open wrong.

Barbarussa sped of that he desired, staied not long after at CONSTANTINOPLE, but departing out of HELESPONTVS with eightie gallies and certaine galliots, shaped his course towards ITALIE; leauing Amurathes (a sea captaine) with twelue gallies to transport Solyman and his armie, readie to set forward against the Persian, ouer that narrow sea into ASIA. Who after hee had so done, ouertooke Barbarussa at METHONE, who holding on his course to AFFRICK, and sodainly passing the strait betwixt ITALIE and SICILIE,He spoileth the coast of Italie. brought a great feare vpon both the M countries; but passing by the bay of HIPPONA alongst the coast of the lower CALABRIA, he set vpon the towne of S. Lucidius called in auntient time TEMPSA: which although it stood vpon a rocke, and was reasonable well walled; yet such was the violence of the Turkes assault, that it could not be defended but was taken, with so much more hurt to the inhabitants, for that the [Page] A Maior of the towne to keepe the people from flying away, had lockt vp the gates on the other side of the citie from the enemie. From thence he with rich spoile and many prisoners went to CITRARIVM, where he had learned of his prisoners, a fleet of gallies was in building. This towne forsaken of the inhabitants for feare, he tooke without resistance, ransaked and burnt it, where he also fired seauen gallies not yet altogither finished. But after he was come with his fleet as farre as the island CAPRI within the sight of NAPLES, such a terrour was strucke into the minds of all that dwelt alongst that coast, that it was thought if he had landed and gone directly to NAPLES, the Neapolitanes would for feare haue abandoned the citie. But holding on his course, he came to PROCHITA, which he tooke and rifled: so passing by the port of CAIETA, which he might easily haue taken, he came to SPELVNCA, a towne in the hithermost part of B the kingdome of NAPLES. They of the towne dismaied with the sudden arriuall of so great a fleet, yeelded the same without resistance. The enemie entring the towne, tooke twelue hundred prisoners. Pelegrinus a chiefe man amongst them of SPELVNCA was fled into the castle; him Barbarussa commaunded to yeeld, which if he would presently doe, he promised to let him go free; but if he should stand vpon his defence, he threatned in short time to make him repent his foolish hardinesse with the vtter destruction both of himselfe and the towne. The fearefull gentleman without delay, came out of the castle, and fell downe at his feet; who according to his promise gaue him his libertie, and with rare courtesie restored to him his wife▪ his sonne, and niece, whom hee had taken prisoners, who receiued them with many teares falling from their eyes for joye.

C The same night also two thousand Turkes came from the fleet thorow the rough and bushie mountaines to the citie FVNDI, ten miles distant from SPELVNCA, in the vttermost borders of the kingdome of NAPLES, conducted as was thought by certaine Italians of that countrey; who a few yeares before taken at sea, and ouerwearied with the heauie burthen of the Turkish slauerie,Iulia Gonzagá [...] faire lady hardly distressed by Barbarussa. had reuolted to the Mahometane religion. But such was the suddennesse of their comming, and their celeritie in entring the citie, that Iulia Gonzaga the paragon of ITALIE, and the chiefe prise which they sought after, had scarce time to get to horse halfe naked, and so with much difficultie to escape into the mountaines. It is reported, that Barbarussa (which thing he himselfe afterwards seemed not to denie) moued with the same of her incomparable beautie and wonderfull perfection, desired exceedingly to haue taken her as a present for Solyman. The citisens D were for most part either slaine or taken prisoners by the Turkes; who loded with the spoile of the citie, returned againe to the fleet. Another part of Barbarussa his fleet came to TARRACINA, which the Turks tooke forsaken of the inhabitants, who for feare were all fled into the mountaines, except some which for age or sicknesse could not shift for themselues, whom the Turkes slew and spoiled the churches.The Romans afraid of Barbarussa. Barbarussa thus scouring alongst the coast of ITALIE, and newes thereof daily brought to the citie of ROME, strucke such an exceeding terrour into the minds of the citisens, that it was verily thought if he had come but a little farther to OSTIA, they would generally haue forsaken the citie. But he hauing well performed his promise made to Solyman for vexing the Christians, and before resolued of a greater matter he had to doe; when he had watered at PONTIA, passed ouer into AFFRICK with such celeritie, that he was arriued there E before it was thought that he was departed from the coast of ITALY. For Barbarussa to deceiue Muleasses king of TVNES, and to take him vnprouided, had giuen it out that he would burne and spoile the coasts of the Christian countries, especially of ITALY, LIGVRIA, and SPAINE, in reuenge of the harme done by Auria at CORONE and PATRAS. Which thing Muleasses the rather beleeued, vnderstanding his proceedings vpon the coast of ITALY. The Venetians hauing also at the same time at great charges prepared a great fleet, did in some part lessen Muleasses feare, that Barbarussa would employ his forces for AFFRICKE: for then what should the Venetians haue needed to haue made so great and chargeable a preparation. But that which aboue all other things brought him into securitie, was for that he had by secret espials certainly learned, that his brother Roscetes was kept at CONSTANTINOPLE, as a prisoner at large, vnder F safe keeping: which made him to thinke that Barbarussa his forces were not prepared against him, for he knew that he could not be impugned, or his state more endangered by any other meanes than by producing the competitour of his kingdome, to whom his guiltie conscience doubted, that both the citisens of TVNES and the Numidians were for most part well affected.

This Muleasses of whom we now speake, and whom hereafter we shall by occasion often remember, [Page] was lineally discended of the auncient kings of Tunes;Muleas [...]e [...] king of Tunes. who without interruption of G discent or mixture of forraine bloud, had by the space of nine hundred fiftie and foure yeares mightily ruled the great kingdome of TVNES, from TRIPOLIS to BVGIA, almost eight hundred miles alongst the Mediterranean, and into the maine as farre as the mount ATLAS: and for the long continuance of their state, and largenesse of their kingdome, were worthely accounted the most reuerend and mightie amongst the Mahometane kings of AFFRICKE. His father Mahometes, when he had with much glorie and more pleasure raigned two and thirtie yeares, perceiuing the end of his life to approach, had purposed to haue appointed Maimo his eldest sonne (whom for his hastie aspiring he then held in durance) to succeed him in his kingdome. But ouercome with the importunitie of Lentigesia his wife, a woman of hautie spirit, who had by reward made a strong faction in the court for her sonne Muleasses, he altered his former purpose,H and appointed him his successour: by whom (as it was thought) the small remainder of his owne old yeares was shortened; Maimo the right heire of the kingdome in prison, presently murdred; seuenteene of his other brethren vnmercifully executed; and three other, Barcha, Beleth, and Saeth, with more than barbarous crueltie, with a hoat yron of their sight depriued: only Roscetes the second brother, and Abdemelech, escaping the hands of their vnnaturall brother, fled to Morhabitus a great prince amongst the Numidians; whither also their brothers malice persecuted them, seeking sometime by practise, sometime by poison to haue taken them away, and at last for a great summe of money to haue had them deliuered into his hands: Which money they Numidian receiued, but suffered the distressed princes as if they had escaped against his will, to flie further to another Numidian prince a friend of his, called Bentieses: where Muleasses I by like practises as before sought to haue destroied them, or to haue got them into his owne power. Thus chased by their brothers endlesse malice from prince to prince, and place to place, they for their more safetie fled at last to the citie of BISCARIS farre into the maine land: where Abdemelech as one wearie of the world, gaue ouer all and betooke himselfe to a solitarie life, and became a melancholy Mahometane monke. But Roscetes courteously entertained by Abdalla prince of that citie, found such fauour in his sight, that he gaue him his daughter in marriage, and long time honourably maintained him as his sonne in law, with such carefulnesse, that for feare of Muleasses practises, he was seldome permitted to eat any other meat but such as the prince or his wife had before tasted of. Muleasses thus raigning and raging, and yet not contented with the death of so many of his brethren, proceeded further, and murthered diuers of their children K also.The ingratitude of Muleasses. He caused also the Manifet and Mesuar, men of greatest authoritie in all the kingdome, his fathers graue counsellors and his cheefe friends, by whose meanes especially he had aspired vnto the kingdome, to be cruelly tortured to death▪ fearing their greatnesse, or rather as some thought greeuing to see them liue to whom he was so much beholden, and therefore rewarded them with such sharpe payment. And by the instigation of Lentigesia his mother, caused diuers of his fathers other wiues and concubines to be shamefully murthered, inueighing oftentimes against his father, that as an effeminate prince with infinit charges had for his pleasure maintained two hundred wiues and concubines in his houses of delight, by whom he had begot so many sonnes competitours of the kingdome, that he had left him (as he said) a laborious and enuious peece of worke,Roscetes riseth against his brother Muleasses. to destroy so great a brood. Roscetes aided by his father in law and the other Numidian L princes, to whom the name of Muleasses both for his crueltie against his owne bloud, and injurious dealing against his neighbours, was become odious, passing ouer the riuer Bragada, with a great armie, neere vnto TVNES met with Muleasses his armie, conducted by Dorax, a valiant captaine, brother to Lentigesia: where in a sharpe conflict he ouerthrew his brothers armie, and enforced Dorax with them that were escaped out of the battell for safegard of their liues to flie into TVNES. Roscetes pursuing the victorie, came and presented his armie before the gates of the citie, in hope that the citisens (whom he knew for the most part to hate the vsurping tyrant) would vpon the sight of him, in right their king, with so great an armie, raise some tumult in the citie, and let him in. There he lay by the space of twentie daies, still expecting some innouation; in which time the more to alienate the minds of the people from Muleasses, and to shew M how vnable he was to protect them, he burnt and destroyed all the oliue and fruit trees, which grew most plentifully and pleasantly all alongst the country, from the ruines of old CARTHAGE to the wals of TVNES: which was vnto the citisens, whose greatest possessions lay there, a most heauie and lamentable spectacle. But Muleasses had so attempered their minds with faire speeches [Page] A and large promises of recompensing euery man to the full, for all such harme as they should sustaine by his brothers furie in the countrey: and beside that had the citie in such strong possession by reason of his souldiors, that the citisens either would not or could not reuolt to Roscetes. The Numidian princes wearie of that long and vaine expectation,Forsaken of the Numidian princes, he flieth to Barbarussa. according to the leuitie of that nation, accounting it no shame after victorie once gotten to depart, began one after another to shrinke away to their owne dwellings, persuading Roscetes also to prouide for himselfe whilest he had time, and to attend his better fortune. Wherefore he fearing to be betrayed by the Numidians, or circumuented by his cruell brother, fled to Barbarussa, then raigning at ALGIERS in great glorie, where he was honourably entertained; and there remained vntill such time as by his persuasion he went with him as is aforesaid to CONSTANTINOPLE, to craue helpe of Solyman, B by whom he was detained in safe custodie: although it was in policie giuen out by Barbarussa, that he was in the fleet, and that he should by Solymans power be restored to his fathers kingdome at TVNES.

This was the state of the kingdome of TVNES,Barbarussa landeth at Biserta. at such time as Barbarussa with Solymans great fleet, contrarie to all mens expectation, suddenly departing from the coast of ITALIE, landed in AFFRICKE at BISERTA,Biserta yeelded. a famous port of the kingdome of TVNES. They of BISERTA wearie of the gouernment of Muleasses, and of themselues desirous of change▪ as soone as they heard the name of Roscetes, forthwith draue out their Gouernour, and receiued the Turkes into the towne. For Barbarussa had before sent certaine of Roscetes his familiar friends ashore, which bare the people in hand, that he was in the fleet, but not able yet to come on shore, for C that he was (as they said) seasicke and troubled with an ague. BISERTA thus possessed by Barbarussa, he presently departed thence: and sayling by VTICA, thirtie miles distant from BISERTA, and so keeping alongst the coast,Barbarussa commeth to Guletta. and passing the promontorie of CARTHAGE, came before GVLETTA, a strong castle within the bay of TVNES, so placed vpon a strait, that it commaundeth all the passage by sea vnto the citie of TVNES. Before this castle, Barbarussa in token of friendship, discharged all his great ordinance, which they of the castle answered with like: but being required to deliuer it vp to Roscetes, they said it should be alwayes at his commaund that ruled in the citie of TVNES. The newes of Roscetes his supposed comming, flying swiftly by land from BISERTA to TVNES, and the great fleet once discouered, set all the citie on an vprore: for the citisens were in great expectation of their new king, both for the loue of Roscetes, who had D alwayes shewed himselfe to be of a mild and bountifull nature; and also for the hatred of Muleasses, whose tyrannous and couetous gouernment they thought they had too long endured. Neither was he ignorant what report ran of himselfe, and how he had lost the hearts of his subjects, which was euidently to be seene in the eyes and countenances of the cheefe men of the citie. And that which more encreased their hatred, was for that he had not according to his promise to them in time of his distresse, made them any recompence for their goodly houses and oliue gardens, destroyed in the countrey by Roscetes in the former warres: wherefore at such time as he came now out of the castle, and in the greatest assemblie of his people, began to persuade them to play the men, and to continue constant in their obedience, promising vnto them such reward as they knew he was neuer able to performe, they all departed, and left him alone: E yea some of them vnder the colour of friendship, and amongst them Abdahar, then Mesuar, (which was cheefe officer next vnto the king) persuaded him to giue place to his hard fortune, & forthwith to flie,Muleasses flieth out of Tunes. for by chance at the same instant it was in euery mans mouth, that the Turks were euen at hand: which thing caused Muleasses, forsaken of his subjects, of himselfe fearefull, and worthily doubting to be betrayed, to flie in such hast out of the citie, that he left behind him both his treasure and jewels, which afterwards came into the hands of his enemies. The first that reuolted was Abezes, a man of great authoritie; and Fetuches, captaine of the castle; both renegate Spaniards. Fetuches presently after the flight of Muleasses, brought out Roscetes wife and children, whom Muleasses had long time kept in prison, & to welcome their father, placed them in the kings royall seat. Abezes also forthwith aduertised Barbarussa of the departure of Muleasses, F and with what longing the people expected their desired king, wishing him without delay to repaire vnto the citie: and for a present sent him a goodly Barbarian horse, richly furnished, and diuers others for his other cheefe captaines. Hereupon Barbarussa without longer stay set forward with fiue thousand Turks,Barbarussa entreth into Tunes. which he had alreadie landed, and comming to the citie, was of the citisens joyfully receiued. But after long looking, when they could no where descrie Roscetes [Page] their supposed king, and heard nothing but the name of Solyman and Barbarussa, doubled G and redoubled by the Turkes in their militarie acclamations, as they marched thorow the citie towards the castle; they began to distrust, as the truth was, that in stead of their new king whom they so much desired, they had receiued the Turkish gouernement, which they vtterly detested. Which suspition once confirmed by certaine of Roscetes friends (whom Barbarussa had brought with him of purpose to delude the people) who grieued to see the ruine of their natiue countrey, spared not for feare of the present danger to tell their friends and acquaintance as they went, That they did in vaine looke for Roscetes, whom they had left in bonds at CONSTANTINOPLE:The citisens de [...]iued of their expectation, [...]ise against the Turkes. it was a wonder to see, how suddainely the minds of the people were changed, how speedily they ran to their weapons, and how furiously they assailed the Turkes, now fearing no such matter, and were not as yet all got into the castle. The cheefe leader of the H citisens in this tumult, was Abdahar the Mesuar, who but a little before vpon the comming of the Turkes, by augmenting the danger, and the vnfaithfulnesse of his subjects, had persuaded Muleasses to flie; but now perceiuing himselfe deceiued of his expectation for the comming of Roscetes, and repenting of that he had done, sought by all meanes to driue out the Turkes, and to recall Muleasses. And the more to animate the people, as he stood on high, from whence he might best be heard, he cried vnto them with a loud voice: ‘We are most villanously betrayed (worthie citizens) for Roscetes, whom we expected for our lawfull king, lamenteth his miserie in chaines, in prison at CONSTANTINOPLE: and we, except we presently play the men, and valiantly fight for our libertie, shall for euer serue as slaues to these forraine and mercilesse pyrats. The present danger of our estate telleth vs, that we must presently I and without delay take the occasion offered. Wherefore let all men that meane not to serue as slaues, and to be bought and sold as beasts, take vp armes against the faithlesse Turkes. I my selfe will be your leader: let vs therefore all with one consent with heart and hand reuenge this shamefull trecherie, defend our countrey and libertie with the antient honour of the Numidians.’

There was now no time to stay, euery man had betaken himselfe to his weapons; Muleasses was againe sent for, who yet staied in the suburbes, expecting what should happen; many of the Turkes were slaine before they were aware, or feared any thing; all the citie was filled with outcries and clattering of weapons: the number of the citisens was such, as might easily haue expulsed the Turkes, had they beene but reasonably armed or well conducted, which in a matter so sudden, and with men altogether ignorant of seruice, was not possible. Yet they armed K with furie, and encouraged with the multitude of themselues, swarmed vp as thicke as was possible one of the bulwarkes of the castle, which they knew was easiest to bee gained, where the Turkes had set vp one of their ensignes; and with the multitude of their darts and arrowes so ouerwhelmed the Turkes, that they were glad to forsake the place, and to retire farther into the castle to a place of more strength: from whence and all alongst the curtaine of the wall, they without intermission discharged their great artillerie and small shot amongst the thickest of the naked Moores, making of them a wonderfull slaughter. Barbarussa although he was a man of an inuincible courage & great experience, all his life time well acquainted with desperat dangers (the dreadfull steps of aspiring minds) yet surprised with the suddennesse of the assault, shut vp in a place whereof he yet knew not the strength, and not prouided of victuall for three dayes, was L with the due consideration of these difficulties, not a little troubled: which his care was by the disordered furie of his enemies, and knowne valour of his owne souldiours greatly deminished; especially when hee saw his owne men still fighting, as men full of hope and courage, and the Moores as men halfe dismayed with the wounds and slaughter of their friends, readie to retire. Howbeit,Muleasses returneth into the citie. by the comming in of Muleasses and Dorax, the assault twice before giuen ouer, was againe at both times renewed, with no lesse desperat furie than at the first, and the Turkes hardly charged. In this dangerous assault Halis of MALIGA, a renegate Spaniard, but a most expert souldior, turning himselfe to Barbarussa, said: ‘If thou wilt saue thine honour, and hold this fort, we must sallie out vpon this enemie, which hauing neuer seene a set battell, but onely acquainted with light skirmishes, will not be able to endure M our charge at hand, but shall in a moment know the price of their foolish hardinesse: who as brainesicke men could neither endure the gouernment of their cruell king, ne yet thankefully receiue the authors of their deliuerance and libertie.’

This motion of the Spaniard, confirmed by the generall approbation of the cheefest captaines, [Page] A Barbarussa commaunded Halis the author of that counsell, with certaine other captaines and their companions, at one instant to sallie out at two ports of the castle: which they so resolutely performed, that in short time a wonderfull number of the naked Moores lay dead vpon the ground.

Abdahar the Mesuar himselfe, was there shot thorow with a bullet and slaine: whereupon the assault was quite giuen ouer, the Moores retyring by companies backe into the citie, and the Turkes still pursuing them:The citis [...]ns of Tu [...]e [...] discomfi [...]ed by the Turks. where, in the streets for certaine houres, was fought a most cruell and bloudie battell. At last the citisens ouercome, forsooke the open streets, and betooke them to the refuge of their houses; not so carefull of their king, as of themselues, their wiues and children. And Holis with the rest, wearied with the slaughter of his enemies, and ouercome with B labour, heat, and thirst, returned with victorie vnto the castle. It is reported that there was aboue three thousand of the citisens slaine that day,Muleasses flieth. and thrise as many hurt. Muleasses thus discouraged, and vtterly despairing to recouer the citie; hardly escaped his enemies hands, by the good helpe of his vncle Dorax, with whom he fled ouer the riuer Bagrada, and came in safetie to CONSTANTINA (called of old time CYRTHA) the antient seat of the Numidian kings, but then a part of Dorax his dominion; where he was honorably maintained and protected vntill the comming of Charles the emperour into AFFRICKE. The night ensuing this battell, and the flight of the king▪ was restlesse both to the citisens and the Turkes, each of them for feare of other standing vpon their strongest guard.

The next day the citisens discouraged with the losse of so many of their kinsmen and friends, C and hauing no king now for whom they should fight, craued pardon of Barbarussa for their rash attempt,The citisens of [...]unes yeeld thē selues to Barbarussa. excusing it by the name of loyaltie to their antient kings; offering to submit themselues vnto him with all faithfulnesse. Which their offer he willingly accepted, knowing that he was not able to keepe that place with his souldiors three daies, for lacke of victuall: so that all his hope and victorie gotten, might easily be ouerthrowne and brought to nought, if the citisens moued either with desperation or desire of reuenge, should joyne with the other Numidian princes, and besiege him in the castle. Whereupon a generall peace was granted, and by solemne oath on both sides confirmed, whereby the citisens expresly bound themselues to the obedience of Solyman, and to Barbarussa as his lieutenant. All things thus set in order in the citie of TVNES, & new magistrates and officers by him made, he laboured by all meanes to win vnto him the Numidian D princes: which when he had easily brought to passe by gifts and rewards with those needie princes, of themselues prone enough vpon light occasions to make or breake the bonds of friendship, he sent Asan-aga an eunuch, and Halis the Spaniard with the Ianizaries, & certaine pieces of great ordinance, to take in the other cities of the kingdome of TVNES: which they in short time performed, being in all places peaceably receiued, onely the citie of CARVENNA held out a while, yet afterwards for feare of further harme receiued the Turkes garrison. But to leaue Barbarussa king of ALGIERS and Solymans great Admirall, thus possessed of the kingdome of TVNES; and Muleasses in exile at CONSTANTINA, vntill he be againe restored vnto his kingdome by Charles the emperour, as shall be hereafter declared: let vs againe returne to the wars at the selfesame time vndertaken by Solyman in person himselfe in PERSIA, persuaded therunto E as we haue before said by Abraham the great Bassa. Of whom a few words, that they which shall hereafter liue, may in him as in others, see in what slipperie place they stand, and what small assurance they haue, which forsaking God, run headlong after these worldly vanities, and swelling with the fauours of great princes, are in a moment when they least feare any such fall, suddenly ouerthrowne, and become the miserable spectacles of mans fragilitie in the height of their supposed blisse.

This great Bassa called of the Turkes Ibrahim, The description of Abraham the great Bassa. of vs Abraham, was borne in a poore countrey village neere vnto PERGA, a towne in that part of EPIRVS which was called BVTHROTIA: who in his childhood was taken from his Christian parents, by such as by authoritie did take vp the tribute children of the Christians for the Turkish emperour. A tribute of all tributes F most grieuous. He was of countenance amiable, of feature comely, actiue of bodie, well spoken, pleasantly conceited, and sharpe of wit: so that he in shorter time than was thought possible, to the admiration of many, learned both to speake and write the Arabian tongue, and other languages vsed in the Turkes court, and could skilfully play vpon sundrie kinds of instruments. And being yet a boy, serued Scanderbassa, a man of great authoritie and power, in the [Page] time of Selymus the emperour, in whose seruice he was instructed in the Mahometane religion; G but giuing himselfe to all manner of curiositie and neatnesse, he was wonderfully fauoured by the great ladie his mistresse, and by her commended to her husband Scanderbassa, as a fit page to attemper his melancholy and wayward disposition, with his pleasant conceits and deuises. Wherein the Tetricall Bassa finding him to excell, gaue him as a rare gift to Solyman the sonne of Selymus, his grandfather Baiazet yet liuing: who tooke in him such pleasure, that the old emperour caused him to be brought vp in the court,His bringing vp in the court. in all princely qualities with Solyman (who was of like yeares vnto him) as his companion and playfellow. Where he so framed himselfe vnto the young prince his disposition in all points, that he was of him alwaies exceedingly beloued, and afterwards promoted to all the honours of the court, and made one of the Bassaes; giuing vnto him in marriage the onely daughter and heire of Scanderbassa, his master then dead,H with an exceeding great dowrie. And after that, made him Gouernour of CAIRE: where hee had not long remained, but he was againe sent for to the court, as the man which gaue thereunto life, without whose companie Solyman was as one halfe dead. At length he made him Vesier, which is the chiefe of all the Bassaes, and president of his counsell, the greatest honour in the Turkish empire next vnto the emperour himselfe. And to honour him yet more, he deliuered him his priuat signet, wherwith the Turkish emperour [...] neuer vsed to trust any but themselues: he might at his pleasure, grace, and disgrace whom [...] would, in court or elsewhere. What he commaunded, was done: and whatsoeuer he did, [...] [...]aken for well done. He might without the emperours knowledge giue any office,His great credit with Solyman. yea the [...]ernment of whole countries and prouinces, vnto his fauourites: his credit with the empero [...] [...]as so great, that hee did what I he list, and no man durst presume to aske any reason why. And [...] say all at once, he wanted nothing of the majestie of an emperour, but the name onely; in steed whereof he was commonly called the Great Commander of all the emperours forces. His house in CONSTANTINOPLE was of all other most stately, wherein was daily to be seene such a multitude of his gallant followers, and such a world of wealth and royall furniture, as that it might be worthely compared with the pallace of a great prince. Neither was he partaker of Solymans counsailes in his waightie matters of state onely, but of his secret delights and pleasures also; if he were present all was well, if he were away nothing pleased: to be short, he so possessed this great emperour, that men commonly said, The soule of Solyman liued in Abraham. Whereat many of the great men of the court secretly repined; but especially Solymans mother, and Roxalana his faire concubine,K whom of all women hee held dearest. His liuely and majesticall countenance thou maiest here behold.

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ABRAHAM.

Magnus es & Getici tibi gratia prona tynanni

Seruit, at ex alto magna ruina venit:

Te proceres odere, Parens (que), & regia coniux

Horum ne pereas proditione caue.

Right great thou art, and doest commaund the fauour of thy king:

E But such great fauours oftentimes, a greater fall doe bring.

The great kings mother, wife, and all the nobles hate thee sore:

Beware that by their wily drifts thou perish not therefore.

This great Commaunder,Abraham Bassa persuadeth Solyman to make war vpon the Persians. which might at all times be bolde to speake what he thought vnto Solyman, sought many times in his priuat discourses betwixt them two, to persuade him to forbeare to vse his forces any farther against the Christians, ouer whom he had sufficiently alreadie triumphed, and to turne them vpon the Persians by whom he was daily injured. Alleadging vnto him, that the Germans were a strong and warlike people; who as they both in language F and manners differed from the Hungarians, so were they alwaies at variance with them, and therefore much cared not though they were by him subdued: but if he should begin to inuade any part of their countrey, he should then soone see that inuincible nation with their vnited forces, vp in armes readie to make strong resistance. And to prouoke Charles the emperour (of all the Christian princes the mightiest) were not good, who of himselfe was able to bring into the [Page] field most puissant armies of valiant souldiours out of his owne dominions: beside the wonderfull G concourse of most resolute men out of all parts of Christendome, which would not spare to lay downe their liues at his feet in that warre, which was of them accounted most religious. Yea what strength both of horse and foot might be raised and brought to the battell by the two brethren Charles and Ferdinand, onely might (as he said) euen then be plainely perceiued, when as they valiantly defended VIENNA, besieged by vs with great power. Neither did Charles afterward, as it seemed, and as the Christians commonly vaunt, feare to haue aduentured the fortune of a maine battell with you: who although I doubt not but he should haue beene ouercome by you so great a monarch with so puissant an armie, a thing peculiar to your good fortune; yet I cannot denie, but that that victorie against such expert and resolute soldiors, so strongly armed as their manner is must haue been bought with a great deale of our bloud. These things in my opinion may reasonably persuade you H to let the Christians alone, by ciuile warres to weaken one another, that so afterwards they may become a prey vnto vs without any danger of ours. So that in my iudgement the Persian warre is to be taken in hand, rather than the warres in GERMANIE, and especially for that you haue sufficiently enlarged the bounds of your empire Westward: which you haue extended euen vnto nations very far distant. So that it is now a great matter to defend so much as you haue alreadie gotten, and therefore partly for the difficultie of the defending thereof, and partly vpon an honourable contempt, according to the infinit bountie of your heroicall inclination, haue thought good to bestow whole kingdomes vpon strangers, yea halfe your enemies. Wherefore how much more glorious shall it be now vpon iust occasion to seeke for that which ioyneth vnto your owne confines; and may therefore easily be vnited vnto your owne empire: if you according to the example of your grandfather and father shall force your selfe to I driue that accursed and abhominable race of Ismaell out of ASIA. For it shall be a great glorie vnto the name of the Othoman kings for euer, if you shall after your wonted manner zealously respect the cause of religion; a worke of an incomparable fame, if the authors of a most detestable superstition shall by you be chased quite out of ASIA. For what more iust or honourable cause can there be to make warre, than to professe your selfe the defendor of the deuine precepts of our great prophet Mahomet, against the wicked and irreligious impugners thereof? And by the way to reuenge and vtterly to destroy the capitall enemies of your auncestours: which was the last prayer of your father Selymus. Can you endure them which rule so insolently, that they account euery one that is neere them their enemies and prey, and dare also with their pilfering inuasions prouoke your selfe, liuing contented within the bounds of your owne empire in peace both in EVROPE and ASIA? and they (forsooth)K such as haue by most horrible wrong crept into the royall seat of the most lawfull and noble kings descended of the bloud of Vsun-Cassanes? who after their wonted manner still liue by rapine and robberie? Beleeue me noble emperour, if you shall vpon a zeale to your religion with your victorious hand take away this staine and plague of ASIA, there shall vndoubtedly be erected vnto you so glorious and magnificent a trophie in the middest of PERSIA, as may be compared, yea preferred before the triumphs of your victorious father Selymus. For it is not so much to haue destroyed the Mamalukes (by condition slaues) and the proud Sultans of AEGIPT and SIRIA, as to haue subdued the Persians, famous in antient time for their martiall prowesse, who so oftentimes vanquished by Alexander of MACEDOM gaue vnto him the name of Great. Solyman prickt forward with many such discourses, dayly sounded in his eares by the Bassa, began to yeeld to his persuasion. Whereof L Abraham in himselfe greatly rejoiced: for it was thought of many, that he did neuer in heart renounce the Christian religion, but was onely in outward shew a Turke, and in heart a Christian. Which was the rather conjectured, for that he maruellously fauoured and protected the Christian marchants, furthered by all meanes the leagues of the Christian princes with Solyman, and laboured alwaies to turne his forces from them vpon the Persians. And the more to whet him forward, the Bassa had cunningly insinuated into his acquaintance one Mulearabe of DAMASCO, a man at that time famous in CONSTANTINOPLE, for the opinion the people had generally conceiued of his holinesse and profound knowledge in the secret causes of things, and the art of Magicke; vsing him as a prophet to fill the ambitious mind of Solyman, with assured hope of prosperous successe: which thing the hypocriticall wisard, after the manner of such deceiuers,M slily performed, prophesieng vnto him all happinesse in so religious a warre, and so much (as he said) pleasing God. This the Bassaes purpose was much furthered also by Vlemas, a noble and valiant Persian, who hauing married the great Persian king Tamas his sister, was reuolted from him to Solyman, fearing to be called to account for the extorsion wherewith he had grieuously [Page] A oppressed the countries whereof he had the gouernment and being wonderfully countenanced in Solymans court by the great Bassa, did after the manner of disloyall fugitiues persuade Solyman by all means he could to take that war in hand, discouering vnto him the power, strength, and state of the Persian kingdome (which he could well doe) and plotting vnto him the easiest way for the conquering thereof,Solyman resolueth to goe against the Persians. offering also vnto him the vttermost of his deuoire. So Solyman filled with the vaine hope of the conquest of PERSIA, yeelded fully vnto the persuasions of the great Bassa, and ga [...]e out his commissions into all parts of his empire for the raising of a mightie armie for the performance of so great an enterprise, commaunding all his captaines and men of warre to be readie at the citie of NICE in BYTHINIA at a certaine day appointed▪ Which his purpose, although it was mightily impugned by his mother, and faire Roxalana his best beloued, B as that which altogether proceeded from the Bassa:Abrahams credi [...] maligned by Solymans mother and Rox [...] lana. the one alleadging with what euill successe his grandfather and father had before him attempted that same war; the other assailing him with her passionat affections▪ but both of them indeed repining at the credit of the Bassa and in their hearts disdaining that so great a monarch should at the pleasure of his seruant be led vp and down the world so farre from their companie: for which cause they did what in them lay to haue ouerthrowne the purpose of Abraham, and to haue altered Solymans former determination. But so strong was the Bassaes credit with his great lord and master, that all these great ladies deuises and prayers were as womens affectionat passions rejected, and the Bassaes counsell (to their no small greefe) in all things regarded.

The time appointed being come,Abraham Bassa sent before with an armie into Siria. and all things in readinesse, Solyman sent Abraham the C Bassa, and Vlemas the Persian before him into SYRIA with a strong armie, to be readie with the first of the Spring to inuade the Persian king. Which thing the Bassa gladly tooke vpon him, and comming into SIRIA, wintered with his armie at AL [...]PPO: whither Barbarussa came vnto him for his letters of credence to Solyman, as is before declared. The Spring now approching, Abraham sent Vlemas the fugitiue Persian prince before him with the light horsemen, the forerunners of his armie, into MESOPOTAMIA as his guide, because the countrey was vnto him best knowne; following not farre after himselfe with all his armie. And marching still forward in that manner, came at length without resistance vnto the famous citie of TAVRIS in ARMENIA the greater; called in auntient time ECBATHANA, as is probably by some conjectured: a great and rich citie, but vnwalled and of no strength▪ where the Persian kings (for the pleasantnesse D of the place, and freshnesse of the ayre) vsed commonly to be resiant in the heat of the yeare. From whence Tamas the Persian king was as then absent, busied in warres with Kezien-bassa, a prince of the Corasine Hircanians:The citie of Tauris yeelded to the Bassa. so that the citisens of TAVRIS destitute of all helpe, yeelded themselues and the citie vnto the Bassa at his first comming. Tamas the Persian king vnderstanding what was happened at TAVRIS, drew neere with his power, warily expecting to haue taken the Turkes at some aduantage, and so by pollicie to haue defeated his enemies, whom hee was too weake to meet with in plaine battell. Which thing the warie Bassa well perceiuing, for more assurance, by speedie courrors aduertised Solyman of the taking of TAVRIS, and of the enemies purpose, requesting him with all speed to repaire with his armie to TAVRIS. Solyman was then come farre on his way with a strong armie, not by the way of ANCYRA, SEBASTIA, E AMASIA, the borders of TRAPEZONDE, and so ouer Euphrates at ARSEN [...]A into ARMENIA, as his father Selymus had done before him, because that way was thought longer and more troublesome: but quite another way, on the right hand from NICE in BYTHINIA to ICONIVM, and by CaeSARIA to MALATHIA, where is the notable passage ouer the riuer Euphrates, bursting out by the vallies of the mountaine ANTITAVRVS, from whence the plaines of MESOPOTAMIA, then part of the Persian kingdome, begin to open themselues; thorow which countrey Solyman marched peaceably with his armie, paying the poore countrey people for whatsoeuer he tooke and so in foure and fiftie dayes march came from NICE in BYTHINIA to the citie of COIM in ARMENIA the greater, which is supposed to be built in the ruines of the famous and antient citie ARTAXATA.Solyman commeth to Tauri [...]. But hearing such news as is aforesaid from the Bassa, F he doubled his march, and so in short time after came and joyned his forces with the Bassa at TAVRIS. Tamas who yet dayly expected the comming of the Georgian light horsemen, vnderstanding that Solyman was comming against him with a world of men, thought it not good to abide the comming of so puissant an enemie, but with delay to wearie him out that drew such a multitude of people after him; and by taking of him at all aduantages, to cut off his people [Page] spent with long trauell, wanting victuall, and falling into diuerse diseases; as it commonly chanceth G to populous armies in strange countries, where the change of the aire, with the ineuitable necessities alwaies attending vpon a great armie, most times causeth grieuous and contagious diseases. Wherefore Tamas to shun the comming of Solyman, retired further off into SVL [...]ANIA, about six daies journey from TAVRIS.Solyman followeth Tama [...] the Persian king into Sultania. Wherof Solyman hauing knowledge, departed from that rich citie without doing any harme therin, following after Tamas into SVLTANIA to joine battell with him if he could possible: leauing behind him for hast, a great part of his carriages and baggage, with fiue hundred Ianizaries, and three of his Sanzackes with their companies. The citie of SVLTANIA was in auntient time one of the royall seats of the Persian kings, but ruinated by the Scythian Tamerlane, retained no shew of the auntient majestie, but onely in the churches by him spared. Neere vnto this citie Solyman lay encamped many daies, expecting that H the Persian king (in reuenge of the injurie to him done, and for the safegard of his honor) should at length come out of the mountaines, and shew himselfe in plaine field, and giue him battell: Which was a thing so farre from Tamas his resolution, vpon the due comparing of his owne strength with his enemies, that he retired in such sort, that Solyman could by no meanes learne what was become of him, or which way to follow him.

The countrey neere vnto the citie of SVLTANIA wherein Solyman lay encamped at large, is on euerie side enuironed with hugie mountaines, whose tops are to be seene a farre off, alwaies couered with deepe snow: these mountaines were in auntient time called NYPHATES, CASPIVS, COATHRAS and ZAGRVS, taking their beginning no doubt of CAVCASVS the father of mountaines; and joyning one to another, some one way, some another, doe diuide most I large and wide countries. Whilest Solyman in those plaine fields most fit to fight a battell in, expected the comming of Tamas, such a horrible and cruell tempest (as the like wherof the Persians had neuer before seene at that time of the yeare) fell downe from those mountaines; which was so much the more strange, for that it fell in the beginning of September: with such abundance of raine, which frose so eagerly as it fell, that it seemed the depth of Winter had euen then of a sudden been come in: for such was the rage of the blustring winds, striuing with themselues as if it h [...]d beene for victorie, that they swept the snow from off the tops of those high mountaines, and cast it downe into the plaines in such abundance, that the Turkes lay as men buried aliue in the deepe snow, most part of their tents being ouerthrowne and beaten downe to the ground with the violence of the tempest and waight of the snow,Solymans armie d [...]s [...]ssed with tempest. wherein a wonderfull number K of sicke souldiours and others of the baser sort which followed the campe perished, and many others were so benummed, some their hands, some their feet, that they lost the vse of them for euer: most part of their beasts which they vsed for carriage, but especially their camels, were frozen to death. Yea Solyman himselfe was in great danger to haue beene ouerwhelmed in his tent, all the tents round about him being ouerthrowne with the violence of the tempest. Neither was there any remedie to be found for so great mischiefes, by reason of the hellish darknesse of that tempestuous night, most of their fires being put out by the extremitie of the storme: which did not a little terrifie the superstitious Turkes as a thing accounted of them ominous. And that which troubled them no lesse than the miseries of the tempest, was the fear of the enemie, whose sudden comming they deadly feared: vntill that after so tedious a night, the Sunne breaking out L the next morning, with his cheerfull beames reuiued many before readie to giue vp the ghost for cold, and gaue comfort to them all in generall, by discouering the open fields cleare of their feared enemies. It was a dreadfull thing to haue seene what miserie that one night had brought into the Turkes campe: the ground lay almost couered with bodies of the dead; and many liued, but so, as that they accounted the dead more happie than themselues. Many of the Turks vainly thought, that horrible tempest was brought vpon them by the charmes and enchantments of the Persian Magicians; whereas it was vndoubtedly, by the hand of him which bringeth the proud deuises of princes to naught.

Solyman troubled as well with the strangenesse of the accident, as the losse he had receiued, after he had a little refreshed his discouraged soldiors, rise with his armie and tooke his way on the left M hand into ASSIRIA: Vlemas the Persian persuading him therunto for many causes, but especially by putting him in hope of the taking of BABYLON; for that Mahometes a friend of his, was gouernour thereof. But he when the matter came to proofe, was not to be woon either by promise or reward to betray the citie. Wherefore Solyman resolued to take it by force, neither did [Page] A his fortune faile him therein: for as soone as Mahometes vnderstood that Vlemas was at hand with the forerunners of the Turkes armie, and that Solyman with all his power was comming after, who as he thought would neuer haue come so farre; he not prouided to withstand so mightie an enemie,Babylon yeelded to Solyman. and not beloued of the citisens, fled out of the citie. Solyman comming, in short time after was of the Babylonians receiued without resistance. This citie of BABYLON commonly called BAGDAT, rise out of the ruines of the old citie of BABYLON, so much spoken of in holy writ: from whence it is not farre distant, standing vpon the riuer Tygris, which not farre beneath falleth into the riuer Euphrates. In this famous city is the seat of the great Caliph, the chiefe Mahometane priest, whom all the Mahometane princes haue in great reuerence, & hath an old prerogatiue in the choise and confirmation of the kings of ASSIRIA▪ and the Sultans of AEGYPT: B of which Caliph, Solyman according to the old superstitious manner, receiued at his hands the ensignes and ornaments of the Assyrian kings, and with great bountie woon the hearts of the people: and thereupon resolued to spend that Winter there, billi [...]ing his armie in diuers places of that fertill countrey. The other cities of ASSIRIA and MESOPOTAMIA also, namely CARAEMIDA, MEREDINVM, ORSA, and ASANCESA, hearing that Solyman had without resistance taken BABYLON, yeelded themselues and receiued his garrisons. Yea the fame thereof was so great, that embassadours came vnto him as farre as ORMVS, a citie in the mouth of Euphrates, where it falleth into the Persian gulfe, famous for the great traffique out of INDIA thither, suing vnto him for peace.The countries of As [...]iria and Mesopotamia possessed by the Turks▪ Thus the auntient citie of BABYLON with the great countries of ASSIRIA and MESOPOTAMIA, sometimes famous kingdomes of themselues▪ and lately C part of the Persian kingdome, fell into the hands of the Turkes, and became prouinces of the Turkish empire in the yeare 1534. Where Solyman after he had spent that Winter in great joy and triumph, according to the manner of the Turkish gouernment, placed a great Commander, which they by a proud name call the Beglerbeg (which is as much as to say, the lord of lords) and vnder him diuers others for the gouernment of these countries, by parts, which they call Sanzacks, who are euer at the commaund of the Beglerbeg. Whilest he thus wintered at BABYLON, he caused Ashender Zelibi (which is to say▪ Alexander the noble) his great treasurer for the warres, to be hanged, for that he had vnfaithfully dealt in his office; and confiscated all his goods.

Tamas hearing that Solyman was gone to BABYLON,Tamas commeth to Tauris. returned to TAVRIS: of whose speedy D comming, the Ianizaries and other captaines there left by Solyman vnderstanding, fled in hast out of the citie, leauing all such things as were committed to their custodie, for a prey vnto the Persian souldiors.

Solymans armie being mightily increased by the comming vnto him of the great Bassa of CAIRE,1535 with the Sanzacks of ALEXANDRIA, IVDEA, SYRIA, and COMAGENE; by the persuasion of Abraham, and Vlemas, the Spring now well come on, departed from BABYLON againe towards TAVRIS, with purpose either to draw Tamas to battell, or else to his eternall infamie before his face to sacke that his regall citie.Tamas hearing of the comming of Solyman to Tauri [...], flie [...]h into Hircania. But Tamas aduertised of his comming, and knowing himselfe too weake to giue him battell, forsooke the citie, and fled into the mountains of HIRCANIA: destroying all the countrey before him as he went, and carrying away the inhabitants, E leauing nothing to relieue the Turkes, if they should pursue him. Solyman vnderstanding that Tamas was againe fled, sent Vlemas with all the choise horsemen of his armie to ouertake him if it were possible, and to fight with him. But when he had followed him two or three daies journey, and still found the countrey desolat as he went, yeelding neither forrage for his horses, nor reliefe for his men, and saw no hope to ouertake the king; he began as a prouident Generall to forecast the extremities like to befall in his returne thorow those desolat countries, with the enemie at his heeles: and thereupon in time retired backe againe to Solyman, declaring vnto him what had happened. Who fretting in his mind, that the Persian king was not to b [...] drawne to battell, marched forthwith to TAVRIS, entred it without resistance, the citisens submitting themselues vnto him: whose liues spared, he gaue that rich citie for a prey vnto his soldiors, F who left neither house nor corner thereof vnransacked, abusing the poore citisens with all manner of insolencie▪ euerie common souldiour without controlment, fitting himselfe with whatsoeuer best pleased his greedie desire or filthie lust. Tamas had in this citie a most stately and royall pallace▪ So [...] [...]ansa [...]keth Tauris▪ so had also most part of the nobilitie, their sumptuous and rich houses, which by the commaundement of Solyman were all rased downe to the ground, and the greatest part of [Page] the best citisens and beautifull personages of all sort and condition, at his departure thence carried G away captiues. Solyman contenting himselfe to haue done the Persian king this disgrace in spoiling this his rich and royall citie, returned againe towards MESOPOTAMIA, destroying the countries all the way as he went, killing the verie beasts and cattell, thereby the more to impouerish the Persians, wishing to leaue nothing vnto them but penurie and miserie. He was scarcely past COIM and the Calderan fields, famous for his fathers victorie against Hysmaell, but that certaine troupes of the Persian horsemen were in the taile of his armie, and had taken away some of his baggage, and slaine diuers of the sicke and stragling souldiours; and with their often skirmishes did not a little trouble his whole armie. Besides that, it was noised thorow all his campe, That Tamas himselfe was comming after him with a great power of horsemen, taken vp in HIBERIA, ALBANIA, PARTHIA, MEDIA, and ARMENIA, and would be at their backes before H they could get out of ARMENIA: for which cause, hee appointed the two great Bassaes of CAIRE and SYRIA (for so they were called) and Vlemas the Persian with eighteene thousand good souldiours to follow him in the rearward of his armie, to receiue and represse the sudden assaults of the Persians, if need should require: and so still kept on his march, vntill he was come to AMIDA, now called CARAEMIDA, an antient citie of MESOPOTAMIA. In the meane time, Tamas the Persian king was returned to TAVRIS with a mightie armie, in hope there to haue suddenly surprised his enemie, surcharged with the pleasures of so rich a citie: but finding him gone, and beholding the miserable spoile and desolation he had made in the citie; moued with indignation, he resolued to pursue him whither soeuer he were gone, and was now on his way as farre as COIM. Where vnderstanding that Solyman was gone so farre before, that he was I hardly to be ouertaken; and finding the noble gentlemen in his armie, vnwilling in their heauie armour to vndertake such a pursuit, as could not be performed without the wonderfull toile of themselues, and most assured losse of their goodly horses, alleadging that they were prouided to fight a battell, and not to trauell so long a journey (all which Tamas now that his choller was ouer, knew to stand with good reason) he changed his former determination, thinking it best there to stay, and not to follow the pursuit of his enemies any further: vntill that Delimenthes one of his noble men,Delim [...]nthes with 5000 Persian [...] [...] the [...]urkes. alwaies more forward than the rest, offered with fiue thousand chosen horsemen to ouertake some part of the Turkes armie, and to doe on them some good seruice. Which his offer Tamas gladly accepted, commending him greatly for the same, promising him most honourable reward: and so in hast sent him away.K

He forthwith taking the well knowne and neerest way, vsed such expedition, that he was in hope to ouertake the rearward of the Turkes armie (marching not farre now before him) about the foot of the mountaine TAVRVS, as in deed it fell out, at a place called BETHLIS. This BETHLIS is a famous towne in the confines of the Persian kingdome, where it bordereth vpon MESOPOTAMIA, standing in a pleasant valley, by which runneth a little riuer falling out of the mountaine ANTITAVRVS; and had a castle kept with a garrison of PERSIANS. In this valley, the two Bassaes of CAIRE and SYRIA conducted by Vlemas, thinking they had now beene past all danger of the enemies pursuit, staied with the rearward of the armie to refresh their wearied souldiours, vpon certaine knowledge, that Solyman with the rest of his armie was alreadie come in safetie to AMIDA in MESOPOTAMIA; and therefore lay as men secure without any L suspition of the comming of the Persians, whom they had not so much as heard any thing of in long time before. But Delimenthes vsing most faithfull and diligent espials of that countrey people, by that time he was come within one daies journey of BETHLIS, vnderstood certainly where the Turkes lay, wearie of their long trauell, as men without feare, keeping little or no watch in their campe: Whereupon he determined in the dead time of the night following, to assaile them in their campe: and by secret messengers gaue knowledge both of his comming, and of this his purpose to the captaine of the castle of BETHLIS, requesting him at an appointed houre vpon signe giuen, to be readie to sallie out with his garrison vpon that side of the Turkes campe which was towards the castle. Which his venturous designment was so furthered both by the darkenesse of the night,Delimenthes assa [...]eth the Turks campe by night, and maketh a great slaughter. and the abundance of raine which fell at the fame time, as if it had M beene wished for; that he was got with all his resolute followers within the Turkes campe, before they were aware of his comming: where the Persian souldiors, as wolues amongst sheepe, did such speedie execution amongst the sleepie Turkes, that the two great Bassaes and Vlemas, had much adoe to get to horse and saue themselues by flight. And such was the furie of the Persians, [Page] A and the greatnesse of the sudden feare encreased by the darkenesse of the night, that the Turkes not knowing which way to turne themselues, or what to doe, were slaine by thousands, some sleeping, some halfe waking, some making themselues readie to fight, and some to flie, few of all that great armie escaped the sword of the Persians. Of the fiue great Sanzackes which were in the armie, three were slaine, and one taken. Eight hundred Ianizaries seeing themselues forsaken of their cheefetaines, laid downe their harquebusiers and other weapons, and yeelded themselues vpon Delimenthes his word. The fierce mountaine people also, who in former time had suffered great injuries of the Turkes, after the death of Aladeules their king, had now joyned themselues to the Persians, and notably reuenged their wrongs; to whose share all the baggage of the Turkes campe fell for a prey. It might then well haue beene said of the Turkes B which the Poet speaketh of the night wherein TROY was sackt:

Quis cladem illius noctis qui funera fando explicet? —

The slaughter of that night was such, as that it is of the Turkes vntill this day accounted amongst their greatest losses; and the victorie so welcome to the Persians, that in memoriall thereof they kept that day (which was the thireenth of October) as one of their solemne holidaies for many yeares after. Delymenthes returning all bloudie with the slaughter of the Turks, and loaded with their spoiles,Solyman discouraged. was of Tamas joyfully receiued and honouraly rewarded.

This ouerthrow reported to Solyman by the two great Bassaes and Vlemas, as men that had hardly escaped shipwracke, so daunted his proud conceits, that he resolued in himselfe to returne C home, and no further to prosecute that vnfortunat warre: the euill euent whereof his mother (as hee said) had more truly presaged, than had the cold prophet Mulearabe; but secretly in mind displeased with Abraham the great Bassa, by whose persuasion he had taken in hand that dangerous expedition. By the way as he went he was met at ICONIVM by Barbarussa and Sinan Bassa, surnamed the Iew, a man for his skill at sea in reputation next vnto Barbarussa. These two great personages lately come from ALGIERS to CONSTANTINOPLE with the remainder of his fleet, met him so farre by land, to shew their joyfulnesse for the conquest hee had made of MESOPOTAMIA and ASSIRIA, and to excuse themselues for the losse of the kingdome of TVNES; which woon by Barbarussa in the beginning of the Persian warre, was before the ending thereof againe wrong out of his hands by Charles the emperour, and restored to Muleasses, D as shall be hereafter declared. They with great humilitie declared vnto him the whole processe of that warre, and with what successe they had endured the force of Charles the emperour himselfe in person: shewing plainely vnto him, that there wanted neither valour in the souldiors, nor direction in them the commaunders, but onely fortune, which as it mightily raigneth in all mens; actions, so especially in matters of warre. Solyman gratiously accepted of their excuse, and courteously tooke them vp, prostrate at his feet, commending them for their valour in their euill haps, in a plot so well by them laid▪ more than he did the victorie of others, got by good fortune, not grounded vpon any good reason: willing them to be of good cheare, saying, That he would in short time find occasion for them to recompence that disgrace, & againe to shew their approued valour. After long trauell he came to the strait of Bosphorus, where Abraham the Bassa going E before him, had in signe of triumph caused the shore all alongst the place where he should go abourd the gallie prouided for his transportatiō, to be couered with Persian silke for him to tread vpon: from whence he passed with much triumph ouer to his pallace at CONSTANTINOPLE.

Enuie, the fatall and cruell companion of princes immoderat fauours, had with her prying eyes quickly discouered in court Solymans changed countenance vpon the great Bassa, and began now to shew her gastly face. They which before were most readie to doe him all the honor possible, yea to haue laied their hands vnder his feet, sought now by all secret meanes to worke his disgrace and confusion. But of all others, the two great ladies, Solymans mother, and the faire Roxolana ceased not by dayly complaints to incense Solyman against him: the mother, for that he had by his persuasion, contrarie to her mind and her superstitious obseruations drawne her F sonne into the dangers of the Persian war:Abraham the great Bassa in disgrace with Solyman. and Roxolana, for that he most honoured and sought the preferment of Mustapha, Solymans eldest sonne by another woman; whereas shee aboue all things laboured by all subtill meanes to preferre Baiazet her owne sonne to the empire, after the death of Solyman his father: Which her designement she perceiued to be much crossed by the credit which the Bassa had with her Solyman, and therefore did what shee might both to bring [Page] him out of fauour, and to worke his destruction. But that which most empaired his credit with G Solyman, was the common report raised of him by his enemies, That he being in heart a Christian, did in all things fauour the Christians (a thing most odious amongst the Turkes) and had for that cause craftely persuaded Solyman to take in hand the vnfortunat Persian warre. And that which more encreased the suspition, was, That he about that time had caused one Marke Nicholas, a Venetian marchant (who had not without the suspition of some oftentimes come vnto him with letters and secret messages whilest he lay at BABYLON) to be taken in the night, and murdered at CONSTANTINOPLE, and cast into the sea, because hee should not discouer any thing that might be hurtfull vnto him. Abraham thus brought in disgrace with Solyman, was (after the manner of the Turkish tyrannie) bid to a solemne supper in the court about the foureteenth of March, after which time he was neuer more seene. It is reported, that after supper Solyman H fell into a great rage with him, charging him bitterly, That he had misgouerned the state, inuerted his treasures to his owne priuat, and as a traitor, had secret intelligence with the Christian princes his enemies: for proofe whereof, Solyman with sterne countenance shewed him his owne letters, which had by chance been intercepted, oftentimes asking him in furious manner, If he knew not that hand, if he knew not that seale. All which the Bassa lying prostrate at his feet, humbly confessed, and with many teares craued of him pardon. But his hard heart was not by any prayers to be mooued:Abraham Bassa murthered in the court by the commaundement of Solyman. for the same night as he was slumbring vpon a pallet in the court, ouercome with heauinesse, an eunuch cut his throat with a crooked knife, which Solyman for that purpose had deliuered vnto him with his owne hand. He was murdered sleeping, because Solyman had in former time of his fauour solemnely sworne vnto him, That he would neuer kill I him whilest he liued. By which oath the great Mahometane priest said, he was not so bound, but that he might kill him sleeping, for as much as men by sleepe depriued of sence, are for that time not to be accounted as liuing but as dead, mans life consisting altogether (as he said) in liuely actions. It is reported, that after Solyman had looked vpon the dead bodie, and bitterly cursed the same, he caused a great weight to be tied vnto it, and so cast into the sea. His treasure and goods, which were almost infinit, were the next day all ceised vpon for the emperour, and a small portion thereof appointed for his poore wife to liue vpon. His death was no sooner known, but that the vulgar people deuised of him infamous songs and slaunderous reports, as of a traitour most justly condemned: and in further despight, with stones and mire defaced the trophies of the Hungarian victorie, which hee had in most stately manner erected before his sumptuous house K in CONSTANTINOPLE. This was the wofull end of Abraham the great Bassa, who whilest he stood in fauour with his prince, was of all others accounted most fortunat, wanting nothing but the name of the great Sultan: but after falling into disgrace, became the scorne of fortune, and the lamentable spectacle of mans fragilitie. He was murthered the 15 day of March in the yeare 1536.

How the kingdome of TVNES was by Barbarussa (the Turkes great admirall) taken from Muleasses, we haue alreadie told: but how the same was againe taken from him by Charles the emperour a little before the returne of Solyman out of PERSIA, remaineth now to be declared. It was commonly reported,The causes which moued Charles the emperour to inuade T [...]es. and not without just cause feared, that Barbarussa, possessed of the kingdome of TVNES, and supported by the power of Solyman, would the next Summer, not L content himselfe with the spoile of the coasts of SPAINE, SARDINIA, and ITALIE, as he had in former time, but with all his forces inuade SICILIA, the garnerie and storehouse of ITALIE: and from thence attempt the conquest of the kingdome of NAPLES, which it was thought he in his immoderat desires had longed much after. To represse this his barbarous insolencie, and to worke the safetie of the frontiers of the Christian kingdomes (much subject to the rapines of the Turkish pyrats) Charles the emperour resolued in person himselfe with a puissant armie to passe ouer into AF [...]RICKE, whilest Solyman was yet busied in the Persian wars, and by force of armes to dispossesse the pyrat of his new gotten kingdome in TVNES. For the accomplishment wherof, he caused souldiours to be leuied in all parts of SPAINE, and came downe to BARCELONA with eight thousand footmen and seuen hundred horsemen, farre sooner than was by any man M expected:The emperours great preparations for the inuasion of [...]nes. amongst whom were many of the nobilitie of SPAINE, with their followers most gallantly appointed: but especially Ferdinand of TOLEDO, duke of ALBA, whose forwardnesse in that honorable action, with the desire he had to reuenge the death of his father Garzias, slaine before by the Moores at GIRAPOLIS, gaue great hope euen thē vnto his countrymen, That he [Page] A would in time prooue a worthie chiefetaine, as indeed he afterward did.

In the meane time Andrew Auria the great Admirall,Andrew A [...]ria the emperours Admirall. vnto whom onely for his approoued fidelitie and long experience the emperour had fully communicated what he had with himselfe before purposed, had with wonderfull diligence and celeritie rigged vp a great fleet of ships and gallies, so furnished with all manner of warlike prouision, as might well haue suffised a great armie: whereunto he joyned also his owne fleet of seuenteene gallies and three galeasses, wherein he had embarked the flower of GENVA and LIGVRIA, who with exceeding cheerfulnesse had voluntarily offered themselues to follow him their old Generall in that sacred expedition. With this great preparation Auria came to the emperour at BARCELONA: Thether came also Lewes the king of Portingals brother (whose sister Isabell, Charles the emperour had married) with B fiue and twentie Carauels, ships which the Portingals vsed in their Indian voyages, amongst whom was also one huge Galeon; all ships well appointed and fit for seruice, wherein were embarked two thousand Portingals, beside marriners: There also arriued sixtie saile of tall ships sent out of FLANDERS and the low countries, wherein were a great number of condemned persons, whose liues was spared that they might serue in the gallies: Vnto this warre Paulus the third of that name, then bishop of ROME, sent ten gallies vnder the conduct of Virginius Visinus: the Great Master of MALTA sent thither his fleet also. At the same time that all this preparation was in making in other places, that worthie chiefetaine Alphonsus Daualus Vastius, whom the emperour had appointed Generall of all his forces at land, had by the emperours commaundement taken vp fiue thousand new souldiors in ITALIE, which were led by Hieronymus C Tutauilla, countie of SARNE, Federicke, Caracte, and Augustina Spinula, all famous captaines. The old Spanish garrisons which lay in LOMBARDIE, the emperour commaunded to be straightly looked vnto, that none of them should leaue their places to goe in this new expedition, but to remaine there still vnder their Generall Antonius Leua: which worthie captaine although he would faine haue had him with him, as of all his greatest commaunders the best; yet he thought it good to spare him, both for that he was much troubled with the gout, and also for that it was necessarie, as he thought, to leaue such a valiant captaine with his garrisons in that countrey, so neere vnto the French and Swissers, whom he durst not so well trust as to disfurnish that countrey either of so great a commaunder,Alphonsus Da [...]lus Vastius Generall of the land forces. or of the wonted garrisons. At the same time Maximilian Eberstein, an old commaunder, came to Vastius with eight thousand Germans, D ouer the Tridentine Alpes to MILLAINE, and so to GENVA; amongst whom were diuers noble gentlemen, who then as voluntarie men serued of their owne charges. With these Germanes and the fiue thousand Italians, Vastius embarked himselfe at the port called PORTVS VENERIS, in LIGVRIA: hauing before persuaded them with patience to endure the tediousnesse of the sea, and to comfort themselues with the hope of the victorie in AFFRICKE; where they should fight in the quarrell of God, and for the emperour, who did neuer forget his religious and valiant souldiors. So sailing alongst the coast of ITALIE, he came to NAPLES, where the viceroy and diuers other of the nobilitie had of their owne charges, euery man according to his deuotion or abilitie, built or furnished some one gallie, some moe, for that seruice. It was a wonder to see with what cheerefulnesse the gallants and lustie youths of NAPLES, and all that part of E ITALIE, came and offered themselues vnto Vastius, so that it seemed there was none left behind in NAPLES: for he had with singular courtesie so woon the hearts of the old soldiors and lustie youths of that kingdome, that both the one and the other thought it a most honourable thing to adorne, the one their before deserued pensions, and the other their first entrance into martiall affaires, with the participation of so notable a victorie. But whilest euery man was thus busied in setting forward, certaine mutinous souldiours (wearie of the sea, and fearing the dangers of so long a voyage) began to cast many perils, to find fault with their small wages, and to discourage the multitude, persuading them with seditious speeches to forsake their colours, & to run away: for redresse whereof, Vastius caused the authors of that mutinie to be taken and thrust into sacks, and in the sight of the whole fleet to be cast into the sea. So Vastius departing with his fleet from F NAPLES, came in few dayes to PALERMO in SICILIE. The emperor also loosing from BARCELONA, came to the port of MAGO in the Island of MINORICA, and from thence to CARALIS in SARDINIA, whether Alphonsus Vastius was a little before come with all his fleet out of SICILIE. No [...] long after the emperour, now that all his forces were come together, passed ouer from SARDINIA into AFFRICKE, and with a faire Westerly wind put into the port [Page] of VTICA,The emperour passeth ouer into Affricke. which is of the seafaring men called FARINA. In the entring whereof the admirall G gallie, wherein the emperour himselfe was, by great mischance strake vpon a sand, and there stucke fast: which so much more troubled the emperour, for that his father Philip had by like mishap beene like to haue beene cast away vpon the coast of ENGLAND, as he was sayling out of the low countries into SPAINE: howbeit by the good direction of Auria she was quickly got off the sand againe, and entred with the rest, to the great rejoycing of the whole fleet. So presently departing againe from VTICA, and sayling alongst the coast, he doubled the promontorie of CARTHAGE, yet famous for the ruines of that proud citie, and came to anker before a castle, which of a well beneath it, is called by the name of AQVARIA, or the Water castle. The Moores,Barbarussa aduertised the comming of the emperour is much discouraged. who from the hils of VTICA and their watch towers had taken view of the Christian fleet and of the course it held, aduertised Barbarussa, That the Christians were comming against H him with an innumerable fleet: for there was of one sort and other almost seuen hundred saile, whereof 82 were great gallies, which gallantly garnished with flags and streamers, made a shew of moe than indeed they were and wonderfully terrified the enemie. But that troubled Barbarussa most, that he was by messenger vpon messenger certainely enformed, That the most mightie Christian emperour Charles was in person himselfe in the fleet, with such a world of people that it should seeme he had left none in SPAINE and ITALIE that were able to beare armes. Which newes was brought by certaine Mahometane slaues, who getting loose in the gallies, had in the night swum ashore, and reported the certainetie of the emperours comming: for the proud Turke, a great contemner of the Christian forces, neuer thought that the emperor would haue aduentured his person vnto the dangers of the sea, and chaunces of warre, especially in an I vnknowne barren and scorching countrey, but would rather haue attempted to doe something by his lieutenants; or els by Auria his admirall seeke to surprise some base places alongst the sea coast, but not to come directly for the regall citie of TVNES: in which opinion he was chiefly confirmed by Aloysius Praesenda, I [...] hi [...] [...]age he executeth Aloysius Praesenda. a gentleman of GENVA, who tooken at sea, was kept as prisoner at large in TVNES: of whom Barbarussa had learned many things concerning the state of ITALIE, the manner of the Christians, and strength of the emperour; craftily feeding him with the hope of libertie, if he would truly declare vnto him such things as he desired to know. Wherefore now in his rage he caused him to be brought before him, charging him bitterly, that he had craftily and perfidiously told him lies for truth, concerning the emperour, and therefore commaunded him to be forthwith executed. When he had thus with the vnworthie death of a K guiltlesse Christian, somewhat mitigated the greefe of his light beleefe, hee forthwith began to cast with himselfe how he might best withstand his puissant enemie. And first of all calling to counsell his sea captaines, in whom for their approued valour he reposed most confidence, hee showed vnto them, that they as valiant men, acquainted with the dangers attending vpon honorable actions, were not to doubt of the victorie, for so much as he saw it as good as alreadie gained; for the same reasons for which he had before persuaded himselfe, that the emperour (if he had not beene halfe mad) would not haue vndertaken so desperat and doubtfull a warre.

Barbarussa encourageth his souldiors.

For who is there (said he) that knoweth this countrey (not to speake of our owne forces) which would not reasonably thinke our enemies should in short time know the price of their ambitious desire L and rash attempt? which in a most vnseasonable time of the yeare, the dayes being now at the longest, and the Sunne in his greatest strength, are come to [...]ight in a countrey scorched with heat, and altogether without water; where the very sand which riseth with euery blast of wind, flying into their eyes and faces, shall no lesse trouble them than their enemies? Shall we thinke that they, which as I heare for most part are fresh water souldiours, and surcharged with heauie armour, can easily march forward, or retire, or yet keepe their ground, as the diuers occasions of battell shall require: when as the deepe and hollow burning sand vp to the middle leg, will not suffer them to keepe any order of array? How shall they be able by any meanes to abide the force of our Turkish footmen, or the often charging of the nimble Numidian horsemen? And if they be so many of them as they say there is, where can they get victuall to feed such a multitude, if we doe but protract the warre? Assuredly (most valiant M and courageous cheefetaines) we shall erect a most rare and incomparable trophie in this countrie of AFFRICKE: when as Charles the rich and great emperour of the Christians shall either here be slaine in battell, or els fall into our hands as a most rich prey. For mine owne part, I will notably prouide, that you shall want neither weapons, victuall, nor aid, during the time of this warre: I will open [Page] A the old armories, br [...]ach my store, and bring foorth my treasures. The Numidian princes now our [...] friends, I will without delay entertaine with great pay, and such presents as shall be to them most welcome. As for the citisens of TVNES, you know how easily they are to be kept in obedience, and brought on against the enemie for a small pay, and hope of reward. But this one thing is it that I most earnestly require of your approoued valor, That you most valiantly defend the strong castle of GVLETTA, as the most assured defence, not of this citie onely, but of the whole kingdome; and especially of our nauie which there lieth in safe harbour: for that piece will our enemies with all their forces first assaile▪ Wherefore, as worthie men neuer to be vanquished, keepe that for Solyman and me: so that it being vainly attempted by our enemies, and resolutely defended by you, the Christian emperour there failing of his purpose, and shamefully foiled, shall now begin to despaire, not of the taking of the citie of B TVNES, but of his owne returne and safetie.

When he had thus said, the sea captaines answered with one consent, That they would most willingly and cheerefully performe whatsoeuer it should please him to commaund: and in confirmation thereof, promised him not to doe any thing which beseemed not most valiant and resolute men.Barbarussa hi [...] chiefe captaines. Amongst these sea captaines, Sinan of SMIRNA, a Iew, who had lost his right eie, was both for his age and long experience in militarie affaires, of greatest account: next vnto him was Haidinus of CILICIA, for his furiousnesse in fight surnamed of the Italians Cacciadiabolo, and Salec of IONIA; which two had before in a great battell at sea, slaine Rodericus Portendus great Admirall of SPAINE, and taken his sonne Iohn prisoner, and seuen great gallies: after C these was Tabacches of LAODICIA, and Giaffer a valiant captaine of the Ianizaries: all which were notable pirats and then men of great fame. The strong castle of GVLETTA standeth in the bottome of the bay of CARTHAGE,The scituation of Guletta. vpon a point of the land, where the sea by a narrow strait runneth on the East side of the castle into the lake of TVNES, which being in a manner round, is about twelue Italian miles ouer. But now that castle is parted from the maine on the West side also, by the sea that way let in; which chargeable worke was by Barbarussa begun, but giuen ouer againe by him; persuaded by some, That the sea comming in that way, would in short time fill vp the lake with sand: but was afterwards for all that, perfected by others. So that now it standeth in manner of an island, in the mouth of the lake, deuided from the firme land by two narrow straight passages, the one on the East, and the other on the West, yet so, that it commaundeth D both. This castle Barbarussa had before strongly fortified both with men and munition, as the key of that kingdome: but now vpon the comming of the emperour, he put into it his most expert and resolute captaines before named: well foreseeing that in the defence therof, rested the safetie of his nauie which then lay within the lake, as in a most sure harbour; and also the greatest hope he had for the holding of the citie of TVNES, whereon depended the whole state of that kingdome. The emperour lying at anchor with all his fleet neere vnto the shoare, gaue generell commaundement, that his soldiours should with as much speed as was possible be landed with the long boats: which was so orderly done, that the Moores terrified with the hideous crie of the souldiours, making toward land, and not able to abide the showres of small shot,The Christian army landeth [...] Guletta. were easily beaten from the shoare, whither they were come downe in great multitudes, E and so suffered the Christian souldiours to land quietly. The first that landed were the Spanish companies, after them the Italians, and last of all the Germans, whom Vastius Generall of the armie caused presently to encampe themselues; straightly commaunding, that no man should straggle from the campe farther into the land, vntill the horsemen and great artillerie were all landed. The emperour himselfe bearing victorie in the cheerfulnesse of his countenance, landed also. In the meane time certaine companies were sent out by the Generall, to view the places nigh hand, and to seeke out the cesterns and fountaines of fresh waters thereabout, which sometime serued the famous citie of CARTHAGE; with whom the Moores, but especially the Numidian horsemen, a swift, subtill, and painfull kind of souldiours, oftentimes and in many places suddenly skirmished: and though they were but naked men, yet taking all the aduantages they F could of the places to them well knowne, with their arrowes and darts furiously assailed them vnawares, and ouerloaded with armour; sparing no mans life that fell into their hands. Amongst whom was Hieronimus Spinula a Ligurian captaine, who ouerthrowne by a Numidian horseman, had his head cut off, and carried away by the same nimble horseman, before he could be rescued. The like mishap befell Federicus Carectus a noble gentleman, who going with Vastius, [Page] to view the places thereabouts, was fast by his side suddenly slaine with a small shot. All which G nimblenesse and fiercenesse of the enemie, could not for all that stay the emperour: but that hee would needs with a small troupe of horsemen, in person himselfe take view of the places thereabouts, euen in the sight of the Numidian horsemen, which were in euerie place to be seene pricking vp and downe the countrie in troupes; although he was many times requested by his graue counsellors, to leaue that seruice for his inferiour captaines, and not to expose himselfe to so great danger both of his person and of the common safetie. Vastius had now brought on the armie neere vnto the castle of GVLETTA, still casting vp a rolling trench as he came neerer thereunto, thereby to keepe his men out of the danger of the enemies shot: which worke was not done only by the pioners and gally slaues, but by souldiors of all sorts; yea many of the captaines themselues laid their hands to the spade and mattocke: for why, the emperour was there H a continuall beholder, and cheerfull commender of euerie mans labour and forwardnesse, and the busie enemie was euer readie to take the aduantage, if any thing were by negligence omitted, oftentimes sallying out euen vnto the verie trenches of the Christians, there giuing vnto them proud words of defiance. When the armie was to be martialed, and euerie commaunder to be appointed to the place of his charge in this siege of GVLETTA: the countie of SARNE, a man famous both for the honour of his house, and for the good seruice he had lately done against the Turkes at CORONA, requested of Vastius the Generall, to haue the charge of the mount neerest vnto the castle; which as it was a place of most danger, so was it also of greatest honour. Whereat the old Spaniards (after the manner of their proud nature) much repined. Vpon the top of this mount, the countie set vp his rich tent in the eye of the enemie, and there lay with the I Italian companies, ouer whom he commaunded. He had not lien there long, but Salec one of the Turks famous pirats, with certaine companies of the garrison souldiors, sallied out of the castle directly vpon the mount whereon the countie lay; and by making shew as if hee would desperatly haue assailed the same,Salec [...]all [...]eth [...] [...]pon the count [...]e and the [...]. raised a great alarum amongst the Italians: yet so, as after certaine vollies of shot discharged on both sides, he began to retire as if he had been thereto constrained. Which thing the countie perceiuing, being a man of greater courage than direction, in great rage with bitter words reproued certaine of the captaines, whom he perceiued not so forward in pursuit of the enemie as he would haue had them: and in his furie ran downe from the mount, the rest for shame following him, and ouertaking the enemies slew diuers of them. The craftie pirat now seeing the countie drawne out of his strength into the plaine ground, and perceiuing K himselfe strong enough to encounter him, suddenly turning himselfe about, said vnto his souldiors: The aduantage you wished to haue of your enemies is now offered, they are now in your danger; wherefore now shew your selues valiant men, and suffer not one of these proud fresh water souldiors to escape aliue or vnwounded. Which he had no sooner said, but they presently made a stand, and so hardly charged them whom they but euen now seemed to flie, that the Italians not able longer to endure the fight, betooke themselues to flight. The countie himselfe with Belingerius his kinsman, fighting valiantly in the formost of his companies, was slaine: many others endured the same fortune: others flying backe againe to the mount, were there slaine by the Turkes, who resolutely entred into the trenches with them so farre, that they carried away with them the plate and riches of the counties tent. Neither was there any of the Spaniards which L lay neerest vnto them, and might easily haue rescued them, that would once stir out of their places to helpe them: for it is reported, that they were nothing sorie for the ouerthrow of the Italians, for as much as the countie had so arrogantly craued of the Generall the most honourable place, which he so euill held. His head and right hand was cut off▪ and sent by Salec to Barbarussa. This ouerthrow much grieued the Italians whom Vastius comforted with cheerfull speeches,The countie [...] right hand sent to Barbarussa. imputing all that losse, neither to the valour of the enemie, or cowardise of the Italians; but only to the rashnesse of the countie, whom he said worthily to haue paid the price of his inconsiderat forwardnesse. But the Spaniards he sharply reproued as mercilesse men, which vpon so light an occasion had giuen cause for the Italians to haue them in distrust. The Turkes in the meane time by the often shooting off of their great ordinance, shewed the joy they conceiued M of this victorie.The Spaniards reioicing at the [...]uerthrow of the Ita [...]ian [...] are [...] by Tabacches.

It oftentimes so falleth out▪ that whilest men laugh at their neighbours harmes, their owne is not farre off; and so it chanced with the Spaniards: for Tabacches another of the piraticall captaines, shortly after sallying suddenly out of the castle in the dawning of the day, was got vp to [Page] A the top of the trenches wherein the Spaniards lay, before they were aware of his comming, and there slew some as they were a sleepe, some idlie sitting fearing no harme, others as they were arming themselues; and with their sudden crie, caused the rest which lay neere vnto that place shamefully for feare to flie out of their trenches: where the Turks taking such trash as they there found, and hauing slaine and wounded many, amongst whom was one Mendosa a captaine, and carrying away with them the ensigne of Sarmentus which stood vpon the top of the trench, returned with victorie. The alarum raised in the armie was such, as that the emperour himselfe came running to the place in his armour, seuerely reprouing them of cowardise which had forsaken the place, and grieuously offended with them which had kept such negligent watch, against such an enemie, as was not for wilinesse agilitie and courage, to be slightly regarded of the best B and most expert souldiours. This disgrace of the Spaniards well comforted the Italians, to see the old souldiours no lesse ouertaken in their negligence, than they had been in their vnaduised forwardnesse.

This tumult appeased, Vastius called into his tent the Colonels and chiefe captaines of the Spaniards, and spake vnto them in this manner: ‘Friends (said he) elsewhere alwaies valiant,Vastius hi [...] spe [...]ch to the Spanish captaines. who togither with me, haue by your inuincible prowesse gained vnto our emperour many most glorius victories. You seeme vnto me at this time to haue need to be called vpon, and to be put in remembrance of your wonted and approued valour: for as farre as I can see, the remembrance of your auntient fame, is in you growne altogither cold; your hands are become C faint for feare; and that which I am sorie and ashamed to say, you are growne I know not how, altogither out of order and heartlesse, shewing no courage for the subduing of these naked pirats. Yesterday (as many say) you smiled at the vnskilfull and vnfortunate forwardnesse of your friends, which they bought deere; but to day they worthely laugh at your degenerat carelesse negligence: so that it concerneth you in honour, to blot out this so foule and publike a disgrace, by some notable and worthie exploit. Wherefore I exhort you, and I straightly charge and commaund you, that with all speed you prepare both your minds and weapons for the atchieuement of some new honour: so that if the proud enemie shall againe presume to come foorth and assaile your trenches, you shall forthwith breake out vpon him, and beat him backe againe euen to the gates of GVLETTA. Perhaps good fortune will so attend your valiant and resolute pursuit, that you may togither with their disordred men, D enter some of their rampiers, wherein we see their whole hope consisteth: which if it shall otherwise fall out than is to be hoped for, yet shall you by this your notable deuoire wonderfully content the emperour your soueraigne, and me your Generall, and withall couer your late dishonour.’

Whereunto they all answered, That they would so beare themselues against the enemie, as that he should not desire greater courage or contempt of danger in men desirous of honour and commendation.

It was not long, but that the Turks encouraged with their former successe, after their wonted manner sallied out againe,The Turks [...]ally againe [...] of Guletta. conducted by Giaffer captaine of the Ianizaries, a man of exceeding courage and strength of bodie: who with the Ianizaries and certaine companies of Moorish E archers, about the noone time of the day issuing out of the castle, assailed the vttermost trenches, hoping in that broiling heat to find the Christians in their stations negligent and vnprepared. Wherein he was nothing deceiued, for the Spaniards that burning hoat time of the day, kept such negligent watch, that Giaffer with his Ianizaries and archers, was got vp to the top of the rampiers, and there discharged their shot and arrowes vpon the Christians in their trenches, before they were well aware of his comming. But vpon the striking vp of the drum, certaine companies of harquebusiers brake out vpon them in two places at one instant, as Vastius had before commaunded, whom he seconded with a companie of halbardiers, keeping in readinesse his squadrons to rescue his harquebusiers, if they should be enforced by the enemie to retire: and in that order expected the euent of the skirmish, which was most valiantly maintained on both F sides. For the Ianizaries, although they were enforced to giue ground, yet (as men not vsed to flie, and standing vpon the honour of their order) withstood the Christians with no lesse resolution than they were by them charged;Giaf [...]er cap [...]ine of the Ianizaries slaine. vntill that Giaffer their leader desperatly fighting amongst the formost of the Ianizaries, was at once shot in with two bullets, and slaine: whose dead bodie the Ianizaries labouring to carie away, endured a most cruell fight, many being on [Page] both sides slaine vpon his dead carkasse: yet at length they were enforced to flie, and so f [...]rcely G followed by the Spaniards, that they of GVLETTA, when they had receiued in the formost, shut out almost a fourth part of their owne men, for feare the Christians should together with them haue entred the castle. Didacus Abila, one of the Spanish ensigne bearers, aduanced his ensigne vnto the top of one of the enemies rampiers, and was there slaine, but his ensigne saued by one of the souldiors of the same band. The Christians receiued more losse in their retreat than they had in all the fight, for the Turkes from their rampiers then discharged their shot as fast as they could vpon them, which they could not before doe, without the like danger to their owne men mingled amongst them. This dayes worke well abated the pride of the Turkes, and gaue good hope to the Christians, that the castle would without any great losse be gained: for being neere vnto it, they perceiued it not to be so strong as they had supposed.H

The emperour hauing spent a few dayes in consultation about his farther proceeding, and preparing of things for the siege, resolued without further delay with all his forces to assault the castle, persuaded thereunto by many reasons: first by the cheerefulnesse of his owne souldiours, and the courage of his enemies sore daunted in the last skirmish, which he was loth they should againe recouer by the comming of new supplies; besides that, he was informed, that diuers companies of the Numidians were comming to TVNES, entertained by Barbarussa, whose strength was like dayly to encrease: but that which mooued him most to hasten the matter, was, for that his men began to grow sickly in his campe, being all the day time scorched as it were with the feruent heat of the Sunne, and well neere starued in the night with cold and exceeding dewes wherewith they were commonly wet to the skin; neither was there either good water or fresh I victuall by any meanes to be had in that sandie and barren soile for the releefe of the sicke, other than that was brought out of the fleet: for all the water thereabout was most vnpleasant and exceeding brackish, so that both sicke and whole were glad when they could get a crab to quench the extremitie of their thirst: although the emperour did what he might to remedie these extremities, and much releefe was in good time sent both from SICILIA and NAPLES: the bisket also in the ships, especially in the Spanish gallies, was growne hoarie and vnwholesome. Wherfore he began to place his batterie about the fifteenth of Iuly, which was defended all alongst with Gabions, and caske filled with sand, for that the countrey soile in that place yeelded neither earth nor turfe to doe it. Auria appointed to batter the castle by sea, deuided his gallies into three squadrons, which orderly succeeding one another, should by turns beat the same: his great K ships rid at anker, and out of their forecastles thundered with their great ordinance. And Vastius at land had deuided the armie into three battels, Spaniards, Italians, and Germans, euery nation by themselues, in such sort, as that they might indifferently be partakers both of the danger of the assault,Guletta furiously battered. and of the glorie of the victorie. There was neuer strong place in the memorie of man, since guns, that fatall engine were first inuented for the destruction of mankind, assailed with greater force, greater preparation, or greater industrie. The great ordinance in manner of a great earthquake so terribly roared and thundered, that the earth seemed not onely to tremble and quake vnder mens feet, but euen by and by to rent in sunder and swallow them vp: and the sea which was euen now quiet and calme, began to rise aloft, and to rage and [...]ome as if it had been in a great storme: at which time the aire became thicke, and the skie darkened with the smoke of L the great artillerie: from the breake of the day vntill noone the roaring cannon and culuering neuer ceased: so that the Vamures were beaten downe, the castle made saultable, and the wals so shaken, that in many places the Turkes cannoniers, together with their cannons, lay buried in the ruines thereof.Guletta assaulted by the Christ [...]ans. Which thing perceiued, they which were before appointed to giue the first assault, vpon signall giuen by the emperour, presently vpon the ceasing of the great artillerie assailed the breach, and others with their scaling ladders scaled the wals: which was done with such courage and resolution, that the Turkes when they had done what they possibly could for the defence of the place, by casting downe darts, wild fire, and such like things vpon the Christians as they were climing vp: at length as men despairing longer to hold the place, and ouercome with a greater fortune, turned their backes and fled. Sinan and the rest of the captaines by a M woodden bridge, fled out at the farther side of the castle into the maine, and so alongst the left side of the lake by land to TVNES, not looking behind them for hast: which way most part of his men followed him also. The rest were either slaine or driuen into the lake, where seeking to saue their liues by swimming, they were either slaine in comming to land by the Spanish horsemen, [Page] A or else in their swimming shot at pleasure by the harquebusiers, so that all the lake was as it were couered with the dead bodies of the Turkes and Moores. The emperour with small losse thus gained the castle of GVLETTA, with all the warlike prouision therin, and with it all Barbarussa his great fleet & strength at sea, which he for the more safetie had before put into the lake: which as it was vnto the emperour a thing most pleasing,Guletta [...]oon▪ and Barbarussa his flee [...] taken. so was it vnto Barbarussa and his pyrats the greatest greefe and losse possible, hauing at once lost all their power at sea, which but a little before was no small terrour to all the frontiers of the Christian countries and Islands in the Meditterranean.

Barbarussa troubled and terrified with so great a losse,Barbarussa [...] geth. with a sterne and scornefull countenance receiued the Iew and the rest of the captains fled from GVLETTA, reuiling them bitterly B in his rage, and calling them faint hearted cowards, which had in so short a time giuen ouer so strong a place. Whereunto Sinan answered for them all in this sort: ‘Hairadin (said he) so long as we were to fight with armed men,The short answere of Sinan the Iew to Barbarussa. we did as thou well knowest, and our enemies cannot denie, what well be seemed vs and thy magnificent fortune. But when we were to withstand the deuill and his infernall furies, which came against vs with flames of fire, and earthquakes, things of extreame terrour and danger: it ought not to seeme strange vnto thee if we sought to escape the vncouth furie of the immortall enemies of mankind, to doe thee seruice in thy better fortune, in defence of this thy citie and kingdome. Neither doe we account it any disgrace to haue escaped that danger, as men that mind againe to fight: out of which thou, a most antient and expert C Commaunder (if I may frankely speake vnto thee the truth) if thou haddest beene there present, wouldest haue accounted it no dishonour, but very good discretion to haue escaped in safetie.’

Barbarussa repressing his furie, began in a more temperat manner to request them euery one particularly, as valiant and courageous men to stand fast vnto him in that warre against their enemies the Christians: telling them, that he well hoped, that after the great supplie of the Moorish footmen and Numidian horsemen were once come, which were now at hand, the enemie should not long rejoice of the taking of GVLETTA. After that, he forthwith conuerted all his studie and endeuour, to prepare such things as were needfull for the warre, bringing forth his treasures, and bountifully bestowing the same amongst the Moores and Numidians, thereby to D confirme the friendship of such as well affected him, and with this new bountie to win the hearts of such as yet stood doubtfull.

In the meane time Muleasses the exiled king,Muleasses commeth to the emperour. with a small retinue of his friends and followers came from the farthest part of NVMIDIA into the emperours campe: the emperour sitting in a royall seat in the middest of his pauillion, whereinto Muleasses was admitted, with a myter vpon his head, in a garment of greene and blew changeable silke: he was of a tall & manly stature, of colour tawnie, but so squint-eyed that he seemed spitefully to looke vpon them whom he beheld: who after he had kissed the emperours right hand, and had set himselfe downe, with his legs gathered close vnder him, vpon a carpet spread vpon the bare ground, after the manner of his countrey, he by an interpreter spake vnto the emperour as followeth: E ‘Thou art come in armes into this countrey,The Oration of Muleasses to Charles the emperour. and art now almost conquerour of the same (thrice mightie Emperour) prouoked thereunto not by any desert of mine, for that our different religion so required: yet as I verely thinke, not without the appointment of the most high God, whom both thou and I doe with like deuotion worship, to take reuenge of the most perfidious and cruell tyrant and pyrat, the mortall enemie of mankind: whom I foresee as good as already vanquished, now that GVLETTA is taken, and his nauie surprised. So that I hope he shall in short time by thy reuenging hand, at once receiue the iust guerdon of all his former villanies: which shall be so much the more to my comfort, for that I hope the fruit of thy rare felicitie and glorious victorie will redound in great part to me, being restored by thee into my fathers kingdome: which I as a poore exiled prince most humbly request of F thy iustice and bountie. For it shall be vnto thee a thing most honourable and profitable, if thou shalt receiue into thy protection me, a king royally descended, of a most auntient progenie, strengthened with the great alliance of the Numidians and Moores. Neither do I refuse either to pay thee tribute therefore, or to acknowledge my selfe vassale vnto thee the Christian emperour: Of which my fidelitie, there can be no greater assuance than the thankefull remembrance of so great a benefit receiued, [Page] which shall for euer remaine vnforgotten of me and my posteritie, euen for that especially, that I detest G and abhorre the name of an vnthankefull man, and doe well by experience find, how much my state may be confirmed, and the minds of my people to me assured, by thy garrisons so neare at hand in SICILIA and SARDINIA.’

The emperours answere to Muleasse [...].Whereunto the emperour answered, That hee was come ouer into AFFRICKE to bee reuenged of the injuries which Barbarussa had many times done vpon the frontiers of his dominions, and to root out the pyrats, of all others most mischieuous: which his good purpose had by the goodnesse of Christ his Sauiour taken so good effect, that he doubted not in short time by the taking of TVNES to obtaine a perfect victorie; which once gained, hee would then kindly graunt him all things which should stand with the conuenience of his affaires, and the vse of his H victorie: so that he would not falsifie his faith, which he might justly suspect, if he reposed not a speciall trust, that the remembrance of such a benefit would for euer remaine in his heroicall mind; and was further assured, that the same power which should restore to him his kingdome of courtesie, could also take it from him againe, if his vnthankfulnesse should so deserue.

The behauior of Muleasses. Muleasses in presence of the emperour vsed such a grauitie and grace in his speech and gesture, as well declared, that he had nothing forgotten his former estate: but towards the Generall and the other great captaines hee vsed all manner of courtesie, so that hee rid vp and downe with them gallantly mounted, managing his horse, and charging and discharging his launce with such agilitie and skill, as shewed him to be a very good horseman, and of great actiuitie. At other vacant times he would subtilly reason with the learned men, after the manner of Auerrois, of the I nature of things, of the motion of heauen, and power of the stars. By the emperors commaundement he had a tent appointed for him, and honourable allowance for his diet. Vastius and the rest of the cheefe commaunders of the armie vsed him with all honor, and at such time as he was desirous to see the campe, courteously brought him into all places of it, that he might himselfe see what mounts they had in short time cast, what abundance there was of great artillerie, what strong watch and ward was kept, what a number there was of braue and warlike souldiours of diuers nations, differing much one from another in language, countenance, and manner of furniture: and further demaunded, Whether that puissant armie which the emperour had brought ouer to his great good, were in his judgement sufficient to subdue the enemie? Where aboue all things Muleasses wondered at the number and order of the great ordinance: and next vnto that,K at the wonderfull plentie of things to be bought and sold in the market place, and at the modest quietnesse of the souldiors in buying the same. Not long after, the expert captaines by diligent inquirie learned of him many things well seruing for their better proceeding in that warre, especially of the disposition and strength of them of TVNES, of the situation of the citie, of the nature of the wals, and fortification of the castle, of the wels and cesternes in the suburbes, and what strength the Moores and Numidians were of,His opinion and counsell concerning the present warre. which Barbarussa had entertained. In conclusion he assured them (as afterwards it fell out) that Barbarussa would neuer trust to the strength of the wals, which would easily be ouerthrowne with the great artillerie, but would in a great brauerie with ensignes displaied bring all his forces into the field, of purpose to terrifie the Christians with the sight of the multitude of his rascall souldiours, and to breake their array with his Numidian L horsemen; who with hideous and terrible cries, after the manner of that nation, would not faile to assaile them: and yet for all that would neuer bring into the battell his Turkish footmen, in whom he reposed his greatest confidence, and whom hee desired most to spare, but would as a craftie and subtill Turke, by opposing of the Moores, whom he held in small regard, trie by their bloud what might be done without the danger of his owne men. But as he told them, nothing could be more strange vnto the Moores his countreymen, or that they were more afraid of, than in a set battell to fight with that enemie whose squadrons comming orderly on in glistering armour with long pikes, might scorne & easily ouerthrow the naked archers of the Moores, and the vnarmed Numidian horsemen: and that our men should find nothing more grieuous or troublesome than the scorching heat of the Sunne, and the thirst rising thereof; which might M easily be remedied by plentie of water, which by slaues and small boats might easily be brought in caskes and bottels from the fleet alongst the lake, and so distributed amongst the armie: although not farre from the wals of the citie, were certaine old conduit heads, which would yeeld them great plentie of water, if the malicious enemie did not to his owne hurt and others poyson [Page] A the same. These things orderly reported to the emperour, confirmed the hope hee had before conceiued of the desired victorie: So that wholly bent thereupon, and carefully forecasting all things, hee resolued forthwith to depart from GVLETTA, and with all his power to besiege TVNES.

But whilest he was preparing things necessarie, ordering his souldiours, and discouering the enemies purposes, his souldiors had daily diuers skirmishes with the Numidians; so that once the skirmish was like to haue come to a just battell, which began in this sort. The Moores had planted certaine field pieces amongst the oliue gardens, wherewith they shot continually into the campe: for remouing whereof, the emperour leauing the Italians, with certaine companies of the old Germane and Spanish souldiours, for the keeping of his campe and trenches, went forth B with his horsemen and the rest of his armie: sending before him Montegius, Generall of the Spanish horsemen, who for most part were but raw souldiors, such as were of the noblemens ordinarie seruants and followers,The Spanish light horsemen put to flight. not before acquainted with the wars. These light hor [...]men with diuers fortune skirmished a while with the enemie, but when they saw themselues to be hardly charged, and Montegius their Generall grieuously wounded, they turned their backs, and in the sight of the emperour shamefully fled to the men at armes which were comming after them. The manner of the enemies fight was, to giue at the first a fierce and desperat charge, and vpon the encounter giuen, of purpose to retire, auoiding thereby the sudden force of their enemies, and by and by to turne againe vpon them with a fresh charge. The emperour seeing the flight of his light horsemen, came on courageously with his men at armes, by whose comming in and valiant C encounter the Turkes and Moores were put to flight, and their fieldpieces wherewith they had before annoyed the campe, taken. In this skirmish the emperour in person as hee stood formost in his armed troupes, gaue the signall of battell himselfe by crying with a loud voice, Saint Iames, Saint Iames, whom the Spaniards take for their patrone; and so charging the enemie, performed the part not onely of a courageous cheefetaine, but of a resolute and valiant souldior also:The emperour restoreth the battell, and with his owne hand rescueth Andreas Po [...]tius of Granad [...]. rescuing with his owne hand Andreas Pontius, a noble gentleman of GRANADO, whom vnhorsed and sore wounded, the enemie was readie presently to haue slaine, had not the emperour by his comming in saued him; deseruing thereby the Oken garland, which the Romans by the name of Ciuica Corona gaue as an honour to such as had in battell saued a citisen.

About the same time it fortuned, that thirtie thousand Moores came vpon the suddaine to D haue surprised a little tower, standing vpon a hill neere vnto the ruines of old CARTHAGE: wherein the emperour had placed certaine soldiors for the keeping thereof, because it was neere vnto his campe. Before these Moores went a Numidian priest, who bellowing out certaine superstitious charmes, cast diuers scrols of paper on each side the way, wherein he cursed and banned the Christians: and now they had with fire and smoake brought the Christians in that tower to great extremitie, when the emperour himselfe comming to their rescue with certaine companies of horsemen and footmen, slew the conjuring priest, with others, and put the rest to flight. The discomfiture of the Spanish horsemen caused many men to thinke, that if the emperour should come to a set battell with the enemie, he should find his horsemen too weak, both for that they were but few in number,The emperour aduised by his counsellours to returne home. and not to bee compared with the Numidians. For which cause E and diuers others, certaine of the emperours graue counsellors, but none of the best souldiours, wished him not to proceed further in that dangerous warre, but with speed to returne out of AFFRICKE, for as much as he had woon honour enough by the taking of GVLETTA, and the surprising of the enemies fleet: whereby he had to his immortall praise, and the common good of Christendome, deliuered all the frontiers of the Christian countries in the Mediterranean from the danger and feare of those most cruell pyrats: besides that, the flix began to rage in his campe, whereof many of his souldiors fell sicke, and died dayly: whereas on the contrarie part, the mightie Numidian princes, such as were Muleasses old enemies, were reported to come in dayly to the aid of Barbarussa. These vnseasonable speeches the emperour thought good to represse betime▪ reasoning against the authors thereof with great grauitie, as against men, who F with more feare doubted of the successe of things, and the euent of the victorie, than beseemed them, whom for their constant resolution and good opinion conceiued of their discretion, hee had chosen to be of his most secret counsell.

Saying▪

The resolute answere of the emperour.

that he desired not of them, that their needlesse and dishonourable labour, wherein they [Page] should shew themselues more carefull of his person than of his honour: for as much as those things G which he now alleadged, should haue been said before the warre was taken in hand, now by good hap halfe ended; before hee euer passed ouer into AFFRICKE. For he might (as he said) haue rested quietly in SPAINE, and haue easily neglected and reiected the iniuries done vpon the sea coasts, and the complaints of his subiects; but he was (as they well knew) for most vrgent causes come thither: whereas hee was resolued to satisfie the expectation of the world with a notable victorie, or if God should otherwise appoint, there to end his daies with honour. Wherefore he willed them to cease farther to flatter him that was no way dismaid, or to possesse the minds of his valiant souldiours with a vaine forboding feare; and with resolute minds, togither with him their chieftaine, against the next day, to expect what the fortune of the field should appoint for the full accomplishment of that war. For he was (as he said) set downe to giue the enemie battell, or if he refused the same, to batter the wals of H TVNES, not doubting but that God would stand on his side in so good and so godly a quarrell.

The emperour leauing a sufficient garrison in the castle of GVLETTA, commanded the breaches to be repaired, and the great ordinance there taken to be laid vpon carriages; which before, after the old rude sea fashion, lay bound in great vnweldie pieces of timber, with yron rings fastned thereto, and could not handsomely be handled or remoued too or fro. After that, when he had caused the countrey to be well viewed all about, which betwixt the Oliue groues and the right side of the lake, giueth a direct passage vnto the citie of TVNES; he set forward with his armie in so good order, that he still marched as readie to fight, for feare of the pollicies and sudden assaults of the enemie. On the left hand marched the Italians next vnto the lake, on the I right hand the Spaniards neere vnto the Oliue groues,The emperour marcheth toward Tunes. which in the manner of a great wood ran all alongst the countrey, from the ruines of CARTHAGE almost to the wals of TVNES: in the middest betwixt both marched the Germans; next vnto them followed the great ordinance; and after it, the carriages of all the armie. In the vauntgard was Vastius, whom the emperour had made Generall of the armie, and especially for that day: in the rearward was the duke of AL [...]A, with certaine troupes of chosen horsemen: in the middle of the maine battell was the emperour, and by his side Lewes his brother in law the king of PORTINGALES brother. The Italians were conducted by the prince of SALERN, the Spaniards by Alarco an auntient captaine, and the Germans by Maximilian Eberstein. But the emperour in his armour ceased not to ride from squadron to squadron, with cheerfull countenance and full of hope, recounting vnto them the K former victories which they had gotten for him: and telling them, that he did that day expect of them a most honourable daies seruice, for as much as they were to fight against the naked enemies of the Christian religion: wherefore they should with resolute minds, set downe themselues to endure the waight of their armour, the painfulnesse of the march, the heat of the Sunne and sand, and the tediousnesse of the thirst arising therof; vntill they might joine battell with their enemies, where they should vndoubtedly by the goodnesse of God (in whose quarrell they fought) obtaine the victorie: in the meane time they should with patience ouercome all difficulties, comforting themselues with the vndoubted hope of a most rich prey, which they were to expect of the spoile of a rich citie. Whereunto euerie squadron answered with a great shout, that he should not trouble himselfe with those matters which he had before rehearsed, but to assure L himselfe that they his souldiours would most patiently endure all extremities, and not deceiue the expectation he had conceiued of their wonted valour, but by valiant fight to make him emperour, not of AFFRICKE, but of ASIA also.

Now Vastius had withdrawne two companies of harquebusiers out of the Spanish squadron to skirmish with the Moores, who continually followed in the taile of the army; whom by those harquebusiers and certaine troupes of horsemen deputed to that purpose, the duke of ALBA notably repulsed in the rearward.

The armie was now come vnto the cesternes of fresh water, which Muleasses and others which well knew the countrey had before told them of; which as soone as the soldiours almost fainting vnder the waight of their armour, with the scorching heat of the sunne and extremitie of M thirst,The souldiors for greedinesse of water disorder their march. descried a far off: they for desire they had to quench their thirst, forthwith forsooke their colours, and disorderly ran as fast as they could to those cesternes: Vastius the Generall, to the vttermost of his power labouring in vaine both by faire meanes and foule to haue staied them; who saw by that disorderednesse of the soldiors, a great aduantage offred vnto the enemie, which [Page] A then was not farre off. But when the Generall could neither with words or blowes preuaile any thing with them, the emperour himselfe was glad to hast thither, with his presence and authoritie to haue kept them in order: yet such was the force of their intollerable thirst, that neither the sight of the emperour, nor all that he could doe, could remedie the disorder; some fainting in the sand for lacke of drinke, and some other for greedinesse readie to burst their bellies at the fountaines; so that the emperour was faine with his truncheon to beat them away. Amongst the rest one Tullius Cicero of ARPINAS a famous captaine, died at the cesterne side with drinking too much. This extremitie for want of water seemed justly to haue happened vnto them, for as much as Vastius the day before, had by generall proclamation thorow the campe, commaunded that euerie souldiour should carrie with him a bottle of wine or water at his girdle: although B he caused so much water as he conueniently could, to be carried in great caskes, for the common reliefe of the armie;A draught of water sold for two duckats. whereof the Germans had the greatest part. Some almost readie to giue ouer for thirst, were glad to get a draught of cold water of their fellowes which had it, for two duckats.

This disorder being with as much speed as was possible reformed, and the armie againe brought into order, the emperour held on his march toward the enemie: for Barbarussa with a wonderfull multitude of horsemen and footmen, and a number of ensignes (the instruments of vaine feare and foolish brauerie) gallantly displaied after the manner of the Moores,Barbarussa in field against the emperour. was come about three miles from the citie, and with certaine field pieces (as Muleasses had foretold) went about to haue broken the battell of the Christians: which pieces although they were oftentimes C discharged, yet did they little or no harme, by reason of the vnskilfulnesse of the canoniers. Vastius in like manner and for like purpose, had commaunded the great ordinance to be brought into the front of the battell: but perceiuing what toile and time it required to haue it done, for that it was drawne but by strength of men, and the wheeles of the carriages sunke deepe in the deuouring sand, and the shot and pouder which the marriners and gallyslaues carried altogither vpon their shoulders, came but softly on; he suddenly changed his purpose, and told the emperour, That he thought it not best to stay for the great artillerie in that cheerfulnesse of his armie, when euerie man desired battell, but to commit all to the valour of his resolute men and his own good fortune, which euer fauoured his honourable attempts: least whilest we stay (said he) too long vpon our great ordinance, which doth not alwaies serue to great purpose in sudden battels, D our enemies gather courage in the time of this our vnnecessarie delay; and this exceeding cheerfulnesse of our souldiours, the most sure token of an vndoubted victorie, by deferring of time grow cold. Whereunto the emperour desirous of battell, and filled with good hope, cheerefully answered: Vastius if thou so thinke it good, which I also like well of, in Gods name giue the signall. That shall I by and by doe (said he) but first it is reason, that you which sway and commaund a great part of the world, learne at this time to obey him, whom to his great charge and shame, you laying aside the imperiall majestie of your selfe, haue for this day made Generall and Commaunder of so mightie an armie:Vastius commandeth the emperour. Wherefore said Vastius, I will now vse mine authoritie, and commaund you (sith I may not so request you) to depart from this place, and to get you into the middle of the battell neere vnto the ensignes; least by some vnluckie shot, the whole estate E of the armie be brought into extreame perill by the danger of one mans life. Whereat the emperour smiling, willed him to feare no such thing, saying moreouer, That neuer emperour was yet slaine with a gun. For all that he departed out of the place as he was commaunded, and went into the middle of the battell. Whereupon the signall of battell was by the sounding of the trumpet and striking vp of the drum, presently giuen, and the enemie (with more hast than the extreame heat of the day required) furiously charged by the emperours horsemen, who to auoid the danger of the great artillerie, made all the hast they could to come to handie blowes. In the formost of these horsemen was Ferdinand Gonzaga, a most valiant noble man, who then serued the emperour without charge: he being somewhat before the rest at the first onset, slew with his launce a notable captaine of the Moores, and presently with his sword so troubled them that F were next, that he opened a way for them that followed him, to breake into the enemies battell. The harquebusiers also discharged so fast vpon the enemie, that three hundred of them lay dead vpon the ground before the joyning of the battell: which the rest of the footmen seeing, forsook their great ordinance, and fled backe to Barbarussa. Who long endured not the force or sight of the Christians; but grinding his teeth for sorrow and griefe of mind, turned his horse, and with [Page] his Turkes retired into TVNES. For now that his designes had in the beginning taken so euill G successe,Barbarussa flieth to Tunes. he thought it not best to aduenture all in one battell; knowing right well that the emperours armie could not long endure the inconueniences of the intollerable heat, and want of manie things, especially of fresh water: which fed him with hope, that hee should out of these his enemies distresses picke some fit occasion of aduantage, if he could but a while defend the citie of TVNES. The Numidians and Moores, who in great troupes and companies had alwaies houered about the emperours armie, without doing any thing worth reporting, retired themselues also into the suburbs, gardens, and other places neere vnto the citie.

The emperour glad of the flight of his enemies which were thought to haue been in number an hundred thousand, encamped with his armie that night in the same place where they before lay; determining the next day to batter the wals of TVNES. In the meane time, Barbarussa surprised H with an exceeding feare,Barbarussa in mind to kill all the Christian captiues i [...] dissuaded by Sinan the Iew. and distracted with many cares, and now become more cruell than himselfe, had in his mind purposed a fact full of exceeding and inhumane crueltie; which was at once to haue killed all the Christian captiues in the castle of TVNES: fully resolued to haue put the same in execution, had not Sinan the Iew dissuaded him from that most execrable fact, protesting such a practise to be vnseemely for a man of his valour, famous for his many victories, and carrying with him the majestie of a king: whereas he would shortly after wonderfully repent him for doing so shamefull a fact: The doing whereof, what was it else (as the Iew said) but a manifest demonstration of his extreame feare, and desperation? which two things were most dangerous to him, that was to maintaine so doubtfull a warre, and would much deface the glorie of his former life; wherefore he should doe well to beware, that by the fame of I such a most horrible fact, he did not prouoke Solymans heauie displeasure against him: who deuoid of all humane crueltie, had vsed both to detest and reuenge such outrages. Wherefore he should suffer the Christian captiues to liue bound in their fatall chaines, so long as it were their fortunes; who being well kept and vnarmed, might shortly after serue him to good purpose, and could no way without most certaine danger moue themselues, if they should vnaduisedly lust after their vnluckie libertie: for by them, the expected victorie could neither be giuen to the enemie, nor taken from him, or yet so much as hindred. At which speech the tyrant was ashamed, and so sparing the liues of the poore wretches, went out of the castle into the greatest church of TVNES, whither he had caused to be assembled all the chiefe men of the citie, to tell them what he would haue done for the defence of the citie, and now by persuasion to encourage them to K fight: from whom as men by him holden in distrust, he had but a little before the comming of the Christians, taken all manner of armour and weapon.

Whilest Barbarussa was thus busied, the most joyfull and happie day appeared to those miserable captiues; by fortunes change no lesse black and dismall vnto the Turks and Moores. For that hainous purpose of the cruell tyrant, could not long be couered or kept secret: so that a constant report of a danger so imminent, was run thorow the whole castle, euen into the deepe dungeons; by the compassion of certaine manumised slaues, who detesting the sauage crueltie of Barbarussa their master, and touched with deuotion, had in heart returned to their old and true Christian religion; encouraging by secret speeches the chiefe of the captiues with whom they were acquainted, to lay hand now vpon their libertie. Amongst these well minded men was L one Francis a Spaniard, whom Barbarussa had from his youth brought vp as his minion, hauing him alwaies in great esteeme by the name of Memis; and another called Vincentius Catareus of DALMATIA an eunuch: These two aduenturing a most memorable and godly attempt, set open the prison doores,The Christian captiues breake prison, and driue the Turk [...] out of the ca [...]le of Tunes. and gaue instruments vnto the poore prisoners, readie to take the occasion offred; who boldly starting vp, breake off their chaines and giues, and so by the great goodnesse and mercie of God, about six thousand poore naked Christians, armed with that came first to hand, but especially with stones, brake forth suddenly vpon the Turkes that were in the castle. Ramadas a renegate Spaniard captaine of the castle, stirred vp with the vnexpected and terrible noise of so many prisoners breaking their irons, with a few souldiours whom he had suddenly called vnto him, ran to the castle gate, where one of the prisoners (a lustie young man M of SICILIA) had with one of the bars of the gate strucke downe one or two of the warders, and hauing bolted the gate, was become master thereof: him Ramadas slew, and opening the gate, made way for himselfe and his few followers, with whom he went to Barbarussa to carrie him newes of that his hard mischance. But the Christians now losed from their bands, and hauing [Page] A suddenly slaine diuers of the Turks, possessed themselues of all the castle, brake open the armorie, and so seizing vpon the kings treasure, armour, and prouision, from a high turret gaue signes of victorie to the Christian armie by smoake and false fires made with gunpouder; and lastly, by displaying of Sarmentus his ensigne, which (as we haue before declared) was by Tabacches taken from the top of the trenches at the siege of GVLETTA. These signes, although the Christians in the armie could not well perceiue, as being too farre off: yet by the fugitiues which came oftentimes out of TVNES to the emperour and Muleasses, they were both persuaded, that some great tumult was risen amongst the enemies. Wherefore the emperour sent two of his captaines with their companies, who going as neere as they could to the citie and the castle, should discouer what the matter was. In the meane time, Barbarussa almost mad for anger, in his furie blaspheming B his vaine gods, and bitterly cursing and banning the Iew, for dissuading him from killing the captiues, came to the castle gate, and with teares standing in his eyes pitifully requested the late Christian captiues (which then stood vpon the top of the wals and the gate with weapons in their hands) That they would forthwith let him in, faithfully promising them their libertie, with a generall and free pardon for all that they had done. But they mindfull both of their former and present fortune, and mooued with just hatred, cast stones at him, and with many opprobrious words rejected his request: so that hee enraged with sorrow and madnesse, shot at them with his owne hand, and seeing all past remedie, and the citie not possible now to bee kept, shamefully betooke himselfe to flight. After him followed the Turks, in number seuen thousand, with purpose to flie to the citie HIPPONA, now called BONA, famous with the bishopricke of C that reuerend Father and great Diuine Augustine. For there (as in a most sure harbour) had Barbarussa left foureteene gallies in the lake neere vnto the citie, to serue his turne whatsoeuer mischance should happen: but the tacklings, sailes, oares, and ordinance, he had laid vp in the castle fast by, which was kept with a garrison of his owne.

The emperour vnderstanding that Barbarussa with his Turkes was fled,Tunes yeelded to the emperour. came with all his armie vnto the gates of TVNES, where the magistrates of the citie were readie to submit themselues vnto him, and to deliuer him the keyes of the citie, only requesting of him that he would keepe his souldiors encamped without the citie, and not to seeke the vtter spoile and ruine thereof, promising that the souldiours should want nothing that was there to be had. Muleasses also carefull of the safetie thereof, earnestly intreated the emperour in the citisens behalfe. But he, although D he was of his owne honourable disposition readie ynough to haue graunted what they requested; Yet for that he did not without cause doubt of the Moores fidelitie, and that the paiment of the money which they of TVNES had by Muleasses promised for the payment of the soldiors wages, was by them craftily delayed, expecting still the vttermost deuoire of Barbarussa, he could not by any meanes be persuaded to promise them any certainetie of their safetie: mooued also so to doe by the discontented speeches of his soldiors, who spared not to say, That they should bee hardly and vnkindly dealt withall, if after so long trauell and so much paines taken both by sea and land, they should be defrauded of the reward of the victorie, sith nothing but only the hope of the present spoile did relieue and feed them, being poore and miserable, hauing scarce clothes to couer their nakednesse, and their bodies spent with long labour and thirst; so E that the Moores of TVNES, enemies of the Christian religion, and the perpetuall receiuers of most horrible pyrats, might worthily rejoice of the Christian victorie, and the conquerours themselues for euer bewaile their owne calamities and miseries. Whilest the emperour stood thus in doubt what to resolue vpon, Vastius with a small companie came to the castle gate, and was with wonderfull joy receiued in by the Christian captiues. But as he was viewing the wealth and prouision laid vp in the castle, a Ligurian captiue discouered vnto him where certaine treasure lay hidden: for Barbarussa had there cast into a well thirtie thousand duckats sowed vp in bags, which Vastius getting easily out, obtained them of the emperour of gift, as he whose good seruice had well deserued them. The castle thus woon by a most rare chance, and the captiues taking the spoile thereof, the souldiors could no longer be stayed, but that they entred into the citie F by heapes,Tunes spoiled by the Christians. running after the spoile into euery part thereof, the citisens fearing no such matter, and calling in vaine vpon the faith of Muleasses. The souldiors at their first entrance slew many. The Spaniards and Italians sought most after the spoile. But the Germanes desiring more to glut themselues with the Mahometane bloud, filled all places with dead bodies, without regard of sex or age; so that the prophane temples of their vaine prophet, swam with the bloud of them [Page] that were fled into them. Which furious execution continued vntill such time as the emperour G moued with the pitifull request of Muleasses, caused proclamation to bee made, That no man should vpon paine of death hurt any citisen, or take any prisoners: yet for all that, it could not otherwise be, but that many yong men and women were by the marriners (which were come to the spoile of the citie) carried away to the fleet.

Muleasses for a little money redeemed diuers which he knew, out of the hands of such as had them prisoners: amongst others, one of his wiues, whom he sometime held dearest, was ransomed for two duckats. The emperour entering into the castle, commended the captiues, who were the occasion of that speedie victorie: and giuing to euery one of them money, set them at libertie, promising vnto them shipping and prouision to bring them home euery man into his owne countrey. Vnto the two manumised seruants of Barbarussa, which were the authours of H breaking the prison, he gaue money and apparrell, and afterward learned of them many things concerning Barbarussa his purposes and secret disposition. In the spoile of the castle, Muleasses lamented the losse of three things especially:Three things especially lamented by Muleasses in the spoile of the castle of Tunes. first the antient Arabian bookes, containing the interpretation of the Mahometane law, and the acts of the kings his predecessors; the losse whereof Muleasses (in the hearing of P. Iouius, out of whom this hystorie is taken) said (as he reporteth) that he would most gladly, if it had been possible, haue redeemed with the price of a citie: Then the precious oyntments and perfumes, with the wonderfull store of ambergrize, muske, and ciuet, worth much gold: all which Barbarussa as a rude and rough man had made no reckoning of: And last of all, the rare and rich colours for painting, which lying by heapes, were by the ignorant souldiors, seeking for that might yeeld them present money, foolishly neglected and I troden vnderfoot, seruing no man to good. In this castle were found diuers headpieces & other armor of the Christians, namely of the French, who with Lewes their king had about three hundred yeares before besieged that castle: which armour had beene vntill that time there kept by the Moores, in remembrance of that victorie against the Christians.

Barbarussa in the meane time was come to the riuer of Bagrada, which the Moores call Maiordech, which he easily passed ouer, though he was pursued by certain Numidian horsemen, whom Muleasses had raised of his old friends, and of the followers of his vncle Dorax, and sent them to pursue the Turks: but Barbarussa so marched with his harquebusiers and archers placed in the rereward, that the Numidian horsemen durst not come neere him, and so in safetie came to HIPPONA, as he had before purposed. Yet in passing the riuer Bagrada, he lost Haydin of K SMIRNA, that famous pyrat: who being a fat man, and wearied with the heat of the Sunne and painefulnesse of the journey, dranke so much, that he presently died vpon the banke of the riuer. When Barbarussa was come to HIPPONA,Barbarussa [...]lieth to Hippona, and there comforteth his souldiors. he rested his men two dayes: then calling them together againe, he comforted them with good words, persuading them, that whatsoeuer mischance had happened, they should impute it not to the valour of the enemie, but to the trecherie of the slaues; exhorting them as valiant m [...]n patiently to endure that frowne of fortune, and by some notable exploit to win againe her fauour: for he was determined to put to sea with the fleet he had, and to goe presently from thence to ALGIERS, where after he had with new supplies increased his power, and augmented his fleet, and better aduised himselfe, he would take an attempt in hand answereable to their desires, and not vnbeseeming his owne credit and estimation.L It is reported, that neuer vanquished and beaten captaine was with a more cheerefull acclamation answered by his souldiors, than hee was at that present; they all with one consent most willingly requesting him to commaund whatsoeuer pleased him, which they would neuer refuse to vndertake, were it neuer so heauie or dangerous, so that they might be brought to some notable exploit. Barbarussa vsing this exceeding cheerefulnesse and forwardnesse of his souldiors, did with wonderfull celeritie weigh vp the foureteene gallies which he had sunke in the lake, and forthwith rigged them vp, and furnished them for all assayes: and vpon the very brinke of the lake cast vp a mount of earth, whereon he placed certaine pieces of artillerie for defence of the harbour; not vainely conjecturing, that the Christian fleet would in short time come thither to impeach his going out: pointing therein as it were at the purpose of the emperour and Auria M his Admirall,Auria sendeth certaine gallies to intercept Barbarussa. who were of opinion, That by sending part of the fleet thither, those gallies might be drowned in the harbour with the great ordinance, before they could be rigged and made readie. Vnto this peece of seruice Auria appointed one Adam, a captaine of GENVA, a man of no great skill in matters at sea, but yet of great wealth & credit, and the Admirals nigh kinsman: [Page] A he with certaine galiots and fourteene gallies, set forward towards HIPPONA, promising vnto himselfe a most certaine and easie victorie, hoping to purchase vnto himselfe great honour of the vnprouided enemie: for that he thought to haue taken Barbarussa busie in setting forth of his fleet. But after he was past BISERTA and come neere to HIPPONA, he was certainly aduertised, that Barbarussa had with incredible celeritie rigged vp his gallies, and fortified the harbour, by planting great ordinance vpon the mount he had there raised. With which newes he wonderfully troubled, changed his purpose, persuaded by the other captaines of the gallies, in no case to aduenture to fight with him, because the Spanish, Sicilian, and Neapolitan gallies were but weakly manned, many of the souldiors being for greedinesse of the spoile gone ashoare without leaue at TVNES: so that he should at great disaduantage fight with the Turkes, being B mo in number and desperatly bent. Wherefore he vpon good aduise presently changed his former course, and returned to the fleet for more aid. Barbarussa (as it was afterwards known) stood a good while in doubt, whether he should in hope of victorie pursue those gallies, for as much as they were in number no more than his owne; or else to persist in his former purpose of going to ALGIERS. Vnto which opinion all the vnder captaines enclined, being altogither ignorant of the weaknesse of the Christians:Barbarussa [...]scapeth to Algiers. and so letting slip a faire occasion, leauing a small garrison of Turkes in the castle, he departed from HIPPONA and sailed alongst the coast to ALGIERS. When Adam was returned againe to the fleet, and had done nothing, many of the Christian princes were wonderfully offended, that by the negligence of some who were hardly to be commaunded, and by the vnrulinesse of others who without leaue were gone ashoare, so faire an occasion C of the desired victorie, was neglected. For this thing onely wanted vnto the emperours rare felicitie in that warre: for if those few gallies had been taken from the cruell enemie, or sunke in the sea, there had been no meanes for him to haue escaped; being verily thought, that the Numidians in number infinit and deadly enemies vnto the Turks, would with often skirmishes out of their knowne places of aduantage, haue so cut him off in his long and painfull trauell by land, that they would altogither haue made an end both of him and his followers before hee could haue come to ALGIERS. Auria angrie both with himselfe and those whom he had put in trust, and yet not out of hope to ouertake his enemie; with his own gallies and some other of the best ships went to HIPPONA: but finding Barbarussa gone, he tooke the citie and ouerthrew the wals thereof: but in the castle which he by force tooke from the Turks, he placed Aluarus Gometius D with a sufficient garrison, and so returned vnto the emperour. This Gometius, although he was a most valiant captaine, yet became so infamous for his auaritious dealing both with the enemie and his friends, that for feare how to answere such things as he knew would be laid to his charge, he became the infamous executioner of himselfe. The castle was afterwards by the commaundement of the emperour, rased downe to the ground, for that it was not without a maruellous charge to be kept.The kingdome of Tunes is by the emperour restored to Muleasses. After that, a counsell was holden concerning Muleasses, whom the emperour placed againe in the kingdome of TVNES, there to raigne as his auncestors had done before him; paying him yeerly by the name of a tribute, two faulcons and two Numidian coursers: With condition, that he should for euer honour the emperour, and be a friend vnto all Christians, and an vtter enemie vnto the Turkes: Besides that, that he should from time to time E defray the charges of a thousand Spaniards and more, to be left in garrison in the castle of GVLETTA; by holding whereof, the emperour kept as it were the keies of that kingdome at his girdle. The emperour hauing thus honourably driuen Barbarussa and the Turks, pirats, out of TVNES, taken from them their gallies, deliuered the Christians countries all alongst the sea coast in the Mediterranean of a great feare, and restored Muleasses againe to his kingdome▪ sayled into SICILIA,The emperour returneth with victorie into Italie. where he was in great triumph receiued at PANORMVS and MES [...]ANA, from whence he passed ouer to RHEGIVM into ITALIE, & from thence by land to NAPLES. Thus was the kingdome of TVNES taken by Barbarussa and the Turkes; and by Charles the emperor recouered againe out of their hands the selfesame time that Solyman was in person himselfe in wars against the Persian: whom Barbarussa accompanied with Sinan the Iew▪ after this F ouerthow met at ICONIVM in his returne out of PERSIA, well accepting of their excuse, as is before declared.

Solyman as well of his owne ambitious disposition; as following the manner of the Othoman kings,1537 desirous by all meanes to increase the glorie of his name, and to enlarge his empire; determined with himselfe to take away from the Portingales all their traffique into the East Indies. [Page] It grieued him to heare, that the Christian religion should begin to take root amongst those Pagan G kings, which had not long before receiued the Mahometane religion: Besides that, he was credibly enformed, that the Portingales in these late wars he had against the Persians, had aided them with certaine harquebusiers, and also had sent them workmen to shew them both the making and vse of great artillerie: But that which moued him most of all, was for that the Portingales by their traffique into the Indies, had cut off all the trade of merchandise into the gulfe of ARABIA, whereby the riches of the East were woont to be transported vnto CAIRE, and so to ALEXANDRIA, from whence they were afterwards by the Venetian merchants and others dispersed into all parts of of EVROPE: but now were carried by the great Ocean into PORTINGALL, and from thence conuaied into all parts of Christendome, to the great hinderance of his tributes and customes of AEGYPT. For these causes, and at the instance of Solyman Bassa an eunuch H borne in EPIRVS, and then Gouernour of AEGYPT, Solyman caused wonderfull preparation to be made, for the building of a great fleet in the Red sea to go against the Portingals▪ All the timber whereof, was cut downe in the mountaines of CILICIA, and shipped in the bay of ATTALIA in the bottome of the Mediterranian, from whence it was by sea transported to PELVSIVM, and so vp the riuer of Nilus to CAIRE: where after it was framed and readie to be set togither, it was with infinit labour, and no lesse charge, carried by land with Camels thorow that hoat and sandie countrey, from CAIRE to SVETIA, a port of the Red sea, called in antient time ARSINOE.The Aegyptian kings about to let in the red sea into the Mediterranean. From which place eightie miles distant from CAIRE, the antient kings of AEGYPT seeking by vaine and wonderfull workes to eternise the memorie of themselues, had with incredible charge cut thorow all that maine land, so that vessels of good burthen might come vp the I same from ARSINOE to CAIRE: which great cut or ditch, Sesostris the rich king of AEGYPT, and long after him Ptolomeus Philadelphus, purposed to haue made a great deale wider and deeper, and therby to haue let in the Red sea into the Mediterranean, for the readier transportation of the Indian merchandise to CAIRE and ALEXANDRIA. Which mad worke Sesostris preuented by death, could not performe: and Ptolomeus otherwise persuaded by skilfull men, in time gaue ouer; for feare least by letting in the great South sea into the Mediterranean, he should thereby as it were with another generall deluge haue drowned the greatest part of GRaeCIA, and many other goodly countries in ASIA, and with exceeding charge, in steed of honour haue purchased himselfe eternall infamie. Yet by the singular industrie of Solyman the eunuch, who with seuere commaundement enforced all the people of the countries therabouts to the furtherance K of the building of that fleet; he had with wonderfull celeritie in short time new built eightie tall ships and gallies at ARSINOE, and furnished them with men, and all things else needfull for so long a voiage. At which time, he vpon a quarrell pickt without cause, but not without the good liking of Solyman, most injuriously confiscated the goods of the Venetian merchants at ALEXANDRIA and CAIRE, and thrust the marriners into his gallies as slaues. With which fleet in most warlike manner appointed, Solyman the Bassa accompanied with Assan-beg, commonly called the Moore of ALEXANDRIA, a most famous pirat and an excellent seaman, set forward against the Portingals: and sayling thorow the Red sea, and so Eastward by the gulfe of PERSIA, came at length as far as the great riuer Indus, where with all his power he assaulted DIVM a castle of the Portingals,Dium a castle of the Portingals in the East Indies in vaine assaulted by the Turkes. scituate vpon the mouth of that great riuer: but in conclusion, after L he had many daies besieged the castle both by sea & land, and tried the vttermost of his strength, he was so repulsed by the Portingals, that he was glad to forsake the siege, and leauing his great ordinance behind him for hast, returned backe againe to ADEN, a citie of great trade in ARABIA FELIX: Where discouraged with the euill successe he had against the Portingals, because he would be thought to haue done something, he allured the king of that rich citie to come vnto him, vpon his false faith before giuen for his safe returne: but as soone as he had him aboord, he like a perjured wretch hanged him vp at the yards arme of his Admirall galley, and so surprising the citie,The [...]cherous dealing of Solyman the eunuch Bassa with the kings of Arabia. enriched himselfe with the spoile thereof. The like barbarous crueltie he vsed at ZI [...]YTH, another famous port of ARABIA, where the pilgrims of the East doe commonly land when they after the manner of their superstition come to visit the temple of their false prophet M at MECHA: The king of which place, togither with all his nobilitie he cruelly murthered, contrarie to his faith giuen: and so trauelling himselfe by land to MECHA, as if he had been some deuout pilgrim, sent backe his fleet by the Moore to SVETIA, hauing performed against the Portingals nothing at all.

[Page] A At the same time Solyman by the persuasion of Lutzis and Aiax (the Bassaes of greatest authoritie about him, now that Abraham was dead) turned all his forces from the Persians, as men agreeing with him in the cheefe points of his Mahometane superstition, with purpose to conuert the same vpon ITALIE: wherunto he was earnestly sollicited by Iohn Forrest the French kings embassadour,Solyman inc [...]ted by the French embassadours to inuade Italie. then lying at CONSTANTINOPLE, of purpose to incite Solyman against Charles the emperour, assuring him, that he was not of such power, as at one time to defend APVLIA against him, and the dukedome of MILLAINE against the French king: who (as he said) was determined that Summer to inuade that part of ITALIE. And to further the matter, about the same time one Troil [...]s Pignatellus, a noble gentleman, sometime commaunder in Charles the emperours armie, but then exiled out of NAPLES, fled vnto Solyman; and for so much as hee B was a man of name, and like to doe him great seruice in the inuasion of APVLIA, as one which knew the countrey well, and promised vnto him good successe in that warres, was by Solyman honourably entertained amongst his Mutfaracas: which is a certaine companie of horsemen for their approued valou [...], chosen out of all nations, hauing the free exercise of their religion whatsoeuer without controulement, and are onely bound to attend vpon the person of the great Turke when he goeth to warres. The cause of his reuolt was, for that the viceroy of NAPLES had executed Andrew his brother, one of the knights of the RHODES. But being now grown into great fauour with Solyman and the Bassaes, and oftentimes called to counsell in the preparation of that warre, casting off all naturall loue of his countrey, ceased not by all meanes to persuade Solyman to inuade the same, assuring him, that the people of APVLIA and SALERNE oppressed C with grieuous tribute and exactions by the emperours officers, would at the first reuolt, especially if they saw any of the French nation to cleaue vnto. And that which mooued him more than all the rest, the auntient Turkes told him into what a feare all ITALIE was strucken, at such time as Achmetes the Bassa hauing taken HYDRVNTVM, had vndoubtedly conquered not onely the kingdome of NAPLES, but the citie of ROME also, and all the rest of ITALIE, had not the vntimely death of Mahomet his great grandfather interrupted the course of that victorie. Which persuasions wrought such effect in Solyman, Solyman with an armie of two hundred thousand men commeth to Aulon [...]. that he once fully resolued for the inuasion of ITALIE, made such expedition both by sea and land, that he himselfe in person was come with two hundred thousand men vnto AVLONA, the most conuenient port of MACEDONIA for the transporting of his armie, before it was thought in ITALIE that he was set forward D from CONSTANTINOPLE: where he had not long stayed, but Lutzis Bassa his Admirall, accompanied with Barbarussa, sayling alongst the coast of PELOPONESVS and EPIRVS, and so passing by CORCYRA, where Hieronimus Pisaurius, Admirall of the Venetian fleet lay with his gallies (after mutuall salutation done after the manner of sea, by shooting off their great pieces in token of friendship) put into the hauen of AVLONA also.Solyman sendeth Lutzis and Barbarussa with his fleet to inuade Italie. Solyman not purposing to lose any time, and hauing ITALIE now in his sight, commaunded Lutzis and Barbarussa to passe ouer with the fleet vnto OTRANTO, and to prooue the minds of the people; that if the first enterprise fell out well, he might presently follow after with all his armie. With them went also Troilus Pignatellus, as forward to the destruction of his country, as any of the rest. He knowing that the great cities of HYDRVNTVM and BRVNDVSIVM were kept with strong garrisons of E Charles the emperour, leauing HYDRVNTVM on the right hand, directed the Turks to a towne vpon the sea coast, eight miles off▪ called CASTRVM, neere vnto which standeth a castle vpon a hill then belonging to Mercurinus Catinarius ▪ who being a man vnacquainted with warres, and terrified with the sudden comming of the Turkes, and persuaded by Troilus, yeelded vp his castle, vpon condition that the Turkes should offer no violence or injurie vnto him or his, either in bodie or goods.Castrum in Ap [...] lia yeelded to the Turkes, and by them contrarie to their faith spoiled. Vpon which condition the towne of CASTRVM was also deliuered vnto them. But the Turkes, especially the greedie marriners, being got into the castle and the towne, moued neither with the intreatie of Troilus, nor the commaundement of Lutzis and Barbarussa, rifled the towne and castle, and carried away with them Mercurinus himselfe, with all the floure of the people, to their gallies as prisoners. But Lutzis ashamed of such faithlesse dealing, presently F set Mercurinus at libertie againe. At the same time also Solyman had by night sent ouer certaine troupes of light horsemen, in great palendars: which running all alongst the sea coast from TARENTVM to BRVNDVSIVM, carried away with them both the people and cattell, and whatsoeuer els came in their way by the space of fortie miles. So that all that covntrey of SALENTINVM, now called OTRANTO,The Turkes spoile Ap [...]ia. was filled with feare and danger; and had not, there stayed, but [Page] was like ynough to haue ouerwhelmed all ITALIE, by the comming ouer of Solyman w [...]h his G whole armie, had not the rashnesse of one Venetian captaine by vnexpected chance turned that tempest from the Italians vpon the Venetians themselues.

Alexander Contarenus, a valiant captaine of the Venetians, meeting with certaine of the Turkes gallies, which would neither vaile their top sailes, nor in token of reuerence and friendship, discharge any of their great Ordinance, as of dutie they ought to haue done in those seas where the Venetians commaunded; offended with their proud insolencie, fie [...]c [...]ly assailed [...]em, and in fight sunke two of them: wherein Vstamenes Gouernour of CALIPOLIS, a man of no small reputation amongst the Turks, was reported to haue perished. Which outrage done by Contarenus in a most vnfit time (to the great hurt of the Venetian estate, as it appeared afterward) was imputed to his owne priuat grudge which he bare against the Turks, for that they had intercepted H a ship of his as she was comming out of the East countries laden with rich merchandise: so that it was thought, that he to please himselfe in reuenging of his owne priuat injurie, regarded not what might in that dangerous time ensue thereof to the common state.

A little before the comming ouer of the Turks into ITALIE, Andreas Auria the emperors Admirall lying at MESSANA in SICILIA, vnderstanding that Solyman was come with his armie to AVLONA, and that his fleet was arriued there also, put to sea, directing his course towards the Islands of CEPHALENIA and ZACYNTHVS, hoping (as indeed it fell out) to meet with the taile of the Turkes fleet: for there according to his expectation he chanced vpon diuers of the Turks victuallers, whom he easily tooke. The marriners he chained in his owne gallies for slaues, and furnishing his fleet with the victuall which was not for him prouided, fired the ships.I Whilest Auria was thus beating too and fro in the Ionian sea,Iunu [...]beius with two gallies driue by the Venetians vpon the Acroceraunian rocks. it fortuned that Solyman sent Iunusbeius his cheefe interpreter, a man whom he made no small account of, with two gallies on a message to Lutzis his Admirall. This proud Turke comming neere CORCYRA, where the Venetian Admirall lay with his fleet, offered scornefully to passe by, without vailing: which his pride tending to the disgrace of the Venetians, certaine of the Venetian captaines not enduring, set vpon him with such furie, that the Turkes were enforced to run both their gallies on shore vpon the coast of EPIRVS, neere vnto the mountaines called ACROCERAVNII, where hauing escaped the danger at sea, they fell almost all into the hands of the cruell mountaine people, liuing for the most part by theft, and waiting for wrackes, as hawkes for their prey: by these shauers the Turkes were stript of all they had, and Iunusbeius with much adoe redeeming himselfe K out of their hands, returned to Solyman. Auria sayling alongst the sea coast, chanced vpon these gallies, and finding them sore brused, set fire on them.

For these vnkind parts, the Turks were wonderfully offended with the Venetians, and greeuously complained of them to Solyman: although the Venetian Admirall laboured by all means he could to appease Iunusbeius, and to excuse the matter, as a thing done by great ouersight on both sides. Vpon these small occasions, the Turkes sought to breake off the league with the Venetians; which fell out so much the sooner, for that about the same time Auria sayling vp and downe in the Ionian sea, and diligently looking into euery harbour to intercept such as stragled from the Turkes fleet, happened by night to light vpon twelue of Solymans great gallies neere vnto CORCYRA, all filled with his Ianizaries and choice horsemen of the court, the best souldiors L of the Turkes,Auria taketh twelue of the Turkes gallies full of Ianizaries and Solymans other best souldiors. who had by land sent their horses to the campe by their lackies, and were comming themselues with the Ianizaries by sea. Auria falling vpon these gallies, had with them a cruell and deadly fight: For they as resolute men, wishing rather to die than to yeeld vnto their enemies, with inuincible courage maintained a most bloudie fight against Auria with his thirtie gallies excellently appointed, vntill such time as most part of them were slaine, and the rest sore wounded; who seeing no remedie, but that they must needs come into the hands of their enemies, threw their scimitars ouerbourd, because those choice weapons should not come into the hands of the Christians. In this conflict Auria lost also many of his best souldiors: yet hauing got the victorie, and possessed of the gallies, he ankered neere vnto CORCYRA, there to take view of his owne harmes and the enemies: but whilest he rid there at anker, he was aduertised,M that Barbarussa was comming against him with fourescore gallies. Wherefore knowing himselfe too weake to encounter so strong an enemie, he departed thence, and returned againe to M [...]SSANA to repaire his fleet. Solyman thorowly chafed with the losse of his gallies and best souldiors, and with the double injurie done vnto him by the Venetians, fell into such a rage, that he [Page] A cursed Barbarussa, as one who in those warres had done him no good seruice; and thundered out greeuous threats against the Venetians, saying he was vnder the colour of an auntient league by them deceiued and greatly abused, and that they were secretly confederated with Charles his enemie, and had for that cause (as they had alwaies) holpen Auria with intelligence; and all things necessarie,Iunusbeius Barbarussa, & Aiax▪ incense Solyman against the Venetians. receiuing him into their harbours, and by their espials giuing him knowledge of the order of his fleet, that so he might at his most aduantage surprise his gallies, as he had alreadie done: vnto which fire, Iunusbeius his interpreter, Barbarussa and Aiax laid new coales, more and more incensing the tyrant, who was of himselfe sufficiently enflamed, persuading him by all meanes they could to breake the league with the Venetians: Wherein Iunusbeius sought to reuenge his owne priuate injuries; and the other two after their greater profit and credit▪ gaping after B the spoile of the Islands neere hand, especially of CORCYRA (now called CORFV) ZACYNTHVS, and CEPHALENIA, all subject to the Venetian siegnorie, finding the warres in ITALIE more dangerous and difficult than they had before imagined. For the French king came not then into ITALIE, as was by them expected: and it was commonly reported, That Petrus Toletanus, viceroy of NAPLES, hauing put strong garrisons into the townes all alongst the sea coast, was comming himselfe with a great armie: beside that, the horsemen sent ouer from AVLONA, raunging about in the countrey of SALENTVM for spoile, were many times cut off by Scipio Sommeius, a noble gentleman, there Gouernour for the emperour. Wherefore Solyman changing his purpose for the inuasion of ITALIE,Solyman conuerteth his forces from the Italians against the Venetians. in his mad mood proclaimed warre against the Venetians: and so rising with his armie from AVLONA, and marching alongst the sea coast vntill C he came oueragainst CORCYRA, he encamped neere vnto the mountaines called ACROCERAVNII, where the fierce and wild people inhabiting the high and rough mountaine of CHIMERA (a part of the Acroceraunian mountaines) by the instigation of one Damianus, a notable theefe, and very perfit in the blind and difficult passages amongst the rockes and woods in those desolate mountaines, conspired to attempt a most strange and desperat exploit, which was, by night to spoile Solyman in his owne pauilion.Solyman in danger to haue been slaine in his [...]en [...] in the middest of his armie. These beggerly wild rogues liuing most part by murther and robberie, altogether without law or any manner of religion, in hope of so great a prey, and to become famous by killing one of the greatest monarchs of the world in the middest of his strength, guarded with so many thousands of his souldiors, were not afraid of any danger how great soeuer, hoping in the dead time of the night to steale into the campe vndiscouered, D and there so to oppresse Solyman sleeping in his tent: Which (as was by many afterwards supposed) they were like ynough to haue performed, to the astonishment of the world, had it not been by chance discouered: for when they had put all things in readinesse for their purpose, Damianus ringleader of these desperat sauage people, by secret wayes stealing downe the broken rockes of those huge mountaines, and comming very neere vnto the campe, to view the standing of Solymans pauilion, with the order of the Turkes watch, was by the cracking of a bough espied by the Ianizaries, where he stood in a tree prying all ouer the campe: and being there taken, and afterwards put to torture, and confessing what he had intended, was by the commaundement of Solyman torne in pieces. Whereupon he forthwith sent a great part of his armie vp into the mountaines, which hunting after these wild people, as if they had been wild beasts, slew E many of them, and by Solymans appointment did what they possibly could to haue quite destroyed them, as an infamous people, enemie to all men.

When Solyman had thus fully reuenged himselfe vpon this barbarous nation, he purposed to inuade the Island of CORCYRA,Solyman inuadeth the Island of Corcyra. now called CORFV, part of the Venetian sieginorie: sending before Barbarussa with his great artillerie, whom he had but a little before called out of ITALIE with his forces. Pisaurius the Venetian Admirall in good time foreseeing the tyrants purpose, strengthened the garrisons in both the castles of CORFV, with new supplies of good souldiors sent out of the gallies: and knowing himselfe vnable to encounter with the Turkes great fleet at sea, withdrew himselfe farther off from the island into the gulfe of the Adriatique, to the entent to joyne his power with Ioannes Veturius, who kept that sea with another fleet of the Venetian F gallies, and so with joyned forces to defend the Venetian coasts against the Turkes: whom he thought himselfe strong ynough for, with the helpe of Veturius and of Auria, whose comming was dayly expected. Solyman sending a great part of his armie out of the maine into the island, burnt and destroyed the countrey villages, leading away a wonderfull number of poore countrey people into most miserable captiuitie. Aiax the Bassa, and Barbarussa in two small pinnaces [Page] came as neere vnto the citie of CORFV as they possibly could, to see which way they might G most conueniently lay siege vnto it: but perceiuing the great strength thereof, being wonderfully fortified, and thorowly manned, they aduertised Solyman, that it was a place inpregnable. Aloysius Ripa, and Symon Leonius, two Senators of VENICE were then gouernors of CORFV, who not without cause standing in doubt of the great strength of the Turkes both by sea and land, caused the suburbs of the citie (which were verie great and sumptuously built) to be pluckt downe, for feare that the Turkes shrowding themselues in them, should with more case besiege the towne. This was a wofull and lamentable thing to behold, when as at the same time a man might haue seene the magnificent houses of the Venetian merchants, built in time of long peace, both for profit and for pleasure in euerie place of the island, all set on fire by the Turkes: But the regard of the publike state in so great a danger, made all those goodly things which went H so to wracke, to be lightly accounted of in comparison of their liues and libertie; for as much as those lost things might with new charge be againe in short time recouered.

The two Venetian gouernours aforesaid, fearing a long siege, and not prouided of victuall to suffice such a multitude as were got into the citie, for any long time; vsed a heauie and sharpe remedie, by turning a great number of weake people and children vnable for seruice, out of the citie; of whom many, especially children, died in the towne ditches in their mothers armes vnder the wals of the citie, not daring to go any further for feare of the enemie, who had fast by in places conuenient cast vp great mounts, and planted his ordinance against the citie: onely the castle called S. Augelo standing in the middle of the island, about fifteene miles from the citie of CORFV, being valiantly defended by the inhabitants against the assaults of the Turkes, happily I saued aboue three thousand poore people which fled thither from the furie of the Turkes, who in all other places of the island had made all desolate. The Turkes the more to terrifie them of CORFV, taking a hill not farre from the citie, couered the same with their tents, and from the rocke called MARIPETRVS, shot with their great ordinance into the towne: some of them in the meane time standing close in the ruines of the suburbs, did with their harquebusiers kill or wound them which appeared vpon the wals. The gallies also did oftentimes out of their prows discharge their great pieces against the citie, to the greater terrour than hurt of the defendants. Solyman perceiuing that he did but lose his labour in besieging the citie, as he was told at the first by his great captaines, Lutzis, Aiax, and Barbarussa; determined now to raise his siege, and to returne to CONSTANTINOPLE, greatly ashamed that he had no better sped neither in K ITALIE, nor at the siege of CORFV. But when he was about to haue departed, it was told him how vnfaithfully some of his soldiors had dealt with them of CASTRVM in ITALIE; who yeelding themselues vpon the Turks faith to them giuen for the safegard of their libertie and goods, were neuerthelesse most injuriously spoiled of all that they had, and caried away into bondage. Which fact as tending to the dishonour of his name, and the deterring of others from yeelding, Solyman tooke in so euill part,Good iustice done by Solyman. that for amending thereof, he caused the authors of that fact to be put to death, and the captiues of CASTRVM to be diligently sought out, and sent home againe into their countrey: well deseruing therein the commendation of a most just prince. The Turks left the siege of CORFV and departed out of the island about the twelfth of September,The Turks depart from Corfu, and carrie away with them aboue sixteen thousand Christians into captiuitie. in the yeare 1537: carrying away with them aboue sixteene thousand of the island people into perpetuall L captiuitie. So Solyman rising with his armie, marching thorow ACARNANIA and AETOLIA, returned thorow MACEDONIA to CONSTANTINOPE: hauing in this his expedition done great harme both in ITALIE and CORCYRA, but yet nothing encreased his empire or honour.

Before his departure, calling vnto him Lutzis his Admirall, he commaunded him also to returne with his fleet to HELESPONTVS: who passing by ZAZINTHVS, and landing some of his men in the night, tooke diuers of the countrey people prisoners. But vnderstanding that the citie it selfe was both strong and well manned, he departed thence to CYTHERA, where vnfortunatly attempting to haue taken the castle, and disappointed of his purpose, he made what spoile he could vpon that island, and with eight hundred prisoners returned into AEGEVM to AEGINA,M a rich and famous island, and well peopled both with marriners and other inhabitants. Approching the island, he by his messengers sent before vnto the Gouernour of the citie, attempted first by faire meanes, and afterwards by threats to haue had the citie yeelded vnto him: and not so preuailing, but perceiuing them to stand vpon their defence, he landed his men and gaue the signall [Page] A of battell. Which they of the island refused not, but manfully met him, and at the first encounter slew many of his men: wherewith the Admirall grieuously offended; and still landing fresh men, euen with his multitude oppressed them of the island▪ being but in number few, and wearie of long fight; and so enforced them them to retire into the citie.

To be reuenged of this injurie,Aegina with th [...] other islands of the Aeg [...]um spoiled. the Bassa caused certaine pieces of great ordinance to be landed, and a batterie planted against the citie: by force whereof, he had in short time in diuers places opened the wals, and then with all his power assaulting the breaches, forthwith tooke the citie: which after he had rifled, he burnt it downe to the ground, rased the wals, and put the men euerie mothers sonne to the sword. As for the women, he gaue them without respect vnto the lust of his souldiors and marriners, whom afterwards togither with the boies and young children B he shipped into the countrey neere vnto ATHENS, to be from thence conuaied to CONSTANTINOPLE into most miserable seruitude.

AEGINA thus vtterly rased, he with much like force and crueltie raged vpon them of PAROS, and the other islands thereabouts, killing the old men and such as made resistance, and thrusting the rest into his gallies. Shortly after he came to the island of NAXOS, where all the island people were for feare of his comming, fled out of the country into the citie: there landing his men, he made hauocke of whatsoeuer came to his hand. And in the meane time sent a messenger vnto the duke, to will him to yeeld himselfe and his citie to the obedience of the Turkish emperour Solyman. Which messenger admitted into the citie, and brought before the duke, in blunt and plaine tearmes, without farther circumstance, deliuered his message as followeth: C ‘If thou wilt without more adoe,The blunt speech of a Turke sent by Lutzis Bassa vnto the duke of Naxo [...]. yeeld thy selfe, thy citie and territorie to the Constantinopolitane emperour, thou shalt deserue his fauour, and so saue thy selfe with that thou hast. But if thou otherwise aduised, shalt now refuse this grace, thou shalt neuer hereafter haue the like offer: but for euer vndoe thy selfe, thy wife and children, thy citisens and subiects in generall. Here is present a most mightie fleet with most valiant and victorious souldiours, furnished with all the habiliments of war requisite for battell or siege. Be warned by them of AEGINA, PAROS, and other thy neighbours, princes of the islands. Thy hap is good, if thou be not misaduised; and warned by other mens harmes wilfully refuse to remedie thine owne▪ and when thou mightest be safe, wilfully cast away thy selfe.’

D This said, he was commaunded by the duke to stand aside, and a while to expect his answere: who with the chiefe of his subjects there present, but much troubled, and all full of heauinesse and sorrow, consulted what answere to make. But after they had according to the waightinesse of the cause and necessitie of the time fully debated the matter, it was with generall consent agreed, That for as much as they were not themselues of power to withstand so furious an enemie, neither to expect for helpe from others, they should therfore yeeld vnto the present necessitie, which otherwise threatned vnto them vtter destruction, and reserue themselues vnto better times. Whereupon answere was giuen vnto the messenger by the duke, That he was readie to yeeld himselfe vnto Solyman as his vassaile, and of him as of his soueraigne to hold his seignorie for the yearely tribute of fiue thousand duckats. Of which offer the Bassa accepted, E receiuing in hand one yeares tribute. So was that notable island yeelded vnto the Turkish obeisance the 11 of Nouember this yeare 1537:Naxos becommeth tribu [...] i [...] vnto the Turk [...]. from whence Lutzis the proud Bassa laded with the rich spoile of the countries and islands he had passed by, returned to CONSTANTINOPLE with his fleet. Not long after, this great Bassa then in credit and authoritie next vnto Solyman himselfe, fell at ods with his wife, Solymans sister: for that he after the vnnaturall manner of those barbarous people kept in his house a most delicat youth, in whom he took more pleasure than in his wife. Which she being a woman of great spirit not able to endure, and knowing her husband by marrying of her to haue been from base degree aduanced vnto the highest honours that the emperour her brother could heape vpon him, in great rage reproued him with most bitter words, saying, That she had married him to be of him beloued, and vsed as his wife, and not F contemptuously abused by his minions. Wherewith the Bassa moued, gaue her a blow on the eare, and caused her as a foolish and vnquiet woman to be shut vp in her chamber. But she not brooking such abuse, came weeping to Solyman her brother, and complaining of her husband, requested to be diuorsed from him, who made no better reckoning of her: And with her complaint so incensed Solyman, that he tooke from him his seale, and thrust him out of all his honorable [Page] promotions, [...] Bassa [...] by Solyman [...] exiled. and had vndoubtedly put him to death, had not the remembrance of his old G loue and friendship staied his furie: Yet hauing vtterly disgraced him; he banished him the court into MACEDONIA, where he spent the remainder of his loathed like as a poore priuat man: of whom Boisardus thus writeth.

Quae tibi cum molli res est pollute Cynaedo:

Cum cubet in Thalamis regia nympha tuis?

Ex humili fortuna loco te euexit in altum

Ex alto maior saepe ruina venit.

On daintie boies, thou filthie man, why doest thou fix thine eye:H

Whilest princely dame of roiall bloud, doth in thy chamber lie?

From base estate to honours height, blind fortune did thee call,

And set thee vp with princes great, to worke thy greater fall.

Solyman thus fallen out with the Venetians, as is aforesaid, to entangle them at once with war [...] in diuers places, commanded his lieutenants in euerie place bordering vpon any part of the Venetian seignorie,The Turks spoile the Ve [...]etians, and the Venetians [...]hem likewise. to vex and molest them with all hostilitie, which they did accordingly: In PELOPONESVS, Cassimes besieged NAVPLIVM and EPIDAVRVS, two strong cities of the Venetians: Barbarussa landing his men in DALMATIA, surprised the antient citie of BOTROTVS, belonging to the Venetians, carried away the citisens & rased the citie: OBROATIVM another I citie of the Venetians in DALMATIA, called in auntient time ARGIRVTVM, with the castle of NADIN, were taken by Vstref, Solymans lieutenant in ILLYRIA. The Venetians thus inuaded on euerie side, requited them againe with the like: Pisaurius and Veturius (the Venetian Admirals) landing their men, besieged SCARDONA, a citie of the Turkes in the borders of DALMATIA, which they tooke by force, put the Turks to the sword, and ouerthrew the wals of the citie, because it should be no more a refuge vnto the Turks: They sent also one of their captaines called Gabriel Ribeus to besiege OBROATIVM; who vpon the comming of Amurathes, one of Vstref his captaines, cowardly fled, and in flight lost most of his men; for which his cowardise, Pisa [...] rius caused his head to be strucke off aboord the Admirall gally: And Camillus Vrsinus appointed by the Venetian state Gouernour of IADERA, a strong towne vpon the frontiers of their territorie K in DALMATIA, tooke from the Turkes the towne of OSTROVIZZA, which he burnt downe to the ground: He recouered also OBROATIVM, which was a little before lost; which by the commaundement of the Senat he vtterly rased, as a place not well to be kept against the enemie.

The same Autumne that Solyman hauing wasted CORCYRA was returned to CONSTANTINOPLE, and the Venetians held warres with the Turkes for the townes and castles in DALMATIA: king Ferdinand receiued such an ouerthrow at EZEK by the Turkes, as a greater or more shamefull vnto the name of the Christians was hardly in that age seene; if the losse of the choise souldiors and captaines of foure great nations, with the shamefull flight of the Generall be well considered. After the battell of MOHAHZ wherein king Lewes was lost▪ the Turks hauing L gotten the victorie, kept vnto themselues that part of HVNGARIE which is called POSS [...]GA, because thereby they had a fit passage from BELGRADE further into HVNGARIE. The two great riuers of Sauus and Dranus, running almost with equall distance from the West, taking with them diuers other smaller riuers, before they fall into the great riuer of Danubius Eastward, doe on both sides inclose this countrey of POSSEGA, being a rich and plentifull countrey, and wonderfull well peopled: It bordereth vpon the prouinces of CROATIA and COR [...]ANIA, which in times past were at continuall warres with the Turkes garrisons thereby in I [...]YRIA and BOSNA.

Mahometes Gouernour of Belgrane.At that time one Mahometes a most valiant captaine of the Turks was Gouernour of BELGRADE, to whom for his approued valour and wisedome Solyman had committed the keeping M of those frontiers, and the protection of the kingdome of HVNGARIE in the behalfe of king Iohn. He the yeare before had so vsed the matter, that what by force, what by pollicie, he had taken from the Christians aboue thirtie small castles in that country (which was sometime part of the patrimonie of the Despot of RASCIA) and had joyned them to the regiment of BOSNA▪ [Page] A One of these castles amongst the rest called EXEK, for the commodious situation thereof hee strongly fortified, as that which might giue him passage ouer the riuer Dranus into HVNGARIE: from whence he fet in infinit preyes out of king Ferdinands countrey neere vnto him. Yet was there at that time a certaine league betwixt Solyman and Ferdinand, An euill assure [...] peace. which notwithstanding after the old custome of those countries for the exercise of the garrison souldiors, did beare with the taking of bootie, and light skirmishes without any breach thereof; so that it were done without any great power or field pieces: which wrong named peace, Mathias and the auntient kings of HVNGARIE had of long time vsed with the Turks, doing them with their nimble light horsemen no lesse harme than they teceiued. But the Germans now vsing no such light horsemen, but seruing vpon great horses, and charged with heauie armour, receiued great hurt by those B light skirmishes; the Turkes with their light horses easily shunning their charge, and againe at their pleasure charging them afresh, when they saw the heauie German horses almost wearie and spent: by which meanes the German horsemen were oftentimes by the Turkes light horsemen ouerthrowne, and so either slaine or taken. King Ferdinand not well brooking these continuall injuries,King Ferdinand breaketh his league with the Turkes. and grieued in mind with the league which Solyman had to his profit made with him at his going into PERSIA, finding the same both vnprofitable and hurtfull to himselfe; determined to take vp armes, with purpose, that if he could driue the Turks out of the countrey of POSSEGA, then forthwith to passe ouer Dranus, and to go directly to BVDA against king Iohn. It still stucke in his mind how that kingdome was taken from him by Solyman, and that more was▪ as it were in disgrace of him and the house of AVSTRIA, bestowed vpon a stranger, which had C neither right therto, nor was any way roially descended. Yet were there some which wished him not rashly to enter into armes against so mightie an enemie, as was not to be vanquished but by the vnited forces of all the Christian princes of EVROPE: For they foresaw that Solyman so prouoked, would not put it vp, but for the hatred he bare against the Christians, and for his owne honour seeke more cruell reuenge: as he had of late done against the Venetians, with whom vpon a light occasion he had broken a most auntient league, for sincking one or two of his gallies; for which he would admit no excuse or satisfaction. All this Ferdinand knew to be true, yet all the people of his dominions lay so earnestly vpon him to take that warre in hand, that they said plainly, they would neuer beare armes more against the Turks, if he omitted that occasion. For they of CARINTHIA, STIRIA, CROATIA, and NORICVM, subject to the inuasion of the D Turks, and daily receiuing great harmes, thought the Turks might easily be driuen out of POSSEGA, for as much as Mahometes had no great power nor like to haue any greater, Autumne being now almost spent.

So, king Ferdinand with the wonderfull rejoycing of his subjects, caused souldiors to be taken vp in all parts of his kingdome, sending for most of his nobilitie and best captaines, as to a religious warre: and in a verie short space had raised a good armie; yet supposed of greater strength than number, as consisting most of select men. The footmen were for most part Germans, to whom were ioyned as wings certaine companies of Italians, harquebusiers, whom Lewes Lodronius a valiant captaine and generall of the footmen had raised in RHETIA, and those parts of ITALIE which lie neere vnto the Alpes. The horsemen were of BOHEMIA, SILESIA, MORAVIA, E STIRIA, CARINTHIA, and some also out of HVNGARIE, all conducted by their seuerall captaines: all these horsemen were in number eight thousand, but the footmen were sixteene thousand strong: with great store of artillerie of all sorts. This armie for the expertnesse and valour of the souldiours, was thought sufficient to haue met the greatest armie of the Turkes in field, if it had been conducted by a politick Generall, and (as he had at other times been) fortunat: which was one Iohn Cazzianer a noble man of CROATIA, whom as one of great experience and famous for the late defence of VIENNA, king Ferdinand had made Generall of his armie. For Ferdinand by the aduise of his best friends,Cazzianer Generall of king Ferdinand [...] armie. neuer vsed to aduenture his person vnto the danger of any battell, especially against the Turkes, by whom many Christian kings had in former time been vanquished and slaine, but performed all his wars by his lieutenants: which he was thought F to doe, not so much for want of courage, as moued with the fatall mishap of so many Christian kings Mahometes Gouernour of BELGRADE,Mahometes Gouernour of Belgrade, aided by the other Turk [...] captaines. vnderstanding of this preparation made against him, sent for diuers companies of the garrison souldiors, which lay vpon the borders neere hand; he required aid of the gouernours of the Turkes prouince thereabouts; and was especially holpen by Vsterf Gouernour of BOSNA, who of all Solymans lieutenants in EVROPE, was able to [Page] bring into the field most good horsemen: he sent him Amurathes a famous captain with a great G companie of gallant horsemen, vnto whom were joyned certaine companies of footmen of the wild and mountaine people of DALMATIA, entertained for pay; which rough and rude kind of people were gouerned and kept in order by certaine companies of Ianizaries, drawne out of the garrison townes as far as BELGRADE and SAMANDRIA: after them followed many out of SERVIA & RASCIA, some for pay, some for prey. The Turks receiuers liberally paying to such as were willing to serue, two months pay beforehand. Neither wanted he aid of the Hungarians from BVDA: so that the Turkish gouernours on euery side putting to their helping hands, Mahometes had in short time gathered such an armie, as for number and strength was not much inferior to king Ferdinands, and resolued to expect the comming of his enemies at EXEK. Cazzianer was now come as farre on his way as CAPRVNZA, a towne vpon the riuer Dranus; H hauing before well and conueniently prouided for the victualling of his armie, if they whom he put in trust and had taken the matter vpon them, had with like speed and diligence performed their charge: for they were the cheefe men of all the countrey, who all followed the direction of Simon, bishop of ZAGRABIA: who enflamed with zeale aboue measure, or els for want of judgement deceiued, had promised to serue the whole campe with plentie of victuals at a very low rare. Which thing the countrey people which were to bring in the victuall, some by waggon, some by boats alongst the riuers, many difficulties now arising, were not able to performe: which was not to be remedied, by reason of the neerenesse of the enemie, and also for that Mahometes with small gallies in both riuers, and his troupes of horsemen pricking vp and downe the countrey, did either stay the countrey people from bringing of victuall, or els allured them I for a greater price to bring it to his owne campe: where they receiued for it readie money▪ Cazzianer setting forward from CAPRVNZA, hardly came in ten daies to the castle of VERVCZA, which is about fortie miles distant from CAPRVNZA, being enforced to make short marches, by reason of the troublesome carriage of seuen great peeces of artillerie for batterie.A slow march. The wiser sort began euen then to misdoubt the want of victuall both for the reasons before alledged, and for that such victuall as was looked for, came not, although they had marched very softly; so that they were then enforced to spend such victuall as they had prouided, not for the beginning, but for the difficulties of a long protracted warre. Wherefore Cazzianer writ sharpely to the bishop, and the other which had taken vpon them the charge of prouiding victuall for the armie, commaunding them to vse all possible diligence and speed, and not to let the hope of a notable K victorie to be lost through their negligence, for want of victuall rather than the valor of the enemie. In the meane time Cazzianer thought good there to stay, and to expect the comming of the victuall, sending before him Paulus Bachitius with a thousand Hungarian light horsemen, and certaine companies of Italian harquebusiers, as farre as the castle of ZOPIA, to the intent, that he might of such prisoners as he could take, learne something of the enemies purpose. The Turkes in the castle of ZOPIA descrying the comming of Bachitius, and thinking the whole armie of the Christians had beene there at hand, set fire on the castle, which they thought they could not keepe, and by boats fled downe the riuer Dranus. Yet for all their hast Bachitius took some of them in their flight: of whom Cazzianer learned that which hee before knew by his owne espials, how that Mahometes and the Turkes lay encamped at EXEK, with a full resolution L to giue him battell. Cazzianer setting forward againe, still keeping alongst the riuer Dranus, came in eight dayes to the castle of WALPO:Cazzianer commeth to Walpo. where by the way he was glad to stay seuen dayes at the riuer Crassus, which falleth into Dranus, vntill such time as a bridge was made for the transporting of his armie, for that the riuer was not to be waded ouer: in which time Cazzianer entred oftentimes into counsell with the other captaines, what course to hold for the better proceeding in that warre. Where diuers men were of diuers opinions, some said it were best to leaue▪ EXEK, and to besiege a castle of the enemies thereby, called VILLACH: others more wearie than the rest, were of opinion, That it were better there to stay, vntill the rest of the aid and the victuall which they dayly expected, were come. But the greater number, which also preuailed, vrged the first determination of going directly to the enemie at EXEK, for that longer M delay would but breed further danger: and there was in the campe (as they said) both strength and victuall sufficient for the obtaining of the victorie, if they would make an end of their needlesse consultations, and not protract the warre vntill Winter were come on; whereby they did nothing els, but cause the souldiors to thinke that they were afraid to meet the enemie, and secretly [Page] A to steale away backe againe into their countries: Whereas if they would like resolute men march on forward against the enemie, who at other times trusting most vnto his multitudes, and now hauing no great power, would neuer abide the sight of the Christian armie, bringing with it so much artillerie, but would forthwith forsake the place, and neuer shew his face: for as much as the Christian men at arms would (as they said) easily breake thorow and ouerthrow the naked Turkish horsemen, if they durst abide the field. The young soldiors, who as yet had neuer made proofe of the Turks manner of fight, did with such cheerefulnesse like of this resolution, that they thought two dayes staying a long delay of so readie and easie a victorie. Wherefore it was resolued vpon presently to set forward, and therupon the armie was mustered: where, vpon view taken, there was found to be ten thousand horsemen (for diuers troupes of Germans were come B to the campe, after the time of the first setting forward of the armie:) a more gallant companie of horsemen, both for the strength of their horses, and goodly furniture of the men, had seldome been seene in an armie so suddenly raised. But the footmen, selected out of all the prouinces, was greatly deminished, being now in number scarce eight thousand strong: for many were sicke in the campe, others wearie of the long journy, lingering behind, were stolne away; and generally all they which were left, moyled with dirt and myre, by reason of the deepenesse of the rotten way, wet thorow with raine, and almost statued with cold, and therto pincht with hunger, were thought scarce able to endure the hardnesse of the present war. After that, commaundement was giuen, That euery souldior should carrie with him three dayes victuall: and proclamation made▪ That no man should vpon pain of death take any Turke prisoner, although he yeelded himselfe, C or charge himselfe with any spoile before the battell were fully ended; for as much as the captaines would afterwards deuide the spoile of the enemie amongst the souldiors. This proclamation thus made thorow the campe, they set forward towards EXEK: & the third day they came to a certaine valley, about three miles from EXEK, where they encamped. The next day a companie of Turkes shewed themselues,The Turk [...] ski [...]mish with the Christians. which was by the great ordinance repulsed. The day following the enemie sallied out of the towne and skirmished oftentimes with the Christians: in which skirmishes many were slaine on both sides, but moe wounded of the Christians, for that the Turkes had pollitickely mingled certaine Ianizaries harquebus [...]ers, and archers, with their horsemen; who vsed to that manner of fight, sore gauled the Christian horsemen. For which cause the Generall forbad all such light skirmishes, as purposing to keepe his strength whole against D the generall day of battell: commaunding his cannoniers so to place the great ordinance, as might most annoy the enemie, if he should shew himselfe by troupes within the danger of the shot: which was so well performed, that the Turkes sallying forth, receiued thereby great hurt, the deadly shot flying thorow the middest of their companies. The same day Symon bishop of ZAGRA [...]IA came into the campe with his horsemen, and a certaine prouision of victuall, whereby the feare of the want before conceiued, was well eased. Mahometes perceiuing that the Christians were not longer to be drawne to those harmefull skirmishes, but that he must bring his men in danger of the great shot: to annoy them by another meanes, sent many small boats, manned with harquebusiers and small pieces of ordinance, into the lake neere vnto the campe, so to keepe the Christians from watering there, and with those small pieces shot oftentimes into the campe. E Neere vnto the valley where the Christians lay, was a hill, whereupon stood a village, wherein were placed certaine companies of Turks, to skirmish as occasion should serue with the Christians: for displacing of whom the whole armie was put in order of battell, and the great artillerie bent vpon them, that they should not with their light skirmishes, after the manner of the Turkish fight, trouble the order of the armie. Which thing the Turks perceiuing, and that they were not able to hold the place,The Christians come within the sight of Exek. set fire on the towne, and so retired to EXEK. The Christians keeping on their march, came to the top of the hill, from whence they might see EXEK stand about two miles off in a faire plaine, neere vnto the banke of Dranus: all which low ground betwixt the hill and EXEK, was so subject to the castle, that it was thought a matter too full of danger to attempt that way to batter the castle, and to expose the armie to the ineuitable furie of the enemies F shot. Wherefore descrying a rising ground on the further side of the citie, equall with the top of the wals, they thought it best to remoue their campe thither, and on that side to plant their batterie against the citie. But to come to that place, was thought a matter of no small trouble▪ for they must set a compasse three miles on the right hand thorow a forrest by a foule and troublesome way, before they could come to the place they desired: for the armie was not so great, as [Page] to besiege the citie round; wherein were not (as is reported) aboue sixteen thousand men: neither G was there such store of victuals in the campe, but that the armie was like soone to feele the want thereof, without a continuall supplie, whch would hardly be had, the enemie still besetting euery passage, and with their light horsemen scouring about all the countrey, of purpose to keepe them from victuall. For which cause, some were of opinion, That it were best for them there to stay where they were, vntill such time as both more aid and better store of victuals were come vnto them: but others of contrary mind, said the enemie was but barely stored with victuall himselfe, and therefore could not long hold out, which they said they vnderstood by certaine Christian fugitiues; and that Mahometes had put his cheefe substance into certaine boats, to be conueyed downe the riuer, as purposing to flie, and would not hold out the siege aboue three dayes: As for the forrest, they thought it would well ynough be passed thorow, if they would couragiously H set forward: Beside that, the time of the yeare suffered no delay, Winter comming so fast on, that except some notable thing were done quickly, they should be enforced by the very time of the yeare to returne with shame, without doing any thing. This opinion was best liked of, as more honourable and better beseeming men of valour, than to lie still in one place: whereupon the next day the armie remoued, and in good order marched thorow the forrest. Which thing Mahometes quickly perceiuing, presently sent forth a thousand light horsemen, and certaine companies of the Ianizaries, harquebusiers, to trouble the Christians in their passage: who by a neerer and well knowne way ouertaking the armie,The Turks skirmish with the Christians in passing the forrest. suddenly charged the rereward, wherein the Italians and Bohemians marched. The Bohemians quickly fled, and the Italians with much adoe endured the charge: but being relieued by the Carinthian men at armes, they I notably repulsed the Turks, and put them to flight. So the armie with small losse passed the forrest, and came to the place they desired: where after they had encamped themselues, and in good order placed all things needfull for the siege, they in seemely order offered vnto the enemie battell. But he keeping himselfe within the towne, shot at the Christians with his great ordinance: and they to requite him, with two great pieces which they had placed vpon the rising of a hill, shot thorow both the wals of the towne and the bulwarke also, to the great terrour of the defendants. The Christians in the meane time hauing stood almost all the day in order of battell in the sight of the enemie, vainely expecting when he should come forth to giue them battell, returned at night into their campe:Mahometes wisely refuseth to fight with the Christians, offering him battell. For Mahometes vpon great consideration kept in his soldiors, although they were most desirous to fight, vnderstanding right well of the want of victuall in K the Christian campe; and beside that (as the fugitiues reported) being straightly commanded by letters from Solyman, that he should not vpon paine of a most shamefull death forsake the place, but to defend it to the last. Now the Christians desirous of battell, being thus delaied and deceiued of their expectation, had in a few dayes spent the small store of victuals they had, and began to feele a generall want: neither was there any apparent meanes how they should be releeued, so that euery man began to feare some generall mischeefe to ensue. When Balthasar Pamphilus, a noble Hungarian, and a captaine of great experience, sitting in counsell with the rest, entred into this speech.

Balthasar Pamphilus his counsell for releefe of the armie.

Captaines (said he) we doe all that we doe, vnaduisedly: for whilest we consult at large how wee may ouercome our enemies, the strength of our armie is in the meane time so weakened for want of L victuall, that the souldiors are neither well able to stand on their legs, nor to hold their weapons in their feeble hands: and generally, euen they which are of greatest courage begin now to quaile, and despairing of battell, see that they must miserably and shamefully perish for want. Wherefore in my opinion, we ought first and aboue all things most speedily to prouide for this want, which so greeuously pincheth vs: and presently to remooue hence vnto the castle of HERMANDE, that with the prouision thereof, which is not like to be little, we may refresh our whole armie; and so releeued, to proceed further as occasion shall require.

This castle was about ten miles distant from EXEK, whereinto many of the Turks had conueyed their wiues and children, and cheefest substance, being kept with a small garrison of twentie Turks. Fast by the castle was a pretie little walled towne, without flankers, after the manner of M the old fortifying: which towne and castle Balthazer said would easily be taken. This his counsell was well liked of all men, and he himselfe sent with certaine companies of souldiors to take the towne.Balthasar taketh the towne of Hermande. Wherein fortune so fauoured him, that it was at his first comming surrendered vnto him: but when he had it, he [...]ound not therin any such store of corne or victuall as he had hoped [Page] A for: yet he tooke there certaine vessels of wine, to the great reliefe of the weake souldiors. Vpon the newes of the taking of this towne, the campe remoued from EXEK about ten a clocke in the night, but so disorderly, that the souldiors scarce knowing their owne ensignes; seemed rather to haue fled for feare than marched for spoile: yet the Turkes for all that moued not out of EXEK, misdoubting some deceit, and loath to attempt any thing rashly in the night. When the armie was come to the towne, the captains tooke order, that the victuall there found, was equally deuided amongst the souldiors, and the next morning batterie laid against the castle; which those few Turkes valiantly defended halfe a day,The castle of Hermande yeeld [...]d to the Christians. and then by composition yeelded it. But when the castle was taken, there was found in it but two barrels of meale, and other two of millet. Then might a man haue seene the captains themselues hanging their heads as men strucken with B a sudden feare, who in steed of a great prey & victuall to haue serued many daies, found nothing but a few women and children, and scarce so much victuall both in the towne and castle, as would serue the army two daies. Yet they dissembled the matter, and fed the souldiors with hope of better store, after the bridge were once repaired, that they might passe the riuer of Bodrog, which ran by the town: which bridge the Turks had before (for defence of themselues) broken, by plucking vp of certaine piles, and taking away of the planks: wherefore the Carpenters being set on worke and euerie man putting to his helping hand, the bridge was with continuall labour in three daies repaired. The fourth day, the wagons and smaller pieces of ordinance passed ouer the bridge, and after them six of the great pieces for batterie: but the bridge ouercharged with the seuenth, which was of a wonderfull waight, and much greater than the rest, began to breake: so that the captaines C were enforced to breake that faire piece of ordinance, and so by pieces to carrie it away, that the enemie should not get so great a spoile. All things being thus well passed ouer, the piles were againe cut downe, and the plancks strucke off, to the intent the enemie should not that way pursue them: and other way was there none, but to fetch a compasse about the great lake which was many miles about. Here the captaines began to consult, whether it were best to breake the great pieces of ordinance, that so they might more speedily march away, or not. Of which opinion was Cazzianer himselfe,Cazzianer to retire with more host, would haue broken his grea [...] ordinance. promising of his owne charge to new cast them. As for the scaling ladders, and such other like things prouided for the siege, they burnt, because they should not come into the enemies hand, or trouble themselues in their march. But most of the captaines were opinion, that it was not best so dishonourably to breake those goodly pieces, the greatest D ornament and defence of their countrey; but to hold on their march thorow POSSEGA, vntill they came to IUVANCHA, where they should find great store both of corne and wine: which towne, with the castle of GARA fast by it, stored with all kind of prouision, they said would easily be taken before the Turkes could possibly come so far about the lake from EXEK: and that it were a great shame, so to returne without doing any thing. Cazzianer thus persuaded, set forward, and with great toile (by reason of the deepnesse of the way and heauinesse of the great ordinance) came by night to IUVANCHA, which was but three miles off: where the Turkes hauing with incredible celeritie passed a long journey, arriued at the same time also. Neere vnto this castle was a little towne, out of which all the Turkes were fled: the townesmen being Christians, opened the gates and receiued in the souldiors; who there filled themselues abundantly with E wine, and could hardly be driuen out thence by their captaines to the campe. The same night the Turkes burnt the same towne, and whatsoeuer the Christians had therein left. And euerie man betooke him to his armour in the campe, for the enemie was now at hand: and in the dawning of the day began hoatly to skirmish in diuers places with the Christians, but especially in that quarter of the campe where the Bohemians lay. Wherewith Petrus Raschinius Generall of the Bohemians being grieued, set vpon them with a troupe of his best horsemen, and enforced them to flie: But the Turkes after the manner of their fight, quickly returning againe, and relieued by the comming in of their fellowes, beset the Bohemians on euerie side, and slew many of them. Raschinius the Generall fighting most valiantly, was there slaine with his followers. The Christian captaines purposing to retire home, placed on each side of the armie foure rankes of F wagons for defence on both sides: in the vauward were placed the weake and sicke men, yet so, that in the front of the armie were certaine companies of lustie tall souldiors: but in the rearward was placed the greatest strength both of horse and foot. The armie thus marching as it were on both sides intrenched, as it oftentimes met with wooddie hils which hindred their way, so did the same fitly serue the Christians, that the Turkes could not conueniently assaile them in their [Page] march,The Turkes [...]ore [...] the [...] in their retire. both before and behind. Which thing Mahometes perceiuing, sent before certaine companies G of Ianizaries and nimble footmen, which knew the countrey and the passages well, with certaine faulconets and other small pieces to take the straits whereby the armie was to passe, and so to gaul them in their passage; and when they could keepe the place no longer, to flie backe to another, and so from place to place: and in the open places he had his troupes of light horsemen, which were euer busie in one place or another of the armie. By which meanes the Christians in their march receiued much harme, which grieued them the more, for that no great power of the Turkes was any where to be seene togither, but stragling companies; which as they were commaunded, sometime would come on with a fierce charge, and by and by retire againe, and with their arrowes and faulcon shot, from places of aduantage assaile them. At one of these straits somewhat bigger than the rest, Paulus Bachitius one of the Hungarian captaines, in whom H the souldiors generally reposed their greatest trust, was slaine with a faulcon shot, with diuers other of the valiant Hungarians; who seeing there a greater number of the Turks than they had seene in other places, thought to haue done some good seruice vpon them: His death brought a generall feare vpon the whole armie, for as much as both then and at other times, without him they neuer had any good successe against the Turkes. Yet in that skirmish, the Hungarians to reuenge the death of their captaine, did with such force repulse the enemie, that they caused him after he had lost many of his men, to run away and leaue his small field pieces behind him. But such was the weaknesse or cowardise of the Christian footmen, and the agilitie of the Turks, especially the Ianizaries, that they with their shot out of the woods, staied the Hungarian horsemen from the pursuit of their fellowes, and recouered their small field pieces before they could I be carried away by the Christian footmen: wherewith they did againe forerun the armie, and still trouble it as before.A generall feare in the Christians campe. The Chistians beset with these dangers, and almost spent for want of victuall, seeing no meanes to relieue their weake bodies, nor any small hope to comfort their fainting spirits, did generally feare some extreame calamitie to ensue: and so much the more, for that it was reported, that Mahometes still expected fresh supplies from BELGRADE, SAMANDRIA and NICOPOLIS: and many of the Hungarian light horsemen stole away from them, as carefull of their owne safetie: neither did they see any comfort in the dismaied captaines, who at other times were woont with cheerfull and couragious words to relieue the souldiors, if they saw them any thing discouraged. But when they were come into a faire open field neere vnto a towne called GARA, they were aduertised, That the enemie had in the woods before them K whereby they were to passe, cut downe great trees crosse the waies, so that neither their great ordinance nor wagons, nor yet their horsemen could possibly passe that way but that they must needs breake their order.

This once bruted thorow the armie, filled them all with heauinesse and desperation: and so much the more, for that Ladislaus Morcus, and others which knew the countrey well, said there was but two waies to escape: the one thorow the woods about ten miles space to WALPO, which by reason of the trees cut downe crosse the waies by the Turkes was not to be passed, but they must needs leaue behind them their great ordinance and carriages: the other towards the castle of ZENTHVERZEBETH, which was in Ladislaus Moreus his countrey, certaine miles distant from GARA: by taking of which way, the enemie by reason of the straightnesse of the L passage, must of necessitie be enforced to giue ouer his pursuit. Yet for all that, it was in counsell resolued vpon, to take the way thorow the woods to WALPO, for that there was there victuall enough, and in the castle of WALPO was kept money sent from king Ferdinand, sufficient to pay the souldiors for all that Winter. And so leauing the great ordinance behind them, and burning the pouder and whatsoeuer else could not well be carried on horseback, to set forward with all speed:The [...]earefull resolution of the Christians to get from the Turks. As for the trees, they said, they would be well enough remoued, and the way opened by the pioners and wagoners: wherefore euery captain was commanded to haue his soldiors in readinesse to set forward vpon the signe giuen; which was by the sound of a shalme or hoboy, which when it should be giuen, was referred to the discretion of the Generall. There were many which wonderfully disliked of this resolution, and said openly, that the enemie was fewer in number M than their horsemen, and pinched almost with like want of victuall: besides that, that the Turks durst neuer in just fight encounter with the Christian men at armes, but like theeues assaile them vpon a sudden at some aduantage, and by and by be gone againe: and that the towne of GARA where the enemie lay encamped, was not so strong but that it might be woon: wherefore all [Page] A things were to be proued, and some great matter to be attempted of valiant men, p [...]ched with wants: for that to run away, would be not onely a dishonour vnto the captaines themselues, who ought alwaies to preferre their honor before their liues; but also dangerous to them, which respected nothing but life. And if they should set forward in the night, many would be lost in the woods; and valour in the darke could not be knowne from cowardise: besides that, the Turkes (as they said) lay so nigh, that it was not possible to depart without their knowledge, especially if they should burne the powder, or breake the great ordinance. For which causes, they thought it better to fight a battell with them, and not to beleeue the false reports of new supplies come vnto them; and that God would vndoubtedly giue them aid, which were readie to lay downe their liues for their religion and glorie of the Christian name. After all this, they began B to consult what was now to be done with the sicke and wounded souldiors, which were before carried in wagons or amongst the other baggage of the armie: for it was like, that so great a multitude of sicke and wounded men, vnderstanding what was decreed concerning the departure of the armie, would as miserable forsaken men, fill the campe with lamentation and mourning; which it was thought would be also increased by the weeping and wailing of them, which should neuer afterwards see their brethren, kinsmen, fellowes or friends, so miserably and shamefully left behind and forsaken: the noise whereof, must needs come to the eares of the Turkes, which lay within a small gun shot. Wherefore it was determined, that these sicke and wounded souldiors should be carried vpon the wagon and cart-horses; and that such as were not able to stay themselues, should be holden vp by other of more strength riding behind them vpon the C buttocks of the horse. In fiue to colour the matter, they which were so desirous to go, said that this their manner of departure grounded vpon good reason, was not to be accounted a shamefull flight (as some would tearme it) but a right honest and necessarie manner of retiring: for as much as they were stronger than their enemies in horsemen, and equall also (if not stronger) in footmen, although they were sore weakned with sicknesse. Whilest these things were in counsell diuersly discoursed, and the resolution set downe as is before said, the matter was brought to this passe, that euerie captaine with troubled judgement conceiued in himselfe secret cogitations, far from the common good, and without regard of shame and dishonour, bethought himselfe how he might betake himselfe to flight,The vigilancie of Mahome [...]. the vncertaine hope of desired life. On the contrarie part, Mahometes ▪ vsing most certaine spies, and aduertised euerie houre of all the distresses of the D Christians, and thereby presaging his future victorie; did by most diligent watch and troupes of horsemen, besetting the passages farre and neere, most vigilantly attend euerie motion in the Christian campe: of purpose, that when the armie should rise and set forward, he after his wonted manner might in the straits (fit for his purpose) set vpon them being deuided and dispersed one from another, as they must needs in those troublesome passages: for he had so placed his horsemen and footmen in the knowne tracts of those woods, that he had shut vp the Christians as it were in a toile▪ It was now almost midnight, and the armie taking no rest, so carefully expected the signe of setting forward, that euerie little delay seemed to most men both tedious and dangerous:The Christian captaines shamefully flie, some one way, some another, in the night. so that many great captaines vpon a cowardly conceit would stay no longer, but hasted to depart, and to go before the rest, without any leaue of the Generall. The beginning of E this mischieuous departure, is reported to haue been begun by the common Hungarian horsmen, which knowing the passages and waies thorow the woods, made most hast to WALPO. Ladislaus M [...]rcus dishonourably following their example, went the other way to his castle ZENTHVERZEBETH. After them followed in great hast the Stirian horsemen, without regard of shame, led by Iohn Hanganot their Generall, who was appointed to haue guarded the rearward. Symon bishop of ZA [...]HA [...]IA fled in like manner, knowne by his great lanterne wandring in the wood: yet with lesse shame than the rest, because he being a clergie man, thought it not to belong to his vocation to put on armes, or to go into battell. In the meane time it was fearefully told to Cazzian [...]r, That the Hungarian horsemen were fled, and that Ladislaus and Hunganot, with the S [...]irian troupes were gone also, and that all the rest of the armie not expecting the appointed F signall, were in like manner vpon flying▪ With which report, the cowardly and dismaied Generall wa [...] so [...]rrified, that he presently got to horse, quite forgetting the signall▪ he should haue giuen (for that he thought all the rest,The dishonourable flight of Cazzianer. as he afterwards said, to haue been gone before) and as he was, vnarmed, betooke himselfe to flight, leauing behind him for hast his tent stored with plate and other rich furniture. In this tumult of them which so disorderly fled, Lodronius [Page] that famous captaine was called vp, and told by his seruants, that the Generall was fled and G gone▪ to whom he answered againe, without doubt it cannot be so, that I should be so shamefully and perfidiously betraied of him: and so as a man megred with long watching & painfull labour, laid himselfe downe againe to sleepe. Not long after, Mahometes hearing the stir that was in the campe, rise with his Turks to assaile his enemies: yet to be better assured what the enemie did, he thought it good to stay for day light, causing his men to stand still in order of battell, and with wonderfull silence to expect the signe of setting forward, which was giuen by the soft sound of a horsemans drum passing thorow euerie companie. For the old captaine acquainted with many battels against the Christians, doubting of their faigned flight, would not vnaduisedly be drawne into battell, but in a place commodious for his souldiours; as one before [...]ully set downe (after his wonted manner) to performe that seruice, not by the hazard of one set battell, but by H dallying off the time with often skirmishes, when he could take the enemie at aduantage. The day appearing, Lodronius againe awaking, heard a certaine confused noise of the Turkes, and withall,Lodronius encourageth the footmen. saw himselfe forsaken of the greatest part of the horsemen: whereupon he complained in vaine, that he was betraied: yet for all that he was nothing discouraged, but cheered vp the footmen, exhorting them to remember their former valour, and to resolue with themselues only with courage to ouercome the danger, which hard fortune had at that time brought them into; for that valiant men were rather to thinke of an honourable death than shamefull flight, whereby whether they should escape with life or not, was vncertaine: As for himselfe, who had been their happie Generall in many battels, he said he was resolutely set downe by repulsing the enemie to bring them into place of safetie, or else valiantly fighting togither with them to end I his daies. As Lodronius was yet thus encouraging the footmen, the horsemen of CARINTHIA, SAXONIE, AVSTRIA and BOHEMIA, who mindfull of their duetie, had in vaine expected the appointed signall from the Generall, came to Lodronius as vnto the most valiant captaine, beseeching him, in steed of their treacherous Generall, to take vpon him the place: promising to doe whatsoeuer he commaunded, and to fight as men against those infidels for their religion and king, so long as they were able to hold vp their weapons. Lodronius would in no case accept of that honour so franckly offered, modestly protesting himselfe vnworthie thereof: Yet as a man of courage, and moued with the hard estate of such an armie, he with a solemne protestation promised to execute the place in the best manner he could, and so did as long as his fortune gaue him leaue.K

It is reported, that as Lodronius was encouraging the footmen, and earnestly inuaying against shamefull flight, an old German souldior was so bold, as bluntly, yet sharpely to say vnto him: Worthy Lodronius,An old German souldior iesteth at Lodronius. thou canst neuer be thought to flie shamefully, with a horse of such a price vnder thee. Lodronius perceiuing the old souldiors meaning, alighted, and with his sword hoxed his horse: saying alowd, This day valiant souldiors, shall you haue me both your Generall and fellow souldior, fighting on foot as one of your selues: see now that you deceiue no [...] my expectation, but let vs either with glorious victorie or honourable death end this warre togither, yet so, as that we die not vnreuenged. All his other horses he gaue away vnto such sicke and wounded souldiors as he best knew, amongst whom was one Picenard of CREMONA, a captaine who was then in an extreame fit of an ague, and had hardly escaped the hands of the enemie. The first L troupes of horsemen and bands of footmen, were scarcely out of the campe with their ensignes, but the Turkes comming on with a hideous crie, assailed them on euerie side, and many sharpe skirmishes were giuen vnto the horsemen as they marched, with such euent, that the Christians sometime valiantly receiuing the enemies charge; and sometime charging them againe▪ repulsed the proud enemie still busie with them.The horsemen discom [...]ited by the Turkes. In these continuall skirmishes, Antius Mace [...] F [...]hstat, Generall of the Carinthian horsemen, fighting valiantly was slaine, being for his braue (armou [...] supposed by the Turkes to haue beene the Generall of the field. And by like mishap [...]oure and twentie horsemen of great name were slaine also, and their guidon taken; amongst these were three noblemen, Andreas Reschius, Christophorus Hernaus, and Georgius Himelberg [...]. In another place was made a most cruell skirmish with the Saxon horsemen, and them of [...],M THVRINGIA and FRANCONIA, who followed the Saxons ensigne: of these, fighting most valiantly, was slaine aboue 36 worthie captaines, lieutenants, or ancients; and Chuenri [...] a principall captaine of the Saxons taken, who afterwards died in bonds [...]mongst the Turks. Amongst them which were slaine, Sebastianus Methes [...]us, and Iacobus Scullemburgh were of greatest nobilitie. [Page] A In like manner the horsemen of AVSTRIA couragiously resisting the enemie for a space, were in the end ouerthrowne: where amongst them was slaine two valiant noblemen, Fettaius and Hofchirchius, with diuers other men of great place and reputation both in their own countrey and abroad. But the greatest slaughter was made amongst the Bohemian horsemen, vpon whom (being disordered by the Ianizaries harquebusiers) the Turkish troupes of the old garrison souldiors breaking in with their scimitars and heauie yron mases, made a most bloudie execution. The battell of footmen being sore gauled,The Christian footmen ouerthrowne. and almost disordered in their march by certaine companies of Ianizaries and archers of the Asapi, who from a woodie banke of a marrish discharged their shot and arrowes continually vpon them, yet neuer comming to handy blows, was on the other side so hardly charged by Amurathes with his troupes of horsemen of BOSNA, B that being not able longer to keepe order, it was at last by him broken and cut in peeces: where the Turks with their swords and hatchets slew the poore Christians without mercie. Lodronius himselfe carried away with the breaking in and force of the horsemen, was driuen into a marrish: where after that he being sore wounded, and almost fast in the deepe mud, had done the vttermost of that his last endeuour; he by the faire entreatie of the Turks persuading him rather to yeeld, than there to be slaine, so yeelded himselfe, that he with three companies which were with him, after they had laid downe their weapons, were all saued as valiant souldiors: for now the mercilesse Turkes embrued with the Christian bloud, were wearie of slaughter, and began greedily to seeke after the spoile, hunting after them, who flying dispersedly, thought themselues to haue escaped the enemies hands; with such successe, that a great number of them was taken and C led away for slaues: few of the footmen escaped, and almost all the rest which were not fled before the battell, were to be seene dead vpon the ground.

This shamefull ouerthrow at EXEK was reported to haue exceeded the most grieuous ouerthrowes that the Christians had receiued in any former time: for the flower both of horse and foot there lost by the rashnesse and fault of an vnluckie Generall, rather than by the valor of the enemie, ruthfully perished; so that many prouinces were filled with heauinesse and mourning. For it neuer chanced before, as was to be seene by the vnfortunat battels of Sigismund the emperour, and king Ladislaus, that the Turks got such a victorie without some losse: so that they which fell almost vnreuenged at EXEK, may seeme to haue augmented that losse by the great infamie thereof. Mahometes hauing thus almost without the bloud of his souldiors obtained so D great a victorie, and taken the spoile of the Christian campe, pitched his tents in a little meddow, being cleansed of the dead bodies, and after he had merrily feasted with his captaines, commanded the cheefe prisoners, the goodly spoiles, and fairest ensignes to be brought vnto him: and openly commending the captaines who had that day done any good seruice, commaunding diuers bags of money to be brought vnto him by the receiuers, he with his owne hand rewarded the souldiors, some with gold, some with siluer, according to their deserts: And causing all the prisoners which were not common souldiors to be brought forth, he diligently viewed them, and presently caused euery one of their names, and the office they bare, to be enrolled by his clarkes: and vnto such as brought in the heads, eares, or hands of the Christians with rings vpon them, he forthwith caused one reward or other to be giuen. Lodronius, when as by reason E of his deadly wounds he was thought vnable to endure trauell,Lodronius slain. or to be brought aliue with the other prisoners to CONSTANTINOPLE, was slaine by his keepers, and his head afterwards sent thither. For as many noble gentlemen, and amongst others Laurentius Streiperg and Dietmarus Losenstaine haue reported (who raunsomed afterwards, returned home againe to their wiues and children) amongst the prisoners which were together with the faire ensignes and other gallant warlike furniture (especially gilt amour and headpeeces) presented by Mahometes his messengers to Solyman, three of the greatest captaines heads were in a siluer bason there seene and knowne,Three of the great captaines heads presented to Solyman as Constantinople. which were the heads of Paulus Bachitius the valiant Hungarian captaine, Antius Macer Generall of the Carinthian horsemen, and Lodronius Generall of the footmen: which after the tyrant had looked asquint vpon, as abhorring that loathsome sight, hee with sterne countenance F commaunded all the prisoners to be slaine. But vpon the intercession of the Ianizaries, who intreated for them, as valiant men, to whom they had at the time of their taking giuen their faith, and might afterwards doe him good seruice, he chaunged his countenance, and saued many of them.Cazzianer generally [...]a [...]ed. But Cazzianer flying to his owne castle, was of all men accused, as a wicked forsaker of his owne campe and ensignes, and commonly railed vpon, as the eternall infamie of his countrey, [Page] and author of the publike calamitie: so that it was reported, that he durst neither go abroad G nor shew his face for shame. He was so generally hated, that infamous libels, made against him and the other captaines which had shamefully fled as he did, were commonly sung in the streets by boyes in all the cities of GERMANIE. Wherewith he was so much grieued, that he requested of king Ferdinand, that he might safely come to the court, to answere whatsoeuer could be laid against him: which his request the king easily graunted, and when he came to the court receiued him with doubtfull countenance. But when the hearing of his cause was by the king somewhat longer protracted than he would haue had it, and he in the meane time kept vnder safe custodie; impatient of such delay, and halfe doubtfull whether he should be quitted or condemned, thought it better to flie than to abide the triall.Cazzianer imprisoned, breaketh prison. So faigning himselfe sicke, and scraping vp by little and little with his knife a bricke pauement vnder his bed, and so in the night getting H out first one bricke, and after that another, at length brake thorow the vault, and with his sheets letting himselfe downe, escaped, hauing post horses readie for him without the castle. Not long after, as he was a man of a hastie and vnconstant nature, despairing of his estate, he fled to the Turkes, Mahometes gladly receiuing him, and beside his great entertainement, promising him the gouernment of all CROATIA, in manner of a tributarie king, if he would faithfully serue Solyman, and helpe him in the subduing of the cities of AVSTRIA. After he had agreed vpon all the conditions of his reuolt, that he might returne to Mahometes with some more credit, he began boldly to deale with Nicholaus Sirenus, a noble man of CROATIA, and his deere friend as he supposed, to reuolt with him; assuring him, that Solyman would deale as kindly with them both; as he had before with king Iohn in the kingdome of HVNGARIE. Sirenus promised him I he would, or at least made as if he promised to do what he desired, and so agreed as it were vpon the matter, promising to goe ouer with him to the Turke with a troupe of his best and most trustie horsemen. But Sirenus considering with himselfe the heinousnesse and impietie of so great an offence, changing his purpose, chose rather to deale trecherously with his old friend, fearing no such thing in his house, than to offend both against God and his prince. Wherefore after he had well feasted Cazzianer at his house,Cazzianer shamefully murthered, and his h [...]ad sent to king [...]r [...]inand. he as a most cruell hoast, caused him to be slaine, and sent his head to king Ferdinand: in reward whereof he receiued of the kings gift Cazzianer his castle, with all his substance.

In the meane time the Venetians, prouoked by the Turks with diuers injuries both by sea and land (when as Solyman but a little before hardly besieging CORCYRA, and with most barbarous K crueltie wasting the island, had broken the league, and euen then by his lieutenant Cassimes Bassa besieged EPIDAVRVS and NAVPLIVM, two of their cities in PELOPONESVS) resolued without delay to make warres likewise vpon him, who for a small trespas would admit no excuse or recompence. Wherunto they were also animated both by Charles the emperour, and Paulus the great Bishop: who warned by the late and dangerous attempts of Solyman and Barbarussa, thought it more for the safetie of their estates, by giuing aid to the Venetians to keepe the Turks busied farther off, than to suffer them to acquaint themselues too much with the ports of ITALIE or SICILIA. Wherefore all the Winter following they laboured by their embassadours to set downe what number and what manner of ships, what souldiours, what money, was to be prouided, and how to be according to their estates apportioned for the setting forth of a strong L fleet,The emperour, the Venetians, and the Bishop of Rome enter into a confederation against the Turkes. against the next Summer to be sent into GRaeCIA against the Turks. At last it was agreed amongst these confederat princes by their embassadours at ROME, That the emperour should furnish and set forth fourescore and two gallies, the Venetians the like number, and the bishop six and thirtie, to make vp the number of two hundred gallies; that the Venetians should lend vnto the bishop so many gallies readie rigged as he should desire to be furnished by him with marriners and souldiors; and that the emperour and the state of GENVA should find sufficient shipping for the transportation of the land forces and victuall. The Generals also of this great fleet to be set forth, were at the same time appointed. Andreas Auria for the emperour, Vincentius Capellus for the Venetians, and Marcus Grimmanus patriarch of AQVILBA, for the Bishop; to whom was joyned Paulus Iustinianus, one of the cheefe Senators, a man of great experience M in sea matters. It was also agreed, that Ferdinand Gonzaga viceroy of SICILIE should haue the commaunding of the land forces, and that whatsoeuer was got from the Turks in that expedition in GRaeCIA, the Islands, or DALMATIA, should be all faithfully deliuered to the Venetians, who had receiued so many injuries from the Turks. The emperour also of his liberalitie [Page] A promised vnto the other confederats, that they should for reasonable price haue as much wheat as they would out of SICILIA, without paying any custome.

Solyman vnderstanding of this confederation and preparation made against him by these Christian princes,1538 commaunded Barbarussa his Admirall to make readie his fleet to goe against these enemies,Solyman sendeth Barbar [...]ssa against the Venetians. and to doe all the harme he could vpon the Islands subject to the Venetian state. Which thing Barbarussa with great care and diligence in short time performed▪ and so with a hundred and thirtie gallies in most warlike manner appointed, with the first of the Spring in the yeare 1538 departed from HELLESPONTVS directly to CRETE,Barbarussa landing in Crete, is repulsed with losse. where hauing passed the promontorie of GYAMVS, which at this day is called SPARTA, he vnaduisedly landed most part of his men, to haue surprised the citie CANEA, which was in auntient time called SYDONIA: B For Grittus one of the Venetian Senatours then kept the citie with a strong garrison, who from the wals and bulwarkes thereof so plagued the Turkes with great and small shot, and the sallying out of two companies of Italians, that Barbarussa hauing lost many of his men, was faine to retire againe to his fleet in such hast, that he left behind him a thousand of his Turkes, which were gone further into the Island after bootie, who were afterwards all slain by them of CRETE. After that, he attempted to haue taken diuers places in the Island, and was euery where notably repulsed. With the citie of CANDIA, whereof the Island now taketh name, and was in anti [...]nt time called CYTHEVM, he durst not meddle: but sayling almost round about the Island, tooke onely CECILIA, a little towne before forsaken of the inhabitants, which he set on fire, and so departed from CRETE: for he was aduertised, that Vincentius Capellius the Venetian admirall, C who was now come to CORCYRA, would in short time come to releeue them of CRETE. Auria Admirall of the emperours fleet, passing the strait of MESSANA, came to CORCYRA also, and there joyned with the Venetians.The confedera [...] princes fleetes me [...] as Corcyra. The Christian fleet was then so great, that it was thought the Turkes durst not meet it at sea, but by all meanes shun to giue battell. For Barbarussa then lay with the Turkes fleet in the bay of AMBRACIA, expecting when the Christians should enter the straight entrance thereof, where he had on both sides placed diuers peeces of great Ordinance, to haue sunke them in their comming in: for Grimanus the Patriarch a little before departing from CORCYRA, had with the great Bishops gallies begun to besiege PREVESA, a towne vpon the promontorie of ACTIVM fast by that strait; and landing some of his soldiors, with three great peeces of artillerie, so battered the castle of PREVESA, that he was like ynough D to haue taken it, had not the Turks from AETOLIA come to relieue it with a strong power both of horse and foot. Wherefore the Patriarch shipping againe his men and ordinance, returned to the fleet at CORCYRA, not repenting him of his journey, for that he had well viewed the straits of that bay, and all the enemies fleet riding at anker within it. Vpon the returne of the Patriarch, and relation made what he had both done and seene, the great commaunders of the Christian fleet entred into counsell, what course were best to take for their better proceeding in that great act on.Gonzaga his opinion. Gonzaga the viceroy, Generall of the land forces, was of opinion, That it was best to land the souldiors and great ordinance, and with all their force to assault the castle of PREVESA: which once taken, and their ordinance there placed, the enemies fleet might in the bay be vtterly defeated, for that all pas [...]g [...] to sea might easily be taken from them, by sinking of one of their E great ships in the mouth of the strait, and by moaring there of three great galleons full of artillerie: so that if Barbarussa would desperatly aduenture to come out, he must needs bee sunke in the mouth of the bay.Auria of ano [...]ther opinion. Whereunto Auria replied, That Gonzaga his counsell was in words and shew glorious, but to be put in execution most dangerous: for that first to land the souldiors and great artillerie, hee said was a thing too too full of hazard and perill: for it was to bee thought, that the Turks in AETOLIA would as they had before done, come with speed with their horsemen to relieue the besieged in the castle, whose force the Christian footmen could hardly abide: Besides that if the fleet should by force of weather be constrained to forsake that coast, as it well might, Autumne now comming fast on, after the souldiors were landed; from whence should they then get any victuall in the enemies countrey, or what releefe should they hope for, if they F should hap to be distressed, being on euery side beset with their enemies, and their friends by tempest driuen from them. Wherefore he thought it best, if the enemie could not be drawn out of the bay to battell, to goe directly into the bay of NAVPACTVM, & to take that towne which was not greatly fortified, and so to ransacke and spoile all the townes euen to the bottome of the bay of CORINTH▪ which the Graecians in the fleet said might easily be done: By taking of which [Page] course it might so fall out, that Barbarussa moued with the danger of his friends, would for shame G come out and joyne with them in battell. This counsell of Auria was best liked both of Capellius and the Patriarch, being farre more desirous to fight with their enemies at sea, than at land.

Auria braueth Barbarussa lying in the bay of Ambracia. Auria hauing put in order his fleet, came to PREVESA, and so to the strait of the bay of AM [...]RACIA, where he so placed the whole fleet, which was in number two hundred and fiftie saile, that it might easily of the enemie be numbred. Which sight (as it was reported) wonderfully troubled Barbarussa, who although he was of a courageous disposition, and such a man as greatly feared not either the valor or martiall discipline of the Christians, yet was he exceedingly moued with the sight of so great a fleet, so well appointed; for a greater had not of long time been seene in the Ionian sea.Barbarussa reproued of cowardise by one of the Turkes eunuchs. So that an eunuch of Solymans court, sent by him as Barbarussa his H companion, seeing him to delay the time, as a man halfe discouraged, did with most vnciuile and proud words take him vp, because he would not forthwith goe out of the bay and fight with the Christians which lay at the mouth thereof daring of them; wherein he was not (as he said) to regard his owne safetie, who as a coward could not endure the sight of the enemie, but the honour of Solyman his soueraigne, who would not take it well, to haue the glorie of his name stained with so shamefull a delay: for if he were a valiant and martiall man, as he professed himselfe to be, he ought neuer to despaire of victorie: And if it should so fall out, that fortune should frowne vpon them, and not answere to their desires, yet should not Solyman therefore want captaines and souldiors better than they, if they were ouercome, & the woods of PONTVS would affoord him timber ynough to build twice so great and strong a fleet. And for a conclusion, the I insolent Eunuch willed Barbarussa to beware, that whilest he feared a most honourable death, (which was vncertaine, though the battell were lost) he drew not vpon himselfe the certaine danger of a most shamefull death by the displeasure of Solyman.

Barbarussa his answere to Salec concerning the eunuchs speech.At which speech Barbarussa turning himselfe about to Salec, one of the arch pyrats, a famous sea man, said vnto him: Wee must for ought that I can see, most valiant and faithfull captaine, aduenture this battell, although it be at too much disaduantage, least happily we perish by the complaints of this barking demie man. And so presently commaunded all his fleet to weigh anker, at the same time that Auria had hoysed saile and was on his way toward the bay of NAVPACTVS, thinking that the enemie durst not for feare haue come out of the bay of AMBRACIA. Auria keeping on his course,Barbarussa putteth out of the bay of Ambracia, and followeth Auria. was come to LEVCADE, when the enemies fleet was descried K out of the top of Bondelmerius great Galleon to be come out of the bay, and to make towards them, keeping close by the shore: which manner of course the craftie Turke misdoubting his owne strength, held of purpose, that if he should chance to be ouermatched by the Christians, hee might turne the prow of his gallies vpon them, and running the poupes aground, so to land his men and great ordinance, and from land as he might to defend his fleet: accounting it a lesse losse (if the worst should chance) to lose the gallies than the men.

The order of the Turk [...] flee [...]. Auria somewhat troubled with this sudden comming out of the enemie, as with a thing which he then least expected, yet notably staied himselfe, and commaunded all the fleet to prepare themselues to battell, and to follow his Admirall gallie. Now all the Turks fleet was come into the open sea in such order, that Barbarussa himselfe was in the middle battell, where his Admirall L galley was to be seene with many purple flags and streamers flying gallantly in the wind: on his right hand was Tabaches, and Salec on the left, both men of great fame, euery one of them hauing almost like number of gallies, which were in all a hundred and fiftie: Vnto the middle battell were joyned the two wings, in such order, that which way soeuer the Admirall turned, they turning also, still represented the forme of a flying Eagle: so that (as Auria himselfe afterwards confessed) a more firme or orderly fleet could not haue been brought out by any expert captaine. Before the fleet, came about twentie nimble gallies, conducted by Drogut (or Dragut) an arch pyrat, famous afterwards for the great harme he did vnto the Christians. Capellius the Venetian Admirall came in his long boat to Auria, requesting him, That he with his gallies might giue the first charge vpon the enemie: to whom Auria gaue great thankes, and praising his forwardnesse,M requested him to follow him, to whom he would in good time giue a sign what he would haue done. The formost of the Turks light gallies was now come to the great Galleon of Bondelmerius, which was the formost of the Christian fleet, whereunto were sent also certaine gallies from Salec, to helpe to assaile that tall ship; which shooting a farre off, did no harme, neither [Page] A Bondelmerius them: who would not suffer one peece to be discharged, for he being an expert sea man, and loth to shoot in vaine, expected that they should come neerer vnto him, and then vpon the sudden to discharge all his great ordinance vpon them. Neither was he deceiued in that his expectation, for the Turkes comming neere vnto him, were so ouerwhelmed with the great and small shot out of the Galleon, that they were glad to stay their course, and to retire. In the meane time Auria called backe againe the ships which were gone before, and caused his Galleon to be towed out; and by boats of purpose sent out, charged the captaines of the gallies to make themselues readie to fight, vpon signall giuen by the sound of the trumpet and the displaying of the Admirals ensigne: yet was not Auria of mind to fight with his gallies, without his ships: which thing the craftie enemie well perceiued, and sought by all means to joyne battell with the gallies B before the comming in of the tall ships, which were as castles in respect of the gallies: for it was then such a calme, that the ships were not able to keepe way with the gallies, and the smooth water seemed to offer a fit oportunitie for battell; which so well pleased the Patriarch, that many heard him crying aloud to Auria, to giue the signall, and maruelled much why he deferred to giue battell. For he fetching a great compasse, and houering about his ships, with his gallies kept such a course, that many thought he would vpon the sudden haue done some strange and vnexpected exploit vpon the enemie:Auria his po [...] ticke course. but Auria held that strange course, of purpose to haue drawne the enemies gallies within the danger of his great ships, who thundring amongst them with their great ordinance, might haue easily sore beaten and disordered them, and opened a way vnto his gallies to haue gotten a most certaine victorie. But the craftie old Turk doubting by the strangenesse C of Auria his course, to be circumuented with some finenesse, stayed his course, and lay still with his owne squadron of gallies, warily expecting to what purpose that strange course of the enemie tended. In the meane time, both the wings of his fleet had a little before the going down of the Sunne begun in diuers places to encounter with the Christians: Some were in vaine still assailing Bondelmerius his great Galleon; others with their great ordinance had so sore beaten two tall ships, wherein Buccanigra and Mongaia, two Spanish captaines, were imbarked with their companies, that they were giuen for lost, many of the souldiors and marriners being slaine: Two other ships loded with victuall, the one of VENICE, the other of DALMATIA, were burnt by the Turkes, and some few of the men saued by their ship boats, and by swimming to the ships neerest vnto them. In the shutting in of the euening, Sale [...] tooke two gallies stragling behind the D rest of the fleet, whereof Mozenicus a Venetian, and Bebiena a Florentine, were captaines. After these gallies, was taken also the ship of Aloysius Figaroa a Spaniard, although his souldiours had for a time fought most valiantly. In this ship with Figaroa the father, was taken his sonne, a yong gentleman, and beautified with all the good gifts of nature; who afterwards presented to Solyman, turned Turke: and growing in credit in Solymans chamber, after three yeares miserable imprisonment, obtained his poore fathers libertie, and sent him well rewarded home againe into SPAINE. Whilest both the fleets were thus expecting how they might to their most aduantage joyne battell, suddenly arose a great tempest of thunder, lightening, and raine, with a fresh gale of Easterly wind:The Christian flee [...] shamefully [...]li [...]th. whereupon the Christians seeing the Turks hoysing vp their small sailes, without delay hoysed vp both small and great to cleare themselues of the enemie; and with that E faire wind returned againe to CORCYRA; so disorderedly and in such hast, sparing neither saile nor oate, that it seemed rather a shamefull flight than an orderly retreat. So that Auria, a man of so great fame at sea, as that he was called a second Neptune, was that day accounted no captaine. It is reported, that Barbarussa with the same wind pursued the Christians a while, and being not able longer to see what course they held, by reason of the darkenesse of the night, to haue stayed his course: for the Admirals had caused their lights, which they vsed to carrie in the poupes of their gallies, to be then put out. Whereat Barbarussa heartily laughing, said oftentimes in the Spanish tongue:Barbarussa [...] [...]leth at Auria. Auria hath therefore put out his light, the better in the darke to hide his flight: noting in him such a feare, as that hee without regard of honour sought onely how by flight to escape. When they were come to CORCYRA, they were all generally of opinion, That by the F benefit of that sudden storme they had auoided a great danger. The emperials, especially the Genowayes, to excuse Auria, imputed the cause of so shamefull a flight vnto the Venetians, who would not from the beginning receiue any Spanish souldiors into their gallies, the better to haue withstood the enemie; and that Auria therefore doubting of the Venetians, refrained from joyning battell, and the rather, because that vpon the comming forth of the Turkes fleet, they had [Page] hoysed vp their sailes tied vp to the yardes with small lines, which they might at their pleasure easily G cut,Barbarussa braueth the Christians. and set saile to flie which way they would. Shortly after came Barbarussa with all his fleet to the island of PAXVS, about foure leagues from CORCYRA Eastward, brauing the Christians as if he would haue fought with them, if they durst come out. Whereat Gonzaga the Viceroy fretting, went to euerie one of the three great commanders, requesting them for the honour of the Christians, to represse that prowd Turks insolencie. At last the matter was brought to that passe, that the Venetians hauing taken in certaine companies of Spaniards, the fleet should be deuided into foure squadrons, and so to giue battell: But this consultation was so long protracted, that Barbarussa fearing the tempestuous Autumn weather, hoysed saile, and about the seuenth of October returned againe into the bay of AMERACIA. After the departing of Barbarussa, the Generals of the Christian fleet directed their course into the bay called SINVS RIZONICVS,H to besiege CASTRONOVUM or new Castle, a strong town of the Turks standing in that bay,Castronouum taken by the Christians. and bordering vpon the Venetian seigniorie: the inhabitants were part Dalmatians, part Epirots, which had renounced the Christian religion, and some Turks, liuing most part by merchandise: Vnto this towne the Christians laid siege, and in short time woon it, where they had a great prey, and a wonderfull number of captiues of all sorts. Three daies after the taking of the towne, the castle was also yeelded by the Turks garrison, couenanting in vaine to depart with life and libertie.

This towne taken by common force, ought of right by the couenants of the league to haue been deliuered to the Venetians; yet was it for all that by Auria and Gonzaga reserued for the emperour, and Franciscus Sarmentus with foure thousand Spaniards all old souldiors, left there I in garrison: Capellius the Venetian Admirall vrging in vaine the right of the Venetians. Which thing so much grieued the Senat, who euer had the ambitious Spaniard in suspect, and now assured of him as an euill neighbour to their towne of CATARVM▪ that repenting themselues of the league with the emperour, they decreed to sue to Solyman for peace: which they afterwards easily obtained, for a short space, by Laurentius Grittus their dukes sonne, and by the helpe of Antonius Rincus the French kings embassadour; who then lying at CONSTANTINOPLE, in good time told the great Bassaes, that the league the Venetians had made with the emperour, was made without the consent of the greatest part of the Senat, and that warre taken in hand against most of their wils.

Whilest these things were in doing, Barbarussa put to sea againe to haue relieued CASTRONOVUM; K but being at sea, many of his gallies were by the violence of a sudden tempest driuen vpon the ACROCERAVNIAN rocks, and there cast away. It is reported, that he lost there twentie thousand men, which with the broken pieces of his gallies were found almost all alongst the coast of DALMATIA. This shipwracke being certainly known, Capellius would haue persuaded Auria to haue presently pursued Barbarussa so distressed: which motion Gonzaga well liked, as a man desirous by some notable exploit to recompence the disgrace before receiued at LEVCADE. But Auria for diuers causes not liking of the matter,Auria neglecting to pursue Barbarussa, returneth into Italie, to the griefe of the Venetian Admirall. was so set downe vpon his returne to ITALIE, that he presently hoised saile: leauing the Venetian Admirall in such a rage, that he detested himselfe for submitting himselfe to another mans power; and wished the captaines there present, neuer to subject themselues to the commaund of a stranger, for as much as that Genoway,L either vpon cowardise or malitious mind, as an old enemy to the Venetian state, would not prosecute so manifest a victorie, but put vp so shamefull a disgrace as he had before receiued. But of all this Auria made small reckoning, referring all that he both said and did, so far vnto the emperors commoditie, that Valerius Vrsinus a noble gentleman, then seruing in the Venetian pay, merily said, That Auria had done nothing but wisely and politickly, in setting the Venetians togither by the eares with the Turks, & opening a gate for a long war, whether the Venetians would or not, so as the emperour himselfe could not haue better wished, and that without the losse of one gallie. For it was thought by many, that the long wars betwixt the Turks and the Venetians, would sort to the great good of the emperour; when as the Venetians worne out and spent with those long and chargeable warres against so mightie an enemie, should be stripped of their M lands and territories, either by force, or some hard composition wrung from them by necessitie.

CASTRONOVUM thus taken, and Sarmentus with a garrison of foure thousand Spaniards there placed as is aforesaid, and the Christian fleet dissolued, Solyman tooke the matter so grieuously, that hee determined to besiege it againe both by sea and land: and in his furie, caused [Page] A NAVPLIVM and EPIDAVRVS, two of the Venetian cities in the country of PELOPON [...]SVS, to be straightly besieged.1539 Yet tooke he singuler pleasure, that Barbarussa his Admirall▪ in all respects worse furnished, had driuen out of the Sea the great fleet of the Christians, which he before that time had made too great account of.Barbarussa sent by Solyman to besiege Castrono [...]um. Wherefore in the beginning of the Spring, which was in the yeere 1539, Barbarussa by his commaundement repaired againe his fleet, and notably furnished it with all manner of warlike prouision; manning his gallies for the most part with Ianizaries and other such select souldiors. With this fleet Barbarussa (Sommer now well come on) departed out of the HELESPONTVS, and came to the bay RIZONICVS; at which time also Vlames the Persian, then Gouernour of BOSNA, shewed himselfe with his forces vpon the mountaines as he had in charge from Solyman▪ Barbarussa before he entred the straits of the bay; B sent before him Dragut and Corsetus, two notable pirats, with thirtie galliots, who landing their men neere vnto CASTRONOVUM (as they were commaunded) were valiantly encountred by Sarmentus with his Spaniards, and forced againe to their galliots, many of the Turks being slaine and taken prisoners. After that came Barbarussa, with ninetie gallies, and three tall ships which carried the artillerie for batterie and other necessarie prouision for the campe; where he spent three daies in landing his great ordinance and casting vp trenches, which could not be done but by night, by reason of the continuall shot out of the towne: wherewith the Spaniards had in that three daies space slaine aboue a thousand Turkes; amonst whom was Agis Hariadenus, who had made himselfe as it were a king at TAIOR [...]A, a citie neere TRIPOLIS in AFRICA; whose death much grieued Barbarussa, Castronouum hardly besieged by Barbarussa. as one of his most antient and best friends. At length Barbarussa C hauing cast vp his trenches, landed foure and fiftie great pieces of artillerie for batterie; wherof he gaue a fourth part to Vlames to batter the towne on the North side, whilest he in the mean time, in three diuers places battered the East side; and Salec from Sea with ten gallies, did morning and euening batter another part of the wall. Whilest Sarmentus was thus in so many places assailed, and did what was possible to haue repaired the breaches; the Turks by force tooke one of the towers, where after they had displaied their ensignes, they from thence with their shot sore troubled the Spaniards. At the same time also, Vlames had made a breach, and was readie on the other side of the citie to enter. In which extremities, Sarmentus seeing no meanes longer to defend the citie, commanded the hurt souldiors to get them into the castle below, and the rest with him to take the market place, there to die togither like men: where the Turks straightway D breaking in on euerie side vpon them,Castronouum taken. made a most bloudie and cruell fight, wherein the Spaniards ouerwhelmed with shot, and the multitude of their enemies, were slaine almost euerie man. Sarmentus wounded in the face with three arrowes, and wearied with long fight, seeing Sancius Fria a captaine readie to flie,Sarmentus slaine. sharpely reproued him, and catching him by the hand, made him there to tarrie by it, vntill they were there both togither slaine. Many valiant captaines were there lost, whose names for breuitie I omit. Aloysius Arius, and certaine other captaines, who togither with the wounded souldiors were got into the castle, seeing no meanes to defend the place, yeelded themselues: whom Barbarussa according to his promise, took to mercie in sparing their liues, yet carried them away into captiuitie to CONSTANTINOPLE. The dead bodie of Sarmentus could not be knowne amongst so many heapes of the dead, although Barbarussa had E caused most diligent search to be made for it, and offered great sums of money and libertie also, to who soeuer could discouer it; being desirous to haue sent his head for a present to Solyman. Barbarussa proud of this victorie, began forthwith to gape after CATTARVS a citie of the Venetians in the bottome of the same bay: and thereupon writ threatning letters to Ioannes Bembus one of the Venetian Senators then Gouernour of the citie, presently to deliuer the citie; which he would (as he said) otherwise assault by force. Whereunto Bembus answered againe by letters, That in so doing, he should violate the league lately made with Solyman, and that he should find him readie by force to repell his forces. Wherewith Barbadussa displeased, sent certaine gallies into the bottome of the bay; who discharging certaine great pieces at the citie, made shew as if they had come to besiege it. At whom Bembus as a man of good courage, caused as many F mo like pieces to be discharged, and shewed his men vpon the wals: Which thing Barbarussa perceiuing, staied his course, and calling backe his gallies, returned to CASTRONOVUM, from whence (better appeased with presents afterwards sent from Bembus) he departed out of that bay.

The long warres betwixt Charles the emperour and Francis the French king, were now well [Page] pacified, and such friendship (at leastwise in show) now growne betwixt these two great princes,G that most men thought that all other quarrels laid aside, they would now at length with vnited forces go against the great and dangerous enemie of Christendome: Which opinion no [...] altogether of the wiser sort beleeued,Alphonsus Vastius and Hanibaldus sent embassadours from the emperor and the French king to the State of Venice. was yet at this time wonderfully confirmed by many extraordinarie and rare courtesies then passing betwixt them, which concerne not this historie; as also, in that two of their most famous captaines, Alphonsus Vastius, and Hanibald, were as it were with one consent by them both sent embassadours to VENICE, to haue drawne the Venetians into the confederation of that warre against the Turke. Which two renowned captaines comming to VENICE, most gallantly accompanied, were by Landus the duke, and the whole State, with great magnificence receiued, the people after their wonted manner flocking together in euery place to behold them so noble captaines sent from such mightie princes; but especially Vastius, H whose fame hauing many times before filled their eares, made them now the more desirous to satisfie their eyes also with the beholding of his tall and comely person. Which two famous captaines admitted into the Senat, for that purpose fully assembled, and audience giuen: Vastius arising from the dukes side, in these or like words deliuered their embassage.

Vastius his Oration to the Venetian Senat.

It is come to passe (as I suppose) by the great prouidence of Almightie God, and of all the diuine powers (most noble duke and honourable Senators) that two of the most mightie kings of EVROPE, who of late had of long time made mortall wars one vpon another; touched with the zeale of religion, are become great friends: Vndoubtedly to that purpose onely, that hauing made a firme peace, they may bring such a generall quietnesse to the long troubled and afflicted state of Christendome, as best I beseemeth their greatnesse; and taking in hand a sacred warre, to reuenge so many calamities receiued from the Infidell. That this might be made knowne vnto you (most noble Venetians) these mightie Monarchs haue sent vs hether in good time to kindle in you the like zeale, wherewith it is well knowne you haue alwayes for the honour of your State been enflamed: for you of all others, which are of such power and valour at sea, they wish for, as their fellowes and confederates in this sacred wore and hoped victorie, and thinke you worthie, which should enioy the especiall fruit of all that labour. For as much as the Christian forces once renewed, & so great and strong a fleet once assembled, euery man seeth that the Turkes must needs be too weake: although they brag, that they carried away the victorie of late at ACTIVM, when as they then escaped the victorious [...]ands of our men, not by their own valour, but by the vnexpected hap of a sudden storme. For all the powers of heauen and earth, and of K the sea also, will be propitious vnto vs, vniting so great forces, in the regard of our sacred religion; and will so take away the hearts of the Infidels, that they shall learne to be ouercome. As for our land forces, we are to hope nothing but well, for as much as vnto those which the emperour of late brought into the field at VIENNA, and caused the Turkish emperour to flie, shall be ioyned not onely all the horsemen and infanterie of FRAVNCE, a wonderfull strength, but Sigismund also king of POLONIA will without delay bring forth his armies, wherewith he hath beene vsed in the quarrell of the Christian religion happily to fight against the Infidels: so that it is not to be doubted of a most certain and assured victorie. Wherefore the victorious emperour and most Christian king Francis most instantly request you to enter into the like godly cogitations, conceiued for the generall good of the Christian name, and religiously to embrace the hope of a most true & glorious victorie: and further exhort L you, by a wholesome decree to auert your religious and courageous hearts from the friendship of the Infidels. For it may worthely seeme vnto your most honourable minds, a most foule and shamefull thing, to haue renewed your league, and to haue preferred an infamous and vncertaine peace before a most religious and iust warre. Neither doth it beseeme this most wealthie State to be terrified from that which is good and right, with any charges of war, [...]e they neuer so great: for if we shall once ouercome, which is incident to this present and long wished occasion, we shall by the profit of one victorie, either by sea or land, to your incomparable praise recompence all the losses by vs in former times receiued.

The answere of the duke to Vastius.Whereunto the duke in the name of the whole State answered, That there neuer happened M any thing at any time vnto the Venetian Senat more honourable, for the manner of the embassage, or for the publicke securitie of their estate, more to be desired than the hope of such a peace: after that two most mightie kings by two such famous captaines their embassadours, did certifie them of their attonement and assured peace, most glorious to themselues, to their eternall praise, [Page] A wholesome also to the Venetian state, beset with so many dangers, and wonderfully to be wished for of all the other princes of Christendome, if they would sincerely & religiously with their forces by common consent vnited, resolue vpon that sacred war: for then would not the Venetians be wanting to themselues or the Christian commonweale, but end the league they had with the Turke, not with a dishonourable peace but with armes and victorie. Wherefore it was to be requested of Almightie God by prayer, That those puissant kings would with religious and happie euent speedily and seriously fulfill all that hope of peace, which they had by their mutuall discourses and embracings in shew promised vnto the world.

In few dayes after certaine of the select Senatours sitting in counsell, after the manner of that State, called the embassadors vnto them and asked them, Whether they knew any thing of the B articles and capitulations wherein that league and confederation was to be concluded? and by the way, whether they thought the emperor in regard of that peace would giue vnto the French kings sonne the dukedome of MILLAN,Vastius his ans [...]ere to the demaund of the Venetian Senatours. as was reported? Whereunto Hanebald the French embassador answering nothing, Vastius said, That he knew nothing more, but that the two great princes had agreed thereof betwixt themselues, and that the emperour had desired the peace, as one willing to helpe the afflicted and declining state of the Christian commonweale: which thing any man might see could not be effected or brought to passe, but that the emperour must in many things yeeld to the requests of the French king, and redeeme his good will: For the noble mind (said he) worthie Senatours, can easily make light of the greatest losse of his owne things, when it foreseeth a large way opened thereby to eternall fame and glorie. These words C were very glorious and gracious to the hearers: but they, as men of great experience, could not let it sinke in their minds, that the emperour whom they had often deepely sounded, would euer depart with the dukedome of MILLAN, which only thing the French king required, and had for the recouering thereof vnfortunatly striuen almost twentie yeares, to the trouble and disquiet of a great part of the world. The nobilitie and authoritie of this embassage more mooued the Senat than did the other former embassadours, Didaco Mendoza, a Spaniard, and Guilielmus Pellicerius, a Frenchman, then both present: yet was it much suspected by the Venetians, because it contained no certaine resolution, but onely the bare hope of a future peace; so that it was by many men supposed to be but a matter deuised to deceiue others and to serue the emperours turne to his greater profit. Yet all the cunning seemed to rest in this point, That the Venetians led on D with the hope of this league, should neglect the renewing of the league they had the yeare before taken with Solyman, which was now almost expired. Vpon which vncertainetie of other mens resolutions, the graue Senatours thought too dangerous a matter to depend.

Vpon this question of this new league and confederation to be made with these Christian princes against the Turke,The Venetian Senator [...] diuersly affected towards the confederation with the emperour and the French king, against Solyman. the Senat was wonderfully deuided: some fauouring the emperours request, inueighed against the renewing of that shamefull league with the infidels, which they said was nothing els, but as much as in them lay to betray vnto them the other parts of Christendome, and especially ITALIE, destitute of their helpe, and yet not to be obtained without great charge; and with many reasons vrged the honourable confederation with these Christian princes: others of a deeper reach, considering what infinit harmes they had from time to time receiued E by falling out with the Turks, and suspecting also the emperours drift, and joyning thereunto the consideration of the great dearth then raigning in the citie, which was not to be relieued but out of MACEDONIA and GRaeCIA, the Turks countries; the emperour hauing at that time as it were of purpose imposed so great a custome vpon all corne to be transported out of SICILIE, that the very custome came to as much as both the price of the corne and the fraight together: all which mischeefes they said were to be preuented by renewing the league with Solyman. This matter was with great heat debated in the Senat too and fro, either part hauing great faultours: so that the Senatours spent almost whole Winter nights in the court in discoursing and consulting what were best to be done. But whatsoeuer was there said or decreed, was forthwith by one of the factions or other made knowne, not onely to the embassadours present in the citie, F but by letters also discouered into prouinces far off: a thing neuer before in that state knowne, which had euer vsed as it were with a religious silence to keepe secret whatsoeuer was there decreed. Which thing Marcus Foscarus, Foscarus a [...] Senatour. an old Senator and a man of great wisdome, perceiuing, said openly, That the state was betrayed by the multitude and corruption of voices, and must needs shortly perish, if it were not speedily committed to the graue and faithfull judgement of [Page] some few: for there was almost two hundred of them which gaue voices, reducing that multitude G to the number of fiftie, who for their experience and loue toward their countrey, were holden for men of greatest grauitie and secrecie: so was the madnesse of many stayed by the discretion of a few.Fosca [...]us disgraced by the multitude. But Foscarus shortly after fell into such hatred of the multitude, grieued to be as light headed men without discretion, so excluded out of the counsell, that he was by the voices of the multitude first thrust out of the counsell himselfe, and by them kept a great while after from all the preferments and honours of the citie: being indeed one of the grauest Senatours, and a man of deepest judgement. Which disgrace turned afterward to his great honour and credit, as one that had foreseene much, after they were once found out and condemned which had traiterously reuealed the secrets of the State.

The Venetians send Aloysius Badoerius their embassadour to Solyman, to conclude a peace.But this long consultation concerning the confederation, came to this end, That the Senatours H doubting the vnion of those two great princes, and yet willing to expect the euent▪ decreed forthwith to send three embassadours; whereof two should be sent to the emperour and the French king to discouer their designes, and the third, which was Aloysius Badoerius, a wise and well spoken man, was with all speed dispatched away to Solyman, to preuent the fame of the distrust to be conceiued of the agreement of those great Christian princes, and if he could by any meanes, to spare for no cost, to saue vnto the Venetians their cities of NAVPLIVM and EPIDAVRVS, which Solyman required of them before he would graunt them peace. Which if it could not be obtained of the proud and craftie tyrant, than to yeeld vnto necessitie, and to conclude a peace with him vpon any conditions: which course the Decemviri thought to be most expedient for the State: yet concerning the yeelding vp of the cities, they gaue him secret instructions I and warrant, fearing forsooth the force and tumult of the headstrong multitude, who if they had knowne any such thing, would vndoubtedly thereupon haue taken occasion to haue crossed and ouerthrowne that most wholesome decree: for there was no doubt, that if they had delayed the matter, and sought for peace too late, but that Solyman would vpon another mans weakenesse and necessitie haue encreased his insatiable desire, and not graunted them peace, being brought low & forsaken, except they would deliuer vnto him the islands of CEPHALENIA, ZACINTHVS, and CORCYRA, a matter no lesse grieuous than the destruction of the very citie of VENICE it selfe. So that the great embassadours Vastius and Hanebald, who came of purpose to haue hindered the league with the Turke; by their great diligence wrought nothing more effectually, than that the Venetians the better foreseeing the danger of their estate, should as they K did, make hast to conclude the same: for it falleth out in mens purposes and actions, That a good and happie successe otherwise well hoped for, is oftentimes marred with too much diligence and ca [...]e. Neither was it any doubt, but that Hanebald was sent by the French king but for fashion sake, and secretly vnderhand by Pelliterius the old embassadour persuaded the Venetians to hasten the conclusion of peace with Solyman. Which as Badoerius their embassadour was carefully solliciting the matter at CONSTANTINOPLE, and being loth to yeeld the strong cities which Solyman required, offering vnto him in stead of them a great summe of money: Solyman tooke him vp with threatening words as a shamelesse dissembler,The most se [...]ret decree of the Venetian Senate made knowne to Solyman. earnestly protesting▪ That he would neuer graunt him peace, without the yeelding of those cities; rehearsing vnto him the most secretest points of his embassage, and how that he was authorised from the Decemviri to yeeld them L vnto him: which thing the embassadour little thought Solyman had knowne. Wherefore Badoerius so shamefully reprooued,1540 and standing in doubt of his life, seeing the greatest secrets of his embassage reuealed to Solyman and his Bassaes,A peace concluded betwixt the Vene [...]ians and Solyman. was glad to accept of peace, by yeelding vnto him NAVPLIVM and EPIDAVRVS, two cities in PELOPONESVS, and with them NADINVM and LABRANA, two castles of DALMATIA, to the great greefe of the whole Senate: for g [...]aunting whereof the common people ignorant of the secret decree of the Decemvi [...]i, and supposing that Badoerius had giuen away that which he had no authoritie to giue, were so enraged against him at his returne, that it was much adoe to saue the guiltlesse man from exile, and his goods from confiscation, although the traitors were then knowne which had discouered the secrets of the state vnto the Turkes.The traitors which reuealed the secrets of the Venetian state to Solyman, executed. These were Mapheus Leonius a Senatour, and Constantinus Cobatius, M secretarie to the colledge of the Decemviri, and Franciscus Valerius, one of the Senators base sonnes; the traiterous disperser of the Turks money for the corruption of others: who with other his complices were for the same fact hanged in the market place, when as Leonius and Cobatius were a little before fled into FRAVNCE.

[Page] A About the same time which was in the yeare of our Lord 1540, died Ioannes Sepusius king of HVNGARIE, Solymans tributarie; after whose death ensued great warres in HVNGARIE, and the lamentable subuersion of that flourishing kingdome: for the better conceiuing whereof, it shall not be amisse with as much breuitie as the plainnesse of the historie will permit, to open the causes and grounds of the endlesse calamities which afterwards ensued, and neuer tooke end, vntill that warlike kingdome was to the great weakning of Christendome vtterly subuerted.

King Ferdinand and this tributarie king Iohn, had with like desire of peace and quietnesse, made betweene them a league; profitable to them both as their estates then stood, rather than honourable: yet most welcome to the Hungarians, who deuided into factions, and hauing followed some the one king and some the other, enjoyed neuerthelesse their lands and goods by B the benefit of this peace; the townes and castles being still kept by them in whose possession they then were at the making of the peace. In the capitulations of which peace, it was comprised, That Ferdinand should from thenceforth call Iohn by the name of a king, whereas before he had both in his common talke and letters called him by the name of the Vayuod onely: It was also expressely set downe in the same articles of peace, and subscribed with the hands of diuers of the nobilitie of HVNGARIE, That if king Iohn should die, king Ferdinand should succeed him in the whole kingdome of HVNGARIE: Which condition was suppressed and kept verie secret for feare of Solyman, who accounted of that kingdome as of his owne, gotten by law of armes, and bestowed vpon king Iohn as vpon his vassaile: neither was it to haue been thought, that if he should haue knowne thereof (being of a hautie mind by nature, and not able to endure any injurie) C he would haue suffered that kingdome, got and defended with so great danger and cost, to be by the will of an vnthankfull man, transferred vnto his enemies.

This matter of so great importance,The secret confederation betwixt king Ferdinand and king Iohn reuealed. was (as it is reported) by Hieronymus Lascus embassadour for king Ferdinand to CONSTANTINOPLE, reuealed vnto Solyman and the Bassaes, to bring king Iohn into hatred. So much did this noble gentleman, for his rare vertues otherwise greatly to haue been commended, yeeld vnto his griefe, and desire of reuenge: when after the death of Aloysius Grittus, he fell from the friendship of king Iohn, being (as is before declared) by him committed to prison, and hardly afterwards enlarged, at the request of king Sigismund. Whereupon Solyman being exceedingly angrie with king Iohn, called him vnthankfull churle, and turning himselfe about to Lutzis bassa his brother in law, said, How vnworthely doe these D two Christian kings weare their crownes vpon their faithlesse heads; who as shamefull deceiuers are not afraid, either for worldly shame or feare of God, for their profit to falsifie their faith! But king Iohn vnderstanding thereof, and wonderfully fearing his owne estate, did by good friends and rich presents, pacifie Solyman againe, laying all the blame vpon king Ferdinand, as better able to beare it.King Iohn in his old yeares marieth Isabella king Sigismund his daughter. Not long after, king Iohn hauing set his kingdome in good order, and strongly fortified the citie of BVDA: being now farre stricken in yeares, at the earnest request of most of the nobilitie of HVNGARIE and other his best friends, married Isabella the daughter of Sigismund king of POLONIA, a gratious ladie, and of great spirit: which king Sigismund had long before married Barbara king Iohn his sister, after whose death he married the ladie Bona Sfortia, the daughter of Ioannes Galeacius duke of MILLAIN, by whom he had this ladie Isabella whom E king Iohn now married. Which marriage Solyman liked well of, hauing many times by way of talke before condemned the single life of the king: but king Ferdinand liked thereof nothing at all, plainly foreseeing, that the Hungarians (if the king should chance to haue a sonne) would forthwith looke vpon him as their naturall king, and reject himselfe as but a stranger.

This young queene in short time (as he had feared) conceiued with child,The Queene with child. and was now verie big: when king Iohn was enforced to make an expedition in person himselfe against Maylat (famous for the death of Aloysius Grittus) and Bala [...], both Gouernours of TRANSILVANIA: whereof Maylat not contented with the name of Vayuod or Gouernour, sought to make himselfe king. But Solyman detesting the impudent arrogancie of the faithlesse man, and hating him for the death of Grittus, and the Turks slaine with him, aduertised king Iohn of all the matter, wishing F him to be more circumspect whom he trusted with the gouernment of so great and rich a countrey. So Maylat shamefully rejected of Solyman, and out of hope of a kingdome, fearing also to be thrust quite out of his gouernment by king Iohn, thought it best for his owne safetie, to raise vp all the prouince into rebellion, and to take part with king Ferdinand: which thing Ferdinand by his diuers agents secretly furthered to the vttermost. For these two kings, although [Page] they were at peace the one with the other, and in words and shew made semblance of G friendship; yet in heart they enuied and hated each other, as if they should presently haue waged warre. At that same time king Iohn exacted of his subjects, and especially of them of TRANSILVANIA, a great summe of money, to pay the Turke his tribute, then two yeares behind: which thing serued Maylat and his complices, as a fit occasion to raise the people into rebellion; persuading them, that there was no reason to pay vnto the Turke such a tribute, as would serue well to wage ten yeares honourable warre against him: so that by that and such like persuasion, all the prouince was in an vprore, little differing from manifest rebellion. To appease these dangerous troubles thus arising, king Iohn sent certaine of his chiefe nobilitie and best captaines with a great power into TRANSILVANIA, following after himselfe in his chariot, not yet well recouered of his late sicknesse: These noble men entring in two places into TRANSILVANIA, and H scouring vp and downe the countrey, had in short time so vsed the matter, that what by force what by policie, the tumult was well pacified, and diuers of the chiefe offenders worthely executed. Maylat the ambitious author of this sedition, not able to hold the field against the king, and seeing himselfe beset on euerie side with his enemies, retired himselfe with all his wealth into a towne called FOGARAS, a place of great strength, which the kings power shortly after hardly besieged: the king himselfe then lying at SIBYNIVM, the chiefe citie of TRANSILVANIA, about a mile distant from FOGARAS, sicke of an ague, whereinto he was againe fallen through too much care and paines taken in trauelling in that hoat time of the yeare, the daies being then at the longest.Queene Isabella deliuered of a sonne. Whilest he thus lay sicke at SIBYNIVM, and his armie fast by at the sige of FOGARAS, newes was brought vnto him from the court, That the queene his wife was deliuered of I a faire young sonne: which was no sooner bruted abroad, but the Hungarians as men ouerjoyed, came flocking to the court where the king lay, discharging their pieces in triumph, with all other signes of joy and mirth they could possible deuise: the noble men came from the campe to rejoice with the king, and all the armie was filled with gladnesse. And for the greater solemnitie of this so common a joy, a royall feast was prepared, which the noble men would needs haue the king to honour with his presence, though he were thereto vnwilling, being as yet but a little recouered: Howbeit yeelding to their importunitie, hee suffered himselfe to be ouerruled and brought to the feast by them, which was vnto him the merriest and the last that euer he made: for willing to shew his inward joy, and to content his nobilitie there present, he forgot himselfe, and eat and dranke more liberally than was for the health of his weake bodie: whereby the feauer K which had but a little before left him, was againe renewed, in such sort, as that he well perceiued he could not long endure. Wherefore feeling his end to draw fast on, he made his will, appointing his young sonne to be his heire,The death of king Iohn. whom he committed to the tuition of George bishop of VERADIVM, and Peter Vicche a noble gentleman and his neere kinsman, vntill he came to age; requesting the rest of the noble men to preferre his sonne in the succession of the kingdome, before a stranger, telling them, That Solyman would vndoubtedly take vpon him the protection both of the kingdome and of his sonne, if they would in time send embassadours vnto him with presents, and promise for his sonne, that he should raigne as his tributarie as he had done before: and so presently after died.

This king was of a courteous and gentle nature, bountifull, and in all his doings just, of no L fierce and rough disposition, as the Hungarians commonly are, but of a most ciuile behauiour, garnished with good letters, and thorowly schooled in the diuers chances of both fortunes, not measuring his actions by the strength of his power, but by the exact rule of discretion; for in time of businesse no man was more circumspect or vigilant than he, nor in time of recreation any man more courteous or pleasant.The honourable saying of king Iohn. He vsed oftentimes to say▪ That the fauour and loue of valiant men gotten by bountie and courtesie, was the best treasures of a prince; for that courteous and thankfull men, did oftentimes in some one worthie piece of seruice, plentifully repay whatsoeuer had been bestowed vpon them: as for such as were vnthankfull, they did to their shame beare the testimonie of another mans vertue.

The kings death was kept secret vntill such time as the noble men had agreed with Maylat, M that he should take an oath of his faithfull alleagance to the king▪ and his sonne his lawfull heire, and so still to enjoy his former place and gouernment: which offer Maylat gladly accepted. Then calling togither the counsell, it was decreed to send the same embassage to Solyman, which was appointed the old king yet liuing. So were presently dispatched away two most honourable [Page] A embassadours,Embassadours sent out of Hungar [...]e to Solyman Ioannes Exechius bishop of QVINQVE ECLESIE, and Stephanus Verbetius the Chancelor, a man of great yeares, carrying with them ten boles of pure gold curiously wrought, six hundred of siluer, gilt and engrauen; fortie pieces of purple silke and cloth of gold for Turkes gownes, and fiftie pound of coined gold, to be paid in the name of two yeares tribute. Which embassadours passing directly from SIBYNIVM ouer Danubius into SERVIA, and so trauelling thorow THRACIA, came to CONSTANTINOPLE. In the meane time, the dead body of the king was with much heauinesse carried from SIBYNIVM to ALBA REGALIS, most part of the armie following it, and there with great solemnitie buried. After this the young child was christened and called Stephen, and there presently crowned with the antient crowne of king Stephen, A young child crowned king of Hungarie. who first erected that kingdome, & without which the Hungarians neuer accounted B their kings lawfully crowned. Yet the royall dignitie was by the common consent of the nobilitie giuen vnto the queene, with condition, that in all publike writings the names of the sonne and of the mother should be joyned, and the kings money coined with the same inscription: but the chiefest authoritie rested in George the bishop, for he was treasurer, and had at his commaund the castles and strong holds: yet were the souldiors with their ensignes and furniture, at the deuotion of Valentinus Thuracus: In the middle between these two was placed Peter Vicche the kings kinsman, and by the old king appointed for one of the tutors to his young sonne, suspected of neither part, honoured with the name of high Constable. But because the name of this George the bishop was most famous in this wofull warre which we are about to write, I thought it worth the labour to speake something of his nature and disposition, that it may be knowne to C all posteritie by what pollicie this war was managed, and how this flourishing kingdome by the madnesse of the Hungarians came into the hands of the Turkes.

This George was borne in CROATIA, and brought vp from his youth in the house of king Iohn, where vertue and industrie neuer wanted reliefe; when as he vnaduisedly before, had entred into the orders of a monasticall life, and wearie too late of the straightnesse thereof, had forsaken his profession.George bishop of Veradium one of the kings tutors▪ a notable man▪ Wherefore being of a wonderfull pleasing nature, and still following king Iohn, driuen out of his kingdome and long liuing in exile, he woon such credit and commendation for his fidelitie, integritie, and readie counsell in the kings most doubtfull and dangerous affaires, that after Sibacchus that worthie bishop, was by the treacherie of Aloysius Grittus slaine at BAXOVIA, he obtained the great bishopricke of VERADIVM. After that, when he had strengthened D his credit with great wealth, he alwaies as a faithfull counsellor swaied and happily ruled both the court and kingdome, to the profit of the king. But he was of such a diuers and pliant nature, that performing in all actions all the parts of a most readie and excellent man, he seemed to be made of contrarie qualities, and borne to doe any thing: For in saying of his princely seruice, and performing the other ceremonies of the Christian religion, he shewed, or at leastwise counterfeited such a contrition in his deuout countenance and speech, that a man would not haue thought it could possibly be the same man, who in the most waightie affaires both of warre and peace, did most stoutly shew the wonderfull force of a most pregnant and couragious wit: For he vsed to keepe whole companies of most excellent and ready horsemen, and would oftentimes come forth into the battell armed: he would with often banquets and rewards win the hearts of E the souldiors; and after the manner of great chieftaines, maintaine the honour and credit of his name, both with punishment and reward, as occasion required. Besides that, no man looked into the wealth of the kingdome more diligently than he, no man did to more profit let to farme the customes, gold mines, feedings, and saltpits; no man could deuise finer meanes to raise money, of all others the readiest way to credit: insomuch, that king Iohn would confesse himselfe to raign by the especially industrie of that man: and king Ferdinand would many times say, That he enuied at K. Iohn for nothing he had, but for one hooded fellow which was better for the defence of a kingdome, than 10000 with helmets on their heads. Wherfore this bishop hauing taken vpon him the tuition of the young king, was still busied in all the waightie causes of the kingdome, both ciuile & martiall: he laboured with great care, that the Hungarians should agree togither in F loue and vnitie, and did what he might, prouidently to foresee that no tumult or rebellion should any where arise, wherby the beginning of the kingdome, yet but weake, might any way be troubled. But king Ferdinand hearing of the death of king Iohn, thought it now a fit time for him to recouer againe the kingdome of HVNGARIE, which he had so long desired. Whereunto he was also the more prickt forward by the persuasion of Alexius Torso, Ferentius Gnarus, Petrus [Page]Bachit, The [...]ugitiue Hungarian [...] persuade king Ferdi [...]and to inuade Hungarie. Balthazar Pamphilus, Erancus Capoln [...]tes, Ianus Castellamphus, and Casparus Seredus; all G noblemen or gentlemen of great account in HVNGARIE, who in the former troubles following the part of king Perdinand against king Iohn, liued now in exile: these all with one consent told king Ferdinand, That now or neuer was the time when they might be againe restored vnto their countrey with honor; and that the warre might that Autumn be dispatched, if he would make hast: for as much as Winter comming fast on would stay the comming of the Turks, and such noble men of HVNGARIE as tooke part with the queene, did not verie well agree togither, being vnwilling to be commaunded by George the Apostata monke, who (as they said) with great cunning and dissimulation seducing the queene, and possessing the treasure, enjoyed all alone the power of a king: and that they, which for taking part with the right had long liued as banished men, might now safely returne into their countrey, and be honourably preferred by H the queene; the Bishop (which all commaunded) assuring them thereof, if they would returne vnto the young kings court▪ vnto their friends and auntient houses. But they had as they said, before giuen their faith vnto him as to a vertuous and faithfull prince, whom they had preferred before one that was an Hungarian borne: wherefore he should doe both vnaduisedly and vnkindly, if letting slip the occasion presented▪ he should deferre to make warre. For what could be more dishonour to him so great a king, and also emperour elect, than by shamefull delay to forsake them, being noble and valiant gentlemen, which had followed his part, and were then readie with strong troupes of horsemen to doe him the best seruice they could?

The German captaines in like manner persuaded him to take the matter in hand, who as martiall men, expecting some one preferment, some another, in the armie, were desirous of honour,I pay, and prey, the chiefe comforts of their trauell and perill.

Laschus d [...]ssuade [...] king Ferdinand from see [...]in [...] for the ki [...]dome of Hu [...]garie by [...] persuading him rather to requisi [...] of cour [...]esie of Solyman.But Laschus the Polonian, who in matters concerning peace and warre saw more than all they (as he that knew the disposition of many princes, and had seene the manners and fashions of diuers nations, hauing trauelled thorow a great part of the world, and oftentimes beene embassadour in the courts of the greatest princes) was of a contrarie opinion, and told king Ferdinand plainly, That the kingdome of HVNGARIE was to be obtained rather by pollicie than by force, by crauing it at Solymans hand, to hold it of him by tribute as king Iohn did.

For (said he) that may by petition and faire entreatance be easily obtained of that heroicall prince (who in his vaine humor oftentimes fondly seeketh after honour) which will neuer be got from him K by force of armes. I thorowly know (said he) Solymans hautie mind, and the proud disposition of his Bassaes: he contemneth wealth, and is cloied with so many kingdomes: but they vpon their insatiable couetousnesse and exceeding pride, desire nothing, nor persuade him to nothing more than warre. Wherefore it is good to beware, that with the noise of this sudden warre you stir not vp the Turkes, which lie readie as it were expecting such an occasion, which cannot be withstood, but by the vnited forces of the Christian princes; which might by their generall consent be done, but that their eyes blinded with fatall darknesse cannot see it, and the vnitie of the Christians now desperate, seemeth by God reserued to some better time: seeing that of late the Christian kings are fallen off, and cannot agree vpon the long expected peace. Is not (said he) the French king deceiued of his hope? and as he would haue it thought, greatly dishonored with this late vnkindnesse? which renewing his old wound,L will reuiue in him an endlesse hatred. Away with all dissimulations, enemie vnto graue counsels, and let plaine truth, although vnpleasant vnto princes eares, preuent flatterie▪ Vndoubtedly, he being a prince of no base courage (as it oftentimes falleth out with men thorowly grieued) will in his anger as an enemie powre forth his gold, whereof he hath good store, to crosse the emperours dessignes, to trouble the assemblies of the states of GERMANIE, to withdraw the minds of the princes, and with bountie to gaine them to himselfe: who mightily enuying the imperiall dignitie, woont to be indifferently giuen to them that best deserued the same, to be as it were inuested in the house of AVSTRIA; which in this perpetuall succession of so many emperours, hath as it were got a right by long custome. Wherefore they will secretly conspire togither, and as notable lingerers by nature, will either giue no helpe at all, or else too late: at such time as the Turkes garrisons shall come flying to the succour of the M young king. Neither is there any cause why any man should thinke that the gouernours of the Turks countries neere at hand, will for the approach of Winter be slacke in this cause: for they vndoubtedly making an honest and honourable shew will take vpon them the defence of the fatherlesse child and widdow; of purpose, to make an entrance to the secret desire they haue to gaine the kingdome to themselues: [Page] A for if you shall once ioyne with them in battell, if the best happen, and fortune fauour our first attempts, truly you shall haue war without end, with such an enemie, which will bring with him wealth that will neuer be spent, power not to be ouercome, and courageous souldiors sworne to our destruction: So will it come to passe, and I pray God I be a false prophet, that in seeking for the kingdome of HVNGARIE by warre, you shall at length be glad to fight for AVSTRIA it selfe and your owne kingdome also.

This speech so moued king Ferdinand, that although he purposed to goe on with the warre, yet he thought it good by an honourable embassage to proue Solymans mind and purpose also;Laschus sent embassadour from king Ferdinand to Solyman. which to doe no man was thought fitter than Laschus himselfe, author of that counsell, being B vnto him very well knowne, and familiarly acquainted with all the great Bassaes of the court: which seruice Lascus refused not, but being furnished with all things needfull for such an embassage, departed from VIENNA towards CONSTANTINOPLE.

Yet for all that, king Ferdinand persisting in his former purpose, made withall preparation for warres, trusting vpon the aid of the emperour his brother, and the comming ouer of the Hungarians, who euer thought it cause honest ynough for them to reuolt, if it so stood with their present profit.King Ferdinand sendeth an embassadour to the queen to demand of her the king [...]dome of Hungarie. But before he would enter into open warres; he sent Nicholas countie of SALMA to the queene, to shew her the instruments of the last league betwixt the king her late husband and him, & to exhort her to yeeld vp the kingdome, which by the late league was another mans right; and not by delaying of the matter, to hurt both herselfe and her sonne: for king Ferdinand C offered to giue vnto the child the prouince of SEPVSIA, as was before agreed betwixt the two kings expressely in the league, and to the queene a great reuenew, and whatsoeuer else she had in dowrie. But if she would forget that lawfull league, he threatened, that neither the emperour Charles his brother nor he wanted force wherewith to recouer by strong hand the kingdome, annexed to the house of AVSTRIA both by auntient right and the new consent of most of the Hungarian nobilitie. The countie SALMA being receiued at BVDA, hardly obtained to be admitted to the presence of the queene: for George the Bishop, and Vicche, mistrusting her womanlike courage, said, she was not to be spoken withall, by reason she was so full of heauinesse and sorrow; and that they were of authoritie, as the kings tutors, and readie to giue him both audience and answere. Which opinion of her weakenesse, and want of judgement, the queene being D a woman of an heroicall and royall spirit, tooke, as tending so much to her disgrace, that she said she would kill her selfe, if the embassadors were not permitted to come into her chamber (which was a darke roome hanged with blacke, as the manner is:) and she sitting vpon a low pallet negligently attired, as one that had no care of her selfe, wan and pale coloured, but as then shedding no teares, yet with voice and countenance so heauie, as might shew her teares to be rather dried vp with long mourning, than that her sorrow was any thing abated: for the desire of bearing rule had now so possessed her mind, that she contemned all the dangers of imminent warre, and for defence of her soueraignetie resolued with her selfe to call in the Turks. After the countie admitted to her presence, had with due reuerence and great protestation deliuered his message, she demurely answered,The queenes answere to the embassadour. That such was the fortune of her sex and yeares, that being bereft of the king E her husband, and perplexed with the dayly greefes both of bodie and mind, she could neither take nor giue counsell, but purposed in so weightie a cause to vse the aduice of Sigismund her father, whose integritie and justice was such, as king Ferdinand needed no other judge or arbitrator to end that controuersie: Wherefore she requested a conuenient time and space, wherein she might aske counsell of her father; to whose just judgement she said she would stand, as she thought the nobilitie of HVNGARIE would also. Which small time of delay if it should be denied, and that they would needs forthwith make warre vpon her; she said, that the emperor and king Ferdinand his brother should surely win no great honour, if they should come to oppugne her a widdow consumed with teares, and a young child yet crying in his cradle. The countie so sent away, when he was returned to king Ferdinand, told him, That the queene was altogether F in the power of the Bishop, and could neither say nor doe any thing, but what she had before receiued from him: for he only (as he said) commaunded all: as for the rest of the nobilitie, they shared amongst them the honours and preferments of the realme, and as men desirous of credit and gaine, had rather be the gouernours of the young prince, than the seruants and waiters of a great and mightie forraine king: all which he said he had both heard and seene. Wherefore all [Page] the hope was in warre, wherein such speed was to be vsed, as that the queene with her sonne vnprouided,G and expecting the euent of their embassage from CONSTANTINOPLE, might be driuen out of BVDA before they could take vp armes or well aduise themselues what to doe; and that the queene sought delay but to make her selfe the stronger, and in the meane time to call in the Turke, and so to make a more dangerous warre. Wherefore if euer he purposed to reigne in HVNGARIE, he should forthwith cast off all other cogitations, and make readie his forces with all speed possible.

King Ferdinand inuadeth Hungarie.Hereupon king Ferdinand furnished with money from Charles the emperour, without delay raised a great armie, which he sent downe the riuer Danubius to STRIGONIVM, which citie had all the reigne of king Iohn continued faithfull to king Ferdinand. The Generall of this armie was Leonardus Velsius, a nobleman of RHETIA: who for many causes thought it expedient first H to open the way to BVDA, for almost in the middle of the way stood VICEGRADE, with a goodly castle vpon the top of an hill by the riuer side; which towne (but not the castle) Velsius after nine dayes siege tooke,Vicegrade taken. with the losse of about two hundred of his men, all the garrison souldiors therein being either slaine or taken prisoners, with Valentinus Litteratus their captaine. From VICEGRADE he passed ouer the riuer Danubius to PESTH,Pesth and Vacia taken. which he tooke, being forsaken of the enemie. With like successe he tooke the citie of VACIA, without losse: and remoouing thence,Bu [...]a besieged. and crossing againe the riuer with his fleet, came and encamped before BVDA, so to terrifie the citisens, and to discouer as farre as he could the purpose of the queene. Where Perenus, Stephanus Rascaius, and Franciscus Francopanes bishop of AGRIA, all men of great nobilitie amongst the Hungarians, reuolted from the queene to king Ferdinand: the Bishop was reputed I for a man of great integritie, and vpon meere conscience to haue gone ouer to Ferdinand; yet was he by letters from George the kings tutor challenged to haue reuolted, in hope by meanes of Charles the emperour to be made a Cardinall. Velsius lay with his armie at the hot bathes about a mile and a halfe from the citie, as if he would rather besiege it, than assault it. The Germanes lying there, did fetch in bootie round about the country, which was taken in euill part by the Hungarians on their side; who seeing their owne cattell or their friends driuen away, the villages burnt, and the poore husbandmen bound and taken prisoners, fell together by the eates oftentimes with the Germanes. On the other side they of BVDA sending out their troupes of horsemen, skirmished with the Germanes, if they did but stirre out of the campe, and well defended the villages from the injurie of the enemie: for Valentinus Thuraccus, Generall of the queenes K power, had taken into the citie a wonderfull number of light horsemen. Whilest the armie lay thus encamped, it fortuned that Balthasar Pamphilus, a noble Hungarian, straying out of the campe euen to the gates of BVDA, desired the warders at the gate to giue him leaue to talke with Valentinus their Generall, for that he desired to see his old friend, and to conferre with him of certaine matters concerning the good of the common state. Which thing being graunted by the Generall, he was immediatly receiued into the citie with his troupe of horsemen. Shortly after returning againe into the campe, he reported how he had beene entertained by his old acquaintance in the citie: where viewing the garrison, the great artillerie and fortification of the citie, he perceiued it was not to be taken without a greater power, and in a more seasonable time of the yeare. Which thing so moued Velsius, by nature suspitious, and doubtfull of the fidelitie of a L stranger, that he commaunded him in anger to void the campe, because he had without his leaue gone into the citie,King Ferdinands armie departeth from Buda. and vpon his owne priuat insolencie had conference with the enemie, and by amplifying their strength, to haue discouraged the armie, by putting them out of hope of victorie. Wherefore Velsius neuer attempting to assault the citie, returned againe to VICEGRADE to besiege the higher castle (wherein the auntient crowne of king Stephen, wherewith the Hungarian kings were euer after him crowned, was kept) which castle he also tooke with something lesse losse than he had done the lower towne. Not long after he marched with his armie to ALBA REGALIS,Alba Regalis yeelded to king [...]erdinand. the citie where the Hungarian kings were vsually crowned and buried, which by the meanes of Perenus was deliuered vnto him, and a garrison put into it for king Ferdinand. These things thus done, Velsius retired againe to STRIGONIVM, which he did the rather, because M the Germanes and Hungarians, two rough nations, could by no meanes agree together, insomuch, as that Velsius the Generall in parting them was wounded in the thigh, and Perenus hurt with a stone; besides that Winter was now come farre on, and the souldiors cried out for pay. For which causes Velsius (being also sicke of the stone) billitted his souldiours for that Winter [Page] A about in the countrey. Yet before that he new fortified PESTH, and left therein a garrison, because it was reported, that the Turkes vpon their frontiers were making preparation to come to aid them of BVDA.

At such time as king Ferdinand was leuying his forces for the inuasion of HVNGARIE▪ the queene by the counsell of the Bishop, had in good time craued aid of the Turkes lieutenants in the countries bordering vpon HVNGARIE, especially of Vstref, gouernour of BOSNA (a very aged man, and of great honour, who had married one of the daughters of Baiazet the old emperour) as also of Mahomethes gouernour of BELGRADE, and Amurathes who had the charge of the frontiers of DALMATIA: from whom she receiued one answere, That they might in no case without expresse commaundement from Solyman depart from the places of their charge. Besides B that,The queene craueth aid of Solyman against Ferdinand. Mahometes was by rewards ouercome by Laschus, as he passed by BELGRADE to CONSTANTINOPLE, not to stirre or aid the queene. Wherefore she rejected by these great captaines, certified Solyman by her embassadours what danger her selfe, her sonne, and the kingdome was in, crauing his speedie aid. Laschus was not yet come to CONSTANTINOPLE, being fallen sicke by the way, but had sent before Ptolomeus his physition to the great Bassaes, and especially to Lutzis his old acquaintance, vpon whom he had bestowed great gifts, and was in hope by him to haue obtained what he desired: but all in vaine, for Solyman who thought it much for his honour to defend his owne right, and that he had before giuen vnto king Iohn; thought also, that it would redound both to his great profit and glorie, if he should as it were vpon charitie take vpon him the protection of the widdow and fatherlesse child, in their so great distresse C and danger. Wherefore calling vnto him the embassadours, the three great Bassaes standing by, he said, That he had of his meere bountie before giuen the kingdome of HVNGARIE vnto king Iohn, Solyman promiseth to protect the queene and her sonne against Ferdinand, and sendeth presents to the yong king. to descend to his posteritie, so long as they should retaine the kind remembrance of so great a benefit; wherefore to declare his constancie, inseparable from his bountie, he said he would take such a course in the matter, as that the Germans his enemies should not long rejoice of the warres they had begun. And in token of friendship, and that he had taken vpon him the protection of the young king, he caused to be deliuered vnto the embassadours a royall robe of purple and gold, a buckler with the bosse most curiously wrought, a horsemans mase with a handle of gold, and a scimitar with the scabberd richly set with stones: and afterwards writ effectually to Vstref and Mahometes, his lieutenants, that they should without delay aid the queene, D and not to make excuse, because it was Winter, threatening them, that if she tooke any harme through their default or negligence, it should cost them their heads. The queenes embassadours glad of their good dispatch, were scarce departed from the Turks court, when Laschus came to CONSTANTINOPLE; and vnderstanding by his physition the successe of the Hungarian embassadours, proceeded for all that in his businesse, and deliuered his message, and vpon many reasonable conditions requested the kingdome for king Ferdinand. But when he in speaking had oftentimes made mention of Charles the emperour,Laschus king Ferdinand his embassador imprisoned by Solyman. as if he would with all the power of GERMANIE aid his brother; Solyman was so mooued therewith, that he was presently taken away and committed to prison: the great Bassaes, but especially Rustan, Solymans sonne in law, a proud and furious young man, chiding him and shaking him vp as worthie of death, for offending with his E liberall speech the majestie of so courteous a prince, and as it were mocking the king of kings, requiring friendship, when in the meane time his master most impudently made warres in HVNGARIE.

Vstref and Mahometes, the Bassaes aforesaid, hauing receiued such straight commaundement from Solyman, assembled their dispersed souldiors, and by shipping brought them downe the riuers Sauus and Dranus into Danubius, (for it is a hard matter to performe any great thing by warres in HVNGARIE, without the helpe of a great fleet, for conueying of the great ordinance, victuall, and other such necessaries of the armie, from one side of the great riuers to the other, as occasion requireth) but as then being the middest of Winter, and the North wind blowing hard, Danubius was so frozen on both sides, that the middle of the riuer was scarce open: so that F the Turkes not able to passe for the extremitie of the weather, nor daring to returne for the straight command of Solyman, were enforced in their tents there to abide the hardnesse of Winter, to shew their readinesse. It is almost incredible to be spoken, with what patience and resolution the souldiors endured all the extremities of the time, in so bare a place, their horses which of all other things they hold most deare, staruing for cold and want of meat.

[Page]The Spring at length comming on, right welcome both to the Turkes and the queene; Mahometes G with his Turks and wild Illyrians,1541 and Vstref with his souldiors of BOSNA, entred into HVNGARIE, with whom Valentinus Generall of the queens forces joyned also, with a strong power of Hungarians brought from BVDA.The queene ioyneth her forces with the Turks, and burneth Vacia. And the queene to further the matter, sent presents to the Turks Generals, victualed the campe, and furnished them with great ordinance, for the besieging of such cities as were holden by king Ferdinand her enemie. They passing ouer Danubius tooke the citie of VACIA, being but badly defended for king Ferdinand, and putting many to the sword (after the manner of their barbarous crueltie) burnt the citie. From thence they remoued to PESTH,Pesth in vai [...]e besieged by the Turkes. which was so valiantly defended by Barcocius and Fotiscus, the one a Hungarian captaine, the other a German, that the Turkes despairing of the winning of the citie, and not well relieued with victuall by the queene, then fearing future want, passed againe ouer Danubius,H and faithfully restoring the great ordinance without any more doing, returned againe into their owne countries: but in their retiring, the Hungarians by the leading of Ferentius Gnarus slew many of them, amongst whom was one Achomates, one of their best and valiantest captaines.

King Ferdinand aduertised of the Turks departure, returned again to his old hope of recouering the kingdome: persuading the emperor his brother, not to giue ouer the war so fortunatly begun, especially now that the Turkes hauing forsaken the queene, were departed and gone. Wherefore the new forces lately before raised in AVSTRIA, BOHEMIA, SILESIA, and MORAVIA, for the supply of Velsius his armie,King Ferdinand sendeth the Lo. William Rogendorff with an armie into Hungarie. were presently sent into HVNGARIE vnder the leading of the Lo. William Rogendorff steward of the kings house, who was then gone as farre as POSSONIVM I to haue relieued them of PESTH, vnto whom as a more auntient and honourable Generall Velsius gaue place. He, furnished with these new supplies, three moneths victuall, and great artillerie from VIENNA, joyning with the old armie, marched directly to BVDA, and laid siege vnto it.Buda besieged. Ouer against the stately castle of BVDA wherein the queene lay, was a great hill called S. Gerrards mount, so high, that the middle thereof was equall with the highest place of the castle, and from the top thereof they might looke into the streets of the citie, betwixt which hill and the castle was a great valley and a deepe ditch: vpon this hill, Rogendorff to beat the castle and to terrifie the queene, planted his batterie, and so shooke a new built tower thereof, that it was thought it would haue suddenly fallen; which if it had, yet was it supposed a dangerous matter to assault it, because it was walled about with a treble wall. But the sumptuous turrets and K princely galleries of the kings pallace in the castle, which euerie man saw Rogendorff might haue beaten downe with his great ordinance, he spared: but whether of himselfe, or else commaunded by the king (as loath to destroy so goodly buildings, as could not without great charges be in long time againe repaired) was vncertaine.Rogendorff threatneth the queene. Wherfore by diuers heraulds sent vnto the queen, he wished her to breake in sunder those giues and fetters wherein the bishop vnder the colour of protection had fast bound her sonne and her, and to accept of king Ferdinands offer, who was readie to bestow vpon her a goodly seignorie, wherein she might most honourably liue at quiet, and bring vp her sonne in safetie: Which thing, if she as a simple woman, and ignorant of her owne danger, should refuse and obstinately contemne the perill wherein she stood, he would forthwith in most terrible manner beat downe the pallace about her eares. Whereunto the bishop L in the queenes behalfe answered, That she was not such a foole as to exchange the kingdome of HVNGARIE for the principalitie of SEPVSIA:The bishop scornfully answereth Rogendorff. and that she thought Rogendorff a verie doting and mad old man, who being once before well beaten in those ditches, came now again like a foole to receiue his vtter destruction in full guerdon of his rash folly: Wherfore he should cease to terrifie valiant men, fighting with discretion for their naturall king and countrey against his drunken companie, for that they were nothing troubled with the noise of his great shot: But yet he said, that he would aboue all the rest by way of priuat courtesie, gently request Rogendorff to discharge his pieces with a little lesse noise, because he had a sow at home great with pigs, which terrified with the thundring of his guns, would farrow he doubted before her time, to the griefe of his guests. For the bishop was of a sharpe and taunting spirit, and such a contemner of M the Germans, that when two of them were taken in the kings orchards burning certaine houses, he in derision caused two hogs to be hanged vpon the same gallowes with them. Not long after, Rogendorff remoued his campe from the mount of S. Gerrard to a more conuenient place for the battering of the citie, called the Iewes graues, neere vnto the gate called the Iewes gate. [Page] A Which thing the bishop seeing, after his quipping manner requested of Rogendorff to pardon him, in that he had of late wrongfully called him a doting old man; for that in remouing his campe into a more commodious place, he seemed to be a proper wise man and of good discretion, now that he had pitched his tents in a most fit place amongst the dead, both for himselfe being an old man and almost worne with vaine labour, and for his armie there condemned to die with him. Rogendorff thus encamped, begun in two places to batter the wals: Perenus and the Hungarians with the Bohemians neere vnto the gate called SABATINA in one place, and hee himselfe with the Germans betwixt the Iewes gate and the castle in another: which was done with such violence, that a great part of the wall was beaten downe, & another part therof ouercharged with earth, which the defendants had cast vp on the inner side for the strengthning therof, B was at the same time born quite out and so fell downe,A great breach in the wals of Buda. to the wonderfull dismaying of all that were in the citie. Which faire opportunitie to haue taken the citie Rogendorff let slip, either not well aware thereof by reason of the great smoke of the artillerie on both sides, and the dust arising with the fall of the wall which couered all; or else according to his naturall disposition, doing all things leasurely and suspitiously; so that a little delay bereft him of the present apprehension of so sudden a resolution: and the Germans, vsed more to standing battels than to assault, were not to be so easily brought on to assault the breach vpon the sudden, as were the Spaniards, Italians, or French. The wall was opened in that place almost two hundred paces in length, yet standing almost the height of a man, which might easily haue been scaled with short ladders; but night was now comming fast on, wherein the Germans would not willingly attempt any dangerous C matter: so that the assault was deferred vntill the next morning. Whereas they of BVDA in the meane time taking the aduantage of the enemies delay, with incredible diligence and labour in that night raised vp a new rampier in steed of the wall that was fallen, euerie man without exception putting his hand to the worke. In the morning the Germans comming to the breach, gaue such a fierce assault vnto the new made rampier, that Otho Fotiscus desperatly entered into a shattered house which joyned vnto the wall; and certaine other companies, one souldiour helping vp another, had almost recouered the top of the rampier, and were there readie to haue set vp their ensignes.The German [...] assaulting the breach, are with losse repulsed. When they of BVDA with wonderfull constancie and resolution withstood the assailants, George the bishop encouraging them and fighting amongst them; who hauing laid aside his hood, was now to be seene with his helmet on his head, running too and D fro as need required all alongst the rampier. At length the Germans seeing themselues to striue in vaine against resolute men, were enforced to retire. In this assault Rogendorff lost aboue 800. men. Perenus was also in like manner, but with lesse losse, repulsed at the other breach he had made at the gate SABATINA. After that Rogendorff attempted by vndermining to haue taken the citie, but was by countermines disappointed of his purpose. Yet for all this, they in the citie began to feele the want of many things, so that it seemed they were not able to endure any longer siege; the common people pinched with hunger crying openly out in mutinous sort, that it was time to yeeld and make an end of those common miseries: but such was the authoritie of the bishop with his prouident foresight of all vrgent euents, that once shewing himselfe in the market place as if he would haue preached, he could turne the peeuish minded people which E way he pleased.

After all this, it missed but a little, but that this citie which could not by enemies force bee woon, had by shamefull treason beene lost: there was at that time in BVDA one Bornemissa a lawyer,Bornemissa practiseth to be [...]ray the citie of Buda. who had in former time beene maior of the citie: this Bornemissa exceedingly hated the bishop for taking part with a banckerout Iew against him, and being full of malice, and desirous of reuenge, promised to Reualius (martiall in the enemies campe) to deliuer vnto him a blind posterne in S. Maries churchyard, whereby he might enter the citie: which ga [...]e serued the citisens in time of peace to go thorow to the riuer. Rogendorff the Generall made acquainted with the matter, so liked thereof, that he in himselfe thought it not good, in a matter of so great importance, to vse at all the seruice of the Hungarians: Quite contrarie to that Bornemissa F had requested of Reualius, who desirous to haue the matter brought to passe without the slaughter of so many guiltlesse people as was by him to be betraied, would haue had it altogither performed by the Hungarians, who he was in good hope would shew mercie vnto their countrey men and kinsmen, and vse their victorie with more moderation than the Germans, who prouoked with many despights, and comming in by night, were like enough to make great [Page] effusion of bloud. But Rogendorff after the manner of his nation, to be counted polliticke, vsing G to keepe promise with no man, and hoping by excluding the Hungarians to haue all the glorie of the conceiued victorie wholy to himselfe; made as if he would haue vsed onely the Hungaans, and glosed with Reualius, whose son for the more assurance he tooke as pledge; For against the appointed houre, which was about midnight, hauing before giuen straight charge that no man should stir in the campe, he sent foure select companies of Germans with great silence vnto the posterne; at which time his sonne Condi stood with a strong troupe of horsemen, readie to haue entred, at such time as the Germans (receiued into the citie) should breake open the great gate, as was before agreed. Neither did Bornemissa faile to performe what he had as a traitor promised: but opening the posterne wee spake of,Bornemissa receiueth in the Germans by a posterne, supposing them to haue beene Hungarians. had with great silence receiued in most part of those German companies. But when he still asked softly of them as they came in for Reualius, H and heard them answere nothing but in the German language; although hee was otherwise a man of a bold spirit, yet then surprised with a sudden feare (as it oftentimes chanceth in such actions to men deceiued of their expectation) he stood as a man amazed that knew not what to doe, & forgot to conduct the Germans: who altogither vnacquainted with the citie, knew not which way first to go; and stealing on softly in the darke, went on with no great courage, for feare of treason, still asking of them that followed, for him that should direct them. The Germans could not go so closely, but that they were by the clattering of their armour and the light of their matches, descried by the watch; who asking for the word, and they not giuing it, presently raised an alarum: but now all too late, the citie being as good as halfe taken, had the Germans well conducted resolutely gone on with the matter so well begun;The Germans not conducted, are discouered and discom [...]ited. but they ignorant of the way, and I now descried and chased with their owne feare, ran backe againe to the posterne, in such hast, that one of them miserably wrong another, in striuing who should get out first; and their passage out much letted by the pikes and weapons which they which fled first had cast crosse the way to run the lighter into the campe. The first that set vpon the Germans was Bacianus, who had that night the charge of the watch; and after him Vicche, who kept the court of guard in the market place, and hearing the alarum, came thither with a strong companie both of horsemen and footmen. Many of the most valiantest Germans, who comming in first, were in flight become last, were slaine or taken, and amongst them many of Bornemissa his familiars and friends (as for himselfe, he was got out amongst the formost) from whom the bishop by exquisite torture wrong out the whole plot of the treason, and afterwards caused them to be seuerally executed K to the terrour of others. Reualius in the meane time complaining in the campe, That he was deceiued by the Generall: and Bornemissa wofully lamenting, That hauing worthely got the name of an infamous traitour, hee had thereby lost all his substance, and vndone his friends and kindred. The Generall Rogendorff (condemned euen of the common souldiors, for his foolish arrogancie and pride) was hardly spoken of thorow all the campe, as he that by too much insolencie had ouerthrowne the fairest occasion of a most goodly victorie: wherefore from that time he attempted no great matter, but set himselfe downe by long siege to tame his enemies, and so to win the citie.

Solyman vnderstanding of the queenes distresse in HVNGARIE, and with what desire Ferdinand (supported by the emperour his brother) thirsted after that kingdome; consulted with his L Bassaes of the purposes and power of his enemies, both there and elsewhere: and politikely resolued at one time, with his deuided forces, to withstand their attempts in diuers places, and those farre distant one from another, wherby the greatnesse of his power is well to be perceiued. First he sent Solyman Bassa an eunuch to BABYLON,Solyman at one time maintaineth wars in di [...]ers places of the world farre distant. to defend the countrey of MESOPOTAMIA, and the frontiers of his empire alongst the riuer Tygris, against Tamas the Persian king. Mahometes another of his great Bassaes, he sent into HVNGARIE to relieue the besieged queene: And after him Vstref Bassa, which was the fourth of his chiefe Bassaes, with another army to stay at BELGRADE, in readinesse to aid the other Bassa sent before him as occasion should require, if he should find his enemies too strong. Vnto Barbarussa he committed his nauie, for the defence of GRECIA and EPYRVS against Auria, who but a little before aided by the gallies M of SICILIA and NAPLES, had driuen the Turkes and Moores (which tooke part with the Turks) out of CLVPEA, NEAPOLIS, ADRVMENTVM, RVSPINA, TAPSVS, and all alongst that coast of AF [...]RICK which the Moores call MAHOMEDIA, except the citie of LEPTIS, and caused those cities to submit themselues to the gouernment of Muleasses king of TVNES. [Page] A These cities are at this day called CALIBIA, SVSA, MAHOMETA, MONASTERIVM, SFAXIA and AFRICA. And because Solyman vnderstood, that Maylat the Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA tooke part with king Ferdinand, he sent against him Achomates gouernour of NICOPOLIS, and commaunded Peter of MOLDAVIA, prince of VALACAIA, to aid him: who afterwards accordingly came vnto him with thirtie thousand horsemen. He himselfe also doubting the purposes of the Christian princes, and especially of Charles the emperour, more than he had [...]eed, came to HADRIANOPLE, and in the countries thereabouts raised a third armie, to aid the two Bassaes sent before into HVNGARIE; keeping with him his son in law Rustan, whom he had made one of the foure great Bassaes of his counsell, hauing thrust out Luftibeius, whom the Turkes call Lutzis, his brother in law, and exiled him into MACEDONIA for euill entreating and striking B his wife, which was Solymans sister, as is before said, but was at this time done.

Mahometes the Bassa desirous to doe his great Master the best seruice he could,Mahometes Bassa commeth with the Turks armie to relieue Buda. entred into HVNGARIE with his armie about the middle of Iune in the yeare 1541, taking with him in his way the other Mahometes gouernour of BELGRADE, who gaue the shamefull ouerthrow vnto the Christians at EZEK; joyning also with him the power of BOSNA, now commaunded by Vl [...]mas the Persian, for that Vstref the old Bassa was lately dead. The captaines of the Christian armie hearing of the comming of the Turks, entred into counsell, Whether they should continue the siege, or els goe and meet them by the way and giue them battell. But the period of the Hungarian kingdome drawing fast on, and the ineuitable destinie thereof so requiring, the opinion of Rogenderff preuailed against the rest for the continuing of the siege, he seeming more willing C to die than to crosse ouer the riuer to PESTH, or to retire to VICEGRADE or STRIGONIVM, as diuers would haue persuaded him: wherefore he remoued from the place where he lay before,The order of king Ferdinands armie. and encamped his armie on the further side of the citie at the foot of S. Gerards mount, where the hill lying betweene BVDA and the campe, and departing from the riuer leaueth a faire plaine toward the East; of purpose, that the Turks which he knew would not goe far from the riuer and their fleet, should be enforced dangerously to passe by the mouth of his great ordinance, which he had aptly placed vpon the front of his trenches: for such was the nature of the place, that the campe lay defended on the right hand with the steepe hill, on the left hand with the riuer, and behind toward the citie with a strong bulwarke. Vpon the right hand, vpon a little rising ground he placed the lesser campe, wherein were the Hungarians which fauoured king D Ferdinand, and then followed his ensignes. He made also a bridge from his campe into a little island which lay in the riuer, and with a fort well planted with ordinance commaunded both the riuer and the plaine, so to beat the enemies fleet comming vp the riuer, and themselues also as they should march alongst the plaine. He was about also to haue made a bridge of lighters and boats quite ouer the riuer, from his campe to PESTH, and in this order to expect the comming of new supplies from king Ferdinand, and to repell the enemie who was comming, and with long siege to wearie them in BVDA: for there was such store both of victuall and all other warlike prouision in PESTH, as would well haue sufficed his armie vntill Winter had beene spent. As soone as the Turks were come nigh the citie, Valentinus as an embassadour from the queene met them with two thousand horse,The Bassa entrencheth his armie within halfe a mile of the kings armie. and fully instructed both the Mahomets what the E Christians did, what strength they were of, and how they might most conueniently encampe their armie. Wherefore the Bassa marching on boldly forward, came within halfe a mile of the Christian campe, where he quickly entrenched himselfe round with a strong trench, filling a great part of the plaine with his tents. But the other Mahometes, gouernour of BELGRADE, a most polliticke captaine, tooke the higher ground towards the rising of the hill, neerer vnto the tents of the Hungarians than of the Germanes. Vnto these two armies thus encamped, belonged also two fleets, the Christian fleet consisted of foure and twentie galleots, about fourescore small pinnaces, and little lesse than a hundred ships of burden and other great boats: whereas the Turks fleet was not thought to be past halfe so great. Neere vnto the little island, joyned as we haue before said by a bridge to the Christian campe, beneath in the riuer had the Turkes taken F another island called CEPELLIA, oueragainst their owne campe; where casting vp a great bulwarke in the vppermost end thereof, and planting it with great ordinance, they from thence shot at the fort which the Christians held in the little island, and at their vessels passing too and fro in the riuer; as the Christians did at them likewise. This island of CEPELLIA lieth somewhat more than fortie miles in length in the riuer Danubius, full of countrey villages, so commodiously, [Page] that if Rogendorff had at the first taken it and fortified it, before the comming of the Turkes,G as the Hungarians persuaded him to haue done, the Turks could by no means haue encamped in the plaine, but must needs haue forsaken their fleet, fetching a great compasse about more toward the West, further off from the riuer: which would haue turned to the Turks great disaduantage. But no man is so wise as to foresee all things, when as the very euill successe, be the plot neuer so well laid, shall of it selfe, beside the losse, leaue vnto the vnfortunate man the note of the want of prouident foresight and discretion. But Rogendorff was not willing to deuide his forces, vntill he had some new supplie from king Ferdinand. Whilest the armies lay thus neere one to the other, there were some light skirmishes made euery day, either by the horsemen or the footmen, and sometime one braue man challenging forth another hand to hand, whom he thought by his armour or some other signe of his worth,Skirmishes betwixt the Christians and the Turkes. to be like to himselfe: which was so pleasant a sight to H behold, that both the armies vpon a militarie courtesie, as if it had been so agreed, would many times for certaine houres forbeare to shoot any shot, of purpose to see those gallants, with true prowesse to prooue their valour and manhood one vpon another with their speares and swords only. In which light skirmishes the Germane horsemen were oftentimes put to the worst; who mounted vpon great heauie horses, fitter for a set battell, could neither so readily charge the enemie, nor pursue him in his flight; as could the Turks with their nimble and readie light horses, so well acquainted with that manner of flying fight, that they would with wheeling about easily frustrate the first charge of the heauie horsemen, and by and by come vpon them againe with a fresh charge, & so often retire and come on again, vntill they had either wearied or ouerthrowne them. But the Hungarians acquainted with that manner of fight as well as they, and also better I armed, did easily encounter the Turks, and foile them, although they were in number moe.

Rayschachius for sorrow of his sonne slaine by the Turks, suddenly dieth.There was amongst the Germane captaines a noble man called Eckius Rayschachius, whose son (a valiant yong gentleman) being got out of the armie without his fathers knowledge, bare himselfe so gallantly in fight against the enemie in the sight of his father and of the armie, that he was highly commended of all men, and especially of his father, who knew him not at all: yet before he could cleare himselfe, he was compassed in with the enemie, and valiantly fighting slaine. Rayschachius exceedingly mooued with the death of so braue a man, ignorant how neere it touched himselfe, turning about to the other captaines, said, This worthie gentleman, whatsoeuer he be, is worthie of eternall commendation, and to be most honourably buried by the whole armie. As the rest of the captaines were with like compassion approuing his speech, the dead bodie K of the vnfortunat sonne rescued, was presented to the most miserable father; which caused all them that were there present to shed teares: but such a suddaine and inward greefe surprised the aged father, and strucke so to his heart, that after he had stood a while speechlesse, with his eyes set in his head, he suddenly fell downe dead. From that time the Generall commaunded, That no man should vpon paine of death go out of the armie to skirmish with the enemie without leaue, wherein he was so seuere, that he hanged vp one or two which presumed to transgresse his commaundement: which thing much discouraged his own men, and so encouraged the enemie, that they would sometime braue the Christians vpon the top of their owne trenches.

Many dayes had now passed since the comming of the Bassa, the Turkes and they of BVDA dayly encreasing both in strength and courage: when on the other side, faint courage, weake L strength, troubled counsell, vncertain resolution, the ominous signs of an vndoubted ouerthrow, were easie to be seene; and hope it selfe, the stay of all human actions, especially of martiall affairs, almost lost: the onely things that held their fainting hearts, was the often letters from king Ferdinand, and the firme opinion they had conceiued, That Charles the emperour would not in so great a danger faile to aid his brother, both with men and mony: and last of all, the firme resolution of the Generall, which farre passed all reason, the sooner to draw him to his end. The armies lying in this order, the Turkes from the higher ground, and out of CEPELLIA, perceiuing the Germanes in the little island as carelesse men to keepe but negligent watch, agreed amongst themselues at one instant out of both their campes, to assaile diuers of their forts: and so in the breake of the day landed with their fleet so closely and suddenly to the Island,The Turks suddenly assaile the Christians in the Island. that they had M slaine almost six hundred of the Germanes, before they were thorowly awake or could well arme themselues: wherewith the rest were put in such a feare, that they fled to the campe in such hast, that many of them fell beside the bridge and were drowned in the riuer. All the campe was wonderfully troubled with the suddennesse of the matter, the Turks with their hideous cries raising [Page] A the alarum in diuers places at once: yet for all that, certaine German companies in one of the forts neerest vnto the riuer, and the souldiors in the fleet, well declared their present resolution and valiant courage, in recouering againe of the island. For Herbestulfus the campe-master, persuading them not to suffer the Christian ensignes and great ordinance to be so shamefully carried away of the Turkes; and Marius the Admirall at the same time landing diuers companies in the island with his pinnaces and great boats: they so couragiously charged the Turkes, then busied in the spoiling of the dead bodies and drawing away of the great ordinance, that they draue them againe to their boats; leauing vnto them as victors, both the island and the ordinance, hauing before their departure, receiued no lesse losse themselues than had the Germans before.

B It was reported, that the Turkes fleet might that day haue beene quite ouerthrowne, if the Christians vsing the victorie, and holpen with the course of that swift riuer, had couragiously pursued them and landed with them. But many things after a matter is done are easily seene, which in the verie heat and hurle of the danger cannot well be foreseene; for as much as sudden accidents attended with great perill, doe oftentimes dazle the minds of right wise and valiant captaines: yet foure of the Turks pinnaces were suncke, and thr [...] taken, and many of the Turkes slaine or drowned in the riuer. Shortly after, the Turkes more and more encouraged with the multitude of themselues, and the fearefulnesse they perceiued in their enemies, did at sundrie times so insolently trouble and assaile the campe of the Christians on euerie side, that they left them almost no time of rest, one company still succeeding another; so that they were almost in C despaire, to be able long to defend their campe, the enemie still growing both in strength and courage. For the Bassa that lay at BELGRADE▪ still taking vnto him the sicke and wounded souldiors, sent continually fresh men in their steed: and Valentinus taking vnto him a companie of the Turks Ianizaries harquebusiers, had driuen Perenus with the Hungarian horsemen out of the vpper campe. So that they in the nether campe were now hardly beset with their enemies on euerie side: yet were they well holpen by the great artillerie from PESTH, which much troubled Valentinus and his horsemen in assailing the campe on that side.

Some report that Valentinus, Valentinus Generall for the queene in Buda certifieth Perenus of the comming of Solyman. not greatly angrie with the Hungarian banished men, but with the Germans, did by the way of priuat courtesie and friendship, by a faithfull souldior wish Perenus speedily to prouide for the safetie of himselfe and the Hungarians with him; for that there D was a great beast comming, which would at one morsell deuoure them all. For Solyman aduertised of the doings of the emperour and king Ferdinand, thinking that they would haue come downe to BVDA with a puissant armie, was resolued to be present himselfe at so notable a battell, and was therefore comming thither with his armie in all hast. Wherefore Perenus thus forewarned, said plainly to Rogendorff and the other captaines, That except they would presently rise with the armie and depart, he would now whiles he had yet time, make shift for himselfe and his countrey men. Their opinions diuersly deliuered, at last they all agreed that it was best the next night to passe ouer the riuer to PESTH: only the Generall vpon a fatall obstinacie said, He would not without king Ferdinands commaundement depart from BVDA: and therfore sent countie Salma with a swift pinnace vp the riuer to VIENNA to know his pleasure therein. In the E meane time vrged with feare, Perenus fretting at their long stay, it was resolued vpon, that they should the next night after the Moone was downe, passe ouer the riuer in foure conuoies to PESTH:The Christian armie departeth by night from Buda. In the first, were to passe ouer the Hungarians, with the great ordinance: in the second, the German and the Bohemian horsemen: and in the other two, the footmen and the baggage of the armie. For it was not so easie a matter to make a bridge ouer Danubius, as they had at first supposed: for after they had begun it, and almost planked it, there rise such a wind and tempest, and the violent riuer became so rough, that the timber wherewith the bridge was fastened togither was broken, the joints vnlosed, and many of the boats whereof the bridge was framed, their cables being broken, were carried away with the force of the streame. The first and second conuoy fortune so well fauoured, that they passed well ouer: for although they of BVDA and F the Turkes, seeing in the day time from their high places the fleet drawing togither into one place, might haue some suspition of the matter, some ghessing one thing and some another; yet could they foresee nothing of the sudden departure of the enemie: But that multitude of ships and boats now passing too and fro, could not long deceiue the attentiue and vigilant enemie; and so much the lesse, for that two fugitiue Hungarians euen then discouered vnto the bishop, [Page] the flight of the Germans; who presently certified the Bassa and the other Mahometes thereof,G which without farther delay came almost with all their power to assault the Christians in their camp: the great ordinance was brought forth, and after the Ianizaries & other footmen, followed the horsemen, dismounted frō their horses to do the better seruice, who all with a horrible crie assailed the trenches.The Turkes assaile the Christians in their camp at their departure. Then began the Germans to quaile, their flight being now discouered; yet did they with the Bohemians for a while notably resist the enemie. All the campe was filled with tumult and confusion, and especially at the riuer side, euerie man in that great feare striuing to get aboord, without regard of order or shame: for the dead time of the night then couered with darke and thicke clouds, made all things more terrible, euen vnto them which were of best courage: the authoritie of Rogendorff the Generall (in the darknesse of the night, and so great damour both of his owne people and of the enemie, and the thundring of the ordinance) was as nothing:H He (besides that he was then sicke in mind) lay in his bed wounded, by a wonderfull and fatall chance: for as he was writing letters to the king, a faulcon shot out of the enemies campe falling in his tent, and striking in sunder a chest which stood there, wounded him grieuously in the left shoulder with a splinter of the same. The other captaines of the footmen, enuying that the horsemen were so well escaped, stood as men more carefull of themselues than of the common danger, faintly resisting the enemie. The vppermost tents wherein Perenus lay, were first taken by Mahometes of BELGRADE, and Valentinus; and the German footmen chased all ouer S. Gerrards mount. They of BVDA also sallied out, and entred the campe on that side which was next vnto the citie, and with wild fire burnt the tents a little before forsaken by the Germans. And the bishop at the same time caused a great stacke of straw standing by the kings stables neere I vnto the riuers side,A mischieuous practise of the bishop. to be set on fire; which gaue such a light, that a man might haue seene all ouer Danubius vnto the wals of PESTH, as if it had been light day: whereby the great confusision of the Christian armie by land, as well as the shamefull flight by water, was of the Turkes plainly discouered. Then was the great artillerie from euerie place discharged vpon the flying fleet, as well from BVDA as the Turks campe. And to encrease the feare, Cason the Turkes Admirall rowing with his light boats against the streame, set vpon the ships crossing the riuer to PESTH, where he tooke certaine boats loded with souldiors, and with his great ordinance sunck diuers others:Great slaughter of the Christians. so that the riuer was filled with dead bodies, and the miserable companie of souldiors and mariners labouring to saue their liues by swimming: for at such time as the Ianizaries hauing slaine the first companies, were broken into the lower campe; and the rest of the Germans K flying ouer the bridge into the little island, were there slaine without mercie, by the Turkes pursuing them, many of them leapt into the riuer, and there perished. Three hundred saile of one sort of ships and other, were so confused and mingled togither, that Danubius seemed that night to haue beene couered ouer, as if it had beene with a great bridge. But the Christian fleet seeing all lost, cleered themselues so soone as they could of the Turks; and so beating them backe with their great ordinance out of the poupes of their ships, got vp the riuer to COMO [...]A. The rest of the land forces endured the same fortune in the campe, of whom the Bohemians died most honourably, slaine by the enemie in fight. Many falling into the hands of them of BVDA were saued, or slaine, as was their fortune to fall into the power of a mercifull or mercilesse man. But the sunne rising, plainly discouered the slaughter of the Christians and the victorie of the L Turkes, not so well before knowne. There was about 3000 men of one sort and oth [...] who in warlike manner had taken a little hill by Saint Gerrards church, and there stood vpon their guard, vntill such time as more than two thousand of them were slaine; the rest casting away their weapons yeelded in hope of life, and were reserued for a spectacle more grieuous than death it selfe.

At the same time Cason with his victorious fleet comming to the shoare of PESTH, brought such a feare vpon them that were escaped thither, and might easily haue defended the wals (only with the crie of his souldiors and the thundring of the artillerie) that the horsemen for hast to get out, were like to ouerrun one another. The Germans had at that time so much forgot their wonted valour, and so trembled at the name of the Turks, that as soone as they saw their white M caps in their ships, they ran away as men dismaied, vnarmed, leauing behind them their plate, their carriages, and whatsoeuer good thing they had else. Yet some of the Hungarian horsmen, more desirous of the spoile than afraid of death, staied behind rifling the merchants shops: for PESTH was become a notable rich mart towne for all kind of merchandise, merchants resorting [Page] A thither from all other places of the troubled countrey, as to a strong and commodious citie, and of more safetie than the rest.Pesth taken by Cason admirall of the Turkes fleet. But Cason now entering without resistance, slew some of those greedie Hungarians▪ and ran thorow the towne with such barbarous crueltie and thirst of the Christian bloud, that he spared neither man, woman, nor child▪ except some few such as either for their beautie or strength of bodie were reserued for the Turkes beastly lust or slauish labour: so that in this warre it is reported, more than twentie thousand Christians were one way and other by diuers chances slaine. There was taken at PESTH in the campe, and in the island, six and thirtie great pieces for batterie, of wonderfull beautie; and of lesser field pieces a hundred and fiftie. As for shot, pouder, armour, weapons, and victuall prouided for Winter, such sto [...]e was found,Rogendorff against his will caried away by his physition and chamberlaine to Comara, there dieth. that the Turks accounted it for the greatest part of their victorie. Rogendorff the vnfortunat B Generall, at such time as the Turks hauing woon the trenches were fighting in the middest of the campe, desiring rather to be slaine in his tent, than to liue after so great an ouerthrow, was against his will by strong hand carried abourd a little pinnace by his physition and chamberlaine, which would not in any case forsake him as he lay, and was so conueied vp the riuer to the island of COMARA: where he shortly after, partly for the painefulnesse of his wound, but more for greefe of mind, died in a little countrey village called SAMARIVM, leauing vnto the Germans a wofull remembrance of his accursed obstinacie and pride. Solyman still doubting the comming of Charles the emperour and king Ferdinand to BVDA,Solyman commeth to Buda. was comming with his armie from HADRIANOPLE in such hast, that he caused the Ianizaries his best footmen, contrarie to their manner, to march as fast as his horsemen: but vnderstanding by the way of the late victorie obtained C by his captaines, he tooke more leisure, and came with a great power to BVDA in August, and there encamped on the other side of the citie, to auoid the noisome sauour of the dead bodies, which lay yet vnburied. Where calling vnto him the other armie, and making one huge campe of both, he highly commended all his captaines, but especially the two Mahometes. And vnderstanding that the victorie was especially gotten by the meanes of Mahometes gouernor of BELGRADE, he made him generall of all his Europeian horsemen, one of the most honourable preferments of the Turkish empire: the other captaines he rewarded according as they had deserued, and withall augmented their pay.

After that,Turkish crueltie he caused the prisoners, in number about eight hundred, to be brought out: who bound in long ropes, were in derision led all alongst the armie, raunged in order of battell, and afterward D by his commaundement slaine by his young souldiors: saying with seuere countenance, that they were worthie of such death, which by embassadours dissemblingly entreating of peace, had in the meane time craftily waged warre. Amongst these prisoners was one souldior of BAVARIA, of an exceeding high stature, him in despight of the Germane nation he deliuered to a little dwarfe (whom his sonnes made great account of) to be slaine, whose head was scarce so high as the knees of the tall captiue, with that cruell despight to aggrauate the indignitie of his death: when as that goodly tall man, mangled about the legs a long time by that apish dwarfe with his little scimitar, as if it had beene in disport, fell downe, and was with many [...]eeble blowes hardly at last slaine by that wretch, still heartened on by others, to satisfie the eyes of the princes, beholding it as their disport.

