her person not without the publike infamy of their loue and secret familiarity In the end when she had intelligence of this bad report that ranne vppon them and did vnderstand the enuy that those of the Court did carie to Pandolphel shee maried her selfe to maister Iames of Narbonne countie of March descended of the roiall bloud and house of France and her alley and kinsman vpon this condition notwithstanding that he should not vsurpe nor take vpon him the name of King but should hold himselfe contented with the title of Prince of Tarentum or County of March at his choise which pleased him The Captaines and great men of the kingdome being both iealous and bearing a mortall hatred to Pandolphel and to Sforce Cottignole afore mentioned in whom only the Queene seemed to repose her speciall trust and confidence they gaue to vnderstand to the County Iames that he should not doubt to come to Naples assuring him that they would so effect the matter as he should be king And accordingly as soone as he was entred within the Realme all the nobles and captaines went to meet him as farre as Beneuent and saluted him by the name of King onely Sforce saluted him by the name of Count no otherwise This act by the iudgement of the whole company was held to be a very proud and arrogant part and worthy to be punished with imprisonment Iulius Caesar of Capua one of the Captaines of the company began to grow into some altercation of words and hard speech with Sforce in the presence of the count but Sforce vnder colour of parting and keeping them a sunder was lead into a chamber and there arrested as a prisoner and his company or traine that followed him were sacked and spoiled of that which they had brought with them After this the Count being arriued at Naples and receiued with great triumph both by the nobles and common people who openly called proclaimed him king he had by intelligence* Chastelnoue or the new Castell deliuered vnto him and Pandolphel being taken within the same lost his head and Sforce being kept vnder sure and safe custody had bene put to death likewise had it not beene for Michelet a famous Captaine who being at Tricaric and hauing sodainely armed the companie of Sforce posted presently towardes Naples being accompanied with Margaret the sister of Sforce and the wife of Michelin of Rauignan a braue Captaine and fine warriour who arming her selfe and being assisted with certaine men at armes belonging to her husband when they were come neare Naples they tooke prisoners foure Gentlemen Neapolitanes whom the County had sent with safe conduct towards Tricaric to treat vpon some accord and agreement with Michelet These did she threaten that she would cause them to be hanged if her brother were not deliuered vnto her which was the occasion of the liberty of Sforce This was not the last ouersight of the County for beginning also to deale ill with the Neapolitans and depriuing sometimes one and sometimes another of their offices throughout the realme he bestowed them vpon Frenchmen and sequestring the Queene from all commaund and management of the estate and publicke matters he held her shut vp as a recluse in her lodgings besides that he lay very seldome and litle with her sometimes also vsing her roughly and with outragious speeches whereat euery man and especially the chiefe persons of the Court began to grudge and murmure but the Queene for all that seemed nothing discontented but dissembling her malicious minde and secrete malice by a feminine craft and subtelty she made shew as if that kind of life did please her wonderfull well as being remoued and estranged from cares and toilesome trauell and shee gaue her selfe to dancing and reuelling whereunto the French are naturally enclined and so passed away the time in great shew of ioy and gladnes how beit that by secrete signes and sighes and sometimes by close and couert speeches shee did sufficiently bewray and open vnto her priuate friendes her secrete griefe and discontentment Matters thus standing betweene the Queene and the Count Iulius Caesar who was of late the first man that moued and incensed the Count against Pandolphel and Sforce and had thereby brought the Queene to conceiue a mortall and deadly hatred against him hauing now forgotten the outrage and iniury which he had offred a vsuall matter in men giuen to be iniurious he began now to sound the affections of the Queen and in the end offered him selfe to worke the death and destruction of her husband The Queene being both wary and circumpect and yet malicious and seeing occasion now offered her to effect two seuerall things at once both to auenge her selfe of the iniury receiued by Iulius and to recouer the good grace and fauour of her husband with her owne liberty shee made countenance to harken vnto him and to take great pleasure and contentment in his discourse counselling him to be well aduised and accordingly to resolue himselfe and that at the end of eight daies he should come againe vnto her to lay downe some order for the execution of the enterprise Thus hauing licensed Iulius to depart and in the meane while beginning an extraordinary kind of sadnes shee secretly disclosed all the practise to the Count shewing her selfe very carefull of his safety and her disability to resist against the inticements and instigations of that traitor and especially shee offered to the Count that he him selfe should both see and heare the trechery of Iulius Wherefore the eight day being come shee conuaied him behind the curtaines of her bed with some of his most trusty and faithfull friends well armed and afterwardes shee caused Iulius Caesar to be called into her chamber who hauing disgorged and powred forth all the mischieuous and villanous speeches that might be deuised against the Count and against the Frenchmen did from point to point there make knowen and declare vnto the Queene what his platforme and deuise was to contriue the death and destruction of the Count. Hereupon he issuing presently out from the place where he stoode and had heard all his talke caused him to be apprehended and openly to be executed This demonstration and shew of the good will and affection of the Queene to the Count her husband was the cause of her full release and perfect liberty By meanes whereof maister Ottin Carracciole being made chiefe of the nobility and Anequin Morinell of the comminalty by the consent and intelligence of many that conspired and were confederate in the action they inuited the Queene one day into the towne to a feast and from thence did conduct and conuey her in safetie into the fortresse or tower of* Capua and immediatly they ranne to armes and seized vppon the towne and with great fury sacked it and chased all the French officers out of the city and the Count himself they imprisoned in the
the Arragonians being discomfited the Angeuins obtayned a notable victorie howbeit it cost them full dearely The report hereof being brought vnto Ferdinand who was fled into Naples beganne to make him muse and imagine with him selfe what would followe and he feared that ere long the towne would be besieged He left therefore the Queene to keepe Naples and being not able of him selfe to make head against the armes both of his domesticall and forraine foes being spoyled of the most parte of his dominions he put him selfe within Barie with a verie small and weake companie The Count Picenin being enformed of his flight left a strong garrison in Abruzze for feare least some newe enemie on that side should cut off the course of his attemptes and with the rest of his troupes he followed close after the king euen to Barie In the meane while Pope Pius and the Millanois made new prouisions and sent them for the reliefe of Ferdinand but the enemie hauing seized vpon all the passages this leuie serued to no purpose but onely for a vaine and fruitlesse shewe The Pope being in greater feare and perplexitie nowe then euer before did perceiue well that this matter would require forreine succours and that the valure and prowesse of straunge forces was to be vsed in this case Whereupon all the confederates did thinke it best to send for Scanderbeg into Apulia who being a Prince of great estimation and renowme in deedes of armes was very seruiceable to the See of Rome and withall was of late the most inward friend of Alphonsus and no lesse affectionate to Ferdinand Besides that they considered that Scanderbeg comming from the Sea they could not hinder nor deny his landing in Apulia but that he might open the passages towards Italie if neede were so as the army and forces of the league might haue free liberty also to come on that side I cannot in this place but greatly wonder and in some sort also it doth not a litle grieue me to see the ingratitude of writers to those persons whose valour hath so well and excellently deserued For whereas diuerse of all sortes haue written very diligently and recorded the summe of this warre betweene Ferdinand and the French yet is there not any of them that hath spoken so much as one word of Scanderbeg as though he had not beene I may well speake it the principall and chiefe cause of the happy successe of that warre nay if I may lawfully saie the truth the true defendor of the Crowne of Ferdinand and the deliuer of him out of the hands of his enemies And hereof I neede giue you no other testimonie then the liberall and bountifull recompence and reward giuen him by the King for besides that he acknowledged and held him for his father as long as he liued he gaue him also in acknowledgement of his desertes and the rewardes of his vertue the towne of Trana and two other townes of as good reckoning in Aqulia which the posteritie of Scanderbeg did continually enioy after that the affaires of Epire vpon the death of Scanderbeg fell to decay and ruine and they do in part also enioy them at this present as may well be seene euen to this day The Ambassadours of the league were no sooner arriued in Epire bringing with them letters from the Pope the king Ferdinand and the Duke of Millan but that Scanderbeg was willing to giue them audience Wherefore being brought vnto his presence they briefly recited vnto him howe the king of Naples hauing lost two great battels in the very heart of his realme his Nobles and subiects and the most part of his townes were reuolted from him and himselfe being as it were banished and exiled out of his countrey was enclosed and shut vp with a tedious and troublesome siege in a towne ill fortified ill prouided and scarce defensible without the hope of some present and speedie succours wherefore if he had any remembrance and regard of the strict friendship and amitie so faithfully held and obserued betweene him and the king Alphonsus father of Ferdinand that then it would please him speedily and without delay to passe with his forces into Apulia to deliuer free him frō the yoke and seruitude of strangers and not him onely but all Italie and it might be the holy siege of the See of Rome whereunto they did all of them intreat and require him most earnestly There needed no great perswasions to the king of Albany to draw him on in this voyage for besides that he was most deuoutly affected to the Church of Rome the memory of his late and most inward amitie with king Alphonsus did so farre preuaile with him that setting aside all the affaires of his owne kingdome both publike and priuate he franckly and voluntarily made him selfe a partie in the warre of Naples and prouided presently and out of hand for his embarkement and departure But before that he left Epire he found the way to assure himself of a truce with Mahomet and yet him selfe was not seene to motion or moue the matter as though it proceeded of his seeking Whereupon hauing set the affaires of his realme in good order he ordained the Queene to be Regent of the kingdome to whom he adioyned for assistaunts some of the most worthie and chiefe persons of the prouince to counsell and aduise her in the gouernement of the Estate Afterwardes he dispatched away Goic his nephew a Knight of great and sufficient prowesse with a choise companie of fiue hundred horse towards the realme of Naples willing him there to attend his comming and in the meane while to keepe the enemie busied by dayly roades and inuasions vpon them These things being thus accomplished after that the publike processions vowes and prayers were ended for their good successe and victorie and for the preseruation of him selfe and his people he caused his armie to set forward part of them to the gulfe of Rizic where the Italian gallies did attend them and part of them to the port of Duras and another part to Acrolissa or Media and the residue of his forces him selfe conducted to Ascriuia and from thence to Ragusa where his owne vessels were prepared to receiue him But before I passe any further I will describe vnto you as well as I can the towne and estate of Ragusa That which at this day men call Ragusa was of old and in times past termed Epidaure a citie as some affirme seated in Liburnia vpon the Adriatique sea beautified with an excellent harbour most fit and conuenient for shipping to ride and anker in and defended with a great and strong tower notably fortified and well furnished The compasse thereof is more then a mile in circuit her castell being inexpugnable is on euery side enuironed with mountaines and besides excellently well fortified by art and handie worke of skilfull enginers The towne was once abundantly stored with Churches
hauing bene burnt and destroyed by the Turkes and the multitude which inhabited the same making their retraite thither did in this Island make their continuall abode as in a place of greater suertie which was the occasion that together with them selues they transported thither also the name of their old towne and citie Ouer and besides these there was also in the same assemblie Peter Spaniard a Prince of happie fortune and a most happy father of many goodly children for he had there with him of his sonnes Alexia Bosdaira Vroa and Mirqua each of them being of equall height and of a goodly stature all alike and wonderfully resembling each other both in conditions and naturall disposition In this companie also was Lech or Luke Dusman and Peter with other pettie Princes their neighbours vnder whose commaund and obedience were the Peonians and vpper Pelagonians euen vnto Misia and the Sardoicians besides certaine small villages and fortresses neare about Driuasta and Balesia Not long after these thither came also Steuen Zernouich with George and Iohn his sonnes worthie children of so great and honourable a person and of so worthie a father to him did appertaine the strong and well fortified townes of Xabiac and Falcon with their territories most large and spacious lying in Sclauony or Liburnia The most noble and auncient common weale of the Venetians did not make any default but did make their appearance also for vnder their Empire besides the city of Scodra were many townes of great fame and renowme and a good part of Epyre. To conclude this great company did draw thither with them others of the most principall amongest the youth and flower of all those quarters who aswell for their owne particular interest as for the publique and common good did come to offer their persons and best meanes against the Turkes for the honor the safety and the preseruation of their countrey Now come I to the Oration of Scanderbeg the which when those who were called to the counsell were gathered together in the great Church at Lissa he began in this manner I would to God fathers and princes most debonaire and religious that the credulity and light beliefe of vs Christians would once draw to an end and that we would once waxe weary of the faithlesnesse of the Ottomans or to speake playner that their infidelity more then barbarous might from henceforth be made open and manifest vnto vs. For as concerning my selfe being at this day peraduenture ill thought of as the motiue and occasion of these new troubles neither would I haue disturbed the tranquillity of this estate nor haue sollicited you to expose your liues to the inconueniences of armes nor to the last and vtmost extremity of all things were it not that Iohn my father whom God pardon a Prince in other things wel aduised had not giuen too too much credit to the faire words and speaches of this periured disloyall Amurath at that time when vnder the pretence of a deadly peace he obtained of him for pledges as liberally as he demaunded them his owne proper children in hostage But wherefore do I complaine me of my father This error and this desteny is common vnto all Princes Christian What shall I say of the Greekes the Misiaus and others of our faith and profession This ouer great facility of crediting and beleeuing hath without doubt ruinated destroyed all of them in such sort that on the tyrants part they haue nothing at all left them but the repentance of their simplicitie and ouersight Neuerthelesse whilest I powre forth these my plaints and do in my mind carefully repeate these cautels and treasons of Ottoman yet withall as long a I do contemplate and cast my thoughts vpon you and do consider your prudence and the vnitie of your minds and affections this doth greatly strengthen me and biddeth me be of a good hope seeing that hardly or neuer he hath subdued or destroied any people either nation but* by deceipt fraud only or by their proper ouer easie beliefe and credence or by their ciuill dissentions and domesticall hatreds Go to now let anie man here tell me whether Ottoman did euer by his prowesse atchieue anie great conquests and whether the innumerable prouinces and infinite realmes which in our time he hath gotten and purchased haue bene annexed vnto his crowne by force of his armes and puissance let them account and recken vp the number of those his triumphes and victories Shall Epire then being so inuincible so flourishing in armes so replenished with Princes with valiant Captaines with so many warlike and stout peoples so vnited and agreeing within themselues shall Epire I say onely through this our credulitie be made the subiect of his outrage How greatly the Barbarian doth estimate and redoubt your vertue I my selfe can giue you most certaine and assured testimonie euen I who haue liued with him many yeares both in warre and in peace They would not euen now enterprise nor vndertake the warre against you but that verie necessitie doth constraine them to it Now what good or great matter can be effected or executed by a courage that is forced violently drawne vnto it any braue and resolute souldier will soone tell vs. But howsoeuer this affection and matter of so iust griefe do carie me away in speaking vnto you yet I am not ignorant but that there be many who hauing bene now of a long time accustomed to a peace though smally honorable will be highly aggrieued and discontented when they shall see themselues inuited by me to participate with the miseries and mischiefes of warre and they will not sticke to say That whatsoeuer be the fortune and successe of our armes yet nothing can be done without the expence and losse of their bloud In like case me thinkes I see how the mothers will be discomforted when they shall see their children sent to the daungers and hazardes of the warres the wiues will be heard to lament with great griefe and sorrow for the care which they haue of their husbands safetie and the verie infants left at home in their houses will seeme to crie for feare they should be made orphanes all men generally will call me cruell and will detest me which I can not thinke without horror as a new authour of warres of perils and of bloudshed and murther whereas they ought rather be it spoken without vaunting to name me the Occasioner and preseruer of their libertie But neither am I so carelesse of the publique and common good nor so carefull of mine owne priuate profite and interest that I can endure to heare so manie complaints a-amongst you nor to see so many mischiefes light vpon you all in common but that if this my counsell most worthie Princes and Lordes seeme not good and to your liking or if this occasion of entring into armes be not found profitable for the weale publique or be not held honourable by all of you
at all And if the Christian did deny to condescend to this agreement that then each man should be resolute and prepare him selfe with a good courage to the defence of their walles and to vse their vttermost obstinacie against so obstinate an enemy The messengers being sent backe with these capitulations to the campe of the Christians Scanderbeg made no other accompt of these demaundes but reputed them worthie to be laughed at willing them either to be better aduised and that with speede or else to prepare them selues to the extremitie of a generall assault In the end when he sawe that they were so fully and firmely determined as they would not abate so much as fiue dayes of the delaye and respite which they demaunded he grewe into greater choller but the night comming vppon them did put off the conclusion thereof for that instant Scanderbeg calling a Counsell to consult and deliberate vpon the matter some of his chiefe Lordes and eldest Captaines were of opinion That he should not altogether reiect these demaundes but that he should sound the besieged euen to the last point whether they would abridge anie part of that time They alledged the difficulties that would impeach them from carrying of the place for that the toppe of the mountaine whereon the citie was seated did not for the most part admit and giue anie easie accesse vnto those that should labour to clime the same and that the great stonie rocks naturally arising in many places round about the town and being wrought by arte into the circuite of the walles and so seruing for a fortification to the towne in many places would easily scorne all the force and violence of their ordinaunce and make them of no power nor vertue in regard whereof it might be an occasion that the siege might be of long continuaunce They alleaged moreouer that how soeuer it fell out and whether the truce were either graunted or denied to the defendaunts yet they beleeued that the Sultan would not faile to ayde and to send them succours that the daunger would be much greater and more to be feared if hee should come and finde them wearied and sore laboured whereas if he came not at all or that he did foreslow his comming they might then obtaine the towne without any bloudshed and without any losse or hazard of their people or in case he did come in good time to their rescue yet they might then take their choise both of the time and the occasion according as it should offer it selfe that all things would fall out conueniently and to his aduauntage in the fight and would be to the furtherance of his victory and to the greatnesse of his glorie That he had with as small forces as those then present giuen a memorable ouerthrow to Haly Bassa Moreouer that Mahomet in regard of his couetous desire and vnsatiable ambition to the Empire of Constantinople had cleane forgotten the warre of Epire. And they supposed that the Belgradians did demand this time of truce for the deliuery of their towne to no other end and purpose but onely because the king of Turkes should not blame them for yeelding it vp so hastily and shamefully and to the intent when they should be cast out of their dwellings and spoyled of all their substaunce they might be thought worthy both of pardon and compassion Scanderbeg smiling at these their allegations replied vnto them in this manner I see quoth he that the Albanians are glutted with so many victories that they are nowe become delicate and effeminate and that as the frosts and cold of the last winter were vnpleasing vnto them so the heate of the Sommer doth nowe annoy them They haue neede to be visited with some misaduenture God graunt that it happen not vnto them to chastise them for their sloth and negligence Besides who will not condemne vs of ouer much credulitie If we remember the like fraude was practised against vs heretofore by them of Sfetigrade and they deluded vs in the same maner What thinke you is then to be done when the prefixed time of the truce being expired you shall finde either their deceipt secretly hidden to be discouered or that their minds shall be altered and chaunged We shall then abide hard penance for our light credulitie and in vaine shall we repent the losse of the time past and we shall be constrained in the meane time to depend wholy vpon the pleasure and faith of our enemies And how soeuer there be many things alledged touching the difficulty of the siege and the occupations of the Sultan yet ought not wee for all that to deferre that which the vrgency of our affaires doeth require to be done And if it happen that whilest we are busied in forcing of the towne there do appeare any likelihood ofstirs from Andrinople we haue forces sufficient both to defend our selues and to secure vs from their attempts Besides that Dibria also is sufficiently assured with the garrison which Moses hath in a readinesse vpon those frontiers After the matter had bene long debated and discussed to and fro notwithstanding anie thing that had bene sayd to the contrarie Scanderbeg was content in the ende to subscribe to the opinion of the greatest number As touching the time there was some difference betweene them and the infidels many matters being argued and disputed on both partes but in the ende they agreed vpon a truce for sixteene dayes The capitulation being thus accorded and concluded Scanderbeg tooke not more care of anie thing then to set good watch and ward on all sides And therefore ouer and aboue the ordinary scoutes disposed and ordained by Tanusee he chose out fiue and twentie watchfull and diligent souldiers whom he appointed to keepe vpon the top of a certaine mountaine not farre from the campe for the more suretie of his troupes to the intent that the enemie being discouered by them a farre off and notice thereof giuen to the campe by fires and lights held vp aloft in the aire themselues also should immediatly giue the allarme retiring speedily into the campe By meanes whereof the souldier being certified and hauing warning of the comming of the enemie should haue some time to arme them selues and to put them selues in a readinesse to fight Furthermore because his companies should encampe more at their ease and by lying at large might recreat them selues from the parching and vehement heate of the sunne he him selfe with Amese and certaine of his Nobles lodged vpon the mountaine next the towne retaining for his regiment three thousand horse and a thousand foote and he disposed all things with singular prouidence and discretion planting certaine peeces of ordinance right opposite ouer against Belgrade which were alwayes kept in a readinesse for feare lest they of the towne should make any sallie and inuade him on a sodaine Musache and Tanusee with the rest of the armie were commanded to encampe in the plaine vnderneath
of the Christians I hold it expedient here to deliuer and represent vnto you the true description and situation of the place Constantinople which the auncients called Byzance is situated vpon the mouth or entrie of the streight of Gallipoly on that part where Asia is adioyning to Europe eche of them being separated from other by a very streight arme of the sea of Hellespont which extending it selfe into a gulfe opening with two pointes or hornes lyeth full East and West and so maketh a goodly hauen of two leagues and a halfe in length and about a mile in breadth where it is largest and not aboue halfe so brode where it is narrowest On the sides thereof it is full of nookes secret turnings and by places in regarde whereof it is called the horne for that the seuen hilles which doe aduance themselues within the towne doe make the gulfe to runne with manie braunches as it were the head of a Hart. Betweene this gulfe and the sea of Propontide there runneth out into the sea a mountaine not very high like vnto a Cherronesse or halfe Isle the length whereof lying East and West is litle lesse then two short leagues The ridge of this mountaine holdeth still on bending towards and opposite against the mouth of the sea Propontide but to the North it hath seuen other small mountaines or litle hilles adioyning of which foure of them doe strike into this gulf and the greatest of the foure is washed with the waues of the sea of Bosphore and representeth the base of a triangle For the towne and the demie Isle are in forme and fashion triangular The two points or promontories of this mountaine the one of them towards the Occident regarding the sea of Propontide called Hebdomi the other called Chrisoceras bending to the Northwards do gard the entry and mouth of the harbor from the violence of the windes From the which entry if you draw a direct line to the seuenth mountainet lying more hidden not so open as the others which doth likewise couer the Port against the Westerne windes you shall include the moorish playne of Pera within the bosome as it were of that winding circuite which maketh that continuall ridge or backe of the demy Isle afore mentioned The length of the hauen as we haue sayed is about two leagues and a halfe within the most inward recuyle whereof the riuers of Cidrus and Barbisa do discharge thēselues The entry of the hauen is very streight narrow for that on the side of Barbisa where is seated the towne of Pera somtimes founded by the Genowayes now by the Turks named Galata there is a promontorie called Metopique Cyglobia lying against the South another promontorie also towards Asia which ietteth out euen to the midst of the mouth of the streight of Gallipolis and is named Damalique On the Occident where the demy Isle or Cherronesse doth ioyne to the firme land of Thrace there it doth deuide separate the hauen from the sea of Propontide by meanes of a litle cut of land which is some 50. pace in breadth till it come to touch with the seuenth hill which being the inmost angle of the towne towards the maine lande as it goeth still on waxeth greater and greater and encreaseth more and more in largenesse widenesse Vpon this demy Isle or Cherronesse is seated the noble and famous city of Constantine and right against it vpon the otherside of the banke of the gulfe is the towne of Galatha or Pera the length whereof also butteth vppon foure points of the lande within the turnings and windings of the hauen The closest and narrowest part of the Port is closed with a great strong and massye chaine of yron running from a high tower on the promontorie of Chrisocer as called Phare to the promontorie of Metopique where is likewise an other tower Towards the firme land the citie is enuironed with a great and strong wall and with a vawmure whereunto is adioyned a very wide and deepe ditch All the rest of the towne being washed with the saltwater hath but one onely wall yet verie strong and flanked with infinite towers against all assaults and forces that may be addressed against them by sea-wards The middle part of the citie is a little mountaynous and hilly the circuit of it accounting three miles to a French league containeth about foure leagues and a halfe In this forme and largenesse it was in times past builded and reedified by the great Constantine Emperor of the Romaine Monarchie of whom also it had the name of Constantinople Now that I haue laide downe and giuen you a view of the situation of the citie whose sinnes and offences as it is to be thought made a separation betwene God and it It followeth that I now discouer vnto you what order the Turke obserued in the siege thereof both by sea and land how he disposed his bandes and companies about it in what manner he planted his Ordinance and placed his batterie and how he ordered his Nauie and sea forces After the place had beene well viewed the Turkes did soone make their approches to the walles by reason the defendants made but meane resistance and the assailants being couered with baskets of Osier with long plankes and boordes with targets pauizes and such like did march in safetie against the rampiers with so good order and discretion that they would haue made euen the most resolute and expert souldiers to be abashed and appalled The Ordinance and such like engines of batterie being planted in three seuerall places did beginne to batter the wals as furiously as was possible especially towards Calegarie where was placed a Cannon of such vnmeasurable greatnesse that for the remouing thereof from place to place scant 50. yoke of Oxen did suffice and the bullet thereof did containe eleuen handbreathes in compasse Through the violence diuelish force of this horrible engine the wall though it were very large and strongly builded yet was not able to make resistance but it fell out that this peece brake and Mahomet commaunded that another should be cast greater then the former But it was not so soone ended by meanes of the fauour and policie of Calybassa who was a great friende to a Nobleman a Christian Baron within the citie and one of the Counsellors to the Emperour Neuerthelesse the batterie was continued with great store of other artillerie and they ceased not to wearie the defendantes day and night and dayly did they kill some either more or lesse with harguebusses arrowes slings and diuerse other kindes of shot For the Infidels did imagine that the defendants were but fewe in number and that they could not long continue and holde out nor be able to endure the labour and trauell of the siege And the better to presse them to extremitie and to haue his will of them by force
