The true copie, of a letter vvritten to a gentleman of vvorship in England Lamentably discoursing the crueltie of Bashavv Mahomet, high admirall to the great Turke: vvho vvith a fleete of one hundred and seauen gallies, entred the confines of the Christian princes within the Straits of Gibraltar. With his landing in Sicilia an iland of the Spanish kings, which hee burned and spoiled, taking many prisoners. Also the taking of two of the principall gallies of the Duke of Florence with one thousand fighting men: the taking and burning of three great ships in the Vale of Messina, and two others in the gulphe of Venice, one which being a Venetian, the other a Fleming. 1595 Approx. 14 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2011-04 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A72506 STC 15115.5 ESTC S125057 99900356 99900356 150995

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A72506) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 150995) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1994:11) The true copie, of a letter vvritten to a gentleman of vvorship in England Lamentably discoursing the crueltie of Bashavv Mahomet, high admirall to the great Turke: vvho vvith a fleete of one hundred and seauen gallies, entred the confines of the Christian princes within the Straits of Gibraltar. With his landing in Sicilia an iland of the Spanish kings, which hee burned and spoiled, taking many prisoners. Also the taking of two of the principall gallies of the Duke of Florence with one thousand fighting men: the taking and burning of three great ships in the Vale of Messina, and two others in the gulphe of Venice, one which being a Venetian, the other a Fleming. [2], 11, [1] p. by I.D. for Thomas Gosson: and are to be sold at his shop by London Bridge Gate, Printed at London : 1595. Signed at end: R. La. Title page is A2. Caption title on p. 1: The admirall of the great Turkes inuasion of Sicilia an Iland of the Spanish kings, ... . Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, England.

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eng Naval battles -- Early works to 1800. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2009-12 Assigned for keying and markup 2009-12 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2010-02 Sampled and proofread 2010-02 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2010-04 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

The true Copie, of a Letter vvritten to a Gentleman of VVorship in England.

Lamentably diſcourſing the crueltie of Bashavv Mahomet, high Admirall to the great Turke: vvho vvith a Fleete of one hundred and ſeauen Gallies, entred the Confines of the Chriſtian Princes within the Straits of Gibraltar.

With his landing in Sicilia an Iland of the Spaniſh Kings, which hee burned and ſpoiled, taking many Priſoners.

Alſo the taking of two of the principall Gallies of the Duke of Florence with one thouſand fighting men: The taking and burning of three great Ships in the vale of Meſſina, and two others in the gulphe of Venice, one of which being a Venetian, the other a Fleming.

Printed at London by I.D. for Thomas Goſſon: and are to be ſold at his ſhop by London Bridge Gate, 1595.

The Admirall of the great Turkes inuaſion of Sicilia an Iland of the Spanish Kings, with his other extreame cruelties ouer diuers Nations whom he ſpoiled, entering the Confines of the Christian Princes in the Straits of Giblatar with 107. Gallies in Ianuarie laſt.

RIght worſhipfull, to write you the many wrongs offered my Captaine, your worſhipful good friend, in this place (where neither lawes of Chriſtians or conſcience is regarded) might rather cumber you than any way mooue your content, wherefore I omit them, not doubting, but by his owne reports you haue long ſithence beene aduertiſed of each perticular accident, for that I heare to all our great comforts, by Maſter Spencer of London, who arriued here with a ſhip of the Thames, that he was met out of the Straits long ſince: which newes (I may well ſay) was ioyfull vnto vs, for that it was verily thought, yea, and ſpoken expreſly, that he was deade, ſo credibly beleeued by the ſodaine going hence of his ſhip: But bleſt bee God for his ſafetie, for by his welfare our hopes are made the greater, his care wil be the more of vs his poore followers, & we ſhall the more patiently beare this diſcontent, liuing here amongſt thoſe which holde vs in no more regarde than they doo beaſtes, but onely in regarde of the league betweene our gratious Queene and the graund Seigniory, as hath appeared by their indirect dealings with vs, not only the Gentleman beeing preſent, but with vs in his abſence, eſpecially, ſo long as the olde Baſhaw continued here, which ſtomacked vs greatly, the more for our Captaines departure, of whom he thought if he once again got him in his poſſeſſion to haue made a great gaine: But he is now gone to Conſtantinople, where it is ſaid he is very hardly thought of, not only for abuſing my Captaine and vs, but alſo for forcing Maſter Poynes his man the Purſer of the Mary to u ne Turke, who is proſecuted hardly by the Engliſh men there for the ſame, ſo that for the loue the Emperour beareth to our Nation, they ſay he is like to looſe his head, ſince whoſe departure, and the comming of this newe Vice-Roy wee haue beene very wel intreated, and with ſuch fauour, as we cannot bee better with our neareſt friends, being not of our owne Nation, which kindnes is by the expreſſe command of the great Turke, whom he dares not offend, dreading his life.

