ILLUSTR PRINCEPS SULTAN MAHOMET HAN MAG TURCARUM IMPERATOR C. Sultan Mahomet Han the present Emperour of the Turks Aged 34 years c THE HISTORY Of the TURKS DESCRIBING The Rise and Ruin of their first Empire in Persia the Original of their Second CONTAINING The Lives and Reigns of their several Kings and Emperors from Ottoman its first Founder to this present Year 1683. BEING A Succinct Series of History of all their Wars Forreign and Domestick Policies Customs Religion and Manners with what else is worthy of Note in that great Empire LONDON Printed by Ralph Holt for Toomas Passenger upon London-Bridge William Thackery in Dack-Lane and Toomas Sawbridge in Little-Brittain 1683. TO THE READER SInce the late Alarms the Port has given to Christendom I have thought it both Profitable and Convenient to describe the Original of that Great Empire which now spreads over near half the World and to demonstrate by what means it aspired to its Immensity and by what Policies maintained as in the Series of this History it is fully and at large discoursed not so only but the Turks various Successes in their Wars at Land and Sea Including their Religious Customs Manners and extent of that Empire as it remains at this day being deduced from the Original of the first and second Empire for the space of six hundred years attended with Circumstances too tedious here to be recited So that all may plainly comprehend how easily those Infidels might at first have been hindred from Incroaching and how often had not the Divisions of the Christians upon which they founded their Empire they might have been brought low but as God in whose Eternal Wisdom all Affairs are centered has not of late permited and should they extend their Arms as at this time they threaten yet a hearty Unanimity in the Empire and the Kings and Princes of Christendom may through God's blessing impede the growing Greatness of this great Monarch and hinder the Effusion of Christian Blood Here you have an impartial Account of their Rise and Ruin in the first Empire and the Continuation of the second to this present time Faithfully Collected which I hope will prove to the Satisfaction of the Ingenious Reader which is all desired by Your Friend I. S. The Heads of each Chapter or Division contained in the History directing to the Revolutions of the Turkish Empire and Reigns of their several Kings and Emperors CHAP. I. THE Original of the Turks according to the opinion of Sundry Learned Authors with the means by which they acquired their first Monarchy in Persia together with the Reign and Death of Tangrolipix their First King Page 1. Part 1. CHAP. II. The Reign and memorable Atchievements of Axan the Second Turkish King or Sultan of Persia The Division of the Turkish Monarchy and the Expedition of the Christians to the Holy Land in order to regain it from the Turks page 8. part 1. CHAP. III. The Reign of Solyman Son to Cutlu-Muses his Wars with the Christians Their taking Jerusalem from the Infidels their various success in the Holy Land against the Turks Sarazens c. p. 11. part 1. CHAP. IV. The second Expedition of the Western Princes for the recovery of the Holy Land p. 28. part 1. CHAP. V. The ruine of the Turks first Kingdom in Asia by the Tartars p. 33. part 1. CHAP. VI. The rise of the powerful Empire of the Turks under Othoman it's first Founder with his Life and Actions p. 57. part 1. CHAP. VII The Life and Actions of Orchanes otherwise Urchan Second King of the Turks in Asia p. 68. part 1. CHAP. VIII The Life and Actions of Amurath the First of that Name and Third King of the Turks p. 74. part 1. CHAP. IX The Life of Bajazet the First of that Name and Fourth King of the Turks his Wars and Captivity p. 80. part 1. CHAP. X. The Life of Mahomet the First of that Name Fifth King of the Turks and the Restorer of their Kingdom ruined by the Tartars p. 87. part 1. CHAP. XI The Life of Amurath the Second of that Name and Sixth King of the Turks his Wars Victories and Defeats p. 93. part 1. CHAP. XII The Life of Mahomet the Second of that Name Seventh Monarch and the First that took upon him the stile of Emperor of the Turks who for his many Victories was Surnamed Great p. 108. part 1. CHAP. XIII The Life of Bajazet the Second of that Name and Second Emper or of the Turks his memorable Exploits Victories and Death p. 132. part 1. CHAP. XIV The Life of Selymus the First of that Name Third Emperor of the Turks his bloody Reign and woful Death p. 153. part 1. CHAP. XV. The Life of Solyman the First of that Name and Fourth Emperour of the Turks who for his many great Exploits or rather lofty Carriage was Sirnamed the Magnificent p. 181. part 1. CHAP. XVI Selymus the Second of that Name and Fifth Emperor of the Turks his Life and Actions p. 45. part 2. CHAP. XVII The Life Reign and Memorable Transactions of Amurath the Third of that Name and Sixth Emperor of the Turks p. 73. part 2. CHAP. XVIII The Life of Mahomet the Third of that Name Seventh Emperor of the Turks p. 123. part 2. CHAP. XIX The Life of Achmat the Eighth Emperor of the Turks and first of that Name p. 162. part 2. CHAP. XX. Mustapha the First of that Name Ninth Emperor of the Turks his Life and Actions p. 196. part 2. CHAP. XXI The Life and Actions of Osman the First of that Name Tenth Emperor of the Turks p. 198. part 2. CHAP. XXII Mustapha reinthronized with an Account of his proceedings till his second deposing p. 214. part 2. CHAP. XXIII The Life and Reign of Morat or Amurath the Fourth of that Name and Eleventh Emperor of the Turks p. 222. part 2. CHAP. XXIV The Life of Sultan Ibrahim the Twelfth Emperor of the Turks p. 256. part 2. CHAP. XXV The Reign of Mehomet or Mahomet the Fourth of that Name and Thirteenth Emperor of the Turks who now Reigneth p. 272. part 2. CHAP. XXVI A Description of the Power Policies Forces Revenues Religion and Greatness of the Ottoman Empire and by what means it subsists and maintains its Grandeur c. p. 378. part 2. FINIS THE HISTORY OF THE TURKS DESCRIBING The Rise and Ruin of their first Empire in Persia the Original of their Second CONTAINING The Lives and Reigns of their several Kings and Emperours from Ottoman its first Founder to this present Year 1683. BEING A Succinct Series of History of all their Wars Forreign and Domestick Policies Customs Religion and Manners with what else is worthy of Note in that Great Empire WITH A Continuation of the History to this present time Containing the Remarkable Siege of Vienna for Sixty dayes the raising of it by the Imperial Forces and the King of Poland The Ruine of their Army before it and a Second Fight
that Frederick that marryed the King of Jerusalem's Daughter and with her had the Title of King of Jerusalem which occasioned his setting forward to take possession of that Kingdom The Emperor was no sooner returned but to spight him and break the ten Years League he sent Lewis King of Navar with a great Power into Syria to invade the Sultans Dominions but his Expedition was no ways prosperous joyning Battle with the Sultans Power he and the rest of the Christians were overthrown which occasioned the loss of Jerusalem soon after 〈…〉 by the Tâ—â—ks all the Souls that were 〈…〉 being put to the Sword and with 〈…〉 hands demolished the 〈◊〉 of our 〈◊〉 Saviour which all other 〈◊〉 had with a 〈◊〉 reverence sorborn to 〈◊〉 The News of the great overthrow and the loss of 〈…〉 to the 〈◊〉 of the Christian Princes of the 〈◊〉 greatly troâ—â—â—ed them but most of all the Emperor and Lewis the Ninth King of France Insomuch that the latter gathering a great Power Anno 1248. set Sail and came to the Isle of Cyprus and there wintered by reason of the far advancement of the Season during which time he received an Embassador from the Master of the Templars to inform him that there was no need of his coming by reason the Sultan oftered honourable terms but the King understanding that it was a contrivance between them that the Templars might have the greater power sent back to command him under pain of forseiting his head that he should receive no more Embassadors from the Sultan and Early in the Spring weighing Anchor within five or six days sail he fell in with the Coast of Egypt and with all his sleet sailing up the River Nile came before Damiata to oppose whose landing the Governour with what forces he could draw out stood upon the banks but in vain they resisted for the French-men manning out their boats thrust on shore and put them to flight leaving the Governour and 500 of their Companions dead upon the Strand and perceiving the Christians were preparing to besiege the City the former Miseries it had indured coming afresh into their mind they in the dead of night set every man his house on fire and sled which the Christians perceiving they entered the City and exstinguished the slames saving so much as was possible and there found abundance of Riches The Sultan upon notice of the loss of this strong City was greatly dismayed 〈◊〉 he sent to the French King to osser him several places in Palestine never yet in the possession of the Christians but his offer was rejected and 〈…〉 by the Earl of 〈◊〉 the Kings brother During these sâ—irs 〈…〉 Brother Melesh-Sâ—llâ—â— or 〈…〉 whom joyned the Sultan of 〈◊〉 to oppose the Christians and with his whole Power drew near to Damiata where the Christian Army lay incamped who Sallying out of their Trenches beat him back but Sallying the next day and following the Enemy too far many of them were slain and the rest were forced to retire Long they were not incamped before a private Messenger came to the King from the Governour of Cairo to inform him that if he would draw near to the Walls of that great City he would put it into his hands the said Governour appearing to be much inclinable to the Christian Religion Or as some will have it oâ—â— of Revenge for the Death of his Brother slain by the Sultans Command Upon which the King assembled all his Power and marched till he came to an Arm of Nâ—â—us with part of his Army under the Command of his Brother Robert Earl of Arthâ—â—s passing at a Board discomfited the Turks that desended the further Bank but contrary to the advice of the renowned Eâ—â—l and the Master of the Templers following the Chase e'r the other part of the Army arrived he was incompassed by the Sultans power that â—ay in Ambush that not above two Templers one Hospitaler and a common Souldier escaped to tell the heavy News This News was seconded with that of the Imprisonment of the Governour of Câ—â—â—â—o which altogether disappointed the King of his purpose Whereupon he pasted the River at the same Board his Brother had done and behold the sad 〈◊〉 of the minâ—â—ed Careasses of the slain each having his Head and Hards â—nâ— off the Sultan the better to incourage his Men haing promised rewards to 〈◊〉 could bring them either but long he had 〈◊〉 them before the 〈◊〉 come upon him 〈…〉 being near ten 〈…〉 and after a 〈…〉 overthrew him cutting the greatest part of his Army in pieces and amongst the rest the Flower of the French Nobility The King and some few of the Nobility were taken Prisoners and for their Ransom delivered up the City of Damiata and payed 8000 pound in Gold with a promise of a ten years Peace but whilst the Sultan was accompanying him to Damiata two desperate Russians assassinated him in the presence of his Nobility instigated thereto by one Turquiminus a Mamaluke or Slave got himself proclaimed Sultan renouncing the League that Melech-Sala had made and made another in his own Name not much different from the former but performed not above the half part but in fine after the surrender of Damiata which the new Sultan caused to be rased the King with all his Retinue were Conducted to Ptolomais and at the end of six years from his setting out sailing from thence arrived in his own Kingdom having lost 60000 of his Subjects in that expedition The Sultan being as aforesaid Traiterously murthered the Mamalukes or Slaves bought by the Sultans of divers Merchants to serve them in their Wars Put an end to the Turkish Kingdom in Egypt by deposing all such as bare Offices or had places of trust advancing those of their own order continually choosing their Sultans from amongst themselves flourishing in great Renown for the space of 267 years at the end of which they were totally subdued by 〈◊〉 the victorious Emperor of the 〈…〉 151â— and the Kingdom of Egypt with all 〈◊〉 and the 〈…〉 as they are at this day annexed to the 〈…〉 as shall be in process of this History 〈…〉 these Actions passed John Daccâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—ed having Reigned successfully for the space of 〈◊〉 three years after whom succeeded 〈◊〉 his Soâ— who renewed the League his Father had made with the Jathanites the Turkish Sultan in the lesser Asia after which with a puissant Army he passed the Straights of Hellispont to appease the troubles raised in Macedonia and Thessalia by the King of Bulgaria his Father in Law and the Despot of Thessalia during which one Michael Paleologus a great Courtier fled to the Turkish Sultan under pretence that he doubted his Life by reason of those Enemies he had at Court that inveighed against him and at his coming to Iconium sound the Sultan leavying an Army to oppose them that spoiled his Country of whom he was kindly received and the Greeks in his Service reduced under his Command
of Syria for the present I shall return into the lesser Asia where I find Mesoot and Rei-Cubades the two Tributary Turkish Princes dead without doing a any thing worthy of note of which the latter left a Son named Aladan who likewise paying Tribute held joyntly the Kingdom that were before possessed by his Father and Uncle This Aladine the last of the Selzuccian Family dying without issue one Sahib his chief Councellour and then a man of great Authority aspired unto the Kingdom but being risen from a mean estate he was highly envyed by the Nobility they casting off all respect from him by force divided the Kingdom amongst themselves every one seizing the Province he could best light on so that Sahib who was first in possession lost all no part remaining as his Lot so that they turned it into a perfect Anarchy of which the greatest share fell to Caraman Alusirus who strongest took Iconium with part of Cilicia Lycaonia Pamphilia Caria and Phrygia and of him descended the Caramanian Kings who in the rise of the Othoman Empire put the Turks so often to the Foil The next to him was Saruchan who possessed himself of the greatest part of Lydia and some other Countries adjoyning Troas Phrygia and part of Mysia fell to Calumus and his Son Carasius the remaining part of Mysia and part of Lydia was seized by Aidin part of Pontus the Cities of Heraclea Pontica Castomonia Synope and others near to the Euxine Sea and Country of Paphlagonia fell into the hands of the Sons of Omer or as the Greeks call them Amar of whom the Country took not their names as did the former of these that possessed them but is commonly called Bolli so named of the Metropolis as also was Mendesia or as some will have it Mentetia a Country in the Lesser Asia These and divers others were the divisions of the Turkish Empire in Persia and the Lesser Asia which Anarchy caused their Subjection and utter subversion as in the Succeeding part of this History will at large appear During this confusion amongst the rest of the great Captains there happened one Othoman of the Oguzian Family who had been raised from a low estate by Sultan Aladine yet by reason he was not of the Selzuccian Family they made little account of him not permiting him to share with them in their division though by what justice is uncertain all of them feared his rising fortune and strove what in them lay to hinder but in vain for the Destinies so ordering it he in a short time became the Founder of the Othoman Empire as in the Perusal of his Life and Actions will appear CHAP. VI. The Rise of the Powerfull Empire of the Turks under Othoman its first Founder with his Life and Actions THat Empires and Kingdoms have their Limitation from the Soveraign Creator and Disposer of all things it is undeniably evident by the Sundry Mutations that have been in all Ages of the World for nothing can be assured of long continuance though never so great and powerful How are the great Monarchies of the Persians Medians Babylonians Chaldeans Romans and the like dwindled away into nothing no more then a bare Relation of their Names and Greatness remaining to testifie the mighty actions they performed when at their becks were half three parts of Mankind And indeed no less famous was the Turkish Empire in Persia and the Lesser Asia till broken and dismembred by the violent intrusion of the Tartars a Savage People bursting from the Frozen-North to the Terror and Subversion of the greatest part of Asia and Africa but now under the Turkish Scepter as shall by the subsequent Discourse appear During the time that the Tartars overwhelmed the Turkish Dominions in Asia Solyman of the Oguzian Family Reigning in the lesser Asia and seeing his Country-man the Sultan of Persia driven from all his Possessions thought it not safe for him of far Inferior force to abide the Sorm but flying with such People as would follow him after long wandring the Tempest being near over and he desiring to return home as he was about to pass the Danube was carried away by the Stream and drowned leaving behind him four Sons viz. Sencur Teken Jundogdis and Ertogrul of some called Orthobules who was the Father of Othoman This Ertogrul after the Death of his Father having notice that Aladine the Sultan had again settled himself in the lesser Asia Sent Messengers to him to desire him that he and the rest of his poor followers who were Herdsmen driving Flocks still before them as they travelled might inhabit in some Corner of his Country The Sultan not unmindful of the state of poor Exiles it having so lately been his own Case appointed them a Village called Suguta lying between the Castle Belezuga and Mount Tmolus in the greater Phrygia during whose residence there with his small Train the Sultan had many Conflicts with the Tartars whose Power by this time was in its Wain and being hard put to it in one Battle near the said Village Ertogrul with four hundred of his Herdsmen unexpectedly came to his Assistance and behaved himself so valiantly that the Tartars were put to flight for which the Sultan honoured him with a rich Cloak and began highly to prize his Valour insomuch that he inlarged his Territories making him a petty Lord which Lordship with great Repute he held during the Reign of the Sultan doing many notable Services as taking the Castle of Cara-Chisar from the Christians who by their many Injuries had exasperated the Sultan but after the Sultans Death those that succeeded being Tributaries to the Tartars till such time as the Kingdom was Anachised he lived quietly at home during which time many conceived great hopes of his younger Son Othoman called by some Osman Gazi or Osman the Warlike by reason of the great delight he had in Arms when he was a Child and when grown up to discourse and Argue with the Commanders and Governours of whom he had the general Esteem of an active Youth designed for great Atchievements as it afterward fell out One day Othoman going to visit the Governour of Eski-Chisar lately taken from the Christians by his Father He fell in Love by the way with a beautiful Damosel named Malhatun and sent to request her in Marriage but she seeming something averse excusing her self that she was of too mean a Parentage and not a fitting Match for him that was so nobly descended he as she conceived designing rather to Debauch her then make her his Wife but this modest repulse making him more and more desire her he in other Discourses declared his Affections to the aforesaid Governour who seeming little to take notice thereof begun to be inflamed with the Love of the Damosel unseen by the lively Description Othoman had given of her rare Perfection which Othoman well perceiving and fearful that he should inforce her to his Lust having great Power in that Country he
which a fierce fight was begun and Atadeules fighting Courragiously at the head of his men forced the Turkish Horsemen to give ground which Selymus perceiving and that his Army was sorely Annoy'd by the Archers from the Mountains drawing out 2000 Harquibusiers out of his own Squadorn he sent them to reinforce his Horse and at the same time commanded the Janizaries to Mount the Hills which they doing charged the Foot with such Fury that they being sore distressed with the Harquibus shot not being used to such engins scattered and fled so that a great number of them were killed e're they could clamber up the steep Mountains and the Horse at that time being discomfited fled by well known ways into the fastnesses of the steep Rocks after whom Selymus followed burning all before him but finding he could not overtake the King who retiring before him had fortified himself amongst the Impregnible Rocks and there stored up much provision in hopes to weary the Turks with tedious delay Selymus having perfect notice of all that had passed by several Prisoners that he had taken thought it more fit to prevent his falling into necessity in so barren a Country to use Stratagems where force could not prevail whereupon understanding that there was no good meaning between Aladeules and Alis Beg his General by reason that the King had formerly commanded his Father to be slain upon suspicion he designed to seize his Kingdom he releasing the Prisoners sent them to Alis Beg with great rewards to incite him to deliver Aladeules into his hands and that in Lieu thereof he of his bounty would give him the Kingdom which so wrought with the treacherous General that not finding means to kill the King as he had purposed he caused all his Army to revolt to Sinan Bassa whom Selymus had sent to pursue him so that being left alone flying through many desolate places at length hid himself in a Cave where being discovered by a Country Peasant he betrayed him into the Hands of those that sought after him who presenting him to Selymus he caused his Head to be stricken off and carried all over Asia the less in manner of Triumph and afterward sent it to the Senate of Venice in token of his Victory Selymus having subdued the Kingdom of Aladeules as aforesaid and reduced it into the form of a Province making the Traitor chief Governour thereof returned to Constantinople having at the same time he was Waring against Aladeules by his Bassas invaded Hungaria and now having notice from his Correspondents in Christendom that Maximillian the Emperor Vladislaus King of Hungaria Sigismond King of Poland together with the Princes of Germany were entering into a League against him it caused him to make great Preparations for the defence of his Territories but in the end those Princes seperated without doing any thing worthy of their meeting So that being freed from that Fear he left a strong Guard upon the Fronteers of his Empire bordering upon Hungaria and departed to Iconium in Order to prosecute his War against the Persian but during his stay at that City he had certain notice that Campson Gaurus Sultan of Egypt with a great Army levied in Egypt and Judea was coming to Aid the Persian King his Confederate as hating Selymus for his Cruelty towards his Father Brethren and Nephews as likewise being jealous of his aspiring Greatness this News was Confirmed on all Hands Selymus greatly feared that if he should pass over the River Euphrates the Sultan might enter Asia and spoil his Dominions wherefore he thought it safe if possible to make him his Friend in order to which he sent the Cadelescher or great Doctor of the Mahomitan Law A man much reverenced amongst the Turks and Jachis one of his great Captains as his Ambassadors to desire the renewing the League sometime made between the Sultan and his Father Bajazet but the Sultan moved by the pittious Complaints of the Princes Aladine Son to Mahomet and the Son of Aladeules who as exiled Princes remained in his Court and incouraged by his great Captains to restore them to their rightful Possessions would have no Peace unless Selymus would leave off to invade the Persian and restore the Mountainous Kingdom to the young Aladeules which upon the Report thereof so inraged Sebymus that he resolved to lay aside his intended War against Hysmale and turn all his Forces upon the Sultan and therefore with words of incouragement having animated his Soldiers he passed with his Army over the Mountains in three places and so appointing a great Company of the Common Soldiers and Country people for the opening of the straight Passages he Commanded the rough and uneven ways to be made smooth and plain so that in five Days all his Ordnance and Carriages were come into the Plains of Comagena where he received News of Campson's Army from Alis Beg Governour of the Mountain Kingom which caused him to march towards him with all speed By this time Campson having notice of the approach whom he could not at first believe to have passed the huge Mountain of Amanus stood long in doubt what was best to be done whether to give the Tyrant Battle or to retire to Damasco and protract the War whilst fresh Forces could come to his Assistance In the latter Opinion Gazelles his great Counsellor and Governour of Apamia Concurred with him labouring earnestly to confirm him in that Opinion but Destiny so ordering it he refused the good and wholsome Perswasions of Gazelles and imbraced that of Cayerbeius which was presently to give the Turks Battle which Council he gave though he knew it to be Destructive that by such means he might be revenged on the Sultan who some years before had caused his Brother to be poisoned for designing to deprive him of his Empire Battle being resolved on and the Turks Army coming on Campson divided his Army into four Battles the first whereof he committed to Cayerbeius the Traitor the second to Sybeius the Governour of Damasco a man of singular Faith and Valour these two were appointed at once to Charge both Wings of the Turkish Army the third was lead by Gazelles and the last by Campson himself who stayed with it for the defence of the Camp Nor was Selymus Idle for he had placed the Asian Horsemen in the right Wing and the European in the left and in the middle the Janizaries and Artillery before whom between the two Wings he had placed his Pentioners all most expert and valiant Soldiers and in this Order the Turks always fight if the Ground will admit so to Marshall the Army Both Armies being thus set in Order the Charge was sounded whereupon Cayerbeius with his Squadron Charged the European Horsemen with great Fury but resolving to betray his trust by and by Wheeling off fell upon the Sullians and such other Slaves as kept the Baggage making some small slaughter that as a Valiant and cunning Traitor he might
which accordingly he performed but having agreed that none but Hungarians should enter the better to prevent the effusion of blood and Regendorff contrary to that agreement sending in Germans under the Leading of their Captains to be more sure of the City the Traitor repenting of what he had undertaken refused to lead them to the Market place and they still remaining in the narrow streets and not knowing which way to go a sufficient number could not enter e're the Alarum was taken upon which the Citizens and Garrison Souldiers running to their Armes assaulted them on every side who being in a strange place and their fear augmented by the terror of the night fled back faster than they advanced Spring being come Solyman sent a great Army under the Leading of Mahometes Bassa to the Assistance of the Queen which passing the Danubius intrenched within half a mile of the Bohemians Germans and Italians under the command of the Lord Regendorff and dayly with skirmishes perplexed him having likewise fortified an Island lying in the River called Ceppelia as the General of the Christians had done another opposite to his Camp between which passed likewise many skirmishes but at length the Turks pouring a great number of their men on shoar in the Island held by the Christians caused them to leave the Fortifications and flie over the Bridge layed to pass and repass to the Camp but by the valour of the German Soldiers all was quickly regained and the City furiously assaulted though without success for that a great number of the besieged continually kept such breaches as the Canon had made and the Besiegers by reason of the nearness of the Turks Army durst not go to the assault in such number as otherwise they might have done yet they had so battered the Walls that they despaired not to win it in a short time but in the height of their Expectation news came that Solyman with a great power was near at hand to joyn the Bassa already incamped which infused such a fear into the Christians that the Soldiers whether their General would or no resolved to raise the Seige and pass the Danubius So that he was constrained to accord to the resolves and in the dead of the night raised the Siege but not so secretly but the Turks had notice sent them of what had happened by those in the City Whereupon bursting out of their Camp and the Citizens at the same time sallying by the light of a stack of straw and pursued them with great slaughter insomuch that most part of the Army was either drowned in the hasty passage or fell by the Sword not above a third part of them escaping to Comora So that a great booty by that means fell into the hands of the Turks Upon this defeat Pesih being deserted of her Garrison was taken without resistance by Cason the Turks Fleet then in the Danubius and most that were found therein put to the Sword The Lord Regendorf as a man not desirous to outlive so foul a dishonour brought upon him by the wilfulness of his unruly Souldiers would have died fighting amongst the thickest of his Enemy had he not against his will by strong hand been forced into a Pinace and so carryed by his Captains to Comora within five days after Solyman came to Buda and according to his wonted cruelty caused all the Prisoners to be put to death and one amongst the rest a German Souldier being of wonderous height he appointed to be slain by his Dwarff whose head reached not past his knees which he ordered to be done in derision of the German Nation Solyman having pitched his Camp near Buda sent his Ambassadors with Presents to the Young King viz. Three beautiful Horses with their Bridles of Gold and their Trapings set with precious stones and three Robes of cloth of Gold and unto every one of the chief Nobility a chain of Gold and rich Gowns upon the delivery of these presents as they had it in charge they requested that the Queen would cause the young King to be sent to the Camp to Solyman who was greatly desirous to see him and that he was resolved to take him and his Kingdom into protection until such time as he should of himself be able to defend it against his potent Adversary This request of the Ambassadors though not without some scruple was granted and the young King being then in his swadling Cloths was sent in a rich Chariot together with his Nurse and several great Ladies attended on by such of the Nobility to whom Solyman had sent presents upon whose Arrival the Tyrant took him in his arms and looked upon him commanding his sons then present viz. Selymus and Bajazet begotten on the fair Roâ—colana to kiss him in token of there love to him from thence forward yet notwithstanding these fair shews he consulted with his Bassa's whether he should retain the King and seize on the Kingdom of Hungary having before caused his Soldiers to possess themselves of one of the Gates of Buda called Sabatina it was likewise debated whether all the Nobility then in his possession should be put to death or carried into bondage of all which opinions were some of his Bassa's and others of a far more mild opinion So that Solyman when he well considered what had been argued resolved upon a method between the one and the other when entering Buda on the 30th of August anno 1541. after he had sacrificed to his vain Prophet in the Cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary he published a Decree the fatal doom of that flourishing Kingdom under which it at this day groans That Buda should from that day be kept with a Garrison of Turks and the Kingdom be converted into a Province of the Turkish Empire that the Queen with her son the young King should presently depart the City and live in Lippa a fertil and quiet Countrey beyond the River Tibiscus near to the borders of her fathers Kingdom and to be safely conducted thither with all her Wealth and Jewels by the Janizaries of which hard conditions the Queen was glad to accept upon which the Hungarian Nobility all but Valentinus her General were set at Liberty having before been retained as Prisoners in the Turkish Camp King Ferdinand residing at Vienna upon notice of what had passed and that Solyman was purposed to invade his Territories first sending to collect his dispersed Forces afterwards he sent Count Salma and Sigismund Lethestaine noble and grave Councellors his Ambassadors to Solyman with rich presents which were a standing cup of Gold after the German fashion richly beset with pearls and pretious stones and a wonderful Silver Globe of most rare and curious device daily expressing the hourly passing of the time the motion of the Planets the Change and Full of the Moon the motion of the Superiour Orbs ever moving by certain wheels or weights curiously conveyed within the same exactly keeping due time and motion lively expressing
