where finding Amurath incamped with a huge Army he bid him Battel which as the former with great Slaughter continued for the space of 3 Days but with better Success for in the end Victory declared for the Christians all the Plains being covered with the Body of the Slain most of the Turkish Commanders either Perished in the Fight or fell into the Hands of Huniades who having recovered many Towns delivered the Prisoners to the Despot and returned with Triumph to Buda And now a quarrel arising between Scanderbeg and the Duke of Venice about one Lech Zachery a Nobleman of Epirus who being shamefully Murthered by Lech Duchagne his Kinsman and having great Territories on the Frontiers of the Kingdom the Duke claimed it as belonging to his Signory seizing upon the City of Dayna part thereof of which trouble Mustapha the Great Bassa who lay in Macedonia with a great Army being advertised by the command of Amurath entered Epirus of which Scanderbeg having notice gathered all his forces and finding him Burning the Country in the upper Dibria where both Armies confronting each other a Turk named Caragusa stepping forth Challenged any in the Christian Camp to Fight him Hand to Hand which bold Challenge being accepted by Manessi one of Scanderbeg's Captains he at the first Incounter slew the Challenger which did not a little dismay the Turks who highly relyed upon the Strength of their Champion for the Battle immediately joyning the Turks were overthrown with great Slaughter and the Bassa taken Prisoner who was afterwards Ransomed by Amurath for 25000 Ducats This overthrow so inraged the Tyrant that raising a mighty Power he came in Person to invade Epirus promising great rewards to those that could bring Scanderbeg's Head of which more then ordinary preparations Scanderbeg having timely notice furnished his Cities with all things necessary providing them with strong Garrisons himself resolving to keep the Field with his Army and by Ambushes and frequent Assaults to weaken and cut off the Enemy which upon the arrival of the Turkish Army he so effectually performed that seldom a Day or Night past that he intrapped not some or other of the Vauntcuriers or broke into their Camp insomuch that they were obliged to be continually in Arms whereupon Amurath designing to win some strong City there to leave a Garrison and so to depart besieged Sfetigrade with all his power continually thundering against it with his great Ordnance But one Prelat a Valiant Captain being Governour right Manfully defended it insomuch that in the frequent Assaults made he lost 20000 of his best men yet being ashamed to raise his Siege ' ere he had won the City sent to offer terms of Peace with great Priviledges and immunities if they surrender'd the place as likewise by secret means indeavoured to corrupt the Captains with great promises but they detesting his offer regarded more their Loyalty to their Prince then his Gold yet at the same time there wanted not one base minded Vallain who for a Sum in Hand and other large offers when he had performed his promise undertook to deliver the City into the Hands of Amurath which by this means he effected This great City standing upon a Rock had in it but one Well which served both the Soldiers and Citizens plentifully with Water into this Well did the Villain by occupation a Smith cast the Carkas of a stinking Dog which the next Morning found by some of the Soldiers and drawn thence the rumour thereof was quickly spread throughout whereupon the Soldiers notwithstanding all the intreaties of the Governour and chief Citizens the Soldiers would not be perswaded to Drink thereof resolving rather to indure the worst Extremity and by this means the City not being tenable the Governor to prevent a mutiny amongst his Soldiers and the danger the City was in to be sacked sent to Amurath to acquaint him that upon condition the Garrison might pass with Bag and Baggage to Scanderbeg and the Citizens live peaceably he would deliver him the City who being glad of this offer freely granted their demand only with this condition that the Citizens should build their Houses without the City These Articles agreed on the City was delivered to Amurath and the Traytor by whose means it was surrendered was rewarded with three rich Suits of Apparel 50000 Aspers and the promise of a yearly Pension of 2000 Ducats but long he had not enjoyed his riches ' ere he received a juster reward of his Treason being as 't is said secretly made away by the command of Amurath who tho he loved the Treason abhorred the Traytor The City being thus gained Amurath having furnished it with a Garrison of his best men departed with the rest of his Army to Hadrianople upon the Rear of which Scanderbeg setting with 8000 Horse and 3000 Foot cut off a great part of his Army And having followed quite out of his Territories returned to Croia and fortified it upon notice that Amurath intended to return with his Army in the Spring in which he was not deceived for the old Turk desirous to subdue the Country of Epirus to obliterate the disgrace he had received by the many overthrows he had there received he sent Sebahyas one of his Bassas before with part of his Army himself following slowly with the rest and upon his arrival sat down before the great City of Croia where having cast 10 Pieces of Cannon he began to batter it the which with great fury he continued to do for the space of 4 Days in two places beating down part of the Wall upon which he commanded the Assault to be given thrusting his men desperately into the Breach giving order that such as Shrunk should be killed by their Fellows and on the other side promising them great reward if they entered the City and Mahomet his Son being then in the Camp and commanding as General promised 100000 Aspers to him that should first advance his Ensign upon the Wall but neither prevailed for Vranacontes the Governour a Valiant man incouraging his Soldiers gave the Turks such a Welcome that they left 8000 of their dead Bodies in the Breach Ditches and Plains adjacent which Amurath perceiving and understanding the invincible courage of the Epirots caused the retreat to be sounded and after many repulses and no hopes of prevailing he fell to his old practice endeavouring to corrupt the Governour and chief Captains with large Gifts and to that end sent a Crafty Bassa with two Servants Loaded with Treasure which the Governour with disdain rejected Vowing that if the like were attempted again that he would cause the Hands Noses and Ears of the Messengers to be cut off and they so returned to their Master During this Siege Scanderbeg was not Idle but still hovered about the Turks Camp frequently Alaruming 'um and breaking into one Quarter or other killing those that Guarded it and taking great Booties insomuch that after several Months Siege and the loss of 30000 men
and soon after was sent to besiege Croia in Epirus to the relief of which the Venetians hast'ned with an Army under the leading of Contarenus a man of great courage who at the first onset overthrew the Turks with great Slaughter obliging them to leave their Camp but not pursuing them by Reason of the near approach of Night whilst they were taking the Spoil the Enemy rallying fell into their disordered Ranks and soon turned the Scale of Victory by subduing those who a little before were Conquerers in which last Fight the General and several of his great Captains were Slain Heightned with this Success the Year following Asa-Beg with a considerable Army passed the River Sontium where being incountered by the Garrison Soldiers of three several Forts under the leading of Hieronimus Nowel the Count of Verona he trained the Venetians into an Ambush by which they being few in number and beset on every side were mostly Slain after which the proud Conquerers proceeded to spoil the Country wasting it with Fire and Sword taking great Spoils and driving before them a number of the miserable People into Captivity The Year following Anno 1478. about Harvest-time they come again and with a great power passing the aforesaid River marched further into the Country wasting all before them and unopposed passed over a part of the Alps towards Germany a way both difficult and dangerous and so plundering the Mountaniers who little dreamt of such troublesome Visitants they returned home laden with great Spoil And now Mahomet remembring the disgrace he received at the Siege of Scodra of which he allowed one a yearly Pension to put him daily in mind he sent for his Soldiers from all parts of his Dominions and under the Leading of several of his Bassaâ— himself being there in person likewise he set down before the City with an Army of 350000 men and there casting several pieces of Ordnance of Mettal he had for that purpose brought thither in Mass one of them carrying a Bullet of 1300 pound Weight he after he had in vain Essayed to have the City delivered by fair means from the Mounts incessantly battered the Walls and withal threw into the City huge Balls of Wild-Fire and Stones of a prodigious Weight which beat down and fired many Houses yet so far were the besieged from being discouraged that they daily animated each other couragiously to defend the City to the last man every Night Countermuring the Breaches the Cannon made with Earth Timber and Planks which Mahomet perceiving commanded his men to give a furious assault and either by Firing the Planks or scaling the Walls to enter the City the which in hopes of great rewards promised them if they happened to be Succesful in the attempt thrust themselves into the mouth of Slaughter being cut off in such numbers by the storm of Shot sent from the Walls that all the plains were covered with their Bodies which Mahomet perceiving and understanding they could not accomplish his desire caused the retreat to be sounded and gave order for the renewing the Battery so that in one day the Engineers sent 194 great Shot into the Breach and immediately caused a second Assault to be made tho with as bad Success as had been the former About this time the Turks under the leading of Solyman Bassa had taken Croia more through Famine then their Valour which City the Inhabitants nigh perished with Hunger and not being able to expect any Relief all the Country about the City being in the hands of the Turks had delivered upon promise of Life and Liberty but the Faithless Bassa not having Regard to his Promise having got Possession put the remaining Skeletons to the Sword which the Scadrians understanding by some Christians in the Turks Camp were the more incouraged resolving manfully to dye rather then trust the perfidious Infidels Mahomet inraged at the besieged obstinacy and the loss of his men in the two assaults after he had with his Artillery beaten down a great part of the Wall Commanded the most Couragious of his Soldiers to give a third Assault which they did with great Fury shouting in the mean while Showers of Arrows and Bullets into the City and at length as men desperate entering into the Breach came to Hand-strokes with the Christians and began a cruel and dreadful Fight in which many were slain on either side The Turks still renewing their assault with fresh Forces till at length they so far prevailed that those who defended the Breach were at the point to retire at what times a fresh Troop brought by the Governour came happily to their Relief and beat off the Assailants with great slaughter Whereupon Mahomet again renewed his Battery and lodged 173 more of his great Shot in the Breach and then sending for his chief Commanders into his Tent-Royal pitched upon a Mount advantagiously to behold what passed and there by Threats and Promises incouraged them to undertake a fourth Assault In which he lost 12000 of his best Men and was forced at last to sound a retreat yet by the several Fights the Christians were sorely weakened in all the Streets lying covered with Turkish Arrows and the Breaches with the mingled Bodies of the Christians rent most miserably by the great Shot they were forced to Labour both Day and Night to repair the Breaches every one incouraging his Fellow in such sort that Mahomet began to despair of Victory and blaspheming God for as he impiously pretended hindering his Proceedings he retired in his Melancholly Mood into his Tent where Tormenting himself for the space of two days he would not be spoken with by any but the third Day calling a Council it was concluded another Assault should be given which was according done with great Fury and much Effusion of Blood on either side but the besieged and resolving to fell their Lives dear so manfully withstood them that with Shame and greater Slaughter then ever they were forced to retire and now all Provision being cust off from the besieged the Tyrant resolved to gain that by Famine he could not do by Force and therefore ceasing any further Assault caused the City to be so closely Blocked up that the Christians were forced to Eat all manner of unclean and loathsome Things as Horses Dogs Cats Rats Mice and the like Which miserable state of theirs made known to the Senate of Venice under whose Protection that City was and they being grown weary of their twenty years tedious War with the Turkish Tyrant sent Benedictus Trivisanus their Embassador to Constantinople whither weary of the Siege Mahomet was returned leaving one of his Bassas with the Army to Block up the City as aforesaid who upon his Arrival being admitted to the Presence of the Tyrant he so ordered the Matter that a Peace was concluded upon these Articles First that the Venetians should deliver him the City of Scodra the Isle of Lemnos the strong Castle of Tenarus in Peloponnesus and pay
Prisoner at large so that Babarussa landing and every where proclaiming the Name of Roscetes whom the Moors and Numidians greatly favoured hating Muleasses for his extraordinary Tyranny he had Biferta immediately pat into his possession the Moors thinking as indeed the Turks gave it out that Roscetes was in the Fleet and that the Turks had made so great a Preparation to restore him to his Fathers Kingdom Barbarussa having secured Biserta with a strong Garrison doubling the Promontorie where old Carthage stood came to Gulletta a strong Castle standing within the Bay of Tunis where in token of Friendship he saluted it and had the like returned but upon the requesting the surrender thereof he was answered that it should be alwaies at his Command who ruled the City of Tunes so that returning from thence he came before the City upon which by the perswasion of such as affected Roscetes Muleasses fled with a small number of his Favourites and for haste left behind him most of his Treasure which afterwards became a prey to the Enemy Muleasses fled the people joyfully received Barbarussa into Tunes and with eager Eyes and longing expectations flockt into the high streets to have a sight of their new King but when they perceived him not and heard the Soldiers in their Acclamations name none but Solyman and Barbarussa they began to doubt as the truth was that instead of their new King whom they so much desired thay had received the Turkish Government which above all things they utterly abhorred which suspicion once confirmed by several of Roscet's Friends whom Barbarussa had brought with him on purpose to delude the people who grieved to see the ruine of their Countrey at hand for fear of present danger did not spare to tell their Friends and Acquaintance that in vain they expected Roscetes who remained in Bonds at Constantinople which wrought so sudden an alteration in the minds of the Citizens that perceiving themselves deceived at the instance of Abdahar the Mesuar or chief Magistrate who had before perswaded Muleasses to fly in hopes of bringing in Roscetes they every where run to their Arms and from all parts of the City assailed the Turks but for the most part being slightly Armed and in a tumultuary disorder they were not able to stand the fury of the Harquebusiers but after a long and obstinate Fight wherein a great number were killed on both sides they submitted themselves of which Muleasses having notice fled to Constantina the Regal City of Dorax a Numidian Prince his Kinsman where he remained in safety till the coming of Charles the Emperor into Africk as will appear in the sequel of this History Tunes thus taken or rather surprized by Barbarussa all the other Cities thereto appertaining were won with little difficulty and annexed to the Turkish Empire till they were again sundred by the Germans and Muleasses the Exil'd King restored by the Emperor And in this posture leaving the Affairs of Africk I shall take a view of Solyman's proceeding against the Persians Hismael being dead and Tamas his Son succeeding him Ibrahim the Great Bassa who could do all with Solyman perswaded him that now a fit opportunity offered to be revenged on the Persians and the rather by the revolt of Vlemus a Noble Man of Persia who had Espoused King Tama's Sister who having Imbesled the Revenues of the Crown for fear of being called to account for so doing was fled to Constantinople But Solyman's Mother and fair Concubine Roxolan greatly desirous of his Company much opposed the Motion of the Bassa laying before Solyman the danger and inconveniency of so tedious and dangerous an Expedition but not being able to prevail they ever after became Ibrahim's Mortal Enemies not leaving to urge Solyman till at last he gave command that he should be murthered Solyman resolved upon an expedition against the Persian to revenge as he pretended the manifold injuries done to his Grandfather Father and himself raised a great Army part of which he sent before him under the Command of Ibrahim the Great Bassa and Vlemas the Fugitive Persian who by hasty Marches over the Mountains and along the Banks of Euphrates that setting down before the great City Taurus and the Citizens despairing to be relieved by their King he had the City delivered into his possession of which King Tames having notice hasted thither with his Army but e're he attempt any thing for the recovery thereof Solyman with a great multitude of Soldiers had joyned the Bassa whereupon he thought it not good to give Battle to so powerful an Enemy but to hover about his Camp and take all advantages well knowing such a World of people could not subsist without exceeding store of Provisions and other necessaries which device of the Persian Solyman well perceiving left a strong Garrison in Taurus and marched against him who still retired before the Turks even to the Walls of Sultania near to which Solyman pitching his Camp lay many dayes to expect him during which time such a horrible Tempest arose that the Winds driving the Snow off from the steep Hills buryed many Thousands of the Turks alive overthrowing most of their Tents and although it was but the middle of September froze so hard that many were froze to Death others lost the use of their Limbs and most of the Camels and Horses perished which bad Omen together with their Apprehensions they had of the approach of the Enemy and the horrible darkness of the Night so discouraged the Soldiers that they would all have fled had they known which way This Tempest they concluded to be raised by the Persian Magicians to destroy them but whether so or not it greatly discouraged Solyman so that raising his Camp he marched into Assyria and set down before Babylon now Bagdat which being altogether unprovided upon the flight of the Governour fell into his hands as likewise did most of the Cities both of Assyria and Mesopotamia and so far extended the terror of his Name that most of the Countreys round about sent their Embassadors to tender their subjection and in Babylon he Wintered his Army placing Governours in the adjacent Cities And a Beglerbeg as they proudly term him that is a Lord of Lords In Babylon and under him divers Sanzacks or petty Lords during his aboad here he also caused his chief Treasurer to be executed for Imbesling his Revenues Tamas the Persian King having by this time raised a considerable Army marched to Tauris at whose approach the Garrison fled of which Solyman having notice and being strengthned with new supply out of Egypt Syria Judea and Comagena he left Babylon resolving to provoke the Persian to Battle or to sack his regal City Tauris before his face but Tames knowing himself too weak to give him Battle at his approach drew out his Army and fled into the Mountains of Hyrcania destroying all before him to prevent its falling into the hands of his Enemies upon whose departure the
he knowing upon such terms he could at any time make his peace who ever was Conqueror seemingly hearkened to that motion so that gaining credit eight thousand Persians was sent to take possession thereof who he no sooner got within his danger but he set upon them put one thousand to the Sword and took most of the remainder Prisoners which caused the Turk to have a better opinion of him then formerly insomuch that they nominated him for Grand Visier the ensuing year Anno 1625. a new Rebellion broke out in Asia headed by an ordinary Spahi who drew down ten thousand men before the City of Smirna the which after some resistance he entered and pretending to reform abuses cut off the heads of two Cadees punished divers others place and displaced the Magistrates as he pleased and then departed without suffering any spoil to be made pretending the Grand Signeours order for what he had done and indeed the Court connived at his proceedings for awing corrupt Officers he restored the face of Justice in those parts but not long after he with a greater power marched toward Brussia in Natolia using the Name of Morat to colour his purpose pretending to work a Reformation in the State but in the ending of great preparations were making to oppose him he disbanded his Army and retired himself And now the mortality raged at Constantinople in such sort that Fifty thousand died in a short space so that the City was left almost desolate which known to the Cossacks they came again in their Boats and sailing through the Bosphorus made great spoil on Europe side attempting to burn the Arsenal to prevent which all the Gallies and small Vessels in the Port were manned out so that between them there happened a fierce ingagement but the Cossacks Boats being small though many in number thirty of them by the shot of the Gallies were sunk and overturned insomuch that five hundred Cossacks were drowned and taken Prisoners and double the number of Turks slain for the Boats being in all three hundred and each Boat manned with thirty or forty Musquetiers they showered their Bullets so thick upon the Decks of the Gallies that scarce a Turk peeped out but he was cut off twice they boarded the Admirals Gally and had taken it had not the Sea of a suddain gone high and the Wind stood against them Upon the approach of great Visier towards the Province of Babylon the King of Persia sent to desire a Treaty of Peace which was only to protract time it in the end coming to nothing yet the Princes of Georgia sent their Ambassadors as willing to be freed from the Persian yoke which Ambassadors were kindly entertained by the Visier their demands granted and the Bishop of Calcedon their Countrey man sent back with them to see the Peace Ratified upon which they raised a great Army and invaded the Territories of Persia to oppose whom the King sent part of his Army under the leading of his great Leiutenant who joyning Battle was overthrown with the loss of seven thousand of his men which greatly incouraged the Visier so that he resolved the next year to besiege Babylon in which was a Garrison of eight thousand Persians besides the Citizens who were five times the number yet early in the Spring Anno 1626. having refreshed his Army he pitched his Camp before that great City but as they were making their approaches Twenty Thousand Persian Horse who attended the motion of the Turks fell into the Visiers quarter doing great excution and by that means troubled the whole Army but in fine the Persians were obliged to retire yet not before they had slain about Six Thousand Turks upon which a muster was taken of the Army which was found much less then was expected for that a number of the Spahi and Janizaries that were inroled had forborn to undertake that dangerous and so often fatal Expedition and seven Princes of the Arabs Tributaries to the Grand Signeour having raised their power refused to advance any further then the Borders of their Principalities alledging that they durst not displease the possessors of Babylon but were ready to obey if the City fell into the hands of the Turks which weakness known to the Persian King he drew thither the strength of his whole Kingdom and running Trenches round about the Turks Camp besieged it in such manner that all Provisions and Succors was cut off and instead of hoping to win the City they were solicitous of nothing more then how to retreat This danger of the Army was made known to the Emperor and Divano at Constantinople but nothing was done till it was too late for through want and diseases the Army was so wasted that they were no wayes able to make head against their Enemies besides a great number of them were slain in the frequent fallies the besieged made out of the City and the Persians Incursions who seldom failed to beat up one quarter or other of the Camp and hearing of no supplies durst advance or were in a probability to relieve the half starved Souldiers who had left no unclean thing uneaten it was resolved that under the favour of the night the Camp should rise and force a way through the Persian Squadron rather choosing to die like men then pine with hunger Whereupon they brake their great Artilery and cast into the Euphrates all such things as they could not convey away to prevent their falling into the hands of the Enemy and then with as little noise as possible broke through one quarter of the Persian Camp yet not so suddainly but that the Persians taking the Alarum overtook them ere they reached Ninive and had the execution of the Army for the space of ten dayes in which time seventy thousand Turks and Tartars fell by the Sword when to cast the odium upon the Bassa's and to save his credit at the Port the Visier caused three of their heads to be stricken off This great blow caused the revolt of many Cities upon the Frontires of Persia and indangered the revolt of all Asia The Turks not having received the like blow since the overthrow of Bajazet the first by Tamerlane the great which caused a general heavyness throughout the City of Constantinople few therein but lost one Friend or other in this unfortunate War of which the Emperour of Germanies Ambassador taking advantage pressed for a speedy conclusion of Peace and laboured to cross the purpose of the Transylvanian Prince but in the interim the Imperial and Transylvanian Armies being abroad on the 16th of October near to the River Gran a mortal Battle was fought between them wherein the latter was put to the rout and in passing confusedly the River over two Bridges layed for that purpose Six thousand were slain drowned and taken Prisoners yet Winter coming on the Prince retired with his Troops and without the consent of the Turks made a Truce with the Imperialists for three months sending to the
Poland with his own Troops and such Imperial Auxiliaries as seconded him having broken and quite disordered the left wing pierced even to the flank of the right which the Visier perceiving and finding his Forces two weak longer to maintain the field fled with the formost whilst the Confederate Princes followed making great slaughter having the execution of the enemy even till night came on at what time they prudently weighing that the Turks as their custom is might Rally returned to charge the Turkish Camp in which were left almost all the Janizaries but the King of Poland breaking in with great fury after a hot encounter possessed himself of it putting such as he found there to the sword whilst the like success had the Margrave of Baden who perceiving the Turks Army in rout entred the Trenches and Works of which assisted by the besieged who at the same time sallyed he soon became Master cutting in pieces the Turks that were left to continue the siege and possessed himself of all the Cannon Mortars Powder and Granado shells entering the same evening the almost ruined City which was by sixty dayes close siege brought to such distress that the most couragious doubted to defend it against another assault which the enemy was about to make had they not been prevented for in it at the time it was delivered no more then four thousand five hundred fighting men were found and all the works so ruined that it was left in a manner open to the approaches of the enemy the Cannon spoiled the powder spent and the store of Provision brought to its ultimate Crisis This so great and memorable victory obtained over the daring Infidels on the eleventh of October and the City Vienna intirely lest at liberty all that night the Christian Army stood in Battalia in the enemies Camp to prevent any surprize and the next morning the King of Poland to whom the greatest share of plunder fell found besides the Tent-Moveables and horse of Caera Mustapha the Prime Visier the value of a Million of Crowns the greatest part thereof being in ready money nor did any souldier want to furnish himself with something there were likewise found 80 pieces of Cannon besides those on the Batteries three thousand Quintals of Powder and Provision sufficient for the subsistance of the Turkish Army for three moneths and immediately thereupon the Polish horse were sent out to pursue the flying enemy who upon their return brought into the Camp many prisoners some Camels laden with Tents and Provision and two great pieces of Cannon the one drawn by sixty the other by eighty yoak of Oxen having likewise cut off a considerable number of such as Marched in the Rear and pursued them almost as far as Alba-Regalis so that in this Battle the Turks lost ten or eleven thousand of their best men and by the bloody flux and fire of the besieged thrice the number The City of Vienna thus freed with the loss of not above three hundred Christians on the twelfth of October his Imperial Majesty who had resided at Passaw to give necessary Orders in all great and weighty affairs came to Cuisier-Newburg whither the Count Staremberg and the chief Officers of the Garrison went to pay their duty and were received with great respect when on the fourteenth the Emperor came up the Danube in his Barge and arriving at the Port Royal was received at his landing by the Electors of Bavaria and Saxony attended by their Guards By the Count d' Staremberg most of the great Commanders Magistrates c. the Garrison Souldiers being posted on the Bastion as they were during the Siege the Burghers in Arms and all the Cannon round the Town thrice discharged where his Imperial Majesty passing on took a view of the Bastion and other works ruined during the Siege and the several Retrenchments the besieged had made within the Town and so went to St. Stephens Church where Te Deum was sung after which he went to the Arch Dukes Pallace his own being so much indamaged by the enemies Cannon that it was not capable of receiving him where he gave Publick Audience and in the evening the Duke of Loraine arrived and was by the Emperor received in a most obliging manner and had a long Conference with him relating to the present war at what time the King of Poland sent his under Chancelor in his name to congratulate his Arrival and presented him with the Ottoman Imperial Standard richly Imbroidered and set with precious Stones to a great value the which together with two horse-tailes the usual signals of war amongst the Turks he found in the Visiers Tent as likewise the original Copy of a Letter signed by divers Hungarian Lords wherein they congratulate the Visier upon the successeful progresse of his Arms and encouraged him to undertake the Siege of Vienna and withal the Vice-Chancelor had it in charge to invite his Imperial Majesty into his masters Camp The day following the Emperor left the City and went to visit the Army which was encamped about 2 miles from thence the two wings reaching towards Ebersdorf and Laxemborough when coming first to the Bavarian Troops the Elector at the head of them saluted him with his sword and having performed his complements accompanied him to the Polish Camp where the King had drawn up his Army in Battalia at the head of which attended by the Great Marshal and divers Senators of Poland he advanced to meet the Emperor each approached the other on horseback expressing all possible demonstration of Reciprocal love and friendship and after a short interview the Emperor took a view of the Polish Army and then returned to Vienna whereupon the King of Poland decamped and marched to Wischa and was followed by the Imperial Troops under the Leading of the Duke of Loraine accompanied with the Electors of Bavaria Saxony c. resolving to strip the Turk out of his Garrisons in Hungary and now the Emperor as a signal of his love and respect to Count Staremberg made him great master d' Camp and the Magistrates of Vienna attributing their preservation next Heaven to his courage and conduct in recompence of so great service made him a present of two thousand Ducates and by a Publick act under their seal freed his house for ever of all Taxations or other duties to the payment of which it before was lyable The Grand Visier by this time having considered and well weighed the greatnesse of his loss and the excessive expence his master had been at in Levying and maintaining so vast an Army the conduct of which himself had undertaken ' promising at his setting out no less then the subversion of Austria Croatia Silesia and Moravia and now defeated without acquiring any thing memorable he greatly fearing his head must pay the price of his presumption the better to cast the blame upon another and thereby frame a plausible excuse he in a great rage sent to strangle the Bassa of