E This barbarous and cruell execution done, Solyman sent his embassadours with presents to the young king, which were three beautifull horses, with their bridles of gold, and their trappings richly set with pretious stones,Solyman sendeth for the yong king into the campe. and three royall robes of cloth of gold, and vnto the cheefe of the nobilitie he sent rich gownes and chaines of gold. The embassadours which brought these presents, in courteous manner requested of the queene to send the young king her sonne, attended with his nobilitie, into the campe, and without all feare to hope that all should goe well both with her and her sonne▪ for that Solyman, who exceeded all other kings, not in power and fortune onely, but in vertue and vpright dealing also, was of such an heroicall disposition, that he would not onely defend the child, whom in the right of his father he had once thought worthie his protection and fauour, victorie confirming the same, but would also augment his estate, with F the largest bounds of his auntient kingdome: Wherefore he was desirous to see the yong king, and to behold in him the representation of his father, and with his owne hand to deliuer him to be imbraced of his sonnes; that of his protection renewed, so happily begun, might be grounded a firme and perpetuall friendship with the Othoman kings: and that he would alwayes account of her as of his daughter. But the cause why he came not to see her, which he did in courtesie desire, [Page] was, for that by auntient custome the Othoman kings were forbidden that point of courtesie,G to visit other mens wiues in their houses. Besides that, Solyman (they said) was not so forgetfull of his modestie and honour, as to receiue into his pauillion the daughter of a king his friend and allie, and she the late wife of a king his friend and tributarie, and the faire young mother of a son, growing in the hope of like regall dignitie; for feare he should draw into any suspition the inuiolate name of her chastitie, which in queenes was to be guarded with an especiall and wonderfull care. Whereunto the queene (a manifest feare confounding the tender sences in her motherly affection) answered very doubtfully:The queene sendeth the young king her sonne to Solyman in the campe attended with the nobility. but the bishop persuading her, and instantly requesting her not to giue the Turks occasion to suspect that she had them in distrust, by her little and vnprofitable delay, sent her young sonne in princely swathing clothes, in a rich chariot, with his nurse and certaine great ladies in the campe, attended vpon with almost all the nobilitie to whom Solyman H had sent presents. In his comming to the campe, he was for honours sake met vpon the way by certaine gallant troupes of the Turkes braue horsemen: and all the way as he passed in the campe, orderly stood the Ianizaries of Solymans guard. As soone as he was brought into the pauillion, Solyman courteously looked vpon him, and familiarly talked with the nurse, and commaunded his sonnes there present to take him in their armes,Solyman courteously receiueth the yong king. and to kisse him, in certaine token of the loue they would beare him, whom they were in time to haue their friend and tributarie, when he was growne to mans estate: these were Selymus and Baiazet, begotten of his faire concubine Roxalana, bearing the names the one of his grandfather, the other of his great grandfather. As for Mustapha his eldest sonne by his Circassian wife, he then liued in MAGNESIA, a great way off: who though he was a prince of so great hope, as neuer any of the Turkish kings I had a sonne of greater, and was therefore exceedingly beloued of the men of warre; yet was he not so well liked of his father, brought out of fauour with him by Roxalana, as if he had traiterously gone about to take the empire from him, yet liuing, as did Selymus his grandfather from Baiazet: for which cause Solyman secretly purposed to take him away, as afterwards he did, and to appoint Selymus for his successor, as hereafter shall appeare.

Solyman craf [...]ly ta [...]eth the citie of Buda.But Solyman, at such time as the noblemen of HVNGARIE were dining merrily with the Bassaes, had commaunded certaine companies (to whom he had before giuen instructions what he would haue done) vnder the colour of seeing the citie, to take one of the gates called SABATINA, and the cheefe streets: which was done so quietly and cunningly, that a warie watchman standing there, and beholding the manner of the Turks comming and going too and fro, could K hardly haue perceiued how the gate was taken, vntill it was too late. For many of the Turkes walking faire and softly by great companies into the citie, as if it had beene but for pleasure, to haue seene it: and othersome to colour the matter, walking likewise backe againe, as if they had sufficiently viewed the citie; by that meanes they without any tumult or sturre quickly tooke the appointed gate, with the market place and cheefe streets of the citie. Which so finely done, the captaine of the Ianizaries caused proclamation to be made in all parts of the citie, That the citisens should without feare keepe themselues within their houses, and forthwith as they would haue their liues, libertie, and goods saued, to deliuer all their weapons: which they seeing no remedie, did: and hauing deliuered their armes, and taken the Turkes faith for their securitie, they receiued them into their houses, as their vnwelcome guests. But such was the quietnesse and modestie L of the Turks, by reason of the seueritie of their martiall discipline, that no citisen which tooke them into their houses, was by them wronged by word or deed. Solyman vnderstanding that the citie was thus quietly and without resistance taken, sent the child backe againe vnto the queene, although it was now almost night; but the cheefe noblemen he retained still with him: these was George the bishop and treasurer,Solyman detaineth the noblemen of Hungarie in his campe. Petrus Vi [...]che the yong kings nigh kinsman and one of his tutors, Valentinus Turaccus Generall of the queenes forces, Stephanus Verbetius chancellor, and Bacianus Vrbanus gouernour of the citie of BVDA. This sudden and vnexpected change exceedingly troubled all their minds, and so much the more, for that the great Bassaes with changed countenances began to picke quarrels with them, and as it were straightly and impudently to examine them, and to call them to account for all that they had done. The queene seeing the M citie so craftily surprised, and the nobilitie injuriously detained in the campe, troubled with feare and greefe, by humble letters requested Solyman not to forget the faith he had long before giuen vnto her, and euen of late confirmed by his embassadours; but mindfull both thereof and of his wonted clemencie, to send backe vnto her the noblemen, who for their fidelitie and valiant seruice [Page] A had well deserued both of him and her: this she did by Rustemes Bassa, whom she had loded with gifts, and amongst other things of great price had sent him a faire coronet of her owne of orient pearle, and a goodly jewell set with rich stone to send vnto his wife (Solymans daughter) for a present.

After that,The great Bassaes of diuers opinions for the disposing of the kingdome of Hungarie. Solyman consulted with his Bassaes foure dayes what order to take concerning the kingdome of HVNGARIE. In discourse whereof his great Bassaes were of diuers opinions, Mahometes aduised him to carrie away with him to CONSTANTINOPLE both the child and all the nobilitie, and to leaue such a gouernour in BVDA, as by his wise and moderat gouernment, rather than by rigour, might put the people out of feare of seruitude and bondage, by defending them from wrong, and yet by little & little lay vpon them the yoke of the Turkish gouernment. B But Rustemes Bassa (before corrupted, and a man in greater fauour than the rest, because he was Solymans sonne in law, and therefore farther from all suspition of flatterie) stood altogether vpon tearmes of honour, saying, That nothing could be more dishonorable vnto so great and mightie a monarch, who neuer had at any time with any spot or staine blemished the glorie of his name, than after victorie against all right and reason to breake his faith at once with a weake woman and sillie infant, whom he had before taken vpon him to protect and defend. On the other side, Mahometes gouernour of BELGRADE (an old mortall enemie of the Christians, of all the rest best acquainted with the state of HVNGARIE, and for his great experience and approued valour then extraordinarily admitted by Solyman into counsell amongst the great Bassaes) disliked of both the former opinions, as too full of lenitie: and being asked his owne, deliuered it in mischieuous C manner as followeth.

I know (said he) most mightie Solyman,

The Oration of Mahometes of Belgrade to Solyman, concerning the disposing of the kingdome of Hungarie.

that he which in consultation of matters of so great consequence is to deliuer his opinion last, shall if he discent from the rest, be subiect to enuie and reprehension. And therefore it cannot be, but that I being of a quite contrarie opinion to them that haue before spoken, my speech must also be vnto your eares both vnpleasant and tedious. But I refuse not to be counted by my selfe, yea and presumptuous, if you will so haue it, rather than a smoother vp of other mens sayings, as one of no iudgement; whilest I recount those things, which as the present case standeth, may wonderfully profit your designes & the imperiall state: for of right I may desire you to yeeld a little to my yeares, and (if I may by your good fauour so say) to that I haue alreadie done: when as I D now growne an old man in warres against these Hungarians, haue by experience learned those things of the state and strength of this kingdome, and the disposition of the people; which being here laid downe, may much auaile for your better determination of this so waightie a cause as amitteth no repentance, if you shall now be ouerseene therein. You haue now within the space of these twentie yeares come in armes your selfe in person fiue times into this countrey, when I as no obscure captaine or souldior, was in all those warres and battels euer present, of purpose as I suppose to reuenge your iniuries, to enlarge your empire▪ and in breefe to assure you of a good peace, which could neuer be but by force of armes and victorie. And therefore you valiantly woon BELGRADE, the infamous dwelling place and receptacle of most outrageous theeues and robbers, and in former time famous for the vnfortunat attempts of your auncestors: when as from thence the Hungarians in time of peace had at their pleasure, E whilest your father was then occupied in the Persian warre, spoiled the borders of SERVIA and ILLYRIA ▪ The same Hungarians about fiue yeares after, for that they had in cruell manner slaine your embassadours, you ouerthrew in battell, and slew their king: and possessed of BVDA, to manifest and make knowne by a notable demonstration the magnificence of your heroicall mind, euen vnto the remotest enemies of our name, did chuse out of the reliques of that vanquished nation, one whom you might grace with the honour of the regall crowne; although not borne of royall bloud, or vnto you knowne for any other desert, than that he was a little before both your priuat and publike enemie, and comming against you with a strong power out of TRANSILVANIA, he had in the meane time lost his brother, a better man than himselfe, slaine with our sword. After that, rise vp the Austrian king, a new enemie, to expulse this Hungarian, raigning by your courtesie, & so you tooke in hand the third F warre against the Germanes, which you so effectually prosecuted, that hauing forthwith restored the king, you carried the terror of your selfe not onely to the wals of VIENNA, but into the very heart of GERMANIE. But two yeares yet scarcely past, the same king (neuer long contented with peace or warres) supported by the power of his brother Charles, and in vaine besieging BVDA, defended by your garrisons, stirred you vp againe to reuenge the iniurie, slaughter, and spoile by his souldiours [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] done: for that you thought it to stand with your honour to protect him with your power, whom you had G of your rare bountie made a king, and then desired aboue all things to fight a noble battell with the two brethren for the empire of the West. But they at such time as you with fire and sword ran thorow their auntient kingdomes, endured not the noise of your comming. After that ensued a peace between the Hungarian and the Germane, your Maiestie permitting and approouing it, at such time as you made hast to goe against the Persians: but the Germane king so broke that peace, that had not I in good time reuenged his trecherie by the ouerthrow of a great armie of his at EZEK, you must of necessitie haue beene sent for from BABILON your selfe, as but now you were glad to come in hast by long and painfull iournies from CONSTANTINOPLE, to aid vs in time, and as I verely hope, to make an end for all; that all things set in firme order in HVNGARIE, the inconueniences of so many labours and so great charge, fiue times vndertaken for another mans profit, might now at length take end: except H (as I see some wish) you be in mind neuer to giue ouer the protection of the child & widdow, a matter full of infinit labor & perill, not to be counteruailed with that glorious shew of honor, which by these (in my opinion) too too wisemen is pretended to your haughtie mind, euer desirous of honor and fame. But I as a blunt man vnderstand not this high point of wisedome, abounding with glorie, which in the very course thereof cutteth in sunder the sinewes of victorie, and is neuer by polliticke Generals admitted into their campes. In which doing, as I wish you more fortunat than your auncestours, who haue vnited eighteene kingdomes to this your empire, so would I not haue you more wise than they: for what can be a more vnwise part, than alwayes to play the vnwise man? that is to say, alwayes to be carefull of other mens affaires, and in meane time oftentimes to endanger his owne estate, his health, his wealth, his honour. You haue satisfied (and that in my opinion) plentifully the duties both of charitie,I fidelitie, and if it must needs be so, of honour and glorie also; if it be to be gotten rather by courtesie, clemencie, and lenitie, than by the inuincible strength of wise policie, and the constant resolution of a martiall mind: for by these instruments, and none other, hath worthie vertue alwayes promoted and supported the Othoman kings. Wherefore let those vaine showes (as seemeth vnto me) of counterfeit honour delight the minds of idle and slouthfull kings: assuredly, they neuer pleased your armed auncestors, but after the enemie was quite ouerthrowne, the triumph made, and the trophees of victorie erected. But let this be as best pleaseth your high wisedome and iudgement, whereunto the greatest wits giue place. Truly I (if I well foresee the chances of war, and the assured euents of things) will not follow that manner of counsell which the pleasure of my mind persuadeth me vnto; when as necessitie, which ruleth all things, presently forceth me and sheweth me a farre better K course. The Hungarians aboue all other things notably warne vs not to trust them, who infamous for their vnconstancie, often reuolt, and trecherie, are still at variance amongst themselues; and their banished men are continually setting on the Germanes to inuade the countrey; and the weake power of the queene and the child is not such as may withstand so neere and so mightie an enemie: so that another mans kingdome must of necessitie be defended by our helpe, which may not be lesse than a strong armie, without our great perill. To be breefe, euery yeere to take in hand so long an expedition of so great labour and trauell, with an armie furnished with horsemen, footmen, artillerie, and a fleet of ships for defence of another man, as commonly we doe, seemeth to me meere madnesse: Neither doe I thinke it to stand with the maiestie of the Othoman emperours, thus to be mooued euery yeare at the request of a puling woman, crying for helpe: except you thinke it more profitable and honourable L to maintaine a defensiue than an inuasiue warre.

Mischi [...]uous counsell.

Wherefore (in my opinion) it is best to turne this kingdome (so often conquered and defended by law of Armes) after the manner of your auncestors, into the forme of a Prouince: the queene I would haue sent to her father, and the boy her sonne brought vp in your Court at CONSTANTINOPLE, and there instructed in our religion: the nobilitie of the countrey I wish to be slaine, and their castles rased, and the notable families which bare the brauest minds, to be carried away out of all parts of the countrey into ASIA: as for the base multitude, I would haue kept vnder with good garrisons, to till the ground, and inhabit the cities. By this onely meanes (mightie Solyman) shall both the Hungarians perceiue themselues conquered, and the Germanes glad to forbeare comming into HVNGARIE, vnlesse they will rashly and vnfortunately hazard both STYRIA and AVSTRIA. M

Solyman entreth Buda the 30 of August 1541, and there first sacrificeth after the Mahometane manner.But Solyman thinking it good to doe sacrifice before he would resolutely determine of so great a matter, entred into BVDA with his two sons, Selymus and Baiazet, the thirtith day of August in the yeare 1541: and there in the Cathedrall church dedicated to the virgin Marie (being [Page] A before by his priests purified after the manner of their superstition) sacrificed the first Mahometane sacrifice in BVDA. Shortly after, he as it were moderating the opinions of his great counsellors, prouided out of them all, both for his owne securitie and honour, and published a decree the fatall doome of that flourishing kingdome,The doome of Hungarie. where vnder it yet groneth at this day; That BVDA should from that day be kept with a garrison of Turks, and the kingdome conuerted into a prouince of the Turkish empire; and that the queene with her young sonne should presently depart the citie, and liue in LIPPA in a fertile and quiet countrey beyond the riuer of Tibiseus, which something to comfort her, was neere vnto the borders of her father Sigismund his kingdome, to be safely conducted thither with all hir wealth and jewels by his Ianizaries. Wherefore the queene and her sonne according to this decree,The queene departeth out of Buda with he [...] sonne. with teares and mourning; detesting in B her heart the tyrants perfidious dealing (which necessitie enforced her then to dissemble) departed from BVDA, constrained by the Turkes to leaue behind her all the ordinance in the castle and citie, with all other the warlike prouision & store of victuall. The noblemen went with her also, who although they went sorrowfull for this wofull and vnexpected change of things, yet were they verie glad of their libertie and safetie, whereof they had for the space of three daies despaired. Only Valentinus was kept in safe custodie in the campe, because he was a martiall man, of greatest power amongst the Hungarians; and besides that, much hated of the Turkes for the hard pursuit of Cason, and his horsemen, slaine at STORAMBERG in AVSTRIA. Thus the roiall citie of BVDA fell into the possession of the Turkes, whereupon not long after ensued the finall ruine of that great kingdome, sometime the strong bulwarke of Christendome, but lost to the C great weakning of the Christian common-weale; which may justly be imputed to the pride, ambition, and discention of the Hungarians amongst themselues, and the calling in of the common enemie: the due consideration of whose onely comming, might well haue sufficed to haue set them agreed.

Whilest these things were doing at BVDA, king Ferdinand expecting the euent of this war at VIENNA, and hearing of the shamefull ouerthrow of his armie, and that the Generall deadly wounded was fled to COMARA, and that Solyman (fame encreasing the euill newes) was comming towards VIENNA; sent Leonardus Velsius (who neuer liked of the siege of BVDA) to COMARA to stay the further flight of the souldiors, and to gather togither so well as hee could the dispersed reliques of the scattered armie, and to comfort againe the discouraged men with the D hope of new supplies,King Ferdinand sendeth embassadours and presents to Solyman. & of a pay. And somewhat to stay Solyman, who as it was thought would suddenly come to VIENNA, he sent countie Salma and Sigismund Lithestaine, a noble and graue counsellor, his embassadours, with presents and new conditions of peace to Solyman. The presents was a high standing cup of gold after the German fashion, curiously set with rich stones; and a wonderfull globe of siluer of most rare and curious deuise, daily expressing the hourely passing of the time, the motions of the planets, the change and full of the moone, the motion of the superiour orbes, euer mouing by certaine wheeles and waights curiously conuaied within the same, and exactly keeping due time and motion; liuely expressing the wonderfull motions and conuersions of the celestiall frame. A most curious and strange piece of worke, deuised and perfected by the most cunning Astronomers for Maximilian the emperour, whose noble mind neuer E spared for any cost to obtaine things of rare and strange deuise. These embassadours passing downe the riuer of Danubius, were at their landing, first receiued by Cason the Admirall of Solymans fleet, and by him brought into a rich tent, the ground vnder their feet being all couered with rich carpets: to whom Rustan Bassa sent such good cheere as the campe affoorded, but especially most excellent wine, no lesse forbidden the Turks by their law, than desired of the Germans. The next day after, the great Bassaes feasted the embassadours, Solyman himselfe dining not farre off in his pauilion: at which feast the Bassaes for the more courtesie, dined with the embassadors, not sitting with their legs gathered vnder them flat vpon the ground, as their manner was, but sitting in chaires at a high table, after the manner of the Christians: only Mahometes Gouernour of BELGRADE, for his age and valour an extraordinarie guest, sat downe vpon F a cushion beneath the Bassaes.The frugall cheere of the Turkes. Their cheere was onely rice and mutton, and that so plainely and sparingly dressed, as if they had thereby noted our gourmandise and excesse; who measure not our cheere by that which nature requireth, but that which greedie appetite desireth, as if therein consisted the greatest nobilitie: And the drinke for the great Bassaes themselues, right easie to be had, was faire water out of the riuer Danubius. After dinner the embassadours were [Page] brought in vnto Solyman, each of them lead betwixt two Bassaes holding them fast by the armes,G as if it had been for honour sake, and so brought to kisse his hand. For the Turks suffer no stranger otherwise to come vnto the presence of their superstitious emperour, but first they search him that he haue no weapon about him, and so clasping him by the armes vnder the colour of doing him honour, dissemblingly bereaue him of the vse of his hands, least he should offer him any violence: yet hath he alwaies as he sitteth in his throane lying at hand readie by him; a targuet, a scimiter, an yron mase, with bow and arrowes. The great globe was also brought in by twelue of the embassadours seruants, which with the strangenesse thereof filled the mind of Solyman, and the eyes of his Bassaes with admiration: for Solyman was of so sharpe a wit; that he was not learned onely in such books as contained the lawes and rites of the Mahometane superstition, but had also curiously studied Astronomie, and especially Cosmographie; in which H profitable and pleasant studies, he much recreated himselfe as his leisure serued. The embassadours desired,The request of the embassadors in the behalfe of king Ferdinand. that he would giue the kingdome of HVNGARIE to king Ferdinand, almost vpon the same conditions that Lascus had before required it for him at CONSTANTINOPLE, paying him such yearly tribute as king Iohn had vsually paid, and promising farther to draw Charles the emperour his brother into the same league; so that Solyman deliuered of all feare that way, might at his pleasure turne his forces vpon the Persian, which it was thought he most desired▪ Besides that, they said he should deale neither honorably nor indifferently, if he should preferre the young child before king Ferdinand, who beside his auntient right vnto that kingdome (which they were not now to vrge, as oppressed by his happie victories, but might in time be reuiued) had also a late interest by a league betwixt him and king Iohn, wherein he had expressely couenanted I by the solemne consent of the greatest part of his nobilitie, that king Ferdinand should succeed him in the kingdome. Whereby they excused him of the late warre, as justly taken in hand against the queene and her sonne vsurping vpon his right; which king Iohn knowing to be good, and mooued with conscience, had by his solemne act acknowledged, though to the great offence and prejudice of Solyman his setter vp and defender, as also to the touching of himselfe in honour, to haue so vnthankfully and fraudulently dealt with his patrone, to whom hee was by the oath of obedience bound. Wherefore they requested, That sith he being a prince of all others most mightie and magnificent, standing vpon his vpright dealing both in peace and warre, had so lightly regarded the slie dealing of so ingratefull a man: he would rather accept of king Ferdinand so many waies injured, as his friend and tributarie, than to haue him his perpetuall K enemie. Concluding, that nothing could be vnto him for the good report of his justice more commendable, or for the assurance of a perpetuall peace more profitable, or to the immortall praise of his bountie more honourable, than to call a king of a most auntient dissent, famous for his vertue and fidelitie, chosen for a king by the Bohemians, desired for a king by the Hungarians, emperour elect of the Roman empire by the Germans, and the naturall brother of the great emperour,Solymans proud answere to king Ferdinands embassadours. his tributarie king of HVNGARIE. Solyman with cheerefull countenance accepting and commending of the presents, answered them two daies after by Rustan the Bassa his sonne in law, that this was his resolute condition of peace and friendship: If king Ferdinand would forthwith restore all the cities towns & castles which were before belonging to K. Lewes, and for euer after abstaine from HVNGARIE: and whereas he had beene so often prouoked by L him to warre, and had therein bestowed so great charges, and taken so much trauell, he could for that be content with an easie paine (which should be for his greater honour) to impose an easie tribute vpon AVSTRIA: vpon which conditions he was content to enter into league with them: but if so be that those conditions seemed vnto them too heauie, and that they would rather make choise of warre than peace, hee would bring to passe by continuall warre, that such things as they had taken from the kingdome of HVNGARIE, should be requited with the destruction of AVSTRIA. But the embassadours, although they were much moued at the proud demaund of tribute for AVSTRIA, as that wherein the two brethren of mightie power, Charles the emperour and king Ferdinand were disdainfully abused: to keepe the best course of their negotiation, and to win some time in so hard estate of things; required a truce, vntill such time as M king Ferdinand and the emperor his brother might be made acquainted with the matter. Which their request (the Turke perceiuing their drift and purpose) would in no case grant, for Winter was now fast comming on. It was lawfull for the embassadours, all the time they were in the Turks campe, to view euerie part thereof, Rustan Bassa conducting them from place to place: [Page] A where aboue all things,The Turkes campe well ordered. they most wondred at the perpetuall and dumbe silence of so great a multitude, the souldiors being so readie and attentiue, that they were no otherwise commanded but by the beckning of the hand, or a nod of their commaunders: They maruelled also at the exquisite order and sweetnesse of the Turkes campe, finding therein nothing disordered or noisome; so that it seemed not the campe of such a rude and barbarous nation, but rather of them which were the authors of martiall discipline. The embassadours being rewarded and so sent away, Solyman commaunded the old Gouernour of BELGRADE to spoile the borders of AVSTRIA all alongst Danubius: Cason also Generall of the voluntarie horsemen, he sent into MORAVIA for like purpose; who neither of them did any great harme, by reason of the sudden rising of the great riuers, with the aboundance of raine then falling in Autumne. After that, Solyman appointed B one Solyman an Hungarian (who taken prisoner in his youth by the Turkes, had from that time followed the Mahometane superstition) gouernour of BVDA: who by the vpright administration of justice, and courteous vsing of the people, with Verbetius the old chancellor▪ should doe what was possible to put the people in hope of long peace and tranquilitie▪ Solyman returneth towards Constantinople. Which things done, after he had staied about twentie daies at BVDA, hee determined to returne againe into THRACIA, because the raine of Autumne, and the cold of Winter was now come in: and was also in doubt to be shut in with the rising of the great riuers, wherwith the countrey of HVNGARIE is in euerie place so watered, and on euerie side so compassed, that it is a hard matter to passe.Lascus set at libertie by Solyman, shortly after d [...]th. By the way he set Lascus king Ferdinands embassadour againe at libertie, whom he had left in prison at BELGRADE: but he long enjoyed not that benefit, for shortly after returning into C POLONIA, he died of the flix; which caused many to suppose, that he was poisoned by the Turkes. A man for his vertue and learning famous, worthie of a longer life, whose death the king himselfe much lamented.

As Solyman was returning into THRACIA, and was come to the riuer Dranus, it was told him, that Stephen Maylat Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA, who tooke king Ferdinand his part, a professed enemie of the Turks, was taken, by the cunning of Peter of MOLDAVIA, and prince of VALACHIA; and that all the country of TRANSILVANIA was well pacified and yeelded to his obedience. Of which newes Solyman was passing glad, for he exceedingly hated Maylat: a martiall man of a froward nature, desirous of rule, and readie vpon any occasion to reuolt; forasmuch as he remembred Grittus his legat, and the Turks by him slaine; and knew also, that the Transiluanians, D an inuincible people, borne to trouble, and more delighting in vncertaine warre than assured peace, was by him stirred vp; whom he wished rather by gentlenesse to appease, than by force of armes and strong hand to subdue▪ But because we haue oftentimes before made mention of this Maylat, of whose taking Solyman so much rejoyced, it shall not be amisse in few words to declare by what finenesse he fell into the hands of this treacherous and bloudie man, Peter of MOLDAVIA.

This Moldauian by the commaundement of Solyman (as is aforesaid) had joyned his forces with Achomates Gouernour of NICOPOLIS, against Maylat; which being vnited, were in number fiftie thousand horsemen, beside footmen, which after the manner of those countries were not many, euerie man almost in the countrey be he neuer so poore, keeping a horse to E serue vpon.Maylat the Vayuod not able to keepe the field against Achomates, & the prince of Moldauia, flieth to Fogaras. Maylat beset with the multitude of his enemies, and finding himselfe too weake to encounter them, despairing also of aid from king Ferdinand, whom he knew to be busied in a greater warre; forsooke the field, and fled againe into the strong towne of FOGARAS, as he had done the yeare before, when he was ouercharged by king Iohn his power: for there as in a most strong place both by nature and fortification, he had laid vp his greatest substance and prouision for the wars, but especially the rich spoile he had long before taken from Grittus. Achomates comming th [...]her with his power, and perceiuing the place was not to be battered or taken by force, but with much labour and long time: thought it best, to assay if he could ouercome him by craft and deceit. Wherefore he sent a messenger vnto Maylat, to persuade him to yeeld himselfe vnto Solyman, and to make choise rather to be called of him his friend, than to be judged F his enemie; of whom he might well hope of all goodnesse, which had giuen whole kingdomes vnto his enemies: promising, that he would vse the vttermost of his credit, which was not small, and labour for him as his friend, that he might feele the fruit of his clemencie and bountie▪ and still enjoy the gouernment of TRANSILVANIA, paying him some small yearely tribute, as he had before requested: for as much as he could take no course better, being beset with so many [Page] enemies, than to make his peace vpon reasonable conditions, and that with as much speed as G were possible: in which doing, besides that he should well prouide for his owne safetie, he should also saue both his wealth and honour; for Solyman was comming (as he said) with his victorious armie, who would with assured death reuenge his vaine hope of holding out the siege, if he should vpon a stubborne and obstinate mind then refuse to obay his commaund. Whereunto Maylat, who foresaw that it was better for him to make a certaine peace, than to endure an vncertaine warre, answered, That he could be content to conclude a peace, so that it were not vpon any hard conditions; and would not greatly refuse Solymans commaund, which was wont to be both reasonable and just: wherefore vpon sufficient pledges he would come into the campe, in presence to agree vpon the conditions of the peace, and demaunded to haue Achomates his sonne, a valiant young gentleman, deliuered in hostage. Which thing Achomates denied, for H that he had (as he said) before giuen him to Solyman, as the manner was, and therefore had ouer him no more power: but he promised for him, that was but one, to giue foure of his best captaines. Which offer Maylat (misdoubting no deceit) accepted,Mailat commeth into the Turkes campe. and with a great and gallant retinue attended vpon, came into the enemies campe, where he was courteously and honourably receiued. But the parley, as it could not be conueniently begun immediatly after their first salutation, so could it by no meanes be then ended, but was deferred vntill the next day: to the intent, that the treacherous Moldauian might take his well acquainted and well knowne guest, whom he had against that time inuited to a solemne banquet. By that meanes, the next day about the middest of dinner, fortune so fauouring the intended treacherie, Maylat who was of so proud and cholericke a nature that he could not well brooke the least indignitie, was by occasion I of some insolent speech of purpose ministred by the Moldauian guests, put into such a fret, that laying his hand vpon his sword, he in a rage flung from the table: at which time all the other guests starting vp also, laid hands vpon him and tooke him, fuming, and in vaine crying out, that he was shamefully betraied.Maylat treache [...]ousl [...] taken prisoner by the Moldauian. His followers were all forthwith stript of all their brauerie by the needie Moldauians, and their horses and armour taken from them. Whilest Maylat was yet furiously exclaiming of this treason, in came Achomates, who to seeme guiltlesse of the matter, with deepe dissimulation sharpely reproued the false Moldauian, that he had in doing so foule a fact shamefully violated the lawes of hospitalitie, reuerenced of all nations, falsified the faith which he had giuen him for his safetie, and betraied the liues of such notable captaines as lay in hostage for him. Whereunto the Moldauian (as if it had been in contempt) scornfully K answered, That he had vpon good cause taken Maylat prisoner, and so would in safetie keepe him for Solyman, vnto whom it onely belonged to judge, whether he had justly or vnjustly detained him.

Not long after, the strong towne of FOGARIS was deliuered, with the hostages; but whether by feare or by corruption of Maylats lieutenant, is vncertaine. So Valentinus Turaccus, and Maylat, two of the greatest noble men of HVNGARIE, sufficient of themselues to haue restored the Hungarian kingdome (first rent in sunder with ciuile discord, and afterward with the inuasion of the Turkes) fell into the hands of the enemie, not vanquished in battell, but deceiued by treason. The towne being thus surrendred,Transiluania giuen by Solyman to the young king. almost all the countrey of TRANSILVANIA, was by Solymans consent deliuered to the young king, vnto whom all the people most willingly submitted L themselues, and tooke the oath of obedience, remembring that his father had almost for thirtie yeares space with great justice and quietnesse gouerned that prouince; and with manie presents honoured the young king lying in LIPPA, with the queene his mother, and his two tutors, the bishop, and Vicche.

At the same time, Charles the emperour at the importunat sute of his subjects of SPAINE, had prepared a great force both by sea and land for the conquering of ALGIERS: from whence the Turkish pirats did so infest all that coast of the countrey, from GADES to the mountaines PYRENEI, that the Spaniards (all trade of merchandise being set apart) were glad to keepe continuall watch and ward all alongst that coast for defence of the countrey. Wherefore although he well knew of the comming of the Turks to BVDA,Charles the emperour returneth out of Germanie to inuade Algiers. and how hardly he was by the Lantgraue M and others spoken of, for leauing his brother so hardly bestead, to go against a sort of pirats in AFFRICKE; yet persisting in his former determination, he departed out of GERMANIE into ITALIE, where by the way hee was met by Octauius Farnesius his sonne in law, Alphonsus Vastius his lieutenant, by the Venetian embassadours, neere to VERONA, and so brought to [Page] A MILLAINE, where he was with great solemnitie joyfully receiued of the citisens, and vnder a canopie of gold brought vnto the pallace: he himselfe going in a plaine blacke cloake, and a homely cap in mourning wise; when as the women and vulgar people, vpon a curious simplicitie, expected to haue seene so great an emperour in his royall robes, glistering with gold and pretious stone, and the imperiall crowne vpon his head. His heauie countenance answerable also to his attire was much noted, as presaging the wofull ouerthrow which was the day before r [...] receiued at BVDA, but not yet knowne in ITALIE. From MILLAINE he departed to GENVA, where he was aduertised by letters from his brother king Ferdinand, of the ouerthrow of the Germans, of the victorie of the Turkes, and the comming of Solyman. Vpon which newes, Vastius and Auria, his two chiefe commaunders, the one at land, the other at sea, would haue persuaded B him to haue deferred his intended expedition for AFRICA vntill the next Spring: and with such power as he had alreadie raised in ITALIE, & brought with him out of GERMANIE, to stay still in ITALIE, so to make shew vnto the Turks as if he would haue returned and holpen his brother: and in the meane time to assure himselfe of his state in ITALIE against the French, who (as it was thought) would be readie to take all occasion of aduantage, if any mishap should befall him, either by the force of the enemie, or violence of tempest. But he constant in his former resolution, answered them as they sate in counsell, that they had persuaded him for great reasons to stay in ITALIE; but that he was for farre greater to passe into AFFRICKE: for if he should then stay in ITALIE, it would be thought, that he was for feare of the Turkes fled out of GERMANIE: which disgrace could no otherwise be preuented, but by the present prosecuting C of his former determination for ALGIERS, and satisfying the expectation of his subjects of SPAINE; and so by sea valiantly to proue their better fortune, which had of late not so euill fauoured them at land, in hope that ALGIERS might be woon before the seas should grow rough and dangerous with Winter tempests: which if it should fall out according to his mind, hee would not, as he said, greatly care what the French could doe. Yet was it thought, that the dissembling friendship betwixt the French king and him, would not long endure: and the rather, for that there was a new grudge risen betwixt them about the death of Antonius Rinco, who for certaine yeares had lien embassadour for the French king at CONSTANTINOPLE to Solyman, and was a few moneths before sent backe againe by him into FRANCE to the king: but returning back againe with new instructions from his master, for the confirmation of a further league D betwixt the Turkish Sultan and him,The French kings embassador slaine by the [...]mperial [...]. he was by certain Spaniards of the emperors old souldiors, who had knowledge of his comming, belaid vpon the riuer Padus as he was going down to VENICE, so to haue passed into EPYRVS, and slaine, togither with Caesar Fregosius: or as the common report went, first taken and tortured, to get from him the secrets of his negotiation, and afterwards slaine. Which report so much touched Vastius in credit, that in purgation of himselfe, he offered the combat to any man of like qualitie to himselfe, that durst charge him with the truth thereof. But many were of opinion, that he was well and worthely taken away, for vndertaking so odious a charge, as to stirre vp the Turkes against the Christians, and to shew vnto them such opportunities as might best serue their purpose, by discouering vnto them the emperours desseigns, to the great hurt of the Christian commonweale. But were it well, or were E it euill;The emperour and the bishop of Rome meet a [...] Luca. as Paulus the third of that name then bishop of ROME, meeting the emperour at LVCA as he came from GENVA, could not, or would not determine; sure it serued as no small occasion to set those two great princes againe at ods, whereby the wished vnitie of the Christian state was sore shaken, and a way opened for the Turke. The emperour at his comming to LVCA, was honourably receiued by the cardinals and bishops, and lodged in the court: the great bishop was before placed in the bishops pallace, whither the emperour came thrise to talke with him, and the bishop to him once. But the bishop hauing nothing at all preuailed with the emperour and the French embassadour, for the appeasing of the troubles euen then like to arise betwixt him and the French king: did what he might to persuade him to employ such forces as he was about to passe ouer with into AFFRICKE, against the Turkes in defence of his brother F Ferdinand, and of the countrey of AVSTRIA, if Solyman should happely pursue his late obtained victorie at BVDA. But hee still resolute in that fatall determination of inuading of AFFRICKE, rejected that the bishops request also. So the great bishop hauing mooued much, and preuailed little, in the greatest matters which most concerned the common good, taking his leaue of the emperour, returned by easie journies to ROME.

[Page]The emperor in the meane time with certain bands of Italians, vnder the leading of Camillus G Columna and Augustinus Spinula, and six thousand Germanes, came from LVCA to the po [...]t LVNE, and there embarking his souldiours in certaine marchant ships prouided for the purpose, and fiue and thirtie gallies, departed thence, commaunding the masters of the ships to direct their course to the islands of BALEARES: but after they had put to sea, they were by force of tempest suddenly arising, brought within sight of CORSICA: where after they had beene tossed too and fro two dayes in the rough seas, and put out of their course, the wind something falling, they put into the hauen of SYRACVSA, now called BONIFACIVM. The dispersed fleet once come together into the port of SYRACVSA, and the rage of the sea well appeased, he put to sea againe for the islands BALEARES, now called MAIORCA and MINORCA: where in his course he met with a tempest from the West,The emperour driuen by tempest into Sicilia. more terrible and dreadfull than the first: wherein diuers of the H gallies hauing lost their mastes and sailes, were glad with extreame labour and perill in striuing against the wrought sea to get into a harbor of the lesser island, taking name of Barchinus Mago the famous Carthaginensian, whose name it retaineth vntill this day. From hence the emperour with all his fleet passed ouer to the greater island, being wonderfull glad that Ferdinand Gonzaga his viceroy in SICILIA was in good time come with the Sicilian gallies and ships of ITALIE, in number a hundred and fiftie saile, wherein he had brought such store of bisket and victuall, as might haue sufficed for a long warre. Mendoza was also expected to haue come thither with his fleet from SPAINE, but he by reason of contrarie winds being not able to hold that course, altered his purpose according to the tempest, and so happily cut ouer directly to ALGIERS. So the emperour nothing misdoubting the carefull diligence of Mendoza, and thinking I that which was indeed alreadie chanced, and the wind now seruing faire, by the persuasion of Auria his Admirall hoysed saile,The emperour comm [...]th to Algiers. and in two dayes came before ALGIERS, and there in goodly order came to anker before the citie in the sight of the enemie. Whilest the fleet thus lay, two of the pyrats which had beene abroad at sea seeking for prize, returning to ALGIERS, not knowing any thing of the fleet, fell into the bay amongst them before they were aware: the bigger whereof Viscontes Cicada stemmed with his gallie and sunke him, the other with wonderfull celeritie got into the hauen. In the meane time Mendoza with his gallies had passed the promontorie of Apollo, now called the cape of CASSINEVS, and in token of honour saluting the emperour after the manner at sea, with all his great Ordinance, gaue him knowledge that the Spanish fleet was not farre behind.The emperours fleet out of Spain and the low countries. In this fleet was aboue a hundred tall ships of BISCAY and the K low countries, and of other smaller vessels a farre greater number. In these ships besides the footmen was embarked a great number of braue horsemen out of all parts of SPAINE: for many noble gentlemen had voluntarily of their own charge gallantly furnished themselues with braue armour and courageous horses, to serue their prince and countrey against the Infidels. Ouer these choice men commaunded Ferdinand of TOLEDO,The duke of Alba. duke of ALBA, for his approoued valour then accounted a famous captaine. These ships going altogether with sailes, were not yet able to double the cape, as did Mendoza with his gallies, for now it was a dead calme: howbeit the billow of the sea went yet high, by reason of the rage of the late tempest, and did so beat against the plaine shore, that it was not possible to land the souldiors, but that they must needs be washed vp to the middle: which thing the emperour thought it not good to put them vnto, and L so to oppose them seasicke and thorow wet against the sudden and desperat assaults of their fierce enemies. He also stayed for the comming of the Spanish ships for two causes: first, that he might with his vnited power more strongly assault the citie, and terrifie the enemie; then, to communicat the whole glorie of the action with the Spaniards, at whose request and forwardnesse and greatest charge he had vndertaken that warre.Delay in great actions hurtfull. Which fatall delay of two dayes, although it was grounded vpon good reason, did not onely disturbe an assured victorie, but to the notable hurt of the whole armie, opened a way to all the calamities which afterwards ensued.

The emperour sendeth a messenger to Asan aga gouernour of Algiers for Barbarussa.In the meane while the emperour sent a conuenient messenger to Asanagas, otherwise and more truly called Assan-Aga, or Assan the eunuch; who with a little flag of truce in his hand making signe of parley, and answered by the Moores with like, as their manners is, went on M shore, and was of them courteously receiued and brought to Assan. This Assan was an eunuch, borne in SARDINIA, brought vp from his youth in the Mahometane superstition by Barbarussa, a man both politicke and valiant, and by him left for the keeping of his kingdome of ALGIERS in his absence with Solyman. This messenger brought into his presence, required him [Page] A forthwith to deliuer the citie (first surprised by force and trecherie by Horruccius, and afterwards to the destruction of mankind, fortified by Hariadenus Barbarussa his brother) to Charles the mightie emperour, come in person himselfe to be reuenged on those horrible pyrats: which if he would doe, it should be lawfull for the Turks to depart whether they would, and for the naturall Moores to abide still, with their goods and religion wholly reserued vnto them vntouched, as in former time: and for himselfe, he should receiue of the emperour great rewards both in time of peace and warres, so that he would remember himselfe, that he was born in SARDINIA, and was once a Christian; and accept of the fairest occasion which could possibly be offered for him to returne againe to the worshipping of the true God, and to enjoy the fauour and bountie of the most mightie emperour, and withall to reuenge himselfe of the cruell tyrant Barbarussa, B for the vnnaturall villanie done vnto his person. But if he would needs dallie on the time, and make proofe of the strength of so great a preparation, he should vndoubtedly with the rest of his followers receiue the same reward of his obstinacie, which they had to the example of others receiued at TVNES.The scornefull answer of Assan the eunuch to the emperours messenger. Wherunto the vngratious eunuch answered, That he thought him altogether mad, that would follow his enemies counsell: and with a grinning countenance asked him, Vpon what hope the emperour trusted to be able to win the citie? the messenger pointing with his finger directly to the fleet, told him, That which you see, with his great artillerie, and valour of his souldiors, both horse and foot: Whereat the eunuch scornefully laughing, replied, And we with like force and valour will defend this citie, and make this place, alreadie famous for your ouerthrowes here twice, now the third time of all others most famous by the C emperours discomfiture. It is reported, that there was in ALGIERS an old witch, famous for her predictions, who had (as it was said) foretold the shipwrackes and miserie of Didaco Verra and Hugo Moncada to them of ALGIERS; and also prefixed a time when as the Christian emperour aduenturing to besiege that citie, should there receiue great losse both by sea and land: The fame of which blind prophecie seruing fitly to confirme the hope of good successe in the minds of the vulgar multitude, Assan so fed and augmented (although hee himselfe being a craftie wise fellow, beleeued no such vanitie) that he did therewith not only encourage his owne souldiors, but also strucke a terror into the minds of the weaker sort of his enemies, seeing themselues cast vpon so dangerous a coast vpon the approch of Winter. There was in garrison in the citie but eight hundred Turkes, and most of them horsemen, but such, as whose valour and resolution D farre exceeded their number. For Assan had lost many of his best men, some in fight against Mendoza; and othersome at sea, slaine or taken by Auria in CORSICA; and in other places by the Rhodian, Neapolitane, and Sicilian gallies; but many moe were by his leaue gone to aid the Moores against the Portingals: the other multitude did scarce make vp the number of fiue thousand; which were partly naturall Moores borne in that countrey, and partly such as were born in GRANADO; to whom was joyned many fugitiues out of the islands of MAIORCA and MINORCA, who in former time hauing entred into rebellion, and fearing condigne punishment, were fled to ALGIERS, and there reuolted to the Mahometane superstition. But the captaines of the wild Numidians made vp a great number both of horse and foot: which lying stragling without the citie in the open fields, should night and day vex and molest the Christians. E This brutish people, naturally enemies vnto the Christians, had Assan with rewards and hope of a rich spoile, allured out of the countries thereabout to aid him: neither was it lawfull for any man to carrie his wife or children out of the citie into places of more safetie farther off, or to shew any small token of feare, paine of death being by the imperious eunuch proposed to whosoeuer should but looke heauily for feare of danger, or speake a word sauouring of cowardise. The emperour by Auria making choise of a most conuenient place for landing his men,The emperour landeth his armie as Algiers. laid his gallies so close vnto his tall ships, that his armed souldiours might with ease come out of the high built ships into them, and so out of them into the long boats, to be forthwith set on shore. And such was the speedie diligence of them that had the charge of that matter, and the plentie of boats still readie to receiue the souldiours as fast as they could come out of the gallies, F that the footmen were in a very short time all landed. The emperour hauing a little rested and refreshed his souldiors, deuided his armie into three equall battels, which was in number about twentie thousand footmen, besides horsemen, and others who of their owne voluntarie will then followed the emperours fortune. Vnto euery battell he appointed three field pieces, to terrifie the Numidian horsemen, which were still pricking vp and downe about them, readie to charge, [Page] if they could take them at any aduantage. And so setting forward a few furlongs, encamped in G a strong and conuenient place, neere vnto the citie betweene two deepe ditches, which the water falling from the mountaines had naturally worne so deepe, that neither horseman no [...] footman could well passe ouer, but by bridge: and fast by vpon the left hand was a hill, from the top whereof it seemed the citie might with great ordinance well be battered.

The description of Algiers.The citie of ALGIERS, sometime the royall seat of the great king Iuba, called of the Romans IVLIA CaeSAREA, is in forme of a triangle, scituat fast by the sea towards the North, hauing a hauen, but neither great, neither safe from the North wind. The houses farther off from the sea, stand in seemly order vpon the rising of a steepe hill, as it were vpon degrees, in such sort, that the windowes of one row still ouerlooke the tops of the next beneath it, into the sea, most beautifull to behold. The emperour hauing deuided his campe into three parts, euerie nation by H themselues, lying on the East side of the towne, was in great hope to win it; and the rather, for that whilest he assaulted it on that side, his ships and gallies from the North side, might in time of the assault with their great ordinance beat the enemie all alongst the wall: which still rising higher and higher according to the rising of the steepe hill, could not conueniently be defended with one bulwarke, as we see it may in plaine ground. Neerest vnto the rising of the hils, lay the Spaniards; in the middest, the Germans with the emperour; and in the plaine neerest vnto the sea,The Numidians skirmish with the Spaniards. the Italians. In the meane time whilest the great ordinance was landing and the horses vnshipping, the Numidians with a hideous outcrie shewed themselues vpon the tops of the mountaines aboue the Spaniards, and from thence easily gauled them with their darts and shot: for they nimbly running too and fro in the knowne paths of the rough mountaines, would suddenly I and fiercely assaile them, but after the manner of their nation skirmishing a far off, rather than neere at hand. In which manner of light skirmishes, all that day was spent vntill night with small danger, but much trouble to the Spaniards. And when night was come, these wild people, one companie still succeeding another in the place they had before taken, neuer left shooting; for wheresoeuer they saw any fire in the Spanish campe, thither came arrowes, darts, and stones flying as thicke as haile: for remedie whereof, the Spaniards were glad to put out their fires,The Spaniards put the Numidians to flight, and game the hils. and with silence to expect the day, that they might come neerer vnto them. Wherefore as soone as the sunne was vp, the Spaniards by the persuasion of Aluares Sandes, master of the campe, valiantly climing vp the high mountaines, repulsed and put to flight the Numidians, and tooke the top of the hils, and there lay as it were incamped in the poore shepheards cottages.K But the same day such a multitude of the wild people was flockt about them, that they were compassed in round, and glad to fight on euerie side in a ring. Yet this fiercenesse of this barbarous people, was by the valour of the Sicilian companies quickly repressed, whose pikemen glistering in their bright armour, made small account of the Numidians arrowes and darts, but orderly stepping forwards with their pikes, and the harquebusiers close by their sides, easily repulsed their naked enemies.The description of the Numidian footmen and horsemen. The Numidian footmen are for most part youths halfe naked, with long haire not vnlike the Irish, vsing no other weapons but darts: they fight mingled with their horsemen, trusting the one to the other, and are of a wonderfull swiftnesse and agilitie of bodie. Their horsemen vse long speares, armed at both ends, which they with a maruellous dexteritie vse to the endangering of their enemie pursuing them: they vse also long and light targuets made L of leather, wherewith they so cunningly defend themselues and their horses, both in their charge and retrait, that for a small trifle, in respect of the danger, they will giue a man leaue to cast seauen darts at one of them, which they will all most surely auoid, either with their speare, or receiue them without harme in their targuet. In the mean time, whilest this wild people thus skirmished all the day, at night a sudden mischance ouerthrew all the emperors hope: for as he stood beholding the vnshipping of his great ordinance, his horses, victuall, and other necessaries of the armie, a storme of wind and raine began about six a clocke in the afternoone, holding on all the night without intermission,A maruellous tempest. with such rage, as if heauen and earth should haue gone togither: wherewith the whole armie at land was wonderfully troubled, and a great part of the fleet at sea by force of tempest driuen aground, perished. That night three companies of the Italians, by M the appointment of their Generall, lay without the trenches against the sudden assault of so vncertaine an enemie, who when they had all the night endured the vehement raine and extreame cold, were so ouercome with the extreamitie of the weather, that neither was their minds able to relieue their weake bodies, neither their feeble bodies their discouraged minds: for they could [Page] A neither conueniently stand nor lie downe, all the ground being so mirie, that at euerie step they sunke vp to the calfe of the legge. Vpon these staruen companies, the Turkish horsemen and Moores footmen, who diligently obserued the watch of the Christians, perceiuing their distresse, suddenly sallied out in the dawning of the day; and so fiercely charged them, their match land pouder being now so wet that they could not vse their pieces, that they all fled, except a few pikemen, who made a stand, and were all quickly slaine by the Turkes: who so desperatly pursued the rest in chase, that they followed them ouer the trench into the campe. This alarum being heard, Camillus Columna the Italian Generall came presently thither, being sent by the emperor, who with certaine companies issued out ouer the bridge against the enemy: who now in shew discouraged with the comming out of this new supply, did in deed, or at leastwise made as if they B did disorderly retire for feare. At which time Ferdinand Gonzaga, viceroy of SICILIA, a man of greatest account in the armie next vnto the emperour, comming in also, and angrie with them which had before fled; persuaded them as valiant men, to recompence their shamefull flight with a fresh charge, by driuing the enemie home to his owne doore: which thing Columna said could not be done without great perill: But Gonzaga being a man of noble courage, desired to haue the disgrace which the Italians had receiued, salued some way, although it were with neuer so great danger; thinking also that it might happely fall out, that the enemie being put to flight, and hastily pursued, they might togither with them enter the citie, without danger of the artillerie.The Moores [...] to flight by the Italians. So without farther delay, the rest of the Italian companies were fled forth of their trenches with great cheerefulnesse by Augustine Spinula, who so valiantly charged the enemies C that they put them to flight, and pursued them so hard, that they came with them to the verie gates of the citie: where many shut out for feare of letting in the Italians togither with them, escaped by knowne waies, some to another gate, and some into the mountaines. But then these barbarous people, with darts and shot from the wals, began to ouerwhelme the Italians which were vnaduisedly come within their danger, and with terrible outcries to terrifie them: and they which before were fled without the wals,The Italians di [...] com [...]ited by the Moores flie, and endanger the whole campe. returned againe to fight. They also which had shut the gate, sallied out againe, and hardly charged the Italians, who alreadie galled with shot from the wals, and rent in sunder with the great ordinance, fled most disorderly; for why, they were but raw souldiors taken vp in hast, little or nothing acquainted with the wars. At which time Asan also sallying out, who was easily knowne by his countenance and rich attire, pursued the chase D with his troups of Turks and Moores footmen. Only certaine knights of the RHODES fought valiantly, and retired orderly: and Spinula with some other gentlemen making a stand at a little woodden bridge, somewhat staied the enemie and saued the liues of many. So the Italians which first charged most valiantly, being in the flight become hindermost, the enemie striking them downe as they fled, couered the fields with their dead bodies by the space of halfe a mile, especially they which fled towards the sea: for there they were circumuented and slaine by the mercilesse Numidians, who beholding the shipwracke, were come downe to the sea side for prey. But the formost companies of the Italians which first fled into the campe, fled in so much hast and so great feare, that none of the leaders in so great and sudden a perplexitie, remembred either the common safetie, or performed the duetie of an aduised captaine; so that all s [...]med at E once lost, both by sea and land. Only the emperour, armed with an inuincible courage against all the chances of fortune, and not to be dismaied with any mishap, was both vnto himselfe and others that day the greatest captaine; for when as all was almost lost, he in good time staied the matter by comming on with the squadron of Germans, whereof he sent before three ensignes to stay the flight, and with them as a sure and fresh supply to guard his campe beyond the bridge which was ouer the ditch, seruing his armie for a trench as we haue before said. But such a feare had possessed the minds of the flying Italians, and such was the fierce pursuit of the enemie, that those Germans (not before woont to turne their backs) as if they had been afraid of the Turkes white caps, or not able to abide their sight, or to hold vp weapon against them; by and by turned their backs, and shamefully fled for companie with the Italians. Then the emperour galloping F forth with his horse,The notable courage of the emperour in slaying the [...]light of his armie. and his sword in his hand drawne, reprouing them of cowardise that fled, set forward with the German squadron, and with a stout and manly courage spake to them these few words in their owne language: When will you (fellow souldiors) shew your faces to your proud enemies; if now when you should fight for the honour of the Christian name, for the glorie of the German nation, for the safegard of your owne liues, in the presence of your emperour, you feare a [Page]few disordered and naked Barbarians? Immediatly when he had thus said, the Germans touched G with shame, and disdaining that it should be thought they needed any exhortation to performe the parts of valiant souldiors, issued out against the enemie: who moued with their comming▪ and seeing the Italian battell againe restored by the valour and trauell of certaine valiant and expert captaines, stood still a while, and began to retire; whether it were because they feared the great artillerie & assault of the Germans, or that they thought they had done enough for that sally: when as for the full accōplishment of the victorie they saw the Christian fleet ouercome with a most horrible tempest, miserably to perish before their faces; and many of their men, especially the Moores hasted to the sea side in hope of a more certaine prey, whereas was no enemie to be feared. For the blustring winds blowing from diuers quarters, as if they had conspired to raise a most horrible tempest,An horrible tempest. had made such a wrought sea, and the hugie billowes went so high, that H the ships by the violence of the weather, and rage of the sea, put from their anchors, fell foule one of another, and were so lost; or else driuen vpon the maine, were there beaten in pieces in the sight of the armie: so that all the sea coast Westward, from ALGIERS to CERCELLO, layfull of dead men and horses,The Christian fleet perisheth by shipwracke. and the ribs of broken ships. The Numidians beholding this miserable wracke, came downe by great companies from the mountaines, and without mercie slew all that came aliue to land. In the space of a few houres was lost about an hundred and fortie ships, and all the small boats and caruels, which were in number many. Some of the gallies, when they had from midnight to the next day at noone, by the painfull labour of the marriners and skilfulnesse of the masters, rid it out; being no longer able to endure the rage of the tempest, and fearing to be eaten vp with the sea, with sailes and oares ran a ground: but the souldiors and marriners I swimming to land in hope to saue their liues, and thinking that the greatest danger had been now past, were by the Numidian horsemen which ran vp and downe the sea side, slaine. There might a man haue seene free men of all sorts, with teares commending their liues and libertie to their owne gally-slaues; that by the speech and intreatie of them, which by the sudden change of fortune had but euen now shaken off their yrons, and with merrie hearts swam out to their libertie, they might be saued from the cruelly of the fierce Numidians.A hard choise. It was a most grieuous and wofull sight for diuers hard extremities; when as euerie man according to the disposition of his mind and skill in swimming, standing doubtfull in most assured death, which to receiue or refuse, was by fatall destinie drawne to his end, and either drowned in the sea, or thrust thorow with the enemies launce: yet most made choise to abide the danger of the sea, and to expect K the euent of the tempest, rather than to hasten their end by the enemies mercilesse hand. By that meanes it came to passe, that that barbarous crueltie of the enemie (as a thing most feared of the marriners and souldiors) saued many gallies, which by the appointment of the fearefull marriners and passengers should otherwise haue been run on ground. But after that, a notable gally wherein Iannettin Auria went, was seene to come neere vnto the shoare, and to be driuen vpon the sands by force of weather and the beating of other gallies.Many gallies lost by sauing of one man. The emperour not enduring to see so valiant a young gentleman, captaine of many gallies, slaine without helpe by the Moores in the sight of Auria his vncle; sent by and by one of his captaines called Antonius of ARAGON, with three bands of Italians to the sea side: by whose comming the Moores were put to flight, and he with the rest in the gally saued; but so, that the sauing of him was the losse of L diuers other gallies. For many deliuered of the feare of the Numidians, and trusting to the rescue of the souldiors come downe to the sea side, desiring to saue themselues from the rage of the sea, ran their gallies on ground; and had not some bold captaines (grieued to see so great a losse) run vp and downe the bankes with their drawne swords in their hands, and by threatning death vnto the gally-slaues and marriners, staied their rowing, most part of the gallies had by the example of the other perished. Auria, not so angrie at himselfe as at the emperour (who, contrarie to the obseruation of skilfull seamen, could not be dissuaded from taking in hand that great expedition in so suspitious a time of the yeare) with an inuincible courage striue against the violence of the tempest, and rage of the sea: insomuch, that being requested by some of his friends, to saue himselfe whatsoeuer became of the gally; he was so angrie thereat, that he commaunded M them to be bestowed vnder the hatches. Foure gallies also of Virginius Vrsinus, earle of ANGVILLARIA, and as many of the Rhodians, after his example rid it out, the reputation of their honour exceeding the feare of death. Certaine gallies also of SICILIA, NAPLES, and SPAIN, happily endured all the rage of the tempest: yet was there fifteene great gallies cast away; with [Page] A the losse whereof, besides the losse of so many ships, the tempest still enduring, so great sorrow and desperation in the wofull expectation of the wracke of all, possessed the whole armie, that not onely the young souldiors regarding onely their owne liues, but euen the most valiant captaines, carefull of the common estate, were vtterly discouraged: for neuer was armie in any memorie, ouerwhelmed with a greater concourse of calamities, when as all their victuals being lost in three daies, nothing was left to relieue them withall, and they wanted tents wherein to shroud and rest the souldiors spent with labour, hunger, cold, and wounds, in such perpetuall raine and so dutie a countrie.The miserie of the Christian armie. In which so great miseries, a wonderfull care heauier than the former fear exceedingly troubled the minds of all men, to thinke vpon that horrible wracke; when as hauing lost so many ships, & they poore men landed in AFFRICK, were in doubt how euer to return again into B their natiue countries. Yet the notable courage of the emperour still kept the distressed men in hope, which neuer altogether forsaketh wretched men in the midst of their calamities: for he with a courageous heart & cheerfull countenance performed all the parts of a prouident & courteous Generall.The chearefulnesse of the emperour comforteth the whole distressed armi [...]. For when he had againe made sure his campe against the assaults of the Barbarians, he commanded the wearied captains, especially the duke of ALBA (wonderfully wearied in the late skirmish) and dung wet, to spare themselues, and take their rest: he comforted the wounded men, and caused them to be carried and cherished in the tents which by chance yet stood (for the tempestuous wind had almost ouerthrowne them all) and so not sparing himselfe for any paines, being in his armour and thorow wet, woon the hearts of all his souldiors the more. In this conflict he lost about three thousand men, amongst whom was fiue of his forward captaines, and C three knights of the RHODES: but many moe were hurt. The greatest losse was thought to be in losse of the ships and of the marriners, which was also encreased by the losse of a wonderfull deale of great ordinance, reckoned so much the greater, for that it would come into the hands of the Moores, to the common harme of the Christians, so soone as the sea would giue them leaue to diue for it. Shortly after, Auria (as he was to foresee a tempest, a wonderfull obseruer of the sea, of the heauens, and of the clouds) mistrusting that place, departed with the remainder of the fleet to the cape called META [...]VSIVM; because it was a place of safer riding for his gallies, and better for the taking in of the souldiors: aduising the emperour to march thither by land. Which his counsell the emperour liking well of,Horses good mea [...] in the emperours armie. to relieue the hunger of his souldiors, commanded first all the draught horses which were first vnshipped for the drawing of the great Ordinance, and D after them the horses for seruice, to be killed, and deuided for meat amongst the souldiors: As for wood to make fire of, they had plentie of the plankes and ribs of the broken ships, fortune as it were with that one poore benefit recompensing so many calamities.The emperour departeth from Algiers. The next day the emperor departed from ALGIERS, with his armie deuided into three battels, the sicke and wounded men being receiued into the middle: and when he had marched seuen miles (the enemies horsemen still houering about him) he came to a headie brooke, which the Moores call ALCARAZ: which was growne so high with the abundant raine and the checke of the wind and of the sea, that being but a shallow thing before, it was not now to be passed ouer by a good horseman. Wherefore the emperour of necessitie there encamped, in such sort, that lying with his armie in forme of a triangle, two sides of his armie was defended with the sea and the brooke, and the other with E a strong guard of armed men, for he thought it not good to depart from the sea, a sure defence for his armie on the left hand, to seeke a fourd further of: many aduenturing to swim ouer, were by the violence of the streame carried away and drowned. Wherefore the emperour caused a bridge to be made ouer it, of the masts and saile yards of the broken ships, which were by chance there taken vp, and so passed ouer the Italians and Germanes. The Spaniards marching higher vp the brooke, found a fourd whereby they passed ouer. After which time the Turkes pursued them no further, being called backe againe by Assan their gouernour: as for the Moores and Numidians which still followed at hand, alwayes readie to skirmish, they were easily repulsed by the harquebusiers, and field pieces appointed to euery nation: but vpon such sicke and wounded men as were not able to keepe way with the armie, they exercised all manner of crueltie: for F there was none which in that small hope, possessed with feare of their owne safetie, was greatly moued with the compassion of their fellowes miserie. The next day passing ouer another little riuer, which the souldiors waded ouer vp to the breasts, they came in three dayes march to the rode where the fleet lay, and encamped in the ruines of the old citie TIPASA, neere vnto the sea side, which serued them in stead of a fortresse against the Barbarians. The sea was now calme, the [Page] wind laied,He embarketh his armie. and the weather so faire that all men thought the souldiours might now well be embarked G and transported into EVROPE; wherefore the emperour to the great joy of the whole armie commaunded euery man to make himselfe readie to goe abourd, in such sort, that first the Italians, next the Germanes, and last of all the Spaniards should be embarked: but so many ships and gallies as is before said, being lost by shipwracke, it was thought that those which were left were not able to receiue the whole armie, although it were crouded together as close as were possible. Wherefore the emperour commanded the masters and owners of the ships to cast all the horses ouerbourd into the sea, reputing it an vnmercifull part to preferre the safegard of those horses, although they were of great worth, before the life of the basest common souldiour or horseboy in his campe; which thing much grieued the minds of the noblemen and owners of those goodly beasts,Horses of great price drowned by the emperou [...] a commaund to in the roome for the common souldiors. not only for that they were (not without extreame necessitie) for the present H depriued of such an inestimable treasure, but should for euer, as they said, lose the most notable race of horses in SPAINE: there, with greefe and vaine compassion, was to be seene goodly horses of seruice, bearing high their proud heads, swimming all about the sea vnto the ships neerest vnto them for safegard, as if it had beene to the shore, and in the end wearied with long swimming to be there drowned. But scarce halfe the souldiors were yet embarked, when the East and Northeast wind, and straightwaies after, diuers contrarie winds almost as great as the first, rose: whereupon the ships which had alreadie taken in the souldiours, not expecting any commaund, for feare of being driuen vpon the rockes, directed their course according as the wind carried them with full sailes alongst the coast: They were quickly out of sight and dispersed with the tempest, some into one countrey, some into another, carrying the fame of that shipwrack, and the report I that all was lost, into all the Islands of the Mediteranean and ports of ITALIE. The force of this tempest was so great, and the billow went so high, that some of the ships were in the sight of their fellowes swallowed vp of the sea. But amongst the rest two Spanish ships full of souldiors were by wonderfull mishap by contrarie winds driuen againe to ALGIERS,Two Spanish ships f [...]ll of souldiors driuen by tem [...]st to Algiers. and there set fast vpon that fatall shore, where the Numidian horsemen with a multitude of Moores following them, came running downe to the sea side, to kill them as they should come to shore: for the barbarous people thirsting after Christian bloud, would not receiue them to mercie, although they were readie to yeeld themselues, and couenanted nothing but the safegard of their liues. At which their crueltie the Spaniards disdaining, with their weapons in their hands got to shore, and standing close together as desperat men, withstood them who had with their multitude quickly K compassed them in round: yet in despight of what that barbarous multitude (without regard of humanitie or law of armes) could doe, they made way thorow the midst of them, from the place where they were cast on shore, vnto the very gates of the citie. But seeing the Turkes sallie out, they called vnto them, offering to yeeld themselues prisoners to Assan, without further resistance, if they would assure them their liues, which they were in good hope of, for that he was borne of Christian parents in SARDINIA, and was attended vpon with many renegate Spaniards. So Assan comming forth of the citie,Assan taketh the Spaniards to mercie. gaue them his faith for their safetie, and beating away the Moores and Numidians, courteously saued them all, wisely making great account of so great a gaine as would redound vnto him by so many prisoners, joined with no small commendation of his clemencie in sauing them. Of the Germans the third part neuer returned home, but were L either lost with shipwracke, or els dead of the sicknesse ensuing so great miseries. The emperour persuaded (or rather ouerruled) by Auria to auoid the violence of the tempest, sailed alongst the coast of AFFRICKE Eastward to BVZIA, the castle whereof was kept with a small garrison of Spaniards: where the emperour landing, found some fresh victuall, though not much, yet such as did both him and the other noblemen no small pleasure.The emperour commeth to [...] zia. Whilest the emperour lay at BVZIA expecting fairer weather, a great ship of GENVA, laded with victuall, chanced to come into the bay, to the great rejoycing of the hungrie souldiours: but such was the violence of the tempest, that her ankers came home, and she driuen vpon the flats, was cast away; yet so, as that part of the victuall driuen to shore, and halfe spoiled with the salt water, well relieued the encreasing want. In the meane time the emperour when he had long looked for the assuaging of the tempest,M and was now out of hope of any new supplie of victuall, sent away Gonzaga with the Sicilian and Rhodian gallies: for the wind before at North was now come to Northwest, and put them in hope to aduenture againe to sea, rather than to stay there longer. So although with a troublesome yet a prosperous course they came in short time into the port of VTICA, now called [Page] A FAR [...]NAS: where Muleasses king of TVNES bountifully releeued Gonzaga and his fleet with all kind of victuall and other necessaries. From whence they afterward departed, and landed all in safetie at DREPANVM in SICILIA. The blustering winds were now at length wearie of blowing, and the raging sea became calme, so that the skilfull sea men for feare of new dangers, and wearie of those that were past, thought it best to aduenture againe to sea. Almost euery houre they were reasoning in counsell, What course they were for most safetie best to take: when some were of opinion, that it was best to beare for SARDINIA or CORSICA: and othersome would haue had them to haue kept alongst the coast of AFFRICA, and so directly for SICILIA. But the wind comming faire at East, the emperour directed his course to the islands BALEARES,The emperour arriueth in Spaine. and from thence at length arriued at the port of new CARTHAGE in B SPAINE, greatly commended euen of his enemies for his wonderfull courage and constancie in passing thorow so many extremities, in such sort, as if he had triūphed ouer the malice of fortune.

About this time the dissembled friendship betwixt Charles the emperour and Francis the French king brake out into open hatred.1542 The French king the m [...]re to trouble the emper [...]r▪ solliciteth Solyman to inuade his countries. The king first thinking himselfe deluded by the emperour, who had long time fed him with the vaine hope of the restitution of the dukedome of MILLAN, when as he meant nothing lesse; and of late abused by the death of Rinco his embassadour, slaine by the Spaniards in passing downe the riuer Padus, as is before declared. In reuenge whereof he raised a great power in FRANCE, and at such time as most men thought he would haue inuaded ITALIE, sent Charles his sonne with the one part of his forces into the low countries, which were then gouerned by Marie queene of HVNGARIE, the emperours sister; and C Henrie his other sonne with the other part of his forces to inuade SPAINE, both yong princes of great hope. And not so contented▪ but desirous by all meanes to trouble and molest the emperor, as he did in the low countries by setting on the duke of CLEVE: so by Antonius Polinus his embassadour, a man of great discretion, he earnestly sollicited Solyman the great Turke, with whom he was then in league, to spoile the borders of SPAINE with his gallies, at the same that Henrie his sonne was besieging PERPENNA in SPAINE. For which practise he was of most men discommended, as too much fauoring his owne greefe; and especially by such as affected the emperour. But how this matter, which drew vpon the French king no small enuie, was carried in the Turks co [...]rt, shall not (as I hope) be vnto this historie impertinent to declare.

After the death of Rinco slain by the Spaniards▪ Francis the French king sent Antonius Polinus, D a man of great dexteritie, his embassadour to Solyman: who passing by many by-wayes to VENICE, and so ouer the gulfe to SIBINICVM, crossing ouer ILLYRIA, met with Solyman in MISIA, as he was comming from BVDA: and there first offered vnto him the present sent from the king his master (for with emptie hands no man might presume to come to those barbarous kings of the East) which present was a cupbord of plate,Polinus the French embassadour meeteth Solyman cōming from Buda, and offreth vnto him presents from the French king. curiously wrought, in weight 600 pounds; and 300 rich garments of all sorts of silke and scarlet to be bestowed vpon the Bassaes and other great courtiers. Solyman after he had read the French kings letters, and heard what he had further to say, seemed to be greatly moued with the death of Rinco, and promised Polinus not to be wanting vnto the French king, by sea or land to giue him aid in his just warres against Charles his enemie, for breaking of the league: but for as much as nothing could be well determined of such matters E in his journey of so great hast, he told him, that as soon as he was come to CONSTANTINOPLE, he should then haue answer by his Bassaes of all his demaunds. The embassador aboue all things desired,The request of the French embassadour to Solyman. That he would send Hariadenus Barbarussa with his fleet against the next Summer into PROVINCE, there to be receiued into the French harbors, & to be emploied against the emperor as occasion should require: and further, That he would request the Venetians, with whom he was able to doe much, to joine in league with the king his master against Charles the emperor, whose power began now to be dreadfull to their estate. Polinus was not slacke in his businesse, but all the way as he went [...]ought to win the fauour of the Bassaes, still giuing them one present or other, & filling their minds with the hope of greater. But when they were come to CONSTANTINOPLE, in the latter end of December, Solyman promising what he had before said, aduised F Polinus to returne into FRANCE with his letters, & to bring him certaine word back againe from the king of the determinat time and full resolution of taking those wars in hand: & that he would in the mean [...] time send I [...]nusbeius his embassador to VENICE, who had been there diuers times before, & would prouide to haue such a fleet in readinesse, as he desired. Polinus exceeding glad of that answer, with wonderfull speed returned back again to the king, bringing with him as presents [Page] from Solyman two goodly Turkish horses,Polinus returneth into France. and a sword richly set with stones of great price. The G French king hauing by his embassadour receiued Solymans letters and presents, and three dayes together discoursed with him at large of the manner of his proceeding in the Turkes court, in short time after sent him backe againe to Solyman with full instructions both of the time and places, and other circumstances of the intended warre.Polinus sent backe againe to Solyman, cōmeth to Venice, and notably solliciteth the Venetians to take vp armes with the French king against the emperour. Polinus comming to VENICE, found not Iunusbeius there, as he had well hoped: yet to lose no time in expecting his comming, he with Pellicerius embassadour Legier for the French king, and other of the French faction, laboured the Senatours in the behalfe of the king. For it was thought likely ynough, that the Venetians still measuring all their counsels by their profit, would easily consent to that league, especially being requested thereunto by Solyman, and put in hope to haue the port towne MARANVS deliuered vnto them in reward thereof; which otherwise the French, in whose possession it was,H threatened to deliuer to the Turkes, and to make them their euill neighbours, rather than to haue it taken from them by the Germanes. Wherefore Polinus hauing audience giuen him in the Senat, notably pleaded the French kings cause, grieuously lamented the death of the embassadour slaine by the Spaniards, and bitterly enueighed against the ambition of the emperour, who as he said aspi [...]ed to the whole monarchie of all ITALIE, not by true vertue and valour, but by meere craft and deceit, encroching still vpon the liberties of the free states, and by little and little imposing vpon them the yoke of bondage: In confirmation whereof, hee produced many examples, to them well knowne, requesting them, as antient friends and confederats of the French, to joyne their forces with the kings, in which doing, they should assure themselues of such rewards of the vndoubted victorie, as they could not desire greater. Wheras if they should I refuse so to doe, and would rather sit still and looke on as neuters, they should vndoubtedly, fortune hauing decided the quarrell, grieuously offend both, and might worthely expect of the vanquished, hatred; and of the conqueror, injurie: Besides that, in taking vp of armes they should highly gratifie Solyman, who prouoked with late injuries, had determined with a puissant armie to inuade HVNGARIE, and at the same time to send Barbarussa with a great fleet against the Spaniards their common enemies: for the imparting of which his designes, he would shortly send vnto them Iunusbeius his embassadour: As for the euent of the warre, they needed not to doubt, when as they of themselues were strong ynough quickly to thrust the emperour out of the dukedome of MILLAN, being generally hated of the people, feeding his souldiors with the spoile of the countrey, and on euery side beset both by sea and land by two of the greatest monarchs K of the world. Whereunto the Senat delaying the time for certaine dayes, that Iunusbeius might in the meane time come thither,The craftie answere of the Ven [...]tians to the French kings embassadour. grauely answered, That the amitie they held with king Francis, ought to be vnto them an ornament, but no burthen: the like also they held with the emperour, whom they would in no case seeme to cast off, although they had beene by him ouer-raught: Wherefore the Senators and all the citisens generally were of opinion to preserue their peace, as they which in the hard times of war had endured great extremities, which would hardly be recouered with long peace: But if they did once see the ensignes displayed, and the wars begun, they would then take further aduice, Whether it were good for them to thrust themselues into those warres or not, when as they were in league and friendship with three of the greatest princes of the world.Solymans embassadours commeth to Venice. In the meane time Iunusbeius arriued at VENICE, and was there honourably L receiued. He requested, that the league before made at CONSTANTINOPLE by Badoerius their embassador, might by the authoritie of the Senat be confirmed: & so cōmended the French kings cause to the Senat, that he requested no more, but that vnto that amitie which they alreadie held with the French, they would joine further courtesies, the rather for that Solyman had accounted him for his brother, and had vndertaken to aid him against Charles king of SPAINE: but as to joine in league with him, or in his quarrell to take vp armes, he requested nothing. Which was quite beside the expectation of Polinus and Pellicerius, who by vrging of the matter, and by telling of all, had thought easily to haue persuaded the Senat to haue graunted what they requested, and therefore thought the Turke who had so coldly spoken in the cause, to be some way corrupted. But as it afterward appeared,Polinus comming to Constantinople, findeth not the Turke so rea [...]e to send his fleet to aid the French king, a [...] he had hoped. there was such equitie and modestie in Solymans letters, who was M otherwise of a proud and insolent nature, that he would not as then exact any thing of them, which should not stand with the good of their estate. Wherfore Polinus, hauing in vaine staied certaine daies at VENICE, was in one of their publike gallies transported to RAGVSIVM, and from thence trauelled by land to CONSTANTINOPLE, where he found all things more difficult [Page] A than euer he dreamed of. For the great Bassaes said, There could no fleet be set out that yeare, by reason that he was come too late to sue for such a matter, the Spring of the yeare being now past, of all other times most fit for to take in hand so long a voyage. So that Polinus was aboue measure vexed with care and griefe, that he had so euill sped, and was come so out of season both to VENICE and CONSTANTINOPLE. Dixius also, one of the masters of the Rhodian gallies, was come to CONSTANTINOPLE, to carie newes into FRANCE of the comming of the Turks fleet: who told Polinus, That the kings sonnes were with strong power far entred into the low countries, and had alreadie inuaded SPAINE, expecting nothing more than the comming of the Turks gallies. Wherefore Polinus (as it easily chanceth to men deceiued by trust reposed in any other mens promises, and bewailing the euill successe of their vaine trauell) wonderfully tormented B himselfe, cursed the froward and vnconstant manners of the Bassaes, called vpon the faith of Solyman; and besought the great Bassaes one by one, that they would not contrarie to their promise, forsake the king, who vpon the hope of the comming of the Turks fleet, had now inuaded both the low countries and the kingdome of SPAINE: for as much as by that delay, which was vnto them neither honourable nor profitable, was (as he said) betraied the majestie of his king, and a most assured victorie now as good as gotten, quite marred. In which his obtestations, he was so importunat and tedious, that he became vnto those proud Bassaes rather loathsome than gratious; insomuch that to end his sute, they thought it best sharply to take him vp, and so for that time to shake him off. And therefore sending for him and the other French gentlemen which followed him to the court, the great Bassaes then sitting in counsell, and Barbarussa C with them for the honour of his place: as soone as they were come into the counsell chamber, Solyman Bassa the eunuch, turning himselfe about, spake vnto them in this sort.

Frenchmen (said he) this place for d [...]spatch of most waightie affaires,

The sharpe or [...] tion of Solyman the eunu [...]h bassa to Polinus the French embassadour.

appointed by the graue iudgment of our most mightie emperor to vs his faithfull seruants, doth (as it best beseemeth) receiue vs, daily comming vnto it, void of loue and hatred: and withall doth notably put vs in remembrance, to speake our minds freely. Neither would I, that this franknesse of speech (the messenger of truth, and therefore the faithfull keeper of friendship) should be vnto your eares vnpleasing or troublesome: for sithence your king hath beene called the friend and fellow of the Othoman name, we may not now either forget the duties of loue, or loath your friendship: seeing that our emperour doth maruellously D affect you, and is not a little desirous to strengthen you with his power, and by ouercomming your enemies to increase your power and honour. But in your demaunds is no equitie, no modestie, so that wee tearme you vnmodest and importunat: and others which fauour you not so well, call you plainly by your right names, vnreasonable and shamelesse men; who as too too forgetfull of your dueties, doe most fondly trouble the lawes of amitie and friendship. For leagues are confirmed by like profit, by making euen the charge and mutuall dangers: but if neglecting your friends kindnesse and courtesie, you will make no requitall, they will quickly grow wearie of you. So happeneth it vnto you Frenchmen, who euer forgetfull and negligent in our dangers, but in your owne alwaies mindfull and diligent, haue shewed your selues friends vnto vs when need was, not in deeds and certaine aid, but onely in bare let [...]ers and embassages. Tell me I pray you, where euer you shewed any signe or token of your good will or E aid? whereby the minds of our enemies might at the least wise haue but beene kept in suspence of some doubtfull feare, when as Charles with all the power of the West came into HVNGARIE; and CORONE and PATRAS were in the meane time shaken in GRaeCE with the enemies fleet; and last of all TVNES taken with so great a fleet? But all this we pardon you: yet this it is which is hardly to be endured, that you did not so much as once grieue at our so great iniuries, as you ought to haue done; but sent your gratulatorie embassadours vnto the bloudie common enemie, who had but euen then slaine so many of our people. At length our emperour came to AVLONA to your great profit, about to passe ouer into ITALIE: but neither then in the arriuall of your fleet appeared the good wils of the Apulians towards you, which were of you so vainly promised, neither did you so much as once moue to inuade the vpper part of ITALIE: so neither seruing our turne, nor well fitting your owne, you haue alwaies F lost the occasion of the good successe of your affaires. But neither then, neither at any time afterwards needed we your counsell or vnited forces: for the Venetians to their paine felt both our forces and our faith: as for the rest, warre, the notable reuenger of our wrongs, most happily brought to passe, at such time as you of your owne voluntarie made peace with the common enemie, to inuade vs; and did as vnkindly as impudently as it were blow wind in his sailes. But we, without your helpe, haue notably repressed [Page] so great assaults of our enemies: when as this same Hariaden Barbarussa put to flight their G fleet at AMERACIA, and happily slew the spanish pirats of CASTRVM, and hauing againe recouered our owne cities, tooke also from them some of theirs: wherefore we are bound vnto you for no desert, but we had rather forget these vnkindnesses, than to faile you whom we haue once receiued into our friendship. For we performe our fidelitie in deeds: but it is his part to regard the time, to way the danger, to wait occasion; which will not rashly commit his actions to the hazard of fortune. You are come later than you should haue done for the setting forth of our fleet: for Sommer now well spent, followeth the pestilent time of Autumne, so that marriners cannot in conuenient time be taken vp, or safely thrust into the gallies: for in long sailing, who would not thinke, but that such a companie of saylers vsually sicke at the change of an vnacquainted ayre, would be in danger of their liues? who would not feare shipwracke in their returne, when as this same Hariaden so great a master at sea,H driuen vpon the Acroceraunian rockes in the moneth of August, lost so many gallies? A fleet would be rigged in Winter, furnished and set forward in the Spring; in Sommer is safe sailing and making warre. Which that it may be so done, we will for the common wealth sake persuade the emperour: for the nauie once lost, cannot vpon the sudden be againe restored for much gold, whereof the Othoman emperour wanteth no store, heaped vp by many ages. If thou be wise take these things in good part as friendly spoken: but whether the emperor will pardon thy boldnesse or not, let himselfe consider, truly we haue satisfied both him and our selues in speaking to thee so plainly.

These things seuerely spoken by the eunuch Bassa, did so much the more trouble Polinus, for that they seemed to haue been sent from the mouth of Solyman himselfe, who was thought to I haue heard all that was said. For behind the Bassaes as they sate in counsell, was a window with a brasen grate, and a curten drawne before it, that the emperour when he pleased, might vnperceiued heare the complaints and sutes of all nations, and note the manners of his great counsellors; whose care for the administration of justice was so much the greater, for feare of his presence. Yet did not Polinus for this repulse,Polinus by the meanes of the Capiaga it [...] to the [...] of Solyman himselfe. detesting the double dealing of the Bassaes, so giue ouer his sute; but winning by gifts the fauour of the Capiaga or chiefe porter, a man euer of great authoritie in the Turks court, laboured by him to be brought to the speech of Solyman himselfe: who faithfully performed what he had vndertaken. So the French embassadour brought by him into the secretest place of the court, which few Christians had euer been, and so vnto the presence of Solyman, recounted vnto him how all matters had before passed, and most earnestly besought K him not to faile the kings expectation of the fleet he had before promised, who at that present was inuading his enemies in three places. Whereunto Solyman courteously and expressely answered, That the opportunitie of sending out of his fleet was past;Solymans answer to Polinus. not by his will, which was alwaies immutable and firme, but by his late comming, and the time of the yeare halfe spent: but promised, the next Spring without doubt to send vnto the king his friend and brother, twise so great a fleet as he had desired against Charles their enemie. With which answere, the embassadour dispatched away Dixius into FRANCE, vpon whose arriuall, king Francis called backe againe Henrie his eldest sonne with his armie, from the siege of PER [...]ENNA in SPAINE.

The Princes of Germanie ioine their forces with king Ferdinand against the Turk in Hungarie.The princes and States of GERMANIE, at the request of king Ferdinand and the nobilitie of L HVNGARIE, about this time decreed with one consent, to take vp armes against the Turks, for the recouering againe of BVDA, and other the lost parts of HVNGARIE. For besides the dishonour done to their nation at EXEK vnder the leading of Cazzianer, and againe at BVDA vnder the leading of the Lo. Rogendorff; they well saw, that if they did not speedily relieue the Hungarians ouerwhelmed with the calamities of the Turks forces, they shovld in short time be enforced to fight for their religion, children, wiues, and liues against the same mightie enemie, at their owne doores. For preuenting whereof▪ the princes and free cities of GERMANIE, set out thirtie thousand footmen, and seauen thousand horsemen▪ amongst whom was Mauritius, afterwards duke of SAXONIE, then a young gentleman about twentie yeares old▪ But the Generall of these German forces, was Ioachimus Marquesse of BRANDENBVRG, a man more for the honour M of his house than the valour of himselfe preferred to that place: yet so, that vnto him was joyned eight others, men of great yeares and experience; by whose counsell he was to be directed. When they were come to VIENNA, king Ferdinands power met them: where beside such as were taken vp in AVSTRIA, Huganot Gouernour of STIRJA came in with ten thousand [Page] A horsemen. Vnto these the noble men of HVNGARIE, Gasper Seredius, Andreas Bathor, and Petrus Perenus, a man of the greatest authoritie power and experience amongst the Hungarians, joyned themselues, with fifteene thousand horsemen; whither also Paulus the third of that name then bishop of ROME, sent three thousand chosen footmen out of ITALIE, conducted to VIENNA by Alexander Vitellius, a most famous captaine. The Marquesse with this great army marched from VIENNA alongst the riuer Danubius, but so softly, that the Hungarian and Italian captaines said plainly, That the best part of the Sommer, and fittest time for warres, was passed ouer in loitering and dallying out the time to no purpose: especially Iacobus Medices, who had long before persuaded the king, to be readie to set forward his forces with the first of the Spring, before the Turks could either augment their garrisons, or put in any new forces; for that B by such resolute and speedie inuasion, it was like enough hee might recouer both PESTH and BVDA. Which politike and wholsome counsell so well giuen, king Ferdinand too much crediting the great men of his court (liking nothing but what proceeded of themselues) rejected, expecting the full assembly of all his forces, before the setting forth of his armie. At length the Marquesse was by soft marches come to STRIGONIVM (king Ferdinand himselfe staying behind at VIENNA) where it was commonly reported, That Solyman fearing to lose BVDA, was either in person himselfe comming into HVNGARIE, or else sending downe the Generall of his Europeian horsemen, who might neuer set foot forward to warre without sixtie thousand horsemen. Which newes so troubled the Germans, that they made no great hast forward, doubting how they should returne againe if they chanced not to get the victorie: Beside that, it was C thought, that the Marquesse neuer purposed to fight a battell, or endanger himselfe or his armie for the kingdome of HVNGARIE, but only to defend the bounds of AVSTRIA, and by shewing the strength of GERMANIE, to terrifie (if he could) the Turks, if they not contented with HVNGARIE, should also prouoke the Germans. But after it was by certaine esp [...]als from SAMANDRIA, knowne that all that report of the comming of the Turks great armie was but vaine, and that there was scarce a thousand Ianizaries and twise so many horsemen come to BVDA, and that the Turks fleet was both for number and strength farre inferiour to the kings, they set forward againe with more cheerfulnesse, much encouraged by the forwardnesse of the Hungarians, especially of Perenus; assuring them, that if they would without delay march on, and spend no more time in vaine, they should not find at BVDA any such number of Turks as was worth the name D of an armie: for that Solyman vsing but euerie second yeare to make war, did that yeare take his rest, and was not like to vndertake any great expedition. For these reasons all men being readie cheerfully to set forward, the Marquesse appointed to passe ouer Danubius: which this Perenus, Huganot and Medices, all expert captaines, liked not of; wishing him rather to hold on his way directly still on that side the riuer to BVDA, the chiefe citie of the kingdome. But it was the mind of the Generall and all his counsellors, first to besiege PESTH, which might be done with lesse labour and danger, and there hauing made proofe of the enemies strength and purpose, to come to the siege of BVDA: for then would the souldiors with much more courage and cheerfulnesse endure the siege of BVDA, if they had by good fortune first beaten them out of PESTH: Which counsell was both best liked and followed, and the armie by two bridges with great and painfull E labour made ouer Danubius (which was in that place deuided into two parts) transported. At the same time Medices an Italian captaine, Admirall of the kings fleet, came downe the riuer, and in despight of the Turks tooke the island of Saint Margaret, lying in the riuer a little aboue BVDA, and by force repulsed the Turkes fleet vnto the suburbs of the citie. The Marquesse to auoid the danger of the great shot from BVDA, after he was passed the riuer,The Marquesse of Brandenburg commeth to Pesth, with hi [...] armie. fet a great compasse about, and so came to the North side of PESTH▪ for on the South it was defended with the riuer Danubius, running betwixt it and BVDA▪ and on the East and West the great ordinance on the one side from the castle of BVDA, and on the other from mount S. Gerrard, did so scoure all alongst the wals, that no man could without most manifest danger there abide. For BVDA standing vpon the hill, and deuided from PESTH onely with the riuer, so ouerlooketh and commaundeth F all the plaine countrey about PESTH, that without perill no man can stir on any side of the citie, but Northward towards AGRIA▪ couered by the citie from the shot out of BVDA. As the Marquesse was comming thither, he was told by certaine fugitiues, that Balis Gouernour of BVDA (who in that place succeeded Solyman the Hungarian renegate, lately before dead of the plague) had in garrison in BVDA two thousand horsemen: and that Vlames the Persian Gouernour [Page] of BOSNA, was come vnto him with three thousand mo: whereunto Amurathes had G also joyned another thousand which he brought out of DALMATIA: and that Segemenes was come thither also with a thousand Ianizaries from CONSTANTINOPLE: as for the rest of the footmen, that they were but wild countrey people, fitter for labour than for seruice in warres. They told him also, that the enemies fleet consisted of sixtie small pinnaces, ten gallies, and a few other great boates: and that Solyman had commaunded his captaines in any case to defend BVDA and PESTH to the last man, without regard of any other place. And had proposed vnto the valiant, great rewards; and to the cowardly, extreame punishment: charging them further, that if need were, they should in time send for Achomates the Generall of his Europeian horsemen to SOPHIA, to aid them. The Turks vpon the approach of the Christians, issued out at one of the gates of the citie, and skirmished with the Hungarians: but after they had sufficiently proued one H anothers strength, and some few were on both sides slaine, they retired into the citie, and the Hungarians to the campe.The Turks sally out of Pes [...]h, and put the Christians to the worse. The next day after, Vitellius going out of the campe neere the citie with fiue companies, to chuse a place for planting the batterie; the Turks at one instant sallying out at two gates of the citie, gaue him a hoat skirmish, where at the first, the fight was begun with like courage and force: but the Turkes still sending forth new supplies both of horse and foot, first the Christian footmen, and after that the horsemen, not able longer to endure the force of the Ianizaries, were constrained disorderly to retire, hauing lost in that retrait foure of their captaines and two ensignes: and had not Vitellius with one companie of horsemen serred togither, valiantly repulsed the insolent Ianizaries, the losse had beene much greater. Vitellius exceedingly grieued with this losse, and perceiuing the manner of the enemies fight, encouraged I his souldiors, purposing if he could to be fully reuenged: and aboue all others, requested Perenus to be readie to joine with him as occasion should require. Vitellius lay encamped in the kings orchards, walled about as it were a mile, equally distant both from the great campe and from the citie; out of these orchards he went with twelue companies vnder their ensignes, commaunding the rest to stand still within the wals, in readinesse at all assaies: and so fetching a great compasse about,The Turks sallying out againe are dis [...]omfited by Vitell [...]us and Perenus. marched alongst the riuer side towards the citie: Neither did the proud enemie (brag of the former daies victorie) make any delay, but brauely sallied out at the east side of the citie, and couragiously charged them. But Vitellius warned of his former harme, and seeing his enemies come on as he desired, couered his shot with his pikes, and standing close, receiued the enemies charge: his shot still playing vnder the pikes, oftentimes vpon their knees: many of the Turkes K were there laid on ground, whilest they desperatly sought to haue broken the order of the Christians. In the meane time, when many of the Turks horsemen and Ianizaries comming out of the gates, and diuers others beholding the fight were come ouer the riuer from BVDA, to be partakers of the victorie, had filled the hithermost banke; Vitellius in good time, of purpose by little and little retired, as if he had been ouercharged: Then began the enemie to giue a great shout, and more fiercely to assaile the Christians: their horsemen also clapt behind them, to haue there charged them. Which thing Perenus diligently noting, and that the Turks in following of Vitellius were drawne a great way from the gates, he suddenly with his light horsemen clapt in betwixt the citie and the Turks at their backs, after whom followed also Mauritius (afterwards duke of SAXONIE) with a strong troupe of German horsemen, of purpose to haue shut them in for L retiring backe againe into the citie. But then the Turks perceiuing the danger, and finding themselues shut in, stood as men more than halfe dismaied, bethinking themselues which way to take, and so began to retire. When Vitellius comming on couragiously with his pikemen and his harquebusiers, deuided into two wings, charged them fiercely; and the Hungarian and German horsemen breaking in amongst them on the other side, made great slaughter of them, and strucke such a feare amongst the flying Turkes, that many of them in running to the gate, thrust one another thorow with their pikes: diuers other were also by the horsemen driuen into the riuer, and there drowned. That day Segemenes lost aboue an hundred of his Ianizaries, and foure hundred others. The chiefest commendation for this piece of seruice was giuen to Vitellius, who had so well and so quickly reuenged himselfe of the Turkes: and next him M to Perenus, who as a skilfull captaine had so well awaited the time to entrap the enemie: neither is Mauritius the young Saxon prince vnworthie his due praise,Mauritius in danger to be slaine. who valiantly charging the Turkes, and hauing his horse slaine vnder him, was in danger to haue beene there lost himselfe, had not Nicholas Ribische one of his followers, couered him with his owne bodie, vntill [Page] A such time as that hee was rescued by others, Ribische himselfe presently dying of his wounds. This little victorie so encouraged the Germanes, that the Marquesse commaunded the great ordinance to be presently brought forth, and the batterie planted, which was at the first placed so farre off, that it did little harme, although the wall were both old and thin, not aboue fiue foot thicke:A breach made in the wals of Pes [...]h. and the ordinance laied either a little too low, or mounted too high, either shot short, or quite ouer the citie into BVDA: which fault once perceiued, the batterie was remooued neerer, and a faire breach soone made in the wall, with the continuall beating of fortie great pieces of artillerie. Vitellius was the first that offered to assault the breach, so that the Germanes would presently second him, which thing they all by holding vp of their hands promised courageously, but cowardly about by and by to breake that promise: for oftentimes it chanceth, That they which B before the danger are readiest to promise their helpe, are in the very danger it selfe of all others most slacke. The Hungarians also for their parts promised not to be behind. The silence of the enemie at the breach and in the citie, was wonderfull, so that many thought he had beene fled backe ouer the riuer to BVDA: for Segemenes captaine of the Ianizaries, an old beaten souldior, ordered all things with as little stir as was possible: He had receiued new supplies from Vlamas, and had cast a deepe countermure within the wall against the breach, and on the inner side of the same had made a strong barricado, with gabions and wine vessels filled with sand and earth: behind which stood the Ianizaries, & next vnto them the Turkish archers, and last of all the horsemen who had left their horses to serue on foot.The breach assaulted by the Italians. The signall for the assault once giuen, foure Italian captaines ran desperatly with their companies by the ruines of the wall to the breach: but C whilest they there set vp their ensignes, and wondering at the enemies fortification, were readie betwixt hope and feare to leape downe, they were suddenly ouerwhelmed with a shoure of arrowes and bullets. Yet Vitellius still encouraging them, brought them still on, who did what they might to haue entred:The Germanes stand still as lookers on, whilst the Italians giue the assault. but the Germane footmen with their Generall stood still vnder the wals, looking on, as men nothing moued either with the hope of victorie or danger of their friends: and the Hungarians not so much as once looking vpon the enemie, retired: two of the Italian captaines, Rufus and [...]olla were there slaine, and Carolus, Vitellius his nephew, shot in the shoulder. The Turks with shot and stones still repulsed and beat downe the Italians, whereof the Germanes also standing still, felt part, and were more gauled than a man would haue thought men could haue beene, that did nothing: for there they still stood for shame, least if they should haue D also first retired, they should haue incurred a second infamie as bad as the first. Which thing Vitellius perceiuing, would in no case depart from the breach, but wished rather to lose his men by whole companies, than to leaue the least colour of excuse to the Germanes, or that they should say they stayed longest, of whom he with greater anger than greefe complained, that he was forsaken and cowardly betrayed. In time of this assault one of the Turks was heard to speake aloud in the Italian tongue, Why doe not you valiant Italians spare your selues, and giue place to those lasie Germanes. The con [...]umelious speech of a Turke against the Germanes. We all wish to spare you, and to beat the drunkennesse out of their most cowardly heads, that they should no more hereafter prouoke vs. At length the Germanes wearie of their hot standing and nought doing, got them farther off, after whom the Italians forthwith retired: but so disorderly,The Germanes and the Italians retire with losse. to be quickly out of the danger of the enemies shot, that if the Turks had at the same E time sallied out at all the gates, it was thought that the whole campe had beene greatly endangered. In this attempt rather than assault, seuen hundred Christians were slaine outright, and many moe hurt, who died afterwards of their wounds.

All this while the Marquesse and Hugonot the great commaunders of the armie, kept themselues so farre from gunshot, that they were no where to be seene, vntill that Torniellus and Fotiscu, two valiant captaines, finding them out, wished them for shame to shew themselues for the comforting of the armie. A little before night they consulted with the other captaines, Whether they should forsake the siege, or continue it still: whereof most of the Germanes best liked to be gone, as the safest way: though Vitellius & some others spake earnestly to the contrarie. At which time a spie comming in, brought newes that Achomates, Solymans lieutenant of the Europeian F horsemen, had passed ouer the riuer Sauus at BELGRADE, and was comming to Dranus: whose comming either cunningly fained, or vainly beleeued, caused the Germanes to make a short conclusion, and to resolue flatly to returne to VIENNA, fearing that if they should longer continue the siege, they should be stayed against their wils by Achomates. Which thing made many of the old Germane souldiors to hang their heads for shame, and the Hungarians to curse both the [Page] Germanes and the hard fortune of their nation, vainely wishing for a Generall in courage answerable G to the strength of that great armie. Segemenes perceiuing how much the Christian armie was discouraged by the last dayes euill successe, early in the morning courageously sent out all the horsemen, and after them certaine companies of footmen, to relieue them in their retire; who in many places skirmished with the Hungarians, being nothing inferiour vnto them either in courage or skill: and the matter was brought to that passe, as if it had beene so agreed vpon, that many of the most notable and expert souldiours on either side encountered together hand to hand in the sight of the Italians and Germanes,A notable skirmish betwixt the Turke [...] and the Hungarians. the Hungarians mixt with the Turks, and the Turkes with the Hungarians, with such fidelitie, that they regarded no other enemie but him whom euery one had singled out for himselfe, as if it had beene in a triumph for exercise hand to hand. It happened, that a notable captaine of the Turks, desired to see Vitellius, who being shewed H vnto him (for he was easie to be knowne by his armour) the Turke ran vnto him to embrace him for his honour,The Christians remoouing from Pesth, are assailed by the Turks. and so departed. About fiue hundred horsemen so encountered one another hand to hand that day, of whom many were slaine or hurt. The night following the batterie was remoued, and the armie marched towards the riuer to the fleet. The Turks perceiuing the Christians to be departed, sallied out of the citie on all hands, and with a great crie vpbraiding them of cowardise, hardly pursued the rereward of the armie. Vlamas was come ouer himselfe from BVDA, and so eagerly followed the armie, that it could hardly haue escaped without great danger, had not Vitellius with his Italians made a stand, and requested the Hungarian & German horsemen to turne backe vpon the enemie: which they at his request did, and not onely repulsed the enemie, but also put him to flight, and in the chase slew many. After which time the armie passed I on quietly; yet seuen hundred Germanes which were sicke and stragled behind the armie, were by the Turks horsemen miserably slaine in the sight of their fellowes. The Germans thrice foiled by the Turks, first at EXEK, then at BVDA, and now at PESTH, returned full of heauinesse and greefe, as they which were now to forget the subduing of HVNGARIE, and to become carefull of GERMANIE it selfe.The Christian armie broken vp at V [...]nna. The armie comming to VIENNA, was there broken vp, and the Italians sent home into their countrey, who for most part died by the way, of infection taken in the campe in strange aire, and a most queasie time of the yeare.

But to couer the shame of this vnfortunat expedition, and to turne mens talke another way by some notable accident:P [...]enu [...] the noble H [...]ngarian apprehended vpon suspition of treason. Petrus Perenus the noble Hungarian was the man pickt out for the purpose to fill mens mouthes. He, belayed with the enuie of the court, was for suspition of aspiring K to the kingdome of HVNGARIE, by the commaundement of king Ferdinand apprehended by Liscanus, a Spanish captaine, in the castle of STRIGONIVM as a traitor, and presently deliuered to Medices the Admirall,The vncourtesie of Liscanus the Spaniard in the apprehension of Perenus. to be conueyed vp the riuer to VIENNA. Liscanus at the time of his apprehension most couetously and vncourteously tooke from him his chaine, and a rich cloke lined with sables: which indignitie done to so noble a gentleman, so much offended the minds of the rest of the Hungarians, that aboue twelue thousand of them thereupon presently returned home to their owne dwellings, cursing the Germanes to the diuell. This Perenus was one of the greatest peeres of HVNGARIE, but of a most haughtie and magnificent mind, so that hee would sometime haue almost an hundred goodly spare horses fit for seruice led before him without their riders; & would sometime speake too liberally against the barenesse of king Ferdinands L court, who polled by his courtiers, hardly maintained his state: which his surpassing magnificence and princely port was cause ynough for the other great courtiers to enuie at his estate, and to seeke his ouerthrow; who as men ouercharged with the burthen of another mans vertue, wherof they neuer bore the least part, and alwayes gaining by the deprauing of other mens perfection, conspired together his ouerthrow, and oftentimes pointing at him with their fingers, would say, That he sauoured of a crowne. This notable man, as he had many worthie vertues, so was he not without cause noted of ambition and vnconstancie: For after that king Lewes was lost; he disdaining the preferment of Iohn the Vayuod to the kingdome of HVNGARIE, tooke part with king Ferdinand against him, in hope as it was thought to be next in honour vnto himselfe: but after he saw king Iohn againe restored, and his state strongly supported by Solyman, and that all M things stood doubtfull and tickle with Ferdinand, he with like leuitie sought meanes by Abraham the great Bassa to be reconciled to king Iohn; which was hardly obtained of him by the intercession of Solyman himselfe (as is before declared) to whom he gaue his sonne as pledge of his fidelitie. After which time he liued in great honour and loyaltie all the raigne of king Iohn: [Page] A but after he was dead, and saw George the bishop the kings tutor, doing what he list to raigne like a king,Matters surmised against Perenus. he disdained his gouernment; and sollicited by king Ferdinand, reuolted again vnto him, and furthered him in what he could for the obtaining of the kingdome. But now falling into the enuie of the court, mallice found out matter ynough to worke his confusion. First it was giuen out, That his sonne, who had many yeares beene detained in Solymans court, as pledge of his fathers faith, was euen then vnder the colour of a faigned escape come into TRANSILVANIA; when as he had secretly agreed with Solyman, that his father being a man much fauoured of the people, should by promising them all possible freedome, allure them to the Turkish subjection: in reward of which good seruice he should be made gouernor of the kingdome of HVNGARIE, and put in hope also to be made the tributarie king thereof, if it should fortune the yong king to B die: Besides that, it was accounted a thing very suspitious, that hee had the Winter before vsed great kindnesse and friendship toward the Turkish captaines; by sending them great presents, and receiuing the like againe: And last of all, his letters directed to certaine Hungarian captaines were produced, wherein he seemed to promise them, as his friends and followers, greater entertainment than agreed with his present estate: All which things king Ferdinand (of his owne disposition, not easily to be persuaded to conceiue euill of the Germanes his countreymen, were it neuer so apparant or true, but of strangers any thing) quickly beleeued, and therefore caused him (as is beforesaid) to be apprehended. But Perenus as he was brought by Medices the Admirall to VIENNA, when he was come neere vnto the gate of the citie, and heard that Phillippus Torniellus, with certaine other braue captaines of his acquaintance, were come to meet the Admirall; C he requested that the close coach wherein he rid might be opened, and that he might haue leaue to speake to those noble and valiant gentlemen. Which thing was easily graunted, for that the nobilitie and approoued valour of the man seemed vnto them which had the charge of him, vnworthie of such restraint of libertie or imprisonment, yea or of the least suspition thereof. So he turning himselfe towards them, spake vnto them in this sort.

Wretched I, noble gentlemen (said he) whom despightfull enuie hath circumuented guiltlesse: but much more miserable king Ferdinand,

The lamentable speech of Perenus to Torniellus and the other captaines, concerning his apprehension.

whom domesticall theeues bereaues of substance, friends, and honour all at once. For so it commeth to passe, that by this inconsider at wrong done vnto me, he shall vtterly lose the loue and fidelitie of the Hungarian nation, and may therefore for euer not without D cause despaire for the obtaining of the kingdome of HVNGARIE, sithence that it is not lawfull for me (inferiour to none of my nation in birth, and hauing for my good and faithfull seruice well deserued reward of a iust king) so much as to reioice for the deliuerance of my sonne from the captiuitie of the Turks, but that by my sinister fortune, dreadfull death in stead of incomparable ioy must be presented to mine eyes. For will these malicious pick-thanks, guiltie of their owne cowardise, the wicked contriuers and witnesses of my wrongfull accusation, spare me, being laid fast and in durance, which neuer spared the kings honour? For euerie man of what nobilitie soeuer, be he neuer so guiltlesse, when he is once in hold, must be content to endure, not what he hath deserued, but what his hard fortune assigneth. Yet my vpright mind and cleare cons [...]ience, which onely thing God the most iust iudge leaueth as a comfort to men in miserie wrongfully accused, deliuereth me of this care: and so will the E Marquesse our Generall, to whom I before vpon a mistrust foretold, that such a danger would shortly befall me, and that I had rather be slaine guiltlesse▪ than to withdraw my selfe from triall▪ which thing I told him at such time as I was so guarded with mine owne strength, that I feared no mans force.

Perenu [...] his request of the Admirall and the rest of the captaines.

I beseech you, doe me this honourable fauor, as to request king Ferdinand in my behalfe quickly and honourably to proceed to the triall of my cause, and according to his owne princely disposition, and not the will of others, to discerne betwixt his faithfull friends and faigned flatterers. Truly wee are too too vnfortunat captaines, if for a little euill successe we shall be so adiudged as men that had ouerthrowne their fortune. Cazzianer peraduenture receiued the iust punishment hee had deserued for the shamefull forsaking and losing of the armie at EXEK, when as he possessed with an vncouth feare forgot the dutie of a Generall, more afraid of death than dishonour: for when he had voluntarily F committed himselfe to safe custodie, be was so generally condemned of cowardise, that despairing to defend his cause, he brake prison, and as wickedly as vnfortunatly reuolted to the Turkes: But neither was I of late the Generall, neither were we vanquished, although we preuailed not, but honourably retiring, valiantly repressed the insolencie of the pursuing enemie. As for the kingdome of HVNGARIE, I might then well haue affected the same, and easily haue deserued it at Solymans hands, [Page] when as king Ferdinand, after the death of king Iohn, was making his preparation for that warre:G at which time my friends and followers at my deuotion, with the loue of the Hungarians towards me, seeming of no small importance for the obtaining of the victorie, might haue ministred no vnreasonable or vnseasonable hope to haue drawne a man into courses not altogither beseeming a Christian. Wherefore I haue, and will so long as I liue, fight against the Turkes, if king Ferdinand shall shew himselfe an indifferent iudge in this accusation, falsely surmised against me by the malice of mine enemies.

When he had made an end of speaking, the Admirall courteously persuaded him to haue good hope in the clemencie of the most just king; and shortly after performed his request: for he and Torniellus taking the king as he was hunting, entreated him to deale fauourably with Perenus. H For all that, Perenus could not obtaine that his cause might be openly heard; but was committed to safe keeping, there to remaine in perpetuall prison: but whether it was for the misprission of new treason,Perenus, Valentinus, and Maylat, three of the greatest nobilitie in Hungarie kept in perpetutuall prison. or for reuenge of his old inconstancie, is vncertaine. Thus, three the only great princes left of the Hungarian bloud, equally worthie of the kingdome, Valentine, Maylat, and Perenus, snarled almost in like snares of enuie, cut off all hope of raising a king to their seditious and therefore miserable countreymen: when as Perenus lay too late bewailing his vnconstancie in perpetuall prison; and the other two fast in chaines neere vnto the Euxine sea, expected death the end of their miseries. This end had the wars, taken in hand against the Turks by the generall consent of the Germans in the yeare 1542; which many thought, might worthily be compared with the greatest losses of those times: When as king Ferdinand, hauing in vaine I spent a great masse of treasure, the fittest stay for the imminent warre; and lost the opinion before conceiued of the strength of GERMANIE; had now as a weake prince, and subject to injurie, prouoked against him the Turkes, bold enough otherwise, but as then insolent for their late victories.

1543 Polinus the French kings embassadour still following the Turkes court, ceased not by all meanes to solicite Solyman, with his gallies to aid the king his master in the inuasion of the dominions of Charles the emperour, in ITALIE, SICILIE, and SPAINE. In which sute, he was so crossed by Solyman the eunuch Bassa, then Vesier, that he was almost in despaire of speed: for the malitious eunuch, being himselfe a great sea man, and enuying the honor of Barbarussa (who was to be imploied in that seruice) sought by keeping him out of all honourable actions, to diminish K his former glorie; and concerning the present, protested openly as he sat in counsell, that he saw no other cause why the Turkish emperour should to his great charge and the common danger, send out such a fleet, but to serue Barbarussa his own turne. But Solyman hauing diligently heard, and deeply considered of that the Bassaes had said; rejected their opinions, who would not he should haue giuen the French king aid▪ and honorably decreed, according to his promise, whatsoeuer should ensue thereof,Solyman granteth to send his fleet by Barbarussa to aid the French king against the emperour [...] to send his fleet vnto the king by Barbarussa. Two daies after, the French embassadour before in dispaire, but now reuiued with that decree, was solemnly feasted by Rustan Bassa, Solymans sonne in law, and by Solyman the eunuch Bassa: for so it was their Great masters pleasure, both of them joying of him for the friendship confirmed betwixt the two princes by sending this fleet. After which, diuers gifts were bestowed vpon the embassadour L and his chiefe followers; and at such time as he was to take his leaue, Solyman gaue him great charge of his nauie, that it might be safely kept, and so after the seruice done, againe returned: and withall, deliuered him letters vnto king Francis, wherin after the glorious rehearsall of his proud titles, he writ vnto him as followeth: ‘Solymans letters to the French king.We haue vpon a brotherly bountie, granted vnto Polinus your embassadour, such and so great a fleet as you haue desired, thorowly furnished for all assaies: whose direction we haue commaunded Hariaden our Admirall to follow, and by your appointment to proceed against the enemie. But you shall doe well and friendly, the wars once happily ended, to send backe againe my fleet to CONSTANTINOPLE. All things shall vndoubtedly fall out according to your owne desire and mine, if you shall M carefully take heed, that Charles the Spanish king, your perpetuall enemie, doe not againe deceiue you with the motion of a deceitfull peace. For then shall you bring him to a most indifferent peace, when you haue before brought vpon his countries all the calamities of warre.’

[Page] A Polinus taking his leaue of Solyman then lying at HADRIANOPLE, returned to CONSTANTINOPLE, where he found Barbarussa with an hundred and ten gallies, and fortie galliots readie to put to sea, which he had with incredible celeritie rigged vp and furnished. And so setting forward the eight and twentith of Aprill, in the yeare 1543, and passing the straits of HELESPONTVS, he arriued first at CARISTIVS in EV [...]oeA; and from thence to MALEA, where he was by contrarie winds cast into the bay of LACEDEMON, and there staied nine daies before he could double the cape of METAPANIVM, called in auntient time TENARVS: After that he came to METHON, and from thence crossing the Ionian, came to the strait of MESSANA; where the Turkish pirats being come with their galliots within the sight of RHEGIVM, began to land their men. They of RHEGIVM seeing so great a fleet, and the Turkes alreadie landing, fled out B of the citie for feare: but the castle was still kept by Didacus Gaietanus a Spaniard, who refused to haue any parley with Polinus the French embassadour, and with shot out of the castle slew certaine of the Turks: wherewith the rest being enraged, brake into the citie, and finding it desolat, set it on fire; sore against the will of Polinus and Barbarussa, who sought to haue found out the authors thereof, and to haue punished them accordingly.

After that, certaine pieces of great ordinance were landed and planted against the castle, which with a few shot so terrified the captaine, alreadie troubled with the crying out of his wife, that he without any more adoe yeelded himselfe and the castle with all therein, into the hands of the enemie: vnto whom with his wife and children, Barbarussa at the request of the French embassadour, granted both life and libertie: the rest he shut vp in a church, and gaue the spoile of the C castle to his souldiors. There was in the garrison of the castle about seauentie Spaniards, but many mo citisens, which were all carried away prisoners. One of the captaines daughters, a young gentlewoman of exceeding beautie, had with her good grace so warmed the withered affection of the old pirat Barbarussa, Barbarussa amorous of the captaine of Rhegium his daughter. that he now fitter for the graue than for marriage, became amorous of her person: so that taking her from her father, and entring her into the Mahometane superstition, he made of her as of his wife: Insomuch, that certaine moneths after, he welcomed and bountifully entertained the captaine as his father in law, comming to see his daughter at the port called PORTVS HERCVLIS in TVSCANIE, where the Turks fleet then lay. Barbarussa sayling alongst the coast of ITALIE, came to OSTIA, in the mouth of the riuer Tibur, and brought such a feare vpon the citie of ROME, that the citisens were readie generally to haue forsaken the D citie; had not Polinus by his letters to Rodolphus the cardinall, then the great bishop Paulus his legat in the citie, in part staied the sudden tumult. The bishop himselfe was then at BVXETVM, a towne betwixt CREMONA and PLACENTIA, trauelling (in shew) with the emperour, to haue made a peace betwixt him and the French king: but labouring in secret to haue bought of him the dukedome of MILLAN, for Octauius his kinsman, the emperours sonne in law. Polinus his letters written to the cardinall at ROME, and sent by the Gouernour of TARRACINA, were to this effect.

The fleet which is by Solyman sent for the defence of FRANCE by Barbarussa his Admirall,

The French embassadours letters to comfort Rodolph the cardinall, the Popes legat in Rome.

is by his [...]ppointment at my commaund: so that it is not to hurt any but our enemies. Wherefore make E it knowne to the Romans, and others dwelling alongst the coast of the Popes territorie, that they feare of vs no hostilitie. For the Turkes will neuer violat the faith of their emperour solemnly giuen vnto me: and you know most assuredly, that the French king desireth nothing more, than that the estate of ROME might not only be kept in safetie, but also flourish most gloriously, and be therefore preserued from all iniurie. Fare you well.

In like manner he also comforted vp them of NEPTVNIANVM and OSTIA, so that they brought vnto the Turks all manner of victuall; and sometimes for foure sheepe or a couple of oxen, redeemed a good prisoner taken in some place of the kingdome of NAPLES. Yet for all this, the Romans did not so much credit the embassadours promise in the behalfe of the Turkes F good dealing, but that many of the weaker sort fled out of the citie into the countrey by night, although the chiefe magistrates did what they might to haue staied them. When Barbarussa had thus lie [...] three daies in the mouth of the riuer of Tiber, and there watered, he passed alongst the coast of ETRVRIA and LIGVRIA, without doing any harme; and so sailed directly to MAR [...]ILL [...]S. Where leauing him with his fleet for a while, expecting the French kings [Page] farther pleasure; we will againe returne vnto Solyman, who at the same time that Barbarussa was G spoiling the frontiers of the emperours dominions in ITALIE,Solyman commeth with a great army into Hungarie. came with a great armie into HVNGARIE, for the more assured possession of that kingdome, whereafter he saw king Ferdinand so much longed. And because he would make all sure before him, he sent Amurathes Gouernour of DALMATIA, and Vlamas the Persian gouernour of BOSNA, to besiege WALPO; a strong town scitua [...] vpon the riuer Dranus, not far from EXEK, famous for the ouerthrow of the Christian armie vnder Cazzianer: after whom followed also Achomates the great commaunder of his Europeian horsemen. This towne (part of Perenus his possessions) was against all these forces kept and worthily defended by Perenus his wife (her husband then lying in prison at VIENNA) and her friends, by the space of three months: but was at last by the trecherous souldiors deliuered to the enemie, togither with their Generall; whom when they could by no means H persuade to consent to the yeelding vp thereof, but that he would needs hold it out to the last, they tooke him perforce, and so deliuered him with the towne to the Turkes: who receiued him with all courtesie,The castle of Wa [...]po treacherously yeelded, & the traitors iustly rewarded. and vsed him honourably: but those traiterous souldiors, whether it were in detestation of their treacherie, or for the spoile of them, were all put to the sword; the just reward of their treason. The rest of the citisens were by the Turks taken to mercie, and well vsed. The bishop and chiefe men of QVINQVE ECLESIE, a famous citie not far off on the other side of Dranus, hearing of the losse of WALPO, and terrified with the greatnesse of the Turkes armie, fled for feare, leauing none but the meaner sort of the people in the citie, who willingly yeelded the same vnto the Turks. The next towne of any strength was SOCTOSIA, belonging also to Perenus, which for a while held out against the Turks, for that diuers gentlemen of the countrey I which were fled into the citie, encouraged the citisens to stand vpon their defence. But after much harme done on both sides, when they were no longer able to hold out, they retired into the castle in hope to haue so saued their liues and libertie by yeelding: but Amurathes was so offended with them, that he would come to no reasonable composition, or promise them any thing more than that they should at their pleasure come forth: and so as they came out at the gate, slew them euerie mothers sonne, thereby to terrifie others from making like resistance.

Solyman vnderstanding all these things, gaue those townes which were taken, to Amurathes the Generall:Solyman commeth with his army to Strigonium. and hauing put all things in readinesse, departed from BVDA with all his armie to besiege STRIGONIVM; which was then kept by Liscanus and Salamanca, two proud couetous Spaniards, with a garrison of thirteene hundred souldiors, whereof some few were Spaniards K and Italians, and the rest Germans. Paulus bishop of STRIGONIVM, got himselfe out of the citie betimes, despairing of all mercie if he should haue fallen into the power of Solyman, by whose intermission he had been once before reconciled to king Iohn, and had againe reuolte [...] from him to king Ferdinand. The castle of STRIGONIVM was scituat vpon a high hill, ouerlooking Danubius running vnderneath it, the wals were built euen without any flankers, after the old manner of building before the inuention of guns: For which cause, Vitellius and T [...]niellus, two expert captaines (the yeare before sent from the king to view the place, and the manner of the fortification) were of opinion, that the citie could hardly be defended, if it were be sieged by any strong enemie: being subject also vnto a hill not far from the gates of the citie. [...]gainst which inconueniences, the old garrison souldiors which wintered in STRIGONIVM, cast vp new L bulwarks and fortifications, and after the manner of windie headed men, making great boast before the danger, what they would do, seemed to wish for the comming of Solyman. But after that the barbarous enemie had with his tents couered the fields and mountains round about the citie, and withall brought a gallant fleet vp the riuer, all those brags were laid in the dust, & euery man began to grow doubtfull of his owne safetie: for that they being but few (although men of good worth) were to withstand the infinit number of such enemies, as oftentimes vsed [...]ost desperatly to expose their liues to all maner of dangers. This their feare was also increased by the comming of certaine messengers from Solyman, who vnderstanding of what nations the garrison consisted, sent vnto the citie three of his owne guard, one a Spaniard, another an Italian, and the third a German, all renegate Christians; that euerie one of them might without an interpretor, speake M vnto their countreymen in their owne language: These men admitted into the citie, offered great rewards and large entertainment in the name of Solyman, to such as would in time yeeld; denouncing all torture and extremities vnto them which should endure the summons of the cannon. Whereunto it was answered by the captaines, That those faithfull and valiant souldiors, [Page] A who had reposed their last hope in their armes,The s [...]ut answer of the captaines. were neither to be woon by gifts, nor terrified with threats. With which answere the messenger returned, and the same day the Turkes great ordinance was planted vpon the hill before the gate of the citie, and the weakest parts of the wals round about the citie, so well pickt out by the Turks to be assaulted; as that they could not more skilfully or commodiously haue been chosen out of them which had within most diligently viewed euerie thing: so that it is to be thought, that the Christians wanted not onely fortune against the Turks, but also faith amongst themselues. Salamanca distrusting the fortifications of the suburbs, retired into the citie, contrarie to that he had before vainly boasted. Achomates Generall of the Europeian horsemen, laid siege to that part of the wall which was next to the bishops gardens: Vlamas the Persian besieged the towre neere vnto the gate towards BVDA: B The Asapi or common souldiors were by their captaines brought on to dig trenches and cast vp mounts, as was thought most conuenient. It is incredible to be spoken with what furie the great ordinance was discharged, without ceasing; insomuch that the towre with a great part of the wall neere vnto it, shaken with continuall batterie, fell downe with such violence, as if all had been shaken with a most terrible earthquake: neither was any man able to stand vpon the wals, but that the Ianizaries with their harquebusiers out of their trenches and from their mounts,The terrible batterie of the Turks at S [...]rigonium. would most certainly fetch him off: and many which stood within farther off, were with the Turkes arrowes falling from high, as if it had beene out of the ayre, grieuously wounded. But that which most troubled the defendants, and did them greatest harme, was the stones, which beaten in sunder with the great shot, and not to be auoided, did with their pieces kill or C maime the souldiors neere hand: With which dangers they were enforced to forsake the vttermost wall, and to cast vp new fortifications within, that they might with lesse danger defend the place.The Turks repulsed thrise at the assault of th [...] breach. Neither in the enemy wanted courage to assaile the breach: thrise they desperatly attempted to haue entered, and were alwaies with losse repulsed. In which assaults amongst others, Bultaces Sanzacke of SELYMBRIA, a man of great account among the Turkes, was lost. Whilest the defendants were thus busied, many of the souldiors and marriners which came vp the riuer, with all things necessarie for the armie from BVDA, went on shoare and lay in the suburbs of the citie, in such securitie, as if there had been no enemie nigh: which thing they in the citie perceiuing, suddenly sallied out vpon them fearing no such matter, and slew many of them before they could arme themselues, and draue the rest to their fleet: so that betwixt fighting and flying D there was about two hundred of them slaine. Zymar a Persian, Admirall of the fleet, in rescuing of them which to saue their liues fled vnto the riuer, was shot thorow with a small shot, and slaine. Whilest these things were in doing, and the Turkes hauing in many places sore shaken the wall, did with greater force daily assaile the citie, and the defendants with their continuall losses and out of hope of all reliefe were more and more discouraged: an old Calabrian enginer, which had long time serued king Ferdinand, A fugitiu [...] Christian discouereth the strength and state of the citi [...] to the Turks. fled out of the citie to the Turkes, who being courteously entertained by Solyman, and examined by the Bassaes of many things concerning the strength and state of the citie, satisfied them in all that they desired; and farther, directed them in planting their batteries in places most conuenient for the speedie taking of the towne. In the meane time, whilest the Turkes were with restlesse labour battering the wals, and working in E their mines, it fortuned that a gilt brasen crosse which stood vpon the top of the steeple of the Cathedrall church, was by the continuall shooting of the Turkes thereat, at length beaten downe: at the sight whereof, it is reported that Solyman after the superstitious manner of that nation, taking the chance as a token of his good lucke, cried out presently, STRIGONIVM is woon.

Liscanus and Salamanca fearefully consulting of the euent of the siege, and secretly conferring together, resolued to saue themselues, and to giue vp the towne. Liscanus was no great souldior, and yet by continuall spoile growne exceeding rich, and therefore thought it but follie to buy the name of a resolute captaine at too deare a price, with the losse of his life and wealth. The like feeling was also in Salamanca, who preferred the safetie of himselfe and of that which he had got F in long seruice, before all credit and honour, were it neuer so great. This their purpose was not kept so secret, but that it was noised abroad amongst the common souldiours, of whom almost the third part was now either slaine, or with wounds or sicknesse growne weake: yet were they all of opinion generally, That they were still strong ynough to defend the towne. But the vnder captaines and auntients vsing to flatter their Generals, liked well of the motion, to yeeld vnto [Page] Solyman vpon reasonable conditions, rather than to expose themselues to most certaine death,G which should nothing better king Ferdinands cause. Not long after, an Auntient was by night let downe ouer the wall: and hauing by an interpreter receiued the Turks faith, called forth Salamanca, that he might vpon better conditions goe thorow with them for the yeelding vp of the towne. [...]alamanca goeth [...] of [...] parley with the Turks about the yeelding vp of the same. Who without further delay comming out, went to Achomates; commaunding before he went them which defended the water tower next vnto the riuer side, a place of great danger, for safegard of their liues to get themselues into the citie: who terrified with that newes, and hastily retiring, were by the vigilant Turks which lay at the siege thereof, perceiued, who suddenly breaking in, slew such as were not yet gone, & possessed the castle. But Salamanca being brought before the great Bassaes, when he had stood vpon many nice tearmes, and required many things to haue beene graunted him, obtained no more, but that they should without delay yeeld vp the H citie, and put themselues wholly to the mercie of Solyman. So the Spaniard being there stayed, himselfe writ to Liscanus, how he had sped; willing him forthwith, if he loued his owne safetie, to yeeld the citie, without standing vpon further tearmes. Liscanus vpon receit of these letters comming forth to the souldiors, declared vnto them the necessitie of yeelding vp of the towne, and what hope there was to escape with life and libertie. But whilest the souldiors filled with indignation, stood as men in doubt what to doe, Halis commaunder of the Ianizaries came vnto the gate, and with cheerefull rather than sterne countenance required to haue it opened vnto him according to the agreement made by Salamanca in the campe;Strigonium yeelded to the Turks by Liscanus the Spaniard. which was forthwith opened by Liscanus, and the keyes deliuered vnto him: the Ianizaries entring peaceably into the citie, possessed themselues of the wals and fortresses round about, commaunding the Christian souldiors to I giue place, out of whom they chose all the beardlesse youths, and commaunded the rest to cast downe their harquebusiers and other weapons in a place appointed, which they all for feare did, expecting nothing but some cruell execution to be done vpon them by the barbarous enemie. Which their feare was the more encreased by a strange accident, then vnluckily chancing: For whilest the souldiors did as they were commaunded, with their harquebusiers cast their flask [...]s full of pouder also, one of them suddenly tooke fire of a match, which was by chance cast in amongst them with fire in it, which firing the rest, blew abroad all that heape of weapons amongst the Turks, which so filled them with anger and feare of some sudden trecherie, that they fell vpon the Christians, & slew diuers of them: vntill such time as Halis persuaded that it was a thing happened rather by chance than mallice, commaunded his Ianizaries to stay their furie. This tumult K appeased, Halis caused proclamation to be made, That all such Christian soldiors as would serue Solyman in his warres, should haue such place in his armie as their qualitie required, with bountifull entertainement: yet of all the Christian souldiors were found onely seuentie, which carefull of their liues, accepted the offer; fearing that the Turkes would vpon such as refused exercise their wonted crueltie. Halis entertaining them courteously, sent them away with the other youths whom he had before culled out, downe the riuer to BVDA: the other souldiors he tooke into his protection, and vsed their labour to helpe the Turks to make cleane the castle. But Liscanus, who to saue his gold, had made shipwrack of his honour and reputation, was glad to giue vnto Halis the faire chaine of gold, which he had most couetously and insolently before taken from Perenus; when as Halis, who would otherwise haue taken it from him by force, by way of L militarie courtesie, now craued it of him, as a strange kind of ornament amongst the Turks: with which gift he was in hope to haue saued the rest of his coine.Liscanus the couetous Spaniard merrily stript of all his wealth by Halis, captaine of the Ianizaries. But fortune fauoured not so much the couetous coward: For when he was about to depart away with his horses of seruice, which he kept very good, and had cunningly stuffed the saddles full of gold, thinking so slyly to haue conueyed it; the Turke laughing at him, tooke from him his horses furnished as they were, saying, That he which was to goe by water, needed no horses. So was the couetous wretch at once quit of the great wealth which he had in long time euill gotten. The captaines, with the rest of the souldiors dispoiled of their armes, were conueyed ouer the riuer of Danubius, and so trauelled on foot to POSSONIVM: where the countie Salme by the commaundement of the king apprehended Liscanus, Salamanca, and some other of the captaines for suspition of treason, and M committed them to safe custodie, there to answere for their cowardly yeelding vp of the citie.

Solyman entreth into Strigonium, and there setteth vp the Mahometane superstition. Solyman entred into STRIGONIVM the tenth of August in the yeare 1543, and there conuerting the Christian churches into temples for the Mahometane superstition, first sacrificed for his victorie, as he had before done in BVDA: and after with all speed so strongly fortified the citie, [Page] A as if he would thereby for euer haue taken from the Christians all hope of recouering the same againe; deriding the slouthfull negligence of the Germans, who possessed of it foureteene years, had neglected all that time to fortifie it. Not long after, Solyman leauing Ossainus a valiant captaine gouernour of STRIGONIVM, and sending his Tartarian horsemen to spoile the countrey on the left hand, as farre as ALBA REGALIS; went himselfe to besiege the castle of TATTA, called in auntient time THEODATA. The garrison souldiours terrified with the losse of STRIGONIVM, and the sight of the Turkes armie, vpon the first summons yeelded the castle without resistance, and were so suffered quietly to depart. That castle after the manner of the Turkish discipline (who with few and those very strong holds keepe their prouinces in subjection) was by Solymans commaundement presently rased downe to the ground. Torniellus Generall of the Italians, B caused Hanniball, A cowardly captaine worth [...]ly rewarded. captaine of the castle, to haue his head strucke off for his cowardly yeelding vp of the peece he had taken charge of: thereby to admonish others, which had the charge of strong places, not to refuse an honourable death in defence of their countrey, for feare of an ignominious death attending their cowardise.

TATTA thus layd in the dust,Solyman goeth to Alba Regali [...]. Solyman marched with his armie towards ALBA, surnamed REGALIS, for that the kings of HVNGARIE by an auntient custome vsed to be there crowned, and also buried. BVDA, STRIGONIVM, and ALBA REGALIS, three principall cities of the kingdome of HVNGARIE stand in manner of a triangle, almost equally distant one from another, about a hundred miles in compasse. BVDA and STRIGONIVM are si [...]at vpon the riuer of Danubius: but ALBA standeth more into the land, strongly seated in the midst of a great lake, C but not so wholesomely, especially in the Summer time, the Winter waters then decreasing, and grosse vapours arising with the heat of the Sunne.The description of Alba Regal [...] ▪ From the citie thorow the marrish or lake vnto the firme land, lie three broad and high causeyes (in manner of the strakes of a cart wheele) well built with faire houses and gardens on either side, and a broad way in the middle whereby men passe in and out of the citie. At the end of euery causey towards the land were cast vp strong bulwarkes, which the citisens vsed not to watch but in dangerous times of warre: so that by these bulwarkes, the houses of the suburbs standing vpon these causies, were safe from the danger of the enemie, the lake filling vp all the spaces betwixt the causies: which, what for the depth, what for mud, flaggs, and bulrushes growing in it, was not by horse or man to be passed thorow. And the citie it selfe standing in the middest of the lake, compassed round about with a D strong wall, and a deepe ditch alwayes full of water, was hardly to be besieged: for which causes a great number of the countrey people vpon the comming of Solyman, fled into it with their cattell, as vnto a most sure hold. In the citie lay in garrison two companies of Germans, and two hundred horsemen, vnto whom were joyned fiue hundred Hungarian horsemen, such as in time of peace liued by robbing, and are by an infamous name called Vsarous: vnto these, the Italian countie Torniellus, who with his Italians was come as farre as IAVARINVM, or RAB, sent foure captaines with their companies, such as were most forward in that seruice: after whom followed Barcocius, captaine of the kings guard, with a companie of horsemen, appointed by the king for Generall. Who was no sooner come into the citie, but news was brought of Solymans approch. Whereupon he in hast called together the other captaines, with Birrous then maior of the citie, E and other the cheefe citisens, to consult with them, What was best to be done for the defence of the citie, but especially, Whether the suburbes of the citie, standing vpon those three broad causies, were to be destroyed or not? that so the citie standing in the middest of the great marrish, might both with lesse labour and danger be defended. This question was seriously debated, and great reasons alleadged on both sides:The citisens of Alba will not suffer the citie [...] be destroyed. at last the citisens cried out with one voice against the matter, and said, That they would neuer suffer those goodly suburbs, wherein were so many churches and faire buildings as might compare with the citie it selfe, to be so shamefully destroied, to the vtter vndoing of so many rich citisens: for what could be (said they) more dishonourable or lamentable, than to the encouraging of the barbarous enemie, to shew such a token of extreame feare; and with their owne hands to burne and destroy those stately buildings, which might by F strong hand be well enough defended against the enemie, if they did not play the shamefull cowards. Of which opinion with the citisens was also Octauianus Serosactus an Italian captaine, alleadging that both the citie and the suburbs might both with like danger be defended: forasmuch as they were equally fortified with the benefit of the marrish; and if the worst should happen, the defendants might yet safely enough retire into the citie. At last standing vp as one thrust forward, [Page] both with the publicke hard fortune and his owne, said, Valiant gentlemen, what shew will G you giue of your valour, or what honour shall you haue of your seruice? If you shall defend so famous a citie, by deforming of it your selues, and cutting off the suburbes, as it were the armes thereof, before the danger, vpon too hastie desperation? Verily you shall doe nothing, either in the seruice of the king or the honour of your selues, except this citie (if God so please) be of you whole and sound valiantly defended. Vpon this speech they all arise, the wiser sort and of greatest experience giuing place to the importunitie of the ignorant and simple. Barcotius himselfe full of care, and ouercome with the vaine opinion of the greater part, yeelded also vnto that fatall resolution of sauing the suburbes. For it often falleth out, that they who wisely weighing dangers in the ballance of reason, and doe therefore fearefully resolue of the euent of things, and doe thereupon oftentimes giue more hard and resolute iudgement of things than men of greater courage; yeeld neuerthelesse to be H partakers of other mens follies, yea euen to most assured death, rather than by maintaining their fearfull opinion to be deemed cowards. So fell it out with Barcotius the Generall, who setting a good countenance on the matter which nothing liked him, went out to the souldiours, declaring vnto them the reasons why the suburbes were to be defended: exhorting them with like valor on their parts to answere that honourable resolution, promising to prouide whatsoeuer should be necessarie for the obtaining of the victorie; assuring them of great rewards and preferment, which should by their good seruice deserue the same. Hereupon the suburbes were by the common labour of the souldiors and the citisens quickly fortified, the great ordinance in places conuenient orderly planted, and watch and ward kept by the captaines and their companies by their turnes day and night. But the Turks drawing neere to the citie, bent their forces onely against the suburbes I of the gate leading towards BVDA: for that they perceiued the marrish was in that place drier than in the other, and the sandie ground more vnfit for the making of bulwarkes and other fortifications for the safetie of the defendants, than in the other places where the ground yeelded better turfe. Barcotius perceiuing the enemies purpose, drew all the Italians and Germanes from the other gates into the suburbes of the gate of BVDA, leauing the countrey people which were fled into the citie, and the citisens, in their places. At the first comming of the Turkes, the Hungarian and Germane horsemen, with the Italian footmen, sallied out of the suburbes, and after certaine light skirmishes retired. Which manner of fight was continued by the space of three daies without any great harme done on either side: for the captaines had warily commaunded, That the souldiors should not aduenture out too farre. But after that Solyman himselfe was come, and K had with the multitude of his tents beset the citie farre and neere, to the terrour of the beholders; the Christians shut vp all the gates, and sallied out no more. Which thing caused the wild Hungarian Vsarous, vsed to open skirmishes, to prouide for themselues in time, and not to suffer themselues to be coupt vp (as they tearmed) within the wals of the citie: So for fashion sake, asking leaue to be gone (who were not against their wils to be stayed) they by night departed, being not to bee entreated by the Generall or citisens to stay, and by knowne wayes escaped thorow the woods from the enemie. In the meane time the Turkes were come with their winding trenches within shot, and with their arrowes and small shot so scoured the top of the bulwarke, that no man could there possibly appeare but he was straight wounded: and such was the furie of the great artillerie, that it had in short time battered in sunder the plankes and timber which kept in L the sandie mould, whereof the fortresse was made, more for shew than for strength; in such sort, that the great shot flying quite thorow all, slew and wounded many that were a far off: in which distresse of the defendants,The Turks with incredible labour fill vp the ditches and lake, and by plaine force assault the bulwarke of the sub [...]rbes towards [...]. the Turkes Asapi with small danger filled vp the ditches of the bulwarke, and diuers places of the marrish with earth and wood, which they brought continually from a wood thereby with six hundred waggons, so that in the space of twelue dayes they had made a firme way for them to passe ouer vpon, both to the bulwarke and the suburbes; a worke before thought impossible to haue been performed. The ditches thus filled vp, the Turkes valiantly came on, seeking by plaine force to enter the bulwarke. First came on the Asapi, whom as men of least worth the Turks captaines vse to thrust to the first danger: After whom followed the horsemen, now on foot, with swords and targuets, or else their horsemens staues, couering the M Ianizaries, who vpon their knees with their harquebusiers sore gauled the defendants. This hot fight endured aboue three houres with equall hope and courage: but the Turkes still relieued with fresh souldiors, repulsed the Christians, and gained the vttermost bulwarke: neuerthelesse, the Italian fort was that day valiantly defended, the very women and religious helping to defend [Page] A it:A notable act of an Hung [...]ia [...] woman. in which assault a tall Hungarian woman, whose courage farre exceeded the weakenesse of her sex, thrusting in amongst the souldiours vpon the top of the fort, with a great sythe in her hand, at one blow strucke off two of the Turks heads, as they were climing vp the rampier. This assault was giuen the nine and twentieth of August, on which day the Turkes had before taken B [...]LGRADE, and also slaine king Lewes at the battell of MOHACHZ; and were therefore after their superstitious manner in obseruation of their fortunat and vnfortunat dayes, in good hope to haue then taken the citie: wherein they were much deceiued, being not able at that time further to enter, but enforced againe to retire. Wherewith Solyman offended, sent for Abraham, Achomates, and Halis (the cheefe captaines in that assault) into his tent, and reprooued them sharpely, for that the bulwarke being so valiantly and fortunatly woon, they had not with more B courage prosecuted the victorie, but cowardly (as he thought) giuen it ouer, being in a manner alreadie woon: and therefore with sterne countenance commaunded them to prepare all things readie within three dayes for a fresh assault, and neuer to returne vnto him, except they did win the citie. Whereunto the captaines answered no more (for were they neuer so guiltlesse, they might not before him stand to excuse themselues) but that they would in short time accomplish his desire. Wherefore hauing made all readie, and encouraged the souldiors to this last assault, they terribly assailed the rampiers, and brought a great feare vpon the defendants: for taking the benefit of a thick mist (as it oftentimes chanceth in marrish grounds) they were with great silence (contrarie to their manner) got vp to the top of the rampiers,The suburbes of Alba Regal [...] w [...]on by the Turkes. and come to handy blows, before they were well discouered. The fight was for the time fierce and terrible: but the Ianizaries preuailing, C at length put the Germanes to flight, and after them the Italians also, so that now well was he that could run fastest towards the citie. But that their hastie flight little auailed, when as they were to passe out by a little narrow gate in manner of a wicket: and they in the citie, without regard of them that fled, had plucked vp the draw bridge ouer the ditch. For naturally it commeth oftentimes to passe, that the feare of the present danger, without blushing excuseth our foule dealing. So the barbarous and fierce enemie pursuing the flying Christians at the heeles all the length of those suburbes with most cruell execution, many notable men, some fighting, some flying, were there slaine: amongst whom was Octauianus Serosactus, author of the euill counsell whereof ensued that calamitie. Barcotius the Generall flying on horsebacke to the little gate▪ which was not to be passed thorow, and crying in vaine to them that fled, to haue the great D gate opened, was by the comming in of Ianizaries slaine: whose head and right hand full of rich rings▪ The miserable slaughter of the flying Christian [...] ▪ was by the barbarous enemie carried about in derision vpon a launce. The rest of the flying multitude finding the little gate shut vp with the bodies of the dead, and the bridge maliciously drawne vp, desperatly threw themselues into the deepe ditch; where some of them labouring to swim out, were caught by the legs and armes by other that could not swim, and both together drowned. Some hardly crauling ouer, were shot in the head or backe with the Turkes arrowes: othersome sticking fast in the mud, were as if it had beene in sport shot to death by the Turkes: some few there was which got ouer, and were saued.

There was yet left in the citie the Generall of the German horsemen, and Vscasades of CR [...] MONA, an Italian captaine; these two gathering the remainder of the souldiors which were left, E placed them vpon the wals: but the citisens were strucke with such a feare, that they could not tell which way to turne themselues. For now Birrous the maior, with the aldermen and other chiefe citisens, seeing the slaughter of the Italians and Germans, were so ouercome with despaire, that they thought no hope of their well doing was to be reposed in making of any farther resistance, but onely in the mercie of Solyman. Wherefore Birrous spake vnto the Turks from the wall,Embassadour [...] sen [...] to Solyman, to entreat vpon conditions for the yeelding of the citie. That he might safely send embassadours to Solyman, to intreat with him vpon reasonable conditions, for the yeelding vp of the citie: which thing Achomates easily granted. With these embassadours for the citisens, went also the generals of the German horsemen, and Carolus Rufus an Italian captaine (who of all others had borne himselfe most valiantly in all the assaults, to the great admiration of the Turks) to intreat for the safetie and libertie of the souldiors. The embassadours F being brought before the great Bassaes, requested, That yeelding the citie, the citisens might enjoy their liues and libertie: whereunto they were so answered, as that it seemed they should not all be pardoned; yet was the generall feare well diminished, for that the punishment respected but some few. Rufus was courteously entertained▪ and easily obtained, that the Italians might in safetie depart with bag and baggage to VIENNA: the like grace also obtained the [Page] Generall of the Germans for his soldiors. Solyman the eunuch Bassa, offered vnto Rufus honourable G entertainment, if he would haue serued Solyman: which when he refused as bound to king Ferdinand by oath, in honour of his valour he gaue him a rich cloake wrought with flowers of gold. The embassadours returning into the citie, and telling how they had sped, deliuered the citisens of a great feare. Shortly after the citie being yeelded, Achomates by open proclamation in the market place, commaunded the Italians and Germans to make themselues readie against the next day to depart, and to take good heed that no Hungarian went with them: hee also straightly charged the citisens to keepe their houses, vntill the strange souldiors were departed. At the time appointed, the Italians and Germans set forward, conducted by Homares with a companie of the Turks horsemen, who faithfully defended them against the Tartares, running vp and downe the countrey after spoile: neither was any thing taken from them but their dags,H which the German horsemen after a new fashion carried at their saddle bowes; these the Turks greatly desired, delighted with the noueltie of the inuention, to see them shot off with a firelocke without a match. But after the departure of Homares, they were in their trauell set vpon by the Hungarians, with whom they had many hoat skirmishes, and had hardly escaped vnspoiled, had they not been rescued by the kings souldiors lying in garrison in the castles as they passed alongst the countrey. The few which remained, after many troubles came at last to VIENNA, more like ghoasts than men.

Solyman entring quietly into the citie, first visited the sepulchers of the Hungarian kings, and gaue out proclamation,Solyman entreth into Alba Regalis. That the Hungarians should feare of him no harme; for that he was not come to conquer them, but to deliuer them from the bondage of the Germans, and so to restore I againe that entire kingdome vnto Stephen the right heire of king Iohn. Solyman causeth the chiefe citisens of Alba Regalis to be slaine. But within three or foure daies after, he called out the chiefe citisens into a field not farre off, wherein the bodies of condemned men were woont to be buried, as if he would haue there taken an oath of them for their fidelitie: whither, after they were all assembled in the best manner they could, as to some solemn feast, the cruell tyrant (without regard of his faith or promise) caused them all to be slaine. Howbeit some report, that he caused them onely to be put to death which bare office in the citie, at such time as they reuolted from the obedience of the queene and the infant king, vnto Ferdinand, and had then brought in German souldiors; and that he sent the rest into exile to BVDA and BELGRADE. So Solyman leauing Ba [...]ibeius gouernour of ALBA REGALIS; and Mahometes sometime gouernour of BELGRADE,Solyman returneth to Constantinople. his lieutenant generall for the whole gouernment of that K kingdome, returned againe toward CONSTANTINOPLE, Winter now beginning to approach: after he had that Sommer woon S [...]IGONIVM and ALBA REGALIS, two of the chiefest cities of HVNGARIE. All this while king Ferdinand had raised no power worth the speaking of, to withstand so mightie an enemie; onely at VIENNA lay seauen thousand Germans and foure thousand Italians, at such time as Solyman departed from ALBA REGALIS, which were shortly after discharged.

Whilest Solyman thus lay at the siege of ALBA REGALIS, he sent his Tartarian horsemen which serued him to small purpose in the siege, to spoile the countrey round about: these sauage people doing much harme, were in diuers places circumuented by the Hungarians, and about three thousand of them slaine: one of them being taken prisoner, had found in his knapsacke L halfe a child, of about two yeares old, the loathsome remainder of his barbarous feeding.

Barbarussa all this while lying with his fleet (as we haue before said) at MARSEIL [...]ES fretted exceedingly, that he had to his dishonour vndertaken so long a voyage by sea, to pleasure him which was not able (as he said) to direct his owne dessignes to any certaine resolution▪ but shamefully suffered the best time of the yeare for seruice, negligently to passe away without any thing doing▪ the blame wherof would (as he said) be imputed to him at CONSTANTINOPLE: and that Solyman, who desired to aid the king his friend and confederat, and by all [...]eanes to annoy his enemies, would take in euill part to haue it reported, that he had with so great charge set out so great a fleet, and so far off, to helpe his friend hardly beset with his enemies, and [...] done nothing: besides that, he tooke on like a Turke, that he, who in time of seruice, neuer vsed M negligently to let slip the least opportunitie, should now blemish his former credit and esti [...]ation, by lying still all that Sommer in the harbour of MARSEILLES, where his souldiors grew lazie with doing nothing. Wherefore Polinus going to the king, told him of the proud Turkes great discontentment for lacke of imploimen [...] and returning to Barbarussa, brought o [...]der from [Page] A the king, that he should lay siege to NICE a citie of PROVINCE, then holden by the Duke of SAVOY. This citie standing vpon the sea, was by one of the French kings for a great sum of money pawned vnto the duke: which money king Francis had many times offered to haue repaid, but could neuer get the citie out of the dukes hands. Vnto which seruice, the French king sent also his fleet of two and twentie gallies and eighteene ships, wherein were embarked eight thousand footmen, and victuall for many daies. This fleet departing from MARSEILLIS, keeping close by the shoare, came to the port called MONOC; whither two daies after came Barbarussa also with an hundred and fiftie gallies. From thence Polinus by commandement from the king, writ vnto the State of GENVA, That they should not feare of that great fleet any hostilitie, which was not to hurt any but them of NICE, and not them neither if they would yeeld themselues. B For more assurance whereof, he obtained of the Turks diuers GENVA captiues, which had long time been chained in their gallies, and courteously set them at libertie, and sent them home without raunsome. After that, he friendly exhorted the citisens of NICE, to yeeld themselues againe vnto their auntient and lawfull prince, renowned for his bountie and power; rather than to aduenture their state to all extremities for that poore and distressed duke, who betweene the emperor and the French king, despoiled of the greatest part of his dominions, saw no other end of his miseries, but to leaue that little which yet remained, as a prey to the one or the other that should first lay hand thereon. Whereunto the magistrates of the towne answered, That they knew no other prince or soueraigne, but Charles their duke: wherefore he should desist farther to solicite them by letters or messengers, whom they would make no other account of but as of their C enemies.Nice in Prouinc [...] besieged by the French and the Turkes. Wherefore the Frenchmen and Turks landing their forces, laid siege to the towne in three places. The citisens had but a little before newly fortified their wals, by the direction of Paulus Simeon, captaine of the castle, and one of the knights of the RHODES, a man of great experience; who long before taken at sea by pirats, had sometime serued Barbarussa, and therefore persuaded the citisens as resolute men to withstand the Turks. Which, that they should more constantly performe, he tooke their wiues and children, and weaker sort of the people into the castle; and from thence furnished the citisens with all things necessarie for their defence. The citie was at once in diuers places battered by the Turks and French, both by sea and land: so that at last the Turks had beaten downe one of the new built bulwarks, and made so faire a breach, that with their ensignes displaied, they attempted to haue entred: whose forwardnes Leo Strozza D(then seruing the French king with a band of Italians) imitating, sought to haue entred also: but the citisens standing valiantly vpon their defence, manfully repulsed both the Turkes and Italians, and caused them with losse to retire. In this assault were slaine about an hundred Turkes; and of Strozza his souldiors two and twentie. Presently after, Barbarussa with all his force began a fresh batterie, in such terrible manner, that the citisens seeing their wals in diuers places opened, and the few souldiors they had, sore wounded, and no hope to be in conuenient time relieued; began to parley with the French Generall from the wall,The citisens craue parley, and a [...]ter yeeld the citie. concerning the yeelding vp of the citie; vpon condition, that they might in all respects liue vnder the French king as they had done vnder the duke: for performance whereof, the Generall gaue them his faith. But Polinus fearing least the Turks should violate this composition, and for greefe of the losse of their fellowes, or E for hope of the spoile breake into the citie, entreated Barbarussa to recall his souldiours, and to cause them to goe abourd his gallies. For which cause not long after, the Ianizaries, as men deceiued of their hoped prey, were about to haue slaine both Polinus and Strozza, as they came from talking with Barbarussa.

The citie thus yeelded,The castle besieged. they began to consult for the taking of the castle: the performance whereof consisted first in the assailing of the castle it selfe, and then in defending of the citie from the sudden sallies of them in the castle; and likewise in defending of them which besieged the castle, so that no enemie should come to raise the siege: of which two things, Barbarussa put the French to choice which they would take, shewing himselfe readie either to besiege the castle, or to keepe the field. The French standing in doubt of which to make choice, the proud old Turk F scorning their slow resolution, and them also, as men vnfit for the readie accomplishment of any martiall exploit; caused seuen pieces of batterie, whereof two were of wonderfull greatnesse, to be placed in a trice in place most conuenient, and the same quickly entrenched and fortified, to the great admiration of the French: with which pieces he had quickly beaten downe the battlements of the wals, and centenell houses, so that no man was able to shew himselfe vpon the wals. [Page] The Frenchmen likewise on the other side did with their great ordinance continually batter the G castle: but with long shooting they came to such want of shot and pouder, that Polinus was glad to request, that he might either borrow or buy some of Barbarussa: whereat the Turke fretted and fumed exceedingly, That they should in their owne countrey stand in need of his prouision, who at MARSEILLES had better fraughted their ships with wine, than with necessaries for the warres. For the rough and seuere old Turke could not forbeare to taunt them, and oftentimes complained, that he was deluded with the hope of great matters which Polinus had promised at CONSTANTINOPLE; and that in such a rage, that he would threaten to lay hands vpon Polinus, who had brought him from CONSTANTINOPLE thither, whereas he must either lose his honour, or hauing spent his shot and pouder, expose himselfe and his fleet to all dangers. Wherefore being exceeding angrie with the French,Barbarussa in his rage threateneth to lay hand [...] on Polinus, and to returne forthwith to Constantinople. he suddenly called a counsell of his captaines H & other cheefe officers, giuing it out, That he would presently return toward CONSTANTINOPLE, seeing that among these cowardly and vnskilfull men (as it pleased him to tearme them) he found nothing readie or according to promise. Yet for all that, when he had chafed his fill, by the faire entreatance and large promises of the French Generall and Polinus together, the wayward old man was persuaded to change his mind, and to continue the siege. But he was yet scarcely well pacified, and his mind set againe vpon the siege, but letters were intercepted from the great captaine Alphon sus Vastius, to Paulus captaine of the castle, wherein he requested him to hold out a while against the enemie, vntill that he, who had alreadie sent before his light horsmen, might come also himselfe with his men at armes, who were vpon the way alongst the Alps by the sea side, and would in two dayes with the slaughter of the Turkes put him and his castle I out of all feare and danger. Which thing once bruted in the campe, such a great and sudden feare came vpon the Turks and Frenchmen, the night following (the more to terrifie them) prouing by chance very rainie and tempestuous; that they all forsooke their trenches and great ordinance, and laying downe their weapons, by narrow pathes climing ouer the top of the high mountaine, came downe headlong to the sea side to the fleet. But the day appearing, and no enemie to be seene, they were ashamed of that they had done, and came againe to the siege. Not long after,The Turkes and French giue ouer the sieg [...] of the castle of Nice, and set [...]ire on the citie. when as the castle in all mens judgement was hardly to be battered, and standing vpon a firme rocke, was not but in long time with hard labour and doubtfull successe to be vndermined, it was generally thought good to raise the siege. The Turkes vpon their departure brake into the citie, and when they had taken the spoile thereof, set it on fire.K

Barbarussa retiring with his fleet to ANTIPOLIS, came to anker at the Island L [...]RINA, called of the marriners MARGARITA; at which time Vastius and the duke of SAVOY, with Auria his fleet arriued at VILLA FRANCA: in the entrance of which hauen, the gallie wherein Vastius went, was like to haue beene lost. Foure other gallies by force of sudden tempest were driuen vpon the rockes, and so suddenly beaten in peeces with the surge of the sea, that the gally-slaues had not leisure to strike off their yrons, but were there all drowned, and all the ordinance lost. Polinus vnderstanding this distresse of the enemie, sent one Petrus Angelus to Barbarussa, to shew him the occasion offered, and to persuade him with all speed to hast thither with his fleet, as to a most assured victorie. Barbarussa seemed to like well of the motion, and promised to goe, yet he mooued not, letted as it was thought with the contrarie wind, which then blew hard L at East, and with the roughnesse of the sea. But the wind being fallen, and the sea become calme, and he contrarie to his wonted manner making no hast, set slowly forward, and being a little on his way, came againe to an anker, and went no further; the Sanzackes and other captaines first maruelling,Barbarussa derided by the Turks captaines. and afterward laughing thereat, scoffingly said, That Barbarussa did but reason to deale kindly with Auria, as his brother and friend of his owne profession, for that he had some yeares before receiued the like friendship at his hands, in letting him escape at HIPPONA, which he now honestly paid him againe. Whereunto Barbarussa both then and afterwards at CONSTANTINOPLE answered no otherwise,His answere to their [...]aun [...]s. but, That he being an old commander, and halfe blind, saw more in the matter than all those greene captaines with their sharpe sight. Not long after, he returned againe towards MARSEILLES, and put into the hauen of TOLON, called in antient M time TAVRENTA. Vastius and the duke comming to NICE, commended the captaine of the castle, and wondering at the cunning manner of the Turks fortifications, preferred them in that point before the Christians. Barbarussa lying with his fleet at TOLON, and by the kings officers entertained with all possible courtesie, deliuered fiue and twentie gallies to Salec the famous pyrat, [Page] A and Assanes his nigh kinsman, who passing the bay of NAR [...]ONA, rifled certaine townes in SPAINE, standing vpon the sea coast, and about the promontorie of Venus, called of the marriners CREVM, tooke great prize, and in the hauen of PALAMOS tooke one marchant ship and a gallie: with which prey they passed ouer to ALGIERS, as they were commaunded, there to winter, and with the first of the Spring to returne againe to Barbarussa in PROVINCE. That Winter Barbarussa repairing his fleet; was furnished with many necessaries by the Genowayes, and especially by Auria himselfe, who vnder the colour of redeeming of prisoners, willingly furnished the Turke with such things as he wanted: for although he professed himselfe one of the emperours captaines, yet would he not shew an enemies mind by the vnseasonable deniall of a little sea furniture, least in so doing he should haue hurt his natiue country of GENVA▪ which he B saw then subject to the injurie of so great a fleet so nigh at hand. But leaue we now Barbarussa to Winter in PROVINCE, and with the course of time turne a little out of the way, to see in Muleasses king of TVNES the small assurance the greatest haue in highest place of worldly honour.

This Mahometane king once before thrust out of his kingdome by Barbarussa, and restored againe by Charles the emperour (as is before declared) hearing of his comming with this great fleet, and imagining nothing lesse than that he should come to the aid of the most Christian king, doubted (not without cause) least it was prepared against himselfe. Besides that, diuers great cities of his kingdome, namely CONSTANTINA, MAHEMEDIA, and MAHOMETA (called in auntient time CYRTHA) LEPTIS, and ADRVMENTVM, were then holden by the Turkes; Barbarussa his fauourits:Muleasses fearing the cōming of Barbarussa, departeth from Tunes into Italy to craue aid of Charles the emperour. wherefore fearing the worst, about the same time that Barbarussa: was C sayling alongst the coast of ITALIE, he passed ouer into SICILIE, to haue met the emperour at GENVA, and to haue obtained of him greater aid against the Turks. At his departure out of AFFRICK [...], hee committed the tuition of his kingdome to such valiant men as hee supposed would haue beene vnto him most faithfull: First he appointed Mahometes, then Maniphaet, to gouerne the citie; and Corsus otherwise called Fares, his old seruant, to keepe the castle; leauing Mahometes his brother and Fares his sonne, with Touarres a Spaniard (captaine of the castle of GVLETTA) as pledges, the one of his brothers, the other of his fathers faith: but vnto Amida (his sonne) he committed the leading of his men of war for the defence of his kingdome against the Turks and Numidians. As hee was passing out of SICILIA to haue met the emperour at GENVA, he was by contrarie winds driuen first to CAIETA, and afterwards to NAPLES, where D he was by the viceroy honourably entertained, and a house appointed for him richly furnished. The Neapolitanes wondering at the strange attire of the people, with the manner of their feeding, and curious plentie of all manner of sweet perfumes: for into euery dish they put in odors of exceeding price; so that it was well knowne, that a peacocke and two feisants, dressed after the manner of the kings kitchin,Costly dishes. cost aboue an hundred duckats: so that not onely the dining chamber, when they were carued vp, but all the house was so filled with the strange and fragrant smell, that all they that dwelt neere thereabouts, were partakers of the pleasure of that vnusuall and delicat perfume. From NAPLES he was about to haue trauelled by land to the emperour, being then in conference with the Pope at BVXETVM (fearing to aduenture the sea, possessed by his enemies fleet) had not the emperour by his letters willed him to stay still where hee was▪ But E whilest he made his abode at NAPLES, and carefully attended what course Barbarussa would take, who furnished with so great a fleet was departed from NICE, disappointed of his purpose, he was by certaine messengers aduertised out of AFFRICKE,Amida riseth against Muleasses his father, and vsurpeth the kingdome of Tunes. That Amida his sonne was risen vp against him, and possessing himselfe of the kingdome, had slaine his captaines, polluted his wiues, and taken the castle of TVNES. With which newes he being exceedingly troubled, determined without delay to passe ouer into AFFRICKE, and though late, yet as he might to remedie his domesticall troubles, in hope to oppresse that rebellion in the beginning, and his sonne also, before he could gather any strength to rest vpon. Wherefore he with all the hast hee could opened his cofers, and entertained souldiors, the viceroy giuing leaue to all such banished men as would to come and giue their names, to passe ouer as souldiors into AFFRICKE: vpon report F whereof, such a number of malefactors & condemned persons came flocking to NAPLES, that it was thought a sufficient armie might haue beene made of such kind of men; euery one of them chusing rather to enter into pay, and blot out the infamie of banishment, and proue the fortune of warres, than to liue wandering vp and downe in the woods, and in danger euery houre to be hanged. Of these infamous men, one Ioannes Baptista Lofredius (a man well borne, but of a [Page] fierce and couetous disposition) vndertooke the leading: he couenanting with Muleasses to G haue three moneths pay before hand,Muleasses returneth into Affrick to Guletta. leuied eighteene hundred men, which he presently shipped; and keeping the greatest part of their pay to himselfe, passed ouer with the king into AFFRICKE, and landed at GVLETTA. But how Amida rise vp against his father, and what was the end of that bloudie rebellion, shall not be amisse briefely to rehearse. There were certaine noble men of great authoritie about Amida when Muleasses departed, which at their pleasure ruled the young prince, who easily harkened vnto their counsell, and followed the same: the chiefe of these was one Mahometes, sonne of Bohamer, who in the raigne of Mahometes, Muleasses his father, was Maniphet, whom Muleasses (possessed of the kingdome) put shamefully to death by cutting off his priuities, because he had by hastie marriage deceiued him of Rhahamana, a maiden of incomparable beautie, the daughter of Abderomen captaine of the castle, whom he H most passionatly loued: for which cruell fact, Mahometes his sonne had of long time conceiued a deadly hatred against Muleasses, which he had many yeares dissembled, that he might as occasion serued be the more cruelly reuenged. Next vnto him was another Mahometes surnamed Adulzes, whom Muleasses was wont commonly to call his worst seruant. These two with a few others conspiring togither, gaue it out, that Muleasses was dead at NAPLES, and before his death had most irreligiously (as they accounted it) reuolted to the Christian religion. With which report they perceiuing Amida moued, came vnto him and persuaded him quickly to enter into his fathers seat, least Mahometes his younger brother then lying in hostage with the Christians at GVLETTA, should by the fauour and helpe of Touarres, whose garrison was euer readie, be preferred before him. For Mahometes was eighteene yeares old, resembling his grandfather I in name, fauour, and disposition, and therefore of the citisens of TVNES best beloued: wherefore Amida came in post hast out of the campe to TVNES, to lay first hand vpon his fathers kingdome. The people which as yet had heard nothing of the kings death, receiued him with doubtfull countenance: and as many stood maruelling that he was so rashly come into the citie without his fathers commaundement, Mahometes (appointed by Muleasses to gouerne the citie) came out and sharpely reproued him as guiltie of high treason, persuading him to returne againe vnto the campe:Amida thru [...] out of Tunes. and seeing him stay, by force of the multitude thrust him out of the citie. Amida deceiued of his expectation, got him out of the way into the pleasant country of MARTIA, betweene VTICA and the ruins of old CARTHAGE. But Mahometes Gouernour of the citie, after he had repulsed Amida, got him with all speed by water to Touarres at GVLETTA, to K know of him more assuredly, if any such euill newes were brought from SICILIE of the death of the king; and to complaine of the rashnesse and intollerable presumption of Amida. Where staying somewhat long in discoursing with the captaine, and afterwards returning to the citie, he was suspected to haue practised with the captaine, to make Mahometes (the pledge in GVLETTA) king in his fathers steed; for so the common voice went. The Moores are by nature a faithlesse people, vnconstant, hastie, suspitious, desirous of newes, which true or false, they for the time interpret as serueth best their factions, whereunto they are exceedingly giuen: So at the first there rise in the citie a doubtfull rumour of the making of a new king; the suspition wherof more and more encreasing, set all the citie on an vprore. By occasion whereof, certaine of the citisens to whom the verie name of Muleasses was odious, speedily certified Amida (then in the L gardens of MARTIA, sighing and grieuing at his hard fortune) how all stood, and that now was the time to doe himselfe good. He reuiued with that vnexpected newes, and encouraged by the persuasion of Bohamar and Adulzes, and other his followers; resolued to take hold vpon that good offer of fortune which would not alwaies frowne, and to follow his good hap. So in hast returning to TVNES,Amida returneth, and possesseth the kingdome. and entring in at the gate which he then found open, ran presently to the gouernours house; and finding him not at home, cruelly slew all his houshold, and with his bloudie companie went presently to the castle: where Fares the captaine seeking to haue kept him out, and boldly laying hands vpon his horses bridle to haue thrust him backe, was by a desperat Ethiopian, one of Amida his followers, thrust thorow with a sword and slaine: ouer whose bodie yet sprawling, Amida forcing his horse, brake into the castle with his friends; and M finding Mahometes gouernour of the citie, presently slew him also. And so by this meanes Amida in the space of an houre (a little before, a man in despaire) obtained the citie, the castle, and the kingdome togither. After that, he murthered his younger brethren; and embrued with bloud, without shame polluted his fathers concubines. Muleasses landed (as we haue before said) at GVLETTA, [Page] A with such forces as he had brought with him out of ITALIE, was aduised by Touarres the Spaniard, not to aduenture with such a handfull of men to go to TVNES, before he were well assured of the good disposition of the citisens towards him. And was the more earnest with Lofredius not to go, because the Viceroy had expressely written, that he should in no case go any further than GVLETTA, except the king according to his promise, had a good strength of Numidians to joyne with him. But certaine of the noble men amongst the Moores, which vnder the colour of friendship were fled out of the citie, and had after the solemne manner of their nation put their swords vnto their throats, and sworne to be faithfull vnto him; wonderfully prickt forward both the king and Lofredius, too hastie of themselues to their owne destinie, bearing them in hand, That Amida vpon the first sight of his father, would forsake the citie, and betake B himselfe to flight: so without more staying, Muleasses with ensigne displaied set forward towards TVNES, Lofredius cheerfully following him, Touarres requesting them in vaine to beware of the Moores treacherie.Muleasses going to Tune [...], by the way ouerthrowne Muleasses marching still forward, was come so nigh the citie, that they might from the wals descrie him: when suddenly a strong troupe of Moores sallied out of the gate with a terrible crie, and fiercely assailed him, whom the kings horsemen valiantly receiued: many falling on both sides. Muleasses in this hoat skirmish, fighting couragiously against his enemies, was wounded in the face and bled exceedingly; which discouraged them about him, that they doubting of his life, turned their backes and fled: when presently a wonderfull number of horse and foot, suddenly issuing out of the oliue gardens, had beset Lofredius and his souldiors round: vpon whom the Italians discharged certaine field pieces, but after they C had once discharged them, they had no leisure to charge againe; for the barbarous enemie came on so thicke and so fast, that the Italians seeing themselues too weake, and compassed in round, let fall their weapons as men discouraged, and cast themselues into the lake, so by swimming and taking hold of the little boats to saue themselues from the enemies sword: which boats stood those distressed men in great steed, for being furnished with small pieces, they did beat backe the Moores,Lofredius slaine. who eagerly pursued them euen into the lake with their horses. Lofredius as a man amased with the sudden comming of the enemie, tooke the lake with his horse, and was there vnhorsed by the enemie and slaine, as were diuers with him. Some few there were that fought couragiously, chusing rather honourably to die in the middest of their enemies, than shamefully to be strangled in the stincking lake. Muleasses soiled with his owne bloud and with the dust, D flying amongst the rest,Muleasses taken. was knowne and taken: nothing more bewraying him than his odoriferous perfumes. In this conflict thirteene hundred Italians were lost; the rest which escaped Touarres relieued, and shortly after shipped them ouer into SICILIE, from whence they trauelled home to NAPLES, but so poore, as well shewed the miserie of their fortune. Amida hauing thus obtained the victorie,Amida put out his fathers and brethrens eies. was more carefull of nothing than to make his father vnfit for gouernment, which he did by cutting the sight of both his eyes with a hoat penknife: the like crueltie he vsed vpon Nahasar and Abdallas his brethren, then taken with his father. After that, he certified Touarres captaine of GVLETTA, That he had taken a few youths prisoners, which he would deliuer vnto him; and that he had bereft his father of his sight, who had deserued a worse punishment, as he that had long before done the like to his brethren; but had yet left him E his life, as an example to other tirants, and to shew that he dealt not altogither vnmercifully with so perfidious a father: Last of all, he confirmed (vpon certaine conditions) the same league which his father had with him: which he well saw was to great purpose, especially in that newnesse of his kingdome. Neither did Touarres refuse the same, as standing with his present profit: for vpon this agreement, Amida was to giue him certaine money to pay his souldiors, and to deliuer him the prisoners he had taken, with the ensignes and bodie of Lofredius: For more assurance wherof, he gaue Sehites his sonne, then nine yeares old in hostage; yet vpon condition, that if an assured peace could not be agreed vpon, but that they must needs enter into warre, then Touarres should forthwith restore him his sonne Schites in safetie. These capitulations, although they seemed not vnreasonable, and were of them well liked; yet Touarres thought it not altogither F agreeing with the honour of the emperour, that he should enjoy the kingdome who by most ho [...]rible treason and detestable villanie had thrust himselfe thereinto without the emperours leaue. Wherefore he entred into a new deuise, to call in the rightfull heire, who might at the emperours pleasure (offended with the injurie done by Amida) raigne in TVNES.

There was in exile amongst the Numidians one Abdamaelech, euer since the time that Roscetes [Page] fled to Barbarussa. Touarres sen [...]h for Abdam [...]ch, Amida his elder brother. Him, because he was Muleasses naturall brother, Touarres sent for, putting G him in hope of the kingdome, supported by Anemseha, a great prince amongst the Numidians, who had all that long time courteously entertained him. Neither was Abdamaelech slow to accept the occasion presented, especially encouraged thereunto by the Numidian prince his good friend, and the predictions of the Astrologers, who had foretold him, That he should die king of TVNES. Which vaine kind of diuination hauing in it no manner of assurance, yet causeth great minds oftentimes to vndertake great attempts beyond reason, which falling out with more hap than they were with reason foretold, giueth some credit to that vanitie, and causeth those cold prophets to be of some accounted as great wisards. And to worke this feat, such a time was offered, as a better could not be wished: for Amida hauing set all things in order as he pleased in the citie, and casting no perill, was gone to BISERTA, to take order for his customes, which H was there great vpon fishing. Wherefore▪ Touarres to keepe his promise, sent backe S [...]hites, Amida his sonne, in a boat to TVNES, and receiued Abdamaelech: who trauelling most part by night, was secretly come to GVLETTA, and there resting himselfe and his horses a few houres; to preuent the fame of his comming, posted in hast with a troupe of his Numidian followers to TVNES,Abdamelech by policie obtaineth the kingdome of Tunes. and passing thorow the citie, went directly to the castle, which he entred without resistance of the warders, supposing him to haue beene Amida come from BISERTA: for Abdamaelech had after the manner of the Moores couered his face with a scarfe, as if it had beene to haue kept him from the Sunne and the dust, and by that happie sleight got into the castle, before it was knowne who he was. The warders perceiuing their [...]rror, began as men amased now too late to betake themselues to their weapons, for in making resistance, they were quickly slaine by I the Numidians which came in with Abdamaelech: who thus possessed of the castle (the cheefe strength of that kingdome) let in his friends, which were many in the citie, by whom he was presently saluted king, the rest of the citisens either well liking of the matter, or at least not daring for feare to stirre.Abdamelech dieth, and Mahometes his sonne is chosen king in his place. But as in these worldly things, for which men so vainely toyle, is no assurance: so this new king shortly after fell sicke and died, when he had raigned but six and thirtie dayes, and was afterwards royally enterred. After whose death, his mightie friends, with the cheefe of the citisens (persuaded and encouraged by Touarres the Spaniard) chose Mahometes his son, a child scarse twelue yeares old, to reigne in his fathers place: appointing Abdalages Maniphaet (brother to him whom Amida slew) Abdelchirinus Mesuar, Schyriffus (a great man in their Mahometane superstition) & Perellus a Christian knight, to be his directers and gouernours: which foure swayed K all at their pleasure. But Abdelchirinus tendering the welfare of his countrey, and deuising out of season how to set vp one of the royall bloud, that were of himselfe able to gouerne the kingdome, saying, That it was not for the common good to be ruled by a child: was for his labor by his other three fellowes suddenly slaine, with all his kindred and knowne friends. After whose death the other three erected a manner of Triumvirat gouernment, euery one of them laying hand vpon one part of the state or other, as liked him best. Amida thus shut out of TVNES, and hauing lost his kingdome, wandered vp and downe to LEPTIS, CYRAPOLIS, and many other places, crauing aid of euery man to recouer his kingdome, miserably rent in sunder (as he said) by most wicked men, who insolently triumphed ouer the boy king. Which they of TVNES knew well to be true, and daily complained of the death of Abdelchirinus, whom they called the faithfull L counsellor and father of his country. Whilest Amida is thus trudging vp and down, crauing helpe of this and that prince, proouing his friends, and sounding his subjects affection towards him; Muleasses growne miserable with long imprisonment and the calamitie of his disaster fortune, obtained of the young king his nephew so much fauour, as that hee might sometime goe out of the castle to the church: vnder colour whereof hee tooke sanctuarie, a place in TVNES holden in such reuerence amongst the Moores, as that it was a most inuiolate refuge to all such as fled thereunto. Not long after, at such time as Bernardinus Mendoza, the Admirall of SPAIN, came to GVLETTA with the Spanish fleet,Muleasses at the request of Touarr [...] is sent to Guletta. Muleasses at the request of Touarres was conueyed out of the Sanctuarie to the lake, and so by water to GVLETTA, there to be present at the consultation there holden for the vtter subuersion of Amida, and the driuing out of the Turks out of M such cities as they yet held alongst the sea coast in AFFRICA. Muleasses had hardly before escaped the hands of certaine of his enemies in TVNES, who sought after his life, preserued by an old woman, who mooued with pitie, hid him from their furie vnder a great heape of garlike: and had he not now in good time escaped to GVLETTA, he had againe fallen into the hands of his [Page] A mercilesse sonne Amida, who shortly after recouered againe his kingdome, and would not as he said himselfe haue spared him for the reuerence of any sanctuarie. For the citisens of TVNES, wearie of the euill gouernment of such as were in authoritie about the yong king, and not a little offended with the king himselfe, for espousing Melucca his cousin, one of Muleasses his daughters, secretly encouraged Amida by letters to repaire to the citie, promising to aid him in recouering his kingdome. Whereupon he came in such hast, that the young king had scarce time to get out of the citie:Amida recouereth the kingdome of Tunes, and taketh sharp reuenge vpon his enemies. and Amida entring without resistance, and holpen by his friends, easily obtained againe the kingdome, and exercised most exquisit crueltie vpon his enemies: of whom he caused some to be torne in peeces, and deuoured of fierce mastiues, kept hungrie for that purpose. Perellus he caused to be tortured, his secrets to be cut off, and himselfe afterwards B burnt to ashes in the market place.

But Muleasses stayed not long at GVLETTA, offended with the couetousnesse of Touarres, who (as he said) had not faithfully restored such things as he had before put him in trust withall, but had auaritiously in his miserie deceiued him of part of his rich houshold stuffe, with certaine notable pretious stones, & some of his treasure: wherof the blind king so greeuously complained to Charles the emperour, that for deciding the matter, they were both commaunded to repaire vnto him into GERMANIE: where in conclusion to end the strife, Touarres was discharged of his gouernment, and Muleasses sent into SICILIE there to be kept of the common charge of that rich island. Muleasses by the way comming to ROME, was honourably feasted by Cardinall Fernesius: at which time he shewed himselfe both in his apparrell and behauiour not forgetfull C of his better fortune: and being brought vnto the presence of Paulus the great bishop, would doe him no greater honour but to kisse his knee,Muleasses disdaineth to kisse the Popes foot. accounting it too great an indignitie to haue kissed his foot. He was of stature tall, and of a princely disposition, vnworthie of so hard a fortune, had he not in like manner before vnmercifully dealt with his owne brethren.

Barbarussa wearie of his long lying to so small purpose in PROVINCE,1544 requested the French king either thorowly to employ him, or els to giue him leaue to depart: offering if he so pleased, to spoile all alongst the coast of SPAINE, from the mountain PYRaeNEI to CADIZ. But he not ignorant what hard speeches ran of him alreadie in all parts of Christendome, for bringing in the Turkes, was loth to leaue vnto the memorie of all posteritie the foule remembrance of so wofull a slaughter: besides that, he was aduised to disburden his countrey of such troublesome D guests, who rouing about, did much harme in the prouince where they lay, and as it was reported, now and then snatcht vp one countrey peisant or other, and chained them for slaues in their gallies. Wherefore in supplie of the Turkes that were dead, the king gaue vnto Barbarussa all the Mahometane slaues in his gallies, to the number of about foure hundred, and furnishing him with all kind of prouision, and bestowing great gifts vpon him and his captaines, sent him away: and with him Strozza with certaine gallies, his embassadour to Solyman. So the Turkes departing out of PROVINCE, kept alongst the coast, vntill they came neere vnto SAVONA, whither the Germanes sent diuers presents and fresh victuals to Barbarussa, which he tooke so thankfully, that he protested not to hurt any of their territorie. From thence he kept a right course to the island of ELBA, belonging to the duke of FLORENCE, oueragainst POPVLONA; where vnderstanding E that one of the sonnes of Sinan his old friend was there kept prisoner, he writ vnto Appianus gouernour of the island for his deliuerance to this effect.

I know,

Barbarussa his letters to Apolanus, Gouernour of Elba.

that a young man a Turke serueth thee, the sonne of Sinan surnamed the Iew, a famous captaine, taken of late at TVNES: him I would haue thee friendly to restore: which gift I will make thee vnderstand to be vnto me most acceptable; for this our great fleet in passing by you, shall faithfully forbeare to vse any hostilitie. But if thou shalt in this so small a matter refuse to gratifie me, expect vpon the coast of thy countrey all the harmes which an angrie enemie can doe.

Whereunto Appianus shewing his men vpon the wals, in token that he was not afraid, answered, F That the young man was become a Christian, and therefore might not in any case bee deliuered to the Turkes: but that he would in any other thing gratifie him in what he could, and for his sake vse the young man as his sonne. And to mollifie the vnkindnesse of his answere, he sent him fresh victuall with other presents. But Barbarussa offended with the answere, landed his men round about the island, and commanded them to make what spoile they could: which they [Page] performed accordingly, hunting the island people vp and downe the rockes and mountains like G Hares,Appianus glad to deliuer the captiue whom Barbarussa required. vntill that Appianus not without cause doubting the vtter spoile of the island, redeemed his peace by deliuering the young man to Salec the pyrat, who brought him to Barbarussa gallantly apparrelled after the Italian manner, of whom he was joyfully receiued, as the sonne of a most valiant captaine, his old friend: and thereupon Barbarussa stayed his souldiors from doing any further harme vpon the island, and gaue Appianus great thanks for him. This young man Barbarussa honoured with the commaund of seuen gallies, and afterwards sent him to his father then lying at SVETIA, a port of the red sea, Admirall for Solyman against the Portingals, who greatly troubled those seas. But the old Iew, ouerjoyed with the sudden and vnexpected returne of his sonne, whom he had for many yeares before giuen as lost, in embracing of him fainted, and so presently for joy died.Sinan the Iew dieth for ioy. H

This man for valour was accounted little inferiour to Barbarussa, but for discretion and just dealing farre beyond him, nothing of so furious and wayward a disposition as was he. Barbarussa departing from ELBA, came into the bay of TELAMON in TVSCVNIE, and in short time took the citie,Barbarussa in his returne toward Constantinople, d [...]th much harm vpon the coast of Italie. which he spoiled and burnt, but especially the house of Bartholomeus Telamonius; whose dead bodie but a little before buried, he caused to be pluckt out of the graue, & his bones to be scattered abroad, because he being Admirall of the bishop of ROME his gallies, had in the island of LESBOS wasted Barbarussa his fathers poore possession: and marching by night eight miles further into the land, surprised MONTENVM, and carried almost all the inhabitants away with him into captiuitie. The like mischeefe he did at the port called PORTVS HERCVLIS, but purposing to haue taken ORHATELLO, and there to haue fortified, he was by Luna and Vitellius I (two valiant captaines before sent thither, the one by the State of SIENA, and the other by the duke of FLORENCE) repulsed. So though disappointed of his purpose, yet hauing done great harme, and put the whole countrey of TVSCANIE in exceeding feare, he departed thence and landed againe at IGILIVM, now called GIGIO, an island about twelue miles distant from PORTVS HERCVLIS, where he quickly battered the towne, and caried a wonderfull number of all sorts into miserable captiuitie: keeping on his course, he passing the cape LINAR, & comming oueragainst CANTVMCELLE, had burnt that citie for the same reason he did TELAMON, had he not been otherwise persuaded by Strozza the French embassador, fearing to draw the French king into further obliquie. From thence he came with a direct course to the island of ISCHIA; where landing in the night, he intercepted most part of the inhabitants of the island, as they were K flying into the mountaines: and in reuenge of the hatred he had conceiued against Vastius at the siege of NICE, he burnt FORINO, PANSA, and VARRANIVM, three cheefe townes of that island: but PITHACVSA, the dwelling place of Vastius, standing vpon a broken rocke, somewhat distant from the sea, he durst not aduenture vpon. Then scraping along the island PROCHITA with lesse hurt, because most part of the inhabitants were before fled to PITHACVSA, he put into the bay of PVTEOLI, and sent Salec the pyrat with part of his fleet to make proofe if the citie of PVTEOLI, might from sea be battered. Salec drawing neere the citie, shot into it with his great ordinance, and by chance slew one Saiauedra, a valiant Spaniard, vpon the wals, and put the citisens in a great feare least the whole fleet should haue landed, they themselues as then vnprouided: but the viceroy came presently with a power both of horse and foot from NAPLES,L which Barbarussa discouering from sea as they came downe the mountaines, called backe Salec: and leauing the Island of CAPRI, and passing by the promontorie ATHENEVM, was about to haue seised vpon SALERNVM, when a tempest suddenly arising, dispersed his fleet, and driue him beyond the promontorie PALINVRVS vpon the coast of CALABRIA, where he did exceeding much harme, especially at CARREATO. From thence he departed to the island of LIPARI, betwixt ITALIE and SICILIE, which island he miserably spoyled, and with fortie great pieces so battered the citie, that the citisens were constrained for feare to yeeld, whom he carried away all prisoners about the number of seuen thousand, of one sort of people and other, and burnt the citie. So loaded with the rich spoile of ITALIE and the islands vpon the coast, he returned towards CONSTANTINOPLE with such a multitude of poore Christian captiues, shut vp so M close vnder hatches amongst the excrements of Nature, that all the way as he went almost euery houre some of them were cast dead ouer boord: euery man detesting the endlesse hatred betwixt the emperour and the French king, the very ground of all this and many thousand other most wofull and vndeserued calamities of their poore subjects. With this rich prey and an infinit [Page] A number of captiues,Barbarussa arriueth at Constantinople. Barbarussa arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE in the beginning of Autumne, in the yeare 1544: where he was honourably receiued of Solyman, and highly commended for his good seruice both by sea and land.

Solyman triumphing at CONSTANTINOPLE of the good successe he had in HVNGARIE,Mahomet Solymans eldest son dieth. in the middest of all his glorie, was aduertised of the death of Mahomet his eldest sonne, whom of all his children he held deerest: whose dead bodie was shortly after brought from MAGNESIA, and with wonderfull solemnitie, and no lesse mourning, buried at CONSTANTINOPLE. How entirely Solyman loued this his sonne, well appeared by the great sorrow he conceiued of his death; and not contented to haue built him a stately tombe, erected also in memoriall of him a Mahometane church, called the church of Mahomet the lesser: for the difference of Mahomet B the great, who woon CONSTANTINOPLE. Whereunto he also annexed a monasterie and a colledge, with many things mo after the grosse manner of their superstition, for the health of his soule, as he vainly supposed. After that, Solyman according to his wonted manner, which was but euery second or third yeare to take in hand some notable expedition, ceased from warres by the space of two yeares: in which time many of the great princes and worthie men of that age died; amongst whom was Francis the French king. Hariadenus Barbarussa that famous Turke of whom we haue so often spoken, who being of great yeares and no lesse fame, left this life in the yeare 1547, and was buried at a house of his owne called Besictas, neere vnto BOSPHORVS THRACIVS on EVROPE side,The death of th [...] famous pira [...] Barbarussa. not farre from the mouth of Euxinum, about foure miles from PERA, where he had but few yeares before at one time sold about sixteene thousand Christian C captiues, taken out of CORCYRA: and to make famous that place appointed for his buriall, he of his owne cost built there a Mahometane temple, there yet with his sepulchre to be seene: that place was in auntient time called IASONIVM. About which time also, died of conceit that famous captaine Alphonsus Daualus Vastius, taken away by vntimely death when he had liued but fortie fiue yeares.Vastius dieth. At which time, Charles the emperour by his embassadour Gerardus Veltunich, concluded a peace with Solyman for fiue years, wherein king Ferdinand was also included: which peace was afterwards before the expiration thereof,1548 by Solyman (at the request of Henrie the French king) broken.

Solyman had now almost three yeares taken his rest,1549 when it fortuned that Ercases Imirza king of SIRVAN, moued with the often injuries of Tamas his brother the great Persian king, D fled to Solyman at CONSTANTINOPLE, to craue aid of him against his brother. Solyman glad of such an occasion to worke vpon, entertained him with all courtesie, and promised to take vpon him his quarrell, and to protect him against his vnnaturall brother. And when he had made all things readie for so great an expedition, passed ouer into ASIA; and after long and painefull trauell entred at last with a puissant armie into ARMENIA, and there in the borders of the Persian kingdome, first besieged the citie of VAN, which after ten daies siege was yeelded vnto him, vpon condition, that the Persian souldiors there in garrison, might with life and libertie depart with their armes as souldiors: which was at the first by Solyman granted, and so the citie surrendred. From thence Solyman sent his chiefe commanders with a great part of his armie,Van yeelded to the Turkes. to burne and spoile the enemies countrey, which they for a time cheerfully performed; and running farre E into the countrey, striue as it were amongst themselues who should doe most harme: where Imirza amongst the rest, for whose sake Solyman had vndertaken this warre, was as forward as the best to wast and spoile his brothers kingdome, sparing nothing that came to hand; the best and richest things he got, he presented to Solyman, to draw him on still in that warre. But that serued not his turne to recouer againe his kingdome of SIRVAN: for Tamas, without shewing any power to withstand the Turks, had after his wonted manner, caused his people to withdraw themselues far into the mountaine country, leauing nothing behind them in that wast countrey to relieue them, but the bare ground: so that the farther the Turks went, the more they wanted, without hope of better successe than such as they had before to their losse made proofe of, in their former expeditions into that great kingdome. The conceit whereof so much pierced not F the common souldiors onely, but euen the captaines themselues; that to make an end of that long and vnprofitable warre, taken in hand for another mans good, they consulted amongst themselues, either to kill Imirza, or else to disgrace him with Solyman: Which they so cunningly wrought; some suggesting false suspitions of his treacherous dealing in the proceeding of that warre; and others with like craft, vnder colour of friendship giuing him warning in secret of the [Page] danger he was in: the one filling Solymans head with distrust, and the other Imirzas with feare:G briefly to shut the matter vp in their owne tearmes, They persuaded the hare to flie, and the hounds to follow. Imirza doubting some sudden mischiefe, fled for succour to an old acquaintance of his, one of the princes of CHALDEA, who most treacherously sent him in bonds to Tamas his brother, his most cruell enemie, who glad to haue the author of all his troubles with the Turks, deliuered into his hands,Imirza murthered in prison. cast him in prison: and that Solyman nor any other should in his behalfe further prosecute the warre, or by his meanes hope for victorie, caused him to be in prison murthered. In this expedition against the Persian king, Solyman was occupied a yeare and nine moneths; all which time the Turks endured great troubles, and were oftentimes hardly distressed by the Persians: vntill at last Solyman himselfe wearie of that tedious warre, wherein he had got neither honour nor profit,Solyman returneth to Constantinople. thought it best so to make an end; and thereupon returned againe to H CONSTANTINOPLE in the yeare 1549.

1550In the meane time it fortuned, that one Dragut Raises a notable pirat of the Turks, had craftily surprised the citie of AFRICA in the kingdome of TVNES (called in auntient time APHRODISEVM) and also LEPTIS PARVA (and now of the Moores called MAHAMEDIA) and there setling himselfe,Dragut a famous pirat of the Turk [...], possesseth certaine cities in Affricke. as in a place both commodious and of good assurance, exceedingly troubled the Christians both by sea and land, especially such as traded in the Mediterranean. So that the emperour, moued as well with the manifold injuries done by that arch-pirat vpon the frontiers of his dominions, as by the daily complaint of his poore subjects, commaunded the Viceroy of SICILIE, and Auria his Admirall, to leauie a sufficient power in time to represse that pirat, before he grew to farther strength. Whereupon, they with a strong fleet well manned and thorowly I appointed for that purpose, and aided by the knights of MALTA, passed ouer into AFFRICKE; and landing their forces, by the space of three moneths besieged the citie before possessed by the pirat, which with continuall batterie they had at length made saultable. And hearing that Dragut was comming with a new supply to relieue it, they with all sceleritie assailed it both by sea and land, and in the space of a few houres tooke it by force the tenth day of September in the yeare 1550: in which assault many of the enemies were slaine, and the rest taken. Auria hauing thus dispossessed the pirat, and aduisedly considering that the citie was not without an infinit charge to be holden by the Christians, among so many of the infidels, rased it downe to the ground, carrying away with him seauen thousand captiues and all the spoile of the citie. And not so contented, did all the harme he could with fire and sword all alongst that coast of AFRICA,K to the intent that the Turks should there find no reliefe; and tooke 12 prisoners out of MONASTERIVM, a towne not far from the citie of AFRICA: and so hauing done that he came for, returned againe into SICILIE. Dragut thus at once thrust out of all he had, with a few of his friends fled to Solyman at CONSTANTINOPLE, and so incensed him with the grieuous complaint of the wrong done vnto him by the Christians; that in reuenge therof, he resolued to make warre both vpon the emperour and king Ferdinand, notwithstanding that the fiue yeares league he had before taken with him at his going into PERSIA, was not yet expired. So with cheerfull words and courteous entertainment comforting vp the desperat pirat, the Spring following (which was in the yeare 1551) he furnished him with a great fleet in most warlike manner appointed,1551 to reuenge the injurie done to him by Auria in AFFRICKE. With this fleet in number L one hundred and fortie saile, Sinan one of the Turks great Bassaes, accompanied with Dragut the pirat, by the appointment of Solyman, departed from CONSTANTINOPLE: and cutting thorow the seas, arriued at length in SICILIE, where they suddenly surprised the towne and castle of AVGVSTA, which they presently sacked. Departing thence, they came to the island of MALTA, and there landed their men in the port of MARZA, otherwise called MOXET, neere vnto the castle, which they battered with certaine pieces of great ordinance, but so as was to no great purpose. At which time diuers companies of the Turkes running farther into the island, made hauocke of whatsoeuer came in their way.Malta attempted by the Turks. After they had thus few daies in vaine battered the castle, and saw themselues both there valiantly repulsed, and in other places by ambushes and such like meanes cut off by the souldiors and inhabitants of the island, they remoued thence to M the road of S. Paul, where they landed their ordinance, with purpose to haue besieged the citie: but perceiuing by a little, what small hope there was to preuaile, and seeing diuers of their men dying thorow the extreamitie of the heat, they forsooke the island and went to GAVLES now called GOZA, a little island about thirtie miles in compasse, fiue miles distant from MALTA [Page] A Westward, subject vnto the knights of the religion: and there landing their men, miserably spoiled the island and whatsoeuer they light vpon, and carried away with them of one sort of people and other six thousand and three hundred captiues into most wofull bondage. With which bootie they put againe to sea,The Turks fleet arriueth at Tripolis in Barbaris. and sailed directly to TRIPOLIS in BAR [...]A [...]IE, called of old LEPTIS MAGNA: which citie Charles the emperour had before giuen to the knights of MALTA, and was at that time by them kept. This citie was the marke whereat the Bassa and the pirat shot; for taking whereof they landed their forces, and by long and winding trenches approched as neere the same as they could: which they did not without great losse of their people; for they of the castle hauing good store of great ordinance, and most expert canoniers did with continuall shot so annoy the Turks, that they were oftentimes enforced to retire; yet with B much troublesome labour and no lesse perill they came at last within eight hundred paces of the wals: where the Bassa caused his gabions made of thicke plankes, to be placed in the night, and his batterie planted.Tripolis battered by the Turks. And the next day (which was the eighth of August) the cannon began to play, which was againe answered from the castle with like, and euerie houre some of the Turks slaine, the great shot still flying into their trenches, so as that day foure of the best canoniers in the armie were slaine, with certaine other men of good account also: and the clearke generall of the armie, a man of great estimation and welbeloued of the Bassa, had his hand shot off, and many other of the Ianizaries and common souldiors either slaine or hurt▪ moreouer they brake one of their best pieces, and dismounted foure others, which for that day made them to leaue the batterie. The next night the Turkes approached yet neerer vnto the castle, vpon whom the Christians C in the breake of the day sallied out euen vnto their verie trenches, and afterwards retired. With the rising of the sunne (which the Turkes haue in great reuerence) they renued their batterie with greater force than before; yet with such euill successe, that the Bassa was almost mad for anger: for about the euening the fire by mischance got into their pouder, wherewith thirtie of the Turkes were burnt, many hurt, and one piece broken. At length the Turks were come so neere, that they had planted their batterie within an hundred and fiftie paces of the wall; which they continued with such furie, that they had made a faire breach euen with the ditch: but what was beaten downe in the day time, the defendants repaired againe by night, in such sort, as that it was not to be assaulted. Yet in conclusion, a traiterous souldior of PROVINCE, before corrupted by the Turkes, found meanes to flie out of the castle into the campe, where he declared D vnto the Bassa the weakest places of the castle, by which it might be most conueniently battered and soonest taken: and especially one place aboue the rest which was against the gouernors lodging, which standing towards the ditch, and hauing vnderneath it sellars to retire the munition into, could not if it were once battered well be repaired againe or fortified. Which the Bassa vnderstanding, caused the batterie there to be planted, laying the pieces so low, that they did easily beat the sellars and vaults in such sort, that in short time the wals were so shaken, that the rampiers aboue thorow the continuall batterie, began greatly to sinke: which so amased the soldiors, seeing no conuenient meanes to repaire the same, that setting all honour aside, they requested the Gouernour, That sithence the matter began now to grow desperat, and that the place was not longer to be holden, he would in time take some good order with the enemie for their E safetie, before the wals were farther endamaged. With which motion, Vallter the Gouernour (an antient knight of DAVLPHINIE, and one of the order) was exceedingly troubled: which Peisieu another of the knights perceiuing, he as a man of great courage, and of all others there present most antient, in the name of the other knights declared vnto them, That the breach was neither so great nor so profitable for the enemie, but that it was defensible enough, if they would as men of courage repaire the same; saying, That it was more honourable for worthie knights and lustie souldiors, to die valiantly with their weapons in their hands, fighting against the infidels for the maintenance of their law and Christian religion, than so cowardly to yeeld themselues to the mercie of those, at whose hands nothing was to be looked for but most miserable seruitude, with all kind of crueltie: and therefore persuaded the Gouernour to hold it out to the F last. For all that, he ouercome with the importunitie of such as would needs yeeld, who with all vehemencie vrged the imminent danger wherewith they were all like to be ouerwhelmed, and finding himselfe bereft both of heart and fortune, and forsaken of his souldiors; without farther consideration, consented that a white ensigne should be displaied vpon the wals, in token that they desired parley: when a Turke presenting himselfe, they requested him to vnderstand of [Page] the Bassa, if he could be contented that some of them might come to intr [...]t with him of some G good order to be taken for the yeelding vp of the castle. Whereunto the Bassa willingly consenting, two of the knights were forthwith sent out, to offer vnto him the castle with the artillerie and munition, so as he would furnish them with ships to bring them with bag and baggage safely to MALTA. Wherunto the Bassa briefly answered, That (forasmuch as they had as yet deserued no grace, presuming to keepe so small a place against the army of the greatest prince on earth) if they would pay the whole charges of the armie,Hard conditions offered by the Bassa in the besieged. he would condiscend to their request; or if they would not thereunto consent, that for recompence all they within the castle should continue his slaues and prisoners: notwithstanding if they incontinently and without delay did surrender the place, he would exempt out of them two hundred. Whereupon the messengers returning in dispaire, were staied by Dragut and Salla Rais, with flattering words and faire promises,H That they would so much as lay in them, persuade the Bassa to condiscend to a more gratious composition: fearing indeed that the besieged through dispaire would resolue (as their extreame refuge) to defend the place euen to the last man. Wherfore they went presently to the Bassa, to declare vnto him his ouersight in refusing them who voluntarily would haue put themselues into his hands, whom reason would he should with all courtesie haue receiued: for that after he had the castle and the men in his power, he might dispose of them as he should think good. The Bassa liking well of his counsell, caused the messengers to be called againe, and with fained and dissembling words told them,More easie conditions offered by the Bassa, which he consumeth by hi [...]oath. That at the instance of Dragut and Salla Rais there present, he did discharge them of all the costs and charges of the armie, swearing vnto them (the better to deceiue them) by the head of his lord and his owne, inuiolably to obserue all that he had promised vnto I them: which they (too easily) beleeued, and forthwith went to declare the same vnto the Gouernour and others within the castle. The Bassa, the better to come to the effect of his desire, after these messengers sent a craftie Turke, whom he charged expressely to persuade the Gouernour to come with him into the campe, for the full conclusion of the giuing vp of the castle, and for the appointing of such vessels as should be needfull for their safe conduct to MALTA; and that if he made any doubt to come, he should make shew as if he would there remain in hostage for him: but aboue all things, to consider of the strength and assurance of the besieged, and of the disposition of all things there. Which the subtile Turke so finely handled, that the Gouernour by the counsell of those who had persuaded him to yeeld, notwithstanding the reasons of warres and dutie of his office forbad him in such manner to abandon the place of his charge, resolued K vpon so small an assurance of the Bassa, and gaue eare to the miserable end of his fortune. So taking with him a knight of his houshold (to send backe vnto those of the castle, to declare vnto them how he sped in the campe) vnder the conduct of the Turke that was come to fetch him, he went straight to the tent of the Bassa: who by the Turke that went first in, was aduertised of the small courage of the defendants, which he assured him to be no better, but that if he thought it good, he might bring them to such order and agreement as he would himselfe. Vpon whose persuasion calling in the Gouernour Vallter, after he had rigorously reproued his rashnesse, said vnto him, That forasmuch as he had once giuen his word, if he would pay the charges of the armie, he was content to let them go with bag and baggage, otherwise he would discharge but two hundred. Whereat the Gouernour greatly moued, answered, That that was not according L to his last promise vnto the knights before sent. But when he saw it would be no better, he requested him that he might againe returne to the castle to know the minds of the rest: which the false Bassa would by no meanes grant, but only permitted him to send backe the knight that he had brought with him, to make report of these hard newes to the besieged: as for the Gouernour, he was sent to the gallies with yrons on his heeles. When they of the castle vnderstood what had passed betwixt the Bassa and the Gouernour, they began exceedingly to feare the mischiefe then at hand: yet tooke no other resolution, but to returne the said knight to the Bassa, to know whether they should expect from him no better answere. Who as soone as he was come before him, the captaine of the castle was brought in, of whom the Bassa asked, Which of the two he would chuse, either to pay the expences of the armie, or else both he and all the rest to remaine M his prisoners?The warie ans [...]re of the Gouernour to the Bassa. Whereunto the Gouernour answered, That a slaue had no other authoritie than that which by his master was giuen him; and that hauing lost (besides his libertie) the power to command, if any thing were yet reserued in him, could not counsell him to command others to agree vnto any thing, but that which was concluded with them which were before [Page] A sent. Which thing the Bassa hearing, for feare that such a resolute answere should come to the knowledge of the besieged, and cause them to become desperat; hauing taken counsell with his other captaines, hee tooke the Gouernour by the hand, and with a smiling and dissembling countenance told him,The castle yeelded. That he would without any doubt let them depart as he had promised; and that therefore without fearing any thing, hee should cause them all to come out of the castle. But the Gouernour, because he had beene before deceiued, would not trust to his word, but said vnto him, That he might commaund him that was come from the castle, for that he knew they would now doe neuer a whit the more for him. So the Bassa turning towards the other knight, commaunded him forthwith to goe vnto them in the castle, and to cause them to come forth, swearing againe as before, by the head of his great lord, and his B owne, That they should all be deliuered and set at libertie, according to the conuentions first agreed vpon. Which the knight beleeuing, went to report to them this good newes: which they receiued with such joy, that without further care or consideration of their mishap so neere, they ran in prease with their wiues children and best mooueables, striuing who should first get out. But they were no sooner issued, but they were by the enemies spoyled of all they had, and taken prisoners; part of the knights were sent to the gallies, and the rest to the Bassa. Who being by the Gouernour put in remembrance of his faith twice giuen, answered, That there was no faith to be kept with dogs, and that they had first violated their oath with his great lord, vnto whom at the giuing ouer of the RHODES, they had (as he said) sworne neuer more to beare armes against the Turkes. The castle was forthwith taken and spoiled, and about C two hundred Moores of that countrey that had serued the knights, cut in peeces, and thereupon a great peale of ordinance discharged, with great cries and shouts in signe of their victorie. Thus the strong castle and auntient citie of TRIPOLIS in BARBARIE was deliuered to the Turkes the fifteenth day of August, in the yeare 1551. Whilst the Bassa lay at this siege, the lord of ARRAMONT, who had many yeares lien embassador from Francis the French king at CONSTANTINOPLE, and was now sent againe by Henrie the second, came to the Turks campe, being requested so to doe by the Great Master of the RHODES, to haue dissuaded the Bassa from that siege: wherein he nothing preuailed. Yet now greeued to see how the faithlesse Turke, contrarie to his oath, most villanously entreated the Gouernour and the other knights, lying at his feet as men halfe desperat, was so bold as to put him in mind of his promise, confirmed by his oath; D which if he would not keepe,The shamelesse answere of the faithlesse Bassa to the French embassadour. that yet at the least according to his own voluntarie offer, he would release two hundred of them: but he excused himselfe as before, saying, That no faith was to be kept with dogs, which had first broken their owne faith. Yet afterwards he condiscended, that two hundred of the eldest and such as were most vnfit for seruice (amongst whom was comprehended the Gouernour and certaine other old knights) should be set at libertie, who were forthwith sent aboord the French embassadours gallies, and by him transported to MALTA: where they were but hardly welcome, for that they had so cowardly surrendered a place, which they might much longer haue defended. The next day after the castle was deliuered, which was the 16 of August, the proud Bassa for joy of this victorie made a solemne dinner, wherunto he inuited the French embassadour, and Vallier the late Gouernour: which they refused not to come E vnto, in hope to recouer some moe prisoners. This great feast for the more magnificence was kept in the castle ditch against the breach, where were set vp two stately pauillions, the one for the Bassa, and the other for the embassadour and his companie, where he was honourably feasted with wonderfull plentie both of flesh and fish and good wines, which they had found in the castle; which seruice was done with musicke of diuers sorts, and officers in number aboue a hundred, apparelled for most part in long gowns of fine cloth of gold, tuffed or fringed; and the other of velue [...] or damaske.The Turks triumph for the winning of Tripolis. The Bassa was no sooner set downe, but all the ordinance of the fleet was discharged with such a noise and thundering, that it seemed the heauens and skies did shake. The table being taken vp, the embassadour and the late Gouernour Vallier, entred into the pauillion of the Bassa, and beside the two hundred men which he had promised, obtained twentie moe▪ F vpon the embassadors promise, That he should for them cause to be released thirtie Turks taken at MALTA, at the landing of the armie there. The Turkes hauing in their hands an antient gunner of the castle, called Iohn de Chabas borne in DAVLPHINE (to the end that this triumphant feast should not be vnfurnished of some cruell sacrifice of the Christian blood) for that he had in time of the siege shot off the hand of the clarke generall of the armie, brought him into the [Page] towne,A shamefull cru [...]ie of the Turks. and when they had cut off his hands and his nose, put him quicke into the ground to the G wast, and there for their pleasure shot at him with their arrowes, and afterward to make an end of him cut his throat. The Bassa shortly after departing out of BARBARIE, left Dragut the pyrat Gouernour of TRIPOLIS, honouring him with the title of the Sanzacke of that place: from whence he many yeares after grieuously molested the Moores neere vnto him by land, and the Christians by sea. The same yeare 1551, Solyman notwithstanding the fiue yeares peace before taken with king Ferdinand at his going into PERSIA, sent Achomates his lieutenant in EVROPE with a great power into HVNGARIE, who with Haly the Bassa of BVDA inuaded the vpper part of HVNGARIE,Temesware and Zolnok taken by the Turks. and first tooke the citie of TEMESVVARE, and contrarie to their faith giuen, slew the garrison souldiours: after that they tooke also the castle of ZOLNOK, forsaken by the Christians, and certaine other small castles. But laying siege to ERSAM, they were partly by the H valiantnesse of the defendants, and partly by the comming on of Winter enforced to forsake the siege, and to get themselues into their wintering places.

Queene Isabell, king Iohn his widdow, seeing the Turkes dayly encroching vpon that little they had left her, and that she was not able by any meanes to defend TRANSILVANIA against them; by the aduise of George bishop of VERADIVM her old counsellor, agreed with king Ferdinand to deliuer vnto him the gouernment of the countrey, with all the royall dignitie of HVNGARIE, for which she was to haue of him CASSOVIA, and a yearely pension of an hundred thousand duckats. Which agreement made and thorowly concluded by Baptista Castallius (an Italian, whom Charles the emperour had but a little before sent to aid king Ferdinand) the queen returned into POLONIA, her natiue countrey: and so king Ferdinand by that meanes obtained I almost all the prouince of TRANSILVANIA, and what els the queene had in HVNGARIE. But the bishop, a little before made a cardinall, being suspected by Baptista the Italian, that he fauoured the Turks faction more than king Ferdinand, and by that meanes sought to get the gouernment to himselfe,George bishop of Veradium murdered in his owne house. was by the Italians deuice suddenly murthered in his owne house at VERADIVM: an end good ynough for so troublesome a prelat.

Haly the Bassa of BVDA proud of the good successe he had the yeare before, vnderstanding that diuers of the cheefe Hungarians had withdrawne themselues into the castle of AGRIA,1552 purposed in himselfe with all his power to besiege it, and there to take them. So aided by Achomates, Chasan, and other of the Turks Sanzackes and captaines by Solymans appointment readie at his call, he came with an armie of fiue and thirtie thousand Turkes, and the 10 of September in K the yeare 1552,Agria besieged by the Turks. encamped round about the castle: where after he had placed his artillerie, he began a most furious batterie. But doubting to preuaile that way, he attempted also to vndermine the castle, omitting nothing that could be deuised for the taking thereof: but all in vaine, for the Hungarians by the good direction of Stephanus Dobus their captaine, couragiously endured the siege, and very manfully repulsed the enemie. At length, the nine and twentieth of September the enemie with eight and twentie ensignes of select souldiours gaue a fresh assault to the castle, and were by the defendants enforced shamefully to retire: at which time foure and twentie barrels of gunpouder by mischance caught fire, and besides that it blew vp diuers captains and souldiours, did much harme in the castle, to the great dismaying of the defendants. After that, the Turkes with incredible pertinacie the twelfth of October fiercely assaulted the castle from morning L vntill night, and for desire of reuenge and hope of spoile left nothing vnattempted for the gaining of the place; but were by the greater valour of the Hungarians beaten backe, and with great losse enforced at last to giue ouer the assault. Thus the Bassa nothing preuailing by force, attempted by great promises and large offers to haue bought them out: which he vnderstanding to be nothing regarded, and his letters scornefully burnt, brought on his souldiors again, and gaue vnto them in the castle a most furious assault,The Turks giue ouer the siege of Agria. but with no better successe than before: for hauing lost many of his best souldiors, he was enforced to retire. So after he had in vaine six weekes besieged the castle, he was glad to raise his siege, and to retire to PESTVM. After whose departure there was found twelue thousand great shot, wherewith he had battered the wall. In this siege six thousand Turkes were slaine, and of the Hungarians but three hundred. King Ferdinand glad of M this victorie, made Stephanus the worthie captaine, Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA, and bountifully rewarded the other captaines and souldiors as they had well deserued.

1553 Henrie the French king, who together with his kingdome had as it seemed receiued the hereditarie quarrels of Francis his father against Charles the emperour, had by his embassadour the [Page] A lord of ARAMONT so wrought the matter with Solyman, that the more to trouble the emperour, he sent a great fleet into the Tyrrhenum or Tuscane sea, which in the yeare 1553 and the yeare following, did great harme vpon the coasts of CALA [...]RIA, SICILIA, SARDINIA, as also in the islands of ELBA, CORSICA, GERBE, and MAIORCA, and such like places on the frontiers of the emperours dominions: yet were the Turkes in most places notably againe repulsed by the people of those countries. The same yeare Solyman seduced by Roxolana (sometime his faire concubine, but then his imperious wife) and Rustan Bassa his sonne in law, most vnnaturally murdered his eldest sonne Mustapha, the mirrour of the Othoman familie: Which tragicall fact, the like whereof both for the trecherous contriuing and in human execution hath seldome times beene heard of, I haue thought good here in due time to set downe, in such sort as it is by most B credible writers of that time reported.

Solyman after the manner of the Othoman kings, who to auoid the participation of their soueraignetie, vse not oftentimes to marrie (but otherwise to satisfie their pleasure with such beautifull concubines as it pleaseth them to make choise of, out of the fairest captiues of all nations, most daintily brought vp for that purpose in the court) had by a Circassian bondwoman, a sonne called Mustapha;Mustapha, Solyman eldest son [...]e in great estimation with the people. who for his wonderfull towardlinesse and rare perfection was amongst the Turks had in such expectation and admiration, as that they in nothing accounted themselues more happie, than in the hope laid vp in him: whose noble carriage was such, as that thereby he so possessed the minds of all men in generall, but especially of the men of warre, that he was reputed the glorie of the court, the floure of chiualrie, the hope of the souldiors, and joy of the C people. Whilest he thus grew, encreasing both in yeares and fauour: it fortuned with Solyman as it doth with men delighting in change,Solyman becommeth amorous of Roxolana. that he became amorous of Roxolana, of some called Rosa (but more truly Hazathya) by condition a captiue, but so graced with beautie and courtly behauiour, that in short time she became mistresse of his thoughts, and commaundresse of him that all commaunded: And that which more established her in possession of his loue, she had in time made him father of foure faire sonnes, Mahomet, Selymus, Baiazet, and Tzihanger, and one daughter called Chameria married to Rustan or Rustemes the great Bassa. In this height of worldly blisse nothing troubled her more than the exceeding credit of Mustapha, Solymans eldest sonne by the Circassian woman; who honoured of the greatest, and beloued of the rest, stood onely in her light, embarring her and hers (as she thought) of the hope of the empire, which shee now D aboue all things sought to bring to one of her owne sonnes: which the better to compasse, she vnder the colour of great good will and loue,Mustaph [...] sent to gouerne Caramania. procured that Mustapha the young prince and his mother should as it were for their greater honour and state with a princely allowance be sent into CARAMANIA to gouerne that great country, far from the court. Which was no great matter for her to bring to passe: for that the Turkish emperors vsually send their sonnes after they come to any yeares of discretion vnto such prouinces as are farre from the court, attended vpon with one great Bassa and some graue doctor of their law, so to acquaint them with the manner of gouernment; the Bassa instructing them in matters of ciuile policie, and the doctor in matters concerning their superstition: and yet by sending them a farre off, to keepe them from aspiring to the empire by the fauour of the court (a thing by the Turkish emperors not vnworthely feared, euen E in their own and beloued children.) Roxolana hauing at once thus cunningly rid the court of the great competitours both of her loue and of the empire (things of all others enduring no par [...]eners) rested not so,The mallice of Roxolana against Mustapha. but began straightway to plot in her malitious head the vtter destruction of him, to whom all others wished all happinesse. This she saw was not to be brought to passe without some complices: wherefore after she had in her secret conceit discarded many, of whom at first she had reasonable good liking; at last she made choice of Rustan Bassa her sonne in law, vpon whom she would set vp her rest. This Rustan was a man basely borne in EPIRVS, altogether composed of dissimulation and flatterie, euer seruing his owne turne, were it neuer so much to the hurt or greeuance of others; by which meanes he, although none of the best souldiors, was yet by many degrees growne vp to be the greatest man in the court, and Solymans sonne in law: F him she probably thought to wish the succession of the empire to one of her owne sonnes, his wiues full brethren, rather than to Mustapha her halfe brother. Beside that, she was not ignorant how that Rustan as one carefull of the emperors profit, the readiest way to preferment, had abridged the pensions and fees of the officers and seruitours in court: which he perceiuing to please the emperour, proceeded so farre therein, that he attempted to haue cut off, if it had beene possible, [Page] some part of Mustapha his princely allowance: for which doing, she knew how odious he G was to all the courtiers (whereof he made small reckoning) but especially to Mustapha, insomuch that it was thought he would not forget so notorious an injurie,Roxolana conspireth with Rustan Bassa her sonne in law against Mustapha. if euer he should obtaine the empire. Hereupon she brake with Rustan vpon the matter, whom she found readie ynough of himselfe, to doe what in him lay to further her mischieuous desire.

To begin this intended tragedie, she vpon the sudden became very deuout, and being by the fauour of Solyman growne exceeding rich, pretended as if it had beene vpon a deuout zeale, for the health of her soule,Roxolana [...]aineth her selfe religious. after the manner of the Turkish superstition to build an Abbey with an Hospitall and a Church: which so godly a purpose she imparted to the Muphti or cheefe Mahometane priest, demaunding of him, If such workes of charitie were not acceptable vnto God, and auaileable for her soules health. Whereunto the Muphti answered, That those works were H no doubt gracious in the sight of God, but nothing at all meritorious for her soules health, being a bondwoman; yet very profitable for the soule of the great emperour Solyman, vnto whom as vnto her lord both she and all she had appertained. With which answere of the great priest she seemed to be exceedingly troubled, and thereupon became wonderfull pensiue and melancholie, her cheerefull countenance was replete with sadnesse, and her faire eyes flowed with teares, her mirth was mourning, and her joy heauinesse. Which thing Solyman perceiuing, and sorrie to see his loue vpon conceit so to languish, sent her word to be of good cheere, and to comfort her selfe, promising in short time to take such a course as should ease her of all her greefes: which he forthwith did,Solyman manumiseth Roxolana solemnely manumising her from her bond estate. So great a fauour obtained, Roxolana with great cheerefulnesse began those meritorious workes by her before intended, as if she had I thought of nothing but heauen, whereas indeed her thoughts were in the depth of hell. When she had thus a good while busied her selfe in pauing the way to heauen, as was supposed, Solyman not able longer to forbeare the companie of her, in whom his soule liued, after his wonted manner sent for her by one of his eunuchs,Solyman sendeth for Roxolana. who should haue brought her to his bed chamber: to whom she with her eyes cast vp to heauen, demurely answered, That her life and whatsoeuer els she had,She excuseth her selfe, and refuseth to come. was at her dread soueraignes commaund, but againe to yeeld her bodie vnto his appetite, she might not in any case do, without the great offence of the high God, and manifest breach of his sacred lawes, which permitted her not now voluntarily to yeeld him that, being free, which he before without offence might commaund of his bondwoman: and because she would not seeme to vse this as an excuse, she referred her selfe in all things to the graue judgement of the learned K and reuerend Muphti, with whom she had before at full conferred. This she did, presuming of the soueraignetie she had ouer that great Monarch, whom she right well knew she had so fast bound in the pleasing fetters of his affection towards her, as that she was sure ynough of him without a keeper. Solyman rauished with her loue, and well the more for her deniall, sent for the Muphti, requiring his judgement in the matter; who before instructed in all points, agreed with that Roxolana had said, agrauating the heinousnesse of the fact, if he should proceed to enforce her as his slaue, whom being now free, he might not without great offence touch vnmarried. Whereupon Solyman more and more burning in his desires, became a fresh suter to her for mariage, whom he had so often before commaunded:Solyman marrieth Roxolana. which his sute easily obtained (as the marke she had all this while aimed at) he with all speed to the great admiration of all men, and contrarie L to the manner of the Mahometane emperors, solemnely married her; appointing for her yearly dowrie fiue thousand Sultanyns. But here before we proceed any farther, stay a while and take the view of that faire face whereon this great Monarch so much doted, as it is by the skilfull workemans hand most liuely expressed.

[Page]

ROXOLANA, Solyman his best beloued wife.

M

Frontis nulla fides, nulla est fiducia formae:

Pectore dum saeuo dira venena latent.

Philtra viro miscet fallax, miserum (que) coegit

Sanguine natorum commaculare manus.

RICH. KNOLLEVS.

To fairest lookes trust not too farre, nor yet to beautie braue:

For hatefull thoughts so finely maskt, their deadly poisons haue.

Loues charmed cups, the subtile dame doth to her husband fill:

And causeth him with cruell hand, his childrens bloud to spill.

This woman of late a slaue,Roxolana plotteth the confusion of Mustapha. but now become the greatest empresse of the East, flowing in all worldly felicitie, attended vpon with all the pleasures her heart could desire, wanted nothing she could wish, but how to find means that the Turkish empire might after the death of Solyman, F be brought to some one of her owne sons. This was it that had (as we haue before said) long troubled her aspiring mind; and in the middest of all her blisse, suffered her yet to take no rest. Noble Mustapha, Solymans eldest sonne, and heire apparant of the empire, although farre absent, was yet still before her eies present; his credit, his valour, his vertues, his perfections were all bars to her desires: he was the onely cloud that kept the sunne from shining on her; if [...] [Page] any meanes might be taken away, then wanted nothing that she desired. Which to bring to G passe, the wicked woman laboured cunningly by little and little to breed in Solymans head no small suspition of Mustapha, That he being a young man of a hautie spirit, desirous of soueraigntie, generally beloued, and swelling with the immoderat fauor of the men of warre, which were all at his deuotion, left nothing else to be expected of him, but when he should (as did his grandfather Selymus) lay hand vpon the empire, and worke his aged fathers destruction. This mischieuous plot by her deuised,Rustan the great Bassa furthereth the deuises of Roxolana. was not a little furthered by Rustan the great Bassa, by whom passed all great matters: who nothing omitted, that could be slily deuised for the disgrace or confusion of the young prince. For he, as a great secret, craftily told all them that were sent gouernours into SYRIA, that Mustapha was secretly suspected by his father of aspiring to the kingdome; and therefore charged them particularly, carefully to obserue all his actions, with the H manner of his life and gouernment, and by their letters diligently to aduertise him of whatsoeuer they should see or heare; bearing them in hand, that the more suspitiously or odiously they should write of him, the more gratious and acceptable it would be vnto the great Sultan. Wherfore he by these men, oftentimes certified of the princely disposition, courage, wisedome, valour, and bountie of Mustapha, whereby he had woon all mens hearts; saw plainly, that he would at length be vndoubtedly preferred to the empire: yet durst he not for all that, aduenture to temper with Solyman about that detestable conspiracie against the inocent prince, but still deliuering the letters to the malitious woman, left the rest by her vngratious head to be wrought. And she still as occasion best serued her purpose, ceased not with pleasing allurements and flatterie (wherein she was most excellent) to infect Solymans mind, that whensoeuer he should chance to haue any I speech of Mustapha, she might take the fitter occasion to bring forth those letters. Neither was she in her drift deceiued, but hauing found a fit opportunitie, with teares trickling downe her cheekes (which to serue their turns subtile women seldome want) she told the emperour in what danger he stood, recounting amongst other things, how Selymus his father had by such meanes depriued Baiazet his grandfather, both of his life and empire togither: and therefore most instantly besought him, as if it had altogither proceeded of a carefull loue▪ by that example warned to looke to himselfe. But these light arguments of suspition, seemed as they were indeed vnto Solyman scarce probable; so that she little preuailed thereby. Which thing she well perceiuing, and inwardly grieued thereat, conuerted her cruell mind to other mischieuous deuises, and sought by all meanes how to poyson the young prince:Mustapha in danger to haue been poisoned by Roxolana. neither wanted there wicked men (as it were K vowed to all kind of mischiefe and villanie) readie to haue performed what she desired, had not Gods prouidence withstood so horrible a practise. For whereas certaine rich apparell was by her sent vnto him in his fathers name, he fearing the worst, would not touch it before he had caused it to be worne by one of his seruants; by which curious warinesse (as it was thought) he for that time preuented the treason of his wicked stepdame, and made her malitious practise manifest to the world. Yet rested she not so, but was still plotting new deuises tending all to one purpose: for being growen to that height of honour and power as neuer was woman in the Othoman court, and by the meanes of Trongilla a Iew (as it was thought) hauing bewitched the mind of the Turkish emperour, she still grew more and more in fauour, and obtained that her sonnes might by turnes be still present in the court: of purpose, that by their daily presence L and continuall flatterie, they should more and more procure their fathers loue; and if by chance Mustapha should come thither, she might haue the better meanes to dispatch him: if not, to expect some other fit time, when she might by some one or other meane take him away. But Mustapha neuer comming (for why, the emperors sons vse not without their fathers leaue to go out of the prouinces assigned vnto them, or to come to CONSTANTINOPLE, but after the death of their father to receiue the empire, attended vpon with a number of souldiors) she easily deuised another practise: that her sonnes should wait vpon their father, not in the citie only, but in the prouinces also; so that Tzihanger surnamed Cro [...]chbacke, alwaies followed his father in the campe. Certaine yeares thus spent, and she still hammering her mischieuous deuises▪ at length fortune fauouring her wicked desire, got from the Bassa which had the gouernment of Mustapha M and the prouince of AMASIA (for as we haue said euerie one of the kings sons hath with him one Bassa, which is as it were his lieutenant in administration of justice and martiall affaires) certaine suspitious letters; wherein was contained, that there was a speech of a marriage to be made [...] Mustapha and the Persian kings daughter: which thing he thought good to giue knowledge [Page] A of to the Counsell, that if any harme should ensue thereof, he might be out of all suspition. These letters being brought to Rustan, he thought he had now as good as halfe brought to end the long desired ruine of Mustapha: so making no stay, he opened the matted to Roxolana, and afterwards both togither went to the court, and declared all the matter to the emperour; in doing whereof, they forced both their vngratious wits to fill his head, yet doubtfull with suspition, and to possesse his mind with the feare of his owne most dutifull sonne:Roxolana and Rustan together put Solyman in feare of his sonne Mustapha. saying, That he as a proud and ambitious young man, rauished with the desire of so glorious an empire, sought against the lawes both of God and nature, to take his father out of the way, that so he might with more speed satisfie his aspiring mind. And to giue the more credit to this their most false suggestion, they warned him of the alliance by him purposed with the Persian king, the auntient enemie B of the Othoman emperours; wishing him to beware, least Mustapha supported by the strength of PERSIA, and the fauour of the Sanzacks and Ianizaries, whose loue he had by bountie purchased, should in short time when he feared least, togither depriue him both of his life and empire. With these and such like accusations, they so preuailed with the aged man whom they neuer suffered to rest in quiet, that he at length resolued to worke his safetie (as he supposed) by the death of his owne sonne, in this sort.

In the yeare 1552 he caused proclamation to be made almost in all the prouinces of his empire, That for as much as the Persians without resistance with a great armie inuaded SIRIA, burning and destroying the countrey before them,Solyman sendeth Rustan Bassa with an armie to take Mustapha. he to represse that their outragious insolence, was enforced to send thither Rustan Bassa with an armie: which according to his appointment C was in short time raised. Now when all things were in readinesse, as if it had beene for such a warre as was pretended, he commaunded Rustan, with as much secrecie and as little tumult as was possible, to lay hands vpon Mustapha, and to bring him bound to CONSTANTINOPLE: which if hee could not conueniently effect, then, by any other meanes to take him out of the way.

With this wicked and cruell charge Rustan with a strong armie marched towards SIRIA. Mustapha vnderstanding of his comming, without delay with 7000 of the best horsemen in all Turkie made towards SIRIA also: whereof Rustan hearing, and perceiuing that he could not (as he desired) conueniently execute the cruell commaund of the vnnaturall father, forthwith turned his backe, and treading the same steps he came, returned with his armie to CONSTANTINOPLE D with such speed, that he endured not to behold the very dust raised by Mustapha his horsemen, much lesse his presence: giuing it out, That he certainely vnderstood, that the prouince was in quiet (as indeed it was) and that he thereupon returned. But vnto Solyman he told another tale in secret,The malicious deuice of Rustan. which he maliciously had deuised, That he by most apparent signes and manifest presumptions had perceiued the whole armie so enclined towards Mustapha, that if hee should haue attempted any thing against him by plaine force, hee should haue beene vtterly forsaken, and had therefore in so dangerous a case left the matter as it was to his graue further direction. This tale suspitiously told, raised in the wicked and vnnaturall father (nothing degenerating from the naturall crueltie of his auncestors) new and great suspitions, whereof to disburden his disquieted mind, he conceiued with himselfe a most horrible deuice. Wherefore the yeare following, E which was the yeare 1553, he raised a great armie, giuing it out, That the Persians had with greater power than before inuaded SIRIA, and that therefore he for the loue of his countrey and defence of his empire was determined to goe thither with his armie, and in person himselfe to represse the attempts of his enemies. Wherfore the armie being assembled, and all things necessarie orderly prouided,Solyman goeth himselfe with an armie to kill his sonne. he commaunded to set forward, and in few dayes after followed himselfe: who comming at length into SIRIA, presently by trustie messengers commaunded Mustapha to come vnto him at ALEPPO, for there he lay encamped. And yet for all these shaddowes, the matter was not so closely by Solyman conueied (although he was exceeding carefull thereof) but that his mortall and deadly hatred against his sonne was perceiued by the Bassaes and other great men about him:He sendeth for Mustapha. insomuch, that Achmat Bassa by a secret and trustie messenger F gaue him warning thereof, that so he might in time the better prouide for the safegard of his life. Neither could Mustapha himselfe but maruell, that his aged father without any apparent reason should come so far with so great an armie:Mustapha perplexed in mind. yet trusting to his owne innocencie, though wonderfully troubled and perplexed in mind, he resolued (although it were with the extreame danger of his life) to obey and yeeld to his fathers commaund: for he thought it more commendable and [Page] honourable to incurre the danger of death, than liuing, to fall into the foule suspition of disloyaltie.G In so great a perplexitie of mind,His talke with his doctor. after he had with himselfe much discoursed too and fro what course hee were best to take, at length he boldly and resolutely asked the doctor whom (as we haue before said) he had alwaies with him in his court, Whether the empire of the world or a blessed life were of man more to be desired? to whom the doctor frankely answered, That the empire of the world, to him that would enter into the due consideration thereof, brought with it no felicitie, more than a vain shew and vtter apparance of good, nothing being more fraile or vncertaine than worldly honour, bringing with it feare, vexation of mind, tribulation, suspition, murder, wrong, wickednesse, spoile, ruine and captiuitie, with infinit mischeefes of like nature not to be desired of him that would attaine to true felicitie, by which meanes the blessed life was to be lost and not gained: But they vnto whom God had giuen the grace, rightly to consider and H weigh the fragilitie and shortnesse of this our estate (which the common sort deemeth to be the onely life) and to striue against the vanities of this world, and to embrace and follow an vpright kind of life, had vndoubtedly a place assigned for them in heauen, and prepared by the great God where they should at length enjoy life and blisse eternall. This answere of the great doctor wonderfully satisfied the troubled mind of the young prince, foreseeing as it were the approch of his owne end:Mustapha commeth to his fathers campe. and so staying not any longer discourse, forthwith set forward towards his father, and making great hast, came at length to his fathers campe, and not farre off pitched his tents in the open field. But this his so hastie comming the more encreased the suspition in the mind of his wicked father: neither spared Rustan in the meane time with his craftie and subtile deuices to augment the same: for by a signe giuen he caused the Ianizaries and cheefe men in the armie to goe I as if it had beene for honours sake to meet Mustapha; which they all without delay presently did at his commaund, and so all together set forward. In the meane time, he the most craftie varlet with troubled countenance (for he could notably dissemble) as a man halfe dismayed came in hast into Solymans pauillion,The exceeding t [...]cherie of Rustan against Mustapha and falsely told him, That the Ianizaries and almost all the best souldiors of the armie were of themselues without leaue gone to meet Mustapha, and that he feared what would ensue thereof. Which newes so troubled the old tyrant, that he became pale for feare, and going out of his tent, and finding them gone, easily beleeued all to be true that the false Bassa had told him. Neither wanted Mustapha strange warning of his end so neere at hand, for the third day before his setting forwards towards his father,The mel [...]ncholie dreame of Musta [...]ha in comming to his father. falling asleepe in the euening, he thought he saw his prophet Mahomet in bright apparrell to take him by the hand and lead him K into a most pleasant place, beautified with most glorious and stately pallaces, and most delicate and pleasant gardens; and pointing to euery thing with his finger, to say thus vnto him, Here rest they for euer, which in this world haue led an vpright and godly life, following vertue and detesting vice: and after that turning his face to the other side, to haue shewed him two great and swift riuers, whereof the one boyled with water blacker than pitch, and in them appeared (as he thought) numbers of men wallowing and tumbling some vp, some downe, crying horribly for mercie; And there (said he) are punished all such as in this fraile life haue been the malicious workers of iniquitie, the cheefe of whom (as he said) were emperours, kings, princes, and other great men of the world. Mustapha awaking, and troubled with this melancholie dreame, called vnto him his doctor: and hauing told him all the matter, asked him what the same might signifie? who L standing a great while in a muse (for the Mahometanes are exceeding superstitious, attributing much vnto dreames) full of sorrow and greefe, at length answered, That this vision (for so it pleased him to tearme it) was vndoubtedly to be feared, as presaging vnto him the extreame perill of his life, and therefore requested him to haue great care both of his life and honour. But Mustapha as he was of a notable spirit and courage, regarding nothing that answer, stoutly replied: What, shall I suffer my selfe to be terrified and ouercome with childish and vaine feare? why rather hast I not courageously and resolutely to my father? and so much the more boldly, because I know assuredly I haue alwayes (as reason was) reuerenced his majestie, that against his will I neuer turned mine eyes or foot against his most royall seat, much lesse affected his empire, except the most high God had called him to a better life, neither then without the generall good liking & choise M of the whole armie, that so I might at length without murder, without bloud, without tyrannie, well and justly reigne, and in loue and peace inuiolate liue with my brethren: for I haue set down with my selfe, and chosen, if it be my fathers pleasure so, rather to die in his obedience, than reigning many yeares, to be reputed of all men, especially my competitours, a rebell or traitor. [Page] A Hauing thus said, he came vnto his fathers campe, and pitching his tents (as we haue before said) suted himselfe all in white, in token of his innocencie, and writing certaine letters (which the Turkes when they are about to go to any place of danger, vse to write, and alwaies to carrie with them, for they are wonderfull foolish in their superstition) and putting them in his bosome, attended vpon with a few of his most trustie followers, came with great reuerence towards the tent of his father,Mustapha commeth to his fathers tent. fully resoluing to haue kissed his hand, as their vsuall manner is. But when he was come to the entrance of the tent, remembring that he had yet his dagger girt to him, hee entered not vntill he had put it off; because he would not come into his fathers sight with any weapon, if happily so hee might cleere himselfe of his fathers needlesse suspition. So when he was come into the more inward roomes of the tent, he was with such honour as belonged B to his state cheerfully receiued by his fathers eunuchs. But seeing nothing else prouided but one seat whereon to sit himselfe alone, he perplexed in mind stood still a while musing, at length asked where the emperour his father was? Whereunto they answered, That he should by and by see him: and with that casting his eye aside, he saw seauen Muts (these are strong men, bereft of their speech, whom the Turkish tyrants haue alwaies in readinesse, the more secretly to execute their bloudie butcherie) comming from the other side of the tent towards him: at whose sight strucken with a sudden terrour, said no more, but Lo my death; and with that, arising, was about to haue fled:Mustapha most cr [...]elly strangled in his fathers sight. but in vaine, for he was caught hold on by the eunuch and Muts, and by force drawne to the place appointed for his death: where without further stay the Muts cast a bow string about his necke, he poore wretch still striuing, and requesting that he might C speake but two words to his father before he died. All which the murtherer (for no addition is sufficient significantly to expresse his vnnaturall villanie) both heard and saw by a trauers from the other side of the tent: but was so farre from being moued with compassion, that thinking it long till he were dispatched, with a most terrible and cruell voice he rated the villaines enured to bloud, saying, Will you neuer dispatch that I bid you? will you neuer make an end of this traitor, for whom I haue not rested one night these ten yeares in quiet? Which horrible commaunding speeches yet thundring in their eares, those butcherly Muts threw the poore innocent prince vpon the ground, and with the helpe of the eunuchs forcibly drawing the knotted bow string both waies, by the commaundement of a most wicked father strangled him. With like barbarous crueltie,Mahomet Mustaphaes sonne strangled also. he shortly after caused Mahomet his nephew (Mustapha his sonne) to bee strangled D also.

This vnnaturall and strange murther committed, he presently commaunded the Bassa of AMASIA Mustaphaes lieutenant to be apprehended, and his head in his owne presence to bee strucke off. Which done, he sent for Tzihanger the crooked, yet ignorant of all that was happened; and in sporting wise, as if he had done a thing worth commendations, bid him go meet his brother Mustapha: which thing Tzihanger with a merrie and cheerfull countenance hasted to doe, as one glad of his brothers comming. But as soone as he came vnto the place where he saw his brother lying dead vpon the ground strangled, it is not to be spoken how he was in mind tormented.Solyman offereth to Tzihanger all Mustaphaes treasure and wealth. He was scarcely come to the place where this detestable murther was committed, when his father sent vnto him certaine of his seruants to offer vnto him all Mustaphaes treasure, E horses, seruants, jewels, tents, and withall the gouernment of the prouince of AMASIA: but Tzihanger filled with extreame heauinesse for the vnmercifull death of his welbeloued brother, spake vnto them in this sort. Ah wicked and vngodly Cain, traitor (I may not say father) take thou now the treasures, the horses, the seruants, the iewels and the prouince of Mustapha. How came it into thy wicked, cruell and sauage breast, so vngratiously and contrarie to all humanitie, I will not say the reuerence of thine owne bloud, to kill thy worthie, warlike and noble sonne, the mirror of courtesie, and prince of greatest hope, the like of whom, the Othoman family neuer yet had, nor neuer shall? I will therefore my selfe prouide that thou, nor none for thee shall euer hereafter in such sort shamefully triumph ouer a poore crooked wretch. And hauing thus much said, stabd himselfe with his owne dagger into the bodie,Tzihanger for sorrow killeth himselfe. whereof he in short time died: which so soone F as it came to the old Tygers eares, it is hard to say how much he grieued. His dead bodie was by his fathers commaundement carried from ALEPPO in SYRIA to CONSTANTINOPLE, and afterwards honourably buried on the other side of the hauen at PERA. For all this bloudie tragedie, his couetous mind was not so troubled but that he could forthwith command all Mustaphaes treasures and riches to be brought to his tent: which his souldiors in hope to haue [Page] the same giuen them for a prey, willingly hasted to performe. In the meane time, the souldiors G which were in Mustaphaes campe, not knowing what was become of their master, seeing such a multitude of souldiors thrusting into their campe without all order; to represse their tumultuous insolencie, stept out in their armour, and notably repulsed them, not without much bloudshed.

At length, the noise of this stirre was heard by the rest of the kings souldiors, who seeing the tumult to increase more and more,A bloudie tumult betwixt the souldiors of Solyman and Mustapha. ran in to helpe their fellowes; so that in short time there began a hoat skirmish and cruell fight on both sides, insomuch that two thousand were slaine and mo wounded: neither had the broile so ended, had not Achomat bassa a graue captaine, and for his long experience of no small authoritie amongst the souldiors, kept backe the Ianizaries and staied their furie; and turning likewise to Mustaphaes souldiors, by gentle and mild words and H courteous persuasions,The tumult appeased by Achomat bassa. in this manner appeased their rage. What my brethren (said he) will you now (degenerating from your auntient loyaltie, for which you haue bin for so many ages commended) impugne the commaund of the great Sultan our dread soueraigne? Truely I cannot sufficiently maruell what thing should moue you, whom I haue hitherto proued to haue been most worthy and valiant souldiors, in this ciuile conflict to draw those weapons against your fellowes and brethren, which you haue most fortunatly vsed against the enemies of the Othoman kings: except you meane thereby to make your selues a ioyfull spectacle vnto your enemies, who grieuing to see themselues ouercome by your victorious weapons, may yet reioice among themselues to see you turne the same one vpon another. Wherefore my sonnes, for your auntient honours sake, be carefull that you doe not by this your insolencie lose the reputation of your wisedome loyaltie and valour, for which you haue hitherto been I aboue all others commended: reserue these your weapons which you haue now too too much vsed amongst your fellowes, against your enemies, of whom you may get more praise and honour. This speech of the old Bassa, so mollified the stout souldiors, that they freely permitted all that was in Mustaphaes tents to be carried to Solymans: but as soone as the death of Mustapha was blowne into the eares of the Ianizaries and the rest of the armie in Solymans campe, another tumult rise among them worse than the first.The Ianizaries vp in a [...]m [...] against Sol [...]man, [...]or the vnworthy death of Mustapha. They were quickly all vp in armes againe, and with a great noise confused with teares and lamentation, as they were in rage and furie, brake violently into Solymans pauillion with their drawne swords: which strucke the tyrant into such a feare, that destitute of all counsell in himselfe, he was about with the extreame perill of his life to haue fled: but being holden of his friends, and making a vertue of necessitie, vpon the sudden aduentured K to doe that which at better leisure he would scarcely haue thought vpon: for going forth out of his tent, but with a pale and wan countenance he spake vnto the enraged souldiors thus. What broile is this? The s [...]out speech of Solyman to the Ianizaries. what sturre? what so great insolencie? what meane your inflamed, fierce and angrie lookes? know you not your soueraigne? and him that hath power▪ to commaund you? Haue you so resolued to s [...]aine the antient and inuincible honour of your selues and your ancestors, with the bloud of your lord and emperour? The f [...]rce answer [...] of the Ianizaries to Solyman. Whilest he was yet thus speaking, the souldiors boldly answered, That they denied not, but that he was the man whom they many yeares before had chosen for their emperour: but in that they had by their owne valour got for him a large and mightie empire, and in like manner preserued it; that was therefore of them done, that he should for the same gouerne them vertuously and justly, and not to lay his bloudie hands without discretion vpon L euerie just man, and most wickedly embrue himselfe with innocent bloud: and that they came thither armed, they did it (as they said) moued with just cause, to reuenge the vnworthie death of guiltlesse Mustapha; and that for that matter, he had no just cause to be angrie with them. Wherefore they required, that they might publikely cleere themselues of the treason whereof they were accused by Mustaphaes enemies, and that the accuser might be brought forth to justifie his accusation: protesting, that they would neuer lay downe their weapons, vntill the accuser made his appearance in judgement, and commenced his accusation judicially, vpon paine to endure the like punishment if he failed in proofe. Whilest these things were in doing, the hainousnesse of the late committed fact caused euerie man to shed teares,Solyman yeeldeth vnto the Ianizaries. so that Solyman himselfe seemed to be sorie for the murther so lately by himselfe committed: wherfore he promised vnto M the souldiors whatsoeuer they required, and did what he could to appease their angrie minds. For all that, they in the meane time, least he should craftily slip away and deceiue them of that he had promised, and of the expectation of such things as they had required, witha maruellous care and diligence all kept watch and ward.

[Page] A Solyman to appease this furie of the Ianizaries,Rustan disgraced by Solyman, flieth to Constantinople. depriued Rustan Bassa of all his honours, and tooke from him his seale whereof he had the keeping, and deliuered it to Achomates bassa: But Rustan worthely strucken with feare and horrour, seeing himselfe now in no safetie in his owne tents, fled secretly to Achomates, asking his counsell what were best for him to doe, and what course to take in so doubtfull and dangerous a case? To whom the Bassa answered, That it were best for him to vse the great emperours aduise, and to doe what he commaunded. Which answere well satisfied Rustan: and so he which of late gaue other men accesse vnto the emperour at his pleasure, was now glad by his old acquaintance and friends to preferre this poore sute, To know his pleasure what he would haue him to doe. From whom he receiued this answere, That he should incontinently without farther delay get him out of his sight, and out of the campe: B which the Bassa said he could not conueniently doe, being by his displeasure and the souldiors rage disfurnished of all things necessarie for his departure. Whereunto Solyman sent him answere againe, That he could giue him neither longer time nor delay, and that it were best for him without more adoe to be gone for feare of farther harme. Whereupon Rustan, guiltie in conscience of most horrible villanie & treacherie, accompanied but with eight of his most faithfull friends in steed of his late world of followers; posted in hast to CONSTANTINOPLE, and there (not without danger of his head) with Roxolana and other the complices and contriuers of the treason against Mustapha, in great feare expected the euent of his fortune.

This young prince Mustapha thus shamefully murthered by his owne father, was for his rare vertues generally beloued of the Turkes; but of the souldiors most for his martiall disposition, C and readinesse for the effusion of Christian bloud. The opinion they had conceiued of him was such, and their loue so great, that they neuer thought there was any in the Othoman family, of whom they expected so much for the enlarging of their empire: insomuch, that euer since, when in their priuat or publike actions they faile of any great hope, they vse this prouerb euen at this day taken frō him, Gietti Sultan Mustapha; Sultan Mustapha is dead: as who should say, our hope is all lost. Achomates bassa the great champion of the Turks, a man of exceeding courage, not ignorant of the small assurance of the great honors of that state,The miserable end of Achomates the great Bassa. at such time as he receiued the seale from Solyman, boldly told him, That as he did then franckly bestow it vpon him, so he would at one time or other to his no lesse disgrace take it from him: to whom Solyman solemnly promised with an oath not to displace him so long as he liued. For all that, he had not long enjoyed D that honour, but that Solyman falling in dislike with him, and willing againe to promote Rustan bassa to that great honour, greater than which there is none in the Turkes court, which by reason of his oath he could not doe so long as Achomates liued: To saue his oath, and to preferre his sonne in law (whom he had indeed displaced onely to please the tumultuous Ianizaries) resolued to haue Achomates put to death. Of which his purpose Achomates altogither ignorant, and one morning after his wonted manner comming into the Diuano in all his honour, vpon the sudden receiued word from Solyman, that he must presently die, and forthwith was the hangman readie to haue strangled him, as was giuen him in charge: whom the stout Bassa thrust from him with his hand, with countenance and cheere in shew no more troubled than if the matter had nothing concerned him. And looking a good while round about him, espied at last an honest E man whom he had before many times pleasured, whom he most earnestly requested for all the kindnesse shewed vnto him, to do him that last fauour as to strangle him with his own hand, which should be vnto him the greatest good turne that he could possibly deuise, detesting nothing more than to die with the hand of the executioner. Which thing when he after much intreatie had vndertaken to performe, Achomates willed him, that he should not at one twitch strangle him outright, but letting the bow string slake againe, giue him leaue once to breath, and then to dispatch him: which his request was by his friend accordingly performed, and he in that sort strangled: wherein it seemeth that he was desirous, first to tast of death, and not to die all at once. Immediatly after whose death, Rustan bas [...]a was againe restored to his place of chiefe Visier, and had the great seale deliuered vnto him: which honour he enjoyed about six years after, and so at F last died of the dropsie. This was the end of these two great Bassaes Achomates and Rustan, who in that time swaied that great empire vnder Solyman, and of whom we haue so much spoken▪ It is reported, that Solyman hauing appointed Achomates to die, should say, It is better for his great heart once to die, than to die a thousand times, in seeing his honour taken from him and bestowed vpon another.

[Page] 1554The Turkes gallies by the sollicitation of the French before brought down into the Tuscane G sea, did much harme vpon the coasts of CALABRIA and SICILIA in this yeare 1554, as they had the yeare before, and so did diuers yeares after. At which time also Pandulphus Contarenus the Venetian Admirall scouring alongst the seas, carefully looking to the frontiers of the Venetian estate, chanced to meet with the Bassa of CALIPOLIS (who the yeare before had rifled certaine Venetian marchants) in reuenge of which injurie he set vpon him, and after a great spoyle made both of the Turkes and their gallies, he ransacked DIRRACHIVM, then one of the Turks port townes in DALMATIA.

1555The next yeare 1555 the same Bassa recouered his strength, but not daring to be too busie with the Venetians, surprised the Islands of PLVMBIS and ELBA, subject to the duke of FLORENCE, and withall sent letters to Solyman, to persuade him to take vp armes against the Venetians,H as they which had broken the league.

At the same time Haly the Bassa of BVDA by policie surprised the strong castle of BABOZA in HVNGARIE:1556 and was in good hope by the like finenesse to haue taken the towne and castle of ZIGETH,Zigeth besieged by the Bassa of Buda. a place of great importance: but failing of his purpose, he came the next yeare 1556 with a great armie, and the 13 day of Iune encamped before the towne, wherein was Gouernour Marcus Horwath a valiant captaine, with a garrison of notable souldiors. Shortly after he began a most terrible batterie: during which time the Christians sallying diuers times out, slew many of his men, who for all that vsed such diligence, that the twentieth of Iune they woon the vttermost wall, and after fiue hot assaults were in hope at the sixt to haue woon the castle also: but the Christians perceiuing the danger, resolutely sallied out, and hauing slaine eight hundred I of them, draue the rest againe from the wall: yet the Turkes gaue it not so ouer, but with a great number of ca [...]ts laboured to haue filled vp the marrish and ditches about the towne: which their attempt was by the industrie of the defendants also defeated. The Bassa perceiuing how hardly the towne would be woon by force, attempted to haue persuaded them to haue yeelded it vp by composition:A terrible assault. but fayling therein of his purpose, began againe the twelfth of Iulie to assault the citie, which assault he maintained fiue dayes together without intermission, still sending in fresh men in stead of them that were wearied or slaine: yet was the citie for all that by the valour of the Christians notably defended. [...] notably [...]efended. So when he had in vaine proued the vttermost of his forces, he raised his siege the one and twentieth day of Iuly, and departed: but within six dayes after he returned againe from the citie QVINQVE-ECLESIae, and assaulted the citie afresh, but was at K length glad to giue ouer the siege and be gone, when he had lost of his best souldiors aboue two thousand, and of the defendants slaine but a hundred and twentie. After his departure there was ten thousand great shot found, wherewith he had battered the towne and the castle, which was for this time thus worthely defended. The Turks in the meane time after their wonted manner ceased not to doe what harme they could in the Tuscane sea, and had againe miserably spoyled the Island of CORSICA: for withstanding of whom, the bishop of ROME exacted of his peopled a great subsidie, and finely stript the Iewes of their money, and seized vpon their rich marchants goods in his territorie: at whose earnest sute Solyman in their behalfe writ vnto the bishop as followeth.

L

Sultan Solyman most mightie Emperour of Emperours, the sonne of Selym, Emperour of Emperours, to whom God giue eternall victorie: to Pope Paulus the fourth, greeting.

Most excellent and most mightie Lord of the professors of the Messias Iesu, and lord of ROME, the Almightie keepe thee.Solyman [...] letter to the Pope, in behalfe of the Iews marchants. At such time as thou shalt receiue our [...]eale, thou shalt vnderstand by our letters, that certaine Hebrewes haue come vnto vs, complaining that they are oppressed of thee with too greeuous exactions, when they come to trafficke at ANCONA ▪ This burden I request thee to take from them, and to restore againe vnto them their goods, that thereby they may be able to pay vnto vs our tribute: which if thou (as I hope thou wilt) shall doe, thou shalt feele our fauour▪ Farewell M from CONSTANTINOPLE the last of the blessed moneth The ninth of Mar [...]h▪ An. 1556 Rambeluch, in the yeare of our great Prophet Mahomet nine hundred threescore and foure.

Haly Bassa besiegeth Zigeth againe. Haly Bassa greeued with the late repulse he had receiued at ZIGETH, came againe the next [Page] A yeare, and besieged it, at which time king Ferdinand sent Nicholaus Polwiler and the countie Serinus with a power raised in SVEVIA and AVSTRIA, to recouer BABOZA, a castle betwixt ZIGETH and STIRIA, before surprised by the Turks: of whose comming the Bassa hauing intelligence, rise with his armie and departed from ZIGETH, which he had for certaine moneths hardly besieged, and not farre from BABOZA met with Polwiler and Serinus; who joining battell with him,Haly Bassa ouerthrowne. after a hard and sharpe fight ouerthrew him and put him to flight. This victorie with the comming downe of yong Ferdinand, king Ferdinands sonne, Archduke of AVSTRIA with new supplies, so terrified the Turkes in that part of HVNGARIE alongst the riuer Dranus, that they for feare forsooke BABOZA, SAMMARTIN, SAN-LAVRENCE, and diuers other small castles which they had before taken, and fled to QVINQVE ECLESIae.

B The Gouernour of ZIGETH encouraged herewith, sallying out with his garrison, slew many of the Turkes in their flight towards QVINQVE ECLESIae, and meeting by chance with a troupe of horsemen which were bringing the Turkes pay, ouerthrew them, tooke the mony, and so with an exceeding rich prey returned to his castle. At which time also Adam the Gouernour of RAB, otherwise called FAVRINVM, hauing burnt the suburbes of ALBA REGALIS, and driuen away many thousands of cattell, at a towne called SIAN ouerthrew fiue hundred Turkes, and as many fugitiue Christians, and so with a great prey and little or no losse at all of his men returned.

Henrie the French king at the same time in warres with Philip king of SPAINE,Henry the French king solliciteth Solyman to inuade the king of Spaine his territories. and troubled with the losse of his armie ouerthrowne not farre from S. QVINTAINS (at which time the C duke Montmorencie constable of FRANCE and Generall of the armie with his sonne and diuers other of the nobilitie of FRANCE were taken prisoners) by his embassadour Michaell Condignac sollicited Solyman to haue by sea inuaded NAPLES and SICILIA, so to haue withdrawne the Spanish forces out of FRANCE, to defend their owne frontiers. Which thing Solyman, offended with the insolencie of the embassadour, refused to doe: yet neuerthelesse commaunded his aduenturers all alongst the coast of AFFRICKE, to infest those seas, and to doe what harme they could vpon the coast of ITALIE and SICILIA; which they so diligently performed, that the viceroy of SICILIA was faine for defence of those countries to lie in readinesse with his gallies in the ports of CAIETA and NAPLES.

In the meane time the Guise, The Guise, lord Grand Prior in France, admirall of Malta, taketh certaine of the Turkes gallies. lord Grand Prior of the knights of S. Iohns in FRAVNCE (and D brother of Francis the duke of Guise, Generall of the French kings armie in ITALIE, who vpon the ouerthrow receiued at S. QVINTINS, called out of ITALIE, shortly after tooke CALLIS) Admirall of the gallies of MALTA, went out toward the East with foure gallies well appointed to lie in wait for the Turkes, and by fortune met with two great ships laded with the Turks marchandise, which he tooke; and by and by after light vpon foure of the Turks gallies, with whom he had a great fight: yet at length hauing sunke one of them and burnt another, he tooke the other two. After which victorie returning towards MALTA to haue repaired his gallies and cured his wounded men, he was met with foure other great gallies of the Turks: who desirous to reuenge the losse of their fellowes, set vpon him, and he seeing now no remedie, but that hee must needs fight courageously, encountered them. But for as much as he had in the two fights E before lost some of his men, and 72 of the knights in the gallies lay sore wounded, hee by the counsell of the captaines retired towards MALTA: but by the way one of his gallies was taken by the Turks, with 52 knights of the Order: yet with the rest and the prizes before taken, he recouered the island of MALTA, where he stayed that Winter, and the next Spring sayled into FRAVNCE to be partaker of those troubles, which beginning shortly after, haue but of late taken end.

The immoderat fortune of the great Sultan Solyman, Solyman in nothing more vnfortunat than in the proofe of his children. was not in any thing more contrarie to his desire, than in the proofe of those his children, of whom the world held the greatest expectation. Mustapha his eldest sonne, the mirrour of courtesie and rare hope of the whole Turkish nation, the suspitious tyrant had most vnnaturally caused to be murdered in his owne presence, F to the greefe of all his subjects in generall, as is before declared: poore Tzihanger was dead for sorrow: and Mahometes his eldest sonne by his best beloued the faire Roxolana, was departed this life also. So that now remained vnto him onely Selymus, the vnworthie heire of so great an empire, and Baiazet his yonger brother, the liuely image of his father, both men grown, and the sonnes of the same Roxolana: but so farre differing the one from the other both in feature [Page] of bodie and disposition of mind, as if they had not beene of the same kindred and line. Selymus G the elder brother most like vnto his mother, was in the secret determination of the aged emperour his father appointed heire of that most mightie empire.Baiazet Solyman [...] younger sonne seeketh to aspire vnto the empire. Baiazet much resembling his father, was on the other side strongly supported by the care and entire loue of his mother: which whether it proceeded of a secret commiseration of his ineuitable destinie, or that he had by loyaltie or other meanes so woon her fauour, is not knowne; but euery man saw, that if it had lien in her power, she would vndoubtedly haue preferred him before his elder brother Selymus, and haue placed him in the empire: but she must needs giue way to her old husbands will, firmely and irremouably set downe, that the destinies so permitting, none should raigne after him but his eldest sonne Selymus. Of which his purpose and resolution Baiazet being not ignorant, began most circumspectly to looke about him, if he could by any meanes frustrate that forcible necessitie, and H exchange his certaine destruction with an empire: in which his deepe and dangerous cogitations he was not a little comforted by the fauour and loue of Roxolana his mother, and of Rustan the great Bassa his brother in law, who together had in any other matter been able to haue ouerruled the aged emperour. Whereupon he resolutely set downe himselfe, rather to end his dayes by making proofe of his good or bad fortune, than vpon the death of his father (which by course of nature could not now be farre off) to be as a sacrifice basely butchered by some vile hangman of his brothers. Baiazet so resolued, and now alreadie fallen out with his brother Selymus, tooke occasion vpon the generall discontentment of the people and others, for the vnworthie death of Mustapha their late joy to begin those stirres which he had before with himselfe plotted, and so to make a head, whereunto he might afterward joyne the bodie also: for why that worthie Mustapha I had left behind him so great a desire of himselfe, that now it wearied many to liue after him, they had so placed all the hope of their good fortune in him; vnto whom nothing was more desired than to reuenge the wrong done vnto him, or els to run the same hard fortune with him: Othersome guiltie of the immoderat affection they had borne vnto him yet liuing, and fearing to be called to giue an account thereof, thought any state better & more assured than that wherin they presently stood,A counterseit Mustapha set vp to make a head of rebellion. and therefore sought all occasions of new stirres, and how to set all on a hurly burly: onely a captaine was wanting, Mustapha could not be againe reuiued, yet might he be strongly supposed to liue. This deuice pleased Baiazet, as best fitting his purpose, being not ignorant of this disposition of the people. Wherefore by certaine of his most faithfull and trustie followers he found out a certaine obscure fellow of a notable audacitie which should take vpon K him the name and person of Mustapha, whose stature also and countenance and proportion of bodie differed not much from Mustapha himselfe: He, as if he had by chance escaped, first began to shew himselfe in that part of THRACIA which is aboue CONSTANTINOPLE, and lieth toward Danubius, not farre from the countries of MOLDAVIA and VALACHIA, and was for that cause both fittest for rebellion, and also best stored with horsemen, who of all others most honoured Mustapha. The craftie dealing of the supposed Mustapha to deceiue the people. Hither he comes as if it had beene from a long journey, slenderly accompanied, and as if he had beene desirous at the first not to haue beene knowne: his followers being demaunded (as it chanced) who he was, did rather fearfully giue them that asked occasion to ghesse, than plainely to tell them, that it was Mustapha: neither did he himselfe much denie it: wherby the people became more and more desirous to know him. Which beginning thus layd,L he afterward began to rejoice of his fortunate comming thither, and to giue God thanks for his safe arriuall there amongst his friends: he tels them, That at such time as hee was sent for by his father, he durst not come into his sight, or commit himselfe vnto him in his furie, but by the counsell of his friends to haue with great promises persuaded one that was maruellous like vnto himselfe, to goe in his stead; by whose danger hee might make proofe of his fathers mind towards him: who before he was admitted to the speech of his father, was without hearing miserably strangled, and so cast out before his pauillion: at which time there was many (as he said) which perceiued the deceit, but the greater part remained in errour, deceiued with the lineaments and countenance of the miserable dead man, who was much altered with the terrible paines of death, and supposing it to haue beene him indeed that was slaine. Which M thing as soone as he vnderstood, he thought it not good longer to stay, but presently to flie and to prouide for his owne safetie: and so flying with a few of his owne followers, thereby the more secretly and safely to escape; and hauing passed aboue PONTVS by the people of BOSPHORVS, was now come thither, where as he was in good hope to find much helpe and comfort [Page] A forth in the fidelitie of his friends, whom he requested not now to forsake him, or to make lesse account of him disgraced by the malice of his stepmother, than they had before in time of his prosperitie. For that he was aminded to reuenge the injurie done vnto him, and by force of armes to defend himselfe: for what else had he now left? being by no other means preserued but by the death of another man: that he had sufficiently proued how his father stood affected towards him, and that he now liued by his mistaking, not by his kindnesse. The cause of all which his troubles was his stepdame, who (as he said) with her mischantments led the silly old man (now almost doating for age and mad for loue) whither she would at her pleasure, and by her agent Rustan bassa forced him forward headlong into all kind of mischiefe: but that God be thanked he wanted not his friends, by whose help he would find a way out of these miseries, and take reuenge B of his enemies: for why, he had as yet couragious hearts, and the Ianizaries, with the greater part of his fathers family on his side, & that great multitudes of people would flock vnto him vpon the brute of his name: so that they which did now mourne for him as dead (in number many) would by heapes run to help him being aliue: so that they there present would only courteously receiue him as a guest, and protect him now distressed, vntill such time as his wel-willers & friends might repaire vnto him. And this at last he gaue out, not in secret, but openly vnto all men whersoeuer he came. The same things did they also report, whom he made the people to beleeue to haue been the companions of his flight: which was also confirmed by diuers of good account and authoritie, whom Baiazet had before delt withall to that purpose. So a great number of men altogether vnknowne to Baiazet, were by that meanes seduced: for this matter was so cunningly C wrought, that many euen of them that had knowne Mustapha aliue, and seene him laid dead before his fathers pauillion; yet listed not greatly to beleeue that which they knew, but easily suffered themselues to be persuaded, that this was the true Mustapha. But the companions and followers of Mustapha, in whose minds the liuely countenance and remembrance of him was thorowly engrauen, nothing could deceiue: yet blinded partly with feare, partly with griefe and desire of reuenge, and wishing rather to aduenture any thing, than longer to liue without Mustapha, were the first men that came to offer their seruice to this counterfeit Mustapha: and would not suffer other men to doubt but that this was the verie Mustapha, which it was falsely reported to haue been slaine. As for the deceiuer himselfe, he either kept with him, or entertained them that came, some with faire promises, some with courteous speeches, and many also with money and D rewards, which he made them to beleeue he had reserued of the reliques of his better fortune: for Baiazet had before notably prouided, that nothing should in this behalfe be wanting vnto him for the countenancing of his credit. So within the space of a few daies, such a multitude of men was resorted vnto him,Solyman angrie with the Sanzackes for not suppressing the supposed Mustapha, sendeth Partau the great Bassa against him. as might almost haue made a whole armie. When Solyman vpon the sudden was aduertised by the fearfull messengers and letters of the Sanzacks thereabouts, what a danger was like to ensue by the concourse of so great a multitude of people vnto this counterfeit Mustapha: he presently suspecting (as the truth was) that this was not done without the priuitie of one of his sonnes, thought it not a thing to be neglected: and therefore by his letters reproued the Sanzacks there by, that they had suffered the matter to run so farre, and had not in the beginning as their duetie was suppressed the same; grieuously threatning them, if they did not with all E speed send vnto him in bonds that counterfeit companion with the rest of his complices. Which that it might be the easilier by them performed; he promised to send one of the chiefe Bassaes, namely Partau Bassa (who had married the widdow of Mahometes the eldest sonne of Roxolana of whom we haue before remembred) and with him a strong power of the soldiors of the court: but if they would haue themselues excused, that they should of themselues dispatch the matter before the comming of that aid. This Partau lead after him certaine squadrons of souldiors, not so many in number, as notable for their fidelitie: for Solyman had caused the most faithfull of his colonels, captaines, and corporals to be called out; wisely doubting least his souldiors, either led with affection, or corrupted with reward, might take part with him against whom they were sent. For the common sort of the Ianizaries, standing in suspence at the fame of Mustapha, and F the expectation of some great noueltie, fauoured that broile, and wished all on a hurly burly: neither was the matter in deed without danger. The Sanzacks after they had receiued this straight charge from Solyman, considering how much it stood them vpon to make a speedie dispatch, began now now to encourage one another to bestirre themselues, to make all the speed possible, and with all their power on euerie side to oppose themselues against the attempts of this [Page] new found Mustapha: labouring to stay such as were comming vnto him, and to disperse such as G were readie come, by shewing vnto them the greatnesse of the danger, and threatning them with all extreamities. In the meane time Partan Bassa came on with his armie, and was not now far off: when (as in like case it oftentimes falleth out in things not yet sufficiently confirmed, and by celeritie pretended) the souldiors of the counterfeit Mustapha seeing themselues beset on euerie side, began to feare, and at first some few to slip away; but afterwards, all, without regard of shame or of their promise to forsake their captaine, and flie euerie man whither he thought best. The captaine seeking likewise to haue made shift for himselfe, was with the chiefe of his counsellors and followers taken by the Sanzacks and deliuered to the Bassa, who with a strong guard sent them all in bonds to CONSTANTINOPLE: where Solyman by most exquisite torments drew from them all the secret deuises of his young sonne Baiazet, and that he had purposed after H such a head made by this supposed Mustapha as he thought conuenient, to haue vpon the sudden joyned himselfe with a great power, and so as should best serue for his purpose, to haue gone directly to CONSTANTINOPLE, or els against his brother Selymus. But whilest hee goeth somewhat too slowly about his businesse,Mustapha and his companions drowned by night. his vnripe counsels were by his fathers celeritie oppressed. Of all which matter Solyman now thorowly assured, caused the supposed Mustapha and his companions at midnight to be drowned in the sea; thinking it not good to haue these things commonly knowne, and to haue his domesticall wounds yet bleeding, laid open to the view of his neighbour princes. Neuerthelesse being mightily offended with Baiazet for so great an insolencie, he ceased not to cast in his mind how to be reuenged vpon him; which his wife Roxolana a woman of great wisedome was not ignorant of.Roxolana intrea [...]eth Solyman for Baiazet her yonger sonne, and obtaineth his pardon. Who after a few daies, at such time as the I old mans furie was ouerpast, falling of purpose into talke with him about the matter, she laid togither in her sons behalfe, and alleadged the vndiscreetnesse of youth, the necessitie of the fact, and the example of his auncestors in like case, that it was so prouided for by nature, that euerie man should be carefull of himselfe and his, and that all men did indifferently shun death, that young men were by euill counsell easily seduced and made to forget their dutie. That it were reason he should forgiue him this first fault; which if he amended, then was it a great gaine for the father to haue saued his sonne: but if he should againe fall into relapse, there would not want time to punish him sufficiently for both faults. And that if so be he would not pardon him for his owne sake: yet he would vouchsafe to pardon him for hers, entreating now for him for whom she had before groaned, and not to be cruell vpon him one of the pledges of their loue,K in whom rested the bloud of them both: for in what wofull case should she be, if of those two sons (all that God had left her) the fathers seueritie should bereaue her of the one? Wherfore she requested him to moderat his anger, and to preferre his clemencie before his just indignation: forasmuch as God himselfe of all power and might, did not alwaies deale with sinners in seueritie, but for most part in mercie; whereas otherwise all mankind would not suffice his wrath. And would mercie in any place be more fitting, than in the father towards his child? She promised further, that Baiazet should from thenceforth remaine in most dutifull obedience towards his majestie; and vpon his so great clemencie, to conuert the feare wherein he now liued into a world of dutie and deuotion. Honourable minds (she said) were retained with nothing more than with kindnesse and courtesie, that the remembrance of that his fatherly forgiuenesse, should L be a stay vnto him for euer doing the like againe: at last that she would promise for him, and take vpon her, that he should euer afterwards satisfie his fatherly expectation in all kind of dutie and loyaltie. Which words mingled with teares and other womanly gestures, so wrought with Solyman, being otherwise too much in her power, that he resolued to forgiue the fault; yet so, that he should come and submit himselfe, and receiue from him his charge. This carefull mother foreslowes no time, but by letters secretly aduertised Baiazet, not to feare to come vnto his father at such time as he should be sent for:Baiazet goeth to his father in feare. assuring him that there was no danger, for that his father was by her meanes appeased, and he againe brought into his father. With which good newes Baiazet well comforted, resolued to go at such time as he was sent for: yet full of feare, and oftentimes looking backe vnto his brother Mustapha, whose dreadfull example sufficiently warned M him what a danger he aduentured himselfe vnto. Yet he came to the place appointed for the parley, which was in a common Inne at a place called CARESTRAN, a few miles from CONSTANTINOPLE: for such is the suspitious maner of the Turkish tyrants of these times, not to suffer any of their sonnes that be men growne, to set their foot within the gates of CONSTANTINOPLE, [Page] A as dangerous for soliciting the souldiors of the court, and so consequently for the altering of the state. Baiazet was no sooner lighted from his horse, but his fathers guard were presently readie to receiue him, commaunding him to lay aside his sword and dagger: which thing although it be an vsuall matter in others that are admitted to the presence of the Turkish emperour; yet might it then in the mind of his guiltie sonne raise a great feare. But his kind mother (who had before foreseene in what feare and perplexitie he would come) had conuaied her selfe into a chamber fast by the entrie of the same house as Baiazet was to passe, where out at at a little casement couered with a thin linnen cloth▪ she called vnto him in passing by in these few words: Corcoma oglan Corcoma (which is as much as to say) feare not my sonne, Roxolana comforteth her sonne Baiazet. feare not: with which short speech Baiazet was not a little both comforted and encouraged: But as soone as he was B come into his fathers presence and had done his dutie, Solyman commaunded him to sit downe by him:Solyman reproueth Baiazet of disloialtie▪ and afterward par [...] neth him. then began the grim [...]ire grieuously to reproue him of rashnesse and want of discretion in taking vp armes, which he could not otherwise conceiue of, but as taken vp against himselfe▪ And admit they were as he would haue it, and the best that he could make of it, taken vp against his elder brother; yet was it neuerthelesse a great presumption and most wicked fact. Neither was there any want in him, but that the whole state of the Mahometane religion (which at this day resteth vpon the Othoman family) had by his domesticall discord beene sore shaken, and brought in perill of vtter ruine, to the great injurie reproach and contempt of his majestie, a most destable and horrible crime, which could not with condigne punishment be reuenged. Yet for all that, he had determined to pardon him, and to shew himselfe rather a kind father than a C seuere judge; so that he would from thenceforth leaue the care of future things to God: forasmuch as none of these things are done by our appointment, but that kingdomes and monarchies are bestowed as pleaseth him: So that if it were his destinie to enjoy the empire after his death, he should be most sure thereof as of a thing that would of it selfe come vnto him, and was not by any mans power to be kept from him, as that which was by God ordained for him: but if it were otherwise appointed by God, then were it a mad thing for him to labour in vaine to striue against the will of God, and as it were to fight with God. Wherefore he should now as one well warned, cease to rage and storme, and not to molest his quiet brother, or trouble him his aged father: for that if he should againe fall, and raise new stirs, it would assuredly fall vpon his owne head, neither would any place of mercie be found for his second offence, and that hee D should then find him not as now his gentle father, but a most seuere and reuenging judge. Which when he had said, and Baiazet had thereunto briefly answered as the time would permit, rather crauing pardon for his trespasse than excusing that was not to be excused, and promising from thenceforth to liue most loyally at his commaund: Solyman according to the manner of that nation called for drinke, which he commaunded to be giuen to Baiazet, who not daring to refuse it although he had rather haue so done, dranke thereof what he thought good, doubting least that should haue beene his last: of which feare his father forthwith deliuered him by drinking a good draught of the same cup.Baiazet returneth to his charge. So Baiazet though guiltie, hauing with better successe spoken with his father than had his brother Mustapha, returned againe to the former place of his charge.

E This happened in the yeare 1555, from which time Baiazet so long as Roxolana his mother liued, behaued himselfe with all dutifull and brotherly kindnesse both towards his father and his brother; and that rather for to keepe her fauour, and not to cut off the hope which he had only in her affection towards him, than for any confidence he had in his fathers kindnesse, or for any loue he bare to his brother; the regard of her being the onely thing that kept his fierce nature in quiet. But she dead about two yeares after, he as a man bereft of all hope of long life, and discharged of all bonds of dutie, fell to his former course, and began more grieuously than before to reuiue the old grudges betwixt him and his brother, sometime seeking by secret practises to haue him made away, and othersome times by open force entering into his prouince which was not farre off, there euill entreated such of his brothers followers as he light vpon, for their masters F sake, omitting nothing which he thought might tend to the disgrace of him whom of all other he wished dead. He had also certaine of his fauourites at CONSTANTINOPLE, by whom he cunningly wrought by all meanes to gaine the loue of the soldiors of the court, and doubted not as occasion serued to passe ouer thither himselfe, and there to lu [...]ke in secret with such as were of his faction, and priuie to his designements. Of all which things Solyman had knowledge, but [Page] especially by letters from Selymus, wherein he was also aduised to haue care of his owne safetie; G for that he was farre deceiued, if he perceiued not, that these preambles of Baiazet his wicked intentions, would at last turne vpon his head, who regarded neither God nor man, so that he might alone raigne: vnto whose vnruly desires his fathers welfare was no lesse a barre than was his brothers, and that therefore through his sides was his life shot at: which treason [...]nd (as he said) beene of long time plotted, and now occasion sought to haue the same performed: wherefore he should take heed that he were not by such trecherie ouerwhelmed before he were aware therof: That for himselfe he could easily beare with the injuries of his brother Baiazet, yet could not chuse but be moued with the greatnesse of his fathers dangers. By which meanes Solymans hatred against Baiazet was still more and more encreased.Solyman admonisheth Baiazet of his dutie. Wherefore he by letters put him in remembrance of his dutie, how courteously he had vsed him, and againe what he had on his part H promised; that there would not alwayes be place for forgiuenesse; that he should therefore cease to wrong his brother and trouble his father; that he had but a short time to liue; and that after his death God would assigne vnto each of them their fortunes. But all this was to no purpose with Baiazet, fully set downe to hazard whatsoeuer, rather than as a beast to haue his throat cut by his brother: which thing he as plainely saw would betide him in the raigne of Selymus, as if it had beene euen then in execution. Yet he answered to his fathers commaunds not impertinently, but his deeds agreed not with his sayings; neither did he alter any thing of his intended purpose. Which thing as soone as Solyman perceiued,Solyman remooueth his two sons further asunder. he thought it best to take another course, and to remoue his sonnes both further from himselfe, and also further the one from the other. Wherefore he gaue them to vnderstand, That it was his pleasure, that both of them within a certaine I prefixed time should depart out of their gouernments (Baiazet being then Gouernour of CVTAI, and Selymus of MAGNESIA) and that now Baiazet should remoue to AMASIA, and Selymus to ICONIVM. Selymus was without imputation and altogether in fauour with his father: yet because no occasion should be giuen Baiazet to fall into extremities, if he should haue beene remoued alone, Solyman to seeme indifferent, commaunded them both to remoue: vnto which commaund it was adjoyned, that the farther they were off one from another, they should be so much the neerer in mind and brotherly loue: for as much as neernesse of dwelling of the Great, did many times hinder their good agreement, whilest by frowardnesse of officers and seruants many things are on both sides done to the grieuing of their masters: and that they should in any case doe as they were commaunded, and that he which stayed longest, should not be free from K the suspition of contempt. Selymus made no long stay, as he that knew a great part of all this to be done for his sake:Baiazet vnwilling to goe to Amasia, seeketh delayes. but Baiazet hung backe, and being gone a little on his way, stayed, complaining the vnluckie prouince of AMASIA, stained with the bloud of his late brother the noble Mustapha, to be assigned vnto him as ominous, and that he could be better contented with any prouince whatsoeuer than that, where the deadly remembrance of the miserable end of the neerest to him in bloud, should be euer before his eyes, to the wounding of his heart: Wherfore he requested, that he might at least Winter in those places, or els there from whence his brother was now departed: but Solyman would in no wise hearken vnto him. Now Selymus gone before certaine dayes journies with such troupes as his father had sent him beside his owne, for feare of Baiazet, who yet stayed loitering and trifling on the time, suddenly returning and fetching a L compasse about, shewed himselfe at his brothers backe, marching towards PRVSA in BITHINIA, the auntient seat of the Turkish kings; which he did not without the priuitie of his father, who liked not of the lingering of Baiazet: for what if he hauing gained the good will of the Ianizaries, should haue gone either to PRVSA, or directly to CONSTANTINOPLE? what a danger might haue growne thereby to Selymus, yea vnto the whole state in generall? In this common feare Solyman thought it best for Selymus there to stay, from whence they might most conueniently helpe one another, if Baiazet should (as was feared) turn himselfe vpon either of them. Yet was not Selymus so strong as to aduenture to joyne battell with his brother, whom he knew readie to put all to the hazard of one day. But whē Baiazet (contrarie to his expectation) saw Selymus behind him, and that he had got nothing by his long delay, but that his brother should be M the vndoubted heire of the empire, if his father should die, which was then by reason of his sickly constitution of bodie daily more and more feared: he writ vnto his father, accusing his brother that he could not more manifestly in any thing declare how maliciously he was affected towards him, than by taking that indirect course, to no other purpose but to aspire vnto the empire, and to [Page] A haue a short cut ouer to CONSTANTINOPLE, if he should haue any newes of his fathers death, which he still gaped after: which his longing, if his fathers longer life should delay, then by the secret ministers of his treason to dispatch him, and by the murdering of him to possesse himselfe of the empire; and yet neuerthelesse, this man as a most dutifull and obedient sonne, to be of him much made of, and as it were put in his bosome: Wheras he on the contrarie part meaning well, into whose conceit neuer any such thought came; but was euer at commaund, was not had in any regard, but cast off and contemned, whose greatest request was but to shun an vnfortunat ominous prouince. After that, he conuerted his stile to prayers, requesting againe of his father to gratifie him with some other prouince, if it were but that from which his brother was departed, or with any other whatsoeuer, so that it were more luckie than that of AMASIA: for answere B whereof he said he would stay where he was, to the end that finding fauour in his request, he should not haue need further to retire: but if he should not obtaine his request, that then he was readie to goe whether soeuer his father should command. It was not altogether for nought that Baiazet found fault with AMASIA; being the manner of the Turks, of the smallest things of all to diuine vpon the greatest. But Solyman vnderstood the matter otherwise: who not ignorant of his sonnes teares, knew right well, that he in them sought for nothing els but a more commodious place for him to raise new stirres in, than was AMASIA, so farre distant from CONSTANTINOPLE. So Baiazet by many delayes did what he could to frustate his fathers appointment, ceasing not in the meane time to augment his strength with new souldiors, to prouide armour, money, and whatsoeuer els, seruing for defence of himselfe and the impugning of his brother. C Which Solyman tooke in no other part, than as intended against his owne person: yet would he seeme as not to haue any such vnderstanding of the matter: for why the warie old sire would not by taking knowledge thereof, driue headlong his sonne, who was alreadie running too fast of himselfe. Besides that, he was not ignorant that the eyes of all nations were bent vpon this discord of his two sonnes: and therefore he desired by all meanes, that these grudges might bee with as little stirre as was possible appeased. Wherefore he answered Baiazet courteously, That concerning his gouernment of AMASIA, he could not alter it, as resolutely set downe as well for his brother as himselfe, and that therefore they should doe well to go [...] both to their appointed places, as he had before commaunded. As for the rest, they should be of good comfort, for that he would take such order,Solyman to be sure that his two sonnes should go to their appointed prouinces, sendeth Partau and Mehemet, two of the Visi [...] Bassa [...]s to see them brought thither. as that neither of them should haue just cause to complaine. Partau D Bassa the fourth of the great Bassaes of the court was appointed to goe with this message to Baiazet, and Mehemet third of the same great Bassaes with like charge to Selymus, because the matter should seeme to be done with all indifferencie: and both of these great men commaunded not to depart from them they were sent vnto, before they were both come vnto the places of their gouernment, whereunto they were assigned. Which Solyman wisely did, to keepe them both within the compasse of dutie by the presence of such two graue counsellors. Which thing Selymus tooke in good part, but Baiazet not so: who hauing resolued with himselfe to set all on a hurly burly, thought nothing more vnfit for his designes, than to haue one of his fathers greatest counsellors still at his elbow as Censor of all his speeches and doings: wherefore hauing courteously entertained him & rewarded him according to his abilitie, he dismissed him (though E vnwilling to depart) making this excuse,Baiaze [...] sendeth Partau Bassa backe againe to his father. That he would vse him as his patrone and defendour with his father, for as much as he had no other in court to defend his cause, promising not to be vnto him an vnworthie or vnthankefull client: and to carrie word backe againe vnto his father, That he would aboue all things haue care of his commaund, if he might so doe for his brother Selymus, whose injuries and trecheries he had much adoe to brooke. Partau the great Bassa so sent away, assured Solyman what the very mind and purpose of his younger sonne was. And albeit, that Baiazet to make it seeme as if something had beene done by that embassage, made shew as if he would haue presently gone towards AMASIA:Solyman maketh preparation against Baiazes; and sendeth aid to Selymus. yet Solyman neuerthelesse fearing the worst, made all the preparation he could against him, commaunding the Beglerbeg of GREECE, although then sicke of the gout, to make hast and with his horsemen to passe ouer with all speed F to aid Selymus: and Mehemet Bassa but lately returned, he sent forthwith backe againe for the same purpose to Selymus, with certaine of the most trustie companies of the Ianizaries: and the old man in readinesse made semblant as if he would himselfe in person haue gone ouer also.The Ianizaries vnwilling to go [...] against Baiazet. But the Ianizaries and other souldiors of the court came with euill will together, detesting that warre betweene the brethren, as altogether abhominable: for against whom should they draw their [Page] swords? was it not against the emperours sonne, and happily the heire of the empire? Wherefore G this warre might (as they said) well ynough be let alone, as altogether vnnecessarie, and not they to be enforced to embrue their hands one in anothers bloud, and to pollute themselues with such impietie: as for that which Baiazet did, was to be holden excused, as proceeding from necessitie. Which speeches of the Ianizaries being brought to Solymans eares, he forthwith declared them to the Muphti (whom in all matters of doubt they flie vnto, as vnto a most sacred Oracle) demaunding of him, How he was to be entreated who of himselfe presumed whiles he yet liued, to leuie souldiors, raise an armie, ransacke townes, and trouble the state of the whole empire? and what also he deemed of them that were his followers and tooke part with him? and last of all of them also that refused to beare armes against him, and said that he had in so doing nothing offended? Whereunto the Muphti answered, That both the man and his part-takers H were all worthie of death; and that such as refused to take vp arms against him, were as prophane and irreligious men, to be accounted intestable. Which the great priests answere, was published vnto the people: and by the cheefe Chiaus sent to Baiazet, to see if he might be therewith moued. Within a few dayes after there came to CONSTANTINOPLE one of the Chiaus (whom Baiazet had intercepted,Baiazet his message to his father requesting him not to intermedle betwixt him and his brother. being sent from Solyman to Selymus) by whom Baiazet gaue his father to vnderstand, That he was in all dutie his, and that he had not taken vp armes against him, neither refused to be vnto him in all things obedient: but that he had onely to doe with his brother and with him to fight for his life, by whose sword he must needs die, or els he by his, for that a mischeefe was to be by one of them performed; which quarrell he was resolued to trie whiles he yet liued, and that therefore he should doe best not to meddle in their quarrell, or giue aid to I either: But if so be he would needs (as the report was) passe ouer the sea to aid Selymus, he should not thinke easily to get him into his hands, for that he knew right well, if the worst came, how to escape and saue himselfe; and would (before he could get ouer into ASIA) make such spoile with fire and sword, as neuer had Tamerlane or other the cruellest enemie of the Turks that euer was. Which message did not a little trouble Solyman. And withall it was reported, that the towne of AXVAR, where one of Selymus his sonnes ruled as Sanzacke, was alreadie taken by Baiazet, and shamefully sacked.Selym [...] departeth toward Iconium. But Selymus hearing that his brother was gone toward AMASIA, and now on his way as farre as ANCYRA, being out of all suspition of danger which he feared vpon the way, so long as his brother was yet lingering in those quarters, hasted now towards ICONIVM, which was with a strong garrison kept for him: for amongst other cares wherewith Solyman was K vexed, it was not the least, That Baiazet intercepting ICONIVM, should get into SIRIA, and from thence into AEGIPT, an open countrey, and not yet throughly established vnder the Turkish gouernment, neither forgetfull of the old gouernment of the Mamalukes, and therefore desirous of change; from whence it would haue beene an hard matter to haue driuen Baiazet, especially the Arabians being alwayes readie and at hand at euery light stirre, where any hope of prey was: out of which prouince also in case of extremitie he might easily transport himselfe into any of the Christian kingdomes. Solyman therefore tooke great care, that this passage, which might seeme the last refuge of Baiazet his deuices, might be stopped: and concerning the same had giuen commandement vnto most of his commanders in ASIA to be alwayes in readinesse to aid Selymus whensoeuer he should call. With them Selymus lay encamped vnder the wals of L ICONIVM, attending euerie stirring of Baiazet, resolued there to expect farther aid from his father, and not by vntimely fight to commit his safetie to the hazard of one doubtfull battell. But Baiazet on the other side, not vnmindfull what a matter he had taken in hand, slept not thereupon, but first entertained a valiant sort of horsemen which the Turks call Chiurts, and are supposed to be of that people which were sometimes called Gordij, men for their knowne valour famous. He yet lay in the plaine and open fields by ANCYRA,Baiazet s [...]aieth at Ancyra, and there raiseth his forces. of the commodities of which citie (which were indeed great) he made great vse: In the castle thereof he bestowed his concubines and children; of the rich marchants he tooke vp money, to be repaid with the vse vpon the good successe of the warre; and from thence he tooke whatsoeuer was needfull for the arming and furnishing of his men. Besides his owne familie, which was very great, and those Chiurts which we M spoke of, many repaired vnto him, which had beene in former time beholden to his mother, his sister, and Rustan the great Bassa; many also of the reliques of the valiant Mustapha, and Achomates the great Bassa, valiant men and expert souldiours, who desired to reuenge the vnworthie death of their lords and masters, euen with their owne. Neither was there wanting an exceeding [Page] A rablement of such as wearie of the present state, desired some new innouation and change. The commiseration also of the state of the vnfortunat Baiazet, easily drew many to take part with him, whose whole trust was in his valour: they fauoured the young prince, liuely resembling his father:The description of Selymus. when as in Selymus appeared no likenesse of himselfe, but the expresse lineaments of his mothers face and bodie, a woman whilest she liued generally hated of all the people: he went heauily as ouercharged with his greasie paunch, blub cheeked, and exceeding red faced; so that the souldiors in sport would say, he was fed with greene mault: he was altogither giuen to his ease, and spent his time in drunkennesse and sleepe, neither was he courteous of speech, nor willing to deserue well of any man; for he would not (as he said) offend his father by being popular, so was he onely of his father beloued, and of all other men hated: of all kind of men, he most B misliked of them that set all their hope in a bountifull and couragious prince. The same souldiors were also wont to call Baiazet, Baiazet and his quarrell generally fauoured of the souldiors. Softie (that is to say) a man giuen to quietnesse and studie: but after that they saw him take vp armes, and for the safegard of himselfe and his children readie to aduenture any thing, they began to admire him as a man of valour and courage: and to aske among themselues, Why his father should reject him of such worth, the expresse image of himselfe, and preferre before him that gorbellied sluggard in whom no sparke of his fathers valour was to be seene? That his entring into armes was no fault, being thereunto by necessitie enforced, for, had not Selymus their grandfather done the like? where of no better example could be found; whom the force of necessitie constrained not only to take vp armes against his brother, but also to hasten the death of his father; and by so doing, purchased vnto himselfe and his posteritie C the empire: which so gotten, if Solyman did not vnjustly possesse, why might not his son vse the same course? why should he so rigorously reuenge that in his sonne, that was so lawfull in the grandfather? Although there was (as they said) great difference betweene that Selymus and this Baiazet; for that this man intended no harme against his father, but wished him long to liue; neither yet against his brother, if he might by his leaue but liue, if he would but once cease to doe him wrong: that it was alwaies accounted lawfull to repell force by force, and to shun present death,Baiazet hi [...] purpose. if the destinies would so permit. By such affections and motiues, Baiazet his power increased daily: which being now growne a [...]most to the greatnesse of a full armie, hee thought it not best to vse longer delay, but to march forthwith against his brother to fight with him one battell for his life, state, and empire: accounting it some commendation (although in D vaine) to haue attempted so great an enterprise. His purpose was (as Solyman feared) to get into SYRIA, which if he could bring to passe, he then doubted not of the rest. Selymus strengthened with his fathers power, lay waiting for his comming before ICONIVM, well appointed of all warlike prouision: his armie was exceeding strong, and in it many notable commaunders, martiall men of great experience, whom his father had joyned vnto him; who all lay couered with their great ordinance planted in places most conuenient.Baiazet goeth against his brother. But Baiazet nothing terrified therewith, as soone as he came within sight of his brothers armie, exhorted his souldiors in few words to play the men, for that now was come the time they wished for, and place for them to shew their valour in: wherefore they should shew themselues couragious and valiant, and he would make them all rich and fortunat: He told them, that their fortune was now in their owne E hands, to frame it euerie man as he would himselfe; so that if any of them were wearie of their present state, there was the field wherein they might exchange it with better, and therein lay downe the miseries of their former liues: that of him they should if they ouercame, expect riches, promotions, honours, and whatsoeuer else, the rewards of valiant men: That with the victorie of one battell, all their desires should be satisfied, were they neuer so great: which victorie was by the valour which rested in them to be gotten, and his brothers armie, the heartlesse followers of a heartlesse captaine, ouerthrowne; for as for his fathers souldiors that were with his brother, they were in bodie present, but in mind altogither on his side: That it was onely Selymus that withstood his welfare and their felicitie, whom they should therefore valiantly seeke for in field as their common enemie; and not to be afraid of his multitude, forasmuch as victorie F was to be gained, not by number but by valour: and the most mightie God of heauen and earth was still present, not with the most, but with the best: Besides that, he willed them to remember with what a cruell enemie they were to fight, who thirsted after nothing more than their bloud: And to conclude, he willed them all, not to looke vpon his words but his deeds; and said, If as you shall see me fighting for your profit, you shall likewise fight for mine honour, I dare then assure [Page] you of the victorie.The battell betweene Baiazet and Selymus. Which said, he with great courage charged the enemie, and fighting G himselfe long time amongst the formost, and there performing all the parts of a valiant souldior and worthy captaine, was for his notable valour no lesse commended of his enemies than of his owne souldiors. The battell was bloudie and terrible, and many fell on both sides. But after that they with wonderfull obstinacie had a great while fought with doubtfull victorie, so that fortie thousand Turkes lay there dead vpon the ground;Fortie thousand Turkes slaine. at length the victorie began to encline to that side whereon stood the greater strength, the juster cause, and better counsell. Many of the enemies being slaine, and many of his owne people also lost, Baiazet was enforced to retire; which he did so leisurely, and without shew of any feare, that it seemed to the beholders, he had well neere as well gained as lost the field: neither durst Selymus pursue him, but stood still fast in the same place, neuer more glad of any thing than to see his brothers backe. But Baiazet after H he had in contempt of his fathers commaund thus run his owne course, and satisfied his owne desire, though disappointed of his purpose, and not able to performe the journey by him intended into SYRIA;Baiazet goeth to Amasia. turned now his course, and began in good earnest to go to AMASIA his appointed prouince.

Solyman speedily aduertised of the euent of this battell, forthwith passed ouer into ASIA: for as the great Bassaes his counsellors thought it not conuenient for him to go ouer the strait before the victorie: so after it was certainly knowne, they thought it not good longer to stay, least the ouerthrow of Baiazet might giue occasion to such as secretly fauoured his quarrell to shew themselues and so to raise greater troubles. Besides that, the fame of his passage ouer, would (as they said) much auaile both to the discouragement of Baiazet, and the terrifying of his friends: and I therefore it was by them thought good, hastely to pursue him, now ouerthrowne, and not to suffer him to gather courage by the example of his grandfather Selymus, Solymans father; who had been more terribly vanquished then when he stood in his whole strength, and might seeme by that meanes to haue especially preuailed, for that he was at first vnfortunatly ouerthrowne. Neither were these things without reason foreseene: for it is almost incredible what admiration and loue, this battell (although vnfortunat) did get to Baiazet; men wondred that he durst with so small a power, and as it were but a handfull of men, encounter with his brother farre better appointed, and also supported by his fathers strength: not fearing either the disaduantage of the place, or the furie of the great artillerie; and to haue behaued himselfe in the battell not like a young souldior, but like an old and expert commaunder. Selymus might at his pleasure boast K of himselfe as they said (to his father) for the victorie: but Baiazet was the man that deserued to haue ouercome: and that Selymus might to any thing ascribe the victorie, rather than to his owne valour.

These and such like speeches, as they made Baiazet gratious amongst the people generally; so doubled they his fathers cares, and encreased his hatred, to wish him the rather dead. For why, he was resolutly set downe, not to leaue any other heire of his empire than Selymus his eldest son, alwaies loyall and obedient vnto him: whereas the other he abhorred as stubborne and rebellious, gaping after the empire whilest he yet liued; of whom he was therfore so much the more to stand in dread, by how much he was reputed to be of more valour; and for the aid he had now so openly giuen to Selymus. For these causes he passed ouer the strait into ASIA, with purpose not to go L far from the sea coast, but as it were a far off with his fauourable aspect to countenance Selymus his proceedings: doubting by comming too neere with his armie, to endanger himselfe by the sudden reuolt of the Ianizaries, which he aboue all things feared.

Augerius Busbequius epist. 3. legationis Tur [...]ae.I my selfe (saith the author of this historie) saw him departing out of CONSTANTINOPLE the first of Iune in the yeare 1559, when as within a few dayes after I my selfe was also sent for thither: for the Bassaes thought it not amisse to haue me in the campe, and to vse me courteously as their friend, for which cause I was assigned to lodge in an Inne in a village neere vnto the campe, where I lay very well. The Turkes lay in the fields round about: but lying there three moneths, I had good leisure and opportunitie to see the manner of their campe, and in part to know the order of their martiall discipline. So I attiring my selfe in such apparrell as the Christians M commonly vse in those places, went vp and downe with one or two companions at my pleasure vnknowne. First I saw the soldiors of all sorts most orderly placed, and that, which he would scarce beleeue that knoweth the manner of our warres,The order of the Turkes campe. there was in euery place great silence, and as a man may say, dumbe quietnesse, no brawling, no insolencie, no not so much as a word or [Page] A laughter passing in sport or drunkennesse. Besides that wonderfull cleanelinesse, no dunghils, no excrements that might offend either the eyes or nose, for all such things the Turkes doe either burie or carrie them farre out of sight. They themselues so often as they are enforced to discharge the bu [...]then of nature, dig an hole with a spade and burie it, so is all their campe without filth. There was not to be seene any drinking or feasting, no dicing (the great shame of our wars) the losse of money or time at cards or dice, the Turks know not. I met onely with a rough Hungarian and his companions, a souldior, who heauie himselfe, to the Lute rather houled than sung a dolefull dittie, containing the last words of a fellow of his, dying of his wounds vpon the greene banke of Danubius, wherein he requesteth the riuer, because it ran to the place where hee was borne, to carrie newes to his friends and countrymen, that he died an honourable death and not B vnreuenged,The opinion [...]he Turkes haue of them that di [...] in their warres. for the encrease of his religion, and honour of his countrey: whereunto his fellows sighing bare a foot: O happie and thrice happie wight, would fortune with thee change wee might. For the Turks are of opinion, That no mens soules goe more speedily to heauen, than of such valiant men as die in battell, for whose welfare their maidens dayly make prayers and vowes. I would also needs goe through their butcherie, where their beasts were killed, to see what flesh was to be sold; where I saw but foure, or at most fiue weathers hanging readie dressed, and that was the butcherie for the Ianizaries, which I deemed to be in that campe not fewer than foure thousand. I maruelled that so little flesh should suffice so many men: but I was answered, That few of them did eat flesh,The spare dies of the Ianizaries. for that most part of them had their victuals transported from CONSTANTINOPLE. Then I demaunding what it was, they shewed me a Ianizarie sitting by, who in an C earthen dish had killed a turnep, an onion, a head of garlike, a parsenep, and a coucumber, all sauced with salt and vineger, or more truly to say with hunger, whereon he fed as sauorly, as if they had beene feisants or partridges: his drinke was the common drinke of all liuing creatures, euen [...]aire water. By which frugall kind of diet they prouide both for the health of their bodies, and the sparing of their purse: and that I maruelled the more at, it was the time that their great fast, or to speake after our fashion, their Lent was at hand: at which time with vs Christians, euen in well ordered cities, much more in campes, all rings with playing, dauncing, singing, crying, quaffing, carousing, and in breefe, with madding and phrensie. So that it is not vainely reported, That a Turke sent about that time embassadour into GERMANIE, comming home, reported, That the Christians on certaine dayes did riot and became mad, vntill they, besprinckled with a certaine D kind of ashes in the church, came to themselues againe, and so recouered; and that it was a wonderfull thing to see, how much they were changed by the efficacie of that remedie, that they seemed not to be the same men: meaning indeed the disordered manners of the Christians at Shrouetide, and the ceremonies vsed on Ashwednesday: which thing they to whom it was told, so much the more maruelled at, for that the Turkes haue many medicines which cause madnesse, but few or none which presently easeth the same.The precise manner of the Turkes in their fas [...]. And they vpon those dayes that goe before their great fasts, change nothing of their wonted manner of life to the worse: but rather contrariwise prepare themselues to abstinence, by taking somewhat from their vsuall fare, the better to endure the sudden change of their fast: which they so precisely obserue, that vpon their fasting dayes they will not so much as tast a cup of water, or wash their mouthes with water all the day E long, before the starres appeare in the skie: which maketh their fasts, especially in Summer when the dayes be long and hot, to be vnto them very tedious.

Whiles I thus lay in the campe,Presents sent frō the emperor Ferdinand to Solyman. there came vnto me one Albertus a learned man with certaine presents from the emperour to Solyman, which were, certaine gilt plate; and a most curious clocke, which was carried vpon an Eliphant like a castle; and some crownes to be dispersed aamong the Bassaes: which Solyman would needs haue presented vnto him in the campe in the sight of the whole armie, to make it the better knowne what friendship was betweene him and the emperour, and that he needed not to feare any danger from the Christian princes.

But to returne againe to Baiazet, Baiazet goeth t [...] Amasia, and seeketh for his fathers fauor. from whom we haue a while digressed: he after the battell at ICONIVM had retired himselfe to AMASIA, the place of his gouernment, as though he would F haue now there quietly liued, if his father would so giue him leaue. He had now satisfied his youthfull desires and greefe, and seemed willing from thenceforth to satisfie his fathers better expectation: and therefore ceased not by letters and fit men to proue his fathers mind. Neither did Solyman shew himselfe strange from such a reconciliation: at first he easily gaue the messengers audience, read his sons letters, and courteously returned answere; so that it was commonly [Page] reported in the campe, that the father and the sonne would agree, and that the old man would G pardon the youthfull pranke alreadie past, so that he would from thenceforth remaine dutifull. But all this way by the counsell of the Bassaes nothing but deepe dissimulation in the craftie old sire,Solyman dissembleth with Baiazet. vntill he had shut vp Baiazet, and so got him aliue into his hand: for it was feared, least he despairing of pardon, should with such a power breake into the borders of PERSIA▪ (now the onely place left for his refuge) as might preuent the watchfull diligence of his lieutenan [...] vpon those frontiers: whom Solyman charged by continuall letters so to stop all the passages [...] PERSIA, as that there should not be any cra [...]ie for Baiazet to flie out by. In the mean time, if any came within his reach that were suspected to haue taken part with Baiazet, or fauored his proceedings, those he caused to be tortured and secretly made away, and amongst them some whom Baiazet had of purpose sent to excuse themselues. For Solyman fearing least Tamas the Persian king H (more mindfull of his old quarrels than of the late enforced peace) should hardly with much ado suffer his sonne to be got out of his hands if he should flie thither, and so againe raise along and dangerous warre; did therefore what he possibly might to oppresse him before he should come thither. Which his purpose although it was couered with all secrecie, yet was it not hidden from some of Baiazet his friends, by whom he was oftentimes warned not to trust his father, but to beware of treason, and in any case speedily to prouide for his owne safetie. But Solyman thinking he had now so prouided as that he could by no meanes escape, and happily the more to deceiue his sonne, appointed to returne with his armie to CONSTANTINOPLE the day after their Easter day. But Baiazet vpon the very feast day hauing performed the solemnities thereof, commaunded all his things to be trussed vp at AMASIA,Baiazet departeth from Amasia, with purpose to flie into Persia. and so set forward vpon his vnfortunat journey I towards PERSIA, knowing right well, that he went to the auntient enemie of the Othoman familie, but yet fully resolued to make proofe of any mans mercie, rather than to fall into the hands of his angrie father. Now were they all set forward, except such weake soules as were not thought able to endure the labour of so long a journey, amongst whom was left Solyman, Baiazet his youngest sonne, but then newly borne: which guiltlesse babe, with his mother, Baiazet thought better to leaue vnto the mercie of his grandfather, than to take him with him, a poore companion of his wofull and miserable flight: whom Solyman as yet vncertaine of his fathers fortune, commaunded to be nursed at PRVSA. Baiazet so gone from AMASIA, vsed such celeritie in his trauell, that almost in euery place he preuented the fame of his comming, and light vpon many that were appointed to haue stayed his passage, before they were readie or aware of K his comming.Baiazet deceiueth the Bassa of Sebastia. The Bassa of SEBASTIA he thus deceiued: There was two wayes, whereof the one of them being intercepted, would greatly hinder his journey, and that the Bassa had alreadie taken: wherefore he sent certaine, as if they had beene fugitiues, to tell the Bassa that he was alreadie gone the other way. Which the Bassa beleeuing, left the place he had before taken, and rising with all his power to pursue him the other way, whereby it was told him he was gone, left that way free and open for him to passe by.

