did not long forbeare to powre foorth her venome for Iohn the father of Castriot in this meane time happened to dye in Epire whereof Scanderbeg being aduertized albeit by these lamentable tidinges according to his naturall dutie he conceiued exceeding sorrow in his minde yet did he neuer discouer by any open and apparant signes of sadnesse or mourning the secret dolour and griefe which lay hidden within his heart For so it was that vsually hee called the Sultan his verie father and soueraigue Segniour Hereupon Amurath neither more nor lesse then as if he had beene the lawfull heire of the realme of Epire did speedily dispatch thither Sebali◠with a strong garrison and caused him to seize vppon Croie and other places of importance and by this meanes all at leisure and without effusion of blood he obtained the peaceable possession of all the fortresses and strong holdes of that kingdome the inhabitantes thereof being either of small force or ill prouided to maintaine their libertie and being not well able to hinder the Turke in the right and interest which he pretended to the succession of Iohn their deceased prince because he had all his sonnes in his custodie and at his owne disposition hauing purposelie gotten them into his handes to the intent the scepter comming to be voide and without heires he might in the end vsurpe it vnto himselfe Voisaue who after the death of her husband did continue in her house with her daughter Mamisa who was left vnto her as the onely wretched remainder of that miserable realme by the appointment of Amurath had a certaine small portion of land assigned her in Macedonie for the prouision and sustentation of the residue of her aged yeares And the report is that she departed this life in an extreame age before the comming of her sonne into Albanie vnto whome she left her sayed daughter vnmarried after that she had long and carefullie kept her in the estate of a virgine and afterwardes she being by him prouided of an husbande was reestablished in her former place of dignitie Looke with what courage this generous youth had borne and concealed the griefe of his fathers death with the like did lie dissemble all things whatsoeuer Ottoman on the other side nothing doubting but that this his dealing would be verie hardly digested both by him and his brethren who were then resident is his Court as hauing reason to expect the possession of that crowne appertaining vnto them continued his disloyaltie towardes them and made away the brethren of Scanderbeg causing them as many haue affirmed secretly and closely to be poysoned And afterwards conuerting his thoughts vpon Scanderbeg he cast diuerse wayes deuises in his minde how he might not disfurnish his Realme of so worthie a person of whom as of another Hercules he did serue his turne in all difficult and perillous aduentures and yet assure him selfe in the meane time and remaine free from the burthen and danger of that suspition which did mightily perplexe him In this humour and affection he called Scanderbeg vnto him and as some say with a long discourse fitted to that purpose began to comfort him as well for the death of his father as for the miserable and vnhappie ende of his brethren and withall he made offer vnto him if so be he had ◠desire not to continue anie longer in the state of a subiect that he should either haue his fathers kingdome or some other rich estate in Asia and prayed him neuerthelesse that he would not leaue and abandon him especially being encombred with so great affaires and so manie warres for that abiding with him he should haue at his owne disposition and in his owne hands all the best and most excellent meanes which might make him glorious and honourable and might render his life most happie and fortunate The fraud and cunning of this old foxe being soone discouered by this youth he tooke no long time to aduise himselfe but with a readio and suttle wylinesse framing his countenance to his speech he made him this answer Iohn my father and all my brethren do lieu in thee most soueraigne king and most bountifull Amurath as long as I may remaine neare thy person neither anie desire of my countrey nor the regard of any kingdome shall enter into my mind being sufficiently contented Albeit then thou do presse me at this instant to accept these giftes or rather burdensome charges willingly do I hold my selfe contented in the great magnificence of thy spirit and I will gladly embrace the liberalitie of my Prince his fauour But this is my full resolution to liue continually vnder the wing of thy Maiestie and assure thy selfe that hardly or not at all will I be of anie other minde Besides old age which is vnprofitable and vnfit for the warres will soone suppresse and mortifie my courage though otherwise inuincible from any such desire My present yeares are farre fitter to beare the charge of the warres then to sustaine the waight and burthen of a kingdome and more fit is this hand to manage armes then a royall scepter Giue vs therefore some enemie ô Amurath that we may more cheerfully receiue a kingdome conquered by our vertue rather then that which should come of thy gift and liberalitie The king tooke singular pleasure at his speeches and so great credite did he giue vnto his wordes that he heaped promise vpon promises endeuouring to fill him with hopes and the expectance of great matters From that time forward the Albanois beganne secretly to feele the maladie and griefe which did dayly spreade it selfe more and more and notwithstanding that with singular discretion he did dissemble all things yet did not that make him negligent but that he did looke nearely vnto him selfe and tooke great care for the safetie of his person and the more he was in doubt of the tyrant the more did he studie to purchase the fauour of the commons and the affection of the souldiers Neuerthelesse being vncessantly occupied in some one or other tumult in the warres he did euerie day adde newe matter to make him selfe renowmed and no lesse did he growe to be enuied For he could not so easily preuent the faithlesnesse of men either by the modest shew of his mind or by his liberality and ordinary curtesie but that with the time euen vertue it selfe did engender the contrary to his desire In so much that there were some in the Court who not able to endure the apparaunce of so great vertue in a straunger euery day more and more increasing as soone as they perceiued that Amurath did any thing encline or hearken vnto them they would daily slaunder him behind his backe giuing their Lord to vnderstand for certainty that the sumptuous expences which he bestowed vppon the common sort so bountifully and the fauour of the people which he sought for so ambitiously were a ready meane to raise him in power
and in this extremity of our affaires not yet altogether desperate and without hope you will succour vs with your victorious Forces Hereunto doe all the princes of Hungarie and of Poland and all good men inuite you Iulian the Cardinall of Sainct Angell intreateth you and so many Catholique and deuout men at armes Christians who are here with vs long since ready in armes and well appointed no other thing doe wee attend then your ensignes This will be a sure meane at this time if you refuse not this fitte opportunitie which God now so graciouslie sendeth vs to vanquishe our common and troublesome enemy and wholly to determine this warre to chase and driue away the Turkes and to dispossesse them of Europe so long time by them occupied and wrongfully vsurped I neede not then as I take it vse any kinde of perswasion vnto you in this cause and quarrell the defence whereof doth purchase vs safety light and liberty Contrariwise being abandoned I will not forehalsen that which may come of it Wee Christians haue beene too too slacke and backeward in doing our deuoyr to helpe and succour each other The flame hath now well neare consumed all of vs yet haue none in the meane time bene aduised or perswaded that this fire would passe on and come neare vnto them selues What doth the estate of the Greekes represent vnto vs and the condition of the Triballians and last of all mine owne losses What Iliade can recount vnto vs all the mischieues wee haue endured and those which doe daily menace vs So many braue and valiaunt Princes the bulwarke and defence of Hungarie which we do loose from time to time aswell in puissant armies consumed and brought to nothing and with one and the same fatall chaunce of warre almost wholly extinguished In such sort that in this Realme from hence forward there is neither family wife nor matrone exempted from bearing a part in this grieuous and lamentable calamity All this and worse by farre do Christian Princes heare of and yet the miserable estate and condition of their Allies can nothing moue any one of them but thus doe they suffer vs on all parts to be exposed to the rage and fury of the common enemies as if we were an offering to be sacrificed to all perils and daungers Onely Eugenius the chiefe Pastor of the Church and Philip Duke of Burgundie are to be excepted who haue not reiected nor refused the burthen of our afflicted and miserable Fortune The one hath sent hither his legate the Cardinall of Sainct Angell with notable and puissant succours and the Duke of Burgoyne with his Army at sea hauing aduentured as farre as Gallipoly doth valiantly hinder the passage of the Turkes into Europe One other hope there is not now farre from vs and that is the succours whereof we are so desirous the which we doe require of you being moued thereunto partly by your valour so well knowen and notorious and partly also in regard of the imminent perill and the hazard of the common affaires which presseth vs all in generall And albeit we are not ignorant of the discommodities which may befall you in this expedition we pray you notwithstanding that they may not withhold and keepe you backe assuring you that as it cannot be but to your great honour so the benefite of this your present desert shall not be bestowed on persons of an vngrate and thankelesse spirite But that which you shall at this time beginne and vndertake for our preseruation and dignity we will from henceforth and euermore continue for your glory and for the increase of your greatnesse God haue you in his keeping From Bude our Capitoll and chiefe city the fourth day of Iuly 1443. By this time had Haly Bassa brought backe the reliques of his defeated army vnto Amurath howbeit that the newes of his desaster oftentimes reiterated had made way before him Some say that he was sharply reproued by the Ottoman who obiected vnto him by way of reproach that it was not likely that so puissant an army could haue bene almost wholly ruinated without some great and notable cowardize or some counsell rash and timerous Sometimes he would exclaime and say that his army was betrayed sometimes he would alleadge that either it was surprized by the negligence of the Generall or that in comming to the encounter they had giuen the aduantage of the place vnto the enemy whereof it proceeded that so great a desaster and misfortune had fallen vpon his people Now albeit Haly Bassa could not deny but hee had bene ouerreached and preuented by our ambushments the which might haue deceiued any man were he neuer so polliticke subtill and circumspect yet did he excuse himselfe neuerthelesse calling his souldiours to witnesse that there was nothing in him to be reprehended but the variable and inconstant chaunce and lotte of Armes and that there wanted neither good order nor discipline nor the aduauntage of place nor the oportunity of charging at a fit and conuenient time Finally that neither the souldiours did faile their Captaine nor the Captaine their souldiours But if it would please his Maiesty to permit him once more to attempt and make triall of his Fortune he would make him to see that he had a deuise and stratageme by which he would bring it to passe that this prosperity of Scanderbeg should proue dolefull and lamentable The vaine promises of the Bassa did soone moue the Sultan who being now more animated then euer was willing that in any case new forces shoulde speedily be prouided if the other Bassaes and Councellours especially Caly Bassa making him to change his aduise had not shewed him That another war of greater difficulty and consequence did fall vpon his shoulders that the enterprise of Epyre might with safety either be deferred or omitted but so could not the tumults of Hungarie but that it behoued him carefully to attend and looke vnto them In the middest of these affaires the letters of King Vladislaus being brought to Scanderbeg were a speciall meane and occasion to moue and induce him to giue him aide and succours For a more honest cause and fitter occasion of warre could not haue bene found then was the same ministred at that time This notwithstanding for that he would determine nothing without the aduise of those with whoseayde he was to serue him selfe vppon all occasions hauing called together his chiefetaines he would that the kings letters should be read openly in full assembly of a generall councell And there was not any one who did disalow of that warre for that the excessiue greatnesse of the Ottoman Empire encreasing from day today did animate euery one with the spurres of wrath and indignation and did sollicite their mindes almost trembling and quaking for feare of more grieuous inconueniences and did ad mouish all the world of the vnfortunate condition of the Christians and of the former fortune sometimes inuincible of the Hungarians
the which if Amurath should once cast to the ground euery man did propound and set before his eyes both in publique and in priuate a finall desolation considering that there was no where to be found any puissance more sufficient or better able to sustaine the feeble and weake estate of Christendome for any long season nor which could with continuall warres and endlesse hostility represse the Turkish malice whom the insolency and pride of so many victories had made to be their deadly and extream◠enemy Moreouer the hope of the Epirots was so augmented by the happy successe of that victory lately befallen them that they went euery where saying and promising vnto them selues that they should finde the like fortune especially seeing they changed not their Chiefe nor their enemy but the place of the warre onely To conclude all of them did affirme that it behoued them and they ought to aduenture the losse of their liues for the gaining and getting vnto themselues so great and puissant a king to be their friend in this troublesome season against the inconstancy of fortune and so many humaine accidentes Wherefore it was concluded without contradiction that succours should be sent him but as touching the number of the men of warre and the forces of those succours they could not so soone be accorded and agreed and this difference continued amongest them till the darke of the euening came vpon them Many opinions being laied downe on the one side and the other touching this point some agreed vppon eight thousand others vppon fiue and the most part offered fewer shewing that there was no reason to disfurnish the Prouince of men the warre being on all sides kindled and the enemy it might be yet boyling in despite vpon the confines of Macedony and that they ought not to thinke because the Bassa had bene lately beaten that therefore the warre was ended and determined but rather it wanted so much that the Turkish forces were thereby weakened or their courage diminished that on the contrary he was by reason thereof much more enflamed and incensed Some also made a doubt and it was long debated with great diuersity of opinions whether Scanderbeg himselfe should march thither in person or whether they should onely send aide and succours vnto the king for that without the infinite discommodity of the proceedings and affaires of Scanderbeg and his estate not yet throughly settled and confirmed he could not well be absent nor leaue the care and administration of the same that his presence if need were in time of peace or of warre would be of great consequence and moment considering that the people of Albany would acknowledge no other soueraigne to command ouer thē that al things he being in place and presence would succeed well and florish by his aduise and counsell But he being absent it could not be otherwise then a case most pittifull to see the deformity that would ensue within the countrey by the negligence and security both of the citizens and of others of all estates and qualities who for griefe and sorrow which they should conceaue at his departure would suffer the vigour and liuelinesse of their spirites to vanish and to relent The Prince of Albany albeit he had not determined any way to alter or change his first resolution yet because he would not seeme to disdaine or to make litle reckoning of the loue and good will of his subiects whom he could not vpon the difficulties of that voyage openly contradict nor yet to repugne against their offer of so smal numbers of souldiours for feare least he should seeme willing to draw them on by force to a straunge warre and to be the cause of new perils and dangers vnto them he iudged it no lesse conuenient for the common profite then for his owne in particular to be silent and to vse litle or no speech in the matter But the vehemency and earnestnesse of Paul Ducagin whose speach was worthy and well beseeming so excellent a prince did soone cut off all these disputes and diuersities of opinions and did in an instant appease all these difficulties that so troubled their mindes thus speaking vnto them It may be worthy Princes Albanois that you attend and expect in great deuotion what kinde of stile and speach I doe now meane to vse vnto you and vnto which of your opinions I will encline and ioyne my selfe But I assure you there is no such matter as you thinke of for that I see not that you haue laied downe or expounded any thing which is correspondent to the greatnesse and Maiesty either of Scanderbeg or of the name of the Albanois Pardon me though I say so for in generall counselles this hath euer bene allowed as a speciall priuiledge for each man to speake freely and at liberty and to be heard quietly and patiently And therefore if it be lawfull for me now to discourse vppon these your consultations of the warre of Hungarie much more willingly would I hearken vnto those who would resolutely dislike of sending any succours at all vnto the King and would rather decree and ordaine and that not vnaduisedly that the ruine and destruction of our neighbours and the perillous estate of straungers were not to be preferred nor regarded before our domesticall mischieues and our owne proper necessities For is there I pray you any thing so ridiculous as to heare you to count some vppon eight some vpon fiue thousand souldiours and some vppon fewer to vphold the waight and burthen of such a warre and so important as if you were to thinke that a King so puissant and mighty would demaund out of the whole countrey of Epyre so small a number in the extremity and as it were the last triall of his Fortune Shall Scanderbeg be so meanely accompanied into the middest of the Varnian fieldes where all men in generall doe attend and wishe for him Shall so many Princes and great Lordes of Hungarie and of the Christian Army see your chiefe and soueraigne whose glorious renowme is now dispersed and gone into all partes before him shall he I say be seene marching before a handfull of men no otherwise then as one accompanied with so many theeues and robbers Admit which God defend that he should happen to be ouerthrowen and vanquished well and iustly might the enemy mocke and iest at the mishappe of his discomfiture much more his owne subiectes in that hee would aduenture to conduct into a forraine countrey and into an other mans dominions so small a number of men as would scant be in safety within their owne home and dwellings Contrariwise if he should ouercome and get the victory litle praise and lesse profite would come of it Some others there be who with a deuise all new and not heard of would that forces should be sent to the King for his succour but they would not that Scanderbeg should bowdge that forsooth a regard should be had of his Citizens or of the
their first encounter were repulsed by the archers but when they once came to approach and ioyne neere ech to other and that the vse of their arrowes did serue to little purpose the Targatyers couering them selues with their targets and the residue of those which were light armed came to the sword and fought with the enemy hand to hand In the meane time Scanderbeg couering the Archers with his troupe of horses and causing them a little to retire them selues gaue them the meanes to vse againe their bowes more conueniently The Pike men for that they were safely armed with good and strong corselets had aduentured them selues the more hardly and came to assault the enemy the more cruelly whereby they put their fellowes in good hope of victorie There began the wings to ioyne on both sides with high mighty cries which madethe very aire to resound againe The Albanois exceeded the other in number and goodnesse of their horse yet was the place indifferent to them both and no more for the vantage of the one then of the other for the place where this field was foughten was in the middest of a goodly large plaine and champion and neare adioyning to the riuer of Drynon The Venetians being for a while equall to the enemy rather in forces then in courage did for a long time maintaine the fight about their Generall with variable and doubtfull fortune till such time as the Prince of Albanie and certaine horse with him charging them in the middest did breake through the battell by meanes wherof many being wounded and great numbers of them being dispersed and disordered all hope of the victorie had bene taken from the Venetians had it not bene for the Illirians who rallying them selues on all sides and trouping together in grosse as the agillitie and quicknesse of that nation is singular they made head againe against the enemy and with a greater strength did reassure the corps du Garde of the Venetian Generall valiantly keeping of the enemy yet so as they seemed rather to stand vpon their defence then any way to offend their aduersarie The mayne battels on both sides stood still all this while and kept their ground seeming rather to take a view then to entermeddle in the fight so long as the wings or points being in fight did with doubtfull euent encounter each other But assoone as Tophia saw the right wing of the enemy hardly bestead he taking courage by the former example of Scanderbeg with a troupe of his best horsemen and part of the infanterie presently charged vpon the middest of the left wing of the enemy bringing them also into a new feare and confusion For the Illirians who were placed in the front to beare the shocke of the enemy were not able to endure the charge but made presently to the right wing and there stood vpon their owne defence betraying their companions on the one side whom they had forsaken and on the other side they brought by their comming the greater difficultie vnto Scanderbeg who was there striuing and inforcing him selfe to breake through the corps du Gard of the Illirians The like also did their footemen after their departure for being not able to make their partie good against the Albanois horsemen they scattered them selues here and there and hauing their best assurance in their legges they made them the meanes of their safety which was the occasion also that the horsemen of Scutarie being left naked open to the enemy saw them selues sodainly disabled broken by the Albanois for both their leaders and many others were taken prisoners who being abandoned and forsaken of their footemen and despairing of safety by hauing any farther recourse to armes did yeeld them selues to the disposition of Scanderbeg his souldiers this made the other companies also greatly to feare least that Scanderbeg hauing once broken through that battell of the Illirians which he had already charged should afterwarde charge also the backe of the wings and so enclosing them on all sides might presse them the more furiously But the successe of the vanquishers fell not out according to the fearefull imagination of the vanquished so mightily doth prosperity oftentimes dull the minds of men For the leaders when they saw themselues to haue this aduantage tooke no greater regard of any other thing but held themselues contented that they could present vnto their souldiers as it were in shewe and triumph their enemies bounden and captiue Castriot likewise not regarding the common souldiers but disdaining as it were the bloud of the inferiour and priuate sort did wholly enforce himselfe to enterprise vpon the Generall but a great and strong troupe of horse did hinder him from approching neere him and by that meanes disappointed him of his purpose The fight thus continuing on all handes Moses who had charged vpon the left wing of the Venetian armie where they of Scutarie serued did draw all men to the regard and beholding of the fight on that side Great was their labour and their daunger for either partie shewing themselues both stout and inuincible did maintaine the fight egerly and couragiously and they did so vncessantly contend ech to force other as though the fortune of the fight had depended vpon them onely It seemed that they were not very vnequally matched and in that respect they fought for a long time with like aduantage and hardly could it be discerned whether partie had the better But at length the strength and force of the Dybrians seeming to be weakned with faintnes and wearinesse and both themselues and their horses being well nigh tyred with continuall fighting as men vanquished willingly they would haue giuen ouer and they were almost readie to leaue the battell had it not beene for Moses their Colonell who sharpely reprehending them euen as they beganne to recuile did sometimes blame their faintnes and wearinesse and sometimes did accuse them of feare and cowardice and being thus in point of being almost vanquished he taught them howe to vanquish and to be victors ouer their enemies crying out in this manner vnto them What a shame is this my friends how lewd and foule an example is this of your vnwonted feare and timerousnesse Is it possible that the Dibrians can forsake their ranckes and places assigned them as long as they be liuing or can they be content to lose their honor and glorie purchased by armes and to giue it to their enemies where are those souldiers which discomfited the forces of Haly Bassa who tamed the pride of Ferisey abated the puissance of Mustapha and who with the spoiles of the Turks haue enriched the houses of the Albanois Where is now the fiercenes of your haughtie and proud courages where be those your looks which were so full of threats and menaces within your campe where be those your promises of victorie and triumph is this the way to recouer Dayna to Scanderbeg is this the way for you to prepare your entry
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
the midst of our common rancor and hostility there shall be no default nor good-will wanting so farre forth as thy deserts shall require it As touching the surceasing from armes and giuing ouer the ordinary rodes and excursions of our souldiers I can promise thee nothing neither will I tye my self to any thing for I cannot be drawne to like of any appointment but seeing that I my selfe haue bene so disdained as greatly do I disdaine to grant it And albeit our vehement and ardent desire of reuenge in regard of thy owne honest and good cariage may be somewhat abated and mitigated yet assure thy selfe that our publike hatred and enmitie shal be in no part diminished And if peradueÌ„ture either the varietie of times or of fortune do make vs that we shew not our selues so fauorable in this case yet it may be that this our priuat friendship shall not be altogether vnprofitable but that it may fall both to thy benefit honor Hamur after he had kissed the hand of him that was both his friend and his enemy retired himself to his company being neither altogether contented nor yet discontented with this answer Siâ—â—m in like maner within a while after presented himself with the like flatteries before ScaÌ„derbeg at such time as he vnderstood of his being in those quarters and he found him not more obstinate then did his companion for both the common people and the most part of the Albanian souldiers enclining to the peace which had bene so long demanded did shew that they wold not make it very strange nor difficult to accord and agree vnto it Wherfore their minds growing by degrees to like of ease and quietnesse the garrisons were in some sort lessened and diminished in such sort that that Sommer was spent and passed ouer without any troubles or tumults or rather in great slouth and idlenesse About this time happened the sorowfull and vnhappy death of Alphonsus king of Naples the report whereof being brought to Scanderbeg who was then busily employed in ciuill matters concerning his estate and in other affaires of the prouinceâ— it did so sequester and withdrawe him from all occasions both publique and priuate and it did so wound his heart with such extreme sorowe and deepe griefe that hauing lost all remembrance of his late victorie and letting passe all care and regard of his enemies for many dayes together in great discomfort he mourned for the losse of his dearest and best friend And to speake the truth this king was not vnworthie to be lamented with the long and continuall plaints and teares of the Epirots and other his confederates but euen the whole world might well deplore his death And how beit the cleare testimonie of his heroycall vertues hath bene published and highly aduaunced by so many worthy and excellent personages yet might it be imputed vnto me for a great fault ouersight if I should not by the way as it were in a word or two touch it It may well be sayd that when this Prince died there departed the onely and best Mecaenas that then liued For all degrees and qualities of persons both learned and martiall as wel scholers as souldiers were left desolate destitute of their best patron and had iust cause to be sad and sorowfull for his losse With him was extinguished the iust and true reward both of letters and of armes and the true ornament of all commendable exercises There was not his like seene for many ages before nor be it spokeÌ„ without the displeasure of the posterity was there euer any one since him that was so vpright an estimator of the vertues and merits of other men And it is no small matter to be wondred at that being a Prince of so rare incomparable curtesie affabilitie clemencie and liberalitie yet no one Prince of his time did leaue so great riches and treasures behind him Good cause therfore had Scanderbeg to bewaile and lament the losse of so trustie and puissant a friend from whom if we respect either his abilitie or his willingnesse he might at all times and vpon all occasions haue drawne any thing both for his honor and for his profit as out of a plentifull treasurie store-house prepared for his owne priuate and particular vse One thing onely there was which did in some sort comfort him asswaged the bitternesse of his grief that was that he saw himself depriued ofso good a frend by the extremity course of his aged years and not by any rigorous or iniurious right of nature or by other casualty That pietie and dutie which rested on his part to be performed in this behalf he dispatched it presently with all prudence and celeritie sending away with all speed his Ambassadours vnto Ferdinand his sonne both to deplore the accident of the king his father as also to congratulate him as the maner is of his new crowne and dignitie and by the remembrance of his fathers benefits of the friendship and amitie which he bare to the estate of Albanie to renew and increase this alliance and confederacy between them This ambassade was also accompanied furnished with most sumptuous presents as he had alwayes vsed and accustomed and they had expresse charge and order to bring backe Amese with them who had neuer ceased to practise and make meanes by the authoritie and fauour of his friends and the commiseration of his owne misfortune that he might be reconciled and restored to the fauour and good grace of his vncle He was as yet prisoner vnder sure and safe custodie and albeit in this chaunge of the affaires of Naples in this new greatnesse of Ferdinand there were many and great alterations and that in this new and publike time of ioye the prisons were set open most of the prisoners set at libertie yet to the intent that Scanderbeg might not haue cause to find himselfe aggrieued if he should haue bene freed there was especiall care and order taken to keepe him still in ward as a certaine sure pledge of his vncles iust anger This Ambassade was receiued and entertained with great honor good cheare such as the tumult and stirres of that new kingdome would permit for so it was in very truth that all things were then in trouble disorder and the peace of all Italie was broken and disturbed by the decease of the late king Alphonsus Amese being brought backe into Epire was againe committed to prison and carefully kept in sure and safe custody by the order of his vncle though not so straightly as before and that seueritie and rancour which yet remained began by litle and litle to be asswaged by the daily lamentations teares and petitions of his nephew in such sort that within a while after of a fatherly loue and tender affection he gaue him both his life liberty and restored him to his former estate dignities Then Amese bethinking himself of the gages