their camp Euery man made prouision of necessaries to furnish himselfe against the next dayes seruice which they desired and expected with such greedinesse and deuotion that he was not held for a good man who did not by his verie countenaunce and by his gesture bewray the heate and forwardnesse of a braue mind and courageous Of their whole armie there was not a man who of all that day would either eate or drinke Such is the nature and disposition of men that when matters do fall out to their desire and contentment their bodies are fully satisfied and their appetite or stomach is quite taken from them But some say that this their abstinence was enioyned them by the ceremonie of their religion The day being spent and the night come on assoone as it was starre-light they fell to feasting one another with great cheere and notable banquets drinking and carousing together for the most part of the night This done they retired themselues euery man to his quarter to take their rest with many louing embracements kisses and mutuall fare-welles giuen to ech other as if they should neuer haue met againe You see now how the aduersaries prepared themselues to the ruine and desolation of the most noble and proud citie of the Orient In the meane while they within the towne hauing heard of this publique cry and proclamation of the great Turke and considering the great preparations that were made for the assault ordained a publique and solemne procession the Priestes and religious persons with all reuerence and deuotion had recourse vnto their reliques to the image of the crucifixe and of the blessed virgin with deuout prayers himnes and songs their eyes sheading abundance of teares their hearts sighing and groaning for the miseries and mischiefes both present and imminent vpon them The common people both rich and poore men and women young and olde followed after the Clergie imploring the fauour and protection of the diuine maiestie Thus did they goe about the towne enuironning it on all quarters visiting all the holy places and afflicting their bodies with fasting discipline and continuall orizons and when night was come they retired euery man to their seuerall places assigned for their defence During these passions of publique sorrow and lamentation the Gouernour of the towne Iohn Iustinian hauing a watchfull eye and good care to all matters as one that did diligently obserue all fortunes tooke order for the speedy repairing of the breaches and other places of least assurance and for the furnishing of them with artillerie demaunding of Chirluc who was of chiefest authoritie amongst the citizens that he should deliuer him out of the common store of the citie certaine ordinance to be emploied against the Infidelles which Chirluc hauing refused and denied him Iustinian enflamed with extreme wrath anger vsed these words vnto him Traitor that thou art what should hinder me that I run thee not through with my sword From that time forward Chirluc disdaining that he should be so outraged and reproached by a Latine did beare himselfe verie coldly in the discharge of his dutie And the Greekes in generall had secretly conceiued a great disdaine and enuie that the Italians should haue the chiefe commaund of them and should haue the chiefe honour of the preseruation of the citie Neuerthelesse the Generall by the aduise and counsell of Maurice Catanee Iohn de Carret Paul de Bouchardes Iohn de Fornares Thomas des Sauuages Ladisse Gattalusse Iohn Illyric and many other Greekes who shewed themselues true seruitours to God their countrie did take order for the strengthening of the companies and the fortifying of the rampiers in such sort that the Sultan himselfe greatly commending his prouidence and diligence vsed these words of him O that I had that Captaine neare about me that I might honor him according to his worthines sufficiency and he did by many meanes deuises assay to allure him vnto his seruice But that loyall and generous heart of his would neuer be corrupted nor drawen to yeeld vnto his enticements The walls of Constantinople were of as wonderfull great height and thicknes as of any towne whatsoeuer but partly by the antiquitie of the time which had in a manner wasted them being old and ruinous and partly by the negligence of the Greekes which made no great account and reckoning of it they were for the most part empaired and disfurnished of their battlements bulwarks other defences As touching the vawmure it was verie strong and in good estate as might be and it was well fortified with all things requisite for the guarding and keeping of it and accordingly the Greeks founding all the suertie of their fortresse vpon the strength thereof had lodged all their fighting men betwene the chiefe wall and the vawmure It was a worke and enterprize of no small importance to couer and furnish the vawmure with men sufficient and therefore many wise and expert men of good and sound iudgement finding fault and blaming them did tell them that they ought not to quit and abandon the chiefe and maine wall which was high strong made for that by the fauor benefit of the same being duely regarded and furnished they might very well haue maintained and defended the other wall and so haue drawen out the siege at length But if the Emperour for his part did make any default by reason of his negligence and pusillanimitie which I will not speake of much more were they to be blamed who had the chiefe managing and gouernment of the estate namely Emanuell Gregare who was a litle before but a very begger and base fellow and one Neophit a Monke of Rhodes two most notable pillers and not pillours of the common wealth These two being ordained as tutors or protectours of the estate and hauing receiued huge summes of money either of such as died intestate and whose goods were to come to the publique treasurie or by the testaments of diuerse particular persons who bequeathed great summes of mony to be employed to the reparations maintenance of the walles and fortifications they did defraud the common wealth of the same and conuerted it to their priuate profite and commodity Leauing within a while after to the Infidels and Barbarians the inheritance and possession of all their infamous and ill gotten treasure which amounted to more then 70000. crownes By the mischieuous and wicked couetousnesse therefore of these theeues and sacrilegious traitours did that noble city come to ruine and destruction Seeing then that all the actions and deedes of the Greekes were continually foolish and blameworthy it is no maruell if so worthy a monument and famous a bulwarke of the estate of Christendome founded by so many good Emperours did now fall to be the prey and reward of theeues and robbers Faine would they haue remedied this mischiefe afterwardes but then it was all too late for they wanted two
imagined became nowe an infamous Burdella or stewes for vncleane persons and Sodomites and a stable for horses as other churches and holy places in like maner were conuerted to like prophane vses The bones and honored reliques of the Saints were cast foorth and throwne about the streetes and publike places to be troden vnder foote not by men onely but euen by the dogs hogges and such like The images of the crucifixe and of the Saints were either trailed through the dirt or broken in peeces with axes and hatchets The rare and exquisite libraries how litle were they respected and regarded by those brute and vnreasonable beastes the enemies of all sciences and good learning What notable and extreme torments did they inflict vpon the seruants of priuate particular men to constraine them to reueale and disclose their maisters goods and hidden treasures The report is that they drewe foorth from vnder the earth in diuerse places an inestimable quantitie of gold and siluer and other iewels of exceeding great price which the vnfortunate and vnhappie citizens for feare of the siege had hidden vnder ground which abundance and superfluitie of wealth had it pleased God that they had bestowed and employed in munitions and vpon other necessities for the defence of the towne they might perhaps haue saued both their liues and goods and the libertie of their countrey But in them was that saying then verified That couetous men do not possesse their owne gold and riches but their gold and riches doth possesse them The sacke of the citie hauing continued for three whole dayes together there was nothing nowe left nor remaining in the towne which of late was most fortunate happie and rich but a most hideous shewe and sight of all barbarousnesse and inhumanitie suffering an indigne and lamentable seruitude of her citizens who to the number of three score thousand being bound and manacled were drawen and caried out of the citie into the campe and tentes of the Barbarians It is reported for a certaintie that Mahomet hauing made a magnificall and sumptuous banquet to his Bassaes and Captaines euery man being full of wine and dainties and him selfe it may be litle better then drunken caused all the prisoners to be brought before him and as if he had a desire to glut the hearts and eyes of his guestes with the innocent bloud of the Christians and as a man may say to mixe his wine with bloud he commaunded that the principall and chiefest persons who were of greatest estimate and calling should haue their bodies deuided and sawed a sunder in the middest whilest they were yet aliue taking a singular delight and pleasure at this inhumane spectacle and extreme crueltie Some of the chiefe Officers and speciall friendes of the Emperour Constantine which remained yet aliue being called also before him he reproued and blamed very sharply for that they did not perswade their Maister either to demaund peace or to deliuer the towne into his handes and thereupon he put them likewise to the sword as he had done the others Chirluck aboue mentioned hauing determined to currie fauour with the tyrant did impute all the fault and layed the whole blame thereof vpon the Peratines and the Venetians who as he sayd did ayde and furnish the Emperour Constantine with men money munition and counsell and that Constantine for the loue of them did maintaine the warre against him Moreouer the wicked wretch who had euer sought aduauncement by lyes and sinister practises did accuse Caly Bassa to be a friend to the Greekes and that he had often written to the Emperour comforting him and encouraging him to hold out and to proue his wordes true he shewed foorth the letters vnto the Sultan which he had reserued expressely and of purpose The Emperour of the Turkes being more feloniously incensed then before did resolue vtterly to destroy Pera and ordained that Caly Bassa being depriued of his authoritie and of all his goods and being fast bound and fettered should for a while be put in safe keeping and shut vp within a certaine tower at Constantinople from whence within fewe dayes after he was conueyed to Andrinople and there executed to the publike griefe and sorowe of all the Turkish hoast But the disloyall and trayterous Greeke did not escape the due punishment of his malice and infidelitie for hauing first lost his two eldest sonnes in the warre the third being slaine before his eyes by the commaund of Mahomet and the fourth being reserued to the abhominable lustes of the prophane tyrant the father was enioyned and enforced to hang and strangle him selfe with his owne handes With no lesse cruelty did the Turkish Sultan vse the forainers and strangers which were taken vpon the losse of the citie The Bailiffe or Gouernour of the Venetians with his sonne and other Nobles of his company were beheaded Likewise the Consull of the Caraconensians or Catalans with his two sonnes had the like end and Contarin a Venetian Gentleman of the familie of the Contarines with sixe other Gentlemen Venetians besides him who had before agreed and payed their ransome yet had drunke also of the same cup if they had not payd seuen thousand Duckets more once againe for their redemption Isidore Ruthenian Cardinall of the sea of Rome who had before bene sent Legate à Latere from the Pope Nicholas the fift hauing disguised him selfe fell into the hands of a simple souldier and by meanes of a great summe of aspres which he payd him he escaped and got him libertie The inhabitants of Pera seeing the desolation of Constantinople layed aside their armes and without attending any summons from the Sultan they came foorth of the towne and bringing their keyes with them they layed them downe at the tyrants feete who hauing receiued them to mercie with sufficient shewes of grace and fauour and shortly after hauing caused his armie to enter the towne against all faith and publicke honestie he caused it to be sacked the rampiers to be dismanteled and broken downe and afflicting them with a thousand mischiefes and calamities he caused their children to be sold for slaues their matrones to be defloured the olde men to be enchained the yong men to be murthred without any regard or difference had of age sexe or condition not sparing their temples pallaces nor other edifices and buildings Thus we see that the very same happened to the noble city of Constantinople which was once foretold and prophecied by the oracle to the Macedonians namely That the name of Constantyn was fatall to that towne and that during the raigne of Constantyn it should finde her best and worst fortune For as Constantyn the great the son of* Helen was the first that founded that Empire and did adorne and enrich that Imperiall city so this Constantyn the sonne of another Helen also was the last Emperour after that this Empire had endured eleuen hundreth twenty and
he came to Cossence fell sicke of a feauer and there dyed in the yeare of our Lord a thousand foure hundred thirtie fower to the great griefe and sorow of the whole kingdome for that he was a Prince of singular curtesie and benignitie and there was especiall hope of his good cariage and behauiour The Queene liued not long after but hauing raigned twentie yeares she departed this life hauing ordained by her last will and testament that Rene Duke of Barre brother of the sayd Lewes should be her heire albeit that some doubt of this her last will and say it was falsified and counterfaited after her death Thus the house and familie of Duras which had bene so notable and famous by so manie descents came nowe to haue an end as it is likewise fatall to all other humane and earthly things Duke Rene being called and sent for by the principall persons and chiefe Nobles of the realme could not go to take the inuestiture of the kingdome of Naples by reason that he was for a long time held prisoner in Burgundie where he had bene restrained of his libertie after the losse of the battell of Blainuille in the yeare a thousand foure hundred thirtie one against the Earle of Vaudemont and the Marshall of Burgundie and therefore he sent thither Isabell his wife and his children who being ayded and succoured by Pope Eugenius with a power of three thousand footemen vnder the leading and conduct of the Patriarke of Aquileia brought certaine places vnder her gouernement and obeissaunce On the other side the king Alphonsus as if Fortune had meant and striued to ballaunce both parties equally and alike vnderstanding of the death of the Queene and hauing besieged Gaietta was vanquished in a battell at sea by Philip Duke of Millan and the Genowayes and being there taken by his enemies was ledde prisoner to Millan But he found the Italian Duke more gracious and friendly vnto him then the Burgonian was to the Angeuin for besides the great respect wherewith he was vsed by the Millanois and the good entertainement which he receiued at his handes they oftentimes meeting and falling into familiar discourses and seuerall deuises the one with the other the manners the speeches the fashions and good behauiour of Alphonsus for he was a most absolute and accomplished Prince did so exceedingly please and content the humour of this Duke that in regard of the inward and rare amitie which this familiaritie and acquaintance bred betweene them it may well be sayd that his misfortune was the readie way to his good fortune and did purchase him the realme which he so earnestly affected For the Duke of Millan then growing suspicious of the power and puissance of the French for the loue of the Spaniard did renounce the friendship and alliance of Fraunce and leagued him selfe with their enemie to the recouerie and conquest of Naples in such sort that hauing suddenly graunted him his free libertie Alphonsus was the first that set foote within the kingdome of Naples by meanes whereof as the prouerbe is being first come he was first serued and his right preuailed by reason of the absence of Rene so that he insinuated him selfe verie highly into the fauour and affections both of the Princes Nobles and of the people of the countrey Neuertheles within a while after Rene being also deliuered out of Burgundy and being entred into Naples in the yeare of our Lord 1438. he regained all her castles and strong holdes one peece after another which till that time had bene in the custodie and possession of the Arragonian But Alphonsus increasing in strength from day to day came at length to besiege Naples with fifteene thousand men at land and ten gallies lying before the hauen or port of the citie and he perseuered so obstinately in his siege that there dayly passed many goodly exploites and glorious deedes of armes betweene the assaylants and the defendants notwithstanding both he and his troupes might haue dwelt long enough before the walles of Naples if they had not bene holpen by the aduertisements of a certaine Mason named Anell who being pricked on with the hope of gaine did aduenture his life to augment the glory and good fortune of Alphonsus For conueying him selfe closely and priuily foorth of the towne he shewed him an auncient cesterne or water course which couertly led vnder the ground into the towne by the which he conueyed in two hundred men hardie and resolute who issuing forth into the citie by a pit or hollow vault did seize vpon a certaine turret where maintaining the fight for a long season whilest the Catalans in the meanetime partly by escalado and partly by breaking of the port S. Genare did make them selues way and gayned the towne by this meanes he became Lord of the Citie hauing constrained Rene to retire him selfe into Castell noue Thus Alphonsus in the yeare a thousand foure hundred fortie two and the one and twentieth after his first expedition obtained the kingdome and Citie of Naples the which nine hundred fiue yeares before was recouered from the Gothes by that princely chieftaine Bellisarius by meanes of the same conduit or water course There remained yet the three Castels or fortresses namely the Capouane the mountaine or Castell of Saint Hereme and the Castell noue all which king Rene being not able to defend and succour them did followe the estate and condition of the residue of the towne and became Arragonois both them and all the realme and the Prince of Aniow forced to forgoe the doubtfull and turbulent possession of that kingdome which he had held for the space of sixe yeares or thereabouts Alphonsus after he had in great rest and securitie quietly enioyed the Royall scepter for sixteene yeares together did then depart this life leauing behind him one onely sonne illegitimate named Ferdinand or Fernand who being appointed by his father to haue the inheritance of the Crowne and kingdome of Naples yet being but meanely fauoured or beloued by the countrey did not enioy it with like quietnesse nor with the publike tranquillitie which was the occasion that hee vsed all meanes and possible diligence to secure and assure vnto him selfe a quiet and peaceable possession of the kingdome The first thing that he did was to make Pope Pius the second his friend and well-willer who being a Siennois borne was of late substituted into the place of Calixtus This did he compasse and bring to passe by the mediation and intreatie of the Duke of Millan and by the restitution of the Dutchie of Spoleta to the Church the which vpon the death of Calixtus the Count Iames Picenin had vsurped vpon Peter Lewes Borgia his nephewe The Pope being wonne vnto him by this curtesie did crowne Ferdinand king of Naples Sicilie and Ierusalem on this condition that he should restore to the obeissance of the Church of Rome
and Temples and richly beautified and adorned with goodly buildings and with liuely springs and fountaines of water which did continually flow into the towne by conduits cesterns The citie was wont to vse the Aristocratical forme of ciuill gouernement by the greatest and chiefest persons of the Estate and they do attribute the first originall and foundation of their citie to the Epidaurians of Peloponnesa The territorie thereof is not very large but full of woods and hath two litle townes or hamlets belonging vnto it But let vs go on with the voyage of Scanderbeg At his comming to Ragusa all the people in generall went foorth to meete him with exceeding ioy and incomparable triumph and conducting him into the towne did receiue him with all the honor that might be imagined The next day after that the diuine seruice was ended he went about the towne to take a view and suruey thereof and the third day he visited the hauen the arsenall the fortresse and the rampiers The day following was employed in diuerse sorts of shewes and pleasant triumphs and the fifth day he went to the Senate house where were presented vnto him many goodly and rich gifts besides that he was there receiued with an elegant Oration containing a commendation of his great exploits and good deserts and pronounced with a singular good grace by Dauid the Chancelour of that Common wealth This Oration was answered by Paul Angell Archbishop of Duraz who as another Achates was alwayes a companion to the Prince of Epire and was a partaker with him in all his trauels perils and councounsels These curtesies being past and ended both on the one part and the other Scanderbeg made stay at Ragusa onely so long till that his whole fleete was there assembled during which time of his abode there was not pretermitted any kinde of sports and triumphs at tilt turney barriers and such like In all which exercises the Albanians did shew themselues to be very expert as beseemed good and worthie souldiers till such time as they were commaunded to prepare themselues to go to sea for that the time did now require their departure All things being prepared in a readinesse the king thought it best to cause all his vessels to come together to Ragusa and that all his troupes both horse and foote should draw thither to the intent they might take the benefite of the first winde to sayle from thence into Apulia For this cause he dispatched away sundry messengers along the sea side to wil all the ships gallies foists and brigandines which had bene sent from Italie for the cariage and transportation of his armie to repaire all together to Ragusa besides all which as many vessels of his owne as were found vppon the coasts of Epire and Macedonie did arriue thither in great numbers insomuch that both the towne was too litle for the entertainment of so much people and the port was too straight for so great a fleet All of them shewed themselues so forward and willing to passe the sea that they seemed not as men that had bene led and drawne to the warres but as if they had bene inuited to enioy the prize of an assured and vndoubted victorie there were very few men left in Epire or Macedon that were fit able for the warres but he had drawn them into that action Yet is there great varietie diuersitie of opinions touching the certainty of the numbers that he transported to the realme of Naples some affirme that he had with him fiue thousand foote and fiue and twentie hundred horse others say two thousand foote and three thousand and fiue hundred horse Some name no certaine number at all amongst whom the truth being so vncertaine I meane to make one and they say that the multitude which embarked themselues with him for Italie was so great and incredible that it seemed there were scant left behind any sufficient or able men either in Albanie Sclauonie or Macedonie for the keeping of their houses and priuate dwellings Nowe to the intent his armie might be embarked and put aboord without disorder and confusion Scanderbeg tooke the care of that matter to himself and he appointed Guirize de Vladienne to be Comissarie of the victuals who made prouision thereof for fifteene dayes of the which store they had for fiue dayes readie dressed Euery man being gotten on ship boord he sent certaine skiffes throughout all the fleete to giue them aduertisement that the Patrons and two souldiers of each ship should repaire vnto him vpon the shore to vnderstand his will and pleasure who being come he demaunded of them whether they had fresh water and bisket aboord for as many dayes as they had victuals and answer being made that they had prouision of all things for fifteene dayes he then enioyned and gaue speciall charge to the souldiers that they should hold them selues still and quiet and be in a readinesse to helpe the Pylots and Marriners if neede were and that euery man should attend his charge and office without any noise or altercation amongst them Himselfe and Gine Musache made the right wing with fiue Galleasses Andrewe Zacharie and Moses had the commaund and charge of the left wing in which were the same number of the like vessels both seruing for the safegard and defence of their shippes of charge He ordained that euerie Galleasse should haue one lanterne and that those of charge should haue two and that the Admirall or chiefe Galleasse should haue three lights or lanternes These rules and orders being set downe and pronounced the next day he gaue them the signall to weigh anker and to make out of the hauen to seaward committing himselfe and his nauie to the guide and protection of the diuine power Many of his vessels were launched forth put out to sea from the gulfe of Rizic from the port of Duraz from Valona and from the coast of Epyre and of Sclauony and many of them also were gone before and had taken their course all alone Assoone as the day began to breake Scanderbeg being abord the Admirall and hauing commanded a generall silence by sound of trumpet with a high voice began to pray in this manner Lord Iesus Christ Sonne of the euerliuing God which sittest at the right hande of the Father most high and omnipotent in the eternall glorie who in the beginning diddest create all things of nothing gouerning and guiding them according to thy good will pleasure who from all eternitie hast forechosen the holy Christian faith and by the effusion of thy most precious bloud and by the bloud of thy holy Martyrs and Apostles hast laide the foundation of the same and in most wonderful maner hast caused it to be dilated and dispersed throughout the vniuersall world hauing appointed the most blessed S. Peter to be the Vicar and the Prince of the Apostles and hast giuen to him and his successors the whole and
haue the commaund thereof This mountaine runneth a long by the side of the Castle of Croy where hanging ouer it with a deepe cliffe after a small descent it doth deuide it selfe into diuerse hils or litle mounts In this place had Ballaban placed his campe and hauing drawen thither the masse or maine strength of his armie he had gotten the possession of the mountaine of Cruyna the which hauing fortified and garded with a great and strong garrison he did presse the towne with a hard and grieuous siege But leauing him there encamped let vs returne to our troupes Their plot being laide as is before mentioned and their bandes being deuided Scanderbeg with his forces went first on to visite the enemie and being come to the saide mountaine he receiued aduertisement that Ionyme the brother of Ballaban was marching on towardes his brother with a good number of Turkes and the report went that he was alreadie past the mountaine of Bulgarie Immediatly vppon these newes Scanderbeg with singular promptnesse and resolution tooke with him the choise and flower of his army and hauing caused the residue to keepe themselues still and quiet he roade all that night with extreame speede and diligence to meete with Ionyme whom hauing surprised on a sudden and vnprouided he soone broke and dispersed taking him aliue with Heder his sonne likewise and the same night with no lesse speede then he went forwarde he returned to his companie with the victorie The next morning he brought foorth and presented to the sight of Ballaban his brother and his Nephew bound and tyed together And thereupon giuing a braue charge vpon the garrison of the Turkes which lay vppon the mount Cruyna he chased them from thence and being seized of the place he tooke vp his lodging vppon the toppe of the mountaine giuing present order that his confederates should haue notice thereof out of hande Nowe Ballaban who promised him selfe some intelligence within Croy was wonderfully abashed to see the Christians so suddainely to come so neere him and to be in a manner ouer his head and where they might commaunde him Wherefore hauing newly encouraged and reassured part of his people who were somewhat troubled with the alarme and letting them to vnderstande that the towne was surely their owne if they would make any haste to enter it and so prouide for their owne safetie whereas otherwise if they fayled in the enterprise it was not for them to staie there any longer before Croie knowing well that they should but loose their labour that the daungers would be very great to continue there at the siege and that it could not but cost them deare now that he saw his brother defeated and the enemie so forwarde which could not but be an occasion of great inconuenience vnto them Thus being accompanied with a good troupe he presented himselfe before the walles and went on euen almost to the port of the citie perswading and solliciting them within to render themselues vnto him and there did he continue for a while attending the issue of that which he expected The Croians being incensed with his presumption made a braue sallie out vpon him falling into skirmish with the Turkes they enforced them to the retreate and made their Chieftaine to know the vanitie of his practises Herewithall Ballaban being enraged and euen madde for anger and making head a fresh against the Croyans thought by pure force to haue driuen them into the towne But the citizens beginning to retyre in very good order without the losse of anie one of their companie it happened that one George Alexie an Epyrot borne and a good harguebussier discharging a bullet vpon Ballaban hit him quite thorough the throate giuing him a mortall and deadly wound Yet did not Ballaban fall presently but when he found himselfe shotte he kept himselfe sure within his saddle and setting spurres to his horse hâ—ranne with great speed and a swift pace euen to his tents where he was no sooner arriued but he tumbled from his horse and fell rudely to the ground embrewing his countrie soyle with his owne bloud the destruction whereof hee had so bloudilie desired The fall and death of the Generall put the whole campe of the Infidelles in extreame feare and terrour in so much that the night following the Barbarians in great silence and secrecie abandoned the siege of Croie and retyring themselues about eight long myles off they encamped and fortified them selues verie diligently at Tyranna The next morning vppon breake of day Scanderbeg comming to take a viewe of the enemies tentes found them voide and emptie of men but fully furnished with baggage and prouisions so that there was no want of any thing eyther of corne or other victuals all which he caused to be remoued and carried thence into Croie the same being in a manner sufficient to victuall it for one whole yeare After this himselfe entred with great triumph into the citie where he was receiued with great honour and ioy by the inhabitants whom he highly commended and that worthily for their fidelitie and good perseuerance adding therewithall many gifts and rewards in recompence of their deserts Whilest these offices of ciuill courtesies passed betwene Scanderbeg his citizens there came from the campe of the Barbarians lying at Tyranna two horsmen seeming to be persons of good account and reckoning who presenting themselues before Scanderbeg in the name of the Chieftains Commanders of their armie praied him to grant them that fauour which he had neuer refused to men of their qualitie namely that leauing their baggage horses and armour they might be suffered to depart with their liues onely For they were sore affraid least that the passages being forestalled and laide for them should haue beene shut vp and fortified to enclose and famish them within the countrie Hereupon the King caused his Princes Nobles and Captaines speedily to be assembled that he might deliberate and determine vppon some aunswere to be giuen to the Turkes and might heare the aduise of euerie man in particular and he tooke order in the meane while that those two horsemen should be conducted into a tent and thereto be well and gratiously entertayned Iosaphat Barbare was the first whose opinion was demaunded in this matter but he excused himselfe saying That the Seigniorie of Venice had sent him thither to be resident neere about the person of the Prince onely to doe what it should please him to commaund him and therefore for his part he referred himselfe for this matter to his owne good will and pleasure Lech Ducagin spake more liberally and as he was a man of a fierce and forwarde disposition prompt of hande and quicke of inuention so in one worde did he acquaint them with his minde saying Embetha which in the Albanian language signifieth to horsebacke for he sawe no reason why anie grace or mercie should be shewed to this people who were
