Asia this was Godfrey of Bulloigns way to the Land of Promise then through a plaine by the River Hebers banks to Adrianople the Grand Seignior Seat in Europe thence to the Hellispont and thence to Constantinople Another way from Belgrade there is through Moravia Alba regalis Myha and Castovia that fatall velley for the French the Despol and Hunniades his overthrow thence the way of Cuzan and Clistura between the two Rivers Labus and Snithniza and the great hills of Pistun within two dayes Journey of which place is Scopia the Chief City of the Dardani a most convenient place for a Rendezvouz From this place there is an excellent narrow way through the valley of Gegligore and over the hills adjacent to Philipolis aforesaid There is another way from Pononia to Myfa by Saston Vugbe and Mount Larzus there are other waies through Hungary Transilvania and other places but there were two waies especially that the Roman armies passed through into Thrace the one called the Egnution way through the Pharsalian plains levaing the River Drina on the left hand and the Thessalian hills on the right leading to the plains of Macedon the other called the the Candarian way from Apollonia to the lake of Valonu and so the river Phidoris by the Sea side from the Conuthian Isthmus all along the Aegean sea to Thessalonica and over Mount Athos to the shores of Heber whence they may go either on the right hand towards Adrianople or on the left over the bridge of Aegina by Callipolis to the very mouth of the Dardanelles and all these waies 1. Narrow and commodious against the Turks multitudes 2. Fertile and affording abundance of provision 3. Christian where the people are ready to rise wanting nothing but the covert and protection of an European army towards their rescue from the Grecian tyranny In a word 30000 resolved men attended with competent supplies and recruits entring either Slavonia Hungaria Transilvania or Epirus a stout Navy in the Dardanelles and an inrode into Thrace Greece or some other distant but considerable Province setleth Christendom and it may be according to some mens conjectures at this time converteth the world Ch 4. Some particular advantages in reference to a Turk the neglect whereof hath made us hitherto so unsuccesfull Christendome may be now presumed advanced to her great enemies terrour onely she watcheth her speciall advantages against that potent adversary the principall whereof are these 1. He that would deal with the Musulmans powers sucessefully must protract and delay the war as long as may be waving all occasions of Engagement and strengthening the passages as he goes whereby 1. The Turk may be tired as not able to entertain and pay his grosse multitude long 2. His men may be debauched with the Customes of other Countries 3. And all his methods designes and Stratagems by some Considarable times observation Effectually discovered the observation of this rule in the Holy war had put a period to the persons and things we treate of a hundred of years before we were born 2. A Turkish war is then managed with success when that enemy is attacqued in several parts of his scattered Dominions and distracted between the fear of his open enemies the treachery of his private ones nor he knows not which province he may keep sure which he can most securely loose 3. A Christian army should be as exact as sober as temperate and as just as the Christian rule is Intemperance perjury and Superstition were the bane of the holy warre 4. A Good understanding with the Greeke Church upon Nilus his moderate terms would be a great advantage to this design as the misunderstanding betweene us upon civill and religious accounts was the great disadvantage of our former CHAP. â—5 An exact Chronology of the Several Successes of the Christians against the Turks DIogenes the Emperour Husband of Eudoria Discomfiteth the Turks and taketh from them much booty and prisoners 1040. 40000 Turks slaine by the Christians under the command of Godfrey of Bulloigne and other Christian Princes 1097. The Cities of Antioch and Heracleu wan by the Christians Idem Jerusalem taken by the Christians with a very great slaughter of the Sarazins and soon after a hundred thousand Turks slain in one battell 1099 Ptolomais won from the Turks and many thousand Sarazins slain by Prince Tancred 1101 Dominicus Michael Duke of Venice obtaineth a notable victory over the Turks at Joppa 1124 The Christians take the Cittie of Tyre from the Turks Idem Conrade the Emperour giveth the Turks so great an overthrow that the Vallies where it was fought ran with blood and the fields covered with the bodies of the dead 1146 Noradin the Turk Discomfited with a great slaughter by Gilbert Lary Master of the Templers 1166 Saladin Sultan of Egypt having in his Army above 16 thousand horsemen overthrown by Baldwin King of Jeâ—usalem with four hundred horsemen and some few footmen 1177 Frederick the Emperour setteth forward towards the holy Land overthroweth the Turks in Lycaonia taketh the Citie of Iconium and giveth the spoile thereof to his souldiers 1190 Frederick his Sonne overthroweth Saladine and besiegeth Ptolomais Idem Richard the