in the mean while to Strigonium in which commanded as Governours Liscanus and Salamanca two proud and covetous Spaniards with a Garrison of 1300 Souldiers but e're Solyman began to batter the City he sent to promise them Life Liberty and whatever Goods they were possessed of if they would surrender or upon refusal to denounce against them all the miseries that attend on stormed Cities yet this nothing daunted the Souldiers who returned for answer that they reposed their last hope in their Arms and were not to be won by gifts nor terrified with threats upon notice of which their stout resolution he commanded his Cannon already mounted to play from several Batteries the which was put in Execution with such fury that the Walls were beaten down in several places at which breaches the Turks in great number attempting to enter were beaten back three times successively with great loss and slaughter and amongst the slain fell Bultaces Sanzack of Selymbria a man of great account amongst the Turks but in the end the weakness of the City being discovered to the enemy by a fugitive Calabrian the two aforesaid Governours consulting for their own safety intended secretly to leave the City and carry with them all their Riches but their purpose being discovered to the Captains and Soldiers they proposed a parly perswading the defendants that the City was not to be held against so powerful an Enemy upon which the City was yielded and the Garrison such as would marched to Possonium where the two cowardly Governours who notwithstanding the promise of safe conduct had been robbed by the Turks were by Count Salme committed to safe custody to answer for their cowardly yielding up the City Strigonium being thus obtained on the 10th of August Anno 1543. and the Christian Churches converted to the Mahometan superstition he marched towards Alba regalis taking in his way the Castle of Tatta antiently called Theodota which he utterly rased after which coming before Alba regalis a City famous for the Coronation of the Hungarian kings sâ—ituate in a Marsh and incompassed with a Lake He caused the said Lake with infinite labour to be filled up and thereafter many terrible Assaules in which he lost 20000 of his men took the Suburbs putting all he found therein to the sword and afterward had the City delivered into his possession where entering he contrary to his faith plighted he caused the most wealthy Citizens to be slain after which leaving Ballabanus Governour thereof and placing Governours in other places by him subdued in this Expedition he returned to Constantinople By this time Barbarussa and Polinus were arrived at Marselles where having refreshed themselves they departed to Province where they laid siege to Nice a City belonging to the Emperour which after a long siege they took but the Castle being defended with a strong Garrison they in vain assaulted it which so enraged Barbarussa that he threatened to imprison Polinus for not performing his promise made at Constantinople to furnish his Army with all necessaries when as he said Powder and shot were wanting even in the Country of France which division between the French and the Turks was ended by the raising the seige upon notice that Alphonsus Vastus the Emperors General was coming out of Italy with a great Army when as the French Forces retiring Barbarussa sent most part of his Fleet to Argeir with a command to return early the next spring to Marselles The great preparations of Barbarussa to aid the French King gave Muleasses suspition that they were intended against him whereupon leaving the management of the Affaires of his kingdom of Tunes in the hand of his trusty Counsellors as he supposed and the management of his men of war his son Amida he went to Naples to wait upon Charles the Emperor and of him to crave aid when in the mean time by the perswasion of such as hated Muleasses his son usurped his kingdom who upon notice thereof returning with such Forces as he could gather in Italy was overthrown taken prisoner and by his unnatural Son deprived of his sight dealing to him therein the same measure that he had dealt Yet the unnatural Son escaped not altogether scotfree for Tovarres Governour of Gullet for the Emperour sending for Abdamelech brother to Muleasses of whom I have before spoken he in the absence of Amida surprized the City and Castle of Tunis but injoyed no more then 26 dayes e're he died when leaving his Son Mahometes a Child his Successor he was soon thrust out and Amida restored whereupon Muleasses fled first to Guletta and afterward into Sicily where at the Emperours command he was maintained at the common charge of the Islanders The French King being by this time weary of his new come Guest the Turks having first largely rewarded them sent them away who in their return spoil'd the Island of Elba belonging to the Duke of Florence upon the Governours refusing to deliver the Son of Sinan the Jew held Prisoner there since his being taken at Tunis and after that committed many outrages upon the Coast of Italy burning many Towns and carrying away the people into miserable Captivity but he long enjoyed not his Triumph ere himself was by death lead into Captivity viz. anno 1547. In which year died Mahomet Solyman's Eldest Son Frances the French King and Alphonsus-Daualus-Valtius the Emperours renowned General Solyman having now not made any personal Expedition for the space of three years resolved to invade the Persian King being solicited thereto by Ercases Imirza King of Sirnan and that Kings Brother but after great toil to little or no purpose for the space of 1 year and 9 Months he returned with his 〈◊〉 to Constantinople Imirza in the mean while being delivered to his brother Tamas the Persian King by Treachery was put to death during which Transaction one Dugat a notable Pirate having taken Africa a City in Tunis formerly called Aprodise he greatly troubled the Moors by Land and the Christians by Sea when to remove so troublesome a man the Knights of Malta passed over with a considerable power and after a furious assault possessed themselves of the said City the which by reason it was not tenable without excessive charge they razed carrying away a rich booty and 7000 Captives whereupon the Pirate fled to Constantinople craving aid of Solyman who sent with him Sinan the Jew made Admiral in the stead of Barbarossa with a great Fleet who in revenge of what had happened to Africa landed on the Island of Malta and attempted though in vain the winning that strong City Yet sailing into Africk they after great slaughter of their men took Tripolis in Barbary at that time possessed by certain of the Malta Knights for which Sinan Bassa having as it were Triumphed left Drugat Governour thereof by the Title of Sansack returned to Constantinople Anno 1551. Solyman notwithstanding the five years peace made with King Ferdinand sent Achmetes his Lieutenant in Europe
to invade several Towns in Hungary who upon his Arrival took Temeswar and Zolnock which Queen Isabel perceiving and that the Turk contrary to his Faith plighted daily incroach upon her Territories whose power she was not in a capacity to repel by force she agreed with King Ferdinand to resign her and her Sons Title to the Kingdom of Hungary in consideration of Cassovia and a yearly pension of 100000 Ducats After which the King recovered most part of the Kingdom from the Turks and for the better keeping thereof as some say caused George Bishop of Veradium a great favorite of Solymans though by Birth a Hungarian to be murthered in his own House Upon which the Bassa of Buda drawing together what Forces be could Besieged Agria but after the loss of many of his best Souldiers he gave over the siege Henry succeeding his Brother Francis in the Kingdom of France and desirous to molest the Emperor sent the Lord Avomont to incite Solyman to wast the Coast of Italy whereupon he sending a great Fleet in the Tyrrenan and Tuscan Seas wasted the Coast of Calabria Sâ—cilia Majorca Sardinia Elba Corsica and Cerbe the Frontiers of the Emperours Dominions and the same year viz. anno 1554. Solyman incited thereto by Roxolana once his Slave and Concubine but now his imperious Wife and by the Treacherous insinuation of Rustan Bassa who had Married Chameria her Daughter by Solyman caused his Son Mustapha the chief hope of the Othâ—man Family begot on a Sâ—yrcassian Woman to be strangled in his Pavilion without suffering him to clear himself of what had been falsly laid to his charge during his absence the which barbarous cruelty when Tzihunger Roxolana's Son by Solyman whom she purposed to raise to the Empire after his decease and for that purpose had procured the death of Mustapha came to know he had detested his Fathers cruelty with his Dagger killed himself and fell down dead upon his Brothers dead body nor was Solyman in safety when the matter came to be once known for the inraged Souldiers with their drawn Swords after they had killed a great number of those that came thither to fetch the Riches in Mustaphaes Tent came to his Pavilion Threatning him with present Death and after many reproaches were hardly appeased swearing at their departure if the Accusers of Mustapha were not brought to light they would nevertheless kill him when to satisfie them in their demands he deprived Rustan Bassa of all his Honours taking from him the seal whereof he had the keeping and delivered it to Achomates Bassa and Rustan commanded to leave the Camp upon pain of Death but not long after by the means of his Mother-in-Law who had by the means of a Jew bewitched Solyman with her charms he was again restored and to make way for him Achomates who had stept up into his places of Honour by Solyman's command in the Divano causelesly was strangled Whilest these things were doing Haly Bassa having for a long time besieged Zigeth defended by Marcus Horworth a valiant Captain was beaten off by Polviller and Serineus two of King Ferdinandoes Captains with the loss of half of his Army Nor fared the Turks better at Sea for Guise Lord Prior of the Knights of St. John in France took six Ships and Gallies richly laden and now God intending to punish the Tyrant for so many Murthers suffered his Son Bajazet gotten upon Roxolana to rise up against him Arms under pretence of supplanting his Brother Selymus all the remainder of the aforesaid wicked stock who by setting up a counterfeit Mustapha and pretending he that was killed was no other but one much resembling the true Mustapha sent for great rewards to try his Fathers fury drew after him a World of people being secretly encouraged thereto by his mother who preferred him before his Elder Brother whom Solyman would have his Successor and such was her power with Solyman that after the Plot was discovered the counterfeit taken and executed she made Bajazets peace and restored to favour as much as ever yet such was the fiery nature of the head strong youth that knowing his Life was dated with his Fathers if his Brother succeeded him he again took up Arms being generally favoured of the Soldiers against whom Selymus was sent with a great Army between whom was fought a dreadful Battle in which 300 Turks were slain and Bajazet put to the worst who after much adverse fortune flying to the Persian King was by the procurement of Solyman contrary to Faith given by the Persian he together with his four Sons was murâ—â—â—â—ed Anno 1558 Charles the Fifth and warlike Emperour of Germany stricken in years and worn out with the toils of tedious War resigned the Empire to his Brother Ferdinand having before put his son Philip in possession of all Hereditary Kingdoms and then retiring lead a private Life and shortly after changed it for Life Eternal after he had with great reverence and integrity Reigned 39 years after whose death at the earnest request of the Knights of Malta the Christian Princes set out a Fleet for the recovery of Tripolis in Barbary when coming to the Island of Zerbi belonging to the Turks they spoiled it and after a small battery to the Castle in which the Islanders put their cheif hope but this Expedition proved unfortunate to the Christians for Pial Bassa Solymans Admiral coming upon them with a great Fleet suddainly surprized many of the Ships and Gallies out of order and unable to make resistance took them and put most of those he found therein to the Sword and such as could stand off to Sea fled leaving Don Alvarus De Sandee a valiant Gentleman of great Spirit and long Experience General of the Christian Forces on shoar who together with such as were sied from the Fleet entered the Castle which was most resolutely defended till such time as hunger and thirst compell him to surrender not less then 18000 Christians by one means or other being lost from the setting out of the Fleet to the time the Castle was delivered to the Turks the which by the Bassa being strongly Garrisoned he with the Christian Captives there taken returned in Triumph to Constantinople and long was ere the Spanish and Italian Nobility there taken could be ransomed and to make up this unluckly year viz. 1560. on the 25th day of November Auria the great Sea Captain died being 94 years old to the great Rejoycing of the Turkish Pirates whose terror he had been for more then Thirty years nor was the following year fortunate for King Philip of Spain sending out his Fleet under Mendoza his Admiral Five and Twenty Ships and Gallies by stress of Weather were broken on the Coast of Sicily on one of which the Admiral perished little or nothing being saved in that dismal and unexpected Calamity Anno 1562. The Emperour Ferdinand so laboured with the Electoral Princes that he procured his son Maximillian then King of Bchemia a
whereupon the Princes dispairing to carry it by assault raised the siege The Turks Fleet shut up in the Bay of Modon and as it were besieged by the Christians by this time felt great want which caused a Pestilence to rage so violently amongst the Soldiers and Marriners that many of the Galleys were deserted and the rest so slenderly manned and so unprovided of necessaries that had the Christian Fleet rode it out a moneth longer before the Bay the Enemies fleet had fell into their hands almost without fighting but such was the perverseness of the Spanish General that he would needs return with his Fleet notwithstanding all the pregnant reasons and arguments the Venetian Admiral used to perswade him to the contrary and so resolutely was he therein that he resolved to depart not only without the consent of the Venetians but without their privity he having in order thereto strictly commanded all his Captains and Masters of his Gallies speedily to weigh Anchor and to stand for the Coast of Sicily of which the Venetian Admiral having notice and not a little troubled thereat came on board his Galley and renewed his perswasions for his stay but finding all arguments vain he at least requested him to stay so long till the 2 Gallies fastened together for a floating Battery might be fetched off and not be left there as a prey to which he hardly consented alledging that his victuals fell short and if he should stay longer abroad his Fleet would be oppressed with famine yet promised that if he met with the ships he had sent for out of Sicily loaden with provision he would instantly return but kept not his word though he incountred them upon the Coast of Corcyra so that the half starved Turks upon his departure by degrees got out of the Bay to their no small joy most of them getting in safety to Constantinople For after the departure of the Spaniards to Messina the Venetian and Popes Admiral departed likewise the one to Rome and the other to Venice having done nothing worthy of so great preparations as were set forth by the Christian Princes About this time Amida King of Tunes being driven out of his Kingdom fled to Don John for Aide humbly requesting him that he would restore him to his Kingdom to which the crafty Spaniard seemingly hearkned but having landed his Forces taken possession of Tunis and other strong places he sent Amida together with his wife and children into Sicily there to remain as prisoners at large during their lives and placed Mahomet his brother in his stead who by reason of his Seniority was rightful Heir to the Kingdom But withall taking of him a solemn Oath that he should become and from thenceforth remain a vassal to the Spanish King and alwayes be ready to do whatsoever he commanded and having beaten the Turks and wild Arabs out of the Countrey he built a new Castle in the Middle way between Culetta and Tunes and having put a strong Garrison therein as likewise into Guletta he returned into Sicilia The Venetians sinding no trust to be reposed in the Spaniards and of themselves too weak to deal with the Turks resolved if possible to conclude an honourable peace with Selymus thinking it more for their advantage than to be subject to the insolent humours of the Spanish General and thereupon after much debate in the Senate house it was resolved that Ambassadors should be sent to sound the mind of the Turk who as it afterward appeared was no less desirous of peace then themselves though he a long time dissembled it whereupon the Ambassadors arriving at Constantinople after much debate subscribed the Articles of Peace the substance of which were these First that the Venetians should pay unto Selimus 300000 Ducates 100000 to be paid down and the rest in two equal portions the two succeeding years Secondly That such places of the Venetians as were in the possession of the Turks should still remain in the hands of the Possessors but that such Towns and Places as the Venetians during the war had taken from the Turks should be instantly restored This Peace thus concluded was proclaimed in Constantinople on the twentieth of March Anno 1574 and at Venice the thirteenth of April following to the great amazement of the Confederates when the better to justifie themselves in what they had done the Venetian Senators sent for the Spanish Ambassador and Popes Nuncio into the Senate house to whom the Duke in a Grave Speech addressed himself to this purpose That anger and Hope two evil Counsellors being set aside he had concluded a Peace with the Turk not for that he was desirous of the Turks friendship which what account it was to be made of he right well knew but for the love he bare to the State which was not only with loss but even with death it self to be maintained how he had been spoiled of the Kingdom of Cyprus he further declared that the Venetian State grew weaker and weaker by continual war and therefore before it was reduced to extremity and they not being able to maintain war against so Potent an enemy were to take a surer course for the preservation of what yet of their Signory remained unto them for that the safety of the Venetian State should at all times be a sure Fortress and Defence of the Christian Commonweale against all the furious attempts of the enemy and uncertain events of time This Peace though disliked of other Christian Princes was advantagious to the Venetians for as much as the war had made their Trade to cease both in the Adriatick and Mediterranean Seas which upon the conclusion of Peace with the Turks returned again more then ever by reason few other Christian Merchants had the like liberty This peace was the easier obtained of the Turk for as much as the Spaniard had reduced the Kingdom of Tunis to his obedience and that the Knights of Malta had an eye upon Tripolis and other Sea port Towns holden by the Turks upon the Coast of Barbary that he might be the more at leasure to defend what he possessed and if possible to recover that which his father had lost viz. the Kingdom of Tunis yet declining that enterprize for a time he converted his Forces against John the Vayuod of Valachia who a little before having driven Bogeanus out of Moldavia had possessed himself of that Province but upon his refusing to pay Selymus double the Tribute he agreed for he held him in such distrust that he resolved to take from him both his Principalities and annex them to the Ottoman Empire to prevent which if possible the said John raised a great power calling to his assistance the Cossacks a warlike people of Polonia who living upon the Frontiers secure the kingdom from the incursions of the Tartars and maintain themselves for the most part by spoiles taken from the enemy who now in great number under the leading of Suserceuius their Captain came
Officers intimated to Sir John Finch His Majesty of Great Britains Embassador that he might if he pleased receive Audience of the Visier but upon notice what had happened to the French Embassador he excused his going on pretence of an indisposition of body But however Venetian Dutch and Genoan Residents were content the better to curry favour with the Visier to be admitted to Audience on those terms which the Visier would vouchsafe to allow them for though during the time he was Chimacam as is aforesaid he was meek and humble yet being placed in the highest dignity next the Sultan the unexpected Exaltation made him so far forget himself that his pride knew no bounds These things happening and no hopes of accomodation with Poles who by this time had Elected Sobieski for their King great preparations were made for the carrying on that War The Tartar Han in order thereto receiving express command to take the Field which early in the Spring he did and entering Lithuania committed many outrages but being incountered by Sixteen Thousand Poles and Cossacks his Army was put to the rout and in great confusion obliged to repass the Neister leaving behind him all the booty which consisted mostly of People and Cattle during which the Bassa of Kemenitz with a great Body of Horse made an Inroad even to the Walls of Leopolis which caused the King to send his Queen and Children to Cracow resolving to give the Turks Battle and in order to strengthning his Forces summoned all the Polish Nobility to repair to his Standard putting himself and such Troops as he had between the City and the Enemy the better to alienate the fears of the people who upon the approach of the Turks who burnt up all before them had fled and left the City desolate had not the Gates been closed upon them The Turks perceiving the great preparations that were making against them thought fit with such booty as they had gotten to retire into Vckrania but in their retreat were charged by the King with such bravery that Seven Thousand of them were killed and a great number of Captives rescued to their unspeakable joy They finding the Turks were resolutely bent to carry on the War and that the Kingdom was greatly weakned by the Provinces they had already rent from it the better to strengthen himself by Alliance by the Advice of the Senate sent his Embassador to the Court of the Czar of Moscovy to solicite Aid against the common Enemy who upon his arrival was received with great expression of Joy and due Ceremony being dayly heightened with fair promises to expect great matters but in the end nothing worth mention came on it yet it so wrought upon the Turks that for the better preservation of what they had already required the Visier began to be intent on peace but his propositions were so unreasonable that the Poles generously refused them and early in the Spring prepared to take the Field with a puissant Army yet could not so soon draw them together but that the Tartars living on the Frontires joyning with some revolted Cossacks committed divers out-rages burning about Two Hundred Villages carrying away a great number of Christians into miserable captivity whilst Podolia groaned under the oppression of the Turks who now turned their clemency into rigour killing and carrying away great numbers of these distressed people burning their Houses and robbing them of the small matter they had left in such a manner that that fruitful Countrey was layd almost desolate to oppose which Torrent the King drew out his Forces and by fair promises and large gifts procured Threâ— Thousand Cossacks to joyn him when passing thâ— Neister and falling upon the Straglers as they at pleasure were ravaging the Countrey expecting no such matter and killed Five Thousand amongst whom fell One Bassa and Two Sanziacks but upon notice the Tartars in great number was entered the heart of Poland leaving some of his Troops under the Command of Witnowitzki his Lieutenant General he posted to oppose them but upon notice they were Forty Thousand lead by Expert Turkish Commanders he drew near to Leopolis to encourage that City which otherwise terrified at the approach of so great an Army might have been deserted when finding the Tartars made divers halts having put a Garrison into the City and given such necessary orders as he thought convenient he marched towards them and having notice by his Scouts that they approached he commanded his Army to extend large in Front and the Wings of Horse to lie off that they might seem more in number than they were he resolutely descended from a small Hill into the Plain and after having thrice proclaimed the Name of Jesus at the Head of his Troop fell like an unexpected Tempest upon the Infidels insomuch that the Front of their Army was overthrown before the Rear could come up to their assistance which putting them into a great confusion when perceiving the reserves advance to charge them in the flank and supposing the whole power of the Kingdom at hand by reason of great shout from the Hills made by the Rustick set there for that purpose they first gave back and in the end betook themselves to plain flight casting away many of their Arms and Baggage to make the swifter retreat upon whom the Polonian Horsemen followed hard making great slaughter of them for the space of Twelve Miles but night coming on to prevent the pursuers from falling into any ambush that might for that purpose be layed the King caused the retreat to be sounded and returning to the City Victorious he was received with all expressions of joy and the next day commanded a publick Thanksgiving for the Victory so miraculously obtained In this Battle Ninety Thousand Tartars Turks Moldavians and Valachians were slain Seven Hundred taken Prisoners and a great booty recovered of the Poles fell only Seven Hundred their whole Force not exceeding Six Thousand The reasons were gathered from some of the Prisoners why the Tartars c. were so suddenly discouraged were two first for that about ten in the Morning of the same day making a Halt abundance of Snow and Hail fell upon their Army and round about them none was seen to fall which they took as a bad Omen Secondly that when they perceived the large Front of the Polish Army which extended near a Mile they verily believed it to be the fore-runner of the Forces of the whole Kingdom which they had heard were in Arms and therefore having so far advanced into the Countrey and left many Enemies at their backs they feared to be inclosed which occasioned their hasty and disorderly retreat These reiterated Losses and the desire the Grand Signior had to possess himself of the rest of Hungary whose divisions gave him a prospect of reducing it to his Obedience made him more willingly hearken to the proposals of the Polish Embassador so that in the end upon much the same Articles as those
his Person and make as it were his Guard being under the Command of the Aga of the Janizaries all of them attired in Linnen-Garments hanging down beneath their Knees and over them quilted Wast-Coats with half Sleeves of Taffety Damask or Sattin and on their Heads Caps and Feathers carrying Bows and Arrows There are another sort of Foot-men called Peiâ—â—i wonderful swift of Foot whom he imploys in the nature of â—â—â—qâ—ies or Foot-Posts being attired in Cloth of Cold with 〈…〉 of the same tyed fast about them upon their Heads wearing Caps like Butter-pots with a Silver Pike standing out before in the nature of a Horn. The Porters of the Court that give Attendance there are four thousand and are attired like the Janizaries having over them three Capigi Bassa's The Grand Seignior's Power is so absolute and his Government so tyrannical that his Subjects term themselves his Slaves none of them being sure of his Life or Goods beyond his Pleasure for without any Tryal or Process he puts to Death whom it pleaseth him unless restrained by the Souldiers who often rescue their Minions out of his Hands and oblige him to pardon them Their Sutes are few and those very short they rarely being permitted the Favour of Advocates to procrastinate Matters from coming to a speedy Result tho' commonly he who can bribe most fares the best For the Turks are of all Nations the most Avaricious doing no Man a Kindness unless they are fee'd though they have the least Certainty of any People to keep what they have gotten all as is aforesaid being at the Disposal of the Prince They punish Crimes with great Severity and so speedily that it is observed that seldom any Theft or Murther is committed by any private Turk but what Outrages do happen in the City or elsewhere are committed commonly by the Grecians and those that are not of the Progeny of the Turks The Grand Seignior's Chief Councellor is the Great Vizier who wears his Signet and is stiled his Lieutenant every Divano-day giving him an exact Account what is said and done Nor dare he dissemble in ought for that the Grand Seignior has a Window from whence he can see and hear and yet not be seen himself which Window looks into the Divano When this Vizier is abroad which never happens unless to be General of an Army or upon some such like important Occasion at what time he appoints his Lieutenant to officiate in his Absence who is called the Chimacham Next unto the Bassa's of which there are many dispersed throughout the Empire to manage the Affairs thereof are the Beglerbegs or Lords of Lords They are Men of great Authority and have the Command of great Kingdoms and Armies under whose Obedience are divers Sanzacks which are sent as Governors into Provinces during the Princes Pleasure being Men of great Experience for the most part commanding over the Spahi and Timariots the Turks chief Horsmen whom they continually exercise to render them the more expert The Chief of these Beglerbegs is the Beglerbeg of Romania or Grecia under whose Command are twenty one Sanzacks next to him is the Beglerbeg of Buda who hath under his Command thirteen Sanzacks The Beglerbeg of Temeswar has under his Command eight Sanzacks The Beglerbeg of Bosna hath under his Command nine Sanzacks The Beglerbegship of Coffe or Capha who resideth in Taurica Chersonesus and commandeth over the Sanzacks near unto the great River Tanais and the Fenns of Maeotis which was at first but a Sanzackship and depended upon the Beglerbegship of Grecia and is indeed rather a Beglerbegship in Name than in Power These Beglerbegs or Lords of Lords great Governours of the Turkish Empire in Europe besides the Sanzacks have under their Command 257000 Timariots or Horse-men who are bound for certain Lands alotted them by the Grand Seignior out of his Conquests to serve in the Wars upon all Occasions The Beglerbegs or Great Commanders of the Turk's Empire in Asia are thirty in number under whom are a proportionable number of Sanzacks and not less than 400000 Timariots The Beglerbegs commanding the Turk's Empire in Africa are four and have under them fourteen Sanzacks and sixty two thousand Timariots Besides these Timariot-Horsemen there are the Spahi who are for the most part Europeans being such as were brought up in their Infancy or taken Captive As likewise Spaâ—hoglanians Silictarians and Olofagians who have likewise Lands or Annual Pensions assigned them for which they are bound to serve in the Wars for no Man in the Ottoman Empire can have any Lands or Yearly Revenues that way but must be ready or send others in his stead it being held that the whole Empire in Fee simple is the Grand Seigniors No Man being permitted to buy or injoy any Lands longer than it pleases his Prince Nor can any one claim a Propriety to a Foot unless by the Donation of the Grand Seignior or his Assignment and that last at longest but during the Natural Life of him to whom it is so given or assigned These Horsemen march under a white Banner being armed with strong Coats Bows and Arrows Culeverings Scymitars and Battle Axes Another sort of Horsemen there are called Caripices not exceeding eight hundred who still ride near the Grand Seignior as his Life-guard in the middle of the Battalion of the Janizaries and are the best Horsemen accounted of all others being for the most part Sons of the Great Commanders As for his Foot Forces the chief Strength consists of Janizaries who are Children taken from their Christian Parents and inured in their Youth to all manner of Hardship taught all the Use of Arms and trained up in all Warlike Discipline till they are adjudged fit to be inrolled for the War These are taken up in Europe no Children born either in Asia or Africa being admitted into their Seminary These Men always inclose the Person of the Grand Seignior at what time he marches with his Army and are the last that fight unless urgent Necessity require it They wear white Caps carry Harquibusses and sharp Scymitars who since their first Institution have been the chief Supporters of the Turkish Empire but of late they are much degenerated from their former Discipline giving themselves up wholly to Ease and Pleasure yet keep themselves in good order for the most part There remains twenty four thousand of them in Constantinople and a far greater number in divers Places of the Empire They are commanded by their Aga or Captain to whom nothing is so fatal as their Love for him for then the Grand Seignior has him in mistrust and well is it if he be not made away They sleep together in great Halls their Beds being placed on either side and all those of a Squadron feed at one Table the Younger ever serve the Elder And if any one of them be absent from his Lodging in the Night unless upon publick occasion then is he the next day severely câ—dgelled and
