the 1. 2. daies assault the 3. day the people fed with a vaine hope of mercy set open the gates and with their wiues children cloathed all in white hauing Oliue branches in their handes they humbly beséeched grace but Tamberlaine in place of compassion caused his squadrons of horsemen to tread them vnder their féete and not to leaue a mothers child a liue and afterwardes he leuiled the city with the ground At that time there was a marchaunt of Genowa somewhat fauored of Tamberlaine pittying the cruelty boldly demanded why he shewed such cruelty to those that yéelded and beséeched pardon whō Tamberlaine with a countenance fiered with fury answered thou supposest that I am a mā but thou art deceiued for I am no other then the ire of God and the destruction of the world and therfore sée thou come no more in my sight least I chastē thy ouer proud boldnes The marchant made spéed away was neuer afterwards séene in the campe And in truth Tamberlain although he was endued with many excellencies vertues yet it séemed by his cruelty the God raysed him to chasten the kings proud people of the earth In the ende this great personage without disgrace of fortune after sūdry great victories by the course of nature died left behind him two sons euery way far vnlike their father betwéen whō enuy sowed such dissention that through their incapacities to gouern the conquests of their Father the children of Baiazet whom they kept prisoners stole into Asia so won the people to disobedience as they recouered the goods possessions that their father lost The like did other kings princes whō Tamberlaine had spoyled in so much as in small time this Empire was so abased that many dayes agoe there was no remembrance left either of him or his linage saue that Baptista Ignatius a great searcher of antiquities saith that the successors of Tamberlaines sons possessed the prouinces conquered by him about the riuer of Euphrates vntil the time of king Vsancasan according to the opinion of some writers of the heyres of this Vsancasan was chosen the first Sophy who to this day to the benefit of all christendō maintaineth mortall wars against the great Turk But it séemeth that their empire was cleane ended for as it is set down in the chapter of the great Turke one named Ismaell a false Prophet gathered a multitude of the cōmom people together of whom by continual fauor of time and fortune the Sophy is growne of power to incounter the great Turke And herein although the lightnes inconstancy of the common people be heretofore noted yet occasion here and in sundry places ministreth matter to blame their enuious and froward dispositions there was neuer inuention so fantasticke nor captaine so wicked that they refused to follow they erected the tirannous empires of the Sophy the great Turk Tamberlaine and ouer threw the famous and prudent gouernments of Athens Lacedemonia Rome c. The Swizers enuying the authority of their nobility gentlemen by generall consent slew them al euer since haue bene gouerned by that base gouerment called Democratia where mecanical people haue the only segniorie a gouermēt which resembleth a monster with many heads yet they all haue neither will nor capacitie to cherish vertue learning worthy enterprises the beauties and strength of a good common wealth Neuertheles Iosua simler of zurich in his booke of the Swizers common wealth both for their militarie discipline in war and sound administration of iustice in peace compareth the gouerment of their Cantons vnto the common wealth of the Venetians time and necessity hath much reformed the same from their originall and yet how be it he greatly praiseth their iustice yet his owne report thus much testifieth of their weaknes that to martiall and gouern their wars they haue bene oftentimes driuen to obey and follow the direction of forraine captaines which lamenes in a common wealth can neuer be but an open blemish and a secret daunger For a perfect common wealth resembleth a well proportioned man wherof the military defence resembleth his handes which being maimed or cut off bring misery to the whole body CHAP. 13. The calamitie and seruile bondage of Portugall vnder the gouernment of Phillip king of Castile c. by the aduenturous battaile and death of Sebastian king of Portugal the 5. of August 1578. and especially by the enuious malice of Henry which succeeded in suppressing the lawfull title of Don Anthonio the now reputed king THe renowne of the kingdome of Portugall both for the commodities of the naturall countrey as for the wonderfull riches of the east and west Indies with diuers cities and townes in Africa subiected annexed to the crowne equalled of lateyéeres the fame of most christian gouernments and certainely at this day the calamity and bondage of the people by the conquest and violent rule of the king of Spaine requireth the compassion and reliefe of all true Christian princes the groundes and causes of whose miseries follow By succession of time and lawful decent Sebastian was crowned king of Portugal whose vertues outward giftes promised great honor vnto his kingdom but the inconstancy of worldly dignity is liuelye figured in his much lamented death king Sebastian being about the age of 24. yéeres vpon the earnest labour suite of Mulei Mahumet king as he pretended of Fez and Marocoes who by Mulei Maluco his brother was driuen foorth of the kingdome condescended with a puissant army to passe into Africa to restore this Mulei Mahumet to his kingdome the enterprise agréed with the magnanimity and greatnes of yong king Sebastians mind besides to relieue and restore this expulsed king among indifferent iudges was a matter of great honor and vertue so that resolutely to execute his promise king Sebastian departed with his armye from Lisbone in Iune 1578. and ariued at a port in Castile called el puerto de Sancta Maria where he tried the breach of the king of Spaine his vncles promise which was the ayde of 50. Gallies and 4000. armed souldiours neuertheles the sayd king Sebastian like as he was a magnanimous prince hauing a 1000. sayle of ships in a readines pursued his voyage landed his army in Africa to the number of 15000. fighting men and on the 5. of August in the same yéere in a plaine field called Alcazar there was a most fierce battaile fought betwéen him and the enemy wherin the yong king Sebastian and Mulei Mahumet whose part he tooke were both ouer come and slaine in the field Neither did Mulei Maluco the king their enemy escape for with sicknes wearines he died during the battaile a battaile very vnfortunate wherein neither party gained and most rare and worthy of remembrance that thrée kinges were slaine in the same and aboue 600. of the chiefest nobility and Gentlemen of Portugall After the death of king