The Bassa of Erzirum deceiued by Baiazet.The Bassa of ERZIRVM he deceiued also by another not much vnlike shift: from whom when he was not farre distant, and knowing that in passing through his countrey, he was to endure great danger, he set vpon him with a wile, sending vnto him certaine of his followers with commendations: who afterwards lamentably complaining of the young princes calamitie, to moue L the Bassa to pitie, at last requested that he would giue him leaue to shoo his horses in his territorie, telling him, That he came vnprouided of all things, and therefore desirous in that fruitfull countrey to refresh his horses a day or two, and to new shoo them. Whereunto the Bassa courteously answered, That he would not let him to take whatsoeuer he needed. But whether it was for the compassion he had vpon the state of Baiazet, or for the secret loue he bare him, or that he thought by that meanes the easilier to entrap him, is doubtfull, and happily preuented by Baiazet his quicke speed, had not as yet sufficient time to draw together his souldiors. He sent also vnto Baiazet certaine small presents, seeming to be glad of his welfare and comming: who neuerthelesse kept on his way, resting no part of the day; and but a little of the night. The Bassa of ERZIRVM vnderstanding that Baiazet came still on, made what hast he could also, and joyned M his power to the rest of the Bassaes which followed after: for many Bassaes and Sanzackes hearing that Baiazet was fled from AMASIA, pursued fast after him, being charged by Solyman vpon paine of their heads to bring him backe either aliue or dead: but all in vaine, by reason of his speedie departure, and for that he made more hast to flie than they did to follow. Yet it cost no [Page] A man deerer than this Bassa of ERZIRVM, of whom we haue now spoken, whom Solyman for this cause displaced: and Selymus afterwards slew with two of his sonnes, young striplings whom hee had before in despight shamefully abused against nature. Yea Selymus himselfe and Mehemet the great Bassa, with the Berglerbeg of GRECIA, followed also after Baiazet, though it were a far off.Solyman much grieued with the flight of his son. This his departure grieued Solyman aboue measure, assuring himselfe (as the truth was) that he was fled into PERSIA: wherewith he was so much moued, that he could scarcely containe himselfe, but would needs haue gone with all his power in all hast against the Persian, to haue terrified him at hand from relieuing his rebellious sonne. But these his raging fits his graue counsellors moderated, by declaring vnto him what danger he should aduenture himselfe vnto, by reason of the doubtfull faith of his best souldiors. And what if Baiazet (as he was a desperat B and sudden man) should in the meane time turne about aboue PONTVS and the fens of MoeOTIS, and so fetching a compasse come to CONSTANTINOPLE, and proclaiming a generall libertie in his absence, possesse himselfe of the empire. By which wholsome persuasion Solyman staied his so hastie a journey: but Baiazet all the way as he went writ vpon the gates and doores, That he would giue double pay to all such as should follow him: which caused Solymans captaines to haue their owne souldiors in distrust, and the more for that they might oftentimes heare amongst them, speeches of great good will and loue towards Baiazet.

After long flying,The eager p [...] suit of the [...]assa [...] and S [...] zack [...]. he was at length come to the riuer Araxis, which separated the Turkes kingdome from the Persian; which hauing passed ouer, and yet not so in safetie, he left certaine of his followers vpon the banke of the riuer to keepe the Sanzacks, who still eagerly pursued him C from passing ouer: whom the Sanzacks easily repulsed, & so passing the riuer, entred a great way into the Persian kingdome, vntill such time as that they were met withall by certaine of the nobilitie of PERSIA with great troupes of horsemen; who demanding of them what they meant, and what they sought for in another mans kingdome, were answered by the Turkes, That they pursued their kings fugitiue sonne. To whom the Persians replied, That they did not well, contrarie to the league with their lord and master, to come in armes beyond the bounds of their owne kingdome; and that there was a strong league betweene king Tamas and Solyman, which it behoued them to regard: as for Baiazet, their king would consider what was conuenient for him to doe, and not in that point forget himselfe: in the meane time they should doe well to get them out of that countrey wherein they had nothing to doe. Whereupon the Turks forthwith D left this pursuit and retired.

But by and by came messengers from the Persian king to Baiazet to salute him, and to demaund the cause of his comming, and also to see what strength he brought with him; which as some account was about twentie thousand. To whom Baiazet declared, That he by his brothers injurie and fathers hard dealing driuen out of his countrey, was fled vnto the sacred majestie of the Persian king, as his most assured refuge; who as he well hoped, in compassion of mans instabilitie, would not reject him so distressed, and otherwise destitute of all helpe. Wherunto the Persian replied, That he had done verie vnwisely to come vnto him that was in league and amitie with his father, whereof one condition was, That they should account the enemies of the one the enemies of the other, and the friends of the one the friends of the other. Which law to E breake,Baiazet well entertained by th [...] Persian king. he accounted a thing vtterly vnlawfull: neuerthelesse seeing the matter was so fallen out, he was welcome as vnto his friend, who in his behalfe would leaue nothing vnattempted to reconcile him to his father, which he despaired not to bring to passe. So Baiazet meeteth with the Persian king, but in an euill houre, although at their first meeting there was great welcome, friendly countenance, cheerfull lookes, mutuall kindnesse, often conference, and great feasting one of another; things whereby the secret thoughts of hollow hearts are best concealed: there was also a motion made of a straighter bond of alliance, and one of the Persian kings daughters promised to Orchanes one of Baiazet his sonnes; and he put in hope that the Persian king would neuer rest in quiet, vntill Solyman had made him Gouernour either of MESOPOTAMIA, BABYLON, or ERZIRVM (which gouernments were by the Persians greatly extolled) and that he F might there liue without feare of his brother, farre from him and his father also; where if any thing should fall out otherwise than well, he might haue his brother the Persian king a sure refuge to retire vnto, and so safe from all danger. Which speeches were happily giuen out, of purpuse to auert Baiazet his thought from the feeling of the present danger; who seemed vnto himselfe so assured of the loue and friendship of Tamas the Persian king, that at such time as he sent [Page] his embassadours to CONSTANTINOPLE, for a reconciliation to be made betweene Solyman G and him (as was commonly supposed) he willed the same embassadour to tell his father, that he had lost a father at CONSTANTINOPLE, and found another in PERSIA. But whether the Persian delt sincerely in this behalfe for Baiazet by his embassadours, which were many, may well be doubted. Like it is, that there was more faigned shew of double diligence, than of true meaning therein; and rather to feele the mind of Solyman, than to doe any good to the poore distressed prince: and the rather, for that in the meane time all things were seriously plotted that might tend to his destruction. Which were no sooner growne to their full ripenesse, but there was of purpose a motion made, That such a multitude as followed this young prince lay too close togither, that there was not in one place victuall sufficient for them, and that it was therefore more conuenient to haue them billeted in the countrey thereabouts; which would be more H commodious,Tamas the Persian king in feare of Baiazet. as well for the better victualing of them, as for diuers other purposes also. Truth was, that Tamas the Persian king, farre vnlike his noble father Ismaell, stood in doubt least hee brought vp a Serpent in his bosome: Yet there were many which thought, that it was not the Persians mind at first to haue destroied Baiazet, but to haue beene thereunto enforced by the practise of some of his familiars and followers; who not regarding the courtesie of the Persian king, nor the lawes of hospitalitie, persuaded Baiazet to thrust him out of his kingdome: whereof there was many euident tokens. And among other things it was told king Tamas, that one of Baiazets chiefe captaines should say, What meane we? why stay we to kill this hereticall king, and to possesse his kingdome? for we shall no doubt by his treacherie all come to destruction. And that vpon such occasion the king was constrained to condiscend to a deuise more necessarie I than honourable. Baiazet had no great power, but most of them were valiant men, and souldiors of great experience, readie to aduenture vpon any thing: of whom the Persian not without cause stood in some feare. He knew his kingdome to be neither auntient not yet well assured, as gotten by his father by the counterfeit show of a reformed religion: And who could assure him, but that amongst so many nations ouer whom he lorded, but that there were many wearie of the present state, and so desirous of nouelties? vnto whom nothing could chance more fitting, than the comming of Baiazet, a noble and valiant young gentleman; and that more was, desperatly set: that as yet he himselfe might of right rather seeme in the power of his guest, than he in his: And that therefore he was to alter the matter, and not longer to entertaine him as his guest, but to coupe him vp as a most dangerous wild beast. Which to doe, the easiest way was K to disperse his power, and so to take him vnawares: for that he could not without much bloudshed be openly taken in the middest of his strength, especially by the daintie Persian of long time not vsed to warre, and as yet not come togither; against Baiazets souldiors, men of great actiuitie and experience. So was the matter cunningly imparted vnto him for the dispersing of his forces, and all the commodities to ensue thereof alleadged:Baiazet his followers dispersed and slaine. which Baiazet might not well gainsay, although many of his wise followers (men of great reach) did shrewdly suspect the sequell. But what could he refuse, vpon whom necessitie lay so heauie? where no other hope was left? where he liued as it pleased another man? and that againe to, where once to doubt of the fidelitie of his hoast, might be imputed to him for the greatest treacherie? So these most valiant souldiors, the poore princes faithfull followers, neuer againe to see one another, are dispersed into diuers countrey L villages, and bestowed where the Persians thought good. Not many daies after, at a time pickt out for the purpose, they in number few, and dispersed in a strange countrey, were inclosed by many and slaine: their horses, armour, apparell, and whatsoeuer else, became a prey vnto the murtherers.Baiazet imprisoned. At the same instant was Baiazet and his sonnes cast in bonds also, and that to his greater griefe as many report, taken as he was sitting merrily at dinner at the kings table. The Persian king seemed to haue foreseene much in this his hard dealing with Baiazet: as if that he, being a valiant and couragious young prince, and much better souldior than his brother, should haue succeeded his father in his empire, much trouble and perill might haue growen thereby, both to himselfe and his kingdome: And that it stood farre better with the safetie of his estate, that Selymus (a man wholy giuen to voluptuousnesse and ease) should raigne ouer the Turkes; M in whose time he might as it were promise vnto himselfe all peace and securitie: and therefore it was thought that he would neuer let Baiazet go aliue out of his hand, but rather make him away in prison, as if he had there died for melancholy and griefe. Well he was assured; that after he had slaine his followers, and imprisoned himselfe and his sonnes, hee would neuer be [Page] A friends with him that had so notably wronged him.

Baiazet thus shamefully imprisoned,The Persian king s [...]ndeth embassadours with presents to Solyman. messengers ran continually too and fro betwixt the two old princes, Solyman and Tamas. Amongst the rest, the Persian king sent a solemne embassadour vnto the Turke with presents, namely curious tents, costly carpets, an Alcoran containing the mysteries of their superstition, and certaine strange beasts. The cause of his comming was pretended to be, for a reconciliation to be made betweene Solyman and his sonne; which embassadour was honourably entertained and feasted by the great Bassaes. Now was poore Baiazet in small hope of life, his cruell father still crauing to haue him deliuered into his hands to bee slaine: and the Persian yet denying to deliuer him, and seeming to defend him, but not (as was thought) altogither faithfully. Solyman left no meanes vnattempted to haue wrung him from B the Persian; sometimes he spake him faire, putting him in mind of his league, wherein it was agreed, That they should both haue the same friends and the same enemies; otherwhile he terrified him with great words, and denouncing of warre, except he would deliuer him his sonne: he furnished with strong garrisons all the frontiers of his dominion towards PERSIA: he filled all MESOPOTAMIA and the bankes of the riuer Euphrates with souldiors, especially with them of his owne guard, and such as he had before vsed in the battell against Baiazet; ouer whom commaunded Mehemet Bassa the third of the Visier Bassaes, and the Beglerbeg of GRECE (for Selymus was soone wearie of the field, and so betime returned home:) he also incited the Georgian people to take vp armes against the Persians, who wisely answered, That they had not such confidence in their owne strength, as to prouoke king Tamas; but let Solyman himselfe come with C his armie, and when they saw him present in the field, then they knew what they had to doe, and that he should then well see, that they wanted neither discretion nor valour. And because he would leaue nothing vnproued, he made shew as if he would in person himselfe haue gone to ALEPPO in SYRIA, and so haue on that side inuaded the Persian▪ neither was the Persian king altogither out of feare, hauing to his cost many times proued what Solyman was able to doe. But the vnwillingnesse of the souldiors, and their minds altogither estranged from that warre, easily staied the raging Turke: they detested that warre and forsboke their ensignes, a great number of whom (especially horsmen) without leaue of their captaines returned to CONSTANTINOPLE; and being commanded againe to the campe, went indeed, but with such countenance and cheere, as well declared how they were affected, and what they would doe if occasion D serued for them to reuolt.

For which cause,The cause why the Persian king would by no meanes let Baiazet go out of his hands. after that Solyman perceiued that Baiazet could not aliue be got from the Persian (excusing himselfe by feare of reuenge by him whom he had so grieuously offended, if he should by any meanes escape:) he thought it best to follow that which was next, and to haue him there slaine, which he was in good hope to compasse; and the rather, for that the Persian had but lately written vnto him, That he could not but much maruell, to see him deale so slenderly in a matter of so great importance; That he on his part had sent him diuers embassadours, and that he on the other side had sent him nothing but common messengers with papers, which caused him to thinke that he made no great account of the matter: wherefore he should doe well, to send vnto him men of account and place, which whom he might conferre and conclude also according E to the waightinesse and exigence of the cause: besides that (he was as he said) not a little in his debt, for that Baiazet and his followers had beene vnto him no small charge, before hee could get him into his power: all which it were good reason that he should haue consideration of. Whereby Solyman perceiued, that money was the thing the Persian king sought after▪ and therefore rather than he would in an vnfit time of his life entangle himselfe in a dangerous and vnnecessarie wa [...]e, he determined by the counsell of his Bassaes, rather with money than with the sword to fight with the Persian king. Hereupon was Hassan Aga (one of the chiefe gentlemen of his chamber) appointed embassadour into PERSIA, with whom was joyned the Bassa of MARAS, a man both for his age and place, reuerend: who departing with a large commission almost in the depth of Winter, with great speed and wonderfull toile, by those long and difficult F waies, arriued at last at CASBIN the seat of the Persian king, hauing by the way lost diuers of their seruants and followers. Being come to the court, the first thing they desired, was to see Baiazet;The miserable estate of Baiazet. whom they found shut vp in a close prison, pale and wan [...] as a man forlorne, with his haire and beard so long and ouergrowne, as that he was not to be knowne before he was new trimmed▪ which done, then appeared the liuely resemblance of his wonted countenance and fauour, [Page] so that Hassan verily knew it to be him: for he had been brought vp with him of a child in G the court, and for that cause especially had Solyman sent him thither to be assured that it was he. At length after long discourse and conference betweene the king and the embassadours, it was agreed vpon,The agreement betweene the Persian king & Solyman for the destruction of Baiazet. that the king should receiue from Solyman, full recompence of all the charges he had been at, and of the harmes by him sustained since the comming of Baiazet into PERSIA, with such farther reward as so great a good turne deserued: which things performed, that then it should be in Solymans power to haue Baiazet made away. With this newes Hassan posteth to his master at CONSTANTINOPLE, who forthwith caused the promised reward, togither with such charges as the Persian king demaunded, to be made readie, and with a safe conuoy to be sent vnto the borders of PERSIA, where they were of the Persians receiued. Presently after, returneth Hassan the appointed executioner of the vnfortunat Baiazet: for so Solyman had straightly H charged him, to strangle him with his owne hands. Which thing this new made hangman accordingly performed, and with a bowstring strangled the vnfortunat prince; who is reported to haue requested of the executioner, but that he might see his children before he died, & take of them his last farewell:Baiazet and his foure sonnes strangled. which poore request could not be granted, but he forthwith commanded to die. This was the wofull end of the vnluckie attempts of Baiazet, a prince of far more worth than was Selymus his brother, who in seeking to shun the death he feared, hasted the same before his time. Such as was the fathers end, was also the end of his foure sonnes, Omer, Amurat, Selym, and Muhamet: of whom the three eldest were strangled at CASBIN with their father, whose dead bodies togither with his, were solemnly brought to SEBASTIA and there buried. The youngest but new borne left at AMASIA, and sent by his grandfather to PRVSA (as is before I said) to be there nursed; was now vpon the death of his father, commaunded by his said grandfather to be strangled also. The eunuch sent by Solyman to haue done the deed, and loth to doe it himselfe, tooke with him one of the porters of the court, a desperat, and otherwise a hard hearted ruffian, a man thought fit to haue performed any villanie: he comming into the chamber where the child lay,The rare force of innocencie. and fitting the bowstring to the childs necke to haue strangled it, the innocent babe smiled vpon him, and lifting it selfe vp as well as it could, with open armes offered to haue embraced the villaine about the necke and kissed him. Which guiltlesse simplicitie so wounded the stonie hearted man, that he was not able to performe the intended butcherie of the poore and simple child, but fell downe in a swo [...]ne, and there lay for dead. The eunuch standing without the doore, maruelling at his long stay, goes in, and finding the ruffian lying along vpon the K ground, with cruell hand performed that the other could not find in his heart to do; and so strangled the guiltlesse child as had been giuen him in charge. Whereby it euidently appeared, that it was not the mercie or compassion of Solyman, that so long caused the guiltlesse infant to be spared; but rather the opinion generally receiued amongst the Turks, who measuring all things by the good or bad successe, referre all things that fall out well vnto God as the authour thereof, be they neuer so vngratiously begun: and therefore so long as it was yet vncertaine what successe the attempts of Baiazet would haue, Solyman spared the infant, least vpon his fathers good hap, he might seeme to haue striuen against the will of God. But now that his father was dead, and his quarrell by the euill successe thereof condemned as it were by the sentence of the Almightie, he thought it not good longer to suffer him to liue, least of an euill bird might come an L euill chicke. I had sometime (saith the reporter of this historie) great reasoning with my Chiaus about this matter: for falling into talke with him of Baiazet, he began bitterly to inuay against him for taking vp armes against his brother. Whereunto (saith this authour) I replied, That in mine opinion he was worthie both to be pitied and pardoned, forasmuch as he was of necessitie enforced either to take vp armes, or else shortly after to yeeld himselfe to the slaughter. But he still exclaiming against him, I said vnto him, You blame poore Baiazet of great wickednesse, for bearing armes against his brother: but Selymus Solymans father you blame not, who vpon like occasion tooke vp armes both against his father and his brethren; yet he therein did nothing amisse, nor in your judgement blame worthie. And rightly, saith the Chiaus, for the euent of the matter sheweth sufficiently, that that which he did, was done by the appointment of God, and M that he was from heauen predestinate thereunto: whereas in Baiazet the euent sheweth the cleane contrarie. So that which falleth out well, be it by neuer so wicked meanes compassed or brought to passe, they take it as done according to the will of God; but if it fall out otherwise, they judge it as a thing condemned by God himselfe: depending wholy vpon the good or bad [Page] A euent of things, and thereby judging them to be well done or otherwise.

This yeare 1558 Charles the fift that noble emperour (of whom we haue in the course of this historie so often spoken) who wearie of the world had two yeares before deliuered all his hereditarie kingdomes and principalities to his sonne Philip, 1558 Charles the emperour resigneth the empire to his brother Ferdinand, & shortly after dieth. did now the 24 of Februarie, on which day he was borne, by his embassadours solemnely sent for that purpose, resigne the empire with all the honors and titles thereof vnto his brother king Ferdinand, requesting the princes electors to confirme the same vnto him, which they did the 13 of March next following. So liuing as a priuat gentleman in that solitarie life whereunto he had to the wonder of the world certain years before retired himselfe from all worldly affaires, the 21 day of September following died of a feauer, when he had liued 58 yeares, and thereof reigned 39: a man no doubt to be worthily accounted B amongst the greatest Christian emperours that liued before him. About which time also died his two sisters, Marie the queene of HVNGARIE, and Elenor the French queene, both ladies of great honour.

The knights of MALTA,1559 who of long had been suters to the great Bishop and the king of SPAINE for the recouerie of TRIPOLIS in BARBARIE,The Christian princes set out a fleet for the recouerie of Tripolis in Barbarie. about nine yeares before taken from them by the Turkes; at which time they also surprised the Island of ZER [...]I, vpon the coast of BARBARIE betwixt TRIPOLIS and TVNES, from whence they much troubled the Christians, trauelling by those seas: had now at length so much preuailed, that the king commaunded a great fleet to be now forthwith made readie in September in the yeare 1559 to meet together in SICILIA, and from thence to go directly against the enemie by MALTA: Vnto which fleet, the C great bishop, the duke of FLORENCE, and the knights of MALTA, with many other valiant men out of diuers parts of Christendome, joyned their forces also; so that at length there was a hundred gallies and ships met together vnder the conduct of Andreas Gonzaga their Generall. But whilest this fleet from diuers places was long in comming thither, the duke of MEDINA CoeLI, came before with part of the fleet to MALTA, and in the hauen of MARZA MOX [...]T expected the comming of the rest, who about the end of the yeare came thither. But whilest they there wintered, expecting the Spring, many of the souldiours fell sicke and died. At length the time of the yeare fit for their setting forward, being come, the captaines consulted among themselues, Whether they should first set vpon TRIPOLIS, or the Island of ZER [...]I, otherwise called MENING. The knights of MALTA being of opinion, That it were better first to besiege D TRIPOLIS, and that with all speed, before Dragut should come thither to furnish it with souldiors and prouision. Others thought it better first to inuade the Island of ZERBI, where the armie might be relieued with plentie of all things necessarie, and from whence they might at all times of danger in safetie retire; and from thence afterwards as time should serue to go to TRIPOLIS. Which vnfortunat counsell was by the greater part agreed vpon. Wherefore in Februarie the yeare following they departed from MALTA,1560 and sayled directly to ZERBI. In the meane time Dragut the most famous pyrat of that time amongst the Turks, and Gouernor of TRIPOLIS, was come thither with eight hundred of the Turks Ianizaries, and had notably strengthened the citie with men, victuall, and new fortifications; and presently sent messengers to Solyman at CONSTANTINOPLE, to certifie him of the arriuall of the Christian fleet in AFFRICK. But the Christians E comming to the Island of ZERBI,The Christian fleet arriueth at the Island of Zerbi. were at their first landing encountered by the Moores, whom they repulsed, and so at pleasure landed. This Island is not farre from the maine, here and there full of boggs and marishes, other riuer hath it none, and in the middest is somewhat hillie. It was inhabited with about thirtie thousand men, which dwelt in low cottages, simply apparrelled: yet is the island reasonable fertile, yeelding dates, oliues, barley, mill, and such like. When the Christians were there landed, they sent for Carauanus, a poore king amongst the Moores (from whom Dragut had before taken that Island) to vse his counsell for their better proceeding in that warre. In the meane time they agreed, with eight thousand men to besiege the strongest castle in the Island: in going whereunto the Spaniards went formost, the Germans next, and last of all the Italians. By the way as they went they light vpon ten thousand Moores, which lay in F ambush in a wood to haue vpon the sudden set vpon them vnawares; but being discouered, and seuen hundred of them slaine in skirmish by the Spaniards, the rest fled. So comming to the castle, they planted their batterie,The castle of Zerbi taken by the Christians. and laid hard siege vnto it. The captaine of the castle finding himselfe too weake long to hold out, fled secretly with his Turkes, leauing the castle for the Moores to defend; who vpon condition that they might in safetie depart, yeelded the castle to the Spaniards: [Page] for keeping whereof, Varona and Cerda, two Spanish captaines, were there left with their G companies. Whilest these things were in doing, Car [...]nus the Moore king came to the campe of the Christians and there talked with the Generall, in whose hoarie countenance rested a reuerend majestie, his apparrell was after the Moores fashion of white linnen, with him came also the king of TVNES his sonne. In talking with the Generall, his manner was to [...] vpon the ground, and wisely discoursed how the Turkes were to be remooued out of AFFRICKE. But in the middest of these discourses, when such a thing was least feared, suddenly a pinna [...]e brought newes from sea,Piall Bassa Solyman [...] Admirall sent to remoue the Christians out of Zerbi. That Piall Bassa the Turkes great Admirall was comming thither with a great fleet of 85 gallies, and that moe were dayly repairing vnto him on euery side, which was indeed true. For Solyman vnderstanding from Dragut the arch pyra [...], that Island to be by the Christians now possessed and fortified, thought it not (in his so great power and flourishing estate) to stand H with his honour to suffer, but rather to giue aid vnto the Moores of that Island, a people agreeing in religion with himselfe: and therefore commanded Piall Bassa his Admirall to take in hand that expedition. Who thereupon rigged vp a great fleet well appointed and strongly manned, with a number of the Turkes best and most approued soldiors; as well Ianizaries as others: yet all both doubtfull and fearefull of the long journey, as also of the fame of the enemies with whom they were to encounter: for why the Turks had conceiued a great opinion of the valour of the Spaniards, as knowing great warres both of auntient and later times to haue beene by that nation (to the immortall praise thereof) most happily performed: they remembred well Charles the fift, and dayly heard much of king Philip, the heire both of his fathers vertues and kingdomes▪ which made them so carefull, that many of them before their setting forth (as in time of greatest danger)I made their wils, and so departed from CONSTANTINOPLE, taking their leaue of their friends▪ as if they should neuer haue thither returned againe. So that all the citie was in a confused feare: neither was there any man whether he went or stayed, that hung not in suspence with the doubtfull expectation of the euent of that warre. Howbeit, Piall with this great fleet with long sayling and a prosperous wind was at length come well neere as farre as MALTA, and knowledge thereof (as is aforesaid) giuen vnto the Christian fleet at ZERBI. With which vnexpected newes the Christians there were not a little troubled: neuerthelesse they fortified the castle with new fortifications and bulwarkes, and fell to agreement with the principall man amongst the Moores of the Island (who commaunded the rest, and had before pluckt downe the ensignes of Dragut, and set vp the king of SPAINES) That he should yearely pay vnto the king of SPAINE (as he had K defore vnto Dragut) six thousand crownes, one cammell, foure ostriches, foure sparrow hawkes, and foure blew faulcons: a tribute fit for such an Island.

But shortly after, viz. the ninth of May, the Great Master of MALTA by another pinnace gaue the Christians at ZERBI againe to vnderstand, That the Turks fleet was euen now at hand, and alreadie departed from the Island of GOZO, well appointed and strongly manned: and that therefore he aduised them with speed to hoise saile, and to get them to some place of more safetie, or els to come to him to MALTA, for feare of being by so great a power of the Turks suddenly oppressed. Whereupon Iohn Andreas Auria the Admirall sent vnto the Generall, requesting him presently to come aboord, that so they might before the comming of the Turks fleet retire themselues to some place of more assurance. But he for all that stayed still at the castle, where the L Christians had built foure strong bulwarkes: whereof they had named one Auriaes, another Gonzagaes, the third the Viceroyes, and the fourth the Knights, not yet all perfectly finished: as for the castle it selfe, they called it Philip-Alcazer, by the name of the king. But whilest the Generall is thus busie, and vainely hopeth to keepe both the castle and his ships, he the next day descrying from farre the comming of the Turkes great fleet, hasted with the Admirall to be gone: and putting twice to sea, was both times by a contrary wind driuen againe into the hauen, so that he and the Admirall had much adoe in time to get themselues into the castle: for the wind was so fauourable for the Turks, and brought them so fast on, that the Christians dismayed with their suddaine comming, knew not now well what to doe or which way to turne themselues. But by good hap the greater part of the ships and foureteene gallies were got out and gone the night before,Part of the Christian fleet oppressed at Zerbi by the sudden comming of the Turks. M and the Great Master had in Aprill called home his gallies, wherewith and ten others of his owne he afterwards defended the frontiers of his Island. As for the rest of the fleet that stayed for the Generall and the Admirall, some few gallies escaped by flight, othersome ran themselues aground, ten of which were presently taken by the Turkes, as were the rest also that were left, [Page] A although they for a while did what they might to haue saued themselues. The night following the Viceroy and the Admirall secretly stole out of the castle, and so by good fortune in two small frigots fled to MALTA. Carauanus also the Moore king, with the prince of TVNES, got them away into the maine. Gonzaga the Viceroy departing from MALTA into SICILIA, prouided as he might for the safetie of that countrey. Auria in the meane time gathered together the remainder of the dispersed fleet, hauing lost in this vnfortunat expedition seuenteene gallies, with a great part of the ships.

Now in the castle was left as Generall Don Aluarus de Sandes, a valiant gentleman of great spirit and long experience, with fiue thousand footmen, some Germanes, some Italians, but for the most part Spaniards;The castle of Zerbi besieged by the Turks. besides a thousand other that were no souldiors. So that the Turks beginning B to besiege the same the seuenteenth of May, were by them many times notably encountered, and in their assaults repulsed. Vnto this siege at length came Dragut the pyrat, who with fifteene great pieces which he brought with him from TRIPOLIS, encreased the furie of the Turks batterie. Neither were the Christians in the meane time wanting vnto themselues, hauing in the castle fortie great pieces of artillerie, wherewith they slew a number of the Turkes and Moores: and sometimes sallying out, fought with them hand to hand; and hauing slaine and wounded many, retired againe into the castle. In this manner the siege continued three months with many an hot and desperat skirmish: during which time, nothing more troubled the defendants than thirst in that hot and drie climat and intemperat time of the yeare: for why in the castle there was but one great cesterne, which although it yeelded some good store of water, yet C was it not ynough to suffice so great a multitude, but was by measure still sparingly giuen out vnto the souldiors so farre as it would serue, no man hauing more allowed him than would suffice to keepe him aliue: the quantitie whereof some augmented by distilling of the sea water, and mingling it with their allowance, and so well eased their thirst, vntill such time as hauing spent all their wood, they wanted that poore helpe also. There might a man haue seen many poore soules lying vpon the ground halfe dead, gaping and still crying out nothing but water, water; into whose drie mouths, if any man vpon compassion vouchsafed to poure a little water, they as men reuiued therewith would presently sit vp, vntill that for thirst they fell downe againe, and so at length as men rosted gaue vp the ghost. Thus many died daily, beside them whom the chance of warre and other diseases without helpe consumed in so great a distresse.Don Aluerus with the rest of the chee [...]e commanders taken prisoners. Don Aluarus the Gouernour D considering the great extremitie they were now brought vnto, attempted with Don Sanchius de Leyua Admirall of the Neapolitane gallies, Bellingerius de Requesenes Admirall of the Sicilian gallies, and some others by night to haue escaped away into a gallie which lay vnder the castle, but in doing thereof were perceiued by the Turks, and so all taken. Whereupon such soldiours as sicknesse and the enemies sword had yet left aliue, pinched with extreame necessitie, forsaken of their best captaines, and out of all hope of releefe also, couenanting their liues only with the enemie,The castle of Zerbi yeelded vnto the Turks. yeelded themselues into most miserable captiuitie. In this vnfortunat expedition perished about eighteene thousand Christians, some with sicknesse, some drowned, but most slaine, beside the losse of a great part of the fleet also.

Of this victorie Piall sent newes by one of his gallies to CONSTANTINOPLE, which for the E more manifesting thereof, dragged at the poupe thereof a great ensigne of the Christians, with the picture of Christ crucified therein. Which was no sooner come into the hauen, but that the rumour of the ouerthrow of the Christians was forthwith blowne through the whole citie, the Turks exceedingly rejoycing one with another for the newes of so great a victorie: yea many of them not so contented, came by heapes to the gate of the house where the emperour Ferdinands embassadour lay, and there meeting with his seruants, by way of derision asked them, if they had any brethren, kinsmen, or friends in the Spanish fleet at ZERBI, for if you haue (said they) you shall shortly see them here. Besides that, they with many words most insolently bragged of their owne valour, and scorned the cowardise of the Christians, asking who were able to withstand them, now that the Spaniards was also ouercome. All which with much more the embassadours F men with great greefe were enforced to heare, but there was no remedie, seeing God had so appointed it.The Turks with victorie returne to Cōstantinople. Shortly after, in September the victorious fleet returned to CONSTANTINOPLE, dragging with it the prisoners, spoiles, and gallies of the Christians, a sight no lesse pleasant vnto the Turks, than heauie vnto the Christians: and that night it lay at anker neere vnto the rocks in the face of the citie, with the greater pompe and glorie to come the next day into the hauen. At [Page] which time Solyman himselfe was come downe into a gallerie neere vnto the hauens mouth, adjoyning G vnto his garden, the better to see the comming in of the fleet, and the Christian captains set there to shew vpon the poupe of the Admirall gallie, namely, Don Aluarus de Sandes, Don Sanchius de Leyua, and Don Bellingerus de Requesenes, all of late great commaunders: as for the Christian gallies all disarmed and vnrigged, so to seeme the more contemptible in comparison of the Turks, they were towed at the taile of the Turks gallies. They which then saw Solymans countenance, perceiued not in him any signe at all of any insolent joy. I my selfe (sayth Augerius Busbequius legationis Turcicae. epist. 4. Busbequius, then the emperour Ferdinands embassadour there) saw him two dayes after going to the church with the same countenance he had alwayes, with the same seueritie and grauitie, as if this victorie had nothing concerned him, nor any thing chanced strange or vnexpected: so capable was the great heart of that old sire of any fortune, were it neuer so great, and his mind so setled, as H to receiue so great applause and rejoycing without mouing. Within a few dayes after the Christian captiues (before almost starued with hunger) were brought to the Court:The miserie of the Christian captiues. many of whom could scarce stand vpon their legs, some others for weakenesse fell downe and fainted, and othersome died outright: they were all scornfully led in triumph, with their Armes disordered & scornfully put vpon them: the Turkes in the meane time insulting round about them, promising vnto themselues the empire of the whole world: and vainely asking, What enemie they were to feare, now that the Spaniard was ouercome. Aluarus Sandes, as cheefe of all the prisoners, being brought into the Diuano before the Visier Bassaes, and demaunded by Rustan Bassa, What his master meant, being not able to defend his owne, to inuade other mens? answered, That it beseemed not him to judge thereon; and himselfe to haue done but his dutie, with such faithfulnesse as I was meet to put in execution what he was commaunded by his lord, although he, had no good fortune therein. After that, he besought the Bassaes vpon his knee, to speak for him vnto Solyman, for that he had at home a poore wife, with certaine small children, for whom he requested him to spare him. Wherunto Rustan Bassa (contrarie to his manner) courteously answered, his Soueraigne to be of a mild and gentle nature, and that he was in good hope his pardon might bee of him obtained: so was he commaunded away vnto Caradines his castle, towards the blacke sea. But he was not gone farre, but that he was called backe againe; for that the Great Chamberlain, a man in great credit with Solyman, had not as yet seene him: for which cause hee was sent for backe againe; wherewith he was not a little troubled, fearing least the Bassaes hauing changed their minds, would haue put him to death. The rest of the captiues of the better sort were committed K to the castle of PERA, and amongst them Don Sanchius de Leyua, with his two base sons, and also Don Bellingerus Requesenes: which two great men, with Don Aluarus de Sandes, were neuerthelesse afterwards with much adoe and almost beyond all hope, at the request of the emperour, and by the dexteritie of his embassadour, by Solyman set at libertie; although he had before denied them vnto Saluiat the French kings embassadour, who had beene an earnest intercessour for them. Yet before they were deliuered out of prison, the Muphti or Turkes great priest was asked his opinion, Whether it were lawfull for a greater number of Turkes to exchange a few Christian captiues (for the embassadour beside the rewards he had promised vnto the Bassaes, to further the matter, had also vndertaken, that fortie common prisoners of the Turkes should be set at libertie for them) whereunto the Muphti answered, That the doctors L of their law were of diuers opinions concerning that question, some saying that it was lawfull, and some not; howbeit as then it was by him resolued vpon vnto the more fauourable part, and the exchange allowed.

There were among the prisoners taken at ZERBI, besides these noble men of whom we haue before spoken, two other noble gentlemen right honourably borne, Don Iohn of CARDONA Don Bellinger his sonne in law, and Don Gasto the duke of MEDINA his sonne, to whom yet but a youth his father neuerthelesse had giuen an honourable place in the armie. Of these two Don Iohn had wisely taken order for a great summe of money to be left in the island of CHIO, by the way as the Turkes fleet went to CONSTANTINOPLE, from whence he afterwards in safetie got into SPAINE. But Gasto was by Piall Bassa (vpon hope of a great raunsome) purposely hid out of M the way, which had like to haue wrought his destruction: for Solyman hauing gotten an inckling thereof by the instigation of Rustan, laboured for nothing more than to haue Gasto found out, so to haue a more just occasion for the putting of Piall to death, being taken tardie in so manifest a fault. But all that labour was spent in vaine, Gasto being by death taken away, but whether [Page] A by the plague (as some reported) or by Piall his meanes (as it was more like) least the truth should be found out, is vncertaine. But certaine it was, that being with great care sought for by the duke his fathers seruants, he could neuer be heard of more: So that it was thought Piall for the safegard of his owne life,Piall in disgrace with Solyman, shunneth to come to Constantinople. not to haue spared Gasto his prisoners life. Who neuerthelesse for a long time liued in great feare, and not daring to come to CONSTANTINOPLE, took occasion with a few gallies to wander about amongst the islands of AEGEVM, as if he had there something to doe; but indeed so shunning the sight of his angrie lord, for feare he should haue been compelled in bonds to haue answered the matter. Vntill at length he appeased at the request of Suleiman Bassa (the eunuch and Solymans great chamberlaine) and of Selymus, Solymans son, granted him his pardon in these words well worth the marking out of the mouth of an infidell prince: B Well haue he from me pardon and forgiuenesse for so great an offence: but let God the most iust reuenger of villanies take of him due punishment after this life. So fully he seemed to be persuaded that no euill deed ought to remaine without punishment, either in this life or in the life to come.

There was in this expedition a Colonell of the Turks well acquainted with Busbequius the emperours embassadour, then lying at CONSTANTINOPLE: into whose hands (in that discomfiture of the Christians) by chance was come the imperiall ensigne of the gallies of NAPLES; wherein within the compasse of an Eagle,One of the imperiall ensignes of Charles the fif [...] redeemed from the Turk [...]. were contained the armes of all the prouinces belonging to the kingdome of SPAINE. Which faire ensigne the embassadour vnderstanding him to purpose to giue for a present vnto Solyman, thought good to preuent the matter, and to C get it from him: which he easily obtained, by sending him two sutes of silke (such as the Turkes make reckoning of) for it: so prouiding that one of the imperiall ensignes of Charles the fift, should not to the eternall remembrance of that ouerthrow, remaine still with the enemies of the Christian religion. This so miserable a calamitie receuied by the Christians at ZERBI, made that island, before little or nothing spoken of, to be euer since famous.

About this time to end this vnfortunat yeare withall, the fiue and twentith day of Nouember died Andreas Auria (that second Neptune) being ninetie foure yeares old:The death of the noble Andreas Auria. a man in his time of great fame, and of the greatest princes of that age had in no small reputation, but especially of Charles the fift, in whose seruice he did much for the benefit of the Christian common weale, being for most part imploied in his greatest warres against the Turks and Moores. Yet amongst D all the notable things done to his immortall glorie, the kindnesse by him shewed vnto his natiue countrey was greatest; which oppressed by the French, he set at libertie: and when he might haue taken vpon him the sole gouernment thereof (as had diuers others before him) moderating his desires, and respecting the onely good thereof, appeased the great dissention that had of long raigned therein; and established such a forme of gouernment, confirmed with so good and wholsome lawes and orders (no mans libertie infringed) as that it hath euer since to his eternall praise in great wealth, state, and libertie, thereby flourished. Vnto whose remembrance (for that we haue before of him much spoken in the course of this historie) I thought it not amisse to joyne the liuely counterfeit of his reuerend aged countenance, by nature framed answerable vnto his noble vertues.

[Page]

ANDREAS AVRIA.

Genua quem genuit, genui quam deinde vicissim,

Auria qui merui Carolo sub Caesare quinto,

Turcarum terror, Piratarum (que) Subactor,

Barbara quem sensit tellus, & capta Thunissa,

Arx & Aphrodisium, Moreae (que) vrbs celsa Corone,

Mors rapuit Lustris decies prope quinque peractis.

L

As Genua me begat, so I preseru'd the same:

And seruing vnder Charles the fift, exalted haue my name.

A terrour to the Turkes I was, I brought the pyrats low:

And spoiling their Barbarian coast, made them by force to know

Faire TVNES and strong APHRODISE, both by my helpe were woon:

And CORONE in MOREA, by me was ouerrun.

So hauing spent ninetie foure yeares in treading honours trace:

Full fraught with honour and with yeares, I ended haue my race.

1561The Turkes the yeare following, with their gallies robbed and spoiled diuers places vpon the M coasts of ITALIE,A great shipwracke. SICILIE, and MALTA: against whom Phillip king of SPAINE sending forth his gallies by force of tempest lost twentie fiue of them, the eighteenth day of Nouember, togither with Mendoza admirall of that fleet.

Ferdinand the emperour, hauing with long sute and much entreating obtained peace of Solyman, [Page] A and being now well stricken in yeares, and carefull both of the state of the empire and of the aduancement of his posteritie, began to deale with the princes Electors for a choice to bee made of a king of the Romans; who after his death might without the trouble of GERMANI [...] succeed him in the empire: commending vnto them his sonne Maximilian, a prince of great hope, then king of BOHEMIA. Whereupon an assemblie of the princes Electours was appo [...]ted to bee holden at FRANKFORD: who there meeting at the appointed time▪ with generall consent the 24 day of Nouember in the yeare 1562,1562 chose Maximilian the emperours some king of the Romans,Maximilian chosen king of the Romans, and after crowned king of Hungarie. and with all the accustomed solemnities crowned him: who also the yeare after was at PRESEVRO the eight of September with much solemnitie crowned king of HVNGARIE. Vnto this solemne assemblie of the empire at FRAN [...]FORD, Solyman the Turkish emperour B sent Ibrahim Bassa, otherwise called Abraham Strotzza (a Polonian borne of whom we haue before spoken) his embassadour with presents and letters to Ferdinand the emperour, to confirme the peace for eight yeares betwixt them before concluded; who the seuenteenth day of Nouember in presence of the emperour;Solyman by his embassadour confirmeth a peace with Ferdinand the emperour for eight yeares. the king of the Romans, and all the princes Elect [...]; had audience: where, after much glorious speech in setting forth his masters greatnesse, with his loue towards the emperour and his sonne the new chosen king, as wishing vnto them all happinesse, he deliuered his letters of credence vnto the emperor: the copie wherof I haue not thought amisse here to set downe, for that therein is notably to be seene the most insolent pride of that barbarous prince, and miserable estate of the [...]ent kingdome of HVNGARIE, deuided as it were at his pleasure betwixt him and the emperour.

C

I the lord of lords,Solymans pro [...] letters to the emperor Ferdinand. ruler of the East and of the West, who am of power to doe and not to doe whatsoeuer pleaseth me, lord of all GRaeCIA, PERSIA, and ARABIA, commaunder of all things which can be subiect to king and commaund, the great worthie of these times, and strong champion of the most wide world, lord of all the white and blacke sea, and of the holy citie of MECHA shining with the brightnesse of God, and of the citie of MEDINA and of the holy and chast citie of IERVSALEM, king of the most noble kingdome of AEGIPT, lord of IONIA and of the citie of ATHENS, SENAV, of the sacred temple of God, ZABILON and BASSIO, RETHSAN and MA [...]ODIM, the seat and throne of the great king Nashin Rettam, and lord of the island of ALGIERS, prince of the kingdomes of TARTARIE, MESOPOTAMIA, MEDIA, of the Georgians, MOREA, ANATOLIA, D ASIA, ARMENIA, WALACHIA, MOLDAVIA, and of all HVNGARIE, and of many other kingdomes and territories, whereof I am emperour; the most mightie Monarch Sultan Solyman; sonne of the great emperour Sultan Selym, who haue power from God to rule all people with a bridle; and strength to breake open the gates and bars of all cities and strong places: into whose mightie hand are deliuered all the ends of the world, none excepted. I the ruler of the East, from the Island of TSEIN vnto the farthest bounds of AFFRICA, whom God hath appointed a mightie warriour in the edge of the sword: amongst whose most mightie kingdomes the impregnable castle of CESARae is reputed for the least, and in whose hereditarie dominions the kingdome or empire of Alexander the Great is accounted as a trifle: with me is the strength of the whole world and vertue of the firmam [...]nt. For as much as thou king Ferdinand, which art the mightie lord of Christendome, and the chosen vessell E of the mightie Christian faith, created and elected emperour of the Romane people, of BOHEMIA, VANDALIA, CRABATIA, and many other countries king and lord &c. Not long since sent vnto our court (which is the refuge of all kings, the protection and sanctuarie of all that flie thereunto, and the throne of grace for all princes of these times which repaire vnto it) one Augerius Busbeck, thy faithfull counsellour and embassadour, with letters of confederation, to renew with vs a peace, and to enter into a further league and bond of amitie: which letters beare date the yeare from the prophet Iesu (vpon whom and our prophet Mahomet rest the brightnesse and peace of God) 1562, the first day of Iune, requesting of vs, That graunting you peace for eight yeares, we would not with any hostilitie hereafter molest your cities, castles, countries, or subiects, but to suffer them to liue in secure peace and tranquilitie, &c. Vnto which your petition we answere you, That from henceforth for the whole F space of eight yeares shall be betwixt vs on both parts to be continued a new, true, and firme league: of which agreement, peace, and confederation, these shall be the conditions. First, That you our beloued shall be bound to send yearely to our court as a pledge of this league thirtie thousand Hungarian duckats, with that remainder which you owe vnto vs for the two yeares last past: for which wee promise vnto you, that we from henceforth during this eight yeares league, will take no part either by way of [Page] hostilitie or friendship with king Iohns sonne, for as much as belongeth to his hereditarie countries,G whether they be in the hether part of HVNGARIE, or on the further side of TEISSE: all which for all that, by law of armes belong vnto vs. And the same king Iohns sonne in time of this eight yeares league shall be also bound in such sort to performe vnto vs his obedience, as that from henceforth it shall not be lawfull for him to vse any warre or hostilitie against you, neither to trouble your subiects with fire or sword, nor to surprise your cities, castles, or townes, or by violence to take away or exact of your people or subiects, their sheepe, their cattell, their goods, money, or reuenewes. We also our selues shall haue no right, nor take occasion to driue away your people, to burne your countries, or carrie away any captiues: but rather in this eight yeares space religiously keepe peace and concord with you. And vnder these conditions of peace shall also be comprehended Michaell Balaschus, Nicholas Batho [...], with all their goods and territories, and diuers other such like, which shall be subiect vnto you and king H Iohns sonne. To be breefe, if happily any of yours or king Iohns sonnes subiects shall haue now before in time of warre thrust one another out of his goods, lands, or possessions, whereof new quarrels or discord may arise; we will and decree, That all such controuersies, quarrels and claimes shall be deferred vntill this definit time of the league be expired. Beside, if by chance any dissention shall hereafter arise betwixt vs about our iurisdiction, which can by no means be composed and ordered; we will that yours shall in the mean time remain as yours, and ours as ours, all contention & enmitie set apart: also many townes situat here and there by Danubius and Tatta, shall bee suffered to vse the same law which they did in former time; so that the soldiors which are yet in garrison in the castle of Tatta, shall haue no right to infest or vex those townes situate neere vnto Danubius. Furthermore, if after this peace concluded, any of your noble men or gentlemen shall fortune to haue any of our noblemen by reuolt or I other occasion whatsoeuer, captiues, they shall dismisse them and set them at libertie, to returne vnto their friends freely without hurt or ransome; that so the concord and peace begun betwixt vs, may be the more firmely kept, and our subiects liue in more securitie. All and euery one of these things wee graunt and promise to be of vs from henceforth vntill the end of the aforesaid eight yeares, without all fraud or guile religiously obserued and kept; and for that purpose haue caused these our letters of this peace and confederation to be published from our royall pallace: and moreouer, haue not only prouided, that the copie of the same should together with our edict be proclaimed to all and euery the generals, captaines, lieutenants of our armies both by sea and land in all parts of our empire, and to all our mercinarie souldiors, but haue also straightly commanded, that it shall be firmely and sincerely kept. We will also, that this agreement of peace and amitie shall comprehend and concerne our two cheefe Gouernors K or Vayuods of WALACHIA and MOLDAVIA, so that none of your people of HVNGARIE, CRAEATIA, SCLAVONIA, or other your countries or islands whatsoeuer, shall in any sort be molested or greeued by our subiects. And if it shall fortune that some shall on your part out of their castles set vpon our subiects, or by force take away their goods, the same men shall in any case be bound to make thereof restitution. Also if any shall flie from vs and carrie away with them the mony or goods of their masters whom they serued, or if the like shall be done by any of yours flying to vs, then the same goods on both parts are to be of right demaunded and recouered againe, and the fugitiues to the example of others to be corrected and punished: for as much as fugitiues goods of right appertain vnto their lords and masters. Furthermore it shall be lawfull for your captaines and commaunders to fortifie or build castles, cities or townes in the borders of HVNGARIE, and to put into the same victuall, armor, & such L like, but so that they do none of these things out of their owne limits. And during the time of this league it shall not be lawfull to take or carrie away any of your subiects prisoners either in HVNGARIE or other place of your iurisdiction: which for all that, if it shall by any chance happen, that then such captiues without delay be suffred safely to returne home againe. Furthermore, whatsoeuer Christian shall haue any businesse to do in our magnificent Court or any part of our dominions, as are embassadors, officers, seruants, and such others: vnto all these we not onely graunt and permit, that they may come and go about their businesse, and so againe depart from our court or prouinces; but also haue willed and commaunded, them to be well and courteously entreated by our subiects, and furthered with the interpretation of our language. And if it shall fortune any contention or discord to arise betwixt our subiects on either side, about the bounds and limits of lands, or other such like causes: such controuersies M we will to be decided and determined by discreet and indifferent men on both parts; and the authors of such discord and variance, to be punished as suspected persons and breakers of the league. We also prohibit those skirmishes or combats, which were wont to be sometimes on both sides made vpon the borders. And desire, that the forme of this league and peace, and euerie article thereof, may be [Page] A publikely read and set vp in sundrie places of your dominions; and commaundement giuen, that they may with due obedience and reuerence be obserued and kept. Which we likewise haue now before promised faithfully, and assuredly to performe: and your embassadour whom a few moneths agone you sent vnto vs, in your name requested the same thing of vs, and hath with earnest praiers moued vs by imperiall oath and these letters of credence, to witnesse, that we did ratifie and confirme the same; as if we our selues should speake to you in presence. Wherefore we haue giuen to him these our letters of pacification to you directed, that your generals, souldiors, and subiects, may be bound also to obserue and keepe all these things: wherefore, so long as nothing contrarie to this league shall be done on your part; so long in like manner, all these articles of peace shall be of me accepted and assured. For witnesse and confirmation whereof, I sweare this oath: By the true and liuing creator of heauen and earth, by B the true signes of our great and reuerend prophet, by my imperiall power, and by my true faith; that nothing contrarie or repugning vnto the aforesaid articles, conditions, and promises of the eight years league agreed vpon betwixt vs, shall be attempted or done by any our Gouernours, Generals, Vayuods, &c. Commaunding moreouer, all our sworne gouernours of our most mightie empire, in WALACHIA, and MOLDDAVIA, and king Stephen himselfe, and others which haue the gouernment of our empire confining vpon you, That they all and euerie of them as well as our selues, shall iustly, faithfully, and religiously, accept, reuerence, and keepe these conditions of peace, towards your subiects, cities, castles, townes, and other things appertaining to you; and in the least thing, not to hurt, iniurie, or wrong any your subiects. In briefe, we shall as farre as our part concerneth vs giue vnto this most mightie and great new made loue and friendship, so great honour, reuerence, and authoritie, that that C which may euen in the least things be had, shall not on our part be wanting. In token whereof, we haue suffered certaine Christian captiues, whom by your embassadour you requested to haue set at libertie, franckly to returne vnto you without raunsome; out of which captiuitie they could neuer haue been redeemed, if in regard of this our amitie and friendship we had not granted them libertie: trusting that you will in like sort set at libertie such of ours as you haue captiues. Giuen at our imperiall pallace and seat in the most mightie citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, the first day of September, in the yeare of our great and reuerend prophet 969.

The same embassadour,Present [...] from Solyman to the emperour Ferdinand. after he had deliuered these letters, presented vnto the emperour the gifts he had brought from his Great master: which was two great cups of naturall christall, D curiously wrought, and set with stones of great price: a couragious Turkie horse, with a saddle and trappings wrought with gold, and set with pretious stones, and garnished with chaines of pure gold: and foure of the fairest camels that were to be got in all CONSTANTINOPLE. In deliuering of which presents, the Bassa made his excuse, that the horse and camels had lost their beautie, being with foure moneths trauell from CONSTANTINOPLE, growne somewhat leane and wearie.

This peace thus concluded betwixt the emperour Ferdinand and Solyman, 1564 held firme vntill the death of Ferdinand, The death of the emperour Ferdinand. who about two yeares after in the yeare 1564 vpon S. Iames his day died, being sixtie yeares old: whereof hee raigned as emperour not full seauen yeares. In whose place succeeded Maximilian his sonne, before chosen king of the Romans. But immediatly after E the death of Ferdinand, New troubles in Hungarie. the captaines on the frontiers of that part of HVNGARIE which was holden for the emperour on the one side, and the Turkes captaines with the Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA on the other side, wearie of their ease, began contrarie to the forme of the league to surprise strong holds and townes one in another confines, wherof ensued much trouble: The authour whereof was Melchior Balas, the emperours lieutenant in that part of HVNGARIE which bordereth vpon TRANSILVANIA, who first surprised certaine townes vpon the frontiers thereabouts: in reuenge whereof, the Vayuod suddenly set vpon SAC [...]MAN, a town in the emperours territorie which he tooke, and therein Balas his wife and children. In despight whereof, Balas ransacked and burnt DEBREZIN, a great towne of the Vayuods. But not long after, the Vayuod Solymans vassall, and aided by him with foure thousand Turkes and three F thousand Moldauians, did much harme vpon the frontiers of that part of HVNGARIE which belonged to the emperour, and first tooke HADAD, and afterwards besieged VNGAR. In requitall whereof, Maximilian the emperour sent Lazarus Suendi, a valiant captaine, who with an armie of eight thousand, besieged the strong castle of TOKAY, which he tooke the fift of Februarie, in the yeare 1565;1565 and after that, tooke the rich towne of ERDEN. In the meane time Solyman, [Page] who had in himselfe fully purposed to be reuenged of all these injuries (as well appeared G by that he did the yeare following) to stay the emperour from proceeding farther, vntill such time as he were at better leisure to be reuenged (for as then he was making great preparation for MALTA) sent Marcus Lilinesius a renegat Transiluanian of CIBINIVM, his embassadour to Maximilian, to put him in remembrance of the league made with his father, and to wish him to haue regard how he further proceeded to the breach thereof. Whereupon the emperour, because he would not seeme vnwillng to hearken to peace, commaunded his lieutenants and captaines no more to inuade TRANSILVANIA, or that part of HVNGARIE which the Turkes held. Howbeit that, whilest this embassadour was thus intreating of peace at VIENNA, the Bassa of TEMESVVAR in the borders of TRANSILVANIA, made diuers incursions into the borders of HVNGARIE, and with six thousand souldiors besieged the strong castle of IVLA, and the H Turkes in great number came daily into TRANSILVANIA. At which time also, Suendi Generall of Maximilian his forces vpon the frontiers, by messengers sent for that purpose, wished him not to giue any credit vnto the Turks embassadour,The Turks purposing warre, craftily sue for peace. who meaning nothing but warre, vnder the colour of peace sought nothing else but to take him vpon the sudden vnprouided. Neither ceased these troubles thus, but daily grew from euill to worse: for in Iune the Transiluanians besieged ERDEN, before taken by the imperials, and after two moneths siege had it yeelded vnto them. In the meane time, Chernouich the emperours embassadour to Solyman returned from CONSTANTINOPLE, assuring him, that the great Turk for all his faire shewes of peace, ment in deed nothing but wars, for which he was (as he said) making great preparation both by sea and land. Wherupon the emperour began to raise more forces: which thing diuers noble men, both I of GERMANIE and other places hearing of, came vnto him with their followers; and amongst others, Romerus one of the knights of MALTA, and diuers others of his brethren, with fiue companies of souldiors well appointed, sent thither by George Hochenheime, graund prior of that Order in GERMANIE, and then confirmed one of the princes of the empire. At the same time also, the Turks being busie upon the borders of STIRIA and the places thereabouts, were many times cut off by Charles the archduke; who taking them at an aduantage, slew at one time three thousand of them. Yet for all this, the Turkes embassadour was still at VIENNA intreating for peace, and so cunningly handled the matter, that whereas Eccius Salma, a noble and valiant captaine, had corrupted the chiefe judge with certaine others of ALBA REGALIS, to haue betraied the citie vnto him; for performance whereof, they had deliuered their wiues and children as hostages,K and he was now vpon his way from RAB, which is but eight miles off, in an assured hope to haue surprised the citie: he was suddenly by letters in post from the emperour called backe againe, for corrupting the hope conceiued of peace: and so was that notable dessignment vnfortunatly disappointed; of which practise the Turks hauing knowledge, afterwards most cruelly executed fortie of the conspirators, impaling some of them vpon sharpe stakes, and hanging others vpon yron hooks by the jawes vntill they were dead. Shortly after the Turks tooke NEOSTAT, which was not long after againe recouered by the emperour.

At the same time one of the Turks spies was taken at ZIGETH, who but thirteene daies before was sent from CONSTANTINOPLE, of purpose to view the strength and situation of that place: hee being brought before Charles the archduke and examined, said, That Solyman L would assuredly the next Spring come in person himselfe into HVNGARIE, to besiege the strong castles of ZIGETH and IVLA. At which time also, countie Serinus tooke certaine other of the Turkes spies, by whom he was certainly aduertised of Solymans comming the next yeare; and amongst others Scaphir Vayda, the Bassa of BVDA his chiefe counsellor. Beside this, the countrey men (contributors both to the imperials and the Turks) were now straightly commanded by the Turks, to pay no more contribution money vnto the imperials: whereupon it was easily gathered, that all that talke of peace, was as Suendi had oftentimes written, nothing else but to delay the time, and to put them in securitie. Beside that, the Turkes made incursions daily into one place or other of the emperours territories, shewing their auntient hate, and sowing by those light skirmishes, as it were, the seed of a greater warre against the next Spring▪ which M the emperour now out of doubt of (being also warned thereof by many letters from his friends) put strong garrisons into his frontier towns, especially into RAB and ZIGETH. But knowing that to be but a poore helpe against so puissant an enemie, he resolued as his father and vncle had done before, to rest vpon the strength of the empire, and against the next yeare to call a generall [Page] A assembly of the princes of the empire at AVOVSTA, for the better withstanding of the common enemie. The warres thus beginning againe in HVNGARIE, Solyman at the same time in reuenge of the manifold harmes done vnto his subjects by the knights of MALTA, whose hand he found euer against him in all his dealings with the other Christian princes,Solyman maketh preparation against the knights of Malta. made great preparation both by sea and land: purposing (as seemed by the manner thereof) to haue rased the memoriall of those worthie men from off the earth. Whereunto, beside the naturall hatred which he bare against all Christians in generall, and them aboue the rest in particuler, he was much incited by Cassanes, Barbarussa his sonne king of ALGIERS, and Dragut gouernour of TRIPOLIS: by whose persuasions he caused a strong fleet to be rigged vp, commaunding the lieutenants and gouernours of his ports and hauens all alongst the sea coast, to put to their helping hands, and to B be readie against the next Spring. And not long after, vnderstanding partly of his owne certaine knowledge, and partly by the relation of others, in what good forwardnesse things were: he calling togither a great assembly of his greatest princes and men of warre, deliuered vnto him his mind as followeth.

What thing I haue this fortie yeares alwaies wished,

Solymans Oration to his captains for the inuasion of Malta.

which was to haue so much leisure from other warres, as to plucke out of their nests and vtterly to root out these Crossed pirats, which vaunt themselues to be the bulwarke of Christendome: that same, me thinke I haue by the fauour of God and Muhamed his prophet, at this time obtained. For we haue so repressed the attempts of the Persians, that they cannot let vs: and in HVNGARIE, from whence certaine dreadfull motions were reported, C we our selues will shortly doe those things which shall enforce our enemies to hide their heads in the heart of GERMANIE, and to sue to vs for peace. You your selues daily heare the pitifull complaints of our subiects and merchants, whom these Maltaeses, I say not souldiors, but pirats, if they but looke into those seas, spoile and make prize of: whose iniuries to reuenge, all lawes both of God and man require. Neither can any thing happen vnto me more pleasing or more honourable, than if I may before I die, accomplish those things, that is, to win MALTA, and to leaue all things in order in HVNGARIE and POLONIA: except perhaps some man thinke it a harder matter for vs to thrust these Crossed companions from the rocks of MALTA, than for our auncestors to haue driuen them from IERVSALEM, and so quite out of SYRIA, and for our selues to haue forced them out of the strong island of the RHODES. But this some will say, is neerer vnto ITALIE from whence aid may easily be sent, D and the place defended by a fleet. Beleeue me, they will neuer aduenture to fight with vs at sea, who remember themselues to haue been there so often by vs ouerthrowne: beside that, so little a place cannot containe any great garrison; neither if it could, could it long feed them. Wherefore vnto this expedition, we haue determined with the first of the Spring, to send a most strong fleet: and euen now we haue alreadie commaunded all our sea captaines and aduenturers which acknowledge our commaund, to be there present with their ships. The king of ALGIERS will be there, the garrisons of ALEXANDRIA are in readinesse, so is also Dragut with his appointed fleet; as for our owne, it is by mine owne direction rigged vp: vnto which fleet I doubt not, but that all the strength of the West will giue place: Which thing (worthie captaines) we speake, trusting vpon the helpe of almightie God, and Muhamed his great phrophet, with your knowne and approued Valour. Now remaineth onely, that E euerie one of you thinke with vs, how this warre may best be managed, and so to referre your deuises vnto vs: which that you may the better doe, Loe, I here deliuer vnto you the situation of the whole island, and proiect of all their fortifications, which wee haue receiued of most expert and skilfull men.

Solymans purpose thus made knowne, and the matter well considered, after that they which best knew the strong places and manners of the Malteses, had declared their opinions what they thought to bee most expedient, it was decreed, that they should with all speed set forward: wherefore victuall, and other things necessarie for such an expedition, being with wonderfull celeritie prepared, they expected but wind. Of these things, Io. Valetta a Frenchman, Graund F master of MALTA and of the knights of the Order;Valetta the Grand master aduertised of Solymans purpose. being both by letters and messengers aduertised (for he had alwaies fit men his intelligencers at CONSTANTINOPLE, who warily noted the purposes and actions of Solyman) was not afraid, but knowing that of God depended the victorie, and that men were to watch, labour, and foresee: he assembled a counsell of his knights, and in few words spake vnto them in this sort.

[Page]

Valetta his Oration vnto his knights.

What Solyman prepareth (most noble and valiant knights) and what a great warre he prouideth G against vs, you with me of late right well vnderstand, wherefore it is needlesse for me to vse any long speech with you concerning that matter. The enemie is knowne, his insatiable ambition is knowne, his strength is knowne, and his mortall hate against vs and the Christian name, is sufficiently knowne. Wherefore let vs all as one first reconcile our selues to God, and then prouide all such things as shall be needfull for the warre. In breefe noble knights, to reconcile our selues vnto God, and to appease his displeasure, two things are of vs to be performed: whereof the one consisteth in amendment of life, with a holy conuersation: the other in the religious worshipping of him, with a firme and constant trust in his helpe, with prayer, which is called godlinesse. By these meanes our auncestors obtained many victories against the Indels in the East. Neither is it to be doubted, but if we shall in these things ioyne together, we shall also frustrat all the force and furie of this proud tyrant. But for as much as H God vsually helpeth them which labour and take paines, and not the negligent and slouthfull, we must of necessitie ioyne vnto them those helpes, which both our profession and the course of war requireth: which partly consisteth in our selues, and partly in the other Christian princes. For victuall, armour, money, and other such things as in warres are requisit, we will so prouide, that no man shall iustly complaine, that we spared either cost or paines. I will poure out all my store, neither will I for desire of life refuse any danger. As for the Christian princes, I cannot persuade my selfe, that they will lie still in so fit an oportunitie, and in so great a danger, not of our estate onely, but much more of their owne. Verely I will not spare to exhort euery one of them both by letters and by messengers, which in part we haue alreadie done: and I doubt not but wee shall haue aid ynough from the Pope, the Emperour, and the king of Spaine (such is their Christian zeale) and they I hope shall moue the rest. As for you,I the princes and very light of this sacred Order, and the rest of our brethren, most valiant knights, I am well assured you will so fight for the most holy Christian religion, for your liues and goods, and for the glorie of the Latine name, against a most cruell tyrant, the rooter out of all true religion, of all ciuilitie and good learning, the plague of the world, hated of God and man; as that hee shall feele the sting of the crosse which he so much contemneth, euen in the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, yea in his houses of pleasure. For we shall not haue now to doe with him in the Island of the RHODES, far from the helpe of our friends, from ASIA, from EVROPE, from AEGIPT, inclosed with our enemies both by sea and land; but in the eyes of ITALIE and SPAINE, in places strongly fortified, from whence the enemie may easily be circumuented: which that it may so fall out, let vs not cease to pray vnto Almightie God, and to craue his readie helpe.

The knights make preparation for the Turks comming.When the Graund Master had thus said, all that were present promised with one assent rather to lose their liues, than in any part to faile the common cause, or to come into the power of Solyman. After that, publicke prayer and supplication was made in euery church through the Isle, and three colonels chosen out of all the knights: one an Italian surnamed Imperator, another Borneas a Frenchman, and Quatrius a Spaniard the third, all aduised men and most expert souldiors, who should with all diligence prouide all things necessarie for the warre. By whose appointment the suburbes and trees which might any way be hurtfull to the fortified places, were ouerthrowne, the fortifications were thorowly viewed, the garrisons strengthened, and all manner of prouision most plentifully destributed: and letters from the Great Master sent vnto the L Great Bishop and other Christian princes, requesting their aid against the common enemie. Messengers were also dismissed into diuers places, to certifie both the knights of the Order and others, of the Turkes preparation.

Solymans fleet departeth from Constantinople. Solymans fleet departing from CONSTANTINOPLE the two and twentith day of March in the yeare 1565 kept a direct course towards PELOPONESVS, and so came to METHON: where Mustapha Bassa one of the Turkes greatest captaines, a man of 75 yeares, and Generall of the land forces, mustered the armie, wherein were numbred seuen thousand horsmen of them which are of the Turkes called Spahi: out of the lesser ASIA, conducted by the Gouernour of that countrey, and two lieutenants of CILICIA, fiue hundred: and of the Island of LESDOS, now callled METYLENE, foure hundred: he had of the Ianizaries foure thousand and fiue hundred,M led by two colonels, appointed by Solyman; for that the cheefe captaine of the Ianizaries, which they call the Aga, neuer departeth from the citie but when the Sultan goeth himselfe. Besides these, was a certaine kind of men amongst the Turkes, who liue of the reuenewes of the church; of them there was in the armie thirteene thousand, who had at CONSTANTINOPLE vowed [Page] A their liues for their superstition. Out of THRACIA and PELOPONESVS were come two colonels and one lieutenant, with twelue hundred horsemen, and three thousand fiue hundred voluntaries out of diuers countries. There also Piall Bassa, Solymans Admirall, tooke view of the fleet, wherein were found a hundred and thirtie gallies, two and twentie ships for burthen, some greater, some lesser; besides one that was cast away neere vnto METHONE, wherein was los [...] six thousand barrels of pouder, thirteene thousand great shot, and foure hundred Spa [...] besides these, there were ten gallies from the RHODES commaunded by Halyport, a man of seuentie yeares; two gallies of MITYLENE, and about seuenteene galliots, and other small pyrats ships. With this strong fleet the Turks departing from METHONE the thirteenth of May,The Turks fleet arriueth at Malta. arriued at MALTA the eighteene of the same moneth, and put into a hauen in the Northeast part of the B isle, which the inhabitants call MARZASIROC: but perceiuing themselues not to bee there in safetie, they remoued to another port called MAIOR.

The island of MALTA lying betwixt AFFRICA and SICILIA,The description of Malta. might be doubted whether it were to be accounted in AFFRICKE or EVROPE, but that the auntient Cosmographers, and the Moores language, which the Maltases haue alwayes vsed, challenge it for AFFRICKE. It is in length from the Northeast to the Southwest twentie miles▪ and in the broadest place twelue. It regardeth AFFRICKE Southward, ouer against LEFTIS PARVA; and SICILIA towards the North, but more towards PACHINVM than LILYBEVM: and is in circuit about threescore miles. It seemeth to haue taken the name of MELITA of Mel or honey, wherof it yeeldeth plentie. The trees there beare fruit twice a yeare, and they haue oftentimes twice haruest, especially C of barley and cotten wooll; yet is the isle in some places stonie, grauellie, and bare of wood: neuerthelesse it beareth figs, apples, almonds, grapes, and other fruit trees, planted by the industrie of man, date trees also, but not fruitfull; it beareth thistl [...]s of such bignesse, that the inhabitants vse them for wood: fresh water is there wonderfull scarce, and such wels as they haue are filled with raine in Winter, for in Summer they are either cleane drie, or els the water becommeth brachie. The inhabitants are so burnt with the Sunne, that they differ little in colour from the Aethyopians: they are of a wholesome constitution of bodie, spare of diet, industrious, rather painefull than warlike, dying more for age than of sicknesse: their buildings, except it bee in the citie, which is in the middest of the island, and in the suburbes, are long and low (like vnto the Moores) couered with turfe or reed. It is commonly supposed, that S. Paule was by shipwracke D cast vpon this island: but it is with greater reason to be thought, that it was the other MELITA in the Adriaticke betwixt CORCYRA and ILLYRIA, and better agreeth with that which Luke writeth of the Apostles trouble and shipwracke in the Adriaticke,Acts 27 & 28. out of which sea it is not to be gathered of the text, that Paule with the rest were driuen. But againe to our purpose. That side of MALTA which respecteth SICILIA, hath in it many good harbours and commodious hauens, fit for shipping; where beside the port MARZASIROO towards the East, where the Turkes fleet first landed, and the port of S. THOMAS, with another called SCALA, not farre off, it hath two other notable hauens, the one called MAIOR, and the other MARZAMOXET, deuided the one from the other by a narrow peece of ground: which with a ridge runneth in length from the South to the North, almost in manner of an island, hauing the hauen E MAIOR on the East, and MARZA MOXET on the West. Vpon the head of this high ridge standeth the castle of S. ELMO, of great strength both by nature and art. As a man entreth into the hauen MAIOR, vpon the left hand are foure promontories, pointing farre into the hauen on that side, almost in manner of islands, making so many bayes: Vpon the first standeth the gallowes, whereof also it taketh name: vpon the very point of the second, on a rough and high rocke standeth a most strong castle, called the castle of S. ANGELO, whereunto adjoyneth the towne, seperated from the castle onely with a wall and a ditch, and is placed in a hollownesse cut out of the maine rocke, strengthened also with the sea and the industrie of man; and is of some called the Burg, of others the new citie (in this castle resideth the Grand master, and the souldiors in the Burg:) vpon the third promontorie standeth another strong castle, which they call also F the Burg of S. MICHAEL: the fourth promontorie is not inhabited, from whence the sea runneth alongst the winding bankes almost into the midst of the island, vnto a place called AQVA MARSIA. Againe, after the port MARZA MOXET, Westward is the harbour S. GEORGE; and after that another called BENORRAT: then followeth the port of S. PAVLE, no lesse than the port MARZASIROC: after which commeth the port called SALINARVM SINVS: but on [Page] that side of the island towards AFFRICK, is only one port called MILLIARIA▪ neere vnto the G island of MALTA lie certaine other little islands, as GAVLOS now GOZO: two other called CVMINIA, and another called PIPER, all subject to the Malteses.

Thus much I haue thought good to set downe concerning the Turkes fleet, and for the description of those places wherein this great action was performed, the brute whereof then filled the world. Now shall it not be amisse, in like manner to declare vpon what strength, next vnto God, Valetta the Graund master stood against so mightie and puissant an enemie. First there was in the island thirteene hundred mercinaries, some Spaniards, some French, some Florentines, and the rest of NAPLES: there was also a thousand seamen of the knights fleet, and fiue hundred in the towne of S. Angelo: and of the countrey people which were fled into the strong places, fiue thousand, men not altogether vnskilfull of the wars: there was also fiue hundred H knights of the Order, besides priests and squires; for of these three sorts of men, are they which are called brethren of the Order. This was the number of them which defended the castles & towns of S. Elmo, S. Angelo, and S. Michaell, wherunto they were proportionably diuided: and in the citie it selfe, which is called MELITA, being in the middle of the island, was two hundred souldiors, and as many citisens, with three hundred of the countrey people all horsemen, commanded by Io. Vagno a valiant captaine. Besides this, euerie place was furnished with plentie of victuall, armour, weapons, artillerie, and whatsoeuer else was needfull for the enduring of a long siege, and a warre that should want many things: and that which passed all the rest, minds armed with inuincible courage against whatsoeuer should chance, which oftentimes maketh of the vanquished, victors. All these things being in readinesse, and orderly disposed, as soone as they vnderstood I that seauen and twentie of the Turks gallies had put into the hauen MARZASIROCK, and were there landing their men: Gyon, Admirall for the Order, a valiant and couragious knight, marched thither with fiue hundred harquebusiers, to haue skirmished with them; but as soone as the Turks saw them comming,Riuerius with other knights, taken of the Turks. they retired againe to their gallies. On the other part where the great fleet lay, two hundred of the Turkes going on shoare, met by chance with Riuerius a Frenchman, and eight knights moe; who hauing his horse killed vnder him, and one of his companions slaine, fell with the rest into the hands of the enemie. Whilest these things were in doing, a certaine Christian marriner fled out from the Turkes to the citie of MELITA, who discouered the enemies purpose, telling them, That the Turks by the appointment of Mustapha, had determined to haue landed the greatest part of their forces, presently to haue besieged some K strong place, had not Piall Bassa the Admirall exclaimed against it, doubting to be left too weake at sea: saying plainly, That he would attempt nothing before the comming of Dragut, who was euerie houre expected. For Solyman had expressely commanded, that they should doe nothing without his counsell;The Turks land. so great an opinion had he of his pollicie and valour. But whether this his report was true or otherwise, the Turks for all that, returning with their fleet to the port MARZASIROCK, landed twentie thousand souldiors, and fiue field pieces, and so entrenched themselues. This done, Piall Bassa with seauen thousand, went to view the castle of S. Michaell; but for feare of the great shot,They of the castle of S. Michael skirmish with the Turks. durst not come nie it. Neuerthelesse, they of the towne [...]allying out, couragiously skirmished with the Turks; in which conflict, Curfelinus surnamed Parda, accompanied but with one Spaniard, so furiously assailed the enemie, that he tooke from his one ensigne,L and slew one of the Sanzacks a great commaunder, with diuers others. When Piall was come againe into the campe, the Generall began to consult with the other captaines, whether it were better to lay siege to the castle of S. Elmo, or to the towne of S. Michaell: in conclusion it was agreed vpon, that they should with all their forces besiege the castle of S. Elmo. And going vp the hill to view the castle, they were encountred by the garrison souldiors; in which fight some few were lost on both sides. Thus by degrees, things growing hoater and hoater, the Graund master thought it good to certifie Garzias of TOLEDO, viceroy of SICILIE, how things stood, that he might the sooner rig vp his fleet to come to their rescue. Wherefore he commaunded one gallie to put out of the hauen by night, and to passe ouer into SICILIE with Saluagus one of the knights sent thither on message. In the meane time, the Turkes cast vp a M mount to haue battered the castle of S. Elmo, and beaten the gallies in the hauen MAIOR, and so to haue opened a way for their fleet to haue entred: but they were not able long to keepe that mount, for they had scarcely well ended the worke, but it was forthwith by the continuall thundring shot out of the castle, beaten downe againe, which thing greatly abated the Turkes courage. [Page] A About that time, Ochial came to the fleet with six ships, drawne out of them which were left for the defence of ALEXANDRIA,The Turks besiege the castle of S. Elmo. and in them nine hundred souldiors. The Turks beaten from their first mount, cast vp another on a higher ground, whereon they placed three great pieces of ordinance, wherewith they annoied not only the hauen wherein the fleet of MALTA [...]id, but the castle of S. Angelo also, the Great masters seat, and with a rowling trench drew neerer and neerer vnto the castle of S. Elmo: which although they had at first in v [...]ine attempted, hindred by them which were in the castle, yet at last with much labour and trauell they brought it to perfection (for the Turkes in that kind of worke, still performed by their multitude; are accounted to excell others:) wherfore in short time, they planted their great ordinance in such sort, as that they might batter both the castles of S. Elmo and S. Michaell. There was in the Turkes B campe a gentleman of SPAINE, but then a slaue vnto a Turke, who vnderstanding the enemies purpose for the besieging of the castle of S. Elmo, by a Christian fugitiue aduertised the Great master thereof: whereupon he forthwith sent Cerda and Miranda, with two companies of Spaniards into the castle, who were afterwards a great strength vnto the castle, and hinderance vnto the enemie.Dragut commeth to aid the Turks. At length came Dragut Gouernour of LEPTIS, long looked for of the Turkes, with thirteene gallies, and in them 1600 souldiors: after whom followed ten galliots from BONA, and in them two companies. In the meane time, Saluagus the worthie knight (sent before into SICILIA) came to MESSANA, and hauing certified the viceroy, of the state of MALTA; was by him commaunded to returne to MALTA in a galliot, conducted by two gallies of the Great masters; which hauing brought him neere vnto the island, returned againe into SICILIA: C but he with his galliot (not without most manifest danger) in the third watch of the night brake into the towne thorow the middest of the enemies fleet, with the losse of but one of his followers. Where hauing deliuered vnto the Great master, what he had in charge from the viceroy, he was the same night sent backe againe by the Great master into SICILIA, to certifie the viceroy, That he had need of more aid, requesting him with all speed to send him some supply, whereby he might the better hold out against the force of so great an enemie. Saluagus discouraged neither with the labour nor the danger, presently committed himselfe againe to sea, and in short time arriued in the port of SIRACVSA, where finding the two gallies we before spake of, he sent them to MALTA, as he had in charge with foure hundred souldiors, amongst whom were diuers of the knights of the Order, and certaine skilfull canoniers: willing them to shun the D West part of the island, where as they must needs come into the enemies sight, and to passe by the East end thereof, which was farther about, but safer; and turning Southward, to land in the port MILIARE, and from thence by the low places of the island to conuay the souldiors by night to the citie MELITA, which was but foure miles off; from whence they might easily passe vnto the castle of S. Michaell. This order taken, he went to MESSANA, and there declared to the viceroy the danger of the warre, with the small number of the defendants, requesting of him a thousand footmen, which with those alreadie sent, he thought would suffice to hold out the siege, vntill he with his whole fleet might come to releeue them. But whilest these things were slowly prouided, which with much difficulties and delay could hardly be brought to passe, the Christian princes as it were sleeping in so great a danger:The Turks assault the castle S. Elmo. the Turkes vpon the sudden the third E of Iune, assaulted the castle of S. Elmo, in hope with short scaling ladders to get ouer that part of the rampiers which was neerest vnto the bulwarke of the castle. But the defendands, in the ditch which before had no flanker to scoure the same, had of earth & fagots made a large strong flanker, from whence the castle also helping them, they valiantly resisted the enemie, and filled the ditches with the dead bodies of the Turks. Who for all that, trusting to their multitude (wherewith rather than with true valour they obtaine so many victories) thrust still on, vntill they had by obstinat force (although long first) gained the flanker: whereby they commanded all that part of the ditch, towards the port MARZA MOXET. In which place they with wonderfull celeritie so fortified themselues, that they could not be hurt by the defendants: wherein they were much holpen by their owne great ordinance, planted on the other side the hauen MARZA; F for with it they draue the defendants from the place, beat downe the corner of the rampier, and battered the front of the bulwarke, whose height and greatnesse troubled the enemie, but was not so commodious for the defendants, for that it was made without flankers. But night comming on, fiue thousand of the nine thousand Turkes which gaue the assault, tarried there: wherfore the Christians constrained to forsake the place, retired themselues into the castle. The [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] Turkes in the meane time couered with the darkenesse of the night, with sackes filled with tow G and earth, filled vp the ditch which was vnder the bulwarke, but neither of any great widenesse or depth:S. Elmo againe assaulted. which done, they gaue a fresh assault, wherein aboue eight hundred of them were slaine, part Ianizaries, and part Spachi, and besides them many wounded, of whom the most part remained halfe dead in the ditch, where they perished, and could not be relieued. Of the Christians was lost fiue and fortie: amongst whom were fiue knights of the order, Guardampes an Auergnois, Masius a colonell of NARBONA, Contilia a Spaniard; Somaia a Florentine, and Neinec a Germane.New supplie sem into the castle S. Elmo. The same night the Great master thinking, as reason was, that they in the castle of S. ELMO might want helpe, sent two hundred of his knights and as many other souldiors into the castle; who if they had beene moe, together with the foure hundred which were before in the castle, might happily haue driuen the Turkes both from the rampiers and the flanker,H and also kept the place longer. But for as much as the Great master wanted souldiors, and had therefore sent Saluagus into SICILIA for new supplies, as we haue before said, hee in the meane time couragiously expected their comming, refusing no labour or paine: yet bewayling sometime with himselfe the vnfortunatenesse of the Christian princes, by whose negligence so fit an occasion for the ouerthrow of the barbarous enemie was let slip: But aboue all things he maruelled exceedingly that no helpe yet came, especially those two gallies which (as we haue said) were in all hast sent by Saluagus: but they by the masters default kept not the appointed course;The Great master disappointed of a supplie by the searefulnesse of the shipmaster. for first whereas they should haue shunned the West part of the isle, and haue turned towards the East, they shaped their course Westward to the island of GAVLOS, the master vainely affirming, that he saw certaine of the Turks galliots lying before port MILIARE: which I was afterwards well knowne not to haue beene so; for the truth was, that he for [...]eare (whereby notable designes are many times frustrated) durst not goe forward. Whereby it came to passe, that the Great master was disappointed of so necessarie a supplie: which thing much greeued both the viceroy and others, but especially Saluagus. For he saw it would come to passe, that if the Turkes should take the castle of S. ELMO, the most assured bulwarke and defence of the island of MALTA, the other places must of necessitie be brought into extreame danger, all the way to relieue them being thereby shut vp. And that it might be taken, seemed not to him impossible, the enemie hauing alreadie taken one fort, and laying hard siege almost on euery side of that little pile. The due consideration of these and such like things grieued the minds of skilfull men, especially seeing such slacke preparation in a case requiring such present releefe. Yet in the K meane time souldiors were taken vp at ROME by the commaundement of Pius Quartus then Bishop, to be sent to MALTA: and by his example to stirre vp other princes to send aid vnto this sacred warre, he gaue a hundred pound of gold to Cambianus legat for the Order, and commanded gunpouder and other necessaries for that warre to be taken out of his castle S. ANGELO, that so he might seeme to be wanting in nothing that was in him to performe. Ouer these souldiors, in number six hundred, he appointed Pompeius Columna Generall, and commaunded Camillus Medices his legat to accompanie him. With these went many voluntarie men, of purpose to lay downe their liues for the eternising of their names in so religious a warre, and that with such an ardent desire, as that euery little delay seemed vnto them a yeare. Wherefore comming to NAPLES, they there found Iohn Andreas Auria with eleuen ships, the prince of POPVLONIA L with nine, Lanicius with three, and three others, set foorth by other priuat gentlemen. In these ships were embarked all those footmen which came from ROME, and so transported to MESSANA, where the kings fleet was prouiding. But whilest the Christians make slow preparation, considering the greatnesse of the danger, the Turkes not ignorant thereof, resolued to proue the vttermost before the strength of the Christians were readie or drawne together. For the castle of S. ELMO once taken, they assured themselues with more ease to carrie the rest: for that thereby they should first haue the hauen MARZA MOXET in their power, where their fleet might in safetie ride so long as they pleased: and the rising ridge betwixt the two hauens was commodious for them both to batter the towne of S. MICHAEL, and to keepe the hauen MAIOR, so that none could without their leaue passe in or out thereat. Wherefore vpon these M and other such like considerations they began againe to batter the castle of S. ELMO,S. Elmo againe assaulted. as if it had been with thunder: which furious batterie they continued for the space of foure dayes together without intermission. The night following they suddenly with great force gaue an assault, and with their scaling ladders had almost gained the top of the wall, when the Christians desirous of [Page] A nothing more than to come to handie blowes,The Turkes repulsed. draue them downe againe with such violence that neuer after they durst set ladder to the wall, vntill the very last conflict. Whilest things were thus hot at the castle of S. ELMO, Dragut his souldiors vpon a brauerie, as if they had been the only men, went to a place called MARTIA SCALA, which is betwixt the gallowes and S. Thomas roade, as if they would haue done more than the rest: Which the Christians beholding out of the towne of S. ANGELO, to represse their insolencie, sallied foorth vpon them, and so welcommed them, that they were glad after they had receiued a great losse, foorthwith to retire to the place from whence they came. Of the Christians was slaine Bonnemius a Frenchman, one of the knights, and seuen others.

The same time Monferratus was by the Great master sent into the castle of S. Elmo, to commaund B there as Gouernour in stead of Brolia: for that he with watching and paines taken in defence thereof, was fallen sicke. The same Brolia had many times before written to the Great master, that the castle was so well fortified and furnished of all things needfull, as that he thought it impossible to be woon by the enemie: and had with cheerfull speech and braue behauiour, so encouraged the kinghts and other the defendants, that they fought against their enemies with more than mens strength, and greater courage than is to be beleeued. Neither were the Turks for that discouraged, although they were with great losse still repulsed: but for certaine daies battered the castle with greater furie than before,The Turks make a bridge ouer the castle ditch. and immediatly gaue an assault; for they had made a bridge ouer the ditch, of masts and saile yards, of such a breadth, that ten men might go thereon in ranke: and had placed about the ditch foure thousand harquebusiers, and brought all their C fleet vnto S. Georges shoare,A terrible batterie. not far from the castle. And when they had by the space of eighteen daies sore shaken it, and torne the wals with thirteene thousand great shot, and were now in hope euen presently to win the castle: see, Baragamus a Biscane, one of the knights, and Medranus a Spanish captaine, with certaine other valiant men, ran to the bridge, and to the great admiration of the beholders, opposed themselues against the multitude of the miscreants. The fight hand to hand was on both sides both fierce and terrible:Medranus a valiant captaine. and now one of the Turkes had aduanced a Turkish ensigne vpon the bulwarke, which whilest Medranus laieth hand vpon, and the Turke on the other side struggleth to cleare himselfe from him, in striuing togither, they fell downe both dead, shot thorow with one bullet by one of the Turks. At which time the foure hundred which we said were but a little before sent thither by the Grand master, stood in good steed: for D seeing all brought to so great a danger, some of them (whilest other some fought with the enemie) thrust barrels of gunpouder vnder the bridge, some cast downe wild fire, stones, and whatsoeuer else came to hand vpon the enemie, and others farther off with their harquebusiers sore galled the Turks; so in short time the bridge was burnt and blowne vp, which in the fall thereof, ouerwhelmed eight hundred Turks:Eight hundred Turks slain [...]ith the fall of the bridge. the rest (as they might) retired, few whole, but most part wounded. In this conflict the Christians pluckt downe two ensignes, the one Mustaphaes, the other Draguts, which the Turkes had set vp vpon the verie battlements of the wals. On the other part toward the Southwest, a band of the Turks had got to the top of the highest rampier; which as soone as they in the castle of S. Angelo perceiued, thinking to haue beaten them off with a great shot, slew by mischance seauen of the defendants vpon the same rampier, as they E were going too and fro: but to recompence that errour, at the next shot they rent in sunder foure of the Turks captaines, with twelue other of their most forward souldiors. Whilest they were here fighting, other Turks in the meane time had cast vp a trench on that side of the castle toward S. Angelo; out of which they were quickly driuen with fire, stones, and other such like things throwne downe vpon them by the defendants.The Turks retire The Turks valiantly on euerie side repulsed, retired into the campe, when they had in this assault lost two thousand of their best souldiors, and of the Christians slaine almost a hundred, and wounded as many moe. The same day, Valeta the Grand master, perceiuing the port MARZA MOXET not to be verie straightly kept by the Turks; commaunded a light Brigandine to be carried out of the hauen, ouerland to the place called MARTIA SCALA, that from thence he might send into SICILIA: for he (as reason F was) considering in what danger the castle of S. Elmo stood, by letters certified the Viceroy and the bishop of ROME thereof, and of such things as were there done; requesting them of speedie reliefe. The coppie of the letters sent to the Viceroy, I haue here set downe: as for those which were sent to the great bishop, because they were almost of the same purport, I haue purposely omitted.

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To Garzias of Toledo, Viceroy of Sicilia, and Admirall of the fleet, greeting.

The Great masters letters to Garzias Viceroy of Sicilia.Since the time that I sent Saluagus, I haue sent vnto you two letters, which I caused to be sent by MELITA into GAVLOS; which I pray God be come to your hands. After that, when as neither messengers nor letters came vnto vs from you, I commaunded a man with instructions to hast to MESSANA, who when he had certaine nights attempted to go out, and was at last got out, he was scarcely gone two miles, but he saw the Turks with might and maine making after him; whom to escape, he was glad to run his pinnace on ground: and casting his letters into the sea, to forsake his boat, and by flight to saue himselfe. Now the Turkes hauing remoued their fleet out of the port VULTV [...]NVS ▪ H I considering how much it concerneth to certifie you of those things which are here done, commaunded a Brigandine to be carried to MARTIA SCALA; for seeing that the Turkes fleet is gone to another part of the island, I hope my letters will without let in short time come vnto you. And the things I would haue you to know, are these: The fifteenth of this moneth, all the enemies fleet (a little before night) passed by this port; the comming on of the night letted, that we could not well perceiue the weaknesse thereof; whilest the gallies almost vnarmed, were with much difficultie towed forth: want of water caused them chiefly to depart out of the port VULTVRNVS, and peraduenture feare of your fleet. For, as I haue heard, they haue intelligence, that an hundred and fiftie saile li [...] at road in the port of MESSANA; for which cause also, they haue not put themselues into the port of S. Paul, but haue placed their fleet aboue the port MARZA MOXET; yet a good part of their gallies lie at the I port S. George, so to be neerer vnto their land forces: yet is not the neerenesse such, but that if your fleet come vpon the sudden, they will with the same feare retire to their fleet, that they would if they were farther off. No man is now to be seene at VULTVRNVS, for they haue left their first campe at Saint Katherins and Saint Iohns, hauing burnt all the countrey villages, and now lie with their fleet as I haue said: and with their armie at the castle S. Elmo, which God hath as yet kept, and as I hope will: which thing is euen for this to be hoped for, which was but yesterday done; when as our most valiant souldiors (by the helpe of God) for the space of foure houres couragiously endured a most terrible assault. The Turks hauing also made a bridge Westward toward the port MARZA MOXET, we haue foure times repulsed them to their great losse; yet not without some losse also on our part, amonst whom Medranus a worthie captaine was to my great griefe slaine. With K this victorie our men are so encouraged, that I am in hope the castle may be defended vntill your comming, especially the enemies batterie not so furiously now as before maintained▪ If I were relieued with certaine companies of fresh souldiors, or at least with those our two gallies, I would neuer thinke that this castle could be taken from vs: in defence whereof, whilest we euerie houre looke for helpe, we haue spent both our men, and whatsoeuer warlike prouision we had else. We are resolued although it cost vs all our liues, to go thither, relying vpon you: who as we hope for your deuotion and noble courage, will not be vnmindfull of our health and welfare; but knowing the danger wherinto we must needs fall, if you shall deferre to aid vs, will send vs out of hand certaine bands of men, especially when they may so easily be sent: for now that the Turkes are departed from the East part of the island, our soulidiors may be landed at the BLACK ROCKS. Our liues lie in your hands, on L whom (next vnto God) resteth all our hope: wherefore we most instantly request you not to forsake vs: committing our selues, and all that ours is, to your compassion and protection. Fare you well from MALTA the 17 of Iune.

These letters receiued, and the distresse of the besieged castle perceiued, the Viceroy was (as of right he ought) greatly moued, and made semblance as if he had been desirous to haue brought foorth his whole fleet against the Turkes.Foure gallies sent to the Great master for the reliefe of Malta. But forasmuch as the supply of ships from GENVA and SPAINE was not yet come, and that without them he thought it not good to aduenture the fortune of a battell; he forthwith sent Io. Cardona with foure gallies, whereof two were of MALTA: and with Cardona joyned one Robles campe-master, with a select companie of M Spaniards; with whom went also about eightie knights of MALTA, who staied at MESSANA awaiting some fit occasion to passe ouer: Amongst whom were these chiefe men of the Order, Parisot the Great masters nephew, Vicentius Caraffa, Boninscana and Maldonatus, both Spaniards, Centius of AQVITANIA, and some others: who although letted by tempest and other occasions, [Page] A they came too late to MALTA, as shall be hereafter declared, yet serued they in great stead; and had they come in time, before the castle S. Elmo was lost, happily it might haue been still kept.

The Turks making no more account of so great a slaughter of their men, than of so many sheepe, desperatly renewed the fight, as men resolued to endure all extremities. And first they most horribly thundred day & night with their great ordinance vpon the castle: afterwards they assaulted the breaches with such a multitude and force,A most terrible assault. that if true valour and hope of immortalitie had not excluded all feare out of the hearts of the defendants, the terrour of the assault had enforced them either to haue fled or yeelded. Dreadfull was the fight, and had they not been obstinatly set downe on both sides, the one to win the castle, the other to defend it, that day had B ended the quarrell. Fiue houres endured that most terrible assault, at length the Turks repulsed by the valour of the Christians, retired: yet did they not for all that passe the night following in quiet, but with their great ordinance did so beat the defendants, that they had much adoe to keepe the Turks from scaling the wals; which, that they should not then dare to attempt, was with exceeding endeuour prouided for by the Christians: of whom in this assault was lost two hundred, and of the Turks an infinit number. And Dragut himselfe, whilest he there performed the dutie both of a Generall,Dragut slaine. and most valiant souldior, got a blow on the head with a stone, whereof he in two daies after died: his dead bodie was afterwards carried to TRIPOLIS, and there honourably buried.

The commaunders of the Turks armie, still more and more enraged with this valour of the C Christians, and the slaughter of their men, gathering all their fleet togither, commaunded them to compasse about the castle, of purpose to giue thereunto their last assault, with all their forces both by sea and land; and to send new supplies of fresh souldiors one after another, vntill they had taken the castle. And therefore, they with great industrie prepared bridges, ladders, engines, armour, weapons, shot, and whatsoeuer things else was needfull for the assault. Which Valetta perceiuing out of his castle S. Angelo, and fearing (as meet was) least they in the castle should not be able longer to endure so great a furie; called togither in counsell his knights, two daies before the Turkes gaue their last assault: and told them, That they all as well as he, saw in what danger they which defended the castle S. Elmo were; and that he doubted not, but that euerie one of them (vpon a godly zeale and compassion) was no lesse mooued with the slaughter and D danger of their fellowes and other their Christian souldiors, than with their owne: Wherefore he requested them, to declare what they thought best to be done for their safetie; yet so, as that they should not hastily determine any thing, that agreed not with the auntient valour and honor of their sacred militarie profession. Which motion once made, and their opinions in briefe deliuered, a decree was made, That forasmuch as the castle could not longer be holden, regard should be had for the safegard of them that were therein: for which purpose it was agreed, that twelue pinnaces should be sent to fetch them away. But before, three knights were chosen, who should in hast the night following go thither, and tell them what was in the counsell agreed vpon, and carefully to consider in what state the castle was: which if the defendants thought was to be abandoned, they should poison the water, & cloy the great ordidance, that it might not afterwards E stand the Turks in stead.Three knights sent to view the state of the castle S. Elmo. The three knights sent thither, was Medina a Spaniard, Rocca a Frenchman, and Constantinus Castriot an Italian; who not without danger of their liues (being oftentimes shot at by the Turks) got into the castle, and declared vnto them that were there in garrison, how carefull the Great master and the rest were of them. And they on their side, first of all gaue thankes to the Graund master and the rest, for the regard they had of them: and afterward concerning the castle, said, That if they considered the straightnesse of the place, the small number of the defendants, and multitude of the enemie, they should well perceiue in what danger they were, if the Turkes should often with such obstinacie renew the assault: yet forasmuch as they had euer hitherto felt the helpe of God so present, who had still mercifully defended them against the rage of the enemie, and wanted nothing needfull for the defence of the place; F the keeping whereof they had requested of the Grand master as an honour, although they knew right well it could not without most manifest danger of their liues be holden: yet they would for all that,The resolute an [...]swere to them in the castle to the knights. keep it to the last man. For that perhaps the like honourable occasion for them to shew thēselues in, should neuer again be offred: wherfore they had (as they said) resolued in that place, to spend their liues for the glorie of God and the Christian religion. The course of this life (they [Page] said) was but short, but that honour and fame was for euer: and whereas death is to all men prefined,G it were to be wished, that the life which is to nature due, should rather seeme to be by vs franckly giuen to God and our countrey, than reserued as natures debt: Which if it should so happen, they would so vse the matter, as that the barbarous enemie should haue neither pleasure nor joy, which should not cost him much bloud euen of his best souldiors. This they willed the knights to tell the Great master, and to request him not to bee too carefull of them, but to promise vnto himselfe those things of them which best beseemed resolute men, especially of them who had vowed themselues to that sacred warre. This answere of greater resolution than fortune, receiued; the three knights, when they had diligently viewed the castle, returned to the Grand master▪ who calling to counsell his knights, and hauing heard the answere of the besieged, would needs heare also what opinion the three knights themselues were of concerning the H keeping of the castle: of whom Castriot was of opinion, That the place was still to be defended, and that if he were there to commaund,The three knights of diuers opinions concerning the keeping of the castle S. Elmo. he would vndertake to performe it; and there rather to lose his life than to forsake it, after he had once taken vpon him the charge thereof. But Roces the French knight was farre of another mind, and said plainely, that the place could not possibly be holden against so strong an enemie; and that if Iulius Caesar himselfe were aliue, and saw to what straight the place was brought (especially all the rampiers being either beaten downe or [...]ore shaken, & such a power of obstinat enemies lying round about it) he would neuer suffer so many valiant souldiors to be lost, but quit the place, and reserue his men to further seruice: for why it was the part of valiant men to performe so much as was of men to be performed; but to striue to do more, was no manhood at all: Wherefore he thought it best to doe that which men vse with I members mortified, whose recouerie is desperat; in which case we doubt not to make a seperation, so to saue the rest of the bodie with life. The Spanish knight in most part agreeing with Castriot, said, That he thought it not good, that the place should so easily be forsaken; first, for that the ditches and bulwarkes were yet defencible; and then, because he saw so great a consent amongst the defendants, and such a cheerefulnesse to withstand the enemie, which thing (as hee said) presaged victorie.

These opinions of the knights thorowly in counsell debated, and euery particular well wayed, it seemed good to the greater part, that they which were in the castle should for certain daies yet hold it out; especially because it was not the manner of the knights of the Order easily to abandon their strong holds, but rather to keepe them to the last, that euen therein the barbarous K enemie might perceiue with whom he had to doe, and so see his pride abated. For if they should haue forsaken the place, they might haue beene thought to haue done it for feare: whereby the enemies insolencie might haue beene encreased, and the honourable Order of those sacred knights disgraced.

But the Turkes intentiue to that they had before determined, the three and twentith day of Iune assembling all their forces both by sea and land round about the castle, in the dead time of the night on euery side set vp scaling ladders, made bridges, wrought mines, and with two and thirtie great pieces of artillerie battered the rest of the wals yet standing, and presently gaue a most terrible assault.The Turks [...]uriously assault the citie. The defendants on the other side beat downe some, repulsed others, slew many, euer more carefull how to wound the enemie, than to saue themselues: and where he L pressed fastest on, there to shew their greatest valour. Great were the outcries made on both sides, mixt with exhortation, mirth, and mourning; the face of the whole fight was diuers, vncertaine, cruell, and dreadfull: and now it was the third houre of the day, when still the victorie stood doubtfull; and had not the furie of the great ordinance beene so terrible, that it had now beaten downe all the wals vnto the very rocke whereon the castle stood, the defendants might for some longer time haue endured the enemies force. But the very rocke bared both of wals and defendants, and more than foure hundred slaine, a man could scarcely now shew himselfe, but hee was presently strucke in pieces. Monserratus Gouernour of the castle, and Garas of EV [...]oeA, men of equall valour, integritie, and honour, were both slaine with one shot; for a short and transitorie life made partakers of immortalitie together. Yet the rest which stood in defence of the castle,M nothing terrified with so great a losse and slaughter of their fellowes, but augmented rather as it were with new courage from aboue, fought with greater force than before, ouerthrew the Turks ensignes now set vp in the castle, slew the ensigne-bearers, captaines, and colonels; now respecting nothing more, but honourably to lay downe their liues for their religion and the obtaining [Page] A of immortall fame. By this time the Sunne was mounted to the middle of heauen, great was the heat, and men exceeding wearie; the murdering shot neuer ceased, and such was the multitude of the enemie, that he still sent in fresh men in stead of them that were wearied or wounded. On the other side, the small number of the Christians, and those weakened with labor, watching,The castle of S. Elmo taken by the Turks. thirst, and wounds, did what men might; yet at length were ouercome by a greater force, and so the castle by the Turks woon, but with such slaughter of their men, that it was a wonder that so many should be slaine of so few. The defendants were all slaine, euery man, in valiant fight.

Here may I not in silence passe ouer the inhumane and more than barbarous crueltie of the Turks against the dead bodies of the slaine knights,Barbarous crueltie exercised by the Turkes vpon the dead bodies of the knights. that thereby may appeare, that crueltie neuer B wanteth whereon to shew it selfe mercilesse, yea euen after death. The Turks after they had taken the castle, finding certaine of the knights yet breathing, and but halfe dead, first cut their hearts out of their breasts, and then their heads from their bodies; after that they hanged them vp by the heeles in their red cloakes with white crosses (which manner of attire they after an auntient custome vse in time of war, as they doe blacke in time of peace) in the sight of the castles S. ANGELO and S. MICHAELL. And yet Mustapha the Turks Generall not so contented, commaunded them afterwards to be fast bound together, and so cast into the sea, whose dead bodies were in few dayes after by the surge of the sea cast vp in the hauen MAIOR, and knowne by their friends, were by the commandement of the sorrowfull Great master honourably buried. With which the enemies most barbarous crueltie he was so mooued, that he commaunded that no C Turke should from that time be taken prisoner, but to be presently slaine. And thereupon all that were before taken, were foorthwith put to the sword, and their heads cast ouer the wals on that side towards the enemie. From the beginning of the siege to the taking of the castle, of the Christians were slaine a thousand three hundred, amongst whom were a hundred and thirtie of the sacred knights of the Order, all worthie to be registred in the booke of euerlasting fame.

The castle S. ELMO thus lost,Valetta encourageth his souldiors after the losse of the castle S. Elmo. Valetta although his mind (as he had good cause) was inwardly attainted with exceeding greefe, yet made semblant otherwise, because he would not daunt the minds of his souldiors: telling them, that nothing was happened vnprouided for or vnforeseene. This was (as he said) the will of God, and the chance of warre, that sometimes one sometimes another should be ouercome: and that cowardise, not such valour as was in them that were gone, gaue occasion D to their liuing friends to lament: yet that the enemie was not for that to be feared, who had also receiued such a losse, as he might thereby rather seeme conquered than a victorious conqueror: wheras the losse of his knights was recompenced with honour and immortalitie, things of themselues sufficient to enflame all noble minds to behaue themselues valiantly. As for himselfe (he said) that trusting not in his owne strength, but in the helpe of Almightie God, he had not yet cast off the hope of victorie ouer the reliques of the discomfited enemie; and that he well hoped, they were all of the same mind, wherein he most earnestly requested them to persist vnto the end. When he had thus said, he being a man armed against all fortunes, withdrew himselfe a little aside: where casting many things in his troubled mind, he determined to send letters to Petrus Mesquita, Gouernour of the citie of MELITA, to certifie him and the knights of the Order that were at MESSANA, and E the Viceroy, of the lost of S. Elmo: the copie whereof, because that in them euidently appeareth the Christian mind of him the Great master, I haue thoght good here to set down as followeth: ‘Whilest these knights are setting forward,Valetta his letters to the Gouernour of M [...] lita. in the meane time chanced the miserable misfortune of the castle S. Elmo: which although it brought vnto vs that greefe you may easily imagine, wee for all that, as if it had happened by some secret appointment of God, haue taken it in that part, that he as a most mercifull father purposeth thereby to warne vs, but not vtterly to destroy vs. Neither doe I thinke it lawfull to doubt of his mercie and power. Yet for all that, I may neuerthelesse complain, that we are of them forsaken of whom it least beseemed. So that in the space of seuen and thirtie dayes, wherein our most valiant souldiors endured all the force of the enemie (which truly was done rather F by the power of God than of man) we were holpen of our own (which owe so much vnto vs) not so much as with the least helpe, which they might oftentimes haue sent vs. But I list to ascribe it whatsoeuer it is, to God, of whom alone as we haue hitherto receiued so many good things, so rest we in hope hereafter to receiue also. For, for any thing that I can see, we must not now trust to mans helpe: for as much as we could by no letters, no diligence, no prayers, no admonitions, and to bee breefe, by no commaunds [Page] moue them, who of all others ought most to haue obeyed it. The shortnesse of the time suffereth vs not G to write to the Viceroy of these things, it shall be your part to certifie both him and other our friends thereof: who if they had obeyed our commaund, or aided vs with neuer so small a supplie of soldiors, happily we had not lost the castle S. Elmo: in defence whereof we haue spent the best part of our souldiors. Wherefore except the Viceroy make hast to deliuer vs from this siege, I feare that he cannot in time come: but especially if we be here besieged before the comming of those our small helpes which we as in a dreame haue promised vnto our selues, and which we now scarce hope will be in time present. For all that, we doe not distrust of God his loue and prouidence: by whose diuine inspiration the rare courage of the Viceroy being in short time stirred vp, will hasten hither to relieue vs. For all our welfare consisteth in celeritie. Our enemies hauing drawne all their fleet into the hauen MA [...]A MOXET are busied in cleansing the castle, and repairing the breaches, that they may afterward the better H vse them against vs. Wherefore vpon the sight of these our letters send vnto vs the captaines Catherine, Belcacar, Belmest, and Zoricius, with their companies, that we may vse their faithfull and valiant seruice. God of his mercie send vs aid from some place, and keepe you. Fare you well from our castle S. Angelo, the 24 of Iune, 1565.’

Mesquita hauing receiued these letters, commaunded a galliot foorthwith to be launched, and therein embarked Masius Codonellus, one of the knights; to whom he deliuered both the letters of the Grand master to him, and others of his owne, almost of the same purport, directed to the knights of the Order which lay at MESSANA, requesting him with all speed possible to passe ouer with them into SICILIA.I

Mustapha Bassa sendeth messengers to the Great master.In the meane time Mustapha the Turkes Generall sent a messenger to Valetta, and with him an old Spanish captiue, with promise of libertie if he would goe with his messenger to the towne to talke with Valetta concerning the yeelding vp thereof, and to trie if he would by any meanes come to agreement: who comming to the towne, the Turke still waiting at the gate, the Christian was let in and brought to the Great master, to whom he declared what he had in charge from the Bassa. But as soone as Valetta heard of the name of composition and yeelding, he was so filled with indignation,The answere of the Great master to the Turkes messengers. that had he not been a Christian, he would presently haue commaunded him to haue been hanged. Wherefore he gaue him choice either to tarrie still in the towne, if he thought so good, or els forthwith to returne and tell his companion, that if he got him not packing quickly, he would send him farther off with a great shot. With this short answere the K Turke suddenly returned into the campe. Whereupon Mustapha fell into such a rage, that he openly protested, neuer from that time to forbeare any kind of crueltie against the Christians. There was then with Mustapha one Philip of the most noble Graecian familie of Lascaris, Philip Lascaris flieth from the Turks to the castle S. Michaell. who of a boy taken prisoner by the Christians in PATRAS, a citie of ACHAIA, and by them honestly and courteously vsed, was therefore euer after well affected toward the Christians: He priuie to many of Mustaphaes designes, by a certaine diuine motion thought he should not a little profit the Christians by reuolting vnto them: wherefore he resolued to flie vnto the castle of S. Michaell. Which thing when he had oftentimes attempted, at length the first of Iuly he cast himselfe into the sea (for by land he could no way escape) and swum to the castle, not without danger of his life: for discouered by the Turks, he was many times shot at both with their arrowes and L small shot. He, brought to the Great master, reuealed vnto him many of the enemies secrets, and also aduised him what was to be done at the point of S. Michaels, to frustrate the enemies purpose for the assailing of that place; with many other things, which were vnto the defendants no small helpe: and afterwards as often as need was, during the siege, fought valiantly against the Turkes.

Whilest these things were in doing, Codonellus sent as we haue before said into SICILIA, came in safetie to MESSANA, where he found the Christian fleet not yet readie to relieue the distressed Maltaeses; for the Spanish ships were not yet come, and Iohn Andreas Auria with eight and twentie ships was readie to returne to take in foure thousand footmen, taken vp in ETRV [...]IA by Capinus Vitellius. Which backwardnesse the knights of the Order considering, and what M danger was in delay, after they had well debated the matter amongst themselues, they resolued by the power of God by all meanes possible to helpe their brethren. And for this expedition chose two most fit Generals of their owne fellowes, the Commendors of MESSANA and BAROLI, who forthwith went to Garzias the Viceroy, declaring vnto him what things the sacred [Page] A knights of their Order had done,The knights of Malta craue aid of the Viceroy. not for the king of SPAINE onely, but for the Christian commonweale, and also what great charge they had beene at the yeare before in the Pinionian expedition, wherein they had neither spared ships, victuall, nor munition, neither their owne liues, to profit the king and the Christian commonweale. Besides this, they besought him well to consider, that the losse of MALTA concerned not the sacred knights only, but all ITALIE, and especially SICILIA, for the neerenesse of so troublesome and puissant an enemie. For these and other like reasons, which the shortnesse of the time suffred them not to rehearse, they requested of him foure thousand footmen, with whom all the knights of the Order which were there, and many other noble and voluntarie men would make all possible speed to relieue the besieged, which they had before in vaine attemped with which strength they were in good hope, if not to repulse B the enemie, or to recouer that was alreadie lost, yet at least to stop and stay his farther proceeding, vntill such time as he hauing rigged vp and brought foorth all his fleet, might set vpon the Turks, and (as was to be hoped) vanquish & disperse them. But whilest the Viceroy hauing heard their request, considereth what answere to make, a messenger came vnto him from SPAINE, but with what commaund from the king (although men ghessed diuersly) could not be knowne. But vpon his comming, the Viceroy gaue the knights this cold answere, That he could not graunt what they requested, for that in so doing he should disfurnish his fleet, and not be able afterwards to relieue them as he desired:The cold answere of the Viceroy to the knights. but if it pleased them to transport the knights with part of the bishops souldiors into the island, they might so doe with their owne two gallies they had alreadie, whereunto he would also joyne another of his owne. The knights when they could obtaine C no more, accepted of that which was offered.

Whilest these gallies are setting forward, those foure gallies (wherof we haue before spoken) wherein were embarked fourescore knights and six hundred other souldiors, hauing at sea suffered many troubles by the space of twentie daies, could not as yet arriue at MALTA: and because the Viceroy had commaunded, That they should not land, except they first knew whether the castle S. ELMO were still holden by the Christians, they sent out a frigot to land, promising that day and the next to tarrie in the sea for her returne. In the meane time a great tempest suddenly arising, it so fell out, that the frigot could not at the appointed time returne; wherefore the gallies which expected her comming, fearing least she had beene either by tempest lost, or by the enemie intercepted, retired to POZALO, a port vpon the coast of SICILIA neerest to MALTA, D there to expect some good newes: where as soone as they had put in, they vnderstood that S. ELMO was yet defended: whereupon they put to sea againe, with purpose to haue arriued at MALTA. But when they were within two leagues of the place where they thought to haue landed, they saw a fire there, which caused them to mistrust that the place was possessed of the enemie, and that he lay thereabout to intercept them: wherefore they returned again to POZALO; where now vnderstanding of the French knight, come from MALTA, that that fire was made by his commaundement, as a signe, that they might without feare haue come forward; they with all speed made againe for the same place, and at the length the nine and twentieth day of Iune about midnight landed at the Blacke Rockes on the South side of the island toward AFFRICKE, and vnseene of any, got in hast to the citie MELITA, where they were joyfully receiued, and there E stayed to expect what the Great master should commaund. In the meane time it fortuned, a great foggie mist (which seldome times there chanceth) to arise so thicke, that a man could hardly see for it: at which time a boy of about twelue yeares old looking by chance out of a window in the castle of MELITA, suddenly as one afraid, cried out, That he saw a Turke going from the citie to the castle of S. MICHAEL. Which thing some of the knights hearing, ran presently out that way,A traitor taken and executed a [...] Melita. and found a Greeke of the citie of MELITA, who brought backe and examined (for that without the Gouernours passe it was not lawfull for any man to go out of the citie) confessed, That his purpose was to haue aduertised the Turks of the comming of those souldiors, that so they might haue intercepted them as they should haue come from MELITA to the Grand master: for which treason he was as he had well deserued cut in foure peeces. Three dayes after, F this new supplie come from SICILIA,The souldiors new come out of Sicilia, come to the Great master. in the first watch of the night came all in safetie from MELITA to the Great master, except two or three boyes, who charged with armour and other baggage, were not able to keepe way with the rest. It is not to be told how much the besieged rejoyced at the comming of these their friends, and especially Valetta, who seeing the floure of his knights and other souldiors, as it were by diuine prouidence come vnto him; [Page] with teares trickling downe his cheekes, and his eies cast vp to heauen, said:G ‘The praier of Valetta.I thanke thee (O heauenly Father) which hearest my prayers, and forsakest not this thy little flocke, beset round with most rauening Wolues: These are the works of thine euerlasting goodnesse, mercie and prouidence.’

These new come souldiors, requested of the Great master as a reward of their paines, that they might be put in garrison into the towne S. Michaell, a place now most laid vnto by the Turks: which thing (he commending their forwardnesse) easily granted: yet for all that remoued not the old garrison. These fresh and couragious souldiors, desirous of nothing more than to fight with the enemie, the next day sallied out, and hauing slaine two hundred of the Turkes, and wounded as many more, without losse of a man returned, euerie mans sword imbrued with the bloud of his enemy. Which thing Mustapha the Turkes Generall hearing, knew it was H they which lately came into the towne; and therupon fell in rage with his captaines, as that they had by their negligence entred. But the suspition grew most vpon them which were appointed for the keeping of the vttermost part of the island: which was the more increased, for that three galliots of ALGIERS had withdrawne themselues away; so that he neither trusted them nor the renegate Christians, who as occasion serued, fled daily from him. For which cause, he gaue out proclamation, That none of them should lie by night out of the gallies, & that such as did otherwise, should therefore be burnt or impaled vpon stakes: and so changing his warders, appointed Salec with his galliots, whom he thought to be more faithfull for the keeping of the island. And that neither they nor the Christians should be able to attempt any thing, he chained togither diuers gallies in the entrance of the hauen MARZA MOXET, and caused the rest of the fleet to ride I neerer togither than before. But because exceeding many were at that time sicke in the Turkes campe, of the flix and other diseases, three places were assigned for them; one for the wounded men neere vnto AQVA MARTIA, guarded with two thousand Turks; another in the poupes of their ships and gallies for the Turks voluntaries; and the third amongst the banks, where the enforced Christians were cured.Ochiall Bassa made Gouernour of Tripolis. At the same time, Mustapha appointed Ochiall Bassa Gouernor of TRIPOLIS, instead of Dragut before slaine: who going thither with fiue gallies, and hauing set all things in order there, returned againe vnto the campe. With him the Bassa had sent two ships loaded with corne to TRIPOLIS, there to make bread, whereof they began to feele some want in the campe. He also sent Zaloch, one of his Colonels to Solyman, to certifie him of the winning of the castle S. Elmo, and to deliuer vnto him the description of the isle of MALTA, as K they found it at their arriuall: and farther, to declace vnto him, That he found the Malteses stronger, and better prouided, than was at his setting forth supposed: Wherefore if it were his pleasure longer to continue the siege, he should send a new supplie of men, victuall, and other warlike prouision: which if he did, he would then be in hope to take the other strong places of the island also, though not so soone as was at the first supposed: and that in the meane time, whilest he expected answere,A terrible batterie. he would not faile to doe what he possibly might. And because he would not seeme to haue written an vntruth, he began his batterie in fourteene places, with seauentie great pieces of artillerie, amongst which was three most huge basilisks: for from the Gallowes promontorie to AQVA MARTIA, and from thence to the castle S. Elmo, wherin he had placed three hundred Ianizaries, the Turkes had enclosed all that compasse with sundrie bulwarks,L trenches, and mounts, from whence they with their thundring shot, day and night incessantly battered the townes and castles of S. Michaell and S. Angelo, ouerthrew the wals, beat downe the bulwarks, and brake downe the houses in such terrible manner, that scarce any could be safe therein: which of all others most troubled the fearfull women and children. But the Turks in their trenches rested in farre more safetie: yet so, that they durst not stray farre out of the campe, but trusting vpon their multitude; and not that many times without their losse, being cut off by the horsemen of the garrison of MELITA, who were euer readie at their heeles.

When the losse of the castle S. Elmo was knowne at ROME, the citie was filled with mourning and heauinesse; some were sorie for the dishonour, othersome feared least the calamities of the Malteses should redound vnto themselues. There was also amongst others, a certaine enuious M and foule mouthed kind of men, altogither ignorant and vnacquainted with martiall affaires, who shamed not to lay the blame of the losse of S. Elmo vpon the Grand master: whom both his owne valour, with the worthie testimonie of so many famous and valiant men as were there present with him; as also this historie, gathered out of the true light of things then done, [Page] A shall both for the time present, and for all posteritie sufficiently acquite of so false a slander. But he will easily blemish another mans name, that spareth not his owne: neither can ignorance rightly iudge of the counsels of the skilfull, or cowardise of valiant deeds.

But to returne againe to our purpose:Three gallies depart from Messana with aid towards Malta. we said before, that three gallies were made readie at MESSANA; in setting forth whereof, they which had the charge vsed such diligence, that the seauenth of Iuly, they departed out of harbour. In them (besides the knights of the order) was embarked six hundred Spaniards, and three hundred of the great bishops souldiors, conducted by Pompeius Columna; the mariners were part hired, part slaues, to whom libertie was promised if they would lustily doe their endeuour to get into the hauen, and to be accounted of as the rest of the souldiors were. And because they would relieue the besieged, not with men onely, but B with victuall also, they put into the same gallies fiue hundred bushels of wheat, beside gunpowder, [...]altpeter, and lead for shot. And although it was thought a most hard matter, by the hauen it selfe to enter the island, the Turks possessing both it and all the places thereabouts; neuerlesse, there was in the knights such an earnest desire to relieue their brethren, that they promised both to themselues and others, all things easie and safe: but when they began to approach the island,The gallies vpon a signe giuen returne backe. they sent a scout before to vnderstand by signes from the castle S. Angelo, whether they were to proceed forward or not: who comming so farre that they might discouer the signe, perceiued thereby that they should retire. Which thing the Turks perceiuing also, presently with the smoake of their great ordinance and other things, they so obscured the ayre as with a thicke cloud, in such sort, as that those signes were no more to be discerned; but all in vaine, for why, C our men had alreadie descried them: so those three gallies returned again into SICILIA. For Valetta that good prince, thoght it not meet to bring so many of the sacred knights, so many noble gentlemen and valiant souldiors, into a most manifest danger: for he saw certaine of the Turkes gallies to lie by night in the mouth of the hauen MARZA MOXET, at a place called the Little sands, to impeach the going in or out of the hauen MAIOR. About the same time, they which lay in garrison in the citie of MELITA, hearing of the notable sally made by the souldiors lately come; and taking heart thereupon, at such time as the Turkes were fetching in a certaine bootie of cattell, the horsemen pursued them; and hauing slaine diuers of them, recouered the prey: and yet not so contented, chased them euen to their campe. But the other Turks seeing their fellowes flying in such hast towards them, raised an alarum, ran to the Generals tent, and for that D time ceased their batterie.

The Great master probably conjecturing, that the Turkes would in short time assault both the towne and castle of S. Michaell, thought good by his presence to encourage and strengthen the garrison; and therefore was about to haue gone thither by a bridge made of boats from the one point of the land to the other, betweene S. Michaels and S. Angelo: but quickly vnderstanding the certaintie thereof, returned againe into his castle. Some there be that thinke, For him to haue so done, had been a venturous part and full of danger, and therefore to haue been discommended; for that great things are performed, not so much by strength of bodie as of mind, by pollitike counsell and direction, wherewith a Generall (although absent) may yet with his forces be alwaies present: but the Generall once lost (which may easily happen, if he will present E his person to the danger) we see most commonly all fall togither with him, no otherwise than doth all parts of the bodie when the soule departeth: But othersome are of contrarie opinion, That the Generals presence, especially in great dangers, is both praise worthie and most necessarie; for that he as the soule, cannot prouide for or rule the bodie, except it be present, yea placed therein: and that Valetta in so doing, followed the examples of the greatest kings and most famous Generals; as of Alezander the great, Iulius Caesar, Themistocles, Marius and others: whose words vnto their souldiors were these, I my selfe will be your conducter in the field, in the battell partaker of the danger with you, you shall be in all things as my selfe. Besides that, who knoweth not, that as in other things, so most of all in martiall affaires, all things are better, more orderly and more easily done when the master is present? neither was the learned Poet his meaning any F thing else, when in the warres betwixt the Latines and the Rutilians, he saith, Vrget praesentia Turn [...]? whereupon they concluded, that the Great master in going, had done both valiantly, wisely, and according to his dutie. But this we leaue for martiall men to determine.

At the same time the king of ALGIERS came to aid the Turkes with seauen gallies and ten galliots,The king of Algiers commeth [...] aid the Turks. and in them 2200 souldiors: who sorie that he was not there at the beginning, and desirous [Page] to doe some notable act, and withall to make proofe of the valour of his souldiours, requested G the great Bassa to bestow vpon him the first place in the besieging the castle S. Michael: which he not onely graunted, but joyned vnto his forces two thousand of his owne best souldiors. These things obtained, he commaunded ninetie small vessels by deuices to be carried ouer land out of the port MARZA MOXET to AQVA MARSIA, for that he purposed on that side to besiege the castle by water. But Valetta perceiuing the enemies purpose, both by seeing that was done, and also aduertised thereof before by a Christian fugitiue; presently called vnto him two faithfull and skilfull shipmasters of MALTA, and imparting the matter vnto them, demaunded what they thought best to be done to keepe the Turks from landing, as it seemed they purposed at the wals foot. They quickly conceiuing the matter, answered, That in their opinion, if a chaine were made of masts and saile-yards or sparres joyned together with yron rings, and so H drawne all alongst from the corner of the castle of S. Angelo to that place where the enemie thought to land, their purpose might be so defeated. This their deuice so pleased the Great master, that the night following such a chaine was made, and fast mored in the appointed place. The Turkes as soone as it was day perceiuing this barre, stood as men doubtfull, not knowing how by any meanes to land their men, as they had before purposed. Whilest they stood so abashed, a Christian fugitiue,A desperat fugitiue. a most desperat villaine (in which kind of men foolish hardinesse is accounted a vertue, and desperation constancie) came to the king, and promised him to breake the chaine, and so with a hatcher in his hand cast himselfe into the sea, after whom followed two or three moe to helpe him: who swimming to the chaine, got vp vpon it, and began to hew apace with their hatchets. Which the Christians beholding, suddenly fiue or six of the Maltases swam I thither with their drawne swords in their hands; & hauing slaine two of them, caused the other to flie: after which time none of the Turks was so hardie as to attempt the same. The barbarous king for all that gaue not ouer his purpose so, but with wonderfull diligence prepared for the siege,The king of Algiers notably repulsed both by sea and land. which the fifteenth day of Iuly began both by sea and land. But the defendants turning their great ordinance vpon that place from whence the galliots came, with the furie thereof (in the space of three houres, which the assault endured) slew two thousand Turks and sunke twelue of the galliots: the rest comming as farre as the chaine, when they could get no farther nor land their men, turned their prows vpon the corner of the castle, but were glad at last to retire and leaue that they came for vndone. The assault by land also endured fiue houres, wherein many of the Turkes were slaine, and of the defendants two hundred: amongst whom was Federicus the K Viceroy of SICILIA his sonne, strucke in sunder with a great shot, Gordius a Frenchman, Franciscus Sanoghera, and his nephew Iohn, Spaniards; all knights of the Order. Medina was also wounded, whereof he afterward died. But Valetta considering into what danger the state of MALTA was like to fall, if he should be constrained to fight many such fights, where his souldiors wearied day and night without rest, were still to encounter with fresh men, & heard nothing of any aid or new supplie: the seuenteenth day of Iuly he sent a messenger into SICILIA, who swam from the castle to the farthest part of the bay to AQVA MARSIA,A hard shift to carrie newes. and from thence escaped vnknowne thorow the middest of the enemies vnto the citie of MELITA, and so in a little frigot came to MESSANA; by him the Great master sent letters to the Viceroy, requesting him to send him his owne two gallies, with those knights which were at MESSANA, and such other L souldiors as might in them be transported: willing them, that as soon as they came to the island, they should houer off aloofe before the hauen, readie vpon a signe giuen to thrust in. The same time that this messenger arriued at MESSANA, came thither also the fleet from SPAINE, wherein were many of the knights of the Order from diuers nations. The Viceroy desirous to send those two gallies to Valetta, sent letters before vnto him in secret caracters by two frigots wherein he certified him that he would send the gallies, requiring to haue from him some signe, wherby they might at their comming know whether they should enter or retire: which frigots taking diuers courses, one of them laded with medicines, as was afterwards knowne, was intercepted by the enemie: the other although she came in safetie to MELITA, yet for as much as all the passages betwixt the castle of S. Michaell and the citie of MELITA were certaine dayes before by M the diligence of the enemie shut vp, and three which had vsed to passe too and fro, intercepted and most cruelly executed, and besides that the hauen straightly kept; the knights of MESSANA could haue no further direction from the Great master for the safe sending of the two gallies: yet neuerthelesse, because he had requested them, and they themselues were of the same opinion (as [Page] A he had before written) that where all is in question, the aduenture of a little part is lesse to be feared; they thought it good to aduenture them: yet with this regard, not to expose all those knights to so great a danger, but of them all to send onely fortie, with a conuenient number of other souldiors, and with them Salazar a Spanish captaine was sent by the Viceroy to be landed in the island of GAVLOS, who should afterwards from thence in a boat (for that purpose towed along by the gallies) passe ouer into the island of MALTA as a spie, to take view both of the citie and enemies campe.

In the meane time the Turks mindfull of the losse receiued in the assault of the castle S. Michael, and desirous of reuenge, did so violently batter the castle with their great ordinance, that what the defendants repaired by night, that they still beat downe againe by day: and in time of B the batterie made a bridge, which the twentith day of Iuly before the Sunne rising they laid ouer the ditch,A bridge made ouer the castle ditch by the Turks. that they might as if it had been vpon euen ground come to fight hand to hand with the Christians. Which seene and quickly perceiued what danger it might bring, by and by Parisot the Great masters nephew, and Agleria, both knights, with certaine mercinarie souldiors sallied out to haue burnt the bridge, but were so receiued of the Turks, that they were almost all slaine together with Parisot and Agleria, and yet the exploit vnperformed. The Turks without ceasing continued their furious batterie vntill the eight and twentie of Iuly, which day in the afternoone they in diuers places assaulted the castle, thrice they with fresh and new supplies relieued their repulsed and wearied souldiours, and so fiercely maintained the assault, that they made no doubt but that day to win the castle. But the defendants with no lesse resolution withstood C them,The Turks repulsed. repulsing them with their weapons, with shot, fire, and force, and at length enforced them with no small losse of their men to retire from their wals. This victorie so encouraged the besieged, that now they made small reckoning of the enemie: but for as much as our men alwayes spared their great ordinance but in time of fight, and sallied not out as they were wont, the Turks thought that the garrison was but weake, and that shot and pouder grew scarce in the castle. Yet deceiued in both, for that it was rather of purpose than for want so commaunded by the Great master: who hearing nothing of the comming of any aid, and seeing the enemie to giue dayly more fierce assaults, would not vainely spend his most necessarie helpes. The Turkes perceiuing what little good they had done with their often assaults, determined now to prooue what might be done by vndermining the castle; and had almost brought one of their mines to perfection, before D it was by the Christians discouered: and to the intent they should the lesse marke it, they caused two gallies to come as neere as they could to the wals, and to batter that place, in hope that whilest our men gazed vpon that was done openly, they should the lesse regard what they were working in secret,A mine of the Turks defeated. that so they might in the meane time more easily get into the castle. But the besieged carefull of all that was to be cared for perceiuing their purpose, with a countermine defeated their mine, and by the couragiousnesse of certaine of their soldiors, but especially of one auntient, draue out the enemie, who hauing cast certaine pots of wild fire before him into the mine, and following presently after with a peece of fireworke in his hand, forced them out. For which good seruice he was by the Great master rewarded with a chaine of gold of fiue pound weight: and because of vertue springeth vertue, which still resteth vpon difficulties, the next day, E which was the first of August, the bridge which we said the enemie had made ouer the ditch, was by a sallie made by the defendants burnt downe with fire and gunpouder cast vpon it:The bridge made by the Turke [...] burnt. which was in good time done, for the next day, the Sunne now declining, the Turkes againe assayling that part of the castle where Carolus Rufus had the charge, were by our men valiantly repulsed. This assault endured three houres, in which time three hundred of the Turks were there slaine▪ and of the knights Rufus himselfe and Baresus with certaine mercinarie souldiors. At this time the Christians were by the enemie so shut in with the multitude of great ordinance, that they could not so much as looke into the ditch or shew themselues, much lesse sallie out, but they were by and by set off. Yet did they not for all that make spare of their liues, when occasion was giuen them to performe any notable exploit: as appeared by Calderonius a Spaniard, who seeing some F viewing that part of the wall, which the enemie had most battered and shaken at the castle bulwarke, doubted not to sallie out, but was presently taken with a bullet and slaine, which mischance when it might seeme of right to haue terrified the rest from attempting the like, did indeed the more incense them; so that when they saw the enemie exceeding busie in filling the ditch, they resolutely set downe to offer themselues to most assured death rather than to fall into [Page] the hands of the mercilesse enemie, agreed to sallie out by night, and to meet with his designes.G Whereupon an hundred, part knights, part other souldiors, sallying forth, caused the enemie to forsake the ditch and betake himselfe to flight, of whom they slew about fourescore, and lost of their owne ten men: amongst whom were Ioannes and Macrinus, two knights, whose heads the Turks the next day set vp vpon two speares vpon their trenches, that they might be seene by the Christians.

The same day they of the citie of MELITA at night made at one instant a number of fires; and as if it were in triumph discharged great vollies of small shot, with many other tokens of joy: which as well the besieged as the Turks thought verely to haue beene done vpon the discouerie of the Christian fleet, or els the landing of such forces as were come to remoue the siege; whereas indeed it was neither, but done onely to shew their cheerefulnesse, and to keepe the Turkes in H suspence with the noueltie of the matter: who for all that were not slacke in their businesse, but with earth filled vp the ditch at the castle bulwarke: whereby it came to passe, that they could not be hurt by the flankers, made in that place to scoure the ditch, but might thereby as vpon plaine ground, without stay passe vnto the wall, now opened and ouerthrowne with their continuall batterie, and with two great pieces (which they had planted vpon a high mount, which they had newly cast vp on the right hand the bulwarke SAVIORE) they begun to play vpon the castle, and at the first shot, shot into the loupe where Franciscus Castilia commaunded. Ioannes Bernardus Godinetius, a Spanish knight, was there slaine with a small shot. The same day Franciscus Aquilates, Aquilates a Spaniard flieth to the Turks. a Spaniard, one of the garrison souldiors, persuaded by feare and hope (in dangers two euill counsellors) fled out of the towne S. Michael to the enemie; persuading the Turks colonels I to giue a fresh assault, assuring them that they should without doubt win the towne, because there was but foure hundred souldiors left aliue in it, and they (as he said) almost spent with labour and wounds, all the rest being dead. Which the Turkes hearing, and seeing faire breaches both in the wals of the new citie and of the castle S. Michael, wide ynough for carts to goe thorow, they determined with all their forces to assault both places at once, and to prooue if there were yet so much strength left in those holds, as againe to repulse them: so the seuenth day of August at one instant they assaulted the new citie at the castle bulwarke,The Turkes at one time assault the new citie and the castle S. Michaell. and the castle S. Michael at the breach, with such a multitude, that all the earth seemed to be couered with men round about. The thundering of the great ordinance, the noise of the small shot, with the clattering of armour, and noise of trumpets, drums, and other warlike instruments, with the crie of men on K both sides, was so confused and great, as if heauen and earth should haue beene confounded together. Which when the knights in the citie MELITA heard, and saw the heauens obscured with smoake, fearing that the Turks (as at the castle S. Elmo) would neuer giue ouer the assault, vntill they had woon both the towne and the castle; presently all the garrison horsemen issued out of the citie, and to auert the Turkes from the assault, set vpon those Turks which lay at AQVA MARTIA: who all surprised with a sudden feare, fled, the Christian horsemen hardly pursuing them with bloudie execution, and they in their fight piteously crying vnto their fellows for help. Whereby it came to passe,The garrison soldiours of Melita salying out, cause the Turkes to giue ouer the assault at S. Michaels. that they which were assailing the citie and castle, to rescue their discomfited fellowes, were glad to giue ouer the assault: so with great slaughter foiled on both sides by the Christians, they returned to their trenches, when they had lost aboue fifteene hundred at L the assault, beside them which were slaine in the chase by the horsemen of MELITA. Of the defendants of both places were lost aboue a hundred, and almost as many wounded. This fight endured aboue fiue houres. Valetta deliuered of so great a danger, that day and certaine others caused publick prayers to be made, & went himselfe with the multitude of the citisens to the church, to giue thankes to Almightie God for that victorie.

Whilest these things were in doing, Garzias the Viceroy was aduertised from CALABRIA, that certaine ships laded with men, victuall, and other prouision necessarie for the warres, were comming from CONSTANTINOPLE to MALTA, wherefore he forthwith sent Altamira and Gildandrada, two noble men, with fiue gallies to meet them: who being come within thirtie miles of MALTA, met with no such ships, but only one frigot and a galliot; the frigot they took,M but the galliot escaped to the enemies fleet at MALTA.

Mustapha the Turkes Generall now thinking no man so strong which might not with continuall labour and watching be wearied and ouercome, resolued not to giue vnto the besieged any time of rest, but commaunded his souldiors againe to assault the breach at the castle of Saint [Page] A Michael; where they were by the valour of the defendants, with no small slaughter quickly repulsed: Neither did the Bassa giue so many assaults, for the hope he had to win those places; but rather to performe the dutie of a valiant Generall, and to satisfie Solymans pleasure, who had expressely commaunded,Mustapha sendeth a messenger to Solyman. either to win that island, or there all to lose their liues. He also sent a galliot in hast with letters to Solyman; wherein he shewed him the state of the fleet, with what difficulties the armie was distressed, what small hope there was of winning the places besieged, how well the Christians were prouided, with many other such things.

In the meane time those two gallies of MALTA (which we haue before spoken of) departing from MESSANA, came to SIRACVSA, where they staied a day. The next day after, in going out of the hauen, they met with one of MALTA in a small boat comming from POZALO B sore wounded: he being demaunded how he was so hurt, told them, That landing by night with his boat and one companion, he was requested by two Sicilians which dwelt there, to rest there that night, which they doing, about midnight fiue Turks brake into the house vpon them, killed his companion, carried away the Sicilians, and he wounded as he was, hardly escaped by the benefit of the night: moreouer he said, That the Sicilians had told the Turks, that two gallies were come into that port, with souldiors and other warlike prouision bound for MALTA. Whereby the knights perceiued, that their comming would be discouered vnto the enemie, and that it was a most dangerous thing, or rather impossible to get into the hauen of MALTA, as they had before purposed: neuerthelesse, to conduct Salazar with his little boat, they kept on their course. But as they were sayling, they descried two gallies and one galliot going before C them, who seeing the gallies comming after them, made with all speed to MALTA: and were no doubt those gallies, from whence those fiue Turks came, which had done those things which the wounded Maltese reported. For all that, these gallies kept on their course as farre as POZALO, from whence they certified the Viceroy by letters, all that had happened: and not daring to put to sea, the South wind blowing with a stiffe gale against them, they returned backe againe to SIRACVSA, expecting there farther direction from the Viceroy. For which cause, they forthwith sent one of the knights to him to MESSANA; by whom they receiued answere, That they should go no farther, but to stay for the comming of the whole fleet, readie in short time to passe ouer to MALTA. But Salazar brought by the gallies to POZALO, resolued with his little boat to go on:Salazer a Spanish captaine as a spie entreth the Turkes campe. and although the day he departed thence, the aire was troubled with great wind, thunder D and raine, yet the daies following prouing more calme, he in short time arriued in the island of MALTA, and came in safetie to the citie MELITA; and there disguised himselfe in Turkish apparell, and taking with him one companion who could also speake the Turkish language, by night got into the enemies camp: where diligently marking all things, they perceiued that there was in all the Turkes armie of land soldiors scarce fourteene thousand, and of them many wounded and sicke; and that the rest was but an vnseruiceable and feeble multitude, for that the course of wars had (as commonly it doth) consumed their best souldiors. When they had thus viewed the campe, they returned againe to the citie; from whence Salazar with one Petrus-Paccius a Spaniard, a venturous and valiant man, went to a certaine place neere vnto the watch towre of MALECA: which when they had curiously viewed, Paccius was there left, that obseruing the E signes from the island of GAVLOS and the citie of MELITA; he might giue knowledge of all things to the Viceroy at his approach, as he was by Salazar instructed. As for Salazar himselfe, he in his little boat (which at his comming into the islle he had there left) happily returned to MESSANA, and there declared vnto the Viceroy all that he had seene: constantly affirming amongst other things, That the Turks fleet was but weake, lame, and disfurnished both of men and munition, farre vnable to encounter with 10000 Christians. About which time also, one of the two frigots which were before sent to MALTA, returned with another Spaniard, and a fugitiue from the Turks campe: and foure gallies before gone from MESSANA, were also come in with foureteene Turks, taken about the island of MALTA, who all confirmed the same that was by Salazar reported: which was, That the Turks armie was with often assaults wonderfully F weakened, both in number and strength; so that they could not with stripes be enforced to the assault, for which the Bassa had with his owne hands slaine diuers of them: and that which more increased their feare, they saw none of their men wounded, but that they died thereof: Besides that, they saw the Christians with inuincible courage to defend their strong places, and not to spend one shot in vaine: wherefore they were sorie, and repented that they euer tooke in hand [Page] that expedition; they detested such a war, shrinking as much as they could from the assault, and as G they might stealing quite away, which many of them did, especially such as had before abjured the Christian faith. For which cause diligent watch and ward was kept, and commandement giuen by the great Bassa, that they should resolue with themselues either to win the towne, or there all to lay vp their bones; for that the great Sultan Solyman had so commaunded, whom to gainsay was in it selfe death. These and such like persuasions, caused the Viceroy somewhat the sooner to thinke of the bringing foorth of his fleet: the besieged in the meane time did what men might for defence of the place and themselues. There was in the castle one Franciscus Giuara captaine of the vauntguard, a noble and valiant gentleman, of a great conceit; he about ten foot from the towne wall which the enemie had with their great ordinance beaten downe, caused a curtaine to be drawne fiftie foot long, and fiue foot thicke, with flankers at both ends; which in H two nights was brought to perfection, [...] Turks mines [...] by the [...]stians. and was afterwards a great helpe to the besieged. The enemie in the meane time began a mine vnder the corner of the towne ditch, where Boninsegna a Spaniard and a most valiant knight had the charge: which the besieged perceiuing, by a countermine defeated the same. It happened in the meane time, that as a fugitiue was swimming to the towne, he was taken by the enemy; which much grieued the besieged, desirous to haue vnderstood something of the state of the enemies campe, and of their purposes. Now when the former mine had taken so euill successe, part of the Turkes assailed the castle S. Michael, and part with gunpouder thought to haue blowne vp the castle bulwarke: but by the carefulnesse and courage of the defendants, all their attempts were disappointed; for many of the Turkes were in both places slaine, and certaine bags of pouder taken from them in the mine. With these and I other such difficulties, Mustapha and Piall the Turkes Generals disappointed of their hope, consulted with the other great captaines of the armie, Whether they should there still continue that desperat siege, or depart? where most were cleere of opinion, That it was best betime to depart. Yet for all that, the old Bassa said, He would there stay, vntill the galliot (which he had before sent to CONSTANTINOPLE) were returned with answere from Solyman, and in the meane time both by force and pollicie to seeke after victorie: which thing he oftner did, than stood with the broken estate of his armie, or of the besieged; neither resting himselfe nor suffering others to take rest: for one while he battered the wals, another while he wrought mines or else made bridges; sometime he cast vp mounts, and then againe filled the ditches; and euer and anon gaue one assault or another. In all which doing he vsed such industrie, that whatsoeuer K he tooke in hand, was in short time brought to such perfection as might haue carried a stronger place, had not the valour of the defendants far exceeded all his strong and pollitike deuises.

Robles Gouernor of the castle of S. Michael, slaine.It fortuned, that as Robles the camp-master and Gouernour of the castle S. Michael, was by night viewing the ruines of the wall, he was strucke in the head with a small shot, and slaine; leauing behind him to his fellowes, the great desire of himselfe: for why, he was a man for many his good parts (wherewith he had many times stood the defendants in great stead) worthily beloued. In whose stead the Great master sent one of the Colonels that was with himselfe, a most expert and resolute captaine, to take charge of S. Michaels castle; who by his vigilant care and prouidence so well discharged the charge committed vnto him, that as often as the Turkes attempted the place, so often they were with losse repulsed.L

The two gallies with the galliot, descried by the gallies of MALTA (as we haue before said) told Piall Bassa the Admirall, that the Christian fleet was readie to come forth: wherefore he fearing the sudden comming thereof, caused seauentie gallies to be in readinesse; besides which, fortie others lay in the hauen MARZA MOXET vnseruiceable, as wanting both men and other equipage, for that was spent in making bridges, mines, and other such things necessarie for the siege: as for the men, they were part with sicknesse, and part with often assaults consumed. Wherefore Piall for certaine daies kept himselfe by day in the port MAIOR neere the shoare, and by night put forth to sea, expecting the comming of the fleet. But after long looking, when he saw no man appeare, he againe landed his souldiors: and because at land the Bassa began to want pouder, of euerie thirtie barrels of pouder in euerie gallie, he tooke out twentie, and of M some twentie fiue, or according to that proportion. After which time, the Turkes began with greater furie than at any time before, to batter the wals of both townes, especially with those great pieces which they call basilisks, whose shot of two hundred pound waight was seauen hands about; whereby the wals of the castle of S. Michael were beaten flat. And at the same [Page] A time, the Bassa at the castle S. Angelo, had with continuall batterie so shaken the castle bulwarke, that it was almost fallen quite downe.The Turk [...] at once assault the townes S. Angelo and S. Michael▪ and are at both places repulsed. These breaches thus made, when the Turkes saw both townes bared of wals and other defendants; and laid so open, that nothing seemed now to let them to looke vpon their enemies, they made no longer stay, but the eighteenth day of August (the sunne being now at the highest) with all their power fiercely assaulted both the townes. Thrise they were repulsed, and still came on a fresh; yet at length beaten downe on euerie side with great slaughter, they were glad shamefully to giue ouer the assault, and againe to retire to their trenches. In this most cruell fight (which endured fiue houres) the inuincible courage of the Great master notably appeared, who armed with a pike in his hand, and dreadfull to behold, was still valiantly fighting in the face of the breach, whose presence encouraged not the souldiors B only, but euen boies and women to fight: For so it is, that men are more moued with example than with words. Yet of the great number of the Turks, part stood still in the towne ditch; and to saue themselues from the shot of the castle bulwarke, had with wonderfull celeritie cast vp a defence of earth, fagots, and other like matter, which they did of purpose to approach and to vndermine the wals, and had therefore inclosed the space of fifteene el [...]es: which when the besieged perceiued, they bent certaine pieces of artillerie vpon it, and slew many of them, and with fire consumed what was left. The next day the assault was at the same places by the enemie renewed, who by reason of his number of souldiors might easily send fresh men in stead of them which were wounded or wearie: and first, after their wonted manner, they battered both the townes all that day vntill night; afterwards, the moone arising, about midnight with a horrible C crie they began a most terrible assault, which at the first much troubled the Christians, who yet still mindfull of their woonted valour, did so much with their weapons and fire-works, that the enemie euill intreated, was glad after three houres fight to retire to his trenches. The same day a mine was by the defendants perceiued, at the castle bulwarke, wherein a hundred Turkes there found,Another assault. were almost all slaine, and the mine destroied. Yet for all this did not the enemie rest at all, but the next day seauen times assaulted the same breaches, vsing now not weapons only, but fire-works also; wherewith Boninsegna had his face so burnt, that he lost one of his eies. At the same time also, the Turks at a place called the SPVR, laboured mightily to haue gotten into the castle: where Centius a knight of an inuincible courage, got vp vpon the rampier, and with a pike couragiously thrust them downe that were climing vp, and thrusting thorow one, discouraged D the rest; but was himselfe wounded in the arme with a small shot: Yet when he had a little withdrawne himselfe to haue his wound bound vp, he came againe to the rampier, and neuer departed from the fight vntill he had (as a valiant conquerour) preserued the place. So the Turks with great slaughter on euerie side repulsed, left the victorie to the Christians, of whom were slaine almost a hundred, and most of them (as at other times) with shot: amongst whom were these most valiant knights, at the castle Angelo, Fragus, at the castle of S. Michael, Scipio Piatus, Io. Baptista Soderinus, Paulus Bomportus, Marius Fagianus, Ruffinus, and certaine others, men worthie of longer life. The Turks had also at the same time wrought a mine at the castle S. Michael, which was at once both discouered and destroied.

With these so many and so great assaults, certaine of the knights (and those not of the meanest E sort) fearing least that which was so often attempted by the enemie, should at length be effected; told the Great master, That they thought it conuenient and necessarie, to remooue all the records, all the pictures and reliques of the Saints, and other their religious things into the castle S. Angelo, there to be kept as in a place of more strength and assurance. The Great master, although he well knew that they which thus said, spake it of a good mind, was for all that with that speech exceedingly moued: wherefore he shortly answered them, That so to doe, were nothing else but to appaule and discourage the minds,The resolute answere of the great Master. not of the Malteses onely, who had hitherto valiantly behaued themselues, and done more than any man could haue hoped for; but also of the mercinarie souldiors, if they should perceiue it: wherefore he was resolued, either togither to keep all, or lose all; and because none should from thenceforth repose any hope in the strength F of the castle S. Angelo, he said he would bring all the garrison out of the castle into the towne, that there they might togither with others withstand the enemie; and that he would leaue in the castle none but gunners, who should as need required shoot at the enemie. An answere truly well beseeming a man of his place, and to be to all posteritie commended: for how can the souldior hope, which seeth his captain dispaire? or aduenture, where the chieftaine seemeth to be strucken [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] with feare?The Turkes assault both the town [...] the fourth time. Whilest the Grand master with this answere doth both ashame them and also encourage G their quailing minds; the Turks (that this day as the other three before should not passe without assault) with the dawning of the day assailed the very same places with the greatest furie possible, especially at the ruines of the castle: where San Romanus an Auergnois, which had the charge of that place, lost this short and transitorie life, winning thereby immortall fame: and at S. Michaels, Adurnius one of the knights, and Pagio, with certaine others, were greeuously wounded: for the enemie suddenly retiring from the assault, presently so thundred into the breaches with their great and small shot, that all the island seemed to tremble, the heauens to burne, and the aire to be darkened with smoake. In the meane time Valetta thorowly wearied with the mornings fight,The Turks enter the new citie. had withdrawne himselfe a little to breath himselfe: when suddenly a Spanish priest, with his hands cast vp to heauen, came running to him, roaring and crying out, That all H was lost and forlorne, and that three or foure ensignes of the enemies were by the castle breach broken into the towne. Which the Great master hearing, suddenly clapt his helmet vpon his head, and with a pike in his hand said vnto them that were about him: Loe fellow souldiors, the houre is come wherein you may shew your selues the most valiant champions of the Christian religion, The comfortable speech of the Great master, when the Turkes were entred. if it be so, that you now also retaine the same valor which you haue in other battels shewed. There is no cause wherefore you should doubt of this last, for the enemie is the same; and the same God which hath hetherto preserued vs, will not now forsake vs: wherefore follow me valiant hearts. This said, he hasted to the place where most danger was, and with him all the souldiors, all the citisens, men and women, old and yong, yea the very children, all against the common enemy. There was fought a most dreadfull and dangerous battell: some kept the enemie from entring, some set vpon I that were alreadie entred, whom they wounded, chased, and slew, although they notably resisted. Within, without, all was couered with darts, weapons, dead bodies, and bloud. The Great master was carefull of all, & in euery place present, commending, exhorting, directing, as occasion required, performing at once all the duties of a most valiant souldior and worthie Generall. At length the Turkes with the setting of the Sunne retired, and so the assault ceased. Thus was the Great master the vndoubted victor, but not without much bloud of his people, considering his small number:The Turks with great slaughter againe repulsed. for in this fight he lost aboue 200 men, wheras of the enemies, beside them which were entred, whereof not one escaped, were slaine aboue 2000. These are those foure terrible assaults, presently giuen one after another vnto the besieged.

Garzias the Viceroy in the meane time taried for nothing els to transport his armie to MALTA,K but for the comming of Io. Cardona, who with twelue gallies was gone to PANORMO, to conduct thence foure ships laded with prouision: but when he saw him stay long, he sent to him in post, That if he could not with such speed as was required tow foorth those ships, he should spend no longer time, but take out the prouision into his gallies, and with speed to come away. So the Viceroy with a fleet of threescore and twelue gallies the twentith day of August set forward from MESSANA to SIRACVSA, wherein he caried ten thousand select souldiors, amongst whom were aboue two hundred knights of the Order of S. Iohn, and about fortie of the Order of S. Stephen, which is an Order of knights instituted by Cosmus Medices, duke of FLORENCE, to the imitation of the knights of MALTA in the yeare 1561, and haue their residence at COSMOPOLIS, a new built citie in the island of ELBA in the Tuscane sea, oueragainst PIOMBINO.L Besides these knights in this fleet were diuers noble and valiant gentlemen of ITALIE, SICILIE, and other countries. The fleet being arriued at SIRACVSA, the Viceroy sent Auria with one gallie and a boat to MALTA, to land a man, to know of Paccius (left, as we haue before said, for a watch in the island at MALECA) what newes, or what he had seene. By whom it was vnderstood, That no ship was seene at sea, but one galliot, which the one and twentith day of August in the morning made towards GAVLOS, and the same day towards night as he was informed by the watchmen of MALECA, sixteene gallies came to water at SALINE, but what became of them afterwards, by reason of the comming on of the night could not be descried.

In this while the besieged had notably repaired the breach at the castle bulwarke, and had in sundry places aptly placed certaine great pieces to flanker the ditches and to beat the mount cast M vp by the enemie at the bulwarke of BONINSEGNA, that they might from thence annoy all the plaine of the castle with their small shot. But the Turkes hauing determined with all their forces at once to assault both the townes as before, brought an engine made of spars and boords, able to couer thirtie men, vnder the breach at S. Michaels: whereby it came to passe, that none of the [Page] A defendants could without danger shew themselues in the breach: which when they could by no meanes endure, they suddenly sallied out, and putting them to flight which were there couered▪ set fire on the engine and burnt it. In like manner, they which besieged the new citie, were repulsed at the castle breach, and another like engine burnt. The next night certaine of the watch of the castle issued out, and hauing destroyed the Turkes engines prepared for the assayling of that place, and slaine them that were set for the keeping thereof, returned in safetie into the castle. But when the enemies both that day and others following rested not, but repairing their mines, mounts, and engines, laboured in both places to haue beaten the Christians from the wals; all their endeuour and labour was by the industrie and valor of the defendants made frustrate.A mine of the Christians found by the Turks. The besieged had at the castle breach made a mine, and laid in it eight barrels of pouder, that if the B enemie should again assault that place, he might there be blowne vp: but whilest the Turks were for like purpose working a mine in the same place, they chanced vpon the mine before made, which they spoyled, and carried away all the pouder. Thus whilest they labour both on the one side and the other, Mustapha the Generall, a most expert and famous commaunder, considering that Summer now so farre spent, he was not to vse longer delay; and withall, that resolute perseuerance oftentimes in warre findeth out a way to victorie; determined with all his power once againe to assault the castle S. Michael. Wherfore displaying the stately standerd of the Turkish emperour,The Turks desperatly assault the towne of S. Michael. vpon the point whereof was fastened a globe of gold, he commaunded his souldiors to enter the breach; who now like desperat men attempted to haue performed his command, and were by the Christians valiantly encountred▪ so that in the breach was made a most terrible and C doubtfull fight. But when the Turkes had now beene twice rejected and beaten downe, Mustapha perceiuing his souldiors as men halfe discouraged but faintly to maintaine the assault, came himselfe to the places, praying and exhorting them not to be discouraged, but that day to confirme their former labours and victories, and not to suffer their vanquished enemies to triumph ouer them: he told them that the enemie had now no defence left wherewith to couer himselfe, that all was beaten downe flat, and that there remained onely a few wearie and maimed bodies, which were not able long to endure the edge of their swords; that with such resolution they had before woon the castle of S. Elmo: last of all he by promising to some mony, to some honour and preferment, threatening some, and requesting others, encouraged some one way, some another, euery one according to his qualitie and disposition: who mooued either with their Generals D presence, promises, or threats, gaue a fresh and fierce assault. The fight was on both sides terrible, yet at length the Turkes were againe enforced to retire:The Turks enforced to retire. for the defendants had cast vp a rampier, whereon they had fitly placed two field pieces, wherewith they sore troubled the enemie, and at the first shot strucke in sunder one of those woodden engines, which the enemie had made stronger than the rest, couered with raw hides to keepe it from burning, and rent in pieces fortie souldiors which were vnder it: and the same night they which were in the other town and the castle bulwarke, sallying couragiously out, destroyed all the enemies defences, & draue them from a mount, which they had made vpon the fortifications of the Christians: whereby they perceiued plainely, what small courage the Turks had to fight, for vpon that mount they were almost three hundred, whereas of our men was but fiue and twentie, with which small number for E all that they had no mind to deale. The defendants had for like purpose as before made another mine at the castle bulwarke, but perceiuing that it was in danger to be found by the enemie in repairing his fortifications without, they suddenly put fire vnto it, by force whereof threescore Turks which were within the danger of the place, were blowne vp and slaine.

Garzias the Viceroy, in the meane while that these things were in doing, departing with his fleet from SIRACVSA, with a prosperous wind kept on his course toward PACHYNVM, where they descried a tall ship at sea, driuen thither (as was afterwards knowne) by tempest: she out of the island MENIN [...] was carrying a great supplie of shot and pouder vnto the Turkes campe at MALTA; but now ouertaken by the Christian fleet, easily yeelded, and was by the Viceroy sent by other marriners to SIRACVSA. And now the Christian fleet caried with a faire gale towards F MALTA, suddenly arose such a tempest from the East, that they were driuen to the island AEGVSA, two hundred and twentie miles West of MALTA,The Christian fleet driuen by tempest to the Island Aegus [...]. from whence the first of September letters were brought from the Viceroy to the Great master, certifying him, That he would in short time come with his fleet and relieue him. The same day also a Christian fled out of the Turkes gallies, wherein he was captiue, to the citie S. Angelo; who reported, That in the Turkes campe [Page] were few men able to fight, most of the armie being with wounds, famine, sicknesse, and other G miseries brought to extreame weakenesse: and besides that, that infinit numbers of them died dayly: yet for all that he said moreouer, that they were determined to besiege the citie of MELITA, and had alreadie for that purpose mounted fiue great pieces of artillerie for batterie; and that they had but a few dayes before taken twelue, and the last day of all foureteene horsemen of the garrison souldiors of that citie. In the meane while the fleet which was driuen (as we said) to AEGVSA, the rage of the sea being now well appeased, came to D [...]PANVM, and from thence toward GAVLOS, as was before intended: where by the way the two gallies of MALTA light vpon two of the Turkes galliots, and tooke them.

The Christian fleet commeth to Gaulos.The fift day of September the Christian fleet came to GAVLOS, where the Viceroy perceiuing not the appointed signes from MALTA, whereby he might safely land, returned forthwith H backe againe to POZALO, whether Auria immediatly following him, told him, That hee had seene the signes, and assured him of safe landing in the island of MALTA: wherewith the Viceroy encouraged, the next day towards night returned againe to GAVLOS.

The same day a Christian captiue fled from the Turks to S. Angelo, and told the Great master, That he was come to bring him good newes,A fugitiue discouereth the enemies purpose to the Great master. how that the Turks had determined to proue their last fortune in assaulting the castle S. Michael, which they would doe the next day▪ where if the successe were answerable to their desire, they would then tarrie, but if not, then forthwith be gone: and that Mustapha the more to encourage his souldiors, had promised fiue talents of gold to the ensigne bearers, that should first aduance their ensignes vpon the wals, and farther to promote them to greater places of honor; as for the rest, he would reward euery one of them according I to their desert, either with money or preferment. Valetta thinking all these things to be by Gods appointment discouered vnto him by such men, as they had from time to time beene: first gaue thankes vnto Almightie God, and after that with all diligence prepared such things as he thought most necessarie for the repulsing of the enemie. But the Turks all that day with their great ordinance battered the new citie, and the shipping in the hauen, in such sort that one of the great ships was there sunke.

The Viceroy arriueth at Malta, and landeth his forces.In the morning Garzias the Viceroy with his fleet arriued at the island of MALTA, and there quickly and quietly landed his forces, and whilest his gallies watered at GAVLOS, went forward with the armie about halfe a mile, instructing the Generals and Colonels what hee thought needfull to be done, commaunding all proclamations and commaunds to be made in K the name of the king of SPAINE, vntill they came to the Great master, and then in all things to obey him as their Soueraigne: and charged Ascanius Cornia the Generall in all his actions to follow the counsell of the greater part. So in few words exhorting them to play the men, he left them marching towards MELITA. About noone he retired to his gallies, and sayling Eastward, came with all his fleet within the sight of the citie of MELITA, about three miles distant from the South shore. They of the citie vpon sight of the fleet, in token of joy discharged all the great artillerie, which was answered from the fleet, by discharging all their great ordinance twice. After that he returned as he had before determined into SICILIA, to take into his gallies the duke of VR [...]INS companies which were come to MESSANA, and certain bands of Spaniards at SYRACVSA, and so forthwith to returne to MALTA to attend the departing of the Turks fleet, being L now euill appointed, and alreadie as good as halfe ouerthrowne.

The Turkes, who (as is before said) had purposed to prooue their last fortune vpon the towne of S. Michael, had now certaine dayes before the comming of the fleet begun to trusse vp their baggage: but as soone as they heard that the fleet was come, and the armie landed, there suddenly arose a wonderfull tumultuous confusion amongst them, some cried arme, arme, and othersome as fast to be gone: and being generally all afraid, euery one according to his disposition, betooke himselfe to his weapons or to his heeles; the greatest number thrust together into their trenches, as neere as they could vnto their great ordinance: and so burning the engines and fortifications, with all the speed they could embarked their great ordinance and baggage. Which they in the towne S. Angelo perceiuing, not expecting the commandement of the Great master,M in so sudden an opportunitie couragiously sallied out to BVRMOLA, where certaine Turks kept a huge great peece of ordinance; who now hauing no mind to fight, betooke themselues to flight, and forsooke the peece, which they of the towne presently drew within their wals. And if the newcome forces had that day charged the enemie as they disorderly ran to their gallies, happily [Page] A they had either found an occasion of victorie, or at leastwise taken from them the greatest part of their artillerie. But it may be, that they followed the old militarie saying, That vnto the flying enemie a man should make a bridge of siluer. Besides that, they thinking it not conuenient to depart from the prouision and things which they had brought for the releefe of the besieged; which for the roughnesse of the way and want of horses were hardly caried, would not prouoke the enemie with any skirmish: whereby it came to passe, that the Turkes without let embarked their great ordinance,The Turks forsake the siege. their baggage, and most part of their armie. The eleuenth of September, whilest the Turks fleet was brought out of the hauen MARZA MOXET, a fugitiue of GENVA came in hast to the Great master, and told him that ten thousand Turks were marching towards MELITA, to meet with the Christians vpon the way. Which thing the Great master hearing, B presently sent a sufficient number of good souldiours to the castle Saint Elmo, there to set vp one of the ensignes of the sacred Order: who comming thither, found there foure and twentie great peeces, some for batterie, some for the field, which they could not in so great hast remooue thence.

The Turkes fleet departing out of the hauen MARZA MOXET to the port S. Paule, there landed seuen thousand men, with Mustapha their Generall, who was falsely informed, That the Christians were not aboue three thousand strong: and from thence, encouraged with the small number of the enemie (as they supposed) they marched directly toward MELITA. The Christians also marching orderly and readie to giue battell, held on their way to meet them: and at the rising of an hill both armies meeting together, they gaue a great shout, and withall the formost C began the battell,The Turks ouerthrowne by the Christians, flie to their gallies. where some few were at the first slaine on both sides. But the Christians still growing vpon them both in number and strength, the Turkes finding themselues ouercharged, fled, the Christians pursuing them and killing them vntill they came to their gallies; where in striuing who should get in first, about foure hundred of them were drowned in the sea, besides eighteene hundred slaine in the battell at land: and had the Christian souldiors well knowne the countrey, they had slaine them euery mothers sonne. The Turks thus driuen to their gallies, lay there in the hauen all the next day, and most part of the night following: but a little before day vpon the shooting off of a great peece,The Turks depart from Malta. the signe of their departure, they all hoised saile for GRECIA, leauing the island of MALTA sore impouerished and wasted. In this siege the Turkes lost about foure and twentie thousand, whereof most part were of their best souldiours: and of the D Christians were slaine about fiue thousand, besides two hundred and fortie knights of the Order, men of diuers nations, but all worthie eternall fame, whose dead bodies the Great master caused to be honourably buried. The Turkes in their batterie during the siege, spent as is accounted threescore and eighteene thousand great shot.

If a man doe well consider the difficulties and dangers the besieged passed thorow in this fiue moneths siege, the manifold labours and perils they endured in so many and so terrible assaults, the small releefe to them sent in so great distresse, with the desperat obstinacie of so puis [...]ant an enemie; he shall hardly find any place these many yeares more mightily impugned, or with greater valour and resolution desended.The carefulnesse of the Great Master. The la [...]e besieged, and now victorious prince, honourably acquitted of so great an enemie, first commaunded publicke prayers with E thanksgiuing to be made vnto the giuer of all victorie: after that, hee rewarded the valiant, commended the rest, and gaue thankes to all, he charitably relieued the sicke and wounded, bewailed the spoile of the island, and carefully prouided for the repairing of the breaches and places battered: and yet in all this doing, diligently enquired after the enemies course and purpose, & was not in any thing remisse or secure, as in victorie most men are. But because so great harms could not without great helpes in short time be repaired, and the returne of the prowd enemie, not without cause the next yeare feared: he by letters to diuers great princes, and especially to the graund priors of the Order, in diuers countries, requested helpe; amongst whom George, graund prior of GERMANIE, and founder of the castle of S. Elmo, was one of the chiefest. The coppie of which letters, because they briefly containe what we haue before in this historie at large F written, I haue thought good here to set downe, that the same may in such order be read, as it was by the Great master himselfe reported.

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G

Brother Valetta, Master of the hospitall of Ierusalem, to the reuerend and religious our welbeloued brother in Christ, George of Hohenheim, called Bombast, prior of our priorie in Almanie, greeting.

The letters of the Great master to the graund prior of Almanie, concerning the manner of the Turks proceedings in the siege of Malta.Although we doubt not but that by the letters and relation of many, you alreadie vnderstand of the comming of the Turkes to inuade these islands, or rather vtterly to subuert our societie: and the happie and heauenly victorie by vs obtained of it: Yet if the same things shall by our letters also bee brought vnto you, we haue thought the same will be vnto you a thing much more pleasing. For seeing that we are certainely persuaded, that you in this no lesse happie than wholesome successe will giue most H heartie thankes to Almightie God, and that the fruit of this good shall most of all redound vnto you, for the honour which you beare in our Order; we haue willingly determined to participate this our ioy with you, and plainely and openly to protest, That we attribute this so notable and wonderfull a victorie to our Lord Christ Iesus, the greatest king of all kings, and author of all good things. Which that you may the more worthely and willingly doe, wee will declare the whole matter, not at large (for that were to write an historie) but breefely and in few words. Sultan Solyman the most mortall enemie of the Christian name, and especially of our societie, not contented to haue spoiled vs of the most famous island of the RHODES, the castle of TRIPOLIS, and almost whatsoeuer we had els, commaunded a great and strong fleet to be made readie against vs, which departing from CONSTANTINOPLE the one and twentith day of March, arriued here the eighteenth day of May: which I fleet consisted of almost two hundred and fiftie gallies, galliots and other ships. The number of the enemie that beare armes according to the truth, was about fortie thousand, more or lesse: Generall of the land forces, was Mustapha Bassa; and of the fleet Pial Bassa was Admirall: who hauing spent a few daies in landing their forces, viewing the places, pitching their tents, and setting things in order (as the manner of warre is) they began first to assaile the castle of S. Elmo (scituat in the mouth of the hauen) with great force, and a most furious batterie. Which when they had many daies done without intermission, and had opened a great part of the wall, and with all kind of weapons assaulted the breach: yet was it by the valour and prowesse of our knights and other worthie souldiors kept and defended by the space of thirtie fiue daies, with the great losse and slaughter of the enemie: although the castle it selfe, in the iudgement of many, seemed not possible to be but a few daies defended K against so great a force. At length the foure and twentith day of Iune, when our men could no longer indure the multitude and furie of the enemie, enuironed and shut vp both by sea and land, and destitute of all helpe, the castle was taken by the Turkes; those few of our men which were left, being all slaine. Of which victorie they being proud, began to besiege the castle and towne of S. Michael, and this new citie, especially at the castle and Portingall bulwarke: and (as their manner is) with great diligence and greater force and number of great artillerie and warlike engines, they began in diuers places at once to batter and beat downe the wals. Which siege the dreadfull armie of the Turkes, both by sea and land, made to be most fearfull and terrible, with such huge great ordinance as the like for bignesse and force was in no place to be seene; day and night thundring out their yron and stone shot, fiue, and seauen hands about; wherewith not the thickest wals, but euen the verie mountaines themselues L might haue been beaten downe and ouerthrowne: by furie whereof, the wals in many places were so battered, that a man might easily haue entred as on plaine ground. Where, when the barbarous enemies had with wonderfull force and hideous outcries oftentimes attempted to enter, so often were they with great slaughter and dishonour repulsed and beaten ba [...]ke, many of their men being slaine or wounded. Their Generals, as well at sea as land, after that they had in so many places, with all their forces in almost foure moneths siege and assault, with exceeding furie in vaine attempted the breaches, and lost the greatest part of their old souldiors, especially winter now comming on, wherein all wars by law of nations ought to cease; thought of nothing else but of departure, or rather of flight: which the comming of Garzias of TOLEDO, Viceroy of SICILIA and Admirall of the king of SPAINE his fleet, with ten thousand select souldiors (amongst whom was at the least two hundred and fourteene of M our knights, and many other noble and valiant gentlemen; which onely with a Christian zeale, voluntarily met togither from diuers parts of the world to helpe and relieue vs) caused them to hasten. So haue you summarily and in few words, the proceedings and flight of the Turkes fleet, and the victorie by vs (by the power of God) thereof obtained. It shall be your part to consider and coniecture, in what [Page] A state our Order and this island now standeth, into what poore estate we are brought, how many things we want; wherein except we be relieued by the helpe and aid of our brethren, especially such as you are, as we well hope and assuredly beleeue we shall, our state will quickly take end. Fare you well from MALTA the ninth of October 1565.

The Great master thus deliuered of so great a siege, and bountifully relieued by the Christian princes, and the great commenders of his Order; speedily repaired the breaches and places battered, and with new fortifications strengthened such places as he had by the late passed dangers perceiued to be most subject to the enemies force.

After the returne of the Turkes fleet to CONSTANTINOPLE,1566 Solyman being exceeding angrie B with the Gouernour of the island of CHIOS his tributarie, as well for that he had during the late siege of MALTA, had intelligence with the Great master, and reuealed vnto him many of the Turkes desseigns; as also for detaining of two yeares tribute, which was yearely ten thousand duckats; and had also neglected to send his wonted presents to the great Bassaes, who therefore the more incensed, the tyrant commaunded Pial Bassa his Admirall to make readie his fleet, and by force or pollicie, to take that fruitfull and pleasant island wholly into his owne hand. Who without delay, with a fleet of eightie gallies, the fifteenth day of Aprill in the yeare 1566, being then Easterday, arriued at CHIOS. The chiefe men of the island, vpon sight of the fleet, forthwith sent embassadours to the Bassa with presents, courteously offering vnto him the hauen, and whatsoeuer else he should require.The island of Chios taken by the Turks. Pial with great kindnesse accepted their offer, and presently C possessed himselfe of the hauen in three places: and afterward landing, sent for the Gouernor of the citie, & twelue of the chiefe citisens to come vnto him, as if he had had some speciall matter to conferre with him about from the great Sultan, before his departure thence for MALTA or ITALIE. Who hauing a little conferred togither, went to him with great feare; and that not without cause, for as soone as they were come before him, he commaunded them to be laid hold vpon and cast fast into yrons: which done, the souldiors forthwith tooke the towne hall, and without resistance pulling downe the townes ensigne (wherein was the picture of S. George with a red crosse) in stead thereof set vp one of the Turkes: the like whereof was done with the great rejoicing of the Turkes, thorow the whole island. After that, they rifled the Churches, and againe consecrated them after their Mahometane manner. The Gouernour of the citie and the Senatours D with their families, the Bassa sent in fiue ships to CONSTANTINOPLE: as for the vulgar people, they were at choise, either there to tarrie still, or depart, as best stood with their liking. And so the Bassa, when he had there placed a new Gouernour, one of the Turks, with a strong garrison, and set vp the Mahometane superstition in that most fertile island, departed thence for ITALIE: where sayling alongst the coast of APVLIA, he did exceeding much harme in burning and destroying the countrey villages, and carrying away of the poore people into captiuitie; and so returned.

At this time, the kingdome of HVNGARIE was most miserably rent in pieces by the lieutenants and captaines of Solyman, and Maximilian the emperour, and Iohn the Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA, Solymans vassall: who grieued with the harmes done vnto him by the emperours E captaines, whereof himselfe was the cause, and vainely hoping to haue obtained at Solymans hands the greatest part of the kingdome of HVNGARIE, as had sometime king Iohn; ceased not continually to solicite him to come himselfe in person to make a full conquest of the reliques of HVNGARIE, yet holden by the emperour and some of the Hungarian nobilitie: And flattering himselfe in that vaine hope, called himselfe the king of HVNGARIE, and increasing his strength by letters vnto the nobilitie and burgesses of the cities of HVNGARIE, summoned them, as if it had bin by the appointment of Solyman his great patron, That they should all the ninth of March meet togither at THORDA, to determine with him of matters concerning their common good. Which thing, as soone as Lazarus Suendi the emperours lieutenant vnderstood, he forthwith by other letters countermanded those of the Vayuods; persuading the Hungarians, not to listen F to the charmes of the Vayuod and the Turke, tending to their destruction, but rather to yeeld their obedience to Maximilian the Christian emperour, whose purpose was by the aid of the Christian princes, to protect and preserue them in peace. And hereby it came to passe, that the remainders of this sore shaken kingdome, deuided into factions, and diuersly carried, according to their affection, some to the one side, some to the other, began afresh to worke one anothers [Page] confusion, which fitly serued the Turks to encroach more and more vpon them: Who at the G same time surprised the towne of AINATSCH (the captaine thereof with certaine of the garrison souldiors being gone about their businesse to AGRIA) and put to the sword all them that they found in the towne.The Turks surprise townes in Hungarie. They thought also to haue taken the strong towne of SIGETH, but were by the valiant countie Nicholaus Serinus Gouernour thereof, couragiously encountred; and after foure houres hard fight, ouerthrowne and put to flight. Not long after, they ranged vp and downe the countrey, and set in booties as farre as IVLA and RAB, and did the countrey people much harme. For which cause, Maximilian the emperour about the latter end of May brake vp the assembly of the empire then holden at AVGVSTA, and began carefully to prouide things needfull for the warre: appointing his captaines for the raising of such forces in GERMANIE, as were but a little before granted vnto him by the princes and states of the empire, in their late assembly; H but went himselfe to VIENNA. For it was told him (as the truth was) That Solyman now in his extreame age, was with a mightie armie set forward from CONSTANTINOPLE, and marching thorow BVLGARIA and SERVIA, was come directly to BELGRADE: where Iohn the Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA met him, and kissing his hand, had commended himselfe and all his state vnto his protection.Great troubles in Hungarie. At which time, Suendi the emperours lieutenant, laid hard siege to the towne of HVSTH in the borders of TRANSILVANIA. The Bassa of BVDA at the same time on the other side, by commandement of Solyman, with eight thousand Turkes and fiue and twentie pieces of great ordinance besieging PALOTTA, a strong towne about eight miles from RAB; had with continuall batterie by the space of eight daies, brought the same into great danger, although it was valiantly defended by George Thuriger. But hearing of the approach of I George, countie of Helffenstein, sent by the emperour with certaine companies of Germans to relieue the same, he rise in such hast from the siege, that he left certaine of his great ordinance and a great part of his baggage behind him,The good successe of the emperours captains. and retired towards ALBA REGALIS. The countie hauing relieued the towne, caused the breaches to be forthwith repaired, and with a new supply strengthened the old garrison. Thus was a most lamentable warre at once begun in diuers places of HVNGARIE. After that, the countie of Helffenstein, strengthened by the comming of countie Salma with certaine companies from RAB, departed from PALOTTA, and came to VESPRINIVM, a citie about two miles off, then holden by the Turks: which citie he tooke by force the last of Iune, and left not a Turke aliue therein, because that they a few daies before, had cruelly slaine certaine Christians whom they had taken prisoners: so leauing strong garrisons K both in VESPRINIVM and PALOTTA, they returned to RAB. Shortly after, the countie Salma laid siege to TATTA a strong towne, otherwise called DOTIS, betwixt RAB and COMARA, which at length he tooke by assault the eight and twentith day of Iuly, and slew all the Turkes, except fiftie, which flying into one of the towers of the castle, yeelded vpon composition; amongst whom was the late Gouernour of VESPRINIVM, and the Gouernour of this place, with the Bassa of BVDA his nigh kinsman, who were all presently sent prisoners to VIENNA. So the countie following the course of his victorie (the terrour of his former good fortune running before him into the Turks strongest holds) was on his way to haue besieged GESTES, a towne neere to PALOTTA: when the Turks there in garrison, vpon the first sight of his armie, left all, and fled out at the farther side of the town to STRIGONIVM. After whose example, other of the L Turks garrisons in Witha, Tschokiku, & Sambok, castles thereabouts, set fire on that they could not carrie, and followed their fellowes to STRIGONIVM also. The emperour vnderstanding of the good successe of his captaines, caused publike praiers with thanksgiuing to almightie God to be made thorow all the churches thereabouts.

Countie Serinus, Gouernour of the strong towne of SIGETH and the countrey thereabout, certainly aduertised of the comming of Solyman, sent Casparus Alapianus and Nicholas Cobach, two of his captaines, with a thousand foot and fiue hundred horse, to lie in wait for the forerunners of the Turkes armie: who drawing neere vnto the place where these Turkes lay, not farre from QVINQVE ECLESIE, suddenly in the shutting in of the next day, set vpon them, doubting no such matter, and put them in such a feare that they disorderedly fled some one way,M some another, and were most of them slaine or wounded by the Hungarians in their flight. Halibeg, one of the Turkes great Sanzackes, and leader of that companie, sore wounded, and seeking to saue himselfe by flight in the marishes, there perished: his sonne, and many other notable men amongst the Turkes, were there taken, and carried prisoners to SIGETH. The spoile [Page] A the Hungarians there tooke,A great p [...]ey. was exceeding great: for beside plate and coine, whereof they found good store, they tooke eight camels, threescore horses, fiue mules, and six carts laden with all manner of rich spoile, and many garments of great price; wherein the gentlemen attired, returned to SIGETH in great brauerie, with two faire red ensignes of the enemies.

Maximilian the emperour, long before aduertised of Solymans purpose for the conquest of the remainder of HVNGARIE; to withstand so mightie an enemie, had beside the forces raised in his owne dominions, procured great aid both of the states of the empire and other Christian princes, which about this time met togither at RAB. First there repaired thither foure legions of German footmen, and vpwards of twentie thousand horsemen, with foure thousand Hungarians: The duke of SAVOY sent thither foure hundred Argoleteirs: and many noble gentlemen B out of diuers parts of EVROPE resorted thither, to serue the emperour in those wars of their owne charge, especially the knights of MALTA: and out of ITALIE, Prosper Columna, and Angelus Caesius: out of FRANCE, Guise the graund prior, Brissack and Lansack; who but a little before were going to MALTA, of purpose to haue serued there if the Turks fleet had come thither againe, as it was reported it would; but vnderstanding that it came not, returned directly into HVNGARIE, with certaine other knights of the Order. Many also of the princes and free cities of ITALIE, declared their good will toward the emperour in this warre; some sending him men, as did Cosmus Medices duke of FLORENCE, who sent thither of his owne charge three thousand footmen; some money, as MANTVA, GENVA, and LVCA. Thither came also Alphonsus duke of FERARA, with a gallant companie of noble gentlemen, and others his followers. C Beside which land forces, the emperour had also prouided vpon the riuer of Danubius twelue gallies, and thirtie other ships for burthen, so made, as that the men could not be hurt with the Turkes arrowes: wherein were embarked three thousand souldiors, most part Italians, vnder the conduct of Philippus Flachius a German, and one of the knights of MALTA, who was afterward receiued into the number of the princes of the empire.

Solyman comming to the riuer Drauus,The Turks wi [...]h much labour make a bridge ouer the great riuer of Drauus. commaunded a bridge to be made ouer that great riuer, and the deepe fens on the farther side of the riuer towards SIGETH, for the transporting of his great armie; a worke of such difficultie, that being thrice vnfortunatly begun, it was againe giuen ouer, as a thing almost impossible: wherewith Solyman was so moued, that in his rage he swore to hang vp the great Bassa that had the charge of that worke, if he did not with as much D speed as were possible, bring it to perfection. Whereupon the worke was againe begun, all the boats that were to be found in the riuer taken vp, and timber for the purpose brought from farre, for the making of that bridge. In this worke were imploied, not the vulgar people onely of the countrey which was tributarie to the Turkes, but the gentlemen themselues also, were by the imperious Turke (now commaunding for his life) enforced to lay their fingers to worke day and night without ceasing, vntill the bridge (which before was thought scarce possible to haue beene made) was by the restlesse industrie and labour of such a multitude of men, in the space of ten daies brought to perfection. Wherein the seueritie the barbarous tyrant vseth towards his subjects, is worth the noting, whereby he extorteth from them, more than is almost possible for men to performe: so that it is not to be maruelled, that he hath so good successe in whatsoeuer E he taketh in hand. Ouer this bridge (a mile in length) passed Solyman, and encamped at a place called MVHATCHZ, where he staied certaine daies, vntill his hugie armie was all come ouer. The last of Iuly, ninetie thousand Turkes (the vauntguard of Solymans armie) came before SIGETH, and encamped within a mile of the towne: after whom shortly after followed an hundred thousand mo out of Solymans campe,The Turks encampe before Sigeth. of whom manie in approaching the towne, were slaine with great shot out of the castle; the rest for all that encamped themselues as neere vnto the towne as they could, and began the siege.

The towne of SIGETH is strongly scituat in a Marish, on the North side of Drauus vpon the frontiers of DALMATIA, commaunding all the countrey round about it, which of it taketh name; and was at that time a strong bulwarke against the Turkes, for entring farther into the F countrey that way toward STIRIA. In this towne was Gouernour Nicholaus Serinus, commonly called the Countie, a valiant man, and a mortall enemy of the Turks, with a garrison of 2300 good souldiors: who seeing the hugie armie of the Turks, called togither into the castle the captaines of the garrison and the chiefe of the citisens; where standing in the midst of them, he spake vnto them as followeth.

[Page]

Countie Serinus his comfortable and resolute speech to his soldiors.

You see (said he) how we are on euery side beset with the multitude of our enemies, wherein resteth G their cheefe hope: But let not vs be therefore afraid or discouraged; for that victorie dependeth not of a confused multitude of heartlesse men, but of the power of our God, who hath by a few at his pleasure many times ouerthrowne the mightie armies of the proud; and will not in the middest of these dangers now forsake vs, if wee putting our trust and confidence in him, doe what beseemeth valiant and couragious men. Besides that our iust cause, with the strength of the place we hold, our owne valor, and the helpe of our friends, who I assure my selfe will not faile vs at our need, counteruaileth their confused multitude, forced together by their imperious commaunders out of far countries, and whatsoeuer els the proud tyrant hath brought with him into the field. Wherefore let vs all as becommeth valiant men, for the truth of our religion, and for the honour of our prince and countrey, liue and die together, knowing whatsoeuer befall, That to a life so lost, beside neuer dying fame, belongeth a most H assured hope of endlesse ioy and felicitie. As for my selfe, I am resolued, and so (I hope) are you also, that as I am a Christian, and free borne, so will I (by the grace of God) in the same faith and freedome end my dayes. Neither shall the proud Turke, so long as I am able to hold vp this hand, haue euer power to commaund ouer me or the ground whereon I stand. This said, he first tooke himselfe a solemne oath, to performe what he had promised, and persuaded the rest to take the like: which done, euery man returned to the place of his charge.

Solyman commeth into the campe at Sigeth.The fift of August Solyman encamped within a mile of the towne, and the next day after came himselfe into the campe, at whose comming the great ordinance and small shot so thundered out of the Turks campe, as if heauen and earth should haue gone together, the Turkes after their wonted manner crying aloud their Alla, Alla, Alla, and the Christians answering them I with the name of Iesus. The seuenth of August the Turkes cast vp a great mount, and thereon planted certaine great peeces of ordinance. The next day following they began most terribly to batter the new towne in three places, and with incredible labour cast vp a mount in the middest of the marrish, as it were in the towne ditch, from whence they the next day with certaine peeces of great artillerie day and night battered the inner castle of the towne without any intermission, and did great harme both to the castle and the defendants. The countie perceiuing the new citie to be now so laid open with the furie of the Turks batterie, as that it was not possible to be defended; caused his souldiors to set it all on fire,The defendants burne the new towne. and so retired into the old. The tenth of August the Turks furiously battered the old town in three places, and brought their ordinance into the new towne: and with timber, earth, and rubbidge, made a bridge, the more commodiously to go ouer K the marrish. For the speedier accomplishment whereof, all the Turkes were compelled to lay to their hands, and to carrie wood, fagots, earth, and such like things without ceasing. There might a man haue seene all the fields full of cammels, horses, and of the Turks themselues, like e [...]mets, carrying wood, earth, stones, or one thing or other to fill vp the marrish: so was there with wonderfull labour two plaine wayes made thorow the deepe fenne, from the towne to the castle: where the Ianizaries, defended from the great shot with sacks of wooll and such like things, did with the multitude of their small shot so ouerwhelme the defendants, that they could not against those places without most manifest danger shew themselues vpon the wals. So that what by their vigilant industrie,The Turks win the old towne. and the furie of the great artillerie, the Turks (though not without great losse) by force entred the old towne the nineteenth of August, vsing in their victorie such celeritie, that L they slew many of the most valiant defendants before they were able to recouer the safegard of the castle. Both the townes thus lost, and so many worthie men slaine, not without cause brought great heauinesse vpon the rest which were in the castle with the countie. The Turks possessed of the old towne, the next day planted their batterie against the castle in foure places, and with faggots, rubbidge, and earth, made two plaine wayes vnto it, still filling vp the marrish: and hauing with continuall batterie made it saultable, the nine and twentie day of August they began fiercely to assaile the breaches: but when they had lost many of their men, and done what they could, they were enforced with shame to retire. In this assault amongst many other of their best souldiors was lost one of their great Bassaes also.

Whilest these things were in doing, Solyman farre spent with yeares, and distempered with his M long trauell,Solyman dieth of the blo [...]die flix. fell sicke of a loosenesse of his bellie, and for the better recouerie of his health retired himselfe (the siege yet continuing) to QVINQVE ECLESIae, a citie neare to SIGET, where shortly after he died of the bloudie flix, the fourth day of September, in the yeare of our Lord 1566, when he had liued 76 yeares, and raigned thereof 46. He was of stature tall, of feature [Page] A slender, long necked, his colour pale and wan, his nose long and hooked, of nature ambitious and bountifull, more faithfull of his word and promise than were for most part the Mahometan kings his progenitors; wanting nothing worthie of so great an empire, but that wherein all happinesse is contained,Muhamet Bassa concealeth the death of Solyman. faith in Christ Iesus. Muhamet the Visier Bassa (who all commaunded in Solymans absence) fearing the insolencie of the Ianizaries, and least some tumult should arise in the campe, if his death should be knowne, concealed it by all meanes: and to be sure of them that were of all others best able to make certaine report thereof, caused his physitions and apothecaries to be secretly strangled, and by a trustie messenger, sent in post, certified Selymus (Solymans onely sonne, and his father in law, then lying in MAGNESIA) of the death of his father, willing him in hast to repaire to CONSTANTINOPLE to take possession of the empire; and that done, forthwith to B come to the armie in HVNGARIE. But this could not be so secretly done, but that the Ianizaries began to mistrust the matter: Which Muhamet Bassa quickly perceiuing, caused the dead bodie of Solyman in his wonted apparrell to be brought into his tent sitting vpright in his horselitter, as if he had beene sicke of the gout, his wonted disease; and so shewing him to the Ianizaries, both deceiued and contented them, and so went forward with the siege.

The Ianizaries hauing in the last assault lost many of their fellowes, began now to vndermine the greatest bulwarke of the castle,The great bulwarke vndermined & set on fire by the Ianizaries. from which the defendants with their great ordinance did most annoy them: wherein they vsed such diligence, that the fifth of September they with gunpouder and other light matter prouided for that purpose, had set all the bulwarke on a light fire; and by that meanes possessed thereof, with all their force assailed the bulwarke next vnto the castle C gate, from whence they were with great slaughter twice repulsed by the countie. But the raging fire still encreasing, he was enforced with those which were yet left aliue, to retire into the inner castle, wherein was but two great pieces, and foureteene others of small force. Thus the Turks still preuailing,The little castle set on fire. and taking one place after another, the seuenth of September they furiously assaulted the little castle, whereinto they cast such abundance of fire, that in short time it caught hold on the buildings, and set all on fire. The countie thus assailed by the enemie without, and worse distressed with the fire within, which still encreasing, left no place for him in safetie to retire vnto, went into his chamber, where putting on a rich new sute of apparrell, came presently out againe with his sword and targuet in his hand; and finding his souldiors with cheerefull countenance and their weapons in their hands, attending his comming, spake vnto them these few his D last words.The last speech of countie Serinus to his souldiors. The hard fortune of this sinfull kingdome hath together with our owne ouertaken vs: but let vs (noble hearts) with patience endure what is to vs by God assigned. You know what wee haue before promised, which hitherto God be thanked we haue accordingly performed, and now let vs with like resolution performe this last. The place you see is not longer to be kept, the deuouring fire groweth so still vpon vs, and we in number are but few: Wherefore let vs as becommeth valiant men breake out into the vtter castle, there to die in the middest of our enemies, to liue afterwards with God for euer, I will be the first that will goe out, follow you me like men. This said, with his sword and targuet in his hand, without any other armour, calling thrice vpon the name of Iesus, he issued out at the castle gate, with the rest following him: where valiantly fighting with the Ianizaries vpon the bridge; and hauing slaine some of them, he was first wounded in two places of his bodie E with small shot,Serinus slaine. and at last strucke in the head with an vnluckie shot, fell downe dead; the Turks for joy crying out their wonted word Alla. The rest of the souldiors in flying backe againe into the castle, were all slaine by the Turks, except some few, whom some of the Ianizaries in regard of their valour, by putting their caps vpon their heads, saued from the furie of the rest. In this siege, the Turks (as they themselues reported) lost seauen thousand Ianizaries, and twentie eight thousand other souldiors, beside many voluntarie men not enrolled in their muster-books, and three of their great Bassaes. Serinus his head was presently cut off, and the next day (with the heads of the other slaine Christians) set vpon a pole, for all the armie to gaze vpon. After that, it was taken downe,Serinus his head sent to countie Salma. and by Muhamet the great Bassa sent to Mustapha the Bassa of BVDA his kinsman; who by two countrey men, sent it wrapped in a red scarfe couered with a faire linnen F doth, to countie Salma in the emperours campe at RAB, with this taunting letter thus directed.

Muhamet Bassa to Eccius Salma, greeting.

In token of my loue,The Bassa [...] quipping little to countie Sa [...] behold, here I send thee the head of a most resolute and valiant captaine thy [Page] friend, the remainder of his bodie I haue honestly buried, as became such a man. SIGETH biddeth G thee farewell for euer.

The death of this noble and valiant captaine was much lamented of all the Christian armie, and his head with many teares by his sonne Balthasar honourably buried amongst his ancestors in TSCHACATVRNA, his owne castle. Solyman at his comming with this mightie armie into HVNGARIE, had purposed before his returne, if he had not beene by death preuented, to haue conquered both the remainder of the kingdome of HVNGARIE, and to haue againe attempted the winning of VIENNA. For the accomplishing of which his designes, he at his first comming sent Parthauus Bassa with fortie thousand Turkes to helpe the Bassa of TEMESVVARE and the Tartars, in the behalfe of the Vayuod, to besiege the strong towne of GYVLA, situat vpon the H lake ZARKAD in the confines of TRANSILVANIA; not farre from whence Suendi had but in August before ouerthrowne the Tartars, called in by Solyman for the aid of the Vayuod, and slain of them ten thousand. And at the same time he sent Mustapha Bassa of BOSNA, and Carambeus, with a great power to ALBA REGALIS; who joyning with the Bassa of BVDA, should keepe the emperour Maximilian busie, whilest he in the meane time besieged SIGETH, as is before declared. Parthauus Bassa comming to GYVLA, and laying hard siege to the towne, was still notably repulsed by Nicholas Keretschen, Gouernour of the towne: insomuch, that in a sallie he had certaine pieces of his great ordinance taken from him by the defendants, and the rest cloyed. But this braue captaine,Nicholaus Keretschen corrupted for money, be [...]ayeth Gyula to the Turks. not to haue beene constrained by all that the Bassa could doe, was at last persuaded by his kinsman George Bebicus (from whom Suendi had a little before taken certain castles,I for reuolting from the emperour to the Vayuod) for a great summe of money to deliuer vp the towne to the Bassa: which he did, couenanting beside his reward, That the souldiors should with bag and baggage in safetie depart; all which was franckly graunted: who were not gone past a mile out of the towne, but they were set vpon by the Turks, and all slaine, except some few which crept into the reeds growing in the marrish fast by, and so escaped. The traitor himselfe expecting his reward, was carried in bonds to CONSTANTINOPLE: where afterward, vpon complaint made how hardly he had vsed certaine Turks, whom he had sometime taken prisoners, he was by the commaundement of Selymus, who succeeded Solyman, thrust into a hogshead strucke full of nailes with the points inward, with this inscription vpon it: Here receiue the reward of thy auarice and treason, A trai [...]or well rewarded. GYVLA, thou soldest for gold: if thou be not faithfull to Maximilian thy lord, neither K wilt thou be to me: and so the hogshead closed fast vp, he was therein rolled vp and downe vntill he therein miserably died.

The emperours campe then lying at RAB, and the Bassa of BVDA and BOSNA with thirtie thousand Turkes not farre off at ALBA REGALIS, and many hot skirmishes passing betweene them: it fortuned that the fift of September the Turks in hope to haue done some great peece of seruice vpon the Christians, came forth of their campe in great number, and by chance light vpon a few forragers of the armie, of whom they slew some, the rest flying, raised an alarum in the campe: whereupon the Hungarians and Burgundians with some others issuing out, pursuing the Turks, slew diuers of them: in which pursute George Thuriger, descrying the Gouernor of ALEA REGALIS,The Gouernor of Alba Regalis taken. a man in great account, and very inward with Solyman whilest he liued, fiercely pursued L him in the middest of the flying enemies, and neuer left him vntill he had taken him prisoner: and at his returne presenting him to the emperour, was for that good seruice knighted, and rewarded with a chaine of gold. There was by chance then present a Spaniard, who had heard him say openly at CONSTANTINOPLE, That he alone with his owne power was able to vanquish the Germane king (by which name the Turkes commonly tearme the emperour:) With which words when that the Spaniard hardly charged him in the presence of the emperour, still vrging him as it were to say something for himselfe, the Turke answered him in these few words following:The Turks sharp answere to the Spaniard. Such is the chance of warre, thou seest me now a prisoner, and able to doe nothing.

All these troubles, with many moe like in short time to haue ensued, were by the death of M Solyman within a while after well appeased. Muhamet Bassa after he had repaired the breaches, and placed a Turke Gouernour of SIGETH,The Turks armie ret [...]neth with the bodie of Solyman to Belgrade. with a strong garrison for the defence of the place and commaunding of the countrey, called backe the dispersed forces; and rising with the armie, retired toward BELGRADE, carrying Solymans dead bodie all the way sitting vpright [Page] A right in his horselitter carried by mules, giuing it out that hee was sicke of the gout: which thing the Ianizaries easily beleeued, knowing that hee had beene many yeares so carried: yet still wishing his presence, as vnto them alwayes fortunate, although that he were able for to doe nothing.

FINIS.

B

Christian princes of the same time with Solyman.

DEmperors of Germanie

Charles the fift. 1519. 39.

Ferdinand. 1558. 7.

Maximilian the second. 1565. 12.

Kings

Of England

Henrie the eight. 1509. 38.

C Edward the sixt. 1546. 6.

Queene Marie. 1553. 6.

Queene Elizabeth. 1558. 45.

Of Fraunce

Francis the first. 1514. 32.

Henry the second. 1547. 12.

Francis the second. 1559. 1.

Charles the ninth. 1560. 14.

Of Scotland

Iames the fifth. 1514. 29.

Queene Mary. 1543.

Bishops of Rome

Leo the X. 1513. 8.

Hadrian the VI. 1522. 1.

E Clement the VII. 1523. 10.

Paulus the III. 1534. 15.

Iulius the III. 1550. 5.

Marcellus the II. 1555. 22 daies.

Paulus the IIII. 1555. 4.

Pius the IIII. 1560. 5.

Pius the V. 1566. 6.

Selim II

[Page]

SELYMVS.

SELYMVS SECVNDVS TVRCARVM IMPERATOR QVINTVS FLORVIT ANo 1566

Dissimilis patri, Selymus regalia Sceptra,K

Corripit: & dira concutit arma manu.

Foedus cum venetis frangit. Quid foedera prosunt?

Armata (que) manu Cypria regna rapit

Instrauit tumidum numerosis classibus Aequor:

Vt Naupactiacas nobilitaret aquas.

Moldauum foeda mulctauit morte Dynasten

Et magni fines prorogat imperij

Obruit Hispanos multa vi: Punica regna

Destruit: & regnis adijcit illa suis.L

Sed nimis in venerem pronus, vino (que) sepultus,

Extremum properat praecipitare diem.

R. KNOLL.

Vnlike his father, Selymus the royall Scepter takes:

And shaking armes with cruell hand, exceeding stirs he makes.

With VENICE state his league he breaks (with Turks what league can stand)

And CYPRVS kingdome takes from them, by force of mightie hand.

He couered the swelling seas with hugie fleets to see:

That vanquished, vnto those seas he might an honour be.

The Vayuod of MOLDAVIA he brought to wofull end,M

The borders of his kingdome great that so he might extend.

In GVLET he the Spaniards ouerwhelmd with mightie power:

And thereby TVNES kingdome did the selfesame time deuour.

But wholy giuen to venerie, vnto excesse and play,

He posteth on before his time to hast his fatall day.

R. K.

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A

THE LIFE OF SELYMVS, B THE SECOND OF THAT NAME, FIFT EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES.

SElymus, the only sonne of Solyman then left aliue, by letters from Muhamet Bassa vnderstanding of the death of his father, hasted from CVTAI, a citie of GALATIA not farre from ANCYRA, towards CONSTANTINOPLE; and comming to SCVTARIE, was from thence by Bostanges Bassa of the court, conducted ouer the strait to CONSTANTINOPLE: C where, by him and Scander Bassa (Selymus his sonne in law, and then Solymans Vicegerent) he was conuaied into the imperiall pallace the three and twentith of September,Selymus saluted emperour of the Turkes in the yeare 1566. in the yeare 1566; and there possessed of his fathers seat, was by the Ianizaries there present, saluted emperour. He was about the age of fortie two yeares when he began to raigne, a man of an vnconstant and hastie disposition, wholy giuen to wantonnesse and excesse: so that he neuer went to wars himselfe, but performed them altogether by his lieutenants, contrarie to the charge of Selymus his grandfather, giuen by him to his father Solyman, whereof he was neuer vnmindfull. D The next day he came abroad, and shewed himselfe in his majestie; and in the temple of SOPHIA, after the manner of the Turkish superstition, caused solemne praiers and sacrifices to be made for his father: which done, he gaue vnto the Ianizaries a largious of 100000 Sultanines, with promise to augment their wages. And all things being now in readinesse for his intended journey, he with a goodly retinue set forward from CONSTANTINOPLE the seauen and twentith of September: and the twentith of October a little from BELGRADE met the armie comming from SIGETH, gallantly marching vnder their ensignes, with the dead bodie of Solyman, whom the souldiors generally supposed to haue been yet liuing, but troubled with the gout, to haue kept his horse-litter as his manner was to trauell. Selymus alighting, came in his mourning attire to the horse-litter, looked vpon the dead bodie of his father, kissed it, and wept E ouer it, as did all the other great Bassaes also. And that the death of Solyman might then be made knowne to all men, the ensigns were presently let fall, and trailed vpon the ground, a dead march sounded, and heauie silence commaunded to be kept through all the campe. Shortly after, Selymus was with the great applause of the whole armie proclaimed emperour, his ensignes aduaunced, and euerie one of the great commaunders of the armie, in their degree admitted to kisse his hand. So marching forward, he returned againe to CONSTANTINOPLE the two and twentith of Nouember: but thinking to haue entred his pallace (which they commonly call the SERAGLIO) he was by the discontented Ianizaries but now come from the wars, prohibited so to do; they with great insolencie demaunding of him a greater donatiue, togither with the confirmation both of their auntient and new priuiledges, before they would suffer him to enter. Against F which their so great presumption, the Visier Bassaes, togither with the Aga, opposing themselues, and seeking by all means to appease them, were by them fowly intreated and well rapped about the pates with the stocks of their calliuars; but especially the two great Bassaes, Muhamet and Pertau, as the chiefe authors that their lord had dealt no more liberally with them. With which so sudden and vnexpected a mutinie of his best souldiors, Selymus not a little troubled, and calling [Page] vnto him the Aga (or captaine of the Ianizaries) demaunded of him the cause thereof: who G with teares trickling downe his cheekes for griefe, told him, That it was for money. Which by Selymus now promised vnto them, togither with the confirmation of their liberties; and the Aga with faire words and heauie countenance most earnestly entreating them, not to blemish the antient reputation of their wonted loyaltie with so foule a disorder, nor to expose the life of him their louing captaine, vnto the heauie displeasure of their angrie Sultan; and farther assuring them, that he would not faile them in the least of his promises, but content them to the full of their desires; the mutinie was at length appeased, the insolent Ianizaries againe quieted, and Selymus into the SERAGLIO receiued. Howbeit Muhamet, chiefe of the Visier Bassaes, for certaine daies after went not out of his pallace, neither came (as he was woont) into the DIVANO, but kept himselfe cose, for feare of some greater mischiefe from them. This tumult thus ouerpassed,H and all againe well quieted,Solyman buried. Selymus with all royall solemnitie buried his father in a chappell which he after the manner of the Mahometane kings, had in his life time most stately built, with a colledge and an hospitall. Where fast by his side is to be seene the tombe of Roxolana his best beloued wife, and of certaine others his murthered children: and by him hangeth his scimitar, in token that he died in wars; an honour not otherwise granted to the Mahometane princes. The reuenues arising of the countrey about SIGETH of late woon from the Christians, at the time of his death, were giuen to the maintenance of the houses by him built of deuotion; which for the magnificence thereof, exceed all the rest before built by the Mahometane kings and emperours, except those which were the buildings of Mahomet the great, and Baiazet the second. It was by many thought, that Solyman was in good time by death cut off, as purposing that yeare I to haue wintered in HVNGARIE, and the yeare following to haue done great matters against the Christians, both by sea and land.

1567The great armie of the Turks thus drawne out of HVNGARIE by the death of Solyman, in some part assuaged, but altogither appeased not the endlesse troubles of that vnfortunate kingdome. Maximilian the emperour on the one side,Troubles in Hungarie. and Iohn the Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA with the Turks captaines on the other, renting it in pieces, as if they had sworne the destruction thereof. The Vayuod desiring to recouer the strong castle of TOCKAY, in the frontiers of his countrey, but lately taken from him by Suendi the emperours lieutenant, laid hard siege vnto it, and had brought it to great extremitie, although it was notably defended by Iames Raminger the captaine thereof: when suddenly newes was brought vnto him, That the Tartars (whom he K had called into his countrey to haue aided him against the emperour) did with all hostilitie after their barbarous manner, burne and destroy his countrey before them, making hauocke of all things; so that the countrey people were glad in defence of themselues, to take vp armes against them. Wherupon he forthwith left the siege, and went to aid his distressed subjects against the Tartars, with whom he had many an hoat skirmish; and after much bloudshed, at last ouercame them, and with much adoe rid himselfe of such bad guests. Now in the meane time, Suendi strengthened with new supplies sent vnto him from the emperor, had taken the castle of ZACKMAR in the borders of TRANSILVANIA, and with like good fortune had the castle of MVNCATZ yeelded vnto him, and after that besieged the towne of HVSTH: so that the Vayuod was glad to craue aid of the Turkish emperour Selymus, vnder whose protection he was: who presently L commaunded Partau one of his cheefe Bassaes, & then his great lieutenant in ROMANIA, to goe with his forces into TRANSILVANIA, to relieue him. But hearing that embassadours were comming from Maximilian the emperour, he called him backe againe, vntill he had heard the effect of that embassage.The Bassa of Buda desirous to further the peace. At which time also the Bassa of BVDA enclining vnto peace, sent presents to the emperour, requesting him to remooue certaine Hungarian captaines from off the frontiers, least happily they should interrupt the treatie of peace, then on both sides purposed; promising for his part to punish with death all such Turkes as should make any further inuasion, or raise any new troubles. He writ letters also to countie Salma, That he could not but maruell, to what end Maximilian the emperour was about to entreat with his lord & master of peace, whilst Suendi in the meane time was raging in TRANSILVANIA, then vnder the Turkes protection; M which if he proceeded still to doe, Selymus would thereof take occasion (as he said) to turne all his forces that way: wherefore he requested him to persuade the emperour to take some more easie course in that behalfe, promising also, that he would for his part effectually trauell with his master, to haue better liking of peace than of warres, wishing him also to doe the like. Which [Page] A thing as soone as the emperour vnderstood, he commaunded Suendi to giue ouer the siege of HVSTH, and to keepe himselfe quiet, vntill he might by his embassadours vnderstand what the great Turke purposed, and how he was affected towards peace.

Now in deed these two great princes,Maximilian and Selymus both desirous of peace. Maximilian and Selymus (although they notably dissembled the matter) were both of them in heart desirous of peace, and that for diuers great and vrgent considerations: Maximilian for want of money, saw it not possible for him to send into the field such an armie the next yeare, as he had the yeare before. And Selymus, beside his other troubles, was to take order for the appeasing of a great and dangerous rebellion, in the farthest part of his dominions in ARABIA FoeLIX; where the people rising vp in armes, and hauing slaine the Bassaes and Sanzacks their Gouernours, were readie to haue cast off the Turkish obedience: B neither was he out of feare of the Persians, readie (as was reported) to make warre vpon him. For which causes he wished rather for peace with the emperor Maximilian, than wars: and so much the more, for that it was impossible for him to send an armie of any puissance into HVNGARIE, for want of many necessarie prouisions for the maintenance thereof, in a countrey so much impouerished by reason of the late wars; wherein no victuals were to be found for the reliefe of such a multitude of men as he was to send, if he would doe any good there. And truth it was (as the Turkes themselues afterward reported) that Maximilian with halfe the power he had in field the last yeare, might haue easily recouered the greatest part of that kingdome before lost: but well knowing his owne wants, and ignorant of theirs, he altogither enclining to peace; and by countie Salma aduertised from the Bassa of BVDA, That if he would send embassadors to C CONSTANTINOPLE with the tribute woont to be there paid for HVNGARIE, a peace vpon reasonable conditions might be easily obtained; he resolued vpon that point. And so certaine messengers being sent vp and downe to CONSTANTINOPLE to the same effect, it was concluded, That if the emperour would send embassadours to CONSTANTINOPLE with the tribute yet behind, and a large commission for the treatie of peace, Selymus should giue them his safe conduct, with libertie at their pleasure to returne in case either of peace or warre. Which agreed vpon, and faithfully promised on both sides, Selymus set at libertie the lord Albert de Vuis, who six yeares Lieger in CONSTANTINOPLE, first for the emperor Ferdinand, and after for Maximilian, had now been straightly imprisoned in his owne house by the space of two and twentie moneths, in such sort that neither he nor any of his houshold could goe abroad, watch and ward D being kept both night and day about his house, and his windowes also boorded vp, to the end he should not so much as looke out into the citie or any whither else more than the court of his house onely. So the emperour Maximilian now resolued to send embassadors to CONSTANTINOPLE with the tribute money, and diuers other rich gifts and presents, as well to the great Turke himselfe as the Visier Bassaes his counsellors: and considering with himselfe, whom to be most fit with wisedome and honour to bring this so waightie a matter about, hauing to doe with so barbarous, couetous, and mightie a people; made choise of the lord Anthonius Verantius of AGRIA (of his counsell for the kingdome of HVNGARIE) a prelat of great estimation, who being a man of threescore and three yeares old, beside his great learning, had the experience of seauen and twentie embassages; wherein he alwaies so discreetly bare himselfe, as well E contented his prince, and purchased vnto himselfe the reputation of a most graue and wise man: and about ten yeares before this embassage, being by the emperour Ferdinand sent embassadour to Solyman, and now by Maximilian to Selymus at CONSTANTINOPLE, returning thence with good successe, was by the emperour created a prince of the empire, and bishop of AGRIA. Vnto which so honourable a personage, hauing the charge of this so waightie a matter, the emperour the more to ennoble this embassage, as also to purchase the greater credit to his embassadour, joyned vnto him a most honourable Baron, called the lord Christopher Teufenbatch of STIRIA, one of his counsellours also for the wars; who with full instructions both taking their leaue of the emperour (then holding a parliament at PRESEVR [...]) departed:Maximilian the emperor sendeth embassadours to Selymus. and being attended vpon with a great and honourable retinue, set forward the first of Iuly 1567, and so came to COMARA F a strong towne in HVNGARIE, not past a league from the Turkes frontiers. In which place the embassadours staying vntill the seauenth of Iuly; in the meane time gaue knowledge of their comming vnto the Gouernor of STRIGONIVM, demanding for their securitie in the enemies countrey, to be met and receiued by some of his garrison: which granted, they tooke their barkes brought from VIENNA and POSSONIVM, sufficient for their greatnesse to haue carried [Page] them downe the riuer to BELGRADE, with horse and wagon and their whole furniture: and so G entring vpon the Turks dominion about a league or a little more from COMARA, being so farre wafted by the souldiors and gallies of COMARA, they were met by an Aga of the Turkes with a Chiaus called Becram (sent by the Bassa of BVDA) in certaine gallies armed with Turkish souldiors. To whom the embassadour at his landing deliuered his mind, and afterward his person, giuing them to vnderstand, that they were with all safetie to conduct both him and all his to the Bassa of BVDA; which they answered, they were readie to accomplish: and so courteously inuited by the embassadours, they came aboord their barke, and there dined all togither. Here they that were sent with them, leauing them in the hands of the Turkes (hauing licence to depart) returned to COMARA: and they that day after fiue leagues sailing arriued at STRIGONIVM, where they were by the Gouernour of the citie denied landing: for which so dishonourable a H part, he was afterward sharply rebuked by the Bassa of BVDA. Yet as they lay that night vpon the water, certaine Turkish minstrels, to doe them honour and to get a largesse, with their barbarous bawling instruments plaied them vp many an homely fit of mirth: and diuers others with sundrie sorts of vauting and tumbling, sometime leaping one vpon anothers shoulders, and sometime doing their tricks on the earth,The embassadors come to Buda. all the euening shewed them great sport and pastime. From STRIGONIVM they with fiue leagues sayling came to BVDA, leauing behind them the castle of VICEGRADE, two leagues distant from STRIGONIVM. In this citie of BVDA lieth the great Bassa, by whom all HVNGARIE, with the prouinces thereto belonging (in the Turkes power) is gouerned. This citie, sometime the regall seat of the Hungarian kings, is situat vpon a little hill on the Southside of Danubius, hauing in the South point thereof a castle, much I higher than the citie, and of a most braue prospect: in which castle lieth a captaine with a garrison of fiue hundred souldiors (as the Turkes say) howbeit it is thought that they are not altogither so many: it is the losse of his head to stir out of his charge; and beside, he hath commission to denie the Bassa himselfe entrance, vnlesse he come verie sleightly accompanied [...] so jealous are the Turkes of that castle, as if the state of HVNGARIE depended thereon. Herein standeth the kings pallace, which taketh vp most part of the place, greatly beautified by king Mathias, and shewing outwardly to haue been a verie stately thing: for there are in it both large hals and faire galleries, and chambers built in most royall manner; where amongst other roomes, the embassadours found a decaied librarie full of pictures and Latine titles of bookes: all which things, when they present themselues vnto the eies of the Christian beholders, offer a just consideration K of noble and reuerend antiquitie, and withall, strike into their hearts a certaine compassion joyned with horror, to see the renowmed glorie of so many great kings, all wasted and brought to nothing. The next morning, the embassadours went to speake with the Bassa: whose house was reasonable faire (considering their guise and custome, not much delighting in the beautie of their priuat buildings) scituat vpon the riuers side, at the bottome of the hill whereon the citie standeth. Vnto this Bassa the embassadors presented two faire gilt cups,Presents giuen by the emperours embassadours vnto the Bassa of Buda. a clocke all curiously wrought in gold, and a thousand dollars: which present the Bassa receiued in his Diuano (being a large hall) where he sat with his counsellours, officers, and other Turkes in their places and order; some on his right hand, and others on his left, all richly attired in garments of silke of diuers colours and fashions, reaching downe to their ancles after their manner; their heads couered L with their passing white and well made Turbants: in which assembly, nothing being to be seene but goodly order and graue silence, they seemed to the strange beholders, so many counsellours of exceeding grauitie and reputation. Round about the hall wherein the embassadours had audience, were many seats couered with Turkie carpets; the rest of the roome being all vacant. The Bassa in a place more apparant than the rest, sitting in great majestie: before whom were set two little chaires, on which (after he had stood vp a while and embraced the embassadors) he caused them both to sit downe. Whose speech deliuered in the Italian tongue (after they had discharged themselues of the emperours letters and greetings) was to this effect, viz: That his imperiall majestie (for the common benefit of their subjects in HVNGARIE) requested him to continue in his good purpose and dealing for peace: and further, to giue safe conduct vnto them his embassadours M with their retinue, vntill they were come vnto the Turkes court, where they were to entreat and conclude a peace, to the ending of all troubles, and the publike benefit of their subjects in generall. Which speech, with cheerfull and friendly countenance ended, many of the embassadours followers were admitted to kisse the Bassaes hand, accounted no small fauor amongst [Page] A those Barbarians. The interpretour of these things was a Iew of PADVA, who declared all that was spoken, in the Turkish language vnto the Bassa, and in the Italian vnto the embassadors. And although (if it had been their pleasure) they might haue told their mind each to other in the Sclauonian tongue, without an interpretour: yet the Bassa standing more vpon his reputation, and for some other respects beside, would haue the matter propounded, and likewise answered in the Turkish. In which sort they also conferred continually afterward with the Bassaes at CONSTANTINOPLE, vnlesse it were in some particular and priuat talke of small importance, or else in some point beside the matter; for then the interpretours spake in the Crouatian or Sclauonian tongue, which is familiar to most of the Turks, but especially to the men of warre. Before this hall where the embassadours were entertained by the Bassa; in the base court stood all the Ianizaries B in goodly array, and his slaues with their red zarcull on their heads, and other souldiours with high and long plumes of feathers standing vpright: all which made a beautifull shew, and gaue all great grace to the Bassaes court: these men stirre not one foot in their standings, and if the consultation doe last foure houres long, so long are they to continue standing without moouing. The embassadours hauing staied two daies at BVDA, were by the Bassa dismissed, sending with them his Checai (the Steward or gouernour of his house) a man of great reputation, and Becram the Chiaus (the same that came to meet them at COMARA) with a sufficient guard, and certaine Ianizaries, sent for their more safe trauelling, and to prouide for them from place to place of all things necessarie for their diet, as also for their horses, at the Turkes charges. And thus accompanied, they embarked the tenth day of the aforesaid moneth, towed vp by the Turkes gallies, C which holpen by the swiftnesse of the riuer, carried them down in eight daies to BELGRADE, where they arriued the eighteenth of Iuly. So hauing staied at BELGRADE, and there leauing their boats, and taking their coaches, they set forward by land the twentith of the said moneth, and with great paines trauelling through RASCIA, BVLGARIA, and THRACIA, and passing a part of the great mountaine SCARDVS, and after that the mountaine RHODOPE, so by the way of PHILIPPOPOLIS and HADRIANOPLE, the two and twentith of August gathered fast vpon CONSTANTINOPLE: where many of the Spahies and Chiausais of the court, with a number of the Ianizaries and other souldiors, for their greater honor came to meet them a great way without the citie.The emperours embassadours honourably receiued by the Turks at Constantinople. By whom the embassadours honourably mounted on horsebacke, were by them conducted to their lodging appointed for them about the middest of the citie: where D the lord Albert de Vuis the emperours embassadour Lieger (not long before enlarged) hauing long looked for their comming, now most joyfully receiued them. It was then Friday the Turks Sabaoth, and a day of them aboue all other daies in the weeke regarded, and about ten of the clocke two houres before noone; at which time the embassadours were no sooner alighted, but that Selymus going to heare the ceremonies of his religion, in the Moschie of his father Solyman (as his manner was sometime to doe) passed along before the gate where the embassadours lay, with the whole traine of his court; and peraduenture somewhat more than ordinarie, to shew the magnificence of his power and state, to the end that the embassadours (aboue the former opinion by them conceiued) might hold him in the reputation of a most puissant and mightie monarch. He passing by, vouchsafed not once to giue them a regard, or so much as to cast his E eye aside vpon them, although they were strangers, and but euen then arriued: but with a countenance, as if he had knowne not so much as nothing of their comming, held on his way as it say. But Muhamet the chiefe Visier Bassa, with the other Bassaes and great courtiers, in most gratious manner as they passed by, cast their eies vpon them; all the courtesie they could then shew them.Presents giuen by the emperours embassadours to the great Bassa [...] Six daies after, being the eight and twentith of August, the embassadours all three went to visit and salute Muhamet (or as the Turks call him Mehemet) the chiefe Visier Bassa, as the manner was, presenting him from the emperour with foure cups of siluer all guilt, of most faire and cutious workmanship; of which, two of them being greater than the other, were three spans high, the other two being not so high by a span, but hauing in them two thousand duckats of gold▪ beside which, they gaue him also a clocke, being a most curious piece of worke, and all F ouer double guilt. After which greetings and presents deliuered, beside the contents of his majesties letters, they declared vnto him in generall points, the cause of their comming, and the mind of the emperour well disposed to a peace; and what great benefit would arise thereby to both parties: and lastly turning ouer the blame of the late warres, and laying the fault thereof to the charge of others, sweetned thereby the sower of their former dealings. Neither was the Bassa [Page] likewise for his part to seeke of good words, but answered them in Turkish by the mouth of G Hibraim the cheefe Dragoman, who deliuered his mind to them in Latin or Italian, accordingly as the embassadours had before vttered theirs: which parle so ended, certaine of the cheefe of the embassadours followers were admitted into the Diuano to kisse the proud Bassaes hand. The same day the embassadours also saluted Partau the second Bassa, and Ferat the third in order and authoritie. To Partau they presented two cups of siluer all guilt, beside a clock of the same making with the abouenamed, and two thousand dollers: and the like to Ferat. The next day they went to visit the other three Bassaes, Acomat, Piall, and Muhamet, presenting euery one of them with two faire cups, and a thousand dollars: These were the six Visier Bassaes to Selymus, then lying at Court with him, men that for wealth and authoritie went before all other in the Turkish empire, as in the course of this historie may appeare. And so hauing visited them in generall, the embassadours H to set their affaires on foot, the fourth of September closed with Muhamet, to whom the ordering of state-matters was especially committed. Yet after this first conference, because it was necessarie before so weightie affaires were broached, first to doe the Great Turke reuerence, and to deliuer the presents, with the emperours letters to him written; for some few dayes there was not any point at all of the embassadours businesse handled.

Selymus not long after the embassadours were arriued, went out for his disport and pleasure on hunting: so that in the meane time (after the presents were giuen to the Bassaes) matters stood still altogether vnaduanced, vntill the one and twentieth of September: and that day (Selymus being now returned from his disport) it was appointed that the embassadors should haue audience at the Court. Whereupon they made choice out of their followers of those that should attend I vpon them, which were not in all aboue twelue persons: For they to whom this charge was committed, said it was neither the manner nor yet meet that any great traine should come before so great a prince, and that they might not bring with them aboue that number: whereupon they appointed but six a peece to attend them:Presents sent vnto Selymus by the emperour. and of fifteene cups all of siluer and guilt, being most curiously and cunningly engrauen, one of the fairest among the rest was giuen to each of those twelue to carrie, and they ordered to goe by two and two before the rest that came after in order with the rest of the present: which was two exceeding pretious Clockes, like in bignesse to them before giuen to the Bassaes, but far aboue them in value; and fiue and fortie thousand Dollars for the tribute behind and yet vnpayed. The greatest of those cups was six spans and an halfe, and the least two spans in height: some of them being double cups after the high Dutch manner.K The embassadours (whose comming a great multitude of the Ianizaries attended below at the gate of their lodging:The emperours embassadors honourably conducted by the Turks vnto the Court. beside many of the Spahies and Chiausis, and others of good sort, which were come to honour them with their presence to the pallace) putting themselues in readinesse betimes in the morning, and taking horse, set forward toward the Court. The formost were they that did beare the present in their hands, the people of the citie in euery street flocking together in exceeding multitudes to behold them as they passed: and verily there had been seldome times seene the like embassage in those parts. For besides the fame that was blowne abroad in euery quarter, That they were men sent from one of the greatest princes of Christendome; the diuersitie of their attire (so few as they were) more than any thing beside, did represent the majestie of the Christian emperour to them that gased vpon his embassadours and their traine, the people conceiuing L thereby that he was lord and ruler of many prouinces and countries. For they that were Hungarians belonging to the bishop of AGRIA (the cheefe embassadour) being attired in long and sober garments of very fine purple cloth, hauing their shooes pieced ouer the soles with yron plates, and halfe of their heads shauen, seemed to differ from them but little. But on the other side the high Dutch attired in blacke, with their veluet caps, and short cloakes layed with siluer lace, and long breeches little lesse than Rutter wise, and chaines of gold about their neckes, appeared very strange and vncouth to the Turkish people: and so accompanied in this honourable wise, the embassadours entred the first gate of the Great Turks pallace.The first Gate of the Great Turks pallace. This gate is built of marble in most sumptuous manner, and of a stately height, with certaine words of their language in the front thereof engrauen and guilt in marble. So passing through the base Court, which hath on M the right side very faire gardens, and on the left side diuers buildings seruing for other offices, with a little Moschie;The second Gate they came to the second gate, where all such as come in riding, must of necessitie alight. Here so soon as they were entred in at this second gate, they came into a very large square Court, with buildings and galleries round about it, the kitchins standing on the right hand, with [Page] A other lodgings for such as belonged to the Court, and on the left hand likewise roomes deputed to like seruices. There are moreouer many hals and other roomes for resort, where they sit in counsell handling and executing the publike affaires either of the Court or of the Empire, with other matters, where the Bassaes and other officers assemble together. Entring in at this second gate, in one part of the Court, which seemed rather some large street, they saw the whole companie of the Solaches set in a goodly ranke, which are archers keeping alwayes neere vnto the person of the Great Turke, and seruing as his footmen when he rideth: they vse high plumes of feathers, which are set bolt vpright ouer their foreheads. In another place there stood the Capitzi in like array, with blacke staues of Indian canes in their hands: they are the porters and warders at the gates of the pallace, not much differing in their attire from the Ianizaries; who B stood in ranke likewise in another quarter. And beside all those, with many more that were out of order, as well of the Court as of the common people, those knights of the Court which accompanied the embassadours thither, with other great ones also of like degree, were marshalled all in their seuerall companies. And among the rest, the Mutfarachas, men of all nations and all religions (for their valour the onely freemen which liue at their owne libertie in the Turkish empire) stood there apparrelled in damaske, veluet, and cloth of gold, and garments of silke of sundrie kinds and colours: their pompe was great, and the greater, for the turbants that they wore vpon their heads, being as white as whitenesse it selfe, made a most braue and goodly shew well worth the beholding. In breefe, whether they were to be considered all at once, or in particular, as well for the order that they kept, as for their sumptuous presence, altogether without noise or C rumour; they made the embassadours and the rest of their followers there present, eye witnesses both of their obedience, and of the great state and royaltie of the Othoman Court. Passing through them, the embassadours were led into the hall, where the Bassaes and other great men of the Court were all readie to giue them entertainement: they of their traine being at the same time brought into a roome that stood a part vnder one of the aforesaid lodgings all hung with Turkie carpets.A homely feast giuen to the embassadors followers in the Turkes Court. Soone after (as their vse and manner is) they brought in their dinner, couering the ground with table clothes of a great length, spred vpon carpets; and afterward scattering vpon them a maruellous number of woodden spoons, with so great store of bread, as if they had beene to feed three hundred persons: then they set on meat in order, which was serued in two and fortie great platters of earth, full of rice pottage of three or foure kinds, differing one from D another; some of them seasoned with hony, and of the colour of hony; some with soure milke, and white of colour; & some with sugar: they had fritters also which were made of like batter; and mutton beside, or rather a daintie and toothsome morsell of an old sodden Ewe. The table (if there had any such beene) thus furnished, the guests without any ceremonie of washing sat downe on the ground (for stooles there was none) and fell to their victuall, and dranke out of great earthen dishes, water prepared with sugar, which kind of drinke they call Zerbet. But so hauing made a short repast, they were no sooner risen, but certaine young men whom they call Giamoglans, with others that stood round about them, snatcht it hastily vp as their fees, and like greedie Harpies rauened it downe in a moment. The embassadours in the meane time dined in the hall with the Bassaes. And after dinner certaine of the Capitzies were sent for the twelue of E the embassadours followers, before appointed to do the great Sultan reuerence: by whom (their presents being alreadie conueied away) they were remooued out of the place where they dined, and brought on into an vnder roome, from whence there was an ascent into the hall, where the Bassaes were staying for the embassadours: who soone after came foorth, and for their ease sat them downe vpon the benches, whiles the Bassaes went in to Selymus; who before this time had made an end of dinner, and was remooued in all his royaltie into one of his chambers, expecting the comming of the embassadours. All things now in readinesse, and the embassadors sent for, they set forward with their traine, and came to the third gate which leadeth into the priuie pallace of the Turkish emperour, where none but himselfe, his eunuchs, and the young pages his minions, being in the eunuchs custodie, hath continuall abiding: into which inward part of the F pallace none entreth but the Capitzi-Bassa (who hath the keeping of this third gate) & the Cesigniers (that serue in the Great Turks meat) with the Bassaes and some few other great men▪ The third Ga [...]e▪ and that onely when they haue occasion so to doe by reason of some great businesse, or sent for by the Sultan. Being entered in at this gate, which is of a stately and royall building, the Capitzi by whom they were conducted, suddenly caused them to stay, and set them one from another about [Page] fiue paces; in a little roome, which neuerthelesse was passing delicate, all curiously painted ouer G with diuers colours, and stood betweene the gate and the more inner lodgings. On both sides of which roome, when all things els were whist and in a deepe silence, certaine little birds onely were heard to warble out their sweet notes, and to flicker vp and downe the greene trees of the gardens (which all along cast a pleasant shaddow from them) as if they alone had obtained licence to make a noise. Selymus himselfe was in great majestie set in an vnder chamber, parted only with a wall from the roome wherin the embassadours followers attended, wherinto he might looke through a little window, the portall of his said chamber standing in counterpoint with the third gate aboue mentioned. The embassadours entering in, were led single and one after another,The embassadors brought in vnto Selymus, with the manner of the entertainment of them and their followers. to make their reuerence vnto the Great Turke. And in the meane time certaine of the Capitzi with the presents in their hands fetching a compasse about before the window, mustered H them in his sight. All this while not the least sound in the world being raised, but a sacred silence kept in euery corner, as if men had been going to visit the holiest place in HIERVSALEM, Yet for all that the embassadours followers placed one from another (as is aforesaid) were not aware that the great Sultan was so neere, looking still when they should haue beene led on forwards all together: howbeit, they were set in one after another: neither did they that were so set out, returne againe into the roome; but hauing seuerally done their reuerence, were all (except the embassadours, that still stayed in the chamber) by one and one sent out another way into the Court: neither could he that came after see his fellow that went before him, after he was once taken in to doe his reuerence: but suddenly as the former was let out, the next was aduaunced forward to the dore, where Isman the Capitzi-Bassa & the Odda-Bassa taking him by both arms I and by the necke, the one at his right hand, and the other at his left, and so leading him apace, by the way softly felt his wrests with their hands, least peraduenture he might haue some short weapon in his [...]leeue.Itinerario Di Marc Antonio Pigafetta. ca. 5. Yet were they not all thus groped, as Marc Antonio Pigafetta, the reporter of this negotiation, sayth of himselfe and some others also. Howbeit this hath been (and yet is) the manner of giuing of accesse vnto the person of the Great Turke, euer since that Amurath the first was after the battell of CASSOVA murthered by one of Lazarus the Despots men, who admitted to his presence (in reuenge of the wrong done vnto his master) with a short poynard that he had closely hidden about him, so stabbed him in the bellie that he presently died. And thus like men rather carried to prison by sergeants, than to the presence of so mightie a Monarch, they were presented vnto his majestie: he sitting vpon a pallet, which the Turkes call Mastabe,K vsed by them in their chambers to sleepe and to feed vpon, couered with carpets of silke, as was the whole floore of the chamber also. The chamber it selfe being not very great, was but darke, altogether without windowes, excepting that one whereof we haue before spoken: and hauing the wals painted and set out in most fresh and liuely colours by great cunning, and with a most delicat grace: yet vse they neither pictures nor the image of any thing in their painting. The six Visier Bassaes (before mentioned) were standing on the left hand as they entred in at the chamber dore one by another in one side of the chamber, and the embassadours on the right hand on the other side, standing likewise, and vncouered. The Dragomans were in another part of the chamber, neere the place where the Sultan sat gorgiously attired in a robe of cloth of gold, all embrodered with jewels: when as the embassadours followers by one and one brought before him (as L is aforesaid) and kneeling on the ground, a Turke standing on his right side, with all reuerence taking vp the hemme of his garment, gaue it them in their hands to kisse. Selymus himselfe all this while sitting like an image without moouing, and with great state and majestie keeping his countenance, dained not to giue them one of his lookes. This done, they were led backe againe, neuer turning their backes towards him, but going still backwards, vntill they were out of his presence. So after they had all thus made their reuerence, and were departed out of the chamber, the embassadours deliuered vnto Selymus the emperours letters, and briefely declared vnto him their message: whom he answering in foure words, as, That they were to conferre with his Bassaes: presently they were dismissed. And so comming out of the two inner gates, they mounted on horsebacke, and tooke the way leading towards their lodging, being at their returne accompanied M with the whole order of the Ianizaries, with their Aga, and other captaines: among whom were certaine of their religious men called Haagi (which vse to follow the Ianizaries) who continually turning about, and in their going, singing or rather howling out certain Psalmes and praiers for the welfare of their Great Sultan, gaue the embassadours and their followers occasion to [Page] A wonder, that they either left not for wearinesse, or fell not downe like noddies for giddinesse. All these were sent, the more honourably to accompanie the embassadours to their lodging: and beside these, many more on horsebacke than attended them at their foorth comming: in regard whereof, the embassadors when they were come to their lodging, to requite their greedie courtesie, frankely distributed amongst them aboue foure thousand dollars, and yet well contented them not.

The embassadours after this entertainement at Court, had diuers times conference with the great Bassaes concerning peace, as Selymus had commaunded: wherein by reason of the Turkes vnreasonable demaunds (as their manner is at their first meetings) nothing could be as then concluded: so [...]at Selymus himselfe being shortly after to depart for HADRIANOPLE, where he B was to continue for some moneth (but rather as it was thought for that they could not agree vpon a point of great consequence) the treatie for peace was intermitted, vntill such time as a messenger dispatched in post, might returne vnto the Turks Court with some resolute answere concerning that matter.The principall point whereupon the embassadours differed from the Turkes in the treatie of peace. So it was, that during the reigne of the late emperour Ferdinand, that the Turke his subjects in HVNGARIE payed all their taxes and tributes vnto their old lords and masters, abiding and liuing in the emperours jurisdiction, as did the subjects of Ferdinand to their lords that dwelt in the Turks dominion and territories: Now in this treatie for peace, the Turks (amongst other their vnreasonable requests) demanded to haue their subjects freed, and yet the subjects of the emperour to pay as they were before accustomed. Which as it was a request nothing indifferent, so was it no lesse prejudiciall and hurtfull vnto the emperour his subjects in C HVNGARIE: for which cause the embassadours would not by any meanes consent thereunto, before they knew the emperours farther pleasure concerning the same. Whereupon they dispatched one Sig. Odoardo a gentleman of MANTVA, very skilfull in the Turkish language and in such like affaires, by reason that as well about this businesse as at diuers times before about other the like, he had beene employed from VIENNA to CONSTANTINOPLE in the emperours seruice. So Selymus shortly after, viz. the twentieth of October, departing from CONSTANTINOPLE, in great magnificence passed by the gate where the embassadours lay, with his whole Court in armes, and in the same order that is vsually kept when he goeth to warre or taketh any great journey. After whose departure the embassadours hauing sufficiently viewed the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, and then at good leisure, to passe the time and to see the countries they D had so often both heard and read of, together with the ports and hauens on both sides that narrow sea which deuideth EVROPE from ASIA, embarking themselues, and crossing the mouth of the hauen betwixt CONSTANTINOPLE and PERA, passed all alongst the coast on EVROPE side vnto the Euxine or blacke sea, and so backe againe by the other side of that straight sea: curiously noting the great ruines of the antient cities of BITHYNIA, with some others alongst the Asian shore, together with the pleasant situation they in former times had, whilest they yet flourished in their glorie, but now for most part (or rather altogether) laied in the dust & brought to nought: and so returned againe to CONSTANTINOPLE. But whilest they thus deceiued the time, and lay long expecting the returne, as well of their owne messenger sent vnto the emperor, as of Selymus himselfe; they were aduertised in all hast to repaire vnto him to HADRIANOPLE, E whether the aforesaid messenger was now come with full instructions of all things concerning the treatie for peace. For which cause they with great speed making themselues ready, and taking their leaue of Piall Bassa (who for that he was Selymus his great Admirall, then lay at CONSTANTINOPLE) set forward the first of Ianuarie in the yeare 1568:1568 and so after nine dayes trauell at length arriued at HADRIANOPLE about an hundred fiftie three Italian miles distant from CONSTANTINOPLE. Here they stayed vntill the peace was concluded, which was the seuenteenth of Februarie:The cheefe capitulation wheron a peace was concluded betwixt Maximilian the emperour and Selymus. the cheefe capitulations whereof were, That either of those great princes should still hold what they had got each from the other in the late warres, That the emperour should yearely pay thirtie thousand ducka [...]s to the Turkish Sultan, as a tribute for HVNGARIE, the tribute to begin in the beginning of Ianuarie last past this yeare 1568, That the subjects of F the Turke should pay nothing to the subjects of the emperour, neither the emperours any thing to the Turks, but to be both of those paiments free. And that vpon these conditions there should be a firme & sure peace betwixt these two great Monarchs for eight years next following: wherin the Vayuod of TRANSILVANIA was (as the Turkes tributarie) to be also comprehended. Neuerthelesse, all things at this time thus agreed vpon, the Turkes after their subtile manner finding [Page] sundry cauillations, and raising many doubts about the aforesaid capitulations, did what they G might to haue in some part altered what they had before agreed vpon, to the bettering of themselues and the hurt of the Christians: and so with many their vnreasonable demaunds stayed the departure of the embassadours vntill the twentith of March following. At which time hauing their dispatch, and taking their leaue of the Great Turke and the Bassaes, accompanied with Hebraim-Beg (Selymus his embassadour vnto the emperour) they by land returned towards VIENNA; where they with the joyfull newes of peace the tenth of May arriued, being there two daies after at the Court most honourably receiued. And fiue daies after, audience was giuen vnto the Turks embassadour; who well heard, and better rewarded, shortly after returned with a full conclusion of peace from the emperour to CONSTANTINOPLE.

Embassadours sent from Tamas the Persian king to Selymus.But whilest this peace was thus in concluding, and the embassadours yet resident at HADRIANOPLE,H the sixteenth of Februarie came an honourable embassage from Shach Tamas the Persian king vnto the Great Sultan Selymus, to entreat a peace betwixt them, or rather to conclude the same, being before agreed vpon the controuersies, for which they afterwards fell to open war. Which embassage for that it is no lesse truly than plainely set downe in a letter sent from ERZIRVM (a citie then in the confines of the Turkes dominions towards the Persians) written by a Chiaus to Muhamet cheefe of the Visier Bassaes; which Chiaus was of purpose sent from CONSTANTINOPLE, to meet the said Persian embassadour: I thought it not amisse for the better vnderstanding thereof, to set downe the effect of the same letter as it was translated out of the Turkish into the Italian by the emperours embassadours interpreter.

I

The effect of the letter written to Muhamet Bassa, the cheefe Visier, by a Chiaus sent of purpose to meet the Persian Embassadour.

After due salutations, this is the effect of that which we thought good to make knowne vnto your lordship. Now at this present (to wit in the beginning of the month Giuma Sulacchir) is in good health arriued the embassadour of Persia, the kings cheefe counsellour, called Schach Culi Soltan was not the proper name of this embassadour, but a title of honour, and signifieth as much as a prince seruant to the king. Schach Culi Soltan, attended vpon with a hundred and twentie gentlemen, with guilt turbants on their heads, & well furnished with spare horses led in mens hands. Besides whom he was accompanied also with two hundred knights all apparrelled in cloth of gold, with foure hundred Persian marchants, in all aboue seuen hundred persons; K with a thousand nine hundred beasts, cammels, mules, and horses; fiue couple of drums, euery couple being placed vpon a seuerall cammell, fiue Nacars, three trumpets, fiue flutes, and other instruments, in all about thirtie musitions, playing vpon these instruments: There were also two queristers or chaunters of the Alcoran, one Organist, one playing vpon a Turkish instrument like a Lute, two players vpon Sagbuts, with two other musitions, eight in all. There were also foure bondwomen seruing in the embassadours owne chamber. Who when he was with all this magnificent pompe come within one dayes iourney of ERZIRVM, the Sayms are soldiors of greater honour than the Spahi, hauing for their stipend yearely 2000 Aspers at the least, out of the reuenues of certaine townes and villages. Sayms and Spahies assembling themselues together to the number of eight thousand men, went to meet him: amongst whom were an hundred and more, all apparrelled in cloth of gold and sattin: two thousand men with guilt morrions on their heads: in which brauerie we marching forward, the Persian embassadour amazed to see so great maiestie and pompe,L said that all the armie of CONSTANTINOPLE was come to meet him: and so being come into the citie, caused all the instruments to be played vpon, euen from morning vntill night. The next morning the embassadour inuited the Bassa with all the lords and officers, who being come, he entreated them to heare his musicke: and in like manner the lord Bassa inuited the Persians. But as the embassadour was going to the banquet, came another Sultan of the kings, who brought to the same embassadour a guilt Turbant, and a rich gowne wrought with gold, which he caused him to put on by the way. By this embassadour the Persian king hath sent all the armour of Sultan Baiazet, with all his cammels and other wealth. The causes of the long stay of this embassadour were specially two: the one for that the Persian king had caused to be made two pauilions of one peece, the curtains being interlaced with gold, and the supporters imbrodered with the same: Besides this, he sent two bookes of histories, and two M pearles, which in weight weighed ten A Mescali is foure [...]. Mescali: one Balasso as big as a little pearle, fourescore and two times an hundred Tumenlich is in va [...]e as much a [...] the Turkes Asper. Tumenlich of stuffe, amounting to fourescore and two summes of Aspers, and fortie Falcons: all which the Persian king hath sent vnto the Great Sultan, as to the onely Monarch and Patrone of the world. This Schach Culi is the next in authoritie to the king, and so was in the [Page] A time of the great king Hysmaell. These two Persian Sultans are the kings cheefe Sultans and courtiers, and therefore set themselues forth with all the pompe they can. Yet notwithstanding all their brauerie, being come to ERZIRVM within the view of our armie, the Persians were amazed to behold the goodly order of the Othomans. One part of these Persians are returned againe into PERSIA. And if it please God at the comming of my messenger vnto you, your lordship shall vnderstand of what condition and state these two princes and Sultans are. They haue each of them yearely six Tumoni: which maketh after the computation of the Othomans, six thousand Aspers. Your lor [...]ship after this account may iudge of the rest. The other cause of the long stay of this embassadour, was for that in SIRVAN the people were vp in rebellion, wherein many of them were slaine: to the appeasing of which sedition, this Schach Culi was sent, and now at last is come. From ERZIRVM in the beginning B of the moneth of December. Giuma Sulacchir, in the yeare of the Prophet Mahomet 975.

This the Persian embassadour was with the greatest pompe that might be entertained by the Turks at his first comming to HADRIANOPLE,The Persian embassadours honorably entertained by the Turkes a [...] Hadrianople. all the braue Courtiers with the Ianizaries and other souldiors of the Court going forth in most seemely order to meet him. Who now entred the citie, and come before the house where the emperours embassadours then lay, and seeing certaine of their retinue before the dore, asked of Isnam the Capitzi Bassa, what people they were? who told him that they were the followers of an embassadour that there lay, sent from one of the greatest princes of the Christians, namely the emperour, who was desirous to make peace with the Great Sultan his master. Whereunto the embassadour replied, That he would willingly C salute them: which Isnam hearing, straightway turned his horse towards the place where they stood. Now the emperours embassadour being secret within a lattise, and seeing him come towards them, went forth and stood vpon the dore threshold, and so with signes and words saluted one another. Amongst the others the Persian embassadour said vnto the emperours, That he would gladly talke with them, if it might so please the Grand Signior: Hebraim the Dragoman who then was with the emperours embassadours, being interpreter. So hauing courteously saluted one the other, they departed, but neuer after came together. Two dayes after the Persian embassadours (according to the manner of those barbarous nations, who with emptie hands salute not one another) by his Checaia or steward of his houshold, presented all the Visier Bassaes with diuers rich gifts and presents, euery one of them according to their degrees and places. And D the day after went himselfe to visit them: where by the way fell out a strange matter, like ynough to haue cost him his life.The Persian embassador in going to visit Muhamet the V [...]sier Bassa, indange [...] to haue beene slaine. For a Giamoglan (as the embassadour was going to visit Muhamet the cheefe of the Visier Bassaes for the first) meeting him, shot at him with an harquebush, with purpose to haue slaine him; but as God would, missed him, and hurt but one of his cheefe followers in the arme. Wherewith the embassadour not a little dismayed, as supposing himselfe to haue beene betrayed, turning his horse, was about to haue gone to his lodging: but the great Bassa in the meane time hauing knowledge thereof, presently sent our men to guard him, and to excuse himselfe of the fact. Whereof the embassadour being assured, held on his way. In the meane space the fellow who shot the harquebush, being apprehended, was brought before the embassadour and the Bassa: who asking him for what cause he discharged the shot against the embassadour? E he without change of countenance boldly answered, That he did it for no other cause but for that the embassador was an hereticke, and sent from an hereticall king, and an enemie to their religion: and therefore that it was not conuenient he should come to entreat of peace with his lord, adding further, that he was not worthie of any peace. Which the Bassa hearing, adjudged the desperat villaine the next day to be drawne at an horse taile through the citie, & then to haue his right hand cut off, and afterward his head, which was accordingly put in execution. After this the Persian embassadour the two and twentieth of the same moneth went to deliuer the presents sent from his master vnto the Grand Signior, and to kisse his hand: sending first before him the presents vpon foure and fortie cammels,The rich present sent by the Persian king vnto Selymus. whereof foure and thirtie were the kings of PERSIA, and the other ten his owne. The kings present was an Alcoran, with the authoritie of Al [...], as they F hold. For this is their custome, alwayes to present one such Alcoran vnto the princes to whom they send their embassadours. It was couered with gold, and garnished with most pretious stones: He presented also a booke of histories, couered as the other: hee gaue also a box, wherein was a very faire pretious stone called Balasso, and two pearles of a wonderfull greatnesse, with two purses of an handfull long, full of jewels. Besides these, he presented also eight Firuari or Porcellane [Page] dishes (which we call China dishes) made of most pure earth, kept aboue fiftie yeares buried vnder G the ground, to the end so to be fined and purified, which (as some say) will melt and dissolue if any poison be put into them. He gaue also two most stately pauillions, twentie great carpets of silke, and many other lesser of silke and gold; also nine faire canapies to hang ouer the ports of their pauillions, things not vsed among the Christians. He gaue also nine very faire carpets of Camels haire, nine saddles set with stone after the Persian fashion, seuen staues of siluer, seuen scimitars with red scaberts, seuen bowes with arrowes and quiuers, all wrought with gold and pretious stone; he presented also many other carpets called Testich, made of the finest lawne, and so large, that seuen men could scarcely carrie one of them. All the Faulcons were dead by the way. The presents which the embassadour gaue vnto the great Turke in his owne name,The embassadors present to S [...]lymus. were also these: an Alcoran, a pauilion faire and large, certaine scimitars, bowes and arrowes richly garnished,H with certaine carpets of silke, and camels haire. After which presents so deliuered, and reuerence done vnto the great Sultan by the embassadour, and thirtie of his followers all in cloth of gold; he returned to his lodging, verie honourably accompanied, as well by the Turkes as them of his owne retinue. First besides many others, there were a great companie of the Spahies and Chiausies, and other courtiers mounted vpon goodly horses, well furnished and in decent order: here might a man haue seene store of cloth of gold, veluet, damaske, and other kinds of silke. After these there followed about three hundred Persian horsemen, apparelled after their manner, some with gowns made of diuers litle pieces of taffata of sundry colours, representing the pictures of men, women, horses, and other beasts; and some of them imbrodered with flowres and fruits of sundrie sorts; some had also gownes of cloth of gold, but not so faire as the Turks; and some I of veluet, but verie few of cloth: for that the Persians haue no great plentie either of veluet or yet of cloth, except such as they haue from the Portingals that trauell into those Easterne countries; yet of silke and wool it appeareth they haue great plentie, most part of their gownes being of wool quilted with bombast. After these horsemen followed many Persian footmen, peraduenture all seruants; after whom came the Turkish horsemen: and last of all came a horse of the embassadours led by a Persian; after which horse followed two hundred Ianizaries: and in the rearward of all came the embassadour alone, gorgeously attired both himselfe and his horse. He himselfe was inuested with crimosin veluet, mingled with some other colours: his saddle and bridle were all bedeckt with jewels: the caparison of his horse, was all imbrodered with Turquoies and other pretious stones: the horne vpon the top of his Turbant (which the Turks call Me [...]euenchia)K was altogither wrought with gold, and set with pretious stones: in briefe, vpon euerie part of his bodie hanged jewels of great price. After the embassadour, followed about an hundred and fortie Persian horsemen, and others of his court apparelled as before, some well, some ill, according to their abilitie. Now although the Persians (as is to bee thought) shewed all their pompe, yet they made nothing so faire a shew as did the Turkes: neither are they so faire men of complexion, being for the most part of a swart and browne colour, and rather little men than otherwise, not much vnlike to the Spaniards. The embassadour being departed, the presents were all brought and shewed to Selymus; who allowed for their ordinarie charges fiue hundred ducats a day,An honourable allowance. for that in deed their number was great, and their beasts many. These expences bestowed vpon the embassadours, doe presently begin as soone as any of them enter into his L dominions; and end, so soone as the businesse for which they come is finished. But long it was not, but that this embassadour hauing concluded a peace betwixt the two great princes, Tamas and Selymus, and dispatched such matters as he came for, returned home againe into PERSIA. The Venetians also now at this same time, by their embassadours sought to renew the league they had made with the great Turke, now expired: which, as it was easily obtained, so was it of small assurance; Selymus the next yeare quarrelling with them, and raising new wars, to the great hurt and disturbance of that state, as shall forthwith appeare.

1569 Selymus now at peace with all the world (a thing of the Turkes not much desired) began to thinke of workes of charitie: and purposing to build a magnificent temple at HADRIANOPLE for his owne sepulture, with a monasterie, a colledge, and an almes-house (as had his M father, and other his auncestours before him at PRVSA and CONSTANTINOPLE, led therunto with a vaine and superstitious deuotion) was troubled with nothing more, than how to endue the same with lands and reuenues sufficient for the maintenance of so great a charge: For that the Mahometane kings, are by their superstition prohibited to conuert any lands or possessions [Page] A to such holy vses, other than such as they haue with their owne sword woon from the enemies of their religion, which they may (as they are persuaded) as a most acceptable sacrifice, offer to their great prophet: which diuelish persuasion, serueth as a spurre to pricke forward euerie of those ambitious princes to adde something to their empire. This his deuout purpose once knowne, wanted not the furtherance of many ripe heads, deuising some one thing, some another, as they thought best fitted his humor. But amongst many things to him presented, none pleased him so well, as the plot laid for the taking of the rich island of CYPRVS from the Venetians: a conquest of it selfe sufficient, both for the eternizing of his name, and performance of his owne charitable works entended; with a large ouerplus, for the supplying of whatsoeuer wanted in his fathers like deuout workes at CONSTANTINOPLE. But that which moued him most of all, was the glorie B of such a conquest, which as his flatterers bare him in hand, might make him equall with any his predecessours; who in the beginning of their raigne, had vsually done or attempted some notable thing against the Christians. Hereupon the matter was by Selymus propounded to the great Bassaes to be considered of; without whose aduise and counsell, the Turkish emperors seldome or neuer take any great wars in hand.Muhamet Bassa dissuadeth Selymus from the inuading of Cyprus. Amongst these graue counsellours, Muhamet the chiefe Visier Bassa, a man of greatest authoritie (vnto whom Selymus was beholden, that he had so quietly obtained the empire) and a secret friend vnto the Venetians, seemed much to dislike of that motion, persuading Selymus not to yeeld thereunto: alleadging, beside the danger and vncertaintie of the expedition, that his father Solyman at the time of his death had charged him straightly, that the league with the Venetians should be religiously kept; and that he could not C with his honour, without just cause so quickly breake that league, which he himselfe had but a little before most solemnly confirmed. But Mustapha the second Bassa, sometime Selymus his tutor, and therefore of him much honoured, with Piall Bassa the Admirall (both enuying at the great honour of the Visier Bassa) so mightily impugned that he had before said, and so importuned Selymus with the shew both of honour and profit attending that action, as also with the easinesse thereof (a great part of the Venetian Arsenall being but a little before burnt, and their forces much weakned) that he rejected the counsell of Muhamet, calling him in his choller, Christian (which among the Mahometanes is a word of no small disgrace:) and yeelding wholy to the persuasion of Mustapha and Piall, presently commanded preparation to be made both by sea and land, for the performance of that his resolution. Which was not so couertly carried in the D Turkes court, but that it was discouered by M. Antonius Barbarus the Venetian embassadour; and not without cause suspected by the Venetian merchants, whom the barbarous Turks began now to cut short in their trafficke, looking big vpon them, as men suddenly changed, and euill entreating them with hard speeches, the vndoubted signes of greater troubles to ensue. The Venetian embassadour now out of doubt of the Turkes purpose for the inuasion of CYPRVS, came vnto Muhamet the chiefe Bassa, complaining of the breach of the league: and putting him in mind of the fidelitie of the Venetian state towards the Turkish emperour, requested him, that Selymus might not make too much hast to begin that warre, which would set all EVROPE on a broile; but rather by his embassadours first to declare his mind vnto the Senat, for that so it might happily come to passe, that all might be quieted, to the good of both parties without E warre. Which the politike embassador requested not of the Bassa for any hope he had to auert the warre, for which the Turke had now all things in readinesse, but onely by such an hope of composition, to hinder the Turkes endeuours, and to win time, vntill that the State (being fully certified of all these matters) might make readie their fleet and forces, and so in armes be readie to answere their armed foes: neither did he euer leaue the Bassa, vntill he had by his meanes procured, That one Cubates should be sent embassadour to VENICE to proue the minds of the Senatours, whether they would willingly deliuer the island, or aduenture to haue it taken from them by force. These things and such like as were then done at CONSTANTINOPLE, being by letters sent in post from the embassadour, made knowne at VENICE, brought a generall heauinesse vpon the citie: for why, that vnderstanding and prouident State, warned by their former F harmes,Selymus sendeth Cubates his embassadour to Venice. of all others most dread the Turks forces. Cubates the embassadour accompanied with Aloysius Barbarus the embassadours sonne, and Bonricius his secretarie, departing from CONSTANTINOPLE, came by long journies to RAGVSIVM, where Angelus Surianus sent from VENICE to meet him, was readie to receiue him, who being taken into his gallie, brought him to VENICE.

[Page]In the meane time the Senatours sitting oftentimes in counsell, were deuided in opinions G concerning the chiefe matter they consulted vpon: some there were, that thought it not good to wage warre against such an inuincible enemie, nor to trust vpon a vaine and idle hope, neither to commit all vnto the hazard of such fortune as was vnto them in that warre by the enemie propounded: they alleadged, that they had alwaies vnfortunatly taken vp armes against the Turks, and that therefore they should set before their eies, what harmes they had suffered, and how that beside the losses alreadie sustained they had alwaies in the winding vp of the warres lost something more: that it were better to depart with CYPRVS, so that they might quietly enjoy the rest, rather than to enter into armes: Time they said, would at length giue them some one fit occasion or other to recouer that they had lost, and to restore their state vnto the former honour;Hard to trust vpon confederations. which for the present, was aboue their power to maintaine: To put their trust H in their confederates (they said) was but to deceiue themselues: they should remember how often euen small causes of false suspition, or hope of profit, or feare of harme, had vtterly frustrated and broken in sunder the most solemne capitulations of the strongest leagues: how often destruction had come thence from whence aid was to haue beene hoped for, they needed not to seeke farther for examples than from their owne domesticall affaires. Others were of a contrarie opinion, as that the island was by force of armes to be defended: saying, That nothing could be more dishonourable, than without fight to depart with so notable a part of their seigniorie: neither any thing more commendable, than to proue all things for defence of their honour: Neither would the prowd Turkes, with whom no assured league could be made (as they said) hold themselues content with this yeelding vp of the island, but by intreating of them and giuing I them way, become more insolent: and when they had taken CYPRVS from them, would also seeke after CRETE and CORCYRA, and so yeelding them one thing after another, spoile themselues of all togither: Ambitious and greedie princes (they said) grew more bold and insolent by other mens feare: and that no great or notable matter was to be done without danger: that hard beginnings had oftentimes merrie endings: that the fauour and good will of that insatiable and greedie nation, was not to be gained but with so great losse and charge as that such a costly peace would be much more hurtfull than warre it selfe: beside that, it much concerned other Christian princes to haue the Venetian state preserued, and that therefore it was to be hoped, that they would to the vttermost of their power giue them aid. The matter thus debated too and fro, it was in the end resolued vpon, to take vp armes in defence of their honour, and by plain K force to withstand the Turke.

The Turks embassadour homely entertained at Venice.So when Cubates the Turkes embassadour came from VENICE, neither did any man of courtesie meet him, neither was any honour done vnto him, or so much as common courtesie shewed vnto him: but being afterward admitted into the Senat house with his two interpretors onely, he deliuered Selymus his letters, enclosed in a little bag wrought with silke and gold; and so whilest the same letters were in breaking vp, and translating out of the Turkish language into Italian, deliuered also his message by word of mouth as followeth.

Cubates the Turks embassadours speech in the Senat at Venice.

What great account the mightie Sultan my dread Soueraigne hath alwaies made of your most honourable friendship, is therein right well declared; That in the verie entrance of himselfe into his L empire, he forthwith and without any hard or new conditions renewed his league with you: which he hath on his part alwaies kept most faithfully and vnuiolat, worthely grieuing the like kindnesse not to be shewed on your behalfe, neither the like care of keeping your faith to appeare in you; who by harbouring of pyrats in your hauens, and murthering of his subiects, haue oftentimes broken the league. Which iniuries, although they were by war to haue beene reuenged, yet hath he, so mightie a monarch, hitherto beene alwaies more mindfull of your honor and friendship, than of his owne maiestie and profit. But for so much as there is no end of these iniuries and wrongs, and that it is now come to that point, That longer to forbeare, might be imputed vnto him rather for cowardise than courtesie, as also that it much more concerneth your State than him, and that therefore you ought no lesse than he to desire that all causes of vnkindnesse might be cut off, and order taken, that in so great and mutuall goodwill,M there should be no falling out by new quarrels daily arising: the onely remedie thereof is, if you shall deliuer vnto him the island of CYPRVS, the cause of all these grieuances. Now it beseemeth you for your great wisedome, to make small reckoning of so small a matter, in comparison of the fauour of so great a prince; which if you shall willingly of your selues yeeld vnto him, you shall right wisely [Page] A prouide for your affaires, and haue him so great a monarch alwaies your friend and confederat: wher as if you shall shew your selues obstinat, and not to yeeld to this his so small a request, his purpose is by strong hand not onely to take from you the island, the cause of the warre, but also to prosecute you with most cruell warre both by sea and land. And thereupon I take God to witnesse, all the blame of the calamities to ensue of so mortall a warre, to be imputed vnto your selues, as the worthie reward of your wilfulnesse and breach of faith.

Which said, hee in the name of Muhamet the Visier Bassa told the Senatours, that hee was right sorie that this breach was fallen out betwixt the emperour Selymus and them: and that although he doubted not, but that they would right wisely consider of all things; yet he could B not for the good will he bare vnto them, but admonish them of such things, as he deemed for them both profitable and wholsome: and therefore did most instantly request them, and withall aduise them, not to enter into armes against so mightie a prince, neither wilfully to plunge themselues into such dangers, as they could hardly or neuer find the way out; for that their strength was nothing answerable vnto his, and that the euent of that warre was like to be vnto them deadly, and that therfore he tooke God, and the loue he bare vnto them to witnesse, that he had in friendly sort forewarned them of their harmes, and aduised them for their good. Giuing them farther to vnderstand, that Selymus did nothing but thunder out most cruell threats against their State: which his indignation was raised of the manifold complaints brought against them to his court at CONSTANTINOPLE.

C Selymus his letters answerable to his embassadors speech,The effect of Selymus his letters to the Venetians. were also full of false surmised grieuances: he complained, That the Venetians had in warlike manner entred into the frontiers of his empire in DALMATIA, and there had done great harme; that they had put to death certaine Turkish pirats whom they had taken aliue? that their island of CYPRVS was an harbour for the pirats of the West, and that from thence they robbed his peaceable countries, and surprised his subjects trauelling that way for deuotion vnto the temple of MECHA, or otherwise about their affaires. And that therefore those causes of discord might be taken away, and the hinderance of traffique remoued, he required them to yeeld vnto him the island of CYPRVS: which if they refused to doe, he would by force of armes take it from them; and by force and strong hand cause them to doe that which they might better haue done franckly and of their D owne accord; and farther, to make them to vnderstand how farre the Turkes did excell all other men in martiall prowesse. As for the league before made betwixt his father and them, he said he had renewed the same, not because he had any liking thereunto, but because he had as then set downe with himselfe, for a while in the beginning of his empire, peaceably to endure all things.

The Venetians,The answere of the Venetian [...] to the Turks demaunds. for that they knew the embassadours errand before his comming, hauing now read his letters, gaue him such answere as they had before resolued vpon: which was, That the Venetians had at all times inuiolably kept their leagues with the Othoman emperours, and had in regard thereof let slip many opportunities and fit occasions for them to haue augmented their dominions in: That they could without any danger to themselues, haue destroied the E Turkes fleet both at the RHODES and MALTA, and other places also; but that they more regarded their honour, and alwaies thought that nothing better became great and magnificent princes, than to performe their faith once giuen, and in all their actions to be like themselues. And therefore had dissembled, and put vp many grieuous and bitter indignities, least they might be thought to haue first broken the league: That they had neuer passed their owne bounds, or inuaded the Turkes: onely to haue taken order, that no pirats should at their pleasure roame vp and downe the seas. Now whereas all duties being on their part sincerely and most religiously kept, Selymus complained himselfe to be wronged, whereas he himselfe had done the wrong, and had contrarie to the league denounced warre against them, expecting nothing lesse: sithence that they could not by the power of the league, they would by force of armes defend that kingdome, F which they by auntient and lawfull right possessed, deliuered vnto them by their auncestors: That God in whose helpe they trusted would weigh in indifferent ballance, all mens words and deeds, whom they tooke to witnesse, that they were the authours of peace, and Selymus the cause of warre: and that the same God would be now present vnto their just complaints, and forthwith after with his power to take reuenge on them, which falsifying their faith and promise [Page] giuen, and violating the sacred league, had enforced them to take vp most just and necessarie G armes, which they would with the same courage manage that they had taken them in hand.

The Turkes embassadour sent away in secret to Venice.With this answere the embassadour departed, let out by a secret posterne, for feare of the people; who hauing got knowledge of the matter, were in great number assembled to the Court gate, muttering among themselues, that it were well done to rend in pieces that accursed Turke, the messenger of his faithlesse master. Which outrage it was thought they would in their furie haue performed, had not such as by the commaundement of the magistrates guarded him, better assured him of his safetie, than either regard of dutie or the law of nations; he by the way as he went still storming and swearing by his Mahomet to be of that so great an indignitie reuenged. This answere of the Senat vnto the Turkes embassadour concerning warre,The resolution of the Senat for war diuersly liked, & disliked of others. was of some well liked and highly commended, as full of honour and valour. Others deemed it too sharpe, liking H of nothing that was said or done, to the further incensing of the Turkish emperour: being of opinion, that they might haue of him obtained a more indifferent peace by courtesie than by rigour. As for the decreed warre they vtterly disliked, for as much as all warres were wofull, but especially those which were to be maintained against them that are too strong for vs. In such diuersitie of opinions it appeared, That the Senat should of that so honourable a decree reape such commendation, as the euent thereof should affoord (than which nothing is more vnreasonable:) if things fell out well, then was it wisely and worthely done; if otherwise, then was it like to be reputed a foolish, a rash, and wofull resolution.

The greater the danger was now feared from the angrie Turke, the more carefull were the Venetians of their state. Wherefore they forthwith sent messengers with letters vnto the Gouernours I of CYPRVS, charging them with all carefulnesse and diligence to make themselues readie to withstand the Turke, and to raise what power they were able in the island, not omitting any thing that might concerne the good of the state: and at the same time made choice of their most valiant and expert captaines both by sea and land, vnto whom they committed the defence of their dispersed Seignorie, with the leading of their forces. Hieronimus Zanius was appointed Admirall, Lucas Michael was sent into CRETE, Franciscus Barbarus into DALMATIA, Sebastianus Venerius into CORCYRA, all men of great honour, experience, and valour. Other meaner captaines were sent also with lesse charge into the aforesaid places, as Eugenius Singliticus, a noble gentleman, with a thousand footmen into CYPRVS, who had also the leading of all the horsemen in the island: after whom countie Martinengus promised to follow with two thousand K footmen moe. The strong cities were now by the Venetians in all places new fortified, armour, ordinance, and victuall prouided, and whatsoeuer els they thought needfull for defence of their state. And for as much as they well knew they had to doe with too mightie an enemie, they by their embassadours sent for that purpose, earnestly sollicited most of the Christian princes to joine with them in league, and to giue them aid against the common enemie, who as he was too strong for any one of them, so were he not able to stand against their vnited forces. But the emperour Maximilian excused himselfe by the league he had not long before made with the Turke for eight yeares,The Emperour, the French king, and the king of Polonia entangled with their leagues, refuse to aid the Venetians against the Turks. which (he said) he might not breake: yet had he before his eyes a most pregnant example, what small reckoning the Turke maketh of his faith or league, which he without any just cause had broken with the Venetians. The like excuse vsed also Charles the French king, and L Sigismund king of POLONIA, who both seemed to be very sorrie for that the Venetians were fallen out with the Turke, but could not helpe them, for that they were in league with the Turkish emperour. Neuerthelesse the French king did them the courtesie, to offer himselfe to be a mediator, if they so pleased, betwixt them and Selymus. The young king of PORTINGAL Don Sebastian pretended also for his excuse the great plague which had but a little before raged in his kingdome, and much deminished his people; as also that he was to maintaine wars by sea against the Turks in the East Indies, to the no lesse benefit of the Christian commonweale than if he should aid the Venetians in the Mediterranean.What Christian princes promised to and the Venetians. Onely Pius Quintus then Pope, and Philip king of SPAINE, with certaine of the princes of ITALIE; namely Philibert duke of SAVOY, Guido Vdebaldus duke of VRBIN, Cosmus Medices duke of FLORENCE, and the knights of MALTA,M promised them aid, which they afterward most honourably performed.

Selymus of himselfe angrie with the Venetians, and firme in his resolution for the conquest of CYPRVS, was vpon the report of Cubates his embassadours bad entertainment at VENICE, farther enraged. He deemed the majestie of the Turkish empire contemned, and himselfe in the [Page] A person of his embassadour disgraced: seeing that they whom he had thought would haue yeelded vnto any thing, rather than the league should haue beene broken, had sent him such a short answere, and so contemptuously vsed his embassadour, vnto whom they had not affoorded so much as common courtesie. It did not a little mooue him also, that the Venetians had in their letters sent by his embassadour, omitted the glorious titles vsually giuen the Turkish emperours. Wherefore in some part to [...]atisfie his angrie mood, he caused Marcus Anthonius Barbarus, the Venetian embassadour, and all the Christian marchants of the West throughout his empire, to be clapt vp in prison, and their ships stayed vnder an arrest. And setting all other things apart, set himselfe wholly for the preparing of such things as should be needfull for the intended warre.

But for as much as the island of CYPRVS was the prey whereafter the greedie tyrant so much B gaped, and for which the bloudie warres betwixt the Turke and the Venetians, with their Christian confederats, presently ensued; it shall not be from our purpose to spend a few words in the describing thereof, as the stage whereon the bloudie tragedie following was as it were acted: as also how it came first into the hands of the Venetians, and by what right of them so long possessed (although it be in some part before declared) vntill it was now by Selymus the great Turke against all right injuriously demaunded, and at length by strong hand by him wrested from them. This island lieth in the farthest of the Cilician sea:The description of Cyprus. it hath on the East SIRIA, on the West PAMPHILIA, Southward it regardeth AEGIPT, and Northward CILICIA, now called CARAMANNIA. It is worthely accounted amongst the gre [...]test islands of the Mediterranean, containing in circuit 427 miles, and is in length (after the description of Strabo) 175 miles, and in bredth C not aboue 65. It aboundeth with corne, wine, oyle, cotton wooll, saffron, honey, rosin, turpentine, sugar canes, and whatsoeuer els is needfull for the sustentation of man, whereof it sendeth forth great abundance to other countries, of whom it craueth no helpe againe. It was in antient time called Macaria, that is to say, Blessed. The people therein generally liued so at ease and pleasure, that thereof the island was dedicated to Venus, who was there especially worshipped, and thereof called CYPRIA. Marcellinus to shew the fertilitie thereof, sayth, That CYPRVS aboundeth with such plentie of all things, that without the helpe of any other forraine countrey it is of it selfe able to build a tall ship, from the keele to the top saile, and so put it to sea furnished of all things needfull. And Sextus Rufus writing thereof, sayth: Cyprus famosa diuitijs, paupertatem populi Romani, vt occuparetur solicitauit, ita vt ius eius insulae auarius magis quam iustius simus D assec [...]ti. vz. CYPRVS famous for wealth, allured the pouertie of the people of ROME to lay hold vpon it, so that we haue rather couetously than justly got the rule thereof. In the heart of the island standeth NICOSIA, sometime the regall and late metropoliticall citie thereof. And in the East end thereof FAMAGVSTA, sometime called TAMASSVS, a famous rich citie, the cheefe and onely port of all that most pleasant island. Other faire cities there be also, as PAPHOS, AMATHVS (now called LIMISSO) and CYRENE. This island of it selfe long time maintained the majestie of a kingdome,King Richard in Cyprus. as then when Richard the first king of ENGLAND passing that way with his fleet for the releefe of the Christians then distressed in the Holy land about the yeare 1191, was prohibited there to land; and certaine of his people by force of tempest there cast on shore, were by the Cypriots either cruelly slaine or taken prisoners: which barbarous violence king Richard E tooke in so euill part, that he there by force landed his armie, and rested not vntill he had taken Isaak the king prisoner, and subdued the island. The king he sent in chaines of siluer to TRIPOLIS, there to be kept in close prison; the kingdome he kept a while in his owne hand, which not long after he gaue, or as some say, exchanged with Guido the titular king of HIERVSALEM: for which cause the kings of ENGLAND for a certaine time afterwards were honoured with the title of the kings of HIERVSALEM.How the kingdome of Cyprus came to the Venetians. This kingdome by many descents came at length to Ianus son of king Peter, who in the yeare 1423 was by Melechella Sultan of AEGIPT taken prisoner, but afterwards for the ransome of an hundred and fifteene thousand Sultanins, was set at libertie and restored to his kingdome, paying vnto the Sultan and his successours a yearely tribute of fortie thousand crownes. This Ianus left a sonne called Iohn, who after the death of his father married F the daughter of the Marques of MONT-FERRAT: after whose death he married one Helena, of the most noble house of the Paleologi in GRaeCIA, by whom he had one onely daughter called Carlotte, but by another woman a base sonne named Iames. This king Iohn was a man of no courage, altogether giuen to pleasure, and according to the manner of his effeminate education, shewed himselfe in all things more like a woman than a man: which Helena his wife, a woman [Page] of a great spirit, quickly perceiuing, tooke vpon her the soueraignetie and whole gouernment of G the realme, gracing and disgracing whom she pleased, and promoting to the ecclesiasticall dignities such as she best liked, abolishing the Latine ceremonies, and bringing in them of the Greeks, and tooke such further order as pleased her selfe in matters of state concerning both peace and warre, her husband in the meane time regarding nothing but his vaine pleasure: whereby it came to passe, that all was brought into the power of the Greekes, the queenes friends▪ Now the queene her selfe was much ruled by the counsell of her nurse, and the nurse by her daughter: so that the people commonly said, The daughter ruled the nurse, the nurse the queene, & the queene the king. The nobilitie ashamed and wearie of this manner of gouernment, by generall consent of the people sent for Iohn the king of PORTINGALS cousin Germane (whom some call the king of PORTINGALL) to whom they gaue Carlotte the kings daughter in marriage, with full H power to supplie that want of gouernment which was in king Iohn his father in law. He taking the authoritie into his hands, quickly reformed the disordered kingdome, as well in matters concerning religion as ciuile policie. The Latine ceremonies were againe restored, and the gouernement of the daughter, the nurse, and the queene brought to an end. But the mischieuous daughter doubting the countenance of the new king, persuaded her mother, as she tendered her owne life, to poyson the king. Which thing the wretched woman, by the consent of the queene mother (as was reported) in shorttime performed, and so brought that noble prince, well worthie longer life, vnto his vntimely end: whereby the gouernment was againe restored to the Greeke queene, who in the name of her weake husband commaunded againe at her pleasure. But aboue all, the nurse and her daughter insulted vpon the young queene Carlotte: which shee not well I brooking, grieuously complained thereof to Iames her base brother, requiring his helpe for redresse therof: who not long after slew the nurses daughter, not so much in reuenge of the wrong by her done vnto his sister, as to prepare a way for himselfe for the obtaining of the kingdome: grieuing inwardly, that shee or her husband whosoeuer, should bee preferred before himselfe. Which thing Helena the queene quickly perceiuing, persuaded the king her husband to cause his base sonne to enter into the orders of priesthood; and so to become a church man, thereby to cut off all his hope of aspiring vnto the kingdome: which the king at her instance did, and made him archbishop of NICOSIA. In the meane time Carlotte by the persuasion of her mother and the nobilitie of the countrey, married Lewes sonne to the duke of SAVOY: who being for that purpose sent for, came with all speed to CYPRVS. After that the queene mother and the old K nurse (desi [...]ing nothing more than to reuenge the death of the nurses daughter vpon Iames, now archbishop) deuised first how to thrust him out of all his spirituall promotions, which were great, and afterward quite banish him the kingdome. Hereupon the queene wrote letters against him to the Pope, to haue him disgraded, for that he being a man base borne, with his hands embrued with guiltlesse blood, was vnworthie of holy orders. Which letters by chance came to Iames his hands: who enraged therewith, accompanied with a number of his friends and fauorits, suddenly entred the Court, slew such of his enemies as he found there, deuided their goods amongst his followers, and as king possessed himselfe of the regall citie. In this broile the Greeke queene Helena died, and shortly after her husband also. All things being thus in a hurle and out of order, certaine of the nobilitie for redresse thereof sent for Lewes the husband of Carlotte, as for him to L whom that kingdome in the right of his wife most justly belonged: who vpon his arriuall was of all sorts of men joifully receiued and welcommed as their king. Iames the vsurper vnderstanding before of the comming of Lewes, and perceiuing the inclination of the people towards him, fled with diuers of his friends to ALEXANDRIA, to craue aid of the Aegyptian Sultan: in whose Court he found such fauour, as that he was by the Sultans commaundement royally apparrelled and honoured with the title of the king of CYPRVS, which he promised for euer to hold of the Sultans of AEGIPT as their vassale and tributarie. At which time the Sultan also by his embassadours commaunded Lewes to depart the isle: who by all meanes sought to haue pacified the Sultan, declaring vnto him his rightfull title, yet offering to pay vnto him the wonted tribute, and to allow vnto Iames a yearely pension of ten thousand duckats, during his life. But all in vaine, for M Iames still present in the Sultans court, and wisely following his own sute, at last concluded with the great Sultan (who thought it more honour to make a king than to confirme a king) and receiuing of him a great armie, returned into CYPRVS, where in short time he so distressed Lewes, that he was glad to forsake the island, with his wife, and to returne into his countrey; leauing the [Page] A kingdome of CYPRVS againe to Iames: who now by the supportation of the Aegyptian Sultan possessed thereof, yet liued not without care of Carlotte and her husband Lewes, whom he knew the Cypriots wonderfully affected. Wherefore for the more assurance of his estate, he thought it best to joyne in league and friendship with the Venetians, whom he knew to be of great power at sea▪ and of all other fittest to crosse whatsoeuer Lewes should in the right of his wife attempt against him. Which league he afterwards made, & the better to confirme the same tooke to wife Catherine Cornelia, the daughter of Marcus Cornelius a magnifico of VENICE, being before adopted by the Senat, and euen after, their reputed daughter. Not long after this mariage, Iames died in the yeare 1470, leauing the queene great with child, who in due time was deliuered of a faire sonne, vnto whom with the mother the Venetian state became tutors, as their B adoptiue fathers, and in their behalfe tooke vpon them the gouernment of the realme. This child shortly after died also, not without some suspition of poyson, after whose death great troubles arose in the kingdome, insomuch that Andreas Cornelius the queenes vncle; a most graue counsellour, and Gouernour of the realme vnder the queene, was by the conspiracie of certaine noble men slaine, and all the island readie to reuolt from the queene. For appeasing of which troubles, the Venetians were glad oftentimes to send their Admirals with their gallies into CYPRVS, to take order in the matter, and to aid the queene: who at length persuaded by George Cornelius her brother (whilest it was yet in her power) as a louing daughter to yeeld vp the kingdome vnto her adoptiue fathers, which she destitute both of counsell and power, could not long hold so farre from her friends, beset on the one side with the great Turke, and on the other with the mightie C Sultan of AEGIPT. She I say thus persuaded by her brother, came to VENICE, where she was with the greatest honour that could be deuised,Sabellic. E [...] nead. 10. lib. 8. receiued by the duke and the whole State at sea in their great and goodly ship the Bucentaure, and so with all royall triumph brought through the middest of the citie vnto the place most richly for the time appointed for the receiuing of her: where shortly after, attired in all her royall habiliments, she came in great majestie into the Senat house, and there before the Tribunall seat of Augustinus Barbadicus, then duke of VENICE, layed downe her crowne and scepter, and as a most louing daughter resigned vp her kingdome, to the great honour and profit of her countrey. Thus the kingdome of CYPRVS was deliuered into the hands of the Venetians in the yeare 1473; which they peaceably held from that time, paying vnto the Sultans of AEGIPT such tribute as they had the late king Iames: which yearely D tribute they in like manner payed vnto the Turkish emperours, after that the kingdome of AEGIPT was by Selymus the first conquered in the yeare 1517, as due vnto them by law of armes: with which yearely tribute both Selymus himselfe, and Solyman after him, held themselues well contented. But now this Turkish emperour Selymus the second, of whom we speake, desirous both of the honour of such a conquest, and of so rich a prey, made no account of the accustomed tribute, but of the fruitfull island it selfe: whereof he as is before declared, hath by his embassadour made a proud demaund, but is thereof denied by the Senat.

Selymus throughly furnished with all things necessarie for the inuasion of CYPRVS,1570 in the beginning of Februarie sent a great power both of horse and foot into EPIRVS and the frontiers of DALMATIA,Selymus inuadeth the Venetians. to forrage the Venetian territorie, especially about IADERA; of purpose by that E warre so neere at home to withdraw them from the defence of CYPRVS so farre off. About the middle of Aprill following he sent Piall Bassa with fourescore gallies and thirtie galliots to keepe the Venetians from sending aid into CYPRVS.Piall Bassa sent against the Venetians. This Piall was an Hungarian, borne of base parents, but turning Turke, and giuing himselfe to armes, was first preferred for his valour shewed against the Christians at ZER [...]I, and afterward by many degrees rise to the honour of one of the greatest Bassaes. He departing from CONSTANTINOPLE, and cutting through PROPONTIS and HEL [...]ESPONTVS, came to EV [...]oeA, and there for certaine dayes lay in such order, as if he should haue presently giuen the enemie battell: but vnderstanding by his espials, that the Venetians greeuously visited with the plague, and slowly releeued by their friends, were not like in hast to come out, he tooke his course to TENOS, an island of the Venetians, to haue taken it F from them. This island is one of the Cyclades, and was by nature strong, but stronger by the industrie of the defendants; who lying far from the Christian countries, and compassed about with such cruell and warlike enemies as people farre distant stood in dread of, could neuer for any fear or danger be remooued from the Christian religion, or induced to submit themselues to the Turkes gouernement, as most of the other islands had. Piall here landing his forces, sought both [Page] by faire means and foule to haue persuaded the inhabitants to haue yeelded vp their towne; but G when he could get nothing of them but foule words againe, he began by force to assault the same. Two daies the towne was valiantly both assaulted and defended, but at length the Turkes perceiuing how little they preuailed, and that the defendants were resolutely set downe for the defence of themselues and their countrey; shamefully gaue ouer the assault, and abandoning the island, directed their course toward CYPRVS. For Mustapha, author of that expedition (for his auntient hatred against the Christians, made Generall by Selymus) had before appointed Piall Bassa at a time prefixed, to meet him at the RHODES, and that he that came first should tarrie for the other, that so they might togither saile into CYPRVS.

Mustapha hauing before sent a great part of his armie by land into PAMPHILIA, embarked the rest with Haly Bassa Generall of the forces at sea, who yet staied for him with the rest of the H fleet at CONSTANTINOPLE. This Haly was one of the chiefe Bassaes, a man of great account, and sometime an especiall and noted follower of Muhamet Bassa: but now (as it is oftentimes elsewhere seene, that men together with the change of fortune, change their minds and affections also) was become a great fauourit of Mustapha. Now to colour so manifest a wrong and breach of the Turkes faith, Mustapha the Generall, according to the Turkish manner, a little before his arriuall in CYPRVS, gaue the Venetians there to vnderstand by letters of his comming, as also of his purpose for the taking of that island from them: for that without some such slender denouncing of warre vnto them against whom it is intended, the Turkes generally account their expeditions not to be altogither so lawfull or fortunat as otherwise: and therefore writ vnto them in this sort.I

Mustapha Bassa vnto the Venetians.

Mustapha Bassa his letters vnto the Venetians.That the kingdome of CYPRVS by auntient right belongeth vnto the kingdome of AEGYPT, you are not ignorant; which being conquered by the Turks, is togither with it become of right apart also of the Othoman empire: that island we come to challenge, leading after vs two hundred thousand valiant souldiors, vnto which power, and the wealth of the Othoman kingdomes (all which the most mightie emperour is about (if need shall be) to send thither, and to bend his whole strength theron) all the vnited forces of the Christian kings are not comparable; much lesse the Venetians (so small a part of EVROPE) forsaken of their friends, can suffice. Wherefore, we will and exhort you, for the auntient K amitie which hath been betwixt your State and the glorious Othoman family, to yeeld this kingdome vnto the most puissant emperour, whose verie name is become dreadfull vnto all the nations of the world: and quietly, and without resistance to leaue the island, with the loue and friendship of so great a monarch to be for euer inuiolatly kept betwixt him and you. Whereas if you shall before such wholsome counsell fondly preferre your vaine hopes, you are to expect all the calamities of warre, with such dreadfull examples as the angrie conquerours vse to make of their vanquicted enemies. For resolution whereof, wee yet giue you halfe a moneths space to bethinke your selues in: and so fare you well.

Mustapha Bassa goeth for Cyprus.All this being now in readinesse, and a most royall gallie of wonderfull greatnesse and beautie L by the appointment of Selymus prepared for the great Bassa the Generall: he togither with Haly Bassa and the rest of the fleet, departed from CONSTANTINOPLE the six and twentith of May, and at the RHODES met with Piall as he had before appointed. The whole fleet at that time consisted of two hundred gallies, amongst whom were diuers galliots, and small men of warre, with diuers other vessels prepared for the transportation of horses:The Turkes fleet descried in Cyprus. with this fleet Mustapha kept on his course for CYPRVS. They of the island in the meane time carefully attending the enemies comming, from their watch towers first discouered the fleet at the West end of the island not farre from PAPHOS: from whence the Turkes turning vpon the right hand, and passing the promontorie CVRIO, now called DEL LE GATE, landed diuers of their men, who burnt and spoiled certaine villages, and with such spoile and prisoners as they had taken returned M againe vnto the fleet: which holding on the former course, came at length to a place called SALINae (of the abundance of salt there made) where they knew was best landing:The Turks land in Cyprus. and there in an open road came to an anchor, where the Bassaes without any resistance vpon a plaine shoare landed their armie.

[Page] A Now all the hope of the Christians, was to haue kept the Turkes from landing, which they should with all their strength and power haue done; neither was it a matter of any great difficultie, for had the defendants but kept the shoare, and from the drie and firme land valiantly repulsed their enemies, they might vndoubtedly with their shot and weapons haue kept them from landing, or else haue done them greater harme: knowing in the meane time, that in all the island was no good harbour for them to put into, and that riding in an open road subject to all wind and weather, they could not long without danger of shipwracke ride it out: But they, either terrified with the greatnesse of the fleet, or preuented by the celeritie of the enemie, to their great hurt omitted so faire an opportunitie, as the wofull sequell of the matter declared. It exceedingly encouraged the Turks that they had so easily footed the island, which they thought they B should not haue done without a bloudie fight.

The Bassa now landed, presently entrenched his armie, and forthwith sent the fleet to transport the rest of his forces out of PAMPHILIA into the island. And at the same time sent out certaine scouts to take some prisoners, of whom they might learne the situation of the countrey, the best waies to passe them with his armie, the strength of his enemies, and what they did, and many other such like things which it concerned him to know. But the greatest question amongst the Turkes themselues was, Whether they should first set vpon FAMAGVSTA or NICOSIA? FAMAGVSTA standeth low, altogether subject to the scorching heat, which was then great, according as the time of the yeare and nature of the countrey required: wherefore the Bassa for feare of diseases to arise in his armie of the immoderat heat and vnwholesome situation of the C place, thought it better to begin his warres with the siege of NICOSIA, and to make that citie the seat of the warre, for the conquest of the rest of the island. So hauing put all things in order, and well viewed the countrey,Mustapha Bassae marcheth towards Nicosia. and finding nothing he needed to stand in doubt of, he set forward with his armie toward NICOSIA, which was about thirtie miles distant, being the cheefe and richest citie of all the island. Which way soeuer the armie marched, it spread a great deale of ground; and the neerer it came, the greater was the slaughter of the countrey people, and the number of prisoners taken of all sorts. But when newes of the enemies approach was brought into the citie, a generall feare presaging future miserie possessed the hearts of all men. There was not in the citie any valiant or renowmed captaine, who as the danger of the time required, should haue taken vpon him the charge: neither any strong armie in the island to oppose against the enemie. D The Gouernour of the citie was one Nicholaus Dandulus, Nicholaus Dandulus Gouernour of Nicosia. a man too weake for so great a burthen; who alwaies brought vp in ciuile affaires, was to seeke how to defend a siege. Of the citisens and countrey people he had taken vp foure thousand footmen, and a thousand horsemen, all raw souldiors, commaunded by the gentleman of the countrey, men of all others most courteous: but as well the captaines as the souldiors, as men brought vp in a plentifull countrey, fitter for pleasure than for warre. The greatest hope and strength of the citie, was reposed in twelue hundred Italian footmen, and six hundred horsemen. The whole number of the souldiors in garrison for defence of the citie, was deemed about eight thousand horse and foot: too weake a companie against so fierce and strong an enemie; and the more, for that the Bassa an old and most expert Generall was there in person himselfe present, a most seuere and absolute commaunder, E whom it would haue been a hard matter to haue withstood with equall power. The Venetians had euer had great care of the island of CYPRVS, as lying farre from them, in the middest of the sworne enemies of the Christian religion, and had therefore oftentimes determined to haue fortified the same: yet fearing thereby to seeme to distrust or dread the Turks, and so to giue them occasion of offence,The description of Nicosia. left it still vndone. This citie of NICOSIA standeth in the middest of the island, in a plaine and champaine countrey, compassed round with a wall, as if it had bin drawne with a compasse, and is in circuit about fiue miles: for the manner of the situation, & magnificent buildings as well publike as priuat, many haue compared it vnto the beautifull citie of FLORENCE in ITALIE: and was for the wholsome and commodious situation thereof notably peopled. This citie had the Venetians of late fortified with new wals, thicke rampiers, and F eleuen strong bulwarkes, according to the manner of the fortification of our time; and had raised three great fortresses for defence of the wall, which they furnished with a strong garrison, great store of artillerie, and other warlike prouision. Neuerthelesse, they found by experience in this warre, That fortifications are strengthened by the defendants, rather than the defendants by the fortifications.

[Page] The Turks be [...]ore Nicosia.The two and twentith of Iuly, the Bassa with his armie encamped within a mile and a halfe G of the citie, when presently the Turks by troupes issuing out of the campe, rid contemptuously before the wals and gates of the citie, and with often and lowd outcries vpbraided the defendants: which by them being answered with silence, was taken as a token of their feare. And Mustapha himselfe comming as neere as he might without danger, tooke full view of the wals and situation of the citie. Shortly after, the enemie drew neerer vnto the citie into a more open plaine, and with their tents filled the lower part of the hill, which they called MANDIA: but the Bassaes tent they set aloft vpon the hill, to the terrour of the defendants and encouragement of the Turkes. The campe being fortified, the Turks with incredible labour and celeritie brought their trenches from farre, and at the first cast vp some few forts, but afterwards, as their armie increased, many mo; which they raised so high, that they ouertopped the wals of the citie, and made the place H more dangerous for the Christians to defend.Nicosia battered and assaulted, and by the Christians valiantly defended. There hauing placed seauentie great pieces of batterie, they began to batter the citie both day and night without intermission; with such an horrible thundring, that the earth trembled, the houses shooke as if they would haue fallen downe: at which time many were slaine, both with the deadly shot, and the broken pieces of stones beaten out of the wals: neuer was such a feare as then within the citie of NICOSIA: euerie day the enemie brought his trenches neerer and neerer, and rested not vntill he had with restlesse labour brought them vnto the verie brim of the towne ditch, which the citisens before the comming of the Turks had not well scoured. Being come so nigh, they first skirmished a far off with their small pieces: but afterwards, they not onely battered the wals with their great artillerie, but with small shot, arrowes, and stones, ouerwhelmed the defendants, as if it had been a I shower of haile; so to haue driuen them from off the wall and rampiers. In few daies, not only all the curtaines betwixt three of the bulwarks, was by the furie of the great ordinance beaten downe, but all places thereabout lay full of the dead bodies of the assailants and defendants. For although the Christians fought at great disaduantage, both for the number of men and indifferencie of the place: yet desperation joyned with extreame necessitie, of all other the greatest weapon, gaue them such courage, as with shot, stones, timber, and such like, to keepe downe their enemies, and defend their wals; and oftentimes to make great slaughter of them, with their artillerie and muthering pieces bent vpon them as at a certaine marke, who the thicker they stood, the greater was their harme. They also oftentimes dismounted many of the great pieces and made them vnseruiceable; and with featherbeds and sacks of cotten wooll, made vp their K breaches: which the Turks laboured againe to burne with pitch barrels, and earthen pots full of wild fire. After long fight the Turks entring the ditch, made themselues two waies to the wals, which they fortified on both sides with fagots and earth, in such sort, as that they were safe from the loupes of the bulwarks which flankered the ditch. All this quickly performed, some presently set vp scaling ladders: others filled the ditches with brushwood, fagots, and earth; and others in the meane time with mattocks and leauers were digging downe the foundations of the bulwarks CONSTANCE and PODOCATERA, taking name of them that had the chiefe charge in the building thereof. The Christians right valiantly endured the first assault of the enemie, and strucke downe dead into the ditches many of them that were climing vp the ladders: and had in short time slaine mo than they were themselues in number, and enforced the rest to giue L ouer the assault. These things were done in the beginning of the siege, whilest yet both parties were strong: in which hard conflicts a great number of souldiors were lost, and most of the canoniers slaine. After this assault, both parties for a while busied themselues and spent the time in their ingenious deuises: wherein it appeared, that the Turks were much cunninger in deuising of meanes to take cities, than were those Christians in defending the same.

Now had the Venetians in the first motions of these wars, praied aid of diuers Christian princes, from most part of whom they receiued but cold comfort, as is before declared: yet now at length (though somewhat late) they had drawne into the confederation of this warre, the Pope and the king of SPAINE: by whose example some other princes of ITALIE moued, put to also their helping hands. The Venetians, as they whom the matter most concerned, had in good M time put their fleet to sea; but knowing themselues too weake to encounter the Turks, they lay still vpon the coast of DALMATIA, about IADERA, expecting the comming of the Spanish admirall with his gallies. Two moneths (wherein much might haue been done) were now past in this expedition, and yet no newes of his comming: so that what the speed and industrie of the [Page] A Venetians had well prepared, was by the delay and lingering of the Spaniard, marred. Besides that, the plague began to arise in the fleet, lying so long in one place; which at length grew so hoat, that many of the gallies had neither marriner nor souldiour left in them: neither did this mortalitie so sease, vntill there were twentie thousand dead thereof; amongst whom were many noble gentlemen of great account, which might haue done their countrey good seruice, had they been in time imploied.

Sommer now almost halfe spent,The Venetian flee [...] of an h [...]ndred and seauenteene saile a [...] Corcyra. and the plague well ceased, the Venetian Admirall wearie of expecting of the comming of Auria the Spanish Admirall; gathering togither his fleet which he had before dispersed, to auoid the infection sailed to CORCYRA, where he met with Venerius another of the Venetian commaunders, who there staied for him, hauing but a little before B taken from the Turks CESTRIA, now called SVPPOTO, a town vpon the sea coast ouer against CORCYRA. The whole fleet of the Venetians being assembled togither was an hundred and seauenteene saile▪ amongst which were twelue great g [...]leasses; but all too weake to giue battell to the Turkes, as being themselues stronger in shipping than in men. Neuerthelesse, the Admirall sorie and wearie to see the spoile of the Venetian territorie, and moued with the distresse of the besieged in NICOSIA, rather than for any hope he had with that strength to doe any good against the Turkes fleet, departed from CORCYRA towards CRETE, and the twelfth of August landed at SVDA, a port of that island. In the latter end of this moneth Columnius the Popes Admirall, and Auria Admirall for the king of SPAINE, arriued there also, whom the Venetian Admirall welcomed with great joy and triumph. The whole fleet of the confedera [...] princes now C at length met togither, consisted of an hundred ninetie two gallies, and twelue galeasses, beside victualers and other small vessels, laded with munition and other necessarie prouision for the fleet. Of these gallies the Pope had set forth twelue, the king of SPAINE fortie two, the rest with the galeasses were the Venetians. In this fleet were embarked thirteene thousand six hundred threescore souldiors: of whom the Pope sent eleuen hundred, the king of SPAINE three thousand nine hundred,The Christian fleet setteth forward toward Cyp [...]us. and the Venetians eight thousand six hundred and sixtie. These three great commaunders entring into counsell, what course to take in their proceedings in this warre; after long discourse too and fro, at length by the persuasion of Zanius the Venetian Admirall, resolued to go directly for CYPRVS, and to giue the Turkes battell, in hope thereby to raise them from the siege of NICOSIA. About the middest of September, this great fleet furnished with D all things needfull for such an expedition, loosed from CRETE, and with a faire gale of wind set forward for CYPRVS; in all their course keeping such order, as if they should presently haue met with the enemie. In the middest of these troubles died Petrus Loredanus duke of VENICE, leauing the rest of the care of that warre to Aloysius Mocenicus, who succeeded him in the dukedome.

Whilest the Christians thus slowly proceed in their so waightie affaires, Mustapha in the meane time laied hard siege to NICOSIA: and diuiding his armie into foure parts, assaulted foure of the bulwarks of the citie, with greater force than at any time before from the beginning of the siege. The assault was both long and terrible: furie, and the verie sight of the warlike Generall, who was there a present witnesse, and beholder of euerie mans forwardnesse or cowarddise E(a matter of great moment) besides their naturall fiercenesse, carried the Turkes headlong without any perill or danger. And on the other side, the greatnesse of the danger, the feare to loose both life and libertie, with the hope of reliefe, encouraged the defendants to dare any thing: so that the Turks could not approach the wals, or mount the scaling ladders, but they were presently slaine, or togither with the ladders throwne to the ground. Many of the Turkes were there slain, but especially such as were most forward: and of the defendants were also more lost than stood with the safetie of so small a number: and for as much as few or none escaped out of that fight vnwounded, the poore defendants were brought vnto a small number. Many skilfull men were of opinion, that the citie might haue been that day taken, if the assault had by the Bassa been longer maintained, by bringing still on fresh men: but such was his losse, as that he was glad F for that time to giue ouer the assault, and so with dishonour to retire.

