fell that it not only allayed the Sand but furnished his Army with Water during his passage which took up eight days yet was he frequently assaulted by the Arabians The Deserts passed as aforesaid the Turkish Army drew near unto Cair to receive or rather intrap which Tomombeius the new Sultan near to a Village called Rhodania had intrenched his Camp with deep Ditches filled with Water over which he had laid rotten Hurdles and upon them Earth and lined all the Banks with Artillery not doubting but Selymus would march that way but this their Device which would certainly have gained them a Victory had it took was upon the approach of the Turkish Army discovered to Selymus by four Epirot Mamalukes who secretly Envying the sudden Advancement of Tomombeius had in the Night time withdrawn themselves from his Camp Upon which Selymus altered his determined Courses and marching by by-ways suddenly appeared with his Army drawn up in Battalia in the Rear of the Egyptian Camp which put them into a great Consternation but seeing no Remedy but presently to ingage the Sultan put his Army in readiness and after the Charge sounded furiously with his great Ordnance spoke his indignation and was answered in the same Language from Selymus his Camp but after the second discharge of each particular tire the Armies joyned Charging each other with such Force that all the Ground lay covered with the slain the Mamalukes inraged with mortal Hatred bearing down all before them when in the mean time the Arrabians incompassed the Turks Battle putting the Thracian Macedonian and Epirot Horsemen to the flight the which Sinan Bassa perceiving came in with his Squadron of Horse to stay the wavering Battle but being overcharged by Gazelles and Bidon he was slain and his men disordered So that had not Selymus himself advanced with his surest strength of the Janizary the Victory had fallen to the Sultan but with them restoring the Battle and the Mamalukes being tired with continual Fighting at the approach of Night Tomombeius finding his men to be worsted caused the retreat to be sounded and retired towards Cair leaving his Camp to the Turks In this Battle fought on the 24. of January 1517. Were slain many Thousands on both sides and the Turks had certainly been worsted had it not been for the invincible Courage of the Janizaries The Turks in pursuit having taken the Diadare a man of great Command amongst the Egyptians and Bidon the valiant Captain whom Selymus unworthily caused to be slain in revenge of the Sinan Bassa Tomombeius a man of a warlike Spirit nothing discouraged at what had happened but rather more resolute to revenge his disgrace gathered his Power from all parts and incamped Commodiously between the City of Cair and the River Nilus and there consulted how he might by stratagem most conveniently set upon the Turks Camp e'r they understood what Power he had not thinking it safe so suddenly to try another Field But whilst he was thus plotting all his devices were discovered to Selymus as they had been before by several Mamalukes who now beginning to have his fortune in Contempt revolted from him Insomuch that to prevent the firing of his Camp as was intended Selymus caused strict Watches to be kept and great Fires to be made that so he might discover the Enemies approaches by night which the Sultan perceiving by the advice of his great Commanders retired into the City of Caire there to expect the approach of the Conqueror furnishing it with all manner of Warlike provision and inciteing the Egyptians who stood all this while Newters to take up Arms in the defence of their Country which the more wealthy whillingly did but the poorer sort who in all Nations ever gape after change of Government thinking to advantage themselves thereby yet such were the perswasions of the Mamalukes that in the end most of the Citizens resolved upon the defence of that great City towards which Selymus was advancing a pace wherefore Tomombeius caused Trenches to be drawn Cross the Streets at the bottom of which were fixed sharp Stakes and before them Tin being overlaid with rotten Hurdles so to intrap the too eager Turks for why the City had no Walls but situate upon the River Nilus was adorned with many stately Towers Piramides Pallaces Temples and Monuments of the Egyptian Kings served rather for Pleasure then strength He likewise caused the Houses to be furnished with Harquebusiers and his Pieces of Culvering and other small Pieces to be every where planted Advantagiously for the annoying the Enemy and in the great Street drew up his greatest strength consisting of Mamalukes yet Selymus being now come before it after his having incouraged his Soldiers to undertake the subduing of that great City as the last Refuge of the Sultan he furiously entered the Gate called Basuela and at one instant thrust in his Horsemen at divers Caves but kept his Janizaries in the high Street where the greatest Power of the Mamalukes were Whereupon a dreadful Fight was begun on all parts insomuch that the Channels run Blood like so many Torrents the Artillery and small Shot still thundering from either side made all seem Fire and covered the tops of the Houses with Clouds of smoke when from their Windows and Roof of their Houses the Egyptians cast down Stones Tiles scalding Water Sulphur Pitch Tar and the like to the great annoyance of the Turks who still pressing forward many of them fell into the Covert Trenches and were there