demaunded Papa cuius partis orationis sayd that papa was participii partis quia partem capit a clere partem a seculari partem ab vtroque cum totius orbis doloris significatione sine modis temporibus That is to say this word Pope is a Participle for he receiues of the spiritualitie he receiues of the temporalitie and parteth stakes on both sides without measure or ende to the great anguishe sorrow of all the world may truly be sayd somewhat I haue discoursed and much more other nations haue felt neither yet hath little England which some holde not part of the worlde bene exempt from his rauening crosses no better then curses but through his meane hath beene partaker of other countries calamities King Inas made the whole lande tributary to the Pope and further vpon suggestion that Thomas Becket archbishop of Caunterbury was slaine by the kinges consent the whole land was a great while in subiection and at the disposition of the Pope It is a wonder but that God would haue it so that no worthy Prince did vnmaske the painted village of this glorious Pope in so long continuaunce of his errour yea the continuaunce of his kingdome is a great matter of his glory and a colour that yet deceauesh many but Sainct Paule sufficiently aunsweareth the matter saying that God shoulde send such an efficacie in errour that men shoulde giue credite vnto falsehood not onely for a day but for a long continuaunce of time but as there was a beginning of all that is bisiblye seene so there shall be an ende of the greatest glorye that our eyes may behold And although the ten kinges figured by the beast with ten hornes in the seuentéene of the Apocalips which shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and that shall eat her flesh and burne her with fire is meant in that passage as a prophesie of the destruction of the Empire of Rome yet graunting the same you shall easely finde out Antichrist by the whore that sate vpon the seuen hilles before described I haue in the Chapter before touched the most of the tenne kinges which Saint Iohn speaketh of which destroyed and spoyled Rome But for that I haue not set them successiuely done in the other chapter but onely remembred those that entred Rome by force I holde it not amisse in this place breifly to remember them Radaigasus the first king of the Gothes which entred Italy with two hundred thousande Gothes can not be reckoned for one of them for that without doing any great damage he was ouercome taken prisoner and strangled by Stilicon captaine of the Emperour Honorius army 1 Alarick was then the first king of the Gothes and straunger that entred and spoyled Rome 2 Adolphus was the seconde who if the intercession of his wife Placida Honorius sister had not appeased his furye had vtterly subuerted Rome 3 Generick king of the Vandals was the thirde that spoyled Rome 4 Odoacer as some say a Saxon was the fourth king that punished Rome and first of all named him selfe king of Italy 5 Theodarich king of the Gothes was the fift who and his heyres occupied the empire 50. yeares 6 Athalarick Theodarich sonne was the sixt 7 Theodat successour of Athalarick also king of the Gothes was the seuenth 8 Vitiges was the 8. king this Vitiges left Rome naked of all her beautifull buildinges and auntient priuiledges 9 Tottill king of the Gothes was the ninth who destroyed Rome more then the rest and this wound lasted 42. moneths as it is written in the Apoc. 13. for it was three yeere and a halfe before Bellisarius repayred Rome after her first ruine by Tottill 10 Telas succéeded Tottil and was the last king of the Gothes that gouerned Rome who in the beginning of his raigne was vanquished taken prisoner and put to death by Nasetes chief of the Emperour Iustinians army In this sort did God chasten this Empire of Rome and albeit God hath appointed other then carnall weapons to confound Antichrist who being the enemy of God is threatned to be confounded by Gods owne worde yet to ioyne shame with his ouerthrow visible vengeance is séene to raigne vppon him For to what nation is not his deformitie knowne and as by peece meales he clymed to the highest degrée of worldly dignitye euen so by a lingring consumption he is almost wasted to nothing or in the best construction brought vnto a vile reputation and as I haue here showne his florishing pride and pompe euen so occasion will hereafter minister matter in sundry places of his ruine disgrace and daylye defeats whose vtter confusion God for his sonnes sake speedely graunt Amen CHAP. 7. Of the enuy of Sergius a monke of Constantinople who being banished for heresie fledde into Arabia vnto Mahomet by whose diuelish pollicies ambitious Mahomet forced the people to holde him for a Prophet which damnable sect vntil this day hath beene nourished with the bloud of many thousandes LAmentable and most lamentable are the blouddye cruelties manifested in my former discourses but this one act of enuy broched the extreamest venim of the diuell For although in my recited examples I haue published open iniuries both against God and man yet were they executed on those persons whose glory the enuious beheld or in the worst degrée to bury the remembraunce of their vertues which they imagined woulde lessen their account But this fact of Sergius was drawne many degrees more extreame who though he sufficiently bewrayed the enuie that he beare to his superiours authoritie béeng a Monke in Constantinople in that he raysed damnable heresies to make him selfe famous yet the sect of Mahomet which his accursed head first plāted in Arabia hath left an impossibility to Belzabub to scatter in the world a more blasphemy against God and iniury towardes men whose opinions buried millions of soules in hell whose bodies were to forme many hundred yéeres after his departure vnto the Diuell The actions of whom and originall of Mahomets sect ensueth Sundry are the opinions of what parentage and countrye this false Prophet Mahomet was Platinus sayeth that he sprong from noble line But Pomponius Letus a moste diligent authour in the abridgement of the Romane history affirmeth that he was of a race base vile and obscure which may the rather be credited for that a man so euill in whome was nothing worthye of memorye but malice and iniquitie may hardly be the issue of noble bloud Some saye he was a Persian some other an Arabian and both opinions not without reason for that at that time the Persians gouerned Arabia Touching his father were he noble or villayne sure it is that he was a Gentill and neither Iewe nor Christian by his mothers side the better opinion is that he descended from Abraham by the ligne of his sonne Ismaell whom he had by his Chamber mayd Agar and so as a Iewe obserued the lawe of
aduantage were lesse and the swoordes that are now in Christian mens handes ready to gore one an others intrailes were mutually bent against this tiraunt the sworne enemy of Christ and blasphemer of his blessed word CHAP. 12. The wonderfull conquest of Tamberlaine reconquered and his large kingdom ouerthrowne by the enuy and discord of his two sonnes AMonge the illustrous Captaines Romaines and Grecians none of all their martiall acts deserue to be proclaimed with more renown then the conquest and millitarie disciplines of Tamberlaine but such was the iniury of his fortune as no worthye writers vndertooke his historye at large although Baptista Fulgosius in his collection Campinus florintin in his history of the Turkes make some mention thereof about the yéere of the Lorde 1390. Tamberlaine being a poore labourer or in the best degrée a meane souldiour descended from the Partians notwithstanding the pouertye of his parents euen from his infancy he had a reaching an imaginatiue minde the strength and comelinesse of his body aunswered the hautines of his hart This Tamberlaine as Fulgosius reporteth kéeping beasts among other youthes of his condition his companions in a meriment chose him for their king wherevpon Tamberlaine hauing a ruling desire after an othe of obedience commanded euery man to sell his cattaile and to contemn their meane estate to follow him as their captaine in smal time he assembled 500. heardmen laborers whose first act was to rob the marchants that passed that way he parted the spoyle continually among his companions intertayned them with such faithfulnes loue as the rumour thereof dayly increased his strength the king of Partia vnderstanding these matters sent one of his captaines with a thousand horse to take him but Tamberlaine