After this assault,The Christian [...] [...]allie out of the citie vpon the Turkes. it was by some of the captaines thought good, that they should (whilest they were yet of some reasonable strength in the citie) sallie forth vpon the enemie: so to make shew, that they had yet some good hope in themselues, and withall by so sudden an eruption to performe something vpon the secure enemie. Of which motion, Dandulus the Gouernour in no [Page] case liked, as loath by such a dangerous peece of seruice to deminish the number of the defendants,G and so to giue the enemie an easier meanes to take the citie. Yet seeing all the captaines generally of another mind, he yeelded vnto their desire. So in the hotest time of the day, when as the Turkes least thought that the Christians would haue sallied out, certaine Italian companies vnder the conduct of Caesar Plouianus of VICENTIA, and Albertus Scotus, issued out by the gate that leadeth to FAMAGVSTA, and vpon the sudden brake into the enemies trenches where they found the Turks some playing, some sleeping, but fearing nothing lesse than that the Christians, whom they daily braued, durst to haue aduentured to come forth. At the first entrance the Italians preuailed, and brought a great feare vpon that quarter of the Turks armie, and slew many. But when the Turks awaked with the alarum, came running in on euery side, the Italians oppressed with the multitude, were glad to retire: in which retreat diuers of them were slaine, and H amongst them their two leaders Caesar and Albertus: so that this sallie serued to no other purpose, than to weaken the defendants themselues, and to cause the Turkes to keepe better watch and ward afterward against such sudden eruptions.

Scouts sent out of the citie, taken by the Turks, and executed.All hope of long defending the citie now almost lost, and that the defendants could hardly stand vpon the wals or shew their heads without present danger, they for want of better counsell rather than for any hope of good successe, sent out certaine scouts, men skilfull of the wayes and passages of the countrey (whom they had for great reward enduced to vndertake the matter) to craue aid of the countrey people, that were in great multitude fled into th [...] safetie of the mountaines: and to tell them, that if they came not in time to their releefe, their wiues and children, whom they had before sent into the citie, must needs in short time fall into the enemies hand, or I perish with hunger: but these messengers were by the vigilant enemie intercepted, and in the sight of the besieged tortured to death.

Letters shot into the citie.About the same time diuers letters were shot with arrows into the citie, to persuade the besieged Christians to yeeld themselues; for that in so doing they should find the Bassa a mild & mercifull conquerour: whereas otherwise if they should by wilfull holding out delay his victorie, they were sure to endure whatsoeuer could be endured or suffered. But when Mustapha had thus in vaine with hope and feare tried the minds of the defendants,Mustapha Bassa in vaine persuadeth them of Nicosia to yeeld. he called forth to parley certaine soldiors that were standing vpon the bulwarke called CONSTANTIVS, of whom some were by the consent of the Gouernor sent forth vnto him: vnto whom Mustapha by his interpretor complained, That no answere was giuen vnto his letters; he set forth vnto them the glorie, power, and K greatnesse of the Turkish empire; and debased the strength of the Venetians: then he persuaded them to yeeld, propounding vnto them the miseries that would fall vpon them, if the citie should by force be taken; which he threatened would be farre greater than the danger the Turks were to vndertake for the winning thereof: and that therefore it concerned none so much as themselues, whether the citie were giuen vp by composition, or els woon by strong hand: He shewed vnto them the profit that should arise vnto them by yeelding of it vp, and offred vnto them large entertainement, if they would serue him: and to conclude, told them, that they should neuer afterwards find at his hands so much grace as was at that instant offered them. The craftie Bassa did what he might to hasten the winning of the citie, both for that he doubted the comming of the Christian fleet, and that his great armie was exceedingly troubled with contagious and grieuous L diseases, arising of the immoderat heat and drought in that so hot a countrey. But the souldiours thinking any thing more assured than the Turkish faith, answered him, That they did not as yet doubt their owne strength, and that they were readie to endure any thing that could happen, rather than to preferre the vncertaine friendship of an vnknowne prince before the gratious fauour of such worthie princes as they had so good experience of.

This answere cut off all the Bassaes hope for taking of the citie by composition: wherewith being both grieued and enraged, he commanded all things to be made readie for the assault: and the more to encourage his souldiors, promised vnto them great rewards and honors that should first or second mount the wals. After that he gaue a generall assault vnto the citie with all his power: wherein both he as a most worthie captaine and his souldiours fought most fiercely. You M haue to doe (said he) with the small and last remainders of your enemies,Mustapha encourageth his souldiors. which are scarce able to stand or hold their weapons in their hands, rather than with enemies indeed: shall you not then easily ouercome them, being both few and feeble, that haue vanquished them when they were many and lustie? The end of all your labours is at hand, your hoped rewards approch; onely [Page] A play you the men, and faint not in this assault; the spoile of this rich citie shall be the worthie reward of your labours; the fruit of all your trauell consisteth in this one moment. Whilest he thus encourageth some and reprooueth others, they mindfull of his promises, and these of the disgrace, altogether with their thicke shot suffer no man to stand in safetie vpon the wals, and out of their forts also with their great ordinance greatly annoyed the defendants.Nicosia most terribly assaulted by the Turks. This done, they attempted by the ruines of the wall and in other places by scaling ladders to haue entred the citie. Which terrible assault was by the cruell enemie maintained, not for some few houres, but for diuers dayes together without any intermission, fresh men still comming on in stead of them that were wounded or slaine. Yet did the defendants valiantly endure all that storme, and in such weake case as they were, worthily performed what was possible for so few to do: yet still in hope B(the poore comfort of men in miserie) that releefe might come by the approch of the Christian fleet. At length, when the matter was brought to this point, that the Turkes were in great hope to haue gained the wals, & Mustapha himselfe probably guessed, That the Christians were now wearie of the long assault, and sore weakened with wounds and other infinit miseries, not to seek in a citie so hardly distressed, and was in that his opinion also confirmed by certain fugitiue Christians: he neuerthelesse vpon the sudden caused a retreat to be sounded, and so retiring into his trenches, lay still all the next day without any thing doing. The defendants thinking that he had giuen ouer the assault, because of some aid that was comming to their releefe, became more carelesse of the enemie, and vpon the vaine hope of such aid, with lesse diligence repaired their breaches and prouided for the repulsing of their enemies. But the Bassa in the meane time had chosen C out of his whole armie about two hundred of his best captaines and souldiors, all men of approued valour and agilitie of bodie, whom the next day after hee sent early in the morning, to make proofe if they could with scaling ladders secretly and without any noise set vp, get into the foure bulwarkes which he had before sore shaken with his great ordinance.The Turks gain [...] the bulwarks & wals of Nicosia. These resolute men leading the way, got first vp, after whom followed diuers others, and so tooke the aforesaid bulwarkes: when presently after other companies of their fellowes which stood readie for the purpose, comming on forward, did with their scaling ladders in diuers places recouer the top of the wals for now the matter was not done by secret surprise▪ but by open force. In euery one of these bulwarkes were seuentie Italians and as many Epirots, who there kept watch and ward; these men part asleepe, as fearing no such danger, and part lying lasily vpon the ground, were there D surprised on the sudden and slaine: othersome of them awaked with the strange and vncouth noise, betooke not themselues lustily to their weapons, but forsaking their stations leapt downe out of the bulwarkes at such places as were next vnto them; some for feare ran vnawares into the middest of their enemies. Vpon this alarum some of the Christian captaines came speedily to the wals with their companies, as did Eugenius, who whilest he in vaine crieth out to such fearefull souldiors as he met, that they should not so cowardly flie, & stayeth others that were flying, was himselfe shot thorow with a small shot and slaine. Other captaines in other places likewise laboured in vaine to haue stayed the flying souldiors, whose persuasions, requests, and authoritie in so generall a feare, nothing at that time preuailed.

The defendants thus beaten from the wals and bulwarkes,Nicosia taken by the Turks. gathered themselues into the market E place: but the citisens stealing home to their owne houses, there stood in the entrances of the same, fearefully expecting the destruction of their countrey, together with their owne. In the meane time the Gouernour of ALEPPO with his regiment scoured the wals of the citie round about, as he had in charge from the Generall: and without respect put to sword all that he met, armed or vnarmed. At the bulwarke called BAR [...]ARVS, it fortuned him to light vpon a companie of Italians, who for a while fought desperatly, but were in the end ouerthrown and slaine. When he had thus cleared the wals, and left such companies as he thought good in places conuenient for the keeping of them, he came downe into the more open places of the citie: and seeing them that were gathered together into the market place to haue cast themselues into a ring, and to fight as men altogether desperat, he caused certaine murthering pieces to be bent vpon F them: which they perceiuing, layed downe their weapons, and yeelded themselues vnto the mercie of the enemie▪ By and by all the gates of the citie were strongly guarded by the enemie, to the intent that no man should goe in or out. Dandulus the Gouernour, and Contarenus bishop of PAPHOS, with the rest of the nobilitie and better sort of the citisens, had got themselues into the towne hall, and there stood vpon their guard: vnto whom Mustapha [...]ent word, that hee [Page] would take them all to mercie, if they would without further resistance yeeld themselues. But G whiles messengers run too and fro, the Turks violently brake in vpon them, and there slew them euery man. After the death of these noblemen the cruell enemie spared none: and hauing slaine such as they found abroad in the streets, brake into the houses, where they made hauocke of all things: yong babes were violently taken out of the armes of their mothers, virgins were shamefully rauished, and honest matrones before their husbands faces dispightfully abused, churches were spoyled▪ A great slaughter. and all places filled with mourning and dead bodies: the streets were in all places stained with bloud, for in the citie was slaine that day foureteene thousand eight hundred threescore and six persons. Neither was there any end of the spoile, vntill the greedie enemie had carried away all the wealth that long peace had heaped vp. It is reported, that the prey there taken amounted to twentie hundred thousand millions of duckats: two hundred of the most goodly H and beautifull youths were chosen out of purpose to be sent vnto CONSTANTINOPLE for a present for Selymus. In the citie were taken also two hundred and fiftie pieces of great ordinance: whereof some were by the enemie carried away, and the rest left for defence of the citie. Thus the famous citie of NICOSIA, sometime the regall seat of the kings of CYPRVS, fell into the hands of the Turks, the ninth day of September in the yeare 1570, in whose power it still remaineth.

Mustapha hauing as he thought best disposed of all things in NICOSIA, with the very terror of his name, rather than by any force, brought most part of the rest of the townes in the island vnder his obeisance; and by faire entreatie and promise of good vsage, brought backe againe vnto their wonted dwellings the rude countrey people, who vpon the comming of the Turks were fled with all that they had into the mountaines: them as men not to be feared, he commaunded I to till and sow their land as they were wont.Cyrene yeelded vnto the Turkes. The citie of CYRENE is strongly situated, not farre from the sea, and was then well furnished of all things needfull for the enduring of a long siege. Hither the Bassa sent one of his Sanzackes to summon the citie, more to prooue the courage of the defendants, than for any hope he had to haue the citie deliuered vnto him. But Alphonsus Palacius then Gouernour of the citie, terrified with the losse of NICOSIA, no sooner saw the enemie, but that without any further deliberation or force vsed against him, he deliuered vp the towne vnto the Sanzacke; couenanting only in reward of his cowardise, That he might in safetie depart from thence with all his garrison souldiours: which was easily graunted, and the citie surrendered.

Not long after Mustapha leauing a thousand horsemen and three thousand foot in garrison K in NICOSIA,Famagusta besieged. marched with the rest of his armie to besiege FAMAGVSTA. And the more to terrifie them of the citie, he by a poore countrey fellow, whom he had for that purpose set at libertie, sent vnto them in a basket the head of Nicholaus Dandulus, late Gouernor of NICOSIA: and at the same time sent before him diuers horsemen, who vpon their horsemens staues carried the heads of many of the noblemen slaine at NICOSIA, wherwith they rid as in triumph about the wals of the citie. Which thing he did, in hope that they of FAMAGVSTA terrified with such a spectacle, and the late ouerthrow of NICOSIA, would for feare of like miserie yeeld themselues. But deceiued in this his expectation, he encamped his armie about three miles from the citie.Mustapha raiseth his siege. Afterwards hauing taken view of the citie, and well considered of the situation thereof, he with wonderfull celeritie cast vp diuers mounts against the same, and at the same time caused batterie L to be layed against the great tower which defended the hauen: he himselfe also in the mean while battering the gate that leadeth to AMATHVS. But perceiuing by the desperat sallies of the defendants their great courage, and that he was like to haue much more to doe in this siege than he had in the winning of NICOSIA, and Winter also now drawing fast on (being about the later end of September) he thought it best betime to prouide, that by lying there he hazarded not the honour he had with so much labour and danger before gained: and the rather, for that it was commonly reported, that the Christian fleet was at hand: wherefore he rise with his armie, and retired himselfe further off into the countrey, where he shortly after billitted his souldiors in the villages round about for that Winter.

The Turks at sea aduertised of the comming of the Christian fleet, prepare thēselues for battell.The Bassaes at sea, Haly and Piall, lying before FAMAGVSTA, doubting the comming of the M Christian fleet, which then lay at CRETE, sent out six galliots to discouer the doings of the Christians: who returning with certaine prisoners taken in the Island of CRETE, declared vnto the Bassaes what they had learned concerning the Christian fleet, and that it was alreadie vpon the way for CYPRVS. Vpon which intelligence the Bassaes put their fleet in order of battell, and set [Page] A forward towards LIMISSO, to haue met with the Christians: who with a prosperous wind were comming betwixt the islands of CARPATHOS and the RHODES: but there vnderstanding by their espials, that NICOSIA was lost, and that the Turks were come to besiege FAMAGVSTA, they called a counsell of all the cheefe commaunders in the fleet, to consult what were best to doe in so dangerous a case. Columnius the Popes Admirall, and then cheefe commander in the fleet, with Zanius the Venetian Admirall, were of opinion, That it were best to hold on their course for CYPRVS,The commaunders of the Christian fleet of d [...] uers opi [...]ions for giuing of the T [...]rks battell. and to relieue FAMAGVSTA: for that it was like that the Turks proud of their late victorie, were for desire of prey for most part gone ashore into the island, and so left their fleet but slenderly manned. Beside that they alleadged, That the Venetian Senat had expressely decreed, that they should giue the Turks battell. But Auria the Spanish Admirall thinking B it, as indeed it was, to be a matter of great difficultie and danger, was quite of another mind, saying, That he could not but maruell, how the Venetian Senatours sitting at their ease in counsell, could before they knew their owne strength, and power of the enemie, the nature of the countrey, and purpose of their foes, determine what were fit for martiall men to doe: vnto whose actions no certaine rule could bee prescribed: All the shores (he said) were kept with the enemies garrisons: so that what need soeuer they should haue, they could neither come by water or wood, or put into any harbour. Besides that, the enemie would giue them battell at his owne pleasure, and not at theirs: for that they were not of such power as to enforce him to fight. And that if the Senate, which vsed to doe all things warily, and with great aduisement, did but see the weakenesse of their gallies, wanting both souldiours and marriners, C they would be of another mind. He alledged further, that they were to wage warre in the enemies countrey, where there was no port to receiue their fleet, no peaceable place, no confederat citie, nor king to friend: whereas the time of the yeare grew euery day worse and worse, when as they had neither harbour to put into, neither were able to abide the sea. And now that NICOSIA was lost, for the releefe whereof they were come so farre, there was no reason for them longer to stay, the enemie so strongly possessing the island with his great armie, as that there was not any hope to doe any good against him. And that to keepe him from victuall, and so to distresse him, was not possible, lying in a most fertile island, and in the middest of his owne dominions: whereas they, who were to be still relieued from farre, should sooner feele the want than the enemie. He was victualled (as he said when he came from home) but for three moneths, in hope to D haue made a short dispatch, and had now two thousand miles home. He said moreouer, That he had expresse commaundement from the king, to returne to MESSANA before Winter; and that therefore so soone as the month was out, he would depart. The Venetian Admirall desiring nothing more, than by battell at sea to ouerthrow the Turks, and so to relieue the distressed Cypriots, vrged the Spanish Admirall to proceed in the voyage, saying, That so great aid was not sent from the Pope and the king onely for the reliefe of NICOSIA, but to deliuer the whole island from the danger of the Turke. Of the same opinion with the Spanish Admirall were diuers other great captains in the fleet, namely Sfortia; who said, That nothing was to be so done▪ as might rashly expose vnto casualtie or power of the enemie, the publike fortune and majestie of the Christian commonweale, which was in that fleet greatly hazarded: That longer stay E might bring further danger: That in that fleet consisted the whole welfare of the commonweale; wherein more might be lost,The Christian fleet returneth vpon the foule disagreement of the commander [...]. if any mishap should chance thereunto, than was good to be gained by the relieuing of FAMAGVSTA. The great commaunders thus differing in opinions, the counsell was in a heat dissolued, and nothing concluded. Vpon which so foule a disagreement the fleet began now to returne backe againe, but so, as that it was not now as before one, but three fleets, euery Admirall by himselfe drawing after him his fleet. Auria the Spanish Admirall, who first returned, after he had beene two dayes wonderfully with tempest tossed at sea, came at last to CARPATHOS, and departing thence, with much adoe arriued with his fleet in the island of CRETE: from whence hee by a messenger sent of purpose, requested leaue of Columnius the Popes Admirall, that he might with his good will presently returne home: whereunto Columnius F answered, That he would giue him no such leaue: but rather charged him in the dutie he ought to the good of the Christian commonweale not to depart, but to keepe companie with the rest of the fleet, vntill it were past ZACYNTHVS; that so with their vnited forces they might more safely passe by their enemies countries: Wheras otherwise, if any thing should by his hastie departure fall out otherwise than well, it should be imputed to the dishonour of him that had forsaken [Page] his friends, and not of them that were so by him forsaken. But vnto this Auria answered,G That the welfare of the kingdomes of SICILIE and NAPLES, consisted in the safetie of this fleet: and that therefore hauing hast home, he could not stay to keepe companie with their heauie galeasses and other ships of burthen, which must oftentimes be towed forward: This he openly pretended for his departure, yet secretly sought (as it was deemed) to find an occasion whereby to withdraw himselfe (being as he accounted the better man at sea) from the command of Columnius, whereunto he was full sore against his will subject.

After they had thus a while spent the time with reasoning the matter too and fro, Auria of himselfe without farther leaue hoised saile, and so at length came to MESSANA in SICILIE: neither did Columnius and Zanius stay in those quarters long after him, but hauing endured much trouble at sea, arriued at last, Columnius in ITALIE, and Zanius at CORCYRA. Thus this mightie H fleet, which had all this Sommer filled the Mediterranean with all the countries thereabout with the expectation of some great matter, was by the discord of the Generals dissolued, hauing done nothing at all worth the remembrance. In this idle expedition many thousands of right valiant men lost their liues, being dead of diuers diseases proceeding of change of diet, and vnseasonablenesse of the weather in that hoat climat; amongst whom was the valiant countie Hieronimus Marteningus sent by the Senat with three thousand souldiors, for the defence of FAMA [...]VSTA; who also most of them perished in that voiage.Zanius the Venetian Admirall discharged of his office, and sent in bonds to Venice. The Venetian fleet was no sooner arriued at CORCYRA, but Augustinus Barbadicus was sent from the Senat to discharge Zanius the Admirall of his office, and to send him prisoner to VENICE: in whose roome was placed Sebastianus Venerius Gouernour of that island.I

The Turks Bassaes at sea, certainly aduertised of the departure of the Christian fleet, were not a little prowd thereof; as by the confession of their enemies, their betters. Yet for as much as the seas began then to grow rough, and no enemie appeared, they thought it to no purpose to keepe the seas with so great a fleet, and therefore resolued to leaue Mustapha with his armie in CYPRVS, the next yeare to make an end of his conquest so happily begun; and seauen gallies at sea before FAMAGVSTA, that no reliefe should that way be brought into the citie, and so to depart themselues with the rest of the fleet to Winter in more safer harbours: Piall with the greater part of the fleet to CONSTANTINOPLE, and Haly with the rest to the RHODES. And because they would for their greater credit prepare some worthie present for their great lord and master Selymus, they fraughted a great gallion of Muhamets the chiefe Bassaes, and two other K tall ships, with the richest of the spoile of NICOSIA, and the choise of the prisoners there taken. But when they were now readie to hoise saile and depart, as they were carrying out of the gallion certaine barrels of gunpouder which Mustapha the Generall had commaunded for his better prouision to be landed,A desperat fact of a woman. a noble gentlewoman captiue in the gallion, wishing rather to die with honour than to liue dishonoured, secretly fiered the pouder: by force whereof, the same gallion with the other two ships were suddenly rent in pieces, and all that was therein blowne vp into the ayre. Of all that were in those three vessels, none escaped with life but the master of the gallion and two Christian captiues, but there perished togither with the rich spoile. But the Bassaes following their former resolution departed from CYPRVS, and afterwards in safetie arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE: where both then and all the Winter following, such preparation was in L making, as if Selymus had the next yeare purposed some farre greater matter than the conquest of CYPRVS.

Whilest Sebastianus Venerius (now the Venetian Admirall) yet lay at CORCYRA, the rude Acroceraunian people, more famous for nothing than for their theft, and want of all things, by trustie messengers promised to deliuer into his power the strong castle of CHYMERA, kept by a garrison of three hundred Turks, if he himselfe with a few gallies and a conuenient number of footmen would come into the bay of AMERACIA; offering him good hostages for the better assurance of their promise. Of which their offer he gladly accepted, and forthwith went to the appointed place with a companie of horsemen, three thousand footmen, and certaine gallies; who were no sooner landed, but that presently a thousand of those rough mountaine people M came vnto them: with which power taking the hill, and repulsing the Turks garrison; comming to the reliefe of the castle,The strong castle of Chymera taken by Venerius. he so discouraged them that were in the hold, that the next night they let themselues downe with ropes into the valley below; but being descried, were there all either taken or slaine. And so in a verie short time was that strong castle taken by the Admirall, and a [Page] A strong garrison of Christians put into it in stead of the Turkes.

Not long after,Quirinus taketh a castle of the Turkes in Peloponesus. Quirinus the Viceadmirall, a man of great courage, landed with foure and twentie gallies in PELOPONESVS neere the bay of MAINE, and there vpon the sudden both by sea and land besieged a strong castle, which the Turks but two yeares before had built to trouble the Christians passing that way. Which castle he tooke in fiue houres, and put to the sword fiue hundred Turkes which lay there in garrison, and rasing it downe to the ground carried away with him foure and twentie great pieces of artillerie into the island of ZACYNTHVS.

At such time as Mustapha before lay at the siege of FAMAGVSTA, Bragadinus Gouernour of the towne, with Baleonius a most expert captaine, from out of the high places of the citie beholding the great armie of the Turkes (which couered the ground almost as farre as they could see) B with their cunning manner of their fortification, were therewith much moued: and therefore thought it good betime to giue the Senat knowledge thereof, and in so great a danger to craue their aid. And that their request might be of more waight and haue the better hearing, they entreated Hieronimus Ragazonius bishop of the citie, a reuerend and deuout man, to take vpon him that charge, vnto whom they joyned Nicholas Donatus, a noble gentleman of CYPRVS. The bishop at the first was verie vnwilling to go, as loath in so great danger to leaue his flocke: but at length ouercome with the entreatie of the Gouernour, and teares of the besieged, suffered himselfe to be entreated. And embarked in a gallie about the going downe of the Sunne, loosing out of the hauen, and hoising saile, with a faire gale of wind passed through the Turkes fleet, which then lay at anchor before the citie; and by the comming on of the night, and by the great way C he made, got him quickly out of sight. After foure daies sayling he came to CRETE, and so at length to VENICE: where, as he had before vnto the Admirall, so there vnto the Senat he declared the dangerous estate of the citie, the strength of the enemie, the weaknesse of the defendants against so great a multitude, and the want of many things needfull for the holding out of the siege: and to be briefe, that except they sent speedie reliefe, the citie could not be kept. Zanius at that time Admirall, carefull for the besieged, caused foure tall ships to be laded with all manner of victuall, and a great quantitie of gunpouder, and put into them seauenteene hundred select souldiors: all which he sent from CRETE to the reliefe of them of FAMAGVSTA, appointing M. Antonius Quirinus with twelue of the best gallies in all the fleet, to conduct the same thither. This Quirinus was a most valiant and expert captaine,Quirinus a valiant gentleman. meanly discended, but by seruice D growne to be a man both of great reputaton and wealth: and therefore Zanius at his departure to VENICE, although he knew the matter required hast, yet presuming vpon his wisedome and carefulnesse, left it to his discretion, when, and how to performe that peece of seruice▪ Quirinus (not without cause) doubting to set forward, the seas as then full of the Turkes gallies, staied vntill Winter was well spent,1571 and then setting forward the seauenteenth of Ianuarie, kept aloofe from the ships, which with a prosperous wind came directly before FAMAGVSTA: in hope, that the Turkes gallies which lay in the mouth of the hauen, might so be drawne farther into the sea, in hope of some good bootie, he himselfe staying with his gallies in place conuenient out of sight. Neither had the euent deceiued his expectation, had not his fierce nature hindred the same: for the Turkes vpon the dawning of the day descrying the ships, made hastily toward them. But E Quirinus not able longer to stay himselfe, and before desirous to fight with them, shewed himselfe too soone in the open sea before the enemie was come neere the ships: whom as soone as the Turks had seene, and that there was no hope to withstand him, they staied their oares, and with all speed retired. But Quirinus following faster vpon them, they were glad for safegard of their liues, with all the power they could, to run three of their gallies aground, and to run to shoare themselues: which three gallies, Quirinus did with his great ordinance beat all to pieces, and sore gauled the other foure. The hauen thus cleared, he returned againe vnto the ships, and brought them with the supplie in safetie to FAMAGVSTA; vpon whose arriuall was great rejoicing, both amongst the garrison soldiors & the citisens: for the Turks thought nothing lesse than that the Christian gallies durst at that time of the yeare haue put into those dangerous seas: which F Quirinus well knowing, came foorth againe with his gallies, and roaming vp and downe at his pleasure, tooke two of the enemies ships richly laded comming vnto the camp, with which bootie he enriched his souldiors: and farther incited by occasion, landed his men in diuers places alongst the sea coast in PAMPHILIA, and there did great harme. So hauing filled the countrey with the terrour and fame of his name, he returned againe to FAMAGVSTA, where he notably [Page] encouraged the garrison souldiors, persuading them to remember their woonted valour: and filling G them with hope, that the Christian fleet would be with them in the beginning of the next Sommer, to deliuer them from their enemies, and to raise the siege. So hauing in twentie daies dispatched that he came for, and done what good seruice else he could, he departed from FAMAGVSTA, and within fiue daies after arriued at CRETE.

It was not long, but Selymus had knowledge of this late supply put into FAMAGVSTA, and of the harmes done by Quirinus;Negligence seuerely punished by Selymus. wherewith he was so highly displeased, that he commaunded the Gouernour of CHIOS his head to be strucke off, and the Gouernour of the RHODES to be disgraced, whose charge it was to haue kept those seas so that nothing should haue been conuaied into FAMAGVSTA. Neither spared he Pial Bassa, but depriued him of his Admiraltie, and placed Pertau Bassa Admirall in his stead: for that he had not the yeare before discomfited the H Christian fleet at the island of CRETE, as it was supposed he might haue done.

From the beginning of this warre, the Venetians, with Pius Quintus then Pope who greatly fauoured their cause, had most earnestly from time to time solicited Philip king of SPAINE, to enter with them into the participation and fellowship of this warre; which their request standing in deed with the good of his state, he seemed easily to yeeld vnto: and therefore sent Auria his Admirall the last yeare with his fleet to aid them, but with such successe as is before declared. As for to joyne with them in a perpetuall league and confederation (as it was tearmed) against the common enemie, that he referred vnto the discreet consideration of the two Cardinals, Granuellan and Pace, and Io. Zunica his embassadour, sent for that purpose to ROME: promising to performe whatsoeuer they should on his behalfe agree vpon or consent vnto. At the same time, and I for the same purpose lay also Surianus the Venetian embassadour at ROME: vnto whom the Pope joyned Cardinall Morone, Aldobrandinus, and Rusticucius, with certaine other of the chiefe Cardinals, as men indifferent to both parties, to moderat and compose such differences and difficulties as should arise betwixt the aforesaid commissioners for the king, and the Venetians, concerning the intended league. But these graue men, sent from so great princes about so great a matter (as well there could not be a greater) were no sooner met togither and set in consultation, but that forthwith they began to jarre about the capitulations of the league. Necessarie it was thought, that a league should be agreed vpon against so puissant and dangerous an enemie, but to find the way how the same might be concluded to the contentment of all parties, seemed a matter almost impossible. Oftentimes these commissioners sat, but the oftener the farther K off: if one difficultie were by the discretion of some appeased, in stead thereof at the next meeting arise three others. The chiefe commaund of the armie to be raised, the proportion of the forces, the maner of the war, with many other such like circumstances incident to so great actions, made great differences among them: but most of all, the indifferent proportioning of the charge, the Spanish commissioners seeking to turne the greatest part therof vpon the Venetians, and the Venetians vpon them: which was done with such earnestnesse and studie of euerie man towards his owne part, as if they had all there met for the bettering of the particular state from which they were sent, rather than for the common good: For the Spaniard, who in former time was glad to keepe the frontiers of his large dominions in ITALIE, SICILIE, SARDINIA, CORSICA, MAIORCA, MINORCA, yea and of SPAINE it selfe, with strong garrisons for feare of the L Turke: now that the warre was risen betwixt the Venetians and him, and the danger thereof translated farre off into other mens territories; enjoyed now in his owne an vnwonted quietnesse, to the great content of his subjects, & easing of his owne charge in maintaining of so many garrisons as before: whereof many were now thought needlesse. Besides that, he by the indulgence of the Pope, raised such great summes of money vpon his cleargie, as was thought by many sufficient to discharge the charge of the warre: For which causes he cared not for entring into any farther league with the Venetians, but as it were of courtesie to send them a yearely aid to maintain a defensiue lingering war, and so to keepe the Turke busied vpon the Venetian a far off from his owne territories. But the Venetians, in whose dominions the fierce enemie daily raged, as well in DALMATIA as in CYPRVS, were euen for the same reasons moued to hasten and M shorten the war, that the Spaniard was to protract it: for beside the neerenesse of the danger, and the infinit calamities by the sustained, their yearly reuenues arising for most part of their customes, were greatly empaired, and their traffique (the maintenance of their State) almost quite cut off; which caused them more earnestly to confederat themselues with the Spaniard. But hard it was [Page] A to joyne in one, States so farre differing, in respect of their particular profit, and almost by nature contrarie. Thus was all the last yeare, and a great part of this also, spent by the aforesaid commissioners in turbulent and fruitlesse conferences, but nothing as yet concluded concerning the league: which troubled the Venetians not a little, being of themselues too weake for so mightie an enemie as was Selymus, and yet no other certaine strength from their friends to rest vpon. But whiles they stood thus doubtfull of the league with SPAINE, and quite out of hope of any attonement with Selymus; vpon the sudden when they least expected, it was by good fortune laid as it were in their laps, to make choise whether they would (as they had before most earnestly desired) joyne in league with the Pope and the king of SPAINE, or else fall to agreement with Selymus: and that by this meanes.

B Muhamet the chiefe Bassa,Muhamet Bassa a secret friend vnto the Vene [...] ans, putteth them in hope of peace. a secret friend vnto the Venetians of whom he had been of long time honoured, had no great liking of the prosperous successe of Mustapha in CYPRVS, and therefore deuised night and day how to crosse the rising of him, the competitour of his honour; and withall, to help the Venetians vnto whom he was much beholden. He by secret messengers had before oftentimes sounded the mind of the Venetian embassadour, and put him in hope that if sute were made vnto Selymus for peace, it would vndoubtedly be granted; and farther promised, to be himselfe an helper and intercessour for the same. But finding the embassadour to cast many perils, and to giue small credit vnto their talke, who had before by trusting them deceiued him: he did not so giue ouer the matter, but referring the farther tempering with him vnto a more fitter time, for the present he tooke opportunitie to enter into discourse with Selymus C himselfe concerning the Venetians, and told him that it was reported, That they wearie of the long altercation they had had with the Spaniards concerning the league, and now destitute of all hope and aid, would now happily of their owne accord grant him that which they had before to him denied. And perceiuing him not vnwillingly to heare so of them, he proceeded farther in the matter, to know his pleasure what he would haue done therein: cunningly by the way of good counsell persuading him vnto that which he most wished himselfe to be done. Immediatly after he secretly aduertiseth M. Antonius the Venetian embassadour, That there was great hope of peace, and that therefore the Senat should vnder the colour of exchanging of prisoners, and redeeming of merchants goods, send some fit man to CONSTANTINOPLE, with whom he would in secret conferre of all such matters as might further the pacification. This vnexpected D newes from the embassador brought to VENICE, was well heard of the Senat: for they thought it much to concerne their State, to haue a way opened whereby vpon tollerable conditions to make peace with the mightie tyrant, if that the league betwixt them and the king of SPAINE could not be concluded.The Venetian [...] send an embassadour to Selymu [...] to entreat with him of peace. Hereupon they made choise of one Iacobus Ragazonius to go about this matter to CONSTANTINOPLE. This Ragazonius was a man of great spirit and dexteritie of wit to take any matter in hand, and of a great reach and deepe judgement in the managing thereof; and withall exceeding rich, and of so good a carriage of himselfe, as that he was therfore famous: all which things were thought of great moment, to win the fauour of that couetous and barbarous nation. The Senat, although they had not yet made proofe what men thought of the matter, yet doubted they not, but that vpon the report of the sending of this notable man, E men would thereof diuersly diuine euerie man according to his owne fantasie: and that many of the wiser sort would indeed surmise, as the truth was, that he was sent for to intreat of peace, although the exchange of prisoners, and redemption of merchants goods, were the onely things were openly pretended: and the Senat, although they thought it not amisse to haue it so vnderstood, because such a suspition was like enough to stirre vp both the Pope and the Spaniard to accept of such conditions of the desired league, as they had before rejected; yet least the hope of the league (which they for many causes thought good to cherish) therby cut off, might cause the Pope and the Spaniard both to be cold in the matter, they certified both them and other Christian princes, of the sending of Ragazonius; yet of purpose concealing the secret drift of his going. Ragazonius throughly instructed by the Senat, was in a gallie conducted to RAGVSIVM; which F Gassan-beg (the great Bassa Muhamets sonne, Gouernor of LIBVRNIA) vnderstanding, met him vpon the frontiers, and told him, That he was sent by his father both to meet him and safe conduct him: which the martiall man, contrarie to the manner of the Turkes courteously performed, honourably entertaining him, and afterward sending him with a safe conuoy vntill hee was out of all danger. Ragazonius comming to CONSTANTINOPLE, was there by night secretly [Page] receiued into the citie,Ragazonius the Venetian embassadour commeth to Cōstantinople. and at first brought into a little base Inne, and a guard set ouer him G that he should speake with no man. But after three dayes he was remooued to a much better place, and presented with diuers kinds of daintie dishes of sundrie kinds of meats. The effect of his message was, to trie the Turks minds, and after conference had with the embassadour to entreat of peace.The conference betwixt Muhamet the great Bassa, and Ragazonius. At length hauing accesse vnto the great Bassa Muhamet, after he dad deliuered vnto him (as he had in charge) his message concerning the exchange of prisoners and marchants goods; Muhamet asked him, if he had nothing in charge from the Senat concerning a pacification to be made? Whereunto he answered, that he had, but that he must first speake with the embassadour, without whose aduice and counsell he was not of himselfe to doe any thing. At that first encounter the Bassa to terrifie the messenger, declared vnto him the innumerable multitude of the Turks horsemen and footmen, which no nation (as he vainely boasted) was able by force H or policie to withstand: also his great and inuincible fleets at sea, with whom all the power of the Christians vnited together, was not able to encounter; and much other such like strength and wealth of his: and that the Venetians were now no more able to withstand Selymus, than they were in times past to resist his father and his auncestors. Yet he discoursed of this matter in such sort, as not thereby to cut off the hope of the pacification: but said, That the Venetians should best haue prouided for the safetie of their state, if at the first they had listened vnto him, friendly and faithfully aduising them not to haue entred into armes, in which doing they shewed more courage than power: and that yet, as the case now stood, and that Selymus was in a most assured hope, in short time to become lord and master of the whole island; it should bee to their great good to preferre the fauour and good will of the Turks before warre, and by the voluntarie yeelding I vp of CYPRVS gaine vnto themselues perpetuall peace and tranquilitie. As for the island it selfe, it was not now worth the hazarding of so many dangers, being destitute of inhabitants, which were almost all either slaine or fled, the cattell driuen away, the towns ransackt and burnt, and the whole countrey, of late most pleasant and beautifull, now so spoyled and vnpeopled, that it could not of long time yeeld vnto him that should haue it, any profit or commoditie. Ragazonius being a coole and aduised man, and withall perceiuing that the Bassa was not to be contraried in his talke, so tempered his answere, as that he shewed no token of feare, neither let any word fall that might offend his eares, saying, That he was right glad, that he had found so much fauour in his sight, as to haue accesse and leaue to talke with so great a prince, who for wisedome and grauitie excelled all the rest of the princes of the great emperours court: who so farre as he K might, with his loyaltie towards his soueraigne, had alwayes most graciously fauoured the Venetian state: who also not ignorant of the vncertainetie of worldly things, knew of all others best, that on both sides were both men and armes, and that most mightie princes had oftentimes with small forces beene ouerthrowne, the euent of things neuer deceiuing men more than in matters of warre; no power vpon earth being sure, which could not within some bounds containe the strength of it selfe: and that therefore he was in good hope, That he so worthie a man knowing best what belonged both to peace and warre, would deuise some such course as might sort to the good and quiet both of the Venetian state and Turkish empire: in which doing hee should find sufficient matter for his eternall praise and glorie, if by his discreet wisedome a pacification might be made. Such talke hauing passed at their first meeting, Ragazonius had leaue to speake L with the embassadour, who then lay at PERA vnder safe keeping. In passing ouer to PERA, Ragazonius might see a fleet of Turkish gallies one encountering with another, in manner of a fight at sea, which the Turks had of purpose prouided, to shew vnto him as a strange sight. Whereat Ragazonius smiling, said vnto the Turks that were present with him, That it was a pretie childish sport for him that had neuer seene the like before: but not to the Venetians, who were acquainted with these matters in earnest; as the Turkes should well know, whensoeuer they had a mind to make proofe what they were able to doe at sea. Ragazonius comming to the embassdour, had conference with him at large, and resolued with him what to do in his negotiation. And so returning to Muhamet, easily dispatched with him for the exchange of prisoners & marchants goods: but when they came to talke of the capitulations of a pacification to be made, at the first they M were so farre off, as if they would neuer haue met: but after much and often conference, sometime the one yeelding, and sometime the other, the matter was brought to some conformitie, so that there was no such great difference betwixt them, but that they were like ynough to haue agreed. Pius the Pope, and Philip the king of SPAINE aduertised of the sending of Ragazonius [Page] A to CONSTANTINOPLE,The Pope and the king of Spain fea [...]ing least the Venetians should make peace with the Turke, hasten the confederation began to imagine as the truth was, that he was sent about some treatie of peace, what colour soeuer the Senat pretended to couer the same. And therefore doubting least the Turkish emperour hauing once made peace with the Venetians, should turne his great forces alreadie prepared, vpon the one or both of them, they thought it good for troubling of that peace, now with all speed to hasten the league, which they had so long before delayed. For which purpose the Pope sent the noble Columnius to VENICE: who admitted into the Senat, declared at large how matters had passed at ROME concerning the league: and afterwards what profit might arise of such a league concluded, and what harmes might ensue of the same, neglected. And to hasten the matter, set as it were before their eyes, how much it concerned the common good, but them especially, to haue the same with speed confirmed. As for to giue any B trust vnto the Turks, was (as he said) not beseeming their deepe wisedome and judgement, seeing they so often had beene by them rather deceiued than vanquished. In conclusion, he requested them, That for his Holinesse sake, moderating in some part their hard demaunds, they would with speed joyne with him and the king in a most firme and Christian league. Although this speech of Columnius had much moued the minds of the Venetians, so that many enclined to the league, yet were there many doubtfull thereof, and could not be resolued whether it were better to embrace peace with the Turke, or the league with the Pope and the king. Peace pleased them, neither did the league displease them: it seemed a matter most difficult whether to resolue vpon. They were fearefull of the league either receiued, or rejected: the hope of victorie, the inconstancie of the Turkes, their owne strength at sea, the large promises of the Christian princes, the certaine C hope of the league, and vncertainetie of the peace, persuaded them to embrace the league▪ On the other side, the bad successe of the yeare before, their forces shaken, and almost spent in CYPRVS, the suspected and doubtfull faith of their confederates, with the vncertainetie of the successe, induced them to preferre the hoped peace before the league. So the Venetians in suspence betwixt both, gaue the embassadour dayly more doubtfull answers than other: neither by promise binding themselues, neither by flat deniall cutting off the hope of the league, by examples & arguments rather refelling what was by others alledged, than any way declaring what they themselues thought. Sometime they alleadged such things as might make a man beleeue, that they were willing to joyne in league, and by and by againe they would seeme neither to reject nor accept of the same. In which doubtfulnesse many dayes passed. At length the matter being D propounded in the Senate, there found not vnlike disposition of minds that it had amongst the meaner sort: for some of the Senatours enclined to the league, whose reasons were grounded not vpon profit only, but vpon credit and honour also, which they wished to be cheefely regarded: declaring also what great securitie, honour, and glorie should redound vnto them, by entering into such an honourable league. But the remembrance of former losses, the strength of the Turke possessing a great part of the world, compared vnto their owne, the terrour of the enemies name, the feare of euill successe, the small hope of preuailing, induced others to like better of peace: whose opinion was also confirmed by this, That the confederation with those Christians, was of no more assurance or continuance than the Turks peace: Besides that, they alledged, That leagues were therefore of lesse assurance, for that confederations and amities were seldome E or neuer sincerely and faithfully kept on both sides, euery man commonly seruing his own turn, without care of other men. They also set as it were before their eyes what great occasions, euen small suspitions might giue princes to breake their leagues, what strange effects the feare of the losse of goods or some part of their territorie might worke.The Venetians resolue to accept of the league with the Pope and the king. After this so weightie a matter had beene thus with great contention throughly debated on both sides in the Senat, it was at last put to voices: and so by the consent of the greater part the league was as more honorable receiued, and the Turks peace rejected: and a decree of the Senat to that effect made. Ragazonius by secret letters from the Senat vnderstanding of all these matters, began to deale more warily with Muhamet the great Bassa in matter concerning the pacification, and more hardly to yeeld to his demaunds; and propounding many difficulties of purpose deuised, requested of him, That hee F might by his good leaue returne to VENICE, to be resolued of many things by the Senat, wherof he was not able himselfe to judge, and so to returne to him againe with more certaine instructions: assuring him, that the Senat would vpon knowledge of the conditions of the peace doe and deuise many things for the furtherance of the same: which could not so well bee done by letters, as if he were there himselfe present to resolue them vpon euery particular. This his request [Page] obtained, he with great speed got him out of CONSTANTINOPLE▪ but was scarcely got G out of the gates, when report of the league which the Venetians had made with the Pope and the king of SPAINE, was brought vnto the Court, and had in short time filled the citie; Which made all the way as he trauelled more troublesome, and frustrated that also which was before concluded concerning the exchange of prisoners and marchants goods. Ragazonius being come to VENICE, declared at large in the Senat the drift and purpose of the Turke; and what conference he had had with the great Bassa, and in what forwardnesse the peace was: for which his discreet carriage of the matter, his wisedome was highly by the whole Senat commended, and he himselfe afterward honourably rewarded.

A perpetuall league concluded betwixt the Pope, the K of Spaine, and the Venetians.In the meane time the commissioners at ROME after long consultation concluded a league, which they would haue to bee perpetuall, as well for inuasiue as defensiue warres against the H Turke: and was by solemne oath confirmed by the Pope, the king of SPAINE, and the Venetian Senat the foure and twentith day of May, in the yeare 1571. For the execution of which league it was agreed vpon, That the sea & land forces should consist of two hundred gallies, an hundred ships, fiftie thousand footmen, and foure thousand fiue hundred horsemen; with a proportionat quantitie of great artillerie, victuals, & other things necessarie, to be euery yeare ready in March, or at farthest in Aprill, to meet together at such place in the East, as should be vnto them for that purpose appointed; to be employed as the Admirals saw cause, and as the present state of things should require.The proportioning of the charge of the warres against the Turke [...] and the other capitulations of the l [...]ague. For maintenance of which charge it was agreed, That the king of SPAINE should defray the one halfe, and the other halfe to be deuided into three equall parts; whereof the Venetians should beare two parts, and the Pope the third; which if it should be too heauie I for him, then that remained by him vndischarged, to be deuided into fiue parts, whereof the king was to discharge three, and the Venetians two. The charge thus proportioned, they tooke order also for the prouision of victuals, to be at a reasonable price taken vp in any the confederats dominions, where the armie or fleet should chance to stay: yet so, that it should bee at the king of SPAINE his discretion, out of his kingdomes of NAPLES and SICILIE, first to take his prouision for the victualling of GVLETTA, MALTA, and his owne nauie. It was also agreed, That if the king of SPAINE should at any time, when as the confederats had no common war, inuade ARGIERS, TRIPOLIS, or TVNES, that then the Venetians should of their own charge and him with fiftie gallies well appointed: As also, that the king should in like manner and with like forces aid them, as oft as they should by the Turkes be inuaded. But if it should fortune the K Romane territorie to be inuaded, that then the aforesaid princes should be bound with all their forces, to the vttermost of their power, to defend those places, and the person of the Pope. And that in managing of the confederate warre, the three Admirals should conferre together of all matters, and whatsoeuer the greater part should agree vpon, that to be reputed as agreed vpon by them all: That Don Iohn of AVSTRIA, Charles the fifth his naturall sonne, and brother to the king, should haue the cheefe commaund of the forces both at sea and land: but not to display his owne ensigne, but the common ensigne of the confederates: Also, that such places as should bee gained from the Turke by the confederat armie, should be deuided amongst the confederat princes, excepting TVNES, ARGIERS, and TRIPOLIS, which should remaine onely to the king of SPAINE▪ That all controuersies arising amongst the Generals should be decided by L the Pope, vnto whom the Venetians should lend twelue gallies, furnished of all things sauing men and victuals, which the Pope should of his owne charge supplie: which gallies at the end of the warre hee should againe deliuer, in such case as they then were: That an honourable place should be left for Maximilian the emperour, the French king, the king of POLONIA, and the king of PORTINGALL to enter into this league, whom with the rest of the Christian princes it should beseeme the Pope to stir vp in so good a quarrell: And that it should not be lawfull for any the aforesaid confederat princes to entreat of peace, or enter into league, without the knowledge and consent of the other confederates. And for the better proceeding of all things, it was agreed, That euer in Autumne the confederat princes should by their embassadours at ROME consult of the next yeares warres, and according as the time and occurrents should M require, to determine, whether their forces were to be encreased or deminished. This league thus at length with much adoe concluded, was not long after in Iune with great pompe and triumph openly proclaimed in ROME,The league proclaimed. VENICE, and SPAINE, to the great joy of the greatest part of Christendome.

[Page] A Whilest these things were in doing,The Venetians the more to trouble the Turke, seeke to stirre vp Tamas the Persian king to take vp armes against him. the Venetians the more to entangle the Turke, thought it good to make proofe, if they might by any meanes stirre vp Tamas the Persian king to take vp armes against him: who as hee was a prince of great power, so did hee exceedingly hate the Turks, as well for the difference betwixt the Persians and them about matters of their vaine superstition, as for the manifold injuries he had oftentimes sustained. There was one Vincent Alexander, one of the Secretaries for the State; who hauing escaped out of prison at CONSTANTINOPLE, was but a little before come to VENICE, a warie wise man, and of great experience, who for his dexteritie of wit and skilfulnesse in the Turkish language▪ was thought of all others most fit to take in hand so great a matter. He hauing receiued letters and instructions from the Senat, and furnished with all things necessarie, trauelling through GERMANIE, POLONIA, and B the forrests of MoeSIA, in Turkish attire, came to MONCASTRON, a port towne vpon the side of the Euxine or Blacke sea, at the mouth of the great riuer Boristhenes: where hee embarked himselfe for TRAPEZOND, but was by a contrarie wind driuen to SINOPE, a citie of great trafficke; from whence he trauelled by rough and broken wayes to CVTAY, keeping still vpon the left hand, because he would not fall vpon any part of the Turks armie (which was then marching towards CYPRVS through all those countries) neuerthelesse he fell vpon a part thereof; from which he with great danger rid himselfe, being taken for a Turke, and by blind and troublesome wayes, through rockes and forrests arriued at length at ERZIRVM, a strong citie of the Turks, then vpon the frontiers of the Turks dominions toward the Georgians. This journey of Alexanders was not kept so secret, but that it was vented at CONSTANTINOPLE by a spie▪ C who vnder the colour of friendship haunting the Venetian embassadours house at PERA, had got certaine knowledge of the going of Alexander into PERSIA. Whereupon certaine courrours were sent out with all speed to beset the three straight passages into PERSIA, whereby it was supposed he must of necessitie passe, with certaine notes also of the fauour of the man, of his stature, and other markes, whereby he was best to be knowne. But he in so dangerous a countrie doubting all things, and fearing such a matter, leauing his companie behind him, with incredible celeritie posted from ERZIRVM to TAVRIS, and was a great way gone before the Turks currours came into those quarters: who yet hearing of him, followed after as farre as they durst, but could not ouertake him. Alexander comming to TAVRIS, vnderstood that the court lay at CASEIN, about twelue dayes journey further vp into the countrey; comming thither the foureteenth D of August of this yeare 1571, he chanced to meet with certaine English marchants, with whom he had beene before acquainted: by whose helpe he not onely got to speake with Ayder Tamas the kings third sonne, but learned of them also the manners and fashions of the Persian Court, and how to beare himselfe therein. The Persians by reason of the intollerable heat doe most of their businesse at that time of the yeare by night.Alexander the Venetian embassadour hath audience with the Persian king. Wherefore Alexander about midnight brought in to Aider, declared vnto him the cause of his comming: and the next night admitted vnto the speech of his aged father, deliuered his letters of credence, and in the name of the Senat declared vnto him, with what perfidious dealing Selymus the Turkish emperor was about to take away CYPRVS from the Venetians, with what greedinesse and pride he had set vpon the Christians, and that discharged of that warre, he would of all likelyhood set vpon the Persians; E hauing the selfesame quarrell vnto the Persians that he had vnto the Venetians, that is, an ardent and insatiable desire of soueraignetie: a sufficient cause for the greedie Turke to repute euery king the richer that he was, the more his enemie. After that, setting foorth to the full the prowesse of the Christians, the wonderfull preparation they had made both at sea and land, he persuaded the king with all his power to inuade the Turke, now altogether busied in the warres of CYPRVS; and to recouer againe such parts of his kingdome as Solyman the father of Selymus had taken from him. Warres he said were more happily managed abroad than at home: that sithence he alone (the Christian princes all then at quiet) had withstood the Turks whole force and power, he needed not now to doubt of his most prosperous successe, the Christian princes now joyning with him: That he was much vnmindfull of his former losses and wrongs, if he thought he enjoyed F an assured peace; which he should find to be nothing els but a deferring of war vnto more cruell times: and that the Turke if he should ouerrun CYPRVS, would forthwith turne his victorious armes vpon him: The end of one warre was (as he said) but the beginning of another; and that the Turkish empire could neuer stay in one state; and that he would obserue not the Turkes words, but his deeds; and how that the Othoman emperours according to the oportunitie [Page] of the times, vsed by turnes, sometime force, sometime deceit, as best serued their purposes.G That no princes had at all times by dissembled peace and vncertaine leagues more deluded some, vntill they had oppressed others. He wished also, that at length this his cunning dealing might appeare vnto the world: and that princes would thinke, that being combined together, they might more easily ouercome the Turke, than being seperated, defend their owne: That in former times sometime will, sometime occasion, was wanting to them to vnite their forces: and that therefore they should now combine themselues for their common good against the common enemie: That it concerned no lesse the Persians than the Christians, to haue the power of the Turke abated: and that this taking vp of armes, should be for the good of the Persian king howsoeuer things should fall out; if well, he should then recouer what he had before lost, with much more that was the Turkes: if otherwise, yet by voluntarie entring into H armes to countenance himselfe, and to giue the Turks occasion to thinke that he feared him not: which was (as he said) the onely way to preserue their common safetie, which would be vnto all the confederat princes easie enough, if they themselues made it not more difficult than the power of the enemie. The speech of the embassadour was willingly heard: whereunto the king answered, that he would consider therupon what he had to doe: and in the meane while, a faire house was appointed for the embassadour and his followers, and bountifull allowance appointed for the kings charge. He was also many times sumptuously feasted by the noblemen, whom he still requested to be mediatours vnto the king, to take that honourable warre in hand. The king had at that time a sonne called Ismael, a man of a great spirit, whom he then kept in durance, for that he with too much insolencie made roades into the frontiers of the Turkes dominions, to I the disturbance of the league his father had before made with the late Turkish emperor Solyman: vnto him Alexander hauing accesse, was of him courteously heard; who fretting and languishing for verie griefe of reuenge vpon the Turkes, wished, that either the king his father had his mind, or he himselfe the power of a king▪ and said, That if euer it were his good fortune to obtaine the kingdome, he would in deed shew what he then in mind thought. But of him more shall be said hereafter. Whilest this matter went more slowly forward in the Persian court than the embassadour would haue had it, newes was brought vnto the court, of the great victorie which the Christians had much about that time obtained of the Turkes at sea: vpon which occasion the embassadour solicited the king more earnestly than before, to make himselfe partaker of the victorie of the Christians, by entring into confederation with them, and by taking vp of K armes; rather than to hold vncertain friendship with the Turkes in their miseries, by whom he had been so often wronged. This he said was the onely time for the Persian king to recouer his former glorie, the like offer whereof would neither often chance, neither long stay: and that if he suffered so fit an opportunitie to slip away, he should afterwards in vaine wish for the same, when it were too late. This so wholsome counsell was well heard, but preuailed nothing to stir vp the aged king: who then troubled with rebellion in MEDIA, or wearie of the former warres he had had with the Turke, and glad of such peace, as he had then with him, answered the embassadour, That for as much as the Christian princes had made a perpetuall league amongst themselues,The answere of Tama [...] the Persian king vnto the Venetian ambassadour. he would for two yeares expect the euent, and afterward as occasion serued, so to resolue vpon peace and warre. This improuident resolution of the king, brought afterward vnprofitable L and too late repentance vnto the whole Persian kingdome; when as within a few yeares after, all the calamities which the Senat had by their embassadour (as true prophets) foretold, redounded vnto the great shaking thereof. For the Cyprian warre once ended, and peace concluded with the Venetians▪ Amurath the sonne of Selymus succeeding his father in the Turkish empire, inuading the Persian king, tooke from him the great countrey of MEDIA, now called SILVAN, with a great part of ARMENIA the great, and the regall citie of TAVRIS, as shall be hereafter in due place declared. At which time the Persian, who now refused to take vp armes, or joine in league with the Christian princes, repented that he had not before hearkened vnto the wholsome counsell of the Venetians: and taught by his owne harmes, wished in vaine, that the Christian princes would againe take vp armes and joyne with him against the Turke.M

Mustapha Bassa returneth to the siege of Famagusta. Mustapha the great Bassa and Generall of the Turks armie, furnished of all things that could be desired for the maintenance of his siege; and souldiors in great number daily repairing vnto him out of CILICIA, SYRIA, the Lesser ASIA, and the countries thereabout, beside great supplies brought vnto him by Haly Bassa from CONSTANTINOPLE; insomuch, that it was [Page] A thought he had in his armie two thousand men: began now that Winter was past, in the latter end of Aprill, to draw neerer vnto FAMAGVSTA, and with incredible labour to cast vp [...]enches and mounts against the citie, of such height, that the defendants from the highest places of the citie could scarcely see the points of the Turks speares, or top of their tents, as they lay encamped: which was no great matter for the Bassa to performe, hauing in his campe fortie thousand pioners alwaies readie at his commaund.

The citie of FAMAGVSTA is scituat in the East end of the island,The description of Famagusta. in a plaine and low ground betwixt two promontories, the one called S. Andrewes head, and the other the head of GRaeCIA. It is in circuit two miles, and in forme fouresquare; but that the side toward the East, longer and more winding than the rest, doth much deforme the exact figure of a quadrant: it is almost B on two parts beaten vpon with the sea, the other parts towards the land are defended with a ditch not aboue fifteene foot broad, a stone wall, and certaine bulwarks and parapets. Vpon the gate that leadeth to AMATHVS standeth a six cornered tower: other towers stand out also in the wall, euerie of them scarce able to containe six pieces of artillerie. It hath a hauen opening toward the Southeast, defended from the injurie of the weather by two great rockes, betwixt which the sea commeth in by a narrow passage about fortie paces ouer; but after opening wider giueth a conuenient harbour to ships, whereof it cannot containe any great number, and was now shut vp with a strong chaine. Neere vnto the hauen standeth an old castle with foure towers, after the auntient manner of building. There was in the citie one strong bulwarke, built after the manner of the fortifications of our time, with palisadoes, curtaines, casamets, and such C like, in such manner, as that it seemed almost impregnable. All which, although they made shew of a strong and well fortified citie, yet for that there wanted many things, it was thought too weake long to hold out against the great power of the Turke: but what wanted by reason of the situation and weake fortification, that the Gouernour and other noble captaines supplied in best sort they might, with a strong garrison of most valiant souldiours, the surest defence of strong places.The number of the defendants of Famagusta. There was in the citie two thousand and fiue hundred Italians, two hundred Albanoies horsemen, before entertained by the Gouernour; and of the Cypriots themselues were mustered two thousand and fiue hundred mo, all men resolutly set downe to spend their liues in defence of their countrey.

Mustapha with wonderfull celeritie hauing brought to perfection his fortifications, planted D his batterie of sixtie foure great pieces; amongst which were foure great basilisks of exceeding bignesse, wherewith he continually without intermission battered the wals of the citie in fiue places, but especially that part of the wall that was betweene the hauen and the gate that leadeth to AMATHVS. And with great morter pieces cast vp huge stones, which from high falling into the citie, with their waight brake downe the houses they light vpon, and fell often times through their vaults,Famagusta assaulted, and notably defended by the Christians. euen into the bottome of their sellars, to the great terrour of the besieged. The wals in diuers places sore shaken and the houses beaten downe, he began to assault the citie: which the defendants (their forces yet whole) valiantly repulsed, and not onely defended their wals and draue the Turkes from the breaches, but furiously sallied out vpon them, and hauing slaine and wounded many, wonderfully disturbed their fortifications, and abated their courage: neither did E the enemy with greater furie maintaine the batterie or assault, than did the Christians the defence of the citie, still sending their deadly shot into the thickest of that great multitude; insomuch that in few daies the Bassa had lost thirtie thousand of his men: and the captains themselues wondering at the valour of the defendants, as if they had not now to doe with such Christians as they had before so oftentimes ouerthrowne, but with some other strange people, began to dispaire of the winning of the citie. The Turkes thus doubting, and almost at a stand, the Christians in the meane time made vp their breaches with earth, baskets, wool-sacks, and such like, not sparing their verie beds and bedclothes, chests, carpets, and whatsoeuer else might serue to fill vp the breach. Amongst many wants they feared, the greatest was the want of pouder, which with continuall shooting began greatly to be diminished: wherefore to reserue some part thereof F against all extremities, they thought it best whilest yet some store was left, to vse the same more sparingly, and to shoot more seldome. But the Turks still drawing neerer and neerer the citie, and casting vp mounts higher than the wals of the citie,Famagusta againe assaulted by the Turks. with earth and fagots filled vp the ditch▪ which done, they of the broken stones made wals on either side, to saue themselues from the flankering shot of the Christians: then giuing a fresh assault, they vsed not onely their shot and [Page] other missiue weapons, but came foot to foot, and notably fought in the breach hand to hand.G Which manner of fight (as if it had been so agreed vpon) they euerie day maintained for the space of six houres. And although the Turkes by reason of their multitude were diuided into many parts, and fresh men still succeeded them that were wearie; yet such was the courage of the defendants, that euerie man requested to haue the places of most danger, and from thence with couragious hand repulsed the Turkes with exceeding great slaughter. But for all that, the furious enemie maintaining the assault not onely by day, but by often alarums in the night also, kept the Christians continually in doubtfull suspence and readinesse, as if they should haue receiued a present assault: and as soone as it was day, with fresh men that had slept their fill, desperatly assailed the Christians almost spent and maigre for lacke of sleepe and rest. Force not preuailing, the restlesse enemie leauing nothing attempted, by a queint deuise was like to haue taken one of H the gates of the citie: There was growing in the island great plentie of a kind of wood much of the nature of the firre or pitch tree, easie to be set on fire, but hardly to be quenched; but differing in this, that in burning it gaue foorth such a noysome smell as was not by any man well to be endured: of this kind of wood the Turkes brought a wonderfull quantitie to one of the gates called LIMOSINA, which once set on fire, could not by the defendants by any meanes be quenched, although they cast whole pipes and tuns of water at once into it; but most terribly burning close vnto the gate by the space of foure daies, with the vehemencie of the heat and loathsomnesse of the smell, so troubled the defendants, that scarce any of them could endure to stand vpon the wall, but forsaking the same, were euer and anone like to haue giuen the enemy leaue to enter.I

Bragadinus encourageth the defendants. Bragadinus the Gouernour, more carefull of the common safetie than of his owne danger, ceased not still to be going about from one place to another, telling the Italians, That now was giuen the fittest occasion they could desire for them to shew their valour in, and to gaine great honor of their barbarous enemies: that it would be to their eternall glorie, if by their only means without any other helpe, the citie so farre off from the reliefe of the Christians might be defended, and the great power of the Turke defeated: This (he said) was the onely time wherein it stood them most vpon to play the men; for if they could keepe that little was left, the rest of the island would be easily recouered: and although the Turkes army exceeded farre in number, yet did they excell them in prowesse and valour; whereby a few, and as it were but an handfull of men, had oftentimes preuailed against most infinit multitudes: Now all the eyes of the world,K as well friends as foes to be fixed vpon them, so that if they held out against so great a power, both their enemies would admire their valour, and all Christendome extoll their inuincible courage and prowesse; and that they themselues should thereby reape, both great profit and honour: Neither that any thing could be alleadged, why they should not be compared with the worthie knights of MALTA, who to their eternall fame had deliuered themselues out of the mouth of the Turke, and left vnto the world a most faire example for men valiantly to stand in so good a quarrell vpon their owne defence: NICOSIA (he said) was lost rather by the cowardise of the defendants, than by the valour of the enemie. He also praised the fidelitie and courage of the Graecians, who for any feare or danger could neuer be remoued from the Venetians, or induced to submit themselues vnto the Turkes gouernment: and persuaded them, with the L same resolution to defend their owne citie that they saw in the Venetian souldiors, fighting for them; and for their owne honour to striue with the Italians, in defence of their State, their countrey, their wiues and children, against the tyrannie of the Turkes; for as much as aid would in short time come, and set them free from all danger. The Senat also in like manner had sent letters to FAMAGVSTA, willing them to be of good cheere, and yet a while to hold out the siege, and that they should be in short time relieued.Baleonius a valiant captaine. Baleonius also Generall of the garrison souldiors, himselfe in armes was present at euerie skirmish, carefully foreseeing what was in euerie place and at all times to be done; and by encouraging of his souldiors and aduenturing of his person shewed himselfe to be both a worthie commaunder and valiant souldior. Neither did the souldiors alone, but euen the women also what they might, striuing aboue the power of the strength M both of their minds and bodies; some bringing meat, some weapons vnto the defendants, and others stones, beds, chests, & such like stuffe to make vp the breaches. But victuals beginning now to wax scant, 8000 of the vulgar sort of the people were turned out of the citie, who all in safetie were suffered to passe thorow the midst of the Turks army, to seeke their liuing in the countrey.

[Page] A Thus whilest open force preuailed not according to the Turkes desire,The Turks seeke to vndermine the citie. they began in foure places to vndermine the citie, in hope so to haue found entrance. But the defendants doubting such a matter, by diligent listening, and great vessels set full of water neere vnto the wals, and drums laid vpon the ground, by the mouing thereof discouered their workes, and with countermines frustrated those of the enemies: yet in so great a stirre and hurly burly, all things were not possibly to be discouered. Whereby it came to passe, that whilest the defendants were altogither busied in defending the wals; a mine not perceiued, was suddenly blowne vp neere vnto the tower standing vpon the hauen: by force whereof, a great part of the wall thereabout was in a moment with a most horrible noise ouerthrowne. With the fall whereof, the Turks thinking the citie as good as taken, with an horrible shout and outcrie mounted the wall, and in the breach B set vp their ensignes; Countie Peter, who had the charge of that part of the wall, being not now able to defend the same, so suddenly ouerthrown: which Nestor Martinengus quickly perceiuing, came speedily from his owne station,The breaches notably defended. to repulse the enemie now readie to haue entred. The fight became there most fierce and terrible: on the one side, hope; on the other, desperation enraged their minds: the Turks were in hope, that if they forced themselues but a little, they should forthwith win the citie; and the defendants propounding nothing vnto themselues, but shamefull death and torture, fought as men altogither desperat. The Turks trusted to their multitude, and the Christians to their valour. In the meane time, Andreas Bragadinus with certaine great pieces aptly placed, out of the castle slew a number of the Turks, as they were comming to the breach. Baleonius hearing of the danger, came in hast with a companie of couragious souldiors C to relieue them that were fighting at the breach, and chearing vp his followers, thrust himselfe with the formost into the face of the breach: and there not only appointed what was to be done, and with cheerfull speeches encouraged his souldiors, but with his owne hand hauing slaine manie, tooke one of the Turks ensignes (when as he had before slaine the bearer thereof) and tumbled him headlong into the ditch. With the sight whereof, others encouraged, both on the right hand and on the left, made there a notable battell, as men fighting for their last hope. In fine the Turks were glad to retire, leauing behind them foure thousand carkases of their slaine fellowes in the towne ditch, with fourteene of their ensignes, which were brought into the citie. Neither was this victorie gained without some losse of the Christians: about an hundred were slaine, among whom were Robertus Maluetius, Dauid Nocius, Celsus Feto, Erasmus Firmo, all D captaines.

For all this they in the citie tooke small rest, the Turks great shot still thundring in amongst them; and that in such furious sort, as that in one day (which was the eighth of Iune) were numbred about fiue thousand great shot, shot into the citie. With which continuall batterie, one of the round bulwarks of the towne was so shaken, as that a part of the front thereof was fallen downe into the ditch, and another part stood leaning readie to fall; in such sort, as that it was not longer to be defended: which the Christians perceiuing, presently vndermined the same bulwarke, and in the mine placed certaine barrels of gunpouder. The Turkes comming to assault the place they had so sore battered, the defendants after some small resistance faigned themselues to retire for feare,They of Famagusta blow vp one of [...]he [...] owne battered bulwarkes, with six hundred Turkes thereon. so to draw the enemie the faster on; who was no sooner come to the place desired, E but that fire being put to the mine, blew vp the bulwarke with all them that stood thereon: of whom, some were ouerwhelmed with the earth it selfe, othersome were blowne vp into the aire, and falling downe againe miserably perished; and othersome, shot as it were out of a gun, fell downe a great way off, and so were rent in pieces: which was vnto the defendants a most pleasant sight. About six hundred of the Turkes perished at this assault, amongst whom were Mustapha Generall of the voluntarie souldiours, and Feregates, a man of great marke amongst the Turks. But by the hastie fiering of the mine, there perished also about an hundred of the Christians, ouertaken in their owne deuise, amongst whom were also some of great account.

The Turkes enflamed with their losses, were more enraged with the speeches and persuasions F of Mustapha their Generall; who most earnestly exhorted them with one consent to assaile their enemies, now driuen into a corner of the island, spoiled of their countrey, trusting more vnto the strength of the place than of themselues, entreating for nothing more than with their liues to depart thence. But what place (said he) is there impregnable for the Turks? NICOSIA, ZIGETH, and such other strong townes woon, what are they but the monuments and testimonies [Page] of the cowardise of the Christians, and the prowesse of the Turks? This day (said he) will G confirme all your former labours and victories; which you before vndertooke for honour, but here shall you haue honour mixt with gold, and a prey sufficient to make you all rich. The Turks encouraged with this speech of their Generall,Famagusta hardly assaulted. as men forgetfull of all dangers, began a more terrible siege than euer before: and hauing with incredible labour made three great mines, and blowing them vp, ouerthrew a great part of the wall with the castle, the notable defence of the hauen: which done, they with all their force oftentimes assailed the citie, as if it should haue been their last labour; neither ceased they so to doe night or day. At which time also, that part of the citie which is beaten vpon with the sea, was assaulted by them in the gallies also.

The poore Christians spent with deadly wounds, continuall labour, perpetuall watching both night and day, and now brought to a small number; hardly withstood the furious enemie,H assailing them in so many places at once, and held out that tempest rather with courage than strength. In the meane time the enemies armie encreased daily, the Turks in hope of the like spoile they had at NICOSIA, continually repairing out of the countries round about vnto the campe. The Christian captaines seeing their men with continuall assaults sore spent; insomuch, that how many soeuer they seemed to be, there was not aboue three hundred sound men left, but seauen barrels of pouder remaining, want of all things daily increasing, hope of aid still decreasing, and the Venetians (their only comfort) so farre from them; the captaines (I say) themselues, began to quaile in courage: and the rather, for that such reliefe as was sent from VENICE, could not possibly be brought vnto them, but staid at CRETE, the Turkes gallies still lying before FAMAGVSTA;The citisens of Famagusta request the Gouernour in time to yeeld vp the citie so that nothing could in safetie be brought thither. This feare of the captaines I themselues, could not long be hid or dissembled, but that it was by the citisens perceiued: who hauing neither power to hold out the siege, neither place left to flie vnto, ouercome with necessitie, came flocking to the Gouernour, crauing of him aid and comfort, and with abundance of teares besought him in this common desperation, to take compassion on them, their wiues and children, a people that had alwaies so well deserued of the Venetian State. Their wals (they said) were beaten downe, their bulwarks ouerthrowne, the few souldiors that remained, spent with wounds, watching, and famine; the enemies strength encreasing daily, so that they must needs in short time all perish with the sword, if the citie were by force taken: wherefore they besought him, that yeelding to necessitie, which no power was euer able to withstand, he would at last while time yet serued, prouide for the safetie of so faithfull and kind a people, and not to K refuse any conditions, how hard soeuer.

The requests and teares of the citisens of FAMAGVSTA, with the due consideration of the desperat state of the citie, moued Bragadinus to compassion; who comforting them in best sort he could, persuaded them to be of good cheere, for that he had care both of them and their state; and would so prouide for them, as that they should neuer repent themselues of their fidelitie and loyaltie to the Venetian State. He in the meane time considering the greatnesse of the danger which presently hung ouer all their heads, propounded the matter in a generall counsell called togither for the same purpose: wherein after a little debating of the matter, they all agreed to yeeld; onely Baleonius at the first dissenting, as doubtfull of the Turkes faith, but afterwards yeelding vnto the opinion of the rest.A parley betwixt them of Famagusta and the Turks. So an herauld being sent vnto the Bassa, a truce was taken L for certaine daies to parley in, and hostages on both sides giuen: during which time, not so much as a dart was throwne or an arrow shot from either side. After a few daies parley the conditions were agreed vpon, whereupon the citie should be yeelded into the power of the Bassa, which were these: First, that the inhabitants of the citie yet left aliue, should in safetie enjoy their liues, libertie, and goods, with the free exercise of the Christian religion: That the Gouernour with the rest of the captaines and souldiors might in safetie depart with bag and baggage, and at their departure to take with them fiue great pieces of ordinance, and three horses, which soeuer it should please them to make choise of: and that the Turkes should safely conduct them into CRETE, finding them both victuall and shipping: all which things were with more kindnesse promised, than with fidelitie performed. Yet all these matters agreed vpon, and conceiued into M writing, as also by solemne oath on both sides confirmed: the Gouernour sending a messenger before, requested that he might haue leaue to come to see the Bassa, and to deliuer vnto him the keyes of the citie. Leaue being granted, Bragadinus the Gouernour, Baleonius, Andreas Bragadinus, Laurentius Theupolus earle of PAPHOS, Io. Anthonius Quirinus, Aloysius Martinengus, [Page] A with a great sort of other captaines came into the campe: but before they entred into the Bassaes pauillion, they were commaunded to deliuer their weapons, which they all did. At the first meeting Mustapha entertained them courteously, and with many glorious words, as if it had beene in admiration, extolled their worthie valour and courage: saying, that he was glad now to know them by face, whose valiant minds he had before knowne by their most valiant deeds. Now prowesse and valour seemed not onely in safetie, but also honoured euen of the enemie: when after a long discourse the false Bassa reuolued vnto the mischeefe and trecherie he had before resolued vpon: complaining that certaine of his men taken at the siege, had beene afterward against all reason and order slaine. Which the Gouernour and the rest vtterly denying, he start vp as in a rage, and with high words and sterne countenance vrging the fact; commaunded B them all to be forthwith cast in bonds: and so bringing them out of his pauillion, in the sight of the armie, contrarie to his oath and promise, caused them all to be slaine. At which time Bragadinus and Theupulus were oftentimes commaunded to lay downe their heads, to haue had them strucke off: yet was their execution deferred▪ and their liues reserued, not to saue them, but with more exquisit punishment and torture to satisfie the barbarous crueltie of the faithlesse and vnmercifull tyrant.Bragadinus shamefully and horribly murthered by the faithlesse Bassa. The next day after, Bragadinus hauing his eares before cut off in despight, was brought forth to be wondered at, and tortured with the most extreamest kind of torture that tyrannie it selfe could haue deuised: for despoyled of his jewels and attire▪ and a basket layed vpon his shoulders, filled with earth, he was enforced oftentimes to carrie the same to repaire the rampiers that were ouerthrowne; and euer as he passed by, the proud Bassa insulting vpon him to C fall downe and to kisse the ground at his feet: and so buffeted with the Turks fists, and spurned as a dog with their feet, was in great derision and despight asked, Whither he hoped that Christ his God would come to helpe him or not? Which indignitie of it selfe bitter and miserable, the dignitie of the man made much more miserable: whose comely and stately countenance, with his long and reuerend beard, euen in that extreame miserie, added vnto him a certaine majestie and grace. In this so foule a sight of vertue troden vnderfoot, the poore Christians could neither well stay their teares, nor let them fall, for feare of the displeasure of the Turks. But the forsworne Bassa, not onely forgetfull of all humanitie, but enraged rather with extreame crueltie, caused that noble and woorthie Bragadinus to be fet in a chaire, and his skin to be flaine off from him quicke: a punishment vnworthie of him that suffered it, but most worthie him that inflicted the D same. Yet in so great and horrible a torture he was not heard to let fall any word, not beseeming a faithfull Christian and the honour of his countrey: onely he called vpon God for mercie, and detested the Turks perfidious trecherie,The forsworne B [...]ssa tyranniseth vpon the dead bodie of Bragadinus. and so breathed out his life. But the tyrant worthie eternall infamie, not satisfied with the torture of the liuing man, caused the head to be cut from the dead bodie, and vpon the point of a speare to be set vp on an high place for all men to looke vpon. His skin also stuffed with chaffe, he caused to be hanged vp at the yards arme, and so to bee carried about: not so true a trophie of his victorie, as a testimonie of his perf [...]lious and Turkish crueltie. Two dayes after, countie Theupolus, after he had beene most shamefully entreated, full of the markes of the Turks crueltie,Theupolus hanged. was (to make an end withall) shamefully hanged in the market place. With what crueltie the Bassa had tyrannized vpon the nobilitie, with the same he also E raged vpon the meaner sort of the citisens, of whom some he slew, some he chained in the gallies, and carried away the rest into bondage. Three hundred Christians, some souldiors, some citisens, which came forth with the Gouernour to see the Turkes campe, were there also all slaine, Nestor Martinengus, Nestor Martinengus by good fortune escapeth. a famous captaine, escaped the tyrants hands, being hidden by one of the Bassaes eunuchs, who by the helpe of a Greeke fisherman got to LEPTIS, and from thence to CRETE, and so afterwards to VENICE, where he faithfully reported to Aloysius Moceni [...]us the duke, the whole processe of that warre, with the losse of the citie; and that in the space of threescore and ten daies there was aboue an hundred and fortie thousand great shot discharged against the citie. Such noblemen and gentlemen as escaped out of this so generall a slaughter, banished their countrey, and in miserie, dispersed without hope of returne, led afterward a miserable and F vagrant life, though some of them euen at this day (as I haue beene credibly enformed) are by the Venetian state right well maintained. The countrey people and artificers were generally by the Turks spared,Cyprus lost. for the peopling of the countrey. This was the fatall ruine of CYPRVS, one of the most fruitfull and beautifull islands of the Mediterranean: the losse wherof not without cause grieued many Christian princes, as sometime a kingdome of it selfe, and now a prouince of the [Page] Turkish empire: our sinnes, or the euill agreement of Christian princes, or both, the cause thereof G I know not, neither if I did, durst I so say.

Whilest Mustapha yet lay at the siege of FAMAGVSTA, the other two great Bassaes Parta [...] and Haly, the one the Admirall, and the other Generall of the souldiors (appointed by Selymus for the keeping of the sea, that no releefe should be sent by the Venetians to FAMAGVSTA, and further as occasion serued to infest their dominions) about the middest of May arriued in EVBoeA with two hundred and thirtie gallies; whether Vluzalis viceroy of ALGIERS, with diuers other the Turks notable pyrats, resorted vnto them with their gallies. With this fleet departing from EVBoeA, and sayling alongst the coast of MYSIA, IONIA, CARIA, and so directly toward the RHODES, they were met with thirtie gallies moe of the Turkes aduenturers. After that,The Turkes arriue in Crete with a great fleet. hauing left certaine gallies for to lie before FAMAGVSTA, they directed their course for the H island of CRETE, and the thirteenth of Iune put into the bay of AMPHIMALEA, now called SVDA, and there landed twelue thousand men.

The description of Crete.This island of CRETE, now called CANDIA, is greater than CYPRVS, but lesser than SICILIA or SARDINIA: but for fertilitie comparable with any of the islands of the Mediterranean. It was in auntient time famous for many things, but especially for an hundred cities which therein stood, as witnesseth amongst others Seneca: Vrbibus centum spaciosa Cretae, but at this day it hath onely three: CANDIA, a colonie of the Venetians, whereof the island now taketh name, CANEA, and RHETIMO. The circuit of the island is fiue hundred and twentie miles: full of hils: for which cause the people of the countrey are much delighted in hunting. In it is no nauigable riuer or venomous beast. It is now most famous through a great part of the world,I for the good Malmesey which there groweth, and is from thence in great abundance sent into many farre countries. Therein also groweth great plentie of Cypresse trees, seruing for the vse of shipping.The Turks driuen out of Crete. It is at this day subject to the Venetians. The Turkes being landed, and raunging vp and downe the countrey, did what harme they possibly could, burning and spoiling all as they went: vntill that at last they were vpon the sudden encountered by Franciscus Iustinianus, who but a little before their landing was come into the island with a thousand souldiors; and now joyning with the island people, notably charged them, being altogether dispersed and seeking after prey: and hauing slaine many of them, enforced the rest to retire to their gallies. The next day the Turkes landing againe in greater number, burnt diuers townes, and ransacked SETIA and RHETIMO, where they tooke a rich prey, and carried away many prisoners: but loded with K their bootie, dispersed, and fearing nothing lesse than to be at that time set vpon, they were assailed by Lucas Michael a valiant captaine, two thousand of them slaine, and with the losse of their bootie and prisoners glad to retire vnto their gallies. Thus repulsed from CRETE, they tooke their course to CYTHERA, ZACYNTHVS, and CEPHALENIA, islands subject to the Venetians: where beside other harmes by them done, they carried away with them six thousand poore Christians into most miserable captiuitie.

Departing thence, and sayling alongst the coast of EPIRVS, they came to SVPPOLO, an hauen towne in EPIRVS, which Venerius in the beginning of these warres had taken from the Turks, but was now againe by them recouered. After that, they came to DVLCIGNO, which the Turkes had but a little before besieged by land, for that the Gouernour thereof and of ANTIVARI L (another towne of the Venetians vpon the frontiers of DALMATIA) had compacted with three hundred Epirots, to stirre vp the countrey to rebellion, and to reuolt to the Venetians: for the effecting whereof the Epirots requested of the Venetians six thousand souldiours to make head, which the Venetians promised to send them. Whereupon the aforesaid Epirots forthwith tooke vp armes, and raised most part of EPIRVS into rebellion: vnto whom was sent at the first one captaine with an hundred Italians from CATARO. But when the Epirots vainly expecting the promised aid,A faire occasion let slip. saw themselues on euery side hardly beset with their enemies; despairing of any good successe, they yeelded themselues vnto the mercie of Achmetes Bassa, Selymus his great lieutenant in GRaeCIA (who to represse that so dangerous a rebellion, was come thither with an armie of fourescore thousand Turks:) so was a most faire occasion lost, when as M the rest of the Epirots, enflamed with the hope of libertie, were readie to haue come vnto their friends, alreadie in armes, and by their example like ynough to haue raised all GRaeCIA into rebellion. But now deceiued of their expectation, bewayled their miserie, that trusting to the promises of the Venetians, they had cast themselues and all theirs into most manifest danger. They [Page] A of DVLCIONO seeing themselues hardly beset both by sea and land,Dulcigno, Antiuari, and Bud [...]a▪ strong tow [...]es of the Venetians vpon the coasts of Epirus and Dalmatia, yeelded to the Turke. sent to Partau Bassa, and couenanting with him, that they might in safetie depart, deliuered vnto him the towne: and so Sara Martinengus, Gouernor of the towne, with the garrison souldiors, were in foure ships conueyed in safetie to RAGVSIVM: as for the citisens, promise was kept with them after the Turkish manner. In the same hurle the Turkes tooke also the townes of ANTIVARI and BVDVA. ANTIVARI was both by situation and fortification strong, and furnished with a good garrison: neuerthelesse, Alexander Donatus Gouernour thereof, a man of no experience in martiall affaires, ouercome with the present feare, and despairing to be able to hold the towne, towardly yeelded the same vnto the enemie. Which his beastly cowardise the Senat suffered not vnpunished, but confiscating his goods,Cowardise punished. and remoouing him from the Senat; cast him into exile. From ANTIVARI B the Turks following their good fortune, departed with their fleet into the bay called RIZONICVS, but now the bay of CATHARO, and both by sea and land laied hard siege vnto the strong towne of CATHARO, called in auntient time ASCRIVIVM; against which they cast vp two great bulwarkes, and planted thereon nine great pieces of artillerie, wherewith to haue battered the towne and the castle: but the defendants as resolute men sallying out, put them from their ordinance, and enforced them againe vnto their gallies.

Whilest these things were in doing, Vluzalis and Caracossa ▪ both men of great account and name amongst the Turkes, got leaue for ten dayes of the Admirall, with threescore gallies to spoyle the islands neere thereabouts, subject to the Venetians. Who comming to the island of CVRZOLA, about fourscore miles Eastward from RAGVSIVM landed their men, with purpose C to assault the towne of CVRZOLA, of the same name with the island. Which Anthonius Contarenus the Gouernour thereof perceiuing,Curzola forsaketh by the men, is defended by the women. in the dead time of the night fled for feare out of the towne into the rockes and places of more safetie, after whom the townesmen followed also: so that in the towne were not left aboue 20 men, and about 80 women; who with weapons in their hands, after the rest were fled, came to the wals, as wishing rather there to die, than to fall into the hands of the barbarous enemie. But at such time as the Turks began to approch the towne, & the women with stones, fire, and such weapons as they had, were beating them off, and with greater courage defending the place than was to haue beene in their sex expected, by the goodnesse of God a great tempest suddenly arose out of the North, which so outragiously tossed the gallies, that Vluzalis and Caracossa were glad to giue ouer the assault, and to get them thence into a place D of more safetie. Sayling alongst the coast, they by the way spoiled LYSNA, BRACIA, and LISSA, little islands vpon the coast of DALMATIA, out of which they caried away with them 1600 poore Christians into captiuitie. These arch pyrats at their pleasure roming vp and downe the sea, fortuned to light vpon a ship of the Christians bound from MESSANA to CORCYRA; which they tooke; and in rifling thereof found certaine letters directed to the Gouernour of CORCYRA, certifying him of the league,Selymus ad [...]ertised of the league lately concluded betwixt the Christian princes. then but lately concluded amongst the Christian princes: which letters they sent in post to Selymus to giue him knowledge thereof, who therupon writ to his Admirals, with all hostilitie to infest any of the dominions of the Christian confederats.

The Turks fleet thus raging and raigning in the Adriaticke, brought a great feare not only vpon the coasts of DALMATIA, ISTRIA, and the islands thereabouts, which were by them most E afflicted; but also vpon the sea coasts of APVLIA, and all alongst that side of ITALIE, yea & vpon the citie of VENICE it selfe: insomuch that they were glad to fortifie as well the citie as the frontiers of their dominions, with new fortifications and garrisons▪ as did also the king▪ and the Pope in ITALIE: for why no ship or gallie could now looke out of any port, but it was presently surprised and taken by the Turks: which with the sundry calamities before receiued, so confounded the Venetians, that they in their assemblies and consultations seemed rather to quake for feare, than after their wonted maner grauely to consult how the enemy was to be repulsed. Yet for the more safetie of their citie, and for feare least the Turks fleet should forcibly breake in vpon them, they strongly fortified the passages through the rocke or banke which defendeth the citie from the sea, and kept continually 12000 men in readinesse in the citie for the more assurance thereof.

F All the Turks fleet being againe met together, Partau and Haly departed from AVLONA the 26 of August, and sayled directly to CORCYRA, which little island seemed to bee compassed in round with the great enemies fleet. Partau Bassa at his first arriuall there, landed eight hundred horsemen and a thousand foot, who ranging vp and down the island did great hurt, and burnt the very suburbs of the citie: at which time the garrison soldiors sallying out vpon them with a thousand [Page] horsemen and fiue hundred foot, slew a great number of them, and amongst the rest one G Paphus Rays, a man of great name. Thus the Turks fleet hauing done wonderfull harme in the Venetian territorie, as well in the islands, as vpon the frontiers of DALMATIA, enriched with the spoyle of those countries,The Turkes put into the bay of Lepanto. and carrying away with them fifteene thousand most miserable captiues; departing from CORCYRA, arriued all in the bay of CORINTH, now called the gulfe of LEPANTO, where we will for a while leaue them to ride in safetie.

The forces of the confederat princes meet together at Messana.At such time as this great fleet (the terrour of that part of Christendome) first put into the Adriaticke, Venerius the Venetian Admirall then lying with fiftie gallies at CORCYRA, and fearing if he stayed there longer, to be enforced with so small a power to fight against so strong an enemie, or els so to be shut vp that hee could not joyne his forces with the Spanish fleet, which was dayly expected: vpon the comming of the fleet departed thence to MESSANA,H there more commodiously and more safely to attend the comming of Don Iohn of AVSTRIA, Generall of the Spanish forces. At his comming, Columnius met him with twelue gallies (which the great duke of FLORENCE had sent in the aid of the confederats) and three gallies of MALTA, who onely were yet come thither, and with great honour receiued him. Not long after, M. Antonius Quirinus and Antonius Canalis came thither also with threeescore and two gallies, before appointed by the Venetians for the releefe of FAMAGVSTA, but now called backe againe to joyne with the rest of the fleet: and in short time the gallies of SICILIE arriued there also. At last after long expectation,Don Iohn of Austria. in the latter end of August came Don Iohn with the Spanish fleet, a man then about foure and twentie yeares old, in whom wanted no honorable parts, his mothers blemish onely excepted: who although he was most deere vnto his father Charles the fifth, yet I left he him nothing by his will, but onely at his death commended him vnto his sonne Philip, as his brother. The Venetian and the Popes Admirals hearing of his comming, went to meet him, and that with such triumph and joy, that all the former heauinesse before conceiued of his long staying, was turned into gladnesse, with most assured hope of triumphant victorie: their doubled forces, and two great fleets joyned in one, encouraged them aboue measure, filling all the West with the expectation of some great matter. The Venetian fleet consisted of an hundred and eight gallies, six galleases, two tall ships, and a great number of small galliots. Vnto them were joyned twelue gallies of the Popes, of whom Columnius was Admirall. And with Don Iohn, the Generall, and Auria the Spanish Admirall came fourescore and one gallies, of whom three were from the knights of MALTA. In this fleet, beside marriners, were reckoned to be twentie thousand K fighting men: an armie not onely beautifull for shew, as consisting of most choice bodies; but indeed most strong and puissant, old beaten souldiours almost throughout it, in euery place intermixed with others of lesse skill: many knowne to be men of great experience, rich and lustie bodies, were by name called forth to this so honourable seruice; and diuers other of great nobilitie, as well old men as yong and lustie gallants, for the naturall hatred they bare vnto the common enemie, came and as voluntarie men cheerefully thrust themselues into that religious war: euery of which noble gentlemen, as they were greater by birth or power, so had they drawne after them a greater number of their fauourits and followers, strong and able bodies, of their owne charge brauely armed; who sought after no other pay for their paines and danger, but by some notable victorie to eternise their names, or honourably to spend their liues in so just a quarrell, as L for the defence of the Christian faith and religion. Amongst these most honourable and resolute men,Alexander Farnesius prince of Parma. were three of greatest marke, Alexander Farnesius prince of PARMA, in time to be the honour and glorie of ITALIE his natiue countrey, whose vntimely death in the low countries euen his honourable enemies lamented; and being dead, is not without cause and worthie desert accounted amongst the most politicke and famous leaders of our age. The second was Franciscus Maria prince of VRBIN, a yong man both honourably descended and of an inuincible courage: and the third Pau. Iordanus Vrsinus, an honorable gentleman of the family of the Vrsini in ROME.

All the power of the confederat princes thus met togither at MESSANA, and all things now in readinesse; a counsell was called by the Generall, to resolue what course to take in those most dangerous wars, against so puissant an enemy: vnto which counsell were admitted only Don Iohn M the Generall himselfe: and Aloysius Rechezenes, of some called Requisenius, great commendor of CASTILE, the Generals lieutenant, or rather director of his actions: Sebastianus Venerius the Venetian Admirall: and Augustinus Barbadicus Generall proueditour, of equall authoritie and reputation with the Admirall: and one secretrie: Marcus Anthonius Columna the Popes [Page] A Admirall, with Pompeius Colonna his kinsman. The chiefe point whereon these great commanders were to resolue was, Whether they should aduenture the generall fortune of a battel against so strong an enemie, or onely seeke to defend the frontiers of their owne dominions? Which question (as all other of like sort) was of diuers diuersly phantasied; euerie man pleasing himselfe with his owne reasons. Requisenius (Don Iohn his chiefe counsellor, without whom he willingly did nothing, and vndoubtedly a man of great valour and experience) speaking first, said, That the enemies force was nececessarily to be known, before they committed all to the fortune of a battell: and that therfore delay was to be vsed, least improuident hast ouerthrew all. Matters of warre that were to be descided by the sword, were (as he said) with great and sound aduise to be administred; for that the errours of battell, whereby all was to be put in hazard, were not to B be againe amended. He highly commended the aduise of Scipio Africanus, who counselled great commaunders, not to fight with the enemie but vpon some great Aduantage; or else therunto forced by Necessitie. But as things now stood, what opportunitie could be ministred or aduantage taken; the enemie keeping himselfe close within the bay of CORINTH, and no apparant meanes how to draw him out from thence? Neither that he for his part was of so great a spirit, as within the harbour in place of disaduantage, without hope, to set vpon an enemie in common estimation stronger than himselfe: for what dishonour should they incurre, if hauing receiued some notable losse, they should be enforced with shame to giue ouer the enterprise begun? And to besiege ORICVS, DIRRHACHIVM, or CASTRVM NOVUM, frontier townes of the Turks, so to draw them out to battell; what were this other than to shew a certaine feare and distrust C in themselues, and to discourage the minds of the souldiors? for as well the enemie as the common souldior, would forthwith deeme such a poore attempt to proceed of a meere feare, as to make a vaine shew of something doing, when as they durst not encounter the enemie in his full strength. As for the other reason drawne from Necessitie: what necessitie had they so desperatly to set vpon the enemie? who vpon the approach of Winter must needs in short time lay vp his gallies: and being alreadie in safe harbour, would neuer be drawne to the hazard of a battell, especially like hope, like strength, and like danger appearing on both sides. Wherefore, it were best (in his opinion) onely to make a great show of their forces, so to terrifie the barbarous enemie: but in no case to hazard the hope of the whole Christian common-weale, vpon the fortune of a battell. He farther also propounded vnto them, the vncertaine euents of things, the D common chance of warre, the strength of the enemie, as well by sea as by land; with whom they themselues were not (as he said) in deed comparable: then, what an infinit heape of miseries was like to ouerwhelme the Christian common-weale, if they should in any thing miscarrie: And that therefore, safe aduise was in this case to be preferred before that which was attended vpon with greater danger.

On the other side,The Venetians vrge battell. the Venetians, who thought all delay both infamous and dangerous to their State, were farre of another opinion. Wherefore Venerius and Barbadicus not only vehemently persuaded but most instantly requested the Generall and the rest of the great commaunders, that so soone as oportunitie serued, they would commit the matter to the triall of a battell, and not to make that counsell, which their couragious minds might make most glorious and E fortunat, by declining of battell to become dishonourable or frustrate. If desire of honour (said they) mooue vs no [...], shall neither these things mooue vs? the losse of so great and chargeable a preparation, the spoyling of our frontiers, and the insolencie of our enemies, which we encrease by delay? We defend our selues and ours, we inuade not them: wee goe not about to driue the Turke out of his empire; but that we our selues be not by him driuen out of our owne countries. Wherefore we ought so much the more readily and speedily to thinke of battell, by how much the necessitie of him is greater that repulseth a danger, than of him that offereth the same▪ What, are our weapons blunt, or our hands benummed? shall the Turkes so often prouoke vs, and we still be vnreuenged? shall we alwaies shew our weapons; and neuer fight? One fortunat battell is able to blot out the infamie of former time, and to fill vs with the hope of future happinesse: F if nothing else, let the verie indignitie of the matter stirre vs vp to battell. And what doubt is there, but that the enemie swelling with pride, will come forth with his fleet and giue vs battell? Thinke you that a small discredit will ensue to our honour and reputation, if contented with a vaine brag, hauing not once skirmished with the enemie, or so much as seene him, we shall returne home, to the generall shame of all Christendome? See how many pestilent inconueniences [Page] will ensue, if we shall take this course. This manner of proceeding, will fill all mens G minds with dispaire: the people will murmure, That they are to no purpose oppressed with exactions and tributs: the confederat princes (carefull of this warre) will say, that they haue in vaine wearied themselues with often embassages and care thereof: the prowd enemie will account our departure, or declining of battell, for a manifest victorie. The next yeare we may looke for him againe with a greater and a stronger fleet, which shall not onely make a more heauie warre, but destroy and beare downe all before it: at which time, who can assure vs that the Christians shall haue the like preparation, if we shall now delay to fight? what labour is to be taken, what cost to be bestowed, to set forth againe so great a fleet? Vnto these causes which impose vpon vs a necessitie and force to fight, is adjoyned not onely a singular regard of our honour, but a most notable opportunitie also offered: we neuer had a greater fleet, not better furnished with men, munition,H and all things else to be required for the gaining of a notable victorie: and who knoweth not, that the Christian gallies are farre stronger than the Turkes? besides that, the greatest part of their best souldiors are in hope of prey gone into CYPRVS, who there seeking after the spoile, and forgetfull of the enemie, without controlment glut themselues with the pleasures of that rich island; whereby their fleet is so much the weaker. All which things, as they promise no hard victorie, so doe they propound vnto vs, honour, glorie, fame, and most honourable rewards; and open vnto vs the way both for the defence of the present, and recouerie of that hath been before lost. What then stand we still looking for? or why do we not in Gods name joine that battell, which is vnto vs not only necessarie, but profitable also.

Thus much said, they began to intreat and beseech the Generall and the rest, not longer to I suffer the Christian common-weale to receiue losse vpon losse, but to repose their only hope in the good successe of one worthie battell: and neuer to looke for the like opportunitie, if they let slip the present. This matter of so great consequence, thus throughly debated amongst the greatest commaunders, they thought it good to heare also the opinions of other notable captaines, of no lesse experience than themselues (then in the fleet) before they would conclude any thing. Amongst the rest,Cornea and Serbellio persuade the giuing of battell. Anthonius Cornea, and Gabriel Serbellio, both Spaniards, and for their great wisedome and valour had in generall reputation of all men; being demaunded their opinions, with most substantiall reasons declared the necessitie of giuing battell, and that it was not so dangerous, as to be therefore shunned or delaied: For so much as that violent enemie was far easier to be dealt withall at sea than by land; where he must fight without his huge multitude of men,K the Turks chiefe hope and only meanes whereby they haue obtained so many victories against the Christians. And so concluded their opinions, with an effectuall persuasion to set forward to CORCYRA, and without delay as occasion serued to giue the enemie battell. Which their opinion being generally well liked, was shortly after by the Generall and the rest approued, and a resolution set downe for the giuing of battell: which was no sooner knowne, but there was a generall rejoycing through the armie, euerie man cheerfully preparing himselfe to lay downe his life in the publike defence of the Christian common-weale: and that with such an earnest desire of battell, that euerie day seemed now nothing else, but a delay of a most assured victorie.

The confederats put their fleet in order of battell.Yet before they should come into the sight of the enemie, the three Admirals thought it good to bring forth the fleet into the sea, and there to martiall the same, in such sort, as if they L should euen then presently haue joyned battell: to the intent, that by such orderly disposing of their fleet, and by appointing vnto euerie man his place he was to keepe, they might so acquaint them with the order of the battell, as that they should when time serued (of themselues without farther direction) martiall themselues, and so more readily enter into battell. The next day the Admirals brought foorth their fleets into the open sea: in the right wing (which consisted of three and fiftie gallies) was Auria placed: in the left wing was Augustinus Barbadicus with the like number of gallies also: and in the middle battell stood the Generall with seauentie gallies: on the right hand of the Generall stood Columnius, and on the left Venerius, his associats. Thus with equall front the fleet set forward, as if they should euen presently haue joyned battell. Betwixt the wings and the middle battell, was left no more space but for three gallies to row: in M the rearward behind the Generall, followed Requisenius the great Commendor of CASTILE, with his gallies: after Columnius followed the Admirall gallie of GENVA, wherein was Alexander Farnesius prince of PARMA: and behind Venerius came the Admirall gallie of SAVOY, and in her the prince of VRBIN: in the space betwixt the middle battell and the left wing, was [Page] A placed Paulus Iordanus: and betwixt the middle battell and the right wing, was Petrus Iustinianus with the gallies of MALTA: vpon the left wing attended Anthonius Canalis: and Quirinus on the right. About halfe a mile behind all the rest, followed Aluarus Bacianus Marquesse of SANCRACE, and Admirall of the Neapolitane fleet, with thirtie gallies; a man of great experience in matters at sea; and now so placed, to be at all times readie to relieue this or that part of the fleet, as the fortune of the battell, or impression of the enemie should require. The Christians had reposed great hope in six galeasses,Six galeasses. which furnished with great store of ordinance and certaine select companies of most resolute souldiors, seemed rather like castles than ships. These galeasses conducted by Franciscus Dodus, a most expert captaine, were placed about a mile before the fleet; two of them before each wing, and the other two before the middle battell: so far B distant one from another, as that with equall space they answered the whole breadth of the front of the fleet, which was almost the space of fiue miles, and serued the same in stead of most strong bulwarks. The gallies throughout the fleet kept not close togither, but such a conuenient distance one from another, as might serue for them at libertie to discharge their ordinance when time should require. In the wings, as also in the maine battell, were the Popes, the kings, and the Venetian gallies indifferently intermixed; that by the equalitie of the danger they should haue more care to relieue one another than if they had serued apart. Ioannes Cardonius, a most valiant captaine, with eight gallies of SICILIE and two galiots, was appointed to go ten miles before the fleet to descrie what he might of the enemies doings, and in his returne to joine the one halfe of his gallies to the one wing, and the other halfe to the other.

C In this sort they departed from MESSANA,The Christian fleet departeth from Messana to giue the Turk [...] battell. with purpose to seeke out the enemie: and not long after came to PAXO, where (of a small broile) at the first was like to haue risen a great mischiefe: for the next day, whilest Don Iohn staied there to take a view of the Venetian gallies, and how they were furnished both of men and munition; he finding them but weakly manned for supplying of that want, appointed foure thousand Spaniards and a thousand Italians to be put aboord into the Venetian gallies, where most need was.

Amongst these souldiors was one companie vnder the commaund of Mutius Tortona their captaine,Mutius Tortona a Spaniard, raiseth a mutinie in the fleet at Paxo. a man of an vnquiet and furious nature: who going aboord the gallie of Andreas Calergus, first fell to words with the captaine of the gallie, and after much stirre into plaine fight; so that in a trice they were altogither by the eares, as well the souldiours as the captaines: of all D which stirre Mutius was the onely author. Venerius being not farre off, and hearing of the matter, sent the captaine of his owne gallie to appease the tumult: who thrusting himselfe into the middest of the furious multitude, was by Mutius in his furie fouly intreated, and diuers of them that came with him shrewdly beaten. Which thing Venerius (himselfe also of an hoat nature) taking as done in disgrace of the Venetians, and therewith exceedingly moued; to the terrour of others,Tortona and his antient hanged. caused Mutius and his ensign-bearer to be hanged vp at the yards arme of the same gallie, to the great offence of all the Spaniards. The Generall also taking this execution in euill part, full of choler and indignation, grieuously complained, That he himselfe as Generall, was therein not a little wronged; and that it became euerie commaunder to know what belonged to his place, and not to encroach vpon his betters: so should the conditions of the league be the better E kept, if euerie commaunder could keepe himselfe within the bounds of his owne authoritie. Venerius he said,Discention betwixt Don Iohn and Venerius the Venetian Admirall. whose authoritie was inferiour vnto his, could not of right without his command determine any thing against Mutius a Spanish captaine: And that therein his honour was empaired: for which, if he had not a publike and honourable amends, he threatned by force of arms to redresse his wrong, and the league being broken, to carrie away with him the kings gallies. Neither wanted there some who fauouring Don Iohn his quarrell, and angrie with the Venetians, laid still more coles on the fire that was alreadie too great. Hereunto Venerius sent word vnto the Generall, That he should do well to moderat his anger, and at leisure to aduise himselfe, and better to vnderstand the matter, so should he plainly see, that there was neuer more just or wholsome execution done vpon any, than vpon those mutinous persons: But if he, carried F away with the heat of youth, should attempt any more violent course than stood with the common quiet, it were not to be maruelled if hee afterward repented. He (as he said) was also in armes, and readie to shew himselfe a man. The matter was growne to that heat, that it was not onely not farre from the breaking off of the league; but euen at the point to haue set all on a broile, and to haue put the whole fleet in danger: had not Columnius the Popes Admirall, against [Page] this tempest opposed himselfe: He with all his power laboured to cure the wounded mind of G the Generall, and to appease his anger: telling him, That the common enemie would hardly be withstood by them all, being at vnitie and concord amongst themselues; but if vnto the forrain danger were also joyned domesticall discord, then were the Christian commonwealth vndone. But if he would moderat his anger, and more regard the honour and credit of the Venetian Admirall, than the punishment of a seditious man, euen they which were vnto him friends, and enemies vnto the Venetians, would highly commend his moderation and stayednesse: yea, that howsoeuer the matter was done, it could not now be vndone. But whatsoeuer Venerius had done, was in his opinion justly done, That it was alwayes so accounted and obserued, that when many princes joyned their forces together in matters that concerned the common managing of the warre, nothing was to be done without the commaund of the Generall: but in matters belonging H to the priuat gouernment of euery mans regiment, euery Generall had power of life and death ouer them that were vnder his commaund: which to be so, was as he said hereby to be vnderstood; King Philip was king of many kingdomes, and that hee might long so bee, hee heartily wished: Now if any Millanoies had committed any capitall crime worthie death in the kingdome of NAPLES, should the judgement of that crime be of right to be referred vnto the king himselfe, as the cheefe soueraigne? or vnto the Gouernour of MILLAINE, where the offendour was borne? or rather to the ciuile magistrate of NAPLES, in whose jurisdiction the fault was committed, and so of right there to be executed? What difference was there then, but that Mutius might rightly seeme to haue beene justly punished by Venerius, who although he were a Spanish captaine, had yet raised a mutinie in a Venetian galley, which was vnder the command I of the Venetian Admirall. Beside that, the discipline of warre sometime required a seuere and exemplare kind of punishment: For which cause it was both notably and truly said of Clearchus, That a Generall ought to be more feared of his souldiours than the enemie: and that amongst the auntient Romanes it had beene the custome euen for priuat men with more seuere punishment to restraine the factious citisen than the most cruell enemie: That the fact was not so much to be regarded, as the intention of him that did it: That it was the dutie of commaunders to withstand the madnesse of the mutinous. The author of sedition and tumult hee said had suffered but condigne punishment to his fact: who if hee had escaped vnpunished, would but haue beene the more disordered, but now by his exemplarie punishment would deter [...]e others from the like insolencie. Besides that, the externall danger was such, as ought to reconcile K them, were they neuer so much enemies: That such men as they were should aboue all things regard what might profit or hurt the common cause, in contemplation whereof all priuat injuries were to be remitted: and the rather, for that the honour and dishonour of the good or bad successe of such important an action should redound vnto themselues, but especially vnto the Generall. His owne dutie he had as he said discharged, in dealing so plainely and faithfully with him, and could no more but pray vnto God, with mercifull eye to behold the troubled Christian commonweale in such a most dangerous time.

Don Iohn still beareth a grudge against VeneriusThus was the mutinie at PAXO by the great labour of Columnius hardly appeased: neuerthelesse Don Iohn could not afterwards endure to participate vnto Venerius his counsels, or so much as to come in his companie: all was done by Barbadicus the Venetian Proueditor. This L Barbadicus was not inferiour to Venerius in courage and valour,Barbadicus the Venetian Prouiditor, a notable man. but farre beyond him in discretion; a tall and goodly and personage, well coloured, his beard grizie, though not for age, for why he was not aboue fiftie yeares old: besides that, in his eyes and countenance appeared a viuacitie or liuelinesse of spirit; in his very gate and comely motion of his bodie, he carried a certaine grace and majestie: his talke and speech was alwayes calme and temperate, his counsell graue and sound, so that he was both greatly honoured and beloued of all men: his cheefe endeauour also was, to further the hope of attonement betwixt the Spaniards and the Venetians, so well begun by Columnius. And so all things brought into some reasonable tearmes, they departed from PAXO, and came to CORCYRA; the spoyle whereof well declared the enemies late being there.The Christian fl [...]et at Cephalenia. From thence they departed to CEPHALENIA: where M they by letters from Pau. Contarenus, Gouernour of ZACYNTHVS, were aduertised, That the Turkes fleet of three hundred and three and thirtie sayle, of one sort and other, lay in the gulfe of CORINTH, now called the gulfe of LEPANTO. Whereupon they shortly after remooued, with purpose to haue gone to PETALA, an hauen opposit oueragainst the islands (or rather [Page] A rockes called ECHINADES, but now CORZVLARES, and so to the bay of CORINTH, to draw the enemie forth to battell: but stayed with contrarie winds, they put backe againe into the valley of ALEXANDRIA, another port in the island of CEPHALENIA: from whence they afterward departed to the islands CORZVLARES, where by the way they vnderstood by letters out of CRETE, That FAMAGVSTA was lost: with which bad newes they were no whit discouraged, but rather enflamed with the desire of reuenge. From the islands they went to GALANGA, a good harbour, where they stayed one night, purposing the next day to haue gone to the mouth of the gulfe of LEPANTO, there to dare the Turks battell.

The Turkes Bassaes Partau and Haly, who then lay in good safetie within the gulfe, hearing of the approch of the Christian fleet, began to consult with the rest of their most expert captaines, B Whether to giue the Christians battell, or to keepe themselues still within their safe harbour: vpon which doubt they were amongst themselues of diuers opinions.Chiroche dissuadeth the Bassaes from giuing battell vnto the Christian [...]. Amongst the rest Chiroche a man of great yeares and authoritie, and withall a most noble captaine, exhorted the Bassaes, in no case, when no need was, vpon a vaine glorie to aduenture all to the fortune of an vncertaine battell: it was (as he said) the part of wise and worthie commanders, to moderat with reason their happie fortunes, for that therunto were incident many accidents whereby their former felicitie might be disgraced: They had alreadie run alongst the enemies coasts, spoyled the frontiers of his countries, and were with much honour and greater spoyle in safetie returned, hauing encreased the Turkish empire with many strong townes of the enemies: The island of CYPRVS was with wonderfull good fortune brought vnder the Turks obeisance, the enemies great C prouision at sea frustrated, in such sort, as that hauing lost diuers of their gallies, they were neuer yet able to draw their swords: They had with their fleet at their pleasure romed vp and down the Adriaticke, and displayed their victorious ensigns almost vnto the very citie of VENICE. What could they then deuise or wish for more honourable or glorious, than with the safetie of their fleet, yea without any losse at all, to haue performed so great matters? Now the three generall commaunders of the enemies fleet to be so at discord amongst themselues, as that they were readie to fall in sunder of themselues; who now vpon the approch of Winter, and for want of victuall, must needs in few dayes returne home with their fleet, neuer after to meet againe with the like strength at sea: and therefore to what purpose were it, by force of armes and vncertaine battell, with danger to seeke for the soueraignetie and commaund of the sea, which would forthwith D of it selfe without any danger fall vnto them? Neither should they by the doubtfull victorie so much encrease their honour, as by the vncertaine euent of a battell blemish the same, if any thing should fall out otherwise than well. And that therefore they should doe well to take heed, that in seeking to augment their former victories, they hazarded not their honour alreadie gained; but wholesomely delay the warre, and keepe themselues in safetie with their fleet within the gulfe, and not to goe out at the enemies pleasure, but when they should see good themselues, at such time as the enemie was not so well prouided: so should they (as he said) without any great labour or danger attaine to the full of their owne desires.

Partau Bassa was of opinion,Partau Bassa standeth indifferent for giuing or not giuing battell. That the Christians would not at all offer him battell: which opinion the Christians had also of him: and in this question, for giuing or not giuing of battell, E seemed neither to approue nor dislike that Chiroche had so grauely spoken, but as a man indifferent and loath to incurre any blame, shewed himselfe readie either to stay or to set forward, as should be thought best by the greater part. But Haly Bassa, a man of an hoter spirit, and the great champion of the Turks, could not endure to heare of any delay, but of present battell. The pleasure of Selymus, the hope of victorie, the remembrance of the displeasure Piall Bassa had the last yeare incurred, for not giuing the Christians battell, induced him now in no case to refuse battell, but forthwith to goe out of the gulfe, and to accept thereof, if it were offered. In which his opinion he was the more confirmed by the relation of Caracoza a famous pyrat, and of great account amongst the Turks: who in a swift galliot taking view of the Christian fleet, had reported it to be much lesse than indeed it was: deceiued as was afterward thought, by not taking full view F thereof, by reason of his posting hast; or els blinded by the island, which lying behind the fleet, suffered him not perfectly to descrie the same. Vpon which report there was great rejoycing amongst the Turkes, who now after their accustomed manner dreamed of nothing but victorie and spoyle. So that Haly vainely persuaded that his fleet was both the greater and stronger, would now needs fight, in hope that the Christians vpon the first sight of the Turks fleet would [Page] either retire and saue themselues by shamefull flight: or els in aduenturing battell at so great ods,G by their foolish hardinesse receiue a notable ouerthrow. This opinion of the Bassa was also not a little confirmed by the persuasion of Cassanes, Barbarussa his sonne, Vluzales, and Chais-Beg, Gouernour of SMYRNA, all men of great marke and experience, especially in matters at sea. And although Partau the other Bassa stood wauering, as a man in doubt, and Chiroche Gouernour of ALEXANDRIA, with Carabuzes Gouernor of CILICIA, and Mechmet Gouernor of EVBoeA, men of no lesse worth than the other, vpon better consideration, were of a quite contrarie mind, for not giuing the Christians battell:The Turkes resolue to giue the Christians battell yet such was the authoritie of Haly, or rather his importunitie, forced to his owne destinie, that his opinion preuailed; so that now out they needs must, and fight. Albeit that two other espials sent out after Caracoza, & hauing more perfectly viewed the fleet, returning with speed, told the Bassaes, as truth was, That the Christians, very strong and H well appointed, were comming with ensignes displayed of purpose to fight: and that their fleet was in number much greater than was before supposed. With which newes so farre contrarie to their expectation, the Bassaes were exceedingly troubled: and demaunding whether the formost gallies were all Venetians or not: and being answered, that they were intermixt, some Venetians, some Spanish, and of the other Westerne countries: they began to doubt the worst, and became exceeding pensiue. Neuerthelesse knowing themselues to bee of all things well furnished, hauing new victualled in the bay of CORINTH, and there also taken in twelue thousand Ianizaries and Spahies, drawne out of the garrisons of AETOLIA, ACARNANIA, PELOPONESVS, and the other countries thereby, all resolute men, and foure thousand other common souldiors; and that they could not now with their honor shrinke backe, they held it still for the best, to hold I on their former resolution for the giuing of the Christians battell. Yet before their setting forward, calling together the captaines and cheefe commaunders of the fleet, Partau the more to encourage them, spake vnto them as followeth: ‘Partau Bassa encourageth the Turks.We are to fight (said he) fellowes in armes, with that kind of men whom our ancestors haue driuen out of EVBoeA, the RHODES, MYTILENE, PELOPONESVS, and TRIPOLIS, and wee our selues but yesterday out of the famous island of CYPRVS: whose cities and strong townes, in number infinit, our emperour hath, as the rewards of his warres▪ whom we haue alwayes vanquished, as well by sea as by land: and shall it then now repent you, that you in this warre embrued in the Christian blood, haue sunke or taken many of their ships and gallies? That you haue caried away great and rich spoils?K That you haue taken whole islands and cities at the first assault? That we haue by proofe shewed vnto the world what force is in the Turke to subdue strong cities and townes? and what little power is in the Christians to defend the same? What direction brought vs victorie before, the same shall also at this present giue vs the like. Not to speake of that, that we farre excell them both in number of men and gallies, this is more to be reckoned of, that we excell them in valour and prowesse: for you being old expert souldiors, from your infancie trained vp in the warres, hardened in infinit battels, and full of courage and strength, shall fight against weake, fresh water, and effeminat souldiors; who entertained for pay (of the refuse of all nations) know nothing belonging to the warres; or forcibly pressed out of cities, serue not because they would, but because they must neither will nor chuse. But not to speake more of the manner of the Christian souldiors, who are nothing els than the perpetuall exercise L of your renowne and prowesse: and to come vnto him, vnder whose fortune and conduct they serue. What should I say? should I compare either of vs (who haue spent our liues in victories and triumphs: who borne and brought vp amongst armes, haue with our right hands gained vnto our selues honour and fame) with this stripling and halfe moneths captaine, who neuer saw battels but these? who in a lesse matter neuer shewed proofe of himselfe, why should he be accounted of in a greater? who in so weightie a cause needeth a tutor: and such a one, as indeed beareth the name of a Generall, more for his honour, than for any worth in himselfe. Besides, amongst the enemies is such dissention, that euerie man regardeth his owne priuat, serueth as pleaseth himselfe, contemneth, and is contemned: Whereas with vs is such consent, that it cannot be deuised, how the souldiors in generall should more trust their commaunders, or the commaunders their souldiours. What things were by the discipline of warre or M carefulnesse of a Generall to be prepared, all those you haue abundantly and plentifully in readinesse: onely this last warlike labour remaineth; which once dispatched, our enemies shall be discomfited euen in that wherein their greatest confidence resteth. They shall be despoiled of their honour and trafficke at sea: and that vz. Venice. citie once subdued, which is alone the glorie of the sea, there shall be no hope left [Page] A for the Christians neither by sea nor land: and (that we haue alwaies wished) ITALIE, faire ITALIE (wherein these matters are plotted against vs) shall be in our hand and power: wherefore let vs with such courage assaile our enemies as beseemeth most victorious conquerours, men so many times conquered: And so set forward, as if you saw our emperour himselfe encouraging you, and giuing you the signall of battell; of his bountie, and the present victorie, expecting all felicitie and blisse.’

This comfortable speech with great grauitie deliuered by the Bassa, so encouraged the Turks, as that they all with one voice and mind, seemed to desire nothing more than battell: for they still possessed with the first report of Caracoza, and encouraged by the Bassaes speech, were in B god hope to haue fought the battell vpon great aduantage,

The Turkes fleet commeth out of the gulfe of Lepanto.

The islands Echinades or Corzulares.

and therefore thought vpon nothing but present victorie. Whereupon setting forward with great cheerfulnesse, they came out of the gulfe, and shaped their course for the islands ECHINADES, about midway betwixt LEPANTO and PATRAS; before little islands or rather obscure rocks, scarcely appearing in the sea, but now to be made famous throughout the world, by the most notable battell that euer was fought in those seas.

The Christians also comming still on towards the enemie, the seauenth of October in the afternoon, vnderstood by their espials, that the Turkes fleet was comming, and euen now at hand: whereupon the Generall commaunded the great ensigne of the confederats (the appointed signall of battell) to be forthwith displaied, and a great warning piece to be shot off out C of his Admirall gallie. And himselfe glistering all in bright armour, with Cardona Admirall of SICILIA, and Soto his secretarie, in a long boat went to all the squadrons of the fleet one after another, exhorting them with cheerfull countenance to follow their leaders, and to play the men: remembring, that they that day carried in their hands, the wealth, honour, glorie, and libertie of their countries; yea and the verie religion of their forefathers; and that that daies victorie would bring vnto them and theirs perpetuall felicitie: whereas otherwise, if they should as cowards suffer themselues to be ouercome and vanquished, it would be vnto them the beginning of all manner of most wofull calamities. To which and other his like speeches, the captaines and souldiors (before of themselues cheerfull enough) in euerie place where he came gaue such applause with the joyfull crie of Victorie, Victorie, so often and so cheerfully in all places resounded, D as that it was taken as a luckie aboadment of the glorious victorie shortly after ensuing. In like manner Auria in the right wing, and Barbadicus in the left (for the fleet kept the same order that they had appointed before at MESSANA) ceased not by all comfortable speeches to encourage their followers: shewing vnto them, That now the time was come they had so long wished for, wherein they not oppressed with multitude, might at length shew their true valour against the false and faithlesse enemies: who being in deed nothing else but base and contemptible slaues, borne to bondage, and hauing lost their owne libertie, came to impugne the libertie of others; bringing with them a greater terrour of their name; than valour of their persons: and that therefore, if euer, they would now shew themselues valiant and couragious, and that day wherein of all others true force was to be seene, to abate the pride of the barbarous and cruell E enemie; and to make their rejoycing for the conquest of CYPRVS short, before they had well tasted the pleasure thereof. At which time also the captaines generally throughout the fleet, with cheerfull countenances and couragious speech, encouraged their souldiors: leauing nothing vnsaid, that might harten them on; or vndone, that might further the victorie.

Neither were the Turks wanting to themselues (although it was fallen out much contrarie to their expectation, to see the Christians, who they before thought durst not haue shewed themselues, now readie to dare them battell) but encouraged with their former victories, and furthered with a faire gale of wind, came on prowdly with their fleet, orderly and gallantly set after their wonted manner in forme of a Croisant or halfe Moone, their fortunat ensigne: neuerthelesse in their comming on they were much troubled with the brightnesse of the Sun, which F then shining full in their faces with his bright beames, so dazled their eies, that they could not well see how to their most aduantage to direct their gallies.The number and order of the Turks fleet. In this fleet of the Turkes were two hundred and fiftie gallies, fiftie galiots, and twentie brigandines and other small vessels: all which a farre off shewed like a thicke wood, but comming neere hand, presented (as we said) the forme of a Croisant. The middle battell in number much like the Christians, was conducted by the [Page] great Bassaes Haly and Pertau, attended vpon with Agan master of the Turkes Arsenall: Mastapha G Zelibi, the treasurer: Achmat Bey, with Mahomet his younger brother, the sonnes of Haly: Achmat Aga, Gouernour of TEVTHRANIA: Assis Caiga, Gouernour of CALIPOLIS: Caracoza: Cassanes, the sonne of Barbarussa: Malamur, Gouernour of MITYLENE: Deli Solyman: Gider, captaine of CHIOS: Cassambeius, Gouernour of the RHODES: Proui Aga, captaine of NAVPLIVM: Giapar Zelibi, president of CALABA: Dordagnan: Dondomeni, and many others, whose barbarous names I purposely omit: all men of great account and place, and for their experience at sea, the chiefe strength of the Turkish empire. The right wing was by the appointment of the Bassaes, commaunded by Mahomet Bey with fiftie six gallies, with whom were also many worthie captaines: and in the left wing was Vluzales the old Archpirat, but now the Viceroy of ALGIERS with nintie fiue gallies, accompanied with Caraiolo and Arabey his two sons,H with a multitude of pirats, men of his owne profession, but most valiant and expert souldiours. In the rearward came Amurates Dragut with thirtie gallies, and diuers other small vessels.

The great and notable battell betwixt the Turks and the Christian [...], commonly called the battell of Lepanto.Now was the day well spent, when both the fleets were readie to giue battell. The enemie still comming on, almost in the same order that the Christians did: for their middle battell came directly against our middle battell, and their wings against ours. So the signall of battell on both sides giuen by the shooting off of certaine great pieces: the Turks, after their manner comming on with an hideous crie, first light vpon the six galeasses, which lying at anchor almost a mile before the fleet as most strong bulwarks, out of their forecastles powred out their murthering shot vpon the Turkes, now come within their danger; and in their passing by, so plagued them I by discharging their whole broad sides, first the one, and eftsoons the other vpon them, that hauing receiued great losse, and diuers of their gallies sunke, they were enforced to breake their order, and to fall farther off. Which so much the more troubled the Turkes, for that they had before supposed, those great carts and vnseruiceable ships (as they accounted of them) to haue carried little or no great ordinance on their sides, after the manner of their gallies: for the vse of the galeasses was not vnto the Turkes knowne, vntill now that they had receiued from them most notable harme: which as it was the beginning of their miserie, so was it vnto the Christians of greatest importance, for the gaining of the victorie. At which time also the wind, which all that day had much fauoured the Turkes, was now (God no doubt fighting his owne battell) come about to the West, and with a pleasant gale in the time of the fight, carried the smoake of the K great ordinance vpon the Turks, to their no small disaduantage. Yet for all this losse and disorder in their fleet, the fierce enemie with wonderfull pertinacie passing by these galeasses, quickly repared againe to their places, and made good their disordered squadrons, and with all their force assailed the Christian fleet.A terrible onset. The trumpets, drums, and other instruments of warre, had scarcely well sounded, when all shooke with confused cries, flames of fire, thundring of artillerie, and other noise of the marriners and seamen: wherewith many were so astonied, as if they had been both deafe and blind, hauing vpon the sudden almost lost the vse both of their sight and hearing. At which verie instant, a man might haue seene whole showers as it were of arrowes and darts mixt with the deadly shot, flying from the one fleet to the other; the masts broken, the saile yards strucke downe, the tackles rent, and all confused with horrour and feare. Haly beholding the L Admirall gallie (which was easie to be knowne by the flag) and vsing the surpassing cheerfulnesse of his marriners and rowers,A dreadfull and doubtfull sight betwixt the two Admiral gallies. ran vpon her with such violence, as if he would haue presently stemmed her: but being with like force encountred by the Admirall, they met togither with such violence, that both their beakes were with the feaze broken off, and so fell into the sea. There began a most cruell fight betwixt those two great commanders, who had before drawn vnto them the strongest gallies in their fleets, and the choisest men in their armies. In the Admirall gallie of the Christians, were foure hundred select men picked out of the whole armie, most of them captaines and auntients, men of approued valour: who not only valiantly repulsed the furious enemies, but with greater courage enforced them to shrinke backe, and pressing hard vpon them entred the gallie euen to the maine mast; where the enemie strengthned with new supply, fought M couragiously, repulsed the Spaniards, and cleared againe their gallie. Many were there wounded on both sides, and many slaine. Don Iohn seeing his men giue way, sent in new supplie; wherwith the other encouraged, bestirred themselues more lustily than before, and hardly charge the Turkes: who with like hope and like courage encounter them. The battell was like vnto the [Page] A ebbing and flowing of the sea: Thrise the Turkes were driuen euen vnto the maine mast, and thrise strengthened with new supplies, they with great slaughter repulsed the Christians backe againe.

Venerius perceiuing the danger of the Generall,Venerius comming to the relie [...]e of Don Iohn is encountred by Pertau Bassa. was about to haue assailed the poupe of Haly his gallie, so to haue endangered her being set vpon both before and abathe: but in comming thither he was encountred by Pertau the other Bassa, who with a companie of gallies opposed himselfe against him, and that with such celeritie, that hauing made shew as if he would haue charged him afront, he by and by set vpon his side. Which vnexpected manner of fight so suddenly fashioned, at the first much troubled the Christians, who afterward gathering courage, notably defended themselues. Venerius vpon whose valour the Venetian state rested, gallantly B armed, not only encouraged his men, one while with intreating, another while with threatning, but was himselfe in the midst of them fighting: whose great honor much moued the minds of his souldiors, but his reuerend yeares more; to see him (being aboue threescore and seauenteene yeares old) to performe all the parts of a braue youthfull commaunder, in the verie face of the greatest danger. The fierce enemie hauing slaine many of the Christians, pressed on more furiously, and fighting close togither, entred the prow of Venerius his gallie now bared of defendants, and with their multitude rather than true valour oppressed the Venetians;Venerius in danger. who had there no doubt been ouercome, had not Ioannes Lauretanus, and Catherinus Malipetra, two valiant captaines, and lying not farre off, speedily come to their reliefe. By whose comming in, the fight was in the turning of an hand quite altered: so that they which a little before fiercely assailed C led the Venetian gallies, were now glad to defend their owne: so for a space the fight stood indifferent, but in processe of the battell,Lauretanus and Malipetra slaine those two worthie captaines, whilest they also performe the parts of most resolute souldiors, were both slaine; shot through with small shot. The fall of these notable men, did rather enrage than discourage the minds of their souldiors; so that blinded as it were with furie, and suddenly become other men, they desperatly pressed in vpon the Turks. So that whilest they on the one side kill and wound them, and Venerius more hardly chargeth them on the other; the terrour of the battell was turned from them that were euen at the point to haue beene vanquished, vpon the victors. And our men after great slaughter of the Turkes, tooke two of their gallies: Pertau the Bassa in a long boat escaped the danger, and so got him out of the battell. Not farre off thence, Columnius the Popes Admirall, as a valiant chieftaine D hardly assailed other of the Turkes gallies, and made amongst them great slaughter: one singled from the rest, he tooke, and disordered the other. Lignius the Admirall of GENVA, with like courage thrust himselfe into the thickest of the enemies, & there made a notable fight. Many an enemie fell about the prince of PARMA, Rueres, Vrsinus, Cornea and Iustinianus; who for their present honour and future fame, fought most couragiously.

At the same time Chiroche or Sirocke (of some called Mahomet Bey) with his right wing with great confidence came forward against the left wing of the Christian fleet; but falling before he was aware into the danger of the galeasses,The right wing of the Turks fleet sore gauled by the galeasses. was from out of them miserably beaten with the great ordinance, hauing many of his men slaine, and diuers of his gallies sunke and torne, few of the hugie and deadly shot falling in vaine into the sea, by reason of the thicke standing of the E Turkes gallies: where also diuers of the enemies were burnt with pots of wild fire, cast into their gallies out of the tops of the galeasses. Chiroche to auoid the danger of the galeasses, and to shun the dangerous shelfes betwixt him and the maine (which the riuer Achelous running betweene the borders of ACHARNANIA and AETOLIA, and there falling into the sea, maketh) sent a great part of his gallies vnder the conduct of one Alis, a notable renegat of GENVA, to cast about aloofe vpon the right hand, and so to come vpon the backe of Barbadicus the leader of the left wing of the Christian fleet: Which he perceiuing, forthwith turned his gallies, and with their prows receiued the first onset.A terrible fight betwixt Chiroche and Barbadicus. The great ordinance first on both sides discharged; diuers of the gallies grapled fast togither, in such sort, as that they encountred one another, not with their missiue weapons onely (as with their small shot, arrowes, and darts) but with their drawn swords F foot to foot. Amongst the rest, the fight of two of the Christian gallies was most notable, in the one was Barbadicus himselfe, in the other Marcus Ciconia, vpon whom fell six of the enemies gallies, and vpon Barbadicus fiue: who although they were on euerie side distressed with a most doubtfull and dangerous fight, yet did they most valiantly with worthie resolution endure the same. In the furie of this battell, Barbadicus encouraging his souldiors, and fighting himselfe [Page] euen there where most danger was, was hit in the left eye with an arrow, and so strucke into the G braine almost through the head: wherewith falling presently downe, he was taken vp for dead; howbeit he died not thereof vntill three daies after. The supposed death of this worthie man much troubled the Christians, and both the armies felt his fall (such force there is in the valour of one worthie man) for the Turks now as conquerors lustily boorded the gallie, troubled with the losse of the captaine, and the Venetians as men discouraged, gaue way: the gallie had there vndoubtedly beene lost, had not Federicus Nanius and Syluius Porcia with their gallies speedily come to her releefe: by whose comming in, such an alteration was made, as that the gallie before halfe taken, was not onely cleared, but diuers of the Turks gallies also bourded, and some of them taken, not without the great slaughter of the Turks. In this so hard and mortall a conflict, Syluius was grieuously wounded in the thigh,The death of Barbadicus. and in his right side. It is reported of Barbadicus, That lying H that euening at the point of death, the battell then ended, he like another Epaminondas asked which part had got the victorie: and being told that the Christians had got it, and that the Turks fleet was most part taken, and the rest sunke or burnt: he with his eyes cast vp vnto heauen, gaue vnto God immortall thankes therefore, and not long after joyfully departed this life, to liue in blisse for euer.

Ciconia hardly beset, and in danger to haue been lost, is relieued. Ciconia in the meane time hardly beset with six of the enemies gallies (as we haue before said) was himselfe sore burnt with wild fire, and hurt in the face: and hauing endured a long and terrible fight, was now euen at the point to haue beene lost; when sudden releefe comming in, he was now contrarie to all hope saued, and therewith so much encouraged, that with his wearie and wounded souldiors, as men from death reuiued, he afresh charged the enemie, and tooke one of I his principall gallies, with one of the Turks fairest ensignes, which in the Venetian Armorie is yet there to be seene: of his worthie valour, his honest wounds in his face and the forepart of his bodie, were most certaine and vndoubted witnesses.

An hard fight betwixt Io. Contarenus and Chiroche.Not farre off, in the same wing, Ioannes Contarenus, an honourable and valiant gentleman, did with his great shot exceeding great harme amongst the Turks gallies: Which Chiroche perceiuing, and therewith enraged, ran so fiercely vpon the side of Contarenus his gallie, that with his beake he had well neere stemmed her; & presently grapling fast with her, was like to haue bourded her: whom neuerthelesse the Christians notably repulsed, with greater slaughter than was thought possible for so small a number to haue made: neither did the enemies fall vnreuenged; but all embrued with the bloud of the Christians. Seldome hath beene seene a more cruell fight,K or more resolute captaines to encounter hand to hand. But after the battell had of long time stood doubtfull, the hope of the Christians encreased vpon two causes, for which the courage of the enemie quailed: first for that many of the Turks being slain or wounded, they were brought to a small number; then for that both parties saw Chiroche himselfe slaine: from which time the enemie, as well destitute of a leader to direct them, as of fresh supplies to relieue them, began to be cut downe right, or taken. Which their danger was the more encreased, because the gallie, bulged with the great shot, was now leake, and in danger to sinke: wherefore the Turkes in that wing ouercome with despaire, began to thinke rather how to saue themselues by flight than by fight, reposing their trust in nothing more than in the neerenesse of the maine. But as they were turning about toward the shore, they were preuented by the Christians: who entring the gallie,L and hauing slaine or driuen ouer boord almost all that were left, tooke Chiroche, yet breathing, but halfe dead;Chiroche slaine, and his gallie taken. and seeing small hope of his life, with fresh wounds made an end of him.

Diuers and doubtfull was the whole face of the battell: as fortune offered vnto euery man his enemie, so he fought; according as euery mans disposition put into him courage or feare, or as he met with moe or fewer enemies, so was there here and there sometime victorie, and sometime losse. Many fights were in sundrie places seene mingled together. Some gallies whiles they run to stemme others, are themselues by others stemmed. Some, which you would thinke were flying away,An hard and doubtfull battell falling by fortune vpon one victorious gallie or other, suddenly take them. Othersome as if they had beene of neither part, row vp and downe betwixt the battels. The chance of warre in one place lifteth vp the vanquished, and in another ouerthroweth the victorious. All M was full of terrour, errour, sorrow, and confusion. And albeit that fortune had not yet determined which way to encline, yet the Christians at length began to appeare much superior both in courage and strength: and the Turkes seemed now rather to defend themselues, than to assaile their enemies.

[Page] A Bacianus in the rereward intentiuely marked all the whole fight, and euer as need required sent in present aid, without respect whether they were the Popes gallies, the king of SPAINES, or the Venetians, that were distressed. In this long and terrible fight it chanced, that the Turkes seeing the Christian Generals gallie hardly charged on the prow by Haly Bassa, to bee almost bared of defendants in the poupe, all the soldiors hauing their hands full before, were about to haue bourded her abath, and to that purpose were fetching a compasse about her: Which Bacianus quickly perceiuing, glistering in bright armour, came speedily in with certaine gallies, and by opposing of himselfe against them, stayed their course. In all the battell was not seene a more cruell fight: for hauing discharged many volleyes of shot, and arrowes and darts without number, they grapled at length together, and came to the sword, where with the formost Bacianus not onely B with words but with his presence and valour wonderfully encouraged his souldiours, hauing receiued in his targuet of proofe two small shot. Many were on both sides slaine: the Spaniards attempting sundrie times to haue entered the Turkes gallies, were with great losse repulsed: but not giuing it so ouer, neither giuing the enemie leaue to breath, or so much as to looke behind him, valour was vanquished by pertinacie: and the Spaniards hauing ouerthrowne and slaine their enemies, enjoyed their gallies.

Now had Don Iohn with like courage and strength,A terrible fight betwixt Haly Bassa and Don Iohn. but with doubtfull victorie, fought three houres and more with Haly Bassa: when after so dreadfull and dangerous a fight, and many a deadly wound on both parts giuen and receiued, our men began to faint, and brought to the vttermost of their deuoire, were in danger to haue beene ouercome, had not Don Iohn betaken C himselfe vnto his onely and last refuge. He had (as is beforesaid) reserued vnder the hatches foure hundred of his best and select souldiours, for their valour chosen out of the whole armie against all the euents of so long and dangerous a battell: these men attentiuely attending euery becke of Don Iohn, vpon signe giuen, as was before appointed, suddenly start out, and with a terrible crie and desperat onset assailed the enemie, before almost spent with labour and wounds. This fresh and vnexpected companie so suddenly growne vp, first astonied, and afterwards confounded, and with a great slaughter vanquished the Turkes,Haly Bassa slain. and possessed the galley. The Bassa deadly wounded in the head with a shot, and all embrued with bloud, was taken, and as a joyfull spectacle brought to Don Iohn: who seeing him readie to breath his last, commaunded him to be despoyled of his armour, and his head strucke off. Which presently set vpon the point of a speare, hee D for a space held vp aloft with his owne hand, as a trophey of his victorie, as also with the sight thereof to strike a terrour into the minds of the other Turkes, who in the other gallies fast by fought yet right valiantly: neither was he therein deceiued, for the Turks beholding the knowne countenance of the Bassa,The Turks middle ba [...]tell discomfited. their late Generall, and a flag of the crosse set vp in the top of his gallie, and the noise of the Christians (crying victorie) running through the armie; were therewith so discouraged, that confounded with feare, they turned their gallies and with might and maine made toward the land, which was not much more than a mile off. Which Canalis and Quirinus yet breathing with the late slaughter of the Turkes, perceiuing, with their gallies hardly pursued the flying enemie, and sunke and tooke diuers of their gallies. Partau his sonne by the staying of the rest got time to run his gallie on ground, and so forsaking her, saued himselfe and his men by E running ashore: so did also diners others run themselues aground and forsake their gallies, which presently became a prey vnto the Christians.Caracoza the famous pyrat slain. In this hot conflict was Caracoza the famous pyrat (who abjuring the Christian religion, had turned Turke, and of long time done exceeding much mischeefe vpon the coasts of the Christian countries) valiantly fighting, slaine by Buzzacharinus of PADVA, by whose death many were deliuered of a great feare.

Haly Bassa had brought forth with him his two sonnes Achmat and Mahomet, the one three and twentie yeares old, and the other thirteene, the nephewes of the great emperour Selymus, by his sister married to Haly; them their father had placed in a great gallie, with a strong guard of the Ianizaries: who seeing the discomfiture of the maine battell, and the danger now drawing neere vnto themselues, were exceedingly afraid; and therefore to saue themselues, though it best F with all speed to make toward the maine. But in so doing, they were preuented by Requisenius the great Commendour, who with his furious Spaniards bourding the Turkes, alreadie dismayed and running away, slew of them a great number; and after a great fight and much cruell execution done, tooke the gallie, and that which pleased him more, the two sonnes of Haly both aliue: in the time of which fight, the poore Christians, who fast chained in the gallie, had as [Page] slaues long serued in great miserie: now perceiuing the Christians to preuaile, brake off their G giues, loosed one another, and with such weapons as first came to hand lustily laid about them, and notably furthered the victorie.

Notwithstanding all this good successe, the fortune of the battell stood yet doubtfull in the right wing. There stood in either battell two of the most noble cheefetains, one against another: on the Christian part Iohn Andreas Auria, the Spanish Admirall; and for the Turks Vluzales: both most valiant and expert commaunders, well knowne the one to the other, for that they had of long vsed the same seas, equall for their militarie discipline, as also for their noble acts, but farre vnequall for number of their gallies: for the Turkes had of one sort and other almost twice so many.The doubtfull [...]ying of Iohn Andreas Auria with the right wing of the Christian fleet. Auria, whether it were for that he would in the beginning of the battell warily decline the danger, and not hazard his gallies, wherein his cheefe honour would be also endangered; or H els afraid least the enemie, who farre exceeded him in number of gallies, should extend his wing at large, and enclose the Christian fleet behind; vpon the signall of battell giuen, shrunke further off from the rest of the battell: but whether vpon policie, that it might be at his choice either to fight, if the rest of the armie preuailed, or to retire, if they should be ouercome; or that he vpon martiall policie declined the force of too strong an enemie; diuers men diuersly glosed: but what the cause was indeed, the wisest could not surely tell. Howsoeuer the matter stood, it seemed his purpose was by policie to counteruaile what he wanted in strength. This his falling off seemed vnto the Turks most strange, vnto whom his quicke departure seemed at the first in manner of a flight. Neither was Auria content with that space he had first seperated himselfe from the armie: but the second time fell off further, and there staying and houering aloofe off, seemed to await I some good oportunitie, to take the enemie at some aduantage: hauing in the meane time one of the galeases of PISA lying before him, as it were in stead of a bulwarke, which with often shot much troubled the enemie. Vluzales also extending his wing, tooke such a space, as that he seemed able to haue compassed in and enclosed Auria; yet offered not battell, but rather lay as expecting if any aduantage should be giuen him by the Christians, than rashly or vnaduisedly to offer himselfe or his gallies to any desperat danger. He had not long so lien, but that according to his desire twelue of the Venetian gallies,Twelue of the Venetian gallies taken by Vluzales. which had withdrawne themselues from Auria (and without any order or direction romed too and fro) fell into his danger: these gallies cut off from the rest, Vluzales with wonderfull celeritie enclosed; and with the multitude of his gallies bourding them one by one, flew the defendants, and tooke the gallies. In this fight many of the K knights of the Order of S. Stephen most valiantly fighting, were slaine. Benedictus Superantius, a noble Venetian, seeing most part of his men slaine, himselfe mortally wounded, and his gallie now almost taken, resoluting rather presently to die, than to fall into the hands of his enemies; desperatly put fire to the store of pouder he had in the gallie, and so blew vp himselfe, his souldiors that were left, with a great number of the enemies together. The report of the great ordinance, and noise of the battell in that part of the fleet being heard, they which had now in the middle battell got the victorie, together turned their gallies thitherwards to aid Auria, but not in one squadron together, but comming along one after another, as euery man had sooner or later cleared himselfe of his enemie:A notable fight of the knights of Malta. amongst the rest Petrus Iustinianus (Admirall of the gallies of MALTA) comming formost, was encountered with three of the Turkes gallies, with whom he L with his knights had a great and most terrible fight. Which Vluzales beholding, and aboue all others hating the knights of the Order, speedily sent in other three gallies to helpe their fellows. So Iustinian hardly beset with six gallies, and oppressed with the multitude of his enemies, had lost fiftie of his most valiant knights, with one of his ensignes, and with much adoe hardly defended himselfe. But being now brought to the last cast, and the gallie in the judgement of all men giuen for lost, loe two of the other gallies of MALTA, who had so valiantly fought with other three of the enemies gallies that they were now vpon point to haue taken them all, seeing the danger of their Admirall, forsooke their vanquished enemies, and with all speed came to rescue him: where they found him yet aliue, but shot in with three arrowes, and still fighting couragiously at the decke of his gallie, with those few he had yet left, beset round with their enemies: but M by the comming in of these two gallies, as if it had beene by helpe sent from heauen, the Turks were notably repulsed, and the Admirall with his gallie rescued, as a prey out of the mouth of the greedie lyon.Vluzales [...]ieth. Vluzales vnderstanding that the maine battell and right wing of the fleet was ouerthrown by the Christians, for feare gaue ouer the fight; and leauing the gallies he had taken, [Page] A and hoising saile, was the first in that wing that fled. Which Cardonius perceiuing, who was come in before the rest, suddenly shewed himselfe at his backe▪ and by assailing the hindermost gallies, did what he might to stay their flight vntill the rest of the victorious gallies were come in. But whilest he so eagerly pursueth the flying enemie, fifteene of the Turkes captaines enraged with such an vnwonted disgrace, and mindfull of their wonted prowesse, staied their flight, and contrarie to the expectation of the Christians, turned themselues and renewed the battell: What minds they bare, the euent shewed, for in a trice almost all Cardonius his souldiors and marriners were slaine: nothing letted the taking of the gallie, but that Vluzales seeing Don Iohn, Columnius, and Venerius neere at hand, and making towards him, and Auria also comming fast on, was afraid longer to stay, and therefore giuing ouer the fight, fled as fast as he could: yet carrying B away with him one gallie of CYPRVS, and one ensigne of the knights of MALTA, as testimonies of his owne valour when he should appeare before Selymus. The Christians hardly pursue the flying enemie. The Christians, although wearie of the long fight which they had almost by the space of fiue houres endured, yet so long as they were in any hope to ouertake any of their flying enemies, hardly pursued them in chase: but when they perceiued it preuailed not to follow farther, and that it was more than time to see to their wearie and wounded souldiors and marriners, they staied from farther pursuit; for why the night came now fast on, vnder the couert whereof the craftie old pyrat flying for life with sailes and oares, escaped with thirtie (or as some write, fortie) gallies againe into the bay of LEPANTO.

It was a right horrible spectacle to see, how in this battell the sea stained with bloud, and couered C with dead bodies, weapons, and the fragments of the broken gallies: besides the great number of them that were slaine, and beaten into the sea; many of the Turks blinded with feare, casting away their weapons, to escape the furie of the enemie threw themselues headlong into the sea: but finding no hope to recouer the land, laboured againe to come to the gallies; or else fainting by the way, were miserably drowned. Others, either halfe dead, weake, and vnskilfull of swimming, or ouercharged with their armour, the sea also deuoured: yea many that could well swim, wearied and wounded, sunke for feare. Others vpon plankes and the pieces of the broken gallies, sought to saue themselues, and not knowing what to follow or what to shun, wofully perished. Othersome swimming and pitifully entreating their enemies, rather to take them prisoners than to kill them, were (as it oftentimes chanceth where things are done vpon choller D rather than vpon discretion) without compassion slaine: in which doing, the Christians thought they did rather reuenge former injuries to them done, than to doe them any wrong: with some mercie more preuailed than wrath, who remembring the common chance of warre, chose rather to take the Turkes prisoners, wofully crauing nothing but their liues, than without mercie to kill them.The number of the Turks slaine in the battell of Lepanto, diuersly reported. The number of the Turks lost in this most famous battell, could hardly be known, by reason that many of them were drowned. Antonius Guarnerius writing the historie of this warre, reporteth two and thirtie thousand to haue perished: but they which write more sparingly thereof, report not past halfe so many to haue beene slaine: of whom these were of greatest name; Haly Bassa the Generall, Mahomet Bey (otherwise called Chiroche or Sirocus) Gouernour of ALEXANDRIA, Cassanes the sonne of Barbarussa, with his sonne Malamur Gouernour of MITILENE, E Gider Gouernour of CHIOS, Cassambeius Gouernour of the RHODES, Proui Aga captaine of NAVPLIVM, Mustapha Zelibi the great treasurer, Caracoza the famous pyrat, with many others whom but to name were tedious. The chiefe prisoners there taken, were Achmat and Mahomet the sonnes of Haly Bassa, both afterwards sent as presents to the Pope▪ of whom the eldest died by the way at NAPLES; the younge presented vnto the Pope by Columnius at ROME, was there honourably kept prisoner: and Mechmet Bey Gouernour of EVEoeA: and about three thousand fiue hundred others were in that battell taken also. The chiefe of them that escaped by flight were Partau Bassa, who seeing all go to wracke, fled in time in a long boat to land: and Vluzales, who (as it was afterwards certainly known) but with fiue and twentie gallies and ten galliots fled to LEPANTO. Of the enemies gallies were taken an hundred threescore F and one, fortie sunke or burnt: and of galliots and other small vessels were taken about sixtie. The Admirall gallie then taken amongst the rest,The surpassing beautie of the Admirall gallie. was so goodly and beautifull a vessell, that for beautie and richnesse scarce any in the whole Ocean was comparable vnto her. The deck of this gallie was on both sides thrise as great as any of the others, and made all of blacke Walnut-tree like vnto Ebonie, checkered, & wrought maruellous fair with diuers liuely colours and varietie of [Page] histories. There were also in her diuers liuely counterfeits, engrauen and wrought with gold,G with so cunning hand, that for the magnificence thereof it might well haue been compared vnto some princes pallace. The cabbin glistered in euerie place with rich hangings wrought with gold twist, and set with diuers sorts of pretious stones, with certaine small counterfeits most cunningly wrought. Besides this, there was also found in her great store of the Bassaes rich apparrell, wrought with the needle, so curiously and richly embossed with siluer and gold, that his great lord and master Selymus himselfe could hardly put on more royall or rich attire. His casket there also found with six thousand duckats in it, with a yearely pention of three hundred duckats, was giuen in reward to a Greeke,The Greek [...] that slew the Bassa, honorably rewarded borne in MACEDONIA, which slew the Bassa; and was therefore also knighted by Don Iohn: who had also giuen vnto him the Burrell of the Turkes standerd, which at his returne to VENICE (where he had of long time before dwelt, and serued H in the Arsenall) he sold vnto a goldsmith: Whereof the Senat hauing intelligence, redeemed it of the goldsmith, paying for euery ounce a duckat, and layed it vp amongst the trophies of that most famous victorie. It was all of massiue siluer, guilt and engrauen round about with Turkish letters. On the one side was written: God doth conduct and adorne the faithfull in worthie enterprises: God doth fauour Mahomet. On the other side, God hath no other God, and Mahomet is his Prophet.

This notable victorie thus happily obtained, Don Iohn the Generall, with Venerius and Columna, the other two Admirals, came together; whom the Generall friendly embraced, but especially Venerius, calling him father, and attributing vnto him the greatest part of the victorie. Afterwards, all together with their hands and eyes cast vp towards heauen, they vpon their I knees gaue immortall thankes to Almightie God. So did also the rest of the captaines and masters, commending one anothers valour and good seruice: but especially theirs, who for their religion and countrey had there most honourably spent their liues; which were in number about 7566. Amongst whom, the cheefe men that were slaine, were Io. and Bernardinus, of the honourable familie of Cardona in SPAINE,The number of the Christians slaine in the battell of Lepanto. Horatius Caraffa, and Ferantes Bisballus. Virginius and Horatius, noble Romanes, of the honourable familie of the Vrsini. Of the Venetian nobilitie, Augustinus Barbadicus, Benedictus Superantius, Vincentius Quirinus, Ioannes Lauretanus, Marinus Contarenus, Catherinus Malipetra, Georgius and Andreas Barbadicus, Marcus Antonius Landus, Franciscus Bonus, Hieronimus Contarenus, Antonius Paschaligus, Hieronimus Venerius, all of the order of the Senatours. Besides diuers other honourable gentlemen,K who well deserued to be enrolled in the eternall monuments of fame. Of the knights of MALTA were also many slaine, amongst whom of the Germane nation these were cheefe: Ioachim Spart, Commendour of MOGVNTIA and FRANCFORT, Ro. of Hamberke, Commendour of HEMMENDORF, and Fra. Drost. Of them that were wounded, these were of greatest name: Don Iohn the Generall, Venerius the Venetian Admirall shot through the foot, Paulus Iordanus, Troilus Sauell, and Mar. Molinus, with diuers others of lesse fame, to the number of almost seuen thousand.

Great was the joy conceiued of this victorie, but to none more welcome than to the poore Christians fast chained in the Turkes gallies, of whom twelue thousand were thereby deliuered from most miserable thraldome, and contrarie to all hope restored to their auntient libertie.L

A generall reioysing, especially in Venice, for the victorie.Two dayes after this victorie, Venerius sent Humfredus Iustinianus with newes thereof vnto the Senate at VENICE: who comming in at the Adriaticke port about noone the nineteenth of October, by shooting off of certaine great pieces, gaue warning vnto the citie of his comming, which at that time hung in great suspence betwixt hope and feare. The citi [...]ns generally awaked with the report of the great ordinance, came flocking by heapes to [...] port, euery man longing to heare the first newes. There they might see Iustinian comming afarre off with his gallie, but when he was come neerer, they might perceiue all the marriners attired like Turkes, and foure of the Turkes ensignes hanging behind at the poupe of the gallie, which filled their minds with the hope of good newes, deeming it to be (as indeed it was) part of the spoyle of the enemie. But after that Iustinian was landed (which he had much to doe for the prease) and M was gone to the Court, with a world of people following after him, crying out for newes; and had there deliuered his letters, and at large discoursed of all the successe of the battaile; which was forthwith blowne into the citie; and the marriners also after his departure had reported the victorie; and that the enemie was in a great battaile ouerthrowne: good God, how [Page] A the people as men ouerjoyed, ran vp and downe the streets, doubling and redoubling the joyfull name of victorie. The Senatours also rejoycing together, gaue thankes to God with publicke prayers and joyfull hymnes in euery church: and afterwards by ringing of bels, peales of ordinance, bone-fires, and other such like things, shewed all the tokens of joy possible. And to make this joy the more generall, all prisoners were set at libertie, and all debts that exceeded not the summe of fiue and twentie crownes, payed out of the common treasurie; which was generally done through all the Venetian seigniorie: and a decree made, That that day whereon the victorie was gotten, which was the seuenth of October, dedicated to the memoriall of Iustina, should for euer be kept holyday: and for the perpetuall remembrance thereof, a great masse of money was coyned, with the impression of Iustina vpon it, and an inscription declaring the victorie. B Many also their neighbour princes sent their embassadours gratulatorie to VENICE, namely, the dukes of SAVOY, FLORENCE, FERRARA, PARMA, MANTVA, and VRBIN, and the knights of MALTA. In which so publicke joy no man was seene to put on any mourning garments, or to shew any token of heauinesse, although many had lost their dearest friends and neerest kinsmen; whose liues they reckoned not lost, but giuen vnto the Christian commonweale. The like rejoycing was also made in ROME, in SPAINE, NAPLES, SICILIA, and MALTA, especially at such times as embassadours from their neighbour princes, came to joy them of this victorie: yea and afterwards in other countries further off was like rejoysing and signes of joy, as with vs here in ENGLAND.

This is that notable battell, commonly called the battell of LEPANTO, fought neere vnto the C islands CVRZOLARI, the seuenth day of October, in the yeare 1571, the like whereof was neuer fought at sea against the Turke, wherein he lost his cheefe strength at sea, with most of his best sea captaines: and might thereby well perceiue what he and his successours were to feare, if the Christian princes at vnitie amongst themselues, all discord set apart, should in zeale of their religion joyne their inuincible forces against them.

In the middest of all this joy,A wittie and fit comparison [...] by a Turks, to shew that the losse of Cyprus was greater than the losse of the battell a [...] Lepanto. generally conceiued of the late victorie, one of the cheefe prisoners of the Turks, hearing it compared with the losse of CYPRVS (for that Selymus had therin lost his fleet, his best men of warre, with great store of ordinance) by a fit comparison shewed it not to be so, saying, That the battell lost, was vnto Selymus as if a man should shaue his beard, which would ere long grow againe; but that the losse of CYPRVS was vnto the Venetians, as D the losse of an arme, which once cut off, could neuer be againe recouered. Declaring therby the great inequalitie of the losse.

The rich spoyle taken from the enemie in this most glorious victorie,The spoile of the enemie deuided amongst the confederats. was thus deuided amongst the princes confederat. Vnto the Pope were allotted nineteene gallies, two galliots, nine great pieces of ordinance, two and fortie lesser pieces, and fourscore and one prisoners. Vnto the king of SPAINE eight and fiftie gallies and an halfe, six galliots and an halfe, eight and fiftie great pieces and an halfe, eight great murthering pieces and an halfe, an hundred twentie eight lesser pieces, and a thousand seuen hundred and thirteene prisoners. Vnto the Venetians were assigned for their share, nine and thirtie gallies and an halfe, four galliots and a halfe, nine and thirtie great pieces and a halfe, fiue great murthering pieces and a halfe, fourscore and six lesser pieces, E and a thousand one hundred threescore and two prisoners. The rest were bestowed vpon such other princes as had giuen aid aid, or otherwise well deserued in that seruice.

The joy conceiued of this victorie was not so great amongst the Christians, but that the sorrow thereof was amongst the Turks farre greater. Selymus himselfe was then at HADRIANOPLE, where eight dayes after the battell, newes was brought vnto him, That his fleet was ouerthrowne and almost all taken or sunke by the Christians. Which so soone as he heard, he was strucken with exceeding greefe: and ouercome with melancholie, would not that day suffer any man to speake with him. And the rumor of the ouerthrow still encreasing, had in short time filled all places with feare, teares, mourning, and heauinesse: some bewayling their parents, some their children, some their husbands, some their friends or kinsmen there lost. But that which most F grieued the Turkish emperour, was the losse of so many worthie and expert captaines, of so many skilfull masters and notable souldiors; who brought vp all their liues at sea, were not thought inferiour to any then liuing: besides the perpetuall ignominie and vnwonted disgrace, thereby inflicted vnto him and his posteritie for euer. Wherefore full of wrath and indignation, he was about to haue commaunded all the Christians in his dominions (in number infinit) to be put to [Page] death. Doubting indeed nothing more, than that they wearie of the Turkish thraldome, and G desirous of innouation, should with weapons put into their hands, rise vp against him, and take part with the other Christians his enemies. But whilest the other Bassaes (as men dismaied with the crueltie of the commaund) stood all silent, Muhamet Bassa for his former deserts in great fauour with the tyrant, thought it good to make proofe if his furie might by reasonable persuasion be mitigated, and some better course taken, both for the honour of Selymus himselfe, and the common good of the State: Yet well knowing how full of danger it was, in that tyrannicall gouernment, openly to speake any thing contrarie to the good liking of the wilfull emperour, he durst not apertly contradict him: but leaning as it were to his opinion and pleasure, by little and little to draw him from himselfe; and so before he were aware to lead him into his owne deuise, and by delay to moderat the rigour of his former furie. To which purpose, he cunningly set H vpon him in this sort.

Muhamet Bassa cunningly dissuadeth Selymus from so rigorous a resolution, by filling his head with most necessarie consideration [...].

Your anger (said he) most magnificent and inuincible emperour, against the Christians, is most iust: and in this my desire exceedeth all others, That they should endure and suffer such punishment as they haue of right deserued. Yet it behooueth vs so to satisfie our wrath, as men better regarding their owne good, than the hot desire of reuenge. And for as much as I am for your many and vnderserued fauours, in all loyaltie bounden vnto your highnesse aboue others; I reckon it in part of my dutie, so much the more frankly to deliuer my opinion, such as it is, in matters of so great importance. Neither will I attemper my speech in any respect to the comforting of your grieued mind: for how can it be that you, who following the worthie examples of your noble progenitors, haue alwaies heretofore shewed I your most heroicall and couragious mind, contemning all the chances of fortune; should not for euer after shew your selfe to be rather dreaded of all men, than dreadfull of any? Let others, whose kingdomes built vpon vncertaintie are subiect to the reuolution of time and change of fortune, yeeld vnto their euill haps: as for you, whose empire is founded by the mightie hand of the most highest, and compassed about with an impregnable defence, and are your selfe by the power of God appointed king and commaunder of nations and people in number infinit, fortune may well a little pricke you, but neuer ouerthrow you. As for this late mischance, if it must needs so fall out, as proceeding from some immutable and eternall cause; must it be therefore alwaies fix and permanent? Onely those miseries and mischiefes which the cowardise or foolishnesse of men bring vnto themselues, haue their firme and certaine calamities: other common euents comming from other causes, haue also their common K and sudden changes: But how this late mishap at sea may be amended, and your former glorie there againe recouered, is hereafter to be considered. Now for the present (in mine opinion) this one thing, as of all others most necessarie is to be prouided; That the weake and worst fortified places of your empire, most subiect to danger, may be presently strengthened with strong garrisons; and that by your present repaire to the imperiall citie, you cheere vp the minds of your heauie and dismaied subiects: which done, what shall let but that you may at your pleasure be reuenged to the full of the Christians? For there is no cause why we should feare the Christians, six hundred times and more before ouerthrowne: both our enemies and we are the same men we haue beene for many ages, we beare the same minds, the same bodies, the same strength, the same weapons, wherewith we haue gotten infinit victories both of them and others. And although such be the state of man, as that he cannot otherwise but sometime L or other tast of the worse tun; yet I thinke this present misfortune to be rather imputed vnto some fatall cause to vs vnknown, than to the valor of the Christians. Besides that, we may well enough oppose one small ouerthrow against our so many and infinit victories: yea we are to giue immortall thanks vnto almightie God, that we haue by force of armes subdued the rich and famous island of CYPRVS, and that your high dessignes haue in that point sorted to your hearts desire. And hard it is in mine opinion to iudge, whether this late vnfortunat battell shall more hurt vs, or the Christians: for besides that the multitude of the Turkes hath no feeling of so small a losse, they will not as men discouraged, giue themselues to mourning and vaine lamentations, but with greater courage and furie come forth againe into battell, and reuenge this losse with the infinit calamities of the Christians: who after this their good hap, will according to their wonted manner giue themselues to excesse, pleasure,M carefulnesse and ease, vnto their owne farther confusion. Thus haue I in briefe faithfully declared mine opinion: yet with that submissiue loyaltie, as that whatsoeuer shall proceed from the mouth of your imperiall Maiestie, shall be of me deemed most wisely and magnificently considered of.

[Page] A The Bassa was in such grace and authoritie with Selymus, that his opinion in counsell preuailed, and the tyrants wrath by his persuasion was well assuaged. But by the comming of Vluzales to court, the remainder of his former griefe and melancholie was fully quieted: who after he had excused himselfe of the late ouerthrow, and declared what he had himselfe done in the battell, and in testimonie thereof, presented him with one of the ensigns of the knights of MALTA, told him also how that he had left the Christian fleet so rent and torne as that it could not possibly be made seruiceable against the next yeare: which newes was both of Selymus and the rest gladly heard. In the meane time Selymus placed this Vluzales in the stead of Haly Bassa that was slaine: and straightly commaunded the great officers which had the charge of his nauie, to build new shipping night and day:Selymus repaireth his ra [...]e with all diligence possible. and farther enjoyned euerie Gouernour out of his prouince he had B in charge, to haue in readinesse one gallie or two against the next Spring, as well for the defence of his owne dominions, as to reuenge the losse he had so lately sustained: whereunto also many of his great men put to their helping hands, and cheerfully furthered his desire. New supplies of souldiors were also presently raised and put into his frontier towns, great store of new ordinance cast, weapons and armour prouided, and whatsoeuer else the necessitie of the present time required. So with the Turkes stood reason and industrie, rather than with the Christians, who (as some note) rather wanted discretion how to vse the victorie, than valour to gaine the same: which whether it chanced for that prosperitie begetteth negligence, or that men joying in their present blisse regard little the time to come, I leaue it to the judgement of the wiser to determine.

After this so memorable a victorie,The Christian fleet dissolued. the three great commaunders of the fleet sat in counsell to C consult, what farther course they were best to take. But for as much as Winter began now to approach, and that they could not much doe vntill their fleet were new furnished and manned, they all resolued for that time to dissolue the fleet, and the next Spring in the beginning of Aprill, to meet togither againe at CORCYRA. Wherupon Don Iohn and Columnius returned to MESSANA, where they in safetie arriued in Nouember; and departing thence, and taking their leaue the one of the other, arriued, Don Iohn at NAPLES, and Columnius at ROME: where they were in both places with great joy and triumph receiued.

The Venetians for all that grieued with the losse of CYPRVS, gaue not so ouer, but repairing their nauie with thirtie gallies, wherein were embarked six thousand souldiors, woon a castle in EPIRVS called MARGARITA:Suppoto againe recouered by the Ven [...]tians. and also recouered the towne of SVPPOTO, which the Turkes D had that Sommer before taken from them; but now hearing of this ouerthrow, did vpon the approach of the Venetian fleet, againe forsake it. The gallies also of CRETE conducted by Canalis, intercepted many of the Turkes vessels laded with captiues and the spoiles of FAMAGVSTA, as they were passing thence to CONSTANTINOPLE.

Although vpon the late obtained victorie, a certaine reconciliation had beene made betwixt Don Iohn and Venerius, yet of the former dissention remained an inward heart-burning of one of them against the other: for which cause, the Spaniards requested the Venetians to appoint an other Admirall in his place. Venerius was now indeed a man of great yeares, and his strength far spent; yet for that in his aged bodie rested great wisedome and courage, and that they thought him for his great deserts worthie all honour, they were wonderfull loath and vnwilling therein E to gratifie the Spaniard: for why, they well knew there was no other cause of the Spaniards prowd hatred, but that he had stood against them vpon the honour of the Venetians: and farther, they liked not that the Spaniard should so presumptuously prescribe vnto them, whom they should place or displace in or out of their honourable offices. Neuerthelesse, not forgetting what commoditie came by concord, and what euils of discord, and that they might not against so mightie an enemie well spare the helpe of the Spaniard; they resolued to make choise of some other; who succeeding Venerius, might with one consent manage their wars togither with Don Iohn and Columnius. There was then one Iacobus [...]uscarinus their chiefe Gouernour in DAL [...]ATLA, who but a little before had notably fortified IADERA and the other frontier towns, and for the space of fourteene moneths had notably repressed the furious incursions of the Turkes: F of him then absent and not desirous of the place (as of a man of worthie desert) the whole State by generall consent made choise for their Admirall and Generall by sea against the Turke: which most honourable place he receiued not with all the solemne ceremonies thereto belonging, at VENICE, as the manner was, but at IADERA; from whence he in the Admirall gallie sent for that purpose by Aloysius Grimanus his successour in IADERA, sailed ouer to CORCYRA: where he [Page] found the old Admirall Venerius, with no lesse care prouiding for all things, than if he should G himselfe haue still continued the warre. Of which great care Fuscarinus at his comming eased him by taking it wholy vpon himselfe.

Castronouum in vaine attempted by the Venetians.Whilest Fuscarinus thus lay making his preparation against the next Spring at CORCYRA, Sara Martinengus who had the charge of the Adriaticke (by the counsell of Venerius, who was now returned to VENICE) vpon the sudden landed his men, and besieged CASTRO NOVUM, a strong towne of the Turks in the borders of ISTRIA; where at his first comming he tooke the suburbs, and had in short time brought the towne to great extremitie. But in the height of his hope to haue woon the towne, hearing that the Beglerbeg of GRECE was with great power comming thither, he was glad to raise his siege, and with all speed to get him againe to sea. The Turkes in like manner, to distresse the strong towne of CATARO holden by the Venetians in H the borders of DALMATIA, built a great and strong fort vpon the passage from sea to the town, wherein they placed great store both of men and artillerie: in hope by keeping them of the towne from all reliefe by sea, at length to gaine the towne which they had many times in vaine attempted by force; for by land it was alreadie enuironed with the cruell enemie, possessing the countrey round about it.Superantius relieueth Cataro, and taketh a great fort of the Turks. Iacobus Superantius the great Prouidetour, then lying at CORCYRA with the Admirall, vnderstanding how CATARO a towne of no small importance, was thus both by sea and land by the enemie distressed: with twentie gallies manned with the most choise souldiors could be pickt out of the whole fleet, tooke vpon him the rasing of the fort, and relieuing of the towne. Superantius with this select companie, and certaine other gallies which met him by the way, came by night before the mouth of the bay of CATARO, and there diuiding I his fleet, left the one part thereof at anchor before the fort, and with the other himselfe couragiously passed by the fort, further into the bay: at whom the Turkes out of the fort made diuers shot, but (by reason it was darke) to small purpose. In passing by, Superantius tooke such view as he could of the fort, and by and by began on that side to batter the same; as did also the other gallies on the other side: and withall, landed their men on both sides; who vpon signall giuen, ran resolutly to the fort, and by plaine force entring the same, preuailed vpon the fearefull Turks, and put them to the sword euerie mothers sonne; so that of all that great garrison, was not one left aliue to carrie newes of the slaughter. This fort was in length fiue hundred paces, but not strong towards land, from whence no such feare was doubted. In it was taken seauenteene great pieces of ordinance, with much faire armour, and great abundance of victuals: and seauen K galliots which lay at anchor vnder the fort. CATARO thus relieued, Superantius with victorie returned againe to CORCYRA.

1572 Fuscarinus the Venetian Admirall with all things in readinesse, hauing long lien at CORCYRA expecting the comming of the confederats, as was before appointed; sent Superantius the Prouidetour with fiue and twentie gallies to MESSANA, to hasten the comming of Don Iohn, and to attend vpon him by the way. But comming thither, and thinking to haue found a great fleet and a strong power in good forwardnesse to haue set forward; he found such small preparation, as well shewed the Spaniards small care for repressing of the Turke, and that they would not be verie forward in the seruice intended. Which filling him with griefe and indignation, caused him to complaine vnto himselfe of their vnfaithfulnesse, and to bewaile the state of his L countrey, with the whole Christian common-weale: for Don Iohn had before solemnly promised vnto the Venetian embassadour, that all things should be in readinesse against the appointed time: but now a great part of Sommer was past, when scarce some few companies and about fiftie gallies were met togither at MESSANA; and when Auria would come with the rest, no man could tell. So that the carefull Prouidetour stood now no lesse in doubt of the Spaniards delay, than of the Turks furie.

Selymus, after the great ouerthrow he had receiued at the islands CVRZOLARES, for feare he should be driuen quite out of the sea; was aboue all things carefull for the renewing of his nauie: And hauing partly new built,Selymus sendeth out Vluzales with two hundred gallies. partly repaired two hundred gallies, commended them to the conduct of Vluzales, with expresse charge, That by how much things had fallen out worse the last M yeare, he should with so much the more care now beware the like danger; and not to go out of the bounds of the ARCHIPELAGO, or to aduenture battell but vpon aduantage, or at leastwise vpon an euen hand.

This Vluzales (otherwise called Occhiall) was an Italian borne in CALABRIA, who in his [Page] A youth taken at sea by the Turks and chained in the gallie, and afterwards renouncing his faith, by many degrees grew vnto the highest preferments amongst the Turkes,Vluzales a ren [...] gate Christian, and now the Turks Admiral. and so became an exceeding plague, as well to his owne countrey as to all other of the Christians bordering vpon the Mediterranean. He now Admirall for the Turke, after the manner of the prowd Barbarians, threatned with fire and sword to be reuenged vpon the Venetians: which knowne at VENICE, much troubled them, as well acquainted with the furie of the old Archpyrat. Beside that, Ant. Barbarus their embassadour, all the time of this warre kept in safe custodie at CONSTANTINOPLE, had by letters certified them, what a great fleet, and what a strong armie Selymus had prouided against them: and that he himselfe told two hundred and fiftie saile of gallies when they set forward from CONSTANTINOPLE, beside some other that were to meet with them at GALIPOLIS: B and that therefore they should beware how they encountred with the Turkes fleet, but vpon equall strength. It was also at the same time commonly reported, that king Phillip chiefe of the confederats, carelesse of the warres against the Turke in the East, was about to turne his forces vpon the kingdomes of TVNES or ALGIERS, neerer vnto him (as in deed he did the yeare following.) The Venetians entangled with so many difficulties, were euen at their wits end, and day by day the Senat sat from the rising of the Sunne vnto the going downe of the same, consulting how all these mischiefes were to be remedied. But for as much as the greatest danger was to be feared frō the Turks fleet, as then houering euen ouer their heads, they by letters commanded Fuscarinus their Admirall, That whether the confederats came vnto him or not, he should forthwith take his course towards the East; and there according to the enemies dessignes, C and his owne discretion and valour, to doe what he should thinke best to be done for the common good of his countrey: and not to refuse to joyne with the enemie in battell, if he saw any good hope of victorie. Neither ceased they at the same time (both by their embassadours and letters) earnestly to call both vpon the Pope and the king, to hasten their forces to encounter the enemie before he should come out of his owne seas; and to carrie the terrour of the warre home to his owne doores, rather than to receiue it at their owne. The like message was also done to Don Iohn, putting him in mind what his place, what the time, and what the danger of the time required: entreating him (if it were possible) of himselfe to adde something vnto that hast which the necessitie of so important a cause required. Who neuerthelesse for all the messages and letters to him sent (which were many) went still on faire & softly, delaying from day to day; telling, D that he would by and by come, and that the Spaniards would alwaies be so good as their word. Which was so far from his thought, that afterwards finding one excuse after another, he not only staied his comming, but called back again Requisenius also, whom he had sent before with 20 gallies to CORCYRA.Superantius hasteneth Don Iohn Now were two months (fittest for the wars) vainly spent; when Superantius grieued to see time to no purpose so slip away, & fearing least the rest of the Sommer should to as small effect in like manner passe also, with great instance importuned him to hasten his journey. Then at length Don Iohn answered, that the Venetians requested but reason, neither that he wished for any thing more than to satisfie their desires: but that a greater care hindred the lesse, which was first to be preuented: He was aduertised (as he said) that the French king pretending the suppressing of certain pyrats, had assembled a great fleet at ROCHEL, with purpose indeed to inuade E SPAINE, now that the king was busied in these wars against the Turk: & that therfore they must pardon him, if he preferred the regard of SPAINE before others, being expressely commanded from the king not to depart from MESSANA, vntill he had other commaundement from him. But whether this his excuse by FRANCE, proceeded of a true feare or otherwise, the Venetians much doubted; and the rather, for that the French king vnderstanding therof by the Venetians, was therewith (as reason was) exceedingly offended: protesting, that he was euer so farre from that purpose of hindering any the confederat princes in that their religious warre, that if the troubles of his owne countrey would haue so permitted, he would gladly haue giuen them aid therein. Many there were also, that thought, Enuie the auntient enemie of vertue and valour, to haue had a great power in this delay: doubting whether the Spaniards would more rejoyce of F the victorie well hoped for, if they should joyne with the Venetians, or grieue if the same should by the Venetians be obtained without them. Superantius wearie of discourses and long expectation, and almost out of hope of any helpe in time from the Spaniard; how vntowardly soeuer things went, thought better yet warily to moderat his griefe, than in so dangerous a time to giue any occasion for the Spaniard to fall quite off. Yet spake he not fauningly or flatteringly of the [Page] matter, but with a certaine modest grauitie declared, That he had thought heauen would sooner G haue fallen, than that Don Iohn would not at the appointed time haue come to CORCYRA. And withall besought him, and wished him to beware, that he brought not the common State into some great danger: if they had to doe with such an enemie as might be delaied with, then he said he could easily abide delay; but now for that the warre and the enemie was such; as wherein, or with whom neuer any Generall had dalied without losse, to what end did he longer deferre or trifle out the time? or what other fleet did he expect? If they should diuide their forces, then were they all too weake; but vnited togither, strong enough to defend the common cause: The neerer the enemie came, the more hast were to be made to joyne with the Venetian fleet. And what could be (as he told him) more honourable or glorious, than for him a noble yong gentleman roially descended, of whom the world had conceiued a great hope, that he would in martiall H honour exceed the glorie of his most famous auncestours, againe to vanquish the prowd Turke, the greatest and most mightie monarch of the world; to fight the battell of the highest, to assure the Christian common-weale against so puissant an enemie, and to purchase vnto himselfe immortall glorie and renowne. As for the French, there was no such thing to be feared as was pretended, who with such slender preparation not worth the name of a fleet, was not so vnaduised as to set vpon a kingdome of such strength and power as SPAINE. Furthermore (he said) that it concerned not the Venetians more than the king himselfe, to haue the Turke repressed whose kingdomes of NAPLES, SICILIA, and SPAINE, were no lesse than their territorie, exposed to danger by sea. The good successe of their affaires in the East, would open the way for the conquest of AFFRICKE: but if the Turke should preuaile, then were they to despaire, not of AFFRICKE,I but of all ITALIE, SICILIE, yea and of SPAINE it selfe. The time (he said) and necessitie of the warre, with the extremitie of the danger of the whole and common State, required that he should with all his power and speed possible, take vpon him the defence of the common cause, or to say more truely of the Christian common-weale, then so dangerously impugned. These reasons drawn from the common good and the truth it selfe,Don Iohn in doubt whether [...] send aid to the Venetians, or not. much moued the Generall: but the kings pleasure was to be preferred before all reasons or dangers that could be alleaged. But hearing afterward what resolute commaund the Venetian Senat had sent vnto their Admirall, he became exceeding carefull: for he feared least if the Admirall should without his helpe fight the battell and gaine the victorie, he would conuert all the glorie thereof vnto himselfe; but if he should chance to be ouerthrowne, it would turne to his vtter reproach and perpetuall K infamie, that in so necessarie a time he had withdrawn himselfe from the common cause. Wherefore as a man perplexed, and in doubt what to doe, he stood for a while as one at his wits end: yet at last, he vpon deliberation resolued to take a middle course, and so neither without the commaund of the king (by whose prescript order, all was to be done) to depart with the fleet from MESSANA; neither altogither to frustrat the confederats of the expected aid. And to that purpose sent two and twentie gallies vnder the conduct of one Lilly of ANDRADA (a noble gentleman) to the Venetian Admirall at CORCYRA;He sendeth Lilly of Andrada with 22 gallies. with whom went also Columnius with the Popes fleet. Now was Pius Quintus the late Pope dead, and Vgo Boncompanius by the name of Gregorius Decimus Tertius, Pope in his stead, who vpon the same conditions with his predecessour, had entred into the league; and liking verie well of Columnius, kept him still for his L Admirall.

Long had Fuscarinus expected the comming of the confederats, and albeit that the yeare was farre spent, August being then come, and no such aid sent as he had expected; yet desiring to doe something worth the remembrance and beseeming their honour, he earnestly persuaded Columnius and Lilly to set forward with him toward the East, and with their vnited forces to giue the enemie battell: telling them, That if they were all of like courage, they should go not only to the glorie of the present battell, but to the great honour and aduancement of the whole Christian common-weale. After that he extenuated the power of the enemie, saying, That he could not but maruell, from whence such a number of gallies as was reported, could so suddenly be gathered; or whereupon so great confidence and boldnesse was growne vnto them, so lately ouerthrowne M and put to flight: The enemies fleet (he said) was the yeare before ouercome and dispersed, the captaines and marriners slaine; and that therefore it was not credible, that so many gallies could with such celeritie be built, and such a number of mariners and masters as was needfull, in so short time prouided: That the prouision of the enemie was by flying fame made farre [Page] A greater than indeed it was, or possibly could be; for why, they might easily guesse what the enemie was able to doe, by the Christians themselues, who could not without much adoe and great labour build their fleets, and traine vp their marriners and masters: and that therefore letting fame flie, which commonly maketh things greater and more dreadfull than they are, he was verily persuaded, that the enemie was glad to vse most vnskilfull and ignorant as well marriners masters as souldiors; who suddenly taken vp in the inland countries, and put into the gallies, knew not so much as the very names of the ropes and tacklings, and other equippage: and then those gallies which they had, were like ynough to be but weake, as of them which were the last yeare rent and brused, and now againe botched vp; or in hast built of greene timber, could not be nimble or greatly seruiceable. Wherefore he exhorted them, as valiant men, to set forward against B the enemie; and that with the greater courage, for that the last yeares victorie had opened vnto them the way for the gaining of another. Which if it should so fall out, as good hope there was, they should thereby take from the proud enemie both power and hope (but in long time) to be able to recouer his strength at sea: so that they in the meane time without feare might at their pleasure take the rich islands in the ARCHIPELAGO. Now if the Turks declining battell, should retire themselues into the HELLESPONT, then might they with fire and sword spoyle all the frontiers of their dominions on this side the straits, and open a way vnto the Christians to doe great matters.

Hardly were Columnius and Lilly persuaded by the Admirall: neither did they thereunto giue their consent, vntill it was decreed, That they should not in any case joyne battell with the enemie, C but with their galleons and galleasses first placed in the front of the battaile, in whom consisted the greatest hope of the victorie. So setting forward toward the enemie, and come to COMMENTITIA, letters were brought vnto them from Don Iohn, certifying them, That he was now by letters from the king commaunded to come towards the East, and to joyne his forces with the confederats; but yet that for certaine dayes he could not come, vntill he were better prouided of all things necessarie: and that therefore they should in the meane time carefully looke vnto all things, promising so soone as he possibly could to come vnto them. Vpon these letters Columnius and Lilly began to doubt, Whether to goe on further, or to expect the comming of the Generall: yet for as much as he had not expressely written any thing concerning their staying, and Fuscarinus vrged them forwards, on they went, with the fleet deuided into three battels. The D whole fleet consisted of an hundred fiftie fiue gallies,The number and order of the Christian fleet. six galleasses, and twentie tall ships: in the right wing was Superantius: in the left wing Canalius: and in the middle battaile Columnius, Fuscarinus, and Lilly: and in the rereward followed Quirinus. Before each battell went two of the galleasses, still in readinesse for present battaile. In this order they came first to ZACYNTHVS (commonly called ZANTO) and so to CERIGO: the next day after to COLVERARIA (commonly called DRAGONARIA, oueragainst CERIGO:) Here Angelus Surianus, a valiant gentleman, sent before to discouer the enemie and what strength he was of, returning vnto the fleet, declared vnto the Admirall, That the Turkes fleet, consisting of an hundred and threescore gallies, threescore galliots, and foure great ships, lay about MALVASIA, in the entrance of the bay called SINVS ARGOLICVS, vpon the borders of PELOPONESVS, about fiftie miles off from E the Christian fleet. Shortly after the same fleet was againe discouered, making for MALEA: whereupon the Christians before resolued to fight wheresoeuer they should meet the enemie, forthwith put themselues in order of battaile, and so with their galleasses in the front, made with what speed they could toward him.The Christian fleet and the Turkes almost equall. These two fleets were thought for many respects almost equall: the enemie was in number moe, but inferiour in strength. The Christian fleet by reason of the heauinesse of the galleasses, made but small way; and the enemie afraid of the great store of ordinance the galleasses carried, durst not come neere them. The Turks fleet was rather nimble than strong; but ours more firme and forward. Looke wherin each exceeded the other, therwith they endeuoured to helpe themselues and annoy the enemie. The Christians fearing to be circumuented by the multitude of their enemies, opposed their ships and galleasses before them F as a most sure fortresse: and the Turke, by how much he had had the worse successe the yeare before, was so much the more carefull to beware how he endangered himselfe within the [...]each of the galleasses.The Turke war [...] ly declineth battell. The Christians desired nothing more than to fight, & to come to handy blows: but the Turke, who thought it sufficient for the present not to be ouercome, sometime made away as fast as he could, and by and by stayed againe, if happily he might haue taken the gallies [Page] seperated from the gallies, neuer seeming willing to aduenture further than reason and discretion G were. The enemie seeing the Christian fleet comming still on, and readie to giue battaile, first seemed as if he would haue done the like, but afterwards turned his course vpon the right hand, and kept aloofe alongst the coast of MALEA: At which time the Christians, although they were very desirous to haue followed them, yet the Turks with their nimble fleet were quickly too farre gone for the Christian fleet to ouertake them, especially with their heauie ships. That day almost spent as it were in the chase of the enemie, towards the going downe of the Sunne the enemie put into the current of the sea betwixt CERIGO and the Harts island, in breadth about ten miles; and there deuiding their fleet into three parts, lay in good order, as expecting the comming of the Christians, with the prows of their gallies turned, as if vpon the confidence of the place, which they had filled ouerthwart, they had purposed nothing more than to fight. Yet H both fleets seemed resolued; the one not to fight without the galleasses, & the other not to come neare those hot ships, from whom they had but the yeare before receiued so great harme. And although the enemie,Vluzales meaning nothing lesse, yet maketh shew of battell. as was afterwards knowne, purposed nothing lesse than to fight, but vpon great aduantage: yet fearing by open flight to dishonour his lord and master, and by graunting as it were of victorie, to encrease the fame of the Christians, the craftie pyrat made a great shew of that he least indeed purposed. For pretending a great desire to fight, he indeed deluded the Christians hope: who although the wind had failed them, yet in hope the enemie would abide them battell, with much labour and rowing came so neere him, that the great shot began to flie too and fro on both sides: but when the matter should haue come to haue been tried by dint of sword,The Turks politickly retire. then it plainely appeared what the enemie had indeed purposed; for still keeping the I prows of his gallies vpon the Christians, hee by little and little shrunke backe: and beside that the shaddow of the night began then to approch, he caused all his great ordinance, charged only with pouder, to be shot off, and so in the thicke of the smoke retired vnseene; colouring his subtile departure also by certaine lights left in their cocke-boats, making shew as if the whole fleet had still there stayed. By this meanes the Turks with great celeritie escaped, being also holpen in this, that the Christians hindered by the heauinesse of the galleasses, could not but faire and softly pursue them: for these galleasses, as they are vessels of great seruice, so are they also heauie and vnweldie, and not fit for chase. The departure of the enemie at length known, the Christians also vnwilling to fight by night, returned to CERIGO. Two dayes after the Turks stayed in the bay of TENARVS, now called METAPAN, and the Christians at CERIGO; contented in K that, that the enemie was the cause that the battell was not fought, and reckoning his warie and couert declining of battell,The Christians desirous of battell, goe against the Turks. as a secret confession of the victorie. The third day after, the Christians desirous of nothing more than to joyne in battell with the enemie, in their former order set forward from CERIGO, and sayling all the night, were in the breake of the day descried from land by the Turkes: whereupon Vluzales by shooting off of certaine warning pieces, commanded all his men to goe abourd, and to put themselues in readinesse for battell. And now the Christians were not farre off, when as the Turkes (least declining of battell might reprooue them of feare) came out of the hauen, with their fleet deuided into three battels: whereof the left wing was extended a great way into the sea, the right wing still keeping neere vnto the maine, and in the middle battell was Vluzales himselfe: who came all on no faster than the tide draue them, staying L their course oft times of purpose, to haue drawne the gallies of the Christians from the galeasses and ships. Vluzales seeing his fleet thus in order, and fearing nothing more than the galeasses, commaunded both the wings of his fleet (hauing in each of them fourescore gallies) to fetch a great compasse about, the one on the right hand, and the other on the left, aloofe off from the galleasses, and so to assaile the wings of the Christians on the sides or behind: in hope so to haue disordered their battell, and without danger to haue drawne the gallies from the galleasses and the other heauie ships. Which their intent the Christians perceiuing, in their wings turned about their gallies also, in manner of the new Moone, their maine battell still facing the middle battell of the Turks. The wings of the Turks fleet thus farre seperated from the middle battell, seemed to present vnto the Christians a great aduantage: which Fuscarinus (intentiue to all the offers of M good fortune) quickly perceiuing, and calling vnto Columnius and Lilly, and shewing them the enemies maine battell at hand, and the wings gone a great way off, requested and persuaded them, That not staying for the heauie ships and galleasses, they would with him vpon the sudden assaile the enemies middle battell, now destitute of the wings: not doubting, but so to ouerthrow [Page] A the enemies greatest strength there, before the wings could, now they were so farre gone, joyne themselues to the battell againe. What could as he said haue happened more wishedly, than to haue their battell deuided? So that they might at more aduantage fight against euery part therof, now seperated, than against all three parts at once. If they had thought themselues not onely equall, but too strong for the whole enemies fleet vnited, should they not the better ouercome them apart and dispersed? The oportunitie he said was but short, and therefore to be forthwith resolued vpon. If they would take the present occasion of victorie then offered, and as resolute men charge their enemies, little fearing any such thing, they should by their celeritie and valour teach the Turks, what the Christian discipline of warre and power was able to doe: but if they would therein vse delay, they should ere long in vaine wish for the like occasion they had let slip, B when as their battell was againe strengthened with the wings. This the Admirals speech was of most that heard it joyfully receiued, and his counsell well liked; and that with such a generall cheerefulnesse of the souldiors, as shewed in them no want of courage to haue giuen the enemie present battell. But Columnius and Lilly being of the same mind they had beene alwaies, said it were dangerous so to doe, for feare of drawing the whole three battels of the enemie at once vpon them, against which they should be too weake, without the helpe of the galleasses and heauie ships▪ and therefore said flatly, That without those vessels, so much feared of their enemies, they would not in any case hazard the fortune of a battell. But whether Columnius and Lilly were of that opinion, for that they so thought, or were so charged by Don Iohn (of whom they altogether depended) not to fight in his absence, many doubted. The wings of the C Christians in turning about to confront the wings of the enemie, were a little disordered: which the Turks perceiuing, and taking the present oportunitie, with fifteene of their gallies were about to haue charged the stragling gallies. Which Superantius perceiuing, to stay their course, went out couragiously against them with foure gallies, and made with them a great fight: in the heat whereof, Superantius seeing fortie moe of the enemies gallies making towards him, and doubting to be enclosed, with all speed sent for releefe, which came presently in, namely, twentie gallies; with two of the galleasses: which forthwith sent their thundering shot so thicke and furiously amongst their enemies, that in a little time eighteene of their gallies were by them all rent and torne; and the Turkes therewith dismayed, were glad in such hast to returne, as if they had rather fled than retired. Superantius hauing in that fight but one of his gallies shot through, returned D againe vnto his place. Of this light fight many deemed what would haue been the euent of the whole battell, if the opinion of Fuscarinus had preuailed. Both the fleets falling againe into their order, although the Christians could not so fast follow, as the Turks went before them; yet came they so neere them, that oftentimes they changed bullets, as well with their small shot as their great. And yet for all that, it was by many signes gathered, that neither the Turks would abide present battell, neither the Christians longer delay, if by their enemies they so might. The Christians had agreed (as is before said) not to joyne in battell without their galleasses and tall ships: which Vluzales well vnderstood both by the fugitiues and his owne espials, as also by their manner of sayling. And he himselfe although he had no great desire to fight: yet to be the better able to frustrate the endeuours of the Christians, who with great labour drew with them E the galleasses and other heauie ships, sent his chargeable great ships to MALVASIA, there to be vnrigged; whereby he discharged himselfe of a great burthen, and made himselfe able at his own choice and pleasure to leaue or take, to fight or not: and also with such souldiors and other necessaries as were in the same great ships, supplied the wants of his whole fleet. By which policie the matter was brought to that passe, that if the Christians would needs draw the enemie to battell, they must of necessitie forsake their galleasses, their most assured strength: or if they would not leaue them, then they could not by any meanes enforce the readie enemie to fight. The day now declining, the enemie supposing himselfe to haue done ynough for that time, both for the abating of the heat of the Christians,The Turks fleet at Corona, and the Christians at Cerigo. and encouraging of his owne people, in seemely order, as one not afraid, sayled with his fleet to CORONA. The Christians in like manner retiring F themselues to CERIGO.

Whilest things thus went,Don Iohn sendeth word to the fleet to meet him at Zacynthu [...]. Don Iohn by a frigot sent of purpose gaue knowledge to the fleet, that he was come to CORCYRA, sharpely blaming the great commaunders for their departure, and that they stayed not for his comming: and further commaunded them as their Generall, all other things set apart, foorthwith to meet him at ZACYNTHVS, there to resolue of all matters. [Page] Columnius wholly deuoted to the Spaniards, and preferring the fauour of Don Iohn before the G rest, hearing this message, was in such hast to haue returned, that he would haue persuaded Fuscarinus to haue left the heauie vessels and other weake gallies at CERIGO, and with an hundred of the best gallies with all speed to haue returned to the Generall. Of which opinion was also Lilly. But Fuscarinus more carefull than the rest, as he whom the danger more concerned, would not yeeld to that persuasion: for that in so doing they should (as he said) leaue the ships and galleasses, the cheefe part of their strength, in danger to be spoyled by the enemie; whom they now kept at a bay, without the helpe of the Generall; and should, as he well hoped, by often prouoking of him, at one time or other draw him to battell, and haue ouer him a notable victorie. And therefore requested them for the loue of God, and the zeale they bare vnto the common good of all Christendome, not to depart further off, nor to suffer the enemie to escape out of their H hands, neither by their departure to leaue the islands of the Venetians subject to the furie of the enemie: whereas the Generall might at his pleasure and without danger come vnto them, they lying betwixt the enemie and him. But Columnius and Lilly resolutely set downe, hap what hap should, to do what Don Iohn had commaunded, would not listen vnto the reasonable persuasions of the Venetian Admirall, but told him flatly, That if he would not in that they had said yeeld vnto them, they would forthwith leaue him vnto himselfe, and with their gallies presently return to ZACYNTHVS, as the Generall had commaunded. Whilest they were yet thus discoursing, newes was brought, That the enemie was come with his fleet into the fret of CERIGO: which caused them all with one consent to resolue in such order to passe by the enemie, as if they should haue giuen him present battell: whereas before, they were determined by the persuasion of [...]uscarinus, I to haue gone to CRETE, and there leauing the ships and galleasses in safetie, to haue afterwards returned to the Generall. In such order the Christians passed by the enemies fleet, which lay still in the fret of the sea without moouing, standing as it were rather vpon the guard of themselues, than resolued for battell. In three daies sailing they came to ZACYNTHVS, where they found not Don Iohn, but two of his gallies, and commandement, that they should there leaue their heauie ships, and with their gallies come to CEPHALENIA, where they should not faile to meet him. Hereupon the Venetians were exceedingly grieued, and muttered through the whole fleet, That the Spaniards bearing themselues vpon their wealth, were too proud, and in comparison of themselues regarded neither the conditions of the league, neither any other mans credit, but trode all men vnderfoot; and would now vse the Venetians not as their friends and confederats,K but as their slaues and vassales, feeding them in the meane time but with vaine hope. Yet for as much as the time and necessitie so required, they were content to be ouerruled: and so leauing their ships and galleasses at ZACYNTHVS,Don Iohn sendeth for the fleet to Cephalenia, where he also faileth to meet thē. went with the rest of the fleet to CEPHALENIA: whither Don Iohn was not yet come, but had sent word thither, That if they had any desire to joyne their forces with his, they should yet come further backe vnto him to CORCYRA. This message, which they had rather feared than expected, much troubled the Venetians: who readier to suspect euery mischeefe,Don Iohn commaundeth the fleet to repaire vnto him to Corcyra. than to hope for any good, began to fret and complaine, That the Spaniards could very well tell the Venetians what they had to doe, and forget in the meane time what was on their owne part to be performed. A hard thing it was to say (and yet to be said) that now they had more to doe with those their dallying friends and confederats, than with their enemies:L for with their enemies they were to fight but in time of battell, but with them they were to wrestle and striue at all times and in all places. They were by them (as they said) drawne from the sight of their enemies, when as they might haue beene ouerthrowne: not to the intent that with their vnited forces they might more safely fight against them, or vnder the conduct of Don Iohn gaine the victorie; but rather least any thing should haue beene done, which might be to the honour or profit of the Venetians: and that time which was to haue beene bestowed in the managing of the warre, spent in lingering and delaying, and vaine going forward and backward to no purpose. One onely way there was (as they said) to haue dispatched with the Turke, which was, by ouercomming him in another notable battell, and so to haue vtterly broken his strength at sea: which course the confederats made no lesse difficult by their ofwardnesse and delaies, than M the enemie by declining of battell: That they had long ago by many secret signes probably conjectured, that the Spaniards had more care to hinder and crosse other mens doings, than to doe any thing of themselues: That their indeuours were, to frustrat those great hopes which promised vnto the Christian common-weale the greatest felicitie and happinesse, togither with immortall [Page] A glorie: and, That the Turkes, of late discouraged with the fortunat proceedings of the Christians, might again rejoice at their mishaps.

The Venetians, notwithstanding all these their murmuring speeches, loath to fall off from the Spaniard,The Christian fleet altogether at Corcyra, setteth forward againe towards the enemie. kept still on with the rest vntill they came to Don Iohn at CORCYRA, who then lay with three and fiftie gallies and eighteene ships at SPILCA, in the vttermost end of the island. At their first meeting, Don Iohn shewed himselfe not a little offended, that they had not with more dutie before attended his comming: and they againe not a little complained of his long stay, with many other their grieuances, which were tedious here to rehearse. The fleet now all with much adoe at length met togither, which consisted of two hundred gallies, nine galeasses, and thirtie six tall ships: it was by generall consent agreed, that they should againe set forward B toward the enemie. They were not yet vnder saile, when two of their espials brought them newes, that the enemies fleet (weakly furnished both of marriners and souldiors) was come to NAVARINVM: which filled them all with good hope, that the Turkes fleet so euill prouided, might in that place vpon the sudden be easily oppressed; and the rather, if they came vpon them vnexpected. Wherefore, because they would not be descried, they kept not their course on right foorth, but sayling by night, kept aloofe vpon the right hand: and hauing passed ZACYNTHVS, came with great silence vnto the STROPHADES, where they lay at anchor all that day. In the euening they loosed thence, so casting their course, that the more to terrifie the enemie they might before day fall vpon him; and be seene in the mouth of the hauen where he lay, before there could be any report made of their comming thither. But this course so well set, the C time was so euill cast, that it was faire day long before they could come to the appointed place; when the Turkes out of their watch towers discouering a farre off the comming of the Christian fleet, gaue warning thereof vnto their fellowes: whereupon an alarum was presently raised in the towne, and all men in armes ran headlong to the wals and to the hauen. But the Turks out of hope with their euill rigged fleet to be able to withstand the Christians, and not daring to trust to that weake harbour, and all now in a great hurly burly, ran confusedly hand ouer head, souldiors and marriners aboord: and whilest they had yet time, got them in hast out of that harbour, and as men chased by their enemies got them into safe harbour at MODON, a strong town of PELOPONESVS about six miles off. Columnius was sent before the rest of the fleet to haue pursued them: but they were got so farre before him, that they had recouered the harbour before D he could ouertake any of them.The Christians offer the Turks battell. The Christian fleet comming before the harbour, and leauing a space as it were of purpose for the enemie to come out into, there lay in the face of the towne, daring the Turkes battell. But when they had so lien almost all that day, and no man durst come out; and now toward the euening certaine signes of tempest appeared, the Christians fearing to be by force of weather driuen on ground, put farther off againe to sea. Then at length Vluzales sent out certaine light gallies to follow in the taile of the fleet, when the confederats suddenly staying their course, and turning their prows vpon them, draue them headlong againe into the harbour: and afterwards retired themselues with the whole fleet into the islands OENVSae, now called SAPIENTIA, right opposite against MODON. The next day wanting fresh water, they remoued vnto the bay of MESSENA, there to water in the mouth of the riuer E Pamisus, which there falleth into the sea: where in passing by CORONE, they were oftentimes shot at out of the towne; and landing their men to water, were encountred by certaine troupes of horsemen, sent for that purpose by Vluzales. There was water deerly bought with the liues of many there slaine on both sides: in the end, the Christians preuailing, watered, and so againe returned vnto the OENVSae from whence they came.

METHONE or MODON (for it is by both names knowne) standeth almost in an island stretching farre into the sea,The description of the bay of Modon. where toward the West runneth out a long point of the land a great way into the sea; in the vttermost part whereof, standeth a great round tower. The towne it selfe is on the one side enclosed with the sea, and toward the land so strongly fortified, as that it seemeth almost impregnable. Towards the South commeth in a faire bay about three miles wide, safe F from all winds except the Northerly wind only: and shut vp by a little island in the mouth of the bay, maketh a safe and quiet harbour, with two entrances thereinto on either side of the island. Within this bay lay the Turks fleet, with the sternes of their gallies toward the land, and their prows towards the sea. At the Southerly comming in of the bay standeth an hill, which the inhabitants call ALBVS; on the top whereof, the enemie had placed six great pieces of ordinance, [Page] wherewith to keepe the Christians from entring that way. So had they also vpon that point of G the maine, which (as we said) runneth out from the towne, and vpon S. Bernards rocke, planted other great pieces of ordinance to defend that passage also. The Christians comming vnto the mouth of the bay, there lay with their fleet diuided into foure parts, but yet doubtfull what to doe: for beside that the entrances of the bay were but narrow, they were also farre more dangerous to be entred, by reason of the great ordinance planted vpon them. Neuerthelesse, the Venetian Admirall in hope of good successe, and loth to let the fearefull enemie so to escape out of their hands, would faine haue persuaded the Generall, with his whole fleet to haue entred the bay, and there in the harbour to haue oppressed the enemie: which he shewed to be no [...] to doe, for that the enemie was too weake in strength, and could not be from land relieued. In which doing, they should indeed ouerthrow but one fleet; but in the ouerthrowing of that one▪ H cut in sunder all the sinewes of the Turkish empire by sea: and raising a tumult in the bay, and filling all with a generall feare, should vndoubtedly at the first onset put the enemie to flight▪ Which done, what should let, but that carrying about with them the terrour of the victorie, they should with their victorious fleet, [...]ake from the Turke all the islands of the AEG [...] ▪ That truly and wisely it was said of Themistocles, That whosoeuer had the commaund of the sea, must needs also preuaile in the rest, and at length carrie away the victorie by land also. It was (as he said) the part of good chieftains, not to be wanting vnto themselues when occasion was offered: besides that, they were the same Turkes whom they had but the yeare before vanquished; and what had that one yeare either taken from them, or giuen vn [...] the Turks? or what should they feare six pieces of ordinance mounted vpon an hill, who if they [...]hould vndertake the battell, were I not to feare the great store of ordinance in two hundred and threescore of the enemies gallies and galliots? I my selfe (said he) will be the guide and leader, in whatsoeuer shall seeme most difficult and dangerous: and will in person my selfe be the first that shall enter the harbour, and aduenture the first danger. Great victories (he said) were not to be gained but with great aduentures; and that therefore the matter were to be hasted, before more aid should be sent vnto the Turkes. Wherefore they should as resolute men attempt that, the Turks thought the Christians durst not to haue attempted; and with the same courage breake into the bay, wherwith they had but the yeare before broken the strength of the same enemy; and by the power of God, carrie away another notable triumph of the vanguished Turks: who ouercome in a second battell at sea,Don Iohn refuseth to follow the counsell of the Admirall. must needs depart with all their maritime territories. With euill liking of the Spaniards was K the Venetian Admirall heard. And Don Iohn the Generall, deeming both the time and place vnfit for the attempting of so great an exploit; rehearsed on the one side, the strength of the enemie, the disaduantage of the place, the difficultie of the battell, with the manifold and great calamities receiued by the ouerhastie and rash attempts of their enemies: That the enemies strength was not to be so much deemed by the eye, or by report, as by reason; and that many in seeking to increase their former glorie, had in so doing ouerthrowne the same: That the Christians in entring and aduenturing the harbour, should on the one side be beaten with the artillerie from the hill; and on the other with the artillerie out of the castle of MODON: And that it was not like, that Vluzales should if need were, lacke aid from land, who but the other day had sent great troupes of horsemen to haue kept the Christians from watering: That a matter of so great importance,L was (by Fuscarinus his leaue) not rashly to be taken in hand, vpon an heat and hautinesse of stomacke, but vpon graue and mature deliberation: for if they should in a place of so great disaduantage, hazard the fortune of a generall battell, it should seeme that either he knew not that kind of fight, and force of the enemie, or else would make the bay of MODON more famous by the ouerthrow of the Christians, than was the CVRZVLARI by the slaughter of the Turks. Then what a shame would it be, if they which were about to oppresse the enemies fleet, should themselues be ouerthrowne, and that in their owne deuise. He had rather (as he said) preserue his owne fleet, than to take six hundred of the enemies gallies; and to account the same for a greater honour. Which he determined not, for that he would not haue any thing done, but that vnripe occasions should not be too much hastened, and as it were thrust headlong forward:M whereas time would giue opportunitie for the ouerthrow of the Turks fleet, so that they ran not blindly on headlong: and that in future time, the Venetians would rejoice that they had so moderated their desires. The Christians (he said) had sufficiently preuailed, if those things should fall out well, which were warily and aduisedly considered and resolued vpon.

[Page] A The matter thus on both sides debated, and nothing done, they returned with the fleet into the port of NAVARINVM. This proceeding, as it diuersly mooued the Spaniards and the Venetians, so brought it foorth diuers speeches, euerie man speaking in fauour of his owne nation. The Spaniard openly vaunted, that he had most prouidently resolued; for that how deere the counsell of the Venetian Admirall would haue cost if it had beene followed, the thing it selfe (as he said) shewed, by the extreame danger thereof presented, not in the doubtfull opinion of men, but laied open before their eies. The Venetians on the other side more desirous of battell, the neerer they had seene the opportunitie to haue preuailed vpon the enemie, the more impatiently they endured so assured a victorie to haue beene let slip out of their hands: and thereof spake accordingly.

B The Christians lying at NAVARINVM,The Castle of Modon in vain [...] b [...]sieged by the Christians. consulted of many things what they were best to take in hand: and resoluing at last by sea and land to besiege the castle of MODON, which kept the passage into the bay, and defended the Turks fleet; they returned againe thither, and landed seauen thousand of their best souldiors to besiege the castle. And at the same time, appointed the galeasses with certaine gallies to batter it also from sea: which the more commodiously to doe, they joyned two of their greatest gallies togither side to side, which they made fast with masts and strong ropes, and so bourded them cleane ouer, whereon as on a platforme, they placed gabions all afront, filled with earth, and great ordinance betwixt to haue battered the castle. But when this engine (in manner of a floating fort) should haue performed the seruice for which it was deuised, it prooued vnseruiceable, after it had with much adoe been brought thither, being C readie to sinke with the waight of the great ordinance and other things wherewith it was ouercharged. For which cause, and for that they vnderstood a great number of horsemen to be come into the towne, they gaue ouer the siege vainly begun, and put againe with their fleet to sea. It fortuned at the same time, that a tall ship of VENICE departing from ZACYNTHVS, and comming alongst the coast of PELOPONESVS with prouision for the fleet, was descried by the enemie; who thinking to doe the Christians a great dishonour, if they could almost in the sight of their fleet surprise her, they sent out certaine light gallies to haue taken her; Vluzales in the mean time with the rest of his fleet, lying in the verie mouth of the bay, readie to come out if the Christian fleet should once stirre to relieue her. Which the Christians perceiuing, and well hoping that so the enemie would be drawne to battell, sent out Columnius with his gallies to rescue the D ship; and others also which lying aloofe, might get in betwixt the Turks gallies and the bay: Don Iohn and the Venetian Admirall, lying readie to haue giuen battell, if Vluzales should haue come foorth. But the Christians comming on with a small gale, the enemie being afraid, by shooting off of certaine warning pieces within the bay, in time called backe the gallies that were alreadie gone out of the bay: who all forthwith came in, excepting Mahomet the nephew of Barbarussa, a most famous captaine amongst the Turkes, who as one of great courage, and desirous of honour, staied a little without the bay, with greater courage than discretion, expecting who should assaile him. Him the Marques S. Crucis set vpon, and had with him a great and terrible fight: but in the end,Mahomet slaine. the Marques preuailing, slew Mahomet with all his Turks, and with honour carried away the gallie. So the dishonor which Vluzales would haue done the Christians, fell vpon E himselfe, hauing in his owne sight lost one of his best captaines with his gallie.

The next day, because the yeare should not passe without something done, nor the hope of so great a preparation come to nothing, the Christians determined to besiege the castle of NAVARINVM (which was in auntient time called PYLVS) more famous for nothing, than for that it was the natiue place of old Nestor. The citie of NAVARINVM standeth vpon a rising ground, stretching somewhat into the sea; whereinto it hath a large prospect, and a faire large hauen, but subject to the Northwind. It is defended with a point of the maine running compasse into the sea, whereon standeth an old castle. Some sent before to view the situation of the place, brought word backe,The prince of Parma in vaine besiegeth Nauarinum. that the castle might in three daies be woon. The performance of which exploit, was committed to Alexander Farnesius prince of PARMA, whom the Venetians furnished with F munition and victuall. He landing with two thousand Italians, a thousand Spaniards, and fiue hundred Germans, began with twelue great pieces to batter the castle. And albeit that the batterie was planted so farre off, as that it did the enemie no great harme; yet happily the enterprise had taken effect, if by taking the straight and troublesome passages through a rough and thicke forrest, the citie had been kept from reliefe: but for as much as those passages were left free, the [Page] enemie cunningly opposed policie against force, for sallying out of the citie, they gaue the Christians G an hot skirmish: and in the meane time whilest the Christians were so busied, by a port toward the forrest on the other side of the citie, receiued in great number both of horse and foot. The report of this new come aid caused the prince to raise his siege, and to goe againe aboord. And now rested all the hope of the gaining of the towne in the strength of the fleet: and that not small, for that the Turkes not relieued with victuals by land, were by the confederates kept from them also by sea: for at that time the Turks were troubled with two great mischeefes, the plague, and famine. For no prouision had there beene made, as in a thing not feared; and that little being spent that was in the towne, they were enforced to seeke for victuals further off: which comming but sparingly, as in time of dearth, was oftentimes by the way intercepted by the souldiors that lay about in the countrey villages, wanting victuals no lesse than they in the H citie. And the moe men the Beglerbeg of GREECE brought down for defence of the sea towns, so much the more the wants of all things dayly encreased. So that no man doubted, but that in short time all would be brought to extreame penurie. What a death the mortalitie had made, the want of men in the gallies well declared: for many of the gallies for lacke of marriners and souldiors were sent away into EVBoeA,The weakenesse of the Turkes fleet. or left at MALVASIA, or carried away to CONSTANTINOPLE. Those which stayed in the bay of MODON, were scarce an hundred gallies, and fortie galliots: and they so slenderly manned, that the greatest gallies had scarcely an hundred and twentie men left in them, and they so meigre and faint, as that they could scarcely hold vp their weapons. The Christians vnderstanding of these things, were in good hope, that by continuing the siege, they should without danger gaine a notable victorie: For which cause Fuscarinus I persuaded the Spaniards, of whose constancie he doubted, to hold it out, as men of resolution; shewing them, that in the euent of this action rested for them for euer to be feared or contemned of the Turks: who except they should be changed into fishes or into birds, could not (as he said) without a notable ouerthrow escape their hands out of the Bay. But vnto this his hope and counsell the euent was not correspondent: For the Spaniards, whether it were for the tediousnesse of the siege, or for want of victuals, or for the approch of Winter, or els moued with some other reasons, began to thinke of the matter diuersly: and at the first a report was raised, That the Christians giuing ouer the siege, would shortly returne home: and the reason was, for that they wanted bisket, and had scarcely victuals left for fifteene dayes, which was to be reserued for their long journey home: Besides that, the approch of Winter did call them from the action:K and that hauing done what they might, they could neuer draw the enemie forth to battell; and that therefore hauing sufficiently and as farre as was possible alreadie discharged their duties, they were now also to regard their safetie, and to foresee that their fleet, wherein the welfare of them all was reposed, were not too farre endangered. At the first these speeches were divulged by the common souldiours and marriners of small credit or reputation; but afterwards by moe, and they also men of better place and sort: Yea Don Iohn himselfe, whether it were to some other purpose, or that he so spake in good earnest, began to lay the fault vpon others, why that hee, so lately come from MESSANA, should in so short time want victuals and all things els necessarie.

The Venetians murmure against the Spaniards.With these vnexpected reports, and so farre different from the confederation, the Venetian L Admirall with the rest of the Venetian commaunders were exceedingly troubled and grieued aboue measure: for it seemed not credible, that they which but a little before were come from the most fertile and plentifull countrey of SICILIA, in all ages the most faithfull and abundant granarie and storehouse of ITALIE, both in peace and warre, could so soone want victuals. Could eighteene tall ships (which ought by the capitulations of the league to haue come loaded with bisket, victuals, and other warlike and necessarie prouision) become emptie? or but to haue brought so much as might but suffice for a month onely? If this were done without the knowledge of Don Iohn, where was then the care of a Generall? If he winking thereat, where was his zeale to the confederation? or to what purpose came he to CORCYRA? was it to auert the Christian fleet (hauing once or twice met with the enemie) from doing any good vpon him? Could it M come into any mans head (besides that in so doing he was therein to extinguish the glorie of a most certaine victorie, like to worke the Turks confusion) by the infamie of a voluntarie returne to encrease the glorie and renowne of his enemie, and bring a perpetuall ignominie and disgrace vnto the honour of the Christians? verely the Spaniards, therein to shew themselues not so [Page] A willing to haue the power of the Turks abated, as the strength of the Venetians not encreased.

These things Fuscarinus and the Venetians sometimes fretted at amongst themselues;The Venetian Admirall persu [...]deth the Spaniards in no case to returne from the enemie. and otherwhiles the Admirall himselfe expostulated the same with Don Iohn and Columnius: and in the presence of the greatest counsellours shewed, not onely how profitable but also how necessarie perseuerance was in all martiall affaires: That it was an old and vsuall matter for men in besieging of their enemies to suffer many difficulties: if they should, hauing performed nothing, returne with the fleet, who would doubt but that both their labour and charge was againe the next yeare to be renewed? And what could this delay be els, but a prorogation of their further calamities? That therefore it much concerned the Christian commonweale, although they had not all things in abundance, yet resolutely and with patience to endure the scarcitie of victuals. If B want of bisket were feared, the Generall might easily remedie that matter, by speedily sending for those ships which lay laded with victuals good store at TARENTVM; which thing might in short time be performed. In the meane time he promised to supplie the Spaniards wants with part of his own store: and that he had rather his men should liue with roots, than to let the enemies fleet coupt vp, so to escape his hands: That the desire to protect the honour of the Christians, would ouercome all difficulties. Besides that, the matter would be but short, if it were done at once, in one continued course; and would vndoubtedly be by them performed, if they gaue not ouer the thing they had so well begun, vntill they had accomplished it. They (as he said) might in good safetie lie with their fleet in the ports of NAVARINVM, SAPIENTIA, and CAPRARIA: whereas the enemie, lying shut vp in the bay of MODON, should haue but a bad and C dangerous Winter harbour; and October being now begun, should in short time be in danger to perish with blustering stormes and rage of the sea, familiar vnto that time of the yeare; or els enforced with the extremitie of the weather, and with want, to aduenture into the open sea and with their weake forces to joyne battell. What should therfore let, why they should not for ten or for fifteene daies continue the siege, as best beseemed the honour of themselues, the valour of their souldiors, and worthinesse of the Christian name? What a terrour it would be vnto the enemie, to see the Christians readie to endure all extremities and wants to gaine the victorie ouer the Turks? Againe, what dishonour and discredit would it be vnto themselues, if they should suffer the enemie (shut vp and not daring to fight) to escape: especially, when as they might sitting still, end the warre? The Senat of VENICE he said most rested vpon the valour and courage of D Don Iohn, and therefore he requested him not to deceiue the great hope they had of him conceiued: For how much should he himselfe blemish his owne honour, if when he had before relieued the afflicted state of the commonweale, he should now, when it was most of all to be holpen, forsake the same? Which should not be much vnlike, as if a man should with great labour purchase great store of pretious pearles, and vpon an humourous passion cast them all into th [...] sea: That men generally held a great opinion of him the Generall, an honourable remembrance of his victorie, and regard of his valour; all which, how much the more pregnant and honourable should they be, by the second vanquishing and subduing the most mightie monarch of the world: And that if the action well begun should be effectually prosecuted by the goodnesse of God, the direction of the commaunders, and the resolution of the souldiors, in short time the E Christians should carrie the victorie from the Turkes, and make him their Generall equall not onely with the great cheefetaines of the present time, but euen with the most famous commanders of all former ages.Don Iohn replieth vpon the Venetian Admirall Whereunto Don Iohn replied, That the action then in hand no lesse concerned the Spaniards than the Venetians: and that he had in his life desired nothing more, than to stand the Christian commonweale in stead: That he pointed at the same marke with Fuscarinus, and in zeale to doe good vnto the Christian commonweale, gaue place to no man; but indeed to performe it, was a thing much more difficult than to say it: Lesser things he said were to be ouerpassed, to reserue themselues for the performance of greater: and therefore maruelled that Fuscarinus alone could not see things most manifest before his eyes, who otherwise could with his piercing wit see through the deepest matters: Could he thinke by any other meanes to abate F the power of the Turke, than if they kept their fleet whole? That it was euer the manner of the greatest and most worthie commaunders, rather to shun the present dangers, than to encrease their territories: That nothing was so well purposed, which might not be of some wrongfully suspected: but his faithfull meaning to be pure and without spot; and albeit that the oportunitie serued not for him to shew it, yet was his desire and endeuour nothing the lesse: And that Fuscarinus [Page] should doe well more intentiuely to consider, what the cause, the matter, and the time required:G That the manner of warre at land and at sea, were much different: And that although warres of both sorts were to giue place vnto the most vnseasonable time of the yeare, vnfit for any kind of warre; yet might men at land, better endure the winter stormes in their tents and cabins than at sea in their gallies, where oftentimes, will, skill, wisedome, nor valour helpe not: but that (except it be so prouided and foreseene, that the seasonable time of the yeare, and commodious for sayling may be taken) all must togither perish by shipwracke. What, would hee haue them to striue aboue their power with the winter stormes, and famine, the greatest extremities of nature? Besides that, he was verily persuaded, that the Turks enjoying the commodities of a good harbour, and of a rich citie, would there in safetie winter; the countrey of PELOPONESYS relieuing them with all necessaries: When as the Christians in the meane time, except H they in time returned home, should lie exposed to the rage of the sea, standing as it were in a continuall watch, not laying away their weapons in the depth of winter and dead time of the yeare, which in reason ought to giue rest to all men. And that therefore euerie man ought for the present to beare his owne grieuances, and not by the harmes of his friends and confederats, to seeke his owne auaile. And that he, bearing himselfe vpon the inward integritie of his good will toward the Venetians, would this say, howsoeuer Fuscarinus should vnderstand it, That if the kings fleet should by long staying there perish, it would no lesse concerne the Venetians than the king himselfe: and taking God to witnesse, would solemnly promise, Nothing to be vnto him more leifer or religious, than to be prest so soone as the time of the yeare would giue leaue, and by his endeuour to make all men to know, that he had no lesse care of the Venetian State than I of the kings affaires; neither desired any thing more, than to be accounted, and in deed to be, a most constant vpholder of that most Christian league; and that beyond all expectation, euen in the judgement of the Venetians themselues: but for the present they must pardon him, if he gaue place vnto the necessitie of the time. As for the offer of the communicating of their victuals, that would not be any helpe, but the destruction of both the fleets; for so they should both sooner feele the want: wherefore it were much better to preserue the fleet which they might vse in the next yeares warres, than wilfully to cast away the same by famine, and the rage of the sea. In briefe, what an indignitie should the Christians sustaine, if they themselues should by the same meanes be ouerthrowne, whereby they had thought to haue ouerthrowne others.

The Spaniards about to returne without the knowledge of the Venetians.Now the Spaniards were so resolutely set downe for their departure, that not only without K the consent of the Venetians, but euen without their priuitie, their departing was resolued vpon, and secret commandement giuen vnto the masters of the gallies, with all the hast that might be, to depart thence to MESSANA. Which the Venetian Admirall vnderstanding, and therewith troubled as with an vnexpected matter, came aboord the Generall, and greatly complained of his purpose, for so sudden a departure: requesting him a while to stay, vntill the two gallies made fast togither in the harbour of NAVARINVM (as is before said) with the ordinance vpon them, might be put in good safetie; and neither they, or any thing else left for a prey vnto the enemie. With much adoe, Fuscarinus persuaded him to stay that night, that those gallies might bee brought out of the harbour, and all things put in order for their departure. The rest of the night was spent in debating of the matter too and fro: where Don Iohn would needs haue it conceiued L into a publike instrument in writing, That the fleet by the generall consent of the three Admirals, returned for lacke of victuals: whereunto the Venetian Admirall hardly consented. But when the instrument should haue been made and confirmed, Don Iohn better aduised by one of his secretaries, That the same would redound vnto the great dishonour both of the king and himselfe, that the fleet comming out of the fruitfull countrey of SICILIA, should in a moneths space want victuals; changed his mind for the writing, and onely requested the Venetian Admirall to credit him and Columnius, in that they had said concerning the want of victuals: promising him, that if vpon the way he should meet with the victuals that were sent for, he would forthwith returne and giue him aid, as the time and occurrents should require: but in the meane time to proceed by common consent, to doe that which was most needfull. Hereupon they returned: and M comming to CORCYRA, they met the expected ship laded with victuals. Now is not Fuscarinus vnmindfull of his dutie, but comming to Don Iohn, put him in remembrance of his promise; telling him, That it was not vnlike, but that the enemie so soone as he vnderstood of their departure, would come out of the bay, and returne with his fleet towards CONSTANTINOPLE; and [Page] A being but weakly man [...]d, and worse furnished of marriners, might easily be ouertaken vpon the way, and ouerthrowne. But Don Iohn was not by any meanes to be thereunto persuaded, pretending, that he was by the king commaunded forthwith to returne. So the expectation of great matters to haue been this yeare done, came to nought but vanished into smoake: and nothing performed worth so long a discourse, more than to see with what difficultie great actions are managed, wherein the hands of many great ones are required; who jealous of their owne honour, or enuying at others, corrupt with delaies the fairest opportunities, and by their crosse dealing, no lesse than the enemie, hinder the common good whereat they would all fainest seeme to aime. From CORCYRA Don Iohn departed to MESSSANA, and Columnius vnto ROME. Fuscarinus with greater honour than successe, returned to VENICE; where he was with great B joy receiued, both of the Senat and the citisens in generall: and so (no lesse famous for his patience and moderation towards the other confederats, than for his pollicie and valour) with the good liking of all men gaue vp his charge, in few yeares after to receiue a greater.

About this time,Am [...]da the exiled king of Tu [...] craueth aid of Don Iohn. Amida king of TVNES (of whom much is before spoken in the life of Solyman) being but a little before driuen out of his kingdome by the Turkes (who had of long by little and little encroached vpon him) and as a priuat man liued in exile with his two sonnes at GVLETTA with Franciscus Touares Gouernour thereof: hearing of the great ouerthrow of the Turkes at LEPANTO, and of the good successe of the Christians, sent embassadours to Don Iohn Generall of the confederat princes then lying in SICILIA, humbly requesting his aid for the recouerie of his kingdome, promising to defray the whole charges of the warre, and for euer to C hold his kingdome of the king of SPAINE, as his vassaile and tributarie. Which his request well considered of, and the matter thought of no small consequence, for the safetie of the Christian countries lying ouer against that part of AFFRICKE, to haue so dangerous an enemie remoued: Don Iohn the yeare following (in the beginning of October) by the commaundement of the king of SPAINE his brother,1573 departing from DREPANVM in SICILIA with an hundred and fiue gallies and fortie ships, arriued the next day about noone at GVLETTA, where the gallies of MALTA came vnto him; and shortly after, Io. Andreas Auria the Admirall with nineteene mo; and Columnius the Popes Admirall with fourteene mo, all well appointed. At his arriuall at GVLETTA, he vnderstood by Amida and the Gouernour, the whole estate both of the citie, and of the kingdome of TVNES: and that the Turkes and Moores, terrified with so great a D fleet, were about to forsake the citie. Wherefore hauing well viewed the place, he the next day after landed his forces about foure miles from the citie, and sent 2500 footmen before the rest of the armie to the citie; who found it all desolat, the Turks and Moors being before for feare fled, some to CARAVANA, some to BISERTA: who entring without resistance, came to the castle, wherein they found two hundred Moores, who said, they kept it for Amida their king; but yet would by no meanes suffer the Christians to enter. All which was forthwith made knowne to Don Iohn, who then because it was almost night would not moue, but early the next morning set forward with his whole armie: and entring the citie before abandoned by the inhabitants, and so comming to the castle, found nothing therein, but great store of oyle, butter, and wooll.

E Amida the late king, by the commaundement of Don Iohn, all this while staied at GVLETTA. But whilest Don Iohn was yet at TVNES, newes was brought vnto him the thirteenth of October, That the Turks garrison before fled out of TVNES, with diuers Moores, comming to BISERTA, were there kept out by the citisens and not suffered to enter: For which cause they began to burne and spoile the countrey thereabout. Whereupon the Generall sent Touares the captaine of GVLETTA thither with part of the armie; who encountring with those Turks, ouerthrew them, and had the citie by the citisens peaceably deliuered vnto him.

The kingdome of TVNES thus easily once againe recouered from the Turkes,The iust iudgement of God vpon Amyda the late K. of Tunes. Don Iohn throughly enforced of the faithlesse and cruell dealing of Amida the late king, and that in detestation of the Christians and their religion, he had alreadie had intelligence with the Turkes, and F procured the death of some of the Christians: gaue this definitiue sentence vpon him, being yet in the castle of GVLETTA: That for as much as he had of long time been the authour of great discord, and endlesse troubles in that kingdome, and had most vnnaturally depriued Muleasses his father, first of his kingdome, and afterward of his sight; and in like manner tyrannized ouer his naturall brethren, the rightfull heires of that kingdome, whereby the Turks had taken occasion [Page] both to inuade and possesse the same: he should therefore by the commaundement of the G king of SPAINE, be carried prisoner with his two sonnes into SICILIA, there to remaine for euer. Which heauie doome hee taking most grieuously, and yet crying out for mercie, was forthwith thrust into a gallie, and with his wife and children transported into SICILIA, there to liue in perpetuall exile: the just reward of his mercilesse and vnnaturall dealing with his father and brethren, God no doubt requiting him with the like measure he had before measured vnto them.

Mahomet, Amyda his brother, made king of Tunes, and vassale to the king of Spaine.After that (the king of SPAINE so commaunding) Mahomet, Amida his elder brother, and right heire of that kingdome, was appointed king in his place: who departing from GVLETTA to TVNES, was receiued as king, and there by solemne oath promised for euer to be the king of SPAINE his vassaile, and to doe whatsoeuer he should commaund.H

There was before departed out of TVNES fortie thousand Moores, who now came and offered their supplication to Don Iohn, that they might againe returne and liue with their new king: which their request being easily granted, they in great numbers euerie day returned into the citie. Shortly after, fifteene hundred Turks, with three thousand of those wild people which some call Arabians, some Alarbes, sore troubled all the passages about the citie; who were at last by the Christians ouerthrowne, and an hundred and fiftie Christians whom they had taken prisoners, rescued. After that, Don Iohn by the aduise of his most expert and skilfull captaines, commaunded a strong castle to be built in the middle way betwixt GVLETTA and TVNES: and for the performing thereof, lest Gabriell Serbellio with two thousand Italians, and Salazar a Spaniard with other two thousand at GVLETTA. And so hauing performed that he came for, and disposed I of all things as he thought best, returned againe into SICILIA.

A griefe of griefes it is, and sorrow almost vnconsolable, when worthie actions most happily begun, sort not to such happie end as was in reason hoped for. The greatest and the most famous victorie of all ages gained against the Turke, seemed to haue lightened the Christian common-weale: and great hope there was, that the Christians falling into vnitie among themselues, would by an happie exchange make the Turkish empire the seat of their warres; and to turne into the Turkes dominions, the terrour, slaughter, and other calamities of warre, which had so many yeares afflicted the Christian common-weale. But by how much the more the joy was amidst such daily calamities and teares; so much greater was the sorrow, so great an hope to be come to nought, and men to be so blinded with the darknesse of enuie and disdaine, that they K could not so much as thinke with what dishonour and danger of the common state, they should shrinke from so just, so honourable, and so needfull a seruice, including in it selfe the generall good of all Christendome. When posteritie shall consider what things might then haue beene done, and the deuises whereby the common cause was ouerthrowne; it will worthily blame, and greatly lament so notable a victorie and fit opportunitie, sent as it were from heauen, for the effecting of great matters,The Venetians wearie of the delaye [...], and crosse dealing of the Spaniard, resolue to sue vnto the Turke for peace. to haue been let slip and passed ouer so lightly regarded. This made, that they who before had reposed all their hope in armes, had now no other confidence or hope of their welfare, but in concluding of peace. Truly the Venetians both spoke and thought honourably of king Phillip, as of a most faithfull, just, deuout, and honourable prince: yet greatly blaming his officers, and others of great authoritie about him, as men more regarding their owne L priuat, than the good of the Christian common-weale. In these perplexities of the Venetians, king Phillip promised them to set forth a greater and stronger fleet against the next yere, and to be sooner in readinesse with all his forces and warlike prouision, and so to help them in all he might: who for all that, gaue small credit vnto those promises, for that with the like they had been oftentimes before deceiued. And therefore as trusting most vnto their owne strength, they with all carefulnesse and expedition entertained mo souldiors; of whom, some they put into their fleet, the rest they placed in their garrisons, in CRETE, in DALMATIA, and their frontier townes in EPIRVS. Neither were the Turkes then idle, as the report went; yet were they thought to manage that warre with greater fame than strength: for they had of purpose giuen it out, That they would the next Spring with diuers armies, inuade the Venetian territories in CRETE, in DALMATIA,M in EPIRVS, yea and in ITALIE it selfe; and with their innumerable multitude both of horse and foot, so ouerwhelme the Venetians, that they should not be able possibly to hold out. This & more too they brauely vaunted of: but in deed Vluzales comming to CONSTANTINOPLE, had brought his fleet so shaken and so weake, as that it seemed not possible, but in long time [Page] A to be againe repaired, and furnished with souldiors and marriners, in stead of them that had been lost, some in fight, but moe by the contagiousnesse of the infection. But howsoeuer the matter stood, the Venetians carefull with the expectation of great matters, and in small hope of good successe, comparing their owne strength with the strength of the enemie: yet were they no lesse discouraged with the delayes and crosse dealing of the confederats, than with all the prouision of the enemie. It stucke in their minds, how that the Spaniards at such time as CYPRVS might haue beene defended, delayed their comming so long, that NICOSIA. [...]ng lost, it was time to returne: Neither could they forget that lingering delay to haue beene the cause of the great mortalitie amongst their men, lying in the fleet at IADERA: They remembred also, that the commodities, which of so notable a victorie were most plentifully to haue beene reaped, B were by the slender prosecuting of the same, so sparingly taken, that the former dangers still remained: And that Don Iohn, who ought by appointment to haue beene at CORCYRA in the beginning of Summer, was scarcely come thither in the latter end of August: and that he in the third yeare of this warre, at such time as their fleet was with great labour and charge againe repaired, would not or listed not to aduenture to haue againe ouerthrowne the enemies fleet, but in the very action to haue alwayes trifled away the greatest part of Summer, before his Spaniards could set forward: and when hee might safely haue come to CERI [...]O, to haue called backe Fuscarinus and the rest, then facing of the enemie, and euen readie to haue giuen him battell: It was then secretly suspected, the Spaniards to haue stayed of purpose, and to haue dallied on the time, that the Venetians hauing spent their forces might be the more exposed and C subject to their injuries: It stucke fast not in their minds onely, but euen almost in their eyes, what things had happened of former times in their confederations with that nation: They were grieued in the space of three yeares an hundred times, twentie hundred thousand duckats to haue beene to little or small purpose spent in that warre: Besides that, they doubted least the Flemmings with their confederates should so entangle the king of SPAINE in defending of his owne territories, as that he should not be at leisure to send any aid into the East: in which case, what hope or helpe were they to looke for? How should they then defend the rest of their Seigniorie in the East? How should their emptie cofers suffice to maintaine so great armies both by sea and land, as might withstand so puissant an enemie? Long were the discourses, and effectuall the persuasions, that the Venetians had amongst themselues, to induce one another, and all in generall D more circumspectly to consider, not onely what had alreadie passed, or was presently in hand; but also right warily to foresee, what would be the course and what the euent of a matter so important: and betime to breake off the confederation, which they had alwayes found to haue stood them in small stead. In reuoluing of these things, onely one remedie seemed most effectuall for the curing of their afflicted state: which was, By desisting from warre, to conclude a peace with the Turke, howsoeuer: which they were the rather in good hope to obtaine, for that diuers speeches concerning the same had passed at CONSTANTINOPLE, and were from thence againe reported at VENICE. All men thus enclining to peace, the Senat referred the proceeding therein vnto M. Antonius Barbarus their embassadour (who all the time of these wars had lien in safe custodie at CONSTANTINOPLE) willing him therein to vse the helpe of the French embassadour, E who had alwayes beene a persuader of peace.

Selymus hauing got the island of CYPRVS and diuers other places from the Venetians,Sel [...]mus himselfe desirous of peace▪ and yet well wearied with the harmes and losses he had himselfe receiued both by sea and land, was also desirous ynough of peace. So that the French embassadour might, as it was thought, haue got a reasonable and indifferent peace, if he had but expected the opportunitie of time: But he, (whether mooued with the common harmes, or some other secret causes to him best knowne) in making too much hast, and seeming too desirous of peace, much hurt the common cause of the Venetians, which he most desired to haue furthered. Selymus hauing found him, resolued with Muhamet the great Bassa,M [...]hamet Bassa dealeth cunningly with the Frēch embassadour, solliciting the peace in the behalfe of the Venetians. what he would haue done: who at such time as the same embassador came vnto him about the matter, told him, That he had himselfe many times mooued, yea and F so farre forth as he might importuned his great lord and master for peace, but could neuer find him willing to heare thereof, vntill that now at length ouercome and wearied with the continuall sollicitation of such as might doe most with him, he had yeelded thereunto. So the thing that Selymus himselfe vndoubtedly desired, that the craftie Bassa seemed him with much difficultie to graunt, rather vpon the instance and contemplation of them that laboured for the same, than for [Page] any desire he had thereunto of himselfe. For certaine dayes at the first the French embassadour G was most courteously heard, and the Bassa with faire and cunning speech promised that the matter of pacification should easily and in short time be composed: and so at their first conferences things passed rather in generall tearmes, than that any conditions of peace were particularly agreed vpon: onely this was on both parties consented vnto, That the Venetians should send their embassadour of purpose, for the full concluding and confirming of the desired peace. Which charg [...] [...]as by the Senat committed to Iacobus Superantius, The Venetians s [...]nd their embassador of purpose to Constantinople, to intreat a peace. in whose wisdome and valour they had reposed great hope and confidence. He was no sooner come to CONSTANTINOPLE, and the Turks deliuered of the feare of the Christian sword by the dissolution of the confederation, but that all things were changed; and the Venetians glad perforce to endure the proud lookes of the Turkes, their disdainefull eares, their despightfull speeches, their long and H insolent attendance, with many other shamefull indignities: Yea the Bassa was so shamelesse, as proudly to aske them, How they durst be so bold, as to impugne the great emperour Selymus his fleet at sea? Whereunto the embassadour answered, That the Venetians had alwayes honoured the majestie of the Turkish emperours, neither had at any time taken vp armes against them, but in their owne reasonable defence, when force was by force to be repulsed; a thing lawfull euen for the wild beasts in the wide wildernesse to doe. At the first entreatie of the peace, the Bassa seemed to put the Venetian embassadour in good hope, that the Venetians according to his request should enjoy their territories in DALMATIA in as ample manner as in former times, and bounded with the same bounds, whereof they had in these warres lost some part about IADERA. But when the matter should haue come to the shutting vp, the Turke began to shrinke from that he I had before promised, refusing not onely the restitution of the territorie they had indeed by treason got; but by cautelous expositions of his meaning, framing the conclusion of the present peace vnto the forme of their former leagues, required, That as the Turks had then yeelded vnto them MALVASIA and NAVPLIVS, so now they should redeliuer vnto them other two places of like worth and importance: As for not restoring the territorie they had taken about IADERA, to colour their deceit, they pretended, That they might not by their law restore vnto the Christians any towne or place, wherein were any church or temple dedicated or conuerted vnto the Mahometane religion, as was there; and further, That the same territorie was alreadie giuen by Selymus in reward to his souldiours, men of desert, from whom without great injurie it might not be againe taken. Hereupon the French embassadour complained, That promises were not performed:K & the Venetians so fietted, that they were euen about to haue returned, as men shamefully deluded, without concluding of any thing. Yet when no better could be obtained, the Turke still standing vpon so hard tearmes, the embassadours by the appointment of the Senat concluded a peace with the Turke,A peace concluded betwixt Selymus and the Venetians. whereof these were the cheefe capitulations: first, That the Venetians should giue vnto Selymus three hundred thousand duckats; one hundred to be presently payed, and the other two hundred by equall portions in two years next following: then, That the marchants goods should be indifferently on both sides restored: and lastly, That such places of the Venetians as the Turke was alreadie possessed of, should still remaine vnto the Turkes; but that such townes or places as the Venetians had taken in the Turkes dominion, should be againe forthwith restored. For the first payment of the money, the Turke was earnest, thereby as by a L fine for an offence committed, to make this league vnto him more honourable.

This peace at CONSTANTINOPLE concluded the eleuenth day of Februarie, in the yeare 1574,1574 was by the decree of the Senat confirmed: and afterwards the thirteenth of Aprill following solemnely proclaimed in VENICE, to the great wonder of the other confederates. For the better satisfying of whom,The peace proclaimed at Venice. the Popes Nuntio, with the embassadour of SPAINE, were sent for into the Senat house. And although there were many things that grieued the Venetians, yet did they forbeare all hard speeches, and of that their moderation receiued so much the more honour, as it is more difficultie for an angrie man to ouercome himselfe, than others. The duke with calme and temperate speech, framed to the purpose, declared vnto them, That anger and hope, two euill counsellors, being set apart, he had concluded a peace with the Turke: not for that he M was desirous of the Turkes friendship, which what account it was to be made of, he right well knew; but for the loue he bare to the State, which was not only with losse, but euen with death it selfe, to be maintained. How he had beene spoyled of the kingdome of CYPRVS, he further declared: and that the Venetian state grew euery day weaker and weaker by the continuall war: [Page] A and that therefore, before it were by losse vpon losse come to the vttermost of extremitie, they not able to maintaine so heauie a warre, were to take some better course for the preseruation of that which was yet alreadie left of their Seigniorie: for that the safetie of the Venetian state should at all times be a sure fortresse and defence for the Christian commonweale against all the furious attempts of the enemie, and vncertaine euents of time.

The fame of this sudden and vnexpected peace was for the just and common hatred of the Christians against the Turkes, generally euill taken: and the Venetians for the concluding thereof hardly spoken of, as if they had betrayed the whole Christian commonweale, or at leastwise their confederats. For men were for the most part of opinion, That the Turkes peace would be but fained and deceitfull; and that hauing gained time to set things in order, according to his desire, B he would for the naturall grudge he bare vnto the Christians, come to his old course, and as he had alwayes done, breake the league, and take vp armes. Some said, That the Venetians, forsaken of their friends and confederats, would in their owne deuices perish; yet so, as that their destruction should turne to the generall harme of all Christendome: and these men were of opinion, That in that case, and against that enemie, a dangerous warre was to be preferred before an vncertaine and dishonourable peace.The peace by experience found profitable vnto the Venetians. Neuerthelesse the Venetians, besides that they for the present eased themselues of many an heauie burthen, so haue they thereby enjoyed the fruits of a long and happie peace, and found the same vnto their state both wholesome and profitable euen vntill this day. It was thought by the sequell of matters, that Selymus was the more willing to haue peace with the Venetians, that he might the better recouer the kingdome of TVNES, C and the strong castle of GVLETTA from the Spaniards: who with the knights of MALTA now gaped more after TRIPOLIS and the other port townes holden by the Turkes vpon the coast of BARBARIE, than how to defend the Venetians their confederates. Thus with the losse of CYPRVS, and some part of the Venetian territorie in DALMATIA, ended the mortall and bloudie warre betwixt Selymus and the Venetians. In the course whereof is well to be seene, what great matters the vnited forces of the Christian princes were able to doe against this most mightie enemie, if all discord and contention set apart, they would in the quarrell of the Christian religion joyne with heart and hand against him, and fight the battell of Christ Iesus.

Selymus now at peace with them who before most troubled him: to keepe his men of warre D busied, shortly after conuerted his forces against Iohn, Vayuod of VALACHIA, and so at length joyned all that prouince to his empire. This countrey of VALACHIA was in auntient time called DACIA: it hath on the East the Euxine (now called the Blacke Sea) on the South the famous riuer Danubius, on the West TRANSYLVANIA, and on the North RVSSIA. It is deuided into two parts, the one called TRANSALPINA, and the other MOLDAVIA (of the riuer Moldanus running through the middest thereof) but farre passing the other both in greatnesse and abundance of pasture. That part called TRANSALPINA, Mahomet (surnamed the Great, which woon CONSTANTINOPLE) made subject to the Turkish empire; but vpon MOLDAVIA, the other part, he only imposed a yearely tribute of two thousand duckats. After which time the Vayuods of that country, aided sometime by the Hungarians, and sometime by the Polonians, E rise vp oftentimes against the Turks,Selymus chaseth Bogdanus out of Moldauia, and placeth Iohn Vayuod in his s [...]ead. and refused to do their homage. It chanced, that Bogdanus, Vayuod of that countrey, fauouring the Polonians, and joyning in league with them, liued much in RVSSIA, as purposing from thence also to haue taken his wife. Which Selymus suspecting, with a great power chased him into exile, and placed in his stead one Iohn (called of his countrymen Iwan, and of some Iuonia) the supposed son of Stephanus, sometime Vayuod of that country: who with Ieremias Czarnieuieczius (a Moldauian, who afterward notably betraied him) hauing of long time liued amongst the Turks, to be the more gratious amongst them, renounced his faith, and being circumcised, turned Turke: and following the trade of merchandise, became among them a marchant of such fame, that he became very familiar & well acquainted with the great Bassaes of the Court, and at length with Selymus himselfe. Hee vnderstanding by his F friends neere about the Turkish emperor of his purpose for the remouing of Bogdanus, corrupted with rewards the great Bassaes, to be mediators for him to Selymus, that commended by them, he might be preferred to be Vayuod of MOLDAVIA; still encreasing the suspition Selymus had conceiued of Bogdanus, and telling him, That he supported by the Polonians, was like ynough in short time to reject his obedience to his imperiall majestie. Selymus at the instance of the Bassaes [Page] nominated this Iohn to bee Vayuod: who with a great power of the Turkes horsemen entring G into MOLDAVIA, easily possessed himselfe of the countrey, Bogdanus being then absent in RVSSIA, and as then suspecting no such matter: who yet afterwards attempted in vaine by the helpe of the Polonians to haue againe recouered his countrey, but finding no possibilitie so to doe, fled afterwards into MVSCOVIA, where he long time after liued.

Iohn now quietly possessed of MOLDAVIA, for some few years held the same with the good liking of the Turke,Iohn the Vayuod falleth into suspition with Selymus and the Bassaes of the Court. paying him his wonted tribute: but afterwards repenting himselfe of his wicked reuolt from the Christian faith, and now eftsoones againe embracing the same, and (ignorant of his owne fortune) persecuting with too much seueritie those which withstood his comming into the countrey, especially such great men as tooke part with Bogdanus; and now after his returne vnto the Christian faith, not fauouring the Turkes as he was wont, but crossing them H in many matters, became suspitious both vnto Selymus and the Bassaes his old friends. Which the Vayuod of the lesser VALACHIA (commonly called VALACHIA TRANSALPINA) vnderstanding, he became a suter vnto the great Bassaes of the Court for his brother Peter, and earnestly trauelled with them, That as Iohn supported by Selymus, had driuen Bogdanus out of MOLDAVIA, so Peter his brother might in like manner by his helpe driue Iohn out also. In which his sute he spared for no cost, neither ceased by malicious suggestions to encrease the suspition alreadie conceiued of Iohn the Vayuod: who hauing rejected the Mahometane religion, and againe embraced the Christian faith, would (as he said) in short time, as had Bogdanus, joyne hands with the Polonians, and cast off his obedience towards the great Sultan, by whom he had beene so highly promoted. Beside that, this malicious man offered, That his brother Peter for such his preferment I should pay yearely vnto Selymus twice so much more as did Iohn, namely an hundred and twentie thousand duckats by the name of a tribute.

The Bassaes before corrupted and mooued with the greatnesse of the tribute, persuaded Selymus, by an embassadour to send for Iohn the Vayuod, to come vnto him himselfe in person, and to commaund him to giue place to such a man as he should send thither in his stead: which if he should refuse to doe, then to denounce vnto him open warre. Hereunto Selymus, who had euen then much emptied his cofers with the losse of his fleet in the battell of LEPANTO, & the chargeable warres against the Venetians, was easily induced: and to that purpose sent his embassadour to the Vayuod; who hauing audience the one and twentieth of Februarie, at the same time that Henry Valois, afterward the French king was crowned at CRACOVIA, deliuered his message K as followeth: ‘The commaunding speech of the Turks embassador to Iohn the Vayuod. Selymus the great emperour of the Turkes sendeth me vnto thee Iohn, Vayuod of VALACHIA his tributarie, with this commaund (whereunto his pleasure is, that thou shouldest without delay send him answere:) first hee chargeth thee to send him not such a tribute as hee was wont, but twice so much more, to wit, an hundred and twentie thousand duckats. If thou shalt refuse so to doe, there is another readie to giue it, both for himselfe and his posteritie. But Selymus mindfull of thy constancie, fidelitie, and valour, will not be troublesome to thee in thy gouernment, if thou foorthwith send the aforesaid tribute. Which if thou shalt refuse to doe, then his will is, that thou shouldest giue place to another, and thy selfe returne with me to CONSTANTINOPLE, there to answere the matter:L otherwise I am in his name to denounce all hostilitie, and the calamities of warre both vnto thee and thy countrey.’

This proud message of the embassador strucke further into the mind of the Vayuod than any would haue thought: yet dissembling his greefe, he commanded him to be brought to the lodging appointed for him, telling him, That in a matter of so great importance, and so much concerning the whole state of his countrey, he could not giue him so present answer as he required; but that vpon mature deliberation had with his nobilitie and counsell, he would in short time answere him accordingly. The embassadour being gone to his lodging, the Vayuod forthwith began deepely to consider of Selymus his demaunds; and that in the Turkes faith was no assurance,M which he kept or brake with the Christian princes, as best fitted his owne turne: and besides that, that if he should graunt to pay that so great and heauie a tribute, in so great pouertie of his kingdome, sore wasted with ciuile warre, Selymus would not be therewith long contented, so long as any man would giue him more, but happily would the next yeare exact a greater, and in the [Page] A end such an one as he with all his subjects should not be able to pay; which it should not be safe for him at any time to refuse, so long as any man would giue it. Wherefore calling togither the nobilitie and states of his countrey, he brake with them in this sort.

If euer you were to consult and deliberat of a most important and difficult matter,

The speech of the Vayuod vnto his nobilitie and subiect [...].

this verily is that time: for Selymus the Turkish emperour, enflamed with insatiable auarice, and I know not by whose persuasion, not contented with his wonted tribute, exacteth of vs twise so much more. If you shall grant it, it shall not much concerne me, as not to be paied by me your soueraigne, but by your selues and your posteritie: if we denie it, forthwith he denounceth vnto vs fire and sword, with all the calamities of warre. And in this barenesse of our kingdome, almost spoiled by ciuile warres, how B shall we be able to pay it him? wherefore declare your mindes. Verily I foresee, that if you shall in this yeeld vnto Selymus, and grant him so great a tribute, he will not therewith long hold himselfe contented, but euerie yeare extort a greater, vntill he haue altogither eaten vs vp. Wherefore it were better for vs (in mine opinion) to lose our liues togither with our wiues and children, than to suffer so great an indignitie: neither is it mine owne estate that troubleth me, for why it is you that are to pay it, and not I. Wherefore if you list not to endure this so dishonourable and base a seruitude, let me forthwith so vnderstand from you: and I will for my part so prouide, as that I will not onely not pay vnto the barbarous tyrant the new and heauie tribute he demaundeth, but not so much as any tribute at all; so that you be not wanting both to your selues and me. I know right well (beloued and fellowes in armes) what I owe both vnto you and the common-weale, for whose good and welfare I am alwaies C readie to lay downe my life.

He had no sooner thus said, but that a secret sorrow and vnwonted silence, had as it were oppressed the whole assembly. At length, as men awaked out of an heauie and dead sleepe, they murmured among themselues, that the Turkish emperour should so without reason oppresse them, with doubling and redoubling of his tribute: and were generally of opinion, That the Vayuod had not so plainely as truly spoken of the intollerablenesse thereof: and that therefore they had rather die, than to endure so great dishonour, joyned with so foule a slauerie. And thereupon offered vnto the Vayuod to serue vpon their owne charge, and with him vpon the banke of Danubius to meet the proud enemie, and there in defence of their liues and libertie, to fight D it out vnto the last man. The Vayuod in few words commending their fidelitie, and taking of them an oath for the faithfull performance of that they had so resolutely promised, sent for the Turks embassadour, and gaue him this short answere.

I,

The answere of the Vayuod vnto the Turkes embassadour.

for the auntient fidelitie and allegeance which I owe vnto my lord and dread soueraigne, the mightie emperour Selymus, would willingly yeeld vnto him the tribute he requireth, were it not that I know the minds of my people to abhorre the same: wishing rather to endure all calamities, hap whatsoeuer hap may, than to yeeld vnto so dishonourable and shamefull slauerie. Wherefore sithence I cannot by any meanes extort the same from my subiects, tell my lord Selymus, That I most humbly request him, not to take the same in euill part; whose amitie I wish to be vnto me, rather an ornament E and refuge, than disgrace or hinderance. And that vpon that good hope I both asked, and for my singular fidelitie obtained of him the Vayuodship of MOLDAVIA: which my good hope I most heartily beseech him may not deceiue me.

With this answere he dismissed the embassador vnrewarded, and with a safe conuoy brought him vnto the banke of Danubius: which his homely vsage of the embassadour, caused him not a little to be suspected, to be in mind changed from Selymus. The embassadour sent away, the Vayuod not ignorant of the sudden inuasions of the Turkes, forthwith began to raise his army: and at the same time, sent embassadours vnto Henrie king of POLONIA his neerest neighbour, certifying him of the dangerous state of MOLDAVIA, the surest bulwarke of the Polonian kingdome, F which once ouerthrowne, opened a faire and easie way for the common enemie into POLONIA: and therefore requested him, that as the kings of POLONIA had of auntient time, euen for the safetie of their owne state, protected that countrey; so it would please him now in like manner in so dangerous a time, to giue him aid; or at leastwise to giue leaue vnto such of his subjects as were willing to serue for entertainment, to come vnto him, whom he would with all [Page] honour and bountie vse according to their place and qualitie. Whereunto the king answered,G that for as much as he and his predecessours the kings of POLONIA, had for the space of more than an hundred yeares beene in league with the Turkish kings and emperours, he could not either send him aid, or yet giue leaue vnto any of his subjects to serue against the Turke as he desired. With this answere the Vayuod was much troubled,The Vayuod entertaineth the Polonian Cossackes. as there deceiued where he most hoped for reliefe: yet hearing of certaine companies of the Polonian Cossacks, which hauing long lien in hope of prey vpon the side of the great riuer Borysthenes, were returning emptie home, he by fit messengers sent of purpose, offered them great entertainment to serue him in his warres against the Turke; of which his offer, they (as men liuing for most part by seruice) gladly accepted; and so without the knowledge of the king went vnto him, to the number of twelue hundred, with their captaines, men of great courage and valour, of whom Suierceuius was chiefe:H who were by the Vayuod honourably entertained, and did him in these wars right worthy seruice. These Cossacks are light horsemen, lying most commonly vpon the borders of the Polonian kingdome towards the Tartars: an hardie and valiant kind of men, whose best liuing, is the spoile they take from the enemie; and their best lands, their horse and launce. For albeit that the Turkes and Tartars are most commonly in league with the Polonians, and seeme neuer so desirous of peace; yet doe they oftentimes in great numbers, vpon the sudden breake into the countries of PODOLIA and RVSSIA, part of the Polonian kingdome, and there doe great harme, if they be not in time repressed or cut off by the aforesaid light horsemen, who for that purpose lie alwaies in wait for them, as doth the hawke for the prey.

Selymus sendeth his forces against the Vayuod. Selymus vnderstanding the answere of Iohn the Vayuod, was therewith exceedingly enraged,I and the more by the bitter complaint of the embassadour, who angrie with the Vayuod that he was of him no better regarded nor rewarded, spared not to the vttermost of his power, to incense the angrie emperour against him, as if his honor had been in the person of himselfe contemned and violated. Wherfore without delay, he sent thirtie thousand Turks, and two thousand Hungarians vnto the Palatine of VALACHIA TRANSALPINA, that joyning those forces to his owne, he might take Iohn the Vayuod, and sending him in bonds to CONSTANTINOPLE, to place Peter his brother, Vayuod in his place. The Palatine glad of this commaund, and hauing raised his owne power, togither with the Turks and the Hungarians, swam ouer the riuer Moldauus, hauing in his armie about an hundred and two thousand fighting men: a power, not onely sufficient to haue driuen the Vayuod out of MOLDAVIA, but also to haue shaken a right K puissant king in his kingdome. The Palatine in the middest of so great a strength, little fearing, and lesse regarding the sudden comming of the Vayuod, suffered his men with their horses to lie disorderedly here and there, dispersed in the large medowes and pastures all alongst the faire riuers side; so the better to refresh themselues, wearie of their long trauell. In the meane time certaine scouts came to the Vayuod then at dinner, certifying him, that the enemie with an huge armie, the certaine number wherof they could not well descrie, was come ouer the riuer: and now resting themselues, had turned off their horses into the rich medowes thereabout, in such disordered and carelesse manner, as that they might with a small power be easily ouerthrowne. The Vayuod glad of this newes, forthwith sent before Suierceuius with his Cossacks, and fiue thousand other light horsemen, more certainly to descrie what the enemie did, with the manner of his L lying; and he himselfe with the rest of his armie, followed faire and softly after. Suierceuius with great silence approaching the enemies campe, suddenly light vpon the enemies scouts, in number about fiue hundred; who enclosed before they were aware, were taken euerie man by the Cossacks, and by them straightly examined of the state of their armie and campe. Who for safegard of their liues now in their enemies power, frankly confessed, how that the Palatine lay securely there by, resting his armie, not so much for the refreshing thereof after his trauell, as with greater strength to set vpon the Vayuod with his fresh souldiours: and that in the armie were about seauentie thousand Valachians, thirtie thousand Turks, and three thousand Hungarians; who now dispersed, and sleeping in securitie, might easily be ouerthrowne. Of all these things Suierceuius aduertiseth the Vayuod, requesting him with all possible speed to hasten his comming, for the M obtaining of a most notable and assured victorie: he in the meane time lying close with his men not farre from the enemie.The Palatine with the Turks ouerthrowne by the Vayuod. The Vayuod certified of all these things, came without delay, and forthwith commaunded Suierceuius with his men to giue the onset vpon the enemie: purposing himselfe with the rest of his armie on the other side, to charge the disordered campe in three places. [Page] A Suierceuius according as he had in charge, with a great and terrible outcrie, suddenly set vpon the secure enemies: who dismaied with the suddennesse of the vnexpected danger, stood as men astonied, not knowing which way to flie, or how to make resistance. But whiles Suierceuius with his light horsemen thus on the one side filleth the campe with tumult, terrour, slaughter, and feare; behold, euen as a sudden tempest commeth the Vayuod, bearing all the disordered campe downe before him: neither had the enemies any meanes to flie, hauing put their horses a great way off from them into the rich pastures; but there taken vnarmed, were miserably slain. In all the campe was lamentation and mourning, death raging in euerie place, with such furie, that of so great an armie as of late passed the riuer, few or none escaped, more than the Palatine, with Peter his brother; who by great chance with much adoe getting horses, swam ouer the riuer, B and so came to the castle of BRAILOVIA in VALACHIA; all the rest were slaine and left to be of the beasts of the field and birds of the aire deuoured. It was a most horrible spectacle to see the ground couered with the bodies of the dead▪ all stained with gore bloud, and their weapons of all sorts lying by them. In the campe were found great riches, all which the Vayuod gaue vnto his souldiors, and there staied foure daies to refresh his wearied men. After that, he with his victorious armie entred into VALACHIA, the Palatines countrey, where he tooke manie castles and townes, and put to the sword all that came in his way, men, women, and children, without respect of age or sex: and burnt all the countrey townes and villages before him as he went; so that all that part of the countrey of VALACHIA TRANSALPINA, was couered with smoke and fire, to the terrour of the beholders. The aged fathers were in euerie place drawne C forth to slaughter, the young babes were cut in pieces, the matrons and virgins defiled, and afterwards slaine; and in briefe, all the crueltie that could be deuised, performed: in the bloudie execution whereof, the Vayuod commended his men, persuading them in like manner still to prosecute the victorie, and that the rest of their labours was all but for prey and bootie, for the enriching of themselues. In this hauocke of all things, it was told him, that the Palatine with his brother Peter, the men whom he most sought after were in the castle of BRAILOVIA not farre off: whereupon he forthwith marched thither with his armie. The citie of BRAILOVIA standeth vpon the riuer Danubius, and had in it a castle of some good strength, defended both by the nature of the place, and a strong garrison of the Turks which Selymus had appointed for the keeping thereof, as the key of the countrey: not farre from this citie the Vayuod encamping his D armie, writ vnto the captaine of the castle, forthwith to deliuer vnto him the Palatine, with Peter his brother, his mortall enemies; who neuer wronged by him, had inuaded his countrey, and sought after his life, and being ouerthrowne in battell, were fled vnto him: which if he should refuse to doe, he threatned neuer to depart thence, vntill he had to his farther harme, constrained him by force to yeeld them. These letters he sent by two Valachian captiues, to be deliuered vnto the captaine of the castle: whereunto he returned answere by foure Turkes, two of the citie, and two of his owne seruants, by whom he also sent ten great shot, and as many small, with two Turkish arrowes, and this message.

For that I know thee to be the seruant of my dread soueraigne Selymus,

The blunt answere of the captaine to the Vayuod.

I regard thee: and will E not denie the same men to be with me, whom thou so much requirest. But for as much as I vnderstand, that thou of late hast slaine a great number of the seruants of the great emperour, who by his commaundement were bringing Peter the brother of the Palatine into MOLDAVIA: I therefore tell thee, that except thou betime raise thy siege, I will feed thee and thy followers, with such dishes as these; whereupon thou and thine armie gorged to the full, shall all afterwards dangerously surfeit and cast. Farewell.

This rough answere so much mooued the Vayuod,Barbarous crueltie. that he commaunded hands to be laid vpon the aforesaid foure messengers: and their noses, lips, and eares being cut off, both their feet to be with great nailes fast nailed vnto a long piece of timber, and so with their hands hanging F downward, to be set vp before the citie, and so left for the captaine and the citisens to gaze vpon. Signifying withall vnto the captaine that sent them, that he himselfe with the other fugitiues his guests,The city of Brailouia taken by the Vayuod and rased downe to the ground. should in like manner be serued, if they fell into his hands. Immediatly after he assaulted the citie, and vsing the cheerfulnesse of his souldiors, by plaine force tooke the same, the defendants being not able to hold them out. There was made great slaughter of the Turkes, whereas [Page] no man was taken to mercie; the very babes were slain, together with their mothers, and bloud G ran like riuers into the Danubius. For the space of foure dayes this bloudie execution endured▪ no place serued for refuge, euen the most secret and obscure places were searched, and the poore creatures there found, drawne forth and slaine. The furie was so great, that no liuing thing, no not so much as the very dogs, were spared. Much gold, siluer, plate, jewels, and other rich spoyle was there found, all which became a prey vnto the greedie souldiours: for that citie was of all others in those quarters the richest, as a place much frequented, & enjoying long peace, as after such time the Turkes were fully possessed of GRaeCIA, not being troubled with any warres, vntill now, that it was by the Vayuod first ransackt, and afterwards rased downe to the ground, and nothing thereof left standing, more than the bare castle it selfe: which the Vayuod durst not aduenture vpon, for that it was well fortified, and furnished with so strong a garrison, as that it could not H without his great losse be taken.

The Turks again ouerthrowne by the Vayuod.Whiles the Vayuod was thus busied in the spoile of BRAILOVIA, newes was brought vnto him of the comming of fifteene thousand Turkes to the reliefe of the castle: against whom hee forthwith sent Suierceuius with his Cossackes, and other eight thousand Moldauian horsemen; who suddenly comming vpon the Turks, disordered and fearing no such matter, slew almost fourteene thousand of them, and chased the rest vnto the castle of TEINA. Of this victory Suierceuius in all hast certified the Vayuod; and withall, that there was another great power of the Turkes comming, which might easily be also ouerthrowne, if he leauing the siege of the castle of BRAILOVIA, would without delay come and joyne his forces with his. He glad of that news, and well perceiuing how difficult and dangerous that siege would be vnto him, rise forthwith with his armie,I and went to Suierceuius: and afterwards vpon conference had with him, laid siege to TEINA: which citie taken without much labour, he put to sword all the people found therein, not leauing one aliue: and by the seruice of Suierceuius ouerthrew the Turks comming towards BRAILOVA.

Selymus in doubt to haue beene thrust out of Valachia by the Vayuod. Selymus in the meane time much troubled with the proceedings of the Vayuod, and doubting to be quite thrust out of VALACHIA TRANSALPINA (which he was like ynough to haue beene, had not the treason of Czarnieuiche hindered the matter) prepared new forces for that seruice, and after the manner of the Turks, in time of their greatest distresse appointed generall supplications and prayers to be made vnto his prophet Mahomet, for the better successe of his wars, the vndoubted signe of his feare.

The Vayuod after so many victories against the Turkes, purposing for a while to breake vp K his great armie, called vnto him his old friend Ieremias Czarnieuiche, vnto whom, as vnto the man he of all others most trusted, he had resolued to commit the charge, with part of his armie, to keepe the Turks from passing againe ouer the riuer Danubius into his countrey: and in deliuering to him his charge, spake vnto him as followeth: ‘The kind speech of the Vayuod to Czarnieuiche.Sith fortune hath hitherto answered our desires (worthie Czarnieuiche) with most rare and perpetuall successe against the Turkes, our most cruell enemies, we are thankefully to take the same, and to render most humble and heartie thankes vnto Almightie God, that it hath pleased him, the author of all victorie, so to haue prospered our endeuours against these fierce and deuouring enemies. Now what remaineth for the present, but to disband mine armie, wearied with labour and trauell,L and to giue my soldiors leaue to depart home to rest themselues, that so I may as occasion shall require againe vse their fresh forces for our better seruice: you in the meane time with thirteene thousand of my select souldiors, shall lie vpon the side of Danubius, to keepe the Turkes from passing the riuer. Haue good regard I pray you vnto this your charge, which I vpon an especiall trust, grounded vpon your antient loue and fidelitie, haue at this time imposed vpon you. And let me from time to time with all expedition vnderstand from you of euery motion of the enemie, that so we may in due time prouide for him accordingly.’

And so in token of his greater fauour, taking his leaue of him with a kisse (as the manner of those people is) gaue leaue vnto the greatest part of his souldiors to depart home, yet with this M charge, to be alwayes in readinesse whensoeuer they should be called vpon.

Czarnieuiche hauing receiued his charge, and promising vnto the Vayuod the vttermost of his faithfull deuoire, went towards Danubius, and there most carefully kept the passages with continuall watch and ward. It was not long but that great numbers of the Turkes were come downe [Page] A to the other side of the riuer, and moe were still comming, yet none of them was so hardie as to aduenture the great riuer; Czarnieuiche with his horsemen lying in the faces of them, readie to receiue them on the other side. Which the Bassa whom Selymus had sent with his armie, perceiuing, sent certaine men pickt out for the purpose, to Czarnieuiche, to sound him, if he might by any meanes be drawne to come ouer, in secret to talke with him: and the more to mooue him, beside his conduct for his safetie, sent him by the same messengers thirtie thousand Hungarian duckats for a present. With which so faire a bait Czarnieuiche allured, receiued the money, and faithfully promised to come.Czarnieuiche hath secret conference with Peter the Palatines brother, who cunningly persuadeth him to giue the Turks passage. And so shortly after, secretly passing ouer the riuer, had conference with Peter the Palatines brother, who then lay on the further side of Danubius, with a great power of the Turkes. In this conference, Peter declared vnto him in how great danger the Vayuod B stood; and how highly Selymus was offended with him, That he his tributarie and vassale should worke the destruction of his so great armies: which his heauie displeasure he could no otherwise satisfie but with his head: and that therfore he should no longer rule in MOLDAVIA, for that gouernment was by the great emperour giuen vnto him. Wherefore (said he) if thou be wise, whilest it is yet in thy power, gaine the good will of Selymus by some good desert: for an easie matter it is to begin any warre, but an hard matter to end the same. For as much as it is not alwayes in the same mans power to begin warres, and at his pleasure to make an end. Euery foole may when he list enter into armes, but must lay the same downe when it pleaseth the conquerour. Now you haue a faire oportunitie, and it is in your owne power to procure his friendship for euer, better standing with your affaires than war. And albeit you may hope well of the power C of the Vayuod, yet wisedome would not, that you should preferre vncertaineties before things certaine: you haue now receiued thirtie thousand duckats, the earnest of your further deserts; which shall hereafter haue also their due rewards in most full and bountifull measure. Wherfore if you will doe your selfe good, and prouide both for your safetie and preferment, confound not your owne good fortune, with the broken and desperat state of the Vayuod, but suffer the Turks to passe as friends ouer the riuer of Danubius. For I am come (said he) with a great and puissant armie from the mightie Selymus, to take vpon me the gouernment of MOLDAVIA, and to send the Vayuod in bonds to CONSTANTINOPLE: and of me, being once Vayuod, what is it that for so great desert thou and thine may not aske and obtaine? Wherefore I pray thee conceale the comming of the Turks, and withdraw thy selfe from the riuer: so shall we, passing ouer the D riuer with our populous armie, easily oppresse the Vayuod with all his power, and at once reuenge all the former injuries and disgraces done both vnto Selymus and vs.

With greedie men what will not the foule desire of gold worke?Czarnieuiche corrupted▪ giueth the Turkes leaue quietly to passe ouer the riuer of Danubius. Czarnieuiche ouercome with the golden promises of Peter, and forgetfull of his faith before giuen vnto the Vayuod, yeelded vnto all he requested: and drawing his forces further off from the riuer, as if it had been for his more safetie, gaue the Turks free passage. There was then in the Turks armie two hundred thousand men, well appointed, and furnished with great ordinance and all other things necessarie both for the field and for siege, who by the sufferance of the false traitour passed quietly ouer the riuer. Czarnieuiche forthwith posting to the Vayuod, certified him, how that the Turks trusting to their multitude, had passed the riuer of Danubius, against whom he was not able (as E he said) to make head: and that therefore he should doe well, without delay to goe against them with such forces as he had then in readinesse; which joyned vnto his, might easily ouerthrow them. Glad was the Vayuod of this newes, and filled with the hope of good successe, demaunded of him what strength the enemie might be of? They are (said he) not much aboue twelue thousand that be already come ouer, but are still comming more and more, and will before your comming thither be aboue fifteene thousand.

The Vayuod lay then at the siege of the castle of TEINA (hauing before taken the citie) but hearing this newes, raised his siege, and so in foure dayes came and encamped within three miles of the enemie: and forthwith sent forth Suierceuius with his Cossackes, and Veremias Generall of the horsemen, with six thousand horse, to take view of the enemies campe, and to vnderstand F what might be of their designes. These two captaines marching together, chanced to fall vpon the Turkes scouts, in number about six thousand horsemen, with whom they had a light skirmish, and in a short time put them to flight. Of these scouts they tooke one, and him grieuously wounded: who being examined of the strength of the enemie, and feeling himselfe wounded to death, told them dissemblingly, that the Turks were not in number many. But the Cossackes [Page] doubting of the truth of that report, and probably conjecturing by so great a number of scouts,G that the enemie was of farre greater strength than was supposed or reported; quickly certified the Vayuod thereof, wishing him in time to prouide for the safetie of himselfe and his armie, and not too much to trust Czarnieuiche, whom they had a good while before suspected. But the Vayuod nothing doubting of the faith of him whom he had of long time found most faithfull in the time of his hardest distresse, and vsed as a most trustie companion in all his trauels, answered nothing, but that he knew whom he trusted; and that it was not now time to stand in doubt, or to be afraid; and that he would ere long come and take a view of the enemies campe himselfe: for that he was not come so farre to flie, but to fight in defence of his countrey and subjects, euen to the last gaspe. And so fortifying his campe neere vnto a lake that runneth out of Danubius (for the more conuenient watering of his armie) he set forward with all his power against H the enemie.

Neere vnto the enemies campe was an high hill, from whence the Vayuod had thought to haue descried the number of them, with the manner of their lying: but comming thither, he could descrie nothing but foure companies of scouts afarre off, one companie from another; who also vpon the sight of the Moldauians withdrew themselues of purpose out of sight vnto the armie, which then lay in a low valley behind an hill, not to be discouered vntill a man were almost vpon it. The Vayuod suspecting the enemie to be at hand, deuided his horsemen, in number thirtie thousand, into thirtie companies, and placing before euery companie certaine field pieces, so marched readie to giue battell. His footmen, in number many, a rude and homely kind of people, but vnto him of all others most faithfull, and armed with such countrey weapons as they I had, he placed by themselues. So marching on, he came to another hill, from whence he might not farre off easily descrie the huge armie of the enemie, and how he had been by the treason of Czarnieuiche deceiued: whereupon he presently sent for him; who sent him word backe againe, That he could not now come, the enemie being so nigh at hand, but that he should forthwith see him in the field as forward as the forwardest against the enemie. Czarnieuiche had then vnder his commaund thirteene thousand of the most choice souldiors in the armie: who vpon the signall of battell on both sides giuen (for the Turkes were now also readie) first according to his promise set forward,Czarnieuiche reuolteth vnto the Turks. as if it had beene to haue giuen the onset: but being come neere vnto the enemie, forthwith (as he had before agreed) caused his ensigne to be let fall, and his men with their caps vpon the points of their speares and swords, in token of their voluntarie yeelding and submission,K to bow downe their heads and bodies; whom the Turkes with their speares and launces holden vp on high, joyfully receiued as their friends, or rather as men taken to mercie. The rest of the armie almost discouraged with this so sudden a reuolt of so great a man, retired in hast to the Vayuod, crying out vnto him, that all was lost. But he nothing discouraged therewith (as a most resolute man in the most sudden dangers) with comfortable words cheared them vp, willing them as couragious men to follow him against the enemie, whom they in all things exceeded, excepting number, which alwayes gaue not the victorie. The Turkes perceiuing the Moldauians lately reuolted vpon the joyning of the battell (as men in conscience wounded) to shrinke backe, thrust them perforce into the head of their battell,Traitours iustly rewarded. making of them no more account, but to blunt the enemies swords; and such as hung backe, they themselues slew: vpon whom as false L traitors the Vayuod caused his field pieces to be most furiously discharged; so that most part of these trecherous men there slaine, some by the Turkes, some by their owne friends, receiued the just reward of their infidelitie and treason, accompanied with perpetuall infamie. Ouer the dead bodies of these traitors the Turkes comming on,The battell betwixt the Turkes and the Moldauians. were at the first notably encountered by the Moldauians; and after a most cruell fight, as if they had beene discouraged, began to retire, but indeed of purpose to haue drawn the Christians before they were aware, within the danger of their great ordinance, and ambushes, which they had before aptly and couertly placed for that purpose. Which Suierceuius well acquainted with the Turkes finenesse, perceiuing, with much adoe staied their further pursute, and so auoided the danger prepared for them. The Turks deceiued of their expectation, came on againe afresh, with no lesse furie than at the first: whom M the Christians right valiantly receiued, and made with them a most cruell and mortall battell; wherein many both of the Turkes and Christians fell, and neuer rise againe. But what was so small a power against such a world of men?The Moldauians ouerthrowne. After long fight, the Moldauians oppressed with the multitude of their enemies, began to giue ground: and seeing no other remedie, but either to flie [Page] A or to die, betooke themselues to flight, wherein most part of them were slaine, the furious enemie still hardly pursuing them at the heeles: of the Cossackes were left onely two hundred and fiftie. The horsemen (the chiefest strength of the Vayuod) thus by the treason of Charniauiche ouerthrowne,The Vayuod hauing fortified himselfe within the ruines of an old towne, is besieged by the Tur [...]. the Vayuod with twentie thousand footmen, and such horsemen as had now after the battell joyned themselues vnto the footmen, retired vnto a towne not farre off, which he but a little before had rased; but was now glad in the ruines thereof to fortifie himselfe against the sudden and furious assaults of the Turks: who the same night so beset the Vayuods campe with such a multitude of men, that no man could go in or out of the campe; or the vttermost part of that hugie armie be from any place descried.

The next day (which was the eleuenth of Iune) the Turkes shot diuers great shot into the B Vayuods campe, but to small purpose, for the Christians had (for so short a time) notably fortified themselues within the ruines of the old towne. Which the Turks well perceiuing, and withall considering how hard and dangerous a matter it would be to assault the Vayuod in his strength: they sent messengers vnto him, to persuade him without delay to yeeld himselfe, and to repose more trust in the mercie of the Turks, than in his owne broken forces; especially in his so hard distresse, being so beset, as that he could not possibly escape, and out of hope of all reliefe; and therefore should by such voluntarie yeelding, seeke for grace of his enemies, rather than by a desperat obstinacie to cast himselfe into a most certaine destruction, where no mercie was to be expected. Whereunto the Vayuod answered, That he was not ignorant into what danger he was brought, rather by the treason of Charniauiche and his followers, than by the valour of the C enemie; yet had left with him a strong power of most valiant and resolute men, who would in his quarrell and defence of themselues, sell their liues verie deare vnto the Turks: neuerthelesse, that to auoid the farther effusion of bloud, he could for his part be content to yeeld vnto his hard fortude, so that the great commaunders of the Turks armie would condiscend vnto such reasonable conditions as he should propound, and for the performance thereof giue him their faith, not once or twise, but seauen times by solemne oath to be taken. Of this his offer the Turks accepted, willing him to set downe the conditions: which were, first that the Polonian Cossackes might in safetie depart into their countrey, with their horses and armour: then, that they should without any violence offered to his person, send him aliue and in good safetie vnto the great emperour Selymus, before him to answere his owne cause: as for the Moldauians, he said he needed D not to couenant any thing, for that the injurie offered vnto them tended also to the hurt of the emperor himselfe, and of him whom he should appoint Vayuod, whose subjects they were. These conditions (as reasonable) were well liked of the Turkes, and so according to his desire, confirmed seauen times by the solemne oath of euerie captaine and commaunder in the armie, both for themselues and their followers. Vpon this agreement, the Vayuod brought all his armie out of the trenches wherein they had lien strongly encamped, and there with heauie heart tooke his last leaue of his souldiors, to the generall griefe of them all: amongst whom he diuided such money and jewels as he had, as a remembrance of his kindnesse. And there in the sight of them all disarming himselfe, accompanied onely with Osmolius a Polonian, went in manner of a suppliant vnto the Turks campe, where he had full foure houres talke with the great commanders E of the armie; vntill that at last Capucius Bassa (either offended with his speech, or vnmindfull of his faith before giuen) with his scimitar vpon the sudden strucke him a great blow ouerthwart the face,The Vayuod shamefully and perfidiously murthered by the Turkes. and an other crosse the bellie: whom so wounded, and as yet but halfe dead, the Ianizaries tooke and cut off his head, which was forthwith set vp vpon a launce, for all men to behold. His dead bodie they bound by the feet vnto two camels, and so shamefully tore it in pieces: and happie was he that could get any little piece thereof, or embrue his sword with the least drop of his bloud. This was the lamentable & wofull end of Iohn the Vayuod of MOLDAVIA, a right valiant and worthie man, shamefully murthered by the perfidious Turkes, who had he beene more constant in the Christian faith, had not happily fallen into so great miserie. Whose wofull fall may serue as a most notable example of the vncertaintie of these worldly things: for as no F man for a time had of the Turkes moe or more glorious victories, so in the end, and as it were in demonstration of mans fragilitie, no man perished more miserably. The Vayuod thus perfidiously murthered, the Turkes with like treacherie forthwith set vpon the Moldauians, and slew them downeright as beasts appointed for the slaughter. Which the Cossackes beholding, and hoping for no better measure, thrust themselues into the thickest of their enemies, and there valiantly [Page] fighting were all slaine, except some few of the better sort reserued for raunsome, amongst G whom was Suierceuius with some other captaines; who were afterwards for great sums redeemed, when as they could by no meanes be persuaded to forsake their religion and turne Turke.

All Vala [...]hia made subiect to the Turkes.After this victorie and shamefull murther of the Vayuod, the Turkes ouerran all MOLDAVIA, and put to sword all the nobilitie of that countrey, with many of the countrey people: of whom they also as their manner is in countries new conquered, sent great numbers in Colonies into the farther parts of the Turkish empire: and for the more assured possession thereof, placed strong garrisons in euerie towne and castle, as they thought it most conuenient. Thus all VALACHIA (both the higher and the lower) fell into the Turkes hands in the yeare 1574,The losse of Moldauia dangerous to Polania. and was by Selymus joyned vnto the Turkish empire, none of the least things by him done: For beside the gaining of so great a countrey (the most assured bulwarke of POLONIA) he hath therby H opened a faire and easie way for his successours, at their pleasure to enter into PODOLIA, or RVSSIA, parts of the Polonian kingdome, yea and into POLONIA it selfe: which they will vndoubtedly in time doe, if God in mercie bridle not their immoderat desires, and with his mightie hand protect the dangerous state of that kingdome.

Selymus at the same time, not a little grieued with the losse of the kingdome of TVNES, and that Don Iohn had there done the yere before; began forthwith to cast in his mind, how he might againe recouer the same, and withall, thrust the Spaniards out of the strong castle of GVLETTA; which they had now almost fortie yeares kept, euer since that it was by Charles the fift taken from Barbarussa in the yeare 1535: for hee well saw it to be a matter of no small moment, to whom that strong fortresse (standing so commodiously in the frontiers of AFFRICKE) belonged.I There was (and still is) vpon that coast diuers of the Turkes aduenturers, which liuing altogither vpon spoile, had to that place safe recourse, as to a most assured refuge: and if no bootie were to be met with thereabout, then would they run out towards MALTA, SARDINIA, SICILIA, and the other islands thereabouts; yea oftentimes into ITALIE and SPAINE, and from thence carrie away with them great booties both of men and cattell, and whatsoeuer thing else came in their way: for which cause, many of the Turkes men of warre resorted thither in hope of purchase. But after that GVLETTA was possessed by the Spaniards, they were not onely depriued of that so commodious an harbour, but many times intercepted euen by them of that place, and by the gallies of MALTA: which two places serued as two most sure bulwarks against the Turkes and Moores aduenturers, by whose meanes they many times came short home.K For which cause the Turkes, especially these pyrats (of whom the Turke maketh great account, as not his least strength at sea) wonderfully desired to haue both those strong places gotten out of the hands of the Christians. In the castle of GVLETTA was continually a strong garrison of a thousand Spaniards, who kept them of TVNES in great subjection, and oftentimes cut short these pyrats and rouers, who much troubled those seas. Wherefore the Turkish emperour Selymus, hauing made great preparation both for sea and land seruice, commaunded Sinan, Piall, and Vluzales, his chiefe Bassaes, and men of great experience, with all speed to passe ouer with his fleet into AFFRICKE, to besiege TVNES and GVLETTA. Who when they had put all things in readinesse according as they had in charge, set forward, and with three hundred saile of gallies came before GVLETTA the thirteenth day of Iuly: whither also resorted vnto them other L the Turkes men of warre, from ALEXANDRIA, ALGIERS, and other places, in such number, as that all that coast seemed to be couered with shipping. The Turkes at their first arriuall laied siege to the water tower, wherein were eight hundred sou [...]diors well prouided of all things needfull for defence, who most valiantly maintained the place, vntill such time as that most of them being by the often assaults of the enemie slaine: the rest by the commaundement of the captaine retired to him into the castle. In taking of this tower the Turkes lost 3000 of their men.

Guletta besieged by the Turks.After that, they began to besiege the castle of GVLETTA, against which they cast vp diuers mounts, and from thence most terribly battered the castle: from whence the deadly shot was sent againe amongst them not sparingly; so that in one day two hundred great shot were reckoned to haue been shot out of the castle amongst the thickest of the enemies. But after manie furious M assaults, too tedious to report, and much harme done on both sides, the Turkes to their great aduantage tooke the chanell of the lake of TVNES; and fearing least some reliefe should be sent to the besieged, maintained their assault day and night without intermission. Neuerthelesse, certaine companies of Spaniards sent from the new castle by Serbellio, got into GVLETTA; after [Page] A which, they in the besieged castle sallied out, and the twentith of August repulsed the Turkes, with an exceeding great slaughter. But the Bassaes fully resolued vpon the winning of the place to gage their whole forces, and without ceasing still bringing on fresh souldiors, after they had all the day continued a most terrible assault,Guletta taken by the Turkes. at length about two houres after Sun set, they tooke the castle the three and twentith day of August, when there was now scarcely two hundred soldiors left aliue to defend the same; who altogither with the other weak people in the castle were without mercie cut in pieces. What wealth the Turkes found in this castle, is hard to say; but certaine it is, that they had therein great store of victuals, armour, shot, and pouder, and foure hundred great pieces of artillerie.

GVLETTA thus taken,The new castle besieged. the Turkes forthwith laid siege to the new castle, appointed by Don B Iohn the yeare before to haue beene built betwixt GVLETTA and TVNES, which was not yet altogither finished: wherein the two auntient and valiant captaines, Serbellio and Salazar (left there of purpose for the building thereof by Don Iohn) lay with a garrison of four thousand good souldiors. The Bassaes when they gaue the first summons to the castle, the foure and twentith of August,The notable answere of Serbellio. required to haue it forthwith deliuered vnto them: to whom Serbellio stoutly answered, That he had promised the king his master, to giue him a better account of the place; and being now also verie old, could not endure the Turkes heauie yoake, but would therefore hold it out vnto the last man: which both he and Salazar truly performed, not omitting any thing that was by men to be done for defence of the place; and sallying out, sometimes the one, and sometimes the other, made great slaughter of the Turkes, giuing them also repulse vpon repulse when C they came to the assault. But the great Bassaes, little feeling, and lesse regarding the losse of men, so that thereby they might gaine the place; after many most terrible and desperat assaults, at length (namely the thirteenth day of September) when they had with all their force for the space of six houres,The new castle taken. furiously assaulted the castle and slaine most of the defendants, at last tooke it. Serbellio shot in with two bullets, and wishing rather to die than to fall into the hand of the enemie, thrust himselfe into the middest of the Turkes, there to haue perished: but by the hastie comming in of Piall Bassa, both he and Salazar were taken aliue; as for all the rest that followed them, they were put to the sword. The Bassa in his rage strucke Serbellio, and the more to grieue him, caused his sonne to be cruelly murthered before his face. Neither was this victorie by the Turkes obtained without bloud, hauing in lesse than three moneths space that the siege endured, D lost aboue thirtie thousand men.

These strong holds (the greatest strength of that kingdome) thus taken,Tunes yeelded to the Turke. the Turks marched to TVNES, which they easily tooke, and afterwards ouerthrew the fortifications therof, because it should no more rebell. Mahomet the young king, but the yeare before placed in that kingdome by Don Iohn, was there taken, and in bonds sent aboord to be carried with Carr [...]ra captaine of GVLETTA, prisoners to CONSTANTINOPLE. And thus the kingdome of TVNES, with the strong castle of GVLETTA, fell againe into the possession of the Turkes, to the farther trouble of the Christian countries lying ouer against it. The prowd Bassaes hauing (as they thought) best disposed of all things at TVNES and GVLETTA, departed thence, and with their fleet of 400 saile, came the fourth of October within sight of MALTA. But vnderstanding that E they of MALTA were prouided for their comming, and remembring what dishonor their most magnificent emperor Solyman had not many years before there sustained, wherof diuers of them had been eye-witnesses, they turned thence, and sailed directly to CONSTANTINOPLE.

Shortly after,Selymus diet [...]. this great emperour Selymus spent with wine and women, vnto whom he had giuen his greatest strength, died, the ninth of December, in the yeare of our Lord 1574; when he had liued one and fiftie yeares, and thereof raigned eight, and lieth buried at HADRIANOPLLE. He was but of a meane stature, & of an heauie disposition; his face rather swollen than fat, much resembling a drunkard. Of all the Othoman kings and emperours he was of least valour, & therfore least regarded, altogither giuen to sensualitie and pleasure: and so dying, left his empire vnto Amurath his eldest sonne, a man of more temperance, but not much greater courage; who neuerthelesse F by his valiant Bassaes and men of warre did great matters, especially against the Persians, the mortall and dangerous enemies of the Turkes, as shall be hereafter in his Historie declared.

FINIS.

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Christian princes of the same time with Selymus the second.

Emperors of Germanie

Maximilian the second. 1565. 12.

Kings

Of England

Queene Elizabeth. 1558. 45.

Of Fraunce

Charles the ninth. 1560. 14.

Of Scotland

Queene Mary. 1543. 20.

Iames the sixt, that now raigneth. 1567.

Bishops of Rome

Pius the V. 1566. 6.

Iulius the XIII. 1572. 12.

Murad III

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AMVRATH.

AMVRATHES TERTIVS TVRCARVM IMPERATOR SEXTVS: FLORVIT ANo 1574

Non ego fortis eram: Q [...]is tanto nomine dignus?

Ni fortem faciat mens generosa virum.

Me tumidum fortuna tumens euexit in altum,

Et par fortunae, mens mea semper erat.

Sic quamuis tenero mihi nil nisi molle placeret:

Nominis augendi raptus amore fui.

Emisi (que) meos ad fortia facta ministros:

Per quos sublatum est, nomen in astra meum.

Mustapha, Ferrhates, Sinan, & ter maximus Osman:

Terrores orbis succubuere mihi

Armenios domui fortes Medos (que) feroces:

Et mihi paruerat Regia Taurisij.

Sed mihi quid prodest tantorum parta labore

Gloria? Si subito maxima queque ruant?

Et nihil est tanti, quod non breuis auferet hora

Sic mea cum multis gloria victa iacet.

RICH. KNOLLEVS.

[Page]In English thus.

The Worthies praise I challenge not:

for who deserues the same?

Except the noble Worthies minde,

deserue the Worthies fame.

Prowd fortune set me prowd aloft,

in honours highest grace:

And still my hautie thoughts they were

equall vnto my place.

So that although naught pleasd but that

best fitted my desire:

Yet to increase my fame, I still▪

did more and more aspire.

And sent my mightie Worthies out,

to mannage my great warres:

By whose knowne valour my prowd name,

is mounted to the starres.

Prowd Sinan, Ferrat, Mustapha,

all men of high degree:

The terrours of the world so wide,

were vassales vnto me.

Th'Armenians stout I vanquished,

and fild the Medes with feare:

And Regall TAVRIS stately towers,

at my commandment were.

But what auailes my glorie great,

got with such Worthies paine▪

If in the twinckling of an eye,

it come to nought againe?

And nothing is of so great State,

which Time shall not cast downe:

Euen so with many others moe,

must perish my renowne.

R. Knolls.

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A

B THE LIFE OF AMVRATH, THE THIRD OF THAT NAME, SIXT EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES.

THe death of the late emperour Selymus was for feare of the insolent Ianizaries notably concealed by the great Bassaes, vntill such time as Amurath his eldest sonne,Amurath taketh vpon him the Turkish empire the 25 day of December, in th [...] yeare 1574. then in ASIA, by speedie messengers C aduertised thereof about twelue dayes after, arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE: and there receiued into the Seraglio, tooke possession of the empire, the fiue and twentith day of September, solemne amongst vs Christians for the natiuitie of our Sauiour Christ Iesus.The description of Amurath. He was about thirtie, or (as some write) seuen and twentie yeares old, when he began to reigne: of a manly stature, but pale and corpulent, wearing his beard thin and long: in his countenance appeared not the fierce nature of the Othoman princes, being indeed himselfe of a peaceable disposition, a louer of justice, and in the manner of his superstition very zealous. The roiot and excesse growne amongst D the Turks by his fathers euill example, he reformed, by his owne temperance, and the seuere punishment of notorious drunkards: yet is it reported, that he would oftentimes himselfe drinke plentifully of wormewood wine: he was much subject to the falling sicknesse, and sore troubled with the stone: more spare handed than was for the greatnesse of his state: and yeelding more to the counsell of his mother, his wife, and sister, than of his great Bassaes; which was of many imputed to him for simplicitie.He pacifieth the Ianizaries, and augm [...]nteth their priuiledg [...] At his first comming to CONSTANTINOPLE, to appease the murmuring of the Ianizaries (grieued to see themselues so disappointed of the spoyle of the Christians and Iewes, which they were wont to take in the vacancie of the empire) he beside the vsuall largesse which the Turkish emperours at their first entrance into the empire bestow vpon them, augmented also their dayly wages, and graunted them this priuiledge, That their sonnes as soone E as they came to be twentie yeares old, should be enrolled amongst the number of the younger Ianizaries, and be partakers also of their immunities; wherby he woon their fauors exceedingly. And immediatly to rid himselfe of all competitours,He strangl [...]th fiue of his brethren. he after the vnnaturall manner of the Turkish policie, caused his fiue brethren, Mustapha, Solyman, Abdulla, Osman, and Tzihanger, to be all strangled in his owne presence. The mother of Solyman pierced through with the cruell death of her young sonne,A disperat woman. as a woman ouercome with sorrow, desperatly strucke her selfe to the heart with a dagger, and so died. At which so tragicall a sight it is reported that Amurath let some teares fall, as not delighting in such barbarous crueltie, but that the state and manner of his gouernment so required.

In the beginning of his reigne he established diuers wholesome lawes, altered the coyne, and F bountifully relieued the poore.1575 And albeit that he was of a mild and peaceable nature, yet because he would not seeme to degenerate from the Othoman princes his progenitors, he prosecuted his fathers warres,Russia inuaded by the Turks. Leon. Gorecius de Bello I [...]oniae. and by the Tartars (called Praecopenses) in the moneth of October, in the yeare 1575 entred into RVSSIA, part of the Polonian kingdome, where he burnt and destroyed two hundred noblemens houses, besides an infinit number of townes and villages, made great [Page] slaughter of the poore countrey people, and carried away great numbers of cattell and prisoners G bound in thongs made of raw hides. But whilest they were deuiding the spoyle with Peter the new Vayuod of VALACHIA, who had before solemnely promised to giue the Tartars no passage that way, the Polonian Cossackes, who had lien waiting for their returne vpon the riuer Borysthenes, brake into the Tartars countrey, and there requited them with like harme, and brought backe with them a number of old captiues, who little expected that their so sudden deliuerance.

The Polonians at this time were at variance among themselues about the election of their new king (Henry Valois their late king being the last yeare, after the death of Charles his brother the French king, secretly stolne from them into FRAVNCE, to take vpon him that kingdome: after whose departure some of the Polonian nobilitie made choice of Maximilian the emperour:H othersome no lesse enclining vnto the choice of the great duke of MOSCOVIE, and some vnto others also.) Whereof Amurath vnderstanding, and loth that either of those two great princes his enemies should be inuested or strengthened with that so great a kingdome, and so neere vnto him: to hinder that their election, and to bring in another of lesse power, and so lesse dangerous vnto himselfe, euen in the beginning of his reigne wrote vnto the Polonians to that purpose, commending vnto them Stephen Battor the Vayuod of TRANSYLVANIA, for their king, in manner as followeth:

Amurath God of the earth, Gouernour of the whole World, the messenger of God, and faithfull seruant of the Great Prophet: vnto the most honourable I Nobilitie and Counsellors of the kingdome of POLONIA, greeting.

Amurath his letters vnto the Nobilitie of Polonia.It is not vnto the world vnknowne (most honourable and mightie Senatours) our noble progenitours to haue of long time and for many yeares holden good friendship and religious leagues with the kingdome of POLONIA: For which cause it hath seemed good and reasonable vnto vs, to put you in remembrance of this so auntient a league and bond of friendship; for that we vnderstand your kingdome to be of late become destitute of a king, by the departure of the noble king Henry, your crowned king (descended of the royall race of the French kings) our friend: who for the small regard you had of him (so great and worthie a prince) and for your disloyaltie, is departed out of your K kingdome, without purpose of returning any more into POLONIA. Whereupon, as it is reported vnto vs (but how truly we know not) you passing ouer your said crowned king Henry, are about to make choice of a n [...]w king, and especially of Maximilian the emperour, or of the duke of MOSCOVIE, both men of running wits, and of vs greatly hated: for why, you may well know they will bee troublesome and grieuous not vnto euery one of you onely, but euen vnto vs also. Wherefore be you ware that you be not deceiued; and take heed least your confederations and leagues cannot long by their valour and prowesse be established; and withall consider well the great dangers and losses which you may thereby fall into, whereof we haue thought good to giue you a tast: wherefore beware that heauier things befall not your State. We know there are right noble and wise men amongst you, which know better than they how to rule and gouerne: and if so be it please you not to make choice of any of L your owne nation; there is not farre from you one Stephen Battor, prince of TRANSYLVANIA, a man of great honour and valour, by whose labour and dexteritie you may easily procure the peace and quiet of your kingdome. Whereas if you shall doe otherwise, we take to witnesse your God, and his seruant our Great Prophet, to destroy all your wealth and goods, which together with you selues; your wiues and children, shall be giuen for a prey vnto our souldiors; with the cheefe men of your cities of CRACOVIA and LEPERIS: which for all that we say not, as any thing at all doubting of your fidelitie and constancie towards vs. As for the rest which it pleased vs by word of mouth to haue told vnto you, we haue giuen charge vnto this our embassadour and counsellour, vnto whom our desire is that you should giue full credence. From CONSTANTINOPLE the last of September in the yeare of our Prophet Mahomet 983, and first of our reigne.M

This the great Sultans commendations so much preuailed with the Polonians, that notwithstanding that Maximilian the emperour was by the Archbishop of GNESNA and some others chosen king, yet was that his election by the greater part of the Nobilitie reuoked, and [Page] A both he and the great duke of MVSCOVIE being passed ouer, the noble princesse Anne (of the most honourable Iagellonian house) chosen queene of POLONIA,Stephen Vayuod of Transyluania vpon the commendation of Amurath chosen king of Polon [...]. yet with this condition, That she should marrie Stephen the Vayuod of TRANSYLVANIA, to them by Amurath commended. Who afterward elected king, all the time of his life right worthily gouerned that noble kingdome, not onely defending the same in such state as he found it, but also notably extending the bounds thereof, enlarging it with such territories as he by force of armes got from his neighbours, especially the Muscouite. Of this election Amurath would oftentimes afterwards boast and say, That he had giuen the Polonians their king. But of him and of the league by him made with Amurath, more shall be said hereafter.

The yeare following great troubles arose in PERSIA, whereby the flourishing state of that B most mightie kingdome was sore shaken,1576 and opportunitie giuen for the Turkish emperour to inuade the same; which he laying hold vpon, entered into that bloudie warre, which to the great quiet of the Christian commonweale, for long time after exercised the forces of those most puissant princes one vpon the other. For the better vnderstanding wherof, it shall not be amisse compendiously to set down the same troubles of the Persian kingdome, the very ground of the long and mortall warre betweene those two most mightie Monarchs.

Old Tamas the Persian king, sonne to the noble Hismaell, who with great glorie had more than fiftie yeares worthily gouerned that large kingdome, and mightily withstood the often inuasions of the Turkish emperours,The eleuen sons of Tamas the Persian king. now spent with yeares, died the eleuenth of May in the yeare 1576, leauing behind him eleuen sonnes, namely, Mahomet the eldest, of an infirmitie in his eies C surnamed Codabanda, a man of a peaceable and quiet disposition, more delighted with the sweet pleasures of a contented life than the carefull honors of so great a kingdome: Ismahel the second sonne, of a more fierce and troublesome nature, so much abhorring quietnesse, that not regarding the league hardly concluded betwixt his aged father and the Turkish emperours Solyman and Selymus, he would now and then without his fathers knowledge vpon a youthfull heat breake out into the frontiers of the Turkes dominions, and there make great spoyle; for which doing although he was both of his father and the people the more regarded, yet was he by his fathers commaundement (who in outward shew seemed to mislike of those his youthfull prankes, tending to the breach of the league) restrained of his libertie, and sent to the castle of CAHACA, betwixt TAVRIS and CASBIN; where he remained at the time of his Fathers death: Aidere the D third sonne, no lesse ambitious than was his brother Ismahel, but not of like valour, kept by Zalchan, Piry Mahamet, and other his kinsfolkes, all men of great power and authoritie: The other eight were, Mamut, Solyman, Mustapha, Emanguli, Alichan, Amet, Abrahin, and Ismahel the younger.

The old king before his death had by his last will and testament solemnely appointed Ismahel his second sonne to succeed him in the kingdome;Ismahel appointed by his father to succeed him in the kingdome. as of all his sonnes most [...]it to take vpon him so great a charge. Which thing Mahomet his elder brother seemed not much to dislike, contenting himselfe with such honours as his father had before bestowed vpon him.

