greater courage than good speed set forward and so joyning battel with the Enemy was therein overthrown with the greatest part of his Army and himself taken Prisoner in the fight with certain other of his best Commanders who all together were carried away Captives unto Carras Upon the report of this overthrow and taking of the King the Chaliph of Aegypt on the other side took occasion with all his Power to invade the Kingdom of Ierusalem and having in himself purposed the utter ruine thereof beside the great Army which he sent thither by Land which lay incamped not far from Ascalon he put to Sea an huge Fleet also of 700 Sail for the distressing of the Sea-Towns which he well knew were not otherwise to be won This Fleet of the Sarasin Kings for Aegypt with the Kingdoms of Tunis and Morocco were yet in possession of the Sarasins arriving at Ioppa there put ashore their Land Forces and hardly besieged the Town both by Sea and Land. But whilst they thus lay in great hope to have won the Town Dominicus Michael Duke of Venice stirred up by Calixtus then Bishop of Rome was come to Cyprus with a Fleet of two hundred Sail for the Relief of the Christians in Syria and the Holy Land and hearing of the distress of Ioppa nothing dismaid with the number of the Enemies Fleet hasted thither and came so suddenly upon them that he had as some report overthrown them before they could put themselves in order or be in readiness to fight or as some others say after a great and doubtful fight having sunk or taken a great number of them and put the rest to flight he obtained of them a most glorious Victory With like good Fortune also were the Sarasins overthrown in a notable battel at Land near unto Ascalon by the Lord Eustace unto whom the defence of the Kingdom was committed after the taking of the King who not long after so great a Victory died Ioppa relieved as is aforesaid the Duke of Venice travelled by Land to Ierusalem where he was honourably received by Guarimund the Patriarch and the Confederation before made betwixt King Baldwin and the Venetians upon the same conditions solemnly again renewed The Sarasins thus notably discomfited both by Sea and Land and the Christians thereby not a little incouraged and joyning their forces together with the Venetians came and the first of March laid Siege unto the ancient and strong City of Tyre which they having beset both by Sea and Land gave thereunto many a sharp assault which the Turks as Men fighting for their Lives and Wives right valiantly repulsed In which sort the Siege was continued longer than the Christians had at the first thought should have needed yet at length after four Months siege the Turk sore weakened with often assaults and hardly pinched with want of Food all their store being spent yielded the City by composition Thus was the City of Tyre the most famous Port of Phoenicia yielded unto the Christians the nine and twentieth of Iune in the year 1124. year 1124. The third part of this City was given to the Venetians according to the Composition made betwixt them and the Kings of Ierusalem That of all such Cities as were by their help won from the Infidels in Syria they should have a third part with one street and free Traffique in all the rest of the Cities of the Kingdom on Ierusalem Shortly after was King Baldwin set at liberty for the Ransome of an hundred thousand Ducats after he had been eighteen months Prisoner among the Turks The Duke of Venice having now spent almost three years in this Sacred Expedition and well confirmed the state of the Christians in Syria returning home by the way took the Islands of Chios Rhodus Samos Mitylen and Andrus with the City of Modon in Peloponesus all places belonging unto the Greek Empire Which he did in revenge of the Injuries done by the Emperor in the time of his absence who envying at the success of the Christians in Syria as had his Father Alexius before him had in the absence of the Duke infested the Territories of the Venetians for the which he was now justly requited with the loss of a good part of his own Baldwin also not unmindful of the Injuries unto him before done by the Turks in requital thereof invaded the Country about Damasco and there in three notable battels overthrew the King and spoiled the Country wherein he took so great a Prey that therewith he redeemed his Daughter whom he had at the time of his deliverance left in Hostage with the Turks for the payment of his Ransome He also overthrew the Sarasins at Ascalon who aided by the Chaliph of Aegypt had sundry times invaded the Country about Ierusalem And so having well repressed his Enemies for a space lived in peace Not long after Hugh Paganus first Master of the Templars an Order of Knights first begun in the Reign of this Baldwin before sent to crave Aid of the Christian Princes of the West against the Turks and Sarasins returned with a great number of zealous Christians ready to lay down their Lives for defence of the Christian Faith and Religion with whom Baldwin and the other Christian Princes of Syria joyning their Forces set forward and besieged Damasco the Regal Seat of the Turks in those quarters But such was the strength of this City with the valour of the Defendants and contagiousness of the Air that the Christians the Heavens as it were then fighting against them were glad to raise their Siege in vain begun and so to retire Whilst things thus passed in Syria Fulke Count of Turin Mayn and Anjou a man almost of threescore years having as he thought best disposed of his things at home had for devotion sake taken upon him an expedition into the Holy Land. In the time of which his preparations Embassadors came unto him from King Baldwin offering him in Marriage Melisenda or as some call her Margaret his eldest Daughter with the Succession of the Kingdom of Ierusalem in dowry if he should survive the King and in the mean time to content himself with the Cities of Tyre and Ptolemais of which offer he accepted and so held on his journey before intended It fortuned about three years after that the King fell dangerously sick and feeling his death drawing on having laid aside all Regal Dignity caused himself to be removed out of his own Palace into the Patriarchs house which was neerer unto the Temple of the Sepulchre and there calling unto him Fulk the Count his Son-in-Law with his Daughter and his Son Baldwin then but two years old in the presence of the Patriarch and divers other Princes and great Commanders commended unto them the Government and Defence of the Kingdom appointing Fulk to succeed him And taking unto himself the habit and Profession of a Monk if he should have longer lived presently after gave up the
and Henry the Third then reigning in England that they both promised them aid Whereupon Lewis a man of a great devotion and always forward in that service against the Infidels took upon him the Cross the cognisance of the sacred War causing his three Sons Philip that succeeded him in the Kingdom sirnamed the Fair Peter Count of Alangon and Iohn Count of Nevers sirnamed Tristan for that his Mother was in her greatest heaviness for the taking of her Husband delivered of him in Egypt and most of the Nobility of France to do the like unto whom also Theobald King of Navar his Son-in-Law Alphonsus his Brother and Guydo Earl of Flanders joyned themselves And so having put all things in readiness took his way to Marselleis and from thence embarking himself with his Army in the Genoway Ships hired for that purpose set forward the first of March in the year 1270. But being at Sea he was by force of Weather constrained to land in Sardinia year 1270. and there to stay a while departing thence he at length arrived at Carthage the place by him desired where in the entrance of the Haven he surprised certain of the Enemies Ships but landing his men and assaulting the Town he was there notably repulsed This is not that antient great and famous City which sometime mightily strove with the proud Mistress of the World for Soveraignty but another built long after in the ruins or at least not far from the ruins of the same In the besieging whereof the Frenchmen found such resistance as well put them in remembrance of the antient glory of the Carthaginians One day it fortuned as the King thus lay at the Siege that the Defendants made a great and fierce Sally out upon the Frenchmen who before commanded so to do by little and little retired to draw their Enemies further on betwixt whom and the City the Constable with a great power coming in and charging them behind and they which before retired now standing close unto them they were on both sides hardly beset who for all that as became valiant men worthily defended themselves and made there a great fight though not without extreme peril which they in the City beholding gave out a most hideous and piteous cry a certain sign of their hard estate within astonying with the suddenness thereof both their Friends and Enemies But whilst they of the Town betwixt hope and despair stood thus beholding the fight at Land the Frenchmen by Sea approaching a Bulwark on that side of the Town took it without resistance which so dismaied them without that they began forthwith to flie of whom the greatest part casting away their Weapons were by the Kings commandment taken to mercy and they likewise of the Town upon promise of their lives yielded the same unto the King. Carthage thus won the King laid Siege to Tunes the chief City of that Kingdom being not far off where by the way he was encountred by the King of the Countrey who having there lost ten thousand of his Moors betook himself to flight with the rest Who thus overthrown resolved no more to tempt Fortune but to keep himself safe within the Walls of the City if happily so he might as it oftentimes falleth out more weaken his Enemies by lying still and protracting the time than by open Force and Valour Which their purpose King Lewis perceiving resolved not to stir from thence until that he were become Master of the City which as it seemed could not hold out for want of Victuals considering the multitude of People that were got into it Nevertheless thus besieged both by Sea and Land and so straightly hemmed in on every side as that no relief could possibly be brought unto it yet held it out by the space of six Months After which time Wants daily more and more increasing amongst the besieged Embassadors were sent out to the King to intreat with him of peace But whilst these Embassadors go to and fro and reason upon the capitulations of the desired peace behold a great and furious Plague arose in the French Camp which began to cut them down by heaps there dyed Iohn Tristan Count of Nevers the Kings youngest Son born in the first expedition that the said King his Father made into the Holy Land even at such time as he was taken Prisoner which Tristan died the five and twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord 1270. The good King having yet scarcely performed the Obsequies of his Son fell sick of the bloody Flix whereof he there shortly after died also About which time arrived there Charles King of Sicily the French Kings Brother with a great number of fresh Souldiers whose coming lightned somewhat the Frenchmens hearts heavy for the death of their King and daunted the Moors before brag of the same Shortly after whom arrived there also Prince Edward King Henry the Third his Eldest Son who travelling through France and taking shipping at Aquesmort not far from Marseilles was now in ten days with a brave Company of Englishmen come to Tunes and thereof the other Christian Princes namely of Philip the French King his Father Lewis being now dead of Charles King of Sicily and of the two Kings of Navar and Aragon joyfully received But these Princes had a little before his arrival concluded a Peace with the Moors King and the Infidels upon condition that he should pay a yearly Tribute of forty thousand Crowns unto the King of Sicilia and to suffer the Christian Religion to be freely preached in his Dominions by such devout persons as should be there left for that purpose and that unto such as should by their preaching be converted unto the Faith in Christ Jesus it should be lawful for them to be baptized and to profess the Christian Religion Of which Peace Prince Edward understanding did what he might to have disswaded them from the same saying that the War was by them all taken in hand against the Infidels as Enemies to the Cross of Christ with whom they were not to have Peace and for the recovery of the Holy City But say what he would and do what he could the Peace to his great discontentment was now concluded which they might not as they said again break and thereupon with the first fair Wind hoised sail and returned towards Sicilia with purpose the next Spring to have gone into Syria which their determination was shortly after by the hand of God disappointed For being come upon the Coast of the Island not far from Drepanum most of the great Princes and other Nobility in their long Boats went on Land the rest of the Fleet lying at Anker about a League off for that being for the most part Ships of great burthen they were not able to put into the Harbor But as they so lay by force of a sudden and violent Tempest then arising some were eaten up with the rough Sea some falling foul one on
his Gallies taken in token of which Victory he sent part of the rich spoil there taken with the Admirals Ensign as a Present unto Solyman whereby he became famous in the Turks Court but much more after he had repulsed Auria from Cercenna and taken two great Genoway Ships which were coming to Auria loaded with Men and Munition the loss whereof filled the City of Genoa with much sorrow All things sorting thus according to his desire and his name become no less terrible in Spain Italy Sicily and the Islands of the Mediterranian than it was in the greatest part of Africk Solyman grieved with the loss of Corone Patras and the Castles upon the Straits of Lepanto taken from him by Auria Himerales his Admiral being shamefully put to flight by the Counsel of his Bassaes but especially of Abraham the chief Bassa sent Embassadors unto him to Algiers offering him the greatest honours of his Court and to make him Admiral of all his Fleet if he would forthwith repair unto Constantinople for why he was the only man in all mens judgments who for his years and great experience at Sea as well as for his invincible Courage and Glory of his late archieved Kingdom was to be compared with Auria and to be opposed against the Christian Fleet. Sinas a great man in Solymans Court was with this Embassage sent and speedily trasported to Algiers by Mangalis a famous Pyrat then Governor of the Rhodes who at his landing was honourably received by Barbarussa and audience given him Barbarussa understanding the cause of his coming was exceeding glad thereof presently conceiving no small hope of obtaining the Monarchy of Africk if he might once come to Solymans presence and at large shew unto him the state of Africk and power of the Christians with their continual discord amongst themselves Wherefore without further delay committing the protection of his Son Asanes then about eighteen years old and the Government of his new gotten Kingdom to Ramada and Agis two of his nigh Kinsmen and assured Friends of whose Fidelity he doubted not he with forty of his own Gallies in most warlike manner appointed set forward with Solymans Embassador towards Constantinople where by the way he met with a Fleet of Genoway Ships bound for Sicily for Corn which after a sharp and cruel fight he took and burnt After that landing by night in the Country of Elba not far from Naples he suddenly surprised Rhium a rich City where loading his Gallies with the Wealth thereof and carrying away with him all the Inhabitants into Captivity he arrived at Constantinople in the year 1533 where he was by the great Courtiers brought to Solyman of whom he was joyfully received if it were but for the Presents which he gave him which were fair Boys and young Maidens sumptuously apparrelled Eunuchs and wild Beasts of Lybia as Lyons Leopards and such like But after he had certain days discoursed at large with the great Bassaes of the State of Africk the strength of the Christians and how the Wars were to be managed he was afterwards by them seldomer sent for and offering himself into their Company was hardly admitted for Envy the inseparable Companion of growing honour had quickly overtaken him in the Court so that many men letted not openly to say It had not been the fashion of the Othoman Kings to prefer Pyrats the worst kind of Thieves to the honour of their great Admiral and that there wanted not neither ever would want men both vertuous and valiant in the Turks Court which could with great honour maintain and augment the glory of the Turkish Empire both by Sea and Land whereas he had against all right and conscience by shameful Treachery intruded himself into another mans Kingdom in Africk and there persecuted the Mahometan Princes and People being of no Religion himself as one that was born of a renegat Greek and from his youth lived as a merciless Pyrat and common Enemy of Mankind By which Speeches Barbarussa perceived in how evil time Abraham Bassa his best Friend and by whose means he was sent for was absent from Court who at that time was gone to Comagena and wintered at Aleppo with purpose as Solymans Forerunner with the first of the next Spring to pass over Euphrates against the Persian After long suit and much expectation Solyman answered Barbarussa by Ajax and Cassimes two of the great Bassaes That all the matter concerning him should be referred to the discretion of Abraham the chief Bassa for that he was by his Counsel especially sent for into Africk wherefore if he did expect any thing he should repair unto him in Syria that according to his grave judgment all things might be ordered Barbarussa thus rejected into Syria although he well perceived that it tended to his no small disgrace yet in hope by sufferance to obtain another Kingdom seemed contented with the answer and resolved forthwith to take upon him that long and painful journey which the old King lustily performed and so posting by Land through Asia the less and travelling over the Mountain Amanus then covered with deep Snow came in dead time of Winter to Aleppo in Syria where he was honourably received by the great Bassa and heard at large to his so good contentation and liking that he deemed him of all others the fittest to command the Turks Power at Sea and to that purpose writ commendatory Letters in his behalf to Solyman wishing him for his sufficiency to place him as the fourth with the other three Bassaes of his Counsel After Barbarussa was again arrived at Constantinople with these Letters and that it was once known how effectually the chief Bassa had commended him to Solyman it was a wonder to see how on a suddain the face of the Court was changed upon him every man either for Friendship or Flattery began now to speak of his praises and to extol his worthiness who was now in all mens mouths but Barbarussa so great was the Power and Authority of the chief Bassa that being absent yet was his approbation of all men accounted sufficient to prefer whom he pleased and his Letters Laws to the rest of the Court. Barbarussa had brought with him from Algiers one Roscetes the Elder Brother of Muleasses King of Tunnes who wrongfully driven into exile by his younger Brother had lived certain years at Algiers but now by the perswasion of Barbarussa was come with him to Constantinople to crave aid of Solyman against the oppression of his Brother Him Barbarussa oftentimes shewed unto the great Bassaes and in his discourses with them concerning the Conquest of Africk set him out as a most fit instrument for subduing of the Kingdom of Tunes as a man whom the People more affected than they did Muleasses the Usurper After long deliberation and consultation had with the Bassaes concerning the invasion of Africk Barbarussa now admitted unto the presence of Solyman
have gain'd on both sides God Almighty prosper and direct you to compleat it What you send to me pray let be clear to avoid Replies and that Count Marsigli may be perfectly instructâ—d who knowing the pâ—sture and â—â—moâ—r of Affairs here will I hope expedite their Counsels and resolve them The Iuncture seems very favourable and the Allies I believe very pressing this Opportunity lost God knows the Consequences Senior Marsigli will tell your Lordship some things I have charged to his Memory and desire your Lordship to send to my Lord Nottingham My haste and length of Letters will not permit me to use Cypher at present I have presumed to write to His Imperial Majesty and most of the Ministers to acknowledge my Obligations and readiness in their Interests which I humbly beg of your Lordship to deliver and if the Bearer who goes directly to your Lordâ—â—ip be present he can supply all that is deficient God Almighty prosper your good Offices I am with all Respect My LORD Your Lordship 's Most Devoted Servant William Hussey In the last Month of Iuly we left the two Ambassadors Sir William Hussey and the Heeâ— Collier at Adrianople where having received the News of the total Defeat of the Turkish Army with the Death of the Grand Vizier a stop was given to their present Motion towards Belgrade with intention to proceed with the New Vizier thither and there to reassume the Mediation towards a Peace for which the present Conjuncture seemed very seasonable The New Vizier was called Ali Pasha had been Pasha of Scio and Kahya or Deputy to Kupriogli the Grand Vizier now slain in Battle But whilst they were meditating of these Matters and preparing to accompany the New Vizier in 10 or 12 Days as was given out unto Belgrade it pleased God that the English Ambassador Sir William Hussey fell Sick and Died the 14th of September after 13 Days of Sickness at Adrianople he was a Person much lamented by all for his excellâ—nt Qualities and Experience in the Affairs of Turkey of which he had learned much at Aleppo and there gained a good Estate with which returning for England he Married the Daughter of that Worthy Person and Citizen Sir Iohn Buckworth after whose Death he was chosen by the Levant Company to be their Deputy-Governour in the Place of Sir Iohn Buckworth his Father-in-Law Deceased in which Office having acquitted himself for some Years with much Honour he was afterwards sent by King William and Queen Mary to succeed Sir William Trumball in that Embassy His Excellent Lady resolving to accompany him in all his Travels and Dangers patiently bore and sustained all the Fatigues and Inconveniencies of a Journey over Land which was never performed before by any other English Ambassador designed for Turkey who were always Transported either in the Companies own Ships or the King's Men of War by Sea But now things had changed their Face and as it was dangerous whilst the French were Masters of the Mediterranean Seas to expose those rich Ships to the danger of the Enemy so it was thought most convenient to hasten the Journey of the Ambassador by Land and that taking the Imperial Court at Vienna in his way he might there receive such Instructions from the Emperor and his Allies the King of Poland and the State of Venice as were most proper at that time in order to a Peace with the Sultan of which King William of England and the States of Holland offered themselves by their Ambassadors to be the Mediators Upon this Occasion Sir William Hussey with his Lady remained some Months at Vienna before he could procure his Dispatches and then the Winter coming on when the Danube was frozen up he departed not from Vienna until the Spring and arrived as we have related before in the Month of Iune of this present Year And whereas the Mediation of this Peace was of high Concernment to all Europe we shall here insert the Methods Rules and Instructions which the Emperor and his Allies gave to the English Ambassador in this Matter The first Paper given to Sir William Hussey at Vienna was dated March 1691 and called Informations for the English Ambassador designed to be Mediator of the Peace at Constantinople and which may serve to obviate the Objections which the Turks may make Annotata ad informationem à Dominis Ablegatis Turcicis ultimò exhibitam pro informatione Excellentissimi Domini Legati Anglici ad Portam Ottomanicam proficiscentis MISSIS omnibus iis quae Negotii tractandi substantiam alterare non videntur ad ea tantùm respondere visum fuit quae praedictam substantiam tangunt vel contra Legationis jura admissa praetenduntur à praefatis Portae Ottomanicae Doâ—minis Ablegatis ad concludendam pacem huc Missis Quorum in ordine primùm occurrit quod Domini Ablegati Turcici in praeterita sua informatione de Colloquio inter Eminentissimum Dominum Cardinalem à Kollonitsch illos in Coenobio PP Augustinianorum extra urben instituto commemorant in quo parum refert an Dominus Cardinalis à Kollonitsch illos Ablegatos Turcicos an verò hi praefatum Dominum Cardinalem à Kollonitsch ad Colloquium illud invitaverint in eo tamen substantia posita est quod nunc asseverent Domini Ablegati Turcici propositionem quam se Domini Cardinali à Kollonitsch tùm fecisse fatentur non ex mandato Portae verùm propriâ mentis occurrentià nunc demùm se fecisse profiteantur etenim saepe saepius per literas interrogati num super illa tractare sufficienter instructi sint Non tantùm se adaequata Plenipotentia provisos constanter responsoriis suis affirmarunt verùm etiam patefactam sibi diffidentiam Ministerii Caesarei super hac qualitate conceptam saepius repetitam aegrè demum ferre coeperunt quaestiuncularum inutilium nomine appellantes moram principali negotio per haec fieri questi sunt quod si ab initio statim ejusmodi propositionem Domino Cardinali factam non ex Portae mandato sed suâ tantùm privatâ mente originem ducere professi fuissent Ministerium Caesareum vel ejusmodi propositionem planè ab initio non recepisset vel de modo legis timandae dictae propositionis dictis Dominis Ablegatis temperamentum aliquod idoneum suggessisset quam circumstantiam cùm tacuissent tacere perseverassent Domini Ablegati Turcici eam nunc demum professi satis constat unde mora illorum detentionis causa processerit cui consequenter imputanda sit nam saepius per literas interrogati num puncta proposita Domino Cardinali à Kollonitsch ipsis copialiter transmissa menti suae conformia essent Affirmative responderunt quamvis non super iis quae Domino Cardinali à Kollonitsch proposita fuerunt aliquis Tractationis motus à Caesareo Ministerio ostensus sed tùm demùm fides rei adhibita fuit cum hanc ob causam