Albanois do account and call a citie and in times past was ruinated and laide euen with the ground by the Gallo-Grecians and other strange Nations It is seated in an anglet or litle corner of Epyre neere vnto the peoples of the Iates Bratescosages Cherabes Buserseches and Sopotanies Hauing fully ended and perfected that worke with incredible diligence and hauing furnished and fortified it with able men victuals and such like necessaries for the sure keeping and defence thereof against his enemies he speedily dislodged from thence and marched on with his armie towards the citie of Duras with a determination to carrie that towne at the first assault supposing that it had beene vnprouided both of men of warre and of victuals But he found himselfe deceiued in his hope by the vigilancie and prouidence of the Venetians and of Scanderbeg who had wisely foreseene and preuented that tempest by meanes whereof it was well and sufficiently furnished and defended both by sea and by lande in such sort that it scorned all the power and assayes of the Infidell who saw himselfe most rudely and brauely repulsed from thence with the notable slaughter and losse of many of his people But for the better contentment of the reader by the varietie of this discourse you must giue me leaue a litle to wander and digresse from my matter and to honour this towne with her due prayses and commendations Dirrachium by the Italians called Duraz was in times of antiquitie named Epydamnum it is a towne situated within Epire and builded of old as it is thought by one Epidamnus of whom also it had her first name and this mans nephew or grand-childe by his daughter being named Dyrrachus did adde vnto the towne the port or hauen calling it Dyrrachium But there he others of another opinion who hold that Dirrachium being atowne seated vpon the sea coastes of Albanie is the capitall and chiefe citie of those peoples which are called the Taulantians Pyrreans and Pratinians and it lyeth betweene Lissa and Apollonia and they say that the Romanes finding it to be called Epidamnum by reason of the vnluckie sound and sense of that name which they held to be ominous and vnhappie did chaunge the same into the name of Dyrrachium taking this terme for the Cherronese or demy Isle whereon it was seated or rather reedified as some doe affirme by the Corcirians or the inhabitants of Corfu For if we will giue credit vnto the common report and to those authors that are most ancient it hath bene numbred amongest the most auncient cities and there are yet extant to be seene many great and goodly praises and commendations of this place For as Lucan saith This towne is not a worke as others are Of auncient structure built of lime and stone No worke of man nor such as time or warre Can easily bring to alteration Great is their power and they can do much Yet greater is the strength of Duraz towne Her fortresse is so strong her seate is such That mynes nor engines cannot beate her downe Nature it selfe hath fortified her seate Hauing enclosed it on euery side VVith cliffes that breake the billowes as they beate And with a gulfe that is both deepe and wide Nought but one mountaine from an Isle her saues Rockes are her rampier threatning ships to dash And Cliffes her walles on which the foming waues In stormes doe beate and her strong buildings wash For this citie is enuironed with the sea on all sides but one where the rocks being deuided and cut a sunder ech from other doe ioyne it to the firme lande On the one side it hath a goodly hauen or harbour wherein shippes may safely lye and anckor on the other side it hath large and pleasant fields and pastures abounding in fertilitie and plentie of all good commodities and within the walles he goodly temples and sumptuous churches do make the citie much more stately and venerable besides that it is adorned with the statues and proud monuments of sundrie Kings and Emperours especially that of Adryan or rather his monstrous Colossus or image of copper which is erected in a place verie high and emminent neare to the gate Caballyn towardes the North. Besides there is to be seene his Amphy-theater made by wonderfull art and industrie The walles of the citie are passing strong flanked with their towers bulwarkes and other excellent workes wherewith they are beautified and adorned Besides this citie is very famous for the commoditie of the rare saltpits which it hath and for the great aboundance of all kindes of marchandise which are brought vnto it To be briefe this is that famous citie of Duras which enioyed the presence and with singular entertainement receiued the Romaine Senate and was no lesse famous then vnfortunate through the ciuill warres and notable slaughters and bloudshed of the Romaines But what the estate of it may be at this instant since it is become Turke and that it is reduced vnder the seruitude of so fierce and barbarous a nation who are mortall enemies to all good order and ciuilitie I had rather leaue it to you to imagine it then to speake what I thinke of it But to our matter After that the Sultan had bene so rudely entertained before Duraz and that his bloudie actions and attempts proued vaine and to none effect he conceiued an opinion that Scanderbeg had put himselfe within the towne for the defence thereof because a great number of his people were knowen and discerned to be within it This was the occasion that he dislodged speedily from thence and made directly towards Croy pitching his tents before the towne in hope to astonish and appall them by the suddennesse of his comming For experience hauing taught him that the endeuours and assayes both of his predecessours and of himselfe had profited him litle or nothing he was not of the minde that he could carrie the towne by this course but his determination was to bring them to reason by a long and obstinate siege if Scanderbeg would permit him Wherefore neglecting and leauing all other counselles he summoned the Croians to yeelde themselues vnto him making them great offers of riches and inestimable honours if they would deliuer the towne into his handes But he had no better aunswer nowe then he had the yeare before for they gaue him good store of cannon and musket shot for his good-morrow and more then that they issued foorth to visit him nearer home with a furious and stout salley made vpon the infidels carying away with honour and glorie many of their heads for an argument and proofe of their good deuoire and worthie demeanour On the other side Scanderbeg according to his wonted and accustomed manner keeping continually vppon the skirtes of this fearefull and huge armie and being attended with his ordinarie forces did vncessantly importune and endaunger the enemie by his often inuasions made vppon their campe both by
ingratitude and securitie hath obtained at this day the absolute dominion and commaund of Asia Afrike and a good part of Europe conuerting that Empire which erst was held holy sacred and religious into a fortresse of open blasphemies and into a filthie stall of prophane Miscreants the professed enemies of the sonne of God This people being growen famous by the conquest of Siria and the lesser Asia and hauing extended their boundes on this side the sea of Hellespont and hauing planted their Empire and set it on foote within Europe and all Greece being subdued vnder their obeisance made the Misians Bulgarians and Albanians the Valachians the Hungarians and Sclauonians to quake and tremble vnder their victorious armes Besides hauing laide siege and pressed very hard vpon the Imperiall citie of Constantinople and finally hauing triumphed of the Emperor and of the Christian forces in the East yet afterwards in that famous iourney and battell of Nicopolis in Romania in the yeare 1396. their glorie was in a maner extinguished and the name of the Ottomans was welneare brought to nothing And in the yeare next following the mightie king of the Tartarians the great Tamberlain termed the wrath of the heauens and the scourge of that corrupt age and Baiazeth the first then Emperour of the Turkes encountring ech other in the confines of Armenia at the foote of the mountaine of the starre where somtimes Pompey obtained a famous victorie against Mithridates euenthere did the Turkes sustaine so wonderfull and grieuous an ouerthrowe by the great slaughter and discomfiture of their forces and the perpetuall imprisonment of their Emperor that the glorie of their Empire was for a long time discontinued and there remained not almost any tract or shewe of their former pride and pompe or of their puissance or maiestie After Baiazeth succeeded Amurath Nephew vnto him by one of his sonnes who in that time of their fathers calamity being but infants were then preserued aliue partly by the ouersight of the Greekes and partly by the deuisions and dissentions of the Latines or it may be by the permission of the destinies which reserued them for the future plague miseries of Christendom This Amurath in processe of time not without many seditions of his owne subiects by great bloudshed by ciuill warres for he slew his own Vncle Mustapha in battell by good happe obtained the Empire restored their Turkish Monarchie and was the first amongst his ancestors that reestablished their good fortune And the puissance thereof being by him augmented he rendered the name of the Turkes farre more fearfull and redoubted then it had bene at any time before passed The Turkish affaires thus standing though Amurath were alwaies occupied somtimes in Asia about the assuring and setling of his owne estate somtimes in Greece afflicting and vexing the inhabitants of that countrie and labouring to depriue them of all Dominion and Empire yet was he constrained for certaine yeares to keepe a loofe to abstaine from the country of Macedony from the neighbor nations regions thereunto adioyning In those daies for to ascend beyong those times to the first beginning of strange Empires or to mount higher in recounting forreign affaires is a matter needlesse and superfluous in that age I say amongst many other Princes which then commaunded in Epyre now named Albanie Iohn Castriot a man of no meane fame and memorie had the signiorie of many cities townes and villages but principally of the strong citie of Croie But for so much as I hold it inconuenient that the family and originall of Scanderbeg should be altogether vnknowen and yet my intent is not to lay downe the whole pedegree and the continuall descent of his auncestors it shall suffise that I doe but as it were in passing by giue you notice of this that the authors and founders of the linage of the Castriots had their source and first ofspring from Emathia and as some adde out of VVumestia which is a part of Macedonie And their family had earst reigned in Epyre with happie successe and prosperitie and with no lesse fame and glorie This Iohn of whom we are now in discourse farre surmounted all his predecessors in prudence grauitie and magnanimitie and being of an hardie and inuincible courage he did excell in all other vertuous qualities and especially if that may import any excellencie the corporall beautie and the comlinesse of his person was very rare and singular His wife also named Voisaua a woman worthy of such a husband was much renowmed both in that she was the daughter of the noble king of the Tribullians as also for her beautie wisdome and for the excellencie of her spirit farre surpassing that of other women And it may be that she merited no lesse commendation by reason of that goodly issue and posteritie which discended from her a thing which hath made many women glorious and maketh them worthy of speciall praise and commendation For some do hold that she was the mother of nine children fiue of them daughters to wit Mara Iella Angellina Vlaica and Mamisa and the other male children namely Reposius Stanisius Constantine and George The youngest of them all was George to whom afterwards as shal be elsewhere deliuered the barbarous Turkes gaue the name of Scanderbeg But ere we proceede further I hold it not amisse to set downe that which as I haue read was both by prodigious signes and wonders foreshewed and by many persons proguosticated touching the future glorie and renowme of this famous Epyrot albeit I doubt not but there be many who will make a iest and mockerie thereof as of an olde wiues tale and a matter meerely fabulous Some say that his mother vpon his conception did dreame that shee had brought foorth so great and huge a Serpent that the same hauing wellneere couered the whole Empire did stretch out her head ouer the boundes of Turkie and did deuour and swallowe them vppe with her bloudie throate dipping her taile in the sea towardes the coastes of the Christians and especially towardes the confines of the Venetians This dreame being recounted vnto her husband he considering the qualitie of the case helde it a vaine and friuolous thing to seeke out the meaning and secret thereof either by the superstitious viewe of the entrailes of beastes or by seeking to the Oracle of Apollo for the interpretation thereof but hee comforted his wife with an incomparable kinde of ioye giuing her to vnderstande by an euident coniecture That of her shoulde bee borne a personage of that excellencie that should make himselfe renowmed by armes and warre-like exploites who should be a grieuous and heauie enemie to the Turkes a happie Captaine and fortunate leader to the Christians a true defender of the faith of Christ and ouer and aboue one that should during his whole life beare great honour and reuerence to the state of Venice The hope and expectation
great eater and drinker His vse was in fight to combat with his arme bare and naked and he tooke no care either of heate or colde a thing it may be thought more maruellous then credible to all posteritie But let vs nowe returne from whence we are digressed The next course taken was directly to Petralba distant 30. miles from Petrella and as much from Croy and from Petrella to Croy was fiue and twentie miles This castle is in Emathia vpon the height of a mountaine the which besides that it is of small entertainement and not able to yeeld any great reliefe or sustenance can not be forced but by famine onely Moreouer hauing the riuer of Emathy neere vnto it which washeth the foote of the mountaine it is the cause that it yeeldeth vnto the place no lesse ornament and beautie then defence and commoditie No sooner had the souldiers planted their ensignes before this towne but that those which helde it did yeeld it vp by one of their companie whom they sent purposely to Scanderbeg and they had the like conditions graunted and accorded vnto them as had the Petrellians and as inuiolablie were they obserued certaine of the Epyrots being assigned them for a conuoy to their garrison at their dislodging from the towne against the violence of the countrie inhabitants The towne being furnished with all things necessarie scant had they any leasure to breath themselues but that they marched on with the like heate and furie to Stellusa being distant from Petralba fiue and twentie miles from Petrella fortie and from Croy fiftie or thereabouts This litle hamlet likewise notwithstanding that it meriteth no great commendation for her greatnesse yet may it with good right be accounted of by reason of the naturall fortification and the pleasantnes thereof and the healthfulnes of the aire In the plaine champion fields of Armathia there runneth out a very high mountaine seated as if it had bene of purpose in the middest of a valley the toppe of the same being excellently well enuironed with walles maketh this castle In this place our Epirots being arriued about the sunne setting nothing was done for that day but they attended the day following Early in the morning Castriot hauing sent his Heraulds to the besieged they had nothing but wordes neither was there any certaine answere giuen them for the Barbarians being distracted into diuerse opinions it litle wanted but that they had fallen into a mutinie by reason of the obstinacie or to speake more properly the firme resolution of the Gouernour who contradicted the others vpon the capitulation and agreement perswading the multitude to stand to their defence Notwithstanding being vanquished by the greater number and yet not willing to accept the reasonable offers made him he was in the end constrained to receiue a yoke farre more disgratious vile pitifull For the souldiers being not able to disswade him by words they led him bound and pinioned with others of his faction vnto Scanderbeg and contenting themselues with the same conditions as the former they deliuered the place into his handes Vnto these more then to all the rest did the Christians in all friendly sort vse notable bountie and liberalitie The greater sort of them by reason of their crime and treacherie committed against Ottoman would not returne into their own countrie but did still continue in that place of whom some were baptised and the residue were left to their owne libertie and discretion to vse their religion at their owne choice and pleasure not any one of them wanting maintenance and entertainment of the publique and common charge There remained yet vnrecouered the citie of Sfetigrad the which in the Sclauonian language signifieth the holy citie Thither therefore without any stay made at Stellusa the Prince of Epyre marched with his armie making all the speed that might be this towne being seated in the vpper Dibria on the frontiers of Albanie vppon an high mountaine as we haue saide also of the former and it stoode aloft and verie eminent as the nest of an Eagle being well neere as great in compasse as Stellusa All these places by vs before mentioned had not any founders of any great antiquitie for those which the ancient kings of Macedon and Epyre and other strange Princes had sometimes builded as Meandria Heraclia Togla Nicopolis Echinā Leucas and certain others they had bene destroyed and razed by the enemies of the Latines or as we may more fitly terme them the firebrandes and plagues of mankinde the Gothes and Gallogretians at such time as they inuaded and ouerwhelmed the whole world This was the reason that some of the inhabitants of the countrie the particular Lords of places long time after that being desirous to recule and reassemble in one the multitude most miserably dispersed and to reduce it into some forme of a Prouince for that they knewe it to be a matter of some difficultie to restore the reliques and ruines of those auncient townes and if they were repayred yet they would be neuerthelesse still subiect and exposed to all calamities and iniuries of enemies to come as they had bene in times past they being for the most part seated in the plaine and open champion they made choice therefore of the toppes of mountaines for their seates and dwellings and there did they build these fortresses of so small and litle compasse both because the site and platforme of the said mountaines would not yeeld them any larger space or circuit for their walles and to the intent also they might the more easily be defended when any enemies should come to assaile them And although that Croy as the capitall and chiefe citie of the realme be farre more beautifull and larger beyond all comparison then all the others neuerthelesse I find that he which founded it was one named Charles a man rich and very wealthy of the noble family of the Tholoyes the which at the same time that Scanderbeg did enioy the souereigntie of Epyre had the Gouernment seigniorie and lordshippe of Scuria or Scodra which is a part of the same Prouince sufficiently famous and notable and lyeth betweene Tyranna and Duraz. Assoone as Castriot was come in sight of the enemie after he had deuided his companies ech in his quarter and that he had set good watch and ward on all partes of the campe he demanded parley with them of the towne and to prouoke them the more by examples he made knowen and put them in mind from point to point of all that he had done at Croie Petrella Petralba Stellusa and chiefly of his liberalitie gratious vsage and entreatie of the garrison of Stellusa and on the other side of the captiuitie of the gouernor of that place whom they should shortly see executed with others that were likewise obstinate This message did astonish euerie one of them aboue all the captain of the garrison who hauing before his
answer That sooner more easily he could be perswaded to hang himself then to abiure those traditions though he were now past ninetie yeares of age which he had reciued from his forefathers giuing vs thereby to vnderstand how dangerous a thing it is to make a mock and iest of religion and of the Sonne of God and to follow after peruerse and false opinions when they shall once grow to haue gotten an habit within vs. For the Despot in this perswasion retyring himselfe from the presence of the Frier was heard oftentimes to reiterate and repeate these words That he had rather his subiects should call him a Prince miserable and vnfortunate then an old and aged dotard This man then now at this time did mightely cleaue vnto the Turke and fauoured his quarrell against the Christians both in regard of his daughter Gathagusina whom he had maried vnto Amurath as also because of the hatred which he bare vnto the Hungarians but especially to Iohn Huniades the Despot of Transiluania by whose aide assistance as we haue before declared in the enlargement and libertie of Scanderbeg at such time as he was succoured against the Sultan restored into his kingdome he tooke it in ill part that certaine townes and places of Verâ—ia which had bene graunted vnto Huniades in recompence of his vertue and desert were not restored and redeliuered vnto him For this cause vnderstanding of the preparations made for the warre of Hungarie and of the comming of Scanderbeg who approched neare his borders he stopped vp all the wayes and passages and debarred him from entring within his dominions Castriot did assay but all in vaine by his Ambassadors sent to the Despot to admonish him of the wrong and iniurie which he offred him and he intreated him in friendly sort That he might not be the first which should charge him with ill dealing who had giuen him no cause of offence and iniurie that he would not of his friend and neighbour purchase him for his enemie and draw vpon him selfe the arms both of all Hungarie and Epire. That he would not suffer and procure by his meanes and occasion onely so great a losse and mischiefe to all Christendome which might swallow vp both himselfe his estate and Empire For albeit in regard of his daughter he did so cleaue and adhere vnto Amurath yet he should not thereby hope and expect for any other then certaine losse assured dammage hauing had good proofe experience both of the infidelitie and periurie of his sonne in law of the great pleasures benefites which the Hungarians on the other part had often times done him These perswasions nothing preuailing in a mind so depraued and corrupted and the Prince of Epire now perceiuing that he was out of all hope to get passage by anie other meanes then by the sword he fully resolued with him selfe to take that course notwithstanding that both it displeased him highly that he held it a matter of some danger and difficultie to begin the warres so neare his owne home and to hazard his forces at that time to the trauell of armes which hee had thought to haue reserued whole fresh and sound and to haue made proofe and triall of them against the royall armie of a more worthie and stronger enemie Whilest the Albanian army thus incensed through discontentmeÌ„t did spend their time vpon the borders of Misia in the middest of infinite inconueniences and discommodities and whilest the iourney of Scanderbeg was delaied rather then hindered by the disloialty of that Apostata the Despot for there is no doubt but he could at length haue gotten passage though not without some dammage and losse of his forces Vladislaus in the meane time both encouraged by the letters receiued from Scanderbeg prouoked also with an assured hope and conceipt of the honour and successe of future victory or rather being drawen on by a certain fatall necessity wherunto he was predestinat such was the particular desteny of them all and Fortune not contented nor satisfied with so many deadly mortall spectacles did now inuite these men who of late had bene preserued and had yet scarce breathed themselues from their forepassed miseries to the danger of more lamentable and fatall perils Vladislaus I say and the army of the Christians hauing marched through Valachia and passed ouer the Danow were now come to Varna with an intent purpose to conioyne vnite their forces to those which were at Sea and so to passe on with easie iournies and ensigns displaid into Romania The countrey of Varna which did swarme with such numbers of enemies shortly after long afore hand was infamous through the ruine of many mighty armies and was a place alwaies as hateful and odious euen to the brauest souldiors is a goodly champion plaine valley situated on the other side of the confines of Misia vpon the sea called Maggiore or the greater sea foure dayes iourney from Andrinople in a streight gulfe betweene two pointes or promontories vppon the one of which is seated Galata and vpon the other Macropolis The bottome of that valley on the right hand is inhabited with husbandmen in seuerall small villages or hamlettes slenderly peopled and frequented On the left hand where Galata standeth is a great marshe at the foot of the hils extending forth her still standing waters euen to the other valley neare at hand which bendeth towards the Occident Amurath being aduertised of these troubles towardes was not any whit discouraged but hauing liuely repulsed the Caramanian and reassured his countrie of Natolia he made no doubt nor difficultie of anie thing but onely howe he might transport his armie ouer the sea by reason that the fleete of the bishoppe of Rome and the Duke of Burgundie did take from him all hope of passage in such sort that he made no great haste to march against the Christians till such time as certaine Marchants Genowayes if it be true that is reported did free and deliuer him from that care in consideration of a great rewarde promised and agreed vppon to be giuen them For at a certaine narrow streight of the sea betweene the two seas of Maggiore and Propontide deuiding Asia from Europe was the Turkish army transported out of Asia they that passed them ouer taking for ech man his passage a ducat There were numbred to be about a hundred thousand all which were gathered and collected out of Asia because the Sultan had a vehement suspition of the faith both of the Greekes and his other subiects within Europe After his armie was once transported he marched on with speede and celeritie so incredible that within seuen daies he came to pitch his tentes within foure miles of the Christians campe neere to the citie of Varna named by the auncients Dionisiopolis The suddaine and vnexpected newes of the approach of Amurath with so great and mightie a
of so notable an exploit by the spoiles of the towne once conquered and subdued and that it would be a secret argument that his vncles valure were now in the wane and did as it were waxe old vnder the wals of Dayna so fondly did the boiling heate of this young mans courage puffe him vp with hope vainely promising vnto himselfe all the fauours of fortune But Marin whose industrie Scanderbeg had made choise of and had made equal with the other for the surer preseruation of the new fortresse hauing therein ioyned most vnfortunately the prudence of the one with the temeritie of the other Marin I say being an old and expert souldier by reason of his long practise in matters militarie and being more venerable for his age fearing that if openly he did withstand the wilfulnesse of this youth there might grow secret dislike and enmitie betweene them a most pestilent mischiefe in the administration of anie affaires For this cause he thought that he would in the very beginning breake off this enterpriese by alienating of the deuotion of the souldiers from him secretly and by that meanes would disappoint him of his purpose but afterwards when he sawe that the affections of them all in common and that the inordinate lycense of the souldier did encline more to the other partie he resolued in the ende to speake his minde openly freely in the presence of al the whole company to the intent himselfe might be discharged from that default which was likely by another mans counsell to succeede vnhappily and therefore as the speech is in these or the like termes he gaue him this admonition Certenly Amese Scanderbeg hath left thee heere a greater crosse vnto me then the Venetians our enemies for now that we haue other matters to looke vnto by reason of the heat of this warre throughout all the country I am constrained and driuen to a new strife and contention causing some secret hate or dislike betweene vs because that thou art growen to haue a vehement suspition least I of a desire to contradict thee or through the ielousie of thy youthfull glorie and reputation doe seeme to disswade thee from this thy enterprise But why do I impute any fault vnto my selfe seeing both God and men will sufficiently acquite me for that this my counsell in this case and concerning this accident either being neglected seemeth not to haue bene wanting or being followed and allowed cannot well be reprehended The losse will surely be thine owne and no mans else for in this action whatsoeuer thy intent be it is not the citie of Driuasta but thy selfe and thy vncle that thou goest to assaile thou doest but hasten to abridge the daies of thy owne friends and fellow citizens and to bath the enemies ground with the blood of thy souldiers Haue we to this end repaired this new towne haue we fortified it with such strong companies and with a garrison of so many braue men to the end it should be so suddenly disarmed and disfurnished of her forces and while we foolishly seeke after others our own fortresse should be left and deliuered as a prey vnto our enemies who expect and attend for nothing else Say that this place were not to be regarded yet is there any of you that will thinke that townes will be surprized with so small a mumber of souldieres who would scarcely suffice to defend them especially the towne of Driuasta which as it is large and populous so for in this respect we may commend our enemy it is likewise excellently well prouided both of armes and of men couragious and valiaunt If I be not deceiued both you and the enemy doe expect one and the same thing First their old men and other of the weak and vnable multitude from the battlements of their wals will make a iest at your foolish preparations and at your vaine deuises in seeking thus to take their city And then their young men who being fierce and lusty do desire nothing so much as to come to fight with you issuing forth of the towne will force vs to leaue the assault and will chase vs away with shame and ignominy or else leauing their ports open to receiue vs sodainely and vnaduised they will surprize and set vpon vs and so reuenge the late losse of their companions and the iniuries of the Scutarians Then will other townes take courage vnto them and those who are now ouercome and vanquished will become to grow hardy and nothing at all to redoubt vs. Lay aside therefore I pray thee Amese whilest all things are well and whole this your pernicious forwardnes and audacity and do not cause the reuerent and honorable name ofthy vncle by so great an indignity to be disgraced rent asunder by the mouths of those that are his aduersaries and ill willers Stay a while and attend till that God fauour thee in presenting thee some other matter of more abundant and greater glory and with greater safety and security Then will I be the formoste man not to perswade thee only but to cause thee to take armes and will also accompany thee No man will be vnwilling to follow those ensignes which are fortunate Restraine therefore the broyling heat of this thy courage though it be hard to be restrained learne of thy ancients first thy selfe to beare the yoke which thou desirest to impose vpon thy enemy For youth being vncapeable of good counsell let me speake freely what I thinke is oftentimes as hurtfull vnto it selfe as vnto those which are his enemies It is rather to be drawen then to beled to any thing of all the burdens that are laied vpon men the vnaduised wilfulnesse of youth is the most dangerous Wars are to be managed by counsell and good aduise and let the wisest Captaine cary him selfe in all his actions neuer so sagely and aduisedly yet hardly and with great difficulty doth Fortune answere his deserts or succeed accordingly The graue and prudent speeches of this personage were sufficient to haue changed the mind of this yong souldier But because in the hastinesse of his owne temerity and the rashnesse of his owne counsels hee had already ordained and prouided all thinges which were expedient and necessary for that enterprise it seemed vnto him a matter of more dishonor to giue ouer by discretion the attempt which he had vndertaken then with misfortune to put the same in execution Hee reiected therfore this wholsome and sound admonition and preferring the worst before the best he held it lesse shame and disgrace to follow his own humor though it were to his losse and hinderāce then by reforming himselfe vpon the admonition of an other to take that choise which might be for his benefit and aduantage Besides the credit which he had purchased with the companies and the readines of the cōmon souldiers obedient to his command did animate his foolish desires and did withhold his doubtfull eares from harkning vnto any good