But for all their ſhows of loue; God ſend vs the company of our good friends in Englande, for our owne extreamity is not ſuch, as is the griefe and diſcontent of minde, to ſee what numbers of Chriſtians daily are brought hither: And not long ſince there was brought by Meryteroyze the Admirall 1000. able men priſoners, beſides ſlaues which were taken by fowre ſmall Gallies of the Turkes, going in courſe on the Chriſtian ſhore, where they met the the two chief Gallies of the Duke of Florence his Admirall with his lanthorne, and one other, the leaſt hauing twenty eight bankes on a ſide, and ſixe men at euery Oare. Theſe Gallies when they ſaw, firſt the Turkes gaue them chaſe, and the Turkes comming with them likewiſe, came ſodainely in ſight to diſcrie what one the other were.

The Florentines perceiuing them to bee Turkes, were amazed what to doo, ſome would fight, others gaue counſel to be gone: Growing into mutinies within themſelues the guider of the Chriſtian Admirall cried out to the Captaine, to free his ſlaues, and let them fight for their liberty: But he cried to be gone, and cauſed them to row all they could. But his ſlaues being many of them Turkes would not worke, but gaue ouer their labor in hope that they ſhould be freed by thoſe Gallies. How ſo euer it chaunced, they aſſured them ſelues worſe than they were, they could not be: if taken, they were ſure of livertie: if not, they coulde bee no worſe.

The companies as is ſaide, being at this ods within themſelues, vp came the Gallies, and diſcharged their Prowes and ſmal ſhot vpon them, doing much ſpoile vnto thē and killed many of the men, yet were moſt brauely anſwered of the Florentines, who ſpared neither powder nor ſhot, but in reaſonable ſort beſtowed them both. But in the ende, hauing ſmall hope to eſcape being ſo fiercely aſſailed, their ſtomacks quailed, the Turkes boorded them. In the entry, they murthered as many with their Curtleaxes as ſtoode in their waies, forcing diuers to leape ouer boord, making ſuch maſſacre amongſt them, that might grieue any Chriſtian heart to heare it. In this conflict was the Chriſtian Generall ſlaine, and many of the better ſort, who if they had beene men, as they be prowd cowards, might as well haue taken the Turkes.

Thus the poore Chriſtians being ſubdued, ſuch of the Turks which in the fight had their friends ſlaine, did in reuenge they ſo abuſe them as they wiſhed they had all leapt ouer boord to eſcape their tyrranny, in which fight, there periſhed many Chriſtians, and not aboue foure ſcore Turkes in the whole: with this bootie they returned to Argiere againe, after they had been from thence ſome eighteene daies, bringing with them of Captaines Chriſtians nine hundred and ninetie, & releaſed threo hundred Turks and more which were ſlaues with them.

Amongſt which was one Engliſhman who was Gunner in one of the Gallies, whoſe fauor was more than all the others, yet was he chained with the reſt, vntill the Admirall Meryteroyze had examined him, who finding as well by others reportes as his owne, that he was taken at Genoway, comming Pilot ha Flemming to ſerue againſt his will, he was ſet at libertie.

Whiles theſe Gallies were abroad, there ariued a Frigot heere from Conſtantinople with Letters, commaunding as well Argiere, as all other Portes in Barberie by a day 〈◊〉 d, with ſuch Gallies as they could make to meete the Admirall of Turkey, who came with a great Fleete to range the eas, 〈◊〉 •• w the forces of the Chriſtians 〈◊〉 commanding them to put o er to the Chriſtian ſhore, and learne by ſuch meanes as they coulde what forces the Chriſtians had, who they were informed had one hundred and fiftie Sailes reads to encounter them, and in the vale of Meſſina to meete them, to giue intelligence what they heard.

For this ſeruice, ſeauen Gallies from Argiere was appointed foure, of them being Meryteroyze who was Admirall: Manny Ro zus vice Admirall: Manny Prechinel , and Manny Spaniola, the chiefe of the other beſt Gallies, who were not long in prouiding, but haſtned to meete the Baſha we as they were commaunded, and putting ouer to the Chriſtian ſhore, in the e of Venice, they gaue chace to a tall ſhip of Venice, with whom they came and haled them, but the Venetians woulde not ſuffer them to come a boord but moſt couragiouſly reſiſted them, doing great ſpoile, yet in the ende were enforced to yeeld, and being taken and demanded how they durſt breake the League betweene them and the State whom they anſwered in ſuch manner, that they were for their labour chained and made ſlaues, and their ſhip which was loden with great welth, bound for Marcellus was before their faces without any remorſe fired.