to the assistance of the Vayvod Selymus hearing what had passed sent 30000 Turks and 2000 Hungarians to joyn such Forces as were raised by the Palatine of Valachia Transalpine with a Command that he should take John the Vayvod and send him in bonds to Constantinople and in his stead placed Peter his brother of which the Palatine an utter Enemy to John was not a little glad nor delayed but upon the Arrival of the Turks and Hungarians with an Army of 202000 fighting men passed over the River Moldavius not doubting but with his multitude to oppress his adversary but putting too much confidence in his strength and by reason thereof incamping disorderly on the Bank of the River the Vayvod and Captain of the Cossacks set upon with such fury that ere his Souldiers could recover their Horses then dispersed in the adjacent Medows or put themselves in a posture of defence they overwhelmed with shot and every where disordered so that flying in great confusion most of them were slain or drowned in attempting to repass the River the Palatine and Peter his brother hardly escaping to the Castle of Brailonia in Valachia In the Palatines Camp were found store of Riches which the Vayvod bestowed upon his Souldiers and with Fire and Sword entered Valachia Transalpine putting all to the Sword that came in his way without respect either to Age or Sex till he came to the Castle of Brailonia in which he understood that the Palatine and his Brother were in this Castle together with a fair City bearing the same name standeth on the Banks of Danubius which at that time was defended by a strong Garrison of Turks near unto which incamping his Army he wrote to the Captain thereof commanding him to deliver into his hands the Palatine and his Brother who had causelesly invaded his Territories and being overthrown in Battle was fled unto him the which if he refused to do he vowed never to depart from thence till he had constrained him to yield them up which Message being sent to the Captain by two Valachian Prisoners he returned four Messengers with ten great shot ten small shot and two Turkish Arrows giving them in charge to tell the Vayvod that forasmuch as he knew him to be a servant to his dread Soveraign Selymus he did respect him but would in no wise deliver into his hands those he required but forasmuch as he understood that he of late had slain a great number of his Lords Servants who by his commandement were bringing Peter the Palatines Brother into Moldavia he therefore commanded him to raise the siege or he would make him and his Souldiers seed upon those dishes meaning the Bullets and Arrows till gorged to the full they dangerously surfeited and cast This answer so incensed John that he caused the Messengers to be cruelly intreated by cutting off their Noses Lips and Ears and nailing them by their feet to a piece of Timber hung them up before the City with their heads downwards as a terror to the rest and they furiously battering the Walls till large breaches appeared the Souldiers entred by plain force put all to the Sword that they found therein Insomuch that the blood running like a Torrent into the Danubius crimsoned ore its stream for many a mile There the greedy Souldiers found inestimable Wealth heaped up in many peaceful years but perceiving the Castle not so easily to be won as the City he upon notice of the approach of 15000 Turks to the relief of the former razed the latter and suddainly went to meet them with his Cossacks and 8000 Moldavian Horsemen and by speedy Marches entred their disordered Camp ere they heard he had raised the siege where the inraged Souldiers so laid about them that scarcely 1000 of the Turks escaped which were afterwards put to the Sword in Teira which City the Vayvod took and utterly razed and returning from thence overthrew another Army of the Turks with incredible slaughter so that his name became terrible to the Turks and made Selymus doubt the keeping of his Dominions in Europe but as Treason is always the wreck of prosperous affairs so it happened to the Vayvod for he dissolving a part of his Army and appointing Czarnieuiche one of his great Captains and a man singularly by him beloved for the Guarding his Frontires and preventing the Turks passing the Danubius corrupted with the Turks Gold he suffered Peter with a great Army the next Spring to enter Valachia without resistance of which the Vayvod having notice lying then before the Castle of Teine he sent the Captain of the Cossacks and the Moldavian Horsemen to oppose their passage who meeting with 6000 of the forerunners of the Turks Army after a light skirmish put them to flight and taking one of them though mortally wounded inquired of him the state of the Army that had passed Danubius but he dealing unfaithfully with them would not make them sensible of the great power which was at hand yet the Captain of the Cossacks doubting to be oppressed by multitudes and having in distrust the fidelity of Czarnieuiche sent to the Vayvod to advertise him thereof and to desire him to provide for himself and the safety of his Army but he as a man resolved to give the Turks Battle returned for answer that in the first place he little doubted of the Faith of him whom he had found most faithful in the time of his greatest distress and used as a most trusty companion in all his Travels and that it was no time now to stand in doubt or be afraid and that as for himself he would ere long come with the rest of the Army and take a view of the Enemies Camp for that he was not come so far to fly but to fight in the defence of his Subjects and Country and so within four dayes after he joyned with the forerunners of his Army and incamped near a Lake which runneth out of Danubius and with several of his trusty followers ascended a high Hill the better to take a veiw of the Enemies huge Camp upon which plainly perceiving that he was betrayed by Czarnieuiche who had then under his command 13000 of his choice Souldiers he sent for him but he doubting his Treason was discovered sent him word that he could not now come the Enemy being so nigh at hand but that he should without delay see him in the Field as forward as the most couragious against the Enemy but herein he failed his Lord for Battle being joyned he caused his Ensigns to be let fall and revolted to the Enemy which so discouraged the rest of the Souldiers that after a desperate and bloody fight finding themselves oppress'd with multitudes and their Countrey-men who should have assisted them fighting against them they gave back which the Vayvod perceiving caused the retreat to be sounded and with 20000 Foot men and such Horsemen as escaped the Battle retired in as good order as the danger would permit
Christian Ministers residing at the Port and salve up the wounds his honour received by the disgrace The Emperor of Germany resolving on a War with the Turks after great preparation was obstructed and obliged to come to a dishonourable treaty by reason of an accident that happened at Rome occasioning a wide breach between the Pope and the French King to the indangering of Christendom which was thus the French Ambassadors Coach passing the streets of Rome was assaulted by the Corsi Natives of the Island of Corsica which are retained as the Popes guard the page killed in the boot and the Ambassadors Lady wounded but upon what instigation remains doubtful yet the King took it so heinously that he resolved to War upon the Popes Territories in Italy which discord did not a little rejoyce the Turks who imputed it the merit of â—â—eir Prayers as indeed they do all other divisions amongst the Christians The Treaty of Peace by reason of the divisions aforesaid having continued between the two Empires without coming to any result about the beginning of the year 1663 great forces were levyed on either side and all hopes of peace vanished insomuch that the Turks squaring out the platform of the War on their part resolved to recover the places they sometimes held in Hungary but more especially Rab and Komora and thereupon with a great Army passed the Danube over a Bridg of Boats upon whom the Governour of Newheusel sallied with eight thousand men though contrary to the advice of his Council with which in the night he entered their Camp and made a great slaughter but the gross of the Army having passed the River and taken the alarum Cressent-wise closing the horns at the back of the Christians made of them a miserable slaughter who notwithstanding sold their lives at a dear rate falling upon heaps of the Enemy till at last tired with slaughter those that remained alive yielded themselves Prisoners and were notwithstanding contrary to the Law of Arms by the Visiers command barbarously murthered In this disaster the Governour hardly escaped and in his return was but coldly received for that he by his rashness had exposed the lives of so many brave Soldiers to the cruel Swords of their barbarous Enemies but this cruelty was soon after revenged upon the Turks in like manner by Count Serini This fatal loss sounded harsh in the Emperours ears and obliged Forcatz Governour of Newheusel to send to Monticuculi Governour of Rab to advise him of his evil success and that if a re-inforcement was not speedily sent the place must of necessity fall into the hands of the Enemy whereupon one thousand select Souldiers were drawn out of Rab and sent thither but scarcely were they entered before the Turk set down before it and summoned the Governour to surrender but upon his refusing on the 14th of August they prepared for a General storm In order to which about break of day Faggots and Rubbish were brought to fill up the ditch and scaling Ladders to ascend the Walls but although they were many in number and the assault made with all imaginable vigor yet they were received by the defendants with that courage and gallantry that the Trenches were filled with their Carkasses and at length obliged to retreat with the loss of six thousand of their men The siege still continuing the Turks angry and inflamed with the disgrace of their late foil endeavoured to redeem their honour by a second attempt filling up the Ditches as before and furiously attacked the outworks but was so miserably rent with the Flankers that they were forced to fall of with more loss and confusion then before which so incensed the Visier that drawing and part of his Army to which he joyned some Companies of Tartars he sent them over the River Waag to Forage the Countries of Austria and Moravia which they did after having defeated the German foâ—… that few in number were appointed to guard the frontires in such a manner as the like desolation had never happened in those parts running even to the Walls of Vienna with Fire and Sword which put that City into a great consternation and caused the Emperour to remove to Lintz yet for all this imminent danger the Diet brought nothing to perfection in order to the inabling the Emperour to raise more Forces but rather spent the time in cavilling at little niceties during which Newheusel upon their Magazine of Powder accidentally taking Fire surrendred upon Articles honourable to the besieged The Turks heightened with their success layed siege to Levents which after many threats and fair promises was put into their possession by the Inhabitants which so overjoyed the Turks that feasted they for several dayes and then marched to Schinta the Magazine of the Emperours Arms and Artillery which they assaulted but with great loss were beaten off and forced to raise their siege yet passing on they took Novigrode a strong Castle scituate upon a Rock and Garrisoned with six hundred Souldiers provided with all necessaries that might have incouraged them to a resolute defence and not upon such easie terms have surrendered a place of such strength Winter approaching the Grand Visier with part of his Army marched back to Belgrade there to qâ—arter till the Spring ordering a flying Army of 〈◊〉 thousand Turks and Tartars under the leading of the Bassa of Temeswar to pass into Stira and Crotia the Countries of Count Serini who was about that time returned out of Hungary and there to sill all places with desolation of which the heroick Count having notice resolved they should not want a welcome and therefore raising such Forces which were not above six hundred and with this handful betook himself to the banks of the River Muer to give a stop if possible to the passage of the Enemy placing Centinels in all places where the River was fordable yet two thousand Turks passed undiscerned upon whom he set with such undaunted courage that he soon put them to flight who in seeking to repass the River and missing the place they passed at and pressed by the Count they threw themselves headlong into the depths and there mostly perished which the Turks on the further bank perceiving were so amazed at the stupendious valour of Serini that their courage failing them they desisted from any further attempt upon his Countries Yet the Count not satisfied raised against the Spring viz. 1664. a considerable power and marched into the Turks Territories destroying all before him taking many important places and burning a bridge made over the Fenns six or seven miles in length which cost the Turks six hundred thousand Dollars in building and six years labour he likewise took Quinque Ecclesiae and following the course of his victory taking in many small Towns and Castles in his way he came before Sigeth a Fortress of the Turks consisting of the new and old Town joyned by a bridge cross a famous marsh and fell into the hands of the
his Army had scarce entred the Confines of Media before the Emperor 's new Lievtenant gave Battle and put the Turks to flight following the Execution for many miles This defeat inraged the Sultan and caused him to send an Army double the number of the former under the Conduct of Humbramy-Alim his other Brother who after six days Siege took Arzen a Town rich in Merchandize but the Lievtenant having joyned his Forces with those of Liperates Governour of Iberia who came to his Assistance the Battle was joyned which continued bloody and doubtful for the space of four hours at the end of which the Victory fell to the Christians who followed the Execution till Night put an end to it yet Liperates fighting valiantly was taken and carried into Persia for whose Ransom the Emperor sent great Presents but the Sultan out of a generous bravery sent him home Ransom-free only admonishing never to bear Arms against him more and with him sent Seriph a Mahumetan Priest as his Ambassador to demand of the Emperor that he would become Tributary to the Sultan and that thereby an Eternal Peace might issue which the Emperor rejected with just disdain Whereupon the Sultan invaded the Roman Provinces with great Forces but understanding upon his approaching Caesarea that the Emperor's Army was upon the March resolving to give him Battle and that if he should be overthrown there was little hopes of retreating by reason he had left so many Enemies at his back he returned into Media and laid Siege to the strong City of Mantizichiert furiously assaulting it for thirty days without intermission but after the loss of Alean his chief Captain and 20000 Turks and Persians he in great perplexity raised the Siege and upon his return being displeased with his Brother Habraim-Alim he fled by Night and joyned such Forces as he could raise with Cutlu Muses against whom the Sultan marched and overthrowing them in plain Battle took Habraim Prisoner and immediatly commanded his head to be struck off when in the mean while Cutlu Muses and his Cousin Melech fled into Armenia with the remainder of the broken Army and from thence sent Ambassadors to the Greek Emperor to take them into protection but the Sultan following them close with his Army they removed from thence and fled into Arabia upon which the Sultan leaving the pursuit turned his Army upon Iberia and wasted the Country with fire and sword in many places but upon the approach of Acoluthus the Emperor's Lievtenant he retired to Tauris leaving behind him one Sannich with 3000 Turks to infest the Imperial Territories At which time the Emperor Constantius died leaving his Empress and three Children the former being obliged in an Oath not to marry though afterwards that Oath was dispensed with by the Patriarch and she married to one Diogines whom she pardoned as the Sentence of death was about to pass upon him for conspiracy to dismember the Empire So that he being proclaimed Emperor advanced with an Army against the Turks pasting over into Asia where they were wasting the Provinces with fire and sword upon whose approach the Sultan doubting the Event sent one part of his Army into the South and the other into the North the latter surprising upon its arrival new Caesarea and so laded with rich Booties departed upon notice of which the Emperor pursued them and after a sharp Incounter put them to flight recovering the Booty and Prisoners at which time the City of Hierapolis was surrendred to him and many other Cities which the Turks had taken and then dividing his Army past on with one part of it to Syria and left the other part to defend the new Conquest which in his absence was overthrown by the Turks upon News of which the Governour of Aleppo revolted from him But whilst the Turks supposed they had him in a Toil he without any noise fell in with their Army and put them to flight making great slaughter of such as fled and then receiving the Homage of the several Countries he passed through he came to Alexandria in Caelicia and there quartered his Army and so returned to Constantinople The Emperor having recruited himself all Winter early in the Spring hasted to his Army to oppose the Turks that were abroad ravaging the Country about new Caesaria and after having repressed them passed on to the River Euphrates where leaving part of his Army with his Lievtenant for securing the Frontires he retired into Capadocia but in his absence his Lievtenant was routed by the Turkish Army which the Emperor understanding at Sabestia he sent the Governour of Antioch with part of his Army to oppose them at Mopsiphestia but they before were broken by the Armenians who had took from them the rich Booties they had acquired by the Sacks of many Cities And thus this Emperour continued to defend the Roman Provinces with great Success against the powerful Forces of a furious Adversary all the Reign of Tangrolipix the first Turkish Sultan of Persia CHAP. II. The Reign and Memorable Atchievements of Axan the second Turkish King or Sultan of Persia The Division of the Turkish Monarcby and the Expedition of the Christians unto the Holy Land in order to regain it from the Turks TAngrolipix being dead his Son Axan was chosen by the general Consent of the Souldiery Sultan in his stead who sent his Ambassadors immediately upon his Election to the Emperor Diogenes to conclude a Peace but some of his Counsellers perswaded him that thereby the Turk only sought to gain time till he could increase his Army insomuch that the Treaty broke off abruptly though in an ill time for the Emperor had sent away part of his Army yet was he spurred on to ingage the Turks by such of his Predecessors Relations as envied his Greatness and after Battle joyned the Turks retiring the Emperor supposed they did it to fetch a Compass in order to surprize his Camp and thereupon himself caused a Retreat to be sounded which John Ducas his Predecessor's Brother and his Caesar under whose command a great part of the Army was perceiving laid hold of that opportunity to ruin the Emperor by turned Tail and commanded a Retreat to be sounded which created so general a fear in the Army that they fled in all Parts the Emperor not being able to stay their flight which unexpected advantage the Sultan perceiving charged with fury upon the Christians so that the Emperor fighting with a brave resolution amongst the thickest Squadrons was at last taken Prisoner together with several of his great Commanders after several wounds received yet comforted by the Sultan and within a while honourably dismiss'd when during the time of his Captivity John Ducas his Caesar Psellus one of the Senators and other of the Faction had thrust the Empress into a Monastery and proclaimed Michael Ducas her Eldest Son Emperor and when they heard that the Emperor Diogenes was at liberty they sent out Letters to the Lievtenants of
his Kingdom of England but at his return found it possessed by his younger Brother Henry who not only deprived him of his Kingdom but soon after of his Dutchy of Normandy And finally of his life by putting out his eyes which many held as a Judgment for his refusing the Scepter of Jerusalem Upon the Duke's declining the Princes unanimously chose Godfry of Bolloin Duke of Lorain who accepted the honourable and glorious Trust but at the time of his Inauguration refused to be crowned with a Crown of Gold saying that it became not a Christian to wear a Crown of Gold where Christ the Son of God had for the Salvation of mankind sometime worn a Crown of Thorns but long he had not injoyed his new acquired Dignity e'r News was brought that 100000 Turks Sarazens and Jews were upon their march to recover the City against whom the Christian Army advanced and gave them battle with so fearful an overthrow that all the Field and Plains for the space of ten miles were covered with the bodies of the slain and then passing on won many famous Cities every where putting the Infidels to the rout but not long after a great Mortality happening the Heroick Godfry King of Jerusalem died and was interred in the Church of the Sepulcher of our Saviour on Mount Calvery And Baldwin Count of Edassa his Brother succeeded him who with many Victories and Cities taken much inlarged the Territories of Jerusalem but besieging the City of Ptolemais he was in a Skirmish with those Turks wounded yet took the City and lived many years after but the wound being as was supposed given with an impoysoned weapon and not pertectly cured he died thereof in the eighteenth year of his Reign and was most favourably buried by his Brother his Sepulcher remaining yet visible After him succeeded his Couzen Baldwin Brugenses against whom the Caliph of Egypt aided by the King of Damasco and the Turks came with a great Army but they returned without effecting any thing yet not long after Gazi the greatest Prince of the Turks in the lesser Asia aided by the King of Damasco and Debeis King of Arabia came against Antioch with a great power and incamped at Aleppo against whom Roger Prince of Antioch advanced without staying for King Baldwin who was on his march with a great Army and unadvisedly joyning battel his Army was overthrown and himself slain but King Baldwin coming upon the Turks grown secure by reason of their new acquired Victory put them to the rout far and near filling all the Plains with the bodies of the slain but within a while after encountring with Balac General of the Persian Sultan's Army he was taken prisoner and his Army overthrown but after eighteen Months imprisonment for the Ransom of 100000 Ducats set at liberty and afterwards obtained many signal Victories over the Infidels and in his Reign was setled the order of the Knights Templers Hugh Paganus being the first great Master of that Order but King Baldwin the Second being tired and disordered with the many battels and having received many wounds after he had married Margaret his Eldest Daughter to Foulk Duke of Turin Anjoy and Mayn fell sick in the thirteenth year of his Reign Anno 1131. and constituting his Son in Law to succeed him gave up the Ghost and was buried in the Temple upon Mount Calvery near his Predecessors After the death of Baldwin Foulk was crowned King of Jerusalem viz. on the Sixth of September Anno 1131. by William the Patriark but the Devil envying the spreading of the Christian Religion endeavoured to stir up Division amongst the Christians in the beginning of this King's Reign for Pontius Count of Tripolis by force of Arms endeavoured to rend the City and Territories of Antioch from the Kingdom of Jerusalem and Hugh Count of Joppa being highly concerned in the Treason for fear of punishment joyned with the Sarazens that held the strong City of Ascalon but God prevented the mischief that thereby might have ensued by taking the former away by the Sword of the Turks and the latter being driven out of Ascalon died in Exile the very Heathens abhorring a Traytor These stirs were no sooner over but the Turks invaded Antioch with a powerful Army but the King coming suddainly upon them put them to flight with much slaughter and got in the plundring of their Camp great Riches After which John the Creek Emperor raised a great power to seize upon Antioch pretending it a part of his Empire but the Kings of Europe interposing he was content it should be holden by the present Prince the Earl of Poictou he paying him Homage for his Principality but being a man of a restless Spirit he soon after came again with a powerful Army thinking to have admittance into the City and so to surprize it but found his expectations frustrate for the Citizens would not admit him to enter unless with some few of his Followers in reveage of which he caused the Suburbs to be sacked and so returned into Cilicia where hunting a Boar whilst the furious Beast pressed on the Spear the Emperor held against him the Emperor's hand pressed upon the point of a poysonoâ—s Aâ—â—oâ—â— he had in his Quiver which entring the flesh the force of the poyson was such that in great pain he shortly died upon which Emanuel Elexus his Son was chosen in his stead Jerusalem by this means being â—t peaâ—e the King Queen and many great Commanders went without the Walls to take the Air when there â—â—â—nced a Hare to be started after which the King and those that accompanied him rid and he forcing his Horse he fell so that the King's head fell under him of which mortal bruise he in three days dyed in great torment viz. on the thirteenth of November Anno 1142. and was buâ—ied by his Predecessors greatly lamented of all good Christians and after him succeeded Baldwin his Son the third of that name he being about thirteen years of Age and in his Reign came Conrade the Third Emperor of Germany with a powerful Army to the Assistance of the Christians in Syria who by the way being opposed by the Turks at the River Meander gave them battel and overthrew them with the slaughter of 30000 of the Enemy so that the River for many miles ran 〈◊〉 and then marching forward without the least Impeachment came to Iconium the Chief Seat of the Tâ—â—kâ—sh Kings in the lesser Asia which he besieged but it being strongly fortified and Want increasing in the Camp a Mortality hapâ—ned which destroyed so many of the Souldiers that the Emperor was forced to raise his Siege and to return home The occasion of this 〈◊〉 was said to be occasioned by eating of Meal which the 〈◊〉 Emperor upon their passing through his Dominions had caused to be mingled with Lime 〈◊〉 no less envying the success of the Christians in Syria 〈◊〉 the Turks and by such like Treacheries he frustrated 〈◊〉 Expedition
of Lewis the Eighth King of France who after a long Siege lay'd to Damasco without preâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 it was forced to return with half his Arâ—◠〈…〉 half being through want and diseases lost But 〈…〉 to Baldwin King of Jerusalem after he had given the Turks and Sarazens several Overthrows 〈…〉 Peâ—â—â—d fortified Gaza and taken all the 〈…〉 held in the Terrirories of Jerusalem 〈…〉 accorded a Marriage with the Greek Emperor's â—iece which Emperor in requital thereof desired in Marriage one of the King 's near Kinswomen whereupon he offered him Mathildas an honorable Ladâ—â—â—â—ter to the Count of Tripolis but he refusing her and taking Mary the Daughter of Raymund Earl of Aâ—tâ—â—ch the Count was greatly displeased and with certain Ships of War greatly infested the Emperors Territories and upon the King 's coming to Antioch to solemnize the Marriage he was supposed to be poysoned by one Barac a Jew the Counts Physician for he taking â—â—ysick to prevent Winter sickness immediately fell into a bloody Flux and afterwards a Consumption of which he died at Beritus Anno 1163. when he had reigned prosperously 21 years being generally lamented of his Friends and Enemies Noridan the Turkish General and King of Damasco declaring that the world afforded not his Peer During these stirs in Syria Sultan Solyman and Mahomet his Successor being dead Mansal having upon the overthrow of the Greek Emperor's Army grasped the Scepter of Persia divided his Dominions at his death between his three Sons viz. to Clizasthilon his Eldest he gave Persia with the Towns and Provinces thereunto appertaining to Jagupasan his Second Son he gave Amasa and 〈◊〉 with the fruitful Country of Cappadocia and to Daâ—iâ—n and his Third Son gave he the Cities of 〈◊〉 and Sâ—bastia which Division caused a greater amongst the Brethren so that mortal hate insâ—ed which 〈◊〉 heels brought an Intestine War the Elder who bore the name of Sultan seeking to destroy and dispossess the two younger which intestine broyls the Greek Emanuel sought to augment covertly assisting them both that they by rending the Persian Monarchy might give him an easie means to recover what had been dismembred from his Empire but finding the Sultan powerful he supposed it best to side with him openly which he doing by that means Jagupasan was overthrown in a bloody and doubtful battel and he flying into Arabia had all his Dominions seized upon which an enterview was had between the Sultan and the Emperor wherein a Peace was concluded between those Potentates the former promising at his return to take Caesaria and Sebastia from Dadune and deliver them to the Emperor the former part of this promise he performs viz. the taking the Cities but the latter part of restoring them as he never intended so he never performed but forgetting all former curtesies invaded the Imperial Provinces with Fire and Sword doing great mischief taking by storm Laodicea in Phrygia upon which the Emperor passed the Hellespont with a great Army and fortified Dorileum and Subleum with other strong Holds to hinder the Inroads of the Turks nevertheless they ceased not to infest his Frontiers whereupon the Emperor grievously complained of the Sultan's Ingratitude and breach of Promise and he on the other side of his breach of League in fortifying the Frontier Towns whereupon the Emperor raised the whole power of his Empire resolving to rase Iconium marching with his whole Army Phrygia Laodicea Chonas and other Countries the Turks keeping aloof as not daring to give him â—atrâ—â— but the Sultan sent his Ambassadors with offers of Peace but the Emperor driven head-long on as it were by the Destinies trusting his power slighted all his Proposals willing the Ambassadors to tell their Master he would give him answer under the Walls of Iconium whereupon order was given to the Turks to impoyson the Well and destroy all Corn and Forrage by the way the Emperor should pass which was accordingly put in Execution so that by such means many of the Soldiers and some prime Commanders died and further they fortified the Straights of Zibriâ—â— through which the Christians were to pass upon their departure from Myria-Cephalon which are seven narrow Valleys of five miles long each over which hang Rocks craggy Clifts and Mountains that almost touch at the top yet through these the Emperor would needs pass though he had notice that the Turks â—â—d strongly possessed themselves of the said Valleys having first divided his Army into three Battalia's but he was no sooner entred but the Turks appeared upon the Rocks and Mountains on every side sending showers of poysonous Arrows upon the Imperialists themselves remaining as it were secure under the shelter of the Rock insomuch that e'r he had got through three parts of his Army were destroyed filling the Valleys with blood and the Carcasses of the slain but in the middle of his distress it pleased God to move the Sultan to pity him and conclude a Peace on condition that the fortified Towns should be rased and so dismissed him with the remainder of his broken Army but after repenting that he had suffered his Enemy to escape his hand permitted such as would to fall upon his Rear by which means many were slain yet at last he arrived at Chovas in his own Territories and caused Subleum to be rased but not the other Towns whereupon the Sultan complained of the non-performance of the Articles but receiving no satisfaction to his mind he sent Atapatch one of his great Captains with an Army of 2400 Horse and Foot to destroy the Emperor's Territories even to the Sea-side and in token thereof to bring an Oar some of the Sea water and Sea Sand which the said Captain undertook spoyling Phrygia and all the Cities upon the Banks of the River Meander taking a great Spoyl but in his return he was met withal by John Bataza the Emperor's Nephew and Ducase Constantine who setting upon him about to pass the Meander destroyed him and all his Army recovering the rich Booty And thus the Emperor Emanuel passed over in continual Wars yet by so doing he gave the Christians in Syria rest who after he had sat Emperor for the space of thirty eight years died leaving Alexius Comnenus his Son a Child of twelve years of Age to Reign in his stead under the protection of the Empress both of which were barbarously murdered by Andronicus the deceased Emperor's Couzen who proved so inhuman and unmerciful that one Isaac Angelius whom he designed to murther caused the Citizens to mutiny against him and put him to a shameful death himself being afterwards chosen Emperor in his stead but he reigned not long for proving almost as Tyrannical as the former he was deposed and his Brother Alexius chosen to succeed him who getting him into his power to make all safe put out his eyes and thrust him into a Monastery so that in these suddain alterations the Turks made great spoyl of the Imperial Provinces greatly dismembring the Empire
sore shaken with inrestine broyls But Clisalthâ—n dying gave some Rest by reason his Sons fell at variance among themselves as he and his Brothers had done for he leaving four all grown to Mens estate viz. Maful Coppatine Renâ—â—â—â—ine and Câ—ichofroes he divided his Dominions amongst them but they thinking each other wronged unless every one had all would not content themselves with what their Father had allotted them though Dominions large enough to suffice twenty Kings raised impious Broils But after long contention Masut the Elder seised by force all the Dominions in Persia making himself thereby absolute Sultan where I shall leave him setling his Dominions and return to Jerusalem After the death of Baldwin in Almericus his younger Brother was crowned King on the seventeenth day of February Aâ—â—â— â—163 who was no sooner setled in his Throne but he warred upon Dargan the Egyptian Sultan for refusing to pay him the accustomed Tribute and in a dreadful battel overthrew him who to stay the pursuit cut the Banks of Nilus and lay'd the Country under water But whilst he was busie in Egypt Noridin the King of Damasco making Inrodes upon the Christians near Tripolis was fought with by Gilbert Lacy an english man then great Master of the Templars and by him overthrown with the loss of three parts of his Army but the next year laying Siege to Arethusa the Christian Princes gathered their Forces to oppose him who upon their approach raised his Siege and departed and whilst they eagerly pursued he trained them into certain miry Fens where turning upon them he overthrew their Army with incredible slaughter and the Captivity of all the Princes commanding after which Victory he again laying Siege to the City had it yielded to him but Almericus was more successful in Egypt for he so prevailed against the Turks and Sarazens that they were obliged to purchase their Peace with the delivery of the City of Alexandria and most of the Prisoners taken by Noradin in the late overthrow and within a short while after the Turks infringing the Articles he aided by the Knights Templars and other Christians lay'd Siege to Pelusium which he after three days setting down before it won and gave it to the great Master and the Knights of the Order In this City they took the Sultan of Egypt's Son and Nephew for whose ransom the King received 100000 Duâ—ats and so he returned to Jerusalem when shortly after Sâ—raâ—con the Turkish General in those Parts under pretence of Friendship slew the Sultan of Egypt in his Tent and was in his stead proclaimed Sultan being first Turk 〈◊〉 ever governed Egypt yet he enjoyed not his ill got Dominion above the space or a year before death surprized him when in his stead Saladine his Nephew was crowned Sultan who desirous to be rid of the Caliph who as Successor to the Impostor Mahomet ruled in effect the Kingdom he upon some disgust with his horseman's Mace beat his brains out at a blow and then taking the chief Places of Trust from the Egyptians and giving them to his Turks so well secured himself and his Posterity that for the revolution of many years that fertile Kingdom remained in subjection to the Turks Being by the means aforesaid setled in his Kingdom he raised a great power and entered Palestine and after a short Siege took the City of Daron e're Almericus could come to relieve it and now the Turks increasing in great numbers the King of Jerusalem was obliged to send to the Christian Princes of the West for aid and in the mean while stoutly defended his Territory which the former Kings had extended to the uttermost borders of Arabia Felix larger than what ever the Israelites possessed and Anno 1173. Noridon King of Damasco died the sorest Enemy the Christians had but as Joy seldom comes without some taste of sorrow to allay it so now for Almericus the Sixth famous King of Jerusalem returning from the Siege of Peane 〈…〉 year fell into a Fever which after a short sick 〈…〉 him of life Up 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 Americus his Nephew Baldwi◠〈…〉 nightily opposed the Turks gâ—â—ing them many 〈◊〉 â—â—erthrows but was in the flower of his youth cut 〈◊〉 death the sixteenth of Aâ—â—y 1185. when as he haâ—â—eiâ—â—ed twelve Years and some Months In this King's stead his Son Baldwin the Fifth of that name and Eighth King of Jerusalem was crowned but long he had not reigned e'r his perfidious Mother to advance her second Husband Guy to the Throne poysoned him But Heaven leâ—t not such wickedness unrevenged not long after Guy the Ninth and Last King of Jerusalem took upon him the Scepter the Christians fell at variance amongst themselves ready to turn their Swords upon each other of which Saladine the Egyptian Sultan taking the advantage won many Cities and finally in a bloody battel the Christian Army was overthrown the King and most of his Nobles together with the great Master of the Templers were taken Prisoners which altogether broke the strength of the Christians in Syria for hightned with this success the Sultan with an Army of 200000 Horse and Foot besieged Jerusalem which being naked of men and wanting a Head was after fourteen days Siege and many fierce Assaults delivered up to the Enemy Anno 1187. after it had been in the hands of the European Christians for the space of 100 years upon condition that such Christians as would might still remain there with free exercise of their Religion and those that were minded to depart might be permitted so to do with as much of their Goods as they could carry upon their backs And thus the Holy City again fell into the hands of the Pagans who poluted it with their prophane Idolatries and superstitious Worship through the Christians lukewarmness and disrespect of God's Divine Worship who living in abundance of plenty forgat the hand that protected them trusting in their own arms as the Israelites to their cost had done before them After Jerusalem the Metropolis of the Kingdom was taken Anâ—â—eâ—â— was betrayed by the Patriarck such little regard had Christians of their Fidelity into the hands of the Turks for a certain sum of Gold 〈◊〉 afterward most of the other Cities either revolted or were taken by force Chap. IV. The Second Expedition of the Western Princes for the Recovery of the Holy Land c. JErusalem and most of the Cities of Palestine being lost as aforesaid the European Potentates were not a little grieved and to recover the same raised a mighty power and first that advanced was Frederick the German Emperor who setting forth from Vienna passed with a puissant Army through Hungary Bulgaria and Thracia and so to Constantinople where he passed over into Asia and entring Lyconia gave the Turks a great overthrow after which he besieged and took Iconium giving the Spoyls thereof to his Soldiers and from thence passing into Celicia in the Straights where the Greek Emperor some years before
