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TVVO
very notable Commentaries
THE ONE OF THE ORIGINALL OF THE TVRC
The horſe is prepaired againſt the daye of battayle but the lord giueth the victorie.
PRINTED AT LONDON
by Rouland Hall for Humfrey Toye dwel
NOwe as touching the obedience of the ſouldiour,
THe worthye men of the olde worlde and chiefely the Romanes:
An other braunche therof is of importance,
There is alſo order,
Beſyde th
Alſo Selim fa
The lyke may be ſayd of Metellus, who being Conſul made warres
in Affricke againſt Iugurthe he receaued his armie of Spurius Albinuus
throghe whoſe negligence and want of vnderſtanding, diſcipline was
clerely extincte and forgotten: and the armye vtterly corrupted through
eaſe and delicatie, by meanes wherof the enemy obtained againſt them
many victories.
There is nothing more proffytable nor mete to bring a generall to
this perfection then to adde to his experience the reding of hiſtories in
the which he ſhall ſe plainly ſet before his eyes in what order battailes
haue ben foughte, ouerthrowes gyuen, victorie vſed, countres defended
and conqueſtes made, wherfore if the generall with his chiefe officers
wante this perfection they are not greatly to be feared althoughe their
armi be of trained ſouldiours. Furthermore their is nothing more to be
embraced by a worthy generall, then modeſty, and there is nothinge
more peryllous in a Generall then to be ambitious raſhe and wilfull, as
for example at the battayle of Canua,
The lyke happened in Puglia and other tyme: Fabius Maximus be
Anibal vnderſtanding of this, approched neare to them both and en
When Fabius ſawe the Romanes in this extremitie, the which he
ſuſpected in the begynning of the battayle he went to a certayne place
from whence he mought beholde the whole mattet and ſeing the Ro
When Anibal ſawe his people fle and Fabius a farre of very fierce
When Minutius came to his campe, he ſpake to his ſouldiours in
this ſorte. My companions in armes, there is nothing more peryllous to
a man then to fayle in gerat matters:
Hereby it appereth that where thinges ſhall take good effecte
Beſyde this it was not onely the continuall exerciſe and diſciplyne of the ſouldiours of Scanderbeg that gaue vnto the Turckes ſo manye ouerthrowes as are declared in his Commentaries, althoughe they were becomme throughe their continuall exerciſe as it were inuincible but his great iudgement in the arte of the warres was a greate parte of the cauſe therof, for he knewe when and howe to take the aduantage of his enemye
Alſo to co
Vigetius ſayeth in his .28 chapiter of his fyrſte Booke of arte of the
warres that the Epirotes and Macedonines people of great power, ador
Alſo Vigetius ſaithe in his fyrſt Boke and fyrſt chapter of the arte of
the warres,
The lyke dyd Andre Dorie at the ſege of Naples being in the paie of
And as Otho, brother to Federyckes father of Auſtriche
being Emperour doth declare, that at the tyme when P• people of thoſe coune chri•
which he knewe to be generally acceptable vnto the• chri• wolde not there
vnto agree in the which his enterpriſe, he was very well
holpen by the diſcorde and diuiſion that was amongeſt the
principall and cheife rulers of that nation, and he ayding
him ſelfe with the ſame diuiſioe ſeate of hys kyngdome
in Burſia, which ſtandeth at the very fote of the rootes of
the Mounte Olimpo. In the time of Amorathe, two of the
Emperors ſonnes of conſtantinople fel at ſtryfe aboute ye
poſſeſſyon of the Empire, it ſemed to the yonger ſonne, y•
his brother did maruelously oppreſſe him, and althoughe
his force was not ſufficient to reſyſt hym, he woulde not
yet giue place vnto him, but ſent to Amorathe for ayde, of
fering him a great ſum of mony inrecompence, Amorathe
agreed to his demande, and aſſembled his power, and with
ſpede embarqued hys people and paſſed into Gretya, and
with greate ſubtiltye dyd leade the warres at length, and
when he ſawe the two bretherne ſo weake and that they
had conſumed the treaſure which their father left them, &
by their cyuille warres had ſo ſpoiled their contrey y• they
were not able to maintayne them ſelues in there eſtate wt
there reuene we which was then lefte them,e firſte
aſſaulte he toke the citie of Gallipolli, a place very commoe ſtraite
of Heleſponto. And deſiring erneſtly in his minde the Eme
which in time paſt had his confines greatly enlarged thoe places of the ſame, & conteyned
in it at that time ye contreis of Peonia and Paphlagonia,
and finding it vnforniſhed of ſuch as moughte defended it
he poſſeſſyd it, and paſſed on with his people and made a
courſe through Boſſina, and Seruia, leadinge awaye wt
him continually great proies both of men, and catell in
moſt miſerable calamitie, and thus he went on conſuming
and deſtroing the contreis,• they were enforced to hold thee citie, and coulde non withoute great
danger go forth of it no way by land, & tormenting it cone which in time before, many hune leſſer Aſia, and aſſailed
it with ſuch furie, that he cot great
felicitie, did not refuſe to accepte the battayle notwith
e owners good wil
whereupon it folowed that he had as great abundance of
all neceſſaries in his campe, as if it had bene in great fai
Then entred he into Egypte, where he gaue many ouere artificiſale height wherof he did ſo beate his enemies day
and nyght without ceaſe, that in the ende with the loſſe
of a great number of his people, he toke it of force.
After this, hauyng intelligence that in the citie of Cae matter, that they ſhulde
not paſſe, for the ſellyng of them at a lowe price, to the
ende, that through the meaneſſe of the price, the marchane fyrſt
daye his owne lodgings were white, and if in that day,
the inhabitants of the towne dyd yelde vnto him,•
aſſaulte they were diſcoraged, and thincking to pacifie y•
wrath of this cruel, proude, aud victoriouſe enemie, by
humblyng them ſelues, ſent forth all the wemen and
chyldren of the towne in white clothynge: wyth oliue
branches in their hands, offeringe him the towne, caltout any remiſſion. And it is thought that he dyd it to
that ende, that the feare of punniſhement ſhoulde cauſe
them to refraine, to ye ende that he alone mought robbe
and ſpoile acording to his owne deſire the whole world
and laſt of all, his delighte was wholly ſet to gouerne,
in ſo much that he emploied him, ſelfe continually as in
an exerciſe moſt vertuouſe, to moleſt and trouble other
princes with warres, by the which he had ſubdued mae the newe Cytie beinge inhabyted
wt theſe riche & noble men of diuerſe nationes, in ſhorte
tyme increaſed ſo in welth, that yt became the cheife cit his writings haue
celebrated the great enterpriſes that he dyd, their is no
doute but that he mought, haue ben numbred amonge
the cheife and princypall captaynes, eyther of the olde
worlde orels of this preſent age, but god gyueth not all
• he ouercame, dyd not
deſerue to haue his fame celebrated by writing, ne yet
ye it mought long remaine to his poſteritie, when Tae ſworde,e the olde, and ancient parthicke
fame clerely extinckte & brought to obliuion, and after
ward by Tamerlano reuiued, coulde not continewe nor
encreaſe.
But nowe, retorninge to our Hiſtorie where we
left, after that the armie of Baiazith was defeicted & he
taken by Tamerlano, his ſonnes fled awaye before the
furie of ye victoriouſe enemie, who had berafte them the
whole empire of the leſſe Aſia, and when they came into
Gretia: they happened into the hands of the Emperour
of Conſtantinople,e king of hungari, who went
then for aide to Charles the vi. Kinge of Fraunce, who
graunted him a greate numbre of men at armies vnder
the conducte and guide of Iohn Counte of Niuerſe, who
afterwarde ſuccyded his father in the gouernance and
principalitie, of the Duchie of Borgonie, and of many oe ſtraite
and ſo to entre into his dominions of Gretia, but the
Emperor of Conſtantinople: dyd prohibite him the paſe
place, and eaſyly poſſeſſid the dominions and kingdome
of his father, after that he brought his armie into Gree which their is contained
Dalmatya, Croacya, and Iſtria, with the people called
Iburni, he ouer ran it with exceding great ſpoile and dee band of affinitie
with in ſhort ſpace after, he entred into Seruia as an enee
diſpotto, he plucked out both his eies, & caried him priſoe moſt famouſe cape Turks, and wolde nowe
enter in league with the one, and then with the other,
and deceaue them both, but nowe retorning to ſpeke of
Amorath, a man truely of great power, & alſo of greate
vnderſtanding in warres, who when he had brought vne enterpriſe againſt ye hungarianes
yet he thought it good to make him ſelfe lord of ye reſt of
Gretia,e leaſte to leaue them, his frynds, at hys
backe, wherupon he entred into Peloponeſſo which at
this daye is called morea, and from thence mare ſtraite (which beig) in brede land
were cut through, Peloponeſſo ſhold be & Iſle, enufrot y• ſeas, Egeo, and Ionio) & there raſed ye walle of
Eſmillia ye which in tim paſte was made by the Greee diſe yere before there
had fallee it had in maner vte inhabitae coe which whet his armie.
This ſcarcety & wante of victual did at ye time ſaue the
kingdome of Hungarie, for by meanes of it, Amorath
was cot his armie, & to cot ye ſimple ſpoile ye they there found.e forth of ye name Buſhope of Rome, vnderſtae coe Emperour and other princes of ye
almanigne nation to ayde the king of Hue Emperour to take vpon him ye defence of ye Kinge enemies of ye Chriſtiae people, ye euery man toke his furniture & weapon
& wolde not tarye, ye aide ye was promyſed thet the
Turkes, had alwayes ye victorie of thee which he did not
onely fully execute ye office & dutie of an excellee Turkes,
ye whee mothers woulde appeaſe their chyldren from
crying, or els wt drawe them froe they
had, they would ſay, here coe Sangiachi gatherid thet ye Lieu
tenaunt of Gretia, which in ye Turkiſhe ſpeche is called
Belagarbei, & they vnited theyr powers & marched tot a very puyſaunt armye, bothe of
horſe men and foote men, and ioyned wyth theym
e
hungarianes torned their backes and flied, and in thys
flight were flaine a great numbre of them. In this acte
ofarmies, ye hungarian Captaines did ſome what aug• were ſlaine, was vpon the pointe
of ſyre thouſand, and that alſo, they had takee power
of ye enemye, imputed the victorie as well to good happe
as to their force, and were willing to auoide the danger
of anye more enhaxarding their force, to attempte fore they ſhoulde
reſtore againe to ye Diſpotto of Seruia, all ſuch townes
of his,e agrement, was thus put in writing, them were
they on both partes ſolempnely ſworne, to obſerue and
fulfill all ſuch articles as were notified with in the ſaid
treues, and thus on both ſydes they ceaſſed from hoſti,
litie, diſolued their armies, and eyther retorned to hys
contrey. The Cardinall who had determyned to leuye
a newe armie, and ſo to folowe the victorye, was verye
e plaines into Romania with
his armie, when Amorathe vnderſtode the commyng of
the Chriſtians, and the great power that they were of,
he truſted not greatly to the Greks, ne yet to ye Turcks
that were brought vp in Gretiae, but thought it good to
prouide him an armie of the people of Aſia, wherwith he
was maruelouſly troubled, conſidering the difficultie in
paſſing them into Gretia, for ſo muche as the nauye of
the Chriſtians laye all along the Coaſtes, waiting cone ſtraicte
toward ye great ſea, which place, of them of olde worlds
was called the Boſphoro Cilmerico, whyche lyeth bee armie of the Chriſtiae king of Polonia, & the Legate,
were of opinion ye it was not beſte to tari him in y• place
but to retire them to ſome highe hill, or grounde of ade the maner of the Turks was, euer, to bruite
them ſelues to be a greater numbre, then in dede they
were to ye ende to feare their enemies & to cauſe them to
be in doute of them, but admitte ſaied he, ye they were ſo
many in nu• they doe
not ſo greatly excede vs in nue turks
are more curiouſe in decking thet
braue apparell, riche iuels, coſtly ſaddles & trime bridels,
then to arme thet good & ſuer art their furnitures, & our Hungaria• if we ſhold nowe giue any place to ye enemie, conſidere great force of our army, being lad alſo by a King of
Hut ſuch a nue it may wel be affirmed ye al ye nobility & force of ye kie Hunt them
ye they ſhal not be of y• nobility of mind once, to encoue face, whet theſe, &
ſuch like ſaie enemy, it was wholly
agred to folow his opinioe there were in coue he ſhuld do wel, to march away to ſome place
of aduantage, vnto whom the king anſwered that his
councel was giuen out of time, for ſo much as he ſawe it
to be more daue enemy bee
enemies with him threating him to cut him in peces, yf
that, he refuſed his place, and in this ſorte enforced him
to tarie, and ye worthieſt men of his armie came to him
to encorage him, and then reſtored the fighte in the wice
Chriſtians, for that they were nothinge ſo well armed
as the chriſtians were,e place
of the weried, and ſpoiled ſquadrons, the whiche relyfe
the Chriſtians wanted to froonte their enemies wyth,
and beyng thus erneſly occupyed in the battayle for the
ſpace of many houres, the hungarianes wexed werie, &
being ouercome with the ouer much trauaile that they
had endured in this battaile, therforce began to faile thee
whiche when Laodiſlao perceaued, he toke wyth hym a
mightie ſquadrone of horſe men of Pe charge
which the kyng gaue vpon the enemies and ſo folowed
the courſe of victorie, but that the Chriſtianes had that
daie ouerthroen Amorathe with all his power, and tae king any thing at al of his departure, ye enemie
yet making good ye place, & not thorowlie diſordered the
victorie alſo yet being doubtefull, he ſought to ſaue him
ſelfe by flight, their are ſome that for his excuſe do ſay y•
he being a man of great experence in the warres, ſawe
no meanes howe to ſaue the Chriſtians from the ſlaugh
ter, wherfore he thoughte it better to ſaue thoſe fewe,
then to ſuffer all to paſſe by the edge of the ſworde the
Pollonianes dyd euer after that: inpute this defeicte of
the Chriſtians:
And he for hys excuſe ſayde, that hys councell was
contempned and not folowed, Laodyſlao beynge guie ende, they mought
t the ſlaughter & ſpoyle of
the Turkes, did farre exceade that of the Chriſtians,
but coe inequalitie of the armies, the loſſe of
the Chriſtians (weyng their number) did farre excede
that of the Turkes.