glory in that they affirme themselues to be a Colony of the Romains and they do precisely maintaine that from thence they had their descent and original For my part I suppose that the humor of these men so desirous of glory is rather to be pardoned then that their opinion is any way to be credited For neither are there any testimonies of good authority to ratifie this perswasion neither are there any monuments to confirme it The like fortune also hath Antibara a towne of verie good accompt in these our daies within the sayd countrey and not without cause doeth it complaine of the vngratefull silence of the ancients Notwithstanding the seat of Driuasta in my iudgement seemeth not vnworthy if reason may perswade vs to haue a Colony there erected both in regard of the pleasantnes of the place and of the aboundance and commodity of all things which may allure men to inhabite or manure it For the territory of that city is most fertile and fruitfull yeelding all things which mans life in reason can wishe for On euery side there are great store of springs and fountains arising and descending with a pleasant noise from the hils adioyning which by nature are so orderly mounted as if they had bene disposed by artificiall workmanship and most wonderfully doe they adorne and beautifie the plaine countrey The aire on what side soeuer you turne your eies is exceedingly healthfull and it doth season and temper all things so as it maketh them to prosper singularly The Citie is seated vpon the discent of a mountaine bending towards the South and extending towards the plaine where it is watered with a brooke called Clire which may more iustly be tearmed by the name of a riuer by reason that the streames thereof do neuer faile for any drought or distemperature of the sommer whatsoeuer The circuit of the wals and trenches is aboue two miles in compasse The fortresse or castel being seated vpon the top of a mountaine by nature and by art is most defensible it both commandeth and defendeth the city From Scutarie it is distant 8. miles and from Motry 27. This towne hauing beene rased by the Gallo grecians in the declining estate of the Romaine Empire was reedified restored by Helena a most christian Princesse descended of the bloud royall of the house of Fraunce and who was espoused to Simeon Nemagna king of the Misians and Sclauonians This Lady being very deuout vertuous did restore besides this many other townes neare adioyning which had bene likewise ruinated in that country Shee builded also both in Epire and Sclauonie many Couents Monasteries and religious houses endowed them with great liuings and possessions as is manifestly to be seene by the marbles engrauen with such testimonies besides other monuments and memorable markes of her bountifull and princely deedes But returne we to our purpose The choller of Amese being fully discharged vpon the plaine country of the Driuastines which he had made in a maner desolate he had no desire to returne anie more to Baleze because being ashamed of his aduenture hee was loath after the triall of his mishap and the proofe of his imprudency and temerity to come in his presence to whom he had refused to giue eare when time and place serued And he now repented though all too late that he had contemned his good counsell He turned therefore another way marched with his companies directly towards Dayna shunning most vnaduisedly the reprehension of his fellow Marin to endure the displeasure far more dangerous and the frowning countenance of his vncle whom he had most grieuously incensed For Scanderbeg hauing had tidings brought him by some dwelling neare the same place how all things had passed assoone as hee knew of his comming he sent for him to his presence and openly in the sight of all his companies which was hardly digested of the young gentleman in extreame choller hee conuinced him as guilty of all the fault that had bene committed He accused him and as his debtor he challenged him demanding of him the innocent bloud of his companions which he had caused to be shed through his folly terming him with a loud voice both rash and arrogant that without any commission from him had plaied so foolish a part He obiected vnto him moreouer that at his departure from Baleze he commanded him no such matter That he ought to haue taken interpreted his silence as a manifest prohibition an apparāt argument that his will was not to haue any such proceedings Afterwards when he had examined the souldiers which were present at that seruice and was by their report certified that the matter was altogether concluded and executed without the aduise consent of his companion his fury grew then to be much more vehement and his minde being full of wrath and indignation he persisted in this seuerity saying that it grieued him so much the more because besides the temerity of the act he had added a more grieuous and inhumaine fault in destroying by a most miserable example the fieldes of the citizens in vsing cruelty with sword and fire against their trees and buildings But Amese as one confounded hauing not anie thing to answere for his excuse replied not a word but stood still silent only turning him selfe a litle aside to his companions good God quoth he there is nothing more infamous then a man that is vanquished for he must on the one side accept to endure the insolency and triumph of his enemies and on the other the fearefull countenance and wrathfull visage of his friends Hereupon the whole companies assembling themselues about Scanderbeg did humbly entreat him to mitigate his wrath and to pardon him his displeasure alleadging that the youth of his nephew was enough chastized and his misfortune was sufficiently aggrauated with the bitter speeches he had giuen him and that themselues as well as other were culpable of the same offence By meanes of these intercessions made by his souldiers was their Generall soone intreated and pacified so familiar and curteous was his nature and disposition The end of the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE FAMOVS ACTES OF GEORGE CASTRIOT SVRNAMED SCANDERBEG THE ARGVMENT SCanderbeg leauing Amese to continue the siege before Dayna goeth him selfe against Mustapha The citizens of Scutarie raze the fort of Baleze which is forsaken by the Epirots Mustapha marcheth against Scanderbeg The combat of Paule Manessey an Epirote with Caragusa a Turke The battell of Oronichea betweene Scanderbeg and Mustapha wherein the Turkes are vanquished and Mustapha is taken prisoner Peace concluded betweene the Venetians and Scanderbeg whereupon he breaketh vp his siege before Dayna Amurath resolueth to go in person against Scanderbeg who maketh prouisions to resist him An armie of Turkes sent into Epire to besiege Sfetigrade vnto whom Scanderbeg giueth an ouerthrow by a notable stratageme Amurath him selfe commeth to the siege of Sfetigrade WHilest the
left Greece mourning in her owne sorrowes laments haue we broken the forces of so many mighty and redoubted potentates brought them euen to naught and shall we now suffer through a timerous kind of pusillanimitie these troubles and tumults of Epire to gather strength and to encrease vpon vs shall we yet endure to see that prouince which of late was tributarie vnto vs now to stand in contention and to braue vs by armes what hath the land of Albanie so suddenly of late engendred another sort of Epirots and is it possible that a new vnaccustomed kind of enemie should issue forth vnexpected against vs I am determined once againe to make triall if this nation be so fierce and vntameable and if the hardie and haughtie courage of their obstinate and proud Prince can be brought vnder the accustomed yoke of their subiection We must not from henceforth stand vpon points of subtiltie and vaine pollicies nor must we any more seeke to surprize this enemie by ambushments neither doth the time now serue by the diuersitie of the Leaders and Chieftaines and by ordinarie troupes one after another to fill their hatefull soile with the blood of our souldiers for we see that one and the same kind of misfortune doth follow both our leaders and our armies and whereas we made choise of them to do vs seruice they haue serued to endammage rather our selues thē our enemies Shall we commit another armie to Haly Bassa or Ferisey who besides the wounds and the deformed reliques of their owne forces haue brought vs not so much as one standard or ensigne of the enemies Shall we follow the vnfortunate aduise and counselles of Mustapha and minister paye vnto the Christians and ease their charge in the maintaining of their forces while he is caried onely with a desire to extinguish and free the infamie of his bonds and imprisonment We haue bene so often vanquished taken prisoners ransomed and in briefe so often beaten and discomfited that we haue reason from henceforth to abhorre and to be ashamed of our owne estate and condition we must now therefore take vpon vs the charge of this warre with our best meanes and the vtter most of our endeuors It behooueth vs to vndertake it with such forces to employ so great a puissance and to march into Epire with so mightie an hoast that the countrey may be scant able to containe it nor yet to sustaine the force and violence of our armie By this meanes without any losse or bloodshed shall we purge and clense all the countrey and by a notable discomfiture of our enemies being either expelled and chased quite away or vtterliesubdued and vanquished we shall reestablish those townes in their auncient forme and fashion which by the disloialtie of this fierce nation hath bene withheld from vs or if the peruerse obstinacie and obdurate stubbornesse of this people as it is likely vsuall with them vpon a rash and desperate resolution and of an inconsiderate desire to defende their Prince do betake themselues to armes we will then vtterly destroy these wretched soules who do euen long for their deserued punishment and with a singular reuenge which we haue so long desired we will recompence them for the old wrongs and iniuries which they haue done vs both in publique and in priuate It is your duties valiant and worthie men to vndertake this warre not as you were wont to doe against the Hungarians or other enemies but with a farre greater wrath and indignation as against those which are your slaues and fugitiues and who being most mischieuously affected against you haue now made shewe of their insolent and hatefull mindes which for a long time lay close concealed and dissembled To this effect tended the clamor and continuall speeches of this Orator who full of rage and choller did insinuate nothing else into the eares of his people and they againe very attentiuely did hearken vnto him approuing this his inuention for the warre of Epyre. And being vndoubtedly perswaded that it could not but fall out answerable to the honour and dignitie of his greatnesse all of them with one voice and consent did agree that preparation should be speedily made with al possible diligence for this iorney least failing to make their prouisions in time and season they might through delay and negligence loose the occasion and opportunitie of the spring For the winter beginning now to waxe more milde the tops of the mountains couered with snow began to shew forth and to be discouered Immediatly therefore and without anie delay commissions were directed and proclamations made throughout all the Prouinces and Nations vnder the Turkish obeisance and throughout all the Realmes of his allies and confederates and to such cities and townes by name as the Sultan thought conuenient◠that they should furnish him with so many thousand of horse and foote to be readie with all speede and to repaire vnto him to Andrinople for as yet had not Greece lost the feate of her noble and famous Emperors at Constantinople neither had she at that time cause to mourne and lament their dolefull funerals happening afterwards at such time as they came to be buried and throwen downe vnder the yoke and subiection of the miscreants The rumor of these preparations and huge prouisions brought with it great feare and terror to the neighbour nations and adioyning townes of the Christians who being surprized with notable astonishment were in wonderfull great doubt where and vppon what place the burthen of this warre and the extreame puissance of so great forces would powre forth and execute their bloodie effects For hardly was any man able to coniecture of the secret counsels of Amurath not his owne inward and most priuate fauorites except certen of his councellors in whom as we haue said the Ottoman had a speciall trust and assurance for feare least the enemies being thereof aduertised might prouide themselues both of counsell and meanes to repulse the violence of his attemptes This putteth me in remembrance how in that first expedition of the Turkes against Scutarie the Barbarians were discouered and seene before our walles in a manner before we hearde any thing of their arriuall But in truth it is a policie verie ordinary and vsuall with this warlike nation to giue out a lying and false rumor of some vaine tumult and attempt one way whilest they do bend their forces conuert the whole puissance of their redoubted armes another way to the intent they may the more easily surprize oppresse those who being least aduised are caried away with a vaine kind of light beleefe and pernitious credulitie But the fame and suspition of these preparations caused a generall allarme and tumult on all parts on the one side the Hungarians mistrusting the infidelitie of their perpetuall aduersarie began to betake them to their armes which they had found so vnfortunate and to raise their forces which were sore weakned by
so many discomfitures and ouerthrowes On the other side the Greekes being in extreame distresse and hauing their spirits dispersed and deuided by reason of their priuat domesticall dissentions yet did they take a good heart and courage vnto them for the defence and maintenance of the poore and weake reliques of their declining and decaying Empire Notwithstanding Amurath could not any way deceiue or ouerreach Scanderbeg who by long practise and experience being well acquainted with the dissimulations of that Monarchy had all his cunning sleightes and disguisementes at his fingers ends Neuertheles some say that he had also intelligence therof from some who were neare the Turke and his speciall fauorits by the discouery of certaine secret messengers who albeit they could not report it in any certainety yet did the Albanois easily beleeue it And one principall thing that made him the rather to credit it was the extraordinary idlenesse and vnaccustomed rest of Ottoman because euen to that day he had not sent any new forces either to reuenge the outrage done to Mustapha nor for the security defence of the limits and confines of his own country Wherfore Castriot hauing laid aside the care of the priuate and ciuill affaires of his estate and being nothing at all dismaied nor troubled in his mind for all that mighty and perillous tempest of war and vprore by the enemy with a most ready and aduised resolution he prouided and accomplished in very good order whatsoeuer any other Chiefetaine were he neuer so prudent and expert could haue either foreseen or executed in the like case or accident For he dispatched messengers out of hand with letters to al the Princes nations his confederates amongst the Epirots to the intent that both themselues might be ready in armes that they might arme others likewise disposing them in fit conuenient places for the assurance of their townes and strong holdes both by good and strong garrisons and fortifications and by the prouision of victuals and munitions in good store and abundance more thē ordinary Because the hugenes of so great a multitude and so infinite numbers did threaten all of them with like ruine and destruction and with desolation alike common vnto all of them for that Ottoman seemed to imagine not his confusion and ouerthrow alone but the total subuersion of the whole country of Epire. Himselfe not sleeping nor being idle after he had dispatched Moses many others of his chiefest nobles both to make a leauy and muster of men and to prouide corne sufficient for the necessity of the time present went from place to place in proper person to visite and ouersee all things and sending forth daily new and often commandements taking not any rest neither day nor night till he had bereft the enemy of al fit matter occasion either of getting honor or bringing dammage vpō him And the better to compasse it he caused the greater part of the husbandmen and the common sort of the people who were vnfit for the field together with their families all that they had to retire themselues into the walled townes But all those which were men of any strength or ability were of age fit to beare armes he retained to imploy them in diuerse seruices of the wars Neither did he forget the garrison of Macedony but they and many other great troupes assembled from all partes and day by day repairing to Croy when they came to be incorporated ioyned in one made a faire and goodly army It remained now that he should part his companies and appoint them to their seuerall charges First therfore he reserued for his own regiment 10000. men of those whose seruice he had lately vsed in the warre of Venice and at Chronichea for with them he was assured he might make head against the Barbarians according as the oportunity of the place should minister meanes vnto him To the old garrison of Croy besides the number of citizens he added 1300. souldiers all Epirots and men of approued valour which made the Croians also to furnish themselues with all sorts of armour and munitions seruing for the defence of their walles and the repulse of the enemy but especially it encreased their courages and the greatnesse of their stomackes which were faithfully deuoted to the preseruation of their liberty The same time therfore that the garrison was brought into the towne was the feeble sexe of women and children drawen forth without the wals and none suffred to stay within but the youth of the towne only and such as were fit for the wars And yet were not they interrupted nor confounded with the basest of the popular sort in whose harts and courages commonly the liuely sparks of honor and of liberty did not enter and penetrate soone or easily Thus did Scanderbeg with good graue aduise and deliberation prouide for the importance of his affaires because that city was the chiefest place and as it were the key of all his Realme and the surest fortresse to stay the courses attempts of the Turks and vpon which depended the whole strength the hope and the preseruation of the residue of the state of Albany But here might it be doubted whether it were better done thus to take away the wiues and children from the sight of the citizens or to haue suffered them to continue there still considering that their presence and countenances full of griefe the sight of their teares and the hearing of their lamentations the misery and feare of their seruitude and the infamy of bonds and imprisonment threatned vnto thē are of far greater moment and of more force beyond al comparison to animate to encorage men then the bare remembrance of them away and absent But it may be notwithstanding that old and expert warriours did hold it more expedient and a matter of more certainty and assurance that they should be absent For albeit in the eie of the regardants this encoragement be in truth proper conuenient in the middest of their trauels and perils to make them hazard their liues liberally and without feare so is it of no small force and efficacy to make the enemy more hard and obstinate by reason that the vnmeasurable desire of the prey which they hope for doth driue and cary on the souldier with a more setled resolution and doth enflame much more ardently the corages of the Barbarians to giue the charge to pursue it making them to aduenture more fiercely euen in despite of woundes and to expose themselues more furiously to the violence of the sword whereas on the contrary they goe on more coldly and temperatly when they see nothing within the place but the force and strength of men stout and resolute when they shall see vpon the walles none but such as haue their hands thirsting greedily after bloud and whose bodies are euen vowed and destinate to die without all care or regard of life It was
a pitifull spectacle to behold this mournfull multitude of the Croians when they were to depart the towne and to forsake their owne houses habitations euery where was to be heard nothing but complaints and lamentations of women There was no house street nor corner of the towne exempted or free from griefe sorrow the market place did resound with diuersity of cries some rebuking some blaming their friends for their grieuing at their departure others inuiting and procuring them to teares and exclamations But the most notable marke and shew of the publique misfortune and dolefull affliction was to be seene at the temples and in the Churches for there was a most maruellous concourse of people of all sorts and conditions Infinite were the vowes and deuout praiers and supplications intermingled with aboundance of tears lamentations which were poured forth before the Altars And that which made the sight of this miserable calamity to be the more hideous and terrible was a custome which this nation had in doing outrage to themselues by tearing their faces and beating their breasts most pitifully The like passion and vehemency of griefe did appeare in the graue women ancient matrones who besides the deforming of their vilages thought it a most pleasant thing to imitate the sorowfulnes of the others Nothing was held shamefull nothing was accompted too much or excessiue in this accident but shee was reputed to haue deserued most praise and commendation whose discomfort was deemed to be most euident and apparant There wanted not some also who according to the vse and nature of mortall men though not without singular impiety and wickednes did exclaime vpon the diuine power attributing to God the cause of their griefe and misfortune At the length when their sorrow somewhat eased with their teares began in part to be mitigated and appeased the mothers addressing their speaches to their sons with oft repetitions would command them many things euer and among embracing them and kissing them Sometimes they would put them in remembrance of the good offices and kind entreaty with which they had vsed them in their infancy and of the mutuall loue and affection which they had deserued in recompence of their kindnesse and sometimes would they shew their aged lockes and their Venerable white haires All of them were in one case and vsed like speaches the wiues shewing their sucking babes vnto their husbands did deplore bewaile that from thenceforth they should remaine in their dwellings in case of orphanes and in pittifull estate of widdowhood The aged fathers as men confounded and altogether silent for very griefe and being in a wonderfull great care perplexity for the life of their sons durst not by speaking vnto them neither animate nor pricke forward their valiant hearts who were of themselues sufficiently fierce couragious Neither durst they disswade them from the trauels and dangers of armes nor frō their deuoire perseuerance in their seuerall charges duties for doubt least they should be thought to prefer their affection to their children before the loue and duty which they did owe vnto their country But a general commandement being come from the Prince that the town should be discharged of this burdensome company that they which were in armes should repair euery man to his charge telling them that in heaping vp of vaine plaints and by their priuate consultations they did but spend trifle away the time hereupon began the sorrow to be renued their cries and their teares began a fresh neither more nor lesse then as if they had already seene the enemy to ransacke and spoile al things to draw and drag away their husbands their fathers and their mothers into cruell bondage to raze and breake downe their wals and to violate pollute and prophane their Churches and all holy and sacred mysteries Hardly could the multitude be drawen from that which they had once embraced and euery one would haue remained as the companion of his friends danger and the partner of his fortune notwithstanding seeing that the criers and other officers of the Prince did now presse and importune them to depart then taking their leaue with their last kisses and embracements all of them at length each after other with sighes and groanes left the sight of that which they held most deare and still casting backe their eies towards the city wals they set forward on their way without any care or regard where they set their foote or which way they went It is sayd that they were transported into the townes of Epire that lay vpon the sea side and in other places and cities vnder the obeysance of the Venetians and other their confederats where likewise an innumerable multitude of husbandmen and laborers were retired with their cattell beasts and moueables to the intent the enemy should finde nothing to prey vppon whereby he might be relieued or holpen After that the multitude was sent away and that this trouble and tumult within the towne was ceased Scanderbeg spent the rest of the day in dealing with the victuallers and marchants of corne and other munitions in appointing publique garners for graine and distributing vnto euery souldier by the poll victualles to serue him for a whole yeare Besides he gaue away a great quantity of weapons and an infinit number of targets to the intent by this his bounty and largesse hee might preuent and assure the faith and deuotion of his souldiers telling them as he deliuered the same that he gaue them with intent that they should keepe them continually to themselues or which he held more commendable that they should employ them against their enemies Thus did he ordaine take order for all things and by sundry gifts and presents did he binde and allure vnto himselfe the good will and affection of euery one The day following sending for Vranocontes an Epirot by birth and by him lately appointed gouernor of Croy a man whom he highly loued and fauored both for the merit of his ancesters and for the proofe testimony of his owne vertue with him he debated concerning many things and a long time enquiring and demanding of him what he thought of the siege of Croy and of the wiles and cunning sleights of the Turks Their conference being ended he came forth into the market place and there in the midst of his armed forces with a high and loud voice appealing to the faith loialty of them all in generall and enioyning them to be haue themselues wel and manfully he recommended vnto them the protection and safety of the city assuring each of them both of reward and recompence in case they were faithfull and loyall and of condigne punishment if he found them trecherous and disloyal He admonished them chearfully to be haue themselues in discharge of their duties and the defence of the towne and that with a setled and obstinate resolution they should repell the enemy from approching
neare them and not to suffer themselues in any case to haue any conference or communicatiō with the aduersary nor to listen or to haue their ears open to any perswasions they should vse That the Ottoman by such deuises would lie in wait vnder colour of a mortall and pernicious peace would deceiue them by such illusions and perswasions if they did not looke well to themselues or if he found thē any thing willing to leane vnto him or credulous to beleeue him Contrariwise if he found them coragiously affected and their ears deafe and stopped vp against his vaine flatteries and allurements his first assaies being frustrat and disappointed his misfortune would make him in time to trusse vp baggage and depart confounded and vtterly ashamed except it did so fal out that as one desperat and voide of hope he were caried away with a furious desire to see the end and ruine of his own people and by a rash vnaduised hope to satisfie the mallice of his wrathful courage he would cast himselfe headlong into the manifest and euident danger of destruction That their towne was so notably defensible and so exceedingly strong by the naturall site thereof that the very place alone though the citizens should in a manner sit still with their hands bound behind them would easily contemne set at naught al the violence that could be attempted against it Then what can I say more quoth he to admonish you or wherefore should I sollicite or animate those any longer whose valour and fidelity being so often tried and approued is well knowen almost throughout the whole world in such sort that were it you had neuer giuen me any proofe triall nor left me any testimony of your constancy yet neuerthelesse I should thinke it greater reason that my citizens should deceiue me then that I should any way distrust their fidelity Scanderbeg hauing finished these exhortations to those of Croy he tooke his leaue of all the company issued presently out of the city At his departure infinit people and in a maner the whole city did conduct and attend him till he was passed without the Port the which being shut vp with all speed and diligence he came to the rest of his forces which lay encamped in a faire plaine in the open view and sight of the towne And immediatly after he had scoured the fieldes he sounded to horse and caused his campe to march the which had not gone far but he met with Moses who came vnto him accompanied with a goodly regiment of his owne and very well appointed He was newly returned from Sfetigrade the which being seated vpon the Turkish frontiers was cause of great doubt and care to Scanderbeg but the Dibrian had taken order for the fortification and defence therof and had assured it with all things requisit both with men munition victuals and certaine bulwarks according as he thought needful and conuenient And he had remoued out of that place also all those the weaknes and imbecillity of whose age or sexe might work any impeachment or hinderance to the safety of the towne The gouernment of the place he cōmitted to Peter Perlat a graue and wise captaine and one that was well experienced in armes and martiall affaires But that which at the beginning was held to be most for the suerty of the towne and seemed to be ordered with best aduise and discretion did discouer it selfe in the end by the euent and issue to be the losse and destruction of that garrison for that it consisted almost wholly of Dibrians of which our Moses had expresly made choise out of all the forces of Albany as of the chiefest and best souldiers among all the peoples of Epire Scanderbeg did like so well of his deuise that he commended him greatly then hauing so well fortified and so abundantly furnished this place he deliuered vnto him certain other companies which he had there in a readines and were prouided for the stuffing and filling of all the fortresses within the prouince sending both him and diuers others of his Princes and chiefe captaines to see all places prouided for with such forces as should be thought needfull necessary So that there was not almost any but had his particular charge and imployment to the intent each one doing his deuoire with all diligence there might not ensue any danger by delay or negligence He himselfe with a small company of horse galloped to the gates of Sfetigrade for he was in greater care and torment for that city onely then any man can expresse or would imagine as if by some secret inspiration he had forseene the misfortune that was to come vpon it Wherefore the better to strengthen the courages of them of that garrison and to make them acquainted and to arme them against the traines and cunning practises of Amurath which he feared and doubted as much or more then his open forces he entred into the midst of the towne where the souldiers were thickest and in greatest numbers and there in the presence of many of the chiefest and most notable men of marke who stood round about him he vsed these or the like speeches vnto them If you would haue wished you men and citizens of Sfetigrade for a fit occasion to eternize your faith and fidelity and by some memorable singular example to make shew of your loialty and to preserue the remembrance therof euerlasting perpetual God infinitly good and omnipotent could not haue presented you at this time with a better nor fitter subiect oportunity then this that hath now called you to arms and which hath caused you to take your weapons into your hands In the former wars we fought for victory for glory for the reputation of our realme and country but now we are to fight for the pulique safety of the common liberty for the wals and preseruation of this your city and country in defence whereof it behoueth you to striue with your vttermost forces and endeuors least the infinit praises and commendations and that excellent honour and glory which you haue happily deserued and purchased by armes vnder my conduct be now stained and blemished with great shame and ignomy The better and greater part of our good fortune consisteth in your vertue because the first attempt of Amurath presently vpon his entry into Epire the first fury of the Barbarians my self will be the man who shall first acquaint you with this danger will be addressed against you and your city to the intent that the surest fence bulwarke of the prouince being beaten downe and razed he may the more freely lead on his forces into the heart of the countrey which by this meanes will be the more exposed to the violence of his fury The first fruites therefore of this war doth stay and attend for you Wherefore if there be any valour remaining in your hearts and if the mindes