that Frederick that marryed the King of Jerusalem's Daughter and with her had the Title of King of Jerusalem which occasioned his setting forward to take possession of that Kingdom The Emperor was no sooner returned but to spight him and break the ten Years League he sent Lewis King of Navar with a great Power into Syria to invade the Sultans Dominions but his Expedition was no ways prosperous joyning Battle with the Sultans Power he and the rest of the Christians were overthrown which occasioned the loss of Jerusalem soon after 〈…〉 by the Tâ—â—ks all the Souls that were 〈…〉 being put to the Sword and with 〈…〉 hands demolished the 〈◊〉 of our 〈◊〉 Saviour which all other 〈◊〉 had with a 〈◊〉 reverence sorborn to 〈◊〉 The News of the great overthrow and the loss of 〈…〉 to the 〈◊〉 of the Christian Princes of the 〈◊〉 greatly troâ—â—â—ed them but most of all the Emperor and Lewis the Ninth King of France Insomuch that the latter gathering a great Power Anno 1248. set Sail and came to the Isle of Cyprus and there wintered by reason of the far advancement of the Season during which time he received an Embassador from the Master of the Templars to inform him that there was no need of his coming by reason the Sultan oftered honourable terms but the King understanding that it was a contrivance between them that the Templars might have the greater power sent back to command him under pain of forseiting his head that he should receive no more Embassadors from the Sultan and Early in the Spring weighing Anchor within five or six days sail he fell in with the Coast of Egypt and with all his sleet sailing up the River Nile came before Damiata to oppose whose landing the Governour with what forces he could draw out stood upon the banks but in vain they resisted for the French-men manning out their boats thrust on shore and put them to flight leaving the Governour and 500 of their Companions dead upon the Strand and perceiving the Christians were preparing to besiege the City the former Miseries it had indured coming afresh into their mind they in the dead of night set every man his house on fire and sled which the Christians perceiving they entered the City and exstinguished the slames saving so much as was possible and there found abundance of Riches The Sultan upon notice of the loss of this strong City was greatly dismayed 〈◊〉 he sent to the French King to osser him several places in Palestine never yet in the possession of the Christians but his offer was rejected and 〈…〉 by the Earl of 〈◊〉 the Kings brother During these sâ—irs 〈…〉 Brother Melesh-Sâ—llâ—â— or 〈…〉 whom joyned the Sultan of 〈◊〉 to oppose the Christians and with his whole Power drew near to Damiata where the Christian Army lay incamped who Sallying out of their Trenches beat him back but Sallying the next day and following the Enemy too far many of them were slain and the rest were forced to retire Long they were not incamped before a private Messenger came to the King from the Governour of Cairo to inform him that if he would draw near to the Walls of that great City he would put it into his hands the said Governour appearing to be much inclinable to the Christian Religion Or as some will have it oâ—â— of Revenge for the Death of his Brother slain by the Sultans Command Upon which the King assembled all his Power and marched till he came to an Arm of Nâ—â—us with part of his Army under the Command of his Brother Robert Earl of Arthâ—â—s passing at a Board discomfited the Turks that desended the further Bank but contrary to the advice of the renowned Eâ—â—l and the Master of the Templers following the Chase e'r the other part of the Army arrived he was incompassed by the Sultans power that â—ay in Ambush that not above two Templers one Hospitaler and a common Souldier escaped to tell the heavy News This News was seconded with that of the Imprisonment of the Governour of Câ—â—â—â—o which altogether disappointed the King of his purpose Whereupon he pasted the River at the same Board his Brother had done and behold the sad 〈◊〉 of the minâ—â—ed Careasses of the slain each having his Head and Hards â—nâ— off the Sultan the better to incourage his Men haing promised rewards to 〈◊〉 could bring them either but long he had 〈◊〉 them before the 〈◊〉 come upon him 〈…〉 being near ten 〈…〉 and after a 〈…〉 overthrew him cutting the greatest part of his Army in pieces and amongst the rest the Flower of the French Nobility The King and some few of the Nobility were taken Prisoners and for their Ransom delivered up the City of Damiata and payed 8000 pound in Gold with a promise of a ten years Peace but whilst the Sultan was accompanying him to Damiata two desperate Russians assassinated him in the presence of his Nobility instigated thereto by one Turquiminus a Mamaluke or Slave got himself proclaimed Sultan renouncing the League that Melech-Sala had made and made another in his own Name not much different from the former but performed not above the half part but in fine after the surrender of Damiata which the new Sultan caused to be rased the King with all his Retinue were Conducted to Ptolomais and at the end of six years from his setting out sailing from thence arrived in his own Kingdom having lost 60000 of his Subjects in that expedition The Sultan being as aforesaid Traiterously murthered the Mamalukes or Slaves bought by the Sultans of divers Merchants to serve them in their Wars Put an end to the Turkish Kingdom in Egypt by deposing all such as bare Offices or had places of trust advancing those of their own order continually choosing their Sultans from amongst themselves flourishing in great Renown for the space of 267 years at the end of which they were totally subdued by 〈◊〉 the victorious Emperor of the 〈…〉 151â— and the Kingdom of Egypt with all 〈◊〉 and the 〈…〉 as they are at this day annexed to the 〈…〉 as shall be in process of this History 〈…〉 these Actions passed John Daccâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—ed having Reigned successfully for the space of 〈◊〉 three years after whom succeeded 〈◊〉 his Soâ— who renewed the League his Father had made with the Jathanites the Turkish Sultan in the lesser Asia after which with a puissant Army he passed the Straights of Hellispont to appease the troubles raised in Macedonia and Thessalia by the King of Bulgaria his Father in Law and the Despot of Thessalia during which one Michael Paleologus a great Courtier fled to the Turkish Sultan under pretence that he doubted his Life by reason of those Enemies he had at Court that inveighed against him and at his coming to Iconium sound the Sultan leavying an Army to oppose them that spoiled his Country of whom he was kindly received and the Greeks in his Service reduced under his Command
a second Expedition having recruited his huge Army for that purpose But what Man willeth God disposeth whilst he was intent upon the matter falling sick of a Feaver or Ague after three sits he dyed Death Conquering him who in a short space Conquered fifty intire Kingdoms This mighty Tartar being Dead his great Kingdom divided amongst his Sons by their jarring and discontent of the Nobility was soon after rent into pieces most of it falling into the hands of the Turks who at this day possess it And now Mahomet winning all the Dominions his Father held in the greater Asia from the Tartars resolved to recover the rest which his three Brothers Isa Solyman and Mnsa had seized on in Europe and the lesser Asia whereupon assembling all his Forces he marched to Lâ—pacllum near to which Isa being incamped he sent to offer him Caramania and several other Kingdoms in the lesser Asia though indeed they were not his to give being possessed by their rightful Princes whom Tamerlain had re-possessed them off which offer refused from a younger Brother whereupon a bloody Battle insued in which Isa was overthrown and for the preservation of his Life forced to fly to Emanuel the Greek Emperor In this Battle were blain the two famous Basas Eine and Tenurtases of which overthrow Mahomet sent to certifie his Brother Solâ—â—â—â—n then in Constantinople after which he marched with his Army to Prrsa and received under his Protection all the Countries adjoyning and now growing strong he â—eselved to brook no Rival in his Fathers Kingdoms when on the other hand Solyman his Elder Brother hearing what he had done and knowing him to be of an aspiring Temper thought it not Convenient to suffer him longer so Triumphantly to proceed whereupon by the advice of his Grave Counsellors he sent for his Brother Isa then at Constantinople and making him general of his Army gave him Orders to pass over into Asia and curb the Pride of his aspiring Brother Isa glad of this opportunity to revenge his own Injuries sustained in loosing his Dominions obeying his Brother Solyman's Commands entered Mahomet's Dominions and there with Fire and Sword began his Progress which Mahomet understanding came against him and having overthrown his Forces put him to a second flight into Carramania where in obscurity of the Wounds he received in Battle and grief for his foul defeat he dyed Solyman hearing of the defeat prepared a great Army to invade Asia which made Mahomet retire into the Country of Amasa as doubting the affections of his People by reason the Kingdoms of Bajazet of Right appertained to Solyman as Flder This retireing gave Solyman opportunity to advance to the Walls of Prusâ—s which City he besieged and had it presently yielded except the Castle which upon the Interceptions of Mahomet's Letters was likewise surrendered but upon the approach of Mahomet with a great Power doubtful to keep what he had got he with all his People retired to the Straights of Neapolis where he defended himself right valiantly against the assaults of his Brother who by reason of the Intemperance of the Weather and a Letter framed by Alis-Bassa that there was a Conspiracy amongst his Captains to deliver him up to Solyman he retired Whilst these things were acting Musa being set at Liberty by the Tartars came to Mahomet's Camp was of him joyfully received when after some Discourse it was greed that Musa with an Army should pass over the Euxin Sea into Europe and whilst Solyman was busie in Asia seize upon his Country which Expedition he undertaking and making Isfender Prince of Castomonia his Friend and afterward the Prince of Valachia by marrying his Daughter he soon prevailed with the Governours of the chief Cities to Revolt from Solyman when entering Hadrianople he caused himself to be invested with Royal Robes and as King of the Country sent forth his Decrees which Solyman hearing of as he lay at Ancira in Asia passed the Straights of Bosphorus with all the Forces he could raise upon whose Departure Mahomet recovered what ever he had won in Asia Solyman being come into Europe Musa prepared to oppose him and both Armies coming in sight of each other Musa so dealt with Solyman's Captains that they revolted which he perceiving fled accompanied only with Caratze-Beg Cara Muchil and one Country Turk whom they took with them as their Guide whose persidiousness brought them to Destruction for pretending to lead them through the by-ways all Night he misnaming places brought them in the Morning near to Musa's Camp when giving Notice to the Rusticks they set upon them and having killed the two Captains took Solyman and delivered him to Musa who immediately caused him to be strangled whose Body by his Command was carried to Prusa and there buryed by his Ancestors Solyman being Dead Musa took upon him the Goernment of the Turkish Kingdom in Europe as had been agreed between him and his Brother Mahomet but e'r he was settled he began to Tyrannize beyond measure over his Subjects which caused many of his great Captains to leave him and amongst the rest Eurenosie feigning himself Blind found means to depart to Constantinople from whence he wrote to Mahomet then in Asia giving him an Account of his Brothers proceedings and soliciting him to pass over with his Army whose Council Mahomet taking making first a League with Emanuel the Greek Emperor he entered Europe with his Army But by the over eager pursuit of his Army after the Vaunt Couriers of Musa's Army his Orders being broken he was put to flight and forced to repass the Seas into Asia leaving behind him a great part of his Army who were spoiled by the Enemy Mahomet thus foiled and desirous of Revenge resolved once more to try his Fortune and thereupon drawing to his Assistance Dulgader Ogly who sent his Son with great Forces to serve him in his War he repassed the Euxin and by the Council of Eurenosis having procured the revolt of Jegides-Bassa Barack-Beg and Sinon-Beg 3 of Musa's great Captains who came over to him with 3000 valiant Turks he resolved to give his Brother battle the which being joyned Musa by the revolt of other Commanders during the heat of fight was overthrown taken and by the Command of Mahomet strangled receiving therein the same measure he had dealt to his Brother Solyman After this overthrow of Musa Mahomet proceeded to take possession of his Kingdom the which whilst he was doing news came that the Carramanian King spoiled his Countries in Asia and had burnt his great City of prusa which being a frontier City was still exposed to the miseries of War whereupon Mahomet setling his Affairs in Europe as necessity would permit passed into Asia and falling like a tempest upon the Country of Carramama took Aspropolis Despoâ—opolis and Hierapolis laying hard Siege to Iconium which caused the Carramanian to send his Embâ—â—â—dors to treat a Peace the which by reason of the great â—oods of Rain that
the youngest Son of John Huniades their great Captain deceased who not much inferiour to his Father in valour and success in Arms gave the Infidels many a fatal overthrow with the Loss of many of their Armies and gave great hopes to the Christians that he would as indeed he did prove a Bulwark to Christendom Whilst things thus passed Mahomet desirous to revenge himself of Scanderbeg fent Ballabanus with a great Army to invaide his Territories whom Scanderbeg charging furiously overthrew him but Moses and others of his Captains contrary to the command of their General in the heat of fight following their Enemies into the straights of the Mountains where fallen into an Ambush for that purpose layed they were taken Prisoners and carryed to Constantinople by those they had before Vanquished wherewith Sanderbeg sent to desire that he might Ransom them but the crafty Tyrant knowing how much he was weakned by such a loss caused them Cruelly to be flain alive and soon after sent Jacup Bassa with a great Army with whom the renowned Prince ingaging slew him hand to hand and put to the Sword a great part of his Army upon news of which Mahomet mad with Anger raised an Army of 200000 men thinking to overrun the Country but in vain for having a long time layn Siege to Croia and there by the furious Sallies of the Garrison and onsets of Scanderbeg lost near half his men together with Ballabanus his General he with great shame and confusion returned to Constantinople But as all things must yield to Fate so our invincible Champion whom no mortal hand could subdue wearyed with the Toils of a tedious War coming to Lyssa a City of the Venetians fell Sick and calling the Venetian Embassador to him he discovered to him what a troublesome Life he had lived and by what means the War was to be maintained recommending to him the care of his Wife and Children appointing the Venetians the Guardians of his Son till such time he came of Age and in the mean while to secure for him the Kingdom of Epirus admonishing him to be faithful and as much as in him lay to maintain peace and unity Then calling his Wife and Son told them that he must leave the World and exchange this Life for one more durable and willed her that after his death she should pass over into Apulia and there to live upon the inheritance given him by King Ferdinand and then after some devout Prayers gave up the Ghost Anno. 1466. in the 63 year of his Age and 24 of his Reign to the great grief of the Christian Princes and joy of the Turks whose Armys his very name had frequently put to flight After his death he was with great Solemnity buryed in the Cathedral Church at Lyssa where he rested till about 9 years after at what time the Turks taking the City dug up his Bones and happy was he that could get the smallest piece which they wore about them ever after as inestimable Jewels superstitiously imagining that whilst they had them about u'm Scanderbeg's fortune would attend u'm and that they should be invincible Not long after the Death of this renowned Soldier the Hungarians under the leading of their young King seized upon the Kingdom of Bosna and soon rent it from the Turkish Empire demolishing the Castles and driving away the Garrisons placed there by Mahomet at what time the Venetians being abroad with a great fleet of Gallies took divers Cities from the Turks burnt many Villages and carryed away 2000 Captives into the Country of Euboea now called Nigroponte which so inraged Mahomet that he prepared a great Army to invade that Country and recover the spoil in order to effect which he sent Mahomet Bassa with a fleet of 300 Gallies whilst himself with a great Army Marched overland with which the Venetian Admiral not daring to ingage it arrived safe where the Turks landing took Stora Basasilicon and Marching to Chalcis joyned with the Emperors Army who with small Vessels and other Materials made a Bridge over the straight or narrow Sea which divides Euboea from Achaia straightly besieging it both by Sea and Land and with his Cannon for 4 days battered the City incessantly being given to understand by the chief Cannoneer of the 〈◊〉 whom he had bribed which was the weakest part insomuch that in the end several large 〈…〉 made yet was the City so manfully 〈…〉 the Turks could not enter and every day 〈…〉 Turks forced to make a new Battery for such part of the Wall as was in the Day time beaten down which the Citizens in the Night repaired and at length coming to understand the Tretchery of their Gunner hanged him up as a reward of his Tretchery Mahomet perceiving the valor of the defendants resolved after his having rent the Wall with his Cannon in divers places and thirty Days besieged the City to give a general assault with all his power at what time the Venetian Admiral came in sight of the City with his Fleet but would not tho his Captains urged either Fight with Turkish Gallies or endeavour to break the Bridge the which had he done he had shut up Mahomet and all his forces in the Island where through Famine and other necessities he might have greatly distressed him This Cowardice of the Admiral for which he and all his Family was afterwards Banished by the Signory of Venice being perceived by the Turks they gave a furious assault on all parts and were so stoutly repulsed that they with their dead filled up the Trenches and Breaches but their number still increasing and continuing the assault a whole day and a night without intermission the Citizens at last being 3 parts of them Slain and wounded the remaining part retired to the Market and there upon the Turks entering Fought it out to the last man selling their Lives at a dear rate amongst whom many Women disguised in men's apparel Fighting couragiously were Slain The City being thus gained at the price of 40000 Turks Lives the Barbarous Tyrant commanded all that were found therein to be put to the Sword which Paulus Ericus the Governour understanding with his Wise Daughter and trusty Friends betook himself to the Castle who capitulated that upon the surrender of the Castle himself and his Friends should have their Lives and Liberties Granted them which the Tyrant solemnly Swore to but having gotten them in his power made at the great loss he had sustained in winning the City he caused the Governour and all but his Daughter to be presently Slain reserving the young Lady as the only Mirror of Beauty to satiate his lust but she disdaining the Tyrants promises and reviling him for his wicked purposes rather desiring Death then to lose her Chastity by becoming his prostitute he caused her even in his presence to be cruelly put to Death and then proceeded to subdue the other Cities of the Island who terrified with the fate of Chalcis surrendered
him yearly 8000 Duccats that they might have leave to Traffick in the Euxine-Sea by the Straights of Bosphorus Hellespontus and Thracius and that the Citizens of Scodra and the Garrison contained therein should upon the Delivery of the said City be at their Choice free to Live in the City under the Turkish Government or depart whither they pleased with their Goods c. These Articles concluded on Notice thereof was sent to the Governour who assembling the Citizens related it to u'm as he had received it from the Ambassador who then together with the Venetian Admiral Rode at Anchor in the Mouth of Boliana when after some Debate it was agreed that they would leave the City and not expose themselves to the Mercy of the Tyrant at all times whereupon at a certain time prefixed the City was put into the Hands of the Bassa and the Citizens marching out Bag and Baggage went on Board the Venetian Gallies who carefully Transported them into their other Territories of Italy and thus was this City surrendered Anno 1478. after a years Siege before which 100000 Turks had lost their Lives Mahomet having gotten what he sorely longed for sent Achmetes Bassa with his Gally to take in the Islands of Neritus Zacynthus and Cephalenia upon which he seized without any Resistance Lenord Prince of the same upon the Arrival of the Turks hasting with his Wife and Children into Italy where he was kindly received of King Ferdinand his near Kinsman after that he sent three of his Bassas with a great Army to invade Transilvania Whereupon Stephanas Batore the Vayvod fled to Matthias King of Hungary to crave Aid who at the same time lay sick of the Gout yet he ordered his two Captains viz. Stephanus Cherepetnus and Palus Rivisus to march with his Army who incountering the Turks near Alba Julia in a great and bloody Fight overthrew the Army with the Slaughter of 30000 of their best Men together with Isa Bassa their chief Commander and of the Christians there fell 8000 only Mahomet possessing most of the Islands in the Mediterranian Sea began to be very desirous of the Famous Rhodes and to further his Design at the same time a Fugitive Knight of the Order named Antonius Meligalus residing in his Court gave him a Plat-form of the City informing him in what place the City was easiest to be Assaulted and how the Island might be best subdued Whereupon a great Fleet was fitted out and this Traytor to his Country put on Board with a Command that his Directions should be followed but he by the way falling sick of a loathsome Disease so infected the Ship with his noisome Smell that the Marriners in a great rage threw him Over-Board whilst he vainly Cryed to them for Mercy and thus he received the reward due to his Traiterous Intention The great Master of Rhodes having notice that Mahomet intended to invade his Territories was like an experienced Captain wanting nothing that might conduce to a resolute Defence and having certain Notice that Misistes Bassa had Landed his Power and was marching towards the City he assembled his Captains and with many Christian and Soldier-like perswasions admonished them to fight the Battle of the Lord Jesus against his Enemies which so wrought upon them that they all resolved to Live and Dye in his defence By this time the Bassa had set down his Camp and began to raise his Batteries according to the Directions of one Demetrius another Fugitive Knight who in the first Skirmish according to the Merits of his Treason having his Horse slain under him was miserably trampled to Death most of the Ordnance now bent against the Wall the Bassa sent out a part of his Army to seize upon an Orchard possessed and intrenched by the Christians which those that possessed it not being able to defend against so powerful an Enemy slighted it and retired to the City leaving the Ordnance behind them Out of this Orchard by the advice of one George Trapain a Christian Runagado the Turks battered the Tower standing about 300 paces from the City with great Fury and having made a Breach indeavoured to have entered but were beaten off with great loss after which they framed a Bridge upon Boats over a frith of the Sea fastening by Ropes so indeavouring to besiege the Tower both by Sea and Land the which was no sooner fastened but the Ropes were all cut in sunder by one Garvais Rogers a most expert English Sea-Captain and after that attempting to make another Bridge and plant pieces of Cannon in Lighters and foists the Bridge was broken and the Lighters sunk by Anthony Damboise the great Masters Brother who with his Artillery planted for that purpose on the Bastions beat them to pieces but it had not been long e'r Caly Bassa the younger Arriving in the Camp it was noised that Mahomet was coming with an additional Army of 100000 Turks which so terrified the Spaniards for the Garrison was Composed of all Christian Nations that they desired to be Shipped out of the Island and to return home but for such their Cowardize being sharply reproved by Peter Damboise the great Master a most expert and Valiant French man they as ashamed of what they before proposed begged Pardon and afterwards notably defended the City during the Siege Mesues perplexed that he could not carry the City by Force though with his Artillery he had levelled the Walls in many places which were as soon repaired he resolved by Treachery to perform what otherwise he could not Effect and therefore made large Offers to several discontented Rhodians to poison the great Master which some of them undertook to bring to pass but e'r any thing was done in Relation thereto the wickedness was discovered and the undertakers worthily Executed upon notice of which the Bassa more perplexed then before and yet not knowing without loss of Honour how to raise the Siege sent several Messengers to the great Master in his Name to promise him extraordinary Matters if he would surrender to him the City and to denounce all the Miseries of War upon his Refusal To which the Heroick Old man returned Answer that he would not willingly in his surest Estate use the Council of his Enemy neither in his greatest distress refuse Cheerfully to yeild his Life unto Almighty God to whom he did owe it and that with far better Will then to surrender the City upon any Conditions bear they never so fair a shew of Honour or Profit The Messengers perceiving this constant Resolution of the great Master by other Arguments indeavoured him at least to become Tributary to the Emperor paying a small matter yearly for his Peace but he knowing that to be the ready way to be brought under the Turkish Slavery utterly refused upon which the Messengers returned greatly discontented to him that sent 'um who thereat greatly perplexed gave another general Assault battering the City for four days without Intermission but not prevailing
and best men of War but rather to defer the Execution till he saw how the matter would be digested and in the mean time by Torture to make him confess what might render his Execution more reasonable of which Counsel Bajazet approving commanded him immediately to be stripped and delivered into the Hands of the Tormentors The which whilst they were doing his Son having gotten notice in what Extream danger his Father was in raised the Jannizaries who upon notice that their beloved Captain stood on the Brink of the Grave flowed from all parts like a Torrent to the Pallace Thundering at the Gates as if they would have beaten the Pallace about his Ears whereupon causing the outward Gate to be set open he shewed himself to 'um through an Iron Window demanding the cause of that Tumult and Uproar to which they answered that they would by and by teach him as a Drunkard or Beast and a Rascal to use his great place and calling with more Sobriety and Descretion Loading him with many more such like opprobrious Expressions Commandin forthwith to deliver Achmetes or else they would beat the Pallace about his Ears which demand of the insolent Janizaries he durst not deny but Commanded that he should be forthwith delivered to them who for hast was brought out half Naked with the marks of his severe usage on his Body who had no sooner got him but they stripped the Emperors Minions and with their Spoils Cloathing him carryed him out of the Court on their Shoulders in great Triumph tho the Bassa did what he could to appease the Tumultuary Joy they conceived for his deliverance Bajazet knowing by experience how deeply the Bassa was rooted in the affections of the men of War durst not presently shew his Anger tho Burning with the desire of revenge therefore the better to bring to pass what he had purposed he took Achmetes into favour again promoting him more then ever which the Loyal old man trusting too far was as he was sitting at Supper by the command of Bajazet thrust through with a Sword and Slain after he had Conquered 7 Kingdoms and Annexed them to the Ottoman Empire being the most expert Commander that ever the Turks could Boast off But Bajazet's Spleen not so satisfied he purposed to destroy the whole order of the Janizaries in revenge of the insolency they had offered him but his design upon their lives coming to their knowledge and they standing upon their Guard he found it a matter not to be compassed without great difficulty tho to execute his pleasure he had sent for the Acanzii accounted the best Soldiers next the Jamzaries throughout all his Dominions therefore he was forced to forego his Bloody and Tyrannical purpose and the better to Colour the matter pretended he had sent for those Soldiers to War against Moldavia But the Janizaries not greatly trusting him Inbattled by themselves refusing to receive him into the middle of their Ranks as was their usual manner but shaking their Weapons bid him send his Executioners for they were ready to receive them but by the mediation of the Bassas at length matters were accorded and they received Bajazet amongst them for the Turkish Emperors never marched but in the middle of the Janizaries The Tumult pacified Bajazet with his Army passed over Danubius and entering Moldavia besieged Kele or Achilleia which after many furious assaults was delivered to him as afterward was Ac-Gimen or Asprocastron the Turks usually changing the Names of such Cities Towns as fall into their hands Zemes being at Rhodes Bajazet was not a little troubled lest he should prove a Thorn in his side therefore used many Endeavours to get him into his possession but the great Master abhorring Breach of trust notwithstanding the many Threats and Promises of the Tyrant would not deliver him nor was he sought only by his Brother but by Charles the French King Matthias King of Hungary and Pope Innocentius the Eight of that Name Bishop of Rome all of them thinking to advantage their Affairs by having a Prince of the Ottoman Blood in their Custody the King and the Emperor in their Wars and the Pope of a mind more Ignoble by getting a yearly Pension from his Brother Bajazet for the safe keeping him to the last of which after Reiterated intreaties the great Master delivered him in lieu of which be was Created Cardinal nor was the Popes Expectation vain for he yearly received of Bajazet 40000 Ducats yearly for the safe keeping him but of this more hereafter Bajazet being frequently troubled by the suddain Invasions of the Caramanian King resolved to subdue the remaining part of his Country the which with a great Army out of Europe he invaded spoiling all before him but the wary Prince knowing himself far too Weak to meet so powerful an Enemy in the Field kept himself with his few forces in the Fastnesses of the Mountain whereupon Bajazet besieged Tarsus in Cilicia and had it delivered to him upon condition that the Citizens might depart thence with their Goods and not be further prejudiced either in their Lives or Liberties but by this time Abraham Aliàs Pyramet King of Caramania having obtained considerable forces of Caytbeius Sultan of Egypt he was resolved to try his fortune in the Field and put all to the Hazard of a Battle which being begun the 10th of May Anno 1486 was Fought with great obstinancy on either side for the space of a whole day when the Turks by Reason of their Multitude prevailed in which Battle the King and the greatest part of his Army were Slain and afterward his Country totally subdued by Bajazet who likewise at that time took into his possession all Asia the less becoming Lord of the Sea Coast from the Straights of Bosphorus to the Confines of Syria By this means the Ambitious Emperor Stretching the borders of his Empire to the bounders of the Egyptian Sultans Territories resolved to have no peace with him by Reason he had not only assisted his Brother Zames against him but likewise the Carramanian King in the last Battle so that raising a great Power he sent them under the Leading of Ishender-Bassa Michael-Beg and Jaxis-Beg his two Sons to wast the Sultans Dominions in Syria but passing the Great Mountain Taurus they were intraped by Aladules the Mountain King who had lay'd an Ambush of his Savage people for that purpose where most of the Turks were together with Michael-Beg were Slain the Bassa his other Son and the remaining part taken Prisoners the news of which defeat being known to Carragoses Bassa who was following with more forces it so discouraged him that he would advance no further yet the next Year passing into the confines of Egypt he was Fought with and overthrown by the Sultans power But these ill haps so little discouraged Bajazet that he more inraged then ever resolved to invade Egypt by Sea and Land which the Sultan understanding resolved to Transport the Seat