When Amorathe had thus obtained the victorie and
reſted wholly maiſter of the fielde, he had no great deſire
to folow the chaſe of his fliyng enemies, nor yet did glot certen of his familier
frendes,e aduyſe of the Baſcias put to death, to auoide
e ouerthrow receaued at Varna, which dyd much
diſquiet him wherfore he deniſed in hym ſelfe daye and
night, howe to recouer his loſte credite, and to be reuent
all ſpede, and with grea deligence aſſembled his people
•
Vaiuoda leuied bandes in Hungarye, he ſent to Cali• ſpace of certaine houres with great obſtinatie
on both partes, that nether, gaue to the othe, one fote
of grounde the battayle was ſo doublefull, that of ney• the Chriſtians were not a
ble to endure y• great force of y• Turks, although y• Hun• Turks, in vertue & diſcipline
of the wars yet not wt ſtanding, being ouer laid wt nu•. fote men were in maner all ſlaine
vpon the place, and on the Turckes part the loſſe was
not leſſe when he came to his reuewe, when Amorathe
had thus (with the great effuſion of the blood of his peoe prouince of Bit the death of his innoocent brother, not wyth• Calidaſſo dyd chaunge
the child and preſented an other in his place, and that y•
frewe childe was brought vppe in Conſtantinople, and
after ward ſent to Veniſe, and that it was he, that was
holden priſoner in the palace at Rome by Calixto y• bi
• his father lefte vnto him, but ſought
• he coulde
not lawfully be called Emperour of Gretia, vnto y• time
• they coulde not diſ• vtter extirpa
But nowe, to retorne to the declaration of our hiſ• to ende, y• his peoplemoughte
t
• Towne
• towne determyned rather to dye, then to yelde
the towne to his mercy, whereupon they defended their
citie with greate aſſurance, Mahometh then: conſider• coulde be in the beſte order furniſhed,
there was not one of them but that he faſted all the
• preſts and other
religiouſe toke in hand the Images of the Crucifixe and
our Ladye, and alſo the reliques of Saincts and went in
ſolempne proceſſion with all the inhabitants of the Ci• defence of the• force
of the Armata, the reſte of the Citie, toward the firme
land, beſyde his walle wherof we haue alredye ſpoken,
is enuironned with a dyke, deye and large, when the
thirde watch of the night was paſſed, the Turckes bee towne
with al his power,• walles, & ſet vp
theyr ladders,• end ſome he threat drewe him
froe
Emperour vnderſtode, he feared it wouldbe the loſſe of
the citie, whervpon he went in perſon to him, & deſired
him not to leue y• aſſaute, but Giuſtiniano would by no
meanes graue end he mought go to be dreſſed & then to returne a• citie, al ye gates of y• braies were ſhut betwene
them and the towne, to the end that they which fought
vpon the vttermoſt walles, ſhoulde determine there to
obtayne the victorie, or elles to die in the place, for ſo
muche as they beinge once abandoned, the loſſe of the
towne muſte nedes folowe, when the gate was opened
Giuſtiniano went oute, through whoſe abſence they of
the towne were merueylouſly diſcouraged,
When the Emperour ſawe the ſhamefull flighte and
great diſorder of his people, he alſo fled after them, not
regardyng his imperial maieſtie,• vtterly deſpiſed ſeruile
life,e one of thet their owne handes. And Giuſtiniano beyng gone to
Pera, and from thence by ſea to Scio, fell ſicke eyther
of his hurte, or els with thought, and in fewe dayes af
When they had ſpoyled the temple of S. Sophia, whi• gold
ſiluer & ſtone, y• was about the• ſtrete
and canell to be troden on, not onely of men, but alſo of
dogges, ſwine, and other beaſts, the croſſes and Ima• pope Nicholas, diſguiſed
himſelfe in ſimple habite, and when the Turkes entred
the towne, for fewe thouſandes of Aſpres, raunſomed
himſelfe. They that dwelled in Pera a garriſon towne
of the Genoueſes, hearynge that Conſtantinople was
loſte, layed downe their weapons, and taried not the
ſummonynge, but ſent to Mahometh, and offered hym
the towne, who receyued them, and ſhortlye after rat in his breaſt the hatred that he had cone chief
occaſion that Amorath was called out of Aſia to take in
e ſecrets of thoſe wars
e
e Albaneſes that dwele two brethren to haue the
e rule & goueruance, of Thomas Paleologo there
Diſpotto, who agreed wt Mahometh to paye him yerely
e ryght
was deſcended vnto him by the death of his brother the
t the only
• ſame Peloponeſſo,• great ſlaughter that there had ben wher
vpon he cauſed inhabitants to come oute of all partes,
and gaue to them greate priuileges and liberties to vſe
what traffique, and alſo what religioe tyme of his death, he lefte it a Citie of great
traffique: and alſo maruelouſly repleniſhed with inhabi• people, he determined to prouide
him of & aptaines of great Iudgement and of good ſoul
diours and to aſſure him in his ſeate of Gretia, whervp
on he deferred the enterpriſe for thre yeres, and began
to make warres vpon the citie of Athenes which onelye
t
him and agreed to delyuer him the Towne, in exchaue Turcke hadt
the vnſpekeable power of his enemye, he wolde not ſe
him wa• contrey of Albania, very ſkylfully and valiante
whiche a Nephewe of his, his brothers ſonne, whoe ha• laborers
of the earthe, lainge waſte a greate pece of his contrey,
bringing it into vnſpekeable miſerie and calamitie, whe• ſea, & ſent them to Rho• patriarcke of Aquileia, who
being in thoſe ſeas, had often to doe with the Turckes
• Iſle of Salaminat
the Iſle of Ne• Chriſtianes
poſſeſſid in thoſe partes, in great peryl. And in Acarnia
which lieth in the myddeſte betwene Epiro, and Boetia
and is called at this daye the Duchie, and the Diſpotto
which then raigned in Acarnama and Epiro, whiche at
this daye is called Arta, which begynning towarde the
weſte at the permontories of Acrocera, doe ſtretch oute
toward the eaſte to the baie Ambrachio, whiche at thys
daye is called y• golfe of Arta, this Diſpotto being mare lord
Iohn Vnitimiglia, a Captaine of great fame that came
into Italie with the king Alphonſo of Aragone, to the
winning of the kingdome of Naples, who paſſed the ſea
into Arta, hauing with him certaine bands of Italianes
men at armes, and hauing often tymes to doe with the
Turckes, gaue them many defeictes, and ſet his ſonne
in lawe free from the inuaſiot great
fruite preach the goſpel to the Hungarianes, and being
deſtrous to talke with the Diſpotto, ſent to him deſirie ſame as toue errour, in the which he and his people were,
and to haue embraced the religion and faith of the Roe kings hande
whoe was much offended with him for his vntrouth, he
toke his leue, (not ſatiſfied acording to his expectacion)
and retorned into Seruia, a manifeſt document to admoe iniurie that was done him and the death
of his brother alſo, appointed certaine to goe, and to
vnderſtande in what ſtrength the Diſpotto vſed to ryde
when he paſſed from place to place with in his contrey,
from whom he receaued aduertizement that George
with in fewe dayes after wolde paſſe on vppon the ſyde
of Danubio to viſyte certaine fortes, and Townes of
of force that he had ſtanding vpo• Hune preachinge of freere Capreſtano
he had aſſembled an armie offortie thouſande men, of
Almaynes, Bohemes and Hungarianes, all croſſed me• which for the zeale of y• chriſtian
t all ſpede to fortifie his campe with greate
dykes and ſtronge rampares, & alſo they of the towne
applied them daye and nighte in reparing them ſelues,
that in ſhorte ſpace they were ſo fortifiede that notwith
ſtanding the greateſt part of the walle, was by yt Turc• they had made
•
grounde which they had determined to defend ſuch was
their valewe in armes.• aſſaute
with their battailones and ſo to kepe occupied continu•
enemies that ſome time they enforced them clerely to
abandone the walles, ſo that the victorie ſemed aparent• it was harde to ſaye where ye victorye
ſhoulde lighte, and by meanes of the great obſtinatie on
both partes the matter was lyke to continewe doubt
full tyll the darcke nighte wherupon Mahometh deter• aſſaulte
vpon the ſoodden, & abandoned their artillerie to their
enemies in proie, and with ſpede conueid them ſelues
to their lodginges, and the nigth folowing they leuied
their campe with greate ſylence and marched on with
great ſpede tyl they came into Seruia, and from thence
into Romania, when the Chriſtians ſawe the ſeege rai•
Capreſtano cared not for his owne glorie but for the glo• hed, notwithe warres ſhoulde be taken in hand againſt
the Turcke, he licenſed the Councell, and departed toe to Citie of Mitilleme, wherin was the lorde of
the Iſle with all his power,e riches that therein was, and they lefte nothing
nether ſacred ne yet profane vndefiled and in this ſorte
they obtained an exceding riche ſpoyle, both of treaſure
and priſoners of all kindes, and ages, which they lad
with Gataluſio their lorde, to Conſtantinople and ſolde
them in their marcketes (by companies lyke herdes of
ſwyne (for ſlaues, a piteouſe ſpectacle to beholde, a cere right of their
aunceſtours, whoe at their owne charges wanne it note taking of Morea, the loſſe
of Mitilene and Trebiſonda,• citie of Corintho
and beſegid it bothe by ſea and land, when Mahomethe
was aduertized of the arriualle of the venetianes, and of
the great daunger that Corintho was in, he put his Nae battayle
but marched alſo towarde them and withoute delaie ioi• fighte with freſhe and repoſed ſquadrones
in the place of the weried, and ſpoyled) began to retire
toward the ſea, thincking to ſaue them ſelues by fleing
to their Nauie, and brake their order, and being folowed
by the Turckes horſemen, were ſlaine, and taken in
great numbre, and loſte alſo their artillerie, munition
and cariadge, and in this ſort, was the ſege of Corintho
raiſed, and then with great triumphe retorned the in• they paſſed by. The Venetianes beinge greatly diſco• meanes
e generall enterpriſe againſt
the infidels agreed vpo•
Hungarianes. The Frenſhe kinge beinge much offene one parte fauoring henry their
auncient kinge, the whiche by Edward, Duke of yorke
was chaſed oute of the Realme, the other ſorte ſoughte
e Duke of Burgonie gaue aide, and Loiſe the Frenſhe
kinge aided the kinge henry, whoſe ſonne with y• counte
of warwicke entred England, & gaue battaile to kinge
Edward. In Spaine the citie of Burcelona in the con• that
god wolde not that anye parte of Europe ſhoulde be at
quiete, he ſturred vp in Fraunce the Duke Iohn, ſonne
to the king Renato of Angio, who paſſed into y• kinge•
kingdome, as men oute of their wittes deuided them ſel• king Fert their aduerſaries & in this ſort
lefte them al in good peace vnder his protection & gouere duchie & into
the contrey of Marca and finding theſe prouinces infect the afore ſaide Maladye, one citie being in armes
againſte the other and diuerſe citie beinge deuided in
them ſelues, the one part of the Citie againſt the other
ſome were of the Coloneſe factino & other of the Orſius
and nowe had the one the better and then the other, tyl
at the laſte by the great prouidence and induſtrie of the
legates, they were all pacified and lefte vnder the regi• miſerable ſtate of his contrey & the great ſpoyle
therof that had ben made throughe the Ciuile diſorder
and warres y• had ben amonge them, by meanes wher•
feelde and ſo repreſſed his furie y• in a ſhorte tyme they
toke from him Sinigaglia, Fano, and a good pece of the
countie of Arrimino, and after diuerſe encou•
enterpriſe of Aſia, againſt the Turckes and being con•
contre of Marca, not farre from Ancona, where they
ſhoulde fynde the Nauie reddie to receaue, both y• popes
hollynes and them alſo who wolde in perſon goe, to ſo
glorious an enterpriſe, and when the pope had thus de• ſecuritie of his ſtate where baines,
and retorned to Rome where he was maruelouſly troue king•
contre of Sabina into the Duchie, and from thence into
the contre of Marca and beinge caried in a horſe lytter
(in conſyderation of his weakenes) paſſed ſo on to An• waye he mette with a great
numbre of men e Nauie which
was made redie in diuers places of Italie, and ſhoulde
repare thither to vnite them ſelues and alſo he loked for
the Duke of Veniſe with his armata to arriue there in
this meane time the feuer dyd ſo growe and encreaſ vp
on him, that the ſame daye that the Duke of veniſe lane hauen of Ancona accompanied with xii. galleys
and a great numbre of gentlemen he yelded vp his ſoul• Cardinales
retorned to Rome to electe a newe Byſhoppe, and the
Duke of Veniſe retorned againe to Veniſe with his ar• ſe• Turckes which
had made there courſes into Almaignie and had taken a
waye a great proye both of men and cattell, Mahometh
determining alwayes to baniſhe the Chriſtians oute of
Gretia,•
e towne: wherupoe firſt aſſauite
had continued it for a certaine time,e garde of the towne defended it with rare
vertue, and noble myndes, and vſed their fiers artificial
ſhotte, great ſtones, and caſting ſpeares, wherwith they
had flayne a great numbre of the infydels, and when
the infydels had twyſe chaſed them from the breache &
had entred the towne, the Chriſtians ſerred them ſelues
and charged them and for with chaſed them fort he of the
towne making great ſlaughter of the aforeſaid enemies
but in the ende, for aſmuche as the greateſt parte of the
e Turce ſtretes of Negroponte were
fylled with dede boddies and waſhed wt chriſtian bloude
and after that they toke all the inhabitants of ye towne
as wel men as wemen that then were liuing, and made
them ſlaues and when they had thus done, they began
to ſacke the towne both houſes and Churches, in ſuche
ſorte as they lefte nothing in the towne, ſuche as were
fled into the ſorte made an appointement with him, it
was agreed that they ſhoulde departe ſafely with their
lyues and goodes whervpon they delyuered the Caſtle
before that anye one pece was planted againſt it, in dede
the Turcke helde not his promes with them, for in dede
be put them all to ye ſworde. And in this ſorte ye famous