Princes in his quarrel Which Oath for all that the Pope dispensed withall as extorted by the constraint from him at such time as Saladin had longer detained him in Prison than of right he should Guy now at liberty and yet in mind a King came to Tyre but could not be there received the Citizens having before sworn their Obedience unto Conrade Marquess of Mont-Ferrat by whom they had been notably defended against the Fury of Saladin Wherefore departing thence with such power as he had and the dispersed Christians dayly repairing unto him out of all parts of Syria he came and besieged Ptâ—lemais where he had not long lien but first came unto him the Venetian Fleet with them also of Pisa and after them the Flemings with a Fleet of fifty Sail who all joyned their Forces together for the winning of the City But whilst the Christians thus lay at the Siege of Ptolemais came Saladin with a great Army to the relief of the besieged where betwixt him and the Christians was fought a great Battel wherein the Christians at the first had the better but afterward fainting and ready to flie had there undoubtedly received a notable overthrow had not Geffrey Lysignan the Kings Brother left for the guarding of the Camp in good time come in with new Supplies and not only staied their Flight but also repressed the further pursuit of the fierce Enemy now allmost in possession of the desired Victory Nevertheless there were 2000 Christians there slain and among them Gerard Master of the Templars Saladin by that which was now done perceiving how hard a matter it would be for him by Land to relieve his City sent for the Fleet which he had strongly rigged up at Alexandria and so by force put new supplies both of Men and Victuals into the besieged City Wherewith the Turks encouraged made often sallies upon the Christians and in despight of the Christian Religion whipped the Image of Christ crucified which they had for that purpose in the sight of the Christians set up on the top of the Wall. With the same Fleet also he so scoured the Seas that no Victuals or new Supplies of Men could that way without great danger be brought unto the Camp whereby such Scarcity and Want of all things began shortly after to arise among the Christians that some of them not able longer to indure the Famine fled unto the Turks Camp then lying not far off crying out for Bread. Of which distress in the Camp of the Christians Saladin knowing right well both by such Fugitives as dayly came over unto him and by his own Espials yet made shew as if he understood nothing thereof but suddenly rising with his Army as doubtful of his own Strength departed leaving his Camp full of all manner of Victuals Whereof the Christians understanding and supposing him to have for fear been gone indeed in great numbers hasted unto the forsaken Camp as unto a most desired Prey where whilst they were gorging themselves Saladin suddenly returning and getting betwixt them and home made of them a great Slaughter Nevertheless the Christians having now lien before the City six months continued the Siege all the Winter overcoming with patience the hardest difficulties in hope of aid from the other Christian Princes whose coming they expected with the first of the next Spring during which time many an hot skirmish passed betwixt them and the Turks both by Sea and Land. Whilst the Christians thus lay at the Siege of Ptolemais Frederick the Emperor year 1160. with divers of the great German Princes and others before resolved upon an expedition for the recovery of the Holy Land and the relief of the distressed Christians in Syria having now raised a great Army furnished with all things necessary for so long a journey set forward from Ratisbon and so coming to Vienna and passing through Hungaria Bulgaria and Thraâ—ia arrived at length at Constantinople where he was by Isaac Angelus the Emperor that then reigned honourably entertained but indeed more for Fear and Fashion sake than for any Love or good Will for that he after the suspicious manner of the Greeks having in distrust so great a power of the Latine Emperors wished rather for his absence than his presence And therefore ceased not in what he might to hasten his passage over into Asia pretending for colour thereof the necessity the Christians had of his present aid So the Emperor with his Army passing over the Straight and without resistance marching through the greatest part of the lesser Asia entred into Lycaonia where meeting with a great power of the Turks that were come from the Sultan of Iconium to stay his further passage he overthrew them in a great Battel and so marching directly on to Iconium took it by force and gave the Spoil thereof unto his Souldiers in revenge of the injuries before done unto his Uncle the Emperor Comrade by the Sultan of that City Departing thence and marching through Cilicia he in another Battel overthrew the Turks that having taken the Straights of the Mountains had thought to have staied his further passage into Syria After that he took the City Philomela which the Sultan had strongly fortified which he rased to the ground and put to the Sword all the People therein for that they contrary to the Law of Nations had slain such Messengers as he had sent unto them for the summoning of the City In like manner he entred into the lesser Armenia where he took the City Melitene and subdued all the Country thereabouts unto the relief whereof the Turks coming with a most huge Army were by him with an exceeding great Slaughter overthrown and put to Flight After that entring into Comagena and meeting with Saphadin Saladin his Son with a great Army of the Turks he overthrew him in the plain Field and discomfited his whole Army but whilst he too eagerly pursueth the Enemy he had then in chase his Horse foundring under him as he passed the River Saleph he was so overthrown and his Foot hanging fast in his Stirrup drawn through the deep River and almost drowned and at the farther side of he River was so plunged by his Horse at his landing that he was taken up for dead yet breathing a little and casting his Eyes up to Heaven with much ado he uttered these few words Lord receive my Soul and so in the Hands of them that took him up gave up the ghost unto the great grief and hindrance of the Christian Common-weal for Saladin hearing of his approach was so afraid of him as that he began to doubt not how to keep that he had before won in Syria but how to defend himself in Egypt Thus miserably perished this worthy Emperor the tenth of Iune in the year of Grace 1190. being then of the age of seventy years whereof he had with much trouble reigned eight and thirty His dead Body was carried along with the Army and afterward with all
having raised a most puissant Army of two hundred thousand fighting men and aided by the Armenians and Georgians passing over the Mountain Amanus into Syria not far from the City Hama met with Melcenasar the Egyptian Sultans Lieutenant with a mighty Army whom he overthrew in a great and mortal Battel wherein forty thousand of the Egyptians are reported to have been slain and so drave him quite out of Syria sending Molais one of his Captains with part of his Army to puâ—â—ue him who never left him until he had chased him over the desart Sands into Egypt The victorious Tartar after this Battel took the City of Hama where lighting upon the great Treasures of the Sultan he bountifully divided it together with the Spoil amongst his Souldiers reserving nothing thereof unto himself more than a Sword and a Casket full of secret Letters The Egyptians thus put to flight he without resistance took in most of the Cities of Syria with the City of Ierusalem also which in many places by the Turks and Egyptians defaced he again repaired and together with the Temple of our Saviour gave it to the Armenians Georgians and other Christians repairing thither out of Cyprus Crete and other places to inhabit And having himself honoured the holy places with great gifts returned with his Army to Damasco which was forthwith delivered unto him But lying there with purpose in Autumn following to have gon into Egypt and to have utterly destroyed that Kingdom he was certified of new troubles arising in Persia and some other parts of his Empire for repressing whereof he with the greatest part of his Army returned himself into Persia leaving one Capcapus Governour of Damasco who after the overthrow of the Sultans Army had revolted unto him and Molais of whom we have before spoken Governour of Ierusalem commanding them at his departure to re-edifie the City of Tyre and to send Embassadors unto the Christian Princes of the West to joyn in League with them for the more sure holding of those new gained Countries And so Tyre was indeed repaired as he had commanded and delivered to the Christians with a convenient Garrison for the keeping thereof but the Embassadors coming to the proud Bishop Boniface the Eighth then Pope whom of all others it beseemed to have furthered their buisiness they could of him obtain nothing but returned as they came For he at the same time fallen out with Philip the French King thundering out his Excommunications discharging his Subjects of their Loyalty and so much as in him was depriving him of his Kingdom had given the same unto Albertus Duke of Austria whom he had declared Emperor whereof arose great troubles Besides that he being of the Guelphes Faction was not in any thing more careful than of the utter extinguishing of the contrary Faction of the Gibellines especially of the most honourable Family of the Columnij of whom some he had slain some he had deprived of their honours some he had imprisoned and driven other some into Exile so that thus wickedly busied for the maintenance of his own proud Estate he had no leisure to further the good of the Christian Common-Weal which his intollerable pride and forgetfulness of duty long escaped not the revenging hand of God being when he thought least suddenly taken prisoner at his Fathers house in the City of Anagnia where he was born by Sara Columnius his mortal Enemy whom but lately before redeemed out of a Pirats Gally the French King had sent for that purpose with one Longaret or as some call him Nogaret a French Knight by whom the proud Prelat brought to Rome in the Castle of S. Angelo within five and thirty days after most miserably died in his madness as some report renting himself with his Teeth and devouring his own Fingers This worthy Tartar Prince Cassanes by whom the Christian Common-Weal might have again risen in Syria and the Land of Palestine had not the pride of the great Bishop and the dissention of the Christian Princes hindred the same was as Aitonus writeth who was present in this War following his Uncle the Armenian King a man of a very short Stature and exceeding hard Favour but with Valour Bounty and other Vertues of the Mind plentifully recompencing what wanted in the Feature of his Body After whose departure into Persia Capcapus Governour of Damasco considering that the power of the Tartars there left was not great and that no aid was to be expected from the other Christian Princes of the West to recompence his former Treason of revolting from the Sultan with a new revolt from the Tartar rose up into open Rebellion drawing after him not only the City of Damasco but the greatest part of Syria also Whereof Molais Governour of Ierusalem understanding was about to have gone against him with his Tartars but advertised by his Espials that Capcapus in this his Conspiracy had compacted with the Egyptian Sultan also perceiving himself too weak to withstand so great a power retired with his Tartars into Mesopotamia there expecting new Supplies both from Cassanes and the King of Armenia Of whose departure out of Syria the Egyptian Sultan understanding came directly with his Army to Ierusalem which he took being forsaken of the Inhabitants and prophaned the Temple sparing only the Sepulchre of our Saviour at the humble suit of the Religious making there a greater shew of Devotion than of Cruelty After that he won all the other lesser Towns which the Tartars had either kept for themselves or given to the other Christians and utterly rased all the Forts of the Hospitalers and Templars which valiant men without other help for the space of almost a year held out against the Tyrant in which time most of them were honourably slain the rest that were left alive being taken by the Enemy had nevertheless leave given with bag and baggage in safety to depart having before by solemn Oath for ever abjured the Country of Syria and so these worthy men the great ornaments of the Christian Common-Weal the Hospitalers and Templars which to the utmost of their power had by the space of three hundred years right worthily defended both the Christians and the Christian Religion against the Infidels in Syria and the Holy Land were now for ever driven out thence about the year of our Lord 1300 year 1300. to the great dishonour of all Christendom Wherefore with them now taking our leave of Syria and the Holy Land leaving the same in the possession of the Egyptian Sultan and the Mamalukes although it were shortly after like enough to have been again recovered from them by the Tartars had not the death of the great Tartar Prince Cassanes and their domestical troubles letted we will again return to the troubled Affairs of the Turks in the lesser Asia whither the course of the time had somewhat before called us with the occurents thereof more proper to our purpose and the argument we
for the establishing of the Succession in this new Kingdom and for the division of Othomans Treasure and Goods betwixt them two his Sons But upon view taken there was no Mony Plate or Jewels found in the Kings Coffers for that he had in his life time most bountifully bestowed it upon his men of War so that all the Wealth he left unto them his Sons was the honourable remembrance of his Life for them to imitate large Dominions for their Possessions store of ready Horses and Armor fit for service with great Herds of Beasts and Cattel for Houshold Provision Whereupon Orchanes demanded of his Brother Aladin what order he thought was best to be taken with those things by their Father so left To whom Aladin answered That it was most requiâ—ite first to establish a King in their Fathers Kingdom which like a good Shepherd might govern and defend his Subjects rule and maintain his men of War providing all things meet for defence of his Kingdom And that unto him of right belonged all these other things by their Father left as the Patrimony of his Successor for the common good and maintenance of his Estate As for mine own part said Aladin I claim no interest therein you being my elder Brother and so unto me instead of a Father by whom also you have been these two years as it were already put in possession of the Kingdom all things being committed to your Government during the time of his late sickness This modesty of Aladin was greatly commended of all the ancient Counsellors by means whereof the Kingdom in all peaceable manner descended to Orchanes In regard of which courtesie Orchanes would gladly have made Aladin his Brother President of his Council which Honour he would in no wise accept but requested rather that he would give him the Lordship of Fodore in Tekences Country which Orchanes frankly granted In which Lordship of Fodore Aladin most part lived a private and quiet life and afterwards built two Mahometan Churches and an Abbey at Prusa there yet at this day to be seen Some Latine Historiographers otherwise report this beginning of Orchanes his Reign as that Oâ—homan should have three Sons and that Orchanes the youngest obtained the Kingdom by murthering of his other Brethren A practice of late much used amongst the Turkish Princes but not before the time of Bajazet the first of that name who first of the Turkish Monarchs embrued his hands with his Brothers Blood where before they used all brotherly love one to another as the moâ—t probable Histories collected out of the Turks own Chronicles affirm The Christian Princes and Captains presently upon the death of Othoman recovered the City of Nice with divers other Castles and Forts out of the hands of the Turks as it commonly chanceth that Dominions lately won with great peril are soon again lost the Conqueror dying before there be a firm Government established Amongst other sorts by the Christians repossessed the Castle of Tzuprichiser situate upon the passages of the River Sangarius most grieved the Turks for thereby their passage into that part of Bithynia was much impeached Wherefore Orchanes desirous to recover this Castle disguised himself with a few other of his best Souldiers in the apparel of Christian Merchants and came to the Castle craving leave to pass as Merchants the Warders of the Castle verily supposing them by their Attire to be Merchants opened the Gates and let them into the Castle who presently drew their Swords slew the Warders and so by force possessed the Castle to the great benefit of the Turks and the hurt of the poor Christians yet left in the Country of Bithynia For they now having opened a way over the River Sangarius and as it were broken down the strongest defence of that side of the Greek Empire at their pleasure forraged the Country in such sort as that the great City of Nice for want of Victuals to relieve so great a multitude as for fear of the Turks was fled out of the Country into it was brought to great extremity and want For the relief whereof and for the repulsing again of the Turks Andronicus the young Emperor who then commanded with such an Army as he was then able to raise passed himself in person over the Strait of Constantinople into Asia the greatest Strength of his Army consisting in two thousand choice Horsemen the rest as well Horse as Foot being for the most part Artificers taken up in the City men altogether unacquainted with Arms who in token of their cowardise and that they were more mindful of Flight than of Fight carried over with them almost as many long Boats and such other small Vessels as they were men to be ready to receive them at such time as they should flie or else abject Rascals taken up here and there men of whom no great thing was to be expected and of all others most unfit for so great a Prince as was the Emperor to commit the defence of his Person and Honour unto But Orchanes hearing of his coming sent certain of his most expert Captains to forelay the strait passages of the Country whereby the Emperor was to pass following also himself after with his Army of purpose to encounter the Emperor Who in three days march after his landing in Asia being come to Philochrene a little Town in Bithynia and understanding that Orchanes having before taken the Straits lay not far off encamped with his Army he there at Philochrene pitched his Tents and staied that night also But the next morning the Sun as yet scarcely risen he seeing divers Companies of the Turks coming downg from the Mountains fast by put his Army into order of Battle and so set forward to meet them where to begin the Fight the Turks Archers freely bestowed their piercing shot amongst the Christians still keeping themselves aloof off so to do the more harm Which the Emperor mistaking and supposing that their keeping off to have proceeded of fear encouraged therewith commanded certain loose Companies disorderly to march forward and to skirmish with them which his more expert Captains not liking would have otherwise perswaded him as to have kept his Strength together against the danger of the Battel Nevertheless such was his youthful heat as that he could by no means be otherwise intreated but that forward needs they must But all the forenoon spent in this light and tumultuary kind of skirmishing and the Sun at the highest now shining very hot Orchanes from the top of the Mountains perceiving the Christians well wearied with the heat of the day and long skirmishing came down from the Hills with a world of men following him who with a most hideous cry charged the Christians on every side some a far off with their Arrows and some hand to hand with their Swords and other Weapons whose assault the Christians at the first most valiantly received and a great while right worthily defended themselves
