great difficultie yea and somuch the rather for that the Turkes themselues will not willingly yeeld their consents that the Tartarians shall take that way for feare least they should wast their countrey The first time that they passed to this present warre they tooke the way of Premisla and in their returne they went home by Seuerino but after that they were discomfited and ouerthrowne by the Walachians and Transyluanians to the end they might more easily saue themselues in their returne homewardes they tooke the way last before named §. XXXI BEsids the Tartarians aboue mentioned there are also certain other Tartarians called Giebeli which may be to the number of about two thousand they handle the Scimitarre and the Bow they weare a Salate and a Iacke whereupon they haue gotten the name of Giebeli that is to say men of armes They dwel commonly in Dobruccia between the Danowe and the Ruines of the wall that was caused to bee made by the Greek Emperours from Gorasui neere to Silistria as far as Constane vpon the banke of the Greeke Sea These Tartarians do the Turkes verie often vse because they would make the worlde beleeue that the Tartarians of Crimo are come to assist and succour them and so causing these few Tartarians to passe ouer on this side of the Danowe for they dwell in the vttermost parte of Moldauia beetweene the Niestro and the Danowe euen vntil they come to the great sea in the Sangâ—ack-ships of Bendero and Achermano whereof I tould you somewhat but a little before they doe mightily encrease the rumor of them and breede a great feare in our people Lastly I will conclude this discourse touching the Tartarians with a conceite worthie of consideration and memorie and it this that as the Tartars of Europe in the time of the Romanes went euen as farre as Persia by the way of Demir-Capi that is to say the iron gates a place verie famous and renowmed in regard of Alexander the great passing through the countrey of the Georgianes euen so the verie selfe same way was taken in our daies particularly by Osman Bassa who therein did greatly labour to imitate or rather to ouergo Domitius Corbulo and Pompeius Magnus as yee may reade in Tacitus and Dion §. XXXII THe Circassians sometimes called the Zighi are by the Polackes named Pientzcorschii that is to say the Inhabitants of fiue mountaynes and therefore they are also tearmed Quinque-Montani i. Fiue-Mountayne-men They doe not reach to the Caspian Sea as some haue written but only to the Cimmerian Bosphorus to the Poole Maeotis and to the great-Sea Some of them are Freemen but some of them are tributaries to the afore named Tartar of Crimo They liue all after the Superstions and rites of the Graecians They goe with the Turkes to warre but they serue them euen for poore pouertie They vse to sell one another of themselues and many of them are become Sclaues as well by the way of Mengrellia and by the Tartarians with whome they haue to doe sometimes as also by the meanes and conueniencie of Asaf which is a Forte belonging to the Turke at the mouth of the riuer Tanais They are well accounted of for their good disposition and liuely courage In the time of the Souldanes all the Mamalukes almost were Circassians and thereupon came the Mamalukes to be called by the Turkes Zercas In Circassia was Osman heretofore ouerthrowne by the Cassacchi what they are it shall be told yee in due place in his returne from Persia to Constantinople after he had passed the Riuer Phas or Phasis which is so famous for the Golden Fleece in Mengrellia which is vpon the great-Sea in the confines of Trabisonda a Riuer which Pompey durst not passe ouer when he pursued Mithridates for feare of the Tartarians the Circassians and other people neere thereaboutes And let thus much suffice to be spoken of the Tartarians and Circassians The Turke is also wont sometimes to inuite the Curdians or Gurdians to his warres who are Mahometanes and liue like Freemen and are verie couragious They dwell in the region of Bagadat and in that part thereof which now is called Curdistan that is to say Chaldaea named by the Arabians Keldan Some are of opinion that they may one day do great hurt to the Turkish Empire Some thinke the same also of the Drusians who are souldiours by profession and dwell in the Mountayne Libanus as also of the Arabian Bandoliers who are Lordes and Maisters of the Champeine as sometimes our Fuorusciti or outlawes are wont to be among vs. But in trueth I do doubt that the Maiestie and State of that Empire shall haue small cause to feare either the first who do inhabite but a small countrey or the second who are but some few Mountaine people or to be briefe the last who are indeede a confused number of theeues Now lastly it will bee verie conuenient that I shewe vnto you the strength and forces of that Empire that is to say how the great Turke is able to prouide himselfe and his Armies with victualles with Armour and with Munition aswell by land as by Sea For in vaine were it to haue an Armie and not to be able to arme and feede both men and cattell or to make an Armada without timber and people I will also by the way touch vnto you how these prouisions of the Turkes may bee either stopped or verie hardly be brought vnto him and by the knowledge thereof it will the more easily appeare what the enimie can by all likelihoode doe against vs. § XXXIIII ANd to beginne with victualles as a thing more necessarie then any other prouision whatsoeuer for the maintainance of an Armie most certaine it is that the Turke wanteth not corne For he may haue great store of it out of Asia and to conuay it into Hungarie he hath many diuers and sundry wayes But that which is by the great Sea at the mouth of the Danow hath no good free passage in regard of the Walacchians who do now depende vpon the Transyluanian That by Constantinople is to long a iourney and yet there can none be caried that way neither The most free and easiest way of all the rest for this purpose is that by Sea to Salonicchi and from thence by the way of Scopia to Belgrado where the countrey being verie plaine and euen the Turkes may verie commodiously make their conuoyes and much better they might do if they had any cartes In Europe the Turke hath not now any great coÌ„moditie of victualles For Maldauia and Walachia although they be Prouinces that are by nature verie fruitfull of Barley and Wheate yet by the occasion of this present warre they are beecome almost altogether vnfruitfull not onely because they are not now sowed as heretofore ordinarily they haue beene but also beecause that little which the grounde yeeldeth is purloyned by
by Countrey an Albanian of a towne of the Cicalessi in the territorie of Elbasana This man was Bassa of Cairo in Egypt in the yeare 1582. at what time beeing recalled to the Court because he was accused of diuerse misdemeanours hee was in a great doubt with himselfe and almost indeede resolute eyther by fight to saue himselfe or else to retyre towardes Ormuz and so to passe into the Indies but yet at last to Court hee went where beeing imprisoned and afterwardes raunsomed by his Stewarde for fiue hundred Crownes and nowe againe by his witte remounted to so high an honour he will in mine opinion passe a great way further if he liue He is a man verie wise and gracious a great enemie to the Iewes and a friend to the Christians § VI. THe chiefe Generall in the Campe before the battaile at Agria was Hibraim borne in the prouince of Herzecouina and cosin to the grand-Turke Hee is a man of small braine and most vnfit for any commaund but liberall and pleasant or rather fantasticall and ridiculous He calleth the Sate of Venice and the State of Ragugia his Cousins He sayth he will take Milan with an Armada or fleet of shippes and surprise the Isle of Malta by making a mine vnder the Island with diuers other such like fooleries He sheweth himselfe greatly inclined to peace not onely because he is verie timorous but because he would please the Ladie Sultane Mother to the great Turke and also his owne wife §. VII TO Hibraim there succeeded Sinan Cicala for that in the last fight with the Christians as the one shewed himselfe verie vnfit for so principall a gouernment so was this man iudged to be very valourous euen by the Turkish Emperour himselfe because he had brought backe the Armie saued him his life and left the issue of the battaile doubtfull Whereupon he thought him worthie not onely of such a charge but also of the chiefe Visiership Yet at the last he was depriued both from the one office and from the other because he went about somewhat too boldly to aduise and counsell the Emperour that he would not giue so much credite to the Sultane Ladies and especially to his mother who because they would not loose his companie sought by all possible meanes to make him an effeminate and cowardly person and in the end hee was banished into Bursia a Cittie in Asia sometime the seate of the Ottoman Princes where hee remained not without danger of his life For the mother as women are wont to do which either loue or hate extreamly ceased not daily to entreate her sonne that he would cause him to be put to death because shee could not endure that a slaue should be so bould as to goe about to bring her into disgrace This did Cicala feare and great reason he had so to do not onely in regard of the vnstayednesse and inconstancie of the Prince and the great affection which he bare to women but also because he knewe that Hibraim being now returned to Constantinople at the instant suite of the Sultane Ladies and especially of his wife for the chiefe Visier being once displaced cannot returne againe vnlesse he recouer his former degree he would continually persecute him and foster the quarrels that were lately picked against him by the adherents and followers of Ferat who was an arrant enemie to Sinan with whome Cicala had combined himselfe euen to his death Notwithstanding Cicala being verie rich of a good wit and great valour and especially verie skilfull in Land warfare as one that was trayned and brought vp in the wars of Persia it is to bee thought that if hee can escape these first violences of his Lorde he will with such dexteritie manage the matter as he will recouer that which is lost For so did hee after his depriuation from the Generalshippe of the Sea which was taken from him not so much in regard of the suspition conceiued for his brothers going to Constantinople as to giue satisfaction to the State of Venice whome the Turke himselfe was verie willing to content The malice that Cicala bare to that common wealth beganne and was grounded vpon a discourtesie that he tooke against them whiles hee was but yong and a Christian onely forsooth beecause the Venetian Galeyes had detained a Galeon of his fathers He is by his fathers side a Genowaye but his mother was a Turke of Castelnuouo and himselfe was borne in Messina He is verie respectiue of courtesies and reuengefull of iniuries offered vnto him He hath to his wife a Neece of the daughter of the late Rustem Bassa and of a daughter of Sultan Soliman shee that not long agoe with incredible expences made a verie long conuayance of water in the desertes of Arabia for the benefite and ease of the Pilgrimes that go to the Mecca or Macca as the Arabians tearme that Cittie which ioyntly they call Medina Alnabi that is to say the Cittie of the Prophet meaning thereby that Impious Seducer Mahomet Which Gentlewoman being now mother-in-lawe to Cicala is verie famous in these times for that she was the chiefest perswader of the last Emperour Amurath to moue warre against the Christian Emperour for the death of her onely deare Son who was slaine with Hassan Bassa in the battail at Cupa §. VIII THere was Generall or rather Lieutenant for all Hungarie from Belgrado hetherwardes in the yeare last past one Giaffer the Eunuch by Nation an Hungarian He was depriued of that charge for the same reasons for which Hibraim was depriued He hath warred in Persia vnder Osman Sinan and Ferat vntill he was made Bassa of Tebrisio now cal Tauris where being besieged by the Persians hee shewed great valour wisedome and liberalitie § IX HAssan Bassa borne at Herzecouina sometime the Dukedome of Santa Saua is now the Beglerbey of Grecia as we call it but of Rumelia as the Turkes tearme it for the Greekes call that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we call Europe by which name Romania not onely Asia was called as we reade in histories after the translation of the Romane Empire to Constantinople but also Europe and particularly Grecia This Herzecouina is a part of the Prouince of Bossina which stretcheth it selfe towardes Ragugia in the high way that leadeth to Constantinople The foresaide Hassan was sonne to Mahomet Soculeuich so called of Socol a place in the same Prouince of Herzecouina and was sometime Visier Azem that is to say the head of the counsell and chiefe gouernour of the Ottoman Empire vnder three Emperours which office or charge the Mamalukes in the gouernment of the Souldan of Cairo do call Diadar or Deuidar and the Grecians call it Protosymbolo Hee is verie well beloued of his Souldiours for his great pleasantnes iollitie Hee leadeth with him continually many women and through his great expenses is halfe banckroupt Hee hath beene in Persia and
