their farther passage with whom Robert duke of NORMANDIE who had the leading of the vauntguard had a hard conflict vntill that the Turks discouraged with the sight of the armie still comming on forsooke the bridge and betooke themselues to flight So the Christians passing the riuer came and encamped with their armie before the famous citie of ANTIOCH the one and twentith day of October in the yeere 1097 the gouernour whereof vnder the Persian Sultan was one Cassianus of some also honoured with the name of a king who at the comming of the Christians had with him in the citie seuen thousand horsemen and twentie thousand foot of the Turks with great store of victuals and all manner of other prouisions necessarie for the defence thereof This citie called in antient time EPIDAPHANE or EPIPHANE and of the Hebrewes REBLATHA sometime the seat of the Sirian kings and afterwards the Metropoliticall citie of SIRIA hauing vnder it an hundred and fiftie bishops famous for many things and amongst others for that it was the seat of the blessed Apostle Saint Peter and first place whereas the professours of the Christian religion tooke the name of Christians is situate vpon the riuer ORONTES about twelue miles from the sea and was then strongly fortified both by nature and art being compassed about with a double wall the vttermost whereof was of hard stone and the other of bricke with 460 towres in the same and an inpregnable castle at the East end thereof whereunto was joyning a deepe lake comming out of the great riuer which watred the South side of the citie Round about this strong citie one of the most assured refuges of the Turks although it were in circuit great lay the Christian princes encamped except on that side which being defended with the high broken mountaines is not there to be besieged Vpon whom the Turks out of the citie duing the time of the siege made many a fierce desperat sally being stil by the Christians most valiantly repulsed especially at the bridge which the Christians had made of boats for their more commodious passage too and fro ouer the riuer In this sort was the siege continued vntill the beginning of Februarie with many a bloodie skirmish At which time such abundance of raine sell as that hardly could a man find any place to lie drie in and the scarsitie of victuall grew so great in the campe that many horrible it is to say to assuage their hunger were glad to eat the dead bodies of their late slaine enemies In these extremities many died of hunger and cold yea their horses also perished for want of meat so that in the whole campe were scarcely left two thousand horses fit for seruice the rest being either all dead or brought so low as that they were altogether vnseruiceable These miseries dayly increasing diuers men of great account whom no terrour of the enemie could haue dismaid began secretly to withdraw themselues out of the campe with purpose to haue stolne home among whom were Peter the heremit authour of this war and Tancred the nephew of Bohemund who taken by the way and brought backe with the rest as fugitiues were sharply reprooued by Hugh the French kings brother as cowards and traitors to their brethren and fellow souldiers and so enforced to take a new oath for their fidelitie and perseuerance Bohemund in the meane time going to ARETHVSA a towne not far off by good fortune cut off a great part of the Turks there in garrison who after their vsual manner sallying out to haue cut off the forrages of the Christians were now themselues caught tardie whereby the countrey for a time was more open for the distressed Christian souldiers to seeke abroad for reliefe But this libertie so lately gained lasted not long when newes was brought vnto the campe That the Turks in great number out of the prouinces about ALEPPO and DAMASCO were comming to the reliefe of their besieged friends in ANTIOCH Neuerthelesse the Christians trusting vnto their owne strength the strength of the place wherein they were encamped lay still and at their comming so encountred them that they slew 2000 of them and put the rest to flight In which conflict the Christians got great store of prouision victuals which the Turks had thought to haue put into the citie The heads of the slaine Turks the Christians set vpon stakes before the citie to the more terrour of the defendants This ouerthrow of the Turks wherein Cassianus had lost his eldest sonne with others of his best captaines so daunted the besieged that they requested a truce for a time of the Christian princes which granted they of the citie came oftentimes into the campe and they of the campe likewise into the citie Cassianus still expecting reliefe from the Persian Sultan Whilst the Christian princes were thus busie in ASIA the Venetians with a great fleet of two hundred gallies scouring the seas vnder the conduct of Henrie Contarenus the bishop and of Vitalis the dukes sonne meeting with the gallies of Pisa at the RHODES and falling out with them had with them a great fight wherein the Venetians hauing the vpper hand tooke eighteene of their gallies and in them fiue thousand souldiers whom they seeing to be marked with the red crosse the cognisance of the sacred warre they presently set at libertie together with the gallies detayning onely thirtie of the better sort as hostages After that the Venetians sayling into IONIA tooke the citie of SMYRNA and spoiled all along the costs of LYCIA PAMPHILIA and CILICIA before for feare abandoned by the Turks The truce before taken betweene the Turks and the Christians at the siege of ANTIOCH being in short time after broken by the death of one Vollo a French man slaine by the Turks the war was againe begun and the citie more hardly laid vnto than before At which time the gouernour who in the time of this long siege which had now continued nine months had lost most part of his best souldiers was glad for the defence of so great a citie to vse the seruice of diuers Christians then dwelling in the citie Amongst whom was one Pirrhus a citizen of great reputation vnto whom he had committed the guarding of a tower called the two Sisters but afterward saint Georges tower This Pyrrhus had secret intelligence with Bohemund prince of TARENTVM with whom he agreed to giue him there entrance into the city vpon condition That he should of the other Christian princes procure the gouernment of the citie vnto himselfe and that he with the rest of the Christian citizens in the citie might be at his hands well vsed Which thing being easily obtayned and all things agreed vpon Bohemund with his souldiers were by night by Pyrrhus let into the citie who made way for the rest of the armie to enter The citie thus taken many of the Turks fled into the castell the rest were put vnto the
whom he was kept prisoner by the space of a yeare and three months and then ransomed for the summe of an hundred and fiftie thousand pounds About this time died the great Sultan Saladin the greatest terrour of the Christians who mindfull of mans fragilitie and the vanitie of worldly honours commanded at the time of his death no solemnitie to be vsed at his buriall but onely his shirt in manner of an ensigne made fast vnto the point of a launce to be carried before his dead bodie as an ensigne a plaine priest going before and crying aloud vnto the people in this sort Saladin Conquerour of the East of all the greatnesse and riches hee had in his life carrieth not with him after his death any thing more than his shirt A fight woorthie so great a king as wanted nothing to his eternall commendation more than the true knowledge of his saluation in Christ Iesu. He raigned about sixteene yeares with great honour and dying left nine sonnes which were all murthered by Saphradin their vncle excepting one called also Saphradin Sultan of ALEPPO who by the fauour and support of his fathers good friends saued himselfe from the treacherous practises of his vncle Of this Saphradin the vncle discended Meledin Sultan of AEGYPT and Coradin Sultan of DAMASCO and HIERUSALEM Saladin his great kingdome being by them now againe rent in pieces The death of Saladin in short time bruited abroad with the discord amongst the Turks and Sarasins about his dominions put Celestinus then Pope in good hope that the citie of HIERUSALEM might in that change and hurle be easily againe recouered and that kingdome established But when hee had in vaine dealt to that purpose with the kings of FRANCE and ENGLAND then altogether busied in their wars the one against the other he persuaded Henrie the sixt then emperor to take the matter in hand who for that he well could not or else would not himselfe in person vndertake that long expedition sent Henrie duke of SAXONIE his lieutenant with a great armie into ASIA vnto whom were joyned two Legats Conradus Archbishop of MOGUNSIA another of the electours and Conradus the bishop of HERâ—IPOLIS At which time also many other great princes tooke vpon them that holy war namely Herman Lantgraue of THURIN Henrie Palatine of RHENE Henrie duke of BRABANT Conrad marques of MORAVIA Frederick duke of AUSTRIA and Albertus Hapspurgensis with some others vnto whom also joyned themselues the bishops of BREME HALBERSTAT and RATISBON with diuers other great prelates Who hauing passed through HUNGARIE and THRACIA and by the Greeke emperour Alexius Angelus relieued with all things necessarie were by the Graecian ships transported vnto ANTIOCH and so by land came to TYRE and from thence to PTOLEMAIS with purpose to haue gone to relieue the Germains besieged in IOPPE who before their comming were all by treason slaine and the citie rased wherefore being come to the ruins thereof they departed thence to SIDON which they found also abandoned by the Turks After that they tooke BERITHUS which citie they fortified and so went to besiege TORONE which citie when they had brought vnto the extremitie as that it must needs as it was thought either yeeld or bee taken the Turkes came on so fast to the reliefe therof that the Christians were glad to raise their siege and to be gone which they in garrison at BERITHUS perceiuing seeing the enemie to approch them they abandoned the citie and joyning themselues vnto the rest of the armie marched all together to IOPPE a little before ruinated which they now againe fortified But the enemie comming to BERITHUS and finding it forsaken rased it downe to the ground and so in few moneths space was BERITHUS both repaired and rased in the yeere 1197. But whilest the Christians were repairing the citie of IOPPE the Turks proud of that they had done at BERITHUS came now to disturbe also the fortifying of that place Of whose comming the Christians vnderstanding remooued by night about fiue miles from the citie of purpose to draw the Turks vnto a conuenient place for battell The Turks thinking them to haue beene fled for feare sent part of their armie to assaile the citie and with the other followed after them disorderedly as if it had beene after men they had had in chace Vpon whom the Christians turning had with them at the first a sharpe encounter but afterwards put them to flight in which conflict certaine thousands of the Turks fell of whom the Christians taking the spoile and hauing put the rest to flight returned againe vnto the fortifying of the citie But the joy of this victorie was by the sudden death of two of the greatest princes in the armie greatly diminished for the duke of SAXONIE hauing in the battell taken great paines in performing the parts both of a woorthie generall and valiant souldier had ouer heated himselfe and thereupon without regard of his health taking cold died of a feauer the fourth day after The duke of AUSTRIA mortally wounded in the battell died also the night following About this time or not long after died Celestinus the pope author of this expedition and Henrie also the Germaine emperour after whose death great troubles began to arise in GERMANIE about the chusing of a new emperour Whereof the bishop of MOGUNSIA then chiefe commander of the armie of the Christians in SIRIA one of the electors and the other Germaine princes with him hauing intelligence could not by any persuasion or praiers of the poore Christians in whose quarrell they were come bee persuaded longer to stay but that needs home they would indeed home they went the same way that they came After whose departure the Turks tooke IOPPE hauing one of the ports betraied vnto them by one of the citie at such time as the Germains there in garrison after the manner of their countrey vpon S. Martins day were carelesly making merrie together in their pots vpon whom so surcharged with wine the Turks entring by the port giuen vnto them put them all with the rest of the Christians to the sword and so afterward rased the citie downe to the ground Of which victorie they became so proud that they had thought without stop to haue driuen the Christians quite out of SIRIA but by the comming of Simon countie of MONT-FORT a most valiant and expert captaine sent thither by Philip the French king with a regiment of tall soldiers at the instance of Innocentius Tertius that succeeded Celestinus in the papacie and by ciuill discord then raigning among the Turks themselues for soueraigntie their furie was repressed and a peace betwixt them and the Christians concluded for the space of ten yeares during which time the Turks promised not to molest the Christians in TYRE or PTOLEMAIS which hapned in the yeare 1199 or as some others say 1198. After which peace so concluded the woorthie countie returned again with his souldiers into
he caused his vauntgard to march towards ALEXANDRIA and hauing passed ouer the riuer euen in an instant turned directly vnto CAIER to the great astonishment of the Sultan who made prouision for the defence of ALEXANDRIA as the neerest vnto danger But vnderstanding of these newes vsed such diligence that he entred into the citie with fortie thousand horse and threescore thousand foot euen as Tamerlane his armie aproached purposing in person himselfe to defend it By whose comming the great citie readie before to haue reuolted was againe in his obedience confirmed to the great hinderance of Tamerlane his affaires for to remaine long before it was impossible for want of victuals for so great an armie in the enemies countrey Yet notwithstanding all this did not Tamerlane forbeare to draw neere vnto it and with all his armie to encampe neere vnto the same hauing caused a great trench to bee made for to couer his horsemen and thereby to lodge his armie more safely during which time he caused diuers onsets to be giuen as well to trie what confidence the enemie had in himselfe as to see how the people of the cittie especially the slaues which in that populous cittie are infinite were affected towards him who certainely enformed him of the state of the cittie and the armie as glad to see the same by him shut vp and the proud Mamalukes still put to the worst But thus lying still at the siege one day he thought it good to shew his armie before the citie for to trie whether the enemie had a desire to come to a daie of battaile or not as also to view what forces he had and so indeed to seeke occasion to fight In hope also that if the Sultan did come foorth with all his armie into the field some reuolt might happen within the cittie as well by the slaues vnto whom libertie was by him promised as by the cittizens themselues discontented with the insolencie of the Mamalukes entered of late into the cittie with the Sultan vnto whom he had made it knowne by certaine slaues for that purpose fled as fugitiues out of his armie into the cittie how that hee was not come to hurt them but onely for the destruction of the Mamalukes both his and their enemies But betimes standing so in battaile array no man came foorth neither was there any tumult or sturre raised in the cittie as hee had expected For the Sultan in so great a cittie well prouided of all things was resolued to wearie him out with lying still and not to put all to the hazard of a battaile Which Tamerlane perceiuing and set downe not to depart thence but victorious resolued likewise to force him euen in his greatest strength in the heart of his greatest citie although it were not to be done but with great aduenture such confidence he had in the strength and multitude of his armie Now his purpose was first to take one of the cities for CAIRE is diuided into three therin encamping himself by litle litle to aduance forward as he might stil fighting with the enemy Vpon which resolution he commaunded an assault to be giuen and hauing brought his footmen vnto the place where he would haue them to giue the onset for the citie was not walled but onely fortified with ditches and trenches he commaunded the prince of THANAIS with fiftie thousand footmen to begin the assault euen in the face of the enemie which hee most valiantly perfourmed and there began a most terrible and cruell fight Axalla in the meane time deeming as the truth was that the Sultan had drawn his greatest forces vnto the place where the prince of THANAIS sought to enter as vnto a place of greatest danger fet a compasse about and vpon another quarter of the citie with small resistance passed the trenches where he presently left thirtie thousand men to fill vp the ditches and to make way for the horsemen to enter aduancing forward himselfe against twentie thousand sent by the Sultan to haue stopped his further passage the prince of THANAIS being at the same time almost beaten backe by the Mamelukes But the way being made plaine by them that were for that purpose left by Axalla and ten thousand horse entred which charged vpon the backs of the Mamelukes where the Sultan himselfe was and they seconded by ten thousand moe sent in by Tamerlane following himselfe after with all his power the Sultan retired vnto a second strength which he had made in the next citie The fight endured full the space of seauen houres wherein were slaine of the Sultan his men aboue sixteene thousand and of Tamerlanes betwixt seauen and eight thousand Who contented to haue dislodged the enemie and gained a third part of the citie caused a retrait to be sounded in hope the next daie to winne all the rest as indeed he did For the prince of THANAIS the next daie forcing the enemies trenches in one place and Axalla in another the Sultan after a great fight finding himselfe hardly pressed by the obstinate enemie and too weake long to hold out retired and so forthwith abandoned the citie and encamped himselfe along the side of the riuer NILUS with purpose to passe the same and to flye to ALEXANDRIA his second strength and refuge Which Tamerlane suspecting followed after him with his horsemen who onely were in order and some few foot hardly drawne from the citie which their fellowes were in spoiling so as hee was glad to promise them especially to regard and reward their good seruice Against whom the Sultan vpon a narrow cawsey had opposed twelue or fifteen thousand men whom he called his slaues to fauour his passage but were indeed his best souldiours and stood fast the place seruing greatly for their aduantage who for all that at length forced by their enemies still increasing vpon them though not without great losse cast themselues into the great riuer and made a most honourable retrait euerie man hauing his weapon in the one hand and swimming with the other to the farther banke The Sultan flying with some eighteene thousand horse for the rest were sundrie waies fled or else drowned is reported in his flight to haue comforted his men by telling of them That they were not men that had vanquished them but gods there appeared in them so great wisedome force and valour diuers of the Mamelukes taken in the late fight being brought before Tamerlane and by him courteously vsed were of him demaunded if they could be content to serue him now that their maister was fled and gone which they all vtterly refused Whom notwithstanding for their fidelitie Tamerlane set at libertie to goe againe vnto the Sultan as no lesse desirous to be admired of his enemies for his bountie and courtesie than feared for his force and valour The wonderfull wealth of this so great and famous a citie became a preie vnto his souldiours who for the space of foure and twentie houres
their naturall king or rather their brother borne and brought vp amongst them they all with one consent answered That they would spend their liues and goods in his quarrell so long as he should keepe his armie whole and defend the citie of CAPVA But if it should so chance that the Aragonians should be ouerthrowne or els for feare abandon that citie and the French king as victor to approch the citie of NAPLES he should doe both against reason and equitie if by exacting fidelitie and allegeance of his subjects apprehended with so just a feare he should so expose that noble citie with the fruitfull countrey thereabout to bee spoiled and destroyed by a mercilesse and cruell enemie Whilest Ferdinand was thus busied in appeasing and confirming his wauering subjects at NAPLES the French king had taken diuers cities and was come before CAPVA The citizens of CAPVA although they were alwayes well affected to the Aragonian kings yet seeing the French king as a most violent tempest to beare downe all before him began now to consult amongst themselues of yeelding vp the cittie whereunto they were the more prickt forward by the suddaine reuolt of the great captaine Triuultius with his followers as also by the departure of Verginius and Petilianus two great and famous commaunders who seeing themselues forsaken of Triuultius fled with their companies vnto the citie of NOLA In this discomfiture of king Ferdinand his armie the Frenchmen had entered into the suburbes of the citie which thing Gothfredus and Gaspar two valiant Germane captaines beholding sallied with their companies out of the citie of purpose to abate the pride of the French to confirme the doubtfull citizens These worthie captaines when they had with exceeding valour repulsed the French and thought to haue againe returned into the citie could not be suffered to enter but were by the citisens shut out of the gate in danger to haue had their throats cut by the enemie In which perplexitie they were glad vpon their knees to entreat the cowardly citisens standing vpon the wals not in such traiterous manner to betray their friends readie in their defence to bestow their liues and with much entreating at length obtained of those heartlesse men that they might by ten and ten in a companie be receiued in at one gate of the citie and so put out at another farthest from the danger of the enemie in which sort when they had passed through the citie they tooke the way towards NAPLES and vpon the way met with the king at AVERSA vnto whom they declared all that had happened in his absence at CAPVA Who although he saw his armie dispersed and all things now desperat yet went hee on forward and came to the very gates of CAPVA and there called vpon diuers of the cheefe men of the citie requiring to be let in But when hee saw there was none to giue him answer and an ensigne of the French king displayed vpon the wall in token that the citie was become French hee returned to NAPLES where he found the gates now shut against him and all the citisens vp againe in armes and not willing to receiue any of the souldiors which came from CAPVA more than the king himselfe for flying fame preuenting his returne had filled euerie corner of the citie with report That all the cheefe captaines of his armie were either gone ouer to the enemie or els for safegard of their liues fled That the whole armie was broken vp and CAPVA yeelded to the French Wherfore the Neapolitanes framing their fancies according to the condition of the time began now also to fawne vpon the good fortune of the French and to haue king Ferdinand in contempt which hee well perceiuing and fetching a compasse farther off from the cittie came vnto the castle whereinto he was receiued with his followers by his faithfull captaines therein before left But prouidently foreseeing that he could not there long stay but that hee should bee besieged by his enemies both by sea and land he commended the keeping of that peece vnto Alphonsus D'aualus a most valiant captaine and departed himselfe with twentie gallies well appointed vnto AENARIA an Island not farre from NAPLES hauing in it a commodious harbour and a strong castle where fortune neuer firme but in miserie seemed againe to deride the poore remainder of his honor For comming thether the captaine of the castle vnworthely named Iustus forgetting his dutie towards his soueraigne of whom he had before receiued many extraordinarie fauours most traiterously now in his so hard distresse shut the gates of the castle against him at his landing and vnkindly refused to receiue him With which vnexpected ingratitude the poore king was wonderfully perplexed and almost abashed yet with earnest entreatie and ample commemoration of the benefits and preferments which both his father and himselfe had in times past bestowed vpon him he preuailed so much with this vnthankefull man that hee was content to receiue him into the castle so that he would come but himselfe alone of which his offer when no more could be got the king seemed to accept So the captain hauing opened a port to receiue him in was in the very entrance thereof suddenly stabd to the heart with a dagger by king Ferdinand and slaine in the middest of his armed souldiours Which was done with such a countenance and majestie that the warders with their weapons in their hands dismayed with his look forthwith at his commaundement opened the gate and receiued him in with all his followers Whereby it appeareth That in the countenance of princes resteth a certaine diuine majestie in all fortunes aboue the common course of nature which is of power to daunt the hearts of most disloyall traitors in the performance of their vnnaturall treasons The next day after the departure of king Ferdinand from the castle of NAPLES Charles the French king was receiued into the citie with such pompe triumph and acclamation of the Neapolitanes as if they had euen then by the benefit of that forraine king been restored vnto perfect libertie and deliuered out of some long and hard bondage Shortly after the castle of NAPLES with all the strong places thereabout were yeelded vnto the French and embassadours sent from all the princes and people of that kingdome yeelding themselues into the power of the French king Then Ferdinand seeing all lost and gone departed from AENARIA where he lay expecting the euent of his hard fortune and sailed into SICILIA Thus the house of ARAGON in lesse than fiue moneths lost the kingdome of NAPLES about 63 yeares after that it was first taken from the French by Alphonsus the elder this Ferdinand his great grandfather The report of the great preparation made by the French for this warre had long before filled the eares of them which dwelt in any part of the Turks dominions in EVROPE but when they saw the French ensignes displayed vpon the wals of the castles and
in the territories that lay vnder ALTVNCHALA or Golden castle the princely widowes pallace where they had all manner of reliefe for all the miseries they had endured since their departure from CHIVRCHALA by the space of six daies which if it had been a faire common trauelled way might haue been performed in one onely daies journey The widow with Alexander her eldest sonne came downe from her castle and went vnto the pauillion of Mustapha offering him diuers presents and promising vnto him all faithfull obedience Whom Mustapha courteously receiued declaring vnto her what honourable entertainment he had giuen to Manucchiar her yonger sonne there present who had been with him in all the expedition into SIRVAN And for the present dissembling the priuie displeasure he bare against Alexander whom he thought to haue been one of them that spoiled the Sorians in their returne from the campe he embraced him courteously and praied her to be content to leaue him also there with him giuing her farther to vnderstand that he would send both her sons to CONSTANTINOPLE to Amurath with letters of credence for their yeelded obedience for their fauour shewed to his armie in giuing it so secure passage and so many helpes and lastly that for their good deserts they might be of the said great Sultan both honourably entertained and rewarded The aged ladie although her mind was herewithall sore troubled yet outwardly in her countenance shewed her selfe pleased and seemed courteously to yeeld what she was of necessitie constrained to grant as well for that he was alreadie possessed of one of her sonnes as also for that both her selfe and her whole state were now in his power and as it were at his deuotion And therefore leauing both her sonnes behind her she returned her selfe heauie to her castle In this place Mustapha hauing refreshed his armie two daies departed thence toward CHARS and after many dayes trauell at last arriued at ERZIRVM to the great rejoycing of the whole armie which was there presently discharged by the Generall without any mustering at all leaue giuen for euery man to returne into his countrey Mustapha setling himselfe in ERZIRVM dispatched postes with letters of plentifull aduertisements to his great lord and master of all things that had passed not forgetting to magnifie his owne exploits aboue measure He certified him of the battels he had had with the Persians the obedience he had receiued of the Georgians and Siruanians the mutinie of his owne souldiors the fortresse he had built at ERE 's the garrisons left in that citie with Caitas Bassa and in SVMACHIA with Osman Bassa and in breefe whatsoeuer els had passed and whatsoeuer he had taken from the enemie Neither did he faile to propound vnto Amurath what he thought conuenient to be attempted the next yeare for the strengthening of those places he had alreadie conquered and for preparing the way for new enterprises And principally he put him in mind of a fortification to be made at CHARS a place very fit for any passage into GEORGIA or ARMENIA by situation fruitfull and commodious both for men and cattell And withall he sent vnto him the widdowes two sonnes Alexander and Manucchiar the Georgian princes certifying him of their submission and that he had receiued in their country all good entertainment and friendly welcome and withall declaring his opinion That Manucchiar was the meeter man for gouernment than his brother Alexander and the readier to doe him seruice Greatly did Amurath commend the valour and diligence of Mustapha and highly pleased himselfe with this conceit That of these beginnings might grow mightie conquests to the enlargement of his empire and that by this meanes he should be able to surpasse the glorie of his predecessours And the more his ambitious thoughts were occupied about these wars the lesse he troubled himselfe with thinking how to annoy EVROPE with his forces It was not long after the departure of Mustapha from ERE 's but that the Tartarians hauing left the fennes of MEOTIS and the vnmountable shores of the Blacke sea and hauing passed ouer the rockes vpon CHOLCHIS and surueyed the frosen crags of the mountaine CAVCASVS were now arriued vpon the confines of SIRVAN and there attended the commaundement of the Turkes These Tartarians being of them that are called Praecopenses to the number of thirtie thousand conducted by their lord and captaine Abdilcherai a young man of great valour and fame and of a comely personage were come according to the faithfull promise of Tatar Chan with a full resolution to attempt whatsoeuer should be commaunded them in the name of Amurath Now Osman Bassa vnderstanding of their approch according to the charge before giuen him by Mustapha the Generall enuited them to enter into SIRVAN and by encreasing of the Turkes forces to further these beginnings of Amurath his glorie and these his conquests or more truly to say these magnificall famous tearms of victorie All which was most diligently put in execution by Abdilcherai who hauing entred the yron gates where DERBENT standeth which by the Turks at this day is called Demir Capi and signifieth the gates of yron and so from thence passing into the countrey of SIRVAN there stayed and thereof gaue aduertisement to Osman as was by him appointed Ares Chan late gouernour of SVMACHIA who for feare of the great armie of the Turkes had abandoned the citie the cheefe place of his charge and betaken himselfe to the safegard of the mountaines hearing of the departure of the Turkish Generall resolued with the other Gouernours of ERE 's and SECHI who following his example had in like manner fled now to returne againe to their forsaken countrey and to make proofe if he could by any meanes take reuenge of the injurie done vnto him by the Turkes So passing vnder SVMACHIA and hauing put to the sword certaine of Osmans stragling victuallers that were gone out of the citie he encamped with all his people a little from SVMACHIA and by good fortune surprised certaine messengers sent from Abdilcherai the Tartar to certifie Osman Bassa of his arriuall and to know his pleasure what he should put in execution These Tartarians brought before Ares after much torture disclosed the letters they carried which the Persian captaine read and considering the great number of the Tartarians that were come for the letters made mention of thirtie thousand he resolued not to stay any longer in those quarters but presently raised his campe and retired towards Canac meaning from thence to certifie the king of these nouelties and vpon the bankes of the said riuer to attend the kings answere The Tartarian captain comming to SVMACHIA was appointed by the Bassa to passe ouer the riuer of Canac into GENGE the countrey of Emanguli Chan with the spoyle thereof to enrich himselfe and by all meanes to make his arriuall vnto the Persians most terrible With this charge the Barbarian departed thirsting now for nothing more than for the bloud
others whereof some he vtterly rased and into the â—est put strong garrisons At this time also Chasi-ilbeg and Eurenoses two of his most valiant captaines tooke certaine forts standing vpon the riuer MERITZA in auncient time called HEâ—â—US Whereby they much troubled the inhabitants of the countrey thereabouts Wherwith the captaine of DIDYMOTICHUM offended gathered his souldiors together intending to haue intercepted the great captaine Chasi-ilbeg in which attempt he lost most of his followers and was himselfe there taken prisoner For whose ransome and certain other conditions the citizens of DIDYMOTICHUM yeelded the citie vnto the Turks Shortly after Amurath sent his tutor Lala Schahin to besiege HADRIANOPLE now called ANDRINOPLE but in antient time ORESTIAS of whose comming the Christians hearing encountred him vpon the way and fought with him a great battaile wherin many were on both sides lost but in the end the Christians being put to the worst retired againe to the citie Of this victorie Schahin sent newes vnto Amurath with certaine of the heads of the slaine Christians who thereupon sending Chasis and Eurenosis before he himselfe with a great armie followed after to the siege of HADRIANOPLE of whose comming the gouernour of HADRIANOPLE vnderstanding fled secretly out of the cittie by night to AENUS The citizens seeing themselues so â—orsaken of their gouernour yeelded their citie vnto Amurath in the yeare of our Lord 1362. The taking of these strong cities in THRACIA especially of DIDYMOTICHUM and HADRIâ—NOPLE is by some of the Turks owne Histories otherwise reported which because it is neither improbable nor disagreeing from the subtile dealings of the Turkes and of themselues also receiued I haue thought good to set downe as their owne Historiographers report the same The Turkish king Amurath had as they say and as truth was in the beginning of his raigne concluded a peace with the Christians of THRACIA during which peace the Gouernour of DIDYMOTICHUM intending to fortifie his citie with new and stronger fortifications against the assaults of the Turkes entertayned all the masons carpenters and other workemen hee could by any meanes get which Amurath vnderstanding secretly caused two hundreth good and lustie workemen and labourers to come out of ASIA to offer their seruice vnto the gouernour who gladly entertained them vsing their helpe in that his great and hastie worke Which thing some of the wiser sort of the citizens disliking wished the Gouernour to beware of those Asian workemen as by them suspected But he presuming vppon the peace made with Amurath and considering they were but base workemen and no souldiers had the lesse care of them neuerthelesse vsing their work all day he commanded them to lodge without the wals of the citie euery night Amurath vnderstanding that these workemen were thus by the Gouernour entertained sent for the valiant captaine Chasis-Ilbeg and requested him with thirtie other good souldiours disguised as poore laborers to go to DIDYMOTICHUM to seeke for worke and in doing thereof to espie if any oportunitie might be found for the surprising of the citie Chasis with these thirtie according to Amurath his direction comming as poore men lacking worke found entertainement at DIDYMOTICHVM where they caried stones morter and such like things euer shewing themselues verie diligent in their worke Chasis with vigilant eye still awayting what might best serue his turne for the surprising of the citie When night was come the Turkish workemen and labourers after their accustomed manner and as they were by the gouernour appointed went out of the citie into the suburbs to their lodgings from whence Chasis secretly departing in the night came to Amurath and shewed him how one of the gates of the citie might vpon the sudden be taken if it would please him to place a sufficient number of Turks in ambush neere vnto the citie to joyne with him and the other Turkish labourers when occasion should serue Which being resolued vpon Amurath sent him backe againe to put this his deuise in execution so Chasis returning to DIDYMOTICHVM brake the matter to so many of the Asian workemen as hee thought conuenient fully instructing them what was to be done The next day according to his appointment the Christians being then at dinner these Turkish workmen and labourers fell at wordes among themselues and from wordes to fayned blowes in which counterfait brawle tumult they suddenly ran to one of the gates of the citie fast by as was before appointed and there laying hands vppon the warders weapons as if it had beene to defend themselues against their fellowes suddenly set vpon those warders being in number but few and then at dinner also and so presently slew them which done they opened the gate of the citie and let in the other Turkes which lay in wait not farre off who with great celeritie entring the citie presently took the same and there put the cheefest of the citizens to the sword sparing the rest of the meaner sort The citie of RHODESTUM of the old writers called RHoeDESTUM was by Amurath his commaundement in this time of peace by sudden assault giuen in the night by the lord Eurenoses taken also With this foule dealing and breach of league yet in force the Christians hardly charged Amurath who turned it ouer to the vnrulinesse of his captaines and men of warre whom he threatned with great seueritie to punish and to giue the better colour that it was done without his priuitie he had fained himselfe sicke all the while these things were in doing But being requested to restore these cities so wrongfully taken froÌ„ the Christians he vtterly refused so to do saying That it was against the law of his great prophet Mahomet to deliuer againe vnto the Christians any towne or citie wherin the Mahometan religion had ben once openly taught Wherevpon waâ—s began againe to arise on fresh betwixt the Christians and him wherein somtime the one preuayled and sometime the other in such sort as that those warres at length became vnto them both verie tedious Wherefore Amurath made peace againe with the Christians of HADRIANOPLE SELYBRIA and CONSTANTINOPLE yet desiring nothing more in heart than to take the citie of HADRIANOPLE which the better to bring to passe he caused Chasis-Ilbeg as a discontented captaine to flye to HADRIANOPLE pretending himselfe to haue been hardly vsed by the tyrant his master where hauing in his companie other such dissembling fugitiues as was himselfe he oftentimes issued out of the citie and valiantly skirmished with the Turks which so â—reatly pleased the gouernour of HADRIANOPLE that he thereby grew into his great fauour Many other Turkes also vnder pretence of like discontentment resorted vnto Chasis wherewith finding himselfe well strengthened he writ letters secretly vnto Amurath That he would deliuer one of the gates of HADRIANOPLE vnto him at a certaine appointed time if he would â—gainst the same time be readie to send him present succors All things being agreed vpon Chasis at the appointed
the while that the great and mightie Tamerlane with his innumerable forces couered the face of the countries fast by him most part whereof Mahomet hath now since his departure againe recouered Wherefore it were best for you to send for your angrie brother Isa to CONSTANTINOPLE and to make him generall of the armie you intend to send into ASIA against Mahomet In which warres it is not vnlike but that one of your brethren will be lost whereby you shall haue one competitor of your kingdome the lesse So shall you afterwards with lesse trouble subdue him that is left or at leastwise please him with some part of that which they haue so mightely striuen for This counsell was of Soliman and all the rest well liked of and approued So was Isa presently sent for vnto CONSTANTINOPLE and a great armie leuied Who being come to HADRIANOPLE was by Soliman courteously welcommed and made generall of his armie and therewith shipped ouer the strait of HELLESPONTVS into ASIA Where at his first comming hee possessed the whole countrey of CARASIA or LYDIA and passing further in all places where he came was receiued of the people with great reuerence they all promising him their obedience if it were his fortune to preuaile against his younger brother Mahomet wherewith he held himselfe well contented So comming to the cittie of BEG-BAZER otherwise called DESPOâ—â—POLIS he there wintered with his armie In which time hee with many kind and louing letters still directed to Mahomet as his younger brother seemed to be glad that he was so well obeyed and liked of by his subjects and that presuming of his loue and fauour he was as his louing brother and not as an enemie come into ASIA to entreat with him of such matters as much concerned the good of them both Whereunto Mahomet with like dissimulation answered That hee was right glad of his comming for which he needed not as he said to make any excuse for that he was entred into a kingdome in part his owne and the rest open before him in token wherof he commaunded a rich garment to be cast vpon the messenger as a fauor sending also diuers rich presents vnto his brother with great prouision of victuals and other necessaries for his souldiors But Winter past and the Spring come Isa marched with his armie to PRUSA and â—here shewed vnto the cittizens the louing letters he had at sundry times before receiued from Mahomet and telling them that hee was in good hope that they should in short time right well agree requested to haue the castle deliuered vnto him sometime their soueraigne whereinto the better sort of the cittizens had retired themselues and made fast the gates against him but when he saw that he could by no faire words or pollicie gaine the possession of the castle enraged with that repulse he set fire vpon that goodly citie and burnt it downe to the ground Mahomet not ignorant how his brother Isa romed vp and downe his kingdome vsing all kindnesse to such as yeelded vnto him and exercising no lesse crueltie vpon such as refused his obedience and how that hee had rased the royall cittie of PRVSA hauing gathered a strong armie marched in ten daies from AMASIA to PRVSA and by the way meeting with his brother Isa in a great battaile ouerthrew him with all his forces Isa himselfe accompanied with no more but ten persons fled vnto CASTAMONA prince Isfendiar his cittie who hearing of his arriuall there entertained him with all the honour he could in recompence of the great friendship he had before found at his hands at what time he was an humble suter in his father Baiazet his court Mahomet comming to PRUSA greeued exceedingly to see that faire citie so destroied yet to comfort the poore citizens he gaue exceeding summes of money to bee bestowed amongst them and tooke order for the new building of the citie and there continued certaine daies himselfe to see the worke begun Isa in the meane time hauing incited the prince Isfendiar in his quarrell to inuade his brother Mahomet and going thether himselfe in person was by him now the third time ouerthrowne and put to flight Neuerthelesse he with some small forces twice afterwards entred into Mahomets dominion but finding few or none willing to follow his euill fortune was glad at last to flie to the prince of SMIRNA by whom he was both honourably entertained and comforted This prince of SMIRNA mooued with Isa his pitifull complaints in so manifest a wrong did not onely promise him what helpe he could of himselfe but also by his embassadours solicited the princes of AIDINIA SARUCHANIA and MENTESIA to giue him aid in so just a quarrell for the releefe of Isa against his vsurping brother These princes pitying the case of the distressed prince and moued with the request of the prince of SMIRNA and fearing also the ambitious spirit of Mahomet amongst them sent such aid that being all assembled together Isa had now twentie thousand men in armes Mahomet vnderstanding of this great preparation made against him and hauing raised a strong armie thought it not best to expect his brothers comming into his countrey where perhaps many might joyne themselues vnto him being so strong in field but entred the prince of SMIRNA his country with such speed that he was vpon him and the rest of his enemies before he was looked for where after a great bloodie fight he obtained of them a notable victorie Isa hauing lost the battaile and therewith his hope also fled into CARAMANIA and there in such obscuritie ended his daies that no man can tell where nor how he died This was the end of this noble prince alwaies of greater courage than fortune The prince of SMIRNA the chiefe authour of this warre humbling himselfe to Mahomet obtained his fauour The other confederate princes which gaue aid to Isa were shortly after by Mahomet for most part spoiled of their dominions Which done he returned with victorie to the building of PRUSA hoping now to liue at more quiet But whilst Mahomet after this victorie dreading no danger was in the middest of his pleasures at PRUSA he was certainly aduertised That his eldest brother Solyman had raised a great armie in EUROPE to inuade him in ASIA Vpon which aduertisement hee furnished the castle of PRUSA with a strong garrison and all things needfull for the induring of a long siege and placed Iacup-Beg the sonne of Firoses captaine therein and afterwards departed himselfe because that citie lately before burnt by Isa was not as yet to be defended much lesse to be accounted of as a place to retire vnto if need should so require From PRUSA he came to ANCYRA from thence directed commissions for the taking vp of souldiors in all parts of his kingdome At which time hee writ letters also to Doioran a Tartar prince whom hee had many times greatly pleasured for aid who presently came vnto him with certaine troupes
repaired thither out of ITALY FRANCE SPAINE GERMANIE and other places of Christendome cheerfully to aduenture their liues in defence both of the place and of the Christian religion against the common enemie of Christianitie The Great Master taking a generall view of all the forces he had to oppose against so puissant an enemie found that he had in the citie sixteene thousand able men in which number were reckoned manie Iewes and other men of seruile condition who in the siege following did right good seruice The great Bassa conducted by the false traitour Demetrius safely landed both his armie and artillerie in the island the two and twentith day of Iune not farre from the citie At which time the Great Master considering that the safetie of the citie consisted more in the liuely valour of the defendants than in the strength of the dead wals or other warlike prouision thought 〈◊〉 requisite as a part of his duetie by cheerfull persuasions to encourage them valiantly to wiâ—hstand the force of their enemies And therefore calling them all together spake vnto them as followeth At length valiant souldiours and fellowes at armes we see the Turkes our mortall enemies 〈◊〉 we were before aduertised as well by letters from our friends as by common fame breathing after 〈◊〉 destruction in readinesse to destroy our churches our oratories our alters our religion and whatsoeuer els we account sacred or religious seeking the ruine of this noble citie and the cruell death of vs all gaping at once to deuour our liues our wealth our hope with all our former honour And 〈◊〉 as I cannot denie but that the chance of warre is doubtfull and the euent thereof vncertaine so when I consider your valiant courage and cheerfulnesse of mind I presently conceiue a most assured hope of victorie They haue entered into armes against vs not so much for anie desert of ours or vpon 〈◊〉 other quarrell as for the vnsatiable desire of rule and the great despite they beare against vs and the Christian religion But to withstand their furie and to frustrate their designes we want neither wâ—â—pons nor artillerie nor prouision for many yeares we haue a most strong garrison of Frenchmen Spaniards Germaines English and others the verie chiualrie of Christendome and that which 〈◊〉 is Christ Iesus our Captaine and Generall by whose power we shall no doubt easily repulse the 〈◊〉 force of our most wicked and gracelesse enemies The care wee haue for the defence of the Christiâ—â— faith wherunto we are by speciall profession bound will animate and encourage vs against them which seeke for nothing more than to extend their wicked and grose superstition to the great dishonour of God and of his sonne Christ Iesus Besides that we are warlike Frenchmen Italians Germaines and other worthy Christians they are of CARIA LYDIA CAPADOCIA and the other delicat countries of ASIA effeminat persons brought vp to pleasure I say it not to draw you into anie manifest or ineuitable danger neither to feed you with vaine hope or to fill your eares with windie words bâ—â— this I promise and assure you of that if this siege shall continue long hither will come such strong 〈◊〉 out of FRANCE ITALY GERMANIE and SPAINE as will serue not onely to raise the siege bâ—â— to recouer againe the empires of CONSTANTINOPLE and TRAPEZONDE Then shall our enâ—mies see no good end of their counsels but all their deuises so confounded as that they shall hardly be able by speedie flight to saue themselues But suppose the hardest should happen which I feare 〈◊〉 would not anie man account his life most happely and honourably spent in defence of a good conscience and the quarrell of Christ Iesus Truely my great yeares and course of life now almost spent 〈◊〉 defeâ—â— of the Christian religion as I euer desired doth call me forth as one so assured of that good laid 〈◊〉 for me in heauen by Christ Iesus whose battell we are to fight that I no whit feare anie enemies force or future chance which for all that I haue as farre as I could and to the vttermost of my power so prouided for as that we will not I hope be therwith ouerwhelmed Be you therefore of good cheâ—re and comfort as I know you are and shew your selues valiant and couragious which resteth wholy iâ— your selues and as for all the rest time and our discretion shall right well prouide I doubt not The valiant men and worthy souldiours resting vpon the assurance of their aged gouernor departed euerie man to his charge full of hope and courage Now had the Bassa landed his great armie and sent Demetrius the traiterous knight Meligalus his companion with certaine troupes of horsemen and some foot to view the ground where he might best encampe with his armie Demetrius in great pride riding about the citie was knowne by Anthony Damboyse the Great Masters brother by whose leaue he sallied out with a troupe of gallant horsemen and skirmished with them but the Turkes being mo in number cast about to haue encloased them which Anthony perceiuing turned vpon them that were comming behind him and that with such force that he slew or wounded most part of them In this hoat skirmish Demetrius hauing his horse slaine vnder him and himselfe ouerthrowne was there troden to death vnder the horses feet an end too good for so false a traitour Muratius a French knight vnaduisedly dispoiling his dead bodie was by the Turkes slaine and his head presented vnto the Bassa in stead of Demetrius The Bassa approaching the citie at the first comming tooke a great orchard which the Great Master had strongly entrenched and therein placed certaine companies of souldiours with some small pieces of ordinance which place if it could haue beene kept might haue fitly serued the defendants to haue at their pleasure sallied out vpon the enemie But they which were appointed to the keeping thereof either terrified with the sight of so great an armie or else doubting to be able to hold it against so great a power abandoned it by night and retired into the citie leauing the great ordinance behind them for hast In this place the Bassa by the counsell of George Frapaine a Christian fugitiue of the RHODES and now master of his ordinance began to plant his batterie from thence to batter the tower called Nicholea or S. Nicholas his tower distant froÌ„ the citie three hundreth paces But against this place Damboyse had so aptly mounted two great Basiliskes that he made him glad quickly to forsake the same yet finding no other place more conuenient for his purpose shortly after he neere vnto the same place planted againe his batterie of farre greater force than before Wherein beside the ordinance of greatest charge he had three hundred smaller pieces for batterie wherewith at the first he did small harme for that this George Frapaine repenting himselfe as it was thought of his foule treason bestowed the shot to small purpose
Moratchamus for the kingdome and hauing vanquished him draue him out of ARMENIA and PERSIA and afterwards as it commonly falleth out in the winding vp of ciuile warres had caused diuers of the cheefe citisens of TAVRIS which had taken part with his brother against him to be seuerely executed filling the eyes of their friends with the horrible spectacle of their dismembred bodies and the hearts of most men with sorrow and heauinesse whereby he had so alienated the minds of the citisens from him that now vpon the approch of Hysmaell they were all readie to forsake him of which their disposition Hysmaell was before-hand enformed and vpon the good hope thereof had hasted his comming Eluan the Persian king thus ouertaken on the suddaine had not time to raise such forces as might suffice either to encounter his enemie or defend the citie wherefore despairing of his owne strength and justly fearing the reuolt and furie of the discontented citisens as a man dismayed suddainely fled out of the citie After whose departure the gates were presently set open vnto Hysmaell For the citisens which in those troublesome times wherein the two brethren contended for the kingdome had suffered great calamitie chose rather in that present danger to receiue a conqueror of so great fame as was then Hysmaell than to their vtter destruction to oppose themselues against him in the quarrell of their cruell king and the rather for that they saw a generall securitie and open way to preferment proposed vnto all such as should receiue the reformed religion of this new conquerour Hysmaell entering the citie slew certaine of the kings guard which were not yet departed and then vtterly rased the stately tombe wherin his vncle Iacup was after the manner of the Persian kings royally buried And to mitigate the sorrow hee had so long conceiued of his fathers death and with reuenge to appease his angrie ghost he caused the tyrants bornes to be digged vp and scattered abroad and the memoriall of his name to bee quite rased out of all places of the citie Although Hysmaell was thus possessed of the regall citie of TAVRIS and had therby made a way for the obtaining of the whole kingdome yet hee knew that so long as Eluan liued his conquest was not vnto him assured and therefore to the vttermost of his power he augmented his armie with new supplies taken vp in that populous citie whom he furnished with armour and weapons taken out of the kings armourie In the meane time newes was brought vnto him that the Persian king before fled into the farthest part of his kingdome was now comming from SCYRAS with a great armie against him and that Moratchamus his brother forgetting in this common danger all former quarrels had raised a great armie about BABILON in ASSYRIA in short time to joine with his brother Hysmaell neuerthelesse nothing terrified with the report of the great preparation of the two brethren against him to the intent hee might seeme to vndertake this warre by the appointment of God and vpon a greater assurance than vpon his owne strength resolued to go against them And so after he had mustered his armie and in best manner he could prouided all things necessarie he set forward from TAVRIS vsing no other persuasion to encourage his souldiors but that they should as became resolute men make hast and follow him whom God had giuen them for a cheefetaine and leader vnto a most assured victorie The Persian king was at the same time ten dayes journey from TAVRIS when Hysmaell with incredible celeritie preuenting the fame of his comming was come to the mountaine NIPHATES which parteth ARMENIA from ASSYRIA which mountaine Eluan purposing shortly to passe ouer with his populous armie had sent before his scouts to discouer the straight passages and a multitude of pioners to make the wayes more commodious for his great armie to passe Which thing Hysmaell vnderstanding and politickely considering that it should be much for his aduantage if hee should first himselfe passe ouer those great mountaines and so vpon the suddaine set vpon his enemies then lying in securitie and fearing nothing lesse than such a desperat attempt vpon that resolution aduanced his ensignes vp the mountaines and hauing with small resistance discomfited them which kept the passages came downe the same mountaines like a tempest and furiously assailed the king then lying in his campe on the other side at the foot of the mountaine vpon the approch of whom such a hurly burly was raised in the kings campe that what for the confused tumult of the souldiors and fearefull outcries of the multitude of base people which followed the campe the king could scarcely giue order vnto his captaines what he would haue done or yet encourage his souldiors or put them in order of battaile So that Hysmaell giuing a fierce onset with his Armenian souldiors there was suddainely begun a most terrible and bloodie battaile Neither did that day the fortune of Hysmaell faile him whose courage and prowesse neuer failed For assailing the kings battaile of footmen with three squadrons at once he had ouercome them and put them to flight before that the horsemen could arme themselues and mount their horses which were for most part vnsadled and vnbrideled at his comming The king who had nothing either feared or foreseene this so suddaine a mischeefe but had vainely persuaded himselfe That the very fame of his comming with so huge an armie would so terrifie his enemies as that hee should find none either at TAVRIS or in all ARMENIA that durst make resistance was glad now to run too and fro to encourage his souldiors to stay his discomfited battailes yea and to come to handie blowes himselfe But when neither his captaines nor souldiors could put in execution his suddaine directions which he was enforced to giue in that imminent danger being at once ouercome with shame and desperation he resolutely thrust himselfe into the head of his battaile and there valiantly fighting was slaine Whereupon the Persian horsemen the greatest strength of the kings armie hauing now no king for whom they should fight betooke themselues to flight after whom followed the archers and all the rest of the kings armie When as Hysmaell had with lesse losse than a man would haue thought so great a victorie could haue beene atchieued possessed the enemies tents hee made no great pursute after them for that he thought it more requisit to refresh his souldiors throughly wearied and almost spent with long trauell and the late fight wherefore for certaine dayes he reposed himselfe with his armie in those his enemies forsaken tents Afterwards when hee had receiued embassadours from diuers places yeelding their cities and townes and that the fauour of the people generally enclined to him together with the victorie he marched with his armie to SCYRAS where hee was of the citisens who had before heard of the victorie joyfully receiued and his armie relieued with all
also with a rupture ouercome with heat and griefe of mind fainted in that great presse and so falling downe was without regard troden to death after he had with great majestie gouerned the kingdomes of AEGYPT IVDEA and SYRIA many yeares The valiant Tetrarchs of DAMASCO and TRIPOLIS whilest others fled for life either to the campe or to the citie of ALEPPO labouring in the hindermost of their flying troups to represse the force of their pursuing enemies were both fighting honorably slaine Selymus erecting a few tents in the same field wherin the battell was fought keeping most part of his armie in armes slept not all that night but stood fast as a man not yet assured of his victorie or good fortune fearing least men of so great valour as were the Mamalukes should in the couert of the night returne and set vpon him in his campe for hee knew right well that they were ouercome and put to flight rather by the treacherie of Cayerbeius and furie of his great ordinance than by the valour of his souldiours But Gazelles and the other Mamalukes after they certainly vnderstood of the death of Campson hauing giuen their horses a short bait departed in hast from ALEPPO to DAMASCO The next day Selymus remouing with his armie took the rich tents of his enemies full of all princely store which he gaue vnto his soldiors for a prey and marching from thence to ALEPPO had the citie peaceably deliuered vnto him by Cayerbeius where he fauourably tooke the citisens into his protection and the more to win their hearts granted vnto them greater priuiledges than they had in former time enjoyed In this battell were slaine not aboue a thousand Mamalukes but of their seruants and followers a greater number mo being slaine in the flight than in the fight when as their horses fainting for heat and dying vnder them for thirst many of them were enforced to betake themselues to their feet and so were easily slaine of euerie base horseman For a great number of goodly horses died there which being foggie fat and delicatly brought vp in cold stables could not endure the vehemencie of the heat and that vnacquainted trauell for that day all things were burnt with the scorching heat of the Sunne This famous battell was fought the seauenth of August in the yeare of our Lord 1516 the verie same day which is strange to tell whereon but two yeares before he had obtained the victorie against Hysmaell the great Sophi in the CALDERAN fields Selymus lost in this battell three thousand horsemen whereby it may easily be gathered that he had there receiued a notable ouerthrow of his horsemen if Sinan Bassa in the left wing which by the treason of Cayerbetus escaped with small losse had also happened vpon his Sybeius as the other Generall did The dead bodie of Campson found two daies after without any wound appearing therupon was by the commaundement of Selymus laied forth in open place for all men to behold that such as beleeued him yet to liue and to be gone to repaire his armie at CAIRE might be out of all hope of his returne and others that were alreadie reuolted might thereby be the more confirmed as now out of all feare of him Not long after when the dead bodie began to putrifie and grow noisome and to conuince the fame of his escape had lien openly to the view of all men by the space of three daies it was without any funerall pompe or solemnitie simply buried in the most auntient temple of ALEPPO Of the rising and fall of this great man Ianus Vitalis hath written this elogium or epitaph CAMPSON GAVRVS Sultan of Aegypt Fortuna caeca surda verè diceris Et mente vana praedita Ad alta tollis scamna in imo conditos Vt mox cadant profundius Morosa tu mortalium appetentium Votum omne fulmine ocyus Fugas deinde te nihil petentibus Benignitate prodigis Campson vt ille Gaurius nil ambiens Nil te proterua flagitans Inuitus imperator orae Aegiptiae Tumultuosa militum Ex fece plebis factus insolentia Supra volabat nubila Inter receptus altiora sydera Mox excidens altissimus Absumptus armis hinc hinc rebellibus Grauis senectae pondere Fit ludus atrox impotentis aleae Tuaeque peruicaciae Amisit cum vita opes quas maximo Cum regno habebat maximas In English thus Fortune well cal'd both deafe and blind And thereto fond with all Thou setst the beggar vp aloft To worke his greater fall Thou peeuish dame more sudden than The thunder clap from hie Rejects the sutes of greedie wights Which to thee call and crie And lauishly consumes thy selfe And whatsoelse thou hast On such as craue nothing of thee Nor wish not to be grac't As Campson Gaurus seeking nought Ne crauing ought of thee Against his will by souldiours rage was raisd from base degree And soaring vp aboue the clouds Made king of Aegypt land Receiu'd amongst the highest starres Did there in glorie stand But forthwith falling thence opprest With rebels warre and age Became the scorne of thine ouerthwart Most fierce and fickle rage And so with life togither lost A world of wealth also Which with his stately kingdome great He greatest did forgo Selymus hauing receiued the citie of ALEPPO into his obeisance sent Ionuses Bassa before him with a great part of his light horsemen to pursue his flying enemies to DAMASCO whither he himselfe in few daies after came also with the rest of his armie when he vnderstood that his enemies were departed thence and fled to CAIRE They of DAMASCO thinking it not to stand with their good to stay the course of his victorie and with their liues to hazard the great wealth of that rich citie without delay presently opened vnto him the gates at his comming By whose example other cities alongst the sea coast moued especially TRIPOLIS BERYTVS SYDON and PTOLEMAIS sending their embassadors and receiuing in the Turks garrisons yeelded themselues in like manner Not long after Selymus held a great counsell in his campe which then lay vnder the wals of DAMASCO for he would not bring his souldiours into the citie for troubling the quiet and populous state thereof togither with the great trade of merchandise which at that time was with wonderfull securitie kept there by merchants of diuers countries comming from far euen from the remotest parts of the world And in the campe such was the militarie discipline of that most seuere commaunder that the souldiours knowing the victorie to giue them no whit the more libertie suffered the fruitfull orchards and gardens of the citisens in the most plentifull time of Autumne to rest in safetie vntouched without any keeper By which seuere and strait gouernment he so politikely prouided against all wants that his campe was in all parts furnished with plentie of all things necessarie and that at prises reasonable There taking
was gouernour thereof But he when the matter came to proofe was not to be woon either by promise or reward to betray the citie Wherefore Solyman resolued to take it by force neither did his fortune faile him therein for as soone as Mahometes vnderstood that Vlemas was at hand with the forerunners of the Turkes armie and that Solyman with all his power was comming after who as he thought would neuer haue come so farre he not prouided to withstand so mightie an enemie and not beloued of the citisens fled out of the citie Solyman comming in short time after was of the Babylonians receiued without resistance This citie of BABYLON commonly called BAGDAT rise out of the ruines of the old citie of BABYLON so much spoken of in holy writ from whence it is not farre distant standing vpon the riuer Tygris which not farre beneath falleth into the riuer Euphrates In this famous city is the seat of the great Caliph the chiefe Mahometane priest whom all the Mahometane princes haue in great reuerence hath an old prerogatiue in the choise and confirmation of the kings of ASSIRIA and the Sultans of AEGYPT of which Caliph Solyman according to the old superstitious manner receiued at his hands the ensignes and ornaments of the Assyrian kings and with great bountie woon the hearts of the people and thereupon resolued to spend that Winter there billiâ—ing his armie in diuers places of that fertill countrey The other cities of ASSIRIA and MESOPOTAMIA also namely CARAEMIDA MEREDINVM ORSA and ASANCESA hearing that Solyman had without resistance taken BABYLON yeelded themselues and receiued his garrisons Yea the fame thereof was so great that embassadours came vnto him as farre as ORMVS a citie in the mouth of Euphrates where it falleth into the Persian gulfe famous for the great traffique out of INDIA thither suing vnto him for peace Thus the auntient citie of BABYLON with the great countries of ASSIRIA and MESOPOTAMIA sometimes famous kingdomes of themselues and lately part of the Persian kingdome fell into the hands of the Turkes and became prouinces of the Turkish empire in the yeare 1534. Where Solyman after he had spent that Winter in great joy and triumph according to the manner of the Turkish gouernment placed a great Commander which they by a proud name call the Beglerbeg which is as much as to say the lord of lords and vnder him diuers others for the gouernment of these countries by parts which they call Sanzacks who are euer at the commaund of the Beglerbeg Whilest he thus wintered at BABYLON he caused Ashender Zelibi which is to say Alexander the noble his great treasurer for the warres to be hanged for that he had vnfaithfully dealt in his office and confiscated all his goods Tamas hearing that Solyman was gone to BABYLON returned to TAVRIS of whose speedy comming the Ianizaries and other captaines there left by Solyman vnderstanding fled in hast out of the citie leauing all such things as were committed to their custodie for a prey vnto the Persian souldiors Solymans armie being mightily increased by the comming vnto him of the great Bassa of CAIRE with the Sanzacks of ALEXANDRIA IVDEA SYRIA and COMAGENE by the persuasion of Abraham and Vlemas the Spring now well come on departed from BABYLON againe towards TAVRIS with purpose either to draw Tamas to battell or else to his eternall infamie before his face to sacke that his regall citie But Tamas aduertised of his comming and knowing himselfe too weake to giue him battell forsooke the citie and fled into the mountains of HIRCANIA destroying all the countrey before him as he went and carrying away the inhabitants leauing nothing to relieue the Turkes if they should pursue him Solyman vnderstanding that Tamas was againe fled sent Vlemas with all the choise horsemen of his armie to ouertake him if it were possible and to fight with him But when he had followed him two or three daies journey and still found the countrey desolat as he went yeelding neither forrage for his horses nor reliefe for his men and saw no hope to ouertake the king he began as a prouident Generall to forecast the extremities like to befall in his returne thorow those desolat countries with the enemie at his heeles and thereupon in time retired backe againe to Solyman declaring vnto him what had happened Who fretting in his mind that the Persian king was not to bâ— drawne to battell marched forthwith to TAVRIS entred it without resistance the citisens submitting themselues vnto him whose liues spared he gaue that rich citie for a prey vnto his soldiors who left neither house nor corner thereof vnransacked abusing the poore citisens with all manner of insolencie euerie common souldiour without controlment fitting himselfe with whatsoeuer best pleased his greedie desire or filthie lust Tamas had in this citie a most stately and royall pallace so had also most part of the nobilitie their sumptuous and rich houses which by the commaundement of Solyman were all rased downe to the ground and the greatest part of the best citisens and beautifull personages of all sort and condition at his departure thence carried away captiues Solyman contenting himselfe to haue done the Persian king this disgrace in spoiling this his rich and royall citie returned againe towards MESOPOTAMIA destroying the countries all the way as he went killing the verie beasts and cattell thereby the more to impouerish the Persians wishing to leaue nothing vnto them but penurie and miserie He was scarcely past COIM and the Calderan fields famous for his fathers victorie against Hysmaell but that certaine troupes of the Persian horsemen were in the taile of his armie and had taken away some of his baggage and slaine diuers of the sicke and stragling souldiours and with their often skirmishes did not a little trouble his whole armie Besides that it was noised thorow all his campe That Tamas himselfe was comming after him with a great power of horsemen taken vp in HIBERIA ALBANIA PARTHIA MEDIA and ARMENIA and would be at their backes before they could get out of ARMENIA for which cause hee appointed the two great Bassaes of CAIRE and SYRIA for so they were called and Vlemas the Persian with eighteene thousand good souldiours to follow him in the rearward of his armie to receiue and represse the sudden assaults of the Persians if need should require and so still kept on his march vntill he was come to AMIDA now called CARAEMIDA an antient citie of MESOPOTAMIA In the meane time Tamas the Persian king was returned to TAVRIS with a mightie armie in hope there to haue suddenly surprised his enemie surcharged with the pleasures of so rich a citie but finding him gone and beholding the miserable spoile and desolation he had made in the citie moued with indignation he resolued to pursue him whither soeuer he were gone and was now on his way as farre as COIM Where vnderstanding that Solyman