so be haued him selfe as he won this captaine to be his coÌ„panion assistant with al his strength who thus ioined did things of greater importance then before these matters in question enuy had â—…owen discord betwéen the king of Persia his brother Tamberlaine ioyned with the kings brother and so valiantly behaued him self that he ouerthrew the king seated his brother in the kingdom the new king created Tamberlaine chiefe captaine of his army who vnder colour to inlarge his kingdom raised many people found the means to make them reuolt from their obedience so deposed the new king whom he lately ayded to the kingdom â—…en made him selfe king of Persia redeeming by this industry and dexterity in armes his countrey from the seruitude of the Sarizens and kinges of Persia. Tamberlayne hauing a puissaunt armye in processe of time conquered Siria Armenia Babylon Mesopotamia Scitia Asia Albania and other prouinces with many goodly and inuincible Cities it is pittie his pollicies and battayles be not largely written which in these conquestes could not but be famous but of his militarie discipline thus much wryters commend in his armye was neuer found mutine he was wise liberall and rewarded euery souldiour with his desert there is no remembrance of a greater army then his his gouernment and order was such that his campe séemed a goodly City wherein euery necessary office was found marchants without feare of robbing or spoyling repayred thither with all maner of necessary prouision for his army the reason was he suffered no theft vnpunished and as louingly honored praised and payed the vertuous and valiaunt souldiour which favour ioyned with iustice made him both feared and loued he ledde a greater army then king Darius or Xerxes for writers affirme that he had foure hundred thousand horsemen and 6. hundred thousand foot men the which he ledde to conquer the lesse Asia Baiazet the great Turke of whose worthinesse and wonderfull prowes is sufficiently spoken in the former chapter aduertised of Tamberlaynes procéedinges was driuen to leaue his siege to Constantinople and with all expedition to inlarge his power to the vttermost to incounter with Tamberlayne by estimation he had as manye horse men as Tamberlayne and a great number of foot men these two puissant captaines in whom wanted neither vallour pollicye nor anye aduauntage of war with equall courages mutuallye consented to abide the fortune of battaile and so incountring on the confines of Armenia at the dawning of the daye with all their power they beganne the fiercest battaile that in any age was foughten which by the huge number of people and the experience of their captains may be lawfully supposed the slaughter continued of both parties and the victorye doubtfull all the whole dayes In fine the Turkes of whome two hundred thousand were slaine vanquished by the multitude of their enemies tourned their backes which Baiazet perceiuing to incourage his army with an vnappauled spirite resisted the furye of his enemies But such was Gods will for lacke of rescue by the ouercharge of foes he was taken prisoner and pre sented to Tamberlaine who closed this great Emperour in an Iron cage and as a dog fed him onely with the fragments that fell from his table as in the former chapter is showne a notable example of the incertaintye of worldly fortunes Baiazet that in the morning was the mightiest Emperor on the earth at night and the residue of his life was driuen to féede among the dogs and which might most grieue him he was thus abased by one that in the beginning was but a poore shéepheard Tamberlaine thus possessed of Asia minor which was before in the possession of the Turke he spéeded into Aegypt and by the way raised all Siria Phenice and the Palestine he tooke manye famous Cities and among others Smirna Antioch Tripoli Sebastian and Damas In Aegypt he encountred with the Soudan and the king of Arabia and ouerthrew them he was euer best at ease when he found a stout resistance in his enemy that his pollicie and prowesse might be the better knowne as appeared at the city of Damas which after he had taken the principle and most valiaunt men retyred vnto a tower which was thought impregnable afterwards they offered him composition but he refused vnlesse they would fight or yéelde vnto his mercy and with diligence beyond expectation he raysed a tower leuel with theirs from whence he battred them in such sort as they were vnable to resist it is sayde that in his batteries and assaultes he vsed the firste daye to raise a white tent which gaue knowledge that if that daye the Citizens yéelded they should haue both their goods liues and liberty the seconde daye he raysed a red tent which signified that if they did that day yéeld he would saue all but the maisters and chiefe of euery house the third day he raised a blacke tent which signified that the gates of compassion were closed and all that were that day and afterwardes subiected were slaine without respect of man woman or childe it is written that Tamberlaine besieged a strong city which with stood
cut down like the grasse and be withered like the greene hearbe The bosting of the tyrant shal be abased and the desire of the vngodly shal perish And in many other places he heapeth vengance vppon the wicked and pronounceth confusion of their Counsels Againe he promiseth millions of blessings vnto the godly and safe deliuerance out of their enimies hands England hath plentifully tasted of all this goodnesse and with the Psalmist may iustly say The Lorde will be a defence for the oppressed euen a refuge in dew time of trouble It is alredie reported what sundrie seasonable victories Noble Quéene Elizabeth where the vengance of war scarce fastined of any one person saue her enimies hath had from the first houre of her blessed raigne vntil anno 1580. which yere the Pope had prouided a Challice to drink her maiesties pretious blood the king of Spaine expected her Crowne and the Duke of Guise to be domine factotum in Scotland Regard the strength of their pollicie and easinesse of their confusion and you shall plainly sée that the wisedome of the world is folishnesse before God The king of Spaine had prouided a mighty power vnder pretence of some exploit in Aphrica for the inuasion of England Don Iohn should haue maried haue done wonders with that army with which I purpose not to medle but God be praised Don-Iohn was faire buried The yeare was not too farre spent for the king of Spaines purpose who had lost al his cost if that the old king of Portugal had not that yeare dyed with which power he inuaded that kingdom The Duke of Guise should haue occupied Scotland with martiall exercise but the troubles in Piccardy and Dalphine so weakned his strength as his purpose was more then half maimed somwhat was attempted in Scotland but not to the expected purpose The Pope he vndertooke the matter of Ireland and as he thought had laid a sure foundation he picked out a daungerous instrument for his purpose euen Iames Fitz-morice a natural Irish a man wise valiant learned and of great experience in martial affaires he was a great traueller and I may safely say to stir vp troubles which powred destruction vpon his own head This Iames Fitz-moris was sent before to make a passage for the Popes power anno 1579. he ariued in Ireland soone intised the Earle of Desmond Sir Iohn his brother to be traitors but as wise as stout as this traitor Iames Fitz-moris was he was yet peaceably confounded euen in the entrance of his mischieues for he purposing to burne the countrie of the Borkes a noble yong Gentleman in the defence of his fathers country slew