Iſle of Eboica aboute the middeſt of ye monethe of Iune
was takee
e Iſle & ſpoiled
t
his bande which was of the numebr of. 150. ſouldiours
or there aboute, vnto whome they gaue ſuch ſome as he
demaunded, wherupon he toke his iourney and paſſed
throughe ye contrey of Friule in Italie, & after through
the contrey of Hungarie, then throughe Polonia, from
thence throughe Scithia, whiche at this daye is called
Tartarie, and in this ſorte conueid him ſelfe into Caffa
while theſe thinges were doinge, Mahomethe had put
e Chriſtians oute of Gretia, he leuied
an armie of a hundred thouſand men, and ſent them int no leſſe corage defend them ſelues. And throughe
the noble myndes and diſcipline, of the Chriſtian Cape peſtilent winds
which bette vpoe ſpring
folowing, againe to the ſege of Scutarie, althoughe he
were oute of hope to take it by force, yet he thoughte in
time throughe famine to poſſeſſe it, whervpon he cne they
coulde nether ſend forth to their fryndes anye aduertiſe
ment, nor receaue from them anye in telligence or relife
on the other ſide the Venetianes coulde neuer perſwade
the pope to abſtaine from the warres which he had bet the intollerable charges
therof weried, for that they were enforced to holde cone pope for y• manitenance of his warres in Tuſcane
againſt the Florentines, whervpon lyke wiſe men they
Iudges, that yf the Florentine ſhoulde happen to be
ſubdued, the enemie moughte alſo eaſyly take fro• Venetianes there, when Mahometh
had in this ſorte concluded peace with the Venetianes:
he deuided his armie, ſending the one parte therof into
Hungarie, which made a great courſe there, and the oe
xxi. of Maie, in the yere of our helthe M.CCCC.lxxiiii)
he proied and ſpoyled all the circuite of the Iſle, whiche
is a hundred and twentie myles,e order, wyth his kinghtes and ſouldiours and other
Chriſtianes that there were, defended the towne ſo
nobly & repaired it with ſuch induſtrie as it was a mart great
aſſurance, and ſlewe manye of them, and alſo they loſte
of thers ſome tyme, notwithſtandinge their ſmale loſſe
was more preiudiciall vnto them (forthat they had not
meanes to be ſupplied with newe men) then the great
numbre of the partie of the aſſailants which were ſlaine
was to them of ye campe, the numbre of them of y• of towne
conſumed and decaied daylye, when the Mahometiſtes
had in this ſorte contynued their ſeege by the ſpace of
two monethes, it ſemed to the Captaines & Baſcias y•
thei had made ſufficient breache whervpon. thei thought
them ſelues ſuer of the towne whenſeuer they ſhoulde
aſſayle it, and vpon this they made redie for the aſſulte
all kinde of neceſſaries & determined to gyue y• aſſaulte
•
breake of the day with greate noyſes and cries and they
emploied their greateſt force vpon that ſyde of ye towne
where the towre ſtode that was called Giudeca, whiche
was ſo flatte betyn to the grounde that the ſpoyle and
roobiſhe therof ſo fylled the dyke that men moughte ea
ſyly clyme vp to ye heighte of the breache, as ſone as this
was knowee aſſaulte
placed their ſhotte to beate their defenſes and breaches
to the ende they ſhoulde not be able to ſtande to the dee day with great aſſurance on bothe ſides, but in
the end ye Turckes through their great number, and ale
fighte with freſhe regimentes and bandes, preuayled
murche and in the ende certaine thouſandes of ye Turcks
ſerred them ſelues and charged with their hole force, vp
on the Chriſtians, which not beinge able to endure the
force of their enemies, were conſtreyned to abandone
the breaches, whervpon by lytle and lytle they retired
them ſelues towarde the market, and the enemies ene victorie
at that time to their enemies, and therfore that day they
of the towne were preſerued (contrarie to their owne
expectation) beinge clerely oute of hope of their helthe &
thervpon comforted them ſelues and all they that were
in the towne bothe men wemen & children laide to their
handes for the reparing of the breaches for the ſpace of
certaine dayes, tyll that they had made it ſomewhat det
commiſion to ſayle towarde the coaſte of Gretia and to
ſuccour the towne of Rhodes, which ſhippes being wel
furniſhed with men, ſet ſayle and ſayled toward ye coaſte
of Gretia, and the .xxx. of Iulye they arriued within the
ſighte of Rhodes, and holdinge on their courſe towarde
the hauen mouthe the leſſer of the two paſſed with fylled
ſayles, throughe ye middeſt of ye turckiſhe Nanie, which
came and aſſayled him thincking to denie him ye paſſage
as he paſſed throughe their Nauie he ſlewe manie of the
infideles and ſo arriued ſafely with his ſhyppe and peoe towne) had ben
in, was discoraged & durſte not folowe but made aboute
from the Nauie of the enemies to the ſea againe toward
the middeſt of the chanel, the nexte morning being ent pytche
and towe meaning that whileſt certaine of their galleis
dyd aſſayle her, others ſhoulde ſet her on fire, whervpon
they tawed the palandre after them at ye ſterme of ſome
of their galleys, in their meane tyme the wynde aroſe &
began to blowe a handſome gale, not withoute a manie Turckes began to diſpaire
of the takinge of the towne thincking that the two ſhipt
xv. thouſand ſouldiours) towardes the Golfe and vpon
the ſodden he aſſayled the Iſle called Saincte Maura, an•
e contrey was lefte
withoute garde of men of warre, and alſo that the king
was where he coulde not annoie him, when the Nauie
of the infideles was come within fighte of that pointe of
e he was procured by diuerſe
noughtie Citizenes of his faction, that daye to take the
citie and to vſurpe it, when the Duke had receauid this
commaundement from his father; he departed forthe wt
oute of Tuſcane with all his armie, and marching on wt
great ſpede broughte them into Pulia and entertained
alſo, as manye fotemen as he coulde gette and appoin•
the whole power of the campe was at it, and it grewe
to a battaile & cot great
aſſurance on bothe ſydes, in that battayle was ſlayne
the countie Iulio de Aquaiua, one of the kinges chiefe
conductours of his men at armes, the fotemen being diſe campe & ye towne, but they of ye campe had ale worſe, there was ſlaine before Ottranto Mate counte Iulio de Piſa and diuers other
Captaines & officers of ye Italian armie, ye king bycauſe
he wolde make the iorney the more famous went wt his
courte to Barletta, he ſent for aide to al ye Chriſtiae king of Hungarie Mathia, ſent him a Colonell wt
a regimee king of
Portugale ſent him manie Carauelles, well armed and
furniſhed, there came alſo oute of Spaine, Arragone and
Catalona, many gentlemen of their owne charges and
good wil, to aide the kinge, & notwe Turckes diſmaied not at all, but aſſured them ſelues
& fortiſied their towne, & did not only defend it but went
forth of ye towne dayly & ſcaramoched wt ye Chriſtians &
ſlewe many of them & alſo brought of them to ye towne,
priſoners. And when they had thus in vaine conſumed
both ye ſoe Autome winter approched & conſtrai• townes neareſt about eit, and in y•
ſame winter ye Nauie of ye Turcks ſpoiled al ye coaſte of
Pulia euee veri mou• Acot his lord Mahometh, be• co• ſpringe of y• yere, he lefte in Ottran
to for ye defence therof eight thouſand choſet al kinde of monitioe
ſpace of xviii. monethes, & then paſſed on wt his armata
to Valona, & fro• courte, & whet
his lord, Mahometh determined to goe in perſot him y• iorney entendinge to make
quicke Diſpatche of ye ſame, & thetin fewdais died, & it was ſuſpected y• he was poiſo
MAHOMETHE DIED THE LVI. YERE
of his age in the xxvii. yere of his raigne,
he lefte behinde him two ſonnes the one
named Gemma, ye other Baiazithe. The
Turckiſhe nation beinge deuided after ye
death of Mahomethe, the one parte,
eſpecially the nobilitie fauoring Sultan Gemma, and ye
Gianizaries the partie of Baiazithe, and therfore immee Baſcias and Gianizzaries, and being in doubte of his
brother Sultan Gemma, He began to ſe his ſouldiours
verie wel furniſhed, and to prouide for his owne ſecurie affaires had paſſed in Con•
Empire of the leſſe Aſia, whervpon he conueyd hys art
them, to ſend for ye reſte of his bandes that were in Aſia
and to vnite them with his armie,e olde bandes of Gretia, and aſſembled hys
e fighte contynued for a longe time
and after great ſlaughter on bothe ſydes,e
religion (fearing leſte by holding of him he mought pure towne more
neare then in the tyme of Mahomethe he durſte doe,e very bancke
of the towne dyke, and then planted his batteries, and
batterid it for certaine dayes & they determyned to giue
an aſſaulte, whervpon he ſawe his people furniſhed wt
all kinde of neceſſaries and then deuided them into bate Acomathe
was in Aſia, and had taken parte with Ge• Duke
of Calabria, and meſſagers both went and came on both
ſydes, and at the laſte with much a doe they agreed that
the towne ſhoulde be delyueryd into the Dukes hands,
vpon condytion that the kyng ſhoulde ſafely ſet them in
Gretia: with al the ſubſtance and artillerie that they pre• Turct
ſuch humanitie that in the ende he obtained great good
wyll of the people, when he had thus done, be paſſyd the
ſtraite homeward and was receauid into Conſtantinoe olde worldes, he then gaue order, & altered,
the recepte of his reuenewes and cuſtomes, withoute
any ſparcke of auarice or rapine, and when he had made
a reuewe of hys Gianizzaries,e coue reſt be toke be he wolde departe
e for deſt
parte of the leſſer Aſia toward Soria, called Cilicia came mounte Tauro, whee contreis of Frigia, Dardania, Ionia, & M•
e
Citie of Tarſo and at Magnopoli (a Citie in tyme paſte
of great power and fame) ſtretcheth oute to yt baie Iſſico
nowe called the golfe of Iaza, and towarde the northe it
confineth with Capadotia vpon the ſyde of the mounte
Tauro, when Baiazith was entred with his armie ine countre of Abraham Caromano, who had wt great
diligence fortified his townes, looking for his enemies
and alſo he had furniſhed the ſtraites of his contre, and
to the ende he wolde not be enforced to fighte he encame Citizenes
very gently, and wolde not ſuffer anye of his armye to
enter into the towne but onely thoſe that were appoine garde bothe of his perſon and towne, and when
the Automne was come on, the ſharpnes of the wether
was ſuche, that he coulde not well holde his people in ye
felde,tin ſighte
of him he ſent his vauntgarde toward his enemie ſome
thinge ſpedyly, to begyn the battayle, and he in perſon
dyd conducte the battayle and folowed the Vauntgarde,
he alſo was folowed by the rierewarde, and all his bagat
his owne hande he ſlewe dyuerſe of thoſe which aſſailed
him, & in the ende throughe the great loſſe of his bloude
which contynually fell from him: throughe his dyuerſe
and sondrie woondes whiche he had receauied in the bate Turce mought empeche them, whervpoe
houſe of Ottomano, and alſo to Caromano, and confede
rate with the greate maiſter of Rhodes and the King of
Cipres, dyd preſerue his ſtate vntyll that daie ſtanding
as a newter betwene them both, but whe• clementie then force of ſo mightie a prince, & whet townes of the ſea coaſte
from propontide or ſtraicte of Gallipoli euen to the cone whole: one gouernau• reſtid of the Iuriſdiction of Caromae charg
and conducte of Muſtaffa his Baſcia, and then he entred
into Galatia, and from thence into Bithinia the neat
exciding great ioye, and there toke his horſe and rode a• Soldane, chiefee
ſpringe was cot
Muſtaffa his Baſcia at his departure from thence, whe•
the Soldane had ſent him) ſhoulde attempte ſome great
enterpriſe in Soria,t
a great numbre of Arrabianes, wherfore Baiazith was
ſome what in doubte what was to doe (conſidering the
great preparatio• vertue & diſcipline of the Mamalukes, whoſe
name was feared throughe all Aſia, for as much as they
were counted a people inuincible in battayle wherfore
he thought it good not raiſhly to trye his fortune in bate comminge
of his enemies he alſo preſented his people embattailed
and as ſone as the Mamalukes came anye thinge neare
vnto them,• no man coulde
ſee of eyther ſyde, anye aduauntage, and Baiazithe alt
newe and freſhe bandes and hauinge farre greater num• the night
toute great
loſſe, & in this forte broughte his people into his campe
to their lodginges, which he lefte wel fortified with tren• firſte prince
of the Mahometane relygion, and takinge vpon him the
name, and dignite of Soldane, he is ſacred in his crea• father
of all the Mahometyſtes, they haue alwaies ben contene defence of their owne ſtate, or els of ſome other Mae ſpace of thre C. yeres and moe, they ne•
begynninge and made a lawe,• Mamalukes ſuccede in the place of their fathers, nei• propre goodes and enheritaunces of their fa• ancient league
and confideracie y• had ben of a longe tyme betwene the
Soldanes, and his houſe, and eſtabliſhed his gouerne•
they wolde render the fortes vnto him at all tymes,• Venetianes ſhoulde
ſuſpecte him, he began to make redie his Nauie, and to
prepare his armie by land, & bruted that he wolde make
warres vpon the people of Valachia, and Moncaſtro &
when he had made redie al thinges both by ſea and land
the Venetian Nauie retorninge from Candie, whether
it were by chaunce, or els y• ye generall therof had ſome
e whiche when Baiat his campe
and beſegyd it, and when he had batterid it by the ſpace
of a moneth, he was enforced by meane of y• great colde
to leuie his campe, and to departe thence withoute it,
when Baiazithe had ſpoyled and proied all the countre
aboute it, and ſawe that they of y• towne came not forth
to the feelde,e ſpace of many dayes, he had made ſo great
breaches that it ſemyd vnto him that his men moughte
enter the towne at their pleaſure, wherfore when he had
appoynted his Colonels howe they ſhoulde ſuccede the
one the other in the aſſaulte, y• nexte morning folowing
at the pointe of the daye they preſented them ſelues in
battayle before the towne.