of the most famous Captaines that euer fought with the Turkes and was otherwise called Iskander-Beg i. the Lord Alexander a name that was giuen him by Sultan Amurath when being his Hostage or Pledge he caused him to bee circumcised at seauen years of age for the Turkes at circumcision change the name as we vse to doe at baptisme This man fighting thus with the Turks being in this disarray had such victories of them as were most worthie of triumph Besides all this the Turkes when they do fight put more confidence in their Multitude in the opinion that they haue of Destinie in the noyse of their warrelike instruments and in the horrible cry of their barbarous shoutings then they haue in any good order or in true discipline And yet many good things they haue as namely a Supreme authoritie in their Captaine Generall an obedience in the souldiers though now it be somewhat diminished forces alwayes readie so that they shall not neede to go about begging of souldiers as our Princes doe who verie oftentimes make more account and better reconing of other mens forces thē they do of their own and to make a leauie of souldiers are enforced to euacuate and emptie their treasuries and to consume the greatest part of their time vnprofitably The Turkes spend their treasure either in matters of greatest importaunce or in bestowing liberally vpon their souldiers which is a most sharpe spurre to animate and encourage them to battail They neuer attempt any enterprise at a iumpe or vpon a soden They do not employ their forces in matters of small moment They vndertake no action but with order and great militarie preparation and for the most part they fight not out of season And although some be of an opinion that the Turkes want Engyners yet it is daily seene that with great facilitie and ease they ouerthrowe the greatest fortes and fortresses of the worlde whereof they make no account at all for sometimes they will corrupt the enimies officers with honours with gifts and with prouinces and sometimes they will make breaches into the walles with continuall batteries working with the mattocke filling vp the trenches and other whiles also ouerwhelming Citties either with huge artificiall mountaynes of earth or with vndermining and lastly disquieting the inhabitants with perpetuall and importunate assaults and neuer giuing ouer the enterprise till it be performed Moreouer they do not want any munition of Bullet Artillarie Powder For Bullet they alwaies make it when they haue neede of it For Artillarie they haue great quantitie of it at Constantinople at Pera at Belgrado and at Buda the most part of it taken from the Christians They haue also learned to cast Artillarie the more shame for vs who haue not beene contented to transport our arrant cruell enimies out of Asia into Europe in Amurathes time but haue also become Maisters vnto them in this Arte and I would to God that we did not likewise carrie them great store of Armour and weapons besides nothing regarding or fearing the wrath of God the excommunication of the Popes nor the vtter ruine of our selues And as for Powder it is made at Cairo and at Acque Bianche i. the whitewaters which is a place not farre distant from Constantinople and elsewhere in great aboundance The Turkes do also greatly practise militarie stratagemes or wilie pollicies in warre whereby they do vse to mingle deceite with force according to the commandement of Mahomet their law-giuer neither do they want meanes and ministers that are cunning and skilfull to practise the same both because all such as among them do attend the Arte of warrefare do endeuour themselues to learne and knowe whatsoeuer is necessarre for the good managing of an exployte and also because fraud and deceite is a thing most proper to the Turke Much other matter might be set downe touching this poynt but if any bee desirous to vnderstand more hereof let him read among others that haue written of the Turkish affaires the discourses of Renato Di Lusinge Lord Alimes in his booke intituled Of the beginning conseruation decaying of States And now that I haue shewed you the Land-Forces of the Ottoman Empire it is also verie fit and conuenient that I should likewise shewe you the forces thereof by Sea §. XLII THe great Turke hath many Tersani that is to say Arsenales or Storehouses for shipping The Arsenal or Storehouse of Sinopoli neere to Trabisonda is one of the best At Constantinople there are a hundred thirtie seauen roomes in one vaulte and at Midia and Achilo they haue space enough to make some if they will Besides that the Turkes do vse also to make Galeyes in such places where they may most commodiously haue timber for them the charge and care whereof they lay most commonly vpon the Raislari or Raisi that is to say the Captains of the said Galeyes Moreouer they haue great aboundance of timber in many places specially in the golfe of Nicomedia in Asia ouer against Constantinople and in the mountaines of the Ducagini from whence they may conuay it by the Riuer Drino vnto Alessio a territorie of Albania in which prouince also they haue some quantitie at Velona and at Polona which is verie famous by Augustus who was there studying when Caesar was killed The great Turke hath also an Arsenal or storehouse in Africa at Suez in the mouth of the Red Sea with certaine Galeyes which were made heretofore against the Portingales for the enterprise of Diu Ormuz but it is of small reconing because in that countrey there is no store of timber and to bring it from the portes of Bithynia and Caramania to Cairo by the riuer Nilus and so to Suez vpon Camels is a matter of great difficultie and expense §. XLIII IT is most certaine and true that the Turkes do put their timber to worke so ill seasoned so greene so fallen without any obseruatiō of the course of the Moone that their Galleyes cannot proue very good durable and the rather because they vse to make them for the most part in great hast besides that the houels or vaults that are made to couer them are not so well fitted nor safe from the raine They haue Pitch both hard and soft from Velonae and from Rissano in the golfe of Cathare the one out of the mines the other from the trees And tallowe they want not by reason of the great aboundance of Beefes and Muttons that are in those countres But they haue not hempe enough and so by consequence they are not well prouided of Sayles and so much the worse because the Sultane Ladies who haue thirtie Galeons of a thousand fiue hundred tunne a peece and eighteene great Hulkes which they send into Alexandria with diuers marchandise do draw out of the Arsenal with the good liking and pleasure of the Grand-Turke sayl chordage
Spalato a Countrey belonging to the Venetians to the end they might carrie their Marchandizes into the Christians Countryes and bring backe other Marchandizes for them into Turkie And yet they could not by that course goe and come safe neither notwithstanding the peace that hath beene continued with the Emperour and the Venetians Moreouer that they also ranne vp and downe by land stealing mens cattell burning townes and villages and taking children euen out of the verie armes of their naturall mother So that there is great reason to feare least in time they wil be able to become the Lordes and maisters of some neighbour-Fortresse which would be a matter that might turne not only to the great losse but also much rather to the exceeding shame and dishonour of the Ottoman Empire Againe that forsomuch as the Emperour had carried so slender a respect towards the grand-Turk whiles he was busied in the warres of Persia as that he delayed in deed for a long time to send him his tribute for so the Turkes call it hee made shew thereby that hee was rather minded to breake the peace then to maintaine it That the victorie would proue both easie and certaine for that on the one side he might be assaulted in Croatia and on the other side in Hungarie and in Austria That the countrey was fruitfull and abounding in all things verie commodious and fit for the Souldiers both in regard of the neerenesse thereof and also because they should passe thither almost all the way by their owne houses That the principall Holdes of the Kingdome of Hungarie namely Belgrado Buda and Alba-Regale and the rest that are of the greatest importance were possessed and garded vetie well with the Turkish garrisons And that although some discomfiture might peraduenture happen yet would they be most conuenient receits for the Reliques of the armie where they may be as well defended and preserued as also repaired and renued with such helpes and aydes as are there nigh at hand That the Emperor seemed to be inclined rather to peace then to warre and it may be also that hee is not so well esteemed and obeied by all the Princes of Germanie as his degree requireth That all the Princes of Germanie were diuided as well in regard of their interest in Religion and in state as also particularly in respect of the election of the Newe King of Romanes That they are almost wearie as some of the Protestant Princes doe seuerally reporte of the gouernement of the house of Austria and that they are also too much giuen to the loue of their treasures and riches And finally that seeing there are many yeares passed since the Germanes haue handled neither Launce nor Arcubuse they cannot now tell how to take Armes nor to vse them besides that they will hardly bee obedient to their Capitanes Lastly That euen as the saide Almanes themselues would alwayes dwell in murmur and distrust with the Hungarians with the Italians and with the Spaniardes as often as they should goe to the warres together because those nations are naturally not well liked I will not say hated by them So the sayde Dutchmen being enemies among themselues for the diuersitie of Heresies which they follow will alwayes bee afrayde least if the Emperour should obtaine the victorie and remaine Conquerour that then they shall bee compelled to forsake their licentious liberty and to obey the Pope So that there is no doubt but that they will rather forbeare to fight then to helpe their prince and themselues To bee short that there could be no feare of any aide or succours