meane time Barbarussa surprised with an exceeding feare and distracted with many cares and now become more cruell than himselfe had in his mind purposed a fact full of exceeding and inhumane crueltie which was at once to haue killed all the Christian captiues in the castle of TVNES fully resolued to haue put the same in execution had not Sinan the Iew dissuaded him from that most execrable fact protesting such a practise to be vnseemely for a man of his valour famous for his many victories and carrying with him the majestie of a king whereas he would shortly after wonderfully repent him for doing so shamefull a fact The doing whereof what was it else as the Iew said but a manifest demonstration of his extreame feare and desperation which two things were most dangerous to him that was to maintaine so doubtfull a warre and would much deface the glorie of his former life wherefore he should doe well to beware that by the fame of such a most horrible fact he did not prouoke Solymans heauie displeasure against him who deuoid of all humane crueltie had vsed both to detest and reuenge such outrages Wherefore he should suffer the Christian captiues to liue bound in their fatall chaines so long as it were their fortunes who being well kept and vnarmed might shortly after serue him to good purpose and could no way without most certaine danger moue themselues if they should vnaduisedly lust after their vnluckie libertie for by them the expected victorie could neither be giuen to the enemie nor taken from him or yet so much as hindred At which speech the tyrant was ashamed and so sparing the liues of the poore wretches went out of the castle into the greatest church of TVNES whither he had caused to be assembled all the chiefe men of the citie to tell them what he would haue done for the defence of the citie and now by persuasion to encourage them to fight from whom as men by him holden in distrust he had but a little before the comming of the Christians taken all manner of armour and weapon Whilest Barbarussa was thus busied the most joyfull and happie day appeared to those miserable captiues by fortunes change no lesse black and dismall vnto the Turks and Moores For that hainous purpose of the cruell tyrant could not long be couered or kept secret so that a constant report of a danger so imminent was run thorow the whole castle euen into the deepe dungeons by the compassion of certaine manumised slaues who detesting the sauage crueltie of Barbarussa their master and touched with deuotion had in heart returned to their old and true Christian religion encouraging by secret speeches the chiefe of the captiues with whom they were acquainted to lay hand now vpon their libertie Amongst these well minded men was one Francis a Spaniard whom Barbarussa had from his youth brought vp as his minion hauing him alwaies in great esteeme by the name of Memis and another called Vincentius Catareus of DALMATIA an eunuch These two aduenturing a most memorable and godly attempt set open the prison doores and gaue instruments vnto the poore prisoners readie to take the occasion offred who boldly starting vp breake off their chaines and giues and so by the great goodnesse and mercie of God about six thousand poore naked Christians armed with that came first to hand but especially with stones brake forth suddenly vpon the Turkes that were in the castle Ramadas a renegate Spaniard captaine of the castle stirred vp with the vnexpected and terrible noise of so many prisoners breaking their irons with a few souldiours whom he had suddenly called vnto him ran to the castle gate where one of the prisoners a lustie young man of SICILIA had with one of the bars of the gate strucke downe one or two of the warders and hauing bolted the gate was become master thereof him Ramadas slew and opening the gate made way for himselfe and his few followers with whom he went to Barbarussa to carrie him newes of that his hard mischance But the Christians now losed from their bands and hauing suddenly slaine diuers of the Turks possessed themselues of all the castle brake open the armorie and so seizing vpon the kings treasure armour and prouision from a high turret gaue signes of victorie to the Christian armie by smoake and false fires made with gunpouder and lastly by displaying of Sarmentus his ensigne which as we haue before declared was by Tabacches taken from the top of the trenches at the siege of GVLETTA These signes although the Christians in the armie could not well perceiue as being too farre off yet by the fugitiues which came oftentimes out of TVNES to the emperour and Muleasses they were both persuaded that some great tumult was risen amongst the enemies Wherefore the emperour sent two of his captaines with their companies who going as neere as they could to the citie and the castle should discouer what the matter was In the meane time Barbarussa almost mad for anger in his furie blaspheming his vaine gods and bitterly cursing and banning the Iew for dissuading him from killing the captiues came to the castle gate and with teares standing in his eyes pitifully requested the late Christian captiues which then stood vpon the top of the wals and the gate with weapons in their hands That they would forthwith let him in faithfully promising them their libertie with a generall and free pardon for all that they had done But they mindfull both of their former and present fortune and mooued with just hatred cast stones at him and with many opprobrious words rejected his request so that hee enraged with sorrow and madnesse shot at them with his owne hand and seeing all past remedie and the citie not possible now to bee kept shamefully betooke himselfe to flight After him followed the Turks in number seuen thousand with purpose to flie to the citie HIPPONA now called BONA famous with the bishopricke of that reuerend Father and great Diuine Augustine For there as in a most sure harbour had Barbarussa left foureteene gallies in the lake neere vnto the citie to serue his turne whatsoeuer mischance should happen but the tacklings sailes oares and ordinance he had laid vp in the castle fast by which was kept with a garrison of his owne The emperour vnderstanding that Barbarussa with his Turkes was fled came with all his armie vnto the gates of TVNES where the magistrates of the citie were readie to submit themselues vnto him and to deliuer him the keyes of the citie only requesting of him that he would keepe his souldiors encamped without the citie and not to seeke the vtter spoile and ruine thereof promising that the souldiours should want nothing that was there to be had Muleasses also carefull of the safetie thereof earnestly intreated the emperour in the citisens behalfe But he although he was of his owne honourable disposition readie ynough to haue graunted what
sent Amurathes Gouernour of DALMATIA and Vlamas the Persian gouernour of BOSNA to besiege WALPO a strong town scituaâ— vpon the riuer Dranus not far from EXEK famous for the ouerthrow of the Christian armie vnder Cazzianer after whom followed also Achomates the great commaunder of his Europeian horsemen This towne part of Perenus his possessions was against all these forces kept and worthily defended by Perenus his wife her husband then lying in prison at VIENNA and her friends by the space of three months but was at last by the trecherous souldiors deliuered to the enemie togither with their Generall whom when they could by no means persuade to consent to the yeelding vp thereof but that he would needs hold it out to the last they tooke him perforce and so deliuered him with the towne to the Turkes who receiued him with all courtesie and vsed him honourably but those traiterous souldiors whether it were in detestation of their treacherie or for the spoile of them were all put to the sword the just reward of their treason The rest of the citisens were by the Turks taken to mercie and well vsed The bishop and chiefe men of QVINQVE ECLESIE a famous citie not far off on the other side of Dranus hearing of the losse of WALPO and terrified with the greatnesse of the Turkes armie fled for feare leauing none but the meaner sort of the people in the citie who willingly yeelded the same vnto the Turks The next towne of any strength was SOCTOSIA belonging also to Perenus which for a while held out against the Turks for that diuers gentlemen of the countrey which were fled into the citie encouraged the citisens to stand vpon their defence But after much harme done on both sides when they were no longer able to hold out they retired into the castle in hope to haue so saued their liues and libertie by yeelding but Amurathes was so offended with them that he would come to no reasonable composition or promise them any thing more than that they should at their pleasure come forth and so as they came out at the gate slew them euerie mothers sonne thereby to terrifie others from making like resistance Solyman vnderstanding all these things gaue those townes which were taken to Amurathes the Generall and hauing put all things in readinesse departed from BVDA with all his armie to besiege STRIGONIVM which was then kept by Liscanus and Salamanca two proud couetous Spaniards with a garrison of thirteene hundred souldiors whereof some few were Spaniards and Italians and the rest Germans Paulus bishop of STRIGONIVM got himselfe out of the citie betimes despairing of all mercie if he should haue fallen into the power of Solyman by whose intermission he had been once before reconciled to king Iohn and had againe reuolteâ— from him to king Ferdinand The castle of STRIGONIVM was scituat vpon a high hill ouerlooking Danubius running vnderneath it the wals were built euen without any flankers after the old manner of building before the inuention of guns For which cause Vitellius and Tâ—â—niellus two expert captaines the yeare before sent from the king to view the place and the manner of the fortification were of opinion that the citie could hardly be defended if it were be sieged by any strong enemie being subject also vnto a hill not far from the gates of the citie â—gainst which inconueniences the old garrison souldiors which wintered in STRIGONIVM cast vp new bulwarks and fortifications and after the manner of windie headed men making great boast before the danger what they would do seemed to wish for the comming of Solyman But after that the barbarous enemie had with his tents couered the fields and mountains round about the citie and withall brought a gallant fleet vp the riuer all those brags were laid in the dust euery man began to grow doubtfull of his owne safetie for that they being but few although men of good worth were to withstand the infinit number of such enemies as oftentimes vsed â—â—ost desperatly to expose their liues to all maner of dangers This their feare was also increased by the comming of certaine messengers from Solyman who vnderstanding of what nations the garrison consisted sent vnto the citie three of his owne guard one a Spaniard another an Italian and the third a German all renegate Christians that euerie one of them might without an interpretor speake vnto their countreymen in their owne language These men admitted into the citie offered great rewards and large entertainment in the name of Solyman to such as would in time yeeld denouncing all torture and extremities vnto them which should endure the summons of the cannon Whereunto it was answered by the captaines That those faithfull and valiant souldiors who had reposed their last hope in their armes were neither to be woon by gifts nor terrified with threats With which answere the messenger returned and the same day the Turkes great ordinance was planted vpon the hill before the gate of the citie and the weakest parts of the wals round about the citie so well pickt out by the Turks to be assaulted as that they could not more skilfully or commodiously haue been chosen out of them which had within most diligently viewed euerie thing so that it is to be thought that the Christians wanted not onely fortune against the Turks but also faith amongst themselues Salamanca distrusting the fortifications of the suburbs retired into the citie contrarie to that he had before vainly boasted Achomates Generall of the Europeian horsemen laid siege to that part of the wall which was next to the bishops gardens Vlamas the Persian besieged the towre neere vnto the gate towards BVDA The Asapi or common souldiors were by their captaines brought on to dig trenches and cast vp mounts as was thought most conuenient It is incredible to be spoken with what furie the great ordinance was discharged without ceasing insomuch that the towre with a great part of the wall neere vnto it shaken with continuall batterie fell downe with such violence as if all had been shaken with a most terrible earthquake neither was any man able to stand vpon the wals but that the Ianizaries with their harquebusiers out of their trenches and from their mounts would most certainly fetch him off and many which stood within farther off were with the Turkes arrowes falling from high as if it had beene out of the ayre grieuously wounded But that which most troubled the defendants and did them greatest harme was the stones which beaten in sunder with the great shot and not to be auoided did with their pieces kill or maime the souldiors neere hand With which dangers they were enforced to forsake the vttermost wall and to cast vp new fortifications within that they might with lesse danger defend the place Neither in the enemy wanted courage to assaile the breach thrise they desperatly attempted to haue entered and were alwaies with losse
pretending that he was by the king commaunded forthwith to returne So the expectation of great matters to haue been this yeare done came to nought but vanished into smoake and nothing performed worth so long a discourse more than to see with what difficultie great actions are managed wherein the hands of many great ones are required who jealous of their owne honour or enuying at others corrupt with delaies the fairest opportunities and by their crosse dealing no lesse than the enemie hinder the common good whereat they would all fainest seeme to aime From CORCYRA Don Iohn departed to MESSSANA and Columnius vnto ROME Fuscarinus with greater honour than successe returned to VENICE where he was with great joy receiued both of the Senat and the citisens in generall and so no lesse famous for his patience and moderation towards the other confederats than for his pollicie and valour with the good liking of all men gaue vp his charge in few yeares after to receiue a greater About this time Amida king of TVNES of whom much is before spoken in the life of Solyman being but a little before driuen out of his kingdome by the Turkes who had of long by little and little encroached vpon him and as a priuat man liued in exile with his two sonnes at GVLETTA with Franciscus Touares Gouernour thereof hearing of the great ouerthrow of the Turkes at LEPANTO and of the good successe of the Christians sent embassadours to Don Iohn Generall of the confederat princes then lying in SICILIA humbly requesting his aid for the recouerie of his kingdome promising to defray the whole charges of the warre and for euer to hold his kingdome of the king of SPAINE as his vassaile and tributarie Which his request well considered of and the matter thought of no small consequence for the safetie of the Christian countries lying ouer against that part of AFFRICKE to haue so dangerous an enemie remoued Don Iohn the yeare following in the beginning of October by the commaundement of the king of SPAINE his brother departing from DREPANVM in SICILIA with an hundred and fiue gallies and fortie ships arriued the next day about noone at GVLETTA where the gallies of MALTA came vnto him and shortly after Io. Andreas Auria the Admirall with nineteene mo and Columnius the Popes Admirall with fourteene mo all well appointed At his arriuall at GVLETTA he vnderstood by Amida and the Gouernour the whole estate both of the citie and of the kingdome of TVNES and that the Turkes and Moores terrified with so great a fleet were about to forsake the citie Wherefore hauing well viewed the place he the next day after landed his forces about foure miles from the citie and sent 2500 footmen before the rest of the armie to the citie who found it all desolat the Turks and Moors being before for feare fled some to CARAVANA some to BISERTA who entring without resistance came to the castle wherein they found two hundred Moores who said they kept it for Amida their king but yet would by no meanes suffer the Christians to enter All which was forthwith made knowne to Don Iohn who then because it was almost night would not moue but early the next morning set forward with his whole armie and entring the citie before abandoned by the inhabitants and so comming to the castle found nothing therein but great store of oyle butter and wooll Amida the late king by the commaundement of Don Iohn all this while staied at GVLETTA But whilest Don Iohn was yet at TVNES newes was brought vnto him the thirteenth of October That the Turks garrison before fled out of TVNES with diuers Moores comming to BISERTA were there kept out by the citisens and not suffered to enter For which cause they began to burne and spoile the countrey thereabout Whereupon the Generall sent Touares the captaine of GVLETTA thither with part of the armie who encountring with those Turks ouerthrew them and had the citie by the citisens peaceably deliuered vnto him The kingdome of TVNES thus easily once againe recouered from the Turkes Don Iohn throughly enforced of the faithlesse and cruell dealing of Amida the late king and that in detestation of the Christians and their religion he had alreadie had intelligence with the Turkes and procured the death of some of the Christians gaue this definitiue sentence vpon him being yet in the castle of GVLETTA That for as much as he had of long time been the authour of great discord and endlesse troubles in that kingdome and had most vnnaturally depriued Muleasses his father first of his kingdome and afterward of his sight and in like manner tyrannized ouer his naturall brethren the rightfull heires of that kingdome whereby the Turks had taken occasion both to inuade and possesse the same he should therefore by the commaundement of the king of SPAINE be carried prisoner with his two sonnes into SICILIA there to remaine for euer Which heauie doome hee taking most grieuously and yet crying out for mercie was forthwith thrust into a gallie and with his wife and children transported into SICILIA there to liue in perpetuall exile the just reward of his mercilesse and vnnaturall dealing with his father and brethren God no doubt requiting him with the like measure he had before measured vnto them After that the king of SPAINE so commaunding Mahomet Amida his elder brother and right heire of that kingdome was appointed king in his place who departing from GVLETTA to TVNES was receiued as king and there by solemne oath promised for euer to be the king of SPAINE his vassaile and to doe whatsoeuer he should commaund There was before departed out of TVNES fortie thousand Moores who now came and offered their supplication to Don Iohn that they might againe returne and liue with their new king which their request being easily granted they in great numbers euerie day returned into the citie Shortly after fifteene hundred Turks with three thousand of those wild people which some call Arabians some Alarbes sore troubled all the passages about the citie who were at last by the Christians ouerthrowne and an hundred and fiftie Christians whom they had taken prisoners rescued After that Don Iohn by the aduise of his most expert and skilfull captaines commaunded a strong castle to be built in the middle way betwixt GVLETTA and TVNES and for the performing thereof lest Gabriell Serbellio with two thousand Italians and Salazar a Spaniard with other two thousand at GVLETTA And so hauing performed that he came for and disposed of all things as he thought best returned againe into SICILIA A griefe of griefes it is and sorrow almost vnconsolable when worthie actions most happily begun sort not to such happie end as was in reason hoped for The greatest and the most famous victorie of all ages gained against the Turke seemed to haue lightened the Christian common-weale and great hope there was that the Christians falling into vnitie among themselues
in the castle of BRAILOVIA not farre off whereupon he forthwith marched thither with his armie The citie of BRAILOVIA standeth vpon the riuer Danubius and had in it a castle of some good strength defended both by the nature of the place and a strong garrison of the Turks which Selymus had appointed for the keeping thereof as the key of the countrey not farre from this citie the Vayuod encamping his armie writ vnto the captaine of the castle forthwith to deliuer vnto him the Palatine with Peter his brother his mortall enemies who neuer wronged by him had inuaded his countrey and sought after his life and being ouerthrowne in battell were fled vnto him which if he should refuse to doe he threatned neuer to depart thence vntill he had to his farther harme constrained him by force to yeeld them These letters he sent by two Valachian captiues to be deliuered vnto the captaine of the castle whereunto he returned answere by foure Turkes two of the citie and two of his owne seruants by whom he also sent ten great shot and as many small with two Turkish arrowes and this message For that I know thee to be the seruant of my dread soueraigne Selymus I regard thee and will not denie the same men to be with me whom thou so much requirest But for as much as I vnderstand that thou of late hast slaine a great number of the seruants of the great emperour who by his commaundement were bringing Peter the brother of the Palatine into MOLDAVIA I therefore tell thee that except thou betime raise thy siege I will feed thee and thy followers with such dishes as these whereupon thou and thine armie gorged to the full shall all afterwards dangerously surfeit and cast Farewell This rough answere so much mooued the Vayuod that he commaunded hands to be laid vpon the aforesaid foure messengers and their noses lips and eares being cut off both their feet to be with great nailes fast nailed vnto a long piece of timber and so with their hands hanging downward to be set vp before the citie and so left for the captaine and the citisens to gaze vpon Signifying withall vnto the captaine that sent them that he himselfe with the other fugitiues his guests should in like manner be serued if they fell into his hands Immediatly after he assaulted the citie and vsing the cheerfulnesse of his souldiors by plaine force tooke the same the defendants being not able to hold them out There was made great slaughter of the Turkes whereas no man was taken to mercie the very babes were slain together with their mothers and bloud ran like riuers into the Danubius For the space of foure dayes this bloudie execution endured no place serued for refuge euen the most secret and obscure places were searched and the poore creatures there found drawne forth and slaine The furie was so great that no liuing thing no not so much as the very dogs were spared Much gold siluer plate jewels and other rich spoyle was there found all which became a prey vnto the greedie souldiours for that citie was of all others in those quarters the richest as a place much frequented enjoying long peace as after such time the Turkes were fully possessed of GRaeCIA not being troubled with any warres vntill now that it was by the Vayuod first ransackt and afterwards rased downe to the ground and nothing thereof left standing more than the bare castle it selfe which the Vayuod durst not aduenture vpon for that it was well fortified and furnished with so strong a garrison as that it could not without his great losse be taken Whiles the Vayuod was thus busied in the spoile of BRAILOVIA newes was brought vnto him of the comming of fifteene thousand Turkes to the reliefe of the castle against whom hee forthwith sent Suierceuius with his Cossackes and other eight thousand Moldauian horsemen who suddenly comming vpon the Turks disordered and fearing no such matter slew almost fourteene thousand of them and chased the rest vnto the castle of TEINA Of this victory Suierceuius in all hast certified the Vayuod and withall that there was another great power of the Turkes comming which might easily be also ouerthrowne if he leauing the siege of the castle of BRAILOVIA would without delay come and joyne his forces with his He glad of that news and well perceiuing how difficult and dangerous that siege would be vnto him rise forthwith with his armie and went to Suierceuius and afterwards vpon conference had with him laid siege to TEINA which citie taken without much labour he put to sword all the people found therein not leauing one aliue and by the seruice of Suierceuius ouerthrew the Turks comming towards BRAILOVA Selymus in the meane time much troubled with the proceedings of the Vayuod and doubting to be quite thrust out of VALACHIA TRANSALPINA which he was like ynough to haue beene had not the treason of Czarnieuiche hindered the matter prepared new forces for that seruice and after the manner of the Turks in time of their greatest distresse appointed generall supplications and prayers to be made vnto his prophet Mahomet for the better successe of his wars the vndoubted signe of his feare The Vayuod after so many victories against the Turkes purposing for a while to breake vp his great armie called vnto him his old friend Ieremias Czarnieuiche vnto whom as vnto the man he of all others most trusted he had resolued to commit the charge with part of his armie to keepe the Turks from passing againe ouer the riuer Danubius into his countrey and in deliuering to him his charge spake vnto him as followeth Sith fortune hath hitherto answered our desires worthie Czarnieuiche with most rare and perpetuall successe against the Turkes our most cruell enemies we are thankefully to take the same and to render most humble and heartie thankes vnto Almightie God that it hath pleased him the author of all victorie so to haue prospered our endeuours against these fierce and deuouring enemies Now what remaineth for the present but to disband mine armie wearied with labour and trauell and to giue my soldiors leaue to depart home to rest themselues that so I may as occasion shall require againe vse their fresh forces for our better seruice you in the meane time with thirteene thousand of my select souldiors shall lie vpon the side of Danubius to keepe the Turkes from passing the riuer Haue good regard I pray you vnto this your charge which I vpon an especiall trust grounded vpon your antient loue and fidelitie haue at this time imposed vpon you And let me from time to time with all expedition vnderstand from you of euery motion of the enemie that so we may in due time prouide for him accordingly And so in token of his greater fauour taking his leaue of him with a kisse as the manner of those people is gaue leaue vnto the greatest part of
all the Persian kingdome These important outrages thus appeased the Generall turned himselfe with all his armie towards COY a citie situat beyond VAN in the middest betweene TAVRIS and the Martian Meere where he refreshed his armie with all things he could desire From COY he passed to MARANT a citie subject to the Persians plentifull also of all things needfull for man or beast From thence he leaned downe towards SOFFIAN a fruitfull place subject also to the Persians from whence he began to discouer TAVRIS Great was the joy of the whole campe and now the mutinous souldiors of GREECE and CONSTANTINOPLE could highly commend the aduice of the Generall or rather of Amurath himselfe in giuing out the rumour of NASSIVAN for TAVRIS as the onely meanes whereby they were in quiet come so farre the Persians being wholly occupied as they supposed about NASSIVAN insomuch that euery man being waxen couragious and replenished with joy without any feare at all began prowdly to plot vnto themselues nothing but sackings pillings taking of prisoners rauishments robberies and all those insolent and outragious actions that vse rashly to proceed from the greedie affections of those barbarous victors especially they of the vauward who being desirous of bootie and to discouer the enemies countrey descended downe toward certaine pleasant gardens full of all sorts of trees springs and fruits where hauing satisfied their appetites they withdrew themselues to a certaine little riuer neere to a bridge called The Bridge of salt water and there stayed at pleasure attending the comming of the armie But euen whiles they were thus enjoying the water the fruits the shade the greene grasse and other delights of the place the Persian prince Emir Hamze king Mahamets eldest sonne who with ten thousand good souldiors had closely couched himselfe watching still when some of the enemies bands should come downe to those resting places suddenly set vpon them with such speed courage and furie that as if it had beene a lightening and in a manner without any resistance he ouerran all those Turkes and dispersed them putting to the sword about seuen thousand of them And so leading away with him many prisoners horses slaues with sundrie ensignes and Turkish drums he withdrew himselfe backe towards his blind father who lay then encamped about twelue miles from TAVRIS with fiftie thousand souldiors or thereabouts Aliculi Chan Gouernour of TAVRIS being left in the citie with foure thousand souldiors onely A greater armie than this not exceeding the number of threescore and foure thousand men was not the Persian king able to leuie the principall occasion whereof was the death of Emir Chan for which the Turcoman nation being waxen rebellious and disobedient would not by any meanes be brought to defend that citie whereof Aliculi Chan their capitall enemie was now Gouernour and from GHEILAN and HERI there came not so much as one souldior to relieue the necessities of PERSIA So that with these small forces in comparison of the enemies the Persian king had no stomacke to meet the Turkish armie in plaine battell but sought how he might with as little losse to himselfe as possibly he could make triall of his forces and by all politike meanes to weaken and annoy his strong enemie Osman vnderstanding of this discomfiture of his vauward forthwith dispatched Sinan Bassa the sonne of Cicala and Mahamet the Bassa of CARAEMIT with fourteene thousand souldiors to pursue the victorious prince who in their pursuit vsed such expedition that at length they ouertooke him in the way towards his fathers campe But as soone as the prince saw the Turkes so neere him that without a shamefull and dangerous flight he could not auoid the battell couragiously he turned his face and joyned with them a most bloudie conflict which being begun two houres before night was most fiercely maintained vntill that the darknesse of the night bereauing them of the vse of their weapons enforced both the one side and the other to retire Which was done with the notable losse of the Turkes who in this second conflict as it was commonly reported lost six thousand men and had as it was thought suffered a generall slaughter had not the night interrupted so vncouth an action well worthie of a thousand daylights So that hitherto the Turkes sustained the losse of more than ten thousand souldiors and yet had scarce discouered or seene the citie which they so greedily longed after The next morning the Turkes campe remoued and came within two miles of TAVRIS where they encamped But whiles they were setting vp their tents Aliculi Chan issuing out of the citie with all his garrison and such of the citisens as were fit to beare armes set vpon the face of the vauward being now renewed and with many cunning turnings and windings so charged them that with great losse he forced them to retire euen vnto the maine battell where after he had espied the great artillerie he without hurt withdrew himselfe againe to the citie The confusion of the Turkes in this skirmish was notable for in a verie small time the vauward was disordered and almost three thousand slaine But Aliculi not so contented in the shutting in of the euening sallied out of the citie the second time and swiftly running along that side of the armie that lay towards TAVRIS slew the Bassa of MARAS and did great hurt in that quarter which done without any stay he fled to the kings campe and forsooke the defence of that sorrowfull citie which he could not hold Neuerthelesse the Taurisians as many of them as remained in the citie gathered themselues togither to the gates of the citie well armed prepared to make a bloudie entrance for the Turkes whensoeuer they should come All the night was spent in watching without rest on either side and yet nothing attempted but vpon the breake of the day a great multitude of the seruile sort of the Turkes and of the common rascall rout without any order from their captaines armed with corselets speares and swords went to the citie with resolution to haue sacked it and so to haue enriched themselues with the spoile and pillage of that wealthie citie But when they came to the guarded gates of the citie they found there contrarie to their expectation a terrible rescue and were enforced there to joyne an hard and mortall battell so that the wals the entrance yea all the ground thereabouts was bathed with bloud and as it were couered with weapons and dead carkases And yet for all that though the Persians stood fast and firme at the arriuall of this seruile rout at the last they were constrained to yeeld the entrance being ouercome by the multitude of them that out of the campe flowed in vpon them like a floud and retiring into the citie now astonied and amazed on euerie side they fortified themselues in their houses vnder the ground and in the corners and winding turnings of the streets from whence with
traines that should at a certaine time take fire Which done they departed secretly out of the citie in the dead time of the night hoping so in the darke to haue escaped the hands of the enemie which they did not so secretly but that they were by the Turks descried and most of them slaine Ferdinand Samaria Gouernor of the citie after he had for a space valiantly defended himselfe fell at last into the enemies hand and so was taken aliue together with one Hofkirke a Germane captaine The Turkes entered the citie the sixt of October striuing who should get first in for greedinesse of the prey when suddenly the pouder in the mines tooke fire and blowing vp the very foundations of the wals and bulwarkes slew a number of the Turks that were within the danger thereof and wonderfully defaced the citie From VESPRINIVM the Bassa remoued with his armie to PALOTTA and gaue summons to the castle but receiuing such answere as pleased him not hee layed siege vnto it with all his power Which at the first Peter Ornand captaine of the castle chearefully receiued but being afterward without any great cause discouraged the castle as yet being but little shaken and but one man slaine and the rest of the souldiors readie to spend their liues in defence thereof he sent vnto the Bassa offering to yeeld the castle vnto him so that he with his souldiors might with bag and baggage in safetie depart Of which his offer the Bassa accepted and graunted his request But he was no sooner come out of the castle with his souldiors and readie to depart but the faithlesse Turke contrarie to his oath and promise caused them all to be cruelly slaine except only the captaine and two other After that the Bassa without any great labour tooke in all the country thereabouts neere vnto the lake of Balaton Now at last though long first about the middle of October the Christians began to muster their armie in number about eighteene thousand all good and expert souldiours with which power they shortly after passing ouer Danubius at the first encounter with the Turkes put them to the worse slew a great number of them and rescued a number of poore Christian captiues In the latter end of this moneth countie Hardeck Gouernour of RAB and Generall of the Christian armie in that part of HVNGARIE departing from KOMARA with all his power came and layed siege to the strong citie of ALBA REGALIS which by the force of his artillerie hee in short time made saultable but in assaulting the breaches was by the Turkes there in garrison notably repulsed So hauing made sufficient proofe both of the strength and courage of the defendants and perceiuing no good could be done without a long siege for which hee was not as then prouided after consultation had with the rest of the captaines he resolued to raise his siege which he did the second of Nouember remouing that day but halfe a mile from the citie because he would be sure of all his armie But as he was about the next day to remoue news was brought him by his espials that the enemies power was at hand and euen now almost in sight which proued to be so indeed For the Bassa of BVDA by the commaundement of Sinan Bassa the Generall was come forth with thirteene Sanzackes and twentie thousand souldiors thirtie field pieces and fiue hundred wagons laded with victuall and other warlike prouision to raise the siege and to relieue the citie and was now euen at hand comming directly vpon the Christians wherupon the countie assisted by the countie Serinus the lord Palfi the lord Nadasti Peter le Hussar and other valiant captaines of great experience with wonderfull celeritie put his armie in order of battell and so couragiously set forward to encounter the enemie The Bassa seeing the Christians marching towards him tooke the aduantage of the higher ground and from thence discharged his field pieces vpon them which mounted too high by good hap did them little or no hurt at all The Christians for all that desirous of battell and nothing regarding the disaduantage of the ground but calling vpon the name of the Almightie mounted the hill and joyning battell with the Turkes by plaine force constrained them to flie In this armie of the Turkes being for most part horsemen were about fiue thousand foot and many of them Ianizaries who in flying oftentimes made stands and wounded many and yet neuerthelesse were almost all there slaine with many others amongst whom were three great men the Sanzacks of STRIGONIVM SETCHINE and NOVIGRAD seuen Chiaus and many other men of marke the most valiant captaines of the Turkes borderers The lord Nadasti with some others taking view of the Turkes that were slaine and lost in this battell deemed them to haue beene at the least in number eight thousand few prisoners were saued all being put to the sword which caused Sinan to sweare by his Mahomet neuer more to spare any Christian. All the Turks artillerie wagons and prouision became a prey vnto the Christians many ensignes were there found and weapons of great value It is hard to be beleeued how much this victorie encouraged the Christians daunted the Turkes Whereupon the countie with great joy brought backe his armie to ALBA REGALIS and encamped neere the bulwarke called STOPASCH where the Turks most feared to be assaulted Palfi Nadasti and some others earnestly persuaded with the countie not to depart from the citie before he had woon it But he considering the hard time of the yeare the strength of the citie which was now full of souldiours by reason of them that were fled in thither from the late ouerthrow with the want of things necessarie in his armie to maintaine a longer siege and fearing also after long lying to be enforced with dishonour to forsake it would not hearken to their persuasions but calling a counsell resolued to raise his siege and to content himselfe with the victorie he had alreadie gotten which was afterward imputed vnto him for more than an ouersight So setting fire vpon the suburbes of the citie he rise with his armie and departed thence the fift of Nouember and returned to RAB Not long after Christopher lord Teuffenbach the Emperours lieutenant in the vpper part of HVNGARIE who lay encamped at CASSOVIA with his armie of foureteene thousand souldiors remooued thence and marching along the countrey two dayes came and layed siege to SABATZKA one of the Turkes strongest castles in those quarters out of which they vsually did much harme among the Christians This castle Teuffenbach battered in three places and hauing at length made it saultable tooke it by force the nineteenth of Nouember and put to the sword all the Turkes there in garrison in number about two hundred and fiftie and instead of them left a strong garrison of his owne whereby all the countrey thereabouts was restored to great quietnesse SABATZKA thus taken the
appointing them to any seruice and such as he found to haue so done he to the terror of others caused to be presently executed and after that went down himselfe into the lower towne to see that nothing were there wanting or amisse where most danger was But when he would haue againe returned into the vpper towne he was stayed by the Ianizaries who told him That seeing he was of so valiant and couragious a mind and their Gouernour he should there stay with them and take such part as they did were it better or worse and so would he or would he not there needs stay he must Now the Bassaes of BVDA and TEMESVVAR with diuers Sanzackes as well of those parts of HVNGARIE which the Turks possessed as other places were assembling their forces for the reliefe of the besieged in STRIGONIVM Whereof the Transyluanian prince hearing made shew as if he would forthwith haue besieged TEMESVVAR so that the Bassa thereof leauing the intended expedition for STRIGONIVM was glad to returne for the defence of his own charge They also of STIRIA CARINTHIA CROATIA with the troupes of countie Serinus had so stopped all the passages that twelue thousand Turks which were comming from ZIGETH and the places thereabout could by no meanes come to joyne themselues with their fellowes for the reliefe of the distressed citie The countie leauing nothing vnattempted or vndone that might helpe for the gaining of STRIGONIVM had made a notable fort vpon S. Thomas hill and therein placed fiue great culuerines wherewith he furiously battered the higher citie and did therein great harme and thereby also brought to passe that no man could goe vp or downe the hill betwixt the vpper towne and the lower but he was in danger to be set off with those pieces or the musketiers who defended by those great pieces lay vpon the side of the hill in caues and bushes awaiting for such as should goe vp or downe betwixt the two townes Thus the Christians at one time battered the vpper towne the lower towne and the strong towne and fort of GOKARA standing on the farther side of Danubius oueragainst STRIGONIVM besieged by the lord Palfi But of all these places GOKARA was with the furie of the great ordinance most shaken which the countie perceiuing caused the batterie to be encreased and so continued vntill he had beaten downe the counterscarfe and made certaine faire breaches in the wall Whereunto the Morauians vnto whose lot it fell the one and twentith of Iuly gaue an assault in fiue diuers places whom the lord Palfi seconded with his Hungarians of whom certaine were of purpose appointed beside their armes to bring things with them for the firing of the towne which they in the time of the assault found meanes so well to bestow that in a while the towne was all on a light fire The Turkes at first made notable resistance but finding themselues ouerpressed and seeing the towne now on a fire about their eares which with the force of the wind so encreased that it caught hold of the lower towne on the other side of the riuer they retired to the riuers side where some of them by boats got ouer to STRIGONIVM othersome perished in the riuer the rest falling into the hands of the Christians were by them all put to the sword GOKARA thus taken and the fire quenched the Christians repaired the breaches and storing it with all warlike prouision left in it a strong garrison Within a night or two after were two hundred of the Turks horsemen descried in a field fast by which caused an alarum to be raised in the campe as if the whole armie of the Turks had beene at hand howbeit those horsemen retiring and no other appearing it was afterwards knowne that they were onely scouts sent out by the Turkes to take view of the armie of the Christians and in what sort they lay encamped The latter end of this moneth it fortuned that a young countrey fellow secretly sent out of the citie by the Gouernour and falling into the hands of Palfi was by him sent to the countie by whom he was in friendly manner demanded From whence he came whether he was going and whereabouts Whereunto the youth frankely answered That he was sent from the Gouernour with letters to the Bassa of BVDA which he presently drew out of his bosome and deliuered them vnto the countie who after he had read them caused them to be closed vp againe and so deliuered them to the young man with some few crownes commaunding him to carrie them to the Bassa as he was about and in his returne to bring him the Bassaes answere promising for his so doing to reward him bountifully which the young man vndertooke to doe and so departed Now the purport of the Gouernours letters was That if the Bassa did not within six or seauen dayes send him aid and relieue him he should for want of victuals and other things necessarie for the holding out of the siege be enforced either to abandon the citie or to yield it vp into the enemies hands Whereunto the Bassa returned answere by the aforesaid messenger That he would within the appointed time bee with him willing him in the meane while to be mindfull of his wonted valour and not to be with any thing discouraged appointing him the day the houre the way the meane with all the other circumstances how he would relieue him Which letters the young man according to his promise deliuered vnto the countie who thereupon prouided accordingly for the welcomming of the Bassa Within a day after also one of the Turkes canoniers considering the danger the citie lay in and feating that it would be lost fled out of it into the campe who besides that he aptly declared the state of the citie and the wants the besieged were in did also afterwards good seruice during the time of the siege The Turkes had in this while many times sallied out to their great losse yet now vpon hope of better successe they aduentured the nine and twentith of this moneth to sallie out againe but with like fortune as before leauing fourescore of their men behind them hauing slaine but fiue of the Christians Now had the Turks in great wants by the space of a moneth right worthily defended STRIGONIVM expecting still for reliefe At length newes was brought into the campe That the Bassa of BVDA with twentie thousand men was comming to raise the siege who the second of August came accordingly and with his armie encamped within foure miles of the Christians lying so nigh certaine of the Turkes horsemen seeking after bootie came very neere vnto the campe of the Christians and out of the pastures euen vnder their noses carried away some few horses against these desperat aduenturerers certaine troupes of the Hungarian and Germane horsemen issuing out had with them an hot skirmish but the Turkes of purpose retiring as men ouercharged and the Christians still following
appointed time about midnight committed themselues with all that they had vnto the conduct of them of STRIGONIVM sent out of purpose for them by whom they were in safetie brought to STRIGONIVM Amongst them were many rich men who brought with them good store of coine with an exceeding great number of cattell Vnto these newcome guests Palfi assigned certaine fields betwixt STRIGONIVM and VIVARIA on the North side of Danubius where they so commodiously liued as was possible in so troubled an estate of a countrey Shortly after six hundred garrison souldiors of LIPPA seeking after bootie and aduenturing too farre into the enemies territorie were discouered by the Turkes scouts and so beset by the Turkes and Tartars billeted in the countrey about TEMESWAR that there was no way left for them to escape Which they well perceiuing resolued among themselues as became valiant men to fight it out euen vnto the last man and with no lesse resolution performed what they had before determined for being on euerie side beset and hardly charged by their enemies they as men before resolued to die although scarce one to twentie fought most desperatly seeking for nothing else but to sell their liues as deare as they could vnto their enemies and so fighting were all slaine except some few which by great fortune escaped leauing vnto the enemie a right bloudie victorie Yet by this losse of so great a partie was the garrison of LIPPA greatly weakened which the enemie knew right well and thereupon began forthwith to prepare to besiege the towne Which Barbelus the Gouernour a most valiant man wisely foreseeing sent in post vnto the Transyluanian prince to request him with all speed to send him foure or fiue thousand good souldiors with which power he doubted not by the helpe of God to be able to defend the towne against all the forces the enemie was at that time able to bring against it Vnto whom the prince without delay sent eight thousand who all in safetie in good time arriued at LIPPA for shortly after their arriuall fortie thousand of the Turkes and Tartars came and sat downe before the towne enclosing it on euerie side and so lay for certaine daies without any thing doing worth the speaking of they of the towne in the meane time doing them all the harme they could with their great shot which they sent amongst them not sparingly But they had not thus long lien but that newes was brought into the campe that the Transyluanian prince was with a great power comming thither to relieue the towne whereupon they presently rise and retired to the place where they had before encamped about two miles from LIPPA where certainly vnderstanding that the prince neither was neither could in short time be in such readinesse as was before reported they forthwith returned and more straitly besieged the towne than before They had now brought with them seuenteene pieces of batterie eight wagons laded with shot and pouder and fortie six others laded with scaling ladders and other warlike prouision thus appointed they began to batter the towne and afterwards gaue therunto diuers desperat assaults which the Christians valiantly receiued and still with great slaughter repulsed their enemies For that strong towne was with towers and bulwarkes flanking one another so fortified that out of them the Christians with their murthering pieces made great spoile of their enemies and still enforced them with losse to retire no bullet almost flying in vaine In the heat of one of these assaults the Gouernour caused one of the gates of the towne to be set open hauing before within in the towne placed sixteene great pieces at the verie entrance of the same gate charged with all kind of murthering shot vnto which gate as of meere desperation set open by the defendants the Turkes and Tartars desirous of reuenge came thronging as thicke as might be thinking to haue thereby entred when suddenly and as it were in the turning of an hand they were with the aforesaid murthering pieces cut downe as with a sithe and so againe and the third and fourth time before they could cleare themselues of the danger thereof their heads armes legges and other rent limbes flying in the ayre most miserably to behold Neuerthelesse the siege was by them continued and the often assaults so resolutly maintained as if they had thereon purposed to haue gaged all their liues But this so obstinat a resolution was by an vnexpected accident when they least thought conuerted into such a desperat feare and astonishment that they vpon the sudden no man forcing them forsooke their trenches wherein they lay encamped and leauing behind them their tents their great ordinance and whatsoeuer else they had they betooke themselues to a most disordered flight The Transyluanians who by chance were euen then comming thither pursuing them slew diuers of them and tooke some others of them prisoners At this siege the Bassa of TEMESVVAR himselfe was mortally wounded and Hamat Sanzacke of GIVLA with diuers others of good place slaine and foure thousand of the common souldiors The cause of the Turks so great and sudden feare was this Whilest the Bassa of TEMESVVAR lay at the siege of LIPPA as is aforesaid they that were left in the citie fearing no harme liued in great securitie in the meane time the Gouernour of LVGAZ sent out six thousand souldiors towards TEMESVVAR now in the absence of the Bassa to seeke after bootie who comming to TEMESVVAR with great speed rifled the suburbs of the citie slew all the Turks they could light vpon and set at libertie a thousand captiues and so hauing trussed vp their bootie set on fire all the suburbes and departed Which fire grew so great and so terrible that it was plainly seene into the campe at LIPPA making a shew as if the whole citie had beene on a light fire Which so daunted the hearts of the Turkes at the siege that they presently fled as is before said leauing all that they had behind them The Transyluanian all this while busied in raising of his armie and prouiding of things necessarie for the maintenance of his warres was come into the confines of HVNGARIE towards TEMESVVAR euen as the Turkes fled from LIPPA At which time certaine Hungarian Heidons that serued him getting ouer Danubius not farre from NICOPOLIS tooke PLENIA a little towne of the Turkes which they ransacked and burnt and hauing slaine in the countrey thereabout aboue three thousand of the Turks returned with a rich prey vnto the prince Not long before the Christians had surprised CLISSA a strong frontier towne of the Turks in DALMATIA not far from SPALATO which towne the Bassa of BOSNA sought now againe to recouer and thereto layed hard siege for the reliefe wherof Leucowitz gouernour of STIâ—â—â— and the other prouinces thereabouts belonging to the house of AVSTRIA and the gouernâ—â—â— of ZENG with a fleet of two and fortie ships wherein they had embarked foure thousand
enforced to forsake it and to retire into the citie But shortly after sallying out againe they with such force assailed the Turkes now got within the counterscarfe that hauing slaine most part of them that were entered they forced the other out againe at the brute whereof an alarum being raised throughout the campe infinit numbers of the barbarous enemies came running thither with such beastly furie that without regard of their liues they as desperat men pressing still on fell twice as many as before insomuch that the Christians wearie of that long and bloudie fight and on euery side charged or rather ouerwhelmed with the enemies shot were glad againe but not without great losse to abandon the place With which skirmishes and diuers others that they had the number of the defendants was greatly deminished yet was not the courage of the valiant Gouernour any whit therewith abated but by his letters gaue the Archduke Matthias to vnderstand in what case things stood with them in the citie requesting him with all speed to send them reliefe for that otherwise the citie would be in danger to be lost as well for that many of the garrison souldiors were alreadie slaine in the defence thereof as also that diuers of the Hungarians forsaking the wals daily fled vnto the Turks campe promising yet neuerthelesse himselfe to doe the vttermost of his deuoire Vpon the receit of which letters the Archduke gaue order vnto the lord Russworm master of his campe to goe forthwith to COMARA and there with such forces as were from diuers places come thither to go forth and to proue if by any meanes the weake garrison of ALBA REGALIS might so be relieued by putting in some good supplie of fresh souldiors According vnto which commaund Russworm comming thither without delay tooke the field with twelue thousand men which he found there to see if he might with them put into the citie the desired reliefe But whilest the matter was in the performance thereof too long delaied by discord arising betwixt him and the other colonels about the commaund the Bassa had time to effect his purpose who the eight and twentith of the same moneth of August after a long and terrible batterie caused a generall assault to be giuen vnto the citie which the Turkes from time to time renewing continued all that day and the next night with some part of the day following also without intermission so that the defendants now brought to a small number and they also so wearied or wounded as that they were not well able to make any longer resistance and the Countie himselfe who gaue as it were life vnto them all being now also carried away dangerously hurt in the thigh with a musket shot gaue vnto the enemie a signe of their yeelding Whereupon the furie of the assault being staied whilest they were yet talking with the enemie from the wall about the conditions of their yeelding a renegate Christian which knew the citie well in the meane time conducted a great squadron of the Turkes vnto a place but weakely defended who forcing the wals entered the citie and with a great crie gaue signes of their enterance vnto the rest of the armie on the other side who thereupon breaking off the parley presently renewed the assault and by force gained the wals where the few Christians that were left now both before and behind enclosed with their fierce enemies were there valiantly fighting for the most part slaine the Countie onely with some few others found wounded in their lodgings the furie ouerpast being taken prisoners and spared So the Bassa hauing in eighteene daies taken ALBA REGALIS now being eleuen moneths possessed by the Christians caused the breaches he had made to bee againe repaired and the citie well prouided for both of victuals and munition leauing therein a strong garrison of six thousand good souldiours and with his people hauing ouerrun all the countrey as farre as STRIGONIVM rise with his armie and retired againe to BVDA where as he was making a bridge of boats ouer the Danubius betwixt BVDA and PESTH for the more easie transporting of victuall and better relieuing of the one the other as need should require and hauing brought that worke to passe and was about to haue gone to the siege of STRIGONIVM commaundement came from the great Sultan That he should with all speed returne to CONSTANTINOPLE for that Mahomet accounting of him as of a most valiant man was now minded to employ him in his warres against his rebels in NATOLIA where things now went not well as shall hereafter be declared Vpon which commaundement the Bassa gaue leaue to all such in his armie as had charge of any place forthwith to returne to their seuerall places of gouernment appointing some others with thirtie thousand souldiors in the companie of Zachael Moises but of late prince Sigismund his lieutenant to goe with him into TRANSYLVANIA who after the ouerthrow he had there receiued by Basta was come vnto this great Bassa offering vnto him with such an aid as was now appointed for him and the helpe of such other his friends as he had in TRANSYLVANIA to chase Basta with his Germanes from out thence and to reduce that prouince againe vnto the deuotion of the Othoman emperours as it had in former time beene And so by the way of BELGRADE hasted himselfe with the rest of his armie towards CONSTANTINOPLE which hee was thought the more willingly to doe for that the great Sultan before his setting forth had put him in good hope to marrie one of his aunts a woman of great wealth and honour if by the winning againe of ALBA REGALIS he should make himselfe worthie so honourable a match after which he now longed But long it was not after his departure but that the Imperials now at last assembled together at COMARA to the number of about thirtie thousand men with twelue Nassadies and two gallies some by water some by land marched downe alongst the riuer to STRIGONIVM where were also twentie other ships readie to receiue them and so all embarked were by the lord Russworm and other the imperiall captaines conducted to BVDA there with some notable enterprise to redeeme the disgrace by them before receiued in not relieuing of ALBA REGALIS Whose comming was so sudden and so vnlooked for of the Turkes there as that they had no time to take in any greater helpe or prouision than was alreadie in the citie And for as much as the Christians knew the good successe of this their enterprise taken in hand not so much to depend of their strength as of their politicke proceeding and speedie dispatch of the matter begun they thought it not good to vse any long delay or to spare for any labour but so soone as they might by taking of the Water citie or as some call it the Iewes suburbes so to cut off the passage of them of BVDA to PESTH as also from thence to
aforesaid not yet fortified had not Hugh the French kings brother come in good time to the rescue who comming in with thirtie thousand horsemen after he had relieued the campe entring directly into the battell was notably encountred by a squadron of fresh soldiers of the Turks by them of purpose reserued for such euent There began a battell more terrible than the first with most doubtfull victorie But at the length the Turks wearie of the long and cruell fight and seeing most of their fellowes slaine began by little and little to giue ground and so retired into the mountaines which were not far off In this battell which continued a great part of the day were slaine of the Turks fortie thousand and of the Christians about two thousand The next morning Bohemund with the French kings brother came againe into the field in such order as if they should presently haue giuen or receiued battell where after they had staid a great while and saw no enemie to appeare they fell to the honest buriall of their dead which were easily known from the Turks by the red crosses vpon their garments the cognisance of their sacred warfare Solyman flying with the remainder of his armie notably dissembled his losse giuing it out that he had got the victorie yet by the way as hee went he burnt vp the countrey villages and destroyed or carried away whatsoeuer else he thought might stand the Christians in any steed if they should further follow after him leauing nothing for them but the bare ground After this victorie Bohemund and the Christian princes without resistance marching through the hot and drie countreis of the lesser ASIA came to ANTIOCHIA a citie of PISIDIA which they tooke with small labour so marching vnto ICONIVM the principal citie of CILICIA neere vnto the mountaine TAVRVS were there also of the citizens courteously receiued where they staid certaine daies for the refreshing of the armie From thence they set forward toward HERACLEA where a great power of the Turks were reported to be assembled But they together with the garrison souldiers vpon the approch of the victorious armie of the Christians forsooke the citie and fled The citizens being Christians as they were yet generally in all the prouinces of the lesser ASIA but in great subjection to the Turks and now rid of their cruel masters the Turkish garrisons came foorth and meeting the princes gladly yeelded themselues with their citie vnto them as vnto their deliuerers Here the Christian princes fully instructed of the great feare and desperation of the Turks who now in no place durst abide their comming for the more speedie taking in of those countries but lately oppressed by the Turks diuided their armie into two parts leauing the one part thereof with Baldwin and Tancred in CILICIA for the full subduing thereof who in short time tooke the cities of TARSVS EDISSA and MANVSSA with all the rest of the countrey the Turks not daring any where to abide their comming the other part of the armie in the meane time entring into the lesser ARMENIA tooke the same from the Turks which the princes gaue to one Palmurus an Armenian who had in that expedition done them great seruice From thence they tooke their way into CAPADOCIA which they also subdued driuing out the Turks in euerie place and tooke the cities of CESAREA and SOCOR where they staid a few daies for the refreshing of the armie with like successe they passed through the rest of the prouinces of the lesser ASIA of late possessed by the Turks still chasing them out before them and setting at libertie the poore oppressed Christians of those countreis Whereof Solyman crauing aid of Axan the Persian Sultan his cousin grieuously complained by his letters to him directed in this sort The famous citie of NICE with the countrey of ROMANIA which we by your aid and power haue gotten from the kingdome of the Greeks and of your bountie possessed the Christians of the kingdome of FRANCE haue againe taken from vs. Thus was the late erected kingdome of the Turks in the lesser ASIA by these valiant Christian champions againe brought low and they glad to retire themselues farther off into the mountaines and more Easterne countries vntill this heat was ouerpast and that they taking the benefit of the troubled state of the Greeke empire afterwards rent in sunder by ambition and ciuile discord the ruine of the greatest monarchies recouered not onely their former state but became also dreadful vnto the Greeke emperours themselues vpon whom they dayly gained in one corner or other still maintaining the honour of their estate vntill the rising of the Othoman familie as in the processe of this historie shall God willing be declared These victorious princes then and to the worlds end famous not contented to their immortall praise to haue thus driuen the Turks out of the lesser ASIA and recouered so many countries bound themselues as well the princes as the common souldiers by solemne oath neuer to return againe into their countriâ—s vntil they had accomplished that sacred war with the conquest of the Holy citie So mounting together the high mountaine TAVRVS and discending thence as into another world they came to the citie MARESIA which they tooke without resistance the Turks there in garrison being by night before for feare fled where the Christians for the refreshing of themselues certaine daies staid In the meane time Robert earle of FLANDERS with a thousand men at armes was sent out to giue summons vnto a citie called ARTASIA about fifteene miles distant from ANTIOCH when as the citizens beholding the ensignes of the Christians suddenly tooke vp armes against the Turks there in garrison which had of long holden them in subjection and preuailing vpon them slew them euerie mothers sonne whose heads they presented vnto the earle and receiued him into their citie The Turks to reuenge the death of their friends and to recouer againe the citie before the comming of the rest of the armie sent out about ten thousand men out of ANTIOCH for thither was assembled a great power of them to haue hindred the farther proceedings of the Christians and being come neere to ARIASIA they sent before certaine stragling companies of purpose to draw the new come Christians out of the citie lying in the meane time in ambush with the rest of purpose to entrap them With these stragling companies the Flemings sallying out lustily encountred easily put them to flight the Turks in deed flying of purpose to bring them within the danger of the other lying in Ambush After whom the Flemings eagerly following were before they were aware enclosed round with their enemies and there had vndoubtedly perished had not the citizens being Christians presently salied out and right woorthily relieued them Shortly after the Christian princes marching forward with their armie were encountred by the Turke at the riuer ORONTES who had there thought to haue staid