Thoſe of the towne were redie at the breaches, & had
maruelouſly fortified againſte the cannon, with ſtronge
rampares and excedinge depe dykes, and defended them
ſelues nobly, in ſuche ſorte, that when the enemies pree pe enemyes, and repulſed them
often times clene from the breaches but ye enemies were
alway ſupplyed wyth newe regymentes, and renewed
ſtyll the aſſaulte, and gaue them of the towne no tyme
at all to repoſe, and they had of their people ſlayne, and
hurte contynually, and had not meanes to be ſupplied wt
newe, wherby the defendantes began excidingly to de• fewe whych they loſte,
e was made
of his, when Baiazithe had in this ſorte contynued the
aſſaulte the greateſt parte of the daye, he commaunded
to ſounde the retreicte and broughte his people home to
their lodgings, determyning the nexte morning ſo to dee Cannon,
and ſo to enter the towne, and beinge in this determina• they were
in, for that they wanted defendantes, conſydering their
people were maruelouſly ſpoiled and conſumed, but laid
to their handes as men of noble myndes, & repared thoſe
places that were nedefull & prepared them ſelues wyth
ſuche force as they had to defende there towne to the vte
aſſaulte, Baiazith being deſyrous to ſaue both the peot all their goods
and to conuei it whither thei leſte, & no man vpon paine
of his life to touche them, or theirs, whee
on that ſyde he coulde not be moleſted & hauing brought
vnder his obedience al the coaſtes of the ſea called Mare
Pontico, he made it ſo ſafe, that no man coulde paſſe y•
waye but by his good wyll, for as muche as he poſſeſſyd
all ye hauenes and ryuers that enter into ye ſame, when
he had acheuid this enterpriſe he retorned home warde
and broughte his armie into Romania, where he ſent
them to garniſon and he with his courte tontynued in
Andrinople, and calling to mynde againe the enterpriſe
of Corſu,e Venetianes
charge that they had dealed diſceitfully with him, where nexte yere folowing he paſe they
made him to conſume manie monethes in vayne, and be• Venetian Nauie, fraughted a great
ſhippe with corne and ſent it towarde Modone, & when
he came within ſyghte of the towne hauing a ful winde
and a good gale therof packed on all his ſayles, and ſay
led directly towarde the Turckyſhe ficete, which laie in
his courſe, directly betwene him and the towne, & came
on with ſuche violence, that none of them durſte to ent
in the towne before ye they ye were at the ſhyppes were
able to ſuccour it, when the Turckes were in this ſorte
become lordes of Modone and had put their garde in the
market place, and alſo vpon the bulwarkes of the towne
then began they to ſeke all places of the towne, and to
cut in peces whoſoeuer they mette with armour or weae Citadell
that they were not able to endure there, but practiled
an appointement, and were enforced to render it hauing
their lynes ſaued then they of the Iſte of Corone, which
ſtandeth righte ouer againſt Modone, ſeing Modone poſe name
of it, naming it Tangari Verdi which in our tougne ſig•
he had not with his Nauie ſuccoured it, whervpon they
ſent for him to Veniſe, coe Archipelago (whiche
deuideth ye leſſe Aſia from Gretia) to ioyne with ye Venee Iſle & finalli came
and encamped before the towne which was the cheife of
the Iſle,e Turcks
of the towne with their ſodden aſſaulte, ye notwithſtane Nauie of Fraunce was commonly knowen in Cone force of y• nation beinge then augmented
e Mae hauet the Nauie of Fraue power of the Chriſtans (cheifely of fote
men, wherof the frenſhe had great wante) but whee meanes of Andre Gritti)
and wolde no furder procure his indignation, or els that
the good ſucceſſe of the frenſhe dyd not lyke them where yf they had had men ſuffie
he bare him, and lodged him in his owne lodginges pree time
and order that he ſhoulde obſerue when he ſhoulde coe great entertainement that his father gaue him
and alſo howe that his father determyned to make him
Emperour in his lyfe tyme, and to reſigne his place vne rentes, cuſtomes, and gabelles
that the Turcke receaued oute of thoſe contres, & with
ſuche ſut he wolde be at his choiſe
whervpoe ſtill he perſeuered in his beaſtly rage
againſt him, he layd a parte all reſpectes, and alſo his fa
therly loue, & called to him his Baftias, & ye Captaines
and garde of his Gian izzaries, and commaunded them
to vſe all their force poſſyble againſt Selim, as againſt
their mortall enemye, for ſo muche as he ſawe in him ſo
great beaſtlines as to vſe againſt him, ſuche barbarique
crueltie and rage, which enforced, him to beliue that his
mother had deceaued him, and breaking her faith toware Baſ
cias and Captaines herde theſe wordes of their lorde,
they were maruelouſly enflamed with Ire and Iuſte ine ſpede of their horſes, they ſtayed in no place
but fled contynually daye and nyghte, till they were paſe
ambition, and audacitie of his ſonne it cauſed him to coe ambition and crueltie of Selim, diſe
promes that he made vnto them in his behalfe as tou• which when Baiazithe vn
derſtode, he commaunded his garde of Gianizzaries and
dyuers of his Sanzachi to embarcke with their com•
•
is called Saincte dimetrio and came to the gate and cal• ſpurre to the Citie, where there came
to encountre and receaue him, not onelye the Gianize vniuerſall requeſte of his people, but to confirme
and approue what they had done, and that he moughte
with his fauour and good wyll gouerne, promiſing that
he wolde alwayes be an obedient childe towardes hym
Baiazithe ſeinge the offers of his ſonne, and that there
was no meanes to altere that that was done, and that
yf he ſholde not willingly coe Dinaotico, which
is a certaine houſe of pleaſance neare vnto Andrinople
wherein y• time of his gouernance he vſed muche to lie,
and had buylded there ſumptouſe and coſtly lodginges,
Selim anſwered him very franckly that he ſhoulde not
onelye haue that houſe, but alſo any other houſe that he
wolde, whervpon Baiazithe cauſed to make prouiſyon
of all ſuch thinges as he wolde carie with him and then
went againe to viſite his ſonne, and toke his leue
of him, & then went with his companie toward
Andrinople, and in hi iorney he fell ſyke, ei
WHEN ACOMATHE VNDERSTODE
of the comming of his brother Selim to
Conſtantinople, & in what ſorte thinges
had paſſed there, he thoughte not hym
ſelfe ſuer at Scutaro, whervpon he depare
reſte of his men of warre towarde whome he vſed great
liberalitie, and gaue them excedinge largely, after that
he began to reforme theordynances of his predeceſſours
as touching his men of warre, and gaue them to vnder
ſtande that their great brauerie was to no purpoſe for
it behoued good ſouldiours to prouide to couer them ſele
they dyd weare vpon them. After this he eſtabliſhed his
countrey of Gretia, and then paſſed the ſtraite with his
armie into Bithinia, and then into licaonia and Capat his brother Core he moughte by flighte
ſaue his lyfe wherfore he diſguiſed him ſelfe, and with
certaine ye he moſte truſted he departed ſecretly oute of
the towne, and toke the waye towarde & hodes, & when
he came to the paſſage he founde it, with all ye ſea coaſte
occupied with the galleys and fuſtes of Selim, and whee leſſer Aſia which lye alonge the
ſea coaſte euet
all ſpede the neareſt waye towarde Burſia, and when
he came vpon the plaine of Burſia, he mette with Acoe begining of the battaile, conueid the•
the Sophie is, beinge deuided from the reſte of the Mahoe marchantes
that were ſubiectes to the Sophie, whiche dwelledin
Burſta & were called aggiammi, he ſent them to dwell
in Conſtat
artillerie as he was, he determined to alter the artillerie
that his father lefte, and to make it, into ſuche peces as
moughte more eaſyly be caried and lyke vnto ye whiche
the Chriſtianes vſe at this daye, wherfore he cauſed to
e paſſage of his victualles ſhoulde be free without
empechement, and therfore ſent his ambaſciadours to
the prince of Adola) who poſſeſſed manye places in the
mountaine, to require him to ioyne with him in league
who anſweryd that he wolde be enemye to nother of
them nor wolde deale in there differences, betwene the
Sophie, and him, but wolde ſtande frinde to them both,
and wolde gyue to ether of them free paſſage thorowe
his countrey, and alſo ſuche victual as he had, which cone moue Citie Tauris foure
dayes lorney,e myddeſt of his ſquadrone, which made ſo great
anoyſe that the aire dyd ringe, and the earthe dyd ſhake
with it, and hauing ſtayne in the diſcharge of that volee
an excedinge great number of men & horſes, it ſo feared
the reſt of the horſes whiche were not vſed to thone rode them were
not able to gouerne them, when the Turckes horſemen
ſawe their enemies flee in that ſorte, they folowed them
with all ſpede poſſyble, and when they ouergate them,
they ſlewe and toke an infinite number of them, ye roſte
fled euery man his waye, and ſuffred there enemyes to
enioye the victorie, and at the fyrſt diſcharge of the artil
lerie the Sophie, with a great number of his nobilitie,
with drewe them ſelues,e Soe Perſians, but alſo to ſtand
vpon their feete, throughe the which incommoditie See yere
folowinge and to renewe the warres, and when he had
taken oute of Tauris a great number of the cheife Citie towne
of Maſcuall and toke it of force & gaue it in proie to his
e countre aboute Iconio, at this day called Cogni,
ſo ſpoyled that they ſhowed them ſelues not onelye, not
victoriouſe, but rather defeicted ouerthrowen, & ſpoyled
when Selim had in this ſorte placed his people in garnie
that he had loſte ye greateſt nue warres
and had determyned to winter at Iconio, for ye he wolde
be at hand to take in hande againe the enterpriſe in the
ſpringe folowing, the Gianizzaries beinge determined
e ſtraite and diſcouered him ſelfe to none,
vntyl he came within his Seraglio: where he continued
three dayes and wolde gyue audience to noe man and in
the ende beinge enforced by Pernio Baſcia and ye Cadi
to declare the cauſe of his great melancholie, anſwered
that he was no more an Emperour, for ſo muche as the
Gianizzaries wolde haue enforced him, whervpon they
deſyred him to be of good chere, and declared vnto hym
that he ſhoulde haue good meanes to puniſhed them and
to be reuenged vpon them for their rebellion, and when
they vnderſtode of him, the cheife auctours of this diſore Soldan for aide, declaring vnto him the
great peryll wherin he was, & praied him that he wolde
haue regarde to their comon welthe, and ſend his armie
to vnite with him. The Soldane was maruelouſty moe which
the Sophie was broughte, with all his countre of Pere Soldane wolde
detract no time he began immediatly to leuie his bands
and gather his armye, and to make redie for ye enterpriſe
on the other ſide when Selim retorned to his garniſions
he began to ſupplie his bandes with freſhe ſouldiours,
and to ſee them thorowlie furniſhed with money and al
other neceſſaries, and as ſone as the ſpringe of the yere
tame he aſſembled his armye, and put to the feelde mare
comminge of the Soldane into Soria, and when they
• eaſte, for ye actes which thye &
their predeceſſours had done in time paſt, & being in this
ſort perſuaded, he determined the enterpriſe againſt the
Soldane, & marched wt his armie a long by the fote of the
mounte Tauro holdinge the waye of the righte hand &
ſo paſſed into Cilicia: where he vnderſtode that the Sole
Soldane was encamped vpon the ryuer of Singa tene feelde
puttinge his people in order in the myddeſt of the feelde
declaring him ſelfe redie to the battaile,e he ſpeake
but contynued ſtyll their flyghte, and diſorder, and when
the Soldane ſawe that he was lefte of his ſouldiours,
and alone vpon the feelde, he wolde not comme on lyue
into the handes of his enemyes wherfore he folowinge
after his people, ſoughte to ſaue him ſelfe by flighte
but being ercedingly hote and faintie in his armour, for
ſo much as he had taken vpon him ye day great trauaile,
and had continued the hole day on horſebacke, withoute
receauing meate or dryncke, in the ende beinge vtterly
weried, and with the force of the preſſe of thoſe ye came
•
in ſhorte tyme their were ſtaine amonge them ſelues in
theſe eſmotiones, foure Soldanes, when this man had
accepted the gouernance, he ſo reformed it, by his great
wyſdome and Iuſtice, encreaſyng it both with reputati•
ſpace of .xvi. yeres, wherein he had gouerned, they had
not onely, not experimented what the warres were, but
alſo not herde them once named amonge them: in all y•
kingdome of Egipte, and Soria. After this when the
nighte came, the enemyes fled faſte towarde Aleppo, &
lefte the feelde, and alſo their campe withoute defence,
in proie to the enemies, but Selim miſtruſting ye fyneſſe
of the Mamalukes, wolde not that nyghte enter into
their campe, but encampted where the battayle was
ſoughte,• nyght
in battayle, and when it was day he ſent certaine vante
corriers to vewe the campe of the enemyes, who fyn•
campe, and founde the lodginges of the Soldane full of
riches and gaue it in proie to his ſouldiours, and when
he vnderſtode that Gazzele, with the reſt of ye Soldanes
Captaines, were departed from Aleppo in the fourthe
watche, and gone to Dammaſco, he marched on to Alepe
he had alwaye ben a traitour to the Soldane, and had in
telligence with Selim, and alſo that he had aduertized
him of the comming of the Soldane into Soria, and exe Citizens many
liberties, and being greatly oppreſſyd by the impoſitie cheife Captaine amonge them then (conſidering
that the lorde of Damaſco was ſlayne in the battayle)
were determyned to goe and to create a newe Soldane
whervpon they departed from Soria and rode towarde
Cairo, Selim departed from Aleppo and marched on to
warde Damaſco, and when he was comme before the
Citie with hys armye, they of the Citie thought it not
good by reſyſtance, to put bothe them ſelues and y• they
had in peryll, whervpon they ſent forth to Selim Orae
temple, and other holly places of the Citie, he retorned
agayne to his armye the nexte waye. And Sinan Baſſa