impailed on the Stakes and such was the Clamour and Outcries of the enemy where together with the Clashing of Weapons and dreadful Fires that it seemed as if the desolation of all things was come and in this dismal manner continued the Fight for the space of two Days and two Nights without intermission Insomuch that Selymus finding what obstinate Enemies he had to deal with began to despair of winning the City and therefore was about to sound the Retreat as his fainting Soldiers most earnestly desired at what time he had News that Mustapha Bassa had by the Conduct of some Fugitive Mamalukes entered the City on the other side and had taken the Mamalukes Horses which they had left there ready Sadled thereon to make their escapes if matters came to the Extremity which not only Animated the Turks but dismayed the Mamalukes who expected no such Matter So that the Fight were renewed on the third day continuing Bloody and doubtful till the Evening at what time most of the Egyptians were very desirous to be rid of their insolent Lords the Mamalukes revolted to the Turks which the Mamalukes perceiving and that by Reason of the great number of Turks that were sent to stop the Gaps that Death had made they were no longer able to resist their Fury they betook themselves to flight most part of them hasting to the River Nilus with Tomombeius who in that Battle had all in vain proved the utmost of his Prowess and
Bassa Vice-Admiral of the Turk upon his arrival landed 800 Horsemen and 1000 Foot who ranging up and down the Island did great harm by burning and destroying all before them till they came to the Suburbs of Corfu which they attempted to set on fire but were beaten off by the Garrison Souldiers who sallyed upon them with great fury killing a great number of them and amongst the rest Paphus Rays a man of great account causing the rest to betake themselves to flight who coming on board the Gally weighed Anchor and sailed to the Bay of Corinth otherwise called Lepanto having on board the Fleet 15000 Captive Christians taken in the Islands belonging to the Venetians The outrages of the Turks made the Christian Confederates hasten out their Fleet which met at Messina where the Admirals and other great Commanders called a Councel to consider what was best to be done in the management of the War against so powerful an Enemy not doubting the victory for why the Venetian Fleet consisted of 108 Gallies 6 Galliasses 2 great Ships and many small Galliots to whom were joyned 12 Gallies of the Popes Commanded by Columnius And with Don John General of Spain Base Son to Charles the 5th and Auria the Spanish Admiral came 81 Gallies of which three appertained to the Knights of Maita In this Fleet besides Mariners were reckoned to be 20000 Men an Army not onely most beautiful for shew as consisting of able Men but for the most part composed of old experienced Souldiers amongst whom were a great number of the Christian Nobility who came to serve against the Infidels of their own accord drawing after them a number of their Favorites whom they at their own charge maintained The chief of which were Alexander Farnesius Prince of Parma Franciscus Maria Prince of Vrbin and Paulus Jordanus Vrsinus of the Honourable Family of the Roman Vrsini All things being thus in a readiness the Venetian Admiral in the Counsel called to determine what was to be done vehemently pressed the General and the rest of the great Commanders instantly to give the Enemy Battle and was seconded by several others of Note as well Spaniards as Romans whereupon Commandement was given for putting the Fleet in order which by the three Admirals of Venice Rome and Spain being brought into the Ocean was martialed in this manner In the right wing which consisted of 53 Gallies was Auria the Spanish Admiral placed In the left wing Augustinus Barbadious with the like number of Gallies and in the middle Battle stood the General himself with 70 Gallies on the right hand of the General stood Columnius and on the left Venerius his Associates and thus with equal form the Fleet set forward as if they instantly had been to joyn the Enemy During this preparation of the Christians the Turks were not idle but calling a Council of the chief Commanders held a long debate whether they should give the Christians Battle or decline it but at length those that held it dangerous to give Battle being over-ballanced by those that were of the contrary opinion it was resolved that the whole Fleet should be put in order of Battle which at the command of Haly Bassa General of the Land Forces and Great Admiral of the Turkish Gallies coming out of the Bay of Corinth or Lepanto they were put into order of the Battle after this manner The middle Battle in number much like the Christians was conducted by Haly Bassa and Partau attended upon by Agan Master of the Turks Arsenal Mustapha Zelibi the Treasurer Achmat Bay with Mahomet his younger brother the sons of Haly Achmat Aga Governor of Teuthrania Assis Caiga Governour of Calipolis Caracoza Cassanes Son to Barbarossa Malamur Governour of Mytilene Dely Solyman Gider Captain of Chios Cassambeius Governour of the Rhodes Provi Aga Captain of Nauplium Giaper Zelibi President of Calabria Dordagnan Dondomeni with many others too tedious to recite The right wing was by the appointment of the Bassa's commanded by Mahomet Bey with 56 Gallies to whom were joyned many Captains of great Experience in Sea affairs The left