Vranocontes but allow him all the honor due to his great deserts and as this Governor appointed by Scanderbeg to command â—roye was â—igilâ—nt and dexterous to oppose Amurath so his Prince was not asleep in creating other imployment for his Forces elsewhere for as Ottâ—man had given him a very hot Alâ—rm Scanâ—erbeg with a party of his choice â—oâ—â—e falls so desperately upon the Enemies Tents at the said â—iege as that Amurath could not at that time compass his designes noâ— take the place although he dispatcht away Seremet with four thousand â—oâ—se to repulse Scanderbeg and Mahomet likewise though in vain puâ—â—â—ed him with all possible speed conceiving so great a hatred against him as that after the death of his fatâ—er he abated nothing of his pernicious and evil affection towards him And though death prevented the malicious designes of Amurath yet it could not make any alteration in the heart of his Son Mahomet the second and not the first as by a mistake it slipped in this work who took Constantinople and was thereby the more enraged against the Christians then before However the state of affairs at this time so diâ—â—â—cted him that he was constraiâ—eâ— to send Ambâ—ssadors to desire a â—ruce Mahomet â—â— sâ—cond 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 with Castriot is 〈◊〉 which was refuâ—ed him and â—n â—nswer was returned to Sangâ—as thâ— Deputy who was sent to conclude the peace that he shoulâ— be gone preâ—â—nâ—â—y as foâ— Castriot â—e would not make any peace or agreement with the Iâ—fâ—â—el unless he 〈◊〉 him those Ciâ—ies which Amurath hâ—d unjustly â—surped In thâ—â—ean 〈◊〉 Mahomet retires and was a long while beâ—oâ—e he could â—eâ—tle himself in his Fathers Dâ—minions anâ— therefore could not for that time â—o Castriot any great harm And Scanderbeg being willing to have an heir to George Castriots marriage succeed him and being thereunto requested by his subjects took to his lawful Wiâ—e the most vertuous and fair daughter of Prince Aramth Conyno called Doneca with whom he could not live long in quiet For so soon as this new Turke was setled in his Fathers Throne he began to threaten Castriot our Christian Prince being not able to enduâ—e he should have such Dominion over Croâ—e and the rest of Epire. Nor did I here intend to have set down the undertaking of Scanderbeg to assist Ferdinand the Son of Alphonso King of Naples had not the several Castriot râ—lâ—evâ—s Alphonso King of Naples soâ— Historians who have written thereon omitted how he did redeem this poor King wâ—o was reduced to that misery and non plus as that â—e was imprisoned in the Town of Barâ— by the â—â—ege wâ—ich the Count Picevin had â—iâ— to it who made as sure of him as if he had been already intangled in his Net But as soon as the arrival of Scanderbeg was known Duke John of Sore and the Count Picevin packed up their baggage raised their siege and in great haste marched thirty miles from thence to avoid the fury of that Fleet and those which accompanied Scanderbeg who had so good success in repulâ—ng Ferdinands enemies that to him alone â—elongs the honoâ— of recovering of that Kings Crown But the affâ—â—s of hi◠〈◊〉 Kingdom wanting his direction he was constrained to quit all and to return to Croye neer unto which place the Christians had erected an inexpugnable Fortâ—ess sufficient to hinder the passages of the Infidels upon an exceeding high Mountain called Modrica and having furnished it with Victuals Artillery and Munition made such opposition against the attempts of the enemy that it secured the Pass whereupon Mâ—homet â—â—inting under so many attempts Sinaim Saâ—â—aâ— sâ—nt by Mahomet against Castriot is deâ—â—ated made upon him dispatches away a famous Captain callâ—d Sinam wiâ—h five and twenty thousand Turkish Horse against Scanderbeg to suâ—pâ—ise him on a suddâ—in thinking the War of Naples from whence he was but lately returned had made him secure and careless But Scanderbeg who always slept with his eyes open had opportunely since his arrival sent his Spies abroad and renewed his Intelligence with those neer the Sultan whereby he had timely notice to prepare and to get the first into the field But kept himself priâ—ate and close expecting the advance of the Sanâ—jac Sinam and then marched the whole night towards him during the obâ—â—urity whereof and contrary to the knowledge of his Adversary with eight thousand fighting men Horse and Foor â—e possessed himself of the Mountain Mâ—crea and there resolutely expected Sinam that being the Avenue tâ—rough which he was of necessity to pâ—ss and falling upon him unâ—wares defeated him with all his Army where the slaughter was so great that two parts of three fell upon the place and Assâ—mbâ—g invading Epire is also discomsited all the Ensigns and Baggage became a Prey to the Christians and all the General could do was to sâ—ve himself in this desperate fight by avoiding it with extraordinary speed And already Assambeg or according to others Anusabeg was advanced already on this side of Ocride accompanied with thirty thousand fighting men but Scanderbeg being accompanied onely with