accident The garrison of the Dibrians vpon a superstitious conceite yeelde the towne to Amurath who hauing fortified Sfetigrade leaueth Epire and returneth to Andrinople THE arriuall of the Turkish Emperour and the report of his huge and mightie armie had alreadie filled with feare and terror all the people of Epire especially the Princes and Potentates next adioyning who were in great doubt and care least that so insolent redoubtable an enemie hauing once swallowed vp this towne already besieged should bring the others afterwardes to the same estate and condition and reduce them to the tenour of the like calamitie Wherefore accordingly as it was resolued in their secret assemblies and consultations albeit they had before prouided for most things requisite both for the stuffing of their holds with strong garrisons for the gard of the streights passages for their countrey they sent notwithstanding from all partes Ambassadours to Scanderbeg entreating him not to suffer Amurath any longer to vexe and tyrannize ouer the townes of Albania at his pleasure and with such impunitie For if by any mishappe the proud tyrant should happen to haue his will of Sfetigrade it was most certaine that taking the same as a happie presage of his victorie and as a baite of his fiercenesse and crueltie he would not leaue till he had brought them all vnder the same yoke and to endure the like fortune and yet they wished him in the meane while to haue a care and good regard not to attempt alone and with so few men the forces of the enemie nor so weakely accompanied to prouoke them to the fight whose campe was so vnmeasurable great and mightie because that could not be but with the singular inconuenience and greater perill of them all in generall They offered him likewise armes horsemen munition and whatsoeuer else should serue their turne for the remouing of such a flood and deluge before that it should endanger all of them to be ouerwhelmed with the rage thereof That they thought themselues sufficiently defended and in safetie if they could at this time free acquite him from the greatnes of that perill vpon whom did depend both the peaceable and quiet possession of their Seigniories and empire and the preseruation of them all in generall as also the whole strength and assured stay of all the prouince and the perpetuall glorie of the Albanois The Ambassadors thus charged with these instructions and many other particular testimonies of the readie and perfect good will and affections of the confederates tooke their way directly to the mountaines of Sfetigrade where they knew that the Prince of Albanie had pitched his campe albeit he were at that time absent For assoone as euer the troupes of the Ottoman were arriued in Epire and that the bruite of so great a puissance and so new an accident had filled the eares and mindes of euery man with feare and terror Scanderbeg accompanied only with Tanusee and George Streese and tenne other chosen men of his garde and apparelled as he was wont with the simple cassocke of a common souldier had secretly conueighed himselfe from his army to goe and visit those townes of the prouince which were nighest to the daunger and to confirme and strengthen them in their faith and obeisance who were any thing dismayed or discomforted knowing well that in so new and fresh a case of danger the mindes of men would be maruellously cast downe and appalled by reason of so strange a commotion and by the rumors though for the most parte false encreasing daily and that therefore he might greatly remedie the perplexitie timerousnes of their counsailes and imaginations and those which should in any sort staggar and be readie to fall away might be confirmed and reestablished in their ancient vigour and courage and in the accustomed constancie of their faith and loyaltie Of all this which he had so purposed and conceiued he forgot not nor left any thing vnaccomplished For beginning at Croie as the chiefest place of his realme and his chiefest care he sent for Vranocontes to come vnto him to the citie gate with a certaine number of souldiers and all the principall citizens for he would not that any man should enter within the towne and there he enforced himselfe with a kind of superfluous care according to the briefe instance and hastie occasion of the time by the discourse of many things to incite them and as a man might say to spurre them forward in their deuoire But he receiued from the Gouernor a notable answer the recitall whereof as well beseeming and worthy of his sound faith and loialty I see no reason why we should omit or by an vngratefull kinde of silence to defraud so great and honorable a person of his deserued praise and commendation For at the first blush shewing himselfe as one full of indignation discontentment for his comming thither he thus spake vnto him It had bene much better at this instant ô Scanderbeg if the Croians had seene Amurath himselfe and the shew of that his glorious and excellent armie which thou tellest vs of then to see thee heere as thou art at this present for this is certaine that as thy speech is nothing pleasing nor agreeable vnto vs neither in generall nor in particular so is thy comming at this time no lesse grieuous and discontenting vnto vs. For what could the sight or the hearing of the enemy haue done either more to haue troubled the mindes of men that are couragious or to haue worse offended the harts of those that are fierce and generous We are now at that point and such is our loue and deuotion towardes thee and to the dignitie of the estate of Albanie that as long as these troubles shall continue within this prouince and as long as Amurath shall preuaile or haue any authoritie with his armed forces in Epire it shal be more pleasing and farre more acceptable vnto vs beyond comparison to see the face countenance of the enemy then to haue thy presence and company because thou bringest vs nothing but secret plaintes and doubtfull feares as though we were enclining to a reuolt or that we were like to proue disloyall wheras the presence of our enemy could not but minister vnto vs good and fit matter to merit praise and commendation and might yeeld some notable and worthie experience of our fidelitie and be a perpetuall occasion for the purchase of renowme and glorie Castriot knew not what to say here against but only to purge and excuse himselfe telling him that he came not thither to vse anie exhortations vnto them but onely to aduertise them how all things stood And thereupon after he had embraced the Gouernour he tooke his leaue both of him and of his souldiers and so passed onwardes to other places where finding all things according to his desire he left them as hee found them and retyring towards his armie he came to his
there to defend it yet had it not beene possible but with great difficulty as the saying is by creeping both on hands and feete for the most nimble and actiue persons to approach it much lesse for men armed and carrying their furniture with them So craggy rough ful of woods were the mountains so raggedly vneuen did they stand sundered each from other with such variety of turnings and windings in and out and so steepe were their bottoms and downefals that they made the towne being seated vpon them both inaccessible and impregnable And againe on the other side where it seemed more assaultable though the wall might easily of it selfe haue bene battered and a breach made yet right opposite against it there presented it selfe a certaine belly of ground swelling as it were or rising vp with a knob in forme of a Bosse which running out from the backe of the mountaine did so fitly couer and shadow the wall that from the place where the enemy lay encamped it was not possible to plant their cannon nor to manage their artillery in any sort to offend them But for that both the getting vppe at the first approach was very difficult and because the towne was too neare a neighbour vnto them they did attempt it though often yet in vaine for the besieged by their ordinary sallies being helped with the fauour of the place did daily hinder them of their intent breaking the engines all in peeces And besides with their Cannon shotte and other artillery from the walles they did in great safety and security disappoint the enemy of their purpose and disturbe the endeuours of the assailaunts Thus on all sides was their labour lost and there was no appearance or hope of any good successe which might encourage the aged Sultan to come to the end of his desires Yet was he resolued to pursue the siege to the last point and by often and continuall skirmishes to trauell toile and weary out the defendauntes without ceasing affirming that this was the best and likeliest way to consume their forces and to bring them to nothing and that though the first dayes assault had cost him dearely yet hadde not the Christians made any great good market considering their small numbers and that hee both durst and would make further proofe of that way though not by the venture and hazard of a generall battell both because the enemy did by his continuall and dayly inuasions and canuazadoes keepe him in awe and the remembraunce of his late discomfiture and ouerthrowe did daily renue his sorrowes Thus were the townes men neuer assailed but onely by loose and light skirmishes and the Ottoman forces did onely watch and lie in waite for some good occasion amiddest their often incursions sodainely and vnprouided to surprize the citie Neuerthelesse they left not with their shotte cach to annoy other aloofe and a farre off neither did they intermit or giue ouer any of the other ordinary seruices accustomed and vsed in the siege of townes Little or none at all was the dammage and hurt sustained all this while either on the one side or the other neither was there any exploite done worthy of memorie There was no new assault giuen to the walles neither were the scaling ladders anie more vsed till such time as certaine Ianissaries secretely gotten out of their campe did perceiue that there was one place of the towne on the other side thereof which being abandonned and vndefended the inhabitantes thought not needefull to be manned by reason both of the height of the place which was naturally defended and in a manner inaccessible and the knoppe of the hill being seuered and deuided and sodainely distoyned from the mountaine The matter being reported vnto the Sultan did make him exceedinglie ioyfull and glad and therefore liking well of the oportunity he sent very many some at one time some at another who by creeping hauing gotten vp to the toppe were now a sufficient number able to make a reasonable good troupe or squadron By good happe the gouernour him selfe went the rounde at that time to ouersee and view the rampiers and fortifications who being speedily aduertized of the daunger by the next Sentinell and court of guard went presently to the place accompanied with a good number of chosen souldiours and with great prouision of munition both of shotte and armour And at the first he kept himselfe close regarding and beholding the bold enterprise and aduenture of the enemy and he could not but greatly wonder at their hardy and audacious attempt or rather at the great folly of this people who durst so to hazard their liues without all care or feare of daunger Hereuppon to the end hee might vse guile for guile and as the saying is cut them sops of the same loafe and giue them drinke of the same cup hee held him selfe still and quiet behinde the rampiers marking how euery one of them was busily occupied at their worke with their ladders raised vppe against the walles and some of them already mounted and others yet climing towards the top Therewithall rushing forth against them with his onely presence hee so terrified and amazed them that leauing their armor and weapons and many forsaking their companions according as each mans feare did leade and aduise him they began to flie before that any shot came to touch them Many of them as they fledde to saue themselues were oppressed and beaten down with stones all the residue in a manner were most miserably crushed and brused with falling from their ladders tumbling downe headlong from the top to the bottome of the steepe mountaine in such sort that their bodies were so strangely battered and disfigured that at their returne to the campe they could not be knowen nor discerned by their owne fellowes for that scant there appeared any shew or shape of humaine forme to be seene in them Of the defendants not any one that had any hurt or dammage And during all that time there was not heard in a manner so much as one sigh within the towne for with very good aduise and consideration all the day long they would spend their time towardes the place where the battery had bene made and when the darke night came on then woulde they fill vp and repaire the breach with great store of earth stones and other stuffe strengthening it with fagots postes and such like Whilest they did thus by light skirmishes and conflicts incense ech other that the Turks did rather enflame the choller of the defendants then any way discourage or apall them Scanderbeg accompanied with 2000. horse did scoure ouer all the country leauing no corner nor place vnuisited to see if he could any way finde the oportunity to entrap the enemy either as they went on foraging or seeking for freshe water or which he was in hope of and might haue happened that he might meete with some of their companies sent forth by the Sultan to
to exchange their faith and fidelitie to become corrupt and disloiall nor to leaue the loue and fauor of the Prince of Epire for the yoke and seruitude of a stranger that there was none of them all yet that could be content to make marchandize of that faith that they were all of them bound vnto their Prince with a most strict bond and in a fraternitie together which they would continue whilest they had breath All this notwithstanding the Sultan persisted still in hope because hauing propounded such large offers he had valued their dissoialtie at so high a price and so excessiue a rate that it was able to haue corrupted the faith and to haue peruerted the alleageance euen of the most constant and best minded Neither was he at the last deceiued of his opinion for the filthy and foule desire of gaine preuailed with one of the garrison a most wretched and desperate villaine of all men liuing to be abhorred who being corrupted by the large and perilous offers of Ottoman did not care a button for the safetie of his citizens of his countrey nor of his frendes or kinsfolkes in respect of his owne particular profit and commoditie This wretch because he would not be perceiued by the watch and Sentinels of the towne sought a fit and conuenient time to deceiue them and to conferre secretly with certaine spies of the grand Seignior with whom he bargained and concluded vpon the price and reward that should be giuen him for betraying the towne into their hands But fortune did not immediately present him the meanes to compasse his detestable and wicked enterprize but the guilt of his crime and his owne conscience making him timerous he was doubtfull to attempt any thing least his treason happening to be discouered himselfe might be the first that by his owne ruine and destruction should incurre the danger of so execrable a conspiracie To breake downe the barriers or portcallys to force or breake open the ports and so receiue in the enemie was a matter of great difficultie and litle certentie because the place was so carefully garded by the citizens To practise with others and to procure vnto himselfe consorts and companions by whose helpe he might in the nighttime raise an allarme in the towne cut the throats of the principall persons and oppresse the citizens being in feare and astonishment so to let in the Barbarians into the towne to possesse them of the place was a matter of as great impossibilitie because he knew that there was not any creature within the towne but had the verie conceipt of any such fact in horror and detestation and he saw euen by the countenance of ech of them that they were resolutely determined either by a glorious victorie to see their countrey preserued or if it should be lost and vanquished to end their liues honorably The citie by reason it was placed vpon the mountaines and seated vpon the toppe of an exceeding high rocke was vnprouided of the commoditie both of fresh springs and of the riuer that ranne neere it They had within but one onely pit or well in the middle of the towne which long before that time had beene digged and built by the diligence of their auncestors for the common vse of the inhabitants but principally for their necessitie in time of warres that might afterwards befall them The whole garrison as we haue before touched consisted of souldiers that were Dibrians who though they were a people subiect to Scanderbeg yet were they not naturall Albanians neither in name nor in language For this countrie of Dybria is deuided into two partes separated and seuered by distinction of names as well as by their nature for the inhabitants call the one of them High Dybria and the other Base Dybria This latter is all plaine champion and the whole leuell thereof is a rich and fertill ground and yeelding plentie of all things this Dybria is inhabited by the Albanois or Epyrots a hardie and warre-like Nation by whose armes and valure Scanderbeg did both augment and maintaine his Empire and atchieued all his enterprises of greatest difficultie in so much as he reputed and retained them as his last and chiefest succours and refuge in all perilous aduentures of the warres against the puissance and power of Ottoman During his whole life time he had from thence most valiant and excellent men as often as he thought good who proued no lesse seruiceable and profitable to the estate of Albanie in all charges and honourable degrees of sufficient Captaines and commaunders then of braue and valiant souldiers The higher Dybria is mountanous hilly and full of woodes yet verie fertill and commeth neere to Macedonie both in neighbourhood and resemblance of manners The Bulgarians or Tribullians do inhabit it a nation fierce and addicted to the warres and as deare were they vnto Scanderbeg as the other both for the merites of their prowesse and of their singular faith and deuotion Notwithstanding they do vse the fashions and conditions rather of strangers then of the Epirots and in many of their customes they do in a manner abhor the vsage and manner of the Albanois by reason that they doe retaine the ceremonies of the Greeks and do imitat them in many of their superstitions Hence did this abhominable traitor take the occasion of his damnable and wicked purpose for he knew and was perswaded that if the Dibrians should once see the carkasse of any beast drowned in the bottome of the well within the towne they would submit them selues to the extreamest ruine and desolation and admit any conditions of peace were they neuer so vniust and dishonest rather then they would drink of that water And accordingly as he imagined so it came to passe for the same night this wretch hauing polluted the water with the carrion of a dog which he threw into the well the next morning the thing being perceiued the rumour thereof was in a moment dispersed abroad from one to another ouer all the towne whereuppon there began a strange murmuring throughout all the streets of the city to enquire who should be the author of so detestable an act but being not to be found the matter grew well neare to a sedition The Dibrians being discomforted as much as was possible did extreamely grieue to see themselues brought to that estate exclayming that they were betrayed and that they should shortly die as bruite beastes for pure thirst and want of drinke See the strangenes of the case there was not so much as any one of them who had not rather make choise to be made slaue to the Infidels then to drinke of this water Some of them cried out a loft that they ought to set fire on the towne and to burne it to ashes and so by a furious sally through the enemy to prouide for their safety or else to die valiantly Neuerthelesse of all other mischieues they held
to resigne and giue ouer the command of your glorious and good fortune We our selues if I may speake it doe inuite the enemy we offer them our neckes wee abrogate our owne liberty and because wee will not defile our scrupulous mouthes with a superstitious kinde of drinke we will not sticke to pollute all lawes and all rights both diuine and humaine Haue you not heard how Darius that proud and delicate king of the Persians did not refuse to take a draught of muddy water at the handes of a slaue which had taken it vp as they fledde in the high way amongst the dead carkasses and vnder the horses feete at such time as being ouercome by our countey man the great Alexander he fled before him shamefully after that memorable discomfiture As braue and proude a Prince as he was he did not disdaine it but after he had taken and tasted it he sware that he neuer drunke more sauourly and that before that time he neuer knew what it was to be thirsty Thus did a draught of filthy water both keepe him from being made captiue to his enemy prolonged his fortune and preserued the life of a great and mighty King What will you say to Caius Marius that famous Generall of the Romaines how hath the antiquity recorded his sufferaunce of hunger and thirst at all times amiddest the extreame heate of fight and amiddest his greatest laboures and trauelles in any seruice at the siege of townes or otherwise And to let passe the constancy of the Saguntines what thinke you of the city of Petilia amongst the Brutians in the time of Hanniball did it not by an example of singular regard and almost incredible leaue a rare testimony of their constancy and fidelity vnto all posterity And to the intent they might obserue their faith inuiolably which they had giuen to the Romaines and for the defence of their bare and sore battered walles they made no difficulty to liue vpon the flesh not only of dogges which you abhorre so greatly but of all kindes of foure footed creatures and with the skinnes of swine with rootes and with barkes of trees The most noble and renowmed Athenian Themistocles to the intent his vngratefull countrey might not sustaine the blame of his death dranke as it is reported a cup of deadly poison But perhaps you will say that the Sfetigradians are straungers to you and that their city is none of your countrey it was deliuered to you to be defended and therefore it is yours ô you Dibrians Scanderbeg made choise of your faith and honesty before all others to see to the safety of this place The towne which your Prince hath committed to your charge it behoueth you to see it safe redeliuered into his hands Moderate therefore I beseech you and lay aside these your desperate opinions and doe not you attribute that to force and necessity which is indeede nothing else but a damnable and peruerse counsell and resolution For tell me true I pray you what will you doe in case the Ottoman will not accept of the composition to graunt you your liues would you then refuse this drinke that you imagine to be so deadly I am perswaded that all of you would drink it ere you would do your selues anie outrage But now because you are assured of your own safety you are not in danger to lose any thing but your faith you are all of you touched infected with one malady and your thoughts doe runne a madding as men franticke and out of your wits So little reckonning doe you make of your faith of all other crimes you hold it the least to be touched with the crime of periury and disloialty I cannot ô you Dibrians commaund nor moderate my affections I cannot abstain from tears when I cal to memory our good prince Scanderbeg Me thinkes I see how graciously he spake vnto you with what praiers intreaties he recommended this towne vnto you at his departure how euen in this place he implored with too much credulity your deuoire and loialty I do remember those clamors and loud cries which all of you made with brauadoes and magnificall promises both openly and priuatly Where are those your clamors now ô you Dibrians where is that fiercenesse of your courages where are those hearts which you then vowed for your country where is that audacity carelesse contempt of life and death I see here still the same men and the same armes but the habit and disposition of their mindes is cleane altered And this towne being brought to a desperat point I see all things in a miserable estate and condition Imagine that your Prince standeth here before you in great anguish and griefe for this your notable treason what thoughtes think you will he all others entertaine what astonishment will there be throughout all the prouince what will be the estate condition of all Epire seeing that from you doth proceed the root of all their misfortunes and calamities ô that you would present before your eies whilest you are yet able the indignity of this fact that you would preserue your selues for your selues Cease not to keep your allies and confederats in the possession of their countrey do not leaue to defend their liberty to maintaine your own honor and reputation which without any great paine or trouble you may yet easily preserue Regard the piteous grieuous lamentations of these citizens regard me euen my selfe who if you can abide to see it do lie prostrat at your feete Behold how all of them doe offer their throates vnto you and I mine first of all Behold here my naked breast ô you Dibrians runne it through pierce it with your swordes take away my life it shall not grieue me let my bloud serue for drinke vnto you if such drink doe please you and if so be you cannot by any other meanes neither maintaine your faith nor defend this city With many such reasons and perswasions did Perlat vrge them recommending vnto them the life and liberty if not of others yet of themselues and that they should regard their proper safety and still he was in hope to haue remoued them from their strange and pernitious purpose And in the end because he would know whether his speeches had any efficacy or working in their scrupulous thoughts assoone as he had finished his Oration he went presently towards the Well hauing almost al the communalty at his heeles and in the presence of them all he dranke a good draught of that water the like also did the most part of the inhabitants Whereupon it was presented likewise to certen of the captains chiefest persons of the garrisons but neither good words nor good deeds could preuaile with those superstitious and curious stomacks Scarcely can I without blushing either beleeue it my selfe or deliuer it to others for a matter of truth that so light and ridiculous a cause should preuaile with thē in a