first of England and Phillip King of France Set forwards for the holy Land Idem Ptolomais won from the Turks chiefly by the valour of King Richard 1191 A great victory obtained by King Richard and the Christians wherein were slain more Turks and Sarazins then in any one battell within the memory of man before Idem Many thousand Turks slaine at Joppa by the Christians 1197 Theodâ—rus Lasconis the Greek Emperour overthroweth the Turks and killeth Jathalines the Sultan in single battell 1208 Damiata in Egypt taken by the Christians whereof Seventy thousand persons in the City at the Christians entrance were found but three thousand 1221 King Lewis of France setteth forward towards the holy Land giveth the Sarazins many overthrows and again taketh the City of Damiata in Egypt 1249 Edward the first of England arriveth at Ptolomais and performeth many notable exploits against the Turks 1271 The Knights Hospitallers takes the Island of Rhodes from the Turks 1308 The City of Nice with divers other Castles recovered from the Turks and many overthrows given them by the Christians 1328 Boga taken by the Christians and all the Turks therein put to death 1365 The Castle of Sarkiue with the City joyning unto it taken by the Christians and rased 1389 A great bloudy battel fought betwixt Tamerlaine the grear and Bajazet Emperour of the Turks wherein Bajazâ—t was taken put up like a beast in an iron Câ—â—â—â—â—gainst whose Barrs he beat out his Braines 1397 Amâ—â—â—â— the Second besieging Belgrade in Hungaria is repâ—ised by the Christians with the losse of Fifteene thousand men 1438 John Huniades Varnod of Transilvania obtained a notable victory over the Turks 1440 The same Huniades again overthroweth the Turks killeth Mesites their General and 20000 of their Souldiers 1441 Another great victory obtained by
Amarath and Hunniades three daies together there were 40000. Turk slain for 17000. Christians not to speak of Scanderbeg's miracles and Tamerlains wonders Hunniades himself overthrew by Sea Land 600000 Turks The Venetians won of the Turk 36. battels at sea Solyman the great 1530. came as farre as Vienna besieged it three quarters of a year lost 80000. men before it and gave it over for impregnable Charles the Emperour calls a Diet resolves upon an aray of 84000. men calleth his old Captains out of Italy sends to his Admiral Deaurea to rig his ships and invade Greece meets Solyman at Gunza and there put 26000. of his souldiers to the sword after Solyman had thirteen times assaulted Gunza but in vain discomfiteth 15000. Turks that were sent to spoyl Austria ransacks the Turkish fleet takes his Port towns and returns with glory into Italy and thence a while after invades Affrica with successe makes a league with the Bishop of Rome and the Venetians to send forth 200. Gallies against the common enemy to whom the French added 26. to scoure the Mediterranean seas who forc't great Solyman to peace which when he afterward broke by a war upon Hungary he was then met with by the united forces of the Emperour and the Princes and beaten home to Constantinople The Turk makes war upon the Venetians they agree with Spaine the Pope and the Princes of Italy to joyn against this common enemy and that Spaine should be at halfe the charge the other half being undertaken by the other three parties and thus pursue the great adversary to his own Port and cudgel him to overtures of peace Besides that they engaged the Persian King to attaque him and upon his second overthrow him at the famous Lepanto and buried there 36000. of his Royal Navy bringing the great Sultan upon his knees for peace 1593. the Turk reinforceth his former attempts the Emperour advertised the Christian Princes of it they appear in the field 163000. strong and defeat the invader at Alba regalis where he buried 36000 men in three weeks time pursuing their victory under the conduct of Count Serim to the great Port it self 1604 their unwearied enmity recruting its self under Mahomet the third again threatned Christendome after various successes in Transilvania at last quite suppressed and notwithstanding its Tartararian assistances awed into a ten years peace for the present and put to an utter incapacity to incommodate the Christians to this day buting only some little enterprizes at sea where the little Common-wealth of Venice outdared them Thus have we common reason and many years experience encouraging the Christian Princes to encounter this daring Infidel whom they have hitherto out gone in power and successe III. But the question is how considering thâ— fears and jealousies the various interests and designs of Christian Potentates they may if resolve on an holy warre dispose their forces to each other satisfaction and content to which the answer is obvious 1. It is not above threescore years ago sine an universal conquest being designed by the Infidel upon all believers the Christian Princes awaked and resolved upon a Catholique confederacy without any scruples agreeing that Saxony should send 2600 Francovia and Swovia 5000 Tyroll 5000 Bavaria 3000 Bohemia 12000 Moravia 3000 Austria 8000 Hungary 6000 Spaine 14000 Rome 10000 Tuscany 