him before he saw any successe of his conspired treasons The Popes malice might haue bin quailed by the presagement of euil successe hauing his ankor principall Captaine Fitz-moris thus peaceably vanquished but he incensed more with the displeasure of his death then restrained with the cogitations of Gods prouidence armed his power against Ireland and comforted his souldiers that they shoulde finde in that Countrie manie more friendes then enimies his Cappitaine Fitzmoris had seduced some of the principals and his legate Doctor Saunders had bewitched the multitude vpon a hope which hetherto hath deceiued him the Pope vnder his banner sent out of Italy dâ—…ers Capitaines and bands of souldiers of his owne furnished with treasure munition victuals ensignes banners and all other things requisite for the warre into the Realme of Ireland where the same forces with other auxillier companies out of Spaine landed and fortified themselues very strongly vpon the sea side and erecting the Popes banner proclaimed open war against her Maiesty I am bound by the duety of a true subiect to set downe the ioy and cheerefull behauiours of the English fugitiues in Rome vpon the newes of the Popes forces safe landing in Ireland to the end that those which will beleeue a trueth may knowe that the comming of these disguised Iesuites was absolutely to practise to bring the realme into a warre externall and cyuill hoping by an alteration of gouernement to bring in a change of Religion and not simply as they smothly pretend to saue their Countrie mens soules without any motion of disobedience to her Maiestie their lawfull Quéene In the beginning of Nouember 1580. I returned from Naples to Rome at which time the newes was freach in Rome of the Italians Spanyards ariual in Ireland who promised a wonderful hope of a great victorie against her Maiestie and truely the newes was not so quicke in the Romaines tongues as the ioy was fresh in the English mens faces they could not suppresse the reuealement of their traiterous hearts their common speach was The time drew on that the continuance of the heretikes prosperitie for so they termed the Protestants would make their ouerthrow more gréeuous they so assured themselues of the change of her Maiesties gouernment as in a maner euerie man painted out his owne office The matter was so sure in their owne imaginations as some few that pretended a sorrow for Englands myserie wished that the onely vengeance might light vpon her Maiestie and some of her Maiestrates but they further said that God would not haue it so his iustice could not but send a general subuertion to reuenge the iniurie done vnto so many holy Catholikes which for their Consciences were driuen forth of their countrie with these and such like words they published the wishes of their hearts no one one onely except that in word or gesture séemed to be sorie that straungers should haue dominion in their natiue Countrie wherein they shewed to haue dispositions more vilanous than the seditious Iewes when Ierusalem was beseiged by Titus who although they continually killed one another with cyuill frayes yet to withstande the assault of the Romaines they would in their egerest scyrmiges part themselues and vnite their forces to withstand the forraine enimie Nature teacheth sauage mastiues who how cruelly so euer they fight togeather at the sight of a Beare they will part themselues and fal vpon their natural enimy but these be worse then Mastiues and without they amend God send them the destinie of Dogges And now to the matter of the former newes they ceased not to importune the Pope to sucker his force in Ireland with newe supplies to which end Cardinal Forze with present Commission all along the lower way by Raconati Loretto Ancona and so to Bologna in the Popes proper dominions mustered pressed souldiers 3000. Caliuers were in a readines to be shipped at Lygorne but this preparation was not so spéedie but before al things were set forward Rome receiued newes that the most worthy Captaine the Lord Gray her Maiesties deputie then in Ireland had vanquished and put all the Italian and Spanish souldiers to the sword a few of the principall Captaines except they could not vaunt that they dyed with the
weake blocks his secresie was such as he was first desyphered by forraigne intelligence he had Englishe confederates but such as wéere too déepe in to discouer him When he could no longer withstand the accusation of his owne hand-writing and other probabilities but especiallie his giltie conscience he voluntarilie accused hymselfe with manie odious Treasons but hys malitious spirit woulde not bowe to accuse hys confederates whiche could not but be some great personadges his toong going to execution accused him of a hidden secret when he sayd that he was sorie for the miserie that would light vpon the people before one yeare but God be praised the yeare is past another draweth fast one and manie the like I hope will followe that her Maiestie is in safetie and her Realme in peace Mary within the same yeare the Traytor Parry was hanged in Throgmortons equipage and Henry Earle of Northumberland iudged by the giltinesse and accusation of his owne conscience desperately ended his life with a dagge in the Tower with gréefe I set it downe that a man of so great vallor and staiednesse should so much forget the feare of God and duty to her Maiestie to whome he was déepely bounde as to practise such dangerous treason as his owne conscience perswaded him would not abide the triall and therefore to preserue the honour and inheritance of his house he made choise of a desperate death before the tryall of his péeres the most honourable and indifferentest tryall in the world his sonnes haue great cause to consider of this fatherly care that thus wilfully endangered his owne soule to preserue the temporall honour of his house yea the redéeming of it by his voluntarie death when the trespasse of his life had forfeited all hath or ought to haue impressed such a setled zeale in his sonnes euermore to vphold the same as they and their posteritie will no doubt continuallie be remembred thereof as Philip King of Macedon was That he was a mortall man God graunt that her Maiesties good subiects may be alwayes worthy of this diuine prouidence peace abundance of all good things and that those that are not yet sound may so profit in amendment by these examples as they may detest treason as the assured spoile of honour losse of life and in many the damnation of the soule otherwise in séeking to pull downe a Prince whome God hath chosen to raigne ouer his people in their confusion they shall declare their owne folly and Gods excéeding goodnesse in preseruing of those whome he loueth These notable polititians or more properly Atheists if they were simply to deale with men they might many times happily sée the wished effects of their deuises but they striue against God that striue against their soueraigne Princes especially against such a one as God hath annointed to set foorth his glorie yea they shall preuaile no more then he that thinketh to beate down strōg rocks with a knock of his head that striueth against those whome God protecteth God defended his seruant Elias fléeing from the wrathfull displeasure of Iezabell yea he sent an Angell to comfort and to refresh him with foode When Daniell was cast into a den of Lions God sent an Angell to stop the Lions mouth so that they could not hurt him An Angell with a drawne sword told Iosue that he was the chiefe of the Lords band Iudeth had an Angell for her companion when she went to slay Holofernes An Angell was séene to