troupes and the excessiue numbers of souldiours had many times caused confusion and had bene the disturbance and an hinderance to the victorie Now the Infidell as hath bene sayd had fiften thousand horse and three hundred foote The Scanderbegians were encamped at the one end of a pleasaunt valley which they of the countrey call Valcala which being of a goodly breadth it was more long then large The Barbarians had seized vppon the other end of the valley neare to a mountaine which lay at the end of Valcala the entry whereof was very straight narrow and the enemy hauing both the mountaine and the passage in their power and puissance had laied there an ambuscado to the intent that the fight being begunne and the Christians hauing the better if they did pursue the victory and did enter within the streight of that narrow passage to get to the sacking of their Campe they should be enclosed in the middest of their enemies lying there in the ambushment and by that meanes should be at their mercy and discretion The king of Epire who was encamped at the other end of the valley forseeing well that this their neare neighbourhood to their enemies could not be parted without talking nearer together and for that his forces were the weakest he iudged it needfull for him to seeke some aduantage against them and therefore he vsed these speeches vnto his souldiers My good friends and companions I see well that it behoueth vs this day asmuch as euer to make our enemies to feele who we are Ballaban is come to seeke vs and to make proofe whether Fortune will be more friendly vnto him then shee hath beene to his predecessours but before that he begin to march I hold it best that we remoue our Campe to this mountaine which is at our backes Notwithstanding this you must marke that as soone as he seeth vs departing hence he will imagine because we are so few that we meane to flie and therefore it is to bethought that he will immediatly charge vs with all possible violence at our backes which if he doe then do you receiue him valiantly and after you haue a litle shifted your place and fained a retraite sodainely do you turne head and with a round and braue charge do you beare in vpon them with all your strength and as your custome is breake and disorder them in so doing I doubt not but you shall haue them at your discretion But take heede my good souldiers I pray you and be you well aduised when you haue put them to flight and that you haue them in chase and do follow them in execution vppon them takeheed I say that you enter not in any case within the mouth of the straight of Valcala but stopping your course passe no further forwardes For within that passage I knowe there are certaine squadrons of the enemie layed to entrappe vs I knowe it well I am well acquainted both with the place and the pollicies of the Barbarians if you once enter in you will neuer get out againe Let it suffise you therefore my friends to pursue the victorie euen to the entrie of that place and no further As soone as he had thus spoken he espied Ballaban marching on directly towardes him whereupon he sent a certaine number of light horsemen to seize vppon that hill which he had chosen for the lodging of his armie and immediatly he followed after them with the bodie of his troupes making as though he meant to haue made a retrait the which the Turkes perceauing and beleeuing verelie that they had bene in a true and playne flight they galloped after them without any good order and with great furie they held on their course the length of all the valley Then did the Epyrots begin to beare vppe close together and being nothing astonished with the clamours or violent charge of the Turkes they turned about and with a hardie resolution they receaued them to the shocke and so ioyned with them in combat Then began the fight to grow most sharpe cruell and bloudy and many fell both of the one side and the other and the victorie rested for a long time doubtfull and vncertaine In fine the Albanois fought with such a constant and settled resolution and obstinacie against the Infidelles being out of order and in some confusion that they got the aduantage killing and beating them downe on all partes and draue them backe euen to the streightes of Valcala and there they tooke breath and made a stand excepting eight onely of the Christian armie each of whom without all doubt was worthie to haue had the absolute commaunde of a good and great armie These being transported with the furie of the fight and the heate of armes and forgetting the expresse commaundement of their Generall but being spurred forward with an eager desire of following the chase vpon the enemie and with a mortall hatred against Ballaban were drawen on into the ambuscado of the Infidels did very vnaduisedly entangle themselues within these streights which by meanes of this vnhappie accident were I dare say as famous by the losse and calamitie of these braue Epyrotes as the forkes of Candyum were in times past by the ignominie of the Romaines Long did they maintaine the fight against the Infidelles there ambusqued and passing still further and further within those valleys they came at last to the trenches of the Barbarians where they were to yeeld a reckoning of their comming and to pay the shot vnto their hostes Neuerthelesse continuing there also in a most cruell fight they shewed them selues so valiaunt and did so bestirre themselues by their valour and dexteritie that in the end they gayned the toppe of a mountaine which being possessed by the infanterie of the Turkes they had thought to haue bene of their owne companie and so they fell againe into a new and second perill greater then the former In the ende after infinite prooues of their wonderfull prowesse and valour being wearied with striking and killing of their enemies both men and horses growing faint through the multitude of their wounds they were taken aliue by the Ballabanians The vertue courage and incomparable prowesse of these braue warriours may not be let passe omitted in silence and yet if I should in this place set downe the singular perfectiōs wherin all of them were most accomplished and the memorable actes atchieued by their vertue in the seruice of God of the religion and of their countrey I should make a long and exceeding great historie and therefore I will onely and barely set downe their names vnto you The first that offereth him selfe to be remembred was that great Moses the Dibrian of whom we haue so often made mention the onely chiefe man that was most deare and faithfull vnto Scanderbeg and who was the Lieutenant of the armie Next to him was Guirize de Vladienne the neare kinseman of Scanderbeg after
prompt and venturous in all militarie actions would needs goe and see what should be the cause of their stay taking with him in his companie onely fiue souldiers and no more to the intent he might take a view and be informed of the estate of the enemie and heare some newes also of his owne people But Ballaban who to his owne cost was passing well acquainted and experienced with the cunning and politique draughts of his enemie misdoubting some such matter thought that he would beat him at his owne weapons and therefore he vsed this counterpolicie in hope to ouer-reach him He made choise of certaine stout and very hardie men all excellently well mounted on horsebacke and with them did he beset a certaine passage by which he suspected that Scanderbeg himselfe would come to take a view of his campe and the demeanour of his armie and he was not any thing deceiued in his imagination For behold Scanderbeg was now come to the place of this ambushment but yet before he would proceede any further he caused according to his wonted custome one of his souldiers to goe before him who soone discouered the daunger of the Turkes which lay there ambushed The Infidels seeing themselues bewrayed issued out vpon him with great furie and after some resistance made constrayned him to flie In his flight he put himselfe into a certaine wood or thicket which came next to hand and which lay on the other side of the mountaine which encloseth the plaine of Valcala where by ill happe he chaunced vpon a great tree which being withered with age was fallen downe and lay crosse the path by which he was to passe Scanderbeg setting spurres to his horse made him to leape roundly ouer the like did one of his souldiers which followed him but his companions not being able to doe the like and perceiuing that their last refuge their only hope to saue their liues consisted in their armes couching thēselues close they gaue in valiantly amongst their enemies hauing both slain hurt some of them they yeelded vp their liues as became men of valure and resolution One of the Barbarians following hard after Scanderbeg leapt likewise ouer the trunke of the tree and gathered very close and neere vppon him Scanderbeg casting his eye about and seeing one onely to followe him made backe directly towards him and quickly ouerthrew him dead to the ground the rest being not willing to pursue him any farther were content to let him goe and to depart quietly After this faire and happy escape Scanderbeg being returned to his campe neere Petralba about fifteene miles from the enemie made readie his squadrons for to march against the Infidels At that time more then euer did the Prince of Albanie employ all his senses to encourage and animate his men with good words and all other good meanes to doe their deuoire against their enemies He offered them giftes and large rewards he inuited and importuned them with prayers and earnest intreaties both in generall and in particular to take such things at his hande whereof they stood in any neede were it either for themselues or for their horses As the King was very bountifull to offer them freely of his owne so assure your selues that the souldiers shewed their wonderfull modesty and did as it were conted with him in gratitude and courtesie not taking any thing but in such measurable and modest manner as might serue onely for the present neede and necessitie Then the Albanois hauing taken some repast began to march towards the enemie and trauelling on continually day and night they tooke litle or no rest scarce so much as might suffise nature They were not long therefore ere they had gotten to the valley where the army of Ballaban lay encamped Scanderbeg seizing vpon the toppe of the same valley did pitch his campe with most excellent aduantage by reason that he enuironned the enemie who lay below him in the plaine for he extended his companies throughout all the toppes of the mountains which enclosed the vally occupying all the streights and passages in such sort that he had enclosed on all sides and as it were hedged in the Barbarians whom he visited also with often and daily skirmishes sometimes on the flanckes and sides of their campe sometimes at their backes because he would hold them in doubt and suspence of his intent and meaning The next day following Scanderbeg called a councell of his nobles and Chieftains at the which were present Tanusee Thopie Zacharie Groppe and Peic Manuell his Lieutenants Many of them were of this opinion that the battell should be deferred till such time as the souldiers were very wel refreshed of their long iorney and watching lately endured and that Tanusee should haue some leisure to take a taste of the enemy to keepe him doing in the meane while But Scanderbeg was of another mind and he did not onely perswade but he did instantly vrge and presse them that they should not by their delaies and daliance bring his determinations and counsels into hazard and daunger the suertie whereof consisted in nothing so much as in prompt and speedie execution That Ballaban his armie might easily be broken and defeated whilest that Iagup being ignorant of this attempt did tarrie away and keepe himselfe absent which quoth he being deferred by our prolonging of the time we shall giue them space and leisure to ioyne together and so shall we cause our enterprize which of it selfe is without daunger to come to a doubtfull and vncertaine issue Wherefore it behooueth vs with all speed to found to horsebacke to bid the battell to our enemies and not to lose this aduantage which their error and ouersight hath giuen vs now that their two Generalles are thus deuided the one absent the other present This opinion preuailed and the assembly being dissolued behold now how Scanderbeg did prepare himselfe to the combat Of all his squadrons he made foure battels the one he committed to Tanusee the second to Zacharie Groppe and of the third Peic Manuell had the charge and conduct the infanterie was mingled among the horsemen and the Harguebussiers and Archers were mixed pell mell with the pikes and certaine horsemen whom he sent forth to skirmish with the enemie and to begin the fight The residue of the armie together with the squadron which he had for the gard of his person he reserued to be commaunded by himselfe Hauing thus disposed and ordered his troupes he thought it requisite with some short speech to encourage his companies which he did in this manner The importunitie of the time my companions and your approued valour will not suffer me at this time to make any long discourse you are sufficiently well acquainted with this enemie who is but the scumme and offscouring of those troupes which your swordes haue left aliue and they are but the reffuse and reliques of those battels which you
condescendeth to take a wife Frontier wars betweene the Turkes in Sfetigrade and the garrison of the Albanois A skirmish betwene the Turkes of Sfetigrade and the garrison of the Albanois Sfetigrade besieged by Scanderbeg Souldiers of seuerall Nations serue vnder Scanderbeg Answere of the Turks within Sfetigrade to the summons of Scanderbeg Suburbes of Sfetigrade assaulted and burnt by Scanderbeg Assault by Moses to the ports of Sfetigrade Scanderbeg causeth to souÌ„d a retreat and to giue ouer the assault Consultation of Scanderbeg for his proceedings against Sfetigrade Moses Zacharie Groppe An ambuscado laid for the Turkes of Sfetigrade Speeches of the Turkes within Sfetigrade being deuided in their opinions concerning a sally to be made vpon the Albanois Sentence Sfetygrade assaulted by the Albanois Moses Zachary Groppe Moses wounded The Albanois repulsed from the assault Amurath proclaimeth a new leauie of forces to returne into Epire. Scanderbeg encourageth his souldiers to a new assault Second assault to Sfetigrade The Albanoys winning the walles of Sfetigrade vpon a surmise and feare of secret ambushments forsake and loose the towne A policy of the Turkes within Sfetigrade Speech of a Turkâ— of Sfetigrade desiring a parley and truce for a day Answer of Scanderbeg to the speech of the Turke demaunding truce Scanderbeg faultie in ouermuch courtesie and facilitie retireth froÌ„ the assault and accordeth truce to the Turkes Conditions propounded by the Turkes of Sfetigrade Answere of Scanderbeg to the conditions propouÌ„ded by the Turkes of Sfetigrade Scanderbeg encourageth his souldiers to a new assault Third assaulâ— to Sfetigrade Siege of Sfetigrade raâ—sed by Scanderbeg Number of Christians slaine at the siege of Sfetigrade Scanderbeg prouideth for the defence of Croy and other places Number of souldiers in garrison within Croy against the siege of Amurath Vranocontes the Gouernour of Croy his commendation Scanderbeg aided in all his wars with supplies of money by the Venetians Venetians in peace amity with the Turk Scanderbeg â—â—â— industry and great carefulnesse Scanderbeg disguiseth him selfe to espie aduantages vpon his enemies Amurath vpon the newes of the siege raised at Sfetigrade referreth his iourney into Epire. Croy repaired and fortified 1450. Scanderbeg â—â—â—â—ieth an ar 〈…〉 to make resâ—â—ance against the â—â—â—asion 〈…〉 tended by â—murath Dalmatia or Sclauony vpon the sea Amurath leauieth his army and maketh preparations for his iourney into Epire. Number of Turkes in the army of Amurath at the siege of Croy 160000. â—â—nâ— Alâ—anzes or the Turkish vanâ—currours Sebalias Zeâ—renesse Number of Scanderbeg his army against Amurath at the siege of Croy 8000. men only horse and foote Scanderbeg spoileth his own countrey before the comming of the Turkes army into Epire. Tumenista a mountaine 4. miles froÌ„ Croy. Sebalias beginneth the siege of Croy. Tyranna The nature of the soile the circuit of the territory of Croy. Parthinia in Epire her originall Parthinia ruinated by Iulius Caesar Duraz or Dirachin or Epidamum Parthinois or Parthins or Praese The manner of Sebalias encaÌ„ping before Croy. Scanderbeg taeketh a suruey of the Turkes campe before Croy. Number of Turkes vauntcurrours vnder Sebalias at the siege of Croy. Amurath arriueth in â—pire and encampeth before Croy. Croyans their notable and assured courage and resolution Croy summoned by Amurath Conditionâ— and offers made by Amurath to Vranocontes Messengers of the Turke reiected by the garrison of Croy. Amurath prepareth for the assaulting of Croy. Ordinance cast for the batterie of Croy. The batterie plaÌ„ted against Croy. Croy battered Turkes make preparations for the assault of Croy. Mahomet his industrie at the siege of Croy. Croyans their resolution Speech of Vranocontes encouraging the Croyans vpoÌ„ the râ—inâ— of their wals battered by the Turkes Encouragements of Amurath and Mahomet to the Turkes being to assaâ—lâ— Croy. Mahomet his mortall hatred to the Christians Scanderbeg inuadeth the campe of Amurath before Croy. Number of Turkes slaine by Scanderbeg at his first inuasion of their campe before Croy. Saying of Amurath touching Scanderbeg Seremet sent against Scanderbeg Scanderbeg in great hazard of his life Mahomet voweth and sweareth the destruction of Scanderbeg Scanderbeg his absence cause of great perplexitie to his souldiours Horatius Cocles his strange prowes against Porsena Leonidas his valour against the armie of Xerxes Scanderbeg pensiue for feare of Croy. Assault to Croy. Ianissaries Asappes Alchanzes Christians subiects of the great Turks their miserable estate and piteous condition A stratageme vsuall with the Turks to weary and consume the strength of the Christians in fight Siege of Scutarie or Scodra by the Turkes Speeches of the Christians liuing vnder the subiection of the Turkes to the Christians their enemies at the siege of Scutarie An exclamation of the author vpon the miserable estate of the Christians vnder the Turkes Iosephus Egesippus A sally by the Croyans vpon the Turkes Speeches of the Counsellors of Amurath persuading him to recontinue and renue the assault of Croy. The assault renued Number of Turkes slaine at the first assault of Croy. Monticlea A policie of Scanderbeg in giuing a canuazado to the Turkish campe A canuazado by Scanderbeg to the campe of the Turkes Amurath fortifieth his camp with ordinance against the inuasions of Scanderbeg Scanderbeg remoueth his campe to prouide for victuals Riuer of Isme Duraz or Dirrachium Battery renued against Croy. Exclamation of the author vpon the wretched estate of the subiects to the Turke Turkes vnwilling to be drawen to a second assault of Croy. Oration of Amurath to his Chieftaines and Captaines before Croy reproching them with faintnes and cowardice Stratageme of Amurath to diuert Scanderbeg from troubling his army during the assault of Croy. Sebalias sent with an armie to draw Scanderbeg from Croy. Assault to Croy the second The Turkes repulsed from the assault Scanderbeg marcheth after Sebalias Ambuscado of Scanderbeg whereby he surprizeth the Turke his victuallers Turkish campe before Croy victualled out of Macedonie A myne made by the Turkes against Croy. Venetian subiectes succour the Turkes campe before Croy with victuals Tanusee and Moses sent by Scanderbeg to leauie a new supply of souldiers Croyans sallie out vpon the Turkes A second canuazado by Scanderbeg to the campe of the Turkes before Croy. Moses and Tanuse inuade the Turkish Campe. Scanderbeg retireth from the enemy Turkes desire and obtaine leaue of Amurath to issue out and to set vpon Scanderbeg The Turks flie Speach of Amurath touching Scanderbeg seeing him vpon a mountaine euer Croy The Mine of the Turkes discouered and ouerthrowen by the Croians A deuise for the discouery of a Mine An ambassage sent to Vranocontes by Amurath with intent to corrupt him and to make him betray Croy. Instructions giuen by Amurath to his ambassadour Speach of Vranocontes to the Ambassadour of Amurath Answere of the Turkish Ambassador to Vranocontes Vranocontes reiecteth the Turkish Ambassador and dismisseth him with threats and menaces Amurath and the Turkes agreeued at the repulse of their Ambassador prouide to assault Croy. Croy
eyes the signes markes of other mens fortunes durst not beginne to declare and open his aduise nor yet to make answer to the enemie mistrusting the inconstancie of the common multitude and the mutable mindes of the popular sort being for the most part nothing resolute Wherefore hauing honorably receiued and feasted the Herauld he addressed himselfe to his souldiers with great modestie and beganne thus to speake vnto them How thinke you valiant men faithful souldiers or what shall we say to this ambassade of our enemy Then one of the standers by wel perceiuing the intent and meaning of the Gouernor by his speeches with his sword drawen and shaking it aloft as he held it in his hande Captaine quoth he seeing thou doest terme vs valiant and faithfull and doest repute Scanderbeg for our enemie this my sword shall make answere for vs all What reason hath any man to alleadge here vnto vs so precisely expresly that which hath passed at Croy and at Stellusa do they thinke thereby to feare and terrifie the courage of men free and resolute As great diuersitie as there is in the countenances of men and as different as are their visages so great varietie is there in the habilitie and dexteritie of their spirites Ech man is wise to himselfe or ech man is foolish in his owne actions Neither the Petrellians nor the Stellusians receiued any lawes of vs nor were they commaunded by vs no more shall they commaund or prescribe lawes vnto vs. Let vs take heed that the examples of these slaues so base infamous do not any way enter into our harts so valiant and generous Couragious mindes do highly disdaine not onely in cases that are shamefull and reproachfull but euen in honest actions to imitate the deedes of other persons but ech man liueth after his owne guise and disposition Let it be that the Gouernor of Stellusa should be sacrificed before our eyes and that his companions should be likewise massacred what do you thinke that we also shall die in their bodies or that our spirits shall be extinguished in theirs or is it likely that our blood can be spilt in thē O most happy rather are those bodies most venerable are their soules who of an excellent desire and affection to keepe their faith and their libertie haue equally contemned both gold siluer the sword and all things else which the wretched nature and condition of mankind doth either affect or is affraid of Returne therfore messenger backe againe to our enemie and carrie this message to thy Generall from a priuate souldier tell him That if this be his intention to impose vpon vs any termes of commaund let him shew vs the strength of his arme which as yet by men of courage is nothing feared nor redoubted it may be that if god be not for vs he may by force bring vs in subiection but by perswasions of good words to draw vs thereunto I am sure he shal neuer do it Moreouer it seemeth in this case that your Scanderbeg is not the man he is reported to be namely of a spirit gentle and courteous readie to pardon and no lesse iust to his enemies then to his owne For wherfore then is the gouernor of Stellusa detained prisoner who for his king for his faith for his libertie freelie valiantly iustly and as became an honest man hath deliuered his mind and opinion wherfore is hereserued to be butchered by the hands of the executioner he hath not deserued to be put to the sword nor to suffer death who so honorably hath neglected his owne safetie and sought the hazard of death for the preseruation of his libertie The souldier was heard with great admiration of all of them without the interruption of any person till he had ended his speech of his owne accord and disposition Incontinently there beganne a great tumult of infinite people assembled round about him clattering their swordes and bucklers together with great noise and after this signe and token followed a mightie clamor of such as did alow and approue his discourse The Turks Gouernor being the better assured and encouraged to see his souldiers so well resolued licenced the Christian Ambassador to depart and at the same instant bending all his care and studie to prouide for the sure and safe keeping of the towne he commanded his souldiers to withdraw themselues euerie one to his place and where his deuoyre did call him And although order had bene taken before in manie pointes for the defence of the wall he altered notwithstanding the whole order and course thereof and disposed otherwise of it either augmenting or changing things as neede required Besides in the middest of his preparations he would euer and among vse exhortations and good encouragements telling them That they now gaue manifest proofe and shew of that wherof himself had euer conceiued a certaine hope and assurance that the examples of other places which had so faintly so cowardly yeelded their necks to the yoke of the enemie ought so much the more to increase their constancy and perseuerance that they should thinke vpon the great rewards and recompence prepared for them by Amurath if that they alone in all Epire and in the middest of the disloialtie and tretcherie of all others did manfully stand to the defence of the name the libertie and the empire of the Ottomans On the other side if want of courage or cowardise should carrie them from regard of their dutie they should haue iust occasion to expect from him farre more rigorous and hard intreatie then those of Petrella or Stellusa for that the infidelitie of the others was in apparance more excusable because they seeing thēselues besieged on all parts hard beset by the enemie and in the very hart of the enemies countrie seemed to be euen forced to render themselues whereas they being but vpon the limits and frontiers of the enemies dominions being couered protected with a place of greater strēgth and inpregnable could not alleage those vaine excuses and faint pretences especially for that euen in an instant they might haue succours from their Prince wherwith to make their enemies forsake raise their siege A further cōfort he gaue thē in this also that the winter an vnfit season to beleager any place would make their trauels but short of small continuance for that he firmly beleeued whē the enemies shold haue notice of their last resolution they would not in hast make any attempt against them nor be so foolish hardy as to thinke to force their walles but would retire themselues incontinently To these perswasions he added a deed of no lesse prudence and policie and that was for feare of some treacherous mutinie and conspiracie to put out of the towne all the Christians and ancient Citizens of whom diuerse had bene suffred to remaine both there and in other townes by the Sultan who had appointed the suburbes for them to