Tamas thus dead, Ismahel was by the Sultans sent for to CAHACA, to take vpon him his fathers kingdome at CASBIN; when in the meane time there arose a great tumult in the citie, yea E euen in the kings pallace:Aidere aspireth to the kingdome of Persia. for Aidere the third brother, who in the time of his fathers greatest sicknesse had entered the chamber where he lay drawing towards his end, and in his sight most presumptuously set the royall crowne vpon his head, to the manifesting of his ambitious desires, for which he was then worthily reproued: now after the death of his aged father, carried headlong with the same aspiring humour, and supported by Zalchan, and other his mightie fauourits, had so effectually dealt with the great ladie Periaconcona, his eldest sister, and the other Sultans counsellours of estate, put in trust to see the will of the dead king put in execution, as that the succession could not be any longer kept from him, and preserued for Ismahel, but by the helpe of some fine and secret deceit. This ladie Periaconcona (elder than all the young princes the sonnes of Tamas, her brethren, a woman of great spirit and deepe conceit) left in great trust by her father, F seeing the proceeding of her brother Aidere, durst neither openly to mooue any thing vnto the Sultans, prejudiciall to his designes; neither could she in her heart endure so great an injurie to be done to her brother Ismahel, appointed by his father to succeed him. Wherfore in this perplexitie she cast in her wily head, how to satisfie her ambitious brother present, how to saue the right of Ismahel absent, the honour of her dead fathers will and testament, and the safetie of the kingdome. [Page] For hauing throughly debated the matter with the Sultans, she resolued, That Aidere inuested G in royall apparrell, and setled in the great gallerie, should attend the acclamation of the people, and be there openly enthronised, as the very elected king. With which vaine shew the vnwise youth (blinded with ambition) suffered himselfe to be led: and being set in his majestie, verely persuaded himselfe, that he should now be honoured both of his friends and foes as king. But vnto these his so hastie and prosperous designes, the successe that sprung from the subtiltie of those counsellours and his dissembling sister, were nothing conformable: for that she by their aduise tooke order for the gates of the pallace to be presently locked, leauing at euery passage a sure guard, and onely one wicket open, safely warded with a companie of most faithfull and valourous captaines and souldiours, wholly deuoted to Tamas and Ismael: with streight charge, to suffer euery man to enter in, sauing onely the knowne friends of Aidere. In this sort did she H thinke to haue entertained the young man, vntill such time as Ismahel should arriue from CAHACA, and so put in execution what he thought best for the honour of himselfe and the generall quiet of the kingdome.

Who joyeth now but Aidere? in conceit a king, replenished with vnwonted joyes, receiuing honour from all men, sauing from his best friends. By meanes wherof perceiuing now the prohibition of them, and moued also with the great stirre of Zalchan his greatest fauourit (who discouering the deceit, and crying vpon king Aider, threatened the ladie, the Sultans, and the rest that waited vpon the faigned succession, indeed ordained but for the scorne and despight of the ambitious man) strucken with an exceeding feare, and full of sorrow, he withdrew himselfe closely amongst certaine women of the Court, hoping so to find some way to escape with life.I

In the meane time so greatly encreased the cries and threatenings of the friends and fauourits of Aidere (who now had all of them prepared themselues for some dangerous and pernitious attempt) that the counsellors with consent of the ladie his sister, were enforced to take order, That to bereaue this tumultuous & seditious people of all their hope and courage, Aidere should be depriued of his life.Aidere slain, and his head cast amongst his fauori [...]s. Whereupon Sahamal the Georgian, vncle to Aidere by the mothers side, by the appointment of the ladie Periaconcona and the Sultans, after long search made for him, at last found him hidden amongst the women, and without further delay taking him by the lockes, strucke his head from his shoulders; and in the place where Zalchan and the rest of his vn [...]ortunat fauourites stood crying and threatening, amongst the thickest prease of the proud conspiratours flung the head all bloudie, and as it were yet breathing for heat, crying aloud vnto them: Behold K there your king, enioy him at your pleasure. At which sudden and horrible spectacle euery man burned in rage and anger: neither for the present wanted there many a rash head, that vainely threatened most cruell reuenge. But in the end, when they perceiued the neere succession of Ismahel ineuitable, and the death of Aidere irreuocable, euery man betooke himselfe to his owne priuat affaires, and so at last deuided themselues one from another, and so departing from the pallace, scattered themselues some one way some another euery man as hee thought best for his owne safetie.

Ismahel saluted king.Shortly after Ismahel the desired king arriued at CASBIN, where he was of his sister and the Sultans joyfully receiued, as their lawfull and vndoubted soueraigne, and with the great acclamation of the people saluted king: who as soone as he saw himselfe possessed of the royall seat, and L his power now answerable to his desires, he (after the manner of the Turkish pollicie) most vnnaturally caused the heads of his eight yonger brethren to be strucken off:He murdereth eight of his yonger brethren. and withall vsed such further diligence, that not onely all those which were neere vnto them in bloud or affinitie, were bereaued of their liues, but also all the fauourits of his late slaine brother Aidere, were destroied in that publicke slaughter: so that all the streets of CASBIN were defiled with bloud, and all the citie resounded with mourning and complaints. Which vnexpected crueltie, altogether vnworthie so worthie a thought king, so altered the minds of his subjects in generall, that all their former hopes were now conuerted into new feares, and their joy into mourning. But much greater and farre more lamentable did the miseries grow, as soone as it was giuen out, That hee would change the religion of the Persians (who with great deuotion honor their foolish Prophet Aly)M into the superstition of the Turks (who with no lesse impietie obserue and maintaine the wicked rites of Ebubekir, Haumer, Osman, and others, by them supposed to be the most true successours of their great Prophet Mahomet.) For by meanes of this vncouth noueltie and vnexpected change, and by force of an edict concerning that matter, published by this new king, many of his [Page] A prophane priests, many of the gouernours of his friendly and subject cities (too much deuored to their former superstition) were driuen some into exile, some clapt into prison, some had their eyes pluckt out (among whom was the Caliph of CASBIN) and not a few others in sundrie sorts depriued of their liues. Yea many ladies (joyned in bloud with Ismahel himselfe, and diuers others of his kinsfolks, to whom neither sex, nor age, nor innocencie could be a sufficient defence) endured sundrie torments and strange calamities: so that in PERSIA was neuer felt greater troubles, or a more dangerous change.

In this so great an innouation, and among these tumults, there went abroad withall a generall rumour, not in the cities of PERSIA onely, but in the regions of the Turks also, euen as farre as CONSTANTINOPLE, That Ismahel with a puissant army of such as fauored this new proclaimed B vanitie, was determined in person himselfe to go to BABYLON, now called BAGDAT, there to receiue the crowne of the empire, at the hands of him that he should find to be the successour of their great Caliph, and in the chiefest place among their vncleane priests: as had sometime Solyman the great emperour of the Turkes, and the Persian kings of auntient times. In this world of troubles, when as the feare of farther miseries increased, rather than any hope of auntient quietnesse; he was when he least feared,Ismahel suddenly murthred by the deuise of his sister Periaconcona. by the helpe of the aforenamed ladie Periaconcona suddenly bereft of his life: but whether ouertaken in some of his owne amorous practises, or poisoned by his said sister; or that she (as some probably affirme) hauing secretly conspired with Calil Chan, Emir Chan, Pyry Mahamet, Curchi [...] Bassi (being all at that time men of great account, and as it were presidents of the kingdome) who disguised in womens apparell and brought in by her, strangled C him at such time as he had priuatly withdrawne himselfe amongst his parmours, is vncertaine. Howsoeuer it was, sufficeth it, that he by the helpe of the said ladie Periaconcona, was by vnnaturall death taken out of this world the foure and twentith day of Nouember, in the yeare of grace 1577;1577 to the exceeding joy of all those nations, who by his death thought themselues now freed of many great and dangerous troubles: when he had raigned one yeare, seauen moneths, and six daies.

Ismahel thus taken out of the way, the ladie began forthwith to persuade with the great Sultans (the ministers of Ismahels death) that as they had for the generall good of PERSIA contriued the death of the late king: so now that they would take vpon them the protection of that great kingdome, with the preseruation of the majestie and libertie thereof, vntill such time as it D were knowne who should worthily succeed in that crowne, which now remained in their hands. There was at that time many of the greatest princes and Gouernors of that kingdome assembled at CASBIN, there gaping after such mutations of those troublesome times, as might best serue their priuat dessignes. Emir Chan burning in ambitious desires, was in hope by means of a match to be made with a sister of Periaconcona (who was alreadie greatly enclining vnto him) to be exalted to the soueraigntie of all PERSIA. Mirize Salmas the chiefe Sultan, hoped on the other side to aduance into the estate, either Mahamet Codabanda the eldest brother of the dead king, or else Hamze the eldest sonne of the said Mahamet; and by bestowing vpon him his daughter in marriage (as afterwards he did) so to encrease the glorie of his house. Others there were, that thought they should be able to draw Abas Mirize (the middlemost sonne of Mahamet) out of E HERI, and to make him king. Neither wanted the infant Tamas his aspiring friends, whose tutour waited likewise for some opportunitie to settle him in the kingdome, and so by meanes of his greatnesse, to make himselfe greatest amongst his fellowes. A number of others there were that secretly waited vpon euerie occasion that time should present for their preferment. Howbeit in this so great varietie of thoughts, the Sultans answered the ladie with one consent, and promised her in most liberall tearmes, all the protection that their forces could affoord, or their weapons procure: and yet did euerie one of them, both in action and word, clearkly dissemble their seuerall imaginations, whereunto their minds were as prone and readie, as their hearts were cunning closely to conceale them.

Amurat the Turkish emperours now wakened,Amurat a [...]en [...]iue to the [...] in Persia. first at the death of the old renowmed Tamas, F and then at the rumour of the desire Ismahel had to passe with an armie to BABYLON, as also at the fresh report of the Turkish superstition newly published in PERSIA; and withall throughly instructed what harme this late king had done in PERSIA, what dissentions he had raised, and how hardly the prouinces of that empire had endured those calamities: began forthwith to thinke hereby a faire occasion to be ministred vnto him, to take vp armes against the [Page] Persians, and matter sufficient suggested for him to put in execution the great desire he had of G some new conquest. For it is an antient custome, which is grown to be as it were a law amongst the Othoman kings, That they may not challenge their due honours in their life time, nor their prowd monuments after their death, vnlesse they attempt some great and ambitious actions and enterprises, and performe some exploit conformable to their majestie. Amurath therefore bent vpon these great stirs in PERSIA, would not direct his mind any other way, or take any other war in hand, vntill he might first see what issue these maruellous innouations in PERSIA would bring forth: which in the person of Mahamet the succeeding king, seemed to be more pregnant than euer before, and ministred vnto Amurath new occasions of victorious and strange hopes. For as soone as Ismahel was dead, the aforenamed Mirize Salmas (in dignitie chiefe man among the Sultans, though in bloud and nobilitie inferiour to them all) after many letters dispatched to H and fro, at last assured Mahamet Codabanda, how with all quietnesse of mind and securitie of person, he might come and possesse himselfe of the kingdome. He was also aduertised by the said Salmas, of the whole conspiracie plotted against his brother to bring him to his end: and likewise made acquainted, how the fraudulent ladie (with the Sultans) had capitally consulted against himselfe; and how she fauouring Emir Chan, and Abas Mirize of HARI (her nephew and his sonne) more than became her, did little regard the due and rightfull succession of him being the eldest brother.Mahamet resolueth to take vpon him the kingdome of Persia. So Mahamet bearing himselfe vpon the faith and diligence of Mirize Salmas, and desirous withall to see his eldest sonne Hamze Mirize aduanced to some such soueraign dignitie, as he saw was due to the liuely hope euerie man perceiued to be in him, in regard of his vertue and prudence for mannaging the common-wealth, and matters of warre (wherein also he I shewed himselfe vnto his father jealous and suspitious, least some other man should vsurpe vpon him, that honour and authoritie which so properly appertained vnto him) resolued in the end not to leaue the kingdome in the hands of priuat persons, nor the lightnesse of an vnconstant woman of suspected modestie, and a rebellious conspiratour against her owne bloud, wherwith she had without any pittie or remorse of conscience, now twise defiled her selfe. And therefore he wrote backe againe, That he was minded to take the rightfull succession vpon him, and that for the same purpose he was putting himselfe vpon his journey: with straight charge notwithstanding, that Mirize Salmas should before his entrance within the gates of CASBIN, present him with the mischieuous head of Periaconcona; a woman (in respect of the scorne exercised against her brother Aidere, and of the treacherous death of her other brother Ismahel, and of K the peruerse imaginations which she had conceiued to cause the succession to fall into other mens hands, and of the prodigall familiaritie which she had with some of the Sultans) well worthie of a thousand deaths.

Mahomet proclaimed king of Persia.

The head of Periaconcona presented to Mahamet on a launce.

Secretly did Mirize Salmas put in execution whatsoeuer Mahamet had priuatly enjoined him, so that by his means he was presently and solemnly proclaimed king of PERSIA. And afterwards hauing gathered togither many squadrons of men, wholy deuoted to the bloud and name of Mahamet, the same Mirize Salmas met him on the way, carrying the head of that manlike Virago Periaconcona vpon the point of a launce, with her haire dispersed, and some other vncouth sights to the terrour of the beholders. From which nouelties (one mischiefe as it were hudling vpon the necke of another) there sprung vp diuers inward hatreds, sundrie tumultuous seditions, and much ciuile warres: this new king by the instigation of Mirize L Salmas, seeking on the one side to be reuenged on the Sultans for his brothers death; and they on the other side opposing themselues with all their power against him, the state of PERSIA began to fall into great inconueniences, and of these nouelties to reape new losses. Sah [...] mal the Georgian fled into his mountaine of BRVS, fearing the wrath of this new lord: Leuent ogli likewise an other of the lords of GEORGIA, vnderstanding of the flight of Sahamal his neighbour, estranged himselfe so farre from his old loue and auntient deuotion towards the Persian kings, that he seemed now to desire some new innouation. The nations also that were neighbours to the Turkes, and the people of MEDIA ATROPATIA, now called SIRVAN, disliked of this new king; and in the end it appeared, that PERSIA vnder this king through many mutations was in short time fallen into most notable miserie, and the state thereof more weakned than M it had been of long time before.

Of all these things had Amurath from diuers places intelligence, but more particularly from Vstreff of VAN, a citie of ARMENIA the greater, situat vpon the lake Actamar; who sent him most perfect information of all the stirs in PERSIA: Discoursing vnto him of the death of Ismahel, [Page] A the consultations of the Sultans, the trecheries and death of Periaconcona, the broiles betweene the king and the Sultans, the nature of the new king (being diseased in his eyes, little esteemed of his subjects, besotted in affection towards his sonnes) the facilitie to ouerrule the cheefe Gouernours of the Georgians, and the people of SERVAN, euill affected towards the new king: and to be breefe, whatsoeuer had in truth succeeded in PERSIA, and might enflame the mind of the ambitious Sultan, to conuert his forces against an enemie of small counsell, and much confusion: adding thereunto, that neuer was there greater opportunitie to ouercome that king than now was offered; and therefore wished him, not in any case to let slip so faire an occasion, as the Othoman kings had neuer before, for the obtaining of so certaine and so glorious victories.

B Amurath of long time wholly bent to marke the euent of the troubles in PERSIA, now stirred vp with these aduertisements from Vstref, setled himselfe more deepely in his former conceits to proue his forces in subduing the Persian king, the auntient enemie of the Othoman emperors, and his onely cor [...]iuall and odious competitour in the East. But no one thing did more enflame him thereunto, than to thinke, how he should haue to his enemie a king not acquainted with deeds of armes, doting vpon his children, and weakened with the dissention of his subjects: and on the other side entering into the consideration of his owne forces, of the infinit number of his men, both horse and foot, of the meanes he had to find money, of his artillerie and engines of warre, wherein he farre surpassed the Persians; he did more and more resolue with himselfe, to take the occasion that was now offered him to begin th [...] warre. For the compassing of which C his purpose he was greatly fauoured by the present state of Christendome, at that time being wholly in league and amitie with him. So not finding any thing contrarie to his designements, he resolued at last to conferre with the cheefe Bassaes, which had the gouernement of his empire, Whether it were better vpon this occasion to begin the prepensed warre; or if they thought not this opportunitie to be so fit, then to lay it aside, and to conuert his forces and counsell against the commonwealth of Christendome. For such is the barbarous pollicie▪ whereby this empire is mannaged, That it is lawfull for them to breake any league, be it by neuer so many promises or solemne oathes confirmed,No assurance in the Turkes leagues. whensoeuer any enterprise is to be attempted for the aduauncing thereof. So that although this warre could not be moued either against the Persians or Christians, without breach of their promised faith: yet among the manifold consultations that passed D among the great Bassaes, there was not any man found that made any account of that defect, but all with one accord, without further respect sought to set forward the ambitious desire of their proud lord and master. At last after long consultation and large discourses it was agreed vpon by the great Bassaes Mahomet, Sinan, and Mustapha, That it would be better and lesse danger to attempt warre against the Persians, than against the Christian princes. Mustapha among the rest preferring the valour of the Latines (whereof he had made good triall especially at FAMAGVSTA) before the armies and forces of the Georgians and Persians. Whereby it is apparent to the world, that neither the zeale of their religion, nor any injurie receiued from the Persian king, but onely the ambitious desire of Amurath (to subdue a kingdome,Ambi [...]ion the cause of the Persian warre. both in his owne conceit and other mens relations, euill gouerned, by an effeminate and sottish king, and through ciuile dissention E brought into great danger) was the first prouocation of making this warre.

Vpon this resolution there arose new consultations touching the manner thereof,A consultation holden amongst the Bassaes about the manner of the inuasion of Persia. and vpon what coast they should begin their journey, for the more honourable successe thereof. Which point Amurath greatly vrged, protesting before his cheefe counsellours, That he would not enter into that war, except he were in great hope to beare away the victorie. Some thought it most conuenient to send the armie to BABYLON, and from thence to SYRAS, called in old time PERSEPOLIS, the cheefe citie of the countrey of PERSIA: others there were that gaue aduise, That the armie should be directly sent to TAVRIS, there to erect strong fortresses, and to take possession of all the country round about it: and there wanted not some (as it is reported) that thought it better to send two seuerall armies for both the forenamed places; and so by bringing the enemie F into a straight, to enforce him to yeeld to whatsoeuer should be of him required. But Amurath durst not repose such confidence in his forces, as to thinke, that with his battels deuided and so weakened he should be able to conquer that enemie, who had alwayes most valiantly fought against the monstrous and puissant armies of his auncestours. And therefore firmely resolued with himselfe, to send one onely armie, and so with his vnited forces to seeke the ouerthrow of [Page] the enemie. And so preferring the strong hope he had conceiued to conquer the countrey of G SIRVAN, and the cheefe cities of MEDIA the great, before the difficultie of making warre vpon the coast of SCYRAS, reposing also great hope in the notable help that was promised him by the Tartars called Praecopenses, he confirmed the great Bassaes his counsellours in the same opinion: and withall discouered vnto them a matter, which to all of them, but especially to Sinan, seemed most strange; namely, that he was determined not to goe himselfe in person with his army, but to send one of his worthiest captaines in his stead. The causes why he so did, were many, but especially, for that he was troubled with the falling sicknesse, and feared greatly (and that not without good cause) least his sonne Mahomet (being much fauoured of the people) might peraduenture in his absence be vntimely aduaunced to the empire; beside the dangers that he suspected at the hands of the Christian potentates: and withall persuaded it to be vnto himselfe a great honour H to performe those things by his seruants, which had in those countries beene vnfortunatly attempted by his most noble predecessours in their owne persons.

While they were thus consulting about this expedition, and the great Bassaes, Sinan, Mustapha, and others, made meanes to be sent as the soueraigne ministers of their lords designement; he dispatched away sundrie postes and light horsemen with order to the Bassaes and Gouernors of VAN, BABILON, and ERZIRVM, in the frontiers of his dominions, That they should by often inrodes spoyle the townes and castles of the Persians, and by all meanes to doe them what harme they could.Vstref Bassa beginneth the wars in Persia. Which they were not slacke to put in execution, and especially Vstref (or rather Husreue) Bassa of VAN: who with often incursions did much mischeefe, as well in the countries tributarie, as subject to the Persian king. A forcible preparatiue for greater troubles I to ensue.

Now in these great preparations for the Persian warre (which for many yeares after notably exercised the greatest part of the Turks forces, to the great quiet of the Christian commonweale) Stephen Bathor the late Vayuod of TRANSYLVANIA, but now by the commendation of Am [...] rath become king of POLONIA, in the beginning of his reigne by his embassador the great lord Iohn of SYENNA, entered into a strong league and confederation with the great Turkish Sultan Amurath at CONSTANTINOPLE. Which for that it sheweth in what tearmes that famous kingdome then and yet standeth with the Turkes great empire, and withall containeth matter well worth the Christian consideration, it shall not be impertinent to our purpose (omitting the long and glorious stile of that barbarous Monarch, seruing to no other end but to shew the K greatnesse of his power) plainely to set it downe as it was on his part at the same time by him confirmed.

The League betwixt the most puissant and mightie Princes, Sultan Amurath the Turkish emperour, and Stephen king of POLONIA, agreed vpon and concluded at CONSTANTINOPLE, in the yeare of our Sauiour Christ Iesu 1577, and of the Prophet Mahomet 985.

The League betwixt Amurath the Turkes Sultan, and Stephen king of Polonia.I Sultan Amurath the sonne of Selym Chan, the sonne of Solyman Chan, the sonne of Selym L Chan, the sonne of Baiazet Chan, the sonne of the Great Emperour Mahomet Chan, &c. Prince of these present times, the onely Monarch of this age, of power able to confound the power of the whole world, the shaddow of diuine clemencie and grace, Great Emperour of many kingdomes, countries, prouinces, cities, and townes, lord of MECHA, that is to say, of the house of the glorie of God, of the resplendent citie of MEDINA, and of the most blessed citie of IERVSALEM, prince of the most fruitfull countrey of AEGIPT, IMEN, ZENAN, ADEN, and many other such like: in most louing manner declare, That the most glorious and renowmed Stephen king of POLONIA, great duke of LITHYANIA, RVSSIA, PRVSIA, MASOVIA, SAMOGITIA, KIOVIA, LIVONIA, and many other countries moe, prince of the couragious followers of Iesus, Gouernour of all the affaires of the people and familie of the Nazarets, the welcommest cloud of raine, and most sweet fountaine of glorie and M vertue, eternall lord and heire of the felicitie and honour of the aforesaid noble kingdome of POLONIA, vnto whom all the distressed repaire for refuge, wishing a most happie successe and blessed end to all his actions: offering vnto vs many religious vowes and eternall praises worthie our perpetuall loue and most holy league, and with great deuotion performing these and other like honours, as [Page] A for the dispatch of his letters to our most glorious court, for the new confirming of the most sacred league and confederation with vs, sending the honourable lord Iohn of SYENNA (his most faithfull counsellour) his embassadour to our imperiall court; declaring his loue and integritie, and purging himselfe of all the suspition of hostilitie, hath requested the league and confederation to be renewed. At whose instance we haue giuen these our letters confirming the said league of peace and confederation: wherein we commaund, that none of our Counsellors, Beglerbegs, Sanzacks, Generals of our armies, Captaines or seruants, shall doe, or on my behalfe presume to doe any hurt vnto the kingdome, countries, cities, castles, townes, islands, or whatsoeuer else to the kingdome of POLONIA belonging. And in like manner, that none of the Nobilitie, Generals, Captaines, or others whosoeuer belonging vnto the king of POLONIA, shall dare to doe any harme vnto my kingdomes, cities, castles, or towns B confining vnto the kingdome of POLONIA. In briefe my will is, that he being a mortall enemie vnto mine enemies, and a fast friend vnto my friends, shall doe no grieuance or harme vnto any my subiects, or things whatsoeuer vnto my iurisdiction belonging. So in like manner communding also, that no hurt by any meanes, or for any occasion be done by our people vnto the subiects, or whatsoeuer else vnto the iurisdiction of the king of POLONIA appertaining.

The creatures, embassadours, messengers, and men of whatsoeuer condition else, shall on both sides freely without let or trouble come and go without any harme receiuing, either in their persons or goods.

It shall be lawfull also for the king of POLONIA his subiects, to seeke throughout out empire for any the Polonian captiues taken before the time of this league; and the same so found (if they haue C not receiued the Turkish religion, but still remaine Christians) to redeeme, without the contradiction of any man.

And that whatsoeuer shall be taken and carried away after the confirmation of this league, shall be all againe freely and without any thing paying, deliuered and restored.

That the merchants on both parts may freely traffique with all kind of merchandise in the blacke and white sea, as also vpon the maine; and so paying their vsuall and lawfull custome, to be in nothing wronged or molested.

If any of the Polonian merchants shall die in our dominion, the goods of him so dead shall not be embeseled, but kept in safetie vntill his brethren or other his friends shall come with the king of POLONIA his letters: vpon the shewing whereof, hauing also our letters mandatorie, the goods shall be D forthwith restored vnto the dead mans heires. In which sort also my merchants shall be dealt withall, if any of them shall chance to die in the kingdome of POLONIA.

If any wrong be done within the limits of mine empire, vnto any belonging vnto the kingdome of POLONIA, after the date of these letters confirming the league; the dooer of the wrong shall by my commaundement be sought out, and being found shall be punished, and the wrong done, without any delay or contradiction, forthwith recompenced. And the like iustice to be also on the behalfe of the king of POLONIA administred.

If any debtor shall depart out of mine empire into the Polonian territorie, wheresoeuer he shall chance to be found by his creditor, he shall be brought to the iudge of that place to be examined, and whatsoeuer it shall be proued him of right to owe, the iudge of that place shall according to the equitie E of the cause make the creditor to be satisfied.

But if the debtor cannot himselfe personally be found, no other man shall by reason of an other mans debt be taken, detained, or molested: neither shall the innocent be troubled for the guiltie, in either or both our kingdomes.

In briefe, vpon whatsoeuer conditions and capitulations the league of peace and confederation was in the time of my father, my grandfather, or great grandfather of famous memorie, made with the kings of POLONIA, vpon the same conditions and capitulations be it now made also.

Whatsoeuer hurt hath hitherto been done to either part by reason of the disagreement of the Gouernors and captaines, shall all be on both parties neglected and forgotten.

Also after the time of these letters confirming the league and confederation, Whereas the king of F POLONIA shall in time [...] a certaine summe of money vsed to be paied vnto the Tartars; the Tartar Chan and his sonne Mirzeleby their princes, shall restore the same againe, and not to dare to suffer his armies by any meanes to hurt the Polonian territories. So that on the part of the Tartars and their armies, no harme shall be done vnto the kingdome of POLONIA: neither on the part of the Polonians to the territories of the Tartars. And if any harme shall by the Tartars be done in the king [Page] of POLONIA his territories, it shall by my commaundement be againe restored. And so likewise on G the part of the Palatine of MOLDAVIA, or the inhabitants of the kingdome of MOLDAVIA, no harme shall be done vnto the countries subiect vnto the king of POLONIA: but if any be done and certainly knowne, to be by my commaundement againe recompenced.

On the part also of the king of POLONIA and his subiects, whatsoeuer harme shall be done vnto the territorie or subiects of the Moldauian Palatine, or Tartars; the harme so done to be recompenced, and the dooers thereof punished.

Also that all such fugitiues as hauing done any notorious felonies or other villanies in MOLDAVIA, and so are fled into POLONIA, shall at my request, or at the request of the Palatine of MOLDAVIA, be restored, and in no case denied.

That all the Polonian captiues within my dominions, yet professing the Christian religion, may by H the king of POLONIA his subiects be redeemed, not paying any more for them than their lords and masters paid: euerie such master of the slaue taking his oath that he cost him so much. But such captiues as haue receiued the Turkish faith, to be forthwith set at libertie: and so the Turkes slaues in the kingdome of POLONIA to be likewise manumised.

That our embassadours on both sides (so long as we are in league and amitie) may freely come and go, and not be staied in any place; and being willing to meet together, may at their pleasure so doe. And being entred into the confines of either part, to be forthwith by some good and faithfull guide appointed vnto them, conducted vnto the place they are to go vnto. And this to be on both sides kept.

No man to dare to hurt, or stay any Merchant, hauing paied his thirtith part, or lawfull custome.

If any of our subiects shall haue any suit with any of the king of POLONIA his subiects, the iudges I shall without delay be bound to administer iustice. All theeues and robbers shall be diligently sought out; and being found, to be seuerely punished: and the goods taken away, without impeachment to be restored vnto the right owners, their heires, or to the king.

The Sanzacks of SILISTRIA and BOLOGRAVE, the Customers and water-baylifs shall not suffer any man but merchants and such as are sent in our seruise, to passe ouer the riuer Nyester; who passing ouer, if they shall bring with them any slaue or bondman out of POLONIA, he shall be sent backe againe. The shepheards, if they will transport their sheepe into the iurisdiction of the king of POLONIA, shall not so doe without the leaue of the Polonian Gouernours, before whom they shall also number their sheepe: of whom if any shall be lost, the Gouernours shall cause them to be sought for, and to be restored vnto the shepheards, as also to pay for their hey.K

The Zauzij, Ianizaries, or Posts, shall not dare in time of peace or war, to take any horses from the Polonian merchants, or other the kings subiects comming into our kingdome.

The Palatines of MOLDAVIA, in whatsoeuer condition they haue been towards the former kings of POLONIA, they shall now also still so be hereafter. The thirtiths and customes of both parts, shall continue in their old manner, and not be increased. The Polonian kings subiects and merchants, as well Armenians as of any other nation, whensoeuer they shall enter into MOLDAVIA, or any other part of our empire, shall not trauell by vncertaine and vnknowne, but by the common and high waies: wherein if they shall suffer any losse or harme, either in their goods or persons, the dooers of such wrongs shall be sought for, and seuerely punished. Which merchans shall be suffered without any molestation quietly to come and go, hauing paied their thirtiths: and no merchant to be troubled for L anothers debt.

If any the Polonian kings merchants or subiects, be willing for readie money to redeeme and carr [...]e away any slaues taken out of the Polonian kingdome, and yet professing the Christian religion; the iudges shall in no case withstand them, neither presume to take them from them, or againe to redeeme them. But if any of such slaues haue receiued the Turkish religion, they shall not be againe demanded by the king of POLONIA.

Such slaues as haue not receiued the Turkish religion, if after a certaine space they shall be set at libertie by their masters, and in the letters testimoniall of their libertie, it shall be declared that they haue receiued the Turkish religion; yet shall they not by the iudges be therefore detained.

In the citie of BVRVSA, the Polonian merchants hauing paied their vsuall thirtiths, shall not be M farther pressed with any other vnusuall payment.

My will is also, that the territories at this present in the possession of the king of POLONIA, [...] hereafter to be by him taken from the Muscouite or any other the Christian princes, to be comprised within this league, and so to be royally by him possessed.

[Page] A And for the confirmation of the articles and conditions in these our letters of confederation contained, I sweare by the power of the most mightie God, and of his most holy prophet; and by the most cleane and pure spirits of all the prophets; that for all the daies of my life, and so long as nothing shall on the behalfe of the king of POLONIA be done contrarie to the peace and league, nothing shall also on my part be done contrarie vnto the same. Witnesse the Almightie, the vpright iudge and decerner of mens actions. From CONSTANTINOPLE the yeare of the holy prophet Mahomet 985, the 14 of the moneth Cziemassi Eumel, and of Christ 1577.

This league betwixt these two mightie princes Amurath and king Stephen ▪ thus concluded, and after the death of Stephen by Sigismund the third (which now raigneth) renewed; as it hath B been euer since vnto the Polonian kingdome for the time commodious, so hath it as with an Adamantine band so bound that most famous kingdome, as that in the hardest distresses of the Christian common-weale, and most in deed concerning it selfe, it hath affoorded no more helpe than hath the members farther off, which is (I rue to say it) none at all. As in these late and present warres betwixt the Christian emperour and the two last Turkish Sultans, is too plainely to be seene: wherein had it in due time giuen but such reasonable helpes as it might well haue spared, much no doubt might haue been done for the repressing of the common enemie, and the recouerie of the greatest part of that is lost of HVNGARIE: But thus bound, standeth as a dead member, seruing to no vse more than to the more speedie destruction of it selfe, togither with the rest of the sicke bodie. For what assurance it can haue in this long (I must needs say) but euill assured C peace, is well to be seene in that in the great consultation of this great Sultan Amurath with his Bassaes after the Persian warre, for the inuading of Chistendome; the Polonians for all this league so solemnly constrained, were nothing the more regarded, but laied in the same ballance with the rest, and preserued onely by the Prouidence that all gouerneth: which leading the Turke against the Christian emperour their neighbour, hath giuen them that peace they were otherwise hardly to haue looked for. Vnto whom for all that, hauing to his endlesse praise maintained a long and most chargeable warre, they haue not lent any great helpe or friendly hand; yet lying themselues still in the lyons mouth, and like enough to be the next (God grant I be therein deceiued) that is to be of him deuoured.

But leauing these the heauie conceits of a melancholy mind, and ominous forbodings of that D I wish not, to returne againe toward PERSIA, Amurath his greatest care. Amongst many the ambitious competitours for the mannaging of these Turkish so great desseigns, was the great Bassa Mustapha (euen he,Musta [...]ha Bassa made Generall of the Turks armie. who in the raigne of the late emperour Selymus conquered CYPRVS, carrying thence togither with his victorie perpetuall infamie, for his faithlesse and cruell dealing with Bragadine the worthie and renowmed Gouernour of FAMAGVSTA) appointed Generall of the Turkes armie into PERSIA: and authoritie giuen him, to prouide whatsoeuer hee should thinke needfull for so great a warre. And commaundement giuen vnto the Bassaes, and other commaunders of the greatest part of the Turkish empire Eastward,1578 that they should themselues with their souldiors of all sorts, bound by their perpetuall annuities to go to the warre, in the beginning of the Spring this yeare 1578, repaire to ERZIRVM, a citie of CAPADOCIA bordering E vpon ARMENIA, there to attend the commaund of their new Generall. Who hauing his dispatch from CONSTANTINOPLE, and for fashion sake conducted by most of the court ouer the strait to SCVTARI,Mustapha commeth to Erzir [...]m and there mustereth his armie. and from thence passing through the countries of AMASIA and SIVAS, in the verie beginning of Sommer arriued at ERZIRVM; and there staied vntill such time as his people, victuals, artillerie, and other his necessarie prouision was come thither. From whence he departed for SIRVAN, hauing first taken a diligent surueigh of his whole armie, mustering the souldiors of euerie nation by themselues: namely, of the Mesopotamians twelue thousand, of the Assyrians and Babylonians fourteene thousand, of the Syrians two thousand, of them of the lesser ASIA (now comprehended vnder the name of NATOLIA) ten thousand, of the Iewes and Philistims one thousand, and of the Cilicians foure thousand. After whom followed the soldiors F of GRaeCIA, the glorie and hope of all the campe, valiant men to the number of ten thousand: and after them the familiar and faithfull guard of the Generall, ten thousand Ianizaries of CONSTANTINOPLE with harquebusiers on their shoulders, and scimitars by their sides: of the citie also of ERZIRVM, and the jurisdiction thereof, appeared foure thousand vnder the ensigne of Beyran Bassa their Generall. All these were stipendaries to the Turkish emperour: vnto [Page] whom other voluntarie aduenturers joyned themselues, in number not inferiour to the rest, but G better furnished, and of greater courage. So that in this generall suruey of the armie were found about an hundred and ten thousand men, most part horsemen: yet was there not any stirred out of ARABIA, AEGIPT, AFRICA, or HVNGARIE, or other places alongst the sea coasts: neither were the prouinces from whence these souldiours were drawne, left destitute or vnfurnished of their ordinarie garrisons. Besides this multitude of men, Mustapha brought with him fiue hundred small pieces of artillerie, with many loads of mony for his souldiors pay, with further order for the taking vp of more at ALEPPO, and other places, if his occasions should so require. He caused also great quantitie of corne to be transported by the Great sea called in antient time Pontus Euxinus, to TRAPEZONDE, so to be conueyed to ERZIRVM, being but foure dayes journy distant thence. To be short, hauing taken order for all things he thought necessarie for the warre,H he in seemely array departed from ERZIRVM,Mustapha at Chars. and in eight dayes arriued at the ruins of CHARS, and in the fruitfull countrey thereabout rested himselfe: but was there surprised with such a violent tempest of wind and raine, as rent in sunder his tents and did great harme, by meanes wherof many fell sicke and were constrained to forsake the armie.

Hauing stayed three dayes at CHARS, the bounder of the Turkish and Persian empires, he departed thence with his armie, and that euening lodged vnder the mountaines of CH [...]ILDER, supposed to be part of the hils PERIARDO: where hearing the Persians to be in armes, he thought it best for the securitie of his armie,Mustapha cunningly encampeth his armie at Cheilder. so to pitch his tents as that he might well discouer the comming of the enemie, and not to be assaulted at vnawares. And therefore planting himselfe in the plaine, he gaue order that Beyran, Bassa of ERZIRVM, should take possession of a certaine I hill on the right hand; and Deruis the Bassa of CARAEMIT should keepe another hill that stood on the left hand; and with them Osman Bassa, Mahamet Bassa, Mustafsade Bassa, aduenturers, with many others as well stipendarie as voluntarie men, should likewise pitch their tents vpon the same hils, in such sort, as that they making as it were two wings to the campe, might discouer the comming of euery man, and yet he himselfe being shaddowed with the two hils, might lie vnperceiued of any.

Mahamet the new king of PERSIA, as yet scarcely setled in his kingdome, stirred vp by the fame of these motions, resolued in himselfe to stand vpon the defence of his state, and for a time to dissemble the conceiued hatred which he bare to some of the Sultans of PERSIA, and princes of GEORGIA, and to make some apparent shew that he was reconciled to them; for that without K them he could not promise vnto himselfe any forme of an armie, or defence: wherein (notwithstanding all the troubled state of his kingdome) he wrought so cunningly, that almost all the great men of account tooke vpon them the protection of his state and kingdome. And so Tocomac a Sultan,Tocomac Generall of the Persians. the Chan and Gouernour of REIVAN, a famous man, well knowne vnto the Turkes, and of great reputation amongst the Persians, was chosen Generall of this expedition; with charge, That gathering together the greatest number of men he could out of ATROPATIA, out of MEDIA the greater, and other places neere vnto the Turks, he should by all meanes possible stop their passage into GEORGIA and MEDIA ATROPATIA. And thereupon precepts were sent out into all parts of the kingdome, That all the Chans, Sultans, and souldiours whatsoeuer should come readie prest to attend vpon their new Generall. Many obedient to the L kings proclamation came, but many there were that would not stirre a foot, for their obstinacie in the broiles begun, and for the suspition they had of vnlooked for mischeefes: at whose disobedience the king much grieued; but now there was no remedie but to make the best of the matter, and for the safegard of his honour to make the best resistance they could. So with those few which for the loue of their prince and countrey were met together in those parts, being in number not aboue twentie thousand, Tocomac was dispatched about his businesse, if happily he might with these small forces oppresse the enemy in some straight or troublesome passage, where the great multitude should rather serue to the confusion of themselues than to the helpe of one another. These twentie thousand were all horsemen, armed with scimitar and bow, with some harquebusies among, and furnished with very fine and well tempered armour; but aboue all, couragious M they were and resolute, and well the more for the valour and prowesse of their Generall. So prouided of all things necessarie, they set forward, and keeping the way of TAVRIS and GENGE, they came to the turning of CHARS, where they were aduertised that the enemies armie was alreadie passed.

[Page] A They were now come within a dayes journey of CHIELDER, when they sent quicke and faithfull scouts to bring them certaine newes of the condition and number of the Turks armie; who came thither euen at the very time that Mustapha was encamping his armie betweene the two hils, whereupon the two Bassaes Beyran and Deruis with their people had alreadie pitched their tents. These scouts discouering the Turkish hoast aloft, persuaded themselues that there was not any other battell than those which they saw vpon the hils; whereof with all speed they could they returned newes to Tocomac, who at ease had followed these his scouts afarre off. Tocomac thus misenformed by his scouts of the number of his enemies, held on his way boldly, with purpose to assault them: and hauing discouered their tents vpon the hils, was throughly confirmed in the opinion he had before conceiued of the number of his enemies and the scouts relation, B and with so much the more confidence set forward to assaile them. But Beyran and Deruis, who quickly from the hils perceiued the Persians comming in the plaine, although they knew them to be men of great courage, yet reposing an assu [...]ed confidence in their Generals battell, with all speed mounted vpon their horses and ran to meet them. So in the aforesaid plaines vnder CHIELDER, within one houre after noone was joyned a most bloudie battell, wherein at last were slaine seuen of the Turkes Sanzackes, with a very great number of souldiours, without any apparent losse at all among the Persians; who fighting close together in great hea [...], and all be-bloudied, vrged their happie and fortunat victorie.

But Mustapha who perceiued all that had passed,Mustapha commeth with his battell to relieue his distressed people. and stayed waiting till the fight was at the hotest, and the medley at the thickest, that so the flight of the enemies, might breed their greater C disorder: and now seeing that his people could no longer endure the furie of the enemies rage (euen as if it had lightened and thundered, and as though the earth had shaken) with such cries and exclamations as the Turks vse in their assaults, for the more terrour of the enemies, exciting his armie, ran as it were headlong vpon his aduersaries, and so renewed a most terrible battell. The Persians with wonderfull courage endured this vnexpected and dreadfull assault, and with incredible signes of valour, in that little time of daylight that was left (for the night began now to approch) continued their manifold slaughters, and at last being fauoured by the darkenesse of the night, withdrew themselues with as little losse as possibly they might. Neither durst Mustapha any longer pursue them, but was glad by night to returne to his campe. Of the successe of this battell the Persians certified their king: as also of the greatnesse of the Turkish armie, with D their further purpose for the annoying thereof. And by the Turkes also were presented to Mustapha (who had alreadie sent away postes with newes to Amurath) fiue thousand heads, which by their colour, countenance, and beards, bewraied themselues to be Persians, and three thousand Persians aliue. Of this victorie Mustapha greatly rejoyced, and to make it seeme the greater seeking by all meanes to conceale his owne losses,A bulwark made of the heads of the slaine Persians. and to raise a greater terrour by the fame thereof among his enemies) caused the heads of those three thousand that were brought before him aliue to be presently cut from their shoulders, and gaue order, that of those heads there should be framed a bulwarke in those fields for a most horrible and vncouth spectacle.

The same day that Mustapha employed himselfe about this barbarous and cruell work, there came vnto him certaine messengers from Manucchiar, the younger sonne of the Georgian widdow E Dedesmit (a great prince in that countrey) who told him, That with his good fauour and leaue Manucchiar their lord and master was comming to salute him, and to offer himselfe vnto him as his obedient and deuoted seruant. At which newes Mustapha redoubling his joy, gaue commaundement, That all the Bassaes and captaines of the armie with all solemne pompe, with trumpets, drums, peales of ordinance, and all other signes of munificall and joyfull entertainment should goe forth to meet the said Manucchiar, and to accompanie him to his presence. Which they did accordingly, and so encountering him with all signes of honour, conducted him to the great pauillion of Mustapha, who there caused him to be againe saluted with like triumph. Manucchiar dismounted from his horse, and against his will beholding the strange and vncouth pile of heads, all pale and filthie to behold, and indeed imagining what the matter meant: yet notwithstanding, F before all other things hauing done his due reuerence to the great Bassa, and according to his degree placed himselfe next to his side, after he had presented him with such gifts as his countrey yeelded, he gaue him to vnderstand, That for the honour and estimation which he bare to the Turkish valour,The speech of Manucchiar to Mustapha. he was alwayes deuoted to the house of the Othomans; and as he had oftentimes desired to spend his goods and life in their seruice, so at this present time, moued [Page] by his auntient desire, allured by the strange fame of this victorious and wonderfull armie, and G stirred vp by a particular phantasie, to learne the painefull and hard precepts of the art militarie, vnder such a Generall, commaunder of other commaunders; he offered him all deuotion and seruice, more than euer he had done to any heretofore, and himselfe hauing nothing in the world more deere vnto him, consecrated his owne life to his commaundements; desiring that the same might be employed in the conflicts of warre vnder his banners, among warriours and souldiors of fame and renowne: and therefore besought him to accept of him in the name of Amurath, whose obedient vassale he vowed himselfe to remaine for euer.

The answere of Mustapha.Graciously did Mustapha receiue all this discourse from Manucchiar, and hauing shewed him againe the pile of heads, together with his battels, armour, and prouision of war, told him, That as all these forces are the gift of God, who alwayes fauoured the righteous counsels of the Othoman H emperours, in such sort, that they Lord it ouer all the world, euen to the astonishment of all that liue in the world at this day: so had he for his particular chosen the better part, in comming now to yeeld himselfe, and to submit his obedience to his lord, although it had beene better if he had done it before. And as concerning the desire he had to be his companion and fellow in these warlike affaires, he did very friendly accept of his comming, and promised him all good entertainement and assured safetie. And so in exchange of the presents which he brought him, he apparrelled him in cloth of gold, honoured him with a battle axe and targuet, wrought with gold and ammell, and neuer permitted him to go from his pauillion without a traine of his slaues following him.

This Georgian prince thus solemnly entertained, the Generall gaue order through his camp,I That they should the next morning remoue from those mountaines: and now euery man was putting himselfe in readinesse,A terrible raine and tempest. when as there rise a most terrible tempest of wind and raine, mixt with thunder and lightening; which continued with such violence by the space of foure dayes together, as if the heauens had beene dissolued into waters. Whereby it came to passe, that out of the dead carkasses and heads before mentioned, issued a most horrible stinke: so that thereby, and by the foulenesse of the weather, with the other annoyances alwaies attending vpon so great a campe, the whole armie was exceedingly troubled, and diuers diseases arose among the Turks. But at the last the weather breaking vp, Mustapha rise with his campe, and set forward toward TEFLIS: and being not able by reason of the foulenesse of the way to passe any further, that day stayed in the plaines, where the lake CHIELDER GIOL standeth, and there refreshed his sicke K and wounded souldiors: remoouing thence, the next day about noone he came to the castle of ARCHICHELEC, sometime a castle of the Georgians, but taken from them by Solyman in his warres against Tamas, Mustapha surueyeth his armie at Archichelec, and lacketh fortie thousand of his men. and euer since holden by the Turkes. Here Mustapha surueyed his armie, and by diligent account taken, found himselfe to want fortie thousand of his souldiours: whereof some were slaine in the battell, some were dead of sicknesse, and many wearie of so long and perillous a journey were by night stolne out of the campe and returned to take their ease at home. From thence the armie remoued, and lodged at night neere the marish, called of the Turks PERVANA GIOL, or lake of slaues, and the next day came to TRIALA: where at this day are to be seene the ruines of a great citie, and of many churches; whereof some are yet repaired and maintained by deuout Christians, the reliques of those happie and religious forces, that with L so great and faithfull zeale passed the seas and mountaines through those barbarous nations into the holy land, men worthie of eternall praise. The next day the Turkes ascended the high and craggie mountaine that standeth vpon TEFLIS: from the top whereof descending the day following, they seized vpon a castle of the Georgians, called by the Turks GIVRGI CHALA. Departing thence, and lodging in certaine plaines, the next day they came neere to the riuer that runneth by TEFLIS.The Turkes victuallers cut off by the Georgians. But in these foure dayes march from ARCHICHELEC, where Mustapha tooke view of his armie, many of the Turks, who in seeking for victuals for themselues and their horses, had stragled from the armie, were cut off by the Georgian captaines; who with a number of their owne countrey souldiors secretly followed the Turks armie, and well acquainted with all the waies of the country, lay in ambush vpon such places as the victuallers were to passe through,M and so suddenly setting vpon them, spoyled them at once both of their goods and liues.

Mustapha comming to TEFLIS, found that castle emptie, for that Daut Chan lord therof, hearing of the comming of the Turkes, forsooke the same, and betooke himselfe to the fields: prouiding better for himselfe in so doing, than by staying still in the castle, to haue been there taken prisoner. [Page] A This castle for the conuenient situation thereof Mustapha caused to be repaired and fortified, and planted therein an hundred pieces of artillerie, and appointed Mahamet Bassa Generall Gouernour of that place, with a garrison of six thousand souldiors: which done, he departed for SIRVAN. At which very time those of SORIA which had brought a thousand loads of rent corne to the campe from ALEPPO, being themselues in number a thousand persons, with fiue hundred others of OMPS (in antient time called HVS, the citie of the patient Iob) and other places of SORIA, men neither of dutie bound, nor of themselues willing to follow the campe, returned homewards towards their owne countrey: but vpon the way they were set vpon by Alessandro, Ginsuf, and Dauid (three of the Georgian lords) and all slaine, except some few, who by the swiftnesse of their horses escaped with Nassardin their captaine.

B Now after that Mustapha had passed the discent of the s [...]eepe mountaines of TEFLIS,Alessandro the Georgian sende [...]h embassadors to Mustapha. the next day he encamped in certaine low plaines: where the embassadours of Alessandro surnamed the Great, sonne of Leuent a Georgian prince, came vnto him and told him, That their lord was readie, if it so pleased him to come vnto him to doe him reuerence, and by word of mouth to promise him that deuotion he had alwayes in mind borne to the Othoman emperours. With a glad heart and cheerefull countenance did Mustapha receiue these embassadours: and presently sent them backe to will their lord to come, and to tell him, That his friendship should be vnto him most deare and acceptable. And after their departure tooke order with all the commanders of his armie to receiue him with all the signes of joy that might be; which at his comming was accordingly by them performed. Who after he had presented vnto the Generall the rich gifts he C had brought with him, he offered his obedience to the Bassa with most liuely speeches he could possibly deuise, calling Amurath his lord: seeming to take it in euill part, that he passed not through his territorie, where he should (as he said) haue had plentie of all things for the releefe of his armie; yet hoping, that in his returne from SIRVAN, he would take it in his way, where as he should find him most readie to bestow all that he had in the seruice of his lord: telling him moreouer, That although he could not for many vrgent respects goe with him into SIRVAN, yet he would alwayes accompanie him in mind, and continually pray vnto the Creator of all things for his prosperitie and most happie successe. Courteously did Mustapha receiue both his presents and submission,Alessandro court [...]ously entertained by Mustapha. and in exchange thereof bestowed vpon him certain gifts after the Turkish manner, and in magnificall tearmes gaue him answere, promising him in his returne to passe D through his countrey: and so dismissed the Christian duke with like honour, wherewith he was entertained at his comming.

Mustapha holding on his journey toward SIRVAN, through moorish and troublesome wayes, in twelue dayes after he departed from TEFLIS came into the confines of SIRVAN, neere to the riuer of Canac, and there rested on this side the riuer one day. At which time they of the citie of S [...]CHI bordering vpon the Siruanians and Georgians, foure dayes journy from SVMACHIA, came to offer themselues to Mustapha, as subjects to the Turkes. Of whose submission the Generall gratiously accepted, promising to them his assured protection.

The Turkes armie ouerwearied with the continuall trauell of twelue dayes march,The Turks army afflicted with hunger. but yet farre more afflicted with hunger, not finding in those parts so much as one wild beast to assuage E their greedie desire of meat, sought by all meanes euery man for himselfe to get something, especially when they vnderstood their Generall would passe the riuer into a countrey vnto them all vnknowne, where they were altogether vncertain what to find for their releefe. So whilest they were enquiring among themselues, who were able to conduct them to some such place as where they might supplie their wants, behold certaine Persians were taken; who being straightly examined on that point, after much resistance at last told them, That not far off, after they had passed certaine marishes, where Canac dischargeth it selfe into Araxis, they should find many fields full of Ryse and corne in the blade, and a little further certain fat heards of cattell, sufficient to relieue the whole armie. Of this newes was the Generall certified: who although he greatly doubted the subtilties of his enemie; yet to gratifie his souldiors, and to make them more willing to follow F him into SIRVAN, he licensed euery man that had a desire thereunto to goe and prouide themselues of victuals, and so suffered all that would to goe freely. Whereupon there went of themselues, and were sent by their captaines about ten thousand seruile persons, with cammels, horses, and mules, to fetch away this prouision of corne and cattell: but the euent answered not to their desires. For Tocomac with the other Persian captaines, and the rest of the souldiors that [Page] were escaped from the ouerthrow giuen them in the plaines of CHIELDER, hauing gathered togither G the remainder of the armie, and recouered such places as they thought safe and friendly for them, carefully attended the marching and passing of the Turkish armie. And being certainly enformed by them of REIVAN and GEORGIA what way they kept, and that of necessitie they must arriue at the banks of Canac; they began to deuise how they might in some measure be reuenged of their former losse, and empeach their enemies entrance into SIRVAN. But wanting rather strength than courage to assaile the whole armie, they thought it best to stay in ambush in some fit place, vntill some part of the Turkish armie (allured with the prey of the corne and cattell) should for the reliefe of their common necessities descend into those fields. And the rather to draw them on, sent out diuers men, who as if they had gone about their owne businesse, and by chance at vnawares had lighted vpon the Turkes campe, reuealed vnto them as a H great secret,Ten thousand of the Turks forragers slaine. what a good prey was hard by them. And so withdrawing themselues out of sight priuily, awaited the comming of the Turks: when as within the space of three daies it so fell out, that the aforesaid ten thousand forragers arriued at the wished place; where they had no sooner begun to charge themselues with the prey, but they were surprised by the Persians, and all slaine, sauing a few who by hastie flight saued themselues. The noise of this hoat skirmish being heard into the Turkish hoast, caused Mustapha to imagine that the matter was fallen out euen as in deed it was: and therefore rising with his whole armie, hasted with all possible speed to haue succoured the poore people, who were now all slaine. And albeit he came not in so good time as to yeeld them reliefe, yet came he verie fitly to reuenge their death vpon the Persians, staying too long to load themselues with the spoile of their enemies.I

The place from whence the Turks were to haue had the aforesaid bootie, was almost in manner of an island, enclosed with the riuers of Araxis and Canac: whereinto Mustapha entred with his whole power, Deruis Bassa leading the one wing as did Beyran Bassa the other, and he himselfe comming on in the middle with the maine battell. The Persians seeing Mustapha with all his forces hasting towards them, and withall remembring the late ouerthrow by them receiued in the plaines of CHIELDER; began to bethinke themselues, how much better it had beene for them to haue contented themselues with the late slaughter of the forragers, and with speed to haue got them away out of that strait, than by staying longer to be enclosed with the multitude of their enemies, as that they could now no way escape without most manifest perill. In this perplexitie, discoursing among themselues whether it were better for them to flie, or with so great K disaduantage to joyne battell, and so rather to die with honour than to liue with reproach: at last they resolued to reserue themselues to the farther seruice of their prince and countrey; deeming it rather a point of wisedome than of dishonour, Not to aduenture vnto most desperat and assured death, so many worthie men as might in future time stand their countrey in great stead: yet did they not see how by flight well to escape, for that they were in such sort s [...]rained within the riuers, as that there was no ground left for them to escape by, than that which contrarie to their expectation was by the Turkes alreadie possessed. In these difficulties euerie man began to betake himselfe to his owne priuat conceit and fortune.The Persians [...]lie, and in flying are many of them drowned in Canac. Tocomac with Emir Chan, and other the great commaunders of the armie were the first that turned their backes, and by the helpe of their couragious horses, got ouer the riuer of Canac: whose example moued many others to attempt L the like, though not with like fortune; for that their horses being not of such courage, and out of breath, lay many of them drowned in the riuer. Wherwith others being amazed, as perceiuing ineuitable death in flying present before their eies, and reposing all their hope euen in despaire, ran as it were headlong in a rage and furie vpon their enemies, and in fighting shewed vnspeakable valour: but what was one against an hundred? for there they were also all slain, though worthie of immortall fame. Thus was the Persian armie quite discomfited in this demy island, being first stained with the bloud of the enemie, and afterward with the slaughter of the neighbour and proper inhabitant: and so became the perpetuall sepulcher of a most couragious and warlike people. The Turkes in this last conflict, lost not aboue three thousand men, beside the slaughter of the ten thousand forragers: although Tocomac to make his losse to seeme the more M tollerable, made report to the king of a greater slaughter made. The Persian captaines full of sorrow for this vnexpected ouerthrow, with the licence of their Generall departed, euerie man to his seuerall gouernment: as Emanguli Chan to GENGE, Serap Chan to NASSIVAN, Tocomac himselfe to REIVAN, and all the rest to other cities, to the gouernment whereof they were before [Page] A by the king appointed, and so remained expecting his farther pleasure from CASBIN.

Mustapha was now come to the riuer of Canac, which he was to passe ouer into SIRVAN, and therefore made straight proclamation through his whole armie, That euerie man should be in readinesse against the next day to passe the riuer. At which proclamation all his people suddenly arose in a tumult, and with injurious tearmes euen to his face reproued his folly and inhumanitie, propounding vtter danger vnto himselfe, and an vniuersall con [...]usion vnto the whole armie: and therfore praied him to surcease from proceeding any farther, vnlesse he were minded to cast them all away. But his resolute mind was not by their threats or entreaties to be remoued, neither gaue he them other answere than this: That so had Amurath commaunded: and that if all the rest should shew themselues vnwilling to obey their Soueraigne, The resolute answere of Mustapha to his tumultuous souldiors. hee himselfe would not nor B could not, but would be the first man to attempt and performe that, which they all so abhorred and reproued. Valiant souldiors (he said) were discouered and knowne, not in idlenesse and ease, but in great paines taking, and difficult enterprises: who neuer ought to be afraid to change this momentarie life for euerlasting honour, or to shun death, if the seruice of their prince so required. And for mine owne part (said he) I most earnestly request you, that after I haue attempted the passage of the riuer, if any thing happen vnto me otherwise than well, yet carrie my dead bodie to the other side of the riuer: to the end, that if I cannot whilest I yet liue execute the commaundement of my soueraigne, I may yet at least performe the same when I am but a speechlesse and liuelesse carkasse; for as much as the desire of my lord is not in any sort to be frustrated, for making too great account of mine owne life.

Diuers and sundrie murmurings and whisperings followed vpon this speech of the Generall, C who notwithstanding the next morning did first of all wade ouer the deepe and swift riuer himselfe: after whom presently followed the Bassaes with all their slaues, by whose example the rest also were induced at last to doe the like, and so continued vntill the darknesse of the night interrupted their passage; by which occasion more than halfe the armie could not then get ouer. In this passage,Eight thousand Turks drowned in passing the riuer. being with great tumult and disorder attempted, it came to passe that about eight thousand persons carried away with the violence of the riuer, were miserably drowned, with the great outcrie of all the hoast. The like happened also to many mules, camels, and sumpter horses, vpon whose backes diuers persons being mounted, in hope to haue passed drie ouer the riuer, were likewise headlong ouerwhelmed therein. With great complaints and blasphemous cursings was the whole night spent, by them that were yet on this side the riuer; whose feares were D not a little increased, by the example of their vnfortunate fellowes before drowned. And like enough it was, some pestilent sedition to haue ensued thereupon, had there not a shallow foord by great chance been discouered, which gaue safe passage to those that were left. For in the passage which the people made that followed Mustapha, the grauell of the bottome of the riuer being raised and remoued by the heauie hooues of the cattell, was driuen downe the riuer to a place, where by great good hap there was also a foord: and there gathered togither in an heape, had in such sort raised the depth of the channell, that it made as it were a shelfe for their commodious passage, so that the remnant of the armie, carriages, and artillerie passing ouer the same, there was not so much as one man that perished. So hauing with much difficultie at last got ouer the riuer of Canac, they rested themselues that day and the next, and there staied vntill the whole E armie was mustered, and againe put in order. Remouing thence, the day following they encamped in certaine barren Champaines, where was neither corne nor cattell: neither could they perceiue or learne,Famine in the Turks hoast. that in those quarters were any villages at all. By meanes whereof the hunger of their beasts increasing, they were enforced to giue their horses and mules, leaues, and stalkes of verie drie and withered reeds, and such other like things of little or no sustenance at all: and the men themselues were faine to satisfie their hunger with those vttermost reliques, which they were faine to picke out of such poore victuals, as now by corruption were become loathsome to mans nature: and that which worse was, they saw no end of these miseries they were so entred into. Notwithstanding there was now no looking backe, but needs on they must, and follow the fortune of their leaders: among whom Mustapha before all the rest set forward on his F determined journey. He had not long marched, but there was discouered good store of sundrie plants, and shortly after a verie large plaine countrey all greene and flourishing, and garnished with many trees:The Turks army refreshed. by the onely sight whereof, euerie man was refreshed with the hope of reliefe; and with more than ordinarie paces, hasted vntill they were entered into those Champaines, abounding with all kind of corne and fruits that could be of an hungrie man desired. In this place [Page] did euerie man satisfie his appetite, and forgot in part the forepassed calamities. Through this G fruitfull and pleasant countrey Mustapha leading his armie, at last ariued at ERES, the chiefe citie in that coast of SIRVAN as you trauell from GEORGIA.

This citie of ERES was forsaken of a number of her inhabitants, as soone as it was knowne that the Turkes were come to Canac; who all followed their Gouernour Samir Chan: who with Ares Chan Gouernour of SVMACHIA, and other the Gouernours of SECHI and other places of SIRVAN, forsooke the cities, and altogither withdrew themselues into the mountains, as places of more suretie, attending the euent of these so great motions. So that as the Turkes entred the citie vndisturbed, so were they with the prey they found therein, nothing enriched: for that in this common danger, euerie man had carried away with him the best things he had. Here staied Mustapha two and twentie daies, during which time he erected a fortresse in the said H citie: whereupon he placed two hundred small pieces of artillerie, and for the keeping thereof appointed Caitas Bassa, with a garrison of fiue thousand souldiours. In the meane time also he commaunded Osman Bassa (one of the voluntarie captaines) with ten thousand men to possesse SVMACHIA, sometime the Metropoliticall citie of that prouince, with the title of Visier and Gouernour Generall of SIRVAN. Giuing him farther in charge, that in any case he should cleare the passage to DERBENT, and giue present aduertisements to the Tartarians of his arriuall there: whom he supposed by that time to be come into those quarters, for that they had before so faithfully promised to Amurath▪ Osman comming to SVMACHIA, presently seazed vpon the citie, and was friendly entertained of those that remained there: whom he likewise courteously entreated, without doing or suffering any outrage to be done vpon them. Of which his courteous I vsage they of DERBENT vnderstanding, sent presently to offer their citie vnto him, beseeching him to receiue them into his protection, and to defend them from the Persians: vnder whom, although they had long liued in subjection, yet differed they from them in the ceremonies of their Mahometane superstition, wherein they better agreed with the Turkes.

Mustapha returneth out of Siruan. Mustapha hauing thus brought the countrey of SIRVAN into the Turkish subjection, and finished his fortresse at ERES, and put all things in such order as he thought best: importuned by the Ianizaries and the people of GRaeCIA, and somewhat enforced by the season of the yeare which was now farre spent; departed from ERES, and turned his course homeward toward the countrey of Alexander surnamed the Great, as he had promised in his late passage into SIRVA. And hauing trauelled a long journey, he sent before him certaine engines and pioners K to make a bridge ouer Canac, so without danger to passe ouer his armie. Hauing passed the riuer, he gaue notice to Sahamall (one of the lords of GEORGIA) of his arriuall, who presently came and yeelded himselfe as vassall to the Turkes: and being entertained of the Bassa with great pompe, and rewarded after the Turkish manner, tooke his leaue, and so returned into his mountaine of BRVS.

Mustapha setting againe forward, and trauelling by night because he would not lose the opportunitie of the faire weather; by the errour of his guides lost his way, and so fell into rough and difficult passages, whereby he was enforced to stay and wait for day light: which arising, did manifest vnto them, that they were now entred into the countries of his friend Alexander. And therefore he gaue forthwith proclamation through all his armie, That no man vpon paine of L death should be so hardie as to molest or disquiet any of the subjects of Alexander, but to haue good respect vnto them, and to entreat them with all courtesie. The day following he still trauelled on in the same countrey, when there arriued from ZAGHEN certaine embassadours of Alexanders, with great aboundance of cattell, corne, fruits, and other reliefe sent for a present to the Generall, with a solemne excuse, that he came not himselfe, because the infirmitie of his bodie would not suffer him. Wherewithall Mustapha rested satisfied, and leauing the citie of ZAGHEN on the right hand, caused the messengers of Alexander to guide him the way to TEFLIS: which they so directly did, that within the space of three daies they conducted him thither with his armie, without the feeling of any annoiance; from whence they returned, being well rewarded for their paines by the Generall. Who now come to TEFLIS, found the garrison M he had there left for the keeping thereof,Mustapha relieueth his distressed garrison at Teflis. so hardly pinched with famine, that they were glad to eat cats, dogs, sheepskins, and such like vnwonted food: for neither durst they for feare of the enemie go out of the castle to prouide for themselues; nether if they had so done had it any thing auailed, such was the carefulnesse of the enemie in keeping of his things: but now by the comming [Page] A of the Generall they were relieued with meat, money, and plentie of all things. Hauing staied there two daies, he put himselfe againe vpon his way, and with fire and sword destroied whatsoeuer came in his way in the Champaines subject to the said citie: onely the sepulchers of Simons progenitors (lord of that countrey) were left vntouched by the Turkes furie. The next day they trauelled ouer rough and ragged mountains, full of a thousand difficulties, which were the more encreased by wonderfull great snowes that were fallen: by reason whereof, many souldiors, horses, camels, and mules perished. In which distresse the armie continued two daies; during which time the souldiors were fallen into such a disorder, that forgetting the feare of the enemies countrey wherein they were, euerie man without regard tooke vp his seuerall lodging apart, some here, some there, where they might find either some thicke bush or some small cottage, B or some quiet valley to shelter themselues in from the wind, the snow, and the stormes. Of which disorder certaine Georgian lords vnderstanding by the scouts which from time to time waited vpon the Turkes armie, joyned themselues together and in the night secretly approached vnto it, expecting the opportunitie of performing some notable exploit: and hauing obserued, that Hosaine Bey had withdrawne himselfe with his regiment from the rest of the army vnder certaine mountaines, to defend himselfe from the storme and wind; they tooke the occasion presented, and so assailing him, slew his slaues and all his squadrons; tooke a great bootie of many loads of money and apparell; lead away with them all his horses, and whatsoeuer else they could find, and scarce gaue him leisure to saue himselfe, by flying into the tents of Beyran Bassa. The next morning the Turkes remoued, and in the euening came to a castle called CHIVRCHALA, C where they staied a whole day to make prouision of victuall: which was attempted by sending abroad many of their slaues into the fields, conducted by them of the castle; who were all miserably cut in pieces by the Georgians. From this place the Turkes armie departed in great hunger, ouer diuers rough places of the Georgians, where they were faine oftentimes to rest themselues: and at last came to the confines of Dedesmit, of her called the widowes countrey.The miseri [...] of the Turks armi [...] in passing the strai [...] of Georgia. In the entrance whereof, they must needs passe through a narrow strait, betweene certaine mountaines, where the riuer Araxis windeth it selfe with a thousand turnings in the low vallies: a dangerous place, and so narrow, that no more but one man alone could at once passe through it. Betweene this strait and a verie thicke and hilly wood, they lodged vpon the banke of the said riuer: and from thence they remoued the next morning, and trauelled ouer verie steep D mountaines and rough forrests, ouer yse and snow more harder than marble, and ouer other hanging rocks▪ in such miserable sort, that many camels, mules, and horses, tumbling downe headlong into the riuer, there miserably perished. Through these ruinous crags and diuers other miseries, they marched all the next day, and after that another day also, as miserable to the armie as the former. And so at last being sore afflicted with hunger, spoiled of the enemie, tormented with the hard season of the yeare, and situation of the place, they arriued in the territories that lay vnder ALTVNCHALA, or Golden castle, the princely widowes pallace, where they had all manner of reliefe, for all the miseries they had endured since their departure from CHIVRCHALA, by the space of six daies: which if it had been a faire common trauelled way, might haue been performed in one onely daies journey.

E The widow,The Georgian widow submitteth her selfe, with her sonne Alexander to Mustapha. with Alexander her eldest sonne, came downe from her castle, and went vnto the pauillion of Mustapha; offering him diuers presents, and promising vnto him all faithfull obedience. Whom Mustapha courteously receiued, declaring vnto her, what honourable entertainment he had giuen to Manucchiar her yonger sonne there present, who had been with him in all the expedition into SIRVAN. And for the present, dissembling the priuie displeasure he bare against Alexander (whom he thought to haue been one of them that spoiled the Sorians in their returne from the campe) he embraced him courteously, and praied her to be content to leaue him also there with him: giuing her farther to vnderstand, that he would send both her sons to CONSTANTINOPLE to Amurath, with letters of credence for their yeelded obedience, for their fauour shewed to his armie, in giuing it so secure passage, and so many helpes: F and lastly, that for their good deserts, they might be of the said great Sultan both honourably entertained and rewarded. The aged ladie, although her mind was herewithall sore troubled, yet outwardly in her countenance shewed her selfe pleased; and seemed courteously to yeeld, what she was of necessitie constrained to grant: as well for that he was alreadie possessed of one of her sonnes, as also for that both her selfe and her whole state were now in his power, and as it [Page] were at his deuotion. And therefore leauing both her sonnes behind her, she returned her selfe G heauie to her castle.

Mustapha commeth to Erzirum, and dischargeth his armie.In this place Mustapha hauing refreshed his armie two daies, departed thence toward CHARS, and after many dayes trauell at last arriued at ERZIRVM, to the great rejoycing of the whole armie, which was there presently discharged by the Generall, without any mustering at all, & leaue giuen for euery man to returne into his countrey.

Mustapha magnifieth his owne exploits to Amurath. Mustapha setling himselfe in ERZIRVM, dispatched postes with letters of plentifull aduertisements to his great lord and master, of all things that had passed▪ not forgetting to magnifie his owne exploits aboue measure. He certified him of the battels he had had with the Persians, the obedience he had receiued of the Georgians and Siruanians, the mutinie of his owne souldiors, the fortresse he had built at ERES, the garrisons left in that citie with Caitas Bassa, and in SVMACHIA H with Osman Bassa: and in breefe, whatsoeuer els had passed; and whatsoeuer he had taken from the enemie. Neither did he faile to propound vnto Amurath, what he thought conuenient to be attempted the next yeare, for the strengthening of those places he had alreadie conquered, and for preparing the way for new enterprises. And principally he put him in mind of a fortification to be made at CHARS, a place very fit for any passage into GEORGIA or ARMENIA, by situation fruitfull and commodious both for men and cattell. And withall he sent vnto him the widdowes two sonnes, Alexander and Manucchiar, the Georgian princes, certifying him of their submission, and that he had receiued in their country all good entertainment and friendly welcome: and withall declaring his opinion, That Manucchiar was the meeter man for gouernment than his brother Alexander, and the readier to doe him seruice. Greatly did Amurath I commend the valour and diligence of Mustapha, and highly pleased himselfe with this conceit, That of these beginnings might grow mightie conquests, to the enlargement of his empire, and that by this meanes he should be able to surpasse the glorie of his predecessours. And the more his ambitious thoughts were occupied about these wars, the lesse he troubled himselfe with thinking how to annoy EVROPE with his forces.

It was not long after the departure of Mustapha from ERES, but that the Tartarians hauing left the fennes of MEOTIS, and the vnmountable shores of the Blacke sea, and hauing passed ouer the rockes vpon CHOLCHIS, and surueyed the frosen crags of the mountaine CAVCASVS, were now arriued vpon the confines of SIRVAN, and there attended the commaundement of the Turkes. These Tartarians being of them that are called Praecopenses, to the number of thirtie K thousand, conducted by their lord and captaine Abdilcherai, a young man of great valour and fame, and of a comely personage, were come according to the faithfull promise of Tatar Chan, with a full resolution to attempt whatsoeuer should be commaunded them in the name of Amurath. Now Osman Bassa vnderstanding of their approch, according to the charge before giuen him by Mustapha the Generall, enuited them to enter into SIRVAN, and by encreasing of the Turkes forces to further these beginnings of Amurath his glorie, and these his conquests (or more truly to say, these magnificall & famous tearms of victorie.) All which was most diligently put in execution by Abdilcherai: who hauing entred the yron gates where DERBENT standeth (which by the Turks at this day is called Demir Capi, and signifieth the gates of yron) and so from thence passing into the countrey of SIRVAN, there stayed, and thereof gaue aduertisement to Osman, L as was by him appointed. Ares Chan late gouernour of SVMACHIA, who for feare of the great armie of the Turkes had abandoned the citie the cheefe place of his charge, and betaken himselfe to the safegard of the mountaines, hearing of the departure of the Turkish Generall, resolued with the other Gouernours of ERES and SECHI (who following his example, had in like manner fled) now to returne againe to their forsaken countrey, and to make proofe if he could by any meanes take reuenge of the injurie done vnto him by the Turkes. So passing vnder SVMACHIA, and hauing put to the sword certaine of Osmans stragling victuallers that were gone out of the citie, he encamped with all his people a little from SVMACHIA, and by good fortune surprised certaine messengers sent from Abdilcherai the Tartar, to certifie Osman Bassa of his arriuall, and to know his pleasure what he should put in execution. These Tartarians brought before Ares, after M much torture disclosed the letters they carried: which the Persian captaine read, and considering the great number of the Tartarians that were come (for the letters made mention of thirtie thousand) he resolued not to stay any longer in those quarters, but presently raised his campe, and retired towards Canac, meaning from thence to certifie the king of these nouelties, and vpon the [Page] A bankes of the said riuer to attend the kings answere. The Tartarian captain comming to SVMACHIA, was appointed by the Bassa to passe ouer the riuer of Canac into GENGE, the countrey of Emanguli Chan, with the spoyle thereof to enrich himselfe, and by all meanes to make his arriuall vnto the Persians most terrible. With this charge the Barbarian departed, thirsting now for nothing more than for the bloud and spoyle of the enemie: and with posting journies came to Canac, where Ares Chan was yet encamped: whom he vpon the sudden most [...]uriously assaulted, and like a deuouring flame discomfited all his hoast.Ares Chan hanged at Sumachia And taking him aliue, sent him to SVMACHIA to Osman, who forthwith caused him to be hanged by the necke out of a lodging in the same Statehouse where he had not long before sat as Gouernour. The Tartarian after that, swimming ouer the riuer,Emanguli Chan taken, & Genge sacked by the Tartarians. and coursing a little aboue GENGE, found Emanguli Chan with his wife, and B all his familie, and a great part of the nobilitie of GENGE in a valley hunting the wild Bore; and assayling him, put him to flight, tooke from him his wife, all the ladies, and many slaues, and slew many of the rest that were come thither to see the sport: and after that rode on to GENGE, which he tooke, and yeelded it wholly to the furie and lust of his barbarous souldiors, who left no manner of inhumane crueltie vnattempted, in satisfying their immoderat and barbarous affections. And so being loaded with the spoyles, and wearie with the slaughter of their enemies, they returned merrily toward SIRVAN: and passing againe ouer Canac, came to the hither side of ERES into certaine low champaigns, enuironned about with hils, and there hauing pitched their tents, without any feare setled themselues to sleepe and to rest their wearie bodies.

In the meane time, and long before these actions, were newes come to the Persian Court of C all the Turks proceedings: whereupon the Persian king hauing gathered new forces, had dispatched Emir Hamze Mirize his eldest sonne with twelue thousand soldiors to passe into SIRVAN, to see what hurt the enemie had done, and to attempt the reuenge of the forepassed injuries; but aboue all things to punish the villanie of them of SECHI▪ and the other cities of SIRVAN, that not induced with any necessitie, had so voluntarily yeelded themselues to follow the obedience and religion of the Turkes. The Persian prince departing from CAS [...]IN, accompanied with his mother Begum, who would needs follow her beloued sonne, was on his way towards SIRVAN, vnder the guiding and gouernment of Mirize Salmas, cheefe of the Sultans; and had now left behind them the countries of ARDOVIL and CARACACH, when he was certified by the aduertisements come from Ares Chan, of the arriuall of Abdilcherai, with his great number of Tartarians; D and was thereby at the first strucken into a great quandarie▪ and almost out of comfort: yet prickt forward with an honourable desire of glorie and reuenge, he prosecuted his entended enterprise for SIRVAN, and hastening his journey, came to ERES long before the king his father thought he could haue so done.Eres recouered by the Persians. This his notable celeritie serued him to great purpose, for that Caitas Bassa was boldly gone out of the fortresse, and went spoyling the countrey, carrying away with him whatsoeuer he met withall, and committing such insolencies as hungrie souldiours beyond all honestie vse to doe in strange and fruitfull countries. But when he was in the middest of these spoyles, and least feared the enemie, he was suddenly assailed by the prince; and hauing no meanes to escape his furie in this extremitie, after a fierce and bloudie battell (wherein the Turks although in number few, yet shewed many effects of valor) he was there slaine with all his souldiors, E leauing the fortresse, the spoyles, and the countrey committed to his custodie, free to the pleasure of the victor: which the Persian prince hauing once againe gotten into his possession, tooke away the two hundred pieces of artillerie that were left in the fort by Mustapha, and presently sent them to CASBIN to his father.

The prince encouraged with so happie a beginning, leauing his mother at ERES, followed on his journey toward SVMACHIA, but by the way descending the hils, he discouered where the Tartarians lay encamped. Whereupon he stood in great doubt, whether to aduenture vpon so mightie an enemie, or to content himselfe with the victorie he had alreadie gotten, and so to returne into PERSIA: to returne he thought it too great a shame, and chose rather to aduenture himselfe to most manifest perill. And therfore descending the hill, and drawing nigh the enemie, F he perceiued that the armie was all laid downe to rest, and that their horses were some couched, some standing, but all vnsadled: whereupon without any stay setting spurs to his horse, he pricked forward with all his hoast, and most terribly assaulted the Tartarians, now buried in their spoyles and sleepe; & hauing slaine their first and second watch, although with some losse, among the tumultuarie souldiors he made an vniuersall confusion and slaughter, putting some to flight, [Page] killing others, and taking diuers of them captiues. Among whom was their Generall Abdilch [...] rai, G who was taken aliue, and sent to the king in CASBIN.

Sumachia besieged by the Persian prince.After these victories the Persian prince scoured to SVMACHIA, and compassed the citie round about, wherein the Turkish Bassa Osman sat as Gouernour, to the reproch of PERSIA: and there encamping himselfe, sent word to Osman, That if he would yeeld himselfe, he would let him depart with life and goods: otherwise, if he would obstinately hold it out, and not yeeld the citie, which he so vnjustly possessed, he should be constrained to surrender it by force, and his life withall. Osman who as then knew nothing of the Tartarians ouerthrow, but still hoped of their returne, thought it best to entertaine the prince with faire words vntill their comming, and therefore gaue him courteous answere, that he was very readie to yeeld vp the citie: but withall entreated him, that he would stay but for three dayes, and graunt him time to put all things in readinesse,H that so he might freely depart, as it had pleased him in courtesie to offer. The prince glad of such an answere, supposing it to haue proceeded of a sincere meaning, expected of the Turke the performance thereof. But Osman meaning nothing lesse, than to commit himselfe to the faith of his enemie, and seeing that the Tartarians, whom he looked for, appeared not, he resolued to saue himselfe by secret flight; doubting, as he had good reason, that if he should longer stay, to be betrayed by the inhabitants of the citie themselues: and therefore somewhat before the assigned tearme of the three dayes appointed for the surrendering of the citie, he by the helpe of a darke night, and the couert of the high and rough crags, with great silence withdrew himselfe out of SVMACHIA,Sumachia yeelded vnto the prince. carrying away with him all his substance, and so in safetie arriued at DERBENT. The next morning the inhabitants of SVMACHIA opened the gates of the citie to the prince:I who seeing their infidelitie, first by giuing of entertainement to Osman, and now by helping him to escape, without giuing him any knowledge therof, did put in execution the effect of his wrath and indignation, which euen in CASBIN he had conceiued in his mind against them; and with great crueltie did punish the miserable and vnfortunat citisens, laying their houses euen with the ground, rasing both the old and new wals of that citie, of late so desired a receit for the Turkes. But when he was to depart thence, he stood in doubt, Whether to goe on to DERBENT, or to returne to PERSIA: the strength of that citie, the appproch of Winter, and the long journey he was to take homeward, persuaded him to lay aside the enterprise for DERBENT, whereupon he resolued to returne to CASBIN: yet first to make his returne by them of ERES and SECHI, and vpon them as vpon rebels to inflict well deserued punishment. So making his present repaire K thither, spared neither sex nor age, nor any condition of persons, but vpon them all poured forth his furious indignation, without exception. Which done, he with his aforesaid mother Begum, and his armie, though somewhat deminished, yet victorious and triumphant, returned to CASBIN.

Abdilcherai beloued of the Persian queene.Yong Abdilcherai the Tartarian was kept safe in the kings pallace at CASBIN, but with such easie imprisonment as was agreeable to his calling: which was day by day so enlarged, as that he seemed not to liue as a prisoner, but rather as a companion of those of the Court, and as it were in apparent libertie. By which occasion hauing insinuated himselfe into the loue of Begum the kings wife, he spent his time in courting of her, and she againe in entertaining of him in all secret and couert manner. Yet these their mutuall affections and interchangeable fauours passed not so L secretly, but that in the Court and all ouer the citie it was a rife report, That the shamelesse ladie, prodigall of her honour, had participated both her bed and her selfe with the Tartarian prisoner. Howbeit neither the king nor the prince knew any thing of it. But the king perceiuing the yong gentleman to be generally commended, valiant, courteous, and of a comely feature, and withall nobly borne (for he gaue it out that he was the brother of Tatar Chan) persuaded himselfe, that it would stand with the great good of his state, of a captiue to make him his sonne in law, by giuing him his daughter in marriage: whereby he was in good hope there might grow such an amitie and vnion betweene the Tartarian Praecopenses and himselfe, as that they would from thenceforth not onely refuse to fauour Amurath in those warres, but also become enemies vnto him, and in the fauour of PERSIA turne their armes and affections against him. Which his M deepe and considerat purpose so displeased the Sultans of CASBIN, that they sought by all meanes they could possibly deuise to auert the king from that so strange a policie: but all in vaine, for the king being fully resolued, and now vpon the point to make a conclusion of the marriage; the Sultans entering into the pallace with their followers, and finding there the vnfortunat [Page] A Tartarian,

Abdilchera [...] slaine in the Court.

The Tersian queene [...] away.

ran him through the bodie, and cutting off his priuie members, flapped them vpon his mouth after a most barbarous and filthie manner. It is reported, that the queene was then also murdered by them: certaine it is, that the poore ladie neuer after that day saw the light of the Sunne: but whether it was put in execution by the appointment of the king her husband, or that the Sultans did it for the publicke interest, is not certainely knowne. Vpon these murders sprung vp many troubles, and much ciuile dissention, threatning the vtter confusion of the Persian kingdome, to the singular benefit of Amurath. All which tumultuous disorders the king by brideling his owne affections, and the motions of his sonne Emir Hamze Mirize, well appeased, procuring at last a perfect vnitie, as then most necessarie for the defence of his kingdome.

Osman Bassa being in DERBENT (the onely place of refuge now left for the Turkes in SIRVAN) B ceased not with all carefulnesse to deuise what he possibly could, for the assuring of that countrey (of late woon, and now againe almost lost) vnder the gouernment of Amurath. For the better establishing whereof, together with his owne safetie, he thought it good to enter into friendship with old Sahamal the Georgian, lord of the mountaine of BRVS. With this man did Osman practise many tokens of good will, and he again interchangeably towards Osman: whereupon there arose great friendship betweene them, at leastwise in outward appearance: whereunto in short time there was added a straight knot of alliance: for that Osman took to wife a daughter of the said Sahamals, the greatest signe of his sincere loue towards him. Neuerthelesse shortly after Osman vpon some reasonable conjectures began to suspect (as indeed the truth was) that Sahamal for all the faire shew of friendship he made towards him, might for all that receiue some secret C order from the Persian king, to betray him, and to free the citie from the Turks, and so to reduce all that prouince vnto the auntient deuotion: in which jealous suspition he was fully confirmed by the speeches of his wife, the daughter of Sahamal; who rauished with the honour, valour, and riches of her husband, could not conceale any thing that she knew deuised against him, but frankely told him, That her father being secretly reconciled to the Persian king, held friendship with him, and that letters went betweene them of great matters, and particularly of the affaires of SIRVAN. Hereupon the Bassa persuaded himselfe, that all the friendship of Sahamal was but deepe dissimulation, and the marriage of his daughter nothing but a meane to procure his death. Neuerthelesse he made shew vnto his wife, as if he had made no such reckoning of it as indeed he did, but kept it in store to his owne safetie and the destruction of Sahamal, D whom for all that he still entertained with all honour and kindnesse due vnto a most louing father in law. But to preuent the malitious purpose of Sahamal, hauing enuited him according to the custome to a certaine solemne feast, he acquainted certain companies of his most trustie and valiant souldiors with his determination, enjoyning them, that as soone as Sahamal was entered into his Court, euen in the very dismounting from his horse they should all fall vpon him, cut off his head, and put all his retinue to the sword. Which his cruell commaund was by him accordingly at Sahamals comming put in execution,Sahamal slaine by Osman. he in lighting from his horse being slaine, and all his followers murdered, when forthwith were sent forth by Osman two thousand horsemen to spoyle and sacke all the country of the said Georgian lord, to the great maruell and astonishment both of farre and neere. The Persian king hearing of these newes, tooke the matter grieuously, E as foreseeing that the recouerie of that countrey and prouince of SIRVAN would proue a matter of great difficultie, and fearing greatly that it would still remaine (as indeed it doth) in the possession of the Turkes. This was the end of the Turkes attempts against the Persians in SIRVAN this yeare 1578, wherein they lost aboue seuentie thousand men, deuoured partly with the sword, and partly with famine, and the other miseries of warre. And so Winter comming on very sharpely, euery man withdrew himselfe from the field, wholly attending the keeping of that they had alreadie gotten, vntill the comming on of the next Spring.

Amurath aduertised by letters from Mustapha of all that had happened in the late expedition against the Persians,The consultations of Amurath. vpon these prosperous successes (which the Bassa had for the aduancing of his owne credit described to be farre greater than indeed they were) began to cast many deuices F in his head touching such matters as were to be attempted the next year. And first he thought it necessarie to send his forces againe into SIRVAN, to recouer such places as were first conquered by Mustapha, but afterward againe subdued by the Persian, so to establish his gouernment in that countrey. But vpon better consideration he ceased further to thinke of that matter, for the great hope he had conceiued of the aid that was promised him by Tatar Chan, who had [Page] faithfully assured hoth him and Osman, that he would ouerrun that prouince anew, and do great G matters in furtherance of the Turkes desseignes: all which for all that fell out to be but windie words: yet in respect of this hope he layed SIRVAN aside, and committed the defence thereof to the false promises of the Tartarian, and the valour of Osman. And pleasing his ambitious desires with more haughtie thoughts, he began to deuise with himselfe, for sending his armie directly to TAVRIS, there to erect a fortresse; which being strongly fortified and furnished with a garrison of most valiant souldiors, should neuer be againe subdued by all the power of PERSIA; and by this meanes to keepe in subjection all those great countries betweene TAVRIS and ERZIRVM. Which his conceit being of great weight and importance, was much encreased by the persuasion of others, very inward with him; euery man being almost of opinion, That it was an easie matter for so great an hoast in few dayes to performe that seruice, and to pierce not onely H into TAVRIS, but further to passe whether soeuer he would desire. Yet after he had more deeply considered of an enterprise of so great importance, and with more indifferent judgement compared his owne forces with his enemies, he began to find many difficulties and dangers, which in the heat of his ambitious desires he at the first saw not: For beside the length and tediousnesse of the journey, he doubted that in sending his armie for TAVRIS, it might be on the one side assailed by the Georgians (of whose obedience he had as yet no great assurance) and on the other side by the Persians, and so brought into great danger; which he was alwayes to feare, whensoeuer he should haue occasion to send new supplies vnto the fortresse by him entended at TAVRIS. Whereupon laying aside all his former conceits, as too eagre and perillous, he resolutely concluded with himselfe, first to make sure his owne borders, and afterwards by little and little I to enter into the enemies countrey, still fortifying in conuenient places as he went, and so surely, although but slowly, to triumph ouer his enemies; rather than by thrusting his armie headlong vpon vncertaineties into places strongly fenced both by nature and the power of most mightie enemies, to be enforced with shame to abandon the enterprise so hastily begun.

Mustapha caref [...]ll to put [...]n exc [...]tion Amura [...]h his commaund.Of this his resolution he aduertised Mustapha by writing, giuing him in charge, against the next Spring to prouide all such things as should be necessarie for the building of certaine forts vpon the way that leadeth from ERZIRVM into GEORGIA: that hauing made those wayes safe, and brought the people vnder his obedience, he might afterwards attempt greater matters. Whereupon Mustapha presently directed forth precepts to the cities of ALEPPO, of DAMASCO, CARAEMIT, and other places of SORIA and MESOPOTAMIA, for the taking vp of cunning K workemen, of pioners, and such like, to the number of twentie thousand: and likewise wrot to all the countries, out of which he had raised his armie the last yeare, That all their souldiors (yea and in greater number also) should be in readinesse against the next Spring, to returne to the wars. The rumor whereof he caused to be spread euen as far as AEGIPT. He commaunded also the taxes and tenths of those countries to be collected, and further vsed the chambers of ALEPPO, and other places, for such masses of mony as he thought necessarie for these purposes.

In this while the two Georgian brethren, Alexander and Manucchiar, sent (as we haue before said) by Mustapha to Amurath at CONSTANTINOPLE, in doubtfull hope, expecting the end for which they were sent vnto the Court, were both examined, and exhorted to embrace the Mahometane religion:Manucchiar [...]urneth Turke. whereunto Manucchiar easily yeelded. Whereas on the other side L Alexander his elder brother could by no allurements or meanes bee induced to consent to so infamous and damnable a change of his religion;Alexander constant in his religion. although he knew he should therefore be depriued of his state: but protesting his obedience at all times to Amurath, and his loue to his brother, requested onely, That he might but as a priuat man goe and liue in his countrey, there to be buried amongst his auncestours. Which his request the Turkish emperour referred to the discretion of Manucchiar, to doe therein as he saw good: who consented thereunto. Hereupon Manucchiar was circumcised, and the name of Mustaffa giuen him, with the title of the Bassa and Gouernour of ALTVNCHALA, and of all his mothers and brothers countries: and being thus created a Turke, had his brother Alexander a Christian committed vnto him, and so both returned into their owne countries.M

Emanguli Chan taketh vpon him the defence of Siruan.Now in the Persian court at CASBIN, were many consultations had for the repressing of the inuasions of the Turks. And among others carefull of those matters, Emanguli Chan Gouernor of GENGE, doubting to loose his honourable gouernment, by reason of the late sacke of his citie, and spoile of his countrey by the Tartarian; by those plots that were daily in contriuing for [Page] A the sending of men into SIRVAN, to impeach the dessignments of Osman Bassa, and (if it were possible) to driue him out of DERBENT; tooke occasion to offer vnto the king, vpon paine of his head to defend SIRVAN, and not to suffer Osman the Turke to attempt any new fortifications or further conquests in that prouince. Of which his offer the king accepted, and thereupon the gouernment of GENGE, and guarding of the countrey of SIRVAN against the forces of Osman, was frankly committed vnto him. And commandement giuen to the Gouernours of TAVRIS, REIVAN, and NASSIVAN, and to diuers other captaines that were neerest, to be readie at all times with their power to assist Emanguli Chan, if it should fortune either the Tartarians, or Turks, with any great power to enter into SIRVAN: which order so taken, was thought sufficient for the securitie of that prouince.

B But how to protect the Georgian countrey, was thought to be a matter of greater importance, euerie man being almost of opinion, That some great power of the Turkes should be sent thither, for the more assurance of the conquest thereof alreadie begun; and for the succour of the fortresse at TEFLIS, which must needs otherwise fall againe into the hands of the Georgians. This matter so troubled the Persian king, as that he seemed to haue bent his whole counsels and thoughts thereupon: when Simon a Georgian, a famous captaine (sometime prisoner with Ismahel the late king, at CAHACA, and by the familiaritie he had with him, seduced from the Christian faith; for defence whereof he had in the time of king Tamas chosen to liue depriued of his libertie and state) thinking it now a fit time to obtaine at the kings hand such helpe as he had long desired, for the recouerie of his dominion vsurped by Dauid, otherwise called Daut C Chan his yonger brother (who for the obtaining thereof of king Tamas, had voluntarily renounced his Christian religion) offered now vnto the king his faithfull seruice, for the defence of that part of the Georgian countrey, wherein TEFLIS stood (being in right, part of his owne inheritance) against the Turkes: reprouing by way of disgrace, his yonger brother of cowardise, and promising the performance of great matters in himselfe, both for the defence of that euill defended countrey, and further annoying of the enemie. With great contentment did the Persian king consent to the request of Simon, Simon with Aliculi Chan sent for the defence of Georgia. and named him Chan of all that kingdome, which he possessed before whilest he was a Christian: and sent with him Aliculi Chan into GEORGIA, with fiue thousand horsemen and certaine pieces of artillerie taken at ERES, when Caitas Bassa was slaine. Simon afterwards comming to GEORGIA, was joifully receiued of his countreymen, D and there pressed about three thousand souldiors of his own and of his neighbours; excusing himselfe that he was become a Persian, not because he preferred the Mahometane superstition before the Christian religion, but only so to be deliuered from his long imprisonment, & by that means to maintaine his estate. And in this order were the affaires of GEORGIA assured, and strengthned in best manner that might then be.

Now began the Spring to approach,1579 and euerie man prepared himselfe to the discontinued trauels of the wars begun:The meeting together of the Turks armie at Erzirum. and now were met togither at ERZIRVM, out of all the wonted prouinces, all the Turkes forces, with all things necessarie for the intended warre. With this armie in all things equall with the first, Mustapha set forward, and in twelue daies came to CHARS, not perceiuing in his souldiors any signe of discontentment at all. And for as much as here they were E to stay, and to fortifie both with wals and ditches that ruinated citie, and that with as great speed as was possible; there was no remedie, but that beside the pioners & enginers that were brought for that purpose, many of the Spaoglani, yea and of the Ianizaries also must be set to worke. Whereupon they all suddenly in a tumult, began with bitter protestations to tell the Generall, That their stipends wherewith it pleased the Sultan to fauour them, were not bestowed vpon them to employ their forces and vertues in such seruile workes; but onely with their swords and other weapons to exercise that force and hardinesse for which they were esteemed worthie of that honour. Whereunto the Generall answered in most haughtie tearmes; and not yeelding one jot to their inciuilitie, but vsing all meanes of authoritie and terror, brought them to worke so much as he desired.Chars fortified in 23 daies space. So that within the space of twentie three daies, the towers and wals were F erected, the ditches digged, the artillerie orderly planted vpon the wals, and the water brought round about it. Many inconueniences happened in the armie while they were busie in this worke;Snowes at Chars in August. and namely vpon the 25 day of August, when they had almost euen finished the whole building, the souldiors endured a most sudden cold, by reason of the snow that then fell in great aboundance.

[Page]CHARS thus fortified, the Generall resolued to send succours into GEORGIA to TEFLIS; G without which it was most certaine, that that fortresse would be yeelded to the Georgians: but in what sort to relieue it, he remained doubtfull. To send part of his armie with some valiant captaine, seemed dangerous: and to go himselfe with all his forces, would sound (as he thought) to his discredit with his great lord and master; whom he had alreadie made beleeue, that he had subdued all the Georgians, and brought all that prouince to his obedience and deuotion. In this ambiguitie, the desire he had to preserue his credit with Amurath preuailed:Hassan Bassa sent with 20 thousand to the succouring of Tefli [...]. and so he made choise of Hassan Bassa of DAMASCO, sonne to Muhamet principall Visier of the court, a gallant gentleman and of great valour, to whom he deliuered betweene eighteene and twentie thousand souldiors; joining vnto him one Resuan captaine of certaine aduenturers, that voluntarily offered themselues to follow the forces of Hassan; assigning vnto him likewise fortie thousand duckats,H and many loads of meale, rise, and barley, with other things necessarie both for diet and war, and so sent him away for TEFLIS.

Hassan with this charge set forward, fully resolued to put these succours into TEFLIS, or to lose all: and at length came to the famous strait of TOMANIS, where the ouergrowne woods on the one side, with the deepe vallies and craggie rocks on the other, would astonish a right constant beholder. When vpon the sudden, the Persians and the Georgians (vnder the conduct of Aliculi Chan and Simon) at vnawares set vpon the Turkes, and joyned battell with them. For these two valiant captaines remaining for the most part in the borders of TEFLIS and TOMANIS with eight thousand souldiors, waiting for some opportunitie to annoy either them of the fort of TEFLIS, or else such as should come to their succours; vnderstanding by their espials of I the comming of Hassan with this aid, had scattered themselues all alongst the said strait, in hope there to assaile the Turks; and holpen by the aduantage of the place, to driue them headlong into the deepe valley, and at once to bereaue them both of their goods and life. But Hassan carefull of nothing more than how to auoid that danger, chose rather to make his journey through the thicke woods, and so as he might to escape the ambush that the enemie might lay for him vpon that straight passage. And so entring with his armie into the wood, which he was to haue left vpon his left hand,The Persians assaile the Turks, and make of them a great slaughter. to discouer what might be plotted against him, he was hardly charged by the enemie, and constrained to fight with a thousand windings and turnings in and out, through a thousand crooked paths and doubtfull cranks, in a most confused medley, with great slaughter of his men: who not accustomed to this kind of fight, nor acquainted with the situation of the K place, were in the skirmish driuen so farre, that downe they fell, and being not able to recouer themselues, were presently slaine. And thus with much adoe, he at length passed the strait of TOMANIS. Hassan deeming himselfe much disgraced by suffering his enemies in number so farre inferiour, to haue done him so much harme, and so to haue escaped his hands: and farther, considering that in such places, sleights and stratagems more auaile than open forces; burning with desire of reuenge, would needs stay neere vnto those straights, as if it had been to refresh his wearied armie; but in deed to trie if the Persians would aduenture againe to trouble him, or no: and appointed Resuan Bassa with certaine bands of the souldiors of GRECE, and of his owne aduenturers, to lie in ambush within the couerts of the strait, attentiue to euerie stirre of the enemie. Two daies the Turks armie lay thus diuided, and were now resolued the third day to remoue L thence towards TEFLIS: when as the Persian captaines, Aliculi Chan and Simon, vainly imagining that this stay of the Turks was for feare of the Persians, foolishly returned, and gaue a fresh onset vpon the flanke of Hassans squadrons.The Persians ouerthrowne, and Aliculi C [...]an taken. Who forthwith raising all his souldiors, and giuing a signe to Resuan, with all speed compassed in his enemies, and straightning them on both sides, tooke some of them aliue, cut in pieces othersome, and put the rest all to flight. Among others that were taken aliue, was Aliculi Chan the Persian captaine, who ouer rashly charging vpon the face of Hassan, fell into his hands. The next day following (being the eleuenth day after Hassans departure from CHARS) he joifully arriued at TEFLIS, where he found among the poore besieged Turkes, many miseries; whereof some were alreadie dead, and some yet sicke: for they were so plagued with famine, that they not onely deuoured their horses, but euen the M verie skins of the same horses, of sheepe and of dogs, and in such most miserable wants had passed the time:The miserie of the Turks in garrison at Teflis. whom Hassan at his arriuall comforted with gifts and good words, exhorting them to persist constant in the seruice of their king, whose honour (as he said) was neuer more than there to be respected. And for as much as the souldiors of the fort did with one voice request [Page] A Hassan to appoint them a new Gouernour, because they did all mislike Mahamet Bassa, who the last yeare was left by the Generall in that fort; Hassan remoued the said Mahamet, and put Amet Bassa in his place: and so after he had filled vp the places of the dead souldiors with a new supply, and set all things in good order, he tooke his leaue, recommending the charge and custodie of that fortresse to their trust and valour. Hassan returning from TEFLIS, and being without any trouble come to the strait of TOMANIS, was aduertised by his scouts, that it was so strongly possessed by the enemie, and so shut vp with artillerie, as that it was not to be passed through: for Simon thinking (as in deed it fell out) that Hassan would returne that way, had so belaid that strait, as that the Turkes could not without most assured losse passe the same: which thing much troubled the Bassa, and filled his head with many conceits, how he might make his journey some B other way, and decline the danger prepared for him. Thus perplexed, and altogither doubtfull what to doe, or which way to turne himselfe: Aliculi Chan the Persian, (who to purchase his libertie could haue been content to haue done any thing) offered Hassan to shew him a short and safe cut, whereby he might without danger passe with his armie ou [...] of that troublesome countrey; yet couenanting before, that he should promise him to set him at libertie for his so good seruice. Which his request the Bassa pid not sticke in large manner to promise, although he afterwards to his great dishonour performed not the same: so bending his journey on the right hand, he was guided by Aliculi through strange and vncouth waies out of those woods and dangers, not meeting so much as with any one of his enemies. But when the Persian duke well hoping for his libertie put the Turke in mind of his promise; he with deepe and faigned sighs C protested, That he was right sorie that he could not performe what he had promised to doe for him, for as much as it lay not in his power to set any man at libertie, that was taken in battell by the souldiors of his great lord and soueraigne: yet gaue him his faith, that so farre as his intreaties and fauours with the Generall Mustapha could preuaile, he would vse all the most earnest meanes he could to procure his libertie and returne to his owne countrey.

Simon the Georgian perceiuing that the Turks were remoued,Simon destroied the rearward of Hassan [...] armie, and taketh from him his treasure. imagined forthwith, that they had taken this new way. But being afterward certified by his faithfull spies, that it was so indeed, he ran all headlong and as it were desperat to meet with this so happie an army. And all enflamed with rage for this great fortune of the Turkes, he fell vpon the taile of the Turkish hoast: which with vnmeasurable furie he wholly destroyed, leading away with him all the people, all the horses, D and all the treasure of Mahomet Bassa, which he brought from TEFLIS, and all the treasure of Hassan Bassa likewise. As for Aliculi Chan, whom Simon most greedily sought for, he was sent away in the front of the armie, and so not to bee rescued. Hassan holding on his way came to CHARS in the space of eight dayes after his departure from TEFLIS, and there presented vnto Mustapha the Generall the Persian captaine Aliculi, recounting vnto him the dangers he had endured, and whatsoeuer else had happened in that expedition. Aliculi the vnfortunat Persian was by the commaundement of Mustapha carried to ERZIRVM, and there in the castle committed to prison. Not long after Mustapha returned himselfe also to the said citie of ERZIRVM, with his armie sore weakened and discontented, which was there presently by him discharged.

About the same time that these things were in doing, Amurath to make a safer and more easie E passage for his forces into GEORGIA, sent Vluzales his Admirall with a great fleet into the Euxine sea to MENGRELIA,Mustapha returneth to Erzirum, and there dischargeth his armie. called in auntient time CHOLCHIS, who entering the famous riuer of Phasis (now Fassa) there fortified, and layed such a beginning, that it is now one of the Turks proud Beglerbegships, although those fortifications shortly after the departure of the Admirall, were for the present againe by the Mengrelians demolished. And this was the end of the stirres of this yeare 1579.

Of all these successes Mustapha afterwards sent aduertisements to the Court to Amurath, recounting vnto him the fortifying of CHARS, the deserts of Hassan, as well for the succouring of TEFLIS, as for the taking of Aliculi the Persian. And because the said Generall had the yeare before persuaded Amurath, That the country of GEORGIA and the people therof were brought F vnder his obedience, to the end he should not maruell at so many losses and so many battels, and thereby doubt of some false informations, he declared vnto him, That all these troubles were not raised by the naturall and homebred Georgians, but by two certaine captaines Aliculi and Simon sent out of PERSIA, who had made all these stirres: of which one of them now remained with him in prison, for him to determine of at his pleasure. With great delight did the Turkish emperour [Page] read all that Mustapha had written,Hassan Bassa for his good seruice rewarded by Amurath. and by two of his gentlemen vshiers sent to Hassan a G battle ax all guilt, and set full of stones, a targuet of gold and pearle, and a rich garment of cloth of gold, in reward of his good seruice for which hee greatly commended him: and withall gaue order, That Aliculi should be kept where he was in the castle of ERZIRVM, in diligent and safe custodie.

These inuasions of the Turkes much troubled the Persian king in his court at CASBIN, considering that now they had both throughly acquainted themselues with all the passages into GEORGIA (in the difficultie and roughnesse whereof consisted the chiefe defence of that prouince) as also that diuers of the Georgian princes were more than inclining vnto the Turkes seruice: so that he could not but justly feare, that his enemies would in time begin to pierce into the noble cities of MEDIA the Greater, yea and peraduenture euen vnto TAVRIS before any H of the rest: which his care of forreine inuasion was doubled with domesticall feares: Mirize Salmas his chiefe Visier, and vpon whom he most rested, still filling his head with a jealous suspition, That Abas Mirize his sonne (made Gouernour of HERI by Tamas his grandfather) was about (in these troubles with the Turke) to proclaime himselfe king of PERSIA, to the great ignominie of his father, and prejudice of Emir Hamze his eldest brother, the worthie and vndoubted heire of that great kingdome. This Mirize Salmas (according to his longing desire) had married a daughter of his to the said Emir Hamze with the consent of the king his father: but yet not content with that great honour, ceased not continually with ambitious deuises, to seeke out meanes how to bring to passe that the Persian estate might wholy remaine to his sonne in law, vndeuided and entire from the participation of his brethren: and therefore little regarding the I perils that might happen from the Turkes, and blinded with the desire of his owne greatnesse, he went about to turne the king (being a man very credulous and inconsiderat) against Abas Mirize; either to take him and commit him to prison, or at least to bereaue him of all authoritie and commaund. And the better to persuade the king thereunto, he discoursed vnto him how little Abas Mirize his sonne had respected him in diuers occasions; and that in these late wars, he had not so much as sent forth one man against the Turkes, but had forbidden such as were of his jurisdiction of HERI to come to CASBIN, at such time as they were summoned both by letters and commaundement to haue passed with Emir Hamze into SIRVAN; by reason whereof not one of them would stirre a foot, answering, That they were enjoyned so to doe by Abas Mirize their lord: who had not onely caused himselfe to be called king of HERI, but had giuen it out,K that he meant to claime the succession in the whole kingdome. These complaints much preuailed with the king, both in respect of the loue he bare to Emir Hamze his eldest sonne, and also of the credit he gaue to his Visier: especially being accompanied with the craftie packing of the said Visier; who as he was verie cunning in such practises of himselfe, so did he make them much more effectuall with the effeminat king by the meanes of diuers great ladies, and other deuises that were to him verie familiar and vsuall. Insomuch, that the king carried away with light beleefe, did continually bethinke himselfe how to find opportunitie to represse the boldnesse of his disobedient son: not forgetting for all that to make such preparation against the Turks, as should be sufficient to stay their passage to TAVRIS, if they had any purpose so to doe. But leauing the Persian king to his troubled cogitations for a while, let vs againe returne vnto the Turkes Generall,L the great Bassa Mustapha.

Mustapha discharged of his Generalship, and called home to Constantinople.He now lying at ERZIRVM (after many troubles abroad) was surprised and almost ouerwhelmed with vnexpected quarrels at home, many grieuous complaints being made of him to Amurath, whereby he was induced afterwards to take from him his Generalship, and to call him to the court to giue account of his actions. Which seemed not to be done without cause, he hauing before raised a great discontentment in the mind of Amurath, by sending such a strong power to the succours of TEFLIS, whereby he conjectured, that the affaires of GEORGIA, were not in such securitie as Mustapha had alreadie enformed him they were; and also generally offended the minds of the souldiors of his armie, who all in an vprore accused him of improuidencie and prodigalitie, for that now this second yeare he had with so much ado gathered togither such M a number of souldiors, to the trouble of the whole empire, and infinit charge of their lord, & yet performed nothing worthy the glorie of Amurath, or answerable to so great a charge. Which complaints, although they were of some moment, yet would the Turkish emperour for the great fauors he bare vnto him his antient tutor, neuer haue construed them so hardly against him, [Page] A as for the same to haue been induced to haue depriued him of his place, if the inueterat enuie of Sinan Bassa had not ministred strength and force to these hard accusations, and set (as it were) an edge vpon Amurath to doe what he afterwards did.

But forasmuch as the course of time and processe of the present historie,A comparison b [...]twixt Sinan Bassa and Mustapha, two antient enemies both to themselues and the Christian common [...]eale. bringeth now forth these two mightie champions of the Turkes togither; the enuious competitours the one of the others honours; who liuing many yeares togither, haue left the wofull remembrance of their greatnesse and valour vnto the world, but especially vnto the afflicted state of Christendome, the large wounds by them made, as it were, yet bleeding: stay with me a while, and without griefe if thou canst behold the liuely counterfeits of two so great enemies (who both liued within these few yeares, and the latter of them died but the other day) as they are by the skilfull hand of the B cunning workeman most perfectly described, and thus to be seene.

MVSTAPHA.

Quid Cyprum tactas? Quid Medos marte subactos?

Quid fusos Persas? Quid tua facta refers?

Dum te perfidiae damnet Bragadinus: & ipse

Theupulus indigna morte peremptus erit.

F RICH. KNOLLEVS.

What dost thou boast of CYPRVS woon? or of the Medes orethrowne?

What of the Persians put to flight? or of thy deeds so knowne?

Whilst Bragadinus thee condemnes of extreame perjurie,

And Theupulus to thy disgrace, a sham [...]ull death did die.

[Page]

SINAN.

Mitte Sinane tuos nimium iactare triumphos:

Et rigido vultu verba superba loqui.

Vltar nam (que) aderit mox Transyluanius heros:

Qui tumidum coget te dare terga fugae.L

RICH. KNOLLEVS.

Proud Sinan cease to vaunt too much of thy great triumphs woon,

Or with sterne looke for to extoll the deeds by thee erst done:

For why the Transyluanian prince will take reuenge of thee,

And swelling in thy greatest pride, enforce thee for to flee.

R. Knolls.

M

This Sinan was a most auntient enemie to Mustapha, and in all things thought himselfe his match: For if Mustapha had subdued CYPRVS, so had he conquered TRIPOLIS, GVLETTA, with the kingdome of TVNES in AFFRICKE: and if Mustapha were a man of great courage, and reuerend for his yeares, Sinan would be his equall both in the one and the other: yea and did [Page] A not sticke to thinke himselfe his better too, for that in the enterprise of GIAMEN in ARA [...]IA, he performed such an exploit as Mustapha neither durst nor yet knew how to put in execution, so carrying away the glorie of that famous conquest: for which euer after there was betweene them a continuall heart burning, one of them enuying at the others glorie, and both in word and deed, as occasions fell out, in all things opposing themselues one against the other. At last happens this opportunitie for Sinan: who taking the occasion of the complaints of so many against Mustapha, caused a great number of them to frame their supplications to Amurath (which he for his part did in most malignant manner enforce and exaggerat against his old aduersarie) accusing him that this second yeare he had most manifestly shewed himselfe to haue gone vnto the warres not as a worthie Generall desirous of noble and honourable enterprises,Sinan accuseth Mustapha to Amurath. but as a man B that would make marchandise of bloud, and of his souldiors payes; employing the most liberall prouision of corne and money not as rewards of well deseruing men, nor to the erecting of such fabrickes as were needfull, and might haue beene built therewithall, but onely to his own proper gaine; so to enrich himselfe with his peoples losses, to the great shame of his lord, and consuming of the publicke treasure: adding hereunto, that if the things done by Mustapha were well searched, it would be found, that he had neglected many good oportunities, attempted many things in vaine, and not done any good either to the emperour or his souldiors, but onely to himselfe: whom rather than they would follow againe, as their Generall, all his people in an vprore shewed themselues readie and willing to aduenture themselues in any other farre greater labour that by their lord and soueraigne should be commaunded them.

C These and such like complaints, with the hard opinion alreadie conceiued against him by Amurath, were the occasion why he resolued to put him from his place. Beside that, he thought it a thing dangerous to his state, to suffer one and the selfesame Generall any long time to commaund ouer so great armies, deeming it not so much for his honour still to employ one man, as to shew that he had varietie and choice of subjects,Io. Leuncla. in supplement. Annal. Turcicorum, pag. 79. worthie of so great a charge. And therfore being desirous to find out the truth of that was reported to him concerning Mustapha, he sent the cheefe of his gentlemen porters with fifteene others to bring him to the Court, with his Chancellor and Treasurer, to shew the accounts of such monies as he had receiued, and to giue vp an account of their whole office. Vnto this messenger had Amurath deliuered three diuers letters, which he should warily shew as occasion serued: one of them was so written of purpose, D that Mustapha in the receiuing therof might by the same messengers be strangled: in the second was the emperours warrant for the doing of that was to them commanded: and in the third was contained, that Mustapha should forthwith send his chauncellor and treasurer to the Court by those messengers. Mustapha in the meane time by diuers meanes, but especially by the guilt of his owne conscience, venting the displeasure of the emperour towards him, and suspecting (as the truth was) his life to be by those messengers sought after, at such time as the captaine porter came to his campe, found many delayes to put him off, and would not in any case be spoken withall. But when the messenger would endure no longer delay, he was at length admitted to his presence, hauing a circle appointed for him, out of which he and his companions might not stirre or approch neerer vnto him, the Bassaes guard standing in armes round about him. The messenger E perceiuing the Bassaes warinesse, wilely pluckt forth the third letters, concerning the sending of his Chancellor and Treasurer to the Court. Then began the craftie old Bassa to find many excuses to haue delayed the matter: but being hardly pressed by the messenger, and seeing no other remedie, he with much difficultie deliuered them both, couenanting before with the messenger to haue both their liues spared: who comming to CONSTANTINOPLE, were forthwith clapt fast into the tower called IADICVLA, as there to haue beene seuerely examined of all the doings of the Bassa.Mustapha by the mediation of certaine great ladies appeaseth the displeasure of Amurath. But Mustapha after long delay comming at length to CONSTANTINOPLE the ninth of Aprill in the Spring following, and vsing the mightie and potent mediation of diuers great ladies and other his gratious friends in Court, preuailed so much in that corrupt gouernment, as that he was againe at length receiued into the fauour of Amurath ▪ without any F further proceeding against him, his chancellor, or treasurer, who by his meanes were afterwards also enlarged and set at libertie: yet was he neuer after admitted to those honours, which he persuaded himselfe were of right due vnto him, for his good and faithfull seruice of long time done to the Othoman emperours.

In this time that Mustapha was Generall at ERZIRVM, Muhamet the Visier Bassa was treacherously [Page] slaine at CONSTANTINOPLE: after whom shortly after died also Achmet Bassa, who G succeeded in his place: so that the said soueraigne dignitie, in honour next vnto the Turkish emperour, was by rightfull succession due to Mustapha the next Bassa; but that hee was not thought worthie of it by him that might and of right ought to haue gratified him therewith, as shall be a little hereafter declared, when we haue briefely set downe the sudden and strange death of the said Muhamet the Visier, worthie in all histories to be registred, as a mirrour for all such as administer justice in so great place, to looke vpon.

The strange death of the great Visier Bassa Muhamet.This Bassa, a man of as great fame as euer was any that had gouernment in the Othoman empire, in the time that he all commaunded, had for some light causes depriued a certaine souldior of CONSTANTINOPLE of his yearely pension, which with many labours and dangers he had gotten to maintaine himselfe, which pension the Bassa bestowed vpon another souldior, so that H the other poore soule remained in miserie, altogether vnprouided for. Vnto which miserable estate seeing himselfe now brought, and not guiltie to himselfe of any fault worthie so great punishment, he determined with himselfe to reuenge the injurie with the bloud of that great Bassa, and to bereaue him of life that had bereft him of liuing: which because he could not by any fit meanes put in execution (by reason of the guard of slaues that keepe the person of the Visier, so that no man can come neere him that holdeth that high place) except he could by some meanes acquaint himselfe in the Visiers house, and so insinuate himselfe into his acquaintance; he resolued to take vpon him the rude habit of those religious which the Turkes call Deruislars, and after their manner to present himselfe euery morning before the Visier to aske his almes: and so hee did, counterfeiting withall a certaine kind of follie and lightnesse of mind, as doe those Deruislars,I to make the people beleeue, that they contemne all worldly things, as men rauished onely with heauenly cogitations, which yet was by some that knew him thought to haue happened in him, through the greefe he had conceiued for the losse of his stipend. Muhamet not onely the first time, but also at all other times that this counterfeit hypocrite came before him, caused him to be comforted with his almes, and as it were with a kind of priuat stipend, enjoyned him euery morning to come vnto him into the Diuano, and there together with others appointed for the same purpose, to say his deuout prayers, and in singing praises to their wicked Prophet, to entreat God for his saluation: for it is a custome of all the noblemen, that at ordinarie houres of prayers all their priests assemble themselues in the Diuano, which is made readie for them, and there all together the infidell wretches doe with their vncleane mouthes mumble vp their superstitious K prayers or rather most abhominable blasphemies. By this meanes did this dissembling companion so insinuate himselfe into the Visiers acquaintance, that the counterfeit foole went in and out of the Diuano at his pleasure, no man gainesaying either his going in or comming out, but dayly sat in the presence of the Visier, and so hauing said his prayers, and taken his almes, with all reuerence quietly departed. At last when the craftie hypocrit thought that the time was come wherein he might most fitly execute his purpose, hauing vtterly resolued with himselfe to die, so that he might satisfie the desire he had of reuenge, so long couertly fostered in his heart; hauing conueyed a very sharpe dagger secretly into one of his sleeues, he went according to his custome, to require his almes, with an assured resolution (when he had said his prayers, and reached out his hands to receiue his wonted almes) speedily to charge vpon the Visier, and L with the dagger to strike him to the heart. According to the accustomed manner was the counterfeit hypocrit (for who would euer haue suspected so long and so traiterous a designement) admitted into the Diuano, where Muhamet the Visier sat in his house, to giue publike audience, and after the vsuall manner, before any of the suters that attended for answeres and dispatch of their businesse suspected any such deceit, he was admitted neere vnto the Visier, and sitting right against him, according to his old wont poured out those vaine deuotions which those hypocriticall Barbarians vse to mumble vp in their prayers: which being finished, whilest the Visier simply reacheth vnto him his wonted almes, the traiterous villaine in receiuing it suddenly drew out his dagger, and once or twice stabbed it into the Visiers breast, out of which so deadly wounds gushed out his bloud and life together. Whereupon the standers by astonied with the strangenesse M of the fact, ran in, but loe the old hoarie Visier lay all soyled in his owne bloud, deadly pale, and breathing forth his last gaspe. The mischieuous murtherer they presently laied hands vpon, and bound him fast: but the rumour of the strange fact did by and by flie vnto the emperours eares: who suspecting that some of the other great Bassaes desiring to mount into that high dignitie, [Page] A had prouoked the traitor to doe this detestable act, would needs vnderstand of the traiterous murderer, What occasion had mooued him so trecherously to kill his Visier. Who resolutely answered him, That he did it to deliuer the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE from the tyrannie of him, by whom he was vndeseruedly depriued of his pension. But when he could get no other answere of him, he deliuered him into the hands of the slaues of the dead Visier, who with most exquisit torments put him to death.

Muhamet thus dead, after him succeeded Achmetes the ne [...]t Bassa, who (as is before said) shortly after died also; so that it was now Mustapha his course to s [...]cceed in that chiefe roome, for that he was the third in the order of the Bassaes. But when he had vsed all the meanes that he possibly could, to haue obtained that so honourable a place by order due vnto him; yet could he not find B so much grace in the sight of Amurath his great lord, as to haue it granted him vnder seale, although in effect he made him sit as Visier, and all matters of state were brought vnto him as chiefe Visier: but in his stead the seale was sent to Sinan Bassa, who was now made Generall for the Persian wars. Which disgrace not a little discontented Mustapha, fearing least some other strange accident should in short time light vpon him.

After that Mustapha was thus displaced from his Generalship,1580 Amurath nominated Sinan Bassa to be Generall in his stead for this expedition against the Persians,Sinan Bassa chosen Generall for the Persian war. and for the preseruation of CHARS and TEFLIS; giuing him soueraigne authoritie to commaund, and to set in order all such preparations as he should thinke necessarie for such enterprises as he should thinke good to attempt in his first yeare: who although by reason of his great fauour he grew haughtie and C glorious, yet did he not foreslow to discourse throughly with himselfe vpon all his dessignments: and namely, beside the succouring of TEFLIS, he determined to build a fort at TOMANIS, to assure the passage thither from CHARS; and withall to attempt all the meanes he could to induce the Persian king to send embassadours for peace, with such conditions as should be acceptable to Amurath. With these and such like discourses did he busie himselfe whilest he was yet making preparation to set forwards towards ERZIRVM.

Of all these changes and alterations was the Persian king aduertised, as also that this new Turkish Generall Sinan was carefull, how this long warre might by some meanes be appeased and a good peace concluded. Vpon which occasion, and by the persuasion of Leuent ogli the Georgian, and of Mirize Salmas his Visier, he was induced to send embassadors to CONSTANTINOPLE, D to demaund peace of Amurath. The Persian king sendeth Maxut Chan his embassadour to Amurath. Vpon which resolution he dispatched Maxut Chan, (of some called Maxudes) his embassador, with direction that he should go to Sinan, and of him to receiue guides to conduct him to CONSTANTINOPLE with letters to Amurath, and as much as lay in him to labour for the pacifying of all these troubles: and in any case to conclude vpon it, so that he would be content with CHARS and TEFLIS. With these instructions the embassador departed, and at length arriued at CHARS, and so came to ERZIRVM, and was from thence conducted towards AMASIA. But when he came to SIVAS, he found Sinan the Generall there encamped, gathering togither his armie for the execution of his dessignments: for Sinan vpon the arriuall of Mustapha, departing from CONSTANTINOPLE the fiue and twentith day of Aprill, was now come so farre on his way. Of the comming of this embassadour, the Turks receiued E great joy, and newes thereof was in post sent by Cicala Bassa to the court. The Persian embassadour enformed Sinan of all that he had to treat with Amurath on the behalfe of king Mahamet; and laboured earnestly to persuade him, of the equitie of the cause, and of his request: declaring vnto him, that for as much as both the nations were conjoyned vnder the law of Mahomet their common prophet (though there seemed some small difference not worth those troubles) it were a verie inconuenient thing for them to contend among themselues, and to seeke the ouerthrow or vtter destruction of one another: and that therefore he was in good hope to obtaine of Amurat this desired peace, if he had no other cause wherewith he found himselfe agrieued, as in truth he had not. Wherefore he besought the Generall, that he would with safe conuoy conduct him to Amurath, to the end that if it were possible these bloudie wars might take F end; at the verie report whereof the rest of the world rejoiced, and stood attentiuely waiting to see what would be the issue thereof.

This embassadour, Sinan entertained after the best manner the rudenesse of his nature would afford: and thinking that the verie fame of his valour, had wrought in the minds of his enemies this resolution to come to demaund peace, granted vnto the embassadour a sure conuoy to conduct [Page] him to CONSTANTINOPLE; and wrote to Amurath in his letters, all that he thought was G fit to be demanded, representing vnto him what great and important matters (he hoped) might now be obtained. But before he dismissed the said embassadour, he aduised him not to go to Amurath, The admo [...]i [...]ion of Sinan to the Persian embassadour. without resolution to offer vnto him some great good conditions, and to yeeld vnto him all that countrey which he by force of armes had before conquered: for he knew the mind of Amurath verie well, that hee was resolued in himselfe, not to yeeld so much as one hand breadth of that ground which he had woon with the sword. Which motion of the prowd Bassa so troubled the embassadour, that fearing he should not be able to conclude any thing, he stood in doubt whether to proceed on his journey to CONSTANTINOPLE, or to returne back againe into PERSIA: but considering better what belonged to his duetie in so waightie a businesse, and hoping to receiue more reasonable conditions from the mouth of Amurath himselfe; H he gaue large words to Sinan, and so with a safe conuoy departed from SIVAS, and by long journies came to SCVTARI, and so passing ouer that little strait, the fourth of August arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE.

The Persian king in the meane time, stirred vp with the report of the Turks preparations; to cause it to be noised,The preparations of the Persian king against the Turkes. that he likewise intended some important matters, commaunded all the Chans and Gouernours of his kingdome, to meet togither with all their forces at TAVRIS, where he himselfe with the prince Emir Hamze his sonne met them. And after many consultations there had for the repressing of the Turkish inuasion (for as yet it was not certainly knowne what Sinan meant to attempt) he resolued to send souldiors into GEORGIA towards TEFLIS, whither of necessitie succours must be sent by the Turkes to them of the fort: and withall, determined I also to go himselfe with all his armie from TAVRIS to CARACACH, a place verie commodious and neere to guard both TAVRIS and SIRVAN, being situat euen in the middest betweene the one and the other; and there to expect the remouing of Sinan, whose ambitious nature the king knowing, doubted that he to surmount Mustapha, would attempt some great enterprise, yea peraduenture to run euen vpon TAVRIS. But when it came to the point that hee should send some of his captaines into GEORGIA, he made choise of such as had best experience of those countries, and were neerest vnto them: with whom he sent Tocomac also, and the rest whose seruice he had before vsed against the Turkes; commaunding them to joine their forces with Simon the Georgian, and by all meanes possible to annoy the enemie: whom if they should perceiue to bend for TAVRIS, they should not faile to follow him; to the end they might K joine togither with him, and so encounter the enemies armie. All those captaines were resolute men, and led with them ten thousand souldiors; which being joyned with them of GEORGIA, amounted to the number of thirteene thousand: who arriuing at GENGE, gaue knowledge to Simon of their comming, and that in his behalfe they were readie to doe great matters.

Now was the Persian embassadour with all due honour receiued at CONSTANTINOPLE, where he was honourably entertained by the great Bassaes of the court, but especially by Mustapha, who within two daies after suddenly died; of a surfeit taken of eating too much of muske M [...]lons, and immoderat drinking of Zerbet (a kind of pleasant drinke which the Turkes vse, made of water and sugar:) but most men thought him to haue poisoned himselfe, as fearing the former indignation of Amurath to be againe enflamed by the new complaints of the Persian L embassadour against him, for that he in the time of his Generalship had dishonourably suppressed certaine embassages sent from the Persian king; which he now fearing to be called in question for, the former stormes as yet scarce well appeased, made himselfe now away. After his death it was commonly reported, that if he had longer liued he should haue been vndoubtedly strangled: which to preuent, he became the worthie executioner of himselfe, that had most vnjustly caused others to be most shamefully murthered. Which was the more like to be true, and the rather beleeued, for that the infinit wealth he had of long time scraped togither, was immediatly after his death taken into the kings treasures, some small portion thereof being left vnto his nephews: a most certaine token of Amuraths indignation against him. The Persian embassadour hauing audience the seauenth of August, with many liuely reasons and much eloquence, persuaded the M Turkish emperour to desist from the warre begun, as contrarie to the will and pleasure of their common Prophet Mahomet: as also to the peace, which was so roially, and with so many capitulations, not long before concluded betweene Tamas and Solyman his grandfather; and was not to haue been broken and warres raised, but vpon some great quarrell or injurie done; which the [Page] A Persians had not at any time offered, but had alwaies wished vnto him all happinesse; as they had manifestly declared, by sending vnto him an embassage to that purpose by Sultan Tocomac: whereby he might plainly perceiue, the good mind and zeale the Persian king had for the maintenance of the peace. And although in the short raigne of Ismahel, there was some rumor raised that he meant to go vnto BABYLONIA, and some such like newes: yet that was but a youthfull part, and an effect of that heat which is commonly proper to such as being kept long in straight prison cannot vse their libertie with moderation, and had therefore receiued due punishment for it, by sudden and vnexpected death. But as for the king that now is, he did aboue all others embrace amitie with his majestie; and therefore did most earnestly desire, that it would please him to temper his anger conceiued, which had incensed him to take vp armes against a B king so much his friend▪ being of the same religion, and better affected towards him than all the rest of the nations in the world.

This embassadour the Turkish emperour dismissed without any resolution at all; but onely gaue order, that whatsoeuer he had to say touching this peace, he should communicat it with his Visier. Many were the discourses that happened; for that the Turke required all those cities and countries, which till that time he had conquered with the sword, or (as their prowd manner of phrase is) whereon his Generals horse had trod, to be yeelded again vnto him: and the embassadour on the other side, had no warrant from his king to yeeld any more than that part of GEORGIA which is on this side the riuer of Araxis. Whereupon the said embassadour began to feare, least he should be suspected for a spie, and so be euill intreated: wherewithall he did find himselfe C too manifestly charged by the hard speech that the Visier vsed towards him. Being thus doubtfull whereupon to resolue, perceiuing himselfe strained to the grant of these demaunds, and receiuing also some threatnings withall, he determined with himselfe to enlarge his speeches with the Visier in diuers and sundrie particularities, and to giue him good hope that he should be able to persuade with his king, the yeelding vp of so much as Amurath had and did demaund. Hereupon was Maxut Chan the embassadour in friendly manner and without any outrage sent from CONSTANTINOPLE to CHARS, and commission giuen to Sinan (then at CHARS) that without delay, and with all fidelitie, he should cause the embassadour to be conducted to VAN, and from thence into PERSIA, wheresoeuer he did desire: all which was faithfully performed.

But to returne againe to Sinan the Generall,Sinan mustereth his armie at Erzirum. who from SIVAS had sent the said embassadour D to CONSTANTINOPLE (as is before declared:) and being departed thence, arriued at ERZIRVM, where he tooke a suruey of his armie, and other prouision necessarie for this expedition: and so from thence was now come to CHARS, from whence he dispatched the Persian embassadour, much discontented that no other conclusion for peace could be wrought.

Maxut Chan at last arriuing at the Persian Court,Maxu [...] Chan reporteth vnto the king what he hath done, and is for his good seruice by him rewarded. reported vnto the king all that had happened in this his embassage: the summe whereof was, That Amurath would not condiscend to any condition of peace, vnlesse the whole countrey of SIRVAN might be yeelded vnto him, for that he had once (as he said) conquered the same. Neither did the same embassadour forbeare to tell the king, the suspition Amurath: had conceiued of him, to haue been a spie rather than an embassadour; and of the large promises he was faine to make to the Turke, to auoid the manifest E danger of imprisonment or death: all which for all that, now lay in his majesties power to performe or not. The king for the present remained well satisfied with that Maxut had done, and in reward of his great trauell and expences, gaue him the charge of the chamber at TAVRIS, naming him the chamberlaine of that rich and great citie. Of which new office (though verie honourable and of great importance) he tooke small pleasure, for that one Emir Chan his auntient enemie was chiefe Gouernour of that citie, from whom he feared some dangerous treacherie: wherefore he appointed his deputie for the execution of the office, and withdrew himselfe from TAVRIS to CASSANGICH, a place of his owne, there to passe away the time vntill it should please the king otherwise to dispose of him. But Emir Chan, who still nourished in his mind the auntient hatred he had conceiued against him, tooke this as a most fit occasion to bring him into F disgrace with the king: certifying him, That Maxut not contented with the great preferment it had pleased him to bestow vpon him, had in contempt of his rewards abandoned TAVRIS, and subsisted in his place a most base person to represent the kings majestie and to mannage his treasure: and that he absented himselfe farre from that citie and the court there, hauing withdrawne himselfe into the confines of TVRKIE, no doubt for some mischieuous intent, either to yeeld [Page] himselfe vnto them, or els to haue intelligence with them, and was like ynough to be guiltie to G himselfe of the great errour he had alreadie committed, by offering SIRVAN vnto the Turkish king; and making promise of so large conditions, whereby he had obtained such a sure and sa [...]e conuoy to conduct him; when as he had before discouered himselfe to be a fauorer of the Turks, and a traitor to his owne king: and that therefore it were good to make triall of his inclination▪ and so peraduenture to decline some great mischeefe, tending to the danger of the Persian state. This malitious accusation slily contriued, so wrought in the mind of the suspitious king, that he commaunded Emir Chan secretly to apprehend Maxut, and to bring him to the Court, and (if he could not by other meanes) then by torture to wrest from him the truth of all those matters. Glad was Emir to haue his enemie thus put into his hands, and thought it long [...] he had brought this shame vpon Maxut: who hauing alreadie heard some i [...]ckling thereof, resolued H with himselfe to doe any thing, rather than to fall into the power of his hatefull enemie. And therfore at such time as fifteene tall fellows were for that purpose sent vnto him from Emir Chan, who in the kings name summoned him to the Court, he without making any shew that he took the matter otherwise than well, entertained them courteously, and made them great cheere: but when he perceiued them to be ouercome with sleepe, which crept vpon them by reason of the excesse wherewith they had ouercharged themselues, he caused them to be straightly bound, and with long cords hanged them downe into a deepe well, and there shut them vp, secretly couered. Then gathering together the most precious things he had in his house, and setting his wiues, his children,Maxut Chan fl [...]e [...]h vnto the Turkes. his brethren, and nephewes on horsebacke, fled with all his familie in the euening, and the next day arriued at SALMAS, and was there friendly entertained by the Turkish Bassa, and I from thence conueyed to VAN, where he was also courteously welcommed by Cicala Bassa, and honourably accompanied, sent to Sinan the Generall, who very glad of his comming, sent him with all diligence to CONSTANTINOPLE to Amurath. And this was in effect the end of the first enterparlance of peace betwixt the Persians and the Turkes.

Sinan remained at CHARS eight dayes, and there againe surueyed his armie and prouision, and afterwards set forward towards TOMANIS, with resolution there to build a fort. But being come thither, he could by no meanes put that his designement in execution, by reason of the immoderat raine, which continually by the space of eight dayes fell in such abundance, as that neither did the Sunne appeare, or the skie cleare. Beside that, Sinan greatly feared least the enemie taking the opportunitie of this raine, of the straight, and of the building, should assault his armie,K and finding it in euill plight and out of order, greatly endomage it: Wherefore casting off his former determination for fortifying at TOMANIS, he remooued thence, to carrie succours to TEFLIS. But as soone as he was risen with his armie, and past the strait, Tal-Ogli captaine of the Ianizaries of DAMASCO, and Homar Sanzack of SAFFETO, hauing receiued secret intelligence that hard by a little out of the way, was good store both of corne and cattell, resolued with themselues to goe thither to fetch in that bootie: and so with two thousand souldiors greedie of prey they set forward. Now Simon the Georgian and the Persians, following the Turkes armie afarre off, had deuided his souldiors into all such places as where there was either corne, or water, or any such thing as might allure the Turkes to scatter themselues from the campe: and perceiuing these hungrie Turkes carelesly to run headlong to lay hold on this desired bootie, he suddenly L fell vpon them, and cut them in pieces, being disordered, so that of those two thousand escaped but Tal-Ogli the captaine of the Ianizaries onely, Homar the Sanzacke, and all the rest being left dead vpon the ground.

Sinan commeth to Tellis. Sinan holding on his way, in two dayes came to TEFLIS, where presently he called a counsell of all the cheefe men of his armie, taking order, That euery man vpon his oath should depose the truth touching the greatnesse of TEFLIS: which he did onely in reproch of Mustapha the great Bassa, who most vntruly had enformed Amurath, That it was as great and populous as DAMASCO; whereas in truth it was not in any respect to be compared vnto that so famous a citie. After that he deuided the treasure and succours he had brought, amongst the souldiours of the fortresse, chearing them vp with good words and promises of great matters. And because M the souldiors there in garrison complained greatly against the Bassa their captaine, he caused a bill of complaint to be framed against him, and finding him guiltie that he had conuerted the soldiors pay to his owne vse, he condemned him to the restitution thereof, and so immediately discharging him of his office, placed in his roome Giusuf Bey, a lord of GEORGIA, who for the antient [Page] A enmitie betweene him and Simon, had yeelded himselfe to the Turkes, and was of them so welcommed, that Sinan trusted him with the custodie of that fort, which with so many dangers had beene maintained and defended till that day.

All things thus set in order at TEFLIS,Sinan departeth from Teflis. Sinan with his armie departed thence, and hauing againe passed the strait of TOMANIS, there came vnto him Mustafsad Bassa, afterwards gouernour of ALEPPO, declaring vnto him, That not farre off was great store of corne and cattell, and no bodie but only a few Georgians to keepe the same, and therfore wished him to send forth some to fetch it in: whereof (though it had beene much more) his armie then stood in great need. Sinan was well affected vnto this Mustafsad, and therefore the easilier enduced by him to send for the aforesaid bootie: but moued with the fresh remembrance of that which had happened to B Tal-Ogli and Homar, he gaue order, That to fetch in this corne and cattell there should go [...] out ten thousand horsemen and their seruants, among whom was also the same Mustafsad as their Generall. Now stood Tocomac, Simon, and the other Persian captaines in secret ambush, waiting when any of the Turkes should come to fetch in this bootie. Whereupon the aforesaid souldiors being now come, as they desired, and hauing almost charged all their mules and horses with that which best pleased them to make choice of: the hidden Persians all on a sudden issued out of their lurking places amongst them,Seuen thousand Turkes slaine by the Georgian [...] and Persians. and with great slaughter put them to flight, and with such furie pursued the victorie, that they slew of them seuen thousand, carried away many prisoners aliue, and the mules and horses laden with the stolne bootie. Mustafsad was the first that fled, and the first that brought the vnhappie news of that ouerthrow to Sinan: which was forthwith C confirmed by the report of such as had by speedie flight escaped the furie of the enemie. Wherupon Sinan dispatched away the Bassa of CARAMANIA with a great power, charging him wheresoeuer he should find the enemie, to set vpon him: and presently rising himselfe with his whole campe, followed the said Bassa. But all too late, for the Persians after the aforesaid victory without staying had withdrawne themselues into their strong places, knowne onely to such as were well acquainted with the difficult passages of GEORGIA: and hauing there disposed of their prey, were now returning to await some fresh occasion of new slaughter. But when they descried the whole armie of the Turks vpon the rising of a certaine hill, they were afraid to meet them, yea and stood in some doubt also, least Sinan should descend from the hill, and so assault them: for which cause they retired themselues againe into the strength of the mountaines: yet D not with such speed, but that the Turkes ouertooke some few of them, and slew about fiftie or threescore of them, whose heads in signe of triumph they carried a good part of their way vpon the points of their speares: and tooke prisoners about threescore and ten moe.

At last Sinan with all his armie hauing passed these dangerous places of GEORGIA, arriued at TRIALA, where it was told him, That the Persian king in person himselfe being alreadie departed from TAVRIS, with an exceeding great army was comming to bid him battell. At which news he caused proclamation to be presently made through all his armie, That euery man should put himselfe in readinesse for the voyage to TAVRIS, whether he himselfe meant to go to meet with the king his enemie. In the meane time (as is reported) he dispatched certaine posts to the Persian king, then at CARACACH, to entreat him to send another embassadour to Amurath E for peace, thinking by that meanes (as some doe conjecture) to remoue the king from the resolution of comming to assaile him, if he had any such meaning. After this proclamation made, he descended into the open and large plains of CHEILDER, where presently he mustered his whole armie, and gaue it out, That before he would set forward toward TAVRIS, he would make triall of the readinesse and nimblenesse of his souldiors, in such sort, as if they should presently joyne battell with the enemie: which without further delay he put in execution the next morning, formally raunging his whole armie in order of battell; and then sending out some few others, to shew themselues vpon the top of certaine hils, as if they had been enemies that came to seize vpon his armie; he caused all his artillerie to be discharged, and commanded euery man to skirmish and bestirre himselfe, altogether after the same manner as if the enemie had beene there present F before them: where the thundering of the great and small shot, the thicke stormes of arrowes, with the brightnesse of the armour and weapons, yeelding forth lightenings as if it had beene fierie beames, and the noise of drums and trumpets and other instruments of warre, with the ensignes of blew and yellow flying in the wind, made such a medley of all things, as if it had been the turmoile of a very battell indeed. In the end he caused the retreat to be sounded: and then [Page] setting all his armie in order againe, made the like shew the second time, and so the third time also:G which was indeed performed with the great scorn and derision of his souldiors,Sinan de [...]id [...]d of his souldiors. who deemed it rather childrens play, than any commendation to the proud Bassa. These counterfeit shews of warre thus finished, yet did he not set forward toward TAVRIS, as he had giuen it out, but loytered eight dayes in those plaines of CHIELDER. At which time there arriued out of PERSIA one Aider the Aga, as an embassadour from the king, who was by Sinan with great joy entertained. Diuers were the things by this embassadour propounded, such as had Maxut Chan before: but the conclusion of all was, that the Persian king would be content voluntarily to relinquish CHARS and TEFLIS, and so remaine (as he did before) in amitie with Amurath, and so desired Sinan to conclude a peace with his master if it might be: as for himselfe, this message done, he was presently to returne into PERSIA. For this peace Sinan promised to deale with Amurath, so H that the Persian king would send another embassadour to CONSTANTINOPLE. Vpon which conclusion the said Aider returned into PERSIA, and at TAVRIS declared to his king what he had seene, what promises he had receiued of Sinan, and withall exhorted him to send a new embassadour vnto the Turkish Court. After this, when the publike rumour of the comming of the Persian king, was found to be false, Sinan in stead of going to TAVRIS returned to CHARS, where he idelly stayed a whole month with the generall maruelling and murmuring of all his armie, astonished to see themselues (to the great charges of their king, and the disturbance of his whole kingdome) brought forth not for any honourable conquest, but as it were only of purpose to make a vaine shew of warre.

At last he departed from CHARS, for that now Winter was come on, and the frosts and I snows did his armie great harme:Sinan commeth to Erzirum, and there breaketh vp his armie. and so comming to ERZIRVM, there presently dismissed euery man to goe and winter in his owne countrey, but remained still himselfe in the same citie: from whence he by speedie posts diligently enformed Amurath of the succours he had left at TEFLIS, of the losses he had receiued from the enemie, of all that which was by Mustapha misreported, of the comming of the Persian embassadour to him, of the promise made vnto him touching a new embassadour; and to be short, of all his whole actions. Besides all this, he aduertised Amurath, That the enterprise of PERSIA was a very hard, long, and difficult matter, and such a one as needed another manner of preparation than had beene as yet appointed for it: and that if he desired to subdue PERSIA, it were then very necessarie that he should speake with him at large, and discourse vpon many particularities, which could not so well without exceeding tediousnesse K be declared dy writing. After that he sent other messengers also to sollicit Amurath for his returne to CONSTANTINOPLE, continually telling him, That it was not possible for him to signifie by writing, what he purposed to report to him by word of mouth, for the better accomplishing of the enterprise begun. Nothing in the world did Sinan abhorre more than this warre, hauing his mind altogether bent against the affaires of the Christians in EVROPE, and therefore sought by all meanes possible for the diuerting of those warres from the East into some other quarters. At last he wrought so much, he entreated so much, he writ so many letters, and sollicited the matter so earnestly, that Amurath was persuaded to send for him to CONSTANTINOPLE, as soone as euer he was certified of the arriuall of the new embassadour from PERSIA, of whom Sinan had before aduertised him: for he was resolued either to grow to a peace with L the said embassadour, if he came with honourable conditions; or if he came not, or that after his comming they could not agree vpon the peace, then to put in execution those his conceits wherof he must needs in particular talke with Sinan by word of mouth. At length the promised embassadour called Ebraim Chan, a man of great eloquence, and highly honoured in PERSIA, came to Sinan; whereof Sinan gaue present intelligence to Amurath, beseeching him againe to permit him to come to CONSTANTINOPLE: which his request Amurath then graunted. Wherupon Sinan forthwith returned to the Court, where he attended the vniuersall gouernment of the whole empire. At his first comming to the presence of Amurath (wherein hee discoursed not with him of any thing, but of the comming of the Persian embassadour) the conditions were set downe which they were to require for the reducing of the capitulations of this peace to a good M end. After which agreement the embassador (being now come, and most magnificently receiued in CONSTANTINOPLE) had audience: at which time he with much glorious speech laboured to persuade Amurath, That his king had a most ardent desire to be reconciled vnto him, and to joyne his forces with his against the enemies of the Mahometane religion, and that for that purpose [Page] A he was now especially come thither: which his good purpose, if it were answered with like zeale on his part, there would thereof ensue the greatest vnitie and friendship that euer was betweene any Mahometane princes. Whereunto Amurath gaue him no other answere, but that he should thereof talke with his Visier, and with him en [...]eat of all matters concerning the peace: and so he was by Amurath entertained and dismissed, both at one time.

Now had Amurath called to CONSTANTINOPLE his eldest sonne Mahomet (who afterward succeeded him in the empire) being then about sixteene yeares old,1581 to circumcise him according to the custome of the Turkes;Amurath circumciseth his eldest sonne Mahomet. following therein the inueterat law of the Hebrewes. Vnto which solemnitie, many Christian princes were solemnly inuited; who accordingly sent thither their embassadours with great gifts and presents, in token of peace and confederacie, B namely, Rudolphus the emperour, Henrie the third the French king, Stephen king of POLONIA: the State of VENICE, the king of PERSIA, the Moore kings of MAROCCO and FES, the princes of MOLDAVIA, VALACHIA, and others. With all triumph and joy was the circumcision of this young prince solemnised, by the space of fortie daies & fortie nights, in the great market place of CONSTANTINOPLE, where all the embassadours aforesaid had their scaffolds prepared and furnished according to their degrees and states, and receiued such entertainment as might be shewed at such a kind of barbarous spectacle: Only the Persian embassadour, who had also his scaffold seuerall to himselfe, but not regarded as the rest, rejoyced not at these feasts and triumphs: for among sundrie other wrongs and scornes done by the commaundement of Amurath vnto the Persian nation (as by hanging vp of certaine counterfeit pictures of Persians made C of laths and sticks, and then burning them, and in many scornfull sorts abusing them) the Turke, for the great displeasure he had conceiued for the harme done to Osman Bassa and the Turkes in SIRVAN much about that time, and for the disdaine he had taken against Ebrain Chan (as one not condiscending to the conditions of peace which he expected, nor yeelding to any more than the other embassadour had done before, seemed to haue come as a spie to marke the Turkish affaires, or to mocke Amurath, rather than to put in execution any good matter to pacifie the minds of the two mightie princes) commaunded the standing before appointed for him, in disgrace of him to be cast downe, and himselfe with all his followers to be shut vp as close prisoners in the house of Mahamet Bassa at CONSTANTINOPLE: where he was so straightly kept, that though an hundred of his followers there died of the plague, which shortly after began D to wax hoat in the citie,Io. Leuncl. suppl. Annal. Tur [...]. pag. 82. yet could he not obtaine so much fauour as to be remoued to some other place, but there was enforced to tarrie it out, vntill that afterward order was taken, he should be carried thence as prisoner to ERZIRVM. To end these solemnities, Mahomet the young prince was circumcised, not publikely, but in his fathers chamber, by Mechmet one of the inferiour Bassaes, sometime the emperour Solymans barber.

Now whilest Sinan as great Visier sat commaunding in CONSTANTINOPLE, the garrisons in CHARS and TEFLIS (kept in by the enemie, and hauing receiued none other reliefe than a little which Sinan before his departure from ERZIRVM had by good hap caused to be secretly conuaied vnto them) were thought to be driuen to great wants. Which thing Sinan right well knew, and fearing least those two places which had with so much adoe beene both gained and E maintained, should for want of new succours fall againe into the hand of the enemie: hee both boldly and freely counselled Amurath, to send a new garrison to VAN for the safetie of the countrey thereabouts; and then vnder the conduct of some valiant captaine, to send succours to TEFLIS. Vpon which point Amurath asked Sinan his opinion, and willed him to bethinke himselfe of some fit man. Hereupon Sinan propounded diuers vnto him, but none of them pleased him; for why, he was before resolued, in despight of Sinan and of his counsell, to bestow this charge vpon Mahamet Bassa, nephew to Mustapha the late Bassa, and for his sake hated of Sinan. This Bassa Mahamet he sent to ERZIRVM, with the title of the Bassa of that prouince; honouring him withall with the name of Generall of the armie for TEFLIS. And presently gaue commaundement to Hassan the Bassa of CARAEMIT, to Mustapha sometime called Manu [...]chiar F the Georgian, to all the Sanzacks, the Curdi, and the souldiors of ERZIRVM, that they should resort to the standerd of Mahamet their Generall, and so to follow him to TEFLIS. Whereupon there assembled togither out of all the said places about fiue and twentie thousand souldiors, with all things necessarie for the reliefe of the distressed garrison in TEFLIS. Commandement was also giuen to the Bassaes of ALEPPO and MARAS, to repaire to VAN with all their [Page] souldiors, and there to abide till Winter: which they accordingly did, not molested nor troubled G by any enemie.

In the end of August Mahamet Bassa departed from ERZIRVM, with the Bassa of CARAEMIT and all his armie, carrying with him money, corne, and all other things needfull for the reliefe of TEFLIS: and in eight daies came to CHARS, and from thence to ARCHELECH, not troubled by any. At ARCHELECH he found Mustapha (otherwise called Manucchiar the Georgian) with all his souldiors, whom the Generall most joyfully entertained and honoured with gifts: and withall admonished him to continue in his obedience to Amurath, and to conduct him with his armie the shortest and safest way to TEFLIS: for that some were of opinion, that it were best to go by TOMANIS, and some other by the way of Mustaffa his countrey: wherin Mustaffa did readily resolue him, that the easiest and shortest way lay through his owne countrey, being H also in his opinion the safest. This counsell of Mustaffa pleased Mahamet greatly, so that he made choise of him to be the guide of his armie, reposing himselfe wholly vpon his good direction: and so departed thence towards TEFLIS, passing through ALTVNCHALA, and CARACHALA, both belonging to the said Georgian, abounding with all things necessarie for the sustenance of man, neither were they euer disturbed by any enemie. Hauing passed Mustaffa his countrey, they came to a friendly castle called GORI, from whence they discouered in certaine fields a great armie of the Georgians, mingled with Persians, but apparelled after the manner of GEORGIA: these were those captaines of PERSIA, sent from the Persian king (as in other yeares before) to aid the Georgians; who secretly conjoyned with Simon Chan the Georgian, had changed their apparell, because the treatie of peace should not be disturbed, and their king accounted I vnjust of his word; who vnder the colour of a treatie of peace, whiles Amurath attended nothing else but to succour and defend his conquered countries, without purpose to annoy any other places, went about to procure the destruction of the Turkes. These then as soone as they saw the Turkish armie, and perceiued that they also themselues were by them descried, sent Heraulds vnto them with haughtie words of defiance, and to offer them battell. With great griefe of mind did the Bassa receiue this prowd defiance; but hauing no other purpose but onely to bring his succours safe to TEFLIS, he dismissed the Heraulds, and studied by all meanes he could to shun battell.Mahamet Bass [...] refuseth battell offered by the Georgians and and Persians. That euening he was fauoured in his purpose by the great and continuall raine which then fell, [...]d serued for a reasonable excuse of his delay: but the next day prouing faire, and the Sunne shining bright, both the armies marched in sight the one of the other all day, vntill about K foure houres and an halfe before night; at what time the Turkes arriued neere to a riuer that separated the one armie from the other. There the Bassa fell in consultation with Mustaffa, whither they should passe ouer the riuer before night, or stay on that side they were vntill the next morning. In which case Mustaffa aduised him to stay, as fearing least the enemie should set vpon the armie disordered in passing the riuer, and so annoy them. Notwithstanding the Generall disliked this aduise of Mustapha, hauing taken a strong conceit, euen vpon the first discouerie of the enemie, that there was some intelligence and compact betweene Mustaffa and the Persians, and that to that end he had malitiously persuaded him to come that way, and not by the way of TOMANIS: & therfore the Bassa thinking, that if there were any such plot laied between Mustaffa and the enemie, to set it in some confusion, would not in any case follow the counsell of the L suspected Georgian, to stay that night; but commanded, that with the greatest speed that might be, all his souldiors with their treasure & corne should passe ouer the riuer; to the end that before night he might on the other side of the riuer encampe his armie in some good place, to the scorne and derision of his enemies. Mahamet his lieutenant, a bold yong man and an hardie, was the first that ventured ouer, and after him the carriages of money and of corne, and then the whole armie, with such speed, that some of the confused multitude were drowned in the passage, being rather troden downe with the horses and camels, than brought to their deaths either by the depth of the channell or swiftnesse of the riuer.

As soone as the Georgians perceiued that the Turks had passed the riuer, without any staying vntill they might settle themselues in any good order, they in great hast and furie ran vpon them,M and presently assailed them whiles they were yet all in confusion and out of order: by reason whereof, the Turkes, although they turned their faces vpon their enemies, and made some good resistance, yet in short time you might haue seene the bankes of the riuer in many places stained with the Turkish bloud, and many carkases of the Turkes here and there scattered, without any [Page] A apparant losse among the Georgians and Persians. Amongst them that fell in this slaughter, were a number of Sanzackes,The Turkes discomfited, and the treasure and corne taken by the Georgians and Persians. of the Curdi, and Mesopotamians; which the rest perceiuing, and by the ouerthrow of their owne conjecturing the losse of others, turned their backes and fled: the like did the remnant of the Mesopotamians, and after them at last the whole armie: whom the Georgians pressed so sore in their flight, that many of the Turkes seeing no other way to escape, cast themselues into the riuer, and so (though hardly) escaped with their liues. Great was the shame, great was the confusion, but greatest was the losse they receiued, for that in the heat of the battell the kings money and corne was taken by the Georgians and Persians, euery man sauing onely so much for himselfe as he could secretly hide vpon his owne bodie, or conuey by the meanes of some trustie slaue, which by the helpe of their swift horses was preserued rather by B fortune than by valour.

The Turkes thus discomfited and spoyled of their reliefe;Mahamet with his discomfited armie commeth to Teflis. the next morning gathered themselues together againe, one with another cursing the heauens, their king, and their aduerse fortune: some of them also threatening the Georgian renegate Mustaffa, as though all this mischiefe had happened through his treacherie and secret intelligence with the enemie. Notwithstanding, when they found that they had still remaining so much money and other easements as might suffice to comfort the afflicted minds of the souldiors, besieged in the fort, they resolued to hold on their way towards TEFLIS, and in their journey vsed such speed, that the day following they arriued there in the euening. But when they of the fort saw their friends, whom they had so long expected, arriued in such bad sort, and so euill furnished, they were astonied, and wonderfully C grieued at this common losse, and all in a confusion protested to Mahamet, That they would abandon the place, if they had not forthwith necessarie prouision made for them. But the Generall after he had with large promises mitigated their first furies and insolencies, presently in the morning caused a Diuano or counsell to be called in the castle, where hauing gathered together all the cheefe men in his armie, he spake vnto them in this manner: ‘For as much as it hath pleased God,The Oration of Mahamet Bass [...] in the castle of Teflis. that so great and important an occasion of victorie, which was offered vnto vs for the honour and glorie of euery one of vs, is now fallen out so vnfortunately, that it hath not only not ministred vnto vs any matter of triumphing ouer our enemies, as we should haue done, but rather hath made them (I know not how) to carrie away from vs both the triumph, and also D our armour, our horses, our slaues, and our spoiles; yea and (the remembrance whereof doth most grieuously trouble and afflict me) our Sultans money, and our publicke munition and forces solemnely deliuered to our conduct, is now become a bootie and prey vnto them; that the honour which might haue made euery one of vs famous among noble and valourous souldiors, is now fallen from our foreheads, and to our great detriment doth adorne the heads of strangers, or rather of our enemies; and that notwithstanding all this, we are now come to those courageous souldiors, which with their great valour haue defended this fort, euen in the middest of their enemies weapons and trecheries; and to whom we should yeeld that aid and releefe, which the vertue of euery one of their minds doth deserue, and which king Amurath had put into our hands to bring hither vnto them: there is now no remedie, but to resolue vpon some good meanes, that we fall not wholly into the vtter disgrace of our lord and king, and E that is, To maintaine these souldiors in the custodie and defence of this sort: and though it be with all our owne wants and all our owne dishonors, to comfort these that haue so long time looked for vs, and so well deserued all manner of releefe. We cannot excuse our selues, that our enemies were better than we either in number or instruments of warre, for both in the one and the other we were farre beyond them; neither yet can we say, that they set vpon vs by night, or at vnawares: for when we saw their number, their weapons, their horses, and finally their approch, and their manner of assault, yet wee would needs passe ouer the riuer, and ioyne battell with them: which we now know hath fallen out very lamentable to vs, because we were more readie to take our flight than to endure the fight, and to vse our feet than to occupie our hands. And therefore it is very requisit, as well to satisfie the rigor of iustice, as to performe the dutie of souldiors, that we suffer not our lord and king to loose his mony, which F he trusted into our hands, and which we haue lost, not by greater strength, nor by any trecherous stratageme of our enemies, but by our owne too too important feare, and too base a regard of our liues, before which it was the dutie of euery one of vs, to haue preferred the care of honour. For if by fighting and courageous sustaining the assaults of our enemies, though they had beene stronger and better armed than we, this misfortune had happened vnto vs, and that we could in any sort haue represented to [Page] the king and the world an honourable and bloudie battell, we should not now haue had any need to seeke G meanes how to repay this losse, and to restore the thing that violently was taken from vs by such as were more mightie than our selues, and these honourable souldiors also should more easily haue disgested with vs this lamentable calamitie. But we haue lost that money, and in very deed hauing as it were willingly bestowed it vpon the Georgians and Persians to redeeme our liues and to saue vs from their furie, are bound to repay it, or els for euer hereafter to be challenged as lawfull debtors to the king for it. And therefore my good friends and companions, if you will take a good course, let euery one of vs, without any further consultation put his hand into his priuat purse (if he haue not foolishly cast that also into the hands of the rauenous enemie) and with our owne money let vs succour the necessitie of these men, and haue regard to the honour of our king. So shall wee make our flight lesse blame worthie, we shall iustifie our actions more honestly (and that which is of greatest importance)H we shall the better pacifie the wrath of Amurath, which he might most iustly conceiue against vs. I my selfe before you all am most readie to disburse foure thousand duckats towards it: if it shall please you all to follow me accordingly, we shall deliuer these souldiors from their great necessitie, and acquite our s [...]lues from the intricat bonds of most troublesome displeasures.’

The Turkes among themselues make a purse of 30000 duckats, for the releefe of the garrison of Teflis.There might a man haue seene a thousand countenances changed a thousand manner of wayes; for one softly whispered many a curse and shame vpon the king, vpon Mahomet, yea and vpon God himselfe, another denied to disburse any thing, another determined priuily to steale away, and some said one thing, and some another; but in the end euery man was induced to follow the example of Mahamet: and thereupon hauing made a purse according to euery mans I abilitie, there was collected thirtie thousand duckats among them. And presently after, word was sent to Leuent Ogli at ZAGHEN, to send thither graine, muttons, and other necessarie prouisions that they might the better continue the defence of the fort.

Two dayes onely stayed Mahamet in TEFLIS, and hauing changed such souldiors as desired to be dismissed, and also appointed Homar Bassa Gouernour of TEFLIS in stead of Giusuf, that there gouerned before, he departed. But before his departure consultation was had, Whether they should keepe the way of TOMANIS, or the way they came through the countrey of Mustaffa the Georgian: and in the end they resolued to keepe the way of TOMANIS, and therupon order was taken, that they should all passe the riuer. The Curdi were the first that went ouer, and had alreadie pitched their tents vpon the further side of the water; when the Generall K began to reuoke his former order, and sent them word, That they should returne, because he was now determined to goe backe the same way he came. At which message all the Sanzackes were in a rage, and in plaine tearmes sent him answere, That these mutabilities beseemed not them, being men accustomed to warre, but to be rather childrens play than manly resolution, and that for their parts they were not minded to change their journey, but would goe on the same way they had begun: and so forwards they went (say the Generall what he could) and by the way of TOMANIS arriued at CHARS long before Mahamet, who was much grieued at this their so great disobedience: but seeing no other remedie, he with the Bassa of CARAEMIT, and Mustaffa the Georgian, put themselues on their journey euen by the same way they came to TEFLIS. At last Mahamet arriued at ALTVNCHALA, the cheefe castle of Mustaffa the Georgian, and burning L with the desire of reuenge of those losses which he thought himselfe to haue receiued by the trecherie of Mustaffa; or (as some thought) seeking by this meanes to make Amurath beleeue, that in truth all the forepassed mischeefes had happened not through their cowardise, but through the trecherous and malitious deuices of the Georgian, and so to make their receiued losses seeme more pardonable; he deuised with himselfe, how to find out such a plot, as that Mustaffa might vpon the sudden be taken away, as guiltie of so foule a treason: and that he had deuised was in this sort.Mahamet deuiseth how to betray Mustaffa the Georgian. To call a counsell into his owne pauillion, as if he had receiued some commaundement from the Court, and hauing caused Mustaffa to come into that roome, whiles the said counterfeit commaundement should be in reading, to cause his lieutenant with those cheefe of his band that stood about him, to fall vpon him, and presently to cut off his head. This pretended counsell was M accordingly called, wherein sat the Bassa himselfe, and with him the Bassa of CARAEMIT, certaine Sanzackes subject to the jurisdiction of ERZIRVM, the Capigi Bassa or cheefe gentleman vshier, and the Generals lieutenant; with whom he had vpon their solemne oathes for secrecie communicated his entended deceit. The Georgian Mustaffa was also called accordingly: who [Page] A both because he was beloued of moe than one, and had also vsed all diligent circumspection, but especially hauing heard in the armie some priuie whisperings of such a matter, knew full well of all that was deuised against him, and therefore prouided also for his owne defence. But as touching his going to the counsell, he thought he might not denie so to doe, least by his absence he might seeme guiltie of the fault whereof he was (peraduenture not without cause) suspected; and thereby to leaue his cities for a prey to their enemies, now in the heart of his countrey. And therefore resoluing to goe, he deuised how so to doe with most safetie; and so; as if need should be, he might be able to turne the mischiefe entended against him vpon the head of the Generall himselfe. And therefore hauing chosen out fiftie of his most faithfull and resolute souldiors, he commaunded them to follow him to the counsell appointed in the Generals pauillion: and being B come thither, to stay there readie and attentiue at his first and one onely call, suddenly and forcibly to rush into the pauillion with their weapons, & rather than any wrong should be done vnto him, to shew their valour against the Turkes, without exception of any person whatsoeuer. These men by nature enemies vnto the Turks, vnderstanding well his meaning, setled themselues vpon the execution: and taking vnto them some other also of their faithfull and trustie friends; followed him euen to the pauillion of Mahamet: where Mustaffa entring into the place of counsell, desired of the Generall to know what his pleasure was; who presently caused the counterfeit commaundement to be read, whereunto Mustaffa gaue an attentiue eare. But when the other Bassaes and Sanzackes began to sit downe (contrarie to the manner of the Turkes, who whensoeuer any commaundement of the emperours is in reading, vse alwayes to stand vp, and not to sit C down vntill it be full read) the Georgian tooke his leaue, promising to be euer readie to performe not onely that order of the kings, but also whatsoeuer els he should commaund. And so being about to depart, the Capigi Bassi (or great vsher) of Mahamet came vnto him, and plucking him by the sleeue, would haue forced him to sit downe. Then Mustaffa crying out aloud, drew his sword,Mustaffa notably reuengeth himselfe of the tre [...]herie intended against h [...]m by Maham [...]t the Generall. wherewith he strucke Mahamets lieutenant, that was right against him, and with his left hand hauing raught the roll from his pate, with his right hand suddenly (to the great astonishment of all that were present) at one onely blow parted his head, his necke, and his breast i [...] twaine, euen to his very stomacke; so that he died (a strange spectacle to behold) being thus cut in sunder, with his cleft head and two shoulders hanging downe vpon their seuerall sides. After this first, he redoubled his second stroke, aiming at the head of the Bassa of CARAEMIT: but it D being defended with the wrythen rolls of the turbant, it slipped downe by his eare; yet so, that with a peece of the said turbant it carried his eare quite away, with a little also of the flesh of his cheeke: and all enraged, eagerly assailed Mahamet Bassa the Generall (who now all in confusion was risen vp in the tumult) and wounded him with fiue mortall wounds; which were yet afterwards by cunning hand healed, when they had brought him euen to deaths dore. At the crie of this Georgian all his people rushed in together: vpon whose confused tumult, and the feare that Mustaffa through his furie had strucke into the Turks, the campe was presently raised: and euery man with all speed departing thence, put himselfe on his way towards CHARS, whether also were brought the two wounded Bassaes and the rest that were ill handled and greatly scared with these sudden and vncouth stirres.

E Of all this treacherie entended against him, Mustaffa sent present information to the Turkish emperour, finding himselfe greatly grieued at the false suspition that Mahamet had wrongfully conceiued against him, to his great dishonour: and wrought so cunningly, that Amurath in token of his good liking and contentment sent him both cloth of gold and a battleax all gilt. Mahamet on the other side entermedling here and there with all the art that possibly he could deuise, all hatefull and injurious tearmes, sent large aduertisements of all the misfortunes that had happened, and aggrauated to the king both the treacheries of Mustaffa, and also the slender securitie of those wayes and countries.

As soone as Amurath vnderstood the calamities of his souldiors, the losse of his money, the great dishonour of his people, and the apparant danger wherein the fort of TEFLIS stood, when F it was like to be abandoned: all inflamed with rage and anger, he called vnto him the Bassaes of his court (among whom sat as chiefe the prowd and haughtie Sinan) and rated them all exceedingly, reprouing their lewd counsell, and recounting the losses that he had from time to time receiued, as if they had happened through their defaults, and especially Sinan, as the principall occasion of all these mischiefes: Who like an improuident foole (as he said) would needs relinquish [Page] the charge of his armie, and like a king sit idle at CONSTANTINOPLE, standing (as it G were) at some publike triumph to behold and heare the miseries and misfortunes of others: hauing before in the time that Mustapha was General, most vainly boasted, with the like power that he had to fetch the Persian king out of CASBIN, and to deliuer him in bonds to Amurath, but had in deed performed nothing worth the remembrance. Sinan could doe no lesse but make answere to the wrathfull king, yet not with such mildnesse and modestie as in such a case hee should peraduenture haue done, but in prowd and peremptorie manner, without any reuerence or regard,The proud answere of Sinan to Amurath. told him plainly: That as the last yeare a little before his returne to CONSTANTINOPLE, succours had been conuaied to TEFLIS without any losse or trouble (as in truth they were) euen so had they been this yeare also, if he had put his aduise in execution as much as hee despised and contemned it: for he did then giue him to vnderstand, that Mahamet Bassa could H not be a fit man for so great a charge, and that it was necessarie to haue chosen in his roome some other captaine of valour and discretion; but seeing he would needs make choise of the same vnfit man, he was not now to blame any other for this errour, but onely himselfe. As for his comming to CONSTANTINOPLE, it was a thing long before thought most needfull, not onely for his aduise how the matter of peace might be brought to some good passe; but also because if that treatie came not to the desired issue, then he had to talke with him how he might compasse the ouerthrow of his enemy: which thing as yet he had no fit time to declare vnto him, but was now readie to reueale it, if it were so his pleasure. Wonderfully was Amurath grieued with this sullen answere, when he considered that a slaue of his owne, should so arrogantly and manifestly reproue him of folly and improuidence. Notwithstanding, being desirous to know of him what I that secret and important matter was, which he had to reueale vnto him for the easie compassing of his commenced enterprise, he dissembled his discontentment conceiued against him, and commaunded him to disclose those his deuises which he had to vtter. Sinan in briefe, of all his aduises, propounded these two things: first his counsell was, not to proceed in this warre as they had hitherto done, by seeking with forts and fortresses to hold and keepe the enemies countries; for that their treasures were not able to yeeld such store of money, as was sufficient for the maintenance of so many and so great garrisons: contrarie to the opinion of Mustapha (of late dead) who with great pertinacie had persuaded that dangerous, chargeable, and difficult manner of warre. His second aduise was, that the true meanes to bring this warre to wished end, consisted especially in the resolution of Amurath himselfe; who if he would go in person himselfe, and against K so mightie a king oppose the person of a king, then might he most assuredly promise vnto himselfe all speedie and honourable victorie: for that at the onely name of his comming, the Persians would easily come to any agreement; or if not, he might then proceed in his wars, and so obtaine most glorious conquests. This his aduise so little pleased the effeminat king, that in stead of the great opinion he before held of him, he now conceiued an enuious affection against him: and a further suspition (fostred by the great ladies of the court, especially Amuraths mother) That Sinan had thus counselled the king himselfe to go in person, not for any good could come therof, but onely that so he might find meanes for the prince his sonne to make himselfe king, and to driue out his father. Which suspition was in such sort nourished in the mind of Amurath, especially being assured of the great affection which the prince carried towards Sinan, and he likewise L towards him, that he resolued to rid him out of his sight; and so depriuing him of all charge, presently banished him the court, and out of CONSTANTINOPLE to DEMOTICA (a citie of THRACE) from whence afterwards he by most humble supplication obtained to be remoued to MARMARA,Sciaus Bassa made Visier in Sina [...] place. a little beyond SELYMBRIA. And into his place of Visiership was preferred Sciaus Bassa (who had married Amurath his sister) an Hungarian borne, a goodly personage, and of honorable judgement: but aboue all men a seller of justice and preferments, and yet a great friend to the peace with the Christian princes, which Sinan had alwaies most wickedly maligned.

1582The Persian captaines in the meane time, with their spoiles and diuers of their enemies ensignes, were with great joy receiued at home in PERSIA: but when the discord that fell out betweene Mahamet Bassa and Mustaffa the Georgian was also reported, the former joy M was redoubled; euerie man being of opinion, that these discords might bee great impediments vnto the Turkes further attempts into PERSIA, which it was feared they would the next yeare attempt, to the great danger of NASSIVAN and TAVRIS. Vpon which occasions, the Persian king perceiuing that he could not haue a fitter opportunitie to employ himselfe [Page] A against Abas Mirize his sonne (then with him it disgrace) determined with himselfe,Mahamet the Persian king resolueth to go to Heri against his sonne Abas Mirize. to leaue the matters on this side of his kingdome in their present state, and to march toward HERI: whereunto he was earnestly solicited by his elder sonne Emir Hamze Mirize, but especially by Mirize Salmas his Visier. Vpon which resolution, committing the defence of REIVAN, NASSIVAN, and that side of his kingdome, to Emir Chan Gouernour of TAVRIS; he set forward himselfe with his army towards CASBIN, and so marching through diuers prouinces, arriued at length at SASVAR, being on that side the chiefe of all the cities subject to the jurisdiction of HERI: which citie he tooke by force, and without delay caused the Gouernour thereof to be beheaded, although he alleadged a thousand excuses for himselfe, and objected a thousand accusations moe against the seditious Visier. The king after this departing thence▪ and hauing also put B to death certaine captaines and Sultans, that were accused by the Visier to be confederats in the rebellion of his sonne,Mahamet commeth to Her [...]. he arriued at last at the desired citie of HERI. Verie strong is this citie, by situation compassed about with a good wall, and watered with deep channels of running springs, conuaied into it by Tamerlane their founder, or restorer: besides that, there was in it many valiant captaines, enemies to Mirize Salmas, readie to lay downe their liues in defence of themselues and of Abas their lord; so that the winning thereof, could not but proue both long and difficult. As soone as the king approched the citie, he felt in himselfe many troubled passions arising of griefe and pietie, it grieued him to thinke that hee should beget so gracelesse a sonne, who in stead of maintaining his state and honour, should seeke his ruine and destruction: it grieued him also to remember the bloud of his subjects, before spilt vpon so strange an occasion; and C scarcely durst he enter into the cogitation, thenceforward to shed any more of the bloud of his people. Neuerthelesse, being still more and more solicited by his Visier, he attempted to vnderstand the mind of his sonne, and (if it might be possible) to get him into his hands. But whiles the king trauelling with these thoughts lay with his armie before HERI, Abas Mirize in the meane time, writ diuers letters to his father and to his brother, wherein he besought them, That they would make knowne vnto him the occasion of this their stirre: For if desire of rule had moued them to seeke the depriuation of him, being their sonne and brother, from the honour hee lawfully possessed, and which his father himselfe had procured for him of his grandfather Tamas; they ought to abandon that imagination, for that he was alwaies readie to spend his wealth and his bloud togither with his estate in their seruice, and acknowledged his father to be his good father D and king: But if they were not induced hereunto for this cause, but by a desire to reuenge some trespasse that he had committed to the prejudice of the crowne of PERSIA, or his fathers honour; he was most readie to submit himselfe to any amends, and with all reason to yeeld vnto them the kingdome, yea the whole world, and euen his owne life, the rather to satisfie their minds with a more full contentation. With twise and thrise reading ouer, were these affectionat letters considered and disgested: and at last both the father and the brother perceiuing in them such liberalitie of words, and ouercome with pitie, or if not with pitie yet with great admiration and contentment, they determined to put the matter in practise, and moderating their desire of reuenge, to attempt the reducing of the yong mans mind to some good passe. Whereupon they wrote backe vnto him, That no greedie desire to vsurpe his gouernment, had induced them E to make so great a voyage, to trouble so much people, and to shed such aboundance of bloud; but onely his disobedience and presumption, in that he had caused himselfe to be called the king of PERSIA; and had not sent so much as one captaine to aid them in the late warres against the Turkes. Glad was Abas the yong prince, when he vnderstood the accusations that were laied against him, hoping to make it manifest before all men, how the king and his brother were misinformed in these particularities: and therefore incontinently did write backe vnto them, That if they would faithfully promise him, honourably, and without any outrage to receiue his embassadours, he would send vnto them such euident matter, and so cleare information touching those his accusations, as that they should not onely clearely perceiue that there was neuer any such kind of though in him, but also that he had alwaies desired & laboured the contrarie: and would F moreouer open vnto them such matter, as in respect of other men, and not of himselfe, might cause their comming to proue profitable and commodious to all the kingdome of PERSIA. Which his request they both solemnly promised faithfully to performe, being verie desirous to vnderstand what those strange nouelties should be. Whereupon Abas Mirize sent vnto them two of his chiefe counsellors, men of great account and reuerence both for their yeares and wisedome, [Page] with full instructions:Abas Mirize by his embassadours purged of treason. Who after many speeches, in the end swearing (according to their G custome) by the Creator that spread out the ayre, that founded the earth vpon the deepes, that adorned the heauen with stars, that powred abroad the water, that made the fire, and briefly, of nothing brought forth all things; swearing by the head of Ali, and by the religion of their prophet Mahomet, that such peruerse thoughts neuer entred into the head of Abas Mirize: they alleadged many testimonies and manifest proofes, that most loially in all due time, as well when he was aduanced to the kingdome of PERSIA, as also in his battels against the Turks, his sonne had alwaies caused deuout prayers and supplications to be made to God for his prosperitie, neither euer desired to heare any other but happie and fortunat successe of him. They brought with them a thousand and a thousand precepts and royall letters, which the young man had caused to be written, as occasions required to the Gouernours that were his subjects, for the gouernment H of the State, wherein he neuer named himselfe king of PERSIA, but onely, Your king and Gouernour of HERI. They prayed the king also, to cause a diligent processe to be framed against his sonne, and if there should be found in him any signe or shadow of so wicked a suspition, then to take from him his estate and libertie; offering themselues to remaine as hostages for him.The embassadors of Abas accuse Mirize Salmas the Visier. But when all this should be done, and Abas found altogither free from these vnjust accusations, then (falling euen to the earth and kissing it) they besought him, and as it were conjured him, not to leaue the matter thus imperfect, to the prejudice of his bloud, but returning to his counsellor, to take information likewise vpon what mind and consideration he had aduised the king to take vpon him this vnorderly and dangerous voyage; where no doubt he should find nothing in him, but malignant, ambitious, and wicked affections; and such as euen deserued,I that with his bloud there should be reuenged all the bloud of those which till that houre had been brought to their vnworthie and vndeserued deaths. And for as much as nothing remained, whereof the Visier had enformed the king against his sonne, but the commaundement that was giuen by Abas Mirize to the Gouernors vnder him, That they should not go to the wars against the Turkes: they confessed in truth that such an order was taken, but not to that wicked and traiterous end and purpose as was reported to the king by his great counsellour, but onely in respect of an inuasion justly feared in those quarters by the Tartarian Iesselbas; who by diuers inroads had alreadie done great harme in the countrey about HERI, and put young Abas and his counsellors in such a feare, that they durst not disfurnish their cities of their guards and forces: and therfore had commaunded the said Gouernours, not to go to warre against the Turkes, but to stay K and expect further direction. And that all this was by writing signified vnto the Visier himselfe: which he of a malicious mind had concealed, onely to trie, if in these common troubles he could bring to passe, that Abas Mirize and the king might be taken away, and Emir Hamze succeed in his place; and so he himselfe remaine the Superintendent of his sonne in law, and Moderator of that most famous kingdome. Of which so treacherous a purpose they (for all that) thought Emir Hamze the young prince altogither ignorant (knowing his honourable disposition and loue towards his owne kindred) but imputed it only to the immoderat and ambitious desire of the wicked traitour Mirize Salmas.

Of these graue speeches of the embassadours, Mahamet the father (by nature credulous) began to make great construction; and deeply to consider of their so earnest and important requests,L which seemed vnto him so vpright and equall, as that he could not chuse but hearken vnto the same. And therefore calling vnto him the Gouernours, the captaines, the judges, and treasurers of all the cities that were subject to to HERI: he demanded of them, how and in what sort they esteemed of Abas Mirize, and in what degree of honour he desired to be esteemed of them: and of them all receiued one answere, That they held him for their lord as lieutenant to the king of CAS [...]IN, and that he himselfe had alwaies desired to be so taken and thought of: for proofe whereof, euerie one of them brought in diuers letters, precepts, and orders, wherein hee neuer caused himselfe to be honoured with any other title, but onely, Your king of HERI. He demaunded further, whether any such warres were attempted by the Tartarian Iesselbas or no: whereof he receiued a large and solemne information, that so it was, to the great detriment of all M those territories. And thus the king was throughly persuaded of the innocencie of his sonne; who before was noted vnto him by his Visier, to be an obstinat rebell. Vpon which occasion only, although he might justly haue put him to death, as author of so great troubles and bloudshed; yet because he would be better enformed of the truth of the accusations laid against him by [Page] A the embassadours, he resolued to make a curious and diligent inquisition thereof: and therefore first of all, in great secresie he examined Emir Hamze his eldest sonne, wherefore he had aduised this journey against his brother Abas, whom he had found guiltlesse of all those crimes that were objected against him? whereunto the prince answered, That he had no other certainetie of the pretended euill behauiour of his brother, but onely that which proceeded from the great credit that he alwaies gaue to his father in law Mirize Salmas, to whom as to a chiefe counsellor, his father in law, and protector of the kingdome, he had alwaies yeelded assured credence: and so discharged the whole tempests of all those mischiefes vpon the Visier. Touching whom the king made diligent inquisition, as well among those of the court as of the armie; and thereby found him guiltie of all that the embassadours of HERI had accused him: and that being alwaies acquainted B with the true occasions which restrained the Gouernours of HERI (subject to Abas Mirize) from going to the warre against the Turkes, he had most maliciously concealed the same, of purpose to hatch such a strange and dangerous discontentment, as had wrought the vnworthie death of many great men,Mirize Salmas the Visier found guiltie of treason and beheaded. and almost defiled the hands of the father with the innocent bloud of his guiltlesse sonne. For which so foule a treason the false Visier was worthely condemned to die, and his wily head by the commaundement of the king strucke from his carkasse. Iustly rewarded, with the same punishment which he vnjustly sought to haue conuerted vpon others; and with his owne destruction pacified the dissentions and hatreds that were risen betweene the two princes. And so the two brethren being reconciled togither, and the sonne to the father; after that Abas had againe promised his wished obedience (which he afterwards C most dutifully performed) king Mahamet returned with the prince towards CASBIN: where by reason of new and vnexpected motions of the Turkes, he had now beene long looked for and desired.

Amurath through the rough speeches of Sinan, was more and more setled in his purpose for the continuing of the Persian warre; accounting it so much the more to his owne glorie, as it should in happie successe fall out contrarie to the opinion of many: and thereupon began to bethinke himselfe whom he might chuse for his Generall, to whom he might commit so great a charge. Among the Bassaes of the court there was one Ferat, a man of ripe yeares, but yet fierce of courage, tough in opinion, in counsell as hardie as might beseeme his age, readie for all sudden and strange aduentures, but aboue all a vassall most deuoted to the king: Of this man, at last he was D resolued to make choise to haue the leading of his armie: and therfore calling him apart, declared vnto him what he had in himselfe purposed,Ferat Bassa chosen Generall of the armie in Sinans place. encouraging him to take the charge vpon him, with a firme resolution to performe all things answerable to so worthie an enterprise, with the opinion he had conceiued of his valour. Verie willingly did Ferat accept of this new office, and thought himselfe (as indeed he was) highly fauoured by the king: and thereupon made him a large promise, to employ his strength, his wit, and vttermost deuoire, to put in execution whatsoeuer should be offered vnto him, either by occasion, or by his royall commandement.

At first Amurath had no other purpose to imploy him any further, but only to assure the passage to TEFLIS, and so into all GEORGIA; and to haue destroied the country of Mustaffa the Georgian, who had so audaciously injured the lieutenant of Amurath, and put his whole army E in confusion: but being certainly aduertised of the troubles in PERSIA betweene the king and his sonne, he changed his purpose, and commaunded Ferat to employ all his forces to erect a fortresse at REIVAN, a place belonging to Tocomac, and to assure the passage from CHARS to REIVAN; for so they should be reuenged of many harmes they had receiued by him, and lay open the way to the citie of TAVRIS, to the great glorie of Amurath. As for Mustaffa the Georgian, although he had well deserued to be chastised for his rash attempt against Mahamet Bassa, being then his Generall, yet he willed Ferat to dissemble his euill opinion of him, and (if it were possible) so to worke, as to vse him as an instrument to conuay treasure and succours to TEFLIS: for by this meanes the passage, being made safe, all GEORGIA would without any mo fortresses be subdued, and then the next yeare they might attempt the enterprise for F TAVRIS.

Highly did Ferat commend the deuises of Amurath his lord,1583 and shewed himselfe readie for any attempt. And so the time being come wherein it behooued them to set on foot their important dessignments, in the beginning of the yeare 1583, commandements were sent out to all the cities of the empire, which were wont to make their appearance at these warres, That vpon [Page] fresh summons, they should be readie to returne against the Persians, and to put in execution G that should be enjoyned them by their new Generall. The fame whereof flew as farre as SORIA, IVRIE, PALESTINE, MESOPOTAMIA, BABYLONIA, to BALSARA, to SIVAS, to MARAS, to all BITHYNIA, CAPADOCIA, CILICIA, ARMENIA, yea and beyond CONSTANTINOPLE to the borders of HVNGARIE and GRECE, and in briefe to all the regions that were wont to come to this warre: all which sent their captaines and souldiors accordingly. And so at the last Generall Ferat departing from CONSTANTINOPLE,Generall Ferat d [...]parteth from Constantinople. and passing ouer to SCVTARI by the way of AMASIA and of SIVAS, came to ERZIRVM, where he tooke a view of all his armie and prouision: and from thence in eight daies arriued at CHARS, conducted by the Persian fugitiue Maxut Chan: and from CHARS set himselfe on his way towards REIVAN. Three daies before he came to REIVAN, of certaine ruines of an old castle which the Turkes H call AGGIA CHALASI (or the Castle of strangers) he erected a new fortresse, and left in it a garrison of foure hundred souldiors,He commeth to Reiuan. with a Sanzacke, and certaine pieces of ordinance, and then went to REIVAN. This countrey is distant from TAVRIS eight or nine daies journey; betweene which two places are situat NASSIVAN, CHIVL [...]A [...], MARANT, and SOFIAN, all enriched with goodly gardens and pleasant greenes: but in the way are many craggie mountaines to be climed, and sundrie hard passages either for armie or traueller.

Ferat in the space of fifteene daies buildeth a [...]or [...] at Reiuan 750 ya [...]d [...] ab [...]ut.Here then did Ferat encampe himselfe with his armie, and taking aduise of his chiefe captains where he should build the fort, they all with one consent aduised him, to seaze vpon the houses and gardens of Tocomac, and there to fortifie. Which he accordingly did, enclosing the gardens with strong wals and deepe ditches round about, whereinto he conuaied water from a certaine I riuer, that comming downe from the mountaines, ran into Araxis. Which worke was performed with such expedition▪ that within the space of fifteene daies the fortresse was finished, being in circuit seauen hundred and fiftie yards. It grieued Tocomac exceedingly thus to lose his countrey and dwelling, and so much the more, because it happened so suddenly, and as it were vnlooked for. He himselfe as soone as he vnderstood that the Turkish armie was comming to that coast, hauing withdrawne himselfe and his men of warre out of the citie hee could not keepe, sought by all meanes to be reuenged, if not altogither, yet in some part of this so great an injurie. And therefore he wrote vnto the king at CORAZAN, to Emir Chan at TAVRIS, to Simon in GEORGIA, he gathered soldiors out of the villages, and vsed all his possible endeuour to enable himselfe to annoy the enemies armie: But from none of these places could he receiue any helpe,K the king being so farre off in wars against his sonne, the Georgian being busied by hindering any reliefe to be brought to the besieged in TEFLIS; as for Emir Chan (who by solemne promise vnto the king before his departure to HERI, had vndertaken the defence of that side of the kingdome against the Turkes) he either would not, or could not stirre; neither sent so much as one souldior, hauing as some supposed secret intelligence with Generall Ferat, not to disturbe him in this his worke. So Tocamac destitute of all other helpe, and not able of himselfe to doe much against so mightie an enemie; yet ceased not to lay such priuie ambushes for the Turkes as hee could, killing of them sometimes 100, sometime 150, and sometimes mo, as they fell into his danger. And to ease his stomacke against Emir Chan (who sitting still at TAVRIS as it were to behold his miserie, would not so much as shake a sword against these spoiling Turkes) he spared L not to dispatch certaine horsemen in hast to the king at CORAZAN, and by eloquent letters to amplifie the cowardise of Emir Chan; intermedling withall some causes of suspition, that he had some intelligence with the Turkish Generall.

Ferat hauing thus built this new fort at REIVAN, as Amurath had commanded, and furnished it with artillerie, and all other things needfull for the defence thereof; appointed Sinan Bassa (the sonne of Cicala a renegat of GENVA, and by Selymus the late emperor, in the flowre of his youth created Aga or captaine of the Ianizaries) with a garrison of eight thousand souldiors to keepe the same. And so departing thence, by the way of AGIA CHALASI, in ten daies arriued with his armie at CHARS.

Ferat had not long stayed at CHARS, but strange news were brought thither, That Mustaffa M the Georgian (to whom Amurath had sent thirtie thousand duckats, by two of his Capigi and two of his Chiaus, to haue by him beene conueyed to TEFLIS for the releefe of them in the fort) was reuolted from the Turkish obedience, and being now become a rebell, had left that fortresse in manifest danger to yeeld, if by some other meanes it were not relieued. Which strange [Page] A nouelties exceedingly troubled the Generall: who to know the certainetie thereof, called before him all such as were the messengers of this misfortune: by whom he was certainely enformed, That Mustaffa, the two Capigi, and the Chiaus, hauing put themselues vpon their way towards TEFLIS with the treasure, guarded with a conuoy of fiue hundred of his souldiors, in the mid way had met with his cousin Simon the Georgian, by whom he was persuaded to returne againe to his antient faith and religion, which he had to the great perill of his soule so prophanely abandoned, and to shake off the seruice of Amurath, which would yeeld him no other recompence than an hard and infamous captiuitie, and in the end some fraudulent and trecherous death: and that his persuasion had so preuailed with Mustaffa, that he caused the two Capigi and the Chiaus to be apprehended and presently beheaded; and deuiding the treasure, with his said cousin B had with him and his other kinsmen vowed a solemne and perpetuall confederacie: and so hauing withdrawne themselues to their wonted passages, lay there in wait for such succours as should by the Turkes be brought to TEFLIS.

When Ferat vnderstood these and such other particularities, he all in a furie swore that he would not returne to ERZIRVM vntill he had put all the country of Mustaffa to fire and sword: yet first he thought it needfull to relieue TEFLIS, which would otherwise bee in danger to bee yeelded to the enemie: and for that purpose made choice of Hassan Bassa, who in the last yeare of the Generalship of Mustapha had most couragiously conueyed the like succours, and taken Aliculi Chan. Vnto him therefore did the Generall assigne fortie thousand duckats, with other prouision necessarie for that seruice, and for the more suretie appointed him fifteene thousand of C the most choice and valiant souldiours in all the armie to conduct the same. In ten dayes space Hassan Bassa went and came from TEFLIS, hauing in his journey too and fro had many skirmishes with the Georgians, wherein he lost some few men, without any other losse worth the remembrance.

After this the Generall sent one Resuan Bassa with six thousand souldiors to spoyle the countrey of Mustaffa the Georgian the late renegate, but now become a rebell to the Turkes: which Resuan, without any long stay ouerran all his territorie, burnt his townes, and committed most vncouth outrages, which extended euen vnto the poore insensible trees, and carried away with him many captiue soules, with much corne and cattell, like a raging tempest destroying whatsoeuer came in his way. Now was the Generall also retired to ARDACHAN, whether came Resuan D to meet him with his foresaid bootie. But because they had now performed what they had before entended, and the approch of Winter persuaded their returne, they remoued from ARDACHAN, and by the way of OLTI retired to ERZIRVM,Ferat commeth to Erzirum, and there breaketh vp his armie. from whence all the souldiors were licensed to depart to their seuerall places of abode, and a memoriall sent vnto Amurath of all the actions had beene performed; and especially of the good seruice done by Hassan Bassa, who for the same was now once againe honoured by the king with cloth of gold, a battleaxe and targuet all gilt.

About this time one Podolouius a gentleman of POLONIA, sent by Stephen king of POLONIA to CONSTANTINOPLE, by the leaue of Amurath to buy certaine horses in ANATOLIA; returning homewards with foure and twentie goodly horses which he had bought, was notwithstanding E the great Turks Passe, by his commaundement stayed vpon the way, all his men (in number foure and thirtie) slaine, excepting one boy, who getting into a wood escaped, and Podolouius his head strucke off. The horses brought backe to CONSTANTINOPLE, were by the appointment of Amurath some bestowed into his owne stable, and the rest giuen among the Bassaes, oftentimes pointed at with the fingers of the Turkes in derision of the Polonian king. This Amurath commaunded to be done in reuenge of an outrage done by the Polonian Cossackes against the Turkes, whereof newes was but euen then brought to the Court.

The nine and twentith day of Nouember of this present yeare 1583,The death of Hama Cadum, Amurath his mother. died Hama Cadum, the widdow of the late emperour Selymus the second, and mother of this Amurath, and lieth buried by her husband Selymus and his fiue sonnes, strangled by their brother Amurath.

F All the rest of this yeare 1583 Ferat spent at ERZIRVM,1584 and afterwards sent out his ordinarie commaundements to all the accustomed cities, to summon the souldiors against the next Spring in the yeare 1584,Ferat raiseth a new armie. gathering together a greater number of pioners and enginers than euer had beene gathered in these warres heretofore: and withall gaue it out, That he would goe to NASSIVAN, and there doe great matters. At which report the Persians were much mooued, and began [Page] to cast many things in their heads about it: but aboue all others the king, who vnderstanding G at CASEIN of all that had before happened at REIVAN, and of the new preparations of the Turkes,The Persian king with a great armie commeth to Tauris. began to feare that they would this yeare passe to TAVRIS, or at least as was reported to NASSIVAN, and in those places build new fortresses, to the great danger of the Persian empire: and therefore retaining still such forces as he brought with him from HERI, and commanding as many moe as he could out of all the cities that were subject vnto him, to follow him to TAVRIS, he arriued there with his armie not long after the arriuall of Ferat Bassa at ERZIRVM. This vnexpected comming of the Persian king with so great an armie to TAVRIS, filled the world with expectation of great matters to haue beene done by him against the Turkes: insomuch that Ferat the Generall, before he would proceed any further, thought it good to ad [...]ertise Amurath of the matter: declaring vnto him, That his desire was to goe to NASSIVAN, and H there to build a fortresse, according to his commaundement, so to lay open the passage to TAVRIS; but hauing receiued certain intelligence, That the Persian king was come to TAVRIS with an huge armie, and full resolution to encounter him, he thought it his dutie not to put in execution his aforesaid determination, without his expresse commaundement. Vnto whom Amurath presently wrote backe, That the matter so standing, he should not goe to NASSIVAN, but onely employ his forces to assure the passage of TOMANIS and LORI, that so the fort of TEFLIS might the yeare following be relieued by some small band, without sending of any great armie for the conueying of succours thither. This new commaundement of his lord, Ferat kept secret to himselfe, causing the rumour of his going to NASSIVAN to be more and more encreased, of purpose to feed the opinion that the Persians had before conceiued of his comming thither; and I so deluding them, with lesse danger to build the forts he had entended, for the quieting of those most dangerous passages of LORI and TOMANIS.

Vpon this resolution Ferat hauing gathered together his people, with all things necessarie for his purpose, remoued with his armie from ERZIRVM toward CHARS, where he stayed ten dayes, to take a new suruey both of his souldiors and prouision. And so departing thence, set forward toward LORI, sending before him Hassan Bassa with fiue thousand light horsemen to scoure the countrey euen to TOMANIS, and to learne what he possibly could of the enemies purposes, and the state of GEORGIA. Which thing Hassan dutifully performed, speedily scouring ouer all the woods, and disclosing all the passages from thence to LORI, and so to TOMANIS, without meeting with any vpon whom to assay his valour, more than certaine robbers vpon K the high way, whom he caused to be slaine (as men altogether ignorant of the Georgian and Persian affaires) and their heads to be set on the tops of their launces, and so returned againe to LORI: where hauing stayed one day, he met with the Generall, to whom he recounted all that had happened in that his excursion. Ferat being come to LORI, there encamped his armie. This place did sometime belong to Simon the Georgian, well strengthened with an high castle, compassed about with very deepe ditches and a thick wall, almost a mile in circuit, but was then somewhat weakened with time: it is distant from TEFLIS about two daies journey, of a cariers pace. Vpon this castle Ferat seized, and hauing repaired the wals and strengthened the breaches, he placed therein Ali Bassa of GREECE with seuen thousand souldiours for the defence thereof, and planted vpon the wals two hundred small pieces of ordinance. And so when he had set L all things there in good order, departed thence with his armie towards TOMANIS; hauing before commaunded Ali Bassa at some conuenient time to fortifie SAITAN CHALASI, a castle about ten miles distant from LORI, and therein to place a conuenient garrison of souldiors and artillerie.

Foure dayes were they going from LORI to TOMANIS, being ordinarily but one dayes worke from the one place to the other:For at cutteth downe a thicke wood at Tomanis, and biuldeth a fort vpon the strait. but now the Generall would needs so make it, to take the spoile of those rich fields, abounding with corne, cattell, and fruit, and to leaue vnto the countrey people a lamentable remembrance of his being there. At last being come to TOMANIS (in times past a castle of Simons, but by reason of these warres, by him then abandoned) he began to consult with the other captaines, how and where the fortresse should be erected, for the assurance M of that countrey. But after many discourses, it was at last concluded not to fortifie in that castle, as being too farre from the strait, to make that dangerous passage safe and secure; but to goe a little further, and to build a fortresse vpon the very mouth of the strait. So the armie marching forward a few miles, at the very entrance of the narrow passage found the ruines of another castle, [Page] A and neere thereunto stayed themselues. This steepe headlong castle was so compassed round about with a thicke wood, which hindered all discouerie a farre off, that it was not conuenient to found such a castle there, from whence their ordinance could neither auaile them to whom the defence therof should be committed, neither endomage those that should come to offend it. And therefore the Generall commanded, that euery man with all his endeuour should lay to his hand for the cutting downe of that thicke wood, and making way through thicke and thin to lay it for an open champaigne, that was before the receptacle of a thousand dangerous treacheries. In very short space were the trees layed along on the ground, the place made lightsome and open, and a very commodious situation prepared for the foundation of a castle.The compas [...] of the castle bui [...]t a [...] Tomanis by Ferat. The plot of the old ruined castle was compassed about with a wall of a thousand and seuen hundred yards, and in the B middest thereof was erected a strong keepe, sundrie lodgings and chambers builded, and two hundred pieces of Ordinance destributed vpon the new wals. After that, the Generall sent Resuan Bassa and the Bassa of CARAEMIT with twentie thousand of his most choice souldiors, to conuey succours to TEFLIS: who marching closely together in the direct way, in one day arriued at the said fort; wherein they bestowed their supplies, and changing the Gouernour thereof, substituted in his roume one Bagli, being then vpon this occasion onely called a Bassa. Whilest Resuan yet lay thus encamped vnder TEFLIS, Daut Chan the brother of Simon, who in the beginning of these warres, at the comming of Mustapha the Turkes Generall into GEORGIA, had fled out of TEFLIS, came now with all his familie, offering himselfe as a subject and deuoted vassale to the Turkish emperour; whom Resuan entertained with great promises and large assurances C of all good successe, according to his desire.

In the meane while newes were brought to Simon, That Generall Ferat staying at the straits of TOMANIS with his armie, had sent Resuan Bassa with a farre lesse number than indeed he had, to succour TEFLIS: Vpon which report he tooke courage to encounter Resuan, and to giue him battell. Vpon which resolution without further delay being accompanied but with foure thousand Georgians, partly subjects of his owne, and partly of Manucchiars, he with all speed possible went against Resuan. But whilest Simon was going thitherwards, Generall Ferat fearing the worst, had alreadie by chance dispatched away the two Bassaes of CARAMANIA and MARAS, with ten thousand souldiors, to the end that joining themselues with the souldiors of Resuan, they should at all aduentures be so much the stronger. Now Simon going resolutely D on, found Resuan encamped with six thousand souldiors onely at the foot of an hill, on the back side whereof lay all the rest of his armie, and presently gaue a charge vpon him, when the souldiors behind the hill being aware of his approch, were readie all at once with their weapons to receiue him. Who now perceiuing his errour, repented himselfe to haue so rashly assaulted his enemies, seeing now no other remedie but to be vtterly vndone. But seeing that he had now so farre engaged himselfe, as that he could not by flight but encrease his griefe and make the issue more lamentable, with those few souldiours which he had he endured the furie of the great armie of Resuan, so that on both sides there was joyned a most cruell battell: wherein the strange and vnusuall valour of those few Christians was much to be wondered at. Yet in the end the huge number of the Turkish swords and speares so preuailed vpon that small number of the Georgians, as E that they were brought to great extremitie: yea Simon himselfe hauing his horse slaine vnder him,Simon in danger to haue been taken, escapeth by a strange chance. fell downe headlong to the ground, and in his fall was very neere to haue beene taken prisoner, as was his lieutenant and many other his followers, had he not beene relieued by an vnexpected and maruellous chance: for whiles the battell was euen at the greatest heat betweene them, Resuan discouered the two Bassaes of CARAMANIA and MARAS, who (as is before said) were newly sent by Generall Ferat to succour him, but both by the said Resuan and also by the rest of his armie were indeed thought to be Persians; whereupon they were incontinently surprised with a sudden feare, insomuch that they now became very doubtfull of the victorie, wherof they thought themselues before assured. In this suspence and doubtfulnesse of mind the battell was also intermitted, and the victorie by the sight of those their friends disturbed: whereby F the Georgians, and especially Simon, whose state was almost desperat, tooke the opportunitie to escape and saue themselues, leauing behind them most sure signes of their valour among the Turkes; of whom many remained there slaine, many wounded, and many filled with great maruell and vnexpected feare. Thus escaped poore Simon with the remainder of his followers into his knowne places of refuge, there to bewaile the death and captiuitie of his subjects. But Resuan [Page] after he had discouered the Bassaes approching towards him, to be his knowne friends and well-willers,G fretted in himselfe exceedingly, that Simon had so escaped his hands: yet holding on his way to TOMANIS, he arriued there in great triumph, drawing the standerds of Simon all along the ground, and causing many of the heads of the Georgians to be carried vpon his souldiours launces, to the great joy of Generall Ferat; to whom he deliuered all the prisoners taken in the battell, and wicked Daut Chan, who hauing in times past renounced his first faith, was become a Persian, and now againe despising the vaine superstition of the Persians, had yeelded himselfe to the vanitie of the Turkes, and made himselfe a voluntarie slaue to Amurath.

Now was the yeare so farre spent, that euery man began to feare the Winters approch, and therefore the Generall determined to remoue thence, and to withdraw himselfe into places of more safetie. And so hauing set all things in order in the new fort, he appointed Hassan to be the H Bassa of TOMANIS, and left with him eight thousand select souldiours, chosen out of all the armie for the defence of that fort, and the countrey thereabout. Deepely had Ferat layed vp the outrage committed by Mustaffa the Georgian (being now returned to his old name of Manucchiar) in taking away the kings treasure, and killing the two Capigi and the Chiaus: and therefore he resolued with himselfe not to returne to CHARS or ERZIRVM, vnlesse he had first passed into the countrey of the said Georgian, and in most cruell manner reuenged those notable injuries before receiued.A wonderfull dearth in the Turks army at Triala. In three daies he arriued at TRIALA, and there encamped. But lying there such an vnwonted dearth and scarcitie of all things rise in the armie, but especially of victuals, that euery fiue bushels and an halfe of Wheat was sold for fiue hundred duckats, to the vniuersall calamitie of the whole armie.I

From this place the Generall was minded to goe on forwards towards the countrey of Manucchiar, but whiles he was vpon the raising of his tents, one Veis Bassa of ALEPPO, came vnto him and told him, That it was not good now to spend the time in wandering about those countries, for that there were three very great enemies confederat together, to make this enterprise very difficult, and almost impossible and desperat: one was the season of the yeare, being now full of snowes, frosts, and tempests; another was, the want and scarcitie of all things necessarie, especially of victuall; the third was, the people of GEORGIA, who by a common vniting of themselues together, and peraduenture aided by the Persians, might worke some notable mischeefe against the armie. This speech of Veis so much offended the Generall, that he most sharpely rebuked him, and with bitter tearmes reproued him, telling him flatly, That he well perceiued he was K brought vp among mountaines and villages, and of a villaine (as he was) vpon some superfluitie of grace, or foolish importunitie, aduanced to the honour of a Bassa; and that therefore he should not haue presumed so much as to think it lawfull for him, so impudently and malapertly to come and giue him such aduertisements; whereas it had beene his dutie rather to haue held his peace, and to haue hearkened vnto the commaundements of his betters and superiors, yeelding himselfe obedient and deuoted with all his power to performe the same. With this rebuke the Generall passed on to ARCHELECH, burning and in a manner destroying the country before him, though indeed it was in amitie and confederacie with the Turkes. But the inhabitants of ARCHELECH vpon the comming of the Turkes had abandoned the citie, and for feare withdrawne themselues into the mountaines. In ARCHELECH Ferat encamped, & staied the space of foure daies among L the rockie crags and in a barren soyle, yeelding necessarie sustenance neither for man nor beast; so that euery man there endured vnspeakeable miseries: yet for the space of foure dayes the souldiours with patience endured this so great a calamitie. But in the end the fall of an huge snow being added to these extremities, did so greatly encrease their greefes, that all the Ianizaries and Spaoglans of CONSTANTINOPLE arose in a tumult, and comming before Ferat, in despightfull and contemptuous manner with very haughtie and resolute tearmes said vnto him: ‘The insolent speech of the mutinous souldiors against Ferat their Generall.And how long shall we endure this thy tedious and insolent gouernment? Where is the due commiseration that thou oughtest to beare towards the vassales of thy Soueraigne, thou rusticall and vnreasonable captaine? Doest thou thinke happily, that we keepe our harlots as thou doest vnder thy sumptuous M pauillions, all fat and in goodplight, with delicat viands, whilest others liue in miserie? Doest thou beleeue that we haue, as thou hast, our daintie sugars, spices, and conserues, whereby to restore vs, in the common calamitie of others? And that we haue at commaund meat and pretious wines, which thou minglest with thy cleare and pleasant waters, partly prouided for thee by the art of the cunning [Page] A doctors, and partly brought to thee from farre places? From this day forward it will be no longer endured, that so much people should continue in this famine, afflicted with nakednesse, and many other inconueniencies: and therefore get thy selfe vp, and returne toward ERZIRVM, otherwise we shall be enforced to doe that which will breed more displeasure vnto thee, than to any man aliue.’

The Generall in a great agonie presently called a counsell, wherein it was concluded, That they should all send their strong sumpter horses to ARDACHAN, and the rest to follow him into Manucchiars countrey, whither he had appointed to go, onely to make an inrode, and with the spoile and bootie of that countrey to refresh the minds of his souldiors afflicted with the miseries both past and present. This commandement of the Generals they all readily obeied, as well because B he promised them a speedie voyage, as also for that euerie man desired the sacke of ALTVNCHALA, and other the territories of Manucchiar. So Ferat holding on his journey through certaine low vallies betweene the high and craggie mountaines, continually accompanied with great famine and scarsitie, at length brought his armie to CLISCA, a place belonging to Manucchiar, but as then for feare of the Turks quite abandoned and forsaken by the inhabitants; who with their wiues and children and all the best stuffe they had, were fled into remote and safe places, vntill the furie of the enemie were ouerpassed. In the fields neere vnto this place (abounding with corne and cattell & plentie of fruit) the Generall refreshed his whole armie, and hoping that all the souldiors would like it well to stay a while in such good ease, determined with himselfe to erect a fort in that place. And with this resolution gaue commaundement to Resuan Bassa to go C vp to the tower, and in the top thereof to set vp an ensigne with a proclamation and publike report, That he would in the name of Amurath there erect a fort, and fortifie it as he had the othe [...] forts before. Resuan accompanied with Amurath the Bassa of CARAMANIA, according to the commaundement of the Generall, in the top of the tower set vp an ensigne or two: which as soone as the souldiors had espied, the forenamed Ianizaries and Spaoglans, thinking themselues too much abused by their Generall, arising againe all in an vprore, replenished with furie and indignation, ran vp in a rage to take downe the ensignes that were set vp vpon the tower, and taking them in their hands, rapt the said Resuan once or twise about the pate, discharging withall a thousand injurious and despightfull words vpon him, and sharply rebuked him. And then returning to the Generall (who was now come thither himselfe to countenance the action of Resuan) D with gestures full of despight, contempt, and disdaine, reuiling him with many shamefull and scornfull tearmes, they protested vnto him: ‘That they were not come to the warres to exercise the occupation of masons and dawbers,The mutinous souldiors again [...] threaten their Generall. and to be employed in such vile and dishonourable offices, but onely to mannage their weapons, and thereby to demerit their ordinarie wages, and to purchase to themselues glorie and renowne at the kings hands. And therefore if he loued his head, and would not see those armes turned against himselfe which hitherto had beene the reuengers of the enemies iniuries, he should resolue with himselfe to leaue these new buildings and these vnseasonable designments; and giuing place to the contrarie season of the yeare, to haue due care of their common desires and necessitie.’

E

Whiles they were yet thus expostulating the matter with him, one more bold than the rest, and more forgetfull of his duetie, did not sticke to assault the Generall, and to threaten him to wreake his furie vpon him: which in that tumult had happily beene done, had not the Bassa of CARAMANIA lent the Generall his owne horse, and so conducted him to his pauilion. Yet was he neuerthelesse still pursued by the tumultuous souldiors, and againe sharply accused for the stay that he made there, and for not resoluing presently to remoue thence: and at last after many reproachfull speeches told expressely, That if he did not the next morning remooue out of those quarters, without all faile he should loose his life for it. For all that, Ferat disdaining to yeeld to them that should of dutie haue been readie and obedient at euerie becke of his, and seeking by all F meanes (notwithstanding all this stirre) to stay there so long time as should be sufficient to build a fort, that would so much offend Manucchiar, answered them againe.

That he made no account of their threatning him with his life,

The stout answere of Ferat.

which he had alwaies offered to lay downe for any seruice of his king. But if they had no care to serue their soueraigne in this new building, [Page] they might go their waies; as for himselfe, he was resolutely minded to obey his lord in whatsoeuer G he had commaunded him, for the honour of whom, euerie one of them ought to thinke their liues verie well bestowed.

Vpon this answere there followed diuers railings and cursings against the king, against the Generall, and against them all; and in this confused tumult euerie man betooke himselfe to his weapons: in euerie corner was heard grumlings and whisperings, full of wrath and indignation: so that there was a great feare of some dangerous euent,The souldiours ouerthrow the Generals tents, and threaten to kill him. but greater was the suspition of the Generals life. And now euerie man had withdrawne himselfe to the guarding of such things as he esteemed most; when suddenly and in a trice you might haue seen the pauilions of all the Bassaes and captaines fall downe flat to the ground, all the cords therof being cut in sunder by the wrathfull H souldiors: and as it were in a moment, all the muttons and other cattell which the Generall and Bassaes led with them for their ordinarie vse, were seized vpon by the same souldiors, and guarded with all diligence possible. And so farre was it off that any man durst challenge or reuenge this their insolencie, that they themselues turning afresh vpon their Generall (being now in a maze and deadly feare) began now the third time to threaten him, That if he did not forthwith remoue from those countries, and turne his journey towards ERZIRVM, those vallies and fields should without all faile become the sepulchers of the Bassaes, and those hils retaine the eternall memorie of so bloudie a day.

With a little liberalitie might the Generall haue done with this people whatsoeuer he had listed, but being loth to gratifie them with any thing, he was enforced to performe their prowd I and arrogant demaunds, and to his great shame to obey them whom with right vsage he might haue made obedient to himselfe: and therefore to auoid their despightfull threats, to his exceeding great reproach, he was glad euen as they had commanded to remoue out of those quarters. The first day he arriued at ARDACHAN, with the great trouble of all his souldiors: for whereas the journey was wont to be two waies worke ordinarily, as well in respect of the length of the way as the difficultie of the passage, the Generall would now needs haue it done in one, the rather thereby to grieue his souldiors. But of this his wilfulnesse, he receiued euen the same day the just reward; for that the chariots wherein his women rode, were conuaied away, togither with the eunuchs that were their keepers: some say by the Georgians, that lay in wait for such a prey; some others say by the Ianizaries, who the more to dishonour their Generall wrought K him this injurie.

Great was the reproach that Ferat receiued in the armie, but farre greater at CONSTANTINOPLE, when these newes were there knowne: but there was no remedie, he must now perforce endure it,Ferat at Ardachan breaketh vp his armie. and discontented as he was, keepe on his way towards ERZIRVM. In ARDACHAN he tooke a surueigh of his armie, and there gaue his souldiors leaue to depart: himselfe afterwards arriuing at ERZIRVM, hated of all his souldiors, enuied by his captaines, derided for the losse of his women, and fallen into the disgrace of euerie man. No lesse than the rest was the Turkish emperour discontented with him also: first for that he had done nothing worth the speaking of in reuenge of the shamefull injurie done by Manucchiar the Georgian, and yet so mightily discontented his souldiors: and secondly, for that without any care he had suffered Aliculi Chan the L Persian prisoner to escape away; about whose flight it was thought he could not chuse but haue some intelligence. For Ferat, after he was by new order from the court to diuert his journey from NASSIVAN to the straits & narrow passages of GEORGIA, being desirous to be throughly enformed of those dangerous waies; in this second yeare when he remoued from ERZIRVM, tooke Aliculi Chan out of prison, of purpose to vse him as his guide in those dangerous straits, and therefore carried him vnder a guard (whatsoeuer it was afterwards) of his most faithfull vassals, still intreating him well, and taking such order as that he wanted nothing: at last being come to the straits of TOMANIS in GEORGIA, where the Castle (as we haue before said) was erected, he from thence secretly escaped into PERSIA. The manner of his escape is diuersly reported: some say that Ferat in discharge of his promise, for his good direction had gratified him with M his libertie: others say, that Ferat corrupted with money, gaue him opportunitie to escape: some others (with more probabilitie) that this escape was made, neither for money nor discharge of promise, but by the onely vigilancie of Aliculi himselfe, and the sleepinesse of his keepers; and that watching the opportunitie of the night (a friend to all escapes) he started away. Howsoeuer [Page] A it was, in fine hee was deliuered from his long captiuitie to the discredit of Ferat, and returned into PERSIA, to performe such enterprises against the Turkes▪ as shall bee hereafter declared.

Generall Ferat (before his departure out of GEORGIA) had commaunded Aly the Bassa of GRaeCIA (whom he left,The dangerous passage from Reinan to Te [...]li [...] secured vnto the Turkes. as is before declared, in the new castle of LOR [...]) to fortifie a certaine castle called SAITAN CHASI (in our language, the Castle of the Diuell) which he with great diligence performed, and left therein fiftie pieces of ar [...]illerie, and a thousand souldiors vnder the charge of a Sanzacke: and so quieted the passages from fort to fort, as that all the waies from REIVAN to CHARS, and from CHARS to TEFLIS, were made easie and safe, and all the means taken away whereby the enemie might be able to plot any new treacherie vpon those passages: B which was no small piece of good seruice.

The Persian king in the meane time lying at TAVRIS with his armie, vnderstanding that the Turkes had changed their purpose from NASSIVAN to GEORGIA, so that there was no further need to employ his armie against them for the defence of TAVRIS or NASSIVAN: at last resolued with himselfe to licence his souldiors to depart, and to apply himselfe to more priuat reuenges. For calling Emir Chan vnto him, whom he had left Gouernor of TAVRIS, and Generall for that part of his kingdome; he required of him the occasion, why he had not performed the great promises which he had made to him before his departure to HERI, nor done his endeuour to hinder the Turks Fabrik at REIVAN: and why he went not ou [...] with other souldiors appointed for that purpose, and namely with the Turcomans (as he had promised) to reuenge so great C an injurie, and in best manner he could to haue endomaged the Turkish forces? Sundrie excuses did Emir Chan alleadge for the colouring of his manifest default, but none sufficient to cleare him of the crimes objected against him by the king and the Sultans:Emir Chan hauing his eies pu [...] ou [...], dieth miserably in prison. wherefore he was by the king adjudged to haue his eies burnt out with an hoat yron; and so depriued of his sight, to be despoiled of all his goods and shut vp in close prison. Which heauie doome was without further delay accordingly put in execution: whereof within the space of a few moneths, the wicked Chan (but yet a famous souldior) miserably died in prison. Whose death so highly offended the Turcoman nation (who had him alwaies in great estimation) that they absolutely denied their defences for the crowne of PERSIA: and the more, when they heard that the king had bestowed the roume of Emir Chan vpon Aliculi; who although he had in many respects deserued all preferment, D yet for that he was an auntient enemie to certaine Turcoman captaines, they would not in any wise endure that he should be exalted to so great an honour. And therefore they waxed more disdainfull and ill affected towards the king, whereby the Persian forces became the more weakened and diuided.

The Turkes notwithstanding the league yet in force betweene Amurath and Rodolph the Christian emperour that now is, did many times make incursions into the vpper part of HVNGARIE, burning the countrey villages, and carrying away the people into captiuitie: but in their returne, they were oftentimes cut off by the emperours souldiors, and slaine. Which being reported at CONSTANTINOPLE much moued the Turkish tyrant: but when he vnderstood that his men had without any cause made those inrodes into the territorie of the Christians, and so E receiued the foresaid losses, he was againe appeased, and in the beginning of this yeare 1584, renewed the league betwixt him and the emperour for eight yeares more.

Ferat from ERZIRVM aduertised Amurath of all that had happened in his late expedition, desiring him to commaund what he would haue taken in hand the next Spring. But besides this information from him, there wanted not many others which did the like also, although in another manner: declaring vnto the king (and that in an odious sort) the whole proceedings of Ferat, the escape of Aliculi Chan, the shamefull losse of his women, his quarrels with the Ianizaries▪ his falling out with Vies Bassa, a man well regarded of Amurath himselfe, the disorders of his whole campe for his want of discretion; and to be short, the particularities of all such actions as had not altogither so honourably been by him performed that yeare: causes of themselues sufficient F to induce the king to remoue the said Ferat from his Generalship. To which occasions, were also added sundrie other secret respects: for euer since the last departure of Ferat from ERZIRVM, Amurath had still in his head, the next yeare following to attempt the enterprise of TAVRIS, and thereby to stirre vp through the world a famous report of his conquests correspondent to his greatnesse. Now among the captaines whom he esteemed to be worthie men, [Page] to whom he might with trust commit this so great an enterprise, he bethought himselfe of Osman G Bassa, left at SVMACHIA in SIRVAN by Generall Mustapha in the first yeare of this warre: who hauing in that prouince remained euer since, had without any helpe of the Tartarians, by his owne industrie and valour, to the great contentment of Amurath, brought that large countrey into a reasonable obedience of the Turkish empire: and that which most of all pleased the Turkish emperour, had in a countrey so farre distant maintained his armie, wherewith he had done all this without any expences at all to his king; hauing now a good while leuied his souldiors stipends vpon the lands and territories of that region; and still exercised a kind of gouernment and soueraigntie ouer those places. Of all which his good proceedings, he had caused intelligence from time to time to be sent vnto the court: by which meanes, and other fauourers which he had about the king, there was fostered in the mind of Amurath a wonderfull good H opinion of him; so that now without delay he resolued to send for him to CONSTANTINOPLE, and for that purpose,Amurath sendeth for Osman into Shuan. before Ferat was arriued at ERZIRVM, he had dispatched certaine Capigi and Chiaus to call this famous warriour vnto him: yet wanted there not some (and those not of the meanest sort) that went about to hinder both his comming to the court, and also these designments of so great importance. For Sciaus the chie [...]e Visier (who rather for the comelinesse of his person and alliance with the king, than for any other his vertues, was mounted to that high roome) did greatly feare least Osman, whose course it was to sit next vnto him in the order of the greatest Bassaes, partly for his experience in matters of warre, and partly for the good affection the king did beare vnto him, should at his comming to CONSTANTINOPLE persuade the king to what he listed, and so peraduenture take from him the chiefest office, and I get into his hands the whole gouernment of the empire, whereby so great wealth was to be gained. Wherefore to rid himselfe of these feares, he cast about by all meanes to keepe him from comming to the Court: but because that to attempt the same openly, might proue a matter both difficult and dangerous, he thought it better to make triall of a more commodious and secret meanes. This Sciaus in consideration of many gifts bestowed vpon him by Mahomet the Cuman Tartar king, had many times excused him to Amurath of diuers accusations which Osman by his letters had laid to his charge, For not aiding him in the subduing of SIRVAN, as he was both by promise and dutie bound: and for all his ouersights alleadged such reasons in his behalfe, as if they did not altogither persuade Amurath to be kind vnto him, yet at the least not to carrie a mind of reuenge against him: and had so far proceeded in countenancing this Tartarian K king, that there was betwixt them confirmed an interchangeable amitie and mutuall confederacie. Him Sciaus imagined to find willing and readie by all meanes possible, to hinder the comming of Osman his enemie to the Court, if he were but made acquainted with the matter. And therefore Sciaus, as soone as he vnderstood the certaine resolution of Amurath to call Osman to the Court, secretly wrote to the Tartar king, who lay encamped neere to the hauen of CAFFA vpon the Fens of MEOTIS, certifying him, That Osman was to come to the Court, and that therfore it were good for him to call to mind, how great an enemie he had been to him, and how much he had endeuoured by letters to Amurath, to turne all his hatred and displeasure against him: and withall, That if he was able to doe so much by letters, as if Sciaus had not defended him with verie reasonable excuses, the king had executed his wrathfull indignation vpon him to his L great danger; he should then imagine with himselfe, what Osman should be able to doe when he should come in person to the presence of Amurath, and without any mediator, betweene themselues determine of all matters what they should thinke conuenient. These, and peraduenture worse letters which Sciaus wrote to the Tartar, ministred matter enough vnto him to resolue to doe what he might, not to suffer so pernicious an enemie of his to arriue at CONSTANTINOPLE: and especially perceiuing that Sciaus, in whose breast he reposed all his hope and all his protection,The Tartar king sendeth twelue thousand Tartars to lie in wait for to kill Osman did so greatly feare his comming. Wherefore to rid himselfe of that feare, he commaunded twelue thousand souldiors, that changing their weapons and appparell, they should go and lie in wait for Osman in the borders betweene COLCHIS and I [...]ERIA, towards the Tartarian Nomades, by which way he was to come; and so making an assault vpon him, to bereaue M him of his life. Hoping that such an outrage once done could not, or would not be imputed to his procurement, but rather to the Tartar Nomades, or to the Mengrellians, or to the Georgians, or to the Moscouites, or to the robbers by the high way; and to be short, rather to any bodie else than to him. This commaundement of the Tartar king, was accordingly by the souldiors [Page] A put in practise: who without further stay joyned themselues together, and so rode towards the place appointed.

And now were the messengers sent from Amurath, come to Osman, who readily put himselfe on his way towards CONSTANTINOPLE, hauing left behind him at DERBENT and SVMACHIA two Bassaes, thought to be the most sufficient men in SIRVANIA: hauing also appointed very good orders in the same, and an assured establishment of all those countries and places which Mustapha first had subdued, and he himselfe had afterwards maintained vnder the obedience of Amurath. He had also prouided for the safetie of his own person, in passing those troublesome and dangerous passages through which he was to trauell, by chusing out foure thousand souldiors which he had tried in diuers battels, and brought vp vnder his own discipline; through B whose valour he doubted not safely to passe through the treacheries of the Albanians, and the populous squadrons as well of the Tartarians as of the Mengrellians.

Thus departed he from DERBENT, and coasting along the rockes of CAVCASVS (that at all times of the yeare are all white and hoarie with continuall snowes) leauing on his left hand MEDIA, IBERIA, and CHOLCHIS, and on the right hand the famous riuers of Tanais and Volga, euen at his first entrance vnto the shores of the Euxine sea,Osman assaulted by twelue thousand Tartars. he was by the abouenamed twelue thousand Tartarians, being apparrelled like theeues that lie vpon those wayes, suddenly assailed and fought withall. But like as an huge rocke lying open to tempests and waues, standing fast and vnmoueable in it selfe, resisteth the thunderings and rushings of the great and fearefull billowes: so stood Osman fast and firme, and couragiously sustained this trecherous assault, turning the bold C countenances of his resolute souldiors against the rebellious multitude of those traiterous squadrons: who as is their manner in the beginning vsed great force, but finding so stout resistance in those few, whom they had thought with their onely lookes and shoutings to haue put to flight, they began at length to quaile.Osman ouercommeth the Tartar [...] Which Osman quickly perceiuing, couragiously forced vpon them, and in a very short space and with a very small losse of his owne, put those Tartarians to flight, killing a number of them, and also taking many of them prisoners: by whom Osman was afterwards informed (as the truth was) that their king for feare that he had conceiued, least when he came to CONSTANTINOPLE he would procure his destruction from Amurath, had sent this armie to seeke his death. Of which treason Osman caused a perfect processe to be made, together with the depositions of the Tartarian prisoners, which he sent the shortest way he could deuise D to Amurath at CONSTANTINOPLE; with letters declaring all that had passed, enflaming him to reuenge so grieuous an injurie and so wicked a practise. Amurath receiuing these aduertisements from Osman, according to the necessitie of the matter tooke order that Vluzales his Admirall with certaine gallies well appointed, should passe ouer to CAFFA to fetch Osman; and withall to carrie with him Islan, a brother of the Tartar kings, commaunding Osman by letters, that he should (to the terrour of others) put to death the treacherous king, and place his brother in his roume.

This Tartar king was one of those mightie princes, who basely yeelding to the Othoman power, led vnder them a most vile and troublesome life, as their tributaries and vassals, alwayes at commaund: whose yonger brother Islan (presuming of the sufficiencie of himselfe and the fauour E of the people) going to CONSTANTINOPLE, became a suter vnto the Turkish emperor, to haue his eldest brother thrust out of his kingdome, as a man for his euill gouernment hated of his subjects, and to be placed himselfe in his roume. Which his sute was so crossed by the embassadours of the king his brother, who spared for no cost in the behalfe of their master, that the ambitious youth was sent from the Turks Court to ICONIVM, and there clapt fast vp in prison: where apparrelled like an Eremit, he led his life altogether conformable to his miserie, with such a kind of externall innocencie, as if he had beene void of all hope or ambitious desire of a kingdome, but rather like a forlorne and vnhappie wretch with vaine affliction and impious deuotion to prepare himselfe to a laudable and honourable death. But whilest he thus liued, sequestred from all worldly cogitations, vpon the discouerie of the king his brothers rebellion he was in F more than post hast sent for to CONSTANTINOPLE, and put into the gallies bound for CAFFA, with letters to Osman of the tenor aforesaid.Osman strangleth Mahomet the Tartar king, with his two son [...], and placeth Islan his brother in his s [...]ead. Now in the meane time Osman had by cunning meanes got into his hands this Tartar king, being as is reported betrayed by his owne counsellours, corrupted with the Turkes gold: whom with his two sonnes Osman vpon the receit of the aforesaid letters from Amurath, caused to be presently strangled with a bowstring, and Islan his [Page] younger brother to be saluted king in his place, yet as vassale to Amurath. This shamefull death,G the vsuall reward of the Turkish friendship, was thought justly to haue happened vnto this Tartar king, for that he not long before, supported by Amurath, had most vnnaturally deposed his aged father from that kingdome, just vengeance now prosecuting his so great disloyaltie.

Osman embarking himselfe in the forenamed gallies at the port of CAFFA, passing ouer the Euxine sea, and entering into the Thracian Bosphorus, arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE, where he was receiued with great pompe and singular significations of good loue. But with most euident and expresse kinds of joy was he saluted by Amurath himselfe, when by his owne speech and presence he declared vnto him euery particularitie of the matters that had happened in his long and important voiage, and in liuely manner represented vnto him the perils and trauels that he had passed, and the conquests that he had made in SIRVAN. After all which discourses Amurath H who longed after nothing more than to see the Persian king somewhat brideled, and the famous citie of TAVRIS brought vnder his own subjection,Amurath demaundeth Osmans opinion concerning the enterprise of Tauris. began to enter into conference with Osman about that enterprise, and in the end would needs throughly know of him, what issue he could promise him of this his desire▪ and in what sort by his aduice and counsell the forces should be employed, and the armies disposed for the subduing of that citie, which ouerall the nations of the world was so famous and so great an honour to the Persian kingdome. To all which demaunds his answere and resolution was,Osmans resolution. That for so much as the matters of GEORGIA were now well setled, the trecherous passages by the new built forts assured, and the prouince of SIRVAN vnder his obedience established, there was now no cause why he should any longer foreslow so famous an enterprise, but by the conquest of TAVRIS, & erecting of a fort in that proud I citie, to bring a terrour vpon all PERSIA, and to raise a glorious renowne of so mightie a conquest among the nations of EVROPE: for the accomplishment whereof he thought that either the same armie, or at the most a very little greater would suffice, so that it were raised of the best and choisest souldiors.

By reason of one of the letters which Sciaus Bassa had written to the late Tartar king, and by the instigation of the young Sultan Mahomets mother (jealous of the neere alliance of the great Bassa with her husband, as prejudiciall and dangerous to her sonne) Amurath had in the open Diuano depriued the said Sciaus from the office of the cheefe Visier, and hardly pardoning him his life, at the intercession of his wife, being his sister, had banished him the Court, so that he liued afterwards about CALCEDON, vpon the borders of ASIA, not far from CONSTANTINOPLE,K in a close pallace he had there built for his owne pleasure:Osman Bassa made cheefe Visier and Generall of the armie. in whose roume he appointed Osman to be cheefe Visier; and to honour him the more, nominated him the Generall of his armie against the Persians. Such power hath vertue, that euen from the very scum of the rascall sort, and out of the rusticall rout of mountaine peasants (which notwithstanding cannot be truly justified of this Osman, his father being Beglerbeg of DAMASCO, and his mother the daughter of the Beglerbeg of BABILON) it doth oftentimes in the course of this variable world draw diuers men into princes Courts, and aduance them to the highest dignities. Truth it is, that from a priuat souldiour, though well borne, he by sundrie degrees grew vp to the highest honours of that so great an empire, and was at one instant created the cheefe Counsellor and Generall of the Othoman forces. Great was the joy that Osman conceiued hereat, and great was the desire hee had to L make himselfe worthie of so honourable fauours; and the greater confidence he perceiued that Amurath had reposed in him, the more eagerly was hee spurred on to doe any thing possible whereby he might shew himselfe to haue deserued the same. And therefore aduising with himselfe, that for as much as the greatnesse of the enterprise required a greater armie than was leuied in former yeares, so it was necessarie also for him the sooner to send out his aduertisements into all his subject prouinces, and by his owne example to stirre vp the other captaines and souldiours euen in the Winter (though it were as yet somewhat troublesome) to passe ouer to SCVTARI, and from thence to ANGORI, to AMASIA, to SIVAS, and there in those territories to driue out the time, vntill his soldiors which were summoned were all gathered together. And because vpon this his great speed it might peraduenture fall out, that the enemie misdoubting his purpose M for TAVRIS, might prouide a greater armie than they would otherwise, he caused it to be giuen out, That he must goe for NASSIVAN; to the end, that the Persians so beguiled, should not regard the gathering of so mightie an armie as they would haue done if they should haue heard of the Turkes comming to TAVRIS: and so the generall cousening rumor flew, not only [Page] A through all the cities subject to the Turkes, but into the countries of the Persian also: who notwithstanding being very jealous of the citie of TAVRIS, and fearing that the matter would fall out, as indeed afterwards it did, ceased not to make most curious and diligent enquirie about it▪ And although the disgrace offered to his embassadour at CONSTANTINOPLE, dissuaded him from sending any other for treatie of peace: yet to spie out the secrets of the Turkes, and to vnderstand the certainetie of their purpose for NASSIVAN or TAVRIS, he sent diuers messengers to Osman, as if he had meant to feele his mind touching a peace, but in very deed for nothing els but to sound his designements: which for all that he could not with all the cunning he could vse, possibly discouer, but still remained doubtfull as at the first, the fame still running for NASSIVAN.

B In the beginning of this yeare, now growing towards an end, Amurath sent one Mustapha, one of the meanest of his Chiaus, vnto Stephen king of POLONIA, to excuse the death of Podolouius (so shamefully murthered as is before declared) as if the same had happened by the insolencie of certaine souldiors, and not by his commaundement: who the better to colour the matter, had brought with him two base fellowes, as authors of that outrage, for the king to take reuenge vpon; but were indeed no such men as they were pretended to be, but rather (as it was thought) men before condemned for some other fact worthie of death, and now sent thither to serue this purpose: for whom the Chiaus (in proud and threatening manner in the name of his master) required to haue present restitution made of all such goods as the Polonian Cossackes had not long before taken from the Turks, and the captaine of the said Cossackes to be deliuered C also vnto him, to be carried to Amurath: and so hardly vrged the matter, that (notwithstanding the vnworthie death of Podolouius and his followers, and the taking away of his horses) all the goods taken by the Cossackes, were forthwith restored: which the Chiaus almost in triumphant manner presented vnto Amurath at CONSTANTINOPLE.

This Summer also Amurath disporting himselfe with his Muts, was almost dead. These Muts are lustie strong fellowes, depriued of their speech; who neuerthelesse by certain signes can both aptly expresse their owne conceits, and vnderstand the meaning of others: these men for their secrecie are the cruell ministers of the Turkish tyrants most horrible commaunds, and therefore of them had in great regard. With these Muts mounted vpon faire and fat but heauie and vnreadie horses; was Amurath, vpon a light and readie horse, sporting himselfe (as the manner of D the Turkish emperours is) riding sometime about one, sometime about another, and striking now the horse now the man at his pleasure; when suddenly he was taken with a fit of the falling sicknesse, his old disease, and so falling from his horse, was taken vp for dead: insomuch, that the Ianizaries supposing him to haue beene indeed dead, after their wonted manner fell to the spoyling of the Christians and Iewes, and were proceeding to further outrages, had not their Aga or captaine to restraine their insolencie, to the terror of the rest hanged vp one of them taken in the manner,Io. Leunel. sup. Annal. Turcicorum, pag. 91. and certaine others in the habit of Ianizaries. Neuerthelesse, Amurath shortly after recouered againe, and to appease that rumour of his death (openly vpon their Sabboth, which is the friday) rid from his pallace to the temple of Sophia; where I with many others saw him (saith Leunclauius) his countenance yet all pale and discoloured.

E This yeare also happened such a chance as had like to haue raised new warres betwixt the Turks and the Venetians:A most barbarous outrage comitted by Petrus Emus a Venetian. which for as much as it is worth the reporting, I thought it not good in silence to passe ouer. The widow of Ramadan Bassa, late Gouernour of TRIPOLIS in BARBARIE, with her sonne, her familie, and a great number of slaues of both sorts, being about to depart from TRIPOLIS to CONSTANTINOPLE, had rigged vp a faire gallie for the transporting of her selfe and her substance, reported to be worth eight hundred thousand duckats: vnto which gallie for her more safetie she had joyned two others, as consorts. Thus embarked, she came to the mouth of the Adriaticke, where sayling by CORFV, she was by force of tempest driuen into the gulfe of the Adriaticke. At which time one Petrus Emus, one of the Venetian Senatours, with certaine gallies had the charge for the keeping of that sea agaist pyrats and all other enemies F whosoeuer. He hearing of the Turkes comming into the gulfe, without delay set vpon them, and being too strong for them, tooke them all: and hauing them now in his power, exercised most barbarous crueltie, as well vpon the women as the men: for hauing slaine the men, in number two hundred and fiftie, and the sonne of Ramadan in his mothers lap, he caused the women, being before rauished, to haue their breasts cut off, and afterwards to be cast ouerbourd [Page] into the sea, being in number about fortie. The brother of Emus chancing vpon a beautifull virgine,G was by her most earnestly entreated to haue spared her honour; and the rather for that (as she said) she was a Christian, taken prisoner about twelue yeares before in CYPRVS, since which time she had liued in most miserable captiuitie among the Turks, and being now fallen by good hap into the hands of a noble Venetian, was in good hope to be set at libertie inuiolated: which she most humbly besought him for the loue of God to doe, and not to embrue his hands with her guiltlesse bloud, or to dishonour himselfe by forcing of her. But all she could say preuailed nothing with the cruell and vnbrideled youth, who after he had at his pleasure abused her, cast her with the rest into the sea.The villanie discouered. It is thought that Emus suffered this so great an outrage (and so farre vnbeseeming the honor of the Venetians) to be done, to the intent that none should be left aliue to bewray the greatnesse of the bootie, or of the villanie there committed: which was neuerthelesse H (God so appointing it) reuealed by one of the Turkes, who saued by a surgion of CRETE, which knew him, and afterwards comming to CONSTANTINOPLE, openly declared the same. With the odious report whereof the Turkes were so enraged, that in euery corner of the citie a man might haue heard them threatening vnto the Venetians most cruell reuenge: yea they had much adoe to hold their hands from the Bailo or Gouernour of the Venetian marchants in CONSTANTINOPLE, and to forbeare to spit in his face, as he went in the streets. At that time was one Io. Franciscus Maurocenus (or as they commonly called him, Moresin) Bailo at CONSTANTINOPLE: who vnderstanding that Amurath in his rage was about to send one of the great gentlemen of his Court, whom the Turkes call Zausij (the great Turkes vsuall embassadours) to VENICE about that matter, found meanes to haue him stayed at CONSTANTINOPLE,I and another of lesse authoritie sent to expostulat the matter with the Senat, and in the name of Amurath to require to haue the offendour punished,Amurath sende [...]h a messenger to Venice, to [...]xpostulat the ini [...]ie done vnto his sub [...]ct [...]. and the gallies with the slaues and goods restored: so should the league betwixt him and them continue firme, whereas otherwise he should be constrained by force of armes to reuenge the wrongs done to his subjects. This message being by the said messenger deliuered at VENICE, the Senatours after diligent examination of the matter, returned this answere: That the widdow of Ramadan with her familie comming to ZACYNTHVS, an island of theirs, was there honourably entertained, and presented with certaine courteous presents; but departing thence, and comming to CEPHALENIA, another of their islands, her people running on land, contrarie to the conditions of the league, made spoyle of whatsoeuer they could light vpon, sparing neither man nor beast: Of which their insolencie K their Proueditor vnderstanding, and making after them, found them in armes within the gulfe; and comming neere vnto them, was neither by them saluted, as the manner at sea is, neither was any top saile strucke, in token that the commaund of that sea belonged vnto the Venetians, all which they ought by the league to haue done: for which their outrages and proud contempt their Proueditor had taken so sharpe a reuenge: neuerthelesse, they promised in that case to doe what beseemed them in reason and justice to doe, for the satisfying of his desire. With which so reasonable an answere Amurath seemed to be well contented, but being indeed loth to entangle himselfe with warres against that mightie State at sea, his warres against the Persians being not yet finished:Petrus Emus beheaded. yet shortly after Emus was for his dishonourable and cruell dealing with the ladie and her familie worthily condemned and beheaded, and the gallies with all the goods and slaues L restored. This great woman had in those gallies foure hundred Christian slaues, all which vpon the taking of the gallies were (as the manner is) set at libertie,Io. Leunel. sup. Ann [...]l. Turcicorum, pag. 92. for whom the Venetians made restitution of as many others of the Turks.

Ramadan Bassa, the husband of the aforesaid great ladie, was Gouernour of TRIPOLIS in BARBARIE and of the countrey thereabouts: who hauing warres with one of the barbarous kings of the Moores, went out against him with all his forces, wherein were certaine companies of Ianizaries, sent by Amurath from CONSTANTINOPLE. Now in this countrey, as in many other places of AFFRICKE, are great and de [...]art sands, ouer which whosoeuer is to passe, must prouide himselfe both of victuals and skilfull guides, without which they are not without danger to be passed: Ramadan with his armie vnprouided both of the one and the other, hauing entered M these deserts, was at length brought to that case, that he could neither goe forward, neither without losse of his men returne.Ramadan Bassa slai [...]e by th [...] ins [...]le [...] Ianizaries Yet at length he retired, and got home, but not without the losse of some of his people, and the manifest danger of his whole armie: for which his improuidence the Ianizaries fell into such a rage, that not respecting the honour of the man, or regarding the [Page] A displeasure of their soueraigne, they fell vpon him and slew him. At which their insolencie, if Amurath did winke and passe it ouer vnpunished, let no man maruell: for why, the auntient obedience of those martiall men is not now as it was in former times, when they were with a more seuere discipline gouerned; but now growne proud and insolent (as the manner of men is, liuing in continuall pay) with weapons in their hands doubt not to do whatsoeuer seemeth vnto themselues best, be it neuer so foule or vnreasonable. Which although it be in many places of this Historie to be seene; yet for the more manifestation thereof I thought it not amisse here briefly to set downe an example or two of their notorious insolencie.

Not many yeares before,Achmetes Bassa Gouernou [...] of Ciprus slaine by the Ianizaries. the Ianizaries in CYPRVS with like insolencie slew Achmetes Bassa Gouernor of that island: pretending for the colour of so foule a fact, That he had defrauded them B of their pay, and oppressed them of the countrey with intollerable exactions. Amurath highly offended with this their disloialtie in killing their Generall, whom they had neuer before complained of; thought it much to concerne the majestie of himselfe, and the repressing of the like insolencie in others, not to suffer it to go vnpunished: and for that purpose sent another new Gouernour into CYPRVS, with ten gallies furnished as well with other necessarie prouision, as with such a conuenient number of souldiors as might suffice to chastice the insolencie of the chiefe offendours. This new Gouernour arriued in CYPRVS, dissembling the secret commandement he had for the executing of the transgressours, by certaine trustie men gaue it out among the Ianizaries, That Amurath was so farre from being angrie with the death of Achmetes, as that he thought him worthily slaine by the Ianizaries for defrauding them of their wages, and oppressing C of his other subjects: which report the new Gouernour had of purpose giuen out, to put them in securitie, and without farther trouble to bring them into his danger. Hereupon the Ianizaries cheerfully and with all due reuerence receiued their new Gouernor: but shortly after to be sure,Another insolencie of the Ianizaries. they by an vnexpected guile when as nothing was lesse feared, compassed in all the new come souldiors, and slew them euerie mothers sonne; and not so contented, seized also vpon the gallies that brought them. Which second outrage, though Amurath tooke in euill part as seeing his majestie therein contemned, yet was he content to passe it ouer, being loth to adde domesticall troubles to the great wars he had in hand with the Persian.

But to end this matter with the opinion of one of their own greatest Bassaes concerning these maisterfull men:Busbequius legationis Turcicae, epist. 3. It fortuned, that whilest Busbequius embassadour for Ferdinand the emperour D vnto Solyman, lay in the Turkes campe (at such time as Solyman in person himselfe was gone ouer the strait into ASIA, to countenance his eldest sonne Selymus against his younger brother Baiazet) that vpon a light quarrell (though heauily taken) betweene the followers of the said embassadour, and certaine Ianizaries washing themselues at the sea side; the embassadour for the quieting thereof, was glad to vse the helpe of Rustan the great Bassa, Solyman his sonne in law; who vnderstanding the matter (by a messenger sent of purpose) aduised the embassadour to cut off all occasion of contention with those most naughtie fellowes: asking him farther, if he knew not that it was now the time of warre, in which time they so raigned, as that Solyman himselfe was not able to rule them, but stood in feare of them. Which speech fell not rashly from Rustan, a man right well acquainted with his lord & masters griefe: for that most notable prince feared nothing E more, than least some secret & dangerous treason should lie hidden among the Ianizaries, which breaking out vpon the sudden, might worke his finall destruction; whereof hee needed not to seeke for any farther example, than to his grandfather Baiazet. For, as true it is, That great are the commodities of a perpetuall armie of a princes owne; so are the incommodities also not small, if they be not carefully met withall: but especially for that the prince is euer in doubt of rebellion; and that it is still in the power of those armed souldiors, at their pleasure to translate the kingdome to whom they list. Whereof there haue been many great examples, although there are many waies for the remedying of the same.

But now that we haue by occasion of the occurrents of that time a little stept out of the way, let vs returne againe vnto the wars of PERSIA,1585 the chiefe object of Amuraths hautie desires. F Now according to the commandements gone out through all the cities of the empire, the souldiors of all sorts began to flock togither: and all those that were either desirous to be established in their former charges and gouernments, or ambitiously sought to be now promoted, repaired to Osman as vnto a king, and the soueraigne moderator of the Turkish empire, presenting him verie large and liberall gifts, whereby he gathered togither a huge heape of infinit treasure: and [Page] so entertaining them with all affable courtesie, and promising both rewards and honours to such G as would follow him in his purposed expedition, he leuied a wonderfull great number, both of men and monies. And now was the time come that called him away to go towards ERZIRVM, where he was greatly expected of his huge armie there assembled togither. And notwithstanding the great dearth of victuall that commonly raigneth in those quarters, yet thither he must, where he arriued about the latter end of the moneth of Iuly in the yeare 1585: and there taking a view of his whole armie, and of all the prouision necessarie for so important and famous an enterprice, he daily laboured to hasten his departure▪ In this citie of ERZIRVM were met togither all the souldiors of the prouinces that were wont to send helpe, but yet in a greater number than euer was gathered by any Generall before: for that euerie man forsooke his owne priuat businesse, and vpon assured hopes of new rewards and vnwonted honours, were all induced to H follow the fame of this their new Visier and Generall▪ onely the people of AEGYPT and DAMASCO were busied with other more priuat quarrels at home, whereof because they were both of great importance, and also fell out at this verie instant (leauing Osman with his armie for a while at ERZIRVM) I will in as few words as I may make a briefe rehearsall.

Hassan Bassa the queenes Eunuch sent to Caire to gouerne there. Amurath had heretofore taken Hassan Bassa the Eunuch out of the Serraglio, from the charge he had there to serue in the queens Court, and at her instance sent him as Bassa to CAIRE the great citie of AEGYPT. Which great office, beside the honour belonging vnto it, is also beneficiall to them whose good hap it is to be aduanced thereunto: the riches the multitude of people inhabiting therein being so great, that it seemeth not to be one citie, but rather to containe within the large circuit thereof many cities. This man being exceeding couetous, and therefore I desirous to handle the matter in such sort as that he should little need to seeke for any more such grants at the kings hands, sought by all manner of meanes to oppresse the whole nation, and by all importunities to wring and extort from them rewards and bribes, without regard of honestie or reason. By which his sinister and corrupt dealing, he had now made himselfe so odious and intollerable to the people in generall, that they in great number, and many times, began to go to CONSTANTINOPLE, and with humble petitions to request the king to take from them such a cruell and vnjust Gouernour; so that generally in the Court there was no talke but of the villanies and mischiefes that were reported of the couetous Eunuch. At last Amurath seeing that these publike exclamations went daily so farre, as that he could not for shame let them go any further without due punishment, he resolued with himselfe to call him to the Court; and hauing K sent vnto him certaine messengers, admonished him sundrie times to returne home. But the Eunuch loth to leaue so fit an occasion to enrich himselfe, did still delay his returne, alleadging diuers faigned excuses for his longer stay. Which thing when Amurath vnderstood, thinking himselfe thereby deluded, he determined to prouide for so great a disorder, and by punishing of the mischieuous Eunuch, to satisfie in some part the discontented minds of his oppressed subjects in CAIRE.

Ebrain Bassa in speech to marrie Amuraths daughter.There sat at that time among the chiefe Bassaes of the Court one Ebrain (or as most call him Ibrahim) by nation a Sclauonian, a young man of the age of two and thirtie years or therabouts, of verie faire conditions, and of a reasonable judgement: vpon whom Amurath himselfe had determined to bestow his owne daughter to wife, and so to make him his sonne in law. And L therefore being now minded to remoue the Eunuch from his office, and to satisfie the citie; and being also willing withall to giue meanes to his said sonne in law to enrich himselfe: he resolued to send him as generall Syndic, and soueraigne judge into AEGYPT, giuing him in particular charge, to remember how wickedly his predecessour had dealt before him. And so this new Bassa tooke his journey towards AEGYPT, although there ran before him a great rumour of his comming, and of the great authoritie wherewith he was sent. At which report, as the Aegyptians rested content and joyfull, so the Eunuch waxed verie sad and sorrowfull: persuading himselfe, that this alteration could not but engender some strange issue and effect against him. Whereupon aduising himselfe, to prouide better for his owne affaires and the safetie of his life, he resolued not to stay the comming of the new Gouernour: but departing out of AEGYPT, with M great care and circumspection for feare of meeting with Ebrain, he trauelled towards CONSTANTINOPLE in hope to appease the kings wrath, or at least by mediation of bribes, and by the intercession of the queene to find him more fauourable than he should find Ebrain; who without doubt would not haue spared any extremitie or crueltie, to haue bereft him both of his [Page] A goods and life togither. Amurath aduertised from Ebrain of the sudden flight of the Eunuch Bassa out of AEGYPT, and hearing withall that he kept not the high way from CAIRE to CONSTANTINOPLE, began to feare least when he came into SORIA he should flie into PERSIA to the king, and so worke him double and treble domage; as one that had alreadie gathered a huge treasure, and hauing long liued in the Court, knew the most secret affaires thereof, and had learned all the priuie deuises and fashions of the Serraglio. Whereupon he with all diligence dispatched his Imbrahur Bassi (whom we may call Master of his horse) with fortie of his Capigi (all gentlemen Vshers, and officers of most secret & neerest roomes about him) with charge and commaundement, that if they met him they should bring him to the Court; vsing all the aid and assistance of his people that might be requisit: and for that purpose deliuered vnto him B verie effectuall and large letters, after the best manner of the Court. This messenger with his appointed traine departed, and without any extraordinarie enquirie found the Eunuch in SORIA, encamped in the plaines neere vnto the citie now called AMAN,The warinesse of the craftie Eunuch. but in times past APAMEA; the principall citie of that countrey. As soone as the Eunuch vnderstood of the comming of the Imbrahur himselfe, he gaue order to his guard of slaues, which in great number with speares and arcubuses did ordinarily keepe his pauilion, that they should not grant entrance into his ten [...] to any, but onely vnto the Imbrahur himselfe, and if need were, by force to keepe the rest of the Capigi from comming in. Which order was in verie good time giuen; for as soone as the kings officer had discouered the tents of the fugitiue Bassa, in all hast he ran towards the same, and seeking out the greatest among them, went presently thither to haue entred with all his followers: C but the slaues being in armour opposed themselues against them, and permitting onely the Imbrahur to enter in, entertained the rest of his traine without. The Imbrahur being come in, read vnto him the commaundement which he had from the king to bring him to the Court, and most instantly moued him, that without any further resistance he would quietly go with him. To whom the warie Eunuch answered: Behold, how without any calling of the king, or conducting by you, I come of my selfe, well assured to find not onely pardon and pitie, but also fauour and grace in the sight of my lord; whose vpright and mild nature, the wicked treacheries of my false accusers cannot abuse, to the preiudice of me an innocent. And so without more adoe they went all to CONSTANTINOPLE: the Eunuch yet still standing vpon his guard.

The polliticke and craftie Eunuch had in this meane time dispatched diuers postes with letters D to the Sultan ladies, certifying them of his comming, and principally beseeching the queene to protect him,The Eunuch cast in prison a [...] Constantinople, and his euill gotten goods confiscated. and to appease the kings wrathfull indignation, that happily he might haue conceiued against him; and so at length they arriued at SCVTARI. As soone as Amurath vnderstood of his comming thither, he caused all the treasure which he had gathered to be taken from him, with all the rest of his priuat substance, and the wretch himselfe to be clapt vp in prison in the Iadicula or seauen towers. Where after he had languished many daies, still fearing some deadly blow, he at length receiued from the queene, an vnexpected, but most welcome aduertisement, That he should be of good cheere and quiet himselfe, for that his wealth had alreadie saued his life, and that she hoped in short time to procure him also his libertie: Which in deed she brought to passe; for she her selfe made earnest petition to Amurath her husband, that for as much as he E had bereft her Eunuch of all his goods, he would yet at least deliuer him out of prison, and restore him vnto her againe. Which request of the queenes was granted accordingly, and the Eunuch enlarged: but the treasure that he had so vnjustly scraped togither in AEGYPT, that remained still among the gold and other jewels of the kings.

But Ebrain Bassa with his new commission now arriued in AEGYPT, had in short space by far more sinister deuises than had the Eunuch before him, scrapt togither such an infinit heape of riches, as was able onely of it selfe to make him worthie of his promised wife, and therefore he was called home to the Court to accomplish the intended marriage. With this commaundement to return to CONSTANTINOPLE, he receiued also in charge, to make his journey through the people of DRVSIA; and such as he should find loyall, to confirme them in their due obedience, F and to make them pay their antient duties; but such as he should find stubborne and disobedient, he should quite root them out and destroy them. This commaundement Ebrain presently put in execution, and hauing packt vp togither all the riches he had gathered in the time of his gouernment, and raised good store of souldiors in that prouince, he tooke with him thirteene Sanzackes, that were ordinarily accustomed to sit as assistants vnder the gouernment of the Bassa [Page] in the ruling of the populous territories of CAIRE: and so set forwards towards GAZA,G passing ouer those vast and huge wildernesses of sand that lie betweene CAIRE and GAZA. From GAZA, joyning the Sanzacke thereof with him, he went to IERVSALEM: & from thence causing the Sanzacke there also to follow his traine, he turned by SAFFETTO, by LEZIVM, by NAPLOS (called in times past SAMARIA) still taking with him the Sanzackes of all those places, and at last turned himselfe towards DAMASCO: so that before he joyned with the band of DAMASCO, he had gotten together eighteene Sanzackes, with all their squadrons of souldiours and slaues. Besides these, hee had also his owne priuat Court, which was wonderfull populous, and two hundred Ianizaries of CONSTANTINOPLE, whom Amurath would needs haue him to take with him at his departure from the Court, so that he had in his armie almost twelue thousand horsemen. From DAMASCO, Vies the Bassa was come as farre as IERVSALEM to meet H him, with all the souldiors vnder his gouernment, in number about two thousand persons. Besides that, there came vnto him by the way of SIDON the Aga of the Ianizaries of CYPRVS, with all the band of that desolat and destroyed island: which captaine with his souldiors was transported ouer into the maine in those gallies that by the kings appointment were sent to fetch E [...]rain: who now strengthened with all these souldiors, had purposed the vtter ruine of the disobedient Drusians, and the raising of his owne glorie, by triumphing ouer them.

The Drusian people what they are.These Drusians, against whom these great preparations were now made by this new captaine, and of whom the Turkish emperour is so suspitious and doubtfull, are supposed to be by descent, Frenchmen, the reliques of those that with great deuotion did in times past fight those memorable and Christian battels in IVRIE, and recouered the holy citie: but being afterwards I brought low, partly by the plague, and partly by the furie of the Barbarians, mingled their seed with the circumcised nation, and so together with their authoritie and commaund lost also their first faith and religion: yet so, that they grew into an hatred of the Turkish superstition, and abhorring the circumcision of the Iewes, betooke themselues to a new prophet of their owne called Isman, whose doctrine they follow. The right Drusians liue vncircumcised, neither doe they forbeare wine as doe the Turks: they make it lawfull among them (most vnlawfully) to marrie with their owne daughters: the Turkish gouernment they haue sought by all meanes to eschue, and notwithstanding all the endeuours and attempts of the Turkish tyrants, but especially of Selymus the second, yet haue they alwayes beene subject to their owne naturall princes, and would neuer admit any captaine or gouernour of the Turks within the countries which they possessed.K They are a people very warlike, stout, resolute, and religious obseruers of their owne superstition: in battell they vse the arcubuse and scimitar, yet some of them at this day do serue with launces and darts: they are apparrelled after the manner of the Easterne people, with a turbant on their heads, and breeches they neuer weare, but in stead thereof they couer those parts with their coat, which reacheth downe to their knees, buttoning it vp before. Their feeding is grosse, and of mountaine meats.The countrey which the Drusians inhabit. They inhabit all the countrey that is enuironned within the confines of IOPPA, aboue CaeSAREA and PALESTINA, and within the riuers of Orontes and Iordan, stretching it selfe euen to the plaine of DAMASCO, neere to the hils that compasse it about vpon the coast of mount Libanus.Fiue chiefe rulers or gouernors among the Drusians. They were all in times past good friends and confederats, so that they were greatly esteemed: but now being at variance, through greedinesse and couetousnesse, they L were deuided among themselues, one seeking the destruction of another. At this time they were gouerned by fiue chiefe captaines or gouernours: one of them was called Ebne-man, and of the Turkes Man-Ogli; another Serafadin; the third Mahamet Ebne-mansur; the fourth Ebne-frec; and the fift Ali-Ebne-Carfus, by the Turkes called Ali-Carfus-Ogli. Vnder these, who indeed carrie the title and authoritie of an Emir (that is to say, King or Chiefe) there are diuers their lieutenants or deputies, whom they call their Macademi or agents. Ebne-man or Man-Ogli inhabited the mountaines and fields that are contained vnder the jurisdictions of CaeSAREA, of PTOLEMAIDA, of TIRVS, and of SIDON, and had his residence for most part vpon the hill, in a towne called ANDERA: he was very mightie in men and armour, and since the time that by treacherie his father was murthered by Mustapha then Bassa of DAMASCO, alwayes a deadly enemie to the M name of the Turkes. Ebne-frec, Ebne-carfus, and Ebne-mansur, were alwayes great friends, but now especially at the comming of Ebrain Bassa they shewed themselues more straightly confederated together. Serafadin and Man-Ogli were euer opposit against them: so that the one side procuring the ouerthrow of the other, they lost their strength, and left no means to defend themselues [Page] A against the Turkes, who had long lien in wait for their libertie. Now as soone as the news came among them, That Ebrain being departed from CAIRE, was comming into SORIA to subdue them; the three confederates aboue named resolued among themselues to goe and meet this great Bassa, and to submit themselues vnto him, of purpose to turne all the intended mischiefe vpon Serafadin and Man-Ogli their enemies. And so hauing packed vp great store of money, cloth of silke, cloth of woollen, and cloth of gold, with many loades of silkes, and other things of exceeding value, euery of the three being accompanied one with some two thousand, another with some three thousand men, they put themselues vpon their journey towards Ebrain, and met him at IERVSALEM, where he was alreadie arriued. This their comming Ebrain tooke in wonderfull good part,Three of the Drusian lords meet Ebrain a [...] Ierusalem with rich presents and a great [...] of men. and courteously accepted those their rich and great presents which they B brought him; and by the offers of their fidelitie, and the grieuous accusations they made against the other two Drusian lords their enemies, began to conceiue great hope of his entended enterprise: for why, he saw that nothing could more easily compasse their ouerthrow than this their discord. Being thus accompanied, he came by the way of DAMASCO to the champaigne of BOCCA, and there encamped. This was in the moneth of Iuly this yeare 1585. The whole army that was with Ebrain, reckoning also the souldiors of the three Drusian lords, was about the number of twentie thousand horsemen strong. In this place there came people out of all quarters thereabouts with presents to honour the Bassa, to whom he likewise yeelded such small fauours as his couetous nature could affourd them.

From this place also Ebrain presently sent letters to Serafadin and Ebneman, whereby he enuited C them to come vnto him, to acknowledge their obedience vnto the Sultan: for that otherwise they might assure themselues to be in short time depriued both of their estates and liues. For all that, Man-Ogli would not by any meanes come in. But Serafadin being poore both in wealth and forces, resolued to come, in hope by rich presents to purchase his attonement with the great Bassa.Serafadin co [...] meth with presents to Ebrain. And therefore hauing packed vp together diuers loades of silkes, great store of money, and many clothes of good value and beautie, and also attended vpon with diuers of his subjects, he arriued at last at the pauillion of Ebrain with these his rich presents; which were there readily receiued, and he himselfe with great attention heard: whose speech in effect tended to no other end, but onely to persuade the Bassa, That he had alwayes beene a deuoted vassale vnto Amurath, and that he had carried a continuall desire to be employed in any his seruice: and that now D being led by the same affection, and assured of his fauour, by the friendly and courteous offers made him in his letters, he was come to shew himselfe vnto him to be the same man, and so profered him whatsoeuer lay in his slender power to performe. Wherunto Ebrain made no answer at all, but onely asked him the cause why he liued continually in discord and brawles with the three Emirs (who also sat at that time in the same pauillion.) Whereunto Serafadin answered, That it was not long of him, who as one desirous of peace, had not at any time taken vp armes but in the just defence of himselfe, against the injuries of those his enemies; who because they were more mightie than he, sought continually to oppresse him. Hereat the three conspirators arose, and with their grim lookes bewraying their inward hatred, falsely charged him to haue beene euer the author of those brawles: adding moreouer, That his insolencie was at that time E growne so great, as that no strange vessell durst for feare of him arriue at the ports of SIDON, TIRVS, or BERITO, nor any marchant or marchandise passe ouer the plaines: but that those countries, as though they were a prey and spoyle to the theeues of ARABIA, were generally shunned of all trauellers both by sea and land, to the great hinderance of the Sultans customes. Serafadin would hereunto haue gladly replied, but preuented by Ebrain, and surcharged with many injurious words, was committed to the custodie of the two hundred Ianizaries of CONSTANTINOPLE. And so being by them brought into a rotten tent that was appointed for him, was euery night from thence forward put in the stockes fast chained, and continually guarded with a trustie guard of the same Ianizaries. In the meane time came the answere of Man-Ogli, who wrote backe vnto the great Bassa Ebrain as followeth: F

To the Lord of Lords,A letter of Man Oglies [...]o Ebrain Bassa. Soueraigne aboue the great ones, the mightie, the noble captaine, cousin to the graund Lord, and the worthiest among the elect of the Prophet Mahomet, the noble and famous lord Ebrain Bassa, God giue good successe to his haughtie enterprises, and prosperitie in all his honour. I wish (euen as thou doest louingly inuite and exhort me) that I might come before thee, and follow [Page] thee, and serue thee alwaies in any occasion that it may happen thee to stand in need of my helpe: For G I know that thou wouldest rest assured of the reuerence that I beare towards thy lord, and of the most feruent desire wherein I liue to serue him, and to employ both my substance and my life in his seruice: whereof I haue also giuen some testimonie, though but small, in the managing of his customes that I haue receiued: wherein I haue alwaies so carried my selfe, as that I am not his debtor of one Asp [...]e▪ a thing [...] that Ebne-Mansur (who is now with thee) hath not done. For although by his comming to meet thee euen as farre as IERVSALEM he would make a shew of his fidelitie, yet doth he vsurpe more than two hundred thousand duckats of the kings, which he doth most vniustly detaine from him of his customes. But my hard fortune will not graunt me the fauour that I may come vnto thee: for there are at this present with thee three of mine enemies, who (I know well) being not contented to haue alwaies disquieted and troubled my estate, doe now seeke to bring me into so great hatred with H thy heart, that if thou haddest me in thy hands, thou wouldest without any consideration bereaue me of my life. And I am assured, that this sending for me importeth no other thing, but onely a desire thou hast to imprison me, and so to kill me. For I know how much thou art giuen to great enterprises. Besides this, my comming is also hindered by mine auntient oath that I tooke: when being as yet but a child, I saw mine owne father so villanously betrayed by the murthering sword of Mustapha, being at that time the Bassa of DAMASCO: who vnder the colour of vnfeigned friendship got him into his hands, and traiterously strucke off his head. For in truth I carrie the image of my fathers reuerend head, all pale, and yet as it were breathing, imprinted in my mind, which oftentimes presenteth it selfe vnto me, as well sleeping in the darkenesse of the night, as also waking in the light of the day, and talking with me, calleth to my remembrance the infidelitie of the murthering tyrant, and exhorteth I me to keepe my selfe aloofe from the hands of the mightie. And therefore I neither can nor may obey thy requests, and in that respect it grieueth me, that I shall seeme disobedient vnto thee, being in any other action and in all my cogitations wholly addicted to doe any seruice not onely to thee, who art most worthie to be reuerenced of farre greater persons than I am, but also to euery the least vassale of Amuraths. Thou wilt pardon me I hope, and thou shalt well perceiue, that if there be any thing neere me that may be acceptable to thee, all that I haue whatsoeuer, though in respect of thy selfe it may seeme vile and base, yet is it thine, and is now reserued wholly for thee, and not for me. Farewell, and commaund me, and hold me excused vpon these iust causes which thou hearest, for my being so backward in comming to honour thee, as my dutie requireth.

K

The poore and the least among the slaues of the graund Lord, The Sonne of Man.

Ebraim burneth 24 townes of Man-oglies. Ebrain perceiuing by this letter the resolution of Man-ogli, resolued also in himselfe to goe vpon him with all his armie, and either by force or sleight to get him into his hands, or at least to draw from him so many arcubuses, and as great gifts and tributes as possibly he might: and therfore rising with his campe, and turning himselfe toward the countrey of Man-ogli, he burnt and destroyed foure and twentie of his townes; and so mounting vp certaine rocks of LIBANVS, vpon the top of a large hill (that standeth ouer ANDARA and other places belonging to Man-ogli)L he encamped himselfe.Veis Bassa and his sonne discomfited by the D [...]usians. But whiles the armie was thus marching forward, Veis Bassa of DAMASCO with a great part of his people, and his sonne the Sanzacke of IERVSALEM, with his souldiors likewise, to the number of fifteene hundred persons, hauing separated themselues from the rest of the armie, in manner of a rereward; as they were busie in raising their tents, vpon the sudden were furiously assaulted by a great band of Drusians, of the faction of Man-ogli, and discomfited. Which victorie the Drusians so prosecuted, that they became lords of the pauillions, the wealth and armour of the Turks: and leading away with them their horses and their carriages, put to the sword fiue hundred persons, and scarce gaue any leasure to escape either to the Bassa the father, or the Sanzacke his sonne, who fled straight to IERVSALEM, and neuer returned againe to Ebrain; but Veis his father still followed the armie with those few which he had M left, and was thought worthie of all men to be pitied.

Vpon the hill aforesaid Ebrain continued foure and twentie daies togither, with aboundance of all things necessarie for victuall: during which time he attended nothing else, but to trie all deuises how he might draw money and presents from Man-ogli, or how he might traine him into [Page] A his hands.Ebrain sendeth for a [...]cubuses to Man-ogli. For the compassing whereof, he dispatched one Gomeda (Ebne-Mansurs Agent) to Man-ogli, being in ANDERA; to tell him, That for as much as he would not giue credit to the promise which was made him, nor aduenture himselfe into the hand of his friend, he should send vnto him all the arcubuses he had: for that the Sultans pleasure was, that his people that went not to the wars in his seruice, should not be furnished with so great store of weapons, to the danger of their neighbours, and of the subjects themselues. With great griefe of mind did Man-ogli behold the messenger, as the man whom he well knew to be the Agent of his deadly enemie; yet in regard of him that sent him, he forbare to doe him injurie, or to giue him any reproach; telling him, That all his people and weapons were dispersed abroad ouer his territorie, so that he could not tell what arcubuses to send him: with which cold answere Gomeda returned. Which B thing when Aly Bassa of ALEPPO vnderstood, he offered himselfe to the Generall, that hee would go vnto him, and that to some better purpose. Many reasons did Aly Bassa vse to persuade the warie Drusian to come and yeeld his obedience to Ebrain, swearing that no harme should be done vnto him: and withall promising him great and honourable fauours. But neuer could he remoue the resolute and prouident mind of Man-ogli, or win him to yeeld himselfe into the hands of a man, whom he thought to be so murtherous: yet at last with much adoe he preuailed so much with the Drusian lord, that in signe of the reuerence he did beare towards the Generall, and of his obedience towards Amurath, he was content to send a present to Ebrain. And thereupon gaue him three hundred and twentie arcubuses, twentie packs of Andarine silks, and fiftie thousand duckats to carrie to the Bassa for a gift, and to reconcile him vnto him. For C the better effecting whereof, he sent his owne mother to the great Bassa, who in the behalfe of her sonne performed a verie worthie message, excusing him as well in respect of his enemies that sat there so neere vnto him, as also in regard of his oath which he had solemnly sworne, That for the treacherie of Mustapha he would neuer commit himselfe into the hands of a Turke: and therefore besought him to accept of the gifts that were sent him, and withall, a mind and heart most readie to serue and obey the king in all occasions; and that he would hold him excused, for that his excuses were both just and reasonable.The notable dissimulation of Ebrain Bassa. Wherunto the Turke replied, That although she had found so foule a fault in Mustapha, who vnder the assurance of his promise and fidelitie had betraied her husband: yet for all that she ought not to feare any such wicked or infamous act at his hands, who stood vpon his honour and the word of a souldior: And so by oath protesting D all faithfull and constant friendship towards him, in token of his sincere meaning he cast a white vaile about her necke, and put another vpon himselfe, and the third he gaue her in her hands: willing her to report to her sonne the oaths he had made, and to carrie him that vaile and bring him with her, protesting no otherwise to intreat him, but as a friend and a brother. The peaceable old woman went her way accordingly, but she neither could nor would go about to alter the purpose of her sonne, but returned to Ebrain such answere as did not greatly please him. After which time, he sought more than euer he did before, to get the warie Drusian into his hands, or at least without regard of shame to draw from him mo presents and weapons. And therefore once againe he sent the craftie Gomeda, to exhort him vpon the faith and promise giuen, to come vnto him: but for all the craft and lying speeches that the treacherous messenger could E cunningly vse, he could obtaine nothing of the Drusian lord, but good words onely. Yet at last after much finenesse he preuailed so much, as that Man-ogli was contented by him to send another present to Ebrain, with an expresse condition notwithstanding, that he should cause Ebrain to depart out of those quarters, and that he should not himselfe returne any more to request any thing farther of him. Which he verie largely promised, only desiring him to send a good number of arcubuses, thereby to content the Bassa fully: so he gaue him fiftie thousand duckats more, and foure hundred and foursescore arcubuses, with a thousand Goats, an hundred and fiftie Camels, an hundred and fiftie Buffes, a thousand Oxen, and two hundred Weathers. With this rich present came Gomeda to Ebrain, declaring vnto him that this he had got from him, vpon promise that he should not molest the Drusian any more. For which promise so made, Ebrain F sharply reproued Gomeda, and threatned to make him know what it was to take vpon him so dangerous a libertie: and for the greater despight both to the one and to the other, Ebrain would needs haue Gomeda himselfe to returne againe with like message to trouble the Drusian. Wherunto although he went in great feare of some mischiefe by the hands of Man-ogli, yet was there no remedie but needs he must follow the commaund of him, in whose power it was to take from [Page] him both his honour and life; and therefore on he went. But as soone as Man-ogli saw Gomeda G (thinking as truth was, that he came againe about his wonted requests) he was with the verie sight of him so farre moued, as that he was euen at the point to haue throwne a dart at him, and so to haue dispatched him, had not the regard of more dangerous effects staied his furie; yet spared he not with ignominious words and deadly threats to disburden his choller. Notwithstanding Gomeda could doe no lesse but accomplish the effect of his fraudulent requests, and so wrought with him, that he drew from him foure burdens more of arcubuses, ten swords and ten guilt daggers, certaine siluer belts, ten packs of silke, and some few pence: causing him withall to protest vnto him, neuer to suffer himselfe to be persuaded to come againe vnto him; for if he did, he threatned to kill him, happen afterward what might of it. With exceeding joy and triumph did Ebrain receiue this present, and thinking now with himselfe that he had gotten a sufficient H bootie from him, he determined to rise with his armie, and to sacke all the rest of Man-oglies countrey. Which he performed accordingly, and being conducted by Emir Ebne-frec, burnt ANDERA the place of Man-ogli his residence, and in two daies burnt and destroied nineteene other of his townes, with vnspeakable crueltie committing all things to fire and sword. After all this sacking and rasing, Ebrain sent diuers messengers to Man-ogli, to trie whether hee would yet be persuaded to come vnto him, but nothing could moue the resolute Drusian to commit himselfe into his hands, but rather encreased his constancie to auoid a most certaine death.Emir Ebne-frec antiseth Man-ogli his Macademo or lieutenant to come to Ebrain. Now the great Bassa still thirsting after bloud and reuenge, vnderstanding by a spie, that the captaine of ANDERA (being one of the Factors of Man-ogli) with three hundred and fiftie souldiors was got vp to a certaine hill, into a place of great securitie, he sent Emir Ebne-frec to entice I him, and to tell him, That seeing his lord Man-ogli would not come and yeeld himselfe, he should come vnto him; which if he would doe, he would assuredly in despight of Man-ogli make him a Sanzacke of some of those places which he most desired. The ambitious and vnheedie Macademo suffered himselfe to be easily persuaded, and being accompanied with his three hundred and fiftie followers, went with the said Ebne-frec, and came at last to the pauillion of Ebrain, hauing first caused his aforesaid men to stay behind in a valley two or three miles off. But Ebrain would not so much as see the Macademo, although both in respect of the nimblenesse of his person, and also the fiercenesse of his lookes he was worthie to be looked vpon: but commaunded him to be kept in a seuerall place from Serafadin, and in the meane time deuised how he might with least losse of his owne men, put to death those three hundred and fiftie the Macademoes K followers: which was by training them, by means of the said Ebne-frec, into a certain vineyard, and so hauing brought them into a strait, suddenly to set vpon them and kill them. Which was accordingly performed: for being by the treacherous Emir brought into the place appointed for their slaughter, fearing nothing lesse, they were suddenly enclosed by the Turkes Sanzackes and Ianizaries, and slaine euerie mothers sonne. This massacre thus finished, Ebrain commaunded the Macademo to be brought before him, and without delay to be stripped and flaid quicke: who being come, stoutly vpbraided Ebrain with his promise and his oath; and amongst other speeches which he vttered whiles they stripped him, said: Cut me off my members, and first putting them into the priuities of that infamous Ebrains wife, put them afterwards into the mouth of himselfe: for so (I trow) he will be contented and satisfied with my flesh. And to them L that were the executioners of his painfull death, he said: It is your great good fortune in deed, that with such violence and needlesse deformitie, ye are now able to spill my bloud and to take my life from me: whereas none of you all had been able, or once durst man to man to haue drawne one drop of it from me, no nor to haue endured my countenance. But go to, proceed in your wicked and vnsatiable desire of my bloud, and fulfill the cruell commaund of your Visier: for in the end there will also light vpon you the iust reward of this so villanous a fact. With these and other such like speeches the miserable wretch was stripped,The Macademo by the commandement of Ebrain [...]laine quicke. and three great slashes made on his backe, where they began to flea him; he in the meane time not ceasing to blaspheme their religion, & to curse their king, and their false prophet also. But the barbarous souldiors proceeding in their cruell action, made other like gashes vpon his breast and stomacke; and so drawing the skin downward, could not bring M it to his nauell before he was with the extremitie of the paine dead. After this, Ebrain caused the followers of Serafadin (in number about 150) to be cruelly slaine, and all his countrey to be most miserably wasted: he himselfe still remaining in chaines.

Whilest the fire and sword thus raged in the Drusian countrey, Ebrain by speedie posts sent [Page] A to SIDON, where his gallies lay at rode, commaunded, That disbarking foure thousand souldiors, they should sacke all those countries alongst the sea coast euen as far as CaeSAREA in PALESTINE, sparing neither age nor sex, nor any person of condition whatsoeuer. Which his cruell command was presently put in execution, and three thousand soules brought away captiues, great booties made of much rich merchandise, many townes burnt, sundrie castles rased and laid euen with the ground, and to be short, all the whole countrey of Serafadin and Man-ogli laid vtterly wast and desolat.

Ebrain was now in readinesse to depart for CONSTANTINOPLE, where he was by Amurath expected, as well for his gold as the accomplishment of the marriage. But bethinking himselfe, that whatsoeuer hitherto he had done would be accounted either little or nothing, vnlesse B he prouided in some sort for the quieting of those people vnder the Turkish obedience, he determined to nominat one of the three Drusian Emirs that came to him to IERVSALEM, to be Bassa of all those regions. And because Emir Aly Ebne-carfus was the richest and most obedient of them all, he thought good to commit that charge vnto him, and honoured him with that dignitie; yet not without a bribe, but for the price of an hundred thousand duckats. Wherefore he apparelled him in cloth of gold, gaue him a horsemans mase, and a sword all guilt, and deliuered vnto him the kings commission, causing him withall to sweare faith and obedience to Amurath. And so hauing (at least to shew) set in order the affaires of those mountaines, which an hundred of the Turkes great captaines had in former time vainely attempted, he returned to DAMASCO, where he staied twelue daies, by shamefull shifts extorting money from diuers persons. C At last hauing no more to doe in those parts, he turned himselfe towards GAZIR and BARVTO, places vnder the gouernment of Ebne-mansur, where he arriued with all his armie, and found the gallies which he had left in the port of SIDON, now in the hauen of BARVTO as he had before commaunded. Now vpon a certaine hill aboue BARVTO neere vnto the sea, Ebrain had pitched his owne tent only and none other;Ebrain notably dissembleth with Ebne-mansur. and hauing sent all the rest of his best and goodly things which he meant to carrie with him to CONSTANTINOPLE aboord the gallies, shrowded himselfe only vnder that narrow and base tent. Thither he called Ebne-mansur, and in pleasant manner told him, That now it was time for him to make payment of the debt of an hundred and threescore thousand duckats, which he ought the king his lord for the custome of TRIPOLI and BARVTO: for that he could not longer stay in those quarters, but was to returne to D CONSTANTINOPLE, which he knew not how to doe vnlesse he carried with him the discharge of that debt. Whereunto Ebne-mansur made answere, That it would not be long before his Macademoes would come with his monies, and that then he would without farther delay make payment. Which thing Ebrain well knew to be but an excuse, and therefore determined with himselfe to thrust him into the gallies; and because he could not carrie the money vnto the king, yet at the least to bring him his debtor. But for as much as he doubted to put this his determination openly in execution, for feare of some insurrection amongst the people, as well for that he was within the territories of the said Ebne-mansur, as for that he saw him greatly beloued and fauoured of the other two Drusian lords, Ebne-frec and Ebne-car [...]us: he therefore thought it better pollicie by concealing this his purpose, to shew him in his outward actions all good countenance, E and by secret and subtile meanes to take him prisoner. Whereupon he deceitfully told him, That for as much as he was to stay there for his businesse that night, and was resolued the next day to make a road into the countrey of Man-ogli, he therefore praied him to doe him the fauour to be his guide: and for that purpose, when he should send for him at midnight, that he would come vnto him verie secretly, because he was minded to depart without any stirre, onely with fiue hundred men in his companie.Ebne-mansur in chaines sent to the gallies. The Drusian lord verily beleeued the matter that so it was, and withall was in good hope by that means to find some way to escape his hands. Wherupon being called vp at midnight, he readily went to the tent of Ebrain, who presently charging him (whom all men thought he had especially affected) with many abhominable and foule tearmes, caused a chaine to be cast about his necke and his armes, and so fast bound to be carried F into the gallies. And yet not so contented, tooke the spoile of all his countrey, whereby there was leuied such a prey as was maruellous to behold: for besides money (wherof there was a verie huge summe) the store of clothes of silke and gold was such and so great, as might better beseeme some great prince, than such a mountaine rusticall lord as he was. When the Bassa had conueied all this into his gallies he sailed to TRIPOLI, where he found Serafadin in the custodie of [Page] Veis Bassa and Ali Bassa: and hauing stayed there some few dayes, wherein he committed sundrie G villanous and abhominable robberies, he caused the said Serafadin to be put into the gallies, with all his silkes and other wealth, and so departed for CONSTANTINOPLE: where at such time as he entered into the channell of the citie, accompanied with foure and twentie gallies, hee was encountered and receiued by a wonderfull number of his friends and fauourits, and saluted with an honourable peale of artillerie out of the Seraglio. Iohn Thomas Minadoi the best reporter of this historie, as also of the late warres betwixt the Turkes and the Persians, being then at CONSTANTINOPLE, and hauing (as he reporteth of himselfe) good meanes to see the bountifull and beautifull presents which the spoyling and rauenous Bassa gaue the Turkish king, reporteth the summe thereof to haue beene a million of gold,The rich presents giuen to Amurath by Ebrain. besides the yearely reuenue of CAIRE amounting to six hundred thousand duckats, with threescore horses most richly garnished, of singular H beautie, but especially of the Arabian race, a liue Elephant, and a liue Giraff [...]e (which is a beast like a Cammell and a Panther) two great Crocodiles dead, a chaire of massie gold richly set with pretious stones, a casket also beset with pretious stones and gold, many packs of most fine clothes, woollen and silkes, certain other clothes with fringe of gold and siluer and the Barbarian cutworke, most fine linnen of ALEXANDRIA, and all the arcubuses taken from the Drusians: besides sundrie rich presents giuen by the prowd Bassa to the great ladies of the Court,Io. Leuncl. sup. Annal. Turcicorum, pag. 95. reported by Leunclauius to haue beene worth two hundred thousand Sultanines.

But now for as much as we haue before made mention of the Sanzacke of IERVSALEM, and his flight, it shall not be altogether impertinent to our historie (though somewhat out of time) in few words to declare what passed between him and the Arabians of PALESTINE, a little before I the comming of Ebrain the great Bassa into those quarters: by which little, the desirous Reader may easily perceiue the wofull and troublesome state of that sometime most blessed and fruitfull but now most miserable and barren land of IVRIE, and of those places in holy Writ so much renowned.

The land of Iurie much troubled with the Arabian theeues and robbers.In the confines of SODOME, and in the places that lie not only betweene the lake ASPHALTITES and DAMASCO, but also in the plaines and in the vallies of IERICHO, and of SAMARIA, and in other places about BETHLEHEM, EMAVS, BETHANIE, BETHFAGE, CAPHARNAVM, NAZARETH, LEVIR, BETHSAIDA, NAPLOS, and other townes of name thereabouts, there doe haunt and liue sundrie Arabian captaines; who spreading themselues euen as far as RAMA and IOPPA, ouerrun at their pleasure all the countries there round about, and continually commit K grieuous outrages as well against the said cities as also vpon the goods and wealth not onely of the inhabitants there, but also of strangers: yea and their insolencie oftentimes groweth so great, that they dare to assault the fenced cities, beside the spoiling of trauellers, that by reason of their businesse haue occasion to passe from one citie to another. They are good horsemen, but vse no armour: their horses are very swift to run, and spare of diet, and are themselues bold and aduenturous theeues. These Arabians hauing had intelligence, that the aforesaid ambitious youth, appointed Sanzacke of IERVSALEM, was in mind to raise all the Sanzackes thereabout; and joyning himselfe with them, and his father the Bassa of DAMASCO, to restraine their insolent libertie, and to worke their destruction; resolued with themselues not to stay vntill he and his confederats were readie, but rather by sundrie inuasions vpon him, euen vnto the gates of IERVSALEM,L to prouoke him to come out into the field. And the rather to induce him so to do, they compacted with a certaine Subbassi of BETHLEHEM, their friend, to encourage and animate the Sanzacke thereunto, by promising vnto him good successe and prosperous euents. The ambitious young man, seduced with the glorious persuasions of the false Subbassi, of whom he made good reckoning, and prouoked by their insolencies, resolued (as they had wished) to issue out of the citie into the open field: and thereupon hauing armed an hundred of his vassales, and raised all the horsemen that were vnder his gouernment, to the number of six hundred, he made a rode towards IERICHO, sending before defiance vnto them: against whom the Arabians came accordingly, and with their arrows and Indian canes ouerwhelming his arcubuses, as if it had been a raging floud, wrought him great woe: when in the very nicke the battell yet being at the hotest,M the traiterous Subbassi fled towards BETHLEHEM, and left the souldiors of IERVSALEM in the hands of the Arabians, who put most part of them to the edge of the sword, and scarcely gaue libertie to the Sanzacke to saue himselfe by flight. The Sanzacke certainely enformed of this fraud of the dissembling Subbassi, to be reuenged vpon him, began also in like manner to dissemble [Page] A with him, faigning that he would once more trie his forces against the same Arabians; and so vsed the matter,The Subbas [...]i of Bethlehem flaine quicke. that the Subbassi arming himselfe, came vnto him, without any suspition of the mischeefe intended against him. But as soone as he was come, the Sanzacke tooke him aliue▪ and presently caused him in most cruell manner to be flaine quicke.

Thus hauing passed ouer the troubles that staied the people of AEGYPT and DAMASCO and the countries thereabouts, from resorting to Osman the Turkes great Generall at ERZIRVM: let vs againe returne thither where we left him, taking a view of the preparations against the Persian; and prosecute those affaires, which of all others most exercised the forces of the two mightiest Mahometane monarchs, and with the expectation thereof filled the world from the East to the West.

B The straight commaundement from Amurath, together with the fame and reputation of Osman the Generall, had drawne together such a world of people of all sorts to ERZIRVM▪ as that it seemed not the power of one king alone, but rather the vnited forces of many kings. Wherefore Osman perceiuing that he had gathered together too great a number of people and too huge an armie, and that it might so fall out that he might want victuall for so great a multitude; neither so greatly fearing his enemies forces, as that he needed to lead so populous an armie against them; determined to discharge a great number of such as he thought most weake, and least able to endure trauell: so that out of this great multitude hee drew out about fortie thousand persons, who liberally according to euery mans abilitie redeeming the ordinarie perils of the warres, returned home to their owne dwellings. And so in Osmans armie remained the C number of an hundred and fourescore thousand persons or thereabouts.The number of Osmans armie. With this multitude the Generall departed from ERZIRVM (about the eleuenth of August this yeare 1585) towards TAVRIS, continuing for all that the speech for NASSIVAN. But he had scarce marched two dayes, when diuers souldiors of GRaeCIA and CONSTANTINOPLE presented themselues before him, vpbraiding him with great improuidencie, and telling him that they began alreadie to feele the want of victuall, by wanting the same day their ordinarie allowance of corne for their horses: so that if in the beginning, and as it were in the enterance of so long a journey they felt such want, they could not tell with what judgement or discretion hee meant to lead so great a companie so farre as NASSIVAN, nor by what cunning conceit he had presumed to sustaine so great an armie in the seruice of their lord. Osman quietly heard their complaints, and presently D prouided for them, by causing such store of barley to be destributed among them, as they desired; and seuerely punished the officers that had the charge for the allowance of corne, who most couetously began to make marchandise of the common prouision, by conuerting it to their owne priuat vses. And hauing thus quieted their troubled minds, he proceeded on his journey, and by the way of HASSAN CHALASSI and of CHARS arriued vpon the Calderan plaines, famous for the memorable battels there fought betweene Selymus and Hysmaell. In these plaines hee tooke a generall review of his armie, wherein there wanted a number, that by reason of sicknesse being not able to continue the journey were enforced to stay behind, some in one place, some in another. Remouing thence, he tooke the way not to NASSIVAN, as he had still hitherto giuen it out he would, but now directly to TAVRIS. Which so sudden an alteration of the journey, E as soone as the souldiours of GREECE and CONSTANTINOPLE heard, they fell into a great rage, and comming againe before the Generall, reuelled with him in this sort to his face.

And what are we thou villaine,

The most insolen [...] speech of the souldiors of Constantinople and Greece vnto Osman their Generall.

thou Turke, thou dolt, whom thou handlest in this sort? We are neither oxen nor sheepe of the mountaines, for the leading of whom thou thinkest thou art come out: neither can we brooke these thy lies and deceits. If thou hast publickly professed to lead vs to NASSIVAN, and by that speech hast trained vs from the furthest bounds of GRaeCIA, to what end now after thou hast wearied vs so much, doest thou deceiue vs with such vanities, and prolong our iourney, and set before vs such strange and important dangers as our minds neuer once thought on? But if this was thy first purpose and intent, and that now not foolishly or by chaunce, but vpon premeditation and good aduice thou changest thine opinion, why diddest thou dismisse so many souldiours, as F might haue made the armie more terrible and stronger for the enterprise of TAVRIS? Doest thou thinke that by suffering others to redeeme their liberties, and so to encrease thy riches, thou shalt set our liues to sale, and to make vs slaues to the Persians?

At these arrogant speeches the Generall was exceedingly troubled,Osman wis [...]ly appeaseth his mutinous souldiors. seeing his good meaning, and the earnest desire he had to aduance the majestie and glorie of his king, taken in so euill part, [Page] and those his best souldiours so highly offended. And although he could indeed haue readily G vsed the sharpest and hardest prouisions and remedies for it, that in such occasions are ordinarily applied: yet vpon good aduice he forbare so to doe, and in stead of rigour and punishment resolued to worke by more easie meanes. Whereupon causing many of the captaines and chiefe men amongst those seditious souldiors to come before him, he first persuaded them: That the former speech for NASSIVAN was not raised at all by him, nor that he was minded at that time to goe for TAVRIS: but all that was done, he had done to fulfill the commaundement of the Sultan, who had charged him so to doe, to the end to lessen the Persian preparations; which they would vndoubtedly haue made farre greater, if the speech had beene giuen out at the first for TAVRIS. Which his princely care of their safetie they for their parts ought willingly to further, for that in so doing they should still preserue that great opinion, which both the king and the world had conceiued of their H valour and fidelitie. Neither needed they to feare, that the souldiors which were dismissed might weaken the armie, for that they themselues were not onely sufficient to pierce into TAVRIS, and to open the way vpon the enemies, but to daunt them euen with their lookes: and that those which were discharged, had but purged the hoast of all cowardise, and left nothing in it but vertue and courage. By this mild answere of the Generall the tumultuous souldiours were sufficiently pacified, but much better apayed and contented they were, as soone as he put his hand to the common purse, and bestowed among them all a small quantitie of monies: for by this his kind vsage all their stomackes were ouercome, and they themselues became so willing and so couragious, that now they durst venture not to TAVRIS only, but to CASBIN, yea euen to the furthest parts of all the Persian kingdome.I

These important outrages thus appeased, the Generall turned himselfe with all his armie towards COY, a citie situat beyond VAN, in the middest betweene TAVRIS and the Martian Meere, where he refreshed his armie with all things he could desire. From COY he passed to MARANT, a citie subject to the Persians, plentifull also of all things needfull for man or beast. From thence he leaned downe towards SOFFIAN, a fruitfull place, subject also to the Persians; from whence he began to discouer TAVRIS. Great was the joy of the whole campe, and now the mutinous souldiors of GREECE and CONSTANTINOPLE could highly commend the aduice of the Generall,The Turkes re [...]oi [...]e vpon the discouerie of Tauris. or rather of Amurath himselfe, in giuing out the rumour of NASSIVAN for TAVRIS, as the onely meanes whereby they were in quiet come so farre, the Persians being wholly occupied (as they supposed) about NASSIVAN: insomuch that euery man being waxen K couragious, and replenished with joy, without any feare at all began prowdly to plot vnto themselues nothing but sackings, pillings, taking of prisoners, rauishments, robberies, and all those insolent and outragious actions that vse rashly to proceed from the greedie affections of those barbarous victors; especially they of the vauward, who being desirous of bootie, and to discouer the enemies countrey, descended downe toward certaine pleasant gardens full of all sorts of trees, springs, and fruits: where hauing satisfied their appetites, they withdrew themselues to a certaine little riuer neere to a bridge called The Bridge of salt water, and there stayed at pleasure attending the comming of the armie.The Persian prince ouerrunneth the vauward of the Turkes armie. But euen whiles they were thus enjoying the water, the fruits, the shade, the greene grasse, and other delights of the place, the Persian prince Emir Hamze, king Mahamets eldest sonne, who with ten thousand good souldiors had closely couched himselfe,L watching still when some of the enemies bands should come downe to those resting places, suddenly set vpon them with such speed, courage, and furie, that as if it had beene a lightening and in a manner without any resistance he ouerran all those Turkes, and dispersed them, putting to the sword about seuen thousand of them. And so leading away with him many prisoners, horses, slaues, with sundrie ensignes and Turkish drums, he withdrew himselfe backe towards his blind father, who lay then encamped about twelue miles from TAVRIS with fiftie thousand souldiors or thereabouts; Aliculi Chan Gouernour of TAVRIS being left in the citie with foure thousand souldiors onely. A greater armie than this, not exceeding the number of threescore and foure thousand men, was not the Persian king able to leuie; the principall occasion whereof was the death of Emir Chan, for which the Turcoman nation being waxen rebellious and disobedient,M would not by any meanes be brought to defend that citie, whereof Aliculi Chan their capitall enemie was now Gouernour: and from GHEILAN and HERI there came not so much as one souldior to relieue the necessities of PERSIA. So that with these small forces in comparison of the enemies, the Persian king had no stomacke to meet the Turkish armie in plaine battell, but [Page] A sought how he might with as little losse to himselfe as possibly he could, make triall of his forces, and by all politike meanes to weaken and annoy his strong enemie.

Osman vnderstanding of this discomfiture of his vauward, forthwith dispatched Sinan Bassa the sonne of Cicala, Osman sendeth two Bassaes with 14000 souldiors to ouertake the Persian prince. and Mahamet the Bassa of CARAEMIT, with fourteene thousand souldiors to pursue the victorious prince: who in their pursuit vsed such expedition, that at length they ouertooke him in the way towards his fathers campe. But as soone as the prince saw the Turkes so neere him, that without a shamefull and dangerous flight he could not auoid the battell, couragiously he turned his face, and joyned with them a most bloudie conflict: which being begun two houres before night, was most fiercely maintained, vntill that the darknesse of the night bereauing them of the vse of their weapons, enforced both the one side and the other to retire. B Which was done with the notable losse of the Turkes, who in this second conflict (as it was commonly reported) lost six thousand men: and had (as it was thought) suffered a generall slaughter, had not the night interrupted so vncouth an action, well worthie of a thousand daylights. So that hitherto the Turkes sustained the losse of more than ten thousand souldiors, and yet had scarce discouered or seene the citie which they so greedily longed after.

The next morning the Turkes campe remoued and came within two miles of TAVRIS, where they encamped. But whiles they were setting vp their tents, Aliculi Chan issuing out of the citie with all his garrison, and such of the citisens as were fit to beare armes, set vpon the face of the vauward being now renewed, and with many cunning turnings and windings so charged them, that with great losse he forced them to retire euen vnto the maine battell: where after he C had espied the great artillerie, he without hurt withdrew himselfe againe to the citie. The confusion of the Turkes in this skirmish was notable, for in a verie small time the vauward was disordered, and almost three thousand slaine. But Aliculi not so contented, in the shutting in of the euening sallied out of the citie the second time, and swiftly running along that side of the armie that lay towards TAVRIS, slew the Bassa of MARAS, and did great hurt in that quarter: which done, without any stay he fled to the kings campe, and forsooke the defence of that sorrowfull citie which he could not hold. Neuerthelesse the Taurisians (as many of them as remained in the citie) gathered themselues togither to the gates of the citie, well armed, prepared to make a bloudie entrance for the Turkes whensoeuer they should come. All the night was spent in watching without rest on either side, and yet nothing attempted: but vpon the breake of the day, a D great multitude of the seruile sort of the Turkes, and of the common rascall rout, without any order from their captaines, armed with corselets, speares, and swords, went to the citie with resolution to haue sacked it, and so to haue enriched themselues with the spoile and pillage of that wealthie citie.A great slaughter in the gates of Tauris. But when they came to the guarded gates of the citie, they found there contrarie to their expectation, a terrible rescue, and were enforced there to joyne an hard and mortall battell; so that the wals, the entrance, yea all the ground thereabouts was bathed with bloud, and as it were couered with weapons and dead carkases. And yet for all that, though the Persians stood fast and firme at the arriuall of this seruile rout; at the last they were constrained to yeeld the entrance, being ouercome by the multitude of them that out of the campe flowed in vpon them like a floud; and retiring into the citie, now astonied and amazed on euerie side, they fortified E themselues in their houses vnder the ground, and in the corners and winding turnings of the streets: from whence with their arrowes and some few arcubuses, they did the Turks that entred great harme. Yet were they not able to kill and destroy so many of their enemies, but that at the last they were too mightie for them, and wrought many grieuous mischiefes in that wofull citie. And so a great number of this rascall people that remained ali [...]e, returned to the Turkish campe, carrying away with them too manifest tokens of the poore oppressed citie: wherein the miserable women and impotent soules stood embracing and straining the doores and poasts of their houses, and kissing their natiue soile, with prayers, mournings, and complaints, bewailing their present miserie, and yet fearing worse to come. Osman the Turks Generall now made acquainted with these calamities, caused proclamation to be published, That no man should be so hardie F as to molest the Taurisians, & in the meane time went himselfe about the citie, viewing throughly the situation of it, and surueying the place wherein he might both encampe himselfe safely, and with better foundation and greater securitie erect a castle or fort, for the more assurance of that conquered countrey.