walke and preserue Sidrah Misach and Abednago in the burning ouen I could inlarge the Chapter with many examples to like purpose but to conclude although Angels are not so visibly séene as in the time of the Prophets yet they minister Gods prouidence and all his blessings euen now as they haue done from the beginning of the world by whome our noble Quéene Elizabeth is defended her enimies are confounded and from whome her good subiectes receiue peace and large fruition both of spirituall and temporall riches All which God for his Sonnes sake alwaies continue that when her Maiestie hath liued a long life so long as the longest course of nature may giue leaue that then she may die in peace euen in the place where she liueth and raigned many yeares in peace Amen CHAP. 14. An exhortation to the English fugitiues vagrant in forraine Regions I Place you héere English fugitiues at her Maiesties féete as abiects whome Gods iustice for your sinnes will haue foyled vnder her féete but her excellencie who is slow in doing of vengeance is more readie to succour her enimies with her hand then to spurne them with her foote and among many that least deserue this fauour charitie and commiseration of your dayly ruines moueth me to wish vnto you after vnfained reconciliation both the fruition of this mercie and all your Countrey blessings The errors of your Religion are manifested by many godly Diuines but the blindnesse of your harts will not suffer you to sée them and small is the maruell though you contemne the counsels of men when you vse the visible warnings of God to strengthen your errors The report of the souldiers vnto the high Priests of the glorie of Christes resurrection sufficed to haue conuerted the Iewes but to their condemnation the Diuell and money sealed this slaunder in their harts that his Disciples stole him away in the night Gods iustice stroke Mahomet with the falling sicknesse to make him know and forsake his blasphemie but to strengthen the peoples misbeléefe the Diuell taught him to say that his falling proceeded of the conference with an Angell whose diuine presence his humane shape could not endure Uppon the principall day of the sauadge murther in Parris according to the figure in the Reuelation that the stinging Locusts shoulde not hurt the gréene trée when to shewe that Gods worde should flourish mauger your crueltie a withered trée bare gréene leaues in the Church yard which receiued many a martired carkasse you presently applyed that preaching or prophesying example to the second florishing of your Romish Church time proueth your exposition but an idle suggestion For although God suffered this cruell persecution of his Church yet he presently shewed himselfe as a louing father who burneth the rod when he hath corrected his sonne God shortly sent an vnkindly death to the chiefe scourge in this persecution and with the gallowes confounded the most of the rascally Atheists his executioners if any liue they beare the markes of hys heauie displeasure what honor and to go further what profit haue you gained by this policie of your Church to what purpose hath the Pope painted this persecution about his great hall at Lateran forsooth that it may be a monument of his crueltie and Gods mercie of his crueltie who dayly murthereth and of Gods mercy which dayly increaseth the number of true professors If the hardnesse of your harts had not blinded your vnderstanding you could not but perceiue the
the Emperours Honoreus and Arcadius By the enuy of Ruffin and Stilicon two temporall magistrates but with all to approoue what I haue already sayd the Pusalanimitie of the emperors before that day gaue incouragement for the conquered Regions to reuolt and more styrred vp the barbarous Gothes to inuade Italy in so much as the Emperour Theodotius beholding the perrill of the Empyre and the rather for that his young sonnes were not capable to gouerne as he thought to prouide a remedye for the mischiefe he left these two great captaines whom he had approoued to be wise and valiant and with all had bound them with many greater aduancementes to be the protectors of his children and Empyre and to the gouernment of Ruffin appointed the East parts and to Stilicon Italy and the West But beholde the nature of ambition the impe of this miscreat enuy neither the bountye with which the deceased Emperour had tyed them that was great the trust which he had committed vnto them which was greater nor the dutye which they ought vnto the yong emperors their soueraignes which was greatest coulde stay their vnsatiable desire to rule by the breaches of all these duties so that regarding the emperours with enuious eyes they obeyed them with ruling hartes Ruffin hungring after the Empire for him selfe Stilicon in the behalfe of his sonne But as there is an old tale of a shrewd wife that ment to poyson her husband and to be sure as she thought shée put two strong poysons into the portion but contrary to her expectation the one poyson so stroue with the other as the man was preserued from death So enuy to make a ready confusion of this famous Empire euen in the hart of her glorye made her to foster two mortall enemies of her propertie but so long as they both liued neither could obtaine his purposes their pollicies were so mutuallye imployed the one to suppresse the other Ruffin too hasty of his purpose mooued straungers to make warre vpon the Romanes and béeing chosen Captaine assaied to make him selfe Emperour for which enterprise he was put to death by Honorius Stilicon wayted a better oportunitie and to auoyd suspition married his daughter to Archadius but being alwayes mindfull of his purpose secreatly solicited the Gothes Vandals and other barbarous nations to war vpon the Empire thinking for his sufficiency to be chosen captaine by reason of the tender yéeres of the emperors whose purpose tooke place the Gothes entred Italy with a strong army Stilicon being chosen captaine obtained many weak victories against the Gothes of purpose to continue the warres Alaric king of the Gothes béeing a man of good iudgement found out the dalliaunce of Stilicon and séeing small hope of successe certified the Emperour Honorius of Stilicons drift and desired him to accorde to a peace protesting that he sought but some small countrey for him and his people to dwell in the Emperour vpon diuers other suspicions beléeued the information of Alaric and assented vnto his conditions of peace assigned a part of Gawle for him and his people Neuerthelesse he desembled this knowledge with Stilicon who by the departure of the Gothes vnto their assigned habitation fearing the ende of his authoritie secreatlye practised with one Sawle a Iew a captaine of his army vnder pretence of a priuate quarrell to set vpon the Gothes vppon an Easter daye which the Gothes béeing Christians celebrated Which practise Sawle executed and made a great slaughter of the Gothes but the Gothes béeing gathered together reuenged this outrage with the death of Sawle and the most of his partakers Alaric imboldened here with set vppon the forces of Stilicon who dissembling a feare fayned to fly and sent to Honorius for more ayde The Emperour fearing the secreat drift of Stilicon more then the open force of Alaric sent a strong power to the campe by such persons as slewe both Stilicon and his sonne Honorius by this meanes thought that he had both discharged him self of Stilicons treachery and by his death supposed that Alaricks fury woulde be appeased but it fell foorth that it had bene better for the strength of the empyre that Honorius had spared Stilicon till a further time for béeing vnfurnished