sword man woman and child and amongst them also many of the Christians the furious souldiers taking of them no knowledge Great wealth was there found but small store of victuals Casstanus the late gouernour flying out of the citie to saue himselfe in wandring through the mountaines fell into the hands of the Christian Armenians who lately thrust out of IERVSALEM were fled thither for refuge by whom he was there slaine In the citie were slaine about ten thousand persons Thus was the famous citie of ANTIOCH which the Turks had long before by famine taken from the Christians againe recouered the third day of Iune in the yeere of our Lord God 1098. The poore oppressed Christians in IERVSALEM hearing of this so notable a victorie gaue secret thanks vnto God therefore and began to lift vp their heads in hope that their deliuerie was now at hand Of this victorie the princes of the armie by speedie messengers and letters certified their friends in all countries so that in short time the fame thereof had filled a great part of the world Amongst others Bohemund prince of TARENTVM vnto whom the citie was deliuered sent the joyfull newes thereof vnto Roger his brother prince of APVLIA whose letters as the most certaine witnesses of the historie before reported I thought it not amisse here to set downe I suppose you to haue vnderstood by the letters of your sonne Tancred both of the great feare of some of vs and the battels which we haue of late with our great glorie fought But concerning the truce and the proceeding of the whole action I had rather you should be certified by my letters than the letters of others King Cassianus had required a time of truce during which our soldiers had free recourse into the citie without danger vntill that by the death of Vollo a Frenchman slaine by the enemie the truce was broken But whilst it yet seemed an hard matter to winne the citie one Pyrâ—hus a citizen of ANTIOCH of great authoritie and much deuoted vnto me had conference with me concerning the yeelding vp of the citie yet vpon condition That the gouernment thereof should be committed to me in whom he had reposed an especiall trust I conferred of the whole matter with the princes and great commanders of the armie and easily obtained that the gouernment of the citie was by their generall consent alotted vnto me So our armie entring by a gate opened by Pyrrhus tooke the citie Within a few daies after the towne ARETVM was by vs assaulted but not without some losse and danger to our person by reason of a wound I there receiued I assure you much of the valour of your sonne Tancred of whom I and the whole armie make such account and reckoning as is to be made of a most valiant and resolute generall Farewell from ANTIOCH Whilst the Christians thus lay at the siege of ANTIOCH Corbanas the Persian Sultan his lieutenant with a great armie besieged EDESSA with purpose after the taking thereof to haue relieued the citie of ANTIOCH But this citie being notably defended by Baldwin left there of purpose with a strong garrison for the defence thereof the Turke fearing in the meane time to loose ANTIOCH the safest refuge of the Turks in all those parts rise with his armie and set forward against the Christians where by the way it was his fortune to meet with Sansadolus Cassianus his sonne but lately fled from ANTIOCH by whom he vnderstood of the losse of the citie and by what meanes the same was most like to be againe recouered vpon which hope Corbanas with his mightie armie kept on his way with a full resolution to set all vpon the fortune of a battell Whose comming much troubled the Christians for that although they were possessed of the citie yet was the castell still holden by the Turks Neuerthelesse leauing the earle of THOLOVS in the citie with a competent power for the keeping in of them in the castell they tooke the field with the whole strength of the armie and so in order of battell expected the comming of their enemies who couragiously comming on as men before resolued to fight joyned with them a most terrible and bloodie battell Neither were they in the citie in the mean time idle for that the Turks in the castell hauing receiued in vnto them certaine supplies from Corbanas sallied out vpon them that were left for the safegard of the citie and had with them a cruell conflict Thus both within the citie and without was to be seene a most dreadfull fight of resolute men with great slaughter on both sides yet after long fight and much effusion of blood the fortune of the Christians preuailing the Turks began to giue ground and afterwards betooke themselues to plaine flight whom the Christians hardly pursuing made of them a woonderfull slaughter In this battell were slaine of the Turks aboue an hundred thousand and of the Christians about foure thousand two hundred There was also taken a great prey for besides horses and other beasts for burden were taken also fiue thousand camels with their lading The next day being the 28 of Iune the castell was by the Turks now dispairing of releife yeelded vp vnto the Christians ANTIOCH thus taken Hugh the French kings brother surnamed the Great was sent from the rest of the princes to CONSTANTINOPLE to haue deliuered the citie vnto Alexius the emperour according to the agreement before made But he guiltie in conscience of his owne foule dealing with them vnto whom he had sent no reliefe at all during the long and hard siege of ANTIOCH neither performed any thing of that he had further promised and therefore knowing himselfe hated of them had in distrust so great an offer of the princes so euill deserued and therefore refused to accept thereof Whereupon Bohemund by the generall consent of the whole armie was chosen prince or as some call him king of ANTIOCH After this long siege and want of victuals ensued a great plague in the armie of the Christians the Autumne following whereof it is reported fiftie thousand men to haue died and amongst them many of great account But the mortalitie ceasing the Christians in Nouember following by force tooke RVGIA and ALBARIA two cities about two daies journey from ANTIOCH where dissention arising betwixt Bohemund Raimond who of all others only enuied at his preferment vnto the principalitie of ANTIOCH Bohemund for the common causes sake gaue way vnto his aduersarie retired with his soldiers backe againe to ANTIOCH after whom followed the duke Godfrey and the earle of FLANDERS with their regiments The rest of the princes wintred some at RVGIA some at ALBARIA from whence Raimund made sundrie light expeditions further into the enemies countrey But the spring approching the Christian princes with all their power tooke the field againe Bohemund with them that remained with him departing from ANTIOCH besieged TORTOSA
into the rest that for safegard of their liues they betook themselues to flight some one way some another neuer thinking themselues in safetie so long as they were within the greedie tyrants reach wherof shortly after ensued no small troubles to the shaking of the state of the whole empire Isaack Comnenus the emperour Emanuels nigh kinsman tooke his refuge into CIPRVS kept that island to himselfe Alexius Comnenus Emanuels brothers son fled into SCICILIA there stirred vp William king of that island against Andronicus who with a great army landing at DYRRACHIVM tooke the city so from thēce without resistance passing through the heart of MACEDONIA spoyling the countrey before him as he went met his fleet at THESALONICA which famous city he also tooke by force most miserably spoiled it with all the countrey therabout in such sort as that he brought a great feare euen vpon the imperiall citie it selfe vnto which so great euils Andronicus entangled with domesticall troubles not knowing whom to trust was not able to giue remedie although for shew he had to no purpose sent out certaine of his most trusty ministers with such forces as he could spare For the majestie of his authoritie growing still lesse lesse the number of his enemies both at home and abroad daily encreasing the fauor of the vnconstant people who now began to speake hardly of him declining he vncertain which way to turne himselfe rested wholy vpon tyrannie proscribing in his feare not only the friends of such as were fled whom he distrusted but somtimes whole families together yea that for light occsions somtime those who were the best of his fauourits whose seruice he had many times vsed in the execution of his crueltie So that now no day passed wherin he did not put to death imprison or torture one great man or other Wherby it came to passe that the imperiall citie was filled with sorrow heauinesse euery man hanging the head and with silence couering his inward griefe not without danger to haue been then vttered Amongst many others appointed to this slaughter was one Isaack Angelus a man of great nobilitie whom Hagiochristophorites the chiefe minister of Andronicus his tyrannie and for the same by him highly promoted suspecting as one that bare no good will to the emperour cause enough of death came to his house to apprehend him finding him at home after some few hot words commanded him to follow him Whereat the noble man making some stay and abhorring the verie sight of the wretch as vnto him ominous and fatall Hagiochristophorites himselfe began to lay hands on him reuiling his followers that they had not foorthwith drawn him out of his house by the haire of his head vnto the prison by him appointed For they touched with the honour of the man and mooued with compassion forced him not but stood still as beholders Isaack seeing himselfe thus beset and no way now left for him to escape resoluing rather there presently to die than shortly after to be murdred in prison drew his sword as the rest were about to haue laid hands vpon him and at the first blow cleft the wicked head of Hagiochristophorites downe to his shoulders and so leauing him wallowing in his owne blood and like a desperat man laying about him amongst the rest made himselfe way through the middest of them And so embrued with blood with his bloodie sword yet in his hand running through the middest of the citie told the people what he had done and crying vnto them for helpe in defence of his innocencie fled into the great temple there to take the refuge of the sanctuarie where he had not long sit in the place where the guiltie flying thither for refuge vsed to sit confessing their offence craue pardon of such as go in and out but that the temple was filled with the multitude of people flocking thither out of all parts of the citie some to see the nobleman some to behold what should become of him for all men thought that he would before the going downe of the sunne notwithstanding the reuerence of the place be drawne thence by Andronicus put to some shamefull death Thither came also Iohn Ducas Isaacks vncle and his sonne Isaack to increase the tumult not for that they were any thing guiltie of the death of Hagiochristophorites but for that they had before become sureties vnto the suspitious tyrant for their kinsman Isaack he likewise for them by whose trespas they well knew themselues now brought into no lesse danger than if they had been abettors therunto And beside them also many other there were which standing in doubt of their owne estate fearing the like might happen to themselues prickt forward with hard speeches the common people flocking thither instantly requesting them to stay there and to stand by them now at their need being so injuriously wronged whose pitifull complaints moued right many to take part with them At which time also no man yet comming from the emperor being as then out of the citie to represse the sedition nor any of the nobilitie opposing themselues no friend of Andronicus appearing none of his bloodie ministers or officers shewing themselues nor any that did so much as speake a good word in his behalfe or in dislike of the tumult the boldnesse of the seditious people increased euerie man in so great libertie saying what he list and after their rude manner one encouraging another So spent Isaack that long night not thinking God wot of an empire but still expecting the deadly stroake of Andronicus Yet had he with great entreating so preuailed that diuers of the assembly shutting the church dores and bringing lights into the church staied there with him all night and by their example caused some others to stay also The next morning by the breake of the day were all the citizens flockt againe vnto the temple cursing the tyrant to the deuill as the common enemie of mankind wishing vnto him a shamefull death and the honour of the empire vnto Isaack At that time by fortune or rather God so appointing it Andronicus was out of the citie at his pallace of MELVDINVM on the East side of PROPONTIS where he was by nine a clocke at night certified of the death of Hagiochristophorites and of the tumult of the people yet that night stirred he not either did any thing more but by short letters aduised the people to pacifie themselues and not by foolish rebellion to cast themselues into farther danger In the morning Andronicus his fauourits began to shew themselues and to do what they might to haue appeased the tumultuous multitude yea and presently after came Andronicus himselfe and landed with his imperiall gally at the great pallace in the citie But with the inraged people naught preuailed either the persuasions of the one or report of the presence of the other for they all as
hands as of his dread soueraigne and after so long discord to sue to be reconciled vnto him as now wearie of the Turkes amitie with whom he should make shew to be vtterly fallen out At which time also to giue the matter the better grace Saladin of purpose with a great armie came and besieged TIBERIAS a citie of the counties jurisdiction for the reliefe whereof the traiterous countie craued aid of the king and the other princes of the sacred warre Who with an armie though not great yet very well appointed came according to his desire encamped neere vnto the fountaine of SOPHOR where they had not long stayed but that they met with the huge armie of the Turkes being in number one hundred and twentie thousand horse and one hundred and sixtie thousand foot with whome they joyned a most sharpe and terrible battell which by reason of the extremitie of the heat of the weather it then beeing the twelfth of Iuly and the approch of the night was againe giuen ouer both armies as if it had been by consent retiring The next day the battell was againe begun wherein the Turkes by the treason and shamefull flight of the false countie of TRIPOLIS gained the victorie In this battell Guy the king himselfe with Gerard master of the Templars Boniface marquesse of MONT-FERRAT and diuers others men of great marke were taken prisoners And to say the truth in this battell was broken the whole strength of the Christians in the East The Christian commonweale by the treason of the false countie thus betrayed vnto the Infidels Saladin without any great resistance had the cities of PTOLEMAIS BIâ—LIS and BERITHVS deliuered vnto him in all which places he vsed his victorie with great moderation not enforsing any Christian more than the Latines to depart thence but suffering them there still to remaine as before yeelding vnto him their obedience with such tribute as he had imposed vpon them With like good fortune he within the space of one moneth tooke all the port townes betwixt SIDON and ASCALON alongst the sea coast excepting only the auncient citie of TYRE vnto the citie of ASCALON also he laid siege by the space of nine daies but loath to stay the course of his victorie by the valour of the defendants resolued there to spend their liues hee departed thence and marched directly vnto HIERUSALEM the chiefe citie of that kingdome And approching the same gaue summons thereunto persuading the citizens yet whiles they had time to yeeld themselues together with the citie vnto his mercie Which they refusing to doe he inclosed the same with his armie and by the space of foureteene dayes laid hard siege vnto it leauing nothing vndone or vnattempted that might helpe for the gaining thereof At which time the citizens considering the danger they were in and that the strength of the kingdome with the flower of their chiualrie were in the late battell lost and that they were not now to expect any forraine aid agreed vpon certaine conditions to yeeld vp the citie which were That such Christians as would might remaine still with their libertie and goods and that such as would not might in safetie depart with so much of their goods as they could carie vpon their backs These conditions being by Saladin granted the holy citie was vnto him deliuered the second of October in the yeare 1187 after it had been by the Christians holden froÌ„ the time that it was by Godfrey of BUILLON other Christians woon about 89 yeares Saladin entring into the citie prophaned first the temple of the Lord conuerting it vnto the vse of his Mahometane superstition the other churches he vsed as stables for his horses onely the temple of the sepulchre was by the Christians for a great summe of money redeemed and so kept vndefiled The Latine Christians he thrust out of the citie yet with leaue to carrie with them such things as they were able themselues to beare who trauailing with heauie burdens but much more heauie hearts some to TRIPOLIS some to TIRE some to ANTIOCH for onely these three cities were now left vnto the Christians in SYRIA were by the false countie of TRIPOLIS by the way lightened of their burthens to the increasing of the heauinesse of their hearts most of them being by him and his followers spoiled of that little they had by the mercie of their enemies saued in the ruine of their state Vnto the other Christians that were naturall Syrians Greekes Armenians Georgians and such like Saladin appointed certaine places of the citie for them to dwell in where some of their posteritie were long time after to be found All the monumenss of the Christians were by the barbarous Mahometanes and Turkes defaced onely the sepulchre of our blessed Sauiour Christ with the monument of Godfrey of BUILLON and his brother Baldwin for the reuerence of the men were by them spared In these so great troubles aboue twentie thousand of the Christians perished amongst the rest the countie of TRIPOLIS was shortly after found dead in his bed and as some say circumcised a manifest token of his reuolt not from the king onely but from the Christian faith also HIERUSALEM thus woon Saladin returned againe to the siege of ASCALON which after he had by the space of tenne dayes most straitly besieged was vnto him by composition deliuered wherein amongst other things agreed vpon for the safe departure of the citizens was comprised also that he should freely set at libertie Guy the king and Gerard master of the Templars both before taken prisoners as is before declared which he afterward performed Thus the victorious Turke still vrging his good fortune departing thence attempted to haue taken TRIPOLIS but hauing made some proofe of his owne forces and the valour of the defendants he was glad to giue ouer the siege and to depart as he came Marching thence with his armie because he would leaue no place vnattempted he laid siege vnto the citie of TIRE where Conrade marquesse of MONT FERRAT was a little before arriued with Isaack Angelus the Greeke emperours fleet and a supplie of certaine companies of good souldiors Vnto which place were come great numbers of the poor distressed Christians fled from HIERUSALEM and other places so that the citie was full of men This citie Saladin most furiously assaulted but was by the Christians notably repulsed not without the great losâ—e of his best souldiors At which time also the admirall of SICILIA discomfited his fleet at sea and landing his forces came vnlooked for vpon the backe of him so that hauing his hands full before by them of the towne and charged behind by these newcome enemies he was glad to retire in such hast as that he left his tents with all that therein was vnto the spoile of the Christians Within a few daies after Saladin hauing againe repaired his armie inuaded the countrey about ANTIOCH with fire and sword destroying whatsoeuer was
FRANCE with whom we also will repaire into the lesser ASIA whither the course both of the time and of the historie now calleth vs to see the other greater affaires of the Turks in those Eastern countries leauing for a season these poore remainders of so many Christians in TYRE and PTOLEMAIS now for a while in peace but to be ere long deuoured of the infidels their enemies as in the processe of this Historie shall in due time and place appeare The ruine of the Turks first Empire in Persia with the successe of their second kingdome in the lesser Asia vnder the Aladin Kings AS no kingdome or Empire vpon earth were it neuer so flourishing or great was euer yet so assured but that in the reuolution of time after the manner of other worldly things it hath as a sicke bodie been subject vnto many strange innouations and changes and at length come to nothing so fared it now with the Turkish empire which first planted by Tangrolipix in PERSIA and the other far Easterne countries increased by Axan his sonne and so by the Turkish Sultans their successors although their names and doings as too farre off be not vnto vs all knowne for the space of one hundred and seuentie yeareas continued must now I say giue place vnto a greater power and settle it selfe elsewhere the ineuitable destinie thereof so requiring It fortuned that about this time when in the space of a few yeares such mutations as had not before of long beene seene chanced in diuers great monarchies and states that the Tartars or rather Tattars inhabiting the large cold and bare countries in the North side of ASIA of all others a most barbarous fierce and needie nation stirred vp by their owne wants and the persuasion of one Zingis or as some call him Cangis holden amongst them for a great prophet and now by them made their leader and honoured with the name of Vlu-Chan that is to say the Mightie king commonly called the great Cham flocking together in number like the sand of the sea and conquering first their poore neighbours of condition and qualitie like themselues and easie enough to bee entreated with them to seeke their better fortune like swarms of grashoppers sent out to deuour the world passed the high mountaine CAUCASUS part of the mountaine TAURUS of all the mountaines in the world the greatest which beginning neere vnto the ARCHIPELAGO and ending vpon the orientall OCEAN and running through many great and famous kingdomes diuideth ASIA into two parts ouer which great mountaine one of the most assured bounders of nature that had so many worlds of yeares shut vp this rough and sauage people they now passing without number and comming downe as it were into an other world full of such natures pleasant delights as neuer were to them before seene bare downe all before them as they went nothing being now able to stand in their way Old Zingis their fortunate leader dead in this so great an expedition Hoccata his sonne eldest of his twelue brethren a man of great wisedome and courage tooke vpon him his fathers place who sending part of his great armie for the subduing of the countries Westward turned himselfe with a world of people towards the East where hauing subdued the Bactrians and Sogdians with diuers others he entred into INDIA and subduing that rich countrey on both sides the riuer INDUS euen to the East OCEAN there in the countrey of CATHAI built the famous citie of CAMBALU in circuit eight and twentie miles about for pleasure and plentie of all things necessarie for the life of man of all the cities of ASIA the chiefe where the great Cham of TARTARIE still resiant as in his emperiall citie commaundeth ouer one of the greatest and strongest empires of the world In whose kingdome also in the prouince of MANGY more towards the East hee hath another most famous citie called QUINSAY of all the cities in the world the greatest in circuit an hundred miles about as M. Paulus Venetus writeth who himselfe dwelt therein about the yeare 1260. It is situate in a lake of fresh water and hath in it twelue thousand bridges of which some are of such an heigth that tall ships with their sailes vp may easily passe vnder them In this populous citie the great Cham hath for the keeping thereof alwaies thirtie thousand men in garrison The Tartar kingdome thus planted in CAMBALU Hoccata contenting himselfe with the rich pleasures of INDIA afterward mannaged his wars by his lieutenants being for the most part his brethren or other his nigh kinsmen of whom hee sent out with his armies some Northward some Westward and some toward the South by whom he subdued the Arachosians Margians and diuers other great nations entring into PERSIA subdued the countrey with all PARTHIA ASSYRIA MESOPOTAMIA MEDIA At this time in the citie BALCH or BELCH in the countrey of CHORASAN in the farthest part of PERSIA raigned ouer the Turks one Cursumes of the Greekes called Corsantes who finding himselfe far too weake to stand before the Tartarians fled with all his people leauing vnto them both the citie and the countrey which he and the Turks his predecessours had euer since the time of Tangrolipix possessed which citie the Tartars rased and tooke the countrey to themselues In this generall flight of the Turks when as euery man was glad to make what shift he might for himselfe Cursumes their Sultan died the last of the kings of the Selzuccian family that raigned ouer the Turks in PERSIA whose sonne Vgnan Chan taking vpon him the leading of such mulitudes of Turks as followed his father ceized vpon the great citie of BABYLON now called BAGADAT neere vnto the ruines of the old BABYLON where hauing put to the sword all the inhabitants thereof he there and in the countrey thereabout seated himselfe with the Turks his followers but long he had not there rested but that the Tartars hearing thereof pursued him tooke him prisoner expulsed thēce all his people There was at the same time also another kingdom of the Turks at NACHAN a citie in PERSIA giuing name vnto the countrey wherein it stood not farre from CHORASAN wherein then raigned one Solyman of the Oguzian family as had diuers other of his progenitors before him who terrified with this dreadfull storme so suddenly risen out of the North and warned by the sudden fall of the Selzuccian Sultan his kingdome of farre greater fame and power than himselfe or his fled also with such his subjects as would follow him into the lesser ASIA But of him and his proceedings more shall bee said hereafter in the rising of the victorious Othoman family as lineally from him discended After this the Tartars together with their good fortune still extending the bounds of their empire conquered ARMENIA the greater with the countries of CHOLCHIS and IBERIA so that now their empire was become of all others the greatest and most
priests in their ecclesiastike attire and ornaments to march foorth in the armie with an ensigne hauing in it displaied the picture of the Virgin Marie So couragiously marching forward hee first charged that quarter of the campe where Baldwin the countie of FLANDERS lay where at the first was fought a right fierce and doubtfull battell But afterward the alarum running throughout all the campe of the Latines and new supplies comming in on euery side the Greekes were put to the worse and enforced againe to retire into the citie hauing lost a great number of men together with their superstitious ensigne It was a woonderfull thing to see with what rare agreement the Latines being of diuers nations continued this expedition vndertaken against the Greekes Seuentie two daies was the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE straightly besieged by the Latines both by sea and land without giuing any time of rest or repose day or night vnto the besieged fresh men comming still on to the assault as the other fell off and in such sort troubled the Greekes in the citie that they knew not well what to doe or which way to turne themselues The Venetians vnto whom was committed the charge to assault that side of the citie which was toward the hauen vpon two great gallies made fast together built a strong tower of wood higher than the wals and rampiers of the town out of which they both with shot and fire-workes much troubled the defendants wherewith they in the time of the assault approching the wall by their fine deuises fired that side of the citie by the rage whereof a great number of houses were burnt with many other stately buildings and antient monuments of that famous citie and had at that present gained a great tower neere vnto the port destitute of defendors had not the tyrant himselfe in good time come with new supplies to the rescue thereof In like manner the French with the rest assailed the other side of the citie by land where they were to fight not against the defendants onely but against deepe ditches high and strong wals and bulwarkes also neuerthelesse such was the valour and furie of the Latines with the desire of victorie as that they were not with any difficulties to be dismaied but pressing still on by a thousand dangers at length after a most sharpe assault they gained one of the greatest bastillions on that side of the citie called the Angels tower and so by plaine force opened a way both for themselues and the rest into the citie Whereof Alexius vnderstanding and strucke with present despaire both of his state and life the night now comming on fled with Euphrosina the emperour Alexius his wife and Eudocia her daughter whome hee had married when he had raigned about a moneth and 16 daies The tyrant author of all this mischiefe and of the calamities ensuing thus fled and the Latines furiously entring the priests and religious men in their surplices and other ecclesiastique ornaments with their crosses and banners as in solemne procession met the Latines and falling downe at the souldiors feet with flouds of teares abundantly running downe their heauie countenances besought them but especially the captaines and commanders to remember the condition of worldly things and contenting themselues with the victorie the glorie the honour the empire the immortalitie of their name to abstaine from slaughter from burning from spoiling and ransacking of so beautifull a citie And that seeing they were themselues men they would also haue pitie of men and being themselues captaines and souldiours they should also haue compassion vpon captaines and souldiours who although they were not so valiant and fortunate as they were yet neuerthelesse were both captaines and souldiors And that they would keepe and preserue their citie whereof if they ruinated it not they might haue much more pleasure and commoditie than if they should destroy the same which as it had been the principall seat of the Greeke empire so might it now bee of the Latines That seeing they had thereof had a carefull regard as then belonging to another man they ought now vpon better reason to haue more care thereof being their owne That the authors of all these troubles and mischiefes Alexius the elder and Murzufle had alreadie receiued a reward answerable to their follies in that they were driuen into exile That they would haue pitie and compassion of an innocent and vnfortunat multitude of poore people oppressed and grieuously tormented with the often tyrannies of their murderous lords and gouernours That in so doing God the Lord of hoasts the giuer and guider of battels the God of mercie would therefore reward them To conclude they humbly besought them to pardon their citizens to put on the hearts of gracious and mercifull lords and fathers not of enemies and rough masters of forgiuers not of reuengers and to vnderstand by their teares their miserable estate and woes passed With this so humble a submission and complaint of the religious some of the better sort were happely mooued but with the common soldiors breathing nothing but victorie with their weapons in their hands and the spoile of an empire in their power what auailed prayers or teares euery man fell to the spoile and in so great choice and libertie of all things fitted his owne disordered appetite without respect of the wrong or injurie done to others onely from the effusion of innocent bloud they abstained they whose liues they sought after being alreadie fled together with the tyrant Other injuries and outrages so great as that greater could none be were in euery place so rife that euery street euery lane euery corner of the citie was filled with mourning and heauinesse There might a man haue seene noblemen earst of great honor and reuerend for their hoarie haires with other citizens of great wealth thrust out of all they had walking vp and downe the citie weeping and wringing their hands as men forlorne not knowing where to shroud their heads Neither staied the greedie rage of the insolent souldiors within the wals of mens priuat houses but brake out into the stately pallaces temples and churches of the Greekes also where all was good prize and nothing dedicated to the seruice of God left vnpolluted and defaced no place vnsought no corner vnrifled right lamentable and almost incredible it were to report all the miseries of that time Some of the Greeke Historiographers men of great marke and place and themselues eye witnesses and partakers of those euils haue by their writings complained to all posteritie of the insolencie of the Latines at the winning of the citie to their eternall dishonour but that disordered souldiours in all ages in the libertie of their insolent victorie haue done such outrages as honest minds abhorre to thinke vpon Thus Constantinople the most famous citie of the East the seat and glorie of the Greeke empire by the miserable ambition and dissention of the Greekes for soueraigntie fell into the
hands of the Latines the twelfth of Aprill in the yeare 1204 or after the account of others 1200. CONSTANTINOPLE thus taken and the tyrants put to flight the princes and great commanders of the armie held a counsell to consider what were best to be done concerning the citie and the new gained empire for after so great a victorie they thought it not good to rase so auncient and important a citie seated as it were a watch tower vpon the theatre of the world ouerlooking both ASIA and EUROPE from the one to the other as an eye of the vniuersall and so commodiously planted as was no other citie of the world for the keeping vnder of the enemies of the Christian Religion but that it were much better to place there a Latine gouernour to establish there the Latine lawes and customes and to vnite the Greeke church as a member vnto the church of ROME In which consultation some were of opinion not to haue any moe emperours in Christendome but one and therefore to make choice of Philip the Germane emperour author of this warre whose wife Irene was the onely daughter and heire of the late emperour Isaack Angelus vnto whom by all right the inheritance of her fathers empire belonged But the greater part considering that the troubled affaires of GREECE in so great a change and newnesse of the empire had need of the personall presence of a prince thought it better to make choice of one among themselues who there still resiant in that place might at all times giue aid vnto the Latines in their sacred warres taken in hand against the infidels which opinion as the better was approoued of them all The cheefe men in this election of the new emperour were Baldwin countie of FLAUNDERS and HAINAULT Henry his brother Lewis countie of BLOYS Symon de Montfort Iohn de Dammartin Gualter de Brienne Hugh countie of S. Paul Iohn countie of BRENNE Boniface marques of MONT-FERRAT Stephen countie of PERCH and fiue gentlemen of VENICE vnto whom also were joyned two Bishops of SYRIA the one of BETHLEM the other of PTOLEMAIS who had oftentimes come to the campe of the Latines to stirre them vp for the taking in hand of the sacred warre in SYRIA with two bishops of FRANCE also namely of SOISSON and TROY in CHAMPAGNE the abbot of LEMELY These great lords and prelats assembled into the church of the holy Apostles after they had there with great deuotion craued of God to enspire them with his spirit for the choice of a good and just prince fit for so great a charge with one consent made choice of Baldwin countie of FLAUNDERS and HAINAULT for emperour of GREECE a braue and valiant prince about two and thirtie yeeres old who was afterward the sixteenth day of May in the yeare 1204 or after the computation of others in the yeere 1205 in the great temple of S. Sophia solemnely crowned by Thomas Maurâ—cenus a Venetian first Patriarch of the Latines in CONSTANTINOPLE From which time the Greeke church in CONSTANTINOPLE began to receiue the rites and ceremonies of the Latines and to acknowledge the supremacie of the church of ROME It was not long after that CONSTANTINOPLE was thus taken by the Latines but that they diuiding their forces without any resistance tooke in the most part of the great countries and prouinces on EUROPE side belonging to the Greeke empire in the time of Isaack Angelus the late emperour the fortune of the whole empire as it were following the fortune of the imperiall citie Which large countries so gained from the Greeks the Latines diuided amongst themselues as good prize taken from their enemies Vnto Baldwin the emperour and his successors in the empire was assigned the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE and the countrey of THRACIA with a limited soueraigntie ouer all the rest of the prouinces by the Latines alreadie or afterwards to be gained Vnto the Venetians in this diuision of the empire was allotted for their share all the rich islands of the AEGEUM and IONIAN with the famous island of CANDIE also which although it were before by the yoong emperour Alexis in the beginning of these warres giuen vnto the marques of MONT-FERRAT yet in this diuision of the empire it was taken from him not without his good liking and giuen to the Venetians as for them more fit In steed and lieu whereof the marques had the citie of THESSALONICA with all the kingdome of THESSALIE and a great part of PELOPONESUS assigned vnto him with the royall title of a king Of the aforesaid islands in number many and exceeding rich the Venetians in the name of the state fortified some few of the greatest with conuenient garrisons the rest they left to be possessed and defended by the better sort of the citizens at their priuat cost and charges who according to their abilitie tooke into their possession some one island some another and some two or three one as they were able to set out their gallies one two or mo for the keeping of the same ouer all which the seigniorie neuerthelesse had a generall care still keeping a fleet with one of their admirals at sea by whom they not onely repressed the Genua pirats then busie in those seas but also tooke in certain strong townes in the maine vpon the cost of PELOPONESUS namely MODON and CORONE all which they of long time after held as a part of their seigniorie Some other particular places yet parts also of the empire were giuen vnto particular men as the dukedome of ATHENS vnto one Geffrey of TROY in CHAMPAIGNE a Frenchman a valiant captaine whom they also made prince of ACHAIA Another dukedome was also giuen to the countie of BLOYS as were diuers other countries and townes also vnto other more priuat men who neuerthelesse were bound to hold the same of the emperour as of their lord and to pay him yearely a fourth part of the reuenue arising thereof towards the maintenance of his state Yea the Greekes themselues in this shipwracke of their state and empire although they disdained nothing more than the strange gouernment of the Latines yet could they not be persuaded to joyne together in so common a calamitie but after their woonted maner sought euerie man how to share out something for himselfe without regard of the common good one seized vpon one strong towne or citie and so likewise another which for all that they held not long driuen thence for the most part by a greater power either of the Latines or of their owne countreymen The man whom the discontented Greeks most looked after was Theodorus Lascaris the emperour Alexius Angelus his sonne in law who at the taking of the citie fled to ADRIANOPLE and afterward into BYTHINIA where he was of the people not of that countrey onely but of others also farther off joyfully receiued and honoured as their emperour So taking into his hands the countries of BYTHINIA PHRIGIA MISIA IONIA and
LYDIA euen from the windings of the famous riuer MaeANDER Southward vnto the EUXINE sea Northward he with the generall good liking of the people tooke vpon him the state of an emperour and so in the renowmed citie of NICE made the seat of his empire At the same time also Dauid and Alexius Comneni the nephews of the tyrant Andronicus sometime emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE by his sonne Manuel possessing the more Eastern countries of PONTVS GALATIA and CAPADOCIA erected vnto themselues another empire in TRAPEZOND where their posteritie of the honourable house of the Comneni raigned in great glorie many yeares after vntill their empire together with the empire of CONSTANTINOPLE was by the great emperour of the Turks Mahomet the second subuerted and brought to naught as shall bee afterward in due time and place declared Thus the Greeke empire exposed as it were to the generall spoile was no longer one but many empires Baldwin raigning in CONSTANTINOPLE the marques of MONT-FERRAT in THESSALIE Theodorus Lascaris at NICE Alexius Comnâ—nus in TRAPEZOND the Venetians in the islands all in royall dignitie Besides whom were many other â—eller princes which had here and there according to their abilitie seized vpon some one or other part of the empire and there erected their Toparâ—hies raigning therein as pettie kings as did Aldebrandinus in ATTALIA Michael Angelus in EPIRVS with diuers others too long to rehearse Baldwin as is aforesaid created emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE by the helpe of the Venetian Admirall Dandulus and other great commanders of the armie in short time brought vnder his obeisance all the cities of THRACIA excepting the citie of ADRIANOPLE whereunto the better sort of the discontented Greekes together with Theodorus Lascaris disdaining the gouernment of the Latines were fled as vnto a most safe sanctuarie which Baldwin knowing and withall desiring whilest yet he had his friends about him to set his new empire in some good stay without farther delay came and laid hard siege to the same Now the Greeks generally euill entreated by the Latines grieued to be gouerned by them were some of them fled into other their neighbours princes countries but especially into BVLGARIA otherwise called MISIA a large kingdome lying betwixt the great mountaine AEMVS and DANVEIVS by whose persuasion Iohn king of that countrey aided by the Scythians a fierce Northren people but lately come into those quarters and by the fugitiue Greekes themselues tooke vpon him to relieue the besieged citie and so with a great armie approching the same sent before certaine troupes of the Scythian archers on horsebacke to fetch in such booties of horses or cattle as they should find neere vnto the emperours campe and withall commaunded them that being charged by the imperials they should foorthwith retire so to draw them out of their trenches into the place where the king with the greatest part of his armie lay couertly to entrap them Which the Scythians well acquainted with such seruice so well performed vnder the leading of one Cozas their generall that hauing once or twice drawn their enemies vnto some light skirmishes and so retyring and ere long againe with a greater number returning they at length cunningly drew the emperour with all his armie in hope to doe some great matter vpon them euen as they wished into the place whereas the king with his armie lay in wait among the woods and mountaines for them where they wearied and out of breath in the former pursuit and now on euery side beset with fresh enemies were ouerthrowne with a great slaughter In which conflict to increase the losse Baldwin the emperour himselfe was taken and sent prisoner in bonds to TERNOVA where afterwards by the commandement of the Barbarous king he was most cruelly put to death hauing his hands and feet cut off and so dismembred was cast out into a deepe valley where he yet lay miserably breathing three daies after and so died leauing his bodie as fortunes scorne for a prey vnto the wild beasts and birds of the aire no man vouchsafing to burie it Thus perished this woorthie prince for his vertues commended euen of the Greeks themselues being about the age of three and thirtie yeeres and not hauing raigned yet a full yeare in the yeare of our Lord 1206. The victorie thus gained the citie relieued the barbarous king with his sauage souldiors hauing tasted the wealth of the Latins ouerthrowne in the late battell and the pleasures of THRACIA now subject to their lust greedily pursued their good fortune without respect of all humanitie the open countrey they ouerran spoiling whatsoeuer came to hand the rich and famous cities they rifled and afterward rased them downe to the ground namely SERRae PHILIPPOPOLIS APRI RHEDESTUM PERINTHUS DAONIUM ARCADIOPOLIS MESENA ZURULUS and ATHYRA the citizens and countrey people fled into the cities for refuge they put all to the sword without respect of age sex or condition except some few whom they carried away with them prisoners so that of all the prouinces of that rent and ruinated empire the countrey of THRACE was most miserable as first spoiled by the Latines and now laid desolat by the Bulgarians and Scythians Onely some few of the strongest cities as DIDYMOTICHUM and ADRIANOPLE valiantly defended by the Greekes and Latines escaped this furie of the Barbarians all the rest that fell into their hands being laid wast and desolat In this so troubled a State of the new erected Empire of the Latines in CONSTANTINOPLE the Latines made choise of Henrie the late Emperour Baldwins brother as of all others the fittest to succeed him in the empire who aided by the marquesse now king of THESSALIE and the other Latine princes notably repulsed the Barbarians and left them not vntill that at length he had recouered from them all such townes and cities as they had before taken and driuen them quite out of the countrey and so well established himselfe in his new empire But to leaue this dismembred empire now in the hands of many and to come neerer vnto our purpose Alexius Angelus the vsurper driuen out of the imperiall citie by the Latins to saue himselfe fled into THESSALIE and from thence vnto Leo Scurus then a man of great fame among the Greekes who tyrannising at NAUPLUS as had his father before him was in these troublesome times growne greater by surprising of the two famous cities of ARGOS and CORINTH by whose meanes he cunningly entrapped Alexius Ducas surnamed Murzufle the traitor and for a secret grudge not commonly knowne put out his eyes himselfe an exiled man being a most heauie enemie vnto the other also exiled and himselfe thrust out of the empire a deadly foe vnto the other oppressed with the like calamitie Shortly after which losse of his sight he was by chaunce taken by the Latines and so brought backe to CONSTANTINOPLE where he was for murdering the young emperour Alexius worthily condemned vnto a strange and horrible
repaire vnto CYPRUS as Robert duke of BURGUNDIE who hauing wintred in ACHAIA came now in the beginning of the Spring vnto the king with a number of good horsemen and with him William prince of ACHAIA with a great fleet out of PELOPONESUS which countrey with most part of GRECIA was then vnder the commaund of the Latines amongst others came also William surnamed Long-espie earle of SARISEURIE with a band of lustie tall souldiors So the armie being met together and all things againe in a readinesse king Lewes departing from CYPRUS and tossed at sea with cōtrary winds about fiue daies after fell with the coast of AEGIPT there with all his fleet came before the strong towne of DAMIATA being as we haue said the key of that kingdome The Sultan long before vnderstanding of the French kings purpose for the inuasion of his countrey had strongly fortified his frontier townes and put into them strong garrisons beside the great power he kept with himselfe in readinesse at all assaies as occasion should require Vpon the approch of the Christians the gouernour of DAMIATA was ready vpon the shore with a number of braue souldiers to keepe them from landing who neuerthelesse resolutely before set downe for the performing of that they came for manning foorth their long boats with their archers and crossebowes to beat the enemie from the shore ran a ground with their other small boats made of purpose for the landing of men and so without longer stay came to handie blowes where for a while was fought a most sharpe and cruell battell the Christians striuing to land and the Turkes to keepe them off many falling on both sides But what should an handfull doe against so many The Turkes oppressed with the multitude still landing more and more and hauing done what was possible for them to doe fled into the towne leauing behind them their gouernour with fiue hundred of their best souldiors dead vpon the shore This citie of DAMIATA was exceeding rich and populous and had in the former warres not been taken but by more than a yeares siege as is before declared and that not so much by the valour of the Christians as by the extremitie of the plague and famine since which time it had been strongly fortefied by the Turks with deepe ditches high wals and strong bulwarkes and was at that time well stored with victuals also and all things else for the enduring of a long siege Neuerthelesse the souldiors that were left and the citizens discouraged with the losse of their gouernour and remembrance of the miseries before endured in the former siege and seeing the Christians now readie againe to besiege the same the night following a little before the breake of day set fire euery man vpon his owne house and so by a bridge which they had made of boats fled ouer the great riuer breaking the bridge when they were ouer for feare their enemies should thereby haue followed after them The Christians perceiuing their flight without resistance entred the citie and being strangers did what they could to quench the fire and to saue that which the inhabitants themselues would faine haue with fire destroyed and so afterwards found great abundance of riches with plentifull store of all manner of victuals wherewith the souldiors both enriched and refreshed themselues This so happie vnexpected a victorie happened vnto the Christians about the beginning of October in the yeare 1249. Sultan Meledin himselfe discouraged with the losse of so strong a citie offered vnto the French king for the redeeming thereof and to haue peace at his hands more territorie in SIRIA and the land of PALESTINE than the Christians had of long time before which large offer was by the French especially by the earle of ARTHOI◠the kings brother proudly rejected and ALEXANDRIA the most famous port and metropoliticall citie of AEGIPT further demaunded to the great discontentment of the Turkes and Sarasins In these troubles died Meledin the old Sultan a man not much beloued of his people in whose stead Melechsala or Melexala as some call him a valiant and couragious prince well beloued of his subjects and but euen then returned out of SIRIA and ARABIA where he had been to craue aid of the other Mahometane princes was chosen Sultan Which princes especially the Sultan of DAMASCO although they had not of long been at any good accord among themselues or with the Aegyptian yet in this common danger of their superstition which by the losse of AEGIPT was like to be greatly weakned they joyned hands together and so sent him great aid The new Sultan thus strengthened drew neerer vnto the Christians which then lay encamped not farre from DAMIATA and had with them a hot skirmish wherein hee was put to the worse and so with some losse glad to retire But the Christians the next day in hope of like successe sallying out againe were ouerthrowne with ten times more losse than was he the day before and so faine to flie vnto the campe By which victorie the Sultan encouraged began now to conceiue better hope of the successe of his wars and by stopping the passages both by water and land to prouide that no victuals could without great perill bee brought either vnto the citie or the campe insomuch that at length victuals began to grow scarce in both whereof the Sultan was not ignorant as being thereof throughly informed by such fugitiues as for want or other causes oftentimes fled out of the French campe into his Winter thus passing and wants still increasing it fortuned that the gouernour of the great citie of CAIRE vpon the fortune whereof depended the state of the whole kingdome a man not euill affected vnto the Christian religion and in his heart highly offended with the Sultan for the death of his brother by him wrongfully executed by secret messengers persuaded the French king to come on with his armie to the citie the regall seat of the Sultan promising him to deliuer it into his power with full instructions what he had in all points to do for the gaining thereof Whereupon the king who had before of himselfe purposed the same exploit but now filled with a greater hope assembled together the greatest forces he was able to make At which time also he sent for the earle of SALISBURIE with the rest of the English men who for many proud indignities offered them by the French especially by the earle of ARTOIS the kings brother whereof they could haue no redresse were gone to PTOLEMAIS without purpose to haue any more serued in those warres But now being sent for by the king with promise of better vsage and honourable recompence for the wrongs past returned againe into AEGIPT there to doe their last endeuour With whose comming the king strengthened but more by the new supplies brought vnto him by his brother Alphonsus out of FRANCE leauing the duke of BURGUNDIE with a conuenient garison with the queene his
saued vnto himselfe some good part of his kingdome Wherein he was much deceiued being as some say carried away a farre off into exile because hee should not hinder the Tartars proceedings or as others report and happely with more probabilitie being by him detained as his prisoner and afterwards to the terror of his sonne cut in peeces in his sight vnder the wals of DAMASCO after that it had in vaine beene twice assaulted by the Tartars which strong citie for all that he afterwards tooke by strong hand and sacked it and by the persuasion of his wife ouerthrew all the Mahometane temples as he had before in euery place where he came But purposing to haue gone on forward to HIERUSALEM and to haue conquered the whole land of PALESTINE newes was brought him of the death of his brother Mango the great Chan whereupon he staied his journey and returned backe againe in hope of that great empire hauing in this expedition spent almost six yeares Thus by the Tartars was the kingdome of the Turks at DAMASCO ouerthrowne At which time the broken affaires of the Christians in SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE might easily haue beene repaired and those two goodly kingdomes againe restored to the Christian commonweale had the Christian princes of the West then in time put to their helping hands on the one side as did the Tartars on the other But they then at fatall discord among themselues and busied with their warres at home let slip that so faire an opportunitie the like whereof they seldome or neuer had since Haalon the Tartar prince in token of his good will toward the Christians and their affaires at his departure from DAMASCO left his sonne Abaga there with twentie thousand horsemen to aid them in their warres if they should come as was expected for the recouerie of the Holy land who hauing there stayed some while and hearing of his fathers troubles at home followed himselfe after him but yet left behind him Guirboca a valiant captaine with ten thousand of his horsemen to like purpose that his father had him who by the insolencie of certaine Christian souldiors in garrison about SIDON was of a friend together with his Tartars made a foe These garrison souldiors hauing by chance fet in some bootie out of the Tartars territorie not onely refused to restore the same againe but also foulely intreated such as the Tartar had sent for the demaunding thereof Whereupon further quarrels arising it fortuned a nephew of Guirbocas a valiant yoong gentleman to be slaine in reuenge whereof hee besieged SIDON and hauing taken it sacked it and burnt it downe to the ground After which time he and his Tartars became vtter enemies vnto the Christians doing them all the harme they could deuise This discord betwixt the Tartars and the Christians gaue occasion vnto Melech the Aegyptian Sultan now jealous of the Tartars neerenesse with a great armie of his Mamalukes others to enter into SYRIA and to spoile the countrey about DAMASCO against whom Guirboca with his Tartars although both in strength and number far inferiour went out But joyning battell with him at too much oddes and the victorie inclining vnto that side where most strength was he there valiantly fighting was slaine with most part of his Tartars such as escaped fled into ARMENIA vnto the friendly king By this victorie all SYRIA with the land of PALESTINE excepting some few places yet holden by the Christians fell again into the hands of the Aegyptian Sultans as did some of them shortly after also for Bandocader succeeding Melech in the Mamaluke kingdome comming into SYRIA with a great armie took ANTIOCH from the Christians with it most of the other places before by them defended The citie he burnt rased the castle down to the ground and afterward entring into ARMENIA did there great harme also Whilest the Turks kingdome thus goeth to wracke in SYRIA ruinated by the Tartars but possessed by the Mamalukes their affairs in the lesser ASIA now the whole hope of that nation went not at that time much better for Iathatines the Turkes Sultan there also inuaded by the Tartars and hauing lost ICONIUM his regall citie fled with his brother Melech to the Greeke emperour Michaell Paleologus in hope to be of him relieued for the kindnesse hee had not long before shewed him in like case when as he fled from the late emperour Theodore whereof now putting him in remembrance he requested him either with some conuenient force to aid him or els to assigne vnto him some corner in his large empire where hee might in safetie rest with his wife and children and other followers whom with much wealth hee had brought with him in great number The emperor on euery side himselfe incombred with warres thought it not good in so great newnesse of his empire to deminish his owne forces and to assigne vnto him any place to inhabit seemed no lesse dangerous for that he hauing been a great prince and commanding ouer many great countries and brought vp in all princely royaltie was not like to content himselfe with a little beside that his nobilitie then dispersed by the Tartars were like ynough in great numbers to resort vnto him as vnto their head so soone as they should once heare that he were seated in any place and yet vnkindly to cast him off that had so honourably vsed him in like extremitie the emperour was loath And therefore feeding him vp with faire words and foording him on from time to time with delaies he held him a great while as a man in suspence betwixt hope and despaire At length in the absence of the emperour though happily not without his priuitie he was commaunded with all his traine in number about twelue hundred to get him to AENUS a citie of THRACIA standing vpon the sea coast where he much discontented liued like an honourable prisoner at large but with the watchfull eyes of so many vpon him as that he could by no meanes as he desired escape In which case we will for a while leaue him to feed vpon his owne melancholy thoughts Now had Michaell Paleologus the emperour raigned at NICE two yeares when new troubles began againe to arise in the West part of his empire on EUROPE side by the trecherie of Michaell Angelus Despot of EPIRUS For the speedie repressing whereof he sent one Alexius Strategopulus a worthie captaine and a man of great nobilitie whom for his good seruice against the said Despot he had in the beginning of his raigne made Caesar with little aboue 800 Bythinian souldiors and commission for the taking vp of so many mo as he should for that seruice need in MACEDONIA and THRACIA commaunding him when he had passed the strait with those souldiers to take his way through the suburbs of CONSTANTINOPLE to terrifie the Latines whom he was loth to suffer too long to liue in rest and quiet or to stir too far out
brought backe againe vnto the Sultan Who pittying his hard fortune set him againe at libertie and by a ship set out for that purpose transported him into CYPRUS where he was by the queene of that Island his aunt as some say honorably entertained and so furnished of all things fit for his estate Departing thence he came to MARSIELLES where after he had some few daies refreshed himselfe he from thence trauelled by land home into his owne country where at the first he was not knowne of his own children and friends as being growne old in prison and by them long before accounted among the dead but now at last found againe and by them knowne he was of his children joyfully receiued as their father and of his subjects as their prince Howbeit he shortly after died and was honourably buried in the monasterie of DOBRAN Thus in the whole course of this historie it appeareth by that which is alreadie written what notable expeditions euen the greatest Christian princes of the West to their immortall glorie from time to time vndertooke against the enemies of Christ and his most sacred word and for the reliefe of the poore distressed Christians in SYRIA and in the land of PALESTINE wherof as diuers of them had right glorious successe vnto the great profit of the Christian common weale so some of them answered not with like euent as vndertaken with too small strength or otherwise ouerthrowne by the discord or mallice of the Christians themselues rather than by the enemies force Which neuerthelesse how vnfortunatly soeuer they fell out in the hands of such woorthie men as vndertooke them yet haue they this glorie commendation and comfort That they were taken in hand for the honor of the sonne of God Christ Iesus and the defence of his veritie against the false Prophet Mahomet and his most blasphemous doctrine so honourable and just a quarrell as might well beseeme the greatnesse of the greatest prince yea of all the princes of Christendome Yet could not the woorthinesse thereof euen in those more zealous times or the dangerous estate of that part of the Christian common-weale euen then like to perish as some others bee now or the lamentable complaints of the poore oppressed Christians crying out vnto their Christian brethren for aid any whit moue the Christian princes of that time with their combined forces to reach vnto them their helping hands or to yeeld vnto them any succour or reliefe for they little feeling those harmes so farre off and more regarding their owne hereditarie quarrels employed those forces one against another vnto the effusion of so much Christian blood as might haue sufficed not for reliefe of the distressed Christians in SYRIA onely but to haue regained whatsoeuer had beene before from them taken by the Turks or Sarasins The Germane princes were still at a jarre about the choice of their emperours the French agreed not with the English or them of the Low countries neither the English with the Scots the Arragonians were at oddes with the French and in Italie were almost as many deadly factions as prouinces Of which discord of the Christians the greatest occasion of their ruine and decay Melechsares the Aegyptian Sultan vnderstanding by his espials raised a great armie of the Mamalukes and others with a full purpose to haue vtterly rooted out all the remainders of the Christians in SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE and so to haue entirely joyned those two great countries vnto his owne kingdome But what he had so mischieuously deuised he liued not to bring to passe being in the middest of those his great designes taken away by suddaine death After whom Alphix or as some call him Elpis succeeding him in the kingdome and with a puissant armie entring into SYRIA laid siege to TRIPOLIS which he at length tooke by vndermining of it and put to sword all the Christians therein except such as by speedie flight had in time got themselues out of the danger and rased the cittie downe to the ground Which calamitie betided vnto the Christians the ninth of Aprill in the yeare 1289. Presently after he had the strong castle of NELESINE yeelded vnto him whereinto hee put a strong garrison to hinder the Christians from building againe the late destroyed citie In like manner also hee tooke the citties of SIDON and BERYTHUS which hee sacked and laied them flat with the ground And after that hee remooued to TYRE which after three moneths straight siege was by the cittizens now out of all hope of releefe yeelded vnto him vpon condition That they might with bag and baggage in safetie depart With like good fortune hee in short time and as it were without resistance tooke all the rest of the strong townes and castles which the Christians yet held in SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE excepting onely the cittie of PTOLEMAIS whereunto all the poore Christians fled as vnto a Sanctuarie to bee there defended by the honourable knights Templars and Hospitalers Nothing now left vnto them more than that strong cittie the Sultan of his owne accord made a peace with them for the space of fiue yeares fearing as was supposed to haue drawne vpon him all the Christian princes of the West if he should at once haue then vtterly rooted out all the Christians in those countries together The Christian affaires thus brought to the last cast in SYRIA and yet faintly as it were breathing by the benefit of the late obtained peace Peter Beluise master of the Templars with the Grand Master of the knights Hospitalers suddenly passed ouer as embassadours from the rest into EUROPE vnto Nicholaus Quartus then Pope crauing his fatherly aid who mooued with so great miseries of the poore afflicted Christians sollicited the other Christian princes to haue sent them reliefe especially Rodolph the Germaine emperour who then busied with the affaires of the empire and his troubles neerer home as were the other Christian princes also gaue good words but no helpe at all Yet some of them vnder the colour thereof got from their subjects great summes of money which they employed to their other worse vses onely the Pope sent fifteene hundred men at armes whom with deuout persuasion and much earnest preaching hee had induced to take vpon them that sacred expedition and entertained them of his owne charge vnto whom also many others out of diuers countries vpon a religious zeale joyned themselues as voluntarie men who meeting together at BRUNDUSIUM and there embarked with the two grand masters of the Templars and Hospitalers in safetie at length arriued at PTOLEMAIS There was then in the citie a great number of people of all sorts of able men there was about fiftie thousand and about fortie thousand of the weaker sort amongst whom diuers murders fellonies rapes and such other shamefull outrages all hasting the dreadfull judgements of God were daily committed and let passe vnregarded more than of them that were so injured For
againe into his trenches In this so terrible an assault not repulsed without some losse also of the Christians the Grand master and gouernour of the citie was wounded with a poysoned dart whereof hee in three dayes after died with whom the courage of the defendants fainted also no man being left like vnto him to vndertake so great a charge although many there were that ouerweening of themselues desired the same In the beginning of this siege the Christians had sent away all their aged and weake people vnfit for seruice into CYPRUS where they in safetie arriued But now many of the better sort both captaines and others discouraged one after another conuaighed themselues away out of the citie of whom a great number in passing thence to CYPRUS were vpon the coast of the Island together with the Patriarch drowned In the citie remained only twelue thousand which were thought sufficient for the defence thereof who afterwards as some report fled also by sea after their fellowes and so left the citie emptie vnto the barbarous enemie some others reporting of them more honourably as that they should right valiantly defend the citie against the assault of their enemies vntill such time as that most of them beeing slaine or wounded and the rest by force driuen from the wals into the market place and there for a while notably defending themselues in flying thence vnto the ships were by the way all cut in sunder or else drowned But howsoeuer it was the Sultan entering the citie by the Christians abandoned or by force taken gaue the spoile thereof vnto his souldiors who after they had rifled euerie corner thereof by his commaundement set it on fire and burnt it downe to the ground and digging vp the very foundations of the wals churches and other publicke and priuat buildings which the fire had not burnt left there no signe of any citie at all but purging the place euen of the very heapes of the stones and rubbidge left of the rased citie made it a fit place for husbandmen to plough and sowe corne in which he did both there at SYDON BERITUS and other townes alongst the sea coast because they should neuer more serue for a refuge vnto the Christians or giue them footing againe into those countries Thus together with PTOLEMAIS was the name of the Christians vtterly rooted out of SYRIA and the land of PALESTINE in the yeare 1291 about 192 yeares after the winning of HIERUSAREM by Godfrey of BUILLON and the other Christian princes his confederats This losse as tending to the great disgrace of the Christians in generall mooued not a little euen the greatest of the Christian princes wronged all or most part of them in the persons of the Templars or knights Hospitalers their subjects so shamefully now quite cast out of SYRIA and the land of promise howbeit troubled with their owne turbulent affaires at home or with their neighbour princes not farre off none of them once stirred for the redresse or reuenge thereof Onely Cassanes the great Tartar prince hauing of late subdued the Persians and married the daughter of the Armenian king a ladie of great perfection and of a Mahometane become a Christian at the request of his wife and his father in law tooke the matter in hand And for that purpose hauing raised a most puissant armie of two hundred thousand fighting men and aided by the Armenians and Georgians passing ouer the mountaine AMANUS into SYRIA not farre from the citie HAMA met with Melcenaser the Aegyptian Sultans lieutenant with a mightie armie whom hee ouerthrew in a great and mortall battell wherein fortie thousand of the Aegyptians are reported to haue beene slaine and so draue him quite out of SYRIA sending Molais one of his captaines with part of his armie to pursue him who neuer left him vntill hee had chased him ouer the desart sands into AEGYPT The victorious Tartar after this battell tooke the citie of HAMA where lighting vpon the great treasures of the Sultan hee bountifully deuided it together with the spoile amongst his souldiours reseruing nothing thereof vnto himselfe more than a sword and a casket full of secret letters The Aegyptian thus put to flight he without resistance tooke in most of the cities of SYRIA with the citie of HIERUSALEM also which in many places by the Turkes and Aegyptians defaced he againe repaired and together with the temple of our Sauior gaue it to the Armenians Georgians and other Christians repairing thither out of CYPRUS CRETE and other places to inhabite And hauing himselfe honoured the holy places with great gifts returned with his armie to DAMASCO which was foorthwith deliuered vnto him But lying there with purpose in Autumne following to haue gone into AEGYPT and to haue vtterly destroyed that kingdome hee was certefied of new troubles arising in PERSIA and some other parts of his empire for repressing whereof hee with the greatest part of his armie returned himselfe into PERSIA leauing one Capcapus gouernour of DAMASCO who after the ouerthrow of the Sultans armie had reuolted vnto him and Molais of whom wee haue before spoken gouernour of HIERUSALEM commaunding them at his departure to reedifie the citie of TYRE and to send embassadours vnto the Christian princes of the West to joine in league with them for the more sure holding of those new gained countries And so TYRE was indeed repaired as he had commaunded and deliuered to the Christians with a conuenient garrison for the keeping thereof but the embassadours comming to the proud bishop Boniface the eight then Pope whom of all others it beseemed to haue furthered their businesse they could of him obtaine nothing but returned as they came For he at the same time fallen out with Philip the French king thundering out his excommunications discharging his subjects of their loyaltie and so much as in him was depriuing him of his kingdome had giuen the same vnto Albertus duke of AUSTRIA whom he had declared emperour whereof arise great troubles Besides that he being of the Guelphes faction was not in any thing more carefull than of the vtter extinguishing of the contrarie faction of the Gibellines especially of the most honourable family of the Columnij of whom some hee had slaine some he had depriued of their honours some he had imprisoned and driuen othersome into exile so that thus wickedly busied for the maintenance of his owne proud estate he had no leisure to further the good of the Christian common weale which his intollerable pride and forgetfulnesse of dutie long escaped not the reuenging hand of God being when he thought least suddenly taken prisoner at his fathers house in the citie of ANAGNIA where he was borne by Sara Columnius his mortall enemie whom but lately before redeemed out of a pirates gally the French king had sent for that purpose with one Longaret or as some call him Nogaret a French knight By whom the proud prelate brought to ROME in the castle S.