of the assaylauts did not in this place proceed any further because there were but few Turks there abiding but only Sfetigradians Epirots who although it might wel be supposed as was apparantly to be seene that they were but badly affectioned to our men yet Christian charitie made them to be more remisse and pitifull and they measured the persons by the habite and affections of their hearts in times past and not by the estate present Moses was not idle in the meane time for perceiuing them of the towne to be busied on that side in defence of the suburbes and in quenching of the fire he lead against the great gate three thousande souldiers all stout men and hardie whom being couered and shrowded with pauishes against the iniurie and force of the assaylantes he did animate on with all his might to force and breake downe the portes The Turkes whose number was more then sufficient both to defend so small a place and to yeeld readie supplies in all parts came running thither speedily from all quarters and some of them from aloft with great store of shot others with great stones long peeces of timber did prop vp defend the port on the inside making them stronger then they were before by meanes whereof they caused our men to quit the worke which they had vndertakē And thus was the issue of that attempt without any great losse of mē for the Christians hauing not then as it chaunced brought any scaling ladders with them they did not long striue in assaulting of the walles but they discharged their choller that day both on the one side the other with bow shot and harguebusse shot only Scanderbeg hauing caused to sound a retreat albeit Moses being chafed set in a heate by litle and litle with the furie of that fight did call and cry vnto his souldiers to bring their ladders and other engines for the assault neuerthelesse all of them vpon the cōming of their Generall did presently retire and in a maner against their wils returned ech man to his quarter Thus were the courages of either partie at that time the more incensed and sharpened by the proofe of that small light conflict for that the fight was broken off without any hope or doubt either on the one side or the other The residue of that day did Scanderbeg spend in diuerse consultations deuising vpon the short surest way to force Sfetigrad For the strong situation therof which made it almost impregnable and the great puissant garrison wherwith it was stuffed did euidently make shew that the perill would not be small if they should attempt it inconsiderately or vnaduisedly and the late example of Amurath by his ouerhardy and too peremptorie experience did coole the courages of the Christians from being too forward in committing of themselues to the hazard of the like inconuenience It was concluded therefore for the more suretie that during the daies following the enemie should be drawen forth by small light inuasions and with as great subtiltie wylines as might possibly be inuented he should be entised to issue out and to make some sallies vpon them hoping by that meanes in time either to diminish the forces of the garrison without any great losse of their owne people or else making shew by little and little of a dissembled and fained flight to toll the Infidels out from the guarde of their portes and then suddenly at the same instant setting vpon them with great furie they might happen to surprise the citie during the tumult of that alarme and astonishment if so be the Christians did presse hard vpon the Turkes in their flight and did striue to enter with them pell mell into the towne The execution of this counsell was no longer delaied then till the next night the darkenes and secrecie whereof did giue them the opportunitie to attempt it in such manner as shall presently be deliuered Moses was appointed to haue the leading of 300. chosen horse to prouoke foorth the enemie Zacharie Groppe on the one part with 500. horse and Scanderbeg himselfe on the other part with the like number of horsemen placed themselues very close and secretly in an ambuscado For these companies taking the benefit of the darkenesse of the night and creeping with as great silence and secrecie as they might by the pendant of the mountaine hid themselues in a place verie fit and conuenient for an ambushment and where the enemy would not haue any doubt thereof euen amongst the hollow winding turnings of the vallies and amidst the woods next adioyning full of bushes bryers where the scouts of the enemie could not haue any knowledge of their being For hauing partly put out and partly couering and keeping close their fiers they went forth on the backside of their campe The time it selfe also did in some sort aide them to the concealing of their enterprise for all the long night the ayre being full of moist foggie vapours and the earth being couered with darkenesse and with obscure and thicke cloudes the continuall thunder and lightning did so hinder the sight and hearing of euery man that it was an easie matter to deceiue the Turkish Sentinels The Dybrian in the meane time without staying till the day breake watched and pryed round about on euerie side with his men in manner of a freebooter or robber and approching by degrees neerer and neerer to the walles he wandered vp and downe here there in the sight of the townsemen and did keepe still within their daunger They within Sfetygrade were not all of one minde and aduise nor of like courage Many would not be with held but did exclaime and crie out That it was necessarie to issue out and to set vppon them and that it was a shame for them to endure and suffer that so faire an occasion should be lost some others helde stiffely on the contrarie That they ought to bouge nor attempt any thing without good aduise and deliberation Whereupon there grew a great alteration and dissention amongst them as it is commonly seene in those men who being naturally of a fierce hasty disposition are pricked on caried away by a kind of light incredulitie only regarding the outward shew superficial apparance of things neuer looking nor searching into the marow depth and substance of matters To such men al good and wholsome counsels do seeme vile and naught and they do thinke that all good fortune is then only cleane fled escaped away out of their hands if the ordering and disposing of any affaires be neuer so litle deferred or as it were seasoned and attempred with a litle moderation of some shortand small delay Notwithstanding in the end the better opinion as the euent testified did beare it away euen those whose aduise was to be still and not to stirre at all for they without could not heare any newes
realme being distributed into diuers places castels they spent many daies in the mustering and leauying of those forces And this was the cause that Scanderbeg as the report goeth in this warre did wage many of the subiects of the Venetians and some also out of the next Dalmatia or that part of Sclauony that confineth vpon the sea The Prince of the Turkes in this meane while had at the time prefixed assembled the most part of his forces yet he wanted many thousands to furnish vp so huge and massy an army as that which he had the yeare last past By reason that either the far distance of places or the difficulty of the waies did hinder some of them either more or lesse And therfore attending till such time as he saw his numbers and preparations in all points performed because he would loose no time he emploied that space in the prouision of other things necessary for an action of that weight and importance and especially for the gathering of victuals Albeit order had bin taken that euery souldier should furnish him self in particular with victuals for many daies prouision for he was fully resolued that the Christians had not left any corn vpon the ground and that they would wast and destroy all the pasture and herbage vppon the first tidings of his approach It were almost a thing impossible to number vp all the instrumentes and engines of assault which were prepared Amongst the rest there were many tooles and instruments of iron vsed by husbandmen besides an infinit number of bars and mattocks pickaxes made of iron crooked of purpose to dig in mines as was afterwards seene by experience for the Sultan had bin perswaded to vse this deuise as a most commodious and fit meane to carry the city of Croy which otherwise was inexpugnable In like maner great prouision was made of litle peeces of artillery such as might conueniently be caried vpon camels and other beastes of cariage And as for great ordinance to serue for battery he prouided great store of brasse and other rude and massy mettall which being caried in grosse should afterwardes be founded and cast for that purpose These things thus prepared and his troupes being fully furnished and complete to their perfect numbers it is generally agreed by all the Historiographers that his army consisted of 160000. fighting men besides artificers as carpenters masons and all other sorts of handy crafts men and laborers which are reported to haue followed this camp part of theÌ„ vpon the purse and pay of the Ottoman and part at their owne charges for the hope and desire of prey and purchase All of them being perswaded that the siege of Croy and their abode in Epire would endure a very long time and space and would proue very tedious for by reason that there went many straunge rumors reports of the strong situation of this city and of the rare fortifications therof as of a place impregnable Amurath was determined not to returne againe to Andrinople till such time as he had gotten it into his hands and possession About the fift of Aprill assoone as all things were in a readinesse and that the hoast was ready to march the vauntcurrours of Alchanzes vnder the leading of Sebalias Zeâ—renesse a man of great practise and iudgement in actions military were sent into Macedony at the same instant that the king of Epire hauing all at leisure raised his forces and disposed good watches wards and skouts throughout all the mountains and woods did ride vp down here there coursing ouerall the Prouince taking order for the estate of his affairs By this time he had retired also his garrison froÌ„ the frontiers and had with great diligence gathered all his troups together All this notwithstanding I doe not find that during this siege of Croy he had with him selfe and in his owne company more then 8000. fighting men whereof 2000. were footmen and the residue horsemen neither do any of those who haue historised his actes affirme any otherwise I do suppose that the cause of this small number proceeded either of the scarcity of souldiers as was lately touched because he was of necessity to depart and to seuer them into so many places or it might be that he thought it more expedient to dally with the enemy and to trauell him by litle litle holding him continually in alarme so to reserue the chiefe strength of his forces to other necessities diuers accidents of fortune Considering that the war was to be made in the very center bowels as it were of the Prouince and that now the consequence of his whole estate and kingdome was in question and he was to set vp his rest vpon the successe of that warre Three daies before the arriuall of the Mahometan troupes into Epire Scanderbeg with his horsemen beating ouer all the champion countrey had trampled vnder foot wasted and spoiled or by sword and fire had consumed and destroied all the corne and whatsoeuer else was found fruitfull vpon the ground And afterwards being aduertised by message vppon message of the approach of the enemy leauing the plaine countrey he retired himselfe vppon a mountaine called Tumenista about foure miles from Croy there to take further aduise and counsell for his proceedings according as the time and the course of his affaires should perswade and induce him The Cauallary of the Turke holding on their march towards Epire encountred not with any in the way that made head against them but passing quietly through the Prouince they did at length make their entry without any impechment into the territory of Croy. And after they had made diligent search round about the city what places were most safe and secure to encampe in and in what quarter they might most coÌ„modiously come to assault the towne they tooke their lodging at the last in Tiranna and there pitched their tents and pauilions The countrey thereabouts is a faire and goodly plaine of sufficient space and largenesse pleasant to the eie and very fertile and fruitefull yet is it more apt for tillage and to beare corne then for any other fruite or commodity It extendeth it selfe from Croy to the towne of the Parthinois But before I proceed any further many reasons do induce me here briefly to touch the originall of this towne and of the ancient estate thereof and especially that which the auncients haue celebrated touching the same which is not vnknowen nor hiddeÌ„ from the posterity It may easily be gathered that this towne was of good reckonning with the rest of the towns of that Prouince before the ciuill wars of Caesar and Pompey The ruines thereof with many shewes and particular markes and monumentes which are yet left may yeeld no obscure representation of the ancient nobility of the place and of the reputation which it once had For the report is that it was
entermedling with the charge and duty of others to prepare make all things ready against the time that the assault should be presented and in the night time by their fires which they kindled by their clamors and shouts intermingled with songs and such like signes of mirth and gladnes they gaue forth euident notice testimony what litle account and reckoning they made of the enemy Likewise the other townes and â—astels of Epire had now forgotten their wonted feare and astonishment and they imagined that neither the power nor the name of Ottoman was of so great force and puissance nor so much to be redoubted as in times past when he came against them For they were now so hardened and acquainted with the experience of so many euils that the continuaunce and custome of perilles had brought them to contemne and set at naught all dangers whatsoeuer The Infidels spent 4. whole daies in translating and fitting of their lodgings which being once ordered according to their liking they came flocking in great troupes to the tents of their Emperor demanding requesting that they might be emploid But for that day their desire was refused they commanded with a most seuere charge to keepe themselues still within their campe the cause hereof was the extraordinary rest of Scanderbeg which did beyond all measure augment the suspition of the old Sultan doubting least he which was a maister crafts man in fine polices stratagems should set him on worke with some vnhappy taske or other The next day therfore he sent 2. heralds to Vranocontes to summon him and to make him these offers that if he would deliuer and yeelde vp the towne into his handes it should be lawfull both for him and the garrison to depart safe with bag and baggage and that the Gouernour him selfe should haue ouer and aboue 200000 aspres besides honorable entertainement if he could like thereof amongst his greatest friends and fauorits And concerning the citizens of Croy in case his religion did not like them he was content to graunt them free liberty of conference and to enioy all their ancient liberties and franchises whatsoeuer fauor wherein he could otherwise pleasure them With these conditions the Heralds being arriued neare vnto the Port for there was but one only by reason that on all the other parts of the city the mountaine runneth whole continually on without any breach and is not to be approached the Gouernor who had word sent him of their comming by them of the court of guard came riding thither very well accompanied of whom the Heraulds requested that they might be admitted to speak with him and to deliuer that which they had in charge but he wold not permit them to enter within the town but only to approach so neare as their voice might be well conueniently heard and discerned and therupon made a signe vnto them that they should speake their minds It is a strange thing and very wonderful to see the fidelity resolution of the Croians Scarce had the Turks any time or space to make an end of their speach but that the souldiers interrupting the answere of the Gouernour who was beginning liberally and stoutly to speak his mind did generally exclaime cry out that the enemy was to be answered with harguebusse shot and not with words adding thereunto as the guise of souldiers is many scoffes and iniurious tearmes against the messengers This being rehearsed made knowen to the Sultan his wrath indignation was more more incensed the venim of his malitious hart increased mightely Wherfore being destitute of this hope he set himselfe to make preparations for the assaulting of the towne and first of all causing his massie heapes of copper brasse such rude metall to be vnpacked he coÌ„manded that artillery should be cast founded This worke was long a doing endured aboue 15. dayes Of ten peeces which were made fully finished there was some difference in their greatnesse yet foure of them were of like equall bignesse each of them did carry a shot of 600. weight and the other which were lesser bare a shot of 200. weight Foure of the lesser peeces two of the greatest were planted against the wall on that side that lyeth to Tyranna toward the East the others were placed right against the Port. For on those parts onely had they hope to enter the towne by meanes of some breach made in the wals because the accesse was more easie in those places in respect that the wals fortifications there were raised builded by handywork of men And albeit they seemed to be most strong substantiall yet did they not doubt but the fury of the canon would at length leuel them with the ground As for all the other bulwarkes and fortifications they were euery where assured with such excellent strength the naturall site of the mountain did so serue in stead of a rampier that there needed not any workmanship of man to defend them for if the most hardy and aduenturous men liuing durst enterprise against theÌ„ they should but lose their labor for any hurt they could do vnto them in somuch that it is thought that the wall wherewith the towne is enuironned vpon the top of the mountaine was raised there of old by the founders of the city not for any defence or strength that it could adde vnto the place but only to giue a better grace and to beautifie the towne The ordinance being now mounted vpon the cariage ready planted to the inteÌ„t they might more easily and speedily be remoued as occasion should require they spent 4. whole daies in battering the wals on those 2. sides before that the souldiers were led to the assault to fight with the besieged The towne was greatly endammaged both on the one part the other the rampiers were beaten down almost halfe the wall was ouerthrowen razed and the rest so shaken torne that it seemed ready to fall with the least violence that should be vsed against it The Turks seeing so faire wide a breach were in a singular good hope to carry the towne and therefore they shewed themselues very forward to prouide scaling ladders and other engins ready for the assault It was a wonder to see how the souldiers bestirred themselues labouring striuing to get together from all parts great and mighty beames of timber running vp downe the fields to make prouision of all other sorts of engins and deuises There was not almost any tent but with a kind of emulation did bring forth some particular stuffe or matter to set forward the assault and according as euery one of them had a desire to out go ech other to beare away the reward that was propouÌ„ded for him that could first free the wall against the enemy The Bassaes themselues and other the chiefe officers of the grand Seignior
did not make any spare of their paines nor did they staÌ„d idle so desirous they were to preuent the good grace fauour of Amurath Mahomet was noted aboue the rest to vse an vncessable kind of diligence and with a singular viuacitie of spirit as if he had bene one of the meanest souldiers was alwayes about his father and setting aside all regard of his estate degree he spared no trauell paines but did busie employ him selfe in all matters with great readinesse resolution and running sometimes here somtimes there he did enflame and encourage the souldiers as much by the example of his owne doings as by words and chearefull exhortations And morethen that it is reported that besides the reward publiquely propounded by the Sultan he promised a 100000. aspres to him that should first get within the town and should fasten the Turkish colours vpon the wall Touching the Croyans as their mindes were altogether different of another disposition so were there effects also diuers The Paynims were growen to that pride fiercenesse of their harts only of a greedy desire an inordinate appetite of gaine and glory which caused them rashly to vndertake hunt after that thing wherof they neuer had any possession Contrariwise the Christians had their minds fixed vpon this that all maner of most ample honorable rewards were assuredly to be expected froÌ„ Scanderbeg they did consider moreouer that the coÌ„seruation of the realme the safetie of their countrey the securitie of their confederats in briefe the welfare of all the estate of Albany did consist depend vpon their valour vertue For this cause they were animated hartned not onely with a kind of obstinate settled resolution and with a purpose of incredible perseuerance but they were transported with so violent a passion of wrath and furie that they seemed as men almost enraged Whereupon though the wall being throwen downe and ruinated on that side did giue them cause both of griefe and terrour by the deformitie of that obiect yet did the greatnesse of their coutages neuerthelesse so preuaile in their resolute and stout harts that it did easily put away and expell out of their mindes all conceipt of faintnesse feare or sorow they did mutually recomfort encourage ech other Aboue all Vranocontes had a notable good grace in exhorting and animating of the garrison for as he went vp and downe amongest them he would oftentimes touch and take them by the handes he would handle their curats and lay his hands vpon their stomackes saying These these are the bulwarkes of cities townes these are the firme substantiall rampiers of wals these be the stones that are not batterable this is the strongest surest kind of lyme morter What honour what prayse what triumph can we expect or hope for in this place if being couered shrowded vnder these wals our surety shal consist onely in their strength and safety And if they shal be the onely meanes to garde defend vs not rather our persons to be the defence of them the very cowards can do so much the fearefull sheepe will contemne the houling of the rauenous wolfe if they be safely enclosed in a sure cote Such honour is proper due to the wals and not to the generous souldier Our Prince hath not commanded ys hither to be protected defended by this towne but the towne is commended vnto vs committed to our custody to be â—â—feâ—ded by vs True vertue is alwayes exercised in the greatest dangers â—he is noutished in things that are high difficult who is not a good pilot vpoÌ„ the sea in time of calme weather Things that are firme can continue stable of them selues and need not the succor and assistance of men neither do they require the helpe of any humaine audacity And braue and couragious men do not esteeme but rather shunne those aduentures by the defence whereof they shall not purchase any more honor then if they had not defended them at all When a thing beginneth to decay and to fall to ruine that is it which requireth to be supported and in such cases it is that vertue striueth to shew it selfe I may say it againe and againe my good companions that there only doth shine the brightnesse of valiant hearts there do the excellent and couragious spirits discouer themselues Wherefore these flankers and this curtin thus laied open by the battery and this breach made by the cannon of the enemy let it be filled and defended with your persons and with your armes let your stout and valiant bodies as of braue gallaÌ„t souldiers be opposed against the infidels in steed of strong walles and fortifications in so doing you shall giue me the more certaine and assured proofe of your valour and worthy behauiour Let vs therefore so cary our selues let vs so labour and endeuor in this our conflict to weaken and diminish the forces of the Barbarians that the tyraunt may be abashed at the valour of the Croians and that his courage may be abated and repressed then will he abandon the towne and raise his siege when he shall see the first fruites of this warre intertained with the bloud of so many of his subiectes These and many other speeches to that effect did the gouernour vse sometimes in the Albanian language somtimes in Italian and sometimes also by interpretours disposing and preparing the mindes of his souldiours to the assault which they expected the day following and inuiting euery man both by word and by deede to do his duty and best deuoire Wherefore whilest the souldiers in their seuerall charges here and there did diligently apply them selues and were the more incensed by his presence to labour chearfully in their seuerall emploiments the night at length came vpon them during the which neuerthelesse the vigilancy of Vranocontes did not cease in the continuaunce of all necessary preparations till it was two houres within night and that which remained was spent in sleepe and in taking of their â—est The infidels who had in the day time set all things in a readinesse did passe all that night in great quietnesse till the breake of day for the euening before it was concluded that the town should be assaulted and proclamation was made by sound of trumper commanding all men that before seuen of the clocke in the morning certaine captains companies hauing first broken their fast they should repaire with their armes to the lodging of the Sultan For this cause the souldiours with great promptnesse and diligence did not fayle to be there at the time appointed being well prouided of all things accordingly Then the most worthy and notable persons of chiefest marke qualitie being called together the old Prince began to vse some speeches vnto them in most vehement and ardent manner more then the vigour and strength of his aged and weakened spirite
to be held or esteemed more base vile and seruile then so to giue as to expect a profite and gaine by the gift We are now come vnto thee gentle and worthy Captaine freely and of our owne accord and I speake it from the very bottome of my heart we doe not seeke to surprize thee neither by wordes nor by giftes whom we haue so often proued to be inuincible by armes and dint of sword and who doest repute all things inferiour vnto thee and to the greatnesse of thy thoughtes This is the cause that Amurath loueth thee and doth admire these rare vertues in his enemy this is the cause he doth desire if by any meanes he may to haue thee neare vnto him No doubt that is the place and to be neare the presence of so great a Monarke is far more fit and conuenient for thy merites And there it is that the excellent magnanimity of thy courage and the dexterity of thy spirite shall be able to finde out the way and meanes to mount to the highest and supreame degree of all glory and good fortune not that I condemne Scanderbeg whom euen we our selues his enemies doe glorifie for the recouery of his countrey for the defending of it so often and so valiantly yet through thy succours and assistance principally but thou art worthy of another maner of Prince and of a better and higher aduauncement and not to spend thy yeares and to consume thy glorious life in this obscurity and in this vility and basenesse of estate Moreouer Scanderbeg his good fortune will vanish away euen in a moment the Destinies haue opposed against him an enemy who is too mighty for him to endure continually wel may his punishment be deferred for a season but it cannot be auoided so extreme and incredible an hatred hath the Ottoman Prince conceiued against him Ouer and aboue the incomparable forces which he hath assembled for his destruction he hath sworne and protested not to spare any costes or expences nor trauelles nor daungers nor to depart out of Epire till such time as he haue subdued him and imposed a most deadly and mortall yoke vpon his head Now see how the originall of this mischiefe doth begin principally with you of Croy we heare him euery day sounding into the eares of his counsellours these and the like speaches that he will rather shamefully abandon and forsake his Imperiall city of Andrinople and all the dominions of his estate and Empire before he will quit the possession of this place before he will leaue this city vnconquered and before his wrath shall not be fully satisfied with the slaughter and butchery of your dismembred bodies and there is no doubt but he will doe it and I doe tremble to foretell it For though I be one of your enemies amongst infinite others yet am I a man and haue humaine passions and therefore hardly will my eies be able to endure or suffer so miserable a sight and obiect of your pitifull and lamentable condition Assure your selues he will not faile to do it if you do not chaunge your mindes if now taking the benefit of his long sufferance and patience you do not accept the safety the light the liberty the peace which are so freely offered vnto you but go to say a Gods name that this fortresse so vnmatchable that these walles so inaccessible that your valour which is more then all the rest shall preserue defend you but how long I pray you will this be doe you thinke that the Ottoman will raise his siege and remoue his Campe in the middest and chiefe heate of this war you shall see it to your cost you shall feele it to your griefe and losse that though his forces profite not nor preuaile not though all his attempts and endeuours doe proue vaine bootlesse yet I say you shall see still before your eies and you shall continually behold before your wals these same enemies these same tents till such time as the extremity and importunity offamine which mastereth and ouercommeth all things doe in the end enforce you to yeeld and to submit your selues What other hope then haue you left I pray you whence is it that this greedy desire of perils and dangers hath seized vppon your obstinat and hardened hearts Shall Scanderbeg supply your wants with victuals being imprisonned within these wals who being constrained to keepe close hidden continually in these forrests or wandring vp and down the tops of the mountains and being ouerloaden and ouerwhelmed on all sides with cares and trauels is scarceable to sustaine his miserable body Will the Venetians send or succour you with prouisions who do daily bring and furnish vs against you with all store of sustenance and necessaries for the war euen in excesse and superfluity Be wise therefore you that are so braue and valiant be you once well aduised and take your wits vnto you behold it is your enemy that warneth you you haue persisted long enough in this obstinacy neither your countrey nor your liberty ought to be so wilfully defended that you should oppose your selues for them against the wil pleasure of the diuine maiesty It behoueth you to yeeld to giue place to Fortune and to bend your knees to the most puissant and mighty But what liberty is this wherof I speake vnto you the true liberty the true rewardes and the perpetuall tranquillity of this life is in the power of Amurath Prouide therfore for your selues whilest your affairs are in sound good estate whilest you haue yet time to determine vpon it whilest that we your enemies do exhort you do entreat you and do loue to entertain you rather as our companions and friends with your good liking then as our slaues prisoners by force and constraint In this maner did the Barbarian deliuer his message framing and conforming with a singuâ—â—â— good grace both his countenance and his voice and hauing finished he did attend to obserue what alteration he could perceiue in the spirits and affections of the coÌ„pany purposing thereupon to haue taken an occasion to treat a part in secret with the Gouernour vpon the residue of his ambassade But knowing that the affections of them all were mightely estranged from liking the subiect of his discourse as men that knew how to contemne the swords of their enemies and not their words onely and hearing the souldiers begin to mutter and murmure here there as if they had some wrong offred them rather then be perswaded to yeeld themselues he praid the gouernour to giue him leaue to vse a word or two vnto himselfe alone and in secret which was likewise accorded vnto him for they did all much rely trust vpon the sage wisdome constancy of that personage being assured that he would not vndertake any thing which should not be for the aduantage maiesty of the Realme of Albany and for the profit of ech of them particularly Then began the