of a right valiaunt and worthy Captaine Alaric pursued the aduauntage that was offered and blamed Honorius as guilty of the matter and with all expedition set forwardes towards Rome and without resistaunce in his passage wasted euerye place with fire and swoorde and finally besiedged Rome on euery side Manye haue written the assault and taking of Rome by Alaric but yet so briefly or darkly that they haue giuen small light to the Reader Peter Messire sayeth that he hath founde it written in the Annales of Constantinople that as Alaric marched towardes Rome there went before him a Monke of an vnknowne place who notwithstanding that Alaric was a blouddy tyraunt yet béeing a Christian vpon audience desired him for the loue of God to moderate his ire and to remember that he him selfe béeing a Christian was in duty bound to forbeare the sheading of Christian bloud much more the destruction of Rome which had no way offended to whom Alaric thus aunsweared know thou thou man of God that of my proper desire I goe not against Rome yea further more know thou that I am thus dayly importuned by an vnknowne perswasion aduaunce thy selfe against Rome destroy it and make it desolate wherevpon the religious man sore amased durst not reply and so king Alaric followed his enterprise so that it séemeth this aduersitie of Rome was a speciall scourge of God Paule Osorius further sayeth that as God sent Lot foorth of Sodome euen so hee deliuered Pope Innocent the first from this heauy destruction of Rome but if in that suggestion he had not beene partiall he woulde haue compared the iniquitye of Rome to Sodome and Gomorrha and so by consequence the Cardinals and rest of the Cleargy as spotted as Labans shéepe The truth was the Pope was gone to Rauenna to doe his duty to the Emperor and as it séemeth shortly after dyed for Platinus sayeth that this aduersitie of Rome was in the time of Pope zozim This cruell siege by Alaric lasted two yéeres during which time the famine of Rome was no lesse then that of Ierusalem in so much as they were driuen to eat one an other and the mother was constrained to eat her one child variable are the opinions touching the winning of Rome Procopius sayth that Alaric finding his forces too weake was driuen to this pollicie he conspired with thrée hundred Romane prysoners whome he set at liberty who béeing receaued into Rome sodenly slewe the warders of one of the gates and so let Alaric and his army in some sayde by the commaundement and industrye of a great Lady this gate was open vnto the Gothes which procéeded of pittye that shée tooke of the miserable estate of the poore people
whome shée thought that the enemye coulde not afflict so much as the inhabitauntes of Rome but how so euer it was Alaric commaunded vpon payne of death that no man should hurt anye person that fledde to the Churches for safety which was obserued the rest of this Citye with an innumerable sorte of people were consumed with fire and swoord The Emperour Honorius laye all this while at Rauenna with out taking care for the reliefe of distressed Rome In derision of whome the Gothes ledde a young man vp and downe a whole daye attyred lyke the Emperour and the next daye likewise ledde him cloathed like a slaue This was the first time that Rome since her prosperity fell into the handes and power of straungers but after this sacke by the Gothes the greatnes both of the city and Empyre decreased yea manye tymes was destroyed and subiected The successe whereof briefly to touch I hold it necessarye that the Reader maye vnderstande the frailtie of kingdomes and worldlye powers About forty yéeres after the Gothes had thus sacked Rome outraged Italie the Vandals vnder the conduct of their king Genserick entred Italie without any resistāce tooke Rome the greater part of the inhabitaunts being before fledde who for the space of foure dayes spoyled and in manye places fired the Citye Twentye and seuen yeeres after the conquest by the Vandals Odoacrus king of Euryles and Toringnes came before Rome with a great power whome the Citizens not able to resist receaued louinglye and in peace who naming him selfe king of Rome raigned foreteene yeeres afterwards Theodoric king of the Gothes beeing in friendship with the Romane Emperour to recouer Rome incountred Odoacrus with a great power and not onelye chased Odoacrus from Rome but also foorth of Italie Theodoric vpon this victorye made him selfe king and raigned thirtye yeeres in peace After whose decease his sonne Artalaric with his wife Amalasonte raigned about tenne yeeres Afterwardes the Emperour Iustinian comming to the Empyre the Gothes returned againe into Italie with their most cruel king Tottil vnder the Emperour Iustinian the two moste valiaunt and hardy Captaynes Bellisarius and Nassettus gouerned in Italie who in manye moste cruell battailes foyled Tottill besiedging of Rome In fine by the treason of one of the inhabitauntes Tottill gat the Citie and although at his first entraunce by the intercession of Pelasgus then Bishop of Rome Tottill moderated his furye yet in fine vpon an vnpleasing aunsweare from the Emperour Iustinian he furiouslye destroyed the greatest part of the Citye and left not the third part of the wall standing but to be briefe after Tottill had an other time taken Rome by the valiauntnesse of the most worthy Captaine Narsettus both Tottill the whole power of the Gothes were chased out of all Italie within a while after the Longebards came into Italie who making them selues Lordes of Gawle Cilsapine of whom it hath euer since beene called Lombardie who about three yeeres after the chasing of Tottill vnder the conduct of king Clowis besiedged Rome to the great dammage of the neighbour Townes but Rome out helde both that besiedging and also an other most dangerous siege by Atanlfus likewise king of the Longebards by whose furye Rome had beene leuiled with the ground if that Pepin king of Fraunce had not succoured her distresse Further in processe of time in the time of the Emperour Lewis the Mores and Sarizins Disciples of Mahomet besieged and entered Rome who prophaning the Church of Sainct Peter and burning a great part of the Citye with many riche spoyles retourned vnto their ships But the moste greate ruine of Rome was in the time of Pope Gregorye the seuenth and Henrye Emperour of Almaigne betweene whome there was mortall warres in whose quarrelles there was at one time two contrarye armies in Rome burning and wasting the Citye But in fine the Normans in the behalfe of the Pope were victors But their conqueste made Rome almoste desolate that where there are now Uineyardes Gardens and large waste places shée was before beautified with goodly Churches and other sumptuous buyldinges And for laste example euen of late time the Emperours armye vnder the leading of the moste worthy Prince Charles Duke of Burbon Rome was taken and although the Duke vpon the enteraunce was slayne yet his souldiours as victors spoyled a great parte of the Citye These often and sharpe punishmentes hath Rome suffered as a wonder and warning to the whole worlde and which is much to be regarded there is almoste the people of no Nation which shée here to fore had subiected but at one time or other were at the sacking and spoyling of her beauty For the further and necessarye inlarging of this historye I haue adioyned this Chapter of the enuious humors of the Popes of Rome CHAP. 6. How the Popes of Rome enuiyng the soueranityes which the Emperours had in the election and confirmation of them and their successours by sundrye shiftes wrought them selues foorth of this obedience and by the aduantages