which the Emperour might haue of other princes Not of the Polacke nor of the Transyluanian aswell in regarde of the peace which is between the Great Turke and thē as also for that they will be in doubt least they shold drawe all the tide and force of the warre into their owne States and Dominions Besides that the one of them would be afrayde least hee should bee enforced to abandon the Frontiers and retire himselfe to the frozen Sea and the other least he should bee depriued of that Estate which hee possessed by the Graunt of the Ottoman House Moreouer that the King of Spaine who is the onely Man that can helpe the house of Austria in deede is otherwise imployed and busied That the pope cannot yeeld supply for all that shall bee needefull in this busines That the Italian princes will not runne in haste to spend their Treasures nor consume their subiectes for an other mans benefite And for conclusion That the State of Venice doubting that it shoulde thereby prouoke the Ottoman Forces against it selfe would rather stay to see the issue and successe of the warre then it would put it selfe to a certaine or at least to a doubtfull danger of ouerthrowing it selfe And these were the seuerall opinions of the Visiers inconsiderate no doubt for the most parte and agreeable to their barbarous temerity and rashnes whereby they faine vnto themselues that those thinges are easie which afterwardes by experience they proue not onelie to bee difficult and hard but also very dangerous and pernitious § XIIII BVt for as much as my meaning is to satisfie those also that may in any sort doubt of the varietie and truth of the things which I haue spoken I will adde hereunto in briefe how the Turkes come acquainted with our matters and how wee come acqainted with theirs though it be most certaine that the like consultations are proper to all Princes and particularly to the Ottoman Princes as among other examples we know that Soliman and the last Selim did vse the same the one of them by examining with his Bassaes the forces of all the Princes of the world and the other by aduising with them which might be the most certaine way to conquer the Christians Without doubt the great Turke and the great men of that Courte are verie well informed and aduertised aswell of all actions that daylie happen as also of the designementes and purposes yea and of the most secret counselles of our Princes sometymes by the merchauntes which of all nations are at Constantinople and sometymes by the Slaues whom the Turks euery day A great number wherof doe also verie oftentimes most impiously denie and renounce the faith and religion of Christ either for rewards that are propounded and offered vnto them or else to auoyd the most horrible and cruell punishmēt which they had before endured at their barbarous hands or peraduenture for some other end and purpose as did of late yeares one of the Emperours Secretarie who was resident at Constantinople Besides that the Hebrues who are the most cunning and craftie searchers and inquirers of matters and most mortall enemies to the Christians are dispersed in great number ouer all the Turkish dominion especially by reason of the traffique which they vse continually in the Ottoman Market townes and also for the tolles and customes
which are almost wholy in their handes through all that state And they thinke that by seruing the Turkes for spies and priers into our actions and affaires they shall not only secure themselues of their goods their owne persons and their children but also that they shall reape great gaine and commoditie of importance whereby they doe much gratifie and pleasure the great estates of that Empire The last war which the Venetians had with the Turke was much occasioned by one Iohn Miches an Hebrew who was discontented with them because hee could not by stealth conueigh away certain marchandizes which vnder a forged name he had caused to be brought to Venice Of one John Lopez an Hebrew also whose picture by order of the holie Inquisition was of late yeares burned at Rome it is most certainly knowne for a truth that hee imparted and commnnicated with Amurath many secretes of Pope Xistus Quintus which he by espiall had found and learned whiles he remained in Rome Lastly it is not to be doubted but that the Turkes doe also keepe diuerse Spies in pay that are neare to al the Princes in Christendom yea and that which is a great matter but yet it is true euen among the Zwitzers and Grisons of purpose to vnderstand what leuies of Souldiers are made of those peoples § XV. ANd as touching our Christian Princes the expences are most notorious and well knowne which they bestow not onely to learne the counsels one of another and that oftentimes to the great shame and domage of those that serue them in these actions but especially and principally to vnderstand the counsels and designements of the Turke their common enemie For those Princes which haue the greatest interest and entercourse with him do keep euen within the Citie of Constantinople many Spies in pay yea giuing wages and stipends to the verie Iewes and also to such Turkes as are most in trust and neerest in credite with the chiefe Bassaes besides the large gifts which they liberally bestow vpon others when they haue any matter of moment communicated vnto them Moreouer the Bassaes themselues will not sticke sometimes to impart to our Embassadours such matters as are propounded among them in their secrete and priuie Councell before the great Turke himselfe although he doth vse verie oftentimes to call his Councell into the fielde taking occasion to go on hunting to the end it shuld not bee so easie for any particular persons to sound the depth of his deliberations But the Bassaes are hereunto moued vpon diuerse and sundrie considerations sometimes vpon affection as heretofore did Mahomet Socoleuich the chiefe Visier of Selim and the Muphti of that time to the Agents of the state of Venice Muphti is the chiefest man among the Turkes in their spirituall Superstitions the chiefe Interpreter of the law of Mahomet and is of so great authoritie in shew and apparance that in matters of counsel his opinion is neuer contradicted or gainsaid I say in apparance because when the Turke is disposed to haue any matter goe forwarde in deed the Muphti either for flatterie or for feare is the first and chiefest man to commend it Sometimes the Bassaes are moued so to doe for that by quarrelling and iarring among themselues they thinke by these meanes the more easily to disturbe the designements and purposes of their opposites as peraduenture the aforesayde Bassaes did and as Sinan and Ferat at last were wont to doe Or to be short they are verie oftentimes moued thereunto because all Turkes generally are beyond all measure greedie of bribes and gifts as for example among the Bassaes that same Hassan shewed himself to be who was a Venetian of the Cilestri and Generall of the Sea before Cicala For when one of the Visiers had offered in Councell to the great Turke that he would surprise the Citie of Venice and was not hearkened vnto but rather reproued for his ridiculous vanitie hee went straight to the Venetian Bailo or Agent and told him that whereas such a matter was propounded in the Councell by others he withstoode it for the naturall affection which he carried towardes that Common wealth for the which he receiued a most rich present Lastly it is true also that the Ottoman Counsellers do rewarde their seruants and enrich them by imparting their secretes vnto them to the ende that they may afterwards acquaint such withall as vse to bee most liberall to them And so doe they likewise to their women whereupon it commeth to passe that the Sultane Ladies who are either the Kins-folkes or the fauorites of the great Turke dwelling continually in the Serraglioes where al principall businesses are managed and handled become acquainted with these secretes which afterwardes for verie rich gifts and presents that are sent to the said Ladies from the officers and Agents of such Princes as the secretes doe concerne by the Eunuches that wait vpon them and keepe them are verie easily disclosed and reuealed Moreouer they do sometimes indeuour with all their studie and industrie to performe some notable seruice towards some Prince to the end they might receiue the oftner and richer Gratuities from him The mother of the now reigning Turke pretendeth to honour the state of Venice and craueth of it verie many times some reward for the same It is not long ago since all the Sultane Ladies requested of the sayd state that it would forbid the carrying out of certain feathers that are counterfeited and forged of glasse at Murano which being ioyned and set togither do much resemble the plumes made of a Herōs fethers And this request they made because the said counterfeit or forged feathers were sold so good cheape at Constantinople and yet did so please and satisfie the people that the said Sultane Ladies could not sell at so high a rate as before they did the goodly bunches and bundles of feathers of seuerall birds which were sent vnto them for Presentes from diuerse quarters in great quantities for it is the vse not onely of men but of women also to weare such feathers on their heades following therein the manner of the Tartarians from whome it came to the Turkes for that Zingi Chan who by some is not rightly called Chan-gio was saued aliue by the meanes of an Owle for this Birde hauing alighted vpon a certaine thicket of young trees among which Zingi had hidden himselfe for feare of his enemies that pursued him they did verily thinke that there could not be any body there because the Birde remayned there so quietly Whereupon the Tartarians sayeth Haytho do holde the sayde Birde in great reuerence so that hee which at that time could get any of her feathers accounted himself a happy man And euer after all the other Tartarians from hand to hande haue still continually vsed to weare the like feathers on their heades in memorie of that action and for a kinde of Reuerence §