over at length weary of his unwonted diet he sent his Servant to a Shepherds Cottage to purchase natural Food who suspecting by some words that passed that it was the Prince like a perfidious Swain he gave notice thereof to Coshmos one of Selymus's his Captains who was come insearch of him upon which he was apprehended and carryed towards Prusa of which the Tyrant having notice greatly rejoyced and immediately sent one Kirengi Og'ly a Squint-Ey'd Captain to strangle him by the way who accordingly performed his wicked Masters pleasure and now none remaining alive to obstruct the progress of his greatness but Achometes and his two Sons he resolved to go against them but in the beginning of his Expedition he intercepted some Letters signed by several Commanders of his Camp and directed to Achometes desiring him to advance towards Selymus with all speed and that he might be assured upon his approach a great part of the Army would revolt or at least in the Battle they would kill Selymus Upon this discovery those that were found to be concerned therein were Executed and the Letters notwithstanding sent upon which Achometes presuming made such hast that he left his Footmen behind at what time 10000 Janizaries were come to Selymus out of Europe so that Battle joyning after a most Bloody conflict Achometes was overthrown and seeking to save himself by flight his Horse fell with him into a deep Ditch where he was taken by the pursuers at whose hands he could not procure himself to be Slain tho he earnestly desired it but was lead Captive to his cruel Brother who Commanded the Squint-Ey'd Captain that had dispatched Corcutus to strangle him with a Bow-String and now desiring nothing more then to get in his possession the two Sons of Achometes who to his great Grief heard they were honourably received the one in the Persian and the other in the Egyptian Courts and that Amurath the Elder aided by Hysmael the Great Sophy with ten thousand Persian-Horse was entered into Cappadocia wasting the Country before him for fear of whom most of the adjacent Provinces had submitted to do him homage he resolved after he had driven him back in revenge of the aid the Sophy had lent him to War upon his Countries in Persia wherefore preparing a great Army tho many of his great Commanders lay'd before him the difficulty and danger of the undertaking and amongst the rest Chendemus Vice-Roy of Natolia a man of great Experience and of all others in greatest Credit and Authority with Selymus who used many Arguments to disswade him therefrom which he afterward found to be undeniable truths but some of his Flatterers perswading him that Chendemus was bribed by Amurath to divert his Arms another way and bring certain Ruffains hired for that purpose to attest what they had said the Tyrant caused the faithful Bassa to be slain without hearing his Excuse and then Marching from Arsenga he came to the Confines of Armenia the Less before whose Powerful Army the young Prince fled but Selymus fearing lest the Mountain Kings not being made his friends and yet left behind him should fall upon his Rear sent Ambassadors to them to desire free passage through their Territories and to send him provision for his Money at such time as he should be entered into Armenia the greater to all which they accorded whereupon with all his Army he passed the Mountain Scodrisci and after 8 days Marching over an other great Mountain called Moschiâ— which the famous River Euphrates with his mighty streams and huge broden Banks separateth from the great Mountain Anti-Taurus and with perpetual steep ridges runneth into Iberia and Cholchis Here Selymus with his Ensigns displayed Marching along the Banks of the River departed not from the same for fear in that hot Country he should be distressed for want of Water and so held on his way directly Eastward leaving the Country of Armenia the less upon the Left and the Kingdom of Aladeules on the right and so along to the Banks of Araxes finding all the Country before him destroyed and by reason the Mountain Kings kept not their words in sending him provision his Army began to fall into great want which though too late made him call to mind the faithful Council of Chendemus yet having Marched thus far he could not without great dishonour turn back and therefore passing Arazes about the City of Coy to defend which City Vsta Ogli the Persian General approached with his whole power contrary to the expectation of Selymus whose Souldiers being oppressed by want and for the most part were forced to live upon wild fruit began to Mutinie so that whilst either Army lay Hovering at some distance Hismael came in Person into his Camp and from thence sent a harauld to Selymus to know why he had in hostile manner entered his Country having no title thereto as likewise to take a view of the Turkish Army to which demand Selymus replyed that his Grandfather his Uncle and himself had greatly Indamaged the Othoman Empire by making several Invasions and Aiding the Rebels in the Reigns of Mahomet Bajazet and of late in his Reign yet he esteemed them not as sufficient causes of War but sought after his enemy young Amurath his Brothers Son who had of late spoiled Cappadocia whom if he would quietly and friendly deliver unto him he would withdraw his forces and peaceably return into his own Kingdom otherwise with fire and Sword he would destroy not only the frontiers of Armenia but the heart of Persia also and so dismissing the Herauld both the Armies for that day lay still in their trenches expecting the dreadful event of Battle and after both Armies were Marshalled and put in order the Bloody Blast was sounded whereupon the Persian Horsemen came on with great fury making great Havock of the Vaunt-guard of Selymus his Army overthrowing the Alapi or common Souldiers by heaps which are such as the Turks for the most part carry to stand the first Shock of the Enemies fury and to blunt their Swords nor did the Turkish Horse stand firm but charged in either Wing gave ground which Selymus seeing caused his orders to open and began with his great Ordnances to play furiously to avoid whose Murthering shot the Persian Horsemen opened likewise to the right and the left yet the thundering of the Cannon so amazed the Horses that many of them cast their Riders yet Hysmale with great fury broke and disordered the Turks right Wing composed of Asian Horsemen but whilst Vsta Ogli was indeavouring to do the same to the left he was slain with a harquibus shot which much dismayed the Soldiers under his command yet could they not be forced to retire till Selymus came on with all his Power of Janizaries yet gaining little ground whereupon he commanded all his great Ordnance which he had reserved as his last refuge to be furiously discharged against the right Wing of the Persian Horse where
at the self same time satisfie the Expectation of his Valour and of his Treason but Sybeius the Governour of Damasco dealt otherwise for entering over-thwart the Ranks in the right Wing of the Turks Army he with his Mamalukes Charged with such fury that having made great slaughter of the Asian Horsemen they broak in amongst them like a devouring Tempest bearing down all before them till they came to the Insigns in the midst of the Wing Neither could Mustapha the Beglerbeg nor Imbrahor Bassa with all their Forces withstand him or restrain the Flight of their Soldiers so that cutting in pieces the right Wing he resolutely thrust in between the Battle of the Janizaries and the Pentioners and there made such lamentable Slaughter that the whole Army was in great fear for Selymus by the breaking in of Sybeius was divided from his Footmen in whom he reposed his greatest trust and now the Janizaries hardly charged by Gazellesâ— who following the Fortune of Sybeius had set upon the Front of the Enemies Battle the Asian Horsemen also put to the worst found no means how again to restore the disordered Battle In this Confusion Sinan Bassa came in with the Squadron of Horse under his Command who had been but lightly Skirmished with by Cayerbeius he stayed the Fury of the Mamalukes whereby the Turks taking fresh Courage soon after wrung the Victory out of their Hands for the great Artillery being by the Commandment of Selymus discharged amongst them by the terrible Thundering thereof their Horses were so troubled that they could not well guide them neither could their Riders themselves though they were men of undaunted Courage prevaile being on every side oppressed with the multitude of their Enemies yet in that disaster nothing dismayed setting themselves close together they brake through the midst of their Enemies with great slaughter of the European Horsemen and Pentioners and so with speed fled towards the Camp and City of Aleppo after whom followed Sinan Bassa with the swiftest Horse so that the News of the overthrow being known to Compson the Sultan he indeavoured what he could to stay the flight of his Men but the press being great and the Turks pursuing hard after them making great slaughter every one shifting for himself in that general Calamity without Respect to the Sultan he was overborn in the Press and there by reason of the weight of his Armour and great Age not able to relieve himself was troden to Death who after wards being found amongst the slain was laid to the view of all People that they might not flatter themselves with his being alive and so on his behalf fight more obstinately for the future This great Battle cost Selymus 30000 men and the Egyptians few less amongst which there fell 1000 Mamalukes and was fought on the seventeenth of August Anno 1516. After which Selymus received the City of Aleppo into his obedience the Mamalukes being departed thence to Damasco after whom he likewise sent Jonuses Bassa and followed himself with all the Army but before his Arrival they were departed to Cair and in a full Assembly chose Tomombeius a Circassian born Sultan in the stead of Campson Gaurus who took speedy Care for providing all things necessary to defend his Countries from the Power of the Turks mustering great Companies of such of his Slaves as he thought fit for the War as likewise several Moors and Arabians His Neighbours hiering certian Persons for great Rewards to Travel through the Arrabian Deserts into Mesopotamia and so to Hysmale the Persian King with the Letters earnestly requesting him to invade the Turks Dominions in Asia the less or with all speed to break into Comagena and so to inclose Selymus with both Armies as he lay in the Borders of Judea and by that means greatly destress him by reason he had no Fleet at Sea to relieve him with Provision and by that means might revenge himself and prevent his Territories from Invasion for the future Whilst these things was doing Sinan Bassa with considerable Forces passing through part of Arabia seized upon the City of Gaza of which Gazelles having notice posted thither with 6000 Mamalukes and a considerable number of Arabian Adventurers thinking to surprize the Bassa but he having notice of his approach went to meet him with all his Forces So that both Armies incountering the Egyptians after a Bloody fight being over-powred by numbers and sore Gauled with Harqucbuss Shot left the fight and fled towards Cair but whilst the Turks were departed on this Expedition the Citizens of Gaza had plundered their Camp supposing them to be retired for Fear and discomfited 2000 Turkish Horses sent by Selymus to the Aid of Sinan Bassa who retreating were almost slain by the wild Arabs and had certainly all perished had they not fortunately met with Juleb Governour of Achaia sent with another Power yet the Arabians flocking about them greatly annoyed them with their Shot from the Hills not giving them any time to rest and such through weakness or for to seek Provision stragled from the Army and were cut off so that had not Imbrahor Bassa met them out of Syria they had never passed alive through those Desarts for the Arabians as men living upon spoil still pursued them and in a dispersed manner were continually hovering over their Army yet long they had not marched e'r they met with Selymus who with the remainder of his Army was marching towards Gaza when having notice from those that had been put to flight by the Citizens thereof what had befell them he verily believed that Sinan Bassa and all his men were either slain or taken Prisoners till such time as he was by the Syrian Scouts informed to the contrary at which he not a little rejoyced yet the Arabians daily molested his Army Insomuch that he was inforced to place his Harquebusiers and most of his Artillery in the Rear with order to Charge them as they saw occasion and so in that Order he marched till he came to Jerusalem which was then altogether ruinated and defaced from whence after having viewed the holy Sepulcher kept by a Company of poor yet devout Christians who payed Tribute for that priviledge to the Sultan of Egypt and having made his offering and some miles distant met with Sinan Bassa who having put to Death the Authors of the revolt of that City and Exacted a great sum of Money of the rest came forth to meet him whom he bountifully rewarded giving to the Captains Garments of Silk and to the rest rewards according to their Demerits After he had refreshed his Army at Gaza for the space of four days he leaving a Garrison therein passed over the Dangerous Desolate and unpeopled Sands which at many times moved by the Wind worked like a rough Sea and rising in the Air hindred the sight of the weary Passingers but such was the good fortune of Selymus that a little before he entered them such store of Rain
fell that it not only allayed the Sand but furnished his Army with Water during his passage which took up eight days yet was he frequently assaulted by the Arabians The Deserts passed as aforesaid the Turkish Army drew near unto Cair to receive or rather intrap which Tomombeius the new Sultan near to a Village called Rhodania had intrenched his Camp with deep Ditches filled with Water over which he had laid rotten Hurdles and upon them Earth and lined all the Banks with Artillery not doubting but Selymus would march that way but this their Device which would certainly have gained them a Victory had it took was upon the approach of the Turkish Army discovered to Selymus by four Epirot Mamalukes who secretly Envying the sudden Advancement of Tomombeius had in the Night time withdrawn themselves from his Camp Upon which Selymus altered his determined Courses and marching by by-ways suddenly appeared with his Army drawn up in Battalia in the Rear of the Egyptian Camp which put them into a great Consternation but seeing no Remedy but presently to ingage the Sultan put his Army in readiness and after the Charge sounded furiously with his great Ordnance spoke his indignation and was answered in the same Language from Selymus his Camp but after the second discharge of each particular tire the Armies joyned Charging each other with such Force that all the Ground lay covered with the slain the Mamalukes inraged with mortal Hatred bearing down all before them when in the mean time the Arrabians incompassed the Turks Battle putting the Thracian Macedonian and Epirot Horsemen to the flight the which Sinan Bassa perceiving came in with his Squadron of Horse to stay the wavering Battle but being overcharged by Gazelles and Bidon he was slain and his men disordered So that had not Selymus himself advanced with his surest strength of the Janizary the Victory had fallen to the Sultan but with them restoring the Battle and the Mamalukes being tired with continual Fighting at the approach of Night Tomombeius finding his men to be worsted caused the retreat to be sounded and retired towards Cair leaving his Camp to the Turks In this Battle fought on the 24. of January 1517. Were slain many Thousands on both sides and the Turks had certainly been worsted had it not been for the invincible Courage of the Janizaries The Turks in pursuit having taken the Diadare a man of great Command amongst the Egyptians and Bidon the valiant Captain whom Selymus unworthily caused to be slain in revenge of the Sinan Bassa Tomombeius a man of a warlike Spirit nothing discouraged at what had happened but rather more resolute to revenge his disgrace gathered his Power from all parts and incamped Commodiously between the City of Cair and the River Nilus and there consulted how he might by stratagem most conveniently set upon the Turks Camp e'r they understood what Power he had not thinking it safe so suddenly to try another Field But whilst he was thus plotting all his devices were discovered to Selymus as they had been before by several Mamalukes who now beginning to have his fortune in Contempt revolted from him Insomuch that to prevent the firing of his Camp as was intended Selymus caused strict Watches to be kept and great Fires to be made that so he might discover the Enemies approaches by night which the Sultan perceiving by the advice of his great Commanders retired into the City of Caire there to expect the approach of the Conqueror furnishing it with all manner of Warlike provision and inciteing the Egyptians who stood all this while Newters to take up Arms in the defence of their Country which the more wealthy whillingly did but the poorer sort who in all Nations ever gape after change of Government thinking to advantage themselves thereby yet such were the perswasions of the Mamalukes that in the end most of the Citizens resolved upon the defence of that great City towards which Selymus was advancing a pace wherefore Tomombeius caused Trenches to be drawn Cross the Streets at the bottom of which were fixed sharp Stakes and before them Tin being overlaid with rotten Hurdles so to intrap the too eager Turks for why the City had no Walls but situate upon the River Nilus was adorned with many stately Towers Piramides Pallaces Temples and Monuments of the Egyptian Kings served rather for Pleasure then strength He likewise caused the Houses to be furnished with Harquebusiers and his Pieces of Culvering and other small Pieces to be every where planted Advantagiously for the annoying the Enemy and in the great Street drew up his greatest strength consisting of Mamalukes yet Selymus being now come before it after his having incouraged his Soldiers to undertake the subduing of that great City as the last Refuge of the Sultan he furiously entered the Gate called Basuela and at one instant thrust in his Horsemen at divers Caves but kept his Janizaries in the high Street where the greatest Power of the Mamalukes were Whereupon a dreadful Fight was begun on all parts insomuch that the Channels run Blood like so many Torrents the Artillery and small Shot still thundering from either side made all seem Fire and covered the tops of the Houses with Clouds of smoke when from their Windows and Roof of their Houses the Egyptians cast down Stones Tiles scalding Water Sulphur Pitch Tar and the like to the great annoyance of the Turks who still pressing forward many of them fell into the Covert Trenches and were there impailed on the Stakes and such was the Clamour and Outcries of the enemy where together with the Clashing of Weapons and dreadful Fires that it seemed as if the desolation of all things was come and in this dismal manner continued the Fight for the space of two Days and two Nights without intermission Insomuch that Selymus finding what obstinate Enemies he had to deal with began to despair of winning the City and therefore was about to sound the Retreat as his fainting Soldiers most earnestly desired at what time he had News that Mustapha Bassa had by the Conduct of some Fugitive Mamalukes entered the City on the other side and had taken the Mamalukes Horses which they had left there ready Sadled thereon to make their escapes if matters came to the Extremity which not only Animated the Turks but dismayed the Mamalukes who expected no such Matter So that the Fight were renewed on the third day continuing Bloody and doubtful till the Evening at what time most of the Egyptians were very desirous to be rid of their insolent Lords the Mamalukes revolted to the Turks which the Mamalukes perceiving and that by Reason of the great number of Turks that were sent to stop the Gaps that Death had made they were no longer able to resist their Fury they betook themselves to flight most part of them hasting to the River Nilus with Tomombeius who in that Battle had all in vain proved the utmost of his Prowess and
Sclavonian Tongues this following Epitaph Hâ—â— Mâ—ximus adsum Selymus qui orbem Domâ—i non Bellâ— retinquo c. In English thus Lo here I lye great Selymus who held the world in fear The World I leave yet not the Wars which I seek tho not here Not Fortunes chance nor Victors Hand could take from me the Spoils And tho my Bones lye Buryed here my Ghost seeks Bloody Broils CHAP. XV. The Life of Solyman the first of that Name and fourth Emperor of the Turks who for his many great exploits or rather Lofty Carriage was Sirnamed the Magnificent SElymus being dead his Death was Concealed by Ferhaâ—es the only Bassa present at his Departure till such time as Solyman came from Magnesia lest the Souldier but especially the Janizaries should have Spoil'd and Plundered the Merchants-Strangers residing in the great City of Constantinople as is usual with them in Interregnums as they call them which are accounted from the Death of the proceeding Emperor to the time the Succeeding Emperor is presented to be proclaimed by the men of War but such was the Incredulity of Solyman that knowing his Fathers cruel Nature Jealous apprehension of his intent to Aspire to Empire for which he had often been in danger of his Life could not believe what he most desired till he had it certified from all Hands upon which with more then ordinary speed he hasted to Constantinople and there being met by the Great Bassas and the Aga of the Janizaries he was lead into the mid'st of the men of War drawn up for that purpose when as the Aga or chief Captain with a loud Voice said Behold your emperor upon which immediately followed an Universal Shout succeeded with the Joyful Acclamation of Longlive the great Emperor Solyman which consent of the men of War is to the Turkish Emperors the greatest Assurance of their safe Establishment in their Empire and so in great Triumph they brought him into the Royal Pallace and placed him in his Fathers Seat Anno 1520 at what time Charles the fifth was chosen Emperor of Germany The Janizaries by this means disappointed of the Spoil of the Goods belonging to the Jewish and Christian Merchants in Lieu thereof received of the new Emperor great Sums of money and had during his Reign their wage Augmented upon the Death of Selymus Gazeles whom he had made Governour of Syria revolted from Solyman and drew after him the remaining power of the Mamalukes seizing upon several Cities but being Fought with by Ferates Bassa sent against him with a great power he after a long and Bloody Fight was Slain and his forces put to Flight upon which all the Cities of Syria were again reduced to the Turkish obedience And now Solyman desirous to get himself a Name by the Counsel of Pyrrhus-Bassa his Tutor resolved to bend his forces against the Christians who by Reason of the Dissensions amongst themselves lay open to his Invasion a fatal over-sight which ever gave the Ottoman Emperors the opportunity to inlarge their Dominions on the Borders of Christendom whereupon raising a great power and enteriung Hungaria he took Belgrade almost without resistance against which in vain Mahomet the Great Amurath and Bajazet had lost 500000 Men Belgrade strongly Garrisoned he dispersed part of his Army and returned to Constantinople making great preparations for Sea against the Spring as having an Eye upon the famous Island of Rhodes of which the Rhodians not being Ignorant chose for their great Master Philippus Villerius a man of great Wisdom and Courage then following the French Court but upon notice thereof took Shipping at Marcelles and arrived safe in the Port of the City Rhodes tho Solyman had sent out Cortug Ogly a famous Pirate of the Turks with several Gallies to intercept them whereupon at his arrival he was installed by the Knights of the Order and Citizens with great Triumph and more then ordinary expressions of Joy Solyman not aâ—â—ering his Determination yet desirous to know how the Rhodians stood affected and to learn all that was possible of their number and the Strength of the City sent divers insinuating Letters with Superscriptions of his Thundering Titles to the great Master of which this is one viz. Solyman by the Grace of God King of Kings Lord of Lords greatest Emperor of Constaminople and Trepezond most Mighty King of Persia Arabia Syria Egypt Lord of Asia and Europe Prince of Mecha and Aleppo Ruler of Jerusalem and Master of the Universal Sea to Philippus Villerus Lilladamus great Master of Rhodes c. But neither these thumping Titles nor his Threats and Promises could move the great Master to hearken to his Request which was that he would become his Tributary and to deliver into his possession the City and Island so that finding his Expectations Frustrated and that his Name was not so terrible as he supposed after many Letters had passed and repassed he caused a Fleet of 200 Gallies to be furnished with all things necessary for the siege of that strong city of which the great Master being Advertised was not wanting on his part to put all things in order for making a most resolute defence causing Watch and Ward to be kept in every Street and the great Artillary to be planted upon the Walls and Bulwarks opening all the Armories of the City and furnishing every man with Weapons appointing to each his Station there to be ready when occasion required his Service and then taking a General Master of such as were fit for Service he found about 5000 resolute men amongst whom were six hundred Knights of the order each of them capable of Commanding a vast Army as likewise 500 Souldiers of Crâ—â—â— there were come thither for fear of the Turks a number of Villagers who served to Sink Sounds to Countermine the Enemy and to cast up Rampires c. Things thus ordered the great Master calling together his Commanders and Soldiers incouraged them in a most Christian-like manner to fight boldly against the Enemies of Christ and rather to dye in the defence of their Religion then to submit themselves to the Tyraâ—my of the Barbarous Infidels putting them in 〈◊〉 of the Valour of their Ancestors and of the aid they were to expect from the Christian Princes c. Which Sâ—eeâ—h so Animated the Commanders and Souldiers that they desired nothing more then to shew their prowess to the World By this time the Turks Gallies were put to Sea and about twenty being the forerunners of the Fleet for many Days braved the Rhodians before their own Port whereupon the Great Master called a Council to know whether they should be Fought with or not to procure which the Chancellor a man of Admirable Courage earnestly Laboured but the deâ—andents being but few and therefore the smallest loss at Sea tho they should gain the Victory might be a means to Weaken the City yet at length it was resolved upon that they should be permitted to Land in any
Bohemia King John by the means aforesaid thrust of his Kingdom grew extreme impatient and often consulted with Sigismond King of Polonia to re-in-throne him in his Kingdom offering to bear the Charge of the War but the Pole being already in League with Ferdinand would not seem unless underhand to favour John but wished him to take counsel with Hieronymus Lascus a great Politician what was best to be done in his Affairs the which Lascus advised him to crave Aid of Solyman now at Leasure to assist him and urged so many Reasons for it that he was content to send him his Ambassador to Constantinople who there with Treasure and fair Speeches so allured the Bassas of the Court to second him in his Request that Solyman promised again to enter Hungaria with a puissant Army and by the Insinuation of this sly Councellor that when King Ferdinand sent Ambassadors to him to make out his Title by which he laid Claim to the Kingdom he would scarcely give them Audience and when he did instead of an Answer to their Ambassy he Herauld-like denounced against their King all the Calamities that attend on War and so commanded speedily to depart the City all which upon their Arrival at Vienna they made known to the Kings Lieutenant who was so far from believing them that he looked upon them as vain and idle Tale-bearers which they perceiving hasted to the King at Spires who then was Labouring to get himself chosen King of the Romans and declared to him all they had in Charge Whereupon he well knowing that the Turk desirous of Glory and the inlarging of his Dominions seldom broke his Word on such occasions he put all his Forces in a readiness earnestly both in Person and by his Ambassadours craved Aid of the German Princes for the Defence of his Kingdom of Hungary against the common Enemy but his Brother Charles having his hands full of his Wars in Italy and he wanting Money to raise a sufficient Army to fight so powerful an Enemy was forced to suffer him without Controul to enter Hungaria for fear of whom the Citizens of Buda mostly fled to Strigonium Alba-Regalis and Possonium So that marching from Belgrade where King John came to wait upon him and received a Confirmation of the Promise he had made to Lascus of restoring him to the Kingdom of Hungary he came before it and had it yeilded with little or no Resistance as likewise the strong Castle though contrary to the Will of the Captain yet contrary to his Promise he caused all that were found in the latter to be put to the Sword except the Captain whom the Soldiers had cast in Bonds for refusing to joyn with them in their treacherous delivery of that strong Piece Buda taken most of the other Cities of Hungary surrendred whereupon he resolved to invade Austria a part of King Ferdinands other Dominions in Order to which he sent Achometes Bassa with the voluntary Horsemen who running through the Heart of Hungary entring into Austria with Fire and Sword passed by Vienna miserably burning and destroying the Country before them even as far as Lyntz driving the Country People like Sheep deflowring Vigins riping up Women alive dashing Infants against the Rocks with all other imaginable Cruelties after whom Solyman followed with the gross of his Army consisting of 500000 Horse and Foot as many Writers affirm who by the way having taken the Castle of Altenbury and in vain assaulted Neapolis he came before the great City of Vienna and incamped about it in five places covering the Ground with his Tents and the multitude of his People 8 miles in Circumference So that Fredrick Count Palatine of the Rhine and Duke of Bavaria General of King Ferdinand's Forces not being able to get into the City with his Army sent for that purpose was forced to stay at Chremse yet was his Nephew Philip the Palsgrave a little before the coming of Solyman to the great joy of the Citizens entered with several Troops of valiant Horsemen as likewise Nicholas Count of Salma the Lord William Regendorf Steward of the Kings houshold Johannes Cazzianer Nicholaus Turianus Johannes Hardecus Leonardus Velsâ—â—s Hector Ramsack with divers others all men of great Experience and Valour and daring Resolution yet was the City but badly defended with a Brick Wall without Grafts or Flankers the Ditch altogether dry and although at that time there were found 400 Pieces of Ordnance yet they could find means to mount no more then a 100 notwithstanding the Citizens and Soldiers used all diligence in raising Rampires and Barocading the Gates unless those they reserved to Sally at and by the Command of the Governour every man was assigned his Quarter keeping strict Watch upon the Walls to prevent the Enemies approach for that the Bulwarks were not of Considerable strength The Count of Salma and the Lord Regendorf walking hourly from one place to another to see all things put in a posture of defence the Citizens laboured continually in strengthening the Fortifications and raising Batteries whereon to plant such Pieces as lay useless for want of where to mount them they made likewise divers Fire-works and continually kept Coppers of Tar Pitch Rosin Oyl and scalding Water in a readiness to pour upon the Enemy by that means to prevent their Scaling the Walls every one from the greatest to the least expressing a Cheerfulness for the defence of this place the Metropolis of Austria and chief Hope of the German Empire which the Turks conceived so Considerable that they doubted not but it won all Austria Stiria and Corinthia would be soon at their Devotion The City by this time strengthened and provided of many necessary for a strenuous Defence Messengeres were sent to Count Fredrick to draw near with his Army the more to terrifie and amaze the Enemy whose numerous Camp could not long subsist if supplies of Provision were cut off upon the Arrival of the Messenger the Count highly approved of the Resolution of the besieged and declared he would be always at hand and omit no Indeavours to succour them admonishing the Messenger to remember him to his fellow Soldiers and in his Name intreat them to play the Men for the defence of the Christian Religion and Glory of the German Nation whose Ruin the Infidels sought and so with several presents he dismissed the Messenger who returning related what he had in Charge Whereupon the Lord Regendorf assembled all the chief Commanders and principal Citizens and with an undaunted Courage made this short Oration Christians and fellow Soldiers the time is now come wherein we are to fight under the Banner of our Lord Jesus Christ whom these barbarous Nations have defied let us then shew forth our Courage to the utmost even in the Mouth of Slaughter let not Death nor Danger terrifie us since we fight in a good Cause even for our Religion our Lives our Wives Children and all that we hold dear for what it can