his Kingdom of England but at his return found it possessed by his younger Brother Henry who not only deprived him of his Kingdom but soon after of his Dutchy of Normandy And finally of his life by putting out his eyes which many held as a Judgment for his refusing the Scepter of Jerusalem Upon the Duke's declining the Princes unanimously chose Godfry of Bolloin Duke of Lorain who accepted the honourable and glorious Trust but at the time of his Inauguration refused to be crowned with a Crown of Gold saying that it became not a Christian to wear a Crown of Gold where Christ the Son of God had for the Salvation of mankind sometime worn a Crown of Thorns but long he had not injoyed his new acquired Dignity e'r News was brought that 100000 Turks Sarazens and Jews were upon their march to recover the City against whom the Christian Army advanced and gave them battle with so fearful an overthrow that all the Field and Plains for the space of ten miles were covered with the bodies of the slain and then passing on won many famous Cities every where putting the Infidels to the rout but not long after a great Mortality happening the Heroick Godfry King of Jerusalem died and was interred in the Church of the Sepulcher of our Saviour on Mount Calvery And Baldwin Count of Edassa his Brother succeeded him who with many Victories and Cities taken much inlarged the Territories of Jerusalem but besieging the City of Ptolemais he was in a Skirmish with those Turks wounded yet took the City and lived many years after but the wound being as was supposed given with an impoysoned weapon and not pertectly cured he died thereof in the eighteenth year of his Reign and was most favourably buried by his Brother his Sepulcher remaining yet visible After him succeeded his Couzen Baldwin Brugenses against whom the Caliph of Egypt aided by the King of Damasco and the Turks came with a great Army but they returned without effecting any thing yet not long after Gazi the greatest Prince of the Turks in the lesser Asia aided by the King of Damasco and Debeis King of Arabia came against Antioch with a great power and incamped at Aleppo against whom Roger Prince of Antioch advanced without staying for King Baldwin who was on his march with a great Army and unadvisedly joyning battel his Army was overthrown and himself slain but King Baldwin coming upon the Turks grown secure by reason of their new acquired Victory put them to the rout far and near filling all the Plains with the bodies of the slain but within a while after encountring with Balac General of the Persian Sultan's Army he was taken prisoner and his Army overthrown but after eighteen Months imprisonment for the Ransom of 100000 Ducats set at liberty and afterwards obtained many signal Victories over the Infidels and in his Reign was setled the order of the Knights Templers Hugh Paganus being the first great Master of that Order but King Baldwin the Second being tired and disordered with the many battels and having received many wounds after he had married Margaret his Eldest Daughter to Foulk Duke of Turin Anjoy and Mayn fell sick in the thirteenth year of his Reign Anno 1131. and constituting his Son in Law to succeed him gave up the Ghost and was buried in the Temple upon Mount Calvery near his Predecessors After the death of Baldwin Foulk was crowned King of Jerusalem viz. on the Sixth of September Anno 1131. by William the Patriark but the Devil envying the spreading of the Christian Religion endeavoured to stir up Division amongst the Christians in the beginning of this King's Reign for Pontius Count of Tripolis by force of Arms endeavoured to rend the City and Territories of Antioch from the Kingdom of Jerusalem and Hugh Count of Joppa being highly concerned in the Treason for fear of punishment joyned with the Sarazens that held the strong City of Ascalon but God prevented the mischief that thereby might have ensued by taking the former away by the Sword of the Turks and the latter being driven out of Ascalon died in Exile the very Heathens abhorring a Traytor These stirs were no sooner over but the Turks invaded Antioch with a powerful Army but the King coming suddainly upon them put them to flight with much slaughter and got in the plundring of their Camp great Riches After which John the Creek Emperor raised a great power to seize upon Antioch pretending it a part of his Empire but the Kings of Europe interposing he was content it should be holden by the present Prince the Earl of Poictou he paying him Homage for his Principality but being a man of a restless Spirit he soon after came again with a powerful Army thinking to have admittance into the City and so to surprize it but found his expectations frustrate for the Citizens would not admit him to enter unless with some few of his Followers in reveage of which he caused the Suburbs to be sacked and so returned into Cilicia where hunting a Boar whilst the furious Beast pressed on the Spear the Emperor held against him the Emperor's hand pressed upon the point of a poysonoâ—s Aâ—â—oâ—â— he had in his Quiver which entring the flesh the force of the poyson was such that in great pain he shortly died upon which Emanuel Elexus his Son was chosen in his stead Jerusalem by this means being â—t peaâ—e the King Queen and many great Commanders went without the Walls to take the Air when there â—â—â—nced a Hare to be started after which the King and those that accompanied him rid and he forcing his Horse he fell so that the King's head fell under him of which mortal bruise he in three days dyed in great torment viz. on the thirteenth of November Anno 1142. and was buâ—ied by his Predecessors greatly lamented of all good Christians and after him succeeded Baldwin his Son the third of that name he being about thirteen years of Age and in his Reign came Conrade the Third Emperor of Germany with a powerful Army to the Assistance of the Christians in Syria who by the way being opposed by the Turks at the River Meander gave them battel and overthrew them with the slaughter of 30000 of the Enemy so that the River for many miles ran 〈◊〉 and then marching forward without the least Impeachment came to Iconium the Chief Seat of the Tâ—â—kâ—sh Kings in the lesser Asia which he besieged but it being strongly fortified and Want increasing in the Camp a Mortality hapâ—ned which destroyed so many of the Souldiers that the Emperor was forced to raise his Siege and to return home The occasion of this 〈◊〉 was said to be occasioned by eating of Meal which the 〈◊〉 Emperor upon their passing through his Dominions had caused to be mingled with Lime 〈◊〉 no less envying the success of the Christians in Syria 〈◊〉 the Turks and by such like Treacheries he frustrated 〈◊〉 Expedition
received his fatal overthrow he had a second conflict with the Turk whom he put to flight with great slaughter and took the City of Philomela and put the Inhabitants to the sword for executing his Messangers he sent to treat with them about delivering it peaceably and then entring â—â—â—â—enia the less he took the City of Melitene and subdued all the Territories round about and there gave the Turks an other fearful overthrow which Army was no sooner vanquished but another not inferiour to â—â— appeared under the heading of Saphadine Saladin the Sultan's Son which with an undaunted bravery he charged and put to rout with incredible slaughter but the joy of Victory was soon turned into Mourning for the good Emperor zealous for the Christian Cause following hâ—â—d upon the flyers his Horse floundered in the River 〈◊〉 and threw him out of the Saddle with his right foot hanging in the Stirrup after which manner e'r he could be relieved he was drag'd through the River and hitting by the way on certain Stumps so bruised that when he was taken up he was heard to say no more then Lord receive my Soul e'r he gave up the Ghost in the seventieth year of his Age and of his Reign 38. Anno 1190. Whereupon his Body was carried to the City of Tire and there in the Cathedral with all Solemnity interred This Heroick Emperor being dead his Son Frederick Duke of Suevia then in the Army was saluted Emperor and General by the consent of the great Commanders but now the Country being purposely destroyed before them pale Famine began to stare them in the face yet on they marched and charging Dodequin Saladius General sent to oppose their Passage gave him a great overthrow and had all the Cities rendred as they passed till they came to Ptolomais where the power of the Christians in Syria were incamped headed by Guy late King of Jerusalem who for a great Sum had obtained his Liberty Upon the Arrival of Frederick the Christians gave a fierce Assault to the City on all Parts and had taken it by Storm had not Saladine the Egyptian Sultan who lay hovering aloof with his Army fallen upon their Camp and thereby in the hottest of the Assault obliged them to draw off to defend the same and having forced him to retire with the loss of a few men they returned again to the Siege expecting the Arrival of Richard the First King of England and Philip the Second King of France who were upon their way with great Forces but they wintering in the Isle of Sicilia the French King out of Envy to the Glory of the English and an old grudge having been formerly about King Richard's refusing the French King's Sister and marrying the Daughter of the King or Navar the French King not long after returned home and withdrew his Army to the frustrating the whole design of recovering Jerusalem yet at present he dissembled the matter and loosing first from the Port of Mesina arrived at Ptolomais where the Christians lay still incomped after whom King Richard shortly followed but sayling by Cyprus his Fleet was dispersed by a Storm and two of his Ships falling on ground on that Coast the Islanders spoyled them and when the rest of the Fleet put in there they rudely withstood their landing which so inraged King Richard that he landing by force seised the Island and took the King thereof Prisoner and sent him bound in Chains of Silver to Syria The King having secured the Island to his use disanchored and sailed to Ptolomais where he was joyfully received of the Christian Princes upon whose Arrival the City after a hot Assault and a great breach in the Wall was surrendred upon condition the Garrison might depart with safety for which they were likewise to pay a great Ransom to deliver they Holy Cross they had in possession and a certain number of them to remain as Hostages that the Saladine should deliver such Christian Prisoners as he had in his power whereupon the Germans of Austria entered first the 〈◊〉 and advanced the Standard of their Duke upon the Wâ—ll as if by their only valour the City had 〈…〉 which so offended King Richard that he 〈◊〉 the Standard to be thrown down and trampled on which indignity the Duke resented so heinously that 〈◊〉 great hindrance of the Wars in Syria he retuâ—â—◠〈…〉 his Forces into Austria as likewise did the 〈◊〉 France with the greatest part of his Army under 〈◊〉 he did it for want of health in so hot a Clime 〈…〉 out of secret Envy to King Richard Salâ—â—◠〈◊〉 of the lessning of the Christian Army and that there still remained amongst them discontent refused to pay the money for the Ransom of the Hostages or deliver up the Christian Prisoners but threatned that if any Extremity was used by the King towards them he would behead all the Christian Prisoners the which notwithstanding the Hostages were not hurt he most barbarously performed in return whereof the King commanded 2500 of the Hostages to be executed in the sight of the Infidels Camp and resolved to give him battel which he perceiving raised his Camp and departed along the Sea Coast ruining the strong Towns to prevent their falling into the hands of the Christians who leaving Ptolomais strongly fortified followed close at his heels resolving to besiege Jerusalem which he perceiving and taking such advantage as the time and place would afford faced about So that both Armies meeting about Noon a dreadful conflict began which continued with great slaughter especially on the part of the Turks till Evening at what time the Victory fell to the Christians who had the Execution of the Infidels for seven miles but Winter coming on they disposed of the Army till Spring in the Towns that Saladine had ruinated repairing and fortifying them stronger than before but when Spring came upon must'ring the Army they were found greatly decreased by diseases and absenting and at the same time the King found the Duke of Burgundia under whose command the French King had left part of his Army still to cross his purpose as desirous to return home having received such Orders privately from the King his Master who was contrary to his Oath taken at his departure warring upon the Normans then King Richard's Subjects and that others were of the like mind found himself altogether too weak to besiege Jerusalem and hearing how the French King had incited his younger Brother John to take upon him the Government of the Kingdom of England fearing lest while he was warring abroad he might loose his Kingdom at home he resolved to make such conditions with the Sultantain as might be best for the advantage of the Christians in Syria and so imbarque for England which the crafty Infidel understanding and finding his power daily to decay would hearken to no other Proposals than that the Christians should surrender all the Towns they had taken Ptolomais excepted and in consideration
and to bring them to a Compliance the good Emperor desired the Lattins to retire to their Camp which was performed but â—re he â—ould prevail with the Citizens to pay the Tax 〈◊〉 he through loss of Sight and other Infirmities 〈…〉 had the Prince his Son Saluted Emperor in his 〈◊〉 who desirous to perform his Promise with the Lattins proceeded where his Father lest off but â—o no purpose for when he pressed the raising of the 〈◊〉 before 〈◊〉 they rose in Armes and 〈◊〉 like a Torrâ—â— to the Palace threatned to 〈…〉 of his Life and Empire if he did not 〈…〉 him that he sent to the 〈…〉 part of his Army privately into the City at a 〈◊〉 which he would deliver 〈…〉 intention of the Emperors 〈…〉 privy Surnamed for his 〈…〉 by the Emperors Father had been 〈…〉 a low condition to the 〈…〉 and thinking to opportunity more 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 to Empire after which he had a long 〈…〉 then the present â—â—â—â—â—ion he gathered 〈…〉 and imâ—â—â—â—ed them what was inâ—ended and then under a Simile of Friendship came to the young Emperour and seizing upon his Person caused him to be Imprisoned and by insinuating himself into the good liking of the Mobile procured himself to be proclaimed which was no sooner done but he strangled the Emperor and attempted to sire the Venetian Gallies which so inraged the Christians that they resolved to lay close Siege to the City the which after the overthrow of the Usurpers Army under its Walls they did and firing it in divers Places entered upon which the Tyrant fled The City of Constantinople thus taken the 12 of April 1204 or as some will have it 1200 the Citizens Lives at the request of the Religious were spared but their Wealth became a prey to the Souldiers so now those that refused to part with a little at the request of their Natural Lord for the support of his Honor and their Safety were now obliged to part with all After the Sack of this City most of the Cities of the Empire yeilded whereupon the Princes assembling chose Baldwin Earl of Flanders and Hanault Emperor and amongst the other Princes was the Empire divided into Provinces each holding his Principality in fee of the Emperor as their Supream Lord. Things being at this pass news came that Theodorius Lascaris had fortified Adrâ—anoâ—le and raising forces for the recovery of the Greek Empire which â—â—nsed the Latins under the leading of their Emperor to March against him who upon news of their Approach retired into the City which he strongly fortified expecting no less then a Siege which accordingly was lay'd at what time John King of Bulgaria otherwise called Mysia a large Kingdom lying between the great Mountain Emaus and Danuâ—ius aided by the Scythians a Barbarous People came with a great power to raise the Seige against whom the Emperor drew out his strengths but following too eagerly the Scythian Horsemen sent out to Skirmish on purpose to â—â—ain him into an Ambush he â—ell in with the Kings power amongst the Woods and Mountains where being over wearyed with the tedious 〈◊〉 he was overthrown himself taken Prisoner and his Army for the most part Slain nor susâ—iâ—ed it the Barbarous King to have him in his Power but after an Inhumane manner cutting off his hands and feet cast him yet living into a deep Valley where he miserably perished and thus died the first most Valiant Emperor of the Lattins in 〈◊〉 e're he had Reigned a full year The Emperor Bâ—â—hrin being dead Henry his Brother was chosen in his stead who to revenge his Brothers Death aided by the Lattin Princes Marched against the 〈◊〉 who hightened with their Success were â—â—r advanced wasting with Fire and Sword all they 〈◊〉 in their way and after many notable 〈…〉 â—iven drove them out of all the places 〈◊〉 had 〈◊〉 During thâ—se proceedings Alexus 〈◊〉 〈…〉 falling into the hands of the 〈…〉 Eyes put out and in that manner being 〈…〉 was Condemned to be thrown 〈…〉 angling the young Emperor which 〈…〉 a reward of his Treason was put in Exception And the other Alexus commonly 〈…〉 who deprived the Emperor Isaac of his Sight 〈…〉 him hearing that his Son 〈…〉 desire â—s of his Kingdom went to the Court of 〈…〉 Sultan 〈◊〉 〈…〉 holding 〈…〉 had shewed great 〈…〉 his 〈…〉 by his Brother 〈…〉 there so prevail 〈…〉 Sultan raised 〈…〉 with it lay'd 〈…〉 part of 〈…〉 Kings 〈◊〉 of which he had no 〈◊〉 notice but with what Forces he could raise on the sudden he posted thither and 〈◊〉 â—â—riously upon the Sultans Army slew him in the 〈◊〉 thereof which so discouraged the Turks that â—â—â—â—â—thstanding Victory inclined to their side they 〈…〉 the City free In this battle was taken Alexus the Author of the War whom his Son-in-law notwithstanding used with great respect though contrary to his desert In the mean time the ten years Truke between the Christians in Syria and the Turks drew to a Conclusion And Almeriâ—â—s King of 〈◊〉 and Titular King of Jerusalem refusing to assist them with Provisions and the like the great Mâ—sters of the Knights Templers and Hospitalers sent to complain thereof to the Pope and to inform him that there was yet living one Mary the Daughter of the Marquess of Mont-Ferrâ—â— a Lady of incomparable Beauty who they as her Tutor had brought up in hope of the Kingdom and were now ready to bestow her upon â—â—â—â—h a Person as he should think worthy of her together with her Right and Title to the Kingdom of 〈◊〉 upon which the Pope 〈◊〉 Almericus of the Title of King of Jerusaâ—â—â—n and gave it to John Coâ—nâ— D' Brenne of the 〈◊〉 in Trance A man of great Fame and Courage and then in Arms amongst the Lattin Princes who upon notice thereof committing his Earldome to the care of his Brother failed with a competent number of his followers to Tyre where he espoused the Lady and not long after the Pope viz. Pope â—â—â—ocent the third calling in a general Council so dealt with the Princes and Prelates thâ—â— great Forces were again raised for the relief of the 〈◊〉 in the Holy Land who setting fall 〈…〉 Towns and Castles on the â—â—â—-Coast 〈…〉 with a great Fleet and an Army by Land 〈…〉 formerly called Pelusium situate upon the Bank of Nâ—â—â— resolving to begin first with Egypt that Palestine might follow where building Towers of Wood upon Gallys they fought with those that kept the Walls at even hand and after great slaughter on both sides took the Suburbs wherein they found not only store of Provision but infinite Riches being the Merchandise of Persia Arabia India and Egypt that being the chief Scale of Trade in those parts During this Transaction the Sultan lay hovering aloof with his Army not daring to ingage the Christians and so long he continued that Want began to rage in his Camp insomuch that he was obliged to send away one part of his Army The
Infidels thus foiled though the City still held out Corradiâ—e Sultan of Damasco and Jerusalem sent his Ambassador to the Christian Princes to sue for Peace for himself and his Brother the Sultan of Egypt In lieu whereof he promised to restore the Holy-Cross and all the Towns his Father Saladine had taken from the Christians which large offer was thought reasonable by most of the Princes none opposing it but Pelagius the Popes 〈◊〉 John the late made King of Jerusalem the 〈◊〉 of the Knights Templers and Hospitallers and the Duke of Aâ—siria they alledging that the War was undertaken generally against the Infidels and that they ought not to desist till they had brought them under Whereupon the Sâ—â—â—â—n supposing they would speedily come to Jerusalem caused it to be rased all exceâ—◠〈◊〉 Tower of David and the holy Sepulcher 〈…〉 instance of the Christians there dwelling 〈…〉 with all his people departed to Daâ—â—◠〈◊〉 but 〈…〉 Christians though too late repented their 〈…〉 advantageous an offer for 〈…〉 of the raw 〈◊〉 and Vapors that ascended from Niâ—â—s a mortal Contagion raged in the â—â—mp and much weakened it so that the Sultan taking the advantage indeavoured to put succors into the Town with such speed that many entered ere the Christians could take the Alarum but they falling in the Rear cut off a great number that were shut out lest the Christians should have entered Pell-mel with them into the City and heightened with this success they marched to the Sultans Camp and dared him to battel but he not willing to hazard his Kingdom upon a cast refusing they assaulted him in his Lodging In which daring Attempt the French General was lost with many more of note so that without success they again returned to the Siege Famine beginning to rage extreamly in the City and soon after its attendant the Plague of which such a number died that there were none left to defend it So that the Christians entering found all the Streets paved with the dead 70000 of the Infidels having perished therein through obstinacy who upon surrender might have had their Lives and Liberties Thus this great City after a years Siege was taken the Third of November 1221. After which the Popes Legate laying Claim to it in the behalf of his Master though at the beginning of the War the Princes had concluded that all the Cities and Towâ—◠〈◊〉 should be put into the Possession of the King of Jerusalem a Contest arose between them insomuch that the King retired to 〈◊〉 and was hardly intreated to return upon whose return and the Arrival of the Duke of Bavaria with fresh Forces at the Legates intreaty a great part of the Army was drawn forth in order to the 〈◊〉 the City of Câ—â— which they effected not without hopes of wâ—â—â—ing it but being unacquainted with the Country they iâ— camping in low Ground the 〈…〉 and overflowed their 〈…〉 Waters of a prodigious depthâ—â—â— that many perished therein and at last were obliged to re-deliver Damiata for their Ransom and so the Sultan relieving them with such necessaries as they wanted caused them to be Conducted out of Egypt Whereupon most of them returned into their own Country having first concluded a Peace for eight years with Coradine the Sultan of Damasco which Peace was by the Infidel inviolably observed King John upon his return at the instance of Hâ—â—orâ—us gave his Daughter Yoland in Marriage to Erâ—drick King of Sicilia and with her the Title of Jerusalem from whence the succeedings derived their Titles instiling themselves Kings of Jerusalem And now Henry the second Emperor of Constantinople being dead having Reigned eleven years and some odd days Peter Count of Ausseres was made Emperor in his stead who in revenge to Injuries done to the Veâ—etians by Theodorus Angelius Prince of Epirus besieged him in Dâ—â—rachium but upon his feigned Submission a Peace was concluded when the Emperor too much crediting the perjured Wretch going into the City slenderly attended to an Entertainment to which the Epirâ—â— had invited him was by his Commandment slain Upon the News of this sad disaster the Constantinopâ—liâ—â—ns elected his Son Robert to succeed him but he lived nor long for having married a beautiful Lady before Contracted to a noble man of Burgundia he in revenge in the Emperors absence with a resolute Company broke into the Pallace and there seizing upon the 〈◊〉 cut off her Nose and Ears and afterward 〈◊〉 her Mother who had been the cause of the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 Contract threw her into 〈…〉 into the 〈…〉 Mountains living 〈…〉 of his Companions which 〈…〉 the Emperor that going to Rome in his return the died After him succeeded his Son by the name of Baldwin the Second being the fifth and last Emperor of the Lattins in Constantinople For Lasâ—ares of whom I have before spoken after the overthrow he gave the Sultan mightily increasing his Power rigged a great many Ships and Siezed upon all the Islands in the Iconium and Egean Seas Lesbos Chios Saâ—os Rhodes c. And by that means rendered himself so formidable that most Cities before in the possession of the Lattins revolted to him insomuch that without any great resistance he brought his Army to the Gates of Constantinople and then dying lefe his Son John Ducas Batazes to succeed him who prosecuting the War against the Latrius became more terrible then his Father strengthening himself by a Marriage between Hâ—lena daughter to Assan King of Bulgaria and his Son Theodore And after that renewed the League with the Sultain of Iconium who was then 〈◊〉 in Warring against the Tartars During these pâ—ssâ—â—es 〈◊〉 the German Emperor with great forces passed 〈◊〉 Syria but by Reason he did not humble himself to Greogry the ninth the proud Preâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 thereto by his Strumpet Fulminated against 〈◊〉 with Excommunications sending his Leâ—ters to the Christians not to aid nor receive him upon his 〈◊〉 but they did not regard the 〈◊〉 Pope 〈…〉 his Landing with his forces 〈…〉 joyfully and honourably received 〈…〉 to Sultan 〈◊〉 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 but 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 to his 〈…〉 desire 〈…〉 himself 〈…〉 that after 〈…〉 that the 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 was at hardly gladly 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 up the City of Jerusalem with all the Land of Palestine together with the Respective Cities taken by the Sultan Saladine and all the Christian Prisoners in lieu of a ten years Peace which was accorded and the Emperor with his Army coming to the desolate City of Jerusalem and there with great Solemnity on Easter Day Anno 1229 was Crowned King and so having fortifyed the City by repairing the Wall and Garrisoned Nazereth Joppa and other strong Cities and appointed Reynold Duke of Bavaria his Lieutenant in Syria he returned home where the Pope had put his Subjects in an uproar and Seized upon his Kingdom of Naples working him greater troubles then are convenient to be here related as not pertinent to this History only note that this was
of them slain and the rest taken Prisoners Things being at this pass and by this means peace Recovered to the Empire intestine broyles began anew to be fomented by the factious Greeks for the young Emperor being dead they stirred up young Adronicus his Son to depose his Grand-father the old Emperor which after several Stratagems and devices he effected taking the City of Constantinople by treason and casting him in Prison where of grief he soon after died These Civil dissensions of the Greeks amongst themselves gave Othoman the opportunity to sound his Empire in Phrygia and Bythima where being successful in all his Attempts he mightily increased his Dominions having by this time subdued 20 Cities with all their Territories and amongst the rest Prusia which after along Siege worn out with Famine Anno 1327 yielded upon several Articles few of which were afterward observed by the Turk which being the greatest City in those parts of Asia became for many years after the seat of the Turkish Kings But as all men must yield to death so in the 28 year of his Reign and the 69 year of his Age Othoman the Founder of the Turkish Empire still called from him the Othoman Empire died and was buried in Prusia where to this day his Tomb is to be seen and in his new acquired Kingdom Orchanes his Second Son succeeded him his eldest dying during his Regency CHAP. VII The Life and Actions of Orchanes otherwise Urchan Second King of the Turks in Asia THE Funeral rights of this great Conqueror being performed by his Sons viz. Orchanes alias Vrchan his Second Son and Aladin his third and youngest Son and he having left great store of wealth Orchanes his Successor took upon him the rule of the Kingdom allotting to his Brother Aladin at his request the Lordship of Fodore in the Teckences Country where he lived a private Life without doing any thing worthy of memory but Orchanes now settled in his Kingdom following his fathers footsteps whose Armies of late he had altogether commanded as his General he forgat not to proceed where he had left off and therefore prepare to War upon the Christians but at first with no great Success for the Christians upon the death of Othoman drawing their forces together out of all parts recovered the City of Nice with divers Castles and Towns and amongst the rest the Castle Tzuprichiser which greatly hindered the Turks excursions who dwelt in Bithynia whereupon Orchanes upon notice that it was slenderly Guarded went with several of his followers in the attire of Merchants and by that means deceiving the warders got admittance but were no sooner entered e're they proved fatal ones for drawing their Swords they put all such as they found therein to death and seized the Castle and having Garrisoned it passed on to the City of Nice to which they lay'd siege when to rescue it the young Emperor Andronicus came with such power as he could raise but being for the most part unexperienced Soldiers the Turks from the Mountains as they were passing through the hot Country setting upon them a cruel battel begun but night coming on they parted by consent yet in this fight the Emperor lost near half his People and was himself wounded with an Arrow so that despairing of effecting what he came for leaving his Tents and great store of Furniture therein every man shifted for himself in the dead of Night so that next Morning what they left became a prey to the Infidels who hightened by this Success took in several Sea Towns and within a while recovered the City of Nice by Stratagem As thus the Emperor in his flight thither from his Camp had promised to send them 1000 Horse-men of which Orchanes having notice disguised 800 of his men in Grecian habit and sent them with full instructions who being come within sight of the City he sent out 300 other in Turkish habit as foragers whom the other espying as if they had been ignorant of the Matter turned upon them and after a feigned skirmish put them to flight then taking their way to the City the Citizens who from their walls had beheld what had passed joyfully opened their Gates supposing them to be the Emperors promised Aid but they no sooner entered but the other 300 Horse and several Companies of Foot who lay in Ambush were at their Heels by which means that great City was a second time taken by the Turks whose Riches became a prey to the Soldiers and whose Inhabitants became of free Persons miserable Captives The Fate of this great City followed many others in the same Tract the Turks wasting all before them as they went miserably burning up what they could not carry away so that the Countries before them were dispeopled all the Inhabitants flying from them as a ten-fold Contagion So that no considerable Forces being sent from the Emperor the Cities fell into his Hands in great abundance and above all being desirous to possess the two fair Castles of Abydos and Sestus he sent Accecozza one of his great Captains to win them if possible who by the way having Intelligence that the Captains Son of the Castle of Seamandra being dead his Funeral was such a day to be Solemnized without the Walls whereupon laying an Ambushment they upon the Mourners approach suddenly issued from their Coverts and slew several of them taking the remainder Prisoners and amongst them the Captain whom they carried to the Castle telling those that kept the Walls that if they did not deliver it he should be put to a Cruel Death before their Eyes at which nothing dismayed they returned Answer that they might Kill him Boyl him and Eat him if they pleased but as for the Castle they would not deliver it whereupon he finding it a work of great Difficulty to take by force departed to Sestus which he with little Difficulty took and had his Prisoners Ransomed for a great Mass of Mony and amongst the rest the Captain of Scamandra and now Abydos standing in Europe on the other side the Hellâ—â—â—â— was the only place Aimed at when as Fate would have the Night before the Turks came before it the Captain of the Castles Daughter dreamt that she falling 〈◊〉 miry made her Clean the which as soon as 〈◊〉 the viewed Abdurachman one of the Turkish Captains the fancied him to be the same Person she had 〈…〉 Vision and so strongly her fancy wrong 〈…〉 he lead up his Forces against the Wall 〈…〉 Power from whence she beheld what was 〈…〉 a Letter tyed to a stone at his Feeâ—◠〈…〉 presed her Passion Protesting that 〈…〉 of her Love she would on such a 〈…〉 Castle into his Hands This Letter 〈…〉 Acâ—ecozza he much doubted the 〈…〉 searing it was a design to draw them 〈…〉 upon Abdurachman's Request that he might 〈…〉 the Enterprize he Consented it being agreed that to give the besieged the less Suspicion the Army should give a general assault and then draw
