beginning of the Year 1680. by the Mediation and Interposition of Friends the Business was Compounded for 120 Purses but broke off again upon the time of payment which the Vizier required to be satisfied together with the Annual Tribute in one Payment in August following But they alledg'd the impossibility thereof by reason of the extream poverty of the Place which had now for two years been deprived of all Commerce and the benefit of the Saline from which their chief Revenue did arise and therefore humbly desired to pay it at thrice that is 40 Purses the next August and as much the Years following with the usual Tributes But the Vizier not contented with these Conditions commanded them in his rage to be cast into a Dungeon of the Prison and threatned to have the Torture given them The Mufti interceded in their behalf and laid before the Vizier the injustice of the Act but in vain The Kadilescher or one of the Chief Justices refused to Sign a Hoget or Sentence in the Case without positive command from the Grand Seignior Howsoever they were remanded to Prison without other legality of Sentence than the Vizier's Boyardi and Command where they remain'd until the time that the Vizier march'd into Hungary when with some mitigation of the Sentence together with some drubs they were set at Liberty We shall only add one instance more to demonstrate the manner and method of this Vizier in his Judicial Proceedings which was in the Case of Monsieur Debrosses Secretary to the Ambassador of Holland who having a Demand on the Metropolite or Greek Bishop of Scio for a Debt of one thousand Dollars upon non-payment of the Money call'd his Debtor to Justice the Patriarch appear'd at the Divan to defend the Cause with several other Metropolites some of which might resemble the Debtor Debrosses being asked whether he knew his Debtor he not having seen him in several years made answer That perhaps he did or perhaps he did not and pointed to a wrong Person whereupon the Vizier call'd him Telbis or Robber to which he reply'd That Franks were not Men of that Profession or who made false Pretences The Vizier enrag'd with this Answer order'd him immediately in his presence to have 300 drubs given him of which having receiv'd 193 he lay stunn'd and for dead and then upon the humble intercession of the Bostangi-Bashee a remission was granted of the remainder Nor did the Patriarch and his Bishops carry off their Cause so clear and easie but were forc'd to pay unto the Vizier a good part of that Sum which the Plaintiff demanded in reward and acknowledgment of that justice which was done them He that made at this time the greatest Figure at Court next to the Vizier was Kara Kiaja of whom to know him we need give no other Character than that he was the Vizier's great Confident and intimate to all his Councels for having all the ill qualifications and mischievous Arts of the other he was the most likely Person to succeed the Vizier which we shall find verified some years hereafter He was Capitan-Pasha or Admiral of the Gallies which is esteem'd one of the greatest Places of Trust and Honour in the whole Empire but he was remov'd from that Station not in disgrace but by favour of the Vizier who knowing him to be a Person like himself and of his Humor and Principles plac'd him near the Person of the Grand Seignior with Title of Chimacam and in recompence for the Commission which he had laid down he was gratified with the Revenue of three Passalicks in Anatolia which had been given to the late Vizier after his return from Candia in his Place Capitan Passa of whom we have formerly made mention was made Capitan Pasha and this year dispatched with Sixty Gallies into the Black-Sea for building the two Castles upon the Boristhenes Other Preparations were not made this year for the War of Muscovy for the Turks intending for this Campaign to remain on the defensive part design'd only to build those Forts which were to Command the passage of that River and for the future to stop the Excursions and Pyracies of the Cossacks into the Black-Sea The Muscovites tho' desirous of a Peace with the Turk yet out of dulness or ignorance made faint applications for it by the means of a single Letter only which was sent from Mosco by the hands of an Armenian who was turn'd Russe that is one who had reconcil'd himself to the Russian Church and had no other business than only to deliver this Letter the Contents of which was That the Turks should quit Verania and desist from Building their Forts on the Boristhenes both which Proposals were rejected and no Answer return'd unto the Letter So that now the Thoughts and Preparations for War giving no disturbance at the Port the grand Seignior apply'd himself to the most soft Pleasures He was not now so eager in his Huntings as formerly but attended to the more common Delights of the Seraglio he had gotten together a parcel of Dancing and Singing Girls which had been presented to him for he would not be at the expence to buy them tho' he was so kind to them as to have three of them at the same time with Child by him and kept in the Seraglio where hereafter they may prove a reserve to the Ottoman Line when the Souldiers shall become more wantonly profuse of the Blood of their Emperors At this time likewise Kul-Ogli Favourite to the Grand Seignior who as we have before related had in the year 1675. Married the Grand Seignior's Daughter at Adrianople a Child then of 7 years of Age being now become ripe for her Husband he Bedded her at the beginning of this year And farther to increase the Pleasures of the Court the Grand Seignior for his Divertisement caus'd a Dunalmah or Triumph to be made which was represented on the Water by multitudes of Boats hanging out Lights and Fire-Works on the Walls of the Seraglio and a Float was made in the Sea representing the Island of Malta which was batter'd on all sides by a Fleet of Gallies But for all these Triumphs Constantinople which hath ever been infested by Pestilence and grievous Incendiations was greatly afflicted this year by many Fires the greatest was on Christmas-Eve which by common compute burnt down 2000 Houses all that quarter called the Fanar with part of the Greek Patriarchs Church the remainder being with much difficulty saved After which another Fire happening near the Old Palace of Constantine a Boy found in the Rubbish a Diamond that weigh'd 96 Carats which he sold for 3 Paraws or about two pence half-penny and the Buyer re-sold it again for a Zelot or about half a Crown to one of those Shops near Sultan Bajazet's Mosch which sell Stones for Seals and pieces of Chrystal for Rings and there it lay for some time unregarded until at length the Owner not finding a
will in like manner cause to be done through mine And for the more manifestation of this my love towards you I would also that you should understand That of mine own meer motion and bounty I do freely give unto you all those things which you by force of Arms have taken from my Father in Albania and Epirus so that you may possess and enjoy the same as if they had always been yours and your Ancestors Wherefore I give grant and confirm unto thee and thy Heirs all the Right Title or Interest which I heretofore had therein and from henceforth will always account and repute thee as Prince of Albania and Epirus and so call thee And as I have promised thee in the Faith of a King will never hereafter with Wars molest thee or thine except thou thy Self give cause thereof Wherefore after you have with your Seal confirmed these things you may commend them to our faithful Embassador Mustapha to be by him brought unto us unto whom I would you should in all things give full Credit So fare you well and render us love for love From our Imperial Palace at Constantinople the 22. of June 1461. Upon receit of these Letters a Peace was concluded betwixt Mahomet and Scanderbeg and the same by publique Proclamations solemnly published through both their Kingdoms to the great rejoycing of many Which Peace was for a season faithfully kept on both sides until that the Turks lying in Garrison upon the Frontiers of Epirus began after their wonted manner again to fetch Preys and Booties out of the Countrey Of which Injuries Scanderbeg by Letters complained to Mahomet who answered that he was altogether ignorant thereof and seemed in shew to be much offended with the Insolency of the Doers thereof and forthwith caused many things to be again restored By which means the Peace before concluded was still as before continued A little before the conclusion of the aforesaid Peace great Wars began to arise betwixt the Turks and the Venetians who all this while being in League with the Turk peaceably followed their Traffique and Trades of Merchandize little or nothing at all regarding their Neighbours Harms and Miseries until that now the flame and fire began to take hold upon their own houses and as it were to awakeâ— them out of a dead sleep For Mahomet after he had subverted the Empire of Constantinople and driven Thomas and Demetrius the Emperors Brethren out of Peloponnesus now called Morea rested not so contented but by his Lieutenants and other great Captains began to disturb the quiet of the Venetians who then held in their possession Methone Corone Neapolis Argos with divers other strong Towns in Peloponnesus standing upon the Sea coast And now it chanced that about this time Iosue Mahomet his Lieutenant in Peloponnesus had by the Treason of a Greek Priest upon the sudden surprised the City of Argos and Omares another of his great Captains having first spoiled the Country about Naupactum now Lepanto entred farther into the Territory of the Venetians about Methone and Corone making havock of whatsoever came in his way With which Injuries plainly tending to open War the Venetian Senators being much troubled sate oftentimes in Counsel deliberating with much care what course to take in a matter of so great importance Some being of opinion that it were best to send Embassadors to Mahomet so to make proof if the matter might by fair means be redressed others on the contrary part deeming it to be to no purpose so to do forasmuch as such great and manifest Outrages nothing differing from plain Hostility could not possibly be done without the Tyrants knowledge and express Command After the Senators had oftentimes met together and with many great Reasons debated the matter too and fro and yet for all that concluded nothing as in consultations of great matters with a multitude it most commonly falleth out to be a harder matter and to require longer time to bring the multitude to some certain resolution than it is afterwards to perform the same in action In this so great a diversity of opinions concerning so weighty a cause at length one Victor Capella a noble Gentleman and grave Senator stept up in the midst of the Senate and there frankly delivered this notable Speech unto the rest concerning the matter propounded as followeth I have before this at other times by long experience often nâ—ted most noble Senators that in all our greatest Consultations of matters most concerning our Common State some are always so addicted or rather wedded unto their own conceits that they can hardly with patience endure to hear the reasonable opinion of others contrary to their own the chief cause of our slow Resolutions Wherefore I have thought it good briefly at this time to call upon you for resolution forasmuch as I see we must of necessity take up arms be we never so loath or unwilling For to my understanding you do but betray the State in delaying the time to make present War upon the barbarâ—us Enemy Yet many principal Men amongst us advâ—se us to beware that we do not rashly or unadvisedly determine of matters of so great consequence and think it requisite that we should send Embassadors unto the Tyrant to expostulate with him his unjust dealing in breaking his Faith and League and withall to request him to observe the Conditions of the Peace before agreed upon if happily he may rather by perswasion than by Arms be moved to change his purpose and if by this means nothing may be obtained then at length they think it necessary to resolve to make War upon him They alledge further That if we shall attempt War our Cities in the Continent bordering upon the Ionian in Peloponnesus with divers others of ours in the firm land will not be able to held out very long but for want of necessaries must needs perish witâ— the first of the trouble besides that if those places shall be wasted and spoiled great loss as they say shall ensue thereby unto most of us in private The greatest motive perhaps wherefore they think it most convenient to defer the Wars and fâ—r that purpose to send our Embassadors unto him Of which Embassage first by your leave a few words At such time as these our Embassadors Men of great wisdom and reach not long since came unto him he had them in no regard but dâ—llying off the time with fraudulent deceitful and glosing Speeches did indeed such things to the contrary as we least hoped wherefore I cannot well devise if we should send them or such others again what especial thing of all that we then gave them in charge they should now propound unto him having already said what is to be said except they should say That whereas we are not of sufficient strength and power to wage War against him we would be glad to decide the matter by talk and by that simple means to redress â—ur Injuries and
bloody and terrible and many fell on both sides But after that they with wonderful obstinacy had a great while foughâ— with doubtful Victory so that forty thousand Turks lay there dead upon the ground at length the Victory began to encline to that side whereon stood the greater Strength the juster Cause and better Counsel Many of the Enemies being slain and many of his own People also lost Bajazet was enforced to retire which he did so leisurely and without shew of any fear that it seemed to the Beholders he had well near as well gained as lost the Field neither durst Selymus pursue him but stood still fast in the same place never more glad of any thing than to see his Brothers back But Bajazet after he had in contempt of his Fathers command thus run his own Course and satisfied his own desire though disappointed of his purpose and not able to perform the journey by him intended into Syria turned now his Course and began in good earnest to go to Amasia his appointed Province Solyman speedily advertised of the event of this Battel forthwith passed over into Asia for as the great Bassaes his Counsellors thought it not convenient for him to go over the Strait before the Victory so after it was certainly known they thought it not good longer to stay lest the overthrow of Bajazet might give occasion to such as secretly favoured his quarrel to shew themselves and so to raise greater Troubles Besides that the same of his passage over would as they said much avail both to the discouragement of Bajazet and the terrifying of his Friends and therefore it was by them thought good hastily to pursue him now overthrown and not to suffer him to gather Courage by the example of his Grandfather Selymus Solymans Father who had been more terribly vanquished than when he stood in his whole strength and might seem by that means to have especially prevailed for that he was at first unfortunately overthrown Neither were these things without reason foreseen for it is almost incredible what admiration and love this battel although unfortunate did get to Bajazet men wondred that he durst with so small a power and as it were but an handful of Men encounter with his Brother far better appointed and also supported by his Fathers Strength not fearing either the disadvantage of the place or the Fury of the great Artillery and to have behaved himself in the battel not like a young Souldier but an old and expert Commander Selymus might at his pleasure boast of himself as they said to his Father for the Victory but Bajazet was the man that deserved to have overcome and that Selymus might to any thing ascribe the Victory rather than to his own Valour These and such like Speeches as they made Bajazet gracious amongst the people generally so doubled they his Fathers cares and encreased his hatred to wish him the rather dead For why he was resolutely set down not to leave any other Heir of his Empire than Selymus his eldest Son always Loyal and Obedient unto him whereas the other he abhorred as Stubborn and Rebellious gaping after the Empire whilst he yet lived of whom he was therefore so much the more to stand in dread by how much he was reputed to be of more valour and for the aid he had now so openly given to Selymus For these causes he passed over the Strait into Asia with purpose not to go far from the Sea Coast but as it were a far off with his favourable aspect to countenance Selymus his proceeding doubting by coming too near with his Army to endanger himself by the suddain revolt of the Janizaries which he above all things feared I my self saith the Author of this History saw him departing out of Constantinople the first of Iune in the year 1559 when as within a few days after I my self was also sent for thither for the Bassaes thought it not amiss to have me in the Camp and to use me courteously as their Friend for which cause I was assigned to lodge in an Inn in a Village near to the Camp where I lay very well The Turks lay in the Fields round about but lying there three months I had good leisure and opportunity to see the manner of their Camp and in part to know the order of their Martial Discipline So I attiring my self in such apparel as the Christians commonly use in those places went up and down with one or two Companions at my pleasure unknown First I saw the Souldiers of all sorts most orderly placed and that which he would scarce believe that knoweth the manner of our War there was in every place great silence and as a Man may say dumb quietness no brawling no insolency no not so much as a word or laughter passing in sport or drunkenness Besides that wonderful cleanliness no Dunghils no Excrements that might offend either the Eies or Nose for all such things the Turks do either bury or carry them far out of sight They themselves so oft as they are enforced to discharge the burthen of Nature dig an hole with a Spade and bury it so is all their Camp without filth There was not to be seen any Drinking or Feasting no Dicing the great shame of our Wars the loss of Mony or time at Cards or Dice the Turks know not I met only with a rough Hungarian and his Companions a Souldier who heavy himself to the Lute rather houled than sung a doleful Ditty containing the last words of a Fellow of his dying of his wounds upon the green Bank of Danubius wherein he requesteth the River because it ran to the place where he was born to carry news to his Friends and Countrymen that he died an honourable death and not unrevenged for the encrease of his Religion and honour of his Country wherunto his Fellows sighing bare a Foot O happy and thrice happy Wight would Fortune with thee change we might For the Turks are of opinion That no Mens Souls go more speedily to Heaven than of such valiant Men as die in Battel for whose welfare their Maidens daily make Prayers and Vows I would also needs go through their Butchery where their Beasts were killed to see what Flesh was to be sold where I saw but four or at most five Weathers hanging ready dressed and that was the Butchery for the Janizaries which I deemed to be in that Camp not fewer than four thousand I marvelled that so little Flesh should suffice so many Men but I was answered That few of them did eat Flesh for that most part of them had their Victuals transported from Constantinople Then I demanding what it was they shewed me a Janizary sitting by who in an earthen Dish had killed a Turnep an Onion a Head of Garlick a Parsenep and a Cucumber all sauced with Salt and Vineger or more truly to say with Hunger whereon he fed as savourly as if
had the worse success the year before was so much the more careful to beware how he endangered himself within the reach of the Galeasses The Christians desired nothing more than to fight and to come to handy Blows but the Turk who thought it sufficient for the present not to be overcome sometime made away as fast as he could and by and by stayed again if happily he might have taken the Gallies separated from the Galeasses never seeming willing to adventure further than reason and discretion would The Enemy seeing the Christian Fleet coming still on and ready to give Battel first seemed as if he would have done the like but afterwards turned his Course upon the right hand and kept aloof alongst the Coast of Malea At which time the Christians although they were very desirous to have followed them yet the Turks with their nimble Fleet were quickly too far gon for the Christian Fleet to overtake them especially with their heavy Ships That day almost spent as it were in the chase of the Enemy towards the going down of the Sun the Enemy put into the current of the Sea betwixt Cerigo and the Harts Island in bredth about ten miles and there dividing their Fleet into three parts lay in good order as expecting the coming of the Christians with the Prows of their Gallies turned as if upon the confidence of the place which they had filled overthwart they had purposed nothing more than to fight Yet both Fleets seemed resolved the one not to fight without the Galeasses and the other not to come near those hot Ships from whom they had but the year before received so great harm And although the Enemy as was afterwards known purposed nothing less than to fight but upon great advantage yet fearing by open flight to dishonour his Lord and Master and by granting as it were of Victory to encrease the Fame of the Christians the crafty Pyrat made a great shew of that he least indeed purposed For pretending a great desire to fight he indeed deluded the Christians hope who although the Wind had failed them yet in hope the Enemy would abide them Battel with much labour and rowing came so near him that the great Shot began to flie too and fro on both sides but when the matter should have come to have been tried by dint of Sword then it plainly appeared what the Enemy had indeed purposed for still keeping the Prows of his Gallies upon the Christians he by little and little shrunk back and beside that the shadow of the night began then to approach he caused all his great Ordnance charged only with Powder to be shot off and so in the thick of the smoke retired unseen colouring his subtil departure also by certain Lights left in their Cock-Boats making shew as if the whole Fleet had still there stayed By this means the Turks with great celerity escaped being also holpen in this that the Christians hindred by the heaviness of the Galeasses could not but fair and softly pursue them for these Galeasses as they are Vessels of great service so are they also heavy and unweldy and not fit for chase The departure of the Enemy at length known the Christians also unwilling to fight by night returned to Cerigo Two days after the Turks stayed in the Bay of Tenarus now called Metapan and the Christians at Cerigo contented in that that the Enemy was the cause that the Battel was not fought and reckoning his weary and covert declining of Battel as a secret confession of the Victory The third day after the Christians desirous of nothing more than to joyn in Battel with the Enemy in their former order set forward from Cerigo and sailing all the night were in the break of the day descried from Land by the Turks whereupon Uluzales by shooting off of certain warning Pieces commanded all his Men to go aboord and to put themselves readiness for Battel And now the Christians were not far off when as the Turks lest declining of Battel might reprove them of fear came out of the Haven with their Fleet divided into three Battels whereof the left Wing was extended a great way into the Sea the right Wing still keeping near unto the Main and in the middle Battel was Uluzales himself who came all on faster than the Tide drave them staying their Course oft times of purpose to have drawn the Gallies of the Christians from the Galeasses and Ships Uluzales seeing his Fleet thus in order and fearing nothing more than the Galeasses commanded both the Wings of his Fleet having in each of them fourscore Gallies to fetch a great compass about the one on the right hand and the other on the left aloof off from the Galeasses and so to assail the Wings of the Christians on the sides or behind in hope so to have disordered their Battel and without danger to have drawn the Gallies from the Galeasses and the other heavy Ships Which their intent the Christians perceiving in their Wings turned about their Gallies also in manner of the new Moon their main Battel still facing the middle Battel of the Turks The Wings of the Turks Fleet thus far separated from the middle Battel seemed to present unto the Christians a great advantage which Fuscarinus intentive to all the offers of good Fortune quickly perceiving and calling unto Columnius and Lilly and shewing them the Enemies main Battel at hand and the Wings gone a great way off requested and perswaded them That not staying for the heavy Ships and Galeasses they would with him upon the suddain assail the Enemies middle Battel now destitute of the Wings not doubting but so to overthrow the Enemies greatest strength there before the Wings could now they were so far gon joyn themselves to the Battel again What could as he said have hapned more wishedly than to have their Battel divided So that they might at more advantage fight against every part thereof now separated than against all three parts at once If they had thought themselves not only equal but too strong for the whole Enemies Fleet united should they not the better overcome them apart and dispersed The opportunity as he said was but short and therefore to be forthwith resolved upon If they would take the present occasion of Victory then offered and as resolute Men charge their Enemies little fearing any such thing they should by their celerity and valour teach the Turks what the Christian discipline of War and power was able to do but if they would therein use delay they should ere long in vain wish for the like occasion they had let slip when as their Battel was again strengthned with the Wings This the Admirals Speech was of most that heard it joyfully received and his Counsel well liked and that with such a general chearfulness of the Souldiers as shewed in them no want of courage to have given the Enemy present Battel But Columnius and
almost all the Country of Caramania his own After that he laid siege to Cogna a City in the Confines of Natolia which was forthwith yielded unto him And yet not so contented gave it out by open Proclamation that for the reformation of the disordered state he would e're long go to besiege the Imperial City of Constantinople and that therefore all such as would follow him should of him be entreated as his Friends and Companions threatning unto the rest most cruel Death and Destruction Of which his Proceeding Mahomet as then disporting himself in his Gardens of Pleasure in the Country all along the side of Propontis understanding and fearing to be there surprised or that some sudden Innovation might be raised in the City hasted with all speed to Constantinople and from thence in all haste dispatched Mehemet one of the Visier Bassaes the Son of Sinan with all the Forces he could make to go against him Who passing over into Asia with a great Power and yet fearing to come to the trial of a Battel with him whom he knew to be a man of himself desperately set and not a little favoured also even of his own Souldiers so secretly wrought by large Promises that Cusahin's Footmen were even upon the point to have forsaken him Which he quickly perceiving fled forthwith through Siria into the Country of Arabia with his Horsemen and the Horsemen of Simon the Georgian purposing the next Spring by the help of the Arabians and Persians to appear in the field with greater Forces than before After whom Mehemet the great Bassa following came with his Army to Aleppo there to winter and to expect the return of the Rebel together with the Spring This so dangerous a Rebellion with the Troubles of Transilvania and Valachia were the cause that the grand Seignior seeing himself in so many places forsaken of his Subjects was the readier to incline unto peace with the Emperour whereunto for all that the Emperour was not hasty to hearken but upon honourable Conditions as knowing that the Turk required the same not for any desire he had to live at quiet but for that his troubled affairs both at home and elsewhere abroad so required his Janizaries and other men of War in this his so weak Government being grown so insolent as that they were hardly to be by him commanded openly threatning in their discontented humours not only the deposing of the principal Officers about him but of himselfalso and of the banishment of the Sultaness his Mother saying That she had bewitched him to the end she might her self rule year 1599 which she indeed did in all his greatest Affairs But the Rebel Cusahin the next Year grown again very strong was now come into the Field and even ready to have given the Bassa Battel who as he was a Man of great Wisdom and Experience well considering with what a desperate Enemy he had to do thought it best again to prove if his rebellious Followers might by fair means be drawn from him and so coming near unto him by open Proclamation promised a free and general Pardon to all such as had followed the Rebel in those Wars if forsaking him they should forthwith return home to their Dwellings and so to the Obedience of their just and lawful Prince and Sovereign Which general Pardon so proclaimed was the Ruine of Cusahin for that the greatest part of his Followers now enriched with the great Booties they had gotten and now also having free Pardon offered them returned home into their own Countries there at ease to live of their evil gotten Goods leaving their Captain with some few others which staid with him with little hope to be saved So that within a few days after Cusahin thus forsaken of his Followers was himself taken and brought to Constantinople where shortly after he was with most exquisite Torments tortured to death year 1600 The Troubles of this Year thus past Rodolph the Christian Emperour with the beginning of the next whilst the ground yet covered with Snow and the unseasonableness of the Weather would not suffer the Souldiers to keep the Field caused a Diet of the Princes of the Empire to be called to consider with him of such helps as were by them to be given against the next Spring for the maintenance of the Wars which yet he had against the Turk who all promised to send their Souldiers with their Pay and such farther Contribution as might serve for the maintenance of that defensive War against the common Enemy whereunto also Clement now Bishop of Rome this year of Jubile put to his helping hand as he had divers times before by sending thither such aid both of Men and Money as he had before promised so thatby this means great Preparation was made by the Christians for the taking of the Field with the first of the Spring At which time the Turks also began to stir who altho Ibrahim Bassa their General by the appointment of his great Lord was then in some Speech with the Emperour about a Peace yet ceased not they in the mean time that this Treaty was from day to day prolonged with their Companies scattering here and there to do what harm they could upon the Frontiers of the Emperour's Territories the cause why he with more speed called upon his Friends for their promised Aid And for the better managing of this years Wars against the Turk he appointed Duke Mercury who had drawn a great number of French-men both Horse and Foot out of France General of all his Forces sending Ferant Gonzaga sirnamed the Lame whom for his approved Valour and Experience in martial Affairs he had sent for to Mantua Governour into the upper Hungary So the Souldiers now day by day by Companies resorting from divers parts into Austria were from thence sent unto such places as were by the Turks most molested so to repress their often Incursions as in many places they did For eight thousand of the Turks going out upon the sudden to have surprised Pappa were by the Garrison Souldiers of that place encountred and overthrown And on the other side whilst Ferdinand the Arch-duke was assembling his People in Croatia for the defence of that Country against the Incursions of the Enemy six thousand Turks without resistance entring the same as far as Buccari and burning the Country Villages as they went had taken many Prisoners with a great Booty of Cattel and so merry and out of fear being about to have returned were suddenly set upon by the County Serinus in certain strait and troublesome Passages where they least feared any such matter and overcharged also with their Prey were I say easily by him for the most part overthrown and the rest put to flight and so the Prisoners with all the rest of the Booty again recovered At which time also one of the Imperial Collonels with fifteen hundred Horse making an Inroad into the Country about Alba-Regalis and meeting
was in him and Ioseph was made chief Governor and absolute Commander over all Egypt and by this means those Princes who gave themselves much over to softness and luxury could with more ease demand account of Miscarriages in the Rule of their Empire it being their Policy to constitute one on whom all the blame of Miscarriages in Government might be thrown The first constitution that we meet with in History of the first Vizier was in the time of Amurath the third King of the Turks who pasing into Europe with his Tutor called Lala Schabin he made him his chief Counsellor and committed to him the Charge of his Army with which he won Adrianople formerly called Orestias and ever since the Grand Signior hath continued to maintain that Office of Vizier using that common appellation of Lala which signifies Tutor whensoever in familiar Discourse he speaks to him There are besides the first commonly six other Viziers who are called Viziers of the Bench that have no Power nor Authority in the Government but only are grave Men that have perhaps had Charges and Offices and are knowing in the Laws and sit together with the first Vizier in the Divan or Court where Causes are tryed but are mute and cannot give their Sentence or Opinion in any Matter unless the first Vizier please to demand their Counsel or Judgment in point of Law which he seldom does not to disparage his own Reason and Experience Their Pay proceeds from the Grand Signior's Treasury and is not above 2000 Dollars a Year any of these six can write the Grand Signior's Firme or Autogra upon all Commands or Decrees that are sent abroad and because their Riches are but moderate and the Office they are in treats not much with the dangerous Parts of State they live long without Envy or Emulation or being subject to that inconstancy of Fortune and Alteration to which greater degrees of Place are exposed And yet when any great Matter is in consult and of considerable Importance these six with the first Vizier the Mufti and Caddeelescheers or Lord Chief Justices are admitted into the Cabinet-Council and are often permitted freedom to deliver their Opinions on the matter of Question The State and Greatness the Prime Vizier lives in is agreeable to the Honour of him whom he represents having commonly in his Court about 2000 Officers and Servants when he appears in any solemnity or publick Show he carries on his Turbant before two Feathers as the Grand Signior wears three set on with a handle of Diamonds and other rich Stones and before him are carried three Horse Tails called the Tugh upon a long Staff upon the top of which is a gilded Knob the like distinction of Honour is permitted only to the three other principal Pashaes within their Jurisdiction viz. the Pasha of Babylon of Cairo and of Buda the other inferior Pashaes have only one Horse Tail carried before them without other Distinction or Badg os Authority and these three forementioned Pashaes have a right to be Viziers of the Bench and can take their places in the Divan when the Time of their Offices are expired and any of them found at the Court in entire Grace and Favour The Prime Vizier as he is the Representative of the Grand Signior so he is the Head or Mouth of the Law to him Appeals may be made and any one may decline the ordinary course of Justice to have his Case decided by his Determination unless the Vizier through the multiplicity of his Affairs and a small consideration of the Case thinks fit to refer it to the Law. And that he may evidence his care of the Publick Good he is always present at the Divan four times a Week that is Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday and the other days excepting Fridays keeps Divan in his own House so diligent and watchful are these Men to discharge the Acts of Justice and their own Office. He is attended to the Divan which is the Chamber of the Seraglio by a great number of Chiauses and their Commanders in chief who are a sort of Pursevants and other Officers who only serve to attend him to the Divan called Muta-faracan and may be termed Serjeants or Tipstaffs as he descends from his Horse and enters the Divan or upon his return goes into his House he is with a loud Voice of his Attendants prayed for and wished all happiness and long Life not unlike the Salutations the Roman Souldiers used to their Emperors Cum sub auspiciis Caesaris omnia prospera felicia precabantur When he is set upon the Bench all Causes are brought before the Caddeelescheer who is Lord Chief Justice and by him all Judgments pass unless the Prime Vizier shall think the Cause proper for his Cognisance or shall disapprove at any time the Sentence of the Judg and then by virtue of his unlimited Power he can reverse the Verdict and determine as he pleases All Officers in the Divan wear a strange sort of dress upon their Heads called in Turkish Mugevezee The Lord Chief Justices which sit with the Grand Vizier are two of Romelia and Asia called Kadilescher or Judges of the Army And this shall in short serve for what is necessary to speak of the Divan in this place in regard we only touch upon it for the better explanation of the Vizier's Office. The Prime Vizier hath his Power as ample as his Master who gives it him except only that he cannot though he is the Elder Brother of all the Pashaes take off any of their Heads without the Imperial Signature or immediate Hand-writing of the Grand Signior nor can he punish a Spahee or Janisary or any other Souldier but by means of their Commanders the Militia having reserved themselves that Privilege which secures them from several oppressions in other Matters he is wholly Absolute and hath so great a Power with the Grand Signior that whomsoever he shall think fit of all the Officers in the Empire to proscribe he can speedily obtain the Imperial Hand to put it in execution Whatsoever Petitions and Addresses are made in what Business soever ought first to pass through the Hands of the Vizier but yet when a Party hath suffered some notorious Injury in which the Vizier is combined or hath refused him Justice he hath liberty then to appeal to the Grand Signior himself which is permitted by an ancient custom the aggrieved Person putting Fire on his Head enters the Seraglio runs in haste and can be stopt by no Body until he comes to the presence of the Grand Signior to whom he hath licence to declare his wrong The like was done by Sir Thomas Bendysh when Ambassador at Constantinople putting Pots of Fire at the Yard-Arms of some English Ships then in Port and came to an Anchor near the Seraglio The reason thereof was the violent seizure of the Merchants Goods as soon as arrived in Port for the Service of the Grand Signior without Bargain
accompanied his Pipe with Tears and Sighs He was an excellent Musician and a deep Philosopher endued with those supernatural vertues as enabled him to work Miracles clear and notorious to all the world he was an Hermite called in Arabick Abdal went with his head bare and his body full of wounds without a Shirt or other Cloathing besides a Skin of some wild Beast thrown about his Shoulders at his Girdle he wore some fine polished Stone on his Wrists instead of Diamonds and Stones of value he wore counterfeit Jewels which carried a luster and fair appearance with them this man was called Sanâ—one Kalenderi who was continually singing Arabick Sonnets and according to them Musical Airs making also harmonious compositions so artificially that he seemed another David But how strict and sober this Santone was his Disciples or Proselytes are of another temper being wholly given up to jollity and delights they banish all kind of melancholy and sadness and live free of cares passions or torments of the mind and have this saying amongst them This day is ours to morrow is his who shall live to enjoy it and therefore studiously attend to lose no moment or least part of their pleasure but consume their time in eating and drinking and to maintain this gluttony they will sell the Stones of their Girdles their Earings and Bracelets When they come to the house of any rich Man or person of Quality they accommodate themselves to their humour giving all the Family pleasant words and chearfull expressions to persuade them to a liberal and free entertainment The Tavern by them is accounted holy as the Mosch and believe they serve God as much with debauchery or liberal use of his creatures as they call it as others with severity and mortification And the Turks say That in the Hegira 615 the Christians became Masters of Ierusalem by reason that the Institutour of this Order of the Kalenderi who had a chief hand in the Government of the City was found drunk when it was assaulted CHAP. XVIII Of the Edhemi THE original Founder of this Order was one Ibrahim Edhem concerning whom the Disciples themselves or Followers recount things very obscurely and tell us Stories that his Father was a Slave and Abasme by Nation and went one day under the Fort Horanan to discourse with Ibnimâ—lik King of Cairo that he was a man very comly facetious and sober in his carriage always desiring to please God continued in the Moschs reading the Alchoran and in prayer day and night with his face prostrate on the ground and often repeating these words O God thou hast given me so much Wisedom as that I know clearly that I am in thy direction and therefore scorning all Power and Dominion I resign my self to the speculation of Philosophy and a Holy Life His Servants seeing this his devout way of living applied themselves to the imitation of his Austerity and abandoning all greatness and vanities of the World applied themselves to solitude and mortification their superfluous Garments they bestowed upon the Poor giving to those whose necessities required them Their food is Bread made of Barley and Pray frequently with Fasting and their Priors apply themselves to a faculty of Preaching Their principal Convents are in Cities of Persia especially Chorasan Their Cloathing is of a course thick Cloth upon their heads they wear a Cap of Wooll with a Turbant round it and about their necks a white Linen Cloth striped with red In the Desarts they converse with Lions and Tigres salute them and make them tame and by the miraculous power of Divine assistence entertain discourse with Enoch in the Wilderness This and many other wild discourses they make of this Edhem but because there are but few of this Order in Constantinople being most appropriated to Persia I could not receive so particular an account of their Rule and Institutions as I have done of others CHAP. XIX The Order of Bectash THE original Founder of this Religion is of no ancient memory or standing nor had his Birth or Education amongst the Santones of Arabia from whence most of these superstitious pretenders have had their beginning but one of those that was an Army-Preacher that could fight as well as pray of whom my Learned Hogia gives me this account In the time says he that the Warlike and Victorious Sultan Amurath passed with his Army into Servia and overcame Lazarus the Despot of that Countrey and slew him in Battel Bectash was then a Preacher to Amurath who amongst other his Admonitions forewarned him of trusting the Servians but Amurath out of his couragious spirit relying on his own Wisedom and Force admitted a certain Nobleman called Vilvo upon pretence of doing him homage to approach near him and kiss his hand who having his Dagger ready and concealed stabbed Amurath to the heart and with that blow made him a Martyr Bectash knowing that this treacherous death of his Prince must needs also be the cause of his for being so near his person and prophesying of this fatal stroke sought not to prevent it but made preparations for his own death And in order thereunto provided himself with a white Robe with long Sleeves which he proffered to all those which were his Admirers and Proselytes to be kissed as a mark of their obedience to him and his Institutions from this action the custome hath been introduced of kissing the sleeve of the Grand Signior The Religious of this Order wear on their heads white Caps of several pieces with Turbants of Wooll twisted in the fashion of a Rope they observe constantly the hours of Prayer which they perform in their own Assemblies they go Cloathed in White and praise the Vnity of God crying Hu which is may he live and by these means obtain the Grace of God. This Santone hath many millions of Disciples and Followers now all the Janizaries of the Ottoman Porâ— are professours of the same Religion This Bectash at his death cut off one of his sleaves and put it upon the head of one of his Religious men part of which hung down on his shoulders saying After this you shall be Janizaries which signifies a new Militia and from that time begun their original institution so this is the reason why the Janizaries wear Caps falling behind after the manner of Sleeves called Ketche This Hagi Bectash was a person exceedingly attractive in his conversation holy to admiration a Man of great Worth and Majestick in his comportment he was buried in the City Kyr where they have many Convents and Religious followers who always praise and adore God and thus far my Hogia informs me But whatsoever he says this Order is the most abhorred in the World by the Kadizadeli because that Bectash left it to the free will of his Disciples either to observe the constant hours of prayer or not by which great liberty and licentiousness is entred amongst the Ianizaries who are Souldier-like not over zealous or
knowledge thereof and contrived with the High Treasurer to send one of his Servants to Buy a considerable parcel of the Cloth of Gold for the use of the Seraglio And in regard different Sortments and Colours were demanded it was necessary to open and unpack divers Chests by which means they came to a full discovery of all those Goods which had privately been convey'd away by Night When these Chapmen had concluded their Bargains and agreed on the Prices which amounted unto 3500 Dollars they gave an Assignment for the Money on Usaine Aga the Chief Customer who willingly accepted the Bill but to abate it out of the Customs due for those Goods making up the Account after his own fashion But not content herewith he obtained a Warrant from the Vizier directed to the Judge of Galata to examine the manner of carrying these Goods a-shoar in the Night by Force and Violence which being made out by several Witnesses a report thereof was sent to the Vizier who immediately thereupon gave Orders to the Vaivod and Captain of Galata to make Search in the House of the Customer for those Goods which had not paid the Custom Seignior Ciurani Alarmed at this manner of Proceeding and not willing to give an occasion to the Turks to violate the respect due to the House of Venice which until that time was ever esteemed a Sanctuary and place of Refuge seasonably compounded for his unjustifyable miscarriage by the Payment of 30000 Dollars But this trouble was no sooner ended before another of worse Consequence began arising from certain Slaves to the number of about Fifty which had saved themselves aboard the Venetian Men of War which had brought the Ambassador of which Complaint being made by the Masters unto the Vizier Orders were given twice to make search aboard the Ships for them but by help of a little Money Inquisitions were made so superficially that Returns were given of none to be found But the Complaints daily increasing new Orders were given to renew the Search the execution whereof was committed to a Capugee and a Hasakee who are Officers belonging to the Seraglio together with a Naip or Kadee's Notary who was to write down and record the proceedings These persons being come aboard and rudely making search after their manner the Soldiers arose against them and beat them off wounding some and throwing the Naip and others into the Sea. Upon report whereof the Vizier was so enraged that he would have had the Ships brought to the Arsenal there to be laid up and confiscated to the Grand Seignior's Service The two Venetian Ambassadors fearing also some violence to their Persons from these disorders betook themselves to their Ships there to remain until Matters were a little pacified and to make the business more easy the Slaves about whom was all the controversie were privately convey'd ashoar And a Search of the Ships submitted unto by consent and Proposal of the Ambassadors themselves The Vizier being a little mollified with this compliance the Chiaus-bashee or Chief of the Pursuivants with 200 Men were sent aboard the Ships to make a search where being received without opposition they left no corner of the Ships unsought and unlooked into and none being found the Chiaus-bashee gave them a favourable report upon payment of 300 Chequins After which the Bailos or Ambassadors returned ashoar referring a farther Accommodation of their Matters to Usaine Aga the Customer who was a most dexterous Person both in raising Avanias or false Pretences and in the Ways and Arts of composing them And he accordingly so managed the matter that with payment of Seventy purses to the Vizier and Ten to the Kaja with other petty rewards to Usaine Aga himself and other inferiour Officers which might in all amount to about 50000 Dollars all Displeasures were reconciled the new Bailo was Friendly admitted to Audience and the old one suffered fairly to depart The Masters lost their Slaves and the Vizier got the Money But the Troubles of the Venetian Ministers did not end here For not long afterwards some Desturbances arose in Dalmatia between the Turks and the Subjects of that Republick in which above a Hundred Turks as was reported being Cut off the Vizier in a Rage sent the Bailo Prisoner to the seven Towers Threatning to put him to Death but with the Atonement of 200.000 Dollars the Vizier's gentle Heart was melted and all things salved up and reconciled again once more But the Republick of Venice to whose expences the Sum of 300.000 Dollars was charged could not so easily digest this Extortion and knowing that with the Turks there was no other remedy but patience until such time as opportunity happened to revenge it did in the interim show their resentment by their displeasure against Seignior Ciurani their Ambassador whom they recalled speedily from his Employment and constituted the Secretary in his place and afterwards levied a great part of the Money paid unto the Turks out of his Estate and out of the Estate of Morosini the old Bailo Foscari formerly Consul at Aleppo was made Inquisitor to examine the matter who upon enquiry thereinto found that the Goods which Ciurani brought were to the value of 60.000 Dollars and others which had not paid Custom at Venice were in pena di contrabanda condemned in 30.000 Ducats such success as this have such old Politians who pretend to a craft and cunning above other Men. And thus we have given a Relation of the Treatment which the Vizier used towards the Venetians in which we have been the more large to inform the World of the beginnings and grounds of the War which soon afterwards ensued and the Reasons which moved the Venetians to joyn themselves in League with the Emperor against the Turk The next Foreign Minister which must tast of the Vizier's kindness was the Genoese Resident And tho' neither the Business nor the Actions of that Nation did Administer any ground of pretence to extort Money from them yet the Vizier made an Avania of 5000 Dollars upon them for what cause no Man knows nor do the Genoese themselves declare any It is conjectured he would not suffer their Resident Seignior Spinola to depart without payment of that Sum upon pretence that during all the time of his Residence he had never seen the Grand Seignior The new Resident who succeeded to Spinola had been the Sopra-cargo of a Ship and was rather a Factor than a Publick Minister for the State of Genoua had refused to have any concernment in Turky Howsoever they lent their name to certain Merchants for 6000 Dollars a year who in Consideration of the Consolage to be confirmed to them were to maintain a Resident at Constantinople and a Consul at Smyrna After which the Camera was to know nothing of any expence but all sorts of Charges and Avanias were to be born by the Undertakers who allowed their Resident 1500 Dollars per annum which with the benefit of making
thing and had before born some Sway. The Souldiers whose help he had used in aspiring to the Government he rewarded with great bounty all their Offices and Preferments he bestowed either upon his own Children or other his great Favorites divers of the Nobility of whom he liked not were by him in short time driven into exile some were by him deprived of their sight and some others cast into prison not knowing any cause why more than that they were by him secretly condemned for that they were of the Nobility or had done some good Service for the State or exiled for their Personage or some other thing that grieved Andronicus or else for the spark of some old displeasure which yet lay hid as fire raked up in the ashes So that the State of that time began to grow most miserable and the treachery even of men nearest in blood seeking the destruction one of another for to serve their own turns or to gratifie Andronicus most horrible not only one Brother betray'd another but even the Father his Son and the Son his Father if Andronicus would have it so Some accused their nearest Kinsmen that they derided Andronicus his proceedings or that without regard of him they more favoured Alexius the young Emperor then a great offence Yea such was the mischief of the time that many in accusing others were themselves accused and charging others of Treason against Andronicus were themselves charged by them whom they accused and so clapt up both together in one prison Neither were they of the Nobility only which were Enemies to Andronicus thus hardly dealt withall but even some of his great Favorites and Followers also for some whom but yesterday he had used most kindly and enrolled among his best Friends upon them to day he frowned and tyrannized most cruelly so that you might have seen the same man the same to day as it is reported of Xerxes his Admiral to be crowned and beheaded to be graced and disgraced insomuch that the wiser sort deemed Andronicus his praisings the beginning of a mans disgrace his bounty his undoing and his kindness his death The first that tasted of his Tyranny was Mary the Daughter of Emanuel the Emperor who for the hate she bare to Alexius the late President and the Empress her Mother in law had as is aforesaid above all other wisht for his coming but was now by one Pterigionites sometime an Eunuch of her Fathers corrupted by Andronicus having in his aspiring mind purposed the utter destruction of all Emanuels Posterity cunningly poysoned as was her Husband Caesar who lived not long after her poysoned also as was supposed with the same Cup that his Wife was Now among others of the late Emperors House none had ever stood more in his light than had the fair Empress Xene the young Emperors Mother whom now he ceased not most bitterly though wrongfully to accuse as an utter Enemy both to the Emperor and the State making as if he would leave all and again depart if she were not removed from the Emperor her Son and by his cunning so incensed the giddy headed vulgar people against her that they came flocking to Theodâ—sius the good Patriarch ready to tear him out of his Cloaths if he consented not to the removing of the Empress as Andronicus had desired So a Council being called of such his Favorites and others as were not like indifferently to hear her Cause but assuredly to condemn her the Guiltless Empress after many things falsly laid to her Charge was accused of Treason as that she should by her Letters have solicited Bela King of Hungary her Brother in law to invade Brantizoba and Belligrade two strong places belonging to the Empire Whereupon she was condemned and shamefully cast into a most filthy Prison near unto the Monastery of St. Diomede Amongst other Noblemen called unto this wicked Council were Leo Monasteriotes Demetrius Tornicius and Constantius Petrenus who not yet altogether devoted to Andronicus being asked their Opinions concerning the Empress said They would be glad first to know Whether that Council against his Mother were called by the Emperors consent or not With which Speech Andronicus pierced to the heart as with a Sword in great rage started up and said These are they which encouraged the wicked President to all his Villanies lay hands upon them Whereupon they of his Guard in threatning manner shook their Weapons and Swords at them as if they would even presently have slain them and the tumultuouâ— common people catching them by their Cloaks as they came out pulling them some one way some another were so fierce upon them as that they had much ado to escape out of their hands with life Now lay the fair Empress but the other day one of the greatest Princes of the East and honoured of all her Subjects in great misery and despair scorned even of her base Keepers every hour expecting the deadly blow of the Hangman Yet was not the cruelty of Andronicus against her any thing asswaged but grieving that she yet breathed shortly after assembled the former Council the Ministers of his Wrath demanding of them What punishment was by Law appointed for such as betrayed any Town or Province of the Empire whereunto answer being given in Writing That it was by the Law death he could no longer hold but that he must in great choler break out against the poor Empress as if it had been she that had done it and thereupon the wicked Counsellors crying out with one voice That she was to be taken out of the way as they had before agreed by and by without longer stay a damned Writing was subscribed by the young Emperor her Son as if it had been with the blood of his own Mother whereby she was I abhor to write it most unworthily condemned to die The men appointed to see this most horrible and cruel Execution done were Manuel Andronicus his eldest Son and Georgius Augustus his near Kinsman who both dismaid at the very mentioning of the matter not regarding the Emperors Command said plainly that they never before consented to the death of the Empress but had clean hands of so hainous an offence and therefore would now much less see her innocent Body dismembred in their sight At which unexpected answer Andronicus much troubled with his Fingers oftentimes pluckt himself by the hoary Beard and with burning eyes casting sometime up his head and sometime down sighed at his own most miserable tyrannical estate freting inwardly that they which were nearest unto him whom he thought he might even with a beck have commanded to have done any mischief abhorring his cruelty should refuse to do the thing he so much desired to have done yet repressing his anger for a while within a few days after he again commanded her to be strangled which was accordingly done by Constantinus Tripsicus and Pterigionites the ungracious Eunuch by whose help he