inclined to peace then otherwise hauing found as it was noted vnto you in the beginning of this discourse the Citie full of dearth his subiects not well pleased with this warre the Bassaes diuided among themselues and specially the two chiefest of them Sinan and Ferat for the one chalenged the chiefe place because hee was alwayes most louing towardes him and had disswaded his father from a certain determination that sometimes he had to put him to death for iealousie of the state and had euer aduertised him from time to time whatsoeuer had happened in the Empire The other thought that he had purchased great merite because he had in so short a time brought him into the possessiō of his Empire that he had so greatly desired and that at such a time as was most important for the estate of all his affaires In such sort as for these causes and for others also which I haue told you before they iustled lustily one agaynst the other◠till in the end they were both brought to their deathes Notwithstanding Mahamet after that hee had somwhat setled his houshold domestical affaires was of necessitie constrained to go forth to the war in his owne person and principally besides the reasons before alledhed because the Souldiers did not sticke openly to giue him to vnderstand that to the camp they would go no more without the presence of their great Lord for that they were greatly discontented with the former Generals Sinan and Ferat who had intreated them verie hardly Besides that the seedes of ciuill discords did as yet remaine aliue in those that were affectionate some to one of them and some to the other And lastly because Cicala had promised him assured victorie if hee would so doe § XIX IN this yeare which was the first yeare of his going foorth hee surprised Agria a place which although it bee not verie strong in regard of the hill that commandeth it yet is it of great inportance for the situation because the vniting of the Transiluanians forces with the Emperours will be now more difficult for that the Turkes will continually haunt and beate the way that leadeth from Toccai to Cassouia for the other vpper way of Sacmar is much longer And it is so much of greater importance because if the walles of Agria bee repaired the Turke may there maintaine a puissaunt armie betweene both his enemies § XX. IN this yeare also happened the battaile whereof without doubt it may be said that either both the armies remained victorious the Imperiall in the beginning and the Ottoman in the end or else that neither of them was vanquished by the other seeing both of them retired vncertain of their owne estates or how the matter had gone with them And so do we read that it happened euen alike in the battaile betweene Lewes the xi king of Fraunce and Charles Duke of Burgoine to leaue the examples of the Greekes and Romaines that are more auncient Whereupon it was that both the armies following the aduise and counsaile of Leo the Emperour did rather giue encouragement to their seueral peoples with signes of apparant ioy on both sides then confesse their losses True it is in deed that Mahamet saw with his owne eyes that at the beginning his armie was so discomfited and confounded as greatly fearing his life he fled to a hill in the sight of Agria accompanied with some few of his Agalaries and there dryed and wiped his eyes with a peece of Mahomets apparrell which for reuerence hee carried about him Trne it is that our Men had shewed very great valour for lesse then 50. thousand Souldiers so many iumpe as Francisco Maria Duke of Vrbino required for the extirpation and rooting out of that tyranny went to meete with the enemie fought with him and discomfited an Armie of 300. thousand persons euen in the presence and viewe of their Prince who had gathered the same together almost out of all the Forces of his Empire Insomuch as it cannot any way bee doubtted but that if our men had been lesse greedy more vnited better aduised and instructed and aboue all if they had beene the friends of the Lord of Hostes they had obtayned one of the most singular victories that peraduenture was euer obtained by the Cbristians yea and had taken Mahamet prisoner as Baiazet the first was at Mount Stella by the Greate Tamur Chan that is to say an Iron Lorde who is otherwise by some corruptly called Tamerlan and Tamburlan In briefe to conclude this parte the Turkish Captaines hauing shewed small knowledge and little valour and therefore many of them were degraded and put to death and almost all the common Souldiers hauing likewise shewed great cowardize and astonishment of mind it is very likelie that their Great Lord and Maister will thinke better of his businesse in the yeare to come eyther by making peace or by continuing the warre with lesse daunger Whereupon whiles Christendom attendeth and waiteth in great perplexitie of her doubtfull cogitations peraducnture it shall not be vnprofitable if asmuch as shal lie in me I go about a little further to search out the thoughts and counsels of our enemies and examine what may or ought to bee done by our Princes Christian to aduance their businesses to the glory of God and man The end of the Second Part. The third part Wherein is treated That suppose the Turke will growe to Peace whether it bee good that the Emperour and the Transyluanian make peace with him with a discourse of such matters as if the warre continue the said Princes may worke against him what the other Christian Princes may also doe to meet at all times with such daungers as may alight vppon Christendome by the Ottoman Forces IN this last Part then I will shewe first That let it be supposed Mahamet the Emperour of the Turkes hath a desire to grow to a Peace with the Christian Emperour and with the Transyluanian whether it be good that those Princes should make peace with him and secondly I will discourse vpon such matters as the great Turke feareth if the warre bee continued may bee wrought against him as wel by the said Princes as by the other Princes of Christendome Wherewith I will also endeuour my selfe to giue you such notice and knowledge of peoples and places as peraduenture this my trauaile shall bee deemed altogether vnprofitable § I. EVen from the verie beginning of this warre Amurath refused to treate of peace whereunto he was greatly solicited by the Embassadors of France and England to the ende they might haue procured him to make warre by Sea as before I noted against the king of Spaine of purpose to diuert him from the warre which the said king continued against their Princes Their instant motions they reinforced againe after the two ouerthrowes giuen to the two Hassans the one in Croatia and the other in Hungarie
hee deuest and depriue himselfe of all pretenses and tytles which hee sayeth hee hath thereunto Moreouer that hee restore vnto him Lippa which is of great importance to Transyluania because it is in his confines and within the Bassanate of Temesuar vpon the riuer Marisso And finally that the Sangiacke-shippes of Ianoua and Bezcherech with diuers other places of lesse name which hee had burned may be repayred or els that hee may be well payed for thē besides some other giftes and yearely augmentations which he looketh for On the other side yee may almost be assured that there will neuer bee gotten of Mahamet the Countrey of Tureuopolie which is betweene Saua and Cupa now vnder the iurisdiction of the Bano Bani are certaine Gouernors of Prouinces but are of lesse authoritie then the Beglerbyes though some haue written otherwise Neither shall ye euer get of him Biz or Bicagi a place of some importance because it is more towardes the Sea coast neare to the territorie of the Venetians to come to Nouigrad nor in Hungarie on this side of the Danowe Vesprino and Giauarino with the Castles neare adioyning and beyond the Danow Agria the last place that he hath taken I haue thought good to set downe the said places by their particular names to the ende that by knowing what matters of greatest moment and importance are in the possession of either side my narration and discourse may proue the plainer § IIII. THE second thing to be considered is this if the Turke refuse to make peace ioyntly with the Emperour and the Transiluanian togither whether these Princes ought to agree to a peace the one without the other Certaine it is that to doe it seuerally and disioyned would bee to the great daunger of him that is the weaker or of him that is excluded out of the peace and also it would bee agaynst the confederacie against the couenants and conditions wherunto they haue sworne and against the promises which they haue both made to the Pope Moreouer who can doubt but that it would also bee against all law and dutie of gratitude on the Emperours behalfe in regarde of the singular benefite which hee hath receyued by this open declaration that the Transiluanian hath made against the Turke and on the Transiluanians part would it not bee agaynst the obseruation and keeping of his worde which he professeth to be inuiolable and quite contrarie to that which he hath hitherto refused to doe although he hath beene therunto required both by the last and also by this now present Emperour of the Turkes with most ample and large conditions of benefite of hononrable tytles and of perpetuall protection Which if the Emperour Ferdinand◠had regarded most certaine it is that little lesse then all Hungarie had beene at this day in the possession of our enemes Moreouer who can euer promise to himselfe any faith in an Infidell without feare that he will not breake the bonds of all lawfull peace at his pleasure considering that princes specially the barbarous Princes neuer wanted plausible and likely pretenses so to do as the Venetians do know verie well by the faith and promise that Selim did breake with them in the yeare 1570. besides almost an infinite number of examples that might be alledged thereof Which point of breach of faith although in truth no prince can in reason feare yet certaine it is that the Transiluanian Prince hath an exceeding great cause to feare it because the Ottoman house thinketh that from him onely it hath receiued all the iniuries and al the losses of this present warre and that by his onely Rebellion for so doe the Turkes call this his iust and lawfull desire which he hath to withdraw himselfe from the Turkish soueraigntie all their designements and complots haue beene interrupted and frustrated and the course of their hoped victories vtterly stopped and so much the rather ought he to feare it for that if the whole tide and force of the warre should come vpō him alone hardly could he defend himselfe from so mightie an enemie if he should not be ayded and succoured neither by the Polacke nor by the Emperour for of himselfe alone he is but a poore and a weake Prince And although it may seeme that he hath a state fortified by nature and therefore might peraduenture be defended for some time yet in the ende he should of necessitie be constrained either willingly or by force to yeeld to that power which is now growne to be so terrible and fearefull to the whole worlde both for number of people and also for treasure and in respect of all maner of furniture for warre almost inuincible Neither should the Emperour be free from feare in this point if the Transiluanian should be at peace with the Turke because it would be inough for the Ottoman Emperour onely to haue these princes disarmed for a time For hee knoweth verie well with how great difficulty Souldiers are brought togither againe vnder their ensignes after that they are once returned home and especially how hard it is for the Emperour who is constrained to make warre rather with auxiliarie Souldiers then with his owne who also cannot come to succour him without some time and the meeting togither of circuites and dietes which are to be holden before any thing can be done And thus vpon these reasons that haue beene set downe it may be concluded verie resolutely that to make peace on this fashion would not onely not be helpefull to the two Princes but also much more daungerous and pernicious to both their estates for that the enemie may shortly after take vp armes againe and renue the warre with greater aduauntage whensoeuer hee shall thinke it fit and conuenient for him § V. THE third and last consideration which appertaineth not so much to the aforsaide Princes but to all Christendome togither is that suppose the Turk do make peace and keepe it for a while where may we thinke in reason that hee will hereafter direct his arrowes For we haue established this for a most certaine ground and foundation that the Ottoman Empire doth keepe her Subiects alwayes occupied and emploied in new warres against some state or other as hauing had her originall and maintenance by force and armes Of truth it is not to be thought that he will renue the warre against the King of Persia at the least as yet and not being prouoked thereunto because the Souldiers of Europe who are the sinewes and strength of his Armies doe abhorre to go thither by reason of the length of the iourney the want of vittailes the roughnesse of the wayes and the braue valour of the Persians And so much the lesse is it likely that he will renue the warre there because it is but a while agoe since hee made peace with that king and for that he hath not as yet fullie established the foundations of his new Fortresses And