off the which being done the Garrison buried in Sleep and Wine for joy of the Turks departure neglecting their Watches the Captain being Conducted by his Mistress a private way entered with about fifty Followers and putting the Warders to the Sword opened the Gates and let in the Army who the next Morning took the Garrison The Turks departed with their Prisoners and such Booty as they found The Tratyress being given to Abdurachman as a reward of his Adventurous undertaking not long after Accecozza dying Orchanes made his Sons Amurath and Solyman Lords of the Provinces he had taken from the Christians who lay'd Siege to the City of Niâ—â—media which despairing of succour surrender'd upon Condition that so many as would depart might and those that would stay there might without any hurt Either Body or Goods of which City Solyman was made Governour and thereupon he removed his Court from Prusa to Nice that he might be near his new Conquests at all times to give such necessary Orders as were Convenient and so prospered that he soon after got Possession of Taraxa Govinucia and Mndurne and raising a puissant Army he invaded the Country of Carasiana the Brothers of the deceased King being at odds about the Succession and soon over-run it forcing one of the Brothers to fly into Pergamum and the other as his Vassal to hold the Kingdom in Fee of him at the same time made his younger Son Amurath Lord of Prusa The Turkish Kingdom being thus settled in Asia Archanes consulted with his Son Solyman about getting footing in Europe which he promised to effect and upon his return to his Government sent over Ezes-Bey his chief Captain and some others to discover the Country who taking a Greek Prisoner returned and presented him to Solyman who having given him Mony and Rayment inquired of the Nature of the Country who informed them at large Whereupon repassing with a small Force they seized upon the Castle of Zembenick without doing any harm to the Garrison which was indeed but small most of them being gone out to fetch in their Harvest The News of the Turks landing in Europe soon flew to Constantinople but such was their Cowardise and Sloath together with intestine Divisions that no Care was taken to expulse them So that they daily increasing their Power by such as were sent over in Boats seized also upon the Castle of Maditas and afterward spoiled the Country of Chersonesus as far as Callipolis which City they took after having overthrown the Governour in a pitched Battle yet so infatuated were the greater part of the Greeks that they made a jest of the proceedings of the Turks who were by this time advanced 200 from the Castle of Zembenick where they first Landed Whereupon Solyman sent to his Father to acquaint him with what had passed as likewise to desire him to send him fresh supplies of Men not only to secure what he had won but to prosecute his successful beginning upon the receipe of which news Orchanes greatly rejoyced and immediately Commanded 1000 Sarazens and Turks to pass the Hellespont in Boats prepared for that purpose upon whose Arrival Solyman intercepted the Goveronour of Conger Castle who had greatly annoyed the Turks and striking off his Head before the Castle-Gate so terrified those that were within that they soon surrendred the Place from whence the Turks frequently sallying fetched in great Booties venturing even to the Walls of Didymotichum And thus in the space of one year the Turks got strong footing in Europe possessing themselves of divers Castles and Towns with the Countries about them which Solyman as a reward of their Service gave to his Captains and Soldiers as appeareth by the Monuments of Ezes-Beg and Fazel-Beg the first Two Turkish Captains that set Footing in Europe but for a while a stop was put to the Turks Progress occasioned by the Death of Solyman who hawking in the Fields of Bolyre and following too furious in taking a Ditch his Horse threw him where he received such a mortal bruise that he within a few days after died which News coming to his Father Orchanes he for grief fell sick and within two Months gave up the Ghost Anno 1359. and of his Age 80 years having Reigned 31 years This Orchanes was both warlike and Politick Courteous he was to his Friends and stern to his Enemies much devoted to the Mahometan superstition and a great Enemy to the Christians CHAP. VIII The Life and Actions of Amurath the first of that Name and third King of the Turks OChanes and Solyman his eldest Son being dead Amurath succeeded in the Kingdom as the younger Son to the deceased King who at his first Entrance upon his Government had great Contests with the Turkish Princes of the lesser Asia who Envying his aspiring as supposing in the Currant of his Victories he might as well overthrow them as the Christians but having Vanquished their Forces and brought them Terms of Agreement he turned his Arms upon Europe with a great host passing the Hellespont he seized upon the Castle of Benutum when passing on the Greeks now roused out of their security opposed him with such Forces as they could draw together but were soon overthrown After which he won the Town of Trurulus taking likewise all the Castles and small Towns adjoyning as Mesine Burgos Hebrus and soon after Didimotichum and staying there sent one of his Captains named Lala-Schakin to besiege Hadrianople now called Adrianople with whom the Christians fought a great and mortal Battle but such was their ill steered Fate that Victory declared for the Infidels So that that great City being out of all hopes of Relief opened her Gates to the Enemy Anno 1362. The City of Hadrianople being taken or as their own Histories relate taken by Treachery in time of Peace Amuratis made it the chief Seat of the Turkish Kings in Europe as a place from whence he might best annoy Christendom and then sending for his Captains he Commanded to invade the Countries of Philipopolis Zogora and Ipsala the which in a snort time they brought under Subjection The Turkish Kingdom in a small time being spread wide Cura Rustemes the Doctor of the Mahometan Law and Zinderlu Chelil the Chief Justice devised the Order or Constitution of the Janizaries which have ever since been available to Turks in all their Wars after this manner that seeing there were great multitudes of Christian Captives frequently taken the Youths above fifteen years of Age should every fifth be the Kings and if there wanted of five then he who had them shoud pay twenty five Aspers a Head and that those which appertained to the Kind should for three of four years be put to hard Labour the better to inure 'um to Hardship and then being brought to Court to serve in the Wars as the Kings Life-Guard being alway near his Person Which advice was so well approved of that it has continued acceptable to the Othoman Kings and
would have Petitioned for his Life when on the contrary without a Word speaking Cobelits drawing forth a Dagger stabbed him into the Belly for which he was presently hewn in pieces nor did Amurath long survive him but within three days after dyed of his Wound and was buryed in Prusia Anno 1390. of his Age 68 years and of his Reign 31 years To whom succeeded Bajazet his eldest Son who was no sooner Crowned but he caused his Brother Jacup to be strangled in his Presence with a Bow-string which wicked Precedent has ever since been put in Practice by the Othoman Kings and Emperors CHAP. X. The Life of Bajazet the first of that Name and Fourth King of the Turks his Wars and Captivity BAjazet a man of a Proud and haughty temper having taken upon him the Regency of his Father's Kingdoms fell heavily upon Servia not so much as vouchsafing to hear the Embassadors sent on their behalf which made the Princes of the West begin to consider their own estate and especially Vincelaus the German Emperor and Sigismond King of Hungary and not contented with the spiols of Servia he made several inroads into Bosan spoiling the Country and carrying away great booties when in the mean while the King of Caramania hearing of his Fathers death began anew to waste his Countries in Asia which caused Bajazet to send a great power who overthrew him and recovered all that was lost taking from him likewise his own Country which obliged him in humble wise to beg their restauration which Bajazet upon condition that he should from that time forward become his vassal restored About this time Philadelphia the only City the Christians had in Asia was besieged by Bajazets Power and after a straight Siege and no hopes of any succours delivered by the Citizens as a ransom for their Lives and Persons Having subdued Servia and the greatest part of Bosan he invaded Thessalia wasting it as he passed with fire and Sword even to the Walls of Thessalonica taking Neopolis in Greece and Joannia in Aetolia and afterward returning into Asia he there spent the Winter but Spring being come with all his Power he repassed the Hellespont and lay'd close Siege to Constantinople the seat of the Greek Emperor Emanuel Paleologus then Reigning who after he had been brought to great extremity went to the German Emperors Court to crave aid who together with many other Christian Princes sent an Army of 250000 under the leading of young Sigismond King of Hungary to oppose whom Bajazet raised his Siege and found them besieging Neocopolis from whence they drew into the great Plain and joyned Battle but by reason of the confusion that was in the Christian Army their Van being overcharged the Rear fled without striking a stroak so that the Turks getting the Victory with a far less number pursued so hard upon the Christians that the greater part of the Army was slain taken prisoners and drowned in passing the River Danubius After this great and unexpected Victory over the Christians occasioned by the emulation that arose amongst their great Commanders Bajazet returned to the Siege of Constantinople now out of all hope to be relieved where whilst he lay casting his eyes upon Despina the slain Despot of Servia's fair Daughter offered by her Mother his former Wife being dead he Married her and for her sake restored to her Brother Stephen all his fathers Principalities Aladin the Carramanian King being dead and his Son of the same name Reigning in his stead desirous to revenge the wrong Bajazet had done his Fathers Subjects coming to Aucyra surprised Temurtasses Bajazet's great Lievtenant but upon the approach of Bajazet with his Army he richly arraying begged his pardon and set him at liberty sending Embassadors to excuse them but Bajazet would not suffer them to come into his sight whereupon the young King gathering all the Power of his Country fought with him a great Battle but being far too weak for such an Enemy was overthrown he taken Prisoner by the Command of Bajazet delivered to Temurtases his Capital Enemy who for the disgrace he had put upon him caused him to be strangled which rash deed much grieved Bajazet the young Prince being his Sisters Son yet he seized upon the greatest part of his Kingdom though he had several Sons living and so inraged was he that he expulsed all the Mahometan Princes in Lesser Asia and seized upon their Territories whereupon they fled to Tamerlane the Great who having Married the daughter of the Cham or Emperor of Tartary and now returned from the Conquest of China he took them into his protection and being at the same time Solicited for aid by Emanuel the Greek Emperor he sent to Bajazet his Embassadors with many rich presents requesting him to cease from molesting his Allies but he in a proud manner not only rejected his presents but with many opprobrious words cast foul reproaches on him telling his Embassadors that he desired nothing more then to meet him in the field and with many taunting expressions dismissed them The report of which so throughly netled the Tartar that he resolved with a puissant Army to go against him being hightened thereto by Axalla his great favourite a Genoway by birth and friend to the Greek Emperor whose cause he daily solicited And Tamerlane who was a well-wisher to the Christians in his opinion differing little from them so well approved of all he said and having taken his leave of his Father-in-Law and his Wife with a powerful Army he passed the Mountains Marching through many Countries none daring oppose his passage till at length coming to Bachichich he mustered his Army and found it to consist of 800000 Horse and Foot of divers Nations to whom he gave general pay not having suffered the least wrong to be done in any Country through which he had passed Bajazet lying at the Siege of Constantinople and hearing the Tartar approached with a Power that covered the Countries as he passed he raised his Siege and contrary to Tamerlains Expectation but even as he wished came over with such forces as he could raise into Asia where he joyned with his Livetenant whilst the Tartars still came on having by this time passed Euphrates and taken all the Cities in their way that appertained to Bajazet and amongst the rest the great City of Sabastia once the chief Seat of the Turkish Sultan utterly rasing it putting all the Citizens to the Sword or as some Buryed them alive in deep Pits he caused to be digged for that purpose unless the Governour whom he set at Liberty to carry the News to Bajazet who was advancing 500000 Strong who upon the Governours coming into his presence demanded which was the greater Army he having seen both to which after having craved pardon he replyed that the Tartars Army must needs be the greatest by Reason he was Lord of far greater Countries whereupon Bajazet Laughing said out of doubt the sight of the
Tartars hath made this Coward so affraid that he thinketh every Enemy two The Armies being come near to each other upon the great Plains of Sennas he thought not good to joyn Battle presently by Reason the Evening approached yet many light Skirmishes happened between the Parthian Horsemen and the Forerunners of the Turkish Army but the next Morning either Hoast being set in Array after some Pause the charge was Sounded whereupon the Prince of Ciarcan Tamarlin's Kins-man with 40000 Horse charged the Turks in the Front and Piercing their Battle put the Jannizaries into disorder but venturing too far was there Slain whereupon Axalla Leading the Vaunt-Guard composed of Sciths and Parthians bore upon the left Wing of the Turks Army cutting in pieces and Bearing down all that oppos'd him at what time his Footmen coming to joyn with him he Faced the Batalion of the Jnnaizaries who behaved themselves Valiantly for the safety of their Prince who in the middle of them Fought on Foot which Fight continued Bloody and doubtful for the space of an Hour all the place being heaped with the Bodies of the Slain till at last the Tartars being overcharged gave Ground which Tamerlain from his Stand perceiving sent 10000 Horse to Reinforce them and other 10000 to Fight in the Rearward and at the same time sent his Foot-men who fell in with the Turks main Battle that remained yet unshaken with such fury that making them give way he opened them to the Rear of the Jannizaries wherein was yet the Person of Bajazet who sustained the greatest Brunt of the Fight but at last overpowered with number they were forced to give Gronnd at what time Tamerlain coming on with 50000 fresh Horse Bore down all before him till he came to the Jannizaries who always Fight in the Heart of the Army and they weary and not able to make sufficient resistance were trodden down on all sides so that the Battle Swerving the Turks betook themselves to Flight and amongst the rest Bajazet wounded as he was who afterwards fell into the Hands of Axalla together with his Son Musa The Despot of Servia and many others of note This great Victory fell to the Tartars chiefly by the revolt of a great number of Bajazet's men who were raised in the Countries of the Mahometan Princes expulsed who in the Heat of the Battle seeing their natural Lords under Tamerline's Standard went over to ' um This Fight lasted Bloody and doubtful from Seven in the Morning till four in the Evening wherein as many report 200000 on either side were Slain and amongst the rest Mustapha Bajazets Son with most of his great Commanders After this Bajazet being brought before Tamerlain and demanded why he oppressed the Christians and made War upon so Noble a Prince as was the Emperor of Greece to which he replyed Even the same thing that hath moved thee to invade me even the desire of Glory and Soveraignty and why said Tamerlain do you use such Tyranny over those you Conquer without Respect of Sex or Age That I did said he to give the greater Terror to my Enemies Ah what wouldst thou have done with me said Tamerlain if it had been thy Fortune to have had me in thy Power I would said the haughty Turk not Conquered tho overcome have put thee in a Cage of Iron and have carryed thee in Triumph about my Kingdom Even so said Tamerlain shalt thou be served and thereupon commanded him out of his presence and as he had determined shortly after Cooped him up in a Cage of Iron and carryed him into the Countries he Conquered whose Calamity may well serve as a memento to all aspiring Mortals by putting them in mind that the Worldly Glory is not perminent After this the Greek Emperor sent his Ambassedor to Tamerlain in his Name to deliver up his City and Empire but he refused saying he had Dominions sufficient of his own and after having seen the City and wondered at its fair Structures and Riches he taking leave of the Emperor he passed with his Army into Egypt to be revenged on the Sultan for assistng Bajazet against him with 30000 Mamalukes having first subdued all or the greatest part of all the Turks Dominions in Asia and intirely restored Europe to its rightful possessors and meeting with the Sultan he overthrew his Army consisting of 174000 Horse and Foot and so wining Damasco Jerusalem Damiata Cairo and most of the Cities in Egypt Syria Lybia and other Eastern Countries making all the Kings as he passed become his Tributaries he left Calibes a great Captain with the greatest part of his Army to pursue the Egyptian Sultan and secure what he had won having news that his Father in Law was sick and that his Wife was desirous of his Company he returned into his Country but ' ere his departure Bajazet as desperate and impatient of his Misfortune had beaten his Brains out against the Bars of his Cage as the mos Authentick Authors affirm tho the Turks say he was set at Liberty by Tamerlain who beforehand had caused to take Poyson of which within three Days he dyed tho their saying is very unlikely to be true but however he was Buryed in Prusa by his beloved Wife Despina Anno 1399. having Reigned seven years and kept under restraint two years CHAP. X. The Life of Mahomet the first King of the Turks and the restorer of their Kingdom ruined by the Tartars THough Historians somewhat vary about the Successor of Bajazet yet the most Credible do affirm that his Son Mahomet several of his other Brothers being slain and carried away Captive succeeded him and that the rest might be mistaken in the Name This Mahomet when his Father was taken Prisoner was but fifteen years of Age having been by him appointed his Successor for the great Hope he saw in him for the recovery of the broken and much shattered Kingdom When Mahomet entered upon Kingly Authority the Tartars possessed a great part of the before Turkish Dominion but the Remains of the scattered Army and other Aids resorting to his Standard after the departure of Tamerlain he recovered many Cities some by Force and others by Revolt from the Tartars and not long after in a great and bloody Battle overthrowing Inal Ogly Tamerlain's Lieutenant he advanced more boldly and charged Costor Ogly and Kinpeck Ogly two more of Tamerlain's great Captains whom he likewise overthrew and following his good Fortune passed into the lesser Asia of which Tamerlain having Notice sent for him with a Promise to give him one of his Daughters in Marriage to whom he intended to go but by the way being often forced to fight through the Ambushment of the Tartars he fearing it was a Design to take him Prisoner returned to his Government excusing himself to Tamerlain's Ambassador and sending one of his own Ambassadors to give the reason of his not coming upon Notice of which and that the Turks still prevailed Tamerlaine prepared for
fell and the Sickness in the Army occasioned by the intemperance of the Weather was by Mahomet accorded but it continued not long e're the Carramanian King in the absence of Mahomet a second time invaded his Countries with whom Mahomet fighting routed his Army taking him and his Son Prisoners for whose Ransoms he had delivered into his possession the principal Cities of Carramania and then returning into Europe seized upon Valachia obliging the Prince thereof to become his Vassal About this time two Persons viz. Buriluzes and Bedredin pretending themselves to be great Prophets drew great multitudes after them who spoiled the Country upon notice of which Mahomet sent forces to apprehend them who dispersing their followers hewed the former in pieces and hanged the latter upon a Sign-post and now Mahomet falling sick without any hopes of recovery assembled all his great Captains and charged them to obey his eldest son Amurath whom after his decease he appointed to succeed him in his Kingdom and lest in his absence he being then at his Government of Amass any disturbance should happen that they that were about him if he should chance to die should conceal his Death All which he at that time dying being accordingly observed for when the Janiziries and Pensioners mistrusting him to be dead and demanded to see him the Bassas attiring him in his Royal Robes like as when he was alive brought him forth into a large Gallery placing a Boy under his Gown who as he was Commanded lifted the Kings Arm and moved his head with which those that were below were well contented and by this Stratagem kept his Death Secret 41 days even till Amurath came and took the Scepter the which had they not done the 〈◊〉 and Pensioners would have spoiled the rich Citie wherein they were quartered as ever since has been observed during an Interregnum CHAP. XI The Life of Amurath the Second of that name and Sixth King of the Turks his Wars Victories and Defeats A Murath had no sooner taken possession of his Kingdom and the Death of Mahomet published but divers Princes revolted from him and invaded his Territories as the Prince of Smyrna Mentesia and others and amongst the rest an obscure fellow of Thessalonica feigning himself to be Mustapha the Eldest Son of Bajazet who was slain in the battle against Tamerlane all the Turkish Cities in Europe fell to him whereupon Amurath sent Bajazet Bassa against him with a great Army which was no sooner landed but it revolted to Mustapha leaving the Bassa alone to shift for himself whereupon the Bassa together with his Brother Hamze submitted themselves to this counterfeit Son of Bajazet but being envyed by the rest of the Captains they raised such Jealousies of his being treacherous in Mustapha that he soon after put him to death and afterward prepared for the Invasion of Amurath's Territories in Asia of which he having notice gathered all his forces to oppose him and after asking Council of a Mahometan Priest who assured him he had after two repulses at the hands of the Great Prophet obtained the favor of making him prosperous in his Wars and so coming to the North-side of the River Vlibad he found the Bridge broken down and Mustapha's great Army incamped on the other side where he so dealt with the great Captains of Mustapha's Army that many of them revolted and at length Mustapha being frighted by forged Letters importing that his Army intended to deliver him up fled by night after which his men submitted to Amurath and he in his flight being taken in Europe was hanged The Rebellion being pacified and Amurath informed that all this had happened by the contrivance of the Greek Emperor besieged Constantinople which in vain he often attempted to take by storm but whilst he lay at this siege news was brought that the King of Caramania had set up another Mustapha viz. his younger Brother Son to Mahomet to whom many Countries in the lesser Asia revolted which made Amurath raise his Siege and with all hast March to oppose him and with large gifts to have the sooner done he so corrupted Ilias Beg the young Princes Tutor that he delivered him up together with the City of Nice where he was by Amurath's command Strangled Amurath having appeased these Rebellious Tumults Lessened his Council from 5 to 2 Bassas viz. Ibrahim and Eivazes the latter of which being much envyed by those that were outed they supposing it was done by his perswasion possessed Amurath that he had a design upon his Life and after that to seize his Kingdom and for that purpose went privately armed to prove the truth of which Amurath one day clasping him in his Arms as in token of Friendship found it so indeed and therefore growing more suspitious notwithstanding his many excuses for his so doing caused his Eyes to be put out and soon after had news of the death of the King of Carramania his Mortal Enemy who having lay'd Siege to the City of Attalia in Pamphilia as he was viewing it to see where he might most conveniently make an Assault was shot into the Brest with an Arrow from a Lope-hole at which Amurath greatly rejoyced but his joy was soon allayed by other news of a fierce Invasion of his Territories made by Tzunites Prince of Smyrna but it soon blew over for the Prince being Vanquished by the Vice-Roy of Anatolia was together with his Son taken Prisoner and contrary to Faith plighted Slain after this Amurath Marryed the Daughter of Prince Isflendiar and then on a suddain in revenge of the pretended wrongs done him by the Greeks besieged and took Thessalonica and dispoiled it of all its Riches leading away the Inhabitants into miserable Captivity At this time amongst other distressed Princes John Castriot Prince of Epirus perceiving the Turks ready to invade him and being no ways Capable to withstand so powerful an Army resolved to avoid the Miseries of War by a timely accord with the Turkish Tyrant promising to become his Tributary and for confirmation thereof as Hostages delivered his 4 Sons viz. George Stanisius Reposuis and Constantine Amurath promising well and honourably to intreat them but as soon as they were within his power he caused them to be Circumcised and brought up in the Superstition of the Mahumetan Religion and after the Death of their Father seized upon his Kingdom and Poysoned all but George whom he Named Scanderbeg who afterwards became the Mawl and terror of the Turks as will in the Sequel appear Amurath being busie in Europe the Carramanian King and the other Mahumetan Princes invaded his Dominions in Asia which caused him to pass over to repress that dangerous Enemy which done he returned into Europe and with Fire and Sword fell upon Hungary and turning thence upon the Prince of Servia's refusing to come to his Court seized Servia tho he had Sworn to the contrary The Hungarians being at Variance amongst themselves and likewise at Wars with the
King of Poland upon the breaking off of the Match between their Queen and the King of Poland Amurath resolved upon the Conquest of that Kingdom invaded Hungary laying close Siege to Belgrade often in vain assaulting it and now the Queen of Hungary being Dead leaving Ladislans a Child in the Cradle to succeed her who not able to take any Measures about opposing the Turk and the Kingdom in likely hood to be overrun the Nobility concluded to Elect Vldislaus King of Poland a man of great Fame and no less courage their King which done Ambassadors were sent to Amurath still lying at the Siege of Belgrade but they were nothing more able to prevail as to his raising the Siege nor procuring a peace till such time as in divers assaults half his Army were lost overwhelmed with Wild-Fire and strangled in the mines nor then tho he raised the Siege would his haughty mind condescend to a Peace in his return hegreatly troubled the Countries of Servia and Bosan causing the Princes in lien of saving them from the Spoil to pay a yearly tribute of 25000 Ducats Vldislaus being setled in his new Kingdom and having frequently intelligence of the incursions of the Turks into Transylvania the better to resist them on that side Created John Hunides Vayvod or his Vicegerent in that Country who putting all things in order gathered such an Army as he might and upon news that Isa the great Bassa and one of Amuraths most Renowned Captains was returned with a great power and spoiled the Country he went against him incouraging his Soldiers to Fight Couragiously for their Lives Country Wives and Children and then setting upon the proud Bassa after a hard foughten Battle put him to Flight with the loss of 20000 of his men This Victory nothing daunted Amurath but pushed him forward more eagerly to revenge the disgrace whereupon early in the Spring he sent Melites Bassa his Viceroy in Asia with a great Army who spoiling the Country took a great Booty and many Prisoners but in his return being pursued by Huniades he overthrew him Slew the Bassa his Son By that means recovering all the Prisoners and Riches together with the Turkish Camp and many Turkish Prisoners of note which caused the Hungarians and Transilvanians greatly to rejoyce part of the Spoiles with the Head of the Bassa and his Son he sent to King Vldislaus the other part he converted to religious uses and what remained freely bestowed it amongst his Soldiers not reserving any part to himself Upon Bruit of this Victory and the Fame of the Valiant Huniades Moldavia and Valachia before Tributary to the Turks revolted which so inraged Amurath that he sent yet another great Army to reduce them to their former obedience which with great pride under the leading of Schech Abedin Bassa consisting of 80000 Fighting men amongst which were a great number of Janizaries came on wasting the Country with Fire and Sword as they passed to oppose which the great Huniades marched with 15000 Hungarians and Transilvanians and finding them still Plundering near Vascape bid them Battle where after both Armies were put in order and both Generals by moving-Oration had incited their Souldiers to Fight to the utmost Extremity a dreadful Fight began where after six Hours dealing Death on every side the Turkish Army broken and disordered by the Christians were put to Flight with the loss of 30000 Horse and Foot And their rich Camp which became an acceptable Prey to the Souldiers The many Victories gained by Humiades over the Turks made Amurath more inclinable to peace then before yet in his pride he demanded in consideration thereof the delivery of Bellgrade and many other places in Servia upon which King Vldislaus called an Assembly of the Estates of his Kingdom where after many had given their opinions it was resolved that the Pious War should be carryed on with all Vigor Imgainable and that the Christians following their good Fortune should invade the Turkish Countries whereupon a great Army was raised and passing the Danubius lead by the King and Humiades they wasted all the Kingdom of Bulgaria and having intelligence that the Turks were with a great Army coming down against them Humiades drawing out 10000 of the most expert Horsemen having notice where they lay incamped in the Night Broke in amongst them and put 'um almost all the Sword returning the next Day with great Spoil where the King lay incamped where he was received with great Joy This easie Victory wherein there fell 30000 Turks and not past 300 of the Christians so lightned the Souldiers that they desired nothing more then to be lead forward but coming to the great Mountain Hemus and finding all the passages stopped and being greatly afflicted with Hungar and Cold their Courages began to abate and they to conceive a desire of returning home the which whilst they were about to do the Turks under the leading of Caramby Bassa Amuraths Brother in Law came down from the Mountains and fell furiously upon the Rear of the Army commanded by Humiades and the Despot of Servia the King with the Van being a Days march before but after a sharp Incounter were overthrown and the Great Bassaw taken by a common Souldier who being demanded of Humiades what he would have for his Prisoner he asked only 10 Ducats yet Humiades ordered him 400 and the same Night sold him again to the Despot for 40000 Ducats In this Battle but as some say in that Fought near Moravia the famous Scanderbeg found means to fly the Turkish Servitude and leading Amurath's Secretary with him commanded him in the Name of Amurath to Write to the Governour of Croia to deliver him the City that being the Metropolis of Epirus the which when he had done he slew him and as many Turks as were with him to prevent its coming to the knowledge of Amurath before he had accomplished his design And thereupon with several of his trusty Friends Posting away had the City as he wished for put into his possession whither he sent for Prince Amaza his Kinsman and many other of his acquaintance informing them what he intended viz. that he resolved to recover his Rightful inheritance and deliver his Subjects from the Tyranny of the Turks which made them not a little rejoyce and greatly incourage him to proceed in so honourable an undertaking Things being at this pass and the design known great was the resort of the Epirots to their Lawful Prince who for the delivery of his Country from Servitude had set up his Standard Such Cities as conveniently could daily revolting to him as Petrella Petra Alba and Stelusa other he reduced by force and having possession of the greatest part of Epirus he raised what forces he could and the more to provoke the Turk passed into Macedonia spoiling the Country before him and putting the Turks to the Sword Amurath hearing this unexpected news sent 40000 select Souldiers under the leading of Alis