four thousand encountered him in so opportune a place that he soon vanquish't them the Guards on each side of this Turkish General were sâ—â—tten down to the gâ—ouâ—d his Horse hurt and himself wounded in the right Arme with an Arrow knew no better way at last to 〈◊〉 â—imâ—elf then to make tryal of a Christian Clemency as well as of the Marâ—iaâ— sury of â—n enemy Beâ—oâ—e whom being brought together with â—ivers other Captains the tears standing in his eyes and his hands lifted up to heaven he spake in this manner to Scanderbeg That being in the service of the great Turkish Emperor his honor obliged him to serve him faithfully and therefore implored his mercy favor and clemency whose speech took so well with Scanderbeg that he pardoned them all and gave them their lievs paying ten thousand Ducats for his own and four thousand Ducats for the ransom of the rest which was performed accordingly I know many have accused Scanderbeg for being so easily perswaded by the Turke and blame him that he knew not how to use his advantage against the Sfetigradians who indeed surprised him at that time But here we are not upon the same terms the Victory was already in Scanderbeg's hands whose humanity becomes so much the more to be admired as being exercised against a Capital enemy whom we can seldom spare when he is once intrapped But he shewed a far greater mildness towards the Venetians with whom to his great regret he had a sharpe and hard War But in regard it would have been accounted a folly and have proved a great disparagement A difference between Castrâ—ot and the Venetians appeared to lose a mans right for want of looking after it he would not therefore seem easily to quit the succession of that which he pretended was faln unto him by the death of Lech Zachary and
temptations to Sedition and kept in a cheerful compliance with the severest Government referring all things below to Providence as the Tuâ—ks do to Fate and looking on nothing worth stâ—iving for or against but the happiness and misery of the other world He hath enjoyned as great an awfulness of the name of God as that of the Mahumetans which is so great that they dare not employ the Paper they find it in to any base office but leave it in a hole to the further disposure of the owners providence and therefore possibly not so likely as Christians who observe no such decency to call it to witnesse an untruth much to the advantage of Governours there as it might be here did Law or Custom skrew the peoples minds up to as high an esteem of it It 's usually discoursed in those parts that all the evils that ever happened to Germany flowed from a defect in theiâ— Ecclesiastical policy in that the Ministers do not presse Religion with that strictnesse it 's capable of upon the people so that it may lay hold upon their Consciences and bear them up by serious apprehensions of the other world against all the contingencies and emergencies of this although they might remit those austerities and severities to the bodies of men the fond inventions of the melancholy and the reserved part of the world now the Turk is at hand with all the complacencies and * And it is not convement to force nature too much in smal things lest it break out in greater for the Turks being allowed lesser vanities are not at leasure for greater delights with the greatest freedom humane nature is capable of where men have an uninterrupted license to attain the farthest extent of their â—esires so as they apprehend no felicity beyond the liberty to enjoy â—â—is We â—ight learn from the Turk to be more constant to the principles of our Religion than we are and give 〈◊〉 way to a refining by the agitation of experiences drawn from a conâ—â—uence of different events it being an observation with him that the 〈◊〉 allowance in things of that nature opens a gap to infinite pretentions that can never be satisfied until government be overthrown The Turkish Emperour is thought so much happier than the Germane because the Mufti his circumcised Pope and Meca his Infidel of Rome are both in his power The Mufti though 〈◊〉 with Mâ—homets â—indâ—eâ—s coâ—our â—hiâ—h is gâ—â—en and â—everenâ—â—d 〈…〉 very much 〈…〉 yet is concluded by reason of State and must comply with the government otherwise though he is not publickly punished he may be privately translated to another world Of religious influence upon mens spirits and his faults and he buried in a grave for it hath been long observable in this Empire that neither friends money sanctity love of people former deserts or any present need of the peoples accurate parts were ever found Antidotes sufficient to expel the poyson of the Emperours jealousie who esteems no number of lives equivalent with his own safety or the Nations Count Hohenlo usually saith that it is one defect in his Religion that it was presented with so much terrour as did amuse and despirit men whereas the Turks was contrived with such hopes encouragements as raise them in valour and undertakings beyond the ordinary pitch of men Whereupon Serini takes him up and undertakes to demonstrate to him That no Religion in the world ennobleth