as God his judgment set apart wonderful and shameful it is to consider how it was by this Turkish King Mahomet so quickly taken and the Christian Empire of the East there utterly overthrown which happened on the nine and twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord 1453. Constantinus Palaeologus the Son of â—elena and last Christian Emperor being then slain when he had reigned about eight years Since which time it hath continued the Imperial Seat of the Turkish Emperors and so remaineth at this day The Potestates and Citizens of Pera otherwise called Galata a City standing opposite against Constantinople on the other side of the â—aven and then under the Government of the Genoways doubting to run the same course of misery with their Neighbours sent their Orators unto Mahomet the same day that Constantinople was taken offering to him the Keys of their Gates and so to become his Subjects Of which their Offer Mahomet accepted and sent Zoganus with his Regiment to take possession of the City Who coming thither according to Mahomet his Commandment there established the Turkish Government confiscated the Goods of all such as were fled and used the rest of the Citizens which staid with such Insolency and Oppression as that their misery was not much less than theirs of Constantinople and because it was doubted that the Genoways might by Sea give Aid unto the Citizens if they should at any time seek to revolt he caused all the Walls and Fortresses of the City which were toward the Land to be cast down and laid even with the ground Thus is the fatal period of the Greek Empire run and Mahomet in one day become Lord of the two famous Cities of Constantinâ—ple and Pera the one taken by Force the other by Composition At which time the misery of Pera was great but that of Constantinople justly to be accounted amongst the greatest Calamities that ever happened to any Christian City in the World. Mahomet had of long time born a secret grudge against Caly-Bassa sometimes his Tutor for that by his means Amurath his Father in the dangerous time of the Hungarian Wars had again resumed unto himself the Government of the Turkish Kingdom which he had before resigned unto him then but young But forasmuch as he was the chief Bassa and had for many years ruled all things at his pleasure to the general good liking of the people during the Reign of old Amurath and was thereby grown to be of such Wealth Credit and Authority as no man had at any time obtained greater under any of the Othoman Kings Mahâ—met in the beginning of his Reign before he was established in his Kingdom durst not take Revenge of that Injury as he deemed it but yet still kept it in remembrance warily dissembling his deep conceived hatred as if he had quite forgot it Nevertheless sometime for all his wariness words fell from him whereby the wary Courtiers which as curiously weigh their Princes words as the cunning Goldsmith doth his finest Gold easily perceived the secret grudge that stuck in his stomach against the Bassa and thereby divined his fall to be at hand So it hapned one day that as Mahomet was walking in the Court he saw a Fox of the Bassaes tied in a chain which after he had a while earnestly looked upon he suddenly brake into this Speech Alas poor Beast hast thou no money to give thy Master to set thee at liberty Out of which words curious heads gathâ—red much matter concerning the Kings disposition towards the Bassa This ominous surmising of the Courtiers which oft-times proveth too true was not unknown unto the Bassa himself but troubled him much wherefore to get himself out of the way for a season more than for any devotion he took upon him to go in Pilgrimage to visit the Temple of the great Prophet as they term him at Mecha which amongst the Turks is holden for a right Religious and Meritorious Work hoping that the young Kings displeasure might in time be mittigated and his malice asswaged But Mahomet perceiving the distrust of the Bassa and whereof it proceeded seemed to take knowledge thereof and with good words comforted him up willing him to be of good chear and not to misdoubt any thing neither to regard the vain Speech of foolish people assuring him of his undoubted Favour and the more to put him out of all suspition continually sent him rich Gifts and heaped upon him new Honours as if of all others he had esteemed him most Until that now at the taking of Constantinople it was discovered by Lucas Leontares that he had Intelligence with the late Emperor of Constantinople and his Letters produced For which cause or as the common report went for the old grudge that the Tyrant bare against him as also for his great Wealth he was by Mahomets commandment apprehended and carried in bonds to Hadrianople where after he had with exquisite torments been enforced to confess where all his Treasures lay he was most cruelly in his extream old age executed After whose death his Friends and Servants which were many for he was a man greatly beloved in Court in token of their grief put on Mourning Apparel so that in the Court appeared a great shew of common sorrow wherewith Mahomet being offended caused Proclamation to be made That all such as did wear such Mourning Apparel should the next day appear before him at which time there was not one to be seen about the Court in that heavy Attire for fear of the Tyrants displeasure After that Mahomet was thus become Lord of the Imperial City of Constantinople as is aforesaid and had fully resolved there to place his Imperial Seat he first repaired the Walls and other Buildings spoiled in the late Siege and by Proclamations sent forth into all parts of his Dominions gave great Priviledges and Immunities to all such as should come to dwell at Constantinople with free liberty to exercise what Religion or Trade they pleased Whereby in short time that great and desolate City was again well peopled with such as out of divers Countries resorted thither but specially with the Jewish Nation which driven out of other places came thither in great numbers and were of the Turks glady received So when he had there establisht all things according to his hearts desire he took upon him the Name and Title of an Emperor and is from that time not unworthily reputed for the first Emperor of the Turks Now among many fair Virgins taken Prisoners by the Turks at the winning of Constantinople was one Irene a Greek born of such incomparable Beauty and rare Perfection both of Body of Mind as if Nature had in her to the admiration of the World laboured to have shewn her greatest skill so prodigally she had bestowed upon her all the Graces that might beautifie or commend that her so curious a Work. This Paragon was by him that by chance had taken her
Lords his Confederates and the Embassadors of the Venetians into his Bed-Chamber Where after he had at large with greater pain notably discoursed of his troublesome life led among them than he had before passed the same and carefully forewarned them of the dangers like to ensue he earnestly exhorted them to continue in Unity and Concord and valiantly to stand in defence of their Religion Country and Liberty And afterwards turning his Speech to his Wife and his Son commended them both with his Kingdom to the tuition of the Venetians who by the Articles of the Confederation betwixt him and them were in honour bound to protect his Son and Kingdom during the time of his Minority and afterwards peaceably to place him in the same In fine he willed his Wife after his Death to pass over with her Son into Apulia where they might in safety and quiet live upon such Possessions as he there held by the Gift of King Ferdinand And so after he had with most fervent prayer commended his Soul into the hands of Almighty God departed in peace the 17 th day of Ianuary in the year of our Lord 1466. when he had lived about 63 years and thereof raigned about 24. His death was worthily lamented of all Christian Princes but especially of the Venetians and Princes of Albania who had now lost their most careful Watchman and invincible Champion the sorrow of his Subjects is not to be expressed every man bewailing him as the only stay of the Common-weal and as if with him they had lost all their hope His dead Body was with the general Lamentation of all Men royally buried in the Cathedral-Church of St. Nicholas at Lyssa where it rested in peace until that about nine years after the Turks coming to the Siege of Scodra by the way took the City of Lyssa and there with great devotion digged up his Bones reckoning it some part of their happiness if they might but see or touch the same and such as could get any part thereof were it never so little caused the same to be set some in Silver some in Gold to hang about their Necks or wear upon their Bodies perswading themselves by the wearing thereof to be partakers of such good fortune and hap as had Scanderbeg himself whilst he lived which is not unaptly by Gabriel Fairnus of Cremona thus in Verse expressed Turcarum clades Othomanni nominis horror Epiri tutela illo jacuere Sepulchro Quo quondam invicti cubuerunt ossa Georgi Nunc membra viri dissectum in frustra sepulchrum Interijt sparsi manes conscisa vaguntur Ossa nec in gelida nunc saltem morte quiescunt Namque ut is assertum toties cum laude paternum Imperium exacta moriens aetate reliquit Illicet immanes tenuerunt omnia Turcae Tum clari Herois venerati nobile bustum Ossaque marmoraque invictum condentia corpus Abstuierant sibi quisque in partes secta minutas Tanquam ijs bellica vis Martiuss ardor inesset Et genium praestare bonum sortemque valerent Sic quae alijs tumulum virtus parat abstulit illi Atque cadem diro venerandum praebuit hosti In English thus The bloody Bane of faithless Turks and terrour of their Name Epirus strong defence and guard lay buried there with fame Within that Tomb wherein long since Great Castriotus lay But now those Limbs and Tomb defac'd are carried quite away The remnants of that worthy Wight out of his grave were torn And being dead could find no rest but were for Jewels worn For after he far spent with age gave place to fatal Doom And left his Fathers Kingdom got and kept with great Renown Forthwith the cruel Turks prevail'd and all things there possest Who worshipping his stately Tomb and place of quiet rest Dig'd up his Bones and brake the Tomb wherein he did remain And glad was he that could thereof some little part obtain As if in them some Martial force or vertue great had been Or fortune rare such as before in him was living seen So Vertue which to others gives a Sepulture and Grave Bereft it him yet forc'd his Foe in Honour it to have Most part of the times of those Wars betwixt Mahomet and Scanderbeg the Venetians by Sea and the Hungarians by Land kept the Turks throughly busied Mathias Corvinus King of Hungary according to his promise made unto the Venetians entred into the Kingdom of Bosna where by force he overthrew the strong Forts which the Turks had built for the defence of their Frontiers and manfully drave them out before him until he came to Iaziga of some called Iaitze the chief City of Bosna which he at length took and following the course of his Victory scarcely sufferd the Turks to breath until he had by force wrested all that Kingdom out of their hands Wherewith Mahomet being exceedingly grieved in great fury came with a strong Army into Bosna and laid hard Siege to Iaziga which was by the Christians right valiantly defended until Mathias with a puissant Army came to the Relief thereof who so troubled the Turks Camp with continual Skirmishes on the one side and they of the Town with desperate Sallies on the other that at length the proud Turk was driven to such extremity that he was glad secretly to steal away by night with all his Army into Servia and for hast to leave behind him both his Tents and great Ordnance which the Turks Histories report he caused to be cast into the River because it should not come into the hands of the Christians Mathias after he had thus valiantly put to flight his Enemies and relieved his City followed the Turks into Servia and took part of that Country alâ—o which together with Bosna he united to the Kingdom of Hungary In these Wars Mahomet had such proof of the Force and Power of Mathias and the Hungarian that for a good while after he had no great stomach to provoke them farther for why the name of Mathias was now become unto the Turks no less dreadful than was sometime the name of his Father the valiant Huniades The Venetians at the same time also with their Gallies scoured the Seas and landing their Men sometime in one place sometime in another did great harm in many places of the Turks Dominion near unto the Sea coast Amongst other their Generals at divers times sent from that State one Nicholas Canalis succeeding Lauretanus whom we have before spoken of as soon as he had received his Charge came with his Fleet into the Bay of Salonichi and landing his Men burnt divers Towns and Villages alongst the Sea side And afterwards returning into Peloponnesus he fortified the Town of Legosticium in the Gulf of Patras which work the Turks with their often Skirmishes laboured to have hindred but in despite of all they could do it was brought to perfection and a strong Garrison therein left for the defence thereof which
Naples where he found the Gates now shut against him and all the Citizens up again in Arms and not willing to receive any of the Souldiers which came from Capua more than the King himself for flying Fame preventing his return had filled every corner of the City with report That all the chief Captains of his Army were either gone over to the Enemy or else for safeguard of their lives fled That the whole Army was broken up and Capua yielded to the French. Wherefore the Neapolitans framing their fancies according to the condition of the time began now also to fawn upon the good fortune of the French and to have King Ferdinand in contempt which he well perceiving and fetching a compass farther off from the City came unto the Castle whereinto he was received with his Followers by his faithful Captains therein before left But providently foreseeing that he could not there long stay but that he should be besieged by his Enemies both by Sea and Land he commended the keeping of that Piece unto Alphonsus D'avalus a most valiant Captain and departed himself with 20 Gallies well appointed unto Aenaria an Island not far from Naples having in it a commodious Harbour and a strong Castle where Fortune never firm but in misery seemed again to deride the poor remainder of his Honour for coming thither the Captain of the Castle unworthily named Iustus forgetting his duty towards his Soveraign of whom he had before received many extraordinary favours most traiterously now in his so hard distress shut the Gates of the Castle against him at his landing and unkindly refused to receive him With which unexpected ingratitude the poor King was wonderfully perplexed and almost abashed yet with earnest intreaty and ample commemoration of the benefits and preferments which both his Father and himself had in times past bestowed upon him he prevailed so much with this unthankful man that he was content to receive him into the Castle so that he would come but himself alone of which his offer when no more could be got the King seemed to accept So the Captain having opened a Port to receive him in was in the very entrance thereof suddainly stab'd to the heart with a Dagger by King Ferdinand and slain in the midst of his armed Souldiers which was done with such a Countenance and Majesty that the Warders with their Weapons in their hands dismaid with his look forthwith at his commandment opened the Gate and received him in with all his Followers Whereby it appeareth That in the Countenances of Princes resteth a certain Divine Majesty in all Fortunes above the common course of Nature which is of power to daunt the Hearts of most disloial Traitors in the performance of their unnatural Treasons The next day after the departure of King Ferdinand from the Castle of Naples Charles the French King was received into the City with such Pomp Triumph and Acclamation of the Neapolitans as if they had even then by the benefit of that forraign King been restored to perfect Liberty and delivered out of some long and hard Bondage Shortly after the Castle of Naples with all the strong places thereabout were yielded unto the French and Embassadors sent from all the Princes and People of that Kingdom yielding themselves into the power of the French King. Then Ferdinand seeing all lost and gone departed from Aenaria where he lay expecting the event of his hard fortune and sailed into Cicilia Thus the House of Aragon in less than five months lost the Kingdom of Naples about sixty three years after it was first taken from the French by Alphonsus the elder this Ferdinand his great Grandfather The report of the great preparation made by the French for this War had long before filled the Ears of them which dwelt in any part of the Turks Dominions in Europe but when they saw the French Ensigns displaied upon the Walls of the Castles and strong Towns alongst the coast of Calabria and Salerne such a suddain fear fell upon the Turks Garrisons alongst the coast of Epirus and Macedonia on the other side of the Adriatick over against that part of Italy that many of them forsook their charge the Christians in those places as also in Grecia and Peloponnesus beginning then to lift up their heads in hope of their deliverance and to make the best preparation they could to joyn with the French against the Turks but especially the rough and wild People inhabiting the high Mountains called Acrocheraunij in the borders of Epirus who presently took up Arms refusing to be any longer tributary unto the Turkish Emperor This prosperous and speedy success of the French King in the conquest of Naples filled the minds of most of the Christian Princes as also of the Turkish Emperor with a doubtful expectation whither his greatness would grow many being of an opinion that he covertly affected the Empire of Rome and to make himself the sole Monarch of Italy Which conceit no little troubled both the great Bishop Alexander and Maximilian then Emperor Bajazet also feared much lest he should upon the suddain turn his Forces into Epirus or Grecia to his no small disquiet And Ferdinand the advised King of Spain was no less careful for the safety of Silicia Lodovicus Sfortia also shortly after created Duke of Millan the chief occasion of the French Kings coming into Italy and a great aider of him in those Wars began now to consider better of the matter and to stand in doubt of the King whom he well perceived to make small reckoning of his word or promise so that he might thereby enlarge his Dominions And the Venetians who in all these Wars had stood looking on as neuters in hope that when the Aragonians and French had with long Wars which they vainly imagined well weakned one another that they might then at their pleasure share out something for themselves were now in doubt with the rest of the States of Italy to lose some part of their own Territory for now there was no Prince or State in Italy able to oppose themselves against the French but stood all as it were at his devotion Wherefore the aforesaid Princes namely Maximilian the Emperor Ferdinand King of Spain Alexander Bishop of Rome the State of Venice and Lodovicus Sfortia Duke of Millan for the more assurance of their Estates by their Embassadors speedily sent from one to another concluded a strong League among themselves whereof the chief Capitulation was That if any of these Confederates should upon their own accord make War upon any other Prince they should do it upon their own charges but if any of them should chance to be invaded by any other that then every one of these Confederates should of their own charge send four thousand Horse and ten thousand Foot in aid of their Confederates so invaded until the Wars were ended which League was to endure for twenty years The fame of this League was
of fence and such other Teachers who carefully instructed them being shut up in their Schools in all manner of feats of Activity where after they were become able to bend a strong Bow and taught cunningly to Shoot Leap Run Vault Ride and skilfully to use all manner of Weapons they were then taken into pay and received into the number of the Kings Horsemen or Mamalukes and such of them as proved cowardly or unapt were made slaves unto the rest So that they seeing all honour credit and preferment laied up in martial prowess did with all diligence and courage imploy themselves to military Affairs and therein so well profited that oftentimes they which at the first were but bare and base slaves of the meanest of the Mamalukes by many degrees of service rise at length to the highest degrees of Honour All these Mamalukes were the Children of Christian Parents from the time of their Captivity instructed in the Mahometan Superstition for no Man born of a Mahometan Father or of a Jew could be admitted into the number of the Mamaluke Horsemen which was so straitly observed that the honour of a Mamaluke Horseman never descended unto the Sons of the Mamalukes yet might they by Law inherit their Fathers Lands Possessions and Goods by which reason the Sons of the Sultans themselves never succeeded their Fathers in the Kingdom Hereby also it came to pass that many Christians of loose life or condemned for their notorious offences flying thither and abjuring the Christian Religion and suffering themselves to be Circumcised being Men meet for the Wars grew by degrees to great Honour as did Tangarihardinus the Son of a Spanish Mariner who by his forwardness and industry grew into such credit and authority with Campson the great Sultan that almost all things were done by his advice and counsel and was divers times by him imployed in most honourable service being sent Embassador both to Bajazet the Turkish Emperor and to the State of Venice about matters of great importance Yet his impiety escaped not the hand of God for at length by the envy of the Court he was brought into disgrace thrust out of his place and cast into prison where he loaded with cold Iron most miserably died Neither was it to be marvelled if the Mamalukes were grown to that excess of wealth forasmuch as the Egyptians and Syrians being miserably by them oppressed were not suffered to have the use either of Horse or Armor neither admitted to any matters of counsel but being impoverished and brought low with heavy impositions and daily injuries of the Mamalukes gave themselves wholly to the Trade of Merchandise Husbandry and other mechanical Occupations over whom the Mamalukes had power and command as imperious Masters over their Servants and would with greater insolency than is to be believed abuse the poor Country People beating and spoiling them at their pleasure and not so contented Ravishing their Wives and Daughters without redress The Egyptians a People in ancient time much renowned for their valour and prowess were by their masterful slaves kept in this miserable thraldom and slavery about the space of three hundred years For after the declination of the Roman Empire that rich Country falling into the Government of the Constantinopolitan Emperors the Egyptians soon weary of the proud and avaritious Sovereignty of the Greeks called in the Sarasins by whose help they expulsed the Greeks and after chose the General of the Sarasins for their King after whose name the Egyptian Kings were of long time called Caliphs as they had of ancient time been called by the names of Pharo and Ptolomey The last of these Caliphs Reigned at such time as the Christians under the leading of Godfrey and Bohemund passing as Conquerors through Asia and Syria erected the Kingdom of Ierusalem He being invaded by Almericus sixth King of Ierusalem and finding himself too weak praied aid of the Sultan of Syria who sent him Sarraco a valiant Captain with a strong power to aid him but Sarraco no less unfaithful than couragious treacherously slew the Caliph in whose aid he came and took upon himself the Kingdom After Sarraco succeeded Saladine his his Brothers Son who utterly extinguished the name and authority of the Caliphs in Egypt whom Sarraco had yet left as high Priests This Saladine oftentimes vanquished the Christian Armies in Syria and Iudea and at length quite overthrew the Kingdom of Ierusalem as it is in the former part of this History to be seen Saladine dying left the Kingdom of Egypt to his Brother whose posterity successively reigned of long time there until the time of Melechsala This Melechsala last of the freeborn Kings and of the posterity of Saladine had great and mortal Wars with the Christians wherein having lost most of his best Souldiers and reposing no great confidence in the Egyptians thought good to strengthen himself with a new kind of Souldiers meer slaves bought for Mony. For at that time the Tartars breaking into Armenia and Cappadocia and overrunning the People called Comani joyning upon Cappadocia made general spoil of that People as of Prisoners taken by Law of Arms. Of this base People Melechsala for a little Mony bought a great multitude which he transported into Egypt and furnished them with Arms by whose prowess he not only defended the Frontiers of his Kingdom but also besieged Lewis the French King in his Trenches not far from Damiata called in ancient time Heliopolis or Pelustum and shortly after in plain Battel took him Prisoner as is long before declared But in the pride of this Victory Melechsala was by the conspiracy of these his new Souldiers slain in whose place they set up one Turqueminius a desperate Fellow of their own Company honouring him with the Title of the great Sultan of Egypt Turqueminius of â— base Slave now become a great Monarch after the manner of Men forgetting his old Companions which had so highly promoted him and having them in great disdain was by one of them called Clotho suddenly slain for which Fact he was by those base Souldiers his Companions chosen Sultan in his place who for the short time of his Reign did much for the confirming of that servile Monarchy yet was he at length slain also by Bandocader sometimes one of his fellow Servants who also succeeded him in the Kingdom After him in long order succeeded many valiant Men of the same servile state and condition whom for brevity I wittingly pass over Amongst the rest Caitheius of whom we have before spoken in the life of Bajazet was for wealth and martital prowess most Famous who according to the manner of his Predecessors did with greater bounty and care maintain that servile Government than any of them who had before him Reigned in Egypt and was for his notable Government and noble Acts justly accounted amongst the greatest Princes of that Age. After whose death great troubles arose in that servile Monarchy about the Succession