now in a readiness for the firing of the Mine it was thought good by general consent that an assault should also at the same time be given unto the City and thereupon every Regiment was by lot appointed which part of the Wall to assail which they all with great courage undertook In the heat of which Assault the aforesaid undermined Tower with some part of the Wall the Timber whereon it staied now burnt fell down with a great fall laying open a fair Breach for the Christians to enter wherewith the Turks dismaied forthwith craved to come to parl which granted they for safeguard of their lives yielded forthwith to give up the City and to restore to the Christians the Holy Cross with two thousand Captives and two hundred Horsemen such as they should require of all them that were in the power of Saladin besides 200000 Constantinopolitan Ducats to be by him given to the two Kings for the cost by them bestowed in the Siege For payment whereof the Turks in the City were to remain as hostages under the safe keeping of the Christians so that if all the Covenants aforesaid were not within forty days performed by Saladin they should all for their lives be at the Kings mercy So was this strong City after it had been almost three years besieged delivered up unto the Christians the 12 of Iuly in the year 1191. The first that entred were the Germans of Austria year 1191. who as if they had been the only men by whose Valour the City had been won at their first entry presumptuously advanced their Ensigns upon the top of the Walls to the great Offence of all the rest of the Christian Princes but especially of King Richard who not unworthily for his Princely Courage was commonly called Richard Cueur de Lyon not brooking so proud an indignity caused the Ensigns of Leopold their Duke to be pulled down and foiled under foot which shortly after gave him occasion of Repentance as shall hereafter be seen The two Kings possessed of the City divided the same with all the People and Spoil thereof betwixt them without regard of the rest of the other noble Christians that had sustained the whole travel of that long Siege for which cause most part of them seeing themselves so deluded withdrew themselves from them and with one consent sent them word That they would forsake them except they were made partakers of the gains as they had been of the pains Which the two Kings to content them promised they should howbeit they delayed so long their promises that many worthy men constrained by Poverty departed discontented from them into their Countries But long it was not that this one City so lately gained could contain these two great Kings whom two large Kingdoms could not retain in peace For albeit that they were in body together present and in one and that a most honourable action combined yet were they in hearts far asunder and their secret designs much different envy and distrust still reviving unkindness past and ministring new matter of greater discontentments King Richard according to his noble nature was of nothing more desirous than to have the War continued until they had made a full Conquest of Syria and the Land of Palestine and for that cause requested the French King to bind himself together with him by solemn Oath there to stay yet three years for the regaining of those Countries But he in mind long before estranged from King Richard and in his deep conceit plotting matters nearer home better fitting his purpose would by no means be perswaded so to do but still found one occasion or other for to colour his departure And shortly after as the French Chronicles report falling extreamly sick he requested King Richard and the other Christian Princes to come unto him unto whom being come he in few words declared his purpose of return as followeth I cannot my Lords longer endure the inclemency and intemperature of the Air in this extream hot season If my death might profit the Christian Religion or any one of you or the Christian Commonweal there should be no distemperature whatsoever that could separate me from you or withdraw me from hence But more may the life of one absent serve and profit you than the death of him present I must of necessity depart yet at my departure I will leave you five hundred men at Arms and ten thousand Footmen the Flower and Choice of all the Forces of France under the conduct of my Cousin Odo Duke of Burgundy unto whom I will give Pay and Entertainment with a continual supply of all things for them necessary This excuse of the French Kings King Richard could not take in good part but said That it was apparent to all men that he abandoned the Wars in Syria to return into France for no other end or purpose but the more easily to invade the Provinces of Guien and Normandy now disfurnished of their Garrisons and so subiect to his malice Which point he so urged that the French King could have no leave with his Honour to depart until such time as he had by solemn Oath bound himself unto King Richard not to attempt any thing either by force or fraud against him or any thing of his until â—ifty days were expired after King Richard his return home which how well it was by the French King observed I leave it to the report of the Histories of that time And so the French King not to be intreated longer to stay leaving behind him the aforesaid number of men he had promised embarking the rest of his Army and accompanied with three tall Ships of the Genowaies his Friends and Ruffin Volta their Admiral departed from Ptolemais to Tyre the first of August and two days after loosing thence sailed alongst the Sea-coast of Asia and cutting through the Mediterranean arrived at length in the mouth of the River of Tiber and from thence went to Rome where after he had visited Pope Celestine and the famous places of that most Renowned City he returned again to his Fleet and so by Sea arrived in safety in France having in that great expedition so honourably by him entertained performed nothing answerable to that the World looked for After the French King followed Leopold Duke of Austria with his Germans and not long after him the Venetians also with them of Pisa and Genoa Of whose departure Saladin understanding and that the Christian Forces were thereby much empaired refused either to pay the Mony or to restore the Prisoners as was promised at the giving up of Ptolemais threatning moreover to chop off the Heads of all such Christian Captives as he had in his power if the King should shew any extremity unto the pledges in the City Nevertheless shortly after he sent his Embassadors with great Presents unto the King requesting a longer time for the sparing of his pledges which his request together with his Gifts the King refused to
Wrath but struck as it were to the heart with a remorse of Conscience and oppressed with heaviness with tears running down his Cheeks and fetching a deep sigh said Why provoke you me to punish so just a man Whereas if I would my self have lived without reproach and infamy I should have kept my Imperial Majesty unpolluted or stained But now sith I my self have been the cause both of mine own disgrace and of the Empires I may thank mine own deserts if of such evil seed as I have sown I now reap also an evil harvest After the death of this good Emperor Theodorus his Son born the first year of his Fathers Reign being then about three and thirty years old was by the general consent of the People saluted Emperor in his stead who in the beginning of his Empire renewed the League which his Father had made with Iathatines the Turkish Sultan And so having provided for the security of his affairs in Asia he with a puissant Army passed over the Straight of Hellespontus into Europe to appease the troubles there raised in Macedonia and Thracia by the King of Bulgaria his Brother-in-Law and Michael Angelus the Despot of Thessalia who upon the death of the old Emperor began to spoil those Countries not without hope aâ— length to have joyned them unto their own by whose coming they were for all that disappointed of their purpose and glad to sue to him for peace But whilst he was there busied he was advertised by Letters from Nice that Michael Paleologus whom he had left there Governour in his absence was secretly fled unto the Turks with which news he was not a little troubled The cause of whose flight as Paleologus himself gave it out was for that he perceived himself divers ways by many of his Enemies brought into disgrace and the Emperors Ears so filled with their odious complaints so cunningly framed against him as that they were not easily or in short time to be refelled and therefore fearing in the Emperors heavy displeasure to be suddenly taken away to have willingly gone into exile if so happily he might save his life from the malice of them that sought after it At his coming to Iconium he found Iathatines the Sultan making great preparation against the Tartars who having driven the Turks out of Persia and other the far Eastern Countries as is before declared and running still on did with their continual incursions spoyl a great part of their Territories in the lesser Asia also and now lay at Axara a Town not far off from Iconium against whom the Sultan now making the greatest preparation he could gladly welcomed Paleologus whom he knew to be a right valiant and worthy Captain commending to his charge the leading of certain Bands of Greeks whom he had retained to serve him in those Wars as he had others of the Latines under the conduct of Boniface Moline a Nobleman of Venice and so having put all things in readiness and strengthened with these forreign Supplies of the Greeks and Latines set forward against his Enemies the Tartars who at the first fight of the strange Ensigns and Souldiers were much dismaied fearing some greater force had been come to the aid of the Turks nevertheless joyning with them in Battel had with them at the first a most terrible and bloody conflict wherein that part of the Army that stood against Paleologus and his Greeks was put to the worse to the great discomfiture of the Tartars being even upon the point to have fled had not one of the greatest Commanders in the Turks Army and a nigh Kinsman of the Sultans for an old grudge that he bare unto the Sultan with all his Regiment in the heat of the Battel revolted unto the Tartars whereby the fortune of the Battel was in a moment as it were quite altered they which but now were about to have fled fighting like Lions and they that were Victors now glad to turn their Backs and flie in which Flight a great number of Turks fell the fierce Tartars most eagerly pursuing them Paleologus with the General of the Turks hardly chased by the Tartars and glad every hour to make a stand and to fight for their lives with much ado after many days flight recovered a Castle of the Generals neer unto Castamona and so saved themselves The Tartars after this so great a Victory wherein they had broken the whole Strength of the Turks and brought in hazard the whole State of their Kingdom without resistance forraged all the Countries and Provinces subject unto the Turkish Sultan making Spoil of whatsoever they light upon insomuch that the Sultan discouraged and having now no Strength left to oppose against them fled unto the Greek Emperor Theodorus for aid who most honourably entertained him with all his Train and comforted him with such small aid as he thought good then to spare him which for his more safety he sent home with him under the leading of Isaacius Duâ—as sirnamed Murtzufle a man in great credit with him In recompence of which kindness the Sultan gave unto the Emperor the City of Laodicea whereinto he presently put a strong Garrison Nevertheless it was not long before it fell again into the Hands of the Turks being a place not to be holden by the Greeks Yet for all this the Sultan finding himself still to weak to withstand the continual invasions of the Tartars and weary of the harms he dayly stustained by the advice of his chief Councellors made a League with them yielding to pay them a certain yearly Tribute thereby to redeem his peace From which time the Tartars accounted of the Turks as of their Tributaries and Vassals Not long after this Michael Paleologus was by the Emperors kind and gracious Letters called home with his faithful promise also before given for his security who before his return bound himself also by solemn Oath to be unto the Emperor and his Son always loyal and from thenceforth never to seek after the Empire or give cause of new suspect for such matters as he had been before charged with but for ever to yield unto the Emperor his Son or other his Successors in the Empire his dutiful Obedience and Fidelity Upon which conditions he was again made great Constable and so received into the Emperors Favour and lived the rest of his Reign in great honour and credit with him Now Theodorus the Emperor having reigned three years fell sick and died leaving behind him his Son Iohn then but a Child of six years old to succeed him in the Empire whom he upon his death bed together with the Empire commended to Arsenius the Patriarch and one George Muzalo his faithful Councellor as to his trusty Tutors to see him safely brought up and the Empire well and peaceably governed This Muzalo was a man of mean Parentage but for his familiar Acquaintance and civil Behaviour of a Child brought up in the Court with the
from the Spoil of others as well Christians as Turks whereby it came to pass that the old Inhabitants which had for the most part forsaken the Country by reason of the great troubles therein repaired now again to their ancient dwellings and not only they but many other Strangers also supplying the places of them whom the late Wars had consumed So that by his good Government that wasted Country in short time grew to be again very populous The civil Government of his Country well established he besieged the City of Isnica in ancient time called Nice a City of Bithynia famous for the general Council there holden against Arius in the time of Constantine the Great This City he brought into great distress by placing his men of War in Forts new built upon every passage and way leading unto the same so that nothing could be brought out of the Country for the relief of the poor Citizens They in this extremity by a secret Messenger certified the Emperor of Constantinople under whose obedience they were in what distress the City stood and that except he sent them present relief they must of necessity either perish with Famine or yield themselves into the hands of their Enemies the Turks The Emperor moved with the pitiful complaint of this Messenger with all expedition embarked certain companies of Souldiers from Constantinople to relieve his besieged City But Othoman understanding by his Espials where these Souldiers were appointed to land in secret manner withdrawing most of his Forces from the Siege lay in ambush near to the same place where the Emperors Souldiers casting no peril landed who before they could put themselves in order of Battel were by Othoman and his Turks in such sort charged that most part of them were there slain and the rest driven into the Sea where they miserably perished Othoman having thus politickly overthrown the Constantinopolitan Souldiers returning to the Siege continued the same in straighter manner than before The besieged Citizens driven into great penury and now despairing of all help yielded themselves with the great and rich City of Nice into the hands of Othoman with the Spoil whereof he greatly enriched his men of War. Aladin the great Sultan of Iconium glad to hear of this good success of Othoman against the Christians in token of his Favour and Love sent unto him a fair Ensign with certain Drums and Trumpets a Sword and Princely Robe with large Charters That whatsoever he took from the Christians should be all his own and also that publick Prayers should be said in all the Turks Temples in the name of Othoman for his health and prosperous estate which two things properly belonged to the dignity of the Sultan These extraordinary favours gave occasion for many to think that Sultan Aladin having no Children intended to make Othoman his adoptive Son and Successor in his Kingdom The Presents and Charters sent him Othoman humbly accepted sending unto Aladin the fifth part of the Spoil of Nice taken from the Christians but the Princely Honours due to the Sultan only he used not during the life of Aladin intending not long after to have gone himself in person to visit the Sultan and so to have grown into his further Favour But having prepared all things for so honourable a journey at what time as he was about to set forward he was certainly informed of the death of Aladin and that Sahib one of his great Counsellors had taken upon him the dignity of the Sultan as is before declared which news much discontented the aspiring mind of this Oguzian Turk in good hope to have succeeded him in the Kingdom or at leastwise to have shared the greatest part thereof unto himself whereof he was now altogether disappointed Yet immediately after the death of Aladin he thought it now fit time to take upon him the Princely Honours before granted unto him by the Sultan in his life time which he for modesty sake had forborn Aladin yet living wherefore he made one Drusu sirnamed Fakitche that is to say a man learned in the Turkish Law Bishop and Judge of Cara-Chisar commanding the publick Prayers which were wont to be made for the health and prosperous Reign of the great Sultan to be now made in his own name which was first openly done by the said Bishop in the Pulpit of Cara-Chisar At the same time also he began to coin Mony in his own name and to take upon him all other Honours belonging unto a Sultan or King which was about ten years after the death of his Father Ertogrol year 1300. and in the year of our Lord 1300. unto which time the beginning of the great Empire of the Turks is under the fortune of this Othoman to be of right referred as then by him thus begun When Othoman had thus taken upon him the Majesty of a King he made his Son Orchanes Prince and Governor of Cara-Chisar promoting his principal Followers to be Governors of other strong Castles and Forts divers of which places retain the name of those Captains at this day He himself made choice of the City Neapolis about twenty miles from Nice to seat his Regal Palace in where also divers of his Nobility built them Houses and changed the name of the City calling it Despotopolis as who should say the City of the Lord or Prince For all this Othoman ceased not to devise by all means he could to augment his Kingdom and for that cause being accompanied with his Son Orchanes made many rodes into the Countries adjoyning upon him surprizing such places as might best serve his purpose for the enlargement of his Kingdom all which in particular to rehearse were tedious The Christian Princes rulers of the Countries bordering upon this new Kingdom fearing lest the greatness of Othoman might in short time be their utter confusion agreed to joyn all their Forces together and so to commit to the Fortune of one great Battel their own Estates with his according to which resolution the Christian confederate Princes which were for the most part of Mysia and Bithynia levying the greatest Forces they were able to make with Fire and Sword invaded Othomans Kingdom Who having knowledge beforehand of this great preparation made against him had in readiness all his Captains and Men of War and hearing that his Enemies had entred his Dominion in warlike manner marched directly towards them and meeting with them in the Confines of Phrygia and Bithynia fought with them a great and mortal Battel wherein many were slain on both sides as well Turks as Christians and after a long Fight obtained of them a right bloody Victory In this Battel Casteleanus one of the greatest Christian Captains was slain another called Tekensis of the Country which he governed in Phrygia chased by Othoman unto the Castle of Ulubad not far distant from the place where the Battel was fought was for fear delivered unto him by the Captain of the same Castle
and was afterward by Othomans commandment most cruelly cut in pieces within the view of his chief Castle which Othoman afterwards subdued with all the Country thereabouts The other Christian Princes and Captains saved themselves by flying into strong Holds farther off The Prince of Bithynia the chief Author of this War fled into the strong City of Prusa which the Turks now call Burusa whither Othoman not long after led his Army in hope to have won the same but finding it not possible to be taken by force began presently at one time to build two great and strong Castles upon the chief passages leading to the City which Castles he with great industry finished in one year and in the one placed as Captain Actemeur his Nephew in the other one Balabanzuck both men of great courage and skilful in feats of War and in this sort having blocked up the City of Prusa so that little or nothing could without great danger be brought into it he subdued the most part of Bithynia and so returned home leaving the two Castles well manned with strong Garrisons under the charge of the Captains before named Othoman returning home to Neapolis honourably rewarded his Souldiers according to their deserts establishing such a quiet and pleasing Government in his Kingdom that People in great number resorted from far into his Dominions there to seat themselves whereby his Kingdom became in few years exceeding populous and he for his politick Government most famous And so living in great quietness certain years being now become aged and much troubled with the Gout his old Souldiers accustomed to live by the Wars abhorring Peace came to him requesting him as it were with one voice to take some honourable War in hand for the inlargement of his Kingdom with great chearfulness offering to spend their lives in his service rather than to grow old in idleness which forwardness of his men of War greatly pleased him and so giving them thanks for that time dismist them promising that he would not be long unmindful of their request But yet thinking it good to make all things safe at home before he took any great Wars in hand abroad thought it expedient to call unto him Michael Cossi the only Christian Captain whom for his great deserts he had at all times suffered to live in quiet with his Possessions as it were in the heart of his Kingdom and by fair means if it might be to perswade him to forsake the Christian Religion and become a follower of Mahomet and so to take away all occasion of mistrust which if he should refuse to do then forgetting all former Friendship to make War upon him as his utter Enemy Whereupon Cossi was sent for being perswaded by the Messenger that Othoman had sent for him because he had occasion to use his wonted faithful Counsel and Service in a great exploit which he had intended as he had oftentimes before Cossi thinking of nothing less than of that which ensued came accompanied with such Souldiers as he thought to use in that service But coming unto Othoman and understanding the very cause why he was sent for and seeing danger eminent on every side kissing Othomans Hand after the manner of the Turks requested him in courteous manner to enter him in the Principles of the Mahometan Religion which he promised ever after to embrace And so saying certain words after Othoman he turned Turk to the great displeasure of God and the contentment of Othoman and his Nobility For which his revolting Othoman presently gave him an Ensign and a rich Robe tokens whereby the Mahometan Sultans assure their Vassals of their Favour and the undoubted possession of such Land and Living as they then hold Oftentimes after this Othoman for the contenting of his Souldiers invaded the Countries bordering upon him took many strong Castles and Forts subdued the most part of Phrygia Misia and Bithynia and other great Regions unto the Euxine Sea and being now very aged and diseased as is aforesaid with the Gout and thereby unable to go into the field in person himself oftentimes sent his Son Orchanes against his Enemies who to the imitation of his Father atchieved many great enterprises Othoman his Father yet living Now happily might the considerate Reader and not without just cause marvel what dead sleep had overwhelmed the Greek Emperors of those times first Michael Paleologus and afterwards his Son Andronicus both men of great Valour and still resiant at Constantinople thus to suffer the Turks not Othoman for he as yet bare no sway but others the sharers of Sultan Aladins Kingdom to take their Cities spoil their Countries kill their Subjects and dayly to incroach upon them in the lesser Asia and especially in Bithynia so near unto them and as it were even under their Noses But let him with me here as in a most convenient place but breath a little and consider the troubled State of that declining Empire now hasting to an end and he shall plainly see the causes of the decay thereof and how like an old diseased body quite overthrown and sick to death it became at length a Prey unto the aspiring Turks Michael Paleologus having by great treachery obtained the Greek Empire and by rare fortune recovered also the City of Constantinople from Baldwin the Emperor as is in the former part of this History declared fearing the power of the Princes of the West but especially of Charles King of Sicilia then a Prince of great Fame and Power whom he knew Baldwin the late Emperor ceased not to solicite for the restitution of him again into his Empire and to have also joyned with him a near bond of Affinity by marrying his Daughter unto Charles his Son to avert this danger and to intangle Charles with troubles near home by his Embassadors offred unto Gregory the Tenth then Bishop of Rome to unite and conform the Greek Church unto the Latine and to acknowledg the Bishops Supremacy in such sort as that it should be lawful for any man to appeal unto the Court of Rome as unto the higher and most excellent Court of which his offer the Pope gladly accepted promising to perform what he had before requested for the keeping of Charles otherwise busied But when it came to the point that this reformation and alteration of Religion in the Greek Church should be made Ioseph the Patriarch to begin withall gave up his place and shortly after forsaking the City retired himself into a Monastery near unto the Straight of Bosphorus where he at quiet devoutly spent the rest of his life The rest of the Clergy also discontented with this innovation in their Sermons openly inveighed against it perswading the People not to receive it crying out That now was come the time of their trial the time of their Martyrdom and the time wherein they were to receive the glorious Crown of their painful sufferings insomuch that great tumults were thereupon raised and
War is Peace so at length upon the evil success of Charles a Peace being concluded betwixt the two Kings and confirmed by a Marriage betwixt their Children Ronzerius living altogether by his Fortunes was to seek for new Entertainment both for himself and his men as having neither house nor certain dwelling place to repair to but being as needy men met together some out of one place some out of another in hope of booty as their Fortune led them In which case Ronzerius their General thought it best to offer his Service to the Greek Emperor in his Wars against the Turks whereof he gladly accepted and so sent for him unto whom he shortly after came with two thousand good Souldiers called after the proud Spanish manner by the name of Catalonians for that they were for the most part Spaniards of the Country of Catalonia Of whose coming the Emperor rejoycing more than he had cause as afterward by proof it fell out in token of his great favour honoured him with the name of the Great Captain and afterwards gave him his Neece Mary in marriage But within a while after when as one Tenza another Catalonian Captain sent for by Ronzerius was come thither also with more aid the Emperor to gratifie them both gave unto Ronzerius the name of Caesar and unto the other the name of the Great Captain But when these new Captains with their Followers were to be transported into Asia it is not to be spoken what harm they did by the way unto the Country people and in the Villages alongst the Sea-coast abusing the men and women as their Slaves and spending their substance at their pleasure for which they had many a bitter curse and this was their first years entertainment The next Spring they set forward to relieve the great City of Philadephia being as then long besieged by the Turks and hardly bestead without with the Enemy and within with extream Penury and Famine which good Service they most valiantly performed and raised the Siege For the Turks beholding the good order of these Latinâ— Souldiers their bright Armor and couragious coming on rose presently and departed not only from the City but quite out of the Emperors Territory Besides that in this Army were joyned unto these Catalonians great numbers of the best Souldiers of the Greeks and all the Power of the Massagets so that had not the Emperor expresly before commanded not to pursue them too far it was by many thought all those Cities and Countries might then again have been in short time recovered from the Turks which they had before taken from him But in Kingdoms appointed unto ruine fair occasions help not for the stay thereof yea the greatest helps provided by the worldly wise by a secret commanding Power above being oftentimes converted to the destruction of that they were provided for the safeguard of as it now fell out with the Emperor and these Spanish Souldiers for this Service done the Greeks returned home as did the Massagets also But these Catalonians with Ronzerius their General roaming up and down the Emperors Territories in Asia did there great harm turning their Forces as Enemies upon them whom they were sent for to relieve alledging that they had not their pay according to the Emperors promise and that therefore they must live upon them that had sent for them and deceived them So were the poor people in every place spoiled their Wives and Daughters ravished their Priests and aged Fathers tortured to confess such secret store as they had all was subject unto these dissolute Souldiers rage and lust yea many of them that had nothing to redeem themselves upon the greedy Souldiers imagination having their hands or feet or some other part of their bodies cut off lay by the high-ways side begging an half-peny or a piece of bread having nothing left to comfort themselves with more than their miserable voice and fountains of Tears with which their Wrongs and Miseries worse than those they had sustained by the Turks the Emperor much grieved and well the more for that they were done by him whom he had entertained to relieve them but what remedy his Coffers were so bare as that he was not able to do any thing for the redress thereof Ronzerius having thus spoiled the Emperors Country in Asia and left nothing that pleased either him or his with all his Power passed over into Europe and leaving all the rest of his Army at Calipolis with two hundred of his men went unto the young Emperor Michael then lying with a small Power at Orestias in Thracia to demand of him his pay or if need were to extort it from him with threats with whose Insolency at his coming the Emperor more offended than before his Souldiers there present perceiving the same with their drawn Swords compassing him in fast by the Court slew him with certain of his Followers the rest fled in all hast to Calipolis to certifie their Fellows what had happened Thus by the death of Ronzerius the young Emperor had thought to have discouraged the Catalonians and abated their pride as like enough it was to have done yet in proof it fell not out so but was the cause of far greater evils So when God prospers not mens actions the best falleth out unto the worst and their wisest devices turn to meer follies for the Catalonians at Calipolis hearing of the death of Ronzerius their General first slew all the Citizens in the City and notably fortified the same took that as their Refuge Then dividing their Souldiers into two parts with one part of them manned out eight Gallies which under the leading of the great Captain Tenza robbed and spoiled all the Merchants Ships passing the straits of Hellespontus to or from Constantinople the other part left in the City in the mean time foraging the Country all about them But Tenza shortly after encountring with a Fleet of the Genowayes well provided for him was by them overthrown and most of his Gallies sunk and himself taken but yet afterwards redeemed by his Fellows and so again inlarged Now the Catalonians at Calipolis somewhat discouraged with the loss of their Fleet and so many of their men for certain days kept themselves quiet within their Walls not knowing well what course to take for they feared both the Massagets and Thracians them for that they had upon light causes abused them and slain divers of them in the late Asian War and these for that they had but even the other day burnt their Houses and spoiled their Labors in the Country there by for which and other their Outrages they utterly despaired of the Emperors Favor whom they had so highly offended But that which most of all terrified them was for that they looked for every day when Michael the young Emperor who as then lay not far off should with a great Power come to assault them for fear of whom they cast a deep Ditch about the
bare an especial grudge against the old Emperor First for that at such time as he was right worthily for his shameful covetousness and extortion by the rest of the Bishops and Clergy thrust out of the Patriarchship he was not by him as he looked for defended and secondly for that dreaming again after the Patriarchal Dignity he thought it one good step thereunto to have him as his greatest Enemy taken out of the way Wherefore he said now unto the young Emperor If thou desire to Reign without fear give not thine Honour unto another but taking all the Ornaments of the Empire from the old man cast Hair-cloath upon him and so clap him fast in prisâ—n or thrust him out into exile This mischievous counsel this wicked man gave against the poor old distressed Emperor not remembring how unworthily he had by him been before preferred unto the highest degrees both of Honour and Wealth if hâ— could there have kept himself unto which ungracious counsel divers others of the Nobility also consenting so wrought the matter amongst them that although they could not quite draw the young Emperors mind from his Grandfather yet they much changed the same so that he could no longer indure to take him for his Companion in the Empire Whereupon after many Meetings and Consultations had it was decreed That the old man should still retain the Name and Ornaments of an Emperor as before but not to meddle in any matters nor to come abroad but to sit still quietly in his Chamber with the yearly maintenance of 10000 Ducats for the maintenance of himself and such as tended upon him to be raised of the fishing before the City of Constantinople a poor Pension for the maintenance of so great an Emperor Of which so shameful a Decree Esaeius the Patriarch was also a furtherer who seeing an Emperor that had raigned so long cast down and shut up as it were in prison was so far from grieving thereat that foolishly rejoycing he in token thereof absurdly wrested this Text of Scripture saying in his merriment Laetabitur justus cum viderit ultionem The Just shall rejoyce when he seeth the Revenge calling himself Just and the Emperor Revenge But the old Emperor thus shut up in his Chamber differing in nothing but in Name from a Prison not long after the state of his body overthrown with grief and corrupt humors distilling out of his head first lost one of his Eyes and shortly after the other also and so oppressed with eternal darkness mingled as saith the Scripture his drink with tears and aâ—e the bread of sorrow being oftentimes to his great grief most bitterly mocked and derided not of them only which were by his Enemies set to guard him but of his own Servants also Not long after the young Emperor falling sick in such sort as that it was thought he would not recover Catacuzenus and the rest of his greatest Favorites and Followers careful of their own estate and yet doubtful of the old blind Emperor devised many things against him but all tending to one purpose for the shortning of his days But in the end all other devices set apart they put him to his choice either to put on the habit of a Religious and so for ever to bid the World Farewel or else to take what should otherwise ensue the best whereof was either Death Exile or perpetual Imprisonment in the loathsome Castle of Forgetfulness For the putting whereof in execution Synadenus of all others to him most hateful was appointed At which hard choice the old Emperor as with a world of woes suddenly oppressed lay a great while upon his bed as a man speechless for what could he do else except he had an heart of Steel or Adamant being then compassed about with many barbarous and merciless Souldiers and his domestical Servants kept from him and no man left that would vouchsafe to direct him being blind whither to go or where to stand But to make the matter short would he would he not they made choice for him themselves polling and shaving him and casting a Monks habit upon him changed his name after the name of the religious and called him by the name of Anthony the Monk. Glad was Esaeius the false Patriach of this the hard estate of the old Emperor for that now that he was professed a Religious there was left no hope for him to recover again the Empire either cause for himself to fear Yet he thought it good to be advised in what sort remembrance should be made of him in the Church-prayers if any were at all from thenceforth to be made Whereof to be by the old Emperor himself resolved he seeming to be very sorry for that which was done but purposing indeed therein to deride him sent unto him two Bishops to know what his pleasure was to have done therein Unto which their demand he oppressed with heaviness and fetching a deep sigh even from the bottom of his heart answered As in poor Lazarus appeared a double miracle that being dead he rose and being bound walked even so was it to be done in me though in quite contrary manner for lâ—e being alive I am dead as overwhelmed with the Waves of Calamity and Woe and being loose I am bound not my Hands and Feet only but my Tongue also wherewith unable to do any thing else I might yet at least bewail my Woes and Wrongs unto the Air and such as by chance should hear me and unto this most woful darkness wherein I must for ever sit But shame hath closed my mouth my Brethren abhor me and my Mothers Sons account me for a stranger unto them and the very light of mine Eyes is not with him my Friends and Neighbors stood up against me and all that saw me laughed me to scorn my Feet had almost slipped and my Footsteps were almost overthrown for I fretted against the wicked when I saw the peace of the Ungodly The Emperors long ago gave great Priviledges unto the Church even those which it at this day injoyeth and the Church gave to them again Power to choose whom they would to be Patriarchs Now concerning him that sent you I not only nominated him unto the Patriarchship but I my self made choice of him and preferred him before many other right worthy and most famous men being himself a man grown old in a more private life never before preferred or for any other thing famous I will not say how often I have holpen him and done him good But now when he should again have relieved me in my Calamity he joyneth hands with mine Enemies against me more cruel upon me than any other bloody-handed Executioner not ashamed to ask me how I would be remembred in the Church feigning himself to be ignorant and sorry for mine estate much like unto the Egyptian Crocodile of Nile which having killed some living Beast lieth upon the dead body and washeth the head thereof with
wisely placed and tears distilling down her fair Cheeks from her fairer Eyes as if it had been from two Fountains in most sorrowful manner craved her Husbands Pardon imputing to the heat of Youth whatsoever he had done and would not be comforted or taken up until she had obtained Grace Amurath most entirely loved this his Daughter and therefore for her sake not only granted unto her her Husbands life which in short time was like to have been in his power to have spilt but also his Kingdom which he as a Victorious Conqueror might by Law of Arms have of right detained She now assured of her Fathers promise sent unto her Husband Aladin wishing him the next day without fear to come out of the City and in humble sort to acknowledge his fault before her Father Who the next morning accordingly came out and prostrating himself before Amurath acknowledged his undutifulness of whom for his Wives sake he obtained Pardon and Restitution to his Kingdom with many other great Gifts contrary to his evil desert The Latine Histories mistaking the man report this Caramanian War to have been fought against the King of Caramania Amurath his own Grandfather by the Mother side and that he was by Amurath then spoiled of a great part of his Kingdom but it agreeth not with the Turkish Histories which make Amurath to be the Son of Orchanes and Lulufer the Daughter of the Governor of the Castle of Iarchiser as is before declared in the life of Othâ—man which Lulufer lieth buried by her Husband Orchanes in Prusa This great Victory gotten by Amurath against the Caramanian King and the other Confederate Princes was the true beginning of the greatness of the Othoman Kingdom in Asia wherewith the other Mahometan Princes of the Selzuccian Family were so discouraged that they were glad to submit themselves thus first unto Amurath and after that unto his Son Bajazet until that Tamerlane the great Tartarian Prince some few years after taking Bajazet Prisoner in a great battel at Mount Stella abated the Othoman Pride and restored the other oppressed Mahometan Princes to their old Possessions and Kingdoms Amurath returning homewards by the way took the City of Despotopolus and coming to Cutaiâ— brake up his Army and so in triumph returned to his Court at Prusa Lazarus Despot of Servia in old time called Mysâ—a had sent a thousand armed men to Amurath in this the late Caramanian War according to the convention of the Peace not long before made betwixt them some of which Souldiers were with great severity to the terror of others executed in Caramania for transgressing Amurath his commandment This great War being ended and the Army broken up at Cutaie they with others were licensed to depart into their own Country Whose General whom they call the Vayvod returning home reported unto Lazarus the Despot the success of that War and withall in what cruel and tyrannical manner the men he had sent were in that Service used by the commandment of Amurath With whom said this General you without cause have made a most dishonourable Peace first by giving your Faith to such a Miscreant and then in sending your loyal Subjects in recompence of their good Service to be so butchered at his pleasure beside the shameful Tribute which you yearly pay unto him Whereas if it would please you in the depth of your wisdom but to know your own strength you should find your self in War-like force and power nothing inferior to the Tyrant for we your Servants being in number but a handful were in these his late Wars a terror unto his Enemies and by our valour and not his own he got the Victory over them What cause is there then that you should subject your self unto your Inferior I know he cannot of himself bring into the field above fifty thousand fighting men but admit he were able to bring a hundred thousand are not you if you so please able to levy a far greater Power and for all other War-like provision you are ten-fold better provided than he Besides that the mighty Christian Princes will send you such Aid against this hateful and common Enemy that being united with yours his Barbarian Forces will be nothing in comparison of those which you shall then be able to bring into the field against him which no doubt the Christian Princes will the rather do as men desirous to quench this devouring fire in another mans house rather than in their own These words of the Vayvod so much moved Lazarus that he determined in himself to break that servile League which he before had made with Amurath And for that cause sent his Embassador with secret Instructions to the King of Bosna in time past called Illyria his Neighbour whereof the chief point was to crave his Aid against the Turk their common Enemy By whom the King of Bosna returned this answer That it had been much better such consideration had been thought upon before the foul contract full of disgrace both to himself and all other Christian Princes was upon a vain fear by him rashly made with the Turkish Tyrant yet for so much as things done could not be undone letting that pass which was remediless he promised to joyn with him his whole Forces against so dangerous an Enemy And thereupon appointing a place for an Interview met accordingly and there fully concluded all the Articles of their Confederation There was in the Confines of Bosna a Castle called Alexandria the Captain whereof being a Christian was yet Tributary unto the Turk wishing unto him such good as men oppressed use to do to them by whom they are so wronged This Captain under the colour of Friendship went to Amurath and in great secrecy opened to him the whole State of the Kingdom of Bosna and withall that the King thereof intended some great matter against him for the preventing whereof he offered his own Service and shewed some probable means how that Kingdom might be brought into his Subjection if he would but send some worthy General with a convenient Power for the undertaking thereof This wonderfully pleased the ambitious old Tyrant who therefore commanded a rich Garment to be cast upon the Captain which amongst the Turks is taken for a sure token of the Kings great Favour and forthwith appointed his Tutor Lala Schahin according to this Captains direction to invade the Kingdom of Bosna Who joyning himself with this deceitful Captain of Alexandria with an Army of twenty thousand men entred into Bosna where overrunning a side of the Country he without resistance took great Booties and seeing no apparent cause of fear to do the more harm by the advice of the same Captain divided his Army which he sent into divers parts of the Country the more to burn and spoil the same Of all whose proceedings the King of Bosna by secret Messengers from the Captain advertised had in convenient places laid strong Ambushes for the intercepting of his Enemies
Presents Tamerlane sent Hozza Mahomet one of his secret Counsellors Embassador to Mahomet of whom he was right honourably received and likewise entertained But having read the aforesaid Letters and thereby understood the cause of his coming he entred into Council with the great Bassaes about him whether he were best to go to Tamerlane or not Where his Counsellors were all clear of one Opinion that it was not good for him to adventure his Person to the danger of such a Journey or the mercy of so mighty an Enemy of whose Faith he had no assurance And if so be said they he therewith offended will by force seek to have you we at his coming will take the refuge of the Woods and Mountains and there shroud our selves until he be departed again for that he with his huge Army cannot here long stay in this bare Country for want of Necessaries Nevertheless Mahomet hoping that his Journey might be both for the good of his Father and his own Advancement contrary to the mind of all his Counsellors resolved to go and so having prepared all things needfull for the honour and safety of his Journey set forward But as he was upon the way in the Marches of Pontus Cara Iahia whom he had before overthrown understanding of his coming that way thinking now to be revenged and having got unto some of the Prince Isfendiars Forces set upon him by the way but with as evil Success as before most of his Men being there by Mahomet slain and himself glad shamefully to fly So travelling on further he understood that Alis Beg a great Lord in those Countries went about to intercept him also which caused him in such hast to go on that he was upon Alis before he was aware of his coming or well provided for him so that for fear he was glad to betake himself to flight Mahomet considering the danger he had escaped in that Journey and that the nearer he came to Tamerlane the more like he was to fall into greater although happily without Tamerlane his knowledge by the advice of his grave and faithful Counsellors resolved to go no further Wherefore calling unto him Tamerlanes Embassador he thus spake unto him You see the Dangers and Injuries I indure in this my Iourney and my mind forbodeth greater to ensue for which causes I may not go any further but here return Commend me therefore I pray you unto the most mighty Tamerlane with my Father and tell them what dangers have happened unto me upon the way which considered I hope they will have me excused For which purpose I will also send in your company an Embassador of mine own Mahomet at that time had with him a grave wise and learned Man called Sophis Bajazet sometime his School-Master whom he sent Embassador to Tamerlane and his Father to have him unto them both excused and so departed he homewards leaving the way he came for fear of further danger and they towards Tamerlane who honourably received Mahomets Embassador and Letters But taking pleasure in the man sent unto him gave him honourable Entertainment but would never after suffer him to return again unto his Master It was not long after but that old Bajazet died of impatiency as is aforesaid whose dead body Tamerlane left at Apropolis with the Prince Germean to be delivered unto his Son Mahomet with Musa his elder Brother who all this while had been kept Prisoner with Tamerlane if Mahomet should require them And so the mighty Prince Tamerlane after he had long time wasted Phrygia Caria Lydia with the most part of the lesser Asia and conquered all Syria Iudea Egypt and Persia with many other great Countries and Provinces returned at last into his own Kingdom unto the great City of Samercand which he wonderfully inlarged and beautified with the Spoils of a great part of the World before by him wasted where he afterwards in great Peace and Glory reigned no less honoured than feared of all the Princes of the East To the terror of whom and for the assuring of his Estate he kept always a standing Army of forty thousand Horse and threescore thousand Foot ready at all assays beside other his great Garrisons which he kept in Syria Egypt China and Cambalu as also against the Muscovite and Turks being commonly in every place threescore thousand strong though not still in field but as occasion required Until that at length hearing of the rising again of the Turkish Kingdom under the Othoman Princes the Sons of Bajazet with whom the oppressed Mamelukes of Egypt and the Greek Emperor as doubtful of his estate had now also for fear of him combined themselves he by the perswasion of Axalla then General of his Imperial Army made great preparation for a second Expedition to be made for the utter rooting out of the Othoman Family and the Conquest of the Greek Empire But having now all things in readiness and also given a good beginning unto these his intended Conquests one of the great Turks Bassaes being by Axalla his Lieutenant in a great battel overthrown and thirty thousand of the Turks slain he in the midst of these his great hopes as also of his greatest Power died of an Ague the 27 th day of Ianuary in the year of our Lord 1402. A little before whose death appeared a great and terrible Blazing-Star portending as it were to the World the death of so great a Prince He was a man of a middle stature somewhat narrow in the shoulders otherwise well limmed and of a great strength In his eyes sate such a rare Majesty as a man could hardly indure to behold them without closing of his own and many in talking with him and often beholding of him became dumb which caused him oftentimes with a comely modesty to abstain from looking too earnestly upon such as spake unto him or discoursed with him All the rest of his Visage was amiable and well proportioned he had but little hair on his Chin and ware the hair of his Head long and curled contrary to the manner of the Tartars who shave their Heads having the same always covered whereas he contrariwise was for the most part bare headed commanding his Son also to be so by his Tutors brought up his hair was of a dark colour somewhat drawing toward a Violet right beautiful to behold which his Mother coming of the Race of Sampson as he gave it out willed him to nourish in token of his descent the cause that made him to be the more respected of his Men of War most part of them believing that in those hairs was some rare vertue or rather some fatal destiny an old practise of many great Commanders of former Ages to fill the heads of their Souldiers with some strange Opinion conceived of them to be the more of them honoured as if in them had been some one thing or other more than in other men His great Empire by himself