be but Ambition and thirst of Christian Blood that drew this Bloody Monster with his numerous Host from such remote Countries Therefore I say rather let us dye like Men fighting it out to the last Drop of Blood then yield our selves to these Barbarous Infidels who know not how to shew Mercy whose Leagues Vows and Solemn Protestations are all but Wind kept no longer then they prove Advantagious to themselves I for my part have fixed my unalterable Resolution to defend this Place to the last Gasp resolving not to survive its loss This Oration spoken with great Earnestness plainly Demonstrating the Zeal of a brave General was seconded with loud shouts every one promising to Live and Dye with him in the defence of the City Whereupon it was resolved that the next Morning a Sally should be made upon the Enemies to give them a Taste of Christian Valour and how little they valued their Lives fighting in so good a Cause whereupon every one being dismissed went to his Quarters to give necessary Orders and take a View how the Turks lay incamped whose multitude covered all the Hills and Plains before the City The Watch being set the General went round the City attended by several Officers Carefully to survey each Quarter and to see that none neglected his Duty so that all things being in good Order about Midnight six Reigments drew up with a Resolution to fall upon the Enemies Camp but whilst Orders were in giving in what manner they should make their approach a Christian Captive having made his escape from the Turks came running almost breathless and begged to be received into the City Whereupon the Soldiers drew him up with a Pike who being questioned about the state of the Turkish Camp declared that every night since they came forty thousand men were driven up in Battalia to Guard the Camp which was not as yet well intrenched upon notice of which the General changed his Resolution as to the Sally During the preparation within Solyman was not idle having sworn to carry the City by force e're he departed if he could not have it otherwise but appointed to every man his station dividing his Army under Ibrahim the Great Bassa Michael Ogli and Becrambeius so that all things being in a readiness many salleys were made by the Christians with great slaughter of the Enemies though the Asapi and Janizaries from their Trenches poured showers of Arrows into the City for as yet the Turks great Artillery were not come up the Danubius but were dayly expected of which Wolfgangus Hoder a Valiant Captain understanding by several Turkish Prisoners sailed out of the Bay of Possonium and meeting with the Turks Galleys sunk those in which the Ordinance were taking a great Booty of which Solyman having notice was greatly inraged and finding that his small pieces did little other damage than beat down the battlements and over-jets made of wood in stead of Flankers he caused the Miners to be set to the Wall but this their chief hope which with wonderful labour attempted in thirteen places at once was not so secretly done but that it was by Drums layed upon the Ground Basons filled with Water and deep sounds perceived by the defendants who with Countermines not only defeated many of them but destroyed in them by Wild-fire and other Combustible matter Eight Thousand Turks when to prevent such discovery Solyman commanded continual Alarums should be given that so the Christians being imployed in defending the Walls might not regard the Miners which succeeded so to his wish that a great part of the Wall near the Gate that leadeth towards Carinthia was thrown down by the springing of a Mine at which the Turks in great numbers indeavouring to enter were miserably cut off with the Murthering shot bent against the breach for the purpose which no sooner ceased but they were furiously charged by the Germans and in despite of all resistance beaten back with incredible slaughter Not long after the Wall being blown up in two other places they again attempted to enter but were repulsed as before leaving heaps of slain in the Breaches and Ditch nor was their third Assault any more successful so that after three hours withstanding the fury of the resolute Defendants they retired to the Camp Ten Thousand less than they came A while after the Lord Regendorfe perceiving the Turks by parties scatter from their Camp came with a Company of German Horse set upon a Party of Five Thousand Three Hundred with such slaughter that not above One Hundred and Forty of them returned to tell the News Nor did other Commanders of the besieged less indamage the Enemies by frequent Salleys which so inraged the Tyrant that he animated to a fourth Assault promising them great rewards if they prevailed which so far prevailed with them that they resolved amongst themselves either to win the City or dye in the undertaking but when they felt the shot from the besieged like a tempest fall on them they were of a different opinion so that leaving many Thousands of the slain and wounded behind them they retire to the Camp which Solyman perceiving and fretting that his Honour had so much suffered by so great a loss of his Men and so many Repulses dissembled the matter as well as he could and that the Germans should not suppose he raised his siege because he despaired of winning it he caused several Prisoners to be richly cloathed and giving them store of Money sent them into the City to inform the Commanders that he came not to take the City of Vienna but to fight King Ferdinand and restore the Kingdom of Hungaria to King John therefore since he could not draw his Enemy into the Field to give him Battle he would remove thence to seek him wherefore they should do well to yield themselves the which if they would he promised not to enter into the City but to receive both the Citizens and Souldiers into his protection reserving unto 'um their Lives and Goods with perpetual freedom which offer coming to the knowledge of the Princes and great Captains of the Christians scornfully refused whereupon the Imperious Turk perceiving his desires not answered as he expected having caused all the Prisoners to be murthered in a great heat raised his siege and departed not staying till he came to Buda where having restored the Kingdom to John in consideration of his becoming his Tributary he returned to Constantinople yet plotting in his mind to disturb the Christians and revenge the disgrace he had received before at Vienna the next year viz 1530 he leavyed an Army greater than the former purposing with himself to over-run Austria Carinthia Styria and most part of the German Empire to effect which he allowed three years but was altogether deceived in his expectation for Charles the Emperor having ended his Wars in Italy was now at leisure to attend upon the Insolent Turk who calling together his Valiant Captains sent them into Spain
Citizens opened their Gates to the Turks whom they were no wayes able to resist yet notwithstanding at the Commandment of Solyman the City was sacked the Kings Palace and other stately Buildings levelled with the Ground and a great number of the Citizens lead into miserable Captivity and thinking himself sufficiently revenged he resolved to return with his Army into Mesopotamia but having notice that the Persian was following even at his heels he divided his Forces leaving the Bassas of Cair and Syria with Vlemus the Fugitive Persian with Eighteen Thousand to follow in the rere of his Army to repel the assaults of the Fore-runners of Tamas's Army he marched with the rest by speedy Journeys to Amida now called Caraemida In the mean while Tamas coming to Tauris with his Army being the flowr of Parthia Media Iberia and Armenia and beholding what desolation the Turks had made in that famous City was so inraged thereat that he would have pursued them with all his Army to revenge the injury at the hazard of a Battle but being perswaded they were gone too far to be overtaken and the Gentlemen of which his Army chiefly consisted seemed altogether unwilling to undertake so tedious a march he was content to stay at Tauris and send Delimeuthes a Noble Man of Persia who freely offered himself to undertake it with Five Thousand swift Horse to follow them and as he saw his advantage to cut off the Enemies rear the which he so speedily performed that surprizing the Eighteen Thousand under the Command of the two Bassas and Vlemas as they lay securely near the Castle of Belthis that being assisted with the Garrison Soldiers he put them almost all to the Sword the Bassas and Vlemas hardly escaping upon their swift Horse to tell the news for which service he was highly rewarded by Tamas These reiterated losses greatly perplexed Solyman so that calling to mind the presages his Mother had made of his evil success in that expedition of that he was wholly lead thereto by the Council Ibrahim Bassa he therefore conceived such a displeasure against him as ended in his destruction for upon his Arrival to Constantinople he gave such countenance to those that brought complaints against which before they durst not do that at the earnest Request of Roxoâ—anaâ— whose Son Bajazet the Bassa hindred from aspiring to 〈◊〉 Empire and rather favouring Mustapha Solymâ—◠〈…〉 another Woman that he consented to his 〈◊〉 made away and by reason he had sworn never to injure his person whilst he lived he caused for the saving of his Oath an Eunuch to cut his Throat whilst he slept which Jesuitical Evasion he learned of the Musti or Chief Mahometan Priest who being consulted on the matter gave his opinion that Men only are alive when they Move Act and Enjoy their perfect Sences and that sleep depriving them of their reasonable Faculties rendered them as dead Men. Some there are that report the fall of this great Man who whilst he stood high in his Masters favour in effect ruled the Turkish Empire to be caused by his too much favouring the Christians who having in his younger years been brought up in that profession still continued a Christian in his heart and that to spare the shedding of Christian Blood as much as in him lay He turned the Emperors Forces against the Infidels yet however it happened his Body with a great weight fixed to it was cast into the Sea and all his Wealth which was inestimable except a small portion alotted for the maintenance of his Wife and Children was seized to the behoof of Solyman Tunes as aforesaid being taken by Barbarussa and all the other Cities obliged to submit to the Turkish obedience Charles the Emperor who was likewise King of Spain not liking so potent a Neighbour leavyed great Forces solicited thereto by Muleasses the Exil'd King and in revenge of the Injuries sustained by Barbarussa resolved to drive him out of that part of Africk when appointing Alphonsus D'valus Vastius General of the Footmen he with Seven Hundred Sail of great and small Ships and Galleys stood with the African Coast when dubling the Promontory of Carthage came to an Anchor before a Castle which by reason of a great Well beneath is it called by the name of Aquaria or the Water Castle whose unexpected arrival so terrified Barbarussa dreaming of nothing less that he was about to have fled with all his Turks but then fearing to fall into Solymans displeasure which to do he knew was certain death upon second thoughts though he resolved to make all the defence he was able against so powerful an Army as the Emperor lead after him and thereby get him the name of a valiant Soldier though he despaired with the Forces he had to keep either the Cities or Castles whereupon he did what he could to incourage his men with many vain-glorious-speeches and into the strong Castle of Guletta standing upon the bottom of the Bay of Carthage upon a point of Land incompassed almost round with the Sea and the great Lake he thrust his most resolute Captains and Janizaries himself remaining in Tunis to expect supplyes out of Numidia at what time the Emperor having with his great and small shot obliged those that guarded the shoar to retire He landed his men and intrenched them every Nation by themselves during which they had â—equent skirmishes with the Numidian Horsemen nor were they less molested by the Garrison who sallyed as often as they saw their advantage when one dayes sallying under the Command of Salaciaâ— Arch-Pirate they came up to the Mount near the Castle commanded by Count Serney a man famous both for the Honour of his House and great Exploits in War who not using to be so braved descended with the Italians under his Command to drive them back by force but the Enemy being far superiour in number and the Spaniards who were intrenched next him looking on and not coming out to succour him he there fighting valiantly was slain but the Spaniards though they secretly rejoyced at the overthrow of the Count who had so often eclipsed their Glory fared not better for the next day Tobacches another of the Turks Captains sallying out charged them in their Trenches killing many of them and taking what they found therein These Losses made the General sharply reprove the Captains of their neglect of duty in watching to prevent the dangerous attempts of so politique an Enemy which so wrought with the Captains and Soldiers that to regain their credit they vowed to shun no danger nor were they inferiour to their promise for Giaffer Captain of the Janizaries sallying out against the Spaniards was himself slain together with most of his Men whom the Christians pursued even to the Gate of the Castle and had entered with those that fled had not those that were entered shut out a great number of their Fellows to prevent it who were all slain or taken Prisoners after which the
Prince of great hope to be chosen K. of the Romans who likewise the year following on the 8th of September with all solemnity Crowned at Presburg King of Hungaria to confirm which choice Solyman sent Ibrahim Bassa as his Ambassador to the Emperour as likewise to conclude in his name an eight years peace and the better to gain credit he sent his Letters of credence not usually done by the Turkish Emperors whose proud stile therein I think not amiss to insert which take as followeth I the Lord of Lords Ruler of the East and West who am of power to do and not to do whatsoever pleaseth me Lord of all Grecia Persia and Arabia Commander of all things which can be subject to King and Command the great worthy of these times and strong Champion of the wide World Lord of all the white and black Seas and of the Holy City of Mecha shining with the brightness of God of the City of Medina and of the Holy and Chast City of Jerusalem King of the most noble Kingdom of Egypt Lord of Jovia and of the City of Athens Senan of the Sacred Temple of God Zabilon and Bassio Rethsans and Magodini the Seat and Throne of the great King of Nashin Rettam and Lord of the Island of Argiers Prince of the Kingdom of Tartary Mesopotamia Media of the Georgians Morea Anatolia Asia Armenia Valachia Moldavia and of all Hungary and many other Kingdoms and Territories whereof I am Emperour The most mighty Monarch Sultan Solyman Son of the great Emperour Sultan Selym who hath power from God to rule all People with a bridle and strength to break open the Gates and Bars of all Cities and strong places into whose mighty hand are delivered all the ends of the World none excepted I Ruler of the East from the Island of Tsein unto the farthest bounds of Africa whom God hath appointed a mighty Warrior in the edge of Sword amongst whose most mighty Kingdoms the impregnable Castle of Caesarie is reputed the least and in whose Hereditary Dominions the Kingdom or Empire of Alexander the Great is accounted of us a trifle with me is the strength of the whole World and Virtue of the Firmament For as much as thou King Ferdinand c. Their audacious stile being read in the German Court moved some to indignation and others to secret laughter yet the necessity requiring it peace was concluded but kept no longer then the Emperour lived for upon his Death which happened two years after viz. 1564. new troubles arose in Hungary and several Towns and Castles were won and lost on either side whereupon Solyman resolved in person to come into Hungary but upon second thoughts he changed his mind and bent his Forces against the Island of Malta lying between Africa and Sicilia in length twenty and in breadth twelve miles exceeding fruitful and pleansantly scituate were it not in Summer time too much scorched by the Sun which deprives the inhabitants of their fresh water before which the Turks coming with a Fleet of Two Hundred Ships and Gallies after some loss sustained both by the Sea and Islanders Landed and layed siege to St. Michaels Castle which they furiously battered but it being defended by several Knights of the Order they received great loss before it whereupon they consulted amongst themselves to leave the siege of St. Michael and besiege the Castle of St. Elmo the which with the loss of 18000 of their men they took when in the mean while Valetta the Great Master fortified St. Michael both City and Castle sending to the Viceroy of Sicilia for aid but the Turks incouraged by the comming of the King of Argier with his Ships and a great supply of Victuals besieged St. Michaels Castle a second time as also the City Thundering against it for the space of eight days without intermission but such was the courage of the besieged that they either repaired the breaches or beat back the Assailants who made such slaughter of those that attempted to enter that their dead bodies filling the breaches served as a Rampire to keep out the rest and thus they continued furious to assault the City almost every day till upon notice of the Viceroy of Sicily's approach with a great power both by Sea and Land they raised their siege and departed to meet him near Melita where in a set Battle they were overthrown and most of them slain with the loss of 5000 Christians onely yet those that escaped in their return landed on the Island Chios and took it it being before almost deserted of its inhabitants by reason it lay always obnoxious to the fury of the barbarous Infidels Solyman inraged at this defeat resolved to revenge himself upon the Christian Princes and therefore with a great Army undertook his before determined War against Hungary solicited thereto by the Vayvod of Traâ—sylvania who hoped to be made King thereof but Maximilian being Crowned Emperour he railed a great power being aided by the German Princes and sent them under the leading of several valiant Captains but especially Count Serenus and Count Helffeustin whose good Fortunes proved such that within a short time the Turks were stripped out of most of their Garrisons and a great number of them slain for Maximillian the Emperour long before advertised of Solymans purpose had raised as is said a gallant Army consisting of 40000 Horse and Foot the flower of all Christian Nations besides a Fleet upon the River Danubius which hindered the Turks Provisions and other necessaries from being brought by water By this time Solyman coming to the River Dromus over which with infinite labour he caused a Bridge to be made for the passage of his Army which done he encamped before Sigeth of which Count Serenus was made Governour a valiant man and mortal Enemy to the Turks attended on by a Garrison of 2300 resolute Germans and Hungarians who like a brave Souldier with a most Christian Oration incouraged his men not to be dismaid at the multitude of their Enemies but to trust in God and be of good courage for he by his Almighty power was able by a few to confound the Armies of the proud Concluding that as for himself as he was a Christian and free born so he would by the Grace of God in the same Faith and Freedom end his dayes and that no proud Turk so long as he could hold up his hand should have power to command over him or the ground whereon he stood nor failed he in his resolves for after he had done all that man was capable of doing killing such numbers of Turks that the Plains lay scattered with the dead the Walls being for the most part beaten down and the Town fired about his Eares the Turks in great number entring every where and no relief coming to his assistance he called the poor remainder of his Souldiers about him with whom he was retired into the Castle and with an undaunted resolution spake these his last
of the Christians in this bloody fight died about seven thousand five hundred sixty six the chief of which were John and Bernardinus of the Honourable family of Cordona in Spain Horatio Caraffa and Ferantes Bisballus Virginius and Horatius Noble Romans of the Venetian Nobility were flain Augustinus Barbadicus Benedictus Superantius Vincentius Quirinus Johanes Lauritanus Marinus Contarenus Catharinus Malepetra Georgius Andreas Barbadicus Marcus Antonius Laudus Franciscus Bonus Hieronimus Contarenus Antonius Paschaligus and Hieron Venerius all of the Order of the Senators besides divers other Honourable Gentlemen well deserving to be inrolled in the Records of Fame There were likewise many of note wounded and amongst the rest Venerius the Venetian Admiral by a small shot that passed through his foot This great and welcom victory published in the City of Venice caused such a General joy as the like was never till that time nor only did the Venetians alone rejoyce but likewise all Christian Nations for in this fight the Turks lost so many substantial Gallyes able Commanders Seamen that to this day that loss hath been a weakning to that so mighty Empire and such was the Griefe conceived by Selymus thereat that he retired himself for certain days not permitting any to speak with him and then in his fury passed a Decree for Massacring all the Christians within his Dominions which bloody and barbarous Edict had been put in Execution had not Muhamat the chief Bassa by many perswasions averted his wicked purpose yet that his loss might seem the less he dissembled it as well as he could giving strict orders for the speedy building of new Gallies to supply the place of those that were lost which he had the more leasure to do by reason that after this so signal a victory the Christian Fleet separated with a resolution to meet again the next spring at Coreyra yet the Venetians not satisfied for the loss of Cyprus spoiled the Turks Frontiers winning strong holds and amongst the rest the strong Town of Suppoto formerly taken from them which caused Selimus to put to Sea all the Gallies he had appointing Vluzales a Renegado Christian but now turned Turk Admiral in the room of Haly Bassa slain in the battel of Lepanto of which the Venetian Admiral having notice sent to Don John to come to his Aid but he bearing a grudge against the Venetians for hanging up one of his Mutinous Captains stood a long time in doubt whether he should send any of his Gallies to his assistance or not but at length being by his Captains perswaded that his honour would suffer if through his neglect the Christan cause should be prejudiced he sent Lilly of Andradu with twenty two Galleys to joyn with the Venetian Fleet then lying before Corcyra nor was the Pope slow in sending his Galleys insomuch that the whole Fleet consisted of 155 Galleys 6 Galliasses and twenty ships of war nor was the Turks inferiour in number lying about Maluasia in the entrance of the Bay called Sinus Argolicus of which the Venetian Admiral having notice resolved to give them battle what ever happened but the wary Pirate Vluzales could not be drawnthereto having before to his cost tryed the courage of the Christians lying still in the bay hoping thereby to gain some advantage without which he resolved not to fight but finding the Christians every day ready to charge him as he lay he for his better security found means to sail to Corona upon which the Christian Fleet retired to Cerigo not finding any opportunity of giving the enemy battle Whilst matters went thus Don John sent a Frigate to advertise the Venetian Admiral that he was arrived at Corcyra commanding him to meet him at Zacynthus there to consult about the carrying on the war but when they came thither the General not regarding his word delayed to meet them which did not a little trouble the Venetians but not staying there they sailed to Cocyra where joyning the ships newly sent to their Aid by several Christian Princes they resolved to seek out the Enemy and if possible to oblige him to fight whereupon they loosed Anchor and for the most part sailed by night thinking by that means to oppress the Enemy e'r he was provided to defend himself but this purpose being discovered by some of the Turks Scouts the Christians were prevented in their undertaking yet so resolute was the Venetian Admiral that he pressed the other Generals to enter the Bay and give them Battle even in the mouth of the Harbour but this his resolution though it had past doubt proved successful had it been put in execution was opposed by the Spanish General and Columnius the Popes Admiral as not seasonable but altogether dangerous even to the hazarding the Christian Fleet which as they alledge was the Bullwark of Christendom yet lying before Nauarinum they resolved to besiege the Castle of Modon both by Sea and Land which Castle lying in mouth of the Bay defended the Turks Fleet whereupon Sailing before it they landed seven thousand of their most resolute Soldiers and at the same time appointed several of the Galleasses and Gallies to batter it with their Great Ordnance the which more advantagiously to effect they joyned two Galleys together with Masts Ropes and other tackling in the nature of a floating battery on which they planted Baskets of Earth and several Pieces of Great Ordnance but being overcharged with too great a weight they became useless by reason of the abundance of water that entred them and at the same time having notice that a considerable number of Turkish horsemen had entered by night into the Castle they thought good to give over the siege which made the Turks so adventurous as to send several of their Galleys out of the Bay to seize upon a great ship of the Venetians that was coming from Zacynthus with provision for the Fleet but they were soon obliged to retire which all of them did in safety except Mahomet Nephew to Barbarussa the famous Pirate who to get him a name stayed on purpose to dare the Christians but being Grapled by the Marquess of St. Crux after a fierce Engagement he with almost all his men were slain and the Galley taken in the sight of the Turks Fleet they not daring to come to his assistance after which the Christians besieged the strong Castle of Nauariâ—â—m antiently called Pylus the charge of which was by General consent of the great Commanders committed to Alexander Farnesius Prince of Parma whom the Venetians furnished with Munition and Victuals for the better performance of that service which he no sooner received but landing 2000 Italians 1000 Spaniards and five hundred Germans with twelve Pieces of Ordnance did batter the Castles incessantly but not encompassing it as he ought in the night time a Great number of Turks having made their way through a pathless Forrest entered at an unsuspected Port whilst those of the Garrison were skirmishing with the besiegers
favours towards him then stood with her honour and at the same time Mahomet intending to match him to his Daughter thereby to procure the Friendship of the great Tartarian Cham it so far moved the Sultans or great men of the Court with envy that they slew him in the Palace and at the same time as many reported strangled the Queen whom they found over familiar with him in his Chamber but whether so or not certain it is she was never afterwards seen The Tartars Forces thus destroyed the Terror of the young Persian Prince was so great that what by Stratagem and plain Force he wrested out of the Turks hands most of the Cities they had before possessed Insomuch that the City of Derbent of which Osman Bassa was Governour with the title of Vizar of Sirnan excepted the Turks were driven out of all their strong places nor was it long ere the Persian Sophy practised with Shahamel Lord of the Mountain of Brus whose Daughter Osman had married to betray him and the City into his power for that he was the onely man amongst the Georgians whom Osman trusted who won by the great promises of the Sophy without any respect to the Turk as he was his Son-in-Law undertook to gratifie him in his desire but he carried not the matter so close but his Daughter understanding what that passed and more studious for the preservation of her Husband than furthering her Fathers purpose she still revealed all she knew which so inwardly perplexed Osman that he resolved to prevent the Treachery of his Father-in-law by taking him out of the way whereupon as his usual manner was inviting him to a solemn Feast with a chearful countenance he commanded 500 of his Soldiers to be in a readiness and that as soon as Sahamel was entered the Court off his Pallace to seize him and after having cut of his Head to put all his followers to the Sword which was accordingly put in execution and not so contented he sent out 2000 Horsemen to spoil his Countrey to the great astonishment of all the neighbouring Princes but to the exceeding grief of the Sophy who found his hopes frustrated by the death of Sahamel The year following viz. 1578. Amurath calling to him his Bassa's consulted what was further to be done in relation to the Persian War when after a long debate it was upon mature deliberation resolved that it was a matter of dangerous consequence to send an Army into the heart of Persia where they should not only have a fierce Enemy to deal with but likewise many other difficulties as hunger overflowing of Rivers passing craggy Mountains and the like But that it was therefore necessary that by degrees they should pass conquering on from the Borders still securing all at their backs the care of managing which being referred to Mustapha he sent into all the Heredatary Countries of the Empire commanding the respective Governours to send him store of Pioners and men skilled in Architect as likewise a great number of the most expert Souldiers but especially those that had been disbanded the year before upon notice of which great multitudes flocked to the service who early in the Spring met at Erzirum from whence they marched under the command of the Bassa to Chars a City on the Frontiers of Sirnan which in the late War had been demolished yet now again Rebuilt and Fortified within the space of 23 dayes notwithstanding the abundance of Snow that fell during their labouring therein the which was no sooner finished but news came that the strong Castle of Testis was besieged by the Persians who had reduced the Garrison to so great a straight that through Famine they would be obliged to yield up the place if they were not speedily relieved Upon which in great perplexity he sent Hassan Bassa Son to Mahomet Principal Vizar of the Court and Resuan Captain of the Adventurers with 20000 Horse and Foot furnished with Provisions and others Necessaries for the relief of the Besieged who passing the straits of Tomanis were set upon by 8000 Persians under the leading of Aliculi Cham and Simon two expert Captains who in those intricate mazes slew many of them and took considerable spoil which so hightened them that within a while after setting upon the Turks and thinking to have the like advantage fell into their Ambush so that most of the Persians fell by the Sword or were taken Prisoners and amongst the latter Aliculi Cham wwhich gave Hassan opportunity to march without further controul to Testis where through Famine he found half the Garrison lost yet encouraging them in the best wise and storing them with all manner of Provision and Warlike Munition he having at their request displaced Mahomet the Governour and constituted Amet Bassa in his stead he was about to return the same way he came but upon notice that Simon had strongly possessed himself of the aforesaid straights and barrocadoed them with his great Artillery he was wonderfully perplexed as dispairing of his safe return which Aliculi perceiving promised upon consideration that he would release him to shew him a way both plain and easie through which he might pass without any danger from the Persians whereupon the Bassa swore to perform what he requested but afterwards as is very usual amongst those Infidels revoked his Oath excusing himself by saying it was not in his power to release any Prisoner taken in War without the consent of his General of which perfidious dealing Sinan having notice who before in consideration of the delivery of Aliculi had winked at their passage he with his Light-Horsemen pursued hard after them when overtaking the Rear he charged them with such fury that in great confusion they fled In which flight a great number were slain and taken Prisoners with a great booty especially the Treasure of the Bassa and of Resuan Captain of the Adventurers which loss so sensibly afflicted Mustapha that upon notice thereof he broke up his Army not thinking it convenient to attempt any thing further that year and soon after he being discharged of his Generalship was called home where upon his arrival at Court he was accused by Sinan Bassa for neglecting the Emperours affairs wasting his Treasure in unnecessary buildings and rather giving the Enemy cause to contemn the Ottoman Forces then to fear their Prowess These and many other such like complaints being exhibited against him so incensed Amurath that he resolved he should be strangled in order to which he sent his chief Gentleman Porter attended on by fifteen others to the Bassas Pallace but the crafty old blade being forewarned of what was intended against him caused himself for a long time to be denyed but when the messengers impatient of delay urged that he must and should render obedience to the Emperors warrant which they then produced they were admitted to his presence but frustrated of their design by a Guard that inclosed the Bassa with weapons forbidding any access
dismissed his Army having done nothing worthy the name of a General In the year 1581 Amurath caused his son Mahomet to be circumcised after the Hebrew manner in honour of which solemnity he made a feast which continued with shews and sports for the space of forty days where all or most of the Christian and Mahometan Princes Ambassadors were present and amongst them the Ambassador of Persia whom Amurath after suffering many affronts to be put upon him caused to be imprisoned with all his Retinue so straightly that though one hundred of his servants dyed of the Plague yet much adoe had he to get himself removed to Erzirum This hard handling of the Ambassador made the conceived hopes of Peace to vanish insomuch that either Potentate prepared for war when as Amurath not well liking the proceedings of Sivan constituted Mahomet Bassa nephew to Mustapha Bassa deceased which choice Sivan greatly inveighed against though all in vain for early in the spring he taking charge of the Army designed for the Persian war departed from Erzirum accompanied with the Bassa of Caramite carrying with him great store of provision and a huge mass of mony but such was his bad fortune that in his way to Teflis passing a River his Army was routed by the Persians and Georgians and most of his best Souldiers slain or taken prisoners a great part of the mony and provision fell likewise into the hands of the enemy so that not having sufficient to relieve the Garison hardly oppressed by famine he had much adoe to perswade the Souldiers to continue in it and exceedingly to straighten his discomfited Army to supply that place with mony and provision all which calamity being supposed to happen by the Sinister Council of one Mustapha a Renagate Georgian then in the Turks Camp who was more then suspected to hold correspondence with his Country wherefore Mahomet with other his trusty Counsellers resolved his death whereupon he called a Council in his own Pavillion pretending letters of instruction from the Emperor and secretly gave order that upon the coming of Mustapha whilst the Letters were in reading the Janizaries should cut off his head but the Georgian having notice chose out fifty of his faithful followers and imparting to them what was intended commanded them to be near at hand and at the first call to enter the Pavilion where if they perceived any violence used towards his person they should not spare the General himself Matters being brought to this pass and Mustapha entred the Pavilion of the Bassa the counterfeit Letters were ordered to be read which done and the Georgian about to depart promising to perform what ever the King should command Capagi Bassa Mahomets Great usher came to him and plucking him by the sleeve would have forced him to have sat down which he perceiving and knowing his life was in danger drew his sword and struck Mahomets Lieutenant so forcibly on the head that he clove him to the stomach then reversing his blow wounded the Bassa of Caramite as likewise many others and had killed the General himself had not the uproar caused many to enter the Pavillion and amongst others his fifty followers who carryed him in safety to his Tent. This action caused grievous complaints to be sent to Amurath from either party whereby he understanding the evil state of his affairs in those Parts exceedingly blamed his Bassa's for pushing on into such a dangerous war and in a rage thrust Sivan Bassa from his Vizarship placing Sciaus Bassa a Hungarian born and to whom he had married his sister in his stead The Turks affairs being at this pass Anno 1582 they had small mind to proceed in their war against the Persians nor was the Persian King less desirous to be rid of so troublesome a guest that he might be the better at leasure to suppress the Rebellion raised by his Son Abas Mirize who countenanced by the chief of the Sultans had seized upon many strong places and was now Fortifying himself in Ateri whither his father passed with a great Army by the way recovering such Towns as had revolted from his obedience and putting such of the Traitors as he found therein to death but coming before the City the young Prince wrote such submissive Letters to his father and elder brother then in his fathers Camp that the old man was well content that he should by his Ambassadors be admitted to purge himself of such crimes as were laid to his charge which he did so effectually that the whole matter appearing to be framed and contrived by Mirize Sulmos who notwithstanding had perswaded the King to make that Expedition against his Son that he might advantage himself by being made General of the Army to put an end to further differences the said Mirize Sulmus was by the Kings command beheaded as being indeed the Author of those intestine troubles These things thus disposed the Sophy was now at leasure to oppose the invading Turks wherefore gathering a great Army he striped them out of many of their holds which so enraged Amurath that appointing Ferat Bassa his General whom with full instructions he dismissed with a great Army with which having roamed about Sunan and Georgia all Summer Anno 1583. with the loss of many of his men and the revolt of Mustaffa he in September returned to Erzirum having done nothing more then destroyed the Countrey of Mustaffa and relieved Teflis The following year the Pâ—â—sian King resolving to drive the Turks out of his Countrey raised a great Army and encamped in the Plains before the City of Tauris of which Ferat having notice would not depart from Erzirum before he had sent to Amurath to have his opinion therein who sent him an express to relieve if possible the Garrison of Teflis with a small power to oppose the rest of the Army against the Enemy whereupon he resolved to put in practice the pleasure of his Lord. In order to which the better to secure the passage or strait of Tomanis he built a Castle in the enterance thereof 1700 yards in compass furnishing it with all necessaries and then sent a detachment of 20000 Horse and Foot under the leading of Resuan Bassa for the releif of Teflis but fearing that power not sufficient sent others after him under the leading of the Bassa of Caramite of which Simon the Georgian Prince having notice yet deceived in their number hasted over the Countrey by short cuts to give them Battle which he was the readier to do because he at first discovered no more then 6000 Turks the rest lying behind a Hill but Battle once joyned they came down upon him like a Tempest and so oppressed his small number not exceeding 4000 who yet fought desperately that he and all his men had been slain had not the other Turks sent by Ferat to strengthen Resuan appeared upon the Hills at a distance whom those Turks that were fighting supposed to be Persians and by that means not