of time grewe to vsurpe authoritye to approoue and confirme the election of the Emperours them selues with a supreame power to depose and establishe annoynted Kinges from and in their kingdomes A Chapter for the varietie of the matter worthy the regarde LArge and vnreprooueable are the testimonies which witnes that the bishops of Rome vnder many tirannous emperours truly professed sincerely preached the Gospell of our sauiour Iesus Christ and to confirme the Euangelicall doctrine patiently and constantly imbraced many sharpe persecutionsand martyrdomes but O the venime of riches she no sooner entered into the Church then she poysoned her pastours and ministers with enuie pride ambition heresie idolatrie and all abhominations the riches liberties and great possessions with which Constantine the great endowed the Bishops of Rome although they eternize his name with the tytles of a good zealous deuoute and christian Emperor yet were they the causes which haue bread these soule effects or iniquities in the greater number of the Popes of Rome True it is that before the Emperours were christians the Bishops were chosen by the christian Priestes in Rome neither did any seeke that office by other meanes then vertue But after the Emperours became Christians as a witnesse that the soueraigne Bishoppe of Rome was the subiect of the Emperour the election of the Pope appertained to the cleargie ioyned with the voyce and consent of the people which done they were driuen to send to Constantinople to bee confirmed by the Emperour this was the first order of the election of the Popes after Constantinus the great which approueth a souerainitie which the Emperous had ouer them but by little and little to wind themselues out of this subiection they first made suit to be confirmed by the Emperous deputies in Rome after wardes Pope Pelagius the second administred this office without the confirmation of the Emperour but being afraid of the
man the Emperour made many great offers to Megolo all which he refused and answered him that he was not come thither for the couetousnes of goods but for his owe the name of the Genowaies honour and that he demaunded of him none other thing then that in remembrance hereof he would build at Trebisonde a fayre shop for the marchandise of the Genowaies about which should be painted this historie which the Emperour accomplished and vsed the Genowaies with greater fauour then before and so Megolo returned to Genowaie gratified and receiued of euery man with great honour CAAP. 11. The contention that enuie set betweene the Emperour of Constantinople the Lord of Bulgarie and other Princes was the first grounde and sure foundation of the great TVRKES Empire THe puissant kingdome of the Turkes at this day so much renoumed and feared together with the linage and familie of their Ottomans and kings are of late yeeres sprung vp as a scourge sent and suffered by God for the sins and iniquities of the Christians It is not yet 300. yeeres since the first beginning of their kingdome which at this day is multiplied to the terrour of the whole world the name of the Turks are neuerthelesse auncient but to say that they came of the ancient Troians because they are called Teucres is a manifest errour Plinie and Pomponius Mela in the ende of his first booke say that their originall cōmeth frō the Sarmats which are of the confines of Scythia néere vnto the sea Caspia who in ancient times were called Turaci and now Turkes these Scythians or Turkes liuing before as sauadge men came forth of Scythia into Asia Minor which is by reason of their name to this day called Turkie where they robbed and conquered certaine prouinces these as barbarous infidell people receyued the damnable sect of Mahomet as the first that was presented vnto them which best agréed with their wicked customs these people wtout gouerner or head but being a multitude fiercely ioyning together setled thēselues in the lesse Asia in fine they chose one Soliman of the kingdom of Cilicia for their K. whom Godfrey of Bolloine other christian Princes vtterly ouerthrew so discomfited the Turkes that of long time after they had neyther K. nor captaine of account In the end Ottoman a man of base linage got the fauor of the people was made their K. and by vertue great valor somewhat inlarged their dominions he raigned 28. yéeres dyed An. 1308. whose K. continueth to this day in the ligne of the heire males Orkan succéeded his father Ottoman a man as valiant and more industrous then his father he was a great inuenter of militarie engins magnanimous liberal who after he had raigned 22. yéeres dyed of a hurt which he receiued at the assault of a city he had by the K. of Cilicias daughter a Christian whō he married a son named Amurat that sucéeeded him a man farre vnlike his father in vertues of the mind or strength of body yet very ambitious desirous to inlarge his Empire to compasse which enuy presented him a faire occasion at that time the E. of Constantinople was at controuersie with certain Princes his subiects which fauoured the L. of Bulgarie who charged the E. so hard as he was driuen to demaūd succour of this Amurat K. of the Turkes who sent him 15000. chosen men by the aid of whom the E. vanquished his enemies which done he kept the greater part of the Turks in his owne dominions Amurat vnderstanding the disposition of the coūtrie vnder the colour to ayd the E. against his enemies came into the dominions of the E. with 60000 footemen and a great number of horsemen in despight of the E. made himselfe L. of the cities of Calipoli Andronople he ouercame Marke the grandmaster of Bulgarie and Lazarus the despos of Seruia with a great number of Christians and Malgre the E. possessed himselfe of the gretest part of Thracia Greece in the end a slaue of Lazarus slew him when he had liued 23. yéeres which was An. 1373. Amurat left 2. sons Soliman Baiazet Baiazet slew his brother Soliman and made himselfe King in the beginning of his raigne he prepared great wars against the Christians to reuenge the death of his father and with a great armie he incoūtred in battaile with Marke L. of Bulgaria and with the greatest part of the nobilitie of Bulgaria and Seruia whom he slew and vtterly defeated 3. yéeres after this victorie he returned a newe vpon the Christians in Hungarie but chiefely in Albania and Valaschia and from thence sente many Christians slaues into Turkie and being possessed of the greatest parte of Greece to wit of the ancient countries of Athens Boetia and Arcania he laid siege vnto the great Citie of Constantinople which draue the Emperor in proper person to desire aid of the westerne Princes in which behalfe K. Charles the 7. succoured him with 2000. launces among whome there were two french gentlemen of great expectation who ioyned with Sigismond K. of Hungarie afterwards Emperour who for the same purpose raised a great armie with whome also ioyned the grandmaster of the Rhodes the Despos of Seruia and a great number of other christian Princes whereupon Baiazet leauing his siege at Constantinople sodeinly with 300000 men set vpon the Christians who were about a 100000. men betweene whom there was a most bloudy battaile in fine the Christians were ouerthrowne and the greater part slaine the King of Hungarie and the grandmaster of Rhodes hardely escaped by flight and the Frenchmen were neere all slaine or taken this battell was Anno 1395. vpon Michaelmas euen After which victorie Baiazet returned againe to his former siege of Constantinople and had surely won the same if the newes of Tamberlaines entrie into his countrey and that he had already gained many townes cities and prouinces constrained him to trusse vp his baggage and with his full power to go finde his enemie in Asia now two of the mightiest princes of the world encountered eache other in battaile where Baiazet was ouercome and taken who endured the most vile and hard prisonment that euer was heard of for Tamberlain still carried him with his armie in an iron cage and alwayes when he moūted vpon his horse he set his foot vpon his shoulders moreouer at meales he tyed him vnder his boorde and like a dog fedde him with fragments in this sorte ended this Prince his life who had bene the most aduentrous the most renowmed and the most feared Prince of his time The sons of Baiazet which escaped the battaile where their father was ouerthrowne in their flight taken vpon the seas by certaine galleis of the Christians and certainely at that instant a faire occasion was offered the Christians to haue kept vnder for euer their capitall enemie the Turke but their sinnes forbad