a new War except he will have the remainder of your War the fatal Plague of his Empire to prey still upon his Subjects all which strong places he shall have without slaughter without bloodshed as reason is if he should let you and us poor wretches depart in safety with a little trash Except these worldly considerations have moved him to mercy and compassion then out of doubt it is wrought by divine power and the secret favour of God towards us and of our Saviour Christ Iesus Crucified Whereunto if you be Men well advised if Religious if mindful of the duty of Christians it becometh not you to oppose any Obstacle and with the ruine of your selves to destroy this miserable People which for this half years Siege hath scarcely had so much rest as might suffice the necessity of nature standing for you in Battel enduring both Wounds and Death for your Honour and Victory by whose faithful labour and diligence you have been always holpen both at home and abroad whether you Invaded the Turk by Land in Mytilene Naupactus Methone Patras or other parts of Peloponnesus or else by Sea thrust him out of the Possession of the Ionian or Aegeum whereby it may appear even unto a Blind Man how injurious it is and far from truth to object unto us That enjoying the Fruits of Peace we refuse the Charges of Wars nay we never refused Wars But now it is come to that point that if we would never so fain make Wars we are not able so to do the flower of our youth being slain and the small remainder that is left not only weakned in Body with Wounds Sickness Watching and restless Labour but also in Mind discouraged whilst all things fall out prosperously to our Enemies and to us adverse the greatest and best part of our great Artillery being broken with continual use which if it were whole we could have thereof small use or profit for want of Powder which not only this City now wanteth but also your strong Holds Lerus Lyndus Halicarnassus Arangia I was never desirous or curious to look into other Mens doings much less into your manner of War but yet Great Master you cannot deny but it is so who have caused Souldiers to be brought from thence hither openly and Gunpowder secretly by which Policy you have withstood your forreign Enemy these six Months and deceived the treachery of one or two domestical Traitors But I gladly admit we have all these things I stand upon the truth I say not what most Men say but I speak to please a few and suppose we wanted neither Armour nor Courage I would then ask you this whether they would advise you to use them to your defence or to your destruction For unto both it cannot be no more than at once to be a Freeman and a Slave To use them to your destruction that were madness and senseless pride hateful to Goâ— and Man you should therefore use them to defence but how shall we defend a City I do not say as the truth is already lost and possessed by the Enemy wherein he reigneth rangeth and turneth all upside down But having the Walls battered down a great Breach in the Spanish Station and another not like but even now as good as made in the Italian Station how shall we be able to keep this unfortunate Town battered and rent at the French English and Avergne Stations and the Tower of St. Nicholas Which if it were not so battered and bared of all Warlike Provision but sound and throughly furnished with Munition and Victual yet necessity enforcing and reason perswading you ought to forsake it forsomuch as all power of further resistance is taken from you Do you not see how easily and almost without any trouble the Enemy by means of the Castle he hath new Built upon the Mount Philermo not past two Miles distant can take from you all manner of Provision both by Sea and Land and restrain you from going out or in Truly notable Gentlemen honâ—urable for your Martial Prowess you see and have long ago foreseen these things better than I altogether ignorant in Martial Affairs altogether busied in the Trade of Merchandise and caring for my Family yet suffer me to say the truth All the Powers whereby this Kingdom stood are departed and gone against the force of our Enemies no policy of force remaineth and to expect Armies of Angels or Souldiers from Heaven and other such like Miracles is in my judgment more and more to provoke God to anger although in his anger he be unto us merciful Wherefore being destitute of all worldly help let us as we may provide for our safety I beseech thee worthy Great Master by these my aged Tears by the natural piety ingrafted in thy noble nature expose not this miserable City to the spoil of the Enemy our old and middle aged Men to the Sword our Wives and Daughters to be Ravished our Boys and Yâ—uths to the unnatural filthiness of our barbarous Enemies and to be corrupted with the mad and gross Opinion of the ungodly Mahometan Superstition I would noble Knights you had seen with what Tears with what Mourning our heavy Families and Children crying about their Mothers sent us hither and what Prayers they made for us at our departing I would you knew with what mind and how great hope they expect their safety from your clemency and advised resolution This Speech of the aged Greek might have moved a Heart of Flint but the Great Master who in his countenance shewed a greater courage than his present state required commanding every Man to his charge after the matter had been thus most part of the night discoursed gave then no other answer but That he would be careful of all their well doing The next mornning he sent for Prejanes Martiningus and a few other of the greatest judgment and experience by whom he was fully resolved that the City in so many places by the Enemy laid open and shaken was not possibly to be long defended whereupon he caused a Common-Council to be called of all the Knights of the Order together with the Burgesses of the City where after long debating whether they should fight it out to the last Man or yield upon such Conditions as were to be obtained It was by general consent concluded that the City should be yielded and thereupon a Decree made which was by the Great Master pronounced Whilst these things were thus in doing a Truce was taken with the Enemy for four days but full of fear and danger During which time divers of the Turks presuming upon the Truce came by great Companies to behold the Walls and Rampiers of the City wherewith Fornovius the Frenchman of whom mention is before made being sore moved in his choler without further command discharged a Tire of great Ordnance among the thickest of them contrary to the Truce taken At which time also the Rhodians received into the
Gallies he expected out of Spain but held on his course towards Grecia for it was told him that the Enemies Fleet daily increased by the coming in of the Turkish Pirats and that Assem-Beg otherwise called the Moor of Alexandria an arch Pirat was still looked for in whose good directions the Turkish Captains reposed the greatest hope of their Victory When he was come as far as Zazynthus he was informed by the Venetians That Luftibeius Bassa or rather Lutzis Bassa the Turks great Admiral and Solymans Brother in law with Solyman of Acarnania and the Moor men for their skill at Sea of great Fame and Reputation lay before Corone with eighty Gallies manned with divers Companies of the old Janizaries so that it was thought a matter of exceeding peril for him to adventure to relieve the Town except he took the advantage of some prosperous gale of Wind. Wherefore Auria to have yet more certain knowledge of the Enemies Fleet sent before him Christopher Palavicine with one Gally again to view the manner of the Enemies lying who passing the Promontory of Acrites saw all the Turks great Fleet lying in very good order before the City and so returned to Auria confirming that the Venetians had before reported and that the Turks Fleet was greatly increased and lay ready as it should seem to give him battel as soon as he should approach the City For all that Auria nothing dismaid with the greatness of the Turks Fleet made no stay but still kept on his course and with a fair gale of Wind passing the Promontory of Acrytes came directly towards Corone Two great Gallions of all the Fleet the most War-like Ships came formost whereof the one was Aurias's own which he had built with a wonderful Charge and the other was of Sicilia These two great Ships were appointed by Auria to turn a little upon the left hand and at such time as the Enemy should set forward from the shore to cast Anchor betwixt both the Fleets that as occasion should serve they might as out of two strong Castles beat the Turks Gallies with their great Ordnance wherewith they were for that purpose wonderfully stored Next unto these great Gallions followed the other War-like Ships with full sails after whom came the Gallies in three Squadrons whereof Salviatus had the leading of the right Wing which consisted of the Bishop of Romes Gallies and them of Malta in the left Wing and near unto the Enemy commanded Antonius Auria and in the middle was Auria himself At the first sight of the Christian Fleet the Turks moved not from the shore but discharged their Ordnance at them afar off and then begun to set forward and to draw nearer especially the Moor who with greater courage than the rest assailed the side and the rereward of the Fleet for the Christians keeping on their course right forth to Corone and turning nothing to the left hand as was before appointed seemed as if they had fled and so much the more for that the Gallies in the right Wing for fear of the Turks great Ordnance did fetch a great compass farther off into the Sea and many of the middle Squadron and of the left Wing also had disorderly thrust themselves in amongst the Ships although they had received little or no harm of the Enemies great shot In this confusion of the Christian Navy the Moor requested Lutzis the Admiral not to let slip so fair an occasion wherein the Christian Fleet might easily have been overthrown but whilst Lutzis doth slowly and considerately set forward Auria in the mean time had put his Fleet again in order and with a fair Wind was come to Corone Two of the Ships by the way falling foul one on another staid behind being not able to keep way with the rest about which all the Turks Gallies presently flockt and took the lesser of them killing all the Spaniards they found therein Out of this they boorded the greater and with a bloody fight had won the Forecastle and Wast of the Ship when Auria accounting it no small dishonour to have his Ships so surprised at his heels caused all his Gallies to turn again upon the Enemy to rescue those Ships The Turks seeing that and with the Westernly Wind by little and little fallen down so far with the Ships that they were come within the danger of the shoâ—t of the Town began with great stir to forsake the Ships and to betake themselves to their Oars and so in manner of flight withdrew themselves Whom Auria pursued a good way to Modon thundring in their Poupes with his great shot which he liberally bestowed amongst them whilst in the mean time Antonius Auria came to rescue the two distressed Ships There the Spaniards which but a little before had hardly maintained their close fights began now as men revived to shew themselves and couragiously to make resistance and they which came with Antonius Auria to their rescue entring with wonderful celerity on every side slew and took 300 Janizaries which with great courage had entred those Ships and were there left by the sudden departure of their Fellows Amongst whom was taken one Iosuphus an old Captain of 1000 Janizaries to whom Auria after he was come to Corone gave a fair Suit of Apparel and a chain of Gold and so set him at liberty without any ransome thereby to provoke the Turks to the like kind of courteous dealing with the Christians Assam-beg the Pirate and the other Captains of the Turks Fleet wonderfully blamed Lutzis the Admiral for that he would not then fight with the Christians when as he was thereto most earnestly requested both by the Captains and Souldiers in general and had a fair opportunity of Victory offered at such time as the Christians Fleet was disordered but he excused himself saying That it was given him in special Charge from Solyman the Emperor That he should in any case respect the safety of his Navy and not to come to the hazard of a battel The Turks which besieged the City by Land upon the approach of the Christian Fleet forsook their Trenches and fled at which time Mendoza the Governor sallying out took great store of Victual and War-like provision which the Turks had for hast left behind them So Auria to his great honour having driven the Turks from Corone both by Sea and Land furnished the City with store of Corn Wine Victual Powder and Shot and committed the defence thereof to Macicaus and the Companies of the mutinous Spaniards which he had brought from Naples comforting the Greeks and exhorting them patiently for a while to endure those Calamities of War telling them that the Emperor would the next Spring make War against the Turks both by Sea and Land in Peloponnesus and free them from the Turkish Bondage And so imbarking the old Garrison of Spaniards departed from Corone and came before Modon where he lay as it were braving the Turks
excel them both in number of Men and Gallies this is more to be reckoned of that we excel them in Valour and Prowess for you being old expert Souldiers from your infancy trained up in the Wars hardened in infinite Battels and full of courage and strength shall fight against weak fresh-water and effeminate Souldiers who entertained for pay of the refuse of all Nations know nothing belonging to the Wars or forcibly pressed out of Cities serve not because they would but because they must neither will nor choose But not to speak more of the manner of the Christian Souldiers who are nothing else than the perpetual excercise of your renown and prowess and to come unto him under whose fortune and conduct they serve What should I say Should I compare either of us who have spent our Lives in Victories and Triumphs who born and brought up amongst Arms have with our right hands gained unto our selves Honour and Fame with this stripling and half months Captain who never saw Battels but these Who in a less matter never shewed proof of himself why should he be accounted of in a greater who in so weighty a cause needed a Tutor and such a one as indeed beareth the Name of a General more for his honour that for any worth in himself Besides amongst the Enemies is such dissention that every Man regardeth his own private serveth as pleaseth himself contemneth and is contemned Whereas with us is such consent that it cannot be devised how the Souldiers in general should more trust their Commanders or the Commanders their Souldiers What things were by the discipline of War or carefulness of a General to be prepared all those you have abundantly and plentifully in readiness only this last warlike labour remaineth which once dispatched our Enemies shall be discomfited even in that wherein their greatest confidence resteth They shall be dispoiled of their Honour and Traffick at Sea and that once subdued which is alone the glory of the Sea there shall be no hope left for the Christians whether by Sea or Land and that we have always wished Italy fair Italy wherein these matters are plotted against us shall be in our hand and power wherefore let us with such courage assail our Enemies as beseemeth most victorious Conquerors Men so many times conquered And so set forward as if you saw our Emperor himself encouraging you and giving you the signal of Battel of his bounty and the present victory expecting all felicity and bliss This comfortable Speech with great gravity delivered by the Bassa so encouraged the Turks as that they all with one voice and mind seemed to desire nothing more than Battel for they still possessed with the first report of Caracoza and encouraged by the Bassaes Speech were in good hope to have fought the Battel upon great advantage and therefore thought upon nothing but present Victory Whereupon setting forward with great chearfulness they came out of the Gulf and shaped their Course for the Islands Echinades about midway betwixt Lepanto and Patras before little Islands or rather obscure Rocks scarcely appearing in the Sea but now to be made famous throughout the World by the most notable Battel that ever was fought in those Seas The Christians also coming still on towards the Enemy the seventh of October in the afternoon understood by their Espials that the Turks Fleet was coming and even now at hand whereupon the General commanded the great Ensign of the Confederates the appointed signal of Battel to be forthwith displayed and a great warning Piece to be shot off out of his Admiral Gally And himself glistering all in bright Armor with Cardona Admiral of Sicilia and Soto his Secretary in a long Boat went to all the Squadrons of the Fleet one after another exhorting them with chearful countenance to follow their Leaders and to play the Men remembring that they that day carried in their hands the Wealth Honour Glory and Liberty of their Countries yea and the very Religion of their Forefathers and that that days Victory would bring unto them and theirs perpetual Felicity whereas otherwise if they should as Cowards suffer themselves to be overcome and vanquished it would be unto them the beginning of all manner of most woful calamities To which and other like his Speeches the Captains and Souldiers before of themselves chearful enough in every place where he came gave such applause with the joyful cry of Victory Victory so often and so chearful in all places resounded as that it was taken as a lucky aboadment of the glorious Victory shortly after ensuing In like manner Auria in the right Wing and Barbadicus in the left for the Fleet kept the same order that they had appointed before at Messina ceased not by all comfortable Speeches to encourage their Followers shewing unto them That now the time was come they so long wished for wherein they not oppressed with multitude might at length shew their true Valour against the false and faithless Enemies who being indeed nothing else but base and contemptible Slaves born to bondage and having lost their own liberty came to impugn the liberty of others bringing with them a greater terror of their name than valour of their persons and that therefore if ever they would now shew themselves valiant and couragious and that day wherein of all others true force was to be seen to abate the pride of the barbarous and cruel Enemy and to make their rejoycing for the Conquest of Cyprus short before they had well tasted the pleasure thereof At which time also the Captains generally throughout the Fleet with chearful countenances and couragious speech encouraged their Souldiers leaving nothing unsaid that might hearten them on or undone that might further the Victory Neither were the Turks wanting to themselves although it was fallen out much contrary to their expectation to see the Christians who they before thought durst not have shewed themselves now ready to dare them Battel but encouraged with their former Victories and furthered with a fair gale of Wind came on proudly with their Fleet orderly and gallantly set after their wonted manner in form of a Croisant or half Moon their fortunate Ensign nevertheless in their coming on they were much troubled with the brightness of the Sun which then shining full in their faces with his bright beams so dazled their eies that they could not well see how to their most advantage to direct their Gallies In this Fleet of the Turks were two hundred and fifty Gallies fifty Galliots and twenty Brigadines and other small Vessels all which a far off shewed like a thick Wood but coming near hand presented as we said the form of a Croisant The middle Battel in number much like the Christians was conducted by the great Bassaes Haly and Partau attended upon with Agan Master of the Turks Arsenal Mustapha Zeliby the Treasurer Achmat Bay with Mahomet his younger Brother the Sons of Haly Achmat