The citie of TAVRIS is seated at the foot of the hill ORONTES,The description of Tauris. about eight daies journey [Page] from the Caspian sea, and is subject to winds, cold, and snow: yet of a verie wholesome ayre,G abounding with all things necessarie for mans life: and wonderfull rich, with perpetuall concourse of merchandise brought thither out of the East, to be conuayed vnto the West; and also of others brought out of these Westerne parts, to be dispersed into the East. It is verie populous, so that it feedeth almost two hundred thousand persons: but yet open to the furie of euerie armie, without wals, and vnfortified. The buildings (after the manner of those of the East) are of burnt clay, and rather low than high. For all things it carrieth the name, and was the place of the Persian kings residence, vntill such time as that the late king Tamas remoued his seat from thence farther into his kingdome to CASBIN: neuerthelesse both before and since, although it had been sundrie times molested by the inrodes and furie of the Turkish emperors, yet was it still in great estimation and renowme.H

Of this citie Osman Bassa hauing taken diligent view, caused his tents to be pitched on the South side thereof, where was a spatious garden all flourishing and beautifull, replenished with sundrie kind of trees and sweet smelling plants; and a thousand fountaines and brookes deriued from a pretie riuer, which with his pleasant streame diuided the garden from the citie of TAVRIS: and was of so great beautie, that for the delicacie thereof, it was by the countrey inhabitants called Sechis Genet (that is to say) the eight Paradises: and was in times past the standing house of their kings, while they kept their residence in this citie, and after they had withdrawne their seat from thence to CASBIN, became the habitation and place of aboad for the Gouernors of TAVRIS. Of these gardens and places Osman made choise to build his castle in; whereof he gaue the modell himselfe, and commaunded that all the whole circuit of those pleasant greenes should be I enuironed with wals, and trenches digged round about them to conuay the water from the foresaid riuer. Which was accordingly begun with the greatest care that possibly might be: the foundation of the embatteled wals laid, the ditches digged fourteen foot broad, & a mans height in depth;The castle of Ta [...]ris built in 36 daies. and in the space of six and thirtie daies the whole worke finished and brought to an end: great store of artillerie mounted vpon the walles, and diuers bathes, lodgings, and such other houses necessarie for the Turkish vses built within the castle. The first day of this building Osman fell sicke of a feauer with a bloudie flix, which happily was the cause both of the slownesse of the building, and of many other losses that afterwards happened, as shall be hereafter declared.

Eight Ia [...]izaries with certaine S [...]gla [...]s [...]ound s [...]angled in a bath at Tauris.Fiue daies after the building of the castle was begun, newes was brought into the Turkish K camp, That eight Ianizaries and diuers Spaoglans were seene strangled in a bath within the citie of TAVRIS. Whereupon the Zaini, Spahini, and Ianizaries came presently vnto the Generall, declaring vnto him, That although he had with too much clemencie giuen order that no man should hurt or molest the Taurisians, and that according to his pleasure euerie man had vsed modestie towards them and obedience to him: yet the Taurisians themselues had most audatiously strangled in one of their baines eight Ianizaries and certaine Spaoglans, which injurie and insolencie (they said) in their judgement was not to be suffered. This outrage so moued the Generall, that without any farther delay he commaunded the citie to be sacked, leauing it wholly to the pleasure of his souldiors: who forthwith so vsed the matter, not as if they would haue reuenged an injurie, but rather at once haue brought an vtter destruction vpon the whole citie. Euerie L place was filled with slaughter,The miserie of the Taurisians. rauishment, rapine and murther; virgins were deflowred, men-children defiled with horrible and vnspeakable sins; younglings snatched out of their parents armes, houses laid euen with the ground and burnt, riches and money carried away; and in briefe, all things ruinated and wasted. Neither were these mischiefes committed once onely, but the second followed worse than the first, and the third vpon that worse than the second: so that it was a miserie almost inexplicable, to behold that citie so populous, so rich, sometimes the court and pallace of the Persian kings, and honour of that empire, now subject to the furie of the Turkes, plunged in calamitie and vtter destruction.

The wofull aduertisement hereof sore troubled the Persian king, but the young prince his sonne much more; who moued with the passions of most inward griefe, disdaine, and dispaire,M and desiring nothing more than reuenge, resolued to attempt any thing whereby to require so great a wrong. In which resolution hauing confirmed his armie, he commaunded fiue hundred of his horsemen to present themselues euen to the verie sight of their enemies tents, and as it were to dare them to battell: which thing they performed accordingly, and made a gallant show [Page] A of themselues. At the discouerie whereof, the Turks imagining that the Persians were come in great number to assaile the armie, order was giuen by the sicke Generall, that Cicala Bassa, and Mahamet the Bassa of CARAEMIT, with the people of GRaeCIA, and all their owne forces should go to encounter the enemie: who presently with their ensignes displaied vnder which there stood about foure and thirtie thousand strong, besides a number of seruile people, yet men exercised in labours and perils, in all well neere fortie thousand, set forward. Now the fiue hundred Persians, with a maruellous cunning kind of skirmishing dallied with the Turkish souldiors, and drew them forward for the space of eight miles and more: and being brought so farre on, and now forewearied with the skirmish, were lustily assailed by the Persian prince, who with part of his armie (to the number of about twentie thousand persons) couragiously set vpon the two B Bassaes, and joyned with them the deadliest and cruellest battell that euer was written of. Wherein the Persians hauing giuen a most perilous onset and done great harme, it was thought that they would haue contented themselues with so luckie an encounter, and so retired▪ which the Turks minding to preuent, and not to returne without a notable victorie, hardly pressed vpon them, hoping in the end to put them to flight, and so to giue them a bloudie and deadly ouerthrow. But the Persians hauing quietly and with great assurance for a reasonable space endured their charge, at last as if they had been fresh men, made head vpon them afresh, and began a most terrible battell anew: wherein the Bassa of CARAEMIT (aboue named) was put to flight, and being wholly dismaied and discomfited, fled backe againe to the campe, carrying with him the most manifest tokens of the vnhappie issue of the battell. Cicala the other Bassa notwithstanding C valiantly and with great cunning still sustained the furie of the Persians, labouring by all meanes to encourage his souldiours, and to haue restored the battell: but when he had done what he could, ouercome at last by greater valour, he was enforced to betake himselfe to flight also; and so altogither discomfited,Eight thousand Turks slaine. came to the campe without any ensigne, hauing left behind him 8000 of his souldiors dead vpon the ground.

The Persian prince encouraged with this so fortunat a victorie, by speedie heraulds sent to the sicke Visier (whom he thought notwithstanding to haue been in health) and gaue him to vnderstand, that if he were willing to fight he was readie for him, and in what sort soeuer it pleased him to accept of battell, to make him good account of his valour; and to cause him to know, not only that Amurath his master had most vnjustly raised this warre, but also that it had been good D for himselfe not to haue taken the same in hand. Of this offer Osman accepted, but being not able himselfe to go and answere the prince in person hand to hand, by reason of his sicknesse which euerie houre mortally encreased, hee sent out all his captaines with his armie to dare him battell.

The prince lay ten miles or thereabouts distant from the campe of Osman, towards whom the Turkes set forward in this manner: The maine battell was guided by the Bassa of CARAEMIT and Sinan Cicala, with all the souldiors of ASSIRIA and BABYLON: the left wing was led by the Bassa of NATOLIA, with the band of GRaeCIA; and the right wing was conducted by Amurath Bassa of CARAMANIA, with the people of SORIA to the number of threescore thousand: beside such as were left behind at TAVRIS, with the trustie guard of the Ianizaries, and the E artillerie, for the safegard of the sicke Visier. In this order they confronted the Persian prince, who was himselfe in the middest of his armie, with all his people in verie good order: hauing on the one side the souldiors of PERSIA and HIRCANIA, and on the other them of PARTHIA and ATROPATIA, in all to the number of fortie thousand. The Turkes feared nothing more, than that the Persians fetching a great compasse about, should with all celeritie and furie set vpon their tents, and the riches they had laied vp togither in their pauillions: and therefore at euerie motion of theirs, they continually feared this sudden outroad; whereof they had such especiall care, that retiring themselues as much as they might, and faigning as if they had giuen place to the Persians, it wanted not much but that they had brought them euen within the just leuell and marke of the artillerie. Which the Persians perceiuing, without any further dallying hardly F began to assaile the maine bodie of the battell. The prince himselfe being entred amongst the [...]ouldiors of the Bassa of CARAEMIT (who as Generall sustained the place of Osman) and pressing into the middest of the battell,The Bassa of Caraemit slaine by the Persian prince, and his head cut off. dispatched euerie man that came in his way; and hauing singled out the Bassa from the rest, smote off his head, and gaue it to one of his followers to carrie vpon the top of his launce. Which being openly descried, brought a great terrour vpon the [Page] Turkes, and exceedingly encouraged the Persians; who embrued with the bloud of their enemies,G and intermingling themselues more and more among them, made of them a most confused and generall slaughter: wherein beside the Bassa before named, there died also the Bassa of TRABIZONDA, the Sanzacke of BVRSIA, with fiue other Sanzackes, and as it was commonly reported twentie thousand Turkes moe. It fell also to the lot of Amurath Bassa of CARAMANIA to be there taken prisoner, with diuers other common souldiours. But night comming now on, and the Persians being come somewhat too nigh the Turkish artillerie, they gaue ouer the fight, and withdrew themselues backe to the place where their king lay encamped with the rest of his armie.

But now were diuers dayes spent wherein the new fortresse at TAVRIS (as we haue before said) was fully finished, when the souldiors of GRaeCIA and CONSTANTINOPLE wearied to H see their friends and fellowes thus slaine before their faces, and hauing also safely layed vp in their owne custodie such preyes and booties as they had gotten in the sacke of the citie, resolued with themselues to procure their owne departure, and so much the rather, for that Winter was now fast comming on. And for as much as the Generall was through the immoderat flux of bloud brought weake, and in despaire of life, and quite abandoned of all hope by his phisitions, and therefore not to be spoke withall; they were faine by the mouth of such as were their trustie friends about him, to represent vnto him the necessitie of their returne, and withall after many reuerent entreaties caused it also to be signified vnto him, That if he stood obstinate, and would needs stay dallying out the time in those dangerous places where no such need was, they should be enforced to withdraw themselues and to forsake him. Osman, who had now nothing els to I doe in those countries but onely to leaue some conuenient garrison in the new fortresse at TAVRIS, liberally promised to satisfie their requests by departing thence the next morning. So calling vnto him Giaffer the Eunuch Bassa of TRIPOLIS,Giaffer Bassa of Tripolis an Eunuch made Gouernor of Tauris. a man of a craftie and cruell nature, made him gouernour and keeper of the new built fortresse at TAVRIS. And the more to encourage him to take that charge vpon him, he gaue him freely for the space of three whole yeares not onely the office and authoritie, but also the rents and reuenewes of a Bassa of CARAEMIT, lately slaine by the Persian prince, and withall honoured him with the title of the Bassa of the Court: so that hauing finished his three yeares office of CARAEMIT, he was then to goe and sit among the soueraigne seats of the Bassaes of the Porta. The Bassa seeing so faire and so high a way for him to mount to those high honours (greater than which there is none in the Turkish empire)K readily accepted the offer, and dispatching his lieutenant for CARAEMIT to the gouernment of those countries in his absence, with an hundred of his owne followers; setled himselfe in the said fort with a garrison of twelue thousand souldiors,Osm [...] th [...] Generall departeth from Ta [...]is, and commeth to Sancazan. furnished with all necessarie prouision vntill the next Spring. The Generall hauing thus set all things in order, and carefully prouided for the safetie of the fortresse, departed according to his promise, and the same morning, which was the fourscore and seuenth day after his departure from ERZIRVM, came to a place called SANCAZAN, seuen miles distant from TAVRIS.

The Turkes were now vpon the point of their encamping in a confused disorder and hurly-burly, when those that were hindermost in the armie heard the neighing of horses, and the noise of drums and trumpets, as if it had beene the comming of an armie. Which when the whole L campe vnderstood, they ran all headlong, and disordered as they were to the rescue, on that side where the noise of the horses and warlike instruments was heard. But whilest the Turkes were thus intentiuely busied on that side to expect the comming of the enemie, the Persian prince without any signe or token of battell, with eight and twentie thousand horsemen was readie vpon them on the other side: who hauing discouered the cammels and other carriages whereupon their booties, their spoiles, and their riches were laden, which they had taken in TAVRIS, beside much of their prouision for victuals for the sustenance of the armie, he turned vpon them, and with a prouident and safe conuoy had taken for a prey eighteene thousand of the cammels and mules, well loden with the same booties and victuals; which the prince sent presently away with six thousand of his souldiors, and he himselfe with his two and twentie thousand Persians M entered into the Turks armie, who now to withstand his assault, had on that side also made head against him. A gallant thing it was, and terrible withall, to see what a mortall battell was made, what singular prowesse shewed euen presently in the forefront of the battell;The battell of Sancazan. for in a moment you might haue seene the tents and pauillions turned vpside downe, and their encamping lodgings [Page] A replenished with dead carkasses and bloud, victorious death raunging and raigning in euery corner. The Turkes themselues were astonished and maruelled to see their enemies (so few in number, and intermingled among so populous an armie of warlike people) more like fatall ministers of death, than mortall men, to brandish their swords ouer them, as if it had lightened, and to make so generall a slaughter; and doe to this day with great admiration recount the valour and prowesse of the Persians. But they all now doubting least the enemie in this furie should forcibly haue entered the very lodgings of the sicke Visier, it was commaunded not by himselfe (for he lay now at the last gaspe) but by him who at that time commaunded in his name, That without delay the artillerie should be vnbarred, and discharged: which in that medley and confusion of both armies, without any exception or distinction of persons, ouerthrew both friends and B foes, and did perhaps more harme among the Turkes themselues than among the Persians: for at the first thundering noise thereof the prince with all speed retired, after whom presently followed all the rest; so that the Turkes which remained behind were more annoyed with the deadly shot than were the Persians, who flying away could not feele the dammage, but that the Turkes must first be well payed for their labour. The Turkes pursuing the flying Persians, made shew as if they would gladly haue ouertaken them:Twentie thousand Turks slain. but night comming on, they feared to proceed any further than they might without danger returne. In this battell of SANCAZAN were slaine twentie thousand Turks, without any notable losse of the Persians.

Among the rest in the same place died the Visier Osman, Osman the Visier and Generall dieth a [...] Sancazan Generall of the late dreadfull but now desolate armie; not by the hand of the enemie, but consumed by the vehemencie of an ague and C a flux of bloud. Whose death notwithstanding was kept secret from the whole army, euery man verily thinking, that it was but onely the continuance of his sicknesse, because the chariots wherin he lay were still kept close: and in his name Cicala Bassa (for so he had appointed in his will) gaue out answeres and commaundements to the whole armie. Neuerthelesse it was disclosed to the Persians, by meanes of three young men, who in the life of Osman hauing charge of his jewels and treasure, were with the best thereof and the fairest of his horses fled to the Persian king, to whom they reuealed the death of the Generall. The Persians who before had thought it not possible for so great cowardise, and dishonourable kind of fighting and ordering of an armie to haue proceeded from the vertue and valour of Osman, of whose worth they had too manifest a triall and experience in times past; now vnderstanding of his death, were thereby encouraged to D attempt the vtter ouerthrow of the Turkish remnant, and so to giue them an honourable farewell. Whereupon the Persian prince with foureteene thousand men followed the Turkes, who had now raised their campe, and were remooued to a certaine riuer of salt water, not farre from SANCAZAN; where the prince caused a few tents to be pitched, about foure or fiue miles distant from the Turkish campe, the aforesaid brooke running in the middest betweene the two armies. Now the prince had purposed to haue assailed the Turkes in the morning, whiles they were loading their carriages, hoping in that confusion to haue wrought them some notable mischiefe: which his designement was reuealed vnto the Turks by one of his spies whom they had caught. And therefore they did neither rise so early in the morning as their manner was, nor load their stuffe vntill such time as they were all armed, and on horsebacke readie to receiue their enemies. E By which their warie and vnusuall manner of rising, the Persians perceiued that their purpose was by some meanes discouered. And yet considering that if they should loose this occasion, they should find no other good oportunitie to annoy them before the next Spring, they vtterly resolued to aduenture the assault: and hauing obserued that the enemies artillerie was on the right side of the armie, they in the sight of euery man began to enter on the left. But the Turkes presently so vncouered and vnbarred their artillerie against the assailants, as was to their great losse and danger. Howbeit they were so nimble and so quicke to shrowd themselues vnder the enemies armie, and to auoid the mischieuous tempest, that being come now very neere the Turkes squadrons, they must needs joyne battell with them. The Persians had purposed before as soone as they saw the Turkes begin to stirre, to retire, and so to draw them on into a very filthie and F deepe marish; which being then drie, was not feared or doubted of any, but onely by those that were acquainted withall, or borne thereabouts. Which their policie the rebell Maxut Chan, and with him Daut Chan (as being well acquainted with those places) perceiuing, gaue notice thereof to Cicala Bassa: who presently caused a great compassing wing to be made, commaunding them to set vpon the Persians, and to charge them home: which was forthwith put in execution, so [Page] that their forefront opened it selfe with very large and spacious cornets vpon the prince: who no G sooner saw this their vnwonted order of comming on, but by and by he perceiued that his purpose was discouered. And thereupon without any stay he began to retire, calling his people after him: which could not so readily be done, but that three thousand of them remained behind, all miserably stifled, ouertroden in the mire, with very little losse to the Turkes: and this onely battell of fiue that were fought vnder TAVRIS and in those quarters, was lesse hurtfull to the Turks than to the Persians.

The prince returned to the king his fathers campe, recounting vnto him the whole action, together with the departure of the enemie. And so the Turkes came to SALMAS, where the death of the Generall was published: from SALMAS they went afterwards to VAN, where they tooke a suruey of their armie, and found wanting therein about fourescore and fiue thousand persons,H or as some say more.The Turkes armie discharged at Van. At VAN all the souldiors were dismissed: and Cicala from thence gaue notice to Amurath at CONSTANTINOPLE of all that had happened. Where first was published the death of Osman the Generall; for whom were made many signes of great sorrow: and together with his death were blazed the bloudie and mortall actions that were in that expedition performed: so that the whole citie seemed to be greatly discomforted, and in many places were heard much secret railing vpon the king, many curses of this warre, and insolent maledictions of these manifold mischiefes. After that, was dispersed the great fame of the new fortresse erected at TAVRIS, of the sacking of the citie, and of all the losse that had happened therein: and a generall edict published in the kings name, That through all the cities of his empire they should make solemne feasts, with other expresse tokens of joy and rejoycing: which was accordingly I done both in CONSTANTINOPLE and other places. There was also word sent to the embassadours of HVNGARIE, of FRANCE, of VENICE, and of other countries, that they should doe the like: but they all with one accord answered, That it was neuer the custome of embassadours to make any such signe of rejoysing, but onely when the king himselfe in person returned from the like victories.

In the meane time consultation was held at VAN for the sending of succours to TEFLIS in GEORGIA: vnto which important seruice, Daut Chan to deserue some reward at Amuraths hand, offered himselfe: vnto whom Cicala Bassa deliuered thirtie thousand Cecchini to be conueyed to the fort at TEFLIS. Which piece of seruice the renegate performed, and without trouble relieued the souldiors in the fort: which was so well accepted of Amurath, that he for the K same good seruice honoured him with the dignitie of the Bassa of MARAS. Maxut Chan also the other Persian rebell, that guided the Turkish armie to Reiuan, and afterwards to TAVRIS, was in like manner by the same Amurath honoured with the great rich office of the Bassa of ALEPPO.

The miserie the Turks armie endured at Tauris.The miseries the Turkish armie endured in this expedition for TAVRIS, beside the losses before rehearsed, were wonderfull: for as the Sanzacke of AMAN, a citie of SORIA (called in antient time APAMEA) present in all this action, reporteth in a letter which he wrote to Ali Bassa of ALEPPO, there was such a dearth in the Turks armie, that they were enforced to giue their cammels bisket and rice, and when that failed, they gaue them their pack-saddles to eat, and after that pieces of wood beaten into pouder, and at last the very earth: which dearth endured vntill they L arriued at VAN. And at TAVRIS whiles the fortresse was in building, they were of necessitie constrained to giue their horses their dung in very drie pouder. By reason whereof there followed a grieuous mortalitie of horses, cammels, mules, and men, and the stinke which grew of this mortalitie became so great, that euery man was faine to carie a piece of a strong smelling oynion still vnder his nose, to auoid the heauinesse thereof.

The fort so lately built in the royall citie of TAVRIS exceedingly grieued the Persians in generall, but especially the king and the prince his sonne: to let it alone, they reckoned it too great a shame, and how to demolish it they well knew not, finding themselues not onely destitute of artillerie, but also of such sufficient strength as was requisit for the performance of so great an enterprise: yet prickt on with desire of glorie and the necessitie of the cause, they determined euen M in the sharpenesse of Winter to gather new forces, and with trenches of earth to approch the ditch, and to trie if they could aduance a countermure as high as their wals, and so to attaine to the conquest thereof. But in the gathering of their men they discouered new difficulties; for, to hire any souldiors either from HERI or GHEILAN, was denied them by Abas and Amet Chan: [Page] A and the Turcoman nation, which might haue been the readiest and the neerest at such a need, for the late death of Emir Chan, and for the succession of Aliculi, were growne verie contumatious: so that neither the king, nor the prince, nor the presidents and gouernours of the kingdome, could tell which way to turne themselues. At last for the common safetie they determined to draw the Turcomans to a reconciliation; hoping that by promising them any honest satisfaction for the wrong wherwith they challenged themselues grieued for the death of their captaine▪ they would become more tractable to doe them seruice in their common necessities. Whereupon the king sent kind letters to the heads and captaines of those nations, and principally to Mahamet Chan, and to Calife the Sultan, declaring plainly vnto them the perill of his state, and of the libertie of the whole kingdome, with the confidence he had in their valour: and that therfore forgetting B all that was past, as done not in shame or scorne of their nation, but onely for zeale and loue to the kingdome, they would demaund such satisfaction as they desired, and that he would be readie to agree to any just request they should make. To which letters they readily answered, That they would come vnto him, to put in execution whatsoeuer he should for the common necessitie or the honour of his State commaund. Now they had craftily among themselues alreadie concluded, not to suffer any other to sit in the roume of Emir Chan their late Gouernour, but onely young Tamas the kings third sonne. Which conclusion they had plotted to themselues, with a resolution in the end to cause him to be accepted for king at CASBIN, in despight of the king himselfe and of the prince Hamze: nothing regarding, that by this action farre greater troubles would arise in PERSIA than euer were yet heard of, but onely being wholy bent to C reuenge the death of one onely Emir Chan. Ten thousand Turcomans off [...]r their seruice vnto the Persian king. With this malitious and fraudulent resolution, they to the number of ten thousand (vnder the conduct of two captaines, Mahamet and Calife) went to the king, in all reuerence offering themselues with all readinesse to be imploied in the enterprise whereunto they were called. The old credulous king, not suspecting any mischiefe plotted by these secret rebels, was greatly comforted at their comming: and although by some of his Sultans that had felt some inkling of this conspiracie, he was aduised to deale circumspectly and warily with them, and not commit any matter of importance to their trust, yet did he thinke euerie houre a thousand vntill he had offered them satisfaction: promising them, that what captaine soeuer they would desire in the roume of Emir Chan, if it were possible they should haue him. Whereunto the dissembling Mahamet Chan made answere, That their desire aboue all D things, was to doe him pleasure and seruice; not doubting but he would appoint them such a chieftaine▪ as should be valorous, noble, and acceptable vnto them. The king could stay no longer, but frankly declared vnto them, That to assure them of his good will, and to giue them an hostage in pawne thereof, he had made choise of young Tamas his sonne to succeed in the roume of Emir Chan their late Gouernour. As soone as Mahamet Chan heard this resolution of the king; who beside all expectation voluntarily of himselfe yeelded them the meanes to put in execution, what they had malitiously before contriued against the peace and libertie of the kingdome: he became more jocund than he was wont to be, and outwardly shewed himselfe readie for whatsoeuer the king would command him: and in the names of the rest yeelded also large promises of fidelitie and obedience, so that the matter might be performed for which he had now E giuen his word.

The king, who desired nothing more than to see the fort of TAVRIS rased (which could hardly be done without the helpe of those Turcomans) contrarie to the aduise of the wisest of the Sultans, and of the prince, secretly and as it were by stealth gaue his young sonne Tamas into the hands of Mahamet, as chiefe of all the Turcomans. Who to nourish the good opinion and credulitie of the king, and to secure the prince and the Sultans, gaue a lustie beginning by the helpe of his followers, with trenches and rampiers to approach the fort. Neither was there any great time spent therein; for they had now almost made their trenches and mounts euen with the enemies wall, and the ditch it selfe was almost filled vp with earth, so that there wanted but little more labour to begin the desired assault: when contrarie to all mens expectation, the false F and wicked traitour Mahamet Chan with all his Turcomans,The Turcomans forsake the siege and fall into rebellion. leading away with them the child Tamas, departed in the night time and vpon a sudden, from so noble and honourable an enterprise. And blinded with desire to put in execution his ill hatched purpose, couertly and without any noise remoued from the besieged wals, and put himselfe on his way towards CASBIN: still tearming Tamas by the name of the king of PERSIA, and sundrie waies abusing and mocking [Page] the poore old king and the prince. This so sudden and so dangerous a rebellion, whereby not G onely so honourable and so necessarie an enterprise was to be abandoned, but the whole state of the kingdome like to be endangered, exceedingly grieued all good men, but most of all the old king and the prince his sonne: who no lesse carefull of his rightfull succession, than was the aged king of his present estate, both now hazarded by this rebellion; wholly incensed with griefe and anguish of mind, began to cast a thousand deuises in his troubled head, what course to take, and what to resolue vpon. To abandon the siege it grieued him aboue measure, and to suffer so pernitious a rebellion to go forward, seemed too dangerous for the state of PERSIA: and to prouide for both these mischiefes at once, was altogither impossible. In these huge waues of contrarie thoughts, he resolued at last to turne himselfe against the Turcomans, and to suppresse that rebellion as most dangerous to the State. And so with twelue thousand souldiors, and a H part also of the kings ordinarie guard, all couragious and hardie men, he followed after the rebellious Turcomans; and marching directly toward CASBIN, he ouertooke them at a place called CALISTEZA, a daies journey on this side CASBIN, and there joyned battell with them. Wherein many of them being sorie for that they had done, would not so much as draw their swords against the prince: many others fled also away for feare, so that he easily obtained a wished victorie ouer them.The Turcomans discomfited, and Mahamet Chan and Calife the Sultan beheaded. The seditious Mahamet Chan was taken prisoner, and by the princes commaundement presently beheaded: so was also Calife the Sultan, and diuers other captaines of this pestilent conspiracie. Young Tamas was also taken, and by the direction of the prince sent to the castle of CAHACA. Fiue thousand Turcomans of the late followers of the rebell Mahamet, fled out of the battell towards BABYLON by the way of SIRAS, and yeelded themselues to I Solyman Bassa of that citie; who afterwards repenting themselues of their folly, sought to returne againe into the fauour of their king, but all in vaine: so that being become rebels to the one, and suspected to the other, they did at one time loose their countrey, their libertie, their honour, and the fauour of all men as well friends as foes. The prince after this victorie held on his way to CASBIN, and there staying, laboured to gather the dispersed Turcomans, especially those that moued with the honestie of the cause, would not beare armes in so vnjust an action; intending afterwards to returne to TAVRIS, to attend the besieging and conquest of the fort. This was the end of this dangerous rebellion, the chiefe cause that TAVRIS was not againe recouered out of the hands of the Turks, to the great weakning of the Persian kingdome.

Gi [...]ffer Bassa s [...]ndeth to Cical [...] Bassa for aidNow Giaffer the Eunuch Bassa Gouernour of the castle of TAVRIS, fearing least the Persian K prince would with a greater armie againe returne to the siege: perceiuing himselfe to wax euerie day weaker and weaker, by reason that many of his men secretly fled from him, beside them that perished with sicknesse, and others slaine in aduenturing too boldly to go abroad to seeke for victuals; sent aduertisement thereof to Cicala Bassa at VAN, signifying farther vnto him by writing, That if the prince should againe returne to assault the fort, he should of necessitie be enforced to yeeld it: and that therefore as he tendered the honour of his Sultan, he would be carefull to send him succour, whereby he might be able to maintaine the fort: adding moreouer, That now it was most easily to be done, because there was no forces of the enemies in those quarters, sauing onely a few which remained about the king, lying twelue miles off from TAVRIS. Cicala moued with the importance of the enterprise propounded, and withall desirous to gaine some L credit of glorie and renowme with his king, entertained the aduises of Giaffer, and getting him to horse with a traine of three thousand harquebusiers and good store of munition, set forward toward TAVRIS. The Persian king aduertised thereof, sent out spies to learne what way they held, meaning to meet them and to set vpon them: but these spies comming neere to SALMAS were apprehended by the forerunners of Cicala, and being put to torture, reuealed at last how that their king was in armes, and on his way towards SANCAZAN. At which newes Cicala was greatly astonied, as well for the danger whereinto the forces and munition which he had with him were likely to fall, as also for that by any losse which his troupes should sustaine in this expedition, the citie of VAN (being indeed the greatest and most noble frontier towne in all those countries) must needs be in hazard to be lost, hauing left in it but his lieutenant with a verie few M souldiors. Whereupon he determined to relinquish this dangerous enterprise, and to withdraw himselfe backe to the defence and preseruation of the citie committed to his trust and gouernment. But although these expected and desired succours were not conuaied to TAVRIS as was intended, yet had Giaffer as good fortune as he could wish: for the preparations of the [Page] A prince were so long and so troublesome, and his returne so much prolonged, that there was time enough yeelded vnto the Turkes great Generall now newly chosen (as by and by shall be decla [...]ed) to go with a strong armie into those quarters; and so to preserue all that which the only expedition and celeritie of the enemie might haue put in great hazard, and almost haue brought to a desperat case.

In the meane time, Amurath the Turkish emperour was greatly troubled at CONSTANTINOPLE in making choise of a new Generall: on the one side Osman Bassa hauing by his last will left Sinan Cicala to be his successour, as a man of approued valour; and the many dangers he had run through in the late seruice about TAVRIS, with the great fauours he had in the Court, did not a little encline the king to his election: on the other side, he heard of a publike rumour spread B amongst the souldiors, that they could by no meanes endure to be commaunded by so young a captaine, and that some in plaine tearmes should say, That they would not obay him: which caused Amurath to doubt, that some dangerous discord might thereof ensue in the armie, if he should proceed to make choise of him. Then there was also Ferat Bassa, the same man which had alreadie sustained that charge before Osman; who now verie ambitiously sought againe for this honour, hauing of late performed some good seruice to the good liking of the king. Of any other to make better choise he had none, so that he stood in great doubt what to doe. In the end, because he was in good time to prouide for his affaires, he made choise of Ferat Bassa, the same man whom he had before made proofe of: a man of great fidelitie, of an honourable carriage, and alreadie experienced in the leading and commaunding of such an armie, to whom hee C granted the ordinarie authoritie, to mannage at his pleasure such affaires of the empire as concerned his journey. Vpon this resolution generall precepts were sent out to all cities within the kingdome, to the Bassaes and other Gouernours with speciall commaundement, That all their souldiors, togither with their taxes, tenths, munitions, victuals, armour, artificers, and to bee short, all their necessarie furniture and prouision should be readie and in order, vpon the first warning should be sent them the next Spring.The reuenue of Soria six hundred thousand duckats. Great prouision of money was made, and in SORIA (besides the ordinarie summe that is bestowed vpon the yearly pay of souldiors in REIVAN, ERZIRVM, LORI, TOMANIS, TEFLIS and CHARS, which swallow vp all the reuenue of that countrey, and of the citie of TRIPOLI, amounting to the summe of six hundred thousand duckats) there was taken vp in prest of priuat merchants in the citie of ALEPPO only, the summe D of threescore thousand Cecchini, to be repaied vnto them with the first monies that should be receiued by the officers of his custome houses. A matter that moued an extraordinarie grudging among the people, for that it seemed to euerie man a verie strange and intollerable exaction, beside so many grieuances laid vpon them, for corne, for carriages, for pioners, and for workmen, to endure this burthen also of lending their money without hope of restitution thereof: yea and in deed euerie man did greatly wonder how they were thus ill aduised, to make it knowne to the Christian princes what scarcitie and want of money they had. The Generall had also with him foure hundred pieces of artillerie, and did beside so worke the matter, as that Maxut Chan (who was appointed Bassa of ALEPPO) was granted vnto him to be the guide of his armie, as hee had been of Osmans; and that Cicala Bassa of VAN (scarce his good friend) was remoued from E thence, and sent farther off out of his way as Bassa to BABYLON.

And thus hauing put all things in readinesse,1586 he departed from CONSTANTINOPLE in the moneth of Aprill,Ferat departed from Constantinople and commeth to Siuas. in the yeare 1586; and passing ouer the strait into ASIA, came to SIVAS something later than he should haue done, being hindred partly by the plague which then raged exceedingly in CONSTANTINOPLE, and partly by other occasions incident to such actions. At SIVAS he staied so long for the comming togither of his armie, and in mustering men, that it was the latter end of Iuly before he departed thence; staying in deed the longer at SIVAS, by reason of the exceeding dearth and want of victuals at ERZIRVM: which dearth was also so great in ALEPPO, that a VENICE bushell of wheat was sold for twelue Cecchini.

Ferat yet making his aboad at SIVAS, but readie to depart, was aduertised by certaine postes F sent from Giaffer the Bassa of TAVRIS, how that the Persian prince was hourely expected with a great armie, and that if he did foreslow to send succours, and to preuent the comming of the prince, and so to giue him time and leisure to assault the castle, he doubted greatly how he should be able to hold the same. Vpon which aduertisement Ferat presently remoued, and so hasted his journey, that about the beginning of August he was at ERZIRVM: and still hearing more and [Page] more of the princes comming, stayed not there, but hasted to VAN: where hauing gathered together G all his souldiors, and taken a new suruey of his armie, he departed thence; and being presently come into the open and large champaines, to make proofe of the readinesse of his souldiors, he marshalled them in such sort as if he should forthwith haue joined battell with the enemie, and so in seemely order marched on.

The Turkish Generall continually feared least the Persians should come vpon him with some sudden assault: besides that, the constant report of the princes comming to TAVRIS with his armie, much encreased his troubled thoughts. But on the other side, he reposed great confidence in the conspiracie that was now plotted against the life of the prince, with the priuitie of Aliculi Chan the protectour and champion of Abas Mirize of HERI: who vnder colour of accompanying the prince to assist his forces, had resolutely concluded with himselfe, and absolutely H promised Abas (hauing also giuen intelligence thereof to the Turkish Generall) to rid the prince Hamze of his life; or at least (which he thought might more easily be brought to passe) in the sundrie reuolutions and variable chances of the battell at some time or other to make him fall into the hands of Ferat, and so to settle his lord and master Abas in his estate. Vpon these treacheries Ferat grounding himselfe, began with greater confidence to dispose his designments, and somewhat lesse to feare the fame of the huge preparations of PERSIA against him. Which preparations in truth as by most wicked deuices and malicious conspiracies they were turned quite contrarie from that end whereunto the prince Hamze had continually appointed them: so if they had beene employed with such faith and fidelitie as so righteous a cause required, without all doubt the writers of our time should haue had matter ynough in this fourscore and sixt yeare I to shew and represent vnto the world such accidents as should be nothing inferior to those of the yeare before going. But for as much as rebellion and discord, the two infernall ministers of the diuell, haue for the vtter vndoing and ouerthrow of the glorie of PERSIA continually fauoured the Turkes armies,The glorie of the Persian kingdome ouerthrown by rebellion and discord. no maruell it is that the Persian nation cannot vaunt of any reuenge taken for the indignities offered them by their enemies; and that our writers cannot chuse but write of the true and vndoubted victories of the Turkes, and the bare shaddowes of the Persian exploits; which notwithstanding many Christians vainly beleeue, because they most earnestly desire them to be true, although they doe see to the contrarie the manifest prospering and euident conquests which the Turkes haue in diuers their states and countries.

The Persian prince about the latter end of Iuly arriued at TAVRIS with the greatest part of K his armie, where he (contrarie to the opinion of all men) stayed not, for what cause is vncertaine. But vnderstanding that Zeinel Bassa of SALMAS, by nation a Curdo, lay encamped before the citie, who of a Persian was become a Turke, and had done great harme against the state of PERSIA; he determined suddenly to set vpon him, and to chastise him for his rebellion. According to which resolution, being accompanied with twelue thousand souldiors, he rode to SALMAS, where finding Zeinell with all his people encamped as he had beene before enformed, he gaue him the assault. Zeinell more readie to flie than to fight, and his souldiors as readie as he, fled presently, and fell before the Persians, so that the Bassa himselfe with a few others had much adoe to escape and saue themselues in the closest corners thereabouts, leauing the citie committed to his charge, for a prey vnto the angrie enemie: who entering into the same, sacked and spoyled it, exercising L thereon all such cruelties, as partly the naturall desires of souldiors vse to practise, and partly such as the Turkes themselues shewed vpon them in that miserable and most lamentable sacking of TAVRIS the last yeare. The like spoyles did the Persian armie in all those quarters round about, and so would haue peraduenture returned to TAVRIS, but that certaine spies arriued vpon them, with aduertisement, That the Bassa of REIVAN being issued out of his fortresse with fifteene hundred harquebusiers, had committed the like outrages in the villages and fields thereabouts, as the prince had done about SALMAS. With which newes the prince was greatly mooued; and immediatly rising with his armie, and marching towards REIVAN, not farre from the citie encountered the Bassa: who discouering the enemies forces afarre off, began in great disorder to flie and retire into his fort, leauing the greatest part of his souldiors (making not so much M speed in flight as himselfe) to the furie of the prince, who put them all to the sword, and did what harme he possibly could in all the places thereabouts.

At the very same time great troubles arose in the Drusian countrey for Man-ogli the valiant Drusian (of whom we haue before spoken) in reuenge of the injuries done vnto him and his people [Page] A by Ebrain Bassa, and by a violent kind of restitution to recompence himselfe of all those bribes and presents which by so many shifts and subtilties were by the couetous Bassa wrung from him (as is before declared) had now taken vp armes, and hauing wasted and sacked all the territorie of Ebne-mansur and of his other enemies who had yeelded their obedience vnto the Turkes, without let forced all that countrey with sudden inuasions and inrodes, euen very neere vnto the cities of BALBECKE and TRIPOLI, and did there exceeding harme. For redresse whereof, Amurath was glad to dispatch away from the Court Ali Bassa borne at ALEPPO, with the title of the Bassa of DAMASCO, and with authoritie to muster fresh souldiors, and so wholly to attend the vtter subuersion of Man-ogli. But comming thither, he found all againe quiet, so that his presence in that countrey serued rather for a reconciliation and peace making amongst B them, than for the prosecuting of any further warre; which at that time was most necessarie for the Turkes to be auoided, as well for want of money in the common treasurie, as for the exceeding scarcitie of victuals.

Now the Persian prince hauing made an end of the outrodes and spoyles before mentioned, retired himselfe to TAVRIS, and so towards his fathers campe, where the rest of his armie was now arriued, to the number of about fortie thousand: of whom the prince dispatched away the souldiors of HERI to the number of eight thousand, vnder the conduct of the traiterous Aliculi Chan their Generall; and part also of the Turcomans, vnder the leading of Emanguli Chan; with speciall charge, That they should by the way in places of most aduantage meet and receiue the enemies armie, and in those narrow and troublesome passages to doe them what mischiefe they C possibly could. Which the prince thus appointed, thinking by this meanes to weaken the enemies forces, and so at their arriuall at TAVRIS to come vpon them with all his power, and so vtterly to destroy them.

Both these captaines departed accordingly,Aliculi and Emanguli Chan performe nothing against the Turk [...], as was by the prince expected. making shew that they would with all affection accomplish the commaundement of their prince: yet neuer was there heard any seruice of moment put in execution by them: For Aliculi full of treason, after their departure began to alleage many forced reasons and excuses, Why they should surcease from meeting with the Turks: and Emanguli as yet vtterly ignorant of the wicked purposes and mischieuous treacherie of Aliculi, suffered himselfe to be misse-led by him also. By the delayes and negligence of these two Persian captaines, the Turkish Generall tooke leisure without any losse or hinderance at all to arriue at D TAVRIS,Fera [...] putteth succours into the [...]ort a [...] Tauris. and to put the desired succours into the fort: at what time the Persian prince by good hap had got knowledge of the treacherie of Aliculi, and of the designements which many of the Sultans had lately contriued, for the betraying of him aliue into the hands of the Turkish Generall. Of which suspition he being greatly afraid, durst not onely not trust himselfe to performe those battels that he had before determined to haue performed; but quite abandoning this noble and honourable enterprise, wholly employed all his care and studie for the safetie of his own person, and so left the triumph of the matter in the power of the Turkes. And thus those great hopes and expectations which the Persians had conceiued of great exploits to haue beene done against the enemie, did not onely prooue vaine and come to no good issue, but contrariwise by this discouerie were conuerted into most strange disturbances, and all PERSIA thereby endured E sundrie alterations and reuolutions of most important consequences. For both Aliculi Chan and his complices were pursued by the prince, as rebels and traitours: and also Abas Mirize of HERI was manifestly discouered for a wicked and treacherous contriuer of his brothers death: whereby the common mischiefes were encreased more than euer they were before, and the publicke calamities yeelded greater hopes vnto the Turkes than they had euer before conceiued in all the course of these warres.

When Ferat had thus relieued them in the castle of TAVRIS, leauing for the custodie therof Giaffer the Bassa with his former companies, he returned towards ERZIRVM: hauing first caused a fort to be erected at CVRCHIVE TAVRIS, a place neere vnto TAVRIS, another at COY, and the third at CVM: in euery one of which forts he left a conuenient number of souldiors, F with all things necessarie and sufficient for their maintenance, and defence of the places they were to keepe. He sent also succours to the fort at TE [...]LIS in GEORGIA, which they had long expected, and now most joyfully receiued. But the Persian prince hauing hunted Aliculi Chan out of the quarters of TAVRIS, thought himselfe now wholly deliuered from the great feare of treason and rebellion, wherein he of late liued: and therfore in as great hast as he could, put himselfe [Page] on his journey towards GENGE: in which place hauing gathered together a good number G of souldiors, he determined to remoue thence, to intercept the succours that were by the Turkes to be brought to TEFLIS. Now he had alwayes found Emanguli Chan to be both faithfull and wise, and in him he reposed an assured confidence for performing any enterprise that he had in hand, and communicated with him euery deuice that he had conceiued in these wars. And therefore he made head and joyned with him; and lodging most familiarly in his citie, he stayed there for the setting in order and disposing of his foresaid designement, being very desirous not to let such an oportunitie to ouerslip, without signification vnto the world of some notable noueltie, which might be correspondent to the fame that of matters passed and performed the yeare before, was now spread and published abroad ouer all the world. But when he was euen at the very fairest to haue put this his desire in execution, and least of all feared any treacherie or treason,H vpon a sudden in the night time as he slept vpon a pallet he was miserably strucken through the bodie,The Persian prince [...]laine by one of his Eunuchs. by an Eunuch of his that attended vpon him: and so the most resplendent and bright lustre that euer shined in PERSIA, was vtterly extinguished. What was the occasion thereof, and who procured his death, diuers and sundrie are the opinions of men. Some thinke, that his brother Abas Mirize of HERI, who had before conspired to haue had him betrayed into the hands of the Turkish Generall, had now by force of money and gifts enduced the wicked Eunuch thereunto. Others deemed it not to haue beene done without the priuitie of his father, as more desirous to preferre Abas Mirize his other sonne vnto the kingdome. Diuers others doe diuersly reason of the matter; so that to affirme of a certainetie, that thus or thus the death of so worthie a prince was procured, were great rashnesse: and therefore we leaue it, with the further I processe of the Persian state, vnto the further discouerie of Time, the auntient mother of truth.

Notwithstanding the league betwixt the Christian emperour Rodolph the second and Amurath the Great Turke, many sharpe skirmishes oftentimes fell out betwixt the Christians and the Turkes vpon the frontiers of their territories and dominions, especially in HVNGARIE, CROATIA, and STIRIA: as now in the latter end of this yeare 1586 in the month of December, the Turkes after their insolent manner making an inrode into the borders of CROATIA, receiued a notable ouerthrow by the Christians, being in number much fewer: where amongst others the Bassa of BOSNA with his brother was slaine; whose head with certaine prisoners was sent to VIENNA to Ernestus Archduke of AVSTRIA, the emperours brother. This Bassa of BOSNA K and his brother, slaine in this conflict (as we haue said) are reported to haue beene the sonnes of Muhamet the late great Visier, by one of the daughters of Selymus the second, Amurath his sister. For diuers yeares following Amurath did no great matter worth the remembrance, contenting himselfe (as it should seeme) with that he had alreadie got from the Persians: and holding his league in some reasonable sort with the Christians: yet not so, but that many a bloudie broile tending at last euen to the breach of the league passed betwixt the Turkes and the Christians, which for the continuation of the historie we will briefely set downe, as they are vnto vs by the writers of our time reported.

1587In Februarie the yeare following, which was the yeare 1587, the Christians prouoked by the often outrages of the Turkes,The castle of Koppan in Hungarie surprised by the Christians. setting vpon the castle of KOPPAN, not farre from the lake of BALATON,L being then frozen, by good fortune surprised it. There was at that time in the castle three of the Turkes Sanzackes, and about a thousand Turkes, of whom an hundred and ninetie of the better sort, with seuentie women, besides diuers of the meaner sort, fell into the hands of the Christians; the rest sauing themselues by flight, or by creeping into secret corners. An hundred horses for seruice were there taken also, and so much bootie as was esteemed to be worth fortie thousand duckats. Of the three Sanzackes that were there present, Alis Sanzacke of KOPPAN was taken, and brought first to VIENNA, and afterward presented to the emperour: Another of them standing vpon his defence in a vault vnder ground, was there smothered: The third escaped by flight, but was afterwards the same yeare taken, with diuers others, as shall be forthwith declared.M

The eight of August following, foure of the Turks great commaunders in HVNGARIE, viz. the Bassa of ZIGET, the Sanzackes of MOHAS, of QVINQVE ECCLESIae, and the new Sanzacke of KOPPAN, with fiue thousand souldiors brake into the borders of the Christians, and in most cruell manner destroied seuenteen countrey villages about LIMBACH: carrying away with [Page] A them all the miserable countrey people, with the spoile of the countrey. Whereof George Countie Serinus (sonne to that most valiant Countie Nicholas Serinus slaine at ZIGET) commaunder of the garrison of CANISIA vnderstanding, with as much speed as was possible raised such forces as he was able out of his territorie betwixt the riuers of Drau [...]s and Mura: and calling vnto his aid the Countie Nadasti ▪ the Lo. Bathianius, and some other valiant captaines that had the charge of those frontiers, with such diligence tooke the straits and passages whereby the Turkes must needs returne amongst the marishes, that the Turkes comming backe againe that way with a verie rich prey and many prisoners, being in the breake of the day hardly charged by those most expert and resolute souldiors, in those straight and troublesome passages about a mile from CANISIA, were at length discomfited and put to flight; with such a miserable slaughter, B that many of them yeelded vp their scimitars, pitifully crying for mercie; othersome fled backe into the woods and forrests, and many running headlong into the marishes there perished, or sticking fast in the deepe mud, cried togither for mercie and helpe of their enemies. In this conflict Muhamet the Sanzacke of QVINQVE ECCLESIae (sonne to Hali Bassa slaine in the battell of LEPANTO) was taken prisoner. Sinan Beg Sanzacke of MOHAS, thinking to escape thorow the marish, stucke fast with his horse, and was shot through the head with a small shot, and there died. The Bassa of ZIGET with Chasan the new Sanzacke of KOPPAN, seeing all desperat and lost, fled betimes out of the battell: but he of KOPPAN, wandring vp and downe in the woods, was the next night after the battell, with others taken: the Bassa of ZIGET almost spent with hunger and griefe of mind, escaped on foot seauen daies after to BRESENZA. There were C taken of the Turkes a thousand three hundred, of whom manie died afterwards of their wounds. In this battell there was slaine of the Turks, with them that perished in the marishes and woods, about two thousand: and of the Turkes horses were taken aboue fifteene hundred. All the prey before taken by the Turkes with the miserable captiues, was againe recouered. The number of them that performed this notable seruice, was in all but fifteene hundred foot and fiue hundred horse: of whom there was but eleuen slaine, but most of the rest wounded. Foure hundred heads of the slaine Turkes were (after the manner of those bordering souldiors) carried for shew to CANISIA, with fiue hundred prisoners. The Christian souldiors with the helpe of the countrey people, ceased not for certaine daies to hunt after the Turkes that were fled into the woods, as after wild beasts; of whom they found a great number: diuers others also seeing no means to D escape, came forth of their lurking places and yeelded themselues.

Amurath vnderstanding of all these troubles that had so happened,

Aly Bassa of Buda strangled by the commandement of Amurath.

Sinan Bassa againe receiued into sauour.

commaunded Aly the Bassa of BVDA to be strangled, for that he had broken the league, and not restrained the insolencie of his Sanzackes, whom he might haue commaunded: And in his stead placed Sinan Bassa, whom before in disgrace, he had now at the request of his wife againe receiued into fauour and restored to his former dignitie. About this time also, Sigismund (the king of SVVEDEN his sonne) now after the death of king Stephen chosen king of POLONIA, and Maximilian the emperours brother rejected: euen in the beginning of his raigne sought to renew the league, which Stephen his predecessour and other the Polonian kings had before made with Amurath and his predecessours the Turkish Sultans. And to that purpose writ vnto him as followeth.

E

Sigismund the third, king of Polonia; vnto Amurath the third, emperour of the Turkes, sendeth greeting.

The Almightie long keepe and preserue your maiestie in health and honour.Sigismund the Polonian king his letter vnto Amurath. Most mightie prince, our best beloued friend and neighbour, after that we by the grace and goodnesse of God were chosen to gouerne the kingdome of POLONIA, and the embassadours of that kingdome had signified so much vnto vs: we prouiding vs of necessaries, came to DANSKE the 18 day of October, from whence we send Iohn Zamogil our Secretarie to giue your maiestie to vnderstand of this our comming. For being told by the Polonian embassadours, that we were chosen vnto the gouernment of that kingdome F vpon condition, That according vnto the custome of our predecessours the Polonian kings, we should keepe loue and friendship with the most excellent The Turks desire to be called Mussu [...]man, which in their language signifieth a right beleeuer. Mussulman emperours: we promise vnto your soueraigne maiestie, that we are willing with the like or greater zeale and deuotion, to continue that amitie and friendship with your most excellent maiestie, and the Othoman emperours your successours. For confirmation whereof, so soone as we shall come vnto CRACOVIA, the regall citie of POLONIA, [Page] and there be crowned; we will forthwith send our great embassadour vnto your maiestie. In G the meane time we most earnestly request your maiestie, that our kingdome may on your maiesties behalfe rest in safetie and peace: which we persuade our selues you will easily grant. So wishing vnto you all health and happinesse, we bid you farewell, from DANSKE the 18 of October, in the yeare 1587, and of our raigne the first.

Vnto which the kings request and letters, Amurath not long after returned this answere in writing.

Amurath the third, emperour of the Turkes, vnto Sigismund king of POLONIA greeting.

H

Amurath his answere vnto the letters of Sigismund.I take it well, and as a token of your loue, that your embassadour Iohn Zamogil came with your letters vnto our most high and glorious Court, the refuge of distressed princes: wherein you haue giuen vs to vnderstand, how that in stead of the most excellent and famous king Stephen of worthie memorie late king of POLONIA; you, descended of the same noble stocke and race of the Polonian kings, are by the free election of the whole State of the famous kingdome of POLONIA, and the great kingdome of LITHVANIA, chosen king of POLONIA: and being sent for by lawfull embassadours, by the fauour and goodnesse of God to be come vnto the citie of DANSKE, and from thence to be about to go vnto CRACOVIA the chiefe citie of the kingdome of POLONIA. And when you are there arriued, to send your great embassadour vnto our most high and glorious Court, to confirme, preserue, and establish the league and amitie commodious and necessarie for both our kingdomes, honoured and I kept by your auntient predecessours, with our grandfathers and great grandfathers; yea and that with greater zeale and deuotion than any your noble auncestours. And therefore your embassadour in your name requesteth, That no inuasion on our behalfe be made into the borders of the kingdome of POLONIA, or any harme there done: and that the most noble Tartar prince Isbam Gerai (whom God blesse) should be warned and restrained, that he neither make nor suffer any incursion to be made into the confines of the kingdome of POLONIA. All which things in your letters contained, with the rest which your embassadour hath by word of mouth deliuered, are with speed orderly by vs conceiued. Know you therefore our most stately and magnificent Court to be alwaies open vnto such as resort thereunto, and that from thence neuer man had repulse, neither shall hereafter haue: wherefore it beseemeth you, as soone as these our letters shall be brought vnto you, to open your eies, and to beware that nothing be on K your part done against the maiestie of our Court, and the league; and that our peace and amitie be neither in much or little disturbed, but as best beseemeth, well and sincerely kept: and so persuade your selfe it shall on our part also be most inuiolatly obserued. Our letters are also directed vnto the most excellent Tartar prince Isbam Gerai, whom God blesse, straightly charging and commaunding him, not to make or suffer any incursion to be made into the borders of POLONIA. In briefe, the league and amitie shall on our part be religiously kept: and whosoeuer shall presume to doe any harme vnto the kingdome or confines of POLONIA, shall therfore without faile receiue from vs due punishment. So on your part also it is requisit that the same be done, and that in declaration of your loue you forget not oftentimes to intimate vnto our most high and glorious Court, such certaine occurents and newes as shall happen in those parts; which shall be vnto vs a signe of your sincere loue and friendship. So know L you, and giue credit vnto this our seale from CONSTANTINOPLE.

Neither was king Sigismund vnmindfull of this his promise before made for the sending of his embassadour: but being possessed of the Polonian kingdome, sent Christopher Dziercius (his Secretarie) embassador vnto Amurath for the confirming of the league: which he hath euer since so firmely kept with the Turke, as that he could neuer by any intreatie of the emperour, or of the princes electors, or others, or in respect of the common danger, be drawne into the fellowship of this long and religious warre, so hardly maintained by the emperour, and some few other Christian princes his confederats; first against Amurath whilest he liued, and euer since against Mahomet his sonne, which now raigneth: the issue whereof, God grant it proue not as well vnto M the Polonians as others farther off, in fine lamentable.

1588The yeare following, Ferat (yet the Turkes Generall in PERSIA) tooke the citie of GENGE, being before for feare of the Turkes quite abandoned and forsaken by the inhabitants;Genge taken by Ferat. who yet vpon his faith giuen for their safetie returned againe, yeelding to pay vnto the Turke a yearely tribute [Page] A of fiue thousand duckats. But when he would haue gone farther into the enemies countrie, hauing part of his armie cut off by the way, he was by his mutinous souldiors fouly intreated, wounded, and enforced to retire. Cicala Bassa also passing ouer the riuer Euphrates, had in those quarters diuers bloudie skirmishes with the Persians, sometime carrying away the better and sometime the worse, as the fortune of the field serued. Vntill at length Amurath himselfe, no lesse wearie than his people of that long and chargeable warre, and the Persian king also enclining to peace; hee by the persuasion of Sinan Bassa (but lately before receiued into fauour) was now contented to be entreated to hearken vnto the same: moued thereunto as well by reason of new troubles then in other places arising, as for the great famine and plague then raging in CONSTANTINOPLE. And considering withall what a great territorie he had woon from the Persians, B and how necessarie it was for him by peace to confirme himselfe in those his new conquests, and by the building of certaine strong forts for the succour of one another, and by the placing of his Timariots therein to assure the same vnto him: all which without peace he could not possibly doe, as the old Bassa right wisely told him. For which reasons he yeelded to peace; and so embassadours passing too and fro, a peace was at length agreed vpon betwixt these two great Mahometane princes: the Turke couenanting to keepe vnto himselfe the places he had alreadie gained, namely TAVRIS, GENGE, SIRVAN, and CHARS, with all the profits thereof arising, for the maintenance of his garrisons and Timariots there. Whereof it was thought new stirres would eftsoones arise; the Turkes growne insolent of their late victories, being not able to content themselues with the conditions of the league; and the Persians not willing to liue in continuall C feare of the Turkes, especially seeing themselues to be daily by them more and more oppressed; and withall doubting least the Turks after they had taken fast footing in those new conquered countries, and so growne strong, and gotten better knowledge of the passages, should (after their ambitious manner) seeke to possesse themselues of the rest; not keeping the couenants agreed vpon betwixt them, nor at all regarding the capitulations of the league. Which was neuerthelesse (as we said) on both sides for the space of ten yeares orderly confirmed, with all due circumstances and ceremonies in like occurrents by the great potentats of the world vsed: and for the more assurance thereof, one of the Persian kings sonnes (or as some others say, one of his nephewes) giuen vnto the Turks in hostage, as Amurath required.

These long warres thus ended,The Ianizarie [...] in a tumul [...] at Constantinople. shortly after a great sedition was raised at CONSTANTINOPLE D by the souldiors of the Court, which returning out of PERSIA, with great insolencie demaunded their pay. For the satisfying of whom, by the consent of the great Sultan himselfe, the valew of the coine was enhaunsed; and a new kind of subsidie for leuying of money imposed vpon the subjects in generall, none excepted: who standing vpon their auntient liberties and priuiledges, refused to pay it, especially the Ianizaries and other souldiors of the Court. Wherefore their Aga (or captaine) was commaunded to appease them, and to persuade them to pay the demaunded tribute: in attempting whereof he was in danger to haue been slaine by the insolent Ianizaries, and yet neuerthelesse for preuailing no more with them, was in displeasure thrust out of his office, and another placed in his roume, that should haue married Amuraths daughter; of whom for all that the Ianizaries would not accept in any case, but threw stones at E him,Great harme done by fire in Constantinople▪ and threatned to kill him. The next night a great fire arose in the citie, for the quenching whereof, the Ianizaries were commaunded (as their dutie was) to put to their helping hands: which they not only most obstinatly refused to do, but also kept backe others that brought water for the quenching therof, and togither with the other souldiors of the court did what they might to make it burne the faster. With the rage of this fire were consumed seauen of their temples, fiue and twentie great Innes, fifteene thousand houses, with many warehouses and shops. To appease this dangerous stirre, and to preuent farther mischiefe, commaundement was giuen to the Beglerbeg of GRaeCIA, and Dauid Passy a Iew, the first authors of this new imposition, that they should either gather the aforesaid tribute by them deuised, and pay the souldiors, or by some other meanes to giue them contentment. But here began the priests publikely to dissuade the F people from payment of this new tribute, or any other such like; persuading them in any case to defend their auntient liberties and customes: whereupon the churches were by the priests shut vp, publike prayers for the health of the Sultan intermitted, the Bassaes houses assaulted, and all the citie on a new hurly burly. For the appeasing whereof, Amurath was glad to yeeld vnto the Ianizaries, to pay the souldiors out of his owne treasurie, to reuoke his mandates giuen out for [Page] the exaction of the new tribute, and to deliuer the two persuaders thereof to the pleasure of the G Ianizaries; who drew them vp and downe the streets at horses tailes, and afterwards cutting off their heads, in scorne tossed them from hand to hand one to another, as if they had beene tennise balls.

About the latter end of September Sinan Bassa of BVDA hauing with the assistance of the Sanzacks about FILLE, raised an armie of eleuen thousand soldiors, with purpose to haue spoiled all the vpper part of HVNGARIE,Sinan Bassa of Buda inuadeth the vpper part of Hungarie. came the sixt of October before the castle of PVTNOC, and gaue thereunto summons: but finding them in the castle better prouided and more resolute than he had before supposed, he departed thence, and passing the riuer Schayo, came to SIXO, a towne of about fiue hundred houses, which after a sore batterie he tooke, and burnt it downe to the ground. In the meane while Claudius Russell, Generall for the warres in that part of HVNGARIE,H hauing assembled his forces, came vpon him, and after an hard fight put him to the worse, when he had slaine of his Turkes about two thousand fiue hundred,Sinan ouerthrowne. besides three hundred other drowned in the riuer Schayo. Shortly after, the Christians in like manner breaking into the frontiers of the Turkes, tooke from them the castles of BLAVENSTIEN, GESTES, with some other small forts thereabouts in the vpper part of HVNGARIE.

1589 Sinan for that he had contrarie to the league, and without commaundement from Amurath, so vnfortunately attempted warre in HVNGARIE, was the next yeare in great displeasure sent for to CONSTANTINOPLE, and Ferat Bassa of BOSNA (late Generall of the Turkes armie against the Persians, and now but newly come home) placed in his roume at BVDA.

Amurath before not ignorant of the great preparation that Philip the king of SPAINE had I made, and of the inuincible Armado (as it was tearmed) by him set forth for the inuasion of ENGLAND (the fame whereof had long before filled a great part of the world;) as also of the euill successe thereof the last yeare, viz. 1588; and of the purpose her Majestie of ENGLAND had for the troubling of his rich trade, especially into the West Indies, and for the relieuing of Don Anthonio, by him driuen out of PORTINGALL: writ vnto her about this time concerning those and such like matters as he had beene moued of by her Agent as followeth.

Nicholaus Reusnerus epist. Turci [...]. lib. 12. pag. 42.

Amurath his letters vnto the queene of England.

Amurath the third, Emperour of the Turkes, vnto Elizabeth, Queene of ENGLAND, FRANCE, and IRELAND, greeting.

K

Most honourable Matrone of the Christian religion, mirror of chastitie, adorned with the brightnesse of soueraignetie and power amongst the most chast women of the people which serue Iesu, mistris of great kingdomes, reputed of greatest ma [...]estie and praise among the Nazarets, Elizabeth queene of ENGLAND, to whom we wish a most happie and prosperous raigne. You shall vnderstand by our high and imperiall letters directed vnto you, how that your Orator resiant in our stately and magnificent Court, hath presented vnto the throne of our Maiestie a certaine writing, wherein he hath certified vs, how that about foure yeares agoe you haue made war vpon the king of SPAINE, for the abating and breaking of his forces, wherewith he threateneth all other Christian princes, and purposeth to make himselfe the sole Monarch both of them and all the world beside: as also how that the same king of SPAINE hath by force taken from Don Anthonio, lawfully created king of PORTINGALL, his L kingdome: and that your intention is, that his ships which go and come into the Indies, may from henceforth be embarred and stayed from that nauigation: wherein are yearely brought into SPAINE pretious stones, spices, gold, and siluer, esteemed worth many millions, wherewith the aforesaid king as with a great treasure enriched, hath meanes to molest and trouble all other Christian princes: which if he shall still proceed to doe, he will make himselfe dayly stronger and stronger, and such an one as may not easily be weakened. After that, your aforesaid Oratour requested our Highnesse in the beginning of the next Spring to send out our imperiall fleet against him, being assured that the king of SPAINE could not be able easily to withstand it, for that he had now alreadie receiued a great ouerthrow by your fleet: and being scarce able to withstand you alone, if he should be on diuers parts inuaded, must needs be ouercome, to the great benefit of all the Christian princes, as also of our imperiall state. Besides this,M that whereas the aforesaid Don Anthonio is by force driuen out and depriued of his kingdome, that we (to the imitation of our noble progenitors of happie memorie, whose graues the Almightie lighten) should also giue the aid and succour of our magnificent state, as did they vnto all such as had recourse vnto their high Courts and pallaces for reliefe. In briefe, all these things, with many others, [Page] A which your aforesaid Oratour hath at large declared vnto our imperiall throne, we haue well vnderstood, and layed them vp in our deepe remembrance. But for as much as we for many yeares past haue made warres in PERSIA, with a full resolution and intent vtterly to conquer and subdue the kingdome of that accursed Persian hereticke, and to ioyne the same vnto our auntient dominions; and by the grace of God and helpe of our Great Prophet, are now vpon the point for the satisfying of our desire: that once done, due prouision shall be assigned vnto all such things as you haue of vs requested or desired. Wherefore if you shall sincerely and purely continue the bond of amitie and friendship with our high Court, you shall find no more secure refuge or safer harbour of good will or loue. So at length all things shall goe well and according to your hearts desire in your warres with SPAINE, vnder the shaddow of our happie throne. And for as much as the king of SPAINE hath by fraud and deceit got B whatsoeuer he holdeth, without doubt these deceitfull deceiuers shall by the power of God in short time be dispatched and taken out of the way. In the meane time we exhort you not to loose any opportunitie or time, but to be alwayes vigilant, and according to the conuentions betwixt vs, fauourable vnto our friends, and vnto our enemies a foe. And giue notice here to our high Court of all the new wars which you shall vnderstand of concerning the said king of SPAINE, for the behoofe both of your selfe and vs. To be briefe, your embassadour after he had with all care and diligence dispatched his embassage, and here left in his place one Edward Bardon his Deputie and Agent, now by our leaue maketh his returne towards your kingdome, being for the good and faithfull seruice he here did, worthie to be of you esteemed, honoured, and before others promoted: who when he hath obtained of you all those his deserued honours and preferments, let him or some other principall embassadour without delay be appointed C to our imperiall Court, to continue this office of legation. This we thought good to haue you certified of vnder our most honourable Seale, whereunto you may giue vndoubted credence. From our imperiall pallace at CONSTANTINOPLE the 15 of the blessed moneth September. Ramazan 1589.

Yet for all these faire shewes it may seeme vnto him that looketh more neere into the state of the Turkish affaires at those times, and that which hath ensued since, that Amurath glad of the discord of these two so great Christian princes, and not yet well assured of his new conquests in PERSIA, had no great mind to the inuasion of SPAINE, as too farre from the strength of his empire, an enterprise not to be so easily managed by sea, as were the wars he shortly after vndertooke against the Christian emperour Rodolph by land: wherewith for all that (God be thanked) D he found his hands full all the remainder of his life, as hath his sonne Mahomet that now raigneth after him, euen vnto this day.

About this time also the Polonian borderers (whom they call Cossackes) a rough and warlike kind of people,The Polonian Cossack [...] inuade the Tartarians and Turkes. after their wonted manner making an inrode vpon the Turkes and Tartarians, vpon the sudden surprised KOSLAVV, a port town within a daies journey of CAPPA, where they had the spoile of many rich warehouses of the Turkes marchants, and the rifling of certain ships lying there in harbour; and hauing taken their pleasure, burnt the rest, and so with a great bootie returned to their lurking places. With which injurie the Tartars prouoked, and set on by the Turkes, to the number of fortie thousand brake into PODOLIA and the prouinces neere vnto POLONIA, and resting in no place, but burning the countrey before them, slew the poore E countrey people without mercie; and making hauocke of all that they light vpon, beside the spoile, carried away with them many thousands of most miserable captiues: the greatest part whereof for all that, the Polonians rescued, with the notable slaughter of the enemie, surprised in his returne. Whereupon such vnkindnesse rise between the Turkish emperour and Sigismund the Polonian king, that it was thought it, would haue broken out into open warres, had not the Polonian by his embassadours and the mediation of the queene of ENGLAND wisely appeased the angrie Turke, and so againe renewed his league.

Amurath now at peace with the world,1590 from which he by nature abhorred not, and sitting idle and melancholie at home,The reasons wherewith the Visi [...]r Bassa [...]s persuade Amurath to make warre. was persuaded by the Bassaes his counsellors to take some new warre in hand. For that great empires (as they said) could not without the continuall vse of armes long F stand or continue: as appeared by the Romane state, which so long as it was at wars with CARTHAGE▪ or their great captaines and commaunders occupied in armes against their neighbour princes, still remained triumphant, and commaunded ouer a great part of the world; but giuing it selfe to [...]ase and pleasure, and the martiall men not after their wonted manner employed, it in short time by ciuile discord fell, and of the mistresse of the world became it selfe a prey euen vnto [Page] the basest nations. Which old Cato in his great wisdome foreseeing, cried out in the Senat, That G the souldiors and men of warre were to be kept still busied in armes farre from home; for that in so doing all should goe well with the state, and the glorie thereof encrease. Wherunto the Othoman emperours, his noble progenitors, hauing respect, propounded not peace as the end of their warres (as do other weake princes, hauing their owne forces in distrust) but as inuincible conquerours still sowed warres vpon warres, making one victorie the beginning of another: whereby they not onely brought that their empire vnto that greatnesse it was now of, but by such continuall employment made their souldiors more couragious and readie, and also kept them from rebellions and tumults: whereunto, in time of peace and liuing at ease, these martiall men are most commonly enclined, learning (as all others doe being doing nothing) to doe that is euill and nought. Euery thing (as they said) was by the same meanes to be maintained, whereby it was at H the first encreased: and that therefore great empires as they were by warres begun and augmented, so were they by continuall wars also to be from time to time established; whereas otherwise the souldiors liuing in peace, and forgetting their martiall prowesse, would for most part grow cowardly, as giuing themselues ouer to the loue of their owne dwellings, of their wiues, and of their children, and other pleasures; or els conuerting their studies vnto marchandise or other profitable trades, would in time forget the vse of armes, and be thereunto againe hardly drawne: vnto the great weakening of his strength both by sea and land, and the deminishing of the number of his great commaunders and expert captaines, not to be had without the continuall vse of warre. With these and such like reasons, the great Bassaes of the Court persuaded Amurath, That he must of necessitie take some new expedition in hand, and not to suffer his valiant souldiours, but I now lately returned out of PERSIA, to grow lasie or insolent for lacke of employment. Which they did not so much for the loue of their prince, or zeale vnto the State, as for their own particular profit, especially the two old Bassaes Sinan and Ferrat, the enuious competitours the one of the others honour: who although they both much and almost all commaunded both in peace and warre, yet was their honours greater, and their profit farre more in commaunding of the Turkes great armies abroad, than in sitting in the Diuano at home: vnto which no lesse honourable than profitable preferment they both with like ambition aspired, accompanied with the hot desires of their great and many fauourites both at home and elsewhere. These persuasions well pleased Amurath, who although he were himselfe no souldior, yet was he desirous of new conquests, and to encrease his name: accounting it no lesse honour vnto himselfe by his seruants at K his appointment to performe great things, than it was vnto his auncestours to doe that they did themselues in person.The causes why Amurath would not suddenly res [...]e vpon war. But in this so serious a matter, and of so great consequence, Amurath at the first could not tell what best to resolue vpon; not for that he was not desirous of warres, but because he as yet certainely knew not against whom he might with greatest profit and lesse difficultie and danger conuert his forces: vpon which point his counsellors agreed not, but for diuers reasons were of diuers opinions. Which for as much as they containe matters of greatest importance of all things then in the world done, but especially concerning the profit of the Christian commonweale, I shall not thinke it vnworth my labour to set them downe in such order as I find them credibly reported: hauing moreouer in them many secrets and most weightie matters not yet come to all mens knowledge: as also opening the deuices of the Turkish tyrant against L the Christian princes; a motiue not onely for them to joyne in counsell together how to withstand him, but for the common Christian commonweales sake to forget & forgiue all their priuat displeasures, and with their vnited forces and power honorably and couragiously to make warre vpon him, and so at length by the mercie of God to ouerthrow him, together with his tyrannicall empire, the greatest terrour of our time.

The great Bassaes concerning the intended warre were of eight sundrie opinions: whereof the first was,Eight seuerall opinion of the Vis [...]er Bassaes concerning the warre to be taken in hand. That the warres against the Persian should be renewed: the second, for the inuasion of the king of MOROCCO and FES: the third, for warre to be taken in hand against the king of SPAINE: the fourth, for the besieging againe of MALTA: the fifth, was to set vpon the Venetians: the sixt, for the inuading of some part of ITALIE: the seuenth, for the king of POLONIA:M the eight and last was, for warre to be made vpon the emperour and the kingdome of HVNGARIE. With all the which aforesaid princes, except the Spaniard, although the Turke were then in league, and could not with all or any of them make warre, without the notable breach of his faith and honour: yet was that neuer made question or scruple of, but only, Which might best [Page] A stand with the profit of his state for him to set vpon: his barbarous law allowing him that libertie, for the more assuring of his state or inlarging of his empire, to breake all faith and promise especially with the Christians; not more in any thing to be pitied, than in reposing any credit or confidence in the faith of such a miscreant.

The reasons the great Bassaes alleadged for the renewing of the Persian warre,The first opinion and reasons of them that would haue the war [...] renewed in Persia. were, For that the Persian king was of himselfe like to breake the league so lately with him concluded, so soone as he should know the Turkes entangled in any other warre; moued thereunto, as well for the recouerie of his countrey to his great dishonour lost, as also in reuenge of so many and so great injuries to him of late done by the Turkish emperours. Beside that, the Christian princes would persuade him and pricke him forward thereunto: especially the Spaniard, who for the neerenesse B of INDIA might without his great charge procure him so to doe, and also conueniently furnish him with great ordinance and canoniers, which it was well knowne he of late did. The countries also but lately conquered, were not yet (as they said) in quietnesse or safetie, and the fortresses therein but of late built, togither with the garrisons therein, to be in great danger, being for the length of the way and difficultie of the passage, not to be still speedily relieued: insomuch, that if the Persians did them no other harme, but onely to forrage and wast the countrey about them, they should bring the inhabitants into such distresse, as that those new conquered countries were againe by the defendants to be forsaken, or else they must themselues with hunger perish. True glorie (they said) consisted not so much in conquering, as in the vse of the conquest, and the prosecution of the happie victorie: and that therefore Amurath should take heed, C that he prouoked not the wrath and indignation of the Great prophet Mahomet against him; who hauing by his good fauour and guide obtained mo victories than any of his predecessours against the enemies of his religion, ought as a religious and deuout prince seuerely to reuenge the wrong by them done both to God and man. Vnto which religious warre Vsbeg Han the Tartar king, as also the prince of G [...]ILAN offered their readie helpe: as for the euent of the victorie now as good as in his hand, he was to judge by the successe of his former warres. Neither that he need to feare the Persian horsemen, although they vsed Arabian horses, being by his men many times shamefully put to flight: or yet to doubt least the Georgians in fauour of the Persians should take vp armes, for that many of them were alreadie vnder his obeisance, and subject vnto the Bassa of TEFLIS and other his commaunders; the rest were his vassals, or else such D as following the fortune of their princes, Simon and Alexander, sought after no greater matter, but contenting themselues with their own countrey, although but small, thought themselues well if they might keepe and defend the same; by nature and situation so strong, as that there is scarce any way into it, by reason of the high and broken mountaines, the thicke woods, and strait passages.

The second opinion which was deliuered,The second op [...] nion for making of war vpon the king of Fez and Morocco, & the reasons thereof. was for the transportation of his warres into AFFRICKE against the king of MOROCCO, commonly called the Seriphe: and that for these causes most, It would be a great shame and reproach (as they said) vnto the Othoman empire, that it was not yet able to subdue these Moores and people of AFFRICKE, in number but few: neither was it lesse shame or dishonour vnto the Othoman emperours, to haue so small a territorie in E AFRICA, being the third part of the world, which by reason of the neerenesse vnto ITALIE, had long time held wars with the Romans. Beside that, ALGIERS and TVNES could neuer be safely kept by the Turkes; neither that the subjects and pyrats which inhabited those cities would euer be content or at quiet, vntill they had againe got that kingdome into their hands. The promontorie of AGVERO and port of LARACE (two ports without the straits) were (as they said) to be taken, as places verie commodious for the Turks friends, seeking in those seas after bootie, and for the securing of their trade. And although the Seriphe were himselfe a Mahometane, and held his kingdome as a tributarie vnto the Othoman empire; yet had he secret intelligence with the Spaniard and the knights of MALTA, whereby they not long since had vpon the sudden almost surprised TRIPOLIS, he in the meane time as it were winking thereat. And that although F the Spaniard possessed in AFFRICKE, MARASCHEBIR, ORAN, PEGNON, TANGER, A [...] ZILLA, MAZAGA, CEVTE or SEPTA, places whereby he might helpe and assist the Moores; yet might his force and attempts by a strong fleet be easily hindred, and SPAINE it selfe infested. Beside that, the Spaniards had yet in such fresh remembrance the losse of TVNES and GVLETTA (places by them thought inexpugnable, and yet by Sinan Bassa to his immortall praise taken) [Page] as that they would not for the Moores sake easily seeme to attempt any thing against the G Turkes.

The third opinion concerning the conquest of Malta.The third opinion was concerning the war to be made against them of MALTA, which was by a strong fleet to be performed: for that the gallies of MALTA did daily great hurt, as well vnto the Turkes merchants, as vnto such as for deuotion sake trauelled by sea vnto MECHA. And that therefore the warre was thither to be transferred, not onely for religions sake and to assecure the passage thither from the incursions of the Malteses, but also in reuenge of the old and late injuries by them done; and especially to blot out the infamie and disgrace which the Great Sultan Solyman had incurred, at such time as he had in vaine besieged that island, and to requi [...]e the losse by him there sustained. Beside that, they also alleadged the common complaints of the subjects: for that there were many which pitiously lamented the miserie and calamitie, some of H their friends, some their kinsfolke, whom they knew to liue in most wofull seruitude with those knights, and whom they most earnestly desired to haue now set at libertie: complaining, his subjects to haue been so farre from suffering of any such things from those knights in the time of his auncestors, as that contrariwise they themselues were by them driuen out of the island of the RHODEES, the strongest bulwarke of the Christian common-weale toward the East. Being moreouer worthie also to be chastised, for that they had holpen the rebellious Moores with all kind of munition, and had themselues attempted to haue surprised MODON.

The fourth opinion for warre to be made against the K. of Spaine, and the reasons thereof.In the fourth place were they which were of opinion, that it were best for him to make war vpon the king of SPAINE. These men alleadged it to be impossible for the Turkish empire to aspire vnto the Monarchie of the whole world (whereunto all the Turkes actions and deuises I were alwaies as at a certaine marke directed) except the Spaniard his great strength and power were first weakened, wherein he seemed to surpasse all other the Christian kings and princes: and that there was no feare least he should besiege ALGIERS, which he knew to be now much better fortified than it was in the time of the emperour Charles the fifth. And that although the Spaniards without ceasing besought their king for the vndertaking of that expedition, by reason of the new losses and harmes which they daily receiued from the pyrats of AFRICA; yet would he not hearken vnto their request, for feare of the danger imminent both to himselfe and his subjects from the enemies fleet, which he should in so doing draw into the Spanish seas: neither would the Spanish gallies easily come into the Turkes countries in the East, for being too farre from their owne countrey, which for the most part stood in need of their helpe. And that the king of K SPAINE was with the multitude of his businesse, or other his vrgent affaires still so hindred, as that he could not suddenly put in execution what his counsell for the wars should decree. As also how much it was to be gathered by that which happened not long since at PREVEZA and NAVARINVM, That the Spaniards shunned the Othoman forces: as also how warily the king delt in all his affaires, least at length against his will he should be enforced to enter into warres with the Turke, was most manifest; as was to be seene when as of late about the end of the Persian warre, he refused to giue aid vnto the Persian king whom he might haue holpen, and was so before wont to doe. And in case that he would stand vpon his guard, and by force seeke to repell force; yet should he scarce haue so much strength as (beside those wars which he now maketh in diuers places) to be able to vndertake also a new warre, and to find so many souldiors, with so L much coine and other things necessarie for so great a war. It stood him in hand (as they said) to defend the low countries, and to recouer againe the prouinces there lost, which of themselues wonderfull strong, both by reason of the sea and the multitude of the riuers, were also with wonderfull courage and pertinacie defended by the inhabitants, for their libertie and religions sake. Whereunto the English (at deadly hatred with the Spaniard) might many waies giue great helpe, if they should inuade PORTINGAL, or with their ships lie in wait for his Indian fleet, or make incursions into other his kingdomes, as they did not long since at the GROINE and CADEZ; places most fit to trouble SPAINE, and to hinder his traffique into the Indies or other places. Beside that, he was at that time so entangled with his warres in FRANCE, as that he could scarce find how to dispatch himselfe thereof, without the losse of his honour and credit. And admit M he should make peace with the aforesaid princes, in such sort as that he should not frō thenceforth from them receiue any harme; yet were other means to be sought and taken in hand for his farther disturbance; as by troubling his rich trade for spices and other merchandise, whereof he receiueth great profit; as also if need were, by driuing his ships out of the Persian gulfe, by the helpe [Page] A of those gallies which still lie at road at POSSIDIVM, which we now call SVEZ. And that the fortresses and strong holds he there possesseth, were to be set vpon▪ and if it might be taken from him; as was once attempted against the Portingals at DIV and ORMVZ: the like whereof Alfonsus Albuquercius (the king of PORTINGAL his viceroy in INDIA) attempted, when as with his light horsemen running through that countrey, he thought vpon the sudden to haue spoyled MECHA, and to haue robbed the Sepulchre of Mahomet (as had happened vnder the empire of the Sultans) and as Traian the emperour had long since in like manner attempted to rage and spoile. Those places which he possessed in AFFRICKE were (as they said) to be set vpon, and the coast of SPAINE towards the Mediterranean to be infested▪ so at length to gratifie the Moores his subjects, who still instantly requested the same, that so they might more safely traffique B and trauell, and that so the Moores might at length be deliuered from the imperious commaund of the Spaniards: of which exploit Sultan Selymus lately before dead, was in his life time well persuaded; but might now at this time be much more commodiously done, for that th [...] Moorish nation was now greatly increased, and much oppressed by the Spaniards; and hauing got great wealth by the trade of merchandise, euen by nature and religion had conceiued a mortall hatred against the Spaniards: whereunto might not a little auaile the por [...] in AFFRICKE▪ whereinto the Turkes fleet might at all times in safetie retire. And in briefe, that which was of greatest importance to the better successe of this war, the French king and the queene of ENGLAND, had of their owne accord promised the continuation of their warres, and that the French king should inuade NAVARRE, and by force of armes recouer the right he pretended vnto that C kingdome; whilest in the meane time, the queene of ENGLAND should not only trouble him in the West Indies, and other places of the Ocean towards the North and the West, but might also stirre vp new broiles in the kingdome of PORTINGAL, where most part of the people with great impatiencie beare the prowd commaund of the Spaniard: as persuaded (and that truly) all their prosperitie and quietnesse to haue been lost, togither with their last king their true and lawfull soueraigne. For he at peace with the kings of FRANCE and ENGLAND, exceedingly thereby enriched his subjects by traffique: whereas since they fell into the hands of the Spaniard, they daily complaine of their new losses and dangers by reason of his perpetuall wars. Moreouer, that there was to be found great store of exiled Spaniards dispersed here and there, which being malecontent and wearie of the Spanish gouernment, were fled not only out of PORTINGAL, D but euen out of ARAGON & other parts of his kingdome: which now liuing in FRANCE, ENGLAND, and CONSTANTINOPLE, both secretly and openly liberally offered great helpes: the like whereof many of the Moores also promised. All which togither seemed to promise a most easie expedition and certaine victorie, if any should vpon the sudden inuade SPAINE; for that there was almost no vse of armes, the inhabitants at home seldome times exercising themselues therein; neither in places needfull hauing any ordinarie garrisons, and but few horses fit for seruice. And that in fine it was to be considered, SPAINE to be greatly bared of men which knew how valiantly and couragiously to mannage armes, for the often choise they make of them, which are almost daily transported into the Indies, ITALIE, and the Low countries, whereby the strength of his countrey must needs be exceedingly impaired: so that if they should be inuaded E with any strong and mightie armie, they might seeme hardly able to be holpen or defended by their owne people, but should need of the aid and helpe of the other neere prouinces subject vnto this kingdome: which if they should be either letted or stay to come in good time, they should leaue so much the more easie victorie vnto their enemies.

In the fift place were they which went about to persuade Amurath to breake his league with the Venetians,The fift opinion for the inuasion of the Venetians, and the reasons why. vsing reasons rather probable than true; although they might seeme vnto the Turkes lesse doubtfull, for that men easily and willingly beleeue such things as they themselues desire. These men went about to proue no expedition to be of lesse difficultie than this, as judging of things present by the euent of former warres passed; wherein the Turks had alwaies taken something from the Venetians: who to redeeme their peace, were diuers waies enforced to F satisfie the Turks. That the Venetian common-weale was affraid of the Turkes and abhorred warre, was manifest they said in that, that in all actions it had propounded vnto it selfe peace, as the end thereof; and after the manner of their auncestors, neuer entred into warres; but enforced thereunto: and would happily vpon the first denouncing of warres, willingly depart with certaine places forfeare of greater harme, or to be vtterly ouercome, as it appeared they did in the [Page] yeelding vp of CYPRVS. The power and force whereof was not so great, as that it could alone G stand against the great Sultan: and to confederat it selfe with others, would require no small delay, for the great and many difficulties which commonly vsed to arise in making of leagues; not being now so conjoyned with the Spaniard as in times past, of whose aid it being of late destitute, was constrained to make an hard peace with Selymus. And if so be the Spaniard would needs joyne himselfe vnto the Venetians against the Turkes, yet that he could by no meanes affourd vnto them such aid and supplies as were of necessitie to be required vnto so great a war, he himselfe being in his warres otherwise so entangled: as for all other confederation they could make without him, to be but weake and to no purpose. That which the Pope could do herein to be but little: for albeit he should according to his dutie exhort other Christian princes to giue aid, and to stirre them vp vnto this warre, yet that beside some little supplie of mony hardly drawne out H of his owne cofers and the ecclesiasticall reuenues, he could scarcely performe any thing more; or when he had done his vttermost deuoire, could but joyne fiue gallies of his owne vnto the Venetian fleet: which with the gallies of the duke of SAVOY, of the knights of MALTA, and of the Florentines, could but make a fleet of some twentie gallies, which was but a small matter. Besides that the Turkes were persuaded, that betwixt the Venetian state and the other Christian princes was no such friendship and good agreement, as the greatnesse of the imminent danger of that warre, and as the necessitie of the cause would require: and that hitherto their treasures had beene so exhausted in paying the debt they were run into in the last warre, and in building of fortresses, that happily they were not now so furnished with coyne, as was requisit for the defraying of so great a warre. And vnto this warre against the Venetians, consented almost all the Visier I Bassaes, differing only in this, Where or against what place of the Venetian territorie this warre were to be first begun: some naming one place, and some another (for diuers reasons them therunto leading) which for breuitie we passe ouer.

The sixt opinion for the attempting of Italie, and the reason [...] thereof.Othersome of the Bassaes in the sixt place, rejecting all the former opinions concerning the warre to be taken in hand, would haue had all the forces of the Othoman empire, as well by land as sea, to haue beene conuerted against ITALIE: for that otherwise the Turkes should neuer come vnto the Monarchie of the whole world (whereunto as at a marke they had directed all their actions) except they did first subdue ITALIE. For that this countrey, as the centre of the whole world, was wont to giue both counsell and aid vnto the rest of the limbes, whereby the deuices of others were crossed: and that the Romanes had at length commaunded ouer all the K world, especially for that they held in possession this countrey. Hereat did the Hunnes, the Alani and Gothes, the Vandales, the Frenchmen, Spaniards, and Sara [...]ins, direct all their thoughts and cogitations. In fine they concluded, That no expedition could be taken in hand more honourable or profitable than this: for that ITALIE was as a queene amongst other prouinces, for commodious situation, the wholesomenesse of the aire, the plentie of all things necessarie for mans life, for great, faire, and most rich cities, for the auntient glorie and majestie of the Romane empire, and many other causes also. Neither that this expedition was to be deemed of much difficultie, for that ITALIE was vnder the rule of diuers princes, vnto whose commaund most of their subjects vnwillingly obeyed: as also for that the inhabitants of that countrey had now for many yeares liued in continuall peace, and were therefore the more effeminat L and fearefull, and so vnfit for the warres: and that if that expedition were in one or diuers places taken in hand before the corne were full ripe, the Turkes in that so fruitfull a countrey could neuer want necessaries for them to liue vpon; whereas the inhabitants in great number wanting the same, and shut vp within the wals and fortifications of their cities and strong townes, should be brought into extreame wants: which was the more euidently to bee seene, for that at this time wherein they were at peace, they had not corne sufficient in the countrey for such a multitude of people to liue vpon, but were glad to haue it brought vnto them from other places, especially from PELOPONESVS, CONSTANTINOPLE, and the cities vpon the coast of the great Ocean. Furthermore, that it was to be considered, That most part of the Italians liued by no other meanes than by their handie labour, or the trade of marchandise; of which meanes if they were M depriued, they should in short time be brought to that point, as to be glad to accept of such conditions as the victor should propound vnto them, or as tributaries to submit themselues vnto the Othoman gouernment. Neither that the souldiors would vnwillingly be drawne vnto that war; for that they were not to passe through barren regions of the enemie, frosen with yse, or desolate, [Page] A either by rough woods or inaccessible mountains; but were all the way thither to trauell throgh their owne country, and as it were in the sight of their own houses: and if the Turks could oftentimes enter so farre, when as they had their confines more remote, and their passages more difficult, that the same might now much more easily be effected, when as they had a far greater opportunitie, and their enemies so neere at hand.

The seuenth opinion was theirs,The seuenth opinion for war [...]o b [...] made against the Polonian, & the reasons thereof. which thought it best to haue the war transferred into POLONIA, and from thence into HVNGARIE and GERMANIE: for which they alleadged these reasons. First, for that they thought it a disgrace vnto the majestie and reputation of the Othoman empire, That the king of POLONIA had somtime refused to pay his tribute due (for so the Turks account of all such presents as are vnto their Sultan vsually sent by their neighbour princes, of B courtesie) and that therefore he was by force of armes to be compelled thereunto. Which they thought would the more easily be obtained, for that there was much secret hatred and heart-burning amongst the Polonian nobilitie. Neither that it would be any difficult or dangerous warre to bee taken in hand: for as much as POLONIA was confined with MOLDAVIA, the Tartars, and the Sanzacks of ACHERMAN, BENDERA, and VOSIA: and moreouer, for that the Turkes could neuer haue any assured or full possession of MOLDAVIA or VALACHIA, except the insolencie of the Polonians were repressed; the Vayuods of which countries, when they had enriched themselues with much wealth, vsed still to flie into the kingdome of POLONIA. Besides that, they should thereby reuenge themselues for the injuries done them by the Cossackes, and haue more free and safe trafficke into MVSCOVIE, and bring a terrour vpon the C duke of MVSCOVIE, by reason of the nighnesse of the country: which great duke was an impediment vnto the Othoman emperour, that he conquered not the whole kingdome of PERSIA. And when they had by this meanes by little and little drawne neere vnto GERMANIE, happily it might so come to passe, as that the Christian emperor should thereby receiue some notable losse, his empire being still more and more exposed and enuironed with the Turks forces & garrisons. POLONIA they said to be a plaine and open countrey, neither to haue any strong places for to withstand them, and the inhabitants to haue small skill in martiall affaires, for that they had now long liued in peace. For as for the war that they had with Maximilian the Archduke of AVSTRIA, it continued not long: and king Stephen in the late wars he had with the Muscouite, vsed for most part the Hungarian souldiors, and ended those wars rather by besieging than fighting.

D They which in the eight and last place deliuered their opinions concerning the intended war;The eight opinion for warre to be made against the Emperor, and the reasons thereof. persuaded, to haue it conuerted vpon the Christian emperour; whom the Turks call the king of VIENNA. The causes they alledged for the beginning of this warre was, For that the Vscocchi were growne so insolent as to make good prise of the Turkes both by sea and land; in such sort; as that not onely for the harmes which they did, but euen for the majestie and honour of the Othoman empire, their insolencie was not longer to be suffered. By whose injuries it was especially brought to passe, that the marchants to their great hinderance in priuat, and the Sultans great losse in common, hauing left the towne of NARENTA or NARONA in the Turkes dominion, had remoued their mart to SALONA (now called SPALATO) a towne of the Venetians: and that yet for all that was not so sufficiently prouided for the securitie of the said marchants, although E there were peace betwixt the emperour and the Venetians: for that these vnruly men for most part liuing vpon the spoyle, troubled all both by sea and land with their robberies, driuing away mens cattell, burning the villages, and taking away the young babes out of the mothers armes and laps. Whereby it was easily to be seene, what mind they were of: and that it was not to be doubted, but that if occasion should serue for them to surprise any of the Turkes strong holds vpon the frontiers, they would with all their power attempt the same: which what a dishonour and infamie (not to speake of the losse) it would be vnto the whole Othoman empire, euery man might easily ghesse. Neither that it was vnknowne how little the Christian emperor had esteemed of the Turke, at such time as he was in warres with the Persian, paying his tribute too late at his pleasure; an euident signe rather of violating tha [...] of establishing the league. And F that the good successe of this warre was not to be deemed either difficult or doubtfull: for that the attempt might be giuen both by CROATIA, HVNGARIE, and AVSTRIA, countries abounding with all things necessarie for the maintenance of a great armie; as also for that they were almost to trauell all the way in the Turkes owne territorie. Beside that, the chiefe fortresses of HVNGARIE, namely BELGRADE, BVDA, and ALBA REGALIS, with many other strong places, [Page] were alreadie holden by the Turkes garrisons, whither their armies might in all cases of extremitie G in safetie retire, or out of the same garrisons repaire their losses, if any should be. The Romane empire (as they said) was more desirous of peace than war; and the princes, of nothing more carefull than how to heape vp and preserue their treasures: and the people of GERMANIE for that of long they had had no warres, to be lesse fit now to beare armes, and worse to be commaunded by their captaines; alwayes hauing in distrust the Hungarians, the Italians, and Spaniards, for that those nations are not beloued, but rather hated of the Germans, being not at vnitie among themselues, but deuided, especially about matters of religion. Neither that it was to bee feared, least forraine princes should giue aid vnto the emperour in this warre. The Polonian and Transyluanian to liue now in peace with the Turke, and therfore would by no meanes turne the heat of this warre into their owne bosomes: as also for that the Polonians were afraid, least in so H doing they should be driuen out of their countrey, and enforced to remoue themselues toward the frosen sea: and the Transyluanian hauing receiued his soueraignetie from the Turke, no lesse in feare (if he should so doe) to be of him againe stript and spoyled of the same▪ As for the king of SPAINE, although he were of such power, as might affourd vnto the house of AVSTRIA great aid, yet that he was in other places now too much busied: and that the bishop of ROME could not in all places be readie to serue his turne: the princes of ITALIE would not spend their subjects and treasures to pleasure another man: and that the Venetian State would not rashly stirre vp the Turkes armes against themselues, but rather at ease expect the euent of the warre than to entangle themselues with other mens dangers. These were the chiefe opinions of the great Bassaes concerning the warre to be taken in hand, not so much proceeding from any ripe or sound I aduice (as commonly they doe) but rather from a certaine barbarous insolencie and contempt of others, wherewith they moued, doe oftentimes vainely persuade them of the easie performance of diuers expeditions: which in proofe they find to be not onely most difficult, but vnto themselues also most pernitious.

Amurath reselueth to make w [...]rre vpon the emperour, with the reasons [...] him there [...]nto. In this so great diuersitie of opinions stood Amurath, of long in doubt what to resolue vpon: desirous he was in all places to shew his power, and (if it were possible) to exceed the glorie of his predecessours, as he thought himselfe to haue alreadie done in PERSIA; hauing as he boasted, by his seruants there performed more than they could themselues in person with their mightie armies. Wherefore contenting himselfe with that he had alreadie done in the East, hee resolued now to turne his forces against the Christian emperour towards the West, and that for K diuers respects. First, it grieued him to see the honour of the house of AVSTRIA, and that it durst to make head against him: besides that, to make warre vpon a countrey confining vpon his owne, would be a thing of farre lesse difficultie than was the Persian war, where his armies were now still to be led through his owne peaceable countries, from whence they were to bee at all times plentifully relieued with victuals and whatsoeuer els they needed. In which opinion he was also confirmed by Sinan Bassa; who hauing in vaine persuaded him to haue made warre against the Venetians, furthered now this warre, in hope thereby to recouer his credit and reputation, (before greatly empaired abroad by the litle he did in PERSIA; as also at CONSTANTINOPLE, by the discord betwixt him and Ferat Bassa, commonly called the Blacke Serpent) as also to encrease his wealth and riches: which shortly after sorted to his desire, being by the great Sultan L Amurath appointed Generall for those wars. But aboue all others, Hassan Bassa of BOSNA furthered this matter, in hope thereby to haue gained great riches (as the Turkes manner is) together with the greatest honours of the field, as hee was most vainely persuaded by his cold prophets, to whom he gaue no small credit. He therefore daily certified Amurath of the harmes which the Vscocchi and other the Archduke his seruants and subjects did vpon the frontiers of his territories: telling him of their burnings, spoylings, and robbings, inciting him to begin his warre in CROATIA, and so to continue the same either against the emperour, or the Venetians, or els vpon the sudden that way to breake into ITALIE, as had sometime the like beene done in the time of Mahomet, Baiazet ▪ and Solyman, his noble progenitours: whereby to bring a great terrour vpon all the princes of ITALIE, and to enrich his souldiors with rich spoyles. By which M his importunitie he (as a most mortall enemie not onely vnto the house of AVSTRIA, but vnto all Christendome) got leaue to begin those stirres in the frontiers of the empire, which were first fatall vnto himselfe, and haue euer since euen vntill this day notably exercised the armes of these two last Othoman emperours Amurath and Mahomet; as also the Christian emperour, with [Page] A others his friends and confederats. Yet vnto this leaue granted vnto the Bassa, was this condition at the first annexed, That he should not seeme to doe it by the commaundement of Amurath, but of himselfe, vnder colour to restraine the Vscocchi; who as well by land as by sea (as he pretended) spoiled both the Christians and Turks, by the great libertie of the princes of AVSTRIA, hauing small care to chasten them.

Now was it no great matter for Hassan Bassa to doe what Amurath his great lord and master had commaunded, for the disturbing of the peace betwixt him and the Christian emperour: the Turkes leagues with their neighbour princes being seldome so religiously kept, but that as well their souldiors in garrison vpon their frontiers by land, as their aduenturers by sea, might to keepe themselues doing, vpon a militarie insolencie (as the Turkes tearme it) now and then at their B pleasures make incursions for bootie both by sea and land: which answered with the like from their neighbours so molested, there neuer wanted new grieuances and just causes of complaint, to the stirring vp of greater troubles, euen amongst the greatest princes. The Venetians thus wronged at sea,1591 and their merchants robbed; by their embassadours complained at CONSTANTINOPLE of the injuries done them by the Turkes pyrats, requiring to haue them called home, and justice done vpon them. In like manner the emperour also, seeing many things both this yeare and the next attempted by Hassan Bassa in CROATIA, and the other Turkes in HVNGARIE, contrarie to the league, to the great disturbance of his subjects in both those countries, by his embassadour then lying at CONSTANTINOPLE, complained of these outrages, desiring to know whether they were done by the consent and knowledge of Amurath or not; and if not, C then to require that order might be taken for the restraining thereof: which was accordingly done, and those incursions for a while staied, and the former peace continued. Amurath still making shew as if he were willing that the league agreed vpon for eight yeares, should not be in any wise on his part infringed. At which time the Persian kings sonne (the league not long before concluded) died in the Turkes Court, where he lay in hostage: whose dead bodie Amurath caused to be honorably sent home to his father into PERSIA:The Persian hostage dieth in the Turkes Cou [...]. with an Apologie in defence of himselfe, against the suspition conceiued by some, that he should haue beene the cause of the vntimely death of that young prince; still vrging withall the confirmation of the league, which by the death of the prince was like enough to haue been broken. Whereof Amurath was the more desirous, for that persuaded by his Bassaes (as is aforesaid) to make warres with the emperour D(although he notably dissembled the same) he was in hope thereby to adde vnto his empire the reliques of HVNGARIE, with some good part of the territories of the house of AVSTRIA also, and so to open himselfe a way into the heart of GERMANIE. For which purposes he now caused very great preparation to be made, and a strong armie to be raised: and at the same time put a great fleet of gallies into the Archipelago for the safetie of his islands in that sea.

According to these designments,1592 the Bassa of BOSNA, by the commandement of Amurath, with an armie of fiftie thousand entred into CROATIA, and without resistance burnt and destroied the countrey before him, sparing nothing that came in his way▪ And not so contented, laid siege to the citie of WIHITZ,Wihitz the Metropoliticall cit [...]e of Croatia [...]eelded to the Turks. being the metropoliticall citie of that countrey, strongly situat E as it were in an island, compassed about with the riuer Yna: Which citie, after he had sore battered, and twise assaulted, was by the distressed defendants (now despairing of reliefe, and vnable longer to hold it out) yeelded vnto the Bassa vpon composition, That the Germain souldiors there in garrison, might in safetie with bagge and baggage depart; and that such of the Christian citisens as would, might there still remain without hurt from the Turks, either in bodie or goods. Which conditions the Bassa faithfully performed to the garrison souldiors, whom in number but foure hundred, he sent with safe conuoy into their owne territorie: but afterwards contrarie to his faith and promise, exercised all manner of Turkish tyrannie vpon the poore citisens. The emperour troubled with this vnexpected inuasion of the Turkes, sent the lord Petzen (whom he had many times employed in embassages to the Turke) to pray aid of the Germain princes F against the common enemie: who according to the greatnesse of the danger, in large tearmes promised their helpe. The first that made head, was Ernestus archduke of AVSTRIA, the emperours brother; who with fiue thousand souldiors came from VIENNA to SAVARIA, commonly called GREIS, the Metropolis of STIRIA: to whom repaired daily more strength out of CARINTHIA.

[Page] [...]In the meane time, the Turkes armie daily encreasing in CROATIA, enclosed six thousand G footmen, and fiue hundred horsemen of the Christians, who had taken the mountaines, woods, and strait passages, and so straitly beset them, that of all that number few escaped with life: amongst whom many valiant souldiors and expert captaines were slaine; namely, Iames Prants, George Plesbach, and Iohn Weluerdurff. The Bassa after the barbarous manner of the Turkes, to make his victorie more famous, laded six wagons with the heads of the slaine Christians. The Turkes thus raging in CROATIA, brought a generall feare vpon all HVNGARIE, BAVARIA, BOHEMIA, STIRIA, CARINTHIA, SILESIA, and the rest of the prouinces thereabouts. Whereupon the emperour calling togither the States of SILESIA and MORAVIA, declared vnto them the imminent danger; persuading them to joyne their forces with the rest, for the repulsing of so dangerous an enemie, and so imminent a danger.H

After long delay, Ernestus the archduke (the tenth of August) came to the emperour his brother, with the embassadour of HVNGARIE; and the seauenth day after were called togither the embassadours of the kingdomes and prouinces of the empire, where it was throughly debated, how the Turkes were to be resisted, and their attempts infringed; as also from whence; forces▪ money, and other warlike prouision was to be raised. For now it was manifestly seene, that longer to delay the matter was dangerous: and the rather, for that the Beglerbeg (or great commaunder) of GRaeCIA, with threescore thousand select souldiors both horse and foot, of long time exercised in the Persian warres, was ere long expected; who joyning with the rest of the Turkes armie, might doe great matters both in HVNGARIE and the places adjoyning. For preuenting of which so great and manifest dangers, they sat daily in counsell at PRAGE, yea oftentimes I euen from morning vntill night: for the Hungarians, and especially the lord Nadasti, a most noble & valiant gentleman amongst them, instantly vrged to haue succours sent into HVNGARIE; for as much as the Turkish emperour, if he should get into his hands the rest of the townes and castles yet holden by the Christians in HVNGARIE, it was to be feared least he should in short time after endanger the whole State of GERMANIE: the strength whereof the Turke feared not so much, as hee did those poore reliques of HVNGARIE. Others were no lesse carefull of the dangers of CROATIA and STIRIA, as more proper to themselues, the enemie now there raging. In these so great dangers, the Hungarians with the rest of the distressed, cried vpon the emperour for helpe; and he likewise called vpon the princes of the empire. Diuers assemblies were made in BOHEMIA, HVNGARIE, MORAVIA, SILESIA, and the other prouinces K of the emperours, and embassadours sent from almost all the Germane princes to the emperour: all was full of consultation, but as for helpe, that came in verie slowly; yet such as was to be had, was forthwith sent into CROATIA, to defend the fortresses there against the farther attempts and proceedings of the furious enemie.

Certaine [...]aine attempts of the Turkes.The eighteenth of September, the Turkes with all warlike prouision, vpon the sudden by night assaulted the strong castle of TOCCAY in the vpper HVNGARIE, in hope to haue surprised it: but finding it a matter of more difficultie than they had before imagined, they departed thence, and attempted the lesser COMARA, which standing in a marrish ground, was also easily defended. At which time also the Bassa of BVDA, with his power entred into the frontiers of the Christians, but hauing well viewed the cities, townes, castles, and forts vpon those borders, and L finding nothing for his purpose, he without any thing doing returned againe to BVDA.

The six and twentith day of September, Hassan the Bassa of BOSNA encamped with his army betwixt the riuers of Kulp and Sauus,Turopolis spoiled by the Turks. and in the darknesse of the night passing ouer part of his armie into TVROPOLIS, with fire and sword most miserably spoiled all that pleasant and fertile island; the lord Bonny to whom the keeping thereof was committed, labouring in vaine to defend the same.

About the end of this moneth, the Bassa of ZIGET, with the Sanzackes of MOHAS, KOPPAN, and QVINQVE ECCLESIae, and other Turkes of great name, came with a strong armie, and encamped betweene ZIGET and RODESTO. And shortly after newes was brought to the emperours Court, that KANYSIA a citie of STIRIA (not farre from the riuer Zala) was hardly M besieged by the enemie, and that the Turks in comming thither had taken many Christians captiues, whom they had sent to be sold at CONSTANTINOPLE; and that there was in the Turks armie about an hundred & threescore thousand men. But for as much as the Christian armie daily encreased also, and was now grown to the number of threescore thousand, men began to hope [Page] A well, that the enemies rage would be staied from any farther proceeding. About the same time Ernestus the archduke appointed Generall of the armie, with the Marquesse (sonne to Ferdinand the archduke) his lieutenant, came both vnto the armie.

In these preparations, about the beginning of October heauie newes was brought vnto the emperours Court, how that seauen thousand men whom he but a little before had sent into CROATIA, vnder the conduct of Thomas Artelius Beane, George Gleichspacher, and Dionysius Denke, to hinder the course of the Turks proceedings, being encamped betwixt WIHITZ and CAROLSTAT; and hauing the twelfth of September discouered from an high hill certaine companies of the Turks (which were in deed of purpose come thither to view the armie of the Christians) sent out fiftie horsemen to discouer the Turkes armie where it lay, and what it attempted. B Who finding no mo of the Turkes than those whom they had before seene from the mountaine, returned againe vnto the armie with such simple intelligence: whereunto the Christians giuing credit, became secure in their tents, as men out of feare of the enemie, and so kept but negligent watch. But in this their so great securitie, the enemie on a sudden came vpon them; and with an hundred thousand men brake into their trenches: where the Christian footmen for all that, for the space of foure houres, maintained a notable fight, wherein many were on both sides slaine. But the poore Christians being beset round, and oppressed with the multitude of their enemies, were there slaine almost all: yet the captaines seeing the danger, by speedie flight saued their liues; for which their cowardise and carelesse negligence, they were afterwards apprehended and beheaded. Almost all the common souldiors were there slaine: yea such as fell C aliue into the hand of the enemie, were most cruelly cut in pieces. The spoile also of the tents of the Christians, fell vnto the enemie: wherein beside aboundance of other things, they found sixtie thousand dollers, brought but two daies before from LINTZ for the souldiors pay. The Turkes after their barbarous manner, in ostentation of their victorie, laded fourteene wagons with the heads of the slaine Christians, which they sent vnto diuers of their places thereabouts. This was indeed a great victorie, but gained by the Turks with much bloud: for the Christians fighting as men desperat, slew of their enemies aboue twelue thousand, and died themselues as men rather with number oppressed, than with true valour vanquished.

The night following,The castle Saint George surprised by the Turkes. the Turks vpon the sudden in the dead time of the night, surprised the castle of S. George, and without respect of age or sex cruelly put to the sword all them that were D therein, except an hundred and fiftie persons whom they carried away captiues; and so setting the castle on fire, departed. At the same time, diuers companies of the Turkes were seene about SISEG, who led away with them about six hundred Christians into most miserable captiuitie. And that nothing might be wanting vnto the calamities of this so miserable a wasted countrey: three hundred wagons charged with all manner of prouision sent out of the prouinces thereby for the reliefe of the garrison souldiors in CROATIA, were all intercepted by the Turkes, and so carried away.

The emperour considering these proceedings of the Turkes,The emperour prayeth aid againe of the Germane princes. and that their strength daily encreased, gaue notice by writing to all the princes and states of the empire, what incursions the Turkes had of late made into CROATIA and the frontiers of HVNGARIE, with other places E neere vnto them: and that the Beglerbeg of GRaeCIA, with the Bassaes of BOSNA, BVDA, and TEMESVVAR, without regard of the league yet in force, had taken diuers cities, townes, castles, and strong places, and so extended the bounds of their dominion aboue fortie Germane miles, hauing slaine or carried away into captiuitie the poore inhabitants of those countries; and now to be growne to that height of pride, that except their farther proceedings were with like forces repressed, they would in short time set foot into GERMANIE it selfe, and possessing themselues of STIRIA and CARINTHIA, would from thence daily more and more encroach vpon the empire; which to hinder was not in his power onely, but required their helpe in generall: wherefore he requested them now at length, in so publike a danger to open their cofers, and to send out their forces against the common enemie. Which request of the emperors, with the due consideration F of so great a danger, moued not only the princes and states of the empire, but others also farther off, to yeeld liberall contribution vnto so necessarie and generall a cause.

The Turkes now hearing of the great preparation of the Christian princes, beside the armie which was alreadie in the field; and that they had made a strong bridge ouer the riuer of Drauus, which they had also fortified, thereby in safetie at their pleasure to transport their armie: [Page] without further delay furnished such places as they had gotten with strong garrisons, and so G withdrew themselues into their owne territorie: which they did the rather, for that the plague then raged sore in CONSTANTINOPLE, insomuch that there died a thousand a day. Which contagion had also taken hold of the Turkish armie: so that the Christians for feare of infection forthwith slew what Turke soeuer fell into their hands. And thus ended the troubles of this year, being but as it were an introduction for greater to ensue the yeare following.

1593The Turks together with the beginning of the new yeare began also their wonted incursions into the frontiers of the Christians.Diuers incursion [...] of the Turkes into the frontiers of the Christians in Croatia and Hungarie. They of the garrison of PETRINIA (a strong fort but lately and contrarie to the league built by the Turkes vpon the riuer Colapis or Kulp, for the further inuasion of CROATIA) made dayly excursions out of that new fort, and entering into the island TVROPOLIS, spoyled and burnt the towne and castle of B [...]CK VOCHOBINAM, and hauing H made a great slaughter, carried away with them foure hundred prisoners. And in HVNGARIE, the Turkish garrisons to supplie their wants, made diuers rodes vpon the Christians; and did exceeding much harme; of which aduenturers six hundred in passing ouer the frosen lake, were all drowned in the midst thereof. In another place three thousand of them neere vnto NVHVSE, deuided themselues into two companies, whereof the one shewed it selfe in the sight of the townesmen, the other still lying close in ambush: They of the towne vpon the sight of these Turkes sallied out, and causing them to retire, followed them so far, that they were past the place where the rest of the Turkes lay: who presently starting vp, ran with all speed toward the towne in hope to haue surprised it, and wanted not much of that they desired: for there was scarce an hundred of the Germanes there in garrison left in the towne, who had scarce so much time as to I draw vp the bridges: which done, they with the great ordinance from the wals enforced the Turkes to retire and forsake the towne. About the same time also the Turkes in garrison at PETRINIA sallying out vpon the sudden, tooke the towne of MARTENIZE, which they spoyled; and hauing slaine and taken about seuen hundred persons, set fire on the towne, and so returned, hauing lost in this exploit not past an hundred and fiftie of their owne men. Not long after, the same garrison souldiours of PETRINIA tooke another castle, three miles distant from the riuer of Kulp, whereinto the Christians dwelling round about, had for feare of the enemie conueyed all their wealth with great store of victuals: all which the Turkes tooke, and hauing slaine six hundred men in the castle, returned with an exceeding rich bootie to PETRINIA: which they bought, with the liues of fiue hundred of their fellowes, slaine in taking of the castle. With like K insolencie did also the other garrisons of the Turkes rage in all the other part of HVNGARIE. About CASSOVIA, in the vpper HVNGARIE, they carried away about three hundred Christian captiues: and in the nether part of HVNGARIE they tooke the strong castle of S. Hedwig vpon the lake of Balaton, which they spoyled and burnt: and so likewise the castle of ISNA: but attempting the lesser COMARA, they were by the garrison souldiors valiantly repulsed. They also fortified the castle of STOCKE, which they had but a little before taken, that so it might serue for a safe refuge for their aduenturers. Which their manifold outrages, contrarie to the league, euidently declared the desire they had to begin that bloudie warre which presently after ensued: and was indeed the more suspected, for that at the same time the emperours embassadour Fredericke Crocowitts was by the commaundement of Amurath shut vp close in his house at CONSTANTINOPLE,L and not suffered to speake with any man, neither to write or to send any messenger to the emperour: which caused him the more to suspect some great matter to be by the Turke entended, and therfore began to raise new forces. The Hungarians and Bohemians also seeing their townes and castles thus taken, their prouinces spoyled, infinit numbers of people led away into captiuitie, and the enemie dayly encreasing in strength: at length agreed, vpon their owne charges to maintaine a certaine number both of horse and foot, for the repressing of these the Turkish incursions.

Now although the emperour knew right well all these outrages of the Turkes, contrarie vnto the league, could not be done without the knowledge and good liking also of Amurath; as before enformed thereof by his embassadour from CONSTANTINOPLE: yet to shew himselfe M willing to haue the league on his behalfe kept, as also to make a further proofe of Amurath his resolution for peace or warre, he wrote vnto him as followeth: [Page]

A

Rodolph the second, Emperour of the Romanes; vnto Amurath king of the Turkes.

Whereas nothing is hitherto on our behalfe omitted,The Emperours letters vnto Amurath. for the preseruation and continuance of the league and amitie betwixt your most excellent maiestie and vs, by the renewed capitulations of peace; and that we haue with all sinceritie and loue performed, and are hereafter readie to performe whatsoeuer is on our part to be performed and done; and as we haue hitherto, so for euer hereafter also make offer of the same: we most assuredly promise vnto our selues on your maiesties behalfe, that you in like manner will not suffer any thing on your part to be wanting; but gladly and willingly to doe all things B which shall be meet and needfull for the preseruation and keeping of this our mutuall loue and friendship. Vpon which good hope grounding our selues, to declare our plaine meaning and sinceritie indeed, we will cause our honourable Present (which is now readie) to be brought vnto your most royall maiestie, at such time as shall bee agreed vpon betwixt our embassadour and you: vnto whom in all such matters as he by our commaundement shall haue to deale with your most excellent maiestie, your visiers or seruants, we request you to giue full credence. In the meane time your excellencie shall doe well to prouide, that as we haue now seuerely commaunded our subiects to keepe the peace vpon our frontiers, so that your souldiors also make no incursions as enemies into our territories, nor doe in them any harme, but to endeuour themselues also to peace and quietnesse: and especially, that all such things as contrarie to the capitulations of the league haue beene there of late taken from our people, or otherwise C vniustly possessed, may be againe restored, the losses recompensed, the new fort of PETRINIA demolished, and the Bassa of BOSNA and others the authors of breaking of the league punished and displaced: whereby we shall gather your royall maiesties most noble and kind affection towards vs and our State: which as it shall be a thing most iust, so shall it be a singular confirmation of our league. But concerning these matters, and others to the same belonging, our embassadour is to declare our mind more at large, that so our prest desire for the continuance of our league and friendship with your maiestie, may more plainely be knowne. So wish we all health and prosperitie vnto your most royall maiestie. From PRAGE the eight of March, 1593.

The emperour also at the same time and to the same purpose writ to Sinan Bassa in this sort.

D Rodolph the second, Emperour of the Romanes; to Sinan Bassa the chiefe Visier, greeting.

We write at this present vnto your most excellent Emperour,The Emperours letters vnto Sinan Bassa. our most honoured friend and neighbour, concerning such matters as we thought fit for the preseruation of the peace and league betwixt vs, least happily otherwise we might seeme to haue forgotten our dutie. Now it shall well beseeme your vprightnesse and good will, which we haue at other times prooued, for the high place and authoritie which you hold (and which we reioice to be againe restored vnto you) to giue vnto these things such easie passage before his maiestie, as that we may acknowledge your kindnesse and fauour, and haue occasion therefore to shew our selues vnto you thankefull. First we offer our selues most readie to continue E the peace, & to performe whatsoeuer is according to the conuentions of the renewed peace on our part to be performed: as also to send the honourable Present (which is not as yet by vs sent) when as our embassadour shall haue with you appointed any certaine time wherein it may be sent. And we also assuredly hope so to preuaile with your Emperour, that on your part the places within our territories, by your people forcibly possessed, together with all such things as haue beene wrongfully taken away, may be againe restored, and the fort of PETRINIA rased. The Bassa of BOSNA also (who we think would haue beene kept within the compasse of dutie, if you had at that time held the place of the chiefe Visier) and whosoeuer els, guiltie of the wicked breach of the league, to be worthily according to their deserts punished and displaced, and your soldiors seuerely charged not to make any further incursions, nor to do any thing that may tend to the breach of the league: as we likewise shall with new and straight commaunds F most carefully restraine our garrison souldiors vpon our frontiers from all such excursions and enemies actions. But of these things our embassadour is more fully and at large to entreat with you: vnto whose speech we desire such credence to be giuen, as vnto our owne; and we will so prouide, that you shall haue good proofe of our great good will towards you. From PRAGE the eight of March 1593.

Vnto which the emperours letters Sinan returned answere as followeth.

[Page]

G

Sinan Bassa, cheefe Visier to Amurath the third, Emperour of the Turkes; vnto Rodolph the second, Emperour of the Romanes, greeting.

Sinan Bassa his letters to the emperour.By these we giue your Maiestie to vnderstand, That two of your Maiesties letters were brought hither before wee were chosen and confirmed cheefe Visier in this most royall Court; wherein your Maiestie excuse your selfe, and shew the causes why the sending of the wonted Presents hath beene so long deferred, by laying the fault vpon the insolencie of our garrison souldiors in BOSNA, and the breach of the publicke peace. Which your letters being by vs read before our most mightie emperour, his Highnesse in great choller burst out into these words: And thy sonne the Beglerbeg of BVDA H hath still hitherto writ and giuen vs to vnderstand, that the vsuall Presents would certainely come: and that the king of VIENNA would not in any case consent vnto the breach of the league, or of the amitie betwixt vs and him; and yet for all that the presents are not hitherto come: wherefore thy sonnes writings and relations are not true. But now the Bassa of BOSNA hath sent word vnto the Court, that your Maiestie will not send them, and all your doings to be but meere deceit and fraud. For which cause our most mightie Emperour hath remooued my sonne from his place in BVDA, and rewarded the Bassa of BOSNA with honorable garments, wheras my sonne is for your Maiesties sake displaced. Now on our behalfe nothing is done against the peace, but our souldiors as with a bridle kept in: whereas on your Maiesties part, excursions and harmes into the territories of our emperor neuer cease; especially into BOSNA, whereinto your souldiors haue of late in warlike manner broken, although they I were by our garrisons ouercome, their great ordinance taken, and brought hither vnto the Court. Wherefore seeing the case so standeth, your Maiestie is to resolue vs vpon two points, whereof the first is, Whether you be minded to keepe friendship with vs as beseemeth; and to send hither the two last yeares Presents or not? and the second, Whether you will set at libertie our captiue Sanzacks or no? Now if your Maiestie shall be content to keepe the league, and within these two months next to send the two yeares Presents, as also to dismisse our Sanzackes; the league shall on our part be likewise vndoubtedly kept, your territories shall be in no case molested, such Christian captiues as your Maiestie shall require, be enlarged, and a most firme and sure friendship by vs continued. Whereas if you shall vpon any cause or excuse longer delay the sending of those honourable Presents, and vnto these our demaunds send vs nothing but certaine vaine and windie answeres, let God on high be therefore for K euer praised: for now our most mightie and victorious emperour, who wanteth neither abilitie nor power, hath commaunded, That we our selfe should in person goe in this warre, and putting our confidence in the highest, with the armie of the right beleeuing Turkes to come into those parts: And therefore assure your Maiestie, that we will not faile there to encounter you: at which time shall appeare vnto the world what is by God our Creator (whose holy name be for euer blessed) in his deepe wisedome preordained and set downe for vs. Wherefore seeing that all which concerneth the league, together with the safetie and quiet of our people on both sides, is vnto your Maiestie thus declared; you are to consider the end, and to follow our good aduice: whereas if otherwise you shall be the cause of the breach of this so wholesome a peace and vnitie (which we hitherto haue so sincerely and firmely kept) the excuse thereof both in this world and in the world to come shall lie vpon your selfe. Now L we request of you no more, but forthwith to send vs answere of these our letters. As for the rest, well may he speed that taketh the right way. From CONSTANTINOPLE the last of the month Which is the 16 of March in the yeare of Christ. 1593.Giuma Zuleuel, in the yeare of our holy Prophet Mahomet 1001.

Yet for all these faire offers of peace thus made by Sinan Bassa in his letters, was his purpose nothing lesse than to haue performed the same, seeking onely to haue drawne the two yeares Presents from the emperour, amounting to a great summe of money, and so neuerthelesse to haue prosecuted the intended warre, the emperour being the onely man, of whom Amurath his great master had amongst all the Christian princes made choice of to exercise his force vpon. Of all which things the emperour was not ignorant, being thereof (as we said) fully before by his embassadour M aduertised from CONSTANTINOPLE.

These troubles of the Spring thus past, ensued the Sommer much more troublesome, for Hassan Bassa of BOSNA, chiefe authour and deuiser of all these broiles, ceased not for the encrease of his credit, to worke what mischiefe he could against the Christians that bordered vpon him. [Page] A This great Bassa mortally hated the Gouernour, or as some call him the Abbot of SISE [...], a strong castle situat vpon the borders of that part of CROATIA, yet holden by the Christians, where the riuer Kulp falleth into the famous riuer of Sauus or Saw (and was in deed the verie bulwarke of that countrey) the cause of which his hatred is reported to haue beene this: The yeare before, the Bassa had sent a messenger to this Abbot, to require him to deliuer the castle or monasterie vnto him: which messenger for certaine daies the Abbot entertained with many honourable speeches, learning in the meane time of him so much as he possibly could of the Bassaes intention, with what power, in what place, and with what engines he had determined to besiege the castle. In the meane time it was discouered, that his steward had long before plotted with the Turke to haue betraied the castle, and had for certaine yeares past receiued of him a yearely B pension. Vpon which occasion, the Abbot caused both the messenger and his owne steward to be apprehended, and so fast bound hand and foot, to be cast out at a window of the castle into the riuer of Saw. The Bassa seeing his messenger not to returne, sent another to the Abbot, grieuously threatning him, if he did not send him backe againe his messenger: wherunto the Abbot answered, That he had dismissed him certaine daies before, and therefore maruelled if he were not as yet returned: neuerthelesse concerning his demaund, that he was resolued to yeeld the monasterie vnto the Bassa, against whose forces he saw himselfe vnable to hold it▪ requesting only, that it would please him to send some men of account to receiue it at his hand, for that it would be no small dishonour vnto him to deliuer it vp vnto common souldiors. The Bassa glad of this message, sent forthwith certaine principall men of great account, hoping now without any losse C to haue that strong place yeelded vnto him, which had so long time stood in his way. Three daies after certaine troupes of horsemen sent from the Bassa, came to the monasterie as was appointed, and finding the gates open entred, first the noblemen, and after them fiue hundred others or thereabouts: who were no sooner within the gates, but that the portculleis was let fall, and certaine murthering pieces (secretly placed in the court for that purpose) discharged: with the violence whereof, the Turkes that were alreadie entred, were most miserably rent in pieces, their heads, armes, and legs flying in the ayre; when presently the garrison souldiors starting out of their lurking places, made a quicke dispatch of all them that had escaped the furie of the great artillerie. The rest of the Turks shut out, hearing the noise and crie of them within, turning their horses, betooke themselues to speedie flight. The great Bassa hearing of this slaughter of his D men, and how he had been deceiued, swore in great rage by his Mahomet, to rase this monasterie downe to the ground, and to plucke the Abbots skin ouer his eares: and so by threatning letters gaue him to vnderstand as followeth.

Hassan Bassa of Bosna, vnto the Abbot of Siseg.

It is not to thee vnknowne,The threatening letters of Hassan Bassa of Bosna vnto the Abbot of Siseg. how often we haue sent vnto thee our messengers with letters, declaring vnto thee our loue and good will; requesting thee in friendly [...]ort, and without farther resistance to yeeld vp vnto vs thy fortresse of SISEG, not longer to be by thee holden. Vnto which our request thou hast hitherto most wilfully at thy pleasure opposed thy selfe, not without the slaughter of our men; E and in so doing, hast giuen cause vnto the great Sultan to ouerthrow and rase that thy fortresse, wherof thou for the emperour wilt needs be the chiefe. Thinkest thou it will be for thy good, or yet well taken, that thou hast so shamefully and perfidiously circumuented and slaine our embassadours and seruants sent vnto thee? Nay assure thy selfe, that if Mahomet grant vs life, we will neuer giue ouer the siege of that thy fort wherein thou so much trustest, vntill I haue before thy face ouerthrowne it, and (if thy God shall giue thee aliue into my hands) haue pluckt thy skin ouer thine eares, to the great reproach and shame of the Christians: for I am fully resolued, not to depart from this place, but to continue the siege thereof vntill I haue it. Let a little time yet passe, and thou shalt see thy selfe on euerie side besieged, thy fort with mo and greater pieces of artillerie than euer, battered; and our power strong enough to constraine thee. Thou hast hitherto put thy greatest hope & comfort in the The Hungarian Bannes are noble men, in power much like vnto the Turkes Bassaes. Banne Erodius, F for whom by the helpe of Mahomet we are much too strong. In briefe we are of nothing more carefull than how to get thee into our power: which if we doe, looke not for any mercie at our hands.

Neither was the Bassa vnmindfull of his promise,Hassan Bassa inuadeth Croatia. or of the losse he had receiued, but now in the beginning of Iune with an armie of thirtie thousand horse and foot, came and besieged the [Page] fortresse of TRENSCHIIN, which with continuall batterie and often assaults he at length tooke,G sacked the towne, slew most part of the inhabitants, except eight hundred or thereabouts of the younger sort, whom he carried away with him into captiuitie. And being prowd of this victorie, remoued thence by a bridge which he had made, passed ouer the riuer, and so the twelfth of Iune came and encamped before the monasterie of SISEG:Siseg besieged by Hassan Bassa. and after vaine summons giuen to the same, the next day caused his great ordinance to be planted, and with great furie thundring against the wals, in short time ouerthrew the new tower, in the fall whereof two of the Christian canoniers perished. This furious batterie he maintained by the space of ten daies without intermission, giuing no time of rest vnto the besieged; so that it seemed not possible for the monasterie to be any long time defended, if it were not with speed relieued. The bishop of ZAGRABIA, and Rupertus Eggenberg Generall of the emperours forces that then were at ZAGRABIA,H gaue knowledge thereof to Andrew lord Auersberg Gouernour of CAROLSTAT, crauing his aid and counsell: who calling togither his owne forces, raised a good number both of horse and foot, and called also vnto him the bordering horsemen of KARNIA and CRAINIA; who the seuenteenth day of Iune met all togither not far from INSTAVVITZ, and there taried that night. The next day passing ouer the riuer Sauus neere vnto ZAGRABIA, they joyned themselues with the emperours forces, and marched the nineteenth day in good order to SCELINE, where they expected the comming of Countie Serinus. The twentith day Peter Herdelius with his Hussars, and the lord Stephen Graswein came into the campe, with many of those light horsemen whom the Hunga [...]ians call Vscocchi. The one and twentith day they lodged at GRADIVM, still expecting the comming of the Countie Serinus, who otherwise busied, could not come. The next I day after, a souldior sent out from the besieged, came into the campe, who gaue the captaines to vnderstand, that except they made hast that day to relieue the distressed monasterie, it would vndoubtedly be lost: for that the enemie had made it saultable, and would that night giue the assault; and the defendants, doubting how they should be able to maintaine the place, began before his departure thence to thinke of composition with the enemie. Vpon which newes the captaines forthwith began to consult among themselues, what course to take in so doubtfull and dangerous a case: where Auersberg was of opinion, That it were best to march on, & to giue the enemie battell; with whom also agreed the lord Rederen: The rest of the captains being of a contrarie mind, for that the strength of the Christians compared to the Turkes, was too weake; and therefore they thought it better in time to retire whiles they yet might, than to hazard vnto most K manifest perill the liues of so many valiant men, at so great ods. At which counsell Auersberg was at the first much moued, but afterwards (as he was a man of great eloquence) plainly set before them the necessitie of the cause, and with liuely reasons cheered vp the fearefull Croatians; notably persuading them all in generall, to put their whole trust and confidence in God, to whom it was as easie to giue victorie by few as by many: and to fight like valiant men, for their religion, their countrey, their liues, their wiues, their children and friends, and whatsoeuer else they held deare; against that cowardly enemie, whose valour neuer brought him into the field, but onely the vaine trust he had in his multitude; and would therfore no doubt easily be put to flight, if he should contrarie to his expectation find himselfe but a little hardly laid vnto. With these and other like reasons hee preuailed so much, that they all yeelded vnto his opinion, and with L one consent resolued to go against the enemie, and to doe what they might to relieue their besieged friends. So vpon a signe giuen, the whole armie (in number not aboue foure thousand) forthwith remoued, and with great speed hasted towards the enemie; and being come within a mile of the campe, put themselues in order of battell. The Turks by their espials vnderstanding of the approach of the Christians, brought all their horsemen ouer the riuer of Kulp, by a bridge which they had made, and hauing put themselues in order, came on to joyne battell with the Christians: who had in their vauntgard placed the Croatians and Hussars; in the left wing them of CAROLSTAT, and the harquebusiers of KARNIA; in the right wing the borderers of CRAINIA, all horsemen; in the maine battell the rest of the souldiors, with the horsemen of SILESIA, vnder the conduct of Sigismund Paradise;A great battell betwixt the Turkes and the Christians. the rearward was enclosed with three companies of M the emperours souldiors. The Croatians and Hussars in the vauntgard gaue the first charge vpon the enemie: but hauing for a good space made a great fight, they were about to haue retired, and discouraged with the multitude of the enemies, were euen vpon the point to haue fled: when Auersberg (Generall of the Christian armie) came on with his squadron, and not onely restored [Page] A the battell, but so resolutely charged the maine battell of the Turkes, that the Bassa was constrained at the first to retire, and afterwards to flie, after whom all the rest of the armie followed. The Christians still keeping their array, pursued them with great speed, and comming to the new made bridge before them, tooke from them that passage, to the great discomfiture of the Turks, who seeing the miserable slaughter of themselues, and no way to escape, ran headlong some into the riuer Odera, some into Kulp, and were there for most part drowned; the rest were all slaine by the Christians,Siseg relieued. before determined not to take any prisoners. In the meane time, the Turkes that remained at the siege, vnderstanding of the ouerthrow of their fellowes, set fire on their pouder and other prouision, and so in great feare betooke themselues to flight. Whose tents the Christians immediatly after tooke, and in them nine great pieces of artillerie, and good B store of great shot of 44 and 45 pound waight a piece, with the sumptuous pauillion of the Bassa, and much other rich spoile,Eigh [...]ne tho [...] sand Turkes slaine. which was all carried into the monasterie of SISEG. The number of the Turkes slaine in this battell, and drowned in the riuers, is of diuers diuersly reported, but most agree vpon eighteene thousand. And amongst them was Hassan Bassa himselfe, found in the riuer neere vnto the bridge, knowne by his most rich and sumptuous apparell; and neere vnto him Mahomet-Beg, and Achmet-Beg. In other places were also found the dead bodies of Saffer-Beg the Bassaes brother, of Meni-beg, Haramatan-Beg, Curti-Beg, Oper [...]-Beg, and Goschus, the Bassaes chiefe counsellour and master of his houshold. But of all others, the vntimely death of Sinan-Beg Amurath his nephew, his sisters onely sonne, sent thither to haue learned the feats of armes vnder Hassan the great Bassa, was of the Turkes most lamented. Of twentie C thousand Turkes that came ouer the riuer Kulp, scarcely two thousand escaped. This so great a victorie obtained, all the armie of the Christians went thrise about the monasterie, and euerie time falling all downe vpon their knees, gaue vnto God most heartie thanks for the same, as by him miraculously giuen, and not by themselues woon; and afterwards made all the shew of joy and gladnesse they could possibly deuise.

SISEG thus deliuered, and the Turkes armie ouerthrowne, the Christians with all speed laid siege to PETRINIA the strong new fort of the Turkes, which they for the space of fiue daies most furiously battered: but hearing that the great Gouernour of GRaeCIA (whom the Turkes call the Beglerbeg of ROMANIA) was with a great power comming to the reliefe of the fort, they raised their siege, brake vp their armie, and returned euerie man to his wonted charge.

D Whilest these things were in doing at PETRINIA,Newes of the ouerthrow of the Turks at Siseg▪ brought to Bud [...]. a post came from CONSTANTINOPLE to BVDA, who brought thither the first newes of the ouerthrow of SISEG; for the report therof was not as yet come to BVDA. Wherefore the Bassa called vnto him the messenger, author of so bad newes, and diligently examined him of the truth thereof: who told him, That at his departure from CONSTANTINOPLE, nothing was there knowne of that losse, but that vpon the way as he came he met with diuers horsemen but lately escaped from the slaughter, who told him of a certaintie, that the Bassa was slaine and his armie destroied. Whereunto the Bassa of BVDA replied, That he was happie in his death, for that if he had by chance escaped, he should for his indiscretion vndoubtedly haue suffered some other more shamefull death at the Court.

When newes of the aforesaid victorie was brought to the emperour at PRAGE, he commanded E publike prayers, with thankesgiuing to almightie God to be made in all churches: and sent a messenger with letters to Amurath, to know of him how he vnderstood these insolent proceedings of his souldiors, and especially this late expedition of the Bassa of BOSNA and his complices, contrarie to the league yet in force betwixt them. After which messenger he sent also the lord Popelius, with the yearely Present (or rather tribute) he vsed to send vnto the Turkish empeperour at CONSTANTINOPLE; yet with this charge, that when he was come as farre as COMARA in the borders of HVNGARIE, he should there stay vntill the returne of the aforesaid messenger: who if he brought tidings of peace from Amurath, then to proceed on his journey to the Turkes Court; otherwise, to returne againe with his present: as he afterwards did. For Amurath enraged with the notable losse receiued at SISEG, and prickt forward with the teares and F prayers of his sister (desirous of nothing more than to be reuenged for the death of her sonne) the seauenth of August caused open war to be proclaimed against the Christian emperour, both at CONSTANTINOPLE and BVDA. The mannaging whereof he committed to Sinan Bassa the old enemie of the Christians, his lieutenant generall, and persuader of this warre: who departing from CONSTANTINOPLE with an armie of fortie thousand, wherein were 5600 Ianizaries, [Page] was by Amurath himselfe and the great men of the Court brought a mile on his way: hauing G in charge from the great Sultan, by the assistance of the Beglerbeg of GREECE, the Bassaes of BVDA and TEMESVVARE, and other his Sanzackes and commaunders in that part of his empire, to reuenge the death of his nephew, and the dishonour receiued at SISEG.

This warre Amurath with great pride denounced vnto the Christian Emperour and the rest of the princes his confederats in this sort.

Amurath the third, by the grace of the great God in heauen, the onely Monarch of the World, a great and mightie God on earth, an inuincible Caesar, King of all Kings from the East vnto the West, Sultan of BABILON, Soueraigne of the most noble families of PERSIA and ARMENIA, triumphant victor of HIERVSALEM, Lord H possessour of the Sepulchre of the crucified God, subuerter and sworne enemie of the Christians, and of all them that call vpon the name of Christ.

The proud and blasphemous denuntiation of warre giuen out by Amurath against Rodolph the Christian [...]mperour.We denounce vnto thee Rodolph the Emperour, and to all the Germane nation taking part with thee, vnto the great Bishop also, all the Cardinals and Bishops, to all your sonnes and subiects: wee earnestly (I say) by our crowne and empire denounce vnto you open warre. And giue you to vnderstand, that our purpose is, with the power of thirteene kingdomes, and certaine hundred thousands of men, horse and foot, with our Turkes and Turkish armes, yea with all our strength and power (such as neither thou nor any of thine hath euer yet seene or heard of, much lesse had any proofe of) to besiege I you in your cheefe and metropoliticall cities, and with fire and sword to persecute you and all yours, and whosoeuer shall giue you helpe, to burne, destroy, and kill, and with most exquisit torments we can deuise to torture vnto death and slay such Christian captiues as shall fall into our hands, or els to keepe them as dogs, captiues in perpetuall miserie; to empaile vpon stakes your fairest sonnes and daughters: and to the further shame and reproch of you and yours, to kill like dogs your women great with child, and the children in their bellies: for now we are fully resolued to bring into our subiection you which rule but in a small countrey, and by strong hand and force of armes to take from you your kingdome, as also to oppresse, root vp and destroy the keyes and See of ROME, together with the golden scepter thereof: and we will prooue whether your crucified Iesus will helpe you and doe for you as yours persuade you. Beleeue him still, and trust in him, and see how he hath holpen his messengers which haue K put their confidence in him: for we neither beleeue, neither can we endure to heare such incomprehensible things, that he can helpe, which is dead so many worlds of yeares agoe, which could not helpe himselfe, nor deliuer his owne countrey and inheritance from our power, ouer which we haue so long time raigned. These things ô yee poore and miserable of the world, we thought good to signifie vnto you, that you with your princes and confederats may know what you haue to doe and to looke for. Giuen in our most mightie and imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, which our auncestours by force of armes tooke from yours, and hauing slaine or taken prisoners all their citisens, reserued such of their wiues and children as they pleased vnto their lust, to your perpetuall infamie and shame.

Sinan with his armie thus s [...]tting forward, kept still on his way towards BVDA, but the Beglerbeg L of GRaeCIA with a farre greater power marched towards CROATIA, as well to relieue the forts distressed by the Christians,Siseg taken by the Turkes. as againe to besiege the strong castle or monasterie of SISEg: which he with his huge armie at his first arriuall compassed about without resistance, and with continuall batterie ouerthrew the wals thereof, giuing no time of rest vnto the defendants. Which breaches they for all that valiantly defended, and with restlesse labour notably repaired, the very fearefull women bringing tables, stooles, and whatsoeuer els came to hand, that might any wise helpe to keepe the enemie out, of whom a great number was in the breaches slaine. But what was that handfull against such a multitude? At length the third day of September the Turks by maine force entered the Monasterie, and put to sword all the soldiors therin: amongst whom were two hundred Germanes, of whom the Turks cut some in pieces, and the rest they threw into M the riuer Kulp. One religious man there found among the rest, they did flea quicke in detestation of his profession, and afterward cutting him in small pieces, burnt them to ashes. So taking the spoyle of all that was there to bee had; and leauing a strong garrison for the keeping of the place, they passed ouer Sauus, burning the countrey before them, and carried away with them [Page] A about a thousand poore Christians into perpetuall captiuitie. These inuasions of the Turks caused the Emperour to craue aid both of the states of the empire, and other forraine princes farther off, which was by some easily graunted, but not so speedily performed.

About this time Peter surnamed le Hussar (for that hee commaunded ouer those horsemen whom the Hungarians call Hussars) captaine of PAPPA, by the appointment of Ferdinand countie Hardeck gouernour of RAB, lay in wait for the Turks Treasurer in HVNGARIE, who had the commaund of fiue thousand Turkes: him this Hungarian tooke at aduantage, as he was mustering and paying certaine companies of his souldiors, mistrusting no such danger, and desperatly charging him, slew him with diuers of his men▪ and put the rest to flight, and so with the spoyle and some few prisoners he returned againe to his castle, carrying with him the Treasurer.

B Now Sinan the Generall being come with his armie to BVDA,Sinan Bassa besiegeth Vesprinium. resolued with himselfe to begin his warres in that part of HVNGARIE, with the siege of VESPRINIVM. This episcopall citie was by Solyman the great Turke taken from the Christians in the yeare 1552, and againe by them recouered about foureteene yeares after, about the yeare 1566, since which time vntill now it had remained in the hands of the Christians. Sinan without delay marching with his armie to VESPRINIVM, compassed the citie round, and encamping as he saw good, planted his batterie wherewith he continually thundered against the citie. The Christians there in garison easily perceiuing that the citie was not long to be holden against so great a power, placed diuers barrels of gunpouder in certaine mines they had made vnder the wals and bulwarkes of the towne, with traines that should at a certaine time take fire. Which done, they departed secretly out of the citie C in the dead time of the night, hoping so in the darke to haue escaped the hands of the enemie: which they did not so secretly, but that they were by the Turks descried, and most of them slaine. Ferdinand Samaria Gouernor of the citie, after he had for a space valiantly defended himselfe, fell at last into the enemies hand, and so was taken aliue, together with one Hofkirke a Germane captaine. The Turkes entered the citie the sixt of October, striuing who should get first in, for greedinesse of the prey, when suddenly the pouder in the mines tooke fire, and blowing vp the very foundations of the wals and bulwarkes, slew a number of the Turks that were within the danger thereof, and wonderfully defaced the citie.

From VESPRINIVM the Bassa remoued with his armie to PALOTTA, and gaue summons to the castle:Palotta yeelded vnto the Turks. but receiuing such answere as pleased him not, hee layed siege vnto it with all his D power. Which at the first Peter Ornand captaine of the castle chearefully receiued: but being afterward without any great cause discouraged (the castle as yet being but little shaken, and but one man slaine, and the rest of the souldiors readie to spend their liues in defence thereof) he sent vnto the Bassa, offering to yeeld the castle vnto him, so that he with his souldiors might with bag and baggage in safetie depart. Of which his offer the Bassa accepted, and graunted his request. But he was no sooner come out of the castle with his souldiors, and readie to depart, but the faithlesse Turke contrarie to his oath and promise caused them all to be cruelly slaine, except only the captaine and two other. After that the Bassa without any great labour tooke in all the country thereabouts neere vnto the lake of Balaton.

Now at last, though long first, about the middle of October the Christians began to muster E their armie, in number about eighteene thousand, all good and expert souldiours: with which power they shortly after passing ouer Danubius, at the first encounter with the Turkes put them to the worse, slew a great number of them, and rescued a number of poore Christian captiues.

In the latter end of this moneth countie Hardeck Gouernour of RAB,Alba Regalis besieged by the Christians. and Generall of the Christian armie in that part of HVNGARIE, departing from KOMARA with all his power, came and layed siege to the strong citie of ALBA REGALIS, which by the force of his artillerie hee in short time made saultable; but in assaulting the breaches, was by the Turkes there in garrison notably repulsed. So hauing made sufficient proofe both of the strength and courage of the defendants, and perceiuing no good could be done without a long siege, for which hee was not as then prouided; after consultation had with the rest of the captaines, he resolued to raise his siege: F which he did the second of Nouember, remouing that day but halfe a mile from the citie, because he would be sure of all his armie. But as he was about the next day to remoue, news was brought him by his espials, that the enemies power was at hand, and euen now almost in sight, which proued to be so indeed. For the Bassa of BVDA by the commaundement of Sinan Bassa the Generall, was come forth with thirteene Sanzackes and twentie thousand souldiors, thirtie field pieces, [Page] and fiue hundred wagons laded with victuall and other warlike prouision, to raise the siege,G and to relieue the citie; and was now euen at hand, comming directly vpon the Christians: wherupon the countie, assisted by the countie Serinus, the lord Palfi, the lord Nadasti, Peter le Hussar, and other valiant captaines of great experience, with wonderfull celeritie put his armie in order of battell, and so couragiously set forward to encounter the enemie. The Bassa seeing the Christians marching towards him, tooke the aduantage of the higher ground, and from thence discharged his field pieces vpon them; which mounted too high, by good hap did them little or no hurt at all. The Christians for all that desirous of battell, and nothing regarding the disaduantage of the ground, but calling vpon the name of the Almightie, mounted the hill, and joyning battell with the Turkes, by plaine force constrained them to flie. In this armie of the Turkes, being for most part horsemen, were about fiue thousand foot, and many of them Ianizaries, who in flying,H oftentimes made stands, and wounded many, and yet neuerthelesse were almost all there slaine, with many others: amongst whom were three great men, the Sanzacks of STRIGONIVM, SETCHINE, and NOVIGRAD; seuen Chiaus, and many other men of marke, the most valiant captaines of the Turkes borderers. The lord Nadasti with some others taking view of the Turkes that were slaine and lost in this battell, deemed them to haue beene at the least in number eight thousand: few prisoners were saued, all being put to the sword, which caused Sinan to sweare by his Mahomet neuer more to spare any Christian. All the Turks artillerie, wagons, and prouision became a prey vnto the Christians: many ensignes were there found, and weapons of great value. It is hard to be beleeued, how much this victorie encouraged the Christians, & daunted the Turkes. Whereupon the countie with great joy brought backe his armie to ALBA REGALIS,I and encamped neere the bulwarke called STOPASCH, where the Turks most feared to be assaulted. Palfi, Nadasti, and some others, earnestly persuaded with the countie, not to depart from the citie before he had woon it: But he considering the hard time of the yeare, the strength of the citie (which was now full of souldiours, by reason of them that were fled in thither from the late ouerthrow) with the want of things necessarie in his armie to maintaine a longer siege; and fearing also after long lying to be enforced with dishonour to forsake it, would not hearken to their persuasions, but calling a counsell, resolued to raise his siege, and to content himselfe with the victorie he had alreadie gotten, which was afterward imputed vnto him for more than an ouersight. So setting fire vpon the suburbes of the citie, he rise with his armie, and departed thence the fift of Nouember, and returned to RAB.K

Sabatzka taken by the lord Teuffenbach.Not long after, Christopher lord Teuffenbach, the Emperours lieutenant in the vpper part of HVNGARIE, who lay encamped at CASSOVIA with his armie of foureteene thousand souldiors, remooued thence, and marching along the countrey two dayes, came and layed siege to SABATZKA, one of the Turkes strongest castles in those quarters, out of which they vsually did much harme among the Christians. This castle Teuffenbach battered in three places; and hauing at length made it saultable, tooke it by force the nineteenth of Nouember, and put to the sword all the Turkes there in garrison, in number about two hundred and fiftie, and instead of them left a strong garrison of his owne: whereby all the countrey thereabouts was restored to great quietnesse.

Filek besieged by the Christians.SABATZKA thus taken, the Christian Generall remoued with all speed to FILEK, a strong citie L of the higher HVNGARIE, which Solyman the Turkish emperour tooke from the Christians in the yeare 1560, and placed therein a Sanzacke, vnder the commaund of the Bassa of BVDA. The Generall encamping before this citie, the next day after planted his batterie, and in most terrible manner without intermission thundered against the wals and gates of the citie. The Sanzacke Gouernour thereof, considering the power of the Christians, got out secretly by night with a few souldiors, to acquaint the other Turkish Sanzackes his neighbours with the comming of the Christians, and the number of their armie; and further to consult with them how the citie might bee relieued. The Bassa of TEMESVVARE, with the Sanzackes of GIVLA, HADVVAN, SCANTTZAG, and SCIRME, vndertooke the matter: and therupon the Bassa sent for eight hundred Ianizaries, of late left by Sinan Bassa in garrison at BVDA and ALBA REGALIS; who all M flatly refused to goe to this seruice, saying, That they would not be led as beasts to the slaughter, as were their fellowes but a little before at ALBA REGALIS: neuerthelesse they enforced the Armenians, whom Sinan and his sonne had brought thither, to goe; but of BVDA, ALBA REGALIS, and SCAMBOTH, were sent onely fifteene hundred common souldiors. For all that, the [Page] A Bassa with the Sanzacks his followers, firme in their former resolution for the reliefe of the distressed citie, hauing made great preparation, and raised an armie of eighteene thousand strong, with many field pieces, by night drew neere vnto FILEK, and staied within two miles of the citie. But the Generall of the Christians, with Stephen Bathor and the other captaines, vnderstanding of their comming, with seauen thousand good souldiours chosen out of the whole armie, went out presently against them; and the one and twentith of Nouember suddenly assailing them in their tents, ouerthrew them and put them all to flight; whom the Christians fiercely pursued with a most terrible execution. In this fight and flight there was slaine six thousand Turks, and but few or none taken. The Bassa himselfe, with the Sanzacke of FILEK and many others of great name, were found amongst the bodies of the slaine Turks. This victorie gained B with little or no losse, yeelded vnto the Christians a rich prey, many gorgious tents, and faire ensignes, much cattell, and nine and twentie field pieces, with two hundred wagons laded with victuall and other prouision; all which they carried into the campe of FILEK, and so more straightly besieged the citie than before. The same day the lord Palfi and Martin Lasla came to the campe with six thousand souldiors: and forthwith three trumpeters were sent to tell them of the citie, That if without farther resistance they would forthwith yeeld the citie, they should haue leaue in safetie to depart with life and goods, although the Turkes had of late in like case broken their faith with the Christians at PALOTTA: but if they refused his grace, and would needs hold it out to the vttermost, then to denounce vnto them all extremities. For all this, the Turks nothing dismaied, refused to yeeld: wherupon the batterie began afresh, and in more terrible manner C than before:Filek taken by the Christians. so that though the citie was most strongly fortified both with wals and rampiers, yet had the Christians in three daies space, with continuall batterie made a faire breach into it, whereby they in despight of the enemie entred without any notable losse the foure and twentith of Nouember, ransacked the citie, and burnt a great part thereof. The same day they also tooke the vttermost castle, wherein the Sanzackes pallace stood: this castle standeth vpon a verie high hill, strengthned both by art and nature, and had in it a strong garrison of valiant souldiors, who spared not lustily to bestow their shot amongst their enemies, of whom they slew a great number. Neuerthelesse, the Christians after they had for the space of two daies and two nights with a most furious batterie shaken the wals, by plaine force entred the castle the six and twentith of Nouember, and put to sword all the garrison souldiors; except such as had in good time forsaken D this castle, and retired themselues into another more inward. Who being in number eight hundred, with their wiues and children, without hope of reliefe, and seeing the cannon now bent vpon them, set out a white ensigne in token of parley: which granted, it was agreed that they should depart with life, and so much of their goods as euerie one of them could carrie. Vpon which agreement, the castle was yeelded the eight and twentith day of Nouember, and the Turks with a safe conuoy brought vnto the place they desired. In this castle was found a great bootie, many pieces of artillerie, with much other warlike prouision, but of victuals small store. The Generall with the rest of the captaines entring the castle, fell downe vpon their knees, and with their hearts and hands cast vp towards heauen, thanked God for their victorie, and for the recouerie of that strong citie; but especially for the deliuerie of so many Christians out of the E Turkish [...]hraldome: For it is reported, that there are aboue eight hundred countrey villages subject to the jurisdiction of FILEK, the poore inhabitants whereof were now all freed from the Turkish seruitude, by the taking of this only citie. The Christians forthwith repaired the wals, bulwarks, and trenches, and strongly fortified euerie place against the enemie: and so leauing a sufficient garrison in the citie and castles, departed with their armie, now in number about twentie thousand, towards SODOCH, six miles from FILEK. But as they were vpon the way, newes was brought vnto the Generall, how that the Turks had for feare abandoned the castles of D [...]IVVIN and SOMOSKE: whereupon he sent out certaine companies of souldiors to take in both those places; who comming thither, found them in deed forsaken of the enemie, but yet many pieces of artillerie and other warlike prouision there still left.

F In the latter end of Nouember the Generall marched with his armie towards SETSCHINE, a strong towne in the diocesse of AGRIA,Setschine, Blauenstein, and Sallek abandoned by the Turk [...] but the Turkes in that place had two or three daies before prepared themselues to flie, and sent their wiues, their children, and the best of their substance, some to HATVVAN, some to BVDA: and now hearing of the approach of the Christian armie, set fire on the towne and fled. The Christians immediatly entring, did what they could [Page] to quench the fire, and saued a great part of the towne: so leauing there a conuenient garrison, he G hasted with speed to BLAVENSTEIN, which the Turkes did also set on fire, and betooke themselues to flight. The Christians comming thither the next day after, namely the fourth of December, [...]ound a great part of the towne yet vnburnt, wherein they left a strong garrison: and from thence marched to SALLEK, which towne they also tooke being forsaken by the enemie, and put thereinto a good garrison. The Generall was of nothing more desirous, than to haue prosecuted this so happie a course of victorie: but such was the foulenesse of the winter weather, that he could not trauell with his great artillerie, without which no great matter was to be done against the enemie, still keeping himselfe in his strong holds. And his armie in that wasted and forsaken countrey, began now to feele the want of victuals; so that many had withdrawne themselues out of the armie vnto their owne dwelling places.H

At the same time also, the lord Palfi going to DREGEL and PALANKA, and finding them forsaken by the enemie, furnished both places with garrisons of his owne men. Certaine other strong places were also this moneth recouered from the Turkes, as AINACKE, SOLLOCKE, WETSKE, and others, and so much territorie gained by the Christians, as was in circuit thought equall with the lower AVSTRIA. The joyfull newes of the aforesaid victories, with the recouerie of so much of the countrey, and so many strong townes and castles, made great rejoycing both at VIENNA and PRAGE: for which cause publike praiers with thankesgiuing to almightie God were made in both places, with many other tokens of joy and triumph, both there and in diuers other places of the empire.The Turks in b [...]rying their dead, slaine by the Christians. Yet were not the dead bodies of the Turkes slaine at ALBA REGALIS buried; whereof rise such a loathsome and noysome smell thereabout, that no man I could abide to come nigh the place, to the great trouble of the inhabitants round about. At length certaine Turks out of BVDA and ALBA REGALIS, to the number of 350 met togither to haue buried those loathsome carkases: vpon whom it chanced a captaine of the Hussars to light with his horsemen, who fiercely assailing them, left most of them there dead for others to burie, and carried away the rest prisoners.

The Bassa of BVDA had caused Murat Sanzacke of PALOTTA to be strangled, for that he suspected him to haue had intelligence with the Christians: in whose roume he placed another, who comming with 600 Turkes to take possession of his preferment, was by the way set vpon by Peter le Hussar, with the garrison souldiors of PAPPA and THVRN, and slaine with most part of his followers. Fiue and thirtie of them were taken aliue, with all the Sanzackes rich furniture.K To end this yeare withall, the Turks in garrison at PETRINIA, SISEG, CASTROVVITZ, and other places thereabours, met togither in number about 300, who the 19 of December passing ouer the riuer Sauus, began to spoile the frontiers of those countries. But before they were gone farre, they were so encountred by the lord Graswin and the borderers thereabout, that 500 of them were left dead vpon the ground, diuers of good account taken prisoners, and almost all the rest drowned in the riuer; so that of all them that came ouer, few escaped with life. In the latter end of this moneth great numbers of souldiors were taken vp in SAXONIE, and other places of GERMANIE; whereof some were sent to PRAGE, and some to VIENNA in AVSTRIA: and in HVNGARIE the Christians encreased their strength with new supplies. In AVSTRIA also a new armie was raised, and two and twentie great pieces of artillerie sent downe the riuer of L Danubius to COMARA, and new preparation made in euerie place for the next yeares wars.

1594 Amurath the Turkish emperour, going out of the citie to CONSTANTINOPLE the 11 of Ianuarie,A great tempest at Constantinople. to muster the armie he had prepared against the Christians for this yeare, was suddenly ouertaken with such a tempest of wind and raine, that it ouerthrew his tents, his chariots, yea his horses and men had much adoe to withstand it. Wherewith he being (as with an ominous prodigie) exceedingly troubled, returned with his armie into the citie, and oppressed with melancholy, cast himselfe downe vpon his bed as a man halfe sicke. Where falling asleepe, hee dreamed that he saw a man of an exceeding stature, standing with one of his feet vpon the tower of CONSTANTINOPLE,Amurath dreameth. and the other ouer the strait in ASIA; who stretching out his armes, held the Sunne in one of his armes, and the Moone in the other: whom whiles he wondred at,M the monster with his foot strucke the tower, which forthwith fell downe, and in falling ouerthrew the great temple with the imperiall pallace. Amurath awaked (as he thought) with the noise, and much troubled with the dreame (for the Turks are in such vanities verie superstitious) sent for all his wisards and interpreters of dreames, to know the meaning of this his so strange or [Page] A rather so melancholy a dreame. Who hypocritically answered him, That forasmuch as he had not with all his force as a tempest impugned the Christians, their great Prophet Mahomet threatned by that dreame, to ouerthrow the tower, the temple, and the imperiall pallace; that is to say, the religion and empire of the Turks. Which vaine and fained interpretation so much moued the superstitious tyrant, that he swore from thenceforth to turne all his forces vpon the Christians, and not to giue ouer warre vntill he had done what he might to subdue them. This the Turks dreame, with the interpretation thereof, and the solemne vow he had made for the destruction of the Christians, was publikely read in the Churches of TRANSYLVANIA, and many godly exhortations made vnto the people, to moue them by prayer and all other good meanes, to auert that so threatned thraldome.

B Of the rich spoile taken from the Turks in the late victorie neere vnto ALBA REGALIS,A faire present of the spoile of the Turkes, sent vnto the emperour. the Christian captaines made a present for the emperour and the archduke Matthias his brother, which they sent by the lords Gall and Brun: and was by them presented vnto the emperour and his brother the 11 of Ianuarie at VIENNA, in order as followeth. First went the master of the ordinance of RAB, on both sides attended vpon with the other officers of the artillerie: after them were drawne thirtie great pieces of ordinance, taken in that battell. After these pieces followed three Turkish horses, with rich saddles, and furniture studded with gold, the stirrups and bridles being of siluer, guilt and most curiously wrought: after them were carried two and twentie of the Turkes ensignes, three of them verie rich, and the other right faire. Then followed the two embassadours aforesaid, with each of them a guilt mase in his hand, such as the Turkes C Bassaes vse to carrie: after them were brought many instruments of war, guilt scimitars, gleaues, bowes and arrowes, targets, and ten of the Ianizaries drums. Two of the aforesaid horses were presented to the emperour, and the third to the archduke. The field pieces brought to the castle gate, and orderly placed vpon the plaine, were all (at such time as the rest of the Present entred the castle) forthwith by the cannoniers discharged: and there for certaine daies left vpon the plaine for the people to feed their eies vpon. The embassadours discharged of their Present, and rewarded by the emperour with chaines of gold and other gifts, returned againe vnto the campe. Notwithstanding that it was now deepe Winter, yet many sharpe skirmishes daily passed vpon the borders, betwixt the Turkes and the Christians. The fifteenth of this present moneth, two thousand of the Turks assembled togither, were making an inroad into the countrey about FILEK: D whereof the lord Teuffenbach hauing intelligence, lay in wait for them, and setting vpon them, fearing no such danger, slew and tooke of them fifteene hundred.

Matthias archduke of AVSTRIA, now Gouernor of STIRIA, CARINTHIA, and the countries thereabout (by the departure of Ernestus his brother, but a little before by Phillip king of SPAINE made Gouernour of the low countries) was now also by the emperour appointed Generall of the Christian armie against the Turkes: who to be nearer vnto the enemie, and to farther the new warre, departed the six and twentith day of Februarie from VIENNA to RAB, after whom daily followed the forces newly raised in SILESIA, MORAVIA, and HVNGARIE, with others also sent from PRAGE and VIENNA. He considering to what small purpose it would be to haue the last yeare taken so many strong townes and castles, except the same were E also well manned and furnished with all needfull prouision; by the persuasion of the lord Teuffenbach, sent Countie Schlicke with a thousand horse to FILEK, for the more safetie of that place, and the countrey thereabout so lately gained from the Turkes.

It fortuned that about this time, a souldior of the Turks taken not farre from DREGEL, and brought into the campe; among other things wherof he was examined, confessed that in NOVIGRAD, a strong towne and of great importance (but one mile distant from VACIA, and three from BVDA) was left but a weake garrison of about eight hundred souldiors, who there liued in great feare to be besieged, and that the Turks doubting such a matter, had brought thither much prouision for the better fortifying of the towne. Vpon which intelligence the Christians began to remoue with their armie, and being come betwixt DREGEL and NOVIGRAD, vnderstood F by the countrey people, that it was true that the Turke had reported: wherefore they resolued that night to lay siege vnto the towne. So forthwith some were sent to DREGEL, to fetch thence certaine pieces of artillerie, whom certaine troupes of Germane horsemen went to meet: who vsed such diligence, that the eight of March a little before the rising of the Sunne, the whole armie with the great ordinance was come before NOVIGRAD. That day the Christians spent in [Page] pitching their tents,Nouigrad besieged by the Christians. and encamping themselues: yet before night they had planted certaine great G pieces vpon an high hill, from whence they might see into the castle; whereof the master of the ordinance caused three of the greatest (about the going downe of the Sunne) to be discharged against the castle, to giue the Turke to vnderstand that they wanted nothing for the siege. The same night also the Christians cast vp a great mount in the valley, from whence they presently sent six great shot into the castle: but early in the morning the Sunne being yet scarce vp, and all things now in readinesse, they began to batter the castle, and that day out of ten great pieces discharged three hundred great shot against the castle; but to small purpose, for the castle was built vpon a most strong rocke, fortified with high and thicke wals, and a deepe ditch hewen out of the maine rocke, which compassed the castle round; and for the more strength thereof was so fortified with pallisadoes made of strong timber, as that there was no accesse vnto the wals: yet by the H commaundement of the Generall, certaine companies of the Christians prepared themselues to assault the breach, such as it was; who besides their weapons, carrying with them drie faggots, and setting them on fire, burnt the pallisado in diuers places, and so opened the way vnto the wals; and encouraged with the successe, approched neerer, and slew diuers of the Turkes vpon their rampiers: who discouraged with their owne weakenesse and the forwardnesse of the enemie, faintly defended themselues, and yet slew diuers of them, beating them downe from the wals with stones, timber, fire-workes, and such like. This assault giuen in the night, was continued vntill foure a clocke in the morning, and so giuen ouer. Shortly after came the Archduke with a thousand horse into the campe, and caused the batterie to be againe renewed: whereby it chanced, that the chiefe canonier in the castle being a renegate Germane, was taken with a great shot,I and slaine; whose death so dismayed the rest of the defendants, that they presently set forth three white ensignes in signe of parle: which for all that the Christians seemed not to regard, but still continued their batterie. The Turks then pitifully crying out, named two captaines, whom they desired to haue sent vnto them, with whom they might fall to some reasonable composition. So for a while the batterie ceased, and those captaines being sent into the towne, brought nine of the best of the Turkes in the citie with them vnto the Archduke: who by their interpreter declared, That they well considering the force of the Christians, and seeing no reliefe to come from the Bassa of BVDA, as he had promised, thought themselues to haue alreadie discharged the parts of good souldiours, and seeing no other remedie, were contented to yeeld the castle, yet so, as that with bag and baggage they might in safetie depart. Whereunto the lord Palfi taking vpon him K the person of the Archduke (for that he himselfe would not be knowne) answered, That for as much as they had not yeelded at the first summons, but holden it out to the losse of many of his mens liues, and his great charge, they were vnworthie any fauour, yet of his owne clemencie he would receiue them, if they would absolutely without any further condition yeeld themselues to his mercie. This answere being reported to the Sanzacke, gouernour of the towne, pleased him not, and therefore said he would still stand vpon his defence. Whereupon the Christians were about to haue begun a fresh assault. But after a new parley it was at last agreed, That the Turkes yeelding the towne vnto the Archduke, should in safetie depart with their apparrell and scimitars onely. With which agreement two of the Turkes were sent backe into the castle, and the rest detained. Foure houres the Turkes in the castle delayed the time, as men doubtfull what to doe:L but being earnestly called vpon by the lord Palfi for a resolute answere, and seeing the Christians readie again to assault them,Nouigrad yeelded vnto the archduke. they for feare yeelded: and so foure hundred and fiftie of them came forth, amongst whom was the Sanzacke gouernour of the towne, with his wife and daughter, the Sanzacke of SELENDRE, sent thither to haue aided him, and one Chiaus lately come from the Court. These great men brauely mounted, were commaunded to alight from their gallant horses, and had in their steads other bad jades giuen them to ride vpon: and as they passed by, as wel the women as the men were searched, that they carried with them nothing more than their clothes: if any thing els were found, it fell vnto the souldiors share for good bootie. This strong towne of NOVIGRAD, had continued in the possession of the Turkes about threescore yeares, and serued as it were for a bulwarke to PESTH and BVDA, which now recouered out of their M hands, opened a way vnto their further harmes. The keeping of this towne was by the Archduke committed to the lord Rebei, a noble man of HVNGARIE, and kinsman to Palfi, with a strong garrison and certaine troupes of Hussars.

The Sanzacke of NOVIGRAD, after he had lost the towne, comming to BVDA, was presently [Page] A apprehehended by the Bassa, and layed in prison: who although he excused himselfe, by alleadging that the towne was not possibly to bee holden with so small a garrison against so great a power;The Sanza [...]ke of Nouigrad hanged a [...] Buda. and that if any fault were, it was to be imputed to them of BVDA, for not sending reliefe in time; and therefore appealed vnto the further hearing of Amurath himselfe: yet all serued him not, but was by the Bassaes commandement in the night hanged vpon a tree neere vnto the gate of the citie, and afterwards cut in pieces.

Whilest these things were in doing, the Emperour sent his embassadours to the great duke of MVSCOVIA, the king of POLONIA, and the prince of TRANSYLVANIA, to proue how they stood affected towards those his warres against the Turke, and what aid he might procure from them. Into MVSCOVIE was sent one Warkutsch a gentleman of SILESIA, who comming to B MVSCO, found in that Court the embassadours of the Tartar, the Turke, the Persian, the Polonian, and the Dane. Of all these, the embassadours of the Tartar and the Turke could haue no audience, but were with contumelious words rejected, as miscreants. The emperours embassadour was honourably entertained, and after the manner of that countrey, a large proportion of wine, mede, aquauita, flesh, fish, and foule of sundrie sorts allowed him dayly all the time of his abode. At length hauing audience, he declared vnto the great duke the cause of his comming, and in the name of his master requested his aid against the Turke. Whereunto the duke answered, That he would giue the emperour towards the maintenance of his warres against the common enemie, fiue hundred thousand duckats, and allow him yearely foure hundred thousand, during the time of that warre; requesting him not to make any peace with the Turke, and promising to C send him aid also of men in this warre, if he should so need. The Persian embassadour also honorably feasted the emperours embassadour, and had with him great conference concerning the warres of the Christians with the Turks, and in his masters name promised the continuation of his wars against the Turke, so that the emperour would likewise promise not to haue any league with him, so to giue him leisure to turne all his forces againe into PERSIA. This embassadour after he had almost foure moneths tarried in MVSCOVIA, returned to the emperour. At which time doctor Wacker, the emperours embassadour into POLONIA, returned also with joyfull newes, how that the Polonians with an armie of eight and twentie thousand had stopped the passage of an hundred thousand Tartars, whom the Turke had sent for against the emperour; and that if he needed, he should be aided with the Polonian Cossackes: But vnto the rest of his requests D he could haue no answere of the states of that kingdome, for that the king was then absent in SVVEDEN, and was therefore referred to be further answered at his returne.

At the same time countie Serinus with three hundred harquebusiers and certaine troupes of horsemen,Certaine castles of the Turks vpon the borders of Stir [...]a taken by the countie Serinus. and the footmen of STIRIA and the countries thereabout assembled, to the number of ten thousand, departed from CANISIA, to besiege BRESENZA, a castle of the Turkes: but they vnderstanding before of his comming, conueyed away the best of their substance, and setting the castle on fire, departed the three and twentith of March. The earle comming thither, tooke the forsaken castle, and put thereinto a garrison of his owne souldiors. In like manner he tooke also SIGESTA, forsaken by the Turkes, where he also placed a garrison of the Christians. And so going on to BABOTSCHA, besieged it: which castle although it was strongly situated E in a marish, and could not easily haue beene woon, was for all that for feare abandoned by the Turkes, and so taken by the countie: by recouerie of which places there was a safe and easie way layed open euen to ZIGET, the Bassa whereof stood in no small doubt to haue beene euen then besieged.

Amurath intending by all meanes he could to vex the Emperour, had determined to send his fleet into the Adriaticke, to besiege ZEGNA, a citie of the Emperours, situat vpon the sea coast in the bay QVERNERO, called in auntient time FLANATICVS SINVS. Which the better to effect, he sent one of his Chiaus embassadour to the Venetians, to request them, That his fleet might by their leaue passe alongst the Adriaticke, and haue the vse of their ports and harbours, as need should require. Which his request the Venetians hearing, refused in any case to yeeld F thereunto: fearing (and not without cause) the vnfaithfulnesse and trecherie of the Turkes, whose oathes and promises are no longer strong, or by them regarded, than standeth with their owne good and profit: neuerthelesse, they most honourably vsed the embassadour, and so sent him away, without obtaining of that he was especially sent for.

In the vpper part of HVNGARIE Christopher lord Teuffenbach the Archdukes lieutenant hauing [Page] gathered an armie of twentie thousand souldiors, the sixteenth of Aprill laid siege to HATVVAN,G a strong towne,Ha [...]an besieged by the Christians six miles from BVDA, fortified with a triple ditch, and bulwarkes of exceeding strength. Against which although the Christians could not doe much either by mines or mounts, by reason it was so enuironed with water: yet they so shut vp all the passages thereunto, that nothing could be brought or caried in or out of the towne. They of the town s [...]eing themselues thus blockt vp, by secret messengers certified the Bassa of BVDA in what case they stood, praying him of aid: who with ten thousand chosen souldiours, which he had then in readinesse, and the Sanzackes of SERNAH, GIVLA, LIPPA, LERVVOGE, and TSCHAN [...]RAD, with fiue thousand moe, forthwith set forward toward HATVVAN to raise the siege: and the last of Aprill being come within sight of the Christian armie, about one of the clocke in the afternoone encamped on the side of the riuer Sagijwa: but when he could not or els durst not for the deepenesse H of the way, the abundance of the water, and neerenesse of the enemie, aduenture to passe the riuer, he retired backe againe, to passe ouer at Iasperin (otherwise called Iasbrin) where the riuer was joyned with a bridge, and not farre off a good fourd also to passe ouer at; thinking so to haue come vpon the backes of the Christians, and with more safetie to haue relieued the besieged towne. But Teuffenbach perceiuing his purpose, forthwith after his departure passed the riuer with much difficultie, and ouertaking him with his armie the next day, being the first of May, about one of the clocke in the afternoone, between ZARCHA and FVCASALVA, with his great ordinance disordered the rereward of the enemies battell; and comming on couragiously with his whole armie, began a most cruell fight: which the Turkes a great while endured with wonderfull resolution: but now destitute of their wonted multitude (their greatest confidence) and I hardly layed vnto by the Christians, they in the end turned their backes and fled; whom six thousand Hungarians and Germanes fiercely pursued, and had the killing of them almost to BVDA. In this battell the Christians tooke all the enemies great ordinance, with seuenteene ensigns, and also the castle of Iasperin, which the Turkes had for feare abandoned; wherein was found good store of victuals, certaine great pieces, with much other warlike prouision. Of this so notable a victorie Teuffenbach by letters presently aduertised the Archduke, after he was againe returned to the siege of HATVVAN. Which letters because they containe many particularities and circumstances of this battell, I haue thought it not amisse here to insert.

The copie of the letter [...] of the lord Teuffenb [...]ch to Matthias the Archduke, Generall of the emperours armie against the Turk [...].

Although (sayth he) I haue by a speedie messenger vpon the very kalends of May certified your K excellencie of the notable victorie, which God of his great goodnesse gaue vnto vs the same day ouer our hereditarie enemie: yet afterward vpon diligent inquisition we vnderstood many particularities, as well of the captiues themselues, as of the inhabitants about ZOLNOCK, PESTH, and BVDA, whereof I thought good to aduertise you. The captiues themselues confesse, That the Bassa of BVDA, with the Sanzackes of ZOLNOC, ZARVVACE, GIVLA, and TSCHANGRAD, CIPPAIO, GENN [...], and others, had with great celeritie raised an armie of thirteene thousand souldiours, amongst whom were many Tartars, with purpose to haue relieued the besieged towne of HATVVAN, and vpon the sudden to haue oppressed vs in our tents: Filled with which hope, they in great hast came with all their power the last of Aprill towards HATVVAN: but for as much as they could not passe ouer the riuer Zagijwa, by reason of the height of the water, they were the next day, being the first of May, conducted L by the captaine of Iasparin to a more commodious passage, so to come the neerer vnto vs, and the next day in the morning to haue surprised vs in our tents. But our most mercifull God hath auerted this so great a mischiefe from vs, and turned it vpon their owne heads. For as it is most constantly reported from ZOLNOC, PESTH, and BVDA, and confirmed by the inhabitants of the same places, there are two thousand fiue hundred of the Turkes slaine, and as many wounded, of whom many perished, and are found dead vpon the high wayes leading to PESTH and ZOLNOC: of these wee haue sent a thousand heads to CASSOVIA, and caused many of the Turkes to be buried for feare of infection in this so great heat. Verely it was a bloudie battell, so that the old souldiours say, they haue not remembred or seene the Turkes (no moe in number) to haue stood so long in battell, and to haue so fought it out without flying. Many men of great name & place there perished and fell, amongst whom M are reckoned the Sanzacks of PESTH, NOVIGRAD, & TEMESKE: GENNE, ALAVUS, BOGSTE, ALVSTAFA, MARIELAVS, and certain Chiaus lately sent from the Court, with the Bassa his guard, wherin were eight hundred right valiant soldiors, of whom few escaped with life. Many fell that would haue yeelded great ransome; but it was agreed vpon betweene the Germanes and the Hungarians, not [Page] A to spare any of the enemies, but to put them all to sword; and that whosoeuer did otherwise, it should be imputed vnto him for dishonour. So that more than sixteene common souldiors, none were taken prisoners, of whom we might learne how things went amongst the Turkes, with other circumstances of the battell. We tooke thirteene field pieces, whereof foure were greater than the rest; which they called organes, and foure and twentie of the enemies ensignes. The Bassa of BVDA (beside other three wounds by him receiued) was grieuously wounded in the side. Of our men were lost about an hundred, and many of them most expert souldiors: and about six hundred others grieuously wounded, of whom there is small hope, many of them being alreadie dead. Neither is the losse small we haue receiued in our horses and armour, for there be few amongst the Germane horsemen, which haue not lost one, two, or three of their horses or seruants, whereby our horsemen are wonderfully weakned: yet B was the victorie great, to God be the praise, to him be the glorie and thankes therefore. Let vs in the meane time prosecute the siege begun. The last night I commaunded the water to be drawne another way, so that now our trenches may be aduaunced many paces, and bulwarks raised within two hundred paces of the wall. We haue alreadie planted fiue great pieces of artillerie in one bulwarke, and hope the next night to place fiue moe vpon amount fast by, and will doe what shall bee needfull for a straight siege: and when time shall serue, vndertake the towne with all our power, God graunt vs therein good successe and victorie.

The Turkes in garrison at ZA [...]OLA, a fort thereby, discouraged with the ouerthrow of their friends, forsooke the [...]ort; which for strength and greatnesse was comparable with TOCAY or C ERLA. Which strong place the Christians without any losse now recouered.

Whilest this valiant captaine the lord Teuffenbach thus lay at the siege of HATVVAN,S [...]rigonium besieged by the Christians. Matthias the archduke Generall of the Christian armie in HVNGARIE, encouraged with the good successe he had at NOVIGRAD, came with his armie (being 44000 strong) before STRIGONIVM (sometime the Metropoliticall citie of HVNGARIE, but now of long a sure receptacle of the Turkes) and the sixt of May encamped his armie about a quarter of a mile from the castle in a most pleasant medow, from whence both the citie and the castle were plainely to be seene. Vpon whom the Tur [...]es out of the castle, and three gallies that lay vpon the riuer, discharged certaine great pieces without any great harme doing: but after that the Christian fleet was a little before night come downe the riuer, and with their great ordinance began to answere D them againe, the enemie ceased shooting, and lay still that night. In the meane time it fortuned, that a Turkish youth taken in a garden thereby, and brought into the campe and examined; confessed that there was no garrison in the citie, more than foure hundred Ianizaries, and that a new supply was daily expected from BVDA. The Christians labouring that night, were by the breaking of the day, come with their trenches to a hill ouer against the castle, where they placed their batterie, and forthwith began to batter the citie. The same day (being the seauenth of May) two and twentie Turkes heads were presented to the archduke, and foure men taken aliue, newly sent out of the citie to haue viewed the Christian campe. About night certaine bals of wild fire were shot into the citie, whereof one fell vpon the tower called S. Adelbert, and set it on fire; wherewith first the church, and afterward a great part of the towne fell on fire. The Sanzackes E house, with all his horses and armour, and a great quantitie of pouder was then burnt, and inestimable hurt done in the citie. The next day, the Christians had with continuall batterie made a breach in the castle wall: but adjoyning vnto the wall was an high and broad sandie rampier, which could hardly be battered; for all that the Germanes gaue a fierce assault vnto the breach, hoping to haue entred by the ruines of the wall, but being not able to get ouer the sandie rampier, were enforced with losse to retire. The day following they began againe the batterie with eighteene great pieces; when about eight a clocke in the morning, the Rascians that were in the old citie gaue the Generall to vnderstand, That if he would at a place by them appointed, assault the greater citie to draw the Turks thither, they would in the meane time deliuer vnto the Christians certaine little posternes,The old citie deliuered by the Rascians vnto the Christians. and receiue them into the old citie; vpon condition, that no violence F should be done vnto them or theirs. Which being so agreed vpon, the Christians accordingly gaue the assault the eleuenth of May in the euening, and by the helpe of the Rascians tooke the citie; who according to promise were all taken to mercie, and the Turkes slaine, except such as by their good hap recouered the new towne. The keeping of this citie was committed to the charge of two companies of Germane footmen, and six hundred Hungarians, with [Page] three hundred Rascians and other townesmen. Thus was the old citie of STRIGONIVM gained G by the Christians, the suburbs whereof they presently burnt; neuerthelesse the new towne with the castle was still holden by the Turkes. Wherefore the Christians hauing cast vp certaine trenches and mounts, and placed their artillerie as they thought most conuenient, began againe to batter the castle,The castle assaulted. and after they had by the furie of the cannon made it saultable, with great courage assailed the breach, which the Turkes valiantly defended: so that the Christians were glad to retire, leauing behind them about an hundred and thirtie of their fellowes slaine in the breach. The Turkes a little before the comming of the Christians, had fortified an hill, wherunto the castle was something subject, called of the Christians S. Nicholas his hill; this hill so fortified, the Christians with continuall batterie and assault gained the 17 of May, and put all the Turkes left aliue therein to the sword; and turning the ordinance, from thence also battered H the castle. The two and twentith of May a little before the going downe of the Sunne, certaine ensignes of footmen were drawne out of the campe, to haue the next day assaulted the lower towne; who taking the benefit of the night, attempting to haue entred the towne in the dead time of the night, were notably encountred by the Turkes sallying out of the towne vpon them. The Christians for all that hauing enforced them to retire, prosecuted their former resolution, and with much adoe got ouer the vttermost wall: but finding there, contrarie to their expectation, such a deepe and broad countermure as was not possible to be passed, they stood as men dismaied: neither could they in the darknesse of the night, well see how to get back againe ouer the towne ditch, but disorderly retiring, stucke fast many of them in the deepe mud, and there perished. In this assault there were about a thousand of the Christians wounded and slaine:I and albeit that they twise or thrise renewed the assault, yet preuailed they nothing, but were still repulsed with losse. Many also of the Turkish garrison were likewise slaine; yea the Sanzacke himselfe hurt with a great shot, with many other wounded men sent downe the riuer to BVDA, brought thither true newes of the aforesaid assaults, and of the state of the besieged.

The Rascian [...] rise vp against the Turks.In the meane time newes was brought to the campe, That Sinan Bassa the old enemie of the Christians, and the Turkes great lieutenant, comming towards HVNGARIE with a great armie, and hauing by boats conuaied ouer part thereof, was set vpon by [...]he Rascians (these are poore oppressed Christians dwelling on both sides of Danubius, who weary of the Turkish thraldome, and desirous of their auntient libertie, haue oftentimes taken vp armes against the Turkes, as they now did, encouraged by the good successe of the Christians on the other side of HVNGARIE)K and that after diuers skirmishes, they had taken thirteene of the Turkes vessels, wherein beside victuals and certaine great pieces of artillerie, they found about 2400 waight of pouder, 447 hundred of lead, 46454 bundles of match, 1200 great shot, whereof 1005 were of 66 pound waight, and of small shot for harquebusiers 48500, with much other warlike prouision: a great part whereof was brought into the campe at STRIGONIVM, and the rest reserued to future vses. This losse so troubled the great Bassa, that he altered his purpose before entended for CASSOVIA.

The fourth of Iune, about fiue hundred Turkes sent vp the riuer from BVDA, conducted by two Sanzackes vnder two red and white ensignes, landed neere to GOKARA on the farther side of Danubius, ouer against STRIGONIVM: where after they had a while refreshed themselues,L and left some few for the more assurance of the place, all the rest were conuaied ouer the riuer into STRIGONIVM, where they had been long looked for, the old garrison being now sore weakned by the former assaults. Foure daies after, the Turkes encouraged with this supply, sallied out vpon a sudden, and had entred one of the forts of the Christians; but were forthwith againe repulsed, hauing lost six and twentie of their men, and two of their ensignes: not farre off lay a troupe of horsemen, who if they had in time come in, not one of the Turks had escaped. Long it were to tell, how often and in what manner the Christians assaulted this citie, but were by the Turkes so receiued,Fiue thousand Christian [...] lost at the siege of Strigon [...]um. that in fiue assaults they lost fiue thousand of their men, amongst whom were diuers captaines, lieutenants, auntients, and others of good account: three and twentie canoniers were also slaine, and ten great pieces of artillerie so spoiled, as that they were no more M seruiceable. The garrison of this citie consisted for most part of the Ianizaries (the Turkes best souldiors) whose notable valour in holding out of this siege, was both of their owne people and their enemies much commended: whatsoeuer was beaten downe by day, that they againe repaired by night; and still relieued with victuall and things necessarie from BVDA, did what was [Page] A possible to be done for defence of the citie. About the same time certaine Turkes chancing vpon a troupe of Germane horsemen, in fight slew about fiftie of them, and put the rest to flight▪ whereupon an alarum being raised in the campe, many ran out to the rescue of their fellowes, taking with them certaine small field pieces. Which the Turkes perceiuing, began to flie: whom the Christians eagerly pursuing, were suddenly assailed by other Turkes, sallying out of a fort fast by, and enforced shamefully to retire, and to leaue their field pieces behind them. Which the Turkes ceizing vpon, cloyed them, brake their carriages, and made them altogether vnseruiceable.

All this while the lord Teuffenbach lying at the siege of HATVVAN,The Archduke send [...]th aid to the siege of Hatwan. about this time requested aid of the Archduke, for that his power was with often conflicts, hunger, and other difficulties B alwayes attending long sieges, so much weakened, as that he had scarcely six thousand sound men in his campe, to whom the Archduke forthwith sent twelue hundred footmen, being loth to spare any moe, for too much weakening of his owne armie.

Amurath disdaining to see the frontiers of his empire in so many places impugned by the Christians, and dayly to receiue from them so great harmes, sought by all meanes to bee reuenged: wherefore beside the great power of his owne, which he was now about to send with Sinan Bassa into HVNGARIE, he had also procured from the great Tartar a wonderfull number of those rough and sauage people, to be sent into HVNGARIE, there to joyne with his armie. These wild people to the number of seuentie thousand, according to direction giuen, breaking into PODOLIA, WALACHIA, and MOLDAVIA, gathered together an incredible number of oxen and C kine; to this end and purpose, that driuing them before them, they might both be assured of victuals, and the safer trauell through a part of POLONIA. But when they were come vnto the borders of that countrey, and there found the power of Samoschie the great Chancellour and the Polonian Cossackes in armes, they easily perceiued that they could not that way passe without great losse. Wherefore they placed the aforesaid heards of cattell, some before, some behind, and some on each side of the armie, and so enclosed round about with those cattell as with a trench, marched on. But when they were come neere vnto the Polonians, this rude deuice serued them to no other purpose than the ouerthrow of themselues: for the Polonians discharging their great ordinance, so terrified the cattell, that they turned vpon the Tartars, and ouerthrowing whomsoeuer came in their way, did exceeding much harme: whom the Polonians immediatly D following, and hardly charging the confused armie, armed onely with bow and arrowes, after some small fight put them at last to flight, and obtained of them a notable victorie, with an exceeding rich prey. Of the Polonians were lost about eighteene hundred, but of the Tartars were slaine thirtie thousand. The rest retiring into PODOLIA, and passing the riuer Nester by the way of TRANSYLVANIA, where they did exceeding much harme, came to TEMESVVARE, and so afterwards further into HVNGARIE: vnto whom the Turkes sent seuen hundred horsemen, to conduct them to the armie.

But to returne againe to the siege of STRIGONIVM.Strigonium assaulted. The fourteenth day of Iune the Christians betweene eight and nine of the clocke in the morning with great furie assaulted the towne in three places: which assault they most notably maintained, vntill it was almost three a clocke in E the afternoone. Neuerthelesse, the Turks so valiantly defended themselues, that at last the Christians were glad to giue ouer the assault, and with losse to retire. The Archduke from an high place beholding the assault, had one of his footmen slaine fast by him with a small shot. Many of the Turks were also slaine in this assault, and amongst them one of the three Sanzackes that defended the citie. The night following there arose a most horrible tempest, with such raging wind, and abundance of raine, that many thought they should neuer haue seene day: with the violence whereof the Archdukes tent was ouerthrowne, and diuers others blowne downe or rent in sunder, were in the aire carried from place to place. About the same time the lord Palsi within the sight of the castle cast vp a notable fort, with high mounts and strong trenches (euen in the selfesame place where Solyman lay about fiftie yeares before, when he besieged and woon STRIGONIVM) F by which fort so built, the enemie was embarred to conuey any thing vp the riuer for reliefe of the citie, to the great discomfiture of the besieged: for to haue hindered the which worke, the enemie oftentimes sallied out, but to no purpose. This fort being brought to perfection, the Christians tooke also another fort in an island on the further side of the riuer, which the Turkes had but a few dayes before taken from the Christians, and cloyed the great pieces therein: [Page] which fort the Christians now againe repaired, furnishing it with a sufficient garrison and G other great ordinance.

These things thus done, the castle and the lower towne were in fiue diuers places out of the new built fort,Strigonium sore battered. the old towne, and the island, so battered with continuall shot, that a man would haue said, that one stone would not haue beene left vpon another, but that all should haue beene beaten downe and layed euen with the ground. The seuenteenth of Iune one of the Christian canoniers so dismounted one of the great pieces in the castle, that the piece together with the Turkish canonier that had charge thereof fell downe out of the castle into the ditch. And the same day a mason that fled out of the castle into the campe, amongst other things reported, That many of the Turks were slaine with this continuall batterie and often assaults, and that not past an houre before fortie of them were slaine in one chamber, and now acknowledged themselues H to be indeed besieged: and to haue resolued, that when they were brought to the last cast, then desperatly to sallie out vpon the Christians, and so either to returne with victorie, or to make shift euery man for himselfe as he might. Which his report seemed not altogether faigned: for about midnight a thousand of the Turkes sallying out of the castle vpon the fort newly built vpon the riuer, in hope to haue surprised it, were by the Christians therein notably repulsed and enforced to retire: in which conflict fiftie of the Turkes were slaine, and many moe wounded and taken prisoners. And the same day toward euening eight Turkes of good sort being taken and brought into the campe, confessed, That but six dayes before, they had seene seuen boats full of wounded and dead men sent downe the riuer from STRIGONIVM to BVDA. Whereby it was easily to be gathered how bloudie a siege this was vnto the Turkes, for as much as all those bodies were I the bodies of men of good account and place; for the bodies of such common soldiors as were slaine, they still threw into the riuer running by.

The new built [...]ort hardly assau [...]ted by the Turkes.The fort newly built vpon the banke of Danubius, much troubled the besieged Turkes in STRIGONIVM, because nothing could without danger of it be sent vp the riuer for their reliefe. Wherefore they by fit messengers sent word out of the castle vnto the Admirall of the Turkes gallies lying below in the riuer, That he should at an appointed time come vp the riuer with his gallies as high as the fort, and on that side at leastwise to make shew as if he would assault it: at which time they of the towne would be likewise readie to sallie out, and to assaile it indeed on the other side by land. The Admirall accordingly came vp the riuer with his gallies, and by discharging of certaine great pieces, made shew as if he would on that side haue battered the fort:K but was so welcommed thereout of, that he was glad with his rent gallies quickly to fall downe the riuer againe further off out of danger. But whiles the thundering shot was thus flying too and fro towards the riuer, they of the towne sallying out, assaulted the fort on the other side toward the land, and that with such desperat resolution, that some of them were got vp to the top of the rampiers, and there for the space of two houres maintained a most cruell fight: wherein many of them were slaine and wounded, and the rest enforced with shame to retire.

The Christians thus still lying at the siege, and intentiue to all occasions, partly by their espials, and partly by such as they had taken prisoners, vnderstood, that a new supplie both of men and victuals was shortly to be put into STRIGONIVM: and therefore sent out certaine companies of souldiors, who lying in two conuenient places, the one vpon the riuer, the other by land,L might intercept the said supply. Both which places were before by the prouident enemie possessed: who suddenly assayling the Christians comming thither, and fearing no such matter, slew some of them, and put the rest to flight: who neuerthelesse in their retreat, brake the bridge which the Turkes had made of boats vnder the castle of STRIGONIVM ouer Danubius. Of which boats some were carried away with the violence of the streame, and of the rest thirtie fell into the hands of the Christians, without losse of any man more than fiue, who making too much hast out of a little boat, fell into the riuer, & so perished. In this time, Fame the forerunner of all great attempts had brought newes into the Christian campe, That Sinan Bassa the Turks great Generall was comming to the reliefe of STRIGONIVM: of whose power, diuers diuersly reported. But the greater part doubting the worst, and wearie of the long siege and of the calamities incident M thereunto, added still something to the last report, to make the danger of longer stay to seeme the greater: certaine it is, that the newes of the comming of so great and puissant an enemie, raised many a troubled thought in the minds of so great a multitude. Now were the besieged Turks in great wants in STRIGONIVM, as appeared by letters intercepted from the Sanzacke [Page] A to the Bassa of BVDA, declaring vnto him the hard estate of the besieged, and humbly crauing his promised helpe, without which the citie could not for want of victuals possibly be defended by the fainting souldiors aboue three dayes. Which letters being read in the campe, caused great preparation to be made for the continuing of the siege and the withstanding of the enemie, whose comming was euery houre expected. All this while the great ordinance neuer ceased on either side: wherby many were slaine, as well of the Christians as of the Turks; and amongst others many of the cannoniers.

But for as much as the rife fame of Sinan Bassaes comming encreased dayly, and the Christian campe possessed with a generall feare, gaue vnto the wise just suspition of some great mischiefe likely to ensue: Matthias the Generall entered into counsell with countie Ferdinand Hardeck, B the lord Palfi, the lord Vngenade president of the counsell for the warres, and Erasmus Eraun gouernor of COMORA, What were best to be done in so dangerous a time? who with generall consent agreed betimes (before the comming of Sinan) to raise the siege, and to remoue with the armie into some place of more safetie. Which their determinat resolution, the day following, being the six and twentith of Iune, they made knowne to the other princes and great commanders in the armie: who wonderfully discontented therewith, especially the Germans, both openly by word, and solemnely by writing, protested against the same, as most dishonourable, and altogether made without their knowledge or good liking. To whom the president of the counsell for their further satisfaction, declared, That the enemie was comming with a very great armie, and euen now at hand, whose strength encreased dayly, and with what power hee had purposed C to assaile them in their tents, was vncertaine: besides that, it was manifestly knowne vnto the world, how that in the former assaults they had lost many of their best souldiors, beside others that died in the campe: and that the place wherein they lay encamped, was subject to many dangers: For which so vrgent causes the Generall had resolued to raise his siege, and before the comming of so strong an enemie, to remoue his armie into a place of more safetie. Which reasons for all that did not so well satisfie the Germane princes and commaunders, but that they still vrged their former protestation, requesting his excellencie to haue them excused before God and the world, if they yeelding to his commaund, as to their Generall, did that which they thought not altogether best, and which they would not haue otherwise done. For the more euidence whereof, the said Germane princes and great commaunders caused their said protestation to be D solemnely conceiued in writing, which they firmed with their seales, and subscribed with their owne hands in order as followeth: Francis duke of SAXONIE, Augustus duke of BRVNSWICK, Sebastian Schlick, countie Wigand Maltzan, Ernestus of ALSTAN, Henry Phlugk, Iohn Nicholas Ruswormb, Henry Curwigger Heerrath, Iohn of OBERHAVSEN, Henry Rottcirch, Melchior of NOTHVVITH.

But the Archduke with the rest constant in their former resolution,The Archduke raiseth his siege, and with his armie passeth the riuer. first sent away the great ordinance, and raising the siege the eight and twentith of Iune, followed after with the whole armie, passing ouer Danubius not farre from KOKARA, doubtfully expecting what course Sinan the great Bassa (who was then reported to be euen at hand) would take. Yet before their departure they set the old towne on fire, and rased the fort S. Nicholas, before taken from the enemie, E which they had once purposed to haue kept. This vnexpected departure of the Christians much gladded the besieged Turkes: who for want of victuals had not beene able long to haue holden out. Yet lay the lord Teuffenbach still at the siege of HATVVAN, labouring by all meanes to take from the besieged Turkes their water, and with earth and faggots to fill vp their ditches; which worke he had now happily brought to some good perfection. Whereof they in the towne by letters aduertised the Bassa of BVDA, and that except they were within the space of three daies relieued, they should be enforced to yeeld the towne. Which their distresse the Bassa considering, with speed assembled all his forces, and so set forward to relieue them, hoping to haue come vpon the Christians before they were aware of his comming. But Teuffenbach vnderstanding thereof, with fiue thousand chosen horsemen went out of the campe to meet him, & suddenly comming F vpon him,Fiue thousand Turks slaine. fearing no such thing, slew fiue thousand of the Turkes, put the Bassa to flight, and together with the victorie obtained an exceeding rich prey.

Now was there no lesse expectation and hope of the winning or yeelding vp of HATWAN,Hatwan in vain assaulted by the Christians. than was before of STRIGONIVM: but according to the chance of warre it fell out otherwise. For Teuffenbach hauing with continuall batterie layed the breaches faire open, and made choice [Page] of such souldiors as he thought meetest for the assault, was in the performing thereof so notably G repulsed by the Turkes, that he was glad to retire with the losse of his best and most resolute souldiors:Teuff [...]nbach giueth ouer the siege of Hatwan. which put him out of all hope of taking the towne by force. For beside the losse of these good men, he had scarce so many sound men left, as might suffice to furnish his garrisons for defence of those frontiers: by reason that the Hungarians were almost all shrunke home, and of the Germanes were left scarce two thousand. Besides that he had oftentimes craued new supplies of the archduke, but all in vaine: for which causes he was glad to abandon two strong forts he had built before HATVVAN, and to leaue the towne now brought to great extremitie. Thus two notable cities, which were now as it were in the hands of the Christians, and by the recouerie whereof the broken state of the afflicted Christians in HVNGARIE had been much strengthened, were as it were againe restored vnto the barbarous and cruell enemie.H

Whilest the Christians thus lay at the siege of STRIGONIVM and HATVVAN, the Rascians (of whom we haue before spoken) striuing still more and more to rid themselues from the Turkish thraldome, gathered themselues togither to the number of fifteene thousand, betweene BVDA and BELGRADE, vnder a Generall of their owne chusing. For feare of whom, the Bassa of TEMESVVAR with an armie of foureteene thousand, went to fortifie and victuall LIPPA, doubting least it should by them be surprised: but hauing done that he went for, in his returne he was met with by the same Rascians, and twise fought withall in one day, and both times put to the worse, with the losse of the greatest part of his armie. After which victorie the Rascians tooke BECZKEREK a strong towne, standing in a marish foure miles from BELGRADE, and slew all the Turks they found therein. After that they tooke a castle called OTTADT, and dealt I with the Turks in like manner. From thence they went and besieged BECHE, a castle standing vpon the riuer Tibiscus or Teise, where the towne adjoyning vnto it yeelded presently; but they in the castle standing a while vpon their guard, offered at last to yeeld also vpon certaine conditions. But the Rascians knowing that the Turkes thereabouts had conuaied into that castle the best part of their wealth, and withall that it was but weakely manned, would accept of no conditions, but needs haue it absolutely deliuered vp to their pleasure. In the meane time the old Bassa of TEMESVVAR and his sonne, knowing it to tend to their dishonour to suffer this base people so to rage at their pleasure about them, gathered togither 11000 Turkes, and so in great hast came to relieue the besieged castle. Vpon whom the Rascians turned themselues, and in plaine battell ouerthrew the Bassa, and so pursued the victorie, that of those 11000 Turks scarcely K escaped 1000: the Bassa himselfe being there slaine, and with him three Sanzacks, his sonne escaped by flight. In this battell the Rascians tooke 18 great pieces of artillerie: and not long after tooke also WERSETZA and LVTZ, two strong places. After which so happie successe, they sent vnto the archduke Matthias for aid, but especially for canoniers, professing themselues now vtter enemies vnto the Turkes. The Rascians also about TEMESVVAR sent word vnto the other in the campe, that they would come and joyne with them. And they which inhabite the countrey betweene the riuers Danubius and Tibiscus, by messengers sent of purpose vnto the lord Teuffenbach (the archdukes lieutenant in the vpper part of HVNGARIE) offered in short time to send him ten or twelue thousand men, so that he would receiue them and their countrey into the emperours protection; which he easily granted them, and thereof assured them by writing.L And to the archduke himselfe they sent also their trustie messengers, requesting him to send them a Generall to lead them, promising vnto him all obedience: which messengers departing from them the fourteenth of Iune, shortly after returned with such answere as was thought most conuenient for their present state. Thus against the comming of Sinan, was HVNGARIE almost all on a broile.

A Dice of the empire holden at Ratisbone for the withstanding of the Turke.The emperour long before distrusting the Turkes purpose for warre, and well considering what a difficultie it would be for him with his owne forces only to withstand so puissant an enemie as was Amurath; had by his embassadours praied aid of diuers Christian princes, but especially of them of the empire, as those whom this warre concerned most. Wherfore he after the auntient and wonted manner of his state in so common and imminent a danger, appointed a generall M assembly of the Princes and States of the empire, to be holden at RATIS [...]ONE, in the latter end of Februarie: which for sundrie vrgent causes was put off vntill March, and againe vntill Aprill, and so afterward vntill May. At which time the emperour in person himselfe, with the Princes Electors, and other the great States of the empire, being met togither with great [Page] A pompe at RATISBONE, and solemnly assembled into the bishops pallace, began there to sit in counsell the 2 of Iune.The emperour grieuously complaineth vnto the Princes Electors▪ and States of the empire, of the infidelitie of the Turke, and craueth their aid. Vnto the which Princes and States so assembled, after that the emperour had first by the mouth of Phillip Countie Palatine of RHENE, giuen great thanks for their so readie apparance, & briefly declared the cause of their assembly; he himselfe after some complaint made of the Turkish infidelitie, in expresse words declared vnto them, how that he by his embassadour then lying at CONSTANTINOPLE, had in the yeare 1591 made a league for eight years, with the present Turkish Sultan Amurath: which league Amurath himselfe had approued and confirmed, and thereof sent him publike and solemne instruments: wherein it was prouided, That no hostilitie should be on either side during that time attempted. And yet notwithstanding that he, contrarie to his faith giuen, as an hereditarie enemie of the Christians, had violated B this league, and by sundrie incursions barbarously spoiled and wasted, not HVNGARIE onely, but other of his imperiall prouinces also: But especially by Hassan Bassa of BOSNA, who first with a strong armie besieged, battered, and tooke REPITZ, an antient frontier castle, and after that WIHITZ, DRESNIK, CRASSOVVITZ, with other places of name: And had in his dominion and territorie built PETRINIA a most strong fort, hurtfull to all that countrey, out of which he had done incredible mischiefe in CROATIA, WINDISMARCH, and the most fruitfull island TVROPOLIE; and had out of those places carried away aboue fiue and thirtie thousand Christians into most miserable captiuitie. Of which shamefull injuries and breach of faith, he had many times by his embassadours complained vnto the Turkish Sultan at CONSTANTINOPLE, and requested, that all hostilitie set apart, due restitution might haue been made, but to C haue therein preuailed nothing: and that the same Bassa in stead of condigne punishment, had been for the doing thereof honoured by the Great Sultan his lord with honourable gifts, the sure tokens of his fauour: Whereby he was so confirmed in his barbarous proceedings, that he began to make open warre, and hauing raised a full armie, and strengthened also with certaine companies of Ianizaries sent from the Court, had passed ouer the riuer of Kulp, and besieged the castle of SISEG: but by the just judgement of God the reuenger of wrongs, had there receiued the reward of his faithlesse and cruell dealing, being there slaine, and almost all his armie vtterly destroied by his small forces, raised in hast for his owne lawfull defence. Neuerthelesse the faithlesse Turke (as if he had beene highly wronged himselfe) to haue made this his breach both of league and faith forthwith knowne to all the world, by commanding open warre to be solemnly D proclaimed against the kingdome of HVNGARIE, both in CONSTANTINOPLE and BVDA: and by the Beglerbeg of GRaeCE, to haue againe besieged and taken the strong fortresse of SISEG. Whereas on the other side (because nothing should on his part be wanting, which might make his desire of peace more knowne) he had againe, and oftentimes by his embassadour put the Turke in remembrance of his league made, and confirmed by his faith: who for all that had changed nothing of his purpose, but sent his great Visier Sinan Bassa with the Beglerbeg of GRaeCIA, and many inferiour Bassaes and Sanzacks into HVNGARIE, who with fire and sword enforced the inhabitants and countrey people (such as they left aliue) to sweare vnto the Turke obedience, and to become his subjects: and at the same time tooke VESPRINIVM and PALOTTA, two famous fortresses of that kingdome. And that the same Bassa by commandement from E his lord and master, had contrarie to the law of nations imprisoned Frederik Kreckowitz his embassadour, first at CONSTANTINOPLE, and caused the greater part of his followers to be thrust into the gallies; and afterwards to haue sent him with a few of his seruants to BELGRADE, and there to haue kept him so long in prison, that he there miserably died. In reuenge of which so great and open wrong, and for the defence and comfort of his afflicted subjects so neere the enemie, he had raised a good strength both of horse and foot, by whose helpe and the assistance of almightie God, the Bassa of BOSNA had reaped the fruit of his perfidious dealing: as had also the Bassa of BVDA, with many thousands of their great souldiors; ouerthrowne neere vnto ALBA REGALIS; besides many of their castles and townes taken or rased. Yet for all that was it easie to be seene, these so great victories by the goodnesse of God had and obtained against so F mightie and cruell an enemie, not to suffice; but that there was still need of a perseuerant and continuall supply for the maintenance of a perpetuall warre: and that it was daily to be expected, or rather euen now presently to be descried, That the Turke in his quarrell which he deemeth alwaies just against the Christians, and in reuenge of these ouerthrowes, would draw forth all his forces, and aduenture his whole strength. For which causes he had by the knowledge and consent [Page] of the Princes electors of the sacred empire, appointed that present Diet of the empire; and G not for the aforesaid causes only, but for diuers others both necessarie and waightie also: as the generall peace of the empire, the pacification of the Low countries, the reformation of justice, and amendment of the coine: but especially and aboue all other things, to make it knowne vnto the world, how much it concerned to haue the Turkes pride betime abated, and some effectuall defence for HVNGARIE (now in danger) at length prouided; being the most sure defence and strongest bulwarke of that part of Christendome. And that whereas his owne hereditarie prouinces were not of themselues alone sufficient to maintaine so chargeable a warre, he therefore requested the Electors, Princes, and States both present and absent, not to grudge to be present with their helpe, their counsell, and whatsoeuer else should be needfull against so puissant and dangerous an enemie. So ending his speech, he caused all his demaunds before conceiued into H writing to be read, and so deliuered vnto them. For answering whereunto, the Princes electors and others there present required time; which granted, after many sittings & long consultations, they at last with one consent answered, That it was a hard matter by reason of the late dearth, and other like occasions, for them to grant such helpe and aid as the emperour had in writing required: yet hauing before their eies the great and imminent danger wherin the Christian common weale then stood, they not regarding their owne proper and neere difficulties, had in regard of his sacred and imperiall majestie, for the comfort and defence of the endangered Christians, and for the repressing of the Turkish furie, of their owne free will and meere compassion, granted beside their accustomed contribution, such farther reliefe for the space of six yeares, as they thought sufficient for the maintenance of a defensiue warre, both for the present and the time to I come. What was by them farther decreed concerning the emperours other demaunds, as not pertinent to our purpose, we willingly passe ouer.

Sinan Bassa with an armie of 250 thousand betw [...]ene Buda and Alba Regalis.Of all these things, as also whatsoeuer else had happened at STRIGONIVM, HATVVAN, or other places of HVNGARIE, was not Sinan Bassa ignorant: who now euen vpon the departure of the Christians from STRIGONIVM, was come with an huge armie betweene BVDA and ALBA REGALIS: vnto whom also fortie thousand Tartars, that by force had made themselues way through PODOLIA and the vpper part of HVNGARIE, had now joyned themselues: so that in his armie were reckoned aboue an hundred and fiftie thousand fighting men; to the great terrour, not onely of HVNGARIE, AVSTRIA, STIRIA, CROATIA, BOHEMIA, and the prouinces therabout, but also of the whole State of GERMANIE. With this great armie the old K Bassa had purposed to haue ouerwhelmed the Christians in their campe at STRIGONIVM: but now that they were before his comming departed ouer the riuer towards KOMARA, he resolued to keepe on his way, and to besiege the strong citie IAVRINVM, now called RAB. And to make all sure before him, he thought it best to take in his way DOTIS, a strong towne of the Christians, in the mid way betweene STRIGONIVM and RAB, about fiue Hungarian miles short of RAB. The Christian armie but newly passed ouer Danubius, in marching towards KOMARA, might see the mountaines and fields on the other side the riuer all couered with the multitude of the Turks armie: who though they were in deed many, yet marching dispersedly, made show of moe than in truth they were. So both armies marching in sight the one of the other, and seperated onely with the riuer, held on their way: the Christians to KOMARA, where L they encamped vnder the verie wals of the citie, yet in such sort, as that they might a farre off well descrie one another; and the Turkes towards DOTIS, where the Bassa with all his armie encamped the 21 day of Iuly. The night following, hauing planted his batterie, he began in furious manner to batter the castle, the chiefe strength of the towne; the Christian armie looking on,Dotis and Saint Martins yeelded to the Turkes. but not daring at so great ods to relieue their distressed friends. So whiles the Bassa granteth no breathing time vnto the besieged, but tireth them out with continuall batterie and alarums, they of the towne dispairing of their owne strength, and to be able for any long time to hold out against so mightie an enemie, within three daies after yeelded the towne, being in that short time sore battered, and also in diuers places vndermined: yet with this condition, That it should be lawfull for the garrison souldiors and townesmen, with their wiues and children in safetie to depart.M Which was vnto them by the Bassa frankly granted, but not so faithfully performed: for at their departure many of their wiues and children were staied by the Turkes, and the lord Baxi Gouernour of the towne fouly entreated. Immediatly after, the Bassa without much adoe tooke S. Martins castle also, not far from DOTIS, being by the captaine yeelded vnto him.

[Page] A In the meane time the countrey villages round about forsaken of the poore Christians, were by the Turks most miserably burnt, and all the countrey laied wast. Yea some of the forerunners of the Turks armie passing ouer the riuer Rabnitz, ran into the countrey as farre as ALTENBVRG, within fiue miles of VIENNA, burning the countrey villages as they went, and killing the poore people, or that worse was, carrying them away into perpetuall captiuitie: yet not without some losse, foure hundred of these roaming forragers being cut off by the lord Nadasti. Palfi also, and Brun Gouernour of KOMARA following in the taile of the Turks armie, set vpon them that had the charge of the victuals; of whom they slew a great number, tooke 120 of them prisoners, and 150 camels and 30 mules laded with meale and rice, which they carried away with them to KOMARA.

B DOTIS and S. Martins thus taken, Sinan Bassa constant in his former determination, set forward againe towards RAB, and being come within a mile of the citie, there encamped; the Christian armie then lying not far off on the other side of the riuer.Rab. This citie of RAB is a strong and populous citie, honoured with a bishops See, and was worthily accounted the strongest bulwarke of VIENNA, from whence it is distant about twelue Germane miles, standing vpon the South side of Danubius, where the riuer diuiding it selfe, maketh a most fertile island called SCHVT; in the East point whereof standeth the strong citie of KOMARA. The defence of this citie of RAB was committed to Countie Hardeck, a man of greater courage than fidelitie, with a garrison of twelue hundred choise souldiors, vnto whom a little before the comming of the Bassa were certaine companies of Italians joyned, who togither with the citisens made vp the C number of fiue thousand able men: a strength in all mens judgement sufficient for the long defence of that place. The last of Iuly (Matthias the archduke about the going downe of the Sunne departing out of the citie of RAB, ouer the riuer into the island ouer against it) came Sinan Bassa with his huge armie and beset it round, casting vp trenches and mounts, whereon he skilfully placed his gabions and great artillerie, and whatsoeuer else was necessarie for so great a siege: and that with such celeritie, as was to the beholders thought most strange. The second of August, he with great furie battered the citie, and brought his trenches within musket shot of the wals.The Turks and Tartars passing ouer the riuer, ouerthrowne. At which time foure thousand Tartarian horsemen swam ouer the Danubius between RAB and KOMARA; after whom followed six thousand Turkes, who being with much adoe got ouer to the farther side, suddenly surprised a fort of the Christians next vnto the riuer; and D forthwith turning fiue great pieces of ordinance which they found therein, discharged them vpon the campe of the Christians: who terrified with the sudden accident, rise vp all in armes, and hardly charging those desperat aduenturers, slew many of them; especially such as seeking after bootie had dispersed themselues from their fellowes, and forced the rest againe to take the riuer, wherein most of them perished.The Tartarians the second time ouerthrowne. About fiue daies after, the Tartarians (liuing for most part vpon prey) swam againe ouer the riuer, and vpon the sudden burnt a village in the island, and slew certaine Christians in their tents, but being quickly encountred by the Christian-horsemen, they were easily ouerthrowne, and many of them slain: the rest casting away their weapons and forsaking their horses, ran headlong into the riuer, trusting more to their swimming than to their fighting; whom the Christians hardly pursuing, in the verie riuer slew about two thousand of them: E and by this victorie obtained many of the Tartarian swift horses, with their scimitars, their bowes and arrowes,Rab battered. and such ensignes as they had. All this while Sinan Bassa without intermission, lay thundring with threescore great pieces of batterie against the citie: but to little or small purpose, for as yet he had made no breach whereby to enter, but the harme that was done was vpon the towers or high built houses, or in the campe, by such randon shot as flying ouer the towne fell by chance among the tents of the Christians. And the Ianizaries intentiue to all opportunities, in a great raine furiously and with a most horrible crie (as their manner is) assaulted an vtter bulwarke of the Christians, which they for feare forsooke, and retired themselues into the citie; vpon which bulwarke so taken, the Ianizaries had set vp three of their ensignes: When the Christians ashamed of that they had done, and better aduised, taking courage vnto them, forthwith F sallied out againe, and couragiously charging the Ianizaries but now entred, slew many of them, and recouered againe the bulwarke.

Sinan Bassa leauing nothing vnattempted that might further his desire for the winning of the citie,A Bassa slaine. was now casting vp a great mount against the citie: which whilest he dayly surueyed, he chanced to fall sicke, and therefore appointed one of the Bassaes in his owne stead to ouersee the [Page] worke; who whilest he was walking too and fro, hastening the worke, and commaunding this G and that thing to be done, he was taken with a shot out of the towne and slaine.

The fifteenth of August certaine Turkes before the rising of the Sunne getting ouer Danubius in boats, assailed a fort of the Christians: which the souldiours that had the keeping of it, presently forsooke, and left it to the enemie. Which Iohn de Medices, lately come into the campe with two thousand Italians, perceiuing, forthwith came to the rescue of the fort, draue out the Turks, and hauing slaine diuers of them, forced the rest into the riuer, where they were all drowned. At which time fiue thousand Tartars in another place, passing ouer the riuer into the island, were encountered by the lord Palfi and the Hussars his followers, and without any great resistance put to flight,A sight in the riuer betwixt the Turkes and the Tartars. wherein many of them were slaine: the rest taking the riuer, were in good hope to haue got ouer, and so to haue saued themselues. But other Turks meeting them in the riuer,H would with their weapons haue beaten them backe, and stayed their flight: against whom the Tartars opposing themselues, made with them in the very riuer a most cruell fight, but with such losse vnto the Tartars, that of the fiue thousand which aduentured ouer, few returned to carrie newes vnto their fellowes how they had sped. Now began great scarcitie of victuals in the Turks campe, so that the souldiors were faine to feed vpon vnripe fruit and such other vnwholesome things: whereof ensued the bloudie flix, with many other dangerous diseases: which raging amongst them, did wonderfully consume the Bassaes armie. Beside that, they of the citie with continuall shot had slain many, and among them a sonne in law of the great Bassaes, whose death he is reported to haue taken so vnpatiently, that he fell sicke for griefe, but in short time after passed it ouer, and recouered againe.I

The Tartars not yet warned by their often losses, but passing againe ouer the riuer into the island the nineteenth of this moneth, were there three thousand of them slaine. In the mean time certaine companies also of the Turks hauing secretly passed the riuer, in another quarter assayled the Christians in their campe: in which hurly burly other of the Tartars got ouer the riuer not farre from KOMARA, hoping now at length to performe some great matter, which they had before so often to their cost vainely attempted. But finding the Turkes ouerthrowne before their comming, and the Christians (contrarie to their expectation) in armes readie to receiue them, they were easily discomfited, and two thousand of them slaine. In this conflict the Sanzacke of STRIGONIVM, with two others, and many moe of great account among the Turkes perished. Shortly after the Christians sallying out of the citie, slew a great number of the Turkes, and so K retired with small losse. Thus was the Turkes armie dayly deminished, besides that the want of victuals with the bloudie flix so encreased, that many persuaded the Bassa to haue raised his siege, and to haue remooued with his armie to some other more wholesome place, and of greater plentie: but he resolutely set downe not to depart before he had either woon the towne, or enforced them therein to yeeld, would not hearken to any persuasions to the contrarie.

Whilest Sinan thus lay at the siege of RAB, Maximilian the emperours brother tooke Crastowitz, a fortresse of the Turks vpon the borders of CROATIA, and put to sword all the Turks there in garrison. After that he layed siege to PETRINIA, a strong fortresse of the Turks, which they but a few yeares before had contrarie to the league built in the emperours territorie, for the annoying of CROATIA, and for the exceeding strength thereof was thought almost impregnable.L Yet such was the industrie of Maximilian and his souldiors, that what with continuall batterie and mines they so terrified the Turks there in garrison, that they for feare set fire on the fort, and flying away by night, made shift euery man for himselfe, as he might. Which they in the castle of SISEG hearing, set fire also vpon it, and so left it to the Christians: whose example they also of GARA followed: by which so prosperous and happie successe of Maximilians, not the frontiers only, but euen the whole countrey of CROATIA was for that time deliuered of a wonderfull trouble and no lesse danger.

A great skirmish betwixt the Turkes and the Christians.The eight and twentith day of August twentie thousand of the Christians passing ouer the riuer by a bridge out of the island, and joyning with them of the towne, sallied out vpon the Turks campe. The Hungarian Heidons in the foreward at the first onset tooke two of the Turks M bulwarkes; and hauing beaten out the enemies, cloyed certaine of their great pieces: but the Turks returning with greater power, enforced the Christians to retire, and recouered again their lost bulwarkes. In this conflict many were slaine, as well Christians as Turkes. In the meane while Thonhause a great captaine of the Christians, and Geitzhofler, countie Hardecke his lieutenant, [Page] A with fifteene hundred Hungarian and Germane footmen came in great boats to haue holpen their fellowes, but landing somewhat too late, they were by the enemie beaten backe, and enforced with such speed to retire, that many of them being not able to recouer the boats, were drowned in the riuer, amongst whom Geitzhofler himselfe perished, and Thonhause was deadly wounded in his breast. Yet the Christians not discouraged with this losse, but gathering themselues together vnder the very wals of the citie, gaue a second assault vnto the enemie. In the foreward were the footmen, who were by the enemies horsemen easily repulsed: but by the comming in of the lord Rinsberg (who was at the first onset slaine) the Turks were enforced into their trenches, except some few, which deuided from the rest hid themselues in the vineyards, but being found out by the Christians, were there all slaine. In this skirmish the lord Palfi was grieuously B wounded in his thigh.Two tho [...]sand Turks slaine, and 17 of their ensignes taken. Of the Christians were slaine foure hundred, and of the Turks about two thousand. These conflicts endured from seuen a clock in the morning vntill twelue, at which time the Christians returning into the citie, and so into the campe, amongst other spoyles carried away with them seuenteene of the enemies ensignes.

No day now passing without some skirmish, at length the ninth of September ten thousand Turkes, some in boates, some by other meanes, hauing got ouer the riuer of Danubius into the island of SCHVT, suddenly set vpon the Christians, all sleeping in securitie, and little fearing any such danger: of whom they slew about two thousand, and after some small fight put the rest to most shamefull flight, in such sort, that Matthias the Archduke himselfe with the other noblemen and captaines had much adoe by flight to escape. Thus whilest euery man surprised with C feare, made what shift he could for himselfe; the enemie in the meane time entered the trenches, tooke their tents, the great ordinance, the shot and pouder, and all the money which but a little before was brought for the souldiors pay; besides about a thousand waggons, and two hundred boats well loaded with prouision for the campe,A great spoile taken by the Turks. and ten gallies, wherein were an hundred and twentie pieces of great ordinance. The losse receiued this day was valued at fiue hundred thousand duckats. And albeit that this victorie cost the Turkes two thousand and fiue hundred of their liues, yet thereby they gained the masterie both vpon the riuer and the land, so that now roming farre and neere without resistance, they spoyled the countrey all about, and burnt certain countrey villages not farre from VIENNA: so that for many miles space from countrey townes were for feare of the enemie forsaken by the inhabitants; of whom some were taken and slaine, D some carried into captiuitie, and some others (reserued to a better fortune) with such things as they had, got themselues farther off into places of more securitie. And the more to encrease these calamities, the Tartars shortly after passing ouer Danubius neere vnto ALTENEVRO, first sacked WEISENBVRG, and after burnt it, with certaine townes thereabout: but aduenturing to haue gone further into the countrey, they were with losse enforced to returne.

Whilest the Turks thus preuaile in HVNGARIE, Cicala Bassa the Turkes Admirall then at sea with a fleet of gallies, landing his men in diuers places of ITALIE, did exceeding much harme but especially in CALABRIA, where he vpon the sudden surprised RHEGIVM, ri [...]led the towne, and afterwards burnt it. From thence taking his course towards SICILIA, he in the sight of MESSANA landed certaine of his men; who aduenturing too farre ashore, were by the countrey E people ouerthrowne and put to flight.Rhegium rased by the Turks. So the Turks returning againe to RHEGIVM, vtterly rased what they had before left of that towne. In the meane time not farre from MESSANA, euen in the sight of the garrison of the towne, they tooke a certaine ship comming out of the East countries, and three other comming from APVLIA. Afterward chancing vpon certaine gallies of the East, they changed some few shot with them, but to no great purpose. And so turning their course, and sailing alongst the coast of CALABRIA, they oftentimes landed certaine companies, which skirmishing with the Calabrians, had sometime the better and sometime the worse, and so with such fortune as befell them, were againe receiued into the gallies. They of MESSANA, vnto whose eyes these dangers were dayly presented both by letters and speedie messengers, gaue the Viceroy knowledge thereof (who then for his pleasure lay at PALERMO) requesting his present F aid: but he dallying of the time, they for the more safegard of the citie and of the sea coast, of themselues raised fiue hundred horsemen, whom they committed to the leading of Philip Cicala, the renegate Turkish Admirals brother; and beside stored the citie with all such things as they thought necessarie for the enduring of a siege, if it should chance the Turke to haue any such purpose: of all which they certified the king of SPAINE, as also of the negligence of the [Page] Viceroy, requesting his speedie aid against these terrours of the Turks. In the meane while the G Neapolitanes for safegard of their coast put to sea thirtie gallies: vnto whom the Pope, the duke of FLORENCE, the Genowayes, and the knights of MALTA, joyned also theirs, in all to the number of about fourescore gallies, vnder the conduct of Auria. The prouident Venetians also although they were as then in league with the Turke; yet for the more safetie of their state, put to sea a fleet of about an hundred saile, some ships, some gallies, vnder the leading of Poscarin their Admirall. Which two fleets sayling vp and downe those seas, deliuered ITALIE, SICILIE, DALMATIA, with many other prouinces and islands of the Christians of a great feare.

Sinan Bassa hauing before encouraged his soldiors with great hope and large promises, commaunded an assault to be giuen to the citie of RAB:Rab assaulted by the Turks. which was accordingly by them begun the three and twentith day of September, the Sunne being as yet scarce vp, and furiously maintained H all that day from morning vntill night. But they of the towne so valiantly defended themselues, that at last the Turks were glad to giue ouer the assault, and with losse to retire. Neuerthelesse the next day the assault was again renewed, and most desperatly continued by the space of two daies: wherein aboue twelue thousand of the Turks there lost their liues,Twelue thousand Turks slaine. the other with shame retiring themselues into their trenches. In few dayes after, the Turks by a mine blew vp one of the bulwarkes of the towne, with the fall whereof the towne ditch was in that place somewhat filled: whereby the Turks with all their power attempted thrice the next day to haue entered, but were by the valour of the defendants still notably with losse repulsed. Yet notwithstanding all this chearefulnesse and couragiousnesse of them in the towne, the puissant enemie ceased not with continuall batterie and furious assaults to attempt the citie, vntill that at length he had gained two I of the bulwarkes, from whence he might to his great aduantage, by the rubbish and earth fallen out of the battered bulwarkes and rampiers, haue accesse vnto the towne, to the great terrour of the defendants. Whereupon countie Hardeck the Gouernor (who corrupted by the Turke, had of purpose many times before said that the towne could not possibly be long defended) now tooke occasion to enter into counsell with the other captaines of the towne (diuers of whom he had alreadie framed to his purpose) what course were best to take for the yeelding of it vp. And so after a little consultation, holden more for fashion sake, than for that he doubted what to doe; resolued to send a messenger vnto the Bassa, for a truce to be graunted for a while, to see if happily in the meane time some reasonable composition might be agreed vpon. Yet the Gouernour considering vnto what scorne and danger he should expose himselfe, by yeelding vp of so strong K a towne; to colour the matter, and to excuse his doings vnto the rest of the nobilitie and garrisons of HVNGARIE, caused a publicke instrument to be in his and all the rest of the captaines names conceiued in writing, wherein they solemnely protested vnto the world, That for as much as it was impossible (by reason of the weakenesse of the garrison) for them longer to defend the towne against so mightie an enemy, without new supplies in stead of them that were slain, which they had oftentimes in vaine requested, they were therefore of necessitie enforced to come to composition with the enemie. Which protestation so made, the Gouernour with the chiefe captaines confirmed with their hands and seales. So after a truce granted, and pledges giuen on both sides, at length it was agreed vpon, That all the garrison souldiors, together with the countie and other captaines should in armes with ensignes displayed with bag and baggage depart in safetie; L and with a safe conuoy be brought to ALTENBVRG. Which agreement though by oath confirmed, was not on the Turks part altogether performed: for when the countie had the 29 day of September, at ten a clock in the forenoone deliuered vp the citie vnto the Bassa, and the Christian garrison was all come out, the countie himselfe with a few of his friends was with a conuoy of Turks brought in safetie to the appointed place: but the Italians and other garrison souldiors that came behind,Countie Hardeck corrupted by the Turke, yeeldeth the strong towne of Rab vnto Sinan Bassa. and ought to haue beene by the Gouernour protected, were contrary to the Turks promise spoyled of all that they had, and hardly escaping with life, came that night to HOCHSTRATE, and the next day to ALTENBVRG. Thus was RAB, one of the strongest bulwarkes of Christendome, traiterously deliuered vnto the most mortall enemie of the Christian religion; being euen then when it was giuen vp, victualled for a yeare, and sufficiently furnished with all M things necessarie for defence: all which prouision together with the citie fell into the hands of the faithlesse enemie. A losse neuer to haue beene sufficiently lamented, had it not beene about foure yeares after, euen as it were miraculously againe recouered, to the great rejoysing of all that side of Christendome, as in the processe of this Historie shall appeare.

[Page] A Sinan glad of this victorie, as of the greatest trophey of his masters glorie ouer the Christians, gaue him speedie knowledge thereof, both by letters and messengers. Of whom he was for that good seruice highly commended, and afterward bountifully rewarded: for now had Amurath alreadie in hope deuoured all AVSTRIA,Rab repaired by the Turks. with the prouinces thereabout. The great Bassa, because he would not with too long stay hinder the course of his victorie, without delay repaired the rent citie, new fortified the battered bulwarkes, enlarged the ditches, and filled the cathedrall church with earth, in manner of a strong bulwarke, where vpon he planted great store of great ordinance: and with exceeding speed dispatched all things necessarie for the holding of the place. In the meane time he sent certaine Tartars to summon the towne and castle of PAPPA; which castle and little towne subject thereunto, the Christians the night following set on B fire, because it should not stand the enemie in any stead for the farther troubling of the countrey, and so fled.

The Bassa hauing at his pleasure disposed of all things in RAB,Komara besieged by Sinan Bassa. and leauing there foure thousand Ianizaries, and two thousand horsemen in garrison, departed thence with his armie and laid siege to KOMARA, a strong towne of that most fertile island, which the Hungarians call SCHVT; which situated in the verie point thereof about foure miles from RAB, is on the East, South, and North enclosed with the two armes of Danubius. All these waies Sinan with his fleet (which he had there notably well appointed) laid hard siege vnto the towne, and gaue thereunto diuers assaults: and by land, the Beglerbeg of GRaeCE ceased not both by continuall batterie and mines, to shake the wals and bulwarks thereof. Thus was the citie on all sides both by water C and by land hardly laid vnto. But the Christians within, with no lesse courage defended themselues and the citie, than did the Turkes assaile them; shewing indeed, that the libertie of their religion and countrey, was vnto them dearer than their liues. Matthias the archduke in the meane time, not ignorant how much it concerned the emperour his brother to haue this citie defended, hauing after his late ouerthrow gathered togither a good armie of Germanes, Bohemians, and Hungarians, resolued to go and raise the siege: and so marching forward with his armie, came and encamped the 28 day of October at NITRIA, about fiue miles from KOMARA. Now were the Tartars a little before departed from the came, with purpose to returne home: yea the Turkes themselues wearie of the siege, and wanting victuall both for themselues and their horses, began also as men discouraged to shrinke away. Which the Bassa well considering, D thought it not best with his heartlesse souldiors and armie now sore weakened,Sinan Bassa rais [...]th his siege. to abide the comming of the Christians: and therefore vpon their approach he forthwith forsooke the citie, which he had by the space of three weekes hardly besieged, and by a bridge made of boats transported his armie and artillerie ouer Danubius to DOTIS, where the next day after he brake vp his armie. Immediatly after the Turkes were thus departed, the Archduke arriued at KOMARA, where he with great diligence caused the breaches to be repaired, the mines to be filled vp, and new bulwarkes and rampiers to be made in diuers places for the more strength of the citie, leauing the charge thereof still vnto the lord Braun the old Gouernour, who in the defence thereof had receiued a grieuous wound in his right knee: of whom also this notable fact is reported. The Bassa in time of the late siege of KOMARA, vnder the colour of a parley, had sent E fiue Turks into the citie to the Gouernour, but in deed to proue if he were by any meanes to be woon to yeeld vp the citie, and not to hold it out to the last: The faithfull Gouernour, hauing giuen them the hearing vntill they had discharged their whole treacherie, presently caused foure of their heads to he strucken off, and to be set vpon long pikes vpon one of the bulwarkes for the Bassa to looke vpon; but the fift (the beholder of this tragedie) he sent backe vnto the Bassa, to tell him, That although he had found one in RAB to serue his turne, he was much deceiued if in him he thought to find Countie Hardeck; and that he wished rather to die the emperours faithfull seruant in the bloud of the Turkes, than to betray the citie committed to his charge.

Countie Hardeck late Gouernour of RAB, generally before suspected to haue treacherously betraied that strong towne vnto the Bassa, was therefore sent for to VIENNA, and there by the F emperours commaundement committed to prison. Where among many things laid to his charge, as that he should in the beginning of the siege negligently haue suffered many things to be done by the enemie, which afterwards turned to the great danger of the towne: and that in the time of the siege, he had caused some of the canoniers to discharge certain great pieces against the enemie, with pouder onely without shot: and that seeing one piece among the rest to do the [Page] enemie much harme, he had caused the same to be remooued, and so placed, as that it serued to G little or no vse: beside that, he (as it should seeme) making small reckoning of the towne, should oftentimes say, That if the Turkes should win it, he should be but one towne the richer: with diuers other such things, giuing just cause of suspition. The thing that lay most heauie vpon him, was the testimonie of one of Sinan Bassa his chamber, who being taken young by the Turkes, and seruing in the Bassaes chamber, was now fled from the Turks, and comming to the Archduke in the time of his siege, declared vnto him, that there was treason in his campe: and that he but three daies before by the commaundement of his master, had deliuered two bags full of duckats vnto two Christians, of whom the one had a notable scarre in his face, and was afterwards known to haue bin one of the Counties seruants. Vpon this and such like proofs, the Countie was after many daies hearing, in open court by the judgement of seauen and fortie noblemen H and captaines of name, condemned of treason, and adjudged to be hanged, his dead bodie to remaine vpon the gallowes by the space of three daies,Countie Hardeck condemned and executed for betraying of Rab. and all his lands and goods to bee confiscat: The rigour of which sentence was afterward by the emperour mitigated, and the traitour by him adjudged to haue his right hand (by him before giuen to the emperour, in pawne of his faith) and his head strucke off vpon a scaffold at VIENNA, and so buried. Which seuere sentence was afterwards accordingly put in execution: for the tenth of Iune following, the traitour being brought to the scaffold built of purpose in the hie street of VIENNA, after the sentence of his condemnation there solemnly read, commending himselfe vpon his knees to the mercie of God, with his eies couered, & his right hand laid vpon a blocke couered with blacke, had both his hand and head so suddenly strucke off by the executioners, as that the beholders could hardly I judge which of them was first off. His dead bodie with his head and hand, was presently by his seruant wrapped in a blacke cloth and laid in his coach, which stood there by of purpose couered with blacke, and was afterwards buried amongst his auncestors.

The Tartars but lately [...]before departed from Sinans campe, passing ouer Danubius at STRIGONIVM, had purposed through the vpper part of HVNGARIE, and by the borders of TRANSYLVANIA and MOLDAVIA, to haue againe returned into their countrey: of whom two companies falling into the hands of the lord Palfi, were by him cut off and vtterly defeated: the rest comming vnto the borders of TRANSYLVANIA, and finding the passages so beset by the Prince and the Vayoud of VALACHIA, as that they could not without most manifest danger passe that way, returned againe the same way they came: and hauing rifled and burnt certaine K towns and villages in the vpper HVNGARIE about TOCKAIE, passed the riuer againe at STRIGONIVM, and wintering at VESPRINIVM, PALOTTA, and other places in the countrey about RAB, liued vpon the spoile of the poore Christians, vpon the frontiers of AVSTRIA, euen as far as MEINERSDORF.

These Tartars (of whom we haue so often spoken) at their first comming to the aid of Sinan, by direction from the Turkish Sultan, staied vpon the frontiers of TRANSYLVANIA, of purpose to haue surprised that countrey, and either to haue thrust Sigismund Bator the young prince out of the gouernment thereof, or else to haue sent him in bonds to CONSTANTINOPLE: For it was commonly reported, That he wearie of the heauie tribute which he yearely paied vnto the Turke, and had now after their greedie manner been diuers times enhaunsed: had purposed to L reuolt from the Turkish Sultan, and to enter into confederation with the Christian emperour. Which innouation and change, certaine of the nobilitie and chiefe States of TRANSYLVANIA, sought by all meanes to hinder: and acquainting Amurath with the matter, and entring into conspiracie with the Tartars, vndertooke to deliuer the whole countrey into their hands, and to send the Prince prisoner to HVST, where the Tartars then lay vpon the borders encamped. Wherefore dissembling this their purpose, they cunningly persuaded the Prince, that Samosche the great Chancellor of POLONIA, in the confines of his countrey lay with a great power expecting his comming, to consult with him of matters of great importance. And the better to colour this their treacherie, they had counterfeited letters to that effect from the Chancelor to the Prince, and had wrought so effectually, that the Prince not suspecting any such treason, gaue credit M to their persuasions, and so put himselfe vpon his way towards the Chancellor (as he supposed:) but by the way, he was aduised by some of his friends which had got some suspition of the matter, not to go any farther, for that his comming was not attended by the Polonians his friends (as he was persuaded) but by the Tartars his enemies, who lay in wait for him at HVST, to bereaue [Page] A him of his life and gouernment. The Prince astonied with the noueltie of the matter, listned vnto their persuasion, and retired with his traine to the strong fort of KEHWERE; where he staied fourteene daies, as if it had been onely for feare of the Tartars. In the meane time, hee gaue notice to the nobilitie and gouernours of the countrey; his friends, of the imminent and common danger; who forthwith repaired vnto him in armes. But the traitors proceeding in their purpose, ceased not to persuade Bornemissa, who had the leading of the princes armie, that to fight with the Tartars was a matter of no small danger: and that therefore if he wished well to his countrey, he should not haue to doe with them, but onely shew himselfe neere vnto them, and that he was not vnprouided for them: which was accordingly done, and the Transyluanian army brought so nigh vnto the Tartars, as that they might heare the noise of their drums and B trumpets. Whereby the Tartars as by the watchword, perceiuing themselues discouered, and nothing to fall out according to their expectation, & as had been vnto them promised for the betraying of the prince:Great harme [...]rn [...] in Transyl [...]ania by the Tartars. they remoued thence, and by another way breaking through the middest of TRANSYLVANIA, and so into HVNGARIE, rifled and burnt fiue hundred villages, slew all the males that were aboue twelue yeares of age, and carried away the rest vnto the Turkish army then lying at the siege of RAB. In the meane time the traitours (when as this first plot serued them not) conspired to set vp one Balthazar Bator, the young princes nigh kinsman, and with the good fauour of Amurath to preferre him to the soueraigne gouernment of their countrey. Which their purpose the Prince perceiuing, and doubting altogither to trust vnto the fidelitie of his owne subjects; writ to his neighbours the Rascians, and other his confederats, praying C their aid in this his so dangerous and doubtfull estate. Which after he had receiued, he appointed a generall assembly of all his States to be holden at CLAVSENBVRG, and that vpon a great paine to be inflicted vpon all such as should not there personally appeare: so at the prefixed day all came, except the Cardinall Bator and Stephen his brother, who guiltie of so foule a treason against their owne bloud, were now before fled into POLONIA. Being all thus met togither, the Prince commaunded the gates of the citie to be shut, and diligent watch and ward to be kept, forbidding by open proclamation, that any man vpon paine of death should so much as speake of any imagined treason. And at the same time politikely caused to be published in writing, how that the Germanes, had in the farther side of HVNGARIE got a notable victorie ouer the Turks; for joy whereof he commanded bonefiers to be made, and the great ordinance to be in triumph D shot off, with many other signes of joy and gladnesse: and withall caused a notable banquet to be prepared, whereunto togither with others, were inuited also all the chiefe of the conspirators: Of whom, euen as they were at dinner & least feared any such matter, he commanded fourteene to be apprehended and committed to prison: and the next morning caused fiue of them to be executed in the open market place.The conspirators against the prince, appreh [...]nded and executed. The principall of whom, who had vndertaken to haue himselfe slaine the Prince, after three or foure light cuts in the necke, he caused to be drawne in pieces with foure horses: the other foure, namely Alexander, and Gabriell Gendi, Gregorie Diaco, and Ladislaus Sallentz were beheaded, and their dead bodies all that day left in the market place for the people to behold: the rest were also afterwards worthely executed; and Balthazar Bator, whom the conspiratours had intended to haue exalted, strangled. Hauing thus reuenged himselfe E vpon his enemies, he by a publike edict divulged through all his dominion, gaue leaue to all his subjects in generall, of their owne charge to take vp armes against the Turkes, and whatsoeuer they could take from them, to haue it to themselues, as good prize gotten from their lawfull enemies. By which vnwonted libertie, the Transyluanians encouraged as with a great bountie, armed themselues on all hands to the number of fortie thousand, who being mustered and sworn to hold togither against the Turkes, made their first expedition towards Danubius; where at their first arriuall, by good hap they light vpon certaine of the Turkes ships laded with prouision for the campe, and merchandise of all sorts, and much treasure: of which rich ships, they at the first onset tooke seuen, but the eighth (being in deed the Admirall) escaped their hands. In these ships they tooke an exceeding rich bootie, slew many of the Turkes, and in token of the victorie, F carried backe vnto the Prince seaen of the Turkish ensignes. This victorie caused great joy in TRANSYLVANIA, euerie man of so prosperous a beginning, conceiuing good hope of most happie successe. It is reported, that Sinan Bassa hearing of this losse, should say, That if this prouision had come to him in safetie, he could with that treasure more easily haue bought VIENNA in AVSTRIA, than he had RAB in HVNGARIE. After this victorie the Prince laied siege [Page] to TEMESVVAR, but hearing of the returne of the Tartars from the Turks campe, and that they G were comming toward TRANSYLVANIA (as is beforesaid) he left TEMESVVAR, to look to the defence of his owne countrey.

The Ianizaries in a tumult at Constantinople.Not long after, about the two and twentith of December a tumult rise among the Ianizaries of the Court at CONSTANTINOPLE, which grew to such an height, that in the heat thereof one of the Bassaes was by them slaine, with some others of good account, and one of Amuraths sonnes sore wounded, and with much adoe saued. Vpon conceit whereof, Amurath for anger and griefe fell into a fit of the falling sicknesse (whereunto he was much subject) and was therwith for the space of three dayes and three nights so grieuously vexed, as if he should haue presently giuen vp the ghost: so that the citie was filled with heauinesse and feare, and the great men of the Court were euen readie to thinke vpon a new lord. This tumult of the insolent Ianizaries many H supposed to haue beene the cause of Amurath his death,Amurath sicke. which shortly after ensued: his griefe and maladie encreasing dayly by the euill newes still brought vnto him both by messengers and letters, especially out of TRANSYLVANIA, where the prince waiting vpon euery occasion, was still at hand with the Turkes, cutting them short in euery place; and in sundrie rodes which he made vpon them this moneth, tooke many of their castles and forts from them. He had at that time in the field in diuers places three armies: one vnder the conduct of Gesty Ferens, in the countrey of LVGAZ neere vnto TEMESVVARE: another vnder the leading of Michaell Horwat, on the side of Danubius, to intercept the Turkes comming to BVDA: and the third commaunded by Caspar Cornoyse in the country neere to GIVLA, vnto whom came shortly after fifteene hundred horsemen out of the vpper HVNGARIE.I

1595The Transyluanian prince Sigismund Bator thus lately reuolted from the Turk, for the strengthening of his state thought it best betime to enter into confederation with his neighbors of VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA (who moued by his example, shortly after in like manner also cast off the seruile yoke of the Turke) but especially with the Christian emperour Rodolph. For which purpose he sent his embassadours honourably accompanied: who comming to COSSOVIA in HVNGARIE the foureteenth of December, arriued at PRAGE the twelfth of Ianuarie, with twentie waggons, and an hundred and fiftie horse, where they were by the emperours appointment most honourably receiued and royally entertained: and after a few dayes hauing deliuered vnto the emperour the summe of their embassage, which was for a confederation to be made betweene the emperour and the prince: after much graue consultation and serious discourse it was K fully concluded and agreed vpon: the chiefe points whereof I thought it not amisse here in briefe to set downe, for the satisfying of such as desire to know in what tearmes that worthie prince next neighbour vnto the Turke then stood with the Christian emperour.

The [...]itulations of the league betwixt the emperour and the Transyluanian Prince.First it was agreed vpon, That the emperour for himselfe and for the states of HVNGARIE should promise to proceed in his wars begun against the common enemie, and not to conclude any peace with him, without the knowledge and good liking of the prince. And that in all conclusions of peace to be made betwixt him and the Turke, the countries of TRANSYLVANIA, VALACHIA, and MOLDAVIA, should be alwayes comprised: in regard whereof, the prince likewise promised for himselfe and the states of TRANSYLVANIA, to prosecute the commenced warre, and not to enter into any league with the Turke, without the knowledge and consent L of the emperour and the nobilitie of HVNGARIE, and this to be confirmed by solemne oath on both sides.

Secondly, that the prouince of TRANSYLVANIA with all the parts and confines thereof hitherto possessed by the prince in HVNGARIE, should remaine vnto the said prince Sigismund and his heires male, with all the profits arising thereof, in such sort as they had done in the time of Iohn, Stephen, and Christopher, his predecessors, to haue therein a most free and absolute authoritie: yet so, as that they should acknowledge his imperiall majestie and his lawfull successors for their lawfull soueraignes; vnto whom they should alwayes sweare their fealtie, but without any homage doing: and that to be performed by his successours at the time of the change, but by the prince himselfe, presently after the confirming of this league. But that for lacke of heires M male, the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA with all the territories thereunto annexed, should discend vnto his sacred majestie and his successours, the kings of HVNGARIE, as a true and inseparable member thereof: whereunto the prince and all the states of TRANSYLVANIA should bind themselues by solemne oath. But yet that at such time as the heires male should faile in the [Page] A line of the present prince, and that the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA should according to these present conditions be deuolued to the crowne of HVNGARIE; as well his present imperiall and royall majestie as his successours, should keepe inuiolate the auntient lawes, priuiledges, and customes of that countrey, and alwayes appoint one of the nobilitie of TRANSYLVANIA to be Gouernour or Vayuod of the same, and no other stranger.

Thirdly, that his majestie should acknowledge the prince of TRANSYLVANIA for an absolute prince, and by speciall charter confirme vnto him the title of Most excellent.

Fourthly, that his imperiall majestie should procure one of the daughters of the late Archduke Charles his vncle, for a wife for the prince, that as they were now to be joyned in league, so they might be joyned in affinitie also.

B Fiftly, that the emperour should procure him to bee made one of the order of the Golden Fleece.

Sixtly, that the prince might with more cheerefulnesse and securitie make warre against the common enemie, his imperiall and royall majestie should not at any time, howsoeuer things fell out, forsake the said prince or any of the countries subject vnto him: and euen now presently to aid him according as the present occasion required, and afterward (if greater need should be) with greater helpe, whether it were by his Generall of CASSOVIA, or others: and this giuing of aid to be on both sides mutuall and reciprocall, according as the necessitie of the one or other part should require: and that where most need was, thither should most helpe be conuerted.

Seuenthly, that the sacred Romane empire should take vpon it the protection and defence of C the prince and his territories. And that his imperiall majestie should create the said prince and the princes his successours, princes of the empire: yet so, as that they should haue neither voice nor place among the said princes.

Eightly, that whatsoeuer castles, towns, cities, or other places of strength should by their common forces be taken or recouered from the common enemie, at such time as his imperiall majestie should send into the field a full armie, should be all his majesties: But such places as the prince should by his owne forces or policie gaine from the enemie, should remaine vnto the prince himselfe. Yet that what places soeuer the prince should recouer, which at any time before belonged to the kingdome of HVNGARIE, before it was taken by the Turke, those he should forthwith deliuer to his majestie, as soone as reasonable recompence were by him therefore made vnto D the prince.

Ninthly, his sacred majestie should promise of his owne bountie to giue vnto his excellencie sufficient aid for the fortifying and defence of such places as should be thought necessarie for the behoofe of the Christians: as again the said prince should likewise promise not to spare his own cofers or forces, that the same places should be throughly fortified and defended, for the behoofe of his majestie and the common good of the Christian commonweale.

Lastly, that for as much as the euents of warre are vncertaine, and many things suddenly happen contrarie to mens expectation, if such necessitie should chance vnto his excellencie or his successours (which mishap God forbid) that hauing spent themselues, they should not be able longer to defend their state and countrey, but that the mightie enemie preuailing, they should at E last be enforced to forsake the same▪ in this their extremitie, his imperiall & royall majestie should promise both for himselfe and his successors, within the space of one moneth to assigne some certaine place in some other of his dominions, where the said prince and his successours might honourably liue. And the like regard to be had also of other such principall men, as should together with the prince aduenture their liues and liuings in defence of the Christian commonweale.

Which articles of confederation agreed vpon, and solemnly confirmed, the same embassadors were with all kindnesse, bountie, and magnificence dismissed and sent back again vnto the prince: who was not himselfe in the meane time idle, but labouring by all the meanes he could to draw vnto him Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA, a man of no lesse worth than himselfe, and Aaron the Palatine of MOLDAVIA, both of them then the Turkes tributaries; and by them to alienate F from the Turke both those countries, that so with their combined forces they might the better defend their libertie, and withstand their common enemie: wherein he did so much, and preuailed so farre with them both, that casting off the Turks obeisance, they shortly after to the great benefit of the Christian commonweale, and no lesse hinderance of the Turkes proceedings in HVNGARIE, joined hands both together with him for the recouerie of their lost liberty. Which [Page] reuolt of these bordering princes, for that it so much concerned the common good, as that the G safegard of AVSTRIA, and of the remnants of HVNGARIE, with some good part of GERMANIE also, is euen by them that in those matters saw much, not without cause suppose [...] to haue rested therein; and that this noble Vayuod (of whom much is to be said hereafter) was the second actor herein, it shall not be from our purpose to see the manner of his reuolt also from the Turke, as we haue alreadie the Transyluanians. For the more euidence whereof, as for the honour of the man (whilest he liued, a most worthie member of the Christian commonweale) we will a little step backe to see how he obtained of the Great Turke this so honourable a preferment as was the Vayuodship of VALACHIA, not without his reuolt long now to be holden.

Valachia oppressed by the Turk [...]. Alexander the late Vayuod of VALACHIA, a Moldauian borne, and by Amurath himselfe promoted to that dignitie, proud aboue measure of this his so great a preferment, as also of his H owne nobilitie, and the deceitfull fauour of fortune still fawning vpon him; not onely oppressed his people himselfe with intollerable impositions, but to be in farther fauour with the Turkes, brought into that countrey (too much before exhausted) such a companie of them, as that they seemed now almost wholly to haue possessed the same, oppressing the poore Christians (the naturall inhabitants) with new exactions, and more than tyrannicall injuries, euen such as were not elsewhere by the Turkes themselues vsed; not onely breaking at their pleasure into their houses, and despoyling them of their goods, but taking tythe also of their children, as if it had beene of their cattell, a thing neuer before there seene: and for the satisfying of their beastly lust, rauishing their wiues and daughters, euen in the sight of their husbands & parents, with diuers other such outragious villanies, not with modestie to be rehearsed. So that by this meanes he had violently I taken from his Christian subjects all hope of recouerie of their auntient libertie, had it not as sometime it falleth out in these worldly things both vnto men and commonweales, which brought vnto the last cast, & euen as it were to the bottome of dispaire, by the goodnesse of God contrarie to all hope find sometime such vnexpected helpe and reliefe, as that thereby they, beyond their hope, euen to the astonishment of the world, mount vp againe vnto a greater lustre of their state than was that from which they before fell: it had euen so by the singula [...] mercy of God now happened vnto the Valachians, not knowing which way to turne themselues. There was at CRAILOVVA, a citie in the confines of VALACHIA towards the confines of the Hungarians and Turks (where the gouernour of these borders is for the defence thereof with a strong garrison alwayes resiant) a noble gentleman called Ion sig [...]ifieth with the Va [...]achian [...] as much as Christian, which some mis [...]aking, call this Mi [...]hael also by the name of Iohn Ion Michael, sonne to Peter the Palatine of that K countrey, the aforesaid Alexander his predecessour: who as he was vnto the people for the honour of his father, the prerogatiue of his birth, the comelinesse of his person, and talnesse of his stature, well knowne: so was he for his zeale towards the Christian religion, his loue towards his countrey, his kindnesse towards his equals, his courtesie towards his inferiours, his vpright dealing, his constancie and bountie vnto them, no lesse gracious; and for other the noble vertues of his heroicall mind and naturall disposition for the performance of great matters, his deepe wisdome and quicke foresight, his sweet and pleasing speech, void of all affectation, vnto all good men most deare: whose fame, both for the honour of his house, and of his owne vertues, still more and more encreasing, and rife in the eares of Alexander the Vayuod, was the cause that he commaunded him as the readie or rather naturall competitour of his state and honour to be secretly L apprehended, and so taken out of the way: whereof he by good fortune hauing intelligence, and carefull of his owne health, for safegard of himselfe fled first into HVNGARIE, and there not staying long (God so directing him) went to CONSTANTINOPLE in the yeare 1591, to sue for the Vayuod his place, all the nobilitie of his countrey and the prouinces thereunto adjoyning, secretly rejoysing thereat. About which time the chiefe and most graue of the Valachian nobilitie and counsellours prostrating themselues at the feet of Amurath, most grieuously complained vnto him of the manifold and intollerable injuries they had alreadie sustained, and were still like to endure, without hope of redresse, from Alexander their Vayuod, and the followers of his Court; the Turks garrisons and marchants with plentifull teares orderly declaring many his most foule and detestable facts, and afterward highly commending Ion Michael for his M rare vertues, as the true heire of their prouince; most humbly requested Amurath either to haue him appointed the lawfull Gouernour of their countrey, or els some other place by him assigned for them to dwell in, wishing any where to liue, rather than vnder the heauie commaund of so mercilesse a man as was Alexander. For the furthering of which their sute, Michael his vncle by [Page] A the mothers side, a Greek [...] borne, and a man for his exceeding wealth in great fauor in the Turks Court,Michael by Amura [...]h created Vayuod of Valachia. spared for no cost. So Michael by the goodnesse of God was by Amurath with great solemnitie created Vayuod of VALACHIA, and the oppressed and almost forlorne state of that sometime most flourishing countrey by little and little well relieued (although not altogither without most sharpe and violent remedies, such as extremities oft require) began now againe to lift vp the head, and to aspire vnto the auntient libertie and honour thereof. At the beginning of whose happie soueraigntie, Alexander his predecessour in his owne conscience guiltie of his euill and shamefull gouernment of that so notable and great a prouince; and now in feare to be called to account, secretly fled. But certaine yeares after remouing to CONSTANTINOPLE with his wife, and there attempting diuers euill meanes for the obtaining of the Palatinat of B MOLDAVIA,Alexander strangled a [...] Constantinople. and for those his vnlawfull practises accused by the Palatines Agent: he was by the commandement of Amurath taken in his owne house, and there in his princely apparell most miserably strangled vpon Palme sunday, in the yeare 1597, about six yeares after his departure out of VALACHIA.

Michael thus made Vayuod of VALACHIA, long it was not but that it fortuned the reuerend father Cornelius de Nona, sent from Pope Clement the Eight, vnto the Great duke of MVSCOVIE, in his returne conferring with Sigismund the Transyluanian Prince, and Aaron the Palatine of MOLDAVIA, enformed them of the great consent of diuers zealous Christian princes, for the maintenance of the warre against the dangerous and common enemie; with many graue and effectuall reasons persuading them (but especially for that they were themselues Christians) in that C Christian quarrell to joyne vnto them their forces also, raised in those their countries neere vnto the great riuers Danubius and Nester: but vnto Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA, he could not for diuers his other important businesses then come; whom for all that, the aforesaid▪ Transyluanian prince Sigismund his neighbour, desirously sought to draw into the fellowship of that warre, euen for the same reasons almost wherewith he had been himselfe mooued. First by diuers great reasons remouing such doubts as might justly seeme to hinder him from giuing therunto his consent; and then, by declaring the Turkish insolencie daily increasing, with the infinit grieuances by them deuised against the miserable Valachians: when as the incursions of the Turks or Tartars, or their passages that way (no lesse troublesome than their inroads) was almost euerie moneth to be feared, their armies as friends to be in Winter and Sommer receiued, their D souldiors to their great charges relieued, and their commaunders and captaines rewarded. VALACHIA thus impouerished, was not able (as he said) to pay the great sums it did alreadie owe, neither was to expect any releasement of the euils it was wrapped in; much lesse was it able to suffice vnto the grieuous exactions to be thereunto by them afterwards imposed. None of his predecessours (as he told him, and as truth was) had for many yeares now past, for any long time or with any securitie held their state or gouernment: but that either by the calumniation of the enuious, or bribes of their ambitious competitours, brought into suspition with the Sultan, they were violently thrust out, or most cruelly put to death. In briefe, he said, it was a wise mans part, not without most manifest & waightie reasons, to promise vnto himselfe better fortune or more assurance of his state, than had his vnfortunat predecessours before him; but warned by their E harmes, betimes to prouide for his owne safetie. By which persuasion he so preuailed, that the Vayuod (whose name, whose fame, whose wealth and life togither with his subjects was all thereby endangered) although he would not (for the waightinesse of the matter) at the first yeeld thereunto; yet assuredly promised, with his friends and the rest of the nobilitie of his countrey, to consider thereupon. Hauing it by the prince plainly laid downe before him, how a sufficient number of souldiors might at all times be raised, their pay prouided, and aid still sent him as need should be from the Germane emperor, or himselfe out of TRANSYLVANIA: as also that Aaron the Palatine of MOLDAVIA, would at all times be readie to combine himselfe vnto them; that so with their vnited forces, they might vpon the bankes of Danubius and Nester, easily represse the incursions both of the Turkes and Tartars their enemies: the Christian emperour in the F meane time, with lesse trouble proceeding in his warres against the Turke in the other side of HVNGARIE.

Now whilest this plot was thus in laying, and matters too and fro in debating, not altogither without the Turkes suspition; Sinan Bassa comming with a great armie into HVNGARIE, had taken the strong towne of RA [...], as is before declared: with which mischance so much concerning [Page] the poore remainders of HVNGARIE, the Vayuod not a little mooued, began more deeply G to consider of his owne estate. And as he was a man of a great spirit and no lesse zeale towards his countrey, grieuing to see his subjects committed to his charge, to be so daily by the insolent Turkes still more and more oppressed: he (as he had before promised to the Transyluanian) called an assembly of all the States of VALACHIA, to consult with them what were best to be done for the remedie of so great euils, as also for the preuenting of greater, not without cause then to be feared. Where by the generall consent of them all it was agreed, rather to joyne with the emperor and the other Christian princes in confederation (as they had been oftentimes by them requested) than longer to endure that heauie yoake of the Turkish thraldome and slauerie. Whereupon the Vayuod taking vnto him two thousand of the Hungarian garrison souldiors,Michael the Vayuod of Valachia reuolteth from the Turkes. now before for that purpose secretly laid vpon the frontiers of his countrey; and calling vpon the H name of Christ Iesus, in one day to begin withall, slew about two thousand of the Ianizaries (who without his leaue had in that countrey prowdly seated themselues) with all the rest of the Turks (in the middest of their insolencie) togither with the traiterous Iewes, not leauing one of them that he could come by, aliue in all the open countrey. And purposing to driue them out of their strong holds also, and so to make a cleane riddance of them, he within foureteene daies after set vpon DZIVRDZOVVA, a great towne of the Turks vpon the banke of Danubius, which he burnt all sauing the castle: and hauing there made a great slaughter, and loded with the spoile of the Turks, returned to BVCARESTA the chiefe seat of his Palatinat.

But long it was not after this his so great presumption, but that he perceiued the Turkes in reuenge thereof to seeke after his life: although he yet seemed to yeeld his obedience vnto Amurath, I and to haue done that he did, as enforced thereunto by the insolencie of the Turks, and for the necessarie reliefe both of himselfe and his subjects. For the same moneth, RAB being (as is aforesaid) taken by Sinan: one of the Turks The Turk [...] call all them that are dis [...]e [...]ded of the slocke of their Prophet Mahomet by the name of Emirs or Lord [...]. Emirs, discended of the great family and stocke of Mahomet their false Prophet, and then Cadilescher (a man of great account and place amongst the Turkes) accompanied with two thousand chosen souldiors, fiftie of the great Sultans chamber, and many of the Zausij and Spahi, vpon the sudden came to BVCARESTA vnder the colour of refreshing themselues after their long trauell, but in deed with purpose to haue taken the Vayuod; where they without controlement committed all kind of outragious villanie: and taking vp all the chiefe houses in the citie, imperiously demaunded of the Vayuod (who then lay at his pallace neere vnto the new monasterie without the citie, built without any castle or defence K vpon the riuer Dembowiza) ten thousand Florens for a present, with victuals and other necessarie prouision for his followers. And presently after, being certainly enformed that he lay there but slenderly accompanied, and almost himselfe alone, the Emir himselfe on foot with a thousand of his souldiors, went out of the citie as if it had been but for his pleasure, and in curtesie to haue seene him. Of which so suspitious a guests comming the Vayuod vnderstanding, got him betimes away into the campe of his Hungarian mercinaries, which then lay but fast by: when the Turke thus deceiued of the hope he had before conceiued for the taking of him, craftily sent certaine of his followers, to know of him, to what end he in time of peace did entertaine such a number of Hungarian souldiors? Whereunto the Vayuod cunningly answered, That they were at the first entertained for the taking of Peter the sonne of Alexander, sometime Palatine L of MOLDAVIA; who although he were now before apprehended, and openly hanged vpon an hooke at CONSTANTINOPLE, yet that those souldiors were for their readie seruice, of necessitie still to be billited in the countrey, vntill such time as their pay might be prouided. Which the Turke hearing, commaunded the Vayuod forthwith to discharge them as men vnnecessarie, and to his subjects troublesome, promising the next day to lend him a tunne of gold to pay them their wages. Which faigned promise the Vayuod seemed thankfully to take; yet neuerthelesse commaunded the Hungarians forthwith in armes to stand in readinesse in the campe, for the intercepting of the Turkes, if happily by him distressed they should betake themselues to flight: whilest he in the meane time with his courtiers and other souldiors, secretly assembled into a valley thereby, came suddenly vpon the Turkes (not as then dreaming of any such thing)M compassed about the Innes wherein they lay, and setting fire vpon them in fiue places, notably forced them both with fire and the sword, the two greatest extremities of war; seeking now for nothing more, than the just reuenge of his spoiled citie, his forced virgins, and wronged subjects. Howbeit the Turkes for a space right valiantly defended themselues, and by plaine force [Page] A(although in vaine) sought to haue broken through the middest of their enemies, and so to haue fled. Yea many of them by force of the fire driuen out of their lodgings, and tearing off their burning cloathes, fought starke naked: but most of them which could, fled vnto the pallace where their great Emir lay, there with him readie to die or liue. All which their last endeuours of desperation, the Vayuod easily frustrated, with two great pieces of artillerie opening a way for his souldiors vnto them. So that the prowd Emir now in despaire (like the hunted Castor) threw downe out of a window a great chest full of gold and pretious stones, and other jewels of great valour, if happily he might haue so appeased the Vayuods wrath: humbly now requesting no more, but to haue his life spared; fearfully promising a large raunsome for himselfe, and those few which were yet left aliue with him.The Cadel [...]sher with all the Turke his followers slaine. Howbeit the Vayuod mindfull of the manifold injuries B by them done vnto him and his subjects, and nothing mitigated or moued with the rich spoiles thrust vpon him, or the large promises the Turkes had made him; commaunded all those his enemies now in his power, to be slaine euerie mothers sonne: of whom his souldiors had a wonderfull rich spoile, although much more was lost in the fire: and so giuing thankes vnto God for the victorie, rested with his people a while at quiet. Yet within lesse than a moneth after, he sent Albertus Kirall his lieutenant with an armie to PHLOCZ (a great open vnwalled towne on the farther side of Danubius,Phlocz spoiled by the Vay [...]od. equally distant from VROSCZVK and NICOPOLIS) from whence the Turkes oftentimes passing ouer that frozen riuer into VALACHIA, had there done great harme: which towne, not inferiour vnto a good citie, he suddenly surprised, and sacking it, put to the sword all the inhabitants thereof, except such as were before his comming C sled. And shortly after (the more to annoy the Turkes,Hersow [...] taken. marching againe ouer the frozen riuer to haue surprised HERSOVVA a walled citie, but one daies journey from BRAILOVA, he was by the way vpon the ise encountred by the Turks, whom he there in a great conflict ouerthrew; and hauing slaine many of them and put the rest to flight, holding on his intended journey, tooke that rich citie, which he rifled and burnt downe to the ground, all except the castle, which was yet by the Turkes valiantly defended: and so with the spoile of the citie returned againe ouer the riuer, there to refresh his souldiors, wearied with labour and the extremitie of the Winter weather. And yet not so contented, within six daies after passing againe ouer the riuer, and hauing vpon the side thereof in a great battell ouerthrowne the Turkes garrisons,Silistria [...]. tooke SILISTRA a great citie of MACEDONIA, built by Constantine the Great (being the seat of one of the Turkes D Sanzacks, and well inhabited with rich merchants) which faire citie he ransacked, and hauing slaine most part of the inhabitants, burnt it downe to the ground as he had the other, no lesse terror than griefe vnto the Turkes.

But whilest the aforesaid confederation betwixt the emperour and the Transyluanian Prince was yet in hand,Amurath di [...]t [...]. and the troubles in VALACHIA thus arising; Amurath the great Sultan grieuously vexed with the stoan, and attainted with the falling sicknesse, his wonted disease; and inwardly also tormented with the late insolencie of the Ianizaries, and reuolt of the countries of TRANSYLVANIA, VALACHIA, and MOLDAVIA, no small hinderance to the proceeding of his warres in HVNGARIE: as a man both in bodie and soule tormented with great impatiencie and agonie of mind, departed this life the eighteenth day of Ianuarie, in the yeare of our Lord E 1595: when he had liued one and fiftie, or as some say two and fiftie yeares, and thereof raigned nineteene. At the time of his death arise such a sudden and terrible tempest at CONSTANTINOPLE, that many thought the world should euen presently haue been dissolued. His dead bodie was not long after with great pompe and solemnitie buried by Mahomet his eldest sonne (which now raigneth) in a Moschie which hee himselfe yet liuing had before built at CONSTANTINOPLE.

FINIS.

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Christian princes of the same time with Amurath the third.

Emperors of Germanie

Maximilian the second. 1565.12.

Rodolph the second. 1577.

Kings

Of England

Queene Elizabeth. 1558.45.

Of Fraunce

Charles the ninth. 1560.14.

Henry the third. 1574.14.

Henry the fourth, which now raigneth. 1589.

Of Scotland

Iames the sixt, that now raigneth. 1567.

Bishops of Rome

Gregorie the XIII. 1572.12.

Xistus the V. 1585.5.

Vrban the VII. 1590.12 dayes.

Gregorie the XIIII. 1590.10 months 10 dayes.

Innocent the IX. 1543.2 months and one day.

Clement the VIII. 1592.

Muhammad III

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MAHOMET.

MAHOMETHES III TVRCARVM IMPERATOR SEPTIMVS QVI, NVNC REGNAT ANo 1603

Si quid in humanis, magnum te reddere possit:

Quid prohibet magnis nomen inesse tuum?

Qui subiecta vides, tot dissona regna, tot vrbes:

Et nulli cedens, sceptra superba geris.

Cum tamen ignores, quid sit sapientia Christi,

Omnia quae iactas, sunt Mahomete nihil.

RICH. KNOLLEVS.

In English thus.

If ought there be might make thee great, that on the earth is found:

What then should let, thy name amongst the greatest for to sound?

That sees thy kingdomes and thy townes, so many and so great:

And giuing place thy selfe to none, doest sit on royall seat.

Yet sith thou knowest not aright, for grace by Christ to call:

All that thou boasts, O Mahomet, is nothing worth at all.

R. K.

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G

MAHOMET THE THIRD OF THAT NAME, SEVENTH EMPEROR H OF THE TVRKS, HE THAT NOW SWAYETH THAT MIGHTIE EMPIRE.

THe death of the late great Sultan Amurath was not forthwith made knowne in the Court,1595 but with wonderfull secrecie concealed, not onely for feare of the Ianizaries, who in time of the vacancie of the empire alwayes doe whatsoeuer pleaseth themselues: but I also for that the people hauing in distrust the fierce nature of Mahomet, Amurath his eldest sonne, were generally better affected to Amurath the younger brother, a prince of a more mild spirit and courteous disposition, vnto whom they in heart wished those stately honours, which could by no meanes without the great wrong and prejudice of his elder brother, and danger of the whole state be giuen vnto him. Ten dayes after came Mahomet in post from AMASIA to CONSTANTINOPLE▪ Mahomet salut [...] Emperour of the Turks. and was there by the great Bassaes and other his mightie fauourits saluted Emperour: which done, he presently after caused all his brethren to be inuited to a solemne feast in the Court: wherunto they yet ignorant K of the death of their father, came chearefully as men fearing no harme, but being come, were there all by his commandement most miserably strangled:He murthereth his brethren. and at once to rid himselfe of the feare of all competitours (the greatest torment of the mightie) he the same day (as is reported) caused ten of his fathers wiues and concubines, such as by whom any issue was to be feared, to be all drowned in the sea.

The Ianizaries in a tumult.The Ianizaries and other souldiours of the Court not before acquainted with the death of Amurath, either with the choice that the great Bassaes had without their priuitie made of Mahomet, and not a little offended to see themselues so disappointed of such spoyles as they reckon due vnto them in the vacancie of the empire, as men discontented rise vp in a rage, and made such hauocke and spoyle in the imperiall citie, as greater they could not well haue made, had there L beene as yet no emperour chosen at all; and not so contented, were now euen vpon the point to haue rifled their new emperours Court, and to haue laied violent hands vpon the person of himselfe, in reuenge of the tyrannie by him executed vpon his brethren and fathers wiues (which inhumane crueltie the Turkish emperours easily excuse by the name of, The policie of their state.) For the appeasing of which so dangerous a tumult, Mahomet called vnto him certaine of the chiefe men among these seditious, such as were thought to be able to do most with them, whom he sought by faire persuasions and large promises to win vnto him, and by them to pacifie the rest: Which serued him to little or no purpose, vntill such time as the great Bassaes themselues came out with their followers, who with many faire persuasions, mixt with most grieuous threats and firme promise of a generall pardon,The tumult appeased. with much adoe appeased the tumult: yet for the more M safetie kept all the chiefe streets of the citie with strong watch and ward. This broile thus ouerblowne, a new tent was by the commaundement of the new emperour set vp before the temple of Sophia: wherein on the right hand was placed the dead bodie of the late Sultan Amurath, his father, and on the left hand the bodies of his nineteene strangled brethren, layed forth of purpose, [Page] A as an heauie spectacle for the people to behold: who all not long after were together with their father with great solemnitie after the Turkish manner buried, and Mahomet himselfe (being about nine and twentie yeares old) now openly proclaimed great emperour of the Turks, and lord of all, from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same. After that returning to his pallace,The Ianizaries againe in an vpro [...]e. he made vnto his Bassaes and other great men a sumptuous and royall feast, as the manner was: but whilest they were in the middest of their mirth, vpon the sudden all the citie was againe in an vprore, and the people in armes, in such sort, as that it was thought scarce one man would haue escaped aliue from that banket, had not the chiefe Bassa with his grauitie and wisdome and wonderfull labour in good time appeased their furie, and withall to their greater terrour caused all the great ordinance in the citie to be brought forth into the streets, readie charged, B to be shot off amongst them.

Whilest these troubles thus passed at CONSTANTINOPLE,Diuer [...] fortunate rode [...] made by the Christians vpon the Turk [...]. vpon the late confederation made betweene the emperour, the Transyluanian prince, the Valachians and Moldauians, diuers fortunate inrodes and skirmishes were by them made in the frontiers of the Turkes dominions, many strong places were surprised, many rich booties taken, and notable exploits done, which we will but briefely passe ouer, as the precedents of a greater warre. The citie of WELTZE, before taken by the Turks, was now againe in the beginning of this yeare recouered: and the Christians about SCVTHIA, in number about foure thousand, breaking into the Turks frontiers, carried away an exceeding rich prey, with diuers notable captiues. The like did also the Christians of VIVARIA: at which time also the garrison souldiors of ALTENBVRG making a rode into C the countrey about RAB, encountered with foure thousand Turks, of whom they slew two hundred, tooke certaine prisoners, whom they sent some to PRESBVRG, some to ALTENBVRG: and Sinan Bassa the late Generall returning towards CONSTANTINOPLE with much treasure▪ which he had greedily scraped together in the late wars in HVNGARIE, was by the Valachians set vpon by the way not farre from BELGRADE, and stript of all that he had, hauing much adoe to escape himselfe with some few of his followers. The same Valachians, together with the Transyluanians, vnder the conduct of their valiant captaine Gestius Ferens, entering further vpon the Turkes, tooke from them diuers of their townes and castles, as PONDESIE, NICOPLISE, KILLA, and REBNICHI, and meeting with twelue thousand Tartars, slew a great number of them, and put the rest to flight. With this insolencie of the Valachians his late tributaries, but D now his enemies, the Turkish emperour was highly offended: and therefore sent one Bogdanus a Valachian borne, descended of the Palatines house, with a great power to expulse the old Vayuod, and to possesse himselfe of that honour, as his tributarie; promising vnto him all fauour and kindnesse. Bogdanus thus supported and furnished, came with his power into VALACHIA, yet thought it best before he attempted any great matter, to expect the comming of the Tartars left the last yeare in HVNGARIE by Sinan: of whose comming the Valachians and Transyluanians hauing vnderstanding, met them by the way, and joyning battell with them, slew eight thousand of them, put the rest to flight, and so returned: vnto whom presently after this victorie the Transyluanian prince sent foureteene thousand souldiours moe to aid them against the Turkes. But Bogdanus vnderstanding both of the ouerthrow of the Tartars and the comming of this new E supplie, durst not proceed any farther in his enterprise, but kept himselfe still in his trenches. Not long after by the commaundement of the Turkish emperour, Han the Crim Tartar with a great power of his Tartarian horsemen entred into MOLDAVIA, with purpose to haue by fire and sword reduced that countrey againe vnto the Turks obeisance: of whose comming Aaron Vayuod of MOLDAVIA hauing knowledge, and aided by his neighbour Michael Vayuod of VALACHIA, so belayed the Tartars, that he in three diuers battels ouerthrew them, and hauing slaine twelue thousand of them, enforced the rest to retire againe out of his countrey: and following the course of this victorie, presently after tooke BENDAR, SCHINITZ, TIGNA, MEC [...] NIS, with some other castles and fortresses of the Turkes neere vnto the riuer of Danubius, all which he furnished with his owne garrisons; and withall tooke in the rich countrey of BO [...]RAGA, F the inhabitants thereof willingly submitting themselues vnto him, as men wearie of the Turkish thraldome. With like good fortune, aided by the Polonian Cossackes, he ouerthrew Ianicula the sonne of Bogdanus, sometime Vayuod of MOLDAVIA, now sent by Mahomet with a great power, as a most fit instrument to trouble the Vayuod and to recouer againe that countrey: with whom Aaron couragiously encountering at SCARPETRA, a mile from Danubius, [Page] ouerthrew him in plaine battell, and hauing slaine eight thousand of his Turkes, put him to G flight, and tooke the spoile of his whole campe. Neither yet so contented, marched presently to NESTER ALBA, where he put the Turkes in a great feare, and afterwards burnt the suburbs of the citie, and so retired.

How Amurath the late Sultan in the beginning of these troubles, had at CONSTANTINOPLE shut vp in prison Frederick Krecowitz the emperours embassadour, is before declared. This embassadour,The emperours [...]mbassado [...]r dieth in prison at Belgrade. Sinan Bassa brought with him the last yeare when he came into HVNGARIE, who after many indignities by him suffered both vpon the way and at BELGRADE, there died: fiue of whose seruants the false Bassa caused to be kept in straight prison, as guiltie of their masters death, so to auert the infamie thereof from himselfe. But now lying himselfe at BELGRADE for the better mannaging of this yeares wars, vpon the comming of a new treasurer H from the Court, he caused these fiue poore prisoners to be brought before him, and most impudently charged them with the death of their master: saying, that they should answere for the same vnto God and their emperour; and that his purpose in bringing of him from CONSTANTINOPLE, was to no other end but to haue vsed his helpe in concluding a peace betwixt the Great Sultan and the emperour, and so to haue set him with all his at libertie: but now that he was dead, he would send them his treacherous seruants to the emperour to be by him examined: and withall to tell him, That he was sent from the Great Sultan, (whose power was not by any but God onely to be withstood) to besiege VIENNA, which he could (as he said) the last yeare haue taken with lesse labour than he had done RAB: and that therefore it were best for him betime to seeke for peace, before so great a power had taken the field: And that for farther I instructions, he would referre them to his sonne the Bassa of BVDA, to whom he sent them from BELGRADE, togither with the new come treasurer. Being come to BVDA, they were forthwith brought before the Bassa, and amongst them the late embassadours secretarie, vnto whom after he had said somewhat of the hard dealing with the embassadour and his followers, he declared that he had alwaies disliked of that manner of proceeding, and oftentimes entreated his father for their libertie; and now at last to haue obtained, that the embassadour being dead, his seruants might be set free: and so put them in good hope, that they should in short time be restored to their wonted libertie. In the meane time, that one of them should go vnto the emperours Court, and there speak with one of his Secretaries▪ whom he had before aduised to bethinke himselfe of peace: vnto whom also hee afterwards writ, vpon what conditions he thought peace K might be at the Sultans hand obtained. Which were, if all the castles and strong holds taken by the emperours forces in these warres, as FILEK, SETCHINE, and NOVIGRAD, with their territories, should be restored, SISEG in CROATIA surrendred; if the emperour should from thenceforth refuse to aid or protect the Transyluanians, Moldauians, and Valachians, and leaue them to the Great Sultan to be chastised as rebels; if finally the emperour would at once send vnto the Turkes Court his wonted tribute for the yeares past, and so yearly afterwards: so he could be content by the mediation of his father, to attempt to appease the fierce and inueterat displeasure of the Sultan, and to farther the treatie of peace. This he commaunded the Secretarie to write, and to send it by the young lord Perling, and to require thereof answere: yet that he should go with this condition, That if the said Perling within the space of fiue and twentie daies L returned not with answere, all the rest should for his default lose their heads. A subtile deuise and full of deceit, wherein the craftie Bassaes, both the father and the sonne sought for nothing else but to see what confidence the Christians had in themselues, and to breake the confederation made betweene the emperour, the Transyluanians, Moldauians, and Valachians: and that other princes, whom God had stirred vp in defence of so just a cause, hearing of a rumour of peace, might grow cold, and deferre to send their promised aid. For now the Turkes had found by experience, how hurtfull and dangerous the reuolt of the three countries of TRANSYLVANIA, MOLDAVIA, and VALACHIA was vnto them, as they which brought ten hundred thousand duckats yearly into the Great Sultans treasurie: besides that, those people now become their enemies, were of all other fittest to intercept all manner of prouision to be brought by land either M to or from CONSTANTINOPLE, were it victuall or other warlike prouision. Notwithstanding this motion of peace made by the two Bassaes, Sinan the old Bassa in the meane time, with great diligence at BELGRADE prepared all things necessarie for warre, and caused three bridges to be made, whereby he might in diuers places as he thought best, transport his armie ouer Danubius; [Page] A and at the same time sent for the garrisons round about, and other souldiors before billited in the countrey, and put in readinesse all things necessarie for a most mortall warre.

Within the appointed time came Perling from the emperours Court with answere to the letters written by the embassadours Secretarie,The Bassa [...]s subtill demaund [...] answered with like. at the commaundement of the Bassa; the effect whereof was, That he had receiued his letters by Perling, and did thereby vnderstand what had passed betweene the captiue seruants of the late embassadour, and Sinan Bassa at BELGRADE, and also betweene them and Sinan Bassa his sonne at BVDA; and that the emperours mind was neuer other, but that a firme peace might haue been made betweene him and the Sultan; and that the emperour had done nothing else by his embassadour at CONSTANTINOPLE, or by others in other places, but that such reasonable conditions might haue been found out, as might B haue ended those warres, and haue on both sides deliuered their innocent subjects from their great and daily calamities; which might easily haue been done, if Sinan the authour and fautor of this warre, had with like desire furthered the peace. But that it was manifest vnto the whole world, that all complaints of infinit grieuances, being by the embassadour, yea and by the emperour himselfe, by his letters laid open vnto the Sultan and his chiefe Bassaes, had not onely nothing preuailed, but also to haue been with great contempt rejected, and the treatie of peace once begun, to haue by the insolencie of the Bassa of BOSNA been interrupted: That the emperour, because the matter should not breake out into open warre, had sent his double tribute into the confines of HVNGARIE, which was a great while laid vp at KOMARA vntill the Sultans mind were knowne. But when all his dessignes tended to warre, and the Christian prouinces were by C his robbers on euerie side spoiled, the inhabitants led away into most miserable captiuitie, the townes and villages burnt, yea whole countries left desolat, and all manner of outrages were vpon a meere pride and contempt as it were of the whole world exercised: then the emperour to haue taken his refuge vnto the defence of his just cause, and to haue vsed such remedies as are both before God and the world to be allowed, and so by lawfull war to haue repulsed warre. And that although all had not the last yeare prospered in his hand, but that he had receiued some losse: yet that Sinan Bassa himselfe, and the Bassa of BVDA his sonne, with other of the wiser sort of the Turkes must needs confesse, that to haue chanced, not by their wisedome pollicie or power, but by the sufferance of God by a rare misfortune, through the inexcusable negligence and treason of such as he had put in trust with the confines of his empire, worthie most D seuere chastisement. And that no man could denie, but that great powers of the Turkes, had not once, but oftentimes been ouerthrowne and discomfited, by small handfuls of the Christians: therefore their power not to be so inuincible, as they vainly vaunted of. But whereas it is written, that the great Visier Sinan and the Bassa his sonne are of opinion, that the emperour is brought to so low an ebbe, that he must be glad to accept of most hard and dishonourable conditions of peace propounded by them: therein they erre much and deceiue themselues farre, for by the power of God they should shortly by experience know, that his imperiall majestie wanteth neither power nor wealth, to repaire the losse receiued through the treason of them he trusted, yea and to recouer whatsoeuer he had lost else: and that it should in short time be witnessed vnto the whole world, by the helpe of God and the defence of a most just cause, that the E emperour was not so poore and weake as they supposed him to be. Yet as he of his owne naturall goodnesse and clemencie, with his own incomparable losse and harme, had alwaies sought for the quiet and profit of his subjects, and to the vttermost of his power staied the effusion of innocent bloud; so now also forgetting all injuries, he could happily be content to thinke of an honourable peace: whereunto he was more enclined than to protract the warre with the vnspeakable harmes of the subjects on both sides. Yet aboue all things it behooued Sinan to know, that he was to restore all such castles and townes as haue in this warre been taken by the Turks, beginning at WIHITZ in CROATIA euen to the last innocent subject by them carried away into captiuitie. And that the Transyluanians, Moldauians, and Valachians (people many ages joyned and vnited as inseperable members to the kingdome of HVNGARIE, as vnto the true F bodie, and now of late by the practise and treacherie of certaine rebellious persons seperated from the same) were from henceforth to be left vnder the protection and gouernment of his imperiall majestie, and neuer more to be impugned by the Turkes. If these things were done, and order taken that the injurie and disgrace done vnto the emperours late embassadour (a fact that all the princes of the world cried shame of) might not remaine vnpunished: and that his seruants [Page] in durance at BVDA and CONSTANTINOPLE, might be restored vnto their wonted libertie,G then some good forme of peace, and bounding of their territories might happily be agreed vpon: without which conditions, all talke of peace was but vaine; for that God the just and mightie protectour of such as put their trust in him, would not faile to helpe his imperiall majestie, with the rest of the confederat princes, in their so just a quarrell, and abate the pride of such as trust in their owne strength and power.

This answere the captiues at BVDA were commaunded to giue vnto the Bassa, either by writing or by word of mouth: and withall earnestly to request him both for their owne libertie and their fellowes, wrongfully detained at CONSTANTINOPLE. Which if it could not be obtained, yet to comfort themselues with that, that they should in bounteous manner receiue from the emperour such allowance, as should suffice to prouide them all things necessarie: as he H had granted to Perling, whom he might haue justly detained and not sent him backe againe, but for his oaths sake, being no lawfull prisoner. Thus were the vnreasonable conditions of peace craftily by the Bassa propounded, by others answered: but by whom he knew not, no mans name being set thereunto.

The emperour not ignorant with what an enemie he had to doe, and of nothing more carefull than of the kingdome (or more truely to say, of the reliques of the kingdome) of HVNGARIE, lying now as it were in the lyons mouth, ceased not to pray aid, not of the princes electors onely, but of others also farther off; yea euen as farre as ITALIE and SPAINE, but especially of the king of POLONIA, as his neere alliance and neighbour. Vnto whom both he and the States of HVNGARIE sent their embassadours, at such time as he moued with the daily incursions of I the Turkes and Tartars into the countries adjoyning vpon his, had for the safetie of his owne kingdome, called a parliament of all his States in Februarie last, at CRACOVIA. Whereof Mahomet the Great Turke hearing, sent also two of his chiefe Chiaus, his vsuall embassadours vnto the king and his States so assembled, to craue his aid in his warres in HVNGARIE: which if the king should not refuse, then to promise him to want no coine to pay his souldiors; and that Mahomet mindfull of so great a courtesie, would at all times be readie to requite him with like, when his occasions should require.The Turkes embassadours sent vnto the Polonian king slaine in Valachia. These embassadours, hauing obtained safe conduct from Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA for their passage through his countrey, comming thither, were by the Vayuod himselfe honourably entertained and welcomed, and so brought into a faire lodging, where they discoursed with him of many matters. But the Vayuods followers, grieued to K see so great honour done to these their sworne and mortall enemies▪ with weapons in their hands brake into the roume where the embassadours were, and without more adoe slew them both: and in the same furie setting vpon the rest of the Turkes their followers, cut them all in pieces, so that of them none came into POLONIA to do their Great masters message, either yet returned to CONSTANTINOPLE to carrie newes of the rest, but there altogither perished. Of which outrage Mahomet yet vnderstanding, was therewith wonderfully enraged, threatning all euils both to the Moldauians and Valachians, and forthwith sent out other embassadours to the same purpose, who with better fortune afterwards in safetie arriued in POLONIA.

The Tartars in many places (as is before declared) ouerthrowne, and many strong castles and forts taken from the Turkes by the Transyluanians, Valachians, and Moldauians, the Turkish L affaires going to wracke in those quarters, and sore shaken on that side of HVNGARIE; Mahomet the Turkish emperour called home to the Court Sinan Bassa his Generall in HVNGARIE, to conferre with him (as it was thought) of some great matters. In whose place hee sent Ferat Bassa, he who sometime had the leading of Amuraths great armies against the Persians: who now departing from CONSTANTINOPLE, came to BELGRADE in Aprill, and there tooke the charge vppon him. Where at his first comming in the night time, all the ropes and cordes of the tents were suddenly cut in sunder, and so his tent let fall about his eares: which some supposed to haue been done to his disgrace, by the procurement of Cicala Bassa before by him wronged; or as others thought, by the insolent Ianizaries, who disliking of him, did it in despight, wishing rather to haue been led by Mahomet himselfe. Now at his comming, the famine which the last M yeare began amongst the Turkes, was growne exceeding great, not at BVDA and BELGRADE onely, but euen generally in most places of HVNGARIE possessed by the Turkes: insomuch, that the Tartar women that followed the campe,The plague and famine among the Turkes. were faine to roast their owne children and eat them. This famine was also accompanied with a most terrible plague, whereof great numbers of [Page] A the Turks and Tartars died dayly: so that of fourescore fiue thousand Tartars which came the last yeare into HVNGARIE, now remained scarce eight thousand, the rest being all deuoured with the sword, famine, and the pestilence.

Great were the harmes the Turkes still daily receiued from the late reuolted countries of TRANSYLVANIA, VALACHIA, and MOLDAVIA, the Christians of those places seeking by all meanes to annoy them.Michael Vaiuod of Valachia doth the Turkes great harme. Michael Vaiuod of VALACHIA, not contended with that he had alreadie done, but entring into the Turks frontiers, surprised SCHIMELE, together with the castle, wherein he found 14 field pieces, amongst which were two which had vpon them the armes of the emperour Ferdinand, and other two hauing vpon them the armes of Huniades: which pieces he afterwards sent as a present to the Transyluanian prince. After that he tooke OROSIGE, a famous B port towne, the dwelling place of the Turks great purueyor for butter, cheese, and hony, and such other prouision for the Court; wherein he found such store of the aforesaid prouision, as might well haue sufficed eight thousand men for a whole yeare: and still prosecuting his good fortune, tooke from the Turkes KILEC and GALEMPE, with the strong castle of S. George, commonly called GRIGIO, and at length besieged LAGANOC.

With the beginning of the Spring came Matthias the Archduke and Generall of the Christian armie, from the assembly of the nobilitie of HVNGARIE at PRESBVRG, to VIENNA, and so from thence to the emperour his brother at PRAGE; who appointed him Generall of the lower HVNGARIE, and Maximilian his brother Generall of the vpper countrey: giuing them for their lieutenants, vnto Maximilian the lord Teuffenbach, and to Matthias the countie Charles Mansfelt, C by him sent for out of FLANDERS, and after created one of the princes of the empire. Iohn de Medices, who was yet in HVNGARIE, he made master of the great ordinance, with charge to fortifie KOMARA: which he so well performed, as that it was thought nothing in strength inferior to RAB.The notable armie of the Christians and from whence i [...] was raised. All this while the emperor ceased not both by his embassadors and letters to sollicite the Christian princes, for the repressing of the common enemie to put to their helping hands: and so much preuailed with them, that out of his owne hereditarie prouinces, and from other princes his friends, he had this Spring raised a right puissant and strong armie for the defence of HVNGARIE: which how it was raised, and from whom, it shall not be much from our purpose briefely to remember, as the chiefe strength vnder God, wherby the Christian commonweale was this yeare most notably defended. Out of the higher SAXONIE came a thousand two hundred D horsemen, and out of the lower SAXONIE six hundred: from FRANCONIA a thousand horsemen: from SVEVIA foure thousand footmen: out of the countie of TIROL as many: from BAVARIA three thousand: out of BOHEMIA two thousand men at armes, six hundred light horsemen, and six thousand footmen: from SILESIA a thousand fiue hundred horsemen: from LVSATIA fiue hundred horse and a thousand foot: from MORAVIA a thousand horse, and two thousand foot: out of AVSTRIA two thousand horse and six thousand foot: from HVNGARIE fiue hundred horsemen and a thousand foot: from the nobilitie of SVEVIA and FRANCONIA foure thousand foot: from the king of SPAINE out of the low countries vnder the conduct of Charles countie Mansfelt, two thousand horsemen and six thousand foot. Vnto these the bishop of ROME added two thousand horsemen and eight thousand foot: the great duke of E FLORENCE sent fiue hundred horse and three thousand foot: the duke of FERRARA a thousand fiue hundred footmen: the duke of MANTVA a thousand foot: and duke Venturee fiue hundred horse. All which being put together, fill vp the number of fifteene thousand nine hundred horsemen, and fiftie thousand fiue hundred foot. Which notable armie, raised from the power of diuers Christian princes, and conducted by worthie chiefetaines, had by the goodnesse of God much better successe this Summer against the auntient enemies of Christendome, than had the like armie the yeare before, as in the processe of this Historie shall appeare.

Among the worthie commaunders that were in this puissant armie, Charles countie Mansfelt the sonne of Peter Ernestus the old countie, from his youth brought vp in armes, was by the king of SPAINE at the request of the emperour sent with the aforesaid forces of two thousand F horse and six thousand foot out of the Low countries, as a man for his approued valour and direction, fit to manage these dangerous warres against the Turke vnder Matthias the Archduke, as his lieutenant Generall: who hauing raised the appointed forces, for most part Wallons, departed from BRVXELLES about the midst of Februarie, and by the way taking his leaue of his aged father at LVXENBVRG, and trauelling through GERMANIE, came in March to PRAGE, [Page] where he was by the Emperour and the Archduke his brother most honorably entertained, and G shortly after with great solemnitie created one of the Princes of the empire. His forces following after him were by the way staied, partly by the inundation of waters, the riuers they were to passe ouer (at that time rising to an vnwonted height,) partly by the jealousie of some of the Germane princes, who denied them passage through their territories, vntill such time as that the emperour by his letters had opened vnto him the way: which princes for all that stood vpon their guard, and so gaue them passage.

Now ran great rumours of the wonderfull preparations of the Turkes, as also of the Christians; Fame after her wonted manner, encreasing the report of all things aboue measure: which caused the Turks with exceeding care to looke to the fortification of their frontier townes, especially of RAB and STRIGONIVM, as did the Christians to the fortification of KOMARA and H ALTENBVRG. In the meane time many hoat skirmishes passed betweene the Christians and the Turkes, especially in the late reuolted countries of TRANSYLVANIA and VALACHIA, wherein the Turkes were still put to the worse, to the great discontentment of their emperour. Neere vnto TEMESVVAR the Bassa of BVDA was ouerthrowne, by the valiant captaine Gestius Ferentz, Ferat Bassa ouerthrowne in Valachia. and the Transyluanians. And in VALACHIA the Turks Generall, entring with a great armie was there also by the lord Nadasti and the Valachians aided with the Transyluanians, in a great battell discomfited and ouerthrowne. Eight thousand of the Turkes heads in token of this victorie the lord Nadasti sent to ALBA IVLIA to the Transyluanian prince, and certaine ensignes, amongst which one was most richly garnished with pretious stones and pearle, thought to be worth thirtie thousand dollars; which the prince afterward restored againe to Nadasti, offering I him great possessions in TRANSYLVANIA, if he could haue beene content there to haue seated himselfe.

All this Spring the Turkes countenanced their warres with greater boasts and threats than true force, giuing it out, That they would in short time worke wonders both by sea and land. For the more credit whereof, Murat Rays, a notable pyrat, was sent out with twelue gallies; who landing here and there vpon the coasts of ITALIE, did much harme, causing it to be reported in euery place where he landed, That this was but the beginning of a greater war, and that a wonderfull fleet was to follow him: which raised a great feare, as well in other places as in ITALIE. Howbeit, no such fleet afterwards appeared: for why the Turkish emperor, much troubled with the reuolt of TRANSYLVANIA, VALACHIA, and MOLDAVIA, and the great mortalitie then K raging both among his souldiors and their horses, was not at leisure to looke into the sea, hauing his hands full ynough with the troubles of HVNGARIE, where his men of warre enjoyed little rest in the frontiers of his territories.

Sigismund the Transyluanian prince, had vpon some just causes of late suspected Aaron the Vayuod of MOLDAVIA, to haue intelligence not onely with the Polonians, but also with the Cardinall Bator and other his mortall enemies, and secretly to haue beene about to make his peace with Mahomet, and so againe to fall off from him vnto the Turke: Which vehement suspition growing dayly more and more, was about this time manifestly confirmed by certaine letters intercepted concerning that matter. For the preuenting whereof, the prince caused Aaron to bee apprehended, and with his wife and sonne to be sent as prisoners to PRAGE: in whose L roume he by the consent of the nobilitie of the countrey, placed one Stephen Rozwan, a wise and discreet man amongst them, and such an one as had been vnto him alwaies faithfull. So as much as in him was, prouiding that that countrey should not be rent from him, and the vnion of the other. But against the secret practises of the Polonians, he protested openly by letters vnto the emperour, by the power of God, and aid of his faithfull subjects to redresse those so great injuries himselfe by the sword.

Mahomet sendeth embassadors to the prince of Transylvania.In the middest of these troubles came three Chiaus, embassadours from the Turkish Sultan vnto the prince, to persuade him againe to put himselfe into his protection, and to giue him passage through his countrey, as in former time into HVNGARIE, promising him, that all the injuries by him or his people done, should bee for euer forgotten and forgiuen: and that hee should M haue those three countries of TRANSYLVANIA, VALACHIA, and MOLDAVIA, as his owne free inheritance, without paying any tribute, and so to be accounted as the Turkes most louing friend and vassale. What the prince answered thereunto, was not knowne, but by his doings afterwards it was easily to be gathered, that he hearkened not vnto the deceitfull charmes of the [Page] A faithlesse tyrant, trusting more vnto the league he had with the Christian Emperour. These embassadours were scarce gone, but that a secret messenger came with letters from the chiefe of the Christians in BVLGARIA to the prince, declaring vnto him, That if he did with any good successe prosecute his warres, they would be readie to follow his fortune, and to joyne hands with him against the cruell tyrant, and to shut vp all the passages that way into VALACHIA, MOLDAVIA, and HVNGARIE.

Whilest these troublesome times thus passed in TRANSYLVANIA and HVNGARIE, one of the old Ianizaries, called Wasuode Giezi, an old souldior, but a confident bold spoken fellow, mooued as should seeme with the discontentments of the time, came vnto Mahomet the great Sultan at CONSTANTINOPLE, and there openly set vpon him with this rough abrupt speech.

B

How long at last most mightie Emperour,

The presumptuous speech of one Waswood an old Ianizarie to Mahomet the great Sultan.

wilt thou endure thy selfe to be seduced and blinded by the great Bassaes of thy Court, and commaunders of thine armies? How long wilt thou suffer thy selfe to be deceiued, to the great danger of thy selfe and hurt of thy subiects? Seest thou not how ouerthwartly, fraudulently, and cunningly, they mooued onely with their owne couetous and ambitious humor, haue hitherto dealt with thee and thy father? especially in that, that persuaded by them, thou hast dishonourably broken thy league, and taken vp armes against the Christian emperour. At length open thine eyes, and see their deceit, and how much they abuse thy power. Sinan Bassa, who must haue himselfe honoured and exalted aboue all others, hath not by strong hand honourably woon RAB, as hath beene the manner of thine auncestors, but hath craftily bought it with thy money, and thereby C cast thee into a most dangerous warre and infinit troubles. O RAB, RAB, now the cause of great triumph and reioycing, as if thereby all Christendome should in short time bee subdued to thy scepter. But thou art therein much deceiued, thy barnes, thy store-houses, as are TRANSYLVANIA, VALACHIA, MOLDAVIA, BVLGARIA, and other prouinces adioyning, from whence this thy imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, with the countrey about it, thy Court, yea thy selfe, art to be relieued, are by this warre shut vp; so that downe the riuer of Danubius out of the West, or by the Euxine out of the East, thou art not to looke for any prouision. From whence then ò mightie Emperour, wilt thou maintaine thy selfe, thy Court, this populous citie, and the countrey hereabout? Not to speake in the meane time of thy mightie armie now in HVNGARIE, flesh, fish, corne, all manner of victuall are now at such a price, that the common souldior cannot buy them. In this extreame dearth of all things D not men onely, but euen the very beasts and cattell starue for hunger. Thy horses goe fat perhaps into HVNGARIE, but neither thou nor thy select souldiors can liue by grasse and weeds, all that is left in that countrey. This miserie and calamitie of thy people thou seest daily, and yet thou wilt not with sound iudgement lift vp thine eyes, to see from whence these harmes come, and how that they by thee put in greatest trust, studie not for thy profit or the profit of the commonweale, but onely how by all meanes to enrich themselues.