in the fieldes so that whensoeuer they shall perceiue the approach of their enemie they may easily retire themselues and when the enemy is departed recouer that which was lost And finally if the Turke shall keepe and maintaine them as his friends he may reape many and great seruices at their hands whereas on the contrarie if hee hold them his enimies they may worke him much harme § XI AND lastly not against the Moscouites because they dwell among frozen Ices and fennie Marrishes in a barren Countrey farre distant and diuided from all his estates whose Prince is continually enuironed and garded with a great number of Horsemen and Footemen who are also very well trained and exercised in managing and handling the Arcubuse If then it be a matter in reason not to be feared that though he should conclude a peace he would moue warre against any of these aboue mentioned yet of a certaintie we may greatly feare that he will resolue to bend his forces either against the state of Venice or against all Italie § XII IF against the state of Venice in verie truth the troubles of Christendome would then be greater then now they are because the nearer the daunger would thereby be vnto Italie and vnto the verie state of Religion so much the more considerable and troublesom would it be The Princes of Greece because they did not succour the princes that were their next neighbours who were exposed and open to the Ottoman forces all of them wholy lost their estates God himselfe in the meane while permitting the same to be effected not onely for their riot and voluptuousnesse and for the ciuill discords that were among them but also yea and much more for the Schisme which the Greekes had made in the holy Church so that first by the Gotthes then by the Bulgarians afterwardes by the Sarracens and last of all by the Turkes they were brought to that lamentable miserie wherein now they are euen as Pope Nicholas the fift foretold when he writ to the Emperour Constantine surnamed the Dragon as Gennadius the Patriarke of Constantinople hath obserued and I in another place haue touched more at large Cardinall Bessarion writing to the Princes of Italie sayeth that because they would not in time relieue Constantinople onely with 50. thousand Crownes they were the cause and chiefe occasion why the Turkes afterwardes hauing gotten possession thereof with a continuall course of perpetuall victories subdued Trabisonda Sinope the Islande of Metelino i. Mitylene La Morea Caramania and the Countries adioyning Bossina Bulgaria the Lower Hungarie Epirus and a great part of Dalmatia of Albania and of Sclauonia and lastly of the Island of Negroponte But forasmuch as the worlde ringeth to this day with the wordes which the Great Pope Vrban vttered when in Cleremount of Aluernia he mooued and encouraged the Christian Princes to the glorious conquest of Ierusalem which is called euen by the Turkes Cuzzimu Barec that is to say The famous and holy place for the reuerence which they beare to the Sepulchre of our Lord in that respect is visited as Bethlehem likewise is by their Chazilarii that is to say their Pilgrimes in their returne from Mecha And forasmuch also as euery man dooth well know the godly and wonderfull entreatie and perswasion made to the saide Christian Princes by Petrus Heremita and the Sermons of the blessed Fryer Iohn Capestrano who had already gathered together 40. thousande signed and marked with the Crosse to goe against the Turkes euen in the very selfe same countryes where now the warre is And lastly forasmuch as besides the holy and very zealous exhortations of many Popes and other holy Men whereof there is great store to bee founde in the Councels and ecclesiastical Hystories there resoundeth now in our time ouer all Christendome the liuely voyce of the now liuing Pope Clement who like another Iacob watching day and night without any tyring or wearinesse for the seruice and maintenance of Labans sheepe that is to say of the faithfull flocke of Iesus Christ cryeth out with a loude voyce by his holie prayers and deuoute teares to the Lord for mercie towardes our saluation and safegard It shal bee sufficient at this present briefly to recount the substance of those matters which pope Pius the second euen the same that wrote a long letter to Mahamet the second Emperour of the Turkes to conuert him vnto the Catholike Faith being full of the holy Ghost vttered at the Councell of Mantua in presence of the Christian Princes after hee had bewayled the ruine of the Greeke Empire and of other kingdomes in Christendome that were fallen into the Turkes power vz. Surely it would bee a verie righteous aud religious matter O yee most generous and Noble Princes of Christendome if once at the last yee would waken your selues enter into an earnest cogitation not to suffer those poore dismayed reliques of Christians vtterlie to bee lost that are forgone into the most cruell rage of the Barbarians which of you in good sooth doeth not clearely and manifestly see the common and imminent daunger that hangeth ouer our heades Andrinopolis and Nicopolis because I will not at this time remember so many other most goodly and rich Countries which most vniustly that most cruell and outragious Tyrant doth now possesse were of no long time heretofore Cities further distant then were those Christians that haue beene lately taken and are now most cruelly and miserably tormented by our enemies Oh that you might bee moued yee religious and godly Princes with the incomparable bond and obligation wherein yee are bound to Christ our Lord who hath not onely freed and deliuered you from the iawes of the auncient Serpent but also hath appointed you to be Princes of his people to the end that like watchfull and charitable Pastors ye should couragiously keepe the same from the mouth of the Wolfe The blessed God hath put into your handes the Scepter and the sworde because it should bee your care as well by doing iustice and shewing mercie to maintaine his people in peace as also by warre to deliuer those that are vnduly and vniustly oppressed Let your perticular interestes cease when the Interestes of God commeth in place Let the discourses of mans wit giue place to the cause of God Nay rather euen your owne peculiar and proper interestes and humane respects also do perswade you of themselues to take weapons into your hands and to represse and daunt the pride of this most cruell and fierce wilde beast who like a Lion raungeth about continually ouer all the Champeine and field of Christendome greedily to deuoure some part either of our owne Countries or of our neighbours Alas let vs learne by other mens expences and losses Let vs quench the fire of our brethren least we burne vp our selues also with them Let vs in time meete with this great tide that
like a headlong streame is like shortly to surround all our Countreys Vp ye generous noble champions of Christ resolue couragiously with your selues to the end that our age be not thought to be lesse glorious then former times in some sort to imitate follow Godfrey Baldwyn Boemound and those other famous Argonautes who to recouer out of the prophane handes of the enemies of holy fayth the sacred Sepulchre of our Redeemer sold their owne proper goodes abandoned their landes and houses passed ouer the Seas and for a long time endured exceeding great trauailes and troubles because they thought that they could not better employ their treasures ther weapons and their valour then in so holy and laudable an enterprise who then will bee the first man that will take the Crosse and giue example to others Who will he be that will be Captaine and guide herein Where be the Souldiers of Christ that will follow this glorious standard and Ensinge And finally who will shew himselfe so impious that he will not lay aside all priuate iniuries and hatreds for the common safetie But hereof let it be inough for me to haue spoken being carried therunto out of my determinate discourse and narration by a iust zeale that I beare towardes the honour of God and the saluation of so many soules which are redeemed by the bloud of Christ and liue at this day in the most miserable thraldome and slauerie of the Ottoman Empire And therefore if the great Turke shoulde mooue warre agaynst the Common-wealth of Venice which God forbid because the saide estate of the Venetians doth deserue to bee kept and preserued a perpetuall Virgin through all ages as well for the comfort of her subiects for the ornament of the worlde and for the defence of Christendome as also for the pietie thereof and for the excellent manner of gouernment therein vsed the daunger would be of great importaunce and it would then bee verie necessarie if the loue of my Countrie doe not deceiue mee that all the princes of Christendome should earnestly and throughly aduise themselues how to maintaine it in her former estate so that no notable damage may light vpon it and so much the rather for that enioying her lawfull and auncient libertie and neutralitie with her publike consultation it doth neuer offend any Prince in the world And aboue all the rest it behoueth the king Catholike so to doe either by combining himselfe with the Venetians or by succouring them otherwise as well because it is verie likely that the Turke will not imploy his forces onely for the subduing of the Venetian estate but thereby to haue a more easie way to attempt Italie wherof the crowne of Spaine dooth possesse the fairest and goodliest partes as also because the other Princes are not peraduenture altogither sufficient by Sea to vanquish the enemie with any securitie vnlesse they shall helpe one another with monies with vittailes with Souldiers specially with Gally-slaues and Marriners which certainly is a matter very considerable For without doubt the true way means vtterly to defeate and destroy the enemie will bee to vanquish him by Sea especially in these times wherein hee hath not an Armada of any account and is also greatly destitute of Marriners and men of commaund that are skilful and couragious in that profession Moreouer the Turkes do abhorre these battailes by Sea both because they are most cruell and daungerous and also for that in such fights they are alwayes discomfited and ouerthrowne and doe know full well that afterwardes they shall bee the more easily vanquished and ouercome by land So Euagoras of Cyprus and Conon of Athens counselled the kings of Persia to doe against the Lacedemonians So Augustus hauing defeated Marcus Antonius by Sea subdued also his olde and victorious armie consisting of eightie thousand footemen and two twentie thousand horsemen without any fight The like was done by Roger the Calabrian Admiral to the king of Aragon who notwithstanding that his king was vppon the land ouerthrowne by the king of France yet assaulting the French Armada by Sea discomfited the same recouered that which was lost and carried away the fruites of both the victories And who knoweth not what might haue beene done after the Turkish fleete was dispersed and ouerthrowne in the yeare 1571. And when it ranne away of it selfe in 1572. If at the first occasion and oportunitie that was then so happily offered there had beene made a choise of the best Gallies to haue gone presently and met with the enemie in the Arcipelago and in Morea and euen as farre as Cyprus and if in the second good oportunitie we had followed the happie and iudicious courage of Soranzo the generall Prouidatorie of Venice Verie true it is that the state of Venice is at this day become so potent and mightie not onely in respect of the great store of golde which it hath gathered in this long peace and of the debts payed whereunto it had runne in the last warre and somewhat before that time but also in regarde of the manie Gallyes munitions and