wing was commanded by Vluzales Viceroy of Argiers an old experienced Pirate composed of 90 Gallies accompanyed with Cariolo and Araby his two sons attended on by a multitude of Pirates who entered into the War in hopes to get great spoil In the Rearward was placed Amurath Dragut with 30 Gallies and divers other small vessels Both Fleets being set in order of Battle about noon a fierce ingagement happened in the beginning of which God so ordering it the Wind turned about to the great advantage of the Christians driving the smoake of the great Ordnance and vollies of small shot in the face of the Infidels whereupon for a long time the fight continued with equal success victory inclining to neither side but after four hours space the Turkish Admiral being slain his Gally taken and about 40 others sunk and fired victory began to declare her self for the Christians Yet the desperate Turks as searing Selymus Anger if they should return vanquished fought desperately but true valour prevailing and all the chief Commanders except Vluzales slain or taken Prisoners and he resolving to reserve himself to his better fortune fled after 5 hours desperately fighting with between 30 and 40 Gallies into the Bay of Lepanto leaving the victory to the Christians who having pursued him as far as they thought convenient returned to take the spoil where it was a horrible spectacle to behold the Sea coloured with blood and covered with the bodies of the slain fragments of broken Ships and such weapons as were subject to float upon its surface The number of the Turks lost in this great overthrow could not be known by reason of the Multitude that were buryed in the Sea but Antonius Gnarnaerius writing the History of this war reported 32000 to have perished and amongst them these of Note viz. Haly Bassa General Mahomet Bey otherwise called Chiroche or Siroche Governour of Alexandria Cassanes the Son of Barbarossa together with his son Mulaune Governor of Mitylene Gider Governour of Chios Cassambaunes Governour of Rhodes Provi Aga Captain of Nauplium Mustapha Zelibi the great Treasurer Caracoza Viceroy of Argiers with many others The chief Prisoners taken in this Battle were Achmet and Mahomet sons to Haly Bassa and Nephews to Selymus who being afterwards sent as a Present to the Pope the Eldest died at Naples and Machmet Bey Governour of Euboea and of lesser note 3500 of the Enemies Gallies were taken 161 40 sunk in the fight and taken about 60 Galliots and other small vessels This notable Victory thus obtained Don John Venerius and Columna coming together friendly embraced each other and afterwards in a most Christian manner on their knees returned most hearty thanks to Almighty God for giving them so Great a Victory over the Enemies of his Name which pious example was seconded by all the Captains Mariners and souldiers of the Fleet
by the Senate and dismissed of his high charge Capello being appointed to succeed him who being strengthned with an additional supply of Gallies Galliasses and Ships of War he wasted the Island whilst Morosini with two and twenty Ships faced the Towers of the Dordanellis in the Hellespont and braved the Ottoman power incountering such Gallies as in a dead calm were sent out against him which after a sharp dispute he obliged to retire and then sailed to joyn his Admiral perswading him to give the Turks Battle but whilst he delayed they landed an additional strength of forty thousand men on the Island and kept their Gallies so close within the Harbour that they could not be indammaged without great disadvantage to the Christians nor did the Fire-Ships too late prepared to burn them succeed by reason they took Fire too soon yet the succeeding year Morosini having notice that the Turks were Landed at Scio and that they carelesly romed up and down came thither with divers Ships of War took several of their Gallies and in them many prisoners of note but soon afterward being serated from his Squadron in a storm he was set upon by fifteen Gallies of Rhodes and boarded where fighting valiantly he was slain by a Musquet Bullet yet his Ship upon the coming in of two Galliasses was rescued The funeral solemnity of this renowned Captain was celebrated with all Pomp at Venice Not by Sea only but at Land the Turks invaded the Venetian Territories for pouring a multitude of men into Dalmatia yet were not greatly successful for Leonardo Foscolo the Venetian General on that side overthrew their Forces in divers conflicts In one of which he took the Sanzack Licca and slew his Son recovered Saccovar Polissano Islan and Novogrode the latter of which by order of the Senate he demolished and pursuing his good success took all the Cities and Towns the Turks held on that side utterly driving them out of Dalmatia but this joy was palliated by the unwelcome news of the Fleets being wrecked in the Archipelago and a great number of Ships and Gallies broken to pieces which so raised the drooping courage of the Turks that they advanced to the Walls of Candia and straitly besieged it but were so valiantly repulsed by the Christians that had put themselves into it that after the loss of thirty thousand men they were obliged to retire as not being capable of gaining it though Foscolo about this time proved successful in taking Clissa a strong Fort scituate in the confines of Dalmatia and overthrew Feckeli Bassa killing and taking Prisoners the greatest part of his Army which caused Morlaches