and raiseth mens spirits to an higher pitch than the Christian fortifying them against the greatest dangers and exercising them with the severest discipline Goes the German Embassador coucheth the offences that lie in the Turks way to our Religion in four particulars as he received them from the Grand Seignior himself The first That we eate our God in the Encharist 2. That we make our God in the Church 3. That we divide our God in the Trinity And 4. That we deny him in our lives The first two whereof saith young Kecherman the brave Count's Chaplain must be removed by a recantation The third must be assoiled by cautious clear and wary expressions The last must be reformed by doing nothing unlawfully by speaking nothing improperly and by wearing nothing undecently There being but two wayes to keep up the honour of Religion either to keep over curious men from pâ—ying and questioning the parts and restraining reason within it's own bounds or to clear up the grounds out of it so as might satisfie any rational man He wisheth there were a clear account extant of the grounds of Christian Religion for which purpose there was printed in Presburgh Ludovicus Vives his Dialogue of the Truth of Christian Religion Hugo Grotius and Du-Plessâ—s all translated into several Languages These are some of this excellent personage his sentiments of Religion with reference to the present exigent but his opinions are not so â—evere as his practice neither is he so 〈◊〉 in that matter to others as he is to himself Inâ—eed his piety is as â—pâ—eaâ—ing as his command and there is no man within the one but muâ—â— pâ—â—â—ake of the other Yet his own â—epoâ—â—ment His own â—emper is most remaâ—â—aâ—le all his â—nterpâ—â—zes begin with Prayer and some of them with Psalms which aâ— once inspire his Souldiers and blâ—sse his undertakings He would gain the love of heaven before he would â—epell the forces of hell Never any man did nobly that conversed not with the gods Bâ—fore the last City he took as he was observing the situation of the place and his advantages a Commander asked what he intâ—nâ—ed to do To take the place â—aith he within four houâ—s but we must go to prayers first and now said â—e afterwards We have a good Cause God and good mens prayers assist us He is not more careful of his Christian â—â—ties than of his Christian 〈◊〉 to all those persons and things thâ—t 〈…〉 relation to God makeâ— waâ— that spâ—â—eâ— nothing in its conâ—â—sed fury and â—nâ—â—stinguisâ—ing â—â—â—olation reâ—â—â—ence all sacred persons and places wheâ—eof he is as tender as he hopes their God is of him and his great and good Cause This is that gallant man that noble Gentleman that zealous Christian that sâ—out Souldier that able Sates-man that excellent personage upon whom are the eyes of Europe as upon the great Champion of Christedome This is he who fills the woâ—ld wiâ—h his Name and Annals with his Actions that shews the most humble devotion enamelled in Heroick gallantry the most generous soul in a wel-proportioned body that supports the drooping glory of Germany and checks the growing power of Turkey that dares do more than all the Kings of the Earth that was born to relieve distressed Princes to restore tottering Empires and hold up falling Crowns This is he that tramples upon offered Kingdoms and looks on Scepters beneath him that thinks it more Imperial to preserve Monarchies than to govern them to die a faithful Subject than to live a feared King This is he who
who were there lodged and treated having any business to communicate unto him whereby he prevented their sneaking into his Camp and their prying into and discovering what was done there Every evening the Watch-word was distributed and each man was to repair to his Quarters And if any one was found out of his Rank or gadding abroad out of his Quarters he died without mercy so that there was no shelter or safety for Spies I shall omit the several manners of repartitions of his Quarters under what penalties he caused his Military orders to be observed since the reader may be better satisfied therein by several other Pens who have most amply written concerning this famous Captains deeds and shall proceed more particularly to describe his life Now by his robbings and thieveries he had so well thrived on all sides that at last he was not a little troubled how to preserve that which he had unjustly acquired And therefore he took two Puissant men among the Massagethians to be his Tamberl associates Associates viz. Chaidaren Mirxeus who being gained by the presents which he gave them came unto his relief with their Forces and with this support he fell upon the Tartars overcame them and defeated Tamberlin defeats the Tartars their Cavalry which gained him such a repuâ—e as that the inhabitants of Samercand furnished him with Gold and Silver and Forces to go through with his undertakings So likewise the King of the Massagethans made Tamberlain General of all his Tamberlin General of the Massagetans Forces to his own ruine for at the taking of Pogdatus a City in Tartary Tamberlain on purpose to usurp his Kingdom did cause a Fig