were of and that it was not to be doubted but that if Occasion should serve for them to surprise any of the Turks strong holds upon the Frontiers they would with all their Power attempt the same which what a Dishonour and Infamy not to speak of the loss it would be unto the whole Othoman Empire every man might easily guess Neither that it was unknown how little the Christian Emperour had esteemed of the Turk at such time as he was in War with the Persian paying his Tribute too late at his Pleasure an evident sign rather of violating than of establishing the League And that the good Success of this War was not to be deemed either difficult or doubtful for that the attempt might be given both by Croatia Hungary and Austria Countries abounding with all things necessary for the maintenance of a great Army as also for that they were almost to travel all the way in the Turks own Territory Beside that the chief Fortresses of Hungary namely Belgrade Buda and Alba Regalis with many other strong places were already holden by the Turks Garrisons whither their Armies might in all cases of Extremity in safety retire or out of the same Garrisons repair their Losses if any should be The Roman Empire as they said was more desirous of Peace than War and the Princes of nothing more careful than how to heap up and preserve their Treasures and the People of Germany for that of long they had had no Wars to be less fit now to bear Arms and worse to be commanded by their Captains always having in distrust the Hungarians the Italians and Spaniards for that those Nations are not beloved but rather hated of the Germans being not at Unity among themselves but divided especially about matters of Religion Neither that it was to be feared lest foreign Princes should give Aid unto the Emperour in this War The Polonian and Transilvanian to live now in peace with the Turk and therefore would by no means turn the heat of this War into their own Bosoms as also for that the Polonians were afraid lest in so doing they should be driven out of their Country and enforced to remove themselves toward the frozen Sea and the Transilvanian having received his Sovereignty from the Turk no less in fear if he should so do to be of him again stript and spoiled of the same as for the King of Spain although he were of such Power as might afford unto the House of Austria great Aid yet that he was in other Places now too much busied and that the Bishop of Rome could not in all Places be ready to serve his turn the Princes of Italy would not spend their Subjects and Treasures to pleasure another man and that the Venetian State would not rashly stir up the Turks Arms against themselves but rather at ease expect the event of the War than to entangle themselves with other mens Dangers These were the chief Opinions of the great Bassaes concerning the War to be taken in hand not so much proceeding from any ripe or sound Advice as commonly they do but rather from a certain barbarous Insolency and Contempt of others wherewith they moved do oftentimes vainly perswade them of the easie performance of divers Expeditions which in proof they find to be not only most difficult but unto themselves also most pernicious In this so great diversity of Opinions Amurath stood long in doubt what to resolve upon desirous he was in all places to shew his Power and if it were possible to exceed the Glory of his Predecessors as he thought himself to have already done in Persia having as he boasted by his Servants there performed more than they could themselves in Person with their mighty Armies Wherefore contenting himself with that he had already done in the East he resolved now to turn his Forces against the Christian Emperour towards the West and that for divers respects First it grieved him to see the Honour of the House of Austria and that it durst to make head against him besides that to make War upon a Country confining upon his own would be a thing far less Difficulty than was the Persian War where his Armies were now still to be led through his own peaceable Countries from whence they were to be at all times plentifully relieved with Victuals and whatsoever else they needed In which Opinion he was also confirmed by Sinan Bassa who having in vain perswaded him to have made War against the Venetians furthered now this War in hope thereby to recover his Credit and Reputation before greatly impaired abroad by the little he did in Persia as also at Constantinople by the discord betwixt him and Ferat Bassa commonly called the Black Serpent as also to increase his Wealth and Riches which shortly after sorted to his desire being by the great Sultan Amurath appointed General for those Wars But above all others Hassan Bassa of Bosna furthered this matter in hope thereby to have gained great Riches as the Turks manner is together with the greatest Honours of the Field as he was most vainly perswaded by his cold Prophets to whom he gave no small credit He therefore daily certified Amurath of the harms which the Vscocchi and other the Arch-duke's Servants and Subjects did upon the Frontiers of his Territories telling him of their Burnings Spoilings and Robbings inciting him to begin his War in Croatia and so to continue the same either against the Emperour or the Venetians or else upon the sudden that way to break into Italy as had sometime the like been done in the time of Mahomet Bajazet and Solyman his noble Progenitors whereby to bring a great Terrour upon all the Princes of Italy and to enrich his Souldiers with rich Spoils By which his importunity he as a most mortal Enemy not onely unto the House of Austria but unto all Christendom got leave to begin those stirs in the Frontiers of the Empire which were first fatal unto himself and have ever since even until this day notably exercised the Arms of these two last Othoman Emperours Amurath and Mahomet as also the Christian Emperour with others his Friends and Confederates Yet unto this leave granted unto the Bassa was this Condition at the first annexed That he should not seem to do it by the Commandment of Amurath but of himself under colour to restrain the Vsocchi who as well by Land as by Sea as he pretended spoiled both the Christians and Turks by the great liberty of the Princes of Austria having small care to chasten them Now was it no great matter for Hassan Bassa to do what Amurath his great Lord and Master had commanded for the disturbing of the Peace betwixt him and the Christian Emperour the Turks Leagues with their neighbour Princes being seldom so religiously kept but that as well their Souldiers in Garrison upon their Frontiers by Land as their Adventurers by Sea might to keep themselves doing upon a
of them there most miserably perished Basta the Emperour's Lieutenant in the upper Hungary at the same time lay at Cassovia with eighteen thousand men doubting lest the Enemies Army which he heard to be at hand should come to besiege that City In the mean time Ibrahim Bassa General of the Turks Forces came to Solnoch with an Army of fifty thousand strong among whom were ten thousand Janizaries but for all that understanding that Basta nothing dismayed awaited his coming at Cassovia not thinking it good to go any farther his Souldiers being already weary with long travel neither yet safe there to stay so near unto his strong Enemy retired back again unto Belgrade a place of more Strength and Security expecting a great Fleet of Ships which charged upon the Danubius were to bring Victuals for the Army as also for the relief of Buda Alba-Regalis and other such distressed Places with divers great pieces for Battery and other less Artillery upon Carriages with a number of Ladders and other Instruments of War declaring their purpose for the performance of some notable Exploit all guarded with five thousand Turks which conducted it up the River Of all which the Imperials understanding the Lord Palfi dispatched his Lieutenant with a convenient Power and the Captain of the Hussars with his Followers all good and valiant Souldiers to cut off this Convoy who to make the matter short suddenly assailing them and so coming to handy blows cut in pieces the Convoy and rifled the ships of whom the greater part were there sunk in the deep River and so took an exceeding great booty deemed to be worth a million of Gold where among other things of great value there was found a-board 100000 Dollars which were all divided amongst the Souldiers as a reward of their travel This great overthrow once known at Buda Alba-Regalis and the Cities thereabouts brought upon them a great fear yea the Army of Ibrahim grew thereby much discontented as being at once disappointed both of their Victuals and their Pay. Besides that the Imperials over-ran all the Country thereabout ransacking sacking and destroying the Country Villages and Castles without Mercy although the poor Inhabitants offred them large Contribution to have staid their Fury which would not be accepted Upon this notable overthrow also the Lord Swartzenburg was determined with all his Forces to come again to the siege of Buda in hope in so great a discomfiture and want of Victuals to have had it delivered unto him and for thaâ— purpose sent for certain great pieces of Artillery to Vienna But whilst things went thus well in the lower Hungary Collonel Rodoler of S. Andrews in the upper Country took occasion also upon this Overthrow of the Turks with 500 Horse and 600 Foot to shew himself with this small Company before Agria â—aving yet left the greatest part of his Forces a little off in secret Ambush which small Company the Bassa of Agria beholding presently put himself in Arms and so sallying out began an hot and brave Skirmish when suddenly the other Souldiers left in Ambush starting out and courageously assailing their Enemies brake their order and put them to flight pursuing them at the heels even to the Gates of the City and had there been a greater force of Foot-men it was verily thought that the Turks dismay'd with the flight and altogether confounded had abandoned the defence of the Place and the Christians even then become Masters of the City which had been the cause of their notable Overthrow in the Year 1596. Nevertheless they with great bravery and small loss retired having slain a great number of the Turks and carrying away with them an hundred Prisoners with a Booty of five hundred Horse and much other Cattel The free Haiducks also strengthened with new Supplies had done great harm in the Country about Buda scouring freely all over it finding none to oppose themselves against them for which cause the poor Christians which yet dwelt in that Country rise up against the Turks promising their Obedience unto the Emperour and moreover to the intent they might be no more molested by the Imperials offered to take up Arms themselves against the Enemy and to the uttermost of their Power to hinder his Passage both by Land and Water These same Haiducks also had broken down all the Bridges which the Turks had made betwixt Buda and Alba-Regalis to the end they should not that way commodiously bring either Victuals or Munition from the one place to the other and the Lord Paâ—fi and Nadasti understanding by their Espials That the Tartars divided into three Companies had over-run a great part of the Country and with a great Booty were retiring towards Buda presently went out against them and inforced them to fight which barbarous People better inured to filch than to fight there lost all their Lives together with that they had before stoln After which Victory these valiant men turning their Forces against certain other places of the Turks there by took two of their Castles with much rich Spoil which Castles they sacked and burnt together with the great Town of Zolna breaking down also the Bridge upon the Rivâ—r Trava Now at this time the Turks at Buda held themselves male-content within the City having no Governour their Bassa being before taken by the Haiducks and they themselves pinched also with great want of Victuals wherefore doubting some sudden Attempt of the Christians as men dismayed they for their more safety retired themselves into the Castle a place of great strength leaving the City unto the Imperials then ready to have besieged it but doubting of the Turks great Army which as they heard was marching thitherwards the avantgard thereof being come to Moatcsh where Sartes Bassa was also looked for the Report being given out that the Turks having relieved Buda woâ—ld go to besiege Canisia or else Strigonium they stayed to go any farther as men in doubt what to resolve upon So were sent certain Collonels and other Captains with their Souldiâ—â—s to fortifie certain Passages whereby the Turks Army was to pass the rest in the mean time retiring for that the puissant Enemy began now to approach as also for that they knew the great desire that Ibrahim Bassa had to recover again Strigonium and had therefore sent a great number of Tartars to forrage and waste the Country and so suddenly having relieved Buda and Agria there to resolve whither to turn his Forces The Imperials in the mean time incamping near unto Hatwan and Zolnoc to hinder the Turks from victualling of Buda as they desired cut off five hundred of them at their first Arrival who to that purpose were going towards Buda and took also one of the Turks Chiaus Prisoner who sent from Ibrahim the General was going to Agria to put them in hope of their speedy Relief They also at the same time attempted to have surprised Zolnoc where a good number of them with certain
the Actions of War. Whereunto it was again answered him That the Town when it was taken was yet still in his Power and he at choice whether he would deliver it or no. That if he would by the yielding up of the Town challenge his Liberty according to the Articles of the Capitulation he ought then to have delivered it as was agreed and not to have suffered it to have been taken by force according to the ordinary proceeding of War the Laws whereof do justly condemn to Death or to Captivity such as are by force of Arms vanquished That every Town which during the Treaty of Capitulation is by force taken followeth the course of the latter condition and state and not of the former seeing that it is conquered and not delivered That this is the reason that they are punished by the rigour of Arms which have not been careful to preserve themselves by the sweetness of Peace for that a man is not to expect of his mortal Enemy any other Courtesie than that which necessity caused him to promise which he may for his own good again violate as he for the good of his Enemy against his Will hath granted With which Quirks and Quillets the County deluded say what he could was carried away Prisoner to Constantinople where we must for a while leave him And so the Bassa having in eighteen days taken Alba-Regalis now being eleven months possessed by the Christians caused the Breaches he had made to be again repaired and the City well provided for both of Victuals and Munition leaving therein a strong Garrison of 6000 Souldiers and with his People having over-run all the Country as far as Strigonium rose with his Army and retired again to Buda where as he was making a Bridge of Boats over the Danubius betwixt Buda and Pesth for the more easie transporting of Victual and better relieving of the one the other as need should require and having brought that work to pass and about to have gone to the Siege of Strigonium Commandment came from the Great Sultan That he should with all speed return to Constantinople for that Mahomet accounting of him as of a most valiant Man was now minded to employ him in his Wars against the Rebels in Natolia where things now went not well as shall be hereafter declared Upon which Commandment the Bassa gave leave to all such in his Army as had charge of any place forthwith to return to their several Places of Government appointing some others with thirty thousand Souldiers in the Company of Zachel Moises but of late Prince Sigismund's Lieutenant to go with him into Transilvania who after the Overthrow he had there received by Basta was come unto this great Bassa offering unto him with such an Aid as was now appointed for him and the help of such other his Friends as he had in Transilvania to chase Basta with his Germans from out thence and to reduce that Province again unto the Devotion of the Othoman Emperours as it had in former time been And so by the way of Belgrade Hassan Bassa himself with the rest of his Army hasted towards Constantinople which he was thought the more willingly to do for that the Great Sultan before his setting forth had put him in good hope to marry one of his Aunts a Woman of great Wealth and Honour if by the winning again of Alba-Regalis he should make himself worthy so honourable a Match after which he now longed But long it was not after his Departure but that the Imperials now at last assembled together at Komara to the number of about 30000 men with twelve Nassadies and two Gallies some by Water some by Land marched down along the River to Strigonium where were also twenty other Ships ready to receive them and so all embarqued were by the Lord Russworm and other the Imperial Captains conducted to Buda there with some notable Enterprise to redeem the Disgrace by them before received in not relieving of Alba-Regalis Whose coming was so sudden and so unlooked for of the Turks there as that they had not any time to take in any greater help or provision than was already in the City And for as much as the Christians knew the good Success of this their Enterprise taken in hand not so much to depend on their Strength as of their politick Proceeding and speedy Dispatch of the matter begun they thought it not good to use any long delay or to spare for any labour but so soon as they might by taking of the Water-City or as some call it the Iews Suburbs so to cut off the Passage of them of Buda to Pesth as also from thence to trouble them in the Castle and the upper City of Buda Which their intended Exploit they happily attempted and brought to pass in this sort The City of Pesth standing right over against Buda is as we have oftentimes before said divided from the same with the great and swift River of Danubius over which the Turks upon Boats had with great Labour and Cost of late built a most easie and commodious Bridge for Passage or Carriage of things from the one City to the other This Bridge the Imperials thought necessary first to break the more easie to besiege either the one or other City and for that purpose had by a strange Device built a Ship which by the force of the Stream carried down the River and resting upon the Bridge should by a wonderful Power break the same Which Ship the Turks seeing coming down the River with the rest of the Fleet after her they ran by heaps especially out of the Water-City to the Bridge for the defence thereof where whilst they were thus busied County Sultze on the other side by Land with a Petard blew up one of the Gates of the City and so entering and killing all such as he light upon came unlooked for upon the backs of the Turks at the Bridge of whom some he â—lew some he drave into the River who there perished the rest in number not many by speedy flight retiring themselves into the City whereupon he had now brought such a general fear that they all as well the Souldiers as the Citizens with the Christians at their heels with as much haste as they could took their Refuge into the upper City of Buda much stronger and better fortified than was the lower City At which time the Bridge was by them upon the River broken also so that now the one City could no more thereby relieve the other as before The Water-City thus won and the Bridge broken the next was for the Imperials to besiege either the one or the other City But for that they of Pesth might with their great Ordnance much annoy them in the besieging of the Castle and the upper City of Buda they thought best to begin with it first which they did in much like sort as they had before done at the lower City of Buda the same
any friendship or alliance with them but since he was inferiour to the Great Vizier he would dispeed him to the Camp and grant him a Command for his Post. But it seems this Courier being arrived at Belgrade was received with better terms and more courtesie by the Vizier who had learned by experience of the late Christian Wars and proof of the Valour of the French Nation that the Propositions of that King were not lightly to be contemned And therefore consented that Monsieur De Ventelay might freely come using their common expression that the Arms of the Port are always open to receive the addresses of Friends Allies and Confederates With this Message and Letters the Courier was dispatched by way of Ragâ—si with safe conduct and what else was requisite for his securer passage No doubt but his most Christian Majesty was the more urgent that the Person of Monsieur De Ventelay who was the suâ—ject on whom formerly the Turks had exercised such injurious violence should be accepâ—ed for Ambassadour and resolved unless they received him he would send no other that so his Honour which suffered before in this Person might be repaired again by the respect and reverence they were to shew to him as Ambassadour as if in repentance of their former unkindness they should now strive to make amends by extraordinary demonstrations of honour to this Representative For it was judged in France and there concluded That there was no other means to repair the Kings Honour than by the Embassy of Monsieur De Ventelay to which that a greater reputation might be added he was transported in one of the Kings Ships called the Caesar accompanied with a Fire-ship and a small Patach for a Victualler and for his â—eâ—ter Equipage was attended by four or five Mâ—rquesses and â—ersons of Quality Being arriveâ— aâ— the farther part of the City called the Seveâ— Towers the Ships came to an Anchor from whence the Ambassadour sent to advise the Vizier of his arrival desiring as one mark of the extraoâ—dinary honour promised him that a return might be made to the Salute of his Ship from the Seraglio by the Cannon which lay under the Wall a Ceremony before never demanded or practised with respect to any Christian or Turkish Vessel and that his landing might be honoured with a more than usual reception by the attendance of Officers or at least equalled to the Formalities of the late English Ambassadour But the Vâ—zier it seems judged that the reception of the English strained on a particular occasion was not to be brought into example and that a Salute from the Seraglio was so besides the ordinary custom that he esteemed the demand to be extravagant and that such a President would be dishonourable to his Master And therefore resolving not to exceed the pâ—rticulars of former customs offered at his landing to have him accompanied to his House with ten Chaouses only the Ambassadour not accepting hereof in a discontented manner entred with his Ship the day following and giving the usual Salutes to the Seraglio landed at Topenau a place near to his own Dwelling from whence with no other attendance than his own Company privately walked up and with no farther ceremony took possession of the place of Residence of former Ambâ—ssadours from France Noâ—withstanding this slight treatment the Ambassadour was not so much mortified but he conceived hopes that the Turks would at length in conâ—emplation of his Masters greatness gratifie him with some signal demonstrations of extraordinary honour by concessions of unusual Priviledges and greater facility in his Negotiations and therefore was induced though as yet he had not had a personal Audience of the Vizier to desire a revocation of the Agreement made with the Genoese the Marquess Durazzo of whom we have spoken before being just upon his departure protesting against it with all earneâ—tness as a matter so prejudicial to the French Traffick and Commerce in those Dominions that if admission were given to the Genoese they must expect to lose friendship and commerce with France But notwithstanding this heat and other protestations against it the Vizier who inherited his Fathers spirit little regarded the discontent of the French but calmly answered That the Grand Signior was Master of himself and Country and might make Peace or War at his own pleasure without licence or permission of the French king and that such as were envious or discontented at the Peace had free liberty to depart and take their remedy as they esteemed most beneficial In this manner matters passed between the time of this Ambassadours Arrival and his Audience In which interim the curiosity of Monsieur Abermont Captain of the French Man of War had like to have proved fatal to him for whilst he viewed from the Gallery of his Ship the pleasant situation of the Seraglio and the Prospect of the Bosphorus behold at a distance appeared certain Gallies gently gliding down the stream dressed up with Flags and Streamers which all Ships and Saykes saluted with their Guns as they passed This Captain being informed that the Grand Signior was there in person and returned from his Hunting which he had made in câ—rtain Woods not far from the City saluted him also as he passed with twenty five Guns but being not able to discover his person presently fitted his Boat and followed him hoping to receive that satisfaction at his landing foâ— conceiving that access to the Ottoman and Eastern Princes is as facâ—le and grateful as it is to those of Christendom with all confidence endeavoured to accost the Person of the Grand Signior as near as was possible The Grand Signior turning his eyes and seeing a man habited as he conceived in a barbarous and extravagant dress apprehended the Majesty of his Person violated by so near and bold an approach of the curious Stranger and thereupon without farther inquiry being moved with scorn and indignation called for the Executioner who is ever ready at his hand but some persons then present especially the Bostangibashee being of more moderation beseeched the Grand Signior to have a little patience and to enquire of the Ghaur or Infidel as they call'd him the cause of this his boldness with which the Grand Signior suppressing a little his passion and having patience until one was sent to expostulate with the Captain who all this while though he perceived some disturbance was yet ignorant that the matter so dangerously concerned himself and not being able to understand the Messenger nor to be understood by him rendred the business more confused and less understood which the Messenger observing and knowing the danger of this worthy and innocent Gentleman being perhaps of a compassionate nature and prudent framed this excuse to the Grand Signior That he did not well understand the Infidels language but what he conjectured was That he being Captain of that Vessel which had newly saluted his Majesty as he passed with twenty five Guns was now come