enterprise But now vppon the notable victorie of Sebalias thinking that his mortall enemie was so ouerthrowen as he should neuer be able to rise againe he grewe into such a confidence of his prosperitie that he doubted not to proceede with his former voyage and with full sayles to followe his good fortune which now seemed to fawne on him with a merrie and pleasant gale of winde as we see it is an ordinarie thing that if some one of our actions be seconded with good happe it hardeneth and encourageth vs to vndertake other matters farre more difficult The Turkish Monarche hauing commaunded a generall and speedie leauie of souldiers both horse and foote throughout all his Dominions and that in more extraordinarie and excessiue numbers then had beene heard of in many ages vsed an extreame kinde of diligence and all possible celeritie in the raising of that armie pretending that those preparations were for an other warre because the Princes of Christendome should not haue him in anie mistrust or suspition Moreouer hauing prepared an infinite number of vessels and shippes both for fight and for carriage of necessarie prouisions for this man of all the Ottomans was the first that vsed shipping or men of warre at sea he departed from Andrinople neere about the same time that Moses tooke his iourney for Epyre and with long and continuall iourneyes both day and night he tooke the way of Romania both by sea and by lande with an incredible traine of artillerie engines and other prouisions of assault He made but a iest at those auncient ceremonies and solemne obseruations vsed by his predecessors and other Princes to denounce and proclaime warres before they made anie inuasion vpon their neighbors For violating the faith and promise which he had formerly sworne and breaking the oath and peace which he had vowed most religiously to obserue with the Emperour of Constantinople he suddenly ouerranne and inuaded all the plaine countrie and vpon the nineteenth day of Aprill he planted his campe before that noble and famous citie hauing in lesse then three dayes streightly girt it in and besieged it rounde on all sides His armie exceeded foure hundreth thousand men most part of which were collected and gathered out of the Nations neere adioyning such as yet retayned and helde the name and profession of Christians namely from Greece Sclauony and Valachia and from amongst the Dardanians or Rascians the Triballians or Seruians and the Misians or Bulgarians There were verie fewe of them naturall Turkes but with those former Nations out of Europe were mingled other troupes out of Asia both from Bithinia called Natolia and from Gallatia Lidia or Briquia and Cilicia which is the countrie of the King of Caramania In this manner did these Miscreants Infidels and Barbarians serue themselues with our owne forces and the peoples of our owne profession and alliance augmenting and encreasing their estate with the aide and helpe of them onely who were the most warrelike and stoutest Nations of all their campe and by whom they did principally worke the ruine of that Empire and the destruction of the Christians Concerning the citie it selfe and the meanes of their defence the whole forces of the garrison setting aside the multitude which ordinarily is more hurtfull then fit or apt to beare armes did not amount to aboue 9000. souldiers of which 6000. were Greekes of all sorts both good and bad And the other 3000. were partly Venetians and partly Genowayes True it is that for the better strength and suertie of the citie if the maiestie and reuerence of the sacred Imperiall name could haue done any thing to the furtherance thereof the Emperour himselfe Constantine Paleologus was there in person But ouer and aboue this outward glorie and externall shewe of his presence I doe not finde and the subiect of this discourse will declare it that his being there did anie great good to the preseruation of the place The great searcitie and want of munition powder armes corne treasure to pay the souldiers and such like prouisions did sufficiently testifie and make proofe of no lesse then I speake For he did of a long time before discerne and knowe of the great preparations of the Turke and he foresawe the terrour of this tempest that menaced the state of Greece yet did he proceede but very coldly in making his prouisions Onely he had recourse by Ambassadours to Pope Nicholas the fifth to the Emperour Fredericke the third to Charles the seuenth King of France and to other Kings and Potentates of Christendome to induce and perswade with them to sende him succours and to shew them the imminent perill and approching decay and ruine of so noble and aunclent an Empire the losse whereof could not but redound to the perpetuall shame and infamie of the whole name of the Christians and finally he acquainted them with the extreame miserie which they were like to encurre falling into the cruell and vnmercifull handes of a Nation most fierce and Barbarous and more thirsting after the bloud of humaine creatures and Christians then after wine or any other liquor whatsoeuer and in conclusion with aboundance of teares and lamentations did his Ambassadours labour to moue them to some compassion and commiseration of their pitifull estate But all their trauels were in vaine and which I abhorre to speake they found the eares of all those Princes to be so deafe and their eyes so blinded nay rather their minds so senselesse as they could not foresee that if the Empire of Greece came once to decay and confusion it would cause all the residue of Europe in time to come to be buried and ouer whelmed in the like ruine and destruction to the manifest and ineuitable abolishing of the Christian religion But shall we thinke that they were ignorant hereof nay rather I am of the opinion that they knew it sufficiently but being occupied and distracted with their priuate hatreds and quarrels and with the care of their owne particular commodities their hearts were obdurate and hardened and they did neglect the vniuersall good and publique welfare of all in generall For behold and marke what was the occasion that withheld them Italie was drawen drie of money and treasure by meanes of the Schisme in the Papacie and by the factions of the two famelies of the Vrsins and the Colonnezes Almaine was vexed and rent with ciuill warres and the greatest part of France was in the subiection and welneere wholly possessed by the English and in briefe all Europe according to their accustomed manner was deuided into sects and partialities But that you may the better perceiue both with what diligence and industrie the Turkes laboured to carrie and conquer this goodly Citie and to reduce it vnder the Dominion of the Ottoman Empire and howe the defendants also did diuersly demeane themselues who laboured and endeuoured still to retaine it in the power and deuotion
of armes he laboured with all diligence to digge and cast vp trenches to the intent the souldiers might with lesse paines and daunger safegarde themselues from the enemie and haue the freer accesse to the foote of the wall Moreouer because he would by the aduantage of the higher place or ground more easily present the ladders to the walles and be able to carrie the towne he caused a long and high banke of earth equall to the towne wall to be cast vp round about that part of the citie and this was not all for he caused also many towers of wood to be raised vp neere to the rampiers from the which hauing caused them to be couered with cow-hides he filled the ditch with earth and other stuffe thinking to leauell and make plaine the way and to haue the more easie accesse into the towne And besides he had an innumerable companie of logges of wood of ladders mounted vpon wheeles and chariots raised in forme of castels and such like engines as the Romaines themselues could scarce haue found and made the like against the Carthaginians and because that monstrous peece of Ordinance which was newly cast could do litle or no hurt at all against Calegarie by reason of the notable and strong fortification of the place it was planted neere the port S. Roman against the tower Battatinea which being beaten downe to the ground did with his ruines fill vp the ditch and made it euen with the height of the plaine ground insomuch that the breach was plaine euen for the Infidels to haue entred it but that there was speedie order taken for repairing the same it was made stronger then before Whereat the great Turke greatly maruelling said That it was not the worke nor inuention of the Greekes but of the Latines who were better practised and more expert and industrious in pointes of fortification then the Greekes Thus you see what was done towards the firme land Towardes the Sea on that side which regardeth Pera the Sultan besieged it with a fleete of 250. sayle whereof the greatest part were Foistes and some part gallyes of which some were with two some with three oares on a banke Besides there were a great number of Frigats loaden with men and shot rather for a shew and terrour vnto them then otherwise These lay at ancker in the maine a good way off on one side of the hauen towards the sea of Propontide for they durst not come neere for feare of the Christians but lying dispersed and sometimes say ling vp and downe the sea they did still furnish their campe at land with wood stones such like necessaries The port as I haue told you was shut vp with a great chaine and besides it was garded with 7. great ships or carracks of the Genowayes and three of Creete or Candia all of them strongly bound well chained together the one close to the other so as the Turkish Nauie could not possibly enter into the harbor But what did the Sultan thinke you to get into the hauen by the counsell aduise of a trayterous wretch a Christian Renegado he coÌ„manded that a certaine number of his gallies should be drawen vp out of the sea to the mountaine and then let downe againe on the other side into the hauen The Pyoners and other labourers of the campe being set about the worke and hauing farre and wide on all sides made plaine the descent of the mountaine both on the one side the other of the promontory of Metopique with strength force of hands they drew vp the gallies conueying theÌ„ vpon rollers more theÌ„ 8. miles in length hauing brought them to the top of the mountaine by litle litle they let them slide faire and easily downe into the hauen Now imagine you whether this new strange spectacle did not astonish and amaze the Christians They sought by all meanes possible to sinke them with force of great stones or to set them on fire but in vaine did they attempt it and those vessels were the occasion of great care and trouble vnto them for that they being enforced by that meanes to quit the defence of the port necessitie did constraine them to looke to the defence of the wals towards the sea side and to diminish their gardes on the other side towards the land For the town was daily assaulted on that side to the seaward with a power of 70000. men by the helpe also of another deuise which the Turkes inuented as ingeniously with no lesse hardines the same more terrifying the Christians then the former the maner wherof you shal heare also He builded a bridge more then 3. miles in length from the banke or shore besides Pera right against the towne the which trauersing or running ouer the sea was supported with hogsheads pypes and other wine vessels being fastened held together vnderneath with great beames and posts of timber chained together to the intent his army might march freely and approch neere to the wall I mitating therein the greatnesse of Xerxes who passed his armie in like manner ouer the sea of Bosphore out of Asia into Thrace He raised vp also innumerable towers surmounting the height of the walles from the tops of the which being well furnished with all kinds of armes and prouisions for assault the citie was incessantly trauelled and sore wearied I haue figured foorth vnto you the terrible apprests and preparations of the Turkish Monarch by which he sought the ruine and destruction of this imperiall citie It now resteth that I shew you the order and prouision of them within the towne for the defence of the place against the assaylants The Christians growing daily more prouident expert did helpe theÌ„selues with such peeces of artillerie as they had hauing but small store allowed them neither had they any great prouision of pouder and saltpeeter as litle also was their store of armes and weapons and much lesse were they prouided of victuals That aâ—de which they had was with muskets and such like small shot with which they could not much greeue nor annoy the enemie by reason of the discommoditie of the place the same being couered with trenches and litle walles drie made and cast vp of purpose Of their great Ordinance as the report goeth they could haue little or no vse at all for feare of shaking downe their owne walles yet sometimes now and then they did discharge some of them vpon the enemie and did beate downe both men tents pauilions together with their Pauisados Gabions and other muniments and defences The braue and furious sallyes of the youth of the citie did cause the Turks often both to feare and to admire them and euer the assailants had the worst and sustained great losse in all encounters For the walles being kept well garded and assured with valiant and resolute souldiers euerie one striued to doe his best and to giue
others who pressing brauely forward rushing vpon them did not strike in vaine but beating downe innumerable Infidels some slaine some maimed they scattered that battalion hauing giuen them such entertainment that many being left dead vpon the place were made sure for euer aduenturing themselues againe in the like hazard and the residue of the Turkes as men that could do no good and whose former heate was well cooled did now seeme to desire to be dispensed withall that they might not for that day returne any more to so bad a banquet and they began to retire themselues the same way they came Then Mahomet enraged with ire and madnes went to meete and to encourage them and he called sometimes to one somtimes to another by their names especially such as were men of marke and chiefest estimate Some he constrained by menaces others he perswaded by promises and did so much preuaile that he made them to take part againe and thereuppon they reenforced the assault then might you haue seene some climing vpon their fellowes backes other creeping vp like cats and making themselues way vp to the wals against the pikes of their enemies many also marching close together and in troups vnder the couerture of their targets bearing downe their heads hauing gained the foote of the wall did mount to the tops of their ladders then with the one hand they labored to lay hold vpō the enemies weapons with the other grasping close by the battlements they striued to get aloft vpon the wals there to haue raised the Turkish ensignes But the promptnes vigor hardines of the defendants did far exceed the attēpts of the assailants stil beating them down and ouerthrowing them in infinite numbers with pikes stones and other weapons and with casting of boyling pitch vppon them It was a braue sight to see how Iohn Iustinian with his sword in his hand accompanied with a squadron of armed men now here now there did with might and maine beare in vpon the enemy where as he saw them thickest still ouerthrowing and dispersing them where soeuer he came One while would he redresse and confirme the rancks where he saw them to faile or to moue another while with a watchfull eie and speedy pace would he giue and send succours where they needed and both with the valour of his hand aswell as with the eloquence of his speech he encouraged them on all parts both to do well and to hope well The presence of the Turkish Monarch did no lesse further the obstinacy resolution of his people both by often exhortations and continuall supplies of newe and fresh troups who succeded chearfully in the places of those which were either slaine or repulsed not suffering the defendants to haue any leisure to rest or to breath thēselues although they performed their deuoire duty beyond all reason humaine power yet by reason that their nūbers were so small it could not be but they should at length be driuen to the last point and exigent of all extremity Neuerthelesse they still shewed them selues in countenance and outward appearance resolute and deliberate and that they feared no perill whatsoeuer In this estate did they mainetaine themselues continually stout and vnuanquished not suffering the assailantes to glory or to boast themselues of any aduantage against the towne vntill such time as their Chieftaine and gouernour Iustinian by the permission of the cruell destinies which nowe beganne to contrary this miserable and wretched city in the heate and fury of the fight where the wall was most endangered whilest he opposed him selfe most stoutly against the enemy with a company of braue and gallant men prodigall carelesse of their liues most vnhappily receiued a wound behinde vnder the arme hole being shotte with an arrow by one of the defendants standing within vpon the walles Behold now a strange case and a wonderful He which of late by the only terror of his name did appall his enemies and did adde a corage and confidence vnto the Christians he which shewed himselfe as a second Mars and with his arme all bloudy euen to the elbow did flie like a tempest amongst the Turkish squadrons preparing the victory for the Greekes now alas onely 3. or 4. drops of bloud distilling from his owne body did put him quite out of heart and as one vtterly forlorne he fainted and gaue ouer forgetting al his former glory the remembrance of his duty and the safety both of himselfe his countrey For perceiuing his wound to bleed much he withdrew him selfe secretly out of the presse remoued frō the place without speaking euer a word going into the towne to haue his wound drest being vnwilling as himself afterwards confessed to haue a surgeon called thither for feare least his souldiers who were then fighting with great fury in that place should be partakers of his feare so be discoraged by his mishap Thus whilest he thought to auoide one inconuenience he tumbled into a greater mischiefe The Emperour hearing of his departure and supposing that his absence would be the losse of the towne as his presence had bene the preseruation of the same did commit a second disorder worse then the former for without leauing any man of marke or reckoning to supply his office or to commaund in his place he went himselfe in person and followed after him to cal him backe againe endeuouring to cause him to returne But Iustinian more deafe then a Haddocke and obstinate beyond all reason or rather transported with extreame feare coulde not be entreated by any prayers or perswasions to tarry and abide but causing the gate of the city to be opened for him he promised that as soone as his wound was dressed he woulde returne incontinent All the gates and portes of the city by which men should passe through from the vawmure into the towne were closed and barred vppe because all waies and hope of retrait being taken from the souldiours euery man should determine either to vanquish the enemy or to die with honour But what followed vppon this accident The Christians which were at the breach as soone as they had lost the sight of their Generall began to loose courage likewise and to be out of heart Then might you haue seene some of them make hast to retire and to withdrawe them selues out of the presse others began to fight more slowly and lasily and at last all in generall beginning to faint and to despaire betooke them selues to a shamefull and ignominious flight Whither do you flie you poore and senslesse wretches doth your safety now consist in your heeles what doth your resolution depend only vppon one man so fraile and mortall If your walles be lost haue you any other by which you may be couered and protected or will you returne againe into the wombes of your mothers there to hide you from your enemies Are you ignorant or haue you forgotten
one yeares This city that was the Queene and Lady of all the townes in the world hauing receiued and endured so many mischiefes and calamities by the cruell and villainous handes of these theeues and brigandes it standeth vs vppon to be moued by their examples to the intent we may more narrowly aduise our selues of the plagues that doe hang ouer the heades of other peoples and cities and that standing in awe of the rigorous and seuere iudgementes of God we be the more allured and stirred vp to his seruice and obedience and hauing our recourse vnto him with continuall praiers and daily sighes and gronings of our soules we should entreat his diuine clemency that it would please him to preserue his Church and his people and to moderate the paines and punishmentes inflicted vppon them And let vs not onely meditate vppon the example of their punishment but let vs remember also what were the sinnes and crimes of the Greeke nation and of their Emperours in those daies Let vs consider their great excesse and vsurpations their hatefull discordes and ciuill warres wherewith they rent and tore in sunder that famous Monarchy so shall we be incited by the sorrowfull and lamentable end of that Empire to liue more modestly and soberly to nourish and entertaine concord and amity chasing and repelling farre from vs all distrust ambition couetousnesse and the desire of vengeance or any other thing vnlawfull whereby the common peace and tranquillity should be troubled or disturbed for feare least that either being dismembred or consumed by a mutuall intestine butchery amongst our selues we fall into the same misfortune and calamity which is befalne and happened vnto the Greekes The end of the eight Booke THE NINTH BOOKE OF THE FAMOVS ACTES OF GEORGE CASTRIOT SVRNAMED SCANDERBEG THE ARGVMENT MOses with an armie of Turkes entreth into Epire and is encountred by Scanderbeg The priuat combat of Ahimaz a Turke with Zachary Groppe an Epirot Moses hauing challenged Scanderbeg to a particular combate dareth not abide him The battell of Oronichea between Moses and Scanderbeg wherein the Turks are ouerthrowen and Moses put to flight who at his returne to Constantinople being in great disgrace with Mahomet posteth secretlie into Epire and submitting himselfe to Scanderbeg is freelie pardoned Amese the nephew of Scanderbeg reuolteth from his vncle and flieth to Mahomet with his wife and children Isaac Bassa accompanied with Amese is sent by Mahomet with an armie against Scanderbeg who hauing leauied a power to receiue them retireth with his forces and giueth place vnto them Isaac marching freelie ouer the countrey proclaimeth Amese king of Epire. Scanderbeg hauing by his fained flight brought the Turkes into security sodainly setteth vpon their Campe. The famous battell of Pharsalia wherein Isaac Bassa is put to flight with a notable slaughter of the Turkes and Amese is taken prisoner being sent to Naples by his vncle there to be kept in prison Mahomet being encombred with great warres seeketh to haue peace with Scanderbeg which being refused he sendeth Hamur and Synam with two strong armies to defend his frontiers And Scanderbeg likewise fortifieth the borders of Epire. The frontier war betweene the Turks and the Epirots Hamur maketh a new motion of peace vnto Scanderbeg Alphonsus king of Naples dieth and Ferdinand his base son succeedeth him in that kingdome vnto whom Scanderbeg sendeth an Ambassade Amese is brought backe into Epire and is restored to the grace and fauour of his vncle by whom being licenced to goe againe to Mahomet to practise the deliuery of his wife and children at his returne to Constantinople he is there poysoned by the Turke IN the sacred Scriptures it is written that Zedechias and the other Iewes caried away captiue vnto Babilon did mock and deride the Prophet Ieremy when he for told them of the captiuitie and destruction of Ierusalem We reade also that if Cassandra had bin beleeued by Pryam hir father Troy had not bene burned by the Greekes nor reduced so miserably into dust and ashes If the Romans had giuen credit to the prophecies of the Sibils their monarchie had not bene ruinated troden vnder foot But in very truth this is an infallible rule and vndoubtedly to be beleeued that Empires Realmes and Kingdomes haue their vndoubted age limited neither more nor lesse then as mortall men haue their birth beginning their increase their continuance and their declining For albeit such prophecies admonitions and diuine reuelations haue and do ordinarily forerun preceed the ruine of Monarchies and Empires yet so it is that when their prefixed time is come it behoueth them to fall and come to nothing maugre all the counsels endeuors which humane wisdome can deuise The Greeks do affirme that diuerse personages men famous for the holinesse of their conuersation learning did for many ages long before diuine prophecy of this horrible tempest which should swallow vp and consume the Empire of the Orient Amongst others one Leon surnamed the sage as they say made a certen table which being hidden in ancient times was found within the Monasterie of S. George in Constantinople containing therein certen litle squadrons or scutcheons within the which were seuerall letters that distinguished the order and succession of the Emperours of Constantinople and so many quadrants only were contained in the table as would comprehend all the Emperours from Constantine the great the first founder of that Empire til the last end desolation of the same that all the said quadrangles were filled with seueral caracters but only that wherein the last Emperour was to be placed They deliuer also that there was another a deuout man called Morsena who prophecied that a certain people or nation being excellent archers should arise against Constantinople who seizing vpon her noble port or hauen should vtterly exterminate and expell the Greeks out of that imperiall Citie And last of all they adde the prophecies of Sibilla Erithrea who foreshewed likewise the ruine of the Greeks But howsoeuer it be the finall issue and euent of that vnfortunate Citie hath made it manifest that the Great Constantine was ill aduised when he transported and translated the Imperiall seate and all the ornaments thereof from the citie of Rome to that place For albeit it cannot be denied but that Constantinople was a place very fit and agreeable for the greatnesse of that Empire yet neuerthelesse the Heauens and the destinies would not permit that the same should continue still to be the siege of the Romaine Empire For as euery region and all particular townes haue their fatall and ineuitable necessity and their particular maners rites and conditions so cannot those things be translated elsewhere from their naturall seate without notable inconuenience notwithstanding that they be the same persons and though they doe retaine their wonted lawes and customes For that the instruments and celestiall constellations of another climate
him selfe to be sicke and euill at ease did continue three or foure dayes priuately in his lodging without going to court the Queene who lay in the tower Capouane The Queene thinking that he had beene sicke indeede sent her Seneschall to Castell noue to visite him on her behalfe where he detained him and all his traine and at the same instant taking his horse he went to the Capouane to haue seized vppon the person of the Queene but this his counsell proued vaine and frustrate by the intelligence which she had receiued by one of the Seneschall his seruaunts who was escaped from the surprize of the Seneschall Hereuppon the Arragonois betooke him selfe to open force and besieged the Queene battering the fortresse of Capouan with the Canon The Queene finding her selfe thus hardly bestead had recourse to Sforce who lay encamped at that time for Lewes of Aniow at the Monastery neare Mirabell Sforce hauing had the better in a great conflict against the Spaniard within Naples at Case noue neare to Formell and about the tower Capouane did deliuer the Queene thence in safety and conuaied her with all her moueables to Auersa At the time of her retrait from Naples there were more then fiue thousand Neapolitanes both men and women of all sorts who mourning and lamenting at her misfortune did accompany her a great way off with great sorrow and infinite lamentation Within a while after Sforce began to treate with her that Lewes who was continually resident at Rome might returne to the Realme of Naples whereunto she condiscended and more then that when he was come to Auersa shee receiued him with most gracious and kinde entertainement and besides hauing assembled many great and noble personages of great wisdome and iudgement by their aduise and councell shee solemnly depriued Alphonsus of the right of adoption and from the succession of the Crowne of Naples pretending that he had worthely forfeited it by the vice of his foule ingratitude and shee adopted Lewes the third to succeed her as her sonne in that her kingdome vpon the same conditions which she had earst propounded to the king of Arragon giuing to vnderstand by expresse letters vnto all the Potentates Princes of Christendome both the order tenour and causes of the depriuation of the one and the adoption of the other About that time Alphonsus being aduertised that Henry his brother was taken prisoner and spoiled of his Crowne by Iohn King of Castill he resolued to take a iourney into Spaine for his deliueraunce which hee did accordingly in the yeare one thousand foure hundred twenty three leauing Naples in the gard and custody of his brother Peter In that his voiage passing by Marseilles and finding it but ill guarded he surprised it by a sodaine assault onely in hatred and despite of Lewes and he vsed it as enemy For hauing abandonned it to the auarice and insolency of his souldiours that which he was not able to cary away he caused to be burnt and consumed with the fire onely the women were saued and preserued from the violence and outrage of the souldiours the King hauing caused them to retire into a Church whilest the towne was rifled and sacked Of the infinite treasures and riches which were found within the city he reserued nothing to himselfe as the report is but onely the body of Sainct Lewes late Archbishop of Tholouse the sonne of Charles the second king of Naples the which he caried from thence and caused it to be placed most religiously in a certaine speciall place within the city of Valentia in Spaine saying that it was not a thing either decent or conuenient in a towne which was burnt and destroied to leaue so holy and precious a relique Lewes lately made King was not idle in this meane while but he did presently put in execution the practises newly concluded on betweene Pope Martin the Queene of Naples Philip Duke of Milan and the Genowaies For by their meanes was Naples sodainely and in an instant besieged and enclosed both by Sea with the forces and fleete of the Duke of Milan and by land with the armes of Frauncis Sforce the sonne of Ssorce Cottignole lately deceased in so much that without any great violence or effusion of bloud it was recouered for the Queene in the yeare one thousand foure hundred twenty foure Now Queene Ione being so happily restored and reinuested in her estate made her entry into Naples hauing in her company the Graund Seneschall who was of late eschaunged for twelue Catalans or Spanishe Nobles by the liberality and curtesie of Sforce afore mentioned who might haue hadde foure score thousand Crownes for their raunsome and Lewes also her adopted and elected sonne whom shee had created Duke of Calabria being the title ordinarily giuen to the eldest sonne of the Kings and Princes of Naples was with her at the same time of her returne to the Citie of Naples Nowe albeit she was not altogether free and exempted from troubles but that the towne was sometimes endommaged by the artillerie of Castell noue which was still at the deuotion of the Spaniard neuerthelesse she liued sufficiently well and happily in her realme vntill the yeare a thousand foure hundred thirtie two at which time the Graund Seneshall who till that time had with most happie and prosperous fortune commaunded and in a manner absolutely ruled all the realme was then ouertaken and ensnared by the Queene as you shall perceiue by that which followeth Within a while after he had solemnized the marriage of his sonne with one of the daughters of Iames Caldore euen when he sawe him selfe as a man may say sitting aloft vpon the wheele of Fortune one Monday about midnight being lodged within the tower Capouane certaine persons by the speciall commaundement of the Queene and some other of the Nobles confederated with her went vnto his lodging knocking and calling at his chamber doore and willing him to arise speedily and to make hast to come to the Queene saying that by reason of a sudden accident which was befallen her she was in great daunger and perill of death The Seneshall rising suddenly to make him selfe readie commaunded his page to open the doore Thereupon they without being armed entred the chamber and slue him out of hand and hauing almost cut off one of his legges they caused him to be caried all naked out of Capouane without anie pompe at all as the most vile and wretched creature liuing A most miserable and vnhappie example of the inconstancie of Fortune and may serue for a notable instruction and admonition to all such persons who relying vpon the fickle loue and immoderate affections of woman kind do found the greatnesse of their fortune vpon their vaine and vnconstant fauours Lewes being sent by Commission of the Queene against Iohn Anthonie Vrsin Prince of Tarentum who taking part with Alphonsus did trouble and molest Calabria when