with his companie which was .xv. thouſand horſemen
hauinge ouerthrowen the Arabianes and repulſed their
inuaſyones whiche often tymes they had attempted ae place, where
men enter into the ſandie deſerte paſſinge from Iudea
to Eairo, and when he came before the Citie with his
armye, they of the Citie willinge to auoide the ſacke &
ſpoyle therof, gaue place to tyme, and yelded ye Citie vne were of law• they ſawe
afarre of a great duſte,• they
of Gaza apeared not in his fauour (in hope of whoſe
ayde he had taken in hand the battayle) with his ſworde
in his hand dyd make his waye thorowe his enemyes, &
ſo retorned to Cairo with the loſſe of his cariage, and a
great number of his ſouldiours, and when Selim was
departed from Iheruſalem he came to his armye, and
e Citizens which had procured ye Soldane to ſend
his people thyther, when Selim had repoſed his ſoult his whole
armye,e trees
in the tyme of the gathering therof, by the gardeners,
which cut them with exceding fyne knynes made of yuo•
village, whervpon he entrenched it very ſtongly wyth
great rampares, and depe Dykes, and had bent al his ar•
Soldane, & immediatly the Soldane marched forthe wt
his people in order, and there began betwene them a noe partie of ye Mamat were ape warres
and for that he wolde as muche as in him was ſaue his
people from the force of the artillerie, he determyned wt
all his power to aſſayle his enemye in the darckeſt of ye
nighte, for that he was aſſured that in the nyghte they
coulde not well vſe their artillerie withoute the ſlaughe Mat amonge thoſe fewe
with whom he had debated the cauſe, their were ſome
traitours whiche dyd aduertize Selim therof who caut in
the towne, he marched with his armye into the towne,
which he moughte eaſyly doe, for that the citie was not
enuironed with walle, nor rampare, beinge within the
Citie with his armye, he foughte three dayes continual• there
came dayly into his campe, Arabianes, Affricanes, and
other Mores, of ye prouices there abouts, he began to be
agayne in good hope to defende his owne, whyleſt the
matters of Cairo paſſed in this ſorte Gazzele whome ye
Soldane had ſent into Thebaiade, to leuie as manye
bandes of both horſemen and fotemen as he coulde, was
co•
preſeruation of the Mamalukes ſtate and of his lorde,
all that was poſſyble for him to doe, and neuer brake his
fait he, ſo longe as there was any token of hope lefte for
the preſeruation of this ſame, and nowe ſeinge his high
nes poſſeſſyd of the Citie, and placed in the Imperiall
ſeate, and his lorde to be fled and to haue lefte his kingt oute any maner of condition at all, but to be well cone reſte
of his chiefe Captaines, & appointed vnto him an hoe Captaines &
chiefe officiers of the Arrabianes to be broughte vnto
him, and gaue them very good wordes, and entertained
them in his ordinarie. After this he vnderſtode of a cer• ſoult their Captatne Maſtaffa Baſcia
he forth with, charged them with ſuche force, y• the Turc•
Soldane was ſyghting, and ſoddenly charged hym, in
ſorts, that he enforced him to retire, whervpon the Sol
dane beinge oute of hope of the victorie, determyned wt
thoſe fewe that he had lefte, by flyghte to ſeke to ſaue
him ſelfe and when they had rydden thre dayes contynue throte
and then toke hym, with dyuerſe of his cheife and princit
ſondrie tormentes to make hym to confeſſe where the
treaſoure of Campſone the Soldane was, and whee Region of Segeſta (acording to the opinion
of dyuerſe) Selim ſendinge hys Oratours to him, to ree were able once to holde vp head agaynſt
him, when the inhabitantes of Alexandria vnderſtode
what was done at Cairo, they b•
comme into their countrey greate courteſie and liberali• place of bellagarbei of Gretia, Sinan
Baſſa, who was y• cheife, & in greateſt fauor wt the Em• place, he coulde not en• that was co• ſouldiours wt were leſte at Cairo
e tyme
of their paie they receaued nothinge but their ordinarie
and that the Treaſurer declared that he had no commiſt
to be hanged, and when he had eſtabliſhed the gouerne• Sophie, he lefte Muſtaffa Baſe Golfe
and fyndinge his Nauie redie there he embarcked hys
ſouldiours of Europe and then ſayled on to Conſtanti• he made this proui•
within fewe dayes they ſhoulde haue ben paied, & com•
maryners to goe home to their dwellinge places, after
this the cauſe of this greate preparation, and the ſood• Automne alſo, and the winter foe a man moughte haue put into the ſore his whole
hande and they dyd cut awaye y• fleſhe rounde aboute it
which was ſo deade that he felte it not. And I wyll not
here omitte a notable matter, which was declared vnto
e Mahometane
religiot him, & ſayd vnto
him my lorde, yf thou knoweſt y• thou muſt dye, whye
doeſte not thou gyue order for the diſpoſinge of thoſe
goodes which at thy commaundement were arreſted &
taken from the marchants called Aggiammi in Burſia
which are ſubiect to the Sophie thyne enemie, the goods
are worthe at y• leaſte, certaine hundredes, of thouſands
of golde ducates, and yf thou ſhouldeſt nowe dye & not
gyue order in that behalfe they ſhoulde be conueyd, and
ſtollen awaye, were it not better that thou ſhoulde be• there were thre thouſa•
newes were brought him fleing of the deathe of his fa• councell of Perino Baſſa, whom he honored
as thoughe he had ben his natural father, in this meane
tyme whe• of ſtate the Mamalukes,
acording to y• ancient order therof vnder the Soldanes
whervppon he cauſed the Citie of Damaſco firſte to ree
houſe of Ottomanno, which brute when it was ſprede
abrode throwe the prouince, cauſed all the Mamalukes
that were lefte, which were hidden in Aſia, and Affrica,
to comme vnto him, and then according to their anient
cuſtume they created him Soldane, who made all pre•
he wolde, yea, to reſigne vnto him his place and to make
t his ſworde in his hande, then to be delyuered
by ſome practize: lyuinge into his enemyes hands, whert
nu• ſpace of certaine houres they ſo endured
the force of their enemyes that they were nothing at al
diſordered nor gaue to their enemyes one fote of place
in the end: hauinge ſlayne a great number of their ene•
vttermoſte, in ſuche ſorte, that very fewe were taken
lyuing by the enemyes. As ſone as Muſtaffa Baſſa had
obtained this victorie, he came forthwith wt his armie be
fore the Citie, the Citizens made no reſyſtance but oe marchantes which were: there oute
of all partes of the worlde to exerſyſe their traffique, he
pardoned the Citizens and confirmed their liberties
and freedomes which Selim had giuen vnto them
he lodged his armye withoute the Citie, and in
this ſorte diſpatched the reſt of the Mamae
prouinces of Egipte in perfecte peace,
which were wont to obey vnto See reule
of Solimanno Ottomanno
their lorde.
e which poſſeſſid y• part
of Albania, that was called Emathia, and
Tumeneſtia: and the mother of Scander
beg was named Volſaua, ſhe was daugh• ſtate of a ma•
rabattued ſworde, and he dyd excede them all bothe on
horſebacke, and on forte, and chiefely yf it were in y• pre• age of .xix. yeres. y• Turcke
made him a Sangiacco, which is as muche to ſaye as a
conductour of ſondrie, bandes, and gaue him ye leadinge
of fyue thouſand horſes, and ſome tyme the title of geuee
vtterance and there was no man that durſte to aun• victorie & ſlewe the Tartarre. Short•
other Za•
Tartarre made ſauinge that they wolde fyghte on horſ• Hungarians came to make warres
vpon the Turckes and to enuade their countrey wher• Citie of Croia with
the whole ſtate of the lorde Iohn, to the behofe and vſe,
of the hoſtages, gyuing the people to vnderſtande, that
the greate Turcke wolde immediatly delyuer it to one
of the ſo• the Baſſa had
promiſed in his name to the people,• con• Hungarianes
the victorie. And in the ende the two armyes metinge
neare the Ryuer called Moraua, ioyned in battayle. And
the diſcipline & vertue of Iohn Hu• Turcke
ne yet Scanderbeg, then Scanderbeg ſmyling au• name of the Turcke to the gouernour
of Croia, that forthwith vpon ſyghte therof: he ſhoulde
delyuer the Citie to Scanderbeg, as gouernour in the
name of the Turcke, and he wolde alſo that the Secre
The Secretarie aunſwered with a troubled countet
him, but he refuſed vtterly ſo to doe whervpon he cauſed
him ſoddenly to be ſlayne to that ende, that he ſhoulde
not goe and declare the matter to the great Turcke, and
in this ſorte he was preuented.
Then Scanderbeg with three hundred Albaneſes, vat the meſſager that he ſent, to certyt the ſplayed Egle
of ſable in a feelde of gules,• in an in
ſtat Pompeio, his father in lawe, Captaine
generall of the Romane armye.
When the Albaneſes were thus delyuered from the
Tiran, and from his wicked and cruell gouernement, &
from the intollerable yoke of the infydelles, they thanc• yere
of oure lorde. M.CCCC.xliii. and in the yere from his
byrthe xxxiii.
When the Turcke dyd vnderſtande this fynoſſe of
Scanderbeg, and the victorie of the Hungarianes, he had
ſo greate ſorowe, as in all his lyfe he had not had y• lyke
wherfore he determyned to be reuenged and to employe
all his force againſt Scanderbeg, but Scanderbeg being
very wiſe and one that knowe what he had to doe, being
aduertized of the Turckes determination and purpoſe,
went to Aleſſio, a Citie in Albania, then vnder the go• chiefe
Aramthe Conino which was afterwarde father in lawe
to Scanderbeg, Andrea Thopia, Paulo Ducagino, Ni
Very honorable fathers and magnificent princes. I
doubte not, but that it is well knowen to vs with howe
great inimitie, and diſpite, the Turckes doe perſecutee Turcke dyd poſſeſſe in Albania
as it is manifeſte to all men, wherfore your excellenties
maye be well aſſured, that that cruell dogge, wyll emt ſpede
and yf that by chaunce (which god forbydde) he ſhoulde
ouercomme me, he wolde immediatly make warres vpt myne,
and yf it ſeme not good vnto you ſo to doe, for ſo muche
as you are at peace with the Turcke, yet I ſhall erneſtly
deſyre you, to ſtande by, and nether to ayde the Turcke
nor trouble me, and hereof I do attende your gentle au• great Tyran. Then
all the princes and noble men of Albania, withdrewe
them ſelues with the lieutenantes of the Senate of Ve•
oure Captaine generall, to defend our libertie, hoping
in the mightye god that there is no power, that ſhalbe a
GEorge Caſtrioth, els named Sca• noble princeſſe Margaerite of Monferato, ducheſſe
of Mantoa, who beſyde her other patrimonie, had dy
Somme man mought aſke me here, from whence Alde Hominibus Illuſiris
in the thyrde Chapiter,• Tullio
hoſtilio the thyrde kynge of the Romanes, when he had
deſtroied the Citie of Alba, which was not farre diſtante
from Rome, and had ben often tymes enemye vnto it,
commau•
lieth betwene the mountaines called hiberi and Caucaſt
y• Albaneſes increaſed, & multiplied from tyme to tyme
ſo that at the laſte, their countre was called Albania
Iberia, which this ſame Plinio deſcribeth in y• vi booke
of his naturall hiſtorie, and in the thyrde chapiter, from
whence one parte of the Albaneſes departed, and came
downe into Europe, of whom the one parte dwelled in
Epirro, others in Macedonia, ſomme, in one parte of Lie loer
neare vnto Macedonia and Epirro, ſome dwelled in a
certaine parte of Dalmatia: and Illiria which is called
ye hie Eſemptia neare vnto that parte of Liburnia wher
of we ſpake before, when the Albaneſes had longe con• Albaneſes who ſo named
it, other ſome ſaye that the Albaneſes are deſcended froe noble men of both
houſes them ſelues ſaye.
Let all men knowe that this newe Albania which is
this diſcribed, liethe in Europa, it is very fertile & plen• maintenance of ma
After all theſe thinges there came aſpiall from Andri• Alibege, one
of the Turckes Baſſas came againſt him with .xl. M horſemen,
then Scanderbeg withoute delaye rode to his
confynes with .xv. M. Albaneſes, and when y• Turckes
were comme within two myles of him,e ſigne
of the croſſe vpon hym, and then he cried folowe me, &
thruſte towarde them and was the fyrſte that ſtrake, &
charged them with ſucke force and vertue, that in ſhorte
tyme he diſordered them, and when the battayle was ene place
all the ſpoyle of the Turckes as money, Iuelles, horſes
Laodiſlao king of Hungarie, who then made preparat an armie, ſent to Scan• great victorie y• he had obtained
againſt him) to deſyre him that he wolde goe in his comt ſuch bandes of ſouldiours as he ſhould thincke
good, wherfore when Scanderbeg had redde his letter,
he called vnto him his Captaines ſhowing them the let• behalfe, who aunſwered
by one conſent that he mought in no wyſe refuſe ye king
in ſo reaſonable a demaunde, for y• it was for the diſtruce helpe of Paulo Ducagi
In this meane tyme Iohn with the Hungarians, and
Polonianes, beinge ayded alſo by Iuliano Ceſarino
Cardinall S. Angelo, made redie his armie to marche
towarde Varna, where they muſte nedes fyghte: and
Amorathe loked for ayde oute of Aſia to comme to hym
and therfore auoyded by al meanes poſſyble the battaile
and prolonged the warres as much in him was,e Turc• cauſe
that he appointed the kinge, alwaye to tarie within his
ſquadrone,• Turc• coun
After all theſe thinges Amorathe the greate Turcke
ſent an ambaſſadour to Sca
I Amorathe Emperour of all the eaſte part of ye worlde
maye not ſalute the more nor leſſe for that thou arte be•
thou poſſeſſe the inheritance of thy father, vpon conditi• parte of Albania, which
I haue goten from others and not frou
ſhal be enforced to begge thy breade. Thou knoweſt wel
that beſyde all myne other forces. I can put to the feelde
moe then a hundred and fyfty thouſand fightinge men,
and thou hauinge but a handful of ſouldiours arte not
able to reſyfte me. I ſaie theſe thinges vnto the, bycauſe
I wold not hurte thee, I haue ſet before thee, the good, &
the euell, it is nowe in thy choſe to take whether of them
thou wylte, and thou maiſte credite my ſeruant and am
baſſadour Airadin and whatſoeuer he ſhall promyſe by
mouthe I wyll fulfyll, from Andrinople the. 16. of
Iune. 1444.