to revolt and several of the principal inhabitants of Scutary to treat with the Venetian General about putting that City into his hands to take possession of which seven thousand men were sent who seized some several smal places but ere they could arrive at Scutari their design was discovered and they obliged for the preservation of their lives to betake themselves to the Mountains for as many as were taken the Turks impailed them alive The Grand Visier inraged for the loss of Clissa dispatched Dervis Bassa into part of Bosna with a powerful Army to assault Spelatro against whom the Venetian General marched together with Serich Capt. of Morlaches but by reason of the Christians disorderly march in gathering the spoil of the Countrey the Turks set upon a part of the Army and put it to the rout though Serich and other Dalmatian Captains did all that men could perform In this conflict 400 Christians were slain and as many taken Prisoners amongst the latter of which was the Captain of Moriaches whom the Turks flayed alive and afterwards impailed yet though they subdued his body they could not conquer his invincible mind he bearing the same Constancy and Resolution in his torments as he had done in Battle During these transactions Ibrahim indulged himself in all manner of pleasures leaving the management of all his affairs to his Bassa himself being wholly directed by a wench who in the nature of a Baud or procurer went from bath to bath to take a view of the Ladies and those she perceived fairest she inquired out the places of their abode and recommended them to her Lord who upon hearing her praise their beauty would instantly be enamoured of them and send to fetch them either by fair means or force to his Bed This course taken for a while without coutroul she at length filled his ears with the commendation of a Sultaness Widow to his brother Morat deceased but this Woman could by no intreaty be won to his Lust nor obliged with presents to comply alledging she had vowed perpetual Widowhood and that her former Lord to was living in conceit which denyal the more inraged Ibrahim now grown impatient of delay wherefore he intended to snatch that by force that intreaty could not gain wherefore watching her one day as she came out of the Bath he siezed her in his armes which she perceiving resolved upon the defence of her Chastity and therefore drew her Dagger a weapon which the Sultaness and Chief Lady wear at their sides and offered to wound him in her own defence which observing let go his hold at what time the bustle causing a loud clamour his Mother came from her apartment who understanding what had happened began to reprove her son of his lascivious behaviour during which the Sultaness found means to escape which so incensed Ibrahim that he confined his Mother to the old Seraglio interdicting her his presence till with submission and many intreaties she had obtained pardon After the loss of this Sultaness his procurer called by him Shecher Para casting her eyes upon the Daughter of the Mufti a young Lady of excellent beauty so warmed the heart of Ibrahim with the relation of her rare perfections that he resolved to have her at any rate and therefore at first resolved to send for her by force but considering the power of the Mufti he upon second thoughts suppoled it not convenient to incense him by such a rash action but rather to send for him and to treat with him about taking his daughter to be one of his Sultana's which he did and reasoned with him about that affair but the old man who intirely loved his daughter and well considering the wandering loves of Ibrahim and that he having already sons her off spring would be either poisoned strangled or become sad recluses after his death inwardly resolved not to consent to his request yet dissembled the matter in excusing so great an honour to one that was unworthy of it but withal concluded to deal with his Daughter in the best mannen to the Sultans advantage but by their Law could oblige her therein no further then her free consent allowed Pleased with this answer Ibrahim dismissed the Mufti with several rich presents thinking his wishes should now be satisfied but the old man having hardened his Daughter not to
stone raised by a Cannon buller that fell three yards short of him and the Count de Souches received a hurt in his leg by an arrow from one of the Trenches yet like men devoting their lives to the service of their Countrey they pressed on couragiously animating the soldiers to pursue the flying enemy which they did making great slaughter and recovering almost all the works they had possessed till such time as eight thousand Janizaries advancing the Turks thereby encuraged returned furiously insomuch that the besieged not being able to stand the charge under the favour of the Cannon retreated into the Town where during the fally the breaches had been made good yet in this action they lost two thousand men and amongst them divers officers of note yet as men not dismayed finding still the Turks incroach they on the 22 sallyed again and finding the enemy had made great lodgments in the Ditch beat them thence and ruined their works and the better to hinder their approaches made several retrenchments within the Bastion which the Turks perceiving threw that day a great many Bombies into the Town which killed twenty men and fired six or seven houses playing very furiously from four Batteries and by this time having