person against the Turkes he would then crowne him king of Epire Macedonie Thrace and Romania and would commit the army of the Christians to his charge and that he should haue the commaund and gouernment of the same as chiefe Generall of the warres against the Infidels By this time was there a full and whole yeare past and fully complet since the arriuall of the Albanois into Apulia now was the warre ended and determined Ferdinand restored and reestablished in his kingdome and all things settled within the prouince according to his owne desire Scanderbeg therefore hauing had long conference with the King touching many affaires of great waight and importaunce was now willing to prepare for his departure and to appoint a time for his iourney by sea homewardes Wherefore Ferdinand before he would accord or agree to any thing first caused all his Chiefetaines and the Captaines of his army to be assembled and in their presence made a long oration wherein he gaue Scanderbeg great thanks and infinite praises and commendations oftentimes repeating and calling him by the name of Father and by which euer after as long as he liued he neuer ceased to honor him Afterwards he commaunded generall processions and publicke praiers to be saied from Church to Church whereat the King himselfe his Court and all the people were present and did assist them in all humility and deuotion Other like seruices and religious ceremonies were presented and offered vp vnto God for their good and happy victory as to the sole and onely author and giuer of the same After this he fell to triumphes as turneies iustes and combattes to publike and solemne huntings to pleasant spectacles and shewes of all fashions the which being ended and finished the King made a great and bountifull largesse amongst the souldiers of Albany but principally vnto their King for a perpetuall signe and memorie of their mutuall good will and singular loue and amitie for besides the inestimable treasures horses barded proude and rich caparizons and such like presentes fit for Knights and men of armes of singular prise and estimation bestowed vpon him he gaue him also the citie of Trana and two other noble and strong places in Apulia one of the which was the mount Gargan commonly called Saint Angell where is seated the famous towne of Sypont and the venerable church consecrated to the honour of Saint Michaell vppon the sea Adriaticke the other was Saint Iohn de Ronde all which places with their territories he graunted vnto Scanderbeg and his heires for euer and he ratified and confirmed his sayed gift and graunt by good and authenticall writings and charters To conclude Scanderbeg hauing caused the most part of his armie to go to Trana where his shippes and gallies did then attend him and hauing taken his leaue of king Ferdinand not without many kinde farewels teares and tokens of sorrow with many friendly embracements and mutuall congratulations he departed from him at the last being accompanied and conueied on his way throughout Apulia with many Princes and great Lordes of the countrey the high waies also being filled with people who came scattered from all places both out of the townes and countrey to see and to salute him Thus being come at length to the Port and going abord his vessels as it were in pompe and triumph he found the windes fauourable and seruing well for his passage Wherefore leauing the coastes and banckes of Apulia he crossed the seas with a mery wind and in few daies arriued safe and sound with all his troups in his owne countrey of Epire some of them landing at Duraz and some at another litle gulfe called by the inhabitants Cape de lach and from thence he went to Croie where he found all things in good and prosperous estate His comming was no sooner spred and published throughout the Prouince but that daily there arriued vnto him new ambassades of the Princes Lords and estates his friends and allies in demonstration of their ioy and in congratulation of his good and happy returne This was the end and issue of the warre of Naples in the seuenteenth yeare of the raigne of Scanderbeg The end of the tenth Booke THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF THE FAMOVS ACTES OF GEORGE CASTRIOT SVRNAMED SCANDERBEG THE ARGVMENT MAhomet during the truce betweene him and Scanderbeg atchieueth many great conquests the war being renued betweene them Mahomet sendeth diuerse of his chieftains with puissant armies ech after other against Scāderbeg who remaineth victorious against all of them The Sultan desireth peace of Scanderbeg which being accorded concluded is at length broken by the Infidels who sodenly ouerrun and spoile the borders of the Albanois The Venetians hauing their dominions likewise inuaded by the Turkes send Ambassadours vnto Scanderbeg perswading him to renue the warre and to ioine with them against Mahomet Scanderbeg inuadeth and preieth vpon the Turkish territories Pope Pius the second and the Princes of Christendome prepare a voiage or Croyzado against the Turkes purposing to make Scanderbeg Generall of their forces Mahomet desireth to reconfirme the peace betweene him and Scanderbeg who absolutely refuseth it Seremet one of the Turke his Bassaes is sent with an army against Scanderbeg by whom he is discomfited The Pope being come with the army of the Christians to Ancona in Italie and ready to take sea sickneth and dieth whereuppon the voiage of the Christians against the Turkes is broken off to the great griefe of the Albanois Ballaban Badera is sent with an army against Scanderbeg by whom he is discomfited in the battell of Valcala Moses and certaine nobles of Epire being ouer rash in following the chase vppon the Turkes are taken prisoners whom Mahomet causeth afterwards to be executed with extreame torments Ballaban is againe sent against Scanderbeg and is defeated in the battell of Oronichea The third iourney of Ballaban against Scanderbeg by whom he is againe ouerthrowen in the battell of Sfetigrade Ballaban and Iagup are sent with two seuerall armies at one time and by sundry waies to enclose oppresse Scanderbeg who meeting first with Ballaban in the battell of Valcala putteth him to flight and most of his army to the sword and after encountreth with Iagup who in the battell of Cassar is slaine by Scanderbeg and his forces likewise slaughtered Scanderbeg inuadeth spoileth the Turkish territories and so returneth to Croy triumphant and victorious WHilest that Scanderbeg was occupied in the warre of Naples and that the truce continued still in force betweene him and the Turkes Mahomet had made great profite and benefite by reason of this aduantage and had notably enlarged the bounds of his Empire both in Asia vpon the Infidels and in Greece vppon the Christians For first of all interpreting it to be a signe and token of good Fortune and taking it for an assuraunce of victorie in that he had put Vsuncassan to the retraite in the battell of Arsengua as is before
Despot to Amurath against Scanderbeg VVarre determined against Scanderbeg Letters of Amurath to Scanderbeg Airadin â— gent for Amurath with Scanderbeg Subiectes of Scanderbeg willing to haue peace with the Turkes Sentence Scanderbeg excepteth against the messenger and peace of Amurath Sentence Subiects of Scanderbeg resolued to holde warres with Amurath Letters of Scanderbeg to Amurath Sentence Sentence Amurath his scorneful and despâ—tefull speaches vpon the receipt of ScaÌ„derbeg his letters Ferisey sent against Scanderbeg by Amurath Varietie of opinions touching Amurath his profession of a religious life Haly Bassa gouernour of Mahomet the sonne of Amurath Amurath made his last end before Croy Ferisey cometh into Epire. The valley of Mocrea Battell of Mocrea against Ferisey Victory of Scanderbeg against Ferisey Sentence Sentence Old age naturally saint and timerous Mustapha sent against Scanderbeg with an Army of 15000. Turks Mustapha enskonseth his army in the borders of Macedony Scanderbeg marcheth against Mustapha with an army of 5000. men The speeches of a peasant wounded by the Turkes vnto Scanderbeg Oration of Scanderbeg to his soldiers consulting with theÌ„ vpoÌ„ the maner how to assaile Mustapha Good necessary counsell in time of seruice Sentence Scanderbeg assaileth the Turkes within their fort and trenches Couetousnes naturally in the Turkes Victorie of Scanderbeg against Mustapha Lech or Luke Zacharie Lord of the towne of Dayna vpoÌ„ the riuer of Drinon in Albanie Desire of dominioÌ„ a disease naturally growing in men Sentence Lech Zacharie murthered He meaneth the Gouernour of Scutary or Scodra The antiquitie named it Chalcedon afterwards Scodra now Scutarie Mustapha excuseth his ouerthrow vnto Amurath Sentence Aduerse fortune maketh men wearie of warres Mustapha sent with another armie against Scanderbeg for the defence of the Turkish confines Warre between Scanderbeg the Venetians The causes of the warre betweene Scanderbeg and the Venetians The siege of Daina The Venetians prouide for the reliefe of Dayna against Scanderbeg Lech Dusman Peter Span against Scanderbeg Driuasta Sentence Scanderbeg marcheth against the Venetian arâ—ie Daniell Iurich he was Voiuada or gouernor of Scutarie The oration of Iurich Generall of the Venetian armie Sentence The oration of Scanderbeg to his armie The affection of the souldiers of Scanderbeg after his oration Order of the armie of the Albanoys Order of the armie of the Venetians Colla Humoy Volcathagne The battell betweene the Venetians and Scanderbeg Encouragement of Moses to his soldiers Sentence The victory of Scanderbeg ouer the Venetians The liberall and free answer of the Danians to Scanderbeg Sentence Scanderbeg his curtesie and magnanimity to the Venetian captiues Andrew Humoi Simon Volcathagne prisoners to Scanderbeg Baleze The mount Sardonikor Marraâ—ay Surscodâ—a Baleze reedified and fortified by Scanderbeg Amese and Marin Span. Gouernours of Baleze Driuasta Amese purposeth to surprise Driuasta Marin Span his speech to Amese Sentence Answere of Amese to Marin Span. Amese marcheth to surprize Driuasta The Oraticâ— of Andrew Angell to the Driuastines Driuastines their valiant exploites against their enemies Driuastines sally forth of Driuasta against Amese Conflict between the Driuastines and Amese Amese spoileth the countrey about Driuasta The Towne of Driuasta Antibara Scituation of Driuasta Helena the wife of Negmana king of the Misians Scanderbeg reproueth Amese for his temerity Speeches of Amese vpon the reproach of his vncle The letters of Amurath to Mustapha The Scutariâ—s go against Baleze Marin Spaâ— forsaketh Baleze Baleze razed by the Scutarians The coÌ„plaint of Amese The proceedings of the warre betweene Mustapha and Scanderbeg Oronochea The number of Scanderbegs forces against Mustapha Order of Scanderbeg his armie against Mustapha The combat of Paule Manessey and Caragusa Paul Manessey encouraged by Scanderbeg to the combat Speeches of Caragusa to Paul Manessey Answere of Paul Manessey to Caragusa Paul Manessey killeth Caragusain combat He is rewarded by Scanderbeg Oration of Scanderbeg to his souldiers The battell betwene Mustapha and Scanderbeg Paul Manessey assailed by the Turkes Speeches of Paul Manessey to the Turks as they fled The dewse of the Turkes in their ensignes Mustapha Generall of the Turkes taken prisoner The victory of the Christians Scanderbeg is pensiue for the razing of Baleze Scanderbeg spoileth the territorie of the Scutarians in reuenge of the razing of Baleze Mustapha the other prisoners ransomed for 25000 Ducketes The constancie of the Daynians A treatie of peace betwene Scanderbeg the Venetians Conditions of peace offered to Scanderbeg Busegiarpeni being a part of the Demesnes of Scutarie extending from the riuer Drynon towards Scutarie and lying more conueniently for Scanderbeg then the towne of Dayna Oration of Scanderbeg vnto the Venetian ambassadors vpon the conclusion of peace betwene them Bossa Peace proclaimed betweene the Venetiant and Scanderbeg Scanderbeg leauing the siege of Daina marcheth to the spoile of the Turkish territorie The Turkish territory Scanderbegs treasurie Scanderbeg huposteritie made free of the citie of Venice and appointed gouernour and lieutenant generall of the Venetian territories in Epire. Amurath consulteth with his counsell concerning the warre against Scanderbeg Visiers the Councellours of the great Turk Orat on of Amurath to his councellours for the warre to be vndertaken against Scanderbeg Sentence Amurath resulued in person to warre vpon Sâ—an lerbâ—â— maketh preparations to that effect Secresie of the Turke in concealing his counsels The policie of the Turkes to oppresse the Christians Scanderbeg maketh prouisson of resistance against the Turkes Scanderbeg ordereth his forces against the inuasion of the Turkes Scanderbeg remoueth old persons women children out of the citie Question If better that women and children should be excluded or retayned in a towne besieged A notable description of the lamentation of the Croians vppon their departure out of the city Scanderbeg prouideth victuals armour and munition for the warâ— Vranocontes gouernour of Croy. EncoragemeÌ„t of Scanderbeg to the Croians who instructeth them how to demeane theÌ„ selues against the Turkes The strongâ— siâ—tuation of the city of Croy. Scanderbeg issued from Croy to the Campe. Moses ioyneth with Scanderbeg with his Regiment Sfetigrade fortified by Moses Peter Perlat gouâ—rnâ—ur of Sfetigrade The oration of Castriot vnto the citizens of Sfetigrade The strength of Sfetigrade Amurath leauieth a mighty army against Scanderbeg Amurath consulteth with his Bassaes for the maÌ„er of the proceedings of the wars against Scanderbeg Alcanzi aduenturers without pay Amurath sendeth part of his army before to besiege Sfetygrade The order and diuision of the Turke his armie Flambur Saniacke a Colonell of horsemen Timariot a horseman Subassides a leader of horsemen Spachi Sulastari Vlufagi Ianissari A Turkish stratagemâ— Beillerbey The number of the Turkes forces ScaÌ„derbeg visiteth and encourageth all parts within his prouince The Turkes inuade Epire. Scanderbeg with 5000. meÌ„ against the enemie Scanderbeg goeth to suruey the campe and countenance of the enemie Scanderbeg cosâ—lteth vpoÌ„ the manner of assayling the enemie A notable stratageme of Sâ—aÌ„derbeg practized against the
iourney against Scanderbeg with 18000. Turks Ballaban his exploit against Scanderbeg whom he thinketh to surprise in his Campe. Souldiours of Scanderbeg being of kinne to Ballaban corrupted by him to betray the armie of the Albanois Scanderbeg his vigilancie preuenteth Ballaban his trecherie and suttletie The battell of Oronichea betweene Ballaban and Scanderbeg Victorie of Scanderbeg the second time against Ballaban and the Turkes Ballaban his third iourney against Scanderbeg with 20000. Turkes The battell of Sfetigrade betwene Ballaban Scanderbeg Order of Scanderbeg and Ballaban their armies at the battell of Sfetigrade Scanderbeg in danger of his life Victorie of Scanderbeg the third time against Ballaban and the Turkes Mahomet highly displeased with Ballaban for the losse of his armie Speeches vsed by Ballaban to Mahomet in excuse of his ouerthrow by Scanderbeg Speech of Ballaban to Mahomet propounding a course for the destruction of Scanderbeg Speech of Mahomet to Ballaban vrging him to the destruction of Scanderbeg Iagup Arnauth sent with an armie against Scanderbeg of sixteene thousand horsemen Ballaban his fourth iourney against Scanderbeg with 28000. Turkes Ballaban encamped at the plaine of Valcala Sentence Treason of certaine souldiers seruing vnder Scanderbeg Ambushment dressed by Ballaban to surprise Scanderbeg Scanderbeg in great danger of his life escapeth the ambushment of Ballaban Scanderbeg marcheth against Ballaban Councel held by Scanderbeg for his proceedings against Ballaban Speech of Scanderbeg to his Captaines counselling them presently to set vpon Ballaban Order of Scanderbeg his armie against Ballaban in the second battell of Valcala Oration of Scanderbeg to his souldiers encouraging them against Ballaban and the Turkes in the second battell of Valcala Scanderbeg challengeth Ballaban to the battell Order of Ballaban his army in the second battell of Valcala * Olophanges or Alophages are mercenarie souldiers The second battell of Valcala betweene Ballaban and Scanderbeg Speech of Scanderbeg to his souldiers encouraging them in fight against Ballaban Victorie of Scanderbeg the fourth time against Ballaban and the Turkes Iagup Arnauth encamped at Argilat in Epire. Oration of Scanderbeg to his souldiers being redie to march against Iagup Arnauth Scanderbeg marcheth against Iagup Iagup encamped at Cassar Speech of Iagup of the fortune of Scanderbeg The battell of Cassar betwene Scanderbeg Iagup Iagup slain by Scanderbeg Victorie of Scanderbeg against Iagup and the Turks â—umber of Turkes slaine and taken in the battelles of Valcala and Cassar Speech of ScaÌ„derbeg touching the flight of Ballaban Croiâ—s their estate demea nour before and after the victory of Scanderbeg Inuasion by Scanderbeg into the Turkish territories Scanderbeg his returne and triumph at Croy after his victory Councell called by Mahomet to consult for the oppressing of Scanderbeg Oration of Mahomet to his chieftains purposing a iourney against Scanderbeg in proper person Sentence Mahomet leauteth a mightie army against Scanderbeg Iosaphat Barbare some saie he was the Admirall or Proueditore of the Venetians Balthasar Perduce gouernour of Croy. Conspiracie traiterous plot of Mahomet to contriue the death of Scanderbeg Sentence Sentence Conspiracie against Scanderbeg wonderfully detected Ballaban besiegeth Croy with an army of 80000. men Mahomet commeth to the siege of Croy summoneth the towne Sally by the Croians vppon the Turkes Ballaban left to continue the siege before Croy with a huge armie Mahomet his departure from the siege of Croy. Chaonia Chidna Stratageme of Mahomet to surprise Chidna Sentence Crueltie and infidelitie of Mahomet vsed to the inhabitants of Chidna Sentence Perswasions vsed by Scanderbeg seeking aide of his neighbours for the reliefe of Croy. Sentence Princes of Epyre confederates of Scanderbeg promise to ayde him for the reliefe of Croy. Or Crayna Voyage of ScaÌ„derbeg into Italy to get aide against the Turkes ExclamatioÌ„ of the authour vpon the indignitie offered to Scanderbeg in his voyage into Italy Scanderbeg at Rome with the Pope Oration of Scanderbeg to Pope Paule the 2. of the Cardinals at Rome Scanderbeg ill succoured by the Christians Demetrius Franke treasurer to Scanderbeg Returne of Scanderbeg from Rome to Epyre. Aide giuen by the Venetians and others to Scanderbeg for the reliefe of Croy against the Turkes Lech and Nicholas Ducagin Nicholas Moneta gouernor of Scutarie Forest of Ionimes The situation of Croy. Ionime brother to Ballaban coÌ„ming with a supply of Turks to his brother is surprised by Scanderbeg Ionyme and his sonne Heder taken prisoners Scanderbeg chaseth the Turkes from the mount Cruyna Ballaban solliciteth the Croians to yeeld vnto him Sallie by the Croians vpon Ballaban George Alexie Death of Ballaban slain with a shot before Croy. Siege of Croy raised Messengers from the armie of the Turkes to Scanderbeg desiring leaue to depart out of Epyre. Councell called by Scanderbeg to consult vpon the message demaund of the Turkes Sentence Oration of Scanderbeg disswading his souldiers from pursuing the Turkes after the reliefe of Croy. Sentence Sentence Sentence Souldiers of Scanderbeg murmure against him will not be disswaded from following the Turkes Answere of Scanderbeg to the two messengers sent from the Turkes Mahomet purposeth a second iourney into Epyre against Scanderbeg Scanderbeg maketh preparations against the comming of Mahomet Second iourney of Mahomet into Epyre. Plaine of Saura The riuer of Scombyn Valmes a city in Epyre new built by Mahomet The citie of Duras besieged by Mahomet The citie of Dyrrachium or Duraz aunciently called Epidamnum her originall and foundation Corcyre or Corfu Description of the citie of Duras in Epyre Colossus Amplry-theater a place made with seats and scaffolds for the beholding of shewes games playes and triumphes The departure of Mahomet from the siege of Duras Croy besieged the second time by Mahomet Siege of Croiâ— raised by Mahomet The towne of Chiuril begun to be builded by Scanderbeg rased by Mahomet Alybeg and Aiasbeg sent with an armie of 28000. Turkes to safegard their frontiers from the Albanois 1467. Scanderbeg sickeneth Speech and last words of Scanderbeg to his Princes nobles before his death Sentence Speeches and last wordes of Scanderbeg to his sonne before his death Precepts of Scanderbeg to his sonne for the institution of a Prince Saying of Philip of Macedon to his sonne Alexander Commendation of humanitie courtesie and beneficence Inuasion by the Turkes vpon the Venetian territories Courage of Scanderbeg in uincible euen at point of death Speech of Scanderbeg to his Captaines vpon an alarme giuen by the enemie Ahamat with 15000. Turks flie vpon the conceipt of Scanderbeg his presence The death of Scanderbeg Speech of Lech Ducagin bewayling the death of Scanderbeg Scanderbeg buried at Lissa The bodie of Scanderbeg taken out of his sepulture and highly honored and admired by the Turkes Certaine priuate acts and exploits done by Scanderbeg most rare and memorable Scanderbeg killeth a wilde Bull in Epyre. Scanderbeg killeth a wilde Bore in Apulia Ionima and Heder slaine by Scanderbeg cut in twaine with one blow Mahomet demandeth Scanderbeg his sword in gift Speach or message of Mahomet vnto Scanderbeg returning his sword againe vnto him Answere of Scanderbeg to the message of Mahomet
they were like a company of rattes in the corne-stacke If the Emperour were at any time angred and discontented he was soone appeased with the flattering words and smooth speeches of his Courtiers who did not sticke in a manner to mocke and scorne him to his face whilst himselfe in the meane time made semblance as if he did not see it A litle before this time it happened that fortune presented vnto the besieged some shew and apparance that she would supply them with reliefe and succours For such is her vnconstant and dissembling nature that she faigneth sometimes to fauour them whom she purposeth to ruinate and cast downe headlong into extreame miserie So fell it out with the inhabitants of Constantinople Three great shippes of Genoway loaden with armour souldiers and corne were come from* Chios in the company of one other ship which belonged to the Emperour and was loaden with wheat of Sicilia These being discouered to be neare the citie by the armie of the Infidels which kept watch towardes the sea and the allarme being giuen with sound of trumpets and other instruments they were presently assayled by the Turkes especially the vessell imperiall as being more notable then the others both the townes-men from the citie on the one side and the Monarch of the Turkes from the toppe of the mountaine of Galatha on the other side beholding the fight and combat betwene them The gallies bearing vp close vnto them did first set vpon that shippe which belonged to the Emperour insomuch as there grew a hot and cruell fight both on the one side and the other Maurice Catanee before named was generall Commaunder of those vesselles who in that battell shewed his excellent skil and experience in sea seruice and did giue euident testimonie of his singular valour and prowes He was seconded by Dominick of Nouara and Baptista Fellizan a Genoway also both of which shewed themselues no lesse expert pilots then well practised in deeds of armes On the other side the infidelles hauing in hope and conceit alreadie deuoured this notable prey and booty and accounting it sure their owne did enforce themselues to carrie away the victorie beating still and furiously with their Ordinance and with great store of small shot vpon the imperiall vessell which defended her selfe very brauely by the courageous deuoire of Flectanella her patron The oares of the Gallies flew in shiuers and it was a horrour to heare the ratling of the hatches and other great peeces of the shipbordes which flew about besides the wofull cries and howlings of the Turkes as they gaue vp the ghost Their Soueraigne perceiuing from the mountaine how his armie was ill bestead was in such rage and passion as if he would haue runne madde for anger he cursed and blasphemed hee rent his clothes and tore his garmentes the Pagans they lamented and all his hoast was in amazement and confusion What should we say more The broyle was renued and the fight grew more fierce and terrible still the Infidels had the worst and such was the successe of the fight that a great number of Turkes being slaine and drowned they were scant able for want of men to recouer the shore with their shipping The besieged did learne by some of those which fled whom they tooke prisoners and by their owne espials that the Turkes had receiued a griuous ouerthrow and discomfiture and that they had lost more then 10000. of their men The fleete wherewith they assayled the Christian vessels was very neere of 200 sayles part of them being of two part of three oares on a banke The Turkish king was greatly confounded and his forces were reputed of litle or small puissance for that so many gallies vnited and consorted together were not able to take nor ouercome onely three vessels of the Christians Thus the next night following did the shippes enter into the harbour without any hurt or dammage hauing not so much as one man slaine but only some of them hurt and wounded Mahomet being highly displeased and grieuously incensed against Baltogle his Admirall did depose him from his charge and office confiscated all his goods and would scarce haue pardoned him his life had not his Bassaes and chiefe Siegniours vehemently entreated for him In this his choller and rage he determined with cannon shot from the top of the mountaine of Pera towards the East to sinke those vessels that lay in the roade or mouth of the harbour or at leastwise to make them leaue and forgoe the chaine Wherefore hauing caused his artillerie to be bracht he did endeuor to breake and to batter them in peeces being aided thereunto by a Cannonier a Christian who for that he had bene denied a certaine pension which he demanded was of late reuolted to the Turks It chaunced I know not with what destiny that at the verie first shotte he sunke the shippe wherein the Captaine himselfe was which was an occasion that the others for feare of the like misfortune did retire them selues vnder the couert of the walles of Pera. Besides those vessels there lying in the port there were also three galleyasses of Venice and two galliots for their securitie which the Emperour by earnest entreatie and for a great summe of money had caused to stay for the defence of Constantinople during the space of sixe monethes Within a while after there fell some debate and difference betweene the Genowaies and the Venetians the one reproaching the other that they had made default at this last seruice and expedition but the Venetians hauing libertie granted them to depart was a cause that this discord was soone appeased The extremities and difficulties of the Greekes daily encreasing and the Paynims growing more and more audacious and obstinate the defendants tooke counsell and determined vpon some course to fire those Turkish foistes which had bene conueyed into the hauen Order being giuen by Iustinian how the matter should be put in execution Ieames Cocquâ— a Venetian being too couetous of glorie did rashly goe in hand with the action preuented the time wherein the matter was to be wrought by meanes whereof the Barbarians perceiuing their intent did anticipate the enterprize sinking with their ordinaunce certaine vesselles of the Greekes and drowning many of the Christians some of them also being taken prisoners as they thought to saue themselues by swimming to the shore were the next daye beheaded by the Turkes in the sight of the Citizens The defendants being mightely incensed and waxing more cruell with this Turkish inhumanitie did giue them drinke as the saying is of the same cuppe For causing certaine Turkes their prisoners to be brought foorth they put them to death openly vpon the rampiers of the citie and so the desire of vengeaunce pricked on with wrath and crueltie did exasperate the heartes of both parties But this mortall enemie of the Crosse of Christ to the intent he might not
leaue any martiall deuise vnattempted that might make him Maister of the towne did now bend all his endeuours to winne it secretly by stealth and subtiltie and by mines conueyed closely vnder the ground continuing neuerthelesse daily and hourely the vnpleasant harmonie and roaring noise of his cannons and bombards By this time had they vndermined with great silence and secrecie the rampier of the vawmure and now began to make their preparations for blowing vp of the mine But Iohn le Grand an Almaine souldier well practised and experienced in that arte whom Iustinian had made Captaine of a companie and who did him great seruice aide and comfort during the siege by his singular industrie and prouident foresight did discouer the danger whereupon suddenly was there made a strong and braue sally out of the towne purposely to make proofe and tryall of the matter which being found to be most sure and certaine did greatly trouble them within till such time as they saw themselues exempted and freed from this feare by the remedie of counter-mines which they made to disappoint the purpose of the enemie The Sultan perceiuing that the vertue and forwardnesse of the Christians did cause all his attempts to turne to smoke beganne now to fall to his wonted byas of cunning and dissembling He feigned him to repent that he had vndertaken this enterprise falsely giuing out that he had done it by the perswasion of the Hungarians he sent therefore an Herauld of armes to the Emperor to treat with him vpon some appointment of peace But his fraude was soone perceiued in that he would not condiscend that a fortresse which he had raised towards the sea of Propontide should be razed and throwen downe nor that they should quietly repaire the ruines and breaches of their walles and of the towers and bulwarkes about the citie But that which most troubled the defendants was that they could not haue any trust nor affiance in the worde nor faith of the Sultan who was neuer knowen at any time to haue obserued his faith or othe with any creature liuing much lesse was it likely that he would holde it to his enemie The worst of all was the small number of the defendants which gaue them cause of extreame griefe and sorrow for they were in all about a 9000. men or litle aboue as I haue tolde you But what is one in comparison of a 1000. For when the defendants were disposed and ordered in their places vpon the walles eche beside other they did scant suffice to furnish the walles where the enemie had enuironned them both by sea and by land The poore Emperour in great confusion and perplexitie with the teares standing in his eyes did goe from doore to doore and from house to house imploring and entreating the citizens with his hands ioyned together that they would aide him with their treasure and wealth onely for the waging of more souldiers and for the hyring of strange and forreigne succours But ô monstrous impietie ô wretched auarice of the Greeke Nation they protested and swore with most execrable othes that they had not wherewithall to hire any that they were drawen dry of money by reason of the scarcetie and miserie of the time and yet aftewardes there was found such abundance of treasure within the citie that it seemed they reserued it to enrich their enemies who were euen glutted with the exceeding riches which they found hidden there by the citizens Howbeit some few of them of their voluntarie motion did contribute somewhat vnto him but these were verie few and it did him litle pleasure yea more then this what did the Greeke Emperour He had recourse from the citizens to his Barons the great Seigniours and chiefest nobles of the Empire but they gaue him counsell in any case not to molest any man in this publicke extreamitie and combustion but rather to take the reliques and other sacred things and iewelles of the churches and to serue his neede with them Whereupon he commaunded that the vessels and vtensiles of gold and siluer which had bene consecrated to the vse of the holy temples should be coyned into currant and ready money to be deuided among the souldiers pyoners and other persons appointed for the repairing of the fortifications of the towne For the also being wholly attentiue to their priuate profit and commoditie and not to the good and welfare of the estate publike would not labour nor do any seruice except they were satisfied contented of their pay Mahomet seeing that his offers of peace were refused and being without hope of carying the place by any other meanes then by the blood and slaughter of his people reenforced the siege and fight on all sides causing the batterie to be recontinued with more furie then before till such time as he had made three faire and large breaches by which he might with ease enter with his troupes and free the walles of the defendants Then he caused it to be proclaimed by sound of trumpet throughout his campe that euery man should be in a readines with his armes the next morning very early to giue a generall assault and he abandoned the towne to the pillage and discretion of the souldiers for three dayes together vpon condition that they did within that terme enter it and make themselues Maisters of the place It was the sixe and twentieth day of Aprill when this crie was published the feare whereof caused many of the Greeks to withdraw and conuey themselues away faigning that either they had some necessarie buisinesse to be done in the fieldes or some other occasion to absent themselues Some pretended that they were vnable and vnfit to serue others alleadged their pouertie saying that it stood them vpon to goe get some bread to relieue themselues and whē some more zelous then others did reproue them for their cowardize and did shew them that now not onely their priuate estate was endangered but that the estate of all Christendome and the common defence of all the Christians in Europe did depend vpon their valour manhood and resolution they made this answer What haue we to do sayed they with the warres whilest our famelies are readie to starue and to die with pure hunger and famine so that it was a very hard matter to get them to the walles or to make them to abide there in defence of the place This was the occasion that the assailants taking heart and courage when they sawe the small resistaunce that was made in some places durst aduenture to approach neare the walles and with crookes to pull downe the hogsheades pipes and other vessels which the defendants had prouided there in a readinesse to make them barricadoes for the more suretie of their walles but by howe much the more the townes-men were discomforted by that proclamation so much the greater was the ioy and triumph made by these miscreants throughout all the quarters of