I say whom our natiue countrey shall presently see retourning home chearefull ioyous and triumphant This will be no small encrease of benefite vnto you to come from a peece of seruice so excellent Neuerthelesse to the intent it may be sayed that I also in some sort haue rewarded you for this dayes victory and that the one of you haue no occasion to enuy the other seeing that the vertue of you all in the fight was alike and equall I doe here ordaine and appoint that the footemen shall take the horses of their slaine enemies and that all of you from henceforth shall serue on horsebacke as men at Armes Now therefore vnder the fauour of the great God let euery man follow me chearefully that we maie goe on and reape the most acceptable and gladsome fruites of your perfect and full deuoyre The souldiours who had listened all this while verie attentiuelie to his speaches with verie great signification of ioy and gladnesse as men ouerioyed with hope of the prey and booty which they did expect by spoyling of their enemies countrey did approue this his encouragement They ran therefore euery where here and there without discretion without order without conduct being stirred and pricked on with an assured and sodaine contempt and negligence proceeding as it seemeth of their happy and good successe But the Prince being well aduised and not hauing any affiaunce in the inconstant and fickle fauours of Fortune he stayed the fury and violence of his souldiours till such time as those which hee had sent to make a discouery did bring him backe word that there was no daunger And then the sacke and pillage being permitted them freely the men at armes altogether puffed vppe with the late victory which they had gotten and dispersed here and there in diuerse places did cast them selues in vppon the enemies country and caried away the goods of the husbandmen their persons and their cattell Neither did their furie spare to shew it selfe vppon the verie trees Nothing was pardonned of what kinde soeuer whereunto the fire and the sword might doe any dammage and displeasure excepting onely women and children The booty was gathered and drawen together and driuen with such confusion noise and debate that a man woulde haue iudged there had bene begun some new tumult of warres and that the fieldes had bene full of men fighing and combatting Their woundes did not withhold or hinder anie one of them for the greedie desire of pillage had drawen thither many of those who were wounded in the battell but their paines and trauels so lately taken were quite forgotten and as it were cleane vanished away Neither the labours nor the waightinesse of their burthens did not discourage any one of them no more then the excesse and aboundance of spoyle which commonly causeth wearinesse and satiety did satisfie and content them in so much that the griefe and sorrow of the souldiors was greater for leauing that which they could not beare away then their ioy and contentment of that which they caried with them When they had thus continued long enough in spoyling and foraging and that the rage of the souldiours was mitigated and appeased vppon the countrey of the enemy Castriot caused to sound the retraite and his men being ouerloaden with the prey and bootie marched awaie presentlie with great gladnesse and ioy The Captaines made themselues mery at the sloth and lazinesse of the souldiors reproaching them that of braue and valiaunt warriours they were now become sheepestealers and of defendours of the glory and renow me of Albanie men might see them chaunged into the habite and trade of sheepeheardes And thus scoffing sometimes at one and sometimes at another with many pleasaunt iestes and wordes of mockerie each after other in this or the like manner what sayed they woulde Halie Bassa now saie with the reliques of his discomfiture if hee were euen nowe in place and did see you in this point dragging after you so vile and base baggage of neither worth nor valour but a fitte reward for couetous and greedy souldiours Would hee not blushe extreamely at so vile and shamefull Conquerours And would hee not reproach his men of their faintnesse and cowardize that hadde suffered them selues to be surmounted and ouercome by such a sort of base companions and for that they hadde yeelded vnto such men the honour and the glorie of the combate Thus did the souldiours full of mirth and merriment with diuerse sportes and songs full of ioy and gladnesse case and mittigate the hard trauell of the way till such time as with high cries and clamours they saluted the guardes of their Campe which marched on before them The night following being past within their Campe Scanderbeg the next morning before daie breake commaunded to trusse vp the baggage and with his hoast triumphaunt marched on directly towardes Croie The multitude scattered euery where throughout all the high waies and passages did salute and call them both generally and priuately triumphant and valiaunt Euery man admired the greatnesse of the spoiles gotten from the enemy and hardly were the new made men at armes discerned and knowen from the old These congratulations and reioycings did endure many daies and there were sent vnto all the Princes and particular Lordes of Epire letters crowned with lawrell and certaine standards and the residue were hanged vp in their churches This yeare was famous and notable by reason of this victory but much more memorable was it afterwardes by the dolorous discomfiture of the Christians at Varna The which to paint it out vnto you more liuely I must draw backe to the defait of Carambey whereof I entreated in the former booke You knowe if you haue any knowledge in the course and vsage of Armes that one disgrace of Fortune and the gaine of one onely battell doth euer bring much disfauour and many mishappes to the looser and causeth fresh beginnings of new enterprises to his enemies Euen so that rude Bastanado giuen to Carambey at the battell of Moraua and the reuolt of Scanderbeg falling both at once vppon Amurath did sollicite and cause the * Caramanian to moue warre against him so that preparing a puissant and mightie Army and therewithall inuading the Turkes in * Natolia which is called also great Tregnyo he constrayned Amurath to passe into Asia with the reliques of his defeated forces to assure the estate of that countrey But finding that he should not be strong enough vnlesse he did wholly and altogether oppose him selfe against this new enemy besides that the successe of the forepassed ouerthrow at Moraua did make him begin to bethinke him selfe and to redoubt the felicity of the Christians First of all therefore as I haue told you he would assure him selfe of the king of Hungarie by a peace the which being concluded and respectiuely sworne vppon the holie Euangelistes and the Alcaran was fully ratified by the mediation of George the Despot of *
therefore as well as he could he saued himselfe taking his course after the sunne set towardes the coasts and confines of Seruia where he was staied and made prisoner and most shamefully put in irons by the Despot being restrained of his libertie till such time as those townes whereunto he pretended a right were first yeelded and restored vnto him The Cardinall Iulian the authour and procurer of the breach of peace which had beene sworne betweene the Turkes and the Christians made there also his last end howbeit some write that he was slaine by his owne men through the hatred which they bore him for being the occasion of that calamitie by the breach of faith and periurie committed at his onely instance and procurement And that being so slaine he was spoyled and left naked hauing suffered many reproches as he was giuing vp the ghost for his ill and wicked counsell in procuring of this warre The two Bishops were likewise drowned in the mud as they fled into the next marishes Thus you see the euent and successe of this iourney so famous and memorable which cost the Conquerour greater losse bloudshed then it did to the partie conquered Some also doe report that Amurath after he had escaped this daunger did shewe himselfe much more sad and pensiue then he was vsually accustomed and being therfore blamed by his seruants he made them this answere I would be loath quoth he often to gaine in this manner In that place where the battell was foughten and the dead bodie of the king found Amurath caused a mightie piller to be erected with an inscription for a monument of his victorie and at this day are yet to be seene diuerse mounts and litle hils made with the bones of those who were there slain and buried which doth argue that the slaughter was great and wonderfull which fell out on the day and feast of Saint Martin the eleuenth of Nouember in the yeare of our redemption 1443. This battell is somewhat otherwise described by Pope Pius the second neuerthelesse we in this place haue followed Callimachus who hath set it downe with a most excellent and good grace and without any partialitie This is most certaine and apparant that the Christians euen to this day may finde good and sufficient cause to be discontented with the Despot of Misia for keeping the bands army of Scanderbeg from being present at that battell by reason of his faithlessenesse and disloyaltie For it could not be but the good deuoire and prowes of so many thousandes of resolute fighting men would haue done much the only valure of Hunyades seconded with the sufficiencie and good fortune of Scanderbeg how could it but haue wrought some notable singular effect And what could haue hindered them but that they would haue borne a great stroake in the happie euent good successe of that battell What sight or spectacle more famous and notable could any man haue seene in any age then a battell foughten against the enemies of Christendome and directed by two so glorious and renowmed Chieftaines Both of them were most hardie and valiant souldiers and most expert and accomplished Captaines of wonderfull great force and singular strength of their bodies and equall and alike in greatnesse of courage Howbeit more fortunate was the latter being one that had fortune alwaies more fauourable vnto him as appeared afterwards in the whole course of his life Hunyades was more aged and striken in yeares Scanderbeg much younger and lesse exercised at that time in armes And albeit he had not bene in so many conflicts and foughten fieldes yet had he continually good and happie successe being as fortunate in priuate combats betweene man and man as in the maine fight of plaine and set battelles Both of them were verie acceptable and agreeable to the minds and good liking of their souldiers but Scanderbeg was of a more pleasant conceit and disposition The one did seldome or neuer exchange the seruice either of the Valachians or Hungarians the other was much delighted and did often serue himselfe of the Italians in his conquests taking a singular pleasure in the vse of their armes and in their counsell and aduise Huniades neuer knew other enemies then the Turkes Scanderbeg in the warre of Italie when he restored the libertie of the kingdome of Naples in the aide of Ferdinand king of Naples did purchase to himselfe no lesse glorie and reputation then he did by his often triumphes obtained against the barbarous infidels This fame and report of the ouerthrow and discomfiture of the Christians being euerie where dispersed and Scanderbeg being certified whilest he was yet remaining in the limits of Seruia of the grieuous calamitie and defait of the Hungarians tooke on as if he would haue died for verie conceite and griefe of that misfortune and hauing a long while bethought himselfe and casting vpon many matters in his minde he resolued at length to turne bridle and to take his way to his owne country Neuerthelesse to the intent his iust griefe might not remaine altogether vnreuenged nor the mischieuous wickednes of the Despot rest vnpunished with his armie all incensed and enraged he suddenly brake in vpon his countrey and ouerrunning and spoiling it in most hostile manner he made it feele the three extremities of sword fire and blood which are commonly called accounted the maintenance nutriment of the warres As he was returning into Epire infinite numbers of Hungarians and Polonians who had escaped from the slaughter at Varna according as their flight and good fortune guided them came to seeke him in great troupes and companies To all of them he gaue good and freindly entertainment and according to the extreamitie of their misfortune and calamitie hauing furnished them with prouision both of money and victuals for many daies he prouided them also of shipping to carrie them to Ragusa from whence they tooke their iourney to their owne home and dwelling place The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE FAMOVS ACTES OF GEORGE CASTRIOT SVRNAMED SCANDERBEG THE ARGVMENT AMurath incensed against Scanderbeg by the exclamations of the Despot resolueth to warre vpon him but first seeketh to vndermine him by treacherie and offers of peace and amitie which Scanderbeg reiecteth Ferisee Bassa is sent against Scanderbeg and is defeated Mustapha Bassa is sent against Scanderbeg and is likewise ouercome The murther of Lech Zacharie Prince of Dayna in Epyre. The cause of the warre betweene Scanderbeg and the Venetians Mustapha is sent againe with another armie into Epyre Dayna is besieged by Scanderbeg The Venetians leauie an armie for the reliefe of Dayna The battell of Drynon betweene Scanderbeg and the Venetians Scanderbeg repayreth and fortifieth Balese with a garrison and maketh Amese his Nephew Gouernour of the fortresse Amese thinking to surprize the citie of Driuasta is assayled by the Dryuastines and put to flight THE armie of the Hungarians being
being thus debated in the presence of Scanderbeg albeit in part they had some appearance of truth yet did he presently impugne contradict them seeming to bewaile and complaine against the follie of the Epirots that they onely of all the nations of the world to their owne excessiue dammage should be the last that would take notise of the wiles deceites of Ottoman that it was a strange thing that the vaine idle and impertinent letters of Amurath should meete and encounter with a beleefe and credulitie farre more vaine and sottish should purchase any credit or faith among them or that the wits of his people could be so dull and sencelesse as to thinke that Airadin being a Spie and Intelligencer should be reputed as one sent vnto them in the name and credit of an ambassador Besides admit there were no danger nor deceite in this matter but that all things were according as Amurath had written yet what lightnes and inconstancie were this to giue faith and credit to their enemy rather then to their owne actes and the estate of their owne affaires And that the fortune of an other rather then their owne should make them to chaunge their counsailes and determinations concerning the peace the warres true it is quoth he that Amurath is in the declining of his life and that the Turkes at the battell of Varna haue receiued a mortall deadly blow Besides that other accidents do inuite the Barbarians to desire rest and quietnesse but what should these things giue any occasion to the Albanians either to abate or to loose their courage or to receiue such conditions of peace as an enemy whom they had vanquished should dare to present vnto them who were the vanquishers Neither was it any thing to be regarded that they imagined that some of those conditions might be allowed and other some reiected for they could not any way accept of peace but it would be most ignominious neither could they so warelie or circumspectly handle the matter but that the Sultan would soone perceiue both the fearefulnesse of their mindes and the difference of their meanes but admit that peace were made and let it be imagined that Amurath would sit still and be glad of quietnesse till the tumultes now growing vpon the late ouerthrow of the Hungarians were throughly appeased and till such time as he had quenched the flame that was now beginning to be kindled it might be till then the Epirots should enioy the benefite of that peace notwithstanding afterwardes there was no other likelihood but that he would turne the whole violence of the wars vpon their neckes and with his full forces would seeke to oppresse them when they should in vaine obiect vnto him the violating of the articles of agreement concluded betweene them Neither was the age of Amurath so impotent and decrepit that it would make him vtterly vnapt and vnable for the warres For it was the counsell and wisedome of a Generall which ought to be respected not his bodily strength puissance and the prudence of the leaders was a matter in all ages more vsually to be redoubted then the promptnesse of the hand or rash temeritie and foolish hardinesse in vsing of the sword That in his weake and feeble body did remaine a spirite sound quicke and watchfull to all aduantages opportunities a hart full fraught with mortall hate extreme mallice And though that Ottoman himself would not be dealing with them yet it could not be but they should find enemies He forgot not also to shew them that small and short could be the profit of that peace which they should make with one so old and who was now drawing to his last end that the fierce and hautie courage and the restlesse minde of his sonne Mahomet would aime and attempt greater matters so that they should be sure of peace when warre was most for their profit they should not faile of warre when they would be glad of rest and quietnesse by meanes whereof that which they should do should not be for the benefit and good of the Epirotes but for the profit and aduantage of the Turkes What reason therefore had they to desire peace seeing that the victorie was euen already in their hands and that the enemy himselfe did seeme to auouch no lesse but openly to confesse it wherefore then should they not follow the prosperous winde and pleasant gale of their good fortune and enioy the occasion which was so freely offered them whereof if the opportunitie should once slide away or be let passe in vaine would they repent hereafter that they had not laid better hold vpon it that it was a shame for them now to speake of composition when the woundes lately receiued in the battell of Haly Bassa were not yet cured that they should first recouer the Seate of their ancestours and assure the libertie of so many people 's their Subiectes that then they should finde the oportunitie to accord either by propounding or accepting honest and honorable conditions of peace and composition is it possible that the remembrance of the disconâ—iture of Vladislaus should giue them so notable an impression of feare and terrour that such an accident and chance of warre should alienate the mindes of the Epirotes from that warre more then the Hungarians who had sustained that ouerthrowe for the report went amongst the common people that Huniades did burne in a vehement desire to reuenge the losse and ignominie of the battell at Varna and that he did secretly plot and deuise the meanes to raise a new armie Vpon these reasons alleadged all men were wonderfully encouraged and in this as in all other matters they were obedient vnto Scanderbeg his people also were verie much aggreiued repented them that they had opened their mouthes in that matter which was not to his liking all being vnwilling that he should haue any conceipt that they in any wise or in any matter concerning his seruice would refuse his aduise and counsell which they had euer followed in the field and in the Campe. Whereupon the Prince of Albania hauing first of all called the Turkish Ambassadour to his presence he held him in a long discourse sometimes apart and sometimes in full assemblies of his subiectes by a long narration of his losses and damages both publique and priuate and complaining himselfe greatly of the disloialtie and periurie of Amurath And thus hauing gratiously entertained and bountifully feasted him for fiue dayes with a cheerefull and glad countenance full of confidence and assurance for feare least he which was sent for a spie should coniecture or imagine any kind or apprehension of feare he led him in his owne companie and shewed him all the rampiers and fortifications and all the courtes of garde of his men of warre giuing him also a sight of the forme and manner of his campe and then returned him with an answer in writing to this effect George
daunger they might make all of them in particular to yeeld an accompt and reckoning of their iorney so vnaduisedly vndertaken At the first Castriot seemed to be somewhat cheared concerning his counsailes and determinations by reason that these tydings seemed to giue fitte occasion and oportunitie for his affaires but after that hee had more particularly enquired of the peasant touching the estate of all things howe the Campe of the enemie was seated and in what manner he carried him selfe then extolling and praysing the prudence of Mustapha he began to admire him and from thencefoorth he iudged that it would stand him vppon from that time forwarde to be better aduised and to looke vnto him selfe and his affaires more nearely and narrowly Hereuppon being not willing to attempt anie thing rashly calling his armie round about him and standing in the middest so as he might well be heard of them all he spake vnto them in this fashion I was wont my companions and copartners in Armes to giue counsell and to set downe the course and order of our affaires but nowe it standeth both you and me vppon to take counsell together touching the state of our matters and the manner of our proceedings against the enemie and this euerie one of you will easily acknowledge if you do but looke into the euent of matters the which in case where reason is not of sufficient force is the chiefe maister and director We were giuen to vnderstand that the Turkes as robbers and free-booters without any order or conduct without any regard did wander vp and downe the fields flying hither and thither as men that did feare any thing more then our comming For this cause by my perswasion and procurement vnder my conduct here are you come with this honorable intent and purpose to inuade and set vpon them with your forces it is not needful that I tell you what new counsels and directions the happy oportune comming of this man hath brought vs you haue heard himself recount what the enemie doth how they do demeane thēselues One thing there is which no man can denie if you consider the purpose and drift of Mustapha both in the fashion of his encamping and in the fortification and defence thereof with men well armed appointed you shall soone vnderstand that he carieth not towards you the countenance nor mind of a robber as it may be you supposed but of a most aduised warie enemie For this cause in my opinion it is requisit that you carrie yourselues more considerately with a better deliberation against your enemies then it seemeth you were determined Let vs leaue them alone that are abrode on foraging lest that in offering occasion to their Captaine to issue out of his trenches who looketh for no better aduātage we do giue them the oportunitie of an easie victorie against vs for whilest we out of order dispersed and in disarray shall thinke to pursue them as they be scattered and disordered it is to be feared lest we being double charged by the enemie be ouerthrown by thē and without all remedie cut in peeces it is better that we issue forth all at once with our whole puissance and that we breake in vpon the rampiers of their fortresse the which if our valor and resolution as it is accustomed shall happen to carrie or if we may put their Generall to flight or may get his head he being slaine to present and make shew thereof to the rest of the Barbarians to appall them which God almight for his mercy grant vs there is no doubt but without any danger you shall to your endlesse honor attaine to your desire in each of these respects For the residue of these free-booters some of them being excluded and separated from the succours of their companions and others of them being on all sides besieged by your forces they will be at your mercie either aliue or dead as your selues shal please to dispose of them But in any case my good soldiers take you heed that the filthie auarice desire of pillage do not carrie you away in the sacking and spoile of the campe for many are the examples that with great shame and dishonor this hatefull humor and affection of couetousnesse hath oftentimes taken away the victories out of the hands of the victors hath giuen it to the enemy when they haue bene quite ouerthrowne discomfited This counsell of the Generall was vniuersally liked and allowed and it was put in execution and followed with the consent of all the soldiers The troupes therefore being marshalled and ordered according to the Art and skil of armes they were drawne forth of the secret and close vallies into the open and plaine fields they did now discouer thēselues to the wards scouts of the Turks who from the tops of the mountaines by the fiers mounting vp on high did giue notice of their comming to those within the fortresse Then was heard the sound noise of the trumpets to the great griefe of those men of armes who were dispersed abroad in the champion and were busied in spoyling and pilling of the countrey Many of them retired vppon the summons and were receiued within the trenches before that our men could get neare them and others as they were making hast to enter were sore troubled and terrified The noise and cry of the enemies soldiers sounding and fearing them with the name of Scanderbeg Many whom the sodaine and speedy comming of the Albanois did finde without at the entry of the Fort were excluded and shut out And being ouercharged with the spoile and prey of the countrey they found them selues likewise charged with their enemies On all sides was the assault giuen to the trenches and at the first charge in a manner their cariages and baggage which they hadde made as a Barricado to their fort and the Targatiers that guarded the place were ouerthrowen and cast downe with an exceeding great noise and confusion both of those that were excluded of our men who striued pell mell to enter with them All of them made way indifferently and alike and all places were full of enemies mixt together The presse was so great and the place so straight that there was no vse of dartes nor yet of shot The fight was more hand to hand and they found it more aduauntage to vse the sword and certaine Mases of iron a short kinde of weapon which the Turkes did often vse in battell It was a strange kinde of fight to see the Turks fighting with their swords in one hand and their fatall booty in the other So greedy is that people of catching proling of any thing whatsoeuer The Christians encreasing still in fury and fiercenesse did eagerly presse vppon them more and more and without intermission did on al parts put them to vtterance filling the whole place with feare and slaughter till such time as Mustapha who kept in the safest
neuerthelesse when he perceiued and vnderstood that his scoutes did on all sides returne vnto him with more then posting speede and their reportes did agree all in one saue that they differed in the number and quantitie of the enemies forces of which they coniectured diuersly for the Turkes were not yet seene nor discouered altogether neither were they descended all of them into the plains neither were their Batallions so vnited and ordred that a true and certaine estimat could be made of their iust numbers Castriot thereupon choosing out of his whole army 4000. horse and 1000. foote whom he commaunded to follow him and dislodging as secretly as he could from thence drew directly towardes Sfetigrade where he knew that the enemies were to encampe themselues It was in the dawning of the morning in the twilight that the souldiers had the signe giuen them to set forward The day following notwithstanding when it was scarce the third houre of the night they came to encampe within seauen miles of Sfetigrade betweene which towne and Croy were litle lesse then 60. miles There Scanderbeg hauing chosen a place sure and commodious for his company caused it to be entrenched round about making it by that meanes more strong and defensible Afterwards hauing distributed both horse and foote into the seuerall quarters of the campe he commaunded to set the watch and to place the courts of guard and then secretely to search out what places were fit to serue for ambuscadoes meane while he forbad all of them in generall to make any fires within the trenches All things being thus disposed and set in order and euery man being commanded to vse silence he taking with him Moses Tanuese de Thopy went to suruey and consider vpon the forme and situation of the campe and countenaunce of the enemy and with great secresie sometimes through the thickets of the forrestes sometimes by the secrete passages of the vallies he gained the toppe of a certaine mountaine directly opposite against Sfetigrade from the height whereof hauing diligently noted and surueyed all things by faire day light he tooke his way very quickely backe againe into his owne Campe. The execution hereof was not without maruellous contrariety of opinions for seeing the barbarians were encāped vnder the wals of the Towne and were possessed both of the mountaines adioyning and of the fieldes vnderneath them the chiefe leaders did not see any great likelihood or appearance without some notable losse of their men how to execute any thing with good successe because the daunger was manifest and imminent that so small a number charged with so great a puissance sometimes in the plaine and sometimes in the descent of the mountaines should easily be broken ouerthrowen They doubted also which was a cause necessarily constraining them for that time to abstaine from all reason of fight least the residue of the royall troupes comming vpon them sodainly and vnprouided they should be all entangled enclosed and shut vppe in the middest of them and for the same reason they held it as perillous to call the garrison forth to helpe them It was held therefore more expedient and a course of more certaintie and safetie to separate deuide if it were possible by their ordinarie sleightes the power forces of the aduersarie and being once sundred deuided to draw them into places of greatest disaduantage Nothing was done notwithstāding for that day because the night comming vpon them did prcuēt their determination only there were sent forth certain scoutes on all sides both far neare to discouer the approch of Amurath and that the enemy should lay no ambushmēts to entrap thē The moitie of that night was allowed thē to take their rest the residue was imployed in diuers actiōs affaires for that the Prince of Albanie changing his first lodging went to encampe somwhat nearer the town so that he was not now aboue 5. myles from the enemy supposing hoping that being once entised forth to fight the nearer he was to them the more easily they might be ouerthrowen Wherefore after that euery man had sufficiently rested himselfe taken some repast all of them being ready at hand with store of such things as were needfull requisite first those places which were fit for ambushments he filled with able and lusty men and the thickets and bushes he enuironed on all sides with store of souldiours of which number such as serued on foote were placed in the wings and steepe of the mountaines not easie to be approched or in the thicke of the woods and bushes himselfe taking his place among the horsemen kept at the foote bottome of the mountaines all along the plaine and in the crookes and turnings of the vallies This done he called vnto him Moses Musache de Angelina a gentleman of special marke one of the chiefest among the horsemen whō hauing exhorted with many good and friendly speeches he sent accompanied with 30. others all young men both hardy and couragious willing them to allure forth the enemy out of their trenches and to draw them within the daunger of his traines and ambuscadoes You must not thinke that Scanderbeg did forget to make choise of his companie out of the most worthy sufficient of all his bands both the men their horses besides they were disguised in the apparell furniture of simple souldiers least that their militarie habit being any thing rich and sumptuous should discouer their attempt which he had an especiall desire to keepe secret There was scant any of the souldiers but had an other horse loden with corne to driue before him to the intent they should be taken for forragers indeede who returned from gathering it abroad And that nothing might be wanting for the aduantage of this martiall pollicie to beguile the enemy they were enioyned to bend towards the town by such waies as were least vsed frequented on that side where the mountaine was free and not garded by the enemy that they should make shew as though they ment that way to enter into Sfetigrade These leaders being very expert of a quicke excellent conceipt did not omit any thing of that which was commanded them and the souldiers also with singular obedience resolution did follow thē most chearefully not doubting any dāger that might befall them Vpon the dawning of the day and by that time that the starres began to grow out of sight by the breake of the morning they were now come within little more then a myle of the tentes of the enemy at such time as the Turkes sentinels hauing discouered them from aloft began first by signes shewed in the aire then by their often cries clamors to bewray them They nothing troubled not abashed with their noise did only hasten their pace somwhat faster for as yet neither needed they to feare any danger from the enemy neither would their flight haue bene