Bassa of whose coming Scanderbeg having notice retired into Epirus and putting all things in order raised what forces he could to oppose the Turks comforting his People in the best wise who upon the Bassa's approach were filled with fear and then marching against him set upon him as he was wasting his Country of Vpper Dibra and overthrew him with the Slaughter of 22000 of his men with the loss of Scarce 300 of his own the news of which raised such dispair in Amurath that he was glad to accord a peace with the Hungarian King by renouncing his claim to Moldavia Transilvania and Bulgaria and then turning his Arms against the Carramanian King his Brother-in Law seized upon the greatest part of his Country but upon his Submission and giving in Hostage his Eldest Son for the performance of paying double tribute he restored him again to his former dignity and then as a man weary of the World sent for his Youngest Son Mahomet his Eldest Son Aladine being killed at the Siege of Iconium by a fall from his Horse and appointing Caly Bassa his Tutor and Chosore a learned Doctor of the Law his Counsellors he resigned to him the Kingdom being as yet but 15 Years of Age and retiring into Asia entered into a Cloister of Turkish Monks there intending to spend the remainder of his Days But he had no sooner resigned his Government ' ere Vldislaus King of Hungary perswaded thereto by Julian the Popes Legate who absolved him of his Oath broke the 10 Years League made with the Turks But God let not so heinous an Offence against his divine Majesty pass long unrevenged For Amurath roused with this unexpected news leaving his Cloister passed over into Europe with an Army of 100000 Turks and advancing with all speed against the Christians who had â—uâ—dued most of his Countries in Europe near the City of Varna both Armies meeting a cruel Fight began with an infinite Slaughter of the Turks whom Huniades and the King charged with such fury that all the Fields lay covered with the Slain which Amurath perceiving and finding his Battle to Swerve and his men at the point to Fly pull'd the Writing containing the League he had made with Vldislaus out of his Bosom and holding it up with his Eyes lifted towards Heaven with a loud Voice said Behold thou Crucified Christ this is the League they Christians in thy name made with me which they have without any cause Violated now if thou be a God as they say thou art and we deem revenge the wrong now done unto they name and shew thy power upon thy perjured People who in their deeds deny thee their God Upon this Speech of Amurath's the Christians who before were well nigh Conquerers began to give Ground which the Hungarian King perceiving charging into the Thickest of the Turkish Army in hopes to restore the Battle was there Slain which so discouraged the Hungarians that Huniades not being able to stay their Flight giving place to necessity and reserving himself for better fortune fled with them and left the Turks the Victory but so dearly bought that only thinking the Christians had retired to their Camp they durst not venture upon it for two Days space till by the profound silence they perceived it was abandoned In this Fight most of the Hungarian Nobility were slain and amongst the rest Julian the Popes Legate the Author of the perjurous Expedition who being wounded and slying out of the Battle fainted for loss of Blood dyed in a Ditch And thus we may see how just the Almighty is in punishing those that dishonour him and little Availes the Popes dispensation This great and mortal Battle in which perished on both sides 60000 men was Fought Anno 1444 after which Amurath glad of the Victory tho much dismayed with his great loss returned to Adrianople and again resigned his Kingdom to his Son but soon after being weary of the Melancholy Life he again assumed his kingly Dignity At this great Battle of Varna Scanderbeg should have been present being on his way with 30000 Horse and Foot in order to have joyned King Vladislaus But God prevented his ingaging in so bad a Quarrel by permitting both Armies to ingage ' ere he could arrive of which intention of Scanderbeg's Amurath having notice sent sharply to reprove him of Ingratitude to which the Valiant Prince as sharply reply'd upbraiding the Turk with the Poysoning his Brothers seizing upon his Kingdom and often determining to take his Life whilst he remain'd in his Court which so throughly netled the old Turk that he raised great forces to invade Epirus sending of Ferises and Mustapha his chief Bassas with promise of great reward if they could take Scanderbeg and subdue the Country but on the contrary they were both overthrown by the Invincible Prince and forced to return with great dishonour yet the Prince of Peloponnesus had not the like good Fortune but for the preservation of his Country was obliged to become tributary to the Turk Vladislaus being Slain as aforesaid Humiades was made Governour by the general cousent of the Hungarian Nobility during the Minority of the Young King Son to the deceased Queen who having setled the necessary Affairs of the Kingdom with great discretion and finding the Turks since the late dreaful overthrow at Varna greatly to have incroached upon the Hungarian Territories he raised a great power and marched against them when in the Territories of his Country near the River Schichniza meeting Amurath with a vast Army he couragiously charged upon his formost Battle so that within a while new Succors being sent the whole Armies were ingaged which Battle without any other pausing then what Night obliged them to Fought for the space of 3 Days at the end of which the Christians being rather overpowred by number then true valour having done all that men were capable of doing Fled disorderly and were Slain in great abundance Humiades himself Flying after having Incountered and overcome two sturdy Thieves who set upon him to Rob him was taken Prisoner by the ungrateful Despot of Servia whose Country he had a little before rescued out of the Hands of the Turks And forced to deliver up several strong Towns which the Despot pretended belonged to his Territories for his Ransom In this Battle were Slain of the Turks 40000 and of the Christians 17000. The Year following Amurath invaded the Despot's for not delivering into his power Humiades his Capital Enemy whereupon he was constrained to send his humble Supplication to Humiades whom he not long before had so evil intreated for aid who notwithstanding leavyed a great Army and passing through Servia where tho false Despot to curry Favour with Amurath taking an account of his Army secretly sent the Turk notice what number the Christians were and what they intended yet this great Captain marched on to the Plains of Cassova famous for the many Battles there Fought between the Turks and the Christians
Amurath through Grief and despair Dyed in his Tent Anno 1450 in the 85 Year of his Age and of his Reign the 28 or as some say the thirtieth leaving Mahomet his Son to succeed him in his troublesome Kingdom charging him to revenge his Death upon Scanderbeg and so having his Corps conveyed to Prusa he was there interred by his Ancestors CHAP. XII The Life of Mahomet the second of that Name seventh King and the first that took upon him the Style of Emperor of the Turks who for his many Victories was surnamed Great A Murath being dead Mahomet the second began his Reign over the Turkish Kingdom Anno 1450. Being of a firey Cruel Nature given to many Debauches not acknowledging any Deity but ascribing all things to Fortune and Chance who e'r he was well settled caused his two Brethren the one an Infant and the other not above twelve years of Age to be put to Death after which he fell to altering the Constitution of the Government by abrogating the Old Laws and Establishing new ones more suitable to his Humour So that he began to be exceedingly hated by his Subjects when to prevent any disorder that might happen by the Soldiers lying Idle he hearing that Ibrahim King of Carramania was entered his Territories in the lesser Asia passed thither upon whose Arrival the King unable to oppose him fled into the Mountains and from thence sent his Ambassadors to treat with him who offered such Submission in the behalf of their Masters as Mahomet was well Content to accept and so returned to his City of Prusa sending Isaac Bassa against Elias Prince of Mentesia or Caria who altogether deprived the said Prince of his Country annexing it to the Turkish Empire for so henceforth I must call it Mahomet being proud of his Petty Conquests without any Colour or Reason only being driven Headlong by Ambition he resolved to make War upon the Greek Emperor and to have the sooner done marched to the Walls of Constantinople with a great Power laying Siege to that Imperial City which had once been Mistress of the World which he reduced to such Extremity that the Citizens for meer Hunger left no filthy thing uneaten and at last Eat one another and perceiving none intended to relieve them they inforced by invincible necessity yielded the fairest City of the World to the Will of the Tyrant having made all the defence that from true Valour could be expected The proud Conqueror entering the City amidst his Cups caused all the Grecian Nobility the chief Citizens and Nobles of other Nations to be slain in his Presence Constantinus Paleologus the Emperor being before slain and Trampled underfoot in the Press as he was indeavouring to escape the Imperial City this taken after a years Siege Pera a City of the Greeks opposite to it surrendred yet were the Citizens used with all manner of Despite And now removing the Imperial Seat from Hadrianople to Constantinople where it has ever since remain'd he repaired the Walls and such Buildings as had been demolished by the Fury of the Cannon Amongst the Captives taken in the City one of his Commanders presented unto him one of the most beautiful Ladies that Nature ever formed named Irene being nobly descended and for Education not to be paralell'd upon this incomparable Beauty Mahomet so doted that he spent whole Days and Nights with her never thinking his time well spent but in her Company So that his warlike Affairs were altogether neglected which caused his Captains to murmur against him though they durst not freely speak their Minds which Mustapha Bassa one that had been bred up with him observing presuming upon the Interest he had in him took upon him boldly to declare his Mind laying before him the glorious Atchievments of his Ancestors and the disgrace and obloquie he incurred by devoting himself to amorous Delights whilst the Affairs of his Empire were neglected At this free Speech of the Bassas Mahomet was wonderfully offended telling him he was worthy of Death for his unseasonable Presumption but notwithstanding he would pardon him for the good Opinion he had of his Fidelity Commanding him the next Morning to assemble all his Captains and chief Councellors the next Morning to attend his Pleasure in his Pallace which being accordingly done he came out of his Chamber leading the fair Greek in most splendid Attire which adding Luster to her rare Perfections made her appear more like an Angel then a Mortal and sternly demanding of them Whether if any of them had such an inestimable Treasure they would not be thrice advised e'r they parted with it To which they all answered that he had with greater reason passed his time with her then any man had to find sault therewith To which the barbarous Tyrant replyed well but now I Will make you to understand how far you have been deceived in me and that there is no earthly thing that can so much blind my Senses or bereave me of my Reason as not to see or understand what beseemeth my high Calling yea I would you should all know that the Honour and Conquest of the Othoman Kings my noble Progenitors is so fixed in my breast with such a Desire in my self to exceed the same as nothing but Death is able to put out of my Remembrance and having so said he presently with one of his Hands catching the fair Greek by the Hair and with the other drawing his Scimiter smote off her Head she vainly Crying out for Mercy and then taking the bloody Head in his Hand turning to his Captains said now by this Judge ye whether your Emperor is able to Bridle his Affections or not and immediately to put this cruel Act out of his Mind gave order for his Army to march to the Invasion of Peloponnesus which he soon brought into Subjection taking most of the principal Cities and putting the Inhabitants to the Sword but upon the Submission of Demetrius the Prince thereof he restored him upon Condition of his becoming Tributary to the Turkish Empire and afterwards being inamoured of his fair Daughter took her to Wife and soon after hearing of the Death of George Despot of Servia he seized upon his Country and so passing on with his Army besieged Belgrade both by Land and Water as having a great Fleet upon the River Danubius on whose Bank that City is seated which Fleet being incountered by several Ships of War sent by Humaides for that purpose were soon destroyed which so inraged the Turk that immediately giving order for the assaulting the City his men were beaten off with the loss of 4000 men and amongst the rest Curaizis Bassa his Lieutenant in Europe who making his approach was slain with a great Shot and so well did the Valiant Humiades defend that City that after many unsuccessful assaults Mahomet was forced to raise his Siege and departed with 40000 less then he brought The great Humiades having thus long stood a Bulwark to
Christendom now worn out with the toyls of War fell sick and although his Disease was grievous yet desirous to receive the blessed Sacrament he would be carried to the Church saying it was not fit that the Lord should come to the House of his Servant But that rather the Servant should go to the House of his Lord and after his being brought home his Sickness Increasing he gave up the Ghost to the Grief of all the Christian Princes and was buried in the Church of St. Stephen in Alba Julia. Mahomet hearing of the Death of this great Captain who opposed the Torrent of his Victories greatly rejoyced and now resolving to extend his Dominions as well by Sea as Land Equipped a great many in the Port of Constantinople with which he invaded the Islands in the Egean Sea reducing several of them to his obedience and Landing his Army straightly besieged the famous City of Rhodes but Calixtus the third then Bishop of Rome being greatly displeased for the loss of Pera a City belonging to his See aided by the Genoways sent out a great Fleet under the Conduct of Lodonicius Patriarch of Aquilla fought with the Turks Gally sunk and burnt most of them And by that means recovered the Islands they had taken which so inraged Mahomet that he prepared an other Fleet against the Spring the which whilst he was doing Ambassadors came from Vsun Cassanus King of Persia with many rich Presents desiring that he would enter into League with the mighty Prince his Master and remit the Tribute payed him by the King of Trepezond that Kingdom as he said after the Death of the then Reigning King revolving to his Master in right of his Wife Daughter to the said King which Peremptory demand so inraged Mahomet that he not only refused his Presents but dismissed his Ambassador with this Answer That he would himself e'r long be in Asia to teach Vsun Cassanes what to request of one greater then himself and thereupon Commanded the Fleet he had prepared for the Invasion of the Isles in the Egeum incontinently to sail to Sinope the chief City of Paphlagonia and to expect his coming thither with his Army by Land which City and Country being under the Persian King he resolved to besiege it on no other Account then to raise a ground of Quarrel which City being but slenderly fortified and not able to indure the Force of the Ordnance it was delivered by Ismaele the Prince of Paphlagonia into his Hands who putting a Garrison therein proceeded to the Siege of Trepezond which he had in like manner yielded to him who sent the Emperor together with his Empress Sons and Daughters Prisoners to Constantinople dispeopling the City and thrusting thereinto a Garrison of his Janizaries by that means bringing the whole Country into Subjection and for ever ruining that Christian Empire And now hearing that Waldus Dracula Prince of Valachia his Tributary went about to joyn with the Hungarians his mortal Enemies he sought by all means to get him into his Power to effect which he sent Chamuzes Bassa and his Secretary accompanied with several others to invite him to Court but the Prince understanding the Design upon his Life hanged the Bassa and Secretary and impailed the rest alive and then invaded his Country with Fire and Sword which so inraged Mahomet that he in Person with a great Army invaded Valachia ruining all with Fire and Sword till at length driving the Prince out of his Country he gave it to his younger Brother who in lieu thereof became his Tributary and upon his return invaded the Islands in the Egeum as he had before purposed and Landing on the Isle of Mittylene took the strong City from whence the Island take its name after twenty seven years Battery with the great Ordnance and then for non-payment of Tribute invaded the Kingdom of Bassan which subdued he by that means incompassed Epirus he having all this while according to his Directions of the Father by one or other of his Bassas maintained War against Scanderbeg but with such bad success that he thought more then Convenient to make Peace with him but such were his Proposals that Scanderbeg with scorn rejected 'um whereupon Mahomet sent Amasa Bassa with 12000 Horsemen to wast Epirus but Scanderbeg incountering with 6000 put his Army to flight and took him Prisoner and worse faired Debreus Bassa who soon after was sent with 14000 Horsemen for ingageing with Scanderbeg's Forces his Army was overthrown and himself slain Mahomet grieved his Affairs prospered no better and finding that by force he could not prevail against Scanderbeg he dealt underhand by giving great Rewards to his Captains thinking if he could cause them to revolt Scanderbeg would easily be subdued and so effectually he wroght with Moses his chief Captain and a great Soldier that in hopes of the Kingdom of Epirus promised by Mahomet when Scanderbeg should be subdued and a great mass of Money he found means to escape to Constantinople and after him Amasa another of Scanderbeg's Captains who were sent by Mahomet with great Power to invade Epirus but being overthrown by the invinsible Prince they received such cold Comfort at their return that fearing their Lives which indeed the Turk had a design to bereive them off Moses fled and humbling himself at the Feet of his Compassionate Prince he notwithstanding his Treachery received him again into his Service who afterward served him faithfully in his Wars but Amaze being overthrown in his expedition with Isaac Bassa with the loss of 20000 Turks upon his return was by the Command of Mahomet as most Conjectured poisoned after which Scanderbeg concluded a Peace with the Turks for a year and was afterwad continued for a longer time during which great War happened between the Turks about the seizing the Islands in the Egeum and thereby hindering the Traffick in the Mediteranian to the great impoverishing their Signiory Wherefore entering into a Confideracy with the Princes they Arme both by Sea and Land into which League they with many perswasions drew Scanderbeg notwithstanding his League made with Mahomet was not expired The Princes thus Confedrated raising great Forces when in the mean time Mahomet sent Scremet Bassa against Scanderbeg to keep him from joyning with the Venetians whose Duke Christopher Maurus was coming to him with ten Gallies appointed with which Bassa Scanderbeg fought and put him to flight with the loss of ten Thousand of his Men taking the Treasurer of the Army and six others of Account Prisoners who were speedily Ransomed at 40000 Duccats and greater things had been done had not the Duke of Venice dyed of a Fever upon whose Death his Army returned home Victor Capella the next year with the Venetian Fleet seized Athens Aulis Chalchis Larsum and the Isle of Himber But attempting to recover Patras was overthrown Hungary being destitute of such a King as might defend them against the Power of the Turks elected Matthias Corroinus
the youngest Son of John Huniades their great Captain deceased who not much inferiour to his Father in valour and success in Arms gave the Infidels many a fatal overthrow with the Loss of many of their Armies and gave great hopes to the Christians that he would as indeed he did prove a Bulwark to Christendom Whilst things thus passed Mahomet desirous to revenge himself of Scanderbeg fent Ballabanus with a great Army to invaide his Territories whom Scanderbeg charging furiously overthrew him but Moses and others of his Captains contrary to the command of their General in the heat of fight following their Enemies into the straights of the Mountains where fallen into an Ambush for that purpose layed they were taken Prisoners and carryed to Constantinople by those they had before Vanquished wherewith Sanderbeg sent to desire that he might Ransom them but the crafty Tyrant knowing how much he was weakned by such a loss caused them Cruelly to be flain alive and soon after sent Jacup Bassa with a great Army with whom the renowned Prince ingaging slew him hand to hand and put to the Sword a great part of his Army upon news of which Mahomet mad with Anger raised an Army of 200000 men thinking to overrun the Country but in vain for having a long time layn Siege to Croia and there by the furious Sallies of the Garrison and onsets of Scanderbeg lost near half his men together with Ballabanus his General he with great shame and confusion returned to Constantinople But as all things must yield to Fate so our invincible Champion whom no mortal hand could subdue wearyed with the Toils of a tedious War coming to Lyssa a City of the Venetians fell Sick and calling the Venetian Embassador to him he discovered to him what a troublesome Life he had lived and by what means the War was to be maintained recommending to him the care of his Wife and Children appointing the Venetians the Guardians of his Son till such time he came of Age and in the mean while to secure for him the Kingdom of Epirus admonishing him to be faithful and as much as in him lay to maintain peace and unity Then calling his Wife and Son told them that he must leave the World and exchange this Life for one more durable and willed her that after his death she should pass over into Apulia and there to live upon the inheritance given him by King Ferdinand and then after some devout Prayers gave up the Ghost Anno. 1466. in the 63 year of his Age and 24 of his Reign to the great grief of the Christian Princes and joy of the Turks whose Armys his very name had frequently put to flight After his death he was with great Solemnity buryed in the Cathedral Church at Lyssa where he rested till about 9 years after at what time the Turks taking the City dug up his Bones and happy was he that could get the smallest piece which they wore about them ever after as inestimable Jewels superstitiously imagining that whilst they had them about u'm Scanderbeg's fortune would attend u'm and that they should be invincible Not long after the Death of this renowned Soldier the Hungarians under the leading of their young King seized upon the Kingdom of Bosna and soon rent it from the Turkish Empire demolishing the Castles and driving away the Garrisons placed there by Mahomet at what time the Venetians being abroad with a great fleet of Gallies took divers Cities from the Turks burnt many Villages and carryed away 2000 Captives into the Country of Euboea now called Nigroponte which so inraged Mahomet that he prepared a great Army to invade that Country and recover the spoil in order to effect which he sent Mahomet Bassa with a fleet of 300 Gallies whilst himself with a great Army Marched overland with which the Venetian Admiral not daring to ingage it arrived safe where the Turks landing took Stora Basasilicon and Marching to Chalcis joyned with the Emperors Army who with small Vessels and other Materials made a Bridge over the straight or narrow Sea which divides Euboea from Achaia straightly besieging it both by Sea and Land and with his Cannon for 4 days battered the City incessantly being given to understand by the chief Cannoneer of the 〈◊〉 whom he had bribed which was the weakest part insomuch that in the end several large 〈…〉 made yet was the City so manfully 〈…〉 the Turks could not enter and every day 〈…〉 Turks forced to make a new Battery for such part of the Wall as was in the Day time beaten down which the Citizens in the Night repaired and at length coming to understand the Tretchery of their Gunner hanged him up as a reward of his Tretchery Mahomet perceiving the valor of the defendants resolved after his having rent the Wall with his Cannon in divers places and thirty Days besieged the City to give a general assault with all his power at what time the Venetian Admiral came in sight of the City with his Fleet but would not tho his Captains urged either Fight with Turkish Gallies or endeavour to break the Bridge the which had he done he had shut up Mahomet and all his forces in the Island where through Famine and other necessities he might have greatly distressed him This Cowardice of the Admiral for which he and all his Family was afterwards Banished by the Signory of Venice being perceived by the Turks they gave a furious assault on all parts and were so stoutly repulsed that they with their dead filled up the Trenches and Breaches but their number still increasing and continuing the assault a whole day and a night without intermission the Citizens at last being 3 parts of them Slain and wounded the remaining part retired to the Market and there upon the Turks entering Fought it out to the last man selling their Lives at a dear rate amongst whom many Women disguised in men's apparel Fighting couragiously were Slain The City being thus gained at the price of 40000 Turks Lives the Barbarous Tyrant commanded all that were found therein to be put to the Sword which Paulus Ericus the Governour understanding with his Wise Daughter and trusty Friends betook himself to the Castle who capitulated that upon the surrender of the Castle himself and his Friends should have their Lives and Liberties Granted them which the Tyrant solemnly Swore to but having gotten them in his power made at the great loss he had sustained in winning the City he caused the Governour and all but his Daughter to be presently Slain reserving the young Lady as the only Mirror of Beauty to satiate his lust but she disdaining the Tyrants promises and reviling him for his wicked purposes rather desiring Death then to lose her Chastity by becoming his prostitute he caused her even in his presence to be cruelly put to Death and then proceeded to subdue the other Cities of the Island who terrified with the fate of Chalcis surrendered
of War into the Turks Dominions and so with a great Army he Commanded Vsbeg to pass into Cilicia where not far from Tarsus he found the Turks incamped under the command of Chersogles Vice-Roy of Greece a most Valiant Captain whereupon a mortal Battle begun and many thousands Slain for the Sultans Army consisting mostly of Mamalukes such an obstinate Fight was fiercly maintained between them and the Turkish Jannizaries that Victory stood doubtful for the space of 2 days at the end of which the Turkish General having lost 60000 of his men in the Night left his Camp and fled nor was the loss in the Sultans Army much inferiour but the Turks loss still proved greater for Flying through Aladules Country that King had so beset the way that most of the remaining part were Slain and the General taken prisoner nor fared Bajazet's Fleet at Sea better for Anchoring in the mouth of Orentes within sight of Antioch it was by a Tempest beaten to pieces all which losses coming one upon the Neck of another caused Bajazet to send his Ambassadors to the Sultan to require peace which was accorded to and all the Prisoners set at liberty when shortly after the Sultan who of a Circassian Slave by the favour of the Mamaluke's his Fellows become a mighty Monarch dyed Peace being concluded in Asia the Christian Princes stirred up thereto by Pope Alexander the Sixth that Firebrand of discord all Christendom was in a Flame at what time Charles the French King seized upon the Kingdom of Naples taken from his Father by Ferdinand the first whereupon the Pope and Alphonsus the exiled King of Naples solicited Bajazet to send them 6000 Horse and as many Foot for the recovery of the same laying before him like special Christians what danger the Mahometan Religion would be in if the French prevailed the Pope promising him also to Poyson Zemes his Brother if he would pay him well for so doing these Admonitions and large overtures so prevailed with the Infidel that he had great store of treasure but as it was designed for evil purposes it prospered accordingly for the Vessell in the Adriatick Sea being boarded by John Roverius a Venetian he seized the cash before it came to the Popes fingering yet his Holyness loath to break his Word nevertheless contrary to his Oath made to the Ambassadors from the great Master of Rhodes Poisoned Zemes by putting Poison amongst the Sugar which he was wont to mix with his Water to the great Scandal of the Christian Religion and reproach of St. Peter's pretended Successors nor was God slow in revenging the dishonor done to his name for Alexander having a Bastard Son named Caesar Borgia a Profligate Wretch who after many Outrages and Murthers committed being about to Poison several of the Cardinals at a Supper in the Vattican by a lucky mistake of the waiter in taking up the wrong flaggon poisoned his Father who notwithstanding his infallibility was not Poison proof nor did this ungracious Son long escape for fighting under the standard of the King of Navar he was slain with a hargubus shot Notwithstanding the death of Pope Alexander yet he left Christendom in such a blaze that the flame of discord was not in a long while after quenched for whilst the Emperor of Germany and Princes of Italy were Bandising against the French King and shedding Christian Blood the Turks invaded Podolia and Rassia spoiling the Country and sacking several walled Towns but by reason of the Excessiveness of the Winter through Hunger and Cold most of the Army Perished yet not dismayed by the Loss sustained he the next year sent Cadumes Bassa into Illyria who spoiling the Country was incountred by 9000 Croats and Hungarians near the River Morava under the leading of Count Bernard Francopain where after a cruel and Bloody fight the Christians were put to the worst and 7000 of them slain and drowned in passing the River the noses of which being cut off and hung upon strings were sent to Bajazet as a Barbarous present Charles the French King being dead Lewis the 12 Succeeded him in the Kingdom of France who laying claim to the Dukedom of Millain made a league with the Venetians whereupon Sfortia the Duke in possession sent to crave aid of Bajazet laying before him the danger his Empire was in daily to be invaded if the French grew strong in Italy preferring Ambition and revenge before the advancement of the Christian Religion Bajazet by this means stirred up resolved to render the Venetians unserviceable to the French by keeping them busie nearer home whereupon he commanded Scander Bassa his Lievetenant in Illyria to break in upon the Fruitful Country of Friuli part of the Venetians Territories on the borders of Italy the which he did with 12000 Horse destroying all before him as far as Liquentia driving before him a great number of Captives the which when he came to the Banks of Tiliaventum and understanding that the French and Venetians had driven the Duke of Millan out of his Territories he barbarously caused to be put to the Sword After the Seisure of Millan the Venetians set out a great Fleet under the charge of Anthony Grimani who set upon the Turks Fleet far Superior in number as it was coming out of the Bay or Haven of Sapientia in the Island of Sphraga but through the Cowardice of the Admiral in not permitting half his Fleet to come up those that were ingaged retired after a sharp dispute and the Turks kept their course to Naupactum now called Lepanto where they found Bajazet already arrived with his Land Army so that after a few days Siege the Citizens dispairing of Succour Surrendred the City wherefore the Venetian Admiral upon his return was Banished by a decree of the Senate to one of the Absytidies Islands upon the Coast of Liburnia Bajazet by this means having got firm footing in the Venetian Territories the year following viz. 1500 entered the straights of Corinth with an Army of 150000 and passing through Peloponnesus lay'd Siege to the strong City of Menthon now called Modon and took it by surprize putting all the Inhabitants to the Sword upon which several other Cities belonging to the Venetians yielded by composition but after the taking of many Cities on either side with great Blood-shed both by Sea and Land A peace between Bajazet and the Senate of Venice was treated and finally accorded upon consideration first that the Venetians should deliver up the Islands of Neritos and Lucadia the which during these Wars they had taken from the Turks reserving to themselves only the Island of Cephalenia And that in consideration thereof Bajazet should restore all such goods as had been taken from the Venetian Merchants in the late Wars and that it should be lawful for them as they were wonted safely to trade and traffique into the Euxine Sea and to Constantinople and there to have their Conful or Governour as they had in former time and lastly