Julian the Cardinal of S. Angel intreateth you with all those devout and couragious Christians which long since here with us and ready in Arms with for nothing more than the presence of your Victorious Ensigns Which so fair an occasion by God himself now offered if you refuse not will in all mens judgment be a sure mean to vanquish and overthrow our Common Enemy the Turk and to drive him quite out of Europe wrongfully by him of so long time possessed I need not therefore as I suppose to use any kind of perswasion unto you in this Cause and Quarrel the defence whereof doth purchase unto us health light and liberty but being neglecâ—ed I fear and abhor to forbode what may â—nsue thereof We Christians have been too too flack and backward in helping one another the flame hath now well near consumed us all whilst no man thought it would have come near himself What do we see â—f the Greek Empire What of the Bulgarians and Servians yea mine own Losses and many Calamities already and yet also to be endured who is able to recount The brave and most valiant Princes the â—urest Bulwarks and Defences of the Kingdom of Hungary from time to time lost and the puissant Armies with one and the same fatal chance of War consumed and brought to nothing who is able to reckon up Insomuch that there is no House Wife nor Matron in all Hungary which is not in some measure partaker of this heaviness All this do the Christian Princes hear of and yet the miserable estate and condition of their Allies can nothing move any one of them but suffer us thus as a Sacrifice for the rest to be on all parts exposed to the rage and fury of the common and merciless Enemy Only Eugenius the most holy Bishop of Rome and Philip Duke of Burgundy have not refused to bear a part of the burthen of this our afflicted Fortune the one hath sent hither his Legate Julian the Cardinal with notable and puissant Succours and the other with his Fleet at Sea and come as far as Hellespontus so much as in him lieth doth notably hinder the Turks passage into Europe And one other hope there is not now far from us and that is your help whereof we are so desirous which we require of you moved thereunto partly by your valour so well known and partly in regard of the imminent peril and common danger of us all And albeit we are not ignorant how evil you may be at leisure to take such an Expedition in hand for the late troubled estate of your Affairs and your new recovered Kingdom as yet scarcely well established yet notwithstanding let it not with-hold you or keep you back assuring you that as this Expedition cannot be but unto you most honourable even so this your present desert shall not be bestowed upon ungrateful and thankless men but that which you shall now first begin and undertake for our Preservation and Dignity we will from henceforth and ever continue for your glory and for the increase of your greatness Fare you well From our Regal City of Buda the fourth of Iuly 1444. Of this the Kings motion Scanderbeg liking well and thinking it far better now in so fit a time with his own Forces joyned unto the Hungarians his Friends throughly to busie Amurath than in short time after himself alone to sustain his whole Power by the general consent of the Albanian Princes his Confederates and Allies yielded unto his request in liberal terms promising him by his Letters in good time to be present with him with thirty thousand good Souldiers The Copy of which Letters I thought it not amiss here to set down also Scanderbeg Prince of the Epirots unto Vladislaus King of Hungary and Polonia greeting YOur Letters most invincible King I have with like joy and contentment received which I in the General Assembly of my Chieftanes having caused publiquely to be read there was not any one of them which was not of opinion but that so just an occasion of War by you offered was forthwith to be joyfully on our behalf also embraced And so every man doth both publickly and privately affirm That nothing could have hapned unto them more acceptable from God than that they might by some notable Service testifie their grateful Minds and bind unto them so excellent a Prince as also to give so fit Succours unto the Christian Commonweal In which forwardness of my people I my self took great contentment and pleasure both in regard of your self and in the behalf of the Publick and Common Cause seeing my men of War and all other my Subjects of what state or degree soever without any perswasion used on my part to be so chearfully and couragiously minded in defence of the Faith and of the Christian Religion and so well affectioned towards your most Royal Majesty And to say the truth Who is he if he be not hateful unto God and man albeiâ— there were no question of Religion or of the common danger that would refuse so just and lawful a War for such a King as unto whom alone we may and ought to attribute That we Christians do not only reign but even live breath and enjoy the liberty of our Speech Who would not willingly take up Arms and adventure himself into most manifest and certain danger for the People of Hungary by whom in all Ages the Christian Common-weal hath with their so many Travels and so much of their Blood been so mightily supported and defended who even from the very cradle have been continual Enemies unto our Enemies and have as it were even vowed themselves for the Honour of the Christian Religion and Name Would God most mighty and redoubted Uladislaus it had been in my power to have brought unto you such Forces to this honourable War as were answerable to my Courage and Desire then happily Europe should not longer lie in this ignominious Estate oppressed by Amurath neither should the Fields of Varna or Basilia so often smoke with the Blood of the Hungarians nor every Corner of Macedonia with the Blood of the Epirots both Nations being as it were become the Expiatorie Sacrifices of others Sins and Offences we all now by turns perish whilst every man thinketh himself born but for himself alone But why do I unto my self pour forth these vain Complaints Truly it neither repenteth me of my Forces neither as I suppose if it shall please God that our Forces may once meet and joyn together in so happy a War shall the Christian Common-weal have any cause to sorrow or be agrieved with the issue and event of our Fortune For unto those fifteen thousand good Souldiers which lately discomfited Alis Bassa on the Borders of Macedonia my purpose is to joyn as many more unto them with all which Strength as soon as conveniently they may I will begin to set forward ready to follow your Ensigns to all Events whatsoever And
faintly followed but as they set forward with small courage so were they at the first Incounter easily driven to retire Which when Mustapha saw he called earnestly upon them to follow him and the more to encourage them by his own example put Spurs to his Horse and fiercely charged the Front of Scanderbegs Army as one resolved either to gain the Victory or there to die after whom followed most of the principal Captains of his Army which would not for shame forsake their General thus by his Valour the battel was for a while renewed But Moses prevailing with great slaughter in one part of the Army the Turks began to fly in which flight Mustapha the General with twelve others of the chief Men in that Army were taken Prisoners but of the common Souldiers few were saved There was slain of the Turks Army ten thousand and fifteen Ensigns taken whereas of the Christians were slain but three hundred The Turks Tents and Camp with all the Wealth thereof became a Prey to Scanderbegs Souldiers wherewith although he had satisfied the desires of them all yet to keep his old custom he entred into the Confines of Macedonia and there burnt and spoiled all that he could And afterwards leaving a Garrison of two thousand Horsemen and a thousand Foot for defence of his Frontiers returned again with the rest of his Army to the Siege of Dayna Not long after the Venetians made Peace with Scanderbeg and Amurath desirous to redeem his Captains about the same time sent great Presents unto Scanderbeg with five and twenty thousand Ducats for the Ransom of Mustapha and the other Chieftains whom Scanderbeg so honourably used as if there had never been any Hostility betwixt him and them and so with a safe Convoy sent them out of his Country The Ransom of Mustapha and the other Turks he divided amongst his Souldiers When Scanderbeg had thus made Peace with the Venetians he forthwith led his Army again into Macedonia with the spoil of that Country to make his Souldiers better pay as his usual manner was And to do the greater harm he divided his Army into three parts wherewith he over-running the Country wasted and destroyed all before him putting to the Sword all the Turks that came in his way As for the Christians that there lived amongst them he spared but left them nothing more than their lives the Buildings of the Country he utterly consumed with fire so that in all that part of Macedonia which bordereth upon Epirus nothing was to be seen more than the bare ground and the shews of the spoil by him there made Which unmerciful havock of all things he made to the end that the Turks should find no Relief in those Quarters whensoever they should come thither to lie in Garrison in that Country or to invade Epirus The spoil he made was so great that it was thought he left not in all that Country so much as might relieve the Turks Army for one day Of all these great harms by Scanderbeg done in Macedonia Amurath was with all speed advertised and therewith exceedingly vexed howbeit he resolved with his great Counsellors no more to send any of his Bassaes or Captains but to go himself in Person with such a Royal Army as should be sufficient not to Conquer Epirus but if need were to fill every corner thereof Wherefore he commanded Commissions to be speedily directed into all parts of his Kingdoms and Provinces for the levying of a great Army for Hadrianople yet whither he intended to imploy the same was not known to any in the Turks Court more than to the Bassaes of the Council Which caused all the bordering Christian Princes to make the best preparation they could for their own assurance every one fearing left that growing Tempest should break out against himself But Scanderbeg of long acquainted with the Turkish policy easily perceived all that great preparation to be made against him which he was the rather induced to think by reason of the unaccustomed quietness of Amurath who all that while had neither sent any Army to Revenge Mustapha's Overthrow nor so much as a Garrison for the defence of the Borders of his Kingdom but had let all things negligently pass as if he had been in a dead sleep Besides that it was also thought that he had secret Intelligence from some of his old Friends and Acquaintance in Amuraths Court who probably suspected the matter Wherefore Scanderbeg setting all other things apart gave himself wholly to the preparing of things necessary for the defence of his small Kingdom against so mighty an Enemy First he by Letters and Messengers advertised all the Christian Princes his Neighbours and Friends of the greatness of the danger of that War wherein Amurath as he said sought not only his destruction but the utter ruine of them all exhorting them therefore to consider how far the danger of so great an Army might extend and therefore to stand fast upon their Guard. Then he sent Moses and other his expert Captains into all parts of Epirus to take up Souldiers and all the Provision of Corn and Victuals that was possible to be had Wherein he himself also busily travelled day and night not resting until he had left nothing in the Country whereupon the Enemy might shew his cruelty Most part of the common people with their Substance were received into the strong Cities the rest took the refuge of the Venetian and other Christian Princes Towns and Countries farther off until this fury were overpast all such as were able to bear Arms were commanded to repair to Croia where when they were all assembled they were enough to have made a right puissant Army But out of all this multitude Scanderbeg made choice only of 10000 old expert Souldiers whom he purposed to lead himself to incounter with the Turks great Army as he should see occasion and placed 1300 in Garrison in Croia The Citizens also themselves were throughly furnished with all manner of Weapons and other Provision meet for the defence of their City Then Proclamation was made That all the aged men unfit for Wars with the Women and Children should depart the City and none to be therein lest but the Garrison-Souldiers and such Citizens as were willing to tarry and able to bear Arms. This City of Croia was the chief City of Epirus and of the fortune thereof seemed to depend the state of all the other strong Towns and Cities and so consequently of the whole Kingdom for which cause Scanderbeg had the greater care for the defence thereof It was a miserable sight to see the lamentable departure of this weak Company out of Croia all was full of weeping and willing no House no Street no part of the City was without mourning but especially in the Churches was to be seen the very face of common sorrow and heaviness where all sorts of people in great numbers flocking together poured forth their devout Prayers with
The Citizens were exceeding sorry for that had hapned but the Garrison Souldiers dâ—tested that loathsome and unclean water as they accounted it more than the Turkish Servitude protesting that they would rather perish with thirst than drink thereof Whereupon some of them desired to set fire upon the City and whilst they had yet strength to break through the Enemies Camp or there manfully to die And they which thought best of the matter requested that the City might be yielded up for now they discouraged with a Superstitious Vanity could be content to hearken to the former conditions of Peace yea they were ready enough of themselves to sue to Amurath for Peace though it had been upon harder terms The Governor troubled with that had hapned and astonied to see so great an alteration in the minds of his Souldiers upon so small occasion could not tell whether he might think it to proceed of a superstitious conceit or of some secret compact made with Amurath But the better to pacifie the matter he came into the Market place and there in the hearing of all the Garrison with many effectual Reasons exhorted them to continue faithful unto their Prince and Country in that honourable Service and in a matter of so great consequence to make small reckoning to use that water which would easily in short time be brought again to the wonted purity and cleanness and to perswade them the rather he went presently to the Well himself and in the sight of them all drunk a great Draught of the Water whose example the Citizens following drank likewise But when it was offered to the Captains and Souldiers of the Garrison they all reâ—used to tast thereof as if it had been a most loathsome thing or rather some deadly poyson and with great instance cried unto the Governor to give up the City for which cause many thought they were corrupted by Amuraths great Promises Howbeit none of the Garrison except that one Traytor did ever afterwards revolt to the Turkish King or yet appeared any thing the richer for any Gift received whereby such suspition might be confirmed When the Governor saw that the obstinate minds of the Garrison were not to be moved with any Perswasion or Reward whereof he spared not to make large Promise nor by any other means which he could devise he called unto him his chief Captains with the best sort of the Citizens and resolved with them full sore against his will to yield up the City to Amurath on such conditions as they themselves there agreed upon which were That it should be lawful for all the Captains and Souldiers to depart in safety with their Armor and all other things and that so many of the Citizens as would stay might there still dwell in the City in such sort as they had done before under the Government of Scanderbeg the rest that listed not to reamain there still might at their pleasure with Bag and Baggage depart whether they would Glad was Amurath when this Offer was made unto him and granted them all that was desired saving that he would not consent that the Citizens should continue in the City yet was he content that they should live under him as they had done before quietly enjoying all their Possessions but to build their houses without the Wall of the City which condition some accepted and some forsaking all went to Scanderbeg When all was throughly agreed upon the Keys of the Gates were delivered to Amurath and the Governor with the Captains and all the Garrison Souldiers suffered quietly to pass through the Turkish Camp as the King had promised Howbeit Mahomet the Son of Amurath a Prince of a cruel disposition earnestly perswaded his Father to have broken his Faith and to have put them all to the Sword saying It was one of their Prophet Mahomets chief Commandments to use all cruelty for the destruction of the Christians But the old King would not therein hearken unto his Son saying That he which was desirous to be great among men must either be indeed faithful of his Word and Promise or at leastwise seem so to be thereby to gain the minds of the people who naturally abhor the Government of a faithless and cruel Prince The Traytor which corrupted the Water remained still in the City and was by Amurath rewarded with three rich Suits of Apparel and fifty thousand Aspers and had given unto him besides a yearly Pension of two thousand Ducats But short was the joy the Traytor had of this evil gotten Goods for after he had a few days vainly triumphed in the midst of Amurath his Favours he was suddenly gone and never afterwards seen or heard of being secretly made away as was supposed by the commandment of Amurath whose noble heart could not but detest the Traytor although the Treason served well his purpose Amurath entring into Sfâ—etigrade caused the Walls to be forthwith repaired and placed one thousand two hundred Janizaries in Garrison there And raising his Camp the first of September departed out of Epirus having lost thirty thousand of his Turks at the Siege of Sfetigrade much grieved in mind for all that that he could not vanquish the Enemy whom he came of purpose to subdue In his return the Vice-Roy of Asia marched before him with the Asian Souldiers in the rereward followed the Vice-Roy of Europe with his European Souldiers in the midst was Amurath himself compassed about with his Janizaries and other Souldiers of the Court. Scanderbeg understanding of Amurath his departure followed speedily with eight thousand Horsemen and three thousand Foot and taking the advantage of the thick Woods and Mountain straits to him well known whereby that great Army was to pass oftentimes skirmished with the Turks charging them sometime in the Vaward and sometime in the Rereward sometime on the one side and sometime on the other and slew many of them whereby he so troubled Amurath his passage that he was glad to leave the Vice-Roy of Romania with 30000 to attend upon Scanderbeg that he himself might in the mean time with more safety march away with the rest of his Army Scanderbeg perceiving the stay of the Vice-Roy ceased to follow Amurath further fearing to be enclosed between those two great Armies The Vice-Roy seeing that Scanderbeg was retired after he had staid a few days followed his Master to Hadrianople and so Scanderbeg returned to Croia Shortly after the departure of Amurath out of Epirus Scanderbeg left two thousand Souldiers upon the Borders for defence of the Country against the Turks These Souldiers so straightly kept in the Janizaries left in Garrison at Sfetigrade that they could not look out of the City but that they were intercepted and slain And within a few days after came himself with an Army of eighteen thousand and laid siege to Sfetigrade the space of a month which was from the middle of September until the middle of October In which time he gave two
Lives more than their own Valour the Emperor caused all the Gates of the inner Wall to be fast shut up and in this sort they lay all the night expecting continually when the Assault should be given all which time they might hear great hurly burly and noise in the Turks Camp as they were putting things in readiness for the Assault A little before day the Turks approached the Walls and begun the Assault where Shot and Stones were delivered upon them from the Walls as thick as Hail whereof little fell in vain by reason of the multitude of the Turks who pressing fast unto the Walls could not see in the dark how to defend themselves but were without number wounded or slain but these were of the common and worst Souldiers of whom the Turkish King made no more reckoning than to abate the first force of the Defendants Upon the first appearance of the day Mahomet gave the sign appointed for the general Assault whereupon the City was in a moment and at one instant on every side most furiously assaulted by the Turks for Mahomet the more to distress the Defendants and the better to see the forwardness of the Souldiers had before appointed which part of the City every Colonel with his Regiment should assail Which they valiantly performed delivering their Arrows and Shot upon the Defendants so thick that the light of the day was therewith darkned other in the mean time couragiously mounting the Scaling-Ladders and coming even to handy-strokes with the Defendants upon the Wall where the formost were for most part violently born forward by them which followed after On the other side the Christians with no less courage withstood the Turkish fury beating them down again with great Stones and weighty pieces of Timber and so overwhelmed them with Shot Darts and Arrows and other hurtful devices from above that the Turks dismayed with the terrour thereof were ready to retire Mahomet seeing the great slaughter and diâ—comfiture of his Men sent in fresh Supplies of his Janizaries and best Men of War whom he had for that purpose reserved as his last Hope and Refuge by whose coming on his fainting Souldiers were again encouraged and the terrible Assault begun afresh At which time the barbarous King ceased not to use all possible means to maintain the Assault by Name calling upon this and that Captain promising unto some whom he saw forward golden Mountains and unto others in whom he saw any sign of Cowardise threatning most terrible death by which means the Assault became most dreadful death there raging in the midst of many thousands And albeit that the Turks lay dead by heaps upon the ground yet other fresh men pressed on still in their places over their dead bodies and with divers event either slew or were slain by their Enemies In this so terrible a Conflict it chanced Iustinianus the General to be wounded in the Arm who losing much blood cowardly withdrew himself from the place of his Charge not leaving any to supply his room and so got into the City by the Gate called Romana which he had caused to be opened in the inner Wall pretending the cause of his departure to be for the binding up of his Wound but being indeed a man now altogether discouraged The Souldiers there present dismayed with the departure of their General and sore charged by the Janizaries forsook their stations and in hast fled to the same Gate whereby Iustinianus was entred with the sight whereof the other Souldiers dismayed ran thither by heaps also But whilst they violently strive all together to get in at once they so wedged one another in the entrance of the Gate that few of so great a multitude got in in which so great a press and confusion of minds 800 persons were there by them that followed trodden under foot or thrust to death The Emperor himself for sefeguard of his life flying â—ith the rest in that press as a man not regarded miserably ended his days together with the Greek Empire His dead body was shortly after found by the Turks among the slain and known by his rich Apparel whose Head being cut off was forthwith presented to the Turkish Tyrant by whose Commandment it was afterward thrust upon the point of a Launce and in great derision carried about as a Trophy of his Victory first in the Camp and afterwards up and down the City The Turks encouraged with the flight of the Christians presently advanced their Ensigns upon the top of the uttermost Wall crying Victory and by the Breach entred as if it had been a gâ—eat Flood which having once found a Breach in the Bank overfloweth and beareth down all befoâ—e it so the Turks when they had won the utter Wall entred the City by the same Gate that was opened for Iustinianus and by a Breach which they had before made with their great Artillery and without mercy cutting in pieces all that came in their way without further resistance became Lords of that most famous and Imperial City Some few there were of the Christians who preferring death before the Turkish slavery with their Swords in their hands sold their lives dear unto their Enemies amongst whom the two Brethren Paulus and Troilus Bochiardi Italians with Theophilus Palaeologus a Greek and Ioannes Stiavus a Dalmatian for their great valour and courage deserve to be had in eternal Remembrance who after they had like Lions made slaughter of their Enemies died in the midst of them embrued with their blood rather oppressed by multitude than by true valour overcome In this fury of the Barbarians perished many thousands of Men Women and Children without respect of Age Sex or Condition Many for safeguard of ther lives fled into the Temple of Sophia where they were all without pity slain except some few reserved by the barbarous Victors to purposes more grievous than death it self The rich and beautiful Ornaments and Jewels of that most sumptuous and magnificent Church the stately Building of Iustinianus the Emperor were in the turning of a hand pluckt down and carried away by the Turks and the Church it self built for God to be honoured in for the present converted into a Stable for their Horses or a place for the execution of their abominable and unspeakable filthiness the Image of the Crucifix was also by them taken down and a Turks Cap put upon the head thereof and so set up and shot at with their Arrows and afterwards in great derision carried about in their Camp as it had been in Procession with Drums playing before it railing and spitting at it and calling it the God of the Christians Which I note not so much done in contempt of the Image as in the despight of Christ and the Christian Religion But whilst some were thus spoiling of the Churches others were as busie in ransacking of private houses where the miserable Christians were enforced to endure in their persons whatsoever pleased the
Turk the sixth of August in the year of our Lord 1456. Shortly after this most valiant and renowned Captain Huniades worthy of Immortal Praise died of a hurt taken in these Wars or as some others write of the Plague which was then rise in Hungary who when he felt himself in danger of death desired to receive the Sacrament before his departure and would in any case sick as he was be carried to the Church to receive the same saying That it is not fit that the Lord should come to the house of his Servant but the Servant rather to go to the House of his Lord and Master He was the first Christian Captain that shewed the Turks were to be overcome and obtained more great Victories against them than any one of the Christian Princes before him He was unto that barbarous people a great terror and with the spoil of them beautified his Country and now dying was by the Hungarians honourably buried at Alba Iulia in St. Stephens Church his death being greatly lamented of all good men of that Age. Mahomet the Turkish Emperor no less desirous to extend his Empire with the glory of his Name by Sea than by Land shortly after the taking of Constantinople put a great Fleet to Sea wherein he surprised divers Islands in the Aegeum and hardly besieged the City of the Rhodes At which time Calixtus the Third then Bishop of Rome aided by the Genoways for the grudge they bare against the Turks for the taking of Pera put to Sea a Fleet of sixteen tall Ships and Gallies well appointed under the Conduct of Ludovicus Patriarch of Aquilla who with that Fleet scoured the Seas and recovered again from the Turks the Island of Lemnos with divers other small Islands thereabout and encountring with the Turks Fleet near unto the Island of the Rhodes at a place called The Burrow of St. Paul discomfited them sunk and took divers of their Gallies and forced them to forsake the Rhodes After which Victory at Sea he for the space of three years with his Gallies at his pleasure spoiled the Frontiers of the Turks Dominions all alongst the Sea coast of the lesser Asia and wonderfully terrified the effeminate people of those Countries and so at length returned home carrying away with him many Prisoners and much rich spoil After that Mahomet was thus shamefully driven from the Siege of Belgrade and his Fleet at Sea discomfited as is before declared he began with great diligence to make new preparation against the next Spring to subdue the Isles of the Aegeum specially those which lay near unto â—â—loponnesus But whilst he was busie in those Cogitations in the mean time Embassadors from Usun-Cassanes the great Persian King arrived at Constantinople with divers rich Presents sent to him from the said King. Where among other things they presented unto him a pair of Playing-Tables wherein the men and dice were of great and rich precious Stones of inestimable worth and the Workmanship nothing inferior to the matter which the Embassadors for Ostentation said That Usun-Cassanes found in the Treasures of the Persian King whom he had but a little before slain and bereft of his Kingdom and had there been left long before by the mighty Conqueror Tamerlane Together with these Presents they delivered their Embassage the effect whereof was That those two mighty Princes might joyn and live together in Amity and that whereas David the Emperor of Trapezond had promised to pay unto Mahomet a yearly Tribute enforced thereunto by George his Lieutenant in Asia he should not now look for any such thing forasmuch as that Empire after the death of the Emperor then living should of right belong unto Usun-Cassanes in right of his Wife who was the Daughter of Calo-Ioannes the elder Brother of David the Emperor then living and further required him from that time not to trouble or molest the said Emperor his Friend and near Alliance so should he find him his faithful and kind Confederate otherwise it was as they said in his choice to draw upon himself the heavy displeasure of a most mighty Enemy Mahomet before envying at the rising of the Persian King and now disdaining such peremptory Requests little differing from proud Commands in great choler dismissed the Embassadors with this short answer That he would ere long be in Asia himself in Person to teach Usun-Cassanes what to request of a greater than himself This unkindness was the beginning and ground of the mortal Wars which afterwards ensued betwixt these two then the greatest Princes of the East as shall be hereafter more at large declared The Embassadors being departed and Mahomets Fleet of an hundred and fifty Sail ready to put to Sea he altered his former determination for the Islands of the Aegeum which after the loss of Constantinople had for the most part put themselves under the Protection of the Venetians and commanded his Admiral with that Fleet to take his course through the Straits of Bosphorus into the great Euxin Sea now called the Black Sea and so sailing along the coast to come to Anchor before Sinope the chief City of Paphlagonia and there to expect his coming thither with his Army by Land. This great City of Sinope stands pleasantly on a point of the Main which runs a great way into the Euxin sometime the Metrapolitical City of that Province but as then with Castamona and all the Country thereabout was under the Government of Ismael a Mahometan Prince upon whom Mahomet had now bent his Forces for no other cause than that he was in League with Usun-Cassan the Persian King. Now with great Expedition had Mahomet levied a strong Army and passing therewith over into Asia was come before he was looked for to Sinope Ismael seeing himself so suddenly beset both by Sea and Land in his strongest City although he wanted nothing needful for his defence having in the City four hundred pieces of great Artillery and ten thousand Souldiers yet doubting to be able with that strength to indure the Siege offered to yield up the City to Mahomet with all the rest of his Dominion upon condition That he should freely give him in lieu thereof the city of Philippopolis in Thracia with the Country thereto adjoyning Of which Offer Mahomet accepted and so taking possession of Sinope with the strong City of Castamona and all the rest of the Princes Territory sent him away with all his things to Philippopolis as he had promised This Ismael was the last of the Honourable House of the Isfendiars who had long time reigned at Heraclea and Castamona in Pontus From Sinope he marched on forward with his Army to Trapezond This famous City standeth also upon the side of the Euxin or Black Sea in the Country of Pontus where the Emperors of Constantinople had always their Deputies whilst that Empire flourished and commanded the East part of the World as far as Parthia but after it began again
or Land been taken from the Turks With which his excuse Mahomet seemed to be reasonably well contented and with good words cheared him up nevertheless as soon as the City with all the other strong Holds in the Isle were by the Princes means delivered into his hands he no longer made reckoning of his Turkish Faith but cruelly caused many of the chief Citizens of Mitylene to be put to death and three hundred Pirats whom he found in the City to be cut in two pieces in the middle so to die with more pain And when he had placed convenient Garrisons in every strong Hold in the Isle he returned to Constantinople carrying away with him the Prince and all the better sort of the Inhabitants of Mitylene that were left alive together with all the Wealth of that most rich and pleasant Island leaving it almost desolate none remaining therein more than his own Garrisons with a few of the poorest and basest people Mahomet after he was arrived at Constantinople cast the Prince Nicholaus with Lucius his Cosin whose help he had before used in killing of his elder Brother into close Prison where they seeing themselves every hour in danger of their lives to win Favour in the Tyrants sight wickedly offered to renounce the Christian Religion and to turn Turk Which Mahomet understanding caused them both to be richly apparelled and with great Triumph to be circumcised and presently set at liberty yet still bearing in mind his old grudge he shortly after when they least feared any such matter clapt them both fast again in Prison and there caused them to be most cruelly put to death A just Reward for bloody Murtherers and Apostacy who to gain a little longer life were content to forsake God. Shortly after it fortuned that Stephen King of Bosna in ancient time called Maesia Superior who supported by the Turkish Emperor year 1464. had wrongfully obtained that Kingdom against his own Brethren refused now to pay such yearly Tribute as he had before promised for which cause Mahomet with a strong Army entred into Bosna and laid Siege unto the City of Dorobiza which when he had with much ado taken he divided the pleople thereof into three parts one part whereof he gave as Slaves unto his Men of War another part he sent unto Constantinople and the third he left to inhabit the City From Dorcbiza he marched to Iaziga now called Iaica the chief City of that Kingdom which after four months Siege was delivered unto him by Composition in this City he took the Kings Brother and Sister Prisoners with most of the Nobility of that Kingdom whom he sent as it were in Triumph unto Constantinople The other lesser Cities of Bosna following the Example of the greater yielded themselves also But Mahomet understanding that the King of Bosna had retired himself into the farthest part of his Kingdom sent Mahometes his chief Bassa with his European Souldiers to pursue him wherein the Bassa used such diligence that he had on every side so inclosed him before he was aware that he could by no means escape which was before thought a thing impossible So the King for safeguard of his life was fain to take the City of Clyssa for his Refuge where he was so hardly laid to by the Bassa that seeing no other remedy he offered to yield himself upon the Bassaes faithful promise by Oath confirmed that he should be honourably used and not to receive in his Person any harm from the Turkish Emperor Whereupon the Bassaes Oath to the same purpose was with great Solemnity taken and for the more assurance conceived in writing firmed by the Bassa and so delivered to the King which done the King came out of the City and yielded himself The Bassa having thus taken the King Prisoner carried him about with him from place to place and from City to City until he had taken possession of all the Kingdom of Bosna and so returning unto his Master presented unto him the Captive King who was not a little offended with him for that he had unto him so far engaged his Turkish Faith. But when the poor King thought to have departed not greatly fearing further harm he was suddenly sent for by Mahomet at which time he doubting the worst carried with him in his hand the writing wherein the Bassaes Oath for his safety was comprised nevertheless the faithless Tyrant without any regard thereof or of his Faith therein given caused him presently to be most cruelly put to death or as some write to be â—lain quick Thus was the Christian Kingdom of Bosna subverted by Mahomet in the year 1464. who after he had at his pleasure disposed thereof and reduced it to the form of a Province to be as it is at this day governed by one of his Bassaes in great Triumph returned to Constantinople carrying away with him many a woful Christian Captive and the whole Wealth of that Kingdom Mahomet following the Example of his Father Amurath had from the beginning of his Reign by one or other of his great Bassaes or expert Captains still maintained Wars against Scanderbeg the most valiant and fortunate King of Epirus the greatest part whereof although it did in the course of time concur with the things before declared and might by piece-meal have been amongst the same in their due time and place inserted yet I have of purpose for divers reasons wholly reserved them for this place first for that I would not interrupt the course of the History before rehearsed with the particular accidents of this War And then for that the greatest heat of this Hereditary War delivered as it were from hand to hand from the Father to the Son hapned not long after this time when as Mahomet having conquered the Kingdom of Bosna had surrounded a great part of Scanderbegs Dominion wherein I had respect also unto the Readers ease who may with greater pleasure and content and less pains also view the same together than if it had been dispersedly scattered and intermedled with the other greater occurrents of the same time In which discourse I will but briefly touch many thing well worthy of a larger Treatise And if forgetting my self I shall in some places happen to stay something longer than the Readers hast would require yet I hope that the zeal and love he bears unto the worthy memory of most famous Christian Princes together with the shortness of the History in comparison of that which is thereof written in just Volumes by others shall easily excuse a lager discourse than this But again to our purpose Mahomet in the beginning of his Reign sent Embassadors to Scanderbeg offering him Peace to that he would grant to pay unto him such yearly Tribute as his Father Amurath had in his life time demanded Which embassage the crafty Tyrant sent rather to prove what confidence Scanderbeg had in himself than for any hope he had to have his demand granted This dishonourable
purpose so to terrifie the Defendants The next day after he sent the great Bassa of Constantinople to Lyssa called also Alessa a City of the Venetians situated upon the River Drinus about thirty miles from Scodra The Bassa coming thither found the City desolate for the Citizens hearing of his coming were for fear before fled for which cause he set the City on fire Here the Turks digged up the Bones of the worthy Prince Scanderbeg for the superstitious opinion they had of the vertue of them and happy was he that could get any little part thereof to set in Gold or other Jewel as a thing of great price as is before declared All these things thus done Mahomet committed the direction of all things concerning the Siege of Scodra unto the discretion of Achmetes by whose perswasion he leaving a great power for the continuing of the Siege departed thence himself with forty thousand Souldiers for Constantinople cursing and banning by the way all the Country of Epirus all the Inhabitantâ— therein and every part thereof their Corn their Cattel and whatsoever else was fruitful but above all other things the City of Scodra with all that therein was for that he had never received greater dishonour or loss than there After his departure which was about the seventh of September the two great Bassaes of Constantinople and Asia according to order before taken built a great bridge over the River Boliana and on either side a strong Castle to the intent that no relief should that way be brought into the City Which work when they had brought to perfection and furnished both Castles with Garrisons Ordnance and all things necessary they left Achmetes Bassa with forty thousand Souldiers to continue the Siege and returned themselves the one to Constantinople the other into Asia The wary and politique Bassa mindful of the charge he had taken upon him took such order that no relief could possibly be brought unto the City either by Land or by Water and so lying still before it a long time he brought it at length into such a distress and want of all things that the poor Christians were fain to eat all manner of unclean and loathsome things Horses were dainty meat yea they were glad to eat Dogs Cats Rats and the Skins of Beasts sod it exceedeth all credit to tell at what exceeding great price a little Mouse was sold or Puddings made of Dogs guts All these bare shifts and extremities the poor Christians were content to endure even unto the last gasp rather than to yield themselves into the hands of their merciless Enemies Whilst Scodra thus lay in the suds the Venetians weary of the long and chargeable War they had to their great loss now maintained against so mighty an Enemy by the space of sixteen years and having no means to relieve their distressed Subjects in Scodra thought it best to prove if they could procure a Peace from the Tyrant For which purpose they sent Benedictus Trivisanus a great Senator and a man of great experience to Constantinople who so well used the matter that after long debating too and fro at length a Peace was concluded whereof the chief Capitulations were That the Venetians should deliver unto Mahomet the City of Scodra the Island of Lemnos and the strong Castle of Tenarus in Pâ—loponnesus and pay him yearly eight thousand Ducats that they might freely after their wonteâ— manner traffique into the Euxine by the Straits of Hellespontus and Bosphorus Thracius and other parts of his Dominions Concerning the Citizens of Scodra it was comprised in the same Peace That it should be at their own choice either to live there still under the government of the Turkish Emperor or else at their pleasure to depart in safety with their Goods whither they would Trivisanus having in this manner concluded a Peace in his return homeward the fourth of April found the Venetian Admiral riding at Anchor in the mouth of Boliana from whence they both by Letters certified the Governor and Citizens of Scodra in what manner the Peace was concluded with the Turk and what provision was therein made for them Upon receipt of which Letters the Governor calling together the Citizens declared unto them how the case stood and there with them entred into consultation upon this hard question Whether they would remain there still in their Native Country under the Turkish Tyranny or forsaking the same live amongst other Christians in perpetual exile But after the matter had been throughly debated and many reasons on both parts alledged at length it was by general consent concluded That they should all forsake the City and the House of Bondage as dangerous both to their Souls and Bodies and live as it should please God amongst other Christians So the Turks giving Pledges for the safe departure of the Christians in Scodra they all at an appointed day with bag and baggage came out of the City and were by the Venetians carefully transported into other parts of their Territory in Italy where they lived in peace The Turks who had now besieged the City a whole year after the departure of the Christians entred the City with great joy and triumph which with many others thereabout hath ever since to the great ruth of all Christendom remained in the possession of the faithless Infidels Thus was the strong City of Scodra lost and the long Wars ended betwixt Mahomet and the Venetians which happened in the year 1478. year 1480. Mahomet now at Peace with the Venetians sent the same Achmetes Bassa by whom he had but a little before taken in Scodra with his Fleet of Gallies against one Leonard Prince of Neritus Zacyntâ—us and Cephalania Islands near unto Peloponnesus where the Bassa arriving easily took the same Islands the poor Prince for safeguard of his life being glad to fly into Italy with his Wife and Treasure to King Ferdinand whose nigh Kinswoman he had married About the same time Alis-Beg sirnamed Michael Ogli Isa-Beg the Son of Cassanes and Balis-Beg sirnamed Malcozogli men of great account amongst the Turks and most honourably descended entred into Transilvania with a great Army of an hundred thousand men and brought such a general fear upon the Country that Stephanus Batore the Vayvod was glad with all speed to flie unto Matthias King of Hungary to declare unto him the danger of his Country and to crave his Aid Matthias at the same time lay sick of the Gout nevertheless he took such order by his Captains Stephanus Cherepetrus and Paulus Kinisius Count of Temeswarâ— that the Turks were encountred not far from Alba Iulia and there in a great and bloody Battel overthrown wherein Isa one of their great Captains was slain with thirty thousand Turks more Neither was this Victory gained by the Christians without loss Bator the Vayvod himself being sore wounded and eight thousand men slain Mahomet in his ambitious humor had long time desired to have in his subjection
by the Turks Horsemen and brought back to the Bassa Techellis thus put to flight Ionuses caused strait inquisition to be made through all the Cities of the lesser Asia for all such as had professed the Persian Religion and them whom he found to have born Arms in the late Rebellion he caused to be put to death with most exquisit Torments and the rest to be burnt in their Foreheads with an hot Iron thereby for ever to be known whom together with the Kinsfolks and Friends of them that were executed or fled with Techellis he caused to be transported into Europe and to be dispersed through Macedonia Epirus and Peloponnesus for fear lest if Techellis now fled into the Persian Kingdom should from thence return with new Forces they should also again repair unto him and raise a new Rebellion This was the beginning course and ending of one of the most dangerous Rebellions that ever troubled the Turkish Empire wherein all or at leastwise the greatest part of their Dominions in Asia might have been easily surprised by the Persian King if he would throughly have prosecuted the occasion and opportunity then offered The remainder of Techellis his Followers flying into Persia by the way lightning upon a Caravan of Merchants laden with Silks and other rich Merchandize took the Spoil thereof for which outrage coming to Tauris the Captains were all by the commandment of Hysmael executed and Techellis himself to the terror of others burnt alive year 1509. The next year which was the year 1509. the fourteenth day of September chanced a great and terrible Earthquake in the City of Constantinople and the Countries thereabouts by the violence whereof a great part of the Walls of that imperial City with many stately Buildings both publick and private were quite overthrown and thirteen thousand People overwhelmed and slain The terror whereof was so great that the People generally forsook their Houses and lay abroad in the Fields yea Bajazet himself then very aged and sore troubled with the Gout for fear thereof removed from Constantinople to Hadrianople but finding himself in no more safety than before he left the City and lay abroad in the Fields in his Tent. This Earthquake indured by the space of eighteen days or as the Turks Histories report a month with very little intermission which was then accounted ominous as portending the miserable calamities which shortly after hapned in the Othoman Family After this Earthquake ensued a great Plague wherewith the City was grievously visited and for the most part unpeopled But after that the Earthquake was ceased and the Mortality asswaged Bajazet caused the imperial City to be with all speed repaired and to that purpose gave out commissions into all parts of his Dominions for the taking up of Workmen so that there were at once in work eighty thousand Workmen who in most beautiful manner in the space of four months again repaired the ruins of that great City Bajazet had by his many Wives eight Sons and six Daughters which lived to be Men and Women grown and the Sons all Governors in divers Provinces of his large Empire whom the Turkish Histories reckon up in this order Abdullah Zelebi Alem Scach Tzihan Scach Achmet Machmut Corcut Selim and Muhamet Yet Antonius Utrius a Genoway who long time lived in Bajazet his Court and as he of himself writeth waited in his Chamber at the time of his death reckoning up the Sons of Bajazet maketh mention but of these six Sciemscia Alemscia Achomates Mahometes Selymus and Corcutus naming the forenamed by names something differing from the other Sciemscia the eldest Governor of Caramania for his towardliness most dearly beloved of his Father died a natural death before him and was of him and his Subjects greatly lamented Alemscia died in like manner of whose death as soon as he was advertised by mourning Letters written in black paper with white Characters as their manner of writing is in certifying of heavy news he cast from him his Scepter with all other tokens of Honour and caused general mourning to be made for him in the Court and through all the City of Constantinople by the space of three days during which time all Shops were shut up all trading forbidden and no sign of mirth to be seen and for a certain space after the manner of their Superstition caused solemn Sacrifices to be made for the health of his Soul and seven thousand Aspers to be given weekly unto the Poor His dead body was afterward with all Princely Pomp conveyed to Prusa and there with great solemnity buried Tzihan Governor of Caria and Muhamet Governor of Capha upon their Fathers heavy displeasure were by his commandment both strangled Of his other four Sons Achmet otherwise called Achomates Machmut or Mahometes Corcut or Corcutus and Selymus the second namely Mahometes was of greatest hope and expectation not given to sensuality or voluptuous pleasure as Achomates his eldest Brother neither altogether bookish as was Corcutus nor yet of so fierce and cruel a Disposition as Selymus but of such a lively Spirit sharp Wit bountiful Disposition and Princely Carriage of himself that in the judgment of most men he seemed already worthy of a Kingdom Which immoderate favour of the People caused his elder Brother Achomates yea and Bajazet also himself to have him in no small jealousie as if he had affected the Empire and was in short time the cause of his untimely death which thing he nothing doubting hastened as fatal things are by such means as he lest feared might have procured any such mortal distrust or danger Most of Bajazet his Children were by divers Women yet Achomates and this Mahometes were by one and the same Mother for which cause Mahometes took greater pleasure in him than in any his other Brethren although it were not answered with like love again Achomates was Lord and Governor of Amasia and this Mahometes of Magnesia who desirous to see the manner of his Brothers Life and Government disguised himself with two of his familiar and faithful Friends as if they had been religious men of that Order which the Turks call Imâ—lier These men are for the most part comely Personages born of good Houses who in cleanly Attire made after an homely fashion do at their pleasure wander up and down from Town to Town and Country to Country noting the disposition and manners of the People whereof as fitteth best their purpose they make large Discourses afterwards to others they commonly carry about with them silver Cymbals whereon they play most cunningly and thereunto sing pleasant and wanton Ditties for which idle delight they receive Mony of the People as an Alms given them of Devotion These are the common corrupters of youth and defilers of other mens beds men altogether given to ease and pleasure and are of the Turks called The religious Brethren of Love but might of right better be termed Epicurus his Hogs than any
sent for the imperious Letter of the Turkish Tyrant was openly read before the Knights of the Order and the better sort of the Citizens Whereunto the Great Master accounting it both honour enough and sufficient term of life honourably to die answered in this sort You heard sacred Fellows in Arms and valiant Citizens of the Rhodes these imperious and sorrowful Letters whereunto how we are to answer requireth no great deliberation we must as resolute Men either yield or die all hope of the Victory is gone except forraign Aid come Wherefore if you will follow my Counsel let us with Weapons in our Hands until the last Gasp and the spending of the last drop of our Blood like valiant Men defend our Faith and Nobility received from our Ancestors and the Honour which we have so long time gotten both at Home and Abroad and let it never be said that our Honour died but with our Selves This Speech of the Great Master seemed unto mâ—ny heavier than the imperious Commandment of the Turkish Tyrant and a great while Men stood silent heavily looking one upon another many with changing of their countenance and outward gesture more than by words expressing what they thought in heart At length a certain Greek Priest with great compassion of mind as it seemed and Tears trickling down his Cheeks brake forth into these words And I would also hold my peace if I were a private Man and not first of all in so great and troubled assembly broach mine own opinion But forasmuch as the regard of our common preservation can wring a word out of no Mans mouth and all Men know that now is the time to speak and say what every Man thinketh best which shall neither always nor long be granted unto us I will not let it now overpass and slip away Wherefore let us suppose that no command of a most mighty Prince besieging us were come unto us but that I were reasoning as a private Man with his Neighbour or one Friend with another by the fire side or in our cups without care without any great affection to either party as Men indifferent not liking or hating as Men oftentimes do of Princes Affairs which concern them nothing and then as I hope my Speech shall be unto you neither unpleasant nor unprofitable We Greeks and Latins with joyned Arms have now these six Months withstood our deadly Enemies not only abroad before our Walls but also in the very bowels of our City without any forreign help which as we have of long time all vainly looked for so are we now every one of us out of hope thereof And yet our Enemy either moved with the secret goodness of God or else ignorant of our strength and forces spent with Wounds Slaughter Sickness and perpetual Labour doth voluntarily offer that unto us which was of us to be most of all desired and earnestly sued for Your publick and private Treasures the bodies of your selves your Wives and Children he keepeth unviolated he taketh from us only the City which he hath for most part already beaten down and taken Worthy Great Master and you most valiant Knights I have known prowess and valour in many Battels at Sea but especially in this Siege whereof seeing there is no more use in this our desperate estate I do appeal unto your wisdom and discretion Since all is now the Conquerors in that he leaveth unto us our lives and Goods that is to be accounted gains and the yielding up of the City and Island no loss which the victorious Enemy already commandeth which although it be a heavy matter and grievous unto the Nobility yet your Fortune perswadeth you thereunto Wherefore if you be to be moved with any compassion I account it better to yield than to be slain our selves or to see your Wives and Children by Law of Arms to be led away before your Faces into miserable Captivity and Servitude If any Christian compassion remain in your warlike Minds I beseech you seek not the utter destruction of this innocent People who I may with modesty say hath not evil deserved of you whom Christ Iesus whom the Enemy himself would have preserved That I say this which I speak unto you for Christian Charity and for no other cause let this be a sufficient Testimony That so long as you were able to resist by your own power or hoped for Aid from forrein Princes I never spake word or once thought of yielding but now seeing the fatal ruine of all things about us our common Estate brought unto the uttermost extremity our deadly Enemy in the heart of our City no hope and that the War cannot longer be protracted I wish you to yield and for my part had rather make choice of Peace than War and to prove the Enemies Favour than his Fury Most of them there present were of the same mind with the Priest. But as nothing can be so reasonably spoken as to content all Men so this Speech was not of them all liked some there were though not many which considering the harms they had done unto the Turks and doubting with what safety they might yield themselves into the power of that faithless People had rather to have fought it out to the last Man and so to have left unto them a bloody Victory Amongst these one bold spoken Fellow stept forth and in presence of them all disswaded the yielding up of the City in this sort I have not been with any thing more unacquainted than to deliver my opinion before Princes or in such great and publick Assemblies being always more desâ—rous modestly to hear other Mens Opinions than impudently to thrust forth mine own But now seeing extream necessity will not longer suffer me to keep my wonted course of silence I will frankly speak my Mind and tell you what in my Opinion is to bâ— answered unto the heavy Message and imperious Command of the most prefidious Tyrant This cruel Enemy hath overthrown our Wall and is entred three hundred Foot and more within our City and as a most troublesome Guest liveth and converseth with us as it were under the same Roof Such as list not longer to endure such an unwelcome Guest and troublesome Neighbour perswade you because he is troublesome to give him all but worthy and sacred Knights I am of far different Opinion neither do I think a Possession of two hundred and fourteen Years is so lightly to be delivered up and the Ground forsaken but rather that this troublesome Intruder is in like manner to be himself troubled and with deadly Skirmishes continually vexed whom after we had by force of Arms and undaunted Courage maugre his Head held out five Months at length he brake into our City not by any Valour in himself but holpen by time which tameth all things and since his first entrance it is now almost forty days in which time for all his hast he hath scarcely got forward a hundred