taken already or fled either to Vienna to beg pardon of the Emperor or Transylvania or to some other place that the Marquess of Bada had fortified Sequas and other Castles of Serini with German Garrisons the Turks esteemed it too late to administer help to this desperate cause and therefore refused to own the Patronage of a People to whom they could neither pretend by Reason nor defend by Arms. The Vizier also like the Fox contemned those Grapes which he could not reach and with an abhorrency as it were of the Revolt or the Rebellion as a zealous Hater of all perfidiousness refused to afford protection to any of the Complices in the late Confederacy which he politickly designed in reference to the Emperor whose friendship he would seem to conserve most faithfully lest he should interrupt him in the carrying on of that War which he then meditated against Poland But what became afterwards of these Conspirators is the subject matter of the German History it is sufficient to acquaint the Reader here that their design being seasonably discovered year 1672. they were interrupted by the hand of Justice and met that Fate which is due to Traitors and Rebels to their Country having abused the goodness of their Prince to whom clemency and mercy are connatural We shall therefore leave these men to render the next account to the Judge of all things and prosecute our Relation of the Wars of Poland which now was the next prize held up to the Turkish Milâ—tia and was that adventure which was to consummate the glories of the Great Vizier Howsoever this gave beginning to that Rebellion in Hungary which to this Year 1679 hath been continued without prospect how far it may proceed and what may be the issue of such direful Effects Anno Christi 1672. Hegeira 1083. WE have formerly acquainted you how coarsely the Chimacam of Adrianople had in the year 1667 treated the Ambassador of Poland who came to complain of the incursions made into their Country by the Tartars desiring that not only satisfaction might be made for the late spoils but that that unruly and savage people might be restrained from the like Attempt for the future But the Vizier being now returned in person it was thought necessary That to preserve this gross Body of Empire from corruption it should be exercised with motion and the vigorous agitations of a new War. To what place they should now convert or employ their Arms was the important subject of a grand Consultation they had lately made up a peace with the Venetians so that on that side it was too early to make an irruption the parts of Persia were too remote and distant to carry on a War with success and pleasure the fields of Hungary had been lately traced and they were satiated with the blood of Austria and Germany something now of novelty must be proposed and the forgotten ways of Poland must be again opened there being something it seems of wantonness in prosperous Arms which delight in variety and abhor as much to fight often in the same Country as Travellers do to see the same place twice The Polanders had unto this day so preserved the Limits of their Counâ—ry with honour and gallantry that the Turks could never secure to themselves one palm of Land within their Territories until the civil and most detestable Discords of that Country laid them open to the fury of their Enemies who embraced this most grateful opportunity which facilitated their Design and made that easie which they had so long desired and with care studied and contrived But for the better understanding of these Affairs it is convenient for us to take the Thread of History at some distance off that so we may with better light comprehend the Causes Original and Occasions of this War. The hatred and jealousies which the Ottoman Port hath always nourished and conserved against the Kingdom and Dominions of Poland are ancient and inveterate having their rise from the valiant opposition and successful repulses it always made against the various attempts of the Turks whereby the Poles were animated to treat always at equals with them and with terms agreeable to that vain glory and swelling pride which are natural to their Nation But that which renewed the memory of past actions and raised an expectation in the Turks to avenge the injuries by subjugaâ—â—ng the Cosacks was oâ—e Bogdan Chimilniczki General of the Coâ—acks who growing powâ—râ—ul in that Country with the strength of a numerous Army abhorring the Pride of the Polish Nobility denied obedience to their Kingdom resolving to make himself the absolute Prince of that Province from whence various fortunes of War succeeding he was at length forced to join himself to the Tartars and crave the protection of the Turkish Arms. In the mean time Poland invaded by the Swedes Moscovites and Transilvanians was dismembred of Livonia and a great part of Lituâ—nia and Verania the first possessed by the Swedes and the latter by the Czar of Moscovy and the Rebel Cosacks which confusions rejoyced the Turks and gave them the first hopes not only to free themselves from the frequent Piracies the Cosacks committed on them in the Black Sea but to impose upon them the Ottoman Yoke to which end they maintained a secâ—et correspondence with the Generals of that people promising them the assistance of Men Mony and Arms but yet with that caution that they would not seem unprovoked to quarrel with the Poles or without just cause to violate the peace of Choccin to which they pretended a most religious and reverend regard Wherefore that they might not appear causeless Actors against that solemn League they secretly encouraged those Incursions which in the Years 1666 and 1667 we have already mentioned to have been made by the Tartars into Poland as far as the Walls of Leopolis which action that the Tartars might not have occasion to abett and maintain the Poles resolved to send a most splendid Embassy to the Turks desiring that the Tartar Han might be deposed for having unjustly violated the sacred peace of Choccin For that as the Poles were obliged to restrain the Piracies and Depredations of the Cosacks in the Black Sea so the Turks were become security against the incursions of the Tartars Scarce had the Ambassador Radiowski delivered this message before he unhappily died at Adrianople as we have before signified to whoâ—e Complaint and Demand after many delays no other answer was given than that the Poles should first break their League which they had contracted with Moscovy for thirteen years without the consent and against the pleasure of the Port and then after that they might expect and promise themselves all due satisfaction In this manner Affairs stood whâ—n King Casimir weary of the Factions and Discords of the Nobility resigned up his Crown to retire unto a private life And now it being necessary to proceed to a new Election we may consequently expect
not to be disjoyned they therefore offer'd them Concessions they durst not have hoped for at the beginning of the War. They would yield to the Emperor all Hungary as far as the Drave to the King of Poland Caminiec and all Podolia and restore to the Venetians the Kingdom of Candia on condition they would part with what they had gained in Morea FINIS THE PRESENT STATE OF THE Ottoman Empire CONTAINING THE MAXIMS OF THE Turkish Polity The most Material POINTS of the MAHOMETAN RELIGION Their SECTS and HERESIES Their Convents and Religious Votaries Their MILITARY DISCIPLINE With an exact Computation of their Forces both by Sea and Land. In Three Books By Sir PAVL RYCAVT late Consul of Smyrna and Fellow of the Royal Society LONDON Printed by I. D. Anno MDCLXXXVII To the Right Honourable HENRY Lord Arlington His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State. MY LORD AFTER five Years residence at Constantinople in Service of the Embassie of the Earl of Winchelsea my ever honoured Lord and this my second Journey from thence by Land into my own Country I judged it a Point of my Duty and of my Religion too to dedicate this following Treatise as the Fruits of my Travels Negotiations and Leisure in those remote Parts to the Noble Person of your Lordship as that Votiva Tabula which many both in Ancient and Modern Times after some signal Deliverance or happy Arrival at their desired Port use to offer to their Gods their Saints or their Patrons And truly my Lord this Discourse treating chiefly of the Turkish Polity Government and Maxims of State seems naturally to appertain to the Patronage of your Lordship whose Faculties of Wisdom and Vertue have given you the Blessing of your Prince's Favour and the Reputation as well Abroad as at Home of an Eminent and Dexterous Minister of State. It were a great presumption in me to offer any Observations of my own in the Courts of Christian Princes to the Test of your Lordship's Experience and Judgment who not only is acquainted with the Customs and Manners but penetrates into the Designs and knows the Cabinet-Councils of Neighbouring Principalities with whom our divided World may possibly be concerned but perhaps without disparagement to your Lordship's profound Wisdom or over-value of my own Abilities I may confidently draw a rude Scheme before your Lordship of the Turkish Government Policies and Customs a Subject which Travellers have rather represented to their Country-men to supply them with Discourse and Admiration than as a Matter worthy the Consideration or Concernment of our Kings or our Governors It hath been the happy Fortune of the Turk to be accounted Barbarous and Ignorant for upon this Perswasion Christian Princes have laid themselves open and unguarded to their greatest Danger contending together for one Palm of Land whilst this Puissant Enemy hath made himself Master of whole Provinces and largely shared in the rich and pleasant Possessions of Europe This Contempt of the Turk on one side caused the Emperor to be so backward in opposing that Torrent of the Ottoman Force which in the first Year of the late War broke in upon him and the suspicion of Designs from France on the other altered the Resolutions and Councils of the Emperor for prosecution of the War which then running favourably on the Christians part was no less than with the astonishment of the whole World and of the Turks themselves on a sudden understood to be clapt up with Articles of a disadvantagious Peace admiring to see the Emperor give a stop to the Current of his Victories and relinquish the Game with a lucky Hand But this will seem no Riddle to those who penetrate Affairs with the same Judgment that your Lordship doth and consider the unfirm Condition the House of Austria was in by a daily expectation of the Death or fall of so main a Basis of it as the King of Spain and the Division amongst the Princes of the Empire the League of the Rhine the Freneh Practices to make the Duke of Enguyen King of Poland and the extravagant Demands of the French and Rhinish League for Winter-quarters and places of Strength not only in Hungary but also in Styria and the adjacent Places and at the same time look on the Factions in Hungary and a considerable Army of French in the Bowels of Germany who were supposed in those Parts to have rather come with Design to overawe the next Diet and force the German Princes to elect the French King for King of the Romans than with sincere and simple Intentions of opposing themselves to the Enemy of the Faith For then it will appear that the best use the Emperor could make of his good Success was Moderation in Victory and Reconciliation with his powerful Enemy And hereupon Earl Lisle being dispatched for Extraordinary Ambassador from his Imperial Majesty to the Grand Signior though the Turk was elevated with the thoughts of the Necessity the Christians had of a Peace did yet so happily manage his Charge and Employment as created in the Turks an extraordinary Reverence towards his Person and obtained such Honours and Treatments from them as the Turkish Court never bestowed before on the Emperor's or an other Christian Ambassador extorting this Complement from the Great Vizier That he was more satisfied the Emperor had sent so brave and illustrious a Person than if he had sought to reconcile his Affections with an hundred thousand Dollars more of Present And to do justice to this worthy Person he hath brought a Reputation to the British Nation above any in our Age whose Vertues and Industry have acquired the highest Trusts and Preferments in Foreign Parts and done the same Honour to his King under whom he was born a Subject as to the present Emperor and his Ancestors under whom he is and hath always been a faithful Minister having deserved so eminently for saving the whole German Empire from the Treason of Wallestein by hiw own single Act of Bravery a Story notoriously known to all the World as can never in gratitude be forgot by that Nation nor want its due Record and Place in the History of that Country The Speculation of what is contained in this following Discourse may seem unworthy of your Lordship's precious Hours in regard of that Notion of Barbarity with which this Empire is stiled yet the knowledg hereof will be like a Turquoise or some other Jewels set within the Rose of those many Gems of your Lordship's Wisdom and Vertues This Present which I humbly consecrate to your Lordship may be termed Barbarous as all things are which are differenced from us by diversity of Manners and Custom and are not dressed in the Mode and Fashion of our Times and Countries for we contract Prejudice from Ignorance and want of Familiarity But your Lordship who exactly ponderates the Weight of Humane Actions acknowledges Reason in all its Habits and draws not the Measures of Oeconomy or Policy from Eternal Appearances or
immense Riches and Wealth But of this the Prince and the Turkish Policy is not ignorant and accordingly provides Remedies to drain the Inundations of the Vizier's Coffers at first by extorting great Sums of Mony from him at his entrance to the Charge then under colour of Friendship and Favour the Grand Signior makes him Visits in requital whereof rich Presents are made him as gratitude for so much Honour next he many times sends to him for a Gift of 100000 Dollars for Jewels Horses and other things of great value and in this manner several Contrivances are used to turn these Rivulets to pay their Tribute to the great Ocean amongst which this present Grand Signior Mahomet the Fourth hath found out one way amongst the rest putting the Vizier often to the charges of his Dinner sending to his Kitchin for twenty Dishes of Meat which is the usual proportion of the Grand Signior's ordinary Table and by inviting himself to a Banquet many times at the Vizier's Expences and this being done so frequently gives the World occasion to believe that he demands it out of no other Design than narrowness of Soul to save the Charges of his own Dinner and the rather it is so believed because this Emperor is reputed of a covetous Disposition and of no affinity with Solyman the Magnificent But the Ways and Means by which the Grand Signior comes in the end to be possessed of the Gains and Profits collected by his Vizier and other Officers requires a particular Discourse apart which shall in its due time and place be treated of and this shall for the present suffice to have spoken concerning the Prime Vizier and his Office. CHAP. XII The Offices Dignities and several Governments of the Empire HE that will describe the Polities of a Country must endeavour especially in the most exact and punctual manner possible to declare the several Offices Dignities and Riches of it that so a more easy computation may be calculated of its Strength numbers of Men Fortifications Forces by Sea where best defended and where most easily vulnerable and exposed The next to the Vizier Azem or the first Vizier are the several Beglerbegs which may not unaptly be compared to Arch-dukes in some parts of Christendom having under their Jurisdiction many Sangiacks or Provinces Beyes Agaes and others To every one of these the Grand Signior in honour bestows three Ensigns called in Turkish Tugh which are Staves trimmed with the Tail of a Horse with a Golden Bull upon the top and this is to distinghish them from Bashaws who have two Ensigns and the Sanziach-beg who hath also the name of Pascha and hath but one When a Pascha is made the Solemnity used at the conferring his Office is a Flag or Banner carried before him and accompanied with Musick and Songs by the Merialem who is an Officer for this purpose only for investiture of Pashaes in their Office. The Government of Beglerbegs who have several Provinces called Sangiacks under their Command are two sorts the first is called Has ile Beglerbeglik which hath a certain Rent assigned out of the Cities Countries and Signiories allotted to the Principality the second is called Saliane Beglerbeglik for maintenance of which is annexed a certain Salery or Rent collected by the Grand Signior's Officers with the Treasure of the whole Government out of which are paid also the Sangiack Beglers that is the Lords of the several Counties Towns or Cities and the Militia of the Country It is impossible exactly to describe the Wealth and ways of Gains exercised by these potent Governors to enrich themselves for a Turk is ingenious to get Wealth and hasty to grow Rich howsoever we will succinctly set down the certain Sums of Revenue which are granted them by Commission from the Grand Signior assigned them out of every particular place of their Government besides which they have the Profits of all Wefts and Strays goods of Felons sale of vacant Church-Offices Mules Horses and Cattel which by Mortality or other Accidents have no certain Master to which may be added the benefit of their Avanias or false Accusations whereby they invade the Right and Estates of their Subjects as also of the Robberies of their People and Strangers by their own Slaves and Servants whom they send abroad with that design and having committed the Robberies themselve◠under pretence of discovery of the Crime and doing Justice they seize the Innocent People torture and imprison them and perhaps put some to death for expiation of their own Offences To come nearer to this purpose The Beglerbegs of the first sort are in number 22 who have their Revenue allotted them in the places that they Govern collected by their own Officers according to Commission of which the first is of Anatolia anciently called Asia Minor afterwards Anatolia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from its more Eastern situation in respect of Greece the yearly Revenue of which in the Grand Signior's Books called the Old Canon is a Million of Aspers and hath under its Jurisdiction 14 Sangiack Kiotahi where the Beglerbeg resides in Phrygia Major Sarahan Aidin Kastamoni Hadanendighiar Boli Mentesche Augora otherwise Ancyra Karahysar Teke ili Kiangri Hamid Sultan Vghi Karesi with the command of twenty two Castles 2. Caramania anciently called Cilicia and was the last Province which held out belonging to the Caramanian Princes when all places gave way to the flourishing progress of the Ottoman Arms The Revenue hereof is 660074 Aspers and hath under its Jurisdiction seven Sangiacks viz. Iconium which is the Court of the Beglerbeg in Cappadocia Nigkde Kaisani otherwise Cesanca Ienischeheri Kyrschehri Akschehri Akserai And in this Principality are three Castles at Iconium one at Larende and Mendui under the Pasha's immediate Command and 17 others in several Sangiacks 3. Diarbekir otherwise Mesopotamia hath a Revenue of a Million two hundred thousand and six hundred and sixty Aspers and hath under its Jurisdiction 19 Sangiacks with five other Governments called Hukinmet in Turkish eleven of which Sangiacks are properly belonging to the Ottoman Royalties and eight are Curdian Countries or of the People called Kurts for when Curdia was conquered the Country was divided and distinguished into the Nature of Sangiacks but with this difference of right Inheritance and Succession to the Goods and Possessions of their Parents and succeed as Lords of Mannors or to other petty Governments by Blood and Kindred And as other Lords of Sangiacks Timariots or Barons pay the Grand Signior's Duties and hold their Lands in Knights Service or other Tenure whereby they are obliged to attend and follow their Commanders to the Wars whensoever they are called thereunto by the Grand Signior's Summons these that are registred for Hukiumet have no Timariots or Lords to command them but are free from all Duties and Impositions and are absolute Masters of their own Lands and Estates Those Sangiacks which are properly belonging to the Ottoman Royalties are C.