the hazard of a Battle to revenge the indignity of whose approach Osman who then lay sick in his Pavilion haveing notice Command Sinan Bassa and Mahumet Bassa should with all the Greek Soldiers and others to the number of 74000 should go out and meet the Enemy who by the craft of the forerunners of his Army drawing the Turks within his strengths had with them there a mortal Battle wherein 10000 of their Souldiers were slain and the two Bassa's in great confusion obliged to fly to the Camp leaving most of their Insigns and all their baggage as a prey to the Persians who hightned with this success advanced within sight of the Turks Camp sending a Herauld to the sick General to demand of him Battle of which accepting though not able to be there present when as Battle being joyned after a long and doubtful fight victory inclined to the Persians who in the end slew 20000 of the Turks and amongst the rest the Bassa's of Caramite and Trepezâ—nd and Sanzack of Brusia with five other Sanzacks and among the Prisoners were taken Amurath Bassa of Caramania and divers other of note Upon news of this bad success the Genral fearing to have his Army wasted to nothing by continual skirmishes in a strange Countrey having Fortified Tauris and made Giaffer Bassa of Tripolis Governour he was about to decamp when on a suddain the neighing of Horses the noise of Drums and Trumpets were heard which putting the Army into a great consternation and soon caused them in great confusion to run all to that side where they supposed the noise was when in the mean while Emir the Persian Prince on the other side without any sound of Trumpet or beat of Drum with 28000 Souldiers entered their Camp took 18000 Camels laden whom he sent away by 6000 of his Souldiers and then charging furiously upon such as he found insomuch that after a hard Battle fought 20000 Turks lay scattered on the Plain many of which were slain by their own Artillery which by Osmans Command being furiously discharged at the Armies the murthering shot made lanes before them without discerning between Friend and Foe but night coming on and the Persians weary with slaughter retired and were for a while faintly pursued by the Turks Osman lying all this while sick in his Pavilion sore afflicted with the Bloody Flux and hearing what havock the Persians had made died the grief of so great a loss hastening his end Yet was his death for a long space kept secret least thereby the Army should be discouraged which now was returning under the leading of Sinan or Cicala as some called him Bassa Osman in his Will having delivered to him the charge of the whole Army Yet the Persian Prince with 14000 Horse and Foot followed them at the heels still cutting of the straglers and had utterly destroyed them had not his design been discovered which obliged him to retreat with the loss of 3000 of his Men so that by long and tedious marches the Turks wasted Army arriving the Van after the publication of the Generals death were discharged all but a certain number retained who under the leading of Dâ—ut Chan a Renegado Persian were sent to the relief of Teflis which without any loss they performed Now the Castle built in Tauris much grieved the Persians to take which they used their utmost endeavour but it being strong of it self and defended by a strong Garrison their attempts proved unsuccessful When at the same time great mischief arose in the Kingdom of Persia for 10000 Turcomans a people bordering upon the Georgians and resolving to revenge themselves for the death of Emir Chan offered their service to the Persian Sophy under the leading of their two Captains Mahomet Chan and Calife Chan to whom the Sophy as a pledge of his love and their safety delivered Tamas his young Son whom they had no sooner got into their power but they proclaimed him King of Persia and in all hast marched towards Casbiu the Regal City in hopes to surprize it and seat young Tamas on his Fathers Throne of which the Sophy and his eldest Son having notice pursued hard after them when overtaking them at a place called Calisteza a dayes journey on this side Casbiu the Prince gave them Battle and after a dangerous and doubtful conflict put them to flight In which they being swiftly pursued the two rebellious Captains were taken and by the Kings Command had their heads stricken off young Tamas being likewise taken was sent Prisoner to the Castle of Cabaca those that escaped the Battle fled to Solyman Bassa of Babylon which put an end to the Rebellion Giaffer Bassa Governour of Tauris after the departure of the Turkish Army understanding that the Persian Prince was Levying a great Army to Besiege the City sent an Express to Sinon or Siculi Bassa to send him Aid for the defence of the City and Castle the which by reason of the flight of some and death of othersome of his men must otherwise fall into the hands of the Enemy now notwithstanding great preparation for that purpose were made they could not be put into the City by reason of the near approach of the Persian Army without manifest hazard of exposing them to the mercy of their Enemies Yet it so fell out that the Governour without any recruits maintained the City and Castle the Persians not being so urgent for the recovery of the same as was expected Upon notice of Osmans death Amurath chose Ferat Bassa once more his General who departing from Constantinople in the month of April 1586 and passed over into Asia where having compleated his Army at Sinas upon notice that Tauris was in danger he marched thitherward though with great caution the enemy should charge him at unawares and by reason of the dissensions arisen amongst the Persian Captains sent to oppose him and the Treason of Aliculican now alienated from his Prince and holding secret correspondence with the Turkish General he without any loss relieved Tauris and having caused a strong Fort to be built at Churchine near unto the said City and two others at Câ—y and Carn and left therein sufficient Garrisons and store of provision he sent succours to Teflis in Georgia and so with little or no loss returned to Erzirum By this time the Persian Prince who and Mahomet his father now grown old ruled the Kingdom had notice of the Treason of Aliculi Chau and Emanguli Chan whom he had drawn into his confederacy he prepared his Forces to march against them whereupon the latter submitted and was received into favour but howsoever it happened whether with his knowledge or not the Prince the chief glory of Persia sleeping in his Pavilion was by an Eunuch run through the body supposed to be done at the instance of Abas Miriza his younger brother to advance whom to the Persian Diadem Aliculi Chan had revolted from the obedience of the Sophy and plotted with the
40000 forthwith removed and with great speed hasted toward the Turks of which they having notice by their Espials put themselves in Battle Array and after their vain glorious manner dreamt of nothing but the spoil of the Christians whom they already concluded overthrown by reason of the disproportion of number they being indeed much inferiour in that nature to the Infidels Yet had the Emperours General so ordered his Battles that placing the Crotians and Hussars in the Vauntguard those of Carolstat and the Harquibusires of Keriva in the Left wing In the Right the Borderers of Carania all Horsemen in the main Battle the rest of the Souldiers with the Horsemen of Silesia under the conduct of Sigismund Paradise the Rereward was incompassed with three Companies of the Emperours Souldiers nor were the Turk idle but Marshalled their Battle in the best wise when as the Charge being sounded the Crotians and Hussars in the Vaunt-gard gave the first onset with such fury that being seconded by the Lord Anersburgh they after a cruel Fight obliged the Turks to give ground and with Hassan Bassa their General retire towards the River Odder after whom the Christians following furiously many endeavouring to save themselves by passing over were drowned and those that stayed in a fearful manner on the Banks overwhelmed by the continual Tempest of shot from the Flankers so that within three hours space all the Army was in a confusion every man seeking for his own safety insomuch that 18000 Turks perished either by the Sword or in the Rivers Odder and Kulp and amongst the rest Hassan Bassa Mahomet Beg Achmet Beg Saffer Beg Meni Beg Framatan Beg Curti Beg Operd Beg and Goschus the Bassa's chief Counselor together with Sinan Beg Amuraths Nephew the onely Son of his Sister after which signal victory obtained the Christian Army falling on their knees gave Thanks to God to whom alone they ascribed their miraculous preservation The news of which overthrow coming to the knowledge of Amurath he like a frantick man blasphemed the God of Heaven and perswaded thereto by the tears and intreaties of his Sister to revenge the death of her Son sent a proud and blasphemous denunciation of War to the Emperour Rodolphus wherein he stiled himself The onely Monarch of the World a great and mighty God on Earth an invincible Caesar King of all Kings from the East unto the West c. and proceeded to threaten the said Emperour and his People with all the miseries that attend on War impiously declaring that the Crucified God of the Christians long since dead and buried had not been able to deliver his own Countrey out of his hands much less the German Empire which in despite of him he was resolved to take knowing himself a subverter and sworn Enemy of the Christians and of all that called upon the name of Christ And thereupon the more to terrifie the Christians he sent a great Army under the Command of Sinan Bassa their implacable Enemy who upon his Arrival layed siege to Ciseg which he took putting all he found therein to the Sword and after that took several other places of lesser note yet not without considerable loss and breach of Faith to the besieged who finding themselves oft too weak to defend places of little strength against so powerful an Enemy would surrender them upon promise of Life and Liberty but falling into the hands of the barbarous Infidels seldom obtained either These proceedings of the Turks did not a little alarum the Christian Princes who having mustered 18000 Men under the Command of Count Hardeck Governour of Rab he with marching from Comara came before Alba-Regalis which by force of his Artillery he in a short time made saultable to the relief of which the Bassa of Buda sent Sinan Bassa with 20000 Horse and Foot but he being encountered by the Christians was put to flight with the loss of most of his men whereupon as victors the Christians returned to the siege but finding the season far advanced and a great number of Turks that escaped in the overthrow to be got into the City the Count raised his Camp and returned again to Rab but early in the Spring assisted by fresh supplies the Emperours Captains dividing the Army took the strong Castle of Sabatzka the City of Fileck the Towns of Seeteschiu Blanestine and Salleck the three latter being through fear abandoned by the Turks having first set them for the most part on Fire At the same time the Lord Palfie with a strong party marching to Dregel and Palanka found them likeâ—ise abandoned by the Turks the which having furnished with strong Garrisons of his own he took by force Ainacke Sellecke Westkee and divers other places so that the Turks were in a manner driven out of the Lower Hungary and new Buda and Alba-Regalis the onely Strong holds possessed by the Turks in those parts began to doubt their security for whilst a party out of the latter coming forth to bury the dead that lay scattered round the Walls and by their contagion infected the City they were so suddainly incountered by a Captain of the Hussars Commanding a Troop of Light Horsemen that near 200 of them were slain and 50 taken Prisoners These proceedings coming to the Ears of Amurath and he from all hands certified that the strength of the Christians daily increased he began to doubt his Empire in Europe and therefore to defend the same raised a puissant Army anno 1594. at the head of which he resolved to march in person a thing he had not done since his taking upon him the Government but on the 11th of January as the Army was upon its march not far from Constantinople such a terrible Tempest of Hail Rain Snow Wind Thunder and Lightning arose that by its impetuosity it overturned the Tents Chariots Waggons Horse and Men few being able to stand upright before it The which the Tyrant taking as ominous to his proceedings in great perplexity returned with his formidable Army to Constantinople where casting himself upon his bed after much tumbling and tossing falling asleep he dreamed that he beheld a man of exceeding Stature standing with one his feet upon the Tower of Constantinople and the other over the straight fixed on the Asian shoar who stretching out his Arms held the Sun in one hand and the Moon in the other at whom whilst he was wondering the Monster with his foot struck the Tower which forthwith fell down and in its fall overthrew the great Temple with the Imperial Palace whose Thundering awaking the Turk he much troubled with the strangeness of the dream imediatly sent for his Necromancers and Wizards to Interpret it who to curry favour with their Prince hypocritically answered That for as much as he had not with all his Forces as with a Tempest impugned the Christians their great Prophet Mahomet threatned by that dream to overturn the Tower Temple and Imperial Palace which by a symbolical meaning denoted
the Turkish Religion and Empire which vain and fictitious Interpretation so moved the superstitious Tyrant that having first asked pardon of his Impostor Prophet he swore from henceforth to turn all his Forces upon the Christians and not to give over War till he had done his utmost to subdue them These vain threats did not in the least dismay the Christian Princes yet to ingage a sure Friend on their side they caused publique prayers to be put up in all Churches and that people might perceive on what slender and impious grounds the Tyrant had resolved the prosecution of the War had the vain Dream and the vainer Interpretation read in the Churches of Transylvania and most of the Churches of Hungary The Christian Army having taken the Field and a Present of the Turks spoiles taken some time before sent to Rodolphus the Emperour the Arch-Duke of Austria besieged Novograde which after several assaults was delivered by capitulation in consideration of Life and Liberty which strong Town after it had been Turkish for the space of 60 years was by the Arch-Duke committed to the care of Lord Rebei a Noble Hungarian and the Turkish Governour upon his arrival at Buda was by the Bassa's Command imprisoned Whilst these things were in doing the Emperour sent his Embassadors to the great Duke of Muscovy the King of Poland and Prince of Transilvania in all whose Courts their Negotiation proved successful nor in the mean time was the young Count Serinus idle for that he with 300 Harquibusires and certain Troops of Horse and Companies to the number of 10000 took the Castles of Bresenza Sigesta and Babostcha by the recovery of which strong holds he opened a safe passage even to Ziget the Bassa of which standing at that time in no small doubt to be besieged These things perplexing the Turkish Tyrant who was preparing great Forces for the securing his Province on this side the Danubius he in the mean while sent a Fleet into the Adriatick to besiege Zegna an Imperial City scituate upon the Sea Coast in the Bay of Quernero called in antient time Flanaticus Sinus in order to the prosecution of which he sent his Ambassador to the Venetians to require the use of their Ports in those Seas and that his Gallies might pass and repass without any molestation from the Gallies of that State but the Senate doubting the fidelity of the Turk and loath thereby to disoblige the Christian Emperour would by no means consent yet used the Ambassador honourably and sent him away without obtaining his purpose In the Upper part of Hungaria the Lord Tenffenbeck Commanding as the Arch-Dukes Lieutenant with an Army of 2000 Horse and Foot besieged Hatvan a strong Town of the Turks lying about six miles from Buda Fortified with a Triple Ditch and Bullwarks of exceeding strength to the relief of which the Bassa of Buda came with fifteen thousand Souldiers thinking at unawares to surprize the Christian Camp but was frustrated in his project for the Lord Tenffenbeck drawing off from before the City passed through with much difficulty the River Sagijvay when setting upon the Bassa's Army after a hard fight he put it to the Rout having the execution of the Turks for many miles so that about Ten Thousand of them were slain and taken Prisoners with a great Booty of Provision and Ammunition after which the Christians returned to the siege yet finding the hazards and difficulty that they should meet with in winning it by the directions of the Arch-Duke who with Forty Thousand Men at the same time besieged Strigonium the Siege of Hatvan was given over yet upon the raising thereof the Lord Tenffenbeck discomfited the Bassa of Buda a second time as he was again coming to the relief thereof in which conflict Five Thousand Turks were slain Strigonium after a long siege and the burning of the old Town being relieved by the coming of Sinan Bassa with a great Army the Arch-Duke thought it not yet convenient to let him take breath but on the 28th of June passed Danubius to expect the motion of Sinan Bassa with his huge Army composed of Turks and Tartars and by frequent onsets daily weakned his Camp nor were the Rascians slow to revolt from the Turkish obedience So that having raised a confused power to the number of Fifteen Thousand they took many strong Places and obtained two notable Victories one over the Bassa of Temeswar in which himself and three of his Sanzacks and about Nine Thousand Five Hundred of his Turks were slain And the other over another Bassa that succeeded him upon which they sent to the Arch-Duke to receive them and their Countrey into the Emperours protection and that in consideration thereof they would maintain Ten Thousand Men in the Field whose Proposals were by the Imperial General accepted About this time the Emperour the better to consult the defence of his Provinces called a Diet at Ratisbone where in the assembly of the German Princes he declared how matters stood and repeated the manifold injuries he had sustained by the Turks contrary to the League made with Amurath and that amongst the rest he contrary to the Law of Nations had imprisoned Frederick Creckovitz his Ambassador first at Constantinople and caused the greatest part of his followers to be thrust into the Gallies and afterwards to have sent him with a few of his attendants to Belgrade and thereto have kept him in prison till he ended his dayes To revenge which indignities those daily offered and such as were like to ensue from the great Army at hand he desired the Princes to consider a most speedy way and not by delay to indanger the greatest part of Christendoms falling into the hands of the mercyless Enemy To which the Electoral Princes after a due consideration replyed That they had a regard to his Imperial Majesty and for the preservation of Hungary and others his Hereditary Countries as also for repressing the fury of the Turks yet by reason of the late dearth they were not capable of maintaining such Forces as might be expected yet besides their Annual Contributions they would for the space of six years grant such further relief as they well hoped would prove sufficient for the maintenance of a defensive War both for the present and for the time to come after which resolves of the Princes the Diet broke up and all diligence was used for increasing the Army and Fortifying the strong Holds in Hungaria Austria Styra and Carinthia Countries most obnoxious to the Incursions of the Turks Sinan Bassa all this while not ignorant of the Emperors proceedings lay with an Army of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Fighting men between Buda and Alba Regalis frequently sending out Parties to wast the Countries in possession of the Emperour yet with such indifferent success that he had no cause to boast which made the Bassa to raise his Camp and in sight of the Christian Army which still attended his motions battered Dolis
and St. Martins with such fury that within a short time they fell into his hands the Imperialists at so great an odds not thinking it convenient to hazard a Battle to relief their besieged Friends and after doing other mischief in their Territories layed siege to the City of Rab scituate on the Southside of Danubius where the River dividing it self makes a most fertile Island called Schut about twelve German miles from Vienna in which Island lay the Christian Camp This City was defended by a Garrison of Five Thousand Men under the Command of Count Hardeck a more valiant then at this time faithful Friend for when every one supposed the City impregnable and that the Turks for many dayes had without intermission battered it with Sixty pieces of Cannon and made several unsuccessful assaults with the loss of Fourteen Thousand of their men the said Count contrary to the minds of his Commanders and Souldiers capitulated with the Bassa and in consideration of his departing with all his Treasure delivered that strong piece in his hands For which upon his arrival at Vienna he by the judgement of Sixty of his Peers had his Head and his right Hand stricken off it being proved against him that he in leiw of the surrender had of the Bassa received two bags of Ducats During the siege of Rab the Christians in the Island of Schut received a great loss for Ten Thousand Turks and Tartars getting over in Boats or swimming upon their Horses came so suddainly upon their Camp that having slain Two Thousand of them and put the rest into a great consternation they entered their Trenches and carryed thence a booty valued at Five Hundred Thousand Ducats which loss for a while after sore weakned the Christians Nor were the Turks onely busie in spoiling Hungary but Italy also for with a great Fleet under the leading of Ciala Bassa Amuraths Admiral they surprized Rhegium in Calabria and utterly razed it after which they spoiled all the Countrey about it as likewise the Sea Coasts of Italy in many other places taking several Ships richly laden in the sight of the Garrison of Messina and carrying away a great number of poor people into miserable Captivity Sinan Bassa having by this time received new supplies and repaired Rab putting therein a strong Garrison marched to Comara before which he incamped but upon the approach of Matthias the Arch-Duke with a puissant Army of Germans Bohemians and Hungarians to relieve it he raised his siege not thinking it safe at that time to hazard a Battle and by a Bridge of Boats Transported his Army over Danubius to Dolis where he the following day dismissed them upon which the Arch-Duke without any hinderance coming to Comara caused the breaches to be Repaired and then leaving it to the protection of the Governour viz. The Lord Bruun who had faithfully defended it he departed to take a view of the other Cities About this time Sigismund Prince of Transilvania weary of the grievous exaction and injuries they sustained at the hands of the Turks resolved to cast off their servile yoak which being known to certain of the Nobility pensioners to Amurath they secretly advertized him of the Princes purpose promising to send him in Chains to Constantinople and with the Turks good liking to set up one Balthazor Bator the Princes nigh Kinsman in his stend but the Treason being discovered most of the Traitors were taken and executed upon which the Tarâ—ars to the number of Forty Thousand brake into Transilvania burning and destroying all before them in a fearful manner which obliged the Prince to raise the whole power of his Countrey and to crave aid of the Rascians and other his Neighbours giving freely to his Subjects and Confederates what ever they could take from the Turks who in their first interprize were so successful that they surprized seven of the Turks Gallies laden with Provision Rich Merchandize and store of Treasure and missed but narrowly of the eighth which was the Admiral which loss was so great to the Turks Sinan Bassa upon notice of what had happened is reported to have said that if those Gallies had come to him in safety he could with the Treasure have bought Vienna as he had done Raâ—b after which the Transilvanians hightened with this success marched towards Temeswar but hearing that the Tartars were about to return they retired for the defence of their own Countrey yet by this time headed by their Prince they took many strong Holds from the Turks and still following their returning Army in the rear cut many Thousands of them short and by his example soon after the Valachians and Moldavians rose up in Armes against Amurath and Confederated themselves with the Transilvanian Prince who with one consent sent to Rodolphus the Emperour to make a League with him against the common Enemy which was accordingly concluded very Honourable to the Confederates which made Amurath begin to doubt his safety even in Constantinople and much more when they with their victorious Armies overrun his Countries on every side for grief of which and the disorderly tumults he found amongst his Janizaries and his other Souldiers of the Court he fell Sick when greatly afflicted with the Stone and Falling Sickness his wonted Disease as a man both in Soul and Body tormented he with great Impatiency and Agony of mind gave up the Ghost departing this Life on the Eighteenth of January Anno Domini 1595. When he had lived One and Fifty years or as some say Two and Fifty years and thereof Reigned Nineteen years At the time of whose Death arose so Terrible a Tempest at Constantinople that many thought the world should have presently been dissolved his dead Body within a while after was with all Funeral Solemnities used amongst the Turks buryed by the Body of Mahomet his Eldest Son in the Moschie which himself had builded near unto his Palace CHAP. XVII The Life of Mahomet Third of that Name seventh Emperor of the Turks A Murath being dead his death to prevent tumults was kept secret till such time that Mahomet his Eldest Son then living came from Amasia to Constantinople where contrary to the mind of the Janizaries who generally affected Amurath his younger brother he was saluted Exmperour when by a wile getting his Ten Brethren into his power he caused them to be strangled nay so far extended his barbarity that at his Commandement ten of his Fathers Wives and Concubines whom he suspected to be with Child were drowned in the Sea one of which number as some affirm was his own Mother These violent proceedings made the great Commanders envy him and the better to wreck their spleen secretly to stir up the Janizaries who committed for the space of several days such disorders that the like in no Interregnum had happened and great had the disorder been even to outraging the Emperour himself had not the Bassa Governour of the City causedall the great Ordinance to be bent
against them and swore by the head of Ali to discharge them amongst u'm Whilst these troubles happened at Constantinople the Christian Princes were not wanting to revenge the injuries they had sustained by the Turks especially the Princes or as the Turks call them Vayvod of Transilvania Valachia and Moldavia who with many fortunate inroads into the Othoman Dominions greatly inriched themselves and Souldiers taking and Fortifying many strong Castles and destroying an Army of Four Hundred Thousand Tartars with which they had often conflicts Nor was Rodolphus the Emperour behind with the forwardest as well knowing that he had to deal with an implacable Enemy who would have no peace any longer then it served his own purpose wherefore the said Emperour and th States of Hungary sent their Ambassadors to the King of Poland who then had assembled a Parliament at Cracovia to solicite his Aid against the common Enemy of which Mahomet having notice sent likewise two Chiaus in nature of his Ambassadors to frustrate the negotiation of the Christian Ambassadors in the Polish Court and to engage that King to take up Arms on his behalf but passing through Valachia they were contrary to the mind of the Vayvod slain by some of his followers yet the Turk sent two others who fetching a greater compass through the Tartarian Dominions arrived safe in Polonia These proceedings of the Christians roused Mahomet and inspired him who was of a feirce and froward nature to take revenge in order to which he sent for Sinan Bassa out of Hungary to confer with him about the management of the war which once stated he returned again to Belgrade where upon his first Arrival by what mischance yet supposed to be by the contrivance of the Janizaries the cords of his Tent were cut and it was let fall about his ears now at his coming so great was the dearth in all the parts of Hungary where the Turks had their possessions that several Tartarian women following the Camp killed their own children and ate them which samine ingendered such a Pestilence that the Turks and Tartars dyed in abundance insomuch that of eighty thousand of the latter which the year before came at divers times to the assistance of the Turks not above eight thousand remained alive And now the Christian Army hastened from all parts to the Imperial standard so that of Germans Saxons Bohemians Hungarians Spaniards Italians Romans Flemings Franks and Sweeds in a short time there were found fifteen thousand nine hundred horse and fifty thousand foot under the conduct of most resolute Commanders of which Matthias the Arch Duke was General and Count Mansfelt sent by the King of Spain with 2000 horse and 6000 foot was appointed by the Emperor his Lieutenant Thus all things being in a readiness nothing wanting but an enemy on whom to exercise those Arms which long was not wanting for Mahomet by this time had raised a great power yet had but a bad welcome for at first the Bassa of Buda with a great number of Turks attempting to doe some memorable exploit in Transilvania was overthrown by Gestius Ferents a valiant Captain with the loss of most of his men when almost at the same time a great power of the Turks under the leading of their General entering Valachia were incountred by the Lord Nadasti commanding there for the Emperor who assisted by the Valachians and Transylvanians and in a great battle discomfited with the loss of ten thousand men and their sttandard imbroidered with Pearls and Precious Stones valued at 30000 Dollars which the said Lord sent to the Transylvanian Prince then at Alba Julia and had it returned him again as a reward of his good service which evil success being perceived by the crafty Tyrant Mahomet he dealt under hand by great promises with Aaron Vayvod of Moldavia to revolt from the Transylvanian and by any means if possible to depose him which thing coming to light and made manifest by severall intercepted Letters the said Vayvod with his wife and children being then retired into Transylvania were secured and a while after by the consent of the Moldavian Nobility one Stephen Rozwan placed in his stead which Mahomet perceiving and that his practise was brought to nought sent an Ambassador to Sigismund Prince of Transylvania to be at peace with him and suffer as formerly his Armies to pass through his Countrey into Hungaria and that in lieu thereof he should have peaceable possession of Transylvania Moldavia and Valachia paying no more then a small acknowledgment which should not be exacted by the way of Tribute but the Prince having too often experienced the perfidious dealings of the Turks would in no wise accord to what was demanded but resolved upon prosecuting the war to the utmost the which his resolution once made known to the Bulgarians they sent messengers in secret to assure him that if he proceeded with any good success they would be ready to follow his fortune and by joyning hands with him against the cruel Tyrant shut up all the passages that way into Valachia Moldavia and Hungaria The greatest part of the aid promised by the Christian Princes for the maintenance of the war being come to Vienna Count Mansfelt called a council of the chief Commanders to consult whether they should lay siege to some place of Importance or march to give the enemy battle whom he said he had Intelligence was on his way in which Council the former proposal being resolved on the whole Army in number aforesaid was mustered at Altenberg after which he besieged Dolis but at the same time had his eye upon Strigonium the other being undertaken only to amuse the Turks and exhaust the Garrison of Strigonum both of men and warlike provision to relieve their brethren in Dolis which supply the Count permitted to enter the Town and then when he was least suspected suddenly raiseing his siege set down before Strigonum to the great amazement of the Turk who not in the least dreamed of any such matter yet was it not carryed so privately but e'r he could intrench himself several Walloons Heidons straggling from the main battle were set upon by the Turks and put to the rout but the Pioniers having run the Trenches within half Musket shot of the wall fired so smartly upon the defendants many of them were slain none being able to appear upon the wall yet the Christians at at the beginning of the Siege having taken a little Island in the Danubius and put on shoar several Hungarian Companies of which the Turks of Buda having notice they in several Boats and Gallies coming down the River by night landed three thousand men who unawares setting upon the Christians put most of them to the sword and recovered the said Island but that loss was soon repaired for after many furious assaults notwithstanding the threats of the Bassa of Buda to Impail the Strigonians if they sought it not out to the last man the higher City was