and thirty Paces hindred by the Blocks we have laid in his way and will not cease continually to lay if we be wise Men and mindful of our former Valour Destroy me you heavenly Powers before I see with these Eies these sacred Knights to yield up this famous City of the Rhodes the ancient Bulwark of Christian Religion unto our merciless Enemies polluted with the infamous Superstition of Mahomet who besides the insatiable thirst they have of our Blood how faithless and mischievous they are by Nature if we know not we need not make example of our selves but we may take example by the calamity of Constantinople the late misery of Euboea and that which later was of Methone as also by the Mamalukes at Caire miserably slain contrary to the League contrary to the Faith and Promise by the Turkish Emperor himself before given What do you â—ot remember how the Death of the most noble Captains at Belgrade was of late procured by the falshood craft and deceit of the same faithless Miscreants Let us then being Men of Wit and Understanding trust these mad Beasts let us give our selves into their power which hâ—ve no regard of right or reason of Religion or any thing else whose Covetousness and Cruelty it is hard to say which it greater which for these many years have plotted and laboured nothing more than how by policy or force they may utterly root out the Name of the Rhodians which they so deadly hate They keep us shut up and besieged now the sixth Month feeling together with us extream dangers and endless labour slain by heaps before our Walls and Fortresses and cannot be removed hence with Thunder Lightning Storms Tempâ—sts and all the Calamities of Winter a time which giveth intermission to all War both by Sea and Land so desirous they are of Revenge and greedy of our Blood and that not altogether without cause for we have also shed theirs and gladly would still so do if it lay in our power But seeing it seemeth good unto God otherwise and that we are surprized with inevitable necâ—ssity yet let us whilst we are at liberty and have power our selves by honourable death amongst the Christian Ensigns eschew the Torments and Reproaches which our cruel Enemies hope to inflict upon us so shall we enjoy eternal Fame and Glory prepared both in Heaven and Earth for such as honourably die in defence of their Prince and Country which Honour it becometh not them to envy unto thy most noble Name and Vertue worthy Grand Master which having for many years enjoyed the commodity and profit of Peace and greatly enriched by Bounty of this sacred Military Order refuse now to bear this last burden of War. At these words an ancient Greek for his Wisdom and Discretion of great Reputation both with the Greeks and Latins perceiving his Countrymen wrongfully touched and the desperate holding out of the City vainly perswaded took hold and interrupting this young Gallant in answer of that he had said spake as followeth That grief of mind and desperation can make Men rather Eloquent than Wise as you have many times heard before this so you might this day perceive also most valiant Gentlemen for advised modesty never falleth into obloquy neither confoundeth falshood with truth it desireth not the slaughter of the Citizens it perswadeth not fury nor exhorteth Men to madness but it is by nature so engraffed in many that when they cannot by their own Wisdom and Policy deliver themselves from their troubles they yet seek to draw others into the fellowship of the same danger so greedy have malice and misery always been of company But if you worthy Commander will give me also leave to speak a Man amongst his Countrymen not of meanest Place and Authority which thing both the present Calamity and urgent Necessity might of you easily obtain I would alledge such reasons and lay down such matter as should not only refel the copious and glorious words of this sharp witted Orator scrap'd together of purpose to flourish out the matter but also such as might stir your mind to that which is honest profitable and necessary expulsing hatred fear trouble or despair This Gentleman whom we all know not only to be a vehement Orator but somtime a Man most terrible whereas for all his great words he is by nature mild and so mild that he never had the heart to kill nay not so much as lightly to wound any one of them whom he calleth barbarous mad cruel whose perfidious dealing he detesteth whose cruelty he accurseth whose manner of living he exclaimeth against as altogether without Law without Reason without Order without Regard and now in time of Truce and whilst the Showers of Arrows Iron Bullets Fire and Stones doth cease creeping out of his Cave maketh much ado and keepeth a great stir and not knowing in what danger he is doth now with glorious words call upon death whereof he hath hitherto shewed himself too much afraid and all forsooth as he said lest he should be enforced to endure the mocking and scorning of the Enemy But this is meer Pride not Christian Fortitude or Humility But our Enemy neither threatneth nor purposeth any such matter nothing so perfidious or cruel as he would make him rubbing up the slaughter at Caire Euboea Methone and Constantinople Cities taken either by Force or warlike Policy and not yielded by composition upon faith given betwixt the besieger and the besieged who because he would spare us will not suffer us to do that whereby we should undoubtedly perish But whereof proceedeth this new found Clemency This unwonted favour toward the People of the Rhodes I am not of the Tyrants Privy-Counsel neither ever curiously sought after the reason of another Mans Bounty but am glad to receive it when I need it Yet for all that I will not dissemble w hat I think in a matter so doubtful he is willing as I suppose in this Siege and Conquest of the Rhodes to shew unto other Nations whom he purposed to invade both his Power and his Patience lest always satisfying his cruel Nature he should make desolation in places he would Reign over and so for ever alienating the Minds of Men he inforced to fight with all Men with Fire and Sword by which Rigour he hath not so much hurt his Enemy as himself For this cause as I suppose he leaveth unto us life and goods lâ—st whilst he in going about to take them from us by force and we seeking to keep them by desperatness we should both fall into great destruction no less lamentable unto the Conqueror than to the vanquished Besides that if he should kill all here truly he might then enter the Breaches of the City on the Bodies of the dead no Men now left alive to resist him But Lerus is shut up Arangia is strongly Fortified Lyndus is by Situation impregnable here he knoweth are Weapons Armor and Men here he must begin
death which by Embassadors dissemblingly entreating of Peace had in the mean time craftily waged War. Amongst these Prisoners was one Souldier of Bavaria of an exceeding high Stature him in despight of the German Nation he delivered to a little Dwarf whom his Sons made great account of to be slain whose head was scarce so high as the Knees of the tall Captive with that cruel spight to aggravate the indignity of his death when as that goodly tall man mangled about the Legs a long time by that apish Dwarf with his little Scimeter as if it had been in disport fell down and was with many feeble blows hardly at last slain by that Wretch still heartned on by others to satisfie the Eyes of the Princes beholding it as their Sport. This barbarous and cruel execution done Solyman sent his Embassadors with Presents to the young King which were three beautiful Horses with their Bridles of Gold and their Trappings richly set with precious Stones and three Royal Robes of Cloth of Gold and unto the chief of the Nobility he sent rich Gowns and Chains of Gold. The Embassadors which brought these Presents in courteous manner requested of the Queen to send the young King her Son attended with his Nobility into the Camp and without all fear to hope that all should go well both with her and her Son for that Solyman who exceeded all other Kings not in Power and Fortune only but in Vertue and upright dealing also was of such an heroical Disposition that he would not only defend the Child whom in the right of his Father he had once thought worthy his Protection and Favour Victory confirming the same but would also augment his Estate with the largest Bounds of his ancient Kingdom Wherefore he was desirous to see the young King and to behold in him the representation of his Father and with his own hand to deliver him to be imbraced of his Sons that of his Protection renewed so happily begun might be grounded a firm and perpetual Friendship with the Othoman Kings and that he would always account of her as of his Daughter But the cause why he came not to see her which he did in courtesie desire was for that by ancient custom the Othoman Kings were forbidden that point of courtesie to visit other mens Wives in their Houses Besides that Solyman they said was not so forgetful of his Modesty and Honour as to receive into his Pavillion the Daughter of a King his Friend and Ally and she the late Wife of a King his Friend and Tributary and the fair young Mother of a Son growing in the hope of like Regal Dignity for fear he should draw into any suspition the inviolate name of her Chastity which in Queens was to be guarded with an especial and wonderful care Whereunto the Queen a manifest fear confounding the tender Senses in her Motherly Affection answered very doubtfully but the Bishop perswading her and instantly requesting her not to give the Turks occasion to suspect that she had them in distrust by her little and unprofitable delay sent her young Son in Princely swathing Clothes in a rich Chariot with his Nurse and certain great Ladies unto the Camp attended upon with almost all the Nobility to whom Solyman had sent Presents In his coming to the Camp he was for honours sake met upon the way by certain gallant Troops of the Turks brave Horsemen and all the way as he passed in the Camp orderly stood the Janizaries of Solymans Guard. As soon as he was brought into the Camp Solyman courteously looked upon him and familiarly talked with the Nurse and commanded his Sons there present to take him in their Arms and to kiss him in certain token of the love they would bear him whom they were in time to have their Friend and Tributary when he was grown to mans estate these were Selymus and Bajazet begotten of his fair Concubine Roxalana bearing the Names the one of his Grandfather the other of his great Grandfather As for Mustapha his eldest Son by his Circassian Wife he then lived in Magnesia a great way off who though he was a Prince of so great hope as never any of the Turkish Kings had a Son of greater and was therefore exceedingly beloved of the Men of War yet was he not so well liked of his Father brought out of favour with him by Roxalana as if he had traiterously gone about to take the Empire from him yet living as did Selymus his Grandfather from Bajazet for which cause Solyman secretly purposed to take him away as afterwards he did and to appoint Selymus for his Successor as hereafter shall appear But Solyman at such time as the Noblemen of Hungary were dining merrily with the Bassaes had commanded certain Companies to whom he had before given instructions what he would have done under the colour of seeing the City to take one of the Gates called Sabatina and the chief Streets which was done so quietly and cunningly that a wary Watchman standing there and beholding the manner of the Turks coming and going too and fro could hardly have perceived how the Gate was taken until it was too late For many of the Turks walking fair and softly by great Companies into the City as if it had been but for pleasure to have seen it and other some to colour the matter walking likewise back again as if they had sufficiently viewed the City by that means they without any tumult or stir quickly took the appointed Gate with the Market place and chief Streets of the City Which so finely done the Captain of the Janizaries caused Proclamation to be made in all parts of the City That the Citizens should without fear keep themselves within their Houses and forthwith as they would have their Lives Liberty and Goods saved to deliver all their Weapons which they seeing no remedy did and having delivered their Arms and taken the Turks Faith for their security they received them into their Houses as their unwelcome Guests But such was the quietness and modesty of the Turks by reason of the severity of their Martial Discipline that no Citizen which took them into their Houses was by them wronged by Word or Deed. Solyman understanding that the City was thus quietly and without resistance taken sent the Child back again unto the Queen although it was now almost night but the chief Noblemen he retained still with him these were George the Bishop and Treasurer Petrus Vicche the young Kings nigh Kinsman and one of his Tutors Valentinus Turaccus General of the Queens Forces Stephanus Verbetius Chancellor and Bacianus Urbanus Governor of the City of Buda This suddain and unexpected change exceedingly troubled all their minds and so much the more for that the great Bassaes with changed countenance began to pick quarrels with them and as it were straightly and impudently to examine them and to call them to account for all that they
to Medices the Admiral to be conveied up the River to Vienna Liscanus at the time of his apprehension most covetously and uncourteously took from him his Chain and a rich Cloak lined with Sables which indignity done to so noble a Gentleman so much offended the minds of the rest of the Hungarians that above twelve thousand of them thereupon presently returned home to their own dwellings cursing the Germans to the Divel This Perenus was one of the greatest Peers of Hungary but of a most haughty and magnificent mind so that he would sometime have almost a hundred goodly spare Horses fit for service led before him without their Riders and would sometime speak too liberally against the bareness of King Ferdinands Court who polled by his Courtiers hardly maintained his State which his surpassing magnificence and princely Port was cause enough for the other great Courtiers to envy at his Estate and to seek his overthrow who as Men overcharged with the burthen of another Mans vertue whereof they never bore the least part and always gaining by the depraving of other Mens perfection conspired together his overthrow and oftentimes pointing at him with their fingers would say That he favoured of a Crown This notable Man as he had many worthy Vertues so was he not without cause noted of ambition and unconstancy for after that King Lewis was lost he disdaining the preferment of Iohn the Vayvod to the Kingdom of Hungary took part with King Ferdinand against him in hope as it was thought to be next in honour unto himself but after he saw King Iohn again restored and his State strongly supported by Solyman and that all things stood doubtful and fickle with Ferdinand he with like levity sought means by Abraham the great Bassa to be reconciled to King Iohn which was hardly obtained of him by the intercession of Solyman himself as is before declared to whom he gave his Son as a Pledge of his Fidelity After which time he lived in great Honour and Loyalty all the Reign of King Iohn but after he was dead and saw George the Bishop the Kings Tutor doing what he list to reign like a King he disdained his Government and solicited by King Ferdinand revolted again unto him and furthered him in what he could for the obtaining of the Kingdom But now falling into the envy of the Court Malice found out matter enough to work his confusion First it was given out That his Son who had many years been detained in Solymans Court as a Pledge of his Fathers Faith was even then under the colour of a fained escape come into Transylvania when as he had secretly agreed with Solyman that his Father being a Man much favoured of the People should by promising them all possible Freedom allure them to the Turkish subjection in reward of which good service he should be made Governour of the Kingdom of Hungary and put in hope also to be made the Tributary King thereof if it should fortune the young King to die Besides that it was accounted a thing very suspicious that he had the Winter before used great kindness and friendship toward the Turkish Captains by sending them great Presents and receiving the like again And last of all his Letters directed to certain Hungarian Captains were produced wherein he seemed to promise them as his Friends and Followers greater entertainment than agreed with his present Estate All which things King Ferdinand of his own disposition not easily to be perswaded to conceive evil of the Germans his Countrymen were it never so apparent or true but of Strangers any thing quickly believed and therefore caused him as is before said to be apprehended But Perenus as he was brought by Medices the Admiral to Vienna when he was come near unto the Gate of the City and heard that Philippus Torniellus with certain other brave Captains of his acquaintance were come to meet the Admiral he requested that the close Coach wherein he rid might be opened and that he might have leave to speak to those noble and valiant Gentlemen Which thing was easily granted for that the Nobility and approved valour of the Man seemed unto them which had the charge of him unworthy of such restraint of liberty or imprisonment yea or of the least suspicion thereof So he turning himself towards them spake unto them in this sort Wretched I noble Gentlemen said he whom despightful envy hath circumvented guiltless but much more miserable King Ferdinand whom domestical Thieves bereave of Substance of Friends and Honour all at once For so it cometh to pass that by this inconsiderate wrong done unto me he shall utterly lose the love and fidelity of the Hungarian Nation and may therefore for ever not without cause despair for the obtaining of the Kingdom of Hungary sithence that it is not lawful for me inferiour to nâ—â—e of my Nation in Birth and having for my good and faithful service well deserved râ—ward of a just King so much as to rejoyce for the deliverance of my Son from the Captivity of the Turks but that by my sinister fortune dreadful death in stead of incomparable joy must be presented to mine Eies For will these malicious Pick-thanks guilty of thâ—ir own Cowardise the wicked Contrivers and Witnesses of my wrongful Accusation spare me being laid fast and indurance which never spared the Kings Honour For every Man of what Nobility soever be he never so guiltless when he is once in hold must be content to endure not what he hath deserved but what his hard fortune assigneth Yet my upright mind and clear conscience which thing only God the most just Iudge leaveth as a comfort to Men in misery wrongfully accused delivered me of this care and so will the Marquess our General to whom I before upon a mistrust foretold that such a danger would shortly befal me and that I had rather be slain guiltless than to withdraw my self from Trial which thing I told him at such a time as I was so guarded with mine own strength that I feared no Mans force I beseech you do me this honourable favour as to request King Ferdinand in my behalf quickly and honourably to proceed to the Trial of my Cause and according to his own princely disposition and the will of others to discern betwixt his faithful Friends and fained Flatterers Truly we are too too unfortunate Captains if for a little evil success we shall be so adjudged as Men that had overthrown their Fortune Cazzianer peradventure received the just punishment he had deserved for the shameful forsaking and losing of the Army at Exek when as he possessed with an uncouth fear forgot the duty of a General more afraid of death than dishonour for when he had voluntarily committed himself to safe custody he was so generally condemned of Cowardise that despairing to defend his Cause he brake Prison and as wickedly as unfortunately revolted to the Turks But neither was I
pity at last requested that he would give him leave to shoo his Horses in his Territory telling him that he came unprovided of all things and therefore desirous in that fruitful Country to refresh his Horses a day or two and to new shoo them Whereunto the Bassa courteously answered That he would not let him to take whatsoever he needed But whether it was for the compassion that he had upon the state of Bajazet or for the secret love he bare him or that he thought by that means the easier to entrap him is doubtful and happily prevented by Bajazets quick speed had not as yet sufficient time to draw together his Souldiers He sent also unto Bajazet certain small Presents seeming to be glad of his welfare and coming who nevertheless kept on his way resting no part of the day and but a little of the night The Bassa of Erzirum understanding that Bajazet came still on made what hast he could also and joyned his power to the rest of the Bassaes which followed after for many Bassaes and Sanzacks hearing that Bajazet was fled from Amasia pursued fast after him being charged by Solyman upon pain of their Heads to bring him back either alive or dead but all in vain by reason of his speedy departure and for that he made more hast to flie than they did to follow Yet it cost no Man dearer than this Bassa of Erzirum of whom we have now spoken whom Solyman for this cause displaced and Selymus afterwards slew with two of his Sons young striplings whom he had before in despight shamefully abused against nature Yea Selymus himself and Mahomet the great Bassa with the Berglerbeg of Grecia followed also after Bajazet though it were a far off This his departure grieved Solyman above measure assuring himself as the truth was that he was fled into Persia wherewith he was so much moved that he could scarcely contain himself but would needs have gone with all his power in all hast against the Persian to have terrified him at hand from relieving his rebellious Son. But these his raging fits his grave Counsellors moderated by declaring unto him what danger he should adventure himself unto by reason of the doubtful faith of his best Souldiers And what if Bajazet as he was a desperate and suddain Man should in the mean time turn about above Pontus and the Fens of Meotis and so fetching a compass come to Constantinople and proclaiming a general liberty in his absence possess himself of the Empire By which wholesome perswasion Solyman staid his so hasty a Journy but Bajazet all the way as he went writ upon the the Gates and Doors That he would give double pay to all such as should follow him which caused Solymans Captains to have their own Souldiers in distrust and the more for that they might oftentimes hear amongst them speeches of great good will and love towards Bajazet After long flying he was at length come to the River Araxis which separated the Turks Kingdom from the Persian which having passed over and yet not so in safety he left certain of his Followers upon the Bank of the River to keep the Sanzacks who still eagerly pursued him from passing over whom the Sanzacks easily repulsed and so passing the River entred a great way into the Persian Kingdom until such time as that they were met withal by certain of the Nobility of Persia with great Troops of Horsemen who demanding of them what they meant and what they sought for in another Mans Kingdom were answered by the Turks That they pursued their Kings fugitive Son. To whom the Persians replied That they did not well contrary to the League with their Lord and Master to come in Arms beyond the Bounds of their own Kingdom and that there was a strong League between King Tamas and Solyman which it behoved them to regard as for Bajazet their King would consider what was convenient for him to do and not in that point forget himself in the mean time they should do well to get them out of that Country wherein they had nothing to do Whereupon the Turks forthwith left this pursuit and retired But by and by came Messengers from the Persian King to Bajazet to salute him and to demand the cause of his coming and also to see what strength he brought with him which as some account was about twenty thousand To whom Bajazet declared That he by his Brothers injuries and Fathers hard dealing driven out of his Country was fled unto the sacred Majesty of the Persian King as his most assured refuge who as he well hoped in compassion of Mans instability would not reject him so distressed and otherwise destitute of all help Whereunto the Persian replied That he had done very unwisely to come unto him that was in League and Amity with his Father whereof one condition was That they should account the Enemies of the one the Enemies of the other and the Friends of the one the Friends of the other Which Law to break he accounted a thing utterly unlawful nevertheless seeing the matter was so faln out he was welcome as unto his Friend who in his behalf would leave nothing unattempted to reconcile him to his Father which he despaired not to bring to pass So Bajazet meeteth with the Persian King but in an evil hour although at their first meeting there was great welcome friendly countenance chearful looks mutual kindness often conference and great feasting one of another things whereby the secret thoughts of hollow hearts are best concealed there was also a motion made of a straighter bond of alliance and one of the Persian Kings Daughters promised to Orchanes one of Bajazets Sons and he put in hope that the Persian King would never rest in quiet until Solyman had made him Governour either of Mesopotamia Babylon or Erziâ—um which Governments were by the Persians greatly extolled and that he might there live without fear of his Brother far from him and his Father also where if any thing should fall out otherwise than well he might have his Brother the Persian King a sure refuge to retire unto and so safe from all danger Which speeches were happily given out of purpose to avert Bajazet his thoughts from the feeling of the present danger who seemed unto himself so assured of the love and friendship of Tamas the Persian King that at such time as he sent his Embassadors to Constantinople for a reconciliation to be made between Solyman and him as was commonly supposed he willed the same Embassador to tell his Father that he had lost a Father at Constantinople and found another in Persia. But whether the Persian delt sincerely in this behalf for Bajazet by his Embassadors which where many may well be doubted Like it is that there was more fained shew of double diligence than of true meaning therein and the rather to feel the mind of Solyman than to do any good to the poor
Diseases without help consumed in so great a distress Don Alvarus the Governour considering the great extremity they were now brought unto attempted with Don Sanchius de Leyva Admiral of the Neapolitan Gallies Belingerius de Requesenes Admiral of the Sicilian Gallies and some others by night to have escaped away into a Gally which lay under the Castle but in doing thereof were perceived by the Turks and so all taken Whereupon such Souldiers as sickness and the Enemies Sword had yet left alive pinched with extream necessity forsaken of their best Captains and out of all hope of relief also covenanting for their lives only with the Enemy yielded themselves into most miserable Captivity In this unfortunate expedition perished about eighteen thousand Christians some with sickness some drowned but most slain beside the loss of a great part of the Fleet also Of this Victory Pial sent news by one of his Gallies to Constantinople which for the more manifesting thereof dragged at the Poop thereof a great Ensign of the Christians with the Picture of Christ Crucified therein Which was no sooner come into the Haven but that the rumor of the overthrow of the Christians was forthwith blown through the whole City the Turks exceedingly rejoycing one with another for the news of so great a Victory yea many of them not so contented came by heaps to the Gate of the House where the Emperor Ferdinands Embassador lay and there meeting with his Servants by way of derision asked them if they had any Brethren Kinsmen or Friends in the Spanish Fleet at Zerbi for if you have said they you shall shortly see them here Besides that they with many words most insolently bragged of their own Valour and scorned the Cowardise of the Christians asking who were able to withstand them now that the Spaniard was also overcome All which with much more the Embassadors Men with great grief were enforced to hear but there was no remedy seeing God had so appointed it Shortly after in September the victorious Fleet returned to Constantinople dragging with it the Prisoners Spoils and Gallies of the Christians a sight no less pleasant unto the Turks than heavy unto the Christians and that night it lay at Anchor near unto the Rocks in the face of the City with the greater Pomp and Glory to come the next day into the Haven At which time Solyman himself was come down into a Gallery near unto the Havens Mouth adjoyning unto his Garden the better to see the coming in of the Fleet and the Christian Captains set there to shew upon the Poop of the Admiral Galley namely Don Alvarus de Sandes Don Sanchius de Leyva Don Billingerus de Requesenes all of late great Commanders as for the Christian Gallies all disarmed and unrigged so to seem the more contemptible in comparison of the Turks they were towed at the Tail of the Turks Gallies They which then saw Solymans countenance perceived not in him any sign at all of any insolent joy I my self saith Busbequius then the Emperor Ferdinands Embassador there saw him two days after going to the Church with the same countenance he had always with the same severity and gravity as if this Victory had nothing concerned him nor any thing chanced strange or unexpected so capable was the great Heart of that old Sire of any Fortune were it never so great and his mind so setled as to receive so great applause and rejoycing without moving Within a few days after the Christian Captives before almost starved with Hunger were brought to the Court many of whom could scarce stand upon their Legs some others for weakness fell down and fainted and othersome died outright they were all scornfully led in Triumph with their Arms disordered and scornfully put upon them the Turks in the mean time insulting round about them promising unto themselves the Empire of the whole World and vainly asking What Enemy they were to fear now that the Spaniard was overcome Alvarus Sandes as chief of all the Prisoners being brought into the Divano before the Visier Bassaes and demanded by Rustan Bassa What his Master meant being not able to defend his own to invade other Mens answered That it beseemed not him to judge thereon and himself to have done but his Duty with such faithfulness as was meet to put in execution what he was commanded by his Lord although he had no good Fortune therein After that he besought the Bassaes upon his Knee to speak for him unto Solyman for that he had at home a poor Wife with certain small Children for whom he requested him to spare him Whereunto Rustan Bassa contrary to his manner courteously answered his Sovereign to be of a mild and gentle Nature and that he was in good hope his Pardon might be of him obtained so was he commanded away unto Caradines his Castle towards the Black Sea. But he was not gone far but that he was called back again for that the great Chamberlain a Man in great credit with Solyman had not as yet seen him for which cause he was sent for back again wherewith he was not a little troubled fearing lest the Bassaes having changed their minds would have put him to death The rest of the Captives of the better sort were committed to the Castle of Pera and amongst them Don Sanchius de Leyva with his two base Sons and also Don Billingerus Requesenes which two great Men with Don Alvarus de Sandes were nevertheless afterwards with much ado and almost beyond all hope at the request of the Emperor and by the dexterity of his Embassador by Solyman set at liberty although he had before denied them unto Salviat the French Kings Embassador who had been an earnest intercessor for them Yet before they were delivered out of Prison the Mufti or Turks great Priest was asked his opinion Whether it were lawful for a greater number of Turks to exchange a few Christian Captives for the Embassador beside the Rewards he had promised unto the Bassaes to further the matter had also undertaken that forty common Prisoners of the Turks should be set at liberty for them whereunto the Mufti answered That the Doctors of their Law were of divers opinions concerning that question some saying that it was lawful and some not howbeit as then it was by him resolved upon unto the more favourable part and the exchange allowed There were amongst the Prisoners taken at Zerbi besides these Noblemen of whom we have before spoken two other noble Gentlemen right honourably Born Don Iohn of Cardona Don Billinger his Son in Law and Don Gasto the Duke of Medina his Son to whom yet but a Youth his Father nevertheless had given an honourable place in the Army Of these two Don Iohn had wisely taken order for a great sum of Mony to be left in the Island of Chio by the way as the Turks Fleet went to Constantinople from whence he afterwards in safety
Leo the X. 1513. 8. Hadrian the VI. 1522. 1. Clement the VII 1523. 10. Paulus the III. 1534. 15. Julius the III. 1550. 5. Marcellus the II. 1555. 22 days Paulus the IV. 1555. 4. Pius the IV. 1560. 5. Pius the V. 1566. 6. Dissimilis patri Selymus regalia Sceptra Corripit et dira concutit arma manu Faedus cum Venetis frangit quid faedera prosunt Armataque manu Cypria regna rapit Instravit tumidum numerosis classibus Aequor Ut Naupactiacas nobilitaret aquas Unlike his Father Selymus fills the Throne Breathing where e're he march't Destruction His sacred League with Venice basely brakes And arm'd with power the Syrian kingdomes takes With a stupendious Fleet covers the Sea To be a Witness to his Infamy Muldavum faeda mulctavit morte Dynasten Et magni fines prorogat imperij Obruit Hispanos multa vi Punica regna Destruit et regnis adijcit illa suis. Sed nimis in venerem pronus vinoque sepultus Extremum properat praecipitare diem And to his Throne to add Moldavia Their noble Vayvod butcherly do's slay And when the Spanish powrs were overthrown They and the Tunis Scepters were his owne But spent with wine with women and with play Th' effeminate Prince Spur'd on his fatall day The LIFE of SELYMUS The Second of that NAME Fifth Emperor of the Turks SElymus the only Son of Solyman then left alive by Letters from Muhamet Bassa understanding of the death of his Father hasted from Cutai a City of Galatia not far from Ancyra towards Constantinople and coming to Scutary was from thence by Bostanges Bassa of the Court conducted over the Strait to Constantinople where by him and Scander Bassa Selymus his Son in law and then Solymans Vicegerent he was conveyed into the Imperial Palace the three and twentieth of September in the year 1566. and there possessed of his Fathers Seat was by the Janizaries there present saluted Emperor He was about the age of forty two years when he began to Reign a man of an unconstant and hasty disposition wholly given to wantonness and excess so that he never went to Wars himself but performed them altogether by his Lieutenants contrary to the charge of Selymus his Grandfather given by him to his Father Solyman whereof he was never unmindful The next day he came abroad and shewed himself in his Majesty and in the Temple of Sophia after the manner of the Turkish Superstition caused solemn Prayers and Sacrifices to be made for his Father which done he gave unto the Janizaries a Larges of 100000 Sultanines with promise to augment their Wages And all things being now in readiness for his intended Journey he with a goodly Retinue set forward from Constantinople the seven and twentieth of September and the twentieth of October a little from Belgrade met the Army coming from Sigeth gallantly marching under their Ensigns with the dead Body of Solyman whom the Souldiers generally supposed to have been yet living but troubled with the Gout to have kept his Horse-litter as his manner was to travel Selymus alighting came in his Mourning Attire to the Horse-litter looked upon the dead Body of his Father kissed it and wept over it as did all the other great Bassaes also And that the death of Solyman might then be made known to all men the Ensigns were presently let fall and trailed upon the ground a dead March sounded and heavy silence commanded to be kept through all the Camp. Shortly after Selymus was with the great applause of the whole Army proclaimed Emperor his Ensigns advanced and every one of the great Commanders of the Army in their degree admitted to kiss his hand So marching forward he returned again to Constantinople the two and twentieth of November but thinking to have entred his Palace which they commonly call The Seraglio he was by the discontented Janizaries but now come from the Wars prohibited so to do they with great Insolency demanding of him a greater Donative together with the confirmation both of their ancient and new Priviledges before they would suffer him to enter Against which their great presumption the Visier Bassaes together with the Aga opposing themselves and seeking by all means to appease them were by them fouly entreated and well rapped about the Pates with the stocks of their Callivars but especially the two great Bassaes Muhamet and Partau as the chief Authors that their Lord had dealt no more liberally with them With which so sudden and unexpected a Mutiny of his best Souldiers Selymus not a little troubled and calling unto him the Aga or Captain of the Janizaries demanded of him the cause thereof who with tears trickling down his cheeks for grief told him That it was for mony Which by Selymus noâ— promised unto them together with the confirmation of their Liberties and the Aga with fair words and heavy countenance most earnestly intreating them not to blemish the ancient Reputation of their wonted Loyalty with so foul a disorder nor to oppose the life of him their loving Captain unto the heavy displeasure of their angry Sultan and farther assuring theâ— that he would not fail them in the least of his promises but content them to the full of their desires the Mutiny was at length appeased the insolent Janizaries again quieted and Selymus into the Seraglio received Howbeit Muhamet chief of the Visier Bassaes for certain days after went not out of his Palace neither came as he was wont into the Divano but kept himself close for fear of some greater mischief from them This Tumult thus overpassed and all again well quieted Selymus with all Royal Solemnity buried his Father in a Chappel which he after the manner of the Mahometan Kings had in his life time most stately built with a Colledge and an Hospital Where fast by his side is to be seen the Tomb of Roxolana his best beloved Wife and of certain others his murthered Children and by him hangeth his Scimiter in token thaâ— he died in Wars an Honour not otherwise â—ranted to the Mahometan Princes The Reveâ—â—es arising of the Country about Sigeth of late â—on â—â—om the Christians at the time of his deâ—â—h were given to the Maintenance of his Hâ—â—â—es by him built of devotion which for 〈◊〉 Magnificence thereof exceed all the rest â—efore bâ—ilt by the Mahometan Kings and â—â—perors except those which were the Buildiâ—â—s of Mahomet the Great and Bâ—jazet the Sâ—cond It was by many thought that Solymâ—â— was in good time by death cut off as purposing that year to have wintred in Hungary and the year following to have done great matters against the Christians both by Sea and Land. year 1567. The great Army of the Turks thus drawn out of Hungary by the death of Solyman in some part asswaged but altogether appeased not the endless Troubles of that unfortunate Kingdom Maximilian the Emperor on the one side and Iohn the Vayvod of Transâ—â—vania with the Turks Captains on the
pressed in upon the Turks so that whilst they on the one side kill and wound them and Venerius more hardly chargeth them on the other the terror of the Battel was turned from them that were even at the point to have been vanquished upon the Victors and our Men after great slaughter of the Turks took two of their Gallies Partau the Bassa in a long Boat escaped the danger and so got him out of the Battel Not far off thence Columnius the Popes Admiral as a valiant Chieftain hardly assailed other of the Turks Gallies and made amongst them great slaughter one singled from the rest he took and disordered the other Lignius the Admiral of Genoa with like courage thrust himself into the thickest of the Enemies and there made a notable fight Many an Enemy fell about the Prince of Parma Rueres Ursinus Cornea and Iustinianus who for their present honour and future fame fought most couragiously At which time Chiroche or Sirock of some called Mahomet Bey with his right Wing with great confidence came forward against the left Wing of the Christian Fleet but falling before he was aware into the danger of the Galeasses was from out of them miserably beaten with the great Ordnance having many of his Men slain and divers of his Gallies sunk and torn few of the huge and deadly Shot falling in vain into the Sea by reason of the thick standing of the Turks Gallies where also divers of the Enemies were burnt with Pots of Wild-fire cast into their Gallies out of the tops of the Galeasses Chiroche to avoid the danger of the Galeasses and to shun the dangerous Shelf betwixt him and the Main which the River Achelous running between the Borders of Acarnania and Aetolia and there falling into the Sea maketh sent a great part of his Gallies under the conduct of one Alis a notable Renegate of Genoa to cast about aloof upon the right hand and so to come upon the back of Barbadicus the Leader of the left Wing of the Christian Fleet. Which he perceiving forthwith turned his Gallies and with their Prows received the first onset The great Ordnance first on both sides discharged divers of the Gallies grapled fast together in such sort as that they encountred one another not with their missive Weapons only as with their small Shot Arrows and Darts but with their drawn Swords foot to foot Amongst the rest the fight of two of the Christian Gallies was most notable in the one was Barbadicus himself in the other Marcus Ciconia upon whom fell six of the Enemies Gallies and upon Barbadicus five who although they were on every side distressed with a most doubtful and dangerous fight yet did they most valiantly with worthy resolution endure the same In the fury of this Battel Barbadicus encouraging his Souldiers and fighting himself even there where most danger was was hit in his left Eye with an Arrow and so struck into the Brain almost through the Head wherewith falling presently down he was taken up for dead howbeit he died not thereof until three days after The supposed death of this worthy Man much troubled the Christians and both the Armies felt his fall such force there is in the valour of one worthy Man for the Turks now as Conquerors lustily boorded the Gally troubled with the loss of the Captain and the Venetians as Men discouraged gave way the Gally had there undoubtedly been lost had not Fredericus Nanius and Sylvius Porcia with their Gallies speedily come to her relief by whose coming in such an alteration was made as that the Gally before half taken was not only cleared but divers of the Turks Gallies also boorded and some of them taken not without the great slaughter of the Turks In this so hard and mortal a conflict Sylvius was grievously wounded in the thigh and in his right side It is reported of Barbadicus That lying that evening at the point of death the Battel then ended he like another Epaminondas asked which part had got the Victory and being told that the Christians had got it and that the Turks Fleet was most part taken and the rest sunk or burnt he with his eies cast up to Heaven gave unto God immortal thanks therefore and not long after joyfully departed this life to live in Bliss for ever Ciconia in the mean time hardly befet with six of the Enemies Gallies as we have before said was himself sore burnt with Wild-fire and hurt in the face and having endured a long and terrible fight was now even at the point to have been lost when suddain relief coming in he was now contrary to all hope saved and therewith so much encouraged that with his weary and wounded Souldiers as Men from death revived he afresh charged the Enemy and took one of his principal Gallies with one of the Turks fairest Ensigns which in the Venetian Armory is yet there to be seen of his worthy valour his honest wounds in his face and the fore part of his Body were most certain and undoubted witnesses Not far off in the same Wing Ioannes Contarenus an honourable and valiant Gentleman did with his great Shot exceeding great harm amongst the Turks Gallies which Chiroche perceiving and therewith inraged ran so fiercely upon the side of Contarenus his Gally that with his Beak he had well near stemmed her and presently grapling fast with her was like to have boorded her who nevertheless the Christians notably repulsed with greater slaughter than was thought possible for so small a number to have made neither did the Enemies fall unrevenged but all imbrued with the Blood of the Christians Seldom hath been seen a more cruel fight or more resolute Captains to encounter hand to hand But after the Battel had of long time stood doubtful the hope of the Christians encreased upon two causes for which the courage of the Enemy quailed First for that many of the Turks being slain or wounded they were brought to a small number Then for that both parties saw Chiroche himself slain from which time the Enemy as well destitute of a Leader to conduct them as of fresh supplies to relieve them began to be cut down right or taken Which their danger was the more encreased because the Gally bulged with the great Shot was now leaky and in danger to sink wherefore the Turks in that Wing overcome with despair began to think rather how to save themselves by flight than by fight reposing their trust in nothing more than in the nearness of the Main But as they were turning about toward the Shoar they were prevented by the Christians who entring the Gally and having slain or driven overboord almost all that were left took Chiroche yet breathing but half dead and seeing small hope of his life with fresh wounds made an end of him Divers and doubtful was the whole face of the Battel as fortune offered unto every Man his Enemy
they were enjoyned so to do by Abas Marize their Lord who had not only caused himself to be called King of Heri but had given it out that he meant to claim the Succession in the whole Kingdom These complaints much prevailed with the King both in respect of the love he bare to Emir Hamze his eldest Son and also of the credit he gave to his Visier especially being accompanied with the crafty packing of the said Visier who as he was very cunning in such Practises of himself so did he make them much more effectual with the effeminate King by the means of divers great Ladies and other Devices that were to him very familiar and usual Insomuch that the King carried away with light belief did continually bethink himself how to find Opportunity to repress the boldness of his disobedient Son not forgetting for all that to make such preparation against the Turks as should be sufficient to stay their Passage to Tauris if they had any purpose so to do But leaving the Persian King to his troubled Cogitations for a while let us again return unto the Turks General the great Bassa Mustapha He now lying at Erzirum after many troubles abroad was surprised and almost overwhelmed with unexpected Quarrels at home many grievous Complaints being made of him to Amurath whereby he was induced afterwards to take from him his Generalship and to call him to the Court to give account of his Actions Which seemed not to be done without cause he having before raised a great Discontentment in the Mind of Amurath by sending such a strong power to the Succours of Teflis whereby he conjectured that the Affairs of Georgia were not in such Security as Mustapha had already informed him they were and also generally offended the Minds of the Souldiers of his Army who all in an uprore accused him of Improvidence and Prodigality for that now this second year he had with so much ado gathered together such a number of Souldiers to the trouble of the whole Empire and infinite charge of their Lord and yet performed nothing worthy the Glory of Amurath or answerable to so great a charge Which Complaints although they were of some moment yet would the Turkish Emperour for the great Favours he bare unto him his antient Tutor never have construed them so hardly against him as for the same to have been induced to have deprived him of his place if the inveterate envy of Sinan Bassa had not ministred strength and force to these hard Accusations and set as it were an edge upon Amurath to do what he afterwards did This Sinan was a most antient Enemy to Mustapha and in all things thought himself his match For if Mustapha had subdued Cyprus so had he conquered Tripolis Guletta with the Kingdom of Tunes in Affricke and if Mustapha were a man of great Courage and reverend for his years Sinan would be his equal both in the one and the other yea and did not stick to think himself his better too for that in the enterprise of Giamen in Arabia he performed such an Exploit as Mustapha neither durst nor yet knew how to put in Execution so carrying away the Glory of that famous Conquest for which ever after there was between them a continual heart-burning one of them envying at the others Glory and both in Word and Deed as Occasions fell out in all things opposing themselves one against the other At last happens this Opportunity for Sinan who taking the occasion of the Complaints of so many against Mustapha caused a great number of them to frame their Supplications to Amurath which he for his part did in most malignant manner inforce and exaggerate against his old Adversary accusing him that this second year he had most manifestly shewed himself to have gone unto the Wars not as a worthy General desirous of noble and honourable Enterprises but as a man that would make merchandise of Blood and of his Souldiers pay employing the most liberal Provision of Corn and Money not as Rewards of well-deserving men nor to the erecting of such Pabricks as were needful and might have been built therewithall but onely to his own proper gain so to inrich himself with his Peoples losses to the great shame of his Lord and consuming of the publick Treasure adding hereunto that if the things done by Mustapha were well searched it would be found that he had neglected many good Opportunities attempted many things in vain and not done any good either to the Emperour or his Souldiers but only to himself whom rather than they would follow again as their General all his People in an uprore shewed themselves ready and willing to adventure themselves in any other far greater Labour that by their Lord and Sovereign should be commanded them These and such like Complaints with the hard Opinion already conceived against him by Amurath were the occasion why he resolved to put him from his place Beside that he thought it a thing dangerous to his state to suffer one and the self same General any long time to command over so great Armies deeming it not so much for his Honour still to employ one man as to shew that he had variety and choice of Subjects worthy of so great a charge And therefore being desirous to find out the truth of that was reported to him concerning Mustapha he sent the chief of his Gentlemen Porters with fifteen others to bring him to the Court with his Chancellour and Treasurer to shew the accounts of such Monies as he had received and to give up an account of their whole Office. Unto this Messenger had Amurath delivered three divers Letters which he should warily shew as occasion served one of them was so written of purpose that Mustapha in the receiving thereof might by the same Messengers be strangled in the second was the Emperours warrant for the doing of that was to them commanded and in the third was contained that Mustapha should forthwith send his Chancellour and Treasurer to the Court by those Messengers Mustapha in the mean time by divers means but especially by the guilt of his own Conscience venting the Displeasure of the Emperour towards him and suspecting as the truth was his Life to be by those Messengers sought after at such time as the Captain Porter came to his Camp found many delays to put him off and would not in any case be spoken withal But when the Messenger would indure no longer delay he was at length admitted to his presence having a circle appointed for him out of which he and his Companions might not stir or approach nearer unto him the Bassa's Guard standing in Arms round about him The Messenger perceiving the Bassa's wariness wilily pluck'd forth the third Letters concerning the sending of his Chancellour and Treasurer to the Court. Then began the crafty old Bassa to find many excuses to have delayed the matter but being hardly pressed by the Messenger