enemies euen the Gods at their command and do they cary victory with them in their bosomes and haue you nothing but your swordes and those vnprofitable and your hands dead and without life and your bodies feeble and subiect to the sword and iniuries of your enemies Behold how they do yet abide you and stirre not a foot from you wherefore stay you Can you endure that a handfull of such base infamous persons should present them selues as conquerors before your eyes whom you are able to swallow vp whole both horse and armes Reuenge your owne bloud my souldiers and if the common reputation doe any thing at all moue you reuenge the deaths of your fellowes and companions at leastwise your owne priuate wrongs and iniuries Vpon these his speaches and exclamations all of them sodainely turned their faces towards the enemy euery man leauing al other busines ran confusedly on all sides and those also which were on the mountaine descended to charge the Albanois But the Prince of Epire would not attend them though they were almost breathles out of order but retiring speedily to the place prouided for his surety he kept the aduauntage which he had gotten in that encounter without any losse except of one only and 3. wounded and so came ioined himselfe with Moses holding that the only way for his safegard from the enemy Of the Turkes there were slaine some 60. or better of which number men say that Scanderbeg slue fiue of them with his owne hands The Barbarians did not pursue them far because the Sultan doubted of some secret traine or counterwaits and the rather for that he had some apparaunt signe of the other troupes in the ambushment wherefore he commanded them againe to a second retrait It was a notable sight to see how in one and the same instant the Barbarians on the one part did charge vpon the Christians and on the other part themselues were charged at the backes by those of Sfetigrade The Turkes scoffed at Scanderbeg as he retired from the fight and being not able to hurt him with their swordes they prosecuted him with taunts and villainous speaches But Perlat on the other side was much more troublesome and despitefull vnto them and did more grieuously importune their companions for he not onely angred thē by the hearing of his quips and fine girding speeches but he vexed them also with good store of blowes at their backes both with pikes shot and other kinde of weapons For as soone as he perceiued that at the only name of Scanderbeg they gaue ouer the assault and descended a pace downe the mountaine he embracing the occasion offered him with a traine of three hundreth men quicke and well armed issued out vpon them with a great clamour and playing vpon them with his shot as thicke as haile he went on beating killing and chasing them euen to the foote of the mountaine Thus was that day most vnfortunate to the Ottoman and all his enterprises for that time fell out to be vaine and vnprofitable The assault was broken off the enemy was not seized vppon but without any losse vanished out of sight The audacity of the defendantes was augmented and encreased and the most part of the Turke his readiest and best souldiers lay dead before the walles of Sfetigrade besides the incredible hauocke and spoile of his munitions and artillery and other prouisions for the assault For the number of those which were slaine in that iourney was reckoned to be full three thousand and more then foure thousand hurt and wounded and infinit engines and instruments for the warre were broken in peeces and consumed with fire This victory cost the towns men the losse only offorty men but of them that were wounded the number was very great yet was there an inestimable quantity both of armes and other baggage found before the walles and caried into the towne whilest the enemy was busied in the pursuite of Scanderbeg which was some amends for the losse and dammage they had sustained For that day the Turke gaue no other attempt but retiring him selfe from before Sfetigrade he spent the whole night in sorrow and sadnesse silent and melancholicke On the other side the Prince of Epire holding him selfe sufficiently contented with this good and happy successe in that this discomfiture and repulse of the enemy did yeelde some time of respite to the besieged he made no longer stay there then whilest his souldiers must of necessity to breath themselues But he imediately after returned to his first campe where hee had left his baggage at his departure and there his people refreshed themselues both with sleepe and victuals The next day early the first thing hee did was to send away messengers who rode post to cary the ioyfull newes of the victory of Sfetigrade both to Vranocontes and to the other townes and peoples vnder his obeysance He him selfe the day following with two hundred horse onely taking his way through the height of the mountaines went to take a view of the demeanour and countenaunce of the enemie All things were there in quiet and the towne at good rest by meanes whereof being returned to his tentes he soiourned there two dayes longer and the third day trussing vp his baggage he remoued his camp into the vpper Dibria there entrenched him selfe in a place strongly seated and well defended about fifteene miles from Amurath The principall cause that moued him so often to remoue from one place to another was as I take it either for feare least the souldiers abiding long in one place certaine might accustome them selues to ouermuch idlenesse or least the enemy might thereby take some course and occasion either by some draught layed to surprize his person or to guard him selfe the better from those traines which the enemy should prepare to entrappe him Amurath all this while being exceedingly malcontent for the vnhappy euent of this first assault and badly digesting in his stomacke the rude repulse sustained by them of Sfetigrade after hee hadde now sufficiently tormented his thoughts with vaine consultations griefes and complaintes once againe hee called together the ministers of his rage and vengeaunce charging them diligently to consider of the site of the place and on what side the towne might be best inuaded and offended The place being once assigned he appointed the ordinaunce to be planted against it and then consumed three whole daies in battering the towne on that side thinking to haue dismanteled it by the the force of the Canon but their labour was all in vaine for albeit on that part the flankers of the wall were beaten downe and though fortifications which had bene made by hand did tumble to the ground yet the excellent and naturall strength of the place would not suffer it to be forced neither by any violence or industry that could be vsed against it For if it had bene laid wholly open and no man
and valure of the Christian Captaine did seeme vnto all of them to be inuincible yet did they attende neuerthelesse with great deuotion as the cōmon sort is desirous of nouelties to see the successe of so notable a spectacle Besides they were in hope that the aduantage of the fight and victorie falling to the one or the other of them it would be an occasion that the bloudines of the fight would be the sooner determined and their labour would be the more speedily at an end Many of them notwithstanding whose minds were more intentiue to higher matters and who were respectiue of their honour did diswade Ferybassa from this combat yet with gentle perswasions least they should seeme to haue imputed cowardice vnto him and they shewed him as well as they could that the triall of this combat was no lesse perilous then strange without any president or good example that the Generals of armies should not in their owne persons make themselues the obiect of a sight whereof they ought to be the beholders and the iudges that such contentions were proper vnto souldiers and were the offices of particular priuate persons that the charge of great Captaines was to giue counsell and to commaund rather then to fight and to handle the sword that if occasion were there would be store enough of others found who would valiantly vndertake this enterprise rather then that he by this ouer hardie fiercenesse and immoderate desire of danger should leaue at sixe and seuen and commit to blind chance and fortune the honor of the victory which they had in a maner sure and certaine Ferybassa hauing his eares shut to all these reasons and perswasions and litle or nothing regarding this good and wholsome counsell with a mind humor quite contratie set spurres to his horse and being attended with a strong squadron of horsmen went to call for Scanderbeg and with a loud voice willed him to prepare himselfe to his defence The king of Epyre albeit he had before heard almost the whole discourse of his aduersarie yet not remitting for all that the heate and fury of the battell already begunne but either dissembling or in respect of his royall dignitie disdayning him he would scarce turne his face towards him But when he saw the victorie already enclyning vnto him and that the barbarian did so presse and importune him then his fiercenesse being augmented with the new and happie successe of that aduantage he refused not the challenge but being all besprinckled and embrued with the bloud of his enemies he went well accompanied to meete with Ferybassa The fierce and austere countenance of the Epirot whom the Mahometan had prouoked to present himselfe there before him the wings of his owne legions being then in rout and disorder and the losse of so many of his souldiers might haue sufficed to disswade this rash and temerous Turke and to haue bethought himselfe better The view and pitiful regard of his misfortune ought to haue terrified him speedily to haue suppressed all desire of entring into combat Neuerthelesse whither it were the necessitie of his destiny that did constraine him or that the feare of shame infamy did restraine him he shewed not any change of his first resolution nor bewrayed any alteration of his courage Now in an instant both the one part the other ceased from fighting and the fury of the souldiers was staied by their Generals in such sort that betweene both the armies there was not heard or perceiued any noise nor any shew of malice and enmitie All things were still and quiet except certaine of the Lords chiefe Captaines of the Albanois who inuironning their Prince did endeuour sometimes by praiers and petitions and sometimes by their importunity to entreate him that he would not meddle with the clamarous and rayling beast and they told him moreouer that his head only after he were slaine did appertaine to their Generall but that his slaughter belonged vnto them was their dutie that it should redound more to his honor and more aduantage the estate of Albanie for the Ottoman to see that the souldiers of the Epirots were to be compared for their valure with the Captaines and leaders of the Turkes and that there was no comparison betweene their Generals Besides that it was not conuenient that so great a Prince should aduenture the reputation and honour of so many honourable exploites and the glorie and renowme purchased by so many yeares in combatting with one that was but a slaue and bondman to Amurath That it could be no increase or augmentation of honour or fame vnto Scanderbeg to ouercome this barbarian whereas Feribassa by this act might grow more triumphant and glorious then by all the deedes and demerits of his life before past All these perswasions notwithstanding Scanderbeg hauing highly commended and extolled their singular affection and good wils towards him whilest he was preparing himselfe to the ioust he thus replyed vnto them God defend quoth he my friends that as long as this hand of mine can handle the sword and as long as this bodie of mineretaineth his wonted strength and vigour that any of you should carrie away from me the successe of this aduenture the which whatsoeuer it be I referre to him that is the giuer of all victorie Reserue therefore these your offices of good will to some other season when you shall see me aged and stricken in yeares when my limmes beginne to faile and when I shall assure my selfe that my strength doth decay At this time you ought to haue a care least whilest you shew your selues too carefull of my life you doe enuie my honour and reputation And what would the enemy say if according to your request I should yeeld you the hazard of this combat but that my holding backe and refusing of the fight were but a meere dissimulation of my cowardice and a true confession of a fearefull and faint heart and that I durst not encounter him nor were comparable vnto him For to answere your obiections it is not amisse sometimes for a Generall of an armie to vndertake a combat as well as a priuate souldier That glorious combat of Alexander the Great with Porus king of the Indians was it any diminishing to his honour and reputation Did our auncestors euer discommend the fight that was betweene Pyrrhus and Pantachus I will not here speake of the Marcelli the Torquati and the Coruini who with the singular glorie both of themselues and their citizens haue ouercome their enemies that challenged them to the combat These are the hands that must vndertake this hazard for me it is that the enemie calleth with so many menaces and brauadoes to me it is that this cruell beast speaketh I could do litle if I should refuse him in such a matter and he might thinke me very vnkind if I should not satisfie his desire in so honest and reasonable a
ouerthrowen and ruinated by Iulius Caesar when he besieged Pompey and the Romaine Senate within the towne of Duras After which time it remained still in the same case desolation and there is not yet to this day any tract or appearaunce that it was euer restored or repared saue only that the inhabitants haue in some sort endeuored in continuance of time to renue it so far forth as it might serue them for their common vse and necessity As concerning the name thereof I find not that it had euer any other either at the first by imposition or since by vsurpation neither do the ancients make mention of any particular man to be the founder thereof And therefore we may referre the originall and foundation of it to the first inhabitors of it which the very name also doth demonstrate and antiquity testifieth no lesse And we see that the nation of the Parthinois was is euer accounted amongst the mostrenowmed peoples of Epire. Now at this time by another word themselues do call it Praese and they do not onely comprehend all those within the number of her inhabitants who dwell within the enclosures of her ruinous wals but euen them also who inhabit the suburbs and all other places adioyning with that territory and the place is in all parts very delectable wel stored with all kindes of commodities The people are a very war like kind of nation and they are at this day numbred amongst the other peoples of Albanie But at this time the report of the comming of the Barbarians had made them all to forsake their dwellings and with their families and housholdes to seeke refuge within the fortresses leauing the land naked and in a manner desert Sebalias hauing encamped his souldiers to the most aduantage and hauing fitted all things so conueniently that he might very well contemne set at naught all the force which the enemy should attempt against him he now tooke not any regard to any but to them only which were within the towne He had barred and stopped vp all the passages and waies leading to the city to the intent no succours nor victuals should be brought vnto them The Turkes had not brought with them any other weapons wherewith to annoy the besieged but only their lances cimitaries Besides Sebalias had no desire either to course ouer the country or to pil and spoile it being made wise by the old and late misfortune and mishaps of his companions And the Sultan also at his departure had expresly commaÌ„ded him straightly forbidden him except it were vpon an extremity not to make any attempt vpon the enemy The same consideration also withheld our men from seeking to fight with the Infidels and did vrge them to remit the good successe and encounter of this war to the comming of the Turkish Emperour For Scanderbeg being gone with part of his people to take a view of the campe of the Infidels and hauing learned some thing touching his purpose and counsels to the intent he might enterprise vpon him as he should see cause and oportunity hee found their puissance to be so great for they were 40000. men strong as they were the yeare before and their Generall did cary himselfe with such wonderfull prouidence and dexterity both in the seating of his campe and in ordering of all other his affaires that he retired himselfe vnto his Fort as secredy as he might without attempting any thing against them Besides he doubted least the Sultan should come sodainly vppon him and should charge him when he least suspected and so enclose and shut him vp behinde at his backe He remained therefore quiet within his trenches watching and attending the comming of Amurath that when he should once hane displaied all his forces and was planted with his whole campe before the walles then he might haue the more aduantage and coÌ„modity to inuado their tents dispersed here and there the multitude being in confusion and disorder and then hee might weary them with continuall onsets and inuasions especially when they had begun to assault the towne and that the best forces of the Ottoman being busied in diuerse actions their trenches might more fitly and conueniently be endaâ—â—â—aged During these counselles and deliberations so aduisedly plâ—â—â—ed by the Christians the royall ensignes of the Ottoman did dayly arriue more and more and the whole countrey was filled with armed souldiours In the end of Aprill Amurath the great Turke accompanied with Mahomet his sonne with the greatest of his nobility and the chiefest strength of his whole army ioyning him selfe to those forces which had already encamped before the city came and pitched his tents also before Croy where his Tombe was prouided and made ready for him There was litle lesse then twenty daies betweene the comming of the 〈…〉 and the arriuall of Amurath neither ought it to seeme strange vnto any man For by reason of the great burthen of the cariages of the army and the infinite baggage of the souldiers partly for the ease and pleasure of their soueraigne being now very aged and deep stricken in years they did not march aboue 5. miles a day Thus you haue Amurath now before Croy you may imagine that you see his companies lying dispersed all ouer the fieldes aud the towne enuironed and girt in on all sides so that there was no space no not a foote of ground round about the walles but it was couered with lodgings and pauilions insomuch that many of them were quartered more then 6. miles off neither was it possible that so excessiue a multitude should otherwise be lodged in any sort to their case and commodity The wonderfull sight of this spectacle was sufficient to haue abashed the corages of the most braue hardy not only of the souldiers but euen of the captains and leaders and to haue abated the stomacke of euery man not without some reason and cause of feare and terror by the contemplation of their owne proper perilles which might haue made them forgetful vnrespectiue of their religion of their country of their faith and fidelity and of all bonds of duty and common honesty Neuerthelesse such was the corage of the besieged far aboue the ordinary vse of men that they were nothing altered from their first purpose and resolution neither could the obiect of so pompous and fearefull a shew in any sort terrrifie them but rather taking thereby an occasion of greater hardines and constancy for the maintenaunce of their liberty and reputation which they had before apprehended in their generous aud noble hearts they did measure the greatnes of their glory and did imagine that the quality of their future triumph and honor should be recompenced according to the hugenes extremity of the perill then imminent Wherfore you might haue seene the souldiers standing vpon the wals as gallant and resolute as was possible euery man with a certaine kind of iealosie enquiring
raigne and Empyre from the which there is scarce any age or person exempted but hath some instinct and naturall motion thereunto Afterwards when it happeneth that the Emperour is deceased or that it is thought that his death is not farre off the Bassaes and others who are of greatest power and authoritie both with the people and in the gouernment of the estate doe send away speedie poastes and letters to the one and other of the sonnes of the Prince last deceased according as eche man is particularlie affected and they doe from point to point aduertise him of all things willing him to hasten his comming that he may get the possession of the crowne and seate himselfe in the succession of the Empyre then readie to fall voide and emptie It is a sport to see with what contention these great men doe studie to surprize the packettes and curriers of each other whilest that euerie one of them laboureth to get the scepter to that partie to whom he is most affected and euerie one doth his best and worst to beguile his companion Nowe when these young Princes are thus sollicited with what vehemencie with what fancies and affection they do come poasting from all partes to beare away the prize thus in question I leaue it to your imagination Certaine it is that he amongst them all that can first get to the streights of Gallipolie or Hellespont he commonly is the man that obtaineth the soueraignitie of the Empire for that the Ianissaries comming to meete and to salute him doe afterwardes all at leasure easily and quietly put him in possession of the kingdome The other brethren are forthwith eyther banished or exiled out of all the territories and limits of their dominions or else are cruelly and vnnaturally slaine and murthered for feare least there should remaine so me cause of ciuill tumults and sedition Hence is deriued that prouerbe vsed by the auncients That more fortunately are children borne to priuate persons then to Princes But now of all this nothing could happen in this manner vnto Mahomet for neither had he any brethren of sufficient age eyther fit to gouerne the Realme or able to attempt or to obtaine the kingdome neither did he returne as a priuate person out of Asia but with a most strong and mightie armie which he brought backe out of the enemies countrie where he had bene before saluted and proclaymed King and Emperor by the vniuersall consent of all the souldiers in generall For this cause he came peaceably and quietly to the Empire without any commotion without any danger or difficultie and with the exceeding ioy and incomparable gladnesse of the whole Communaltie Now had they forgotten the losse of their late deceased Prince and all griefe and sorrowe for his death was vanished together with his memorie The calamities and slaughters lately receiued in Epyre and the obsequies and funeralles of their companions were nowe cleane worne out of minde and there was scarce any one by reason of this newe pompe and tryumphe which did apperceiue or obserue the poore reliques of their miserable defourmed armie or that did remember by reason they were so drowned in ioy what goodly forces and what strong squadrons they had sent into Epyre in respect of those which were thence returned and were brought home againe The new Monarke whose delight was in bloudshed and cruelty as much as any that euer raigned thought it good to looke to his affaires and to prouide for the security of his estate and he had an intention to settle some of them in good assurance and of others to make a change and innouation The first deede that he did was to make diligent inquisition if he could finde any other aliue besides himselfe that was descended from the loines of Amurath vpon whom after the maner of his predecessors he might poure out the venome of his hatefull ambition There were found two infants the one called Tursines of the age of eighteene moneths the other was called Calepin The former was cast into the water and drowned by the expresse commaundement of Mahomet who gaue it in charge to Moses one of his Bassaes to see it executed and he without any difficulty or relenting did easily yeeld to assist so execrable a spectacle The mother of the infant detesting the deede and exclaiming vppon the brutishnes of the fact with howlings and horrible cries intermingled with continuall tears and lamentations did poure out a thousand curses against the author of the murther being there in presence The tyrant to appease his mother in law did deliuer into her hands in expiation of his Parricide him that was the executioner and shee full of rage and extreame fury with a knife stabbed him to the heart euen in the presence of Mahomet and then ripping vp his body shee diued searched into his bowels for his heart which hauing found shee pulled it forth cast it the dogs A most worthy and notable lesson for men of a corrupt mind who can be content to staine their consciences and to prostitute them selues and their affections to serue the furious passions of great men and princes As concerning the other child named Calepin the common report is that Caly Bassa to get the good wil of Mahomet such is the inconstancy of mortall men who do gladly follow the fortune of the most puissant did present the infant vnto him being then but of the age of six moneths and the only ioy and delight of his mother the widow of Amurath who in his second mariage with this woman the daughter of one Sponderbeg the noble Prince of Penderacia had begottē this yong infant had committed him to the custody of this Bassa and recōmended him to his especial care at such time as he drew neare his end Mahomet being enformed by womē of good knowledge that he was of the linage of his father caused him speedily to be strangled and then with great magnificence celebrated his obsequies at Bursa by this means consecrating the first fruits and beginnings of his cruel Empire with the bloud of his owne brethren How beit others write that Caly Bassa did prefer another childe in stead of Calepin who was still nourished and brought vp in Constantinople amongst the Greekes and that afterwards in the shipwracke and ruines of that noble city he with some others being left aliue was conueied thence and that in the end during the Papacy of Calixtus the third he was entertained at Rome in the Vatican where being instructed in the true religiō regenerat in holy baptisme he wēt after that to the court of the Emperour Fredericke in Almaine of whom being receiued according to the honor due vnto so great a Prince he spent the rest of his daies in Austriche You see what diuersity there is between writers in this behalfe notwithstanding in my iudgement it hath no great likelihood or probability that Amurath should be able to