From thence they bore to Calabria, an Iland ſcituate betweene Chriſtendome and Barbarie where they gaue chace to a grea ••• e-boat loden (as they ſay) with Engliſhmens goods Theſe Flemings ſeeing the Gallies giue them chace, & doubting they had beene the Spaniſh Gallies, fearing if they were taken they ſhould be ill entreated for wearing the engliſh colour in their top, heaued the ſame ouer boorde, with their Charti Partie bills of lading and all letters that might giue them any ſhow to bee, or haue to doo for England: for which their raſhnes when the Turkes had boorded and taken them, they were all made priſoners and chained, and their ſhip fired & burned, notwithſtanding all their entreaties, dilating truely what they were, and what they entended: Soone after this miſchiefe was ended, the Turkiſh Gallies had ſight firſt of two Gallies then three then foure more, ſo that they had diſcried nine Sayles in ſight, all tall Gallies far bigger than the Turks, which being well percei ed 〈◊〉 was ſuſpected by the Turkes, they were part of that Fleete of one hundred and fiftie which was ſaid to be made out for them, and thereon reſolued not to ſtay, dreading the reſt was not far, and they too weake to encounter them, & therefore made from them all they could: But the Chriſtian Gallies hauing had ſight of them, gaue them chaſe, but winde failing them, and the Turkes Galies being light & nimble, towed away from them and ſo eſcaped.

This hazard paſt, they plied to meete the Fleet as they had directions, of whom by other ſmall Gallies which were ſent for ſpies they had intelligence, th ther they made, & in the vale of Meſſina met them, at which, ſuch generall reioyſing after theſe maner was made that the noyſe of their Cannons and ſmall ſhot was heard tumbling in the aire by report neere twenty Leagues. This triumph paſt, Meryteroyze & his three companions were ſent for to the Baſhaw, who gaue them great entertainement, and many welcomes: To him when they had at large diſcourſed what had hapned them with all their fortunes in their voyage, the night growing on, they take their leaues for that time, each one going to his charge. The next morning a flag of parley was put out in the Admirall, to ſummon all Commanders to come 〈…〉 where of ••… me par ey, they had 〈…〉 their intended action, each one ng •• s charge deliuered, as will thoſe for the ſeruice by ſea, as thoſe appointed for the land: To Sicilia they come, and rowed cloſe aboord the ſhore, banking breſt and breſt, and on the Ile where they were moſt ſure their force was leaſt; they landed: at whoſe ſodain cōming, the people ſuch as could make ſhift for themſelues, fled into the mountains leauing fewe others but aged and weake people, with yong children, which thoſe cruell people made no conſcience to kill in moſt brutiſh and vile maner, ſeauen ſeuerall villages they thus ſurpriſed: Carried their ordinance from their Ports, ſpoiled and rifled their goods, burned their townes and houſes, ſacked their holds & places of defence, leauing many man wiueles, and many a wife huſbandles, the parents lamenting their children loſt, led by theſe merciles people into captiuitie, and the children crying for the parents who were murthered, their vineyards burned in like maner, and what miſchief was there which they did not performe? Thus by the force of thoſe merciles people are many beggered which were of wealth and vtterly ſpoiled. And it is greatly feared in all Chriſtian Regions in theſe partes, that with greater forces they will make their repaire into thoſe Confines: and by the Merchants of Marcellus it is commonly ſpoken heere, that hee gathereth a great power pretending to come for Naples: To rebate whoſe furious pride in conquering, the Spaniſh King hath ſent to the State of Venice for aide againſt them, which the Duke will not grant in regarde of the League betweene them, without great matters bee accompliſht which is required: It is ſaide, he requireth Sicilia be aſſured to the State of Venice. But how true the report of theſe Princes doinges is, I cannot ſay, for the reſt I haue certaine knowledge to be true, as well by that Engliſhman, which was preſent at all the ſeruice, which was taken in the Duke of Florence Gallies, as alſo by diuers other which were eye witnes to the ſame and returned hither with great ſpoile.

God of his great mercie vnite the hearts of all Chriſtian Princes, that they louing faithfully, may ioyne themſelues and their Forces, to relieue thoſe miſerable afflicted people, which groue vnder the burthen of their miſeries: So ſhall God bee glorified by them, and the oppreſſed comforted.

Thus ſir I haue beene ouer bolde with your Worſhip, which I hope you will pardon, and remember my ſuite to my friendly Captaine, whome I hope ſhortly to ſee.

Argiere this tenth of Ianuarie. Your VVorſhips in all duetie, euer readie, R. La.