Mahomet much moued with this confident speech of the old Ianizarie, commaunded him to be forthwith committed to ward, and by faire meanes to bee examined, by whose setting on, and for what cause he had so boldly vttered this rude speech vnto his Soueraigne, and what further E thing he had intended: but the rest of the Ianizaries hearing thereof, rise presently in a tumult, and by strong hand tooke him out of prison, and by solemne oath combined themselues to defend him, euen to the spending of their owne bloud, whereat Mahomet was glad to winke.

The greatest part of the aid promised by the Christian princes for the maintenance of this yeares warres against the Turke being now come to VIENNA in AVSTRIA, countie Mansfelt, lieutenant Generall vnder the Archduke, forthwith called a counsell of the colonels, captaines, and other great commaunders of the armie, to consult with them what course to take for the beginning of this great warre: as whether they should presently lay siege to some towne of the enemies, or els to expect him in the plaine field and to giue him battell. All things well considered, and that resolued vpon which was thought most expedient; he remoued from VIENNA to F ALTENBVRG,The armie of the Christians [...] stered a [...] Altenburg. where he mustered his whole armie: and departing thence with some few of his followers, came to WALKENBVRG, a village vpon the side of Danubius, where he made choise of a place to encampe his armie in: which after he had marked out, he returned again with speed to ALTENBVRG, and by open proclamation through the campe, gaue straight commaundement, That against a certaine houre euery man should be in readinesse to remoue and to set forward [Page] toward the enemie. But diuers of the souldiors, and especially the Germanes, began forthwith G after their wonted manner to crie out for their pay before they would stirre any farther: so that the countie was glad by a second proclamation to commaund them to rise, promising them their pay within eight dayes. But they still standing vpon their former resolution for their pay, refused any further to follow their captaines, and sent six of the best sort among those mutinous souldiors to the countie, in the name of all the rest to demaund their pay; whom he forthwith commaunded to be all hanged: but three of them hauing reasonably excused themselues, he let them goe, and causing the other three to cast lots for their liues, hanged vp two of them. Which seuere execution so terrified the rest, that vpon the signe giuen they all rise, and with the rest of the armie followed the Countie. The whole armie being come to WALKENBVRG vnto the place where they were to encampe; the Countie himselfe with others of the nobilitie, began H with spades and shouels to dig and cast vp the trenches, and so wrought vntill they sweat againe: with whose example all the rest of the armie, of what degree soeuer, being moued to labour, had in short time cast vp a verie great trench from Danubius vnto the marishes, large enough for four score thousand men to encampe in; the great worke with restlesse labour going forward both night and day,The vigilant carefulnesse of Countie Mansfeld. vntill it was fully finished. The Countie lying thus entrenched with his armie, was still carefull by his espials to vnderstand where the enemie lay, and what he did. He was readie still to heare all, but to beleeue that which seemed to be most like to be true: what he purposed, he kept most secret; so that the enemie could neuer discouer any of his dessignes (wherein the Generals of late yeares before him had much erred▪) and commonly his most certaine resolutions were shadowed vnder the open shew of some other matter nothing meant: securitie I he much abhorred, as neuer free from danger: and although it was by diuers messengers brought vnto him, That the enemie was but of small strength, vnable to meet him, disorderedly encamped, and in great distresse for want of victuals; yet would he giue little credit therunto, as knowing such reports to haue oftentimes been of purpose giuen out by the Turkes to lull the Christians in securitie, the more easily to oppresse them. The Christian armie thus strongly entrenched, and the trenches planted with great ordinance, the Countie himselfe with certaine troupes of horsemen would oftentimes shew himselfe before RAB, and sometime before DOTIS, viewing sometime the one place and sometime the other, as if he had verily purposed to haue besieged the one of them: and to giue the greater shew that he had so determined, he caused the ground to be marked out for his armie most conueniently to encampe in, and for the casting vp of his K mounts. Which caused the Turkes of STRIGONIVM, VESPRINIVM, PALOTTA, and other places farther off, to send part as well of their warlike prouision as of their garrison souldiors, some to RAB, some to DOTIS for the defence of those places neerest (as they thought) vnto danger.Dotis besieged by the Christians. The Countie in the meane time hauing now put all things in readinesse, came with his armie and sat before DOTIS, demaunding to haue it yeelded vnto him. And the more to confirme the Turkes that he would assuredly besiege that place, he began to cast vp his trenches, and to raise his mounts as seemed most conuenient, straitly commaunding euerie man of what condition soeuer, to put his hand in some measure to the furtherance of those workes: and the more by his owne example to encourage others, would oftentimes himselfe carrie a fagot or some other thing before him vpon his horse, for the raising of the mount. For all that certaine Hungarian L gentlemen, disdaining such base labour (as they deemed it) refused to doe any thing therein: which the Countie perceiuing, straitly charged one of them by his example, to carrie a fagot to the mount, which the Hungarian gentleman refusing, the Countie therwith much moued, laid the fagot he was carrying himselfe, before the Hungarian vpon his horse, charging him to see that he caried it to the appointed place: the Hungarian disdainfully taking it, caried it vntill he thought he was out of the Counties sight, and then in scorne threw it downe: which the Countie (hauing still an eye after him) perceiuing, commanded him to be taken, and all armed as he rid, to be presently hanged vpon the next tree for his obstinacie. Which wholsome seueritie both then and afterwards, caused others more diligently to doe what they were commanded by their superiors.

It happened about this time, that three Turkes being taken prisoners, were brought into the M campe:An obstina [...] Turke. whom the Countie straitly examined of many matters. But the first of the three could neither by faire or foule meanes be induced to answere to any thing that he was asked: and was therefore by the commaundement of the Countie in the sight of the other two, cut into small pieces. Who terrified with his dismembring, confessed many things whereof they were asked: [Page] A and among others, that the Turkish Sultan had determined to turne his greatest forces into TRANSYLVANIA, MOLDAVIA, and the vpper part of HVNGARIE: and therefore would this Sommer send small forces, or else none at all into those quarters.

Now was DOTIS so belaid by the Countie, as that no man doubted, but that he had theron purposed to haue gaged his whole forces, when suddenly the last of Iune, commaundement was giuen through the campe, that euerie man vpon signe giuen, should be in readinesse to follow his leaders, for that the Countie had determined forthwith to remoue: yet w [...]ither the armie was to be remoued, few or none knew, more than certaine of the chiefe commaunders. As for to go to STRIGONIVM, few there were that so much as dreamed thereof, all was kept so secret: yet was it the Counties purpose,Countie Mansfeld remoueth with the armie from Dotis to Strigonium. euen from the beginning to attempt the winning of that citie, B which the Archduke had in vaine the last yeare besieged. The next night being both darke and foule, the Countie rise with all his armie, and the next day being the first of Iuly, came to STRIGONIVM, they of the citie not hearing of his comming before they saw him vnder their walles▪ Whererefore the Turkes in the suburbs called the Rascian citie, and they in the fort vnder Saint Thomas hill, despairing of the keeping of those places, setting fire on the houses, and defacing the fort so much as in that sudden feare they possibly could, fled into the lower towne. The next day the Countie with resistance tooke the aforesaid places forsaken by the Turkes, which hee manned with certaine companies of Wallons, and made a bridge of boats ouer Danubius, cast vp certaine mounts, and did many other things for the furtherance of the siege. In three daies he had againe repaired the fort vnder Saint Thomas hill abandoned by the Turkes, and therein C placed foure great pieces of artillerie, wherewith he began to batter the lower towne, and in other places to strait the besieged more than they had been the yeare before. The Bassa of BVDA, not ignorant of the want both of men and munition in the besieged citie (and the rather for that they had but a little before sent part of their garrison with shot and pouder to RAB and DOTIS) attempted thrise (as he did many times after during the time of the siege) to haue by the riuer put new supplies both of men and munition into the citie: but was still by the diligence of the Christians excluded, and enforced with losse to returne. In short time the Lower towne which they call WASSERSTAT, or the Water towne, was with continuall batterie sore beaten, so that scarcely any house or building was left whole; and a counterscarfe made the last yeare, beaten downe. Whereunto certaine Wallons were sent, only to haue viewed the breadth and D manner of the ditches, after whom certaine companies of the Hungarian Heidons presently followed, without any commaund from their captaines,The Christians repulsed. who with great courage got to the top of another high counterscarfe, & there set vp some of their ensignes. Which the Turks beholding, and comming on close togither, by plaine force enforced them with losse to retire. Among these Hungarians were diuers also of the Wallons slaine, with some others of good name and place, to the great griefe of the Countie, being not a little offended with that disordered seruice: yet day and night the batterie ceased not, and the Christians out of their trenches with their musket shot, slew many of the Turks vpon the wals, receiuing little hurt againe, the Turkes still shooting but sparingly, for feare of wanting shot and pouder at their greater need; yet that they spent they bestowed so well, that amongst others they had slaine foure of the Christian canoniers▪ and E one Wallon captaine. About the middest of Iuly, the Countie with continuall batterie had made the Water towne (as he thought) saultable: and therefore sent certaine companies to begin the assault, who hauing passed the counterscarfe, found the ditch full of deepe mud, and but newly cut broader certaine paces by the Turks, so that it was thought scarce possible to be passed without a bridge; behind which ditch was an high wall, with strong bulwarkes; and within all this was another new cast ditch, and vpon the very brinke thereof a thicke and high parapit: all which for all that, certaine companies of the Wallons with great labour and danger aduentured to passe: but such was the valour of the defendants, and the small number of them that came on to the assault, with the disaduantage of the place wherein they stood, that at length they were glad to retire, with the losse of many of their fellowes. The Christians in the beginning of this siege F had taken a little island in the riuer before the citie, which was kept with some few companies of the lord Palfi his Heidons; whereof the Turks hauing intelligence at BVDA, with three gallies and certain other vessels, landed in the island 3000 soldiors, which slew the Heidons, vnto whom no succour could be suddenly sent, and so recouered againe the island: wherein they left a sufficient garrison for the keeping thereof, furnished with all things necessarie, and so departed.

[Page]About three dayes after the former assault, the Christians in hope of better successe the second G time assaulted the Water towne: in which assault the chiefe leaders were the lord Greis, and Anthonie Zinne, a famous captaine, had he not stained his honor with countie Hardeck at RA [...]; but being pardoned by the Emperour, did now together with the rest appointed to that seruice, most couragiously assault the breach; but were againe by the Turks notably repulsed, and enforced at last to giue ouer the assault, and so to retire with the losse of an hundred and fiftie men: amongst whom Zinne himselfe was slaine, with one captaine Ruger, and some of the counties owne guard: the lord Greis was wounded in the head, and the yonger lord Schuendi with diuers other captaines grieuously hurt. The next day after, six hundred of the mountaine people came into the campe vnto the countie with supplications to request him, Not to giue ouer the siege vntill he had woon the citie, promising in the name of those towns and villages from whence they H were sent, of their owne charges to repaire for him what harme soeuer he should doe in the citie for the taking therof, yea though he should lay it euen with the ground: for why the harmes they daily receiued from the garrison of that citie, were wonderfull.

Mahomet carefull of Strigonium.At the same time also he was aduertised by his espials (of whom he maintained many for the discouerie of the enemies doings) that Mahomet the Turkish Sultan had writ vnto the Bassa of BVDA, carefully to prouide, that his beloued citie of STRIGONIVM tooke no harme, and not to spare either for men or money betime to relieue it: and therein to do nothing without the aduice and good liking of his old and faithfull seruant Alis Beg, who of long time had gouerned and also defended that citie: and to the intent that nothing should be wanting for the performance hereof, that he had sent Alexander Aga of the Ianizaries from the Court (whose seruice he might I euill haue spared) whose approued counsell and helpe he might also vse in all things: for that he had rather loose some other whole kingdome than that one citie: And that therefore he should beware that it were not by the enemie woon, or by any composition yielded: wherein if he failed, he threatned vnto him his heauie displeasure, not to be appeased without the price of his head. Which so seuere a commaundement of the great Sultans, the Bassa sent to them of STRIGONIVM, with most grieuous threats from himselfe, if they, terrified with any batterie, vndermining, or assault, should yield the citie, and not hold it out as became valiant souldiors vnto the last man, swearing to empaile them all vpon stakes, that should consent to the yielding vp thereof. The old Gouernour Alis hauing receiued this so straight a commaund from him that was both able and like ynough to performe what he had threatened, vtterly to deterre the souldiors from K once thinking of yielding, caused diligent enquirie to be made throughout the garrison, if any of them had at any time made any motion of yielding vp the citie, or otherwise murmured against their captaines or commaunders, appointing them to any seruice: and such as he found to haue so done, he to the terror of others caused to be presently executed: and after that went down himselfe into the lower towne, to see that nothing were there wanting or amisse where most danger was. But when he would haue againe returned into the vpper towne, he was stayed by the Ianizaries, who told him, That seeing he was of so valiant and couragious a mind, and their Gouernour, he should there stay with them, and take such part as they did, were it better or worse: and so would he or would he not, there needs stay he must.

Now the Bassaes of BVDA and TEMESVVAR, with diuers Sanzackes as well of those parts of L HVNGARIE which the Turks possessed, as other places, were assembling their forces for the reliefe of the besieged in STRIGONIVM: Whereof the Transyluanian prince hearing, made shew as if he would forthwith haue besieged TEMESVVAR, so that the Bassa thereof leauing the intended expedition for STRIGONIVM, was glad to returne for the defence of his own charge. They also of STIRIA, CARINTHIA & CROATIA, with the troupes of countie Serinus, had so stopped all the passages, that twelue thousand Turks which were comming from ZIGETH and the places thereabout, could by no meanes come to joyne themselues with their fellowes for the reliefe of the distressed citie.

The higher citie of Strigonium battered by the Christians.The countie leauing nothing vnattempted or vndone that might helpe for the gaining of STRIGONIVM, had made a notable fort vpon S. Thomas hill, and therein placed fiue great culuerines,M wherewith he furiously battered the higher citie, and did therein great harme: and thereby also brought to passe, that no man could goe vp or downe the hill, betwixt the vpper towne and the lower, but he was in danger to be set off with those pieces, or the musketiers; who defended by those great pieces, lay vpon the side of the hill in caues and bushes, awaiting for such as [Page] A should goe vp or downe betwixt the two townes. Thus the Christians at one time battered the vpper towne, the lower towne, and the strong towne and fort of GOKARA, standing on the farther side of Danubius oueragainst STRIGONIVM, besieged by the lord Palfi. But of all these places,Gokara taken by the Christians. GOKARA was with the furie of the great ordinance most shaken: which the countie perceiuing, caused the batterie to be encreased, and so continued, vntill he had beaten downe the counterscarfe, and made certaine faire breaches in the wall. Whereunto the Morauians (vnto whose lot it fell) the one and twentith of Iuly gaue an assault in fiue diuers places, whom the lord Palfi seconded with his Hungarians, of whom certaine were of purpose appointed beside their armes to bring things with them for the firing of the towne, which they in the time of the assault found meanes so well to bestow, that in a while the towne was all on a light fire. The Turkes at B first made notable resistance, but finding themselues ouerpressed, and seeing the towne now on a fire about their eares, which with the force of the wind so encreased, that it caught hold of the lower towne on the other side of the riuer, they retired to the riuers side, where some of them by boats got ouer to STRIGONIVM, othersome perished in the riuer, the rest falling into the hands of the Christians, were by them all put to the sword. GOKARA thus taken, and the fire quenched, the Christians repaired the breaches, and storing it with all warlike prouision, left in it a strong garrison. Within a night or two after were two hundred of the Turks horsemen descried in a field fast by, which caused an alarum to be raised in the campe, as if the whole armie of the Turks had beene at hand: howbeit those horsemen retiring, and no other appearing, it was afterwards knowne, that they were onely scouts sent out by the Turkes to take view of the armie C of the Christians and in what sort they lay encamped.

The latter end of this moneth it fortuned that a young countrey fellow, secretly sent out of the citie by the Gouernour, and falling into the hands of Palfi, was by him sent to the countie, by whom he was in friendly manner demanded, From whence he came, whether he was going, and whereabouts? Whereunto the youth frankely answered, That he was sent from the Gouernour with letters to the Bassa of BVDA, which he presently drew out of his bosome, and deliuered them vnto the countie; who after he had read them, caused them to be closed vp againe, and so deliuered them to the young man, with some few crownes, commaunding him to carrie them to the Bassa, as he was about, and in his returne to bring him the Bassaes answere, promising for his so doing to reward him bountifully: which the young man vndertooke to doe, and so departed. D Now the purport of the Gouernours letters was, That if the Bassa did not within six or seauen dayes send him aid and relieue him, he should for want of victuals and other things necessarie for the holding out of the siege, be enforced either to abandon the citie, or to yield it vp into the enemies hands. Whereunto the Bassa returned answere by the aforesaid messenger, That he would within the appointed time bee with him, willing him in the meane while to be mindfull of his wonted valour, and not to be with any thing discouraged: appointing him the day, the houre, the way, the meane, with all the other circumstances how he would relieue him. Which letters the young man according to his promise deliuered vnto the countie: who thereupon prouided accordingly for the welcomming of the Bassa. Within a day after also, one of the Turkes canoniers considering the danger the citie lay in, and feating that it would be lost, fled out of it into E the campe: who besides that he aptly declared the state of the citie, and the wants the besieged were in, did also afterwards good seruice during the time of the siege. The Turkes had in this while many times sallied out, to their great losse: yet now vpon hope of better successe they aduentured the nine and twentith of this moneth to sallie out againe, but with like fortune as before, leauing fourescore of their men behind them, hauing slaine but fiue of the Christians.

Now had the Turks in great wants by the space of a moneth right worthily defended STRIGONIVM, expecting still for reliefe. At length newes was brought into the campe, That the Bassa of BVDA with twentie thousand men was comming to raise the siege: who the second of August came accordingly, and with his armie encamped within foure miles of the Christians: lying so nigh, certaine of the Turkes horsemen seeking after bootie, came very neere vnto the F campe of the Christians, and out of the pastures, euen vnder their noses, carried away some few horses:A skirmish betwixt the Turks and the Christians. against these desperat aduenturerers certaine troupes of the Hungarian and Germane horsemen issuing out, had with them an hot skirmish: but the Turkes of purpose retiring as men ouercharged, and the Christians still following on, had at length drawne them vnto the place where diuers other troupes of the Turkes lay in ambush for them, who now starting forth on [Page] euery side, hardly charged them. The Hungarian light horsemen well acquainted with such skirmishes,G seeing the danger, presently fled and left the Germanes to themselues; who for a while valiantly encountered their enemies, but oppressed with multitude, were glad at last to flie also. In this skirmish of the Christians were lost and grieuously wounded about an hundred. The Turkes encouraged with this so prosperous a beginning, came on the next day with all their armie, being before resolued by plaine force to open themselues a way into the citie, and so to relieue the besieged. Of all these things was not the Countie ignorant, as thereof forewarned by the Bassaes letters before deliuered vnto him, and had therefore with his armie strongly belayed all the wayes vnto the citie: neuerthelesse the enemie came still on betweene the hils S. Thomas and S. George, and neere vnto the suburbes called the Rascian citie, put themselues in order of battell, as did also the Christians, giuing the enemie leaue to come euen to their trenches. In the meane H time the lord Palfi with his Hungarian horsemen, fetching a compasse about the hill on the one side, and the lord Swartzenburg with his horsemen on the other, had so enclosed the Turkes behind, as that they could not without great danger retire.A cruell battell betwixt the Chris [...]ans and the Turkes before Strigonium. Both armies orderly raunged, and the signall of battell giuen, the Turkes hauing before without any great harme done discharged seuenteene field pieces, came on after their wonted manner with a most hideous crie, and at the first onset with their Turkie arrowes, as with a thicke shower, darkened the skie: when on the other side the Germane and Wallon horsemen with their petronels sent their deadly shot as thicke as haile amongst them againe; and the men at armes after them taught the Turks to their cost, how vnfit their light and halfe naked horsemen were in a set battell to meet with men so well appointed: in a trice but not without great slaughter the battell was brought to the sword, and I to be tried by true valour: There was to be heard a crie heauens high, the thundering artillerie both great and small, the clattering armour, the glistering weapons, the neighing of the horses, the crying of the wounded, the heauie gronings of the dying, with the noise of the trumpets drums and other warlike instruments, made deafe the eares of the hearers, presenting vnto them nothing but horror and euen present death. It was a most miserable sight to see so many men in so short time slaine:The Turks ouerthrowne. for the battell had yet scarcely endured halfe an houre, when many thousands of the Turks lay dead vpon the ground, and the rest seeing the victorie encline to the Christians, betooke themselues to flight, leauing behind them their great ordinance and whatsoeuer els they brought for the reliefe of the besieged: whom so flying, the lord Palfi and Swartzenburg (who had before taken the straits whereby they were to passe betweene the mountaines) so K receiued with their fresh horsemen, that of them that came that way, few escaped. The Bassa himselfe, who stood vpon the hill, seeing the discomfiture of his armie, fled also himselfe: the Bassa of NATOLIA with about an hundred Turkes moe by good fortune got into STRIGONIVM. The number of the Turks slaine in this battell was great, and is of diuers diuersly reported, some saying that there was slaine fourteene thousand; and some, fewer. Besides them that were slain, many were also taken, and some of them men of great name and place. There were also taken seuen and twentie ensignes, with a multitude of cammels, asses, and mules, laded with mony, shot, pouder, and other necessarie prouision: all which, brought thither for the reliefe of the besieged, became a prey vnto the Christians. In the heat of this battell they of the citie sallying out, had entred a fort of the Christians vpon the riuers side▪ but were againe presently driuen out, and with L losse enforced againe to retire. After this victorie the countie sent certaine companies of the Hungarian and Germane horsemen with fiue hundred waggons to the enemies campe, not farre off in the mountaines; who comming thither, found it vtterly forsaken by the enemie, but well stored with all manner of necessarie prouision, which they carried all away, together with six hundred tents, many whereof were lined with damaske, sattin, and other silke, richly embrodered or layed with gold lace or twist. The Bassaes rich tent taken by the colonell of the horsemen, was afterwards by him giuen vnto the Countie, as was also the plate and money there found, all which he deuided among the souldiors according to their deserts. In the Turks campe were also found certaine heads of the Christians, with the dead bodie of the lord Brandensteine, slaine in the conflict but the day before; which the Christians caried away with them into the campe, and M there honourably buried them. Those that remained of the Turks armie, hid themselues in the mountaines and woods, and so holpen by the darkenesse of the night, made best shift for themselues that they could. The Bassa himselfe accompanied but with twentie horse, came to BVDA about midnight, and by his comming filled the citie with great heauinesse, euery man lamenting [Page] A his lost friends. The Hungarian Heidons best acquainted with the countrey, pricking vp and downe the mountaines and by waies, for certaine daies after the battell, brought in daily into the campe such prisoners as they tooke, or else the heads of such Turkes as they slew. Of this so notable a victorie, the Countie by a speedie messenger certified the Archduke at VIENNA, who rewarded him for his good newes with a chaine worth fiue hundred duckars▪ and presently [...]aused the song of thankesgiuing to be sung in the Church of the Augustine Friers, and afterward in all the churches of the citie. The Countie also to gratifie the emperour, sent him by the lord Chalon his nephew vnto PRAGE, two of the chiefe prisoners taken in the late battell, with foure horsemens Guidons cunningly made of horse haires, such as are commonly carried before the greatest commanders of the Turks armies, and fourteene other ensignes of the Turks, with fourteene B most goodly horses of the Turks for a present.

The next day after this battell, the Countie sent the lord Pal [...]i with an interpre [...]or vnto the citie, to demaund it to be yeelded: who hauing audience, declared vnto the Turkes in what danger they were, that the helpe they looked for was now quite ouerthrowne, new reliefe could not but in long time be sent vnto them; and that therefore it should be good for them, whilest yet they might, to be well aduised, and betime to bethinke themselues of yeelding vp the citie, least, happily when they would, it then would not be accepted: promising to intreat with the Generall, that they might in safetie depart, and with sure conuoy be brought vnto such place of safetie as were conuenient. Whereunto the besieged Turkes answered, That the Christians had now fiue weekes lien at the siege, and must yet lie three weekes longer: and that whereas▪ C of late some few of their friends came to haue relieued them, and had failed therein; there was yet an hundred thousand moe to come after them, who if they should not be able to performe that they came for, yet that they would not for that deliuer or forsake the citie, before they were readie to be drawne out of it by the heeles, and that yet they would then take three daies to resolue thereupon.

Now had the Christians with long and continuall batterie sore beaten both the vpper and the lower towne, which batterie they now maintained with greater furie than at any time from the beginning of the siege; and within the citie their wants increased daily, hauing nothing left to liue vpon but a little wheat and barley, with some horseflesh: vnto whom thus distressed, the lord Palfi by the commandement of the Countie (to trie what confidence they yet had in themselues) D the ninth of August, sent two Gentlemen to the citie, to doe a message from him to the Gouernour. Who aduertised thereof, being a verie aged and courteous man, accompanied with the Aga of the Ianizaries, came to the wals to heare what they had to say; where one of the said gentlemen in few words deliuered him this short message.

My most gratious Lord the lord Palfi,

The message sent by the lord Palfi to the Gouernor of Strigonium.

most worthie Gouernour greeteth thee well, and knowing thee to be a captaine both valiant and wise, and one that hath alwaies courteously vsed such as haue fallen into thy hands, hath compassion of thy desperat obstinacie: and therefore, whereas thou art to looke or hope for nothing else but present death and destruction, he as thy neighbour and a louer of thy vertues, aduiseth and exhorteth thee, if thou wilt saue thy selfe and thine from most vndoubted and imminent death and vtter confusion, without delay to deliuer vp this citie, which thou canst E not longer hold.

Vnto whom the old Gouernour thus without stay courteously answered.

Thy speech my friend,

The resolute answere of the old Gouernor to the message sent him by Pa [...]i.

and thy masters aduise are vnto me both vaine. Tell the lord Palfi in my name, that I cannot pleasure him with the least stone in this citie. One foot I haue alreadie in the graue, and will with honour carrie these my graie haires into the same: and am yet comforted with a most certaine and vndoubted hope, that my most dread and mightie soueraigne, and my lord Sinan Bassa will not forsake me: yea and that if they should write vnto me, that they could find no meanes or way to relieue me (which I am sure they can) yet would I well, and at leisure consider, whether it were fit for me to deliuer vp this citie or not; seeing that of the defence thereof, dependeth all mine honour and credit. Besides that, what reward they haue on both sides, that so easily deliuer ouer the cities F they haue in charge, all the world doth see.

With this answere he sent them away. All this while the Aga of the Ianizaries standing by, spoke not one word, but sighing in silence and grinding his teeth, declared by his countenance his indignation and inward griefe.

In the mid way betwixt BVDA and STRIGONIVM, in the middest of the riuer of Danubius [Page] lieth a little island called VIZZE, wherein many rich clothiers dwelt: this island the Hungarian G Heidons spoiled, and in returning thence, met with foure and twentie wagons laded with corne, going to BVDA, which they tooke, with eight and twentie prisoners which they brought into the campe.The loxer towne [...] by the C [...]ristians. The lower towne being with long and continuall batterie made saultable, was by the Christians the thirteenth of August, in three diuers places at once assaulted. The Bauarians were by lot to giue the first charge, who in the performing thereof, beginning to faint (for that they were notably repulsed by the Turks) but seconded by them of REITNAW and SVEVIA, pluckt downe a great palisado, filled the ditches, remoued whatsoeuer stood in their way, and so long fought with the Turks in the breaches, that by the comming in of the Marquesse of BVRGAVVE with six ensignes of fresh men, they preuailed vpon the enemie, and so altogither brake into the towne. In the middest of this dangerous fight was the Marquesse himselfe, who both H with his presence and cheerfull speech so encouraged his souldiors, that they as men fearing no perill, ran headlong into all danger vntill they had entred the towne: There might a man haue heard a most miserable crie, especially of women and children throughout the citie; when as the Christians breaking in on euerie side slew whosoeuer came in their way, without respect of age or sex, sparing neither women great with child, neither the little children hanging at their mothers breasts. Yet did not all that were entred, so much attend the present execution, as some of them did the spoile and prey; and especially the Hungarians, vnto whom all was good bootie, euen the verie hinges of the doores and windowes: whereby many escaped into the castle and vpper towne with the Bassa and Alis-Beg the old Gouernour. The Christians had not many houres possessed the towne, but that diuers fires began to breake out in diuers places, but I by what meanes was not at the first knowne. At last it was found out, that the Turks doubting the losse of the towne, had before where they thought best left gunpouder, which taking fire by matches left burning for that purpose, should at a certaine time set all on fire: by which meanes many most horrible fires were raised in the towne, which consumed many goodly buildings and other things which might haue stood the Christians in great stead, and could hardly be in a day or two quenched.

Countie Mansfeld d [...]eth at Komara.This so joyfull a victorie saw not he, by whose good direction next vnder God it was gained, the worthy Countie: for he a few daies before being fallen sicke of a feauer, taken by drinking too much cold drinke in his heat, with immoderat paines taking in the late battell, and so afterwards falling into a great flix with a feauer, was by the counsell of his physitions (for the better recouering K of his health) remoued to KOMARA, as a place of more quietnesse: hauing before his departure sent for the Archduke to come vnto the campe, and for Blankemier into BAVARIA to supply his owne roume. But his disease still encreasing, became at last desperat, so that the physitions themselues now dispaired of his health. Yet lying thus drawing towards his end, he almost euerie houre enquired how the armie did, and whether the citie were yet taken, or what hope there was of the taking thereof. But when it was told him a little before his death, that the lower towne was woon, he thereat greatly rejoyced, and the next day being the fourteenth of August towards night quietly departed this world, to the great losse of the Christian commonweale, and the exceeding griefe of the whole armie. A man euen from his childhood brought vp in armes, of stature great, but of courage greater, and painfull aboue measure, not the least L cause of his vntimely death. All the time of this siege he tooke little rest either by day or night, scarce so much as to lie downe vpon his bed in two or three nights togither. The little meat he did eat, he most part eat it standing or walking, yea and sometimes on horsebacke: he was a most seuere obseruer of martiall discipline, which caused him to be of his souldiors both beloued and feared. His bowels were with due solemnitie buried at KOMARA where he died, but his bodie was brought backe againe to LVXENBVRG, there to be honourably enterred with his auncestours.

About this time Theodore the Great duke of MVSCOVIA, hearing of the warres betwixt the emperour and the Turke, sent two embassadours with letters and presents to the emperour: which embassadours comming to PRAGE the sixteenth of August, accompanied with two M hundred and fiftie horse, were there by the emperours appointment, honourably receiued and entertained. And afterward hauing audience, first deliuered the letters of credence from the Great duke, reported to haue been of this purport.

[Page] A Your Maiestie hath sent vnto vs your embassadour Nicholas Warkotsie,

The coppie of the great dukes letters vnto the emperour.

requesting our brotherly aid against the hereditarie enemie of all Christianitie, the Turkish Sultan. Wherefore we also desiring to liue with you our deare and welbeloued brother in all perpetuall amitie and friendship, send vnto you by our faithfull counsellor and seruant Michael Iwanowitze and Iohn Sohnie ▪ aid out of our treasurie against the said enemie: vnto whom we haue also giuen other things in charge to be propounded to your Maiestie, requesting you to giue vnto them in all things full credit. Giuen in the great Court of our power at MVSCO, in the yeare of the world 7103, and from the natiuitie of Christ 1595, in the moneth of Aprill.

What things in particular these embassadours were sent for, was not commonly knowne, but among others it is said, That the Muscouite requested the emperour to send an embassadour B vnto the Persian king, to draw him also into the league with them against the Turke: which embassadour should first come into MVSCOVIA, and that way to passe into PERSIA. The presents which the Great duke sent vnto the emperour were, an hundred and fiftie thousand Florens of gold, great store of most rich furs, and pretious perfumes deemed to be of exceeding valour, two white faulcons, and three leopards aliue. And Iwanowitze the embassadour himselfe, presented vnto the emperour of himselfe, certaine rich Turkie, Persi [...] and Babylonian hangings and carpets, certaine timbers of Sables, with other rich furs no lesse pretious than Sables, so many as eight porters could hardly carrie. These embassadours tarried at PRAGE vntill the seuen and twentith day of December, and then taking their leaue, returned with the emperours answere to the duke.

C But to returne againe vnto SRIGONIVM.Alis-Beg the old Gouernour of S [...]igonium slain with a great shot The Christians now possessed of the lower towne, bent their whole batterie vpon the higher towne, where it fortuned the fourteenth of August that the old Gouernour Alis-Beg, whilest he was carefully walking from place to place to see where most danger was, had his arme strucke off with a great shot, of which hurt he presently died. He was a man of great grauitie, about the age of eight and twentie yeares, and had of long time notably both gouerned and defended that famous citie, the losse whereof was like enough to haue been vnto him greater griefe than was the losse of his life there. Much about the same time also died the Aga of the Ianizaries, being before mortally wounded. Both the chiefe commaunders thus slaine, the Ianizaries with the other souldiors and citisens made choise of the Bassa of NATOLIA (who as is aforesaid escaped out of the late battell into the citie) for their D Gouernour, who with heauie cheere tooke vpon him that forlorne charge. The Christians not ignorant of the death of these two worthie men, in whose great and approued valour they supposed the chiefe defence of the citie to haue rested, were in good hope that now the rest would the more readily hearken to some good composition; and therefore sent a messenger to demand if they would yet whilest there were some mercie left, yeeld the citie. Who though they had lost their chiefe commaunders with the greatest part of the garrison, and were in great wants both of victuals and all things else necessarie for their defence; yet their answere was in few words, That they would hold it out euen to the last man. The greatest cause of which their obstinat resolution, was the strait charge the Bassa of BVDA had giuen them for the defence thereof: besides that, they accounted their citie holy, as woon by their magnificent emperour Solyman, E whom the Turkes generally yet haue in a deuout remembrance; and therefore thought it a great impietie to deliuer it vp vnto the Christians. The next day after came Matthias the archduke into the campe; who after he had well viewed the whole armie and the manner of the siege, he called togither into his tent the chiefe commaunders, namely the Marquesse of BVRGAVV his cousin, Iohn de Medices the Florentine, and the lord Pal [...]i the Hungarian, to consult with them what were farther to be done for the winning of the citie. Shortly after he commanded the citie to be at once in two places assaulted, which was by the Wallons and Germanes couragiously performed: but such was the valour of the defendants, that when the Christians had done what they could, they were glad at last to giue ouer the assault, and with losse to retire. About this time came the duke of MANTVA, with the three Counties his brethren to F the siege: and now the Turkes began againe to draw togither neere vnto BVDA, there to make head for the reliefe of STRIGONIVM, and to be reuenged of the losse they had there before receiued. Whereof the Archduke hauing intelligence, sent out against them eight thousand chosen souldiors out of the campe, who suddenly setting vpon the Turkes in their campe, before the rising of the Sunne made a great slaughter amongst them, and tooke certaine prisoners, [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] of whom the Sanzacke of COPAN was one: and so with victorie returned to the siege.G

The besieged Turkes in STRIGONIVM vnderstanding of this ouerthrow of their friends, from whom they expected most speedie reliefe, and beside the terrour of the continuall batterie and still feared assaults, pinched also with extreame wants of all things, began now to faint. Wherefore the Bassa with the other captaines, ouercome with the aforesaid difficulties, and the generall outcrie of the fearfull people, resolued with one consent to come now to parley, and vpon reasonable conditions to yeeld vp the citie: whereupon a flag of truce was set vp, and parley craued. Which granted, the Archduke after the going downe of the Sunne came into the lower towne, where nine of the Turks attended his comming: who entring into parley, required that they might vnder safe conuoy with bag and baggage depart, and so leaue him the citie: which the Archduke would not by any meanes agree vnto. At length with much entreatie, they obtained H that they might vpon the same conditions depart that the Christians did at RAB; with their scimitars by their sides, and so much of their goods as they could carrie vpon their backes, vnto such ships as were to be appointed for the carriage of them to BVDA.Strigonium yeelded vnto the Christians. For the performance whereof, hostages were on both sides giuen: and so the next day (being the second of September) they began to come out of the citie, moe in number than either the prisoners taken in the time of the siege had confessed, o [...] the Christians had thought. Thirtie ships were appointed for the conuaying of them downe the riuer to BVDA, which not suffising, many of them tarried in the citie vntill the next day, at which time the Bassa with the sicke and wounded sayled to BVDA, the prisoners and pledges on both sides being before faithfully deliuered. Thus by the goodnesse of God and the good conduct of a few valiants Christians, was STRIGONIVM the Metropoliticall I citie of HVNGARIE, after it had 52 yeares groaned vnder the miserable yoake of the Turkish seruitude,The castle of Vicegrade taken by the Christians. againe restored vnto the Christian common-weale: which the Christians forthwith repaired and new fortified, as was thought best for the defence thereof against the enemie. All which being done, about the middest of this moneth the Archduke sent eighteene thousand to besiege VICEGRADE, otherwise called PLINDENBVRG, a strong castle of the Turks vpon the riuer betweene STRIGONIVM and BVDA, which castle they tooke. Which when they of BVDA vnderstood, they were strucken with such a feare, that many of the better sort were readie to forsake the citie, insomuch, that the Bassa to stay their flight, was glad to commaund the gates of the citie to be shut vpon them, and no man suffered to passe out. This good successe of the Christians in these wars, caused great rejoycing to be made in most parts of Christendome.K

All this while the Christians were thus busied at the siege of STRIGONIVM, the Transyluanian prince was not idle, but in diuers places did the Turks exceeding much harme; so that now his name began to be dreadfull vnto them. It fortuned that the same day that the Countie Mansfelt departed at KOMARA, that the prince at ALBA IVLIA with great solemnitie married Maria Christina, the daughter of the late Archduke Charles the sonne of the emperour Ferdinand, her other sister Anna being before married vnto Sigismund, now king of POLONIA: for so it was agreed for the more assurance of the league betweene the emperour and him, that he should take his wife out of the house of AVSTRIA, which he now did. Of this solemnitie the Turks (his euill neighbors) hauing intelligence, assembling to the number of 30000 or more, thought as vnwelcome guests to haue come vnbidden or vnlooked for thereunto: but the vigilant prince vnderstanding L of their comming, prouided for their entertainment accordingly, and setting his pleasures for a while apart, and comming vpon them when they least looked for him, in a great battell ouerthrew them, and slew most part of them, carrying away with him as a triumphant victour, the whole spoile of his enemies.

About the same time the Transyluanians also besieged FAGIAT, a towne holden by the Turkes, not farre from TEMESVVAR; where after they had lien twelue daies, they of the towne dispairing to be able long to hold out, came to parley, and couenanting to depart with bag and baggage, began to go out of the towne. But in their departure, vnderstanding that the Bassa of TEMESVVAR with the Sanzacks of LIPPA and IENNE were comming to their reliefe, they that were yet in the towne began to find delaies, and they that were alreadie gone out began to M returne. Wherewith the Transyluanians much moued, by plaine force entred the towne, and put them all to the sword: and afterward turning vpon the Bassa, who with ten thousand Turks and certaine field pieces was comming to haue relieued the town, had with them a cruell battell; wherein most part of the Turks fell with small losse of the Transyluanians: who so eagerly pursued [Page] A the victorie, that the Bassa himselfe had much adoe with fiue hundred others to escape. The two Sanzackes, with diuers others of good place, were taken and sent prisoners to the prince. Not long after, about the latter end of August the Transyluanians also besieged LIPPA, a famous citie of HVNGARIE,Lippa taken by the Transyluanians. standing vpon the riuer Maracz, not farre from TEMESVVAR, which the Turkes being notable longer to hold, fled into the castle: where finding themselues in no great safetie, after three dayes siege they came to parle, and so yielded, vpon condition that they might in safetie depart with so much of their goods as they could themselues carrie. About which time also the Bassa of BOSNA with ten thousand Turks and Tartars went forth to haue againe recouered BABOTSCA, a frontier towne, before taken by the Christians: which the Stirians and the rest of the Christians dwelling thereabouts, betweene the two riuers of Sauus B and Drauus, vnderstanding, conducted by the lords Herbenstein, Lewcowitz, and Eckenberg, that had the charge of those frontiers, ouertooke the said Turks and Tartars neere vnto BABOTSCA, fought with them, and in the plaine field ouerthrew them.

Mahomet not a little grieued with the good successe of the Christians in euery part of HVNGARIE,Ferat Bassa sent for to Constantinople, and there strangled. and aboue measure offended with Ferat Bassa his Generall, through whose negligence all or at leastwise most part of this had happened (as he was by the enuie of Sinan Bassa persuaded) sent for Ferat home,Sinan Bassa sent in Ferats st [...]ad. and in his place sent out Sinan. Of which the great Sultans displeasure Ferat was not ignorant, as forewarned thereof by her that best knew, euen the Sultans mother, and aduised not to come in sight vntill his peace were made. Who neuerthelesse trusting to his own innocencie (the comfortable, but most dangerous and weake stay of the great) C and doubting not to answere whatsoeuer Sinan should be able to charge him with, came to the Court: where he was by the commandement of Mahomet shortly after strangled, and his goods to the value of fiue hundred thousand duckats confiscated.

Among all the dangerous enemies of the Christian common-weale, was none at this time more cruell than was Sinan, an Epirot borne, a fishers sonne, of a rough and vnciuile disposition, now about fourescore and three yeares old, euen from his youth brought vp in the warres: and yet (as his mott was) breathing nothing but, Bloud and Warre. He had many times fortunately led the huge armies of the Turkish Emperours, Solyman, Selymus, and Amurath, and is now sent by the great Sultan Mahomet, as the fittest man to reduce the late reuolted countries of TRANSYLVANIA, VALACHIA, and MOLDAVIA, to their former thraldome; D which he before promised vnto Mahomet, vpon perill of his head to doe. He hauing raised a right puissant armie, by a bridge made of boats (after a moneths labour spent therein) passed ouer the great riuer of Danubius into VALACHIA: of whose comming the Transyluanians, with the Valachians and Moldauians, hauing knowledge, had before so shut vp the passages of the countrey, as that he could not without much danger haue farre entered; and were also readie with their vnited forces euen at his first enterance to giue him battell. Which hee not refusing,A mo [...]tall battell betwixt Sinan and the Trans [...]luanian prince. there began a most mortall and cruell fight, with much bloudshead on both sides. Thrice were the Transyluanians enforced to retire, but still relieued with new supplies, and knowing that they then carried in their armes the welfare of their whole countrey, came on afresh againe, and as hardly charged the Turkes, as they had beene by them charged. Thus E with doubtfull fortune and great slaughter was the battell maintained, from the morning vntill night, victorie with doubtfull wings houering now ouer the one side, now ouer the other: vntill that at length,The Turks ouerthrowne. the Turkes ouercome by true valour, their battailes being quite disordered and broken, were now glad to seeke to saue themselues by flight. In this battaile, being fought the eleuenth of September, besides many thousands of the common souldiours, were slaine also diuers of great account amongst the Turkes: and amongst the rest Haidar Bassa, a man of them much regarded, was found dead euen in the same place where the battaile was fought.Sinan in flying like to be drowned. Sinan himselfe, in making too much hast to get ouer the bridge, fell into the deepe mud, and in that generall confusion of his armie, was like ynough there to haue perished: but as the common prouerbe goeth, Seldome lieth the diuell dead in a dike, the old Velliarde was F with much adoe drawne out by them of his guard, and so saued to further mischiefe. Neuerthelesse, the danger was so great, that for certaine daies it was commonly reported, that he was there drowned, most of his owne people not as yet certainely knowing what was become of him. All the spoyle of the Turks became a prey vnto the Christians, as did also their great ordinance, and many of their ensignes; amongst which was one greene one, which they accounted religious, as [Page] sacred to their prophet Mahomet, whereunto they in time of their greatest distresse flie as vnto G their last refuge: there was taken also all their tents, with great aboundance of victuals and other warlike prouision.

The old Bassa thus ouerthrowne, full of griefe, and euen mad for despight, posted himselfe in all hast to the Court, thinking it better himselfe to make the best of that which was indeed nought, than to haue it made worse than nought by the enuious report of others: and withall to fill the mind of the great Sultan with desire of reuenge, which no man so much longed after, as himselfe: wherein he so discreetly vsed the matter, as that the late losse was easily passed ouer, as receiued by the common chance of warre, or any other occasion els whatsoeuer rather than by any default of his; and new commission giuen him for the raising of another armie for the subduing of the late reuolted countries. In the meane time, to shew his hatred vnto the Christians,H and to please the eyes of them of the Court with the noueltie of the sight, he caused an hundred and twelue Christian captiues whom he had in prison at BELGRADE, to be brought in chaines like beasts to CONSTANTINOPLE; and so being led through the principall streets of the citie, to the vaine contentment of the citisens, to bee brought to the Court gate for the Sultan to looke vpon and the Courtiers to deride: from whence they were after many vnspeakeable indignities conueyed to most miserable and loathsome prisons, there to be fed with the bread of tribulation.

The Turks ouerthrowne in Croatia.About this time the Turks vnder the commaund of the Bassa of BOSNA, to the number of almost twentie thousand, made a rode into CROATIA, where they were by the Christians vnder the leading of the lord Eckenberg and Leucowitz ouerthrowne and almost all slaine: the Christians I following the chase euen into the Turks frontiers, burnt fifteene of their villages, and tooke the castle of VARVINAR: immediately after, their forces encreasing by the comming in of the lord Herbensteine, Gouernour of VALERIA and WINDISMARCHE, and certain other troupes of horsemen out of CARINTHIA and the countries thereabouts, they returned the thirteenth of September to besiege PETRINIA, otherwise called PETROVVINA; which because they were in hope to take by assault, they euen at their first comming couragiously assailed. But after two houres hard fight, finding both greater resistance and more difficultie than they had before supposed to haue found, and that without great ordinance (which could not in short time bee got ouer the mountaines) there was no good to be done, they were glad to giue ouer the assault, and with such losse as they had receiued to returne to SISEG, there to consult further of the matter.K But the same night a fugitiue horseman fled from the enemie, came to the campe and told the Christians, That Rustan Beg Gouernour of PETRINIA was in the late assault wounded in the breast with a small shot,Petrinia taken by the Christians and dead: and that the Turkes in the towne discouraged with his death and the late ouerthrow of their friends in CROATIA, would vpon the first sight of them abandon the towne, if they would but againe returne to besiege it. Vpon which good hope the Christians presently rise, and set forward againe towards PETRINIA: which the Turkes hearing of their comming, had before (as the soldior reported) for feare abandoned. So the Christians without resistance entering the towne, found therein some pillage, but better store of shot and pouder: and presently sending forth certaine troupes of horsemen to pursue the flying Turks, tooke diuers of them, and among the rest the late Gouernours lieutenant, whom they brought backe againe L into the towne. Thus was PETRINIA againe recouered from the Turkes, to the great quiet and safetie of all that side of the countrey.

Sigismund the Transyluanian prince not ignorant with what an enemie he had to doe, either of the mallice of old Sinan, who he knew would not be long before he returned, or yet of the secret practise of the Polonians for the withdrawing of the countrey of MOLDAVIA from him, sought now by all means (as it stood him vpon) to make himselfe so strong as he could against so many stormes arising. It fortuned that euen at the same time the Zaculians (better known by the name of Siculi) in former time a free people, but as then tributaries vnto the Turkes, bordering vpon the Northeast part of TRANSYLVANIA, now wearie of the Turkish thraldome, and seeing the good successe of the prince, and the late reuolted countries their neighbours, offered vnto M the prince their seruice; promising of their own charge to maintaine fortie thousand men in the field during his warres with the Turke, and yearely to pay him of euery house a dollar, with a certaine measure of wheat, oates, and barley, after the manner of their owne countrey: and further, That if God should blesse him with a sonne to succeed him in his gouernment, euery housholder [Page] A should giue vnto him a good fat oxe. For all which seruice they craued no more, but that they might as his subjects liue vnder his protection: yet so, as to be gouerned by their owne auntient lawes and customes. Of which their offer the prince accepting, it was forthwith by them proclaimed in their campe, and all the people sworne to the performance of the aforesaid agreements. And hauing at that present but fiue and twentie thousand in the field; they without delay sent out their officers to presse out fifteene thousand moe, for the filling vp of the promised number of fortie thousand,The prince taketh a view of his armie. wherewith they came vnto the prince, who taking a view of his armie, found himselfe to be now fourescore thousand men strong, to welcome the Bassa withall when he should come againe into his countrey.

Now had Sinan with great speed raised an armie of seauentie thousand choice souldiours, B amongst whom were many whole bands of the Ianizaries, the strength of the Turkish empire. With which power joyned vnto the reliques of his other broken forces, he thought himselfe strong ynough for the subduing of the prince: vnto whom came also afterwards Hassan Bassa, the sonne of the great Bassa Muhamet, one of the Turkes most renowned men of warre, and Bogdanus the late expulsed Vayuod of VALACHIA,Sinan Bassa by a bridge made of boats passeth ouer Danubius into Valachia. with many others of great name. With this armie the old Bassa by a bridge, which he with exceeding charge had made of boats, passed ouer the great riuer of Danubius at a towne called ZORZA or GIORGO (with vs S. George) in VALACHIA, a great way beneath that place where sometime the emperour Traian built his famous bridge of stone, worthily accounted amongst the rare and wonderfull buildings of the world. From ZORZA he marched with his armie to TERGOVISTA (sometime the Vayuod his chiefe C citie, but then in the power of the Turks) where is a notable monasterie, which he conuerted into a castle, fortifying it with deepe trenches and strong bulwarks, and good store of great ordinance, purposing to make that the seat of his warre, vntill he had againe restored those late reuolted countries vnto the Turkish empire, which hee vpon paine of his head had vndertaken to performe. The prince both by messengers and letters vnderstanding of the Bassaes arriuall there, and hauing his armie in good readinesse, set forward to meet him and to giue him battell. But being come into VALACHIA, and there encamped, it is reported, that a great Eagle descending from an high rocke thereby, called, The Kings rocke, and houering ouer the Christian armie, flew about the princes tent, and there lighting, was taken and presented to the prince, who commaunded her to bee kept as the presage of his good fortune; holding on still his way, and the fifteenth D of October being come within halfe a dayes march of TERGOVISTA, he vnderstood by two Christians lately escaped from the Turks, That two dayes before the Turks hearing of his comming, were strucken with such a generall and sudden feare, that Sinan had much adoe either by faire meanes or by foule to stay the Ianizaries from flight; and that when he had done what he could, yet that certaine companies of them were quite fled and gone. But the truth was, that Sinan seeing the generall feare of his armie, and he himselfe no lesse fearefull than the rest, vpon the princes approch fled with all his armie, leauing behind him for hast his tents, his great ordinance, with much victuals, and other warlike prouision, carrying with him onely such things as were of most value. As for the citie of TERGOVISTA, with the castle which he had made of the monasterie, he committed it to the keeping of Hassan Bassa; and Bogdanus the late Vayuod, now become E a renegate Turke, with a garrison of foure thousand chosen souldiors, promising within a few daies, if need should be, to relieue them, but fled himselfe in all hast with his armie to BVCARESTA, a daies journey from TERGOVISTA. From whence he presently writ backe againe to Hassan Bassa, willing him if he could to defend the castle: but if he should thinke it not possible to be kept against the power of the prince, then be time to forsake it and to shift for himselfe. But these letters being intercepted by the Christians, neuer came to the Bassaes hands. Not long after the departing of Sinan, the prince comming to TERGOVISTA, entred the forsaken campe, where he found many tents, with some ordinance, and great store of victuals: & without further delay summoned both the citie and the castle, which for all that were both denied him. But the next day after, Hassan considering the flight of Sinan, the power of the prince, and withall doubting if need F should be to be relieued by Sinan, whom he not without cause suspected not to loue him, was about vpon some reasonable composition to haue yielded vp both the citie and the castle: wherunto the garrison souldiors (being most part of them Ianizaries) would not in any case giue their consent, but stood vpon the defence of the place. Whereupon the prince began furiously to batter both the citie and the castle, and after some few houres batterie by assault tooke both, and put [Page] to sword the whole garrison:Hassan Bassa taken. onely Hassan Bassa, as taken with his owne hand, he spared, and G two other Sanzackes. Bogdanus the renegate was there slaine among the rest. The Christians had there a rich prey, besides 42 great pieces of ordinance, and good store of all manner of warlike prouision. Hassan thus taken, grieuously complained that Sinan had of a malitious purpose exposed him to so manifest danger, for the grudge he bare vnto his dead father the Visier Muhamet, vpon whom because he could neuer be reuenged, he now by sinister meanes had cunningly performed it vpon his sonne; yet he craued of the prince to bee well vsed, offering for his ransome 100000 Hungarian duckats. Whilest the prince yet thus lay at TERGOVISTA, came thither 4000 Turks, whom Sinan had before his departure thence sent forth to spoyle the countrey and to seeke after prey, thinking to haue there found him still: who now falling into the hands of the Christians, were there all slaine, and 60000 head of cattell recouered, which these Turkes had taken H out of VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA, and should by Sinans appointment haue been sent to CONSTANTINOPLE.The [...]ruitfulnesse of Valachia and Moldau [...]a. For VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA doe so abound with corne and cattell, that they plentifully serue the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE not onely with come and flesh, but also yearely send at the least 150 ships thither by the black sea, laded with other kind of victuals. Of which so great commodities the Turkes were now depriued by the reuolt of the aforesaid countries.

The prince leauing a strong garrison in TERGOVISTA, set forward with his armie towards BVCARESTA, hoping there to haue found Sinan. But he hearing of the losse of TERGOVISTA, and thinking himselfe in no good safetie at BVCARESTA, fled thence also to ZORZA. The prince comming to BVCARESTA,Bucaresta taken by the prince. found it abandoned by the Turks, and so tooke it without resistance,I yet had therein certaine field pieces, with good store of shot and pouder left there by Sinan. Hauing there stayed a while for the manning of the place, he set forwards againe towards ZORZA, and that with such speed, that he ouertooke great numbers of the Turks, whom he put all to the sword: so that the fields betwixt BVCARESTA and ZORZA, were in many places couered with the dead bodies of the Turkes. Neuerthelesse, he could not make so great hast, marching still in good order, but that the fearefull Bassa disorderly hasting, was about some six houres or more before come to the bridge he had with great charge made ouer the riuer of Danubius, the forme whereof you may here see.

The picture of the Bridge made ouer Danubius by Sinan Bassa, Anno 1595.

[Page] A Ouer the hithermost part of which bridge (being in length about a mile) was Sinan with the greatest part of his armie (before the comming of the prince) got ouer into an island in the middest of the riuer,Sinan fli [...] ouer Danubi [...]. wherein he had at his comming ouer, encamped: but doubting now there to stay, with all the speed he could got him ouer the other part of the bridge also vnto the farther side of the riuer, with so many of his men as in so short time possibly could. Where to stay the farther pursuit of the prince, he brake the bridge on that side, and set fire vpon it: and thereby cut off also many of his owne men that were not as yet come ouer. Whom the prince enclosing, forced many of them into the riuer, where they perished: the rest flying into the island▪ were by the Christians fiercely pursuing of them, either there slaine, or seeking by the other part of the bridge to haue got ouer (whereof the farther end before broken downe by Sinan, and B the hither end toward the island now cut off by the Christians) were togither with the bridge carried away by the violence of the riuer, and so altogither perished. Othersome of the Christians in the meane time tooke the bridge that leadeth vnto the castle of ZORZA, which standeth compassed about with an arme of Danubius, and being not verie great, was kept by a garrison of seuen hundred select souldiors. Vnto which castle the prince presently laid siege (the resolute souldiors being not by any meanes to be persuaded to yeeld it vp, but to hold it out euen vnto the last man) and after he had sore battered it, by plaine force tooke it, and put to the sword all the garrison souldiors he could lay hands vpon. About an hundred of these Turkes seeing they must needs fall into the power of their enemies, desperatly leapt from the top of the castle into the riuer▪ where not one of them escaped, being all either drowned or slaine with small shot. In C the winning of this castle, two hundred and fiftie of the Christians were lost, and many wounded: but of the Turkes and Tartars, betwixt the eighteenth and the last of October perished aboue six and twentie thousand. In this castle were taken thirtie nine great pieces, with such store of armour and other warlike prouision, as might haue serued for an whole kingdome: and foure thousand Christians beside women and children, whom Sinan had taken out of VALACHIA, restored to their former libertie. With whom the prince after hee had set all things in order,The Prince returneth with victorie to Alba Iulia. returned in great triumph to TERGOVISTA, and so afterwards to his pallace at ALBA IVLIA, where, as also at CLAVDIOPOLIS and other cities through his dominions, he caused publike prayers with thankesgiuing to almightie God, to be deuoutly made for so great a victorie: as did also Michael the Vayuod in VALACHIA, who in all these great warres against the D Turkes was nothing inferiour vnto the Transyluanian himselfe. A greater losse than this the Turkish emperour receiued not at land in many yeares before, being by this so happie and victorious a prince, and the reuolt of these three countries, depriued of so much territorie, as they had not from the Christians of long time gained. It was by some of them of the better sort of the Turks that were taken,The opinion Sinan Bassa had of the Transyluanian. reported, that Sinan Bassa should oftentimes say, That this young Transyluanian prince had bereft him of all the honour and renowme he had with great trauell got in the course of his long life: and that although he had escaped his hands, yet that he feared he would be the cause for him in these his great yeares, euen in the winding vp of all, to loose his life togither with his goods and honour. Now was the Transyluanian princes name (after the ouerthrow of this great Bassa) become dreadfull vnto the Turkes, and also famous through E all Christendome: Which as it hath filled the eares of many with admiration, so happily may the liuely representation of his feature by cunning hand set forth, feed the longing eies of some with delight, and serue in better stead than the rude description of his person.

[Page]

SIGISMVND, Prince of Transyluania, Valachia, and Moldauia.

Miles er as Christi, nulli pietate secundus

Et solus patriae gloria magna tuae

Inclita si virtus, quae te super aethera vexit:

Tàm stabili cursu continuata foret.

R. Knoll.

Of Christ thou wast a souldior true, inferiour vnto none:

Thy countries joy and glorie great, vnto the world well knowne.

If worthie vertue, that thee raisd aboue the starrie skie,

With stedfast pace had run the race so well begun by thee.

Whilest this worthie Prince was thus busied in this expedition against Sinan, he caused the castle of IENNA (standing vpon the hie way betweene TEMESVVAR and GIVLA) to be besieged by certaine of his captaines appointed to that seruice: in which castle lay one of the Turks Sanzackes with a garrison of seuen hundred Turkes,Ienna yeelded to the Transyluanians. who much troubled such as passed that way. They now brought to some extremitie, and terrified with the successe of the prince, offered to giue vp the castle, so that as souldiors with their scimitars by their sides they might in safetie be M brought to PANODA. Which their offer being accepted of, and they now vpon their way, the Hungarian light horsemen that should haue conducted them (enformed that these Turkes now vnder their charge, had secret intelligence with the Turkes in garrison at GIVLA and TEMESVVAR, that they should lie in ambush for them ne [...]e PANODA, and so cut them off by the way) [Page] A set vpon these Turkes whom they should haue conducted, and cut the throats of foure hundred of them: and yet still holding on their way, met with these Turkes that lay in ambush for them, whom they after a sharpe skirmish ouerthrew, and hauing slaine a great many of them, put the rest to flight. By the taking of IENNA the waies thereabout were quieted, especially for them of WARADEN. The Sanzacke of IENNA reported, that Mahomet had a little before sent word vnto his Bassaes and Sanzackes in HVNGARIE, that such castles and townes as they thought were not to be defended against the Christians, they should betimes as occasion serued yeeld them vp, or forsake them, so to spare the needlesse losse of his good souldiors: of whom he had with so many townes and strong holds lost no small number this yeare in HVNGARIE. IENNA thus taken, diuers of the richer sort in TEMESVVAR fearing to be euen presently besieged, sent B their wiues and children with their treasure and such other things as they made most reckoning of, out of the citie in wagons to be conuaied vnto places of more safetie: of which wagons, seuentie were by the Christians (lying thereabout in garrison) intercepted, and in them an exceeding rich bootie.

Mahomet hauing this yeare fully purposed the vtter ruine of the Transyluanian prince,Mahomet calleth in the Tartars [...]o inuade Moldauia. and the reducing of the countries of TRANSYLVANIA, MOLDAVIA, and VALACHIA, vnto his obeisance by the great Bassa Sinan: had for the better effecting therof, before prouided that the Crim Tartar (readie still at his call) should with his own people (wherof he hath great store) and certaine bands of the Turkes, at the same time inuade MOLDAVIA; and possessing himselfe of his countrey, to place one Sidriake Vayuod in stead of Stephen placed by the prince, and to people the C countrey with his Tartars in reward of his good seruice (as he said) but indeed to haue them alwaies neere at hand to doe his commaunds in HVNGARIE, POLONIA, TRANSYLVANIA, or the other countries of the Christians thereunto adjoyning. The Tartar according to his appointment came with seuentie thousand Tartars, accompanied with their wiues and children, to haue planted themselues in the countrey, at the verie same time that Sinan came to TERGOVISTA: but being come vpon the frontiers of MOLDAVIA, to haue put in execution what he was by Mahomet commaunded, he found there Zamoschie the great Chancelor of POLONIA, readie with a strong armie to oppose himselfe against him, and to stay his farther passage. Wherupon some light skirmishes passed betweene the Tartars and Polonians: where the Tartars were still put to the worse, with the losse of three thousand of their men. The Tartar Cham with Sidriake D the Vayuod appointed by the Turke, finding themselues, though in number moe, yet in strength inferiour vnto the Polonian, and that without his good leaue they could not passe; sent vnto the Chancelor to excuse that was alreadie past, as done without their consent by the insolencie of their souldiors, and to tell him, That their comming was not to fight with him, as hauing expresse commaundement from the great Sultan Mahomet, in no case to disturbe the league betwixt him and the Polonians; but quietly to passe by their frontiers into MOLDAVIA, and there to place Sidriake Vayuod his tributarie in stead of Stephen that now vsurped the place, by the appointment of the Transyluanian: which that they might doe, they craued his leaue as friends to passe. Whereunto the Chancelor answered, That he was come thither by the commaundement of the king, to defend those countries from the inuasion of such as had in them no right: and E that there had of long time been an auntient league betwixt the Polonian kings and the Turkish emperours, vpon certaine conditions which he would for his part keepe inuiolat, with the fauor of the Turkish emperour; yet so, as that the kingdome of POLONIA tooke no harme thereby, and that they might quietly liue by him as their good neighbour: which league he protested not to haue been by him, but by them infringed: as for to giue them passage, he said he could not. Messengers passing thus too and fro, and some parley had, at last certaine articles were agreed vpon, to the reasonable contentment both of the Tartar and of the Chancelor (though not of Sidriake, disappointed thereby of his Vayuodship) as also of the Turkish Sultan, whose pleasure they both seemed to haue in speciall regard: Hereupon the Tartar with his multitude presently returned, leauing the Chancelor to his owne designes. Now was it commonly thought, that the F Chancelor had done the Transyluanian prince great seruice by keeping out of the Tartars, and much honour was by many that saw least spoke of him therefore: But farre was it from his thought to doe the Transyluanian therin any such good, at whose glorie he enuied, and had with the Cardinall and his brother, the princes vncles (but most deadly enemies) secretly conspired so much as in them was, his vtter ruine and ouerthrow: wishing those countries rather in the subjection [Page] of the Turke, than to see them so honourably at libertie, gouerned by the prince: such is G the force of malitious enuie, the inseperable companion of worthie vertue. Which the Chancelour (otherwise a man of great fame and honour) began now openly to poure forth: for presently after the departure of the Tartars, he with all his power passing ouer the riuer Nijeste [...] or Tyros into MOLDAVIA, euen at such time as the prince was going against Sinan at TERGOVISTA, first seized vpon the castle of Chotijm, which he furnished with his owne souldiors and from thence marching to ZOZONA, the metropoliticall citie of that prouince, & seat of the Vayuod▪ had it yielded vnto him: and so proceeding on, had in short time almost the whole countrey deliuered vnto him; Stephen the Vayuod placed by the prince, flying from place to place before him from whom he least feared any such thing, hauing made account of no other enemies but of the Turks and Tartars. Stephen the Vayuod thus driuen out, and the Chancelour possessed of the H countrey, he presently placed one Hieremias Vayuod in stead of Stephen, to hold that honour of the Polonian king as his soueraigne. Yet neuerthelesse, to satisfie the Turke, he sent a messenger to Sinan Bassa, then but newly come to TERGOVISTA, requesting him not to take it in euill part that he had entred into MOLDAVIA, and there placed a new Vayuod, but in the name of the great Sultan Mahomet, to confirme this his doing, and the Vayuod by him placed; promising the countrey of MOLDAVIA to remaine triburarie still vnto the Sultan, and that this new Vayuod should forthwith pay vnto him what tribute was behind, and from thenceforth a farre greater tribute yearely than had the countrey of MOLDAVIA before. Whereunto the hautie Bassa (then fearing nothing lesse than that which immediatly after happened, to be driuen out of those countries by the prince) proudly answered, That it was not the great Sultan mind, that the Polonians I should at all inuade MOLDAVIA: for that beside hee could without their helpe reduce those countries to his obedience, he had giuen that countrey vnto the Tartar, in reward of his good seruice alreadie done in HVNGARIE and other places; whose subjects the Tartars would ere long be readie with their wiues and children to take possession thereof. Neuerthelesse the Chancelor proceeded to defend the new Vayuod by him placed: which was no great matter for him to do, Sinan the Turks champion (as is before declared) being presently after ouerthrowne, and driuen quite out of those countries by the prince. Who if he had not then gained the victory, the Chancelour had not now holden MOLDAVIA, but the Turke; whose quarrell he seemed rather to fauour,The reasons pretended by the Chancelour for the inuasion of Moldauia. than the princes. The Chancelour to colour this his inuasion, pretended, That the countrey of MOLDAVIA did of auntient right belong vnto the kingdome of POLONIA: which the K Transyluanians tooke to be no other but meere and open wrong. This supposed title, such as it was, the Chancelor had so fashioned out vnto the king and the states of that kingdome, that they referred it to his discretion to inuade the countrey, and remoouing the Vayuod placed by the prince, to place another in his stead: and the rather to persuade them, laboured by many forced reasons to shew the power of the Transyluanian prince to be so far inferiour vnto the Turks, that it was to be feared he should at length be thrust out of all his dominions, and so they together with MOLDAVIA become subject to the Turke. Which if it should so come to passe, then should the Polonians haue an vntrustie and troublesome neighbour. And that therefore it were better that MOLDAVIA were possessed by them that were better able to defend it than was he, that so the Turke might be kept farther off from POLONIA. Which occasion he said was not L longer to be delaied, but now betime to be laid hold vpon: persuading himselfe to find such grace and fauor with the Turkish emperor, as that he should be therewith right well contented: which was like ynough for a time to be, for that the Transyluanian should thereby be much weakened. By these and such like reasons, framed to serue his owne turne, the Chancelour so preuailed with the king and the states of the kingdome, that he receiued from them (as I said) full authoritie to proceed in the matter,The late chosen Vayuod openeth thre [...] waies vnto the Turkes and Tartars into Transyluania. as he did, and as is before declared, to the great trouble of the prince, and benefit of the Turke: the late chosen Vayuod not long after opening a way in three places for the Tartars into TRANSYLVANIA, one by the countrey of SICVLI, another by the way that leadeth to ALBA IVLIA, and the third by VALACHIA.

The Transyluanian prince seeing the countrey of MOLDAVIA by the practise of the Chancellour M thus taken from him, and disseuered from the other vnited prouinces, to the great weakening of his state, after the flight of Sinan sent certaine companies both of horse and foot to Stephen the late Vayuod, but now driuen out by the Polonians, to prooue if happily he could by that meanes driue out the Polonians againe, and recouer his former dignitie. With this aid sent [Page] A from the prince and others that fauoured his quarrell, he joyned a bloudie battell with the Polonians: but being therein by them ouercome and taken, and for a space kept (as the prince feared, to haue beene deliuered vnto the Turke) he was by them (as is reported) cruelly afterwards put to death.

This foule dealing of the Polonian in MOLDAVIA much grieued many good Christians, as tending to the generall hurt of the Christian commonweale. For which cause the Emperour by his embassadours sent for that purpose vnto the Polonian king, sought to persuade him to desist from such inuasion of the Transyluanian prince by his Chancellour, as nothing standing with his honour; and that some good reconciliation might be made betweene the prince and the Cardinall Bator and his brother, the princes vncles, authors of all these troubles. To which purpose also B the Pope sent a messenger with like instructions and letters vnto the king, persuading him, not so to prosecute his warres against the prince, but to turne his thoughts vnto a more peaceable and Christianlike course, especially with him with whom he was so neere linked in mariage. To the like effect he writ also vnto the Cardinall Bator, and after many graue admonitions peremptorily cited him to ROME. But for as much as the proceedings of the Polonian against the prince are more plainely to be gathered by the Popes letters vnto the king, it shall not I hope be mistaken, if I here set them downe thus as I find them by others reported.

Pope Clement the eight to our best beloued sonne in Christ,

The Popes letters vnto the king of Polonia, to dissuade him from inuading the prince.

Sigismund, by the grace of God king of POLONIA, with the benediction Apostolicall sendeth greeting. By how much greater affection C of fatherly loue we embrace your maiestie in the Lord, so much the more feruently we wish all your actions to be adorned with the greatest commendation of true godlinesse and wisedome, both before God and men: Whereof it proceedeth, that we are so much the more vehemently and grieuously moued, if we heare any such thing of you, as may seeme not agreeable to your vertue and approued zeale toward the Catholike religion, or tending to the obscuring of the glorie of your name, as is now brought vnto vs concerning the affaires of MOLDAVIA; whereof not without great griefe we write vnto you. And to rehearse things a little before past: With what earnestnesse and feruencie dealt I with you, that for Gods cause, and the defence of the health and libertie of the Christian commonweale against the tyrannie of the Turkes, you would combine your selfe with our most dearely beloued sonne Rodolph the Emperour, and diuers other Christian princes? and that you should not let slip so notable D an occasion, so worthily to deserue of God, of the Catholike faith, and of the Christian commonweale in generall? And albeit we then thought, as well for many your owne priuat respects, as also of your kingdomes, That you were to be borne withall and excused if you did not now openly descend into this confederation of the Christian princes against the most mortall and common enemie, neither apertly ioyne your forces or giue aid for the repressing of his insolencie; yet we alwayes assured our selues, that no let should in any case proceed from you, whereby either the Emperour or the other Christian princes should be the rather hindered, iustly to prosecute their iniuries, or to cast off from their necks the heauie yoke of the most cruell tyrant: whose desire of soueraignetie is not comprised within the compasse of any bounds. But that you should in fauour of the Turkes impugne the Catholike princes and defendors of the Christian faith, and so ioyne hands with the enemies of the Crosse of Christ, as that by E your helpe their force and furie should be encreased, and ours not only weakened, but in the very course of victorie hindered, and cast into most grieuous perils; this we haue not onely not thought of you, but not so much as once suspected: yea and can now scarce be persuaded to beleeue those things to bee done by you, which are reported vnto vs as most true and vndoubted. For the report goeth, That you hauing intelligence with the Turkes and Tartars, haue with them conspired, and namely against our welbeloued sonne Sigismund, prince of TRANSYLVANIA, who with inuincible courage fighteth the battels of the Lord: and least he should be able to abate the force and attempts of the most proud enemie (which by the singular mercie of God he hath hitherto aboue his owne power performed) but rather be enforced much to feare his owne estate, a new Vayuod and Prince as it were by a triumuirat authoritie and compact to be placed in MOLDAVIA, and him by the Turkes, you, and the Tartars F together, to be made gouernour of that countrey. Which vnto vs seemed so new and so strange, and contrarie to the good opinion we had alwayes conceiued of you, yea and so vnbeseeming your zeale and wisedome, that for griefe and admiration I had almost cried out with the Prophet, You heauens be amased at this, & you gates thereof be you exceedingly heauie. For what could be suspected or imagined farther from the expectation of vs and all good men, or more incredible, than that Sigismund [Page] the most religious king of POLONIA and SWEDEN, who had alwaies professed himselfe a most G earnest defendor of the Catholike religion, who was readie euen with his owne bloud to redeeme the victorie of the Christians, and glorie of the Crosse, against the most wicked enemies of the same, to be vpon the sudden become so vnlike vnto himselfe? and (so much as in him was) to cut off the hope and happie successe of that religious warre, and to doe harme to a Christian and Catholike prince, not to refuse to ioyne in league and friendship, euen with the most barbarous nations and the Tartars, the perpetuall enemies of himselfe, and of the kingdome of POLONIA. For which causes our mind is tormented with such bitternesse of griefe, that we could not but by speedie messenger write vnto you concerning this matter, that hereby you might the sooner see the greatnesse of our griefe: and wee also without delay might signifie vnto you, what our fatherly loue towards you requesteth in so important a matter. For happely wee will send one euen of purpose to you concerning this cause, the care whereof H grieueth vs more than can well be expressed. Wherefore most dearely beloued sonne, we exhort you, and in the most effectuall manner we can, aduise you, and beseech you in the Lord more attentiuely to consider what great displeasure both of God and man this your action and resolution may incurre, what a staine it may bring vnto your crowne and dignitie. For beleeue vs, that are to you in stead of a father in Christ, who loue you not fainedly, but faithfully, and in deed; who wish for your glorie in this world, and your eternall felicitie in the world to come: beleeue vs (I say) this doth much blemish your fame with all Christian kings and princes; all men take it in euill part, and detest it as a thing monstrous, that it should by your meanes be wrought, that the Christian affaires should not prosper, that an heroicall prince, who hath vowed himselfe for Christ and his countrey, should not haue prosperous successe in this so religious and necessarie a war against the Infidels, Turkes, and Tartars, no lesse yours, or I peraduenture also more yours, and other Christian princes enemies, than his. But what do we say, you to hinder the proceedings of the Transyluanian prince, this were happely but a small matter: nay verely, by this means not only a Christian and Catholike prince, and valiant champion of the Christian faith (a vertue both admirable and amiable in the very enemie) but your owne brother in law, bound vnto you with so many bonds of affinitie, whose children shall be as it were your childrens brethren, is by this meanes brought into great danger, and exposed vnto the furie of the most mercilesse Turks. What do you then my most dearely beloued sonne? Beware that all men, both now liuing, and hereafter to come, condemne you not of the greatest inhumanitie: But beware yet more, that you seeme not ingratefull not onely to your owne nigh kinsman, but to God himselfe, who hath bountifully blessed you with two great kingdomes, and so many good things: and that you prouoke not him to wrath against your selfe,K that reiecteth and confoundeth all euill and wicked deuices: and that this mischiefe that you haue brought vpon your brother, by the iust iudgement of God redound not to the greatest destruction of you and your kingdome, which he in mercie forbid. Doe you thinke, that the Transyluanian being ouercome, you shall in safetie liue from the trecherie of the Turke? Do you not know him to be a faithlesse man, which measureth all things by his owne profit, which keepeth faith with none, but as standeth with his owne commoditie, who with an vnsatiable desire gapeth after euery kingdome, nay thirsteth after the destruction of all Christendome? Thinke also my sonne what wrong you shall doe vnto the Emperour your cousin, out of whose imperiall bloud you haue begotten sonnes and heires, and by the grace of God shall moe, but also our dignitie, and the dignitie of this Apostolicall seat, which you haue alwaies so deuoutly honoured, is thereby hurt, and your most deare mother (which we know you of L all other least would) the Romane Church is offended, which for the maintenance of this sacred warre is at great and wonderfull charges: and our forces, which by you ought to haue beene relieued and encreased, being in so vnfit a time by these stirres in MOLDAVIA disseuered and deminished, and the enemies on the contrarie part encreased and strengthened, into what danger and distresse may both our armie of the Church and the Emperours fall? And withall, how greatly all the manner and managing of this whole warre is thereby confounded, there is no man that seeth not. Yea and this moreouer, which no little concerneth the dignitie of vs and of this holy See, we haue vndertaken and certainely promised to our most dearly beloued sonnes Rodolph and Sigismund, that your royall maiestie should not in any thing hinder or hurt their affaires: neither did we hereof assure them vpon a light occasion, but moued with great reason, not onely for that we deseruedly ought so to promise of you in so iust M a cause, but also for that it was so vnto vs plainely and expressely written by the reuerend father, the Bishop of S. Seuerus, our Apostolicall Nuntio with you, whom we know to be both vnto vs faithfull, and to you dutifull: neither can we by any meanes doubt thereof, because he hath writ vnto vs concerning so weightie a matter, that he receiued it euen from your owne mouth. Which things so standing, [Page] A seeing you of your selfe see the manifold absurdities of this fact on euerie side, not to speake of the haynousnesse thereof: we request you againe, yea and oftentimes, forthwith to apply the necessarie remedies to these hurts. The Transyluanian prince your brother in law, deuoted to your selfe, and desirous of your fauour, either protect with your defence, or at leastwise hurt him not: yea hurt not the whole state of the Christian common-weale, and relieue not by any meanes the quarrell of the enemies of Christ. If you haue any controuersie with the prince Sigismund, or desire of him any thing, referre it vnto vs, that is to say, vnto your most louing father: you know your affaires to be of vs fauoured, and we hope by the power of God that it may easily come to passe that some conuenient meanes may be found whereby peace and quietnesse may be confirmed betwixt you, and good vnitie grow betwixt you two brethren our sons, and so all the root of bitternesse and displeasure to be vtterly pluckt out of your B minds. This haue I writ vnto you my sonne, frankly and from a sincere heart, though truely much grieued, because we loue you, and are much carefull of your honour and good: Shew you againe in deed that you take it so, as written from your father; and that you altogither preferre our fatherly and wholsome exhortations before the sinister persuasions of others. Farther concerning these matters, you shall vnderstand by the same bishop our Nunti [...] now with you, to whom you may (as you haue done) giue credit in all things as to our selfe.

These letters dated from ROME the 8 day of Nouember, were deliuered to the king in December, with others to the Cardinall and Chancelor, whom he Pope sharply reproued as the authors and contriuers of all these mischiefes.

C The Tartar Cham before stirred vp by the Turkish emperour Mahomet, for the inuasion of MOLDAVIA (as is alreadie before declared) about this time sent his embassadour also vnto the Polonian king, for the confirmation of such articles as he had before agreed vpon with the Chancelor: which because they manifestly declare the ground and purpose of his intended expedition into MOLDAVIA, with the foule collusion of the Chancelor with the Turks and Tartars against the Transyluanian prince, I thought it not amisse or from our purpose (for the more manifestation of that which is alreadie said) here to set them downe, as they are translated out of the Tartar language.

Cham Kazikiery vnto the king of POLONIA and SVVEDEN our brother,

The coppie of the letters of the Tartar vnto the king of Polonia.

one of the great lords D among the Christians, humbly boweth his head. First we signifie vnto you, that Aaron Palatine of MOLDAVIA was a forsworne traitour; who hauing gathered a power of the Valachians, and ioyning vnto him the Polonian Cossackes, spoiled the territories of the great Sultan. But afterward dissention arising among them, the Hungarian Cossackes liuing in VALACHIA, sent Aaron in bonds vnto the king of VIENNA: after him followed another traitour called Rozwan, who also hauing raised certaine companies of souldiors, began in like manner to forrage the countries of the Turkish emperor thereabout: which as soone as he had knowledge of, he writ vnto me his brother, That I should with all possible speed go into VALACHIA to chastice these rebels, to burne their houses and towns; and hauing with the edge of the sword slaine their men, to carrie away with me their wiues and children into captiuitie. Hauing this in charge, I the great Cham of the great territorie of the great Horde Karyktery, E with my brother Letikerry Galga, and other my brethren and counsellors, warlike and valiant captaines and Murzis; mounting my horse, came with mine armie into VALACHIA vnto the riuer Prut where it meeteth with another riuer called Cocoza: here we chanced vpon a faithfull seruitour of yours, our brother the Chancelor, who was also come a little before vs into VALACHIA, with whom after some light contention when we began to be more tractable, he declaeed vnto vs, that he was of purpose come into VALACHIA to place there a new Vayuod, which (as he said) of antient right belonged vnto the Polonians; without any wrong or preiudice therein to be done to the couenants and league they had with the emperour of the Turkes; and farther that his desire was, that one Hieremias whom he had appointed Vayuod, might haue the commaund of that prouince; and that the auntient amitie, such as was in the time of Sultan Solyman and Cham Dawlethgerd, might be faithfully kept. F Which when I had for my part faithfully sworne to doe, and he likewise had caused the same to be done by such of his as he had therefore sent vnto me, we decreed togither, that the Cossackes on the farther side of Nijester (disordered and rebellious men) should be vtterly rooted out, that they should not hereafter doe any harme in the territories of the great Sultan: and that the presents vsually sent vnto vs of long, euen since the time of Sultan Solyman, should no more be detained, nor any harmes be [Page] hereafter done in any part of our dominions. And therefore when the Chancellor had promised vnto G vs, that hee would take order that these Cossackes should be vtterly destroied, I also consented, that according to the pleasure of the royall maiestie of you my brother, Hieremias should hold the Vay [...]odship of VALACHIA: which I forthwith by letters signified vnto the Turkish emperour. Now if it be so, that your maiestie shall giue your consent vnto those things which we haue here agreed vpon with your Chancellor, you shall then for euer find brotherly friendship with me, my brother and all other our captaines and Murzis: but if you shall not destroy these Cossackes, you shall not then performe the oath and couenants made. These things we haue commaunded to be declared vnto you by our embassadour our brother Gianach Metagra, whom we request your maiestie courteously to entertaine, and by him to send the presents vnto vs: for we will not now this yeare send any other. Giuen at at the riuer Prut in the yeare of Mahomet 1004. H

The Presents of [...]ered by the Tartar embassadour to the king of Polonia.After the Tartar embassadour had deliuered these letters vnto the king, with a speech in effect to the same purpose, he in the name of the Cham gaue vnto him an horse and an arrow for a present: and afterward being brought to a lodging appointed for him, was commaunded there to expect his answere. At length his dispatch was giuen him in letters sealed vp, which he tooke much against his will, requesting the king to send an embassadour vnto the Cham: and farther by word of mouth, to tell him what to answere vnto his lord. But other answere could he get none, than was alreadie deliuered him in writing: and so rewarded with a gowne furred with Sables, was dismissed without the present requested by the Cham, or any embassadour to accompanie him.I

Thus the Transyluanian prince, on the one side mightily impugned by the Turke, and on the other by the setting on of the Turke readie to haue been no lesse endangered by the inuasion of the Tartar, receiued greater harme from the Polonians being Christians than from both those great Mahometane princes: The Polonian in some sort performing for the Turke, what hee had plotted to haue been done by the Tartar: and so by the taking away of MOLDAVIA from the prince, not onely weakened his strength, but also opened a way for the barbarous enemies into his countrey. Howbeit much it is that the Polonians alleadge for the excuse of themselues, and the defence of that which was by the great Chancelor then done in MOLDAVIA: which for that it cannot be better told than by the great Chancelor himselfe, let vs heare how he by his letters answereth the matter, euen vnto Clement the Pope himselfe that now is.K

Iohn Zamoschie vnto Clement the Eight the great Bishop.

Zamoschie the great Chancelor his letters vnto Clement the Pope that no [...] is.Most holy and blessed father in Christ, and most gratious lord, after the kissing of your most blessed feet, and my most humble commendations; I haue by your Holinesse lettters directed both vnto the kings maiestie and my selfe, vnderstood as well his royall maiestie and my most gratious lord and master, as also my selfe as his seruant to be both accused vnto your Holinesse: as if by those things by vs done in MOLDAVIA, the endeuours of the Christians had been hindered, and the power of the enemie confirmed. Whereof I am not with many words to purge my selfe vnto your Holinesse, forasmuch L as I assure my selfe your Holinesse to haue alreadie fully vnderstood both what the things were that were done in MOLDAVIA, and how they were done: partly by the kings maiesties letters, and partly by his principall secretarie, for that cause especially sent vnto your Holinesse. Yet doubt I not to request this one thing of your Holinesse, that if it hath knowne me for a man, I will not say of any capacitie or wit, but euen of the least experience in the world, or of any religion at all; so to persuade it selfe of me, nothing to haue been done, especially in this matter, either rashly, or to the hinderance of the Christian common-weale. I will not now repeat what mine opinion was concerning the league and confederation to be made with the rest of the Christian princes, for the combining of their forces against the common enemie, especially his sacred maiesties: as also what mine owne labour and endeuour was in the last assembly of the States in the high court of parliament. Which thing after it was M euen by them whom it most concerned, either delaied or neglected, or vtterly cast aside: and yet his maiestie had still a great desire to doe the Christian common-weale some great good, I also to the vttermost of my power laboured to that end; that by the common decree of the kingdome, an expedition might be made into TARTARIA, not so much in reuenge of the iniuries done by that enemie in these [Page] A late yeares past, as so in the meane time to turne him from the necks of the Christians, as that he should not ioyne his forces with the Turks: or if it so pleased God to blesse those our endeuors, vtterly at length to root out that so great a mischiefe. But how it came to passe that this expedition, so much by the king desired (yet scarcely begun or taken in hand) tooke not effect, it is not needfull for me to declare, for that I suppose your Holinesse hath by others, especially your Nuntio, vnderstood the same, In the mean time, by others and often messengers newes was brought, That Sinan Bassa with a great armie was alreadie come ouer Danubius; and I by letters from the Vayuod of the further VALACHIA was aduertised, now that he not able to encounter him, had forsaken that prouince; which at the first impression taken and almost vtterly wasted by Sinan, he was now come fast vpon TRANSYLVANIA: and in MOLDAVIA the Tartar was still expected, insomuch that Roswan (who hauing taken prisoner Aaron the Palatine B whom he serued, in his house, and so himselfe inuaded the Palatina [...]) began now also to quake for feare, and to craue helpe of me, or rather to seeke how he might flie away (as not long after he did) neither hauing any great strength about him, or expecting any greater from the people of that countrey: for why that prouince was brought so low by the miseries of the former yeares, but especially by such as had euill gouerned the same, that at such time as I entred into MOLDAVIA, I assure your Holinesse there were not in it of housholders aboue 15000, and those also for the most part poore countrey people of the basest sort, in whom there could neither be any great helpe, neither if they had bin able to haue done any thing, durst Roswan haue trusted himselfe with them, vpon whom he had with all kind of crueltie tyranised. Chotijm a castle in the very confines of this kingdome, was kept with no greater garison than 200 Hungarians, who perceiuing themselues neither of sufficient strength to hold the place, nor to withstand the C enemie, they also by and by followed after Roswan. All the rest of the prouince was not only vnarmed, but altogether poore & naked, without any certain gouernment, without counsell, without strength, and without any defence at all, two castles only excepted▪ which standing vpon the confines of POLONIA, might haue serued better for the enemy, out of them to haue infested vs, than for the defence of MOLDAVIA against them: so that had the enemie once set foot into that prouince, neither could it without a great power haue bin recouered, neither being recouered, could easily haue bin defended against so puissant an enemy: and that which worse was, was not it selfe alone to haue bin consumed with that fire, but like ynough to haue caried away with it PODOLIA also, bordering vpon it, with a great part of RVSCIA. Wherefore in this state of things, when as both that prouince was in greatest danger to haue bin lost, & so many enemies houered not more ouer the heads of all Christendome than ouer this kingdome, D what was of vs to be done? I know to whom I speake these things, euen vnto him, not only whose diuine wisdome but singular loue also towards my natiue countrey is to me most knowne. Verely I entred into MOLDAVIA with no great armie, yet such an one as happily (as in like case it often chanceth) fame had made amongst the enemies a very great one: so that Sinan fearing if he should thrust himselfe with his army into the straits whereby he was to breake into TRANSYLVANIA, to be shut in by our armie, stayed his iourny: and the Tartar the more earnestly he was called vpon by Sinan (by reason of the fame of this our armie) resolued to make himselfe so much the stronger. So that whilst he assembleth the Nogaian Tartars and others further off, and so from all parts raiseth the greatest power he could, the matter was delaied almost vnto the end of Nouember: at which time he with a most huge armie, accompanied with Sendziak Iehiuense, and a great power of the Turkes raised out of their prouinces thereby, E came directly vpon me in the fields of COROCE. Sendziak the Tartar Cham his sisters sonne, now called himselfe the Bassa of MOLDAVIA, as did the Tartars eldest sonne name himselfe prince of another part of that prouince also: for so that countrey was to haue beene deuided betwixt them, that that part which was next vnto the Tartars dominions should be allotted vnto the Tartar, and the other part confining vpon this kingdome, to be gouerned by Sendziak, as Bassa thereof, and so to make it the seat of a perpetuall war, from whence PODOLIA, RVSCIA, and the lesser POLONIA might be with continuall incursions wasted euen before our faces; concerning which matter they now dispersed their letters, wherein they published the power and authoritie giuen them from the grand signior, exhorting the people of that country to receiue the same. A whole day we fought with this multitude, our men alwaies by the goodnesse of God hauing not onely the vpper hand, but without any notable losse also; F yet not without great slaughter of theirs: and would to God I had had such strength, as that not onely the conditions of peace, but euen the enemies themselues might haue beene in my power. But when we were oftentimes come to parle (they still requiring the same) and so at length vnto conditions of peace; if such were giuen them, as whereby this onely kingdome had without the wrong of any other beene deliuered from so great and sudden a danger, what reasonable man could find fault [Page] therewith, if we should haue preferred the health and welfare of our country (whereunto all good men G owe all they haue) before other mens profits? But now these things were so done, as that it was no lesse prouided for the good of the neighbour Christians, yea and happily not the least for theirs, who for the same slander this kingdome vnto your Holinesse: the furie of Sinan Bassa was by this meanes [...]pressed, who whilest he feared to be shut vpon the straits by our armie now come into MOLDAVIA, and expected the Tartars comming spent almost all the rest of the Summer idely and without any thing doing. The Tartar himselfe was not onely turned from the bowels of Christendome, whereinto hee had purposed (as the yeare before) to haue entered, we hauing with our owne breasts receiued his force and furie: but being brought vnto conditions, was expressely enioyned in a most short prefined time, and without any more harme doing to returne againe into his country by the selfesame way he came, and by no other: whereby it is come to passe, that vntill this day Christendome hath not this yeare yet felt the H Tartars weapons. But vnto TRANSYLVANIA and HVNGARIE, what a space and power was giuen for them to gather their strength and forces together, and out of the same places to oppose them against the enemie, when as our armie kept them safe at their backes, and eased not onely MOLDAVIA, but VALACHIA and TRANSYLVANIA also of that care? Whereas if this cause of delay had not been obiected vnto the Turks first, and after vnto the Tartars; not to say anything of the Turkes, the Tartars at the very selfesame time that the T [...]syluanian armie was gone into VALACHIA against Sinan, might haue broken into TRANSYLVANIA before it could haue returned home, or els marching directly towards that armie, might haue met with it out of TRANSYLVANIA. As for MOLDAVIA, which together with the memorie of the Christian name, yet left in it, had vtterly perished, was most manifestly preserued by the comming of our armie. Which what end it would haue I had, if the enemie might at his pleasure haue raged as he did in the farther VALACHIA, those most bitter remembrances in it yet at this day smoking, doe well declare: out of which it is well known moe thousands of Christian captiues to haue beene carried away into most wofull captiuitie, than almost out of any other prouince in all the time of these miserable warres. Which although it bee thus, yet boast we not thereof, neither send we any triumphant letters vnto your Holinesse, nor brag we of our good seruice done for the Christian commonweale, contenting our selues with the conscience of the thing it selfe. In the meane time we are accused vnto your Holinesse: but for what cause? If any man complaine for the taking of MOLDAVIA, I will not say it was by them before willingly forsaken, whilest I was yet in the frontiers thereof; but that this kingdome hath a most auntient right vnto it, and such a right, as that when our kings being busied in their warres against the Muscouite, the Cruciat Teuron [...]o K brethren, or others; some others also troubling the state thereof, it for a time became a prey vnto the Turkish tyrants; yet in all the leagues made or renewed betwixt this kingdome and them, was still excepted, That all such things as the Palatine of MOLDAVIA was of dutie to performe vnto the king, should by him still be performed. Which kings of POLONIA, and namely Augustus himselfe, the last of the Iagellonian race, appointed diuers of those Palatines themselues. Which although they be things most manifest, yet hauing more regard vnto the welfare of that prouince, as a Christian countrey, than of our right, we restored the same into the same state wherein it hath beene for many yeares before theseviz to become tributarie vnto the Turks. wars. Wherefore if any man thinke any thing done, whereby the enemies of the crosse of Christ might be eased or strengthened, or the defendors of the faith hindered, it is so farre from any such thing to be done, that rather (as is before declared) the enemies force is repressed and L auerted, and greater meanes giuen to the Christians afront to impugne them, the enemie being at their backes by vs shut from them. But I feare that they haue not fully enformed your Holinesse how these things were done, who haue reported vnto your said Holinesse not onely the name of the Turkes to haue beene proclaimed together with the Polonians in MOLDAVIA, but also the name of the Tartars the proper enemies of the Polonians, and by the power and decrees of them three, as it were confederat together, things to haue beene ordered in MOLDAVIA. Which their complaint if it tend to that end, as if a confederation were made with them, I frankely confesse certain conditions to haue been giuen them, but such as whereby is prouided not only for the quiet and securitie of this kingdome, but no lesse also for the whole Christian commonweale, as is before declared. All which things for all that although they were done for the good of this kingdome, and all Christendome in generall, yet were they M so done, that they were all by me referred vnto the kings maiestie and the states of the kingdome: so that at this present the kingdome is at free libertie either to ioyne in confederation with the rest of the Christian princes; or if that cannot vpon certaine and indifferent conditions be agreed vpon, yet with no mans iniurie or hurt to ratifie this, ioyned with the health and good of a great part of the Christian [Page] A commonweale: onely God graunt that the Christian princes may seriously thinke both of this so Christian a confederation against the common enemie, and striue also all together against the enemie with their weapons, and not with misreports and slanders one against another. They are not to assaile the enemies feet, but his throat: neither is the seat of the warre to be placed in the borders of POLONIA, where it concerneth themselues much to haue all things rather penceable behind them: but let the war be vndertaken with no lesse charge and preparation, than if the enemies royall seat were to be assailed; which standing in an open and plaine countrey shall alwaies without much adoe be his that being strongest can take it. This haue I written at large as my purpose was, all which I most humbly beseech your Holinesse with your diuine wisedome to consider of, and with your wonted clemencie to accept the same: and so prostrate at your Holinesse feet, I most humbly commend me to your clemencie. From B Zamoschie the tenth of Ianuarie 1596.

This much the great Chancelour in defence of himselfe and of that he had done in MOLDAVTA: which howsoeuer it contented the Pope, well I wote it nothing pleased the Emperour, and much lesse the Transyluanian prince, now not a little weakened by the taking away of the countrey of MOLDAVIA from him.

To end this troublesome yeare withall, many sharpe and bloudie skirmishes yet daily passed in diuers places of those frontier countries, the Turkes almost in euery place still going to the worse. In the beginning of Nouember, Leucouits gouernour of CAROLSTAT, the second time surprised WIHITZ in the frontiers of CROATIA, where these wars first begun: but being not C able to take the castle, contented himselfe as before with the spoile of the citie, and afterward setting it on fire, departed. Maximilian also attempted ZOLNOCI: and the Christians in garrison at STRIGONIVM and PLINDENBVRG now become neere neighbours vnto the Turkes at BVDA, did with continuall [...]n [...]odes not a little molest them both all the latter end of this yeare and the beginning of the next. And the Turkes in BRAILA in VALACHIA, vpon the side of Danubius, fearing after the flight of Sinan to be besieged by the Vayuod, forsooke the citie, and in [...]uen hast passed the riuer, that in that tumultuous passage three hundred of them perished. Sinan Bassa, Sinan Bassa sent for to Constantinople. by the Transyluanian prince of late driuen out of VALACHIA, was not long after sent for to CONSTANTINOPLE, but the craftie old fox not ignorant of the fierce nature of the great Sultan, and warned by the late miserie of Ferat, found occasions to delay the time so long, D vntill that he was sent for againe, and after that, the third time also. In the meane while he had so wrought by his mightie friends in Court, & by rich rewards, mightier than they, that at his comming to the Court he was there honourably receiued, as the chiefest of the Bassaes: and being afterwards offered to bee discharged of the warres, as a man of aboue fourescore yeares old, he refused so to be, saying, That he was borne and brought vp amongst souldiors and martiall men,His death. and so wished amongst them to die: as not long after he did; dying as was thought of conceit of the euill successe he had in his warres against the Transyluanian.

Mahomet the Turkish Emperour exceedingly grieued with the losse of so many his cities and strong places this yeare lost, as namely STRIGONIVM, VICEGRADE, SISEG, PETRINIA, LIPPA, IENNA, TERGOVISTA, BVCARESTA, ZORZA, and many others of lesse name: and both E by letters and messengers vnderstanding daily of the slaughter of his people, and wasting of his frontiers, commaunded great preparation to be made against the next Spring, giuing it out, That he would then in person himselfe come down into HVNGARIE with such a power as neuer had any his predecessours the Othoman kings and emperours, and there take most sharpe reuenge of all his former wrongs. Neuerthelesse, these his so hastie designes were by the plague and famine, (which then both raged extreamely in most part of his empire) and by other great occurrents of the same time so crossed,Mahomet perplexed. that by that time the Spring came, he scarcely well knew which way to turne himselfe first. For beside these troubles of the West, of themselues ynough to haue filled his hands, the Georgians in the East, a warlike people, moued with the good successe of the Christians in VALACHIA and HVNGARIE, had taken vp arms against him: and the old Persian king F but a little before dead, had left that great kingdome to his sonne, a man of greater spirit than was like to endure the manifold injuries before done vnto his father by the Turks, to the great dishonour of that kingdome, and prejudice of himselfe. Of which things the Bassa of TAVRIS gaue him ample intelligence, wishing him betimes to prouide for such stormes: which joyned to the rest, filled his head with many troubled thoughts, wherunto we leaue him vntill the next Spring.

[Page] 1596The Transyluanian prince carefull of his estate, and not a little troubled with the disseuering G of MOLDAVIA: thought it not vnfit for his affaires, now after the flight of Sinan and discomfiture of the Turkes, to go in person himselfe vnto the emperour, to declare vnto him the wrong done him by the Polonian; and farther to conferre with him, concerning the mannaging of the warres against the common enemie. So hauing put all things in readinesse for his journey, he set forward in Ianuarie 1596, and by the way of CASSOVIA the fourth of Februarie, arriued at PRAGE in BOHEMIA, where he was by the emperours appointment most honourably entertained. But immediatly after his comming thither he fell sicke of an ague, which grieuously vexed him for the space of three weekes. In the latter end of Februarie hauing somewhat recouered his health, he went to the church: where after his deuotions done, he was by the Deane of the Cathedrall church welcomed with a most eloquent oration, setting forth his worthie praises,H and farther animating him vnto the like exploits against the common enemie of all Christianitie: Whereunto he forthwith answered in Latin, so eloquently and so readily, that all men maruelled that heard him: protesting in his speech, That as he and his subjects had not hitherto spared their liues or goods in defence of the common cause; so would they not afterwards spare the same, but aduenture all for the benefit of the Christian common-weale; well hoping that the emperour and the other Christian princes would not as occasion should require, be wanting vnto him with their forces, or the cleargie with their prayers: which done, he doubted not (as he said) by the power of God, but to obtaine more notable victories than he had yet against the Turkes the enemies of God.

The Siculi rebell against the prince.Whilest he yet thus lay at the emperours Court, it fortuned that the people called Siculi, offended I to haue their liberties in some part infringed in the late assembly of the States holden in TRANSYLVANIA in December last: rise now vp in armes in diuers places, refusing to yeeld their former obedience vnto the prince. A matter like enough to haue wrought him much trouble, and supposed not to haue been done without the priuitie of the Cardinall his vncle: but by the wisedome and courage of such as he had in his absence put in trust with the gouernment of his countrey, diuers of the ringleaders of this rebellion were apprehended, and in diuers sorts executed: and three hundred of their complices to the terrour of their fellowes, had their noses and eares cut off. By which wholsome seueritie, all those troubles were appeased, and the countrey againe quieted.

At the same time also the Transyluanians obtained of the Turks a notable victory, with an exceeding K rich bootie. Mahomet the Turkish Sultan had about this time sent a new Bassa for the gouernment of TEMESVVAR: against whose comming the old Bassa before Gouernour, had in seuentie fiue wagons trussed vp a wonderfull deale of wealth, which he had there gotten in the time of his former gouernment, to haue been togither with himselfe with a strong conuoy conducted to BELGRADE.The Bassa of [...]emeswar slaine, and a great boo [...]ie taken. Of this his purpose, the Hungarian Heidons lying at LIPPA and IENNA hauing intelligence, lay in wait for him vpon the way, and in his passing by set vpon him: where in a sharpe conflict they ouerthrew the conuoy, and slew the Bassa, whose head they sent for a present to the princesse at ALBA IVLIA: and tooke the spoile of the Bassaes carriages, wherein was taken a wonderfull wealth, for in one of those wagons is reported to haue beene found twentie thousand Hungarian duckats.L

In this absence also of the prince, ten thousand of the Rascians reuolting from the Turke, came and offered their seruice vnto the princesse, whereof she by letters with great speed certified the prince her husband; who thereupon hasted to dispatch with the emperour: and hauing procured both from him and the Pope the promise of some aid to be afterward sent him, tooke of him his leaue, and being honourably accompanied, departed from PRAGE to VIENNA: where he arriued the eleuenth of March, sitting in a princely chariot, drawn with six most beautifull horses, the gift of the emperour. At his comming thither he was met by the nobilititie of the countrey, and by Aldobrandinus the Popes nephew, who presented him with three goodly horses for seruice, most richly furnished. Him the prince tooke into his chariot, and so accompanied entered the citie, where he was with all due honour receiued and joyfully entertained, and so brought M vnto the emperours pallace, where by the learned students of that Vniuersitie, was for his pleasure acted before him the notable historie of Iosua. Hauing staied there three daies, and purposing to haue in his returne visited his mother in law at GREICZ in CROATIA: newes was brought him, that the Turks and Tartars by the setting on of Stephen Bator his vncle, were about [Page] A to breake into TRANSYLVANIA. Wherefore changing his purpose, he departed thence to PRESBVRG, and so with all speed kept on his way towards TRANSYLVANIA: where he to the great joy and comfort of his subjects in generall arriued in safetie in the beginning of Aprill.

In this while many hoat skirmishes passed betwixt the Christians and the Turkes in the frontiers of their territories: and now the plague and famine, which had of long raged in CONSTANTINOPLE and other places of the Turkes dominious, began to asswage. Of which so great calamities as had deuoured many thousands of his people,Warres proclaimed in Constantinople against the emperour & the Transyluanian prince. the Turkish emperour finding himselfe somewhat eased, forthwith caused the continuation of his warres against the emperour and the Transyluanian prince, to be three daies togither proclaimed in CONSTANTINOPLE, and a great armie to be raised to be sent into TRANSYLVANIA and HVNGARIE: giuing it out, that he B would with that so puissant an armie in person himselfe come into HVNGARIE: At which time it was also reported, that he had alreadie sent his tents and other his necessarie prouision before to HADRIANOPLE: for now was nothing more odious in the Turkes court, than the name of the Transyluanian prince.

Of all these things was not the emperour ignorant, as fully thereof certified both by letters and espials, as also by the vniforme confession of such Turks as were daily taken prisouers. For which cause, he also with as much speed and care as he could, prouided for the raising of his armie, as he had the yeare before; as also for the leuying of mony, and prouision of all things necessarie, that the enemie at his comming might not find him vnprouided. Neither spared he to pray aid of the other Christian princes his neighbours, especially of the Polonian, whom he had diuers C times sought after to haue drawn him into the confederation with the other Christian princes against the Turke. To which purpose he now also sent vnto him the bishop of PRESLAVV and the lord Poppelius his embassadours: as did the Pope also send vnto him the Cardinall Caietane his legat, and the princes electors also their embassadours: vnto whom the Polonian gaue good hearing and good words, but would not by any meanes be persuaded to breake his league with the Turke, or to affoord any aid vnto the Christians; although the Cardinall with many pregnant reasons shewed him what small assurance there was in the Turkes leagues, and how dangerous it might be to his State if the Turke making peace with the emperour should turne his force vpon him, which it was like enough he would, as knowing no man longer for friend than stood with his profit; beside the immortall blemish of his honour by disseuering himselfe D from the vnion of the Christian princes, to hold friendship with the Turkes and infidels. But all this and much more to no purpose, so resolutly was the Polonian set downe for the keeping of the Turks fauour; so that of all the Christian princes so neere vnto the deuouring enemie, none stood the Christian common-weale in lesse stead than he. Which for all that, most men imputed not so much vnto the king as to others about him, especially to Zamoschie the great Chancelor, by whom that state was most swaied, who was not onely supposed but openly reported to haue secret intelligence both with the Turke and the Tartar.

All this while the lord Palfi Gouernor of STRIGONIVM, ceased not with continuall inroads to vex the Turks euen to the gates of BVDA, as did also the other Christian captains in other places of the Turkes frontiers in HVNGARIE. Neere vnto BVDA were two great countrey villages, E for most part inhabited by Christians, who hauing giuen their oath of obedience vnto the Turke, liued a miserable life for the payment of an excessiue tribute yearly. These poore Christians, wearie of the Turkish thraldome and the continuall spoile of their labors by them of STRIGONIVM, by secret messengers requested of the lord Palfi, of mercie to carrie them with their goods and cattell away into some other place of the Christian territorie, that so they might yet liue amongst Christians, as he had but a little before done for them of old BVDA. Vnto which their so reasonable a request, the Christian Gouernor charitably harkened; willing them against a certaine appointed time, to put themselues with all their things in readinesse. There was of these Christians about 755 families, who with their wiues and children, and such trash as they had, packt vp into eightie wagons drawne with fourteene and sixteene oxen apiece, at the appointed F time about midnight committed themselues with all that they had vnto the conduct of them of STRIGONIVM, sent out of purpose for them; by whom they were in safetie brought to STRIGONIVM. Amongst them were many rich men, who brought with them good store of coine, with an exceeding great number of cattell. Vnto these newcome guests, Palfi assigned certaine fields betwixt STRIGONIVM and VIVARIA, on the North side of Danubius; where [Page] they so commodiously liued, as was possible in so troubled an estate of a countrey:G

Six hundred of the garrison souldiors of Lipp [...] slaine by the Turkes.Shortly after, six hundred garrison souldiors of LIPPA seeking after bootie, and aduenturing too farre into the enemies territorie, were discouered by the Turkes scouts: and so beset by the Turkes and Tartars billeted in the countrey about TEMESWAR, that there was no way left for them to escape. Which they well perceiuing, resolued among themselues (as became valiant men, to fight it out euen vnto the last man; and with no lesse resolution performed what they had before determined: for being on euerie side beset and hardly charged by their enemies, they as men before resolued to die, although scarce one to twentie, fought most desperatly, seeking for nothing else but to sell their liues as deare as they could vnto their enemies: and so fighting were all slaine, except some few which by great fortune escaped, leauing vnto the enemie a right bloudie victorie. Yet by this losse of so great a partie, was the garrison of LIPPA greatly weakened,H which the enemie knew right well, and thereupon began forthwith to prepare to besiege the towne. Which Barbelus the Gouernour (a most valiant man) wisely foreseeing, sent in post vnto the Transyluanian prince, to request him with all speed to send him foure or fiue thousand good souldiors, with which power he doubted not by the helpe of God, to be able to defend the towne against all the forces the enemie was at that time able to bring against it. Vnto whom the prince without delay sent eight thousand,Lippa besieged by the Turkes and Tartars. who all in safetie in good time arriued at LIPPA: for shortly after their arriuall, fortie thousand of the Turkes and Tartars came and sat downe before the towne, enclosing it on euerie side, and so lay for certaine daies without any thing doing worth the speaking of; they of the towne in the meane time doing them all the harme they could with their great shot, which they sent amongst them not sparingly. But they had not thus I long lien, but that newes was brought into the campe, that the Transyluanian prince was with a great power comming thither to relieue the towne: whereupon they presently rise, and retired to the place where they had before encamped, about two miles from LIPPA; where certainly vnderstanding that the prince neither was neither could in short time be in such readinesse as was before reported, they forthwith returned, and more straitly besieged the towne than before. They had now brought with them seuenteene pieces of batterie, eight wagons laded with shot and pouder, and fortie six others laded with scaling ladders and other warlike prouision: thus appointed they began to batter the towne, and afterwards gaue therunto diuers desperat assaults; which the Christians valiantly receiued, and still with great slaughter repulsed their enemies. For that strong towne was with towers and bulwarkes flanking one another so fortified, that out of K them the Christians with their murthering pieces made great spoile of their enemies, and still enforced them with losse to retire, no bullet almost flying in vaine. In the heat of one of these assaults, the Gouernour caused one of the gates of the towne to be set open, hauing before within in the towne placed sixteene great pieces, at the verie entrance of the same gate, charged with all kind of murthering shot: vnto which gate, as of meere desperation set open by the defendants, the Turkes and Tartars desirous of reuenge, came thronging as thicke as might be, thinking to haue thereby entred: when suddenly, and as it were in the turning of an hand, they were with the aforesaid murthering pieces cut downe as with a sithe, and so againe, and the third and fourth time, before they could cleare themselues of the danger thereof, their heads, armes, legges, and other rent limbes, flying in the ayre most miserably to behold. Neuerthelesse the siege was by L them continued, and the often assaults so resolutly maintained, as if they had thereon purposed to haue gaged all their liues. But this so obstinat a resolution, was by an vnexpected accident when they least thought, conuerted into such a desperat feare and astonishment, that they vpon the sudden (no man forcing them) forsooke their trenches wherein they lay encamped, and leauing behind them their tents, their great ordinance, and whatsoeuer else they had, they betooke themselues to a most disordered flight. The Transyluanians, who by chance were euen then comming thither, pursuing them, slew diuers of them, and tooke some others of them prisoners. At this siege the Bassa of TEMESVVAR himselfe was mortally wounded, and Hamat Sanzacke of GIVLA with diuers others of good place slaine, and foure thousand of the common souldiors. The cause of the Turks so great and sudden feare was this: Whilest the Bassa of TEMESVVAR M lay at the siege of LIPPA, as is aforesaid, they that were left in the citie fearing no harme, liued in great securitie; in the meane time the Gouernour of LVGAZ sent out six thousand souldiors towards TEMESVVAR, now in the absence of the Bassa to seeke after bootie; who comming to TEMESVVAR, with great speed rifled the suburbs of the citie, slew all the Turks they could light [Page] A vpon, and set at libertie a thousand captiues: and so hauing trussed vp their bootie, set on fire all the suburbes, and departed. Which fire grew so great and so terrible, that it was plainly seene into the campe at LIPPA, making a shew as if the whole citie had beene on a light fire. Which so daunted the hearts of the Turkes at the siege, that they presently fled (as is before said) leauing all that they had behind them.

The Transyluanian all this while busied in raising of his armie,Plenia a towne of the Turkes sacked by the Christians. and prouiding of things necessarie for the maintenance of his warres, was come into the confines of HVNGARIE, towards TEMESVVAR, euen as the Turkes fled from LIPPA. At which time certaine Hungarian Heidons that serued him, getting ouer Danubius, not farre from NICOPOLIS tooke PLENIA, a little towne of the Turkes, which they ransacked and burnt, and hauing slaine in the countrey B thereabout aboue three thousand of the Turks, returned with a rich prey vnto the prince.

Not long before the Christians had surprised CLISSA,Clissa lately surprised by the Christians, lost againe to the Turkes. a strong frontier towne of the Turks in DALMATIA, not far from SPALATO: which towne the Bassa of BOSNA sought now againe to recouer, and thereto layed hard siege: for the reliefe wherof, Leucowitz gouernour of STI [...] and the other prouinces thereabouts belonging to the house of AVSTRIA, and the gouern [...] of ZENG, with a fleet of two and fortie ships, wherein they had embarked foure thousand so [...]diors well appointed, with all things necessarie set forward toward CLISSA: and by the way lighting vpon a gallie of the Venetians, bound with certain warlike prouision towards the Turks campe, tooke her as good prize, and rifled her. This fleet with a faire wind arriued at SIRET, neere vnto TRAV, where the gouernour landing his men, marched that night part of his way toward C CLISSA, and all the next day lay close. The night following they set forward againe, and hauing marched fifteene miles, came vnto the enemies campe before day: where setting vpon the Turkes in their trenches, fearing no such perill, they brought such a generall feare vpon the whole campe, that the Turks as men amased fled some one way, some another, euery man (as in such sudden feare it commonly happeneth) making shift for himselfe, leauing whatsoeuer they had in their trenches behind them. The Christians contented so to haue put their enemies to flight, fell presently to the spoile, as more desirous thereof, than by the hastie pursute of their enemies to put themselues in possession of an assured victory. Which the Turks quickly perceiuing, and from the hils with the dawning of the day discouering the small number of the Christians, and how they were disordered, they gathered themselues againe together, and comming downe, D enclosed on euery side the disordered Christians (greedily hunting after the spoile) and slew them downeright. Leucowitz himselfe with the gouernor of ZENG and some others got into CLISSA: where hauing staied two daies, and doubting to be able to keepe the towne, they secretly by night issued out with six hundred men, in hope to haue recouered their fleet: but the Turkes suspecting such a matter, had so beset the passages, that of all that companie Leucowitz had much adoe himselfe with three others to escape. The enemie now againe possessed of his trenches, laid straighter siege to the towne than before: which they of the garrison perceiuing, and now out of hope of reliefe, agreed with the Bassa, that they might with bag and baggage depart; and so yeelded vp the towne. Thus CLISSA, one of the strongest townes of DALMATIA, through the greedie couetousnesse of the disordered souldiors, fell againe into the hands of the Turks.

E About the same time,Sombock taken by the lord Pal [...]i. Pal [...]i gouernour of STRIGONIVM vnderstanding of the meeting together of certaine notable aduenturers of the Turks at SOMDOCK, a castle almost in the mid way betwixt ALBA REGALIS and BVDA, raised the greatest strength he could, and so with certain pieces of artillerie, and other things necessarie for an assault, set forward from STRIGONIVM the two and twentith of May before the rising of the Sunne, and about three a clocke in the afternoone came to the aforesaid castle, whereunto he presently gaue a most terrible assault; which he neuer gaue ouer vntill he had taken it: For after that he had by the space of three houres together with great danger maintained a most desperate assault, at length hee with much difficultie preuailed, and put to the sword all the Turkes he found therein, man, woman, and child; and with the rest, fiftie Ianizaries but that day come thither. This castle was of great beautie, and most F pleasantly situated, whereunto the Bassa of BVDA oftentimes for his pleasure repaired: for which cause Palfi was very desirous to haue taken it without spoyling: but the fire hee had therein alreadie raised, so preuailed, that it burnt downe all the goodly buildings thereof, with great store of victuals and other prouision, nothing remaining, but what the Christians had saued for themselues.

[Page] Temeswar besieged by the Transyluanian prince.The Transyluanian prince hauing raised a great armie for the reliefe of LIPPA, being by great G chance a little before his comming relieued, came and layed siege to the citie of TEMESVVAR: where he had not long lien, but that the Turkes and Tartars fearing to loose that so famous a citie, assembled together from all places thereabouts, to the number of fortie thousand, and so came to raise th [...] siege. Of whose comming the prince hearing, rise with his armie, and went to meet them, and had with them a great and terrible battell, the victorie for a great while standing very doubtfull, yet seeming to encline rather to the Turkes and Tartars, than to the Christians: but at length the Turke [...] disordered with the great artillerie, and the Transyluanians charging them afresh, began to giue ground, and so at last to betake themselues to plaine flight. In this battell were slaine of the Turkes and Tartars fiue thousand, and of the Christians fifteene hundred. It was for a time reported, that the prince himselfe was in this battell slaine, which was not so,H being reserued to the further plague of the Turkes, and comfort of his afflicted countrey. After this victorie he returned againe to the siege, which he more straightly continued than before, lea [...]g nothing vnattempted that he could possibly deuise for the winning of the citie. Where w [...]lest he yet thus lay battering the citie both night and day, newes was brought him, That G [...] [...]ffar Bassa and the Tartars were comming with a great armie to the reliefe of the besieged: whereupon hee considering his owne strength and the power of his enemies, and that the aid promised him both from the Emperour and out of HVNGARIE, was not yet readie, with great griefe of mind raised his siege,The prince raiseth his siege. and retired with his armie to LIPPA, there expecting new supplies as well of his owne as from his friends. Whilest he yet there lay, he was certainely aduertised, That the Bassa of NATOLIA, the forerunner of the great Sultan Mahomet, was come to BELGRADE I with foureteene thousand horse and foure thousand Ianizaries to joyne with the Bassa of BVDA for the relieuing of TEMESVVAR; whose forces joyned together, were in number about threescore thousand: and that Mahomet himselfe, of whose comming rise report had been all this yeare, was now comming after with a farre greater power. Wherupon he departed from LIPPA, leauing therein a strong garrison, and so returning to ALBA IVLIA, called there an assembly of all his states, for the repressing of so puissant an enemie.

Mahomet for the better successe of his warres in HVNGARIE had drawne forth the Tartar with a mightie power: who although he was at the first so vnwilling to that seruice (considering the great losses he had therein before receiued) that he would not as he said send so much as one Asse thereunto: yet ouercome with great gifts, and the respect he had of the Turkish Sultan, was K now ready with a strong armie vpon the frontiers of MOLDAVIA to meet him in HVNGARIE: vnto whom the late chosen Vayuod sent certaine presents with such store of victuals as he could possibly prouide for him. Yet for as much as he was not that way to passe without the leaue of the Polonian, Mahomet had both by letters and diuers his embassadours entreated with the Polonian king for his passage: as also for the confirmation of the auntient league hee and the Polonian kings his predecessours had to their good of long time had with the Othoman emperors; from which he well knew the Christian Emperour, with diuers other Christian princes to seeke by all meanes to withdraw him. Mahomet also not ignorant how hurtfull and dangerous the confederation betwixt Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA and the Transyluanian was vnto him and his designes, sent vnto him an embassador, by the shew of great dangers to deterre him L from the Transyluanian, and by many glorious promises to allure him to submit himselfe againe vnto his protection, and in token of his fidelitie to deliuer vnto the Sultan two of his frontier townes, such as he should require: in regard whereof he should together with the Sultans fauour receiue golden mountaines. Whereunto the Vayuod answered, That as yet he was not wearie of the friendship he held with the prince: and for the townes he required, that they were not in his power to giue, as belonging to the prince; vnto whom he said he would write, and stay the embassadour in the meane time vntill he had from him answere.

The Emperour on the other side had with all carefulnesse so farre as in him was, prouided that his armie might be readie to take the field with the beginning of the Spring: but as it commonly chanceth, the speedie proceedings of great actions (wherein the hands of many mightie M is required) to be much hindered by delaies, sometimes of one, and sometimes of another; so fell it out with him now: for albeit that his owne forces were in some good time readie, yet was the Spring, yea and a good part of Summer also farre past, before the aid promised from other princes met together. At length after long expectance, when some conuenient number for an [Page] A armie was from diuers places come togither at VIENNA: they were by the lord SwartZenburg and their other commaunders brought forth into the field, and not farre from ALTENBVR [...] encamped, within the selfesame trenches that were the last yeare cast vp by countie Mansfeld for the safetie of his armie; there to expect the comming downe of the great ordinance and other prouision by the riuer from VIENNA, as also the rest of the Christian forces daily looked for. From ALTENBVRG the Christian armie remoued to KOMARA, and not staying there long, the foure and twentith of Iuly marched towards VACIA,Vacia ab [...]doned of the Turkes, is taken by the Christians. otherwise called WOCZEN: but before it came thither, the Turks hearing of the approach of the Christians, forsooke the towne, and with their cattell and best part of their substance fled to PESTH, carying also away with them the great ordinance; the greatest whereof they buried by the way, which was neuer [...]helesse afterwards B found out by the Christians. And although the Turkes at their departure had set fire both vpon the towne and the castle, yet the Christians left therin did what they might to quench the same: by whose diligence and the helpe of two thousand footmen, and certaine troupes of horsemen sent thither by SwartZenburg, a great part both of the towne and the castle was preserued: the whole armie of the Christians following after, encamped in the open field, and with their horsemen braued the Turkes euen to the gates of PESTH. This so sudden a comming of the Christians, brought a great feare both vpon them of PESTH and BVDA; insomuch, that they sent their wiues and children, with the chiefest of their substance downe the riuer vnto places of more safetie, and farther off from danger: which was done so disorderedly (as it happeneth in such common feares) that many of them for hast thrust one another into the riuer, C and so perished.

Hitherto in the former warres against the Turke, had Matthias been Generall of the Christian armies: but now of late, Ferdinand the emperours vncle Countie of TIROL being dead, Matthias was by the emperour his brother preferred to the gouernment of that rich countrey and the prouinces thereabouts, not inferiour to some kingdomes; and Maximilian his yonger brother appointed Generall in his stead: who departing from VIENNA in the latter end of Iuly, came into the campe the fourth of August, where he was by the lord SwartZenburg his lieutenant, and the lord Palfi, honourably and with great triumph receiued.

Now were the Christians threescore thousand strong, and hauing fortified VACIA, and therein placed a conuenient garrison, resolued by common consent to besiege HATVVAN, a D strong towne of the Turkes in the vpper HVNGARIE.Hatwan besieged by the Christians And thereupon rising with their armie from VACIA the thirteenth of August, came the fifteenth of the same moneth about noone and sat downe before the towne; and that with such speed, that they were before seene of the Turkes in the towne, than that they heard any thing of their comming: insomuch, that at the first shew of them, they of the towne tooke them to haue been some come out to seeke after bootie; and therefore sallying out vpon them, skirmished with them a while, vntill they perceiued the whole battell comming. The Christians approaching the town, encamped themselues as they thought most conuenient, and began in three places to batter the counterscarfe. This frontier towne of the Turkes, beside that it was kept with a strong garrison, was also strengthned with a broad ditch, and fortified with a broad counterscarfe and strong palisadoes. Whilest the Christians E thus lay at the siege, the Turkes sallying out of the towne brake into their trenches, and there did great harme, and like enough they were to haue done more, had not the horsemen in good time come in vpon them and enforced them to retire.Cowardise punished. In this sally, amongst others was one Greis a notable captaine slaine, being shamefully forsaked of his owne men; who for that their cowardise, were all in the sight of the whole armie disarmed, and so turned out of the campe as men vnworthie any longer to beare armes. One morning also as the Christians were at their deuotions in their trenches, a Turkish priest from out of an high tower not farre off, railed most bitterly vpon them, cursing and deriding them: wherewith one of the Christian canoniers much moued, made a shot at the tower, which he so well bestowed, that therewith he strucke downe the tower together with the idolatrous priest, as he was yet rayling and blaspheming. At length the F Christians had with exceeding labour and continuall batterie made the towne saultable; wherewith the Turkes discouraged, offered (but all too late) to yeeld vp the towne vpon the same conditions, that they of STRIGONIVM had: whereunto they receiued no answere, yea commaundement was giuen throughout the campe, that no man vpon paine of death, should haue any parley with them. Shortly after all things being now in readinesse for the assault, the Christians [Page] one day about fiue a clocke in the afternoone, assaulted the towne in foure places; and after G three houres hard fight,Hatwan woon by the Christians. by strong hand tooke it, with the great scriching and lamenting of the women and children, and other fearefull people, who now gaue themselues all lost and forlome. Foure houres execution was done vpon all that came to hand,Extreame cruchi [...]. without respect of age, sex, or condition: women were slaine great with child, and yong children hanging at their mothers breasts, it booted not to crie for mercie, the bloudie sword deuouring all. The furie of the Wallons here exceeded, who ript the children out of their mothers wombs, and made thongs and points of the skins of men and women, whom they had flaine quicke. Which their crueltie they afterwards excused when they were therefore reproued, by pretending that thereby they did teach the Turkes hereafter not so wickedly to blaspheme against Christ, or with such their wonted and barbarous crueltie to torment the Christians that fell into their hands, for feare of like themselues.H In this assault and furie perished of the Turkes about foure thousand, and of the Christians not past three hundred. In this towne beside that which the fire deuoured, was found a verie rich prey. The first that entred the towne was one Terskie, a notable captaine with his companie: after whom followed Ruswurme, who each of them were thought in their entrance at the breach, to haue slaine with their owne hand eight or ten Turkes.

Mahome [...] the grea [...] Sultan cō meth to Buda with an armie of two hundred thousand.Now in the meane time Mahomet the great Sultan being come to BELGRADE, remoued thence to come downe into the heart of HVNGARIE, sending Cicala Bassa before him: and at length after long looking for, the second of September arriued at BVDA, hauing in his armie about two hundred thousand men, and three hundred field pieces. From thence he presently sent fortie thousand to TEMESVVAR; but staied there himselfe with the rest of his armie.I

The Christians yet lying at HATVVAN, and doubting least the Sultan suddenly passing the riuer should come vpon them not yet readie for battell; departing thence, and retiring backe againe, came and encamped not farre from VACIA. And albeit that the Archduke before his departure from HATVVAN, had left a conuenient garrison for the keeping of the towne; yet such was the terrour of the Turkes approach, that the next day after, they that were there left in garrison forsooke the towne, and setting it on fire, followed themselues after the campe. This comming of the Turkish Sultan to BVDA, brought also a great feare vpon them at VIENNA, as much doubting least he should that way haue turned his forces, which caused them both day and night to labour for the better fortification of the citie, and for the prouision of all things, as if it had been for a present siege.K

But Mahomet not prouided for the vndertaking of so strong a place, and not ignorant of the disgrace his great grandfather the victorious Solyman had sometime receiued vnder the walles thereof; had no purpose thereto, as hauing bent his thoughts quite another way. In the vpper part of HVNGARIE is an auntient famous citie,Agria. well fortified and honoured with a bishops See called AGRIA, not farre from HATVVAN: Vpon this citie, as the chiefe fortresse of the Christians in those quatters, had Mahomet at his comming into HVNGARIE cast his eyes, and began now that way to make head; with purpose by taking of that citie, and placing there of a strong garrison, to hinder the vniting of the emperours forces with the Transyluanians, for the mutuall strengthening of the one the other by the way of the vpper HVNGARIE. Which the Archduke perceiuing, sent thither forthwith the valiant Colonell Terskie with a notable companie of Italians L and Germanes, and a thousand other harquebusiers, who all arriued there in safetie. At which time also the lord Teusfenbach sent into the citie three thousand footmen, vnder the conduct of countie Turn, Agria besieged by Mahome [...]. with good store of warlike prouision needfull for the defence thereof. The one and twentith of September, Mahomet attended vpon by the great Bassaes, Ibrahim, Giaffar, Hassan, and Cicala, for old Sinan was now dead, with his armie of an hundred and fiftie thousand men, came and encamped betweene the two riuers of Danubius and Tibiscus, couering a great part of the countrey with his tents. Approaching the citie, he with wonderfull celeritie cast vp fiue great mounts, and from them with such furie battered the wals, that the Christians were glad night and day to stand in armes for the defence thereof. And although that the wals were so great, and in many places so weakly fortified as that they were not but by a greater garrison to M be defended against so puissant an enemie; and that therefore the defendants with their honour lawfully might euen the first day haue set the citie on fire, and retired themselues into the castle, which was both faire and strong, and the onely place to be trusted vnto; yet for the space of six daies they worthily defended the whole citie against the furie of the enemies, and out of it did [Page] A them great harme. But seeing the danger daily encreasing, and that the citie was not longer to be holden, they set it on fire; hauing before conua [...]ed all the best of their substance with themselues into the castle: which the Turkes quickly perceiuing, brake so suddenly into the citie, as if they would togither with the Christians haue entred [...]he castle also; but in the attempting therof they were notably repulsed and many of them slaine. Adjoyning to the castle was a great and strong bulwarke, against which the Turks for certaine daies furiously thundred with their great ordinance,A bulwarke twelue times assaulted in [...] daies. and that without intermission: and hauing in diuers places sore shaken it, in the space of two daies assaulted it twelue times, but not without the wonderfull losse of their men: and yet gaue it not so ouer, but as men with their losse more enraged, came on againe with [...] furie than before, and so at last by plaine force tooke i [...]: and there put to the sword all them they B found therein, except such as by good hap got betimes into the castle. This bulwarke thus lost▪ the Christians the next day sallying out, againe recouered; wherein they sl [...]w a great numbe [...] of the Turkes, with the losse of some thirtie men, and as many moe wounded. The besieged now diuers times both by letters and messengers craued aid of Maximilian the Generall, giuing him to vnderstand, that they could not long hold out for want of shot and po [...]der, if they were not betimes relieued (whereof the enemie also was not ignorant) yet were they resolued to hold it out euen to the last man; although the great Sultan had oftentimes by messengers sent of purpose, willed them to yeeld it vp, with promise that they should in safetie with life and good depart, otherwise threatning vnto them greater extremities than was of late shewed vnto the Turks at HATVVAN, if they should as obstinat men hold it out vnto the last. Whereunto they neuer C answered him any thing: for Terskie had forbid them all parl [...]y with the enemie; and in the middest of the market place had caused a paire of gallowes to be set vp, threatning to hang him thereon, whosoeuer he were that should once make motion of yeelding vp the citie.

Whilest the besieged thus liue in hope of reliefe, the Archduke vpon the comming o [...]er of the Sultan towards AGRIA, hauing retired with his armie to STRIGONIVM, and there staied somewhat too long expecting the comming of more aid: began now at length to set forward▪ and to make some shew as if he had indeed purposed to haue relieued his distressed friends so hardly beset at AGRIA. But such was the foulenesse of the weather, hindering the passage of his great ordinance (not to speake of any thing else) that in foureteene daies he marched scarcely twelue miles forward. Whereby the enemie tooke occasion to preuaile as he did in his siege: D who now hearing of the comming of the Christians, and seeing to how little purpose he had so long battered the castle, conuerted all his endeuours to the filling vp of the ditch of the old castle, with fagots, earth, and such like matter: for the hastening of which worke, Mahomet himselfe spared not to ride vp and downe in all places of his armie, with his presence and cheerefull speech encouraging his men in that desperat worke. But whilest the Turkes are thus busie in fulfilling his commaund, the Christians sallying out vpon them made great slaughter of them, and put to flight Ibrahim the great Bassa with such as were about him: after whom they so eagerly followed, that he in the flight lost his tulipant for hast, and was there verie like to haue been taken. Neuerthelesse the worke went still forward, and was now at length with the restlesse labour of so great a multitude brought to such perfection, that the Turkes thought it now no E great matter by assault to enter the castle:The old castle taken. and therupon the tenth of October gaue vnto it foure desperat assaults one vpon another, being still with great slaughter of his men repulsed. But comming on againe the fift time with fresh supplies, and greater furie than at the first, they preuailed; and so entring, put to the sword all they found in the castle, in number about eight hundred: four hundred of whose heads, one of the Turkes captaines caused to be carried vnto Mahomet in the campe, in the beholding whereof he is said to haue taken great pleasure, as in the vndoubted signes of his victorie.

The old castle thus taken, nothing remained but the new castle, against which the Turks conuerted their whole forces, wherein they reposed not so much hope, although their batterie were verie terrible and their power great, as in the secret mines wherewith they had in foureteene places F vndermined the castle, and were now almost readie to be blowne vp. Which the besieged perceiuing, and withall considering the state wherein they stood, and not hearing any thing of reliefe; resolued amongst themselues (without the consent of their chiefe commaunders) no longer to hold out, but to yeeld. And thereupon altogither as if it had been but one man, rise vp in a mutinie against their two Gouernours, Paul Niari and Terskie; who at the first by all [Page] the reasons they could deuise, dissuaded them from such cowardise, putting them in mind of the G oath they had taken: which not preuailing, they afterwards vpon their knees requested them as men to hold it out yet a while, in hope of speedie reliefe: yea Terskie with his hands cast vp entreated them, that if they would no longer hold it out but needs yeeld, they they should first kill him with their owne hands, that he might not liue to see so great a dishonour▪ But what [...]uaileth persuasion with men possessed with so great feare? And in the meane time two hundred and fiftie of the common souldiors, amongst whom were many Italians, secretly escaping out of the castle fled into the campe, of whom diuers became renegats and turned Turke; which added to the former feare, so much discouraged the minds of the rest▪ that they forthwith required to come to parley with the enemie, and so agreed, That they might with bag and baggage & their swords by their sides in safetie depart:Agria yeelded vnto the Turkes. the great Sultan giuing his faith for the performance thereof,H with hostages deliuered on either side. So the thirteenth of October about noone, the gar [...]ison souldiors came out of the castle in number about two thousand: but they were not gone farre, but that they were in a great plaine set vpon by the Turkes and Tartars, and there cut in pieces; some of them were flaine quicke, and some other of them otherwise shamefully dismembred; the Turkes in the meane time vpbraiding them, and saying, That faith was not to be kept with them that had so cruelly before dealt with them of HATVVAN. This perfidious dealing much offended diuers of the better sort of the Turkes, insomuch, that some of them complained thereof vnto the Sultan; who (as is reported) caused some of the chiefe authors thereof to be put to death: and afterward by open proclamation commaunded, that if any of the Turkes or Tartars had taken any of them prisoners, they should forthwith set them at libertie. Thus is the famous I citie of AGRIA, of long time a Christian bishops seat, now become a sure receptacle for the Turkes and Infidels.

Petrinia besieged by the Turkes.Whilest Mahomet thus lay at the siege of AGRIA, the Bassa of BOSNA with certaine other of the Sanzacks thereabouts, hauing raised a great armie, came and besieged PETRINIA in the borders of CROATIA: which he at his first comming so furiously battered by the space of seauen daies, that it was of many thought not possible for it to hold out two daies longer. In the meane time the lord Herbenstein and Leukowitz, with all the power they could make out of CROATIA and WINDISMARCH, came towards PETRINIA: but hauing no meanes in so great hast to make a bridge ouer the riuer of Kulp, they retired towards SISEG there to passe ouer. The Turkes hearing of their retire, and supposing them to haue fled for feare, put six K thousand horsemen ouer the riuer to pursue them: vpon whom the Christians turning, and charging them home, ouerthrew them; and hauing slaine many of them, draue the rest headlong into the riuer, where most of them perished. The Christians neuerthelesse keeping on their way to SISEG, there the next day by a bridge passed ouer the riuer, and so marching towards PET [...]INIA, and being come neere vnto the towne, were encountred by eight thousand Turkes, whom they also put to flight; and by certaine prisoners there taken, vnderstood that the Bassa the day before was risen from before the towne and gone:Petrinia relieued. which they at the first beleeued not, but comming thither found it so, to their owne good contentment, and the great joy of the late besieged.

Maximilian the Generall marching on faire and softly from STRIGONIVM, at length the L seuenteenth of October came to CASSOVIA, foure daies after that AGRIA was lost; and there met with the Transyluanian prince, who was come thither with eighteene thousand men, and fortie field pieces to aid him: of whom eight thousand were mercinarie horsemen, fifteene hundred were of the nobilitie of his countrey, and the rest footmen. The next day after they setting forward from CASSOVIA, joyned themselues with the rest of the armie led by the lord Teuffenbach and Palsi, and so of all their vnited forces made one armie, consisting now of two and thirtie thousand horsemen and eight and twentie thousand foot: who drew with them an hundred and twentie field pieces, and twentie thousand wagons, wherewith they euerie night enclosed their armie as with a most sure trench. So orderly marching, they kept on their way towards AGRIA, with a full resolution to giue the Turkes battell, whereof the whole armie seemed to be M verie desirous. By the way at length they came to a faire heath two miles long and foure broad, where they were to passe ouer a certaine riuer, the passage whereof Giaffar Bassa had before taken with twentie thousand Turkes and Tartars, the rest of the Turkes armie lying still not farre from AGRIA. Now the purpose of the Bassa was, to haue enlarged the passage of the riuer, and [Page] A so to haue made way for the whole armie, to haue afterwards passed vnto the other side, as most commodious for many purposes, especially for water, whereof they so might themselues haue had plentie, and yet kept the Christians from it. But of this his purpose, by the comming of the Christians he was quite disappointed: for the next day being the three and twentith of October; they skirmished with him in diuers places, especially at the passage of the riuer, where at the first encounter he lost three hundred of his men, & in the end seeing himselfe too weake to withstand the whole power comming on, fled to the Sultan, hauing lost two of his ensigns and twentie field pieces, but of his men not many, both for that he fled betime, and the approch of the night hindered the pursute of the Christians, who were now become masters both of the passage of the riuer, and of the place where the Bassa lay: which they finding not so commodious for them as B they had at the first supposed (especially for lacke of wood, the weather then being extream cold, as also hearing of the approch of the Sultan with his whole armie) they forthwith forsooke the same, and retired again ouer the riuer vnto the place where they lay before, enclosing themselues with their waggons, as if it had beene a citie strongly enclosed with wooden wals. The next day, which was the foure and twentith of October, towards night, Mahomet with all his army shewed himselfe vnto the view of the Christians, and sent three thousand Tartars to passe the riuer: of whom the Christians slew a great number with their great shot, and put the rest to flight. Both the armies were populous and strong, and couered a great deale of ground, a most goodly sight to behold: both drunke of the same riuer, as well the men as their horses, and therefore kept continuall watch all that night on both sides of the riuer, especially at the passage. In the morning betwixt C six and seuen a clocke, Mahomet with his armie raunged in order of battell, came within sight of the Christians,A great and long skirmish betwixt the Turks and the Christians. his squadrons as it were couering all the countrey on that side of the riuer as farre as the Christians could well see; and now againe sent part of his armie ouer the riuer: with whom the Christians skirmished from morning till night, both the armies parted but by the riuer, all this while standing fast, and as it were facing the one the other. But being at length on both sides well wearied, and many slaine, the Turks retired againe ouer the riuer to the campe: in the meane time (as if it had beene by consent) they resolued on both sides the next day to trie the fortune of a battell, and so commaundement was giuen through both the armies, for euery man against a certaine appointed time to make himselfe readie. So the next day, being the six and twentith of October, Mahomet brought forth his armie againe out of his campe, which D was not farre from the Christians; and began now to draw downe towards the riuer. Neere vnto this place were the ruines of an old church,Ten [...]housand Turks passe the riuer, and are [...]oge [...]her with the Tar [...]ars put [...]o flight. where Mahomet placed certaine companies of Ianizaries, and foure and twentie field pieces, and commaunded ten thousand of his select souldiors to passe the riuer, which they readily did. The Christians also readie for battell, and now thinking it time vpon the comming ouer of the enemie to begin; with part of their armie thereunto appointed, so fiercely charged the Turkes that were alreadie come ouer, that they quickly ouerthrew them, and not them onely, but certaine companies of Tartars also that were in another place come ouer the riuer: and not so contented, but following them they had in chase, put to flight them also that stood on the further side of the riuer, of whom they slew a great number, and by the comming on of the rest of the armie tooke from them an hundred and ninetie great E pieces of artillerie: whereof so great a feare rise in the enemies campe, that Mahomet with Ibrahim the great Bassa seeing the discomfiture of the armie, fled in all hast towards AGRIA, shedding some teares by the way as he went, and wiping his eyes with a peece of Mahomets garment, which he for reuerence carried about him as a relique. It drew now towards night, and the Archduke was about to haue caused a retreat to be sounded, and that day to haue done no more. But the Transyluanian prince, the lord Palfi, and the rest, persuaded him in that so great feare of the enemie to prosecute the victorie; and the rather, for that the Turks began againe to make head, and to repaire their disordered battels. Wherefore the Christians still keeping their array, charged afresh the front of their enemies restored battell, consisting of fortie thousand men, and that with such violence, as that they in short time had slaine the most part of them, and put the rest to F flight: and with the like good fortune charging the bodie of the maine battell, forced the discouraged Turkes with great slaughter into their owne campe. Now commaundement was before giuen throughout the Christian armie, that no man vpon paine of death should in seeking after spoile breake his arra [...] ▪ or forsake his place, before the victorie were assuredly gotten. But they in this hot pursute breaking together with the Turks into their tents, & there killing a great number [Page] of them, and seeing in euery place great store of rich spoile, contrarie to the aforesaid commandement,G left the pursute of the enemie, and disorderly fell to the spoile of the tents, vntill they came to the very tent of the great Sultan.The Christians i [...] seeking too greedily after the [...]potle, o [...]erthrowne and discomfited. But here began all the mischiefe, with a most sudden change of fortune. For here these greedie disordered men, not now worth the name of souldiors, light vpon a strong squadron of resolute men, with good store of great ordinance readie charged, which they discharged amongst the thickest of their enemies, and rent in sunder a number of them, and after that came on resolutely themselues: when in the meane time Cicala Bassa with his horsemen yet vntouched, brake in vpon them also, and with the terrour of his comming brought such a feare vpon them, that they began amaine to flie, especially the Hungarians and Germanes, most busied in the spoile. Neither could they in that feare, by any threats or entreatie of their commaunders be persuaded to make a stand, or so much as once to looke backe, or to H shew any token of true valour: which their hastie flight was the ouerthrow not of themselues onely, but of others also that would haue fought: for whilest they fled headlong vpon the spur, and could not be stayed, they ouerran their owne footmen, and so furthered the enemies victorie. Thus for want of good order, through the greedie couetousnesse of a sort of disordered men the most notable victorie that euer the Christians were like to haue had ouer the Tu [...]ks, was let slip out of their hands. Many noble gentlemen and commaunders, in seeking to stay the flight of their owne men, were here slaine: and although the enemie followed the chase scarce halfe a mile, yet were the Christians possessed with such a feare, that they fled amaine all ouer the countrey with greater shame than losse, no man pursuing them. The Archduke himselfe seeing all desperat, fled to CASSOVIA. The Transyluanian of all others most orderly retired himselfe towards I TOCAII, hauing not lost in this battell aboue two hundred men, and of them neuer a man of name. All this losse he imputed to the couetousnesse of the Hungarians, and cowardise of the Germane horsemen. The lord Bernstein hauing charge of the great artillerie, fled also, and made shift for himselfe, as did Palfi, and in fine all the rest. Neither was the feare lesse amongst the Turkes (a wonderfull thing to be spoken) than it was amongst the Christians: for the night following they for feare of the returne of the Christians, trussing vp the best of their things, fled also towards AGRIA. And it was afterwards knowne, that the Turks great ordinance, tents, and baggage stood three daies in their trenches, either altogether vnguarded, or so slenderly guarded, as that they might haue beene easily taken by the Christians, if they would but haue made head againe. Yea Mahomet himselfe is reported oftentimes to haue confessed the danger and feare he K was then in to haue beene taken,Twentie thousand Christians slaine, and threescore thousand Turks. and all his armie destroied, if the Christians had (as they should) pursued the victory, and not so basely run after the spoile: by which danger he then warned, hath euer since shunned to aduenture his person to the like perill in the field. In this battell of KARESTA (for so it is of a place thereby called) and at the siege of AGRIA were lost of the Christians about twentie thousand, and of the Turks threescore thousand. Mahomet after this victorie fortified AGRIA, and for the keeping therof left in it 10000 soldiors, and so returned to BELGRADE.

The Bassa of BVDA persuading himselfe that the Christians after so great an ouerthrow could not this yeare to any purpose recouer their strength,Vacia besieged by the Bassa of Buda. came with all the power he was able to make, and the fourth of Nouember besieged VACIA, in hope to haue easily carried it: but finding there greater resistance than he had before imagined, and hearing that the dispersed Christians L in the vpper part of HVNGARIE were making head for to come to the reliefe of the towne, he more afraid than hurt, brake vp his siege, and so returned to BVDA: for indeed the dispersed reliques of the late armie of the Christians were drawing together, but vnarmed and vnseruiceable, as hauing in the late flight shamefully cast away their armes, and therefore could haue done the Bassa small harme if he had continued the siege.

Mahomet thinking it honour ynough for him to haue thus woon AGRIA, and driuen the Christians out of the field, deuided his armie into two parts at BELGRADE: whereof the one he billetted in the countrey thereabout, to be readie for all euents; and with the other he returned to CONSTANTINOPLE: but by the way he was set vpon by Barbelius Ianuschi the Transyluanian princes lieutenant, and the Vayuod of VALACHIA, who with a great power both of horse and M foot being got ouer the Danubius, and secretly fauoured by the countrey people, lay in ambush for him in places of aduantage, and still following in the taile of his army, cut off 7000 of his men before he could be rid of them: and so with much trouble arriued at length at CONSTANTINOPLE, where we will for this yeare leaue him, vntill we heare of him more.

[Page] A Maximilian with a small retinue arriued at VIENNA in the latter end of Nouember, where he found the Vicount of BVRGAVV, SwartZenburg, with some other of the commaunders of his late armie; most of the rest, especially the Italians, being slaine. The small remainder of this vnfortunate yeare was spent with often skirmishes and inrodes one into anothers frontiers, as the manner of warre is, without any other great thing done worth the remembrance▪

Rodolph the Christian Emperour, notwithstanding the late discom [...]iture of his armie not farre from AGRIA, made choice againe of his brother Maximilian the Archduke, for the managing of his forces for his next yeares wars against the Turke. Wherunto the Pope by his legate Fran. Aldobrandino promised of his owne charge to send ten thousand Italians, vnder the conduct of the duke of MANTVA: as did also the Germane princes their wonted aid, with some others: B All which slowly at length meeting together neere vnto POSSONIVM and ALTENBVR [...], in the moneths of Iuly and August,Pappa taken by the Christians. departing thence, marched to PAPPA; which after eight daies hard siege they tooke, and so againe retired to ALTENBVRG, where they tooke a generall muster of the armie: and afterwards in the beginning of September shewed themselues before the strong towne of RAB: where the lord Bernsteine approching too neere the wals, was with a shot slaine. Neuerthelesse the rest there staied, vntill that hearing of the comming of Mahomet Bassa the Turks Generall with a great armie, they left the siege, and the foure and twentith day of September passing ouer the riuer Danubius into the island SCHVT towards KOMARA, there on the North side of the riuer encamped. Where they had not lien past eight daies, but that the castle of DOTIS,Dotis taken by the Turks. standing vpon the South side of Danubius, was by the Bassa before their faces and as C it were euen vnder their noses besieged and taken; the whole armie of the Christians in the meane time as idle beholders looking on, but not daring to relieue their distressed friends: but afterwards arising, marched to VACIA, where hearing of the Turks comming against them from PESTH, they set fire on the castle, and so retired alongst the North side of the riuer, vntill they came oueragainst VICEGRADE, a castle of their owne on the other side of Danubius: where by the good direction of the lord George Basta a most expert captain, and lieutenant Generall of the armie, they encamped so strongly, as that the Turkes after many braue attempts giuen to haue forced them in their trenches, were glad with some losse to depart.

Neither went things this yeare better forward with the Christians in other places than in this side of HVNGARIE. For Sigismund the Transyluanian prince by his Chancelour besieging the D strong citie of TEMESVVAR in October, was by the valour of the defendants and the vnseasonablenesse of the weather enforced to raise his siege,Michael the Vayuod yeeldeth his obeisance vnto the Turke, and yet refuseth to aid him against the Christians. and with dishonor to depart. Michael also the Vayuod of VALACHIA, who mooued with the example and persuasions of the Transyluanian prince, had reuolted from the Turkes, and done them great harme (as is in part before declared) now wearied with their often inuasions and the spoile of his countrey, almost brought to vtter desolation, many thousands of his subjects being by the Turks and Tartars caried away captiues, and his townes and castles for the most part rased, to giue his people a time of breathing, submitted himselfe againe vnto the Turkish obeisance, solemnely receiuing at the hands of one of the Turks Chiaus (for that purpose sent from CONSTANTINOPLE) an ensigne in token of his submission vnto the Turkish Emperour, as also of his fauour towards him. Which the more to assure E him of, he by another honourable messenger shortly after receiued from Mahomet the Turkish emperour more kind letters than at any time before, with the confirmation of the Vayuodship of VALACHIA, by the graund signior his solemne oath vnto Michael the Vayuod and his sonne Peter, then about thirteene yeares old, for the tearme of both their liues, without disturbance, paying but the halfe of the old yearely tribute by the Turks before demaunded: so glad they were vpon any conditions to haue reduced that martiall man with his countrey vnto their obeisance: and in token of further grace together with these letters, hee receiued also a goodly horse, most richly furnished, with a faire scimitar and an horsemans mase, in signe of the martiall power and gouernment committed vnto him by the great Sultan Mahomet. All which goodly gifts and honours the Vayuod seemed thankfully to accept▪ neuerthelesse not daring too farre to F trust vnto the Turkish faith, of the small assurance whereof he had before had sufficient experience, he still kept strong garrisons vpon the frontiers of his countrey, with such other forces also as he was wont, excusing the same to be done for feare of the Tartars; by whom he also excused himselfe, for not going with the Turkes Generall this yeare into HVNGARIE, as he was by speciall messengers from the grand signior himselfe requested, telling them that he might not in any [Page] case so doe for feare of the Tartars most horrible incursions, and the spoiles of his countrey: yet G knew he right well how that they were by the great Sultan his expresse commaundement charged not to do any harme either in MOLDAVIA or VALACHIA, as they went into HVNGARIE. But this warie Vaiuod not greatly trusting either the Sultan or them, as also loth himselfe a Christian to go against the Christians his friends and late confederates, excused himselfe by the necessarie care he had of his subjects and country, and so requested that his reasonable excuse to be in good part of the great Sultan accepted: but of him more is to be said hereafter. Thus passed this yeare without any great thing done more than is before declared, both these great princes, the emperor and the Turkish Sultan, being well warned by the last years worke what it was to put all to the fortune of a battell: and therefore now contenting themselues to haue shewed their forces, as not afraid one of the other, countenanced this yeares wars with greater shewes than deeds.H

1598What great things might by the Christian princes at vnitie amongst themselues be done against the Turks, is by the considerat right easily to be gathered: but especially by the notable victorie of the famous Transyluanian prince Sigismund, who confederated but with his poore oppressed neighbours the Valachians and Moldauians, and strengthened with some small aid from the Emperour and the Hungarians, not onely deliuered those three countries from the heauie burthen of the Turkish thraldome, but vanquished also their most renowned captaines, ouerthrew their mightie armies, burnt and spoiled their countries, rased their townes and cities, which as it hath beene in part before declared, so if it should be all particularly set downe, beside that it would be tedious, so also might it happily seeme almost incredible. Beside which calamities of war (commonly more felt of the subjects than of the prince) the great Sultan himselfe found no I small wants, as well in his cofers, as other his necessarie supplies for the maintenance of his wars, especially in HVNGARIE;A great tribute. the onely countrey of MOLDAVIA (before these troubles) yeelding vnto him yearely a tunne of gold, two thousand horses for seruice, ten thousand great measures of wheat, with as much barley, and a wonderfull proportion of butter, honie, and other victuals; the other two prouinces paying also the like or more, as a yearely tribute: whereof he had of late to his great discontentment by the generall reuolt of these three countries bin quite disappointed. But this so wholesome a confederation, to the great hurt of the Christian commonweale and benefit of the Turks, now broken, and MOLDAVIA by the Polonians disseuered from the rest, and againe made tributarie vnto the Turke (as is before declared) and now VALACHIA also in a sort acknowledging the Turks obeisance, the noble Transyluanian prince, who hitherto with great K cheerefulnesse and courage had fought the most Christian battels against the Turke, now left as it were all alone, and doubting how with his own small forces to be able long to defend his countrey against the Turke and the Polonian, whom he feared not much lesse than him; least the same should together with himselfe fall into the hands of the Turkes, or some other his enemies, by a wonderfull change voluntarily resigned this his country of TRANSYLVANIA vnto Rodolph the Christian emperour and his heires for euer:The prince of Transyluania [...]esigneth his countrey vnto the Emperour. and so leauing his wife in TRANSYLVANIA, went himselfe into SILESIA, there to take possession of the dukedomes of OPPELL and RATIEOR, which together with the yearely pention of 50000 Ioachims, or the reuenues of the bishopricke of VRATISLAVIA, he had in lieu thereof receiued of the emperour: wherupon the possession of TRANSYLVANIA, by the generall consent of all the states of that country, was in the beginning L of this yeare 1598 deliuered vnto the Archbishop of VACIA, the Countie Nadasti, and Doctor Petzi, the emperors commissioners; and a solemne oath of obedience and loialtie taken of them all in generall: albeit that the aforesaid commissioners as also the emperour himselfe would haue persuaded the prince either not at all or at leastwise not so suddenly to haue forsaken his country, but to haue still kept the gouernment therof himselfe yet for a yeare or two; well foreseeing that the same could not so conueniently bee gouerned by any other as by himselfe, a naturall prince therein borne,Michael the Vaiuod submitteth himselfe with his people vnto the Emperours protection. and exceedingly beloued of his subjects. The same commissioners also in Iune following going into VALACHIA, there tooke the like oath of obedience of Michael the Vayuod and his people: who loathing the Turkish soueraigntie, all willingly yeelded themselues into the emperours protection. These commissioners also at the same time came to agreement with the M Tartars embassadors, offering vnto the emperour peace and aid for the yearely pension of 40000 duckats, and as many sheepe-skin gownes, their vsuall manner of apparrell.

All this while continued the Diet of the empire, begun in December last past at RATISBONE, Matthias the emperours brother being there his deputie, and in his majesties name demanding a [Page] A greater aid for the mainten [...]nce of his warres against the Turke the common enemie, than was by the princes and states of the empire offered▪ where after great and long deliberation, a large proportion was by them all agreed vpon for the defraying of the charges of those wars and defence of the Christian commonweale, to be paied in three yeares next, and so thereupon was the assembly dissolued. But as they were returning home, behold contrarie to all hope RAB one of the strongest fortresses of Christendome, three yeares before betrayed vnto the Turks by countie Hardeck, was now by the wisedome and valour of Adolphus Baron of Swartzenburg, the Emperours lieutenant in the lower HVNGARIE, againe recouered; to the great griefe of the Turks, and wonderfull rejoycing of the Christians, in sort as followeth.

This noble gentleman the lord Swartzenburg of no lesse courage than experience, then lying B at KOMARA, and still in doubt least the Turks so neere vnto him at RAB, should attempt something against him and his charge, prouided for his own defence all that winter time with a strong garrison, keeping continuall watch and ward, although it were as then no time for the enemie with any armie to keepe the field. So Winter passing and the Spring approaching, it fortuned that the two and twentith day of March about seauen a clocke in the night, the gates being shut, were heard neere vnto the wals of the towne two men, who by their speech seemed to be Italians: with great instance requesting,Two Italian prisoners flying out of Rab discouer the state of the towne to the lord Swartzenburg. for the safegard of their liues to be let in, for feare of the enemies pursuit. Which by one of the Sentinels was forthwith reported vnto the Gouernor; who doubting it to be some subtile practise of the enemie, commaunded them there to take their fortune vntill the morning: at which time they were receiued into the citie, and being brought before C the Gouernour, prostrating themselues forthwith at his feet, piti [...]ully requested him to haue compassion of their miserie▪ and to comfort them with his charitable reliefe, that so they might at length returne againe into their countrey: who at the first asked them, what countrey men they were? and from whence they came at that time of the night? Whereunto they answered, That they were Italians, and that they had but euen then escaped out of the cruell hands of the Turkes at RAB. But desiring to know of them some newes, they after their manner humbled themselues, shewing by their gesture not to know any; yet would he needs vnderstand of them the particularities, when and how they were taken by the Turkes, and the meanes they had vsed to escape out of that cruell seruitude, all in order as it had befallen them. Where the yonger of them beginning, told him, That now almost two yeares ago, at such time as the Christians were D ouerthrowne by the Turkes vnder AGRIA, and euerie man in that confusion then seeking the best and neerest way to saue themselues; they hauing by flight now escaped the greatest danger of the enemie, and so trauelling ouer the countrey towards VIENNA, were to their great misfortune (by an hundred Turkes come out of RAB to scoure the countrey, and to seeke after prey) taken prisoners, and as slaues committed to the chaine, where they had almost two yeares vntill now, with great patience serued. These two fugitiues by their outward appearance, seemed to be men of good spirit and valour, which caused the Gouernor to be the more desirous to know of them the meanes they had vsed for their escape. So the yonger proceeding in his tale, gaue him to vnderstand of the whole matter, telling him, That they had been three moneths before still carefully deuising how to recouer their lost libertie, which now seemed to make some offer E of it selfe vnto them: For that since the time that the emperours armie rise the last yeare from before the towne, they were not kept so strait or looked vnto as before, but lay as men by the Turkes not much regarded: which caused them the more cheerfully to take the offer of the time, and to resolue either the sooner to die, or to set themselues at libertie. And that so one day as they were carrying certaine munition from the pallace of Giaffer Bassa for the souldiors, they secretly conuaied three pieces of coard of some reasonable bignesse, therwith by night to let themselues downe from the wall, and so as they might to escape: which stolne coard that it should not be seene, and so their purpose suspected, they buried in the ground. But the night being come for them to effect in what they had so long desired, and they roaming vp and down in the darke, and still finding one let or other, they were enforced for that time to stay, and to deferre it vntill F the night following: which being come, and choise made of a most conuenient place, they made fast the coard aboue, and so thereby slid downe, first the elder, and then the yonger; who not knowing how to swim, was yet by the good direction and helpe of his fellow conducted ouer vnto the farther side of the broad and deepe ditch: and that so, in the night (so darke as that one of them could hardly see the other) they were come by chance to KOMARA, thinking to haue [Page] taken the way to VIENNA. The Gouernour thus fully instructed of their escape, demaunded of G them farther, how the strong towne of RAB was by the Turks gouerned and guarded: who told him, verie euill, and with small care, especially since the departure of the emperours campe: and also, that foure gates of the towne were filled vp with earth, which if they were broken open, would all f [...]ll into the towne ditch, and so farther them that would attempt to enter: with diuers other particularities. Whereof the Gouernour hauing well considered, thought with himselfe, that if by some ingenious deuise he might by night with some good strength vpon the sudden enter the towne, it might happily be so againe recouered. Vpon which so great a dessignment he thought good to consult farther with the lord Palfi, whom he requested in all hast and with as much secresie as was possible, with 1600 foot and as many horse as he could make, to come vnto him to KOMARA. Who vpon the aduertisement so giuen sta [...]ed not, but presently giuing order H vnto his men, set forward by night, and the six and twentith day of March before day with 1400 foot and 120 horse arriued at KOMARA; where they were all joyfully receiued, and the gates after they were entred, againe fast shut, and so kept for feare of the enemies secret spies, of whom no man can be too war [...]e, be he neuer so wise. Now whilest these soldiors were refreshing themselues, in the mean time the Gouernour with the lord Palfi discoursed to the full concerning the entended enterprise: which resolued vpon, they found themselues vpon the view of their men to haue two thousand six hundred foot of the garrison souldiors, and three hundred horse▪ all good and couragious men, and well appointed for the entended seruice: who there staying two daies after their comming, and many of them in the meane time (after the manner of their religion) confessing themselues, and receiuing the sacrament, were become so couragious, as that I they doubted not in the quarrell of the Christian Religion to encounter a farre greater number of the Turks than themselues.The notable speech of the lord Palfi vnto his souldi [...]rs. And the more to stirre them vp, the lord Palfi at the same time deliuered vnto them a notable speech: not for all that telling them whither they were to go, but that they were his Christian soldiors and brethren, vnder his leading both of long and late time; who neuer by him deceiued of their wonted pay at such time as it was due, would not now as he hoped forsake him. And albeit that he well knew them to haue deserued at his hands a greater contentment: neuerthelesse being himselfe depriued of his reuenue by these late warres, and his possessions euerie houre subject vnto the incursions of the Turks, could not therefore according to his desire and their deserts, shew vnto them the great good will he bare them: Yet that now, and euen presently was come the time wherein they might not only aboundandly enrich themselues,K but also adorne their heads with an immortall crowne of glorie, and make themselues for euer famous, by performing the most happie and glorious exploit that euer was by valorous souldiors attempted or atchieued in that part of the world. And to the intent that they all might know how deerely he accounted of the life and honour of euerie one of them, he would therefore himselfe with the lord Swartzenburg (of whom proceeded all that faire deuise and new stratageme) be present with them in the action: and that therefore they were not to thinke, that they were led forth to any priuat danger, farther than their commaunders themselues▪ whose folly were to be accounted great, if rashly and vpon no good ground they should aduenture their liues and honours togither: wherof they ought not now to doubt, hauing by a thousand proofs knowne, how much they had been of them alwaies regarded. And that therefore it behoued L them so much the more to shew their valour in this peece of seruice vndertaken for the great benefit of the Christian common weale, and the honour of Christ Iesu: vnto whom they were with one accord to make their prayers, with his mightie hand to strengthen their hearts, and with glorious victorie to bring to happie end the intended exploit against his enemies, to the honour of his name, and the aduancement of the Christian religion and faith. At the end of which speech all the souldiors cried aloud, That they were most readie to do any their commaunds, and to follow them whither soeuer. So order was taken, that within three houres they should euerie man be prest and readie with their armes according to their places: and so hauing well refreshed themselues, about eleuen a clocke the seuen and twentith day of March, they in good order began to set forwards toward RAB. But for that the multitude of souldiors oftentimes giueth the enemie M warning of that is intended against him, Palfi gaue order to one Iohn Stroine his Sergiant maior, to follow faire and softly after him with 1700 horse and foot, which he well performed. And so vpon the breake of the day they began to draw towards RAB, and there lay close in ambush all that day vntill night, about seuen miles short of the towne: refreshing themselues in the meane [Page] A time with plentie of victuals, which they had brought with them from KOMARA. Night (the fauourer of deceit) being come, in two houres march they began to draw neere to RAB, and there staied about fiue houres: from whence they sent before them a French enginer, a man of great judgement, with thirteene others (before rewarded with 1500 duckats) hauing with them foure Petardes (engines of force to blow vp into the ayre any thing whereunto they be fastened, be it neuer so great or waightie;) where by good chance they found the draw-bridge down, and the portculleis vp: for that the Turkes then casting no perill, expected euerie houre for certaine wagons with prouision from ALBA REGALIS. By which good hap the Christians vnperceiued comming to the gate, and therunto fastening their Petardes, in good order gaue fire to the same, which presently tooke not hold: yet were they not farre gone, but that they were by a B Sentinell descried, who demaunding what they were, was presently answered by the violent engines, which in a trice tore in sunder the gate, with some part of the wall and of the fortifications neere vnto it.Rab surprised by the Christians. When now the watch (but all too late) began to giue the alarum, and the Christians in the foreward thrusting presently in, tooke the gate, none of the Turkes yet comming to the defence thereof, or to hinder them from entring. The first that appeared were two hundred Turkes, which with their wonted crie, Alla, Alla, in such hideous manner as if they would therewith haue rent the heauens, would haue staied the Christians from farther entring, but were themselues ouercharged by three hundred which were alreadie entred. At which time also the Bassa came on, with more than a thousand following him, and that with such courage and furie, as was neuer greater to be seene in any Turke: where after a most terrible fight maintained by C the space of two houres,Two of the Turk [...] Bassa [...]s slaine. the Bassa himselfe being slaine, the Turks began a little to retire; whereby a thousand Christians mo had leisure to enter: when strait waies after came Giaffar the great Bassa, with aboue a thousand tall souldiors following him, all the inhabitants also of RAB running after him, and that with such force, that they constrained the Christians to retire vnto the gate wherby they entred. Who (resolued rather honorably to die within the towne, than with dishonour to be forced out) there with incredible courage sustained the greatest impression of the furious enemie: where was to be seene the true Christian valour, for the performance of so great an exploit, well worthie of eternall memorie. But this Bassa also (the other being dead of a wound in his necke) encountred by the lord Swartzenburg, after he had in that sharpe conflict shewed great tokens of his valour, was there at length slaine also: both whose heads strucke off, D were for a present afterwards sent to the emperour at PRAGE, with all the particularities of the whole action. But now the Turkes perceiuing that all their chiefe commaunders were slaine, retired most part of them into the citie: some three hundred of them crept vnderneath one of the bulwarkes, where stood certaine barrels of gunpouder, which they desperately set on fire, and so together with themselues blew vp 300 Christians that were aboue vpon the bulwarke, the greatest losse the Christians had in all that victorie, who were otherwise supposed not to haue lost therein aboue 200 of their men. Thus the Turkes discomfited and altogither full of feare, loosing both their force and courage, fled in euerie place before the Christians, they in euerie corner making of them a most horrible slaughter. The Turkish women all this while out of their windowes and other high places, ceased not to cast downe stones, timber, and such like things vpon E the heads of the Christians, whom they sought by all meanes to annoy, and to helpe the Turks. The bloudie execution continued all that day vntill night, the Christians still finding one or other hidden in the most secret places of the citie, vpon whom to exercise their wrath: who ransacking also euerie corner thereof,A great bootle. were by the wealth therein found greatly enriched. But comming to the pallace of Giaffer the great Bassa, they found such great store of rich furniture, as better beseemed some great prince than a Turkish slaue. There they found also letters written in caracters of gold from the Bassa of BVDA to this Bassa, greeting him and promising him in his behalfe to deale with the grand signior against the next Spring, with the first that his armie should take the field, That he might therein haue some honourable place of commaund, to the end he might in the field shew his greater valour, and no longer lie idly in that strong towne. So found F they there also many things written from the great Sultan himselfe vnto this Bassa, with great store of coine, which all fell to the souldiors share; insomuch that by this so notable an exploit, so well performed, the publicke state, together with the souldiors priuat, was not a little bettered. There amongst other things were recouered threescore and six pieces of artillerie, which were knowne to haue beene sometime the Emperours, and foure and twentie others, which the Bassa [Page] had caused to be brought from BVDA with great store of shot and pouder and other small pieces,G and meale sufficient to haue serued foure thousand men for a yeare and a halfe, but of wine (little vsed of the Turkes) onely foure vessels. In the Bassaes pallace was also found of armour and weapons of all sorts, great store, with abundance of cloth and apparrell, which was all giuen in spoile to the souldiors. Thus RAB, one of the strongest fortresses of Christendome, not full foure yeares before besieged by Sinan Bassa with 150 thousand men, by the space of almost three moneths, and then at length by the treason of the Gouernour to him betraied; was now in one night, by the valour and pollicie of a few resolute men to their immortall glorie againe restored to the Christian common-weale, the nineteenth day of March in the yeare 1598. Of which so notable a victorie, the Christians rejoyced not a little both in HVNGARIE and elsewhere: the great Sultan with the Turkes in the meane time no lesse grieuing and storming, as H well for the losse of the towne before got with no small charge, as for the death of his people there slaine, to the number of about six thousand and moe, with the losse of scarce six hundred Christians.

Yet for all this Mahomet the great Sultan ceased not to make great prouision for his wars in HVNGARIE, and that greater than before; and so with greater furie also, to prosecute his wrathfull indignation,A great tumult betweene the Ianizaries and the Spahi. to be reuenged vpon the Christians. Whereunto order was giuen vnto Ibrahim Bassa his brother in law, and Generall of his armie, with all conuenient speed to take the field: which for all that fell out farre otherwise, for that now thinking to haue had all things in good forwardnesse, a great dissention rise betwixt the Ianizaries and the Spahi: the Ianizaries being the best footmen, and the Spahi the best horsemen of the Turkish empire; both the faithfull I keepers of the person of their prince, and the greatest strength of his state: whereby it commeth to passe, that in setting forward towards the wars, these two sorts of valiant souldiors, the one standing vpon their strength, and the other vpon their honour, and both jealous of their reputation and credit, haue no good liking of one the other, but oftentimes, and especially of late in this corruption of their martiall discipline vnder their degenerat emperours, fall at ods among themselues, as now they did, to the great hinderance of their affaires, and trouble of their Generall. Insomuch that to appease this tumult, he was glad to put to death certaine of the insolent Ianizaries, refusing to set forward as they were by their Aga commaunded. But proceeding farther, and thinking to haue executed some others of them also, to the farther terrour of the rest; he was by them and their adherents put in such feare of his life, that to auoid the present danger,K he was glad to excuse himselfe by his lieutenant, laying all the blame vpon him as the cause therof: who was therefore as a sacrifice deliuered vnto the furie of the Ianizaries, by whom he was presently slaine, with some others of the Bassa his followers. So these broiles with much adoe ouerpast, Ibrahim hauing taken a generall reuiew of his armie at SOPHIA, there staied, expecting order from the great Sultan where to begin his wars, in HVNGARIE o [...] in TRANSYLVANIA (for as yet that was in question:) which could not well be before the beginning of Iuly, by reason of the scarcitie of victuals euen then arising in the campe: for the supplying whereof Mahomet himselfe had no small care. But this long delay was the cause that a great number of the Ianizaries comming from HADRIANOPLE, and hearing by the way that the Generall would not as yet set forward, not knowing the cause of his stay, and doubting to be deceiued of their promised L entertainment, were about to haue returned backe againe: which knowne at the Court, commandement was presently sent thence vnto the Generall, without longer stay to set forward towards HVNGARIE, which the more hastened his departure with his armie.

In this the Turks so long delay, the Christians had good leisure to prepare their new forces, being now the latter end of Sommer: for well they might thinke that the enemie slept not, knowing what prouision hee had made as well in CONSTANTINOPLE as in other places. Wherefore reasonably doubting, that Sommer well spent and August now at hand, he would not so late turne his forces into the lower HVNGARIE, they thought it best to prouide for the safetie of the vpper countrey: And to the end that the enemie approaching those frontiers might there find forces readie to encounter him, the lord George Basta, a man of great experience and M valour, was appointed lieutenant Generall for that countrey; to the great contentment of the souldiors in generall, all shewing themselues most readie at his commaund. The lord Swartzenburg in the meane time remaining in the lower HVNGARIE at RAB, with eight thousand good souldiors: and the Archduke Matthias at VIENNA for the dispatch of George Basta, and [Page] A the hasting of him foeward: for that the vpper HVNGARIE to the great hurt thereof began now to feele the incursions of the Turkes and Tartars: besides that, he was afterwards to returne himselfe to speake with the emperour his brother, still expecting a Chiaus of the Turkes by the appointment of the Grand signior, sent by the way of POLONIA for PRAGE, to intreat with the emperour concerning a peace.

They of BVDA in the meane while seeing the delay of the Turks, of whom not one band yet appeared in those quarters; and on the other side perceiuing the great preparation of the Imperials, and the great garrison at RAB so neere at hand; began now to doubt some new resolution of the Christians: wherein they were no whit deceiued; for no armie of the Turks being then in field in the lower HVNGARIE,Buda besieged by the Christians. and the countrey plaine and open, the lord Pal [...]i with a conuenient B power and certaine pieces of batterie set forward to attempt the enterprise, and the sixteenth of October with sixteene pieces of artillerie began to batter the citie of BVDA, to the great feare and discomfiture of them within: hauing first taken the fort S. Gerarde, with hope to haue gained the rest also. For which cause, the men, the women, and all that dwelt in the citie, most instantly besought the Bassa, not to endure the destruction of the same, with the inhabitants and wealth thereof altogither; but being not able long to hold out against so furious a batterie, in time to hearken vnto some reasonable composition, that so they might yet euerie man at least with life depart. Whereunto the Bassa for all that would not hearken, but put them still in hope that they should be presently relieued. Howbeit the batterie still continuing, and they not able longer to endure the force of the Imperials; nor any reliefe yet comming, they were glad at C length to abandon the citie with the losse of two thousand of the Ianizaries, and but three hundred of the Christians slaine, and eight hundred hurt: the rest of the Turkes at the same time retiring themselues into the castle, where they might for a space deeme themselues safe. So the lord Palfi possessed of the citie, with all his forces laid siege vnto the castle, which although it were in some places shaken with the continuall furie of the cannon, yet were the defendants still readie to make good the same: insomuch, that Palfi vpon good hope of successe giuing thereunto a generall assault, was by their valour enforced to retire; they within in the meane time with great labour and industrie repairing the breaches and gaules made by the artillerie. So that Palfi considering the difficultie of the assault, thought it better by vndermining to shake the rock whereon the castle stood, than by a new assault to expose so many worthie men vnto so manifest D a danger: which his purpose by the enemie discouered, was by them also by countermining disappointed: yet for all that were the Christians still in good hope by an other mine not yet by the enemie perceiued, to sort to the full of their desire: and the more, for that they saw not so much brauerie or shew of courage in the defendants as before. Who now kept themselues silent and quiet, as if they had been consulting about the yeelding vp of the castle, as men bereft of all hope of reliefe and succour: the Christians being now possessed of a strong abbey and fortresse fast by, and hauing broken downe all the bridges ouer the Danubius, in such sort, as that the besieged could not receiue any reliefe either by land or water. But forasmuch as the time of the yeare began now to grow tedious, and the winter weather sharpe, the Christians thought it not best there long to protract the time; and therefore resolued to present vnto the castle another E generall assault, and at the same instant to blow vp the mine: but in giuing this assault, they were againe repulsed with the losse of two hundred men. At which time also a number of the Turks [...]allying out of the castle, couragiously encountred the Christians, but not with successe answerable to their valour, being there almost all cut in pieces: neither did the mine take the desired effect, but being blowne vp did little or no harme at all. So that the Christians wearie of their long suffering of the extremitie of the weather, and withall considering the great courage of the defendants, were euen vpon the point to haue risen: yet willing to giue a fresh attempt by the mine, they began againe to worke in the same, and in hope to preuaile began to parley with the defendants about the giuing vp of the castle, but all to little or no purpose; for that the mine hauing taken no effect, the souldiors could hardly be drawne on through the deepe and muddie F ditches,The Christians depart from the siege of Buda. to giue a new assault. In fine, seeing no hope to preuaile, and hearing also of the comming of a great armie of the Turkes for the reliefe of the besieged, they raised their siege, and at their departure burnt their suburbs, carrying away with them a great bootie: and so retiring towards STRIGONIVM, expected farther direction where to winter. Where shortly after order was taken, that the forces disbanded should be dispersed, some into the garrisons, and some into [Page] the countrey thereabout; to the intent they might so be in the more readinesse with the first of G the next Spring to take the field, or as occasion should serue to be otherwise imploied.

But Sigismund the Transyluanian prince in the mean time repenting himselfe of the vnequall exchange he had made with the emperour, in disguised apparell hasting in post out of SILESIA came to CLAVSENBVRG in TRANSYLVANIA: and there joyfully receiued of his subjects, and taking of them a new oath of obedience, by messengers sent of purpose certified Maximilian the Archduke (appointed by the emperour for the gouernment of TRANSYLVANIA, and now vpon his way as farre CASSOVIA) of the causes of his returne, persuading him rather to conuert his forces against the Turkes for the recouerie of AGRIA, than to trouble himselfe to come any farther for TRANSYLVANIA, now againe by him to the great contentment of his subjects repossessed: as did also the princesse his wife (Maximilian his cousin german) wishing him to H consider what hurt and dishonour he should doe vnto the Emperour his majestie, himselfe, the Roman empire, and the whole Christian common-weale in generall, if in so dangerous a time hee should attempt any thing against the prince her husband, and vnto him by her so neerely allied.

Veradinum besieged by the Turks.Now the Turkes great armie being come into the vpper HVNGARIE, lay encamped vnder the wals of the strong citie of VERADINVM, where that worthie captaine George Basta was lieutenant Generall for the emperour: but not hauing such strength, as without farther helpe to go against so mightie an enemie, or to relieue the besieged citie, not as then furnished with a sufficient garrison, he gaue knowledge thereof vnto Maximilian the Archduke, who (as is aforesaid) with a conuenient power was but a little before come to CASSOVIA, to haue gone into TRANSYLVANIA,I had he not there by the way been staied by embassadours from the prince Sigismund but lately before returned out of SILESTA; and hauing againe taken vpon him the gouernment, by these his embassadors requested him no farther to trouble himselfe with that journey, offering to giue him aid against the Turkes whensoeuer he should require it. The besieged neuerthelesse in the meane time notably defended themselues, and with certaine braue sallies did the enemie great harme; still expecting, that Basta the lieutenant, or the Transyluanian prince, or Maximilian the Archduke, or they all with their vnited forces should send them reliefe: vnto whom they gaue knowledge the nineteenth of October, how that the Turkes with all the force and furie they had vsed, had as yet little preuayled, being by their valour still repulsed, and with many sharpe sallies to their great losse encountred, and some of their great ordinance cloyed, in K such sort, as that they were in good hope to protract the time vntill they might by them their friends be relieued: yet not doubting, but that the Turkes according to their wonted manner, would doe what they might to subdue them. According to whose expectation, the Transyluanian prince with a great power taking the field to haue relieued them, was letted so to doe by the Tartars, to that purpose stirred vp by the Turks: so that he could by no meanes joyne his forces with Maximilians, for looking to the safetie of his owne people and countrey. Yet in token of forwardnesse, he sent certaine companies of braue souldiors vnto the lieutenant Basta: who vnderstanding that of two thousand good souldiors in garrison in the citie at the beginning of the siege, there were scarce seauen hundred left aliue, all the rest being with continuall assaults slaine or mortally wounded,A new supply put into Veradi [...] by [...]sta. vsed a notable stratageme to delude the enemie withall: for hauing put L his men in good order, and comming brauely on, as if he would euen presently haue joyned battell (a thing which the Turkes most desired) whilest they likewise with great stirre were putting themselues in order of battell, and wholly busied therein, he by an other way (of the Turks least suspected) cunningly thrust into the citie eight hundred good souldiors; and that done, presently retired againe into his trenches, wherein he strongly encamped feared not all the Turkes forces: who thinking euen then to haue come to a day of battell, and still in vaine expecting the same, returned deceiued by this finenesse. And so shortly after (enforced by continuall foule weather) raised their siege, not withou [...] great difficultie and danger (reliefe lying so neere at hand, and the defendants strengthned with new supplies) to haue beene longer maintained. So passed the troubles of this yeare, with no gaine but great losse of the Turkes: who at their departure enforced M by the vnseasonablenesse of the weather and feare togither, left behind them in their trenches many tents, with some great pieces of artillerie, being not able to conuay the same by water to BVDA: and withall fearing greatly to be encountred by the forces of Basta, strengthned with new supplies euen then sent vnto him from the emperour.

[Page] A The Archduke Matthias, Swartzenburg, and the other commaunders of the armie in the lower HVNGARIE, being twelue thousand strong, with the garrison souldiors of RAB, STRIGONIVM, and KOMARA, in the meane time because they would not stand idle, togither with the Hungarian horsemen, ouerran all the countrey thereabout euen vnto the gates of BVDA: in good hope also to haue met with 8000 Turks (as they were by their espials aduertised) comming towards PESTH with victuals for the reliefe of the castle of BVDA.

Whilest things thus passed in HVNGARIE, Mahomet to shew his greatnesse, as also the more to keepe the Christian princes in suspence, sent Cicala (or as the Turkes call him Cigala) Bassa his Admirall with a great fleet to sea: wherewith being come vpon the coast of SICI [...]IA, he requested the Viceroy of that kingdome, to send him abourd his fleet the ladie Lucretia his B mother, which dwelt in MESSINA, for that he greatly desired to see her and to doe her honour; promising so quietly to depart without any harme doing. And the Viceroy againe considering how that the angrie renegat for the like courtesie to him at an other time before denied, had in his rage done great harme all alongst the sea coast; couenanting with him to send her in safetie backe againe, sent her honourably accompanied abourd the Admirall gally: whom Cicala her sonne receiued with great joy and triumph, and hauing kept her with him one day with all the honour that might be, according to his promise sent her backe againe to MESSINA; and so without any harme done for her sake to any part of Christendome, peaceably returned ba [...]ke againe with his fleet.

Now in the meane time Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA with good forces of his owne, C because he would be doing something also, resolued to giue an attempt vpon NICOPOLIS, a citie of the Turkes in BVLGARIA: and so giuing order to his people, caused a bridge to be made ouer Danubius to passe that great riuer by. Whereof the Bassaes of SILISTRIA and BADOVA vnderstanding, thought good with all their power to disturbe him in that worke: and so comming, as the said bridge was by the Vayuod his souldiors laid ouer the riuer vpon boats, without farther stay attempted to haue broken the same, to the intent that the Vayuod should not that way passe. Who hasting thither with his armie, rescued his worke, and enforced the Bassaes to forsake the exploit by them begun: where betwixt them for a space was fought a most hard conflict, vntill at length the Turks were with a great slaughter ouerthrowne; and so glad, some here, some there, by flight as they might to saue their liues. After which victorie, he without let passing D ouer the riuer with his whole forces, came & encamped vnder the wals of NICOPOLIS: where they of the citie vnderstanding of the late slaughter of the Turks, and finding themselues not able to hold out against the force and valour of the Valachies,Nicopoli [...] sacked and burn [...] by th [...] Vayuod. and now out of hope of any helpe or reliefe in time to come from the Turkes, without farther resistance yeelded themselues into the power of the Vayuod. Who hauing sacked the citie and set it on fire, caried thence a great spoile and bootie, with a number of the Bulgarians: chusing out the best and most able bodies amongst them to serue him in his wars, and appointing the rest to inhabit & manure the wasted places of VALACHIA. The report of this ouerthrow giuen vnto the Turks by the Valachian, with the sacking of NICOPOLIS, running abroad, brought a generall feare vpon the Turkes euen in the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE. For the staying whereof Mahomet commaunded the E chiefe of his Bassaes, with a great power of tumultuarie soldiors taken vp in hast to go forthwith against the Vayuod, to stay the course of his farther proceedings, to the dismaying of his people, himselfe thundring out most horrible threats against him: who encouraged with his late victorie, and well acquainted with the Turks manners, little regarded the same, as knowing that he was not with words but with armes to be vanquished.

Now Mahomet the Turkish emperour oppressed with melancholie to see himselfe at once assailed with the plague then raging in CONSTANTINOPLE,1599 the bloudie wars in HVNGARIE, and the horrible mortalitie and losse of his people in both places; and withall not ignorant of the e [...]ill successe of his armie at VERADINVM, & of the great harme done at NICOPOLIS by the Valachian: yet for all that ceased not in what he might to prouide for so many euils, but gaue order F to Taut Bassa with all speed to set forward (as we haue said) from CONSTANTINOPLE toward VALACHIA; as from whence he feared the greatest danger: who without delay to make the Vayuod to vnderstand how highly the great Sultan was displeased with him, put hims [...]fe vpon the way with six hundred Ianizaries towards HADRIANOPLE, with purpose there to Winter vntill the Spring, and so to expect the comming of the rest of the armie, that so with the [Page] same, vnited vnto the forces of Mehemet Satergi (who the last yeare besieged VERADINVM)G he might in the field appeare more terrible vnto his enemies. The Christian Emperour also at the same time rested much discontented, that his people in so faire a way for the winning of the castle of BVDA, had yet failed thereof: the Wallons laying the fault vpon the lords Swartzenburg, Palfi, and the rest of the commaunders, that it was not woon; for that when they as valiant men offered to haue done therein the vttermost of their deuoir, their leaders had made choise by the spade and mattocke rather than by the sword to performe the same.

The Turkes againe spoiled by the Vayuod.But Michael the Vayuod seeing the Turkes not a little dismayed with the sacking of NICOPOLIS, began afresh to their greater terrour and hurt to make new inrodes vpon them, in such sort, as that he was entred an hundred miles into their territorie: against whom Mehemet Satergi (as yet the Turkes generall in HVNGARIE) comming with his forces, he againe retired, carrying H away with him the spoile of the countrey by him wasted.

Buda distressed.They of BVDA in the meane time fearing some sudden assault to bee giuen vpon them, and suffering within great want of victuals, expected long to be relieued both with victuals and other necessaries: vnderstanding yet withall, that the Grand signior had caused it to bee giuen out in CONSTANTINOPLE, that he was raising a great power of his best and most expert souldiors, and had therefore sent for vnto the Court all his old men of warre, such as had serued in the wars of PERSIA, to be now againe employed in HVNGARIE. Where the Turks in the meane time prouiding to relieue the distressed citie of BVDA both with men and many other necessaries; certaine resolute Hungarians vnderstanding by their espials, that one of the Turkes Bassaes with three thousand souldiors was comming thither to encrease the garrison, laied themselues close in I ambush in a place whereby the Turkes were to passe: where they had not long stayed, but that the Turks as men without feare disorderedly passing by, were by them with such force and furie assailed, that in a moment, when they least thought, they were ouerthrowne and put to flight, with the losse of many of their horses, much money and jewels, and many captaines there taken prisoners, the Bassa himselfe with much adoe hardly escaping into the citie. But shortly after foure hundred Christians scouring the countrey about BVDA, and hauing taken a good bootie of cattell and other pillage, returning loaded with the prey, were by the way assaulted by the Turks, and enforced to forsake the same, and to fight for their liues: whom for all that they notably repulsed, with the slaughter of diuers of them, and so againe recouering their bootie, returned with victorie. And about this time or not long after in the vpper HVNGARIE, a great power of K the Turkes and Tartars hauing forraged a great part of that countrey, and done the Christians great harme, came before CASSOVIA, making shew as if they would euen presently haue besieged that citie: which put the inhabitants in such a feare, that many of them without further deliberation fled forthwith as fast as they could into the mountaines, thinking themselues more safe there than in the citie. Neuerthelesse, by the persuasion of George Basta, the emperours lieutenant in those parts, two thousand valiant and expert souldiors staied there with him, expecting what the Turks would doe: who approching the wals, demaunded of them of the citie a great summe of money, by way of contribution, threatening otherwise the vtter ruine and destruction thereof. Which their proud demaund was by Basta stoutly rejected, and they with the losse of a great many of their liues enforced to get them further off. Wherefore seeing themselues not able L to preuaile against a citie so well prouided, they for feare by night rise, and departed quite another way than that whereby they came, doing great harme still as they went. The free Haiduckes of VALACHIA also, a warlike kind of people, liuing for the most part vpon prey, and willing to shew some token of their hatred toward the Turkes, by certaine bridges passing ouer the Danubius, encountered with the Bassa of NATOLIA with a great power, whom they ouerthrew with much slaughter of his people, and the losse of his brother there slaine also: and so afterwards ouerrunning the countrey, did there exceeding harme, and tooke the same Bassa his sonne prisoner. Thus passed the Winter with many light skirmishes and incursions in diuers parts of HVNGARIE and other the frontier countries, which had done great harme had it not beene before hand well prouided for by the Imperials; who in most places strengthened with new supplies,M stayed the furie of their barbarous enemies. Maximilian the Archduke in the meane time comming from PRAGE to VIENNA, found himselfe there to haue in his campe but foure and twentie thousand foot and ten thousand horse, readie against the next Spring (diuers of the Germane princes this yeare not sending thither any aid at all, by reason of their troubles neerer home, with [Page] A the Spaniards in the lower side of GERMANIE) which made him the more to dread the enemies comming, who he knew after his accustomed manner would that Summer appeare in the field with a farre greater number. But to haue holpen this want, the great duke of MVSCOVI [...] about this time, by his embassadours amongst other things requested leaue of the Polonian, for fortie thousand horsemen to passe through his countrey, which horsemen he had determined (as hee said) to send in aid of the emperour against the Turke. Which his request the Polonian would by no meanes graunt, as dangerous to his estate. Wherefore the Muscouite offended with the Polonian, sent other his embassadours vnto the emperour by sea: who embarked in an English ship in the port of S. Nicholas, and sayling about the kingdomes of SVVEDEN, NORVVAY, and DENMARKE, after long trouble at sea, at length arriued at STOAD, and so from thence by land B trauelling to HAM [...]OROVV, LVEECKE, and MAIDEN [...]OROVV, and in euery place honourably entertained, came at last vnto the emperour into BOHEMIA, then lying at PLISENA, for that the plague was then hot at PRAGE: where they hauing with great state deliuered their presents and letters of credence vnto the emperour, had audience, and were by him most honourably vsed. Yet the Polonian hauing thus denied the Muscouite passage, suffered the Turkes embassadour, who called himselfe Gabriel a Iew, to passe through his countrey vnto the emperour, to entreat with him of a peace to be made betwixt him and the Turke. Which Gabriel comming to PRAGE as embassador from the great Turke, and hauing no letters of credence to shew for his negotiation (for that they were,The Turks embassadour taken for a spie, and imprisoned as Vienna. as he said, vpon the way taken from him by the Polonian Cossackes, and certaine of his retinue slaine) was there taken for a spie, and so sent to VIENNA: C where at his first arriuall he was well vsed in a common Iune: but the night following being taken in his chamber by the Martiall, was so clapt fast in prison, with as many yrons vpon him as hee could beare, and all his followers with gyues vpon their legs compelled as slaues daily to worke in the towne ditch.

About this time also Sigismund the Transyluanian prince (whom hitherto all men admired as a man euen sent from heauen, for the benefit of his country and of the Christian commonweale) by a wonderfull change gaue a most manifest token of a diuers and vnconstant nature, to the great wonder of the world: For hauing broken the agreement made with the emperour the last yeare, and being secretly in post returned out of SILESIA into TRANSYLVANIA, and againe taken vpon him the gouernment (as is before declared) and hauing withall requested himselfe D and the Transyluanians his countreymen to be discharged of the oath of obedience and loyaltie by them before giuen vnto the emperour, and the citie of VERADINVM, with the country therabout, to be againe restored vnto him; and the emperour pausing thereupon: did now (doubting of his owne abilitie for the keeping of that countrey) in the beginning of this yeare 1599, by his embassadours the Bishop of AL [...]A IVLIA, and Stephen Paschai his Chancellour, sent of purpose vnto the emperour, request him to haue the first agreements againe renewed, and the principalitie of TRE [...]NITZ in MORAVIA, to be added vnto the two dukedomes of OPPELL and RATIBOR in SILESIA, with fiftie thousand duckats to be yearely paied vnto him out of the chamber of the empire; and a generall pardon to be giuen vnto all the Transyluanians, that following him had of late reuolted from the emperour, and their auntient liberties to be againe vnto E euery one of them confirmed. With all which conditions obtained at the emperours hands (as of him that saw how needfull it was for him by any meanes to keepe that strong countrey in his power) the same embassadours with their dispatch returned from PRAG [...] the nineteenth of Aprill.

But Sigismund in the meane time at home, was entred into new conceits with certaine of the Polonian [...] nobilitie, farre differing from his former agreement with the emperour: and hauing sent for one of the Turkes Chiaus from CONSTANTINOPLE, and for his cousin Andrew Bathor the [...]oud Cardinall out of BORVSIA, and so meeting with them in an obscure village in the confines of TRANSYLVANIA, towards POLONIA, accompanied with certain of the chiefest of the states of his countrey:Sigismund yeeldeth his countrey of Transyluania vnto the Cardinall Bath [...]r hi [...] cousin. there in the presence of the Polonians and of the Turkish embassadour▪ F resigned all the right and title he had in the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA vnto the Cardinall his cousin, commaunding all the States there present to sweare vnto him their obedience and fidelitie who shortly after together with the Polonian embassador sent one of his especiall fauourits to CONSTANTINOPLE, to desire safe conduct for his embassadours to bee sent thither to conclude of all matters with the Turke. Which messenger so sent, together with the [Page] Polonian embassadour, were both courteously receiued in the Turks Court, and as with an especiall G fauour rewarded with right sumptuous garments, and charge giuen them, That the Cardinall within three moneths next should send thither a solemne embassadour, with the old accustomed tribute by the Turke demaunded. Thus through the inconstancie of the prince, the ambition of the proud Cardinall, and the foule collusion of the Polonian, the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA (one of the strongest fortresses of that side of Christendome) falling from the obedience of the emperour, and so in sort bereft from the Christian commonweale, became againe tributarie vnto the Turke; most good men detesting the lightnesse of the one, the ambition of the other, and the slinesse of the third.

Now the Turkes in BVDA not able longer to endure the great famine therein, had most earnestly requested reliefe from the other Turkes their friends in HVNGARIE, who on all hands ran H to haue relieued them: but comming neere thereunto, could not put thereinto such prouision as they had brought for the reliefe of the same, being letted so to doe by the Imperials; who about a league off diligently attended euery motion of the enemie: from whence the lord Swartzenburg in the night secretly approching one of the gates with his followers, thought with a Petard to haue broken it open, and so to haue entred. Which his deuice taking not effect, as did that at RAB, the gate being within strongly fortified by the enemie, he was enforced to depart, being also discouered by the Turkes from the wall. Now shortly after the Bassa of BVDA with six hundred horse issuing out of the citie to haue met with victuals that were comming thither,The Bassa of Buda taken prisoner. fell into an ambush of the Haiduckes, who after their manner fiercely encountered him, and putting him to flight, tooke him prisoner, his horse in the chase falling vnder him: whom his souldiours seeking I to rescue, there began a new skirmish, encreasing their former ouerthrow with the losse of the greatest part of them that were left: amongst whom the Bassa his sonne, with the Aga of the Ianizaries, there lost their liues also. Which conflict thus ended, the Bassa was with safe conduct brought to the campe, and there with great threats enforced to reueale the state of his citie, with other the secret designes of the Turkes. Whereupon the Haiduckes returned againe towards BVDA, seeking by all meanes to stop the comming of victuals thither, so in hope at length to haue gained the distressed citie. But whilest they thus lay vpon the passages, behold newes was brought vnto them, how that the Bassa of BOSNA, with the Sanzackes of SIGETH, QVINQVE ECCLESIae, and COPPAN, with ten thousand Turkes were comming to oppresse them, and to open the passages by them holden.The Turks ouerthrowne, and the Bassa of Bosna slaine. But they knowing their owne strength, and nothing fearing K so small a force, stayed not for their comming but went to meet them; and in a place of good aduantage waiting for them, vpon their first appearance with great assurance and courage charged them, brake their array, and slew the greatest part of them, together with the Bassa himselfe: yet with so much adoe, as that had not the lord Palfi in good time sent in vnto their aid certain companies of fresh men, it was not without cause doubted but that the Haiduckes had been put to the worse, aboue three hundred of them hauing there alreadie lost their liues. The Tartars yet neuerthelesse in good number held on their way towards BVDA, with purpose to haue ouerrun the countrey, and so to haue withdrawne the Imperials from the citie: but for as much as that base nation was knowne to be good for nothing but to rob and spoile, the lord Swartzenburg his regiment only going against them, and encountering them, ouerthrew them, in such sort, that L part of them being there slaine in fight, and part for feare driuen into the Danubie, the greatest number of them there most miserably perished.

Basta the emperours lieutenant in the vpper HVNGARIE at the same time lay at CASSOVIA with eighteene thousand men, doubting least the enemies armie, which he heard to bee at hand, should come to besiege that citie. In the meane time Ibrahim Bassa Generall of the Turkes forces, came to SOLNOCH with an armie of fiftie thousand strong, amongst whom were ten thousand Ianizaries: but for all that, vnderstanding that Basta nothing dismayed awaited his comming at CASSOVIA, not thinking it good to goe any further (his souldiors being alreadie wearie with long trauell) neither yet safe there to stay so neere vnto his strong enemie, retired backe againe to BELGRADE, a place of more strength and securitie; expecting a great fleet of ships,M which charged vpon the Danubius, were to bring victuals for the armie, as also for the reliefe of BVDA, ALBA REGALIS, and other such distressed places, with diuers great pieces for batterie, and other lesse artillerie vpon carriages, with a number of ladders and other instruments of war, declaring their purpose for the performance of some notable exploit; all guarded with fiue thousand [Page] A Turkes,The Turkes r [...] cei [...]e a notable ouerthrow vpon the riuer of Danubius. which conducted it vp the riuer. Of all which the Imperials vnderstanding, the lord Palfi dispatched his lieutenant with a conuenient power, and the captaine of the Hussars with his followers, all good and valiant souldiors, to cut off this conuoy: Who to make the matter short, suddenly assailing them, and so comming to handy blowes, cut in peeces the conuoy, and rifled the ships, of whom the greater part were there sunke in the deepe riuer; and so tooke an exceeding great bootie, deemed to be worth a million of gold: where amongst other things of great value, there was found abourd an hundred thousand dollars, which were all deuided amongst the souldiors as a reward of their trauell. This great ouerthrow once knowne at BVDA, ALBA REGALIS, and the cities thereabouts, brought vpon them a great feare: yea the armie of Ibrahim grew thereby much discontented, as being at once disappointed both of their victuals B and their pay. Besides that, the Imperials ouerran all the countrey thereabout, ransacking, sacking, and destroying the countrey villages and castles without mercie, although the poore inhabitants offered them large contribution to haue staied their furie, which would not bee accepted. Vpon this notable ouerthrow also the lord Swartzenburg was determined with all his forces to come againe to the siege of BVDA, in hope in so great a discomfiture and want of victuals to haue had it deliuered vnto him; and for that purpose sent for certaine great pieces of artillerie to VIENNA. But whilest things went thus well in the lower HVNGARIE, colonell Rodoler of S. Andrewes in the vpper countrey, tooke occasion also vpon this ouerthrow of the Turkes with fiue hundred horse and six hundred foot, to shew himselfe with this small companie before AGRIA, hauing yet left the greatest part of his forces a little off in secret ambush: Which small companie C the Bassa of AGRIA beholding, presently put himselfe in arms, and so sallying out, began an hot and braue skirmish: when suddenly the other souldiors left in ambush starting out and couragiously assailing their enemies, brake their order, & put them to flight, pursuing them at the heeles euen to the gates of the citie: and had there beene a greater force of footmen, it was verely thought, that the Turks (dismaied with the flight, and altogether confounded) had abandoned the defence of the place, and the Christians euen then become masters of the citie, which had beene the cause of their notable ouerthrow in the yeare 1596. Neuerthelesse they with great brauerie and small losse retired, hauing slaine a great number of the Turkes, and carrying away with them an hundred prisoners, with a bootie of fiue hundred horse, and much other cattell.

The free Haiduckes also strengthened with new supplies, had done great harme in the countrey D about BVDA, scouring freely all ouer it, finding none to oppose themselues against them: for which cause the poore Christians, which yet dwelt in that country, rise vp against the Turks, promising their obedience vnto the emperour: and moreouer, to the intent they might bee no more molested by the Imperials, offered to take vp armes themselues against the enemie, and to the vttermost of their power to hinder his passage both by land and water. These same Haiduckes also had broken downe all the bridges which the Turkes had made betwixt BVDA and ALBA REGALIS, to the end they should not that way commodiously bring either victuals or munition from the one place to the other. And the lord Palfi and Nadasti vnderstanding by their espials, That the Tartars deuided into three companies, had ouerrun a great part of the country, and with a great bootie were retiring towards BVDA, presently went out against them and enforced E them to fight▪ which barbarous people, better inured to filtch than to fight, there lost all their liues, together with that they had before stolne. After which victorie, these valiant men turning their forces against certaine other places of the Turkes there by, tooke two of their castles with much rich spoile: which castles they sacked and burnt, together with the great towne of ZOINA, breaking downe also the bridge vpon the riuer Traua.

Now at this time the Turkes at BVDA held themselues male content within the citie,The Turkes [...] feare forsake the citie [...] Buda, and flie into th [...] castle. hauing no Gouernour; their Bassa being before taken by the Haiduckes, and they themselues pinched also with great want of victuals T Wherefore doubting some sudden attempt of the Christians, as men dismaied, they for their more safetie, retired themselues into the castle, a place of great strength, lea [...]ing the citie vnto the Imperials then readie to haue besieged it but doubting of the F Turkes great armie, which as they heard was marching thitherwards, the auauntguard thereof being come to MOA [...]ESH, where Sar [...]es Bassa was also looked for; the report being giuen out, that the Turkes hauing relieued BVDA, would go to besiege CANISIA or else S [...]I [...]ONIVM they staied to go any farther, as men in doubt what to resolue vpon. So were sent certaine colonels [...]nd other captaines with their souldiors, to fortifie certaine passages whereby the [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] Turkes armie was to passe.The Christians vpon the approach of the Turkes great armie retire. The rest in the meane time retiring, for that the puissant enemie began G now to approch; as also for that they knew the great desire that Ibrahim Bassa had to recouer again STRIGONIVM, and had therefore sent a great number of Tartars to forrage and wast the countrey, and so suddenly hauing relieued BVDA and AGRIA, there to resolue whether to turne his forces. The Imperials in the meane time encamping neere vnto HATWAN and ZOLNOK, to hinder the Turkes from victualling of BVDA, as they desired, cut off fiue hundred of them at their first arriuall, who to that purpose were going towards BVDA; and tooke also one of the Turkes Chiaus prisoner: who sent from Ibrahim the Generall, was going to AGRIA, to put them in hope of their speedie reliefe. They also at the same time attempted to haue surprised ZOLNOK: where a good number of them with certaine Petardes approching the gates, in hope so to haue broken them open, being discouered by the watch, were inforced to retire, leauing fortie H behind them slaine, and carrying away with them many moe of their fellowes wounded: in reuenge whereof, the rest shewed their furie vpon the countrey thereabout, destroying the villages, and intercepting a great deale of munition, which together with other victuals they met by the way as it was going to BVDA and AGRIA.

Summer now almost spent, Ibrahim the great Bassa in the beginning of September came to BVDA with an armie of an hundred and thirtie thousand strong, and from thence in the name of his great lord and master gaue the emperour to vnderstand at PRAGE, That for the sauing of further effusion of innocent bloud, and not for any feare or distrust of his owne strength and power, hee could bee content to hearken vnto some reasonable conditions or treatie of peace. Whereunto both these great princes (hauing well wearied themselues with these long warres,I and exhausted their treasures) seemed not now vnwilling, expecting (as was thought) nothing more than for the honour to be the first entreated: and the rather, for that the old Sultannesse, Mahomet his mother (whom by the weakenesse of her sonnes gouernment, such as neuer was in any the Othoman kings or emperours before, beareth the greatest sway in his affaires) seemed in what she might to further the same. Wherefore in the latter end of September a place was agreed vpon for a parley for peace,A parley for peace. which was in an island in the riuer of Danubie beneath STRIGONIVM: whither the lords Swartzenburg, Nadasti, Palfi, and the bishop of VACCIA, being come for the emperour▪ and Amurath the Bassa of BVDA, with the lieutenant Generall of the Tartars, and some others for the Grand signior: the Turkes at the first (after their vnreasonable manner) demaunded to haue RA [...], STRIGONIVM, FILEK, SETCHIN, with all the rest of K the townes and castles in fiue yeares before taken from them by the Christians, to bee now againe surrendered vnto them, with a certaine yearely tribute by the emperour to be paied vnto the great Sultan at CONSTANTINOPLE; as also there to haue his embassadour leiger continually attending vpon the Turkes Court: for which they offered to deliuer againe vnto the emperour the citie of AGRIA onely. All which their proud and vnreasonable demaunds being by the aforesaid commissioners on the emperours behalfe rejected, they were contented to come to some more reasonable talke, offering to leaue vnto the emperour RAE and AGRIA (whereof RAE was his owne alreadie) onely for STRIGONIVM, exchanging as it were STRIGONIVM for AGRIA. Which when it could neither bee obtained, the parley was so broken off, and nothing concluded, and so the warres againe continued, without any memorable thing more this L yeare betwixt them done, either on the one side or the other: the Christians contenting themselues to haue distressed the chiefe cities the Turkes held in HVNGARIE, and the Turks no lesse apaied to haue relieued the same.

Michael the Vay [...]od with a gr [...]at armie entreth into Tran [...]y [...]uania.But whilest things thus passed betwixt the Christians and the Turks in HVNGARIE, Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA, yet the emperours friend and confederat, and vnder his protection, certainely enformed his life to be sought after in the Turkes Court by the ambitious Cardinall Bathor his enuious neighbour, but lately become the prince of TRANSYLVANIA (as is before declared:) by commaundement from the emperour, and to be reuenged of so great a wrong, as also betimes to prouide for his owne safetie, with an armie of threescore thousand strong suddenly entered into TRANSYLVANIA, in most horrible manner burning the countrey and killing M the people before him as he went. Where whilest the Cardinall (who was thought to haue purposed to haue serued him in like sort, had he not beene by him preuented) was making head against him, [...] the mean time had the citie of [...] (commonly called BRASSO) with the strong castle of Fogaras, yeelded vnto him: from whence he marching towards ALBA IVLIA, [Page] A the six and twentith of October with all his armie, before deuided into three parts, but now againe vnited, came into the plains neere TEMISON, about three leagues from HERMENSTAT: where vnderstanding that his lieutenant corrupted by Ibrahim Bassa, had promised to kill him; and now well assured thereof, to rid himselfe of that danger, with his owne hands presently cut his throat, and so dispatched him. When by and by after came vnto him the Popes Nuntio, sent by a finenesse from the Cardinall, accompanied with another embassadour, the better to countenance out the matter, telling him, that the same embassadour had commission from the emperor, to will him forthwith to desist from armes, and without further delay to depart out of TRANSYLVANIA. Which thing seeming vnto the Vayuod very strange and almost impossible, hee desired to see the said commission. Whereunto the Nuntio before instructed, answered, that he B had left it with the Cardinall himselfe: but I (said the Vayuod) haue one here present from the emperour of another purport, which I purpose fully to put in execution: yet was he for that day entreated by the Nuntio to stay his armie. And so in the meane time lying both still, and in great suspence, the Vayuod desired to know of the Nuntio the cause why the Cardinall forgetting himselfe, so troubled that countrey, by intruding himselfe thereinto, to the great prejudice of them vnto whom it of better right belonged, not attending vnto the gouernment of the Church, better beseeming his calling than the managing of arms, to the disturbance of the Christian peace. Whereunto he receiued no answere. So the eight and twentith of October, a day dedicated to the commemoration of the Apostles Simon and Iude, these messengers were sent backe againe vnto the Cardinall: who presently returned them back vnto the Vayuod with new C instructions (being then busie with his young sonne, in setting his men in order of battell, presently to goe against the Cardinall:) of whom they could get no other answer, but that he was resolued forthwith to come vnto the triall of a battell with him. So the two armies lying encamped not past a quarter of a league the one from the other,A te [...]rible battell b [...]twixt the Va [...]uod and th [...] Cardinall. and the same day meeting together, joyned a most terrible and cruell battell, which for the space of fiue houres was with such desperat obstinacie fought, as if they had euery man vowed to haue carried away the victorie ouer his enemie, or there to haue left themselues dead vpon the ground; vntill the Cardinals people at length ouercome in a long and bloudie fight, were there vtterly ouerthrowne: amongst whom were thirtie thousand Turkes and Tartars, sent vnto him from Ibrahim Bassa the Turks Generall. The Cardinall himselfe seeing the discomfiture of his armie, was by some reported to haue saued D himselfe by flight: but by some others was said to haue beene drowned in passing a riuer, as hee fled from the Valachians that had him in chase. But the truth was, that the Vayuod now master of the field sent out certaine troupes of horsemen diuers waies still to pursue him: and himselfe with the rest of his armie prosecuting the victorie, came to the Cardinals campe, now by the Transyluanians and Turkes quite forsaken, wherein he found fiue and fortie pieces of artillerie, with great store of coine and wealth, beside a number of tents and horses, all which became vnto him a prey. From thence he marched vnto ALBA IVLIA, where he was with great joy receiued of his friends and confederats there: for though the greater part of the Transyluanians, especially the nobilitie, had together with the Cardinall submitted themselues vnto the Turkes protection, and followed his ensignes: yet were there diuers others also, who still fauoured the emperour, E and therefore rejoyced not a little of this victorie. The Vayuod after that sent his lieutenant to CLAVDIOPOLIS, to see if they would yeeld also: which they willingly did, with many other cities and castles in diuers parts of that countrey, which hauing none to rest vpon, now yeelded also: in such sort, that shortly after all TRANSYLVANIA submitted it selfe againe vnto the emperours obeisance, and swore vnto him obedience: most of the nobilitie of that countrey being either slaine in the battell, or afterwards put to death by the Vayuod: amongst whom were fiue, which corrupted by the Cardinall, had before vndertaken to kill him. Now the foureteenth of Nouember,The Cardinals head sent for a present vnto the emperour. after diuers reports of the Cardinals escape, his vngratious head was for all that presented vnto the Vayuod, which to the terrour of others, being for a while set vp in ALBA IVLIA (where he but a little before had commaunded as a prince) was afterwards taken F downe, and sent for a present from the Vayuod vnto the Emperour and the Archdukes his brethren; his headlesse bodie being afterward by the commaundement of the Vayuod honourably buried in a monasterie at ALBA IVLIA, in the same tombe he had before made for his brother, beheaded by his cousin Sigismund Bathor. The Cardinals treasure also fell into his hands, which was said to haue beene three millions of gold. Thus the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA, lately [Page] before by the Cardinall yeelded vnto the obeisance of the Turke, was againe by this worthie G Vayuod recouered, and restored vnto the Christian empire; the proud Cardinall cast out and brought to confusion, hauing not yet possessed these his new honours full eight moneths. His cousin Sigismund the late Transyluanian prince, who almost all this while had stayed at BORVSIA, and in disguised apparrell seene DANSKE, and diuers other the free cities thereabouts, now hearing newes of the Cardinals ouerthrow, secretly got him away from thence into POLONIA to seeke againe his new fortunes. The lord Swartzenburg at the same time vniting his forces in the lower HVNGARIE with them of STIRIA, and now twentie thousand strong, sought by all meanes to reduce so many places vpon those frontiers as he could vnto the emperours obeisance, and so tooke in aboue two hundred villages. But afterward thinking to haue surprised the strong castle of CAPISVAR, and by night secretly approching one of the gates with a Petarde, which H tooke not the expected effect, he was discouered by the watch, and so by the garrison souldiors (now raised with the alarum) repulsed, and enforced to retire with the losse of about an hundred men, and diuers others wounded, all men of good account: in reuenge whereof Swartzenburg afterwards sent out diuers troupes of horsemen, which scouring all ouer the countrey as farre as SIGETH, burnt it also, and so returning, carried away with them a great bootie.

Ibrahim Bassa hearing of this ouerthrow of the Cardinall, with all the forces he had sent him, much troubled therewith, sent newes thereof in post to CONSTANTINOPLE: the brute wherof brought a generall feare vpon the whole citie also, insomuch that commission was forthwith sent vnto him from the great Sultan, giuing him power (if it might be) to come to some honourable peace with the Emperour,The Turks great armie of it selfe d [...]ssol [...]ed. and to bring it with him to CONSTANTINOPLE: whither he I was shortly to returne, being now no longer time to keepe the field with his armie, which beside the cold season of the yeare suffered great want of bread, the plague also then raging therein with the death of many his best souldiors both horse and foot, beside the wonderfull mortalitie of their cattell also: in such sort, that the souldiors not able longer to endure the famine and wants increasing, fell to robbing of one another, and so at length into mutinie; wherein diuers of them being slaine and cut in pieces by their fellowes, the rest for the most part brake in sunder of themselues, and so by diuers waies returned home, not well trusting one another. So that nothing more was now done with the great preparation of the Turkes, their armie being discomfited with wants and the euill successe of their affaires, as well in HVNGARIE as in TRANSYLVANIA. Neither did Ibrahim the great Bassa for the reliefe of those euils, at his returne bring any K conclusion of peace vnto his great lord and master, as was commonly expected.

Cusahin Bassa of C [...]ramania riseth [...]p in rebellion against the great Sultan.Now beside these troubles of TRANSYLVANIA and the other reuolted countries, Cusahin (or as some call him Cassan) the sonne of one of the Sultanesses, brought vp in the Seraglio according to the manner thereof, and hauing long serued in the wars of PERSIA and in HVNGARIE, and so at length made Bassa of CARAMANIA, a man of great spirit, and not able to endure the imperfections he daily saw in the Othoman empire, and the cowardise of the grand signior; vpon the report of the euill successe of the affaires of HVNGARIE on the one side, and the desire he saw in the Persians to recouer their lost fortresses on the other, and grieued also with more particular wrongs concerning himselfe; as a man altogither discontented, resolued to take vp armes: and calling vnto him his souldiors, and (as he was a well spoken man) laying before them L the deformities of the present state, gallantly persuaded them with the promise of honour, soueraigntie, and rich rewards, what an easie thing it were to chase the grand signior out of ASIA, and to set themselues with all that part of the empire at libertie. And so euen at the first hauing woon vnto him three thousand harquebusiers, and fiue thousand horsemen, tooke the field to the great hurt of the Turkes, and trouble of the state. A strange matter in that tyrannicall empire. The newes whereof comming in post to the Court, commission was forthwith directed vnto foure of the Sanzackes of ASIA neerest vnto him, for the speedie suppressing of that rebellion but euen then arising. Whereof Cusahin vnderstanding, and that they with ten thousand horse and foot were comming to oppresse him: without farther stay went couragiously to meet them, and so encountring of them, ouerthrew them with a great slaughter, and tooke from them their baggage M with six pieces of great ordinance. And after with his people seized vpon all the castles thereabouts, giuing whatsoeuer he found therein for a prey vnto his souldiors: who also much enriched themselues with the spoile of the Iewes, as the people whom they most hated, and neuer rested vntill he had made almost all the countrey of CARAMANIA his owne. After that he [Page] A laid siege to COGNA, a citie in the confines of NATOLIA, which was forthwith yeelded vnto him. And yet not so contented, gaue it out by open proclamation, that for the reformation of the disordered state, he would ere long go to besiege the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE: and that therfore all such as would follow him, should of him be intreated as his friends and companions, threatning vnto the rest most cruell death and destruction. Of which his proceedings Mahomet (as then disporting himselfe at his gardens of pleasure in the countrey, all alongst the side of PROPONTIS) vnderstanding, and fearing to be there surprised, or that some sudden innouation might be raised in the citie: hasted with all speed to CONSTANTINOPLE, and from thence in all hast dispatched Mehemet one of the Visier Bassaes the sonne of Sinan, with all the forces he could make to go against him.Mehemet one of the Visier Bassaes sent agains [...] the r [...]bell. Who passing ouer into ASIA with a great power, and B yet fearing to come to the triall of a battell with him whom he knew to be a man of himselfe desperatly set, and not a little fauoured also euen of his owne souldiors: so secretly wrought by large promises, that Cusahin his footmen were euen vpon the point to haue forsaken him. Which he quickly perceiuing, fled forthwith through SIRIA into ARABIA with his horsemen, and the horsemen of Simon the Georgian: purposing the next Spring by the helpe of Arabians and Persians to appeare in the field with greater forces than before. After whom Mehemet the great Bassa following, came with his armie to ALEPPO, there to Winter, and to expect the returne of the rebell together with the Spring. This so dangerous a rebellion, with the troubles of TRANSYLVANIA and VALACHIA, were the cause that the grand signior seeing himselfe in so many places forsaken of his subjects, was the readier to encline vnto peace with the emperour; whereunto for C all that the emperour was not hastie to hearken, but vpon honourable conditions: as knowing that the Turke required the same, not for any desire he had to liue in quiet, but for that his troubled affaires both at home and elswhere abroad so required; his Ianizaries and other men of warre in this his so weake gouernment being growne so insolent, as that they were hardly to bee by him commaunded; openly threatening in their discontented humors not only the deposing of the principall officers about him, but of himselfe also, and of the banishment of the Sultanesse his mother, saying, that she had bewitched him, to the end she might her selfe rule, which she indeed doth in all his greatest affaires. But the rebell Cusahin the next yeare growne againe very strong, was now come into the field, and euen readie to haue giuen the Bassa battell: who as hee was a man of great wisedome and experience, well considering with what a desperat enemie hee D had to doe, thought it best againe to proue, if his rebellious followers might by faire meanes bee drawne from him: and so comming neere vnto him, by open proclamation promised a free and generall pardon to all such as had followed the rebell in those wars, if forsaking him, they should forthwith returne home to their dwellings, and so to the obedience of their just and lawfull prince and soueraigne. Which generall pardon so proclaimed, was the ruine of Cusahin, for that the greatest part of his followers now enriched with the great booties they had gotten, and now also hauing free pardon offered them, returned home into their owne countries, there at ease to liue of their euill gotten goods,Cusahin the rebell taken and tortured to death at Cōstantinople. leauing their captaine with some few others which staied with him, with little hope to be saued. So that within a few daies after Cusahin thus forsaken of his followers, was himselfe taken and brought prisoner to CONSTANTINOPLE, where shortly after hee E was with most exquisit torments tortured to death.

The troubles of this yeare thus past,1600 Rodolph the Christian emperour with the beginning of the next (whilest the ground yet couered with snow,The emperour maketh prouision against the Turk [...]. and the vnseasonablenesse of the weather would not suffer the souldiors to keepe the field) caused a Diet of the princes of the empire to be called, to consider with him of such helpes as were by them to be giuen against the Spring, for the maintenance of the warres which yet he had against the Turke: who all promised to send their souldiors with their pay, and such further contribution as might serue for the maintenance of that defensiue warre against the common enemie. Whereunto also Clement now bishop of ROME (this yeare of Iubilie) put to his helping hand, as he had diuers times before, by sending thither such aid both of men and money as hee had before promised: so that by this meanes great preparation F was made by the Christians for the taking of the field with the first of the Spring. At which time the Turkes also began to stirre: who although Ibrahim Bassa their Generall by the appointment of his great lord was then in some speech with the emperour about a peace, yet ceased not they in the meane time that this treatie was from day to day prolonged, with their companies scattering here and there, to doe what harme they could vpon the frontiers of the emperours [Page] territories, the cause why he with more speed called vpon his friends for their promised aid.G And for the better managing of this yeares warres against the Turke, he appointed duke Mercurie (who had drawne a great number of Frenchmen both horse and foot out of FRANCE) Generall of all his forces, sending Ferrant Gonzaga surnamed the Lame (whom for his approued valour and experience in martiall affaires, he had sent for to MANTVA) gouernour into the vpper HVNGARIE. So the souldiors now day by day by companies resorting from diuers parts into AVSTRIA, were from thence sent vnto such places as were by the Turkes most molested, so to represse their often incursions, as in many places they did. For eight thousand of the Turkes going out vpon the sudden to haue surprised PAPPA, were by the garrison souldiours of that place encountered and ouerthrowne. And on the other side, whilest Ferdinand the Archduke was assembling his people in CROATIA, for the defence of that countrey against the incursions H of the enemie, six thousand Turks without resistance entring the same as farre as BVCCARI, and burning the countrey villages as they went, had taken many prisoners, with a great bootie of cattell; and so (merrie and out of feare) being about to haue returned, were suddenly set vpon by the Countie Serinus in certaine straight and troublesome passages, where they least feared any such matter, and ouercharged also with their prey, were (I say) easily by him for the most part ouerthrowne, and the rest put to flight, and so the prisoners with all the rest of the bootie againe recouered. At which time also one of the imperiall colonels with fifteene hundred horse making an inrode into the countrey about ALBA REGALIS, and meeting with the Turkes and Tartars thereabouts, slew six hundred of them, and tooke diuers of their captaines prisoners. Six thousand other Tartars also at this time returning out of HVNGARIE home towards their owne I countrey, were by the Cossackes neere vnto the Blacke sea set vpon with such force, that many of them being slaine, the rest for feare ran into the sea, leauing all the prey they had got in HVNGARIE vnto their enemies. In the heat of these broiles the noble lord Palfi gouernour of STRIGONIVM, a man that all his life long had done great seruice for his prince and country,The death of t [...]e lord Palfi. & whom we haue so often in this historie remembred, died the three and twentith of March in his castle at BI [...]ERSPVRG, to the great griefe of many, especially the Hungarians his countreymen. And for that STRIGONIVM (so neere vnto the enemie) required in his stead to haue a right valiant and couragious gouernour, the emperour appointed the lord Swartzenburg to that charge: the same still running, that Ibrahim Bassa would come thither with the great armie he was in prouiding, if the peace went not forward, which was now still lesse and lesse hoped for, by reason of his prowd K and insolent demaunds.

The Frenchmen and Wallons mutinie in Pappa.But whilest these troubles with such others too long to rehearse, thus passed in diuers pa [...]ts of this miserable countrey of HVNGARIE: twelue hundred Frenchmen and Wallons in garrison at PAPPA (a strong frontier towne of the emperours in the lower HVNGARIE) for want of pay began to mutinie. For which cause it was thought good to the chiefe commanders to haue them thence remooued, and others placed in their roume. Which they perceiuing, and withall knowing themselues too strong for the rest of the garrison, all Hungarians or Almaines, not partakers of their conspiracie; they first resolued to thrust their owne captaines out of the towne, as lets vnto their desires: and then laying hands vpon Michael Marotti the paymaster, and other the Hungarian and Dutch commaunders, with their souldiors, tooke from them their weapons, and L ca [...] the said Marotti with the other captaines and some of the better sort of their souldiors into yrons, exacting of the rest as well Hungarians as Dutch, in number about a thousand persons, a thousand duckats; threatening otherwise to deliuer them into the hands of the Turkes: and albeit that Marotti offered for his libertie eighteene hundred duckats; yet would they not bee so contented, but spoyling both him and the rest of all that they had, with their apparrell and weapons furnished such Turkes as were there prisoners, and so sent them away to ALBA REGALIS; and afterwards rifling euery mans house, as if they had beene enemies, tooke from them whatsoeuer pleased themselues: and that which worse was, to encrease these outrages, compacted with the Turkes of ALBA REGALIS and BVDA, for the pay which (they said) the emperour ought them, to deliuer them the towne: certifying them withall, how that the lord Swartzenburg within M two daies was comming with money to giue them contentment;Pappa offe [...]ed vnto the Turkes by the mutiners. promising if hee came into the towne, to deliuer him with the same into their hands: or to bee the more sure of him, they might if they so pleased intercept him at the passage ZESNEGKH, whereby he must needs come. For the more credit of which their wicked purpose, they sent an ensigne of the emperours, as a [Page] A token vnto the Turkes at ALBA REGALIS: who for all that altogether belieued them not, yet willing farther to trie them, sent them for hostages two Chians; for whom the rebels sent also two others of the better sort of them to ALBA REGALIS; with conclusion, that the fiue and twentith of Iune at the furthest the money should be paied, and the towne deliuered. For the receiuing whereof, and for feare of some hidden treason, the Turkes and Tartars began to make themselues strong: the Imperials also doing what they might for the appeasing of so dangerous a tumult. So the tenth of Iune the lord Swartzenburg with two thousand horse and foot came within two miles of the towne, and from thence sent foure and twentie horsemen to dissuade the rebels from yeelding the towne vnto the Turks, and to tell them that they should shortly receiue their pay: who shamefully deriding them, sent them backe againe as wise as they came: so that B Swartzenburg perceiuing himselfe with so small forces to be able to doe nothing against them, neither yet by faire meanes to persuade them, retired againe to RAB, vntill some greater strength were come vnto him. Immediatly after, doctor Petzen, Councellour for the warres, a man of great authoritie, grauitie and wisedome, was by Matthias the Archduke with foure hundred horse conducted to PAPPA, to see if he by his discretion could haue dissuaded them from their so vngodly a purpose, for the yeelding of the towne vnto the enemie: whom they not onely refused to heare, although he spake vnto them most kindly, but also bent their muskets and harquebusies vpon him, threatning to kill him if he did not forthwith depart. When shortly after, twentie of the Hungarians imprisoned in a cellar in the towne, brake out, and comming to RAB, brought newes thither, That the Frenchmen and Wallons in PAPPA were at variance among C themselues about the yeelding vp of the towne vnto the Turkes (some better minded than the rest, not willing to consent thereunto) insomuch, that they in the castle shot at them in the towne, and they againe at them in the castle: and that they had alreadie receiued from the Turks twentie thousand duckats, with some prouision of victuals, & were shortly after to receiue from them the rest of the money promised them, and so to deliuer the towne. For preuenting whereof, the lord Swartzenburg the two and twentith of Iune sent the lord Sharpfenstein with a French colonell, three thousand souldiors, certaine Petardes, and a number of scaling ladders towards PAPPA: whom the false rebels suffered peaceably to enter the towne the foure and twentith of Iune, still encouraging them to come on, calling them their countreymen and brethren, and in token of friendship shaking them by the hands, telling them, that hauing assurance of their pay, they D desired no more: But hauing now receiued in so many of them as they thought good, and as they knew they were well able to deale with, shutting the rest out, they cut them all in peeces, and afterwards in derision called vpon the high Dutches to come on in like manner. Three hundred of these rebels at the same time had laied themselues in ambush by a mill fast without the towne, who by the Wallons and Haiduckes without discouered, were also by them charged: vpon whom for all that, by reason of the shot out of the towne, they could doe no good; but hauing lost three hundred men, and amongst them Hanniball Kralzs, the lord Sharpfensteine his lieutenant generall, and one Del la Margose the chiefe enginer, they retired: Which losse the desperat rebels (if it had beene in their choice) had wished rather to haue happened vnto the Dutches than to the Wallons or Hungarians. About three daies after, three of these rebels being by chance taken E prisoners by the Imperials, and brought to RAE, were not only apparrelled but also trimmed after the Turkish fashion, as men not desiring longer to be accounted Christians, the rest of their fellowes in the towne also all imitating the Turkes fashions, as well in their apparrell as in their manner of seruice: yet for all that would not these metamorphosed monsters yeeld the towne vnto the Turks, before they had the full summe by them agreed vpon, the Bassa of BOSNA being commaunded from the Grand signior in all hast to prouide it for them, and so to receiue of them the towne. Neuerthelesse, for their more strength and their more credit with the Turkes, they receiued into the towne one ensigne of the Turks, with certain waggons of victuals, brought thither with so strong a conuoy as that the Imperials durst not meddle therwith:A most wicked fact. in which waggons (being discharged) they sent in bonds six hundred Hungarians and Dutch, men, women, and F children, prisoners to ALBA REGALIS; being all of them glad to be so sent away, in hope to find more fauour and courtesie at the hands of their enemies, than they had found with these renegat Christians. So shortly after, these rebels sent out certaine messengers vnto the gouernour of AL [...]A REGALIS, to know his full resolution; which messengers (conducted by certaine Turkes of great account) were vpon the way by the free Haiduckes all intercepted, and the messengers taken, [Page] with an hundred Turkes moe. In the meane while Michael Marotti, before imprisoned by G the rebels in PAPPA, by letters secretly aduertised the lord Swartzenburg of a certaine place, whereby he might (as he said) easily enter the towne, and the rather, for that the rebels were at variance amongst themselues. Who thereupon the twelfth of Iuly came to PAPP [...] with nine thousand horse and foot, but disappointed of his purpose for entering the towne, hardly neuerthelesse belayed the same: vpon whom the mutiniers many times desperatly sallied out, & right valiantly encountered them, albeit that they were still, without any notable losse, by their enemies (too strong for them) beaten backe againe into the towne. In one of which sallies it fortuned one of their captaines to be taken, who to the terrour of the rest was presently flaine quicke, and his head and skin vpon a pike set vp before the towne, for his fellowes to behold. But the lord Swartzenburg still more and more preuailing vpon them, they sent secretly for aid to the Turks:H whereof he for all that getting intelligence, sent also for three regiments of souldiours moe to come vnto him to the siege; by whose comming he well strengthened, and bringing his approches neerer the towne, tooke from the rebels the mill, a strength which they very vnwillingly lost, as in hope thereby to haue the more easily receiued aid from the Turkes; who hauing made preparation to haue relieued them, were letted so to doe by the rising of the water, which had spoiled all the prouision for their reliefe at the bridge of ESSEG, as also hindered them for marching forward. At length the Imperials were come with their trenches euen to the towne ditches, out of which they had let out all the water: where some of the townesmen e [...]caping out of the towne, declared, how that the mutinous souldiors within laboured both day and night to fortifie the towne, but to be in their worke much letted by the continuall assaults of the Imperials:I as also that they now had neither bread nor wine, nor other victuals left, more than a little salt, and threescore horse, of which they had alreadie begun to eat: and that although they were not altogether so valiant, yet that they had resolued to die by the hands of the souldiors, as men expecting no other mercie. Yet shortly after, viz. the nine and twentith of Iuly, they desperatly fell out vpon the trenches of Marspurgisch, a Dutch captaine; of whose souldiors they slew many, being drunke, and driuing the rest out of their trenches, raised a great alarum. Which the lord Swartzenburg hearing, hasted thither to the rescue; where with an vnluckie musket shot hee was strucke in the head and slaine.The lord Swartze [...]burg slaine. Whereof the rebels got knowledge the same euening, and Del la Mota their Generall in reward of that seruice gaue vnto them that had made that sallie a thousand dollars to be deuided amongst them. The dead bodie of that so worthie a man, as K had done great seruice for the Christian commonweale, was afterwards with great solemnitie brought to RAB, and there honourably enterred. The like desperate sallie they made againe the next day, and slew of the Imperials an hundred and thirtie, and tooke certaine prisoners: and in retiring backe againe into the towne, cried aloud, That when they lacked meat, rather than they would yeeld the towne, they would eat Christians, whereof Marotti should bee the first.

The lord Swartzenburg thus slaine, the gouernment of the armie was by Matthias the archduke committed to the lord Redern, a noble man both valiant and learned, who although hee were verie sickly came vnto the camp before PAPPA the eight of August;Pappa abandoned by the mutiniers. where vnderstanding that the rebels now brought vnto extremitie, had a purpose by night to flie away and so be gon,L he caused a more vigilant and strong watch to be kept; when lo according to his expectation the next night after about two houres before day they began to issue out: whereof the watch giuing knowledge vnto the Generall, they were indeed suffered to go out as vnperceiued, but presently after at their heels were sent out the lord Nadasti and the earle of Thurn with two hundred Hussars, and after them the chiefe colonell and countie Solmes with part of their horsemen also, who in three diuers places ouertaking them neere vnto a great wood called Packem, slew most part of them: Del la Mota their chiefe captaine or ringleader being slaine by the chiefe colonell, because he would not yeeld, and his head afterwards by him presented vnto the Generall in the campe. Two hundred Wallons the Hussars vnder the leading of the lord Nadasti, countie Solmes, and countie Thurn, found out in the wood; who albeit that they for a space made great resistance, yet M in the end were enforced to yeeld, and so with their two ensignes were brought into the campe. The Hussars also vpon another passage light vpon other two hundred mo of these rebellious Wallons, who because they stood strongly vpon their guard, and were more desperatly set than the rest, the Generall sent out other two hundred of the colonels horsemen vpon them, by [Page] A whom and the Hussars they were almost all slaine: diuers others of them also were slaine in comming out of the towne, and in the marishes therabouts. Their Generals lieutenant with such other of their principall commaunders as were taken, were by the lord Rederns commandement deliuered [...]nto the Prouost martiall; the rest of the rebellious traitours he at the request of the souldiors deuided into diuers parts of the armie, there to the terrour of others to be executed, from whom the souldiours could hardly be persuaded euen for the present to hold their hands. But afterwards hauing brought them to RAB, and leaue giuen them to doe with them their pleasure,An horrible ex [...]cution. they as farre exceeded in the cruell manner of their execution, as had they before in their outragious dealings, especially the Hungarians and Wallons, notwithstanding most of them were of the Wallon countries. Some of them they empailed, some they brake vpon the B wheele; some of their skins they cut off their bodies as it were into thongs, and so poured into the wounds, vinegar, salt, and pepper; from some others they cut off their priuities; some they roasted, and some they put vnto the Tenalia; vpon some they dropped molten pitch, and then casting gunpouder vpon them, so burnt them to death; othersome they hanged vpon yron hookes; and some they set in the ground vp to the chin, and for their disport with yron bullets bowled at their heads. In all which torments no signe of compassion was to be seene, the tormentours to make their paine the greater doing nothing but deride them: the miserable wretches in the meane time confessing the hainousnesse of their offence, and crauing for death as a fauour. A most horrible thing it was to see, how whilest some were thus tortured, others were brought to see the same miserie they themselues were by and by to endure. Amongst the rest of C these exquisit torments, one Peter Orsy caused one of the mutiners to be sowed vp in the belly of a mare, with his head hanging out, and so to be roasted; in which miserable torment he liued three houres, and then died: after which he caused the loathsome bodie so roasted, to be giuen to them that lay staruing vpon the wheele to eat. Thus was the dangerous mutinie at PAPPA with much adoe ended, and that strong towne like to haue been lost, preserued: the rebels themselues being become a dreadfull example to all posteritie, for all them to looke vpon that shall attempt the like villanie.

Now at this same time also, though neither the Christians nor the Turkes had as then any great armie in the field, yet many an hoat and bloudie skirmish passed daily betwixt them in one place or other of HVNGARIE: all which to recount as it would be much tedious, so in silence to D passe them all ouer, were greatly to wrong those worthie personages by whom they were not without their great aduenture done. Among the rest one Nicholas Horbath countie Serinus his lieutenant, with an hundred and fiftie souldiors, and Andrew Thussi an other great commaunder, going forth to seeke for bootie; Thussi hearing that the Turkes were abroad for the surprising of certaine Haiduckes then gone out, st [...]ied fast in a secret place [...]ntill he might heare farther newes, Horbath another way still going on. Now it happened that the Bassa of SIGETH hauing been abroad, in returning home by chance met with Horbath, and encountring with him ouerthrew him, and slew most of his men, Horbath himselfe by flight hardly escaping. But Thussi hearing this skirmish, as lying close not farre off, and now hasting thither to haue been partaker thereof, found the Bassa yet in the field on foot▪ viewing the bodies of the slaine: vpon whom E he came so suddenly and with such force, as that the Bassa with his disordered men had much adoe to take horse, and so without any great resistance to betake himselfe to flight: after whom the Hungarians fiercely following slew many of the Turks,Two Bassaes of Sigeth slaine one after another. and amongst the rest the Bassa himselfe, whose head presently cut off, Horbath sent to the countie Serinus, who shortly after by Thussi himselfe sent it to Matthias the archduke, This Bassa was a man of great strength and courage, a most exp [...]rt and aduenturous captaine, about thirtie six yeares old, and for his valour of a common souldior created a Bassa by the great Sultan. His head being brought to VIENNA, and there sh [...]wed to the Bassa of Buda then there prisoner, and he demaunded whether h [...] knew it or not, sighing answered, that he knew it well, and that it was the head of the Bassa of SIGETH, a brauer man than whom the Sultan had none in all his empire, earnestly withall desiring to F know how he wa [...] slaine. And not long after the aduentu [...]ers out of COMO [...]A, STRIGONIVM and other places thereabout hauing made a great partie, and taken a great bootie from the Turks at a faire at GOMBAR, and by TRA and ESSEG, thinking to haue passed Danubius in hope of a greater bootie, seuen hundred of them being passed the riuer, were by the new Bassa of SIGETH and others with fiue thousand Turkes in an hoat skirmish ouerthrowne▪ yet not without their [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] great losse also: the Bassa himselfe with two other Sanzackes and fiue hundred Turkes being G there slaine, and but fiftie of the Christian aduenturers left dead in the place, the rest disorderedly retiring to their boats,I [...]la surprised and burn [...] by the free Haiduckes. being for most part drowned in the Danubie. The free Haiduckes also surprised IVLA and set it on fire, in which confusion the Turkes flying into the castle, for hast thrust one another from the bridge into the castle ditch; wherein so many of them were drowned, that a man might haue gone drie foot ouer vpon the bodies of the dead. They tooke there also six hundred prisoners with much other bootie, and deliuered two hundred Christians which were there captiues. And albeit that these Haiduckes after this exploit done were hardly pursued by the Turkes from other places, yet they in safetie retired with such bootie as they had alreadie gotten.

But now to leaue these the troubles of HVNGARIE for a while, as the forerunners of greater H ere long to ensue; let vs againe looke backe into TRANSYLVANIA and VALACHIA, to see how Michaell the Vayuod now in the meane time behaued himselfe there. The Cardinall Bathor ouerthrowne and slaine, and the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA againe brought vnder the emperours obedience; the Vayuod by his embassadours gaue him forthwith to vnderstand of all his proceedings, with the whole successe thereof, as also of a purpose he had to inuade MOLDAVIA: for that it was commonly reported, and also beleeued, that Sigismund the late prince (not a little moued with the death of the Cardinall his cousin, and the reuolt of his countrey) aided by the Turkes, the Tartars, the Polonians, and Moldauians, would now attempt some great matter for the recouerie of TRANSYLVANIA: All which was shortly after the rather thought to be true, for that diuers of his spies being taken, some at CLAVSENBVRG, some at I NESSEN, beside the letters that were found about them from him vnto the nobilitie and states of TRANSYLVANIA (persuading them to reuolt from the Vayuod vnto him, and that his meaning was shortly to come with a great armie out of POLONIA for the repulsing of him) they also of themselues confessed, how that Sigismund in disguised apparell had himselfe beene in TRANSYLVANIA, to conferre with diuers his secret friends concerning that matter. Which his embassadours the emperour honourably entertained,The gouernment of Transyluania by the emperour confirmed vnto Michael the Vayuod. and by them confirmed vnto the Vayuod the gouernment of TRANSYLVANIA, sending also vnto him diuers honourable presents; forbidding him neuerthelesse to inuade MOLDAVIA, for feare of raising a new and dangerous warre against the Polonians also, vnder whose protection and the Turkes the Palatine thereof then rested. According vnto which commaund the Vayuod staied his intended expedition; yet K sending some good part of his forces vnto the frontiers of MOLDAVIA, for feare of Sigismund whom he heard to be hatching some mischiefe in POLONIA, and euen then to lie vpon the frontiers of that countrey. Some few moneths thus passing, Husraim Aga (a graue reuerend old man, and much employed by the Turkish Sultan) with fiue other Turkes of good account, embassadours from the great Sultan, and a great retinue following him, came to CRONSTAT in TRANSYLVANIA where the Vayuod then lay. Of whose comming the Vayuod hearing, with foure thousand horsmen most brauely mounted, went halfe a mile out of the citie to meet them: the footmen in the meane time on both sides of the street standing in good order, from the gate of the citie whereby they were to enter, euen vnto the Vayuods lodging; where stood also his guard all in red and white silke. So meeting in the field, they both alighted from their horses,L with great reuerence saluting the one the other: when presently the embassadour embracing the Vayuod, vngirt his scimitar, and in the name of the great Sultan put another about him, so richly garnished with gold and precious stones, as that no part of the scaberd was therefore to bee seene: Besides this, he presented him with a faire plume of blacke Hearnes feathers mixed with some white (a right goodly ornament, in forme of a great bush) which the Vayuod would not in the field put vpon his head, although he were thereunto by the embassadour most earnestly requested, but caused it to be carried before him: He also presented him with two verie faire red ensignes, in token of the Turkes fauour and protection; the one for himselfe, and the other for his sonne Petrasco: moreouer, hee gaue vnto him two exceeding faire horses richly furnished, with foure others, and a most faire faulcon. The Vayuod himselfe was most brauely mounted,M and (after the maner of his country) had ten verie faire spare horses led before him. At whose enterance into the towne, all the great ordinance was discharged, with great vollies of small shot. And so the embassador still riding on the left hand of the Vayuod, being brought to his lodging, had six of his chiefe followers euerie one of them presented with a rich robe of cloth of gold; in [Page] A requitall whereof the embassadour rewarded an hundred of the Vayuod his followers euerie one of them with a good sute of apparell: with this embassadour of the Turkes was also the Polonian embassadour, whom the Vayuod in like manner honourably entertained. These embassadours (as was thought) did what they might to haue drawne this worthie and renowmed man, togither with the countries of TRANSYLVANIA and VALACHIA, from the emperour vnto the Turkes obeisance: howbeit he seldome or neuer spake with them, but that either before or after he had conference with the lords Vngnad and Zeckell (the emperors commissioners) concerning their requests; alwaies protesting vnto them, not to yeeld to any thing without the emperours consent and good liking. Wherof Mahomet aduertised, and that he was not by any thing yet said or done to be remoued from the emperour, gaue him by the same embassadours B to vnderstand, How that he was in some speech with the emperour concerning peace (as indeed he then was by messengers from the Bassaes at PRES [...]VRO) which if it sorted to effect, that then all should be well; but if not, that then it should be good for him whilest he had yet time, wisely to consider of his owne estate, and to submit himselfe vnto his protection who was able to defend him, rather than for the vaine praise of a certaine foolish constancie, to aduenture himselfe with all that he had vnto most certaine danger and destruction: promising him in recompence of that his loyaltie, to giue vnto him for euer the countries of TRANSYLVANIA, VALACHIA, and MOLDAVIA, and at his need to furnish him both with men and money; offering moreouer to make him a great commaunder in his armie in HVNGARIE, and the Bassa of T [...] MESVVAR as his friend to be at all times readie with fiftie thousand horse and foot (as need should C be) to assist him against the emperour, reseruing vnto himselfe whatsoeuer he should more win from him: for all which bountie and kindnesse, requiring onely to haue him vnto him loyall. All which his large offers the Vayuod little regarding, declared the same vnto the emperours commissioners; yet still protesting neuer to start, but to stand fast for the Christian emperour. Notwithstanding as a man desirous to better his estate, he tooke hereupon occasion to request of the emperour the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA, by him so lately taken in, vnto him and his sonne in inheritance for euer, with such frontier townes as in former time belonged vnto TRANSYLVANIA: and that whatsoeuer he should win from the Turkes, might be his and his sonnes: He also requested, that all the preferments and dignities in former time granted by his Imperiall majestie vnto Sigismund the late prince, might now be bestowed vpon himselfe; and for his seruice D done, to be furnished with money for the payment of his souldiors: And that the emperor with the other princes of the empire should assure him, That if he were taken by the Turke, they should raunsome him: but in case he were by the great power of the Turke driuen out of those countries, then by the emperours appointment to haue some conuenient place allotted vnto him in the vpper HVNGARIE to liue in, with the yearly pension of an hundred thousand dollars. All which his requests if it would please him to grant, he promised this yeare to doe so much against the Turke, as had not in an hundred yeares been done before: with vaunt, that if he had had the imployment of the money which was spent in the time of this war, he would not haue doubted but to haue brought all the countries from the Euxine (or Blacke sea) to BVDA, ALBA REGALIS, and SOLNOCK, vnder the emperors obeysance. A large promise indeed, but hardly to haue E been performed by a farre greater prince than he.

Thus whilest things stood in discourse after the Cardinals death, Sigismund the late prince in the meane time supported by the Polonians,Michael the Vayuod goeth against Sigismund Bathor and the Vayuo [...] of Moldauia. with the aid of the Turkes, the Tartars, and the Moldauians, was readie to haue inuaded TRANSYLVANIA: yea the Tartars (as the forerunners of his greater power) were alreadie entred the countrey, and had out of the frontiers thereof carried away some bootie. Whereof the Vayuod vnderstanding, in great hast assembled his forces out of all places, which in short time was growne to some good head, the countrey people togither with the free Haiduckes (an aduenturous and resolute kind of souldiors) in great number daily resorting vnto him. So being now eight thousand strong, and most of them braue and lustie men, he with them and twentie pieces of artillerie remoued to CRONSTAT the foure and F twentith day of Aprill, sending part of his armie (which euerie day more and more encreased) before him to NESSEN: where all his forces being assembled to the number of almost fiftie thousand horse and foot, hee with great sceleritie passed the rough and high mountaines into MOLDAVIA without resistance, but yet not without some trouble, his souldiors by the way being glad sometimes to eat the leaues of trees, the enemie hauing of purpose before carried away [Page] whatsoeuer he could that might haue yeelded him reliefe. Of whose speedie comming and great G strength, Sigismund and Ieremias the Vayuod of MOLDAVIA hearing, and vpon the reasonable estimate of their owne forces finding themselues too weake to encounter him, retired themselues out of MOLDAVIA into the frontiers of POLONIA, there to gather greater strength, and so to meet him: for as yet Ieremias the Vayuod had not receiued from the Turke such forces as were vnto him promised, and as he still expected. Michael the Vayuod in the meane time (his enemies thus fled) with fire and sword entering into MOLDAVIA, tooke in the greatest part thereof, the fearefull countrey people still yeelding vnto him as he went: and the rather, for that Ieremias their Vayuod (placed by the Polonian, but tributarie vnto the Turke) had laied vpon them a most grieuous imposition, as vpon euerie man a duckat a moneth, for which they exceedingly hated him. But here in MOLDAVIA, Michael the Vayuod (hauing still in his companie H one of the emperours commissioners in TRANSYLVANIA most trustie seruants, who might faithfully report vnto them the whole manner of their proceedings) after the departure of Sigismund and Ieremias his enemies, staied not long; but hearing that they were retired towards the confines of POLONIA, without longer delay made towards them, and the eighteenth of May found them by the castle OTHVNE neere vnto the riuer Nester,Sigismund and the Moldauian ouerthrowne by Michael the Vayuod. being thirtie thousand strong, Polonians, Moldauians, Turkes, and Tartars: with whom he joyned a most fierce and cruell battell, which begun about ten a clocke before noone, was with great courage but greater obstinacie on both sides maintained vntill the euening. At which time the fortune of the Valachian preuayling, his enemies at last betooke themselues to flight, of whom were there slaine eight thousand, beside many others of them drowned in the riuer Nester: where of the Valachians I were lost two thousand onely. Concerning Sigismund and Ieremias, diuers reports were after this ouerthow giuen out, some saying that they were slaine, and some that they were in flying drowned: howbeit the truth was, that they both by flight escaped, to the greater trouble of themselues as of their afflicted countries also. Michael after this so notable a victorie, taking in the rest of MOLDAVIA,Moldauia subdued by Michael. caused the people to sweare their obedience vnto the emperour, himselfe, and his sonne, to the great offence of the Polonians, not a little (as they tooke it) wronged therein; but especially of the great Chancellor, an old enemie vnto the house of AVSTRIA. Whereof ensued greater troubles in those frontier countries than before, to the further effusion of more Christian bloud, much better to haue been emploied against the fatall enemie in defence of the Christian common-weale. Yet thus the three warlike and frontier countries of TRANSYLVANIA,K VALACHIA, and MOLDAVIA, the surest bulwarkes of that side of Christendome, and most exposed vnto the furie of the common enemie, were now once againe vnited vnder the obeysance of the emperour, to the great benefit (no doubt) of the Christian common-weale, and hurt of the Turkes; if they might haue so continued, as God wot they did not long.

Now the Vayuod notwithstanding this so great a victorie, well considering that he of himselfe could hardly keepe this new gained prouince of MOLDAVIA against the power of the Turke, pretending that to him it belonged as his own to giue to whom he pleased: as also against the Polonians (not more desirous to restore Ieremias againe into MOLDAVIA, than the prince Sigismund into TRANSYLVANIA) without the help of some other more mightie prince whom he might rest vpon: by his embassadours (sent for that purpose) offered the soueraigntie of all L those three countries vnto the emperour, with condition, that he should appoint him perpetuall Gouernour of the same vnder him. The emperour also vnderstood how that Mahomet the great Turke had not long before againe sent vnto him another of his Chiaus, commaunding him without delay to restore the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA vnto the prince Sigismund (vnto whom he was by the mediation of the king of POLONIA now before reconciled) threatning otherwise with fire and sword to destroy VALACHIA, and by force of armes to depriue him both of TRANSYLVANIA and his life togither. Wherefore the emperour doubting least the Vayuod either for feare, or for the better assuring of his owne estate, should to his prejudice fall to some agreement with the Turke, yeelded to all that his embassadours had of him requested; with condition, that he should be bound as need should require to serue with his people against the M Turke; and that in TRANSYLVANIA neere vnto his owne person should be alwaies resident one of the emperours counsellors, as Superintendent ouer the whole countrey. Wherewith the Vayuod being contented, the Emperour sent thither doctor Petzen with six thousand souldiors, and a great summe of money to pay the Vayuods souldiors, as he had before requested; and [Page] A so to take of them an oath, That they should from thenceforth become his majesties faithfull seruants. Which Superintendent so by the emperor sent, the Vayuod receiued with great honour, as vnto him of all others most welcome. Neuerthelesse being againe returned into TRANSYLVANIA, it was not long,Michael t [...]rannizeth in Transylvania▪ but that (without regard of him) he begā with new exactions to oppresse the people of that countrey, and in some sort to tyrannize ouer them; vsing great seueritie against diuers of the Nobilitie also, especially such as he knew to haue taken part before with the Cardinall, or now of late with Sigismund his cousin, or any way to haue fauoured his quarrell. All which he did without the consent or good liking of Petzen, contrarie to his promise made, No more to embrue his hands in the bloud of the nobilitie of TRANSYLVANIA, without the knowledge or consent of his Imperiall majestie, or the Superintendent by him appointed: which for B all that had he not done, he could not possibly haue kept them (disdaining to be gouerned by him) vnder his obeisa [...]e. Neuerthelesse the Transyluanians taking it in euill part to be so oppressed, and the nobilitie almost extinguished,The Transyluanians rebell. yea and indeed to be at all ruled by him; by generall consent as if it had been but one man, rise all vp in armes against him: insomuch, that he finding himselfe with his Valachians and other his fauourits too weake for them, retired with all such as would follow him into the mountaines, and from thence sent presently for aid vnto the lord George Basta (a worthy captaine and then the emperours lieutenant in the vpper HVNGARIE) for the subduing of these rebellious people, and the reducing of them to their former obedience. Who by letters from Matthias the Archducke at the instance of the Vayuod commaunded so to doe, with about six thousand horse and foot, and eight field pieces, remoued from CASSOVIA C in the vpper HVNGARIE the fourth of September: Where by the way came vnto him embassadours also from the people of TRANSYLVANIA now vp in armes, and confederat also against the Vayuod: who in like manner also requested his aid, pretending themselues to be the emperours most loyall subjects, but not vnder the gouernment of such a tyrant as was the Vayuod: alleadging and exaggerating many his most cruell actions, and clearely protesting, That for the present want of a good Gouernour they were enforced for the safegard of their owne liues to band themselues togither: which if happily it might be in any thing prejudiciall vnto the emperour his claime and interest, which he with so great toyle and cost had procured in that prouince, it was against their wils, as enforced by necessitie to doe that they did in defence of themselues. Which embassadours so sent from the people, Basta with all speed dispatched away backe again, D comforting them without farther stir to expect his arriuall in TRANSYLVANIA: yet couenanting withall, That they should before conceiue into writing the oath of their fidelitie and alleagiance vnto his Imperiall majestie. Now might many and important considerations trouble the mind of Basta in so doubtfull a case. To giue aid vnto the Vayuod against the people, was the expresse order from Matthias the Archduke the emperours lieutenant Generall: but to aid the people confederat against him as they had requested, seemed now both more profitable and honest, especially hauing most certaine tokens of the small and doubtfull faith of the Vayuod; who onely by deputation interessed in that prouidence, was not so carefull of an other mans; neither seeming to haue regard of Petzen, or of his owne word giuen, for not farther embruing his hands in the bloud of the nobilitie of TRANSYLVANIA, without the emperors knowledge and leaue: E vpon which promise was also grounded the Archdukes order for giuing of him aid. So that such breach of his faith, and contempt of Petzen had hastened the conspiracie of the people against him, dispairing of all other health than that which by force of armes they could procure vnto themselues. To stand doubtfull himselfe, or to hold others in suspence, vntill that by courrors in this new case he might receiue new instructions from the emperour or the archduke, had in it too much danger, as giuing leisure to each partie to make sides, and to encrease the slander of the last yeare, That he might so easily (and especially from the Valachian) haue assured that prouince to his majestie, had he not beene an heartlesse man of no resolution, euen such an one as durst not looke vpon a cat (as some had said:) all which might not a little pricke an honourable mind. To take part with the people confederat against the Vayuod, if it should not happily fall F out at the first encounter; might betwixt the two contendants giue an entrance vnto the third, either the Turke or the Polonian in the fauour of Bathor: but if it should sort to the quite contrarie, and so himselfe to loose the day; then he saw himselfe void of all defence against the malicious, especially in that the world commonly measureth the wisedome vsed in any action, according to the successe thereof, than which nothing can be more vnreasonable, but aboue all others [Page] in matters of warre. In this so troubled a tempest of contrarie winds, of power to haue driuen a G right good marriner out of his course, Basta laid hand vpon the helme of good meaning, and spread the sayles of such discretion as taught him, in matters of warre to be lawfull for a Generall to depart euen from the instructions of his prince, not concerning the end, but the meanes leading to that end: especially when the present occasion so requireth, which the prince could not with reason before comprehend; as depending of the most mightie fortune of war, which suffereth not so much delay as to expect counsell from farre. So in this ambiguitie, Basta resolued to joyne himselfe vnto the confederats, most in his judgement concerning his Imperiall majestie, as being the vttermost scope of his so great cost and charge, to keepe the country of TRANSYLVANIA at his deuotion, which consisted in the people, and not in the woods or mountains: the matter being not great by what means soeuer it were done, so that it were honourable and honest.H

Vpon this desire Basta set forward, and the 14 day arriued at TORDA [...]nd there joyned himselfe vnto the confederats (to the great wonder of the Vayuod in whose helpe he was sent:Basta taketh part with the Transyluanians against the Vayuod in whose aid he was sent.) where reposing himselfe one day consulting and considering of their forces, about twelue thousand strong, with foure field pieces, besides eight of his owne, with the six thousand souldiors hee brought with him, in all about eighteene thousand: he determined not to giue leysure vnto the Vayuod to call vnto him farther helpe, hauing now with him about twentie thousand foot and twelue thousand horse, with seuen and twentie field pieces; amongst whom were diuers of the Siculi, in hope of their auntient libertie, men of good account and sort, with a mixture of the Cossackes, Valachians, Rascians, and Seruians, people of prey seruing onely to spoile: whom Basta knew to be farre inferiour in courage to his twelue thousand foot and six thousand horse; I not onely for the valour of his owne men accustomed vnto the frontire seruice, but also for the confederats: who engaged with their goods, liues, and honour, and desirous to be reuenged of the Vayuod, were like enough to stand well by it. Wherefore he set forward the sixteenth day, and in two daies march came within sight of the Vayuod: who hauing sent out certaine great troupes of horsemen to take view of the enemie, and seeing them repulsed, set fire on MIRISLO, a village fast by, out of which they had before drawne certaine small field pieces into the campe.

MIRISLO is a village two leagues on this side of ALBA IVLIA, directly vpon the high way, stretching from the side of Maracz, a nauigable riuer, vnto the foot of an hill; alongst which the riuer running, sometimes neerer, and sometimes further off, together with the rising of the hill,K maketh an vnequall list of ground, in some places halfe a mile broad and more, and in some other shut vp as it were into a narrow throat, as in the selfesame place where the aforesaid village standeth, and where the Vayuod lay encamped in a place of great aduantage, behind a great trench drawne from the riuer crosse that little space of ground betwixt the mountaine and the riuer. On this side, which frō MIRISLO the further a man goeth the further the plaine enlargeth, Basta encamping close vnto the village, opposed against the comming of the enemie three great corps du guard, two of them Hungarians, towards the hill fauoured with a church, and the third towards the riuer, of the Almaine footmen, vnder the charge of countie Tomaso Caurioli of BRESCIA, Sergeant Major of the field, with all the artillerie: who as in a place neer and very open vnto the enemy there entrenched himselfe, still approching neerer and neerer both on the one side and the L other. Towards the euening of the selfesame seuenteenth day came to Basta one Peter Armenio with letters from the Vayuod, containing, That hauing vnderstood of his arriuall in the campe of the conspirators, he now further desired to know whether it were by the consent and commaundement of the emperour, or not; and how it came to passe, that he would so doe, considering the diuers chances of warre, the sword hanging as it were euen ouer his head, if hee should chance to lose the battell? Whereunto Basta answered, That the morrow following he would shew him the authoritie he had from the emperour (alluding to the imperiall standerd he carried with him:) and that as concerning the fortune and danger to ensue, he referred that vnto the will and pleasure of the Almightie, the just judge of all controuersies. But in the meane time hee exhorted him to leaue that prouince he had so euill gouerned, vnto his imperiall majestie, as he was M in dutie bound; promising him free passage into VALACHIA, and giuing him time to consider thereupon vntill eight a clock the next morning; after which time it should be free for euery man to doe for himselfe what he could. Which answere the Vayuod hauing red, enflamed with disdaine, with many proud words full of threats and disgrace, although it was then night, presently [Page] A caused by the sound of the drum and trumpet the battell to bee proclaimed against the next day.

On the other side, Basta after he had assured his campe, hauing not onely sent, but gone himselfe to haue the counsell of his owne eyes, for his better vnderstanding how the enemie lay: and finding no reasonable meanes for him there to attempt any exploit by, as well for the strength of the trench before the front, and in part along the side of the enemies campe, as also for the danger of a rising ground on the left hand, whereunto all the plaine betwixt the enemies campe and the village was subject: thought it best to remoue, and to make a short retreat about the space of an Italian mile, according to the commodiousnesse of the place; thinking it no hard matter, of so proud an enemie and not altogether so well acquainted with martiall stratagemes, to gaine a notable B victorie. This his purpose propounded in counsell, was greatly disliked of the captaines of the confederates: vnto whom it seemed more safetie to assault the Vayuod, yet lying in his strength, than to retire before the face of an enemie, so strong and aduenturous: for that such a retreat according to the manner of that countrey, would be deemed no other than a plain flight; and to breake his order and arise, was (as they said) but to discourage his owne people, and to encourage his enemies. But Basta the better to persuade them, promised therein to shew vnto them a more cunning kind of fight than was yet vnto them knowne; and declared the assurance that he in his own person, with the Almaines in the rereward would giue them in that retreat, in such sort, as that they should not loose so much as a man, much lesse they needed to feare to fall into any disorder in so short a space, his purpose being only to giue the plaine vnto the enemie, wherin C to shew himselfe in the open field. So the retreat being agreed vpon, the morning following being the eight and twentith of September, the three corps du guard (before spoken of) were betimes called backe, and the baggage sent away: after which followed the Transyluanians and Hungarians, the Almaines in the rereward enclosing the great ordinance.

The Vayuod aware of their departure,The battell of Mirislo betwi [...] Michael the Vayuod and Basta the emperor [...] lieutenant. sent forthwith a great troupe of horsemen, especially of the Cossackes, to take view of them, and to skirmish with them; which were so farre kept off by a companie of musketiers in the rereward, as that they could not come so nigh as to doe any harme, although that all the way they went they were by them still charged, to the great contentment of Basta, to see so good a beginning of his designes as might bring them all to their wished effect. But when he saw the great artillerie vpon the carriages to come out of the village, D a certaine signe that the enemie set forward with all his forces, he marched faire and softly to giue him hope to ouertake him: and so retired as farre as he thought good from the village, hauing before thought of a conuenient place wherein his people might with roume ynough vpon aduantage stay: when as about halfe a mile from him, and as farre from the village, he might see the enemie march with his people in order of battell, then began he to march towards him also: and perceiuing the enemie to come on in one onely thicke front, by reason of the straightnesse of the place, hauing on the right hand towards the riuer placed as it were all his horsemen, and towards the mountaine his footmen alone, and fiue hundred foot placed aloft without any artillerie, as it seemed he would haue done, hauing planted some below at the foot of the hill in the way, and in the middest, euen before the front of the battell, where the horsemen came after the footmen: E he also placed his squadron in one front onely, to the entent not to be enclosed by the enemie on the flanke of his armie. The bodie of his maine battell consisted of one great squadron of about three thousand Almaine footmen, flanked on each side with a hundred & fiftie Rutters of SILESIA: before the squadron toward the right hand he had set a loose wing of three hundred musketiers: in the right wing towards the hill he placed a companie of launces, with two squadrons of the countrey footmen: and in the left wing toward the riuer one squadron of Transyluanian footmen, and two of launces, for that the enemie was at that time very strong in horsemen: the Cossackes, archers, and harquebusiers he placed in the reward: of his great artillerie he would make no vse, for that hauing not much, he would not stand vpon the defence thereof, but desired rather with all speed to come to the sword with the enemie, vnacquainted with such close F fight, foot to foot; and well the lesse fit, by reason of their light armour. And therfore he thought it best first to set forward his squadron of Almaines to giue the charge, bending towards the right hand, amongst the thickest of the footmen towards the artillerie at the foot of the hill, as there whereas was the strength of the enemies infanterie. And doubting in the performing hereof, to be charged on the left side with a great squadron of about three thousand launces, which seemed [Page] to stand vpon that wing to giue the first charge; hee gaue order vnto Rodouiz his lieutenant G and colonell of the Rutters, which had the leading of the left wing, that he should at a certaine signe giuen, set forwards towards the left hand, for the charging of that great squadron. So his people being set in order, and the manner of proceeding set downe, hee putting on his helmet, with cheerefull countenance said, That at that time he trusted hee should shew vnto the Vayuod, that his trunchion could doe more than his scimitare: And himselfe setting forward betwixt the squadron of the Almaine footmen and the wing of the musketiers, about two houres after noone, marched faire and softly towards the enemie: who without moouing expected the discharging of their artillerie; whereunto the neerer that the enemie came vnto it, the lesse harme it did him, by shooting either ouer or short in the field, which easily ascended. The wing of musketiers went directly to giue a charge vnto the artillerie; and the squadron towards H the foot of the hill, where Basta desired forcibly to charge, that thereby they might bee enforced to spend their first vollies, and with some discouragement or disorder to retire, presently came in all afront just vpon the signe giuen; and so with his Almaine footmen and the Rutters on the right hand, enclosed and compassed in behind the greatest part of the enemies footmen. At which very instant, the Rutters on the left hand also so couragiously charged vpon the three thousand launces, that better could not haue beene desired of any band of most old and expert souldiours.Michael the Vayuod ouerthrowne. The launces retiring without any hurt, and the first volley discharged, forced the infanterie, and so disordered the rest. Whereupon the wings charging, there ensued presently a great slaughter and ouerthrow, onely fortie of Basta his men being slaine, and as many hurt; where of the enemies were lost in the battell ten thousand: and greater had I the slaughter beene, if the village and approach of the night had not couered many of them that fled, and stayed the pursuite of the victors that followed them. Which putteth me in remembrance of the great victorie that Scipio Asiaticus had against Antiochus, wherein were slaine of the Romanes but three hundred (although that in the fight one of the wings stood for a time doubtfull) there being lost of the enemies aboue fiftie thousand. Howbeit there were a [...]terwards found in all (as was by the peasants of the countrey reported) twentie thousand slaine in this battell. By this victorie Basta recouered many ensignes and much armour, before sent by the emperour vnto the Vayuod, together with all his tents and baggage. And presently after the ouerthrow there were many troupes of horsemen sent out euery way with proclamation, To spare the liues of such of the Siculi as should lay downe their armes: of K whom many were sent prisoners vnto diuers places, especially to FOGARAS, a strong towne toward VALACHIA. As for the Va [...]uod himselfe, hee with certaine Cossackes escaped by flight.

The morrow following, Basta dispatched away the Countie Cauriòli, to enforme the emperour of all the particularities of the successe of that expedition: who seemed to bee therewith pleased, yet neither gaue reward vnto the Countie, neither commended Basta in that he had done, (foreseeing perhaps what was to ensue thereof) although hee had in writing before approoued his resolution and motion made in fauour of the Confederates. Staying that day in that quarter,Thi [...] Chiaki was the chiefe man, and [...]s it w [...]re the ringleader of the Transyluanians into r [...]bellion. Basta gaue order vnto the Chiaki, to send out a thousand horsemen to pursue the flying Vayuod: who in stead of so doing, joyning themselues with other their consorts,L setled themselues to ransacke ALBA IVLIA, vnder the colour, that there was the Vayuods wealth and substance; yet (as the manner of such men is) sparing neither marchant nor citisen: which worthely seemed vnto Basta a great wrong for to see the innocent punished, and the guiltie to escape free. And albeit that he made what hast he might thitherwards with all his campe, and so stayed one day not farre from thence, to haue giuen some redresse vnto the spoile that had happened: yet was all that his labour lost, for that so many of the greater sort and chiefest amongst them had their hands therein, with whom he thought it more wisedome as then to dissemble, than to fall into any tearmes of seueritie, without hope of doing any good. So he resolued in all hast to march towards FOGA [...]AS (whither he heard say the Vayuod was come with new forces out of VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA) and in six daies march M came to CIBINIVM, where he receiued certaine newes, That the Great Chancellour of POLONIA, and Sigismund (sometime the Transyluanian prince) were with a strong armie vpon the frontiers of MOLDAVI [...]; hauing sent before them Moises the Siculian, with about eight thousand of the Siculi (his souldiours) to what purpose was easie to bee seene. Which [Page] A aduertisement interrupted the course of Basta his victorie, for that it seemed not reasonable to pursue the enemie, and to leaue behind him a doubt of so great importance: and especially, for that he thought he could not assure himselfe of the aid of the countrey people, in case that Sigismund their old prince were once seene in TRANSYLVANIA. Wherefore he thought good to stay where he was, to prouide for all euents as need should be; and so resolued to send the Chiaki and one Ladislaus Pithi to parley with Moses, who made a shew of no great moment of his good will towards the confederats.A reconciliation made betwixt Michael the Vayuod & Basta. In the meane time came two messengers from the Vayuod, offering in his name, that he should doe whatsoeuer were in the behalfe of the emperour to bee imposed vpon him: vnto whom these conditions were by Basta and the rest of the counsell propounded: First, that hee should for euer resigne all the claime hee had or might haue into the B countrey of TRANSYLVANIA; then, that he together with his armie should giue his oath of fidelitie vnto his imperiall majestie; also, that he should forthwith through VALACHIA go with his armie vnto the frontiers of MOLDAVIA, to stay the Polonians from further entrance; and moreouer, to giue his wife and little sonne in hostage for the performance of these things. With which messengers was sent one Sebastian Techelli, to receiue the oath and promised hostages: vnto whom was appointed for the place of their safe keeping, the bishops castle in ALBA IVLIA, the Vaiuod hauing before requested, that they might be so kept in TRANSYLVANIA: although Basta thought it much better to haue had them kept in the vpper HVNGARIE. This agreement being made, Basta kept on his way towards Fogaras, which he found alreadie possessed by the Chiaki, and so from thence to CORONA. After which the Vayuod distrusting of the articles C agreed vpon, went directly into VALACHIA, but not at all into MOLDAVIA; not so much discomfited with the forces of the Polonians whom he went against (not doubting to giue them a great ouerthrow) as for the distrust he had of Moses the Siculian, who in the battell might shew himselfe his enemie behind him. Now whether it were for the distrust he had in his owne followers, or onely for feare of treason by the Polonians plotted, being not likely that they with so small forces were come to fight, without some greater secret deceit; he not knowing whom to trust or to feare, of his owne accord tooke his flight into the strength of the mountaines, without any great losse of his people, hauing left his baggage behind him, which was assailed and taken by the Haiduckes and such other sharkers enured to prey, and alwaies readie in like occasion to helpe to spoile and chase them that are alreadie running: although that afterwards in diuers D skirmishes with the Turkes (who to cause him the rather to turne his backe vnto the Polonians,Micha [...]l for feare of being betrayed vnto the Polonian [...], taketh his flight into the mountaines. had presumptuously scoured vp and downe the countrey) he lost many. In fiue, giuing MOLDAVIA lost, he was now out of hope how to be able to hold only VALACHIA, his old gouernment. Euen he which but a little before commaunded aboue an hundred thousand souldiors in field: he (which in despight of who said nay) was able to commaund VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA, and happily the other countries also neere vnto him; as hauing receiued the commaund of TRANSYLVANIA, as gouernour for the emperour: he that made CONSTANTINOPLE to tremble, and found no empire equall to his designes. But it fareth oftentimes with the great, as with birds of prey, who greedily seeking to prey vpon others, become themselues a prey vnto other, greater than themselues: for they neuer contented, and attributing onely vnto their owne E valour and wisedome, their owne prosperous proceedings, are the true shoares of the vnstable wheele of fortune: or what say I of fortune? being rather the very children of follie. So commonly falleth it out with princes (especially the new) which in the garboiles of warre betwixt their mightie neighbours, not gouerned by their owne wisedome, rest themselues only vpon the aduice of their counsellours, are by them led they wote not whither, for the great interest they haue in them. For had the Vayuod had but the least in sight into politicall gouernment, he might well haue vnderstood, that amongst so many mightie princes, he could not much grow, or yet well root himselfe, without the assured stay of some one or other of them. He should also haue knowne within what compasse a new prince ought to haue vsed seueritie and rigour; and that he ought to abstaine from all offence in goods, or otherwise, which might any way procure F vnto him the displeasure or hatred of his subjects. Whereas his counsellours not so much respecting his profit as their owne, had not the power or not the will to persuade him so by good meanes to plant himselfe sure in TRANSYLVANIA; but so both cast him headlong from his high estate, and at the same time furthered the losse of CANISIA, a matter of important consequence.

[Page]Now lay Basta encamped in the field in TRANSYLVANIA, when a messenger came vnto G him from the great Chancellor of POLONIA, to declare vnto him, That it was not his purpose to trouble TRANSYLVANIA, hauing no such order from his king: albeit that he would aduise the Transyluanians if they wished to liue in quiet, to make choice of a prince of their owne nation, and such an one as the Turke should well like of, whereas otherwise they should but seeke their owne destruction, together with their neighbours. Which his counsell was well marked of them all, albeit that it was thought by many of the wiser sort not so much to proceed of any good meaning he had towards the Transyluanians, as of an old grudge and inueterat hatred hee had alwaies borne against the house of AVSTRIA: as also that he euen then countenanced the prince Sigismund with his armie, to no other end, but by him to raise vp new stirres in that prouince, and so to draw it from the emperours obeisance, although thereby it became againe tributarie H vnto the Turke, who in all these matters had a great hand. Yea some sticked not to say, That he couertly aimed at that principalitie for his sonne, howsoeuer he masked the same vnder the shew of Sigismund the late prince. But vnto him answere was giuen by the Transyluanians in generall (with thankes for his good will) that in all their consultations they would haue a principall regard of their owne welfare, together with the common. Which answere he hauing receiued, forthwith placed one Simon (the brother of Hieremias the Moldauian) Vayuod of VALACHIA in stead of Michael by him driuen out,The Chancelour placeth a new Vayuod in Valachia in stead of Michael, by him driuen out. and so leauing a conuenient number of souldiors with him, returned himselfe towards POLONIA. Vnto which election so made by the Polonian, the Turkes craftily gaue place, knowing well to play the foxes where they could not play the lyons, wisely for a time comporting the injurie: and the old Chancellor as craftie as they, hauing I a secret purpose by occasion of these present troubles, to preferre his sonne at length vnto the principalitie of TRANSYLVANIA, and thereunto also to joyne the countries of MOLDAVIA and VALACHIA, had therein of purpose placed the aforesaid Simon, a man of no valour, and of a small apprehension, whom he might again at his pleasure displace, and joyne those prouinces vnto his new purchase; which he could not so well doe, if he should haue there placed a man of greater reach and courage. So worke the heads of the great, and so trauell the braines of the ambitious aspiring.

Basta vnderstanding of the retiring of the Polonians, entred into consultation with the Chiaki and other the principall men of that prouince (which lodged with the armie in the countrey villages thereabout) for calling together the states and people,False rumours raised [...]o haue terrified B [...]sta. to make choice of some such men K as they thought meetest to be sent vnto the emperour, to know his pleasure for the gouernment of that prouince. But now in the meane time, whilest there was no suspition of the forraine enemie, began to worke certaine Malecontents, which thinking with greater libertie to liue vnder a weake prince than vnder one of greater power, with one voice cried out, That Sigismund with a great power was entered into the confines of TRANSYLVANIA; one whiles towards VALACHIA, another while by the way of MOLDAVIA; and that the strength of the countrey and others therby still resorted vnto him: with other such like inuentions, of purpose deuised to haue made Basta suddenly departed, or at leastwise to haue troubled the Diet or assembly called, and the consultation also. But he well aduised of their purpose, moued not out of his quarter, but there lay very priuatly, to declare thereby the great confidence he had in the thankefulnesse of the nobilitie L of the countrey, as by him deliuered from the oppression of the Vayuod: as also to make them to vnderstand, That the gouernment to be appointed, was not to be setled in the sole power of a tyrant, but in the fidelitie of the subjects protected vnder a most gentle, royall, and most fatherlike gouernment, not ambitiously sought after, but most voluntarily of themselues offered, and (for the common good) by the emperour accepted. Beside that, he knew right well how that Castaldo (in like case before in the yeare 1551 sent into TRANSYLVANIA with eight thousand Almaines) left behind him his armie, and without any precedent courtesie went priuatly to ALBA IVLIA, where queene Isabel had for her defence assembled a Diet of all the states, and there by well handling of the matter got to Ferdinand the emperour that kingdome, which hee could not by the fear of his forces haue gained: for which doing, Writers attribute vnto him the name M of great wisedome; notwithstanding that the yeare following he was enforced to abandon his conquest, but yet not through any default in himselfe.

But it is truly said, That men pleasured, according to the occasion change their manners, as doth the Chamelion his colour according to the place: nothing being by nature so short, nothing [Page] A of lesse life than the remembrance of a benefit with the vnthankfull, which the greater it is, the more it is repaied with vngratitude; either by making it to haue been of little worth, or to haue proceeded not of courtesie, but from some other more priuat and proper considerations of the giuer. The Diet (aforesaid) being assembled, diuers broiles were there raised by the malecontents, as vsually it commeth to passe where the people haue to doe with the gouernment; apt to be moued with euerie rumour, alwaies readie to change their opinion as streight glutted therewith, headstrong, faithlesse, all in words to no end▪ Some of them in that assembly cried out, that the Almaines might be paied, discharged, and thanked for the paines they had taken for them as their neighbours, with offering to doe them the like pleasure as their occasions should require: othersome cried to haue them all put to the sword, so much they were deuoid of reason: B others cried out as fast, that they were not by any meanes to endure the gouernment of Maximilian the Archduke, but by some nominated vnto them would needs haue a prince of their owne countrey, and such an one as the great Turke should well like of, as the Chancellor had persuaded them.The [...]out speech of Basta, vnto the Chiaki and the rest of the nobilitie of Trans [...]luania. Basta for all that not dismaied with so vnexpected an encounter (albeit that he began to suspect that he had lost all his labour, if he were not in short time with greater forces relieued) at such time as the Chiaki with other the chiefe men amongst the people, came as their manner was euerie other day to visit him: with couragious speech and vnappauled countenance told them plainly, That he well perceiued their drift and purpose; and yet doubted not either of their oath of obedience giuen vnto his Imperiall majestie, either of the fresh remembrance of the great benefit they had from him so lately receiued; and in case it might happen them little to C esteeme of those things (greater than which could not happen amongst men) that yet they should well know, that he was not a man to be feared with words, but fully resolued not to stirre one foot thence with his forces but rather to lose his life, which he would for all that sell as deere as he could. Wherunto answere was giuen with much courteous speech, That he should not giue eare vnto any the speeches of the light vulgar people; but to content himselfe that the Nobilitie in whose hands the chiefe power of that prouince was, had not done any thing not beseeming thēselues. So after much dispute, were appointed three persons according to the three estates (the Nobilitie, the Commons, and the State in generall) to go vnto the Emperour, to request of him Maximilian the Archduke for their Gouernour: with speciall request also, that it would please him not to ouercharge with forrein soldiors that prouince alreadie sore impouerished; especially D hauing in it selfe people sufficient for the defence thereof, and more nimble to encounter with the Turkes, than the heauie and slow Almaines and they also of double charge. These difficulties with much adoe thus appeased by such as stood fast for the emperour, Basta thought it not good againe to call any such assembly, hoping that time and the emperors great wisedome, would for all these matters find conuenient remedie. Yet saw he plainly the mind of the people was to resolue to remaine for euer free, if they should haue come to a second consultation; and in them a princely desire to commaund rather than to be commaunded: Yea in that selfesame Diet the Chiaki was declared Gouernour on the behalfe of the people, with authoritie in many things of himselfe to determine without calling togither of any assembly of the rest of the States: which they said they did only vntill they were by his Imperiall majestie prouided of a Gouernour. Neuerthelesse E Basta well perceiued more than a Tribunitiall power to be now joyned by the people vnto the emperours commissioners, knowing that this Chiaki was in great hope to haue beene proclaimed prince of the confederats, in case they had not beene presently relieued against the Vayuod: and hauing in him yet noted still his great ambition, for that marching from TORDA toward the Vayuod, he caused to be carried before him a speare with an Hungarian cap, and a plume of feathers vpon a launce, in token of his chiefe commaund; albeit that afterwards at the complaint of Basta, pretending therein a wrong to be done vnto his regiment marching vnder the Imperiall standard, he tooke it downe: neither was he then a little suspected to haue suffered his souldiors to haue sacked ALBA IVLIA, as also to haue surprised FOGARAS, and to haue vsed diuers other meanes all tending vnto popularitie and ambitious aspiring: wherein he deemed F it yet better to dissemble than to proceed farther, and then to doe it in deed when he had power sufficient.

The next day following came all the Counsell of that prouince, with the Deputies (appointed to haue gone vnto the emperour) and the people vnto the house of Basta, requesting him (although such their manner of comming might seeme to exceed the bounds of request) that hee [Page] would send his Germanes out of the countrey, and so after so many troubles to giue it leaue a G little to breath: as for himselfe, that he might stay at ALBA IVLIA, vntill the men deputed to that purpose might go vnto his majestie with their requests. Basta not a little troubled with such an imperious request, and now (but not before) perceiuing the occasion of this great discontentment; saw himselfe much deceiued in a most materiall point and the ground of all this action,The errour of B [...]sta. by trusting too much vnto his owne too small forces, too weake for the defence of his owne person, much lesse to keepe vnder so populous a prouince, such as before in the yeare 1552 vnder the leading of Castaldo, had of it selfe sent out 70 thousand fighting men for the besieging of LIPPA, and now vpon the sudden twelue thousand with a few noble men in the face of a mightie and armed enemie; where they now held an armed consultation with him, the Nobilitie meeting togither with their great retinues; and so much the greater, by how much the suspition was the H more by them feared, for them to be enforced to resolue vpon any thing contrarie to their good liking: whereas he contenting himselfe onely with their oath without any other hostages, and so giuing aid vnto the confederats, had put himselfe vpon their faith, togither with all his people, into the middest of TRANSYLVANIA; a matter of far greater importance than any pledge they were able to haue giuen him. Besides that, of the six thousand men which he had brought with him into that countrey, three thousand fiue hundred of SILESIA now brought to two thousand, could not be persuaded longer to stay without their pay before hand, the pay of their countrey being alreadie spent: and the rest drawn out of the garrisons of the vpper HVNGARIE, or else there pressed, were at a certaine time to returne. Yet neuerthelesse he attempted in some sort to satisfie their request, for not grieuing of the countrey, by requesting of them to deliuer vnto I him some strong place, whereinto he putting his men in garrison, they might so lie without any farther charge or trouble to the countrey, liuing vpon their owne wages. Which when he could not obtaine, and withall considering that if those few of his people which yet remained could be contented to stay with him, the retaining of them might giue occasion vnto the desirous of new stirs vpon euerie the least disorder of the souldiors, to alter the matter at their pleasure; as had happened vnto the eight thousand Almaines of Castaldo, driuen sometimes out of that countrey vnder the colour of some insolencie by them committed, although others had been the chiefe doers thereof, namely about some twentie Polonians: he resolued of all these things to giue notice to the Court, and so faire and softly to march with his souldiors vnto the confines of that countrey; and to saue his eight pieces of artillerie with his other munition in Samos K Viu [...] castle, a strong fortresse a good way within the confines, which togither with the strong castle of KVIVAR, Aga Leche an Albanoise and Generall of the Vaiuods horsemen deliuered to Zakel captaine of ZACCOMAR, one of his majesties commissioners; who there prouided for the Gouernor Basta his familiar fauourit: although that the Transyluanians had with great promises sought to haue crossed such deliuerie of the aforesaid castles, and to haue had them in their owne power.

The discre [...]ion of the doer is not alwaies to be deemed by the euent of the thing done.Wherfore Basta not deceiued, but by necessitie enforced, yeelded that he could not hold, and gaue that he could not sell, making a vertue of necessitie; deceiued in the euent of the matter which he had propounded vnto himselfe from the beginning, for the assurance of that countrey vnto the emperor, by an excusable error, if it be true that some wise men say, Nothing to be more L vnreasonable than by the euent of matters to judge of their wisedome by whom they were mannaged; which consisteth not in diuining before of the certaintie of the euent, but in the reasonable conjecture thereof, by the meanes leading thereunto, than which nothing is more deceitfull, as not depending from our owne actions onely, but from other mens also more grosse and vnreasonable: none knowing better how much the wisedome of man deceiueth it selfe, than those which are vnto themselues true witnesses of the euent of their owne consultations. Neuerthelesse the matter was afterward so well handled by Basta, Petzen, and others the emperours great fauourits in TRANSYLVANIA, that in a Diet holden by the Transyluanians, he was with a conuenient guard againe by them receiued as the Emperours lieutenant, vntill further order were by him taken for the gouernment and assurance of that countrey: the Chiaki and his complices M faintly consenting thereunto, as not greatly pleased therewith. Neither had Basta much cause to be prowd of such his gouernment, hauing thereof no longer assurance than pleased that fickle people to afford him: yet sith no better could be had, he must take it as he might, deeming it better in some sort for the present to hold it for the emperour, than not at all: with which his [Page] A weake state amongst moe enemies than friends, we will for a while leaue him.

But whilest things thus passed (as we haue said) in TRANSYLVANIA and HVNGARIE (the treatie for peace betwixt the Emperour and the Turke being vanished into smoake;) Ibrahim Bassa the Turkes Generall in HVNGARIE, hauing all the last winter made great preparation for the inuasion of the emperours territories, and the doing of some notable enterprise for the recouerie of his reputation somewhat impaired by the euill successe of the last yeares warres; and euen in these his greatest preparations of this yeare, not a little troubled by the mutinie of the Ianizaries and Spahi for want of their pay at CONSTANTINOPLE, as also with the rebellion in CARAMANIA: now at length in the latter end of August (by order from the Grand signior his great lord and master) began to set forward with his armie from BELGRADE, supposed to be B aboue two hundred thousand men strong. And comming to BABOTSCA, a strong fortresse of the Christians in the nether HVNGARIE, sat downe before it, and hauing planted his artillerie, furiously battered it, with purpose to haue the next day assaulted it: but the captaine of the castle considering the weakenesse of his garrison to withstand so puissant an enemie, and that the wals to be alreadie sore shaken with the furie of the great ordinance, came to a reasonable composition with the Bassa, and so deliuered vnto him the place. Which exploit done and the castle to him surrendred, he marched from thence to CANISIA, a strong towne in the frontiers of STIRIA, of most men before supposed a place impregnable; for that it was situat in a very deepe ma [...]ish, and furnished with a strong garrison of valiant soldiors, part Hungarians and part Almaines: after this strong towne Ibrahim the great Bassa especially longed,Canisia besieged by the Turk [...]. so to free those frontiers of the C Turkes from the often incursions that the garrison souldiors of that place made thereinto; as also by the taking of that so strong a fortresse from the Christians, to open a more free and safe passage for the Turkes into AVSTRIA, to the endangering of other places of the empire also farther off. Wherefore encamping his great armie on the side of the marish which compassed the Isle round whereon the towne stood, he began with fagots and earth to fill vp the marish, so to passe ouer his armie; they in the towne in the meane time not ceasing with their thundring shot to disturbe them, and to doe them what harme they might: who for all that proceeding in their worke, had brought it now almost close vnto the island, where whilest they were about to haue landed, they were by the souldiors of the garrison so encountred, that hauing lost a number of their men as well Ianizaries as others, with two of their best captaines also, they were by plaine D valour enforced to retire. But preparing themselues against the next day with a greater force to haue again returned vnto the assault of the Isle, they saw the Imperiall armie now at their backs, and come so neere them, that with their artillerie they did them great harme; which put them in no small feare, seeing themselues enclosed betwixt the towne and the campe, and both out of the one and the other to receiue no small hurt, as well with the small shot as the great: besides that out of the campe diuers whole bands sometimes sallied, discharging great vollies of shot euen into their trenches. In the Imperiall armie were about two and fortie thousand horse and foot, men of diuers nations, vnder the leading of duke Mercurie, now Generall of the Emperors forces in HVNGARIE; with whom were also the lords Nadasti, Esdrin, Bacchian, and the Gouernour of CROATIA, with diuers other famous captaines, come thither for the reliefe of CANISIA, E a place of so great importance for the defence of that side of the countrey, and to helpe that it fell not into the power of the barbarous enemie.The battell bet [...]ixt the Christians and the Turks before Canisia. But Ibrahim Bassa vnderstanding by his espials the small number of the Christians; and well knowing how much he was too strong for them by reason of his great multitude, went out against them, and finding them as readie as himselfe, joyned battell with them, with great slaughter of men both on the one side and the other: which bloudie fight (the victorie yet standing doubtfull, but in all mens judgement more enclining vnto the Christians than to the Turkes) was at length by the comming on of the night broken off. At which time the Christians retiring themselues into their trenches, the Turkes stood all the night in the field with their weapons in their hands, as fearing to haue been againe in the night by their enemies assailed▪ Meane while the Christian captaines in the campe at variance F amongst themselues, and so not now to be commaunded by duke Mercurie their Generall (at such time as the Turkes presuming on their multitude dared them to battell the next day) could by no meanes be persuaded to go out against them, or once to stirre out of their trenches. Insomuch that the Generall of the Tartars thereupon taking courage, made an inroad into the countrey thereby, and meeting with two hundred wagons laded with victuals going vnto the Christian [Page] campe, slew the conuoy that guarded them, and so carried them quite away. Whereby G such want arose in the Christian campe, that hauing not what to eat, and out of hope of any new supply of reliefe in time to come, they were glad by night to dislodge and retire; which could not so secretly be done, but that it was by the Turkes perceiued, who presently following after them in the taile of the armie, cut off about three thousand of them, with certaine pieces of great ordinance, and most part of the baggage; the rest of the armie in the meane time retiring farther off into places of more safetie. From this victorie the Turkes returned againe to the siege of CANISIA, where after a few daies, the garrison souldiors now out of hope to be in good time relieued, suddenly fell into mutinie, refusing any longer to defend the towne now hardly laied vnto by the Turks; and the rather, for that diuers of the Hungarians were alreadie fled out of the towne vnto the Bassa, hauing (as it was thought) reuealed vnto him the whole estate of the besieged:H so that now there was no remedie but that the towne must be deliuered vnto the enemie,Canisia yeelded vnto the Turks. although Paradiser with some other of the captaines did what they might (as they said afterwards) to haue persuaded the contrarie. Whereupon they came to parley with the Bassa, and couenanting with him that they might with bag and baggage depart, and with a safe conuoy be brought ouer the riuer Mur, promised to yeeld vnto him the towne: all which the Bassa granted, fearing how to haue been able to haue kept the field, if they should for any long time haue holden out, Winter now so fast approaching. So the two and twentith of October the towne was vnto the Bassa right cowardly deliuered, and the garrison souldiors with their baggage in an hundred wagons lent them by the Turks, safely conducted ouer the Mur as was vnto them promised. After the agreement made for the yeelding vp of the towne, the Bassa in courtesie sent I vnto Paradiser the Gouernour a verie rich gowne of cloth of gold; which albeit that he refused, yet was it afterwards laid to his charge as a presumption of some treacherous collusion betwixt him and the Bassa for the betraying of the towne, which it was thought he might much longer haue kept. Ibrahim now thus possessed of the towne he so much desired, fortified it more strongly than euer it was before;S [...]ia [...]orraged by the Turks. and for the more assurance thereof, put into it a strong garrison of foure thousand foot and fiue hundred horse, all old expert souldiors. And immediatly after without resistance, forraged the countrey round about CANISIA, burning all before him as he went; the poore Christian inhabitants still flying as fast as they could for safegard of their liues. But hauing thus with the spoile of the countrey well pleased his souldiors, he desirous to haue the same againe in time repeopled, as thereby to yeeld vnto the Turks the more profit, staied their farther K outrage, vpon great paine forbidding the same; by open proclamations in euerie place set vp, inuiting the Christians without feare of farther harme to returne againe into the countrey, where submitting them vnto the great Sultans obeysance, they should vnder his protection safely dwell, without any tribute to be of them exacted for the space of three yeares next following. Which proclamations were in his name thus published.

Ibrahim Bassa to the Inhabitans of the countrey about CANISIA, greeting.

Ibrahim Bassa his proclamationWe Ibrahim Bassa by the grace of God, Visier, and Cousin vnto the most puissant and inuincible Sultan Mahomet, Emperour of the Turkes, vnto all the Inhabitants of the marches about CANISIA, L and the rest of the countrey of STEIRMARCK, from the greatest to the least, greeting. Whereas we haue willingly heard that some of you willing to submit your selues vnto the great Sultan, and to sweare vnto him fealtie, are againe returned vnto your old dwellings: We promise and assure you vpon the faith of the said Emperour, that whosoeuer shall be found neere vnto the fortresse of CANISIA now belonging vnto the great Sultan, with all reuerence submitting himselfe as his subiect vnder his gouernment, acknowledging him for his Soueraigne; shall enioy moe priuiledges than euer he did before, and also be protected in the same. And for that we know that your houses are for the most part destroied, as also your posteritie; you shall therefore for these three yeares next following be exempted and free from all tributes and charges whatsoeuer, to the intent you may the better recouer your selues. Of which grace if you shall willingly accept, we promise you, that neither you, your wiues,M or children, shall be in any thing wronged, or your goods in any part impaired, but so much as in vs possibly is to be defended: so that so many of you as please, may in safetie returne vnto your owne old dwellings, giuing before knowledge thereof vnto the Gouernour of this our fortresse. Giuen in our campe after the conquest of CANISIA.

[Page] A Many of these poore countrey people before fled for feare of the Turkes, and not knowing where to bestow themselues, now vpon this proclamation returned againe to their antient dwelling places, there to begin the world againe vnder the Turkish obeisance. But for that Countie Serinus was the man whom of all others in that countrey the great Bassa sought after, as him whom hee most feared after his departure to trouble this his new conquest, and to seeke to bee reuenged; hauing in this so generall a calamitie of STIRIA his countrey, lost twentie villages of his owne, quite burnt by the Turkes, and the people most slaine or els taken prisoners: the Bassa hauing many times before sought to haue persuaded him to haue yeelded his obedience vnto the Turkish Sultan, and now in hope after so great a losse to bring him in, before he were come vnto the vtter ruine of all his fortunes (now by the losse of CANISIA, and the entrance of the Turkes B into STIRIA, not a little endangered) writ vnto him as followeth: ‘We Ibrahim Bassa, Ibrahim Bassa his letters vnto the Countie Serinus. chiefe of the Visier Bassaes, and cousin vnto the most puissant Sultan Mahomet, to the Countie Serinus sendeth greeting. We haue oftentimes heretofore written vnto thee concerning the matter thou knowest of: but what the cause is that we receiued no answere, we cannot tell. Yet could I not but write to thee againe, that if yet thou canst be content to begin the matter aright, and to submit thy selfe vnto our protection, we will be readie to receiue thee. Thou seest, that what we foretold thee, is now more than fulfilled both vpon thee and thine, which thou wouldest neuer beleeue. Neuerthelesse, for the staying of the further effusion of the blood as well of thy subiects as ours, and to come to some good attonement, it is high time for thee to lay thine hand vpon thine heart, and to consider C how much more it concerneth thee than vs, and that the benefit thereof redoundeth more vnto thine than ours. What our affection is towards thee, Hierome the Vayuod can tell thee. Fare thou well from our campe after the conquest of CANISIA the seuenth of Nouember, 1600.’

But these letters being also as the rest answered with silence,Ibrahim Bas [...]a returneth with his armie to B [...]lgrade. the great Bassa hauing disposed of all as he thought best at CANISIA and in the countrey thereabout, returned with his armie to BELGRADE, there to Winter: hauing before fully certified the great Sultan of all his proceedings, and the successe of this war, vaunting after his vaine manner, the next Spring to besiege VIENNA also, if it should please him so to commaund. Of all which things Mahomet vnderstanding, and not a little therwith pleased, caused great triumphs to be made by the space of foure D daies at CONSTANTINOPLE, and in token of his loue and fauour sent a rich robe of cloth of gold, with a leading staffe, all set with pearle and pretious stones, vnto the Bassa, yet lying at BELGRADE.

This losse of CANISIA much troubled all that side of Christendome, especially them of the territories belonging vnto the house of AVSTRIA, in a sort dismaied to see the Turkes so easily possessed of a towne, before thought almost impregnable, and the strongest defence of all that countrey against the furious impressions of the Turks, to whom it was now become a most safe and sure receptacle, all men with one voice blaming the discord of the captaines in the imperiall armie for so retiring without any good doing: but aboue all detesting the cowardise of Paradiser; who knowne to haue in the towne a strong garrison, with good store of munition and E victuals (as was supposed) had so basely deliuered the same vnto the enemie, not doing the vttermost of his deuoir as had beseemed him for the defence thereof: whereas if he had so done, happily in the meane time the cold and vnseasonablenesse of the weather (though no other reliefe had beene) Winter being now come, might haue enforced the Turkes to haue raised their siege. Whereupon he was for this so foule a fact by the emperours commaundement apprehended and cast in prison at VIENNA, where after he had long line, and his cause oftentimes examined, he was the next yeare following condemned of fellonie and cowardise,Paradiser executed for the yeelding vp of Canisia to the Turkes. and so the fifteenth day of October executed, hauing first his hand at foure strokes of the executioner struck off, and after that his head: with him was also in like manner executed his Ensigne-bearer: and after them his lieutenant, with the maior of the town, who both bound fast to a stake, had first their tongues F cut out, and afterwards their heads chopt off also.

Now the rebellion before raised in CARAMANIA by Cussahin Bassa (as is aforesaid) was not with his death altogether appeased. Also ORFA, a great citie of that countrey (which hauing tasted the sweetnesse of libertie in the time of Cussahin) yet still holding out against Mehemet the great Bassa, the Sultans lieutenant Generall there. At which time also a companion of Cussahin [Page] the late rebell, called the Scriuano, and one of his greatest fauourits; seeing how hardly not onely G Cussahin himselfe, but the rest of his followers had beene handled by the Turkes, began to make head, and to call vnto him all such as loued their libertie: vnto the sweet name whereof, so many were in short time come about him, as that out of them he formed such an armie, as made him now dreadfull vnto the Turkes his enemies. Against whom, Mehemet Bassa going with all his power to haue oppressed him, found him with those his rebellious followers so couragious (for the desire they all had to breake out of the Othoman slauerie, and to liue in such libertie as was promised them by their captaine and Generall) that joyning battell with them, he receiued of them a notable ouerthrow, insomuch that fearing to haue lost his whole armie, he was glad to retire,The Turkes embassadour euill entreated by the king of Persia. and to send out commissions for the raising of greater forces. Sultan Mahomet in the meane time, whether it were for feare of this new rebellion, or for that he vnderstood of the embassadours H sent from the Persian vnto the Christian princes, began to suspect least that king should breake the league he had with him, and so to his farther trouble take vp armes also against him. Wherefore vpon a Turkish pride he sent an embassadour into PERSIA, to giue the king to vnderstand, That for the more assurance of the league betwixt them, he demaunded to haue one of his sonnes sent vnto him in hostage, as a pledge of his fathers faith. Which so proud a demaund the Persian king tooke in such disdaine, that he commaunded in his rage the embassador to be forthwith slaine: but that his furie being by his graue counsellours somewhat appeased, he remitted the seueritie of that his rigorous commaund, and sparing his life, was contented, that in despight and contempt of him that had sent him, he should be put to the Bastonado onely: and so grieuously threatened, sent backe againe vnto his master. Who hauing receiued this shamefull I answere, and in doubt of some further matter from that angrie king, commaunded new and strong garrisons to be put into all his strong holds confining vpon the Persian kingdome.