fled to the Kings Camp and forsook the Defence of that sorrowful City which he could not hold Nevertheless the Taurisians as many of them as remained in the City gathered themselves together to the Gates of the City well armed prepared to make a bloody entrance for the Turks whensoever they should come All the Night was spent in watching without rest on either side and yet nothing attempted but upon the break of the day a great multitude of the servile sort of the Turks and of the common rascal rout without any order from their Captains armed with Corselets Spears and Swords went to the City with Resolution to have sacked it and so to have enriched themselves with the Spoil and Pillage of that wealthy City But when they came to the guarded Gates of the City they found there contrary to their Expectation a terrible Rescue and were inforced there to joyn an hard and mortal Battel so that the Walls the Entrance yea and all the Ground thereabouts was bathed with Blood and as it were covered with Weapons and dead Carkasses And yet for all that though the Persians stood fast and firm at the arrival of this servile rout at last they were constrained to yield the entrance being overcome by the Multitude of them that out of the Camp flowed in upon them like a Flood and retiring into the City now astonished and amazed on every side they fortified themselves in their Houses under the Ground and in the corners and winding turnings of the Streets from whence with their Arrows and some few Harquebuzes they did the Turks that entred great harm Yet were they not able to kill and destroy so many of their Enemies but that at the last they were too mighty for them and wrought many grievous Mischiefs in that woful City And so a great number of this rascal People that remained alive returned to the Turkish Camp carrying away with them too manifest Tokens of the poor oppressed City wherein the miserable Woman and impotent Souls stood embracing and straining the Doors and Posts of their Houses and kissing their native Soil with Prayers Mournings and Complaints bewailing their present Miseries and yet fearing worse to come Osman the General now made acquainted with these Calamities caused Proclamation to be published That no man should be so hardy as to molest the Taurisians and in the mean time went himself about the City viewing throughly the Scituation of it and surveying the Place wherein he might both incamp himself safely and with better Foundation and greater Security erect a Castle or Fort for the more assurance of that conquered Country The City of Tauris seated at the foot of the Hill Orantes about eight days Journey from the Caspian Sea and is subject to Winds Cold and Snow yet of a very wholesome Air abounding with all things necessary for mans Life and wonderful rich with perpetual concourse of Merchandise brought thither out of the East to be conveyed unto the West and also of others brought out of these Western Parts to be dispersed into the East It is very populous so that it feedeth almost two hundred thousand Persons but yet open to the Fury of every Army without Walls and unfortified The Buildings after the manner of those of the East are of burnt Clay rather low than high For all things it carrieth the Name and was the Place of the Persian Kings Resistance until such time as that the late King Tamas removed his seat from thence further into his Kingdom to Casbin nevertheless both before and since although it had been sundry times molested by the Inrodes and Fury of the Turkish Emperours yet was it still in great Estimation and Renown Of this City Osman Bassa having taken diligent view caused his Tents to be pitched on the South side thereof where was a spacious Garden all flourishing and beautiful replenished with sundry kind of Trees and sweet smelling Plants and a thousand Fountains and Brooks derived from a pretty River which with his pleasant Stream divided the Garden from the City of Tauris and was of so great Beauty that for the delicacy thereof it was by the Country Inhabitants called Secâ—is Genet that is to say the eight Paradises and was in times past the standing House of their Kings while they kept their Residence in this City and after they had withdrawn their Seat from thence to Casbin became the Habitation and Place of aboad for the Governours of Tauris Of these Gardens and Places Osman made choice to build his Castle in whereof he gave the model himself and commanded that all the whole Circuit of those pleasant Greens should be invironed with Walls and Trenches digged round about them to convey the Water from the aforesaid River Which was accordingly begun with the greatest care that possibly might be the Foundation of the imbattelled Walls laid the Ditches digged fourteen foot broad and a mans height in depth and in the space of six and thirty days the whole work finished and brought to an end great store of Artillery mounted upon the Walls and divers Baths Lodgings and such other Houses necessary for the Turkish uses built within the Castle The first day of this building Osman fell sick of a Feaver with a bloody Flux which haply was the cause both of the slowness of the Building and of many other losses that afterwards hapned as shall be hereafter declared Five days after the building of the Castle was begun News was brought into the Turkish Camp That eight Ianizaries and divers Spaoglans were seen strangled in a Bath within the City of Tauris Whereupon the Zaini Spahini and Ianizaries came presently unto the General declaring unto him That although he had with too much Clemency given order That no man should hurt or molest the Taurisians and that according to his Pleasure every man had used Modesty towards them and Obedience to him yet the Taurisians themselves had most audaciously strangled in one of their Baths eight Ianizaries and certain Spaoglans which Injury and Insolency they said in their Judgment was not to be suffered This outrage so moved the General that without any further delay he commanded the City to be sacked leaving it wholly to the Pleasure of his Souldiers who forthwith so used the matter not as if they would have revenged an Injury but rather at once have brought an utter Destruction upon the whole City Every place was filled with Slaughter Ravishment Rapine and Murther Virgins were defloured Men-children defiled with horrible and unspeakable Sins Yonglings snatched out of their Parents Arms Houses layed even with the Ground and burnt Riches and Money carried away and in brief all things ruinated and wasted Neither were these Mischiefs committed once only but the second followed worse than the first and the third upon that worse than the second so that it was a misery almost inexplicable to behold that City so populous so rich sometimes the Court and
strength both by Sea and Land and the diminishing of the number of his great Commanders and expert Captains not to be had without the continual use of War. With these and such like Reasons the great Bassaes of the Court perswaded Amurath That he must of necessity take some new Expedition in hand and not to suffer his valiant Souldiers but now lately returned out of Persia to grow lazie or insolent for lack of Imployment Which they did not so much for the Love of their Prince or Zeal unto the State as for their own particular profit especially the two old Bassaes Sinan and Ferat the envious Competitors the one of the others Honour who although they both much and almost all commanded both in Peace and War yet was their Honours greater and their Profit far more in commanding of the Turks great Armies abroad than in sitting in the Divano at home unto which no less honourable than profitable Preferment they both with like Ambition aspired accompanied with the hot desires of their great and many Favorites both at home and elsewhere These Perswasions well pleased Amurath who although he were himself no Souldier yet was he desirous of new Conquests and to increase his Name accounting it no less honour unto himself by his Servants at his appointment to perform great things than it was unto his Ancestors to do that they did themselves in Person But in this so serious a matter and of so great consequence Amurath at the first could not tell what best to resolve upon not for that he was not desirous of Wars but because as yet he certainly knew not against whom he might with greatest Profit and least Difficulty and Danger convert his Forces upon which point his Counsellors agreed not but for divers Reasons were of divers Opinions Which forasmuch as they contain matters of greatest importance of all things then in the World done but especially concerning the Profit of the Christian Common-wealth I shall not think it unworthy my Labour to set them down in such order as I find them credibly reported having moreover in them many Letters and most weighty matters not yet come to all mens Knowledge as also opening the Devices of the Turkish Tyrant against the Christian Princes a motive not only for them to joyn in Counsel together how to withstand him but for the common Christian Commonweals sake to forget and forgive all their private Displeasures and with their united Forces and Power honourably and courageously to make War upon him and so at length by the Mercy of God to overthrow him together with his tyrannical Empire the greatest Terror of our time The great Bassaes concerning the intended War were of eight sundry Opinions whereof the first was That the Wars against the Persian should be renewed the second For the Invasion of the King of Morocco and Fez the third For War to be taken in hand against the King of Spain the fourth For the besieging again of Malta the fifth was To set upon the Venetians the sixth For the invading of some part of Italy the seventh For the King of Polonia the eighth and last was For War to be made upon the Emperour and the Kingdom of Hungary With all the which aforesaid Princes except the Spaniard although the Turk were then in League and could not with all or any of them make War without the notable breach of his Faith and Honour yet was that never made question or scruple of but only which might best stand with the Profit of his State for him to set upon his barbarous Law allowing him that Liberty for the more assuring of his State or inlarging of his Empire to break all Faith and Promise especially with the Christians not more in any thing to be pittied than in reposing any Credit or Confidence in the Faith of such a miscreant The Reasons the great Bassaes alleged for the renewing of the Persian War were For that the Persian King was of himself like to break the League so lately with him concluded so soon as he should know the Turks entangled in any other War moved thereunto as well for the recovery of his Country to his great dishonour lost as also in Revenge of so many and so great Injuries to him of late done by the Turkish Emperours Beside that the Christian Princes would perswade him and prick him forward thereunto especially the Spaniard who for the nearness of India might without his great charge procure him so to do and also conveniently furnish him with great Ordnance and Canoneers which it was well known he of late did The Countries also but lately conquered were not yet as they said in quietness or safety and the Fortresses therein but of late built together with the Garrisons therein to be in great danger being for the length of the way and difficulty of the Passage not to be still speedily relieved insomuch that if the Persians did them no other harm but only to forrage and waste the Country about them they should bring the Inhabitants into such distress as that those new conquered Countries were again by the Defendants to be forsaken or else they must themselves with hunger perish True Glory they said consisted not so much in conquering as in the use of the Conquest and the Prosecution of the happy Victory and that therefore Amurath should take heed that he provoked not the Wrath and Indignation of the great Prophet Mahomet against him who having by his good Favour and Guide obtained more Victories than any of his Predecessors against the Enemies of his Religion ought as a religious and devout Prince severely to revenge the wrong done by them both to God and man. Unto which religious War Vsbeg Han the Tartar King as also the Prince of Geilan offered their ready help as for the event of the Victory now as good as in his hand he was to judge by the success of his former Wars Neither that he need to fear the Persian Horsemen although they used Arabian Horses being by his men many times shamefully put to flight or yet to doubt lest the Georgians in favour of the Persians should take up Arms for that many of them were already under his Obeisance and subject unto the Bassa of Teflis and other his Commanders the rest were his Vassals or else such as following the Fortune of their Princes Simon and Alexander sought after no greater matter but contenting themselves with their own Country although but small thought themselves well if they might keep and defend the same by Nature and Scituation so strong as that there is scarce any way unto it by reason of the high and broken Mountains the thick Woods and streight Passages The second Opinion which was delivered was for the Transportation of his Wars into Affrick against the King of Morocco commonly called the Seriphe and that for these Causes most It would be a great shame and reproach as they said unto the
and some another for divers Reasons them thereunto leading which for brevity we pass over Othersome of the Bassaes in the sixth place rejecting all the former Opinions concerning the War to be taken in hand would have had all the Forces of the Othoman Empire as well by Land as Sea to have been converted against Italy for that otherwise the Turks should never come unto the Monarchy of the whole World whereunto as at a mark they had directed all their Actions except they did first subdue Italy For that this Country as the Center of the whole World was wont to give both Counsel and Aid unto the rest of the Limbs whereby the Devices of others were crossed and that the Romans had at length commanded over all the World especially for that they held in Possession this Country Hereat did the Hunnes the Alani and Gothes the Vandales the Frenchmen Spaniards and Sarasins direct all their Thoughts and Cogitations In fine they concluded That no Expedition could be taken in hand more honourable or profitable than this for that Italy was a Queen amongst other Provinces for commodious Scituation the wholesomness of the Air the plenty of all things necessary for Mans Life for great fair and most rich Cities for the antient Glory and Majesty of the Roman Empire and many other Causes also Neither that this Expedition was to be deemed of much Difficulty for that Italy was under the Rule of divers Princes unto whose command most of their Subjects unwillingly obeyed as also for that the Inhabitants of that Country had now for many years lived in continual Peace and were therefore the more effeminate and fearful and so unfit for the Wars and that if that Expedition were in one or divers places taken in hand before the Corn were full ripe the Turks in that so fruitful a Country could never want Necessaries for them to live upon whereas the Inhabitants in great number wanting the same and shut up within the Walls and Fortifications of their Cities and strong Towns should be brought into extream wants which was the more evidently to be seen for that at this time wherein they were at Peace they had not Corn sufficient in the Country for such a multitude of People to live upon but were glad to have it brought unto them from other Places especially from Peloponesus Constantinople and the Cities upon the Coast of the great Ocean Furthermore that it was to be considered that most part of the Italians lived by no other means than by their handy Labour or the trade of Merchandise of which means if they were deprived they should in short time be brought to that point as to be glad to accept of such Conditions as the Victor should propound unto them or as Tributaries to submit themselves unto the Othoman Government Neither that the Souldiers would unwillingly be drawn unto that War for that they were not to pass through barren Regions of the Enemy frozen with Ice or desolate either by rough Woods or inaccessible Mountains but were all the way thither to travel through their own Country and as it were in the sight of their own Houses and if the Turks could oftentimes enter so far when as they had their Confines more remote and their Passages more difficult that the same might now much more easily be effected when as they had a far greater Opportunity and their Enemies so near at hand The seventh Opinion was theirs which thought it best to have the War transferred into Polonia and from thence into Hungary and Germany for which they alleged these Reasons First for that they thought it a disgrace unto the Majesty and Reputation of the Othoman Empire That the King of Polonia had sometime refused to pay his Tribute due for so the Turks account of all such Presents as are unto their Sultan usually sent by their Neighbour Princes of Courtesie and that therefore he was by force of Arms to be compelled thereunto Which they thought would the more easily be obtained for that there was much secret hatred and heart-burning amongst the Polonian Nobility Neither that it would be any difficult or dangerous War to be taken in hand forasmuch as Polonia was confined with Moldavia the Tartars and the Sanzacks of Acherman Bendera and Vosia and moreover for that the Turks could never have any assured or full Possession of Moldavia or Valachia except the Insolency of the Polonians were repressed the Vayvods of which Countries when they had enriched themselves with much Wealth used still to flie into the Kingdom of Polonia Besides that they should thereby revenge themselves for the Injuries done them by the Cossacks and have more free and safe Traffick into Muscovia and bring a Terrour upon the Duke of Muscovia by reason of the nearness of the Country which great Duke was an Impediment unto the Othoman Emperour that he conquered not the whole Kingdom of Persia. And when they had by this means by little and little drawn unto Germany happily it might so come to pass as that the Christian Emperour should thereby receive some notable loss his Empire being still more and more exposed and environed with the Turks Forces and Garrisons Polonia they said to be a plain and open Country neither to have any strong Places for to withstand them and the Inhabitants to have small skill in Martial Affairs for that they had now long lived in Peace For as for the War that they had with Maximilian the Arch-duke of Austria it continued not long and King Stephen in the late Wars he had with the Muscovite used for most part the Hungarian Souldiers and ended those Wars rather by besieging than fighting They which in the eighth and last place delivered their Opinions concerning the intended War perswaded to have it converted upon the Christian Emperour whom the Turks call the King of Vienna The Causes they alleged for the beginning of this War was For that the Vscocchi were grown so insolent as to make good prise of the Turks both by Sea and Land in such sort as that not only for the harms which they did but even for the Majesty and Honour of the Othoman Empire their Insolency was not longer to be suffered By whose Injuries it was especially brought to pass that the Merchants to their great hinderance in private and the Sultans great loss in common having left the Town of Narenta or Narona in the Turks Dominion had removed their Mart to Salona now called Spalato a Town of the Venetians and that yet for all that was not so sufficiently provided for the Security of the said Merchants although there were Peace betwixt the Emperour and the Venetians for that these unruly men for most part living upon the spoil troubled all both by Sea and Land with their Robberies driving away mens Cattel burning the Villages and taking away the young Babes out of the Mothers Arms and Laps Whereby it was easily to be seen what mind they
author and deviser of these Broils ceased not for the increase of his Credit to work what mischief he could against the Christians that bordered upon him This great Bassa mortally hated the Governour or as some call him the Abbot of Siseg a strong Castle scituate upon the borders of that part of Croatia yet holden by the Christians where the River Kulp falleth into the famous River of Sauus or Saw and was indeed the very Bulwark of that Countrey the cause of which his hatred is reported to have been this The year before the Bassa had sent a Messenger to this Abbot to require him to deliver the Castle or Monastery unto him which Messenger for certain days the Abbot entertained with many honourable Speeches learning in the mean time of him so much as he possibly could of the Bassaes intention with what Power in what Place and with what Engines he had determined to besiege the Castle In the mean time it was discovered that his Steward had long before plotted with the Turk to have betrayed the Castle and had for certain years past received of him a yearly Pension Upon which occasion the Abbot caused both the Messenger and his own Steward to be apprehended and so fast bound hand and foot to be cast out at a Window of the Castle into the River of Saw. The Bassa seeing his Messenger not to return sent another to the Abbot grievously threatning him if he did not send him back again his Messenger Whereunto the Abbot answered That he had dismissed him certain days before and therefore marvelled if he were not as yet returned nevertheless concerning his demand That he was resolved to yield the Monastery unto the Bassa against whose Forces he saw himself unable to hold it requesting only that it would please him to send some men of account to receive it at his hand for that it would be no small dishonour unto him to deliver it up unto common Souldiers The Bassa glad of this message sent forthwith certain principal men of great account hoping now without any loss to have that strong Place yielded unto him which had so long time stood in his way Three days after certain Troops of Horse-men sent from the Bassa came to the Monastery as was appointed and finding the Gates open entred first the Noblemen and after them five hundred others or thereabouts who were no sooner within the Gates but that the Portcullis was let fall and certain murthering Pieces secretly placed in the Court for that purpose discharged with the violence whereof the Turks that were already entred were most miserably rent in pieces their Heads Arms and Legs flying in the Air when presently the Garrison Souldiers starting out of their lurking places made a quick dispatch of all them that had escaped the fury of the great Artillery The rest of the Turks shut out hearing the noise and cry of them within turning their Horses betook themselves to speedy flight The great Bassa hearing of this slaughter of his men and how he had been deceived swore in great rage by his Mahomet to raze this Monastery down to the ground and to pluck the Abbot's skin over his ears and so by threatning Letters gave him to understand as followeth Hassan Bassa of Bosna unto the Abbot of Siseg It is not to thee unknown how often we have sent unto thee our Messengers with Letters declaring unto thee our Love and good Will requesting thee in friendly sort and without further resistance to yield up unto us thy Fortress of Siseg not longer to be by thee holden Vnto which our Request thou hast hitherto most wilfully at thy Pleasure opposed thy self not without the slaughter of our men and in so doing hast given cause unto the great Sultan to overthrow and raze that thy Fortress whereof thou for the Emperour wilt needs be the chief Thinkest thou it will â—e for thy good or yet well taken that thou hast so shamefully and perfidiously circumvented and slain our Ambassadors and Servants sent unto thee Nay assure thy self that if Mahomet grant us Life we will never give over the siege of that thy Fort wherein thou so much trustest until I have before thy Face overthrown it and if thy God shall give thee alive into my hands have pluck'd thy Skin over thine Ears to the great reproach and shame of the Christians for I am fully resolved not to depart from this place but to continue the siege thereof until I have it Let a little time yet pass and thou shalt see thy self on every side besieged thy Fort with more and greater pieces of Artillery than ever battered and our Power strong enough to constrain thee Thou hast hitherto put thy greatest hope and comfort in the Banne Erodius for whom by the help of Mahomet we are too much strong In brief we are of nothing more careful than how to get thee into our Power which if we do look not for any Mercy at our hands Neither was the Bassa unmindful of his Promise or of the loss he had received but now in the beginning of Iune with an Army of thirty thousand Horse and Foot came and besieged the Fortress of Trenschiin which with continual Battery and often Assaults he at length took sacked the Town slew most part of the Inhabitants except 800 or thereabouts of the younger sort which he carried away with him into Captivity And being proud of this Victory removed thence by a Bridge which he had made passed over the River and so the twelâ—th of Iune came and incamped before the Monastery of Siseg and after vain summons given to the same the next day caused his great Ordnance to be planted and with great Fury thundering against the Walls in short time overthrew the new Tower in the fall whereof two of the Christian Canoneers perished This furious Battery he maintained by the space of ten days wâ—thout intermission giving no time of rest unto the besieged so that it seemed not possible for the Monastery to be any long time defended if it were not with speed relieved The Bishop of Zagrabia and Rupertus Eggenberg General of the Emperors Forces that then were at Zagrabia gave knowledge thereof to Andrew Lord Aversberg Governour of Carolstat craving his aid and counsel who calling together his own Forces raised a good number of good Horse and Foot and called also unto him the bordering Horsemen of Karnia and Carainia who the 17 th day of Iune met all together not far from Instawitz and there tarried that night The next day passing over the River Sauus near unto Zagrabia they joyned themselves with the Emperors Forces and matched the 19 th day in good order to Sceline where they expected the coming of County Serinus The 20 th day Peter Herdelius with his Hussars and the Lord Stephen Graswein came into the Camp with many of those light Horsemen whom the Hungarians called Vscocchi The 21 st day they lodged at
of this League But that for lack of Heirs Male the Country of Transilvania with all the Territories thereunto annexed should descend unto his Sacred Majesty and his Successours the King of Hungary as a true and inseparable member thereof whereunto the Prince and all the States of Transilvania should bind themselves by solemn Oath But yet that at such time as the Heirs Male should fail in the line of the present Prince and that the Country of Transilvania should according to these present Conditions be devolved to the Crown of Hungary as well his present Imperial and Royal Majesty as his Successours should keep inviolate the antient Laws Priviledges and Customs of that Country and always appoint one of the Nobility of Transilvania to be Governour or Vayvod of the same and no other Stranger Thirdly That his Majesty should acknowledge the Prince of Transilvania for an absolute Prince and by special Charter confirm unto him the Title of Most Excellent Fourthly That his Imperial Majesty should procure one of the Daughters of the late Archduke Charles his Uncle for a Wife for the Prince that as they were now to be joyned in League so they might be joyned in Affinity also Fifthly That the Emperour should procure him to be made one of the Order of the Golden Fleece Sixthly That the Prince might with more chearfulness and security make War against the common Enemy his Imperial and Royal Majesty should not at any time howsoever things fell out forsake the said Prince or any of the Countries subject unto him and even now presently to aid him according as the present occasion required and afterward if great need should be with greater help whether it was by his General of Cassovia or others and this giving of Aid to be on both sides mutual and reciprocal according as the necessity of the one or the other part should require and that where most need was thither should most help be converted Seventhly That the sacred Roman Empire should take upon it the Protection and Defence of the Prince and his Territories and that his Imperial Majesty should create the said Prince and the Prince's Successors Princes of the Empire yet so as that they should have neither Voice nor Place among the said Princes Eighthly That whatsoever Castles Towns Cities or other Places of Strength should by their common Forces be taken or recovered from the common Enemy at such time as his Imperial Majesty should send into the Field a full Army should be all his Majesties but such Places as the Prince should by his own Forces or Policy gain from the Enemy should remain unto the Prince himself Yet that what Places soever the Prince should recover which at any time before belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary before it was taken by the Turk those he should forthwith deliver to his Majesty as soon as reasonable recompence were by him therefore made unto the Prince Ninthly His Sacred Majesty should promise of his own Bounty to give unto his Excellency sufficient Aid for the fortifying and defence of such Places as should be thought necessary for the behoof of the Christians as again the said Prince should likewise promise not to spare his own Coffers or Forces that the same Places should be throughly fortified and defended for the behoof of his Majesty and the common good of the Christian Common-weal Lastly That forasmuch as the Events of War are uncertain and many things suddenly happen contrary to mens Expectation if such necessity should chance unto his Excellency or his Successors which mishap God forbid that having spent themselves they should not be able longer to defend their State and Country but that the mighty Enemy prevailing they should at last be inforced to forsake the same in this their Extremity his Imperial and Royal Majesty should promise both for himself and his Successors within the space of one Month to assign some certain Place in some other of his Dominions where the said Prince and his Successors might honourably live and the like regard to be had also of other such principal men as should together with the Prince adventure their Lives and Livings in defence of the Christian Common-weal Which Articles of Confederation agreed upon and solemnly confirmed the same Ambassadors were with all Kindness Bounty and Magnificence dismissed and sent back again unto the Prince who was not himself in the mean time idle but labouring by all means he could to draw unto him Michael the Vayvod of Valachia a man of no less worth than himself and Aaron the Palatine of Moldavia both of them then the Turks Tributaries and by them to alienate from the Turk both those Countries that so with their combined Forces they might the better defend their Liberty and withstand their common Enemy wherein he did so much and prevailed so far with them both that casting off the Turks Obeisance they shortly after to the great Benefit of the Christian Common-weal and no less hindrance of the Turks proceedings in Hungary joyned hands both together with him for the recovery of their lost Liberty Which revolt of these bordering Princes for that it so much concerned the common good as that the safegard of Austria and of the remnants of Hungary with some good part of Germany also is even by them that in those matters saw much not without cause supposed to have rested therein and that this noble Vayvod of whom much is to be said hereafter was the second Actor herein it shall not be from our purpose to see the manner of his revolt also from the Turk as we have already the Transilvanians For the more Evidence whereof as for the Honour of the man whilst he lived a most worthy member of the Christian Common-weal we will a little step back to see how he obtained of the great Turk this so honourable a Preferment as was the Vayvodship of Valachia not without his revolt long now to be holden Alexander the late Vayvod of Valachia a Moldavian born and by Amurath himself promoted to that Dignity proud above measure of this his so great a Preferment as also of his own Nobility and the deceitful Favour of Fortune still fawning upon him not only oppressed his People himself with intolerable Impositions but to be in farther favour with the Turks brought into that Country too much before exhausted such a company of them as that they seemed now almost wholly to have possessed the same oppressing the poor Christians the natural Inhabitants with new Exactions and more than Tyrannical Injuries even such as were not elsewhere by the Turks themselves used not only breaking at their Pleasure into their Houses and despoiling them of their Goods but taking Tithe also of their Children as if it had been of their Cattel a thing never before there seen and for the satisfying of their beastly Lust ravishing their Wives and Daughters even in the sight of their Husbands and Parents with divers other such outragious
Subjects was all thereby indangered although he would not for the weightiness of the matter at the first yield thereunto yet assuredly promised with his Friends and the rest of the Nobility of his Country to consider thereupon Having it by the Prince plainly laid down before him how a sufficient number of Souldiers might at all times be raised their Pay provided and Aid still sent him as need should be from the German Emperour or himself out of Transilvania as also that Aaron the Palatine of Moldavia would at all times be ready to combine himself unto them that so with their united Forces they might upon the Banks of Danubius and Nester easily repulse the Incursions both of the Turks and Tartars their Enemies the Christian Emperour in the mean time with less trouble proceeding in his Wars against the Turk in the other side of Hungary Now whilst this Plot was thus in laying and Matters debating too and fro not altogether without the Turks Suspicion Sinan Bassa coming with a great Army into Hungary had taken the strong Town of Rab as is before declared with which Mischance so much concerning the poor remainders of Hungary the Vayvod not a little moved began more deeply to consider of his own Estate And as he was a man of great Spirit and no less Zeal toward his Country grieving to see his Subjects committed to his Charge to be so daily by the insolent Turks still more and more oppressed he as he had before promised to the Transilvanian called an assembly of all the States of Valachia to consult with them what were best to be done for the Remedy of so great Evils as also for the preventing of greater not without cause then to be feared Where by the general Consent of them all it was agreed rather to joyn with the Emperour and the other Christian Princes in Confederation as they had been oftentimes by them requested than longer to indure that heavy Yoke of the Turkish Thraldom and Slavery Whereupon the Vayvod taking unto him two thousand of the Hungarian Garrison Sâ—uldiers now before for that purpose secretly laid upon the Frontiers of his Country and calling upon the Name of Christ Iesus in one day to begin withal slew about to thousand of the Janizaries who without his leave had in that Country proudly seated themselves with all the rest of the Turks in the midst of their Insolency together with the traiterous Iews not leaving one of them that he could come by alive in all the open Country And purposing to drive them out of their strong holds also and so to make a clean riddance of them â—e within fourteen days after set upon Dziurdzowa a great Town of the Turks upon the Bank of Danubius all which he burnt saving the Castle and having there made a great slaughter and loaded with the spoil of the Turks returned to Bucharesta the chief Seat of his Palatinate But long it was not after this his so great Presumption but that he perceived the Turks in Revenge thereof to seek after his Life although he yet seemed to yield his Obedience unto Amurath and to have done that he did as inforced thereunto by the Insolency of the Turks and for the necessary relief both of himself and his Subjects For the same Month Rab being as is aforesaid taken by Sinan one of the Turks Emirs descended of the great Family and Stock of Mahomet their false Prophet and then Cadilescher a man of great Account and Place amongst the Turks accompanied with 2000 chosen Souldiers fifty of the great Sultans Chamber and many of the Zausii and Spahi upon the sudden came to Bucharesta under the colour of refreshing themselves aâ—ter their long travel but indeed with purpose to have taken the Vayvod where they without Controulment committed all kind of outragious Villany and taking up all the chief Houses in the City impeâ—iously demanded of the Vayvod who then lay at his Palace near unto the new Monastery without the City built without any Castle or Defence upon the River Dembowiza 10000 Florens for a Present with Victuals and other necessary Provision for his Followers And presently after being certainly informed that he lay there but slenderly accompanied and almost himself alone the Emir himself on foot with a thousand of his Souldiers went out of the City as if it had been but for his Pleasure and in Courtesie to have seen him Of which so suspicious a Guests coming the Vayvod understanding got him betimes away into the Camp of his Hungarian Mercinaries which then lay but fast by when the Turk thus deceived of the hope he had before conceived for the taking of him craftily sent certain of his Followers to know of him to what end he in time of Peace did entertain such a number of Hungarian Souldiers Whereunto the Vayvod cunningly answered That they were at the first entertained for the taking of Peter the Son of Alexander sometime Palatine of Moldavia who although he were now before apprehended and openly hanged upon an Hook at Constantinople yet that those Souldiers were for their ready Service of necessity still to be bileted in the Country until such time as their pay might be provided Which the Turk â—earing commanded the Vayvod forthwith to discharge them as men unnecessary and to his Subjects troublesome promising the next day to lend him a Tun of Gold to pay them their Wages Which feigned promise the Vayvod seemed thankfully to take yet nevertheless commanded the Hungarians forthwith in Arms to stand in readiness in the Camp for the intercepting of the Turks if haply by him distressed they should betake themselves to flight whilst he in the mean time with his Courtiers and other Souldiers secretly assembled into a Valley thereby came suddenly upon the Turks not as then dreaming of any such thing compassed about the Inns wherein they lay and setting fire upon them in five Places notably forced them both with Fire and Sword the two greatest Extremities of War seeking now for nothing more than the just Revenge of his spoiled City his forced Virgins and wronged Subjects Howbeit the Turks for a space right valiantly defended themselves and by plain force although in vain sought to have broken through the midst of their Enemies and so to have fled Yea many of them by force of the Fire driven out of their Lodgings and tearing off their burning Cloaths fought stark naked but most of them which could fled unto the Palace where the great Emir lay there with him ready to die or live All which their last endeavours of Desperation the Vayvod easily frustrated with two great Pieces of Artillery opening a way for his Souldiers unto them So that the proud Emir now in dispair like the hunted Castor threw down out of a Window a great Chest full of Gold and precious Stones and other Jewels of great value if happily he might have so appeased the Vayvods Wrath humbly now requesting no
Tartars together to be made Governour of that Country Which unto us seemed so new and so strange and contrary to the good Opinion we had always conceived of you yea and so unbeseeming your Zeal and Wisdom that for grief and admiration I had almost cried out with the Prophet You Heavens be amazed at this and you Gates thereof be you exceedingly heavy For what could be suspected or imagined farther from the Expectation of us and all good men or more incredible than that Sigismund the most religious King of Polonia and Sweden who had always professed himself a most earnest Defender of the Catholick Religion who was ready even with his own Blood to redeem the Victory of the Christians and Glory of the Cross against the most wicked Enemies of the same to be upon the sudden become so unlike unto himself and so much as in him was to cut off the hope and happy success of that religious War and to do harm to a Christian and Catholick Prince not to refuse to joyn in league and friendship even with the most barbarous Nations and the Tartars the perpetual enemies of himself and of the Kingdom of Polonia For which Causes our mind is tormented with such bitterness of grief that we could not but by speedy Messengers write unto you concerning this matter that hereby you might the sooner see the greatness of out grief and we also without delay might signifie unto you what our fatherly Love towards you requesteth in so important a matter For happily we will send one even of purpose to you concerning this cause the care whereof grieveth us more than can well be expressed Wherefore most dearly beloved Son we exhort you and in the most effectual manner we can advise you and beseech you in the Lord more attentively to consider what great displeasure both of God and Man this your Action and Resolution may incur what a slain it may bring unto your Crown and Dignity For believe us that are to you instead of a Father in Christ who love you not feignedly but faithfully and indeed who wish for your glory in this World and your eternal Felicity in the World to come believe us I say this doth much blemish your Fame with all Christian Kings and Princes all men take it in evil part and detest it as a thing monstrous that it should by your means be wrought that the Christian Affairs should not prosper that an heroical Prince who had vowed himself for Christ and his Country should not have prosperous success in this so religious and necessary a War against Infidels Turks and Tartars no less yours or peradventure also more yours and other Christian Princes Enemies than his But what do we say You to hinder the proceedings of the Transilvanian Prince this were happily but a small matter nay verily by this means not only a Christian and Catholick Prince and valiant Champion of the Christian Faith a Vertue both admirable and amiable in the very Enemy but your own Brother-in-law bound unto you with so many bonds of Affinity whose Children shall be as it were your Childrens Brethren is by this means brought into great danger and exposed unto the fury of the most merciless Turks What do you then my most dearly beloved Son Beware that all men both now living and hereafter to come condemn you not of the greatest Inhumanity but beware yet more that you seem not ingrateful not only to your own nigh Kinsman but to God himself who hath bountifully blessed you with two great Kingdoms and so many good things and that you provoke not him to Wrath against your self that rejecteth and confoundeth all evil and wicked Devices and that this mischief that you have brought upon your Brother by the just judgment of God redound not to the greatest destruction of you and your Kingdom which he in mercy forbid Do you think that the Transilvanian being overcome you shall in safety live from the treachery of the Turk Do you not know him to be a faithless man which measureth all things by his own profit which keepeth faith with none but as standeth with his own Commodity who with an unsatiable desire gapeth after every Kingdom nay thirsteth after the Destruction of all Christendom Think also my Son what wrong you shall do unto the Emperour your Cousin out of whose Imperial Blood you have begotten Sons and Heirs and by the Grace of God shall more but also our Dignity and the Dignity of this Apostolical Seat which you have always so devoutly honoured is thereby hurt and your most dear Mother which we know you of all other least would the Roman Church is offended which for the maintenance of this sacred War is at great and wonderful Charges and our Forces which by you ought to have been relieved and encreased being in so unfit a time by these Stirs in Moldavia dissevered and diminished and the Enemies on the contrary part encreased and strengthened into what danger and distress may both our Army of the Church and the Emperours fall And withal how greatly all the manner and managing of this whole War is thereby confounded there is no man that seeth not Yea and this moreover which no little concerneth the Dignity of us and this Holy See we have undertaken and certainly promised to our most dearly beloved Sons Rodolph and Sigismund That your Royal Majesty should not in any thing hinder or hurt their Affairs neither did we hereof assure them upon a light occasion but moved with great reason not only for that we deservedly ought so to promise of you in so just a cause but also for that it was so unto us plainly and expresly written by the Reverend Father the Bishop of S. Severus our Apostolical Nuntio with you whom we know to be both unto us faithful and to you dutiful neither can we by any means doubt thereof because he hath writ unto us concerning so weighty a matter that he received it even from your own Mouth Which things so standing seeing you of your self see the manifold Absurdities of this Fact on every side not to speak of the heinousness thereof we request you again yea and oftentimes forthwith to apply the necessary Remedies to these Hurts The Transilvanian Prince your Brother-in-law devoted to your self and desirous of your favour either protect with your defence or at leastwise hurt him not yea hurt not the whole State of the Christian Commonweal and relieve not by any means the Quarrel of the Enemies of Christ. If you have any controversie with the Prince Sigismund or desire of him any thing referr it unto us that is to say unto your most loving Father you know your Affairs to be of us favoured and we hope by the Power of God that it may easily come to pass that some convenient means may be found whereby Peace and Quietness may be confirmed betwixt you and good Unity grow betwixt you two Brethren our Sons and so all
in us possibly is to be defended so that so many of you as please may in safety return into your own old Dwellings giving before knowledge thereof unto the Governour of this our Fortress Given in our Camp after the Conquest of Canisia Many of these poor Country People before fled for fear of the Turks and not knowing where to bestow themselves now upon this Proclamation returned again to their ancient dwelling Places there to begin the World again under the Turkish Obeisance But for that County Serinus was the Man whom of all others in that Country the great Bassa sought after as him whom he most feared after his Departure to trouble this his new Conquest and to seek to be revenged having in this so general a Calamity of Stiria his Country lost twenty Villages of his own quite burnt by the Turks and the People most slain or else taken Prisoners the Bassa having many times before sought to have persuaded him to have yielded his Obedience unto the Turkish Sultan and now in hope after so great loss to bring him in before he were come into the utter ruine of all his Fortunes now by the loss of Canisia and the entrance of the Turks into Stiria not a little endangered writ unto him as followeth WE Ibrahim Bassa chief of the Visier Bassaes and Cousin unto the most puissant Sultan Mahomet to the County Serinus sendeth greeting We have oftentimes heretofore written unto thee concerning the matter thou knowest of but what the cause is that we received no Answer we cannot tell Yet could I not but write to thee again That if yet thou caâ—st be content to begin the matter aright and to submit thy self unto our Protection we will be ready to receive thee Thou seest that what we foretold thee is now more than fulfilled both upon thee and thine which thou wouldst never believe Nevertheless for the staying of the farther effusion of the Blood as well of thy Subjects as ours and to come to some good Attonement it is high time for thee to lay thine Hand upon thy Heart and to consider how much more it concerneth thee than us and that the benefit thereof redoundeth more unto thine than ours What our Affection is towards thee Hierom the Vayvod can tell thee Fare thou well From our Camp after the Conquest of Canisia the seventh of November 1600. But these Letters being also as the rest answered with Silence the great Bassa having disposed of all as he thought best at Canisia and in the Country thereabout returned with his Army to Belgrade there to Winter having before fully certified the great Sultan of all his Proceedings and the Success of this War vaunting after his vain manner the next Spring to besiege Vienna also if it should please him so to command Of all which things Mahomet understanding and not a little therewith pleased caused great Triumphs to be made by the space of four days at Constantinople and in token of his Love and Favour sent a rich Robe of Cloth of Gold with a leading staff all set with Pearl and precious Stones unto the Bassa yet lying at Belgrade This loss of Canisia much troubled all that side of Christendom especially them of the Territories belonging unto the House of Austria in a sort dismay'd to see the Turks so easily possessed of a Town before thought almost impregnable and the strongest defence of all that Country against the furious Impressions of the Turks to whom it was now become a most safe and sure Receptacle all men with one Voice blaming the discord of the Captains in the Imperial Army for so retiring without any good doing but above all detesting the Cowardise of Paradiser who known to have in the Town a strong Garrison with good store of Munition and Victuals as was supposed had so basely delivered the same unto the Enemy not doing the uttermost of his Devoir as had beseemed him for the defence thereof whereas if he had so done happily in the mean time the Cold and unseasonableness of the Weather tho no other Relief had been Winter being now come might have inforced the Turks to have raised their Siege Whereupon he was for this so foul a Fact by the Emperour's Commandment apprehended and cast in Prison at Vienna where after he had long lain and his Cause oftentimes examined he was the next year following condemned of Felony and Cowardsse and so the 15 th day of October executed having first his Hand at four strokes of the Executioner struck off and after that his Head with him was also in like manner executed his Ensign-Bearer and after them his Lieutenant with the Mayor of the Town who both bound fast to a stake had first their Tongues cut out and afterwards their Heads chopt off Now the Rebellion before raised in Caramania by Cusahin Bassa as is aforesaid was not with his Death altogether appeased Also Orfa a great City of that Country which having tasted the sweetness of Liberty in the time of Cusahin yet still holding out against Mehemet the great Bassa the Sultan's Lieutenant-General there At which time also a Companion of Cusahin the late Rebel called the Scrivano and one of his greatest Favourites seeing how hardly not only Cusahin himself but the rest of his Followers had been handled by the Turks began to make Head and to call unto him all such as loved their Liberty unto the sweet Name whereof so many were in short time come about him as that out of them he formed such an Army as made him now dreadful unto the Turks his Enemies Against whom Mehemet Bassa going with all his Power to have oppressed him â—ound him with those his rebellious Followers so courageous for the desire they all had to break out of the Othoman Slavery and to live in such Liberty as was promised them by their Captain and General that joyning Battel with them he received of them a notable Overthrow insomuch that fearing to have lost his whole Army he was glad to retire and to send out Commissions for the raising of greater Forces Sultan Mahomet in the mean time whether it was for fear of this new Rebellion or for that he understood of the Ambassâ—dors sent from the Persian unto the Christian Princes began to suspect lest that King should break the League he had with him and so to his farther trouble take up Arms also against him Wherefore upon a Turkish Pride he sent an Ambassadour into Persia to give the King to understand That for the more assurance of the League betwixt them he demanded to have one of his Sons sent unto him in Hostage as a Pledge of his Fathers Faith Which so proud a Demand the Persian King took in such disdain that he commanded in his Rage the Ambassador to be forthwith slain but that his fury being by his grave Counsellors somewhat appeased he remitted the Severity of this his rigorous Command and sparing his Life was
them accompanied with the Mufti the great Mahometan Priest and some few others of the Reverend Doctors of their Law who by the Sultan commanded to sit down and the Bassaes standing up so great the respect is to men of that sort even in a barbarous Nation of so small respect the chief of the seditious stepping forth demanded leave to speak both for himself and the rest Which being granted he boldly thus began MOst happy and mighty Emperour we the Spahies and Janizaries thy obedient Slaves full of Grief and Discontentment to see a great part of thine Empire in danger to be lost desire to know of thee the cause why thy Greatness doth not remedy it and imploy the means which God hath given thee They suppose that the Rebels Courses in Asia are unto thee unknown seeing they have been so hardy as to come in Arms so near unto thy Imperial City the Place of thine abode and that without any let or resistance They desire to know if all this hath been made known unto thee and whither thou wilt take upon thy self the care of the Government of thy great Monarchy or no which through the negligent carelesness and evil Government of some by thee put in trust is like unto a body with great and well proportioned Members but of little or no Strength or Power Or else that thou void of care canst be content that all should be dismembred and so every man to take into himself what he can lay hands of as the Rebels do in Asia Now let no man marvel at this presumptuous rude Speech of a proud Ianizary unto his Soveraign for why they are the men which may most boldly speak in Turky they are the stay of the Turk's Empire the Great Sultans Children acknowledging no other Father but them nay rather the Great Turk himself is their Creature for they raise him up and confirm him in the Empire they are his greatest Strength and unto them he is most beholden If Mahomet were with so insolent a Speech much moved he was not justly to be therefore blamed howâ—eit being beset with such a furious tumult with Weapons in their hands and having no means to withstand their Fury he wisely dissembled his inward Choler and with a fair Countenance and a Majesty full of Mildness with the best and calmest words he could devise sought to appease them imputing the Disorder and evil Success of his Affairs unto the unfaithfulness of his Ministers and the concealing of the Truth thereof from him Saying moreover That before this their Complaint he had resolved to reform these Matters and to take from them all Occasions of Discontentment or for them to use any such Speech as was not beseeming them whose Obedience and Respect of loyal Duty unto him their Soveraign should have been an Example unto the rest of his Subjects Upon which Speech they fiercely demanded of Hassan Bassa Why he had not given an account unto his Majesty of the Rebels proceeding in Asia Who answered That he had never failed of his Duty therein but that he had been always hindered so to do by the Capi-Aga saying That it was not needful to trouble him their Soveraign therewith having committed these Matters to others but to reform and amend them as well as they might otherwise without giving of him any such distate concerning these Matters And further That the cause of all these Disorders proceeded from the Empress his Mother the Capi-Aga and some few others unto whom he had commended the managing of those his Affairs With which his answer the Mutineers more moved furiously said That they were thither assembled to demand the heads of such Offenders being resolved to take another course if he should refuse to grant it them meaning thereby to make a new Emperour Whereunto for all that the great Sultan answered That it was no Reason neither that he would for their Humours put such as they demanded innocently to death but willed them to rest themselves contented until it might by order of Justice be tryed whether they had deserved death or no and that then he would give them even his own Son if he were found culpable But the Mutineers constant in their Resolution again replyed That he had not by Justice put his Brethren to death but for the Preservation of the State and that those wâ—om they so demanded were so guilty of that wherewith they were charged as that they deserved not to have an orderly Tryal That the Laws how just soever should be unprofitable and Justice Injury if they were not by them to be punished and that therefore it must needs be so or els that they would take therein a course themselves As for the Empress his Mother they were contented that she should be confined unto some place farther off and no more to meddle in Matters of State. A strange thing it was to see so great a Prince so to be forced by the Sedition and Mutiny of his Subjects to deliver so great an Officer of his Court as was the Capi-Aga with such others as they required to be used at their Discretion But the violent Resolution of these most insolent men so up in Mutiny made the Sultan Mahomet wisely to yield to what they demanded causing the Capi-Aga and the others to be brought forth who presented themselves unto their â—ury as men already half dead Mahomet did what he might to have saved them but the Mutineers with a great and dreadful Clamour still cried out to have them dispatched neither could they be appeased until they saw their Heads struck from their Bodies For the loss of whom so dear unto him Mahomet inwardly grieved to be in some part revenged commanded the Executioner to proceed and to do unto some other of the chief Bassaes whom he knew to be much beloved and respected of the Janizaries and whom he could have been content to have been rid of as he had done unto the Capi-Aga and the rest but then the murmuring and mutiny of the Janizaries was in such sort increased and as it were redoubled as that Mahomet was for fear forced with patience to temper his Choler and by giving way so to appease them The Empress the Sultan's Mother for all that was not then confined but reserved to the farther troubling of the State. With like Tyranny and no less Injustice Mahomet but a few days before had caused Capin one of his great Bassaes to be beheaded but whether it were for the desire he had of his Wealth and Riches or for the envy of his Honour and Valour was uncertain howbeit the former Cause seemed unto many to be the more probable for that Mahomet immediately after his death took the whole Spoil of his Wealth and seised upon all his Goods except 400000 Duckats which Caly Bassa Father of the dead Bassa had detained for himself Which his purloining Mahomet having discovered as the eye of the covetous man is