other preparations for warre which it hath prouided in this time that if occasion so fall out it will peraduenture bee well able to defend it selfe of it owne selfe and specially if it would resolue it selfe at such time as it dooth little feare the enemie to bee the first that should assault and strike him yea and to doe it indeed as Alcibiades was wont to say to the Athenians by sending forth a mightie Armada to annoye him and vpon a sodaine to surprise some of those places which I will name in the ende of this thirde Parte Moreouer it hath also at this present so wel fortified her estate that in all reason it neede not greatly doubt the conceites and designementes of the Ottoman Corfu Cathara and Zara are among other Fortes esteemed to bee inexpugnable and so much the rather for that by reason of their moderate and reasonable distance from Venice they may easily bee succoured and relieued and being as it were the keyes of the Adriatike Sea they may also hinder the entrance of the enemy or enforce him of necessitie to returne backe with all speed least hee remayne entangled and caught in the nette The Isle of Candie is likewise so wel prouided for defence and is thought to bee so strongly guarded with Garrisons and Munition as it cannot bee attempted by the Turke without incurring his great hazard and daunger yea and so much the more for that if the enemy shoulde endeauour to disbarke his people there one great part of the Island hauing no hauens or Harboroughes is defended by nature it self the other part may be so well kept both by the valour of forrain souldiers and also by the braue manhood of the Countrey-inhabitantes who are no lesse tender and carefull of their owne wel-fare then faithfull to their prince prouided alwayes that they bee
office of true Politike prudence to feare an enemie not thereby to become a Dastard or a Coward as Thucydides sayd but with all diligence and circumspection to procure and prouide such remedies as may vanquish and ouerthrow him I will briefly set downe how wee may diuerse wayes meete with those and such other daungers that may hang ouer Italie by reason of the Ottoman Armies and also what remedies may be most profitable and effectuall in this present warre and therefore are greatly feared by the Turks themselues § XV. AMong other remedies that were proposed when Mahamet the second surprise Ottranto as I tolde you to diuerte him from Italie one Martiu de Segoni Bishoppe of Dulcigno as wee reade in a Treatise that hee wrote thereof to Pope Sixtus the Fourth propounded this present remedy which it delighteth mee to report in his owne verie wordes Pannonum Rex sayeth hee cum suo Exercitu confederatisque populis praesentet se ad Danubium fama praecedente quod in Rasciam sit traiecturus futurum inde omnium Turcorum multitudine sibi obuiā ad I strii traiectum progrediente Gentes nuper Valonam ad alia Epiri maritima loca missae ad Italiam transfretandae statim ob metum Pannonum ad castra Turchi reuocentur That is to say Let the King of Hungarie with his Armie and Confederates present himselfe at the Danowe with a fame and rumor first geuen out that hee is minded to passe ouer into Rascia and thereupon will it come to passe that al the Turkes multitude proceeding to meet with him at the passage of the Danowe where it is called Ister the souldiers which were lately sent to Valona and to other maritimall places of Epirus of purpose to bee transported into Italie presently for feare of the Hungarians shall be called backe to the Turkes Campe. Now wee hauing in steade of the king of Hungarie the Emperour and the Prince of Transyluania I will discourse to the same purpose as well of the one as of the other so far forth as shall bee sufficient most clearely to make knowne what hinderance and detriment it would bee to Christendome if these two Princes should make peace with the Turke at the least so speedily as it is doubted they will because among all the good meanes that may bee vsed to secure a state from their most mightie enemies there is none so safe and approued by great Captaines then this course of diuerting warre As among others Hannibal told Antiochus when hee aduised him to set vpon Macedonia to the end King Philip might not send ayde to the Romaines and Hieron King of Syracusa when hee aduised the Romanes to set vpon Africa to the end the Carthagenians might not send succours to Hannibal in Italie § XVI THE Emperour hath already his weapons in hand and although indeed hee haue lost some places yet hee hath also gotten some others The warre is not altogether inconuenient or incommodious by reason of the nearenesse thereof The Souldiers haue now begunne to enure themselues to the warres and to take courage against the horrible shoutinges and outcries of the Enemie and are alreadie accustomed to endure cold and frost The Captaines haue learned the Militarie Discipline and the manner of fighting with the Turkes if our Souldiers issue foorth into the field before our enemies wee may attempt to recouer eyther by siedge or surprise some of those places that haue beene lost yea and so much the rather for that it will bee a harde matter for the Turkes to succour it because those that are gone home to their houses cannot in time returne in so great a multitude for want of grasse and vittailes and those that remaine in the frontiers are not able and sufficient both to offend and defend Moreouer there is not a small number of those that haue refused to stay in Hungarie because they had not wherewith to liue and because they would auoyde the distemperature of that colde ayre which will vse all their arte and cunning to stay at home Let vs adde hereunto that now is the onely time wherein it is to bee hoped that all the Princes of Germanie both great and smal wil waken and rouse themselues in earnest because it is not now so much in question to defende the Hungarians who are naturally hated by the Dutch as many other Nations doe also hate one another as it is to defend themselues their wiues their children and their owne riches In which point if they conceyue peraduenture that they might keepe and enioy al these things aforesaid more safely and securely vnder the gouernement of the Turke they may bee verie easily certified of the truth of this their conceit when they shall beholde the Tragicall spectacles of Greece which since it hath beene vanquished by the Turks hath remained like the Iewes without King without Scepter without libertie without titles without riches yea and a most horrible matter to report euen without the comfort of the tender embracements of their owne naturall children Whereas if the warre continue who can with any reason doubt but that the Princes of the Empire shall of necessitie be enforced earnestly to assist and ayde both the Emperour and themselues because it is in all likelihoode to be feared that Mahamet will set forward his Armie either towards Toccai of purpose to hinder the vnion of the Emperour and the Transyluanian or to Vienna as he was perswaded to haue done not long ago by Sinan who shewed vnto him the easinesse of winning it the glorie that would redound vnto him thereby and the great importance of the enterprise And also for that from the languishing of the head proceedeth the weaknesse of the members And it may be that he commaunded his armie to retyre out of Croatia not onely because he knew the iealousie which the Italian Princes doe carrie of their owne affaires and specially the Venetians who in that respect haue put themselues in defence with their new fortresse of Palma but also because hee would vnite all his forces togither so become the stronger to performe the said enterprise But howsoeuer it bee certaine it is that he hath not withdrawne it for any giftes or rewardes which he hath receiued from the Venetians as some haue falsly beleeued Againe that wee may thinke the better of this daunger it is a matter worthie of good consideration that Mahamet was enclined to this enterprise from his childhoode in so much as euen at that time hee made humble supplication to his father that hee would reserue that glorie for him which without all doubt if as God forbid it should so fall out and come to passe in deed would not onely proue to bee a most notable losse to the Empire but also in particular to all Italie For so hauing gotten the possession of that key which is of greatest importaunce to open him the way into the entrance
stipends or wages it is not possible that souldiers can bee satisfied and maintained neither are their spoyles prayes and booties sufficient to feede them and keepe them contented nor their Haruestes and Collections to supply the wantes of so great a number especially in the times of warre wherein all things grow from worse to worse In such sorte as I doe conclude that forasmuch as our Christian Princes haue no better means to maintain this warre against the Turke and that in some remote place and farre distant from their own countryes and States nor a more easie and safe waye to ouercome him then by obeying and following euen the very selfe same counsell which Demosthenes gaue to the Athenians when the people of Olinthus a Cittie of Thracia craued their aide and succours against Philip the Father of Alexander and King of Macedonie at such time as hee went about to assaulte them I will bee also so bold though not in such eloquent termes as that most famous Oratour did vse to tell them that the fittest and meetest counsell which can be giuen them for the common good is with all speede to succour and relieue this couragious youth as in part the Pope the most religious king of Spaine haue done with some part of those treasures which they haue receiued from God to be spent in the seruice of his diuine Maiestie and their owne saluation For there is no one thing that doth more hinder the propagation of the Gospell of Iesus Christ and the good successe of their actions against the cōmon enemy then to want money sufficient for his necessities or rather not to make some greater preparations and prouisions for so weightie an enterprise And so much the more for that hee is compelled to spend a good portion of that little which he hath in mainteyning his forces that are diuided partly in Walachia to keepe them in awe for feare of their reuolt to the Turkes and partly in diuerse places of Transyluania towards Moldauia for feare of the Moldauians of the Tartarians and of other his enemies Besides that it may be with great reason suspected and feared least if this Prince shall want meanes and habilitie to maintaine himselfe with forces in the field against the enemie rather then he will yeeld and submit himselfe againe to an Infidel Prince he wil resolue vpon some such course as he thinketh more godly and pleasing to God and more safe and secure for himselfe which peraduenture may redound to the great damage and hinderance of Christendome for the losse that it should receiue in those partes of so valiant a Prince as I feare mee it hath some sauour and taste of it alreadie And now for as much as I haue shewed that it is not good for the Emperour and Transiluanian to make peace with the Turke I will for the last poynt discouer vnto you the thinges which the enemie doeth greatliest feare and what may be performed on our behalfe to annoy him most § XXI FIrst the Turke feareth least the Princes of Italie will resolue in earnest to succour the Emperour and the Transyluanian either with men or with money He seeth that the great Duke of Tuscane hath sent his brother and his Neuewes to the one and Capitaines and presents to the other That the Pope sent the last yeare his Neuew with a good armie into Hungarie by meanes wherof the Garrison of Strigonia and Vicegrado was the sooner yeelded and