When Scanderbeg had redde the letter, and hearde
the ambaſſadour, he made him to be entertayned very ho
George Caſtrioth ſome tyme named Scanderbeg,u canſt
not ſalute me more nor leſſe, wherevnto I aunſwere, y•
yf it ſeme to the by that which I haue alredye done, that
I am becomme thyne enemye: yet yf all thinges be indif•
worlde to be done to doe the pleaſure: that I wolde not
for thy ſake doe, ſo that it be not, againſt the wyl of god,
and of this thou maieſt aſſure thy ſelfe, for I determine
to be thy frynde, but yf I haue recouered my libertie, wt
my fathers countrey, I thincke not therein to haue done
the any wronge, for that it apertayned to me, and not
to the beſyde that, yf the Turckes thy ſouldiours which
laie in thoſe partes of Albania that thou poſſeſſedſt, con• defaute is not myne, but
thers, or his who ſent them againſt me, moreouer yf I
haue defeicted thyne armye which thou dydſte ſende wt
thy Baſſa Alibeg againſt me. I thincke I haue done but
as I oughte to doe, to defende me and myne, againſt ſuch
as wolde offende me, and to conclude, yf I haue refuſed
the moſt damnable and deteſtable ſecte of Mahomethe, &
am retorned to that moſte true and lyuely faythe of Ie• helthe
of thy ſoule thou wylte receaue one good councell at my
hand, whiche is, that thou wylte voucheſafe to rede the
Alchorane, which is a briefe collection of the commau•
wylte indifferently conſyder, beinge vanquiſhed by the
trouthe, thou wylte receaue and embrace the Chriſtian
faythe, by y• which oneli, all men y• ſeke to be ſaued ar ſa•
thou mayeſt ſuffer thy ſelfe to be Illumined wt his hol• the greateſt prince of y• worlde, and I wolde
be vnto thee (eue•) I am thy
frynde, and I promeſſe thee that yf thou doe this, where
vnto I doe exhorte thee, which is to becomme Chriſtian
that I wyll not onely reſtore vnto the that parte which
thou requireſt at my hand, but alſo all myne owne that
I doe poſſeſſe in the worlde, and wylbe duringe lyfe thy
truſtie ſeruante: otherwyſe, I doe aſſure thee that I may
not doe it for anye perſwaſion that thou mayeſt vſe, and
chiefely for that the Turckes be alwayes enemyes to y•
Chriſtianes, and euel neighbours alſo, wherfore I wyl
t my ſworde in my hand. This alſo ſhoulde prouoke
thee to becomme Chriſtian, for that the poſſeſſion of the
townes, and the gouernement dothe apertaine (to the
Chriſtianes, and not to the infydelles) wherfore againe
I beſeche thee, that thou wylte becomme Chriſtian, for
otherwyſe I wyll contynually moleſte and annoye the
in all that I maye, and I hope rather to take from the ye
which thou vſurpeſt of the Chriſtianes, then to yelde in
to thy handes one handful of grounde. And as touching
thyne othe that thou haſte made •
yf I were not a Chriſtian, I durſte not encountre thee:
but coe tuytion of God, in whoſe
handes are ſtates, and kingdomes, I ſaye vnto thee, y• I
haue an aſſured hope to defende me agaynſte thy greate
power, where with thou haſt threatned me, and yu maieſt
well thincke, that victorie conſyſtethe not in number of
men, but in hauing god, and righte of his ſyde, and then
in the vertue of the ſouldiours and diſipline & iudgemeu
wylte becomme a Chriſtian, I ſhall then be enforced to
al that thou haſt required of me, further more I promiſe
vnto thy highnes, that I wyll not enuade anye parte of
thy dominions, onles that thy people doe firſte begyn.
And thus I commende me vnto thee, in ſuche ſorte as
ſhal pleaſe thee, fro
When y• ambaſſadour was departed with this letter,
Scanderbeg called vnto him all his Captaines, and de
My deare companiones in armes, I doe beleue that as
ſone as the Turcke ſhall haue conſydered my letter,e ſquadrone, wher• ſoodden to aſſaile
vs, we mought be ſone in order redie to autoute my campe
a good garde, for that they ſhal not ſurprins vs, whert, with myne ordinarie
bands goe to ye confines of my coue ver•
he were with them, and being in the feelde he neuer laie
oute of his armour, nor was withoute his weaponnes
aboute him, but ſlepte on the grounde vpon a carpett,
fyue houres ſlepe ſuffiſed him. In the beginninge of any
battayle, he neuer ſayde to his ſouldiours, on good felo
Whyleſt Scanderbeg was in this ſorte vpon his con• he
with a fewe ſouldiours with him laie vpon the confines
of his countre) had coe
they wolde be with him that daie, when Scanderbeg vn•
happie was the formoſt man, when this was done, Sca
When the Turcke vnderſtode theſe doleful newes,
he appointed forthewith and other Sangiacho named
Muſtaffa, and made him his Captaine general of .x. M,
Turckiſhe horſemen, with commiſſion not to encountre
Scanderbeg, but to enter his countrey by an other waie
and to ſpoile, and proie the ſame, but Scanderbeg hauie two thou
The Turcke for all this lefte not, but ſent Muſtaffa
afore ſaid with a greater companie then before, to ye cone
Citie called the Dagnio whiche ſtandethe in Albania
neare vnto the Ryner call Drino, for whoſe death Scan• there had ben alwaye gréate
fryndſhippe betwene them, and for that he dyed withe deceaſe of the ladie Boſſa his mother
by vertue of certaine couenantes ye were betwene them
notwithſtanding the Ladie Boſſa by meane of the lieue Dagnio
t thre
thouſand ſouldiours, when the lieutenante of Scutarie
vnderſtoode this, he aduertized the Senate therof, and
receaued commiſſion from them to leuie an armie, wher
vpon he toke oute of Scutarie many bandes of Italians
and leuied a great number of Albaneſes and made gene
My compainons in armes, if it be ſo that a man maye
lawfully demaunde his righte withoute doing wronge
to anye man, truely in that, that I haue demaunded my
righte, and beſeged Dagnio, and taken the ſtraicte or
valley therof, I doe beliue, I haue done no iniurie at al
to the Senate of Veniſe, but am rather wronged, notwtſtanding
I haue them partely excuſed, conſideringe the
falſe information that hath ben made vnto them in the
abſence of the contrarie partie, and truely I can not pere
I haue alwaye borne them, wolde neuer haue concluded
in my preiudice: yf they had firſt vnderſtode my right,
notwithſtanding, for that they haue nowe addreſſyd
their armie againſt me, we muſt nedes this daye fighte
againſt the Chriſtians, which in dede is greatly againſt
my wyl, wherfore nowe I ſay vnto you that it behoueth
you to fighte more circumſpectly and valiantly then you
haue done at anye tyme els, conſydering that you haue
to doe with men that doe farre excede the Turcks in vat great
obſtinatie, but in the ende Scanderbeg diſordered them
and put them to flighte, folowing the chaſe euen to the
gates of Scutari, and dyd ſley none of them in the chaſe
but toke a great number priſoners, and eſpecially men
of acompte, which were al preſented to Scae Captaine
of Croia, which he ſent into his owne countrey, & kepte
them priſoners in a forte of his ye was of great ſtrength
called Pietra Bianca, where they were by his coe ende
that he ſhoulde with contynual courſes ſpoyle,e
ſeege of Dagnio. After this they of Scutari, vnderſtane Marino Span was gone forthe of Balezzo, they
went thyther with al ſpede, and ſpoyled the Citie to the
very foundation wherwith Scanderbeg beinge greatly
offendyd deſtroied al the countrey of Scutari.
When the Turcke venderſtode that Scanderbeg had
warres with the Venetianes, and conſydering that that
countre laie betwene two mighty enemies, he was excee Turce other xii. When Scander
In the ende Scanderbeg made peace with the Vene
When this agrement was made, Scanderbeg ſpake
to the ambaſſadour of Veniſe in ſorte as foloweth, right
honorable my lorde ambaſſadours, it is the opinion of
ſuche as are wyſe where a man louethe once in dede, he
muſt nedes loue alwaie, and peraduenture the prouerbe
hathe herof his begynninge, whiche ſaythe that the diſe
which is mine for the which we haue had this difference
and doe holde my ſelfe as wel co
At that ſame tyme Scanderbeg made a great courſe
into the Turckes countrey, and burned and ſpoyled al ye
countre as he paſſed thorowe, and brought a great proie
from thence: whervpon the Turcke called vnto him, all
I am maruelouſly troubled and amaſed, with the mae
reſte. Wherfore I doe determyne to make prouiſioe Turckiſhe
armie, wt. 4. thouſand horſemen, & one thouſand fote•
they had ben victuallers) they haſted to encountre them
and when Moiſes with his companiones had fled a litle
waye, he torned and charged the Turckes and forthewt
ſlewe .viii. of them, and hurte manye: whervpon the reſt
ſuddenly fled and haſted them to the campe to declare
the newes, but the Baſſa beinge very circumſpecte miſ
After this the. 14 of Maye. 1449. this Tiran came
to his campe in Albania with. 160.e
defence of their towne, and in ſcaramoche, yet they ale
towne, by meanes wherof the people were greatly cont
they had within the towne a plentuouſe fountaine of
goodly water, and an other very faire fountaine behind
the Caſtle, which the enemyes coulde neuer poſſeſſe. In
the meane tyme that the Turcke beſeged Croia in thys
ſorte, the noble prince Scanderbeg, nowe in one place &
then in an other, aſſayled the Turckes campe, and ſpoye ende
of ye fourthe monethe aforeſayde Amorathe commaune towne and to aſſayle
it rounde in the whiche he preuayled not, but retorned
from the aſſaulte with great ſpoyle and loſſe of his peot
forthewith he died. Then the ſoroweful, amaſed diſhoe
ſege, and retorned home in great diſorder, and were fo
When Amorathe prince of the Turckes was deade
Mahomethe his ſonne ſucceded him in his kingdome, he
that was ſoe Turcke
had no armie in redynes to ſend againſt him, and conſy
Then the aforeſayde Mahomethe prince of ye Turce
countre of Scanderbeg, ſent againſt him a worthy Cape ſame.
Then Scanderbeg as a magnanime prince aut him
and when he had in this ſorte comforted them he cauſed
them to be ſafely kepte, and appointed vnto them honor
When Mahomethe had receaued this difeicte, he ſent
forthewith an other Sangiacho named Debreambeg
for his generall, with .xiiii. M. Turckes, and as ſone as
Scanderbeg vnderſtode that they began to approche to
his confynes, he toke his horſe with his ſouldiours, and
rode in the nighte thorowe a great valey, and at the laſt
came vp the hill where the Turckes laie, withoute any
ſuſpection, and charged them vpon the ſudden, & whiles
his ſouldiours were fyghtinge with the Turckes he in
perſon went directly to the tente of the Captaine Debre
After this Scanderbeg beinge muche offended with
Mahomethe prince of the Turcks: went and encamped
e
Turckes called Sebalia came with .xl. thouſand Turc• he had ſo at an int
honor, and whee ſeege
of Belgrado, but the Citizens and Turckes that were
within ſent an ambaſſadour to Scanderbeg, who beha
After this Scanderbeg with his. 3. thouſand horſe
men, & one thouſae conducte of ye aforeſaid Moyſes.
This Moiſes for his vertues, and worthynes, was
ſo muche embraced and fauored of Scanderbeg, as anye
man that was with him: in token wherof Scanderbeg
had gyuen him many townes, and great poſſeſſyones,
armours, weapones, horſe, aparell, Iuelles, clothe of
golde, and ſylke, with great ſummes of money, notwithe
Turcke promiſed him to gyue vnto him a hundred thou
Then Moyſes toke his iorney & paſſed on wt his xv.
thouſand choſen Turckes well monted, & came againſt
Scanderbeg thorowe Thracia, and Macedonia. As ſone
as Scanderbeg vnderſtode of this practiſe, he did vnite
his armie to the number of r. thouſande men, on horſe,
and fote, and went to tarie the comminge of Moyſes in
the plaines of the baſe Dibra. When Moiſes was co
Then when all thinges were in that order that he
wolde, he commaunded them with a lowde voice to foe fyrſte
After this when Scanderbeg ſawe Moyſes faithfull and diligent in all his affares he receaued him into hys faueur, as before, and accepted him better.
When the Turcke vnderſtode the contynuall vice campe
crying in this ſorte Scanderbeg is bere, Scanderbeg is
here. But Scae
euer ye Sangiacho Ameſabeg (neuewe to Scanderbeg &
rebelle againſt him) coulde doe or ſaye coulde not ſtaye
them from ronning awaye,t
500. Turckes moe were taken priſoners, and Iſaach
the Baſſa,
This done he retorned to his confynes, and made a
The Turcke reſted not for this but ſent newe bands
to garde his confynes with two other Captaines, ye one
of them was named Hannebeg, and the other Sinanbeg
with expreſſed commaundement not to deale with Scan
Then Scanderbeg beholdinge the great proſperitie
of his enemye (in the preiudice and ſubuerſion of the Ca
In this meane tyme the ambaſſadours of the pope
Pio the.e Coue kinge
can not paſſe ouer to ſuccour him, wherfore the popes
hollynes, and oure kinge alſo, deſyre your highnes in
moſt erneſt wiſe, that it maie pleaſe you to comme into
Puglia in his fauour, and when the ambaſſadours had
this ſayde they preſented vnto him the popes bulles wt
the kinges letters, wherin there was conteyned ye lyke
of that, which they had declared by mouthe.