we have before said overthrown and disappointed of his hope betook himself unto a strong Castle of his own called Solomose there in fear attending the final Success of his Affairs Basta in the mean time being as wise to make use of his Victory as he was valiant to obtain the same subdued the rest of the Country repressed the Rebels stopped the way of Sedition and put Moises in despair of all Safety Who seeing himself brought unto such Extremity offered to yield his Castle unto the Turks and so without farther acquainting of any man with his purpose thrust himself with his Wife and Family and all the rest of his Substance into Temeswar a strong City of the Turks not far off whom the Bassa in shew most courteously received and the rather for that he was in good hope to make a Prey of the great Wealth of this new-come Fugitive who had not there long stayed but that he had persuaded the Captain of Givasgar a strong frontier Castle thereby to deliver the same to the Turks and that without the Privity of the Garrison Souldiers for that he doubted that they would hardly be thereunto drawn who yet getting knowledge thereof put their Captain in remembrance of his Duty beseeching him not to draw such an Infamy both upon himself and them by committing so foul a Fact. But afterward finding him resolutely set down for the betraying of the Castle they suddenly laid hands upon him and struck off his Head and so with the Blood of their traiterous Captain having averted the eminent danger with great Honour held the Place Moises now as he thought in safety at Temeswar was yet still plotting how to trouble the State of Transilvania and raise new Stirs therein and to that end sent a number of Spies with Letters of Credence unto the principal men of that Country assuring them of great and sufficient Aid from the great Turk if they would but take up Arms for their Liberty as he termed it and shew themselves in Field against the Imperials Neither was Basta in the mean time careless of him or negligent in his so weighty Affairs but knowing that he as a notorious Rebel had yielded his Castle unto the Turks and was himself retired unto Temeswar forthwith made choice of six thousand of the best Souldiers in his whole Army and so set forward to besiege it whom at his Arrival the Turks there in Garrison derided in hope to frustrate his Designs For why they thought that their Castle seated upon a steep high Hill fortified with good and strong Walls environed with a broad and deep Ditch and not subject unâ—o Battery could not but with much labour great danger and long time be gained out of their hands it being impossible as they supposed for their Enemies to make a breach or find an entrance thereinto And indeed our men seeing the Strength of the Place and the difficulty to force it stood at the first as men dismayed at the foot of the Hill where the Castle stood yet more discouraged with the impregnableness of the place than with the Valour of the Defendants But what cannot Industry and Valour do In seeking about to find some means to make shew of their Courage and Valour they discovered a little sharp steep Hill over against the Castle from the top whereof the Castle was to be battered and the besieged distressed but to bring the Cannon thither and especily with Horses was impossible by reason of the steep roughness of the Ascent thereunto with broken and hanging Rocks over-grown with Trees and Bushes as if it had been another Alps not but with Fire and Vinegar to be opened yet in fine our men resolving to gain the Place did themselves that which their Horses should have done but could not and by force of hand drew their Cannon up to the top of the Hill and having planted it over against the midst of their Enemies great Ordnance began to batter the Castle which done they day and night made their Approaches fortified their Forts and Trenches brought on their warlike Munitions and put all things in such order as if they would even by plain force have carried the Place But the Turks more admiring the valourous Resolution of our men than resolving themselves upon their Resistance being not many in number within the place and seeing themselves to have to do with men of invincible Courage laying aside both their Hope and Weapons craved to come to a Parle Which granted it was at length agreed That they should deliver up the Castle leaving behind them their great Ordnance their Munition and Ensigns and so with their Arms and Lives only saved to depart A great and glorious Conquest got with small charge only by Resolution gained by our men without peril those being indeed the true Victories which neither draw Blood out of the Veins nor Tears out of the Eyes This strong Place so gained contrary to the common Opinion conceived thereof led the whole Province as it were by the hand unto the Obeisance of the Emperour in such sort that Basta having called together all the principal men of Transilvania declared unto them the Justice of his Cause the Right of the Emperour with the Malice and Treachery of the Turks and Rebels how they might live in assurance with the one and become miserable with the others That the Emperour was always armed for their Defence and Health desiring nothing but their Welfare and Preservation whereas their Enemies to the contrary sought altogether their Ruine and Decay That as they were not to expect light flames of Fire out of the Sea no more they were to look for Aid from those their mortal Enemies whom they knew to have before decreed to have put them all to death and to have given their Country unto the Tartars their Enemies That this Disaster had not now been to fall upon them either ever have been by them perceived without the Aid of the Emperour who opposing himself against this Fire had quenched it and put it ouâ— preserving them with his great charge and saving them even in the midst of their greatest Perils and Dangers That they should therefore remember these his so great Benefits to the intent to make him recompence according to the publick Faith which bindeth us to the reward of good Deserts and that all the recompence that the Emperour desired was the welfare of the estate as concerning their own good insomuch that he desired nothing of them but their Obeisance for being bound to defend them and preserve them to his Power whereby it should come to pass that he should be satisfied for his Travels and they preserved from their Enemies the Prince and the Subjects together jointly working their mutual Health and Welfare each of them according unto their Proportion for that this mutual performance of Duty preserved the Scepter for the good government of their Estate Whereunto their Answer was That
great Spirit and yet exceeding proud which was the cause that he was both the less beloved and feared of his Subjects in general but especially of the Janizaries and other his Souldiers and men of War who scorning his loose Government and griev'd to see even the greatest Affairs of his State not only imparted to Women but by them managed and over-ruled also as by his Mother the Sultaness his Wife and others not only rebelled against him but were oftentimes in their Rages about to have deposed him He was altogether given to sensuality and voluptuous pleasure the marks whereof he still carried about with him a foul swoln unwealdy and overgrown Body unfit for any Princely Office or Function and a Mind thereto answerable wholly given over unto Idleness Pleasure and Excess no small means for the shortning of his days which he ended with Obloquy unregarded of his Subjects and but of few or none of them lamented He had Issue four Sons and three Daughters married unto three of the great Bassaes. His first and eldest Son was called Mahomet after his own Name whom he caused to be strangled in his own sight upon suspicion of aspiring to the Empire and conspiring with the Rebels in Asia but afterward finding him guiltless caused his Body to be buried in his own Sepulchre and hanged the Bassa that had misinformed him His second Son died a natural Death being yet very young His third Son was Sultan Achmat who succeeded his Father and came to the Empire by the untimely Death of Mahomet his eldest Brother His fourth Son being then a Youth of about sixteen Years old was carefully kept within the Seraglio with such a strait Guard set over him as that his Name was not to be learned even by a good understanding Friend of mine of late lying above three Months together at Constantinople who most curiously enquired after the same having very good means to have learned it He was reported to have been long since murthered howbeit that he of late lived but looking every day to be by his Brothers cruel Commandment strangled which is accounted but a matter of course and a Death hereditary to all the younger male Children of the Othoman Emperours the Policy for the maintenance of their great Empire entire and whole so requiring His dead Body lieth buried at Constantinople in a fair Chappel of white Marble near unto the most famous and beautiful Church of S. Sophia for that only purpose by himself most sumptuously built about fifty foot square with four high small round Towers about the which are certain small round Galleries of Stone from which the Turkish Priests and Church-men at certain hours use to call the People every day to Church for they use no Bells themselves neither will they suffer the Christians to use any But the top of this Chappel is built round like unto the ancient Temples of the Heathen Gods in Rome In the midst of this Chappel being indeed nothing else but this great Sultan's Sepulchre standeth his Tomb which is nothing else but a great Urn or Coffin of fair white Marble wherein lieth his Body covered with a great covering of the same Stone over it made rising in the midst and stooping on each sidâ— not much unlike to the Coffins of the ancient Tombs of the Saxon Kings which are to be seen on the North side of the Quire of S. Paul's Church and in other Places of this Land but that this Coffin of the Great Sultan is much greater and more stately than are those of the Saxon Kings it being above five foot high at the end thereof and by little and little falling toward the feet covered with a rich Hearse of Cloth of Gold down to the ground his Turbant standing at his Head and two exceeding great Candles of white Wax about three or four Yards long standing in great brass or silver Candlesticks gilded the one at his Head the other at his Feet which never burn but there stand for shew only all the Floor of the Chappel being covered with Mats and fair Turky Carpets upon them And round about this his Tomb even in the same Chappel are the like Tombs for his Wives and Children but nothing so great and fair Into this Chappel or any other the Turks Churches or Chappels it is not lawful for either Turk or Christian to enter but first he must put off his Shoes leaving them at the Church or Chappel Gate or carrying them in his hand Near unto this Chappel and the great Temple of Sophia are divers other Chappels of the other great Turks as of Sultan Selim this Man 's Grand father with his seven and thirty Children about him of Sultan Amurath this Man's Father with his five and forty Children entombed about him Anâ— in other places not far from them are the Chappels and Sepulchres of the rest of the Great Sultans as of Sultan Mahomet the Great of Sultan Bajazet Sultan Selim the first Sultan Solyman all by these great Mahometan Emperours built whose Names they bear And being all of almost one form and fashion have every one of them a fair Hospital adjoyning unto them wherein a great multitude of poor People are daily still relieved Some others of the great Bassaes have their Chappels and Sepulchres with their great and stately Alms-houses also not much inferiour unto those of the great Sultans as namely Ibrahim Bassa of all the Bassaes that ever were amongst the Turks the most magnificent hath his stately Chappel Sepulchre and Alms-Houses near both in Place and Beauty unto that of Solyman's The Turks bury not at all within their Churches neither are any at all buried within the Walls of the City but the great Turkish Emperours themselves with their Wives and Children about them and some few other of their great Bassaes and those only in Chappels by themselves built for that purpose All the rest of the Turks are buried in the Fields some of the better sort in Tombs of Marble but the rest with Tomb-stones laid upon them or with two great Stones the one set up at the head and the other at the feet of every Grave the greatest part of them being of white Marble brought from the Isle of Marmora They will not bury any man where another hath been buried accounting it Impiety to dig up another man's Bones by reason whereof they cover all the best Ground about the City with such great white Stones which for the infinite number of them are thought sufficient to make another Wall about the City But not to stand longer upon the manner of the Turks Burials leaving this great Sultan to rest with his Ancestors let us now prosecute the course of our History Christian Princes of the same time with Mahomet the Third Emperours of Germany Rodolph the Second 1577. Kings Of England Queen Elizabeth 1558. 47. Of France Henry the Fourth 1589. Of Scotland James the Sixth 1567. Bishops of Rome Clement the
the uttermost of his Power This Great Bassa was then at Belgrade upon the frontier of his Government in doubtful suspence expecting the Resolution of his Prince concerning this business and yet in hope longing after a second charge whose longing desire Achmat quickly satisfied by sending unto him both a Commission for the continuation of his Charge and Dignity and certain honourable Presents in token of his extraordinary Favour towards him which were a Generals Ensign with an Hungarian Mace of pure Gold. Now whether these Presents joyned unto the continuation of his Charge were welcome unto him or not ambitious Minds such as was his can easily tell and he to shew his Contentment therewith gave thereof good Testimony by the publick Actions of Joy causing all the great Ordnance of the Place in thundering wise to be oftentimes discharged and the Trumpets and Drums to be most joyfully sounded In the mean time News was brought unto Constantinople how that the Persian King having mustered his Men was in the Field with above an hundred thousand good Souldiers and that Bagages Bassa one of the great Rebels in Asia had confederated himself with him to the further troubling of the Turks Estate Whereupon Achmat although he had before given order unto Hassan the Visier Bassa his Lieutenant in Hungary for the besieging and taking of Veradinum a strong City in the upper Hungary now by a Messenger sent in haste commanded the same Bassa all other businesses set apart with all the power that he could make forthwith to return to Constantinople there with him and the rest of the Bassaes to consult and resolve upon the most necessary War and of the readiest means for the continuing of the same For albeit that the Turks were most desirous to have Wars with the Christians and so if it were possible to have conquered the remainders of Hungary yet the danger of the Persian Wars and of the Rebellion in Asia daily more and more increasing suffered them not wholly to attend unto the Wars against the Christians in Hungary but drew them now into a doubtful Consultation which way first to turn their Forces But the Bassa being come to Constantinople the Grand Seignior took the pains and did him the Honour to come unto his House whither the Counsel for the State being assembled it was there most proudly resolved upon even forthwith at one and the self same time with equal Forces to make War both upon the Christian Emperour in Hungary and the Persian King in Asia accounting themselves strong enough to subdue and bring under foot both the one and the other no Power upon Earth being in their proud conceit of themselves able to encounter or to withstand theirs So for the managing of these Wars and of their so proud a Resolution to be performed in so remote Parts of the World Hassan Bassa was continued in his charge as General of the Army in Hungary and Cicala Bassa was appointed to have the command of the Army to be sent against the Persian two most expert Captains being to fight against their hereditary Enemies Hassan against the Christians and Cicala against the Persians by whom he had not long before been evil used An ordinary Policy of the Othoman Emperours not to commit the charge of their Armies against the Christians unto Renegades for fear lest they touched with some remorse of Conscience might betray the same or otherwise deal unfaithfully in their charge but still to imploy them against the Persians of whom they have no further Knowledge but as of their Enemies in the Field But Cicala Bassa well acquainted both with the difficulty and the danger of the Persian War the scars whereof he yet bare about with him made shew as if he had been unwilling to take upon him the charge thereof and so begun to excuse himself until that at length upon promise made unto him for the furnishing of him with a sufficient Army and all things else necessary for so great a War with a large and most honourable Entertainment for himself and all the Persian Prisoners being also given unto him in reward he therewith contented accepted of the honourable charge whereof in his ambitious mind he was indeed most desirous And so receiving the Generals Ensign with the other Marks and Cognizances of his Honour causing the Drums to be strucken up and the Trumpets to be joyfully sounded he cheerfully prepared himself for that his so great an Expedition expecting but the coming of his Son who at the request of the Venetians was gon forth with a fleet of Gallies to scour the Levant Seas of the Pyrats who then exceedingly troubled the Traffick of the Venetian Merchants Amidst which the Turks so great Designs the Tartar Cham bound for his pay to serve the Great Turk in his Wars against the Christians by his Ambassador excused himself unto the Great Sultan for that he could not himself in Person come this year with his Forces into Hungary by reason that he was otherwise necessarily busied with the most urgent Affairs of his own Estate yet promising withal instead of himself to send his Son with a good power of men Now whereas many men marvel why the Tartar Cham being so great a Prince and not much in danger unto the Turk being separated from him by the black or Euxine Sea should be still so ready at the Turks call to do him service in his Wars the Causes thereof are divers and those not far to seek First Their near Affinity as both descended from the same beginning by often Marriages still confirmed then their likeness of Manners and Condition no small Bonds of Love and Friendship And thirdly For that the Turkish Empire for want of Heirs males of the Othoman Family is assured and as it were entailed unto the Tartar Cham but most of all for the yearly pension and great pay which he being a bare Prince receiveth from the Turks his rude and needy People being also ever ready in hope of the spoil to follow him into these Wars But this his excuse for not coming himself this year into Hungary being by the Great Sultan accepted of Hassan Bassa resolved upon his Expedition for Hungary made great preparation for the good success of the War there gave great hope thereof unto the Great Sultan and caused himself to be proclaimed Lieutenant General of all the Great Sultans Forces against the Christians every man affording unto these good hopes a thousand Wishes for his Health and Welfare but especially the Mahometan Priests assured him of their help so that he would not fail to do the uttermost of his Indeavour against the Christians their Enemies For why the Turks do account him the best and most zealous man which can do the Christians most harm And so with these so great Acclamations of Joy and Honour Hassan the Great Bassa set forward with his Army from Constantinople toward Hungary The Christian Emperour
forthwith calling together the States of Enseric declared unto them all that was done in the Assembly at Presburg And for as much as that Assembly was chiefly to that end appointed That the Kingdom of Hungary should not altogether be pluck'd away from the Empire and that after the revolt thereof the greatest harm to be done by the Incursions and spoyling of the Enemies would lie upon the Countries of Austria he advised them so to look unto themselves and carefully to provide for the Common-weal as that having Money always in readiness to maintain an Army they might with all convenient speed go to meet with the Haiducks if haply they would not conform themselves unto the Articles of the Pacification but again raise new Broils that so they might defend and preserve their Country from their Outrages About the beginning of this Spring when as Ierome Prince of Valachia was dead leaving behind him a Son but thirteen years old the Emperour admitted him as yet not capable of the Government under Tutors unto the Succession of his Heritage Which thing the Valachians being by no means willing to endure and bearing themselves upon the help of the Turks went about to make choice of another instead of their Prince of late dead For which cause the Princess Widow by Letters certified Polloscie her Son in Law of this Outrage and Injury of her Subjects and having obtained of him a great sum of Money and therewith raised an Army of ten thousand good Souldiers went forth against the Valachians and in open field overcame them in so bloody and terrible a Battel that having slain five thousand of the Valachians and Turks she had over them a notable Victory and by that means preserved the Principality of that Country for her Son. The Great Duke of Florence had hitherto done great harm with his Fleet unto the Turks in the Mediterranean Sea for which cause a Messenger about this time coming unto him in the Great Sultans Name promised him great Matters if he would from thenceforth forbear to hurt and pursue the Turks Gallies Which his Request served the Turks to no other purpose but as it were to put Oyl unto the Fire For the Duke afterward caused new Gallies to be made and his Fleet increased and therewith did more harm than formerly he had done Now although that after the ending of the Assembly at Presburg Illishascius and George Turson had delivered unto the Haiducks the Articles of the Pacification and commanded them from thenceforth to keep themselves quiet yet for all that could they not yet be perswaded to hearken unto such their Counsel for that they being Men still accustomed to the Wars and living by their Swords could not endure to fall to Husbandry and such other Labours For which cause they of the Country about Gymeric writ unto them which dwelt in the Country about Nusol Letters to this effect That forasmuch as they being divers times certified of the miserable estate of their Neighbours had refused to come to aid them they should yet now remember how necessary a thing it were with their conjoyned Minds and Forces to help one another for that the Haiducks having now passed the River of Teise were broken into that Province and were run as far as Budnoc neither were they minded so to stay but to rob and spoil all the Country before them if they were not with speed encountred And the rather for that but a few days before they had received thirty thousand Hungarian Duckats from the Turks whom they now acknowledged for their Lords with Horses and other Gifts to be divided among their Leaders and Captains and moreover daily expected Aid from the Tartars who in great Numbers lay about Belgrade Wherefore seeing it could not be expressed what great harm and loss was by the Haiducks done as well unto the Noblemen themselves as to the common Country-men that they should therefore thereof give their Neighbours to understand and with all speed to take up Arms against the same rebellious Haiducks Not long after about the latter end of March Proclamation was made by the Commandment of Matthias the Arch-duke throughout all Austria That every man should provide himself to take up Arms. The cause whereof men diversly suspected howbeit that unto this Proclamation was this Reason joyned That the Arch-duke was determined himself to go about the fourteenth of April into Moravia and there to gather together all his Power as well Hungarians as Austrians and Haiducks for the War he was to take in hand There were also Letters in the Arch-dukes name sent unto the Vassals of Austria to give them to understand That whereas they were not ignorant what for the obtaining of Peace and Defence of these Countries had of late been decreed at Presburg and that all the States of Enseric had approved the report thereof received from their Deputies and so promised their help and aid unto the Arch-duke as if that he himself would take in hand any Expedition they would joyn themselves unto him and together with him to live or dye yet that there were some which being more desirous of War than Peace did not only not rest upon the former Pacification but gathered an Army also in the Borders of Moravia with a purpose to make an inroad as well into Moravia as into Austria it self For which cause the States of Moravia also were enforced for defence of themselves to raise an Army and to crave help from their Neighbours And that therefore seeing the Arch-duke mindful of his promise for the common Defence of the Countrey was resolved to bestow his Life and all his Fortunes and in his own Person to undertake an Expedition unto those Places from whence the greatest danger was to be feared to fall upon those Countreys necessity then required that the States themselves also should suffer nothing to be wanting on their behalf but every one of them together with their Servants forthwith to joyn themselves unto the Arch-duke and to the uttermost of their power to endeavour themselves to deliver them and theirs from death and destruction That God in whose name this Expedition was by them to be taken in hand as by the lovers of Peace might so in short time make an end of all tumults and grant unto those Countries wished Peace and quietness And that therefore they were to be admonished That according to the tenor of the Decree made at Presburg they with such a number of Horse and Foot as they could upon the sudden raise at a day to be shortly after named unto them should joyn themselves unto the Arch-duke and not to suffer any thing to let them in so doing So that if haply any chance or sickness should happen unto their General yet notwithstanding that they should send their Power under the leading of some other man seeing that the Arch-duke himself spared not to adventure his Life and Fortunes and if God should see
Ecclesiastical men should be so much favoured as formerly they had been That Officers should not be bound to give account of the Administration of their Offices but before the Treasurers of Presburg being natural Hungarians born That from henceforth Money should not be carried out of the Kingdom as hitherto it had been That the Palatine being dead the King should within a year chuse another the chief Justice in the mean time after the old manner supplying his room The Protestant States of Austria had a little before sent their Ambassadors unto the Nobility and States of Hungary then gathered together at Presburg with request that forasmuch as they could not by any intreaty obtain of the King the free Exercise of their Religion as well within their Cities as without and that very necessity had driven them by force of Arms to seek for the same that they would by sending of them Men afford them such Aid as was unto them due by the former Pacification made at Vienna in the year 1606. Which troubles of Austria the Nobility and States of Hungary desiring to have appeased sent George Turson and some others with Letters of Intercession in their behalf unto the Arch-duke Maximilian which when they had delivered unto him they received from him this answer That King Matthias never thought to disturb the common quiet of that Country or to attempt any thing against the Priviledges thereof granted by the Emperour Maximilian of happy Memory but to grant unto the Cities the liberty of Religion he could by no means partly in respect of Conscience partly for the danger that might thereof ensue from the Pope and the King of Spain and yet nevertheless that he would promise to suffer and tollerate the free Exercise of Religion without the Cities and in the bestowing of publick Offices to have no respect of Religion yet with this Condition that they should lay down Arms submit themselves unto the King acknowledge their Fault and crave Pardon for the same for that in so doing the States should haply prevail more than by force of Arms. With which answer seeing no better could be got the Hungarian Ambassadors going unto the Protestant States of Austria began by divers reasons to perswade them to submit themselves unto the King. If the Hungarians should as they said give aid unto them of Austria they should in so doing instead of helping them but do them more harm for that the Hungarian Power could not be brought into Austria but to the utter destruction thereof That the League betwixt the Hungarians and them of Austria was a general League and concerned as well the Catholicks as the Protestants That the Christian Religion was never with the Sword planted or defended Christ himself saying them to be happy which therefore suffer Persecution and commanding Peter to put up his Sword into his Scabbard That it was an easie matter for every man to raise Stirs and Tumults but that again to appease them was a far harder matter That by the taking up of Arms the free exercise of Religion could not be furthered or provided for it being rather dangerous lest the contrary part prevailing it should be utterly suppressed That by this means Hungary it self should be exposed to many dangers for that not only new Stirs might upon this occasion by the Subjects thereof be raised but other foreign Princes take up Arms against it also the Emperour by force of Arms seeking for his Right and the Turkish Sultan by a new Invasion going about to bring the same under his Subjection and telling them farther the Arch-duke to have promised to take good order for all things so that they would lay down Arms and that the Clemency and Bounty of those Princes being known they were not to doubt but that they would indeed perform what they had in word promised and that the Hungarians could not now do or attempt any thing against the King but that if it should happen these two Arch-dukes being dead without Heirs-male the Government of these two Provinces should come unto the Arch-duke Ferdinand that then they should have more cause to help them of Austria against him Moravia they said to be a free Country and yet the King to have thereunto given no more assurance for the liberty of Religion more than his bare promise Wherefore seeing that both the fortune and chance of War was doubtful and that War was not without the great expence of Money to be maintained that they were of opinion it to be best for the Protestant States of Austria to lay down Arms and by way of request to sollicite their cause with the King. In the mean time the Griefs whereof the Hungarians complained being taken away and all Controversies happily ended Illishascius was by a general consent chosen to be Palatine and Matthias the 14th of November openly proclaimed King of Hungary and the 19th of the same Month in St. Martins Church at Presburg in this manner crowned first the Royal Crown was in a stately Chariot carried out of the Castle unto the Church with a great number of the Counsellers and Nobility of Hungary attending the same in which Chariot were also carried ten Ensigns with the Arms of the Kingdom in them frilled up four of the Hungarian Counsellers taking it out of the Chariot in a little Chest covered with Cloth of Gold and so carrying of it into the Chancel of the Church After which King Matthias together with the Arch-duke Maximilian his Brother followed on Horse-back both attired in Hungarian Apparel and so going into the Chancel there stayed about half an hour until that he was by two Bishops brought forth unto the Altar before whom ten of the Hungarian Nobility carried the ten aforesaid Ensigns after whom followed the Palatine with the Crown Endeodius with the Royal Scepter Forgatsie with the Apple of the Kingdom Turso with King Stephens Sword Tsechius carrying the Pax as they call it Budian the Cross the Cardinal Forgatsie saying Mass with divers Bishops and Prelates helping of him by whom the King was at the beginning of Service anointed with Oyl where while the Epistle and Gospel were in reading the Cardinal set the Crown upon the King's Head all the People crying out Long live Matthias the King of Hungary But the King with the Crown upon his head taking a drawn Sword out of Sigefred Collonitz the Marshal's hand thrice brandished it a cross over the Clergy-mens heads and received the Sacrament at the Cardinals hand The Mass being ended he by an high-way covered with Cloth going in his royal Robes from S. Martins Church unto the Bare-foot Friers Church as he went caused money to be cast abroad among the People In which Church after the first Chapter of the Gospel of St. Iohn being read he made 28 Knights From thence the King with the Crown yet on his Head and in his stately Robes went out of the City at St. Michael's Gate and there on
for his ordinary Revenue for which they give divers reasons first That the Turks have no care buâ— of Arms the which do rather ruine than inrich a Country secondly They consume so many men in their Enterprises as they scarce leave sufficient to manure their Land so as the Subjects despairing to enjoy their Wealth and necessary Commodities which they might get by their Labour and Industry imploy not themselves to work nor traffick no more than necessity shall constrain them for to what purpose is it say they to sow that another man must reap or to reap that which another will consume And for this reason you shall see in the Turks Estate whole Countries lie waste and many times great Dearth which grows by the want of Men to manure their Land for that the Country-men for the most part either die in the Voyages which they make or in carrying of Victuals and other necessary things for their Armies for of ten thousand which they draw from their Houses to row in their Gallies scarce the fourth part returns to their Houses by reason of the great Toyles they indure Another reason why the Sultan's Revenues be no greater is for that when he conquers any Country he assigns the Lands to his Timarri who are bound to maintain so many Men and so many Horses according to the proportion of Land which he gives them reserving no Rent But although his ordinary Revenues be no greater than we have spoken yet he draws great profit by his Extraordinaries especially by Confiscations and Presents for being all his Slaves no man enjoyeth any thing longer than it pleaseth him yea the Bassaes and greatest Officers of that Crown which oppress his Subjects and gather together inestimable Wealth in the end for the most part it comes into the Turks Casna or Treasury It is not strange there to send for any Subjects Head upon any suggestion whatsoever which no man dare contradict after which Execution his Slaves and Goods are sold in the Market at Constantinople and the Money applyed to the Prince's Coffers His Presents also amount to great sums for no Ambassadour may come before him without a Present neither may any man expect any Office or Dignity without Money no Governour being returned from his Province dares present himself to the Sultan empty handed neither are their Presents of small price The Sultan's Exchequer is governed by two Treasurers called Deftardari who are more rightly governours of the Revenues for that they keep an account of the Prince's Casna or Treasure the one hath charge of the Revenues which are raised in Natolia the other in Europe Also they draw great profit from their tributary Provinces especially from Valachia Moldavia and Transilvania where the Princes maintain themselves by Presents and Gifts so as they change daily for that they that offer most are advanced whereby they are forced to ruine the Country to perform what they have promised But having spoken of the Turks Forces and Revenues whereby they maintain their Armies to invade their Neighbours we must now speak something of their Laws whereby the Subjects are governed which are Institutions and Answers of Wise men the which they hold as an Interpretation of their Alcaron which is the ground of their Law. These Institutions are contained in twelve Volumes treating of all things belonging to civil Conversation Some Provinces of Turkey are governed by Customs and enjoy their Priviledges and their Wise Judges supply many things which are not written The Sultan makes choice of the wisest and worthiest Person that can be found of a sincere Life according to their Law and he is called Mufti that is Interpreter of their Alcaron he is as it were their High-priest attending only matters of Religion and Faith he is Head of the Church among the Turks and decideth all questions of their Law. He is of such eminency as all the Bassaes are subject to his direction he abaseth not himself so much as to sit in the Divano only passeth through it when he is sent for by the Sultan who so soon as he seeth him riseth from his seat as it were to honour him and then they both sit down face to face and so conferr together They make trial of the sufficientest of their Judges before they chuse any for which there are two Cadilesquiri Talismani that is Doctors of the Law and Examiners at Constantinople or wheresoever the Prince remains These examine the Judges or Cadies of divers Provinces The one hath his charge over Europe and is called Cadilesquirie Romly before whom after good information of his Life and sufficiency he swears that he will do Justice to all men and yield an account of his Charge when he shall be called The other Cadilesquirie is for Natolia they are sovereign Judges in all Causes and as it were Patriarchs They are of great Authority and have place in the Divano with the Bassaes to consult of weighty matters There is a Third degree of their Church-men belonging to their Law called Mulli which are Bishops and chief Governours under the Mufti and their Office is to place and displace Church-men at their discretion Next are the Nuderisi who are Suffragans to the Bishops and their Charge is to see the Cadies do their duties Next come the Cadies who are Judges to punish Offenders of which there is one in every City under the Seignior's command Under these are another kind of young Doctors of the Law called Naipi who are not so well read as to be absolute Judges but yet supply their places in their absence After these are the Hogi who write their Books for that they allow no printing and inferior unto them are the Calfi who read unto them that write And the youngest of all are called Sosti who are young Students or Novices in their Law. These are their several degrees of Lawyers or Church-men for the Turks are governed by a kind of Ecclesiastical Law according to their Alcaron They have Colledges called Medressae at Constantinople and in other places where they live and study their Law and Divinity and so they ascend by degrees to the highest Dignity of their Profession As for their Religion it began in the time of the Emperour Heraclius whenas the Empire was much dismembred by the Heresies of Arrius and Nestorius Mahomet born in Arabia embraced this opportunity seeking to overthrow the Divinity of Iesus Christ which was opposed by the Iews and Arabians he was assisted by two Hereticks the one was Iohn a Nestorian and the other Sergius an Arrian After which being assisted by many slaves to whom he allowed all that was pleasing to the sence and flesh if they should receive this Law he obtained many Victories By Mahomet's Law they make a Distinction of clean and unclean Meats to content the Iews and also it maintains Circumcision but not at the eighth day of their Birth as the Iews use it but after the eighth
prosecute the War in Persia which could not be successful without the united Power of his whole Empire conducted by his own Person he resolved to make a second Journey into those Parts and with his own Hand to knock at the Gates of Babylon To prepare and dispose all matters in order hereunto he in the first place countermanded his Decree which prohibited a farther increase of the number of Janisaries for now being desirous to augment his Army beyond the account of ancient Registers he opened the Janisaries Door as they call it and enrolled six thousand more into that Order To conserve still the Order of this Militia he appointed Officers strictly and severely to take the Decimation of the Christian Children in Europe and lest as was usual they should be corrupted by the Parents who often give Presents whereby to blind the Eyes of the Ministers that so they may oversee their Children or in lieu of the comliest and most fit for Service accept of the Sickly and Impotent or such as are unworthy of the Bread and Education given them by the Sultan he most severely injoined this Service and under a thousand Menaces encharged the care hereof to be executed without Favour or Partiality to any He carefully reviewed the Books of the Timjar-Spahees countting the number exactly that every Country yields and comparing them with those mustered in the Field he confiscated the Lands of those that wanted being forfeited for non-appearance he would admit of no Excuse or Delay to the Matter in hand The Superintendant of the Ordnance but making a Scruple about the Proportion of some Guns as too weighty and unwieldy for so long a March lost his Life for doubting or making a difficulty in what the Grand Signior proposed or designed And that no Commotions at home might divert or call him back before his Business was perfected he encharged his Pasha's of the Frontiers to live quietly with their Neighbours and to be sure to give no occasions of Complaint or Cause for War during his absence recommending to the prudence of the Pasha of Silistria the care of composing certain Differences between the Princes of Moldavia and Walachia Having secured Matters as well as he could at home he ordered the Horse-tail to be set forth at the gate of the Divan and all Pasha's and Officers of the Army did the like at their own Doors His Troops began now to grow numerous the Spahees and Timariots appointed for the Guard of the Grand Signior's Tents together with other Cavalry which hold their Lands under Service amounted unto two hundred thousand From the hundred seventy two Chambers of Janisaries he drew forth thirty thousand From the Topgees or Gunners whereof there are no more than twelve hundred in their Chambers at Constantinople yet make up twelve thousand in other parts he drew out three thousand for the present Service The Shepherds and Plough-men of Bulgaria made up twenty thousand which with Water-bearers Smiths Bakers Butchers and all other Tradesmen which followed the Camp were in vast Numbers so that the whole Army with the Attendants belonging thereunto were at a moderate calculation computed to amount unto near five hundred thousand Men whereof three hundred thousand were fighting Men. The Pestilence which is the Epidemical Disease of Turkie and which abates the Numbers and Pride of that People raged this Year greatly in Constantinople and in the parts of Romagnia it entred into the Seraglio and amongst others took away the only Son of the Grand Signior of two or three Years old This caused Morat to pass most part of the Summer at a Palace on the Bosphorus where he recreated himself with his drunken Companion the Persian Traitor and hereby he contradicted the Proverb That Princes love the Treason but not the Traitor for Morat it seems loved them both entertaining this Fellow in his Bosom His Cloaths his Garb his Horses and Equipage might rival with that of the Sultan's He took place of the Chimacam in all Publick Appearances and what was most strange he preceded the Mufti which was a new Form never before practised and would have afforded matter of Wonder and Discourse but that the World considered this Novelty as a Method agreeable to the extravagant Humor of the Sultan Amongst his Pastimes nothing was more pleasing than some Divertisement acted with Blood he shot the Son of a Pasha with his Gun for daring to approach near the Walls of his Seraglio supposing that he came with curiosity to discover his Pleasures and manner of voluptuous Recreations For the same Reason he would have sunk a Boat laden with Women as it glided slowly by the Banks of the Garden He would himself behold two Thieves impailed which were condemned to die for robbing something out of his Seraglio He commanded the Head of the Treasurer of Cyprus to be cut off in his presence as also the Master of his Musick for daring to sing a certain Air which seemed Persian and to praise the Valour of that Nation The Pasha of Temiswar he put to Death at a full Divan for fighting unfortunately against Ragotski To these severe Acts of Cruelty which he called Justice he added one not unpleasant A certain Greek called Stridia Bei or Lord Oysters who had been Prince of Walachia and one whom we have before mentioned having by his oppression and harassing that People amassed a considerable Sum of Mony essayed a second time by force thereof to obtain the Principality and making his Offer and Request before the Grand Signior he was heard with some railery At length the Grand Signior told him That he was too proud and aspiring and therefore ordered the tips of his Nose and Ears to be cut off telling him that that was to clip the Wings of his Ambition But that before his departure for Persia he might consummate his Acts of Tyranny he practised one upon his Brother a Youth of twenty two Years of Age of great Hopes and good Endowments He was conducted to the presence of his Brother at the Biram to pay his Respects as is usual at that Festival and having performed the Ceremony he enlarged himself in high Praises and Admiration of the Grand Signior's Generosity and Bravery who for recovery of Bagdat was contented to expose his Person to the Inconveniences of a long Journey and the Dangers of a hazardous War and that therein he equalled if not surpassed the Glory of his Ancestors Which courtly and rational manner of Discourse did not please Morat but rather administred Subject of Jealousy fearing that he knew too much and that as he could Speak well so he might Act accordingly wherefore the same Day he caused him to be strangled to the great Sorrow of the People and detestation of his Abominable Tyranny But to amuse the Minds of the Multitude and cease their Murmuringâ— he caused it to be divulged abroad that fourteen of his Women in the Seraglio were with Child which was all false
meet a Punishment equal to its Demerits Wherefore one day having desired License of the Vizier to return to his own Country where it is believed he had by Mony purchased his Pardon he was called to the Vizier's Presence and there without any Impeachment Process or Accusation had the String applied to his Throat and strangled on the place the reason hereof some give to be the immense Riches which Sultan Morat had bestowed upon him though there wanted not many Causes to render him suspected and obnoxious to the present Government first because he was too well acquainted with the Secrets of the Seraglio and of that State to live in any other Country than the Turkish Dominions then it was feared that the Persian Ambassador might make use of this Person to act what Treason he pleased on the remainder of the Ottoman Family on promise that such an Attempt should expiate his former Villany and regain the favour of his natural Prince But such signal Actions as these are commonly wrote in such large Characters of Divine Justice which never left Treason unpunished either in this Life or the other that we need not search or enquire for a further Cause or Occasion of this Punishment year 1642. The Year 1642 being now entred and the Turks desirous to repair their last Years Disgrace resolved again with better Preparation and Conduct to attempt Asac but before they would engage according to their usual Custom they determined to conclude all Umbrages and Matters of Dispute arisen on the Confines of Hungary To which end the Emperor deputed the Baron of Questemberg with other Barons and the Turks on their side commissionated the Pashaws of the Confines with Instructions not to insist too strictly on the Conditions lest it should retard the Peace and obstruct the other Design of War Wherefore â—he Turks condescending to Matters reasonable and yielding up part of their Usurpation a Peace was concluded for twenty Years much to the Advantage and Favour of the Christians And now to give farther Courage to the Proâ—ecution of higher Attempts the whole Turkish Empire was replenished with Joy for the Birth of a young Prince Sultan Mahomet than now reigns so that the supposed Impotency of the Father whereby the Ottoman Family might have been extinguished was proved otherwise by plain Effect and the fear of those that ruled the Empire vanishing by the Rising of this new Star all places were filled with Joy and Triumphs only the Tartar Han finding himself thus disappointed was supposed not willing to concur heartily in this common Joy. In this manner vanished the appearance of Civil Dissention in that Family which now flourishes and encreases every day and insensibly creeps forward to the Design which they hope of an Universal Monarchy Pardon me O Christian Kings if I say insensibly for methinks you are sensible of the least touch you receive from one another but feel not the gripes and pinches of your Common Enemy who like a Hectick Feaver hath mingled with your Blood and stolen into the Marrow of your Strength where he will lurk until he hath dissolved the Fabrick of your Christian World unless expelled by Concord amongsâ— your selves and the Divine Assistance favouring your united Forces But now to return again to the famous Siege of Asac It being the custome to cast all Miscarriages in War on the General the Visier displaced the Captain-Pasha taking upon himself that Office and Title of which there was never any former Example In the Place likewise of the Pasha of Silistria was constituted Mustapha Pasha of Aegypt which Government though much inferiour to his former yet was received without sence of Disgrace it not being the Riches or Power of any Office that confers Honour but the Favour and good Will of the Sulan Nor did only the Miscarriage of the late War tend to the disrepute of the former Pasha of Silistria but the Report of his having poisoned the Tartar Han encreased the difficulty of reconcilement with his Superiors which being a Matter rather suspected than proved excused him from farther punishment than only a deprivation of his Office. The new Pasha of Silistria thus taking upon himself the Command of the Army and Conduct of this War assembled a Force of Turks Tartars Moldavians and Walachians far exceeding the number of the last Year At the News of which and of the Fleet of Gallies designed to besiege them by Sea they apprehended their Danger so great that without the Assistance of the Moscovite they concluded it impossible to defend their City to him therefore they made Applications for Succour representing unto him the extremity their Affairs were in by reason of that powerful Enemy which threatned them and that having always acknowledged him for their Protector there was no Refuge left them but under the defence of his Arms. But hereunto the Moscovite gave a brief reply That he had lately concluded Peace with the Turk since which having received from him no occasion of breach he could not with any Justice engage so soon against him in a War. The Cossacks being thus disappointed of their principal Hopes resolved to abandon theiâ— City but to make the best advantage of their flight they carried with them all their Moveables and demolished their Walls and ruined their Houses leaving the Place a notorious Spectacle of Despair and Ruin and no other Possession to their Enemies than the compass of so much ground pestered with Rubbish and rude heaps of Stones The Pasha howsoever abundantly contented that his veâ—y Name was sufficient to affright his Enemies entred the City with Triumph where he began to repair the Walls and inâ—ite the Inhabitants to return with all assurance of Security and Protection This gentle Treatment recalled many back to their Homes so hardly are Men weaned from their Native Country and in a short time the City beginning to fill all Matters seemed to return to their pristine State and Condition About this time the Persian by his Ambassador renewed his League with the Turk and confirmed it in the Name of the new King which was performed on condition that the Softi should demolish the Fortress of Fortrina which he had contrary to Articles built on the Frontiers not far from the Caspian Sea which that it might assuredly be performed a Capugibathee was dispatched to see it effected And in this manner Asaâ— being subdued and a Peace secured with the Persian The Turks who can neither live in quiet with their Neighbours nor observe Capitulations longer than they turn to their advantage contrived to take Giavarine alias Rab a strong Fortress on the Confines of Hungary by a Stratagem which they designed in this manner Certain Souldiers habited like Peasants were crouded into several Carts covered with Hay which being entered within the Walls were immediatly to leap forth and surprise the Centinels and Guards at the Gates which might easily be executed on Men whom twenty Years before