moreouer that he furnisheth both the one and the other with money yea and likely it is that as he is able he will do so still vntill the warre bee ended He perceiueth also that the going of the Duke of Mantua into Hungarie made his Souldiers beleeue that the other Italian Princes would likewise make some stirre He doubteth least the Venetians will be at the last of necessitie compelled to take vp armes against him either for their owne proper interest and benefite or by the continuall and instant motions of the Pope as they did in the times of Leo the ix of Nicholas the 2. of Gelasius the 2. of Alexander the 2. of Galixtus the 2. of Clement the 3. of Nicholas the 4. and of other Popes so that not onely for the singular benefites which they haue done to Christendome they haue deserued and obtained verie great preheminencies and priuiledges at the hands of the Emperour and the Popes but also for their pietie and obedience to the Sea Apostolike but also by common consent to bee called the defenders and fortresse of Christian Religion And hereupon it commeth that the Turke dare not at this time minister vnto them any occasion of the least discontentment in the world but doth readily satisfie them in any matter which they request of him § XXII MOreouer hee doubteth that Polonia also will rise vp against him knowing for certaintie that the Pope offereth to furnish it with good store of money whereof the meaner and poorer sort of the people in that kingdome are verie greedie and desirous For they think that they cannot in any better sort purchase desert to themselues from their Prince for which they may afterwards in conuenient time craue reward at his hands thē to serue him in his warres This suspition and doubt of his is the more encreased in him because hee knoweth that the king of Spaine did not answere the letters of the King of Polonia but vntill now at the last when hee was somewhat discontented with the peace which Maximilian had concluded with that kingdome And further the Turke knoweth full well that if Polonia should once in earnest resolue vppon this point he should of necessitie be compelled to make a defensiue war rather then an offensiue to his exceeding great disaduantage and that for 3. reasons 1 The first because thereby he must needes loose Moldauia for that the Polack hath appointed for Vaiuode of that prouince one Hieremie who is a man that sheweth himselfe not altogither alienated misseaffected towards our affaires of Christendom and who also in respect that hee may in good time vnderstand any stirres that the Turke shal make and minister good store of vittailes to the campe is one that will be worthie of no small regard and consideration in this present warre And therefore I may not forbeare in such an important poynt to tel you that it shall alwayes be good for our Lord and his Ministers to maintaine good intelligence with the said Hieremie and that they be carefull to looke what sort of persons they send to treate with him and how they write vnto him for these people who be the verie Daui Getae in Terence are by nature most suspicious It will be good also to honour him greetly and to seeme most willing to visite such as he shal send either to Rome or to treate with the Nuntioes Apostolike For the Turke endeuouring by diuerse and sundrie meanes to bind him to
himselfe or wholy to alienate him from vs or else at the least to cousen and deceiue him all cunning fetches much vsed by the Ottomans it cannot bee but verie helpefull and beneficiall to vs to maintaine him as much as may be in good loue and amitie with vs. 2 The second reason is because thereby he shall haue the Cosacchi more openly to oppose themselues against him as wel for that they be subiects of the K. of Polonia as the Vscocchi be of the Emperour and receiue their Generall from him whome the Souldiers doe ordinarily obey as also for that they may at their pleasure burne and destroy Vosia which is a Fortresse of the Turkes situate at the mouth of the Riuer Boristhenes called by the Polackes Occhiacouia and by the Moldauians Dassoua as in the yeare 1583 they burnt Bendero their Generall being then Ianzo the Hungarian who was appointed ouer them by K. Stephen of Polonia Many other harmes and annoyances they may also doo vnto him as they did vnder Suita the Russian and vnder Conte Ianus sonne of Basilius the Duke of Ostroua and other their Captains which they likewise receyued from the Polonians These Cosacchi doo dwell in an Island of Boristhenes almost foure dayes iourneyes aboue Vosia The Island is called Chirches and the Riuer Boristhenes is by them termed Nis which is the Niepro They are Arcubuziers and excellent Archers and both by nature and open profession verie greate enemies to the Turkes Many of them doo serue at this day the Transyluanian the foresaid Hieremie and Michael Others doo attend and goe with the Chanceller of Polonia and others are also dispersed and scattered in Podolia But all of them with great courage doo shewe their faces to the Tartarians and Turks 3. The last reason is because the Polacke onely or at least more then any other Prince is able to make the passage to Constantinople more easie for our people for that is the place whether we must needes goe at the last if we meane to doo any good in deed And so much the more for that if the Polack doo shew himselfe to bee an enemie to the Turke then the Transyluanian shall not neede to feare the passage which his Armie must make into Walachia For the way of Moldauia without touching Walachia would bee verie incommodious for it aswell because it runneth too neare vnto the sea as also because if hee would passe into Bulgaria hee must returne backwardes to goe into the Countrey that they may keepe and feede his horses and to auoyde the vnlucky place of Varna And here by the way I will not forbeare to aduertise you of an errour which is of no small moment as I haue also endeauored my selfe to doe in sundry fitte places of this narration of diuers others which peraduenture will not proue altogether vnprofitable to such as are delighted with the like studies And the error is this that P. Iouius describing the said Prouinces of Walachia and Moldauia beeing deceiued by the ambiguous and doubtfull worde of Polackes confoundeth the one of them with the other And so are others also deceyued who doo thinke that to bee Walachia which the Hungarians call Transalpina the lesser whereas in comparison of Moldauia it should bee called Transalpina the Greater Those are likewise in an error who do hold that walachia called by the Turkes Islakia deriuing the name from the ancient Romane Flacci is also termed by them Bogdania Cara Bogdania for by that name they terme Moldauia and not Walachria eyther because it is very plentifull of that kinde of graine which wee call Saracino and Formentone that is to say Wheat whereof Formentie is made Or because one of those Princes of Moldauia with whom the Turkes had some long warre was called Bogdano that is to say Deodato i. Gods gift adding therevnto for his praenomen or forename Cara which signifieth Blacke And it is called also Moldauia of the Daui who were the frist inhabiters therof and rather for the softnesse and fatnesse of the moulde of that soyle then for the blackenesse of it as he thought that called it Mori-Dauia But returning backe againe to Polonia I will here set downe also the aunswere which the Chanceller of that kingdome made to Sinan Bassa at such time as he required and demaunded the tribute which he wrongfully pretended to bee due to his Lord and maister to the end that thereby may be knowne the benefite and profite that in all reason is to bee expected of this cōbination if the Polonian will yeeld vnto it Sinan caused a message to be deliuered to the Chanceller that without delay hee should pay the said tribute or else he would force him to leaue the Frontiers and to retire to the Icie Sea The Chanceller caused answere to bee redeliuerd backe vnto him that hee would not stay for him in his owne Countrey of Polonia but that he would enter into the Ottomans Territories and proceed with all speed euen to the banks of the Danow fortifying them on both sides would make the place more easie to passe vp further into those Countreyes of the Turke This is Dacia Ripensis which as you may read in Procopius was fortifyed by the Romanes Zozimus doth greatly blame Constantine the Emperour because he forsooke and abandoned the Fortes of the Danow the reliques whereof are yet to be seene in Roscic Vidim Nicopolis Silistria and other places that are possessed by the Turkes § XXIII MOreouer the Ottoman not only esteemeth the Pope to be the head and chiefe of all the princes Christian so that by his auctoritie hee may easily vnite now some and then some of them against him but also accounteth him to be as a temporall prince in regard of that which he possesseth in Italie and thereupon he calleth him Franch-Beg the Prince of Italie or of the Italians and Rum-Beg the prince of Rome whom the Persians call in their language Rum-Schach Halife and Califa the Turkes call the Vicar of God a title which most impiously the ancient Agarenes began to appropriate to themselues So that the Turke dooth greatly feare least the Pope should send some person of credite into Moscouia to solicite the vnion of that prince with the Emperour which would bee a matter of great losse vnto him or at least that he should perswade him to let or hinder the comming foorth of the Tartarians as we haue shewed before how hee may easily doe it He also feareth the armies and power of the Czar or Zar of Moscouia for so the Moscouites doe call their prince besides the reasons before alledged as well for that he doth absolutely commaund and gouerne his subiects and therefore it seemeth that among al the princes of the world he is the only man that may compare with him as also for that he doth verie well remember the discomfitures which the Moscouites haue giuen to
in some that liue at this day and would be verie apt and meet instrumentes to bring greate enterprises to good passe if our Princes by their good seruice and meanes would resolue themselues to doe it in deed as did Pope Iuly the II by the helpe of Constantine Cominianus and Pope Pius the V. who called Fryer Gasper Bruni the commendatorie of Ierusalem from Dulcigno of purpose to vse him in the Armada against the Turke and other matters of moment appertaining to that warre But the mischiefe is that for the most part our Princes doe giue credite to such persons as neither know nor vnderstand the mysterie and Art of warrefare either because those places are carried away by fauour yea and verie oftentimes disposed vpon those that vnderstand least or because they make a promise to performe the enterprise with lesse charges and expenses then others will doe or by flatterie or by ambition or rather as I thinke to make a gaine thereof wherevpon there ariseth great losse and shame both to the Princes themselues and to the Promoters and furtherers of such goodly instruments § XXX TO be briefe the Turke is afraid least the Armada of Spaine or any other fleete of ships might depart in Iune with some North-westernly windes not to goe as it went the last yeare to sacke Patarasse or into Alexandria as it thought to haue done long ago or into Africa as peraduenture it will be no difficult matter for the Spanish Armada to doe or lastly to endomage and annoy some other place both within and without the Adriatike Sea which I will not name because I will not discouer or disclose that which is not so well knowne in Hystories as some other things also are that I haue touched and which peraduenture may one day be happely attempted but to goe and vpon a sodaine to assault the Dardanelli