so precious a blessing The one of Baiazets sonnes named Calapin was deliuered who seeing the incapacities and contention of Tamberlaines sonnes and taking with al other aduantages that time offered proclaimed himselfe Lord of his fathers Empire and by strong hand kept Greece and Thracia The Emperour Sigismond both to keepe Calapin vnder and to be auenged of the ouerthrowe which his father gaue him offered him battalle in which Sigismond was ouerthrowne narrowly escaped by flight Calapin raigned 6. yéeres and dyed leauing behinde him two sonnes the eldest named Orcan and the other Mahomet Orcan was slaine by his Unckle who thought thereby to haue had his kingdome but Mahomet behaued himselfe so well as he slew the murtherer of his brother and recouered the Empire he made cruell warres vpon the Christians in Valachie and reconquered the lands and prouinces which Tamberlaine wonne from his grandfather in Turkie and Asia in which conquest he spent 14. yeeres and dyed in the yéere 1420. Amurat his sonne succeeded Mahomet whome fortune so fauoured as by maine force in despight of the Emperour of Constantinople who offered to resist him he broke vpon the Christians and wonne certaine Townes in Seruia he conquered the country of Epire at this day named Romaine he made many courses into Hungry and Albania he besieged Belgrade vppon Danuby but left it againe with great losse of men Ladislas king of Polonia and Hungarye encountred and ouerthrew one of his Captaines and slew a huge number of the Turkes Amurat vpon newes that the king of Carimaine made warres in Asia was neuerthelesse driuen to be at peace with Ladislas who while Amurat was occupied about resistaunce in Turkie by the perswasion of the Emperour brake the league who ioyntly with the ayde of Pope Eugenius the Venetians and Phillip Duke of Burbon promised so to stop the passage of the Sea betweene Europe and Asia as Amurat shoulde not land his men to succour his landes vpon which oportunity Ladislas might peaceably conquer the same who put in execution their counselles but Amurat made a short retourne and in despight of the christians passed the straight and offered battayle to Ladislas where the victory was so doubtfull as Amurat was vpon the point to flye but being stayed by one of his Bassas he obtained the victory and slew Vdislas vpon Saint Martins day An. 1440. after this victory he greatly damaged Hungary he entred vppon the Mores where sometimes stood the auntient Cities of Lacedimonia and Corinth he broke the wall vpon the entrie of Prouince containing sixe miles betweene the sea Ionigne and the sea Egea all which he conquered saue certaine marish places he was the first which erected the band of the Ianissaires which are reuerted Christians and now the greatest strength of Turkie he raigned 31. yéeres and dyed An. 1450. his sonne Mahomet succéeded him in the Empire this Mahomet excelled in all good quallities saue that he was too cruell In the beginning of his raigne desirous to doe some exploite aunswerable to the greatnesse of his hart he besieged Constantinople with all other places subiect to this Empire This done he besieged Belgrade from whence he was driuen with dishonor besides the losse of many men much artillery by that valiant Hungarian captaine Iohn Vainode after this he sent one of his Bassas to destroy the Mores who rebelled in fauor of the Venetians also to destroy the Isles of Negropont Mitelene Lemnus After he entred into the prouince of Bossina where he took beheaded the king hauing these victories against the christians he passed into Asia against Vsancusan the mighty king of Persia with whom he fought 2. battailes in the first he was ouerthrown in the 2. had the victory after this expedition he made war vpon the emperor of Tribisonde whō he vanquished slewe so determined the siegniorie of the Christians in those parties He sent a great army into Italy passed into Carintia Istria euen vnto the territories of the Venetians discōforted the christians slew of the nobility of Italy He sent a great army vnto the Isle of Rhodes where he was resisted he then sent a great army into the kingdome of Naples by one of his Bassas named Aconiat who tooke the city of Ottranta which was gouerned more then a yeere by the Turkes to the scandale domage of al Italy he so feared the states of Italy as Sixtus then being pope determined to retire into France the old refuge of the Romane church as one out of hope to defend Rome In fine in his iourney against the Soudan of Aegipt hauing in his army by land 300000. men by sea 200. gallies 300. armed ships he died by the way in the yéere 1480. by whose bloddy wars there were destroyed more then 300000. men vppon whose death the city of Ottranta was recōquered which was no smal comfort to al Italy Mahomet left behind him 2. sons the one named Baiazet the other zizim who contended for the empire by reason that their eldest brother was dead zizim was ayded by the Soudan certaine Bassaes the other Bassaes the Ianissares fauored Baiazet with al his son named Corcut was created Grand seigniour of Constantinople by whose renoūsing he attained the empire with spéed hasted into Turkie chased his brother into Italy where he died Baiazet being sole gouernor made hot wars vpon the Soudan against whome he was wroth for aiding of his brother but the Soudan obtaining victory cōstrained him vnto peace Baiazet made then hot wars vpon the christians he won the city of Duras in Albania Valona vpon the frontiers of Pouilla in the ende he so scourged the Hungarians as they were driuen to craue the aid of Lewes duke of Millaine Lewes king of France who but chiefly the Duke of Sessa a Spanish captain so delaied Baiazets fury as he accor ded to peace being old tyred with wars In histime in Persia began the empire of Sophy who is to this day a bridle to the Turke a hindrer of dammage to the christians which empire began by one Ismael the named him self a Prophet published an Alcoran contrary to Mahomets by which meanes he assēbled many people by whose aide he ouerthrew certaine Bassas of Baiazet made him selfe lord of Pertia other prouinces whose kingdom from time to time hath bene augmented But returning to our purpose Baiazet had 3. sons the eldest named Acomat the 2. Corcut who as is shown renoūced the empire the 3. Selim who although he was the yongest yet was he the most valiant This Selim seing the age decrepednes of his father sought how to make him self emperor the better to cōpas which he married the daughter of the great Tartarian His 2. brethren perceiuing his intent aymed likewise at the Empire Acomat because he was eldest Corcut because he first