to be given him and after his death married his widow And immediately after made himself King of Samercand and of the Massagets Harbouring a design at that very time to conquer the Empire of Asia whereunto he was much sollicited and egged on by Chaidarus who brought Myrxeus in disgrace with Tamberlain to whom he had reported some words which Myrxeus had too freely and unadvisedly spoken Mirxeus disgraced and his death of Tamberlain whilst he was only General of the Massagets which cost Myrxeus his life Afterwards he began a War against the Hircanians The Hircanians and Caducians conquered by Tamb. as also the Arabians and Caducians whom he conquered And because the Arabians did ravage the neighbouring parts and gave relief unto the Caducians he thereupon took an occasion to invade all the Nations which were subject to the Sultan of Persia of Baldacia Damatia and of Egypt However though he could not conquer them after he had well-nigh tyred them out he agreed a Peace with them conditionally that they should furnish him with Forces to serve him in his wars and to pay him an Annual Tribute as a sign of their submission But whilest he was busied thus tormenting some and undermining others flattering himself with the vain hopes of the great Conquest he should make he was called home again by the troubles which were arisen in his own Countrey For the great King of Catay who is one of The King of Catay wars upon Tamberl the nine Indian Hordes and the Soveraign of all the Tartars had made a pretty spoil through all Tamberlain's Countrey who in the beginning thought to have thundered him out again but finding with whom he had to deal apprehenâ—ing lest if he should exasperate the great Cham of Catay too much it might endanger his possessions was constrained to come to a Treaty and to demand a Peace which was granted him conditionally that Tamberlain should do him homage and should pay a Tamberl makes a peace with the King of Caâ—ay yearly Tribute for the Messagetes Country which he held Nâ—r need we to doubt but that Tamberlain might have withstood the great Tartar but that he was loth to diminish his Forces with which he was resolved to wage War against the Ottoman Family being spurred on there unto by the great Ambition he had always to undertake some considerable expedition or other against his Neighbours Wherefore being entred Cappadocia he besieged the City of Sebasta and fought against it with so much dexterity as that the Turks being Tamberl wars against the Tuâ—ks tâ—kes Sebasta discouraged and having lost all hopes of being relieved had not the heart to defend themselves against the Scythians Persiaâ—â— â—â—d Bâ—ctrians who having tâ—ken the Town put all to the sword 〈◊〉 they found in the place â—o that it is sâ—iâ— there dyed that day above 120â—00 souls besides some persons of quâ—lity which were taken and amongâ—â— the rest the son of Bajazet the first of that Name who by his Father had been put in the City of Sebasta the better to provide for Bajazet 's Soaâ—taken in Sebasta and put to death the defence of it but he had not long kept it before Tamberlain made him pass under the merciless cruelty of his most impious rage After which he sent Ambassadors unto Bajazet commanding him to render unto all those whom he had dispossessed whatsoever he most unjustly detained from them which was but a meer pretence in Tamberlain to pick a quarrel with Tamberl pretence to war upon Bajazet Bajazet as also to pay unto him vast and excessive Tributes Nor will I here venture to contest whether Tamberlain had just cause to war against Bajazet as being a Tyrant for all the world knows this Tartar made use onely of â—his cloak or pretence the better to colour and disguise his design against this poor Turke who Arrogant titles appropriated to Tamberl and Bajazets names although he was called Temis Cuthlu which in the Tartarian Language signifies a Fortunate Iron because he was not onely happy in his enterprises but as valiâ—nt as his Sword insomuch as that he made a great part of the world to tremble So on the other part Bajazet was â—irnamed Lelapa which signifies a Furious Wave and Hiidin which signifies Boisterous Impetuous Notwithstanding Tamberlain did make him know that his Fortunate sword did not apprehend the being shaken or bâ—oken by the Turkish Waves and Thunder bolts but that to the contrary his name Lelapa was rather to be stiled a Whirl-winde not by reason of Bajazet's vertue and A great defâ—ct in Bajazet valour but because of his passion and hastiness whereby those fortunate enterprises were dissipated an confounded which he might have carried on gloriously had he suffered reason to have been his guide And it even fell out so for Bajazet returned a very smart answer unto Tamberlain and unadvisedly tainted the Tartars wives honour which words cost him Tamberl câ—â—asperated against Bajazets answer by his wife dear For as Tamberlain did not ear any good will to Bajazet at all so his Wife being enâ—aged at the indignities which were put upon her by the Turk did â—o highly incense her Huâ—bâ—nd as that he was not to expect any Peace with his Wife