amongst the Christians in hope of like good fortune and for the zeale towards his superstition accounting all well gotten that was gained from the Christians tooke his way after him with such of his kinsmen and subjects as would accompanie him in his new aduentures And comming to ARTEZERVM a citie in the borders of ARMENIA and CAPPADOCIA thereabout in the countrey according to the season of the yearâ— seated himselfe with his followers being in number many who with their wiues and children after the manner of the Tartar Nomades their ancestours in poore tents and carts couered with a course kind of cloth had followed him being indeed nothing else but a verie rude and rough kind of sturdie heardsmen not wedded to any place but still remoouing with their tents and carts vp and downe as best serued for their purpose and the feeding of their cattell as doâ— the Turcoman nation the true discent of the Turks in many parts of ASIA at this day and were thereof not onely called Nomades that is to say heardsmen by which name the proud Ianizaries will oftentimes in contempt call euen the greatest of the naturall Turkes but Hamaxophoretie and Hamaxobij that is to say people carried or liuing in carts Solyman hauing staâ—ed a while about ERZERVM remoouing thence came to AMASIA and there spoiling the countrey then inhabited by the Christians did them much harme oftentimes encountring them in the plaine field and sometimes ceazing vpon their townes and cities vntill he had subdued vnto himselfe a right large territorie yet at length hauing in so many battels by him fought and cities by him besieged lost a great number of his people and so wearied the rest as that they were not willing farther to follow him and fearing also with such small power as he had left to be able to defend and keepe the countrey by him alreadie gotten in the midst of so many enemies thought it best to depart thence and to seeke his better fortune elsewhere At the same time it was rifely reported that the affaires of PERSIA after so long trouble for all this was not a while in doing began to grow againe to some good quiet the furie of the Tartars being now well abated and that storme ouerblowne wherefore Solyman resolued now to returne home againe and to visit his natiue countrey of him and his people aboue all others desired So passing through SYRIA for that was now his way neere vnto ALLEPO he ceazed vpon a castle called ZIABER-CALA and there staied a space for the refreshing of his people Afterward setting forward againe he came at length to the great and famous riuer EVPHRATES ouer which he must needs passe But finding there neither bridge nor foord or other meanes to get ouer he stood still as a man dismaid not knowing what to do Stay there he would not go further he could noâ— his desire bid him goe but the great riuer said not so In this perplexitie Solyman himselfe with his horse oftentimes taking the riuer in hope to haue found some passage but finding none aduenturing too far was with the force of the streame carried away and so together with his horse drowned His bodie after long seeking being at length found was with the great lamentation of his people buried neere vnto the castle ZIABER not long before by him taken whereof they say the place is at this day in their tongue called Mesari-Zuruc that is to say the Turkes Graue Some of these Oguzian Turks after the death of their Sultan wearie of their long trauell seated themselues in the countrey therabouts vnto whom the Turks that now hold that castle do refer their beginning The rest of that great tribe and familie diuersly diuided went vnto diuers places as their fortunes led them some of them into the wast ground and desarts of ARABIA and SYRIA and are at this day called the Damascene Turconians othersome returned backe againe into ROMANIA the same way that they came of whom are descended the Turconians of ICONIVM and ANATOLIA who yet with their wiues and children as heardsmen in great companies wander vp and downe the countrey after the manner of their ancestors Solyman thus lost left foure sonnes Sencur-Teken Iundogdis Ertogrul of some called Orthobules the father of this Othoman founder of the Turks empire that now is and Dunder With these foure brethren most part of these Oguzian Turks that were left returning into ROMANIA as is aforesaid after they had there rested themselues a while marching vp a long the riuer EVPHRATES came to a place called PASIN-OVASI about ten miles aboue ARTERVM where Ertogrul and his brother Dunder with foure hundred families not willing to go any farther staied with their tents and carts their best dwellings Sencur and Iundogdis their other two brethren in the meane time passing the riuer returned with the rest into PERSIA whom we there leaue vnto their vnknowne fortunes In this place Ertogrul with his brother and his three sonnes stayed a while and had diuers conflicts with the countrey people thereabout vntill that at length he thought it best to returne againe into ROMANIA So setting forward he came to ANCYRA and from thence vnto the blacke Mountaines and so to a plaine called of the Turks Sultan-Vngi about 75 miles Eastward from the citie of NICE in BYTHINIA where he had many skirmishes with the Christians Now a good while before this Aladin the elder of whom we haue before spoken in the former part of this historie fled out of PERSIA had subdued diuers great prouinces and countries in ROMANIA ASIATICA or the lesser ASIA for so it is more truly called so that he was of all the people thereabouts accounted for a great prince and of the Turks themselues honoured with the name of their Vlu Padischach that is to say their great king or emperour Hauing placed his regall seat first at SEBASTIA and afterward at ICONIUM which two cities before ruinous he repaired and therein raigned as did some few of his posteritie after him as is before declared Neither was Ertogrul ignorant of the honour glorie and power of this great Sultan But hauing three sonnes namely Iundus Sarugatin and Othoman sent Sarugatin his second son a bold well spoken man vnto him to request him in that his so large a kingdome and as yet not well peopled by the Turks to graunt vnto them his poore exiled countreymen of long time oppressed with diuerse fortunes some small corner for them with their families and cattell to rest in Which his request the Sultan not forgetfull of his owne distresse sometime in like case graciously heard with great courtesie vsed the messenger Now for the furtherance of his sute it fortuned that this Sultan before driuen out of PERSIA by the Tartars and by them also much troubled in these his new gotten countries in the lesser ASIA had with them diuers hot skirmishes and sharpe conflicts in one of which it fortuned the
solemnitie of words promised to whomsoeuer could bring vnto him the Despot either quicke or dead which were of purpose giuen vnto the country people passing too and fro to be dispersed abroad in the high waies and about in the country neere vnto the Despots campe And after that he caused the death of the emperour his grandfather to be euerie where proclaimed and how that he was by the Constantinopolitans in a tumult slaine which the deuiâ—â—â—s thereof in euery place reported Yea some there were that swore they were themselues present at his wofull death and saw it with their eies othersome more certainely to persuade the matter shewed long white goats haires or such like gathâ—â—ed out of white wooll as if they had beene by the furious people pluckt from the old emperours head or beard at such time as hee was slaine Which things being commonly reported in euery towne and village but especially in the Despots campe wonderfully fillâ—d mens heads with diuers strange and doubtfull â—houghts then diuers also of the dispersed edicts being found and brought vnto the Despot strucke him and not without cause into a great feare insomuch that by the persuasion of his best friends he without longer stay retired in hast to THESSALONICA Whither shortly after came a gallie from CONSTANTINOPLE with secret letters from the emperour to the Despot for the apprehension of fiue and twentie of the cheefe cittizens vehemently suspected for the stirring vp of thâ— people to rebellion and so to haue deliuered the citie vnto the prince all whom the Despot should haue sent bound in that gallie to CONSTANTINOPLE but they in good time perceiuing the danger they were in secretly stirring vp the people and by and by after ringing out the bels the signall appointed for the beginning of the rebellion had in a very short time raised a woonderfull tumult in the citie insomuch that all the citizens werâ— vp in armes who running headling vnto the house of the Despot found not him for he forewarned of their comming was fled into the castle but slew all they met of his or els robbing them cast them in prison As for the Despots house they tooke what they found therein and afterwards pulled it downe to the ground Then comming to the castle they fired the gates which the Despot seeing and not able to dâ—fâ—nd the place tooke horse and fled vnto a monasterie not far off where being taken by them that pursued him he full sore against his will for thâ— safegard of his life tooke vpon him the habit of a monke neuerthelesse he was froÌ„ thence caried prisoner to the yong prince his nephew who shewed himselfe much more courteous vnto him than all the rest of his nobilitie waiters for they as if they would haue eaten him vp were euen foorthwith readie to haue torne him in peeces hâ—d noâ—â—he prince embracing him in his armes saued his life Yet the next day after by the persuasion of his counsell he sent him to DIDIMOTICHVM where hee was cast into a most loathsome prison being verie deepe and straight in manner of a well no bodie to attend vpon him but one boy where he lay in miserable darkenesse and stinke they which drew vp his ordure from him and the boy whether by chance or of purpose pouring it oftentimes vpon his head Where after he had lien a great while in most extreame miserie wishing to die and could not he was at length by the princes commandement entreated thereunto by certaine religious men remooued into a more easie prison where we will for euer leaue him Things falling out crosse with the old emperor and although they were neuer so well deuised still sorting out vnto the worst he became verie pensiue and doubtfull what to do So it fortuned that one day in his melancholy mood hauing a Psalter in his hand to resolue his doubtfull mind he opened the same as if it were of that heauenly Oracle to aske counsell where in the first verse that he light vpoÌ„ was Dum coelestis dissociat reges niue conspergentur in Selmon When the Almightie scattered kings for their sakes then were they as white as snow in Selmon Which he applying to himselfe as if all those troubles and whatsoeuer else had happened in them proceeded from the will of God although for causes to him vnknowne hee by and by sought to reconcile himselfe vnto his nephew contrarie to the mind of Syrgiannes desiring nothing but trouble For as we haue before said the yoong prince although he was desirous of the power and libertie of an emperor yet he left the ornaments and care thereof vnto his grandfather had he not oftentimes and earnestly been egged forward by his companions to affect the whole empire happily could and would haue contented himselfe with the former pacification for being now sent for he came first to RHEGIVM and there visited his mother now set at libertie and sent thither for the furtherance of the desired pacification where he with her and by her counsell did whatsoeuer was there done So within a few daies the matter was brought into so good tearms that an attonement was made and he himselfe went and met the emperour his grandfather before the gates of the citie the old emperour sitting then vpon his horse and the prince lighting from his a good furlong before he came at him and although his grandfather was verie vnwilling and forbad him so to doe yet he came to him on foot and kissed his hand and foot as he sat on horesebacke and afterward taking horse embraced him and there kissed one another to the great contentment of the beholders and so hauing talked some few words departed the old man into the citie and the yoong man into his campe which then lay neere vnto PEGA where staying certaine daies he came diuers times into CONSTANTINOPLE and so went out againe for as then his mother partly for her health partly for the loue of her sonne lay at PEGA But Syrgiannes nothing glad of the agreement made betwixt the emperour and his nephew walked vp and downe sicke in mind with a heauie countenance especially for that in time of peace his busie head stood the commonweale in no stead Wherefore in all meetings assemblies he willingly conuersed with them which most disliked of the present state and spake hardly as well of the emperour as of his nephew wronged as he thought by them both whereas in the time of their greatest distresse hee had as hee said stood them in good stead But seeing one Asanes Andronicus walking melancholie vp and downe as a man with heauinesse oppressed who hauing done good seruice for the yoong prince and not of him regarded had fled vnto the old emperour and there found no such thing as he expected for the ease of his greefe although he were a man honourably borne and otherwaies indued with many good parts with him Syrgiannes acquainted himselfe as grieued with the like
greefe that he himselfe was with whom as with his friend without any dissimulation he plainly discoursed of all such things as his greefe desired But Asanes handling him with great wisedome did himselfe with like words speake hardly both of the emperour and his nephew but yet curiously noted whatsoeuer Syrgiannes said for he had before hated him for his ambition and as then tooke it in displeasure that he was enemie vnto Catacuzenus his sonne in law who was all in all with the yoong prince and did oftentimes comfort him But the song being throughly set Asanes came secretly vnto the old emperour and told him the whole matter and in fine that except hee betime laid hold vpon Syrgiannes affecting the empire he should in short time be by him brought to his end Whereupon Syrgiannes was forthwith clapped fast in prison whose house with all his wealth the common people tooke the spoile of and not contented to haue rased it downe to the ground conuerted the site thereof together with the pleasant vineyards adjoyning vnto the same into a place to feed goats and sheepe in a worthie reward for his manifold trecheries The yoong prince shortly after going to CONSTANTINOPLE was there crowned emperor as fellow in the empire with his grandfather vnto which solemnitie in the great temple of Sophia both the emperors riding it fortuned the old emperour by the stumbling of his horse to be ouerthrowne and foulely beraied in the myre the streets being then very foule by reason of the great raine but a little before fallen which many tooke as ominous and portending the euill fortune which shortly after befell him During the time of this peace it fortuned that as the yoong prince was a hunting in CHERSONESUS seuentie Turkes aduenturers were by force of weather driuen on shore who before they would yeeld themselues prisoners made a great fight with the emperours men and slew diuers of them in which conflict the yong emperour himselfe was wounded in the foot wherewith he was a great while after exceedingly tormented Andronicus the late prince and now fellow in the empire with his aged grandfather held not himselfe long so contented but after the manner of ambitious men and continually prickt forward by his aspiring fauorits longed to haue the whole gouernment vnto himselfe which hardly brooketh any partener and therefore wearie to see his grandfather liue so long resolued no longer to expect his naturall death although it could not by course of nature be farre off but by one deuice or other to thrust him from the gouernment or if that might not bee wrought at once to dispatch him both of life and state together And the surer to lay the plot whereon so foule and horrible a treason was to be built he by the counsell of his mother others by whom he was most directed sent for Michael the prince of BULGARIA his brother in law though before to him vnknowne as was his wife his sister also to make with him a firme league to the intent by him to prouide That if the prince of SERVIA who had but lately married the old emperours nigh kinswoman and so to him much deuoted should take part with him he should by the Bulgarian his neighbour bee intangled Who so sent for with his wife the old emperours daughter came to DIDYMOTICHUM where they were many dayes most honourably entertained both by the yoong emperour and his mother for why this meeting plotted vpon great treason was finely coloured with the desire the yong emperour had to see his sister and her husband as before vnto him vnknowne and the empresse her daughter whom she had not seene in three and twentie yeares before But the secret conclusion betwixt them was That the Bulgarian prince should to the vttermost of his power aid the yong emperour against his grandfather and he likewise him against the Seruian as he should haue need and further That if his grandfather being deposed he should recouer the whole empire then to giue him a great sum of mony with certaine speciall cities and prouinces confining vpon him as in dowrie vnto his kind brother in law and companion in his labours So Michael the Bulgarian prince honourably entertained by the yoong emperour and the old empresse his mother in law loaded with rewards and promises of greater returned home into his countrey This matter thus dispatched the yoong emperour therewith incouraged and knowing also the Constantinopolitans besides the other cities of THRACIA exceedingly to fauour him and his proceedings by whom also he was secretly inuited to hasten his comming thither as wearie of the long life and lazinesse as he tearmed it of his grandfather thought it best cunningly to go about the matter that so his grandfather being with as little stur as might be deposed he himselfe might alone enjoy the empire But needing money for the effecting of so great matters he by force tooke all the money from the collectours whom the old emperour had sent into THRACIA for the taking vp of money there telling them that he was an emperour also and in need of money and that the common charge was likewise by the common purse to be discharged After that he tooke his way towards CONSTANTINOPLE pretending that vpon speciall causes hee had occasion to send embassadours vnto the Sultan of AEGYPT for the transporting of whom he was there to take order for the setting forth of a great ship and other things necessarie for the journey Neither went he slenderly appointed but with a great power and the cities of THRACIA before well assured vnto him such as he suspected being thrust out of office and others more assured vnto him placed in their steads But whilst he thus besturreth himselfe one of those that were most inwward with him detesting so foule a treason secretly fled from him vnto his grandfather from point to point discouering vnto him all the intended treacheries and withall how that his nephew had determined to depose him from his empire or otherwise to bereaue him of his life if he should stand vpon his guard but if in the attempt hee should find easie successe then to spare his life and depriuing him of the imperiall dignitie to thrust him as a monke into a monasterie and therefore aduised him to beware how he suffered him after his woonted manner to come into the citie for feare of a generall reuolt but rather by force to keepe him out Which the emperor hearing and comparing with other things which he had heard of others yet sounding in his eares deeming it to be true stood vp and in the anguish of his soule thus complained vnto God Reuenge my quarrell ô God vpon them that do me wrong let them be ashamed that rise vp against me and preserue thou vnto me the imperiall power which by thee giuen vnto me he commeth to take from me whom I my selfe begot and aduanced After he began to consider what course to take for the
commaunders promising them farre greater if they would without further troubling themselues returne home againe whereunto they willingly graunted and so were of him honourably feasted and the neâ—â— day after conducted vpon their way homewards It fortuned that the young emperour returning backe againe from the Bulgarians and encamped in the same place where he before lay two of the watchmen of the citie the one called Camaris and the other Castellanus both smiths fled secretly vnto him who admitted to his presence and all others commaunded to depart excepting Catacuzenus offered to betray the citie vnto him so that he would vnder his hand writing assure them of such a summe of money and such possessions as they required which he easily graunting and the houre and manner of performing of the same being by them declared and agreed vpon they by and by without longer stay for feare of suspition returned againe into the citie But the emperour staying foure daies in the same place caused certaine ladders to be made of great ropes such as they vse in great ships But the appointed night being come the two traitours hauing before prouided great store of good wine liberally gaue the same by way of curtesie vnto the watchmen their companions neere vnto them who drunke so plentifully thereof that not able any longer to hold vp their heads they fell into so sound a sleepe as that but for breathing they differed not much from dead men About midnight came certaine souldiours of the young emperours with the aforesaid ladders which the traitours by and by drawing vnto them by a rope cast downe and making them fast vnto the top of the wall receiued by the same eighteene armed men who being got into the citie without more adoe brake open the Romane gate whereby the young emperour with his armie presently entred no man letting him But it is woorth the marking how things appointed to befall vs are by no meanes to be auoided although we bee thereof before neuer so plainly forewarned For the same night the citie was surprized immediatly after the setting of the Sunne the gates being shut a certaine countrey man came running in all hast from out of a village there by and knocking hard at the gate called Girolimna required to speake with some of the souldiours who being come he told them how that a little before hee had seene a great number of the young emperours men marching toward the citie by the way that leadeth vnto the Romane gate which being told vnto the old emperour did not a little trouble him And therefore thought it good to send out certaine scouts to see if all were cleere along the wals toward the land from sea to sea which his purpose Metochita his great counsellor letted saying it not to beseem a couragious mind to be vpon so light an occasion so much moued for that either the rumour was false or the indeuour of so few vaine the wals and gates of the citie being so filled with armed men which happily he said not so much vpon ignorance of martiall affaires as blinded by a certaine commaunding power that the supernall decree giuen by God himselfe against the old emperour might at length take place And againe the third part of that night yet scant past diuers other countreymen came running vnto the said gate Gyrolimna and told the watchmen vpon the wals that a great number of men were met together at the Romane gate wherof the emperor hearing was therewith much more troubled than before In so much that sharply rebuking Metochita he said vnto him Thou seemest to be straÌ„gely metamorphosed into a man of yron which art become so secure as not to haue any feeling of the danger wherewith we are enclosed Seest thou not that the matter requireth not that we should thus sit still and take our rest for the noise of my nephew soundeth in mine eares as the sound of a great drum and disquieteth my mind I feele a sea of calamitie broken out against me which ouerwhelmeth and drowneth my heart and courage Neuerthelesse he firme in his former opinion made no reckoning of those reports and therefore rose to go to bed to shew indeed that he accounted nothing of them but as false alarms But the emperour left alone and no bodie with him vnto whom he might breake his griefe laied him downe vpon a pallet not putting off his clothes but as if he had together with them put on extreame desperation lay tumbling too and fro as a man in mind troubled with many and diuers heauie thoughts In the meane time he heard a great noise at the court gate and the report of the entring of the young emperour his nephew with a great clattering of armour for there were aboue eight hundred souldiours entred with him and withall they of the citie on euerie side saluted him with most joyfull acclamations But the old emperour hearing the great tumult and outcrie rose from his pallet exceedingly troubled and destitute of all the helpe of his captaines and souldiours for why his palace was altogether desolate except of such as were his ordinarie waiters betooke himselfe vnto his praiers Beseeching God not to forsake him in so great a danger but in his mercie to defend him from the furie of those wicked men Who presently heard him and sent him present reliefe For whilest he was thus praying in the palace the young emperour without calling together all his captaines and lieutenants straightly charged them vpon paine of death neither by word nor deed to violate the majestie of the old emperour his grandfather nor any other about him for this victorie said he God hath giuen vs not we our selues his will ordereth all things wherunto all things obey the stars the aire the sea the earth men flouds tempests plagues earthquaks shoures dearth and such like sometimes to our blisse and sometime to our correction and destructien wherefore vsing vs as the instruments of his chastisement he hath giuen vnto vs this present victorie which peraduenture to morrow he will giue to others to vse against vs and then as wee haue beene vnto them wee haue ouercome such will they also shew themselues vnto vs againe wherefore if neither nighnesse of blood neither that we be all of one countrey may mooue vs yet in respect of ourselues let vs vse mercie that we feele not the hand of God vpon vs in like case In the meane time a courtier opened a wicket vnto the young emperour with this message from his grandfather For as much as God this day my sonne hath giuen vnto thee the imperiall scepter taken from me I request of thee this one good turne For many which I haue euen from thy birth bestowed vpon thee for in this my hard estate I let passe that I next vnto God haue been the authour of thy natiuitie and encrease giue me my life spare thy fathers head and with violent weapon spill not that blood from
matter with the common people as if hee wearie of the world had voluntarily taken vpon him that silly profession Neuerthelesse within foure daies after Synadenus vnderstanding them in euery place to whisper among themselues and secretly to mutter against the hard dealing with the old emperour who had long raigned ouer them and so by right was againe to doe if his nephew should chance to die and that the ecclesiasticall lawes enforced no man against his will to enter into religious orders he therewith enraged sent vnto him certaine of his owne confederacie to exact of him an oath in writing That he should neuer more after that time seeke after the empire or yet accept of the same if it were offred him neither to substitute any other which if he should refuse to do to put him in feare of his life And the more to terrifie him set a guard of insolent barbarous souldiors ouer him for feare of whom he yeelded to doe whatsoeuer they required and so his oath being solemnely conceiued into writing another man leading his hand because he was blind he signed the same with a red crosse aboue and a blacke crosse beneath after the manner of the religious Hauing thus liued in darkenesse disgraced shut vp in his chamber as a man forsaken of the world with an vnsure guard euer to attend him by the space of two yeares it fortuned that the twelft of Februarie towards night a day in the Greeke Church dedicated to the vigil of S. Anthonie whose name they had giuen him certaine of his friends that were suffered to haue accesse vnto him going as their manner was once in three or foure daies to visit him amongst whom was his daughter sometime the prince of SERVIA his wife but as then a widdow and Nicephorus Gregoras author of this Historie he entred with them as with his friends into a familiar discourse of many matters wherin he so deceiued the time that it was past midnight before they perceiued how the time passed But the cockes crowing he brake off the talke and bidding them farewell gaue them leaue to depart pleasantly saying That to morrow they would make an end of their discourse who all thereupon tooke their leaue and departed no signe of any sicknesse as then appearing vpon him And after they were gone called for meat and did eat the meat he eat was certaine shell-fish for it was with them a fasting day and he had not eaten any thing after which when as hee should haue drunke a cup of wine for the comforting of his old stomack and disgesting of that so hard meat he drunke cold water as his manner was when he felt any inward heat to drinke the same immoderatly which hurtfull manner of diet he then vsing also began by and by to feele a great paine in his stomacke and so presently after became very sicke falling withall into a great loosenesse of bodie so that in the space of one quarter of an houre he was glad oftentimes to arise and to go vnto an homely house of office in an inner chamber thereby to discharge natures burden where after many euacuations sitting downe vpon an homely bed fast by and not able to recouer his owne bed hauing as then none to helpe him there before it was day died after he had raigned 43 yeares His death was by many strange signes and accidents as it were foretold first a great eclipse of the Sunne appeared just so many daies before his death as hee had liued yeares and after that another eclipse of the Moone and with it an earthquake the day before he died at night being S. Anthonie his euen whose name his enemies had thrust vpon him at which time also the sea with a great tempest rising aboue the wonted bounds made diuers breaches in the wals of the citie towards the sea as if it had been some violent enemie and ouerflowed also diuers houses in the citie Manie crosses and pinacles were then also from the tops of churches and other high buildings ouerthrowne and with them a great pillar sometime one of the ornaments of the citie standing before the church commonly called The Church of the fortie martyrs which being verie high and below burnt and worne away with time had put manie in feare as they passed by it least it should haue fallen vpon them insomuch that the Emperour vpon a time passing that way was requested by some of the nobilitie there present to ride farther off from it for feare of falling vpon him who smiling at their vaine feare by chance answered O would to God I might liue so long as this piller will stand which now falling out according to his speech gaue many of them that had heard him so say occasion to maruell His dead bodie was honorablie buried in the monasterie of LIBE which his mother Theodora the empresse had not long before new built and his obsequies there after the maner of that time yeerely solemnlie kept by the space of nine daies Thus at length hauing passed through the troubled state of the Greeke empire during the long raigne of the old emperour Andronicus the considerat Reader may easily see the causes of the declining and ruine also of this famous empire and how that the Greeke emperours troubled with their tempestuous affaires neerer home in EUROPE yea in the verie imperiall citie it selfe and in their owne pallaces were not at leasure to looke ouer the strait into ASIA but glad to leaue their territories there vnto the weake defence of themselues At which time and euen in the middest of the aforesaid troubles Othoman on the one side with great industrie laid the foundation of his empire in PHRIGIA and BYTHINIA now the greatest terrour of the world and then did those things which we now haue of him written The other princes of the Turkes also the successours of Sultan Aladin at the same time on the other side alongst the riuer MEANDER encroching on as fast vntill that at last amongst them they had thrust the Greeke emperours quite out of ASIA and in fine became themselues together with the Greeke empire a prey vnto the Othoman kings as in the processe of this historie shall more at large appeare But againe to returne vnto Othoman himselfe who all this while that old Andronicus the Greeke emperour was thus troubled had with his sonne Orchanes sought by all meanes on euerie side to inlarge his kingdome the garrisons by him left in the two late built castles neere vnto the great citie of PRUSA vnder the charge of the two valiant captains Actemur Balebanzuck as is before declared hauing now continued there certaine yeares had by shutting vp the passages and spoiling of the countrie brought the citie into such distresse and penurie that many of the cittizens and other the poore Christians fled into the citie there died of famine The rest now out of all hope to be relieued by the Greeke emperour not then able to
which Orchanes frankly graunted In which lordship of FODORE Aladin most part liued a priuat and quiet life and afterwards built two Mahometan churches and an abbey at PRVSA there yet at this day to be seene Some Latine Historiographers otherwise report this beginning of Orchanes his raigne as that Othoman should haue three sonnes and that Orchanes the youngest obtained the kingdome by murthering of his other brethren A practise of late much vsed amongst the Turkish princes but not before the time of Bajazet the first of that name who first of the Turkish monarchs embrued his hands with his brothers bloud where before they vsed all brotherly â—oue one to another as the most probable histories collected out of the Turkes owne Chronicles affirme The Christian princes and captaines presently vpon the death of Othoman recouered the citie of NICE with diuers other castles and forts out of the hands of the Turks as it commonly chanceth that dominions lately woon with great perill are soone againe lost the Conquerour dying before there be a firme gouernment established Amongst other forts by the Christians repossessed the castle of TZUPRICHISER situate vpon the passages of the riuer SANGARIUS most grieued the Turks for thereby their passage into that part of BYTHINIA was much impeached Wherfore Orchanes desirous to recouer this castle disguised himselfe with a few other of his best souldiors in the apparrell of Christian marchants and came to the castle crauing leaue to passe as marchants the warders of the castle verely supposing them by their attire to bee marchants opened the gates and let them into the castle who presently drew their swords slew the warders and so by force possessed the castle to the great benefit of the Turkes and the hurt of the poore Christians yet left in the countrey of BYTHINIA For they now hauing opened a way ouer the riuer SANGARIUS and as it were broken downe the strongest defence of that side of the Greeke empire at their pleasure forraged the countrey in such sort as that the great citie of NICE for want of victuals to relieue so great a multitude as for feare of the Turks was fled out of the countrey into it was brought to great extremitie and want For the releefe whereof and for the repulsing againe of the Turks Andronicus the yong emperour who then all commaunded with such an armie as he was then able to raise passed himselfe in person ouer the strait of CONSTANTINOPLE into ASIA the greatest strength of his armie consisting in two thousand choice horsemen the rest as well horse as foot being for the most part artificers taken vp in the citie men altogether vnacquainted with armes who in token of their cowardise and that they were more mindfull of flight than of fight carried ouer with them almost as many long boats and such other small vessels as they were men to be readie to receiue them at such time as they should flie or els abject rascals taken vp here and there men of whom no great thing was to be expected and of all others most vnfit for so great a prince as was the emperour to commit the defence of his person and honour vnto But Orchanes hearing of his comming sent certain of his most expert captaines to forelay the straight passages of the countrey whereby the emperor was to passe following also himselfe after with his armie of purpose to encounter the emperour Who in three daies march after his landing in ASIA being come to PHILOCRENE a little towne in BYTHINIA and vnderstanding that Orchanes hauing before taken the straits lay not far off encamped with his armie he there at PHILOCRENE pitched his tents and staied that night also But the next morning the Sunne as yet scarcely risen he seeing diuers companies of the Turks comming downe from the mountaines fast by put his armie into order of battell and so set forward to meet them Where to begin the fight the Turks archers freely bestowed their piercing shot amongst the Christians still keeping themselues aloofe off so to doe the more harme Which the emperor mistaking and supposing that their keeping off to haue proceeded of feare encouraged therewith commaunded certaine loose companies disorderly to march forward to skirmish with them which his more expert captains not liking would haue otherwise persuaded him as to haue kept his strength together against the danger of the battell Neuerthelesse such was his youthfull heat as that he could by no meanes be otherwise intreated but that forward needs they must But all the forenoone spent in this light and tumultuarie kind of skirmishing and the Sunne at the highest now shining very hot Orchanes from the top of the mountaines perceiuing the Christians well wearied with the heat of the day and long skirmishing came downe from the hils with a world of men following him who with a most hideous crie charged the Christians on euery side some a farre off with their arrowes and some hand to hand with their swords and other weapons whose assault the Christians at the first most valiantly receiued and a great while right worthely defended themselues hauing wounded and slaine a number of their enemies Which hard fight was on both sides courageously maintained vntill the approching of the night with great slaughter on both sides at which time the Christians wearie of the long fight and oppressed with the multitude of their enemies disorderly retiring toward their trenches and hardly pursued by the Turkes receiued there a great losse as well of their horsemen as of their foot but by the comming on of the night the battell was at length ended with vncertaine victorie Amongst others there hurt the emperour himselfe was wounded in the foot with an arrow That night happened a wofull mishap and a manifest token of God his wrath for Orchanes hauing to his cost made proofe of the strength and valour of the Christians and doubting they would the next day come on farther into the countrey left three hundreth horsemen as scouts to attend the enemies remoouing and himselfe with his armie retired beforehand to take the aduantage of such places as the Christians were to passe by But the emperour in the euening leauing his campe and going to PHILOCRENE a little towne fast by the better to haue his wound dressed the rest of the armie vnderstanding of his departure and supposing him to haue fled for feare as if Orchanes with a great armie would that night haue slaine them all fled themselues also out of the campe euery mothers sonne some to their long boats and other little vessels they had for that purpose brought ouer the strait some hasting towards the towne gates were by the multitude of others running headlong after them ouerborne and troden to death othersome hanging one at anothers taile like a chaine got some part of them vp to the top of the rampiers of the towne othersome drawne backe by them that hung vpon them falling downe together by
heapes and trod vpon by others there perished some as is reported died there for very feare no man either chasing or hurting them so weake is mans courage when God withdraweth from him his strength But in the morning the Sunne arising the three hundreth Turks left for scouts perceiuing the flight of the Christians entred the forsaken campe where they found horses armour and emptie tents yea the emperours owne furniture and his horses readie sadled of all which two hundred of these Turks tooke the spoile at their pleasure and the other hundred pursuing the dispersed Christians like heartlesse men wandring here and there slew a great number of them The emperour himselfe seeing his armie thus as it were by the hand of God ouerthrowne and dispersed tooke shipping also and so returned to CONSTANTINOPLE After whose departure the Turks seizing vpon many sea townes alongst the coast of BYTHINIA and there seating themselues laid heauie tributes vpon the other countrey townes and villages for the benefit whereof they spared to destroy them together with the inhabitants which they might at their pleasure full easily haue done Now lay the great citie of NICE in the suds the enemie commaunding all the country about it liuing as sicke men doe by hope and holding out onely vpon hope of a thousand horsemen which the emperour notwithstanding his late discomfiture had promised foorthwith to send there to lie in garrison for the repressing of the Turks Of which aid so promised Orchanes vnderstanding furnished eight hundred of his owne horsemen after the manner of the Christians and fetching a great compasse about came at length into the high way that leadeth from CONSTANTINOPLE to NICE and so trouped directly towards the citie as if they had come from CONSTANTINOPLE At the same time he sent three hundred of his other horsemen in the habit of Turks to forrage and spoile the countrey as much as they could within the view of the citie now for want of victuals brought into great extremitie which whilest they were a doing the other eight hundred horsemen in the attire of Christians following vpon them as if it had been by chance charged them and in the sight of the cittizens put them to flight which done these counterfeit horsemen returned directly againe towards NICE The cittizens which with great pleasure had in the meane time from the wals seene the most part of the skirmish and how they had put the Turks to flight supposing them to be the Constantinopolitan horsemen whom they daily expected with great joy opened the gates of the citie to receiue them as their friends But they being entred the gates presently set vpon the Christians fearing no such matter and being seconded with the other three hundred which in dissembling manner had fled before and were now speedily returned bringing also with them other companies of Turks before laid in secret ambush not far off they woon the great and famous citie of NICE which they haue euer since vntill this day possessed the spoile wherof was giuen vnto the souldiors for a prey and the citizens all led away into miserable captiuitie and thraldome Whilest Orchanes was thus busied his other captaines did with great courage and successe enlarge his dominions on all sides daily encroching vpon their weake neighbours the Christians Cunger-Alpes one of his warlike captaines subdued the country of MVDURN or MODRIN in PHRIGIA and BOLLI in PAPHIAGONIA appointing one Abdurachman a man of great valour to gouerne the country And at the same time another of his old captains called Accecozza brought CANDARA in PAPHIAGONIA and ERMENIE a country neere vnto the mountain HORMINIUS into the Turkish subjection placing garrisons in all the castles forts which he had woon of whom some part of those countries was after his name called Cozza Ilini that is to say The old mans country So that Orchanes his kingdome grew daily greater greater as well by the industrie of his chieftains as of himselfe About this time it fortuned the captains son of SCAMANDRIA a town not far from the ruines of the antient citie of TROY and about a daies journey from the renoumed castle of ABYDUS to depart out of this world vnto whose funerals being kept in the countrey whilest his woâ—â—â— father the captaine with his friends out of SCAMANDRIA resorted the old craftie Turke Accecozza lying alwaies in wait as a fox for his prey suddenly set vpon those heauie Christians whereof he slue the most part and tooke the rest prisoners Amongst whom he also tooke the captaine of SCAMANDRIA with his castle and countrey whom he afterwards led prisoner vnto the castle of ABYDVS which is one of the most famous castles situate vpon the sea coast of ASIA ouer against SESTVS in EVROPE where the sea of HELLESPONTVS by the narrow strait falleth into the sea AEGEVM two castles much renoumed by reason of their nigh situation and yet placed in diuers parts of the world eternized also by the euer liuing wits oâ— Poets for the aduenturous passage of Leander ouer that fret of the sea to his loue Hero which castles are now called DARDANELLY Accecozza hauing brought the captiue captaine of SCAMANDRIA lately a man of great account in that country so neer as he could vnto the castle of ABYDVS offred to set him at libertie if they would surrender their castle otherwise they should see him cruelly slaine before their faces These Turkish threats nothing moued them of ABYDUS more than to say That they might if they would cut off his head seeth him and eat him but the castle they intended not to deliuer The same captain was afterward by the coÌ„mandement of Orchanes profered to the emperor of CONSTANTINOPLE to be redeemed which he refused Yet at the last he was ransomed by the gouernour of NICOMEDIA and againe set at libertie Accecozza of long time held the castle of SCAMANDRIA yet so continually molested with the garrison of ABYDVS and men of war sent from CONSTANTINOPLE that he with his followers were glad for the most part to liue on horsbacke to be alwaies in more readinesse against the attempt of their enemies The captaine of the castle of ABYDVS had at that time a faire young gentlewoman to his daughter who as she said chanced to dreame what she had happily waking for the most part wished That being fallen into a deepe mirie ditch out of which she could by no meanes helpe her selfe a lustie young gallant comming by did not onely helpe her out but also in friendly manner made her cleane and afterwards apparelled her in rich and costly attire The danger of this dreame much troubled the tender gentlewoman but the image of the yong gentleman was so well phantizied in her braine that waking she thought she still saw him and sleeping longed sore for what she saw not Thus whilst this yong gentlewoman with great deuotion entertained this imaginarie man the old gray headed Turk Accecozza came and with a strong companie
vpon which conditions Amurath graunted him peace and so departed out of SERVIA In this expedition he also with much ado woon the great citie of APPOLONIA neere vnto the mount ATHOS and gaue leaue vnto most of the Christians with their wiues and children to depart and such part of their goods as was not in the taking thereof spoiled by the souldiors This done he returned backe to HADRIANOPLE leauing Eurenoses vpon the marches who shortly after tooke BERRHEA with diuers other townes At which time also Lala Schahin woon ZICHNE and SERES in the confines of MACEDONIA with many other strong townes vpon the frontiers of THESSALIA and THRACE In the citie SERES Eurenoses made his abode as in a cheefe frontier towne and because the Christians for feare of the Turks were all fled out of the country about SERES great numbers of people were sent for out of ASIA to inhabit that countrey by the Christians forsaken in the confines of MACEDONIA Amurath had not long continued at HADRIANOPLE but that he was aduertised out of ASIA that Aladin his sonne in law king of CARAMANIA did with fire and sword inuade his dominions in ASIA with which newes he was exceedingly troubled And for that cause sending for his counsailors and nobilitie to the court told them how that Aladin forgetting all the bonds of religion faith peace and aliance with all hostilitie inuaded his prouinces in ASIA whilest he with the great danger of his person and greater terror of his enemies sought with honour the encrease of the Mahometane sincere religion as he tearmed it in EUROPE from which godly warres said hee I am against my will enforced to turne my sword in just defence of my selfe against men joyned with vs both in religion alliance And hauing thus declared his mind he appointed Chairadin Bassa his lieutenant generall in EVROPE and also made his sonne Alis Bassa one of his counsaile although he were by some thought too yong for so great a place And so hauing set all things in order according to his mind in EUROPE tooke passage from CALLIPOLIS into ASIA and so to his court at PRUSA where he spent that winter In which time embassadors came vnto him frō the Sultan of AEGYPT for the renewing of their former amitie and friendship which Amurath tooke very thankefully and sent them backe againe loden with kind letters and princely rewards When the Spring was come in the year 1387 he leuied a mightie armie to make war vpon the Caramanian king his sonne in law Whereof Aladin certainely informed prepared no lesse power to meet him associating vnto him all the other lesse Mahometane princes of ASIA which were not vnder Amurath his obeisance to whom the Othoman kings were now growne terrible which princes brought with them great supplies to joyne with Aladin Aladin thus aided by his friends thinking himselfe now strong ynough for Amurath his father in law sent an embassadour vnto him certifying him That he was nothing in power inferiour to him and therefore did nothing feare him yet if it pleased him to haue peace that hee could for his part be content to hearken vnto the same vpon reasonable conditions but if hee had rather haue warre he should find him readie to dare him battaile in the field whensoeuer hee should come For answere of which embassage Amurath willed the embassadour to tell the perjured king his master That he had of late contrarie to his faith before giuen in most cruell manner inuaded his dominions whilest he was busied in most godly warres as hee tearmed it against the misbeleeuing Christians from prosecuting whereof hee was by his violence as hee said withdrawne contrarie to the law of their great prophet for which outrages and wrongs hee would shortly come and take of him sharpe reuenge and that therefore hee was to expect nothing at his hands but warre for which he willed him so to prouide as that at his comming he might not find him wanting to himselfe Aladin by his embassadour hauing receiued this answere from Amurath assembled all the confederate princes his allies with great persuasions and greater promises encouraging them to this warre and they againe kissing the ground at his feet as the manner of that nation is before great princes promised with solemne oaths neuer to forsake him but to to doe all things which princes desirous of honour and fame ought by their oath to do for their soueraigne to whom they ought homage and dutie In this great preparation for wars in ASIA Chairadin Bassa generall gouernor in EUROPE died which Amurath vnderstanding appointed Alis Bassa his sonne to goe into EUROPE there to be gouernour in his fathers stead But he was staied in his journey by vrgent occasions which Amurath vnderstanding sent for him backe againe in post Aladin forecasting the great dangers like to ensue of this warre sent another embassadour to Amurath with reasonable conditions of peace to whom Amurath answered That if Aladin had made that offer one moneth before hee would perhaps haue accepted thereof but for so much as he had done him great wrong and that hee had now to his infinite charge drawne him into the field so farre from home hee would not make any other end than such as the chance of warre should appoint And whereas he in disgrace had called me a heardsman or shepheard said he if he be not such a one himselfe as he saith me to be let him meet me in the field and there trie his valour Hereunto the embassadour replied saying That the king his master made this offer of peace not for any feare but to saue the effusion of innocent blood which consideration set apart he should find him not inferiour to himselfe either in number of most expert souldiours or other warlike prouision and that therefore if he rejected this offer of peace hee needed not to doubt but to meet with men of courage which would beare themselues so valiantly in the field against his Turks as that he should haue no great cause to rejoice of his comming thether Which words of the embassador so netled Amurath that in great rage he commaunded him to depart and to will his maister if hee were a man of such courage and valour as he said to shew himselfe in the field with all his forces there to make an end of all quarrels where hee doubted not but in short time to chastice him according to his due deserts So after the embassadour was departed marching forward three daies Alis Beg came vnto him of whose comming he not a little rejoyced for why he loued him deerelie and although he was yet of yeares but yoong relied much vpon his counsaile The Embassadour returning recounted vnto Aladin all that Amurath had said not omitting his hard speeches and proud threats and how that hee hoped shortly to take from him ICONIVM and LARENDA the principall cities of CARAMANIA with many things more leauing nothing vntold Which Aladin hearing
the reuolt of Lazarus Despot of SERVIA was therewith much disquieted Wherefore he commanded Alâ—â—â—Bassa his cheefe counsellour with all speed to send foorth commissions into all parts of his kingdome for the leuying of a royall armie which was done in such post hast that it was thought he would haue taken the field before the beginning of the Spring At which time also the other Mahometane kings and princes of ASIA Caraman Ogli Teke Ogli and the rest bound vnto him by homage with diuers others of smaller power were sent for to aid him in this war who partly for feare and partly mooued with the zeale of their Mahometane superstition brought their forces with great deuotion Vnto this war against the Christians came also great numbers of the Mahometanes from far countries as voluntarie souldiors Baiazet his sonne also then gouernor of CUTAIE with a great part of GALATIA gathering all his forces came to aid his father in this religious war as it was by theÌ„ tearmed The Christian tributarie princes were not then forgotten of whom two came namely Custendyll and Seratzill other two forsaking Amurath came not which was Sasmenos prince of BULGARIA and the prince of VARNA and DOERITZA with whom Amurath was highly offended In the time of this so great a preparation old Lala Schahin Amurath his tutor and faithfull seruitor died being a man of great yeares and Temurtases was appointed gouernour in his place The reuolting of the two Christian princes Sasmenos and the prince of VARNA much grieued Amurath wherefore hee commaunded Alis Bassa with an armie of thirtie thousand to inuade and spoile Sasmenos his countrey now called BULGARIA and in antient time the lower MYSIA Alis Bassa according to that was giuen him in charge calling vnto him Iaxis Beg the sonne of Temurtases Vlu Beg Suratze Bassa with other captaines and commaunders of the Turks prouinces in EUROPE assembled an armie of thirtie thousand for the inuasion of BULGARIA With this armie the Bassa tooke many strong townes and castles in BULGARIA as PIRAVADE VENVZINA MADRA SVNI with others In the meane time whilest Alis Bassa had thus begun the wars against the Christians in BVLGARIA Amurath hauing gathered a great armie in ASIA determined in the beginning of the Spring to passe ouer with the same into EUROPE commending the gouernment of his countries in ASIA to Temurtases Bassa Ferices Beg Temurtaces Subbassa Cutlu Beg and Haza Beg and so all things set in order in ASIA he drew down his Asian forces towards HELLESPONTVS where he was a while staied with coÌ„trary winds but was afterwards transported to CALLIPOLIS by Ienitze Beg Sanzacke there This was the third time that Amurath brought his armie out of ASIA into EUROPE But whilest he staied at CALLIPOLIS Baiazet his sonne with a great power came unto him thither Alis Bassa also vnderstanding of Amurath his arriuall in EUROPE retired out of BVLGARIA and came to him at CALCIDE recounting vnto him the whole successe of his expedition into BVLGARIA Sasmenos prince of BVLGARIA seeing his countrey spoiled his strong cities and castles taken by the Turks and withall hearing of their great preparations for warre by the aduice of his nobilitie thought it best betimes againe to submit himselfe vnto Amurath wherefore tying a winding sheet about his necke in token that he had deserued death after the manner of the Barbarians he came to Amurath at CALCIDE where falling flat vpon the ground at the horses feet whereon Amurath sat he in most humble wise craued pardon offering by a certaine day to deliuer SILISTRIA the chiefe citie of his dominion into Amurath his possession as a pledge of his fidelitie who thereupon graunted him pardon and to assure him of his fauour commaunded a rich garment to be cast vpon him after the manner of the Turks sending Alis Bassa at the time appointed to take possession of SILISTRIA But Sasmenos repenting himselfe of that hee had so largely promised would not deliuer his citie but in strongest manner he could presently fortified the same Wherewith Amurath more offended than before commaunded the Bassa with fire and sword againe to spoile and wast his countrey who according to his commaundement entred againe into BULGARIA and strucke such a terrour of his comming into the hearts of the people that many strong places were voluntarily yeelded into his power namely DIRITZE COSSOVA with the citie TERNOVA the seat of the princes court TZERNEVI NOVAKESTRI ZISTOVA with diuers others and proceeding farther he laid siege to NICOPOLIS the strongest citie of BULGARIA vpon the side of the great riuer DANVBIUS whither Sasmenos was for feare himselfe fled Who finding himselfe vnable to hold out the siege once again with shame ynough tying a winding sheet about his necke as he had done before and taking his sonne with him went out of the citie and in most abject manner falling downe at the Bassa his feet craued pardon which the Bassa mooued with compassion to see the miserie of so great a man and hauing alreadie taken from him the greatest part of his dominion and now out of feare of further resistance easily graunted And hauing thus ended the Bulgarian war returned to Amurath of whom he was right joyfully receiued Amurath had now made great preparation for the inuading of SERVIA for which purpose he had drawne ouer into EUROPE the greatest forces he possibly could out of ASIA sending also for his youngest sonne Iacup gouernour of CARASIA who vnderstanding his fathers pleasure repaired vnto him with all the power hee could make This armie by Amurath thus assembled was the greatest that euer was before that brought by the Turks into EVROPE Lazarus not ignorant of this great preparation made by Amurath had drawn into the societie of this war the king of BOSNA as is aforesaid with Vulcus prince of MACEDONIA his sonne in law who both brought vnto him great aid hee had also by his embassadors procured great supplies from other Christian kings and princes out of VALACHIA HVNGARIA CROATIA SCLAVONIA ALBANIA BVLGARIA and ITALIE besides great numbers of other voluntarie deuout Christians which all assembled and met together did in number far exceed the great armie of the Turks With this armie Lazarus the Despot encamped vpon the side of the riuer Moroua the greater not far from whence stood the strong castle of SARKIVE which Alis Bassa had of late taken from Sasmenos the Bulgarian prince standing as it were betwixt BVLGARIA and SERVIA this castle being now possessed of the Turks was thought by Lazarus dangerous to his countrie who therefore sent one Demetrius a right valiant captaine with certain companies of select men to take in the same The name of this captaine Demetrius was a generall terrour vnto the Turks for the harme he had done them so that they in the castle hearing that he was come without further resistance yeelded the same vnto him Whereof Amurath vnderstanding sent Eine and Sarutze Bassa to recouer the same but
good word for them When suddenly the aforesaid Aethiopian jeaster stept foorth earnestly requesting the king not to shew them any fauour but to execute them presently as villaines and traitours rayling vpon them as if he had knowne some great fault by them Baiazet thinking he could haue accused them of some great crime because of his earnestnes asked what reason hee had so to exclaime against them Reason quoth the jeaster because the knaues bee good for nothing and they say that Tamerlan is with a great armie comming against vs if you will but take vp an ensigne in your hand and I goe before you with a drum I will strike vp such a terrible march and you make such a dreadfull shew that wee shall neede none of these bad fellowes or their souldiours in the field to get the victorie ouer our enemies This conceit of the jeaster strucke such a melancholie imagination into Baiazet his head that hee stood musing a great while as it were in a deepe studie at last hauing well considered the drift of the jeasters speech and his furie now somewhat assuaged graunted them pardon which they looked not for This Aethiopian jeaster Baiazet vpon a time sent vnto the old queene his mother to bring her news of the good successe of his wars against the Christians for that she had so desired who comming vnto her and by her commaunded to sit downe she began to demaund of him how the king her sonne did and of the successe of his wars Wherevnto he answered that he did verie well and had won from the Christians a great countrey and greatly enriched his souldiours But after a little more talke the queene mother desirous to heare againe the good newes or else after the manner of some which thinke nothing sufficiently told except it bee told an hundreth times asked him againe how the king her sonne did and how he sped in his wars Wherevnto he answered euerie word as before but asking him the third time the verie same question how her sonne did Doest thou aske me so often said the Aethiopian how hee doth Bre Cachpe O whoore said he thou hast brought forth a sonne like a diuell who roaming vp and downe doth nothing but burne and destroie the world where he commeth Whereat the queene crying out vp start the Aethiopian and betaking himselfe to his heeles was neuer more afterwards seene In the wars which Baiazet had against Sigismund the Vayuod of VALACHIA had giuen aid vnto the Hungarian king wherewith Baiazet being offended determined now at length to be reuenged and therefore intending to make warre vpon the Valachian prince left Temurtases his great lieutenant at ANCYRA in ASIA so passed ouer HELLESPONTUS himselfe against the Valachian Vpon whose departure Aladin his sisters sonne the yong king of CARAMANIA with a great power came suddenly in the night to ANCYRA and tooke Temurtases prisoner who then feared nothing lesse than in time of peace to haue been so surprised and caried away in bonds into CARAMANIA But when he vnderstood that Baiazet had ended his wars in VALACHIA and was with victorie returned to PRUSA he fearing his heauie indignation for so great an outrage presently released Temurtases out of prison apparelled him richly after the maner of that nation craued pardon for the wrong he had done him and set him at libertie to goe whither he would and withall sent one of his noblemen with great gifts and presents to Baiazet to make his excuse in best maner he could vnto which embassador Baiazet yet in choler would not giue audience or suffer him to come in his sight but at the same time leuied a great armie to inuade CARAMANIA Which Aladin vnderstanding and now out of all hope to appease this mightie enemie leuied all the forces he could in his owne kingdome and withall entertained all the mercenarie soldiors he could get intending to trie his fortune in the filed as a man of valour rather than to be thrust out of his kingdome like a coward so in readinesse hearing of the cōming of Baiazet met him vpō the way at a place called ACZAC gaue him battell but being too weak he was ouercome put to flight in which flight his horse stumbling he so falling to the groūd was there before he could recouer himself takē by his enemies which had him in chase so brought boūd to Baiazet his two sons Muhamet Beg Alis Beg being takē in that battell also were sent prisoners to PRUSA Aladin himselfe was by Baiazet his cōmandement deliuered to his enemy Temurtases who in reuēge of the wrong he had before done him presently caused him to be hanged which when Baiazet vnderstood hee seemed very sorrie that he had so put him to death for that he was his owne sisters sonne Baiazet following the course of his victorie woon ICONIVM LARENDA NIGDE with all the rest of Aladin his kingdome About this time also AMASIA the great metropoliticall citie of CAPADOCIA was by the prince thereof deliuered vnto Baiazet being too weake himselfe to defend the same against the force of Casi-Burchanidin prince of the great and strong citie of SEBASTIA his enemie now growne to be a man of great power in that part of ASIA and had solicited the Sultan of AEGYPT to aid him against Baiazet Whereupon Baiazet returning from the conquest of CARAMANIA led his armie towards SEBASTIA where the cittizens had a little before depriued Casi-Burchanidin of his gouernment for his crueltie and placed his sonne in his stead but in short time no lesse wearie of the sonne than before of the father they with like inconstancie sent word to Baiazet that if he would come that way they would yeeld vnto him the citie vpon whose approch Casis his son for feare fled out of the citie to prince Nasradin his brother in law After whose departure the cittizens according to their promise deliuered the citie vnto Baiazet at his comming wherein hee left Solyman his eldest sonne gouernour And so hauing in this notable expedition conquered the kingdome of CARAMANIA and taken the great citties of AMASIA and SEBASTIA with most part of CAPPADOCIA and all that part of ASIA which the Turks call RUMILIA ASIATICA he returned to PRUSA and there wintered The next Spring Baiazet hearing that his old enemie Cutrun Baiazet prince of CASTAMONA and PONTUS was dead came to CASTAMONA with a great armie of whose comming Isfendiar Cutrun Baiazet his sonne and then prince of that country hearing fled out of the citie to SYNOPE a little citie vpon the coast of the Euxine from whence he sent an embassador vnto Baiazet humbly requesting him to suffer him to haue that little citie as his seruant to liue in which he was sure he would otherwise bestow vpon some other of his seruants not to seeke the innocent blood of the sonne for the fathers offence Which his request Baiazet moued with pitie graunted yet neuerthelesse