that the Venetian Territories should be certainly known and seperated from the Turks by certain Bounds or Limits These conditions were Solemnly concluded on and confirmed both by Bajazet and the Senate of Venice and so affirmed Peace concluded in Anno 1503 after the Wars had continued between them for the space of 5 years Peace concluded with the Venetians Bajazet raised a great Army intending to invade Hungary but having been often foiled by that warlike Nation he changed his mind and Marched to suppress the insurrection in Albania a part of his Territory which done as he was returning a Derviller which is a Phantastical kind of a beggarly Turkish Monk using no other apparel but two Sheep Skins the one hanging before and the other behind who coming up to him as if he would have asked an Almes with a short Cimiter strock at him and beat him from his Horse and being about to redouble his blow had certainly dispatched him had not Ishender Bassa come in and with his Horsemans Mace struck the Varlet dead who afterwards by the Soldiers was hewn in pieces this treacherous and desperate act so moved Bajazet that he proscribed all them of that Superstitious order and banished them out of his Empire Bajazet after the incessant toiles of War resolving to repose himself committed the Management of his great Affairs to his 3 Bassa's viz. Alis Achmetes Kinsman to him that was slain and Jachia who having got the Reins of Empire in their hands for the space of 5 years suffered things to run into such disorder by regarding their private profit more then the publick good that a great part of the Lesser Asia was in an uproar by the means of Chasan Chelife and Schach Culi or Techellis two Persian Imposters who set the Multitude a madding by spreading a new fangled Doctrine more wicked then that of Mahomet their pretended Prophet To quench this Flame that began dreadfully to blaze into a Rebellion Bajazet was forced to rouse from his Lair yet the Doctrine could not nor is it to this day extirprated for being persecuted by Bajazet they fled into Persia and there pretending themselves to be the true Successor of Mahomet the Imposter and that none but they knew his Will and that those that believed not in their Doctrine should never Injoy any happiness after this Life with a deal of such ridiculous Cant they so besotted Asymbeiuâ—Vsun Cassanes the Persian King that he had to the first Author of this Doctrine viz. one Haider who was Master of these Disciples given his Daughter Martha in Marriage but he dying and his Son Jacup succeeding him in the Kingdom began to have his Brother-in-Law in suspition by reason of the multitude that followed him upon the account of his pretended Sanctity Insomuch that he caused him secretly to be murthered and raised a great Persecution against those that imbraced his Doctrine yet this Haider left a Son which he had by Martha his Wife named Hysmael who afterward became a Sophy of Persia as will appear in his Wars with Selymus Bajazet's Son and Successor but upon the Persecution raised by Jacup Son to Vsun Cassanes the two aforesaid Disciples of Haider fled to Armenia and there dwelling in Rocks began to tell Fortunes and other strange things which made the Rusticks suppose them men more then ordinarily inspired Insomuch that they gathered about them in great numbers insomuch that they came out of their Iurking Holes into walled Towns and taught boldly During the spreading of this Doctrine Hysmael the Son of Haider being grown to mans Estate and his Uncle Jacup dead he by the Aid of such as favoured his Fathers Doctrine won the Kingdom of Armenia and after that overthrowing Eluan the Persian King Son to his Uncle Jacup in a pitched Battle wherein the said King was slain he took Possession of all his Grand-fathers Dominions and from that time was called the great Sophy of Persia being afterward exceedingly beloved of his Subjects This Hysmale was no sooner Established in his Kingdom but he Established to his Power his Fathers Doctrine which Chusan Chelife and Techellis perceiving and understanding the unlooked for success of their Masters Son they resolved not to be Idle but to try their Fortune likewise Whereupon gathering a great number of their Proselytes in Arms they wasted again the Countries in the lesser Asia and being incouraged thereto by Hysmale with Promise of great Succours they set down before the City of Iconium sending out their Proclamations strictly to injoyn all the People thereabout to imbrace their Doctrine threatning them otherwise with Death and Confiscation of Goods which wrought such Terror in the Peasants that they had many of them joyned with them so that within a while their number was increased from 10 to 50000. Whereupon Orchanes and Mahomites two of Bajazets Nephews gathering what Forces they could Sallyed out of the City against them but were put to flight with the loss of most of their Men Corcutus also one of Bajazets Sons and then Governour of Thyatria Sypilus Magnesia and Phocia having leavyed a great Army durst not nevertheless to give them Battle but waited the coming of Caragoses Bassa who was raising great Forces in Cappadocia and Pontus having sent his Command to Achmetes one of Bajazets Sons to do the like but e'r he had gathered a sufficient Power the pretended Prophets came upon him put such Forces as he had to the Rout and forced Caragoses then Vice-Roy of Asia for his safety to fly into the City of Cutaie near unto the Mountain Horminius situate in the middle of the lesser Asia which City they besieged took by force and in it the Vice-Roy his Wife and Children putting most of the Citizens to the Sword and from thence marched to besiege the great City of Prusa but in their way hearing that Alis Bassa was come out of Europe with great Power and followed hard upon them they retreated and passed another way to avoid joyning with the Turks in the plain Ground of which the Bassa having Notice and dispairing to overtake them with his Footmen chose out 8000 of his swiftest Horse leaving Achmetes with the rest of the Army after a tedious March he fell in with their Rear Whereupon Techellis who was chosen General of the Rebels put his men in Battle Array when taking the most advantagious Ground he stayed the coming of the Turkish Horse who charged him in the Front with great Fury but wanting Foot to second them in so Hilly a Country were driven back which the Bassa perceiving drew forth 1000 Harquebusiers who served as Foot to oppose the Front whilst the Horse Charged on the right and left Wings of the Enemies Army which was performed with such Bravery that Techellis's Men gave Ground and in the Rear broke and disordered their own Ranks when Chelife one of the Impostors fighting desperately was slain But Techellis coming with fresh supplies restored the Battle to break which Alis
dye all hopes of Victory is gone except forrain aid come speedily to our Succour wherefore if you will follow my Counsel let us with Weapons in our Hands until the last Gasp and spending the last drop of our Blood like Valiant men defend our Faith and Nobility received from our Ancestors and the honour which we have of long time gotten both at home and abroad and let it never be said that our honour dyed but with our selves This Speech was approved of by all the Knights of the Order and most of the Soldiers but the Citizens looking back upon their Wives Children and Wealth stood mute for a good while but at length Pity working in their Brest they humbly besought the Great Master that he would yet have Compassion on them and accept of the Tyrants reasonable Conditions since Fame sufficient had been won by their doing all that men were capable of performing and that they would yet hazard their Lives to the utmost if they perceived any hopes of defending the City or that any forain aid in time would come to their assistance but since neither of them were to be expected it was but reasonable to yield to inevitable necessity After these and many the like Arguments and others of the resolute Soldiers and Commanders on the contrary it was concluded that the City was not capable of being defended by so small a Power against such a numerous Army whereupon Messengers were sent to require a Truce for 4 Days which was accordingly granted during which time the Turks presuming on the Truce came in great number to View the Works at which Fornovius a French man being greatly offended in a great heat without any command from the Great Master caused a Fire of Artillery to be discharged amongst the thickest of them whereupon they pretending a Breach of Truce on the part of the Rhodians thrust in at the Breach in great Troops but after a sharp Skirmish were forced to retire in revenge whereof one of the Turks Fencers having taken 3 Christians cut off their Hands Noses and Ears and in that posture sent them into the City threatning within 4 Days to serve the Great Master after the same manner yet Solyman dissembling the matter signed and swore to the Articles of Peace brought to him for that purpose by Nicholas Vergotus and Georgius Sandriticus which were to this Effect That the Churches should remain unto the Christians inviolate that no Children should be taken from their Parents or any Christians be inforced to imbrace the Mahometan Superstition That such Christians as were Contented to remain in the City might so do at their Pleasure and that such as would depart might have Liberty so to do with all their Substance to be furnished with Convenient Shipping Provision and Ordnance as far as Creet that the Christians should appoint a reasonable Day for their Departure and that in Consideration thereof the City to be delivered up to such as Solyman should appoint to take Possession thereof Upon the afore-mentioned Articles though they were not all observed by the Turks the City was delivered up Anno 1522. after it had indured six Months Siege and cost Solyman the Lives of 80000 of his Soldiers having been in the Possession of the Knights of the Order 214 years Upon which the great Master being for his Gravity Virtue and Valour highly Honoured and applauded by the Conqueror imbarked together with the Knights of his Order and such others as would accompany him and the Gallies for that purpose ready in the Port and sailed to Mesina where he was joyfully received and after invited to the Courts of most of the Christian Princes having with Indignation refused Solyman's great Offer made to him provided he would have accompanied him to Constantinople and have spent the remainder of his Days in his Service And thus for want of Relief the Christian Princes at that time being at Variance amongst themselves the famous Rhodes was lost where Solyman having stayed awhile to settle his Affairs appointed a Governour and so breaking up his Army returned to Constantinople where for the space of three years he lived Peaceably giving himself up to all manner of Pleasures but at the end thereof perceiving the Discord amongst the Christian Princes managed by Pope Adrian the sixth to grow hot a fatal over-sight that ever gave the Ottoman Kings and Emperors opportunity of extending their Dominions he conceived it best to fish in troubled waters and thereupon raising an Army of 200000 Horse and Foot he fell like a Tempest upon Hungary subduing all before him till he came within sight of the Walls of their chief City at what time Lewis the young King perswaded thereto by Tomoreus a Fryer who assured him of the Victory and several other rash Counsellors not regarding those of more Gravity that diswaded him from so rash an Attempt with an Army of scarce 30000 raw Soldiers gave him Battle but was overthrown with miserable Slaughter of his men and himself seeking to escape passing over a Fenny Ditch his Horse fell backwards upon which he was loaden with his Armor and none coming to his Relief he was smothered in the Water and Mud In this Battle fought on the 29. of October Anno 1526. perished most of the Hungarian Nobility and well near all the Common Soldiers After this great great Victory obtained Solyman having most of the strong Cities delivered into his Possession gave the Kingdom to Joannes Sepusius Vayvod of Transilvania and taking with him such things of Price as he thought convenient leaving two of his Bassas with flying Armies on the Frontiers he returned to Constantinople but he was no sooner departed and John Crowned by the Consent of the remainder of the Hungarian Nobility who durst do no other for fear of the Turks but Ferdinand King of Bohemia laid Claim to the Kingdom and to make his Title more apparent sent his Ambassadors to the Courts of divers Christian Princes to declare from whom he derived his Claim when aided by Charles the Emperor his Brother he entered Hungary with a great Army and without any considerable Resistance took the strong City of Buda at what time many of the Hungarians joyned with him as not in the least favouring John so that fearing delays might be dangerous he caused his Army under the leading of his expert Captains to pass over the River Tibiscus upon a Bridge of Boats and marched directly to the Cattle of Tocai where King John lay with his Army where the Battle being joyned after a sharp Dispute the Victory fell to Ferdinand when as King John seeing all lost and past recovery fled with several of his trusty Followers into Polonia upon whose departure Ferdinand by the advice of such Hungarians as favoured his Cause was Crowned King at Alba-Regalis the usual place for the Coronation of the Hungarian Kings Whereupon having disposed all things to the best advantage and appointing Stephanus Bator his Vice-Roy hereturned into
Bohemia King John by the means aforesaid thrust of his Kingdom grew extreme impatient and often consulted with Sigismond King of Polonia to re-in-throne him in his Kingdom offering to bear the Charge of the War but the Pole being already in League with Ferdinand would not seem unless underhand to favour John but wished him to take counsel with Hieronymus Lascus a great Politician what was best to be done in his Affairs the which Lascus advised him to crave Aid of Solyman now at Leasure to assist him and urged so many Reasons for it that he was content to send him his Ambassador to Constantinople who there with Treasure and fair Speeches so allured the Bassas of the Court to second him in his Request that Solyman promised again to enter Hungaria with a puissant Army and by the Insinuation of this sly Councellor that when King Ferdinand sent Ambassadors to him to make out his Title by which he laid Claim to the Kingdom he would scarcely give them Audience and when he did instead of an Answer to their Ambassy he Herauld-like denounced against their King all the Calamities that attend on War and so commanded speedily to depart the City all which upon their Arrival at Vienna they made known to the Kings Lieutenant who was so far from believing them that he looked upon them as vain and idle Tale-bearers which they perceiving hasted to the King at Spires who then was Labouring to get himself chosen King of the Romans and declared to him all they had in Charge Whereupon he well knowing that the Turk desirous of Glory and the inlarging of his Dominions seldom broke his Word on such occasions he put all his Forces in a readiness earnestly both in Person and by his Ambassadours craved Aid of the German Princes for the Defence of his Kingdom of Hungary against the common Enemy but his Brother Charles having his hands full of his Wars in Italy and he wanting Money to raise a sufficient Army to fight so powerful an Enemy was forced to suffer him without Controul to enter Hungaria for fear of whom the Citizens of Buda mostly fled to Strigonium Alba-Regalis and Possonium So that marching from Belgrade where King John came to wait upon him and received a Confirmation of the Promise he had made to Lascus of restoring him to the Kingdom of Hungary he came before it and had it yeilded with little or no Resistance as likewise the strong Castle though contrary to the Will of the Captain yet contrary to his Promise he caused all that were found in the latter to be put to the Sword except the Captain whom the Soldiers had cast in Bonds for refusing to joyn with them in their treacherous delivery of that strong Piece Buda taken most of the other Cities of Hungary surrendred whereupon he resolved to invade Austria a part of King Ferdinands other Dominions in Order to which he sent Achometes Bassa with the voluntary Horsemen who running through the Heart of Hungary entring into Austria with Fire and Sword passed by Vienna miserably burning and destroying the Country before them even as far as Lyntz driving the Country People like Sheep deflowring Vigins riping up Women alive dashing Infants against the Rocks with all other imaginable Cruelties after whom Solyman followed with the gross of his Army consisting of 500000 Horse and Foot as many Writers affirm who by the way having taken the Castle of Altenbury and in vain assaulted Neapolis he came before the great City of Vienna and incamped about it in five places covering the Ground with his Tents and the multitude of his People 8 miles in Circumference So that Fredrick Count Palatine of the Rhine and Duke of Bavaria General of King Ferdinand's Forces not being able to get into the City with his Army sent for that purpose was forced to stay at Chremse yet was his Nephew Philip the Palsgrave a little before the coming of Solyman to the great joy of the Citizens entered with several Troops of valiant Horsemen as likewise Nicholas Count of Salma the Lord William Regendorf Steward of the Kings houshold Johannes Cazzianer Nicholaus Turianus Johannes Hardecus Leonardus Velsâ—â—s Hector Ramsack with divers others all men of great Experience and Valour and daring Resolution yet was the City but badly defended with a Brick Wall without Grafts or Flankers the Ditch altogether dry and although at that time there were found 400 Pieces of Ordnance yet they could find means to mount no more then a 100 notwithstanding the Citizens and Soldiers used all diligence in raising Rampires and Barocading the Gates unless those they reserved to Sally at and by the Command of the Governour every man was assigned his Quarter keeping strict Watch upon the Walls to prevent the Enemies approach for that the Bulwarks were not of Considerable strength The Count of Salma and the Lord Regendorf walking hourly from one place to another to see all things put in a posture of defence the Citizens laboured continually in strengthening the Fortifications and raising Batteries whereon to plant such Pieces as lay useless for want of where to mount them they made likewise divers Fire-works and continually kept Coppers of Tar Pitch Rosin Oyl and scalding Water in a readiness to pour upon the Enemy by that means to prevent their Scaling the Walls every one from the greatest to the least expressing a Cheerfulness for the defence of this place the Metropolis of Austria and chief Hope of the German Empire which the Turks conceived so Considerable that they doubted not but it won all Austria Stiria and Corinthia would be soon at their Devotion The City by this time strengthened and provided of many necessary for a strenuous Defence Messengeres were sent to Count Fredrick to draw near with his Army the more to terrifie and amaze the Enemy whose numerous Camp could not long subsist if supplies of Provision were cut off upon the Arrival of the Messenger the Count highly approved of the Resolution of the besieged and declared he would be always at hand and omit no Indeavours to succour them admonishing the Messenger to remember him to his fellow Soldiers and in his Name intreat them to play the Men for the defence of the Christian Religion and Glory of the German Nation whose Ruin the Infidels sought and so with several presents he dismissed the Messenger who returning related what he had in Charge Whereupon the Lord Regendorf assembled all the chief Commanders and principal Citizens and with an undaunted Courage made this short Oration Christians and fellow Soldiers the time is now come wherein we are to fight under the Banner of our Lord Jesus Christ whom these barbarous Nations have defied let us then shew forth our Courage to the utmost even in the Mouth of Slaughter let not Death nor Danger terrifie us since we fight in a good Cause even for our Religion our Lives our Wives Children and all that we hold dear for what it can
be but Ambition and thirst of Christian Blood that drew this Bloody Monster with his numerous Host from such remote Countries Therefore I say rather let us dye like Men fighting it out to the last Drop of Blood then yield our selves to these Barbarous Infidels who know not how to shew Mercy whose Leagues Vows and Solemn Protestations are all but Wind kept no longer then they prove Advantagious to themselves I for my part have fixed my unalterable Resolution to defend this Place to the last Gasp resolving not to survive its loss This Oration spoken with great Earnestness plainly Demonstrating the Zeal of a brave General was seconded with loud shouts every one promising to Live and Dye with him in the defence of the City Whereupon it was resolved that the next Morning a Sally should be made upon the Enemies to give them a Taste of Christian Valour and how little they valued their Lives fighting in so good a Cause whereupon every one being dismissed went to his Quarters to give necessary Orders and take a View how the Turks lay incamped whose multitude covered all the Hills and Plains before the City The Watch being set the General went round the City attended by several Officers Carefully to survey each Quarter and to see that none neglected his Duty so that all things being in good Order about Midnight six Reigments drew up with a Resolution to fall upon the Enemies Camp but whilst Orders were in giving in what manner they should make their approach a Christian Captive having made his escape from the Turks came running almost breathless and begged to be received into the City Whereupon the Soldiers drew him up with a Pike who being questioned about the state of the Turkish Camp declared that every night since they came forty thousand men were driven up in Battalia to Guard the Camp which was not as yet well intrenched upon notice of which the General changed his Resolution as to the Sally During the preparation within Solyman was not idle having sworn to carry the City by force e're he departed if he could not have it otherwise but appointed to every man his station dividing his Army under Ibrahim the Great Bassa Michael Ogli and Becrambeius so that all things being in a readiness many salleys were made by the Christians with great slaughter of the Enemies though the Asapi and Janizaries from their Trenches poured showers of Arrows into the City for as yet the Turks great Artillery were not come up the Danubius but were dayly expected of which Wolfgangus Hoder a Valiant Captain understanding by several Turkish Prisoners sailed out of the Bay of Possonium and meeting with the Turks Galleys sunk those in which the Ordinance were taking a great Booty of which Solyman having notice was greatly inraged and finding that his small pieces did little other damage than beat down the battlements and over-jets made of wood in stead of Flankers he caused the Miners to be set to the Wall but this their chief hope which with wonderful labour attempted in thirteen places at once was not so secretly done but that it was by Drums layed upon the Ground Basons filled with Water and deep sounds perceived by the defendants who with Countermines not only defeated many of them but destroyed in them by Wild-fire and other Combustible matter Eight Thousand Turks when to prevent such discovery Solyman commanded continual Alarums should be given that so the Christians being imployed in defending the Walls might not regard the Miners which succeeded so to his wish that a great part of the Wall near the Gate that leadeth towards Carinthia was thrown down by the springing of a Mine at which the Turks in great numbers indeavouring to enter were miserably cut off with the Murthering shot bent against the breach for the purpose which no sooner ceased but they were furiously charged by the Germans and in despite of all resistance beaten back with incredible slaughter Not long after the Wall being blown up in two other places they again attempted to enter but were repulsed as before leaving heaps of slain in the Breaches and Ditch nor was their third Assault any more successful so that after three hours withstanding the fury of the resolute Defendants they retired to the Camp Ten Thousand less than they came A while after the Lord Regendorfe perceiving the Turks by parties scatter from their Camp came with a Company of German Horse set upon a Party of Five Thousand Three Hundred with such slaughter that not above One Hundred and Forty of them returned to tell the News Nor did other Commanders of the besieged less indamage the Enemies by frequent Salleys which so inraged the Tyrant that he animated to a fourth Assault promising them great rewards if they prevailed which so far prevailed with them that they resolved amongst themselves either to win the City or dye in the undertaking but when they felt the shot from the besieged like a tempest fall on them they were of a different opinion so that leaving many Thousands of the slain and wounded behind them they retire to the Camp which Solyman perceiving and fretting that his Honour had so much suffered by so great a loss of his Men and so many Repulses dissembled the matter as well as he could and that the Germans should not suppose he raised his siege because he despaired of winning it he caused several Prisoners to be richly cloathed and giving them store of Money sent them into the City to inform the Commanders that he came not to take the City of Vienna but to fight King Ferdinand and restore the Kingdom of Hungaria to King John therefore since he could not draw his Enemy into the Field to give him Battle he would remove thence to seek him wherefore they should do well to yield themselves the which if they would he promised not to enter into the City but to receive both the Citizens and Souldiers into his protection reserving unto 'um their Lives and Goods with perpetual freedom which offer coming to the knowledge of the Princes and great Captains of the Christians scornfully refused whereupon the Imperious Turk perceiving his desires not answered as he expected having caused all the Prisoners to be murthered in a great heat raised his siege and departed not staying till he came to Buda where having restored the Kingdom to John in consideration of his becoming his Tributary he returned to Constantinople yet plotting in his mind to disturb the Christians and revenge the disgrace he had received before at Vienna the next year viz 1530 he leavyed an Army greater than the former purposing with himself to over-run Austria Carinthia Styria and most part of the German Empire to effect which he allowed three years but was altogether deceived in his expectation for Charles the Emperor having ended his Wars in Italy was now at leisure to attend upon the Insolent Turk who calling together his Valiant Captains sent them into Spain
the way himself had like to have been slain in his Tent by a Mountainier which had been effected had he not been discovered by the cracking of a bough to revenge which he sent his Janizaries and other his approved Soldiers who hunting the people inhabiting the high and rough Mountains of Chimera like wild Beasts killed many of them and returned with such spoil as they found after which he with a great Fleet landed on the Isle of Corcyra now called Corfu for fear of whom the Venetian Admiral â—â—thdrew with his Galleys into the Adriatick Gulf 〈◊〉 to expect the other part of his Fleet yet 〈…〉 long while battered the chief City in vain 〈…〉 himself with the spoil of the Villages 〈…〉 Thousand Christian Prisoners departed 〈…〉 return landing on the Isle of Naxos 〈…〉 the City which not being furnished to 〈…〉 so powerful an Army consented to pay the Tâ—â—ant Five thousand Duckates a year Tribute and to hold the Seigniorie of him whereupon without doing further harm he departed to Constantinople at whose return Lutzis Bassa was accused by his Wife Solymans Sister of Sodomy and for that she having in private reproved him thereof he had struck her a box on the Ear and confined her as a Prisoner to her Chamber which complaint so incensed Solyman who for his Sisters sake had raised him from a low Degree to the highest Honour next himself that he banished him into Macedonia where he spent the remainder of his dayes in a poor and private life Though Solyman was returned to Constantinople yet his Wars with the Venetians ended not for he sent strict command to his Governours and Lieutenants bordering upon their frontiers to vex them them with all manner Hostilities who were not wanting to satisfie him therein nor the Venetians on their part to revenge the injuries but the fierceness of the Turks were somewhat restrained by a War undertaken by King Ferdinand against them to revenge former injuries who raising a great power of gallant Soldiers of divers Nations sent them under the leading of Cazzianer by whose Cowardize in leading them through Woods and by-wayes many of them perished for hunger others to avoid that calamity deserted him and in fine the General forsaking his Army for which he was afterward executed It was overthrown near Exek and all the Soldiers either slain or taken Prisoners The news of this great overthrow much troubled the Christian Princes to repair which disgrace the Emperor the Venetians and the Pope set out a great Fleet of Galleys which meeting at Corcyra the Admirals consulted what was best to be done when upon notice that Barbarussa lay with the Turkish Galleys in the Bay of Ambracia they resolved to sail thither where having a while braved him the bold Turk incited thereto by one of Solymans Eunâ—chs came forth to give them battle which Auria perceiving contrary to the minds of the Captains stood away to Corcyra in the rear of whom the Turks fall took several of the stragling Galleys This retreat or rather flight much eclipsed the fame of Auria who before was accounted a second Neptune but being still followed by Barbarussa he returned into Italy to the great dislike of the Venetians without effecting any thing worthy of memory which gave the proud Turk opportunity to make great spoil on the Sea Coast and on the Islands of the Sea yet held by the Venetians and to recover Castronovum a little before taken by the Christians though not without infinite slaughter on either side it being for a long time manfully defended by Sarmentus a Valiant Spanish Captain who amongst heaps of slain expired in the bed of Honour Things being at this pass the Emperor made a peace with the French King both which Potentates solicited the Venetians by their Embassadors to continue the War against Solyman but they weary thereof as lying most obnoxious to his fury could not be perswaded thereto but laboured to procure a peace which with much difficulty they obtained In consideration whereof they yield unto him Nauplium and Epidaurus two Cities of Peloponesus together with Nadium and Labrania two Castles of Dalmatia which happened by reason the secrets of their Embassey was beforehand discovered to Solyman by several treacherous Venetians bribed by him for that purpose some of which being afterward taken were worthily executed at the same time a secret consideration between John King of Hungary and Ferdinand King of Bohemia including that upon the decease of the former the latter should enjoy his Kingdom was discovered to Solyman which grievously incensed him against the Hungarian King whom by his Armes he had restored to his Kingdom to appease which he was content to marry Isabella Daughter to Sigismund King of Polonia by whom he had Issue a Son who after his Fathers Death was crowned King of Hungary and taken into Solymans protection by that means bereaving King Ferdinand of his hope of a peaceable possession whereupon after having requested it by his Embassadors of Solyman and despairing that way to obtain it he with a great Army entered the Kingdom and seized upon Vicegrade Pesth Vacia and Alba Regalis To oppose which sudden Tempest e're it had swept away all her Cities the Queen sent her Embassadors to Solyman to crave Aid against King Ferdinand whereupon he not only sent the young King her Son several Rich Presents but his Letters Mandatory to his Lieutenants on the Frontiers with all their Forces to assist her threatning that if by their neglect she received any dammage their heads should make satisfaction and withal caused Lascus King Ferdinands Embassador at that time residing at Constantinople to be imprisoned This news was joyful to the Queen whereupon she drawing together all her Forces joyned them with those Mahometes and Vstref two of Solymans Bassas had brought into the field and immediately layed siege to Vacia which they took and to prevent its again falling into the hands of the Bohemians set it on fire Vacia thus layed waste they removed to Pesth to which they layed straight siege but after many unsuccessful attempts to carry it by storm raised their Camp and returned over Danubius upon which King Ferdinand sent a great Army under the Leading of the Lord William Regendorff who entring the Kingdom layed siege to Buda and sent Messengers to summon the Queen to surrender the City to his Master and that in lieu thereof and of the other Cities she should have bestowed on her freely the Seignory of Sepusia to which George Bishop of Veradium who altogether governed the Queen answered that she should accept no such proffer and with many opprobrious words dismissed the Messengers whereupon Regendorff having mounted his Canon furiously battered the City making several wide breaches but they were so notably defended that the Germans nor Spaniards could not enter which they perceiving so dealt with one Bornemissa a great man in the City that he promised to deliver them a Gate in the night to enter by