yielded to the Turks a Thousand Crowns every year arising on the Customs thereof Thus ended this Campagne to the Honour and Reputation of the Venetian Arms And the Auxiliary Gallies and Forces returned home having been more diminished by Fatigues and making Incursions into the Land than by slaughter or loss sustain'd from the Enemy The Venetians took their Winter-quarters in several Isles belonging to the Republick Molino Captain extraordinary of the Ships brought back his Squadron to Corsu but General Morosini wintered at Preveza with design to render that place impregnable and to engage the Greeks who are a People of an unconstant Humour to remain steady in that Duty and Faith which they caused them to Swear to the Venetian Republick whilst these things were carrying on some matters of less moment were acted in lighter Skirmishes near Clissa from whence the Turks carried away seven Prisoners but being pursued by the Morlaques they were again rescued by them and forced to quit their whole Booty with the loss of Fifty of their Men killed on the place Seignior Antonio Zeno Proveditor extraordinary of Cataro came to Perasto and pillaged and burnt all the Towns and Villages near Castel Nuovo and hinder'd the Turks from carrying in their Harvest and seized great Stores of Wheat and other Corn which he carried to Clissa To compleat the Successes of this year a Galliot of Dulcigno was taken Commanded by Solyman Reis a famous Corsaire In the Fight Solyman himself with Twenty of Men was killed and Twenty two Christians were Released and set at Liberty whom this Pyrate was carrying into Slavery And now having given a Relation of the Venetian Successes of this year it will be time to return to the German Camp which we left at the Siege before Buda The Siege as we have said being compleatly formed on the 12 th of Iuly a Mine was sprung near the great Tower which thô it had done great effect yet it plainly appeared That the Turks were too strong as yet in the Town to be assaulted at the entrance of any Breach until such time as their numbers were more diminished by a longer Siege On the 14 th the Vizier of Buda called Kara Mahomet died of a Wound which he had received on his Face he was one of the best Officers amongst the Turks Shitan Ibrahim succeeded him in the Government He was a Person very well known to the English Nation which had lived in Turky to which he bore a signal kindness and respect and particularly to that worthy Person Sir Ionathan Dawes with whom he cultivated a Friendship which was extraordinary and unsual for a Turk towards a Christian. When I came first into Turky he was then Testerdar or Lord Tresurer whom I have seen when he was giving out the Pay to the Army to bestow Mony on the Earl of Winchelsea's Pages and Servants who being then Lord Ambassadour Extraordinary to the Grand Seignior was returning from an Audience which he had had with the Grand Vizier He was afterwards Married to the Grand Seignior's Sister and was sent Pasha to Gran Caro which is an Office of the highest Degree amongst the Turks having remained three years in that Employment which is the usual time allowed to that Government he was then recalled and taxed at Six hundred Purses of Money he was forced to lay down one half in ready Money and to pay the other Moiety in a few Days afterwards upon Penalty of being committed to a Prison from whence he had never been delivered but by Death He was afterwards made Pasha of Damascus then of Aleppo and with his Forces was engaged to pass by Sea to the Siege at Candia I remember him at Smyrna when he embarked there and then he told me how grievous it was for him and his Men to leave their Horses than which nothing was more pleasing and dear and to Embark on a Gally and pass the Seas to which he and his Soldiers had never been accustomed Afterwards he was employed in many great Offices to which he had been bred from his Youth and in which he had deported himself with singular Reputation and Esteem being naturally of a frank and a generous Temper He was then about Eighty years of Age and nothing declined but still as Robust and Vigorous as if he were but Forty when he defended Buda and succeeded the Pasha who was killed on the Walls and in this Condition we shall leave him for a year or two until being involved in the Common Fate and Misfortunes of the Turks he yielded to the Destiny which was provided for him On the 16 th of August the Besieged made a Sally and were beaten back with some loss but the next day they had better Fortune and killed many of the Christians as they did also in several other Sallies But to encourage the Christians in this Siege several Deserters escaped out of the Town and to flatter the Party into whose Hands they were fallen they told a thousand Falsities concerning the distresses and wants of the Town But notwithstanding all their Reports it was concluded necessary to open the Breach in the Wall of Buda much wider than it was before to which end the Cannon plaid continually upon that part of the Town where the Assault was to be made But in the mean time to disturb these proceedings the Seraskier Pasha with all the Force of the Ottoman Army appeared often times in sight of the Camp which gave such frequent Allarums that the Duke of Loraine thought fit to draw out a great part of his Army to engage them leaving all the left Wing in the Approaches under Command of Count Staremberg General of the Artillery and with the remainder of the Infantry and all the Cavalry he marched between the upper City and Mount St. Gerard to meet the Seraskier and so soon as the Way opened into the Vally between Buda and Strigonium he discover'd a great Body of Turkish Horse upon a Hill opposite to the Army upon view of which the Christian Army drew into Battalia and thô the way to an Engagement with the Enemy was rough craggy and very steep yet such was the Spirit which by frequent Victories had possessed the Christian Soldiery that with incomparable Valour their right Wing moved over all the difficulties of the Ground against the left Wing of the Turks but they fearing to stand the Shock made their Retreat to another Hill within Cannon-shot of Buda where their right Wing was drawn up The Imperial Troops still continuing to advance against the Enemy detached Two thousand of their choice Horse who making as if they intended to form another Line before the Front posted themselves under the Walls of the City during which time the main Body of the Turks stood firm and kept their Ground until the Christians were come within Musquet-shot and then their formost Troops fell violently into the Trenches on the right Hand whilst a
but on he must go as he did to the Place called Turno on this side of the Danube over against Nicopolis where the Army Encamped on the 13th of October and the Sultan took some Repose for certain Days called by the Turks Days of Otoracke the Officers of the Prince proceeding in the mean time to prepare the Ways and to make them wider The Grand Seignior coming very weary to Turno reposed there about an Hours time and then Embarking in his own Boat passed to the other side of the Danube after which the Grand Vizier followed with the whole Army there being Boats and Floats sufficient to Ferry them over And here it is to be for ever recorded to the honour of this Sultan Mustapha That in passing this Province of Walachia strict Discipline was kept and which was observed with so much Rigour that a Soldier durst not steal an Egg a Pullet or a Hen and a Tartar was known to be Hanged for taking away a Kid by force and two Asiatick Turks were Hanged on a Tree for Robbing a Bee-hive by which Severity to the Wonder of the whole World the Ottoman Army passed that Afflicted Province without the least damage or hurt to the People And here at this place of Turno it is to be noted That before the Grand Seignior passed the River he called to him the Prince of Walachia and bestowed upon him a rich Coftan or Vest which is a Signal of the Favour of the Sultan and told him That he was greatly pleased and satisfied with his Service and Diligence commanding him to return Home to his Place of Residence but above all he charged him to observe Justice which if he did he should always enjoy his Favour the like said the Grand Vizier to him who giving him a Vest as an Evidence of his Favour gave him licence to return to his own place of Government When the Turks were come on the Confines over against Fetihlam they Embarked all their Cannon and Ammunition for Belgrade but the lighter Field-pieces of which they found some in Karansebes they carried with them to render their Entry into Adrianople the more Stately and Magnificent But whilst they were contriving all things for the more Triumpant Entry of the Grand Seignior it was judged most requisite and proper for the present State of the Turkish Affairs to make the Triumph into Constantinople which was ever esteemed the Head of the Empire and the Place where the Ottoman Throne was ever seated And as to Adrianople it was ordered that the Sultan should make a short stop there of four or five Days only and in the mean time the Valide Soltana with all the Female Court was ordered to take up their Quarters in the usual Places of the Great Seraglio which was prepared on all sides to be fitted for Reception of the Grand Seignior This coming of the Grand Seignior to Câ—nstantinople was a suddain Resolution and unexpected being the effect of his Thoughts on his March only for considering that Constantinople ever since the Turks entered into Europe was always esteemed the Head and Seat of the Ottoman Empire and the Place where the Ottoman Emperors were ever Enthroned with the Benediction of the Mufti asâ—isted by the Nakib who is Chief of the Emirs who wear green Tuâ—bants and also the Place where the Mufti girds the Sword to the Sultan's Thigh called St. Iuob in Memory of that Soldier who was the first that stormed the Walls of Constantinople when it was in the Possession of the Greeks for which reason his Memory hath ever been held in great Veneration with the Turks The Thoughts whereof incited the Grand Seignior with a sort of Impatience and Ambition to imitate the Practice of his Ancestors at a time when he esteemed himself Great Prosperous and in a way to recover the lost Honour and Reputation of the Empire Moreover his Design being to be as great at Sea as at Land or at least of equal Match with the Venetians or to have a better Army to enter into the Morea and recover the Country his Thoughts were fixed upon Constantinople as the proper Place for that Design as Adrianople was for the Wars by Land so no time was lost in the March of the Army to possess the Ancient Seat of the Osmanlees The Grand Seignior having reposed some few Days as we have said at Adrianople proceeded forwards and arrived in Company with his Mother at Constantinople tho' at first it was appointed otherwise and that she should go first and lead the way but it afterwards seemed more Great and Glorious and of less Charge to go together which accordingly they did and arrived at the Great Seraglio about the latter end of October or beginning of November But on the Road the Court and Army happening to feel some Scarcity and Want of Provisions the Sultan became very angry and displeased against the Treasurer of the Army and against those Officers whose Business it was to Oversee the Provisions and not to suffer any Want to be in Court or Army Upon which Occasion the Grand Seignior Discharged the Tefterdar of his Office with Threats and Menaces of his Life And the Commissaries for that Business being in like manner faulty as also the second Person under the Tefterdar was Discharged of his Office and great care was taken to supply their Offices with Men of Skill and Industry And now about the beginning of this Month of November the Grand Seignior with all his Court entered into the Capital City of his Residence with such Applause and Triumph and Joy of the People that the like was never heard or known in the Time of any former Sultan all which served to comfort the People and encourage the Militia Amongst the Particulars of this Triumph 300 Slaves were shown and all represented for Great Generals and Captains for tho' there were but very few Officers amongst them yet they were given out for such and for German Princes All the light Cannon and Field-Pieces with the Ammunition Colours Flags Drums and Trumpets were all showed and brought into the Account of Spoil with a Report amongst the Soldiery That the Turks had not lost above 500 Men killed in the Field tho' others of them which came out of the Army and had been Eye-Witnesses of the whole Battel and of the Turkish Army which consisted of 50000 Men with the Sultan at the Head of them and yet were hard put to it to fight against 8000 of Veterani's Men who having maintained a Fight for six Hours were at length forced to retire for want of Powder and Ammunition and other Warlike Provisions Thus much the Turks who had been in the Battel confessed themselves whilst others who came from all the Countries round to see the Show and Triumph Wept for Joy saying That the Time was now come that God would Avenge himself on the Christians for their Pride and would for the future blind them in their
the Rulers of the Nations William III. of England Scotland and Ireland King and the States General whose Ends God crown with Salvation and Righteousness altho' both Parties show'd a Propensity and Inclination to Peace and Reconciliation but considering in so short a time it was not easie to remove all Difficulties and to settle all things Agreeable to Friendship and good Neighbourhood Therefore least the Continuance of these good Treaties should be interrupted but that they should proceed and be brought to an End with this Intent on both sides by mutual Consent the Term of Two Years is Agreed on to begin from the 25th of December Christmas-day A. Heg 1110. within which time this good Treaty may be reduced into Order and by the Grace of the most High God a Peace or Truce may be concluded betwixt the Sublime Empire and the Muscovitish Czareate by which perpetual and ancient Friendship may be Renew'd Therefore within the Term thus prefix'd by unanimous Consent all War Battles and Skirmishes shall cease and all Hostilities shall be remov'd and forbid to the Subjects of the Czar of Muscovy both Muscovites and Cossacks and all others there shall be no Excursion Hostility Damage whether privately or publickly done or committed upon the Musulman Confines subject to the Sublime Empire whether in the Crimea or any other Places or upon the Subjects of this Empire In like manner on the part of the High Empire no Army of what Condition soever especially belonging to the Crimean Cham and all sorts of Tartars or Hords shall make any sort of Excursion nor commit Damage privately or publickly upon the Cities and Towns and Subjects or Dependants upon the Czar And if contrary to this Compact and Agreement which is made betwixt us any either privately or publickly shall raise any Commotion or make Preparation for it or shall commit Hostility or make Incursion or shall be Obstinate or not Obedient let 'em â—e of what â—ide the◠〈◊〉 they shall be Apprehended â—â—prison'd and Punish'd without Mercy Therefore after this method shall this Truce be cultivated and observ'd during the time of it all Conflicts and Hostilities shall be remov'd and extinguish'd and both Parties with full Inclination shall apply themselves to the Conclusion of a Peace and the Crimean Cham shall be included in this Place by reason of the Obedience and Subjection he owes to the Sublime Empire That it may be receiv'd and observ'd on both sides the Plenipotentiary Ambassador and Commissary of the highly foremention'd Czar by Virtue of his Powers and Authority has deliver'd an Authentick Instrument in due Form written in the Muscovite Language We likewise by Virtue of our Powers and Deputation have deliver'd this Authentick Instrument in due Form Subscrib'd with our Hands and Seal'd with our Seals God is favourable to Justice A COPY OF THE Muscovite Treaty WITH THE TURKS IN the Name of the Omnipotent Lord God One in Holy Trinity By whose Grace the most Serene and Potent Lord Czar and Great Duke Peter Alexovic Emperor of the Whole Great and Little Russia of Muscovy Kiovia Wolodimiria Novogardia Czar of Carania Czar of Astrachan Czar of Siberia Lord of Plescovia Great Duke of Smolenscum Lord of Treria Ingoria Permia Viatka Bolgaria and of other Dominions Great Duke of Novogardia of the Lower Country of Csernihovia Resania Rostovia Jarosclavia Belovroria Valoria Obdoria Condinia and Emperor of all the Northern Country and Lord of the Land af Iveria Czar of the Cartalinensians and Grunizensians and Duke of Karbardia of the Csercassians and Mountaneers and many other Dominions and Lands to the East West and North from Father and Ancestors Heir Successor Lord and Commander between his Majesty and the most Mighty Great Lord Sultan Mustapha Han Son of Sultan Mehmet Han Lord of Constantinople of the White Sea the Black Sea of Anatolia Rumia Romania of the most Honour'd Mecca and Medina and Holy Jerusalem of Egypt of the Abyssines of Babylon and Rica and Commander of Damascus Emperor of the Tartarian and Crimean Hords as also of many other Dominions Kingdoms and Cities Islands and Provinces Whereas the War for many years has been the Cause of the Misery of the Subjects and Dependants on both Parties that Friendship and Kindness might be restor'd and by that means the Civil Affairs might become better settled and all things chang'd into a more flourishing Condition with this intent a Congress was had in Sirmium on the Confines of Carlovitz with the most Illustrious and most Excellent the most Select Lord Great Chancellor Reis Mehmet Effendi and the most Select Lord of the Privy Council Mauro Cordato of the Family of Scarlati Plenipotentiary Commissioners and Ambassadors Extraordinary of the highly mention'd Sultan Majesty Deputed with full Powers to Treat of and Settle the Business of a Peace through the Mediation of his most Serene and most Royal Majesty of Great Britain and of the States General of the Netherlands by their most Excellent Plenipotentiaries Ambassadors Extraordinary the Lord William Lord Pagett Baron de Beaudesert c. and Lord Jacob Colyer c. both sides show'd an Inclination to a Peace and Truce but in so short a time it was not easie to remove all Difficulties and put all things into an Order agreeable to Friendship and Good Neighbourhood yet least the Continuance of these Treaties should be Interrupted and that they might be perfected and brought to an end with this Intent by mutual Consent on both sides a Truce betwixt the two great highly mention'd Lords is Agreed on for Two Years to Commence from Christmas-day the 25th day of December Anno Domini 1698. within which Term this Treaty may be reduc'd into good Orâ—er and by the Blessing of God a perpetual â—eace or a Truce for a sufficient Number of years may be Concluded and Antient Friendship restor'd betwixt his Czarish Muscovite Majesty and Turkish Sultan Majesty Therefore within this prefix'd time all War Battles Fights and Skirmishes shall Cease and on both sides all Hostilities shall be remov'd and extinguish'd nor shall any Incursion or Hostility be done or any Damage committed either privately or publickly by the Subjects of his Czarish Majesty whether Muscovites or Cossacks or others within the Mussulman or Crimean Confines or within any other of his Sultan Majesty's Dominions or on any of his Subjects In like manner on the part of his Sultan Majesty no sort of Troops of what Condition soever shall be brought against his Czarish Majesty especially the Crimean Cham and the Tartars of what Nation or Hord soever shall be oblig'd not to make any Incursions or do any Damage publickly or privately either in the Cities Towns or Territories Subject to his Czarish Majesty And if contrary to this Constitution and Agreement made betwixt us any privately or publickly should raise any Commotion or make Preparation for it or make Incursion or Commit Hostility such obstinate and disobedient Persons of what side soever they are shall be