Then Scanderbeg beinge greatly affected towardes
the popes hollynes, and the holly catholique churche of
Rome, and for that alſo he was entred into great fryndt ſent
one of his chiefe Captaines his Nephewe, named Cairo
Stroiſio, a man of great vnderſtandinge, and worthines
with. 500. choſen horſemen, who paſſed the ſea, and lan
In the meane tye Turcke, to demautoute grau
After this he committed his ſtate into the handes of
his welbeloued wife, and others, his moſt faithful frinds
and appointed to defend them a worthie Captaie with
ſufficient number of ſouldiours, and when he had hired
a greate number of ſhyppes, and galleys and other veſe ſea, he cauſed his armie to embarcke in them
beinge well furniſhed of horſes and courſers of greate
price, and with aboundance of virtuall, and then he cau
My deare frinds,toute drawing
e wyll
torne ſuddenly vpon them, for when they haue folowed
vs a lytle tyme, they wylbe ſone wery for they can en
The nexte morning folowinge Scanderbeg wt hys
ſouldiours, went with great aſſurance to ſe the kynges
enemies, and he attempted a ſcaramothe to ſe the maner
of his enemyes, and in what order they fought, but they
behaued them ſelues valiantly for a longe tyme,
The nexte daye folowing in the morning, Scandere one of them
he wolde leave in perſon, the other he comitted to ye con• they
mighte talke together from their companies, whervpoe meane
tyme as Scanderbeg made hym redye to goe towarde
Barletta, a ſouldiour of the counties came to Scander•
they coulde betraye Scanderbeg, and take him lyuinge
• moſte wicked murderer & thou countie Iames
thou traitour Ganio, was it not ſnfficient for the with
crafte and ſubtilitie in this ſorte to auoide the diſtructit
all his ſouldiours with him towardes the enemye, and
whee night
before, he founde all the armie gone, for Zachuria Grope cou•
they mought ſo paſſe ouer, then whee armies muſt fighte, betwene
thoſe two Cities, roſe vp in the nighte, and wt his ſoult men
ſufficient to defende it, to the ende that yf peraduenture
the kings power ſhoulde be ouerthrowen, they mought
take that hill and defend them ſelues, the coue ende
the Dukes armie was ſo ouerthrowen, and ſpoiled, that
he was glad that he moughte retorne into Fraunce wt
ſhame, and diſhonor, and with the loſſe in maner of all
his Frenſhe bandes, in lykewyſe the countie Iames, wt
all the infortunate noble men of Apuglia, fled thorowe
moſt difficulte paſſages euery man his waye, and it was
the greate grace of god y• they eſcaped with their lyues.
Then the kynge was deliuered from his enemies with
great glorie, and triumphe, throughe the worthynes of
the magnanime, puiſſante, and victoriouſe prince Scant
Scanderbeg to ſee yf that he coulde recouer his Cities,
and townes, which he had loſte, he entred into Naples
in great triumphe, and afterwarde wente on their iore king.
In this meane tyme Fuſano a Sicillian, a man of great
prowes, a rebell, and a mortall enemye to the kynge ae kyng cauſed to make ſoleme triumphes. Iuſtes
torneies, and huntings, with other ſumptuouſe ſhowes.
After this he gaue to all Scanderbegs Captaines, and
chiefe ſouldiours, great preſentes and giftes, & to Scan
After this Scanderbeg went to his confynes to vi
When the trewſe was ended the Turcke gaue com
After this he went againſt the Emperour of Trebie
Caſtell of Noui, which ſtandeth vpon the mouthe of Ca• he had flayne the greateſt partie of them
beſyde thoſe that he toke priſoners. After this he diſtrie
ſeconde cauſe, for the fyrſt was the grace of god. The
nexte day folowing Scanderbeg made a great courſe in
to the Turckes countre, and toke an excedinge greate
proye, and retorned into hys countre ſafely with al his.
After this the Turcke ſent an other Captaine of his
called Aſſa
•
ſudden and put him, and his people to flyghte. Yet not
Then this ſubtill olde Ruter ſent to Scanderbeg a
meſſager, requiring him to fyght with him like a prince
in appointed battayle, and not vpon ſuddennes in ſuche
ſorte lyke a ſtradarolle and thefe, ſeking alwaye to take
the enemye vnprouided. But Scanderbeg beinge as cire olde
man, who wolde ſeme to blame that in an other man, yt
he him ſelfe wolde fayneſt haue broughte to paſſe, yf yt
by anye meanes he moughte, Scanderbeg ſent him aun•
it was not poſſyble for one of them to heare an other, &
by meanes of the great rayne, and winde that then was
Scanderbeg coulde not folowe the chaſe acordingely as
he was wonte to doe, althoughe he handelled them ve
When Mahomethe ſawe that he coulde by no mea•
he ſent him, who receaued the ambaſſadour with his let• wylte
•, I wolde
alſo that thou woldeſt graunte that the marchauntes
of myne Empire moughte ſafely paſſe thorowe thy cou
When Scanderbeg had redde this letter he ſmyled,
and then talked a great tyme with the ambaſſadour, &
by him wrote aunſwere to the Turckes letter, in this
ſorte. The ſouldiour of Ieſus Chriſt, George Caſtrioth
ſometime named Scanderbeg,e Chriu wylte
from henceforth call me prince of the Epirotts, that ſhal
not offend me at all for thou ſhalte doe but right to giue
me that tytle, which God of his goodnes hathe gyuen
me, for his owne honor. And where thy highnes requie great frindt thee
with this laſte condition, and offer my ſelfe (in all iuſte
and reaſonable cauſe) to be at thy commaundement, and
thus fare well. And what I wante in writing thy am
When Scanderbeg had endyd his letter, the ambaſe
Eaſt, to the weſt, to the magnificent prince Scanderbeg
prince of the Epirotts, ſendeth greting. By Muſtaffa
my ſeruante & ambaſſadour, & by thy letter reſponſyue
I doe vnderſtand in what ſorte thou arte co•
thou at this daye doeſt poſſeſſe, as well that whiche ap
When the peace was in this ſorte concluded, and pube Turcke
the Senate of Veniſe, by common conſent of the Senae
ende that he ſhoulde be muche in the companie of Scant
the Turcke, who made cruell warres vpon the Veneti
When a certayne tyme wss paſſed, the aforeſayde
lieutenante of the Venetianes, went to the Arche Byſe Ve
After this the Turcke promiſed to gyue an hundred
thouſande ducates to who ſo euer coulde fley the Arche
Byſhoppe, and. 2. hue Turcks coue countre,
and retorned home ſafe, and diſperſed all the proie to his
ſouldiours.
When the great Turcke vnderſtande of theſe great
ſpoyles that Scanderbeg had made, and howe he had
broken the peace with him, he was excedingly wrothe,
and daye, nor nighte thoughte of anye thinge but howe
to be reuenged of Scanderbeg, and of the Arche Byſhope
yet for that he vnderſtode that the pope Pio the. 2. wolde
in anye wyſe make a greate Croyſade, and goe againſt
him in perſon, he determyned to attempte yf he coulde
by anye meanes pacifye Scanderbeg, and to confyrme ye
peace that was alredie made, for he doubted that yf that
Scanderbeg ſhoulde comme with the Croiſade, that he
ſhoulde then be vtteriy ouerthorowen: as the Turckes
them ſelues declared in all places. This kynde of Croie
Regale corone to Scanderbeg, and to make hym kynge
of Epirro, and of all the whole Albania, and when he
had ſo coronned him, to gyue him tro
When the Turcke therfore vnderſtode this, he ſent
the afore named Muſtaffa his ambaſſadour to Scandere worlde
from the Eaſt,e partly for excuſed, & ſo to pardone the theſe offen•
fyrſte, that the Venetianes, nor any others coulde haue
cauſed thee to breake it: wherfore I beſeche thee, if that
my requeſt maye haue anye place with the: that thou
e
againſt me or no, thou beinge a ſymple, & meane prince
of that parte of Albania whiche thou nowe poſeſſiſt, and
I am Emperour, kynge, and prince, of ſo manye powers
and countreys, that thou ſhalte neuer be able to wtſtand
my furye wherfore haue regarde to thy ſelfe, and make
this peace with good will, to the ende that thou mayeſt
dye lorde of thy countrey, and leaue that honor to thy poſ
After that Scanderbeg had herde the ambaſſadour,
and red the letter which the Turcke had ſent him, he
wrote him aunſwere in this ſorte. The ſouldiour of Iee
worlde, and then wyll ſaye that the Venetianes haue
deceaued me, who alwayes obſerue their promes, not as
thou doeſt. And therfore I gyue the fully to vnderſtande
that in no caſe I wyll make peace with thee, thoughe I
be as ſymple a prince as pleaſythe God, & thou ſo mighe Occident, which no man ſaieth but
onely thou, which throughe thyne audatitie, pride, and
preſumption, doeſt arogantly take vpon the to vſurpe
ſuche an Imperiall name, which onely appertaineth to
the Emperour of Rome, which is coroned by the pope of
Rome, beinge goddes vicar on earthe and thou by the
permiſſion of God arte becomme a mightie tyran to pu• rede it, forſomuche
as the worlde is deuided into thre principal partes, that
is Aſia, Affrica, and Europa, the fyrſte is in maner as
great as bothe the other, and is deuided into Aſia ye greae
poſſeſſeſt onely, Tracia, Gretia, Seruia, Boſſina, More
a, Bulgaria, Achaia, Magneſia, Mitelline, and certaine
others which were, and ſhalbe of the poſſeſſiones of the
Chriſtianes, wherefore I doe not a litle maruell that y•
As ſone as Scanderbeg had ſealed this letter,t theyr
helpe wyll chaſe him vndoubtedly oute of his domyny
In this meane time ye ambaſſadour Muſtaffa brought
Scanderbegs letter to the great Turcke, who when he
vnderſtode the tenour therof was fylled with great fue ryuer Drino doth
ryſe, in y• which lake their is great abondance of carpes
Trowtes, & other delicate & noble fyſhes. When Scantoute
not farre from it, in this meane tyme their came newes
vnto them howe that the pope Pio ye ſeconde was co•
which, the noble Duke of Veniſe which was then there
not onely with his owne armata, but alſo with the aide
When Scanderbeg contrarie to his expectation vne
thyne omnipotent,
When Scanderbeg had thus ended his praier, he tt teares alſo had praied
with him, and to comforte them he ſaid. My deare frinds
feare nothinge, but be of good chere, for God doth neuer
leaue thoſe that put their whole truſte in him, and doth
all thinges for the commoditie of both bodie and ſoule
of his faithfull, wherfore we humbly render thanckes
vnto his diuine maiſtie, and to morowe we wyll goe to
ſeke the Turckes oure enemyes, with whome we wyll
fyghte, and deale with them acordinge to oure wonte.
Thre houres before the breake of day, Scanderbeg rode
with xii. thouſande horſe men and fote men, and came
neare vnto the Citie of Orchrida aforeſayde, and ſpake
to his ſouldiours in this ſorte. This daye is the vigile of
the aſſumption of the virgine Marie Quene of heuen,
When he had thus ſayde he called vnto him Peiche
Emanuell and Pietro Agenlo brother to the Arche-Buſhope
Paulo, and appointed to their conducte v. hune cuſtumer, who althoughe he were
very ſoroweful, yet with a pleaſant contenaunce he ſent
for ſo muche fyſhe, bothe freſhe, and ſalte, as dyd fully
ſatiffye the whole armie, wherfore they ſayde thorowe
oute the armie, that Scanderbeg was an Apoſtle of him
• Iewes with v. barley loues
and two fyſhes. After this for the ranſomes of the cuſ
When the Turcke vnderſtode this he diſpatched an
other fearce Captaine of his called Balaban Badera:
called Aga, with xv. thouſande Turckes on horſe, and
three thouſande fotemen, the which Balaban came to y•
Citie of Ocrida, or Aelcria, and ſent ſecretly to Scandert
him, to the ende that paraduenture he beinge taken pri• degree. When he
was in this ſorte appointed againſt Scanderbeg, he ſe•
worlde, as by the profe it was ſeen, for he was euer at
The ſeconde daye after that Scanderbeg had thus
exhorted his ſouldiours, Balaban with all his power
came to fynde Scanderbeg, who acordinge to his, deter•
greateſt number of them were founde ded vpon y• feelde
and the victorie was folowed to the aforeſayde appoin• victorie
fleynge, and cuttinge in peces, their fleing enemyes, vn• great Turcke, who then
was at Conſtantinople. When Scanderbeg vnderſtode
this piteouſe caſe, he ſent immediatly and ambaſſadour
to the great Turcke, to deſyre him that he wolde be con
After this the Turcke ſupplied his armie, and com
When the great Turcke had aduertyſement of this
he determyned in anye wiſe to procede againſt Scan• he was an Albaneſe borne
and a great enemye to Scanderbeg, he ſent him agayne
with xviii. thouſande horſemen, and iii. thouſande fotet a ploughe
harrowe, pycke axe, ſpade, van, and flayle, with ſuch like
inſtrumentes,
Then Balaban well vnderſtanding his meaning by
this, was marueloufly offendyd: and knowing that Sca• daye
many of his enemies, and as he was in the preaſe fyght
him, and in the fall Scanderbeg lighted vpon y• trou• great
fall, he was greatly bruſed, and chiefly in his right arme
in ſuche ſorte that he coulde not in maner ſtirre it at al.
• intent to haue ſlayne him, his actes that he then did
were maruelouſe. At the laſte, one of his ſouldiours
brought vnto him one of his beſt courſers and whe• Citie of Orchrida
aforeſayde.
After this, Sca• whole ſpoile to his ſouldi•
victorie, he endured ſuch paine in his arme, y• he was iii
monethes & coulde not ones lifte it, to take of his cappe
to gratifie ſuche as dyd ſalute him,•
Image of oure Sauiour, nor of the virgyne Marye, ne
yet of the ſaincts. And alſo when he herde maſſe he was
ſerued as is the highe Byſhoppe when he dothe aſſyſt in
ſolempne feaſtes, for he coulde not helpe him ſelfe at all
with one of his hands.