should not be vnpleasing to the posterity so doe I suppose also that the readers of the same at this present will not be wearied by seeing as it were in a table the outward and inward habite of so accomplished and perfect a warriour who though he were an enemy yet was a most puissaunt a most fortunate and a most renowmed Prince Besides also that a good part of the praise and commendation of our Epirot doth consist in the comparing and resembling of these two together For by how much more we doe sometimes iustly condemne and sometimes iustly extoll the former by so much doth the valour and felicity of the other shine forth and appeare more glorious Whilest the spirites of the Turkes were attentiuely contemplating vpon their new Monarch and that hee was busily occupied in the care of his priuate and domesticall affaires the King of Epire the meane while did employ both his time and diligence in repairing the ruines of Croy. He did altogether renue the old fortifications which were partly ruinous with antiquity and length of time and partly razed and beaten downe by force of the Cannon and he added others vnto them of a better forme and proportion and of more surety and security then those which were vsed by the ancient simplicity when this thundering of Ordinaunce was not in vse and this diuelishe inuention of the Cannon did not yet amaze and terrifie strong and defenced townes but that all exploites and deedes of armes did onely and ordinarily consist in the stout stomackes and strength of hardy souldiours and in the armes valour and prowesse of valiaunt men O that it had pleased God that the inuentor and first author of this Art so famous and notorious had neuer beene knowen and that our age had neuer brought forth such an inuention It may be we should haue seene many more Hectors more Epaminondaes more Scipioes more Rolandes The yeelding of townes and holdes would not haue bene so ready and the courages of people would not so soone haue bene forced or withdrawen from fidelity and loyalty to the breach of their faith and to periury If the auncient ages and forepassed times had beene acquainted with such artificiall sleightes and inuentions we should not at this day haue had the name nor memoriall continued either of their Captaines so highly renowmed or of their souldiers so greatly commended Achilles had not borne away the honour of the death of Hector nor AEneas of Turnus nor Cossus of Volumnius but some base Groome and some abiect and vile companion The tenne yeares siege of Troy would neither haue drawen against that city the armes and the eies of the whole world neither would it haue ministred fit and worthy matter for so many excellent wits from age to age to historize vpon the actes accidents of that war We should not haue admired that lōg obstinacy of the Tarentines We shold haue madelesse reckoning of the constancy both of the Saguntines the Numantines Antiquity would not haue talked of Petilia in Calabria and the obscure towne of Cassilin would not so often haue scorned and contemned the fury of Hanniball that braue Chiefetaine of the Carthaginians Wherefore as the noble wittes and quicke conceipted spirites of our time haue on the one side giuen vs good matter to write of by reason of this and such like rare and ingenious inuentions so on the other side by meanes of this inuention much more beyond all comparison haue they depriued the Historiographer of all good occasion to employ his penne any more in writing For now from henceforth will not true valour be able to shew it selfe to no purpose is it for souldiours to vse the Art of fighting and to practise the skill of weapons and in vaine is it to learne to handle the sword the buckler and such like or to practise any other kind of fight hand to hand And what then forsooth they vse now to fight aloofe and to make warres a farre off and field seruices consist most in loose and light skirmishes But returne we from whence we haue digressed Amongest other fortifications newly made in the towne of Croy at the gate of the towne Scanderbeg caused a great and strong towre to be builded the walles whereof from the bottome vpward went not straight and euen vpright but were raised a slope and bending in manner of a counterscarfe to the intent the Cannon should be the lesse able to play vppon it The other partes and quarters also of the towne both within and without were repaired and fortified without any intermission by the aduisement and directions of good and skillfull Enginers In the meane time whilest these were in doing the Princes and nobles his nearest kinsmen did importune Scanderbeg without ceasing and did shew the vehement desire which each man had to see him maried and to haue children descended of him Especially now at this time when all things as they sayed were exempted from feare and mistrust and now that all daungers were ouer gone and past and that the enemies were withdrawen from all care of Armes both by reason of their late misfortune and by the motions and tumults which doe vsually accompany the change of a new King at his first comming to the Crowne that he ought not to frustrate the hearty wishes and desires of so many people 's his subiects and confederates of this ioy and comfort especially in such a season for it was in the moneth of May when all things did seeme to reioyce and flourish and which did inuite him thereunto with promise of nothing but ioy mirth and gladnesse That therefore he should suffer him selfe once to be entreated and perswaded by his people who would take more pleasure and contentment in this onely then in all his victories obtayned against Amurath Albeit the Prince of Albany were vnwilling to enter into this band yet weighing all matters and circumstances with iudgement and sound aduise it seemed vnto him more expedient and for his honour to consent thereunto then to hold off and to vary from his former promise which he had made vnto them the yeare last past at the instant and earnest request of all his subiectes For this cause he condescended vnto their desire and committed the care of the whole matter to the iudgement and wisedome of Musache Thopie his sisters sonne and some two or three others to whom he imparted his minde in that behalfe At that time Ariamnites Comminat of whom hath beene before spoken did excell all the Princes and Lords of Epire both in puissaunce and largenesse of dominions as also in noblesse and antiquity of bloud he had one daughter named Doniqua worthy no doubt of such afather and the true Idea and Image of all perfection of beauty which is one not of the least excellencesse and a thing not meanely respected in women Wherefore Scanderbeg tooke no care for any other match nor Ariamnit for any other
within their walles and vnder the succour and couert of their bastils and defences will be able with pleasure to affront vs and hauing abundance of all necessaries they may as it were with the one hand hold their weapons and armes readie to defend them sclues whilest with the other they do repaire and renue their forces their rampiets And what shall we do the whilest Onely we haue the aduantage of our corages prodigall carelesse of our owne safeties and obstinately addicted to assaile force the enemy For to speake of any artillery it is not vnknown vnto vs both at the siege of Sfetigrade and at other places how litle good it doth and will do especially in this vnseasonable time of winter and against places so defencible strong by nature seated vpon rocks mountaines which are vnbatterable impregnable I cōclude therfore that it behoueth vs with all our power and endeuors to shun auoyd these vaine attempts and this wilful losse and destruction of our souldiers and it behoueth men of valor and wisedome to attend a conuenient time and season as good and skilful sailers vse to do when they are to make their voyage Neither will this delay any thing diminish or abate our courages nor will it adde any stomach to our enemies Touching the warre of the Persians if I may speake what I thinke of it for my part I do repose little or no trust therein at this time for either wil the report of all those skirmishes and commotions vanish away to smoke and come to nothing or else it is like that the Persians will deferre and put off their armes till some other time of better oportunitie All this notwithstanding most valiaunt Prince the mirrour of magnanimitie we will not hinder thy determinations but if thou doest thinke that thine owne opinion and conceipt in this point be more for the benefite and aduantage of the Estate and for the publike and common reputation we will march on with a good will and will cheerefully follow thy ensignes wheresoeuer it shall please thee to leade vs we will frame and fit our tongues and our speeches our handes and our actions yea the very times and seasons to serue onely at thy good will and pleasure and as it shall seeme good vnto thee In thy company the snow shall be pleasant the showers shall seeme sweete the winter shall be thought milde and all things shall be gracious acceptable and pleasing vnto vs no trauels no difficulties no hazardes nor any kinde of dangers shall grieue or discontent vs so long as thou art our leader and commaunder so long as we may enioy the happie presence of thy vertues and may follow the greatnesse of thy fortunes Scanderbeg perceiuing how his subiects were affected and the rather for that they spake nothing but what was true and certaine he suffered himselfe soone and easily to be perswaded by them according to that curtesie bountie of his good nature wherewith he did euer draw the affections of the cōmunalty to loue honor him Wherefore the Counsell being broken vp the assembly dismissed the souldiers licensed to depart he permitted euery man to retire to his owne home At the beginning of the sommer he had left the Queene at Petralba as afterwards also in the same season of the yere he vsed alwayes during his life to do the like to thintent that during the extreme heate of sommer till the end of Autumne she might remaine there for her more solace and recreation the rest of the yere she vsually spent at Croy except it were at such times as the Turks came into Epire or that the country was troubled with any immoderate forces extraordinary puissance of the enemy For then when it stood vpō the hazard of his whole estate he transported her with all her houshold the most precious things of all her furniture and moueables vnto Colchina a sea towne of the Venetians or to some other such like place farre remoued and out of the way Now that he hadde dismissed his army he him selfe with Amese and very small traine went to the Queene to Petralba Vnder this castell was a plaine of singuler beauty and very pleasaunt both for the admirable recreation which the very nature of the place did affoorde as also by reason of the notable diligence of the inhabitants who had bene very curious and industrious in trimming and husbanding of the soile For it wanted not any fruites vines plants or trees nor any thing in the world which might seeme either to adorne and beautifie the countrey or to make it blessed and happy In this place during that quarter of the yeare did the Queene make her abode accompanied with her Ladies maides and officers On all sides was the plaine enuironned with wood and thickets and with many narrow straights and vallies in a manner vnaccessible amongst the which Scanderbeg held continuall watch and ward keeping a great number of souldiers to guard and defend the place which was also singularly well prouided and furnished with armes men victuals other munitions for all occurrences and accidents of Fortune whatsoeuer Hauing made but small stay at Petralba he remoued with his Queene backe againe to Croy where also he had no long rest For as Vranocontes most sagely and wisely had prognosticated newes came within a while and the report encreased daily that the Persian was retired the tumults of that war appeased and all sturs and commotions pacified and that the Turkish Monarch being freed from this feare did minde to bend his forces against the Albanians Scanderbeg was greatly troubled with these tidings neuerthelesse he told his subiectes openly that in this case it was requisite to vse armes and good counsell and not choller and indignation Howbeit he was in good hope that the enemy would not march in a season so contrary discommodious Yet did he presently moūt on horse backe and taking with him not aboue fiftie horse he left Croy his chiefe citie and drewe towardes the frontiers where Moses lay in garrison there to take some more certaine counsell and aduise for the maner of his proceedings When he came thither he found that to be true in effect which had bene reported vnto him at Croy. For this cause hauing leuied and mustered in great hast about 5000. men he retired with them into the lower Dibria where he was wont to encampe and to winter his armie aduertising Moses and others not to stirre nor attempt any thing till they saw him approch with his troups Scarce did there passe ten dayes betweene these preparations and the comming of the Turkes the which being discouered by them of the garrison in the newe fortresse at Modrissa and being mindfull of the instructions giuen them by their Soueraigne they signified the same accordingly by the shot of the Canon This signall was receiued first by the paizants and inhabitants of the
countrey and afterwardes by Scanderbeg in so good time that trussing vp baggage in the night with as much silence as was possible he made towardes the enemie Moses was not then present at that seruice for by reason that the infidels did take their way farre off from the place where he lay he would not leaue those passages vngarded which were committed to his charge for feare lest the Painim being either victorious or vanquished should finde that passage vnfurnished and without resistance The selfe same night did the Barbarian vse incredible celeritie diligence in his iourney they were about twelue thousand fighting men and no more all on horsebacke chosen and well appointed both to giue a charge brauely and to beare a shocke as resolutely and Mahomet thought it not good to vse anie greater troupes in this expedition Our Christian forces were in a maner equally parted their numbers both of horsemen and footemen being neere alike The night was now almost spent and the day readie to breake when as Scanderbeg being enformed by his discouerers of the way that Amesa tooke for so was the Generall Turke named and being fauoured by the silence of the night he seized vpon a part of the mountaine of Modrissa hauing a purpose to surprise the enemie who being ignorant of this stratageme had nowe passed the mountaine of Mocrea and being entred the valley that lay betweene that and the mount Modrissa were euen readie to get vp the hill to the intent that passing from thence farther into the heart of the Prouince he might the better ouer-reach Scanderbeg and destroy the plaine countrey Part of his people were nowe gotten to the place and being entangled amongest the craggie rockes and the steepe descents of the mountaine their horses were euen out of breath with mounting to the toppe Others likewise followed close after them and many of them were as yet scarce passed the valley when as the Generall of the Christians giuing the signall of the fight with a great crie and a terrible noyse no otherwise then as a mightie streame did fall suddenly vpon them from aboue ouerthrowing and beating them downe being alreadie wearied and well neare tyred both them and their horses The first that made head against them were the footemen whom Scanderbeg employed in the beginning of the seruice by reason of the situation and qualitie of the place doubting lest if his horsemen should haue charged the fall of the hill with the force of their owne violence might haue borne them on with more extremitie then he was willing and so being caried headlong downe the mountaine they might haue wrought their owne ruine and destruction The principall praise therefore and the chiefe commendation of this victorie appertained to the footemen The Turkes which were gotten vp to the top casting away their launces defended them selues with their cimitaries but by reason that their horses could not get anie good and sure footing their blowes were vncertaine and their force was to little purpose The Christians couering themselues with their Targets did first kill and ouerthrow their horses and then all at pleasure had their willes of the riders manie of whom perceiuing this strange and vnaccustomed kinde of daunger dismounted from their horses and eyther fought on foote or sought to saue themselues by retyring into the valley towardes their companions and to reserue themselues to a more sure exploit and to a safer kinde of seruice Amese the Christian being accompanied with a strong and mightie troupe of horse was sent by his Vncle to the other side of the mountaine where the descent was more facile and easie and there beganne an other fight in the streightes and most narrowe passages of the valley In this meane while was it faire day light by which time the surplus and rest of the horsemen who were of Scanderbeg his battallion hauing first repulsed the enemie beganne to make into the plaine Of the footemen some pursued the enemie others kept at the foote of the mountaine from whence with their bowes and arrowes they spent good store of shot vppon them whom they sawe broken and out of order On the one side where the way seemed more free and open for the enemie Castroit did fiercely presse vppon them close at their backes on the other side Amese the Christian had shut in and as it were besieged Amese the Turkish Generall who seeing not anie likelihoode nor apparance either of victorie or of safetie was oftentimes importuned and vrged by the Albanois to render himselfe which at length to his great griefe he was contented to yeeld vnto and laying aside his armes he gaue him his faith to be true prisoner In like manner infinite others yeelding to their ill fortune did by their captiuitie giue an ende to their woundes and determined the conflict The victorie being assured the souldiers fell to make bootie of their baggage All their Ensignes and Standards were gayned and seuen thousand men were counted dead vpon the place The most part of their horses were either slaine or maymed and yet did this victorie cost the Christians litle bloud or none at all for they lost not in the fight aboue 30 persons at the most Amese the Turkish Generall according to the right of the law of armes was graunted to Amese the Christian by his Vncle who willed him to leade him amongst other prisoners to Croy with some part of the spoiles gotten vpon the enemy especially the standards the residue were liberally graunted and deuided amongst the souldiers The King of Epyre hauing continued certaine daies in that place to ouerrunne the frontiers of the Infidels to dismisse his souldiers to visit order dispose of all things returned to Croy against the feast of Christmas At his arriuall all the multitude both old and young pell mell in great and huge troupes flocked together to receiue him and they met him without the gate with many acclamations and popular applauses much more great and farre exceeding beyond all comparison all that had beene vsed and accustomed For it was a common speech and talke amongst them that God had now giuen them a manifest signe pledge of their good fortune and that they shold preuaile as well against the new Monarch as against his predecessour also that they were assured vnder the conduct of their Prince to haue like fortune good happe against the sonne as they had of late against the father So fond and vaine are the imaginations and iudgements of the ignorant rude communaltie that by one only accident be it neuer so meane and according as the successe of the first beginnings doth more or lesse please them so do they measure interpret the second the middle the last euents of worldly actions especially if their owne desires and affections and the promises of fortune doe concurre and do seeme to ioyne and agree in one During the solemnitie of
battell and pushed forward the Standard-bearer with his hand telling him that he was but an ill prognosticator vnto himselfe and he saide with a loud voice that it behoued them vpon such an opportunitie to take the aduantage of the time and to charge the enemie that this was no other but the casualtie and inconstancie of the spring time and new season of the yeare namely of the moneth of March and that before they should be able to come to handie-stroakes with the enemie they should see the ayre would waxe cleare and as calme and pleasant as before Whereupon the souldiers being recomforted and interpreting it to be a signe of their owne good fortune they did both mutually encourage one another and they put their leaders likewise in a better hope and comfort By this time the weather being cleared as Scanderbeg had foretolde the brightnesse of the moone-light encreasing with her course and the neerenesse of their troupes did now discouer the approach of the Albanois which hastened on eche mans fortune eyther good or bad The enemie at the first being astonished and vnresolued stoode a while in suspence whether they should fight or flie or whether it were best to temporize The darkenesse of the night did much augment their terrour and the audacitie of the Christians whom they sawe to be aduaunced so farre without their confines and from their owne dwellings On the contrarie this seemed to encourage them and to encrease their hardinesse in that they knewe they were to fight not in the enemies countrie where they might be in feare of ambushments and surprises But the principall point that made them to cast awaie all feare was the multitude and valure of their troupes which was enough euen to make the veriest cowards to be ashamed to thinke of flight Wherefore in the ende Debreas giuing a signe to beginne the fight willed them to goe to the charge and calling to minde his owne great and large promises made to the Ottoman and the instructions giuen him he animated his souldiers and coursing vppe and downe nowe here now there thus did he incense and egge them on more fiercely against the enemie On on braue souldiers quoth he now is the time come that you shall be fully reuenged of your wrongs and repaire the honour which heretofore we haue lost now may you auenge you of your imprisonment of the losse of your fellowes and your owne bloud See how these Champions of the night doe hasten against you see how they come bringing as it were bondes and fetters to manacle your handes They thinke they shall encounter here with their courteous hoast Amese they are perswaded that they shall be fauoured by the vallies of Mocrea and the thickets of Modrissa and these dens starting holes which are the ordinary refuges of theeues and robbers Behold with what securitie and suertie the battell is offered vnto you euen in a manner at home and at your owne doores If your selues will they cannot stand against you neither for valure nor for number and you can not desire a place more fit and conuenient to fight on horsebacke For my part either will I loose my life together with you and here will I rest if not fortunate yet free amongst the dead bodies of my deerest companions or else by your prowes and vertue I will so carrie and demeane my selfe as the seuere iudgement of our Prince shall haue no cause to reproue vs. Goe to then my good friends let euery man be of good courage none did desire this voyage so earnestly as we none did accept the iourney with more ioy and gladnesse If we be conquerors none can expect greater glorie nor greater rewardes then are prepared for vs if we be vanquished as great will be the frownes the scornes and the reproofe which will be laid vpon vs. Thus saying he sent forth a certaine number of souldiers in manner of forlorne hope to skirmish with the Christians and to keepe them play that whilest they did stoppe and hinder their furie and violence himselfe in the meane time might take some sure course vpon the hazard of his whole forces in the maine fight and then afterwards by little and little he came to trie the fortune of the field Scanderbeg on the other side thus spake vnto his men How now my souldiers what a shame is this Haue they that were of late your prisoners taken armes now againe Haue they the courage to oppose themselues against you that were their maisters See these infamous reliques of the campe of Amese they complaine and they cry out against you that you were but bad banquetters For it is the fashion at great banquets and it is the dutie of right banquetters to leaue nothing behind them behold here I see other store also of fresh and new forces with their new Generall what other thing is it then a newe matter and obiect of greater glorie downe with them ouerthrowe them as you were wont you braue Albanois Let not our faintnesse and slothfulnesse cast vs out of the possession of ouâ— wonted good fortune let not our aduersaries haue any occasion to say by our present misfortune that it was Modrissa and the vallies of Mocrea and not we that did of late vanquish them let the plaine and open fieldes giue plaine and apparant proofe of your valiant hearts and vndaunted valure In this manner admonishing and encouraging his companies he tooke especiall care that his souldiers should keepe themselues firme in good â—rray and order of battell to the intent the ranckes might not be confounded and intermingled but might be discerned and distinguished from the enemie And he had this reason especially for that the smaller number being once disordered might easily be forced and ouerthrowen by the greater And because he durst not relie too much vpon the strength of those loose troupes which he had made out to encounter and to beginne the fight with the Barbarians he caused Moses and Amese with a strong squadron of chosen men to make head against the enemie which was comming to giue the onset vpon him doubting least if at the beginning of the battell they in the forefront should happen to be repulsed both his owne people might be the more troubled and terrified and the enemie the better hartened and encouraged As for the rest of his squadrons he kept them close and excellently well ordered in great silence In like case the Infidell either doubting the obscuritie of the night or conforming his counsels to the renour and demeanour of the Christians stirred not at all but with his battell close arraunged and in good array he held himselfe quiet as a beholder of the fight Thus the conflict betweene the vauntcurrours on the one side and the other did seeme to represent as it were a pleasant combat and the two armies on both partes did carefully attend in great doubt the euent and hazard of the battell which it behoued them
violat thy faith and loyalty and to conspire against thy country against thy Prince against thy frends and companions against thy religion against thy owne dignity and honor against the security of thy own estate vpon a vaine hope of some idle conceited good hap and of a thing meerely doubtfull and vncertaine Whilest the Dibrian did remaine thus perplexed turmoiled with the vncertainty of his owne thoughts behold our gentle messenger is againe returned plentifully furnished and prouided not onely with words farre more sweete and plausible but with rich giftes and sumptuous presents yet I doe not finde that Moses did accept of any of them but that onely his mind was now throughly possessed with a disposition enclining to infidelity and treason Notwithstanding the aunswere which he made to the messenger did sufficiently discouer the malady of his minde for he willed him to come no more into his presence that he did most humbly thanke the Sultan for his great fauour and good will and promised him so to cary and demeane himselfe that from thenceforward he should not find him to be his enemy Thus whilest that Scanderbeg being ignoraunt of the counsels of Mahomet doth send abroad espials on all sides to sound and search out his determinations the Infidelles are plotting and deuising how to worke him a greater mischiefe and to ouerwhelme him with a daunger farre more pernicious It hath bene before touched how that both Scanderbeg and his subiects did delay and put off the warre and the besieging of townes for a season to a time then prefixed and appointed which being now expired and no newes of any motions or tumults heard of from Andrinople but that all things were in good rest and quietnesse the king of Albany bethought and deuised with him selfe what expedition were best to be vndertaken and what things were requisite to haue it well and orderly executed To this end he was resolued if he might to aide him selfe with the succours of the Italians considering that though his subiects were excellent in fighting of maine battels and in combatting hand to hand in the plaine field yet did he not thinke them to be fitte or sufficient for the assaulting of holdes and the forcing of townes and such like seruices Alphonsus King of Sicily and Naples of whom mention hath beene often made did keepe his Court continually at Naples which was not farre distant from thence And for as much as not onely Scanderbeg but in a manner all Christendome did vse this Prince with a kind of familiarity he tooke care to vse the helpe of no other but of him onely assuring him selfe that of all the Princes and Potentates Christian he should not finde any more willing nor more ready to aide and assist him For this cause before hee would proclaime any leauy or muster of men within his Prouince he caused two good and strong shippes to be rigged trimmed and made ready which being richly furnished and fraughted with many excellent and sumptuous presentes he sent with two of the greatest and noblest persons of his kingdome vnto Alphonsus with letters written in most familiar and pleasaunt manner Some afffrme that because hee would finde him the more ready to send him succours he did require Alphonsus by this Ambassade to receiue him into his safegard and protection but the Epistle ensuing speaketh not a word of any such matter neither doe I dare to auerre it for trueth The tenour of those letters were as followeth To the most noble and victorious Prince Alphonsus king of Arragon Naples and Sicilie Scanderbeg king of the Epirots sendeth health and prosperity Our souldiours most Catholique King know how to fight with men onely in the field but for the assaulting of walles and holdes they are vtterly ignorant You Italians as I heare are very skillfull in that kinde of seruice and you loue it well this is the cause that wee at this time haue neede of your good aide which we desire you to impart vnto vs. The Infidelles are possessed of certaine of our townes in Epire and I haue for a long time had a singular desire to plucke this thorne if God be so pleased out of my foote but the continuall impedimentes and hinderaunces of the warres hauing euer withheld me I haue not bene able to this day to bring it to any good passe Wherefore to the intent I might accomplish my desire I haue made choise of this oportunity being most fit both in regard of the season now present as also of the ley sure and rest which Mahomet hath permitted vs whose fury we haue now repressed in two seuerall combattes and battelles You may gesse by few wordes what it is that we haue neede of all other things are in a readinesse onely we stay for succours and aide from you which if it shall please your Maiesty you may send vnto vs namely Harguebushiers and Crossebowes such as are skilfull to fight aloofe and to trouble the enemy a farre off for of other souldiours our dominions are sufficiently well furnished But ô how happy may I account Naples and Sicily which are gouerned by such a king as my Alphonsus from whence as out of a treasury a man may haue choise of all presidentes and examples of vertue If we haue neede of your people either in peace or in war both our estate hath bene furthered by your lawes and our warres haue bene maintained by your armes For my part I doe so highly esteeme of your loue and good will and the memory of your exceeding great benefits doth remaine so sacred inuiolable in my mind that many times I wish though perhaps therein I ouershoot my selfe that your fortune and estate were such as you might haue occasion to try and proue rather then to purchase and tie your friends vnto you For so should I be able by some certaine and euident proofe to testifie my deuotion and ready seruice and the entire affections of my vnfained loue towards you The Ambassadors hauing had their dispatch with these letters Scanderbeg made a iourney into Dibria where the garrison then lay and had in his company Amese his nephew Musache his brother in law and some other of his Lordes and nobles with whom he purposed there to consult vpon the estate of his affaires and to take some order for the leauying of an army Being arriued there he demanded of Moses whether he had learned any newes that concerned the estate being so neare and continuall a neighbour to the enemy His aunswer was That he heard of none but quoth he I haue had conference of late with a man of Sfetigrade to see if there could be found any way or meane to get that place from the enemy but he hath protested and sworne vnto me with great oaths that it is so carefully guarded and so circumspectly gouerned with watch and ward day and night and it is so aboundantly furnished and prouided of al