4000 Ferara 1500 Montua 1000 France 16000. Venice 5000 England 7000 Poland 12000. to Vienna where the general rendezvouz was appointed the General pitched upon is Archduke Sigismund the Lieut. General Count Mansfield 2. But if you will say that the state of Christendome must needs be altered much under threescore years revolution it will be naturally replied that though there have been some private alterations in some particular interests yet the main interest is the same viz. the ballance of France and Spaine And if you retort that it was not then nor may it be now safe to admit any Auxiliaries especially those of France into the Empire the current maxime being that a State had better be conquered with its own people than conquer with an Army of others who may first overthrow their foes and then their friends Your satisfaction is at hand for there is no danger in Auxiliaries if 1. they have no Castles or Garrisons in their hands 2. If they are no more then the Natives may muster 3. If they engage a Common enemy 4. If they are so mixed as the united forces of Christendome are supported 5. If they are commanded by the natives of that Country which they assist or at least by persons whose chief dependance is on that power which they have but more particularly are the Protestants in Germany affraid of Papists they may be ballanced with Protestants Is the Emperour afraid of the French they may be counterpoised by the Spaniards and Italians or to salve all the Germans the Hungarians the Italians the Spaniards the English may meet the terrour of Gorony in Austria while the French the Dutch the Venetians the Muscovite the Polomian the Dane and Swede surprize him in his own Country and make a diversion that may relieve the Christian if not utterly overthrow the Infidel IV. And by this time I suppose the Princes agreed the armies raised and a resolution taken up by all the States to scour off the rust from their ancient renown in the Holy war whither Germany sent three Emperours with 450000. men France four Kings with their Armies England one King and three Kings sons with 86000. men Italy four Generals with four puissant armies Spaine two Kings and 52000. Poland one King with 13000. men Norway a Fleet of 47. brave ships and Denmark the like Ancestors glory is a great motive to brave enterprizes for late posterity the noble Gentlemen of all Nations that bear their ancestors service in their Armes thronging to make good their honour but which way may the Turk be invaded We must know our ground before we bowle right I. In general a Christian army must be led against the Turk not through wide plains but narrow passages where the Mahumetan multitudes will be uselesse against their enemies and burthensome to themselves and some such unusual stratagem may be practised as may amuse and disorder the Barbarian who hath but one way to the wood and that where his people are most discontent and ready as they are indeed every where to entertain aid succour any by whom they may have certain hope to wind their necks out of the yoak of that Intollerable servitude which they now suffer 2. More particularly to passe by the Sea-ports Leading into Asia out of the North we may goe by Belgrade into Thrace on the one hand or to Macedonia on the other thence through the Plains of Godomire and the upper River of Moravia to Nilus and the River adjacent thence over the vast Mountains Gunoronia to Sorphea within twenty miles of Rhodop and the plaine of Phillipi this was the Romans way to
promote the warre with Portugal and engage the most Noble Commanders in that service especially Don John of Austria 4. A moderation in point of Religion in opposition to the zeal and severity of Spaine that may draw the Protestant Estates Kingdoms to this side of the ballance together with a readinesse to assist them against the Invaders of their Estates and Liberties that may retain them here 5. Spies and Pensioners in all the Courts of Europe especially they that are within the reach of Austria to have before he clearly what passeth among her neighbours and that as occasion serves she strengthen the weak D. Rhoan assure the fearful and stop the engagement of those that fall off and by all means to erosse the intelligence of Spaine 6. To be ready with Men Munition and Aâ—mes an Army and a treasure in France may do wonders in two respects to buy or keep off the English sooting in Flanders to buy or force an interest in Italy and to fit her for an elective Kingdom moreover a Law against expences is a fundamental of France and England 7. To meet Spoine in all treaties especially in Germany and Italy with such flow and provident persons as may keep peace with what hath overcome Christendome by delayes and reaches of many years foresight who are to have a particular eye upon the succession and in the declining age of the King of Spaine to shuffle in some pensions 〈◊〉 his very Couâ—cel table looking backward strictly upon the Princes of the blood in France among whom the King is to appear moll active and careful of places of trust when he knows not how soon he may leave to considents while he is in pursuits of further interest 