the wonderful motion and conversion of the celestial frame a curious and strange peice of work devised and perfected by the most cunning Astronomers of Maximilian the Emperour whose noble mind never spared for any cost to obtain things rare of strange device The Ambassadors arriving at Solymans Camp after they had been feasted by the Bassa's with Mutton and Rice onely and delivered their Presents they made it their request that he would deliver Hungary to their Master to whom of right it appertained and that in lien thereof he would become his tributary but were so far from having their desires granted that the proud Turk demanded tribute for Austria the which being refused with disdaign he sent the Governour of Belgrade to spoil that Country as likewise Moravia to whom he joyned Cason the Admiral of his Fleet but by reason of the overflowing of the Rivers and great Rains it being now Autumn they were forced to return without doing any considerable dammage after which Solyman appointing a Hungarian of his own name Governour of Buda returned to Constantinople having first set Lascus King Ferdinand's former Ambassador whom he held Prisoner at Liberty and within a while after having caused Mayle Vayvod of Transilvania to be apprehended and imprisoned contrary to his promise by Mahometes his great Bassa he to recompence the Queen of Hungary and her son for what he had taken from them gave the young King the Province of Transilvania Whilst these things passed the Emperour Charles at the earnest request of his Subjects of Spain to whose Trade the Pirates of Argier had put a stop prepared a great Fleet to invade the Kingdom and take the City at that time commanded by Asan Aga or Asan the Eunuch whom Barbarossa in his absence had appointed his Lieutenant when as the Emperour after considerable dammage by shipwrack coming before the City of Argier sent a Herald on shore to demand the City and upon the refusal of its delivery landed his men who with great courage beating the Turks Moors and Numidians from their defences leaped on shore where after divers skirmishes they encamped in three Battles being in all 60000 Men but long they had not considered which way to make their approaches e're by a horrible Tempest supposed to be raised by Inchantment which continued for the space of two dayes the greatest part of the Fleet consisting of 280 Ships and Gallies was beaten and such as by swimming escaped the danger of the Sea were kill'd by the Numidians and Moors who came down from the Mountains to enrich themselves by the misery of the Christians In this storm which was accompanied with prodigious Rain Thunder and Lightening almost all the Prevision and great Ordnance were lost nor fared they on shoar much better for there three parts of the Tents were torn up and all things in them spoiled by the deluges of Water so that Famine within three dayes sorely vexed the Camp yet the Emperour a man of invincible Courage comforted his men in the best wise causing such Horses as were on shoar to be killed and their Flesh distributed amongst the Souldiers which at than time proved excellent fare but finding he could not subsist by the perswasion of the Duke of Alva his General he resolved to imbark on those few Ships and Gallies that were left and return into Italy whereupon to make room for the Souldiers he caused all the Horses to be thrown overboard but such was his hard fortune that he was no sooner imbarked but another Tempest terrible as the former arose and scattering his Fleet drove two Ships loaden with Spaniards into the Port of Argier who by reason of the departure of the other Gallies had been there slain by the Moors and Numidians had not Asan Aga at their earnest request taken them into mercy and driven away the barbarous people who like ravening Wolves sought eagerly to prey upon their Lives Many ships in their return were likewise swallowed up of the Sea but Heaven so ordered it that at length the Emperour with the remainder of his shattered ships arrived at the Port of New Carthage in Spain not being overcome by the Enemy but by the Tempest his sad disaster being at the beginning of his Expedition foretold by a Witch then living in the City of Argiers Frances the French King being greatly offended with the Emperor for that Antonius Rinuo his Ambassador upon his negotiation to Constantinople was by some of the Emperors Captains slain for that it being reported that he there discovered all the Emperours intentions and incensed Solyman to take up Arms against him being the principal occasion of his last Expedition into Hungary whereupon he having sent Polinus in the stead of Rinuo he incited Solyman to revenge the indignity as well offered to him as to himfelf by sending Barbarus with a squadron of Gallies to molest the coast of Spain and the Emperours Territories in Italy whilst his Master warred on his Countries in Flanders and other places To undertake the like he solicited the Venetians but at that time both his negotiation proved ineffectual for the Venetians utterly refused to intermeddle and the Turk at that time being but slenderly provided with shipping and those was inforced to use on the Danube for the defence of Hungary which King Ferdinando in confederation with the German Princes invaded with a great Army under the leading of Joachimus Marquess of Brandenburgh who passing the Damibius encamped before Pesth which they battered for several dayes making divers large breaches but upon notice that Mahometes Bassa was coming from Belgrade with a great Army to relieve the City though the story was altogether feigned the cowardly General raised the siege and returned to Vienna where that great Army consisting of 50000 Horse and Foot was broke up without doing any thing worthy of name Solyman being rid of this fear began to hearken to the request of the French Ambassador and having Commanded Rustan Bassa his Son-in-law to Feast him he gave order for the making ready his Fleet of Gallies which he sent under the command of Barbarossa to the Aid of the French who to wreck his private revenge called in the common Enemy too prone of himself to lay Christendom wast In their way when once dispatched they took Rhegium burnt it and carried away the Garrison and Citizens at which time Solyman with a great Army entered Hungary to revenge himself upon the Authors of the late Hostilities and had the strong City and Castle of Walpo delivered to him by the Souldiers contrary to the will of the Governour but he was no sooner possessed thereof then he gave them the due Reward of their Treachery by causing them all to be put to the Sword and then having left there a sufficient Garrison he marched to Strigonium sending Amurathes Bassa with a part of the Army to take in Soclosia which he having won put most of the Inhabitants to the Sword Solyman having layed siege
Prince of great hope to be chosen K. of the Romans who likewise the year following on the 8th of September with all solemnity Crowned at Presburg King of Hungaria to confirm which choice Solyman sent Ibrahim Bassa as his Ambassador to the Emperour as likewise to conclude in his name an eight years peace and the better to gain credit he sent his Letters of credence not usually done by the Turkish Emperors whose proud stile therein I think not amiss to insert which take as followeth I the Lord of Lords Ruler of the East and West who am of power to do and not to do whatsoever pleaseth me Lord of all Grecia Persia and Arabia Commander of all things which can be subject to King and Command the great worthy of these times and strong Champion of the wide World Lord of all the white and black Seas and of the Holy City of Mecha shining with the brightness of God of the City of Medina and of the Holy and Chast City of Jerusalem King of the most noble Kingdom of Egypt Lord of Jovia and of the City of Athens Senan of the Sacred Temple of God Zabilon and Bassio Rethsans and Magodini the Seat and Throne of the great King of Nashin Rettam and Lord of the Island of Argiers Prince of the Kingdom of Tartary Mesopotamia Media of the Georgians Morea Anatolia Asia Armenia Valachia Moldavia and of all Hungary and many other Kingdoms and Territories whereof I am Emperour The most mighty Monarch Sultan Solyman Son of the great Emperour Sultan Selym who hath power from God to rule all People with a bridle and strength to break open the Gates and Bars of all Cities and strong places into whose mighty hand are delivered all the ends of the World none excepted I Ruler of the East from the Island of Tsein unto the farthest bounds of Africa whom God hath appointed a mighty Warrior in the edge of Sword amongst whose most mighty Kingdoms the impregnable Castle of Caesarie is reputed the least and in whose Hereditary Dominions the Kingdom or Empire of Alexander the Great is accounted of us a trifle with me is the strength of the whole World and Virtue of the Firmament For as much as thou King Ferdinand c. Their audacious stile being read in the German Court moved some to indignation and others to secret laughter yet the necessity requiring it peace was concluded but kept no longer then the Emperour lived for upon his Death which happened two years after viz. 1564. new troubles arose in Hungary and several Towns and Castles were won and lost on either side whereupon Solyman resolved in person to come into Hungary but upon second thoughts he changed his mind and bent his Forces against the Island of Malta lying between Africa and Sicilia in length twenty and in breadth twelve miles exceeding fruitful and pleansantly scituate were it not in Summer time too much scorched by the Sun which deprives the inhabitants of their fresh water before which the Turks coming with a Fleet of Two Hundred Ships and Gallies after some loss sustained both by the Sea and Islanders Landed and layed siege to St. Michaels Castle which they furiously battered but it being defended by several Knights of the Order they received great loss before it whereupon they consulted amongst themselves to leave the siege of St. Michael and besiege the Castle of St. Elmo the which with the loss of 18000 of their men they took when in the mean while Valetta the Great Master fortified St. Michael both City and Castle sending to the Viceroy of Sicilia for aid but the Turks incouraged by the comming of the King of Argier with his Ships and a great supply of Victuals besieged St. Michaels Castle a second time as also the City Thundering against it for the space of eight days without intermission but such was the courage of the besieged that they either repaired the breaches or beat back the Assailants who made such slaughter of those that attempted to enter that their dead bodies filling the breaches served as a Rampire to keep out the rest and thus they continued furious to assault the City almost every day till upon notice of the Viceroy of Sicily's approach with a great power both by Sea and Land they raised their siege and departed to meet him near Melita where in a set Battle they were overthrown and most of them slain with the loss of 5000 Christians onely yet those that escaped in their return landed on the Island Chios and took it it being before almost deserted of its inhabitants by reason it lay always obnoxious to the fury of the barbarous Infidels Solyman inraged at this defeat resolved to revenge himself upon the Christian Princes and therefore with a great Army undertook his before determined War against Hungary solicited thereto by the Vayvod of Traâ—sylvania who hoped to be made King thereof but Maximilian being Crowned Emperour he railed a great power being aided by the German Princes and sent them under the leading of several valiant Captains but especially Count Serenus and Count Helffeustin whose good Fortunes proved such that within a short time the Turks were stripped out of most of their Garrisons and a great number of them slain for Maximillian the Emperour long before advertised of Solymans purpose had raised as is said a gallant Army consisting of 40000 Horse and Foot the flower of all Christian Nations besides a Fleet upon the River Danubius which hindered the Turks Provisions and other necessaries from being brought by water By this time Solyman coming to the River Dromus over which with infinite labour he caused a Bridge to be made for the passage of his Army which done he encamped before Sigeth of which Count Serenus was made Governour a valiant man and mortal Enemy to the Turks attended on by a Garrison of 2300 resolute Germans and Hungarians who like a brave Souldier with a most Christian Oration incouraged his men not to be dismaid at the multitude of their Enemies but to trust in God and be of good courage for he by his Almighty power was able by a few to confound the Armies of the proud Concluding that as for himself as he was a Christian and free born so he would by the Grace of God in the same Faith and Freedom end his dayes and that no proud Turk so long as he could hold up his hand should have power to command over him or the ground whereon he stood nor failed he in his resolves for after he had done all that man was capable of doing killing such numbers of Turks that the Plains lay scattered with the dead the Walls being for the most part beaten down and the Town fired about his Eares the Turks in great number entring every where and no relief coming to his assistance he called the poor remainder of his Souldiers about him with whom he was retired into the Castle and with an undaunted resolution spake these his last
into the ruins of an old Town which a little before he had razed and therein strongly Fortified himself round about which next day the Turks incamped but perceiving that it was not onely difficult but dangerous to assault him in his strength they sent Messengers to him to perswade him to yield to Mercy and not expose his own Life and the lives of so many of his Subjects to the fury of the inraged Souldiers or miseries they would be shortly reduced to by Famine offering the Oaths of all the chief Commanders for his own security and the security of his people to which proposals he being perswaded to hearken he in consideration that the Cossacks might be permitted to return with their Horses and Armes into their own Countrey that himself might be alive conveyed into the presence of Selymus there to make his defence and that his Subjects might return to their respective homes or take service with the Turks agreed to come out of his strength and submit himself to which his demands Capucius Bassa General of the Turks Army consented and himself with the rest of the great Commanders swore seven times a usual custom amongst the Turks for the solemnly obliging themsleves to fulfil his request Whereupon he came forth onely accompanied with Osmolius a Polonian Captive but after four hours continuance in the Turks Camp the perfidious Bassa sending for him unexpectedly with his Scimiter struck him cross the face and afterwards wounded him in the Belly upon which signal the Janizaries present took him and cut off his head which they fixing upon the point of a Lance carrying it in derision through the Camp nor satisfied with barbarous and base indignities they at the commandment of the Bassa tore his body in pieces with Camels and soon after put all the Christians whom they had allured out of their strength to the Sword who yet fell not unrevenged for the Cossacks perceiving the hard plight they were in sered together and with their weapons in their hands made a great slaughter of the Enemy but being few in number except their Captain and some other men of note they were all slain After this shameful Murther the Turks over run all Moldavia and Valachia recovering in a short time the strong places that were possessed by the Vayoods Garrisons after which Selymus intent for the recovery of the Kingdom of Tunis in possession of the Spaniards sent 300 sail of Gallies under the command of Sinan Pial and Vluzales his chief Bassa's to reduce it to his obedience who after the loss of 30000 Turks with great difficulty took the strong Castle of Guletta and the new Castle built at the Commandment of Don John in his late expedition against the Moorish Rebels which strong hold lost Tunes surrendered without making any considerable resistance and in it was taken Mahomet the late invested King whom the Turks sent Prisoner to Constantinople But Selymus long survived not this victory over the Spaniards but being spent with Wine and Women to whom he had given his greatest strength he died on the 9th of December anno 1574. having lived 51 years and thereof Reigned eight he lies buryed at Hadrinople leaving his Empire to Amurath his Eldest Son who succeeded him by the name of Amurath the Third as will appear in the series of his Life and Reign CHAP. XVI The Life Reign and Memorable Transactions of Amurath the Third of that Name and sixth Emperor of the Turks SElymus dead and his Death kept secret from the Janizaries for the space of twelve dayes at the end of which Amurath arriving at Constantinople was received into the Seraglio and took possession of the Empire when having pacified the unruly Souldiers with great liberality he caused according to the Turkish policy Mustapha Solyman Abdula Osman and Tzihanger his five brethren to be strangled with how strings even in his sight the reason of which strangling is because they would not spill any of the Othoman sacred blood as they term it on the ground upon the death of whom the Mother of Solyman overcome with grief and dispair stabbed her self to the Heart with a Dagger at which Tragical sight it is reported that Amurath wept as not delighted with such unnatural crâ—elty but that the manner and nature of his Government so required for that by reason of the largeness of the Ottoman Empire if many of the Princes of the blood lived at one and the same time they would probably with civil dissensions rend it in pieces Anno 1575 Amurath established many wholsom Laws altered the Coin and bountifully relieved the poor and albeit he was of a mild and peaceable nature yet that he might seem like to his Predecessors he prosecuted his Fathers Wars and aided by the Tartars entered into Ruscia part of the Territories of the King of Polonia where he burnt and destroyed 200 Castles besides a great number of Towns and Villages putting multitudes of the poor people to the Sword and carrying as many into miserable Captivity but the Tartar had little joy of their success for whilst they were busie in Ruscia the Cossack brake into their Kingdom and destroyed all before them for the space of 100 miles That which gave the Turks encouragement to enter the Territories of Polonia was the division amongst the nobility for Henry D' Valoys their King upon notice that his brother Charles the Ninth French King was dead secretly departed to take upon him the Kingdom of France to which he was rightful Heire whereupon one party was for Electing Maximilian the German Emperour and the other strongly opposing them would have introduced the great Duke of Muscovy Of which Amurath having notice and supposing that to which soever of them it fell he would prove a troublesome Neighbour he sent a Letter to disswade the Nobility and Counselors of the Kingdom to chuse neither but to Elect a King amongst themselves or else Stephen Buttor Prince of Transylvania and in so doing they should find him their constant Friend or in refusing to comply with his desire to expect all the calamities that attend on War In this Letter the proud Turk stiled himself God of the Earth Governour of the whole World the Messenger of God and faithful servant of the great Prophet Yet so it effectually wrought with the Polonian Nobility that notwithstanding Maximilian the Emperour was by the Arch Bishop of Gnesna and some others Elected King yet was that their Election by the great part of the Electors disannulled as also the great Duke of Moscovy rejected and the Noble Princess Anne of the most Honourable Jagelionian house chosen Queen of Polonia upon condition that she should Marry Stephen Prince of Transylvania which she afterward performed as in the series of this History will appear Amurath upon the afore-mentioned conditions having drawn his Army out of Ruscia and taking advantage of the discord arising in the Kingdom of Persia upon the death of Tamas resolved to bend his
Forces to the Conquest of that great Kingdom which the dissension amongst the Sons of the deceased King about the succession made him suppose was easie to be effected whereupon raising such great Forces as held Christendom in suspence he yet declined attempting any thing till he had knowledge what effects the civil broyls had wrought which were that after a long contention and the Murther of many of the Sons and Grandchildren of the deceased King Mahomet Eldest son to Tamas who had before rejected the Diadem to prevent the ruin of his Native Country took upon him the Regency though not without the envy of many of the great Sultans whose guilt upon his being proclaimed King had caused them to fly who like thorow paced Traitors in their exile solicited Amurath by all means speedily to invade the Kingdom of Persia laying before him the facility of conquering that noble Kingdom abounding with all manner of riches and that the Georgians and Saracens evily affected towards the new King would not fail upon the approach of his Army to joyn with him These and the like perswasions fired the Turk with hopes of so glorious an atchievement that notwithstanding he was in League with the Persian yet after long debating the matter in the Divan it was resolved that the War should be undertaken and carryed on with all vigor and that the first attempt should be made upon the Countrey of Servan the better to effect which by alaruming the Enemy in divers places he sent to his Bassa's Governours of Babylon Van and other places on the Persian Frontiers to molest the Territories by frequent inroads to perform which they were no ways wanting And now Stephen the Prince of Transilvania having marryed Queen Anne and being confirmed by the free choice of the Nobility King of Poland he sent his Ambassadors to Amurath to conclude a firm and inviolable League which was granted by the Turk very advantageous to the Christians that he might not be hindered in his Persian War which in Anno 1578. he undertook sending a great Army under the leading of Mustapha Bassa who in the Reign of Selymus had Conquered Cyprus into the Countrey of Servan composed of these following Nations viz 12000 Mesopotamians 14000 Babylonians and Assyrians 2000 Syrians 10000 Natolians 1000 Jews of Palastine 4000 Cilicians after which followed the Soldiers of Grecia the Glory and Hope of the whole Camp to the number of 10000 as likewise 10000 Janizaries Harquibusires to whom 4000 of the Citizens of Er Zicshum were added besides many Voluntiers of divers Nations insomuch that the whole Army consisted of 110000 Horse and Foot besides this multitude of men Mustapha brought into Persia 500 pieces of Artillery and 50 Waggon loads of Money to leavy other Soldiers if occasion required it The Bassa with the Army aforesaid arriving at Chars after three dayes staying there during which time being marvellously troubled by reason of a suddain Tempest he raised his Camp and departed to the foot of the Mountains of Chielder otherwise Periardo where he had knowledge of the Persian Sophies Army Approach which caused him to put his Army into order of Battle dividing it amongst his great Commanders which were Deruis Bassa of Caraunt and Osman Mahomet and Musta Fada Bassas as for the Persian Army under the leading of Tocomac an experienced Captain whom for his known valour and Loyalty the Sophy had made General it consisted not of above twenty thousand all Horsemen gathered out of Georgia Media and Antropatia who misinformed by their Scouts of the Turks number boldly held on their way resolving to give them Battle who from the Hills perceiving their intent put themselves in a posture to receive them whereupon about one in the Afternoon a dreadful sight began wherein at the first charge were slain seven of the Turks Sanzacks with a Great number of Soldiers without any apparent loss to the Persians who fighting close together slew the Turks at a distance with their shot of Arrows and the continual thundering of their Harquibuzes of which Engins by this time they had learned the perfect use But Mustapha who with a great power of his choice souldiers having waited a fit opportunity peirced the Squadrons of the horse having first made a lane by the reiterated Vollies of his Artillery and charged with such fury that although the Persians incouraging each other did all than men were capable to perform yet being overpowered with number were at length broken and disordered they under the shelter of the night retired which the Turks without much difficulty permitted they not having any cause to rejoyce at the Victory so gotten their loss was so great yet keeping the field all that night the next morning in token of his good success Mustapha sent the heads of five thousand Persians and three thousand live prisoners to Amurath and for the greater terror of the enemy caused the heads of three thousand others to be stricken off and piled on heaps the Turks lost in this battle near twenty thousand many of their chief souldiers The next day after the battle Manuchlars a Prince of the Georgians sent a messenger to Mustapha to acquaint him that he was coming to confer with him which did not a little rejoyce the Turk insomuch that he caused all his Great Commanders with Trumpets Ensigns displayed Drums beating and the discarge of all the Great Ordnance to receive him and in like manner to conduct him to his Pavillion not doubting but that the revolt of this Prince would greatly further his affairs which being being done and he entering the Bassa's Tent he there was caused to sit down on his right hand when after having made him presents of such chings as for that purpose he had brought he gave the Bassa to understand That for the honour and estimation he conceived of the Turkish valour he was ever devoted to the house of the Ottomans and as he had often times desired to venture his life and fortune in their service so at this present time he moved by his former desire allured by the strange fame of his wonderful and victorious Army and stirred up by a particular Fantaâ—e to learn the Turkish Discipline in martial affairs under such a General as was the Bassa to whom he offered all his devotion and service things as he said not offered to any before and in sine besought him to accept of him in the name of Amurath whose obedient vassal he had vowed himself This Speech ended the Bassa highly commended him for his prudent choice and good will towards the Turks and the more to confirm him in the opinion he had of the Ottoman Greatness he caused him to be led throughout his Camp that so he might take a view of the Turkish Magnificence where amongst other things he with detestation beheld the Pile of Persian heads and then returning to Mustaphas Tent he was presented with Garments of cloth of Gold a Gilt Battle Ax and
contest between Muley Xequy King of Fess and Muley Sidan his younger brother which increased to that height that mortal wars arose when after many fields fought the latter prevailed and possessed himself of the Kingdom which caused the former to flye into Spain there to crave aid of King Phillip who in consideration of the Barbarians promise to deliver Alarache a strong Town seated on the mouth of the River Lucus in the Kingdom of Fess into his possession furnished him with 100 thousand Duccates therewith to leavy Souldiers in his own Countrey and sent with him likewise his ships of war under the conduct of the Marquess of St. Germaines manned with ten thousand Spaniards who coming before the Town landed the King who was received by several of his friends into a strong Castle that guards the mouth of the River which he put into the hands of the Spaniard but it was no sooner known that he had so done but the Mores from all parts run to their Arms so that e'r they could possess themselves of the Town an obstinate fight was maintained for the space of three hours in which space five hundred Spaniards and three thousand Moores were slain but in the end the former prevailed and possessed themselves of that strong place which had by them been so often desired the news of which caused great rejoycing in Spain This year was fought a great battle between the Son of the late deceased Cham of Tartary and his uncle upon the latters usurping the Imperial dignity during the formers remaining a hostage at Constantinople in which 40000 men were slain and the Victory rested upon the rightful Heir Anno 1611 such a Contagion happened in Constantinople that it ingendring a Pestilence which raged so vehemently that thirty thousand died in one month and amongst the rest one of Achmats sons nor did the Barron of Salignac the French Kings Ambassador escape to succeed whom as soon as the Mortality ceased the Barron of Mole was sent who upon his arrival after having visited the Mufti or chief Mahometan Priest and the great Bassa's of the Court himself and his retinue were attired in Turkish habit no Ambassadors being permitted in the proper habit of their own Countrey to approach the Sultan was conducted to have his Audience of the Grand Seigneour through a litte Court paved with Marble after which he entred the Royal Chamber which was inriched on one side with many Pillars of Marble and square stones of the same beautified with two Fountains on either side the planchers were gilt with Gold and the Walls Inameled with flowers and the flour covered with cloath of Gold and silver at the entery of which stood six Capigi or Royal Porters two of which took the Ambassador by either arm to lead him to the Grand Seigneor a Ceremony pretended for honours sake but indeed to prevent any violence that upon such near access may be offered and has been in use ever since Amurath the first was stabbed in the fields of Cossâ—via and the rest carryed the presents so that the Ambassador having kissed the hem of the imperious Turks Garment was carryed out another way backward because it should not be said that the Minister of any Forrein Prince turned his back upon the Emperor in like manner his attendants fared being obliged to withdraw till the Infidel was more at leisure for as then he stood peeping out at a window to view some disports that were made below for his diversion and a while after being admitted he delivered his letters written in the Turkish Language and in a pithy Oration delivered what else he had in charge Notwithstanding the Peace between the Imperialists and the Turks the latter ceased not covertly to stir up dissensions by which means they procured the revolt of Gabriel Battori Vayvod of Transilvania who raising a great power chased Raduille Prince of Valachia out of his Principality who thereupon fled to Constantine Vayvod of Moldavia when reinforced by the Moldavian he returned again and in a great battle overthrew Gabriel forcing him to flye with his scatered Troops to Hermstad where he committed many Cruelties under pretence that the Citizens went about to deliver him into the hands of his mortal enemies The division stirred up Fortgaâ—sie the King of Hungary to pass into Transylvania to reduce the revolted Cities to the Kings obedience but being waylaid he was forced to travel through desart places where through famine and diseases that raged in his Camp most of his men dyed so that fearing to fall into the hands of those he intended to oppress he fled into Polonia with a slender Train yet ended not the trouble for by this time the Turks had stirred up discontents in Moldavia by sending thither a Competitor to wrestle with Constantine for his Principality but finding himself too weak and not assisted as he expected fled to Constantinople there to crave aid of Achmet but finding many delays he travelled to the Courts of many Christian Princes and amongst others came into England and made his application to King James who moved with his heavy complaints and specious pretences of just claim to the Principality of Moldavia that his Majesty was pleased bountifully to relieve him and by his Letters to recommend him to the care of Sir Thomas Glover his Ambassador then residing at Constantinople who recommended him to the Grand Signeur but such were the counterplots of Constantine that by bribing the great Bassa's he not only prevented him in his purpose but greatly indangered his being made away which had certainly happened had not Sir Thomas sheltered him under his protection and by fortifying his house daunted the blood-thirsty Janizaries whom the Grand Visier had imployed to take him thence by Force but Sir Thomas being soon after recalled The Moldavian despairing to obtain the Principality he so much desired in a rage renounced the Lord that bought him and imbraced the Turkish superstition whereupon he was made Bey of Bursia in Asia but enjoyed not that dignity long e'r Nassuf Bassa returning from the Persian war dispossessed him This year the Gallyes of Florence Malta and Naples greatly endamaged the Turkish Dominions on the Sea-Coasts taking likewise several rich prizes and amongst the rest the Carravan Gally coming from Egypt to Constantinople with the Tribute of that rich Kingdom sinking at the same time five others and descending upon the Isle of Lango and took the Town from which the Island takes its name putting a number of Turks to the sword and taking a great spoil and soon after entered the Bay of Corinth so secretly that Landing they surprized the City sacked it and carryed away besides a rich booty five hundred slaves These things made the Turkish Sultan wish for peace with the Persian that he might be at leasure to turn his Arms upon the Christians especially upon the Knights of Malta who greatly obstructed his Navigation and that which furthered his purpose was the arrival of the