this Christian cittie then in the protection of the Venetians Amurath encamped his great armie of misbeleeuing Turkes and laied hard siege to it with most terrible batterie at which time hee by secret meanes corrupted certaine of the wicked cittizens to haue betrayed the cittie by a secret mine and to haue let him in which treason was by the Venetian gouernors perceiued and the plotters therof for safegard of their liues glad to leape ouer the wals and to flie into the Turks campe Amurath hauing greatly battered the wals of the cittie the more to encourage his souldiors promised to giue them all the spoile thereof if they could by force winne it The greedie desire of this rich prey wherein euerie common souldior promised vnto himselfe whatsoeuer his foolish fancie or vnbrideled affection could desire so inflamed the minds of these barbarous souldiors and especially of the Ianizaries that giuing a most terrible assault to the citie they by force entred the same and wan it The Venetian souldiors fled to their gallies lying at anchor in the hauen and so got to sea but the infinite miseries which the poore Christian citizens indured in the furie of that barbarous nation no tongue is able to expresse or pen discribe Death was lesse paine than the ignominious outrages and vnspeakeable villanies which many good Christians there suffered heartily wishing to die and could not and yet the furious enemies sword deuoured all the people without respect of age or sex except such as for stength of bodie or comelinesse of person were reserued for painefull labour or beastly lust which poore soules were afterwards dispersed into most miserable seruitude and slauerie through all parts of the Turkish kingdome The infinite riches of that famous cittie became a spoile vnto the barbarous souldiours the goodly houses were left desolate void of inhabitants Thus the beautifull cittie of THESSALONICA sometime one of the most glorious ornaments of GRaeCIA the late pleasant dwelling place of many rich Christians was by the tyrant giuen for an habitation to such base Turkes as at their pleasure repaired thether to seat themselues and so is by them at this day possessed This calamitie happened to THESALONICA in the yeare of our Lord 1432. THESALONICA being thus taken Amurath returned to HADRIANOPLE himselfe and at the same time sent Caratze with the greatest part of his armie into AETOLIA Charles prince of that countrey dying a little before the comming of Amurath to THESALONICA and hauing no lawfull issue had diuided the countrey of ACHARNANIA amongst his three base sons Memnon Turnus and Hercules leauing all the rest of his dominion to his brothers sonne called also Charles But shortly after such discord fell among these brethren that Amurath sending his Turks to aid one of them against the other as he was by them requested in fine brought all that countrey of AETOLIA into subjection to himselfe leauing nothing for the foolish brethren to striue for more than the bare titles of imaginatiue honour The other Graecian princes of ATHENS PHOCIS BOETIA and all the rest of GRaeCIA vnto the strait of CORINTH terrified by their neighbours harmes were glad to submit themselues to the barbarian yoke and to become tributaries vnto the Turkish tirant vnder which slauerie they of long time most miserably liued if intollerable slauerie joyned with infidelitie may be accounted a life Thus the Grecians lost their libertie which their auncestors had many times before to their immortall praise worthily defended against the greatest monarchs of the world and are now so degenerate by the meanes of the Turkish oppression that in all GRaeCIA is hardly to be found any small remembrance of the ancient glory thereof insomuch that wheras they were wont to account all other nations barbarous in comparison of themselues they are now become no lesse barbarous than those rude nations whom they before scorned Which miserie with a thousand more they may justly impute to their owne ambition and discord At this time amongst the distressed princes of MACEDONIA and GRaeCIA one Iohn Castrioâ— raigned in EPIRUS who seeing how mightily the Turke preuailed against the princes his neighbours and considering that hee was not able by any meanes to withstand so puissant an enemie to obtaine peace he was glad to deliuer into Amurath his possession his foure sonnes Stanisius Reposius Constantine and George for hostages whom Amurath faithfully promised well and honourably to intreat But assoone as he had got them within his reach he falsified his faith and caused them to be circumcised after the Turkish manner and to bee instructed in the Turkish superstition to the great griefe of their Christian parents and afterwards when he vnderstood of the death of Iohn Castriot their father hee poisoned all the three elder brethren And by Sebalie one of his great captaines ceized vpon CROIA his cheefe citie and all the rest of his territories as if they had by good right deuolued vnto him But George the youngest whom the Turks named Scander-beg or lord Alexander for his excellent feature and pregnant wit he alwaies entirely loued and as some thought more passionatly than he should haue loued a boy Him he caused to be diligently instructed in all kind of actiuitie and feats of warre wherin he excelled al other his equals in Amurath his court and rising by many degrees of honor came at last being yet but verie yong to be a great Sanzack or gouernor of a prouince and was many times appointed by Amurath to be generall of his armies in which seruice hee so behaued himselfe that he got the loue of all that knew him and increased his credit with Amurath vntill at last he found oportunitie by great policie and courage to deliuer both himselfe and his natiue countrie from the horrible slauerie of the Turkish tyrannie as shall be afterwards declared Shortly after that Amurath had thus daunted the princes of GRECIA he turned his forces into SERVIA but the prince of SERVIA vnable to withstand so mightie an enemie to procure his fauour sent embassadours offering to pay him a yearely tribute and to doe further what he should reasonably demaund Amurath beside the yearely tribute required to haue Marie this princes faire daughter in mariage and that he should not suffer the Hungarians to passe through his countrey to inuade him and further not at any time to denie passage vnto the Turkish armie when he should send forth the same for the inuasion of the kingdome of BOSNA All which vnreasonable conditions the prince was glad to agree vnto and sent his faire daughter by Saratze who was afterwards maried to Amurath About this time Iosephus and Machmutes Amurath his brethren and Orchanes the sonne of Solyman who had his eies put out by his vncle Mahomet with many other men of great account among the Turks died of the plague at PRUSA Whilest Amurath was thus busied in his wars in EUROPE the king of CARAMANIA his brother in law inuaded his
leading the maine battell himselfe The reareward was committed to Vranacontes a man renowned in those daies both for hiâ—â—rauitie in counsell and for his valour in armes fit to command or be commanded but afterwards amongst the rest most famous for the worthie defending of CROIA against Amurath being then there himselfe in person Alis Bassa contemning the small number of Scanderbeg his armiâ— seeing nothing therin to be feared more than the good order thereof gaue the first charge â—ith a small troupe of horsemen who at the first encounter retired as if they had fled of purpose that the Christians hastily pursuing their vntimely hope might disorder their battaile and so giue occasion to their owne ouerthrow But by the commaundement of Scanderbeg who easily perceiued the Bassaes meaning their dangerous forwardnesse was warily waied and all with safetie kept in good order So both armies comming on the wings beganne the battaile a fresh and Scanderbeg with great courage bringing on his maine battell in the face of the Bassa valiantly charged him But by that time that the battailes were throughly joyned Musachee and Amesa suddenly issued out of the wood and fiercely set vpon the rereward of the Turkes armie where they made great slaughter and forced many of the Turkes for feare to flie Thus was the Bassaes great armie driuen to fight both before and behind being hardly beset and laied vnto with a small number The Bassa had placed his best souldiours neerest vnto himselfe in the maine battaile as his most assured strength and last refuge these valiant men stood fast and renewed the battaile before almost lost And here Scanderbegs fortune was euen at a stand vntill that the well aduised and valiant captaine Vranacontes hauing receiued the wearied souldiors into the rereward and setting all things there in safetie accompanied with certaine troupes of fresh souldiors which he brought out of the rereward brake through the Bassaes armie with such slaughter of the Turks that hee made way for Scanderbeg and all the rest of his armie The Turks discomfited with the inuincible courage of these old souldiours and the slaughter of their fellowes which lay by heapes wallowing in their owne blood betooke themselues to flight whom the Christians fiercely pursued and slew of them two and twentie thousand at which time were also two thousand others taken prisoners with foure and twentie of the Turks ensignes whereas of the Christians were slaine not past 〈◊〉 hundreth and twentie The enemies tents with all their cariages were at the same time taken also After this great victorie when Scanderbeg had made all his seauen thousand footmen horsemen by giuing vnto them the horses of the slaine Turks he brake into the enemies countrey and entred farre into MACEDONIA where he filled the desires of his souldiours with the wealth and spoile thereof sparing nothing that fire and sword could deuoure and so with victorie returned to CROIA where he was of his subjects joyfully receiued Alis Bassa with the remainder of his discomfited armie returned to HADRIANOPLE and there by Amurath was hardly charged of cowardise and want of discretion for that he had lost so puissant an armie to so weake an enemie Wherof when he had cleared himselfe by the modest rehearsall of his former victories and the testimonie of all the other captaines present with him in that battaile he was pardoned and so againe receiued into fauour and that great ouerthrow imputed to the chance of warre Amurath hauing reciued two so great ouerthrowes first from Huniades and the Hungarians and now from Scanderbeg and seeing himselfe elsewhere beset with so many mischiefes as that he could not tell which way to turne himselfe tormented with dispaire and desire of reuenge whereof hee saw small possibilitie fell into such a melancholie passion that ouercome with the darke conceits thereof he was about to haue become the bloodie executioner of himselfe had not Cali Bassa by his graue aduice comforted vp his dying spirits by whose persuasion contrarie to his haughtie nature he yeelded by his embassadors sent for the same purpose to desire peace of Vladislaus king of HVNGARIE vsing the exiled Despot of SERVIA his father in 〈◊〉 then present with the king as a meane therein Who at the first gaue small credite vnto the embassadours or vnto such things as they told him vntill that at length better persuaded of the true meaning of the Turke he so wrought the matter both with the king and the rest of the nobilitie and especially with Huniades that there was an honourable peace concluded The capitulations wherof were first That Amurath withdrawing all his forces and garrisons should clearly depart out of SERVIA and restore the same vnto the possession of George the Despot the right lord and owner thereof deliuering also freely vnto him his two sonnes Stephen and George who bereft of their sight he had long time kept in straight prison Also that from thenceforth he should make no claime vnto the kingdome of MOLDAVIA nor to that part of BVLGARIA which he had in the last wars lost And finally that he should not inuade or molest the Hungarians or any part of their kingdâ—me during the whole time of that peace and to pay 40000 duckats for the ransome of Carambey Vnto which hard conditions when the Turkish tyrant full sore against his will had condiscended a peace for ten yeares was forthwith on both parts concluded and the same by solemne oatâ— confirmed king Vladislaus taking his oath vpon the holy Euangelists and Amurath by his embassadors vpon their Turkish Alcoran This was the most honorable peace that euâ—r Christian prince had before that time made with any of the Turkish kings and most profitable also had it been with like sinceritie kept as it was with solemnitie confirmed Amurath with this peace deliuered of his greatest feare conuerted all his forces against the Caramanian king in reuenge of the injuries by him done whilst he was occupied in the Hungarian warres This king of CARAMANIA knowing himselfe vnable to withstand so great an enemie durst neither meet him in the field nor trust himselfe to the strength of any his cities or strong castles but fled into the mountaines there fortifying himselfe more surely 〈◊〉 in any other his strong holds Amurath entring into CARAMANIA made great spoile in the country as he went and tooke great booties At last comming to ICONIVM he laid hard siege to the same The poor king seeing his kingdome spoiled and his cheefe citie in danger to be lost sent embassadours and with them his wife also which was Amuraths sister to intreat for peace offering to pay vnto him yearely the double tribute which hee before paied and for the performance thereof to giue his sonne in hostage Vpon which conditions Amurath graunted him peace and so returned In this warre Aladin Amuraths eldest sonne died to the great greefe of his aged father being slain with a fall from his
in time to haue sought for peace vpon any condition or els to haue yeelded vp the citie rather than to haue run that extreame course of wilfull miserie Hee to excuse the matter said That the late emperor his master was encouraged to hold out the siege by the Venetians and citizens of PERA from whom he receiued secret aid as also by some of the greatest men about his own person for proofe whereof hee drew out of his bosome the letters which Caly-Bassa had to that purpose written vnto the emperour and deliuered them to Mahomet hoping thereby to haue found some fauour But when he had said what he could the eldest of his sonnes then liuing for he had lost two elder in the time of the siege was cruelly executed before his face and the youngest reserued for the tyrants lust and after all this miserie had his owne head strucke off with the rest appointed for that daies sacrifice Out of this generall calamitie escaped Io. Iustinianus the Generall who with all speed fled at first to PERA and from thence to CHIOS where in few daies after he died of greefe of mind as was thought rather than of his wound being happie if he had honourably before ended his dayes vpon the wals of CONSTANTINOPLE Isodorus also the Cardinall and Legate from the Pope disguised in simple apparrell and being of the Turkes vnknowne redeemed himselfe for a small ransome as if he had been a man of no account and so escaped whom if Mahomet had knowne he had vndoubtedly beene made shorter by the head The glorie of this famous citie of CONSTANTINOPLE continued many hundred yeares commaunding a great part of the world vntill that by ciuile discord and priuat gaine it was by little and little so weakened that the emperors of later times for the maintenance of their estate were glad to relie sometime vpon one and sometime vpon another yet still holding the title and state of an empire by the space of 1121 yeares when as God his judgement set apart wonderfull and shamefull it is to consider how it was by this Turkish king Mahomet so quickely taken and the Christian empire of the East there vtterly ouerthrowne which happened in the nine and twentieth day of May in the yeare of our Lord 1453. Constantinus Palaeologus the sonne of Helena and last Christian emperor being then slaine when he had raigned about eight years Since which time it hath continued the imperiall seat of the Turkish emperours and so remaineth at this day The potestats and cittizens of PERA otherwise called GALATA a cittie standing opposit against CONSTANTINOPLE on the other side of the hauen and then vnder the gouernment of the Genowayes doubting to run the same course of miserie with their neighbors sent their Orators vnto Mahomet the same day that CONSTANTINOPLE was taken offering to him the keyes of their gates and so to become his subjects Of which their offer Mahomet accepted and sent Zoganus with his regiment to take possession of the citie Who comming thither according to Mahomet his commandement there established the Turkish gouernment confiscated the goods of all such as were fled and vsed the rest of the citizens which stayed with such insolencie and oppression as that their miserie was not much lesse than theirs of CONSTANTINOPLE And because it was doubted that the Genowayes might by sea giue aid vnto the cittizens if they should at any time seeke to reuolt he caused all the wals and fortresses of the citie which were toward the land to bee cast downe and laied euen with the ground Thus is the fatall period of the Greeke empire run and Mahomet in one day become lord of the two famous citties of CONSTANTINOPLE and PERA the one taken by force the other by composition At which time the miserie of PERA was great but that of CONSTANTINOPLE justly to bee accounted amongst the greatest calamities that euer happened to any Christian citie in the world Mahomet had of long time borne a secret grudge against Caly-Bassa sometime his tutor for that by his meanes Amurath his father in the dangerous time of the Hungarian warres had againe resumed vnto himselfe the gouernment of the Turkish kingdome which hee had before resigned vnto him then but young But for as much as hee was the cheefe Bassa and had for many yeares ruled all things at his pleasure to the generall good liking of the people during the raigne of old Amurath and was thereby growne to bee of such wealth credit and authoritie as no man had at any time obtained greater vnder any of the Othoman kings Mahomet in the beginning of his raigne before hee was well established in his kingdome durst not to take reuenge of that injurie as hee deemed it but yet still kept it in remembrance warily dissembling his deepe conceiued hatred as if he had quite forgot it Neuerthelesse sometime for all his warinesse words fell from him whereby the warie courtiers which as curiously weigh their princes words as the cunning goldsmith dooth his finest gold easily perceiued the secret grudge that stucke in his stomacke against the Bassa and thereby deuined his fall to be at hand So it happened one day that as Mahomet was walking in the court he saw a fox of the Bassaes tied in a chaine which after hee had a while earnestly looked vpon hee suddainely brake into this speech Alas poore beast hast thou no money to giue thy master to set thee at libertie out of which words curious heads gathered much matter concerning the kings disposition towards the Bassa This ominous surmising of the courtiers which oftentimes proueth too true was not vnknown vnto the Bassa himselfe but troubled him much wherefore to get himselfe out of the way for a season more than for any deuotion he tooke vpon him to goe in pilgrimage to visite the temple of the great prophet as they tearme him at MECHA which amongst the Turkes is holden for a right religious and meritorious worke hoping that the young kings displeasure might in time be mittigated and his mallice assuaged But Mahomet perceiuing the distrust of the Bassa and whereof it proceeded seemed to take knowledge thereof and with good words comforted him vp willing him to be of good cheere and not to misdoubt any thing neither to regard the vaine speech of foolish people assuring him of his vndoubted fauour and the more to put him out of all suspition continually sent him rich gifts and heaped vpon him new honors as if of all others he had esteemed him most Vntill that now at the taking of CONSTANTINOPLE it was discouered by Lucas Leontares that he had intelligence with the late emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE and his letters produced For which cause or as the common report went for the old grudge that the tyrant bare against him as also for his great wealth he was by Mahomets commandement apprehended and carried in bonds to HADRIANOPLE where after he had with exquisite torments been
the part of a trustie faithfull seruant carefull of his masters honour But yet the beautie of the Greeke was still so fixed in his heart and the pleasure he tooke in her so great as that to thinke of the leauing of her bred in him many a troubled thought Hee was at warre with himselfe as in his often changed countenance well appeared reason calling vpon him for his honour and his amorous affections still suggesting vnto him new delights Thus tossed too and fro as a ship with contrarie winds and withall considering the danger threatened to his estate if he should longer follow those his pleasures so much displeasing vnto his men of warre hee resolued vpon a strange point whereby at once to cut off all those his troubled passions and withall to strike a terrour euen into the stoutest of them that had before condemned him as vnable to gouerne his owne so passionate affections Whereupon with countenance well declaring his inward discontentment hee said vnto the Bassa yet prostrate at his feet Although thou hast vnreuerently spoken as a slaue presuming to enter into the greatest secrets of thy soueraigne not without offence to be of thee once thought vpon and therefore deseruest well to die yet for that thou wast of a child brought vp togither with me and hast euer been vnto me faithfull I for this time pardon thee and before to morrow the sunne go downe will make it knowne both to thee and others of the same opinion with thee whether I be able to bridle mine affections or not Take order in the meane time that all the Bassaes and the chiefe commanders of my men of warre be assembled togither to morrow there to know my farther pleasure whereof faile you not So the Bassa being departed he after his wonted manner went in vnto the Greeke and solacing himselfe all that day and the night following with her made more of her than euer before and the more to please her dined with her commanding that after dinner she should be attired with more sumptuous apparell than euer she had before worne and for the further gracing of her to be deckt with many most precious jewels of inestimable valour Whereunto the poore soule gladly obeyed little thinking that it was her funerall apparell Now in the meane while Mâ—stapha altogither ignorant of the Sultans mind had as he was commanded caused all the nobilitie and commanders of the men of warre to be assembled into the great hall euerie man much marueiling what should be the emperors meaning therein who had not of long so publikely shewed himselfe But being thus togither assembled and euerie man according as their minds gaue them talking diuersly of the matter behold the Sultan entred into the pallace leading the faire Greeke by the hand who beside her incomparable beautie and other the greatest graces of nature adorned also with all that curiositie could deuise seemed not now to the beholders a mortal wight but some of the stately goddesses whom the Poets in their extacies describe Thus comming togither into the midst of the hall and due reuerence vnto them done by al them there present he stood still with the faire lady in his left hand and so furiously looking round about him said vnto them I vnderstand of your great discontentment and that you all murmur and grudge for that I ouercome with mine affection towards this so faire a paragon cannot withdraw my selfe from her presence But I would faine know which of you there is so temperat that if he had in his possession a thing so rare and precious so louely and so faire would not be thrice aduised before he would forgo the same Say what you thinke in the word of a Prince I giue you free libertie so to doe But they all rapt with an incredible admiration to see so faire a thing the like whereof they had neuer before beheld said all with one consent That he had with greater reason so passed the time with her than any man had to find fault therewith Wherunto the barbarous prince answered Well but now I will make you to vnderstand how far you haue been deceiued in me and that there is no earthly thing that can so much blind my sences or bereaue me of reason as not to see and vnderstand what beseemeth my high place and calling yea I would you should all know that the honor and conquests of the Othoman kings my noble progenitors is so fixed in my brest with such a desire in my selfe to exceed the same as that nothing but death is able to put it out of my remembrance And hauing so said presently with one of his hands catching the faire Greeke by the haire of the head and drawing his falchion with the other at one blow strucke off her head to the great terror of them all And hauing so done said vnto them Now by this iudge whether your emperour is able to bridle his affections or not And within a while after meaning to discharge the rest of his choller caused great preparation to be made for the conquest of PELOPONESVS and the besieging of BELâ—RADE At the same time that the barbarous Turkes tooke the imperiall cittie of CONSTANTINOPLE Thomas and Demetrius Palaeologi brethren to the late vnfortunat emperour Constantinus gouerned a great part of PELOPONESVS one of the most famous prouinces of GRaeCIA which in forme of a leafe of a Plane tree is almost in manner of an Iland enuironed with the seas Ionium and Aegeum which running farre into the land on either side thereof separateth the same from the rest of GRaeCIA by two great bayes leauing but a straight necke of land called of the Greeks ISTMOS in breadth about fiue miles which was sometime by the Graecians and afterward by the Venetians fortified by a strong wall and fiue great castles neare vnto which place stood the great and famous citie of CORINTH This prouince is in length 175 miles and almost as much in breadths wherin are contained the countries of ACHAIA MESSENIA LACEDEMONIA ARGOLICA and ARCHADIA with many famous cities and goodly hauens wherein it far exceedeth all the other prouinces of GRaeCIA These two princes Thomas and Demetrius dismaied with their brothers disaster fortune began now so farre to dispaire of their own estate that vpon the first brute thereof they were about presently to haue fled by sea into ITALY And as â—t commonly falleth out That one euill happeneth not alone so at the same time it fornined that the Albanians rise in armes against the said two princes their soueraigns and vnder the leading of their rebellious captaine Emanuel Catecuzenus grieuously troubled both the poore princes These Albanians were a rough and hardie kind of people which liuing after the manner of the rude Scythian heardsmen by feeding of cattell had of long time planted themselues in PELOPONESVS differing from the naturall Greekes both in the manner of their liuing and language which diuersitie was no small cause
gally who generally grieued to see him so great a commaunder to let slip so faire an opportunitieâ— But he fearing to come any neerer came to an anchor and moued not neither gaue any signe of comfort or reliefe to the besieged Which thing the Turkish king quickly perceiuing and therwith encouraged hauing now in diuers places beaten downe the wals and made them sauâ—table brought on his men to the breaches promising them the spoile of the citie with many other great rewards and hie preferments according to their particuler deserts whereof he said he would himselfe be an eye-witnesse Hereupon the Turkes gaue a most fierce and furious assault which the defendants with inuincible courage receiued and made such slaughter of them that the ditches were filled and the breaches made vp with the bodies of the dead Turkes But such was the number of that populous armie the greatest strength of the Turkes that the liuing little felt the losse of the dead Mahomet continually sending in new supplies of fresh men in steed of them that were slaine or wounded So that one could no sooner fall but two or three slept vp in his roome and so successiuely as if new men had sprong out of the bodies of the dead Twise they had euen woon the breaches and were both times with wonderfull slaughter beaten out againe This deadly and dreadfull assault was maintained a whole day and a night without intermission At length the defendants being for the most part slaine or wounded and the rest wearied with long fight and vnable to defend the towne now assaulted almost round retired from the breaches into the market place and there like resolute men sold their liues at a decre price vnto the Turkes Amongst the slaine Christians were found the dead bodies of manie notable women who seeing the ruine of the citie chose rather to die with their friends in defence thereof than aliue to fall into the hands of their barbarous enemies Mahomet being now become lord of the citie and hauing lost fortie thousand of his Turks in that siege in reuenge thereof caused all the men that were found in the citie aliue to be put to most cruell death especially the Italians vpon whom he shewed his tyrannie with most exquisit and horrible torments Paulus Ericus gouernour of the citie with a few others who with him were fled into the castle without resistance deliuered the same vnto him vpon his faithfull promise that they might in safetie depart but after that he had got them into his power the perfidious tyrant without regard commaunded them all to bee cruelly murthered The gouernours daughter a maiden of incomparable beautie was amongst the rest taken prisoner and for her rare perfection by them that tooke her presented to Mahomet as the mirrour of beautie The barbarous tyrant greedie of so faire a prey sought first by flattering words and faire persuasion to induce her to consent to his desire but when hee could not so preuaile he fell into an other vaine and began to shew himselfe in his owne nature threatning her with death torture and force worse than death it selfe if shee would not otherwise yeeld vnto his appetite Whereunto the constant virgin worthie eternall fame answered so resolutely and so contrarie to the tyrants expectation that hee being therewith enraged commaunded her to bee presently slaine The horrible and monstrous crueltie with the filthie outrages by that beastly and barbarous people committed at the taking of that cittie passeth all credit CHALCIS thus woon the rest of that fruitfull island without farther resistance yeelded vnto the Turkish slauerie vnder which it yet groaneth This calamitie happened to the Venetian state or rather to say truely to the generall hurt of the Christian common-wealâ— in the yeare of our redemption 1470. Canalis the Venetian Admirall who all the time of the siege had in the sight of the cittie lien at anchor as a looker on fearing now that the cittie was lost to bee set vpon by the Turkes fleet hoised saile and laded with dishonour returned in hast vnto VENICE where hee was by the commaundement of the Senat committed to prison and afterward with all his family exiled to VTINVM Shortly after when Mahomet was departed with his armie out of EVBoeA and his fleet returned to CONSTANTINOPLE the Venetians with their gallies attempted to haue vpon the sudden surprised the cittie a little before lost But Mahomet had therein left so strong a garrison that when the Venetians had landed their men they were againe enforced to retire to their gallies and to forsake their island CHALCIS thus lost with all the island of EVBoeA the Venetians chose Petrus Mocenicus a valiant and discreet gentleman Admirall of their fleet instead of Canalis and by their embassadours sollicited Sixtus the fourth of that name then bishop of ROME and Ferdinand king of NAPLES with Lewis king of CYPRVS and the grand master of the RHODES to joyne their forces together with theirs against the great and common enemie which thing all the aforesaid Christian princes promised them to doe And the more to entangle the Turke they at the same time sent Caterinus Zenus their embassadour with rich presents vnto Alymbeius Vsâ—n-Cassanes the great king of PERSIA to incite him on that side against the Turke in which negotiation Zenus so well behaued himselfe that the next yeare following that great king tooke vp armes against Mahomet and had with him mortall warres as shall be in conuenient place hereafter declared Mahomet not ignorant of these proceedings of the Venetians and that they did what they might to stirre vp as many enemies as they could and to bring him if it were possible into hatred with the whole world and well knowing how much he had offended the minds of the Christian princes with the crueltie he had of late vsed against them of CHALCIS thought it not best as then further to prouoke them and so happily to bring all at once about his eares but for a season to lie still at CONSTANTINOPLE as if he had beene desirous now to liue in peace not meaning further harme hoping therby that although he concluded no peace with any of them which indeed he was not desirous of yet that tract of time might mitigate the hainousnesse of the fact and coole the heat of their displeasure whereby it came to passe as hee wished that nothing worth the speaking of was that yeare attempted against him And because the Persian king was the man of whom he stood most in doubt hee sought by his embassadours to pacifie him and to withdraw him from the league of the Christians requesting him if it were for nothing els but for the communitie of the Mahometane religion wherein they well agreed and were thereby the professed enemies of the Christians to withdraw his hand and in their cause to cease to take vp armes vrging now for that it so stood with his purpose the zeale of religion whereas
sight not farre from the other side of the riuer and vpon a signe giuen presently to discouer themselues and charge the enemie The next morning verie early he sent certaine troups of his readiest horsemen ouer the riuer which by offering to skirmish with the Venetians might so draw them into the field and then as men in doubt whether to fight or to flie to tole them on vnto the place where the ambush lay The Venetians had diuided themselues into three battalions wherof the Generall himselfe had the leading of the first who seeing these disordered troups comming to skirmish with him encountred them fiercely and easily put them to flight being so determined before and in that flight earnestly pursued them especially the Counties sonne a valiant young gentleman who with others like himselfe thought by that daies good seruice to gaine vnto themselues great honour When the Turkes Generall saw that the Venetians following the chase were gone a great way from the riuer he forthwith passed ouer with the rest of his armie and followed the Venetians at the heeles which the Turks which before fled now beholding turned againe vpon their fierce enemies and valiantly withstood them At which verie instant the other Turkes vpon signe giuen arising out of ambush came downe from the hill LICINIS with such violence clamor that the Venetians therwith discouraged would haue fled if they could haue told which way but they were on euerie side so beset that there was no way left for them to escape but were there all slaine except some few which yeelded themselues and so were saued The other two battalions of the Venetians discouraged with the slaughter of the first fled incontinently and in flying were manie of them slaine In this battell the Countie himselfe with his sonne and manie other notable gentlemen and halfe the horsemen were lost The Turks encouraged with this victorie the next day spoiled all the countrey of FRIVLI betwixt the riuers of Sontium otherwise called Lisonzo and Tiliauentum and cruelly burnt all the countrey before them so that at once an hundred countrey villages were to be seene on a light fire togither which stood so thicke that it seemed as if one continuall fire had wholy couered all the face of the countrey The barbarous Turkes laden with the spoile of that rich countrey and driuing before them great numbers of miserable captiues as if they had beene flocks of sheepe returned to Sontium But when they had passed the riuer and had trauelled homeward one daies journey and all men thought they had now beene quite gone they suddenly returned backe againe and posting through the countrie they had before spoiled came to the riuer of Tiliauentum which they desperatly passed and did no lesse harme on that side the riuer than they had before on the other and so carrying away with theÌ„ what they pleased returned by the same way they came hauing filled all that part of ITALY with terror and feare This ouerthrow at Sontium the Venetians account amongst the greatest losses which they receiued from the Turkes in all these their long warres The next yeare about Haruest the Turkes came againe with a farre greater power and passing the riuer of Sontium came before the forts at GRADISCA where Carolus Fortebrachiâ—â— lay with a strong garrison of the Venetians offering him skirmish so to haue drawne him into the field But the warie captaine considering the great strength of the enemie and the losse receiued the yeare before would not be drawne out of his strength but stood vpon his guard expecting to take the enemie at some more aduantage which thing the Turkes fearing durst not disperse themselues abroad for the spoile of the countrie leauing so strong a garrison of the enemies behind them And therfore when they had gone about foure miles into the countrey they turned their course vp into the mountaines which are part of the Alpes towards GERMANIE and there grieuously spoiled the mountaine people strangely passing through those abrupt and hie mountaines with their horses where men could hardly either go or stand on foot without somthing to stay vpon And so when they had done what harme they could taking a great compasse about returned home another way Mahomet remembring the shamefull repulse hee had about foure yeares before receiued at SCODRA and hauing the name of that citie daily sounding in his eares determined now once againe to gage his whole forces vpon the winning thereof and so to giue peace to his ambitious desires And because he would not againe be dishonored with that he purposed to take in hand he gaue out order into all parts of his dominions both in EVROPE and ASIA for the assembling of his best souldiours and men of warre Now when all things were in readinesse and such an armie assembled as he seldome or neuer had a stronger first he sent forth Aly-Beg warden of the frontiers of his kingdome alongst the riuer Danubius with eightie thousand of the souldiours called Achanzij towards SCODRA These Achanzij are horsemen which for their good seruice according to their deserts haue certaine lands giuen them by the king to liue vpon during their liues for which they are of duetie bound to serue vpon their owne charge as the forerunners of the Turke his armie whensoeuer he goeth to besiege anie place These be they which first enter into the enemies countrey burning and spoiling what they can vntill they come vnto the place appointed and haue this priuiledge That so soone as all the armie is come to the place to be besieged they may then at their pleasure either depart or stay The gouernour of SCODRA vnderstanding both by common fame and certaine intelligence of the Turks designs with all care and diligence fortified the towne labouring continually both night and day at the rampiers as if the enemie had been alreadie present and plentifully prouided all things necessarie for the enduring of a long siege The aged and vnnecessarie people he sent out of the citie into other places of more safetie farther off in whose stead hee tooke in great numbers of strong and able men which dwelt in the countrey round about among whom were manie marriners taken out of the gallies and other men of like qualitie which got their liuing vpon the riuer and lake of SCODRA lustie bodies enured to hardnesse who in the long siege following did great seruice Whilest this preparation was making in SCODRA behold the mountains a farre off Northward from the citie began to shine with manie great fiers and all the country was couered with thicke smoake which euerie houre seemed to draw neerer and neerer when within short time after the poore countrey people which as yet were not all fled with such trash as they could well carrie came running for life all ouer the countrey to the strong cities vpon the sea side crying out that the Turks were come The next day which was the fourteenth of
Were they not nay are they not still readie with great assurance and courage at all assayes to encounter vs. You take a wrong course by force to constraine them They haue taken vpon them the defence of this place and are not thence to be remoued there shall you be sure still to find them either aliue or dead And what account they make of their liues you see they will sell them vnto vs deare for their countrey and preferre an honourable death before a seruile life Wherefore against men so set downe policie is to be vsed and them whom we cannot by force subdue let vs by delay and time ouercome If you will win SCODRA blocke it vp build strong forts in places conuenient round about it and furnish them with good souldiors make a bridge ouer BOLIANA with a strong castle on either side to stop the passage which done besiege the other weaker cities of the Venetians which are as it were the lims of SCODRA and subdue the countrey round about which will be no hard matter for you to doe being master of the field so must SCODRA at length of necessitie yeeld vnto you as of late did CROIA enforced thereunto by famine Thus may you in safetie without slaughter of your people come to the full of your desires The wholesome counsell of the Bassa so well pleased Mahomet himselfe and the rest there present that the assault was laid aside and present order taken for the speedie execution of that which was by him so well plotted Whereupon the Bassa of CONSTANTINOPLE with his forces was sent to ZABIACHE a citie in the borders of DALMATIA standing vpon the lake of SCVTARIE not farre from ASCRIVIVM which in few daies was yeelded vnto him The Bassa possessed of the citie thrust out all the inhabitants and leauing therein a garrison of Turks returned againe to the campe at SCODRA At the same time the great Bassa of ASIA was also sent by Mahomet against DRIVASTO a citie also of the Venetians which when hee had besieged and sore battered by the space of sixteene dayes the great tyrant came thither in person himselfe and the next day after his comming tooke the citie without any great resistance Such as hee found vpon the wals he put to the sword of the rest he tooke three hundred away with him vnto the campe at SCODRA and there in the face of the citie caused them all to be cruelly slain of purpose so to terrifie the defendants The next day after hee sent the great Bassa of CONSTANTINOPLE to LYSSA called also ALESSA a citie of the Venetians situated vpon the riuer Drinus about thirtie miles from SCODRA The Bassa comming thither found the citie desolate for the citizens hearing of his comming were for feare before fled for which cause he set the citie on fire Here the Turks digged vp the bones of the worthie prince Scanderbeg for the superstitious opinion they had of the vertue of them and happie was he that could get any little part thereof to set in gold or other jewell 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 vnto the discretion of Achmetes By whose persuasion he leauing a great power for the continuing of the siege departed thence himselfe with fortie thousand souldiors for CONSTANTINOPLE cursing and banning by the way all the countrey of EPIRVS all the inhabitants therein and euery part thereof their corne their cattell whatsoeuer els was fruitfull but aboue all other things the citie of SCODRA with all that therein was for that he had neuer receiued greater dishonour or losse than there After his departure which was about the seuenth of September the two great Bassaes of CONSTANTINOPLE and ASIA according to order before taken built a great bridge ouer the riuer Boliana and on either side a strong castle to the intent that no releefe should that way bee brought into the citie Which worke when they had brought to perfection and furnished both castles with garrisons ordinance and all things necessarie they left Achmetes Bassa with fortie thousand souldiours to continue the siege and returned themselues the one to CONSTANTINOPLE and the other into ASIA The warie and politicke Bassa mindfull of the charge he had taken vpon him tooke such order that no releefe could possibly be brought vnto the citie either by land or by water and so lying still before it a long time brought it at length into such distresse and want of all things that the poore Christians were faine to eat all manner of vncleane and loathsome things horses were daintie 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 guâ—s All these bare shifts and extremities the poore Christians were content to endure euen vnto the last gaspe rather than to yeeld themselues into the hands of their mercilesse enemies Whilest SCODRA thus lay in the suds the Venetians wearie of the long and chargeable warre they had to their great losse now maintained against so mightie an enemie by the space of sixteene yeares and hauing no meanes to releeue their distressed subjects in SCODRA thought it best to proue if they could procure a peace from the tyrant For which purpose they sent Benedictus Triuisanus a graue Senatour and a man of great experience to CONSTANTINOPLE who so well vsed the matter that after long debating too and fro at length a peace was concluded whereof the cheefe capitulations were That the Venetians should deliuer vnto Mahomet the citie of SCODRA the island of LEMNOS and the strong castle of TENARVS in PELOPONESVS and pay him yearely eight thousand duckats That they might freely after their wonted manner trafficke into the Euxine by the straits of Hellespontus and Bosphorus Thracius other parts of his dominions Concerning the citizens of SCODRA it was comprised in the same peace That it should bee at their owne choice either to liue there still vnder the gouernment of the Turkish emperour or els at their pleasure to depart in safetie with their goods whether they would Triuisanus hauing in this manner concluded a peace in his returne homeward the fourth of Aprill found the Venetian Admirall riding at anker in the mouth of Boliana from whence they both by letters certified the Gouernour and citizens of SCODRA in what manner the peace was concluded with the Turke and what prouision was therein made for them Vpon receit of which letters the gouernor calling together the citizens declared vnto them how the case stood and there with them entered into consultation vpon this hard question Whether they would remaine there still in their natiue country vnder the Turkish tyrannie or forsaking the same liue amongst other Christians in perpetuall exile But after the matter had beene throughly debated and
for which cause the Bassa began to haue him in distrust which Frapaine perceiuing fled by night againe vnto the RHODES and discouered vnto the Great Master all the secrets of the Turkes campe The Turkes continuing the batterie had sore shaken the aforesaid tower called S. Nicholas and beaten downe some part thereof which the Christians with great industrie speedily repaired in best sort they could For all that the Turks gaue therunto a fierce assault by the space of six houres forcing themselues to the vttermost to haue taken it but perceiuing that it preuailed them nothing they retired hauing lost eight hundred of their men with manie others drowned in the sea of whom the number was not knowne and a thousand others sore wounded Mesithes disappointed of his former purpose bent his artillerie against the wals of the citie and with continuall batterie had made a faire breach But Damboyse foreseeing the danger had with great labour cast vp such rampiers with a countermure before the breach that the Bassa durst not in anie case aduenture to enter the breach he had made For performance of this so necessarie a worke the captaines themselues refused not to put to their helping hands by whose example all the rest of the people which were able to doe anie thing being moued willingly employed their labour vntill the worke was fully finished Whilest these things were in doing Cali-Bassa the younger a great courtier was sent from Mahomet to see with what successe the siege went forward Vpon whose arriuall it was giuen out through all the Turks campe That Mahomet was in person himselfe comming to the siege with an hundred thousand men and an hundred and fiftie peeces of great ordinance These news of purpose deuised to the terrour of the defendants being blowne out of the campe into the citie strucke an exceeding great feare into the mindes of some of the defendants and so discouraged the Spaniards with their nigh neighbors that came from NAVAR that they began openly to reason in their conuenticles That it was not possible for the citie to be defended against such a power and therefore after an insolent manner desired leaue to be gone to the great discouragement of the rest The Great Master vnderstanding of their doings sent for these mutinous Spaniards and after he had sharpely reprooued them both of disorder and cowardise promised to ship them away forthwith out of the isle saying That he doubted not right well to defend the citie against the greatest power of the Turke without the helpe of such base minded cowards In the meane time he commanded them to surcease from their mutinous talke threatning otherwise to make them examples to others what it were so much to forget themselues But these Spaniards shortly after better considering of the matter and what a dishonour it would be both to themselues and their nation if they should so dishonourably be sent away repenting themselues of that they had done came and craued pardon of the Great Master and to redeeme their former fault in all sallies and seruices during that siege shewed themselues most valiant and forward men for all that the Great Master would neuer afterwards trust them in any seruice alone The Bassa attempting much and preuailing little thought it would much further his designes if he could by anie meanes take the Great Master out of the way by whose carefull pollicie he saw all his deuises still countermaunded wherefore to bring this his purpose to passe he practised by the meanes of one Ianus a Dalmatian to poyson him This Ianus hauing conceiued this treason from the Bassa was receiued into the citie of the RHODES as a Christian fugitiue fled from the Turkes where hee acquainted himselfe with one Pythius an Epiroâ— of great familiaritie with Marius Philelphus of late secretarie vnto Damboyse but as then out of fauour and in disgrace for that he was partaker with the Spaniards in the late mutinie Ianus by the meanes of Pythius whom he had now throughly corrupted sought after Philelphus who then as hee right well knew liued discontented as a fit instrument whereby to worke this treason for that he was a man well acquainted with the cookes and butlers and other seruitours in the Great Masters house and himselfe yet there verie conuersant also Pythius presuming of his old acquaintance and familiaritie with Philelphus and waiting vpon his melancholie humour began to persuade him to reuenge the disgrace he liued in and withall to shew him the meanes how to doe it by poysoning of the Great Master which might as he said fall out to his greater good than he was yet aware of Philelphus making semblant as if he had not disliked of the motion was desirous to know of him what farther benefit might thereby arise vnto him more than reuenge To whom Pythius forthwith shewed the Bassaes letters to Ianus whereby hee assured him that whatsoeuer he should promise vnto anie man for the furtherance of the practice he would to the full performe the same Philelphus hauing got full vnderstanding of the treason presently discouered the same to Damboyse By whose commandement Ianus and Pythius were straightwaies apprehended and being examined confessed the treason for which Ianus lost his head and Pythius as hee had well deserued was shamefully hanged Philelphus for his fidelitie was pardoned his former errour and againe receiued into the Great Masters fauour The Bassa vnderstanding that the treason was discouered and the traitours executed was much grieued therewith Neuerthelesse he ceased not with continuall batterie to shake the citie but especially the tower of S. Nicholas for the assailing whereof he made wonderfull preparation Amongst other things he had framed a great bridge staied with strong ropes and cables ouer a short fret of the sea betwixt the place of his batterie and the same tower whereon six men might march a breast in which deuise he reposed great hope But as the Turkes were making fast this bridge and had as they thought brought the worke to a good perfection Geruaise Rogers an English man of great courage and verie skilfull in sea matters found meanes by night to cut and breake in sunder all the ropes and cables wherewith the bridge was staied which now loose was by the violence of the sea quickly carried away and the Turkes disappointed of their purpose For which good seruice he was by the Great Master honorably rewarded and of him in publike audience highly commended Yet was the furious batterie by the Bassa still maintained and a new bridge framed vpon small boats and lighters fast moored with cables and anchors and diuers peeces of great ordinance placed in fusts and gallies So that the tower was at one time battered both by sea and land the defendants assailed with small shot and arrowes innumerable and the tower at the same instant desperatly scaled But Damboyse had so placed his great ordinance that with the force therof the bridge was broken in sunder
difficultie of the siege and now readie to goe in person himselfe against the Sultan of AEGIPT sent for the Bassa and that so the siege was raised Howsoeuer it was the Bassa before his departure caused all the vines and trees growing in that part of the island to be cut downe and spoiled and so after he had poured forth his furie vpon the sencelesse creatures which he could not according to his desire exercise vpon the people againe embarked his armie and with shame departed the 17 day of August At the same time that the RHODES was thus besieged Mahomet sent his old and most expert captain Achmetes Bassa with a great fleet and a strong armie to make an entrance into ITALIE for no kingdom was so strong which the ambitious tyrant in the pride of his heart thought not hee might now commaund and hauing long before conquered CONSTANTINOPLE otherwise called New ROME was still dreaming I wot not what of the conquest of old ROME also The mischeeuous Bassa according to his great masters designs embarked his armie at VALLONA otherwise called AVLONA a sea towne in the borders of MACEDONIA and from thence passing directly ouer that narrow sea which is in breadth about sixtie miles landed his men in that rich and fertile part of ITALIE called in antient time APVLIA now PVGLIA neer vnto the old and famous citie of HYDRVNTVM at this day called OTRANTO where as soone as this warlike Bassa had landed his forces he forraged all that rich country alongst the sea coast and tooke such infinit spoile as might well haue satisfied the greedie desire both of himselfe and of his hungrie soldiors all which rich bootie he caused to be conueyed vnto his gallies So when he had at his pleasure raunged vp and downe the countrey by the space of foureteene dayes and saw that none made head against him he laid siege to OTRANTO the cheefe citie of that countrey and as it were the key of that part of ITALIE and hauing with such ordinance as he tooke out of his gallies made a breach easily entred the same and so without any great losse tooke the citie A thing not greatly to be maruelled at for as much as it was but weakly manned and more weakely defended by men altogether liuing in securitie in the middest of their wealth and pleasure The Archbishop with Zurlo the Gouernour and the cheefe men of the citie for safegard of their liues fled into the great cathedrall church as into a sanctuarie where they were altogether most miserably slaine The rest of the citizens whose hard fortune it was to escape the sword as people reserued to more miserie were afterward shipped ouer into GRECIA and there sold for slaues The landing of the Turkes in APVLIA with the taking of OTRANTO brought a generall feare vpon all ITALIE insomuch that Sixtus Quartus then the great Bishop of ROME forgetting all things saue himselfe was about to haue forsaken the citie for feare Now after the Turkes had at their pleasure ransackt OTRANTO Achmetes caused the same to be strongly fortified as the sure footing of the Turkes in ITALIE and victualled for eighteene moneths and there leauing eight thousand of his best souldiors in garrison returned himselfe with the rest to VALLONA and so by land to CONSTANTINOPLE to know his great Masters further pleasure but purposing with himselfe with the first of the next Spring to haue returned with greater forces againe into ITALIE for the prosecuting of his former victorie Which if he had done it was greatly to haue been feared that all that goodly countrey sometime mistresse of the world but then and yet also rent in sunder by the discord and ambition of the Christian princes had in short time become a prey vnto the barbarous Turke for euer But whilest the great Bassa in his life time the great scourge of Christendome thus proudly plotteth the ruine and destruction of faire ITALIE God in whose hands the hearts of kings are put an hooke in the great tyrants nose and led him quite another way For at the same time the Caramanian king aided by the Persian and the Sultan of AEGIPT had in a great battaile ouerthrowne Baiazet Mahomets eldest sonne then liuing and slaine most part of his armie in reuenge whereof Mahomet with great expedition raised a great and puissant armie and taking Achmetes with him as his cheefe man of war rejecting the wars of ITALIE vnto a more conuenient time passed ouer into ASIA where vpon the way about a daies journey short of NICOMEDIA a citie of BYTHINIA at a place called GEIVISEN he fell sicke and there for the space of three dayes greeuously tormented with an extreame paine in his bellie which some supposed to be the collicke died but being indeed as most men thought poysoned when hee had liued about 52 yeares and thereof raigned 31 in the yeare of our Lord 1481. His bodie was afterwards magnificently buried in a chappell neere vnto the great Mahometane temple which he himselfe first built at CONSTANTINOPLE The death of this mightie man who liuing troubled a great part of the world was not much more lamented by those that were neerest vnto him who euer liuing in feare of his crueltie hated him deadly than of his enemies who euer in doubt of his greatnesse were glad to heare of his end He was of stature but low and nothing answerable to the height of his mind square set and strong limmed not inferiour in strength when he was yong vnto any in his fathers court but to Scanderbeg onely his complexion was Tartarlike sallow and melancholie as were most of his ancestours the Othoman kings his looke and countenance sterne with his eyes piercing hollow and little sunke as it were in his head and his nose so high and crooked that it almost touched his vpper lip To be breefe his countenance was altogether such as if nature had with most cunning hand therein depainted and most curiously set forth to view the inward disposition and qualities of his mind which were on both parts notable Hee was of a very sharpe and apprehensiue wit learned as amongst that nation especially in Astronomie and could speak the Greek Latine Arabicke Chaldey and Persian tongues He delighted much in reading of histories and the liues of worthie men especially the liues of Alexander the Great and of Iulius Caesar whom he proposed to himselfe as examples to follow He was of an exceeding courage and thereto very fortunate a seuere punisher of injustice in them especially to whom hee had committed the administration of justice Men that excelled in any qualitie he greatly fauoured and honourably entertained as he did Gentill Bellin a painter of VENICE whom he purposely caused to come from thence to CONSTANTINOPLE to draw the liuely counterfeit of himselfe for which he most bountifully rewarded him He so seuerely punished theft as that in his time all the wayes were safe and a theefe scarcely
strong townes alongst the coast of CALABRIA and SALERNE such a sudden feare fell vpon the Turkes garrisons alongst the coast of EPIRVS and MACEDONIA on the other side of the Adriaticke ouer against that part of ITALIE that many of them forsooke their charge the Christians in those places as also in GRaeCIA and PELOPONESVS beginning then to lift vp their heads in hope of their deliuerance and to make the best preparation they could to joyne with the French against the Turks but especially the rough and wild people inhabiting the high mountaines called ACROCERAVNII in the borders of EPIRVS who presently tooke vp armes refusing to be any longer tributaries vnto the Turkish emperour This prosperous and speedie successe of the French king in the conquest of NAPLES filled the minds of most of the Christian princes as also of the Turkish emperour with a doubtfull expectation whither his greatnesse would grow many being of opinion that he couertly affected the empire of ROME and to make himselfe the sole monarch of ITALIE Which conceit no little troubled both the great Bishop Alexander and Maximilian then emperour Baiazet also feared much least he should vpon the suddaine turne his forces into EPIRVS or GRaeCIA to his no small disquiet And Ferdinand the aduised king of SPAINE was no lesse carefull for the safetie of SICILIA Lodouicus Sfortia also shortly after created duke of MILLAN the cheefe occasion of the French kings comming into ITALIE and a great aider of him in those warres began now to consider better of the matter and to stand in doubt of the king whom hee well perceiued to make small reckoning of his word or promise so that he might thereby enlarge his dominions And the Venetians who in all these warres had stood looking on as neuters in hope that when the Aragonians and French had with long warres which they vainely imagined well weakened one another that they might then at their pleasure share out something for themselues were now in doubt with the rest of the states of ITALIE to lose some part of their owne territorie for now there was no prince or state in ITALIE able to oppose themselues against the French but stood as it were all at his deuotion Wherefore the aforesaid princes namely Maximilian the emperour Ferdinand king of SPAINE Alexander Bishop of ROME the state of VENICE and Lodouicus Sfortia duke of MILLAN for the more assurance of their estates by their embassadors speedily sent from one to another concluded a strong league amongst themselues whereof the cheefe capitulation was That if any of these confederates should vpon their owne accord make war vpon any other prince they should doe it vpon their owne charges but if any of them should chance to be inuaded by any other that then euery one of these confederates should of their owne charge send foure thousand horse and ten thousand foot in aid of their confederate so inuaded vntill the wars were ended which league was to endure for twentie yeares The fame of this league was welcome to many other princes but especially to Baiazet who now feared nothing more than the forces of the French and therefore had offered vnto the Venetians to aid them both by sea and land against the French if their affaires should so require This league so much pleased not other princes but it troubled the French king more as of purpose made against him although it was by the confederates pretended to be made onely for their owne safetie Wherefore he with all expedition placed his best captaines with strong garrisons in all the cities and strong holds of the kingdome of NAPLES and left Mompenser his viceroy in the citie of NAPLES and with the rest of his armie returned towards FRAVNCE purposing by the way as he went to terrifie the dissembling Bishop so if it were possible to draw him from the league and afterwards to deale with Sfortia and the rest as he might But when he was come neere vnto ROME the Bishop for feare fled out of the citie to PERVSIVM intending from thence to haue fled to VENICE if the French king should haue further pursued him Charles deceiued of his purpose in peaceable manner entered the citie and there stayed three dayes and so departed vsing violence against none but against such as were well knowne to be of the Aragonian faction From ROME hee marched to PISA and so with much paine passing the Appenines was at the riuer of Tarrus not farre from PARMA set vpon by Franciscus Gonzaga duke of MANTVA generall of a great armie which the Venetians and Sfortia had raised vpon the sudden to haue stopped his passage in which battaile he was in great danger to haue beene taken or slaine and there lost his tents with all the rich spoile gotten in the rich kingdome of NAPLES yet hauing at length with great slaughter valiantly repulsed his enemies he afterwards returned in safetie home About the same time that this battell was fought at Tarrus the young king Ferdinand lately driuen out of his kingdome by the French king returned againe out of SICILIA to NAPLES where he was joyfully receiued of the Neapolitanes and by the helpe of his friends but especially of the great Consaluus sent in his aid by Ferdinand king of SPAINE in lesse than a yeares space recouered the kingdome of NAPLES againe from the French and then dying without issue left the same vnto his vncle Federicus wherein the vncertainetie of worldly honours the cheefe felicitie of ambitious minds is well to be noted when as in that one kingdome the cheefe gouernment was six times changed in lesse than the space of three yeares For first Ferdinand the elder dying left that kingdome vnto his sonne Alphonsus at such time as the French king was making preparation for these warres Alphonsus despairing of his owne forces resigned the kingdome to his sonne Ferdinand when he had scarcely raigned fully a yeare Ferdinand in lesse than three moneths was driuen quite out of ITALIE by Charles the French king Charles possessed of the kingdome in short time after was againe dispossessed by the same Ferdinand Ferdinand hauing with much trouble thrust out the French died within lesse than a yeare After whom succeeded Federicus his vncle no lesse vnfortunate than the rest And Charles the French king himselfe liued not long after but died suddenly as he came from playing at Tennise being then but seuen and twentie yeares old leauing the flourishing kingdome of FRANCE with the troublesome title pretended to the kingdome of NAPLES vnto Lewes his successour who liued with great trouble to conquer the same and with greater greefe to loose it againe But to returne againe to the course of our historie from whence the great occurrents of that time not altogether impertinent to our purpose haue a little too farre led vs. Baiazet deliuered of two great feares first by the death of his brother Zemes and after by the casting out
things he could desire Hysmaell there entertained with the greatest honours that the fearefull citisens could possibly attribute vnto him did oftentimes preach vnto them of the truth and excellencie of his fathers doctrine and withall gaue out straight proclamations That he would account all them for his enemies which did not within the space of thirtie dayes renounce their old superstition and receiue this new found veritie as he would haue it Wherefore for as much as on the one side were proposed most certaine rewards by the happie course of his victories and on the other was threatened exile and torture to such as should obstinatly persist in their opinion in short time hee drew all the vulgar people to embrace his new doctrine And afterwards hauing payed his souldiors with the riches of that great citie he gallantly furnished both his old and new souldiors that wanted armour with most excellent armour and furniture for in that citie one of the greatest and most famous of the East were many shops full of all kind of armour which the armourers with wonderfull cunning vsed to make of yron and steele and the juice of certaine hearbes of much more notable temper beautie than are those which are made with vs in EVROPE not onely headpeeces cuirasses and complete armors but whole caparisons for horses curiously made of thin plates of yron and steele Departing from SCVRAS he tooke also the great cities of SAPHA supposed to haue been the citie in antient time called SVSA and SVLTANIA which for the wonderfull ruines of the huge buildings is deemed to haue been the antient and famous citie TIGRANOCERTA These great matters quickely dispatched and hauing in euery citie placed gouernours of his owne sect hee passed ouer the riuer of TIGRIS into MESOPOTAMIA of purpose to expulse Moratchamus the late kings brother out of BABILON who was yet in armes and had entended as is before said to haue passed into ARMENIA to haue joyned his forces with the king his brother but now terrified with his brothers calamitie who together with a most puissant armie and the strength of the Persian kingdome was in one day fallen from the height of so great a fortune thought it not best to trie his fortune in the field against so fortunate an enemie but forthwith to withdraw himselfe into the remotest places of that large kingdome and from thence to expect some better fortune For he well knew that he was not able to withstand his victorious enemy now leading after him a most puissant armie who not long before had with a small power vanquished slain his brother in a great battell Hysmaell now by the greatnesse of his fame and forces and as it were by the fauor of God himselfe become a terror to all the princes of the East entered into MESOPOTAMIA after the flight of Moratchamus receiued all that great prouince into his subjection euery man as it were striuing who should first by his speedy submission purchase the fauor of the victorious conqueror To be breefe Moratchamus alreadie terrified and reposing no great hope in himselfe or his own power neither deeming it for his safetie to shut himselfe vp within the wals of any strong citie trussed vp his things of greatest price and with his wiues and children fled into ARABIA This Moratchamus is he whom some historiographers call Mara Beg and is in the Turkes histories called Imirsa Beg who as they report afterwards marrying the daughter of Baiazet and recouering part of the Persian kingdome was suddenly murthered by some of his nobilitie whom he purposed secretly to haue put to death if they had not preuented the same by murthering of him first Hysmaell hauing victoriously subdued a great part of the Persian kingdome and filled all the East part of the world with the glorie of his name returned out of ASSYRIA into MEDIA and tooke in such cities and strong holds as were yet holden by the garrisons of the late Persian king And afterwards returning into ARMENIA made wars vpon the Albanians Iberians and Scythians which dwell vpon the borders of the Caspian For that those nations in auntient times tributaries vnto the Persian kings taking the benefit of the long ciuile warres wherewith the kingdome of PERSIA and all the Easterne countries with the ruine of the kings house had been of late turmoiled had neither paied anie tribute by the space of foure yeares nor sent anie honourable embassage as they were wont and as was expected especially in so great a victorie and alteration of the state Hysmaell hauing thus obtained the Persian kingdome in short time became famous through the world and was justly accounted amongst the greatest monarchs of that age But nothing made him more to be spoken of than the innouation he had made in the Mahometane superstition for by his deuise and commaundement a new forme of prayer was brought into their Mahometane temples farre differing from that which had been of long time before vsed By reason whereof Ebubekir Homer and Osman the successours of their great prophet Mahomet before had in great regard and reuerence began now to be contemned their writings nothing regarded and the honour of Hali exalted as the true and onely successour of their great prophet And because he would haue his subjects and the followers of his doctrine knowne from the Turkes and other Mahometanes he commaunded that they should all weare some red hatband lace or riband vpon their heads which they religiously obserue in PERSIA vntill this day whereof they are of the Turkes called Cuselbas or Redheads And in short time he had so vsed the matter that he was wonderfully both beloued and reuerenced of his subjects insomuch that his sayings were accounted for diuine oracles and his commaundements for lawes So that when they would confirme anie thing by solemne oath they would sweare by the head of Hysmaell the king and when they wished well to anie man they vsually said Hysmaell grant thee thy desire Vpon his coine which he made both of siluer and gold on the one side was written these words La illahe illalahu Muhamedun resul allahe which is to say There are no gods but one and Mahomet is his messenger And on the other side Ismaill halife lullahe which is to say Hysmaell the Vicar of God Whilest Hysmaell was thus wrestling for the Persian kingdome Chasan Chelife and Techellis whom wee haue a little before declared to haue beene brought out of the mountaines and desarts into the countrey villages and afterwards into the cities and to haue filled the countries of ARMENIA and a great part of the Lesser ASIA with the noueltie of their new doctrine and opinions first phantasied by one Giunet Siech and afterward reuiued by Haider Erdebill Hysmaell his father hauing gathered a great armie of such as had receiued their doctrine inuaded the Turkes dominion For after that Techellis this cold prophet had with wonderfull felicitie in the