downe the fielde to saue himselfe and the rest of his men by making towardes the mountaine for other place of refuge there was none thereabouts where he might if not auoid yet at least wise delay the extreamitie of the daunger But the enemie hauing shut vp all the wayes by which he might safely make a retrait and he being inclosed on all sides as in a parke with the inestimable multitude of his enemies and seeing that both his life and honor did now hang in the ballance of chaunce and casualtie with a desperate resolution turning his valour and prowesse into rage and furie he terrified the enemie with the wonderfull astonishment of his hardines and audacitie and euen in the middest of them fighting valiantly he left his life worthy of eternall praise and commendation for the many worthie seruices done to his Prince and countrey Tanusee Thopie on the other side albeit he werein no lesse distresse yet hauing a compassion at the mishap of his vncle he seemed to forget all other occasions and as a man transported with outrage and furie did enforce himselfe many times by charging valiantly vpon the enemie to open him a free way and passage But in the end knowing all his endeuors to be in vaine and that there now remained no other point of charitie to be shewed towardes him vnlesse he would beare him companie in the like vnhappie end he thought it best to forbeare fighting to the intent he might saue the rest which were left and hauing gathered them neere about him he perswaded them to secure theÌ„selues by flying The like did Tanusee Gynache and the residue howbeit that their flight did abate little or nothing of their daunger nor of the slaughter For the Turkes being dispersed here and there and deuided into seuerall bandes and squadrons some of them did continue enuironing of Musache and his companie as long as there remained any of them liuing and others pursuing after those that fled did neuer giue ouer the aduantage which they had gotten but followed it to the singular and extreame dammage of the Christians He that should haue seene this disorder would haue thought that that good fortune which had euer heretofore seconded the Albanois had now left and forsaken them to follow the part of the Infidels Scanderbeg whose tents were somewhat further remoued from this bickering was oftentimes about to haue descended into the plaine with a full determination to doe his best and last endeuours for the ayding and succouring of his people or by his owne death to make the victorie of Sebalias much more noble and glorious But being earnestly and instantly entreated by his Nobles not to enterprise any thing but vpon aduantage nor to expose himselfe vnaduisedly to a death ineuitable he gâ—ashed with his teeth and with his mouth all bloudie he was cleane out of patience and stirring vp and downe on all sides he tormented and vexed himselfe with extreame griefe and discontentment For this one thing which is reported of him is not to be omitted that whensoeuer he was vpon the point readie to charge the enemie likewise in the heate and furie of the fight besides other strange signes of chaunge and alteration in his countenance his neather lippe would commonly cleaue a sunder and yeeld forth great abundance of bloud a thing oftentimes marked and obserued in him not onely in his martiall actions and exploites but euen in his ciuill affayres whensoeuer his choller did abound and that his anger did exceede more then ordinarie The Generall of the Painims hauing cut in peeces the bands of Musache together with their Captaine followed the chase after Tanusee and the rest which discamped with him of whom he ouerthrew a great number that neuer recouered and he left behinde him his rereward the same being but weakely and simply guarded wherby you may coniecture that he made but small account of our troups that were encamped vpon the mountaine Peraduenture he did it because he saw them enclosed and he thought after the victorie of the plaine field was once fully assured that he should be able with ease to intercept and cutte them off or it may be for that the heate and furie of the fight and the hast which he made to follow the chase did make him to forget them But it was the occasion that he lost the oportunitie of seeing the finall ende of his aduersarie and of obtayning a full and absolute triumph for that daies iourney When the King of Albanie saw that there was litle or no daunger behind from the rereward of the enemies armie he drew forth his squadrons with singular good aduise and iudgement and descended downe into the plaine according as the present trouble and confusion would giue him leaue placing his infanterie in the middest and enuironning them with his horsemen All this while did not they of the towne make any sally forth vpon the Christians neither whilest they fought nor at their departure which is a thing much to be wondered at considering that the besieged did plainly see what a notable aduantage their fellowes had gotten against their enemies and that all things were safe and sure on their part It seemed they stood in feare as it is often seene of those who were no lesse affraied of them Notwithstanding at such time as Scanderbeg did depart the gates were speedily set open and the multitude ranne foorth to sacke the campe of the Christians before that the souldiers who had purchased the victorie could come to ioyne with them in the same They tooke away at their pleasure whatsoeuer they thought good but especially the Artillerie which they caried into the towne with a notable crie and clamour testifying their exceeding great ioy Scanderbeg without any care taken for the bodie of Musache at this time especially wherein he had more need of reuenge then of succours put himselfe with great furie in the tayle of those who had the Christians in chase both beating and hewing them at their backes and crying instantly to those that fled that they should turne and make head against their enemies take the benefit of the new succours which he brought them without the which it is most sure and certaine they had bene but in bad taking Herewithall those Cornets of Turks which were left behinde for the rereward and they also which had bene at the killing of Musache and his troups letting alone their companions and our men which were together fighting did scatter themselues all ouer the fielde in diuerse quarters wholly applying themselues to gather the spoiles and prey of the dead bodies which was an occasion that Scanderbeg was greatly eased and recomforted hauing the fitter oportunitie both to terrifie the Infidels and to stop the flight of his owne people For assoone as Sebalias perceiued that Scanderbeg did presse vppon his backe and did hinder the course and honour of his victorie he caused his Cornets to
turne and to wheele about and went speedily and roundly to encounter him not without some losse both giuen and taken on both parties After a while he withdrewe himselfe aside causing his armie to retire and to recuile a litle till he had renued the ranckes of his battell and that he had gathered together his souldiours that were dispersed and disordered In like manner Scanderbeg was not verie importunate vpon him whilest he thus temporized and delayed the fight but he emploied his thoughts likewise in the reallying of his forces and reuniting them together in one But the Barbarian could not long endure to suffer him for though his owne battallions were sore trauelled and wearied and were not as yet fully reordered and redressed yet did he beginne to presse vpon him and he gaue a freshe charge and onset vppon our men and as it were in disdaine and mockerie he threatned and vpbraided them telling them that now was the ende come of the insolencie and pride of the Albanian and that he should now receiue the condigne punishment of his rebellion and he often repeated these and the like speches saying that he would vtterly confound and destroy this handfull of Christians both men and horses And in verie deede their numbers was much decreased for besides those which were slaine vnder the conduct of Tanusee and in the chase as they fled before the enemie there were more then three thousand slaine with Musache of which two thousand were footmen and the rest horsemen Neuerthelesse Scanderbeg not vnlike a good and hardie pylot who hauing gathered together the remnants of his shipwarcke and hauing scarcely repaired the bottome of his vessell doth yet cheerefully prepare himselfe with more courage then hope to abide the extremitie of a new tempest doth animate and encourage his souldiers to trie the fortune of a fresh combat calling and crying vnto them with a furious terrible voice Follow me my friends follow me your companion in armes not to the conflict but to the slaughter of these cursed dogges and miscreants and then sharply blaming and reprouing them he called ech of them after other by their names saying what cowardize is this that possesseth you what strange feare hath seized vpon you shall we leaue the noble bodies of so many of our brethren friends and kinsemen here lying without reuenge will all of you yeelde vp your ghoasts vnreuenged you haue not here any other then your wonted and old enemie euen that enemie I say whom you were wont to make the ordinarie subiect of your honour and reputation In the middest of these and the like speeches pressed forward with constraint and necessitie which did inuite him to leaue and commit all to the pleasure of fortune he cast himselfe as a man forlorne and desperate into the middest and thickest of the enemies squadrons confirming by an assured proofe beyond all humaine reason that saying of Homer That amongst all other vertues magnanimitie of courage is often accompanied with a kinde of furie and supernaturall violence Thus did Scanderbeg fill all places wheresoeuer he came with bloud and terror sometimes beating downe those that fled from him and sometimes those which did withstande him as a warriour that was inuincible and most fortunate But if euer his valure did shew it selfe it was at this time when he farre passed and excelled all his former deedes and haughtie exploits The rest of his troupes likewise taking example by his valure and being transported with rage and dispaire did breake in vpon the enemie and rushed vppon their weapons as men blinded and hardened against all perils and followed their Generall through all hazards and daungers But the sudden accident and mishappe of George Thopie brother to Tanusee did put the residue in a great feare and astonishment for he being throwen to the ground and almost ouerwhelmed with the shot of the enemie our men had much a doe to free him out of their handes and to set him on horse backe The infanterie of the Albanois could better saue themselues from the violence of their enemies then from their horses for in many places they made way ouer their bellies as they lay ouerthrowen vpon the ground and so did put them to great scath and mischiefe By meanes wherof as there is nothing that doth more awaken the spirites of a man or that doth make him more apt to deuise and subtillize a thousand fine inuentions then doth necessitie they did aduise themselues of this policie to seize vpon all the horses of those which were slaine and which they coulde possiblie come by both of their fellowes and of the Paynims and speedily they mounted vpon them with singular agilitie This was the cause that very many of them were preserued and it did greatly strengthen the rest of the armie for that their forces were by this meanes in a manner redoubled By this time had Scanderbeg broken and disordered a strong troupe of the enemies horse and had pressed in euen to the standard corps du gard of the Turkish General endeuoring according to his wonted custome in most battels to haue made the beginning of his victorie by their Chieftains death so to haue enforced them to yeeld him the honor of that iourney But euen then at that instant those two souldiers who as we haue saied had sworne his death to the Sultan did aduance themselues in that front of the fight and with their swords readie drawen did receiue him to the combat At that verie time and in the same place Musache de Angeline desiring to succour and aide his Vncle receiued a sore wound vpon his right shoulder and the rest of the Epirots likewise being but fewe against many were so plyed and kept doing on all handes both in front and in flancke and at their backes and that so fiercely and so roundly that they had no leisure to looke after their chiefe commaunder who by meanes thereof being now left alone against two as it were by a fatall kind of chance and destinie did cause eche man to turne and bend their eyes to himwardes For the two Mahometans both with their hands and with their voice putting backe and making their companions to retire would needes by themselues alone carrie away the honour of the death of the Prince of Albanie and they thought to reserue to themselues onely the prize propounded and promised them by the Ottoman But it is a common saying That the foole is greatly deceiued of that he thinketh These two Infidels did continue a while coasting and coursing vp and downe round about him now here now there on euerie side to take him at some aduantage In the end eche of them setting spurres to their horses and with a carelesse contempt of their owne death and daunger they came vpon him brauely and with a full cariere charged this fierce enemie whom they hated most deadly and odiously The notorious
valour and notable prowes of Scanderbeg so often tried and approued did greatly comfort the carefull harts of the Albanois as one whom they had often receiued victorious and triumphant not of two onely but of more enemies all at once Notwithstanding as feare maketh men to cast many doubts so the brauerie of the enemies and their audacious defie giuen to the Prince of Epire did make many of them to suspect the issue of the combat Wherefore immediately they aduanced forward with their squadrons and whilest matters stood yet in good case and entire they enforced themselues to their vttermost power to second their King against his enemies But he in the meane time bearing vp close to both of them did reach a full blow to the head of Barach and lighting vpon his face did cut him ouer the eyes and cleft his head almost in twaine The other after many blowes past betweene them and no bloud drawen on neither partie let his sworde fall out of his hand and immediately the Turke being verie actiue pressed close to him with his horse and clasping both his armes about his necke and forsaking his stirruppes and his horse with the whole weight of his bodie he hanged vpon the shoulder of Scanderbeg thinking to haue forced him and to haue pulled him to the ground together with himselfe The Infidels desirous to aide their companion gaue in presently and enuironned the Epirot Prince on all sides But their labour was in vaine for Scanderbeg hauing cut off the heade from his bodie as it did hang vppon him freed himselfe from the burthen of his enemie You may be sure that this acte did notably encrease the courage of the Christians and made them to follow desperately after their Generall beating downe great numbers of the Barbarians who now began to shrinke committing a great and mightie slaughter amongest them These beginnings and first-fruites of victorie did minister occasion of much sorrow vnto the Infidels and vnto the Christians of great ioy and comfort and it was taken as a good signe and happie token of the returne of their good fortune But the strength of their bodies and the day-light also fayling both the one and the other all alike they were enforced for that time to giue place vnto the night Sebalias was the first that made shew either of his feare that he durst not or of his wearinesse that he could not endure the fight anie longer Whereupon all his companies by the commaundement of their Captaines made close vp to their colours and so retyred themselues to the mountaine before that the darkenesse of the night should ouertake them in the field The Prince of Epyre being farre spent with labour and trauell and full of griefe and sorrowe insupportable did the like also with his armie seizing vpon an other mountaine distant about two miles from the enemie There did he stay till it was two houres within night at which time he dislodged verie secretly neither him selfe nor his souldiers hauing had any refreshing at all either of sleepe or victuals For poore soules neither had they any thing to eate neither had they any desire thereunto by reason of the extreame griefe and anguish of their hearts which tooke from them all care both of meate and drinke The Bassa for that night did not enter into the towne but hauing store of victualles brought him by the Burgesses of Belgrade he lodged his armie partly in the mountaines and partly in the suburbes And placing good and strong courts of gard and Sentinelles on all sides he celebrated his victorie with great ioy and triumph For he was perswaded that the Christians would haue stayed there the rest of the night and that the next morning fresh and fasting as men that were not vsed to be beaten and that would seeke to repaire their honour lost they would haue aduentured themselues to a second battell Wherefore hauing set all things in a readinesse and in good order by the breake of day he descended into the playne sending foorth many companies to skirmish with the Christians and to drawe them foorth to the fight for although about two houres in the night he had heard a noyse and did discerne some signes that might signifie their departure yet he did beleeue that they were remoued onely to some other place where they might eyther rest more securely or more commodiously dresse some ambuscado to entrappe him and his armie And this also was the cause that he durst not sende foorth his forces to ouerrunne and spoile the countrie doubting least he might thereby disgrace the honour of this victorie it being a thing verie vnusuall with the Turkes to haue such a hand of the Epyrots and besides the inconstancie of fortune being an ordinarie chaunce in the warres more then in any other thing whatsoeuer He was not therefore much discontented either with the flight of the Christians or because he had lost the opportunitie of fight with them againe belike he was induced thereunto by an exceeding iealouzie of this aduantage so vnaccustomed and of the good fortune which had befallen him being desirous not to loose it after he had once gotten it And the former daies iourney did seeme to testifie no lesse because that he being the first that sounded the retrait did therein bewray that either he confessed himselfe to be wearied and faint harted as hauing the worst or else that he was vnwilling to renue the fight and that he had no great desire to meddle any more with the enemie For I make no doubt if Sebalias had the corage to haue pressed hard and roundly vpon the 〈…〉 he might that day haue ended the warre of Epire by reason that there was â—â—â—â— or â—â— disaduauntage to the one more then to the other either in respect of then extreame â—â—â—â—nesse or of the discommodity of the time but rather if any were the 〈…〉 had the aduantage by the great ods of their numbers which being all h 〈…〉 exceeded and surpassed the power of the Epirots who if they could haue found any benefite or hope of safety by flying there is no doubt but they would haue fled away roundly at the first But because the Infantery of the Albanois found that by fighting â—â—â—â—antly they had most certainety and hope to escape and they were loath to acknowledge oâ— makeshew in what extremity and mischiefe they were especially to such an enemy whom they knew to be most insolent and would be puffed vp with prosperity therefore their corages began to be reuiued and encreased and the Turkes contraâ—â—wise grew to be abated till at length the benefite and oportunity of the night did stay the course of their proceedings and did helpe forward the preseruation and estate of their affaires which was â—arâ—â— in a case so vnfortunate and desperate And it may be that the goodnesse of God had prouided and ordained that matters should so fall out in that manner to the
haughtie I will not say vainly addicted the other is more prudent and lesse giuen to blood cruelty For albeit she do in some sort prolong and protract the desires of men yet doth she neuerthelesse season them and is as it were an excellent good medicine to cure many infirmities within them Hence it is that those auncient Captaines were wont more vsually to be victours who feared and misdoubted all things then those who neuer doubted nor feared any thing Hence also it proceeded that the great Carthaginian termed Quintus Fabius his most grieuous and daungerous enemie who to his owne Citizens seemed slothfull and timerous saying that Terentius Varro was more daungerous to his owne countrie the State and people of Rome then he was to his enemies But why do I attribute that strange and dishonest surname of feare to that thing which more properly doth merit the name of counsell and sage aduise for my part I care not how you name it this is certaine cannot be contradicted that from it onely is deriued all the auncient discipline and the seueritie of martiall gouernment inuented and practised by our forefathers She it is that doth nourish and entertaine hope and she neuer doth any thing but it commeth to a good and happie end She carieth her eyes before her behind her and on all sides and with equall balance she doth poize and measure things present with things future and to come hereafter You may now gesse what my meaning is by this my speech which is verie fit prope◠for this time and to correct chastise your ouermuch forwardnes I thought it good my fellowes companions in armes first to discourse with you to sound your affections before I would innouate any thing in the considerations of this war to thintent that I might either frame my selfe to your opinions or as your discretion hitherto hath bene you might conform your selues to my iudgment and discretion You haue heard of late and your eares are full of the daily rumors and reports touching the stirres and tumults of the warres which are daily prepared and addressed against vs. Behold the Bassa of Romania who with the flower of all Europe and with the strength and puissance of the Ottoman Empire doth now knocke euen at our gates and yet my courage would serue as euer hitherto it hath done I durst aduenture and hazard the battell against him neither do I doubt but you haue the aduantage Notwithstanding against so mightie an enemie whose forces are so huge and immoderate it behooueth vs rather to vse prudence and good counsell then the wonted furie and fiercenesse of your courages The notable and famous defait of Haly Dassa so many famous and memorable triumphs and victories obtained euen till this time your resolution gotten and testified by so many goodly exploits succeeding so happily do perswade and assure vs that we haue both the courage and the power to meet and affront the Turkish forces in open field but the vnstable and vnconstant chaunges and alterations of the warres and the naturall disposition of fortune so vnknowen and vncertaine will make men who are sage and wise to forget and to misdoubt all these matters To ouercome alwaies was neuer particular nor proper to any man nor was it euer hereditarie to any person New actions and attempts do dayly demand new counsels and directions Albeit yesterday you did ouercome as conquerours yet cannot you assure your selues to day that you shall haue the spoile of your enemies or the ransomming of their prisoners Victorie is like a traueller or passenger vpon the way she turneth and windeth hither thither not hauing any certaine dwelling or abiding place Howbeit that vertue and prudent counsaile bethe principall meanes both to purchase and to retaine her yet neuerthelesse oftentimes it falleth out that when you haue sagely and aduisedly guided and conducted all things yet wil fortune the chaunce of warre and certaine casuall accidents challenge a great part and portion of the victorie In the end and conclusion of his oration he layed open vnto them the inconueniences that do vsually and infallibly accompany a battell be it either gained or lost and that therfore it was requisite to intrappe the enemie by traines and ambushes and not in the plaine and open fieldes yet so as this must be done with iudgement and discretion and that they must be surprized when as they least dreamed and thought vpon it when in full hope and ioye of victore their heartes were caried and transported with ouermuch licence and libertie and that they did neither feare nor misdoubt any sleight or subtilties which as then he said could not be done because they had bene before enstructed and learned to beware by others mishaps and the examples of their owne fellowes and besides for that they had Amese his wicked nephew the domesticall plague of his owne natiue countrie who would instruct the Infidels to foresee and auoid the policies which himselfe at other times had learned and practised in the schoole of his vncles experiēce Notwithstāding in the meane while because he wold take away all matter oportunity from the enemy of exercising any crueltie or to obtaine any victory vpon his subiects his opinion was that all the people and inhabitants of the plaine countrey should retire themselues into the fortresses and strong holds which also should be assured with sufficient garrisons against all accidents chances whatsoeuer For quoth he who knoweth the secret deliberatiōs of Mahomet It may be that himself in person doth follow after the Bassa pricked on with the desire which he hath had of a long time to worke some notable singular reuenge against vs and therefore it is good to feare and doubt all things to the intent we neede not be in feare nor doubt of any thing This oration of Scanderbeg being pronounced with the great silence of the whole assembly Tanuse Vranocontes who had earnestly intended to his speeches did arise out of their places and with infinite praises did publikely approue the same saying that Scanderbeg had so exactly discoursed of this matter in euery part and that his diuine spirite and admirable prudence had so well comprehended and conceiued all pointes that nothing was wanting to be consulted on or to be put in execution which concerned the common and particular good of them all Hereupon the former heat and forwardnesse of the common souldiers began to be mitigated and their audacitie grew into a warie and profitable kind offeare Some of them could not be contented but they would needes intreate and humbly require their king to shewe them by what course and meanes he meant to ouercome and repell the enemy But Scanderbeg smiling answered that it ought to suffise them if they did relye and put their trust in him and that himselfe would incurre one and the same fortune together with them and that if he
the one against the other so that in the end comming to try the matter by the sword they were ready to cut each the others throat for the deciding of their controuersie to know who should be the maister of that which was the cause of their debate Scanderbeg being aduertised hereof caused both of them to be called before him and demaunding of them if they had dined they told him yea then smiling as he was a man giuen to be mery and one that delighted in iesting Bacchus quoth he hath made you enemies and I will that Bacchus and not Mars nor any other of the Gods shall make you friends And after he had secretly reprehended rebuked them he sent them away commaunding them to goe and drinke together and hee willed Vranocontes to make an end of the contention betweene them and to see that ech had his right and share of the booty equally and alike As the Albanois were now marching towards Croy there met with them a multitude of the countrey inhabitants and others who had hidden themselues in the next forrests till the end of the fight besides the citizens of Croy also all which with a wonderfull ioy with high cries and sounds of instrumentes went with them on to Croy so as a man could hardly haue seene a more goodly triumph nor a more pompous shew so gloriously and triumphantly did they march into the towne For Scanderbeg to make the sight the more beautifull and notable caused all his army to follow after the multitude well and orderly arraunged in battell array and so to passe on euen into the suburbs There was not any one of them were he neuer so base and meane but had at the least one horse gotten from the enemy and loaden with infinite spoiles which they caused to march before theÌ„ Moreouer the prisoners being bound and tied together by two two in a long traine went before the King and did greatly augment the pompe and shew of the triumph and many of them for the better acknowledgement and confession of the victory vnto their enemies were made to cary the ensignes and standards which had bene gotten from them Likewise the pauilions tents and canapies of the Turkish Generall being of purple colour and making a goodly shew and ostentation were caried by some of the souldiours of the Albanians who bare them aloft openly displaied and spred abroad of purpose as if they had bene ready dressed and prepared for the Generall which gaue no small grace and ornament to the rest Amese had most earnestly and humbly entreated his vncle not to leade him to Croy in this infamous and miserable estate of a slaue and captiue and therefore he was suffered to goe at liberty and in another manner of order then as a prisoner marching side by side with the Saniacke that was captiue also To conclude at their entry into the city gate the companies were dismissed and licensed to depart the souldiours were sent away ioyfull and glad to their owne homes after that the prey and booty both prisoners and all the rest had bene equally deuided and parted betweene them as largely as they could expect or demand The ensignes and other things which serued for publique shew ornament and fell as due to Scanderbeg were caried with great demonstration of ioy into the city The Saniacke Amese were put vnder safe custody till such time as they should be otherwise disposed of I meane not to speake any thing of the great feastings and solemnities which were vsed by the Albanians for the celebrating of this victory and which for many daies together they neuer intermitted For it is now time that I conuert both my minde and my matter to strange and forraine nations and to consider what ioy they conceiued vppon the report of this victorie The fame and renowme thereof being dispersed into all the regions neare adioyning and euen into the heart and middest of Italie and other countries of the Christians it seemed litle inferiour vnto that which had bene formerly reported of the victory gotten against Amurath before Croy and it was held to be comparable to any other exploit were it neuer so happy and fortunate the admiration thereof did euen rauish euery man and they could not cease to wonder at the rarenesse of the matter when they heard the discourse of the singular sufficiency and of the notable dexterity of spirite of this prime and peerelesse Chiefetaine and euen to this day is the memory of this notable victory preserued in those parts for whereas the inhabitants of that Prouince haue a vse and custome according to the laudable manner and vsage of the old and auncient ages in times past to sing songs and sonnets in their solemne banquets and publique feasts containing a rehearsall of the most famous and noble deeds of their auncesters and of the worthy personages of that countrey this victory especially as one of the most notable and more excellent then all others hath bene inserted amongst the rest and it is more often and commonly vsed in their songs ballads then any other whatsoeuer Infinit were the presents that were sent vnto Scanderbeg infinite were the feasts and bankeâ—s which were euery where frequented and infinite were the congratulations which were vsed from all parts according as that nation hath euer in such cases vsed and accustomed This present victory seemed to haue annihilated and entinguished the memorie of all those losses and discomfitures which the Turks had sustained vnder Haly Bassa and Mustapba yea all the honours and commendations purchased by their old and later actes were now no more talked of in regard of this last exploit The calamity of Belgrade seemed now fully sufficiently reuenged and this reuenge had sufficiently refreshed and discharged euery man his minde from all sorrow griefe and sadnes The only pleasure and whole delight of all men both strangers others was to walke and wander vp and downe those victorious fields and often to visit suruey the grounds which did seeme yet to cary a froath with the bloud of the Mahometanes their onely solace and recreation was to enquire of euery particularity where such an ambuscado was laid in couert and on which side the enemy was surprized assailed euen Mahomet himselfe was no lesse amased maruelled at the strangenes of this victory for by a shamefull confession of his owne feare within a while after he did allow the honour of this iourney vnto his enemy for when he saw his forces so broken dispersed and had learned by the Bassa the order of the battel and the occasion of his ouerthrow although perhaps there were many points wherein both the Generall all the host did deserue worthily to be blamed yet without any maner of reproofe giuen them or in any sort inueighing against them he swallowed vp in silence contrary to his wonted maner the grief bitternes of his sorrow and