Christian Troops to the place of Rendezvous Pr. Lewis views the Troops The Forces joyn Titul surrendered to the Turks The Turks falsifie their Faith. July PeterWaradin fortified Preparations for a Battle The Turks strong in Ships hinder the Provisions of the Army Skirmishes in Parties The Armies near Pr. Lewis marches back to Salankement The Turks repulsed An Aâ—arm given The Germans in â—anger Count Bucquoy 's Regiment cut to pieces The Christians lose all their Provisions 1691. August 19th The Disposition of the two Aâ—â—mies The Battle of Salankement 1691. Aâ—gust Thâ— Christians in a daâ—â—gâ—ous poâ—â—â—re The Christians enter the Enemies Camp. The Turks land 5000 Men out of their Fleet. A New Vizier Ali Pasha The Death of the Lord Ambassador Sir William Hussey Treaties of Peace are laid aside The Army at Belgrade dispersed The Misery of the Turkish Army A Consultation held at Adrianople The Misâ—eâ—es amongst the Turks 1691. Novemb. The French Ambassadoâ— encourages the Turks He scarcely escapes the People Counsels held by the Prime Officers Complaints against the Tartars And against other Pasha's of the Army 1691. August Are Punished August The Turks pursued by the Rascians Te Deum sâ—ng A Resolution at a Council of War. Pr. Lewis made Lieutenant-General 1691. Septemb. Lippa 〈◊〉 to Genâ—raâ— Veterani 〈◊〉 Lewis continues his March. Reiâ—forces Lippa A Party of Tekeli 's Men defeated C. Schlick defeats a Party from Gr. Waradin Count Marsigli and his Chiaus at Great Waradin October 1691 October Brod. 〈…〉 Turks And fly tâ— another 〈◊〉 Which was a so dâ—serted by them and flying into the Woodâ— arâ— for the most part cut off Great Waradin Attacked The Palanca of Great Waâ—adin taken The Town Bâ—sieged Novemb. 1691. Novemb. Novemb. 10th The Mannâ—r oâ— the Blockade Pâ— Lewis 〈◊〉 oâ—f Sultan Achmet fallen into a Fever by ill News He Râ—â—â—vers The Grand Vizier sick and recovered His Qualifications 〈…〉 of Constantinopâ—e an 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 French. Resolutions at a Council oâ— War. Tumults against Copper-Money The Turks râ—sâ—lve to continue the War. A Teftish Pasha sent into Asia A Persian Ambassador at Adrianople February The Persian Ambassador's Manner of going to Audience March. The Persian Ambassador continues at Adrianople against the Inclination of the Turks A Character of the Grand Vizier The Artifices of his Son. The Arts by which the Grand Vizier was kept in his Office. Tekeli at Adrianople His Audience with the Grand Vizier The French Ambassador visits him Tekeli and the Tartar dispatched away Change of Officers The French Ambassador encourages the Turks 1692. March. Preparations for the War. Instances for a Pâ—ace promote the War. Thâ— Persian Ambassador continues at Adrianople Preparations for the War. Factions in the Court. The Grand Vizier seeks the Life of the Chimacam He is ruined thereby The Chimacam refuses to be Vizier Another Vizier named The Old Vizier Banished And his Estate seized The Soldiers at Belgrade offer to prefer another but denied The Persian Ambassador pleased herewith All at a stâ—nd until the Vizier's coming The Vizier arrives and received by the Grand Seignior A Counsel of War May 1692. The Vizier marches towards Belgrade The Ianisaries mutiny for Pay Are pacified A New Châ—macam made The Mufti recalled Waradin in great distress May. Heusler Summon's the Town They refuse to yield The Turks make Sallies and are repulsed Continue resolute to maintain the Town Howsoever they Capitulate June The 〈◊〉 march out of Waradin June The Turks repulsed by the Rascians from Titul and Titz The Croats take Behatz from the Turks Tâ—e Turks 〈◊〉 confusion â—y changeâ— Conspiracy against the Vizier July The Persian Ambassador takes his Conge of the Grand Seignior The Marquis of Loâ—and arrives fâ—om France Hâ—s Reports made to the Turkish â—ourt The Vizier promises to continue the War. The Marquis permitted to go to Belgrade Reports from the Tartars 1692. July The Turks repulsed from Portsâ—a The Ban of Croatia Attacks the Turks 1692. August The Rascians take great Boâ—ties The Campaign of the Year 1692 ends Poland 〈◊〉 Tuâ—ks 〈…〉 Sorâ—ka â—ctober 〈◊〉 Turks 〈◊〉 1692. October Raise the Siege Mr. Herbert sent Ambassador to the Turks Mr. Herbert 's Letters to the Author Tâ—e grâ—aâ—est difficulty in all this Treaâ—y was this 5 th Article about Transylvania Mr. Herbert at Belgrade His Death Old Style Reflexions on the Death of the two English Ambassadors The Grand Vizier at Belgrade A thousand French desert the Venetian Service Fires in Constantinople Debates about a Peace March. Lord Paget arrives at Adrianople His Audiences * Interpretâ—r Sultan Achmet sick of the Dropsie Changes aâ— Coâ—rt The â—ew Vâ—zier sâ—nt to thâ— Aâ—my May. The Mediators dismissed Pr â—oâ—â— for the Seâ—â— The Vizier begins his march from Adrianople Fire at Constantinople July The Turks in Asia drowned in the Waters Junâ— July 11. August The Palanca of Boskoua capitulates 1693. August The Turks make a Sally Are driven in with loss Another Sally Bombs thrown into the Town The Grand Vizier marches to relief of the Town Septemb. The Christians loss 1693. Septemb. The Siege of Belgrade raised Septemb. Brunzieâ—â— taken by Storm August Constantinople burn'd a second time this Year Corban made at Constantinople and Adrianople The Grand Viziâ—r dâ—posed Ali Pasha Vizier Chimacam Ahmet Pâ—sha banisâ—â—d April Polish Envoy's Audience with the Tartar Han at Adrianople A sham Envoy from Poland The Turks averse to a Peace with the Surrender of Caminiecâ— Thâ— Polish Envoy seâ—t awâ—â— with Disgraceâ— Mâ— Heeâ—skirk seâ—t â—aâ—k The Nogay Tartar The Grand Vizier deposed March The New Vizier Character â—f the New Vizier Sultan Achmet in danger of Death August Septemb. A Storm on the Danube A Fight by Water and Land. Septemb. The Brandenburg ers râ—infoâ—ce the Gâ—rmans The Grand Vizier raises the Siegâ— Sâ—io takâ—n by the Venetians The ill condition of the Turkish Affairs A Seditious Preacher 1694. October A Sedition quâ—lled The Sultan sends in haste for the Grand Vizier The Mufâ—â—'s 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 Letters to Exhort the Scheriff to Peace The Vizier delays his return The Turks design to recovâ—r Scio. The good Qualities of Mustapha Pasha Sultan Achmet's Deatâ— The Queen Mother Sultan Mustapha's Beginnings Sultan Mustapha his Saying The Sulâ—an's Humour February Lord Paget at Adrianople A Fight between the Poles and the Tartars The Tartars beaten The Tartars withdraw Scio regained by the Turks Thâ— Greeks in Scio fâ—vâ—â—â— by the Turks Changes at Court. 1965. March. March. All Persons Taxed A Donative refused to the Soldiers 〈…〉 The Mufti Depâ—sâ—â— the Vizier Strangled June New Orders for the Army The Grand Seigniâ—r's Severities June Septemâ— Veteranâ— dâ—fenteâ— The ill Conduct of the Imperial Army in Anno 1695. Great Honour gained by the Sultan The Sultan Orders for his Return to Adrianople The Grand Seâ—gnior marcheâ— back The Turkish Discipline The Grand Sâ—igniâ—r marchâ—s to Constantinople Novemb. The Allai or Triumph at the Entrance into Constantinople Sahin Pasha killed Tekely neglâ—cted The Venetians at Sea give a Defeat to the Turks The Pasha of Diarbekir put to Flight And the Turks defeated The Grand Seignior with the Queen Mother leaves Constantinople April A Fiâ—e at Constantinople June July The Battle of Olâ—sch The Tuâ—ks 〈◊〉 Septemb. 27 onâ— 28. October Thâ— French do greaâ— Serviceâ— Novemb. Audience of thâ— Persian Ambassador The Persâ—ans aâ—paâ—t Septemb. Preparatiâ—â—s for the Turkish â—leet Alteration of the Coyn in Turky Maritime Preparations for the Year 1697. A Storâ— oâ— the Consul and a Jew at Gran Cairo March. The Greek Patriarch a Rash Man. Tekely 's Poor State and Condition April Tekely's â—â—â—lâ—ctions August The Battle of the Tibiscus Inclinations of the Turks towards a Peace October Castle Doboy Surrenders October 1698. January June Octob. 26. O. S. Novemb.
obstinacy defending the same and the other of the contrary Faction now countenanced by the Emperor without modesty or measure insulting upon them whereof arose exceeding great stirs and troubles especially in the beginning of hiâ— Reign to the great benefit of the incroaching Turks who in the mean time ceased not by all means to increase their Territories in Asia and not only there but in the Islands of the Miditerranean Sea also For Andronicus by the death of Charles King of Sicily delivered of the greatest fear for which both he and his Father before him had to their great cost and charge both built and maintained a strong Fleet of Gallies now perswaded by some whose actions and speeches were after the manner of the Court all framed unto the Princes Appetite as the readiest way to thrive without respect of the common good to spare that needless charge as they termed it which yearly cost him more than any thing else had discharged all his Mariners and Sea-men and commanded all the Gallies to be laid up some in one â—reek some in another where neglected and not looked unto they in time for the most part rotted and perished As for the Mariners they went some one way some another as their Fortunes led them to seek â—or their Livings in forreign Countries even with the Emperors Enemies and some gave themselves to Husbandry thinking it better by doing something to live than by sitting still to perish Which good Husbandry at the first seemed to be very profitable unto the Emperor but especially unto such as being near unto him and courteously given made small reckoning of all other the most necessary defences of the Empire in comparison of hoording up of mony until that it was afterward too late by experience found hereof to have sprung many great mischiefs unto the great weakning of the Greek Empire For besides that the Turks without let did great harm on the Sea the Pirats now out of fear of the Emperors Gallies at their pleasure took the Spoyl of the rich Islands in the Mediterranean and robbed the Towns all along the Sea-coast to the unspeakable grief of the poor Country People and yet not so contented came with their Gallies sometime two sometime three sometime more as it were in contempt even close unto the imperial City Yea the Venetians were so bold as upon a right small displeasure to rifle and afterward to set fire upon the Suburbs thereof which they would hardly have adventured had the Emperors Fleet been preserved and maintained in the wonted Strength At the same time also Andronicus the Emperor to the great hindrance of the Affairs of the Empire and advantage of the forreign Enemy was not a little troubled with a jealous Suspition of his Brother Constantine commonly called Porphyrogenitus as if he had sought to have aspired unto the Empire seeking by all means to win unto himself the love and favour of all men but especially of the Nobility both at home and abroad and so by that means to mount unto the height of his desires All which as most men thought were but meer Slanders maliciously devised by such as envying at his Honour and taking occasion by the Emperors Suspition ceased not to increase the same until they had wrought his unworthy destruction The first ground of this false Suspition in the Emperors head was for that this Constantine even from his Childhood was for many causes better beloved of the old Emperor his Father than Andronicus as better furnished with those gifts of Nature which beautifie a Prince and of a more courteous Bahaviour than was his Brother insomuch that had he not been the younger Brother his Father could willingly have left him his Successor in the Empire This was one and the chieâ—est cause of the Emperors grudge and the ground of his Suspition Yet was there another also and that not much less than this for that his Father in his life time had of long thought to have separated from the Empire a great part of Thessalia and Macedonia and to have made him absolute Prince thereof and had haply so done had he not been by death prevented which thing also much grieved Andronicus and the more incensed him against his Brother Which his secret hatred he for all that according to his Wisdom cunningly dissembled not only during the time that his Father lived but three years after his death also making shew of the great love and kindness towards him that was possible Constantine in the mean time of such greatest revenues as were by his Father assigned unto him reaping great profit most bountifully bestowed the same upon his Followers and Favourites and others that made sute unto him as well the meaner sort as the greater and with his sweet Behaviour won unto him the Hearts of all men for Affability and Courtesie in high degree easily allureth mens minds as do fair flowers in the Spring the Passengers Eyes This was that precept of the wise Indians That the higher a Prince was in Dignity and the more courteous he shewed himself unto his Inferiors the better he should be of them beloved He therefore that should for the two first causes blame Constantine should do him wrong as both proceeding not of himself but of his Fathers too much love but in the third he was not altogether blameless for if for want of experience he prodigally gave such gifts as for the most part might have beseemed the Emperor himself he ignorantly erred yet did he not little offend but if he knew that for his profuse bounty he could not be unsuspected of his Brother and yet without regard held on that course he was greatly to be blamed therein For if nothing else might have moved him yet he should have considered to what end the like doings of others in former times had sorted and how many it had brought to untimely end So although perhaps that Constantine meant no harm unto his Brother or any way to supplant him yet did these things not a little increase and aggravate the former Suspitions and open the Ears of the Emperor his Brother unto such calumniation as commonly attendeth upon immoderate bounty But to return to our purpose this honourable Constantine then lived in Lydia but lately married and in good hope long to live being not past thirty years old but pleasantly spending the time with his Wife at Nymphea in Lydia at such time as he was thus secretly accused unto his Brother the Emperor thought it good as upon other occasions of business to pass over into Asia himself but indeed with a secret resolution upon the sudden to oppress his Brother unawars as by proof it fell out For at his coming over Constantine fearing nothing less was forthwith apprehended with all his greatest Favourites of whom one Michael Strategopulus sometime a man in great Authority with the Emperor his Father and of all other for wealth honour and noble acts most famous
was chief who together with Constantine were fast clapt into prison where we will leave them every hour looking to die their Lands and Goods being before confiscated But these worthy men especially Canstantine and Strategopulus thus laid fast who many times in great Battels discomfited the Turks and notably defended the frontiers of the Empire along the East side of the River Meander they now finding none to withstand them forraged not only all the rich Country beyond the River but with an infinite multitude passing the same did there great harm also so that there was no remedy but that the Emperor must of necessity make choice of some other worthy Captain for the defence of those his Cities and Countries by the Incursion of the Turks then in danger in that part of Asia There was then in the Emperors Court one Alexius Philanthropenus a right valiant and renowed Captain and then in the flower of his youth of him the Emperor thought good to make choice for defence of those Frontiers of his Empire in the lesser Asia against the Turks which were before the charge of his Brother Constantine and Strategopulus joyning to him one Libadarius an old famous Captain and a man of great experience also appointing unto him the Government of the Cities of Ionia and unto the other the Frontiers along the winding banks of Meander Where Alexius having now gotten a Charge worthy his valour and in many great Conflicts with the Turks still carrying away the Victory became in short time of great fame besides that he was exceeding bountiful and courteous unto all men a costly but a ready way unto dangerous Credit and Renown Thus at the first all things prospered in his hand according to his hearts desire yea the Turks themselves bordering upon him hardly beset on the one side by the Tartars and on the other by himself and yet not so much feared with their Enemies behind them as moved with his courtesie came over to him with their Wives and Children and served themselves many of them in his Camp But as they say That in Iupiters Court no man might drink of the Tun of Bliss but that he must taste also of the Tun of Woe so fell it out with this great Captain who having but tasted of the better Tun had the worse all poured full upon his head For Libadarius seeing all to prosper with him and somewhat envying thereat began to fear and suspect lest he proud of his good Fortune and now grown very strong casting off his allegiance should aspire unto the Empire and so first begin with him as the nearest unto him which thing many of the Nobility secretly surmised also but how truly many doubt But this envious Plot was not yet ripe but lay as fire raked up in the ashes Now there was with Alexius Philanthropenus certain Companies of Cretensians whom for their good Service and Fidelity he both honoured and trusted above others using them all for the Guard of his own Person These men proud of their Credit hearing of the surmised aspiring of their General and in hope by his advancement to raise their own Fortunes also ceased not continually to suggest unto him high conceits of himself and to perswade with all speed to take the matter upon him the very conceit whereof as they said would be unto him no less danger than if he should enter into the Action it self as he might well see by the woful Examples of the noble Constantine and Stratigopulus both in extream peril but for the jealous conceit surmised against them Which quick Suggestions wrought in his great mind divers and those most contrary motions so that he scarce knew himself what he would or would not For they which are unto themselves in conscience guilty of any grievous Crime if any mischief hang over their heads therefore it happeneth unto them as foreknowing and expecting the same even from the time that they offended unto whom if nothing else yet that same very foreknowledge easeth not a little the grief and misery whereas contrariwise they which are with sudden mischiefs and unlooked for overwhelmed not knowing any just cause why must needs stand as men dismaid and almost beside themselves But at length after divers great Conflicts with himself the evil Perswaders of Rebellion prevailed with him Yet did he at the first forbid any mention to be made of him in the Army as Emperor which caused the Cretensians the chief Authors of his Rebellion almost to force him forthwith to take upon him the Imperial Ornaments thereby to confirm the minds of his Followers and Favorites for that such Resolutions were as they said forthwith to be put into execution neither that any thing required so joynt celerity and dexterity both of the mind and the hand and for that longer delay would but fill his Souldiers heads with doubts and discourage them with the fear of the uncertainty of the event all which for all that moved him not so to do but whether for fear of the greatness of the danger or for that he secretly thought how first to circumvent Libadarius of whom he stood most in doubt is uncertain The report of all which his doings and designs were in short time carried first unto Libadarius as the nearest and so in Post unto the Emperor who were therewith not a little both disquieted And had Alexius as some perswaded him at the first set upon Libadarius then unprovided no doubt but he had done much but God by whom all Princes Reign and whose Power confoundeth the devices of the pâ—oud turned him from Libadarius by whom he was to be oppressed to follow after Theodorus the Emperors Brother of whom he was to have feared no harm This Theodorus the first man that Alexius shot at warned by his Brother Constantines harms lived a pleasant private life in Lydiâ— far from the ambition of the Court and therefore so much the more beloved of the Emperor but Alexius fearing lest in that hurle many should resort unto him as unto the Emperors Brother and so hinder his proceedings thought best first to make him sure and afterward to oppress Libadarius not aware that in stead of the body he followed but after the shadow But Libadarius as a man of great experience taking the benefit of this his oversight and knowing money to be the sinews of War gathered together all the Coin he possibly could both of his own and his friends sending also for the Emperors Treasures of Philadelphia and with all speed raised the greatest Power that possibly he could out of Ionia which he furnished with all things necessary promising unto his Souldiers great matters and filling them with greater hopes and that within ten days he would with a great Army meet the Rebel in the heart of Lydia and there dare him battel But withall considering that the Cretensians men but of a mercenary Faith had always the Guard of Alexius his Person he thought good to