the fact and to carrie the first newes thereof to Selymus secretly conuayed himselfe away and fled in hast to CONSTANTINOPLE But Baiazet attainted with the force of the poyson began first to feele most greeuous gripings in his stomacke the strong paine whereof appeared by his miserable complaining and heauie groning in the midst of which torments he gaue vp the ghost in the yeare 1512 when he had raigned thirtie yeares The Turkes report that he died a naturall death but Antonius Vtrius a Genoway who at that time serued in Baiazet his chamber and was present at his death reporteth That vpon his dead bodie the euident tokens of poyson were to bee seene His dead bodie with all his treasures were presently brought backe againe to CONSTANTINOPLE and deliuered to Selymus who caused the bodie of his father to be with the greatest solemnitie that might be buried in a most sumptuous tombe in a chappell neer vnto the great Mahometane temple which he had before built for himselfe at CONSTANTINOPLE which monument there remaineth at this day to bee seene His seruants were all by Selymus restored to their places which they before held in the Court in the time of their old master excepting fiue of the pages of his chamber who lamenting the death of their master aboue the rest had attired themselues all in mourning apparell for which cause they were by the commaundement of Selymus cast in prison where two of them were put to death the other three at the sute of Solyman Selymus his sonne and of other two Bassaes were saued but being stript of their rich apparrell and whatsoeuer els they had gotten vnder Baiazet they were enrolled for common souldiors vnder Sullustares Bassa Of these three this Antonius Vtrius the Genoway before spoken of was one who after ten yeares miserable captiuitie amongst the Turks at last escaped at such time as Selymus was by the Persian discomfited and with much adoe returning againe into ITALIE writ the historie of all such things as hee himselfe had there seene with the calamities of Baiazet his house and a great part of the tyrannous raigne of Selymus Hamon the false Iew as the same author reporteth comming to CONSTANTINOPLE and expecting some great reward for his foule treason by the commaundement of Selymus had his head presently strucke off with this exprobation of his trecherie That oportunitie seruing hee would not sticke for reward to doe the like against Selymus himselfe Of this Baiazet Ianus Vitalis writeth this Elogium Dum rerum exquiris causas dum procul Hunnes Carmannos Cilices Sauromatasque domas Baiazete domi proles tua te petit armis Et te per fraudes amouet imperio Adijcit inde nouum sceleri scelus tibi miscet Pocula lethiferis illita graminibus Intempestiuos crudelis vipera foetus Per sua sic tandem funera rupta parit Quid tutum est cui sint ingentia regna tiranno Si timeat natos progeniemque suam In English thus Whilest that thou Baiazethes seekes of things the hidden cause And faine wouldst bring the Hunne and Russe vnder thy Turkish laws Thy sonne at home steps vp in armes against thy royall crowne And by false treason and deceit finds meanes to plucke thee downe Whereto he addeth mischeefe more and straight without delay By poyson strong in glittering boule doth take thy life away The cruell viper so brings forth her foule vntimely brood Which eat and gnaw her bellie out their first and poysoned food What things may princes hold for safe that do great kingdomes sway If of their children they must stand in dread and feare alway R. K. FINIS Christian princes of the same time with Baiazet the second Emperors of Germanie Frederick the third Archduke of Austria 1440. 54. Maximilian the first 1494. 25. Kings Of England Edward the fourth 1460. 22. Edward the fifth 1483. 0. Richard the third 1483. 3. Henrie the seuenth 1485. 24. Henrie the eight 1509. 38. Of Fraunce Lewis the eleuenth 1461. 22. Charles the eight 1483. 14. Lewis the twelfth 1497. 17 Of Scotland Iames the third 1460. 29. Iames the fourth 1489. 25. Bishops of Rome Xystus the IIII. 1471. 13. Innotentius the VIII 1484. 8. Alexander the VI. 1492. 11. Pius the III. 1503. 26 daies Iulius the II. 1503. 9. SELYMVS SELYMVS PRIMVS TVRCARVM IMPERATOR TERTIVS FLORVIT AN o 1512 En Selymus scelere ante alios immanior omnes In patris fratrum dirigit arma necem In Persas mouet inde ferox Memphitica regna Destruit Syros Aethiopasque domat Hinc in Christicolas irarum effundere fluctus Ipsorumque imo vertere regna parat Cùm diro victus prosternitur vlcere Christus Scilicet est populi portus aura sui Lo Selymus in crueltie exceeding others farre His father and his brethren both destroies with mortall warre The Persian fiercely he assailes and conquers Aegypts land The Sirian and the Mooâ—e likewise he tam'd with mightie hand But purposing in his mad mood the Christians to confound And the memoriall of their name to roote from off the ground A loathsome Canker eat him vp and brought him to his end Christ is to his the safest port when he will them defend THE LIFE OF SELYMVS FIRST OF THAT NAME THE THIRD AND MOST WARLIKE EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES THis Selymus by fauour of the great Bassaes and men of war whom he had before corrupted hauing depriued his father Baiazet first of the empire and shortly after of his life also and now fully possessed of the empire himselfe first tooke view of the treasures which the Turkish kings and emperors his auncestors had before of long time heaped vp in great aboundance out of which hee gaue vnto the souldiours of the court two millions of duckets and for a perpetuall remembrance of his thankfulnesse towards them augmented their daily wages allowing vnto euerie horseman four aspers a day and to euerie footman two aboue their wonted allowance By which exceeding bountie he greatly assured vnto himselfe the minds of the men of warre Shortly after he passed ouer with a great armie into ASIA leauing the gouernment of the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE vnto his onely sonne Solyman and marching into GALATIA came to the citie of ANCYRA in hope there to haue oppressed his elder brother Achomates But he vnderstanding before of his comming withall wisely considering how vnable he was to withstand his forces fled before into the mountaines of CAPADOCIA vpon the confines of ARMENIA taking vp men by the way as he went and praying aid of all sorts of people yea euen of such as were but of small abilitie themselues and vnto him meere strangers that so hee might in best manner he could prouide such strength as might serue him to make head against his brother and for the recouerie of ASIA Selymus hauing spent that sommer without doing anie thing worth the speaking of and considering that he
they had which commonly enforceth mens courages in their last attempts they renewed the battell with such resolution that they constrained the Turks to retire a great way and for hast to leaue behind them certaine of their field pieces With which repulse it is reported that Selymus dispairing of victorie commaunded to set fire vpon the houses moued thereunto with just displeasure against the Aegyptians for that Ionuses Bassa now his greatest man of warre had euen then before his face receiued a dangerous wound in his head by a stone cast out at a window Now were the houses pittifully burning and the Aegyptians weeping and wailing cried for mercie The Turkes themselues fought but faintly expecting the sound of the retrait when news was suddenly brought by many at once that the enemies in the other side of the citie were by Mustapha Bassa enforced to retire and afterward had betaken themselues to flight as to theâ— last refuge For Mustapha by the ouerture of the Aegyptians and fugitiue Mamalukes was directed to a faire broad street where the Mamalukes had left their horses readie sadled brideled that if the worst should chaunce they might thither retire and taking horse speed themselues to such places of refuge as they had before thought vpon All these horses reserued by the Mamalukes as their last refuge Mustapha tooke away hauing before put to flight the garrison which kept them which was but weake consisting for most part of horseboies and muletours as 〈◊〉 ynough in such a place of the citie as was least to be suspected or feared This accident as it oftentimes falleth out in great and vnexpected mischances did not a little daunt the courage of the Mamalukes who now seeing themselues hardly beset and that dreadfull battell by no other hope or helpe maintained but onely by courage being in their owne judgement ouercome betooke themselues to flight Most part of them hasting to the riuer of Nilus with Tomombeius who in that battell had all in vaine proued the vttermost of his prowesse and policie being transported ouer the riuer in boats fled into the countrey of SEGâ—STâ— others of them hid themselues in the houses of the Aegyptians and in the loathsome comers of the citie A thousand fiue hundred of the better sort of the Mamalukes fled vnto the greatest temple of their vaine prophet where after they had a great while valiantly defended themselues as out of a strong castle because they would not yeeld themselues but vpon honourable conditions at last ouercome with thirst wearinesse and wounds together with the furie of the great artillerie they yeelded themselues to the pleasure of the conquerour part of whom the furious souldiors slew in the porch of the same temple and the rest within a few dayes after were sent downe the riuer to ALEXANDRIA there to be afterwards murthered Selymus hauing thus gained the victorie forthwith sent part of his armie to quench the fire then raging and caused proclamation to be made through all the citie That all the Mamalukes which would yeeld themselues within twelue houres should be taken to mercie but vnto such as yeelded not within the appointed time should remaine no hope of life Vnto the Aegyptians also that should reueale the hidden Mamalukes he proposed rewards but vnto such as should conceale them he threatened to empaile them vpon stakes and hauing sold their wiues children to burne their houses vpon which proclamation many of the Mamalukes before crept into corners came forth and yeelded themselues and were forthwith cast into yrons All which were shortly after contrarie to his promise most dishonourably murthered in prison because as it was giuen out they sought meanes to haue escaped Many of the Aegyptians which would not breake the bonds of faith and fidelitie with the Mamalukes their old lords being appeached by their malicious neighbours most constantly died for their friends for whose sake they had vowed themselues to death With this victorie the Turkes growing insolent ransackt euery place of the citie drew out the Mamalukes that had hid themselues and slew them rifled the houses of the Aegyptians as well friends as foes and left nothing shut vp or in secret And some there were which at one time in the same house raged with couetousnesse crueltie and lust euery man fitting his owne humour whereunto he was by nature or custome enclined for that in time and place of so great libertie most men but especially the common souldior flattereth himselfe to the full making conscience of nothing but measuring all thing according to his insolent and disordered appetite The same day that Selymus tooke CAIRE Gazelles who but a little before by the commandement of Tomombeius was gone to THEBAIS to assemble the Arabians and to entâ—â—taine new supplies came to CAIRE but finding all lost and seeing no possibilitie either by force or policie to preuaile and therefore thinking it not good againe to proue the fortune of warre which had so often with contrarie course frustrated the endeuours both of himselfe and his partakers he came to Selymus vpon his faith before giuen for the safetie of himselfe his followers which were three Arabian captaines and a number of good horsemen and being admitted to his presence in the middest of his greatest captaines boldly spake vnto him as followeth If fortune whom by thy great valour thou hast woon to be thy friend had not enuied our felicitie thou shouldest not haue most noble Selymus at this time after that all things haue giuen place vnto thy valour matter whereby thou mightest excell others in worthinesse of mind also Whilest we were in armes against thee for our liues and kingdome our wealth and state yet standing whole we alwaies as men proudly presuming vpon their owne vaine strength made little account of thee or the name of the Turkes yea to say the truth we hated thee as became enemies But now that we haue to the vttermost of our power made proofe of thy force and haue in all battel 's beene put to the worse admiring both thy wonderfull and diuine prowesse and most prosperous victories not giuen thee without the prouidence of the immortall God we humbly come â—nto thee by thy goodnesse to better our hard and aduerse fortune that thou by sparing and pardoning thy vanquished and yeelding enemies by which onely vertue men come neerest vnto the gods maiest extend thy name and fame aboue the bounds of the rest of thine immortall glorie We haue faithfully serued Tomombeius so long as he held the strength and maiestie yea but the name of a king or liued in any countenance but seeing he is his destinie so requiring driuen out of his countrey and wandereth the deserts with vncertaine report whether he liue or not we come vnto thee rather as men of him forsaken than such as haue forsaken their prince readie to shew vnto thee our loyaltie and valour in our better condition and state if we may by thy goodnesse changing
our hard fortune liue and serue vnder thy worthie conduct Selymus for that he right well knew Gazelles both for his vertue and valour wherewith valiant men win credit euen with their greatest enemies and also desiring to joyne in league and friendship with the Arabians or rather Alarbes whom he knew of all others to be most to be feared receiued them all courteously appointing vnto euery one of them an honourable pention and persuading them to forget their old estate willed them to looke for farre greater things of his bountie Not long after when as the Moores and wild Arabians with certain Mamalukes that were fled to the citie of ACHASIA made incursions into the countrey about CAIRE and oftentimes did cut off the Turkes which went any thing farre from the citie to seeke abroad for forrage he sent Gazelles with part of his armie to represse them who hauing quickly woon and sackt ACHASIA and slaine most part of those aduenturers to his own great praise and the wonderfull contentation of Selymus honourably returned in lesse time than was expected In the meane time Tomombeius in the countrey of SEGESTA which is on the other side of Nilus towards CYRENAICA miserably beset with so many mischeefes began to make head againe There were come vnto him a strong companie of Mamalukes from ALEXANDRIA which he had by letters sent for out of the garrison of that citie and many others had followed him in his flight from CAIRE And there were not wanting many great men amongst the Arabians and Moores the inhabitants of that countrey which promised him their helpe and furtherance Beside that many of the Aegyptians whose houses and families were become a prey and bootie vnto the insolent Turkes promised him That if he would by night come to CAIRE they would raise such a tumult in the citie as should easily worke the confusion of the Turkes for as much as they all hauing endured most horrible indignities and villanies could no longer abide those most insolent men to rage and raigne ouer them They sent him word also that the Turkes huge armie was now brought to a contemptible number most part of them being slaine in the battell at CAIRE and the rest being for the greatest part brought to extreame weaknesse with wounds and sicknesse For which causes as Tomombeius his forces encreased dayly so hope also which neuer failed the poore vanquished and distressed king began now also to reuiue in his inuincible heart aboue the condition of his miserable estate So that fawning fortune which euen then most cruelly despightfully went about vtterly to supplant him of all other distressed princes most miserable seemed but then first to change her frowning countenance and to promise vnto him more happie and prosperous successe Whilest Tomombeius was making this preparation one Albuchomar an Aegyptian for authoritie and wealth the greatest man by farre in all the countrey of SEGESTA whether it were to auert the miserie of the present warre out of his countrey or els by the pleasure of his reuolt to gaine the good liking of Selymus vpon whom all things seemed to fawne came and certified him both of Tomombeius his strength of the new practises of the citisens of CAIRE Wherupon Selymus caused strong watch and ward to be kept in all places of that great citie and such citisens as hee suspected to fauour Tomombeius hee shut vp into the castle which being before abandoned by Tomombeius was then together with the citie in his possession and placed all alongst the riuer boats furnished with men and artillerie to keepe and defend the farther banke of Nilus and to impeach Tomombeius his passage ouer Yet considering with himselfe with how great danger he had so many times fought with those desperat enemies and what a difficultie it would be to intercept Tomombeius protracting the warre in those vast and vnknowne countries and still preparing greater forces without whom he could nothing assure himselfe of all his former victories to proue if he might be woon by clemencie and bountie he resolued to send embassadours vnto him to persuade him to lay downe armes and after so many ouerthrowes at length to acknowledge the fortune of the victor and withall to promise him vpon the faith of a prince That if he would come in and submit himselfe he should of the courtesie and bountie of the conqueror vpon conditions reasonable repossesse that his late kingdome which he should neuer be able by force to regaine But if he would needs desperatly proceed to make head againe forgetting this offered grace together with his owne disabilitie he should afterward when the matter was againe tried by battell by his owne just desert neuer more find at the hands of his angrie enemie any regard of his princely state or dignitie For Selymus seeing himselfe by the course of his victories drawne into a farre countrey and not without cause fearing with so small a power as hee had left to bee oppressed in that so great and populous a citie euen with the very multitude men of doubtfull faith thought it better by some honourable composition to assure himselfe of some great part of that he had woon than by going on to thrust himselfe with his armie into new dangers with the hazard of all Besides that he was certainely aduertised That the Mamalukes before fled into diuers countries were in euery place leuying new supplies of horsemen and that the fleet which was gone into the Arabian gulfe against the Portingales was dayly expected at the port SVEZZIA wherin were three thousand Mamalukes vnder the leading of Amyrases and Ray Salomon two expert captaines with great store of good brasse ordinance by which good helpes Tomombeius stood in faiâ—e possibilitie to recouer his former losses and to returne againe to CAIRE whether he was by his secret friends most earnestly inuited But aboue all things the care he had of the Persians most induced him to thinke of peace for feare that if the Bassa whom he had left at the mountaine TAVRVS should not be able to withstand the forces of the Persian king he should so be excluded out of ASIA the lesser and SYRIA also before his fleet could from CONSTANTINOPLE arriue with new supplies of men and victuall at ALEXANDRIA Wherefore hee sent certaine of the most reuerend of his Turkish religious and with them some of the most honourable Aegyptians embassadours to Tomombeius who passing ouer Nilus into the countrey SEGESTA were without further hearing with more than barbarous crueltie slaine by certaine Mamalukes which chaunced vpon them thinking thereby to gratifie Tomombeius as yet not knowing of any such matter to manifest their affection towards him as also that they were not desirous of any peace with the Turkes This proud and insolent fact vtterly brake Selymus his patience and shortly after made an end of that mortall warre together with the honour of the Mamalukes For he being a man of an hot and cruell
the sea defending the hauen vpon the right hand where sometime stood the great Colossus of the Sunne accounted the greatest amongst the seauen wonders of the world Which castle was both strongly and sumptuously built at the charges of the Dukes of BVRGVNDIE as appeared by their armes there engrauen in many places in marble This tower was valiantly defended by Guido a French man who had the charge thereof with 300 souldiours amongst whom were 30 knights of the Order The Turks artillerie planted against that tower was by the skilfulnesse of the Christian canoniers in short time dismounted with shot from the tower and many of the gunners slaine so that they were glad to surcease any more to batter the tower by day but lying still all the day they began to batter the same by night wherein they preuailed no more than they had before done in the day time for the defendants warily obseruing such places as were likest for the enemie to place his batterie in did so aptly place their ordinance against the same and to so good purpose that the Turkes swore heir doings were by some meanes discouered vnto the enemies So when they had in vaine bestowed 500 great shot and made a small breach which they durst not once attempt to enter they shamefully abandoned that place also All this while Pyrrhus was busie in working of mines to vndermine the citie two and thiâ—â—ie of which mines the defendants frustrated with countermines in which kind of worke many were lost on both sides yet for all the carefulnesse of the Christians the English bulwarke was vnderminded by the enemie and vpon the fourth day of September part therof blowne vp with such violence that vnto them in the citie it seemed at the first to be a generall earthquake and therewith diuers English men were there ouerwhelmed The Turks attempting presently to enter were by the Graund master and his followers with great slaughter repulsed But Mustapha the Bassa comming on with fresh supplies and crying out of the cowardise of them which retired renewed the assault where for a while was fought a most sharpe and cruell fight the leaders cheerfully encouraging their souldiours and they likewise doing what was possible for men to doe All mens eares were filled with the thundring of the shot noise of trumpets and drums and crying of men And vnto the Turkes it seemed that ouer their heads it rained deadly shot stones and fire for the townesmen and women mingled with the souldiours cast downe vpon the Turkes fire stones timber and whatsoeuer else came to hand so that they vnable longer to endure the courage and force of the Christians turned their backs and ran away by heapes not expecting any signe of retrait euerie man seeking to saue one amongst whom as they fled the great ordinance shot off from the wals made a wonderfull slaughter At this assault of the Turkes were slaine as some write almost 2000 and amongst them the master of the Turkes ordinance a man whom Solyman greatly loued which victorie the Christians gained not without some losse for besides some few others that were slaine fiftie knights of the Order men worthie of eternall memorie there ended their daies also The fift day after which was the ninth day of September Solyman by the persuasion of Mâ—stapha the great Bassa commaunded a fresh assault to be giuen to the English bulwarke which was attempted by the Turks with greater resolution than the first Seauen ensignes of the Turks were broken in by the ruines of the bulwarke and had enforced the defendants oppressed with number to giue ground when the Graund master comming in with the ensigne of the Order guarded with a companie of most valiant knights draue them out againe by force and made good the place Mustapha seeing his men retire couragiously restored the battell by bringing on of new supplie and other captaines with threats strokes and terror of death enforced the souldiours who had before turned their backs now againe to fight So that there began a more cruell fight than had before beene from the beginning of the siege which was vnto the Christians more dangerous for that they were ouerwhelmed with the multitude of the Turkish shot But in that extremitie no man regarded either danger or life onely this they remembred That those were their barbarous enemies whom they must either victoriously ouercome or die therefore with which furie the assault was continued by the space of three houres vntill at length Mustapha with his Turks discouraged with the losse of 2000 of their fellowes and of three great noble men whom Solyman especially fauoured and sore beaten by the Spaniards out of their flankers were enforced to retire Few of the Christians in respect of so many enemies were slaine yet had the ensigne of the Order been then lost Ioachimus Cluys the ensigne bearer hauing both his eies shot out had not Emericus Ruiaulx an Auernois and one of the knights of the Order with incredible courage rescued the same After this second assault falling out so vnluckily to the Turkes Mustapha the great Bassa began to grow in contempt with Solyman and Pyrrhus to keepe his credit by doing something with continuall batterie of 17 great pieces did batter the mount neere vnto the Italian bulwarke At which time also Cassius Gouernour of BITHYNIA another of the Turkes great commaunders laboured by vndermining to haue ouerthrowne the French bulwarke so glad they were to attempt any thing to content their imperious great lord and master But the endeuours of Cassius was by countermines through the carefull diligence of Gabriell Chierus hauing charge of those works frustrated and Pyrrhus in the other place after he had by hoat assault slaine them which were appointed for the defence thereof and gained the mount and brought a great feare vpon the citie was againe with great losse shamefully repulsed and by the commaundement of Solyman caused to retire At this assault the Gouernour of EVBOEA Solyman his lieutenant generall a man of great honor if any of the Turks slaues are so to be accounted was slaine for whose death Solyman was exceeding pensiue and heauie Mustapha the Bassa finding himselfe in disgrace with Solyman for the two vnfortunat assaults by him giuen at the English station determined if it were possible by a third to recouer his lost credit and for his better successe therin agreed with Achimetes another great Commander at the same time to assault the Spanish bulwarke according to this resolution Achimetes hauing with a mine suddenly blowne vp a great part of the wall of the Spanish station in the thicke of the dust and smoke presently entred his men who by the ruines of the wall recouered the top of the rampiers Mustapha also at the same instant hardly charged the English so that in both places was made a hard and doubtfull fight Mustapha desiring nothing more than with better successe now to redeeme his former dishonour did what he
fiftie thousand men set forward from HADRIANOPLE his Europeian horsemen going before him conducted by Abraham the great Bassa and Achomates Michael-ogli Generall of the Acanzij or voluntarie horsemen and his Asian souldiours led by Becrambeus Bassa following after him he himselfe with his Ianizaries and souldiours of the court keeping in the middle And marching on this sort came in fifteene daies to BELGRADE where king Iohn accompanied with Lascus and such of the Hungarian nobilitie as tooke his part came vnto him of purpose to make himselfe knowne vnto him which was to protect him and doing him all the honour he possibly could to request him to proceed to reuenge his quarrell Solyman with graue and yet friendly countenance raising himselfe a little from the cushion wheron he sat gaue him his right hand protesting That nothing could happen vnto him better or that he more desired of God than to be able to relieue distressed princes especially such as were wrongfully oppressed by his enemies wherefore he willed him to be of good comfort promising of his bountie frankly to bestow vpon him whatsoeuer he should in that warre win with the sword from the enemie King Iohn obtained this rare fauour of Solyman by the earnest mediation of Abraham the commaunding Bassa whom he had before at CONSTANTINOPLE by his embassadour Lascus so woon with gifts and requests that he thorowly tooke vpon him the defence of the kings cause wherein Lascus was especially holpen by Aloysius Grittus the Duke of VENICE his sonne who then followed the Turkes campe and was for his fathers sake and the great sufficiencie he held himselfe had in great reputation amongst the Turkes and in such fauor with Abraham who did all in all with Solyman that he could persuade him to any thing he would For this Aloysius Grittus borne and brought vp in CONSTANTINOPLE and wonderfull eloquent in the Turkish tongue had by the honourable carriage of himselfe and the great port he kept in his house so thorowly possessed Abraham that all commanded that he would manie times bring Solyman himselfe ouer the hauen to PERA to solace himselfe in Grittus his pleasant gardens and banquetting houses which he had there most sumptuously made after the Italian manner whereby to his great profit he obtained to be the chiefe man in receiuing of the Turkes customes The fame of Solymans comming directly from BELGRADE to BVDA so terrified the citisens of BVDA that they almost all forsooke the citie and fled vnto other places further off some to STRIGONIVM some to ALBA REGALIS some to POSSONIVM so that at his first comming he entred the citie almost desolate without any resistance the castle holden by a garrison of Germains he commaunded to be besieged The captaine of the castle was one Thomas Nadastus a man of great account among the Hungarians both for the honour of his house and his qualities answerable to the same graced with singular learning He perceiuing his souldiors dismaied with the sight of so great an armie and willing to surrender vp the castle as beseemed a valiant captaine forbad his souldiours to haue any talke with the enemie commanded the great artillerie to be bent and discharged vpon the Turkes and seeing his souldiours slacke and timorous reproued them of cowardise and treason threatning them with shamefull death if they did not hold out the siege to the vttermost and shew themselues valiant men both for the honour of their countrey and of king Ferdinand whose pay they receiued and of whose bountie they were to expect rewards and preferments answerable to their deserts But they misdoubting by the running too and fro of the Turks that the castle was vndermined and smelling or at least wise imagining themselues to smell the sent of the gunpouder which they supposed to be in the mine and doubting to be presently blowne vp were strucke with such a sudden feare that neither the feare of future punishment neither the shame of so foule a fact nor the reuerence of so worthie a captaine could stay them but that they would needs without further delay deliuer vp the castle which when they could by no meanes persuade the resolute captaine to consent vnto but that he still with sterne countenance exclaimed against their cowardise and treason they laid hands vpon him and bound him hand and foot and so presently concluded with the enemie to yeeld vnto him the castle so that they might in safetie depart thence with bag and baggage which their request Solyman granted But when the garrison souldiours in number about seauen hundred were about to depart with their baggage towards POSSONIVM as was before agreed and the Ianizaries comming into the castle hauing loosed the captaine were about to let him go also Solyman aduertised of the treacherie of the garrison souldiours and of the fidelitie of the captain changing his mind judged such villanous minded men vnworthie of his mercie and in detestation of their perfidious dealing with their captaine gaue them all to his Ianizaries to be slaine but to the captaine himselfe he offered honourable entertainment which when he refused Solyman courteously sent him away holpen therein by the commendation of king Iohn although his sister was married to Stephanus Maylat his deadly enemie Which bloudie execution done by the commaundement of the cruell tyrant the Turkes said was not onely lawfully done but also to the immortall glorie of his name in the execution of justice which might peraduenture seeme reasonable if the perpetuall hatred of that most barbarous nation against the Christians gaue not just occasion of suspect that it proceeded rather of their auntient malice than of any regard of justice For why should the Germans who had offended to his great good and therefore obtained his safe conduct be thought worthie of so cruell death when as Solyman himselfe in punishing the perjurie of another ran into wilfull perjurie himselfe peruerting the commendation of justice which he so much desired by his most bloudie and vnjust sentence BVDA the chiefe citie of HVNGARIE thus taken by Solyman he resolued forthwith to besiege VIENNA the chiefe citie of AVSTRIA in good hope that by the carriage away of that the other cities of lesse strength both of HVNGARIE and AVSTRIA would without any resistance be yeelded vnto him Wherefore he sent before him Achomates with the voluntarie horsemen who according to the manner of the Turkish warres running thorow the heart of HVNGARIE and entring with fire and sword into AVSTRIA passed by VIENNA miserably burning and destroying the countrey before him as farre as LYNTZ The poore people not knowing where to hide themselues from the furie of their enemies nor of whom to craue helpe fled as men and women dismaied carrying with them their beloued children the vnfortunat pledges of their loue and what else they could as things saued out of the middest of the fire For whatsoeuer fell into the enemies hand was lost without recure the
as they were in any hope to haue ouertaken him Auria departing from NAPLES came to MESSANA where he certainly enformed of the enemies force both by sea and land with the number of their gallies and seeing that the chiefe hope of relieuing of the citie consisted in celeritie staied not for the gallies he expected out of SPAINE but held on his course towards GRaeCIA for it was told him that the enemies fleet daily encreased by the coÌ„ming in of the Turkish pirats and that Assem-beg otherwise called the Moore of ALEXANDRIA an arch pirat was still looked for in whose good directions the Turkish captaines reposed the greatest hope of their victorie When he was come as farre as ZACYNTHVS he was enformed by the Venetians That Luftibeius Bassa or rather Lutzis Bassa the Turks great Admirall and Solyman his brother in law with Solyman of ACARNANIA and the Moore men for their skill at sea of great fame and reputation lay before CORONE with eightie gallies manned with diuers companies of the old Ianizaries so that it was thought a matter of exceeding perill for him to aduenture to relieue the town except he tooke the aduantage of some prosperous gale of wind Wherfore Auria to haue yet more certaine knowledge of the enemies fleet sent before him Christopher Palauicine with one gallie againe to view the manner of the enemies lying who passing the promontorie of ACRITES saw all the Turkes great fleet lying in verie good order before the citie and so returned to AVRIA confirming that the Venetians had before reported and that the Turkes fleet was greatly encreased and lay readie as it should seeme to giue him battell as soone as he should approach the citie For all that Auria nothing dismaied with the greatnesse of the Turkes fleet made no stay but still kept on his course and with a faire gale of wind passing the promontorie of ACRITES came directly towards CORONE Two great Gallions of all the fleet the most waâ—like ships came formost whereof the one was Auria his owne which hee had built with a wonderfull charge and the other was of SICILIA These two great ships were appointed by Auria to turne a little vpon the left hand and at such time as the enemie should set forward from the shoare to cast anchor betwixt both the fleets that as occasion should serue they might as out of two strong castles beat the Turkes gallies with their great ordinance wherewith they were for that purpose wonderfully stored Next vnto these great Gallions followed the other warlike ships with full sailes after whom came the gallies in three squadrons whereof Saluiatus had the leading of the right wing which consisted of the bishop of ROMES gallies and them of MALTA in the left wing and neere vnto the enemie commaunded Antonius Auria and in the middle was Auria himselfe At the first sight of the Hungarian fleet the Turkes moued not from the shoare but discharged their ordinance at them a farre off and then begun to set forward and to draw neerer especially the Moore who with greater courage than the rest assailed the side and reareward of the fleet for the Christians keeping on their course right forth to CORONE and turning nothing to the left hand as was before appointed seemed as if they had fled and so much the more for that the gallies in the right wing for feare of the Turkes great ordinance did fet a great compasse farther off into the sea and many of the middle squadron and of the left wing also had disorderly thrust themselues in amongst the ships although they had receiued little or no harme of the enemies great shot In this confusion of the Christian Nauie the Moore requested Lutzis the Admirall not to let slip so faire an occasion wherein the Christian fleet might easily haue beene ouerthrowne but whilest Lutzis doth slowly and consideratly set forward Auria in the meane time had put his fleet againe in order and with a faire wind was come to CORONE Two of the ships by the way falling foule one on another staied behind being not able to keepe way with the rest about which all the Turks gallies presently flockt and tooke the lesser of them killing all the Spaniards they found therein Out of this they boorded the greater and with a bloudie fight had woon the forecastle and waste of the ship when Auria accounting it no small dishonour to haue his ships so surprised at his heeles caused all his gallies to turne againe vpon the enemie to rescue those ships The Turks seeing that and with the Westernly wind by little and little fallen down so farre with the ships that they were come within the danger of the shot of the towne began with great stir to forsake the ships and to betake themselues to their oares and so in manner of flight withdrew themselues Whom Auria pursued a good way to MODON thundring in their poupes with his great shot which hee liberally bestowed amongst them whilest in the meane time Antonius Auria came to rescue the two distressed ships There the Spaniards which but a little before had hardly maintained their close fights began now as men reuiued to shew themselues and couragiously to make resistance and they which came with Antonius Auria to their rescue entring with wonderfull celeritie on euerie side slew and tooke three hundred Ianizaries which with great courage had entred those ships and were there left by the sudden departure of their fellowes Amongst whom was taken one Iosuphius and old captaine of a thousand Ianizaries to whom Auria after he was come to CORONE gaue a faire sute of apparell and a chaine of gold and so set him at libertie without any raunsome thereby to prouoke the Turkes to the like kind of courteous dealing with the Christians Assam-beg the pirat and the other captaines of the Turkes fleet wonderfully blamed Lutzis the Admirall for that he would not then fight with the Christians when as he was thereto most earnestly requested both by the captaines and souldiours in generall and had a faire opportunitie of victorie offered at such time as the Christian fleet was disordered but he excused himselfe saying That it was giuen him in speciall charge from Solyman the emperour that he should in any case respect the safetie of his nauie and not to come to the hazard of a battell The Turks which besieged the citie by land vpon the approach of the Christian fleet forsooke their trenches fled at which time Mendoza the Gouernor sallying out tooke great store of victuall and warlike prouision which the Turks had for hast left behind them So Aurea to his great honour hauing driuen the Turkes from CORONE both by sea and land furnished the citie with store of corne wine victuall pouder and shot and committed the defence thereof to Macicaus and the companies of the mutinous Spaniards which he had brought from NAPLES comforting the Greekes and exhorting them patiently for a
present our selues before the gates of TVNES Then shall it be at your pleasure to appoint whom you will haue to gouerne the Numidian kingdome it shall be vnto me glorie enough when the greatest part of AFFRICKE conquered shall be peaceably deliuered into your hands at your returne with the triumphs of PERSIA But by the way as I returne I assure you vpon mine owne priuat so to vse the matter that the Christians shall also haue good cause to bewaile their calamities and if I hap to meet with Auria he shall haue smal cause to reioyce of the mischiefe he hath done for him alone I challenge to persecute as my proper and peculiar enemie both for the remembrance of the harmes we haue receiued at his hands and for the despight I haue at his fame who once taken out of the way the seas shall be open onely to you and your fleets And beleeue me he that shall be able to commaund the seas shall easily also subdue the kingdomes by land But Solyman who after the manner of wise princes vsed well to consider and afterward with ripe judgement to resolue of such matters as he had with attentiue eare hearkened vnto commending Barbarussa for his forwardnesse in his seruice for that time brake vp the counsell Not long after a decree was made according to Abraham the great Bassa his aduise That Barbarussa should be joyned as fourth with the other three chiefe Bassaes of Solymans counsell and be made great Admirall so that all the islands ports and people all alongst the sea coast thorow out Solymans empire should be at his commaund and that it should be lawfull for him to take vp such marriners and souldiours for seruice at sea as pleased him in what place soeuer This being solemnly proclaimed Solyman with his owne hand deliuered him a scepter and a sword willing him by worthie deeds to performe what he had promised After which Aiax and Cassimes the two great Bassaes with the captaine of the Ianizaries brought him with exceeding pompe from the court to the Nauie at which time was carried before him all the tokens of his new obtained honour And toward the maintenance of that warre at sea he had deliuered vnto him out of Solymans treasures eight hundred thousand duckets and eight hundred Ianizaries But for as much as much it was that he did in the seruice of Solyman and more is of him hereafter to be spoken it shall not be amisse here to present vnto the view of the world the sterne but liuely countenance of this so famous a man who liuing kept all the Mediterranean in feare as it is by Boisardus expressed togither with the Elogium following BARBARVSSA Littora te Hesperiae timuere vtriusque Lybesque Oppressi dextra succubuere tua Nunquam te Lypare Corcyraue diliget harum Cum sis immeritos depopulatus agros The coasts of ITALY and SPAINE of thee were sore afraid And so the Moores did stoupe to thee by thy right hand dismaid LYPPAROS will thee neuer loue ne yet CORCYRA strong For that thou causelesse didst to them so great and open wrong Barbarussa sped of that he desired staied not long after at CONSTANTINOPLE but departing out of HELESPONTVS with eightie gallies and certaine galliots shaped his course towards ITALIE leauing Amurathes a sea captaine with twelue gallies to transport Solyman and his armie readie to set forward against the Persian ouer that narrow sea into ASIA Who after hee had so done ouertooke Barbarussa at METHONE who holding on his course to AFFRICK and sodainly passing the strait betwixt ITALIE and SICILIE brought a great feare vpon both the countries but passing by the bay of HIPPONA alongst the coast of the lower CALABRIA he set vpon the towne of S. Lucidius called in auntient time TEMPSA which although it stood vpon a rocke and was reasonable well walled yet such was the violence of the Turkes assault that it could not be defended but was taken with so much more hurt to the inhabitants for that the Maior of the towne to keepe the people from flying away had lockt vp the gates on the other side of the citie from the enemie From thence he with rich spoile and many prisoners went to CITRARIVM where he had learned of his prisoners a fleet of gallies was in building This towne forsaken of the inhabitants for feare he tooke without resistance ransaked and burnt it where he also fired seauen gallies not yet altogither finished But after he was come with his fleet as farre as the island CAPRI within the sight of NAPLES such a terrour was strucke into the minds of all that dwelt alongst that coast that it was thought if he had landed and gone directly to NAPLES the Neapolitanes would for feare haue abandoned the citie But holding on his course he came to PROCHITA which he tooke and rifled so passing by the port of CAIETA which he might easily haue taken he came to SPELVNCA a towne in the hithermost part of the kingdome of NAPLES They of the towne dismaied with the sudden arriuall of so great a fleet yeelded the same without resistance The enemie entring the towne tooke twelue hundred prisoners Pelegrinus a chiefe man amongst them of SPELVNCA was fled into the castle him Barbarussa commaunded to yeeld which if he would presently doe he promised to let him go free but if he should stand vpon his defence he threatned in short time to make him repent his foolish hardinesse with the vtter destruction both of himselfe and the towne The fearefull gentleman without delay came out of the castle and fell downe at his feet who according to his promise gaue him his libertie and with rare courtesie restored to him his wife his sonne and niece whom hee had taken prisoners who receiued them with many teares falling from their eyes for joye The same night also two thousand Turkes came from the fleet thorow the rough and bushie mountaines to the citie FVNDI ten miles distant from SPELVNCA in the vttermost borders of the kingdome of NAPLES conducted as was thought by certaine Italians of that countrey who a few yeares before taken at sea and ouerwearied with the heauie burthen of the Turkish slauerie had reuolted to the Mahometane religion But such was the suddennesse of their comming and their celeritie in entring the citie that Iulia Gonzaga the paragon of ITALIE and the chiefe prise which they sought after had scarce time to get to horse halfe naked and so with much difficultie to escape into the mountaines It is reported that Barbarussa which thing he himselfe afterwards seemed not to denie moued with the same of her incomparable beautie and wonderfull perfection desired exceedingly to haue taken her as a present for Solyman The citisens were for most part either slaine or taken prisoners by the Turkes who loded with the spoile of the citie returned againe to the fleet Another part of Barbarussa his fleet came to TARRACINA which the
Roscetes whom we expected for our lawfull king lamenteth his miserie in chaines in prison at CONSTANTINOPLE and we except we presently play the men and valiantly fight for our libertie shall for euer serue as slaues to these forraine and mercilesse pyrats The present danger of our estate telleth vs that we must presently and without delay take the occasion offered Wherefore let all men that meane not to serue as slaues and to be bought and sold as beasts take vp armes against the faithlesse Turkes I my selfe will be your leader let vs therefore all with one consent with heart and hand reuenge this shamefull trecherie defend our countrey and libertie with the antient honour of the Numidians There was now no time to stay euery man had betaken himselfe to his weapons Muleasses was againe sent for who yet staied in the suburbes expecting what should happen many of the Turkes were slaine before they were aware or feared any thing all the citie was filled with outcries and clattering of weapons the number of the citisens was such as might easily haue expulsed the Turkes had they beene but reasonably armed or well conducted which in a matter so sudden and with men altogether ignorant of seruice was not possible Yet they armed with furie and encouraged with the multitude of themselues swarmed vp as thicke as was possible one of the bulwarkes of the castle which they knew was easiest to bee gained where the Turkes had set vp one of their ensignes and with the multitude of their darts and arrowes so ouerwhelmed the Turkes that they were glad to forsake the place and to retire farther into the castle to a place of more strength from whence and all alongst the curtaine of the wall they without intermission discharged their great artillerie and small shot amongst the thickest of the naked Moores making of them a wonderfull slaughter Barbarussa although he was a man of an inuincible courage great experience all his life time well acquainted with desperat dangers the dreadfull steps of aspiring minds yet surprised with the suddennesse of the assault shut vp in a place whereof he yet knew not the strength and not prouided of victuall for three dayes was with the due consideration of these difficulties not a little troubled which his care was by the disordered furie of his enemies and knowne valour of his owne souldiours greatly deminished especially when hee saw his owne men still fighting as men full of hope and courage and the Moores as men halfe dismayed with the wounds and slaughter of their friends readie to retire Howbeit by the comming in of Muleasses and Dorax the assault twice before giuen ouer was againe at both times renewed with no lesse desperat furie than at the first and the Turkes hardly charged In this dangerous assault Halis of MALIGA a renegate Spaniard but a most expert souldior turning himselfe to Barbarussa said If thou wilt saue thine honour and hold this fort we must sallie out vpon this enemie which hauing neuer seene a set battell but onely acquainted with light skirmishes will not be able to endure our charge at hand but shall in a moment know the price of their foolish hardinesse who as braine-sicke men could neither endure the gouernment of their cruell king ne yet thankefully receiue the authors of their deliuerance and libertie This motion of the Spaniard confirmed by the generall approbation of the cheefest captaines Barbarussa commaunded Halis the author of that counsell with certaine other captaines and their companions at one instant to sallie out at two ports of the castle which they so resolutely performed that in short time a wonderfull number of the naked Moores lay dead vpon the ground Abdahar the Mesuar himselfe was there shot thorow with a bullet and slaine whereupon the assault was quite giuen ouer the Moores retyring by companies backe into the citie and the Turkes still pursuing them where in the streets for certaine houres was fought a most cruell and bloudie battell At last the citisens ouercome forsooke the open streets and betooke them to the refuge of their houses not so carefull of their king as of themselues their wiues and children And Holis with the rest wearied with the slaughter of his enemies and ouercome with labour heat and thirst returned with victorie vnto the castle It is reported that there was aboue three thousand of the citisens slaine that day and thrise as many hurt Muleasses thus discouraged and vtterly despairing to recouer the citie hardly escaped his enemies hands by the good helpe of his vncle Dorax with whom he fled ouer the riuer Bagrada and came in safetie to CONSTANTINA called of old time CYRTHA the antient seat of the Numidian kings but then a part of Dorax his dominion where he was honorably maintained and protected vntill the comming of Charles the emperour into AFFRICKE The night ensuing this battell and the flight of the king was restlesse both to the citisens and the Turkes each of them for feare of other standing vpon their strongest guard The next day the citisens discouraged with the losse of so many of their kinsmen and friends and hauing no king now for whom they should fight craued pardon of Barbarussa for their rash attempt excusing it by the name of loyaltie to their antient kings offering to submit themselues vnto him with all faithfulnesse Which their offer he willingly accepted knowing that he was not able to keepe that place with his souldiors three daies for lacke of victuall so that all his hope and victorie gotten might easily be ouerthrowne and brought to nought if the citisens moued either with desperation or desire of reuenge should joyne with the other Numidian princes and besiege him in the castle Whereupon a generall peace was granted and by solemne oath on both sides confirmed whereby the citisens expresly bound themselues to the obedience of Solyman and to Barbarussa as his lieutenant All things thus set in order in the citie of TVNES new magistrates and officers by him made he laboured by all meanes to win vnto him the Numidian princes which when he had easily brought to passe by gifts and rewards with those needie princes of themselues prone enough vpon light occasions to make or breake the bonds of friendship he sent Asan-aga an eunuch and Halis the Spaniard with the Ianizaries certaine pieces of great ordinance to take in the other cities of the kingdome of TVNES which they in short time performed being in all places peaceably receiued onely the citie of CARVENNA held out a while yet afterwards for feare of further harme receiued the Turkes garrison But to leaue Barbarussa king of ALGIERS and Solymans great Admirall thus possessed of the kingdome of TVNES and Muleasses in exile at CONSTANTINA vntill he be againe restored vnto his kingdome by Charles the emperour as shall be hereafter declared let vs againe returne to the wars at the selfesame time vndertaken by Solyman in person
order of his fleet that so he might at his most aduantage surprise his gallies as he had alreadie done vnto which fire Iunusbeius his interpreter Barbarussa and Aiax laid new coales more and more incensing the tyrant who was of himselfe sufficiently enflamed persuading him by all meanes they could to breake the league with the Venetians Wherein Iunusbeius sought to reuenge his owne priuate injuries and the other two after their greater profit and credit gaping after the spoile of the Islands neere hand especially of CORCYRA now called CORFV ZACYNTHVS and CEPHALENIA all subject to the Venetian siegnorie finding the warres in ITALIE more dangerous and difficult than they had before imagined For the French king came not then into ITALIE as was by them expected and it was commonly reported That Petrus Toletanus viceroy of NAPLES hauing put strong garrisons into the townes all alongst the sea coast was comming himselfe with a great armie beside that the horsemen sent ouer from AVLONA raunging about in the countrey of SALENTVM for spoile were many times cut off by Scipio Sommeius a noble gentleman there Gouernour for the emperour Wherefore Solyman changing his purpose for the inuasion of ITALIE in his mad mood proclaimed warre against the Venetians and so rising with his armie from AVLONA and marching alongst the sea coast vntill he came oueragainst CORCYRA he encamped neere vnto the mountaines called ACROCERAVNII where the fierce and wild people inhabiting the high and rough mountaine of CHIMERA a part of the Acroceraunian mountaines by the instigation of one Damianus a notable theefe and very perfit in the blind and difficult passages amongst the rockes and woods in those desolate mountaines conspired to attempt a most strange and desperat exploit which was by night to spoile Solyman in his owne pauilion These beggerly wild rogues liuing most part by murther and robberie altogether without law or any manner of religion in hope of so great a prey and to become famous by killing one of the greatest monarchs of the world in the middest of his strength guarded with so many thousands of his souldiors were not afraid of any danger how great soeuer hoping in the dead time of the night to steale into the campe vndiscouered and there so to oppresse Solyman sleeping in his tent Which as was by many afterwards supposed they were like ynough to haue performed to the astonishment of the world had it not been by chance discouered for when they had put all things in readinesse for their purpose Damianus ringleader of these desperat sauage people by secret wayes stealing downe the broken rockes of those huge mountaines and comming very neere vnto the campe to view the standing of Solymans pauilion with the order of the Turkes watch was by the cracking of a bough espied by the Ianizaries where he stood in a tree prying all ouer the campe and being there taken and afterwards put to torture and confessing what he had intended was by the commaundement of Solyman torne in pieces Whereupon he forthwith sent a great part of his armie vp into the mountaines which hunting after these wild people as if they had been wild beasts slew many of them and by Solymans appointment did what they possibly could to haue quite destroyed them as an infamous people enemie to all men When Solyman had thus fully reuenged himselfe vpon this barbarous nation he purposed to inuade the Island of CORCYRA now called CORFV part of the Venetian sieginorie sending before Barbarussa with his great artillerie whom he had but a little before called out of ITALIE with his forces Pisaurius the Venetian Admirall in good time foreseeing the tyrants purpose strengthened the garrisons in both the castles of CORFV with new supplies of good souldiors sent out of the gallies and knowing himselfe vnable to encounter with the Turkes great fleet at sea withdrew himselfe farther off from the island into the gulfe of the Adriatique to the entent to joyne his power with Ioannes Veturius who kept that sea with another fleet of the Venetian gallies and so with joyned forces to defend the Venetian coasts against the Turkes whom he thought himselfe strong ynough for with the helpe of Veturius and of Auria whose comming was dayly expected Solyman sending a great part of his armie out of the maine into the island burnt and destroyed the countrey villages leading away a wonderfull number of poore countrey people into most miserable captiuitie Aiax the Bassa and Barbarussa in two small pinnaces came as neere vnto the citie of CORFV as they possibly could to see which way they might most conueniently lay siege vnto it but perceiuing the great strength thereof being wonderfully fortified and thorowly manned they aduertised Solyman that it was a place inpregnable Aloysius Ripa and Symon Leonius two Senators of VENICE were then gouernors of CORFV who not without cause standing in doubt of the great strength of the Turkes both by sea and land caused the suburbs of the citie which were verie great and sumptuously built to be pluckt downe for feare that the Turkes shrowding themselues in them should with more case besiege the towne This was a wofull and lamentable thing to behold when as at the same time a man might haue seene the magnificent houses of the Venetian merchants built in time of long peace both for profit and for pleasure in euerie place of the island all set on fire by the Turkes But the regard of the publike state in so great a danger made all those goodly things which went so to wracke to be lightly accounted of in comparison of their liues and libertie for as much as those lost things might with new charge be againe in short time recouered The two Venetian gouernours aforesaid fearing a long siege and not prouided of victuall to suffice such a multitude as were got into the citie for any long time vsed a heauie and sharpe remedie by turning a great number of weake people and children vnable for seruice out of the citie of whom many especially children died in the towne ditches in their mothers armes vnder the wals of the citie not daring to go any further for feare of the enemie who had fast by in places conuenient cast vp great mounts and planted his ordinance against the citie onely the castle called S. Augelo standing in the middle of the island about fifteene miles from the citie of CORFV being valiantly defended by the inhabitants against the assaults of the Turkes happily saued aboue three thousand poore people which fled thither from the furie of the Turkes who in all other places of the island had made all desolate The Turkes the more to terrifie them of CORFV taking a hill not farre from the citie couered the same with their tents and from the rocke called MARIPETRVS shot with their great ordinance into the towne some of them in the meane time standing close in the ruines of the suburbs did with their harquebusiers kill
him to be of him beloued and vsed as his wife and not contemptuously abused by his minions Wherewith the Bassa moued gaue her a blow on the eare and caused her as a foolish and vnquiet woman to be shut vp in her chamber But she not brooking such abuse came weeping to Solyman her brother and complaining of her husband requested to be diuorsed from him who made no better reckoning of her And with her complaint so incensed Solyman that he tooke from him his seale and thrust him out of all his honorable promotions and had vndoubtedly put him to death had not the remembrance of his old loue and friendship staied his furie Yet hauing vtterly disgraced him he banished him the court into MACEDONIA where he spent the remainder of his loathed like as a poore priuat man of whom Boisardus thus writeth Quae tibi cum molli res est pollute Cynaedo Cum cubet in Thalamis regia nympha tuis Ex humili fortuna loco te euexit in altum Ex alto maior saepe ruina venit On daintie boies thou filthie man why doest thou fix thine eye Whilest princely dame of roiall bloud doth in thy chamber lie From base estate to honours height blind fortune did thee call And set thee vp with princes great to worke thy greater fall Solyman thus fallen out with the Venetians as is aforesaid to entangle them at once with warâ— in diuers places commanded his lieutenants in euerie place bordering vpon any part of the Venetian seignorie to vex and molest them with all hostilitie which they did accordingly In PELOPONESVS Cassimes besieged NAVPLIVM and EPIDAVRVS two strong cities of the Venetians Barbarussa landing his men in DALMATIA surprised the antient citie of BOTROTVS belonging to the Venetians carried away the citisens rased the citie OBROATIVM another citie of the Venetians in DALMATIA called in auntient time ARGIRVTVM with the castle of NADIN were taken by Vstref Solymans lieutenant in ILLYRIA The Venetians thus inuaded on euerie side requited them againe with the like Pisaurius and Veturius the Venetian Admirals landing their men besieged SCARDONA a citie of the Turkes in the borders of DALMATIA which they tooke by force put the Turks to the sword and ouerthrew the wals of the citie because it should be no more a refuge vnto the Turks They sent also one of their captaines called Gabriel Ribeus to besiege OBROATIVM who vpon the comming of Amurathes one of Vstref his captaines cowardly fled and in flight lost most of his men for which his cowardise Pisaâ—rius caused his head to be strucke off aboord the Admirall gally And Camillus Vrsinus appointed by the Venetian state Gouernour of IADERA a strong towne vpon the frontiers of their territorie in DALMATIA tooke from the Turkes the towne of OSTROVIZZA which he burnt downe to the ground He recouered also OBROATIVM which was a little before lost which by the commaundement of the Senat he vtterly rased as a place not well to be kept against the enemie The same Autumne that Solyman hauing wasted CORCYRA was returned to CONSTANTINOPLE and the Venetians held warres with the Turkes for the townes and castles in DALMATIA king Ferdinand receiued such an ouerthrow at EZEK by the Turkes as a greater or more shamefull vnto the name of the Christians was hardly in that age seene if the losse of the choise souldiors and captaines of foure great nations with the shamefull flight of the Generall be well considered After the battell of MOHAHZ wherein king Lewes was lost the Turks hauing gotten the victorie kept vnto themselues that part of HVNGARIE which is called POSSâ—GA because thereby they had a fit passage from BELGRADE further into HVNGARIE The two great riuers of Sauus and Dranus running almost with equall distance from the West taking with them diuers other smaller riuers before they fall into the great riuer of Danubius Eastward doe on both sides inclose this countrey of POSSEGA being a rich and plentifull countrey and wonderfull well peopled It bordereth vpon the prouinces of CROATIA and CORâ—ANIA which in times past were at continuall warres with the Turkes garrisons thereby in Iâ—â—YRIA and BOSNA At that time one Mahometes a most valiant captaine of the Turks was Gouernour of BELGRADE to whom for his approued valour and wisedome Solyman had committed the keeping of those frontiers and the protection of the kingdome of HVNGARIE in the behalfe of king Iohn He the yeare before had so vsed the matter that what by force what by pollicie he had taken from the Christians aboue thirtie small castles in that country which was sometime part of the patrimonie of the Despot of RASCIA and had joyned them to the regiment of BOSNA One of these castles amongst the rest called EXEK for the commodious situation thereof hee strongly fortified as that which might giue him passage ouer the riuer Dranus into HVNGARIE from whence he fet in infinit preyes out of king Ferdinands countrey neere vnto him Yet was there at that time a certaine league betwixt Solyman and Ferdinand which notwithstanding after the old custome of those countries for the exercise of the garrison souldiors did beare with the taking of bootie and light skirmishes without any breach thereof so that it were done without any great power or field pieces which wrong named peace Mathias and the auntient kings of HVNGARIE had of long time vsed with the Turks doing them with their nimble light horsemen no lesse harme than they teceiued But the Germans now vsing no such light horsemen but seruing vpon great horses and charged with heauie armour receiued great hurt by those light skirmishes the Turkes with their light horses easily shunning their charge and againe at their pleasure charging them afresh when they saw the heauie German horses almost wearie and spent by which meanes the German horsemen were oftentimes by the Turkes light horsemen ouerthrowne and so either slaine or taken King Ferdinand not well brooking these continuall injuries and grieued in mind with the league which Solyman had to his profit made with him at his going into PERSIA finding the same both vnprofitable and hurtfull to himselfe determined to take vp armes with purpose that if he could driue the Turks out of the countrey of POSSEGA then forthwith to passe ouer Dranus and to go directly to BVDA against king Iohn It still stucke in his mind how that kingdome was taken from him by Solyman and that more was as it were in disgrace of him and the house of AVSTRIA bestowed vpon a stranger which had neither right therto nor was any way roially descended Yet were there some which wished him not rashly to enter into armes against so mightie an enemie as was not to be vanquished but by the vnited forces of all the Christian princes of EVROPE For they foresaw that Solyman so prouoked would not put it vp but for the hatred he bare against the Christians and for his owne honour