of Barie with good successe of victorie but there being enclosed and pressed vpon with the troupes of the Count Alberic of Barbian Generall of the church forces and being enforced to come to the tryall of a battell he was ouerthrowen with a great slaughter of his people in the yeare a thousand three hundreth eightie three by the default of the Count Anguerrant called the Lord of Consey who being sent after the Duke with a supply of twelue thousand horse did not keepe on his way directly but a disire tooke him to force Arezza in Thuscane whereas he should haue made hast on his way and haue gone on to haue ioyned himselfe with the Duke who being sore hurte in that battell with fiue seuerall wounds whether it were that his Phisitions and surgeons did not well heale and cure him of his wounds or were it through the griefe and sorrow of his misfortune he died the yeare following at Biseilles The French being expelled out of the realme of Naples to the intent it should not want new troubls and tumultes fortune made Pope Vrban and Charles King of Naples mortall and deadly enemies The occasion thereof was thus The Pope being by nature somewhat rude and of litle ciuilitie in conuersation was come to Naples to obtaine his part of the frute and benefite of this late obtained victorie where he claimed a promise of the King of Naples vrged him vpon the same a litle too rudely to make one Boutill his nephewe Prince of Capua who was a most vile and base fellowe a man of no vertue nor other good desert and besides he would haue had the King to haue giuen him also the Dutchy of Duras The King was not verie well pleased at this motion but delaying his aunswer he put him off cunningly for a long time The Bishop of Rome on the other side did insist and vrge him verie hard to bring his purpose to effect but all was in vaine insomuch that growing into suspition the one of the other from thence they proceeded to open enmitie Charles making a faire shewe and carying all matters honestly yet did beare so good an eye vppon the Pope that he coulde neither goe nor speake freely at his pleasure but he being willing to get from him obtained leaue to goe onely vnto Mocrea to chaunge the aire where he beganne to deuise and to consult vppon the depriuing of Charles causing him to be cited and that proces should be framed against him The King in like case did practise with some of the Cardinalles his friendes to depose Vrban from his seate and to this end himselfe in person accompanyed with his forces went to Nocera saying That he was come thither by his assignement to present him with his obedience and to the intent hee would be neare at hand to heare the iudgement that should be giuen against him During this siege some sallies and skirmishes there were made in one of the which Boutill was taken and imprisonned The Pope being enflamed with wrath and anger discharged his choler vppon seuen of his sayed Cardinalles whome he caused to be shut vppe in close and streight prison and in the ende hauing them tormented caused them to dye as Sismatiques and fauorors of Charles Whilest these things were in working the Pope inuented a meane to get himselfe out of Nocera by the helpe of a great summe of money which he gaue vnto Saint Seuerin and Raimond Vrsin who conueighed him in gallies to Genes where being retired he cursed the King of Naples This Prince being neare to the end and period of his fortune which seemed to fawne vppon him and to flatter him vnder the pretence and colour of a newe crowne tooke his iourney into Hungarie where the Princes and Nobles of the countrie did greatly desire and verie earnestly expect his comming and did offer vnto him the scepter of Lewes their King who was of late deceased without any other issue then one onely daughter Charles before that time had espoused Margaret the sister of Queene Ione and by her had two children a sonne and a daughter Ladislaus Ione at his departure from Naples into Hungarie he left the gouernment of the Kingdome vnto the Queene his wife and certaine of the chiefest and most noble Barons of the realme himselfe being crowned King of Hungarie with the outwarde consent and liking of Elizabeth the Queene and widdowe of the late King and her daughter Marie who notwithstanding did it altogether of dissimulation with in few dayes after by their practise was slaine at Bude in the yeare 1388. The death of this Prince gaue occasion of new troubles and tumultes at Naples whereby the house and faction of Aniow grewe to be so fauored by fortune that they became Lordes of Naples and the Queene with her children was constrained to retire herselfe to Gaietta This meane while Lewes the second sonne of Lewes aboue mentioned at the request of those that were of his faction sent to Naples for their ayde and succours fiue gallies But Boniface the ninth a Neapolitan hauing nowe obtained the Popedome in the yeare of our Lord a thousand three hundreth ninetie did disanull and reuoke the censures and curse which Vrban his predecessour had denounced against King Charles and he inuestd Ladislaus with his fathers kingdome and caused him at Gaietta to be crowned King of Naples Sicile and Ierusalem as in like manner the same yeare Lewes the second Duke of Aniow tooke the crowne of Naples at the handes of Clement by the pursuie of the King of Fraunce and thereuppon made his entrie and was receiued into Naples in great honour and magnificense by those of his faction howbeit that many of the Nobles and gentlemen adhering and taking part with Ladislaus did openly refuse to acknowledge Lewes for their Soueraigne Thus these two Kings contending for one onely crowne did confound all things with most piteous disorder and destroyed the countrey which they laboured and striued eche of them to obtaine as his proper patrimonie till such time as the Partizans of the house of Aniow wanting money and treasure the sinewes of the warres caused the vesselles and vtensiles of gold and siluer belonging to the Churches of Naples to be molten and made into money for the paiment of their souldiours by the leaue and permission of Clement who shewed himselfe to haue small deuotion and litle conscience But all this notwithstanding the Count Alberic of Barbian being created Constable by Laaislaus presented himselfe with a strong armie before Naples and after many assaults and braue repulses he entred the towne and brought it vnder the obedience of the Dirrachium with the rest of the realme also and the sooner for that Lewes himselfe was absent who seeing himselfe in weake and feeble estate and the towne to be deuided by the tumultes and practises of Ladislaus whose places and strong holdes were well
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
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
be alwaies desirous to returne home to their owne countrie and in stead of doing their best and aduenturing their liues to get the victorie they might happen by their default and negligence to be ouercome and vanquished This is nowe our case my good souldiers and our estate and condition is not much vnlike we are now ouer the sea farre from our owne houses from our owne countrie vppon the territories and dominions of our enemies amongest strangers altogether destitute and voide of hope and without any meanes to returne againe to our owne yea our affaires are brought to that passe that it is impossible for vs to resolue whether is better for vs to stande still or to goe forwarde considering that besides our armes our horses and our courages wholly bent and addicted to deedes of armes we haue nothing else left vs to relie and build vpon for there is now no hope of life nor safety if we get not some notable victorie vpon our enemies But courage my masters let vs consider that this is the diuine will and pleasure that we should maintaine the patrimony of Iesus Christ the house of God and the seat of his Church and doubt you not but that he will send vs euen from heauen an easie and a speedie victorie vnder whose name and protection we being now to fight soone shall we confound this our enemie and then shall we returne into our countrie conquerours ioyous and triumphant Hereof I make no doubt nor question when first of all I call to remembrance your ordinary and wonted valure when I set before my eyes so many goodly victories which you haue gotten vppon your enemies and then being thus confirmed through the confidence of your vertue and prowes I haue cheerefully vndertaken this present voyage as hauing learned by your armes to breake and discomfite greater armies and farre better then this that is now opposed against vs. Much more reason haue you my companions not to esteeme of these small troupes which as you haue alreadie seene at the onely brute and hearing of our names and before that euer they had anie sight of vs did as a man may say betake themselues to flight and durst not tarrie our landing but remoued their siege and are retyred from vs. It remaineth therefore that we pursue them whilest they are in this feare and astonishment but yet in this would I haue you to be aduised my good friendes that if it happen this our enemie should dare to abide vs and to come to fight with vs which I doe not beleeue my counsell is that at the first we onely holde him play by loose and light skirmishes and that we doe endeuour to wearie and ouercome him with the trauell and trouble of continuall onsets and often charges in so doing eyther shall we put them to the sworde or get them aliue to be our prisoners For the weight and heauinesse of their owne armes doeth sufficiently plague and afflicte them in the fight and these barded horses are neyther so readie to pursue not yet so nymble to flie from vs but that we being lightly armed and mounted haue great aduauntage against them being able by coursing vppe and downe both to annoy and to disorder them with ease Goe to then my braue and couragious souldiers let euerie man see that his horse and armour be in a good readinesse for by the aide and helpe of God I am determined to morrowe to goe visite the enemie The Albanois who desired nothing more then to see the enemie being more and more enflamed with these speeches the next morning by the breake of day presented themselues readie and resolute to march against the enemie and hauing serued God they tooke the fielde with Ensignes displayed with a full intent to goe seeke out the French with whom when they came to encounter they did not ioyne with them with the whole bodie of their forces in plaine and set battell but they did onely taste them with a light conflict for that the intention of the Albanian Prince was not as yet to make a full tryall of his fortune but onely to sport a little with the enemie and to proue what manner of souldiers they were and how they could demeane themselues with their armes on their backes In this skirmish there lay dead vpon the place thirtie of the French partie and twentie taken prisoners of the Albanois not any one eyther slaine or taken only foure of them were wounded and they returned all of them with great ioy to Bari The next day following was a Councell called of the Masters of the Campe and the other Chiefetaines of the armie to the which the King Ferdinand ledde Scanderbeg there was it propounded that eyther they must aduenture the battell or march into Abruzza to open the passages for the troupes of the confederates and so being conioyned with them to goe and encounter with the enemie The conclusion was that they should take the way to Abruzza and thereupon was order giuen to all the souldiers both those of the King and the Albanois that they should be in a readin esse and that euerie man should furnish himselfe with victuals readie drest for fiue dayes This done and the towne being assured with a good garrison the armie beganne to march both the King and Scanderbeg being present and they passed on close and in good order with great silence and secresie the darkenes of the night fauouring them in such sort that they were not discryed by the French campe which lay not far off so held on their course directly towards the country of Abruzza where being arriued and comming suddenly vpon those that kept and garded the passages they charged vpon them vnprouided so furiously both behinde and in flanke and on all sides that hauing dispersed and scattered them for the most part or hauing taken or cut them in peeces the wayes and passages were made open and free to the companies of the league which were vnder the conduct and commaund of Frederick Duke of Vrbin and Alexander Sforce who being vnited and incorporated one with the other army they went and encamped nere to Vrsara a towne that stood for King Ferdinand Now being so farre remoued from Bari and considering that they had to deale with one the most subtle and politique warriour and the most able and expert souldier liuing namely Pycenin who as they thought might eyther sollicite that place to reuolt or vpon the feare of their absence and by the trauerses of vnconstant fortune if they should present thēselues before the towne they might happen with ease to cary and obtaine it it was therefore thought conuenient to send thither some good and sufficient Chiefetaine with good and strong forces both to secure the towne if need were and to preuent the enemy of any such enterprise and the same being once done and dispatched to returne againe and to ioyne with them in one campe This commission was of
put his men in minde of their eighteene yeares warres of his noble exploites and deedes of armes in Asia in Macedonie in Thrace in Epyre of so many Chiefetaines and numbers of Turkes and circumcised Miscreants slaine by them and of so many armies of the Mahometistes which they had ouercome and defeated and if by chaunce he came to make mention of anie one of his combats he forgot not the notable desertes and particular commendations of ech man in seuerall The Count Iames fell to recount likewise his famous actes and the late battelles which he had foughten to his great honour and commendation both in the Marquesdome of Ancona in Apulia in Naples and in other parts of Italy Scanderbeg deuiding his foote forces onely into two battallions placed in the forefront his harguebussiers and after them his crossebowes his archers and the slinges the reregard he enforced with his pikes both Sclauonians and Albanians He did not order his squadrons in grosse but parted them into seuerall bandes each at large and a litle distant one from the other to the intent that there might be some space left betweene ech of them by which the men at armes and barded horses of the enemies being receiued in amongest them might passe not trouble nor disorder their rankes This done he placed the King in the left wing being garded with his men at armes both Neapolitans and Italians Moses and Guirize did garde the right side and with their light horses being Dibrians and Macedonians did fill vp the emptie and voide places betwene the seuerall squadrons of the vauntgarde who were willed that if they sawe the men at armes of the French to charge vppon them with their barded horses that eyther they should retyre themselues behinde the rankes of the middle troupes or else gallopping and coursing vppe and downe sometimes here sometimes there they should ioyne themselues to the wings either of the right hande or of the left to giue waye vnto the footemen and to abide the shocke of the barded horses The Count Iames in the meane space arraunged his troupes in a maruellous good order of battell first for the greater terrour to the enemie he placed his artillerie mou 〈…〉 vpon wheeles and cariages in the head of his battelles then followed his Harguebussiers and crosse-bowes intermingled with pikes and corselets in the second battalion were the companies of the Neapolitans and Apulians who were seconded in manner of a reregard with the Genowais and Calabrians flanking the two pointes of their battelles with the men at armes on the right wing the French and on the other the Italians Now beganne the drummes and trumpets on the part of the Arragonois to summon euerie man to do his deuoite and the souldiers on that side raising a huge and horrible â—â—ye went so furiously and vehemently to charge vppon the enemie and with such readinesse and celeritie that their vauntgarde after some fight was ouerthrowen and beaten backe in a manner before their peeces could haue the leisure to playe vppon the Kings battalions whereby you may iudge of what importance industrie and diligence are in the warres oftentimes preuenting the counselles and purposes of the enemie and troubling and confounding their order and directions For the horses were so terrified with the noise of the ordinance that they ouerthrew and disordered their owne troupes especially in the left wing Moses and Guirize did soone augment and encrease the feare and terrour of this affraie for they verie egerly charging and fiercely setting vppon that side did disâ—urnish the maine battell of their horsemen and some of their owne horses which were in the forefront of the battell neare the artillerie ranne in amongst their owne Harguebussiers and archers where albeit they were grieuouously wounded yet did they cause a great confusion and destruction of their owne people insomuch that on the right hand the men at armes of Fraunce were compelled to turne their backes and to betake themselues to flight When the King Ferdinand perceiued the enemie to be in disorder he encreased their feare by pressing in vpon them so that the battalion of the Neapolitanes was left bare and naked of her flanckes This was euen then when the infanterie on the one side and the other being farre vnequall in hope and in puissance came to affront ech other and to ioyne together The Albanois at the first onset beganne of purpose to recuile and giue backe a litle from the battalion of the enemie but anon after all of them at one instant both the wings and the squadrons charging and pressing vpon them most furiously did soone cause them to shake and to disrancke themselues and thus pressing still forward they marched on a while as if nothing had stoode against them the hindmost still thrusting and bearing forwarde the foremost in such sort that they had quite displaced the battalion of the enemies and made them to leaue and forsake their grounde a thing which gaue them so huge a terrour that it was of great force and efficacie to breake them for altogether The reregard of the Angeuin namely the Calabrians and the Genowaies presently beganne to yeelde and to giue ground also and hauing their recourse to the battell of the Neapolitanes they did not onely not sustaine and second them but rather on the contrarie fearing least if they which fought manfully in the forefront should be ouerthrowen and discomfited that then the enemie would breake in next vpon them by litle and litle they beganne to recuile Thus the Genowaies and the Calabrians beganne to make away and turning their backes one part of them retired to the second battalion and another part as being forsaken on the one side and excluded on the other beganne to strike in amongest their fellowes that denyed to receine and entertaine them so that nowe you might haue seene as it were two conflicts at once mixed and intermingled together the Neapolitanes being forced to defend themselues both from these and from their enemies Notwithstanding they would not suffer them for all this to recuile within their ranckes were they neuer so fierce and despitefull but keeping close together and holding their rancks in good order on the open plaine they repulsed these their troublesome companions who were quite forlorne both by their owne flight and also by their blowes for feare least being suffered to enter amongst them they should cause their battalion also which as yet was sure and whole to be disordered and brought in disairay By meanes of this tumult and great trouble the place where they fought so obstinately in the head of the reregard was so filled and pestered with the dead bodies of those which were then slaine and with weapons that the passage there was almost more hard and difficult then through the thickest of the enemies but the pikemen were the first that made themselues way who passing ouer those high heapes of the dead and of their weapons
which lay scattered about and through the bloud of the slaughtered which lay most horrible to looke vnto followed close after their enemies to the vttermost of their powers so that their owne rancks beganne to growe into disorder The Harguebussiers and the crosse bowes when they sawe that their battell being gotten before them was as it were wandering disioyned and separated from them beganne to be greatly astonished and abashed Scanderbeg incontinently perceiued and manifestly sawe the disorder of the one and the astonishments of the other whereupon he caused the pikes to retire themselues backe againe and hauing bestowed those which were wounded in the rereward of the battell he led forth the Harguebussiers and the Archers to the two points for the better strengthening of the pikes and the middle battell By this meanes the conflict beganne to be renued and to grow more cruell and deadly then before and so continued the better parte of the day Many there were that fell both on the one side and the other but the victorie continuing still variable and vncertaine did sway sometimes to the one side and sometimes to the other for now were they busied on all sides and euerie man had his handes full Both sides were equall or not much vnlike in the qualitie of their weapons in practise and experience militarie in honour and reputation and in the greatnesse of hope and of the present daunger but in number and multitude they were nothing equall for therein the Albanois and Arragonois were superiour and did exceede them as also in courage and resolution and the rather for that they had put to flight both their light horsemen and their men at armes and hauing chased their first battell hadde giuen the onset vppon the second Moses and Guirize hauing pursued and followed the chase after the enemies horse that were fledde were now retourned and in a readinesse to charge in vpon the backe of this battalion This last charge and onset did cause their vtter ruine and ouerthrow for many were enclosed and murthered vppon the place and many being scattered and dispersed as they betooke themselues to maine flight ouer the large and wide plaine were forced by the horsmen to turne and returne here and there so that being enclosed and as it were besieged on all sides what with the bullettes and shot of the Harguebussiers and what with the sword both of horse and foote that pursued them many of them were shot and many of them were beaten downe and slaine so that the slaughter on all partes was most extreame and pitifull The number of those which were counted slaine that day in the field both of Neapolitans and of their confederates was valued to be better then foure thousand of prisoners there were taken about a thousand besides fiue and twentie ensignes and standards Of the victors there died nere a thousand The Count Picenin and Duke Iohn with a fewe horsemen in their companie being compelled to yeelde and giue place to their ill fortune did saue themselues after that the combat was past all hope and they withdrew themselues amongest the thickest of those that fled escaping by the goodnesse and swiftnesse of their horses The Counte before his departure had giuen all good and sufficient proofe of his valour both before and during the whole time of the battell and Scanderbeg himselfe both by his owne confession and of all those who were skilfull and practised in armes did yeeld him this praise and commendation that he ordered and martialled his battelles that day with singular skill and iudgement For first his artillerie was placed in the head and front of his battels in regard that the force and violence thereof was intollerable After it followed the companies of mercenarie men and straungers arranged in verie good order against whom he was in hope that the troups Albanois should haue bene opposed After those strange succours succeeded the French battallion to keepe the other that they should not flie when they thought good for that being mingled of so many sorts of peoples whom desire of gaine and not theregard of their faith and honour did draw thither he thought by meanes of the French following at their backes they would be enforced both to abide the shock and charge of the enemy and also hauing wearied and sore trauelled them partly with their shot and partly with the killing and wounding of them selues in the vauntgard the violence and fury of the enemy would by this meanes be much abated And therefore had he placed immediately after them the French and the Neapolitanes in whom consisted the strength and sinewes of their hope to the intent that being in all things equall vnto the enemy they might in this point haue the aduantage of them when that they being freshe whole and lusty should be opposed against the others already wearied and wounded with their long fight against them of the vauntgard As for the Genowaies and the Calabrians he had seuered them a good space from the rest as being a people in whom he had no trust nor affiance whether they were either friendes or foes and therefore had he reserued them to the rereward The Count Picenin after this daies seruice being as it were the last proofe of his vertue being escaped from the field went vp and downe Italy secret and vnknowen as a fugitiue and vagabond in a very poore estate and disguised habite till such time as being allured with the flattering speeches and entising wordes of Francis Sforce then Duke of Millan who beguiled him vnder the colour and pretence of a fained mariage and made him his sonne in law and then shortly after sent him as a friend to King Ferdinand by whom being receiued and entertained as an enemy he was in the end put to a pittifull and cruell death The Duke Iohn being hardly and nearly pursued by the horsemen of the King of Albany by very good hap and singular Fortune recouered Troy where he was receiued and drawen vp ouer the wals with a cord and from thence flying away secretly by night towardes the sea of Genes by good chaunce he found there a Barke which caried him into France The French campe being sacked and the souldiours enriched with the spoiles which they had gotten the King entred into Naples with great pompe and triumph and Scanderbeg with him the prisoners being led on before them Then in signe of gratulation and publicke ioy all the temples were set open solemne processions were made plaies and feasts of all sorts were publickly celebrated for three daies together These things thus accomplished Ferdinand determined in the company of Scanderbeg to take armes for the recouery of all those townes and places which were lately rebelled and reuolted to the Angeuins and so well did he follow and dispatch this voyage that in a very short space he pacified all the countrey and reduced it to his obedience and deuotion by the helpe and