1601This troublesome yeare of Iubilie thus past, the emperour much troubled with the losse of CANISIA, and in doubt of worse to come (albeit that Ibrahim Bassa, whom for all that he trusted not, did afresh entreat with him concerning peace) and seeing also the great need hee had of greater aid to withstand the mightie power of the Turke, with great instancie requested aid of the Pope and of the other princes of ITALIE:The aid sent out of Italie vnto the emperour. who considering also how much it concerned the rest of the Christian commonweale, to haue the frontiers of HVNGARIE defended, condiscended vnto the emperours request: and so the Pope with the beginning of the Spring sent him eight thousand souldiours in pay, vnder the leading of Io. Francesco Aldobrandino his nephew K their Generall, who with the like charge had now serued euer since the yeare 1599: King Philip also at the instance of the emperour gaue order vnto the Countie Fuentes to send into CROATIA certain bands of Dutches; who by direction from him, were forthwith conducted to MILLAINE: The great duke of FLORENCE also sent vnto him two thousand souldiours, vnder the leading of Francesco del Monte; with whom also by his appointment went the lord Io. de Medices, whom Ferdinand the Archduke forthwith requested for to be master of his campe: Thither came also the duke of MANTVA with an honourable companie both of horse and foot, being forthwith by the Archduke made his lieutenant generall. And so whilest these people assembled together into CROATIA, the emperor sent also another good armie into HVNGARIE, drawne for most part out of GERMANIE, which vnder the leading of the Archduke Matthias his brother,L and the duke Mercurie his lieutenant generall, went into those parts to withstand the Turke. A third armie he also made of the Imperials: which strengthened with the forces of Don Ferrant Gonzaga, Gouernour of the vpper HVNGARIE, joyned themselues with Basta, for the recouerie of TRANSYLVANIA; out of which he had been of late driuen, as shall hereafter be declared.

And so whilest these armies were in preparing, many hot skirmishes passed in HVNGARIE betwixt the Christians and the Turks, the losse falling sometime to the one side and sometime to the other.Ibrahim Bassa d [...]eth at Belgrade But the time now come that souldiors might well take the field, Ibrahim Bassa being now before dead at BELGRADE, whilest he was yet entreating of a dissembled peace, and Hassan one of the Visier Bassaes by Mahomet appointed Generall in HVNGARIE in his place: yet delaying M his comming, the parley for peace laied aside (as neuer indeed by the Turkes intended, but onely by them entertained to dallie off the time to their owne more aduantage) duke Mercurie Generall of the emperours forces taking the offer of so fit an opportunitie,Alba Regalis besieged by duke Mercurie. came with his armie from COMARA (where he had lien expecting the euent of the parley) and laied siege to ALBA [Page] A REGALIS, one of the chiefe and strongest cities of HVNGARIE: which seated in the middest of a marish, was thought almost impregnable, being hardly to be approached but by the suburbes▪ which strongly fortified and defended by the marish, serued the citie in stead of three most sure bulwarkes, within which stood also the citie it selfe, well defended with a good wall and a ditch. This citie the duke for certaine daies continually battered, as if he had purposed at length to haue taken it by assault: but in the meane time certainely enformed by a fugitiue (but lately fled out of the citie) that the broad lake on the other side of the citie ouer against the place where he lay, was not so deepe, but that it was to be passed (contrarie to the opinion both of the Turkes captiues and of the naturall inhabitants, whom he had vpon that point examined) and that the Turkes presuming vpon the strength therof, and thinking themselues on that side safe, had turned almost B all their care and forces vnto that side of the citie which was now by him battered, without regard of any great perill to be from the other side feared: he appointed the lord Russwurm with his souldiors to make proofe if the SIGETH suburbes (for so they were called) on the aforesaid side of the citie so little regarded by the Turkes, were not to be surprised: for that these suburbes being taken, the citie could not long hold out. For the vndertaking of which enterprise, Russwurm was both by the captiue Turkes and countrey people thereby dwelling, much discouraged, they all with one consent affirming, That albeit he should find no other difficulties in the attempting thereof, yet the lake it selfe was not possible to be passed: who neuerthelesse not altogether trusting them, sent certaine of his men secretly to trie the matter: who hauing so done, brought him word, That the lake was vndoubtedly though with much difficultie to be passed: Whereupon C he with a thousand select souldiours with euery one of them a good faggot on his backe beside his armes, to fill vp the deepest of the marish, by night entered the same; wherein he had not gone farre, but that he almost [...] the danger of his life found it much deeper and more troublesome than the spies had vnto him before reported: but caried with an inuincible courage himselfe, and his souldiors moued by his example, he still went on, they also following of him. It is almost a thing incredible to tell what these aduenturous men endured, plunged in the deepe mud amongst the flags and bulrushes, going still vp in water and mud vnto the wast euen where the marish was the shallowest; where also if one missed but a step, he was by and by ouer head and eares, and in danger to be drowned, if he were not by his fellowes presently holpen: yet at length by God his helpe hauing with the losse but of six or seauen men a little before day got ouer, the duke by an D appointed signe aduertised thereof, with greater stirre and tumult than at any time before assailed that side of the citie where he lay, as if euen then and there he had onely meant to haue engaged his whole forces for the winning thereof.The suburbes of Alba Regalis surprised by the lord Russwurm. When in the meane time the lord Russwurm on the other side with his resolute souldiours, with ladders prouided for the purpose scaled the wals of the suburbe, and almost vnperceiued, recouered the top thereof (the Turkes being at the same time wholly bent for the defence of the other side of the citie, where most stirre and apparent danger was) and so being got into the suburbes, with a great and terrible crie assailed the Turkes; who surprised with an exceeding feare, and not well knowing which way to turne themselues, without any great resistance fled into the citie, the Christians following them at the heeles, and making of them a great slaughter. In which so great a confusion, euen where was least feared, E the duke by other his souldiors tooke the rest of the suburbes as he had before determined, the Turkes there also for feare forsaking them, and retiring with all the hast they could vnto their fellowes in the citie, there to liue or die together. The Christians in these suburbes, beside much other rich prey, tooke also foureteene great pieces of artillerie, with good store of shot and pouder. The suburbes (the greatest strength of the citie) thus happily taken, the duke againe summoned the citie, requiring to haue it deliuered vnto him: whereunto the Turkes gaue no other answere but by their pieces, which they discharged vpon the Christians so persuading them to yeeld. Wherewith the duke much displeased, sent them word, That he would send them other manner of messengers to morrow, and by Gods helpe sup with them in the citie, although he were not vnto them welcome. Neither failed hee of that his promise: for the next day hauing F out of the suburbes by the furie of his artillerie made two faire breaches into the citie, he by the ruines thereof with great slaughter of the enemie entered the citie,Alba Regal [...] taken by the Christians. albeit that the Turkes did what they might to haue defended the same, by casting downe vpon the Christians as they entered, darts, wild fire, and such like things, vsually prouided for such purpose. But seeing now no remedie, but that they must needs giue place vnto the fortune of their enemies, they fled amaine [Page] into their houses, there to defend themselues, or els to die: many of which houses they had before G of purpose so vndermined, as that they could easily ouerthrow them, and so ouerwhelme as many as should come within the danger of them: which so strange a resolution was by many of them as desperatly performed, insomuch that the goodly church, the pallace, with many other sumptuous buildings, were left vnto the Christians all rent and torne, not much better than rude heapes of rubbidge and stones. Howbeit the Bassa vpon promise of life yeelded himselfe, and was by the duke presently sent vnto the campe, the rest of the souldiors being (as in such case it commonly happeneth) all or most of them put to the sword. The greatest part of the prey fell vnto the Wallons; who by heapes breaking into the richest houses, not onely tooke what themselues light vpon, but stript the Germans also of such things as they had by chance gotten, to their great heart-burning and griefe: yea these rauenous and irreligious men not so contented, opened the H tombes of the Hungarian kings, there long before buried, to spoile euen the dead of such things as had for honours sake beene long before enterred with them (if happily any such thing were there to be found) shewing themselues therein more barbarous than the Turks, who by the space of threescore yeares hauing had the citie in their possession, had yet spared those reuerend monuments, and suffered the reliques of those worthie princes to rest in peace. Of this taking of ALBA REGALIS, the Bassa of BVDA long before taken prisoner, and then lying at VIENNA, hearing, abstained from meat with his two seruants a whole day prostrate vpon his face, praying vnto his prophet Mahomet, who had (as he said) all this yeare ben angrie with the Turks. Which had the siege of CANISIA taken the like effect, had then vndoubtedly been vnto them most vnfortunat: but God in his wisdome still tempereth the sweet with the soure.I

Assan B [...]ssa commeth out of season to haue relieued Alba Regalis.Now in the meane while was Assan the Visier Bassa and Generall of the Turkes armie with such souldiors as were alreadie assembled at BELGRADE, comming t [...] haue relieued ALBA REGALIS: and albeit that he vnderstood by the way as he marched, that the citie was by the Christians woon, yet held he on his entended journey: and so taking with him the Bassa of BVDA, with the other Sanzackes and commaunders of the townes and castles thereabout, had formed an armie of about threescore thousand strong, but for most part raw and vnexpert souldiours: with which power he still held on his way towards ALBA REGALIS, as well thereby to giue some contentment vnto the angrie Sultan his master, as in hope also to ouerthrow the Christian armie, or at leastwise to find the citie as yet vnrepaired, and so to regaine it. But vaine was that his designement, especially for the recouerie of the citie: for that the duke had no sooner taken K it, but that he forthwith caused the breaches to be repaired, and for the more assurance of it, put into it a strong garrison of old expert souldiours:The victorie of the Christians ouer the Turkes. and being himselfe about twentie thousand strong, and hearing of the Bassaes comming, set forward to meet him, and being come neere vnto him, began an hot and bloudie skirmish with him. Yet the Bassa to prosecute his entended purpose for the recouerie of ALBA REGALIS, the next day sent away part of [...] [...]rmie, to make proofe if happily the citie might yet be againe recouered, and himselfe in the meane time with the rest of his armie offered battell vnto the Christians, so to busie them, that they should not be able to trouble them whom he had sent to ALBA REGALIS, or to relieue the citie, if it should chance to bee by them distressed. When as the duke, before enformed of the basenesse of the souldiors in the Bassaes armie, and that although he were for number of men farre aboue him,L yet that for old, hardie, and expert souldiors he was strong ynough for him, valiantly went out and encountered him: and so euen at the first onset by plaine valour disordering the formost squadrons of the Turkes battell, enforced them to retire with the losse of six thousand men; amongst whom were the Bassa of BVDA,The Bassa of Buda slaine. six Sanzackes, with diuers other captaines and commaunders of good place and marke. At which time he also tooke from them diuers pieces of great artillerie, and had vndoubtedly with a notable slaughter ouerthrowne all the rest of the Bassaes armie, had not a great squadron of the Tartars euen at that instant shewed themselues at the backes of the Christians, and so staying them, giuen leisure vnto the Bassa againe to restore his disordered battaile. Whereupon the duke contenting himselfe with the victorie he had alreadie gotten, in good order retired againe into his trenches, hauing in this conflict not lost aboue M three hundred of his people. But whilest both armies thus lay, and new supplies still repairing vnto them, expecting but when they should come to a generall day of battaile; the Ianizaries still murmuring, that it was now no time of the yeare longer to keepe the field, by their importunitie enforced the Bassa to retire to BVDA, and there to disband his armie. In which his [Page] A retreat many were by the Christians cut off in the tayle of his armie, and a number of prisoners taken, and amongst the rest fiftie of the French mutiners of PAPPA, whom the archduke Matthias at the instance of duke Mercurie afterwards pardoned. Neither sped they much better that were sent by the Bassa to haue attempted the taking of ALBA REGALIS; for being come neere thereunto, they were so welcomed with great shot out of the citie, and charged with often sallies by the strong garrison, that seeing no hope to preuaile, they were glad to rise and to returne againe vnto the Bassa that sent them.

About the same time that the duke began to besiege ALBA REGALIS, Ferdinand the archduke hauing receiued great aid from the Pope, with the other princes of ITALIE and the king of SPAINE, and so now thirtie thousand strong, by the aduise of the duke of MANTVA his lieutenant B Generall,Canisia besieged by Ferdinand the Archduke. resolued to besiege CANISIA; which to haue again recouered out of the hands of the Turkes concerned much, not them of STIRIA and AVSTRIA onely, but the other prouinces adjoyning, yea and ITALIE it selfe also: whereupon hee with his armie in good order came the tenth of September and encamped before it; the duke of MANTVA and Don Iohn di Medices with two thousand harquebusiers and two cornets of horse, being come the day before to take view of the towne, at whom the Turkes made diuers shot, but without any harme doing. And albeit that the Turks there in garrison in number not past a thousand (accounting amongst them three hundred of the Wallons sometime of the garrison of PAPPA) with their often and gallant sallies greatly troubled the Christians, and that great bands of other Turkes came many times out of the strong towne and fortresses thereby, to skirmish with them, and to see if they C could put any moe souldiors into the towne for the more assurance thereof: yet such was the carefulnesse of the Christian commaunders, and valour of their souldiors, that the Turkes both in the one place and the other, were to their cost still repulsed and put to flight, with the losse also of some of their small castles and forts thereabout. To approach this strong towne and to plant a batterie against it, seemed to be a matter of great difficultie, for that it was (as we haue elsewhere said) enuironed round with a marish: yet meanes was found to drie it a little, and to fill it vp on the one side, and to come so neere the towne, that hauing planted three tyre of artillerie against it, the Christians began furiously to batter it, beating downe both the wals, the houses, and other buildings therein. Yea at length they had brought their approaches so neere, that they were come with their trenches euen close vnto the towne ditch, persuading the Turks now whilest D they might vpon good conditions to surrender the towne, and so to saue their liues. Wherunto their fierce and enraged minds were so farre from hearkening, that brauing the Christians, they said, That they would in despight of all their forces keepe the place for their Sultan doe what they could. Whereupon the Archduke and the duke of MANTVA, by the aduise of Medices and the rest of the principall captaines and commaunders in the armie, resolued to giue a generall assault vnto the towne. In the meane time newes was brought into the campe, of the winning of ALBA REGALIS, which there made great rejoycing, in signe whereof the Christians (as the manner is) in triumph many times discharged their great ordinance: and by fit men persuaded the garrison souldiors in CANISIA to yeeld, and not to cast themselues into such danger as had their fellowes at ALBA REGALIS, for that in so doing they should not onely saue E their liues, but easily also obtaine such other good conditions as they could reasonably desire; whereas otherwise they should to their cost find the Christians strong enough to constraine them, which must needs bring with it their vtter ruine and and destruction. Whereunto the garrison souldiors (amongst whom the renegat Wallons were the chiefe) contemptuously answered, That they little feared such weake assaylants: and with great crie and scorne commaunding the messengers to depart, in token of their confidence as also not to seeme inferiour vnto the Christians, oftentimes to small purpose discharged their great ordinance, as had the Christians the day before. Now though the wals of the towne were with continuall batterie sore shaken, and the breaches almost laid open; yet was the intended assault for a while delaid, vntill the bridges might be made that were to be laid ouer the towne ditch, for the Christians to passe ouer F vpon. But all things (as was thought) now in a readinesse, and the Florentines with some other of the Italians (whose lot it was to giue the first assault) being come forward, the bridge whereby they were to passe the towne ditch was found both too short and too weake for them to get ouer vnto the other side by: so that sincking vnder them, not the souldiors onely but euen the commaunders themselues and namely Herberstein, were in great danger to haue been lost. By [Page] which meanes they hindred, and the enemies murthering pieces continually flanking them, and G their musketiers still playing vpon them afront, they were enforced to retire, leauing behind them three hundred of their men slaine. Yet were not the Christian commaunders any thing therewith discouraged, but being generally resolued not to giue ouer that they had taken in hand vntill they had brought it to effect, began to make such prouision as they knew to be needfull to preserue their armie vnder, against the violence of the winter weather; as also to hinder that no victuals might be brought vnto the towne, so by famine at length to enforce the Turkes and Wallons to yeeld: who although they were alreadie pinched with wants, insomuch that hors-flesh was daintie cheere with them; yet for all that they nothing abated of their wonted fiercenesse, but being againe required to yeeld, vouchsafed not to answere them one word, but in stead thereof shooke their naked swords a farre off at them, in token of their vndaunted courage. But H yet for all this resolution of the commaunders for the continuance of the siege, Aldobrandino Generall of the Italians being now a little before dead (of an old infirmitie he had) the Italians began at the first some few of them secretly to withdraw themselues out of their quarter: but afterward by greater numbers to depart, and so to returne againe into their countrey; alleadging for their excuse, want both of pay and victuals. But the rest better minded, vnderstanding that the Turkes were risen from before ALBA REGALIS, and the rest of their armie disbanded, began to enter into new hope by some deuise or other to passe the ditch, and so by force to take the towne: and the rather, for that they were by a French fugitiue enformed both of the weaknesse and wants of the besieged. Whereupon they began afresh to make new engines for the approaching of the wals, without danger of the enemies ordinance any more to flanke them. At which I time also (viz. the fourth of Nouember) the lord Russworm came vnto the campe, sent thither from duke Mercurie with eight thousand souldiors (after that Hassan Bassa had broke vp his armie) by whose comming they were also the more encouraged to prosecute that they had taken in hand: neither fayled the Turks in the meane time with often fallies to trouble the Christians, attempting aboue all things to haue fiered their tents; for that so lying open in that so cold a season of the yeare, they must thereby of necessitie be enforced to raise their siege and be gone. But the successe of these their so great dessignes was not answerable to their hopes, being still to their losse beaten backe into the towne by the Christians: whom it behooued to looke well about them, for that the besieged desperatly set, and all resolued rather to die than to yeeld, aduentured themselues to all dangers, neuer ceasing to doe what they might to put the Christians K out of hope for winning the towne.The Christians by tempest and extreamitie of weather enforced to giue ouer the siege of Canisia. But whilest the Turkes with doubtfull and as it were desperat hope so defend the place, and the Christians grown stronger by the comming of their friends lay in hope to win the same: lo, in the latter end of Nouember the North wind accompanied with a deepe snow, so furiously raged, that it ouerthrew the greatest part of the tents and pauillions of the Christians, and as it were buried their whole armie in the snow and ise; in such wise, as that in Ferdinand the archdukes campe (being reasonably well prouided for) were a thousand fiue hundred men, with three hundred horses, starued and frozen to death. At which time the state of them that came with the lord Russworm was most miserable, who wearied with the siege of ALBA REGALIS, and as it were spent with the dirtie trauell of the deep way, had not brought with them their tents or other prouision, and were therefore enforced to lie abroad in so cold and L vnreasonable a time: with whose miseries, although their good Generall was much grieued, yet to doe the Christian common-weale seruice, he with them right patiently endured. In which so great an extreamitie, the Archduke with the rest of the commaunders vpon view taken, well considering what small hope there was in good time to take the towne, the vnreasonablenesse of the winter weather still more and more increasing; thought it better in time to rise, than longer to expose their armie vnto most certaine destruction, either of the enemie or the cold. Which was done with such hast and confused tumult, as that their rising seemed rather an hastie flight than honourable departure; leauing behind them for hast their great ordinance, with their tents and baggage; a common voice still running, That they were well if they might but saue themselues: so that the souldiors euery man mindfull but of himselfe, and in feare to be pursued by the enemy,M no man chasing them, fled, but still accompanied with such furious windes, snow, and extreame cold, that with all the labour they could take they could get them no heat, but fell downe to the earth many of them frozen, and so once falling neuer rose more, being vnable for want of heat to helpe themselues: in which case they were not to expect for helpe from others, euerie man hauing [Page] A ynough to doe to looke vnto himselfe: so that vpon the way whereby the armie went thus dispersed with the weather, lay aboue fiue hundred dead of cold; beside foure hundred others left sicke in the forsaken trenches, who forthwith after the departure of the armie were thought to haue beene all put to the sword by them of the garrison of CANISIA.

But hauing thus passed through these troubles of HVNGARIE, it is time now also to looke backe againe into the frontier countries of TRANSYLVANIA and VALACHIA; which to haue kept in the emperours obeisance, and so preserued as a liuely member of the Christian common-weale, no lesse concerned him, than the keeping of any other his frontier territories, which are many.Michael the Vayod submitteth himselfe vnto the emperour. Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA, the last yeare for his crueltie first driuen out of TRANSYLVANIA by Basta, and afterwards out of VALACHIA by the Great Chancellour of B POLONIA (as is aforesaid) and another placed in his stead, as a man forsaken euen of his owne better fortunes, and not well knowing which way to turne himselfe: thought it best now at last to submit himselfe vnto the emperour, if so happily by his meanes he might in some sort repaire his broken estate, and so at leastwise recouer his gouernment in VALACHIA. So resolued, he set forward, and in the beginning of this yeare, viz. the three and twentith of Ianuarie, with fiue and thirtie of his followers and six coaches arriued at PRAGE, where he was by the emperours appointment honourably receiued, and his cost at the emperours charge defrayed. Vnto whom he excused himselfe of the seueritie by him vsed in TRANSYLVANIA (the cause of those late troubles in that countrey) as enforced thereunto by the stubbornenesse of the Transyluanians themselues, whom he found still enclined to rebellion, and vnwilling to be commaunded by any C but by themseues. Which his excuse (as true) was well admitted, and he with all kindnesse vsed. Now at this same time Basta lying also in TRANSYLVANIA, as Gouernour for the emperour, right slenderly accompanied, (as is before also declared) the parliament at CLAVSENBVRG being ended,Basta taken prisoner by the Transyluanians. and all controuersies (as was thought) well composed, now without feare one night the watch being set, went to bed to take his rest; where he had not long lien, but that certaine of the Transyluanian lords, among whom the Chiaki was chiefe, came with their followers, and surprising the watch, and entering the pallace, brake into the chamber where he lay, tooke him out of his bed, and so kept him prisoner all that night. And the next morning going forth, about twelue miles off met with Sigismund Bathor their late prince,Sigismund recouereth his state in Transyluania▪ before secretly by them called in, whom they honourably conducted to CLAVSENBVRG, and there deliuered vnto him Basta, D the late gouernour for the emperour, whom he commaunded to be cast into yrons: and so going to the pallace, gaue like order for the apprehending and safe keeping of the rest of the nobilitie also, such as had taken part with Basta in the behalfe of the emperour. For now the Transyluanians were deuided into three parts: whereof the one stood for the emperour; the second for Istuan Bathor (pretending, that vnto him belonged the soueraignetie of that prouince) but the third and farre the greatest, for Sigismund their antient lord and leader, who now by means of the king of POLONIA reconciled vnto the great Turke, and in this troublesome time by his fauourites called againe into his countrey, was by them joyfully receiued at AL [...]A IVLIA, CLAVSENBVRG, and the rest of the chiefe cities of TRANSYLVANIA. Who now thereof againe possessed, for the better assuring of his estate forthwith writ vnto the emperour what had E happened, requesting him to content himselfe, that he was desirous of his loue and fauour, promising to be alwaies his good friend and neighbor, and for euer to keepe good amitie with him: giuing Basta also (whom he had now at the intercession of certaine great friends againe enlarged) to vnderstand, That hee was forthwith to depart from all the places belonging vnto his principalitie, as also to cease from further molesting of his people that were now voluntarily againe returned vnto his obedience. Which his request was neither of the one nor of the other much regarded or hearkened vnto: for the emperour vpon the first aduertisement of this so great an alteration in TRANSYLVANIA, calling vnto him Michael the Vayuod (not so much troubled with the strangenesse of the matter, as for that his wife and sonne, whom he had left as hostages with Basta, were now come into the hands of the Transyluanians his mortall enemies) F and satisfying him in many things that hee had before requested, tooke order with him, That with all conuenient speed returning home againe into VALACHIA, where hee was now much longed for (the people generally disliking of the simple Vayuod, by the great Chancellour set ouer them) and gathering together such power as he could, he should joyne himselfe with Basta his lieutenant generall, vnto whom he had alreadie sent great companies both of horse and foot [Page] for the expulsing of Sigismund out of TRANSYLVANIA, and the reducing againe of that prouince G vnder his obeysance. Whereupon the Vayuod forthwith returning into VALACHIA, and assembling about ten thousand of his friends, all good and expert souldiors, went to seeke for Basta as he had with the emperour agreed; whom he found readie in the field with about twentie thousand foot and eight thousand horse, but newly departed from VERADINVM: where mustering their armie, they with their vnited forces entered into TRANSYLVANIA, there to put in execution what the emperor had commanded. Where the Vayuod in disdaine of the people which loued him not, with fire & sword wasted all the country before him as he went: not without the great discontentment of Basta, to whom it seemed not good to make desolat that countrey which he was in good hope should in short time be his lord and masters the emperours. But Sigismund vnderstanding both of the comming of his enemies and of the harme they did in his H countrey, rise from SOLNOCK where he lay encamped with his armie, and so to hinder their further proceeding went to meet them: howbeit being come so neere vnto them as that he might well discouer them, he would not come to the triall of a battell with them, which was by them offered; but fortified himselfe in his trenches, so seeking but to delay the time vntill the comming of the Tartars, which were to haue come vnto him from the Chancellor of POLONIA, as also of six thousand Turkes to haue been sent him from the Bassa of BELGRADE. Where hauing afterward vnderstood that the passage of the Tartars to haue been sent him, was staied by Don Ferrante Gonzaga the emperours lieutenant in the vpper HVNGARIE; and that the Turks staying at GIVLA would come no farther except they had their pay before hand: finding himselfe too weake with his owne power to encounter with his enemies, he rise with his armie, with purpose I to haue retired a little backe, and to haue taken certaine straight passages whereby the enemie must needs passe, so by the aduantage of the place to haue holpen his owne weake strength. But Basta and the Vayuod perceiuing his rising (whereunto they were still attentiue) followed him with such speed,Sigismund ouerthrowne by Ba [...]a and the Vayuod, s [...]h o [...]t of T [...]an [...]yluania. that they ouertooke him before he could get thither, and so hardly pressed him, that needs he must turne his face and joyne battell, or else suffer his people altogither like beasts to be slaine. In which doing, albeit that neither he nor his failed to doe what was by men to be done for the obtaining of a notable victorie, yet such was the valour of the souldiors of Basta and the Vayuod, that in a great fight hauing disordered his footmen, they put them to flight, and so cut them all in pieces. Which the prince beholding, and not able to remedie the matter, betime fled with his horsemen from the furie of his enemies, and so retired to the vttermost K confines of TRANSYLVANIA, hauing in this battell lost ten thousand of his faithfull souldiors. Whereupon CLAVDIOPOLIS with diuers other cities and townes of that countrey, returned againe vnto the emperours obeysance.

In the prosecuting of this victorie, the Vayuod to satisfie the hatred he had of long borne against the Transyluanians, did what spoile he could, vtterly wasting all the places whereby he pas [...]ed: which Basta not liking, requested him to vse his victorie with more modestie, and to haue more respect to what he did, especially vnto such places or persons as of themselues returned vnto the emperours obeysance. Whereunto he prowdly answered, That he would doe what he thought good without his appointment or the emperors either, especially in that countrey which he had now with his owne sword twise conquered: and that therefore Basta might L commaund them that were by him to be commaunded, as for himselfe he acknowledged no soueraigntie that either Basta or the emperour had ouer him. Vnto which his so presumptuous a speech Basta replied not, but yet much therewith discontented, began to enter into a great suspition from what ground those his haughtie conceits (easily by his words to be gathered) might grow. And so from that time better obseruing his proceedings, perceiued him to haue intelligence with the Turkes, with purpose to joyne hands with them, that so by their helpe chasing the Imperials out of TRANSYLVANIA, he might hold it to himselfe as tributarie to the Othoman emperour, of all others best able to defend him. Which to be true (beside diuers other strong presumptions) he certainly vnderstood by certaine letters of his written to that purpose, intercepted by his souldiors and brought vnto him: whereupon he became verie pensiue and M heauie, for the great power the Vayuod was of in those countries, as also for the great strength he had euen then present about him, and wherewith he was as it were then guarded. So consulting with certaine of his Colonels and chiefe commaunders of his armie, what were best to be done in that so dangerous a case, whereof so much depended? a Wallon captaine offered [Page] A himselfe to go into the Vayuod his campe, and there in his owne tent to kill him as a traitour. Which his offer well liked of, and he as readie to performe as he was to promise, going into the Vayuods campe accompanied with some threescore men, and finding him in his tent, boldly stepping to him, willed him to yeeld himselfe the emperours prisoner: Wherat he being about to lay his hand vpon his scimitar,Michaell the Vay [...]od slaine. the Wallon captain with an holbard thrust him into the breast, at which verie instant another with a sword at one blow claue his head downe to the shoulders. An vnworthie death for so worthie a captaine, had not ambition the torment of great spirits carried him too high with the wings of immoderat desire, beyond the bounds of loyaltie and reason. But there he lieth now dead among his friends, whom the great Turke sometime more feared euen in his pallace at CONSTANTINOPLE, than he did all the rest of the emperors commaunders. B Presently vpon his death a great tumult and hurly burly was raised by the souldiors in his campe: but Basta forthwith shewing himselfe with all his souldiors in armes, and withall producing the letters declaring the treason by the Vayuod contriued with the Bassa of T [...] MESV [...]AR against the emperour, all was againe appeased: but especially for that his souldiours now saw themselues without an head, and too weake also for the Imperials there present and alreadie in armes. In the Vayuods tent were also other letters found, so plainly declaring his secret collusion with the Turke, and treason against the Emperour, that the Walachians who at the first were wonderfully mooued with his death, and hearing the same read, rested not now onely contented, but said moreouer that he was worthely slaine, and that if they had knowne him to haue had any such traiterous purpose, they would themselues long before haue taken C of him deserued punishment. Now vnto his souldiors Basta offered, at their choise, either to depart whither they would without danger; or else taking the oath of obedience vnto the emperour to enter into his pay, which most part of them did. The tumult appeased, the dead bodie of the Vayuod was laid out a whole day for the souldiors to gaze vpon, and so afterward buried. So lieth he, that but of late and many times before, had so fortunatly ouerthrowne his enemies; vnhappie man himselfe now ouerthrowne by his owne ambition and vnconstancie.

Basta now deliuered of the great feare he had before of the Vayuod,The Transyluanians submit themselues vnto Basta. what by force, what by agreement, in short time tooke in most part of the country: for that the Transyluanians seeing the small power of Sigismund, and well comforted with the death of Michael the Vayuod so much D of them hated; as also to auoid the dangers euen presently hanging ouer their heads from the Imperials, if they should in any thing shew themselues obstinat against them, submitted themselues wholly to the courtesie of Basta, so that the places were but few that yet held out for the prince Sigismund: who in the meane time was doing what he might for the raising of a new armie (hauing not altogither with this late ouerthrow forthwith also lost his hope) by the helpe of the Turkes, Tartars, and Polonians, to recouer againe the possession of his state, and by force of armes to chase out the Imperials. But he being brought to so low an ebbe, and almost the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA possessed by Basta; who would not haue thought but that now after so long trauels it would haue remained wholly at the emperours deuotion? and so many that thought themselues to see much, said assuredly it would. But see the change, and what small assurance E euen the greatest haue of the constancie of the vaine multitude: neuer more like themselues, than in disliking to morrow what they best liked to day, foolish, sencelesse, improuident, rash, headstrong, violent, and aboue all things mutable and vnconstant. So now for all that Basta had done for the assurance of this countrey vnto the emperour (being so much as most men thought to haue been sufficient, and indeed as much as was possible for him to doe) euen in the winding vp of this yeare 1601, the Transyluanians vnderstanding that Sigismund with a great armie of Polonians, Turkes, and Tartars, was now comming against the Imperials, most part of them presently tooke vp armes in his fauour,The Transyluanians re [...]el [...] againe vnto Sigismund their old prince. saying, That their first oath voluntarily giuen vnto him as their naturall prince and Gouernour, was more to be respected than any other afterwards by force extorted from them by a forrein prince. Insomuch, that Basta perceiuing with F what a tempest he was like euen presently to be ouerwhelmed; to saue himselfe and his people from the rage thereof, withdrew himselfe with his followers vnto a strong towne in a corner of that countrey:Basta flie [...]h. from whence he with all speed sent vnto the emperour for greater aid, as well for the defence of the place he yet held, as for the subduing againe of that rebellious people. After whose departure, Sigismund without resistance entring the countrey, was of the people in generall [Page] joyfully receiued as their most lawfull prince and soueraigne, and all the honour done vnto him G that was by them possible: in which his so princely, but dangerous estate, now twise in lesse than the space of one yeare by him regained, and yet thereof no whit assured, we will for a while leaue him to joy therein with his subjects.

The Ianizaries in mutinie at Constantinople.But whilest the state thus turneth vpside downe in TRANSYLVANIA, the Bassa of AGRIA going out with ten thousand Turkes in hope to haue surprised TOCCAIB (a strong hold of the Christians in the vpper HVNGARIE) was encountred by Ferrant Gonzaga the emperours lieutenant there, and by him ouerthrowne, and with great slaughter of his Turks chased to the gates of AGRIA.

Now was Mahomet the Turkish emperour this yeare also, no lesse troubled with the proceedings of the Scriuano in CARAMANIA and NATOLIA, than with the euill successe of his affaires H in TRANSYLVANIA and HVNGARIE. For the Scriuano by his last yeares victorie growne into great credit with the common people, and still by them more and more followed; to maintaine the reputation of his credit, came now againe this yeare with a great power into the field, to meet with Mahomet the great Bassa and Generall of the Turkes armie▪ who with fiftie thousand good souldiors (a power thought sufficient to haue repressed him) was readie to encounter him. With whom the Scriuano joyning battell, in a great fight [...]ut in sunder a great part of the Bassaes armie, and so became master of the field, forraged all the countries adjoyning almost as farre as ALEPPO, still calling the people vnto libertie; and causing himselfe to be proclaimed the true defender of the Mahometane faith, and of the liberties of those co [...]tries with him combined: in such sort, as that it now stood the great Turke vpon to send an other great armie I to the aid of Mahomet the discomfited Bassa. With whom also the Scriuano (presuming of his former fortune) comming to a day of battell, and ouercharged with the multitude of his enemies, was at the first encounter with his people put to the worse: but forthwith by his good direction hauing repaired his disordered battell, and thereby giuen as it were new courage to his fainting souldiors, he with a great slaughter disordered also the Bassaes armie. Yet hauing not any other firme state or stay to rest vpon, more than the fauour and reputation he held with these his rebellious followers, of whom he had now lost a great many, he thought it not best to aduenture too far (not knowing how presently to repaire his losses) but contenting himselfe with that he had alreadie done, retired with his armie into the strength of the mountaines, there that Winter to liue vpon the spoile of the countries adjoining, and the next yeare to do more harme K than euer he had done before.

The Bassa of Agria ouerthrowne by Ferrant Gonzaga.Beside all which former troubles, the plague also this yeare sore raged both in CONSTANTINOPLE and many other places of the Turkish empire, At which time also the Ianizaries at CONSTANTINOPLE hauing receiued some disgrace by some of the great Sultans fauourits, and with great insolencie requiring to haue their heads, caused their Aga well accompanied presumptuously to enter into the Seraglio to preferre this their request: Whom Mahomet to the terrour of the rest, caused for his presumption to be taken into the middest of the Spahi, and so by them to be cut in pieces; which was not done without the great slaughter of the Spahi themselues also, slaine by the Ianizaries. Whereupon the other Ianizaries arising vp in armes also, and euen now readie to haue reuenged the death of their captaine, were yet by the wisedome of L Cicala Bassa bestowing amongst them a great summe of money, againe appeased without farther harme doing. Which their so great insolencie Mahomet imputing vnto their excessiue drinking of wine, contrarie to the law of their great Prophet; by the persuasion of the Muftie, commaunded all such as had any wine in their houses in CONSTANTINOPLE or PERA, vpon paine of death to bring it out and to staue it, except the embassadours of the Queene of ENGLAND, the French king, and of the State of VENICE: so that (as some report) wine for a space ran down the channels of the streets in CONSTANTINOPLE, as if it had been water after a great shower of raine.

1602 Sigismund the Transyluanian prince now of late againe possessed of TRANSYLVANIA (as is before declared) could not yet well assure himselfe of the keeping thereof: for that he with the M Transyluanians of his faction alone, was not able to withstand the force of Basta; who still strengthened with new supplies both of men and all things else necessarie for the warres from the Emperour, was now with a great power alreadie entred into TRANSYLVANIA: the Polonians busied in the warres of SUEVIA, and the Turkes with their other greater affaires, neither [Page] A of them sending him their promised aid, the greatest hope and stay of himselfe in that newnesse of his state. Wherefore seeing himselfe euerie day to loose one place or other; and fearing also least his souldiors for want of pay should in short time quite forsake him and go ouer to Basta: he thought it best betimes and whilest he had yet something left, and was not yet altogither become desperat, otherwise to prouide for his estate, especially hauing small trust in the Turkes, to whom he had before been so great an enemie. Wherefore he dealt with Basta for a truce or cessation from armes, vntill embassadours might be sent vnto the emperour, to entreat with him for some good attonement. Wherewith Basta being content, and the embassadours sent, the matter was so handled with the Emperour, that Sigismund to make an end of all these troubles, was contented to the behoofe of his Imperiall majestie, to resigne vnto Basta his lieutenant all B such places as he yet held in TRANSYLVANIA, vpon much like conditions he had about three yeares before made with him: and so in all and for all, to submit himselfe vnto his majestie. Which intended surrender of the princes being bruted in TRANSYLVANIA, Zachell Moises his lieutenant (and now in field with the princes forces) not able to endure or to heare that that noble prouince should againe fall into the hands of the Germanes; encouraging his souldiors, went vpon the sudden to assaile Basta, in hope to haue found him vnprouided, and so discomfiting his armie, to haue driuen the Imperials quite out of TRANSYLVANIA: But he an old and expert commaunder, perceiuing euen the first mouing of the Transyluanians, with great sceleritie put his armie in good order, and so joyned battell with them: wherein hee with the losse of some fiue hundred men ouerthrew Moises, Zachell Moises ouerthrowne by Basta. with his armie of Transyluanians, Turkes, and Tartars, C hauing slaine aboue three thousand of them, and put the rest to flight: Moises himselfe with some few others being now glad to take their refuge into the frontiers of the Turkes territories towards TEMESVVAR. But when Sigismund vnderstood what his lieutenant had without his knowledge done, he in token of his owne innocencie went himselfe vnto the Imperiall campe, accompanied only with certaine of his Gentlemen, and there vnto Basta excused himselfe of that which was by his lieutenant against his will, and without his priuitie done; frankly offering to performe whatsoeuer was on his part to be performed, according to the agreement made betwixt the Emperour and him. And so presently calling his garrisons out of all such strong places as were yet for him holden, he surrendered them to Basta; and so forthwith honourably accompanied, put himselfe vpon his way towards the emperour. After whose departure out of D TRANSYLVANIA, all that prouince voluntarily and without more adoe yeelded to Basta as to the emperours lieutenant: who presently called an assembly of all the Nobilitie of the countrey, taking of them an oath for their obedience and loyaltie vnto the emperor. Thus by the wisedome and prowesse of this worthy commaunder, is the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA once againe brought vnder the emperours obeysance; a matter of far greater importance, than to haue woon the strongest citie the Turke holdeth in HVNGARIE.

But whilest things thus passed in TRANSYLVANIA,Great troubles in Valachia. great troubles arise also in VALACHIA (the country next adjoyning) for that the people of that prouince not able longer to endure the great insolencie of the Turks (who after the death of Michaell had by their power made one Hieremias Vayuod there) by a generall consent tooke vp armes, and proclaiming one Radol (a fauourit E of the Emperours) Vayuod, chased Hieremias (before placed by the Turkes) quite out of the countrey▪ who flying vnto Simon Palatine of MOLDAVIA, his friend, by his meanes and the helpe of the Turkes returning into VALACHIA, draue out thence Radol againe: who being now at this present with Basta, with about ten thousand Valachians his followers, earnestly requested of him (now that hee was so quietly possessed of TRANSYLVANIA) to helpe him with his forces for the recouerie of VALACHIA. And Basta well considering how much it concerned the quiet and sure keeping of the possession of TRANSYLVANIA for the Emperour, to haue that so neere a prouince to friend, easily yeelded to his request; and gaue him a great regiment of his old approoued souldiors, and so sent him away to recouer his estate: with whom (at his entrance into VALACHIA) the Moldauian meeting with a great F power both of his owne and of the Turkes, come thither in the fauour of Hieremias, there was fought betwixt them a most terrible and bloudie battell, the glorie whereof fell vnto Radol, he carrying away the victorie. In which battell two of the Turkes Bassaes were there slaine, with a great numbers of others both of the Moldauians and Turkes. After which victorie Radol recouered againe the soueraigntie of VALACHIA, for which he was beholden to Basta: and shortly [Page] after with the same aid cut in peeces a great power of the Tartars, that were comming to haue G aided the Moldauian.

Troubles in Hungarie.Now in the meane time in HVNGARIE also passed many an hot skirmish betwixt the Christians and the Turkes, whose garrisons at BVDA and other places in the lower HVNGARIE, attempting to haue surprised ALBA REGALIS, and discouered by the Christians, were with great slaughter enforced to retire. At which time also, Countie Serinus vnderstanding by his espials, that the Turkes with two hundred waggons with munition and victuals were going to CANISIA; vpon the sudden set vpon them, and hauing slaine and put to flight the conuoy that guarded them, carried the waggons with all that was in them away with him. And shortly after the free Haiduckes of COMARA in a great partie going out towards BVDA to seeke after bootie, and hauing taken threescore Turkes prisoners, and so with them about to haue returned H home; vnderstanding by the way, that Ali sometime the Bassa of BVDA, and now gouernour of PESTH, was with a small retinue about to come downe the riuer Danubius from BVDA towards BELGRADE, there to meet the Visier Bassa, but then comming into HVNGARIE, they slew all their prisoners; and hauing got two small boats, about fifteene miles beneath BVDA lay in wait for the Bassa: who according to their expectation comming downe the riuer, was by these aduenturers fiercely assailed, and of his thirtie followers hauing foureteene slaine, being himselfe also shot in two places of his bodie,Ali Bassa taken prisoner. was there with a great bootie taken, and so brought to COMARA, and shortly after presented vnto Matthias the archduke at VIENNA: who amongst other things certainely enformed him, that Hassan Bassa was with a great armie by the commaundement of the great Sultan Mahomet comming to besiege ALBA REGALIS, and that he I was now vpon his way as farre as BELGRADE; presently sent thither the Countie Isolan gouernour thereof, who with much adoe got into the citie, the Turkes hauing alreadie taken all the passages, to haue hindered the Christians from putting either men or munition, more than was therein alreadie. Howbeit the Countie now got in there, and being no lesse good enginer than a valiant commaunder, caused all them in the citie to labour vpon the rampiers: so that beside the naturall situation thereof, which was very strong, hee had in short time so fortified it, as that in most mens judgement it seemed a place almost impregnable. This Ali Bassa was sometime the Great Turkes butler, but after the taking of AGRIA made Bassa of BVDA; which great place he held but three moneths, being by the enuie and ambition of some, but especially of Amurath Bassa, remoued thence, and made gouernour of PESTH: from whence now going downe K the riuer to BELGRADE, it was his fortune to be thus taken by the Haiduckes, vnto whom hee offered for his ransome three hundred thousand Sultanines;A great ransome offered by Ali Bassa. and had with him when he was taken seuentie thousand duckats.

Mahomet the great Sultan not a little troubled with the losse of ALBA REGALIS (taken from him by the Christians the last yeare) and now resolued for the recouerie of the same to engage if need should be a great part of his forces; had caused an armie of aboue an hundred thousand strong to meet together at HADRIANOPLE, for that purpose, vnder the leading of Mahomet Bassa (otherwise called Sardar Bassa, an Albanois, and one of the chiefe Visiers) to bee sent into HVNGARIE. Who by the way of BELGRADE comming to BVDA, and from thence to ALBA REGALIS,Al [...]a Regalis besi [...]ged by the Turks. there the twelfth of August encamped (as he had oftentimes before threatened)L with the multitude of his tents couering all the countrey round about, as if it had beene a white snow: where hauing well entrenched himselfe, and planted his artillerie, he began a most terrible and furious batterie, in such sort as if he had not meant to haue made a breach onely, but to haue beaten the citie euen from the face of the earth, which seemed now to tremble vnder his feet, and the clouds to rent with the thundering of his great ordinance: and for that the marish and deepe ditches were a great let vnto his men for to come vnto the assault, he caused them with the number of his pioners to be filled vp, a worke thought almost impossible, and so brought on his men to assault the counterscarfe, which the gouernour had caused to be made before the citie for the better defence thereof: which assault cost him much bloud, by reason of the wonderfull valour of the defendants: yet in the end the great number of the Turkes preuailing, the Christians M were enforced to forsake it and to retire into the citie. But shortly after sallying out againe, they with such force assailed the Turkes now got within the counterscarfe, that hauing slaine most part of them that were entered, they forced the other out againe: at the brute whereof, an alarum being raised throughout the campe, infinit numbers of the barbarous enemies came running [Page] A thither with such beastly furie, that without regard of their liues they as desperat men pressing still on, fell twice as many as before: insomuch that the Christians wearie of that long and bloudie fight, and on euery side charged or rather ouerwhelmed with the enemies shot, were glad againe, but not without great losse, to abandon the place. With which skirmishes and diuers others that they had, the number of the defendants was greatly deminished: yet was not the courage of the valiant Gouernour any whit therewith abated, but by his letters gaue the Archduke Matthias to vnderstand in what case things stood with them in the citie, requesting him with all speed to send them reliefe, for that otherwise the citie would be in danger to be lost; as well for that many of the garrison souldiors were alreadie slaine in the defence thereof, as also that diuers of the Hungarians forsaking the wals, daily fled vnto the Turks campe: promising yet B neuerthelesse himselfe to doe the vttermost of his deuoire. Vpon the receit of which letters, the Archduke gaue order vnto the lord Russworm (master of his campe) to goe forthwith to COMARA, and there with such forces as were from diuers places come thither, to go forth and to proue if by any meanes the weake garrison of ALBA REGALIS might so be relieued, by putting in some good supplie of fresh souldiors. According vnto which commaund, Russworm comming thither, without delay tooke the field with twelue thousand men which he found there, to see if he might with them put into the citie the desired reliefe. But whilest the matter was in the performance thereof too long delaied, by discord arising betwixt him and the other colonels, about the commaund,A long and terrible assault. the Bassa had time to effect his purpose: who the eight and twentith of the same moneth of August, after a long and terrible batterie, caused a generall assault to be giuen C vnto the citie: which the Turkes from time to time renewing, continued all that day and the next night, with some part of the day following also, without intermission: so that the defendants now brought to a small number, and they also so wearied or wounded, as that they were not well able to make any longer resistance (and the Countie himselfe, who gaue as it were life vnto them all, being now also carried away, dangerously hurt in the thigh with a musket shot) gaue vnto the enemie a signe of their yeelding.Alba Regalis by the Turks woon. Whereupon the furie of the assault being staied, whilest they were yet talking with the enemie from the wall about the conditions of their yeelding, a renegate Christian which knew the citie well, in the meane time conducted a great squadron of the Turkes vnto a place but weakely defended; who forcing the wals, entered the citie, and with a great crie gaue signes of their enterance vnto the rest of the armie on the other side: D who thereupon breaking off the parley, presently renewed the assault, and by force gained the wals: where the few Christians that were left, now both before and behind enclosed with their fierce enemies, were there valiantly fighting for the most part slaine, the Countie onely with some few others found wounded in their lodgings (the furie ouerpast) being taken prisoners and spared. So the Bassa hauing in eighteene daies taken ALBA REGALIS (now being eleuen moneths possessed by the Christians) caused the breaches he had made to bee againe repaired, and the citie well prouided for both of victuals and munition, leauing therein a strong garrison of six thousand good souldiours: and with his people hauing ouerrun all the countrey as farre as STRIGONIVM, rise with his armie, and retired againe to BVDA: where as he was making a bridge of boats ouer the Danubius betwixt BVDA and PESTH, for the more easie transporting E of victuall, and better relieuing of the one the other as need should require; and hauing brought that worke to passe, and was about to haue gone to the siege of STRIGONIVM, commaundement came from the great Sultan, That he should with all speed returne to CONSTANTINOPLE; for that Mahomet accounting of him as of a most valiant man, was now minded to employ him in his warres against his rebels in NATOLIA, where things now went not well (as shall hereafter be declared.) Vpon which commaundement the Bassa gaue leaue to all such in his armie as had charge of any place, forthwith to returne to their seuerall places of gouernment: appointing some others with thirtie thousand souldiors in the companie of Zachael Moises (but of late prince Sigismund his lieutenant) to goe with him into TRANSYLVANIA; who after the ouerthrow he had there receiued by Basta, was come vnto this great Bassa, offering vnto F him (with such an aid as was now appointed for him, and the helpe of such other his friends as he had in TRANSYLVANIA) to chase Basta with his Germanes from out thence, and to reduce that prouince againe vnto the deuotion of the Othoman emperours, as it had in former time beene. And so by the way of BELGRADE hasted himselfe with the rest of his armie towards CONSTANTINOPLE: which hee was thought the more willingly to doe, for that the [Page] great Sultan before his setting forth had put him in good hope to marrie one of his aunts, a woman G of great wealth and honour, if by the winning againe of ALBA REGALIS he should make himselfe worthie so honourable a match, after which he now longed.

But long it was not after his departure, but that the Imperials now at last assembled together at COMARA, to the number of about thirtie thousand men, with twelue These Nassadies a [...]e a certaine kind of boats which the Hungarians vse vpon the riuer of Da [...]ubius. Nassadies and two gallies, some by water, some by land, marched downe alongst the riuer to STRIGONIVM; where were also twentie other ships readie to receiue them, and so all embarked, were by the lord Russworm and other the imperiall captaines conducted to BVDA, there with some notable enterprise to redeeme the disgrace by them before receiued in not relieuing of ALBA REGALIS. Whose comming was so sudden and so vnlooked for of the Turkes there, as that they had no time to take in any greater helpe or prouision, than was alreadie in the citie. And for as much as H the Christians knew the good successe of this their enterprise taken in hand, not so much to depend of their strength, as of their politicke proceeding and speedie dispatch of the matter begun, they thought it not good to vse any long delay, or to spare for any labour, but so soone as they might by taking of the Water citie (or as some call it the Iewes suburbes) so to cut off the passage of them of BVDA to PESTH: as also from thence to trouble them in the castle and the vpper citie of BVDA. Which their entended exploit they happily attempted and brought to passe in this sort: The citie of PESTH standing right ouer against BVDA, is (as we haue oftentimes beforesaid) deuided from the same with the great and swift riuer of Danubius: ouer which the Turkes vpon boats had with great labour and cost of late built a most easie and commodious bridge, for passage or carriage of things from the one citie to the other: this bridge the Imperials I thought necessarie first to breake, the more easily to besiege either the one or other citie; and for that purpose had by a strange deuice built a ship, which by the force of the streame carried downe the riuer, and resting vpon the bridge, should by a wonderfull power breake the same. Which ship the Turks seeing comming downe the riuer with the rest of the fleet after her,The lower citie of Buda taken by the Christians. they ran by heapes especially out of the Water citie to the bridge, for the defence thereof: where whilest they were thus busied, Countie Sultze on the other side by land with a Petarde blew vp one of the gates of the citie, and so entering, and killing all such as he light vpon, came vnlooked for vpon the backes of the Turkes at the bridge, of whom some he slew, some he draue into the riuer, who there perished; the rest in number not many, by speedie flight retiring themselues into the citie: whereupon he had now brought such a generall feare, that they all as well the souldiors K as the citisens, with the Christians at their heeles, with as much hast as they could tooke their refuge into the vpper citie of BVDA, much stronger and better fortified than was the lower citie. At which time the bridge was by them vpon the riuer broken also, so that now the one citie could no more thereby relieue the other as before.

The Water citie thus woon, and the bridge broken, the next was for the Imperials to besiege either the one or the other citie. But for that they of PESTH might with their great ordinance much annoy them in the besieging of the castle and the vpper citie of BVDA, they thought best to begin with it first: which they did in much like sort as they had before done at the lower citie of BVDA, the same deuice againe well prospering in their hand. For the lord Russworm with the fleet vpon the riuer making a great shew, as if hee would euen presently on L that side haue entered, had with the stirre by him raised, drawne downe most part of the garrison souldiors vnto that side of the citie where most shew of danger was: whilest in the meane while Countie Sultze with the gouernour of ALTHEM (before vndiscouered) vpon the sudden by land scaled the other side of the citie,The city of Pes [...]h t [...]k [...]n by the Christians. and gained the wals, the Turkes yet dreaming of no such matter. But hereupon began a great outcrie, the Turkes standing as men astonied, especially now feeling the Christians weapons in their bodies before they knew they were got into the citie. In this so great an amasement, such of them as could, fled into the strongest towers, the rest hid themselues in cellars and other the most secret corners they could find, out of which they were afterwards by the Christians drawne and slaine. They which were retired also into the towers and other stronger places of the citie seeing the great ordinance in euery place bent M vpon them, and now out of all hope of reliefe, offered to yeeld, requesting onely, that they might with their wiues and children with life depart; promising for that fauour so shewed them, to persuade them of BVDA also in like manner to yeeld: Vpon which promise, that their poore request was graunted, and the lord Nadasti with certaine other captaines sent with some of [Page] A these citisens of PESTH with their wiues and children to BVDA: who comming thither, according to their promise most earnestly requested them of BVDA to yeeld, for that they were not now to expect any further helpe, and that by their foolish obstinacie they should bee the cause of the death of them, their friends, their wiues, and children. Vnto whom also, to mooue them the more, the lord Nadasti promised in the name of the Generall, That they should all, excepting some few of their chiefe commaunders, in safetie depart: howbeit, they of BVDA would not hearken thereunto, but stood still vpon their guard. In this citie of PESTH, well inhabited with Turkish marchants, the Christians found great store of wealth, which all became a prey vnto the souldiors, with a thousand horses for seruice, many great pieces of artillerie, and much other warlike prouision.

B PESTH thus woon,The vpper citie and castle of B [...] da besieged by the Christians. and a strong garrison left therein, they returned againe ouer the riuer to besiege the castle and vpper citie of BVDA: which they attempted by vndermining the same, as also by batterie; hauing placed some of their great ordinance so high, that they could at their pleasure shoot into the middest of the streets of the citie, wherewith they much troubled the Turkes, not a little before discouraged with the losse of PESTH; thundering also at the same time with their other batteries in diuers places at the wals both of the castle and of the citie. Where vnderstanding, that the Turkes garrisons of the frontier townes and castles thereabouts (hearing of the siege) were comming to the reliefe of their distressed friends, they sent out their horsemen with some part of their footmen against them: who meeting with them, gaue them a great ouerthrow, and so with victorie returned againe vnto the rest of the armie C lying at the siege, being still in hope either by force or composition to become masters of the citie.

But whilest they lay in this hope, and hauing the twelfth of October brought their approaches neerer vnto the wals, had there planted certaine notable pieces of batterie, with purpose the next day with all their power to haue assaulted the citie: behold, the Visier Bassa hearing (by the way as he was going to BELGRADE, and so to CONSTANTINOPLE) that PESTH was woon, and BVDA besieged; changing his mind, returned in hast with such forces as hee had yet left, and so vnlooked for, came and sat downe before PESTH, being not then aboue fiue and twentie thousand strong, but those all or for the most part old and expert souldiors. But whilest the Bassa thus lay at the siege of PESTH on the one side of the riuer, and the Imperials D at the siege of BVDA on the other, diuers braue attempts were in both places giuen both on the one side and the other.A notable [...]ki [...] mish betwixt the Christians and the Turk [...]. The Christians besieged by the Turkes in PESTH, hauing amongst them diuers braue captaines, and desirous of honour, one day vnder their conduct sallied out of the citie to skirmish with the Turkes; and comming with them to the sword, by plaine valour disordered them, and enforced them to flie; and so allured with the sweetnesse of the victorie, pursued them euen to their trenches: from whence a great squadron of the Turks horsemen and harquebusiers at the same instant issuing out, and with their multitude ouercharging the Imperials, constrained them of force to retire: in which retreat, Countie Maximilian Martinengo (one of these aduenturers) doing what hee might both with his valour and direction to haue stayed the disordered retreat of the Christians, was with many others slaine: E wherewith the rest discouraged, tooke their refuge towards the citie. Which they of the garrison beholding, sent out certaine companies to relieue them; by whose comming out, the furie of the Turkes was not onely repressed, but they also euen vnto their trenches againe repulsed. Shortly after which hot skirmishes, the lord Russworm with the other Christian captaines on the other side of the riuer, hauing with continuall batterie made such a breach into the castle as that the same seemed to be now saultable, in good order came on with certaine companies of their footmen appointed for that seruice, and so couragiously assailed the breach: where the Turkes, who before had expected this assault, hauing in best sort they could repaired the breach and on both sides thereof placed diuers murthering pieces, with great store of dangerous fireworkes, at such time as the first companies of the Christians sought couragiously to haue entered F the breach, ouerwhelmed them with that deadly fire, and so rent them with their murthering shot, that they no faster entered, but that they were forthwith cut off and slaine: with the sight whereof, they which were appointed to second them, nothing discouraged, but seeking desperatly to haue entered, and with the taking of the castle and slaughter of the Turkes to haue required the death of their fellowes, were themselues in like sort welcommed. So that now [Page] a thousand of them being lost, the captaines considering how much the losse of so many braue G souldiors concerned the whole enterprise taken in hand, and that the breach could not be gained without the losse of the greatest part of them, they caused a retreat to be sounded, and so the assault for that time to be giuen ouer.

But long it was not that the Visier Bassa (thus retired as aforesaid) had lien before PESTH, but that by reason of his so sudden returne, great wants began to arise in his campe; his souldiors for want of food being glad to eat their dead horses, a pound of bread being sold for two Hungarian duckats, and a bushell of oates for fiue, and yet hardly so to bee gotten: which wants in that so wasted a countrey still more and more encreasing, and many of his souldiours secretly stealing away from him, he had much adoe by all the meanes he could vse, to persuade them there to stay eight dayes longer. Which time expired, and nothing more done, than some H few weake attempts giuen, and some light skirmishes made, rather for fashions sake than for any hope of preuailing,The Visier Bassa raiseth his siege. and the want of all things still encreasing; he with the rest of the commaunders fearing some sudden mischiefe to bee done them by the hungrie and discontented souldiours, the second of Nouember causing his baggage to bee trussed vp in the dead time of the darke and silent night, rise with his armie, and so in hast retired directly to BELGRADE, leauing behind him in his campe three hundred dead horses, not yet eaten by his hunger-starued souldiors. Immediately after whose departure, the lord Nadasti and some other of the commaunders in the armie, with fiue thousand souldiors and certaine great pieces of artillerie, some by land, some by water, went downe alongst the riuer to ADOM, a faire well built towne vpon the banke of Danubius, about foure Hungarian miles from BVDA, and seruing as it were I for a store-house for the garrison there: which towne Nadasti summoned by his Hussars sent before, requiring to haue it deliuered vnto him. Which they of the towne at the first refused to doe: but afterwards seeing a farre greater power come, prouided of great ordinance and all things els requisit for a siege, they with the sight thereof discouraged, without more adoe offered to yeeld the towne, so that they might with bag and baggage in safetie depart: which they did, the Christians conducting them as farre as FELDVVAR, which castle was also at the first summons, by the persuasion of them of ADOM deliuered vnto them: for they of the castle, by them enformed of the great strength of the Christians, and of the store of great ordinance they had brought with them, and that they staied therewith but fast by, were easily persuaded to hearken to their friends, and so yeelded. Which done, the free Haiduckes the same night surprised K also the castle of Pax: from whence the Christians still marching on alongst the riuer, tooke in also the citie of TOLNA.

But whilest Nadasti with the rest were thus busied in taking these castles and townes alongst the South side of Danubius, they in the campe at BVDA were aduertised of the new designes of the Turkes lieutenants and captaines thereabouts, for the reliefe of the besieged: as that the Bassa of BOSNA, with the Gouernours of CANISIA, SIGETH, and others, had assembled an armie of thirtie thousand for the raising of the siege. Wherefore the Christians doubting as they lay at the siege dispersed, to be by them oppressed; leauing their tents in their trenches, gathered themselues together into the Water citie: which the Turkes out of the vpper citie quickly perceiuing, as feeling themselues now at some more libertie, presently sallying out, tooke L both the trenches and the tents so left, with no small slaughter of such as were left for the keeping of them: and so possessed of the trenches and tents, held them by the space of two houres, vntill they were by strong hand by the Christians beaten out, and so with some losse enforced againe to retire into the citie. The lord Nadasti also, with the rest that had taken the aforesaid castles and townes vpon the side of Danubius, making a rode towards ALBA REGALIS, in their returne within a mile of BVDA light vpon a thousand Turkes there gathered together, most part of whom they slew, and hauing put the rest to flight, tooke some fiftie of them prisoners. At which time also another of the Imperiall colonels meeting with certaine other companies of the Turkes comming to the reliefe of the besieged, not farre from BVDA, slew most part of them, tooke an hundred and threescore of them prisoners, with a number of horses and M much other rich bootie, all which he brought into the campe. Neither were they at the siege in the meane time idle, their great artillerie still thundering against the wals both of the castle and the citie: so that by the furie of the cannon hauing beaten downe a strong towne next vnto the Danubius, not farre from the kings stable, they were a little before night about to haue [Page] A there entered, when suddenly such a tempest of wind and raine arise, as that they could not possibly vse their pieces, or well any other weapon: so that the heauens as it were then fighting for the enemie, they were enforced for that time to giue ouer the assault begun. Which storme was no sooner ended, but that two thousand of the Turkes both horse and foot, to keepe the Christians otherwise busied, suddenly issuing out of the citie, charged vpon the Stirian horsemen; who presently relieued by the men at armes, so welcommed them, that hauing lost an hundred and threescore of their men, they were glad with more speed to retire than they came out. But seeing some of the Christians that so hardly pursued them, some slaine and some hurt from the wals, taking heart againe, the next day (being the eleuenth of Nouember) they sallied out againe; where albeit that a great number of them were slaine, yet fell they out againe the B third day also, and were againe by the Countie Thurn with great losse of their men beaten backe into the citie: where in pursuing of them, the Christians were by certaine Ianizaries (laid close for that purpose) suddenly assailed and dangerously gauled, the Countie himselfe being hurt in his left arme, and some other captaines slaine. In all which sallies, although the Turkes were still put to the worse, yet thereby they gained time in some good sort to repaire againe their breaches.

Shortly after, the Imperials thus lying at the siege, certainly enformed that a world of the fierce and rude Tartars by the incitement of the Turke (hauing made themselues way through VALACHIA) were comming as farre as TEMESWAR to relieue BVDA; thought it not best (especially now that Winter was come) to abide the comming of that so great a Northern tempest,The siege of B [...] da for feare of the Tartars g [...] uen ouer by the Christians. C but betimes whilest they had yet space, to raise their siege and be gone: Which they did the sixteenth of Nouember, leauing the Water-citie, with all that they had got about BVDA againe vnto the enemie: onely PESTH they furnished with victuals and all things else necessarie, leauing therein almost ten thousand souldiors in garrison, for the defence thereof against the Barbarous enemie. As for ADOM, it was strengthened with a garrison of Hungarians only, with their wages offered to be paid before hand; which for all that they refused to accept, alleadging that for the great danger this place was exposed vnto aboue others, they could not safely take their oath for the defence thereof: yet offering withall to vndertake the charge, and to doe what beseemed valiant souldiors, in such sort, as that all men should well vnderstand, that nothing euill should happen thereunto through their default or negligence.

D The siege of BVDA for feare of the Tartars thus giuen ouer, and the Imperials departed and gone, the Turkes forthwith came downe out of the higher citie into the lower, declaring their joy for the recouerie thereof, by the often thundring of their great ordinance, with diuers other signes of triumph. But whilest in their jollitie they spared not by the mouth of the cannon to send commendations to them of PESTH, they from them againe receiued the like; but in such rude manner, that the Turkes wearie of such greetings, requested them to spare their shot and powder, and quietly to liue by them as became neighbours for that Winter vntill the next Spring, at which time it was to be thought that this strife should be ended by their Emperours, the weaker yeelding vnto the stronger either the one or the other citie. Yet for all this their great joy, their cheere in BVDA was not great, victuals by this siege being become so scarce, that E it was by the Turks feared, That if the Christians had there longer lien, they should for verie want haue been enforced to haue yeelded the citie. Of which their need their friends not ignorant, and hauing made what prouision they were able for their reliefe, were with a great conuoy bringing the same towards BVDA: whereof the garrisons of COMARA and STRIGONIVM hauing intelligence, went presently out, and meeting with the Turkes in the midway betwixt ALBA REGALIS and BVDA, ouerthrew the conuoy, and carried away all that prouision of victuall, like vnbidden guests making themselues merrie with that which was neuer prouided for them.

These doubtfull warres of HVNGARIE with the generall reuolt of TRANSYLVANIA, much troubled Mahomet the great Sultan,Mahomet much troubled with the Scriuano. but nothing like vnto the wrrres he had in ASIA F against the Scriuano and the rebels his followers: the euill successe whereof (as most dangerous to his state) so much tormented his haughtie mind, as that it would scarce suffer him to thinke of any thing else. For the rebell encouraged with the successe of the late yeares warres, and still growing stronger and stronger (by reason of the great number which allured with the sweet name of Libertie, hope of prey, or the good entertainment by him giuen, daily more and more [Page] resorted vnto his campe) had this yeare ouerrun a great part of the Turkes dominions in ASIA,G putting all to fire and sword that stood in his way, ransacking also diuers walled and fenced citties by the way as he went: Which hee might the more easily doe, for that the Ianizaries of ALEPPO and DAMASCO, with many other their partakers and fauourits which might greatly haue hindered his proceedings, were at the same time also vp in armes and togither by the eares amongst themselues, to the great benefit of the Scriuano: who in the middest of the course of these his desired fortunes,The death of the Scriuano. fell sicke of a naturall disease and so died. By whose death the rebellion was no whit appeased (as commonly in like case it falleth out, and as was then of many expected) but in short time grew to be both farre greater and more dangerous than before: for the Scriuano was no sooner dead,The Scriuano his younger brother taketh vpon him the leading of the rebels in his brothers stead. but that a yonger brother of his, no lesse warlike and couragious than himselfe (to the great contentment of the rebellious) stept vp in his place, fiercely prosecuting H the warres his brother had before him taken in hand. Against whom Hassan Bassa by commaundement from the Grand signior with a great armie setting forward, with hope in that newnesse of his commaund to haue oppressed him, and so to haue quenched that so spreading a fire:Hassan Bassa slaine, and his armie ouerthrowne by the rebels. at length met with him that was easie enough to be found, and joyning battell with him, was by him in a great and bloudie fight ouerthrowne and slaine togither with his whole armie, except such as by speedie flight saued themselues from the furie of their fierce enemies. So that Mahomet the great Sultan now enforced to employ his best commaunders and souldiors into those parts for the subduing of him, hath for that cause called Mahomet the Visier Bassa out of HVNGARIE, to serue against this new rebell: but with what successe, I leaue it to be hereafter told by my selfe, if God giue life, or by some other that better can, as time shall reueale I the same. The rebell in the meane time following the course of his victorie, made hauocke of all as he went, taking vnto his owne vse all such tribute as was in those countries and others also further off, due vnto the great Sultan; hauing of late exacted onely of the citie of ANCYRA and the countrey thereabout, three hundred thousand duckats: so by exacting of great summes of money from the country people (such as be his enemies) heaping vp great treasures for the maintenance of his warres.

Diuer [...] incu [...]sions of the Tartar [...] into the frontiers of the empe [...]our [...] [...]erri [...]ories▪ and much h [...]me by them there done.Now though Mahomet the Turkish emperour had called home Mahomet the Visier Bassa out of HVNGARIE to goe against the rebels into ASIA (as is aforesaid) yet had hee before prouided, that for the better assurance of his townes and territories in HVNGARIE, the Tartar Han with a great power of his Crim Tartars should euen against that time come downe into K that countrey. Which rough and needie people (dwelling neere vnto the fennes of MEOTIS) for pay or prey, alwaies readie to doe the Othoman emperours seruice, setting forward vnder the leading of their great Han himselfe, and of his two sonnes; and by plaine force breaking through VALACHIA, though not without great losse of their men (being fought with by the Valachians and free Haiduckes a whole day) were now in the latter end of December with their huge companies come into HVNGARIE; the Han himselfe with fortie thousand to QVINQVE ECCLESIae, and his sonnes with twentie thousand moe into POSSEGA (a fertile countrey lying betweene the great riuers Sauus and Drauus:) where they spoiled as well the Turkes as the other poore Christians, pretending all that frontier countrey with the whole commaund thereof to be giuen vnto them by the Turkish emperour in reward of their seruice. But long L they lay not there quiet, but that to shew for what they came, they enforced the Christians thereabout to victuall CANISIA for the Turkes: and so breaking into STIRIA, not farre from CORAMANT, the neerest fortresse of the Christians towards CANISIA, carried away aboue two thousand Christians captiues: and shortly after surprising KETSCHEMET, a great and populous towne, slew most part of the inhabitants, and carried away the rest prisoners. Othersome of them also at the same time making an inrode to SHARVAR, and hauing burnt twentie countrey villages downe to the ground, carried away thence about a thousand soules into most miserable captiuitie and thraldome. They also at their first comming relieued them of BVDA, the lord Nadasti with his Hussars, who before kept them from victuals, not being able (for the great number of them) now longer so to doe. By them also the Turkes encouraged,M tooke and burnt certaine places possessed by the Christians neere vnto BVDA, putting them all to the sword that they sound therein. So that the poore countrey of HVNGARIE (neuer to be sufficiently pitied) with the rest of the countries and prouinces belonging vnto the house of AVSTRIA, and confining vpon the Turke, were not so much eased by the calling home of [Page] A the Visier Bassa with his armie, as they were now annoyed by the comming of these roagish Tartars, a people wholly euen from their infancie giuen to the spoile. Against whom for all that, the Christians besides their ordinarie garrisons began now euen in the depth of Winter to oppose some other of their forces also: the Palatine of R [...]ENE sending ten companies of horsemen to POSSONIVM from thence to be sent to SHARVAR, for the defence of STIRIA: and Collonitz (but lately knighted by the emperour) for his part raising foure hundred horse, a thousand Hussares, and three thousand of the free Haiduckes, for the repressing of those Tartars: the duke of BRVNSVVICKE also at that time for the same seruice sending thither a thousand horse, with two thousand foot, against those sworne enemies of the Christian Religion.

B The troubles of this yeare thus ouerpast, ALBA REGALIS being by the Christians lost,1603 PESTH with some other places woon,A great [...]. TRANSYLVANIA recouered, BVDA besieged, the Visier Bassa returned, and the Tartars come into HVNGARIE: Ianuarie with a sharpe frost began to open the next yeare (euen this which now is, viz. 1603) by force whereof the riuers in many places, but especially in those more Easterly countries, were not onely frosen ouer, but seemed rather wholly turned into yse, Danubius that great riuer (for all his swift course) being then also (as it is often) so hard frosen, that men and carts might safely passe too and fro thereupon. In which so hard a season, the Turkes in garrison at BVDA hauing once vpon the frosen riuer braued the Christians in PESTH, and the two and twentith of Ianuarie comming out the second time in like brauerie, were by two hundred of the Christian souldiors of PESTH C put to flight: vpon whom the Turkes in greater number returning, chased them likewise backe againe euen to the bridge whereby they were to haue passed the ditch into the citie; which now drawne vp, for feare of greater harme from such a number of the Turkes as were now co [...]e out, the poore souldiors so shut out, and too weake for so great a power of their enemies, were there all euery man slaine, the Turkes themselues with little harme returning to BVDA, But within a few daies after, one Lehner (a captaine of the Christian garrison) grieued more than the rest with this so great a dishonour, and certainly vnderstanding that certaine of the chiefe of the Turkes of BVDA, with two captaines and a great traine of gallant gentlewomen were for their pleasure gone to the hoat bathes neere vnto BVDA; taking with him threescore muskitiers, went in hast ouer the riuer vpon the ise to salute them in their bath, and to wish it might be vnto D them wholesome: who comming suddenly vpon them, as they were merrie and bathing of themselues, and not dreaming of any such danger, slew all the men except one boy; the gentlewomen in the time of the conflict naked as they were, running as fast as they could vnto the citie, feare hauing in them ouercome the modestie of their sex. Which exploit done, the captaine leauing the Turkes slaine in the bath, now become red with their bloud, returned with his souldiors the same way he came to PESTH: after whom they of BVDA (stirred vp with the crie of the fearefull women) sent out certaine of their garrison after them, but to no purpose, for why they were in safetie before got home. By continuance of this frost, by reason that victual [...] could not be sent downe the riuer, the souldiours in garrison at PESTH were driuen to such wants, as that dogs and cats were accounted good meat amongst them.

E About this time also,The Ianizari [...] and Spahi raising a sedition in Constantinople, againe appeased. the Ianizaries and Spahi, the Turkes best souldiours, perceiuing the warres against the rebels in ASIA not to haue beene so well managed as they could haue wished, and as in truth they might haue beene, many of their captaines and commaunders (as it was thought) secretly fauouring and furthering the rebels proceedings, whereby much of their bloud had beene spilt, and many a good man through their carelesnesse lost, to the small good of their Sultan; rise now vp in a tumult, and so as men enraged, beset the house of the chiefe of the Visier Bassaes. Who much dismaied therewith, and vnderstanding the cause of their discontentment, went in hast vnto Mahomet, requesting him for the speedie appeasing of so dangerous a sedition to haue the hearing of the matter himselfe, and with exemplare punishment to chastise such as were by those his worthie souldiors suspected. Who forthwith called (as they F were by them named) were without more adoe in their presence beheaded, and others placed in their stead: who with what fortune they haue for these fiue moneths last past managed the aforesaid warre, Time (which all reuealeth) shall in short time make knowne.

The Tartars also,Great har [...]es done by the Tartars in the frontiers of the Christians. beside the great harme by them before done, this moneth breaking into the lesser WARDINIA, ransackt and spoiled fiue and twentie countrey villages, carrying away with [Page] them a great bootie both of men and cattell, no man resisting of them. At which time al [...]o another G companie of them at diuers inrodes by them made into Countie Serinus his island, and so to RACKENSPVRGE, carried away ten thousand men prisoners. For remedie of which mischiefes, Collonitz hauing gathered an armie of ten thousand strong, came at length into the frontiers of HVNGARIE, to haue a sight of these Tartars, and to welcome them: who not willing to come to any set battell with him, would in no place abide his comming, but went still pricking vp and downe the countrey, as the manner of their seruice is, alwaies fitter to spoile than to fight. The dead time of this yeare (vnfit for great armies to keepe the field) thus passing, Pogranius (one of the emperours great commaunders) hauing before sent out diuers spi [...]s to BELGRADE, TEMESVVAR, and such other places, to take view of the Tartars forces, was by one of them (which was sent to TEMESVVAR, and had serued the Tartar three yeare) in March certainely H enformed, That the Tartar Han had with him aboue fiue and fortie thousand Tartars, beside others which lay here and there dispersed vpon the frontiers: and that Zachell Moises hauing requested of him fifteene thousand horsemen for the forraging of TRANSYLVANIA, could obtaine of him but ten thousand onely, the Han himselfe purposing with the rest as occasion should serue to make an inrode into AVSTRIA, expecting still for the comming of a new supplie of threescore thousand Tartars moe, which he daily looked for.

Buda victualled.This moneth also they of BVDA making shew as if they would haue made an expedition towards ADOM, vnder the colour thereof, receiued into their citie a conuoy of fiue hundred waggons laden with victuals and munition. And thereupon in great jollitie with their thundering shot saluted their ouerthwart neighbours at PESTH: in which doing, fire by chance falling I into their pouder, did themselues much more harme, than had they with their shooting done their enemies. And shortly after, the same garrison souldiours of BVDA going forth, thought to haue vpon the sudden surprised PALOTTA; but being in good time discouered, were deceiued of their hope, and with great losse enforced to retire: vnto whom the captaine of the castle, by a countrey peasant before sworne to doe the errand, sent a saucer full of salt, and a bottle of wine, willing them in derision with that salt to salt the flesh they had gotten at his castle, to keepe it from putrifying, and of that bottle of wine in kindnesse to drinke an health vnto him.Foure hundred of the Turkes gar [...]ison in Canisia intercepted by the Christians. Collonitz also much about the same time, viz. the one and twentith of March, going betimes in a morning with his armie towards CANISIA, lay close in a wood about a mile from the towne with his scouts, conueniently placed halfe a mile neerer; vpon whom fiue of the K Turkes comming out of the towne by chance lighting, were three of them slaine, the fourth taken, the fift by good hap escaping through the marishes backe againe into the towne: Who telling there what had happened, told withall, That they were but certaine stragling Haiduckes that lay there in the wood in hope of some bootie: for the oppressing of whom, foure hundred of the Turkes there in garrison, going out, and entering into the wood, fell before they were aware, into the danger of Collonitz his armie, and were there two hundred of them slaine, and an hundred and thirtie of them moe taken, the rest by speedie flight sauing themselues.

L

The Conclusion.THus with many sharpe skirmishes (the common exercises of the Turks, and those warlike people in HVNGARIE and the other frontier countries) passed the dead time of the yeare, with a good part of this last Spring also; no great armie either of the Christians or of the Turkes (more than the roaming Tartars, and such small forces as the Christians had, as is aforesaid, opposed against them) yet appearing in the field. Since which time what hath happened, especially in these two or three moneths last past; or what is euen at this present in doing (being M the time of the yeare that the Turkes vse commonly to set forth with their great armies, and to vndertake their greatest exploits in) is not as yet come to my knowledge. So that hauing farre beyond my hope and the strength of my weake and sickly bodie, by the power of the Almightie passed through the Historie of this the greatest Monarchie now on earth, I [Page] A must now here needs make an end: beseeching his omnipotent majestie, for his onely Sonne our Sauiour Christ his sake, in mercie to turne the hearts of this mightie and froward people vnto the knowledge of his Sonne crucified, and the loue of his truth: or otherwise in his justice (for the more manifesting of his glorie) to root out their most bloud-thirstie and wicked empire, with all the rest of the blasphemous Mahometanes; so by proofe to confirme the truth of that hath long agoe been foretold, and for many ages beleeued; as also by the Turkes themselues not a little feared, That the Mahometane superstition, by the sword begun, and by the sword maintained, shall at length by the Christian sword also be destroied: in such sort, as that the name of Gog and Magog be no more heard of vnder heauen, but that all may be one blessed flocke vnder one great shepheard Christ Iesus: At the greatnesse of which worke all the B world wondering, may with joy sing ‘Vnto him in Trinitie, and Trinitie in Vnitie, be all honour and glorie world without end.’

C

A briefe discourse of the greatnesse of the Turkish empire: as also wherein the greatest strength thereof consisteth, and of what power the bordering princes, as well Mahometanes as Christians are in comparison of it.

THe Historie of the Turkes (being indeed nothing els but the true record of the wofull ruines of the greater part of the Christian commonweale) thus as before passed through, and at length brought to D end; and their empire (of all others now vpon earth farre the greatest) as a proud champion still standing vp as it were in defiance of the whole world: I thought it good for the conclusion of this my labour, to propose vnto the view of the zealous Christian, the greatnesse thereof; and so neere as I could to set downe the bounds and limits within the which it is (by the goodnesse of God) as yet contained, together with the strength and power thereof, as also in what regard it hath the neighbour princes bordering or confining vpon it, with some other particularities tending vnto the same purpose. All or most part whereof, although it be by the considerat well to be gathered out of the whole course of the Historie before going, yet shall it more plainely here together in E the full thereof appeare, than by the long and particular consideration of the rising and encrease thereof be perceiued: not much vnlike the ouergrowne tree, at the greatnesse whereof euery man wondereth, no man in the meane time either perceiuing or marking how by little and little in tract of time it grew vp to that bignesse,Constantinople the seat of the Turks Empire. as now to ouertop all the rest of the wood. The imperiall seat of this so great and dreadfull an empire, is the most famous citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, sometime the glorie of the Greeke empire, but now the place where Mahomet the third of that name, and thirteenth of the Othoman emperours, acknowledging no man like vnto himselfe, triumpheth ouer many nations: a citie fatally founded to commaund, and by the great conquerour Tamerlan of all others thought to be the best seated for the empire of the world. In which citie (taken from the Christians by Mahomet the second, by the Turkes surnamed the F Great, and the Greeke empire by him subuerted) as the Othoman emperours haue euer since seated themselues, so haue they wonderfully euen to the astonishment of the world, out of the ruines of that so glorious a State encreased both their strength and empire, almost altogether fixed euen in the selfesame kingdomes, countries, and regions, as was sometimes that; though not as yet (God be thanked) able to attaine to the vttermost bounds that that empire sometimes had, [Page] especially in EVROPE; albeit that it haue oftentimes in pride thereof most mightily swolne, and G in some few places thereof somewhat also exceeded the same. Amongst the rest of the Othoman emperours, this great Monarch of whom we speake (namely Mahomet the third, which now raigneth in that most stately and imperiall citie) hath at this present vnder his commaund and empire, the chiefe and most fruitfull parts of the three first knowne parts of the world: onely AMERICA remaining free from him, not more happie with the rich mines thereof, than in that it is so farre from out of his reach. For in EVROPE he hath all the sea coast from the confines of EPIDAVRVS (the vttermost bound of his empire in EVROPE Westward) vnto the mouth of the riuer Tanais,The bounds of the Turks Empire in Europe, Africa, & Asia. now called Don, with whatsoeuer lieth betwixt BVDA in HVNGARIE, and the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE: in which space is comprehended the better part of HVNGARIE, all BOSNA, SERVIA, BVLGARIA, with a great part of DALMATIA, EPIRVS,H MACEDONIA, GRaeCIA, PELOPONESVS, THRACIA, the ARCHIPELAGO, with the rich islands contained therein. In AFRICA he possesseth all the sea coast from VELEZ (or as some call it BELIS) DE GOMERA, or more truly to say, from the riuer Muluia (the bounder of the kingdome of FEZ) euen vnto the Arabian gulfe or red sea Eastward, except some few places vpon the riuage of the sea holden by the king of SPAINE, viz. MERSALCABIR, MELILLA, ORAN, and PENNON: and from ALEXANDRIA Northward vnto the citie of ASNA, called of old SIENE, Southward: in which space are contained the famous kingdomes of TREMIZEN, ALGIERS, TVNES, and AEGIPT, with diuers other great cities and prouinces. In ASIA all is his from the straits of Hellespontus Westward, vnto the great citie of TAVRIS Eastward: and from DERBENT neere vnto the Caspian sea Northward, vnto ADENA vpon the gulfe of I ARABIA Southward.The greatnesse of the Turkes Empire. The greatnesse of this his empire may the better be conceiued by the greatnesse of some parts thereof: the meere of MEOTIS, which is all at the Turkish emperours command, being in compasse a thousand miles; and the Euxine or Blacke sea in circuit two thousand and seuen hundred; and the Mediterranean coast which is subject vnto him, containing in compasse about eight thousand miles. But to speake of his whole territorie together, he goeth in his owne dominion from TAVRIS to BVDA, about three thousand two hundred miles. The like distance is from DER [...]ENT vnto ADENA. From BALSERA vpon the Persian gulfe vnto TREMISENA in BARBARIE, are accounted little lesse than foure thousand miles. He hath also in the sea the most noble islands of CYPRVS, EVBoeA, RHODVS, SAMOS, CHIOS, LESBOS, and others of the ARCHIPELAGO. In this so large and spacious an empire are contained many K great and large countries, sometime most famous kingdomes, abounding with all manner of worldly blessings and natures store: For what kingdome or countrey is more fruitfull than AEGYPT, SYRIA, and a great part of ASIA? What countrey more wealthie or more plentifull of all good things than was sometime HVNGARIA, GRaeCIA, & THRACIA? In which countries he hath also many rich and famous cities, but especially foure, which be of greatest wealth and trade: namely CONSTANTINOPLE,The foure chiefe cities for trade in the Turkish Empire. CAIRE, ALEPPO, and TAVRIS. CONSTANTINOPLE for multitude of people exceedeth all the cities of EVROPE; wherin are deemed to be aboue seuen hundred thousand men: which if it be so, is almost equall to two such cities as PARIS in FRANCE. ALEPPO is the greatest citie of SYRIA, and as it were the centre whereunto all the marchandise of ASIA repaire. TAVRIS of late the royall seat of the Persian kings, and one of the greatest cities L of that kingdome, from whom it was in this our age taken by Amurath the third, hath in it aboue two hundred thousand men. CAIRE amongst all the cities of AFRICA is the chiefe, leauing all others farre behind it (although that some make the citie CANO equall vnto it in greatnesse) being as it were the store-house not of AEGYPT onely and of a great part of AFRICA, but of INDIA also; the riches whereof being brought by the red sea to SUES, and from thence vpon cammels to CAIRE, and so downe the riuer Nilus to ALEXANDRIA, are thence dispersed into all these Westerne parts: albeit that this rich trade hath of late time beene much empaired, and so like more to be, the Christians (especially the Portingals) trafficquing into the East Indies, and by the vast Ocean transporting the rich commodities of those Easterne countries into the West, to the great hinderance of the Grand signior his customes in CAIRE.M

The Othoman gouernment meere tyrannicall.The Othoman gouerment in this his so great an empire is altogether like the gouernment of the master ouer his slaue, and indeed meere tyrannicall: for the great Sultan is so absolute a lord of all things within the compasse of his empire, that all his subjects and people be they neuer so great, doe call themselues his slaues and not his subjects: neither hath any man power ouer himselfe, [Page] A much lesse is he lord of the house wherein he dwelleth, or of the land which he tilleth, except some few families in CONSTANTINOPLE, vnto whom some few such things were by way of reward and vpon speciall fauour giuen by Mahomet the second, at such time as he woon the same. Neither is any man in that empire so great or yet so farre in fauour with the great Sultan, as that he can assure himselfe of his life, much lesse of his present fortune or state, longer than it pleaseth the Grand signior.The meanes wherby the Turkish Emperours preserue themselues in so absolute a soueraigntie. In which so absolute a soueraignetie (by any free borne people not to be endured) the tyrant preserueth himselfe by two most especiall meanes: first by taking of all arms from his naturall subjects; and then by putting the same and all things els concerning the state and the gouernment thereof into the hands of the Apostata or renegate Christians, whom for most part euery third, fourth, or fift year (or oftener if his need so require) he taketh in their childhood B from their miserable parents, as his tenths or tribute children. Whereby he gaineth two great commodities: first, for that in so doing he spoileth the prouinces hee most feareth of the flower, sinewes, and strength of the people, choice being still made of the strongest youths and fittest for warre: then, for that with these as with his owne creatures he armeth himselfe, and by them assureth his state: for they in their childhood taken from their parents laps, and deliuered in charge to one or other appointed to that purpose, quickly and before they be aware become Mahometanes; and so no more acknowledging father or mother, depend wholly of the great Sultan, who to make vse of them, both feeds them and fosters them, at whose hands only they looke for all things, and whom alone they thanke for all. Of which frie so taken from their Christian parents (the onely seminarie of his warres) some become horsemen, some footmen, and so in C time the greatest commaunders of his state and empire next vnto himselfe, the naturall Turkes in the meane time giuing themselues wholly vnto the trade of marchandise and other their mechanicall occupations: or els vnto the feeding of cattell, their most auntient and naturall vocation, not intermedling at all with matters of gouernment or state. So that if vnto these his souldiors, all of the Christian race, you joine also his fleet and money, you haue as it were the whole strength of his empire:Foure things wherein the greatest strength of the Othoman empire consisteth. for in these four [...], his horsemen, footmen, his fleet, and money, especially consisteth his great force and power: whereof to speake more particularly, and first concerning his money, it is commonly thought that his ordinarie reuenue exceedeth not eight millions of gold. And albeit that it might seeme, that he might of so large an empire receiue a farre greater reuenue,The Turks ordinarie reuenewes, and why they are [...]o greater. yet doth he not, for that both he and his men of warre (in whose power all things are) D haue their greatest and almost onely care vpon armes, fitter by nature to wast and destroy countries than to preserue and enrich them: insomuch, that for the preseruation of their armies, and furtherance of their expeditions (euery yeare to doe) they most grieuously spoile euen their own people and prouinces whereby they passe, scarce leauing them necessaries wherewith to liue; so that the subjects despairing to enjoy the fruits of the earth, much lesse the riches which by their industrie and labour they might get vnto themselues, doe now no further endeuour themselues either to husbandrie or traffique than they must needs, yea then very necessitie it selfe enforceth them: For to what end auaileth it to sow that another man must reape? or to reape that which another man is readie to deuour? Whereupon it commeth, that in the territories of the Othoman empire, yea euen in the most fruitfull countries of MACEDONIA and GREECE are seene E great forrests, all euery where wast, few cities well peopled, and the greatest part of those countries lying desolate and desert: so that husbandrie (in all well ordered commonweales the princes greatest store) decaying, the earth neither yeeldeth her encrease vnto the painefull husbandman, neither he matter vnto the artificer, neither the artificer wares to furnish the marchant with, all together with the plough running into ruine and decay. As for the trade of marchandise, it is almost all in the hands of the Iewes, or the Christians of EVROPE, viz. the Ragusians, Venetians, Genowaies, French, or English; the naturall Turkes hauing therein the least to doe, holding in that their so large an empire no other famous cities for trade, more than the foure abouenamed, viz. CONSTANTINOPLE, TAVRIS, ALEPPO, and CAIRE: whereunto may be added CAFFA and THESSALONICA in EVROPE, DAMASCVS, TRIPOLIS, and ADEN in F ASIA: ALEXANDRIA and ALGIERS in AFRICKE. In our countries here in this West part of EVROPE, of the abundance of people oftentimes ariseth dearth; but in many parts of the Turkes dominions, for want of men to manure the ground: most part of the poore countrey people drawne from their owne dwellings, being enforced with victuals and other necessaries to follow their great armies in their long expeditions, of whom scarcely one of ten euer returne [Page] home to their dwellings againe, there by the way perishing, if not by the enemies sword, yet by G wants,The Turks casualties more than his ordinarie reuenewes. the intemperatnesse of the aire, or immoderat paines taking. But to come neerer vnto our purpose, although the great Turkes ordinarie reuenewes be no greater than is aforesaid, yet are his extraordinarie escheats to be greatly accounted of, especially his confiscations, forfeitures, fines, amercements (which are right many) his tributes, customes, tithes and tenths of all preyes taken by sea or land, with diuers other such like, far exceeding his standing and certaine reuenew: his Bassaes and other his great officers like rauening Harpies as it were sucking out the bloud of his poore subjects, and heaping vp inestimable treasures, which for the most part fall againe into the Grand signior his coffers. Ibrahim the Visier Bassa (who died but the last yeare) is supposed to haue brought with him from CAIRE to the value of six millions: and Mahomet another of the Visiers was thought to haue had a farre greater summe. His presents also amount vnto a great H matter: for no embassadour can come before him without gifts, no man is to hope for any commodious office or preferment without money, no man may with emptie hands come vnto the presence of him so great a prince, either from the prouince he had the charge of, or from any great expedition he was sent vpon; neither vnto so great and mightie a prince are trifles presented. The Vayuods of MOLDAVIA, WALACHIA, and TRANSYLVANIA (before their late reuolt) by gifts preserued themselues in their principalities, being almost daily changed, especially in WALACHIA and MOLDAVIA: for those honours were by the Grand signior still giuen to them that would giue most; who to performe what they had offered, miserably oppressed the people, and brought their prouinces into great pouertie. In briefe, an easie thing it is for the great tyrant to find occasion for him at his pleasure to take away any mans life, together with his I wealth, be it neuer so great: so that he cannot well be said to lacke money, so long as any of his subjects hath it. Neuerthelesse, the late Persian warre so emptied the most couetous Sultan Amurath his offers, and exhausted his treasures, that all ouer his empire the value of his gold was beyond all credit enhaunsed, insomuch that a Checcine was twice so much worth as before: beside that, the mettall whereof his gold and siluer was made, was so embased, that it gaue occasion vnto the Ianizaries to set fire vpon the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE, to the great terrour not of the vulgar sort onely, but of the Grand signior himselfe also. And in the citie of ALEPPO onely were in the name of the great Sultan threescore thousand Checcines taken vp in prest of the marchants there, which how well they were repayed, we leaue for them to report.

The Turkes Timariot [...] of greater value than his reu [...]new [...]s.Now albeit that the Turks reuenewes be not so great as the largenesse of his empire and the K fruitfulnesse of his countries might seeme to affourd, all the soile being his owne; yet hath he in his dominion a commoditie of greater value and vse than are the reuenewes themselues: which is the multitude of the Timariots or pentioners, which are all horsemen, so called of Timaro, that is, a stipend which they haue of the great Sultan, viz. the possession of certaine villages and townes, which they hold during their life, and for which they stand bound for euery threescore duckats they haue of yearely reuenew to maintaine one horseman, either with bow and arrowes, or els with targuet and launce; and that as well in time of peace as warre: for the Othoman emperours take vnto themselues all such lands as they by the sword win from their enemies, as well Mahometanes as Christians, all which they deuide into Timars, or as we may call them Commendams, which they giue vnto their souldiors of good desert for tearme of life, vpon condition,L that they shall (as is aforesaid) according to the proportion thereof keepe certaine men and horses fit for seruice alwaies readie whensoeuer they shall be called vpon. Wherein consisteth the greatest pollicie of the Turks, and the surest meane for the preseruation of their empire. For if by this meanes the care of manuring the ground were not committed vnto the souldiors, for the profit they hope thereof, but left in the hand of the plaine painefull husbandman, all would in that so warlike an empire lie wast and desolate; the Turks themselues commonly saying, That wheresoeuer the Grand signior his horse setteth his foot, the grasse will there no more grow: meaning,The two chiefe p [...]llars of the Othoman empire the destruction that their great armies bring in all places where they come. The institution of these Timariots, and the taking vp of the Azamoglans (for so they call those children which are taken vp from their Christian parents to be brought vp for Ianizaries) are the two M chiefe pillars of the Turkes empire, and the strength of their warres: both which seeme to be deuised vnto the imitation of the Romanes, as are diuers things moe in the Turkish gouernment; for the Romane emperours vsed their owne subjects in their warres, and of them consisted the Praetorian armie, which neuer departed from the emperours side, but were still to guard his person [Page] A as doe the Ianizaries the great Turke. And in the Romane empire lands were giuen vnto souldiors of good desert for them to take the profit of during their liues, in reward of their good seruice and valour, which were called Beneficia, and they which had them, Beneficiarij, or as wee tearme them, Benefices, and Beneficed men. Alexander Seuerus graunted vnto such souldiors heires that they might enjoy those lands and commendams, vpon condition also, that they themselues should serue as had their fathers, otherwise not. Constantine also the great gaue vnto his captaines that had well deserued of him, certaine lands for them to liue vpon during the tearme of their life. The like fees in FRAVNCE which they called Fe [...]da, were of temporaries made perpetuities by these their late kings. These Timariot horsemen i [...] the Turkish empire serue to two great and most notable purposes: whereof the first is, that by them the Grand signior B as with a bridle keepeth the rest of his subjects in euery part of his great empire in awe,The great vse of the Timariot horsemen in the Turks Empire. so that they cannot so soone moue, but that they shall haue these his Timariots as faulcons in their neckes; for to that purpose they are dispersed all ouer his dominions and empire: The other vse of them (and no lesse profitable than the former) is for that out of them he is alwaies able at his pleasure to draw into the field an hundred and fiftie thousand horsemen well furnished, readie to goe whether soeuer he shall commaund them: with all whom he is not at one farthing charge. Which so great a power of horsemen cannot be continually maintained for lesse than fourteene millions of duckats yearely. Wherefore it is to be maruelled, that some comparing the Turkes reuenewes with the Christians, make no mention of this so great a part of the Othoman emperours wealth and strength, seruing him first for the suppressing of all such tumults as might arise C in his empire, and then as a most principall strength of his continuall warres, alwaies readie to serue him in his greatest expeditions. The number of these Timariot horsemen is now growne very great, taking encrease together with the Turkes empire. It is reported that Amurath the third, father to this Mahomet that now raigneth, in his late warres against the Persian, subdued vnto himselfe so much territorie as serued him to erect therein fortie thousand Timariots: and appointed at TAVRIS a new receit, which was yearly worth vnto him a million of gold. These Timariots are in all accounted to bee seuen hundred and nineteene thousand fighting men:The number of the Timariots. of whom two hundred fiftie seuen thousand haue their abode and dwelling in EVROPE; and foure hundred sixtie two thousand in ASIA and AFRICKE.The Spahi, Vlufagi and Carapici, seminaries of the great offices in the Turkes Empire. Beside these Timariots, the Grand signior hath a great number of other horsemen also vnto whom he giueth pay, which are his Spahi, D Vlufagi, and Carapici of his Court, being indeed the nurseries and seminaries of the great officers and gouernours of his empire: for from among them are ordinarily chosen the Sanzacks, which afterwards through their good deserts or the Sultans great fauour, become Visiers, Beglerbegs, and Bassaes, the chiefe rulers of that so mightie a Monarchie. He hath also still in his armies a great multitude of other horsemen called Acanzij,The Acanzij. being indeed but rurall clownes, yet for certaine priuiledges which they haue are bound to goe vnto the warres, being euen of the Turkes themselues accounted of small worth or value in comparison of the Timariots. He receiueth great aid also from the Tartars in his warres, as also from the Valachians and Moldauians (vntill that now of late by the example of the Transyluanians they haue to the great benefit of the rest of the Christian commonweale reuolted from him:) all which are to be accounted as the E Romanes Auxiliarij, that is to say, such as come to aid and assist him. And thus much for his horsemen.

Another great part of his strength consisteth in his footmen,The Ianizaries the second strength of the Turkes Empire. and especially in his Ianizaries: in whom two things are to be considered, their Nation, and Dexteritie in arms. Concerning their Nation, such of the Azamoglans as are borne in ASIA, are not ordinarily enrolled in the number of the Ianizaries, but such as are borne in EVROPE: for they of ASIA are accounted more effeminate, as they haue beene alwaies, more readie to flie than to fight: whereas the people of EVROPE haue euen in the East beene accounted for better and more valiant souldiours, hauing there to their immortall glorie set vp the notable trophees of their most glorious victories. The souldiors of ASIA be called Turkes after the name of their nation, and not of their countrey (no F countrey being indeed so properly called) and they of EVROPE Rumi, that is to say, Romani or Romanes, as the country especially about CONSTANTINOPLE, is called by the name of RVMILI, that is to say, the Romane countrey, as it was in auntient time of the notable Romane colonies therein, knowne by the name of ROMANIA. Now as concerning their Dexteritie, such male children are culled out from the Christians, as in whom appeareth the greatest signes of [Page] strength,What manner of children are taken vp to make Ianizaries of. actiuitie, and courage: for these three qualities are in a souldior especially required. This G choice is made euery third yeare, except necessitie enforce it to be made sooner, as it happened in the late Persian warre: wherein not onely oftener choice was made, but they were glad to vse the Azamoglans also,The Azamoglans are such vntrained youth as are taken vp to become Ianizaries, but yet are not of their order. a thing neuer before by them done. For those youths, the children of Christian parents, being by them that haue taken them vp brought to CONSTANTINOPLE, are taken view of by the Aga of the Ianizaries, who causeth to be registred the name of the youth, with the name of his father and countrey wherein he was borne: which done, part of them are sent into the lesser ASIA (now called NATOLIA) and other prouinces, where learning the Turkish language and law, they are also infected with the vices and maners of them with whom they liue,The manner of their bringing vp. and so in short time become right Mahometanes. Another part of them, and those of the most towardliest, is deuided into cloisters which the Grand signior hath at CONSTANTINOPLE H and PERA, of whom the fairest and most handsome are appointed for the Serraglio of the great Sultan himselfe. All the time that these youths thus sent abroad, liue in the lesser ASIA or other the Turkes prouinces, they are not appointed to any certaine exercises, but still kept busied some at husbandrie, some in gardening, some in building, some in other domesticall seruices, neuer suffered to be idle, but alwaies occupied in painefull labour; where after certaine yeares they haue beene thus e [...]ured to labour and paines taking, they are called thence into the cloysters of the Azamoglans (for so they are called all the time vntill they bee enrolled into the number of the Ianizaries) and are there deliuered vnto certaine speciall gouernours appointed to take charge of them: who keepe them still exercised in painefull worke and labour, entreating them euill ynough, as well in their diet, as in their apparell and lodging: they sleepe together I in large roumes like vnto the religious Dormitories, wherein are lampes still burning, and tutors attending, without whose leaue they may not stirre out of their places. There they learne to shoot both in the Bow and Peece, the vse of the Scimitar, with many feats of actiuitie: and being well trained in those exercises, are enrolled amongst the Ianizaries or Spahi: of whom, the Ianizaries receiue not lesse than fiue aspers,The daily pay of the Ianizaries and Spahi. nor more than eight for their daily pay, and the Spahi ten. Being recorded among the Ianizaries, they are either sent away into the warres, or into some garrison, or els attend at the Court. These last haue for their dwelling three great places like vnto three monasteries in the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE: there they liue vnder their gouernours, to whom they are deputed, the younger with great obedience and silence seruing the elder in buying of things for them, in dressing of their meat, and such like seruices. They that be K of one seat or calling, liue together at one table, and sleepe in long walkes. If any of them vpon occasion chance to lie all night abroad without leaue, the next euening hee is notably beaten, with such nurture and discipline, that after his beating he like an Ape kisseth his gouernors hands that so corrected him. These Ianizaries haue many large priuiledges, are honoured, although they be most insolent,The Ianizaries insolent. and are feared of all men, yea euen of the great Sultan himselfe, who is still glad to make faire weather with them. In their expeditions or trauell they rob the poore Christians cottages and houses, who must not say one word to the contrarie. When they buy any thing, they giue for it but what they list themselues. They can be judged by none but by their Aga: neither can they be executed without danger of an insurrection, and therefore such execution is seldome done,Their great priuiledges and royalties. and that very secretly. They haue a thousand royalties: some of L them are appointed to the keeping of embassadours sent from forraine princes: othersome of them are assigned to accompanie strangers, trauellers, especially them that be men of the better sort, to the intent they may safely passe in the Turkes dominions, for which seruice they are commonly well rewarded. They haue made choice of their prince, namely of Selymus the first, his father Baiaze [...] yet liuing; neither can any the Turkes Sultans account themselues fully inuested in their imperiall dignitie, or assured of their estate, vntill they be by them approued and proclaimed. Euery one of their Sultans at his first comming to the empire doth giue them some great largesse; and sometime the better to please them, encreaseth also their pay. In euery great expedition some of them goeth forth with their Aga or his lieutenant, and are the last of all that fight. There is no office among the Turkes that moe enuie at, than at the office of the Aga of M the Ianizaries, for the greatnesse of his authoritie and commaund: onely he and the Beglerbeg of GRaeCIA chuse not their owne lieutenants, but haue them nominated vnto them by the Grand signior. Vnto this great man the Aga of the Ianizaries, nothing can portend a more certaine destruction, than to be of them beloued, for then is he of the great Sultan straightway feared [Page] A or mistrusted, and so occasion sought for to take him out of the way. The number of the Ianizaries of the Court is betwixt ten and foureteene thousand.The order of the Ianizaries in our time much embased. This warlike order of souldiors is in these our daies much embased: for now naturall Turkes are taken in for Ianizaries, as are also the people of ASIA; whereas in former times none were admitted into that order, but the Christians of EVROPE onely: beside that, they marrie wiues also, contrarie to their antient custome, which is not now forbidden them. And because of their long lying still at CONSTANTINOPLE (a citie abounding with all manner of pleasure) they are become much more effeminate and slouthfull, but withall most insolent, or more truly to say intollerable. It is commonly reported the strength of the Turkish empire to consist in this order of the Ianizaries, which is not altogether so, for albeit that they be indeed the Turks best footmen and surest guard of the great B Sultans person, yet vndoubtedly the greatest strength of his state and empire resteth nothing so much in them, as in the great multitude of his horsemen, especially his Timariots. Beside these Ianizaries, the Turkish emperour hath a wonderfull number of base footmen, whom the Turkes call Asapi,The Turkes Asapi in what small regard they a [...]e [...]ad. better acquainted with the spade than with the sword, seruing rather to the wearying of their enemies with their multitude, than the vanquishing of them with their valour: with whose dead bodies the Ianizaries vse to fill vp the ditches of townes besieged, or to serue them for ladders to climbe ouer the enemies wals vpon. But as the Romanes had both their old Legionarie, and other vntrained souldiors, which they called Tirones; of whom the first were the chiefe strength of their warres, and the other but as it were an aid or supplie: euen so the Turke accounteth his Timariot horsemen the strength of his armie, and the Acanzij (which is another C sort of base and common horsemen) but as an accessorie: and so amongst his footmen he esteemeth of his Ianizaries, as did the Romanes of their Praetorian legions, but of his Asapi as of shaddowes. The Ianizaries are by none to be commaunded, more than by the great Sultan himselfe, and their Aga; as for the Bassaes, they much regard them not, but in their rage oftentimes foule entreat euen the greatest of them. The Asapi as they are but base and common souldiours, so haue they also their ordinarie captaines and commaunders, men of no great place or marke.

The whole state of the great empire of the Turkes is commaunded by the great Sultan,The great commaunders of the Turks empire. by the graue aduice and counsell of his Visier Bassaes, which were not wont to be in number aboue foure, so prouiding for the secrecie of his high designes or important resolutions, hardly by a D greater multitude to be concealed:The great authoritie of the Visier Bassaes. howbeit that the Sultans of later times haue had sometimes moe, sometimes fewer, as their pleasure was. These men are of all others in that empire the greatest, and for their high places most honoured: vnto them euen the greatest princes that haue any thing to doe in the Turkes Court, sue and send their honourable presents. By their aduice the great Sultan taketh his warres in hand, neither without them concludeth he any peace. They giue audience vnto the embassadours of forraine princes, and from them receiue their dispatch. The greatest honours and preferments (which are many in that so great and large an empire) are all by their meanes to be obtained: which maketh them of all others to be sought vnto. Some one or other of them are still Generals ouer the great armies of the Turkes, especially in these their late wars, their three last emperours neuer themselues going forth into the field (excepting once E that this Mahomet which now raigneth for the maintenance of his credit with his men of warre, came downe into HVNGARIE, and there woon the citie of AGRIA:) which leading of such mightie armies is still with great emulation and ambition of the Visier Bassaes amongst themselues sought after, as well for the great profit thereby vnto them arising, as for the honour therof, which is of all other the greatest. But leauing these great ones, the chiefe counsellours for his state:The great authoritie of the Beglerbegs. the whole bodie of his so large and mightie an empire (all in the hands of martiall men) is gouerned by other great Bassaes, whom they by a most proud barbarous name call Beglerbegs, that is to say, Lords of Lords, euery one of them hauing vnder him certaine Begs or Sanzackes, who are lords and rulers also ouer some particular cities and countries, with the Timariots therein; yet all still at the commaund and becke of their Beglerbeg. In auntient time there was wont F to be but two of these proud Beglerbegs in all the Turkes empire: the one commaunding ouer all the prouinces the Turke had in EVROPE: and the other ouer all that he had in the lesser ASIA, now of the Turkes called NATOLIA. But the Turkish empire greatly augmented in ASIA by Selymus the first, and also afterwards much enlarged both in EVROPE and ASIA by Solyman his sonne, the number of the Beglerbegs were by him encreased, and in some part also changed: [Page] who although that they be all Beglerbegs, and that one of them (especially in time of peace)G in the managing of his souldiors and affaires of his countrey, is not subject to any other, but is onely at the commaund of the great Turke; yet notwithstanding in time of warre, where the Beglerbeg of ROMANIA is, all are obedient vnto him, as the chiefest of the rest: insomuch that none of them but onely he and the Bassa of NATOLIA are called by the stately name of Beglerbegs, the others being then onely called the Bassaes of such and such places, as of BVDA, ALEPPO, and such like, although indeed they are in nature Beglerbegs, and so written in their records. For the more manifesting of which their gouernment, as also that they which come hereafter, may by comparing of that which is here written, with the state that then shall be, see how much this great empire in the mean time encreaseth or deminisheth: I haue thought good here briefely to set downe all the said Beglerbegs with their Sanzackes and Timariots, and as neere as I H could (either by reading or the credible relation of others well trauelled in those countries) together, and as it were at one shew set forth the whole strength and power of this so mightie an empire, as also in what countries and prouinces the same is especially placed.

The Beglerbegs or great Commaunders of the Turkes Empire in EVROPE.

The Beglerbeg of Romania chiefe of the Beglerbegs of the Turkes Empire in Europe.The first and chiefest of all the Beglerbegs in the Turkish empire, is the Beglerbeg of ROMANIA or GRaeCIA, called of the Turkes RVM-ILI (or as wee say, the Romane countrey) the principall residence of whose Beglerbegship, is at SOPHIA, a citie of BVLGARIA; so appointed I for the commodious situation thereof, for the better commaund of the rest of the prouinces of EVROPE: howbeit that he for the most part or rather altogether abideth at the Court, which the other Beglerbegs cannot doe, for that they are bound not to depart from the gouernment of their prouinces: in which charge they ordinarily continue but three yeares only, the great Sultan still changing and altering them at his pleasure. This Beglerbeg hath vnder his owne ensigne and commaund fortie thousand Timariots alwaies readie at his call, vnder the conduct of these one and twentie Sanzackes following, namely, the Sanzacke of

1 Sophia in Bulgaria.

2 Nicopolis.

3 Clisse, or Quadraginta Ecclaesiae.

4 Vyza in Thracia.

5 Kirmen all in Macedonia.

6 Silistria all in Macedonia.

7 Giustandill all in Macedonia.

8 Bender, neere vnto the Euxine.

9 A [...]herman, in the confines of Moldauia.

10 Vscopia.

11 Prisrem all in Thessalia.

12 Salonichi all in Thessalia.

13 Trichala all in Thessalia. K

14 Misitra, of old called Sparta, in Morea.

15 Paloeopatra, in the same prouince.

16 Ioannina in Aetolia.

17 Deluina both in Achaia.

18 Elbassan both in Achaia.

19 Auelona or Aulona in Albania.

20 Ducagin in Epirus.

21 Iscodra or Scodra in Albania.

The Beglerbeg of Buda.The Beglerbeg of BVDA, who there resideth in the frontiers of the Turkish empire, hauing vnder his charge eight thousand Timariots, beside twelue thousand other soldiors, which in continuall L pay lie still readie in garrison in the confines of HVNGARIE, CROATIA, STIRIA, and other places bordering vpon the Christians, but especially the territories belonging to the house of AVSTRIA. He had of late vnder his ensigne and commaund these fifteene Sanzacks, viz. the Sanzacke of

1 Nouigrad.

2 Filek.

3 Zetschen.

4 Zolnock.

5 Gran or Strigonium.

6 Segedin.

7 Alba Regalis.

8 Sexard.

9 Simontorna.

10 Copan.

11 Muhatz.

12 Zigeth or Saswar.

13 Petscheu or Quinque Ecclaesiae.

14 Sirmium. M

15 Semendria.

Of which, FILEK, ZETSCHEN, and STRIOONIVM are in these late warres woon from the Turkes by the Imperials, and so yet by them holden: as was also ALBA REGALIS, which but the last yeare was by the Turkes againe recouered.

[Page] A The Beglerbeg of TEMESVVAR in HVNGARIE,The Beglerbeg of Temeswar. who there hath his abode, hauing vnder his commaund seuen thousand Timariots, with these eight Sanzacks, the Sanzacke of

1 Temeswar.

2 Mudaua.

3 Vilaoswar.

4 Tschianad.

5 Wtschitirni.

6 Iswornick.

7 Vidin.

8 Lipa.

The Beglerbeg of BOSNA,The Beglerbeg of Bosna▪ who lieth at BAGNIALVCA, hath vnder him these Sanzacks, the Sanzacke of

1 Bagnialuca.

2 Poschega.

3 Clissa.

B 4 Hertzegouina.

5 Lika.

6 Sazeschna.

7 Giula.

8 Brisrem.

9 Allatschia chissar.

The Beglerbeg of COFFE or CAPHA, who there resideth in TAVRICA CHERSONESVS, and beside the countrey thereabout,The Beglerbeg of Coffe or Capha. commaundeth ouer all the Sanzacks neere vnto the great riuer Tanais, and the fennes of Moeotis. It was at first but a Sanzackeship, subject to the Beglerbeg of GRaeCIA, and is in truth rather a Beglerbegs place in name than in strength and power.

The Beglerbegs or great Commaunders of the Turkes Empire in ASIA.

C

The Beglerbeg of

1 Anatolia,

The Beglerbegs of the Turks empire in Asia.

who hath his resiance in Cutaie, the metropoliticall citie of the greater Phrigia (called of auntient time Catyai) and hath vnder his ensigne and commaund thirtie thousand of the Timariot horsemen, with twelue Sanzacks.

2 Caramania who hath his abode at Caisaria (in auntient time called Caesaria) a citie of Cilicia, and hath vnder him seuen Sanzackes, with twentie thousand Timariots.

3 Siuas, who hath his abiding at Sebastia, a citie of the lesser Armenia, and hath vnder his gouernment ten thousand Timariots.

4 Tocatun, who resideth at Amasia, the metropolis of Capadocia, and hath vnder D him fiue Sanzackes.

5 Dulgadir, sometime part of the kingdome of Aladeules, and commandeth ouer foure Sanzackes.

6 Halep commonly called Aleppo, a citie of Syria, and one of the most famous marts of the East, who hath vnder his regiment fiue and twentie thousand Timariots.

7 Sham, otherwise called Damasco, a most famous citie of Syria, who commandeth ouer fortie thousand Timariots.

8 Tarapolos or Trapolos, commonly called Tripolis, another famous citie of Syria.

9 Maras, a citie vpon the great riuer Euphrates, betwixt Aleppo and Mesopotamia, E who hath vnder his commaund ten thousand Timariots.

10 Diarbekir, otherwise called Mesopotamia, who maketh his abode at the citie of Amida, or as the Turkes call it, Cara-hemid; who commaundeth ouer twelue Sanzackes, and thirtie thousand Timariots.

11 Bagdat (or new Babylon) where he resideth, not farre from the ruines of old Babylon, who hath vnder him fortie thousand Timariots.

12 Balsara, not farre from Bagdat vpon the Persian gulfe, who hath vnder his rule or gouernment fifteene thousand Timariots.

13 Laxa, towards Ormus, and neere vnto the Persian, hath vnder his regiment ten thousand Timariots.

F 14 Gemen and Aden, two famous cities in Arabia Foelix, vpon the coast of the red sea, who hath vnder him thirtie thousand Timariots.

15 Chebetz or Zebet vpon the coast of the Arabian gulfe, neere vnto the kingdome of the great Aethyopian king Preianes, commonly (but corruptly) called Presbiter Iohn.

[Page]16 Cyprus, who lieth at Nicosia or Famagusta, commaunding ouer all that great G island, sometime of it selfe a kingdome.

17 Scheherezul in Assyria, bordering vpon the Persian, who hath vnder his gouernment ten thousand Timariots.

18 Wan, a citie in the confines of the greater Armenia towards Media, who hath vnder him twelue thousand Timariots.

19 Artzerum or Erzerum, in the borders of Armenia towards Capadocia, about foure daies journey from Trapezonde, who commaundeth ouer twentie thousand Timariots.

20 Tiflis, neere vnto the Georgians, erected by Mustapha Bassa, Generall of Amurath the third his armie against the Persian, in the yeare 1578.H

21 Siruan or Media, erected by the same Mustapha, and at the same time, commaundeth ouer all that great countrey, sometime a famous kingdome.

22 Temir-Capi or Derbent, neere vnto the Caspian sea, taken by Osman Bassa the same yeare 1578, who hauing slaine Schehemet Chan his father in law, reduced that countrey into the forme of a Beglerbegship.

23 Cars, a citie of Armenia the greater, distant from Artzerum foure daies journey, by Mustapha Bassa made a Beglerbegship in the yeare 1579.

24 Tschilder or Tzilder in the confines of the Georgians, erected by the same Generall Mustapha the same yeare 1579.

25 Fassa or Phasis in Mengrelia, neere vnto the Georgians, erected by Vluzales the I Turkes Admirall the same yeare 1579.

26 Sochum, in the borders of the Georgians, erected by the great Bassa Sinan in the yeare 1580.

27 Batin, there erected also by the same Sinan Bassa.

28 Reiuan, erected by Ferat Bassa, Generall of the Turkes armie, taken from Tocomac Chan the Persian in the yeare 1582, whereof Cicala Bassa was the first Beglerbeg.

29 Somachia, in the countrey of Media, erected by Osman Bassa in the yeare 1583.

30 Tauris, a most famous citie of Armenia the greater, sometime the regall seat K of the Persian kings, but of late taken from them by Osman Bassa, and conuerted into a Beglerbegship in the same yeare 1583, as it is by them yet holden.

But these late erected honours, namely the Beglerbegships of TIFLIS, SIRVAN, TEMIRCAPI, CARS, TSCHILDER, FASSA, and the rest gained by Amurath from the Persians and the Georgians, although they containe a great territorie, are not of themselues any of them worthie of those proud titles, or yet able to maintaine the same, SIRVAN, REIVAN, and TAVRIS onely excepted: but were by the great Bassaes, Mustapha, Sinan, Ferat, and Osman, Amurath his lieutenants, for their owne greater honour, and the encouraging of them which were to defend those their new conquests, erected; being indeed nothing either in power or strength L comparable with the other more auntient Beglerbegs either in EVROPE or ASIA. But hauing thus passed through the great kingdomes and prouinces by the Turkes holden in EVROPE and ASIA, with their proud honours therein, let vs goe forward toward the South, to see what great kingdomes and territories they at this present hold in AFRICKE also.

The Beglerbegs or great Commaunders of the Turkes Empire in AFRICKE.

The Beglerbeg of

1 Missir, who still making his abode at the great citie of Caire, hath vnder his commaund all the kingdome of Aegipt, with sixteene Sanzackes, and an hundred M thousand Timariots.

2 Cesair (in auntient time called Iulia Caesaria) but now commonly Algiers, where the Beglerbeg still residing, commaundeth ouer all that kingdome, wherein are fortie thousand Timariots.

[Page] A 3 Tunis, where he still remaining as a Viceroy commaundeth all that great and large kingdome.

4 Tripolis, the seat of his Beglerbegship, by Sinan Bassa taken from the knights of Malta in the yeare 1551.

There are beside these other two kingdomes in AFRICKE enrolled in the Turkes records as their owne, although they be not as yet by them brought into the forme of Beglerbegships: namely the kingdomes of FES and MAROCO, but are as yet holden by them as their tributaries and vassales.

But hauing thus as it were taken view of the greatnesse and forces of this so mightie a monarchs Empire by land, and so in some sort bounded it out: let vs consider also his power by sea. B With the great Ocean he much medleth not, more than a little in the gulfes of PERSIA and ARABIA: most of his territories lying vpon the Mediterranean & Euxine seas, or els more inwardly into the heart of ASIA,The great power of the Turke in the Mediteranean and Euxine seas. neere vnto no sea. Now for these seas, no prince in the world hath greater or better meanes to set forth his fleets than hath he: for the ouergrowne woods of EPIRVS and CILICIA; and more than they, those of NICOMEDIA and TRAPEZONDE, are so great and so thicke, and so full of tall trees fit for the building of ships and gallies of all sorts, as is almost incredible. Neither wanteth he store of shipwrights and other carpenters for the framing of that so great store of timber, large pay drawing euen the Christian skilfull carpenters and workemen into his Arsenals at CONSTANTINOPLE, SINOPE, CALLIPOLIS, and others. For proofe whereof it is worth the noting, that Selymus the second in our fresh remembrance, the next yeare C after that notable ouerthrow by him receiued at the ECHINADES (commonly called the battell of LEPANTO) rigged vp a fleet wherwith Vluzales his Admirall was not afraid to face the whole power of the confederat Christian princes at CERIGO. Neither hath the Turke euer wanted good store of expert seamen, after the manner of those seas: for beside those he hath in store at CALLIPOLIS and SINOPE, out of his gallies which he hath alwaies in readinesse in LESBOS, CHIOS,From whence he hath his chiefe sea-men. RHODVS, CYPRVS, and ALEXANDRIA, and from the pyrats which he continually receiueth into the ports of TVNIS, BVGIA, TRIPOLIS, and ALGIERS, he can and doth from them when need is chuse captaines, marriners and rowers sufficient for the manning and storing of his fleet. What he is able to do in those seas, was well seene in our time, by those fleets which he had at MALTA, CYPRVS, the ECHINADES, and GVLETTA. He hath beside of all necessarie and D warlike prouision abundant store, and of great ordinance to furnish himselfe withall both by sea and land an infinit quantitie. Out of HVNGARIE he hath caried away aboue fiue thousand great pieces, out of CYPRVS fiue hundred, and few lesse from GVLETTA, not to speake what he hath more got from the Christians in diuers other places also. What store he hath of shot and pouder, he shewed at MALTA, where he discharged aboue 60000 great shot; at FAMA [...]VSTA, where he bestowed 118000; and at GVLETTA, where in the space of 39 daies he by the furie of his great ordinance ouerthrew the fortifications which the Christians had been 40 years in building. So that to returne againe vnto our purpose, the great Turke so well prouided of men, mony, shipping, and great ordinance, and hauing done so great matters at sea as is before rehearsed, is not in reason otherwise to be accounted of than as of a most mightie and puissant prince, as well by sea as land: E which to be so,The Denizi Beglerbeg, the Turks great Admirall, to be accounted sixe of the Beglerbegs in Europe. the greatnesse of his Denizi Beglerbeg or great Admirall (commonly called Capitan Bassa, of whom we haue not yet spoken) well declareth. This great man hauing charge of all the Grand signior his strength at sea, is alwaies one of the Visier Bassaes, not bound still to follow the Court, as the other Visier Bassaes be, but alwaies or for most part resiant at CONSTANTINOPLE or CALLIPOLIS, so to be the neerer vnto his charge. He that now hath this honorable place, is called of the Turks Cigala Bassa, descended of an honorable familie of that name in GENVA: who commonly residing at CONSTANTINOPLE or CALLIPOLIS, hath vnder him fourteene Sanzacks, all of them great commaunders and men of great place, namely, the Sanzacke of

1 Gallipolis, or Callipolis.

2 Galata, or Pera.

F 3 Nicomedia.

4 Limnos, or Lemnus.

5 Mitylene, or Lesbos.

6 Chios, or Sio.

7 Nexia, or Naxus.

8 Negropont, or Euboea.

9 Rhodus.

10 Cauala in the frontiers of Macedonia.

11 Napolidi Romania.

12 Lepanto, or Naupactus.

13 S. Maura.

14 Alexandria.

[Page] The princes as well Mahometanes as Christians, vpon whom the great Empire of the Turke confineth, and of what power they be in comparison of the Turke.The greatnesse, wealth, and strength of this so mightie an Empire, as well by sea as land,G thus in some sort declared: let vs now see vpon what princes it also confineth, and of what power euery one of them is in comparison of it, so great and ouergrowne a State. The Turkes toward the East border vpon the Persians, according to a right line, drawne by imagination from TAVRIS to BALSARA: vpon the Portingals at the Persian gulfe, and so there likewise toward the South: at the red sea, vpon the great Aethyopian king Preianes, commonly called Prester Iohn: towards the West, in AFRICKE vpon the king of MAROCO: and in EVROPE vpon the kingdome of NAPLES, with some part of the Venetian signorie: towards the North vpon the Polonians, and the territories of the house of AVSTRIA. Now to begin with the Persian,The Persian too weake for the great Turke. the great Turke no doubt is in field too strong for him, as by proofe hath beene oftentimes seene: For Mahomet the Great in plaine battell ouercame the valiant Vsun-Cassanes:H Selymus the first, and after him Solyman his sonne, put to flight the noble Hysmaell and Tamas, the two great and famous Persian kings: and now of late in our time Amurath the third by his lieutenants hath taken from the Persians all MEDIA, with the greater ARMENIA, both sometimes famous kingdomes, together with the regall citie of TAVRIS. That the Turke so preuaileth, is by reason of his footmen, which the Persian wanteth; and of his great ordinance, whereof the Persian hath neither store nor vse: and although the Persians by valour of their horsemen hath sometime in open field foiled the Turke, yet haue they still lost some part of their countrey, Solyman taking from them MESOPOTAMIA; and Amurath MEDIA and ARMENIA. Neither did the Persians alone feele that harme, and loose their owne, but vndid their confederats also: Selymus the first spoiling the Mamalukes of AEGYPT and SYRIA, and vtterly I rooting them from off the face of the earth; and Amurath by his lieutenants hauing brought to a low ebbe the warlike Georgians, both of them the Persian kings friends and confederats. Now is not the Turke so much too strong at land for the Persian,The Portingals too strong for the Turk in the East Indies. but that hee is as much too weake at sea for the Portingals: in those seas I meane where their forces haue more than once to the Turkes cost met together in the East Indies. The Portingals hauing in those rich but remote countries many sure harbours and ports, yea faire countries and territories abounding with victuals and all prouision necessarie for shipping, with some also of those great Easterne princes their allies and confederats: whereas the Turke on the other side hath nothing in the Persian gulfe strong, beside BALSARA; the sea-coast of ARABIA, which might stand him in best stead, hauing no more but foure townes, and those but weake and of small worth. So that K there, as also in the red sea, it is a matter of exceeding charge and difficultie for him to set out any great fleet into those seas: for that those countries are vtterly destitute of wood fit to make ships of. For which cause, those few times that he prepared his fleets in the red sea (to haue cut off the Portingals trade into the East Indies) being not able to performe the same in the Persian gulfe, he was enforced to bring the timber for the building of his gallies out of the ports of BITHYNIA and CILICIA (out of another world as it were) vp the Nile vnto CAIRE, and from thence vpon cammels by land to SVES, where he hath his Arsenall, a thing almost incredible. And yet hauing done what he could, as oft as he hath made any expedition against them, he neuer gained any thing but losse and dishonour: as in the yeare 1538 at the citie of DIVM; and in the yeare 1552 at the island of ARMVZ; and after that at MOMBAZA, where foure of L the Turkes gallies with one galliot which by the fauour of the king of MOMBAZA had thought to haue staied in those seas, were by the Portingals taken: who still haue an especiall regard and care that the Turkes settle not themselues in those seas, but as soone as they perceiue them to prepare any fleet, they forthwith set vpon them, and to that end oftentimes without resistance enter into the red sea.Prester Iohn too weake for the great Turke. Prester Iohn of whom although men speake much, yet is he nothing in strength to be compared vnto the Turke, but farre inferiour vnto him both for commaunders and souldiors, as also for weapons and munition: for that great prince hath a great kingdome without fortification, and a multitude of souldiors without armes: as appeared by the ouerthrow of Barnagasso his lieutenant towards the red sea; who hauing lost all that sea-coast vnto the Turkes,The king of Maroco and the Turke both in doubt of the king of Spaine. was brought to that extremitie, that to haue peace with them, he yeelded M to pay vnto them a yearely tribute of a thousand ounces of gold. In AFRICKE the Turke hath moe territories than hath the king of MAROCO, otherwise called the Xerife: For he possesseth all that there lieth betwixt the red sea and the kingdome of FES; but the Xerife hath the better part, the richer, stronger, and more vnited: yet dare neither of them well make war vpon [Page] A the other,The king [...]f Polo [...]ia [...] the Turke, [...] Turke [...]. for the neerenesse of the king of SPAINE, enemie vnto them both. Now then there remaineth the rest of the Christian princes bordering vpon the Turke: and [...] the king of POLONIA. What these two princes can doe the one against the other, hath beene seene [...] some former expeditions, wherein the Polonian had still the worse▪ Yet it should seeme that of [...] time the Turke hath not beene greatly desirous to moue the Polonian too farre: For that being prouoked by diuers occasions (namely in the raigne of Henry the third, in the warres that Iohn the Vayuod of VALACHIA had with the Turkes, many Polonian horsemen serued the said Vayuod, though not indeed sent from the king: and in the time of Sigismund the third, which now raigneth, the Polonian Cossackes haue with diuers incursions not a little troubled them: beside the late motions of Iohn Zamoschi the great Chancellour and Generall of the Polonian B forces, for the staying of the Tartars by the Turke sent for) he hath been content to comport the same, and not with his wonted pride sought to be thereof reuenged, as hee hath for farre lesse vpon some other princes▪ And on the other side the Polonians since the vnfortunat expedition of king Ladislaus, neuer tooke vpon them any warres against the Turkes: n [...]ther gaue such aid as they should vnto the Valachians their confederats, but suffered to bee taken from themselues, whatsoeuer they had towards the Euxine or Blacke sea: a thing imputed rather vnto the want of courage in their kings, than in the nobilitie of that kingdome. Sigismund the first being by Pope Leo the tenth inuited to the warres against the Turkes, answered him in these few words: Set you the Christian prince [...] at vnitie amongst themselues, and I for my part will not be wanting. Sigismund the second so abhorred the warres, that he not onely declined C the Turkes, but prouoked by the Muscouites, neuer sought to reuenge the same. King Stephen (by the commendation of Amurath chosen king of POLONIA) an indifferent esteemer both of his enemies forces and his owne, thought it a most dangerous thing to joine battell with the Turke: and yet in priuat talke with his friends would oftentimes say, That with thirtie thousand foot joyned vnto his Polonian horsemen, he durst well to vndertake an expedition against the Turke: which hee was supposed oftentimes to haue thought vpon. The Emperour with the rest of the princes of the house of AVSTRIA,The Emperour with the rest of the princes of the [...]use of Au [...]ia, together with the aid of the Germanes haue much adoe to defend themselues against the Turke. are by a longer tract of ground joyned vnto this great Empire of the Turkes, than any one other prince of the world, and bestow in fortifications and the maintenance of their garrisons (wherein they haue continually aboue twentie thousand horse and foot) the greatest part of their reuenewes euen in the time D of peace, much more in these their long warres: and with the Germane forces joyned vnto their owne, are more carefull how to defend that they yet haue left, than how to recouer that they haue alreadie lost, or to enlarge their Empire. The Emperour Ferdinand with greater force than successe vndertooke the vnfortunate expeditions of BVDA and POSSEOA: which so euill fell out, not for that his forces were not sufficient or strong ynough; but for that they wanted agilitie and dexteritie. The truth is, those his armies were strong ynough, and sufficiently furnished with all things necessarie, but consisted for the most part of Germanes and Bohemians, slow and heauie people, vnfit to encounter with the Turkes, a more readie and nimble kind of souldiors.The Venetians by policie rather than by force maintaine their state against the Turke. The Venetians also confrontier the Turkes by many hundred miles both by sea and land, and defend themselues rather by peaceable policie than by force of E armes: notably fortifying their strong holds vpon their frontiers, declining by all meanes the dangers and charges of warre, by embassages and rich presents; leauing nothing vnattempted (their libertie and State preserued) rather than to fall to warres. To say the truth of them, although they had both coyne and warlike prouision sufficient, yet want they men and victuals answereable to so great a warre against so puissant an enemie.The king of Spain of all other princes that border vpon the Turke best able to wage war with him. There remaineth onely the king of SPAINE of all other the great princes either Christians or Mahometanes (bordering vpon him) the best able to deale with him; his yearely reuenewes so farre exceeding those of the Turkes, as that they are also probably thought to counteruaile the greatest part of his Timariots: and his great dominions in SPAINE, PORTINGALL, NAPLES, SICILIA, MILLAINE, SARDINIA, and the Low Countries (if they were with him at vnitie) able to F affourd vnto him so great and powerfull a strength both by sea and land, as might make him dreadfull euen vnto the Great Turke when he swelleth in his greatest pride: But considering how his forces are distracted for the maintenance of his warres at once in diuers places; as also for the necessarie defence and keeping of his so large and dispersed territories, not all [Page] the best of themselues affected to the Spanish gouernment, he is not to be thought of himselfe G strong ynough against the vnited forces of the great Turke, whensoeuer they should chance to be emploied vpon him. So that by this we haue alreadie said is easily to be gathered how much the Turke is too strong for any one the neighbour princes, either Mahometanes or Christians, bordering vpon him, and therefore to be of them the more feared. Yet least some mistaking me, might thinke, What, is then the Turke inuincible? Farre be that thought from me, to thinke any enemie of Christ Iesu (be his arme neuer so strong) to be able to withstand his power, either quite to deuour his little flocke,Why the Turke is not to bee thought inuinci [...]ble, neither his power so strong, as it in shew seemeth [...]o be. rage he neuer so much about it. As for the Turke, the most dangerous and professed enemie of the Christian commonweale, be his strength so great, yea and happily greater too than is before declared (the greatnesse of his dominions and empire considered) yet is he not to be thought therefore either inuincible, or his power indeed so great H as it in shew seemeth for to be: his Timariot horsemen (his greatest strength) dispersed ouer his whole Empire, being neuer possibly the one halfe of them by him to be gathered into the bodie of one armie: neither if they so were, possible in such a multitude long to be kept together, liuing vpon no pay of his, but vpon such store and prouision only as they bring with them from their Timari, neuer sufficient long to maintaine them. Besides that, the policie of his state hardly or neuer suffereth him to draw aboue a third part of his Timariots out of his countries where they dwell, for feare least the rest of the people by them still kept vnder, should in their absence take vp armes against him in defence of themselues and their auntient libertie: whereafter the greatest part of those poore oppressed soules, as well Mahometanes as Christians in euery prouince of his Empire awaiting but the opportunitie, most desirously longeth: so that more than I two parts of them being alwaies to bee left at home for the necessarie defence of the spacious borders of his so large an Empire, as also for the keeping in obedience of so many discontented nations; it is a great matter, if hee euen in his greatest warres draw together of these kind of souldiors the full number of an hundred and fiftie thousand strong, making vp the rest of his huge multitude with his Acanzij, liuing of no pay of his, but vpon the spoile of the enemie only, the fift part whereof they pay vnto him also. All which put together, what manner of men they be, and of what valour, not onely the small armies of the Christians vnder the leading of their worthie chiefetaines Huniades, Scanderbeg, king Matthias, and others, haue to their immortall glorie in former times made good proofe: but euen in this our age, and that as it were but the other day, the Transyluanian prince with diuers other valiant captaines and commaunders K yet liuing, haue done the like also: as well witnesseth the late battell of AGRIA, wherein the Christians, in number not halfe so many as the Turkes, by plaine valour draue the great Sultan Mahomet himselfe (with Ibrahim Bassa his lieutenant Generall) out of the field, and had of him had the most glorious victorie that euer was got against that enemie, had they not by too much carelesnesse and vntimely desire of spoile, themselues shamefully interrupted the same. But thus to let his horsemen passe, the chiefe strength of his footmen are his Ianizaries, neuer in number exceeding twelue or foureteene thousand, yea seldome times halfe so many euen in his greatest armies, except he himselfe be there in person present in the middest of them: who beside the small number of them, in the time of these their late voluptuous and effeminate emperours corrupted with the pleasures of CONSTANTINOPLE, and for want of their wonted L discipline, haue together with their auntient obedience and patience lost also a great part of their former reputation and valour: all the rest of his footmen filling vp the great bodie of his populous armie, being his Asapi, rather pioners than souldiors, men of small worth, and so accounted of both of the Turkes and their enemies also. So that all things well considered, his best souldiors being the least part of his greatest armies, and they also farre vnlike their predecessours, the sterne followers of the former Othoman kings and emperours, but men now giuen to pleasure and delight: it is not otherwise to be thought, but that he bringeth into the field farre moe men than good souldiours, more brauerie than true valour, more shew than worth, his multitude being his chiefest strength, his supposed greatnesse the terrour of his neighbour princes, and both together the very majestie of his Empire. Which although it be indeed very M strong (for the reasons before alleadged) yet is it by many probably thought to bee now vpon the declining hand,The signes of the declining of the Turks Empire. their late emperours in their owne persons farre degenerating from their warlike progenitors, their souldiors generally giuing themselues to vnwonted pleasures, their [Page] A auntient discipline of warre neglected, their superstition not with so much zeale as of old regarded, and rebellions in diuers parts of his Empire of late strangely raised, and mightily supported: all the signes of a declining state. Which were they not at all to be seene, as indeed they be very pregnant, yet the greatnesse of this Empire being such▪ as that it laboureth with nothing more than the weightinesse of it selfe, it must needs (after the manner of wordly things) of it selfe fall, and againe come to nought, no man knowing when or how so great a worke shall be brought to passe, but he in whose deepe counsels all these great reuolutions of empires and kingdomes are from eternitie shut vp: who at his pleasure shall in due time by such meanes as he seeth best accomplish the same, to the vnspeakeable comfort of his poore afflicted flocke, in one place or other still in danger to bee by this roaring lyon deuoured. Which worke of so B great wonder, he for his sonne our Sauiour Christ his sake, the glorie of his name, and comfort of many thousand oppressed Christians fed with the bread of carefulnesse amidst the furnace of tribulation, in mercie hasten, that we with them, and they with vs, all as members of one bodie, may continually sing, Vnto him be all honour and praise world without end.

FINIS.

[Page]

A TABLE OR INDEX, POINTING. vnto all the most notable things in the Historie of the Turkes before written, wherein such directorie letters as are set without numbers, are to be still referred to the next number of the page precedent.

A

AAron, Vayuod of Moldauia, suspected by the Transyluanian prince to haue intelligence with the Turke, with his wife and sonne sent prisoners vnto Prage.

1062 l

Abas Mirize by the practise of Mirize Salmas brought into suspition with Mahomet his father the Persian king. 946 i. by his embassadours purgeth himselfe of the supposed treason.

964 g

Abdilcheraie with his Tartars commeth into Siruan. 838 k. taketh Ares Chan. 939 a. spoileth Genge, is himselfe ouerthrowne and taken prisoner by the Persian prince. 940 g. beloued of the Persian queene. k. slaine in the Court.

941 a

Abedin Bassa with a great armie sent by Amurath to reuenge the death of Mesites spoileth Valachia, and so entereth into Transyluania. 271 a. encourageth his Turkes. 273 b. in a great and mortall battell ouerthrowne by Huniades at Vascape.

274 l

Abraham, otherwise called Pyramet, last king of Caramania slaine by Baiazet.

447 b

Abraham Bassa his description 645 f. his bringing vp in Court 646 g. his great credit with Solyman. i. he persuadeth him to make warre vpon the Persians. 647. [...]. maligned by Solymans mother and Roxolana. 649 b. sent before by Solyman with an armie into Syria. c. hath the citie of Tauris yeelded vnto him. d. in disgrace with Solyman. 653 f. shamefully murthered in the Court by the commaundement of Solyman.

654 h

Abydus surprised by the Turks.

183 a

Acanzij what they be.

415 b

Achmetes Bassa, Gouernour of Cyprus, slaine by the Ianizaries.

979 b

Achmetes the great Bassa his notable speech to Mahomet, to dissuade him from any more assaulting of Scodra. 423 [...]. landeth with his armie in Apulia. 432 i. by Baiazet made Generall of his armie against his brother Z [...]es. 438. l. his death contriued by Isaack Bassa. 443. b. in danger to haue beene put to death, deliuered by the Ianizaries. 444. h. suddenly slaine. k.

Achmetes Bassa with his armie ouerthrowne by the Mamalukes, taken, and sent prisoner vnto Cayt [...]eius at Caire.

448 i

Achomates polliticke and valiant, but too much giuen to pleasure. 478 k. discontented, 487 [...]. threateneeh the Cadelescher sent vnto him by his father. 488 g. entereth with his sonnes into rebellion. h. killeth his fathers embassador, proclaimed traitor. 489 f secretly fauoured by diuers great men in Selymus his armie, 503 [...]. ouerthrowne in battell, taken, and by the commaundement of his brother Selymus strangled.

504 i

Achomates the great Bassa appeaseth the souldiors, vp in armes for the vnworthie death of Mustapha. 764 h. his miserable end. 765. c.

Agria in vaine besieged by the Turkes. 756 k. yeelded vnto Mahomet the third.

1096 h

Aladin, the sonne of Kei-Husreu, of the Selzuccian familie, driuen out of Persia, ceis [...]th vpon Cilicia.

76 l

Aladin his modestie about the deuision of his father Othomans inheritance and goods with his brother Orchanes. 179 d.

Aladin the Caramanian king hanged. 208 m.

Aladin, Amurath his eldest sonne, slaine with a fall from his horse.

289 d

Alba Regalis yeelded to king Ferdinand. 700 l. besieged by Solyman. 740 i. the lake and ditches with incredible labour filled vp by the Tarkes. l. the suburbes woon. 741 c. the miserable slaughter of the Christians in their flight. d. yeelded vnto Solyman. 742 g besieged by duke Mercurie. 1134 l the suburbes of the citie surprised by lord Rusworm. 1135 d. the citie taken by the Christians. 1136 g. besieged by the Turkes. 1144 l. terribly assaulted. 1145. woon by the Turkes. d.

Aladeules his kingdome. 519 a. the battell betwixt him and Selymus. [...]. he flieth into the mountaines. 520 g. taken by Sinan Bassa, and brought to Selymus, is put to death. l. his head sent to Venice for a present, and his kingdome brought into the forme of a prouince. m.

Albuchomar discouereth vnto Selymus the power of Tomombeius, and the treason intended by them of Caire. 547 [...].

Aleppo in Syria betrayed and taken from the Christians by Saladin, Sultan of Damasco. 61 a. by the Tartars taken from the Turkes, and by them sacked and rased. 113 d. by Cayerbeius the traitour deliuered to Selymus.

530 l

Alessandro the Georgian submitteth himselfe vnto Mustapha.

933 c

Alexius the great president of Constantinople committed to prison. 45 f. his eyes put out by the commaundement of Andronicus.

46 [...]

Alexius Comnenus, otherwise called Porphyrogenitus, succeedeth his father Emanuel in the Empire. 43 b. by the practise of Andronicus is depriued of the Empire, and strangled.

50 b

Alexius the young prince craueth aid of Philip the Emperour and the Latine princes against his vncle the vsurper. 77 a. commeth to the armie of the Christian princes going towards the holy land. 78 g. arriueth with a great fleet of the Latines before Constantinople. l. taketh land, and after an hot skirmish forceth the old tirant Alexius to flie out of the citie. 79 c. seeketh to bring the Latines again into the citie. 80 k. is betrayed and strangled by Murzufle. l.

Alexius Philanthropenus by Andronicus the Emperour made Gouernour of the [Page] frontiers of his empire in Asia against the Turkes. 147 e. aspireth. 148 i. betrayed, hath his eyes put out.

149 a

Alexius Strategopulus with a smal power sent into Grecia by the Emperour Michaell Palaeologus, by the treason of two Greekes taketh the citie of Constantinople from the Latines.

115 d

Algiers described. 720 g. in vaine besieged by Charles the Emperour. h.

Aliculi Chan taken. 944 l. in hope of libertie conducteth Hassan Bassa through the straight passages of Georgia. 945 b. cast in prison at Erzirum. d. escapeth from Ferrat. 972 m. by the Persian king (to the great discontentment of the Turcomans) made Gouernour of Tauris. 937 c. killeth the Bassa of Maras, doth the Turkes great harme, and so flieth from Tauris. 991 c. conspireth with Abas Mirize against the Persian prince. 1000 h. being by the prince sent against the Turkes, performeth nothing.

1001 c

Alis Bassa with a great armie ouerthrowne by Scanderbeg.

288 k

Alis Bassa sent by Baiazet with an armie out of Europe against Techellis, slain.

474 l.

Alis Beg and his foure sonnes trecherously slaine by Ferrat Bassa.

600 l

Alis Bassa of Buda by the commaundement of Amurath strangled.

1003 d

Alis Beg Gouernour of Strigonium comming downe into the lower town, there staied by the Ianizaries. 1066 k. his resolute answer vnto the message sent him from the lord Palfi. 1009 e. slain with a great shot.

1071 c

Almericus Earle of Ioppa after the death of his brother Baldwin chosen sixt king of Ierusalem. 53 d. with a puissant armie entereth Aegipt, and in plaine battell ouerthroweth Dargan the Sultan. e. aideth Sanar the Sultan against Saracon, Noradins Generall, whom he ouerthroweth in Aegipt. 56 i taketh Alexandria. l. winneth Pelusium. 57. dieth.

58 k

Aloysius Grittus the duke of Venice his sonne sent by Solyman as his lieutenant into Hungarie, to ouersee king Iohn. 631 f. contemned by Americus, causeth him to be murthered. 633 d. besieged by the Transyluanians. 634 h. taken and beheaded. l. the great riches found about him.

635 a

Alphonsus king of Naples sendeth aid vnto Scanderbeg. 369 f. with Alexander the Bishop of Rome craueth aid of Baiazet the Turke against Charles the French king.

551 a

Alphonsus resigneth his kingdome of Naples vnto his sonne Ferdinand.

453 e

Alphonsus Daualus Vastius, lieutenant Generall of the Emperours land forces in his expedition for Tunes. 655 b. his speech vnto the Spanish captaines. 659 b. commaundeth the Emperour. 665 d. with Hannibaldus sent embassadours from the Emperor and the French king to the state of Venice, for a confederation betwixt that State & them to be made against Solyman. 992 g. his Oration in the Venetian Senate. h. the answere of the duke. m. the Senators diuersly affected towards the confederation.

693 d

Alteration of Religion in the Greeke Church the cause of great trouble.

144 m.

Amesa with his Turkes ouerthrowne and taken prisoner by Scanderbeg.

366 g

Amesa emploied by his vncle Scanderbeg for the recouerie of Croia out of the hands of Turkes. 284 h. corrupted, flieth to Mahomet the Turke. 375 b. his first speech to Mahomet. c. honourably entertained. 376 i. by Isaack Bassa created king of Epirus. 378 d. taken prisoner by Scanderbeg. 381 d. sent prisoner into Italie. 382 h. enlarged, returneth to Constantinople, and there dieth.

[...]83 b

Amurath the first succeedeth his father Orchanes in the Turkish kingdome. 189 c. inuadeth Europe. d. taketh Hadrianople. f. maketh his roiall seat in Europe. 191 b. beginneth the order of the Ianizaries. e. returneth into Asia. 192 g. marrieth his son Baiazet vnto Hatune, the daughter of the prince Germean, with a great dowrie. 193 c. purchaseth the principalitie of Amisum, of Chusen Beg. d. inuadeth Seruia, and taketh Nissa, the metropoliticall citie thereof. e. imposeth a yearely tribute vpon the countrey of Seruia. f. in a great battel ouerthroweth Aladin the king of Caramania his sonne in law with the other Mahometane prin [...] his confederates. 196 g. by his captaines winneth and spoileth a great part of Bulgaria. 199 a. in a great & mortall battell ouerthroweth Lazarus the Despot of Seruia, with his confederats in the plaines of Cossoua. 200 i. slaine. k. buried at Prusa.

201 b.

Amurath the second placed in his fathers seat. 255 c. afraid to goe against the rebell Mustapha. 256 h. in vaine besieged Constantinople. 258 g. strangleth his brother Mustapha. l. winneth Thessalonica. 260 g. taketh vnto himselfe the greatest part of Aetolia. i. enforceth the princes of Athens, Phocis, and Beotia to become his tributaries. h. falsifieth his faith with Iohn Castriot prince of Epirus, and poysoneth his three eldest sonnes his hostages. l. oppresseth the Mahometane princes in Asia. 261 c. spoileth Hungarie. d. contrarie to his saith inuadeth Seruia, and subdueth it. 262 g. putteth out the eyes of the Despots sons, his wiues brethren. g. besiegeth Belgrade. 263 c. dealeth subtilly with the embassadors of king Vladislaus. 264 g. notably encourageth his souldiors to the assault of Belgrade. h. shamefully repulsed. 266 h. his sullen answere vnto the embassadours of king Vladisl [...]us. i. sendeth Mesites Bassa to inuade Transyluania. 267 f. grieued with the losse of Mesites and his armie, sendeth Abedin Bassa to reuenge his death. 270 l. in despaire about to haue slain himselfe. 289 a. by the mediation of the Despot of Seruia obtaineth peace of king Vladislaus for ten yeares. b. inuadeth Caramania. d. wearie of the world, committeth the gouernment of his kingdome to his sonne Mahomet, and retireth himselfe vnto a monasticall life. c. at the report of those preparations of the Hungarians, and request of his Bassaes, forsaketh his solitarie life, and raiseth a great armie in Asia. 296 k. by the Genowaies transported with his armie into Europe. l. ioyneth battell with K. Vladislaus at Varna. 297 b. about to haue sled, reproued of cowardise by a common souldiour. c. prayeth vnto Christ. e. in danger to haue beene slaine. 298 h. wisheth not many times so to ouercome as he did at the battell of Varna. m. to performe his vow, resigneth his kingdome to his sonne Mahomet, which he shortly after resumeth againe. 299 b. his craftie letters to Scanderbeg. 300 g. his passionate speech in his rage against Scanderbeg. 302 i. breaketh through the Hexamylum, & imposeth a yearly tribute vpon them of Peloponnesus. 304 h. after three daies hard fight with great slaughter of his men ouercommeth Huniades in the plaines of Cassoua. 309 b. inuadeth the Despot. 310 k. his graue letters of aduice to Mustapha, concerning his inuading of Epirus. 311 e. commeth with a great armie to Sfetigrade. 316 l. in vaine with great [...]urie giueth many a desperat assault vnto the citie. 319 b. in one assault looseth seuen thousand of his Turks. 320 i. by great promises seeketh to corrupt the garrison of Sfetigrade. l. by the practise of one man hath the citie of Sfetigrade yeelded vnto him. 321 e. hauing lost thirtie [Page] thousand of his Turks at the siege of Sfetigrade, returneth to Hadrianople. 322 h. with a great armie commeth againe into Epirus, and besiegeth Croia. 323 c. in two assaults looseth eight thousand of his souldiors. 326 k. content to buy the life of one Christian with the losse of twentie of his Turks. 327 a. seeketh by great gifts to corrupt Vranacontes the Gouernour of Croia. 328 i. ouercome with melancholie tormenteth himselfe. 330 g. by his embassadours offereth Scanderbeg peace. h. his last speech vnto his sonne Mahomet concerning such things as at his death grieued him most. k. dieth. 331. b. buried at Prusa.

332 g

Amurath the sonne of Achomates flieth vnto Hysmael the Persian king. 504 k marrieth his daughter. 505 a. spoileth Cappadocia, and for feare of his vncle Selymus retireth. d.

Amurath the third taketh vpon him the Turkish Empire. 919 c. pacifieth the Ianizaries, and augmenteth their priuiledges. d. strangleth his fiue brethren. e. his letters vnto the nobilitie of Polonia in the behalfe of Stephen Bathor Vayuod of Transyluania. 920 i. attentiue to the slirs in Persia. 923 f. enformed thereof by Vstref Bassa of Van. 924 m. resolueth to take the Persian warre in hand. 925 d. by Mustapha aduertised of the successe of the Persian warres. 938 g. consulteth of his proceeding therein. 941 e. dischargeth Mustapha of his Generall ship, and calleth him home to Constantinople. 946 l. appointeth Sinan Generall for the Persian warres. 951 b. in despight of Sinan appointeth Mahamet Bassa Generall for those wars in his stead. 957 e. circumciseth his eldest sonne Mahomet. 957 a. displaceth Sinan Bassa, and casteth him into exile. 962 l. appointeth Ferrat Generall for his warres in Persia. 665 d. sende [...]h for Osman Bassa into Siruan. 974 h. maketh him chiefe Visier and Generall of his armie into Persia. 976 k. in disporting himselfe with his Muts, takē with a fit of the falling sicknesse. 977 d. causeth great triumph to be made throughout his Em [...]pire for the winning of Tauris. 996 h maketh choice againe of Ferrat Bassa to succeed Osman Bassa, dead in the Persian warres. 999 b. concludeth a peace with the Persian king. 1005 b. his answere to the letters of Sigismund the third king of Polonia. 1004 h. glad himselfe to yeeld to the insolencie of the Ianizaries. 1005 f. his letters to Elizabeth Queene of England. 1006 k. persuaded by his Visier Bassaes to take some new warre in hand. 1007 c. in doubt whom first to begin withall. 1008 k. resolueth to make warre vpon the Emperour, with the reasons leading him thereunto. 1014 k giueth leaue to Hassan Bassa of Bosna as it were without his knowledge to picke quarrels with the Emperour, and so to disturbe the peace. m. sendeth home the bodie of the Persian hostage dead in his Court. 1015 c. proclaimeth warre against the Emperour. 1023 f. the proud and blasphemous manner of his denuntiation of warre. 1024 h. he dreameth. 1028 l. sick of the falling sicknesse. 1048 h. dieth.

1053 d

Andrew king of Hungarie maketh an expedition into the Holy land. 88 k. bathing himselfe in the riuer Iordan, returneth with all his power. l.

Andronicus aspireth to the Empire. 43 d. ouerthroweth Angelus sent against him with a great power by Alexius the great President. 44 l. encampeth ouer against Constantinople. 45 a. taketh vpon him the gouernment, and tyranniseth. 47 b. causeth Mary the daughter of Emanuell the Emperour with her husband Caesar to be poysoned. e. causeth Xene the faire Empresse to be vniustly condemned and strangled. 48 k. by his fauourits and flatterers ioyned in the fellowship of the Empire with Alexius the young Emperour. 49 c. depriueth Alexius of the Empire, and causeth him to be strangled. 50 h. destroieth the Nobilitie, to establish his estate. i. seeketh in vaine to appease the people, in a tumult risen vp against him. 52 h. forsaken of his flattering fauourits, flieth, is taken, and brought backe in chaines to Angelus. 53 c. committed to the furie of the people, who with extreame crueltie put him to most shamefull death.

54.

Andronicus Palaeologus [...] younger exceedingly beloued by [...] Andronicus his grandfather. 158 h. by the persuasion of Syrgiannes conspireth against his aged grandfather. 159 f. being sent for, commeth vnto him secretly armed, with purpose to haue slaine him. 160 k. secretly flieth out of Constantinople. 161 b. proclaimed traitour, and proscribed. c. stirreth vp the people of Thracia to rebellion. d. reconciled to his grandfather. 164 i. crowned fellow in the Empire with his grandfather. m. againe conspireth against his grandfather. 165 b. his craftie speech vnto his grandfathers embassadours. 167 c. seeketh in vaine by night to haue beene receiued into Constantinople. 169 e. is receiued into Thessalonica. 170 g. taketh in the greatest part of Macedonia and Thracia. m. by treason entereth into the citie of Constantinople. 171 e. forbiddeth his captaines and souldiors to violate the maiestie of the old Emperour or any about him. 172 i. humbleth himselfe vnto his grandfather. 173 a. euill persuaded, committeth him to straight keeping. 174 g. wounded in the battell with Orchanes at Philocrene. 180 m. by his owne departure from his campe discomfiteth his whole armie.

181 a

Andronicus Palaeologus the old Emperour in restoring againe the Greeke ceremonies, by his father before altered, falleth into great troubles. 146 h. sparing to maintaine his nauie, weakeneth his Empire. k. suspitious of his brother Constantine. l. by taking him away, leaueth the East side of his Empire to be spoiled by the Turks. 147 e. reposing more trust in forraine aid than in his owne subiects, greatly burteth his state. 149 b. immoderatly fauoureth his nephew Andronicus. 158 h. setteth Syrgiannes to obserue his doings. 159 a. sendeth embassadours vnto him. 161 d. in his trouble as of an heauenly Oracle asketh counsell of the Psalter, and so maketh peace with his nephew. 164 h. enformed of the euill meaning of his nephew forbiddeth him to come into the citie. 166 g. his notable speech vnto the Patriarch and the rest of the bishops and Nobilitie concerning the young Emperour his nephew. 168 k. forsaken of the Patriarch and some others of the Bishops. 169 b. reposeth his whole trust in God. 172 i. his pitifull request vnto the young Emperour his nephue. l. by him depriued of his imperiall dignitie. 174 g. falleth blind. h. against his will made a Monke, and called Anthonie. k. his notable answere vnto the catching question of the proud Patriarch. l. enforced to sweare, neuer againe to resume vnto himselfe the Empire. 175 d dieth. 176 g. his death by many prodigies foreshowne. h.

Antioche described 18 h. by the Patriarch betraied to Saladin.

65 a

Apulia spoiled by the Turks.

671 f

Ares Chan hanged.

939 a

Artillerie of exceeding greatnesse made by Mahomet at the siege of Scodra.

418 g.

Asam-Beg with his armie ouerthrowne & taken prisoner by Scanderbeg.

383 f

[Page]Asmehemedi iustly rewarded for his trecherie.

478 k

Assan Aga derideth the messengers sent vnto him from Charles the Emperour. 719 b. taketh the Spaniards to mercie 724 k.

Auria with his fleet doth the Turkes great harme in Peloponnesus. 626 h. besiegeth Corone, and hath it yeelded vnto him. 627 a. taketh and ransacketh Patras, with the castles of Rhium and Molycreum. c. returneth to Genua. e. troubleth the Turks fleet, and taketh twelue of their gallies full of Ianizaries and of Solymans other best souldiors. 672 l. braueth Barbarussa in the bay of Ambracia. 688 g. shamefully flieth with his fleet. 689 e. dieth.

787 c

Austria spoiled by the Turke.

616 i.

Altenburg taken. k.

Austria sore wasted by Cason.

621.

Axalla [...] Christian in great fauour with Tamerlan, and his lieutenant Generall in his warres against the Turke. 214 h. taketh Baiazet the great Turke prisoner. 219 d. without resistance taketh Prusa. 221 b. ouerthroweth one of the Turks Bassaes with the slaughter of thirtie thousand Turks.

235 d

B

B

BAbylon taken and sacked by the Tartars. 113 b. with the countries of Mesopotamia and Assyria yeelded to Solyman.

651 a

Baiazet the first why surnamed Gilderun or lightning. 195 f. succeedeth his father Amurath in the Turkish kingdome. 203 b. inuadeth Seruia. c. by Ferises his lieutenant spoileth Valachia. f. oppresseth most of the Mahometane princes, the successors of Sultan Aladin in the lesser Asia. 204 k. inuadeth Valachia, ouerthroweth the Vayuod, and causeth him to become his tributarie. 205 a. besiegeth Constantinople eight yeares. c. in a great battell at Nicopolis ouerthroweth Sigismund king of Hungarie with his confederats. 206 g. returneth againe to the siege of Constantinople. k. marrieth Despina, the faire daughter of Lazarus the Despot. 207 a. pretily reprooued by his ieaster. d. in battell ouercommeth Aladin the Caramanian king, and deliuereth him prisoner to Temurtases his lieutenant. 208 m. subdueth the Caramanian kingdome. 209 a. hath the great cities of Amasia and Sebastia yeelded vnto him. a. oppresseth the Mahometane princes of the lesser Asia. d. vnciuilely entertaineth the embassadours of Tamerlan sent vnto him in the behalfe of the poore princes by him oppressed. 211. accounteth a shepheard more happie than himselfe. 216 k. ioyneth a great and mortall battell with Tamerlan. 219 b. forsaken of his owne souldiors. c. ouerthrowne and taken prisoner by Axalla. d. brought to Tamerlan. 220. shut vp in an yron cage like a wild beast. m. dieth miserably. 227 b. his issue, as also his immediat successour vncertaine. 231 c. his true posteritie.

232 g

Baiazet the second excluded from the succession in the Turkish Empire by his sonne Corcutus, commeth to Constantinople. 437 e. by the mediation of the great Bassaes obtaineth the kingdome of Corcutus. 438 g. goeth against his brother Zemes, vp in rebellion against him. i. in doubt to haue been betraied by his souldiors. 441 c. reuiled by the Ianizaries. 444 h. putteth some of them to death. 445 a. purposeth their vtter destruction. b. glad to dissemble his purpose, and to reconcile himselfe vnto them. f. sendeth Dautius his embassadour to Alexander bishop of Rome. 451 d. glad to heare that diuers of the Christian princes had combined themselues against the French king. 456 i. in danger to haue been slaine by a Deruislar or Turkish Monke. 463 c. Baiazet by nature peaceable. d. his children. 476 k. sendeth embassadours with presents vnto his sonne Selymus. 480 i. seeking to preferre Achomates his eldest sonne to the empire, himself yet liuing, is mightily withstood by the souldiors of the Court, before corrupted by Selymus. 481 b. he forbiddeth Selymus to come vnto him, and threateneth him. 482 [...] fearing to loose Constantinople, departeth from Hadrianople. i. his resolute speech vnto the Ianizaries and other souldiors of the Court. 484 l. in plaine battell ouercommeth his son Selymus at Tzurulum. 485 d. willing the second time to haue resigned his Empire vnto Achomates, is againe withstood by his men of warre. 487 b. his resolute answer vnto Mustapha and the other traiterous Bassaes, after that Selymus was by their practise by the souldiors of the Court saluted Emperour. 494 k. poysoned by Hamon his phisition a Iew. 495 f. dieth.

496 g.

Baiazet Solyman his younger sonne seeketh to aspire vnto the Empire, his father yet liuing. 768 h. setteth vp a counterfet Mustapha to make an head to his intended rebellion. k. the subtile and craftie dealing of the supposed Mustapha to deceiue the people. l. forsaken of his followers, is taken and brought to Solyman at Constantinople. 770 g. secretly with his complices drowned. h. Baiazet sent for by his father, goeth vnto him in feare. l. in few words comforted by his mother. 771 a. sharply for his disloyaltie reprooued by his father, and so by him pardoned. b. returneth againe to his charge. d. after the death of Roxolana, his mother, raiseth new stirs. e. admonished of [...]his dutie by his father. 772 h. vnwilling to go to Amasia, the prouince appointed him by his father, seeketh delaies. 773 k. by a Chiaus requesteth his father not to intermeddle betwixt his brother and him. 774 h. making shew as if he would go to Amasia, stayeth at An [...]yra, and there raiseth his forces. l. his quarrell generally fau [...]ured of the souldiors. 775 b. his purpose. d. he goeth against his brother towards Iconium. e. fighteth a bloudie battell with his brother Selymus, wherein were fortie thousand Turks slaine. 776 g. put to the worse, retireth, and so goeth to Amasia. h. more commended by the souldiours in his ouerthrow, than was his brother in his victorie. i. seeketh againe for his fathers [...]auour. 777 f. dispairing thereof, flieth into Persia, deceiuing by the way the Bassaes of Sebastia and Erzirum. 778 k. at the first well entertained by the Persian king. 779 e. his followers by the cunning of the fearefull Persian dispersed and slaine. 780 k. he himselfe with his sonnes imprisoned. l. his miserable estate in prison. 781 f. with his foure sonnes at the instance of his father by the Persian strangled.

782 h

Baiazet Bassa sent by Amurath against Mustapha the rebell, forsaken of his souldiors yeeldeth. 255 e. vpon a false surmise executed. f.

Baldwin Countie of Edessa, and brother to Godfrey second king of Ierusalem. 25 a. winneth Casaria from the Infidels. b. ouerthroweth the Turks hard by Rama. c. besiegeth Ptolemais, and in retiring thence is mortally wounded. e. besiegeth it againe, & hath it by composition yeelded vnto him. e. after many sharp assaults winneth Berythus. 26 h. taketh Sidon by composition, and in vaine besiegeth Tire. i. maketh an expedition into Aegipt, and neere vnto Laris dieth. m.

[Page]Baldwin, surnamed Brugensis, countie of Edissa, besiegeth Carras, and there taken prisoner, after fiue years captiuitie redeemeth himselfe. 25 d. after the death of Baldwin the first chosen king of Ierusalem, and called Baldwin the second. 27 a. ouerthroweth the Turks and ioyneth the principalitie of Antioch to his owne kingdome. d. by Balac the Persian Sultan ouerthrowne and taken prisoner: after eighteene months captiuitie for the ransome of an hundred thousand duckats set at libertie. 28 l. in three notable battels ouerthroweth the king of Damasco. 29 a. dieth. h.

Baldwin the third of that name crowned king of Ierusalem. 31 a. hardly distressed by Noradin the Turke. b. he fortifieth Gaza, and taketh Ascalon by composition. 34 i. in a set battell ouer throweth Noradin the king of Damasco at the castle of Sueta. 35 f. falleth sicke and dieth.

36 h

Baldwin the fourth of that name, seuenth king of Ierusalem. 58 l. with a great slaughter ouerthroweth Saladin inuading his kingdome. 59 d. putteth him with his great armie againe to flight. 60 k. resigneth the gouernment of his kingdome to Guy Lusignan, countie of Ioppa and Ascalon. 61 b. sendeth embassadours vnto the Christian princes of the West, and immediately after dieth.

62 i

Baldwin the [...]i [...]t of that name, yet but a boy, was crowned eight king of Ierusalem, and within seuen months after dieth.

62 i

Baldwin countie of Flaunders and Hai [...]nault, chosen by the Latins Emperour of Constantinople, and so solemnely crowned. 83 [...]. subdueth Thracia, and besiegeth Hadrianople. 85 a. ouerthrowne in battell by the Scythians, and taken prisoner, is by the commandement of their barbarous king most cruelly put to death. d.

Baldwin the second of that name, [...]i [...]t and last Emperour of the Latines in Constantinople. 97 a. pawneth his sonne vnto the Bruges marchants for money. 112 m. slieth out of the citie of Constantinople, being surprised by Alexius Strategopulus sent from Michaell Palaeologus the Greeke Emperour.

114 m

Ballahanus sent by Mahomet against Scanderbeg. 395 b. put to flight, taketh diuers of Scanderbegs best captaines prisoners at Alchria. 396 g. with his armie ouerthrowne at Oronycheum. l. the third time ouerthrown in the battell at Sfetigrade. 397 b. ouerthrowne by Scanderbeg the fourth time in the battell at Valcha. 389 a. left by Mahomet to continue the siege of Croia. 400 l. slaine. c.

Barbarussa succeedeth his brother Horruccius in the kingdome of Algiers. 636 i. his wonderfull successe. k. sent for by Solyman. l. enuied in the Turks Court. 637 b. by Solyman himselfe reiected to Abraham the great Bassa. d. trauelleth by land vnto him into Syria, and by him commended to Solyman. e. his speech to Solyman, to persuade him to inuade the kingdome of Tunes. 638 g. he is made Solymans great Admirall. 639 d. spoileth the coasts of Italie. 640 m. passeth ouer into Affricke, and hath Bisert a yeelded vnto him. 643 b. commeth to Guletta, deceiueth the citisens, and is receiued into Tunes. s. discomfiteth the citisens risen vp against him. b. hath the citie of Tunes yeelded vnto him. 645 c. is much discouraged with the comming of Charles the Emperour into Affricke. 656 h. in his rage executeth Aloysius Presenda. i. encourageth his souldiors. l. his chiefe captaines. 657 b. the countie of Sarne his head and right hand by Salec sent vnto him for a present. 658 l. his fleet taken by Charles the Emperour at Guletta. 661 a. he rageth. b. calmed by Sinan the Iew. [...]. in field with his army against Charles the Emperour. 665 e. flieth to Tunes. 666 g. dissuaded by Sinan the Iew from killing the Christian captiues, who shortly after breaking prison, driue the Turks out of the castle of Tunes. 666 l. flieth to Hippona, and there comforteth his souldiors. 668 k. escapeth to Algiers. 669 b. sent by Solymā against the Venetians. 687 a. repulsed in Crete. b. reproued of cowardise by one of the Turks Eunuchs. 688 h. icasleth at the flight of Auria. 689 e. braueth the Christians at Corcyra. 690 g. suffreth shipwrack vpon the Acroceraunian rocks. k. with a great fleet sent by Solyman to aid the French king against Charles the Emperour. 735 a. burneth Rhegium, and taketh the castle. b. becommeth amorous of the captaine of Rhegium his daughter. c. maketh them afraid in Rome. d. commeth to Marseiles. f. for lacke of imploiment groweth discontented. 742 l. with the French besiegeth Nice in Prouence. 743 c. rageth against the French, and threateneth Polinus. 784 h. giueth ouer the siege of the castle of Nice, and setteth fire on the citie. i. derided by the Turks captaines, sharpely answereth their taunts. 744 l. rewarded and discharged by the French king, departeth out of Prouince. 749 d. requesteth of Appianus Gouernour of Elba to haue a sonne of Sinan the Iewes there prisoner, deliuered vnto him. e. spoileth the island, and hath the yong man deliuered vnto him. 750 g. in his return to Constantinople doth much harme vpon the coast of Italy an▪ dieth.

751 c

Barbadicus the Venetian Prouiditour a notable man. 874 l slaine in the battell of Lepanto.

680 g

Barbarous crueltie.

909 e

the Barbarou [...] manner of the Turkish Sultans, to murther their brethren in the beginning of their raigne, when and by whom first begun.

201 a

Bare shift for mony.

345 e

the Bassa of Bosna and his brother slain.

1002 i.

the Bassa of Temeswar ouerthrowne by the Rascians and slaine.

1138 k

the Bassa of Buda taken prisoner.

1110 i

the Bassa of Bosna slaine.

1110 k.

the Bassa of Natolia taken prisoner by the prince of Sarcan. 217 c. his stout answer to Tamerlan. d. by Tamerlanset at libertie, and rewarded. e.

the Bassa of Buda slaine.

1136 l

the Bassa of Agria with ten thousand Turks ouerthrown by Ferrant Gonzaga, and chased to the gates of his citie.

1141 g.

Basilicus a faithfull man vnto his prince.

170 h.

§

Battels.

A cruell Battell fought betwixt Solyman the Turke and the Christian princes going towards the Holy land. 16 l. an hundred thousand Turks slaine in the battell neare vnto Antioch, betwixt Corbanas the Persian Sultans lieutenant and the Christian princes. 20 h. an hundred thousand Turks and Sarasins slain in the great battell not farre from Ascalon fought betwixt Godfrey of Buillon and the Turks and Sarasins. 24 l. the great battell betwixt Amurath the first and Lazarus the Despot fought in the plaines of Cossoua. 200 i. the battell of Nicopolis betwixt Baiazet the first and Sigismund king of Hungarie. 206 g. the great and mortall battell betwixt Baiazet and the great Tamerlan. 219 b. the battell of Vascape betwixt Huniades and Abedin Bassa. 273 [...]. the wofull battell of Varna betwixt king Vladislaus and Amurath the second. 297 b. the great battell of Cossoua sought three daies together betwixt Amurath & Huniades. 307 d. [Page] the battell betwixt Vsun-Cassanes the Persian king and Mahomet the great. 410 l. the battell of Tzurulum betwixt Baiazet and his sonne Selymus. 485 d. the great battell betweene Selymus and Hysmael. 510 m. the battell of Singa betwixt Selymus and Campson. 529 e. the battell betwixt Sinan Bassa and Gazelles. 535 e. the great battell of Rhodania betwixt Selymus and Tomombeius. 539 e. the great & dreadfull battell of Caire fought two daies together betwixt the Mamalukes and the Turks. 545 e. the battell of Mohatchz, betwixt Solyman and king Lewis. 602 k. the battell of Toccaie betwixt the armies of king Iohn and king Ferdinand. 606 h. the memorable battell of Lepanto betwixt Haly Bassa and Don Iohn. 878 h. the battell of Sancazan betwixt the Persian prince and the Turks, Osman their Generall then lying sicke. 994 m. the battell of Alba Regalis betwixt the Imperials and the Turks. 126 h. the battell of Strigonium. 1068 h. the battell of Agria betwixt Mahomet the third and Maximilian the Archduke the Emperours brother.

1097 d

Bedredin the counterfeit prophet hanged.

251 d

Begum the Persian queene made away.

941 a.

Belgrade besieged by Amurath the second. 263 c. notably defended by the Christians. 266 g. againe besieged by Mahomet the Great. 357 b. woon by Solyman.

569 b

Belgrade in the confines of Epirus besieged by Scanderbeg.

370 h

Bloudie precepts left by Selymus vnto his sonne Solyman.

563 b

Bodo constant to king Iohn.

606 k

Bosna of a kingdome conuerted to a prouince of the Turks Empire.

365 b

Bosna with some part of Seruia taken from the Turks by Matthias king of Hungarie.

404 k

Bragadinus gouernour of Famagusta encourageth his souldiors. 864 i. yeeldeth vnto the request of the citisens of Famagusta, in time to deliuer vp the citie, not now longer to be defended. 866 k. entreth into parley with the Turks. I. comming to the false Bassa Mustapha vpon his faith for his safetie before giuen, is by him most shamefully and horribly murthered.

867 a

Buda besieged by the lord Rogendorff, king Ferdinand his lieutenant. 702 i. surprised by Solyman. 710 k. besieged, and the lower citie taken by the lord Palsi. 1105 c. the castle by him battered, vndermined, and in vaine assaulted. 1105 c. the lower citie of Buda againe taken by the Christians. 1146 i. the vpper citie and castle besieged. 1147. b. in vaine assaulted. f. the siege for feare of the Tartars giuen ouer by the Christians.

1149 c

C

C

CAffa with the country of Taurica Chersonesus subdued by the Turks.

412 l

Caire described. 542 m. taken by Sely [...]mus.

546 i

Calo Ioannes after the death of Alexius his father succeedeth him in the Empire. 27 c. he taketh Tarsus in C [...]licia, besiegeth Antioch, and vpon composition raiseth his siege. 30 g. wounded with a poysoned arrow dieth. k.

Calcis the chiefe citie of Euboea besieged by the Turks. 405 d. taken by the Turks.

406 h

Callipolis taken by the Turks.

186 g

Caly Bassa dissuadeth Mahomet from the siege of Constantinople. 344 l. Caly Bassa cruelly executed.

350 g

Calybeus Bassa and Cherseogles after a long and mortall battell taken by Vsbeg, and sent prisoners to Caytbeius.

450 h.

Campson Gaurus with what causes mooued to fall out with Selymus. 522 g. his moderat and happie gouernment. 524 l. his answer vnto the embassadours of Selymus. 525 a. perplexed. 527 b. slaine. 530 i. his dead bodie laid out to be seene of all men.

531 a

Canalis the Venetian Admirall doth the Turks great harme. 405 a. with his whole familie exiled.

406 l

Canisia besieged by the Turks. 1131 c. cowardly yeelded. 1132 h. besieged by Ferdinand the Archduke. 1137 b. the siege by reason of tempest and extremitie of weather giuen ouer.

1138 k

Capcapus Gouernour of Damasco reuolteth from the Tartars to the Turks.

126 i.

Carasina yeelded vnto Orchanes.

184 h.

Caragusa a Turke offereth a challenge vnto any of the souldiors in Scanderbegs army.

312 h

Caragoses Bassa Beglerbeg of Asia, in a great battell ouerthrown by Techellis. 472 b. taken prisoner. 473 a. horribly empaled by the high waies side.

474 g

Caramania by Baiazet vnited to the Othoman Empire.

447 e

Caracoza the famous pyrat slaine.

881 e

Carazies Bassa slaine.

357 d

Cardinall Bathor taketh vpon him the principalitie of Transyluania. 1109 s in a great battell ouerthrown by Michaell the Vayuod. 1113 c. his head sent for a present vnto the Emperour. e.

Cassan Bassa slaine.

510 m

the Castle of Buda by the garrison souldiors without the consent of their captaine yeelded to Solyman.

610 g

Cassanes the Tartar inuadeth Syria. 125 c. in a great battell ouerthroweth Melcenaser the Aegiptian Sultans lieutenant. d. repaireth Ierusalem, and giueth it to the Christians, hath Damasco yeelded vnto him. e.

Castronouum taken from the Turks, and by the Imperials vniustly detained from the Venetians. 690 g. recouered againe by Barbarussa.

691 d

the Catalonians entertained by Andronicus the Emperour, for want of pay spoile his subiects. 151 a. take the spoile of Callipolis, and there fortifying themselues, doe great harme both by sea & land. d. aided by the Turks, ouerthrow Michaell the Emperour in plaine battell. 152 k. spoile a great part of Thracia. 153 a. seat themselues in the cities of Athens and Thebes.

154 i

Caytbeius the Aegiptian Sultan sendeth embassadors to Baiazet in the behalfe of Zemes. 440 l. dieth.

450 i

Cayerbeius Gouernor of Comagena bearing a grudge to Campson, hath intelligence with Selymus. 528 k. plaieth the cunning traitor. 529 d. by Selymus made Gouernour of Caire and Aegipt.

554 b

Cazianer Generall of king Ferdinands army against the Turks. 677 [...]. besiegeth Exek. 680 i. to retire with more hast, would haue broken his great ordinance. 681 c. a generall feare in his campe. 682 i. his dishonorable flight. 683 e. generally hated. 685 s. breaketh prison. 686 h. shamefully murthered, and his head sent to king Ferdinand. i.

Cephalenia taken from the Turks by the Venetians.

460 k

Chamuzes Bassa and Catabolinus the Turks secretarie hanged by Wladus.

361 d

Charles the French king inuadeth the kingdome of Naples. 453 d. receiued into the citie of Naples.

455 d.

Charles the Emperour his great preparation against Solyman. 616 h. his power at Vienna. 622 l. after the departure of Solyman returneth into Italie. 626 g. his great preparation for the inuasion of Tunes. 654 m▪ be passeth ouer into Affricke. 656 g. landeth his armie at Guletta. 657 e. [Page] deserueth the Oken garland. 663 c. he marcheth towards Tunes. 664 i. content to be commanded by his lieutenant. 665 d. putteth Barbarussa to flight. f. hath Tunes yeelded vnto him. 667 c. restoreth it to Muleasses, now become his tributarie. 669 d. returneth to Italie. e. with the Venetians and the bishop of Rome entereth into a confederation against Solyman. 686 l. inuadeth Algiers. 718 i. sendeth a messenger to Assan Aga Gouernour of Algiers for Barbarussa. m. his messenger and message scorned by Assan Aga the eunuch. 719 b. his notable courage in staying the flight of his armie. 721 e. most part of his fleet lost by tempest. 722 h. the miserie of his armie. 723 a. horses good meat in his campe. c. raiseth his siege and departeth from Algiers. d. drowneth his horses of great price, to make roume for his common soldiors. 724 h. after many troubles arriueth at length at new Carthage in Spaine. 725 a. resigneth his Empire vnto his brother Ferdinand, and shortly after dieth.

783 a.

Charles countie Mansfelt sent by the king of Spaine out of the Low countries with two thousand horse and six thousand foot to aid the Emperour in his warres against the Turke. 1061 e. by the Emperour appointed lieutenant Generall of his armie in the lower Hungarie vnder Matthias the Archduke, and created one of the princes of the Empire. 1061 c. with seueritie appeaseth the mutinous Germanes. 1064 g. remooueth suddenly with his armie from Dotis to Strigonium. 1065 ban a great battell ouerthroweth the Bassa of Buda comming to the reliefe of Strigonium. 1068 i. dieth at Komara.

107 k

Chars in three and twentie daies fortified by the Turks.

943 f

Chasan Chelise and Schach-Culi, two hypocriticall Persians, authors of the sect of the Cuselbassas or Red heads among the Turks. 465 e. stirre vp a great rebellion. 469 e. Chasan Chelife slaine.

474 i

Chendemus Bassa by many graue reasons dissuadeth Selymus from inuading the Persian. 506 h. he is by the commaundement of Selymus vnworthily slaine.

507 b

Ch [...]rseogles Bassa what he was, and why he turned Turke. 484 g. a sauorer of learning. i. the onely great man faithfull to Baiazet, persuadeth him to giue battell vnto his rebellious sonne Selymus.

483 d

Chios taken by the Turks.

819 c

Chiroche dissuadeth the Bassaes Partau and Haly from giuing battell vnto the Christians at Lepanto. 875 b. encountreth with Contarenus. 880 i. slaine, and his gallie taken. l.

Christians fight against Christians, to the confusion of themselues, and benefit of the Turke. 340 k. in seeking too greedily after the spoile, ouerthrowne and discomfited in the battell at Karesta.

1098 g.

Cicala Bassa by the appointment of Osman the Visier Bassa commaundeth the Turks great armie after his death in the returne thereof from Tauris. 995 c. dischargeth the armie at Van. 996 h. afraid to giue aid to Giaffer Bassa at Tauris. 998 l. restoreth the battell before lost at Karesta. 1098. with a great fleet commeth to see his mother the ladie Lucretia at Messina.

1107 b.

Columnius the Popes Admirall interposeth himselfe as a mediatour betwixt Don Iohn and Venerius the Venetian Admirall, and so well appeaseth the matter.

874 g

Comparison betwixt Baiazet and Tamerlan.

227 c

Confederation hard to trust vpon.

840 h

Conrade Marques of Montferrat slaine by two desperat ruffians.

71 d

Conrade the third Emperour of Germanie taketh vpon him an expedition into the Holy land. 31 c. cannot be suffered to enter into Constantinople, but is treacherously dealt withall by the Greeke Emperour. 32. with a notable speech encourageth his souldiours to aduenture the riuer Meander. 33 a. with a great slaughter ouerthroweth the Turks. 34 g. besiegeth Iconium, and so returneth. h.

Constantine prince of Bulgaria with the Tartars inuade the territories of Palaeologus the Greeke Emperour, and spoileth Thracia.

117 b

Constantine the Despot sent by the old Emperour Andronicus his brother against young Andronicus his nephew. 163 a. taken prisoner at Thessalonica, and miserably vsed. f.

Constantine the Greeke Emperour in vain craueth aid of the other Christian princes. 340 h. at the winning of Constantinople by the Turks, troden to death.

347 b

Constantinople built by Pausanias, destroied by Seuerus, reedified by Constantine the Great. 341 a. how seated. 340 a. taken and spoiled by the Latines. 83 a. recouered from the Latines by Alexius Strategopulus. 115 d betraied vnto the young Emperour Andronicus. 171 d. in vaine besieged by Amurath the second. 257 f. again besieged by Mahomet the great. 340 k. assaulted by the Turks. 346 k. woon.

347 c

Contarenus the Venetian Admirall slain.

413 e.

Corcutus saluted Emperour before his father Baiazet. 437 d. kindly resigneth the Empire to his father. 438 g. giuen to the studie of Philosophie, and therefore not beloued of the Ianizaries. 478 k. commeth to Constantinople. 491 d. his notable speech vnto his father, to persuade him to resigne vnto him the Empire before the comming of his brother Selymus. 491 [...]. comforted by his father, and put in hope of the Empire. 492 m. flieth to Magnesia. 495 a. sought after by Selymus, hideth himselfe in a caue. 501 f. is found and taken. 522 g. by the commaundement of Selymus strangled. h.

Cortug-Ogli the pyrat persuadeth Solyman to besiege the Rhodes.

570 g

Corone, Pylus, and Crisseum, cities of Peloponesus belonging to the Venetians, yeelded vnto the Turke.

460 h

Corone besieged by the Turks. 627 f. relieued by Auria. 629 d. abandoned and forsaken by the Spaniards.

631 c.

Corn [...]a and Serbellio two auntient Spanish captaines persuade the giuing of battell vnto the Turkes at Lepanto.

872 i.

Costly dishes.

745 d

Cowardise punished.

1093 e

Crete described.

868 h

Croia besieged by Amurath the second. 323 b. in vaine assaulted. 324 k. besieged by Mahomet the great. 400 i relieued. 401 c. againe besieged by Mahomet. 402 h. the third time besieged. 413 d. yeelded to the Turks.

417 a.

Cubates Selymus his embassadour commeth to Venice. 839 f. but homely entertained there. 840 f. his speech in the Senat of Venice. k. for feare of the people secretly conueied away.

842 g

Curzola forsaken by the men, defended by women.

869 c

Cusahin Bassa of Caramania riseth vp in rebellion against Mahomet the third. 1114 k. ouerthroweth the Sanzackes sent to haue oppressed him. l. at the comming of Mehemet the Visier Bassa sent against him, flieth. 1115 b. forsaken of his followers, is taken and tortured to death at Constantinople. d.

the Cuselbassas, when and how they begun amongst the Turks.

465 f

Cyprus described. 843 b. how that kingdome [Page] came to the Venetians. e. taken from them by Selymus the second.

867 f.

Cyrene yeelded vnto the Turks.

852 i

Czarnieuiche corrupted, giueth the Turks passage ouer the Danubius into Valachia. 911 d. reuolteth vnto the Turks.

912 k

D

D

DAmasco betraied to Saladin Sultan of Aegipt. 58 m. taken and sacked by the Tartars. 113 [...]. yeelded to Selymus.

532 m

Damiata, and the description therof. 89 a. taken by the Christians, being before vnpeopled by the plague.

92 m

Dandulus Admirall of the Venetian fleet.

85 a.

Dauid and Alexius Comneni, nephewes to Andronicus the Emperour, erect vnto themselues a new Empire in Trapezonde.

84 l

Dauid the last Emperour of Trapezonde put to death by Mahomet the Great, and that Empire subuerted.

36 m

Daut Chan for his good seruice rewarded by Amurath the third.

996 i

Dearth in the Turks armie at Triala.

970 h.

Debreas slaine, and his armie ouerthrown by Scanderbeg.

367 c

Dedesinit the Georgian widdow with her sonne Alexander submit themselues to Mustapha the great Bassa.

937 e

Delimenthes with fiue thousand Persians pursueth the Turks armie. 652 k. assaileth their campe by night, and maketh of them a great slaughter. m.

Demetrius submitteth himselfe vnto Mahomet the Great.

355 b

Demetrius the Rhodian traitour slaine.

329 a.

Desdrot Gouernour of Stellusa to the terrour of the Turks in Sfetigrade before their faces executed.

287 a

Didymotichum yeelded vnto the Turks.

189 c.

Diogenes the Emperour discomfiteth the Turks. 8 h. himselfe by the treason of Iohn Ducas by them againe ouerthrowne. 9 c. taken prisoner. 10 g. honourably vsed by the Turks Sultan. h. ouerthrowne and taken prisoner by Andronicus, hath his eyes put out, whereof he dieth. m.

Dissention among the Turks about the succession, after the death of Mahomet the Great.

437 b

Dissention betwixt Don Iohn and Venerius the Venetian Admirall.

873 e

Dium a castle of the Venetians in the East Indies in vaine assaulted by the Turks.

670 l

Doganes Aga of the Ianizaries whipt and displaced.

339 b

Dotis taken by the Turks.

1099 c

Dragut a most famous pyrat of the Turks, by Auria driuen out of the citie of Africa in the kingdome of Tunes. 752 i. commeth to the siege of Malta. 797 b. his souldiors enforced shamefully to retire. 799 a. slaine.

801 h.

Dracula Vayuod of Valachia dissuadeth king Vladislaus from farther proceeding in his wars against Amurath. 205 [...]. aideth him with his sonne and foure thousand horse. 296 h. his last farwell vnto the king. i.

the Drusian people what they are.

982 i.

Dulcign [...], Antiuari, and Budua, strong towns of the Venetians vpon the coasts of Epirus and Dalmatia yelded to the Turke.

869 a

the duke of Muscouie his letters and presents sent vnto the Emperor.

1071 a.

Duke Mercurie Generall of the Emperors forces in the lower Hungarie, commeth in vaine to relieue Canisia. 1131 [...]. in retiring looseth three thousand of his men with certaine pieces of great ordinance and his baggage. 1132 g. besiegeth Alba Regalis. 1134 m. winneth it. 1135 f. enforceth Assan the Turks Generall with the losse of six thousand of his Turks to retire.

1136 l.

Dyrrhachium now called Durazo taken by the Turks.

461 c

E

E

EArthquake most terrible in Constantinople.

476 h

Edward, eldest sonne to Henry the third king of England, taketh vpon him an expedition into the Holy land, and arriueth at Tunes. 119 c. arriueth at Ptolemais. 120 g. taketh Nazareth, and putteth the Turks to flight. h. by a desperat Sarasin dangerously wounded with an enuenomed knife. k. cured of his wound, maketh peace with the Sultan and returneth into England.

121 a.

the Aegiptians diuersly affected towards the Mamalukes.

542 i

Eiuases Bassa hath his eyes burnt out.

258 m.

Elpis the Aegiptian Sultan besiegeth Tripolis and taketh it by force. 122 l. winneth Sidon and Berythus, and raseth them, taketh Tyre by composition, and winneth all the strong holds in Syria and Palestine, from the Christians, except onely the strong citie of Ptolemais. 122 m. maketh peace with the remainder of the Christians. m.

Emanuell the Greeke Emperour with a great power inuadeth the dominions of the Sultan of Iconium. 38 h. looseth a great part of his armie. 39 c. in danger to haue been taken, notably defendeth himselfe. 40 l. in his greatest distresse hath peace offered him by the Sultan, which he gladly accepteth. 42 i. he vanquisheth Atapack the Sultans Generall. m. falleth sick and dieth.

43 a

Emanuell the Greeke Emperour vpon hard conditions obtaineth peace of Baiazet the Great Turke, and becommeth his tributarie. 206 l. by his embassadours offereth his Empire vnto Tamerlan, & so to become his vassale. 221 d. commeth himselfe vnto him at Prusa. 222 h. honourably entertaineth him comming in priuat ouer to Constantinople. i.

Embassadours sent from Tamas the Persian king to Selymus. 836 h. honorably entertained by the Turks at Hadrianople. 837 b. the Persian embassadour in going to visit Muhamet the Visier Bassa, in danger to haue been slaine. d. the rich presents by him giuen to Selymus.

838 g

Emir Hamze the Persian prince commeth into Siruan. 939 c. killeth Caitas Bassa and recouereth Eres. d. ouerthroweth the Tartars, and taketh Abdilcheray. 940 g. recouereth Sumachia. i. returneth to Casbin. k. ouerthroweth the vauward of the Turks armie. 990 l. in a great battell ouerthroweth Cicala Bassa and the Bassa of Caraemit. 993 b. dareth Osman the Turks Generall battell. c. with his owne hand killeth the Bassa of Caraemit. f. killeth also the Bassa of Trapezond, with twentie thousand Turks moe. 994 g. ouerthroweth twentie thousand of the Turks in the battell of Sancazan. 995 b. ouercommeth the rebellious Turcomans, and executeth their leaders. 998 h. sacketh Salmas. 1000 k. putteth the Bassa of Reiuan to flight. l. slaine by one of his Eunuchs.

1002 h

Emir Chan hauing his eyes put out, dieth miserably in prison.

973 c

the Emperour, the French king, and the king of Polonia entangled in their leagues with the Turke, refuse to giue aid vnto the Venetians against him.

842 k.

the Empire of Trapezond ouerthrown and subuerted by Mahomet the Great.

361 a.

Ertogrul with his brother Dunder and [Page] foure hundred families of the Turks stay in their returne toward Persia. 133 f. by his good seruice obtaineth of Sultan Aladin a place at Suguta for himselfe and his Turks to dwell in. 434 k. taketh the castle of Cara-Chisar from the Christians.

135 a

Euboea taken from the Venetians by Mahomet the Great.

406 k

Eurenoses his rich present vnto Amurath at the marriage of his sonne Baiazet.

193 b

Eudocia the Empresse contrarie to her oath desirous to marrie, dealeth cunningly with the Patriarch to dispence with her oath. 7 d. marrieth Diogenes Romanus, a prisoner condemned to die, and maketh him Emperour. f. she is deposed by the traitours, Iohn Ducas, Psellus, and others, and thrust into a Monasterie.

10 i

Eustace Gouernour of the kingdome of Ierusalem, discomfiteth the Sarasins in a great battell neere vnto Ascalon, and not long after dieth.

28 i

F

F

FAmagusta besieged by the Turks. 852 k. hath a new supply put into it by Quirinus. 855 c. described. 863 b. the number of the defendants in it. c. twice assaulted and notably defended by the Christians. d. [...]. vndermined. 865 a. furiously by the Turks assaulted, and valiantly by the Christians defended. b. a great part of the wall blowne vp, and the citie againe assaulted. 866 g. yeelded vp to the Turks. m.

Famine in Scodra.

426 g

Faulconers and Huntsmen in great number in the Turks Court.

338 k

Ferat Bassa sent by Solyman against Alis Beg the mountaine prince. 600 i. treacherously murthereth him and his foure sonnes. l.

Ferat Bassa by Amurath chosen Generall of his armie against the Persians in stead of Sinan. 965 d. in the space of fifteene dayes buildeth a fort at Reiuan, as he was by Amurath commaunded. 966 i. breaketh vp his armie at Erzirum. 967 d. raiseth a new armie. f. fortifieth Lori. 968 k. buildeth a fort vpon the strait of Tomanis. 969 a. reprooueth Veis Bassa of Aleppo. 970 k. is himselfe reuiled by the Ianizaries and Spahi. l. by them disobeied and threatened. 971 d. his stout answer to his mutinous souldiors. f. his tents ouerthrowne and he againe threatened. 972 g. disgraced, breaketh vp his armie at Ardachan. k. grieuously complained of to Amurath. 973 e. by Amurath againe made Generall against the Persians. 999 b. commeth to Van. 1000 g. putteth succours into Tauris. 1001 d. taketh Genge. 1004 m. sent by Mahomet Generall of his armie into Hungarie. 1060 l. disgraced at his first comming to the armie. m. ouerthrowne in Valachia. 1062 h. sent for to Constantinople, and there strangled.

1073 b.

Ferdinand king of Bohemia laieth claime to the kingdome of Hungarie. 605 b. taketh Buda. e. crowned king of Hungarie. 606 k. seeketh for the fauour of Solyman. 608. is by him reiected and threatened. k. persuaded by the Hungarian fugitiues to inuade Hungarie. 698 g. dissuaded by Lascus. k. sendeth Lascus to Solyman and other embassadours to the queene of Hungarie to demaund of her that kingdome. 699 b. he inuadeth Hungarie. 700 g. taketh Pesth and Vacia, and besiegeth Buda. h. dieth.

791 d.

Filek taken by the Christians.

1027 c

Foscarus a graue Senatour. 693 f. vnworthily disgraced by the multitude.

694 g.

Foureteene wagons loaded with the heads of the slaine Christians.

1017 c

Francis the French king the more to trouble the Emperour, solliciteth Solyman to inuade his territories.

725 c

Francus Acciauoll duke of Thebes by the commaundement of Mahomet murthered.

354 l

Fredericke the Emperour taketh vpon him an expedition into the Holy land.

66 b

Fredericke duke of Sueuia the Emperours sonne, in his fathers stead chosen Generall of the Christians armie. 66 m. hath Antioch deliuered vnto him. 67 d dieth of the plague, and is buried by his father in the Cathedrall Church at Tire.

68 g

Fredericke the Germane Emperour vndertaketh an expedition into the Holy land. 98 l. crowned king of Ierusalem, which is by him repaired.

99 e

the Frenchmen and Wallons in mutinie at Pappa. 1116 k. compact with the Turks to deliuer to them the towne. 1117 a. seeking secretly to haue fled, are most of them slaine, and the rest that were taken, put to most horrible tortures.

1119 b

Friuli part of the Venetian territorie miserably spoiled by the Turks. 414 l. againe spoiled by Scander Bassa and the Turks.

458 h

the Frontiers of the Emperours territories grieuously spoiled by the Ta [...]tars.

1150 k.

the Frugalitie of the Turks.

713 f

Fulke Countie of Thurin, Mayne, and Aniou, taketh vpon him an expedition into the Holy land. 29 b. dieth of a fall off his horse in hunting, and is buried at Ierusalem.

30 m

Fuscarinus in his absence by the generall consent of the Venetian Senat chosen Admirall. 887 f. encourageth the confederats to giue the Turks battell. 890 l. in vaine persuadeth the confederats to take the aduantage of the Turks dispersed fleet. 893 a. earnestly dissuadeth Don Iohn and the Spaniards from returning without giuing the Turks battell.

899 a

G

G

GAlliley spoiled, and the castle of Burie taken by the Turks.

60 i

Garzias of Toledo, Viceroy of Silicia, after long delay at last setteth forward with his fleet to relieue the besieged at Malta. 814 k. by tempest driuen into the island Aegusa. 815 [...]. arriueth at Malta, and landeth his men.

816 i

Gazelles his wholesome counsell vnto Campson, for protracting the war against Selymus. 527 c. comming to haue oppressed Sinan Bassa at Gaza, is by him himselfe ouerthrown. 534 i. his notable speech in submitting himselfe to Selymus. 546 m. by Selymus made Gouernour of Syria. 560 l. rebelleth against Solymā. 568 h. slain. [...]

Gaza yeelded vnto Sinan Bassa.

534 g

George the Despot of Seruia a man of no religion. 356 i. driuen out of his kingdome by Amurath. 262 g. restored by king Vladislaus. 289 b. denieth passage vnto Scanderbeg through his country. 295 b. glad to craue aid of Huniades, whom he had before euill entreated. 310. his death.

356 i

George bishop of Veradium a notable man 697 c. murthered in his owne house.

756 i.

Geordiron the phisition notably deludeth the Ianizaries and Spahi of the Court.

252 k.

George Basta by the Emperour appointed lieutenant Generall for his warres in the vpper Hungarie. 1104 m. commaunded by Matthias the Archduke to giue aid vnto Michaell the Vayuod against the Transyluanians, aideth them against him. 1124 h. in a great battell ouerthroweth the Vay [...]od. 1126 h. his slout speech to the Chiaki [Page] and the rest of the nobilitie of Transyluania. 1129 b. his error. 1130 g. receiued by the Transyluanians as the Emperours lieutenant, vntill further order were by him taken for the gouernment of that prouince. l. suddenly taken prisoner by the Transyluanians. 1139 c. set at libertie and aided by Michaell the Vayuod, with a great slaughter ouerthroweth Sigismund the Transyluanian prince, and driueth him out of his country. 1140 i. conspireth the death of Michaell the Vayuod. 1141 a. taketh in most part of the countrey of Transyluania for the Emperor. c. for feare of Sigismund and the Transyluanians flieth. f. in battell ouerthroweth Zachell Moises the Transyluanian princes lieutenant, and bringeth that countrey againe vnder the Emperors obeisance.

1143 c

Geruaise Rogers an Englishman commended for his good seruice at the siege of the Rhodes.

430 k

Gerasimus the Patriarch dealeth vnfaithfully with the old Emperour Andronicus.

161 b

Giaffer captaine of the Ianizaries slaine.

659 f.

Giaffer the Eunuch Bassa of Tripolis by Osman Bassa with a garrison of twelue thousand souldiors left Gouernour of Tauris. 994 i. besieged by the Persian prince. 997 e. prayeth aid of Cicala Bassa. 998 k. put to flight.

197 a.

Godfrey duke of Lorraine with other the Christian princes with an armie of three hundred thousand fighting men vndertaketh the first expedition into the Holy land. 14 i. concludeth a league with Alexius the Greeke Emperour. 15 a. besiegeth Nice and taketh it. 16 g. in a great battell ouerthroweth Sultan Solyman with his Turks, [...]aketh Antiochia in Pisidia, Iconium, and Heraclea, winneth Cilicia, Armenia, and Capadocia. 17 a. c. putteth the Turks to flight at the riuer Orontes. 18 g. after long siege taketh Antioche in Syria. 20 m. winneth Ierusalem by assault. 22 d. is chosen king of Ierusalem. 23. his letters to Bohemund king of Antioche. 24 i. in a great & mortall battell ouerthroweth the Turks at Ascalon. 24 l. crowned king of Ierusalem, and dieth of the plague. m.

the Gouernour of Alba Regalis taken. 824 k. his sharpe answere vnto a Spaniard. l.

Great treasure found by the Turks at the winning of Constantinople.

347 e

a Greeke priest his notable speech persuading the Great Master of the Rhodes to yeeld vp the citie. 594 h. with the most resolute answere of a common soldior to the contrarie. 595 a. and that his speech notably refelled by a Greek, and the yeelding of the citie vrged. e.

the Greeke Church by Michaell Palaeologus the Emperour subiected to the Church of Rome, and why.

144 l

the Greekes carelesse of the Turks first small footing in Chersonesus, ieast thereat.

185 f

the Guise, Lord Grand Prior of the knights of S. Iohns in Fraunce, Admirall of Malta, taketh certaine of the Turks gallies.

767 d

Guletta how situated. 657 c. besieged by Charles the Emperour. 658 g. furiously battered. 660 k. assaulted and woon. 661 a. besieged by the Turks. 914 l. taken from the Christians.

915 a.

Guy Countie of Ioppa and Ascalon, the ninth and last king of Ierusalem. 62 l. in battell ouerthrowne and taken prisoner by Saladin. 63 e. set at libertie, besiegeth Ptolemais, and fighteth a great battell with Saladin.

65 f

H

H

HAalon, brother to Mango the great Cham of Tartaria with a great armie inuadeth the Turks. 113 a. his great victories against the Turks. c. d.

Hadrianople yeelded vnto the Turks. 189 f. by Amurath the first made the royall seat of his kingdome in Europe.

191 b

Haider marrieth Martha the daughter of the great king Vsun-Cassanes by Despina, and hath by her Hysmaell, afterwards king of Persia.

464 l

Haider murthered by Iacup the Persian king.

485 a

Haly Bassa slaine. 881 c. his two sonnes taken in the battell of Lepanto. f. the Greeke that slew him honourably rewarded.

884 g

Hamon the Iew for his trecherie iustly rewarded by Selymus.

496 i

Hardeck Gouernour of Rab corrupted, yeeldeth the citie vnto the Turkes. 1044 l. executed at Vienna.

1046 h

Hassan Bassa relieueth the distressed Turks in garrison at Teflis. 944 l. breaketh promise with Aliculi Chan. 945 c. rewarded for his good seruice. 946 g. sent by Ferrat Bassa to the reliefe of Teflis. 967 a. againe rewarded by Amurath. b. left by Ferat with a garrison of eight thousand souldiors in the new fort at Tomanis. 970 h. Generall of Sultan Mahomets armie in Hungarie, commeth out of season to relieue Alba Regalis.

1136 i

Hassan Bassa the queenes Eunuch sent Gouernour to Caire. 980 h. cast in prison at Constantinople, and his euil [...] gotten goods confiscated. 981 d. his life spared at the intercession of the queene, and he set at libertie. [...].

Hassan Bassa of Bosna inciteth Amurath to make warre vpon the Emperour. 1014 l. taketh Wihitz, the metropoliticall citie of Croatia. 1015. lodeth six waggons with the heads of the slaine Christians. 1016 g. spoyleth Turopolis. l. deceiued by the Abbot of Siseg. 1021 c. his threatening letters vnto the Abbot. d. besiegeth Siseg. 1022 g. in a great battell ouerthrowne. 1023 a. drowned. b.

Hatwan besieged by the Christians. 1093 d. taken by assault. 1094 g. againe forsaken by the Christians. i.

Henry brother to Baldwin chosen second Emperour of the Latines in Constantinople.

85 f

Henry duke of Saxonie with a great armie sent into the Holy land by Henry the sixt Emperour of Germanie, goeth accompanied with many great princes. 73 [...]. falling sicke of a feuer, dieth.

74 h

Henry the French king by his embassadour solliciteth Solyman to inuade the king of Spaine his territories.

767 c

Heraclius the Greeke Emperour by the helpe of the Arabians recouereth Siria and the holy citie from Chosroe the Persian king.

22 g

Hoccata the Tartar by his captaines subdueth Armenia the greater, Cholchis, and Iberia. 76 i. succeeding his father Zingis, inuadeth the East and West part of A [...]ia, subdueth the East Indies, and buildeth Cambalu. 75 [...]. driueth the Turks out of Persia, and subdueth many countries.

76 g

Horruccius and Hariadenus how they of base pyrats aspired to the kingdome of Algiers. 635 c. Horruccius his successe. f. slaine, and his head in triumph carried about in Spaine.

636 h

Hungarie deuided into two factions vpon the choice of Vladislaus king of Polonia. 163 a. againe deuided vpon the dissention betwixt king Ferdinand and king Iohn. 605 c. becommeth a prey vnto Solyman, and by him conuerted into the forme of a prouince of the Turkish Empire.

713 a

Huniades by king Vladislaus made Vayuod of Transyluania. 266 l. in a great battell ouerthroweth Isa Beg Amurath his lieutenant in Seruia. 267 d. ouerthroweth Mesites Bassa, [Page] and killeth him with twentie thousand Turks moe. 269 e. of the spoile of the Turks sendeth a present vnto king Vladislaus and the Despot of Seruia. 270 g. his most Christian speech to encourage his souldiours against the Turks. 271 d. in a great and mortall battell ouerthroweth Abedin Bassa with his armie at Vascape. 274 l. with ten thousand horsemen ouerthroweth a great armie of the Turks by night. 277 f. eight times repulseth the Turks pursuing him in his retreat downe the mountaine Hemus. 279 d. with a great slaughter discomfiteth Carambey the Bassa of Romania, and taketh him prisoner. 280 k. flying out of the battell of Varna, taken prisoner by Dracula Vayuod of Valachia. 298 i. by generall consent chosen Gouernour of Hungarie in the minoritie of king Ladislaus. 304 l. goeth against the Turke. 305 b. with a notable speech encourageth his souldiours against the Turkes. 306 i. fighteth three daies together with Amurath in the plaines of Cossoua. 307 d. ouercome, flieth. 309 b. falleth into the hands of two notable theeues. e. in doubt of a shepheard, is by him relieued. 310 g. taken prisoner by the false Despot. g. set at libertie, reuengeth himselfe vpon him. i. requested, giueth him and against the Turks. 311 a. his most Christianlike death.

358 l.

Hysmaell after the death of his father Haider flieth to his fathers friend Pyrchales. 465 b. his behauiour in the time of his exile. 466 g. recouereth his inheritance. k. taketh Sumachia. l. obtaineth Tauris. 467 b. ouercommeth Eluan the Persian king and killeth him. 468 g. peaceably receiued into S [...]yras. h. preacheth his fathers doctrine. i. putteth Moratchamus to [...]light, and obtaineth the kingdome of Persia. 469 b. the inscription of his coyne. d. commeth to his army at Coy. 508 m. sendeth an herauld vnto Selymus. 509 b. with thirtie thousand Persians giueth battell to Selymus with three hundred thousand Turks. 510 i. wounded, retireth. 512 g. the cause why he came with so small an armie against Selymus. 517 d. his large territories. 518 h. the reason why he inuaded not Selymus, wholly busied in the Aegiptian wars.

560 h.

I

I

IAcup Arnaut slaine, and his army discomfited by Scanderbeg.

399 d

the Ianizaries first instituted by Amurath the first. 191 e. stand vpon their guard, and reuiling Baiazet their Emperour, refuse to receiue him amongst them. 445 f. in mutinie against Selymus. 512 m. vp in armes against Solyman for the vnworthie death of the noble Mustapha. 764 i. vnwilling to goe in the quarrell of Selymus against his brother Baiazet. 773 f. their insolent and threatening speech vnto Ferat Bassa their Generall. 970 l. in a tumult at Constantinople. 1005 d. in an vprore with the Spahi. 1104 b. threaten the deposing of their Emperor. 1115 c. in mutinie at Constantinople.

1142 k

Iathatines Sultan of Iconium succeedeth his father Aladin. 86 i. besieging Antiochia, is slaine by Theodorus Lascaris the Greeke Emperour.

87 c

Iathatines the second of that name Sultan of Iconium, maketh great preparations against the Tartars. 109 b. ouerthrowne, flieth to the Greeke Emperour Theodorus for aid. e. maketh peace with the Tartars, and yeeldeth them a yearely tribute. 109 f. againe by them oppressed, flieth to Palaeologus the Emperour at Nice. 114 l. dieth in exile.

117 c

Ibrahim Bassa by Amurath made Gouernour of Caire. 980 l. oppresseth the people, and enricheth himselfe. 981 e. goeth against the Drusians. 982 g. spoileth the country of Man-Ogli the Drusian lord. 986 h. with fire and sword destroyeth the countrey of Seraphadin. 987 a. createth Aly Ebnecarfus Bassa of the Drusians. b. the rich presents by him giuen to Amurath and the ladies of the Court. 988 h. in danger to haue been taken. 1095 d. flieth out of the battell of Agria. 1097 [...]. sent againe Generall into Hungarie. 1104 l. commeth to Buda. 1112 h. purposing war, entreateth of peace. i. with a great armie besiegeth Canisia. 1131 b. hath the towne yeelded vnto him. 1132 b. his letters vnto Countie Serinus. 1133 b. returneth with his army to Belgrade. c dieth.

1134 l

Imailer what men they be among the Turks.

477 b

Imirza stirreth vp Solyman against his brother Tamas the Persian king. 751 d betrayed to his brother Tamas, and by him murthered in prison.

752 g

Innocencie of great force.

782 i

Iohn Batazes made Emperour of the Greeks in Asia. 97 d. taketh in many islands of the Aegeum, and for [...]ageth the countrey of Thracia euen to the gates of Constantinople, being very aged dieth.

108 g

Iohn Countie de Brenne by Innocentius the Pope appointed king of Ierusalem. 87 [...]. in derision called, Roy [...]ans ville.

88 g.

Iohn Castriot prince of Epirus for feare giueth his foure sonnes in hostage vnto Amurath.

260 l

Iohn Sepusius Vayuod of Transyluania chosen and crowned king of Hungarie. 605 a. after the battell of Toccay flieth into Polonia. 606 i. by Lascus his embassadour craueth aid of Solyman. 607 [...]. commeth to Solyman at Belgrade. 609 b. by him restored to the kingdome of Hungarie. 614 l. in his old yeares marrieth Isabella the daughter of king Sigismund. 695 d. dieth.

696 k

Don Iohn of Austria Generall of the con [...]ederat princes forces. 860 k. in a terrible fight encountreth with Haly Bassa in the battell of Lepanto. 881 b killeth him. c. delaieth the Venetians. 889 d. in doubt whether to send them aid or not. 890 k. sendeth word vnto the confederats to meet him at Zacynthus. 893 f. faileth them. 894 i. meeteth them at Corcyra. 895 a. offereth the Turks battell. d. refuseth to follow the counsell of the Venetian Admirall. 896 k. breaketh promise with him, and returneth to Messana.

901 a

Iohn the Vayuod of Moldauia falleth into suspition with the Turks. 906 g. his notable speech vnto his nobilitie and subiects concerning the Turks demaund. 907 a. in vaine craueth aid of the king of Polonia. 908 g. with a great slaughter ouerthroweth the Palatine and the Turks. 909 a. giueth the Turks a second ouerthrow. 910 b. betrayed by Czarnieuiche. 911. ouerthrowne by the Turks. 912 m. shamefully and perfidiously by them murthered.

913 e

Ionima, Ballabanus his brother and Hedar his sonne taken prisoners by Scanderbeg.

401 b

Ionuses Bassa sent against Techellis, putteth him to flight. 475 e. hurt at the winning of Caire. 545 f. enuieth at the vnworthie preferment of Cayerbeius. 554 l. is himselfe secretly hated of Selymus. 555 b. put to death.

556 i

Irene the faire Greeke beheaded by Mahomet the Great.

153 d

Isa after the captiuitie of his father Baiazet seizeth vpō the citie of Prusa. 232 b [...]punc; ouerthrowne in battell by his brother Mahomet. 238 i. with a great armie sent by his brother Solyman against Mahomet. 240 i. burneth Prusa. l. dieth in obscuritie.

241 c

[Page]Ismaell last of the Isfendiars yeeldeth his principalitie of Castamona and Sinope to Mahomet the Great.

359 f

Ishender Bassa ouerthrowne by Alaedeules, taken, and sent prisoner to Caytbeius to Caire.

383 f

Islan of a prisoner made a King.

975 e

Ismaell the sonne of King Tamas saluted King of Persia. 922 l. murthereth eight of his younger brethren, altereth the Persian religion, & tyranniseth. m. by the deuice of his sister Periaconcona himselfe murthered.

921 b

the Italians left by the Emperour for the aid of King Ferdinand in his wars in Hungarie arise in mutinie. 623 f. eight thousand of them forsake their captaines and returne into Italie.

625 d.

Iulia Gonzaga a faire ladie of Italie put in great feare by Barbarussa.

641 c

Iulian the Cardinall sent by Pope Viban to appease the dissention in Hungarie, and to stirre vp the Hungarians against the Turks. 275 d. his effectuall speech in parliament to persuade the warre. e. cunningly persuadeth King Vladislaus to breake the honourable and solemn league he had before made with Amurath. 290 k. disanulleth the league, absoluing the King and the rest from their oath before giuen to Amurath. 291 i. himselfe sl [...]ine.

298 k

K

K

the KIngdome of Hungarie by Solyman conuerted into a prouince of the Turkish Empire.

713 a

the Knights of Malta craue aid of Garzias the Viceroy of Sicilia. 805 a. his cold answere. b.

Komara besieged by Sinan Bassa.

1045 b.

Koppan surprised by the Christians.

1002 l.

L

L

LAdislaus a child crowned King of Hungarie at Alba Regalis.

263. a

Lazarus Despot of Seruia becommeth tributarie vnto Amurath the first. 193 e. purposing to make war against Amurath, craueth aid of the King of Bosna 197 c. in a mortall battell ouerthrowne in the plaines of Cossoua and slaine.

200 i

Lepanto yeelded to the Turks.

459 c

Lewis the eight of that name, the French King, making an expedition into the Holy land, is by the mallice of Emanuell the Greeke Emperour therein much hindered. 34 m. he besiegeth Damasco, where by the enuie of the other Christian princes he was enforced to raise his siege, and so to returne home into his countrey.

35 b

Lewis the ninth the French King making an expedition towards the Holy land arriueth at Damiata. 102 m. taketh the citie forsaken by the Turks. 113 h with his whole armie ouerthrowne, and himselfe taken prisoner. 115 e. vndertaketh a second expedition toward the Holy land with his sons and most of his nobilitie 118 k. ouerthroweth the Moores, and besiegeth Tunes. 119 a. falleth sicke of the bloudie flix, and dieth. b.

Lewis the eleuenth the French King giueth aid vnto the Venetians against the Turks.

461 c

Lewis King of Hungarie with an armie of fiue and twentie thousand fondly goeth against Solyman, being two hundred and sixtie thousand strong. 602 h. ouerthrown, in his flight drowned in a ditch.

603 a

Liscanus the couetous Spaniard dealeth vncou [...]teously with Perenus. 732 k. is himselfe in like sort serued and meerely stripped of his wealth by Halis captaine of the Ianizaries.

738 l

Lissa taken by the Turks, and the bones of Scanderbeg digged vp, and by them worne foriewels.

425 [...]

Lodronius encourageth his soldiors. 684. h ieasted at by an old souldior. k. slaine and his head with the heads of two other captaines in a siluer bason presented to Solyman at Constantinople.

685 [...].

M

M

MAhomet the first sendeth spies into Tamerlan his campe. 232 l. becommeth famous in Tamerlans Court. 234 i. in battell ouerthroweth his brother Isa. 238 i. honourably burieth the bodie of his father Baiazet at Prusa. l. againe ouerthroweth his brother Isa, supported by his brother Solyman. 240 m. giueth him a third ouerthrow, together with the other Mahometane princes his confederats. 241 c. besieged by his brother Solyman in Amasia. 242 i. vpon report of his brother Musa his euill gouernment, goeth against him into Europe. 246 k. ouerthrowne, flieth backe againe into Asia. 247 a. commeth againe into Europe. 248 g. besiegeth Hadrianople. h. ouerthroweth his brother Musa in battell, and causeth him being taken prisoner to be strangled. 249 c. wholly possesseth the Othoman kingdome both in Europe and Asia. d. oppresseth Orchanes his brother Solymans sonne, and putteth out his eyes. 250 h. taketh the Caramanian King and his sonne prisoners. k. enforceth the Valachian prince to become his tributarie. l. dieth at Hadrianople. 251 f. his death cunningly concealed by the three great Bassaes. 252 g. he worthily accounted the restorer of the Othoman kingdome, almost quite ouerthrowne by Tamerlan. l.

Mahomet the second, surnamed the Great, an Atheist, of no religion. 337 d murthereth his brethren. 338 g. reformeth the Turks commonweale. i. subdueth Mentesia. 339 b. winneth Constantinople. 347 b. solemniseth his feasts in Constantinople with the bloud of the Grecian nobilitie. 348 k. notably dissembleth his hatred against Cali Bassa. 349 d. first Emperour of the Turks. 350 i. amorous of the faire Greeke Irene. l. with his owne hand striketh off her head. 353 d. besiegeth Belgrade. 357 b. wounded and caried away for dead. 358 i. falsifieth his faith with Dauid the Emperour of Trapezon [...] ▪ [...] i. seeketh to entrap Wladus [...] of Valachia. 361 b. in danger to haue beene slaine by Wladus Dracula his Ganymede. 363 b. his letters to Scanderbeg. 384 k. sueth to Scanderbeg to haue the league renewed betwixt them. 390 h. commeth himselfe in person to the siege of Croia. 400 i. forsaketh the siege of Croia. 402 i. breaketh his faith with Paulus Ericus Gouernour of Chalcis. 406 i. he is no lesse troublesome vnto the Mahometane princes than to the Christians. 408 i. commeth himselfe to the siege of Scodra. 417 c. notably encourageth his captaines and souldiors to a generall assault. 418 m. melancholie for the repulse of his men. 420 l blasphemeth. 423 d. curseth Epirus, and so returneth to Constantinople. 425 [...]. by Mesites Palaelogus, one of his great Bassaes, besiegeth the Rhodes. 429 b. inuadeth Itali [...], and by Achmetes his great captain taketh Otranto. 432 i. going against the Caramanian King, dieth by the way at Geiuisen in Bythinia, not without suspition of poyson, and lieth buried at Conssantinople.

433 a

Mahometes one of the Visier Bassaes by the mutinous Ianizaries slaine.

437 c.

[Page]Mahomethes the sonne of Caytbeius with foure Sultans moe one after another slaine by the Mamalukes.

450 l

Mahometes Solymans sonne, disguised goeth to see his brother Achomates. 477 c as a sea-faring man commeth disguised to Constantinople, and so into his fathers Court. e. by the commaundement of his suspitious father poysoned, dieth.

478 i

Mahometes Gouernour of Belgrade aided by the other Sanzackes, maketh head against Cazzianer, Generall of King Ferdinands armie. 677 f. wisely refuseth battell offered him by Cazzianer, and by temporising, distresseth the armie of the Christians. 680 k. troubleth the Christians in their retreat. 682 g. giueth them a great ouerthrow. 684 l. commeth to the reliefe of Belgrade. 705 e. his vehement Oration vnto Solyman, to persuade him to take the kingdome of Hungarie into his owne hands, and so to vnite it vnto his own Empire.

711 c

Mahomet the Tartar King with his two sons strangled by Osman Bassa.

975 f

Mahamet Bassa in despight of Sinan sent Generall of his armie for the reliefe of his garrisons in Chars & Teflis. 957 [...] discomfited by the Georgians, and his prouision of money and victuals taken from him. 959 a. with [...] discomfited armie arriueth at [...]. b. his heauie Oration in the castle of Teflis. c. maketh a purse for the reliefe of the distressed garrison. 960. plotteth the death of Manucchiar the Georgian. m. himselfe in danger to haue been by the Georgian slaine.

961 d

Mahomet the third saluted Emperour of the Turks. 1056 i. murthereth his brethren, and causeth certaine of his fathers wiues and concubines to be drowned. k. with much adoe appeaseth the mutinous Ianizaries. l. sendeth embassadours vnto the Transyluanian prince. 1062. carefull of Strigonium, besieged by the Christians. 1066 h. perplexed. 1087 e. causeth the continuation of his wars against the Emperour and the Transyluanian to be proclaimed in Constantinople. 1089 a. commeth to Buda with an armie of two hundred thousand men. 1094 h. besiegeth Agria. l. furiously assaulteth it. 1095 a. hath it yeelded vnto him. 1096 h. with Ibrahim the great Bassa flieth out of the battell of Karesta. 1097 e. by the Transyluanians and Valachians troubled in his returne to Constantinople. 1098 m. his embassador euill intreated by the Persian King.

1134 h

the Mahometane princes of the lesser Asia oppressed by Baiazet, disguised, flie vnto Tamerlan for reliefe.

210 h

Malta described. 795 b. inuaded by the Turks.

796 k

Mamalukes the beginning of their kingdome in Aegipt. 524 g. their imperious gouernment in Aegipt, Iudea, and Syria. 523 c. their kingdome vtterly subuerted by Selymus. 554 h. the Mamalukes in prison at Alexandria, by the commaundement of Selymus murthered.

553 f

Manto cruelly slaine by her iealous husband Ionuses.

557 d

Man-Ogli his letters to Ibrahim Bassa. 983 f. sendeth him prisoner.

985 b

Manucchiar his speech to Mustapha the Visier Bassa. 931 f. with his brother Alexander by Mustapha sent to Amurath. 938 h. turneth Turke, and hath his elder brothers principalitie giuen him. 941 l. in danger to haue been betraied by Mahamet Bassa. 960 l. notably reuengeth himselfe of the trecherie by the Bassa intended against him. 961 c. reuolteth from the Turks, and doth them great harme.

667 a.

Marquesse S. Crucis taketh one of the Turks gallies in sight of their whole fleet.

897 d

the Massage [...]s entertained by Andronicus against the Turks, spoile his countries in Asia. 149 e. in their returne homeward, themselues spoiled by the Catalonians and Turcopuli.

152 l

Masut the Sultan of Iconium deuideth his kingdome amongst his three sons.

36 k

Matthias the Archduke, the Emperours lieutenant taketh Nouigrad from the Turks. 1030 l. besiegeth Strigonium. 1033 c. raiseth his siege. 1037 d. shamefully put to flight by the Turks.

1043 b.

Matthias Coruinus of a prisoner chosen K. of Hungarie. 394 k. at the request of the Senat taketh a great part of the Venetian territorie into his protection against the Turks. 394 m. relieueth the Vayuod of Transyluania. 426 m. no lesse dreadfull vnto the Turks than was his father Huniades.

404 l

Maximilian chosen King of the Romans, and after crowned King of Hungarie. 789 a. he and Solyman both desirous of peace. 829 a. he sendeth embassadors to Solyman. f. presents giuen by the embassadours vnto the Bassa of Buda. 830 k. his embassadours honorably receiued by the Turks at Constantinople. 831 c. presents giuen by the embassadours vnto the great Bassaes. e. presents sent to Selymus. 832 i a homely feast giuen to the embassadours followers in the Turks Court. 833 c. the embassadours brought in vnto Selymus, with the manner of the entertainement of them and their followers. 834 g. a peace concluded betwixt Maximilian and Selymus.

835 c.

Maximilian the Archduke by the Emperour his brother appointed Generall of his armie in Hungarie. 1093 c. marcheth but slowly to the reliefe of Agria. 1095 c. flieth out of the battell of Karesta.

1098 i

Maylat trecherously taken prisoner by Peter the Moldauian.

716 i

Meligalus a notable traitour persuadeth Mahomet to besiege the Rhodes. 427 c his worthie death. [...].

Meledin Sultan of Aegipt, and Corradin Sultan of Damasco, send embassadors for peace to the Christian princes at the siege of Damiata. 90 m. recouereth Damiata, before taken by the Christians. 95 e. ouerthroweth the Christians and raseth Ierusalem. 101. dieth.

103 c

Melechsala Sultan of Aegipt ouerthroweth Robert Earle of Arthoise the French kings brother. 104 l. taketh Lewis the French King prisoner, and ouerthroweth his armie. 105 e. maketh peace with the French King, and is suddenly slain by two Mamalukes.

106.

Melech the Aegiptian Sultan inuadeth Syria, and winneth Damasco from the Tartars.

114

Melechsares the Aegiptian Sultan determining to root out all the Christians in Syria and the land of Palestine, is by sudden death taken away.

122 k

Melechsala, Sultan of Damasco, by the treason of his nobilitie dispossessed of his kingdome.

58 m

Mesites Bassa sent by Amurath to inuade Transyluania. 267 f. he with twentie thousand Turks moe slaine by Huniades.

269 e

Michaell Ducas the Greeke Emperour by Nicephorus Botoniates deposed of his Empire, after he had raigned six years and six months.

11 [...]

Michaell Palaeologus flieth to the Sultan of Iconium. 109 a. called home again by the Emperour Theodorus, and made great Constable. f. aspireth, and by common consent made tutor vnto the young Emperour. 111 e. himselfe proclaimed Emperour and crowned. 112 b by Alexius Caesar his lieutenant surpriseth Constantinople. 115 e. repaireth the decaied citie. 116 h. causeth the young Emperours eyes to be put out. 117 a. his armie ouerthrowne by [Page] a homely feast giuen to the embassadours followers in the Turks Court. 833 c. the embassadours brought in vnto Selymus, with the manner of the entertainement of them and their followers. 834 g. a peace concluded betwixt Maximilian and Selymus.

835 c.

Maximilian the Archduke by the Emperour his brother appointed Generall of his armie in Hungarie. 1093 c. marcheth but slowly to the reliefe of Agria. 1095 c. flieth out of the battell of Karesta.

1098 i.

Maylat trecherously taken prisoner by Peter the Moldauian.

716 i

Meligalus a notable traitour persuadeth Mahomet to besiege the Rhodes. 427 c his worthie death. e.

Meledin Sultan of Aegipt, and Corradin Sultan of Damasco, send embassadors for peace to the Christian princes at the siege of Damiata. 90 m. recouereth Damiata, before taken by the Christians. 95 e. ouerthroweth the Christians and raseth Ierusalem. 101. dieth.

103 c

Melechsala Sultan of Aegipt ouerthroweth Robert Earle of Arthoise the French kings brother. 104 l. taketh Lewis the French King prisoner, and ouerthroweth his armie. 105 e. maketh peace with the French King, and is suddenly slain by two Mamalukes.

106.

Melech the Aegiptian Sultan inuadeth Syria, and winn [...]th Damasco from the Tartars.

114

Melechsares the Aegiptian Sultan determining to root out all the Christians in Syria and the land of Palestine, is by sudden death taken away.

122 k

Melechsala, Sultan of Damasco, by the treason of his nobilitie dispossessed of his kingdome.

58 m

Mesites Bassa sent by Amurath to inuade Transyluania. 267 f. he with twentie thousand Turks moe slaine by Huniades.

269 e

Michaell Ducas the Greeke Emperour by Nicephorus Botoniates deposed of his Empire, after he had raigned six years and six months.

11 c

Mi [...]haell Palaeologus flieth to the Sultan of Iconium. 109 a. called home again by the Emperour Theodorus, and made great Constable. f. aspireth, and by common consent made tutor vnto the young Emperour. 111 [...]. himselfe proclaimed Emperour and crowned. 112 h by Alexius Caesar his lieutenant surpriseth Constantinople. 115 c. repaireth the decaied citie. 116 h. causeth the young Emperours eyes to be put out. 117 a. his armie ouerthrowne by the Turks in Paphlagonia. 118 g. submitteth the Greeke church vnto the Latine, and for what cause. 144 l. persuadeth his subiects to accept of the alteration of their religion and ceremonies. 145 a. raiseth persecution in the Greeke Church. c. hindered by domesticall troubles, hath no leisure to attend vnto the danger arising from the Turks in Asia. d. obscurely buried. e.

Michaell Cossi by Othoman taken prisoner, by him again set at liberty. 136 m father of the honourable familie of the Michaell-Oglies among the Turks. 137 a. discouereth vnto Osman the treason intended against him. 140 l. enforced rather than persuaded by Othoman, turneth Turke.

144 b

Michaell the yong Emperour ouerthrown by the Catalonians and Turks, in danger to haue been taken. 152 k. againe ouerthrowne by the Turks at Chersonesus.

155 [...]

Michaell Horwat by Amurath created Vayuod of [...]alachia. 1051 a. persuaded by the Transyluanian prince, reuolteth from the Turke, and killeth all the Turks and Iewes in his countrey. 1052 h. killeth one of the Turks proud Emirs with all his followers. 1053 b. doth the Turks great harme. c. suffereth the Turks embassadours vnto the King of Polonia by his subiects to be slaine. 1060 k. spoileth the Turks frontiers. 1061 a. yeeldeth his obeisance againe vnto the Turke, yet refuseth to aid him against the Christians. 1099 d. wearie of the Turk, submitteth himselfe with his people to the Emperours protection. 1100 l. sacketh Nicopolis. 1107 d. with a great armie entreth into Transyluania. 1112 l in a great battell ouerthroweth the Cardinall Bathor. 1113 c. sendeth his head for a present to the Emperour. s. hath the gouernment of Transyluania by the Emperour confirmed vnto him. 1120 i. receiueth presents from the Turke. l. in a great battell ouerthroweth Sigismund the late Transyluanian prince, with the Vayuod of Moldauia. 1122 i. tyranniseth in Transyluania. 1123 a. enforced by the Transyluanians to flie, craueth aid of George Basta the Emperors lieutenant in the vpper Hungarie. b. by Basta and the Transyluanians in a great battell ouerthrowne at Mirislo. 1126 h. reconcileth himselfe to Basta. 1127 a. for feare of being betraied vnto the Polonians, taketh his flight into the mountains. d. by Zamoschie the great Chancelour driuen out of Valachia, and another Vayuod there placed in his stead. 1128 h. submitteth himselfe vnto the Emperor. 1139 b. returning into Valachia, giueth aid vnto Bassa against Sigismund the Transyluanian. 1140 g. hauing with Bas [...]a driuē the prince out of Transyluania, with great insolencie vseth his victorie. k. his presumptuous speech to Bas [...]a. l. suddenly slaine in his owne tent.

1141 a.

the Miserie of the captiue Constantinopolitanes.

348 h

Mitylene yeelded vnto the Turke.

364 g

Modon taken by the Turks.

460 g

Moses Golemus corrupted, reuolteth vnto the Turke. 372 h. with an armie of the Turks by Mahomet sent into Epirus against Scanderbeg. k. ouercome & put to [...]light by Scanderbeg. 374 g contemned of the Turks, flieth from Constantinople, & againe submitteth himselfe to Scanderbeg. m. he with diuers others of Scanderbegs best captaines by Ballabanus taken prisoners, and by Mahomet slaine quicke.

396 i

Muhamet and Partan, two of the Visier Bassaes, by the insolent Ianizaries [...]oulely entreated. 823 f. Muhamet for feare of them for a time refraineth to come into the Diu [...]no. 824 g. dissuadeth Selymus from the inuading of Cyprus. 839 b. as a secret friend vnto the Venetians putteth them in hope of peace. 857 b. cunningly dissuadeth Selymus from the massacring of the Christians, filling his head with more necessarie considerations. 886 h. strangely murthered.

950 l

Mu [...]easses King of Tunes cruell and vnthankefull. 642 g. for feare of Barbarussa slieth out of Tunes. 643 c. sumptuous in his fare. 745 d. commeth to Charles the Emperour. 661 d his speech vnto the Emperour. c. his behauiour. 662 h. his opinion concerning the present warre. l. three things by him especially lamented, in the spoile made by the Christians in the castle of Tunes. 668 h. fearing the comming of Barbarussa, departeth from Tunes into Italie, to craue aid of Charles the Emperour. 745 c. shut out of his kingdome in the meane time by his sonne Amida. e. returneth into [...]ffricke to Guletta. 746 g. going to Tunes, is by the way ouerthrown, takē prisoner, and hath his eyes put out by his vnnaturall son. 747 d. at the request of Touares is sent to Guletta. 748 l. by Charles the Emperour sent into Sicilie, there to be kept of the common charge. 749 b. refuseth to kisse the Popes soot. c.

[Page]Mustapha Bassa persuadeth Solyman to the besieging of the Rhodes. 569 c. vpon the euill successe of the siege falleth into disgrace with Solyman. 585 c. in danger with Pyrrhus Bassa to haue beene executed. 588 k. made Gouernour of Caire. 589 d. by Solyman sent as Generall of his armie to Malta. 794 l. landeth at the port Marza Siroc in the isle of Malta. 796 k. besiegeth the castle S. Elmo. 797 a. assaulteth the castle. e. in vain giueth a second assault. 798 g. with losse assaulteth it the third time. m. in most furious manner battereth it by the space of eighteene dayes, and assaulteth it the fourth time. 799 c. with great furie giueth the fift and most terrible assault vnto the castle. 801 a. with all his power giueth the sixt and last assault. 802 i. winneth the castle. 803 a. exerciseth most barbarous crueltie vpon the bodies of the slaine knights. b. in vaine assaulteth the castle S. Michael. 809 c. at one time assaulteth the new citie and the castle S. Michael. 810 i. he by messengers certifieth Solyman of the successe of the siege. 811 a. leaueth nothing vnattempted. 812 i. at once assaulteth the townes S. Angelo and S. Michael, and in both places notably repulsed. 813 a. giueth a fresh assault and ent [...]reth the new citie. 814 g. with a great slaughter driuen out againe. i. desperately assaulteth the towne of S. Michaell. 815 c. repulsed, raiseth his siege. 817 a. put to flight by the Christians. c. hauing lost about foure and twentie thousand of his Turkes at the siege, departeth from Malta. d. he with Piall Bassa impugneth the counsell of Muhamet, the chiefe of the Visie [...] Bassaes, and persuadeth Selymus to inuade Cyprus. 839 c. for his hatred against the Christians made Generall of his armie for the inuasion of Cyprus. 846 g. his letters vnto the Venetians in the isle of Cyprus. i. he landeth his armie in Cyprus. m. besiegeth Nicosia. 848 c. in vaine persuadeth them of Nicosia to yeeld. 850 k. he encourageth his souldiors, and giueth a most terrible assault. 851 a. winneth the citie. e. besiegeth Famagusta. 852. raiseth his siege. b. returneth againe to the siege. 862 m. after many assaults hath the citie by composition yeelded vnto him. 866 m. shamefully and contrarie to his faith before giuen murthereth the valiant Gouernor Bragadinus. 867 b tyranniseth vpon his dead bodie. d. by Amurath made Generall of his army against the Persians. 929 d. commeth to Erzirum. e. mustereth his armie, in number an hundred and ten thousand strong. 930 g. relieueth his souldiors distressed by the Persians. 931 c. maketh a bulwarke of the heads of the slaine Persians. d. he surueyeth his armie at Archichelec, and lacketh fortie thousand of his men. 932 k. forti [...]ieth Teflis. 933 a. looseth ten thousand of his forragers. 934 h. reuengeth their death. l. his notable answere vnto his mutinous souldiours. 935 b. looseth eight thousand of his men in passing the riuer Cannac. c. famine in his hoast. e. he fortifieth Eres. 936 g. sendeth Osman Bassa to take in Sumachia and Derbent. h. relieueth his distressed garrison at Teflis. m. his armie in great miserie in passing the straits of Georgia. 937 c. commeth to Erzirum, and dischargeth his armie. 938 g. maketh preparation for the next yeares warres. 942 k. assembleth his armie at Erzirum. 943 d. in three and twentie daies fortifieth Chars. f. sendeth succours to Teflis. 944 c. returneth to Erzirum, & there dischargeth his armie. 945 d. discharged of his Generallship, and called home to Constantinople. 946 l. maligned by Sinan. 949 a. dealeth warily with the messengers sent of purpose to haue strangled him. d. appeaseth the displeasure of Amurath. e. dieth suddenly.

952 k

Mustapha, Solyman his eldest sonne, in great estimatiō with the people. 757 b sent Gouernour into Caramania. d. maligned by Roxolana. e. in danger to haue been poysoned. 760 k. sent for by his father, & warned of his present danger. e. conferreth with his doctor. 762 g. troubled with his melancholie dreame. k. commeth to his fathers tent. 763 a. in the sight of his father most cruelly strangled. c. his son Mahomet strangled also. d. a prouerbe taken from his death.

765 c

Mutius Tortona a Spanish captaine raiseth a mutinie in the Christian fleet at Paxo. 873 c. Tortona and his Ancient hanged. d.

Muzalo by Theodorus the Emperour appointed Gouernour to his young sonne Iohn. 100 g. enuied by the nobilitie, is traiterously murthered in the Church.

111 a

N

N

NAupactum, otherwise called Lepanto, in vaine besieged by the Turks. 413 b. yeelded to Baiazet.

459 c.

Neapolis the first regall citie of the Othoman kings.

143 b

Negligence seuerely punished.

856 g

Neocastron built by Mahomet the Great.

339 d.

Neritos, now called S. Maura, taken by the Venetians.

462 k

Nice taken by the Turks. 142 k. recouered by the Christians. 180 g. againe surprised by the Turks. 181 c. by Orchanes made the regall seat of his kingdome.

183 e

Nicholaus Catalusius prince of Mitylene turneth Turke, and is executed.

364 k

Nicholas Keretschen corrupted, betrayeth Giula to the Turks. 824 i. the traitor iustly rewarded. k.

Nicephorus Botoniates displaceth his master the Emperor Michaell Ducas, and taketh vpon him the Empire.

11 e

Nicomedia yeelded vnto the Turks.

183 c

Nouigrade yeelded vnto the Christians.

1030 l.

O

O

OThoman of greater courage and spirit than his other brethren, the sonnes of old Ertogrul. 135 d. amorous of Malhatun a countrey maid. f. in danger for his loue. 136 k. by generall consent chosen Gouernour of the Oguzian Turks. 137 d. surpriseth the castle of Calce. 138 h. fighteth a battell with the Christians at Opsicium. k. winneth the castle of Cara-Chisar, and killeth the captaine. m. setteth in order his little commonweale. 139 c. killeth the captaine of Cupri-Chisar. e. his death contriued by the captaine of Bilezuga. 140 i. turneth the trecherie deuised against himselfe vpon the head of the captaine that deuised it, whom he killeth, and surpriseth his castle. 141 e. surpriseth the castle of Iar-Chisar. e. taketh the castle of Einegioll, and cruelly executeth the captaine. 142 g. by the good administration of iustice strengthneth his gouernment. h. taketh the citie of Nice. k. taketh vpon him the honour of a King or Sultan. 143 a. maketh Neapolis his regall seat. b. in a great battell ouerthroweth the Christians. 143 c. besiegeth Prusa. d. whilest the Greekes are at discord among themselues, layeth the foundation of the great Othoman empire that now is. 162 g. 166 k. dieth, and lieth buried at Prusa. 177 a. the wealth he left vnto his sons Orchanes and Aladin.

179 c

[Page]Orchanes, his father Othoman yet liuing, manageth the Turks kingdome. 179 [...]. surpriseth the castle of Tzupri-Chisar. 180 g. fighteth a doubtfull battell with Andronicus the Greeke Emperour at Philocrene. m. surpriseth Nice. 181 e. hath Nicomedia yeelded vnto him. 183 c. committeth the gouernement thereof vnto his son Solyman. c. first of the Turks that built monasteries. e. subdueth the countrey of Carasina. 184 h. dieth.

187 b

Orchanes & Mahometes two of Baiazet his nephewes ouerthrowne by Chelife and Techellis the rebels.

471 c

Osman Bassa by Mustapha made Gouernour of Siruan, taketh Sumachia. 936 h. hath Derbent yeelded vnto him. i. by the Persian prince driuen out of Sumachia, flieth to Derbent. 940 h. killeth Sahamall his father in law. 941 d. is by Amurath sent for into Siruan. 974 h. laid in wait for by Mahomet the Tartar king. 975 b. ouercommeth the Tartars lying in wait for him. c. by Amurath made chiefe Visier and Generall of his wars against the Persians. 976 k. raiseth a great armie. 989 c. wisely appeaseth his mutinous souldiors, vnwilling to goe for Tauris. 990 g. commeth to Tauris. 991 b. taketh the citie. e. in thirtie daies buildeth there a strong castle. 992 i. giueth the citie to be spoiled by his souldiors. k. leaueth Giaffer the Eunuch Bassa of Tripolis with a garrison of twelue thousand souldiors gouernour of Tauris. 994 i. dieth. 995 c. much lamented for at Constantinople.

996 h

P

P

PAlaeapolis by Sultan Aladin giuen to Othoman.

138 l

Palotta yeelded to the Turks.

1025 d

Pantogles with the Turks fleet commeth to the siege of Constantinople. 342 l. displaced.

344 k

Paphlagonia and Pontus, with a great part of Cappadocia woon by Mahomet the Great.

360 l

Partan the Visier Bassa sent by Solyman against the supposed Mustapha, bringeth him to Constantinople. 769 e. sent by Solyman to haue brought Baiazet to Amasia, is by him with good words sent backe againe. 773 [...]. standeth indifferent for giuing or not giuing of battell vnto the Christians at Lepanto. 875 [...]. encourageth his souldiors. 876 i. flieth himselfe out of the battell.

879 c

Paradiser executed for yeelding vp of Canisia vnto the Turks.

1133 e

Peace concluded betwixt king Vladislaus and Amurath the second. 289 b. by the persuasion of Iulian the Cardinall vnfortunately broken by Vladislaus.

295 d.

Peace concluded betwixt Mahomet and Scanderbeg. 386 i. betwixt Baiazet and Caytheius. 450 i. betwixt Baiazet and the Venetians. 463 a. betwixt the Venetians and Solyman. 694 l. betwixt the Venetians and Selymus the second. 904 k. betwixt Amurath the third and Mahomet the Persian king.

1005 b

Pelopon [...]sus described. 353 e. made tributarie to the Turke. 354 h. subdued by the Turks.

355 e

Pera yeelded vnto the Turks.

349 c

Perenus the noble Hungarian vpon the suspition of aspiring, apprehended. 732 k. matters surmised against him. 733 a. he, Valentinus, and Maylat, three of the chiefe of the Hungarian nobilitie vnworthily kept in perpetuall prison.

734 b

Persecution in the Greeke church for matters of Religion.

145 c

Persians better horsemen than the Turks.

517 b.

Pe [...]th taken by Cason Admirall of the Turks fleet vpō the Danubius. 709 a. besieged by the marquesse of Brandenburg. 729 e. in vaine assaulted. 731 c. the siege giuen ouer. 732 h. taken by the Christians.

1146 e

Peter a French Hermit going on pilgrimage to Ierusalem, obserueth the miserie of the Christians vnder the Turks and Sarasins. 12 l. in the counsell of Claremont deliuereth his message in the behalfe of the poore oppressed Christians. 14 g. he with Gualter Sensauier the first that set forward in the great expedition of the Christians into the Holy land. 14 k. looseth greatest part of his armie. 15 d. discouraged, about to haue stolne home, brought back, and enforced to take anew oath for his fidelitie and perseuerance in the warre.

18 k

Peter Damboyse Grand Master of the Rhodes a carefull Gouernour. 427 e. his cheerefull speech vnto the rest of his knights and souldiors.

428 h

Peter Emus for his barbarous crueltie beheaded at Venice.

978 l

Petralba yeelded to Scanderbeg.

285 d

Petrella yeelded.

285 c

Petrinia taken by the Christians.

1074 k

Philaretus the Greeke Emperours lieutenant put to flight by the Turks.

8 l

Philadelphia taken by Baiazet.

204 b

Philes a deuout man, but no souldior, vndertaketh the de [...]nce of the Greeke Empire against the Turks. 156 i. in plaine battell ouerthroweth them.

157 c.

Philip the second of that name the French king in going towards the Holy land, suffereth shipwracke vpon the coast of Sicilia. 68 i. arriueth at Ptolemais. m. his speech vnto Richard king of England and the other Christian princes in his sickenesse. 70 i. he sweareth vnto King Richard, not to inuade his territories in France, and so returneth home. k.

Phocas by killing of Mauritius the Emperour with his children, possesseth himselfe of the Greeke Empire. 22 g. slaine afterwards by them of his owne guard. g.

Piall Bassa Solymans Admirall sent to remooue the Christians out of Zerbi. 784 h. in disgrace with Solyman, shunneth to come to Constantinople. 787 a. by Selymus the second sent against the Venetians. 845 e. in vaine attempteth the island of Tenos.

846 g.

Pisaurius the Venetian Admirall doth very great harme vnto the Turkes.

460 l.

Plague and famine among the Turks.

1060 m.

Plague in the Venetian fleet.

849 a

Polinus the French embassadour with presents from Francis the French king, meeteth Solyman comming from Buda. 725 d. his request to Solyman. e. returneth into Fraunce. 726 g. sent backe againe to Solyman, by the way solliciteth the Venetians to take vp armes against Charles the Emperor. h. grieued, not to find the Turke so readie to send his fleet in the aid of the King his master as he had before hoped. m. is sharply shaken vp by Solyman Bassa. 727 c. brought to the speech of Solyman himselfe. 728 i. by him reiected vntill the next Spring. k. setteth forward with Barbarussa and the Turks fleet. 735 a. by his letters from Ostia comforteth the Popes Legat in Rome. d.

Podolia and Ruscia inuaded by the Turks.

457 a

the Pope and the King of Spaine fearing least the Venetians should make peace with the Turke, hasten their confederation with that State, long before by them delaied. 859 a. a perpetuall league concluded betwixt the Pope, the King of Spaine, and the Venetians. 860 h. the league proclaimed. m.

[Page]the Popes letters vnto the king of Polonia, to dissuade him from inuading of Moldauia, to the trouble of the Transyluanian prince.

1081 b

Preianes commeth to the Rhodes.

581 c

Presents of great valour sent by the Persian king vnto Selymus.

837 f

Prince Ciarcan slaine.

219 b

Princes of Germanie ioyne their forces with king Ferdinand against the Turke in Hungarie.

728 l

Prusa yeelded vnto the Turks. 176 l. burnt by Isa. 240 l. repaired by Mahomet. 241 a. againe burnt by the Caramanian king.

249 f

Q

Q

QVeene Isabella with child. 695 e. deliuered of a sonne. 696 i. that sonne by the name of Stephen crowned king of Hungarie. 697 a. her answer vnto the embassadour of king Ferdinand, demanding of her the kingdome of Hungarie. 699 d. inuaded by king Ferdinand, craueth aid of Solyman. 701 b. by the commaundement of Solyman departeth with her young sonne out of Buda. 713 e. yeeldeth vp to king Ferdinand all the right she had in Transyluania & Hungaria.

756 h

Quinque Ecclaesiae yeelded vnto the Turks

736 h.

Qumsay in the prouince of Mangi, of all the cities in the world the greatest.

75 f

R

R

RAb besieged by Sinan Bassa. 1041 b. battered and assaulted. 1044 h. by treason yeelded vnto the Bassa. l. notably againe surprised by the Christians.

1103 b

Rama forsaken of the Turks.

21 l

Ramadan Bassa slaine by the insolent Ianizaries.

978 m

Rayschachius for sorrow of his sonne slain by the Turks, suddenly dieth.

760 k

Rhodes by the knights hospitalers recouered from the Turks in the year 1308.162 h. besieged by Mesites Palaeologus. 428 l. for feare of the Turks the Rhodians destroy their suburbes and places of pleasure without the citie. 578 l. the Rhodes described. 581 d. besieged by Solyman. 584 g. in fiue places at once by the Turks assaulted. 587 b. the distressed estate of the Rhodians, and their resolution therein. 592 g. the Rhodes yeelded vnto Solyman.

600 i

Richard the first, king of England, setteth forward toward the Holy land. 68 h. reuengeth the iniuries done to him by the Cypriots, & taketh prisoner Isaack Comnenus their king. 69 a. arriueth at Ptolemais. c. causeth all the Turks his prisoners in the sight of Saladins armie to be executed. 71 a. giueth Cyprus to Guy in exchange for the titular kingdome of Ierusalem. f. with great slaughter ouerthroweth Saladin in plaine battell. 72 h. returning homeward, taken prisoner by Leopold duke of Austria.

73 b

Rodolp the Emperour prayeth aid of the Germane princes against the Turks. 1017 c. his embassadour shut vp close in his house at Constantinople. 1018 l. his letters to Amurath. 1019 a. his letters to Sinan Bassa. d. presented with the spoile of the Turks ouerthrow at Alba Regalis. 1029 b. requesteth aid of the great▪ duke of Muscouia, the king of Polonia, and of the prince of Transyluania. 1031 b. holdeth a Diet of the Empire at Ratisbone for the withstanding of the Turks. 1038 m. receiueth aid from the Pope, the king of Spaine, and the princes of Italie.

1134 k

Robert duke of Normandie by generall cōsent chosen king of Ierusalem, which honour he refuseth.

22 f

Robert sonne of Peter fourth Emperour of the Latines in Constantinople. 96 l goeth to Rome, and in his return dieth in Achaia.

97 a

Rogendorff his name terrible vnto the Turks. 613 e. with king Ferdinands armie entereth into Hungarie, and besiegeth Buda. 702 i. threateneth the queene. k. derided by the bishop. l. in vaine assaulteth Buda. 703 d. in raising of his siege by night receiueth a great ouerthrow. 708 k. conueyed vp the riuer to Komara, there dieth.

709 b.

Ronzerius, sometime a notable pyrat, entertained by Andronicus the Emperour against the Turks. 150 k. relieueth Philadelphia. l. for lacke of pay spoileth the Emperours territories in Asia. 151 a. suddenly slaine. c.

Roscetes riseth against his brother Muleasses king of Tunes. 642 l. flieth to Barbarussa, and by him carried to Constantinople.

643 a

Rouerius robbeth Dautius, Baiazet the great Turks embassadour to Pope Alexander.

451 e

Roxolana conspireth with Rustan Bassa against the noble Mustapha, and faineth her selfe religious. 758 g. sent for by Solyman, refuseth to come. i. plotteth the confusion of Mustapha. 759 f bringeth him into suspition with his father. 760 g. she with Rustan put Solyman in feare of his life and Empire by his sonne Mustapha. 761 a. loueth her younger sonne Baiazet better than her eldest sonne Selymus. 768 g entreateth Solyman for Baiazet, and obtaineth his pardon. 770 i. comforteth him going in feare vnto his father.

771 a

Rustan Bassa a man of a mischieuous nature. 757 e. furthereth the deuices of Roxolana for the destruction of the noble Mustapha. 760 g. sent by Solyman with an armie into Asia, to haue taken or slaine Mustapha. 761 c. returneth in hast, and with false suggestions stirreth vp Solyman himselfe against his sonne. d. his exceeding trecherie at the comming of Mustapha to his fathers campe. 762 i. disgraced by Solyman, flieth to Roxolana at Constantinople. 765 a. by her meanes restored againe vnto his former honours, dieth afterwards of a dropsie.

765 e.

S

S

SAhib after the death of Sultan Aladin his master taking vpon him the gouernment, is by the nobilitie thrust out, and the Tinks kingdome in Asia rent in sunder amongst them.

127 c

Sahamall the Georgian cutteth off the head of Aider. 922 i. submitteth himselfe to Mustapha the great Bassa. 936 k. slaine by Osman Bassa his sonne in law.

941 d

Saladin the Turke chosen Sultan of Aegipt killeth the Caliph [...] and all his posteritie. 57 e. inuadeth the kingdome of Ierusalem, & by Baldwin suddenly sallying out of Ascalon ouerthrowne. 59 d. besiegeth Beritus both by sea and land, taketh Edessa and Carras. 60 l. spoileth the holy land at his pleasure. 61 c. in vaine besiegeth Ptolemais. 63. b. besiegeth Tiberias, and by the treason of the countie of Tripolis ouerthroweth G [...]y the king, comming to the reliefe thereof, and taketh him prisoner. 63 e. winneth Ierusalem with all the other cities and townes in the holy land, except Tripolis, Tire, and Antioch. 64 g. besiegeth Tire, and with the losse of his best souldiors and of his tents retireth. l. taketh Antioch, with all the prouinces and townes thereunto belonging. 65 a. putteth to death the Christian captiues. 71 a. dieth, and forbiddeth any funerall pompe to be vsed at his buriall.

73 c

[Page]Saluagus a worthie knight.

797 c

Salazar a Spanish captaine goeth as a spie into the Turks campe at the siege of Malta.

811 d

Sanguin the Turke ouerthroweth king Fulke, comming to the reliefe of the castle of Mont Ferand, and hath the castle yeelded vnto him. 30 h. taketh Edessa, and there vseth all manner of crueltie against the Christians. 31 a. besieging Cologenbar, is there stabbed by one of his own friends, and slain. b.

Sarmentus slaine.

691 d

Sarugatin Osmans brother slain, and accounted of the Turks for a saint.

138 k

Scanderbeg with his brethren by their father Iohn Castriot giuen in hostage vnto Amurath. 260 l. wisely dissembleth his desire for the deliuerie of himselfe and his countrey. 283 d. by great pollicie recouereth the citie of Croia out of the hands of the Turks. 284 i. hath the strong cities of Epirus yeelded vnto him. 285 c. spoyleth Macedonia. 287 c. in a great battell ouerthroweth Alis Bassa with two and twentie thousand of his Turks. 288 l. going to the aid of king Vladislaus, is by the faithlesse Despot denied passage through Seruia. 295 b. spoileth the Despots countrey, and so returneth into Epirus. 299 c. his resolute answere vnto Amurath his melancholie letters. 301 d. putteth Ferises to flight. 302 l. ouerthroweth Mustapha the second time, and taketh him prisoner. 313 b. carefully setteth all things in order against the comming of Amurath. 314 g. his effectuall speech vnto the souldiours and citisens of Sfetigrade to encourage them against the comming of the Turke. 315 b. cunningly entrappeth some of the forerunners of Amuraths armie. 316 l. troubleth his great campe. 319 a. with his owne hand killeth Feri Bassa. 320 g. troubleth Amurath his great armie at the siege of Croia. 324 l. in danger to haue been slaine or taken. m. deceiueth Mahomet the young prince in his own deuice. 326 h. flieth by night into Epirus. 371 c. his answer by letters vnto the letters of Mahomet. 385 c. his answer vnto Mahomets letters concerning the r [...]n [...]ing of the league. 391 a. in danger. 398 h. Scanderbeg dieth. 402 m. buried at Lissa. 403 a. his bones digged vp by the Turks, and of them greatly honoured.

404 h

Scodra besieged by Solyman Bassa. 411 e. relieued by Matthias king of Hungarie. 412 h. a yearely fee appointed by Mahomet to one, to put him daily in mind of the siege of Scodra. i. Scodra the second time besieged by Mahomet the great. 415 e. sore battered. 418 i. the fourth time assaulted. 419 e. twelue thousand Turks slaine in this last assault. 420 m. most furiously the fift time assaulted by the Turks. 421. by composition yeelded vnto the Turk.

426 k.

the Scriuano rebelleth against the Turke in Caramania, and giueth Mehemet Bassa a notable ouerthrow. 1134 g. in a great battell ouerthroweth him againe the next yeare with an armie of fiftie thousand Turks. 1142 h. hauing ouerrun a great part of the Turks dominions in Asia, dieth. 1150 g. his younger brother steppeth vp in his stead, and in a great battell ouerthroweth Hassan Bassa, and killeth him.

1150 h

Selymus ambitious and of a turbulent spirit, and therefore of the Ianizaries and men of warre better beloued than his other brethren. 478 l. aided by Mahometes the Tartar king, riseth against his aged father. 479 b. coloureth his rebellious purpose with the inuasion of Hungarie. 480 g. marcheth with his armie towards Had [...]ianople. 481 e. in a great battell ouerthrowne and put to flight by his father Baiazet at Tzurulum. 486 h. by the persuasion of the Bassaes by his father sent for home. 491 c. chosen Generall by his father to go against his rebellious brother Achomates, is by and by after by the Ianizaries saluted Emperour. 494 g. causeth his father to be poysoned. 495 d. putteth three of his fathers pages to death, for mourning for their master. 496 h. bountifully rewardeth the souldiours of the Court. 499 c. murthereth fiue of his brothers sonnes. 500 g. causeth Corcutus his brother to be strangled. 502 h. treason intended against him, discouered. 503 a. craueth aid of Aladeules and the other mountaine princes against the Persians. 507 c. Selymus perplex ed. 508 i. receiueth great losse in passing the riuer Euphrates. 513 c. he and Hysmaell compared together. 515 d. Selymus with a great armie entereth into Armenia, and taketh Ciamassum a city of the Persian kings 518 k. vanquisheth Aladeules the mountaine king, putteth him to death, and conuerteth his kingdome into the forme of a prouince. 520 l. inuadeth Hungarie. 521 b. sendeth his embassadours with presents to Campson the Aegiptian Sultan. 525 f. encourageth his souldiors to go against the Mamalukes. 526 h. passeth the mountaine Amanus, and commeth into Comagena. l. in the battell of Sing a ouerthroweth the Mamalukes. 530 g. in doubt least Sinan Bassa had been lost, becommeth exceeding melancholie. 536 k. meeteth with Sinan Bassa at Gaza. 537 c. passeth the sandie desarts, and meeteth with Tomombeius at Rhodanus. 538 c. giueth him battell and putteth him to flight. 540 m. encourageth his souldiors to the winning of Caire. 544 l. fighteth a great and mortall battell with the Mamalukes in the citie of Caire. 545 b. causeth the citie to be set on fire. e. putteth Tomombeius and the Mamalukes to flight, and so taketh the citie. 546 i. his embassadors sent to Tomombeius slain by the Mamalukes. 548 k. ouerthroweth Tomombeius againe at the riuer of Nilus. 550 h. causeth him being taken to be tortured and put to death. l. cunningly reduceth the Arabians to his obedience. 553 b. purposing to turne his forces vpon the Christians, is strucke in the backe with a canker. 561 a. his death concealed by Ferat Bassa.

567 c

Selymus the second by the Ianizaries saluted Emperour. 827 c. appeaseth the tumultuous Ianizaries. 828 g. sendeth Cubates his embassadour to Venice to demaund Cyprus of the Senat. 841 c. rageth to haue it denied him. 842 m. be inuadeth the Venetians. 845 e. in his rage about to haue put to death all the Christians in his dominious. 885 f. sendeth out Vluzales his Admirall with two hundred gallies against the Christians. 888 l. desirous of peace, concludeth the same with the Venetians. 904 k. by his Bassaes taketh Guletta from the Spaniards, and the citie of Tunes. 915 d. dieth. c.

Serinus Gouernour of Sigeth. 821 e. his comfortable and resolute speech vnto his souldiours. 822 g. burneth the new towne, not now to be longer defended, and retireth into the old. i. his last speech vnto his souldiors. 823 d. slaine, and his head sent to Countie Salma. f.

the Seruians in mutinie amongst themselues, are with a great slaughter ouerthrowne by the Turks.

192 i

Seruia becommeth tributarie vnto the Turks. 192. wholly yeelded vnto the Turks.

356

Ssetigrade besieged by Amurath. 316 l. in vaine diuers times by the Turks assaulted. 319 b. by the working of a traitor Amurath hath the strong citie yeelded vp vnto him.

321 f

[Page]Sigismund King of Hungarie with the Christian princes his confederats with a great armie inuadeth the Turks dominions. 205 b. his proud speech vpon the greatnesse of his armie. d. in a great battell ouerthrowne by Baiazet at Nicopolis. 206 h. hardly escapeth himselfe by flight. i.

Sigismund prince of Transyluania in danger by his owne subiects to haue beene betrayed vnto the Tartars. 1046 l. the conspirators apprehended and executed. 1047 d. giueth his subiects leaue to spoile the Turkes. c. entereth into a confederation with the Emperour. 1048 k. persuadeth Michaell the Vayuod of Valachia, and Aaron the Palatine of Moldauia to reuolt from the Turk. 1049 e. sendeth Aaron the Palatine with his wife and sonne prisoners to Prage. 1062 l. marrieth Maria Christina the late Archduke Charles his daughter. 1072 k. ouerthroweth thirtie thousand Turks comming as vnbidden guests to his marriage. l. in a great battell ouerthroweth Sinan Bassa with his Turks. 1073 e. receiueth the Zaculians into his protection, and hath from them great aid. 1074 m. putteth Sinan Bassa to slight. 1075 d. by force ta [...]keth Tergouista from the Turks. f. taketh also Bucaresta. 1076 i. goeth vnto the Emperour at Prage. 1088 g. besiegeth Tem [...]swar. 1092 g. with eighteene thousand men commeth to the aid of Maximilian the Archduke going to haue relieued Agria. 1096 l. doubting the power of the Turke, resigneth his principalitie of Transyluania vnto the Emperour. 1100 k. repenting himselfe, returneth again into Transyluania and taketh vpon him the gouernment. 1106 g. by his embassadours offereth againe his principalitie vnto the Emperour. 1109 d. in a great battell ouerthrowne together with the Moldauian by Michaell the Vayuod of Valachia. 1122 h. by the fauour of the Nobilitie recouereth his state again in Transyluania. 1139 d. in battell ouerthrowne by Basta and Michaell the Vayuod, flieth out of Transyluania. 1140 i. by the fauor of his subiects and countenance of the Polonians recouereth againe his state. 1142 g. doubting how to be able to hold it against the Imperials, yeeldeth it by composition vnto Bassa the Emperours lieutenant, and goeth himselfe vnto the Emperour.

1143 c

Sigismund King of Polonia his letters vnto Amurath.

1003 c

Simon Countie of Montfort sent by Philip the French King into the Holy land, represseth the furie of the Turks, and so concludeth a peace with them for ten yeares.

74 k

Sinan Bassa the Eunuch ouerthrowne by Achomates. 503 c. restoreth Selymus his battell against Campson, before almost lost. 530 g. by Selymus sent before into Iudea. 533 c. hath Gaza yeelded vnto him. 534 g. discomfiteth Gazelles, comming to haue oppressed him at Gaza. 535 c. slaine in the battell at Rhodania.

540 g

Sinan the Iew his short answere to Barbarussa.

661 b

Sinan Bassa by Amurath chosen Generall for the Persian warres. 951 b. relieueth Tef [...]is. 954 l. looseth seuen thousand of his souldiors. 955 b. derided of his own souldiors. 956 g. his proud answere to Amurath. 962 h. displaced, and cast into exile. l. againe receiued into fauour. 1003 d. ouerthrowne in the vpper Hungarie. 1006 h. his letters vnto the Emperor. 1020 g. sent Generall of the Turks armie against the Emperour. 1023 f. taketh Vesprinium. 1025 c. hath Palotta yeelded vnto him. d. with an armie of an hundred and fiftie thousand men commeth againe into Hungarie. 1040 i. taketh Dotis & S. Martins. l. besiegeth Rab. 1041 b. in assaulting thereof looseth twelue thousand of his men. 1044 h. by corrupting of the Gouernour hath the citie yeelded vnto him. l. besiegeth Komara. 1045 b. raiseth his siege, and breaketh vp his armie. d. cra [...]tily seeketh to trie the Emperours mind concerning peace. 1058 l. sent for home to the Court. 1060 l. by Sultan Mahomet appointed Generall of the warres against the Emperour. 1073 b. inuadeth Valachia. d. in a great battell ouerthrown by the prince of Transyluania. e. in flying, in danger to haue beene drowned. f. with a great armie commeth againe into Valachia. 1075 b. seeing the generall feare of his armie vpon the comming of the Transyluanians, flieth. d. for feare delayeth his comming to Constantinople, vntill his peace were made, and there shortly after dieth.

1087 d

Siseg by the Turks besieged. 1022 g. notably relieued. 1023 a. againe besieged and taken by the Turks.

1024 l

Solyman, Orchanes his sonne, by his father made Gouernour of Nicomedia. 183 c. taketh the castle of Zemb [...]nic in Europe. 185 b. he the first that brought the Turks ouer into Europe, with purpose there to conquer and inhabit. d. taketh the castle of Maditus. c. winneth Callipolis. 186 g. dieth.

187 a

Solyman the vnfortunat, Baiazet his eldest sonne, by the great Bassaes set vp in his fathers slead at Hadrianople. 221 b. goeth ouer with a great armie against his brother Mahomet. 241 e. by pollicie taketh the castle of Prusa. 242 i. besiegeth his brother in Amasia. i. returneth into Europe to appease the stirres there raised by his brother Musa, and recouereth Hadrianople. 244 b. in his excesse regardeth not the approch of his brother Musa [...]k forsaken of his souldiors flieth. l. taken prisoner, is by the commaundement of his brother Musa strangled.

245 a.

Solyman the Eunuch Bassa dealeth treacherously with the Kings of Arabia.

670 m.

Solyman hardly persuaded that his father was dead. 567 d. saluted Emperour by the Ianizaries. f. his letters to Valerius Great Master of the Rhodes. 571 b. his Oration to his men of war declaring his purpose for the besieging of the Rhodes. e. he maketh great preparation for the siege. 573 a. his threatening letters vnto them of the Rhodes. 578 h. commeth himselfe in person to the siege. 583 b. his chollericke Oration to his souldiors. d. displaceth his Admirall, and punisheth him like a slaue. 589 a. about to haue forsaken the siege. b. comforteth his discouraged soldiors, persuading them with patience to continue the siege. f. his letters to the Great Master and the Rhodians, sent by their owne embassadours. 593 d. his speech vnto the Great Master at his comming to yeeld vp the citie. 598 l. he entreth into the Rhodes vpon Christmasse day in the yeare 1522. 600 i. Solyman vpon the discord of the Christian princes and disordered state of Hungarie, taketh occasion to inuade that kingdome. 601 b. commeth into Hungarie against King Lewes with an armie of two hundred thousand men. c ouerthroweth him in battell at Mohaiz. 602 k. commeth to Buda. 603 a Solyman in the quarrell of King Iohn against King Ferdinand, cōmeth into Hungarie with an armie of an hundred and fiftie thousand men. 609 a. without resistance entreth into Buda, and besiegeth the castle. 609 d. laieth siege to Vienna. 610 k. without ransome releaseth certaine Christian prisoners. 612 g. looseth his great ordinance vpon the Danubius. k. burieth [Page] eight thousand of his Turks in the mines. l. hauing lost fourescore thousand of his Turks, raiseth his siege, and returneth to Buda. 614 i. he restoreth the kingdome of Hungarie vnto King Iohn. k. returneth himselfe to Constantinople. 615 a. maketh great preparations for the subduing of the territories belonging to the house of Austria, as also for the conquest of Germanie, with the short time he prefined vnto himself for the performance thereof. 615 c. Solyman with a mightie armie commeth againe into Hungarie. 618 e. besiegeth Gunza. i. his proud letters vnto Charles the Emperour and his brother King Ferdinand m. shunneth to meet with Charles the Emperour at Vienna, and so turneth out of the way into Carinthia. 621 a. the causes mouing him so to doe. b. returneth towards Constantinople. 623 d. Solyman persuaded by Abraham Bassa, resolueth to goe against the Persians. 649 a. commeth with his armie to Tauris. f. followeth Tamas the Persian King into Sultania. 650 g. his armie strangely distressed by tempest. k. hath Babylon with the countries of Mesopotamia and Assyria yeelded vnto him. 651 a. he ransacketh Tauris. f. discouraged by the harme done him by Delymenthes, giueth ouer his warres in Persia, and returneth to Constantinople. 653 c. he with a wonderfull charge prepareth a great fleet at Suetia aga [...]nst the Portingals in the East Indies. 670 b. Solyman by the French embassador incited to inuade Italie with an armie of two hundred thousand men, commeth to Aulona. 671 c. sendeth Lutzis Bassa and Barbarussa with his fleet before him into Italie. d. conuerteth his forces prepared for Italie against the Venetians. 673 b. in danger to haue beene slaine in his tent in the middest of his armie. 173 d. inuadeth Corcyra. [...]. carrieth away aboue sixteene thousand prisoners, and doth good iustice vpon such Turks as had violated their faith at Castrum. 674 k. Solyman angrie with the secret confederation betwixt King Ferdinand and King Iohn. 695 c. promiseth to protect the queene and her sonne. 701 c. with a great armie commeth to Buda. 709 b. sendeth for the young King into his campe. e. courteously receiueth him. 710 h. craftily surpriseth the citie of Buda. i. detaineth the Nobilitie of Hungarie. l. diuersly persuaded by his Bassaes for the disposing of that kingdome. 711 b. he sacrificeth after the Mahometane manner in Buda. 712 m. pronounceth the doome of Hungarie, and conuerteth it from a kingdome into a prouince of his Empire. 713 a. his proud answer vnto King Ferdinand his embassadours. 714 k. he returneth to Constantinople. 715 b. sendeth his fleet by Barbarussa his Admirall to aid the French King against the Emperour. 734 k. Solyman with a great armie commeth againe into Hungarie. 736 g. taketh Strigonium. 738. entereth into the citie, and there setteth vp the Mahometane superstition. m. winneth Alba Regalis. 742 h. returneth to Constantinople. k. by the instigation of Dragut the pyrat sendeth out Sinan Bassa with a great fleet to reuenge the wrong done vnto him by Auria. 752 l. Solyman amorous of Rozolana. 757 c. manumiseth her. 758 h. marrieth her. l. by her persuaded, resolueth to put to death his eldest sonne, the noble Mustapha. 761 d. goeth himselfe with a great armie into Asia to kill his sonne. e. sendeth for Mustapha, who comming, is cruelly strangled in his sight. 763 c. his stout speech vnto the Ianizaries, vp in arms for the vnworthie death of Mustapha. 764 k. he glad to yeeld vnto the Ianizaries. m. Solyman desirous with as little stirre as might be to appease the grudges betwixt his two sonnes Selymus and Baiazet, sendeth Partau and Mehemet two of his Visier Bassaes to bring them to the prouinces by him appointed for them. 773 d. maketh preparation against Baiazet, and sendeth aid to Selymus. e. for countenancing of Selymus, goeth himselfe in person with his armie ouer into Asia. 776 l. dissembleth with Baiazet. 778 g. seeketh to stop his flight into Persia, deceiued of his purpose, procureth to haue him and his foure sonnes strangled in prison in Persia. 791 d. Solyman by his embassadour Abraham Stroiza confirmeth his league with Ferdinand the Emperor for eight yeares. 789 b. his proud letters vnto the Emperour Ferdinand. c. his presents sent vnto the Emperour. 791 d. he maketh preparation against the knights of Malta. 793 a. his Oration vnto his captaines for the inuasion of Malta. b. his fleet arriueth at Malta. 795 a. with shame returneth. 817 c. Solyman purposing now the seuenth time himselfe in person to inuade Hungarie, causeth a bridge of a mile long with incredible labor to be made ouer the great riuer Sauus and the deepe fennes toward Sigeth. 821. besiegeth Sigeth. e. commeth himselfe with a great power into the campe. 822 h. winneth the old towne. l. falleth sicke and dieth of the bloudie flix at Quinque Ecclaesiae. 822 m. his death by Muhamet Bassa concealed, and the siege continued. 813 a. his bodie with great solemnitie by his sonne Selymus buried at Constantinople.

828 h

the Spaniards reioycing at the ouerthrow of the Italians by Salec, are themselues foyled by Tabacces.

658 m

Stellusa with Desdrot the Gouernor therof deliuered to Scanderbeg.

285 f

Stephen Rozwan in stead of Aaron by the Transyluanian prince placed Vayuod of Moldania. 1062 l. thrust out by Zamoschie Chancelour of Polonia. 1080 g. taken prisoner and put to death.

1081 a

Stephen Vayuod of Transyluania vpon the commendation of Amurath chosen King of Polonia.

921 a

Stiria forraged by the Turks.

1132

Strigonium in vaine besieged by King Iohn. 616 k. besieged by Solyman. 736 i. diuers times by the Turks in vaine assaulted. c. the strength therof by a fugitiue Christian discouered. d. yeelded vnto the Turke. 738 h. besieged by the Christians. 1033 c. fiue times in vain assaulted, with the losse of fiue thousand men▪ 1034 l. the siege by Matthias the Archduke giuen ouer. 1037 d. besieged by countie Mansfelt. 1065 b. twice in vaine assaulted. e. the lower towne taken. 1070 g. yeelded vnto the Archduke Matthias.

1072 h

Suguta by Sultan Aladin giuen to Ertogrul.

134 k

Sumachia taken by Osman Bassa. 936 b recouered by the Persian prince.

940 i

Swartzenburg by two Italian prisoners flying out of Rab, is informed of the state of the towne. 1102 g. consulteth with the lord Palsi. h. surpriseth that strong town. 1103 b. in vain attempteth to haue surprised Buda. 1110 [...] commeth to Pappa to appease the French and Wallons there in mutinie. 1117 a. besiegeth the towne. 1118. slaine. i.

Syrgiannes appointed by Andronicus the Emperor to obserue the doings of yong Andronicus his nephew, trecherously discouereth the same vnto him. 159 c. cunningly coloureth his treason. 160 b contemned of the yonger Andronicus, reuolteth again vnto his grandfather. 162 l. apprehended, imprisoned, and his house rased.

164 l

T

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TAmas the Persian King hearing of the comming of Solyman to Tauris, flieth into Hircania. 651 d. in feare of Baiazet, killeth his followers, and imprisoneth him with his sonnes. 780 l. sendeth embassadors with presents to Solyman. 781 a. the cause why he would not by any meanes let Baiazet goe out of his hands. d. his answere vnto the Venetian embassadour, persuading him to take vp armes against the Turke.

862 k

Tamerlan his reasonable and modest answer vnto the other Mahometane princes, crauing his aid against Baiazet. 210 k. in their behalfe sendeth embassadours with presents to Baiazet. l. prouoked by the proud answer of Baiazet, the sollicitation of the oppressed princes, and the persuasion of Axalla resolueth to make war vpō him. 211 b his honourable parentage and auncestours. 212 i. the causes why some report him to haue beene a shepheard or heardsman. k. he himselfe not delighted in bloud. m. marrieth the daughter and heire of the Great Cham of Tartarie, the ground of his greatnes. 213 a. setteth forward against Baiazet. 214 k. his great campe still like vnto a well gouerned citie. 215 b. the number of his great armie. [...]. he taketh Sebastia, and burieth all the people quicke. 216 h. staieth the comming of Baiazet. 217 a. disposeth of the order of his battell. 218 k fighteth a great and mortall battell with Baiazet. 219 b. taking him prisoner, causeth him like a wild beast to be shut vp in an yron cage. 220 m. refuseth the Empire of Constantinople, offered him by Emanuell the Emperors embassadors. 221 e. goeth priuatly himselfe to Constantinople. 222 i. much delighted with the situation and pleasures of that citie. k. spoileth the Turks dominions in Asia. l. restoreth vnto the poore Mahometa [...]e princes oppressed by Baiazet all their auntient inheritances. 223 b. in a great battell ouerthroweth the Sultan of Aegipt neere vnto Aleppo. c. winneth Damasco. d. commeth to Ierusalem. f. taketh Damiata. 224 h. assaulteth Cair [...]. 225 a driueth the Sultan out of Caire. d. pursueth him to Alexandria. 226 g. chaseth him into Lybia. h▪ leaueth Calibes to gouerne the countries of Aegipt and Syria. l. conquereth Mesopotamia and Babylon, with the kingdome of Persia. 227 a. returneth to Samarcand. b. the great power he continually kept. 235 c. his death e.

Tangrolipix the Turke sent to aid the Persian Sultan. 4 g. by consent of the souldiours chosen Sultan of Persia. l. first Sultan of the Turks. m. hauing slaine Pisasiris Caliph of Babylon in battell ioyneth his dominions vnto his owne. 5 b. inuadeth the Greeke Emperours dominions. f. putteth to death his brother Habramie.

6 i

Tancred created prince of Galliley, winneth Apamea and Laodicea. 25 c. after the death of young Bohemund created King of Antioch.

26 i

Tarsus in Cilicia yeelded vnto Baiazet.

446 m.

Tartar Han his letters vnto the King of Polonia.

1083 c

Tauris yeelded to Selymus. 512 c. who contrarie to his promise exacteth a great summe of money from the Taurisians, and so departeth. 513 a. sacked by Solyman. 651 f. taken by the Turks. 991 d. hath a new castle therin built by the Turks in six and thirtie daies. 992 i. miserably spoiled. l.

Taurica Che [...]sonesu [...], with the Tartars Precopenses and D [...]ste [...]ces subdued by the Turks.

412 m

Techellis inuadeth the Turks dominions. 469 c. ouerthroweth Orchanes and Mahometes, Baiazet his nephewes. 471. discomfiteth Caragoses the Viceroy of Natolia. 472 i. killeth Alis Bassa. 474 l. flieth into Armenia. 475 [...]. robbeth a Carauan of marchants, and therefore burnt at Tauris.

476 h.

Temeswar taken by the Turks.

756 g

Temurtases, Baiazet his lieutenant in Asia, taken prisoner by Aladin the young King of Caramania. 208 k. againe set at libertie, hangeth the Caramanian King. m.

Teufenbach taketh Sabatska. 1026 k. winneth Filek. 1027 c. besiegeth Hatwan. 1032 g. ouerthroweth the Bassa of Buda. h. giueth the same Bassa a second ouerthrow.

1037 f

Theobald King of Nauarre maketh an vnfortunat expedition into the Holy land. 99 f. with Lewis the French King goeth against the Moores. 118 k. in his returne dieth of the plague in Sicilia. l.

Theodorus Lascaris flieth into Bythinia, and possessing himselfe of many countries, taketh vpon him the name of the Greeke Emperour at Nice. 84 l. he killeth Iat [...]atines the Turkish Sultā.

87 c

Theodorus Lascaris, son to Iohn Batases, chosen Emperour. 108 m. aideth the Sultan of Iconium. 109. c. falleth sicke and dieth.

110 g

Theupulus Earle of Paphos vnworthily hanged by the faithlesse Bassa Mustapha.

867 d

Thracia spoiled by the Turks.

156 g

Tomombeius by the generall consent of the Mamalukes chosen Sultan of Aegipt. 533 d. maketh great preparation against the Turks, and seeketh to entrap them. 538 g. his deuices discouered. i. he fighteth a great battell with Selymus, and is put to the worse. 540 m. raiseth new forces at Caire. 541 c. fortifieth Caire. 542 k. fighteth a great battell in the citie. 545 b. ouercome, flieth. 546 h. driuen out of Caire, raiseth new forces in Segesta. 547 d. distresseth the Turks in passing the bridge made ouer Nilus. 549 b. giueth anotable attempt to haue gained the bridge. f. repulsed and put to flight. 550 i. taken and brought to Selymus. l. tortured, and shamefully put to death. m.

Trapezond yeelded to Mahomet the Great.

360 k.

Transyluania giuen by Solyman to the child King Iohn his sonne.

716 l

Tripolis in Barbarie besieged by Sinan Bassa. 753 a. battered. b. the weakest places thereof and [...]ittest to be battered, by a fugitiue Christian discouered to the Turks. d. vpon hard conditions yeelded to the proud and faithlesse Bassa.

755 d

Tunes besieged by Lewis the French king. 119 a. yeelded to Charles the Emperour. 667 c. by him vpon an easie tribute againe restored to Mulcasses. 669 d. againe yeelded to the Turks.

915 d.

Turks their originall beginning diuersly reported. 1 c. discended from the Scythians. 2 b. the causes why they left their auntient and naturall seats in Scythia, to seeke for other in countries more Southerly. 2 l. where they first seated themselues in Asia, after their departure out of Scythia. 3 b. their first kingdome erected in Persia by Tangrolipix their first Sultan. 4 l. the Turks first called into Europe by the Catalonians. 152 g. they differ not from the Persian about the interpretation of their law, but about the true successor of their false prophet Mahomet only.

462 i.

Turqueminus chosen Sultan of Aegipt.

106 h.

Tzihanger refuseth the noble Mustapha his brothers wealth & treasure offered him by his father Solyman, and for sorrow killeth himselfe.

763 e

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V

VAlachia, when first spoiled by the Turks. 204 g. inuaded by Mahomet the Great. 362 g. oppressed by the Turks. 1050 h. in great troubles.

1143 d

Valmes fortified by Mahomet the Great.

402 g.

Valetta the Grand master of Malta aduertised of Solymans purpose for the inuasion of him & his knights. 793 f. his effectuall speech vnto his knights. 794 g. his great preparation against the Turks comming. k. his whole strength. 796 g. he certifieth Garzias of Toledo, Viceroy of Sicilia, of his estate. l. sendeth a new supplie into the castle S. Elmo, twice before assaulted by the Turks. 798 g. disappointed of a supplie to haue beene brought him by his owne gallies. h. his letters to Garzias the Viceroy of Sicilia. 800 g. he sendeth three of his knights to know the state of them in the castle S. Elmo. 801 e. encourageth his souldiors after the losse of the castle. 803 c. his Christianlike letters to the Gouernor of the citie of Melita. [...]. his resolute answere to the messengers sent vnto him from the great Bassa. 804 i. he receiueth a small supply from Sicilia. 805 f. maketh hard shift to send newes of his distresse to the Viceroy of Sicilia. 808 l. his comfortable speech vnto his souldiors, at such time as the Turks were entered the new citie. 814 h. his great carefulnesse. 817 e. his letters to the Grand Prior of Almaine concerning the manner of the Turks proceedings in the siege of Malta.

818 g

Venerius the Venetian Admirall and Barbadicus their prouiditor persuade the rest of the Christian confederats to giue battell vnto the Turks at Lepanto. 871 d. comming to the reliefe of Don Iohn, is encountered by Partau Bassa. 879 a. in danger. b. at the request of the Spaniards displaced, but not disgraced.

887 e

the Venetians with a great fleet spoile the coasts of Lycia, Pamphilia, and Cilicia. 19 a. in the deuision of the Greeke Empire amongst the Latines had for their share all the rich islands of the Aegeum and Ionian, with the famous island of Candie or Crete. 84 h. enter into confederation with other Christian princes against the Turke. 389 e. they with their confederates doe the Turks great harme. 407 d. receiue a great ouerthrow from the Turks at the riuer of Sontium. 414 k. their marchants in Syria imprisoned by Campson Gauru [...] the Aegiptian Sultan. 471 b. their Senatours diuersly affected towards the confederation with the Emperour and the French King against Solyman. 693 d. they refuse to yeeld vp Cyprus vnto Selymus, demanding the same. 841 e. make great preparation for their own defence, and craue aid of the other Christian princes. 842 k. what princes promised them aid. l. wearie of the delaies and crosse dealing of the Spaniards their confederats, conclude a peace with Selymus without their knowledge.

904 k.

Veradinum besieged by the Turks. 1106 h relieued by the lord Basta. l.

Vesprinium taken by the Turks.

1025 c

Vfegi Bassa taken prisoner. 500 l. put to death.

501 b

Vicegr [...]de taken by the Christians.

1072 i

Victor Capella with a notable speech persuadeth the Venetians to take vp arms against Mahomet the Great.

387 a

Vienna by Solyman besieged. 610 k. badly fortified. 611 a the wals blown vp. 612 m. thrice assaulted. f. worthily defended. 614 g. Solyman glad to forsake the siege. i.

Villerius chosen Great Master of the Rhodes. 569 d. his letters to Solyman. 571 d. his carefull prouision for defence of his citie. 573 b. 575 e. his notable speech vnto the Rhodians. 576 g. his worthie commendation. 581. in vain craueth aid of the Christian princes. b. recouereth the Spanish bulwarke taken by the Turks. 588 g. his resolute opinion concerning Solymans demaund for the yeelding vp of the Rhodes. 594 g. his answere vnto Solyman, offering vnto him most honourable entertainement. 599 b. he departeth from the Rhodes with his knights vpon New yeares day.

600 g

Vladislaus King of Polonia chosen also King of Hungarie. 262 i. sendeth embassadours vnto Amurath lying at the siege of Belgrade. 263 e. goeth himselfe in person against the Turks. 277 b. taketh Sophia. c. spoileth Bulgaria. d. highly commendeth Huniades for his good seruice. 278 i. en [...]orced with the difficultie of the passage of the mountaine Hemus, retireth with his army. 279 b. by the persuasion of Huniades and others retireth, and in vaine seeketh to haue opened the mountaine passage. 281 d. in his retreat much troubled with the Turks. 282 b. in great triumph returneth to Buda. m. vpon most honourable conditions concludeth a peace with Amurath for ten yeares. 289 b. by solemne oath confirmeth the league he had made with Amurath. c. absolued of that his oath by Iulian the Cardinall of S. Angell, resolueth for the prosecution of his wars against the Turke. 292 i. by his embassadours and letters craueth aid of Scanderbeg. 293 a. setteth forward against the Turks. 295 e. fighteth the great and vnfortunat battell at Varna. 297 b. it there himselfe slaine.

298 h

Vl [...]zales in the battell of Lepanto taketh twelue of the Venetian gallies. 882 i. seeing the rest of the Turks fleet discomfited, flieth himselfe. m. is by Selymus the next yeare sent out with two hundred gallies against the Venetians and their confederats. 888 l. meaning nothing lesse, maketh shew of battell. 892 h. cunningly retireth. i. flieth from Nauarinum into the bay of Modon. 895 c. returneth with his weake fleet to Constantinople.

902 m

Vranacontes by Scanderbeg appointed Gouernour of Croia against the comming of Amurath. 322 l. with chearfull speech encourageth his souldiors. e. reiecteth Amurath his presents, and threateneth the Bassa by whom they were sent.

329 d

Vstres Bassa of Van inciteth Amurath to make warre against the Persians. 925 a. by Amurath commaunded to begin the warre, which he readily performeth.

926 h

Vsun-Cassanes the Persian King sendeth embassadours with presents to Mahomet the Great. 359 b. marieth Despina, the daughter of Calo Ioannes, Emperour of Trapezond. 409 b. in a great battell ouerthroweth Zenza the Persian king, and killeth Cariasuphus his sonne, the last of the posteritie of the mightie Tamerlan. 409 g. in a great battell ouerthrowne by Mahomet the Great. 410 l. his death.

411 a

W

W

WAlpo trecherously yeelded vnto the Turks, and the traitours iustly rewarded.

736 h

Warres by Amurath the third proclaimed against the Emperour Rodolph.

123 f

Waswood, an old Ianizarie, his presumptuous speech vnto Mahomet the great Sultan. 1063 b. taken out of prison by the rest of the Ianizaries. e.

Water deare sold.

665 b

W [...]hitz the metropoliticall citie of Croatia taken by the Turks.

1015 e

[Page]William King of Sicilia inuadeth the tyrant Andronicus his dominions, taketh the citie of Dyrrhachium, passeth through Macedonia, and spoileth the countrey, meeteth with his fleet at Thessalonica, which be also taketh by force and spoileth.

51 b

William Long-Espie Earle of Sarisburie with a band of tall souldiours goeth into the Holy land. 102 l. his stout answere vnto Earle Robert the French Kings brother. 104 k. valiantly fighting, is slaine.

105 a

Wladus prince of Valachia putteth Mahomet the Great in feare. 362 k. Wladus cruell. m. dieth in battell against the Turks.

363 e

Wine for a space running down the streets of Constantinople, as if it had beene water after a shower of raine.

1142 l

Wolfgangus Hoder vpon the Danubius doth good seruice against the Turks.

612 k.

X

X

XAycu [...], paymaster of the Rhodes entrapped by the Turks, and sent prisoner to be tortured at Constantinople.

575 c

Xene the faire Empresse, the young Emperour Alexius his mother maliciously accused of treason, and so wrongfully condemned. 407 f. by the commaundement of Andronicus strangled in prison, and so poorely buried.

48 k.

Xiphilinus by Alexius sent ouer to Andronicus, dealeth vnfaithfully in his message.

45 c

Y

Y

YOland daughter to king Iohn crowned queene of Ierusalem, and after by her father giuen in marriage to Fredericke the Emperour.

96 g

Z

Z

ZAcharias Groppa fighteth a combat with Ahemaze a Turke.

373 a

Zachell Moises the Transyluanian princes lieutenant in battell ouerthrowne by Basta. 1143 c. flieth vnto the Turks.

1145 e.

Zacynthus, Neritus, and Cephalenia taken by Achmetes Bassa.

426 l

Zamoschie the great Chancellor of Polonia staieth the Tartars from the inuading of Moldauia. 1079 c. inuadeth Moldauia himselfe. 1080 g. his letters vnto Clement the Pope that now is, in defence of himselfe and of that he had done in Moldauia. 1084 k. driueth Michaell the Vayuod out of Valachia, & placeth another in his stead.

1128 b

Zanius the Venetian Admirall with a fleet of an hundred and seuenteene saile commeth to Corcyra. 849 b. he with the confederats setteth forwards towards Cyprus. d. vpon the foule disagreement of the great commaunders returneth. 853 e. discharged of his office and sent in bonds to Venice.

854 b

Zembenic castle the place where the Turks first began to settle themselues in Europe.

185 b

Zemes riseth in rebellion against his elder brother Baiaze [...]. 438 h. ouerthrowne in battell by his brother, flieth to Cay [...]beius the Sultā of Aegipt. 439 b. he with the Caramanian King goeth against his brother Baiazet. 441 b. flieth to sea. 442 g. deliuered vnto Pope Innocent the eight. 446 h. by Pope Alexander deliuered to Charles the French King. 452 h. dieth within three daies after being before by the Pope poysoned, as is supposed. i. his dead bodie sent to Constantinople, and honorably afterwards buried at Prusa.

452 k.

Zenza the Persian king in a great battell ouerthrowne and slaine by Vsun-Cassanes.

409 e

Zerbi island inuaded by the Christian fleet set forth for the recouerie of the citie of Tripolis in Barbarie. 783 e. the castle of Zerb [...] yeelded vnto the Spaniards. f. a great part of the Christian fleet oppressed at Zerbi by the sudden comming of Piall Bassa the Turks Admirall. 784 m. the castle of Zerbi besieged by the Turke. 785 b. yeelded vnto the Turks. d. the Turks in triumph returne with victorie to Constantinople.

786 g

Zingis passing ouer the mountaines Caucasus and Taurus conquereth the Turks dominions.

75 c

Zoganus Bassa by the deuice of a wicked Christian bringeth seuentie of the Turks gallies eight miles ouerland into the hauen of Constantinople. 343 f. persuadeth Mahomet to continue his siege.

345 a

Zolnock a strong fortresse of the Christians in the vpper Hungarie taken by the Turks.

756 g

FINIS.

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The Errata.

PAge 132. line 32. for and, read, or. page 133. line 46. for Turconians, read, Turcomans. page 133. line 54. for A [...]terum, read, Artzerum. 136.28. Iburn, r. Itburn. 166.12. citie, r. cities. 173.41. they, r. he. 484.51. great, r. dread. 192.36. ouer Callipolis, r. ouer to Callipolis. 208.15. there, r. other. 214.30. O [...]aza, r. Ozara. 233.1. Lysia, r. Lycia. 244.32. do not trouble, r. trouble. 248.53. father, r brother 269.28. in, r. into. 270.12. this, r. his. 286.23. diuers, r. aduerse. 286.26. prescribe, r. prescribed. 301.39. to be able, r not to be able. 302 42. Mouea, r. Mocrea. 346.11. eight. r. eighteene. 364.36. the, r. their. 388.23 manner, r. manners. 405.14. Nigrophonte, r. Nigropont 407.4. Alymbeius, r. Asymbeius. 412.16. portion. [...]. pen [...]io [...]. 468.18. this, r. the. 479.16. part [...] ▪ r. ports. 487.51. his, r. hie. 421.52. his g [...]eat Mahometane, r▪ his great knowledge in the Mahometane. 322.5. ea [...] and, r. to ease. 525.39. citie Euphrates, r. riuer Euphrates. 536.17. drawne, r. driuen. 568.48 e [...]uying, r. enuaying. 619.3. end quarrell, r. end that quarrell. 628.54. Hungarian fleet, r. Christian fleet. 629.27 Iosuphius and old captaine, read, Iosuphus an old captaine. 630.12. excepted, r. accepted. 631.45. returne, r. turne. 634.28. homage. r. honour. 655.16. Visinus, r. Vrsinus. 656.25. tooken, r. taken. 664.2. he, r. they. 710.11. i [...], r. vnto. 714.3. superstitious, read, suspitious 717, 15. not so euill, r. not so well. 721.19. were fled▪ r. were led. 736.30. Soctosia, r. Soclosia. 750 14. Tuscunie, r. Tuscanie. 766.37. peopled, r. people. 767.15. Faurinum, r. Iauarin [...]m. 769.7. mischantments, r. inchantments. 770.2. readie, r. alreadie come. 770.5. pretended, r. preuented. 770.49. father, r. fauour. 788.42. A [...] Genua me begat, r. As Genua did me beget. 788.45. by force, r. my force. 793.13. him, r them. 840.3. from Venice, r. to Venice. 862.17. for, r. of. 863 1. two thousand, r. two hundred thousand. 886. [...]2. carefulnesse, r. carelesnesse. 892.1. gallies, r. galeasses. 903.9 lying, r. dying. 909.50. hands, r. heads. 911.49. Veremias, r. Ieremias. 919.23. September, r. December 924.16. Hari, r. Heri. 933.8. Ginsuf, r. Gi [...]suf, 936.31. Sirua, r. Siruan 945.16 pid, r. did. 953. [...]3 subsisted, r. substituted. 994.27 a Bassa, r. the Ba [...]a 1008.10. being doing, r. [...]e doing. 1008.35. lesse, r. least. 1015.41. Yna, r. Vna. 1018.32 part, r. part [...]. 1045.27. from the came, r. from the campe. 1064.36. sat before, sat downe before. 1065.17. with resistance▪ r. without resistance. 1074.23. Varuinar, r. Varuiuar. 1079.19. his, r. this. 1089.25. [...]earing, r. hearing. 1094.18. heart, r. Hart. 1122.13. their, r. his. 1148.54. towne, r. tower.

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Information about this book

Title statement

The generall historie of the Turkes from the first beginning of that nation to the rising of the Othoman familie: with all the notable expeditions of the Christian princes against them. Together with the liues and conquests of the Othoman kings and emperours faithfullie collected out of the- best histories, both auntient and moderne, and digested into one continuat historie vntill this present yeare 1603: by Richard Knolles

Knolles, Richard, 1550?-1610.

Edition statement

1603

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A04911

ID [STC]

STC 15051

ID [STC]

ESTC S112893

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99848134

ID [PROQUEST]

99848134

ID [VID]

13212

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A04911)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 13212)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 763:4)

Source

— The generall historie of the Turkes from the first beginning of that nation to the rising of the Othoman familie: with all the notable expeditions of the Christian princes against them. Together with the liues and conquests of the Othoman kings and emperours faithfullie collected out of the- best histories, both auntient and moderne, and digested into one continuat historie vntill this present yeare 1603: by Richard Knolles, Knolles, Richard, 1550?-1610., Johnson, Laurence, fl. 1603, engraver..

Extent

[12], 1152, [40] p. : ill., ports. (metal cuts)

Printed by Adam Islip,. London :: 1603.. (The title page is engraved and signed: Laurence Iohnson, sculpsit,.) (The first leaf is blank.) (Includes index.) (With a final errata leaf.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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