In this meane whyle Balaban beinge very ſorowt his
excuſes and co
Balaban on the other ſide toke with him xx. M Turc•
cauſe that the other two retorned not at the houre ap• Turc
This victorie beinge newely obtained, their came a
meſſager in great haſt to Scanderbeg from his ſyſter ye
ladie Mat Iagup was comme
into Albania by the waye of Belgrado, and had proied,
ſpoyled, and burned a greate pece of his countrey, when
Scanderbeg vnderſtode of this, he immagined forthewt
the determynation of the two Captaines to haue ben tot
his armye laye, Scanderbeg as ſone as he drewe ſomet
thoſe diſbanded horſemen, marchinge after them with
his whole power, and when they came where Scander
When the greate Turcke vnderſtode the dolorouſe
defeicte of theſe two armies, he determyned to goe in
perſon with all his power againſt Scanderbeg but he
hauing intelligence hereof, made prouiſion for y• defence
of his countre, and eſpecially furniſhed Croia with men
and all kynde of neceſſaries, his ſouldiours on fote were
of the garniſons of the Senate of Veniſe, their gouer
In this meane tyme there came from Conſtantino• goodnes of god was
diſcouered, who neuer faileth ſuch as vnfaynedly truſte
in him, for on a tyme theſe two Turckes fell at wordes
and in fine ſtrake together with their fiſtes in ſorte that
they loſte muche bloude from oute of their noſes, and the
one ſaying to the other in great furie, yu traitour dogge
ſent by the great Turcke to ſley the moſt gentle & good
prince Scanderbeg, when the Captaines of Scander• purpoſe, declaring
• Turcke had promiſed them an infinite
ſumme of money, and alſo to make them great lordes, yf
that they coulde ſley Scan. he then beinge a prince of
great magnanimitie and one that dyd honor y• Turcke
wolde not for his ſake vſe them acording to their deſer• parte
of the Turckes countrey where he neuer was before, &
when he had ſpoyled all the countre, he then rayſed fire
and burned all the countre where he paſſed thorowe,
and retorned home ſafe wyth all hys people in to hys
countrey.
After this the aforenamed Mahomethe, came into
Albania with two hundred thouſande men on horſe and
fote, and encamped before the Citie of Croia, promiſing
them of the towne great gyftes, yf that they wolde ren• he made great ſlaughter of them.
Then at the laſte the Turcke ſeinge Croia to be in ex• ende by famine
to take it, whervpon he lefte the aforeſayde Balaban to
execute that enterpriſe with xviii.M. choſen horſemen
and fyue thouſand fotemen of the beſt in all the armye,
• were
not able to vſe armes, to whom by meanes of this trai
Scanderbeg, conſydering the Turckes that beſegid
Croia were valiante and of great experience, and had ſo
fortyfied them ſelues that it was an impoſſybilitie to aſ• hil Crniuo
by meanes wherof, it was expedient to haue a great ar•
towne, he ſpake in this ſorte. My lordes, and you my
good ſouldiours: althoughe ofte
When he had thus ſayde, he deuided his armie into
two partes,• they dyd not obtaine it, he wolde
leuye his campe and departe thence, whyles Balaban
loked for aunſwere there ſorted forthe of the towne cer• towne
vnder the defence of the ſhotte,
Then Scanderbeg fynding no man to reſyſte hym
went downe into Croia, and cauſed to bringe into the
towne all the meale, barly, and other victuales that were
lefte in the Turckes campe, whiche were ſufficient to
ſuſtaine them of the Towne for one whole yere, when
he had this done, he lodged in the Citie and ſent certaine
bandes to take the paſſages and ſtraites, thorowe the
which the Turckes muſt paſſe, for he determyned to
ſeke them and to gyue them battayle. That ſame very
euening came two Turckes of acompte to Scanderbeg
• requeſte
of the Turckes, he commaunded them with a fryndly
contenaunce to be well lodged in a faire pauillion, and
to be honorably entertayned. After this, the aforeſayde
Scanderbeg called to him the aforeſayde lieutenante wt
the noble lordes Ducagini, and other lieutenantes, me•
Turckyſhh armie, requiring their aduiſe and aunſwere
Ioſaphat Barbaro (which the Venetianes had ſent into
Albania to be contynually in company with Scandere
choyſe of all the Turckyſhe armie, and nowe becomme
deſperate, and determined in dede to emploie their hands
and for that alſo that the ende of warres is doubtefull,
and that god for oure offences ſhoulde permitte them to
haue the victorie, as it maye well comme to paſſe. It
ſhoulde be the ruyne of vs all.• Turckes very often. Then Scan• Ryuer Iſimi
where he had a great number of ſhippes loded wt corne
meale, biſkete and other victuales, and cauſed all to be
vnloded with ſpede, ſo that in thre dayes he furniſhed
Croia for ſyre yeres. And then went with all ſpede to ent
oute greate ſlaughter and ſpoyle of their me
When Mahomethe the Turckyſhe prince, vndert
ſo muche honor, to his great ſhame, and loſſe of his peot two hundred
•
yf they wolde delyuer him the Citie, he wolde aduaunce
them, and deale liberally with them all, and otherwyſe
it ſhoulde be to their paine, for he was determyned not
to departe thence withoute it, and wolde be reuenged vp
on them to the vttermoſt. The aunſwere of the beſeged
was not farre to ſeeke, but was gyuen by the mouthe of
the Cannon, Colueryne, harquebuze, and ſuche like in
When the Turcke was comme to Conſtantinople
be apointed Alibeg and Aleſbeg his Captaines to haue
the conducte of xxviii. thouſande men, and ſent them to
his confynes with expreſſyd commaundement that in
t Scan• reſt, ſpake
vnto him in this ſorte.
My good ſonne knowe thou, that I fynde my ſelfe ſo
euyll diſpoſed in my body, that I am aſſured y• the tyme
of my departure oute of this worlde is at hande, whiche
thinge ſeing it is by the prouidence of God, his wyll be
done: but for that thou arte very yonge, and not able to
defende oure ſtate: for that oure enemye is of excedinge
great power, I haue determined to leue it in the protecti•
we haue there, and contynue there vntyll thou comme
to age able to gouerne, and then goe to Veniſe, and be
alwayes aduiſed by the Senate therof, who wyll gladly
ſee the, and ſet the ſafely into thy ſtate and dominion, I
commend vnto the all my ſubiectes, who
Scanderbeg had ſcarcely gyuen ful order for his teſ• it was the iorney of all y• daye
to attayne to the highte of that hill, and that ſame night
folowing there fell ſo muche ſnowe, dryuen with a vehe•
greateſt number of thoſe poore, and fearefull Turckes
died in that night, and they which were lefte on liue the
daye foloing, marched awaye in exceding great feare, &
loked often tymes behinde them yf that they mought ſe
Scanderbeg to folowe them, and had determined, yf they
had ſeen him comme, to fall vpon their knees, & to yelde
vnto him, as it was declared to the Driuaſtianes by ſon• fewe of them e
This ſame very daye that the Turckes thus fledde
not beinge folowed by anye enemie,u thus lefte vs Orphanes as ſhepe withoute
a paſtor, howe maye we nowe anye lengar eſcape the
handes of thoſe moſt cruell, and wycked Turckes, oure
enemyes, woe ſhalbe vnto oure pore people, woe to both
great and ſmale, woe to Albania, and to all the prouin• falſe
Chriſtianes diſciples of Iudas. Alſo the vnreaſonable
creatures lamented his deathe, for one of his beſt horſes
vpon whotoute taking anye reſt daye nor nighte, he wolde
neuer after that daye ſuffer bridle, nor ſadle to be put on
him, nor wolde neuer taſte anye kynde of hey prouender
or other ſuſtenance, but contynually braying & beating
him ſelfe daye and nyghte tyll at the laſt throughe very
fayntnes, he fell downe to the earthe, and neuer roſe a• he neuer fought but his arme was well armed
his vſe was euer to throwe of his braciall,• he mighte
the more franckly ſtryke, for he beſtowed neuer more
then one blowe, vpon one enemye in chaſe, at all other
tymes he was very well armed, and dyd ioyne with his
rare force, wiſedome and experience, and wolde neuer at
tempte God.
After that he was ded, the worthy Captaines peiche
Emanuell, Zacharia Groppa, Leche Cucca, Paolo Ma• moſte
rare force of Orlando, and Rynaldo, with other famous
Knyghtes of the myghtye kinge Charles, he gaue ones
a great blowe in the preſence of all his armie, beinge in
a greate furie for otherwyſe I belyue he ſhoulde hardly
haue done it, there were taken in battayle ii. ſouldiours
of Balabanes kynſemen, which were rebelles vnto Sca• anye
other ſhoulde ſley them, but drewe his ſworde, and with
one onely blowe he cut them both in peces, in ſuch ſorte
that they fell downe ded to the earthe, not withoute mar• behelde it. The Turcke
on a time vnderſtanding by reporte that Sca• ſworde
Scanderbeg had moe then thre of that temper and goodt it, but they dyd not much
hurte the yron with it, no more dyd their ſtrokes the
ſworde. Then the Turcke ſent to Scanderbeg that his
ſworde was no ſuche ſworde as it was named to be, but
Scanderbeg aunſwered that the ſworde was ſufficient
And on a tyme it happened the kynge Ferrante to
hunte in Apuglia, beinge acompained with manye no• boare
in the ſyghte of them all, hauinge no armour vpon him
and ouergate the boare, & drewe his ſworde and running
• he mought no more
with his honor were tht theſe
ſwordes great actes againſt y• enemies of the catholique
faythe, in the honor and ſeruice of the almightie God, it
was neuer ſeen that Scanderbeg fled from any man, on
les it were once from a ſouldiour of his owne on whom
he had compaſſyon. This ſouldiour on a tyme (as Scan
When the Turcke vnderſtode the newes of ye death
of Scanderbeg, he wolde in no wyſe belyue it but ſayde
to his viſiri and chiefe Captaynes, that it was a fyneſſe
of his enemie, to fayne him to be ded, meaning therby to
doe ſome ſtraunge facte, wherfore he was in great feare
and ſtode more vpon hys garde then before, and wolde
not attempte any thinge at all againſt Scanderbeg nor
againſt any other neighbour of his vntil one whole yere
was paſte, but as ſone as that moſt cruell enemie of the
Chriſtianes was aſſured of the deathe of Scanderbeg, he
was more glad then euer he was before at anye tyme &
immediatly aſſembled his armie and ſent them not one• reſte of y• princes
of Albania, not once, but often tymes, as to the ſiege of
Croia, Scutari, Driuaſto, and ſondry other places, matoute great
ſpoyle, and ſlaughter of the Turckes aforeſayde. In the
ende this mightye Tyran came into Albania in perſon
with all his power, and all the princes therof that fled
not, were other ſlayne, or lad awaye in miſerable captitoute the ſlaughter and ſpoyle of an infinite nu• Senate of Veniſe to conclude
a peace with the Turcke, were content to giue him that
Citie, ſauing the lyues and goodes of the Citizens acor• magnificient
Pietro Angelo, who was ſent with commiſſyon honora• Venetian Armata, to the aforeſaid Tauth
with whom Ducagino was priſoner, by whoſe meanes
he obtayned a ſafe conducte, for the Senate to ſend an
ambaſſadour (for the concluſion of the aforeſayde peace)
to Conſtantinople. Then the Venetianes ſent their ſe• great Turcke, &
concluded that peace.
In this meane tyme all the inhabitantes of Scu
IN the yere of oure helthe. 1353. Amorathe Ottoman
In the yere. 1366. he toke the Citie of Gallipolli of the dominions of the Emperour of Conſtantinople.
In the yere. 1370. he toke the kyngedome of Bur
In the yere. 1375. Baiazithe the fyrſt entred into Gre
In the yere. 1390. Tamerlano the parthian prince,
made warres vpon Armenia, vpon the confynes wherof
Baiazithe the Turckiſhe prince encountred him in bat• leſſer Aſia poſſeſſed Amo
In the yere. 1453. Mahomethe the ſeconde, ſonne to
Hierenia the daughter of George the Diſpotto of Serui
In the yere, 1459. he toke the whole kingedome of
Seruia, after the death of his Vncle Lazaro, he toke alſo
the kingdome of Baſſina, and made warres in Albania
againſt the afore named George Caſtrioth, but he recea
In the yere. 1460. he toke the whole countre of More a, Athenes, and all Theſalia.
In the yere. 1462. he toke the Empire of Trebiſonda,
In the yere. 1463. he toke the Iſle of Meteline, at the
In the yere. 1470. he put a Nauie to ſea of. 400. ſaile
vnder the conducte of Mahomethe Baſſa, ſending him
to take the Citie of Calcide, ſtanding vpon the Iſle, aun
In the yere. 1475. he toke the Citie of Caffa.
In the yere. 1474. he came to the Iſle of Rodes, lan
In the yere. 1477. after the death of Scanderbeg a
In the yere. 148. Baiazithe the. 2. entred into Cilicia
and foughte with Caromano prince therof, ouercame
him in battayle, flewe him and defeicted his armie, poſſeſ
Aboute that ſame tyme he agreed with the prince of Scandaloro prince of Cilicia Trachea, gyuinge him in exchaunge of his countre, other poſſeſſiones in Natolia.
In the yere. 1498. he put his Nauie to the ſea and he in perſon went with his armie by land and came to the Golfe of Patraſſo and beſeged the towne of Lepantho & in ſhorte tyme toke it.
The yere folowing he beſeged Modone and toke it.
Selim the ſucceſſour of Baiazithe, in the yere. 1512. departed from Trebiſonda and encountred his father in battayle, and was defeicted by him.
In the yere. 1514. Selim came to Conſtantinople a
In the yere. 1515. he gaue battaile to both his brethere
In the yere. 1516. went with a great armie againſt
the Sophie king of perſia, gaue him battayle and ouer
In the yere. 1518. he marched with is armie toward
Alepo, and encountred Campſon the Soldane, ten miles
beyonde Alepo, vpo
In the yere. 1520. he made redie a puiſſant Armata, with other great prouiſion by land and then dyed.
In y• yere. 1531. Gazzele rebelled in Damaſto, againſt
Soliman ſoune to Selim, whervpon Solimanno ſent
his armie againſt him, flewe him and defeicted all hys
power.
In y•. 2. leaſe &. 2. page, Eugenio for Egeo, fol. 4. page. 1.
Emirna for Smirna, fol. 7. page. 1. Ianio, for Ionio, fol
8. page. 1. Sagenio for Eugenio, fol. the 10. pag. 1. Varia
for Varna, fol. 11. page. 1. ſturre for ſerre fol. the. 20. page
the. 2. platane for plantane fol. 22. page the. 2. their, for
there fol. 22. page the. 2. vere for vexe fol. 23. page the. 1.
Salaminan for Salamina fol. 23. page the 1. promoun