the same afflicted and brought low by the Tyranny of Stephano their Vayvod who the better to secure him in his Estate had caused most of the Nobility to be cruelly and shamefully murthered upon which the Moldavians disdaining the Tyrants rule who was wont to say that he valued not his Subjects love so they feared him rose in Arms against him choosing for their Prince Alexander son to Jeremy their former Vayvod who with a great power entering the Countrey had many strong places put into his possession which the Tyrant understanding and finding the hatred of his Subjects generally bent against him he fled till strengthened by a supply of Turks and Tartars he again returned and gave the Prince Battle but was therein overthrown after which Alexander was proclaimed with the consent of all the Nobility Vayvod of Moldavia whereupon he sent Ambassadors to the Grand Seigniour to inform him that he would do nothing prejudicial to his Imperial Majesty but that what he had done was at the instance of the Nobility to free the Countrey from a Tyrant but e'r these Ambassadors could arrive at Constantinople they were imprisoned at the commandment of the Bassa of Buda and being afterward put into the power of Stephano he caused their heads to be cut off and their bodies to be cast into the Danube and then having recruited his Forces returned again into Moldavia where in a second battle he was overthrown and most of his Army slain himself hardly escaping to Michna Prince of Valachia but soon after Alexander having notice that the said Michna and Hebraim a Turkish Bassa were raising great Forces to assist Stephano he sent Boyartsk ye his Ambassador to Michna to make him his friend or at least to perswade him to desist from taking part with the Tyrant but the proud Bassa contrary to the will of the Vayvod Michna caused the Ambassador to be clapped in Irons and sent prisoner to Constantinople where upon his arrival contrary to the Law of Nations he was condemned to the Gallies to excuse which the Vayvod sent an Ambassador to Prince Alexander promising him that unless it were by the absolute command of the Grand Siegniour which he durst not disobey he would not assist his Competitor and at the same time it being rumoured that Bethlem Gaber was likewise raising Forces to invade Moldavia the Prince sent an other Ambassador to him who to the Ambassador protested his innocency therein and that he intended no harm to Alexander his master but on the contrary greatly desired his friendship and for his fathers sake would assist him in what lay in his power but that which caused a great trouble in Moldavia was the death of Prince Visnouviskie who was poisoned by a Greek Priest in receiving the Sacrament for which the impious actor was fryed to death in a wyer chair having first confessed that he was induced to commit that hellish exploite at the instance of the Princes enemy who upon the Priests detection were fled Anno 161. at the incessant intreaty of Stephano the Sultan sent Skinder Bassa with a powerful Army to to restore him to the Vayvod-ship of Moldavia whereupon Prince Alexander sent to his friends as well in Polonia as in other parts of Christendom to Aid him against the Common Enemy and thereupon received great Aid especially out of Polonia under the leading of Prince Coreski who shortly after Marryed the Princess Alexandrina Sister to Prince Alexander and having refreshed the Army the two Princes as joynt Commanders marched against the Bassa and in a set battle overthrew him near unto Cochona together with the Forces of Stephano and pursuing their Victory entered Valachia where entering Bonza without resistance he was by the Estates of that Province intreated to take upon him the Vayvodship for that they being weary of the Turkish thraldom from which Michna their Vayvod had absolutely refused to free them they resolved for that reason to chuse an other but the Prince refused the charge he would not deprive his friend of his possession yet consented that Prince Cherbanne son to the late Vayvod should take the charge upon him but whilst these things were in agitation Shindar Bassa had gathered a great power and proclaimed Michna Vayvod of Moldavia Stephano by reason of his frequent overthrows being now fallen into disgrace with the Sultan and on a sudden the said Bassa with his multitude invironed the Princes Camp where he together with his mother Prince Coreskie and his fair Princess Alexandrina were taken prisoners as were all the Camp except five hundred Polonians who under the leading of the Lord Tischevish cut their way through the Army of the Turks yet for a long time the Princes remained disguised amongst the common prisoners in hopes of being admitted to their ransoms but at length all except the Princess Alexandrina were carryed to Constantinople but she falling into the hands of a Tartarian Captain was carryed into Tartary where she was hardly dealt with till at length she was ransomed for 3000 Chequins having during her Captivity been delivered of a fair son The year following the Turks spoiled the Seacoast Towns of Italy taking many rich prizes and had the like repayed them by the Christian Gallies in the Mediterranean and greater mischiefs had insued had not Achmet the Turkish Sultan died having lived thirty years and reigned fifteen appointed by reason of his sons minority his brother Mustapha whom he had a long time kept prisoner to succeed him in the Ottoman Empire CHAP. XIX Mustapha the first of that Name Ninth Emperour of the Turks his Life and Actions AChmat being dead Mustapha his Brother the First that had been saved alive since the foundation of the Ottoman Empire succeeded him by his appointment his Children of which Osman was the Eldest being too weak to sway the Scepter of so mighty an Empire So that this Mustapha brought from a straight Prison every day expecting Death now advanced to a Throne to rule the East forgeting his former devout Life began to Tyrannize over his Subjects more then his Predecessors which caused him to be hated of many especially for that he imprisoned the French Ambassador and his servants breaking thereby the Law of Nations upon pretence that they had been instrumental in the escape of Prince Coreskie out of the Black Tower who by the assistance of a Greek Priest descended from the top thereof on a rople Ladder drawn up by a bottom of Packthred brought in a Pie to the said Prince by the Ambassadors Secretary though contrary to his knowledge with the Prince likewise escaped one Rigaut a French Captain who by the assistance of the said Priest disguised in Priestly Vestments for that purpose prepared got passage into Italy notwithstanding all the Ports were beset with their pursuers Nor was the Ambassador only imprisoned but his servants and himself evilly intreated especially the former two of which were put to the torture according to the Turkish manner which
is to Iay them upon their Belly on a Table and to beat their Buttocks the Calves of their Legs and Soles of their Feet with a flat staff giving them ere they cease 100 or 200 blows yet the Servants confessed nothing whereupon they caught a Weaver being a Turk whose Shop was near the Ambassadors house whom they tortured in the like manner but he as the others had done could reveal nothing against the Ambassador who for all that was obliged to pay 30000 Sultanies for his own release and his Servants These and such like insolencies together with the Imprisonment of young Osman and his Brethren made the Grand Vizar who was then on the Confines of Persia to haste to Constantinople with his Army at whose approach Osman was taken out of Prison and Proclaimed Emperour so suddain are the changes of fortune in great as well as little affairs and the proud Sultan Mustapha inforced for fear of the inraged Souldiers to betake himself again to his Cell or rather Prison where for a while I shall leave him and relate what happened during the Reign of Osman CHAP. XX. The Life and Actions of Osman the First of that Name Tenth Emperour of the Turks THE Uncle after he had proudly Tyrannized for the space of two Months being deposed the Nephew was advanced to his Fathers Throne being not full Thirteen years of Age wherefore he was wholly governed by the Vizar Bassa as was also the whole Ottoman Empire when the first thing of moment that happened was the complaint of the French King by two Gentlemen sent for that purpose by whom he demanded reparation of the new Emperour for the indignity he had sustained by the Imprisonment of his Ambassador and the evil treating of his Servants letting him understand that he could not send any other Ambassador to his Court to condole the Death of Sultan Achmat his Father nor congratulate his coming to the Empire till he had received satisfaction from him becoming his dignity and the wrongs he had received in his Ambassador The Grand Vizar and Mufti hearing this Embassie and considering what had passed advertised the young Emperour to send an Ambassador to the most Christian King to Confirm the League and to testifie both by Words and Letters how much he was dissatisfied for his discontent whereupon Vri Chiaus was sent with ample instructins and so great an acknowledgment of the wrong done to the Baron of Mole that the French King rested satisfied and calling the said Ambassador home he sent the Earl of Sezi to succeed him as Ambassador at Constantinople The War continuing between the Turks and Persians about this time a great Battle was fought between them wherein the Turks prevailing put the Persians to flight with the lost of Ten Thousand of them and thereupon the Bassa General of the Turkish Army prosecuting his victory entered into the heart of Persia wasting with Fire and Sword all that stood in his way but at length having through daily skirmishes with the Enemy and Diseases arising from want and evil Diet lost a third part of his Army he accepted of the Sophies proposals of Peace which were that he would yearly pay the Tribute of Silks and at present relieve his Army with all things necessary This Peace concluded by the Bassa was allowed on by the Emperour and Ratified at Constantinople whereupon Two Hundred Cammels laden with Silks were for many years after sent to the Emperour according to Agreement Anno 1618. A fearful Comet was seen over the City of Constantinople in form like a Turkish Scimiter placed near unto the Zenith under the Horizon of a fiery colour appearing very terrible for the space of eight nights which made many conjecture it the forerunner of great bloodshed Vri Chiaus returning out of France after he had dispatched his affairs at that Court came into England where he was received and conducted to the Court and had Audience of King James his Speech being as followeth The Most True Incomprehensible and Most High God increase and multiply your Majesties years in all happiness Amen O Thou Lord of the World THE most invincible most mighty and most happy Sultan Osman Chan of the Othoman Empire Monarch sendeth to your excellent Majesty a hundred thousand Salutations and Greetings evermore praying the most High God for your Majesties happyness sendeth to your Highness with all possible Honour and Renown this his Imperial and most Noble Letter and with all hopeth that the Sacred bond of Peace which hath been hitherto inviolably on your Majesties part kept and observed your Majesty will be pleased still on your part with daily increases of more and more Friendship earnestly to continue therein And his Imperial Majesty on his behalf is also resolved in like manner evermore punctually to keep and continue the same Also the most Mighty Emperours Tutor and his chief Visier Bassa hath addressed to the dust of your Noble Feet this his most Honourable Letter with a Thousand commendations praying everlastingly the Mighty God for Your Majesties long Lise and Happyness Also Your Majesties Ambassador at Constantinople your slave Paul Pindar bowing his forehead to the dust of your Majesties Feet and most humbly kissing your Highnesses blessed Feet hath directed unto your Majesty this his submissive Letter This Speech ended and the Emperours Letter delivered with such other as the Chiaus brought he was by the Kings command in great splendor conducted to his Lodging where after five or six days stay he came again to Whitchall and made his conjue of leave upon his departure in these words as near as they can be Translated out of the Turkish Language Most happy Emperour as I have with my own hands howing my self to the dust of your Princely feet presented unto your Excellent Majesty the most mighty and high Sultan Osman my Lord and Master his Imperial Letter so likewise I beseech your Majesty that you will be pleased in conformity thereof to vouchsafe your Princely answer by your noble Letter and to deliver the same into the hands of me your slave and be ever partaker of all blessedness and happiness After he had made this Oration and received the Kings Letters he was conducted to Dover by several of the Nobility where imbarking in one of His Majesties Ships he sailed to Constantinople Anno 1619 great trouble arose in Bohemia upon the Emperours sending an Army into that Country to suppress the Protestant Religion there flourishing so that the Protestants tired with the cruelties of the popish Souldiers sent to Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania to acquaint him with the state of their affairs who after he had obtained leave of the Grand Signeour came with an Army of Eighteen Thousand men into Hungary and took many Towns spoiling the Countrey as he went nor so contented but he entered Austria Stiria and Carinthia subdued all before him without opposition but fearing if the Bohemians should be subdued the storm would sall upon him
covetous Souldiers whom Mustapha had continually supplyed with the Imperial Treasure to support his bad Title to the Turkish Diadem that Money was wanting to supply necessary occasions Insomuch that the Janizaries were obliged to remit the Largess usually bestowed upon with an Augmentation of their pay at the Coronation of every Emperour and that money which was found was for the most part adulterated insomuch that the Visier sent to the Ambassadors of the Christian Princes residing there to borrow Thirty Thousand Dollars and narrow search was made after the Treasure that had been conveyed away by the Bassa's that bore sway during the distraction in which search Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars were found that had been imbezled by the Visier Darut During these Transactions Abassa Bassa had possessed himself of all most all Asia whereupon it was thought necessary by fair means to perswade him to lay down his Arms and the rather to induce him so to do the Emperour sent unto the Capigi Bassa with a Vest Sword and Letters of Credence giving him thanks for the love he had shewed to his Brother and his Blood but now the revenge belonged to himself of which he would take care and therefore desired him if he were a true subject as he professed himself to be to return to his Government of Arzirum after having dissolved his Army and there to rest till further occasion required his service Upon this order from the Emperor he excused himself that the far advancement of the season would not permit him to retire but promised to live in peace until the spring and then to return in obedience to his Government Nor was this all for the Bassa or Emir of Sidon was up in Arms and with an Army of Thirty Thousand men had seized the strong City and Castle of Damascus and was supposed to hold confederacy with the Christian Princes being himself no favourer of the Mahometan superstition and besides he was a Prince by descent and claimed a right to those Countries as the antient inheritance of his Predecessors nor was the Emperor in a condition to repress him by force therefore intreaties were used as to the former with many large promises nor was the Transilvanian Prince quiet though in a different nature for contrary to his League with the Emperor in a hostile manner he entered Hungary and possessed himself of several Towns To oppose whom the Imperialists raised a considerable Army and incamped in the way he was to pass yet was his coming so suddain that he cut off seven hundred straglers of the Imperialists and had surprized the Camp had not the alarum been given by some that fled yet with his whole Army he so pressed them that they were forced to betake themselves to a small Town Ghoding upon the River of Moran where they Fortified under a Castle that defended it but in the end oppressed with cold and hunger they sent to the Prince to make truce which with the consent of Sultan Morat was accorded on these considerations First That the Emperour should disclaim all right to Hungary and should leave the people free under the Government of the Prince of Transilvania Secondly That the Prince and all the Provinces that had sent their Ambassadors to the Port and had made league with him and had taken the Imperial protection should be restored to their antient Liberty and Estates Thirdly That the Emperor should pay an annual Tribute of forty thousand Dollars pretended to be granted in the dayes of Solyman for Austria and that the Prince and the Bassa of Buda should have full power if they found it convenient at any time to conclude a Peace on the part of the Ottoman Emperor and that all Cities Towns and Castles should remain in the hands of those that possessed them a free intercourse of Trade being allowed between the Subjects of the one and the other Empire This done the Prince of Transilvania made shew as if he would redeem all the poor Captives taken by the Turks at his own charge with some small assistance from the Imperialists upon whom he layed the fault that it was not done for as much as they failing to send their Commissioners to treat about the matter the Turks in the night time decamped and carried away with them contrary to his pleasure twenty thousand Christians into miserable Captivity He likewise warned the Turks to keep in order and not to straggle in their retreat nor to commit any insolency or spoil for that the Country was all in Armes and already inraged but they not following his Council two thousand Hungarian Horse fell upon their Rear and cut off six hundred of them whereupon they turned head and destroyed many Villages killing and taking Prisoners all that came to hand and amongst the rest one of the Hungarian Lords By this time the Persian desirous to dismember the Ottoman Empire with a powerful Army entred the Turkish Dominions in the Province of Babylon and greatly Alarumed that City whereupon a war was proclaimed against him at the Port and all Souldiers in the Emperors pay commanded to repair to the rendezvous upon pain of Confiscation and their wives and children being sold for slaves it was likewise propounded that a reconciliation should be made between the Emperor and Abassa Bassa at any rate least he should joyne with the Persian and that being so gained he might be imployed as General of Turkish Army but the Janizaries would not hear of the advancement of their mortal enemy but rather â—esired to be led against him and fight it out to the utmost but the Spahi were of another mind as rather inclinable to the Bassa yet the Janizaries displaced their Aga for disswading them therefrom and set up in his stead a page of the Court. Thus whilst it was unresolved how to proceed the Persian King omitted no opportunity but Conquered the Province and City of Babylon put to flight Hafis Bassa General of that defensive war and took prisoner Chur Hassen Bassa a renowned old Souldier and cutting in pieces all that opposed him found means to seize upon Mosul antiently called Ninivie and Laska on the Persian Sea and dividing his Army sent part towards Van and Diarbeck and the other towards Mecha incompassing by that means all that part of the Turks Dominions About this time his Majesty of Great Brittain by his Ambassador residing at Constantinople complained of the injuries his Subjects Trading in those Seas had sustained by the Pirates of Argier and Tunis who in two years space had taken about one hundred English Vessels most of them richly laden wherefore the Ambassador demanded that they might be punished for violating the League and be forced to restore such Vessels with their lading as were found not to be imbezled or that they might be left to his Majesty to punish without any offence to the Grand Seigneour but many of the Bassas being interested in those Piracies nothing more could be procured then a
Officers intimated to Sir John Finch His Majesty of Great Britains Embassador that he might if he pleased receive Audience of the Visier but upon notice what had happened to the French Embassador he excused his going on pretence of an indisposition of body But however Venetian Dutch and Genoan Residents were content the better to curry favour with the Visier to be admitted to Audience on those terms which the Visier would vouchsafe to allow them for though during the time he was Chimacam as is aforesaid he was meek and humble yet being placed in the highest dignity next the Sultan the unexpected Exaltation made him so far forget himself that his pride knew no bounds These things happening and no hopes of accomodation with Poles who by this time had Elected Sobieski for their King great preparations were made for the carrying on that War The Tartar Han in order thereto receiving express command to take the Field which early in the Spring he did and entering Lithuania committed many outrages but being incountered by Sixteen Thousand Poles and Cossacks his Army was put to the rout and in great confusion obliged to repass the Neister leaving behind him all the booty which consisted mostly of People and Cattle during which the Bassa of Kemenitz with a great Body of Horse made an Inroad even to the Walls of Leopolis which caused the King to send his Queen and Children to Cracow resolving to give the Turks Battle and in order to strengthning his Forces summoned all the Polish Nobility to repair to his Standard putting himself and such Troops as he had between the City and the Enemy the better to alienate the fears of the people who upon the approach of the Turks who burnt up all before them had fled and left the City desolate had not the Gates been closed upon them The Turks perceiving the great preparations that were making against them thought fit with such booty as they had gotten to retire into Vckrania but in their retreat were charged by the King with such bravery that Seven Thousand of them were killed and a great number of Captives rescued to their unspeakable joy They finding the Turks were resolutely bent to carry on the War and that the Kingdom was greatly weakned by the Provinces they had already rent from it the better to strengthen himself by Alliance by the Advice of the Senate sent his Embassador to the Court of the Czar of Moscovy to solicite Aid against the common Enemy who upon his arrival was received with great expression of Joy and due Ceremony being dayly heightened with fair promises to expect great matters but in the end nothing worth mention came on it yet it so wrought upon the Turks that for the better preservation of what they had already required the Visier began to be intent on peace but his propositions were so unreasonable that the Poles generously refused them and early in the Spring prepared to take the Field with a puissant Army yet could not so soon draw them together but that the Tartars living on the Frontires joyning with some revolted Cossacks committed divers out-rages burning about Two Hundred Villages carrying away a great number of Christians into miserable captivity whilst Podolia groaned under the oppression of the Turks who now turned their clemency into rigour killing and carrying away great numbers of these distressed people burning their Houses and robbing them of the small matter they had left in such a manner that that fruitful Countrey was layd almost desolate to oppose which Torrent the King drew out his Forces and by fair promises and large gifts procured Threâ— Thousand Cossacks to joyn him when passing thâ— Neister and falling upon the Straglers as they at pleasure were ravaging the Countrey expecting no such matter and killed Five Thousand amongst whom fell One Bassa and Two Sanziacks but upon notice the Tartars in great number was entered the heart of Poland leaving some of his Troops under the Command of Witnowitzki his Lieutenant General he posted to oppose them but upon notice they were Forty Thousand lead by Expert Turkish Commanders he drew near to Leopolis to encourage that City which otherwise terrified at the approach of so great an Army might have been deserted when finding the Tartars made divers halts having put a Garrison into the City and given such necessary orders as he thought convenient he marched towards them and having notice by his Scouts that they approached he commanded his Army to extend large in Front and the Wings of Horse to lie off that they might seem more in number than they were he resolutely descended from a small Hill into the Plain and after having thrice proclaimed the Name of Jesus at the Head of his Troop fell like an unexpected Tempest upon the Infidels insomuch that the Front of their Army was overthrown before the Rear could come up to their assistance which putting them into a great confusion when perceiving the reserves advance to charge them in the flank and supposing the whole power of the Kingdom at hand by reason of great shout from the Hills made by the Rustick set there for that purpose they first gave back and in the end betook themselves to plain flight casting away many of their Arms and Baggage to make the swifter retreat upon whom the Polonian Horsemen followed hard making great slaughter of them for the space of Twelve Miles but night coming on to prevent the pursuers from falling into any ambush that might for that purpose be layed the King caused the retreat to be sounded and returning to the City Victorious he was received with all expressions of joy and the next day commanded a publick Thanksgiving for the Victory so miraculously obtained In this Battle Ninety Thousand Tartars Turks Moldavians and Valachians were slain Seven Hundred taken Prisoners and a great booty recovered of the Poles fell only Seven Hundred their whole Force not exceeding Six Thousand The reasons were gathered from some of the Prisoners why the Tartars c. were so suddenly discouraged were two first for that about ten in the Morning of the same day making a Halt abundance of Snow and Hail fell upon their Army and round about them none was seen to fall which they took as a bad Omen Secondly that when they perceived the large Front of the Polish Army which extended near a Mile they verily believed it to be the fore-runner of the Forces of the whole Kingdom which they had heard were in Arms and therefore having so far advanced into the Countrey and left many Enemies at their backs they feared to be inclosed which occasioned their hasty and disorderly retreat These reiterated Losses and the desire the Grand Signior had to possess himself of the rest of Hungary whose divisions gave him a prospect of reducing it to his Obedience made him more willingly hearken to the proposals of the Polish Embassador so that in the end upon much the same Articles as those
of Three Hundred Purses of Money each Purse being accounted Five Hundred Dollars yet the loss of these Ships wrought such effects that the Tripoles soon after concluded a peace with the French Matters being at this pass and the troubles increasing in Hungary Count Teckely still opposing himself against the Emperors Interest and useing his utmost endeavours at the Port to have himself proclaimed Prince of Transylvania the Emperor thought good to send an Ambassador to the Grand Seignior to put him in mind of the league between the two Empires desiring that it might be kept inviolable not any ways infringed by his giving countenance to his Rebels in Hungary which Ambassador upon his arrival had his Audience of the Grand Visier and a promise made him that a strict command should be sent to all his Beglerbegs and Sanzacks on the frontiers not upon pain of losing their heads to aid or countenance the Male-contents and being afterwards with the Grand Visier he assured him that the Grand Seigniors resolution should be maintained that thereby the peace and friendship Established between the two Empires might continue yet these specious pretences were to no other end intended then to protract time to make their own terms with the Rebels for soon after without the least provocation the Tables were turned and not only assisted them with all manner of Warlike provision but with Men and Money in consideration of several Towns to be put into their hands when taken They likewise made great preparations at Belgrade and Buda under pretence of deposing Abafti Prince of Transylvania and causing divers Janizaries to be attired like Hungarians and to serve Count Teckely as his guard The Turkish Pyrates of Argiers having broke the peace sometime since made with his Majesty of Great Brittain and taken several English Vessels and amongst others these by name viz. the Anne of London the John of Exeter the Thamar of Colchester the Post-horse of London the Rosemary of Yarmouth the William of London the amity of Plymouth the Fortune of London the Vnity of Barnstable and the Mary Land Merchant which last fought two Algerine Men of War almost one whole day but at last taking fire she together with most of her men perished To curb their insolency the Vice-Admiral Herbert with the Squadron of his Majesties Frigates under his command was appointed to cruze in those straights who with such success happened on those roving thieves that within the space of two years he took and destroyed forty of their Ships recovering a great number of Christian Captives and brought those Pyrates so low that not only they but those of Tripole and Sally were obliged to truckle and receive such terms of peace as the Victor would allow Amongst the many ingagements that happened during the space aforesaid this is remarkable on the 8th of April 1681. Captain Booth in the Adventure Frigate cruzing to the Leward got sight of a great Turks Man of War with a prize which she towed at her Stern the which upon a more full discovery proved to be the Golden Horse of Argiers mounted with upwards of Forty Guns and Five Hundred and Eight Men commanded by one Morat Raiza a Dutch Renegado with which about Ten in the Morning near Cape de Gal he began a sharp fight which continued till about Three in the Afternoon when the Algerine having her Main Mast shot by the Board and her Captains Thigh broken with a Musket Bullet the Turks were about to yield but seeing a fresh Ship with Turkish Colours which afterwards proved to be his Majesties Frigate the none-such Captain Wheeler Commander they took new courage and continued the fight with extraordinary Resolution till night at what time the Algerine had One Hundred and Twenty of her men wounded and near as many killed all her Masts shot by the Board and five or six foot deep of water in the Hold Captain Booth having likewise all his rigging cut in pieces and every thing out of order and apprehensive of ingaging in that condition with the said fresh Ship which he supposed to be an Enemy commanded the Calabash Fire-ship then attending him least the prize should escape to burn which of them she could most conveniently grapple which had been put in Execution had not the Fireships Boat been in the night time accidentally staved next Morning by break of day Captain Wheeler came up and being within half culvering shot put out the English Colours and bearing directly upon the Algerine siezed her without firing a Gun By this action thirty seven English Captives were redeemed and of Dutch and Spaniards One Hundred and Thirteen The Muscovite by this time beginning to dread the Tempest of War that was ready to fall upon him and not able of himself to resist such a power as the Grand Seignior had raised by reason of intestine troubles and despairing to be aided by the Polonians whom he had some years before deserted in their greatest necessity he thought it the safest to conclude a peace which by Presents and many intreaties he procured to be ratified for the space of twenty years It being the rather consented to by the Grand Seignior that he might be at leisure to turn his Armes upon Hungary in which so many of his Predecessors have been foiled Leopold the Emperor finding by experience that he had given too much credit to the Faithless Turks and it was but too apparent that they aided his Rebels He thought it convenient to call a Diet at Odenburg there to indeavour a Reconciliation and put an end to the intestine troubles which the Hungarian Nobility likewise urged and requested him to be present in the like Royal Robes as the Kings of Hungary were wont to apparel themselves in but he not consenting thereto after some debate and many particulars offered the Assembly broke up without concluding any thing whereupon Count Tecke'y siezed on several Garrisons on the Banks of the Waga and sent to the Bassa of Buda to hasten the Forces he had in a readiness for that he would have no peace with the Emperor unless his own proposals were granted upon receipt of which Letter Seventeen Thousand Turks passed the Danubius and made great spoil burning and destroying all the Villages for the space of Fourteen Miles till Teckely moved with the cryes of the poor Country people who fled like Sheep before them he sent an express to the Bassa that commanded them to restrain them from spoiling the Countries The news of these proceedings greatly troubled the Emperor then infested with the French who incamped upon the Rhine and had seized upon Strasburg a free City of the Empire yet like a prudent Prince he used many perswasions to reduce the Rebels to their former obedience publishing his declaration wherein he promised them all convenient liberty for the exercise of their Religion and that they should have a Palatine a native of Hungary offering likewise a general pardon for all that had passed but