themselues assailed endammaged on all sides both in front and in flancke and in their rereward so that the slaughter began now also to grow vpon the Asappi who made litle and no resistaunce For the most part of them the night before had absented themselues from their ensignes and were licentiously dispersed all ouer the fieldes and there lay some of them still wallowing vpon the ground ouercome with sleepe and trauell and the rest which were then present in the battell being wearied with their late trauell and with ouerwatching being a tender and soft kind of people and ill able to endure the heate of the yeare and hard trauell scarce could they abide their armes vpon their backes For the sunne being then at the highest made them in that case that partly with extreme heate and partly with thirst their enemies found them as men halfe dead and they fell into their hands by heapes to be taken or slaine at their pleasures Ballaban who had oftentimes purchased great honour and commendation in the like battelles in this iourney behaued himselfe more nobly then in any other whatsoeuer For partly by encouraging his men in the fight and partly also by hazarding his person to all daungers one while egging and pressing them forward another while blaming and rebuking those that were backward and sometimes by recalling of such as fled he did for a long time maintaine the fight well and worthely still animating his souldiours and renuing the conflict in many places where he saw his people to waxe faint and to giue ouer At the last when he sawe that the fortune of the field did encline to the Epirots and that he could no longer sustaine their violence he chaunged his resolution and setting spurres to his horse he turned his backe and withdrew himselfe from the fight of the Christians After him their whole armie did the like for perceiuing their rancks to be scattered disordered euery man began to flie some here some there ouer the fieldes into the mountaines and through the woods according as ech man his fortune good or bad did guide and direct him Some fewe there were who following their Generall escaped together with him and got away from the swordes of their enemies and from the slaughter of their fellowes All the rest of the Barbarians were either slaine or taken prisoners and if it happened that any were gotten free from the furie and confusion of the chase yet were they cut in peeces by those that kept the toppes and passages of the mountaines in so much that of the whole hoast and armie of Ballaban there were verie fewe left aliue As for those small reliques which remained they were not in any sort pursued because there was a sudden rumour and report that there was a newe and fresh enemie comming against them Scarce were the Christians departed out of the valley of Valcala and the souldiers had not yet made an ende of parting and deuiding the spoyles of their slayne enemies but that there came a messenger from Mamisa the Kings sister in poast haste from Petrella where this Ladie then lay with her guard and her housholde by whom she aduertised Scanderbeg that Iagup Arnauth with sixteene thousand horse was entred into Epyre by the way of Belgrade where he wasted and destroyed all things and that he was then encamped in the lower Tyranna neere adioyning to a riuer which the inhabitants name Argilat This Turke was an Epyrot by birth and his parents were both of them Christians himselfe hauing beene taken and circumcised by the Turkes did professe their superstitions He was a man of great hardinesse and valure and in times past both in Asia and in Greece had left many goodly and commendable testimonies of his prowes vnder Mahomet His comming into Epyre was as we haue saide to enclose the Prince of Albanie betweene his forces and the armie of his companion for one of his owne souldiers hauing beene taken by the people of Mamisa and being examined vpon the cause and motiue to this voyage had confessed the same and did iustifie the truth hereof vnto them Presently vpon this aduertisement Scanderbeg concluded to goe with his whole armie dirctly to Tiranna which being now in a readinesse to march he thought it good before his departure thus to encourage his souldiers This day my good souldiers and friendes haue we obtained by the assistance of the diuine power a most memorable victorie according to our hearts desire against our capitall and deadly enemie Such was his rashnesse vnhappie man that he presumed to enclose vs in the middest betweene two puissant and mightie armies and so most traiterously to haue destroyed and oppressed vs and he was in good hope by this notable draught and plot which he had deuised to abolish and wipe away his owne shame and infamie and the memorie of those rude discomfitures which he had receiued at our handes Now by the grace of God and your vertue in stead of diminishing his shame and ignominie he hath made it a great deale greater Yet behold how euen now againe before our hands be cleane or that we haue made an ende of this last repaste and before that the cloth as I may say is taken away see I pray you how Iagup Arnauth a noble and bountifull banquettour is come to inuite vs to a new banquet because he would haue vs to make an end of our feast and being loath that his guestes should be defrauded of good and conuenient entertainment he hath brought vs his armie also for a second course see I say my deare frends how before we are gotten out of this valley and haue as it were washed our hands embrued with the bloud of our enemies before we haue wiped the bloud off our swords or haue sheathed them in our scabbords Iagup is likewise come vnto vs he offreth vs good and friendly presents that is his troupes and squadrons that you may vse and dispose of them at your pleasures either to take a taste of them or else altogether to deuoure and consume them Go we therfore my good companions go we to this mariage feast whereunto Iagup doth inuite vs and doth so earnestly call vs let vs eate our fill of his dainties when we shall haue gluttted our selues let vs carry some part also away with vs. Let vs make all speed and diligence to be gone from hence let vs goe and meet with Iagup whom I dare assure you we will quickely ouerthrow and bring to confusion for these are but a handfull of men in comparison of those that were with Ballaban besides me thinkes I see that the warlike furie and the martiall fiercenesse of your courages doth yet continue burning and flaming within you Scarcely had Scanderbeg ended his speech but he might see his souldiers wonderfully incensed and inflamed all of them with high cries and clamours entreated him to leade them presently to this second banquet whereupon being full
of our auncient fortune now left vs but our generous harts and deuout soules whereas this Barbarous Scithian it may be our sinnes haue bene the cause there of hath encreased his forces and hath amplified his Empire beyond all discourse of humane reason humbly therfore most holy father I do prostrat my selfe here before your holines I do inuocate call vpon your sacred name I do implore your aide succours most worthy Prelats Cōsult I beseech you make prouisiō take such order that I may haue some meanes to resist against so many tempests stormes of the war that I may with the lesse perill of my life preiudice of my affaires be able to beare sustaine the brunt thereof if the priuate miserie of your soldier do nothing moue you if the afflictiō of your chāpion̄ do not passionate you at least-wise let the cōmon necessitie the imminent perill of your flock the future desolation of the estate of Christēdome stir you vp perswade you is there any seruitude more greeuous thē the Turkish bondage what accidēt can happē more bitter to godly Christiā soules thē to see their infants now vnited vnto Christ by holy baptisme redeemed by the pretious bloud of the son of God to the eternall cōmunion societie of the faithfull afterwards againe to be cut away and separated from him to be nusled in the execrable blasphemies of Mahomet to be made open professed cruell enemies of Christ and his Church to make warre against heauen and to perish in eternall death and damnation Is there any thing more hard and lamentable then to see our owne children issued from our owne bowels to become our enemies and to see them made the onely meanes and ministers to cut our throats and to worke our ruine and destruction it cannot be but this seruitude and bondage of Christian soules is an euill much more greeuous and intollerable then death it selfe This Oration of the King of Epyre was harkened vnto with no lesse attentiuenesse then accepted with the allowaunce and good liking of the whole Consistorie and euery man sayd openly that it was most requisite and necessarie to succour with all speede and diligence their Christian brethren and not to suffer so noble a prouince and so vertuous a people to be deuoured and swallowed vp by so cruell and bloudthirsty an enemie But all these smooth speeches fayre wordes and goodly promises whereof they gaue him plenty proued in the end nothing else then court fauours vanished into smoake what the cause thereof should be I know not but so it happened that at his departure from thence which was soone after he had litle and very small succour of Pope Paul the second who though he were a Venetian borne yet was but badly affectioned towards his owne countrey to the which Scanderbeg was a most inward and faithfull friend ouer and besides the strict and ancient knot of friendship and confederacy which had beene preserued and nourished with great deuotion betweene him and that common-wealth Three thousand Crownes were deliuered into the hands of Demetrius Franke who being one of the chiefe and principall citizens of Driuasta and cosin to the Archbishop of Duraz was treasurer to Scanderbeg and this was all the aide that he found or had from them yet did not this any thing trouble the Prince of Epire neither was he discontented at this sory and simple entertainement but praising God for all he tooke his leaue of the Pope and returned into his owne countrey He was once in the minde to haue gone as farre as Venice but taking aduise vpon the matter and not finding it expedient by reason of the piteous estate wherein he had left his kingdome and countrey of Epire he contented himselfe to send thither his Secretary to let the Senate of that city vnderstand the hard successe of his voyage to Rome and to animate perswade them to ministersome aide succours vnto him the which he obtained as you shall heare Scanderbeg being vpō the way of his return towards Epire went first to Scutary where Iosaphat Barbare had great command and authority of whom we haue spoken heretofore and there hauing made a notable leauy of the subiects of the Venetians he adioyned them to his owne forces In like maner Lech Ducagin and Nicholas his brother being brauelie mounted came vnto him with 400. valiaunt horsemen and as many footmen all of them most expert and skilfull souldiers To these did adioyne them selues a hundreth men at armes armed all in white and 500. footemen Italians being in the pay and entertainment of the Seigniorie of Venice within Scutarie besides 1000. good horse three thousand footmen gathered out from amongst the Scutarians the Driuastines the Antiuarians the Lissians and the Dirrachians in so much that those aides being vnited and incorporated all in one did make vp the full complet number of 13400. chosen men For you are to note that the Princes peoples of Epyre Macedony Sclauony and Dalmatia which were leagued and allyed together did not faile to send ech of them certaine forces all which made their rende vous at a place appointed and were at the command and disposition of Scanderbeg who deuided them into two troupes one part whereof he committed to the conduct and leading of Lech Ducagin aboue named being a knight of no lesse policie then hardinesse in the warres and Nicholas Moneta borne in Scutarie the Vaiuoda or gouernor of that citie being a Gentleman of great estimate and valure had the guiding of the other part of those forces Now it was set downe and appointed that these troupes being dislodged from Lissa and hauing cut ouer the plaine countrie or fieldes of Pharsalia and the forest of Ionimes should make their approach and charge vppon the enemie on that side And that the King of Epyre being accompanied with his owne bandes both horse and foote should make towardes the mountaine of Cruyna there to assaile and set vpon Ballaban on the otherside who had enclosed fortified himselfe exceeding strongly and conueniently vpon that mountaine But before I will leade our Christians any further into the countrie I holde it not amisse to figure and describe vnto you the site of the place where the Mahometan had entrenched him selfe to the intent the matter may be the better represented to your sight and made more plaine and apparant vnto you I told you long sithence that Croy is in Epyre in the fields of Emathia or Pharsalia seated vpon the high crest or ridge of a mountaine which in the circuit and compasse thereof is on all parts enuironed with many steepe downefals excepting in one only place where it is very hardly to be approached and is deuided and cut off from the mount Cruyna which being very nigh continuing on euen close to the towne doth seeme much higher then the same and to
daye and by night and the slaughters and butcheries which he committed vpon them were notable and wonderfull insomuch that Mahomet perceiuing the small profit which he was like to purchase by this enterprise was glad to leaue the pursuite thereof and to reserue himselfe to some other exploit which might be more for his honour and aduantage Wherefore raising his campe from before Croie he bent his course towardes a certaine place lying on the coast of the Adriatique sea or gulfe of Venice not farre from Duras now called the head of Redoni where Scanderbeg had begunne of late to build a towne which he called Chiurill The Barbarian finding it without inhabitants and vnfinished did raze it from the verie foundation From thence he went forwarde purposing to destroy certaine peoples subiect to Scanderbeg but the armie of the Christians did followe him so close at the heeles coasting him continually wheresoeuer he went and sometimes by day sometimes by night would he charge and set vpon him one while in the taile another while in the flanck and many times in the front and head of his armie that he tooke from him all occasions and meanes to profit himselfe in that countrey yea the inhabitants themselues dwelling in the forrestes and mountaines did so annoy and molest him afflicting him with infinite mischieues slaughters and discommodities that being in vtter dispaire of doing any good vpon the Prouince he returned backe againe to Constantinople more confounded and full of despight and griefe then he was at his comming foorth Neuerthelesse the Ottoman was no sooner remooued out of Epire but because he would keepe the Christians still in breath he sent two of his chiefe Captaines men of great renowme and reckoning Alibeg Aiasbeg with an armie of 28000. Turks willing them onely to looke to the safetie and defence of his owne frontiers and not to stirre or to offer any warlike violence vpon the country of the Christians Assoone as they were come and had setled themselues vppon their borders they fell to their wonted cunning and practises sending vnto Scanderbeg secretly and vnder hand certaine presents of great value and estimate in hope to draw him to haue some amity and friendship with them and to make him secure and negligent The King of Albanie though he were an olde Courtier and had bene well acquainted with these kindes of dealings so as he could not be ouerreached nor deceiued by their sottish deuises yet he was content to accept of their presents and he sent vnto them backe againe others of no lesse value in counter chaunge of those which they had giuen him And this was all that was done betweene them because he was too cleare sighted and too circumspect for them to go beyond him For notwithstanding these priuate courtesies and kindnesses past betweene him and them Scanderbeg was minded to keepe them doing and therefore caused a generall muster and leauie of men to be made throughout all his dominions purposing to get againe from the Turkes the towne of Valmes which had bene lately built and edified by Mahomet But such was the will and pleasure of the cruell destinies that being detained with a grieuous maladie he was constrained to desist from his attempt For after he had reuisited all partes and quarters of his realme and had caused a generall enrollment to be made of all such able men as were fit to doe him seruice and to beare armes for the safetie and defence of his estate he came to the citie of Lissa which being vnder the siegniorie and gouernment of the Venetians he had euer loued and most dearely affected where being determined to haue called a councell and assembly of all the Princes and Lordes of the league he was suddenly taken with a strong and violent feauer and the force of this disease encreasing euerie day more then other he imagined that his last end began now to approach wherefore being in doubt least that death which is ineuitable should take him away before he had disposed and set in order his affaires he prayed the saied Princes and Lordes his confederates to enter into his bed-chamber together with the Ambassadours of the Siegniorie of Venice and his chiefe Captaines and officers of his campe vnto whom he framed his speech in this manner The soueraigne and chiefest vertue and the true and most perfect religion most worthie Princes and you my beloued companions in my opinion is this First to reuerence to serue and to adore God most high and omnipotent in iustice sanctitie and pietie and next not onely to loue deerely and to haue a continuall care and regard of the good and benefit of our countrie but if neede be to spend euen our liues and to shed our best bloud for the preseruation and safetie of the same for to all such as behaue themselues in that sort by the opinion of them that are wise there is a speciall and peculiar place reserued aloft in the highest heauens For my part with what singular desire and affection I haue alwaies sought and embraced these things how all my thoughts haue continually bene bent and emploied vpon them and how I haue endeuored al my forces and to the vttermost of my power to attaine vnto them First God himselfe can witnes it with me and next all of you my good friends can well testifie The three and twentieth yeare is now past and expired since that I escaped out of the impure handes of wicked Amurath King of the Turkes and that I fledde into this realme beeing the auncient patrimonie and inheritaunce of my auncestours euer since that time haue I helde and endured the warres against a most periured and faithlesse nation and against the rage and furie of the Ottomans for the particular safetie and defence of our crowne and kingdome and for the dignitie of the publike estate and weale of Christendome in all which time by the grace and fauour of the diuine clemencie we haue had most happie and fortunate successe according to our hearts desire and you neuer yet saw me returne either vanquished or repulsed in true and set battell But if I may speake it lawfully I had alwaies the aduantage vpon the enemie and I doe not remember that I was euer hurt or wounded but only once when being shot with an arrow in my right foote by a Turke yet did I presently kill him euen in the head and front of the enemie and threw downe his bloudie head at your feete But now according to the ordinarie course of humane things in the three score and third yeare of my age olde age being growen vpon me seized with a grieuous sicknesse and destitute of all my wonted strength and corporall forces Beholde my good friends behold my deare companions how I now beginne to waxe feeble and by litle and litle I goe the way of all flesh I perceiue my friends I see well that it is the will and pleasure of
description thereof Petralba yeelded Stellusa and the descripion thereof Stellusa yeelde vnto Scanderbeg by the â—ison who â—ade their gouernour prisoner Sfetigard besieged Of the antiquitie and originall of the chiefe townes of Epyre. The foundaâ—â— of Croy. Scuria or Scodra Tyranna Duraz. Sfetigard summoned by Scanderbeg The oration of acommon souldier to the garrison of Sfetygrad perswading them to hold good against Scanderbeg The Gouernor of Sfetigrade encorageth his souldiers seeing them resolute to stand to their defence The gouernour of Sfetigrade putteth all the Christians out of the towne Desdrot the Gouernor of Stellusa executed Diuersity of opinions touching the siege of Sfetigrade Moses left to keepe the siege of Sfetigrade The oration of Scanderbeg vnto his Chieftaines and souldiers Amese and other of his companions Baptised The Turkes in Epire assemble in armes against Moses VVhich is Pharsalia famous by the ouerthrow of thâ— great Tâ—mpâ—y The Turkes are chased away by the comming of Scanderbeg Scanderbeg maketh a road into the Turkish borders Amurath mightily perplexed vpon the reuolt of Scanderbeg Amurath consulteth with his chiefetaines whether it were more expedient to war vpon Scanderbeg and the Epirots or vpon the Hungarians Amurath resolueth and concludeth a peace with the Hungarians Misia restored to the Despot by Amurath 1443. The countrey about Sfetigrade spoiled and haried Citizens of Sfetigrade pray Scanderbeg not to spoilâ— the countrey Moerea wonne and possessed by Scanderbeg Scanderbeg his Armes Indu 〈…〉 prudeâ—â—e of Scanderbeg in prouiding for the safety and defence of his dominions An Army not to continue long in a place Amurath leuieth an army against Scanderbeg Confederacy of Castriot purposed with his neighbours for the resisting of the Turkes innasions These are the Sclauonians Lissa or Alessia Scodra at this present called Scutari A generall parliament or assembly summoned of all the princes and Estates of Epire. The originall of the Albanois This is Cumania subiect to the Tartarian Straho Pius 2. Papa Trogus Pompeius Peloponnesus or Morâ—a Scanderbeg the chiefe of the Princes and estates of Epireâ— his deserts A Catalogue of the Princes of Albany assembled in couÌ„sell with Scanderbeg Ariamnites Thopia Tributarie to Amurath reuolteth â—râ— him and cleaueth to Scanderbeg The strength puissance and acts of Ariamnites Riuer of Aâ—as or Vauisse Gulfe of Ambrasia Andrew Thâ—py Comine Musache Tanuse Tire the lesser Epidamne oâ— Duras once Dirrachium Cymerians Vlâ—xians Corson Cymerotâ— George Streese Iohn Boye Streese The familie of the Musachees Nicholas and Paule Ducagine Zadrâ—me Leâ—â—y or Luke Zacharie Dayna The riuer Drine or Drinâ—n Epire deuided froÌ„ Dalmatia and Slauome by the riuer of Dryne The gulfe of Rizique or Catarra Acrolissa The Island of Lassa Otherwise Peter Span. Lech or Luke Dusman Dryuasta Balesia Steuen Zernouich George and Iohn Xabiac Falcon. Sclauonie or of old Liburnia The Venetians Oration of Scanderbeg to the Princes of Epyre in the assembly at Lissa Scanderbeg chosen generall of the warres against the Turkes by the Princes of Epyre. Oration of Aryamnit offering him selfe tributarie to Scanderbeg viz. Amurath Scanderbeg chosen king of Epyre. Princes of Epyre ioyne in league to aide Scanderbeg Reuenewes of Scanderbeg more then 200000. crownes by the yeare Saltâ—its belonging to Scanderbeg Campupescupi Selite S. Nicholas Sfetygrade yeelded to Moses Haly Bassasent with an armie of 40000. against Scanderbeg A notable description of the tumult and confusion amongest the common people where an inuasion is expected Courage and resolute assurance of Scanderbeg Confidence and fortune seldome faile great and excellent natures Hunyades the Despot of Transiluania was the father of Mathias Coruinus king of Hungarie Oration of Scanderbeg to his souldiers marching against the Originall of the Turkes I side iâ—â—e of Amurath to the Greekes and others George Strese Aidin Vranocontes The battell betweene Scanderbeg and Haly Bassa Victorie of Scanderbeg of Haly Bassa the Turkes Number of Turkes 22000 slaine Oration of Scanderbeg to his souldiers inuiting them to spoile the Turkish territorier Spoile and sack of the enemies countrey permitted by ScaÌ„derbeg to his souldiors 1443. Of the warres betweene the Turkes and the Hungarians This is the king of Cilicia This Pontus and Bithinia This is the vpper Misia by the Turkes called Segoria Letters from Francis Albert Cardinall to Vladislaus king of Hungary Iulian Cardinall of Sainct Angell Leauy of the Christians against the Turkes This is Hellespont the Arme of S. George A Maxime of the Romishe Prelates Cardinall Iulian maketh the king of Hungary to breake his faith and league with the Turkes * Cursed and vnhappy Vladislaus and the Christians do seeke the aide of Scanderbeg against the Turkes Letters of king Vladislaus to Scanderbeg O that aâ—â— Christiant would well payze and consider these wordes Hâ—ly Bassa returneth to Amurath Scanderbeg calleth a councell of the Albanois to consult vpon the sending of succours to the king of Hungarie Oration of â—aul Ducagin touching the number of the succours to be sent into Hungarie Praises and commendation of Paulâ— Ducagin Nicholas sonne of Paul Ducagin his valour and proâ—resse Peneropole â—r Persera Digression Letters of Scanderbeg in answer to Vladislaus king of Hungary Note An army leauied by Scanderbeg for the aid of the king of Hungary Scanderbeg marching with his armie towards Hungarie is hindered by the Despot of Misia George Despot of Misia his description His irreligion atheisme and impietie Frier Iohn Capistran Ambassadors sent froÌ„ Scanderbeg to the Despot of Seruia to perswade him to graunt him passage thorow his countrey Vladislaus marcheth with his armie against the Turkes Valachia Danow or the riuer of Danubia Description of Varna neare to the mountaine Hemus Mar Maggiore or the great sea once named Pontus Euxiniuâ— Galata Macropolis Amurath marcheth against the Christians Infidelitie and not able auarice of the Christans helping the Turkes to passe into Europe at the streight of Hellespont * VVhich being of old named Bosphorus Thracius is about 8. miles a halfe aboue Constantinople Varna or Dionisiopolis Iancus or Iohn Hunyades lieutenans General of the Christian armie Order obserued by Hunyades in placing the battells of the Christians at Varna The battell of Varna betwen Vladislaus king of Hungarie and Amurath the great Turke Bishops of Varadia Strigonia by their folly hinder the victorie of the Christians Vladislaus his ouergreat hardinesse or rashnesse Hunyades perswadeth Vladislaus to retyre and to preuent an vtter ouerthrowe Vladislaus king of Hungarie slaine by the Turkes Huniades his flight and imprisonment by the Despot of Servia * Callimachus Iulian the Cardinall his miserable end and slaughter Bishops of Varadia Strigonia drowned in the mudde Victorie of the Turkes with great losse and bloudshed Comparison of Hunyades and Scanderbeg Scanderbeg spoileth the Despots countrie in reuenge of his â—â—echery Les appanages Hungarians flying from the slaughter â—â— Varna relieued by Scanderbeg Ragusa 1444. Complaint of the Turks of Macedonie to Amurath against Scanderbeg Complaint of George
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
example of the varietie and vnconstancie of fortune Neapolitans their humor disposition 1458. Ferdinand bastard sonne of Alphonsus succeedeth vnto the kingdome of Naples Calixtus 4. claimeth the kingdome of Naples by Escheate Peter Lewes Borgias Nephew to Pope Eugenius competitor of the crowne of Naples against Ferdinand Iohn Duke of Calabria Frances Sforce Duke of Milan Charles the second king of Naples and Mary his wife their issue Charles Martell king of Hungarie Carolobert king of Hungarie Baldus a famous Ciuilian of Perusa Lewes 3. sonne of Charles the second king of Hungarie Duke of Duras Philip 4 sonne of Charles Prince of Tarentum Ione Queene of Naples maried with Andrew younger some of the king of Hungarie Auersa Andrew the husband of Ione Queene of Naples murthered by his wife Second mariage of Ione Queene of Naples Lewes king of Hungarie coÌ„meth with an armie against Ione Queene of Naples for reuenge of his brothers death Sulmo Charles of Duras ouercome in battell taken and beheaded by the king of Hungarie Auignion purchased to the See of Rome by Pope Clemens Third mariage of Ione of Naples Fourth mariage of Ione Queene of Naples The motiue occasion of the Scisme in the Church of Rome Vrban the 6. created Pope M. Nicholas of Naples Clement the seuenth made Antipope The Cause of the enmitie betweene Pope Vrban and Maister Nicolas of Naples Disgrace offered by Pope Vrban to M. Nicolas Ambassadour for the Queene of Naples Speech of M. Nicholas touching the disgrace done him by the Pope Ione queene of Naples depriued of her realme by Pope Vrban Charles of Duras inuested with the crown of Naples by Pope Vrban Ione Queene of Naples and Pope Clement flie to Auignion Lewes the first Duke of Aniow adopted by Queene Ione Ione returneth to Naples Treuisa Ione queene of Naples put to death Marie sister to Queene Ione executed Iohn Bocace Flammette Philocole Charles of Duraz crowned king of Naples Lewes Duke of Aniow entreth the realme of Naples with an armie Alberic de Barbian The ouerthrow of Lewes the first Duke of Aniow Lewes the first Duke of Aniow dieth at Biseilles Charles King of Naples pope Vrban enemies Boutill nephew to Pope Vrban Vrban besieged by Charles within Nocera Vrban escapeth out of Nocera to Genes and curseth Charles king of Naples Death of Lewes King of Hungarie Charles king of Naples chosen and crowned King of Hungarie slaine at Bude Margaret Queene of Naples and her children flie to Gaietta Boniface the â— made Poâ—e Ladislaus son o. Charles crowned King of Naples by Pope Boniface Lewes second Duke of Aniow corwned king of Naples by Pope Clement entreth Naples Ladislaus the son of Charles of Duras recouereth Naples Ladislaus made King of Hungarie Ladislaus taketh Rome by force Alexander the fifth made Pope at the counsell of Pisa Lewes confirmed in the realme of Naples by Pope Alexander The battell betweene Lewes of Aniow and Ladislaus of Duras Kings of Naples Victorie of Lewes not pursued Speech of Ladislaus king of Naples of the battel betweene him and Lewes Duke of Aniow Ladislaus poisoned Auarice vnchast loue two most pernitious mischieues A straunge kind of poysoning Ione the second Queene of Naples Pandolphel Alop the loue or paramour of Queene Ione the 2. Queene Ione the 2. maried to Iames of Narbon County of March Sforce Cottignole Iulius Caesar of Capua Sforce made prisoner This is the principall fortresse of Naples Pandolphel beheaded Michelet Margaret sister of Sforce her hardines and generosity Count Iames his ouersight and folly Queene Ione of Naples her subtelty and policy Iulius Caesar of Capua intendeth the death of the Count offereth his seruice to the Queene Iulius Caesar his treason bewraied by the Queene Iulius Caesar executed Capouana a castell within Naples Count Iames made prisoner in Chasteau de loue a Casteli within Naples Iohn Carracciole the minion or paramour of Ione Queene of Naples made Grand Seneschall Sforce enemy to the Grand Seneschall Count Iames restored to his liberty Count Iames forsaketh Naples and returning to France becommeth an Hermit Braccio Fortebraccia of Perusa warreth vpon Pope Martin the 5. Sforce sent with an armie to the aide of the Pope by the Q of Naples Sforce oueruerthrowen by Braccio is depriued of all authoritie in Naples and Braccio hired by the queen in his roome Queene Ione depriued of her kingdome by the Pope Alphonsus king of Arragon besiegeth Boniface in Corsica Port Siracusan Don Garzia Spaniard Anthony Caraffa alias Malice Sentence Desire of a Crowne knoweth no conscience Alphonsus adopted by Q. Ione and receiued into Naples Spaniards their pride and enuie The Grand Seneschall held prisoner by Alphonsus Queene Ione besieged in Naples by Alphonsus Queene Ione deliuered out of Naples by Sforce Alphonsus disinherited by Queene Ione Lewes the 3. adopted by Queene Ione Alphonsus returneth into Spaine Marseilles surprised by Alphonsus S. Lewes his body caried away from Marseilies by Alphonsus Deuotion without piety or religion Naples besieged by Philip Duke of Milan Francis Sforce the sonne of Sforce Cottignole deceased Naples recouered for Queene Ione Grand Senesâ—hall of Naples ransomed by Sforce Grand Seneshall of Naples slaine Sentence The immoderate loue and fauor of womaÌ„kind vain for any man to build his fortune on Lewes the third Duke of Aniow and Calabria his death Ione 2. Queene of Naples death Rene Duke of Barre ordained to be heire to Queene Ione Rene Duke of Barre prisoner in Burgundie Eugenius Pope Alphonsus taken prisoner by the Duke of Millan Alphonsus set at libertie by the Duke of Millan Rene Duke of Barre set at libertie and regaineth Naples and all her fortresses Naples besieged by Alphonsus Anell a mason betrayeth Naples Naples taken by Alphonsus Bellisarius Rene enforced to forgoe Naples Alphonsus king of Naples his death Pope Pius 2. Dutchy of Spoleta restored to the Church Ferdinand crowned king of Naples by Pope Pius 2. Beneuent Terracine Councell of Mantua Iohn the sonne of Rene ayded by the Genowayes against Ferdinand king of Naples The Banke of S. George at Genes Marquesse of Crotona Marin de Marsan Duke of Sesse Rebellion of the Neapolitans against Ferdinand Princes and Nobles of Naples confederate with the Duke of Aniow Marquesse de Este Borze Lord of Ferrara Count Iames Picenin General of the army for Duke Iohn against Ferdinand Princes and Nobles of Naples partaking with FerdinaÌ„d Battel of Sarni betweene Ferdinand and Duke Iohn Victory of Iohn against Ferdinand The Pope and Duke of Millan aid Ferdinand Frederick Duke of Vrbin Alexander Sforce Battell of Saint Fabian The second victorie of the French against Ferdinand Bary or Barlette Ferdinand besieged within Barie by the Count Picenin Confederates of Ferdinand sent to Scanderbeg for succours in the behalfe of Ferdinand Ambassade froÌ„ the Pope Ferdinand the Duke of Millan to Scanderbeg Truce between Scanderbeg Mahomet Goic Streese sent into Apulia by Scanderbeg Gulfe of Rizic