with certaine companies issued out ouer the bridge against the enemy who now in shew discouraged with the comming out of this new supply did in deed or at leastwise made as if they did disorderly retire for feare At which time Ferdinand Gonzaga viceroy of SICILIA a man of greatest account in the armie next vnto the emperour comming in also and angrie with them which had before fled persuaded them as valiant men to recompence their shamefull flight with a fresh charge by driuing the enemie home to his owne doore which thing Columna said could not be done without great perill But Gonzaga being a man of noble courage desired to haue the disgrace which the Italians had receiued salued some way although it were with neuer so great danger thinking also that it might happely fall out that the enemie being put to flight and hastily pursued they might togither with them enter the citie without danger of the artillerie So without farther delay the rest of the Italian companies were fled forth of their trenches with great cheerefulnesse by Augustine Spinula who so valiantly charged the enemies that they put them to flight and pursued them so hard that they came with them to the verie gates of the citie where many shut out for feare of letting in the Italians togither with them escaped by knowne waies some to another gate and some into the mountaines But then these barbarous people with darts and shot from the wals began to ouerwhelme the Italians which were vnaduisedly come within their danger and with terrible outcries to terrifie them and they which before were fled without the wals returned againe to fight They also which had shut the gate sallied out againe and hardly charged the Italians who alreadie galled with shot from the wals and rent in sunder with the great ordinance fled most disorderly for why they were but raw souldiors taken vp in hast little or nothing acquainted with the wars At which time Asan also sallying out who was easily knowne by his countenance and rich attire pursued the chase with his troups of Turks and Moores footmen Only certaine knights of the RHODES fought valiantly and retired orderly and Spinula with some other gentlemen making a stand at a little woodden bridge somewhat staied the enemie and saued the liues of many So the Italians which first charged most valiantly being in the flight become hindermost the enemie striking them downe as they fled couered the fields with their dead bodies by the space of halfe a mile especially they which fled towards the sea for there they were circumuented and slaine by the mercilesse Numidians who beholding the shipwracke were come downe to the sea side for prey But the formost companies of the Italians which first fled into the campe fled in so much hast and so great feare that none of the leaders in so great and sudden a perplexitie remembred either the common safetie or performed the duetie of an aduised captaine so that all sâ—â—med at once lost both by sea and land Only the emperour armed with an inuincible courage against all the chances of fortune and not to be dismaied with any mishap was both vnto himselfe and others that day the greatest captaine for when as all was almost lost he in good time staied the matter by comming on with the squadron of Germans whereof he sent before three ensignes to stay the flight and with them as a sure and fresh supply to guard his campe beyond the bridge which was ouer the ditch seruing his armie for a trench as we haue before said But such a feare had possessed the minds of the flying Italians and such was the fierce pursuit of the enemie that those Germans not before woont to turne their backs as if they had been afraid of the Turkes white caps or not able to abide their sight or to hold vp weapon against them by and by turned their backs and shamefully fled for companie with the Italians Then the emperour galloping forth with his horse and his sword in his hand drawne reprouing them of cowardise that fled set forward with the German squadron and with a stout and manly courage spake to them these few words in their owne language When will you fellow souldiors shew your faces to your proud enemies if now when you should fight for the honour of the Christian name for the glorie of the German nation for the safegard of your owne liues in the presence of your emperour you feare a few disordered and naked Barbarians Immediatly when he had thus said the Germans touched with shame and disdaining that it should be thought they needed any exhortation to performe the parts of valiant souldiors issued out against the enemie who moued with their comming and seeing the Italian battell againe restored by the valour and trauell of certaine valiant and expert captaines stood still a while and began to retire whether it were because they feared the great artillerie assault of the Germans or that they thought they had done enough for that sally when as for the full accoÌ„plishment of the victorie they saw the Christian fleet ouercome with a most horrible tempest miserably to perish before their faces and many of their men especially the Moores hasted to the sea side in hope of a more certaine prey whereas was no enemie to be feared For the blustring winds blowing from diuers quarters as if they had conspired to raise a most horrible tempest had made such a wrought sea and the hugie billowes went so high that the ships by the violence of the weather and rage of the sea put from their anchors fell foule one of another and were so lost or else driuen vpon the maine were there beaten in pieces in the sight of the armie so that all the sea coast Westward from ALGIERS to CERCELLO layfull of dead men and horses and the ribs of broken ships The Numidians beholding this miserable wracke came downe by great companies from the mountaines and without mercie slew all that came aliue to land In the space of a few houres was lost about an hundred and fortie ships and all the small boats and caruels which were in number many Some of the gallies when they had from midnight to the next day at noone by the painfull labour of the marriners and skilfulnesse of the masters rid it out being no longer able to endure the rage of the tempest and fearing to be eaten vp with the sea with sailes and oares ran a ground but the souldiors and marriners swimming to land in hope to saue their liues and thinking that the greatest danger had been now past were by the Numidian horsemen which ran vp and downe the sea side slaine There might a man haue seene free men of all sorts with teares commending their liues and libertie to their owne gally-slaues that by the speech and intreatie of them which by the sudden change of fortune had but euen
the citie and couragiously charged them But Vitellius warned of his former harme and seeing his enemies come on as he desired couered his shot with his pikes and standing close receiued the enemies charge his shot still playing vnder the pikes oftentimes vpon their knees many of the Turkes were there laid on ground whilest they desperatly sought to haue broken the order of the Christians In the meane time when many of the Turks horsemen and Ianizaries comming out of the gates and diuers others beholding the fight were come ouer the riuer from BVDA to be partakers of the victorie had filled the hithermost banke Vitellius in good time of purpose by little and little retired as if he had been ouercharged Then began the enemie to giue a great shout and more fiercely to assaile the Christians their horsemen also clapt behind them to haue there charged them Which thing Perenus diligently noting and that the Turks in following of Vitellius were drawne a great way from the gates he suddenly with his light horsemen clapt in betwixt the citie and the Turks at their backs after whom followed also Mauritius afterwards duke of SAXONIE with a strong troupe of German horsemen of purpose to haue shut them in for retiring backe againe into the citie But then the Turks perceiuing the danger and finding themselues shut in stood as men more than halfe dismaied bethinking themselues which way to take and so began to retire When Vitellius comming on couragiously with his pikemen and his harquebusiers deuided into two wings charged them fiercely and the Hungarian and German horsemen breaking in amongst them on the other side made great slaughter of them and strucke such a feare amongst the flying Turkes that many of them in running to the gate thrust one another thorow with their pikes diuers other were also by the horsemen driuen into the riuer and there drowned That day Segemenes lost aboue an hundred of his Ianizaries and foure hundred others The chiefest commendation for this piece of seruice was giuen to Vitellius who had so well and so quickly reuenged himselfe of the Turkes and next him to Perenus who as a skilfull captaine had so well awaited the time to entrap the enemie neither is Mauritius the young Saxon prince vnworthie his due praise who valiantly charging the Turkes and hauing his horse slaine vnder him was in danger to haue beene there lost himselfe had not Nicholas Ribische one of his followers couered him with his owne bodie vntill such time as that hee was rescued by others Ribische himselfe presently dying of his wounds This little victorie so encouraged the Germanes that the Marquesse commaunded the great ordinance to be presently brought forth and the batterie planted which was at the first placed so farre off that it did little harme although the wall were both old and thin not aboue fiue foot thicke and the ordinance laied either a little too low or mounted too high either shot short or quite ouer the citie into BVDA which fault once perceiued the batterie was remooued neerer and a faire breach soone made in the wall with the continuall beating of fortie great pieces of artillerie Vitellius was the first that offered to assault the breach so that the Germanes would presently second him which thing they all by holding vp of their hands promised courageously but cowardly about by and by to breake that promise for oftentimes it chanceth That they which before the danger are readiest to promise their helpe are in the very danger it selfe of all others most slacke The Hungarians also for their parts promised not to be behind The silence of the enemie at the breach and in the citie was wonderfull so that many thought he had beene fled backe ouer the riuer to BVDA for Segemenes captaine of the Ianizaries an old beaten souldior ordered all things with as little stir as was possible He had receiued new supplies from Vlamas and had cast a deepe countermure within the wall against the breach and on the inner side of the same had made a strong barricado with gabions and wine vessels filled with sand and earth behind which stood the Ianizaries next vnto them the Turkish archers and last of all the horsemen who had left their horses to serue on foot The signall for the assault once giuen foure Italian captaines ran desperatly with their companies by the ruines of the wall to the breach but whilest they there set vp their ensignes and wondering at the enemies fortification were readie betwixt hope and feare to leape downe they were suddenly ouerwhelmed with a shoure of arrowes and bullets Yet Vitellius still encouraging them brought them still on who did what they might to haue entred but the Germane footmen with their Generall stood still vnder the wals looking on as men nothing moued either with the hope of victorie or danger of their friends and the Hungarians not so much as once looking vpon the enemie retired two of the Italian captaines Rufus and â—â—olla were there slaine and Carolus Vitellius his nephew shot in the shoulder The Turks with shot and stones still repulsed and beat downe the Italians whereof the Germanes also standing still felt part and were more gauled than a man would haue thought men could haue beene that did nothing for there they still stood for shame least if they should haue also first retired they should haue incurred a second infamie as bad as the first Which thing Vitellius perceiuing would in no case depart from the breach but wished rather to lose his men by whole companies than to leaue the least colour of excuse to the Germanes or that they should say they stayed longest of whom he with greater anger than greefe complained that he was forsaken and cowardly betrayed In time of this assault one of the Turks was heard to speake aloud in the Italian tongue Why doe not you valiant Italians spare your selues and giue place to those lasie Germanes We all wish to spare you and to beat the drunkennesse out of their most cowardly heads that they should no more hereafter prouoke vs. At length the Germanes wearie of their hot standing and nought doing got them farther off after whom the Italians forthwith retired but so disorderly to be quickly out of the danger of the enemies shot that if the Turks had at the same time sallied out at all the gates it was thought that the whole campe had beene greatly endangered In this attempt rather than assault seuen hundred Christians were slaine outright and many moe hurt who died afterwards of their wounds All this while the Marquesse and Hugonot the great commaunders of the armie kept themselues so farre from gunshot that they were no where to be seene vntill that Torniellus and Fotiscu two valiant captaines finding them out wished them for shame to shew themselues for the comforting of the armie A little before night they consulted with the other captaines Whether they
repulsed In which assaults amongst others Bultaces Sanzacke of SELYMBRIA a man of great account among the Turkes was lost Whilest the defendants were thus busied many of the souldiors and marriners which came vp the riuer with all things necessarie for the armie from BVDA went on shoare and lay in the suburbs of the citie in such securitie as if there had been no enemie nigh which thing they in the citie perceiuing suddenly sallied out vpon them fearing no such matter and slew many of them before they could arme themselues and draue the rest to their fleet so that betwixt fighting and flying there was about two hundred of them slaine Zymar a Persian Admirall of the fleet in rescuing of them which to saue their liues fled vnto the riuer was shot thorow with a small shot and slaine Whilest these things were in doing and the Turkes hauing in many places sore shaken the wall did with greater force daily assaile the citie and the defendants with their continuall losses and out of hope of all reliefe were more and more discouraged an old Calabrian enginer which had long time serued king Ferdinand fled out of the citie to the Turkes who being courteously entertained by Solyman and examined by the Bassaes of many things concerning the strength and state of the citie satisfied them in all that they desired and farther directed them in planting their batteries in places most conuenient for the speedie taking of the towne In the meane time whilest the Turkes were with restlesse labour battering the wals and working in their mines it fortuned that a gilt brasen crosse which stood vpon the top of the steeple of the Cathedrall church was by the continuall shooting of the Turkes thereat at length beaten downe at the sight whereof it is reported that Solyman after the superstitious manner of that nation taking the chance as a token of his good lucke cried out presently STRIGONIVM is woon Liscanus and Salamanca fearefully consulting of the euent of the siege and secretly conferring together resolued to saue themselues and to giue vp the towne Liscanus was no great souldior and yet by continuall spoile growne exceeding rich and therefore thought it but follie to buy the name of a resolute captaine at too deare a price with the losse of his life and wealth The like feeling was also in Salamanca who preferred the safetie of himselfe and of that which he had got in long seruice before all credit and honour were it neuer so great This their purpose was not kept so secret but that it was noised abroad amongst the common souldiours of whom almost the third part was now either slaine or with wounds or sicknesse growne weake yet were they all of opinion generally That they were still strong ynough to defend the towne But the vnder captaines and auntients vsing to flatter their Generals liked well of the motion to yeeld vnto Solyman vpon reasonable conditions rather than to expose themselues to most certaine death which should nothing better king Ferdinands cause Not long after an Auntient was by night let downe ouer the wall and hauing by an interpreter receiued the Turks faith called forth Salamanca that he might vpon better conditions goe thorow with them for the yeelding vp of the towne Who without further delay comming out went to Achomates commaunding before he went them which defended the water tower next vnto the riuer side a place of great danger for safegard of their liues to get themselues into the citie who terrified with that newes and hastily retiring were by the vigilant Turks which lay at the siege thereof perceiued who suddenly breaking in slew such as were not yet gone possessed the castle But Salamanca being brought before the great Bassaes when he had stood vpon many nice tearmes and required many things to haue beene graunted him obtained no more but that they should without delay yeeld vp the citie and put themselues wholly to the mercie of Solyman So the Spaniard being there stayed himselfe writ to Liscanus how he had sped willing him forthwith if he loued his owne safetie to yeeld the citie without standing vpon further tearmes Liscanus vpon receit of these letters comming forth to the souldiors declared vnto them the necessitie of yeelding vp of the towne and what hope there was to escape with life and libertie But whilest the souldiors filled with indignation stood as men in doubt what to doe Halis commaunder of the Ianizaries came vnto the gate and with cheerefull rather than sterne countenance required to haue it opened vnto him according to the agreement made by Salamanca in the campe which was forthwith opened by Liscanus and the keyes deliuered vnto him the Ianizaries entring peaceably into the citie possessed themselues of the wals and fortresses round about commaunding the Christian souldiors to giue place out of whom they chose all the beardlesse youths and commaunded the rest to cast downe their harquebusiers and other weapons in a place appointed which they all for feare did expecting nothing but some cruell execution to be done vpon them by the barbarous enemie Which their feare was the more encreased by a strange accident then vnluckily chancing For whilest the souldiors did as they were commaunded with their harquebusiers cast their flaskâ—s full of pouder also one of them suddenly tooke fire of a match which was by chance cast in amongst them with fire in it which firing the rest blew abroad all that heape of weapons amongst the Turks which so filled them with anger and feare of some sudden trecherie that they fell vpon the Christians slew diuers of them vntill such time as Halis persuaded that it was a thing happened rather by chance than mallice commaunded his Ianizaries to stay their furie This tumult appeased Halis caused proclamation to be made That all such Christian soldiors as would serue Solyman in his warres should haue such place in his armie as their qualitie required with bountifull entertainement yet of all the Christian souldiors were found onely seuentie which carefull of their liues accepted the offer fearing that the Turkes would vpon such as refused exercise their wonted crueltie Halis entertaining them courteously sent them away with the other youths whom he had before culled out downe the riuer to BVDA the other souldiors he tooke into his protection and vsed their labour to helpe the Turks to make cleane the castle But Liscanus who to saue his gold had made shipwrack of his honour and reputation was glad to giue vnto Halis the faire chaine of gold which he had most couetously and insolently before taken from Perenus when as Halis who would otherwise haue taken it from him by force by way of militarie courtesie now craued it of him as a strange kind of ornament amongst the Turks with which gift he was in hope to haue saued the rest of his coine But fortune fauoured not so much the couetous coward For when he was about to
depart away with his horses of seruice which he kept very good and had cunningly stuffed the saddles full of gold thinking so slyly to haue conueyed it the Turke laughing at him tooke from him his horses furnished as they were saying That he which was to goe by water needed no horses So was the couetous wretch at once quit of the great wealth which he had in long time euill gotten The captaines with the rest of the souldiors dispoiled of their armes were conueyed ouer the riuer of Danubius and so trauelled on foot to POSSONIVM where the countie Salme by the commaundement of the king apprehended Liscanus Salamanca and some other of the captaines for suspition of treason and committed them to safe custodie there to answere for their cowardly yeelding vp of the citie Solyman entred into STRIGONIVM the tenth of August in the yeare 1543 and there conuerting the Christian churches into temples for the Mahometane superstition first sacrificed for his victorie as he had before done in BVDA and after with all speed so strongly fortified the citie as if he would thereby for euer haue taken from the Christians all hope of recouering the same againe deriding the slouthfull negligence of the Germans who possessed of it foureteene years had neglected all that time to fortifie it Not long after Solyman leauing Ossainus a valiant captaine gouernour of STRIGONIVM and sending his Tartarian horsemen to spoile the countrey on the left hand as farre as ALBA REGALIS went himselfe to besiege the castle of TATTA called in auntient time THEODATA The garrison souldiours terrified with the losse of STRIGONIVM and the sight of the Turkes armie vpon the first summons yeelded the castle without resistance and were so suffered quietly to depart That castle after the manner of the Turkish discipline who with few and those very strong holds keepe their prouinces in subjection was by Solymans commaundement presently rased downe to the ground Torniellus Generall of the Italians caused Hanniball captaine of the castle to haue his head strucke off for his cowardly yeelding vp of the peece he had taken charge of thereby to admonish others which had the charge of strong places not to refuse an honourable death in defence of their countrey for feare of an ignominious death attending their cowardise TATTA thus layd in the dust Solyman marched with his armie towards ALBA surnamed REGALIS for that the kings of HVNGARIE by an auntient custome vsed to be there crowned and also buried BVDA STRIGONIVM and ALBA REGALIS three principall cities of the kingdome of HVNGARIE stand in manner of a triangle almost equally distant one from another about a hundred miles in compasse BVDA and STRIGONIVM are siâ—â—at vpon the riuer of Danubius but ALBA standeth more into the land strongly seated in the midst of a great lake but not so wholesomely especially in the Summer time the Winter waters then decreasing and grosse vapours arising with the heat of the Sunne From the citie thorow the marrish or lake vnto the firme land lie three broad and high causeyes in manner of the strakes of a cart wheele well built with faire houses and gardens on either side and a broad way in the middle whereby men passe in and out of the citie At the end of euery causey towards the land were cast vp strong bulwarkes which the citisens vsed not to watch but in dangerous times of warre so that by these bulwarkes the houses of the suburbs standing vpon these causies were safe from the danger of the enemie the lake filling vp all the spaces betwixt the causies which what for the depth what for mud flaggs and bulrushes growing in it was not by horse or man to be passed thorow And the citie it selfe standing in the middest of the lake compassed round about with a strong wall and a deepe ditch alwayes full of water was hardly to be besieged for which causes a great number of the countrey people vpon the comming of Solyman fled into it with their cattell as vnto a most sure hold In the citie lay in garrison two companies of Germans and two hundred horsemen vnto whom were joyned fiue hundred Hungarian horsemen such as in time of peace liued by robbing and are by an infamous name called Vsarous vnto these the Italian countie Torniellus who with his Italians was come as farre as IAVARINVM or RAB sent foure captaines with their companies such as were most forward in that seruice after whom followed Barcocius captaine of the kings guard with a companie of horsemen appointed by the king for Generall Who was no sooner come into the citie but news was brought of Solymans approch Whereupon he in hast called together the other captaines with Birrous then maior of the citie and other the cheefe citisens to consult with them What was best to be done for the defence of the citie but especially Whether the suburbes of the citie standing vpon those three broad causies were to be destroyed or not that so the citie standing in the middest of the great marrish might both with lesse labour and danger be defended This question was seriously debated and great reasons alleadged on both sides at last the citisens cried out with one voice against the matter and said That they would neuer suffer those goodly suburbs wherein were so many churches and faire buildings as might compare with the citie it selfe to be so shamefully destroied to the vtter vndoing of so many rich citisens for what could be said they more dishonourable or lamentable than to the encouraging of the barbarous enemie to shew such a token of extreame feare and with their owne hands to burne and destroy those stately buildings which might by strong hand be well enough defended against the enemie if they did not play the shamefull cowards Of which opinion with the citisens was also Octauianus Serosactus an Italian captaine alleadging that both the citie and the suburbs might both with like danger be defended forasmuch as they were equally fortified with the benefit of the marrish and if the worst should happen the defendants might yet safely enough retire into the citie At last standing vp as one thrust forward both with the publicke hard fortune and his owne said Valiant gentlemen what shew will you giue of your valour or what honour shall you haue of your seruice If you shall defend so famous a citie by deforming of it your selues and cutting off the suburbes as it were the armes thereof before the danger vpon too hastie desperation Verily you shall doe nothing either in the seruice of the king or the honour of your selues except this citie if God so please be of you whole and sound valiantly defended Vpon this speech they all arise the wiser sort and of greatest experience giuing place to the importunitie of the ignorant and simple Barcotius himselfe full of care and ouercome with the vaine opinion of the greater part yeelded also vnto that fatall resolution
of sauing the suburbes For it often falleth out that they who wisely weighing dangers in the ballance of reason and doe therefore fearefully resolue of the euent of things and doe thereupon oftentimes giue more hard and resolute iudgement of things than men of greater courage yeeld neuerthelesse to be partakers of other mens follies yea euen to most assured death rather than by maintaining their fearfull opinion to be deemed cowards So fell it out with Barcotius the Generall who setting a good countenance on the matter which nothing liked him went out to the souldiours declaring vnto them the reasons why the suburbes were to be defended exhorting them with like valor on their parts to answere that honourable resolution promising to prouide whatsoeuer should be necessarie for the obtaining of the victorie assuring them of great rewards and preferment which should by their good seruice deserue the same Hereupon the suburbes were by the common labour of the souldiors and the citisens quickly fortified the great ordinance in places conuenient orderly planted and watch and ward kept by the captaines and their companies by their turnes day and night But the Turks drawing neere to the citie bent their forces onely against the suburbes of the gate leading towards BVDA for that they perceiued the marrish was in that place drier than in the other and the sandie ground more vnfit for the making of bulwarkes and other fortifications for the safetie of the defendants than in the other places where the ground yeelded better turfe Barcotius perceiuing the enemies purpose drew all the Italians and Germanes from the other gates into the suburbes of the gate of BVDA leauing the countrey people which were fled into the citie and the citisens in their places At the first comming of the Turkes the Hungarian and Germane horsemen with the Italian footmen sallied out of the suburbes and after certaine light skirmishes retired Which manner of fight was continued by the space of three daies without any great harme done on either side for the captaines had warily commaunded That the souldiors should not aduenture out too farre But after that Solyman himselfe was come and had with the multitude of his tents beset the citie farre and neere to the terrour of the beholders the Christians shut vp all the gates and sallied out no more Which thing caused the wild Hungarian Vsarous vsed to open skirmishes to prouide for themselues in time and not to suffer themselues to be coupt vp as they tearmed within the wals of the citie So for fashion sake asking leaue to be gone who were not against their wils to be stayed they by night departed being not to bee entreated by the Generall or citisens to stay and by knowne wayes escaped thorow the woods from the enemie In the meane time the Turkes were come with their winding trenches within shot and with their arrowes and small shot so scoured the top of the bulwarke that no man could there possibly appeare but he was straight wounded and such was the furie of the great artillerie that it had in short time battered in sunder the plankes and timber which kept in the sandie mould whereof the fortresse was made more for shew than for strength in such sort that the great shot flying quite thorow all slew and wounded many that were a far off in which distresse of the defendants the Turkes Asapi with small danger filled vp the ditches of the bulwarke and diuers places of the marrish with earth and wood which they brought continually from a wood thereby with six hundred waggons so that in the space of twelue dayes they had made a firme way for them to passe ouer vpon both to the bulwarke and the suburbes a worke before thought impossible to haue been performed The ditches thus filled vp the Turkes valiantly came on seeking by plaine force to enter the bulwarke First came on the Asapi whom as men of least worth the Turks captaines vse to thrust to the first danger After whom followed the horsemen now on foot with swords and targuets or else their horsemens staues couering the Ianizaries who vpon their knees with their harquebusiers sore gauled the defendants This hot fight endured aboue three houres with equall hope and courage but the Turkes still relieued with fresh souldiors repulsed the Christians and gained the vttermost bulwarke neuerthelesse the Italian fort was that day valiantly defended the very women and religious helping to defend it in which assault a tall Hungarian woman whose courage farre exceeded the weakenesse of her sex thrusting in amongst the souldiours vpon the top of the fort with a great sythe in her hand at one blow strucke off two of the Turks heads as they were climing vp the rampier This assault was giuen the nine and twentieth of August on which day the Turkes had before taken Bâ—LGRADE and also slaine king Lewes at the battell of MOHACHZ and were therefore after their superstitious manner in obseruation of their fortunat and vnfortunat dayes in good hope to haue then taken the citie wherein they were much deceiued being not able at that time further to enter but enforced againe to retire Wherewith Solyman offended sent for Abraham Achomates and Halis the cheefe captaines in that assault into his tent and reprooued them sharpely for that the bulwarke being so valiantly and fortunatly woon they had not with more courage prosecuted the victorie but cowardly as he thought giuen it ouer being in a manner alreadie woon and therefore with sterne countenance commaunded them to prepare all things readie within three dayes for a fresh assault and neuer to returne vnto him except they did win the citie Whereunto the captaines answered no more for were they neuer so guiltlesse they might not before him stand to excuse themselues but that they would in short time accomplish his desire Wherefore hauing made all readie and encouraged the souldiors to this last assault they terribly assailed the rampiers and brought a great feare vpon the defendants for taking the benefit of a thick mist as it oftentimes chanceth in marrish grounds they were with great silence contrarie to their manner got vp to the top of the rampiers and come to handy blows before they were well discouered The fight was for the time fierce and terrible but the Ianizaries preuailing at length put the Germanes to flight and after them the Italians also so that now well was he that could run fastest towards the citie But that their hastie flight little auailed when as they were to passe out by a little narrow gate in manner of a wicket and they in the citie without regard of them that fled had plucked vp the draw bridge ouer the ditch For naturally it commeth oftentimes to passe that the feare of the present danger without blushing excuseth our foule dealing So the barbarous and fierce enemie pursuing the flying Christians at the heeles all the length of those suburbes with most cruell execution many
with him seauen thousand captiues and all the spoile of the citie And not so contented did all the harme he could with fire and sword all alongst that coast of AFRICA to the intent that the Turks should there find no reliefe and tooke 12 prisoners out of MONASTERIVM a towne not far from the citie of AFRICA and so hauing done that he came for returned againe into SICILIE Dragut thus at once thrust out of all he had with a few of his friends fled to Solyman at CONSTANTINOPLE and so incensed him with the grieuous complaint of the wrong done vnto him by the Christians that in reuenge therof he resolued to make warre both vpon the emperour and king Ferdinand notwithstanding that the fiue yeares league he had before taken with him at his going into PERSIA was not yet expired So with cheerfull words and courteous entertainment comforting vp the desperat pirat the Spring following which was in the yeare 1551 he furnished him with a great fleet in most warlike manner appointed to reuenge the injurie done to him by Auria in AFFRICKE With this fleet in number one hundred and fortie saile Sinan one of the Turks great Bassaes accompanied with Dragut the pirat by the appointment of Solyman departed from CONSTANTINOPLE and cutting thorow the seas arriued at length in SICILIE where they suddenly surprised the towne and castle of AVGVSTA which they presently sacked Departing thence they came to the island of MALTA and there landed their men in the port of MARZA otherwise called MOXET neere vnto the castle which they battered with certaine pieces of great ordinance but so as was to no great purpose At which time diuers companies of the Turkes running farther into the island made hauocke of whatsoeuer came in their way After they had thus few daies in vaine battered the castle and saw themselues both there valiantly repulsed and in other places by ambushes and such like meanes cut off by the souldiors and inhabitants of the island they remoued thence to the road of S. Paul where they landed their ordinance with purpose to haue besieged the citie but perceiuing by a little what small hope there was to preuaile and seeing diuers of their men dying thorow the extreamitie of the heat they forsooke the island and went to GAVLES now called GOZA a little island about thirtie miles in compasse fiue miles distant from MALTA Westward subject vnto the knights of the religion and there landing their men miserably spoiled the island and whatsoeuer they light vpon and carried away with them of one sort of people and other six thousand and three hundred captiues into most wofull bondage With which bootie they put againe to sea and sailed directly to TRIPOLIS in BARâ—Aâ—IE called of old LEPTIS MAGNA which citie Charles the emperour had before giuen to the knights of MALTA and was at that time by them kept This citie was the marke whereat the Bassa and the pirat shot for taking whereof they landed their forces and by long and winding trenches approched as neere the same as they could which they did not without great losse of their people for they of the castle hauing good store of great ordinance and most expert canoniers did with continuall shot so annoy the Turks that they were oftentimes enforced to retire yet with much troublesome labour and no lesse perill they came at last within eight hundred paces of the wals where the Bassa caused his gabions made of thicke plankes to be placed in the night and his batterie planted And the next day which was the eighth of August the cannon began to play which was againe answered from the castle with like and euerie houre some of the Turks slaine the great shot still flying into their trenches so as that day foure of the best canoniers in the armie were slaine with certaine other men of good account also and the clearke generall of the armie a man of great estimation and welbeloued of the Bassa had his hand shot off and many other of the Ianizaries and common souldiors either slaine or hurt moreouer they brake one of their best pieces and dismounted foure others which for that day made them to leaue the batterie The next night the Turkes approached yet neerer vnto the castle vpon whom the Christians in the breake of the day sallied out euen vnto their verie trenches and afterwards retired With the rising of the sunne which the Turkes haue in great reuerence they renued their batterie with greater force than before yet with such euill successe that the Bassa was almost mad for anger for about the euening the fire by mischance got into their pouder wherewith thirtie of the Turkes were burnt many hurt and one piece broken At length the Turks were come so neere that they had planted their batterie within an hundred and fiftie paces of the wall which they continued with such furie that they had made a faire breach euen with the ditch but what was beaten downe in the day time the defendants repaired againe by night in such sort as that it was not to be assaulted Yet in conclusion a traiterous souldior of PROVINCE before corrupted by the Turkes found meanes to flie out of the castle into the campe where he declared vnto the Bassa the weakest places of the castle by which it might be most conueniently battered and soonest taken and especially one place aboue the rest which was against the gouernors lodging which standing towards the ditch and hauing vnderneath it sellars to retire the munition into could not if it were once battered well be repaired againe or fortified Which the Bassa vnderstanding caused the batterie there to be planted laying the pieces so low that they did easily beat the sellars and vaults in such sort that in short time the wals were so shaken that the rampiers aboue thorow the continuall batterie began greatly to sinke which so amased the soldiors seeing no conuenient meanes to repaire the same that setting all honour aside they requested the Gouernour That sithence the matter began now to grow desperat and that the place was not longer to be holden he would in time take some good order with the enemie for their safetie before the wals were farther endamaged With which motion Vallter the Gouernour an antient knight of DAVLPHINIE and one of the order was exceedingly troubled which Peisieu another of the knights perceiuing he as a man of great courage and of all others there present most antient in the name of the other knights declared vnto them That the breach was neither so great nor so profitable for the enemie but that it was defensible enough if they would as men of courage repaire the same saying That it was more honourable for worthie knights and lustie souldiors to die valiantly with their weapons in their hands fighting against the infidels for the maintenance of their law and Christian religion than so cowardly to yeeld themselues to the mercie of
meet with his designes Whereupon an hundred part knights part other souldiors sallying forth caused the enemie to forsake the ditch and betake himselfe to flight of whom they slew about fourescore and lost of their owne ten men amongst whom were Ioannes and Macrinus two knights whose heads the Turks the next day set vp vpon two speares vpon their trenches that they might be seene by the Christians The same day they of the citie of MELITA at night made at one instant a number of fires and as if it were in triumph discharged great vollies of small shot with many other tokens of joy which as well the besieged as the Turks thought verely to haue beene done vpon the discouerie of the Christian fleet or els the landing of such forces as were come to remoue the siege whereas indeed it was neither but done onely to shew their cheerefulnesse and to keepe the Turkes in suspence with the noueltie of the matter who for all that were not slacke in their businesse but with earth filled vp the ditch at the castle bulwarke whereby it came to passe that they could not be hurt by the flankers made in that place to scoure the ditch but might thereby as vpon plaine ground without stay passe vnto the wall now opened and ouerthrowne with their continuall batterie and with two great pieces which they had planted vpon a high mount which they had newly cast vp on the right hand the bulwarke SAVIORE they begun to play vpon the castle and at the first shot shot into the loupe where Franciscus Castilia commaunded Ioannes Bernardus Godinetius a Spanish knight was there slaine with a small shot The same day Franciscus Aquilates a Spaniard one of the garrison souldiors persuaded by feare and hope in dangers two euill counsellors fled out of the towne S. Michael to the enemie persuading the Turks colonels to giue a fresh assault assuring them that they should without doubt win the towne because there was but foure hundred souldiors left aliue in it and they as he said almost spent with labour and wounds all the rest being dead Which the Turkes hearing and seeing faire breaches both in the wals of the new citie and of the castle S. Michael wide ynough for carts to goe thorow they determined with all their forces to assault both places at once and to prooue if there were yet so much strength left in those holds as againe to repulse them so the seuenth day of August at one instant they assaulted the new citie at the castle bulwarke and the castle S. Michael at the breach with such a multitude that all the earth seemed to be couered with men round about The thundering of the great ordinance the noise of the small shot with the clattering of armour and noise of trumpets drums and other warlike instruments with the crie of men on both sides was so confused and great as if heauen and earth should haue beene confounded together Which when the knights in the citie MELITA heard and saw the heauens obscured with smoake fearing that the Turks as at the castle S. Elmo would neuer giue ouer the assault vntill they had woon both the towne and the castle presently all the garrison horsemen issued out of the citie and to auert the Turkes from the assault set vpon those Turks which lay at AQVA MARTIA who all surprised with a sudden feare fled the Christian horsemen hardly pursuing them with bloudie execution and they in their fight piteously crying vnto their fellows for help Whereby it came to passe that they which were assailing the citie and castle to rescue their discomfited fellowes were glad to giue ouer the assault so with great slaughter foiled on both sides by the Christians they returned to their trenches when they had lost aboue fifteene hundred at the assault beside them which were slaine in the chase by the horsemen of MELITA Of the defendants of both places were lost aboue a hundred and almost as many wounded This fight endured aboue fiue houres Valetta deliuered of so great a danger that day and certaine others caused publick prayers to be made went himselfe with the multitude of the citisens to the church to giue thankes to Almightie God for that victorie Whilest these things were in doing Garzias the Viceroy was aduertised from CALABRIA that certaine ships laded with men victuall and other prouision necessarie for the warres were comming from CONSTANTINOPLE to MALTA wherefore he forthwith sent Altamira and Gildandrada two noble men with fiue gallies to meet them who being come within thirtie miles of MALTA met with no such ships but only one frigot and a galliot the frigot they took but the galliot escaped to the enemies fleet at MALTA Mustapha the Turkes Generall now thinking no man so strong which might not with continuall labour and watching be wearied and ouercome resolued not to giue vnto the besieged any time of rest but commaunded his souldiors againe to assault the breach at the castle of Saint Michael where they were by the valour of the defendants with no small slaughter quickly repulsed Neither did the Bassa giue so many assaults for the hope he had to win those places but rather to performe the dutie of a valiant Generall and to satisfie Solymans pleasure who had expressely commaunded either to win that island or there all to lose their liues He also sent a galliot in hast with letters to Solyman wherein he shewed him the state of the fleet with what difficulties the armie was distressed what small hope there was of winning the places besieged how well the Christians were prouided with many other such things In the meane time those two gallies of MALTA which we haue before spoken of departing from MESSANA came to SIRACVSA where they staied a day The next day after in going out of the hauen they met with one of MALTA in a small boat comming from POZALO sore wounded he being demaunded how he was so hurt told them That landing by night with his boat and one companion he was requested by two Sicilians which dwelt there to rest there that night which they doing about midnight fiue Turks brake into the house vpon them killed his companion carried away the Sicilians and he wounded as he was hardly escaped by the benefit of the night moreouer he said That the Sicilians had told the Turks that two gallies were come into that port with souldiors and other warlike prouision bound for MALTA Whereby the knights perceiued that their comming would be discouered vnto the enemie and that it was a most dangerous thing or rather impossible to get into the hauen of MALTA as they had before purposed neuerthelesse to conduct Salazar with his little boat they kept on their course But as they were sayling they descried two gallies and one galliot going before them who seeing the gallies comming after them made with all speed to MALTA and were no doubt those gallies from whence
purpose by Sultan Tocomac whereby he might plainly perceiue the good mind and zeale the Persian king had for the maintenance of the peace And although in the short raigne of Ismahel there was some rumor raised that he meant to go vnto BABYLONIA and some such like newes yet that was but a youthfull part and an effect of that heat which is commonly proper to such as being kept long in straight prison cannot vse their libertie with moderation and had therefore receiued due punishment for it by sudden and vnexpected death But as for the king that now is he did aboue all others embrace amitie with his majestie and therefore did most earnestly desire that it would please him to temper his anger conceiued which had incensed him to take vp armes against a king so much his friend being of the same religion and better affected towards him than all the rest of the nations in the world This embassadour the Turkish emperour dismissed without any resolution at all but onely gaue order that whatsoeuer he had to say touching this peace he should communicat it with his Visier Many were the discourses that happened for that the Turke required all those cities and countries which till that time he had conquered with the sword or as their prowd manner of phrase is whereon his Generals horse had trod to be yeelded again vnto him and the embassadour on the other side had no warrant from his king to yeeld any more than that part of GEORGIA which is on this side the riuer of Araxis Whereupon the said embassadour began to feare least he should be suspected for a spie and so be euill intreated wherewithall he did find himselfe too manifestly charged by the hard speech that the Visier vsed towards him Being thus doubtfull whereupon to resolue perceiuing himselfe strained to the grant of these demaunds and receiuing also some threatnings withall he determined with himselfe to enlarge his speeches with the Visier in diuers and sundrie particularities and to giue him good hope that he should be able to persuade with his king the yeelding vp of so much as Amurath had and did demaund Hereupon was Maxut Chan the embassadour in friendly manner and without any outrage sent from CONSTANTINOPLE to CHARS and commission giuen to Sinan then at CHARS that without delay and with all fidelitie he should cause the embassadour to be conducted to VAN and from thence into PERSIA wheresoeuer he did desire all which was faithfully performed But to returne againe to Sinan the Generall who from SIVAS had sent the said embassadour to CONSTANTINOPLE as is before declared and being departed thence arriued at ERZIRVM where he tooke a suruey of his armie and other prouision necessarie for this expedition and so from thence was now come to CHARS from whence he dispatched the Persian embassadour much discontented that no other conclusion for peace could be wrought Maxut Chan at last arriuing at the Persian Court reported vnto the king all that had happened in this his embassage the summe whereof was That Amurath would not condiscend to any condition of peace vnlesse the whole countrey of SIRVAN might be yeelded vnto him for that he had once as he said conquered the same Neither did the same embassadour forbeare to tell the king the suspition Amurath had conceiued of him to haue been a spie rather than an embassadour and of the large promises he was faine to make to the Turke to auoid the manifest danger of imprisonment or death all which for all that now lay in his majesties power to performe or not The king for the present remained well satisfied with that Maxut had done and in reward of his great trauell and expences gaue him the charge of the chamber at TAVRIS naming him the chamberlaine of that rich and great citie Of which new office though verie honourable and of great importance he tooke small pleasure for that one Emir Chan his auntient enemie was chiefe Gouernour of that citie from whom he feared some dangerous treacherie wherefore he appointed his deputie for the execution of the office and withdrew himselfe from TAVRIS to CASSANGICH a place of his owne there to passe away the time vntill it should please the king otherwise to dispose of him But Emir Chan who still nourished in his mind the auntient hatred he had conceiued against him tooke this as a most fit occasion to bring him into disgrace with the king certifying him That Maxut not contented with the great preferment it had pleased him to bestow vpon him had in contempt of his rewards abandoned TAVRIS and subsisted in his place a most base person to represent the kings majestie and to mannage his treasure and that he absented himselfe farre from that citie and the court there hauing withdrawne himselfe into the confines of TVRKIE no doubt for some mischieuous intent either to yeeld himselfe vnto them or els to haue intelligence with them and was like ynough to be guiltie to himselfe of the great errour he had alreadie committed by offering SIRVAN vnto the Turkish king and making promise of so large conditions whereby he had obtained such a sure and saâ—e conuoy to conduct him when as he had before discouered himselfe to be a fauorer of the Turks and a traitor to his owne king and that therefore it were good to make triall of his inclination and so peraduenture to decline some great mischeefe tending to the danger of the Persian state This malitious accusation slily contriued so wrought in the mind of the suspitious king that he commaunded Emir Chan secretly to apprehend Maxut and to bring him to the Court and if he could not by other meanes then by torture to wrest from him the truth of all those matters Glad was Emir to haue his enemie thus put into his hands and thought it long 〈◊〉 he had brought this shame vpon Maxut who hauing alreadie heard some iâ—ckling thereof resolued with himselfe to doe any thing rather than to fall into the power of his hatefull enemie And therfore at such time as fifteene tall fellows were for that purpose sent vnto him from Emir Chan who in the kings name summoned him to the Court he without making any shew that he took the matter otherwise than well entertained them courteously and made them great cheere but when he perceiued them to be ouercome with sleepe which crept vpon them by reason of the excesse wherewith they had ouercharged themselues he caused them to be straightly bound and with long cords hanged them downe into a deepe well and there shut them vp secretly couered Then gathering together the most precious things he had in his house and setting his wiues his children his brethren and nephewes on horsebacke fled with all his familie in the euening and the next day arriued at SALMAS and was there friendly entertained by the Turkish Bassa and from thence conueyed to VAN where he was also courteously welcommed by
aware of his approch were readie all at once with their weapons to receiue him Who now perceiuing his errour repented himselfe to haue so rashly assaulted his enemies seeing now no other remedie but to be vtterly vndone But seeing that he had now so farre engaged himselfe as that he could not by flight but encrease his griefe and make the issue more lamentable with those few souldiours which he had he endured the furie of the great armie of Resuan so that on both sides there was joyned a most cruell battell wherein the strange and vnusuall valour of those few Christians was much to be wondered at Yet in the end the huge number of the Turkish swords and speares so preuailed vpon that small number of the Georgians as that they were brought to great extremitie yea Simon himselfe hauing his horse slaine vnder him fell downe headlong to the ground and in his fall was very neere to haue beene taken prisoner as was his lieutenant and many other his followers had he not beene relieued by an vnexpected and maruellous chance for whiles the battell was euen at the greatest heat betweene them Resuan discouered the two Bassaes of CARAMANIA and MARAS who as is before said were newly sent by Generall Ferat to succour him but both by the said Resuan and also by the rest of his armie were indeed thought to be Persians whereupon they were incontinently surprised with a sudden feare insomuch that they now became very doubtfull of the victorie wherof they thought themselues before assured In this suspence and doubtfulnesse of mind the battell was also intermitted and the victorie by the sight of those their friends disturbed whereby the Georgians and especially Simon whose state was almost desperat tooke the opportunitie to escape and saue themselues leauing behind them most sure signes of their valour among the Turkes of whom many remained there slaine many wounded and many filled with great maruell and vnexpected feare Thus escaped poore Simon with the remainder of his followers into his knowne places of refuge there to bewaile the death and captiuitie of his subjects But Resuan after he had discouered the Bassaes approching towards him to be his knowne friends and well-willers fretted in himselfe exceedingly that Simon had so escaped his hands yet holding on his way to TOMANIS he arriued there in great triumph drawing the standerds of Simon all along the ground and causing many of the heads of the Georgians to be carried vpon his souldiours launces to the great joy of Generall Ferat to whom he deliuered all the prisoners taken in the battell and wicked Daut Chan who hauing in times past renounced his first faith was become a Persian and now againe despising the vaine superstition of the Persians had yeelded himselfe to the vanitie of the Turkes and made himselfe a voluntarie slaue to Amurath Now was the yeare so farre spent that euery man began to feare the Winters approch and therefore the Generall determined to remoue thence and to withdraw himselfe into places of more safetie And so hauing set all things in order in the new fort he appointed Hassan to be the Bassa of TOMANIS and left with him eight thousand select souldiours chosen out of all the armie for the defence of that fort and the countrey thereabout Deepely had Ferat layed vp the outrage committed by Mustaffa the Georgian being now returned to his old name of Manucchiar in taking away the kings treasure and killing the two Capigi and the Chiaus and therefore he resolued with himselfe not to returne to CHARS or ERZIRVM vnlesse he had first passed into the countrey of the said Georgian and in most cruell manner reuenged those notable injuries before receiued In three daies he arriued at TRIALA and there encamped But lying there such an vnwonted dearth and scarcitie of all things rise in the armie but especially of victuals that euery fiue bushels and an halfe of Wheat was sold for fiue hundred duckats to the vniuersall calamitie of the whole armie From this place the Generall was minded to goe on forwards towards the countrey of Manucchiar but whiles he was vpon the raising of his tents one Veis Bassa of ALEPPO came vnto him and told him That it was not good now to spend the time in wandering about those countries for that there were three very great enemies confederat together to make this enterprise very difficult and almost impossible and desperat one was the season of the yeare being now full of snowes frosts and tempests another was the want and scarcitie of all things necessarie especially of victuall the third was the people of GEORGIA who by a common vniting of themselues together and peraduenture aided by the Persians might worke some notable mischeefe against the armie This speech of Veis so much offended the Generall that he most sharpely rebuked him and with bitter tearmes reproued him telling him flatly That he well perceiued he was brought vp among mountaines and villages and of a villaine as he was vpon some superfluitie of grace or foolish importunitie aduanced to the honour of a Bassa and that therefore he should not haue presumed so much as to think it lawfull for him so impudently and malapertly to come and giue him such aduertisements whereas it had beene his dutie rather to haue held his peace and to haue hearkened vnto the commaundements of his betters and superiors yeelding himselfe obedient and deuoted with all his power to performe the same With this rebuke the Generall passed on to ARCHELECH burning and in a manner destroying the country before him though indeed it was in amitie and confederacie with the Turkes But the inhabitants of ARCHELECH vpon the comming of the Turkes had abandoned the citie and for feare withdrawne themselues into the mountaines In ARCHELECH Ferat encamped staied the space of foure daies among the rockie crags and in a barren soyle yeelding necessarie sustenance neither for man nor beast so that euery man there endured vnspeakeable miseries yet for the space of foure dayes the souldiours with patience endured this so great a calamitie But in the end the fall of an huge snow being added to these extremities did so greatly encrease their greefes that all the Ianizaries and Spaoglans of CONSTANTINOPLE arose in a tumult and comming before Ferat in despightfull and contemptuous manner with very haughtie and resolute tearmes said vnto him And how long shall we endure this thy tedious and insolent gouernment Where is the due commiseration that thou oughtest to beare towards the vassales of thy Soueraigne thou rusticall and vnreasonable captaine Doest thou thinke happily that we keepe our harlots as thou doest vnder thy sumptuous pauillions all fat and in goodplight with delicat viands whilest others liue in miserie Doest thou beleeue that we haue as thou hast our daintie sugars spices and conserues whereby to restore vs in the common calamitie of others And that we haue at commaund meat and pretious wines
Bassa considering with speed assembled all his forces and so set forward to relieue them hoping to haue come vpon the Christians before they were aware of his comming But Teuffenbach vnderstanding thereof with fiue thousand chosen horsemen went out of the campe to meet him suddenly comming vpon him fearing no such thing slew fiue thousand of the Turkes put the Bassa to flight and together with the victorie obtained an exceeding rich prey Now was there no lesse expectation and hope of the winning or yeelding vp of HATWAN than was before of STRIGONIVM but according to the chance of warre it fell out otherwise For Teuffenbach hauing with continuall batterie layed the breaches faire open and made choice of such souldiors as he thought meetest for the assault was in the performing thereof so notably repulsed by the Turkes that he was glad to retire with the losse of his best and most resolute souldiors which put him out of all hope of taking the towne by force For beside the losse of these good men he had scarce so many sound men left as might suffice to furnish his garrisons for defence of those frontiers by reason that the Hungarians were almost all shrunke home and of the Germanes were left scarce two thousand Besides that he had oftentimes craued new supplies of the archduke but all in vaine for which causes he was glad to abandon two strong forts he had built before HATVVAN and to leaue the towne now brought to great extremitie Thus two notable cities which were now as it were in the hands of the Christians and by the recouerie whereof the broken state of the afflicted Christians in HVNGARIE had been much strengthened were as it were againe restored vnto the barbarous and cruell enemie Whilest the Christians thus lay at the siege of STRIGONIVM and HATVVAN the Rascians of whom we haue before spoken striuing still more and more to rid themselues from the Turkish thraldome gathered themselues togither to the number of fifteene thousand betweene BVDA and BELGRADE vnder a Generall of their owne chusing For feare of whom the Bassa of TEMESVVAR with an armie of foureteene thousand went to fortifie and victuall LIPPA doubting least it should by them be surprised but hauing done that he went for in his returne he was met with by the same Rascians and twise fought withall in one day and both times put to the worse with the losse of the greatest part of his armie After which victorie the Rascians tooke BECZKEREK a strong towne standing in a marish foure miles from BELGRADE and slew all the Turks they found therein After that they tooke a castle called OTTADT and dealt with the Turks in like manner From thence they went and besieged BECHE a castle standing vpon the riuer Tibiscus or Teise where the towne adjoyning vnto it yeelded presently but they in the castle standing a while vpon their guard offered at last to yeeld also vpon certaine conditions But the Rascians knowing that the Turkes thereabouts had conuaied into that castle the best part of their wealth and withall that it was but weakely manned would accept of no conditions but needs haue it absolutely deliuered vp to their pleasure In the meane time the old Bassa of TEMESVVAR and his sonne knowing it to tend to their dishonour to suffer this base people so to rage at their pleasure about them gathered togither 11000 Turkes and so in great hast came to relieue the besieged castle Vpon whom the Rascians turned themselues and in plaine battell ouerthrew the Bassa and so pursued the victorie that of those 11000 Turks scarcely escaped 1000 the Bassa himselfe being there slaine and with him three Sanzacks his sonne escaped by flight In this battell the Rascians tooke 18 great pieces of artillerie and not long after tooke also WERSETZA and LVTZ two strong places After which so happie successe they sent vnto the archduke Matthias for aid but especially for canoniers professing themselues now vtter enemies vnto the Turkes The Rascians also about TEMESVVAR sent word vnto the other in the campe that they would come and joyne with them And they which inhabite the countrey betweene the riuers Danubius and Tibiscus by messengers sent of purpose vnto the lord Teuffenbach the archdukes lieutenant in the vpper part of HVNGARIE offered in short time to send him ten or twelue thousand men so that he would receiue them and their countrey into the emperours protection which he easily granted them and thereof assured them by writing And to the archduke himselfe they sent also their trustie messengers requesting him to send them a Generall to lead them promising vnto him all obedience which messengers departing from them the fourteenth of Iune shortly after returned with such answere as was thought most conuenient for their present state Thus against the comming of Sinan was HVNGARIE almost all on a broile The emperour long before distrusting the Turkes purpose for warre and well considering what a difficultie it would be for him with his owne forces only to withstand so puissant an enemie as was Amurath had by his embassadours praied aid of diuers Christian princes but especially of them of the empire as those whom this warre concerned most Wherfore he after the auntient and wonted manner of his state in so common and imminent a danger appointed a generall assembly of the Princes and States of the empire to be holden at RATISâ—ONE in the latter end of Februarie which for sundrie vrgent causes was put off vntill March and againe vntill Aprill and so afterward vntill May. At which time the emperour in person himselfe with the Princes Electors and other the great States of the empire being met togither with great pompe at RATISBONE and solemnly assembled into the bishops pallace began there to sit in counsell the 2 of Iune Vnto the which Princes and States so assembled after that the emperour had first by the mouth of Phillip Countie Palatine of RHENE giuen great thanks for their so readie apparance briefly declared the cause of their assembly he himselfe after some complaint made of the Turkish infidelitie in expresse words declared vnto them how that he by his embassadour then lying at CONSTANTINOPLE had in the yeare 1591 made a league for eight years with the present Turkish Sultan Amurath which league Amurath himselfe had approued and confirmed and thereof sent him publike and solemne instruments wherein it was prouided That no hostilitie should be on either side during that time attempted And yet notwithstanding that he contrarie to his faith giuen as an hereditarie enemie of the Christians had violated this league and by sundrie incursions barbarously spoiled and wasted not HVNGARIE onely but other of his imperiall prouinces also But especially by Hassan Bassa of BOSNA who first with a strong armie besieged battered and tooke REPITZ an antient frontier castle and after that WIHITZ DRESNIK CRASSOVVITZ with other places of name And had in his dominion and
his friends and the rest of the nobilitie of his countrey to consider thereupon Hauing it by the prince plainly laid downe before him how a sufficient number of souldiors might at all times be raised their pay prouided and aid still sent him as need should be from the Germane emperor or himselfe out of TRANSYLVANIA as also that Aaron the Palatine of MOLDAVIA would at all times be readie to combine himselfe vnto them that so with their vnited forces they might vpon the bankes of Danubius and Nester easily represse the incursions both of the Turkes and Tartars their enemies the Christian emperour in the meane time with lesse trouble proceeding in his warres against the Turke in the other side of HVNGARIE Now whilest this plot was thus in laying and matters too and fro in debating not altogither without the Turkes suspition Sinan Bassa comming with a great armie into HVNGARIE had taken the strong towne of RAâ— as is before declared with which mischance so much concerning the poore remainders of HVNGARIE the Vayuod not a little mooued began more deeply to consider of his owne estate And as he was a man of a great spirit and no lesse zeale towards his countrey grieuing to see his subjects committed to his charge to be so daily by the insolent Turkes still more and more oppressed he as he had before promised to the Transyluanian called an assembly of all the States of VALACHIA to consult with them what were best to be done for the remedie of so great euils as also for the preuenting of greater not without cause then to be feared Where by the generall consent of them all it was agreed rather to joyne with the emperor and the other Christian princes in confederation as they had been oftentimes by them requested than longer to endure that heauie yoake of the Turkish thraldome and slauerie Whereupon the Vayuod taking vnto him two thousand of the Hungarian garrison souldiors now before for that purpose secretly laid vpon the frontiers of his countrey and calling vpon the name of Christ Iesus in one day to begin withall slew about two thousand of the Ianizaries who without his leaue had in that countrey prowdly seated themselues with all the rest of the Turks in the middest of their insolencie togither with the traiterous Iewes not leauing one of them that he could come by aliue in all the open countrey And purposing to driue them out of their strong holds also and so to make a cleane riddance of them he within foureteene daies after set vpon DZIVRDZOVVA a great towne of the Turks vpon the banke of Danubius which he burnt all sauing the castle and hauing there made a great slaughter and loded with the spoile of the Turks returned to BVCARESTA the chiefe seat of his Palatinat But long it was not after this his so great presumption but that he perceiued the Turkes in reuenge thereof to seeke after his life although he yet seemed to yeeld his obedience vnto Amurath and to haue done that he did as enforced thereunto by the insolencie of the Turks and for the necessarie reliefe both of himselfe and his subjects For the same moneth RAB being as is aforesaid taken by Sinan one of the Turks Emirs discended of the great family and stocke of Mahomet their false Prophet and then Cadilescher a man of great account and place amongst the Turkes accompanied with two thousand chosen souldiors fiftie of the great Sultans chamber and many of the Zausij and Spahi vpon the sudden came to BVCARESTA vnder the colour of refreshing themselues after their long trauell but in deed with purpose to haue taken the Vayuod where they without controlement committed all kind of outragious villanie and taking vp all the chiefe houses in the citie imperiously demaunded of the Vayuod who then lay at his pallace neere vnto the new monasterie without the citie built without any castle or defence vpon the riuer Dembowiza ten thousand Florens for a present with victuals and other necessarie prouision for his followers And presently after being certainly enformed that he lay there but slenderly accompanied and almost himselfe alone the Emir himselfe on foot with a thousand of his souldiors went out of the citie as if it had been but for his pleasure and in curtesie to haue seene him Of which so suspitious a guests comming the Vayuod vnderstanding got him betimes away into the campe of his Hungarian mercinaries which then lay but fast by when the Turke thus deceiued of the hope he had before conceiued for the taking of him craftily sent certaine of his followers to know of him to what end he in time of peace did entertaine such a number of Hungarian souldiors Whereunto the Vayuod cunningly answered That they were at the first entertained for the taking of Peter the sonne of Alexander sometime Palatine of MOLDAVIA who although he were now before apprehended and openly hanged vpon an hooke at CONSTANTINOPLE yet that those souldiors were for their readie seruice of necessitie still to be billited in the countrey vntill such time as their pay might be prouided Which the Turke hearing commaunded the Vayuod forthwith to discharge them as men vnnecessarie and to his subjects troublesome promising the next day to lend him a tunne of gold to pay them their wages Which faigned promise the Vayuod seemed thankfully to take yet neuerthelesse commaunded the Hungarians forthwith in armes to stand in readinesse in the campe for the intercepting of the Turkes if happily by him distressed they should betake themselues to flight whilest he in the meane time with his courtiers and other souldiors secretly assembled into a valley thereby came suddenly vpon the Turkes not as then dreaming of any such thing compassed about the Innes wherein they lay and setting fire vpon them in fiue places notably forced them both with fire and the sword the two greatest extremities of war seeking now for nothing more than the just reuenge of his spoiled citie his forced virgins and wronged subjects Howbeit the Turkes for a space right valiantly defended themselues and by plaine force although in vaine sought to haue broken through the middest of their enemies and so to haue fled Yea many of them by force of the fire driuen out of their lodgings and tearing off their burning cloathes fought starke naked but most of them which could fled vnto the pallace where their great Emir lay there with him readie to die or liue All which their last endeuours of desperation the Vayuod easily frustrated with two great pieces of artillerie opening a way for his souldiors vnto them So that the prowd Emir now in despaire like the hunted Castor threw downe out of a window a great chest full of gold and pretious stones and other jewels of great valour if happily he might haue so appeased the Vayuods wrath humbly now requesting no more but to haue his life spared fearfully promising a large raunsome for himselfe and those