to demolish it which was accordingly done During these Transactions his Imperial Majesties Embassador at the Port was flattered with a promise of renewing the League between the two Empires and conducted to his Audience with the usual Ceremonies which was only to protract time till the Turks had possessed themselves of such strong places as might render them formidable and give them hopes of annexing all Hungary to the Ottoman Empire but the German Princes perceiving their drift sent several of their own Troops to reinforce the Imperial Army under the Command of Count Caprara with whom the Count Strosoldo refusing to joyn in order to give the Turks Battle near Lewentz fell into the Emperors high displeasure being sent for to Vienna and for a while is suspended but upon his submission was again restored to favour Winter approaching Count Teckely sent Four Hussars to Count Caprara to procure of him a pasport for the safe passage of such Deputies as he intended to send to the Emperor to treat of a Truce which Hussars were by the Counts express Command Imprisoned till such time his Imperial Majesties pleasure was known therein but in the end they were released and the Deputies permitted to pass uncontrouled when after many debates a Truce was concluded for two Moneths whereupon Count Teokley by reason of the Difference between him and the Prince of Transylvania retired with the greatest part of his Troop to a strong place which together with some others in dowrie with the Princess Ragotski whom this year he had married The Turks for the most part Wintered in Temeswar Buda and New Hausel and the Imperialists on the Frontires of Austria and so ended the Campaign for this year Anno 1683. Early in the Spring the Imperialists and Turks taking the Field and several skirmishes happening between parties with various success The Count Wallastain his Imperial Majesties Minister residing in the Polonian Court dealt so effectually with that King that he resolving no longer to sit still and see the Infidels and Rebels insult over his Neighbouring Countries on the second of April pursuant to a treaty on foot signed an alliance with the Emperor by which he obliges himself to take the Field with between Thirty and Forty Thousand Horse and Foot to act offensively against the Turks and defensively against all other enemies to the German Empire in consideration of which the Emperor binds himself to have an Army of Sixty Thousand Men in readyness upon all occasions immediately to pay Twelve Hundred Thousand Florins and that himself and the Queen Dowager of Poland disclaim all Pretensions to the Crown of Poland and that neither Potentate enter into a treaty with the Turks tending to Peace but with a joynt approbation And that both Armies act separate unless Cracow or Vienna be besieged and then with United Forces to fall upon the Enemy into which Alliance it is expected the Czar of Muscovy will shortly enter to revenge the outrages done him by the Turks and Tartars who since the late Divisions have made divers incursions into his Countries This Alliance made known to the Grand Seigniour greatly perplexed him insomuch that he sent orders to all the Bassa's Begs or Sanzacks of Europe to raise what Forces they could to attend him in the Field himself resolving instantly to march to Belgrade whither the Great Visier with an Army of 60000 Horse and Foot marched before to joyn with the Tartars under the leading of Tartar Han or Cham and then to cover such places as Count Teckely who now seems jealous of the Turks shall besiege The better to take measures for the carrying on the War his Imperial Majesty on the 8th of April called a Council of War at Vienna where it was concluded that the Duke of Lorrain should be Generalissimus of all the Forces on that side and the measures concluded on were these that the Imperial Army the third of May should muster near Presburg to the number of 40000 men That General Schutz shall with 7000 men joyn with 6000 Polish Horse already on their march under the command of the Prince Lubomerski and that the Hungarian troops in conjunction with those making a body of 25000 men act in the upper Hungary and another body of 6000 Incamp near Leopaâ—stadt on the Waag and in case they find the Turks have a design upon that place to put themselves into it and besides these 10 or 12000 men to be posted on the confines of Moravia and Silesia to secure those Countries against the incursion of the Enemy This being the state of the Imperial Army designed against the Turks and Hungarian Rebels Count Teckâ—ey the better to secure himself and reinforce his Army sent out summons to the Nobility once more to be in Armes and as occasion served to oppose the Imperalists but most of them seemed unwilling to comply therein as abhorring to bear Armes against their Lawful Soveraign Whilst matters were thus carryed on that side the King of Sweeden has obliged himself to assist the Emperour with seven thousand Horse and Foot four thousand of which he intends to raise in Germany and the rest in his own Countries nor will the Elector of Bavaria who is in all likelihood shortly to marry the Emperors Daughter be wanting to send his Forces against the common Enemy The King of Poland the better to compleat the Quota he intends to summon the Arrearban of that Kingdom all the Nobility shewing a ready compliance to attend in the Wars his Army to the number of thirty thousand mustering near Leopol he advanced against the Turks who made divers incursions into his Territories on the Vkrain a party of whom advancing too far he cut off killing three hundred and taking a like number of Prisoners and following the success of his Arms he is preparing to besiege Caminieck a strong Fortress taken from the Poles by the Turks some years before and sent an Express to Count Teckley to inform him of the Alliance made with the Emperor and to let him know that unless he does immediately make Peace with his Imperial Majesty he shall be obliged to treat him as an Enemy These Menaces caused Teckley to draw up his Troops with great diligence and send immediately to the Visier of Buda for such Forces as by the Grand Signeours appointment were to joyn him that he might the better be able to defend himself till the gross of the Ottoman Army reported to consist of one hundred and fifty thousand men could arrive and immediately dispatched his Secretary to the Emperors Court to crave a truce but the proposals were so insignificant that he nothing prevailed For the Emperor in person having been at the Randezvous near Presburg in Hungaria was so well satisfied with the order of his men that he altogether contemned the Forces of the Enemy Yet to appear like himself he caused a general Pardon a third time to be published indemnifying all Hungarians and Germans that have been actually in
between the horse and foot and so render them unserviceable to each other The Duke sent away the Baggage under a convoy of six hundred horse towards Altemberg to seize upon which the Turks advanced with a party of three thousand horse so that a sharp dispute happened till the Turks by the courage of the Imperialists were obliged to a disorderly retreat but being reinforced by eight hundred fresh horse they rallyed whereupon the Duke of Lorrain and divers great Commanders with all convenient speed advanced and the Forces on either side encreasing the fight grew hot the Imperialists behaving themselves very resolutely but especially the Duke of Lorraine who with his Regiment of Guards charged through the thickest of the enemies squadron but the Turks power still increasing and the Imperialists not being so suddenly able to pass the River as the Action required after two hours resolute fighting those that convoyed the Baggage were most of them cut in pieces and to the value of forty thousand Guilders fell to the enemy and in the whole action twelve hundred Imperialists and seventeen hundred Turks were slain amongst the former the Prince of Savoy General Rabatta the Count d'Lamberg and Prince of Aremberg after which the Imperial horse having made good their retreat passed the River and joyned their foot who could not though they were speculators of the Action come up which gave the Turks this considerable advantage and so exalted their spirits that upon receiving a new supply of eight thousand foot they besieged Raab but received such welcome from the mouthes of the murthering Cannon that they were glad to draw off when having burnt some few Villages with what plunder they had got they marched to the Grand Visiers Camp upon which reinforcement he trussed up his Tents and marched directly towards Vienna the Imperial chief City scituate in Austria on the banks of the River Danubius burning and ruining all his way insomuch that the Imperial Army being found too weak to encounter him the Duke retired with it under the walls of that City to expect the Forces of the Confederate Princes whilst Count Staremberg Governour thereof who had been abroad with a party to observe the motion of the enemy was obliged to fight his way through the Vaunt-Corriers of the Turks Army to get into the City through which likewise the Duke of Lorraine passed when he had given such necessary orders as were convenient for maintaining a strenuous siege leaving therein eighteen or twenty thousand souldiers under the command of the aforesaid Count who sallying out fired the Suburbs dislodging and killing a great number of Turks that he found there plundering the houses and upon his return calling together the Chief Citizens he admonished them to behave themselves like men against the enemies or their Countrey and Religion from whom notwithstanding the specious pretences they might make they should receive little mercy at the hands of the Infidels if they became victors he likewise with speech and large promises of reward animated his Captains and souldiers whom he found resolved to live and dye with him in the defence of that City which is the glory of the Empire protesting rather to suffer the worst extremity then hearken to any surrender The Duke of Lorraine having passed through the City with his Army incamped himself strongly near Kremps resolving there to expect the King of Poland and the Troops of the Confederate Princess which were on their march and as opportunity offered both to encourage and succour the besieged whom by this time the Visier had with his Army consisting of one hundred thousand men blocked up being the flower of the Ottoman Empire running his Trenches with great celerity though to hinder it the Cannons from the walls incessantly played and the besieged frequently sallyed killing and repulsing the Infidels following the execution even to their Camp yet the number of their Pioniers increasing they under the shelter of the night and favour of their Cannon in two dayes lodged themselves running their works to a great depth leaving the earth arch-wise thinking so to reach the walls and blow them up by springing their Mines but such diligence was used by the German Enginiers that a great number of the Infidels were buryed in their works several poysoned by the stench of dead bodied they met with in their Subterranean Progress which had been buryed in the last plague which the 〈◊〉 perceiving commanded eight thousand 〈◊〉 to lodge themselves in the ruines and 〈◊〉 from six batteries containing thirty which Cannon he caused the City to be battered 〈…〉 without intermission and having thereâ—◠〈…〉 breach near the Carinthian Gate comâ—◠〈◊〉 his men to enter who in a desperate manner came on but were so warmly received by the besieged that after three thousand were slain upon the place they were obliged to retire which so enraged the Visier that he commanded them to make a second Attack which was done but with altogether as bad success as the former The City of Vienna thus straitned the Bishop of Aichstadt the Imperial Minister represented the danger it was in to the Diet for that purpose assembled at Ratisbone recommending it especially to the care of the Electoral Princes requiring them in the name of the Emperor to find out such effectual and speedy ways to raise men and money for its relief that it might not fall into the hands of the Infidels and thereby open a way for them to conquer all the Cities of Austria This matter being debated it was resolved that a fund of money should be speedily raised and all other necessaries provided for the subsistence and relief of the besieged and to stay the further progress of the Turkish Arms. Upon notice of which the Elector of Bavaria drew his forces into the field and ordered them to the number of ten or eleven thousand immediately to march and joyn the Duke of of Loraine whom they found encamped near Kreâ—ps Whilst these things were doing the Rebels under the command of Count Teckely made great spoil upon the borders of Croatia and Silefia besâ—eâ—ing and taking Budekim by storm ravaging and destroying all the pleasant places about it which put the adjacent Garisons into such consternation that several whether through fear or treachery iâ— uncertain put themselves under his protection whereby he was pussed up to that extravagance that he sent Summons to divers of the Nobility to attend him in Arms as their Prince under the Penalties of Confiscation Imprisonment and death which so afrighted divers that they came in but many there were whose Loyalty could not be shaken which so enraged the Rebel that he destroyed their Country dwellings and seized on whatsoever of theirs he could find By this time the Turks had far advanced their Trenches and began to throw their Bombs into the City whereupon the Citizens covered many of their houses near the wall with earth and with the shot of the Cannons from the
Buda which was performed in his Tent the Visier laying to his charge that he had basely and Cowardly suffered the overthrow of those Forces he was conducting to the Camp and had not afterwards taken timely care to recrait his Forces nor send provision and other necessaries to the Camp This Bassa thus made away one Hamet Chellif was made Bassa in his stead but long enjoyed not his honour for at the fight at Barkan he with divers other Bassas was slain as in the sequel of this History will appear The Visier having notice that the Christian Army had entred Hungary with a resolution to set down before some important place and that the Generals had eye upon Gran and New-Hassel he collected his scattered Forces to the number of twenty five thousand encamping near the walls of Stoel-Weissenburg but not thinking himself safe there retired before the Christian Army which marched with all diligence to find him out but the King and Duke having notice that the lower Hungary was intirely ruined and left desolate they repassed the Danube near Comora with a resolution to possesse themselves of Barkan 〈◊〉 Garison of the Turks covering the Bridg of 〈◊〉 and Pest over against Buda the better to secure their winter Quarters in the upper Hungary which the Visier mistrusting had posted there a body of ten or twelve thousand Janizaries and Spahies or Timarii whilst himself marched to Alba-Regalis to be at hand to joyn them in case they should be attacked and caused another small body drawn out of the Garrisons to possess the banks of the River Gran to hinder the Christians passing over But this letted not the progress of their Arms for the King of Poland by swift marches advancing a German mile and a half before the Imperial Army coming near Barkan the Turks came out in small parties to skirmish with whom and to attack the Garrison the King caused his Dragoons to alight who after some dispute caused the enemy to retire but their retreat proved only a design to draw the Poles into their Ambush for whilst the King furiously pursued six thousand Janizaries passing undiscovered behind a hill charged the Kings Battle so strongly in the Flank that piercing the Array they put it into some disorder the horse notwithstanding the King was present breaking rank and giving ground yet wheeling off he soon brought them to recover their order and continued the fight bloody and doubtful when being seconded by foot the Turks were slain in great numbers and about to fly had they not been reinforced by two thousand horse brought on by the Bassa of Buda who in the first charge was himself flain yet they obstinately maintained the fight which making the King doubt that the Visier with a greater power was at hand as having no certain intelligence of his march he sent an express to the Duke of Loraine to let him know he was engaged and to desire him to advance with all convenient speed which he did but not with such celerity as was expected by reason he had a long defile to pass but upon the first approach of his Troops the Poles retired to avoid the confusion they were falling into but being reinforced by six Regiments of Imperial Dragoons they again returned in good order and every where put the Turks to the rout following the execution to the Bridge of Barkan over which a few made their escape but the Bridge once broken and all hope of flight cut off they resolutely threw themselves into the River and their perished so that of the whole body a very small number escaped the sword and drowning unless eight hundred that were taken Prisoners amongst whom was the Bassa of Silestria and the Bassas of Buda and Aleppo fell amongst the slain which were not computed less then ten thousand upon which defeat the Garrison surrendred upon discretion in which was found a rich booty containing part of the spoils of Austria Croatia and Moravia In this Battle fought on the 9 of October thirteen hundred Poles and one hundred Imperialists fell the King himself was much indangered by the enemies shot and Prince Alexander his son had his horse shot under him none of note being killed on the part of the Christians but Kirotski a Polish Palatine This second overthrow greatly discouraged the Visier who was advancing to joyne this body but upon the news of the defeat he in great perplexity retired to Belgrade there to expect new supplyes whilst the King and Duke after thanks for this unexpected Victory returned to Almighty God kept on their way to Gran beating the stragling partyes appointed to let their passage and on the 18 of October coming near the City sent out a commanded party to burn the Suburbs the which after a hot dispute which such Turks as sallyed to prevent it in part they performed and thereupon prepared formally to besiege that important Garrison which no doubt will fall into their hands And now Tekely finding the ottoman sword too feeble to maintain his usurped Title and support him in his Rebellion sent his deputies to the King of Poland earnestly to implore his mediation with the Emperor to pardon his past offences and accept of his future obedience but that king not finding him real in his intentions refused to meddle in that affair And thus much Reader have I thought fit for your satisfaction impartially to recount and conclude with my hearty prayers to Almighty God that as the Christian Arms have been of late successful so may they continue till the haughty Infidels by sad experience know that the crucified God whom they impiously contemn blaspheme and revile is not only able to deliver his people from their merciless cruelties but in his just displeasure to break in pieces their aspiring Monarchy with a Rod of Iron FINIS
and so marching against the Enemy a dreadful Fight began the Turks charging with great Courage putting the Right-wing to flight and disordering their main Battalion So that Victory began to declare her self in favour of them when one of the Sultans chief Commanders out of some former grudge fell with the Squadron of Persian Horse under his Command to the Enemy and by that means turned the Scale of War so that the Turks who even now were Conquerors fled for their Lives nor durst the Sultan stay in his own Country but fled to Constantinople where of the Emperor he was kindly received and aided with what Force he could spare under the leading of an experienced Captain for which kindness he gave the Emperor the City of Laodicea Not long after this was Palelogus received into Favour and restored to his Dignity upon his solemnly swearing to be true and Loyal to him and his Sons which had not long been done â—'r the Emperor fell sick and dyed Reigning only three years and in his stend was Crowned his Son John a Child of six years old who was by the Emperors last Will bequeathed to the Tutorage of Arsenius the Patriarch and George Muzâ—la the letter of which being of mean Birth having raised for his Vertues and good parts by the departed Emperor which caused him to be greatly envyed by the Courtiers whereupon he assembling together desired to be rid of his Charge but every one seeming unwilling to undertake it he still continued with much Integrity but several having conspired against him of which Paleologus was Chief they during the Obsequies of the defunct Emperor slew him and several that they supposed Favoured him even at the Altar and in a short time Paleologus usurped the Empire not in the least regarding his former Oath About this time Mango the great Cham of Tartary stirred thereto by Amonius the Armenian King of whom he had received the Christian Religion Sent his Brother Haalon with a powerful Army against the Turks and Sarazens in Syria and the Land of Palestine who in the space of six Months over-run all Persia with the Countries adjoyning and came at length into Syria and took the great City Babylon at that time commanded by the Caliph putting all the Inhabitants to the Sword inriching his Soldiers with the spoil and passing from thence through Mesopotamia took the City of Rhoais and there being supplyed with fifty two Horse and Foot entering Syria he rased Aleppo and other strong Towns and soon after won Damasco when as the Sultan with his Wife and Children came and fell before him desiring him to spare his Country but in vain for he wasted all before him but being about to pass on to Jerusalem News was brought him of his Brothers death upon which he returned home yet at his departure for the good Will he bore the Christians he left his Son Abiga with 20000 Horse to aid them in Wars but Abiga hearing of his Fathers Troubles about his Establishment in the Empire departed with 10000 of the 20000 leaving the rest under the Command of Guirboca a valiant Captain who by some affronts put upon him by the Christians became their mortal Enemy yet letted not give battle to the Sultans Army of ten times to the number and not being aided by the Christians was overthrown wherein himself fighting couragiously with greater part of his small Army were slain and thereupon Antioch and most of the Towns holden by the Christians were taken by the Sultan Bandocador By this time the Tartars warring in the lesser Asia had driven Jathanites out of all his Dominions whereupon he fled to the Greek Emperor for aid or Refuge but ingrateful as he was not regarding the Kindness he had received at his Hands when he fled from Theodorus the Emperor he committed him Prisoner at large to the City of Aenus in Thrace appointing several to watch him so narrowly that he should not escape When Paleologus had Reigned at Nice two years he sent Alexus Stregopulus against the Despot of Epirus who raised Tumults in the West this man in his passage with a small Army by the Treachery of the Greeks dwelling in Constantinople found means to surprize that City and again annex it to the Greek Empire After it had been in the hands of the Latines fifty eight years for which service Alexus triumphed in Purple Robes wearing a Crown of Gold commanded that for one year following his Name next to his should be mentioned in all publick Prayer Psalms and Hymns But now the Son of Theodorius whose Right this Emperor had usurped coming to years of Discretion it bred much jealousie in him that lest any discontented Person espousing his Quarrel should pluck the Crown from off his Head and place it where it ought to rest Whereupon to render him unfit for Government he like a barbarous Wretch deprived him of his sight which his Aunt Queen of Bulgaria no sooner understood but with many Arguments stirred up her Husband to make War upon the Usurper and at the same time being solicited by the Sultan Jathanites to deliver him from his Confinement he with a great Power of Scythians his own Subjects entered the Empire wasting all before him with Fire and Sword hoping to surprize the Emperor in his return from his Expedition against the Despot of Servia but failing of him he turned to Aenus and took thence the Sultan the Citizens gladly delivering him to save their Lives and contenting himself with the spoil of Thracia he passed over Ister and returned into his own Country Jathanites the Sultan being set at Liberty by the King of Bulgaria for Grief of his great loss dyed not leaving any Dominions to his Children Yet not long after Gazan the great Cham of Tartary as his Vassals two of his Kinsmen of the Zelzuccian Family viz. Mesot and Rei-Cubades they in acknowledgment thereof paying him a yearly Tribute placed them in part of his Dominions and thus fell the Turkish Empire in the lesser Asia being Rent in pieces by the Tartars who afterward seized upon a great part of the Greek Empire they and the Fugitive Turks together possessing themselves of the Countries from Pontus and Galatia unto the Lyeian and Carian Seas and the River Eurymedon Anno 1270. King Lewis of France aided by Henry the Third of England and divers others resolved upon a second Expedition into the Holy-Land the years Truce being exspired he set out from the Haven of Marseilles with a great Fleet of Ships and coming before Carthage he found in the Port a great number of the Enemies Ships which he seized and after some light Skirmishes with those that kept the shoar Landed his Men and laid close Siege to the City which after many desperate though unsuccessful Sallies of the besieged sarrendered upon Condition to depart Carthage being won the King laid Siege to Tums to relieve which the King of Fez with a great Army of the Moors came down but
would have Petitioned for his Life when on the contrary without a Word speaking Cobelits drawing forth a Dagger stabbed him into the Belly for which he was presently hewn in pieces nor did Amurath long survive him but within three days after dyed of his Wound and was buryed in Prusia Anno 1390. of his Age 68 years and of his Reign 31 years To whom succeeded Bajazet his eldest Son who was no sooner Crowned but he caused his Brother Jacup to be strangled in his Presence with a Bow-string which wicked Precedent has ever since been put in Practice by the Othoman Kings and Emperors CHAP. X. The Life of Bajazet the first of that Name and Fourth King of the Turks his Wars and Captivity BAjazet a man of a Proud and haughty temper having taken upon him the Regency of his Father's Kingdoms fell heavily upon Servia not so much as vouchsafing to hear the Embassadors sent on their behalf which made the Princes of the West begin to consider their own estate and especially Vincelaus the German Emperor and Sigismond King of Hungary and not contented with the spiols of Servia he made several inroads into Bosan spoiling the Country and carrying away great booties when in the mean while the King of Caramania hearing of his Fathers death began anew to waste his Countries in Asia which caused Bajazet to send a great power who overthrew him and recovered all that was lost taking from him likewise his own Country which obliged him in humble wise to beg their restauration which Bajazet upon condition that he should from that time forward become his vassal restored About this time Philadelphia the only City the Christians had in Asia was besieged by Bajazets Power and after a straight Siege and no hopes of any succours delivered by the Citizens as a ransom for their Lives and Persons Having subdued Servia and the greatest part of Bosan he invaded Thessalia wasting it as he passed with fire and Sword even to the Walls of Thessalonica taking Neopolis in Greece and Joannia in Aetolia and afterward returning into Asia he there spent the Winter but Spring being come with all his Power he repassed the Hellespont and lay'd close Siege to Constantinople the seat of the Greek Emperor Emanuel Paleologus then Reigning who after he had been brought to great extremity went to the German Emperors Court to crave aid who together with many other Christian Princes sent an Army of 250000 under the leading of young Sigismond King of Hungary to oppose whom Bajazet raised his Siege and found them besieging Neocopolis from whence they drew into the great Plain and joyned Battle but by reason of the confusion that was in the Christian Army their Van being overcharged the Rear fled without striking a stroak so that the Turks getting the Victory with a far less number pursued so hard upon the Christians that the greater part of the Army was slain taken prisoners and drowned in passing the River Danubius After this great and unexpected Victory over the Christians occasioned by the emulation that arose amongst their great Commanders Bajazet returned to the Siege of Constantinople now out of all hope to be relieved where whilst he lay casting his eyes upon Despina the slain Despot of Servia's fair Daughter offered by her Mother his former Wife being dead he Married her and for her sake restored to her Brother Stephen all his fathers Principalities Aladin the Carramanian King being dead and his Son of the same name Reigning in his stead desirous to revenge the wrong Bajazet had done his Fathers Subjects coming to Aucyra surprised Temurtasses Bajazet's great Lievtenant but upon the approach of Bajazet with his Army he richly arraying begged his pardon and set him at liberty sending Embassadors to excuse them but Bajazet would not suffer them to come into his sight whereupon the young King gathering all the Power of his Country fought with him a great Battle but being far too weak for such an Enemy was overthrown he taken Prisoner by the Command of Bajazet delivered to Temurtases his Capital Enemy who for the disgrace he had put upon him caused him to be strangled which rash deed much grieved Bajazet the young Prince being his Sisters Son yet he seized upon the greatest part of his Kingdom though he had several Sons living and so inraged was he that he expulsed all the Mahometan Princes in Lesser Asia and seized upon their Territories whereupon they fled to Tamerlane the Great who having Married the daughter of the Cham or Emperor of Tartary and now returned from the Conquest of China he took them into his protection and being at the same time Solicited for aid by Emanuel the Greek Emperor he sent to Bajazet his Embassadors with many rich presents requesting him to cease from molesting his Allies but he in a proud manner not only rejected his presents but with many opprobrious words cast foul reproaches on him telling his Embassadors that he desired nothing more then to meet him in the field and with many taunting expressions dismissed them The report of which so throughly netled the Tartar that he resolved with a puissant Army to go against him being hightened thereto by Axalla his great favourite a Genoway by birth and friend to the Greek Emperor whose cause he daily solicited And Tamerlane who was a well-wisher to the Christians in his opinion differing little from them so well approved of all he said and having taken his leave of his Father-in-Law and his Wife with a powerful Army he passed the Mountains Marching through many Countries none daring oppose his passage till at length coming to Bachichich he mustered his Army and found it to consist of 800000 Horse and Foot of divers Nations to whom he gave general pay not having suffered the least wrong to be done in any Country through which he had passed Bajazet lying at the Siege of Constantinople and hearing the Tartar approached with a Power that covered the Countries as he passed he raised his Siege and contrary to Tamerlains Expectation but even as he wished came over with such forces as he could raise into Asia where he joyned with his Livetenant whilst the Tartars still came on having by this time passed Euphrates and taken all the Cities in their way that appertained to Bajazet and amongst the rest the great City of Sabastia once the chief Seat of the Turkish Sultan utterly rasing it putting all the Citizens to the Sword or as some Buryed them alive in deep Pits he caused to be digged for that purpose unless the Governour whom he set at Liberty to carry the News to Bajazet who was advancing 500000 Strong who upon the Governours coming into his presence demanded which was the greater Army he having seen both to which after having craved pardon he replyed that the Tartars Army must needs be the greatest by Reason he was Lord of far greater Countries whereupon Bajazet Laughing said out of doubt the sight of the
Tartars hath made this Coward so affraid that he thinketh every Enemy two The Armies being come near to each other upon the great Plains of Sennas he thought not good to joyn Battle presently by Reason the Evening approached yet many light Skirmishes happened between the Parthian Horsemen and the Forerunners of the Turkish Army but the next Morning either Hoast being set in Array after some Pause the charge was Sounded whereupon the Prince of Ciarcan Tamarlin's Kins-man with 40000 Horse charged the Turks in the Front and Piercing their Battle put the Jannizaries into disorder but venturing too far was there Slain whereupon Axalla Leading the Vaunt-Guard composed of Sciths and Parthians bore upon the left Wing of the Turks Army cutting in pieces and Bearing down all that oppos'd him at what time his Footmen coming to joyn with him he Faced the Batalion of the Jnnaizaries who behaved themselves Valiantly for the safety of their Prince who in the middle of them Fought on Foot which Fight continued Bloody and doubtful for the space of an Hour all the place being heaped with the Bodies of the Slain till at last the Tartars being overcharged gave Ground which Tamerlain from his Stand perceiving sent 10000 Horse to Reinforce them and other 10000 to Fight in the Rearward and at the same time sent his Foot-men who fell in with the Turks main Battle that remained yet unshaken with such fury that making them give way he opened them to the Rear of the Jannizaries wherein was yet the Person of Bajazet who sustained the greatest Brunt of the Fight but at last overpowered with number they were forced to give Gronnd at what time Tamerlain coming on with 50000 fresh Horse Bore down all before him till he came to the Jannizaries who always Fight in the Heart of the Army and they weary and not able to make sufficient resistance were trodden down on all sides so that the Battle Swerving the Turks betook themselves to Flight and amongst the rest Bajazet wounded as he was who afterwards fell into the Hands of Axalla together with his Son Musa The Despot of Servia and many others of note This great Victory fell to the Tartars chiefly by the revolt of a great number of Bajazet's men who were raised in the Countries of the Mahometan Princes expulsed who in the Heat of the Battle seeing their natural Lords under Tamerline's Standard went over to ' um This Fight lasted Bloody and doubtful from Seven in the Morning till four in the Evening wherein as many report 200000 on either side were Slain and amongst the rest Mustapha Bajazets Son with most of his great Commanders After this Bajazet being brought before Tamerlain and demanded why he oppressed the Christians and made War upon so Noble a Prince as was the Emperor of Greece to which he replyed Even the same thing that hath moved thee to invade me even the desire of Glory and Soveraignty and why said Tamerlain do you use such Tyranny over those you Conquer without Respect of Sex or Age That I did said he to give the greater Terror to my Enemies Ah what wouldst thou have done with me said Tamerlain if it had been thy Fortune to have had me in thy Power I would said the haughty Turk not Conquered tho overcome have put thee in a Cage of Iron and have carryed thee in Triumph about my Kingdom Even so said Tamerlain shalt thou be served and thereupon commanded him out of his presence and as he had determined shortly after Cooped him up in a Cage of Iron and carryed him into the Countries he Conquered whose Calamity may well serve as a memento to all aspiring Mortals by putting them in mind that the Worldly Glory is not perminent After this the Greek Emperor sent his Ambassedor to Tamerlain in his Name to deliver up his City and Empire but he refused saying he had Dominions sufficient of his own and after having seen the City and wondered at its fair Structures and Riches he taking leave of the Emperor he passed with his Army into Egypt to be revenged on the Sultan for assistng Bajazet against him with 30000 Mamalukes having first subdued all or the greatest part of all the Turks Dominions in Asia and intirely restored Europe to its rightful possessors and meeting with the Sultan he overthrew his Army consisting of 174000 Horse and Foot and so wining Damasco Jerusalem Damiata Cairo and most of the Cities in Egypt Syria Lybia and other Eastern Countries making all the Kings as he passed become his Tributaries he left Calibes a great Captain with the greatest part of his Army to pursue the Egyptian Sultan and secure what he had won having news that his Father in Law was sick and that his Wife was desirous of his Company he returned into his Country but ' ere his departure Bajazet as desperate and impatient of his Misfortune had beaten his Brains out against the Bars of his Cage as the mos Authentick Authors affirm tho the Turks say he was set at Liberty by Tamerlain who beforehand had caused to take Poyson of which within three Days he dyed tho their saying is very unlikely to be true but however he was Buryed in Prusa by his beloved Wife Despina Anno 1399. having Reigned seven years and kept under restraint two years CHAP. X. The Life of Mahomet the first King of the Turks and the restorer of their Kingdom ruined by the Tartars THough Historians somewhat vary about the Successor of Bajazet yet the most Credible do affirm that his Son Mahomet several of his other Brothers being slain and carried away Captive succeeded him and that the rest might be mistaken in the Name This Mahomet when his Father was taken Prisoner was but fifteen years of Age having been by him appointed his Successor for the great Hope he saw in him for the recovery of the broken and much shattered Kingdom When Mahomet entered upon Kingly Authority the Tartars possessed a great part of the before Turkish Dominion but the Remains of the scattered Army and other Aids resorting to his Standard after the departure of Tamerlain he recovered many Cities some by Force and others by Revolt from the Tartars and not long after in a great and bloody Battle overthrowing Inal Ogly Tamerlain's Lieutenant he advanced more boldly and charged Costor Ogly and Kinpeck Ogly two more of Tamerlain's great Captains whom he likewise overthrew and following his good Fortune passed into the lesser Asia of which Tamerlain having Notice sent for him with a Promise to give him one of his Daughters in Marriage to whom he intended to go but by the way being often forced to fight through the Ambushment of the Tartars he fearing it was a Design to take him Prisoner returned to his Government excusing himself to Tamerlain's Ambassador and sending one of his own Ambassadors to give the reason of his not coming upon Notice of which and that the Turks still prevailed Tamerlaine prepared for