he would not make a League with the Bohemians tell he was assured of the Grand Signeours assistance in case his affairs required in whereupon he sent his Ambassador to Constantinople who so dealt with the great Bassa's of the Court that by their advice Osman swore to protect him and because the Oath for the strange wording of it will not be amiss to be recited I shall here insert it verbatim Sultan Osman BY the Grace of God unconquerable Turkish Emperour Swears by the highest Almighties and Almighty Gods Holiness by his Kingdom by the substance of the Heavens the Sun the Moon and the Stars by the Earth and all under the Earth by the Brains and all the hairy scalp of my Mother by my Head and all the strength of my Soul and Body by the Holy and great Mahomer and by my Circumcision That I thee my Brother and Son Bechlem Gabor succeeding King of Hangaria in no manner of way in thy great and weighty affairs will leave though it be to the overthrow of my Kingdom to be brought to nothing until there shall be no more left but my self or four or five Turks at the most yet will I be still obliged to desend thee and all those that do any ways appertain unto thee and if thou shalt have need of me I shall be always ready to go with thee and in case this my promise shall in any wise be frustrated then let Gods Justice fall upon my Head and destroy me and my posterity and wipe away whatsoever belongeth unto me and gather it together into a Rock of stone or substance of Earth and that the Earth may cleave insunder and swallow me Body and Soul Dated at Constantinople the 5th of Jan. 1619. The Transilvanian by this Oath assured of the Grand Signeours favour sent his Ambassadors to Prague where meeting with the Commissioners sent thither for that purpose by the States of Bobemia a perpetual League was concluded and in June following the Prince assembled the Estates of Hungary at Newhausell where he proposed to them the necessity of raising an Army to defend the Provinces against the Forces of the Imperialists who by their great preparations made it visible that they would no peace till they had destroyed all the Protestants to this motion the Estates consented when at the same time came their Ambassadors from the Grand Signeour the Venetians and Polonians all which made in the names of the respective principals a League with Gabor which so much pleased the Estates of Hungary willing to shake off the Imperial yoke that by the advice of their Palatine the Transilvanian was proclaimed King of Hungary upon which raising an Army of Fifty Thousand Horse and Foot he subdued almost all Austria Carinthia and Stiria before the Emperours Forces could take the Field in any fit number to make head against him at what time such a fear was brought upon the great City of Vienna that with the Emperours consent the Protestants remaining therein sent their Deputies humbly to beseech him that he would spare the City and Countrey for theirs their Wives and Childrens sakes About this time a strange apparition was seen in the Air over Medina Taluabi in Arabia where Mabomet the Impostor lyes buryed which terrified all the Countrey thereabouts and was as followeth about the 20th of September at midnight there happened a terrible Tempest accompanied with such prodigious Thunder and Lightning that many thinking the dissolution of all things was at handâ— leaped out of their Beds to gaze on the Element at first seeming all on Fire and then covered with thick darkness after which all was serene and calm when in Arabian Characters these words appeared in the Firmament viz. O why will you believe in lies and soon after a Woman beautiful to behold arrayed in white and incompassed with rayes of Light appeared holding in her hand a book coming from the North and opposite against her were seen Armies of Turks Persians and other Mahometans being so conjectured by their garbs ranged in Battalia ready to charge her but she keeping her standing no sooner opened the book but they all fled upon which a suddain murmur as of a Whirlwind troubled the Air and immediately the lamps that were placed about Mahomets Tomb went out and in this manner the Prodigy appeared for several nights together whereupon a Dervice or Religious Turk undertaking to expound the meaning of that unusual sight and declaring that it foreshewed the overthrow of the Mahometan superstition he was therefore miserably put to death calling to the last upon the Woman with the Book to save him and he had no sooner given up the ghost but a fearful Tempest insued Anno 1620 Gasparo the expulsed Vayvod of Moldavia assisted by the Polish Cossacks and such other Troops as he could raise invaded Moldavia in which the Suitan had placed another Vayvod and in revenge of a design the Turks had to strangle him during his Vayvodship made great spoil putting all the Turks he found to the Sword and reducing great part of that Province to his obedience which caused the Sultan to raise a great power drawing all his choice Forces out of both the Asia's to the number of Two hundred thousand and caused a great Fleet of Gallies to put to Sea which spoiled the Coast of Sicilia and Landing Five Thousand Turks in the Kingdom of Naples surprized the strong Town of Manfredonia carry 1500 Christians into miserable Captivity and then joyning with the Pirates of Argier they made a descent upon the Island of Janisa near Majorca possessed by the Spaniards which Island they took making great spoil putting to the Sword and carrying into Captivity all the Inhabitants The Turks thus successful at Sea made them the less doubt their success by Land therefore having found an occasion of quarrel with the Polonian King for that the Cossacks in revenge of the injury they sustained by the Tartars had manned out many small vessels and spoiled the Turks Sea-Coast Towns upon the Bosphorus giving an overthrow to their Gallies and brought away great spoiles Osman in person at the head of 300000 men passing through Moldavia which he again reduced to the obedience of the new Vayvod he entered Podalia Anno Dom. 1621. where he found the great Chancelour of Poland and the Prince Son to the Polonian King strongly intrenched with an Army of 50000 resolute Souldiers and because he could not draw them out of their strengths he with his multitude inclosed their Camp So that by the frequent attacks and sallies that were made a great number were slain on both side but especially of the Turks during which the Tartarian Prince then assisting Osman with 30000 light Horsemon marched into the heart of Poland burning and destroying all before him in a most terrible manner and upon his return to the Camp besides other spoils brought with him 25000 Prisoners of the poor Countrey people which his ravenous crue had scraped together but
that if he had stood out upon the peace concluded between the Sultan and the Polonian the whole stress of War would have rested on him and therefore he desired to be excused adding that he meant not long to conserve the peace therefore desired that he and the Bassa of Buda might have it in joynt Commission to raise such Forces as they thought convenient to invade the Empire when opportunity offered but this request not agreeing with the interest of the Sultan it was rejected About this time the Janizaries in a tumultuary way came to the Court and demanded all the Offices of gain and to be Stewards of the Revenues of the Churches which are great as likewise to take the Farms of Customs wherein they committed many outrages the Visiers not daring to deny them any thing they demanded They drunk Wine in the streets without prohibition contrary to their Law and exacted money of the Christians to purchase it and if denyed took it by force and murthered without being punished and when at any time complaint was made the Magistrates answered they durst not meddle with them that had murthered their King and the Bassa's themselves desired the complainants patience telling them that they would bear a part with the general sufferance About the same time the Janizaries in the Gallies which rid before Smirna commanded by Halil Bassa aslaulted against his will the houses of the Christian Consuls insomuch that the English Consul with all those of that Nation were forced to run naked from their Lodgings and save their lives by swimming to the Admirals Gally upon which the masterless Turks ransacked the lower part of the house there making spoil to the value of Two Thousand Dollars The French sustained more loss and the Venetians at least ten Thousand Dollars the Consul having likewise one of his men cut in pieces nor could the Admiral either by threats or intreaties restrain these outrages but was forced for the prevention of further mischief to put to Sea In Asia there were three Rebellions one at Babylon another at Arzirum upon the borders of Persia and a third at Mesopotamia which threatned the ruine of all Asia yet to prevent the worst several new officers were made and an Army raised in Grecia in order to pass the Hellespont but in the end nothing was done more then assembling to little purpose all the Turkish Forces on Europe side which so impoverished the Treasury that the like had not formerly been known nor were any Exactions and Extortions omitted to raise mony for defraying the necessary charges About this time came to the Court of Poland an Ambassador from the great Duke of Muscovy to intreat a peace which was hardly granted by reason several Letters of the said Ambassadors being intercepted plainly demonstrated that at his first setting out his designs were otherwise upon notice that a Peace was concluded with the Sultan he feigning himself sick upon the Frontiers had sent for new instructions Darut Bassa who had married Sultan Mustapha's Sister falling into the displeasure of the Visier he so dealt with the Spahi that coming to the Court they demanded his Head for the murthering the late Emperour and having gotten him into their hands were about to behead him but whilst he was upon his knees every woman expecting the fatal blow the Janizaries at the instance of the Sultans Mother rescued him and carryed him to their Colledge promising him their protection for which he bestowed amongst them Forty Thousand Chequins But that availed not for soon after he was taken thence and carryed to the prison where he had murthered young Osman and there strangled now the better to please the Polonians and obstruct the cause of War for the future the Ambassador was not only dispatched with several Noblemen of Poland who had since the late War remained Prisoners but it was likewise concluded that Jehan Begh the Tartarian Prince Author of the War should be deposed and Michmet Geheray his Cosen and first of the Blood late Prisoner at the Rhodes should succeed him in that large Kingdom Asia was still in doubt to be lost for that Abassa Bassa Governour of Arzirum with an Army of one hundred thousand Horse and Foot had siezed upon most of the Provinces though without doing any harm to the inhabitants but wheresoever he found any of the Janizaries he sacrificed them to the Ghost of the dead Emperour he as he said being by God appointed the revenger of his Death and for that cause he had taken up arms declaring that he would come to the Port and demand Justice upon the Murtherers and that if he was found a Traytor or guilty he would lay down his head willingly but if those he accused were found guilty he would see execution done nor did the Nobility of Constantinople much disapprove of his march rather esteeming him a friend then an Enemy who came to deliver them from the Tyranny of the Janizaries whose insolencies were insufferable Yet to prevent the worst it was resolved that Mustapha should be deposed the Janizaries not gainsaying it for that they well knew they alone should be exposed to the fury of the Bassa at the rooting out of whose order he chiefly aimed though he had likewise other designes which were to wrest the Grand Visiership from him that held it and make himself Governour of the young Prince Brother to Osman whom he intended to advance to the Empire yet rather for shew then otherwise the Souldiers were ordered to pass the Hellespont in great numbers but the Janizaries would not stir for two reasons first for that the time of receiving their pay was at hand and secondly fearing alone to be exposed to the fury of the Asian Army greatly doubting that if it came to a Battle their Fellows would revolt and by that means easily bring them to destruction CHAP. XXII The Life and Reign of Morat or Amurath the 4th the 11th Emperour of the Turks IN this distraction of the Ottoman Empire the better to calm the tempest ere it turned all into confusion by Shipwracking the State the Grand Visier going with the Janizaries and Spahi to the Seraglio demanded to speak with Mustapha and that he would answer them a few questions which he being no ways able to do and refusing to appear they entered the Palace and took thence Morat or Amurath Brother to Osman and Son to Achmat then about 14 years of Age and carrying him through the streets in triumph caused him every where to be proclaimed Emperour to the great content of the Constantinopolitans who by this mutation hope for peaceful times and the face of Justice restored which for many months had abandoned the City every man doing in a manner what he pleased Thed ay after this innovation the young Emperor made his publique entry from whose lively countenance and apparent activity every one promised great things during his Reign but at that time such had been the policy of the
he knowing upon such terms he could at any time make his peace who ever was Conqueror seemingly hearkened to that motion so that gaining credit eight thousand Persians was sent to take possession thereof who he no sooner got within his danger but he set upon them put one thousand to the Sword and took most of the remainder Prisoners which caused the Turk to have a better opinion of him then formerly insomuch that they nominated him for Grand Visier the ensuing year Anno 1625. a new Rebellion broke out in Asia headed by an ordinary Spahi who drew down ten thousand men before the City of Smirna the which after some resistance he entered and pretending to reform abuses cut off the heads of two Cadees punished divers others place and displaced the Magistrates as he pleased and then departed without suffering any spoil to be made pretending the Grand Signeours order for what he had done and indeed the Court connived at his proceedings for awing corrupt Officers he restored the face of Justice in those parts but not long after he with a greater power marched toward Brussia in Natolia using the Name of Morat to colour his purpose pretending to work a Reformation in the State but in the ending of great preparations were making to oppose him he disbanded his Army and retired himself And now the mortality raged at Constantinople in such sort that Fifty thousand died in a short space so that the City was left almost desolate which known to the Cossacks they came again in their Boats and sailing through the Bosphorus made great spoil on Europe side attempting to burn the Arsenal to prevent which all the Gallies and small Vessels in the Port were manned out so that between them there happened a fierce ingagement but the Cossacks Boats being small though many in number thirty of them by the shot of the Gallies were sunk and overturned insomuch that five hundred Cossacks were drowned and taken Prisoners and double the number of Turks slain for the Boats being in all three hundred and each Boat manned with thirty or forty Musquetiers they showered their Bullets so thick upon the Decks of the Gallies that scarce a Turk peeped out but he was cut off twice they boarded the Admirals Gally and had taken it had not the Sea of a suddain gone high and the Wind stood against them Upon the approach of great Visier towards the Province of Babylon the King of Persia sent to desire a Treaty of Peace which was only to protract time it in the end coming to nothing yet the Princes of Georgia sent their Ambassadors as willing to be freed from the Persian yoke which Ambassadors were kindly entertained by the Visier their demands granted and the Bishop of Calcedon their Countrey man sent back with them to see the Peace Ratified upon which they raised a great Army and invaded the Territories of Persia to oppose whom the King sent part of his Army under the leading of his great Leiutenant who joyning Battle was overthrown with the loss of seven thousand of his men which greatly incouraged the Visier so that he resolved the next year to besiege Babylon in which was a Garrison of eight thousand Persians besides the Citizens who were five times the number yet early in the Spring Anno 1626. having refreshed his Army he pitched his Camp before that great City but as they were making their approaches Twenty Thousand Persian Horse who attended the motion of the Turks fell into the Visiers quarter doing great excution and by that means troubled the whole Army but in fine the Persians were obliged to retire yet not before they had slain about Six Thousand Turks upon which a muster was taken of the Army which was found much less then was expected for that a number of the Spahi and Janizaries that were inroled had forborn to undertake that dangerous and so often fatal Expedition and seven Princes of the Arabs Tributaries to the Grand Signeour having raised their power refused to advance any further then the Borders of their Principalities alledging that they durst not displease the possessors of Babylon but were ready to obey if the City fell into the hands of the Turks which weakness known to the Persian King he drew thither the strength of his whole Kingdom and running Trenches round about the Turks Camp besieged it in such manner that all Provisions and Succors was cut off and instead of hoping to win the City they were solicitous of nothing more then how to retreat This danger of the Army was made known to the Emperor and Divano at Constantinople but nothing was done till it was too late for through want and diseases the Army was so wasted that they were no wayes able to make head against their Enemies besides a great number of them were slain in the frequent fallies the besieged made out of the City and the Persians Incursions who seldom failed to beat up one quarter or other of the Camp and hearing of no supplies durst advance or were in a probability to relieve the half starved Souldiers who had left no unclean thing uneaten it was resolved that under the favour of the night the Camp should rise and force a way through the Persian Squadron rather choosing to die like men then pine with hunger Whereupon they brake their great Artilery and cast into the Euphrates all such things as they could not convey away to prevent their falling into the hands of the Enemy and then with as little noise as possible broke through one quarter of the Persian Camp yet not so suddainly but that the Persians taking the Alarum overtook them ere they reached Ninive and had the execution of the Army for the space of ten dayes in which time seventy thousand Turks and Tartars fell by the Sword when to cast the odium upon the Bassa's and to save his credit at the Port the Visier caused three of their heads to be stricken off This great blow caused the revolt of many Cities upon the Frontires of Persia and indangered the revolt of all Asia The Turks not having received the like blow since the overthrow of Bajazet the first by Tamerlane the great which caused a general heavyness throughout the City of Constantinople few therein but lost one Friend or other in this unfortunate War of which the Emperour of Germanies Ambassador taking advantage pressed for a speedy conclusion of Peace and laboured to cross the purpose of the Transylvanian Prince but in the interim the Imperial and Transylvanian Armies being abroad on the 16th of October near to the River Gran a mortal Battle was fought between them wherein the latter was put to the rout and in passing confusedly the River over two Bridges layed for that purpose Six thousand were slain drowned and taken Prisoners yet Winter coming on the Prince retired with his Troops and without the consent of the Turks made a Truce with the Imperialists for three months sending to the
to demolish it which was accordingly done During these Transactions his Imperial Majesties Embassador at the Port was flattered with a promise of renewing the League between the two Empires and conducted to his Audience with the usual Ceremonies which was only to protract time till the Turks had possessed themselves of such strong places as might render them formidable and give them hopes of annexing all Hungary to the Ottoman Empire but the German Princes perceiving their drift sent several of their own Troops to reinforce the Imperial Army under the Command of Count Caprara with whom the Count Strosoldo refusing to joyn in order to give the Turks Battle near Lewentz fell into the Emperors high displeasure being sent for to Vienna and for a while is suspended but upon his submission was again restored to favour Winter approaching Count Teckely sent Four Hussars to Count Caprara to procure of him a pasport for the safe passage of such Deputies as he intended to send to the Emperor to treat of a Truce which Hussars were by the Counts express Command Imprisoned till such time his Imperial Majesties pleasure was known therein but in the end they were released and the Deputies permitted to pass uncontrouled when after many debates a Truce was concluded for two Moneths whereupon Count Teokley by reason of the Difference between him and the Prince of Transylvania retired with the greatest part of his Troop to a strong place which together with some others in dowrie with the Princess Ragotski whom this year he had married The Turks for the most part Wintered in Temeswar Buda and New Hausel and the Imperialists on the Frontires of Austria and so ended the Campaign for this year Anno 1683. Early in the Spring the Imperialists and Turks taking the Field and several skirmishes happening between parties with various success The Count Wallastain his Imperial Majesties Minister residing in the Polonian Court dealt so effectually with that King that he resolving no longer to sit still and see the Infidels and Rebels insult over his Neighbouring Countries on the second of April pursuant to a treaty on foot signed an alliance with the Emperor by which he obliges himself to take the Field with between Thirty and Forty Thousand Horse and Foot to act offensively against the Turks and defensively against all other enemies to the German Empire in consideration of which the Emperor binds himself to have an Army of Sixty Thousand Men in readyness upon all occasions immediately to pay Twelve Hundred Thousand Florins and that himself and the Queen Dowager of Poland disclaim all Pretensions to the Crown of Poland and that neither Potentate enter into a treaty with the Turks tending to Peace but with a joynt approbation And that both Armies act separate unless Cracow or Vienna be besieged and then with United Forces to fall upon the Enemy into which Alliance it is expected the Czar of Muscovy will shortly enter to revenge the outrages done him by the Turks and Tartars who since the late Divisions have made divers incursions into his Countries This Alliance made known to the Grand Seigniour greatly perplexed him insomuch that he sent orders to all the Bassa's Begs or Sanzacks of Europe to raise what Forces they could to attend him in the Field himself resolving instantly to march to Belgrade whither the Great Visier with an Army of 60000 Horse and Foot marched before to joyn with the Tartars under the leading of Tartar Han or Cham and then to cover such places as Count Teckely who now seems jealous of the Turks shall besiege The better to take measures for the carrying on the War his Imperial Majesty on the 8th of April called a Council of War at Vienna where it was concluded that the Duke of Lorrain should be Generalissimus of all the Forces on that side and the measures concluded on were these that the Imperial Army the third of May should muster near Presburg to the number of 40000 men That General Schutz shall with 7000 men joyn with 6000 Polish Horse already on their march under the command of the Prince Lubomerski and that the Hungarian troops in conjunction with those making a body of 25000 men act in the upper Hungary and another body of 6000 Incamp near Leopaâ—stadt on the Waag and in case they find the Turks have a design upon that place to put themselves into it and besides these 10 or 12000 men to be posted on the confines of Moravia and Silesia to secure those Countries against the incursion of the Enemy This being the state of the Imperial Army designed against the Turks and Hungarian Rebels Count Teckâ—ey the better to secure himself and reinforce his Army sent out summons to the Nobility once more to be in Armes and as occasion served to oppose the Imperalists but most of them seemed unwilling to comply therein as abhorring to bear Armes against their Lawful Soveraign Whilst matters were thus carryed on that side the King of Sweeden has obliged himself to assist the Emperour with seven thousand Horse and Foot four thousand of which he intends to raise in Germany and the rest in his own Countries nor will the Elector of Bavaria who is in all likelihood shortly to marry the Emperors Daughter be wanting to send his Forces against the common Enemy The King of Poland the better to compleat the Quota he intends to summon the Arrearban of that Kingdom all the Nobility shewing a ready compliance to attend in the Wars his Army to the number of thirty thousand mustering near Leopol he advanced against the Turks who made divers incursions into his Territories on the Vkrain a party of whom advancing too far he cut off killing three hundred and taking a like number of Prisoners and following the success of his Arms he is preparing to besiege Caminieck a strong Fortress taken from the Poles by the Turks some years before and sent an Express to Count Teckley to inform him of the Alliance made with the Emperor and to let him know that unless he does immediately make Peace with his Imperial Majesty he shall be obliged to treat him as an Enemy These Menaces caused Teckley to draw up his Troops with great diligence and send immediately to the Visier of Buda for such Forces as by the Grand Signeours appointment were to joyn him that he might the better be able to defend himself till the gross of the Ottoman Army reported to consist of one hundred and fifty thousand men could arrive and immediately dispatched his Secretary to the Emperors Court to crave a truce but the proposals were so insignificant that he nothing prevailed For the Emperor in person having been at the Randezvous near Presburg in Hungaria was so well satisfied with the order of his men that he altogether contemned the Forces of the Enemy Yet to appear like himself he caused a general Pardon a third time to be published indemnifying all Hungarians and Germans that have been actually in
inevitably lost had not the Citizens who were Christians timely come in to their assistance and put the Turks to flight and then the Armies drawing forth marched as far as the River Orontes before they met with any resistance but there the Turks had fortified the Bridge and Banks on the other side but being overwhelmed with showers of English Arrows sent from the Squadron commanded by Robert Duke of Normandy they soon gave ground and left the Passage open and so the Princes passing the River came to the other Antioch in Syria of which one Cassianu was Governour to the Relief of which the Turks came with an Army of 100000 Horse and Foot but were repulsed by the Christians and returned with 20000 less than they brought so that the City on the third day of June 1098. was secretly and contrary to the knowledge of the Governour delivered by one Phirrus to Prince Bohemund of Tarentum who furiously entering a dismal slaughter ensued insomuch that the Streets run with blood The Governour upon notice of what had hapned fled but falling into the hand of the Armenians that were expelled Jerusalem he was slain The loss of Antioch being made known to Corbanus the Persian Sultan's Lievetenant as he lay before Edessa he raised the Sige and with all his Forces marched towards Antioch resolving to put all upon the Hazard of a Battle against whom the Princes drew out their Strengths leaving the Earl of Tholous with a competent number to secure the City from a revolt by reason the Turks still held the Castle and after a long and doubtful fight overthrowing with such incredible slaughter of his men that all the Valleys were filled with blood and bodies of the slain 100000 Turks being adjudged to fall in that Battel and not above 4000 Christians and the next day they took 5000 Cammels with their lading as also a new Castle built but the year before by the aforesaid Lievtenant And thus conquering they passed on taking several Cities of note till they came within the view of Jerusalem upon sight of which they shouted so loud that all the Country resounded with the joyful Acclamations and with their hands and eyes extended towards Heaven they called upon the name of Jesus and many in humility to the place where our Blessed Lord had so often preached his Gospel fell to the Ground and kissed it with great Affection making fresh Vows never to leave the City till they had delivered it from the Infidels but their strength was much impaired by reason of a Pestilence that had the Autumn before hapned in the Army yet in a Council of the Princes and chief Commanders it was resolved that the Siege should immediately be begun and carried on with all the vigour imaginable The Governour having notice of the Christians approach and what was intended delayed not to prepare all things that might conduce to the making a strenuous defence having a little before received a strong recruit of able Soldiers and a supply of all things necessary yet the Christians after having got what knowledge they could of the state of Affairs within the City sat down before it on the North for towards the East and the West the broken Rocks and shattered Hills render it very incommodious Next the Wall incamped Godfry Duke of Lorrain with his Germans and Lorainers near unto him on the right pitched their Tents Robert Duke of Normandy and the Earl of Flanders before the West Gate lay incamped Tancreed and the Earl of Tholous Bohemund and Baldwin being absent the one remaining King at Antioch and the other Governour of Edassa The Christians having refreshed themselves it was concluded amongst the Princes that the fifth day the Assault should be given which accordingly was done with such bravery that the Turks were beaten from their Defences and miserably slaughtered by the shot of the Archers but they wanting scaling Ladders and the weather being exceeding hot the retreat was sounded but being desirous of nothing more than winning the City five days after they gave it another fierce Assault which made the Walls to tremble nothing that Policy or Valour could afford being wanting on the part of the Christians but scarcity of Water afflicting them with drought and the excessive heat of the Weather frustrated this second Attempt for the Enemy had either stopped up or poysoned all the Wells about the City unless that of Siloe whose Water had worked out the Poison and was become wholesome but that yielded not half enough to suffice the Army During the time that the Christians besieged Jerusalem a Fleet of Genoeses arrived at Joppa where having notice that a far greater Fleet of the Egyptian Sultans lay at Ascalon with an intent to relieve the besieged they after having taken out all things necessary sunk their Gallies and marched over land to the Camp where they became very serviceable in making Engines for Assault and moving Towers covered with raw Hides to prevent their being fired one of which they set to the Walls and from it greatly annoyed the besieged which they perceiving prepared to set it on fire but the wind favouring the Christians drove iâ— full in the besiegers face insomuch that the Duke of Lorrain with his German Foot getting upon the Engine beat the Turks and Sarazens from the Wall with great slaughter and leaping thereon fixed his Standard keeping his Ground though the Enemies shot flew as thick as Hail which venturous Attempt so encouraged the rest of the Princes that they pressed on with great fury insomuch that a terrible slaughter ensued the Souldiers in their rage sparing neither Man Woman nor Child which made the most couragious of the Turks Sarazens and Jews retire to Solomon's Temple in the Entrance whereof they maintain'd a bloody and obstinate fight spreading all the Pavement with the bodies of the slain and bedewing it with streams of blood and so eager were the Christians to charge the Infidels that they for haste thrust one another upon the Enemies Weapons yet after great slaughter they gave back and betook them to the Vaults on the top of the Temple from whence they defended themselves till the fury of the Christians was over and a Trumpet sounded to give Quarter upon which they yielded and had their Lives spared Thus was the Famous City of Jerusalem retaken by the Christians in 30 days Anno 1099. after it had remained in the hands of the barbarous Infidels for the space of 409 years and so great was the joy conceived by the Christians who inhabited it and had suffered miserable Persecution under the Turks that they embraced the Souldiers weeping for gladness and every where singing praises for their deliverance Things being at this pass the Princes consulted amongst themselves whom to constitute King of the Holy City and after some deliberation thought none fitter than the valiant Duke of Normandy but he hearing of his Brothers death declined it as desirous to return and take possession of