called in auncient times Sestus and Abydo which are as it were the forewals and the first hate of entrance into his pallace and Mahamet the second fortified them as soone as hee had gotten Constantinople And so much the rather for that if they haue the said windes fauourable the voyage will be but of a fewe dayes iourney and by sayling to the Gulfe Lanciato the passage will be also more safe from the enemies Armada For although our Armada should bee perceiued by the Turkes that keepe on the sea coasts yet would they thinke that it were the Turkish fleete And therefore it will bee verie needfull for those that desire to attempt this enterprise that they would remember not to put this deuise in execution vntill such time as they shall know for a certaintie that the enemies Armada is gone forth And yet I do not say that when the Dardanelli are surprised taken Constantinople will presently be gotten as some haue written but this I say that it wil put that Citie in such a fright as it will be no great matter if any tumult be raised to make the entrance into it verie easie of it selfe and open especially if they shall haue before hand entertained some intelligence within the Citie or that the Turke shall haue receiued some notable ouerthrow eyther by land or Sea The Dardanelli that is on Europes side hath a hil that doth wholy commaund it The other which is in Natolia or Asia as they call it lieth in the plaine They are both easie to be gotten because they are built after the olde maner Against that which standeth in Asia the Abbay may also bee vsed and so by making great hilles of sand for it is built vpon the shore it may be vndermined as the Turkes vse to doe They are in breadth distant the one from the other more then a mile and in length from Gallipoli thirtie myles and from Constantinople about a hundred and threescore § XXXI THere are likewise many other wayes whereby the Polonians the Hungarians and the Transiluanians may attempt also by land with diuerse outrodes in the time of Haruest to gaine vpon the Turke some place of good moment and so enter within the enemies Countrey by some way which they would little dreame off and specially by keeping themselues towardes the Sea to the end they may be succoured by our Armadaes if need should be For so we reade that heretofore fiue hundred Taifali alone as Zozimenus writeth which now are the Transyluanians and Walachians made an incursion vnder Constantine euen as farre as Constantinople to the exceeding affrightment and terrour of the inhabitants of that Cittie The wayes whereof the Turkes are most afrayed are those of Sophia of Andrinopolis of Philippo-polis and of those quarters But to the ende that our Princes may bee assured how after their departure from Italie they may enter a great way within the Ottomans Countrey and passe euen to Constantinople it selfe let them reade the voyages of Constantine and Licinius of Constantius and Magnentius of Iulian and Theodosius of Eugenius of Arbogastes of Theodoricus king of the Gotthes of Odoacre king of the Heruli of Alaricus king also of the Gotthes of Attila of whō I haue before made mention And lastly let them very well consider of the purposes and deuises that Mithridates had to come into Italie when he departed from Pontus and Scythia that is to say from Circassia and Tartaria The Designements of Philip king of Macedonie to passe into the Adriatike sea The disbarking and landing of the Romanes vpon the Macedonians and the returne which the Captaines of Vespasian of Antonie the first and of Mutianus made into Italy out of Soria and also the iourney of Boemond and others when they went to the conquest of the holy land and other such like voyages that may be collected out of Histories § XXXII FInally I will set downe for the last poynt as it were for a Conclusion or Epilogue of so much as hath beene spoken what Francis Guicciardin writeth of Pope Leo the tenth when he greatly feared that Selim would haue passed into Italie not vnlike to that which other Popes haue done as P. Iouius writeth in his counsell giuen for the warre against the Turke and sundry other Authours likewise The Pope saith Guicciardin like an vniuersall father bethinking himselfe of the Common good of Christendome after hee had first caused verie deuout prayers and supplications to bee celebrated to God whereunto hee went himselfe bare-foot he sent writtes or Brieffes to all the Princes Christian warning them of the great daunger that was imminent and at hand and comfortably exhorted them that laying aside all discordes and contentions they would readilie attend vpon the defence of religion and their owne common safety by vniting their mindes and their Forces against the Turke and by going to assault him euen at his own home Hee published vniuersall and generall truces betweene the said Princes with the punishment of the heauiest censures of the Church to be inflicted vppon
such as gainesaide the same to the end that onely such matters as belonged to so great an enterprise should bee entertayned and handled He dispatched vnto them for the same purpose diuerse Legate-Cardinals men of great authoritie and renowned aswell for their experience in this businesse as also for their opinion of learning He aduised and consulted with the Embassadors of euery Prince and examined the seuerall conceites and iudgementes of militarie men and of such persons as were well acquainted with the Countryes with the disposition of the Prouinces and with the Forces and Armes of that Empire Last of all hee resolued with himselfe that it was most necessarie to prouide a very great summe of Moneyes partly by a contribution voluntarie to bee made among the saide Princes and partly by an vniuersall Imposition to bee leuied vpon all Christian Nations and therevpon the Emperour accompanied with the Hungarian and Polonian Horsemen who are verie warlike Nations and well exercised with continuall warres against the Turkes and with such an armie of Dutch Horse and Foote as were requisite for so great an Enterprise to sayle by the Danowe into Bossina hee would say into Seruia for so was the vpper Mysia called in auncient times and so to goe from thence into Thracia approching neare vnto Constantinople the verie seate of the Empire of the Ottoman Secondly that the king of France with all the Forces of his owne kingdome of the Venetians and of other Princes of Italie accompanied with the Footemen of the Swizzers should passe from the Hauen of Brindes aunciently called Brundusium into Albania an easie and very short passage to assault Grecia which is full of Christian inhabitants who both in that respect and in regarde of the crueltie of the Turkish Empire are very ready and well disposed for a rebellion Thirdly that the Kinges of Spaine of Portugall of England should ioyne their Armadaes together at Cartagena and at other Hauens thereaboutes and so with CC. shippes full of Spanish Footemen and other souldiers addresse themselues to the Straites of Gallipoli of purpose to assault Constantinople it selfe after they had wonne the Dardanelli otherwise called the two Castles situate in the mouth of the saide Streytes In the which iourney the Pope himselfe would sayle likewise taking shippe at Ancona with C. Beaked shippes hee would say Gallyes in his Companie So that the State and Empire of the Turkes being assaulted both by land and by Sea on all sides with these preparations especially for that the Turkes doe principally build vpon this foundation to defend themselues in the open field it were likely chiefly by Gods helpe and assistance that a happie end might be expected and atchieued of so pitifull and lamentable a warre § XXXIII I Would to God it might please his Maiestie that euen as the vniting togither of all the Princes Christian agaynst the Turke either by a proportionable contributing to the expenses of so vniuersall and holie an association or else euerie one of them by himselfe I speakâ— of such as are more conueniently able to do it then the rest by setting vpon the enemie all at one time as this I say is thought to bee a matter in the eye and iudgement of man surely not altogither impossible but in deed verie hard and difficult especially in these dayes for the sinnes of the world which require wrath and calamitie So hee would vouchsafe with the eie of his iustice to looke vpon the Ottoman that he bee no longer the rodde and scourge of his Diuine furie against vs but like an vnprofitable wretch and proude Colossus he may at the last bee broken into verie small peeces by the stone of his Diuine power or at the least with the eye of his mercie to beholde the Christian Princes and to enspire into their heartes a minde and desire to binde themselues togither in one with the bond of true Charitie euen as there is but one faith which they professe and one Church wherein all true beleeuers do liue and therfore is called a coÌ„gregation to the end that leauing those subtill coÌ„siderations of their priuate interests and commodities either in regard that their states are verie neer vnto the enemie or in respect of the power of some and the weaknes of others or because the gaine and profite can not be equall and alike to euerie man without any greedinesse of commaunding and without ambition of reigning one in the East another in the South they would vnite themselues not as it were for cerimonie fashions sake for so Guicciardin himself saith as these matters and practises haue heretofore been handled But with effect and in the zeale of true religion and pietie with the glorie of his diuine Maiestie and their owne saluation against al the enemies of his most holy name Imitating therein that great Godfrey of Boleine not onely in resolution but also if need should so require in alienating their owne proper states dominions as he did with the dukedom of Boleine that so he might haue means to make maintaine war against the same tyrant as many other of those Lords did that concurred in that holy league whereof we haue told you before Wherevpon it pleased the Lord of Hoasts either for our instruction or for our shame and confusion so to work with them that they recouered the holy Sepulchre and with verie great glorie subdued all the East FINIS Mahamet a name dreadful to Christians and fatall to the Turkes The nature conditions of Mahamet Why he hated Nasuf-Aga the Dwarfe Who were his grand-mother and Mother The suspition that Amurath had of him Examples of Mahamets crueltie VVhy Mahamet lingred his going to the warre Why he killed one of his dearlings He threatned his mother How the authoritie of the visiers was diminished How he gayned the good will of the Souldiers How the Turkes call their Emperor The sonnes of Mahamet When they may be seen openly Who is Mahamets chiefest Minion Whether the Ottoman Empire want good Captains or no. How the Turks arise to militarie honours 〈…〉 〈…〉 Hibraim and his toiâ—s Sinan Cicala why he succeeded Hibraim in the generalship and chief Visiershippe Cicala degraded and confined into Bursia Why Cicala is no great frend to the Venetion state Mecca in Arabia One occasion of the present war in Hungarie Giaffer why degraded Tauris Hassan Sonne to Mahamet Socoleuich Beglerbey of Grecia How the Turks cal him that is chiefe next after the great Turke himselfe The state of Hassan Vidino Hafis Hacmet why degraded Sinan Mahamet Satarzgi Why fauoured by the Sultane mother Why called Satarzgi Haidar Bassa Odauerdi Velli Hassan why he stirred vp the reliques of Mudahar to an insurrectioÌ„ Halil Bassa general of the sea his simplicitie Giaffer Captains at sea Famous Pirats Why Soliman vsed the seruice of Ariadino Two sortes of souldiours of his owne and Auxiliarie Souldiours of his owne The Spahi VVhat wages the Timari