in the Garden according to his usual Custom throwing them one on the other into the Water the Queen grew so furious that she could not contain longer from venting her Anger in unhansome Terms and jealously against the Nurse and her Son. At which the Sultan being much displeased and being ill-natured if we may speak boldly of an Emperor took her Son which is now Sultan Mahomet out of her Arms and with some few Curses swung him into a Cistern where he had been certainly drowned had not every one in that instance applied themselves to save him at which time he received the Mark or Scar he wears at this day in his Forehead All thâ—se Matters served for farther Fuel to nourish the implacable Spirit of the Queen which the Kuzlir Aga well observing judged it prudence to give way to her Fury and so begged his Dismission from the Court together with his Slave and Son and that having visited Mecha according to his Law he might enjoy a Râ—tirement in Egypt which is the Portion of banished Eunuchs The Queen easily consented hereunto nor was it difficult to procure the Licence of the Sultan who was as easily perswaded to any by those who were about him wherefore the Eunuch having provided to be gone shipped himself with his great Treasure on the Fleet which was now designed and ready to depart for Alexandria which consisted of three Ships one a great Gallion and two others of lesser Burthen and seven Saiks these having at the beginning of their Voyage found contrary Winds put into Rhodes from whence loosing with more favourable Weather they unfortunately met with six Malta Gallies exâ—ellently well manned and provided The Admiral Gally immediately Boarded one of the Saiks and took her manned only by Greeks by whom they were informed of the Condition Quality and Cargo of the greater Ship which gave Heat and Resolution to the Souldiery In like manner with little Opposition the Gallies called the St. Iohn and Ioseph possessed themselves of one of the lesser Ships which being laden only with Timber brought from the Black Sea to build Ships at Alexandria was of little value having forty Turks aboard eight Women and a Child which sucked at the Mother's Breast In the mean time the three other Gallies called the St. Mary St. Lorenzo and Victory attacked the great Gallion and having cast their Iron Graples into the Ship with the Motion of the Ship the Irons gave way and broke only that of the St. Lorenzo held fast so that the whole force of the Ship both of small and great Shot was poured in upon the Gally to their damage and loss of Men. In the mean time the Admiral Gally came in to their Assistance and Assaulting the Ship on the other Quarter made a Diversion of their Men and having thrown in their Graples they scaled the sides of the Gallion as if it had been a Fortress where being entred they remained for some time at handy-blows with the Turks but at length all the Gallies coming to their help having made an end of subduing the other Ships the Turks were forced to retire under Covert of their Decks which they defended still with singular Valour wounding the Christians with their half Pikes through the Gratings But in fine the Captains of the Gallies perceiving that this was not the way to compel them to a speedy Surrender ordered several Musquetiers out of every Gally to fire in at the Windows and loop-holes of the Ship by which having killed their Commander in Chief their Valour and Constancy began to fail and desirous to save their lives with loss of Liberty and Estates they cast down their Arms and begged Mercy In this Engagement were killed the Captain of the St. Mary and seven Cavaliers of which sive were French one Italian and one German the Admiral himself and the Captain of his Gally were both wounded seventy nine Souldiers and Mariners killed and an hundred thirty two wounded Of the Turks it is not certain how many fell in regard as they were killed according to Custom they cast them over-board the Eunuch himself though always educated in the softness of the Seraglio and in the Conversation of the Female Court yet in the end concluded his days like one of the Masculine Sex fighting valiantly with his Sword until overwhelmed by his Enemies by which it is observable that those Persons lose not their Courage with their virile Parts for it hath been known in former days how that Eunuchs have been Generals in the Turkish and other Armies and conducted their Affairs with admirable Courage and Success The Prize which the Christians had gained in this manner was very considerable for besides the Gold Silver and Jewels which were the Treasure this Eunuch had amassed in the Reign of three several Sultans they gained three hundred and fifty Slaves besides thirty Women some of which were young and Virgins so that there was not a Souldier or Seaman who had not a considerable share of benefit proportioned unto him With this Fortune towing their Prizes they in a short time came to an Anchor in the Port of Calismene in the Island of Candia called anciently Phenice on the South-side of the Iâ—land remote from all Venetian Garisons and where as it is reported they were supplied with no Provisions excepting a small quantity of Bisket which was furnished by a Country Fellow who for that very Cause was shot to Death From hence the Gallies departing arrived in Malta with their Prizes where they were received in great Triumph The young Son of the Eunuch for so we call him was reported to be a Son of the Grand Signior sent into Egypt to be Educated and was accordingly saluted treated and reverenced by the Grand Master the same Opinion was dispersed and confirmed in all parts of Europe and the Errour for many Years maintained at the Expence of the Religion until the Boy growing up to a good Age and not judged worthy of a Ransom or enquiry after by the Turks it was thought convenient for him to put off his State and Greatness and become a Fryer and I think a Dominican and this is he who now goes under the name of the Padre Ottomano The News hereof arriving at the Ottoman Court Sultan Ibrahim was transported with Anger threatning Destruction and Ruin unto Malta besides he shewed a most inveterate Passion against the Venetians for not guarding the Seas from his Enemies and for relieving them in their Ports In which Rage and Fury he put his own Captain Pasha to death and Summoned the Christian Ambassadors braving them all for the little respect was shown to his proper Shiping and in short was angry with all but reserved the Effect of his Wrath to be poured on the Venetians to which this Accident administred the first Original and will afford us ample matter of Discourse in this ensuing History For the Grand Signior first made his Complaints against Venice to their
any ill The French and many others pretend Debts of many of those People that are gone up and would know who shall pay them and pretend to be paid out of their Estates but we have put them off telling them we believe your Lordship will hardly let your Estate go to pay their Debts nevertheless shall advise your Lordship of it so have secured none only to one Huzoone Amet Aga one of the chief Men in the Town here Mr. Lancelott having given him a Bill of Exchange for 475 Dollars and the Bill returned unpaid we were forced to deliver into the Hangee's Hands for his Security 10 Cloathes We have given the Ships liberty to lade by reason of their continual grumbling but fear our Design on the Ionas will not take for the Caddie seeing the stubbornness of Terrick will not assist us as he promised We have not ought to inlarge at present but to subscribe our selves Your Honours Iohn Hetherington Lorenzo Zuma Matters running thus high and the Breach made so wide there remained little hopes of an Accommodation For now the Merchants at Galata having obtained their Liberty from the Ambassador's House by the Vizier's Command entred into a Consultation in what manner to govern their Affairs electing some particular Men to that Employment which they called by the Name of the Sealed Knot which much provoked the Anger of Sir Sackvile Crow and more because that deserting his Protection they made Applications to the Heer Coppes Agent for the States of Holland who readily embraced the defence of their Cause and willingly represented to the Grand Vizier the Aggrievances and ill Treatment of which they complained The French Ambassador on the other side being a great Favourer of Sir Sackvile Crow and his Proceedings assisted him both at Smyrna and Constantinople All which will more particularly appear by the following Letters The Factors General Letter to the Levant Company dated the 28th of June 1646 in Constantinople Right Worshipful SIrs at present we have our Heads and Hands full and all little enough to preserve your Estates from devouring and our selves from that Evil Consequence might ensue upon such unheard-of Proceedings and Intentions as have been long in private agitation but when the Monster came to the Birth there wanted strength to bring forth so in a good hour we may say the Snare is broken and doubt not the Devices of the Crafty is frustrate by him whose Almightiness shews it self most when we Mortals are least capable to help our selves We shall according to our Obligation give your Worships some account of the last Progressions of his Lorship Sir Sackvile Crow whom his Majesty sent hither Ambassador and to be a Protector of your Estates and our Persons how he hath performed this Charge and Duty formerly your Lorships have in part heard what hath happened of late we shall now chiefly insist upon After his Lordship had caused the stay of the Ships in this Port and at Smyrna under pretence of this State 's requiring it in respect of their Wars with the Venetians the Sampson and Smyrna Merchant having been here almost seven Months to the great loss and damage of Ships and Goods he picks a quarrel with the Factory of Smyrna for not complying according to his Order in the paiment of their Parts of the last Leviation-Mony and hereupon sends down Iohn Hetherington one of his Servants a most lewd debaucht prophane riotous Fellow yet his Lordship's Kinsman accompanied with two Chiouzes two Druggermen a Janizary and other Servants to proceed with those who should refuse to pay their Leviation according to the Instructions he had given the said Hetherington and Lorenzo Zuma Druggerman But before the arrival of these Agents the Nation there had undertaken the paiment by an Obligatory Letter to his Lordship this would not satisfy nor deposition of Goods for Security until Answer should come from hence of the paiment of their Bills of Exchange which was tendred buâ— the second day after their arrival Hetherington and his Retinue goes to the Caddie's and thither causes the Consul and all the Nation to come where it was pretended they had laden the William and Thomas with Corn and sent her away and therefore by virtue of an Imperial Command very privately here procured the Consul and six more of the Nation were delivered into the Hands of the Chiouz and so brought up hither not being suffered to return to their own Houses but put a day and a night into an offensive dark place the Doors and Windows not only shut but nailed upon them not suffering either their Friends or Servants to come at them or a Window open till the evening for which also they paid Dollars 100. In this disgraceful manner they were brought hither where they have been since the 22 d of the last Month Prisoners in his Lordship's House to the 21 st present notwithstanding they had complied in paying the Leviation Monies in less than a Week after their arrivals and by fair Promises put off from day to day for their dispatch to their Business at Smyrna which could not but much suffer by their absence Their Magazines and Counting-houses continued sealed from the time of their Attachments the Ships not permitted to lade or depart though empty and no Debts due to them would be paid in this their Absence and time of Distraction The Leviation Monies being satisfied of which Dollars 31000 his Lordship forced into Cancellaria and we of Smyrna expecting no more rubs in the way his Lordship the 16 th Instant calls a Court and there declared That of what Monies had been collected there would not remain much on the old Accompt therefore provision must be made for the future growing Charge for so much as upon this pretended Imbargo no Ships would come in haste and he and his must be maintained which he would provide for Hereupon when we could not do otherwise Dollars 25000 was promised half by this Factory for which his Lordship caused us to enter into Bond as he did those of Smyrna for the other half this being effected which we should not neither altogether have been so ready to have complied in but thereby to put a period to all other Demands and enable our selves to proceed in our Business for your Worships better Service The 18 th present his Lordship calls another Court and after arguing of some General Matters with a seeming sadness tells us how that he had been wronged by false Information from hence and Smyrna but he was so far from proving it as that he would not discover so much as whom he suspected and thereupon the Levant Company at Home had by means of the Parliament procured Sequestration of his Estate and Lands in England and endeavoured to surprize his Person and therefore according to Religion Reason and common Policy he ought to secure himself and his Hostages and thereupon he departed from us requiring the Nation speedily to resolve of some present
always be a Plea in defence of the English Nation in Turky when at any time His Majesty provoked by the Injuries of those faithless and piratical Nations should take due Revenge upon them not only on the Seas but also on the Land subverting those very Cities and Fortresses which are the Nests of Piracies and the common Chastisement and Gaols of Christendom When these Articles came to the hands of His Majesties Ambassador the Earl of Wiâ—chelsea with Orders to have them ratified and subscribed in the manner foregoing the Turkish Court was then at Adrianople to which place on this occasion the Lord Ambassador made a Journey from his usual Residence at Constantinople and having acquainted the Chimacam with the whole matter and the Propositions rightly apprehended by him they were offered and the next day communicated in behalf of the Ambassador to the Grand Signior who readily promised compliance with His Majesties desires ordering the Articles and Conclusion of them to be ingrossed and prepared for the Imperial Assent Howsoever some considerable time ran on before they were delivered out in regard that being matters of State relating to War and Peace they could not be fully granted without Privity and Knowledg of the Grand Vizier who was the supreme Counsellor and therefore we were forced to attend thirty five days before an Express could go and return from the Frontiers with the Answer expected which was as easily granted by the Vizier as before it was entertained by the Grand Signior On August 5. the Confirmation of the several aforesaid Articles were consigned unto my self in presence of our Lord Ambassador by the hands of the Chimacam being my self designed in Person to deliver them for which Service a Frigat of His Majesties Navy attended at Smyrna so that very Evening I departed and arrived at Smyrna the 15 th of August In my Journy from Adrianople to Smyrna omitting the Geography of the Countries and the pleasent view I had from the top of a Mountain between Malagra and Gallipoli from whence I could survey all the Hellespont and at the same time take a prospect of the Propâ—ntick and Ionian Seas I shall only relate two passages which beâ—el me in this Journey not unpleasant to be remembred The first was at a small Village called Ishecle at the foot of the Mountain Ida not far from the Ancient Troy now named by the Turks Kauzdog which signifies the Mountain of Geese the People that inhabit here are of a rude Disposition great Thieves and of a wild and savage Nature at my entry thereupon I was advised by those that were with me that it was necessary to take Mules to carry my Baggage through the Mountains and to press the People to convoy me to the next Government by Virtue of a Command the Grand Signior had granted me for the security of my Travels so that arriving at this 〈◊〉 by break of day I went directly with all my Attendance being about eighteen or nineteen Horse to the Kadi's House where knocking hard at the Door a Servant looked out at the Window and spying so great a company wholly affrighted ran to his Master and awakening him with such dreadful news he had scarce any Soul or Life remaining to render an Answer for he was one of those who three times a day was used to take his Dose of Opium which gave him a strange kind of Intoxication or Drunkennesâ— during the Operation of which men have their Spirits violently moved and agitated that afterwards it leaves them so wearied and languid that in the morning when they first awake they remain like dead Stocks their Members are benumbed and can scarce turn from one side to the other In this condition the News of new Guests surprized this Kadi when wholly feeble he called to his Servant to reach him his Box of Opium of which when he had taken his usual Propotion and that it began to work his Life returned again to him and he began immedâ—ately to recover so that he had Courage to open his Gates and receive us in when he had read the Command and found no hurt in it the Man was transported with Joy and Opium and was so kind chearful and of a good humour that I could not but admire at the change he told me â—â—at he lived in a barbarous Country and was forced to use that for Divertisement and as a Remedy of his melancholly hours I easily perceived the effect it had upon him for he seemed to me like a Bedlam in which humour he called all his Neighbours about him and after a wise Consultation they provided me with two Mules and five Men on foot with rusty Muskets without Powder or Shot to guide and guard me through the Mountains I had not travelled two Miles before all my Guard were stollen aside and taking advantage of the Woods and Mountains were fled from me so that I found my self with no other than my own People in an unbeaten Path and a way unfrequented the man excepted who drove the Mules who for sake of his Beasts was obliged to a farther attendance We travelled in this manner through the Mountains about four hours when near a Village called Suratnee we met one of the Principal men on Horse-back carrying a flead Mutton behind him which upon Examination we discovered to be carried for a Bribe to the Kadi of Isheclee that so he would be his Friend and favour him in his Cause And further upon inquiry finding that our Entertainment was likely to be mean at Suratnee we forced the Gentleman to return with us and to sell us his Mutton at the market-price and so for that time we disappointed our Kadi of his Fee or Reward and being upon the rise of a Hill descending to Suratnee so that the People could see us at a distance they like true Sons of Kauz-dog forsook their Habitations and fled which we perceiving posted after them and catched two of their men whom we brought under Shart or the Country-mans Oath which they account very sacred and will by no means break to be true and faithful to us to serve and not leave us for so long time as we should remain in their Village and accordingly these men were not only serviceable but diligent so soon as they discovered me to be one who would pay justly for what I took and was not a Turkish Aga or Servant of Great men who harrass the People and take their Service and Meat on account of free Quarter the whole Village returned again from their places of Refuge amidst the Woods so that I neither wanted Provisions nor Attendance Another passage happened unto me of better Civility and Enâ—ertainment in the Plains of Pergamus where noâ— many Miles from that Ancient City I arrived about six a Clock in the Evening aâ— certain Tents or Cots of Shepherds being only Hurdles covered with Hair-cloth lined within with a sort of loose Felt a sufficient defence agâ—inst the Sun and
any friendship or alliance with them but since he was inferiour to the Great Vizier he would dispeed him to the Camp and grant him a Command for his Post. But it seems this Courier being arrived at Belgrade was received with better terms and more courtesie by the Vizier who had learned by experience of the late Christian Wars and proof of the Valour of the French Nation that the Propositions of that King were not lightly to be contemned And therefore consented that Monsieur De Ventelay might freely come using their common expression that the Arms of the Port are always open to receive the addresses of Friends Allies and Confederates With this Message and Letters the Courier was dispatched by way of Ragâ—si with safe conduct and what else was requisite for his securer passage No doubt but his most Christian Majesty was the more urgent that the Person of Monsieur De Ventelay who was the suâ—ject on whom formerly the Turks had exercised such injurious violence should be accepâ—ed for Ambassadour and resolved unless they received him he would send no other that so his Honour which suffered before in this Person might be repaired again by the respect and reverence they were to shew to him as Ambassadour as if in repentance of their former unkindness they should now strive to make amends by extraordinary demonstrations of honour to this Representative For it was judged in France and there concluded That there was no other means to repair the Kings Honour than by the Embassy of Monsieur De Ventelay to which that a greater reputation might be added he was transported in one of the Kings Ships called the Caesar accompanied with a Fire-ship and a small Patach for a Victualler and for his â—eâ—ter Equipage was attended by four or five Mâ—rquesses and â—ersons of Quality Being arriveâ— aâ— the farther part of the City called the Seveâ— Towers the Ships came to an Anchor from whence the Ambassadour sent to advise the Vizier of his arrival desiring as one mark of the extraoâ—dinary honour promised him that a return might be made to the Salute of his Ship from the Seraglio by the Cannon which lay under the Wall a Ceremony before never demanded or practised with respect to any Christian or Turkish Vessel and that his landing might be honoured with a more than usual reception by the attendance of Officers or at least equalled to the Formalities of the late English Ambassadour But the Vâ—zier it seems judged that the reception of the English strained on a particular occasion was not to be brought into example and that a Salute from the Seraglio was so besides the ordinary custom that he esteemed the demand to be extravagant and that such a President would be dishonourable to his Master And therefore resolving not to exceed the pâ—rticulars of former customs offered at his landing to have him accompanied to his House with ten Chaouses only the Ambassadour not accepting hereof in a discontented manner entred with his Ship the day following and giving the usual Salutes to the Seraglio landed at Topenau a place near to his own Dwelling from whence with no other attendance than his own Company privately walked up and with no farther ceremony took possession of the place of Residence of former Ambâ—ssadours from France Noâ—withstanding this slight treatment the Ambassadour was not so much mortified but he conceived hopes that the Turks would at length in conâ—emplation of his Masters greatness gratifie him with some signal demonstrations of extraordinary honour by concessions of unusual Priviledges and greater facility in his Negotiations and therefore was induced though as yet he had not had a personal Audience of the Vizier to desire a revocation of the Agreement made with the Genoese the Marquess Durazzo of whom we have spoken before being just upon his departure protesting against it with all earneâ—tness as a matter so prejudicial to the French Traffick and Commerce in those Dominions that if admission were given to the Genoese they must expect to lose friendship and commerce with France But notwithstanding this heat and other protestations against it the Vizier who inherited his Fathers spirit little regarded the discontent of the French but calmly answered That the Grand Signior was Master of himself and Country and might make Peace or War at his own pleasure without licence or permission of the French king and that such as were envious or discontented at the Peace had free liberty to depart and take their remedy as they esteemed most beneficial In this manner matters passed between the time of this Ambassadours Arrival and his Audience In which interim the curiosity of Monsieur Abermont Captain of the French Man of War had like to have proved fatal to him for whilst he viewed from the Gallery of his Ship the pleasant situation of the Seraglio and the Prospect of the Bosphorus behold at a distance appeared certain Gallies gently gliding down the stream dressed up with Flags and Streamers which all Ships and Saykes saluted with their Guns as they passed This Captain being informed that the Grand Signior was there in person and returned from his Hunting which he had made in câ—rtain Woods not far from the City saluted him also as he passed with twenty five Guns but being not able to discover his person presently fitted his Boat and followed him hoping to receive that satisfaction at his landing foâ— conceiving that access to the Ottoman and Eastern Princes is as facâ—le and grateful as it is to those of Christendom with all confidence endeavoured to accost the Person of the Grand Signior as near as was possible The Grand Signior turning his eyes and seeing a man habited as he conceived in a barbarous and extravagant dress apprehended the Majesty of his Person violated by so near and bold an approach of the curious Stranger and thereupon without farther inquiry being moved with scorn and indignation called for the Executioner who is ever ready at his hand but some persons then present especially the Bostangibashee being of more moderation beseeched the Grand Signior to have a little patience and to enquire of the Ghaur or Infidel as they call'd him the cause of this his boldness with which the Grand Signior suppressing a little his passion and having patience until one was sent to expostulate with the Captain who all this while though he perceived some disturbance was yet ignorant that the matter so dangerously concerned himself and not being able to understand the Messenger nor to be understood by him rendred the business more confused and less understood which the Messenger observing and knowing the danger of this worthy and innocent Gentleman being perhaps of a compassionate nature and prudent framed this excuse to the Grand Signior That he did not well understand the Infidels language but what he conjectured was That he being Captain of that Vessel which had newly saluted his Majesty as he passed with twenty five Guns was now come
and Franconia and some other loose Regiments in the Empire After these first Dispositions which depended on the Duke's care his thoughts more nearly regarded the Court and the relief of Vienna He judged the safety of this Place of such Importance that he thought it not fit it should be pressed and reduced to Extremity to search the means of saving it He knew that the tediousness of Negotiations and the distance from whence he was to expect things necessary for this grand Enterprise would make him lose much time whence he concluded that he could not begin too soon He was not of the Sentiment of others who imagined that the Garrison of Vienna was capable of defending it self against such extraordinary Troops and cause the Grand Visier's Army to perish without any Succour But he knew that the want of Necessaries do sometimes produce great Changes in the best Resolutions that no body could answer for the Governour 's Life nor for the principal Officers nor for the constancy of the People accustomed to an easie Life and who had never seen the Wars but in paint He knew that the Maladies inevitable in Sieges might occasion untoward Accidents He saw the Desolation of the Emperour 's Hereditary Countries which did daily augment He heard no other Discourse but of Places sacked and People carried into slavery In this Continuation of Cruelties and Violences he judged it reasonable to use all means to stop the Rapidity of this Torrent He perswaded himself that being at the head of the Army he ought not to deferr representing all these Particulars to the Emperour by some Person of Merit and Trust. He gave this Commission to Count Taff whom he dispatch'd to Hassau and he continued the same Offices during the Siege for all the Obstacles and Oppositions which he Encountred whether by the Difficulties of Passages or the slender success of his Negotiations The Besiegers who had drawn two parallel Lines the one on the Court Bastion and the other on the Lebel side joyned them with another of Communication and placed above thirty pieces of Battery against them And though Vienna was environed with eleven Bastions the Enemy attack'd and battered but three during the whole Siege which obliged the Governour to use all his care for their defence The Grand Visier took his Post on that side that regarded the Ravelin above-mentioned with the Aga of the Janizaries called as he was Cara Mustapha his Kiaia and the Bassa of Romelia this last was slain with a Cannon bullet The Attack on the right side towards the Court Bulwark was committed to Hussan the Bassa of Damâ—s who though brave had been beaten by Prince Ragotzki in Transilvania by Count Souches at Lewentz and by the King of Poland at Cocczin This Bassa was seconded by the Serasquier Janisary Aga or Collonel of all the Foot. Achmet Bassa of Temiswar commanded the left Attack towards the Lebel Bulwark He had been Tefterdar and died the Third of September of a Dyssentery Hussan Bassa who had also been his Highnesses Treasurer was put in his Place I shall designedly pretermit the particulars of this Siege as to the Approaches Trenches Batteries Minings Counterminings Attacks Sallies and Contests though carried on with admirable Valour and Constancy on both sides as being particularised in the Journals of that Siege in all Languages and of little or no use to my Country-men And yet I shall omit no great Action nor any thing that may be required of a just Historian Great was the firing on both sides and a Granado falling on the Spanish Ambassadors Palace reversed all his Stables It would have done yet more harm without the Governours Precaution who had commanded 250 men under their particular Officers to march incessantly through the Streets to quench the artificial Fires occasioned from their Bombs or otherwise Being as we mentioned close shut up Count Starenberg was the more desirous to communicate Councils with the Duke of Lorrain for which end he offered 100 Duckets to any that would but carry him a Letter without the hazard of a return but no man presented himself upon this occasion and yet a Spy sent by the Duke arrived happily in the City having traversed the four Branches of the Danube with his Letters hanged in a Bladder about his Neck by these the Governour was informed that he should certainly be relieved and that the Troops of the Circles of the Empire and the Hereditary Countries with which the King of Poland who was at â—lmitz was to joyn did daily arrive In the mean time some Deserters brought News and it was seen from the top of St. Stevens Steeple that the Infidels were making a Bridge of Boats over the Danube a League off to the end they might pass when they pleased into the Isle of Prater They knew also that this Commission was given to the Vayvods of Wallachia and Moldavia who employed 6000 of their Nation in the Work but being the Turks suspected them as being Christians and that they were forced the Visier ordered Achmet Bassa of Magneâ—ia a City in Natolia who was camped in this Isle and Chider Bassa of Bosna who had been Kiaia to the Sultana Asseki to attend their Actions and second them with six thousand Egyptians The Baron of Kunitz who was the Emperours Resident with the Port being then in the Camp sent one of his Domesticks with a Letter to Count Starenberg which was not very hard to do though the Turks kept a very strict Guard by reason that the Officers and Servants of all the Ministers which resided with the Grand Seignior are habited as Turks and speak the Language of the Country The business was kept so little secret that the News became the next day the subject of every Conversation This Indiscretion was the cause that they could no more profit by this Advantage the Turks being advertised of this Commerce by their Spies Kunitz's Servant being seised upon in his return was brought to the Visier and seen no more but without his Letters which being wrap'd in wax he prudently let slip into a Ditch when he saw the Turks come towards him An Order was published by sound of Trumpet commanding all Proprietors of Houses to keep every one a Man in his Cellar to hearken if they could not discern any thumping or removing of Earth because it had been noised abroad that some Traitors had promised to bring the Enemy through Subterranean Passages into the City The same day the Turks passing some great Pieces into Leopolstat upon Boats and Flotes were discovered by the besieged who play'd upon them with their Cannon from the Ramparts so lukily that they sunk two of their largest with a Mortarpiece which yet did not hinder the rest to arrive at Neudorf and Erdorf The Cannon on both sides together with the Mortars play'd without ceasing and though they ruined the prime Buildings in the Town they hurt or killed but very few The 24 th Nitiski one
conquering or to dye nobly in this occasion to which the glory of Martyrdom is concomitant Think that your King fights in the head of you to partake with you of your perils and your victories and rest assured that the God of Battels whose cause we are going to defend will not fail to fight for us Whilst this Prince endeavoured by his discourses to inspire his Troops with that generous ardour he was himself agitated the Citizens of Vienna who had been advertised of the approach of their relief saw with inexpressible content the Army of the Christians descend from the Mountains of Kalemberg being ascertained by the noise of the Cannon which was sâ— ot against the Turks who had parapetted the Passages with earth and stone though to no purpose that their deliverance was near And they would also contribute all they could to it by the discharge of all their Artillery from the Bastions and Curtains of the wall There was also an infinity of small shot discharged on both sides with many Granadoes The Turks had not as yet shot so many Bombs since the beginning of the Siege as they did this day to retard the Christians that descended into the Plain and to annoy those who crowded upon the heights of the City to observe the descent of their friends and the combat Whilst the King of Poland continued his march at the head of his Army the Duke of Lorraine caused Heisters Regiment of Dragoons and another of Saxony which Count Caprara posts to the left at the foot of St. Leopolds Chappel to descend That of Heister received orders at eight of the clock to go and attack the Enemies who had possessed a place to the left from whence they troubled the Imperialists and the Infantry had likewise order to advance upon the Turks who were retired behind their courtains and hollow ways This motion was made on both sides at once The Turks made some resistance at first but not with Vigour enough to hinder the Christians advance who obliged them to retire behind another blind Count Lesley who had brought down some Cannon planted it at the head of the Infantry The Duke of Croy was also returned for having used the first Applications to his hurt he had force enough not to quit the fight the whole day This advantage gave both time and room to extend the front of the left Wing as it descended and issued out of the Streights In the mean time the first Line of Infantry which in their march against the Infidels gave continual fire with their Musquets mingled with that of Field-pieces beat them out of another Post and a Line or Curtain which reach'd from the Danube Hill over against the Carthusians The Duke about ten a Clock made a halt and whilst the rest of the left Wing filled the ground which the first Troops had taken and that Count Caprara extended it to the Banks of the Danube he sent orders to the Prince of Waldeck who began to appear upon the first heights to the right and to the Duke of Saxon-Lawenburg who was also got out of the Wood to continue their march until they were equal with the front of the Troops commanded by the Duke of Croy and to advance extending to the right until they came within shot of the Poles upon their issuing out of their Avenues which were on the right hand of all These Orders being given the Duke returned to the head of the left Wing to make the great Body of the Germans move at once The Great Duke of Saxony came and joyned him and continued always near him in the places the most exposed At Noon they saw the King at the Head of his Troops who came and joyned the right Wing of the Imperialists The Duke in the mean time took care that in marching to the Enemy the Subaltern Generals should rally and re-establish any Disorders which might have happened by the Difficulty of the Passages and that all should advance with equality firing continually with their great and small shot The march was in this order though slowly by reason of the roughness of the way and the opposition of the Enemy the left moving along the Danube as far as the Village of Neudorff carryed it after a considerable resistance To the right upon the same Line there was another Hill guarded by the Turks at the attack whereof a Dutch Batallion being disordered was succoured by Stirums Dragoons ordered by Count Dunewald This Batallion recovered took the Post and continued to advance The justness of this march the Christian Armies order of Battel and the scituation of the Place which made the Imperialists appear as in a kind of Amphitheater presented a great and formidable object to the sight which astonished the Turks and did not a little contribute to the Victory The King of Poland being yet behind the Army halted near Newdorff until he was advanced upon the same Line after which they continued their march The Imperialists carried without very great resistance the Post the Turks had at Helgstat and the Prince of Waldeck obliged those that opposed him to retire In the mean time the Infidels who were in Battalia in their Camp moved as if they had designed upon the left Wing but perceiving the Army of Poland upon the heights they moved that way so that the Poles and Turks faced each other almost in the same order making more depth then front The Poles seemed back'd by the Wood and the Turks by their Camp. The King who was in the head of his Troops detach'd some squadrons of his Hussars who charged the Turks being all Lanciers with great Vigour they bore before them those that opposed them but engaging themselves too far they drew so many Enemies upon them that they were forced to run The Turks followed them to a Place where Prince Waldeck had opportunely posted two Batalions of Bavarians The fire of these Foot cooled the pursuit of the Enemy and gave the King of Poland time to cause his first Line to advance to re-establish the Disorder of his Hussars Count Rabata at the Kings desire joyned the Emperours Dragoons with them But this body of Turks detach'd from their Troops did not dare to stand the shock of the Christians but retired to a height where they had Foot and Cannon with more diligence then they were come After this advantage the King continued to march with all his Army and the Turks endeavoured to obstruct their Passage from the several Posts they had The fire of their Artillery and Musquets did some harm to the Poles but did not break them and so they advanced still gaining Ground insensibly upon the Enemy In the mean time the Duke being far advanced towards the left of the Enemies Camp to divert their Endeavours upon the right the Turks put themselves in battalia upon the Ravine or before their Camp and planting some great Guns against the Christians they made many shot and seemed by their
Articles with them bestowed on them a Grant of all the Immunities and Priviledges they desired the which he signed with the form of his whole hand wetted in Ink and clapped on the Paper which was all the Firm and Seal in those days and is now reverenced amongst the Turks with the same esteem as the Iews do the Tables of Moses or we the most Sacred and Holy Reliques ever since that time this Tribute hath yearly continued and been brought always in the month of Iuly by two Ambassadors who reside at the Turkish Court for the space of a Year the former returning Home these are relieved at the same Season of the following Year by the accession of two others with the like Tribute which with the Presents they also bring to the Prime Vizier chief Eunuch of the Women the Queen-Mother and other Sultans with the Charges and Expences of the Embassy is computed to amount yearly to the Sum of twenty thousand Zechins They were in Times past before the War between the Republick of Venice and the Turk very Poor and put to hard Shifts and Arts to raise the Turkish Tribute but this War hath opened their Scale and made it the Port for transmitting the Manufactures of Venice and all Italy into Turkey which yields them such considerable Customs as thereby their Tribute is supplied with Advance and other Necessities provided for So that now the old Ornaments of the Ambassadors as their black Velvet Bonnets and Gowns of Crimson Satten lined heretofore with Martins Fur but now with Sables are not laid up in the common Wardrobe for the Ambassadors of the succeeding Year but a new Equipage and Accoutrements are yearly supplied at the common Charge and thus they pass honestly and in good esteem at the Ottoman Court being called the Dowbrai Vendick by the Turks or the Good Venetian This petty Republick hath always supported it self by submission and addresses for Favour and Defence to divers powerful Princes courting the Favour of every one never offering Injuries and when they receive them patiently support them which is the cause the Italians call them le sette Bandiere or the seven Bannerers signifying that for their Being and Maintenance of the name of a free Republick they are contented to become Slaves to all parts of the World. And it is observable on what a strange form of jealous Policy their Government is founded for their chief Officer who is in imitation of their Doge at Venice is changed every month others weekly and the Governour of the principal Castle of the City is but of 24 hours continuance every night one is nominated by the Senate for Governor who is without any Preparation or Ceremony taken up as he walks the Streets having a Handkerchief thrown over his Face is led away blindfold to the Castle so that none can discover who it is that commands that Night and by that means all possibility of Conspiracy or Combination of betraying the Town prevented These People in former Times were great Traders into the Western Parts of the World and it is said that those vast Caracks called Argosies which are so much famed for the vastness of their Burthen and Bulk were corruptly so denominated from Ragosies and from the Name of this City whose Port is rather forced by Art and Industry than framed by Nature Some of the Provinces also of Georgia formerly Iberia but now supposed to be called from St. George the Cappadocian Martyr and the poor Country of Mengrelia are also Tributaries to the Turk who every three Years send Messengers with their Sacrifice to the Grand Siginior of seven young Boys and as many Virgins a-piece besides other Slaves for Presents to great Men this People chuse rather this sort of Tribute than any other because Custom hath introduced a forwardness in the Parents without remorse to sell their Children and to account Slavery a Preferment and the miseries of Servitude a better Condition than Poverty with Freedom Of the whole retinue which these Beggarly Ambassadors bring with them for so the Turks called them being about seventy or eighty Persons a crue of miserable People are all set to sale to the very Secretary and Steward to defray the Charge of the Embassy and bring back some Revenue to the Publick Stock so that the Ambassadors return without their Pomp reserving only the Interpreter as a necessary Attendant to their Voyage home The Emperor of Germany may also not improperly be termed one of the Tributaries to the Ottoman Empire whom for Honour's sake we mention in the last place in so ungrateful an Office being obliged according to the Articles made with Solyman the Magnificent to pay a yearly Tribute of 3000 Hungars but it was only paid the first two Years after the conclusion of the Peace afterwards it was excused by the Germans and dissembled by the Turks until taking a resolution to make a War on Hungary made that one Ground and Occasion of the Breach for upon the Truce made for eight Years between Sultan Solyman and the Emperor Ferdinand as Augerius Busbeck reports in those Capitulations that the Tribute is made the Foundation of the Accord Cujus concordiae pacis ac confoederationis hae conditiones sunto primè ut tua dilectio quotannis ad aulam nostram pro arra induciarum 30000 Hungaricos Ducatos mittere teneatur unà cum residuo quod nobis proxime praeterlapsum biennium reservetur CHAP. XV. The Desolation and Ruin which the Turks make of their own Countries in Asia and the Parts most remote from the Imperial Seat esteemed one cause of the conservation of their Empire THIS Position will appear a Paradox at first sight to most Men who have read and consider'd the Roman Conquest whose â—urisdiction and Dominions were far larger than this present Empire and yet we do not find that they so studiously endeavoured to dispeople and lay waste the Nations they subdued but rather encouraged industry in Plantations gave Privileges to Cities meanly stored invited People to inhabit them endeavoured to improve Countries rude and uncultivated with good Husbandry and Maritime Towns with Traffick and Commerce made Citizens of their Confederates and conferred on their conquered Subjects oftentimes greater Benefits than they could expect or hope for under their true and natural Princes and certainly the Romans thrived and were richer and more powerful by their Policy and therefore why the Turk might not proceed in the same manner and yet with the same advantage is worth our consideration For the Solution of which Difficulty it will be necessary to consider that these two Empires being compared there will be found a vast difference in the Original Foundation Progress and Maximâ— each of other For the Romans built their City in Peace made Laws by which the Arbitrary Will of the Prince was corrected and afterward as their Arms succeeded and their Dominions were extended they accommodated themselves often to present Necessities and Humours and
and it is very rare when any Law-Suit is in Hand but Bargains are made for the Sentence and he hath most Right who hath most Mony to make him rectus in Curia and advance his Cause And it is the common course for both Parties at difference before they appear together in presence of the Judg to apply themselves singly to him and try whose Donative and Present hath the most in it of temptation and it is no wonder if corrupt Men exercise this kind of Trade in Trafficking with Justice for having before bought the Office of consequence they must sell the Truth Vendere jure potest emerat ille prius Add hereunto a strange kind of Facility in the Turks for a Trifle or small Hire to give false Witness in any case especially and that with a word when the Controversy happens between a Christian and a Turk and then the Pretence is for the Musselmanleck as they call it the Cause is Religious hallows all Falseness and forgery in the Testimony so that I believe in no part of the World can Justice run more out of the Current and Stream than in Turkey where such Maxims and Considerations corrupt both the Judg and Witnesses Turcae magnae pietatis loco ducunt dicere falsum testimonium adversus hominem Christianum non expectant ut rogentur injussi adsunt seque ultro ingerunt This Consideration and Practice made an English Ambassador upon renewing the Capitulations to insert an Article of Caution against the Testimony of Turks as never to be admitted nor pleaded in any Court of Turkish Justice against the English Interest and nothing to be admitted as evidence in that Case but only a Hoget which is the Nature of a Recognizance made before a Judg or a Bill or Writing under the Hand of him on whom the Demand is made which Article as it was very advisedly and with great Prudence and Wisdom obtained so it hath proved of admirable Consequence and Security to the Trafique and Merchants Estates which before being liable to the Forgeries and false Pretences of every dissolute Turk hath now this Point as a Defence and Foâ—ification by which false Pretences and Suits for considerable Sums of Mony and Matters of great value have been blown away and decided with great Facility and little Expence In the time of Bajazet the fourth King of the Turks the Courts of Justice were in like manner corrupted as at present for reformation of which the Prince resolved to execute a great Number of the Lawyers until it was pleasantly represented by his Jester to whom between Jest and Earnest he had given liberty to speak the Truth which soberer Men durst not that all the cause of Bribery and Corruption in the Judges proceeded for want of Stipends and necessary Maintenance Whereupon Bajazet growing cooler and sensible of the Cause of that Evil applied a Remedy by granting their Pardon allowing them Salaries and Stipends with additional Fees of twenty Aspers in all Causes exceeding a Thousand and twelve Aspers for every Writing and Instrument out of Court. And in the Times of the best Emperors when Vertue and Deserts were considered and the Empire flourished and encreased Men had Offices conferred for their Merits and good Services were rewarded freely and with bounty without Sums of Mony and Payments to be a foil to the lustre of their better Parts But now it is quite contrary and all Matters run out of course a manifest Token in my Opinion of the declension and decay of the Ottoman Empire as Livy saith Omnia prospera sequentibus Deos adversa autem spernentibus Howsoever in part this serves the great End of the Empire for Pashaws and great Men having a kind of necessity upon them to oppress their Subjects the People thereby lose their Courages and by continual Taxes and Seisures on what they gain Poverty subdues their Spirits and makes them more patiently suffer all kinds of Injustice and Violence that can be offered them without thoughts or motion to Rebellion And so the Lord Verulam says in his Essays That it is Impossible for a People over-laden with Taxes ever to become Martial or Valiant for no Nation can be the Lion's Whelp and the Ass between Burthens By which means the Turk preserves so many different sort of People as he hath conquered in due Obedience using no other help than a severe hand joined to all kind of Oppression but such as are Turks and bear any Name of Office or Degree in the Service of the Empire feel but part of this Oppression and live with all freedom having their Spirits raised by a Licence they attain to insult over others that dare not resist them But the Issue and Conclusion of the Spoils these great Men make on Subjects is very remarkable for as if God were pleased to evidence his just Punishment more evidently and plainly here than in other Sins scarce any of all those Pashaws who have made haste to be Rich have escaped the Grand Signior's Hands but he either devests them of all or will share the best part of the Prey with them Amongst which I have observed none passes so hardly as the Pashaws of Grand Cairo because it is the richest and most powerful of all the Governments of this Empire and so either in his Journey home or after his return he loses his Life by publick Command or at least is rifled of his Goods as ill got which are condemned to the Grand Signior's Treasury And it is strange to see yet with what heat these Men labour to amass Riches which they know by often Experiences have proved but Collections for their Master and only the Odium and Curses which the oppressed Wretches have vented against their Rapine remain to themselves Rebus secundis avidi adversis autem incauti Tac. And this is like the Policy that Caesar Borgia used otherwise called Il Duca Valentine who the better to reduce Romagna lately subdued to Obedience made one Messer Romiro d' Orco his Deputy a Man of a cruel and tyrannical Disposition who by Rigour and Force reduced Affairs to the Will and Order of his Prince And the Work now done and the People remaining extraordinarily discontented the Duke thought it time to purge the Minds of his People of the ill apprehension they had of his Government by demonstrating that the former hard usage proceeded from the bad Inclination of his Minister commanding the same Romiro d' Orco at Cesanna to be cut in pieces and exposed to the publick view of the People with a piece of Wood and a bloody Knife by his side This saith Machiavil Lib. del Principe cap. 7. Fece aquelli popoli in un tempo remanere stupidi sodisfatti and the Turk understands well how profitable in the same manner it is for the constitution of his Estate to use evil Instruments who may oppress and poll his People intending afterwards for himself the whole Harvest of their Labours
Ambassador and other Personages amongst the Turks of chief Note and Quality the Dishes are served in by one at a time which as soon as touched or tasted are taken off to make room for another and thus there is a succession of threescore or forescore Services all the Dishes being of China worth about an hundred and fifty Dollars a piece which are reported to have a virtue contrary to Poison and to break with the least infusion thereof and for that reason esteemed more useful for the Service of the Grand Signior Nam nulla aconita bibuntur Fictilibâ—s c. Juvenal The Banquet being ended the Chaousbashee or chief of the Pursivants conducts the Ambassador with some of his Retinue to a place apart where several gay Vests or long Garments made of Silk with divers Figures are presented them as a sign of the Grand Signior's Favour which the Ambassador first putting on and then the others to the number of eighteen or nineteen attended with two Capugibashees or chief of the Porters Persons of good esteem in that Court with Silver Staves in their Hands he is conducted nearer towards the Grand Signior's Presence then follow the Presents brought by the Ambassador which are carried to the best advantage for appearance and are delivered to Officers appointed to receive them The Courts without are filled with Janisaries amongst whom is observed so profound a silence that there is not the least noise or whisper understood and the Salutation they give their principal Officers as they pass bowing altogether at the same time is warlike and yet courtly and savours of good Discipline and Obedience The Ambassador is then brought to a great Gate near the Audience the Porch of which is filled with white Eunuchs clothed in Silks and Cloth of Gold farther than this none is suffered to proceed besides the Secretary Interpreter and some other Persons of best Quality at the door of the Chamber of Audience is a deep silence and the murmuring of a Fountain near by adds to the melancholy and no other Guard is there but a white Eunuch and here a pause is made and they tread softly in token of fear and reverence so as not to disturb with the least noise the Majesty of the Sultan for access to the Eastern Princes was always difficult and not permitted with the same familiarity as hath been practised amongst the Romans and at present with us where the sight of the King is his own Glory and the Satisfaction of his Subjects For it is with the Turks as it was with the Parthians when they received Vonones their King educated in the Roman Court who conforming to those manners saith Tacitus Irridebantur Graeci Comites prompti aditus obvia comitas ignota Parthis virtutes the affability and easiness of address to their Prince was a scandal to the Nation At the entrance of the Chamber of Audience hangs a Ball of Gold studded with pretious Stones and about it great Chains of rich Pearl the Floor is covered with Carpets of Crimson-velvet embroidered with Gold-Wire in many places beset with Seed-pearl The Throne where the Grand Sigâ—ior sits is raised a small height from the ground supported with four Pillars plated with Gold the Roof is richly gilded from which hang Balls that seem to be of Gold the Cushions he leaned upon as also those which lay by were richly embroidered with Gold and Jewels In this Chamber with this occasion remains no other Attendance besides the first Vizier who stands at the right Hand of the Grand Signior with modesty and reverence When the Ambassador comes to appear before the Grand Signior he is led in and supported under the Arms by the two Capugibashees before-mentioned who bringing him to a convenient distance laying their hands upon his Neck make him bow until his Forehead almost touches the Ground and then raising him again retire backwards to the farther parts of the Room The like Ceremony is used with all the others who attend the Ambassador only that they make them bow somewhat lower than him The Reason of this Custom as Busbequius saith was because that a Croat being admitted near to Amurath to communicate something to him made use of that opportunity to kill him in revenge of the Death of his Master Marcus but the Turkish History saith That this was done by one Miles Corbelitz who after the defeat given Lazarus the Despot of Servia rising from amongst the Dead had near access to the presence of Amurath The Ambassador at this Audience hath no Chair set him but standing informs the Grand Signior by his Interpreter the several Demands of his Master and the Business he comes upon which is all penned first in Writing which when read is with the Letter of Credence consigned into the Hands of the Great Vizier from whom the Answer and farther Treaty is to be received This was the manner of the Audience given to the Earl of Winchelsea when Ambassador there for his Majesty and is as is there said the Form used to others who come from a Prince equally honoured and respected But though the Turks make these outward Demonstrations of all due Reverence and Religious Care to preserve the Persons of Ambassadors Sacred and free from Violence yet it is apparent by their Treatment and Usage towards them in all Emergencies and Differences between the Prince they come from and themselves that they have no esteem of the Law of Nations or place any Religion in the maintenance of their Faith. For when a War is proclaimed the Ambassador immediately is either committed to close Imprisonment or at least to the custody of a careful Guard confined within the Limits of his own House In this manner the Representative of Venice called there the Bailo by name Sorâ—nzo in a strait Chamber of a Castle situated on the Bosphorus endured a severe Imprisonment having his Interpreter strangled for no other cause than performing his Office in the true Interpretation of his Master's Sense Afterwards this Bailo for so they call there the Ambassors from Venice was removed to another Prison at Adrianople where he continued some Years and in fine by force of Presents mollifying the Turks with Mony with which their Nature is easily made gentle and pliable he obtained liberty to remain in the House appropriated to the Representatives of Venice but under a Guard whose Office was to secure him from escape and observe his Actionâ—â— and yet with Liberality and Presents whiâ—h overcome the Turks more than any Consideration in the World he enjoyed as he pleased licence for his Health to take the fresh Air and use what freedom was reasonable Nor less injurious to the Law of Nations have been the Examples of Violence and Rage acted on the Persons of the French Ambassadors first on the Sieur Sensi accused upon suspicion of having contrived the escape of Konispolski General of the Polish Army taken Captive in a Fight and sent Prisoner to the above-said