possessee themselves of divers small Islands in the River Danube as it were blocked up the City by water yet the Governour resolving to hold out the siege to the last extremity rather then to deliver the City or come to any capitulation he on the twenty sixth made another resolute sally in which coming to handy blows with the enemy and the fight continuing hot for the space of eight hours the loss was great on both sides yet in the end the Turks were beaten out of all their works and three great Mines of theirs being discovered the powder was taken out but so much Christian blood was shed in the action that the Garrison was greatly weakned and great was the want of Officers for since the beginning of the siege were slain one Colonel five Lieutenant Collonels thirty Captains and thirty eight Lieutenants besides divers that dyed of the bloody flux and were at that time sick insomuch that it was resolved not so frequently to Sally but use all endeavours to discover the enemies Mines and Subterranean Traverses and thereby defeat them and that it was convenient to give the Duke of Loraine notice of the strait the City was in whereupon the Count d' Starenberg wrote a Letter wherein he gave his Highness to understand as followeth The Copy of a Letter from the Count D' Staremberg Governour of Vienna to the Duke of Lorrain bearing Date August 27th 1683. I Cast my self at your Highness feet humbly to thank your Highness for the good Opinion you were pleased top express towards me in your last Letter Your Highness knows I am perfectly devoted to you and that I desire nothing more passionately than by my Humble Service to render my self worth thereof Since my last the Enemy have sprung six Mines in the Ravelin which after having repulsed them we presently repaired and still we keep our Retrenchment The Enemy have hitherto gained no more than a Lodgment on the point of the Ravelin We search above and under ground and have Countermined three of the Enemies Mines and sprung two Mines which had good Effect and would have had better were our Miners braver and more expert but being people that we are fain to get together any way it is impossible to make them re-enter the Mine if they hear the Enemy at work In the Counterscarp the Enemy have likewise sprung three Mines near a Retrenchment Palisadoes which we still maintain to cover the Caponiers we have in the Ditch and though the Palisadoes were in some places beaten down by the last Mine yet our men maintained the Post with their Swords in their hands until such time they were made good again and 〈◊〉 still keep it The Enemy have 〈◊〉 other descents in the Ditch one towards the Bastion Lebeland and the other towards that of the Court out of which our men under the favour of the fire we gave did in open day dislodge them whilst others commanded for that purpose filled up their works and burnt their Gabbons and Galleries so that they must begin anew But Sir it is time to succour us we lose a great many Men and many Officers more by the Bloody Flux than by the fire of the Enemy for there dies almost every day sixty of this Distemper We have no more Granadoes which were our best defence our Cannon are partly spoiled by the Enemies Battery and partly burst e're they had endured fifty shot by reason of the ill Temperament of the Mettal and the Enemy finding they cannot with small numbers lodge themselves in the Ditch make great Lodgments on the Counterscarp and keep a great number of men there to make Extraordinary Efforts For the rest it is certain the Enemy have lost and do dayly lose a great many Janizaries and that they have a great multitude wounded and no less number sick of the Bloody Flux which rages amongst them They have several Camps far enough from each other and may be easily beaten if they stay for Your Highness which I do not believe they will do They are not at present 60000 fighting men and one Camp may be beaten before it can be assisted by the other We expect your Highness with the greatest impatience but I not so much to be delivered of this Siege as to have the Honour to assure your Highness of the Respect which I am c. Postcript AT this Instant my Miners Informed me that they hear the Enemy working beneath them under the Bastion of the Court they must have passed the Ditch under ground and there is no more time to be lost This advice greatly alarmed the Imperial Camp not so much for fear as with a desire immediately to march and adventure the relief of the City at the hazard of a Battle whereupon the Duke assembled the Great Commanders in his own Tent laying before them the Danger the City was in and at the same time informed them that he was resolved to attempt its relief though at the hazard of Battle which resolve was liked by most though some there were who alledged that seeing the King of Poland was near at hand it was not safe to attempt any thing till both Armies were joyned and that it was better to hazard the City than the Army upon which the safety of the Empire depended Notwithstanding the Army had express orders to March and had set forward the next day had not advice in the mean while arrived in the camp from the Count d' Staremberg informing his Highness that he had discovered and defeated the great Mine under the Court Bastion and dislodged the Turks in the Counterscarp by successfully springing two Mines which had inabled him to hold out much longer then he supposed therefore he earnestly besought