8. A from league with the Switz for their land service and the Hollanders for their service at sea especially in the Indier against the Spaniards dear wife there To all which adde a reputation and secresie the many designs of France upon Poland Italy Germany Spaine Flanders England must move with invincible springs or else they lose their weight as they are discoverd whereunto a little of Spaines humour of dissembling is absolutely necessary to the open French mans interest 1. In a general peace to settle his Councels and people Spain his Countries wasted with constant warrs to secure his Plantations and furnish his Navy that great security of his Revenue and Treasure 2. Securing the Empire and Italy his great confidence especially from the French for the Frenchmans businesse is to keep those two places open the Spaniards to keep them shu 3. Looking to the Pope and his election in bearing up the reputation of a zealous Champion of the Catholique faith as if upon the support of his Monarch depended the support of the Church by this pretence of Religion 1. He may keep out any Prince from any considerable power in the Catholique Dominions he may sollicit the Pope to put the Catholique King upon his exercising severity upon their Protestant subjects and underhand assist the Protestant Subjects against those Kings who are to be traduced as favourers of Hereâ—icks if they persecute noâ— the Protestants and to be suggested persecutors if they doe to maintain a seminary of Catholiques in those Countries where the Protestant Religion prevailes who shall study Divinity but practice policy to promote Spaines Catholique Monarchy under the pretence of propagating Romes Catholique Religion to keep up animosities between the Catholique and reformed Switz who are now so closely leagued to France to endeavour a division in the Low countries by a long truce and peace 4. In retaining the ablest Jesuits Monks and Friars in all Countries with other the most usefull pentioners and Intelligencers 5. In interposing in the most considerable treaties as Judge or umpire and disposing the several parties to agreement in waies most agreeable to his interest 6. A truce with Portugal which he may corrupt sooner then conquer and buy at a cheaper rate then he can win 7. A watchfull eye over the French especially in Italy and in Poland which may be the French his fetch about into the Monarchy of Spaine upon the death of this Prince who either hath none or very uncertain issue and to that purpose competent forces in Naples Millan and his Mediterarean Provinces especially Navarre together with his old reputation for zeale and power are necessary together with a core of the fort Fuentes and other passages from one part of the divided Monarchy into another to which I may adde a care to exchange his Militia and that no garrisons be kept by their own Natives but they of Milloin may be in Spaine and they of Spaine in Milan and to impoverish the Natives who may once in an age be coaxed with a few unexpected acts of grace 8. Outbidding the French in the Switz market 9. A League with the Pope the Princes of Italy the Emperour of Germany the Pole in behalfe of the Church the onely interest that upholds that Monarchy and will bear up on that side These maxims observed will abate the swelling of France rayse the low condition of Spaine and secure the other Christian Princes with such a counterpoise of affairs as may preserve their present interest The Pope 4. The Pope and the Italian Princes interest lieth 1. In privacy and peace among themselves 2. Because it is the firmest friend the Church hath 3. Because it may be a bridle to restraine France a consideration worthy all their regards especially the Dukes of Savoy to whom I may adde the Switz and the united Provinces who are to take heed of France though they cannot comply with Spaine and to secure the Navigation 5. The interest of Germany Poland Denmarke and Sweden is so to check the growing power of Spaine as not to be surprized by a greater of France to attend the Diets and to have a firm correspondence among themselves to beare up against the Catholique league II. But now cannot all these particular interests be reconciled into one communion against the publique enemy may not England secure her trade abroad by a strong Navy and her peace at home by sending an army against him being safe from all neighbours who are engaged in that common quarrel is there any thing in the French high way to an universall Monarchy but the usurping Infidell what weakneth the Papal and Austrian interest but the Turkish power what checketh the French the Flemish and the British trade but that great Pyrate what impeacheth the Catholique attempts upon Portugall but those of the Turks upon Germany why droopeth the Patriarchal power at Rome but that the Catholique assistants are diverted to Hungary and there maintain their own Thrones while they should uphold their fathers Chaire as more concerned for their own Crowns then for his Mitre would not a warre with the Turk spend the ill humors of England and Poland secure the Dane exercise the Swede give a truce to Portugal give a respit