and so leaue him the citie which the Archduke would not by any meanes agree vnto At length with much entreatie they obtained that they might vpon the same conditions depart that the Christians did at RAB with their scimitars by their sides and so much of their goods as they could carrie vpon their backes vnto such ships as were to be appointed for the carriage of them to BVDA For the performance whereof hostages were on both sides giuen and so the next day being the second of September they began to come out of the citie moe in number than either the prisoners taken in the time of the siege had confessed oâ— the Christians had thought Thirtie ships were appointed for the conuaying of them downe the riuer to BVDA which not suffising many of them tarried in the citie vntill the next day at which time the Bassa with the sicke and wounded sayled to BVDA the prisoners and pledges on both sides being before faithfully deliuered Thus by the goodnesse of God and the good conduct of a few valiants Christians was STRIGONIVM the Metropoliticall citie of HVNGARIE after it had 52 yeares groaned vnder the miserable yoake of the Turkish seruitude againe restored vnto the Christian common-weale which the Christians forthwith repaired and new fortified as was thought best for the defence thereof against the enemie All which being done about the middest of this moneth the Archduke sent eighteene thousand to besiege VICEGRADE otherwise called PLINDENBVRG a strong castle of the Turks vpon the riuer betweene STRIGONIVM and BVDA which castle they tooke Which when they of BVDA vnderstood they were strucken with such a feare that many of the better sort were readie to forsake the citie insomuch that the Bassa to stay their flight was glad to commaund the gates of the citie to be shut vpon them and no man suffered to passe out This good successe of the Christians in these wars caused great rejoycing to be made in most parts of Christendome All this while the Christians were thus busied at the siege of STRIGONIVM the Transyluanian prince was not idle but in diuers places did the Turks exceeding much harme so that now his name began to be dreadfull vnto them It fortuned that the same day that the Countie Mansfelt departed at KOMARA that the prince at ALBA IVLIA with great solemnitie married Maria Christina the daughter of the late Archduke Charles the sonne of the emperour Ferdinand her other sister Anna being before married vnto Sigismund now king of POLONIA for so it was agreed for the more assurance of the league betweene the emperour and him that he should take his wife out of the house of AVSTRIA which he now did Of this solemnitie the Turks his euill neighbors hauing intelligence assembling to the number of 30000 or more thought as vnwelcome guests to haue come vnbidden or vnlooked for thereunto but the vigilant prince vnderstanding of their comming prouided for their entertainment accordingly and setting his pleasures for a while apart and comming vpon them when they least looked for him in a great battell ouerthrew them and slew most part of them carrying away with him as a triumphant victour the whole spoile of his enemies About the same time the Transyluanians also besieged FAGIAT a towne holden by the Turkes not farre from TEMESVVAR where after they had lien twelue daies they of the towne dispairing to be able long to hold out came to parley and couenanting to depart with bag and baggage began to go out of the towne But in their departure vnderstanding that the Bassa of TEMESVVAR with the Sanzacks of LIPPA and IENNE were comming to their reliefe they that were yet in the towne began to find delaies and they that were alreadie gone out began to returne Wherewith the Transyluanians much moued by plaine force entred the towne and put them all to the sword and afterward turning vpon the Bassa who with ten thousand Turks and certaine field pieces was comming to haue relieued the town had with them a cruell battell wherein most part of the Turks fell with small losse of the Transyluanians who so eagerly pursued the victorie that the Bassa himselfe had much adoe with fiue hundred others to escape The two Sanzackes with diuers others of good place were taken and sent prisoners to the prince Not long after about the latter end of August the Transyluanians also besieged LIPPA a famous citie of HVNGARIE standing vpon the riuer Maracz not farre from TEMESVVAR which the Turkes being notable longer to hold fled into the castle where finding themselues in no great safetie after three dayes siege they came to parle and so yielded vpon condition that they might in safetie depart with so much of their goods as they could themselues carrie About which time also the Bassa of BOSNA with ten thousand Turks and Tartars went forth to haue againe recouered BABOTSCA a frontier towne before taken by the Christians which the Stirians and the rest of the Christians dwelling thereabouts betweene the two riuers of Sauus and Drauus vnderstanding conducted by the lords Herbenstein Lewcowitz and Eckenberg that had the charge of those frontiers ouertooke the said Turks and Tartars neere vnto BABOTSCA fought with them and in the plaine field ouerthrew them Mahomet not a little grieued with the good successe of the Christians in euery part of HVNGARIE and aboue measure offended with Ferat Bassa his Generall through whose negligence all or at leastwise most part of this had happened as he was by the enuie of Sinan Bassa persuaded sent for Ferat home and in his place sent out Sinan Of which the great Sultans displeasure Ferat was not ignorant as forewarned thereof by her that best knew euen the Sultans mother and aduised not to come in sight vntill his peace were made Who neuerthelesse trusting to his own innocencie the comfortable but most dangerous and weake stay of the great and doubting not to answere whatsoeuer Sinan should be able to charge him with came to the Court where he was by the commandement of Mahomet shortly after strangled and his goods to the value of fiue hundred thousand duckats confiscated Among all the dangerous enemies of the Christian common-weale was none at this time more cruell than was Sinan an Epirot borne a fishers sonne of a rough and vnciuile disposition now about fourescore and three yeares old euen from his youth brought vp in the warres and yet as his mott was breathing nothing but Bloud and Warre He had many times fortunately led the huge armies of the Turkish Emperours Solyman Selymus and Amurath and is now sent by the great Sultan Mahomet as the fittest man to reduce the late reuolted countries of TRANSYLVANIA VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA to their former thraldome which he before promised vnto Mahomet vpon perill of his head to doe He hauing raised a right puissant armie by a bridge made of boats after a moneths labour spent therein passed ouer
man of great experience and valour was appointed lieutenant Generall for that countrey to the great contentment of the souldiors in generall all shewing themselues most readie at his commaund The lord Swartzenburg in the meane time remaining in the lower HVNGARIE at RAB with eight thousand good souldiors and the Archduke Matthias at VIENNA for the dispatch of George Basta and the hasting of him foeward for that the vpper HVNGARIE to the great hurt thereof began now to feele the incursions of the Turkes and Tartars besides that he was afterwards to returne himselfe to speake with the emperour his brother still expecting a Chiaus of the Turkes by the appointment of the Grand signior sent by the way of POLONIA for PRAGE to intreat with the emperour concerning a peace They of BVDA in the meane while seeing the delay of the Turks of whom not one band yet appeared in those quarters and on the other side perceiuing the great preparation of the Imperials and the great garrison at RAB so neere at hand began now to doubt some new resolution of the Christians wherein they were no whit deceiued for no armie of the Turks being then in field in the lower HVNGARIE and the countrey plaine and open the lord Palâ—i with a conuenient power and certaine pieces of batterie set forward to attempt the enterprise and the sixteenth of October with sixteene pieces of artillerie began to batter the citie of BVDA to the great feare and discomfiture of them within hauing first taken the fort S. Gerarde with hope to haue gained the rest also For which cause the men the women and all that dwelt in the citie most instantly besought the Bassa not to endure the destruction of the same with the inhabitants and wealth thereof altogither but being not able long to hold out against so furious a batterie in time to hearken vnto some reasonable composition that so they might yet euerie man at least with life depart Whereunto the Bassa for all that would not hearken but put them still in hope that they should be presently relieued Howbeit the batterie still continuing and they not able longer to endure the force of the Imperials nor any reliefe yet comming they were glad at length to abandon the citie with the losse of two thousand of the Ianizaries and but three hundred of the Christians slaine and eight hundred hurt the rest of the Turkes at the same time retiring themselues into the castle where they might for a space deeme themselues safe So the lord Palfi possessed of the citie with all his forces laid siege vnto the castle which although it were in some places shaken with the continuall furie of the cannon yet were the defendants still readie to make good the same insomuch that Palfi vpon good hope of successe giuing thereunto a generall assault was by their valour enforced to retire they within in the meane time with great labour and industrie repairing the breaches and gaules made by the artillerie So that Palfi considering the difficultie of the assault thought it better by vndermining to shake the rock whereon the castle stood than by a new assault to expose so many worthie men vnto so manifest a danger which his purpose by the enemie discouered was by them also by countermining disappointed yet for all that were the Christians still in good hope by an other mine not yet by the enemie perceiued to sort to the full of their desire and the more for that they saw not so much brauerie or shew of courage in the defendants as before Who now kept themselues silent and quiet as if they had been consulting about the yeelding vp of the castle as men bereft of all hope of reliefe and succour the Christians being now possessed of a strong abbey and fortresse fast by and hauing broken downe all the bridges ouer the Danubius in such sort as that the besieged could not receiue any reliefe either by land or water But forasmuch as the time of the yeare began now to grow tedious and the winter weather sharpe the Christians thought it not best there long to protract the time and therefore resolued to present vnto the castle another generall assault and at the same instant to blow vp the mine but in giuing this assault they were againe repulsed with the losse of two hundred men At which time also a number of the Turks â—allying out of the castle couragiously encountred the Christians but not with successe answerable to their valour being there almost all cut in pieces neither did the mine take the desired effect but being blowne vp did little or no harme at all So that the Christians wearie of their long suffering of the extremitie of the weather and withall considering the great courage of the defendants were euen vpon the point to haue risen yet willing to giue a fresh attempt by the mine they began againe to worke in the same and in hope to preuaile began to parley with the defendants about the giuing vp of the castle but all to little or no purpose for that the mine hauing taken no effect the souldiors could hardly be drawne on through the deepe and muddie ditches to giue a new assault In fine seeing no hope to preuaile and hearing also of the comming of a great armie of the Turkes for the reliefe of the besieged they raised their siege and at their departure burnt their suburbs carrying away with them a great bootie and so retiring towards STRIGONIVM expected farther direction where to winter Where shortly after order was taken that the forces disbanded should be dispersed some into the garrisons and some into the countrey thereabout to the intent they might so be in the more readinesse with the first of the next Spring to take the field or as occasion should serue to be otherwise imploied But Sigismund the Transyluanian prince in the mean time repenting himselfe of the vnequall exchange he had made with the emperour in disguised apparell hasting in post out of SILESIA came to CLAVSENBVRG in TRANSYLVANIA and there joyfully receiued of his subjects and taking of them a new oath of obedience by messengers sent of purpose certified Maximilian the Archduke appointed by the emperour for the gouernment of TRANSYLVANIA and now vpon his way as farre CASSOVIA of the causes of his returne persuading him rather to conuert his forces against the Turkes for the recouerie of AGRIA than to trouble himselfe to come any farther for TRANSYLVANIA now againe by him to the great contentment of his subjects repossessed as did also the princesse his wife Maximilian his cousin german wishing him to consider what hurt and dishonour he should doe vnto the Emperour his majestie himselfe the Roman empire and the whole Christian common-weale in generall if in so dangerous a time hee should attempt any thing against the prince her husband and vnto him by her so neerely allied Now the Turkes great armie being come into the vpper HVNGARIE lay
The report of this ouerthrow giuen vnto the Turks by the Valachian with the sacking of NICOPOLIS running abroad brought a generall feare vpon the Turkes euen in the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE For the staying whereof Mahomet commaunded the chiefe of his Bassaes with a great power of tumultuarie soldiors taken vp in hast to go forthwith against the Vayuod to stay the course of his farther proceedings to the dismaying of his people himselfe thundring out most horrible threats against him who encouraged with his late victorie and well acquainted with the Turks manners little regarded the same as knowing that he was not with words but with armes to be vanquished Now Mahomet the Turkish emperour oppressed with melancholie to see himselfe at once assailed with the plague then raging in CONSTANTINOPLE the bloudie wars in HVNGARIE and the horrible mortalitie and losse of his people in both places and withall not ignorant of the eâ—ill successe of his armie at VERADINVM of the great harme done at NICOPOLIS by the Valachian yet for all that ceased not in what he might to prouide for so many euils but gaue order to Taut Bassa with all speed to set forward as we haue said from CONSTANTINOPLE toward VALACHIA as from whence he feared the greatest danger who without delay to make the Vayuod to vnderstand how highly the great Sultan was displeased with him put himsâ—â—fe vpon the way with six hundred Ianizaries towards HADRIANOPLE with purpose there to Winter vntill the Spring and so to expect the comming of the rest of the armie that so with the same vnited vnto the forces of Mehemet Satergi who the last yeare besieged VERADINVM he might in the field appeare more terrible vnto his enemies The Christian Emperour also at the same time rested much discontented that his people in so faire a way for the winning of the castle of BVDA had yet failed thereof the Wallons laying the fault vpon the lords Swartzenburg Palfi and the rest of the commaunders that it was not woon for that when they as valiant men offered to haue done therein the vttermost of their deuoir their leaders had made choise by the spade and mattocke rather than by the sword to performe the same But Michael the Vayuod seeing the Turkes not a little dismayed with the sacking of NICOPOLIS began afresh to their greater terrour and hurt to make new inrodes vpon them in such sort as that he was entred an hundred miles into their territorie against whom Mehemet Satergi as yet the Turkes generall in HVNGARIE comming with his forces he againe retired carrying away with him the spoile of the countrey by him wasted They of BVDA in the meane time fearing some sudden assault to bee giuen vpon them and suffering within great want of victuals expected long to be relieued both with victuals and other necessaries vnderstanding yet withall that the Grand signior had caused it to bee giuen out in CONSTANTINOPLE that he was raising a great power of his best and most expert souldiors and had therefore sent for vnto the Court all his old men of warre such as had serued in the wars of PERSIA to be now againe employed in HVNGARIE Where the Turks in the meane time prouiding to relieue the distressed citie of BVDA both with men and many other necessaries certaine resolute Hungarians vnderstanding by their espials that one of the Turkes Bassaes with three thousand souldiors was comming thither to encrease the garrison laied themselues close in ambush in a place whereby the Turkes were to passe where they had not long stayed but that the Turks as men without feare disorderedly passing by were by them with such force and furie assailed that in a moment when they least thought they were ouerthrowne and put to flight with the losse of many of their horses much money and jewels and many captaines there taken prisoners the Bassa himselfe with much adoe hardly escaping into the citie But shortly after foure hundred Christians scouring the countrey about BVDA and hauing taken a good bootie of cattell and other pillage returning loaded with the prey were by the way assaulted by the Turks and enforced to forsake the same and to fight for their liues whom for all that they notably repulsed with the slaughter of diuers of them and so againe recouering their bootie returned with victorie And about this time or not long after in the vpper HVNGARIE a great power of the Turkes and Tartars hauing forraged a great part of that countrey and done the Christians great harme came before CASSOVIA making shew as if they would euen presently haue besieged that citie which put the inhabitants in such a feare that many of them without further deliberation fled forthwith as fast as they could into the mountaines thinking themselues more safe there than in the citie Neuerthelesse by the persuasion of George Basta the emperours lieutenant in those parts two thousand valiant and expert souldiors staied there with him expecting what the Turks would doe who approching the wals demaunded of them of the citie a great summe of money by way of contribution threatening otherwise the vtter ruine and destruction thereof Which their proud demaund was by Basta stoutly rejected and they with the losse of a great many of their liues enforced to get them further off Wherefore seeing themselues not able to preuaile against a citie so well prouided they for feare by night rise and departed quite another way than that whereby they came doing great harme still as they went The free Haiduckes of VALACHIA also a warlike kind of people liuing for the most part vpon prey and willing to shew some token of their hatred toward the Turkes by certaine bridges passing ouer the Danubius encountered with the Bassa of NATOLIA with a great power whom they ouerthrew with much slaughter of his people and the losse of his brother there slaine also and so afterwards ouerrunning the countrey did there exceeding harme and tooke the same Bassa his sonne prisoner Thus passed the Winter with many light skirmishes and incursions in diuers parts of HVNGARIE and other the frontier countries which had done great harme had it not beene before hand well prouided for by the Imperials who in most places strengthened with new supplies stayed the furie of their barbarous enemies Maximilian the Archduke in the meane time comming from PRAGE to VIENNA found himselfe there to haue in his campe but foure and twentie thousand foot and ten thousand horse readie against the next Spring diuers of the Germane princes this yeare not sending thither any aid at all by reason of their troubles neerer home with the Spaniards in the lower side of GERMANIE which made him the more to dread the enemies comming who he knew after his accustomed manner would that Summer appeare in the field with a farre greater number But to haue holpen this want the great duke of MVSCOVIâ— about this time by his embassadours amongst other things
gained the distressed citie But whilest they thus lay vpon the passages behold newes was brought vnto them how that the Bassa of BOSNA with the Sanzackes of SIGETH QVINQVE ECCLESIae and COPPAN with ten thousand Turkes were comming to oppresse them and to open the passages by them holden But they knowing their owne strength and nothing fearing so small a force stayed not for their comming but went to meet them and in a place of good aduantage waiting for them vpon their first appearance with great assurance and courage charged them brake their array and slew the greatest part of them together with the Bassa himselfe yet with so much adoe as that had not the lord Palfi in good time sent in vnto their aid certain companies of fresh men it was not without cause doubted but that the Haiduckes had been put to the worse aboue three hundred of them hauing there alreadie lost their liues The Tartars yet neuerthelesse in good number held on their way towards BVDA with purpose to haue ouerrun the countrey and so to haue withdrawne the Imperials from the citie but for as much as that base nation was knowne to be good for nothing but to rob and spoile the lord Swartzenburg his regiment only going against them and encountering them ouerthrew them in such sort that part of them being there slaine in fight and part for feare driuen into the Danubie the greatest number of them there most miserably perished Basta the emperours lieutenant in the vpper HVNGARIE at the same time lay at CASSOVIA with eighteene thousand men doubting least the enemies armie which he heard to bee at hand should come to besiege that citie In the meane time Ibrahim Bassa Generall of the Turkes forces came to SOLNOCH with an armie of fiftie thousand strong amongst whom were ten thousand Ianizaries but for all that vnderstanding that Basta nothing dismayed awaited his comming at CASSOVIA not thinking it good to goe any further his souldiors being alreadie wearie with long trauell neither yet safe there to stay so neere vnto his strong enemie retired backe againe to BELGRADE a place of more strength and securitie expecting a great fleet of ships which charged vpon the Danubius were to bring victuals for the armie as also for the reliefe of BVDA ALBA REGALIS and other such distressed places with diuers great pieces for batterie and other lesse artillerie vpon carriages with a number of ladders and other instruments of war declaring their purpose for the performance of some notable exploit all guarded with fiue thousand Turkes which conducted it vp the riuer Of all which the Imperials vnderstanding the lord Palfi dispatched his lieutenant with a conuenient power and the captaine of the Hussars with his followers all good and valiant souldiors to cut off this conuoy Who to make the matter short suddenly assailing them and so comming to handy blowes cut in peeces the conuoy and rifled the ships of whom the greater part were there sunke in the deepe riuer and so tooke an exceeding great bootie deemed to be worth a million of gold where amongst other things of great value there was found abourd an hundred thousand dollars which were all deuided amongst the souldiors as a reward of their trauell This great ouerthrow once knowne at BVDA ALBA REGALIS and the cities thereabouts brought vpon them a great feare yea the armie of Ibrahim grew thereby much discontented as being at once disappointed both of their victuals and their pay Besides that the Imperials ouerran all the countrey thereabout ransacking sacking and destroying the countrey villages and castles without mercie although the poore inhabitants offered them large contribution to haue staied their furie which would not bee accepted Vpon this notable ouerthrow also the lord Swartzenburg was determined with all his forces to come againe to the siege of BVDA in hope in so great a discomfiture and want of victuals to haue had it deliuered vnto him and for that purpose sent for certaine great pieces of artillerie to VIENNA But whilest things went thus well in the lower HVNGARIE colonell Rodoler of S. Andrewes in the vpper countrey tooke occasion also vpon this ouerthrow of the Turkes with fiue hundred horse and six hundred foot to shew himselfe with this small companie before AGRIA hauing yet left the greatest part of his forces a little off in secret ambush Which small companie the Bassa of AGRIA beholding presently put himselfe in arms and so sallying out began an hot and braue skirmish when suddenly the other souldiors left in ambush starting out and couragiously assailing their enemies brake their order put them to flight pursuing them at the heeles euen to the gates of the citie and had there beene a greater force of footmen it was verely thought that the Turks dismaied with the flight and altogether confounded had abandoned the defence of the place and the Christians euen then become masters of the citie which had beene the cause of their notable ouerthrow in the yeare 1596. Neuerthelesse they with great brauerie and small losse retired hauing slaine a great number of the Turkes and carrying away with them an hundred prisoners with a bootie of fiue hundred horse and much other cattell The free Haiduckes also strengthened with new supplies had done great harme in the countrey about BVDA scouring freely all ouer it finding none to oppose themselues against them for which cause the poore Christians which yet dwelt in that country rise vp against the Turks promising their obedience vnto the emperour and moreouer to the intent they might bee no more molested by the Imperials offered to take vp armes themselues against the enemie and to the vttermost of their power to hinder his passage both by land and water These same Haiduckes also had broken downe all the bridges which the Turkes had made betwixt BVDA and ALBA REGALIS to the end they should not that way commodiously bring either victuals or munition from the one place to the other And the lord Palfi and Nadasti vnderstanding by their espials That the Tartars deuided into three companies had ouerrun a great part of the country and with a great bootie were retiring towards BVDA presently went out against them and enforced them to fight which barbarous people better inured to filtch than to fight there lost all their liues together with that they had before stolne After which victorie these valiant men turning their forces against certaine other places of the Turkes there by tooke two of their castles with much rich spoile which castles they sacked and burnt together with the great towne of ZOINA breaking downe also the bridge vpon the riuer Traua Now at this time the Turkes at BVDA held themselues male content within the citie hauing no Gouernour their Bassa being before taken by the Haiduckes and they themselues pinched also with great want of victuals T Wherefore doubting some sudden attempt of the Christians as men dismaied they for their more
also Now the rebellion before raised in CARAMANIA by Cussahin Bassa as is aforesaid was not with his death altogether appeased Also ORFA a great citie of that countrey which hauing tasted the sweetnesse of libertie in the time of Cussahin yet still holding out against Mehemet the great Bassa the Sultans lieutenant Generall there At which time also a companion of Cussahin the late rebell called the Scriuano and one of his greatest fauourits seeing how hardly not onely Cussahin himselfe but the rest of his followers had beene handled by the Turkes began to make head and to call vnto him all such as loued their libertie vnto the sweet name whereof so many were in short time come about him as that out of them he formed such an armie as made him now dreadfull vnto the Turkes his enemies Against whom Mehemet Bassa going with all his power to haue oppressed him found him with those his rebellious followers so couragious for the desire they all had to breake out of the Othoman slauerie and to liue in such libertie as was promised them by their captaine and Generall that joyning battell with them he receiued of them a notable ouerthrow insomuch that fearing to haue lost his whole armie he was glad to retire and to send out commissions for the raising of greater forces Sultan Mahomet in the meane time whether it were for feare of this new rebellion or for that he vnderstood of the embassadours sent from the Persian vnto the Christian princes began to suspect least that king should breake the league he had with him and so to his farther trouble take vp armes also against him Wherefore vpon a Turkish pride he sent an embassadour into PERSIA to giue the king to vnderstand That for the more assurance of the league betwixt them he demaunded to haue one of his sonnes sent vnto him in hostage as a pledge of his fathers faith Which so proud a demaund the Persian king tooke in such disdaine that he commaunded in his rage the embassador to be forthwith slaine but that his furie being by his graue counsellours somewhat appeased he remitted the seueritie of that his rigorous commaund and sparing his life was contented that in despight and contempt of him that had sent him he should be put to the Bastonado onely and so grieuously threatened sent backe againe vnto his master Who hauing receiued this shamefull answere and in doubt of some further matter from that angrie king commaunded new and strong garrisons to be put into all his strong holds confining vpon the Persian kingdome This troublesome yeare of Iubilie thus past the emperour much troubled with the losse of CANISIA and in doubt of worse to come albeit that Ibrahim Bassa whom for all that he trusted not did afresh entreat with him concerning peace and seeing also the great need hee had of greater aid to withstand the mightie power of the Turke with great instancie requested aid of the Pope and of the other princes of ITALIE who considering also how much it concerned the rest of the Christian commonweale to haue the frontiers of HVNGARIE defended condiscended vnto the emperours request and so the Pope with the beginning of the Spring sent him eight thousand souldiours in pay vnder the leading of Io. Francesco Aldobrandino his nephew their Generall who with the like charge had now serued euer since the yeare 1599 King Philip also at the instance of the emperour gaue order vnto the Countie Fuentes to send into CROATIA certain bands of Dutches who by direction from him were forthwith conducted to MILLAINE The great duke of FLORENCE also sent vnto him two thousand souldiours vnder the leading of Francesco del Monte with whom also by his appointment went the lord Io. de Medices whom Ferdinand the Archduke forthwith requested for to be master of his campe Thither came also the duke of MANTVA with an honourable companie both of horse and foot being forthwith by the Archduke made his lieutenant generall And so whilest these people assembled together into CROATIA the emperor sent also another good armie into HVNGARIE drawne for most part out of GERMANIE which vnder the leading of the Archduke Matthias his brother and the duke Mercurie his lieutenant generall went into those parts to withstand the Turke A third armie he also made of the Imperials which strengthened with the forces of Don Ferrant Gonzaga Gouernour of the vpper HVNGARIE joyned themselues with Basta for the recouerie of TRANSYLVANIA out of which he had been of late driuen as shall hereafter be declared And so whilest these armies were in preparing many hot skirmishes passed in HVNGARIE betwixt the Christians and the Turks the losse falling sometime to the one side and sometime to the other But the time now come that souldiors might well take the field Ibrahim Bassa being now before dead at BELGRADE whilest he was yet entreating of a dissembled peace and Hassan one of the Visier Bassaes by Mahomet appointed Generall in HVNGARIE in his place yet delaying his comming the parley for peace laied aside as neuer indeed by the Turkes intended but onely by them entertained to dallie off the time to their owne more aduantage duke Mercurie Generall of the emperours forces taking the offer of so fit an opportunitie came with his armie from COMARA where he had lien expecting the euent of the parley and laied siege to ALBA REGALIS one of the chiefe and strongest cities of HVNGARIE which seated in the middest of a marish was thought almost impregnable being hardly to be approached but by the suburbes which strongly fortified and defended by the marish serued the citie in stead of three most sure bulwarkes within which stood also the citie it selfe well defended with a good wall and a ditch This citie the duke for certaine daies continually battered as if he had purposed at length to haue taken it by assault but in the meane time certainely enformed by a fugitiue but lately fled out of the citie that the broad lake on the other side of the citie ouer against the place where he lay was not so deepe but that it was to be passed contrarie to the opinion both of the Turkes captiues and of the naturall inhabitants whom he had vpon that point examined and that the Turkes presuming vpon the strength therof and thinking themselues on that side safe had turned almost all their care and forces vnto that side of the citie which was now by him battered without regard of any great perill to be from the other side feared he appointed the lord Russwurm with his souldiors to make proofe if the SIGETH suburbes for so they were called on the aforesaid side of the citie so little regarded by the Turkes were not to be surprised for that these suburbes being taken the citie could not long hold out For the vndertaking of which enterprise Russwurm was both by the captiue Turkes and countrey people thereby dwelling much discouraged they all
with one consent affirming That albeit he should find no other difficulties in the attempting thereof yet the lake it selfe was not possible to be passed who neuerthelesse not altogether trusting them sent certaine of his men secretly to trie the matter who hauing so done brought him word That the lake was vndoubtedly though with much difficultie to be passed Whereupon he with a thousand select souldiours with euery one of them a good faggot on his backe beside his armes to fill vp the deepest of the marish by night entered the same wherein he had not gone farre but that he almost 〈◊〉 the danger of his life found it much deeper and more troublesome than the spies had vnto him before reported but caried with an inuincible courage himselfe and his souldiors moued by his example he still went on they also following of him It is almost a thing incredible to tell what these aduenturous men endured plunged in the deepe mud amongst the flags and bulrushes going still vp in water and mud vnto the wast euen where the marish was the shallowest where also if one missed but a step he was by and by ouer head and eares and in danger to be drowned if he were not by his fellowes presently holpen yet at length by God his helpe hauing with the losse but of six or seauen men a little before day got ouer the duke by an appointed signe aduertised thereof with greater stirre and tumult than at any time before assailed that side of the citie where he lay as if euen then and there he had onely meant to haue engaged his whole forces for the winning thereof When in the meane time the lord Russwurm on the other side with his resolute souldiours with ladders prouided for the purpose scaled the wals of the suburbe and almost vnperceiued recouered the top thereof the Turkes being at the same time wholly bent for the defence of the other side of the citie where most stirre and apparent danger was and so being got into the suburbes with a great and terrible crie assailed the Turkes who surprised with an exceeding feare and not well knowing which way to turne themselues without any great resistance fled into the citie the Christians following them at the heeles and making of them a great slaughter In which so great a confusion euen where was least feared the duke by other his souldiors tooke the rest of the suburbes as he had before determined the Turkes there also for feare forsaking them and retiring with all the hast they could vnto their fellowes in the citie there to liue or die together The Christians in these suburbes beside much other rich prey tooke also foureteene great pieces of artillerie with good store of shot and pouder The suburbes the greatest strength of the citie thus happily taken the duke againe summoned the citie requiring to haue it deliuered vnto him whereunto the Turkes gaue no other answere but by their pieces which they discharged vpon the Christians so persuading them to yeeld Wherewith the duke much displeased sent them word That he would send them other manner of messengers to morrow and by Gods helpe sup with them in the citie although he were not vnto them welcome Neither failed hee of that his promise for the next day hauing out of the suburbes by the furie of his artillerie made two faire breaches into the citie he by the ruines thereof with great slaughter of the enemie entered the citie albeit that the Turkes did what they might to haue defended the same by casting downe vpon the Christians as they entered darts wild fire and such like things vsually prouided for such purpose But seeing now no remedie but that they must needs giue place vnto the fortune of their enemies they fled amaine into their houses there to defend themselues or els to die many of which houses they had before of purpose so vndermined as that they could easily ouerthrow them and so ouerwhelme as many as should come within the danger of them which so strange a resolution was by many of them as desperatly performed insomuch that the goodly church the pallace with many other sumptuous buildings were left vnto the Christians all rent and torne not much better than rude heapes of rubbidge and stones Howbeit the Bassa vpon promise of life yeelded himselfe and was by the duke presently sent vnto the campe the rest of the souldiors being as in such case it commonly happeneth all or most of them put to the sword The greatest part of the prey fell vnto the Wallons who by heapes breaking into the richest houses not onely tooke what themselues light vpon but stript the Germans also of such things as they had by chance gotten to their great heart-burning and griefe yea these rauenous and irreligious men not so contented opened the tombes of the Hungarian kings there long before buried to spoile euen the dead of such things as had for honours sake beene long before enterred with them if happily any such thing were there to be found shewing themselues therein more barbarous than the Turks who by the space of threescore yeares hauing had the citie in their possession had yet spared those reuerend monuments and suffered the reliques of those worthie princes to rest in peace Of this taking of ALBA REGALIS the Bassa of BVDA long before taken prisoner and then lying at VIENNA hearing abstained from meat with his two seruants a whole day prostrate vpon his face praying vnto his prophet Mahomet who had as he said all this yeare ben angrie with the Turks Which had the siege of CANISIA taken the like effect had then vndoubtedly been vnto them most vnfortunat but God in his wisdome still tempereth the sweet with the soure Now in the meane while was Assan the Visier Bassa and Generall of the Turkes armie with such souldiors as were alreadie assembled at BELGRADE comming t◠haue relieued ALBA REGALIS and albeit that he vnderstood by the way as he marched that the citie was by the Christians woon yet held he on his entended journey and so taking with him the Bassa of BVDA with the other Sanzackes and commaunders of the townes and castles thereabout had formed an armie of about threescore thousand strong but for most part raw and vnexpert souldiours with which power he still held on his way towards ALBA REGALIS as well thereby to giue some contentment vnto the angrie Sultan his master as in hope also to ouerthrow the Christian armie or at leastwise to find the citie as yet vnrepaired and so to regaine it But vaine was that his designement especially for the recouerie of the citie for that the duke had no sooner taken it but that he forthwith caused the breaches to be repaired and for the more assurance of it put into it a strong garrison of old expert souldiours and being himselfe about twentie thousand strong and hearing of the Bassaes comming set forward to meet him and
trouble them in the castle and the vpper citie of BVDA Which their entended exploit they happily attempted and brought to passe in this sort The citie of PESTH standing right ouer against BVDA is as we haue oftentimes beforesaid deuided from the same with the great and swift riuer of Danubius ouer which the Turkes vpon boats had with great labour and cost of late built a most easie and commodious bridge for passage or carriage of things from the one citie to the other this bridge the Imperials thought necessarie first to breake the more easily to besiege either the one or other citie and for that purpose had by a strange deuice built a ship which by the force of the streame carried downe the riuer and resting vpon the bridge should by a wonderfull power breake the same Which ship the Turks seeing comming downe the riuer with the rest of the fleet after her they ran by heapes especially out of the Water citie to the bridge for the defence thereof where whilest they were thus busied Countie Sultze on the other side by land with a Petarde blew vp one of the gates of the citie and so entering and killing all such as he light vpon came vnlooked for vpon the backes of the Turkes at the bridge of whom some he slew some he draue into the riuer who there perished the rest in number not many by speedie flight retiring themselues into the citie whereupon he had now brought such a generall feare that they all as well the souldiors as the citisens with the Christians at their heeles with as much hast as they could tooke their refuge into the vpper citie of BVDA much stronger and better fortified than was the lower citie At which time the bridge was by them vpon the riuer broken also so that now the one citie could no more thereby relieue the other as before The Water citie thus woon and the bridge broken the next was for the Imperials to besiege either the one or the other citie But for that they of PESTH might with their great ordinance much annoy them in the besieging of the castle and the vpper citie of BVDA they thought best to begin with it first which they did in much like sort as they had before done at the lower citie of BVDA the same deuice againe well prospering in their hand For the lord Russworm with the fleet vpon the riuer making a great shew as if hee would euen presently on that side haue entered had with the stirre by him raised drawne downe most part of the garrison souldiors vnto that side of the citie where most shew of danger was whilest in the meane while Countie Sultze with the gouernour of ALTHEM before vndiscouered vpon the sudden by land scaled the other side of the citie and gained the wals the Turkes yet dreaming of no such matter But hereupon began a great outcrie the Turkes standing as men astonied especially now feeling the Christians weapons in their bodies before they knew they were got into the citie In this so great an amasement such of them as could fled into the strongest towers the rest hid themselues in cellars and other the most secret corners they could find out of which they were afterwards by the Christians drawne and slaine They which were retired also into the towers and other stronger places of the citie seeing the great ordinance in euery place bent vpon them and now out of all hope of reliefe offered to yeeld requesting onely that they might with their wiues and children with life depart promising for that fauour so shewed them to persuade them of BVDA also in like manner to yeeld Vpon which promise that their poore request was graunted and the lord Nadasti with certaine other captaines sent with some of these citisens of PESTH with their wiues and children to BVDA who comming thither according to their promise most earnestly requested them of BVDA to yeeld for that they were not now to expect any further helpe and that by their foolish obstinacie they should bee the cause of the death of them their friends their wiues and children Vnto whom also to mooue them the more the lord Nadasti promised in the name of the Generall That they should all excepting some few of their chiefe commaunders in safetie depart howbeit they of BVDA would not hearken thereunto but stood still vpon their guard In this citie of PESTH well inhabited with Turkish marchants the Christians found great store of wealth which all became a prey vnto the souldiors with a thousand horses for seruice many great pieces of artillerie and much other warlike prouision PESTH thus woon and a strong garrison left therein they returned againe ouer the riuer to besiege the castle and vpper citie of BVDA which they attempted by vndermining the same as also by batterie hauing placed some of their great ordinance so high that they could at their pleasure shoot into the middest of the streets of the citie wherewith they much troubled the Turkes not a little before discouraged with the losse of PESTH thundering also at the same time with their other batteries in diuers places at the wals both of the castle and of the citie Where vnderstanding that the Turkes garrisons of the frontier townes and castles thereabouts hearing of the siege were comming to the reliefe of their distressed friends they sent out their horsemen with some part of their footmen against them who meeting with them gaue them a great ouerthrow and so with victorie returned againe vnto the rest of the armie lying at the siege being still in hope either by force or composition to become masters of the citie But whilest they lay in this hope and hauing the twelfth of October brought their approaches neerer vnto the wals had there planted certaine notable pieces of batterie with purpose the next day with all their power to haue assaulted the citie behold the Visier Bassa hearing by the way as he was going to BELGRADE and so to CONSTANTINOPLE that PESTH was woon and BVDA besieged changing his mind returned in hast with such forces as hee had yet left and so vnlooked for came and sat downe before PESTH being not then aboue fiue and twentie thousand strong but those all or for the most part old and expert souldiors But whilest the Bassa thus lay at the siege of PESTH on the one side of the riuer and the Imperials at the siege of BVDA on the other diuers braue attempts were in both places giuen both on the one side and the other The Christians besieged by the Turkes in PESTH hauing amongst them diuers braue captaines and desirous of honour one day vnder their conduct sallied out of the citie to skirmish with the Turkes and comming with them to the sword by plaine valour disordered them and enforced them to flie and so allured with the sweetnesse of the victorie pursued them euen to their trenches from whence a great squadron of the
Turks tooke forsaken of the inhabitants who for feare were all fled into the mountaines except some which for age or sicknesse could not shift for themselues whom the Turkes slew and spoiled the churches Barbarussa thus scouring alongst the coast of ITALIE and newes thereof daily brought to the citie of ROME strucke such an exceeding terrour into the minds of the citisens that it was verily thought if he had come but a little farther to OSTIA they would generally haue forsaken the citie But he hauing well performed his promise made to Solyman for vexing the Christians and before resolued of a greater matter he had to doe when he had watered at PONTIA passed ouer into AFFRICK with such celeritie that he was arriued there before it was thought that he was departed from the coast of ITALY For Barbarussa to deceiue Muleasses king of TVNES and to take him vnprouided had giuen it out that he would burne and spoile the coasts of the Christian countries especially of ITALY LIGVRIA and SPAINE in reuenge of the harme done by Auria at CORONE and PATRAS Which thing Muleasses the rather beleeued vnderstanding his proceedings vpon the coast of ITALY The Venetians hauing also at the same time at great charges prepared a great fleet did in some part lessen Muleasses feare that Barbarussa would employ his forces for AFFRICKE for then what should the Venetians haue needed to haue made so great and chargeable a preparation But that which aboue all other things brought him into securitie was for that he had by secret espials certainly learned that his brother Roscetes was kept at CONSTANTINOPLE as a prisoner at large vnder safe keeping which made him to thinke that Barbarussa his forces were not prepared against him for he knew that he could not be impugned or his state more endangered by any other meanes than by producing the competitour of his kingdome to whom his guiltie conscience doubted that both the citisens of TVNES and the Numidians were for most part well affected This Muleasses of whom we now speake and whom hereafter we shall by occasion often remember was lineally discended of the auncient kings of Tunes who without interruption of discent or mixture of forraine bloud had by the space of nine hundred fiftie and foure yeares mightily ruled the great kingdome of TVNES from TRIPOLIS to BVGIA almost eight hundred miles alongst the Mediterranean and into the maine as farre as the mount ATLAS and for the long continuance of their state and largenesse of their kingdome were worthely accounted the most reuerend and mightie amongst the Mahometane kings of AFFRICKE His father Mahometes when he had with much glorie and more pleasure raigned two and thirtie yeares perceiuing the end of his life to approach had purposed to haue appointed Maimo his eldest sonne whom for his hastie aspiring he then held in durance to succeed him in his kingdome But ouercome with the importunitie of Lentigesia his wife a woman of hautie spirit who had by reward made a strong faction in the court for her sonne Muleasses he altered his former purpose and appointed him his successour by whom as it was thought the small remainder of his owne old yeares was shortened Maimo the right heire of the kingdome in prison presently murdred seuenteene of his other brethren vnmercifully executed and three other Barcha Beleth and Saeth with more than barbarous crueltie with a hoat yron of their sight depriued only Roscetes the second brother and Abdemelech escaping the hands of their vnnaturall brother fled to Morhabitus a great prince amongst the Numidians whither also their brothers malice persecuted them seeking sometime by practise sometime by poison to haue taken them away and at last for a great summe of money to haue had them deliuered into his hands Which money they Numidian receiued but suffered the distressed princes as if they had escaped against his will to flie further to another Numidian prince a friend of his called Bentieses where Muleasses by like practises as before sought to haue destroied them or to haue got them into his owne power Thus chased by their brothers endlesse malice from prince to prince and place to place they for their more safetie fled at last to the citie of BISCARIS farre into the maine land where Abdemelech as one wearie of the world gaue ouer all and betooke himselfe to a solitarie life and became a melancholy Mahometane monke But Roscetes courteously entertained by Abdalla prince of that citie found such fauour in his sight that he gaue him his daughter in marriage and long time honourably maintained him as his sonne in law with such carefulnesse that for feare of Muleasses practises he was seldome permitted to eat any other meat but such as the prince or his wife had before tasted of Muleasses thus raigning and raging and yet not contented with the death of so many of his brethren proceeded further and murthered diuers of their children also He caused also the Manifet and Mesuar men of greatest authoritie in all the kingdome his fathers graue counsellors and his cheefe friends by whose meanes especially he had aspired vnto the kingdome to be cruelly tortured to death fearing their greatnesse or rather as some thought greeuing to see them liue to whom he was so much beholden and therefore rewarded them with such sharpe payment And by the instigation of Lentigesia his mother caused diuers of his fathers other wiues and concubines to be shamefully murthered inueighing oftentimes against his father that as an effeminate prince with infinit charges had for his pleasure maintained two hundred wiues and concubines in his houses of delight by whom he had begot so many sonnes competitours of the kingdome that he had left him as he said a laborious and enuious peece of worke to destroy so great a brood Roscetes aided by his father in law and the other Numidian princes to whom the name of Muleasses both for his crueltie against his owne bloud and injurious dealing against his neighbours was become odious passing ouer the riuer Bragada with a great armie neere vnto TVNES met with Muleasses his armie conducted by Dorax a valiant captaine brother to Lentigesia where in a sharpe conflict he ouerthrew his brothers armie and enforced Dorax with them that were escaped out of the battell for safegard of their liues to flie into TVNES Roscetes pursuing the victorie came and presented his armie before the gates of the citie in hope that the citisens whom he knew for the most part to hate the vsurping tyrant would vpon the sight of him in right their king with so great an armie raise some tumult in the citie and let him in There he lay by the space of twentie daies still expecting some innouation in which time the more to alienate the minds of the people from Muleasses and to shew how vnable he was to protect them he burnt and destroyed all the oliue and fruit trees which grew most plentifully and
VIENNA to ALTENBVRG where he mustered his whole armie and departing thence with some few of his followers came to WALKENBVRG a village vpon the side of Danubius where he made choise of a place to encampe his armie in which after he had marked out he returned again with speed to ALTENBVRG and by open proclamation through the campe gaue straight commaundement That against a certaine houre euery man should be in readinesse to remoue and to set forward toward the enemie But diuers of the souldiors and especially the Germanes began forthwith after their wonted manner to crie out for their pay before they would stirre any farther so that the countie was glad by a second proclamation to commaund them to rise promising them their pay within eight dayes But they still standing vpon their former resolution for their pay refused any further to follow their captaines and sent six of the best sort among those mutinous souldiors to the countie in the name of all the rest to demaund their pay whom he forthwith commaunded to be all hanged but three of them hauing reasonably excused themselues he let them goe and causing the other three to cast lots for their liues hanged vp two of them Which seuere execution so terrified the rest that vpon the signe giuen they all rise and with the rest of the armie followed the Countie The whole armie being come to WALKENBVRG vnto the place where they were to encampe the Countie himselfe with others of the nobilitie began with spades and shouels to dig and cast vp the trenches and so wrought vntill they sweat againe with whose example all the rest of the armie of what degree soeuer being moued to labour had in short time cast vp a verie great trench from Danubius vnto the marishes large enough for four score thousand men to encampe in the great worke with restlesse labour going forward both night and day vntill it was fully finished The Countie lying thus entrenched with his armie was still carefull by his espials to vnderstand where the enemie lay and what he did He was readie still to heare all but to beleeue that which seemed to be most like to be true what he purposed he kept most secret so that the enemie could neuer discouer any of his dessignes wherein the Generals of late yeares before him had much erred and commonly his most certaine resolutions were shadowed vnder the open shew of some other matter nothing meant securitie he much abhorred as neuer free from danger and although it was by diuers messengers brought vnto him That the enemie was but of small strength vnable to meet him disorderedly encamped and in great distresse for want of victuals yet would he giue little credit therunto as knowing such reports to haue oftentimes been of purpose giuen out by the Turkes to lull the Christians in securitie the more easily to oppresse them The Christian armie thus strongly entrenched and the trenches planted with great ordinance the Countie himselfe with certaine troupes of horsemen would oftentimes shew himselfe before RAB and sometime before DOTIS viewing sometime the one place and sometime the other as if he had verily purposed to haue besieged the one of them and to giue the greater shew that he had so determined he caused the ground to be marked out for his armie most conueniently to encampe in and for the casting vp of his mounts Which caused the Turkes of STRIGONIVM VESPRINIVM PALOTTA and other places farther off to send part as well of their warlike prouision as of their garrison souldiors some to RAB some to DOTIS for the defence of those places neerest as they thought vnto danger The Countie in the meane time hauing now put all things in readinesse came with his armie and sat before DOTIS demaunding to haue it yeelded vnto him And the more to confirme the Turkes that he would assuredly besiege that place he began to cast vp his trenches and to raise his mounts as seemed most conuenient straitly commaunding euerie man of what condition soeuer to put his hand in some measure to the furtherance of those workes and the more by his owne example to encourage others would oftentimes himselfe carrie a fagot or some other thing before him vpon his horse for the raising of the mount For all that certaine Hungarian gentlemen disdaining such base labour as they deemed it refused to doe any thing therein which the Countie perceiuing straitly charged one of them by his example to carrie a fagot to the mount which the Hungarian gentleman refusing the Countie therwith much moued laid the fagot he was carrying himselfe before the Hungarian vpon his horse charging him to see that he caried it to the appointed place the Hungarian disdainfully taking it caried it vntill he thought he was out of the Counties sight and then in scorne threw it downe which the Countie hauing still an eye after him perceiuing commanded him to be taken and all armed as he rid to be presently hanged vpon the next tree for his obstinacie Which wholsome seueritie both then and afterwards caused others more diligently to doe what they were commanded by their superiors It happened about this time that three Turkes being taken prisoners were brought into the campe whom the Countie straitly examined of many matters But the first of the three could neither by faire or foule meanes be induced to answere to any thing that he was asked and was therefore by the commaundement of the Countie in the sight of the other two cut into small pieces Who terrified with his dismembring confessed many things whereof they were asked and among others that the Turkish Sultan had determined to turne his greatest forces into TRANSYLVANIA MOLDAVIA and the vpper part of HVNGARIE and therefore would this Sommer send small forces or else none at all into those quarters Now was DOTIS so belaid by the Countie as that no man doubted but that he had theron purposed to haue gaged his whole forces when suddenly the last of Iune commaundement was giuen through the campe that euerie man vpon signe giuen should be in readinesse to follow his leaders for that the Countie had determined forthwith to remoue yet wâ—ither the armie was to be remoued few or none knew more than certaine of the chiefe commaunders As for to go to STRIGONIVM few there were that so much as dreamed thereof all was kept so secret yet was it the Counties purpose euen from the beginning to attempt the winning of that citie which the Archduke had in vaine the last yeare besieged The next night being both darke and foule the Countie rise with all his armie and the next day being the first of Iuly came to STRIGONIVM they of the citie not hearing of his comming before they saw him vnder their walles Whererefore the Turkes in the suburbs called the Rascian citie and they in the fort vnder Saint Thomas hill despairing of the keeping of those places setting fire on
the houses and defacing the fort so much as in that sudden feare they possibly could fled into the lower towne The next day the Countie with resistance tooke the aforesaid places forsaken by the Turkes which hee manned with certaine companies of Wallons and made a bridge of boats ouer Danubius cast vp certaine mounts and did many other things for the furtherance of the siege In three daies he had againe repaired the fort vnder Saint Thomas hill abandoned by the Turkes and therein placed foure great pieces of artillerie wherewith he began to batter the lower towne and in other places to strait the besieged more than they had been the yeare before The Bassa of BVDA not ignorant of the want both of men and munition in the besieged citie and the rather for that they had but a little before sent part of their garrison with shot and pouder to RAB and DOTIS attempted thrise as he did many times after during the time of the siege to haue by the riuer put new supplies both of men and munition into the citie but was still by the diligence of the Christians excluded and enforced with losse to returne In short time the Lower towne which they call WASSERSTAT or the Water towne was with continuall batterie sore beaten so that scarcely any house or building was left whole and a counterscarfe made the last yeare beaten downe Whereunto certaine Wallons were sent only to haue viewed the breadth and manner of the ditches after whom certaine companies of the Hungarian Heidons presently followed without any commaund from their captaines who with great courage got to the top of another high counterscarfe there set vp some of their ensignes Which the Turks beholding and comming on close togither by plaine force enforced them with losse to retire Among these Hungarians were diuers also of the Wallons slaine with some others of good name and place to the great griefe of the Countie being not a little offended with that disordered seruice yet day and night the batterie ceased not and the Christians out of their trenches with their musket shot slew many of the Turks vpon the wals receiuing little hurt againe the Turkes still shooting but sparingly for feare of wanting shot and pouder at their greater need yet that they spent they bestowed so well that amongst others they had slaine foure of the Christian canoniers and one Wallon captaine About the middest of Iuly the Countie with continuall batterie had made the Water towne as he thought saultable and therefore sent certaine companies to begin the assault who hauing passed the counterscarfe found the ditch full of deepe mud and but newly cut broader certaine paces by the Turks so that it was thought scarce possible to be passed without a bridge behind which ditch was an high wall with strong bulwarkes and within all this was another new cast ditch and vpon the very brinke thereof a thicke and high parapit all which for all that certaine companies of the Wallons with great labour and danger aduentured to passe but such was the valour of the defendants and the small number of them that came on to the assault with the disaduantage of the place wherein they stood that at length they were glad to retire with the losse of many of their fellowes The Christians in the beginning of this siege had taken a little island in the riuer before the citie which was kept with some few companies of the lord Palfi his Heidons whereof the Turks hauing intelligence at BVDA with three gallies and certain other vessels landed in the island 3000 soldiors which slew the Heidons vnto whom no succour could be suddenly sent and so recouered againe the island wherein they left a sufficient garrison for the keeping thereof furnished with all things necessarie and so departed About three dayes after the former assault the Christians in hope of better successe the second time assaulted the Water towne in which assault the chiefe leaders were the lord Greis and Anthonie Zinne a famous captaine had he not stained his honor with countie Hardeck at RAâ— but being pardoned by the Emperour did now together with the rest appointed to that seruice most couragiously assault the breach but were againe by the Turks notably repulsed and enforced at last to giue ouer the assault and so to retire with the losse of an hundred and fiftie men amongst whom Zinne himselfe was slaine with one captaine Ruger and some of the counties owne guard the lord Greis was wounded in the head and the yonger lord Schuendi with diuers other captaines grieuously hurt The next day after six hundred of the mountaine people came into the campe vnto the countie with supplications to request him Not to giue ouer the siege vntill he had woon the citie promising in the name of those towns and villages from whence they were sent of their owne charges to repaire for him what harme soeuer he should doe in the citie for the taking therof yea though he should lay it euen with the ground for why the harmes they daily receiued from the garrison of that citie were wonderfull At the same time also he was aduertised by his espials of whom he maintained many for the discouerie of the enemies doings that Mahomet the Turkish Sultan had writ vnto the Bassa of BVDA carefully to prouide that his beloued citie of STRIGONIVM tooke no harme and not to spare either for men or money betime to relieue it and therein to do nothing without the aduice and good liking of his old and faithfull seruant Alis Beg who of long time had gouerned and also defended that citie and to the intent that nothing should be wanting for the performance hereof that he had sent Alexander Aga of the Ianizaries from the Court whose seruice he might euill haue spared whose approued counsell and helpe he might also vse in all things for that he had rather loose some other whole kingdome than that one citie And that therefore he should beware that it were not by the enemie woon or by any composition yielded wherein if he failed he threatned vnto him his heauie displeasure not to be appeased without the price of his head Which so seuere a commaundement of the great Sultans the Bassa sent to them of STRIGONIVM with most grieuous threats from himselfe if they terrified with any batterie vndermining or assault should yield the citie and not hold it out as became valiant souldiors vnto the last man swearing to empaile them all vpon stakes that should consent to the yielding vp thereof The old Gouernour Alis hauing receiued this so straight a commaund from him that was both able and like ynough to performe what he had threatened vtterly to deterre the souldiors from once thinking of yielding caused diligent enquirie to be made throughout the garrison if any of them had at any time made any motion of yielding vp the citie or otherwise murmured against their captaines or commaunders