not read any Authour which hath given a satisfactory account of such Sects as are sprung up amongst them in these latter and modern times It is a common opinion that there are seventy two sects amongst the Turks but it is probable there are many more if the matter were exactly known and scanned The Turkish Doctours fansie that the seventy two Nations which they call Yesmish â—kee Molet into which the World was divided upon the Confusion of the Languages of Babel was a Type and a Figure of the divisions which in after-Ages should succeed in the three most general Religions of the World. In this manner they account seventy different Sects among the Jews seventy one amongst the Christians and to the Mahometan they assign one more as being the last and ultimate Religion in which as all fulness of true Doctrine is compleated so the Mystery of iniquity and the deviation of mans judgment by many paths from the right rule is here terminated and confined The Turks have amongst themselves as well as in other Religious Sects and Heresies of dangerous consequence which daily increase mixing together with them many of the Christian Doctrines which shall in their due place be described and in former times also a sort of Fanatick Mahometans which at first met onely in Congregations under pretence of Sermons and Religion appeared afterwards in Troops armed against the Government of the Empire So one Scheiches Bedredin Chief Justice of Musa Brother to Mahomet the Fifth King of the Turks after the death of his Master was banished to Nice in Asia where consulting with his servant Burgluzes Mustapha by what means they might raise Sedition and a Second War they agreed the readiest course was by broaching a new Sect and Religion and by persuading the people to something contrary to the ancient Mahometan superstition Whereupon Burgluzes masking his villany under a grave and serious countenance took his journey into Aydinin othewise Caria where he vented Doctrines properly agreeing to the humours of the people preaching to them Freedom and Liberty of Conscience and the Mystery of Revelations and you may believe he used all arts in his persuasions with which Subjects used to be allured to a Rebellion against their Prince so that in a short time he contracted a great number of Disciples beyond his expectation Bedredin perceiving his Servant thrive so well with his Preaching fled from his place of Exile at Nice into Valachia where withdrawing himself into a Forest like a devout Religious man gathered a number of Proselytes composed of Thieves Robbeâ—s and Out-lawed people these he having instructed in the principles of his Religion sent abroad like Apostles to preach and teach the people that Bedredin was appointed by God to be the King of Justice and Commander of the whole World and that his Doctrine was already embraced in Asia The people taken with these Novelties repaired in great numbers to Bedredin who conceiving himself strong enough to take the Field issued from his desâ—rt with Colours displayed and an Army well appointed and fighting with his deluded multitude a bloudy Battel against those Forces which Mahomet sent to suppress him under his Son Amurath the deluded Rebels were overthrown Bedredin taken Prisoner and his pretences of Sanctiâ—y and Revelation were not available to save him from the Gallows And thus we see that the name of God's cause revelations liberty and the like have been old and common pretences and delusions of the World and not onely Christians but Infidels and Mahometans have wrote the name of God on their Banners and brought the pretence of Religion into the Field to justifie their cause CHAP. X. Of the two prevailing Sects viz. Of Mahomet and Hali that is the Turk and the Persian the Errours of the Persian recounted and confuted by the Mufti of Constantinople THE two great Sects among the followers of Mahomet which are most violent each against other the mutual hatred of which diversity of Education and Interest of the Princes have augmented are the Turks and Persians The first hold Mahomet to have been the chief and ultimate Prophet the latter prefer Hali before him and though he was his Disciple and succeeded him yet his inspirations they esteem greater and more frequent and his interpretations of the Law most perfect and Divine The Turk also accuses the Persian of corrupting the Alchoran that they have altered words misplaced the Comma's and Stops that many places admit of a doubtfull and ambiguous sense so that those Alchorans which were upon the Conquest of Babylon brought thence to Constantinople are separated and compiled in the great Seraglio in a place apart and forbidden with a Curse on any that shall read them The Turks call the Persians Forsaken of God abominable and blasphemers of the Holy Prophet so that when Selymus the First made War in Persia he named his Cause the Cause of God and proclaimed the occasion and ground of his War to be the Vindication of the cause of the Prophet and revenge of the blasphemies the Persians had vented against him and so far is this hatred radicated that the Youth of what Nation soever is capable of admittance into the Schools of the â—eraglio excepting onely the Persian who are looked upon by the Turk as a people so far Apostatized from the true Belief and fallen into so desperate an Estate by a total corruption of the true Religion that they judge them alâ—ogether beyond hopes or possibility of recovery and therefore neither give them quarter in the Wars account them worthy of life or slavery Nor are the Persians on the other side endued with better nature of good will to the Turks estranging themselves in the farthest manner from their Customs and Doctrines rejecting the three great Doctours of the Mahometan Law viz. Ebbubecher Osman and Omar as Apochryphal and of no Authority and have a Custome at their Marriages to erect the Images of those three Doctours of Paste or Sugar at the entrance of the Bridal Chamber on which the Guests first casting their looks leave the impression of any secret Magick which may issue fâ—om their eyes to the prejudice or misfortune of the Married Couple for in the Eastern parts of the â—orld they hold that there is a strange fascination innate to the eyes of some people which looking attentively on any as commonly they do on the Bridegroom and the Bride in Marriages produce macerations and imbecillity in the body and have an especial quality contrary to procreation and therefore when the Guests are entred having the Malignity of their eyes Arrested on these Statues they afterwards cut them down and dissolve them And that it may the more plainly appear what points of Religion are most controverted amongst them and what Anathema's and Curses are by both sides vented each against the other this following sentence passed by the Mufti Esad Efendi upon Schah Abbas Tutor to the King of Persia called Sari Halife and all the Persians will
after which is done the Dervises with marvellous modesty and reverence bowing to their Superiour begin to turn round some of them with that swift motion that their faces can scarce be seen a certain Pipe made of a Cane sounding all the time of this motion and on a sudden when the Musick ceases they all stop with that exactness and firmness shewing no symptoms of a disordered or swimming Brain to which having accustomed themselves from their infancy or youth in some years that motion becomes as natural with as little disturbance to their head or stomach as to walk forward or to use any other exercise which nature is delighted with This custome they say they observe with great devotion in imitation of their first Founder Mevelana who for fourteen days together and without taking any nourishment used this Virtiginous motion by a miraculous assistence his Friend Hamze or Companion all that time sounding by him with his Flute or Pipe until at last falling into an ecstasie he received strange Revelations and Divine commands for the institution of this his Order The Pipe they play on they esteem for an ancient sanctified sort of Musick and to be that on which Iacob and the other holy Shepherds in the Old Testament praised God. It hath a dolefull melancholy sound but their constant exercise and application thereunto makes it as Musical as can be imagined in such an Instrument the best of those Canes are esteemed to come from Iconium and are of twenty five Dollars price But this sort of devotion with instrumental Musick is by Turks themselves disputed against denying that their Founder who was so spiritual a man did ever institute or himself use Musick in his turning round because the Alchoran expresly forbids all devotion and service of God with Musick but onely with the natural and living Voice And that is the reason why in calling their people to prayers they use no Bells but onely the Voice of a Man and for this cause I remember that in my time prohibitions have been made by publick Authority against this practice of the Dervises But they on the contrary alledging David's example and his Dancing before the Ark as arguments for their Musick and Giration have by the help of several persons in power many of them being greatly affected with their devotion maintained from time to time this custome and institution of the first Founder of this Order notwithstanding that one Vanni Efendi a great Seigh or Preacher esteemed as a knowing person by the Grand Signior and all the Court hath by his Authority endeavoured to Reform this Corruption as he calls it amongst them They profess Poverty Chastity and Obedience like Capuchin Fâ—yars or other Orders of St. Francis but if any have not the gift of Continence he may obtain license to leave his Convent and Marry but of these they observe that none ever thrived or lived happily with contentment that renounced this Dedication to God's Service The Novices serve in the most servile Offices and in time others supply their places they lie as Companions two together in a Cell some of which employ their time in Learning to Reade and Write in Turkish Arabick and Persian but most yield to the slothfull temperament to which they are naturally addicted but because the nature of Man is restless and musâ— employ it self either in good or bad actions most of these associates exercise some kind of Legerdemain or tricks to amuse the minds of the common people and some really apply themselves to Sorceries and Conjurations by help of familiar Spirits Busbequius tells strange stories of one with whom he was acquainted and he would strike a stone of great weight and bigness against his bare Breast with that force and violence as were sufficient to knock down an Ox or break the bones of the sloutest Gyant and that the same man he hath seen take an Iron Bar red hot from the Fire and hold it in his mouth and though the spittle and moisture of his mouth hissed with the heat yet he seemed to take it thence again without the least hurt or burning Imaginable This sort of people of all other Turks addict themselves to drink Wine Strong Waters and other intoxicating Liquors and eat Opium in that quantity by degrees using their bodies thereunto that no Mountebank or Mithridates himself who was nourished by Poison are capable to digest half that proportion that these men will do the effect of which is at first like men drunk or mad to raise their spirits to a sort of distracted Mirth and afterwards when the subtile vapours are consumed and spent and a dull sâ—upefaction overcomes them they name it an ecstasie which they account very holy and divine in imitation of their first Founder who was often observed to put himself into this condition and therefore what helps may be found to excite mirth or distraction is lawfull and allowable in this Order There is a famous Monastery of these in Egypt invoking for their Saint one Kederlâ—â— which by the Stories they tell of him should be S. George in conformity with whom all other Dervises maintain a reverent esteem of this Saint affirming that in his life time he was a valiant Horseman killed Dragons and all sorts of venomous beasts and now being departed this life God for preservation of good men hath given him power to deliver such as being in distress invoke his assistence especially those who are at Sea and at the point of shipwrack and that he with an extraordinary swiftness of motion flies from one part of the World to another in the twinkling of an eye and seasonably comes in to their succour These by virtue of that blessing Kederlee confers upon them pretend to charm Serpents and Adders and handle them as familiarly as we do the most innocent and domestick Creatures which art as I have heard from good Authority is not peculiar in Egypt onely to Dervises but to other men who are said to be naturally endewed with a virtue against the poisonous bites of Vipers and other venomous Beasts who putting great numbers of them into a Bag together do cull and sort them out with their hands as one would do Worms or Mussels and others wiâ—h a word charm Serpents from moving as they crawl along the Banks of Nile which Gifts these men pretend to inherit from their Parents and others to possess in reward of their Vertue and Sanctity This sort of Egyptian Dervises have Sainted the Horse of St. George and have seated him in Paradise with the other three beasts in high respect and esteem amongst the Turks viz. the Ass on which Christ rode the Camel of Mahomet and the Dog of the seven Sleepers These Dervises have Monasteries in the most famous places of the Turkish Empire which serve the travelling Pilgrims of this Order for Inns and places of entertainment for they above all other Religious Turks journey and travel from one place
advanced with Two thousand Five hundred Men to Vitrovitz a Place about a League distant from the Camp expecting Four hundred Men more under Command of the Bei of Gradisca with design to force their way into Buda To prevent which the Duke detached Four thousand Croats under the Command of Count Transmandorf to march against them and ordered the German Forces to stand all Night to their Arms to avoid a Surprise Transmandorf marched until seven a Clock in the Morning always a-trot and having about that time met the Pasha of Marotz he immediately engaged with him and charged him so furiously that after some small Resistence the Turks fled of whom about a Hundred were killed in the Pursuit and several Prisoners taken After which Success Transmandorf returning back to the Camp fortunately Encountred the Governour of Gradisca with his Four hundred Men who going to joyn with the Pasha of Marotz of whose ill Success he had as yet received no Intelligence was engaged and defeated by him upon the first Charge or On-set and had all been cut in pieces had they not been favoured by the shelter and thickness of some neighbouring Woods On this Occasion the Croats took fourteen Colours with several of their Cymbals and Trumpets and twenty Prisoners They lost only fourteen of their Men and had the Pillage of the Camp with great store of good Provisions with which they feasted themselves and nourished their Horses And now let us leave the Duke of Loraine for a while before this City employed in an Enterprise which could not be effected until two Years afterwards thô all that time a constant course of ill Fortune ran against the Turks And let us see what Preparations were making at Venice and recount the Actions and Atchievements which this Republick carried on this Year against the Turks pursuant to the Proclamation of War lately published The Doge of Venice called Marco Antonio Gustiniano who entred upon the Governmernt the 26 th day of April of this Year year 1684. together with the Council made choice of these General Officers for carrying on the War Namely Francisco Morosini Captain General Dominico Mocenigo Proveditor General of Dalmatia the Prince of Parma General of the Infantry Alessandro Molino and Antonio Bembo Captains extraordinary of the Ships Paulo Michiel Matthew Pisani and Iohn Morosini Commanders extraordinary of the Galeasses and General Strazoldo quitted the Imperial Service for that of the Republick The whole Venetian Fleet consisted of Sixteen Gallies six Galleassas and sixteen Sail of Ships to them were joyned five of the Pope's Gallies and seven of Malta and four Gallies belonging to the Great Duke of Toscany With part of this Fleet the Captain General Morosini put to Sea from the Coast of Italy on the 10 th of Iune for the Island of Corsu where the general Rendezvous for the whole Fleet was appointed At this Place a Council of War was called where all the General Officers were present together with the Proveditor General Cornaro and General Strazoldo and by them it was unanimously resolved to Attack the Island of Santa Maura This Island of Santa Maura was formerly joyned to the Continent of Greece and reckned amongst the Western as those of the Archi-pelago were amongst the Eastern Islands it was anciently known by the Name of Leucas and was part of the Kingdom of Ulysses It was once a Peninsula adjoyning to Epirus by a narrow Isthmus of Land but at the great Charge and Labour of the Inhabitants of Corinth it was cut off from the Continent and made an Island It is near the Morea at the entrance into the Gulf of Lepanto where was fought that famous Battle in the Year 1571. Sultan Mahomet the Son of Sultan Amurath took this Island from the Venetians in the Year 1457. But with the Aid and Assistance of some Vessels from the Pope King Lewis the 12 th of France and the Knights of Rhodes it was after a bloudy Fight recovered out of their Possession in the Reign of Bajazet the II in the Year 1499 Benedetto Pesaro being General But the Year following a Peace being made it was restored to the Turks conditionally That the Island of Cephalania should remain to the Venetians for ever This Island being the chief Harbour at present and Refuge of all the Pyrates and Corsairs of Barbary which much infested the Gulf and rendred the Navigation very unsecure and which hindred the Venetians from being the absolute Masters of those Seas this Enterprise was resolved to be the most necessary and methodical in order to more important Adventures Accordingly on the 19 th of Iuly the whole Fleet together with Tartanas and Felucas carrying Land-forces set Sail from Corfu and the next day arrived at Little-more then Cannon-shot distant from Santa Maura where they cast Anchor and landed their Forces which consisted of two Battalions of the Pope's and of Malta Six hundred Men each and Eight hundred Men drawn out of other Troops Amongst those of Malta were a Hundred Knights who clad in their Coat-armours of red Sattin with the white Cross of their Order made a splendid Appearance The next day the whole Fleet entred the Port of Demata which lies to the Eastward of the Town and is capable to receive great numbers of Vessels and the Captain General Morōsini went in Person on shoar taking a view of the several Posts in which the Forces had lodged themselves and of that particularly called Chiche which was a House of Pleasure belonging to the Aga's Son possessed by Captain Manetta But before Morosini thought fit to commit any Act of Hostility he sent to Summon the Place and in a Writing set forth the Cause and Reasons which moved the Venetians to raise a powerful Army against the Turk who had violated the Peace by harbouring the Corsaires of Barbary and practised other Hostilities against the Subjects of that State And that in case they did not Surrender up their Town and Island the next Morning he would proceed to force them and make use of the Priviledge and Power of a Conqueror To which the Governour returned no other Answer Than that God would punish the Venetians for violating the Peace and making an unjust War upon the Grand Seignior Whereupon the Admiral-Flag being spread which was the Signal of Battle the Gallies and Galleasses made above Twelve hundred Shot against the Town which did great Damage to the Houses and Fortifications and entirely ruined one of the Moschs Nor were the Turks idle but fired continually thô with no great hurt for their Cannon being mounted too high did not hinder the Forces of the Pope Malta and Toscany from possessing themselves of the Suburbs nor the Batteries from raising which by direction of Lorenzo Venier plaid on the Walls with good Success and did great Execution and the Bombs which were thrown into the Town put all the Defendants into a Consternation For on the first of August
they might with all Humility offer to his Majesty for his own personal Conservation and for the Defence of their holy and true Religion with the great Body of the Empire The Grand Seignior who dreaded the ill Consequences of such seditious Meetings return'd to them a gentle Message of Thanks for their Care and Love desiring them to offer him such Remedies which they in their Wisdom did judge convenient for cure of the present and prevention of future Evils it being natural for the common sort of People in such cases to cast the Blame on the chief Ministers of State they immediately reply'd That the Mufti was a bad Man and had abused his Office and that it was generally murmur'd in all places of the Empire That his Majesty was in such times as these too expensive in his Seraglio and too loose in his Government giving himself up to Hunting and Recreations and forsaking as it were the Helm of Government whilst the Vessel of the Empire was tossed amidst an Ocean of Miseries and ready every Day to suffer Shipwrack And that his Majesty did too much neglect his Imperial City of Constantinople gracing every little Place with his Presence which made that Royal Seat become desolate and so impoverish'd that it was not possible to answer and pay the vast Taxes and Impositions which were charged upon it The Grand Seignior seem'd to take all this that was said very kindly and immediately depos'd the Mufti and banished him to Prusa and calling for one of the Kadileschers who are Chief Justices he cloth'd him with a rich Sables and invested him with his Office And looking more nearly about him to the main Chance he recall'd the Orders he had lâ—â—ely given for a general Hunt on a certain Day and a vast number of Grey-hounds which with great Charge had been got together from all parts of the Empire were let loose and suffer'd to run without a Master through all the Streets of Constantinople The Expences of the Seraglio were also much retrench'd and the dayly Allowances reduc'd to one Moiety And after this Example the Kuslir-Aga the Kimacham and all the great Ministers of State made a Regulation in their Families And to make this Reformation the more publick and notorious to the People the Grand Seignior put on a more grave and penitential Face than ordinary and frequented the Royal Mosques going to one or other of them every Day with much Solemnity This Reformation quieted the Minds of the Commonalty pretty well but this and the News of the Vizier's coming to Constantinople very speedily to assist at the Councils for conserting Measures for the next Year's Campaign terrified the Ringleaders of the late Cabals with an Apprehension of being called to an Account on score of their late seditious Meetings for the Turks who can easily dissemble with the Vulgar and temporize during the Outrages and Fluctuations of the People yet so soon as the Storm is appeas'd they never fail to question the Cause and punish Captain Tom and his mutinous Rabble with Punishment agreeable to their Demerit As the Grand Seignior was affraid of his People and they of the Grand Seignior and Vizier so likewise were they generally possess'd with a Panick-fear of the coming of the Enemy which will plainly appear by this Instance The Turks having surrender'd up Napoli di Romania upon Conditions to the Venetians one of them was That they should Transport the Inhabitants and Garrison of that City to some Place within the Dardanelli near to the Castles The Venetians in pursuance of this Article embark'd all the Soldiers with the Men Women and Children and transported them to the place appointed to which when they began to draw near so that many Colours of St. Mark were seen from the Castles entring into the Hellespont the News thereof was posted from all hands to Constantinople which put the whole City into a Consternation and gave cause of Rumour every-where that the Venetians had already passed the Castles and Reports flew up and down that they were in a few Leagues or as some fancied in sight of the Town This put all Hands to work and in a confused manner many Pieces of Cannon were mounted at the Seraglio Point on the Maiden Tower which is a little Fort built on a Rock in the Water in the midway between Constantinople and Scutari where also Guns were mounted and Soldiers and Inhabitants of the City posted in all places where might be any suspicion or danger of the Enemiâ—s descent or landing This hurly burly continu'd for the space of two Days by which time the truth of the Matter being known and that the Venetians were retired things began to be quieted and the People to return to their own Habitations and Business Thus have we done with the Campaign in Hungary for the Year 1686 which ended very glorious for the Emperor It rests now before we proceed farther to take a view and survey of the Successes of the Venetians both by Sea and Land which were not less prosperous than those in the parts of Hungary In the preceeding Years of this War the Venetians made it their chief Business and Enterprise to render themselves Masters of the Morea a fruitful and ancient Country in which are many Provinces and amongst them that of Laconia now call'd Maina and the Inhabitants Mainioti a sort of People who call themselves Christians but live chiefly upon Spoyl and Robbery In this Country the most considerable Places are Calamata Zarnata Chielefa and Passava all which Places were subdu'd by the Venetians and taken from the Turks in the preceeding Year of 1685 in despight of the Captain Pasha and in the sight of him and his Army year 1686. as we have before related which Disgrace being a Crime sufficient to cost him his Head he resolv'd to save his Life if possible by recovery of Chielefa to gain which he began betimes his Campaign and on the first of April he invested the Place with an Army composed of Ten thousand Foot and Fifteen hundred Horse commanded by himself and four other Pashas with a great number of Labourers and Pioniers At his first appearance before this Fortress the Captain Pasha sent a Summons to the Governour call'd Seignior Marin Gritti Proveditor extraordinary for the Maina demanding with many Threats the Surrender of that Town To which Seignior Gritti return'd a resolute Answer That he and all his Soldiers would either live or die in Defence of that Place not doubting but that the Omnipotent God would favour their just and brave Intentions The Captain Pasha having receiv'd this Answer immediately rais'd a Battery and began to fire upon the Town with six Pieces of Cannon at which the Governour not being in the least dismay'd put all things in order for a resolute Defence The Turks ply'd their Batteries so warmly on the Town that in the space of ten Days they had open'd a Breach wide enough for
could be raised This admonition sounding not well in the Ears of some Soldiers they presently instilled into the Minds of their Comrades that this Mahomet had been taken off with Mony and was brought into the Association with those whose business it was to defraud them of their just Demands Such a sinister Report as this was enough at that time to have destroyed half their Officers as it quickly did his business for immediately they ran to his Palace to look for him there but missing him they afterwards met him in the Streets and pulled him from his Horse saying You that brought us hither and should Speak for us now look to your self you Lie in a Palace Eat High and are clad in Sables whilst we poor Fellows are Ragged and Lie in the Yards of the Moschs and Corners of the Streets and with that they rushed upon him and with Clubs and Knives killed him and Toar his Body in Pieces This was the busiest Man of any feared by all thô an ordinary Spahee he was presented and courted by all the great Men in Town for no Man was secure of his Head if he would have instigated and moved the Soldiers to call for it Having thus dispatched him they ran to his Palace and plunder'd all he had there The Kuzlir-Aga who had escaped was pursued and taken at Nice and brought back and committed Prisoner to the seven Towers then was Mahomet Effendi Tefterdar or Treasurer Shaban Aga Omar Kiah Capan Chelebi and several others were sent to the Common Prison But Kupriogli was declared Mosayp or Favourite of the Grand Seignior All the care was now to pacifie the Soldiers which was only to be done with Money and the Art was how to separate and divide the Spahees as a means whereunto they began to give pay to the Ianisaries and to serve them first This had likely to have begotten ill Blood but the Spahees put them in mind of the solemn Oath they had made to stand by each other and the Ianisaries refused their Pay without the increase both of their Pay and Donative but there being not as yet a sufficient Fund for all the Tumults still continued This Artifice which was contrived for a Separation tied the Knot of Union more closely between the Ianisaries and Spahees so that many Spahees came as Guests to the Ianisaries Chambers and lodged with them declaring that they would not touch an Asper of their Pay until the Ianisaries were fully satisfied This Friendship being made between these two Military Orders the Spahees as the more polite and ingenious Men took all the Government into their own Hands holding their Councils at Atmeidan and what was there resolved was reported to the Vizier by four of their own Members and the Vizier being forced to assent unto all their Demands gave them a Writing to approve of all that they should do and liberty to use such Methods for raising Money as they should judge most convenient in this exigence both to satisfie the Donative and the Arrears and Increase of Pay. Notwithstanding all these Condescentions and thô the means were put into their Hands to pay themselves what they demanded yet the Troubles and Embroils still continued For the Ianisaries suspecting that their Aga or Commander in Chief was not cordial to them nor approving their Actions for every one was thought so who did not run to the same height of Madness with them they turned him out of his Office and would have none of their own Body to command them but one as in former times taken out of the Seraglio and such an one they pitched upon called Mustapha Aga a Chirurgion by profession who had been Twenty five years in the Seraglio of which he had been eight Tulbentgee or Turbant-folder to the late Grand Seignior and Selictar to the present Sultan the true cause of this change was that they would have a raw unpractised Fellow over them and one whom they could govern and not one who knew how to govern them The Tumults still continued and must so until Money could be found which the Soldiers were now themselves to raise every Man that had Money must now bleed his Coffers and redeem his Life with his Riches The Favourits of the Seraglio must pay their Shares being taxed at vast Sums the particulars of which were not exactly known but it was reported That the Selictar Aga to the late Grand Seignior now made Pasha of Grand Cairo paid Six hundred Purses the Chiohadar or he who is Master of the Wardrobe Two hundred the Pasha of Balsora Two hundred besides many others who all paid their Assesments as the Soldiers were pleased to Rate and Tax them Then the Chief of the Spahees called before them several of the Rich men of the City and Taxed them each according to what they believed them worth and sent an Officer with a certain Number of Soldiers to go with them to their respective Houses and stay with them until the Money was paid and then they carried it to the Treasurer taking his Receipt for the same The Stambol Agasee or Mayor of Constantinople was Fined Five hundred Purses the Shahir Emin or City Customer Forty Sari Osman Aga Thirty besides Ninety which the Exchequer owed him which he was to remit Likewise the Grand Signior's chief Physicians Astrologers and Goldsmiths and great Numbers more of all sorts and conditions were all Taxed and most of them to the full of what they were worth Thus were vast Sums raised by Military Execution with which the Grand Vizier was well enough pleased for the Soldiers had done his business for him without drawing an Odium upon himself for there being a scarcity and yet an absolute necessity for Money it could not be raised by more compendious Methods than by armed Force And yet for all this the Tumults continued for the Ianisaries not knowing what they would have assaulted their Officers at Evening Prayer in a Mosch near their Chambers saying That they were met there in Council against them with design to instill bad Principles into their new Ianisar Aga but no hurt was more done than a few Blows and an abundance of bad Words And now about the middle of this Month after many Complements and Courtships made to the Ianisaries they condescended at length to take their Pay and Donative which were so kindly offered and those who had been imprisoned upon paying their Ransom were set at Liberty Mahomet Effendi who had been Treasurer paid One hundred and twenty Purses Shaban Aga One hundred and fifty besides Four hundred which had formerly been racked from him by Torments Capan Chelebi Sixty Omar Kiak Thirty five besides what had been taken from him before Mustapha Aga the Chiausbashee Forty and Uziel a Iew was made to pay eight Purses and thus sufficient Money being found for payment of all and the same daily issuing all things grew calm and quiet so that
Selymus with his Army passeth over the River Achomates strangled Amurat and Aladin the Sons of Achomates fly the one into Persia and the other to Egypt Amurat spoileâ—h Cappadocia Selymus râ—sâ—lveth to invade the Persian Chendemus â—assa disswades Selymus from going any further against the Persians Chendemus Bassa by the commandment of Selymus slain Selymus senâ—eth oâ—t his Scouâ—s who do râ—turn with bad news Selymus passeth over Araxes Hysmael sends an Herald to Selymus Selymus his answer unto Hysmael The order of Selymus his Battel Hysmael with thirty thousand Persians giveth Battel to Selymus with three hundred thousand Turks The great and mortal Battel between Hysmael and Selymus Vasta Ogli slain The terror of the Battel between Selymus and Hysmael The Persian Tents taken by the Turks The Ianizaries in mutiny against Selymus Selymus in passing the River Euphrates receiveth great loss Selymus cometh to Amasia The former History as it is reported by Jo. Ant. Mâ—â—navinus a Genoway present at doing thereof Selymus and Hysmael compared together Hysmael majestical Selymus tyrannical Hysmael courteous Selymus churâ—ish The Persians better Horsemen than the Turks The cause why Hysma â— came with so small an Army againsâ— Selyuâ—us The Countries â—â—bject to Hysmael Selymus with a new Army entreth into Armenia Aladeules his Kingdom Aladeules flies into the Mountains Aladeules taken and brought to Selymus is put to death Selymus invadeth Hungary Selymus goeâ—h to Iconium The causes moving Campson to fall out with Selymus The order of the Mamalukes The imperious Government of the Mamalukes in Egypt Judea and Syria The beginning of the Government of the Mamalukes in Egypt The moderate and happy Government of Campson Campson his answer to the Embassadors of Selymus Selymus converteth his Forces from the Persians against Campson Selymus encourageth his Souldiers to go against the Mamalukes The wholesome Counsel of Gazelles for protracting the War. A secret grudge between Campson and Cayerbeius Governor of Comagena The Mamalukes notable Souldiers The order of Campson his Battel The order of Selymus his Battel The death of Campson Aleppo delivered to Selymus by Cayerbeius the Traitor The dead Body of Campson laid out for all men to view Paulus Jovius Illust. virorum Elog. lib. 4. Selymus coming to Damasco Notable discipline in Selymus his Army Tomombeâ—us by the general consent of the Mamalukes chosen Sultan of Egypt Gaza yielded to Sinan Sinan advertised of the coming of Gazelles goeth secretly to meet him The Battel between Sinan Bassa and Gazelles Selymus doubting Sinan Bassa to have been lost becometh Melancholy News of Sinans Victory comforteth Selymus Sinan Bassa goeâ—h to meet Selymus as he was coming to Gaza Tomombeius 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 of Selyâ—â—s by an 〈◊〉 way makâ—s great confusion in Tomombeâ—us Camp. Christian Canoniers serve the Turks against the Egyptians The order of Selymus his Army Sinan Bassa General of the Field Sinan Bassa with most of his Followers slain by Bidon Mustapha with his Asian Souldiers overthroweth the left Wing of the Sultans Army Selymus causâ—th the Diadare and valiant Captain â—idon to be slain Tomombeius his purpose discovered to Selymus TheEgyptians diveâ—sly afâ—ected toward the Mamalakes The description of the great City of Caire The Pyramids of Egypt Selymus encourageth his Souldiers to the wining of Caire A most mortal Battel fought in Caire A long and terrible Fight Caire taken by Selymus Gazelles his speech to Selymus Albuchomar discovereth to Selymus the power of Tomombeius and the treachery of them of Caire The causes moving Selymus to send Embassadors to Tomombeius Selymus his Embassadors slain by the Mamalukes Tomombeius distresseth the Turks in passing the bridge made over Nilus The Mamalukes give a fresh charge upon the Turks The Mamalukes put to flight Tomombeius taken and brought to Selymus Tomombeius tortured The miserable and of Tomombeius last Sultan of Egypt Paulus Jovius Illust. virorum Elog. lib. 4. The Egyptians in doubt of their Estate bewail the death of Tomombeius Selymus câ—nningly reduceth the Arabians to his obedience Of this Cortug-Ogli see more in the life of Solyman Cayerbeius the Traitor made Governor of Caire and Egypt Jonuses envieth at the prâ—ferment of Cayerbeius Selymus commanded the Wages of his Souldiers to be left in Garrison at Caire to be augmented Selymus calleth for Jonuses Bassa to answer the matter The answer of Jonuses Bassa The death of Jonuâ—es the great Bassa Jonuses Bassa jealous of his fair Wife Manâ—o The fair Lady Manto cruelly slain by her jeâ—lous Husband The cause why Hysmael invaded not Selymus wholely busied in the Egyptian Wars Selymus purposing to invade the Christians struck in the Reins of his Back with a Cancer The death of Selymus The 〈◊〉 judgment of God. Phi. Lonicerus Turcicae Historiae Tomo primo lib. primo Selymus before his death commendeth the tuiâ—ion of his Son Solyman to Pyrrhus the Bassa The bloody and tyrannical Precepts left by Selymus to his Son Solyman which he afterward most assuredly kept as is to be seen in his life following Solyman hardly perswaded that his Father was dead Gazelles Governor of Syria rebelleth against Solyman Gazelles slain Belgrade won by Solyman Philippus Villerius chosen great Master of the Rhodes Cortug-Ogly the Pyrat perswadeth Solyman to besiege the Rhodes Solymans Letter to Villerius Great Master of the Rhodes The answer of Villerius to Solymans Letter Solymans Oration to his Men of â—ar declaring his purpose of bâ—siâ—ging the Rhodes Solyman maketh preparation against the Rhodes Villerius prepareth to make resistance against the Turks Solymans Letter to Villerius Pyrrhus Bassa his Letter to Villerâ—us The answer of Villerius to Solymans Letter Villerius his answer to Pyrrhus the Bassa his Letters Villerius advertised of the coming of the Turks Fleet. The carefulness of the Grand Master Villerius his Oration unto the Rhodians Solymans threatning Letters to the Rhodians The Rhodians for fear of the Turks destroy their Suburbs and places of pleasure without the City The fear of the Country People The Chancellor his Speech perswading the Rhodians â—o fight with the Turks Gallies The worthy commendation of the Great Master The Turks Fleet descried at Sea troubleth the Rhodians The order of the Turks Fleet The Great Master by his Embassadors craveth aid of the Christian Princes The commendation of Prejanes The description of the Rhodes A Turkish Woman Slâ—ve conspireth to fire the City The painfulness of the Turks Pioniers The Turks deceived by the Christian Mariners Solyman cometh into the Camp. Solymans cholerick Oration to his Souldiers Apella a Traitor The Turks battery The English Bulwark blown up The Turks assault the English Bulwark the second time and are again repulsed Mustapha Bassa â—alleth into disgrace with Solyman The English Bulwark assaulted the third time by Mustapha The Turks Ensigns advanced to the top of the walls are again cast down Another breach made in the Walls The Great Master his oration unto his Knights The Turks assault the City in five places at once
any other place appertaining to the Dominion of the Czars That then the King of Poland shall send an Army for the Relief and Succour of such place Besieged And in like manner in case the Turks shall Besiege Leopolis or any other City in Poland the Moscovites shall endeavour the Relief and Succour thereof Twelfthly That the Czars shall forthwith give Advices to the Ottoman Port of the League concluded with Poland and their Intentions to make War upon the Grand Seignior And tho' the Turks upon such intimation shall offer to give satisfaction to either or both Parties yet no heed shall be given thereunto or Conclusion made without the Approbation and Consent of all the Confederate Christians Thirteenthly The Moscovites engaged to send their Ambassadours into divers parts of Christendom as England Denmark Holland and other Princes to crave their Assistance and Union against the Mahometan Armies Fourteenthly That after a Peace shall be concluded by common Consent of the Confederates with the Turks And that afterwards one of them shall be desirous to commence a new War That then the other Confederates shall not be obliged to joyn therein Fifteenthly That whereas some Disputes remain still undecided touching the Limits and Bounds of Poland and Moscovy That Commissioners shall forthwith be authorized and dispatched for accommodation of that Matter especially about the Dependencies on Kiovia Sixteenthly That Security of Trade and Commerce be established between the two Kingdoms Seventeenthly That the Debts which are owing from the Subjects of one Kingdom to those of another shall mutually be accounted for and satisfied by one to the other And that what Suits do or shall arise between the Subjects of either Kingdom shall be determined by the ordinary Courts of Iustice where the Defendant abides Eighteenthly Those Points which remain undecided and cannot be agreed by the Commissioners the same shall be remitted to the Determination of the Sovereigns Nineteenhly That the People on each side who live on the Borders shall pass friendly and peaceably one with the other and in case of Differences arising between them the smaller Causes shall be determined by the Palatines and the greater by Commissioners Twentiethly Neither side shall give Succour or Assistance to the common Enemy nor entertain any of their Subjects in the War or in any Office or Employment One and twentieth That their Majesties the Czars shall Swear to the Observation of these Articles in presence of the Polish Ambassadours And the like shall be performed by the King of Poland at a meeting of the Diet in presence of the Ambassadours from the Czars and in the mean time the Ambassadours shall mutually engage that all these Articles shall be observed and maintained Two and twentieth That whilst these Articles are interchanging and before the Ratifications are made It shall be lawful for the Merchants of each Country and Nation to Trade and Traffick without any trouble or interruption of Commerce Only Tobacco and Brandy shall not be brought into Moscovy but remain Contrabanda as by ancient Articles Three and twentieth In case the Poles or Moscovites shall have occasion to dispatch Messengers to Persia or other Parts no molestation let or hindrance shall be given them nor Passports denied Four and twentieth And in regard a good Understanding and Communication is necessary in this War the King of Poland obliges himself to maintain and defend the Confines and Country of the Dukedom of Solensko and the Czars so far as Kohzin And that private Letters shall pay Postage on both sides but the Publick and Royal Letters shall go free without Charge Five and twentieth That both Parties shall give Advices to all the Allies and Confederates of this happy League and Agreement Six and twentieth That this Contract shall as well oblige the Heirs and Successors as the Princes who are Parties thereunto And in case this Original Instrument of Accord should be lost or embezled in the Chancery or Paper-Office of either side yet the Agreement shall not be Rescinded thereby but stand in full Vertue and Force The League being in this manner agreed signed and ratified on both sides the News thereof soon spread it self over all Europe and was particularly received at Vienna and in the Confederate Camp with as much Joy and Triumph as it was at Constantinople with Trouble and Confusion And now it was expected by all the World that this Agreement should be executed and that the Moscovites should in the first place to give a beginning have made Incursions into the Enemies Country and without farther delay have invested those Places which lay upon the Frontiers but instead thereof their first Exploit was to take Possession of the Dukedom of Smolenzko and of Kiovia and of about Fifty Leagues of Country which lies along by the Banks of the Niester but as to other Acts of Hostility unless it were by some ranging and confused Incursions made by their own Cosacks with design rather to Pilfer and Pillage than to Offend and Damage the Enemy nothing of Moment was performed by which means the Tartars against whom the Moscovites were obliged to oppose their Arms found an opportunity to joyn with the Cosacks of Poland who with united Forces not only disputed the Passes with the Polanders but likewise recruited and reinforced the Grand Vizier's Army in Hungary After this Agreement was finished the next Treaty in hand was to deal with Apafi Prince of Transilvania to draw him off from his Adherence to the Turk This Prince finding himself between two great Powers the least of which was able to crush him to nothing kept and maintained his Agents at both Courts only to protract time and divert a Storm Count Caraffa quartering with a strong Party of Horse and Foot on the Confines of that Principality was appointed by the Emperor to treat with Apafi and to joyn Menaces and Force to fair Words but little Satisfaction could be extorted from him more than a Desire to live in a kind of Neutality for thô the Imperial Forces were not far distant from him yet the Turks were not as yet beaten out of the Field nor their Garrisons taken but all things seemed to remain in a doubtful state and change of War. Thus Apafi feared both and demanded Protection and Assistance from both sides hoping that whilst he was wavering and seemed unfixt he should preserve both his Friends or at least not provoke them to be his Enemies But what Count Caraffa could not obtain by Treaty he forced by two Regiments which procured the Contributions which were then exacted to which Apafi more easily yielded because such a Compliance seemed rather an effect of Violence and Necessity than of Choice Howsoever the Turks were not so very well assured of the Constancy of the Transilvanias but that just cause of Jealousie remained of their Inclinations towards the Emperor to prevent which the Turks order'd a strong Body of Men to march and quarter on their Confines
there to attend and observe the Motions both of the Germans and the Transilvanians the latter of which seeing the Sword over their Heads continued still in a state of Irresolution So that the Emperor esteeming that nothing was to be done by Treaty commanded the Agents to quit his Court Howsoever for a while a stop was given to their Departure for that the Brother of the Prince of Valachia called Catachuzeno of which Family and Name were the last Greek Emperors being privately dispatched to Vienna to enter into a Treaty and League with the Emperor in the Name and Behalf of his Brother did insinuate many fine and hopeful Projects for gaining without Blood or Treasure the three Principalities In order unto which a Dispatch was sent to the Count Scaffemberg under the Imperial Signature immediately to march with his Forces to Cassovia where he should find Orders for his farther Proceedings the Count accordingly obeyed and immediately upon his arrival received a positive Commission to joyn Seven thousand Germans to Four thousand Hungarians detached from the Troops quartered in the Upper Hungary and with that Army without any farther delay to march to the Confines of Transilvania situate on the River Maros where Catachuzeno had given Assurances that Twelve thousand Transilvanias well provided and armed would there be ready to meet Scaffemberg and joyn with his Forces at their first appearance and with these proceeding farther to Valachia he should there on the Confines have his Numbers increased by an addition of Sixteen thousand Valachians and Moldavians with which formidable Force composing a most powerful Army it was not to be doubted but that after the Example of their Soldiers the three Provinces would revolt and yield to the Emperor and with such a Force which nothing could oppose Incursions might be made with Fire and Sword into all Towns and Quarters of the Turks from the River Danube to the Confines of Poland and whereby an intercourse of Arms and other intelligences would be obtained This had been a rare design and a happy project had allthings corresponded with the like Success and in such a manner as they had been promised and insinuated by Catecuzeno But tho' all things did not answer these expectations yet in other matters the March of these Forces came very opportunely into those Countries and served to obstruct the Tartars passage into the upper Hungary where they were speeding to joyn with Tekeli and to wast and destroy all those Counties By this time the Sultan had received a new Confirmation of the Advice That Apafi had sent Commissioners to Treat with the Emperor at Vienna and tho' the Turks were well assured of the inclination of Apafi towards them yet not knowing how far the fear and dread of the succesful Arms of the Imperialists might prevail Orders were dispatched to the Vizier then at Belgrade immediately to send Succours into Transilvania to fix and confirm the wavering Mind of that Prince Accordingly a very considerable Force being on the march thither they were encounter'd on the way by Count Schaffemberg who charged the Ottoman Troops sent to secure Transilvania with such Bravery and Success that he killed and routed that whole Party and made himself Master of that important Pass of Hermansburg After which he pressed the Estates of Transilvania once more to declare but they seeking new pretences and excuses of delay endeavouring so long as they could to maintain their Neutrality were so distressed at length by Oppression and Free quarters and Insolence of the Soldiers that seeing no other remedy they joyned their Troops with the Imperialists year 1686. and in a Body charged a party of the Tartars and put them to Flight In the mean time the Season coming on for laying as was resolved Siege to Buda the Duke of Loraine departed from Newstadt with intention to go to the place of General Rendezvous but being seized by some Indisposition he stopt at Odemberg and came not unto the Muster and Review of the Army until about 19 29 of May At which time the Elector of Bavaria and Prince Lewis of Baden Count Staremberg and Count Bielk with a Regiment of Swedish Curassiâ—rs raised for the Service of the Duke of Bavaria together with the Auxiliary Troops of Saxony came to the Camp at Newstadt upon the River Waagh but the Brandenburghers and the Troops of Suabia being not as yet come the Duke of Loraine marched toward Raab Comorra and Gran and put off the Review and Muster of the Army until the 5 th of Iune But on the first of that Month a General Council of War was held to agree upon such Measures as were to be taken for carrying on the Siege of Buda At that assembly of Officers all the miscarriages and defects in the mannagement of the last Siege of the Year 1684 were examined and Plats brought of the place drawn by divers Hands In fine After long Discourses thereupon it was resolved That every one should possess the same Post which he held before at the last Siege and that some false Attacks should be made at first until the Lines were formed and secured in such manner as to hinder all Succours from being brought into the City After the Council was risen several small Parties of Horse were detached to scowre about the adjacent Parts of Buda Alba Regalis and Erlaw to make discovery of the State and Condition of the Enemy The same Day the Commissary Generals brought unto the Duke of Loraine a List of the Forces which were formed and in a readiness to be employed in the Siege of Buda the which was composed of Thirty thousand Foot and Twenty thousand Horse besides the Hungarians and Brandenburgers which were not as yet come to the Camp The Artillery consisted of Sixty Pieces of heavy Cannon Forty Mortar Pieces besides a great number of Bombs Carcasses and Granadoes with vast Stores of Ammunition and Provisions The greatest part of the Army was by this time advanced as far as Gran which is about Forty English Miles distant from Buda the Imperial Troops with those of Saxony passed the Danube over a Bridge at Gran whilst the Bavarians continued their march on the other side that place being designed for the General Rendezvous and where the Feast of Corpus Christi falling out on the 13 th of Iune was to be celebrated the Solemnity thereof caused so great a Concourse of People that the City not being capable to contain them the Procession was made without the Walls and within the compass of the Camp. Some Writers say That the People flocked in greater numbers to perform the Festival in that place where it had been interdicted by the Turks for the space of One hundred and twenty Years which now they were joyful to see restored These Writers had said more properly if instead of the word Restor'd they had used the word Introduced for that it is scarce an Hundred Years